Lady Meihua
Meihua-
Today, I discovered one of Prince Jinghua’s unexpected skills. I can confidently state that he’s brilliantly gifted and possessing exceptional talent, as failing, to this extent, is quite challenging.
It’s absolutely impressive how he always loses. What game we’ve played has been irrelevant. Regardless of whether it’s catching seven pieces or playing fortune sticks, Tiu-u, matching tiles, or the game of dice, simple games my siblings played, he never wins leaving me to wonder if he intentionally losing to hoard all the wine for himself.
While I may not be skilled at evaluating someone’s level of drunkenness, it’s clear that Prince Jinghua is heading in that direction. He’s not as drunk as my father usually got, but he is getting close to that stage. “Prince Jinghua, maybe we should slow down or better yet rest for a moment?” I advise him to take a break in order to clear his clouded mind. To my concern for his wellbeing, he responds by speaking unclearly, slurring accusing me of patronizing him, denying his drunkenness, as any intoxicated person would.
“I’m not even a little drunk. Not even tipsy,” he insists. His speech is slow and slurred. “Just so you know, I can handle my alcohol pretty well. And I’m not one to brag or boast,” he brags and boasts while denying he does. “Nobody can out-drink me, except for Uncle Grand General Bai, being part demon and all. Noone can beat a demon. And it’s possible that you’re unaware, but I’m just starting out and taking it easy on you. Expect things to escalate because I’m merely getting warmed up,” he claims, but then unexpectedly hiccups.
I don’t argue that Prince Jinghua is correct. I may not have much information about him, but I’m certain he’s a big bluffer. While it would be satisfying to see him make a fool of himself, I have a responsibility to prevent it. “Prince Jinghua, you had nothing to eat earlier. It might help if you ate something to absorb the alcohol in your system.” I frown at the dishes that are now inedible. The soup, though it was delicious, is cold, and the braised meat has become unappealing, sitting in thick greasy pools of fat on the platters. Consuming this food would only worsen his condition and I loathe cleaning vomit.
“With your permission, I’d like to inquire if I could prepare a dish that would provide relief for your stomach,” I mention, removing the unsavory plates from the table. I encounter Prince Jinghua’s attendant, offer a respectful nod, and hastily descend the staircase.
The lower level of the teahouse is bustling with customers during lunchtime. However, when I ask the owner if I can use his kitchen, he proves to be very flexible and accommodating. He escorts me to the kitchen and praises Prince Jinghua’s fortune for discovering someone like me. He explains that in today’s society, women are often unacquainted with kitchens and rely solely on servants for everything. I can see genuine surprise in his eyes as I examine the fire and gather the ingredients for a simple congee. It comprises savory chicken stock, wood ear mushrooms, spring onions, and rice. As I mix the ingredients in the wok, he gasps and remarks, “Aya, I’ve never witnessed a young woman of noble lineage like you being so confident in the kitchen and culinary arts.”
“My mother was…is fragile,” I explain, and it’s not a lie since mother had been sick before her death. “I prioritized her well-being and supervised her meals and preparing her herbal tonics by the servants.” In a slightly arrogant manner, I remark in the tone I think befitting a highborn rolling my eyes, “Servants are completely unreliable and useless. What do they really know?” I express my disapproval of his behavior by frowning at him. “You stand here, staring at me, while the Emperor’s son waits upstairs with a cold pot of tea—it must be nice to be so idle and carefree. The capital’s social circle is small. Once the news gets around how you ignored Prince Jinghua… Your business will surely suffer.”
“Aya, you’re absolutely correct. I apologize, miss,” the owner rushes over and opens the cabinet where I assume the tea is kept, as if I’ve just set his pants on fire. In a panicked state, he nods, thanking me for my words of caution, and quickly exits the kitchen, leaving me behind.
I let out a sigh of relief as I watch him leave. It’s much less complicated to be alone and I can cook without someone lurking over my shoulder. The fire is hot. It doesn’t take long for everything to soften. Once the rice is creamy and mushy, I remove the wok from the heat and pour the congee into a bowl. I take a spoonful, taste it, and discover it’s perfect. I quietly utter under my breath, “perfect.”
Carrying a steaming bowl of congee, I ascend the stairs and find Prince Jinghua still seated. “Your Highness, the earlier food was greasy and inedible. The owner allowed me to use his kitchen, and I made a bowl of nourishing rice porridge for your stomach. I hope you like the thick consistency of the congee, as that’s how I enjoy it.” I transfer the dish from the tray and set it in front of him, placing the bowl next to the pickled cucumbers, and hold my breath. Because it’s possible, he’ll find offense in such a modest meal and I’m aware my gesture could be taken wrongly. I’m relieved to see he’s not upset, but actually pleased. It’s rewarding when others appreciate your cooking. I smile despite myself as I watch him grip the bowl, bringing it to his nose and take a deep breath, inhaling the rising steam of the hot congee, reminiscent of a graceful snake dancing upwards. “Be careful, it’s hot.” I recommend caution to him about burning his mouth and adding slices of pickled cucumber on top of spoon as he eats congee.
“How clever of you. Cucumber aids digestion and offers hydration. How did you know I loved pickled cucumbers?” After taking a bite, he exclaims, “This congee is flavorful and better made than the imperial kitchen. If you keep this up, my tastebuds will be spoiled and I’ll have to marry you. Haven’t you heard the path to a man’s heart is through his stomach? I speak without considering the consequences. I answer, “Don’t threaten me with marriage and a lifetime of your company. I thought the path to a man’s heart was much lower than his stomach.”
“That’s indecent.” Prince Jinghua scolds me, calling me vulgar, but his smile puzzles me.
I pour him a fresh cup of tea and I’m surprised when Prince Jinghua pats the space beside him and says, “Stop feeding me and sit with me.” I hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to do. Sitting beside him seems too intimate and goes against the strict social norms and expectations that come with our positions. However, his eyes hold a warmth and sincerity that I find hard to resist. With a deep breath, I tentatively take a seat next to him, feeling exasperated with myself when my heart beats a little faster.
I speak up, barely audible, questioning the consequences of being caught in this situation. “What if someone sees us like this?” While chuckling softly, he keeps his gaze fixed on me. “Like this? Meihua, we’re not fornicating. They would see two people dining together enjoying each other’s company and would it surprise you if I told that I don’t care what others think of me, especially now when I’m with you.” His words makes my skin goosebump and sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel warmth flush my cheeks like fire from an unexpected mix of excitement and apprehension, which leaves me confused since I’ve never looked upon him as man yet he baffled me more when he asks, “The gown you’re wearing is so fine, one could question if it was made in heaven by the immortal weaver Zhinu and that unusual ring on your finger? It’s a luminous pearl, but luminous pearls come from only one place. That’s Qingqui. Qingqui and luminous pearls are mystical places and items, so who exactly are you because you’re not a servant, Lady Meihua?”
Jinghua-
I’ve stumbled upon a new guilty pleasure that brings me more amusement than witnessing Qing Yuan’s humiliations. It’s seeing Meihua flustered. “Are you some kind of immortal being?” I jest with a straight face, barely able to contain my laughter. She’s very innocent. So terribly naïve. I know I shouldn’t tease her, but I can’t resist, especially when her stunned expression is my reward. Her jaw drops, and she stares at me with those big brown eyes that resemble a frightened deer. It’s priceless, but it’s a shame that I’m the only one here to appreciate it.
“What do you mean? I’m not immortal! That’s nonsense.” She stammers. “I know nothing about such things. Sure, I can’t remember my early childhood, but that’s because I fell out of a tree and hit my head. Still, if I were immortal, I would know, right?” I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I am. Raising a single eyebrow, I speak earnestly, “You might have forgotten that you’re a deity. Perhaps Qing Yuan is correct about you being a goddess?” She gasps and then whispers, questioning herself, suddenly sounding childlike, “I don’t know. I hit my head so hard that I forgot my childhood… maybe I’ve forgotten even more…” I completely lose my composure. The sound of my laughter carries in the room.
“You’re so rude!” She points at me and glares. “No wonder your wife dislikes you! You’re despicable! Stop laughing at me!”
“Don’t blame me for being gullible, and you’re mistaken. My wife has an excessive fondness for me, but I don’t feel the same way about her.” I pour wine into her glass. Meihua swiftly drinks it all in one gulp. Instead of requesting a refill, she seizes the wine bottle and fills my empty congee bowl to the brim with wine. “I wouldn’t recommend doing that.” I caution her, but my advice goes unheeded. She cradles her bowl, which is larger than her head, with both hands and empties the wine in a single go. She’s not finished. She refills the bowl again, but I intervene, covering it with my hand. “Meihua, don’t make yourself ill. I’m sorry I teased you, but you should have seen your face when I called you a goddess.”
“Stop mocking me! And don’t tell me what to do,” she snaps, yanking the bowl away like an angry bear.
To my astonishment, she consumes two more bottles of wine within minutes of each other, yet it’s remarkable as she shows no sign of intoxication after consuming an amount that would have rendered others comatose. Drinking doesn’t render her dazed or foolish like it does to others, but it makes her considerate and contemplative.
She apologizes by saying, “I’m sorry. It’s unfair how everyone has treated you as the villain. I clarified with Commander Bai that it was my decision.”
“Meihua, why did you agree to this?” I refill my wineglass, I say. “What made you agree to this fake courtship with me?“
She answers, “It’s for the money,” and then questions me, “Why are you against marriage?”
“I have nothing against marriage, and I respect its sanctity. However, I must admit that I married Lady Min solely for political reasons. So, can I really be criticized for expecting or desiring something more in my next marriage?” I respond, my eyes shifting towards the Rowen tree outside, feeling slightly awkward as I’m not accustomed to speaking so openly with anyone.
“Have you considered leaving? Who is preventing you? You are the son of the Emperor. What prevents you from doing whatever you want?” She asks. I respond to her question. “I have less freedom than you because the Emperor is my father. I have a duty as royal family member, I must serve the dynasty and its subjects. Maintaining balance and peace is my life’s purpose through politics and military strength, yet nothing strengthens bonds between houses and nations like marriage and offspring. My life does not belong to me.”
“Is it really important for you to have children? Your children wouldn’t be in line for the throne unless in the event of a tragedy befalling the Crown Prince, would you step up to fulfill the role?“ But before she can continue, I interrupt her in a more abrupt manner than I should. “My twin brother Jingyuan, who is the Crown Prince and his position, is safe and well-protected. I understand that you’re young and unfamiliar with these issues, but please be mindful of what you say. Your previous statement may be seen as an act of treason. Death penalties can be imposed for even minor offenses. Meihua, never speak those words in front of anyone.”
I didn’t intend to snap at her, but it’s taken as such. She takes my blunt tone as anger or hostility and turns red, then asks for my forgiveness from offending me. With her gaze lowered, she speaks, “I didn’t mean to talk about things I don’t know about. I think it’s just my nerves. It could be the right time for me to depart, if you allow me, and naturally, I won’t take any payment for today.”
I remind myself to the fact she doesn’t know me or my mannerisms. I soften my voice and ask her to stay. “Don’t go. Leaving now means I’ll be stuck with this terrible feeling caused by Yi Bo. My cousin was unpleasant, but I get what he’s saying. He genuinely cares about you and wants to keep you safe, which is only natural and noble. But did it cause you pain to learn about his intentions of sending you to the imperial harem? Have you ever thought of going down that path? I can attest to my brother’s benevolent nature, and there are certain ways in which your life would be enhanced. If that’s something you want, I can help you.”
Her cream-colored neck blushes with a rosy hue that then travels to her cheeks. “No, I wasn’t surprised by Commander Bai in the slightest. If anything, I’m fortuitous that he thinks so highly of me. The idea of becoming a concubine, even to a future emperor, has never occurred to me. As the oldest daughter, I have eight siblings scattered spread out, but I will reunite with them someday. When I finally accomplish it, I’ll be able to buy a house with three rooms, new clothes, shoes, a fully equipped kitchen, and enough coal to keep warm in winter without burning paper and wood. I’ll make sure everyone, including the girls, goes to school. I plan on living as their mother, rather than as a woman. I made this decision a while back. I’m too busy and my hectic life doesn’t allow for a man or any romantic entanglements. I have a big dream.”
And just like that, she effortlessly captures my heart like no one else ever has. I hold her in high regard. Although her dreams are noble and selfless, it feels unfair for her to deny herself the joy of love. “Any man would consider himself fortunate to have you as a wife, given your lovely and compassionate nature. I will buy the house for you. No, I’ll buy you one for each season. Four homes for you and your siblings. I’ll provide tutors and servants for your family.”
Her face wet with tears and a runny nose, she looks down and says, “Prince Jinghua, thank you. I appreciate your kindness, but I’d rather accomplish it on my own because I have faith in myself.”
“Very well,” I respond. With a forward lean, I cradle her face in my hands, our eyes locking, as I softly say, “Lady Meihua, you possess goodness. I am honored to have chosen such a virtuously generous woman as my love interest.” I wipe away her tears with my calloused fingers. I gently lift her chin with my finger, tilting her head up, and give her a tender kiss on her forehead. With a smile, I whisper, “I understand and I know the rules, but that kiss is worth a gold ingot.”
Meihua bursts out laughing. After the tears have dried, she says, “Instead of the gold ingot, maybe you could grant me wish?”
“Name it, and it shall be done. “You have my word,” I assure her, noticing how she stands on her tiptoes, bringing her face closer to mine. It’s not entirely surprising; I am well aware of my undeniable charm and sex-appeal. Just as I prepare for a kiss, she surprises me with an unexpected favor. “I would love to visit the Hall of Endless Spring. Could we plan a trip there for our next meeting?”