Many consorts in the rear palace were products of political marriages, the Emperor did not favour them, but to appease the great clans behind them, Chen Ji would visit each one from time to time.
If in good spirits, he might stay overnight a few times a year to show favour.
On this day, following custom, Chen Ji went to Changping Palace where Consort Qing resided.
Upon entering, he caught a faint, delicate fragrance.
It was his favourite plum blossom scent.
“Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!”
Consort Qing led the palace maids in kneeling and bowing to Chen Ji.
“Rise,” Chen Ji waved casually, then looked around and said, “Consort Qing, it is only autumn, yet why does your Changping Palace carry a hint of plum fragrance?”
“Your Majesty has toiled all day, please sit and rest first.”
Consort Qing did not answer but dismissed the maids, stepped forward with a gentle smile, and took Chen Ji’s arm.
The plum scent grew stronger at once, Chen Ji could not resist leaning close to her neck to smell, “Yes, this is it. Consort Qing, have you applied plum-blossom rouge?”
“It is not rouge. That girl Mulan sent your subject a few small items called scented soap. After bathing with it, this fragrance lingers on the body.”
Consort Qing said with a smile.
“Scented soap? The one made by Baron Qingshui, Jin Feng?” Chen Ji asked.
“Your Majesty knows of scented soap?” Consort Qing was startled.
After the Duke sent the soap, Consort Qing treasured it like a gem.
What was a consort’s main duty?
To please the Emperor, of course.
Knowing Chen Ji loved plum blossoms, she bathed daily with the plum-scented soap, even soaked her clothes in it.
Finally, with great reluctance, she had a maid grind one bar into powder and sprinkle it throughout the palace, so Changping Palace always carried a faint plum fragrance.
Sure enough, Chen Ji was drawn the moment he arrived.
But she had not expected him to know Jin Feng made the soap.
“Some time ago, Zhou Wenyuan of the Zhou family went to Guangyuan to buy scented soap, somehow became greedy, and had Jin Feng’s concubine abducted to bring to the capital and force the formula from her.”
“Jin Feng was furious, with the prefect’s cooperation, sealed the city and searched…”
Chen Ji leaned back in his chair and recounted the feud between Jin Feng and Zhou Wenyuan, “Zhou Wenyuan even killed prefectural soldiers over it, but the Qing, Gao, and other families seized the handle and impeached the Zhou clan daily before me. It dragged on nearly two months before the Zhou family covered it up.”
“So that is what happened.”
Only now did Consort Qing learn the story behind the soap.
She moved behind the chair, gently massaged Chen Ji’s temples, and said, “Zhou Wenyuan went too far. Abducting a noble’s concubine in the prefectural city was already disrespectful, yet he dared kill garrison soldiers!”
Having accepted Jin Feng’s gift, Consort Qing naturally spoke for him.
“When Zhou Wenyuan took Tang Xiaobei, she was not yet Jin Feng’s concubine.”
“As for killing soldiers, he was probably afraid. Jin Feng is a killer, and he had right on his side. Had Zhou Wenyuan not fled fast, Jin Feng really would have killed him!”
Chen Ji closed his eyes slightly and sighed, “Jin Feng should have killed Zhou Wenyuan then. It would have ended everything, and the Zhou and Qing families would not keep bothering me.”
“Your Majesty, forgive your subject. As a woman, I know nothing of politics, but I believe my brother disturbs Your Majesty only for the rivers and mountains of Da Kang.”
Consort Qing knelt and said, “Now Huai’er and Xinyao guard the borders for Your Majesty, even Mulan, a mere girl, talks daily of fighting enemies and serving the realm.”
“The Qing family’s loyal heart to Your Majesty can be seen by sun and moon!”
“I spoke casually, Consort Qing, why take it so? Rise.”
Chen Ji pulled her into his arms and changed the subject, “They say Baron Qingshui neglects proper duties. A scholar should study classics, yet he indulges in odd crafts. Now I believe it. This scented soap smells exactly like real plum blossoms.”
“Your Majesty, who says Baron Qingshui neglects duty?”
Consort Qing smiled, took a soap box from the side, opened it, and presented it to Chen Ji, “This poem was written by Baron Qingshui. Your subject finds it excellent.”
Da Kang had promoted culture and suppressed martial arts for centuries, literary arts flourished, and Emperor Chen Ji was deeply influenced. Gifted in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, he was also tolerant of literati.
When Jin Feng wrote lines like “No idle fields in the realm, yet farmers starve,” and Qing family rivals impeached him, Chen Ji only laughed it off.
He was a fine artist, but not a fine emperor.
He believed in imperial balance, yet lacked skill and was soft-eared.
Sometimes dukes sent rare paintings, or bought good poems to recite, and Chen Ji might change his mind.
Now, hearing Consort Qing offer Jin Feng’s poem, he perked up at once.
“Baron Qingshui has poetic talent. I have heard a few of his works. That one flattering courtesans aside, the others, though plain in diction, are deeply felt and moving.”
He commented, sat up, and looked at the wooden box in her hand.
Four lines of small characters were carved on the lid.
“Plum and snow vie in spring, unwilling to yield, poets rack brains to judge.”
“Plum must yield snow three parts white, yet snow loses to plum one part fragrance.”
Chen Ji read the poem slowly, then closed his eyes, swaying his head and repeating it softly.
Like savouring rare delicicacies, reluctant to swallow, rolling it on his tongue.
After several minutes, he suddenly opened his eyes, slapped his thigh, and cried, “What a Baron Qingshui! What a ‘Plum must yield snow three parts white, yet snow loses to plum one part fragrance!’ Marvellously written!”
Consort Qing’s eyes flashed with joy.
She knew Chen Ji loved plum blossoms and guessed he would like the plum poem, but not this much.
When he had savoured it enough, she smiled and said, “If Baron Qingshui knew Your Majesty liked his poem so, who knows how happy he would be.”
“Forget it. I hear Baron Qingshui is aloof by nature. Qing Huai valued him highly in Weizhou, ready to entrust great tasks, yet he preferred returning to his small Jinchuan village over joining Qing Huai.”
Chen Ji said, “But since ancient times, those with poetic talent are often so. Without indifference to fame, they could not write such stunning plum verses.”
“Pity my new plum painting lacks snow, otherwise this poem would fit perfectly.”
He spoke while still toying with the soap box.
“Your Majesty need not regret. Baron Qingshui did not write only this plum poem.”
Consort Qing covered her mouth with a smile and took another box from the side.
“There is more?”
Chen Ji’s eyes widened, forgetting imperial dignity, and snatched the box from her hand.
