Empress Orchid - Anchee Min [162]
“I want Su Shun,” Nuharoo said, and her tears came. “He is our husband’s most trusted man. With Su Shun by His Majesty’s side, the heavenly soul will rest in peace. Will you accept my humble request, Su Shun?”
“My honor, Your Majesty.” Su Shun was obviously displeased.
I could hardly contain my delight. Nuharoo didn’t know what she had done. She had created the perfect situation for Prince Kung to benefit.
“Thank you, Prince Yee,” I said. “You certainly will be rewarded when we get to Peking.”
I didn’t expect to be given a chance to make the situation even better, but the opportunity presented itself. As if driven by the desire to please us further, or by greed, or simply by his shallow nature, Prince Yee added, “I don’t mean to flatter myself, Your Majesty. I shall deserve your reward because the trip is going to be tough on me. I have not only been put in charge of the inner court; I have great military responsibilities as well. I must confess that I am already exhausted.”
I picked up his words and rode with them. “Well, Prince Yee, Nuharoo and I believe that His Young Majesty Tung Chih will find another way. We certainly don’t want to wear you out. Why don’t you leave the military obligations to others and manage just the inner court?”
Prince Yee was not prepared for my quick reaction. “Of course,” he responded. “But do you have my replacement in mind as we speak?”
“There is nothing to worry about, Prince Yee.”
“But who will that be?”
I saw Su Shun stepping forward, and I decided to seal the moment. “Prince Ch’un will take over the military obligation,” I said, looking away from Su Shun. He seemed desperate to speak, and I was afraid he would get Nuharoo’s attention. “Prince Ch’un hasn’t been assigned a duty.” I held Nuharoo with my eyes. “He will be perfect for the job, don’t you think?”
“Yes, Lady Yehonala,” she said.
“Prince Ch’un!” I called.
“Here.” Prince Ch’un’s answer came from a corner of the room.
“Will this arrangement suit you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Prince Ch’un bowed.
Prince Yee’s expression changed to show regret for what he had done to himself.
To bolster him I said, “However, we would like Prince Yee to resume his full responsibility once we reach Peking. His Young Majesty can’t do without him.”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty. Thank you!” Prince Yee was a happy man again.
I turned to Nuharoo. “I believe that is all for this audience?”
“Yes, we must thank Grand Councilor Su Shun for doing a fine job of planning.”
Twenty-two
OCTOBER 10 was an auspicious day as Hsien Feng’s coffin was borne aloft on the shoulders of 124 bearers. At the departing ceremony, Nuharoo and I wore elaborate mourning robes hung with stone ornaments. Our head and shoulder pieces, belts and shoes weighed more than twenty-five pounds. Golden beads dangled in front of my eyes like a curtain, and my earrings were pieces of jade carved with the word tien, “in memory.” My ears stung and my back ached from all the weight. Because we had run out of coal we had not bathed for weeks. My scalp itched. The oil I used on my hair attracted dust that ended up beneath my fingernails from all my scratching. It was hard to look like an image of grace under such circumstances.
Nuharoo felt sorry for my low manners and purposely set herself as an example for me to follow. I admired her endurance when it came to her appearance. I was sure she sat upright even on the chamber pot. I surmised that she had carried the same stiffness to Hsien Feng’s bed. As far as lovemaking went, the Emperor was a man who welcomed creativity. Nuharoo had probably offered him the standard pose from The Imperial Chamber Activity Menu and expected him to deliver his seeds.
One could always count on Nuharoo’s makeup to be painted to the finest detail. She had two nail stylists, trained in grain carving, who could render entire landscapes and architectural paintings on her nails. One needed a magnifying glass to fully appreciate the artistry. Nuharoo knew exactly what she wanted. Inside her mourning robe she contin-ued to wear the dress that she