Chapter 23: Shupin

As the morning light first appeared and the drizzle had just ceased, the Wanli Emperor slowly opened his eyes, his palms grasping blindly until they caught a soft, fluffy mass.

In that instant, the fire of desire that had accumulated in his heart was stirred once more.

He pulled the beauty into his arms, his body swaying.

At first, Zheng Yufeng was half-asleep and half-awake, but being suddenly assaulted like this, she was startled.

Later, discovering it was the Emperor, she blushed and pointed outside, saying, "Your Majesty, the sky is already bright; you should rest."

Feeling the beauty's fair, smooth skin, looking at her fiery gaze, and smelling the orchid fragrance, the Wanli Emperor paid no mind to anything else.

As their intimacy deepened, Zheng Yufeng shifted from her initial feigned resistance to active compliance.

In the past, when the Wanli Emperor favored his concubines, they were like corpses; how could any be as considerate as Zheng Yufeng?

"Your Majesty, are you tired?" Zheng Yufeng asked with alluring eyes, moving her jade-like hand to wipe the fine sweat from the Emperor's brow.

"I am not tired; I feel full of energy now."

As the two spoke, a series of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the palace.

The Wanli Emperor knew it was the Eunuch sent by the Empress Dowager to wake him, so he quickened his pace, preparing to end the battle.

"Your Majesty, it is the third quarter of the Mao hour; you should rise," a shrill voice called from inside.

The Wanli Emperor grew nervous and finished in a rush.

Immediately after, the two lay on the large bed, waiting for the palace maids to come and serve them.

The Wanli Emperor looked at the beauty panting heavily, and he had a premonition that he would never be able to leave this woman for the rest of his life.

Zheng Yufeng's breath was like orchids as she cooed delicately, "Your Majesty, this concubine does not want to return to Chuxiugong Palace; I want to stay with Your Majesty. If I do not see Your Majesty for a single day, my heart feels flustered."

"I am the same," Wanli said, holding Zheng Yufeng and comforting her, "Rest assured, in ten days at most, I will confer the title of Nine Concubines, and then we can be together at all times."

"Then Your Majesty must not forget this concubine."

"I could never forget you."

Half a quarter of an hour later, the two had finished dressing and washing, and Zheng Yufeng was temporarily left at Qianqing Palace.

Every day, as was the custom, the Wanli Emperor had to first pay his respects to the two Empresses Dowager.

The first place he went was not to Li Taihou, but to Chen Taihou, who was the Empress of the Longqing Emperor and the Wanli Emperor's legal mother.

Regarding this, Chen Taihou was pleased, and Li Taihou was also pleased.

Because Chen Taihou was kind-hearted, dignified, and elegant, the Wanli Emperor was happier when with this legal mother than he was with his own birth mother.

This morning, the Wanli Emperor's footsteps led all the way outside Ciqing Palace.

Laughter immediately drifted from inside.

"Has Jun'er arrived?"

Following this, the owner of the voice walked out. She appeared to be about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dignified and elegant, with red lips and white teeth, possessing a refined temperament.

She wore a light yellow long skirt embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, looking like a figure who had stepped out of a painting.

It was Chen Taihou.

The Wanli Emperor was about to perform a bow, but Chen Taihou helped him up and said with a smile, "Why must we two mother and son bother with these empty formalities? Come, come, Mother has made the pastries you like best."

"Thank you, Mother," the Wanli Emperor said, following Chen Taihou to the table to sit down.

There were three or four prepared pastries on the table, their fragrance filling the air and whetting the Wanli Emperor's appetite.

"Jun'er, don't be a stranger with Mother; just eat," Chen Taihou said, picking up a pastry and handing it to the Emperor.

The Wanli Emperor ate heartily, and Chen Taihou watched with joy in her heart.

Suddenly hearing of the Emperor's scandalous behavior last night, she remembered her own husband, the Longqing Emperor, and could not help but advise, "Jun'er, the foundation passed down by our ancestors was not easily won; you must take care of your health and never neglect your body."

"This son... this son knows." Wanli turned bright red.

"You are still young, and the imperial lineage is not flourishing; you should strive for it. But you must not indulge in it and ruin your health, do you understand?" Chen Taihou said earnestly. Wanli nodded repeatedly.

Chen Taihou let out a long sigh of relief and wanted to reach out to rub the Emperor's head, but suddenly remembering that the Emperor was no longer a child, she could only smile bitterly.

The mother and son chatted for two quarters of an hour, then the Wanli Emperor rose to go to his birth mother's palace.

Ten days later, the Wanli Emperor conferred the Nine Concubines, and Zheng Yufeng was titled Shupin, ranking second among the Nine Concubines.

That day, the eunuch reading the Emperor's decree flooded into Zheng Shupin's home.

Inside the spacious main hall, a eunuch wearing a sable-trimmed robe and a tooth-plate hanging from his waist stood in the center, holding the Imperial Edict.

Before him, the Zheng father and son were terrified, prostrate on the ground.

The eunuch smiled, unfolded the Imperial Edict, and read in a shrill voice: "Zheng Chengxian's daughter, Zheng Yufeng, is quick-witted, dignified in conduct, elegant in appearance, and well-versed in etiquette; she is hereby conferred the title of Shupin. Zheng Chengxian is commended for his upbringing, and is hereby promoted to Thousand-Household of the North Bureau of the Jinyiwei, rewarded with five hundred taels of silver, twenty gold ingots, one bolt of Shu Brocade, and a pair of jade ruyi..."

"Respect this."

Dragging out his tone to finish in one breath, the eunuch felt his mouth dry. He licked his lips and looked at the two with a smile, saying, "Father-in-law of the Emperor, accept the decree; this is a grand event."

"Ah?! Oh," Zheng Chengxian awoke as if from a dream and scrambled up from the ground.

He tremblingly took the Imperial Edict and stared at it closely, fearing the handwriting might change.

After a few seconds, he shifted his gaze and thanked the eunuch, "Thank you, Eunuch; this is a small token, please do not take offense."

As he spoke, he took out an ingot of silver and pressed it into the eunuch's hand.

Having received the reward, the eunuch was overjoyed and showered them with praise before leaving satisfied.

At this moment, Zheng Guotai also crowded forward, glanced at the Imperial Edict, and muttered, "Why is there only a reward for you, Father? I am the Emperor's brother-in-law, yet I am still a commoner."

"You scoundrel!" Zheng Chengxian had been happy, but upon hearing his son speak, his anger flared; he pointed at him and cursed, "With that sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked look of yours, and your loafing about all day, who would dare give you an official post?"

"Isn't that just taking after you?"

"You... you unfilial son, see if I don't beat you to death today!" Zheng Chengxian said, turning to find a feather duster.

Zheng Guotai greased his heels and slipped out of the small courtyard in a flash.

Outside the courtyard, it was already crowded with neighbors watching the excitement; watching the excitement had been the most beloved pastime of the common people since ancient times.

If any major event occurred, it wouldn't take half a quarter of an hour before it was sure to be spread everywhere.

Seeing Zheng Guotai running out in a panic, one of the men stretched his neck and shouted, "Eldest of the Zheng family, your father will be angered to death by you sooner or later; how can you manage to make your father angry on such a happy day?"

Zheng Guotai ignored that person, pushed through the crowd, and ran outward.

In an instant, the crowd became chaotic and restless.

"Young Master Zheng, what do you think of my little girl? She is fourteen this year, just right to be a match for you."

"Eldest of the Zheng family, your mother has been dead for so long, what do you think of me? Although I have been married before, I know how to cherish a man. From now on, we shall each count our own; I will call you brother, and you will call me mother."

"Brother Zheng, what do you think of me? I can do anything, just take me home and marry me."

Under this barrage of requests, Zheng Guotai felt somewhat carried away.

Suddenly hearing shouts from the alley ahead, the crowd turned their heads to look, and a team of Brocade Guards surged in.

Upon seeing the Brocade Guards, the commoners turned pale with fright and scattered without a trace.

"Han San, why have you come?" Zheng Guotai asked upon seeing the man in the lead.

"This humble one is helping Young Master Zhang invite the Imperial Brother-in-law to go drinking," Han San smiled, then beckoned to the brothers behind him and shouted, "This is the Imperial Brother-in-law, why aren't you calling out to the Imperial Brother-in-law yet?"

"Imperial Brother-in-law!" the Brocade Guard soldiers behind him shouted respectfully in unison.

"Empty titles, all empty titles." Zheng Guotai's vanity was greatly satisfied, and he urged them with a flushed face, "Since our brother is looking for us to drink, we dare not delay; you all lead the way quickly."

Han San nodded, ordered a few men to guard the Zheng family's small courtyard, and then took Zheng Guotai to keep the appointment.

(End of this chapter)