Chapter 17 Half a Year Confined
Jiaofang Hall grew lively.
Every day, the moment court ended, Xiao Yan came. In his free time he watched me embroider and paint, or guided my hand as he taught me to write.
Later he even carried over a pile of memorials and handled official papers right in my palace.
Tales of deep feeling between the emperor and empress spread through the harem. The palace servants all said Heaven was protecting them, and that evil thing had finally stopped coming out to harm people.
I did not see anyone notice the blue-purple bruises pinched into my arm.
But when Xiao Yan was not in a fit, he did seem like a good husband.
Every day he ate with me, and, following the physician's orders, walked with me so I could digest.
Sometimes he pressed his ear to my belly.
The child kicked. His face went still for a moment. After a long pause he said, "I do not know if it is a prince or a princess."
Then he took up paper and brush and began working out a name for the child.
One day we boated on the lake. The sunset burned like fire and set the lotus pond shining.
He sat at the bow, peeling lotus seeds. He peeled one. I ate one.
For a dazed moment, we almost seemed like an ordinary couple.
But this was still the imperial palace, not an ordinary home.
That day Lan Zhi came to Jiaofang Hall. She saw the wide patch of blue-purple on my arm. Her lips trembled, and her eyes went wide.
Before, no matter how many rare treasures Xiao Yan bestowed on me, she had never shown a look like that.
"What is this!"
Her severed hands clamped me like chopsticks. The strength was strangely great.
Xiao Cui pulled her off. She lunged at me again and repeated, "What is this!"
"Why do you have these. These are mine. Mine!!"
She knocked me to the ground. Her arm pressed my neck. I almost could not breathe.
Xiao Yan arrived in time and pulled her away.
"Your Majesty!"
Lan Zhi's eyes held tears. She looked at Xiao Yan holding me, her face full of grievance.
"How could you..."
"Consort Lan has offended above her station. Confine her for half a year."
He gave the order coldly. Lan Zhi was dragged off.
My fear had not settled. I covered my belly and could not stop shaking.
Xiao Yan held me and coaxed me.
"A Yue, do not be afraid. I will protect you."
I clutched his sleeve tight, like someone drowning, grabbing a straw that might save a life.