Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 45: Bed Art

In the fleeting moments of time, Liu Shou swiftly mastered the art of crawling and eagerly attempted to call out to his parents in his tender, uncertain voice.

His first birthday was celebrated with grandeur and joy, marking a milestone filled with festivity.

Though Liu Che had no immediate plans to crown a successor, the two years since Jia Ji’s pregnancy had passed without any joyful news from the palace.

His affection for his eldest son deepened, especially now that Liu Shou could speak, bringing him delight and pride, often remarking, “Early wisdom, like my own.”

Chen Jiao responded with a hearty laugh, teasing, “You simply revel in adding honor and splendor to yourself.”

Liu Che, feeling proud, couldn’t help but boast, recalling his early foresight, “If I weren’t so precocious, how could I have chosen you to be my empress from childhood?” His words carried a playful tone, yet beneath them lay a subtle hint of admiration, as he cast a loving glance at her.

It could be said that his ascension to the throne was due to Empress Dowager Wang’s deep favor with the emperor. But the grand princess still made a significant contribution.

She also secretly suspected that the promise of a golden palace had been secretly entrusted to him by the empress dowager. Now, hearing Liu Che’s tone, it seemed to have been his own idea.

Chen Jiao pursed her lips and smiled, “Although I’m precocious, I still remember this. If A’Jiao becomes my wife, I will definitely build a golden palace for her. Where is this golden palace? Where is it? It’s been almost six years since I got married. It should have been built by now, right?”

If the golden palace had actually been built, let alone how to accommodate such soft and heavy objects, the amount of gold required would likely have depleted the Han Dynasty’s treasury.

Liu Che was speechless when she asked him this, so he had to look around and talk about other things.

He held Liu Shou’s small hand and allowed him to hit Chen Jiao, “Mother is bad, she’s bullying father.”

Liu Shou’s skin was just like Jia Ji’s, like a newborn puppy. His hair was always slightly damp, and his eyes were incredibly moist and clear. Despite his voracious appetite, he never gained weight.

Waving his slender little hands, he smiled and grabbed Chen Jiao’s face, calling out in a low voice, “Mother, mother.”

When Chen Jiao turned her head to the side, he touched her. Then he twisted his body, asking her to hold him, and smacking his lips, clearly hungry.

Chu Fu smiled and pulled him closer.

Looking at him affectionately, she said to Chen Jiao, “His appetite is getting stronger and stronger. If I steam some soft rice cakes for him, he’ll be able to eat two in one sitting.”

Liu Che and Chen Jiao sat side by side, smiling as the nurse carried Liu Shou into a quiet room.

Liu Che sat for a while, then stood up, “I’m going to hang out with Han Yan and the others at the Qingliang Hall now. I won’t be back for dinner tonight.”

Her eyes subtly darkened, yet she remained composed, offering little more than a half-formed smile that hovered on her lips—neither quite a smile nor a frown.

She cast a languid glance at him and softly intoned, “If you wish to visit Lady Wang, simply say so.”

Six years had swiftly passed since their marriage, and throughout this time, Chen Jiao had consistently held the position of the most favored woman in the harem. Even now, Liu Che often spends over twenty days each month in the Jiaofang Hall. Yet, on nights when he was absent from her quarters, Wang Ji would often go to serve him in the Qingliang Hall.

Though these nights were few, they increasingly gave her the aura of a true favored concubine. Just a few days prior, Liu Che had made his first visit to Yongxiang Hall, spending a night there in Wang Ji’s company.

“I have been informed that His Majesty had a disagreement with her, and when summoned by His Majesty, she declined to attend. Consequently, His Majesty traveled to Yongxiang Hall to persuade her.” Wei Zifu, unaware of having taken Jia Ji’s place, consistently relayed updates from Yongxiang Hall to Chen Jiao.

Ultimately, she was a reincarnated entity, and under the mentorship of an experienced individual well-acquainted with the palace, Chen Jiao, swiftly positioned herself within Yongxiang Hall, gradually ascending to a position of prominence despite her initial limitations.

When conversing with her, Chen Jiao consistently refrained from bringing Liu Shou along. With him absent, Chu Fu was also nowhere to be seen. Without Chu Fu’s presence, no servant in the Jiaofang Hall could interpret Chen Jiao’s intentions so astutely.

Their brief exchange was interrupted when someone presented them with exquisite honey-water, momentarily disrupting the flow of their conversation.

Seizing a moment to sip her honey water, she drifted into contemplation.

When she regained her clarity, she turned to Wei Zifu and inquired, “If I recall correctly, her residence was quite modest, perhaps rather small?”

Wei Zifu remained as aloof as ever, “In the Yongxiang Hall, everyone’s quarters are comparable. The rooms assigned to Lady Wang are indeed not particularly spacious.”

Chen Jiao chuckled softly.

“And what kind of empress is she?” she asked, a mixture of amusement and irritation in her voice. “Only I can truly be considered an empress in your presence,” she added confidently. //TN: Right here, Chen Jiao used the character “娘娘”— in Pinyin it’s “niáng niang”— it’s a general form of address to empress, imperial concubine, mother, etc.//

Wei Zifu’s gaze flickered briefly as she covered her mouth with a delicate smile, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

With Liu Che absent, she allowed herself to indulge, her laughter spilling over as she was thoroughly entertained by Wei Zifu.

She pointed at her, uttering “You, you,” with a long, teasing pause, but her words dissolved into mirth.

After a moment, she lazily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze lingering over her with a gentle smile, her eyelids lowering slightly.

“You have such a clever tongue,” she remarked softly.

Wei Zifu’s face subtly flushes with a delicate hue.

She refrains from pursuing Chen Jiao’s earlier topic, instead speaking with an air of composed indifference, “However, Lady Wang’s chamber has become quite crowded of late. His Majesty has bestowed upon her numerous treasures, and her quarters are nearly overflowing…”

Chen Jiao cannot help but feel a renewed sense of astonishment. While Liu Che’s generosity and favor were widely known, this did not truly surprise her.

From the moment she wed him, she understood that she could never claim exclusive affection from the emperor. Whether it was Han Yan, Jia Ji, Wang Ji, or Wei Zifu, the distinction was negligible.

As long as external allies wield influence and internal favorites—be it the crown prince or court favorites—enjoy the emperor’s favor, Liu Che’s numerous concubines and male companions, no matter how many, would not threaten her esteemed position.

Such women were merely transient playthings within the palace walls. Once they bore children, they might be granted the title of concubine, yet they would always remain distant from her standing at court’s pinnacle.

While her curiosity remained unquenched, it was clear that Liu Che’s boundless vigor defined him. Even when unwell, he would nonetheless make his way to the Qingliang Hall to spend time with Han Yan during daylight hours. At times, when the mood struck him, he would summon a few palace servants to join him for singing, dancing, and even moments of indulgent frivolity. Yet, it appeared that his regard for others was unaffected by what transpired in intimacy.

Though Han Yan often stayed overnight within the palace walls, it was not merely for the intimacy; his insights into the affairs of the Xiongnu borderlands and his lifelong companionship with Liu Che distinguished him from others.

Indeed, aside from him, no one could claim to hold Liu Che’s special favor solely based on beauty.

Chen Jiao had seen Wang Ji before—though her beauty was undeniable, there were several girls within the Jiaofang Hall whose elegance could rival her own.

She cast a questioning glance toward Wei Zifu, who met her gaze without pretense. A knowing nod accompanied by two delicate blushes rising to her cheeks revealed her awareness.

In a hushed whisper, her voice delicate as the flutter of a mosquito, Wei Zifu leaned in to speak softly into Chen Jiao’s ear, “I’ve heard that the elders of Lady Wang’s family are disciples of witches and shamans, masters of the art of seduction. It is said they can make a man feel as if he’s teetering on the brink of death, yet after intimacy, His Majesty always seems invigorated, his senses sharpened, his vitality renewed…”

Chen Jiao found no cause for shame in such knowledge. A sudden clarity dawned upon her, yet her brow darkened with concern.

What she least needed now was to have a Wei woman in her grasp—one who could not be wielded—and to be forced to witness another favored concubine being presented and celebrated.

Liu Shou was still too young to tolerate Wang Ji’s constant wandering around the harem. He hadn’t yet reached the age where he could hold the Jewel of Wisdom in his hand and be calm and collected. //TN: “Jewel of Wisdom”— in Buddhism this symbolizes deep understanding, cutting through distractions and misinformation.//

“It’s not fitting for her to be a shaman.” She couldn’t help but think, “Things like witchcraft and curses are common in the palace…” Halfway through speaking, she felt embarrassed: for so many years, she had forgotten that Wei zifu had also been involved in the past.

Chen Jiao glanced at her and found that she had lowered her head and didn’t dare look at her. Her thick black hair was flowing down, forming a thick curtain over her cheeks.

She felt momentarily embarrassed.

She lifted Wei Zifu’s chin and said in a low voice, “My foolish child, what are you afraid of?”

Wei Zifu’s gaze briefly met hers before drifting away.

She mumbled, “Such a serious thing as witchcraft—once it’s stirred up, it becomes a bloodbath…”

“But that depends on whether she actually performed witchcraft,” Chen Jiao considered thoughtfully, then smiled wryly. ”Still, it’s time to assign her a new room. Since she’s so favored, I’ll discuss with A’Che about giving her the title of Beauty.”

Wei Zifu’s lovely eyes shone with light. She looked at Chen Jiao, tears welling up but seeming unaware or perhaps already understanding what she intended.

…

The grand princess was surprised to learn about Wang Ji’s past, “The art of the bedchamber? No wonder A’Che likes her so much. She really has a special ability.”

Chen Jiao felt that the people around her were getting better at telling jokes every day.

When the grand princess occasionally tried it, she was so happy she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, “It’s a pity we’re all girls and can’t try out her skills.”

The grand princess rolled her eyes, her arrogance returning. “That’s not a unique skill. In two or three months, I’ll send you two or three beauties, each better than her.”

Although she had forbidden the grand princess, she still seemed to have made some preparations in secret. Otherwise, how could she be so confident and reveal her skills so carelessly?

Chen Jiao rolled her eyes, “Why are you sending a beauty? Why can’t I learn it myself?”

The voice trembled with disbelief, accusing her with a gasp, “You are the Empress of the Han Dynasty! How could you—how could you—” Such words lacked the grace befitting its station, Chen Jiao mused.

Yet, before she could respond, the Grand princess’ reaction echoed almost exactly in tone and sentiment, “Jiaojiao! Your noble rank!”

It was clear that she possessed an innate understanding of decorum, unlike Dong Yan, who still needed to learn.

Chen Jiao suddenly recognized her mistake in seeking counsel from the wrong person.

While the grand empress dowager might possess a solution, within the confines of the Marquess of Tangyi’s estate, even if a specialized instructor existed for such lessons, it would undoubtedly be co-educational and most likely male. Should such a teacher wish to enter the palace to instruct her, he would first need to be castrated—only then could he hope to survive the journey.

“I do not have any children at this time.” She employed the topic of children to silence the grand princess, who appeared to choke on a piece of fruit.

She paused, then crossed her arms as if indignant at Chen Jiao.

“If I had known, I would have married into a noble family,” the grand princess complained without thinking. “It’s your husband who should be learning the arts of the bedroom, not you!”

She was a little surprised, and before she could respond, the grand princess’ eyes lit up, “I think Chu Fu’s grandparents were shamans as well. Her father cured your brother of a fever not long ago. Perhaps her mother or grandmother, or perhaps she herself, are no strangers to this family knowledge.”