“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 have only one concern. Will the Parade of Happiness be accompanied by colorful flags, firecrackers, dancers and loud music?”
“Yes.”
“And the Parade of Sorrow the opposite?”
“Correct.”
“The spirits of Emperor Hsien Feng will be disturbed by the trumpets, then,” I pointed out. “The happy tunes will overwhelm the sad as the two parades are so closely connected.”
“Indeed,” Prince Yee echoed, biting my bait. “Empress Yehonala’s concern makes good sense. We should separate the two parades. It would be an easy thing to do.” He turned to Su Shun, who was staring back at him as hard as he could. But it was too late. Prince Yee’s tongue would not be stopped. “I suggest that we have the Parade of Happiness go first and the Parade of Sorrow follow a few miles behind.”
“Taken.” I closed the lid before Su Shun had a chance to smell what I was cooking in my pot. “What a fine idea. However, Empress Nuharoo and I are not comfortable with our husband traveling alone. Two weeks is a long time for Emperor Hsien Feng to go without company.”
Wasting no opportunity to show off again, Prince Yee popped up with another suggestion. “I am sure any of us will be happy to accompany His Late Majesty. May I have the honor?”
“I want Su Shun,” Nuharoo said, and her tears came. “He is our husband’s most trusted man. With Su Shun by His Majesty’s side, the heavenly soul will rest in peace. Will you accept my humble request, Su Shun?”
“My honor, Your Majesty.” Su Shun was obviously displeased.
I could hardly contain my delight. Nuharoo didn’t know what she had done. She had created the perfect situation for Prince Kung to benefit.
“Thank you, Prince Yee,” I said. “You certainly will be rewarded when we get to Peking.”
I didn’t expect to be given a chance to make the situation even better, but the opportunity presented itself. As if driven by the desire to please us further, or by greed, or simply by his shallow nature, Prince Yee added, “I don’t mean to flatter myself, Your Majesty. I shall deserve your reward because the trip is going to be tough on me. I have not only been put in charge of the inner court; I have great military responsibilities as well. I must confess that I am already exhausted.”
I picked up his words and rode with them. “Well, Prince Yee, Nuharoo and I believe that His Young Majesty Tung Chih will find another way. We certainly don’t want to wear you out. Why don’t you leave the military obligations to others and manage just the inner court?”
Prince Yee was not prepared for my quick reaction. “Of course,” he responded. “But do you have my replacement in mind as we speak?”
“There is nothing to worry about, Prince Yee.”
“But who will that be?”
I saw Su Shun stepping forward, and I decided to seal the moment. “Prince Ch’un will take over the military obligation,” I said, looking away from Su Shun. He seemed desperate to speak, and I was afraid he would get Nuharoo’s attention. “Prince Ch’un hasn’t been assigned a duty.” I held Nuharoo with my eyes. “He will be perfect for the job, don’t you think?”
“Yes, Lady Yehonala,” she said.
“Prince Ch’un!” I called.
“Here.” Prince Ch’un’s answer came from a corner of the room.
“Will this arrangement suit you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Prince Ch’un bowed.
Prince Yee’s expression changed to show regret for what he had done to himself.
To bolster him I said, “However, we would like Prince Yee to resume his full responsibility once we reach Peking. His Young Majesty can’t do without him.”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty. Thank you!” Prince Yee was a happy man again.
I turned to Nuharoo. “I believe that is all for this audience?”
“Yes, we must thank Grand Councilor Su Shun for doing a fine job of planning.”
Twenty-two
OCTOBER 10 was an auspicious day as Hsien Feng’s coffin was borne aloft on the shoulders of 124 bearers. At the departing ceremony, Nuharoo and I wore elaborate mourning robes hung with stone ornaments. Our head and shoulder pieces, belts and shoes weighed more than twenty-five pounds. Golden beads dangled in front of my eyes like a curtain, and my earrings were pieces of jade carved with the word tien, “in memory.” My ears stung and my back ached from all the weight. Because we had run out of coal we had not bathed for weeks. My scalp itched. The oil I used on my hair attracted dust that ended up beneath my fingernails from all my scratching. It was hard to look like an image of grace under such circumstances.
Nuharoo felt sorry for my low manners and purposely set herself as an example for me to follow. I admired her endurance when it came to her appearance. I was sure she sat upright even on the chamber pot. I surmised that she had carried the same stiffness to Hsien Feng’s bed. As far as lovemaking went, the Emperor was a man who welcomed creativity. Nuharoo had probably offered him the standard pose from The Imperial Chamber Activity Menu and expected him to deliver his seeds.
One could always count on Nuharoo’s makeup to be painted to the finest detail. She had two nail stylists, trained in grain carving, who could render entire landscapes and architectural paintings on her nails. One needed a magnifying glass to fully appreciate the artistry. Nuharoo knew exactly what she wanted. Inside her mourning robe she contin-ued to wear the dress that she had made up her mind to die in. It was so dirty that the edge of its collar was gray with grease.
We walked through a forest of colorful umbrellas and pavilion-shaped silk tents. We inspected the cortege and burned incense. Finally we poured wine, inviting the coffin to be on its way. The procession set out down the wild passes from Jehol toward the Great Wall.
The coffin had been finished with forty-nine layers of paint. It was rose red with patterns of gold dragons on it. A division of ceremonial guards led the way. The coffin was suspended in the air on a giant red frame. In the middle of the frame was a matching pole with a nine-by-eighteen-foot flag emblazoned with a golden dragon breathing flames. There was also a pair of copper wind bells. Behind the dragon flag were one hundred flags with the images of powerful animals such as bears and tigers.
Following the flags were empty palanquins for the spirits. The chairs were of different sizes and shapes and were fabulously decorated. The seat covers were made of leopard skin. A large yellow umbrella draped with white flowers followed each chair.
Eunuchs in white silk gowns held trays with incense burners. Behind them followed two bands, one with brass instruments, the other with strings and flutes. When the bands started to play, white paper money was fired into the air, which rained down from the sky like snowflakes.
Nuharoo, Tung Chih and I walked past lamas, monks and painted ceremonial horses and sheep before climbing into our palanquins. The sound of Tibetan trumpets and beating drums was so loud that I couldn’t hear my own voice when speaking to Tung Chih. He didn’t want to sit alone, and I told him that he had to for the sake of formality. Tung Chih pouted and asked for his red-eyed rabbit. Happily, Li Lien-ying had it with him. I promised Tung Chih that Nuharoo or I would join him as soon as we were able to.