Prince Kung agreed. “Tseng and Chou are leading the fight against the Taipings. Although they haven’t expressed any support for us, they haven’t promised anything to Su Shun either.”
“We’ll wait, then,” Nuharoo said. “I just don’t feel comfortable that our military power is in the hands of the Chinese. When we have achieved peace, we should remove them or at least keep them away from the highest positions.”
I disagreed, but said nothing. As a Manchu I naturally felt more secure with Manchus in the top military positions. And yet there were few men of talent among the princes and clansmen. After two hundred years in power, we had degenerated into decadence. The Manchu nobles spent their time reveling in past glory. All they really knew was that they were entitled to prestige. Luckily, the Chinese had always gone along with it. The Chinese honored our ancestors and graced us with their blessings. The question was, how long would it last?
“I am leaving tonight,” Prince Kung said, “although I told Su Shun I would stay till tomorrow.”
“Who will be here to protect us when we move the coffin from Jehol to Peking?” Nuharoo asked.
Lowering his voice, Prince Kung said, “I’ll be in control. Your job is to act as normal as possible. Don’t worry. Prince Ch’un will be around.”
Prince Kung warned us to expect Su Shun’s anger. He wanted us to be prepared to receive a document submitted by a provincial inspector of justice named Tung Yen-ts’un. It would publicize Su Shun’s flaws and call Nuharoo and me “the people’s choice.” Prince Kung wanted us to keep in mind that by the time Su Shun got hold of Tung’s document, it would already have been reviewed by statesmen all over the country. Prince Kung revealed no details. I could tell he was afraid that Nuharoo wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut if Su Shun happened to ask.
We parted.
Before dinner, Nuharoo came to my quarters with Tung Chih. She felt unsafe and wanted to know if I had seen anything unusual. I noticed that Prince Kung’s visit had put Su Shun on guard. More security had been added to the outer courtyard before the gate was locked for the night. I told Nuharoo to go out and smell the fragrant laurel in the garden or visit the hot spring. She said that she didn’t feel like doing either. To calm Tung Chih I picked up embroidery and asked Nuharoo to shed some light on the design. We sewed and chatted until Tung Chih fell asleep.
I prayed for Prince Kung’s safety. After I sent Nuharoo and Tung Chih to my guest room to sleep, I went to my own bed. My eyes were afraid to close.
A few days later Tung Yen-ts’un’s document arrived. Su Shun was enraged. Nuharoo and I read it after Su Shun reluctantly passed it on to us. We were secretly pleased.
The next day Su Shun’s men launched a counterattack. Historical examples were used to convince the court that Nuharoo and I should retire from the Regency. At the audience Su Shun’s men spoke one after another, trying to create fear in us. They badmouthed Prince Kung. They accused Tung Yen-ts’un of disloyalty and called him a puppet. “We must cut off the hand that pulls the strings!”
Prince Kung expected me to remain silent, but Su Shun’s negative portrayal of him was having an effect among the court members. It would be fatal to allow Su Shun to dwell on the fact that Emperor Hsien Feng had excluded Prince Kung from his will. People had been curious about the reason, and Su Shun was feeding them his own interpretation.
With Nuharoo’s permission I reminded the court that Su Shun would have stopped Emperor Hsien Feng from naming Tung Chih as the successor if I hadn’t approached the deathbed myself. Su Shun was responsible for the strained relations that had existed between Hsien Feng and Prince Kung. We had strong reason to believe that Su Shun had manipulated the Emperor in his last days.
At my words Su Shun sprang from his seat. He punched the nearest column and broke the fan he was holding. “I wish Emperor Hsien Feng had buried you with him!” he yelled at me. “You have deceived the court and you have exploited Empress Nuharoo’s kindness and vulnerability. I have promised His Late Majesty to do justice. I would like to ask Her Majesty Empress Nuharoo for support.” He turned to her. “Do you, Empress Nuharoo, really know the female sitting next to you? Do you believe that she would be satisfied just sharing the role of regent with you? Would she be happier if you didn’t exist? You are in great danger, my lady! Protect yourself from this wicked woman before she puts poison in your soup!”
Tung Chih was scared. He begged Nuharoo and me to leave. When I said no, he wet himself.
Seeing the urine dripping from the throne, Nuharoo rushed to Tung Chih’s side.
The eunuchs quickly arrived with towels.
An elder clansman stood up and began to speak about family unity and harmony.
Tung Chih cried and screamed when eunuchs tried to change his robe.
Nuharoo wept and begged to leave with Tung Chih.
The elder clansman suggested that we call off the audience.
Su Shun objected. Without further discussion, he announced that the Board of Regents would go into recess unless Nuharoo and I threw out Tung Yen-ts’un’s proposal.
I decided to retreat. Without Prince Kung, I was no equal to Su Shun. I needed time to secure my relationship with Nuharoo, but I dreaded more delays. Hsien Feng’s body had been lying in state for over a month already. Although well sealed, the coffin gave off a stink of decay.
Su Shun and his gang were pleased. He dismissed Tung’s proposal and made us agree to place our seals on an edict he had drafted regarding the prosecution of Tung Yen-ts’un.
On October 9, 1861, an audience for all ministers and nobles in Jehol was held in the Hall of Fantastic Haze. Nuharoo and I sat on either side of Tung Chih. The night before, the two of us had talked. I suggested that Nuharoo take charge this time. She was willing, but had trouble deciding what to say. We rehearsed until she was ready.
“Speaking of transporting the Emperor’s body to his birthplace,” Nuharoo began, “how far along are we with the preparations? And the parting ceremony with His Majesty’s spirits?”
Su Shun stepped up. “All is set, Your Majesty. We are waiting for His Young Majesty Tung Chih to come to the coffin room to initiate the ceremony, and the palace will be ready to depart Jehol afterward.”
Nuharoo nodded, glancing at me for reassurance. “You have all been working hard since my husband’s death, especially the Board of Regents. We regret that Tung Chih is at a tender age and Yehonala and I are overwhelmed with grief. We ask you for understanding and forgiveness if we haven’t performed our duty to perfection.”
Nuharoo turned to me and I gave her a nod.
“A few days ago,” Nuharoo went on, “there was a little misunderstanding between the Board of Regents and us. We regret that it took place. We share the same good intentions, which is all that should matter. Let us move forward to guard the Imperial coffin safely back to Peking. When that job is accomplished, the young Emperor will grant awards. And now, Empress Yehonala.”
I knew that I had to take the court by surprise. “I would like an update on the security arrangements regarding the trip. Su Shun?”
Reluctant but bound by formality, Su Shun replied, “The entire Imperial procession will be divided into two parts. The first section we named the Parade of Happiness. We have arranged for Emperor Tung Chih and the Empresses to take chairs in this section to celebrate Emperor Tung Chih’s becoming the new ruler. The security will be fifty thousand Bannermen led by Prince Yee. He will be followed by two other divisions. One has seven thousand men, transferred from the areas around Jehol, which will be responsible for His Majesty’s safety. The other division is made up of three thousand Imperial Guards led by Yung Lu. Their task will be performing the ceremonial parade. I myself will lead the procession with four thousand men.”
“Very well.” Nuharoo was impressed.
“Please go on with the second section,” I ordered.
“We named the second section the Parade of Sorrow,” Su Shun continued. “Emperor Hsien Feng’s coffin will be with this one. Ten thousand men and horses have been transferred from the provinces of the Amur River, Chihli, Shenking, and Hsian. Each provincial governor has been notified to receive the procession along the way. General Sheng Pao has been summoned to secure those areas we deem unsafe, such as Kiangsi and Miyun.”
I sensed a problem. How would Prince Kung’s men strike when Su Shun could easily hold Tung Chih and us as hostages? If something aroused Su Shun’s suspicion, he would have an opportunity to do us harm. How would I know whether such an “accident” was not already in the making?
My heart hammered in my chest when I spoke again. “The grand councilor’s arrangements sound excellent. I
