Chapter Seven: Shangguan Peihui

“Go and deliver my order: for every consort of Talented Lady rank and above, only six palace maids and one eunuch may remain. For those of Talented Lady rank and below, including Talented Lady, only one maid may stay. Anyone who dares delay will be strictly punished.”

Seeing that the Emperor was earnest, the chief eunuch could only return to the harem with the new command. This time, no one dared to drag their feet. Two days later, the palace was quiet at last. Among the maids who once had neither backing nor security, Gao Buyi kept twenty in the Hall of Purple Radiance, each meeting his standard of fair skin, beauty, and long legs—a vision of elegance in his eyes. The rest were distributed among the concubines of the harem.

At the same time, Gao Buyi established two new rules for the harem: Mistresses were forbidden from wantonly insulting or punishing their servants, or else those servants would be removed from their service. Likewise, servants were forbidden from disrespecting their mistresses, or else they would be expelled from the palace. For a time, the harem resounded with praise for the Emperor’s reforms, though some were displeased—sowing the seeds for future troubles.

After this round of reorganization, just over five hundred remained in the harem—the lowest number since the reign of Emperor Taizong. Yet perhaps this was for the best: gone were the noisy flocks of songbirds, but the vast harem was not left empty, and its tranquility did not lack for a certain liveliness.

Events in Chang’an stirred the hearts of neighboring states. The sudden cessation of hostilities on the border by the Emperor of Great Tang left them at a loss—unsure whether to prepare for war or peace, they could only wait and watch. But a quiescent Tang was a blessing for them; the present empire was not yet a force they could shake.

A week passed and the great reformation of the imperial household in Chang’an was settled. Gao Buyi, for once, found time to relax. With the entire nation still observing the holiday, and the Lantern Festival yet to come, he was in no hurry to return to state affairs.

Late at night, he soaked in the grand marble lotus bath, its water at the perfect temperature, soothing away his weariness. Four exquisite palace maids stood nearby. Gao Buyi, eyes half-closed, glanced at them and, on a sudden mischievous whim, said, “You, you, and you—and you—come here and give me a back rub.”

At his command, the four maids did not hesitate. They immediately shed their outer robes, wearing only thin undergarments, and slipped into the pool to approach him.

Gazing at their breathtaking faces, Gao Buyi was momentarily at a loss—such obedience! But since they had come, why back down now? It would be even more embarrassing to send them away.

So, with a slide, he glided from the petal-shaped edge into the center of the pool. Before he could even stand, two maids knelt to massage his feet, while the other two supported his body and began to scrub his back.

Wait—these four all know martial arts.

The realization struck Gao Buyi, and he shot upright—only to remember he was stark naked. Hastily, he ducked back into the water, then perched once more on a petal.

The four maids looked bewildered, unsure what mistake they had made.

Gao Buyi, keeping a stern face, asked, “You all know martial arts?” He had noticed because, aside from their agile movements, their slender fingers possessed surprising strength.

One of the maids, slightly older than the rest, stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, I learned some martial skills as a child, only to strengthen my body. I taught some self-defense to these girls out of pity. If you wish to punish anyone, please punish me alone and spare them.”

Gao Buyi thought for a moment, then spoke to the other three: “There’s no need to be afraid. I’m just curious. The three of you, come and massage my legs.”

The three maids obeyed, and Gao Buyi, sighing in comfort, continued, “Your technique shows some real training, which means you must have started young. As far as I know, learning martial arts is expensive. Your family must have been well-off. Why did you choose to enter the palace?”

“Your Majesty, I am the daughter of a disgraced official.”

“So that’s it. This time, when I released the palace maids, I did not investigate anyone’s background. Why did you not go to be reunited with your family?”

“Ten years ago, I entered the palace as the child of a criminal. I have heard nothing of my family since.”

Gao Buyi was silent for a long time. “Do you hate the Emperor?”

The question made her kneel in haste. “I would not dare.”

He laughed softly. “Would not dare, is it? Rise. What is your name? I will have someone investigate your family’s whereabouts.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Yet the maid did not rise, but came forward and gently cradled Gao Buyi’s foot, continuing to massage it.

“Since you are from an official’s family, I assume you can read?”

“I know a little.”

Gao Buyi nodded. “What is your name?”

“Shangguan Peihui.”

“A fine name. How old are you?”

“Eighteen.”

Such a good age, he thought with a sigh. Ah, the cruelty of the feudal order!

“Have you kept up your martial training all these years?”

“Yes.”

“Are there many in the palace with backgrounds like yours?”

“There were several hundred, but many have already been released by Your Majesty.”

“Those who stayed—do they not wish to leave?”

“They do not.”

“Why? Would it not be better to leave the palace, find a good family to marry into, and live in peace?”

Shangguan Peihui suddenly smiled. She could not fathom why the most powerful man in the world would ask such a question. Could those who left the palace truly escape their fate? Unless they were willing to live a life of utter obscurity, to marry a commoner—and even then, could such a life ever be truly secure?

“Did I do something foolish?” Gao Buyi asked. It struck him that this was a feudal society, where women’s status was so low. He hoped the open-mindedness of Great Tang would offer them better prospects, otherwise, he feared he was not saving them, but dooming them.

“Your Majesty is too severe; it is I who am at fault.”

“Speak boldly.”

“In truth, many wish to leave, for here in the palace, with only Your Majesty as a man among so many women, they are condemned to a living widowhood. Of course, many hope for Your Majesty’s favor, but how rare a thing that is.”

Shangguan Peihui glanced at him, saw no anger, and continued, carefully, “So, in truth, Your Majesty has done a great good.”

“I hope so. I hope they will all find peace. What is the level of your martial skill? Are you considered a first-class expert?”

She thought for a moment. “I have never tested myself.”

“That is easily solved. Tomorrow, have a match with Chen Xuan—ah, perhaps that’s not appropriate,” Gao Buyi said, embarrassed.

Shangguan Peihui looked at him in astonishment.

Just then, another palace maid hurried in. “Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has sent to ask where you will spend the night.”

“In the Hall of Purple Radiance,” he replied. The maid came and went swiftly. Gao Buyi was secretly pleased—he had so many wives that he had decreed none could enter the front palace without a summons. Though this had caused some resentment, it saved him much trouble. Some matters he still had no idea how to face—such as the hundred or more wives in his harem. But for now, the safety of the empire came first.

After that night, Gao Buyi appointed Shangguan Peihui as his personal attendant, responsible for managing the palace maids and eunuchs of the Hall of Purple Radiance.