would eventually achieve his own ambitions through Tung Chih. He would run the empire in the name of Hsien Feng for his son. He would expose Tung Chih’s weakness and then create an excuse to overthrow him and proclaim himself as the ruler.
The clearer the picture of the future became, the deeper I sank into despair. The news of Hsien Feng’s death could arrive at any moment, and this could be my last chance to be with Tung Chih.
I held my son so tightly he complained that I was hurting him.
“Weeping can only cause you to lose more time, my lady.” An-te-hai rose from the floor where he had been kneeling. His usually gentle eyes had become hard.
“Why don’t you escape, An-te-hai?” I said in frustration. “You have been good to me and I shall bless you.”
“I live for you, my lady.” An-te-hai banged his head loudly on the floor. “Don’t give up yet!”
“Who can rescue me, An-te-hai? The Emperor is too far gone, and Su Shun’s spies are everywhere.”
“There are two people who might be able to save you, my lady.”
Rong and her husband, Prince Ch’un, were the two people An-te-hai had in mind. An-te-hai believed that Prince Ch’un could find a way to His Majesty’s bedside. He would take Rong with him so that she could speak for me.
The suggestion made sense. Rong was now pregnant, which added to her status in the eyes of the Imperial family. Prince Ch’un had four daughters but not yet a son. He would do anything to make his wife happy. An-te-hai volunteered to sneak out of Jehol and contact my sister.
A week later, in the early morning, my sister was by my side. Her belly was the size of a lantern. A healthy glow shone on her face. We threw our arms around each other and wept. Rong told me that she had succeeded in her task.
“At first Su Shun wouldn’t let us in,” she recalled. “Ch’un was ready to withdraw after several hours of waiting. I begged him. I said that I had to speak to His Majesty in person about sacrificing my sister. If I couldn’t succeed in making him change his mind, the child in my belly would be affected by my grief. I would have a miscarriage.”
Rong took my hands in hers and smiled. “My husband couldn’t stand the idea of possibly losing a son. So he forced his way in and saw His Majesty lying on the bed.
“I followed Ch’un in and we wished His Majesty good health. My belly was too big for me to kowtow, but I made myself anyway-I had to show him how desperate I was. I didn’t have to pretend. I was truly scared. His Majesty pardoned me and told me to rise. I refused and stayed on my knees until my husband opened his mouth. He told his brother that I was having nightmares, that I couldn’t get over my sadness, that he might lose his son to a miscarriage.”
“What was Hsien Feng’s reaction?”
“His Majesty looked terrible and could barely speak. He asked what my concerns were, and my husband replied, ‘My wife dreamt that you had issued a decree to take Orchid with you. She wants to know that it isn’t true. She needs to hear the words from your heavenly lips.’”
“What did His Majesty say?”
“His Majesty pointed at Su Shun and said that it was his idea.”
“I knew it!”
“Su Shun looked furious, but he said nothing.” Rong tucked her handkerchief back into her pocket.
Just then An-te-hai rushed in. “His Majesty has ordered the immediate cancellation of the decree. Chow Tee told me that His Majesty told Su Shun never to mention the idea again.”
When I had introduced Rong to Prince Ch’un, I never imagined that they would turn out to be my protective god and goddess. Rong told me the danger was not over and that I should be careful. I knew Su Shun would not put down his weapons and become a Buddha. This fight to destroy me had just begun.
Three days went by quietly. On the morning of the fourth day, Doctor Sun Pao-tien predicted that Hsien Feng would not see the next dawn. Su Shun issued an urgent summons in the Emperor’s name: a final audience was to be held late that afternoon, when the court should expect to hear His Majesty’s last wishes.
I didn’t know that I was excluded until I went to visit Nuharoo at noon. She was not in. Her eunuch said that she had been picked up by a palanquin sent by Su Shun. I turned to An-te-hai and told him to find out what was going on. An-te-hai got a message from Chow Tee. The final Imperial audience had begun, and Su Shun had just announced that my absence was due to poor health.
I panicked. In a matter of hours my husband would breathe his last, and the chance for me to act would be gone forever.
I ran to Tung Chih’s study. My son was playing chess with a eunuch and obstinately refused to come with me. I pulled the board away, sending the pieces flying across the room. I dragged him all the way to the Hall of Fantastic Haze while I explained the situation. I told him to ask his father to name him the successor.
Tung Chih was frightened. He begged to be sent back to his chess game. I told him that he had to speak to his father, that it was the only way he could save his future. Tung Chih couldn’t comprehend. He screamed and fought me. In my struggle to keep hold of my son, my necklace broke and the pearls and beads scattered down the hallway.
Guards blocked our entrance to the hall, although they seemed to be in awe of Tung Chih.
“I must see His Majesty,” I said loudly.
Chief Eunuch Shim appeared. “His Majesty doesn’t desire to call his concubines now,” he said. “When he does, I will let you know.”
“I am sure His Majesty will want to see his son for the last time.”
Chief Eunuch Shim shook his head. “I have Grand Councilor Su Shun’s orders to lock you up if you insist on intruding, Lady Yehonala.”
“Tung Chih has the right to bid farewell to his father!” I yelled, hoping that Emperor Hsien Feng would hear me.
“I am sorry. Meeting with Tung Chih would only disturb His Majesty.”
Desperate, I tried to push Shim aside.
He stood like a wall. “You will have to kill me to make me renounce my duty.”
I got down on my knees and pleaded. “Would you at least allow Tung Chih to watch his father from a distance?” I pressed my son forward.
“No, Lady Yehonala.” He signaled the guards, who pinned me to the floor.
Something must have clicked inside Tung Chih’s little head. Maybe he didn’t like the way I was being treated. When Shim went up to him wearing a false smile and requesting that he go back to his playroom, my son answered, for the first time using the language reserved for an emperor, “
The word
Tung Chih took advantage of the moment and ran inside the hall.
Hsien Feng’s giant black dragon bed was in the center of the throne’s platform. Led by Su Shun and his cabinet members, the court ministers and officials surrounded the pale figure under the coverlet. My husband looked as if he had already died. He lay still, with all signs of vitality gone.
Nuharoo was on her knees by the bed, dressed in a beige robe. She was sobbing silently.
Everyone else was also on his or her knees. Time seemed to be frozen.
There was nothing glorious about the heavenly departure. The Emperor had visibly shrunk. His features had collapsed, with his eyes and mouth pulled toward the ears. His dying didn’t feel real to me. The night when he had first summoned me was as vivid as yesterday. I remembered the time when he had teased me boldly in front of the Grand Empress. I remembered his naughty but charming expression. I remembered the sound of the bamboo chips dropping onto the tray and his fingers touching mine when he passed me the
From the whispering of the ministers I learned that Hsien Feng had briefly stopped breathing several times today, only to revive with a cavernous rumble deep in his chest. Two pillows supported the Son of Heaven. His eyes were open, but they hardly moved. The court was waiting for him to speak, but he didn’t seem capable.
Although Tung Chih was the natural heir apparent, it was not specified in Ch’ing Dynasty law that the throne be passed by the right of primogeniture. The Emperor’s last words would be the only thing that counted. There would be an official box that contained His Majesty’s living will. Still, his words would override whatever he had written. Many people believed that the finality of death changed a person’s perception, and therefore his wishes in the box
