To strengthen the imperial services, every year girls were recruited from the best families in the empire. They provided support in the palace under the guidance of the Empress and for a period of ten years, after which they returned to their homes, unless they enjoyed a special status as wives or concubines. It was by this route that Li and Xi had entered palace life. Being admitted to the imperial court was thus the greatest desire of all the girls in the empire. During their stay the palace was a school, not only of social relationships, but of arts and crafts of high prestige.
When Li came to that paradise, she saw in it an extension of her natural world. She did not have her rice paddies there, or the beauty of its fauna and flora, but in return she could enjoy the luxury and wealth of the palaces, their wonders, the variety of food, the sumptuous garments within her reach and, above all, the fineness of the silk fabrics to which she had access for the first time. That entirely new world was like a natural extension of her longed-for life, where beauty blended with the gentle scent of the intoxicating breeze of a palatial life. Soon her open and graceful smile caught the attention of the Emperor who saw in it the softness of a flower different from the others. The first encounters, at a certain distance, allowed for fleeting, curious and fatal looks. For the Emperor it was not possible to resist the beauty of that flower, which at a distance reminded him of the delicacy and grace of a lily of the field. The brief but significant glances between them did not escape the sixth sense of Empress Zizi, for whom it was evident to have there a serious case to solve. Despite the annual influx of beautiful girls, the Empress had had no cause for major concern. Even with their beauty, the girls, in general, were nothing more than insipid, devoid of sensitivity and intelligence enough to pose any threat to her reign. But Li was different; she had much more than beauty. At first glance it was easy to find other appealing attributes: she was delicate, intelligent and sensual. The Empress knew that she had ascended to that place of choice, not only because of her natural gifts of beauty, which she sought to highlight, but above all for her ability to negotiate and manipulate wills. Feeling threatened, Zizi soon used a strategy with the other concubines, to gradually and consistently start making life difficult for Li. Thus, the beauty that had awakened the eyes of the Emperor began to be isolated and marginalized by the other competitors. For Li those signs did not come as a surprise, for he was already waiting for them. She had enough tact to know that these actions represented small side effects, without pinching the essentials of her path to the Emperor’s seduction. The days passed and, to the Empress’ discomfort, her strategy was not bearing the desired fruit. It was necessary to take more radical and efficient measures, otherwise she was at risk of being overlooked by the other. As a new period of admission of girls to serve in the palace approached, the opportunity for Zizi to take a new step in the defense of her interests arrived. Thus, “to fight a rival, nothing better than another that neutralizes the first,” she thought. That could be achieved in recruitment. In this circumstance, she gave instructions so that, in the selection phase, the jury would have to obtain her final opinion. For the first time it would be up to her, Empress, to make the final decision on the admission of the candidates. As it would take some time between selection and admission, she took care to manage strategies so that Li could not do too much damage. Thus, the process of admission of the new candidates became faster than usual. Shortly after that the first group was selected for admission. But to the Empress’s disappointment, those candidates didn’t add anything new to the dull girls they had inside. So she asked the Emperor to provide a new edict allowing for the expansion of admissions (this fact was not foreign to the Emperor himself, but because the request came from the Empress, he decided favorably and without reservation). Some time later it was announced the extension of the said period of candidatures to the imperial palace. When the jury finally presented the Empress with the pre-selection of the candidates, it was with displeasure that she found that none of the girls selected had the profile she had imagined necessary to be much of a match for Li. Faced with the perplexity of the situation, the Empress wanted to see the forms of all applications even those that had already been rejected (when a girl did not meet several prerequisites such as: being beautiful, healthy, having good character, belonging to good families, among others, was automatically excluded by the jury). Xi was in that group, not because she had any illness, or not enough beauty skills, but rather because her moral qualities and family background were not very recommendable (Xi’s family had a weak social reputation). When the Empress gave orders to include Xi, it was a total surprise to the members of the jury (however, at that time, an imperial order was never commented on or questioned). Perhaps because of this, the Emperor himself did not become aware of the situation. The Empress’ obstinacy in finding a “rattlesnake” who would stand up to her rival was, however, a reckless act, not only for breaking rules, but rather for the dangerous precedence of exceeding demands on moral principles. The protected one, when taking knowledge, was moved by the gesture of the Empress for this to have changed the decision of the jury and to be included in the group of the elected ones (the future would confirm, however, that the nature does not cease to be stronger when one is before decisive moments).
With Xi’s admission it became clear to the other girls admitted that Xi had the Empress’ sympathy. This feeling of favoritism soon spread to the rest of the girls and soon there was no one in the palace among the minor staff who did not know or suspect of it. With this, Xi’s ego grew exponentially, facilitating her rapid integration and growth in privileged status among the others. Li herself, who was in the Emperor’s good graces, started to look at Xi with apprehension. The Empress did not stop at the initial favoritism of Xi, but also sought a rapprochement between her and Li. So the other concubines who were jealous of Li welcomed Xi. This atmosphere of interest game gave clear advantage to the integration of Xi, who took advantage like no other of the favorable wave. Thus, the circle of friendships of the newly admitted gradually grew, extending her tentacles, even among the eunuchs where she began to have influences. The Empress, who followed everything at a distance, trying to ensure that the results would appear, had to give time to time. In the palace, the Emperor himself began to realize the presence of that new girl. For Xi it was a first step to have his eyes on her. She did not, however, have Li’s mastery of seduction, but through her she wanted to achieve that added value, and quickly put her plan to practice. Xi began to notice and imitate everything Li did: how she dressed and adorned herself with accessories; the gestures she used when speaking; and even her grace in walking or sitting. As time went by, she achieved an acceptable imitation, except in the way of smiling and looking. Li had a look and an affable and graceful smile that was very difficult to reproduce. No matter how hard Xi tried, in exercises in front of a mirror, she could not get out of that austere air that was peculiar to her. However, she was an ambitious girl and considered that all means fully justified the ends. Despite increased efforts and attempts, Xi could not overcome the weaker aspects of her face, so the results were always disappointing - she had to find someone to help her overcome those limitations. She put a number of options to herself, including seeking help from the Empress, but this could bring her unfavorable readings. After much thought, she found the solution during a show. She noticed that the same comedians performed very different scenes, with expressive and very well achieved facial characterizations. From that moment on, “the solution could be in the use of a theater master who would teach her to control her facial expressions”. Better done, than said.
The next day Xi went to see Demus, a theatre master suggested by a well-known concubine of her, Titi. When he received her, Demus sent her to another comedian named Zhu, who, according to him, was skilled in teaching facial expressions. Shortly after, she was received by him.
- How can I help you? - Said Zhu, expressing a certain curiosity about the visit.
At first Xi was as if par
alyzed without being able to respond, but soon afterwards she reacted by saying the first thing that came to her mind:
- I wanted to learn theatre!
Zhu looked at Xi with the amazement of those who had not quite understood what he had just heard. In the palace all the minor staff knew that the exercise of the theatrical activity was forbidden, by the Emperor, to all the girls admitted.
- What do you mean?! – Zhu questioned, surprised.
- Well, it’s not exactly that! What I really wanted was to learn to talk with a smile on my lips!
Zhu, in the face of that statement, could not help but laugh. Then, looking at Xi, he added:
- Let’s start at the beginning! Tell me exactly what your problem is...
In the minutes that followed, Xi (despite feeling ridiculous with Zhu’s laughter) made a huge effort not to give up her purpose. She tried to meet her higher ambitions and, through indirect words, conveyed to Zhu what was on her mind that is “that she would like to have a smile like Li’s”. After that initial embarrassment they agreed to meet secretly to begin the necessary facial exercises.
Zhu was a eunuch with long years of theatrical experience. He had taught several generations of students who played almost perfectly difficult roles. This connection to the theatre people was not easy for Xi, as she had some psychological resistance in communicating with them - she considered them second class people. From an early age, Zhu maintained an old practice acquired at his parents’ home. With an uncle he had learned to extract reptile poisons and then sell them at the local periodical market. That habit was not abandoned when he entered the palace. Maybe that was the motive Zhu was looked down on by some and admired by others. His uncle had lived in India for several years and there he had learned to extract poisons with a snake tamer. From that time several stories were told through the corridors of the palace, among eunuchs and others, about poisonings that had occurred in India where the main suspect had been his uncle. These suspicions were never proven, but remained as “karma” chasing after his past. Maybe that’s why Zhu was also the subject of some rumors. Whenever strange cases of poisoning occurred in the palace, the voices of runners were unanimous in attributing to him suspicions of responsibility. Xi learned much later about Zhu’s past and the rumors about him and his uncle relapsing, but was not at all disturbed by it. Xi had to make an initial personal effort not to create hostile environments. However, the winds were blowing in Xi’s face. In Zhu she found not only a precious help in achieving her immediate ends, but above all, an important ally for the future.
When Xi began the training, learning was slow and difficult, but over time it began to bear fruit. Those closest to Xi began to realize that she was changing, both in her way of behaving and in her way of interacting with others. For Empress Zizi herself it began to be clear that, after all, the decisions she had made in the past had not been in vain - her strategy was therefore showing signs of success “it was time to move on to a second phase”, she thought. So she appointed Xi Li’s maid of honor, hoping that the two would neutralize each other. And sooner than expected, disagreements arose, to the great satisfaction of the other concubines - all this had not been unrelated to the knowledge of the Empress that Xi frequented the theater facilities, having obtained from the Emperor permission for the ladies-in-waiting to do the same. Xi could now take the classes with Zhu without hiding, which gave her a reinforcement of self-confidence. The one who was not at all pleased with the Emperor’s decision was Li. For her the perimeter of fire was beginning to tighten her horizon, either because of the gratuitous hostilities of the other concubines, that could be said orchestrated by the Empress, or by her lady-in-waiting. For Li the lady-in-waiting appointed by the Empress was more than dispensable, since by all means she tried to turn every day into hell, thanks to her intrigues and poisons. Xi took advantage of this positive wave, keeping in mind that it was thanks to Zhu that it all began. So, on her birthday, and influenced by the “aura of the day”, she was ready to talk to him about it.
- I don’t know how to thank you for what you’ve done for me! - said Xi, expressing a broad smile.
- I welcome the progress. Proving how easily you can smile! From what I can see, one of these days I’ll have to end my classes.
- Yes, but not without telling me how I’m going to repay you for all this effort!
Xi’s facial change allowed her to go from being a beautiful girl (full of physical attributes) to the level of a charming girl to whom no one was indifferent, thanks to her beautiful smile. Even Zhu began to nurture strong desires for closeness.
- I have a surprise for you! - Said Zhu, cryptic.
- Hmm! The day’s going better than the order!
- It’s just a souvenir! I have to distinguish my best student, don’t you think?! Oh, I forgot, we don’t have class today! Last minute appointments aren’t allowed. It’s only fair that you have a day off on your birthday too, don’t you think?!
Zhu went to a closet next to him, took a small box and handed it to Xi.
- Is it a treasure? - said Xi, amused.
From the outside it looked like a “jewel case” but as she prepared to open, Zhu intervened, saying:
- You can’t open it until after dinner.
That recommendation from Zhu made Xi even more curious and, looking at both sides of the box, she added:
- How do you open this?!
- You’ll have to find out!
- Well, I can’t wait to see what is inside! Thank you again!
Soon after Xi said goodbye, putting the box in a bag she was carrying. Along the way she was conjuring up possible reasons for that strange request. When the end of the day arrived, intense and tiring (among many other tasks she had been called to the Emperor) she was not in the mood to fulfill Zhu’s requests. So she just put the box in the first drawer she found, determined not to open it, much less after dinner and alone. The next day she commented with a concubine, her friend, on the matter:
- Yesterday I was offered a “mystery box”; only I don’t know how to open it.
- Go get it and we’ll see!
Minutes later the two friends looked at the box, on either side, with the surprise of those who don’t see how to get out of that riddle - it was a box covered with figures embossed on all sides, executed in a handiwork but with no evidence of a lid.
-How do you open this? - I have no idea. - said Xi, impatient.
- A friend once told me about something like this! It was a few years ago! Let’s see if...
By manipulating from one side to another, the box fell on the floor.
- Oh, sorry! I hope I didn’t break it.
When Xi picked up the box, she noticed a side ledge and, to her surprise...
-Eureka! I remember now! Pull on that ledge!
And when they no longer knew how to find a way out of the problem, everything finally became clear to both of them - by pulling on the ledge, the box dislocated a part that was a lid, and the contents fell to the ground.
-Hey, what is all this?!
The friend, looking at the “figurines” that had just fallen, could not help but laugh.
- You’re embarrassing me! - commented Xi, apprehensive.
- I can already see what is happening, my friend. You got an admirer on the way!
In fact, the “figurines” picked up from the ground were nothing but representations from the Kama Sutra. With that episode, Xi was feeling vexed, so shortly after the two friends said goodbye without further comment. On the way to her quarters, Xi was still a little confused, and she was planning what she could do to take advantage of that souvenir she started to call the “box of secrets”. When two weeks later her classes with Zhu ended, she made it clear that the gift he had given her on her birthday had been an irreverence, but that it in no way altered their friendship. Xi, after much thought and evaluation of the “figurines”, decided to leave her “box of secrets” on the main room furniture, after one of her meetings with the Emper
or. And if the Emperor asked her about it, she could always argue that they had been left there by accident. But to Xi’s surprise, the Emperor not only failed to tell her about it, but also began to show her that the “figurines” she had left there in the box were, for many years, of his personal knowledge. After that episode, Xi’s meetings with the Emperor became more interesting.
Months later...
For Li, the Emperor, who at other times had represented everything for her, was now a horizon of emptiness - he almost only had attention for Xi. As if all this were no longer difficult enough, Xi’s recent appointment as a concubine, who was given high-level benefits, made Li’s daily life unmanageable. Therefore, taking advantage of her father’s prolonged illness, decided to leave the palace for a while.
When a lady-in-waiting was appointed a concubine by the Emperor, festivities and wedding rituals were held, but in this case, it did not happen, to the surprise of many. Xi’s promotion was not only the beginning of a nightmare for Li, but also represented a setback for the Empress, who saw in the situation a hard blow, hard to bear. If Li’s absence represented an unexpected improvement, Xi’s promotion, with a new status, proved that her entire strategy had failed. It was now necessary to take urgent fundamental measures to reverse the whole situation in her favor. This time, she could not be fooled again. After much thought, she decided to consult Tau, an old magician and her confidant from her youth. Years ago, Tau had predicted that one day she would be Empress and a very influential person at court. The years passed and the Empress had never contacted him again. She hadn’t been attentive to him in the past, but today she recognized that she owed him a debt of gratitude. Through relatives she sought news of Tau. Days later the surprise could not be more painful, not only did she learn of his death, but she also learned that Tau had revealed, in his last moments of life, to be bitter with the Empress, for the latter never again gave him an answer to a request of his own to visit her in the palace. Now, it was too late! The Empress could no longer correct her mistake and that left her with no solution in sight. As the months went by, the human relations between the two women, the Empress and Xi, became more and more tense and difficult. At court, all those who had a relationship with her now noticed a deep sadness, which she could no longer hide. Some time later, one grey morning, the palace was shaken by the news that the Empress had been found lifeless in her bed. The court physicians, called urgently, confirmed the occurrence of natural death with cardiac arrest. By order of the Emperor the funeral act was discreet and reduced to the essential.
The Great Empire--Bilingual Edition Page 18