Xiao Mingyu had four favored concubines.
As a prince, according to royal protocol, he should have one main wife and two secondary wives . These were official consorts, recorded on registers, and after death, would be enshrined in the royal ancestral hall.
Beyond the main and secondary wives, the prince could take as many concubines as he could support.
In the prince's mansion, concubines were formally called "Beauties" , just like the residences of other princes or imperial sons, each given a title.
It was just a title; being called "Beauty" did not make one an official consort. Only if they bore children and later died could they enter the ancestral hall like a legitimate concubine of a wealthy household.
Without offspring, a Beauty was just an ordinary concubine—selling or killing them mattered little.
When Xiao Mingyu was seventeen, the woman he loved, Lan Qing, became engaged to his royal uncle, Xiao Zhan. He was disappointed for a long while.
His mother had died early, and his father passed away when he was fifteen. Originally, the family held the title of An Prince, but since he was only a subordinate prince, they added the character "Cheng" .
The An Prince family had few heirs; Xiao Mingyu had no siblings. After his parents died, he inherited the vast estate and began secretly doing business.
The royal family profiting at the expense of commoners could be impeached by censors, so he kept it discreet, only informing the emperor.
The emperor and Xiao Mingyu's father, An Prince, were full brothers.
Xiao Mingyu's grandmother, surnamed Hu, had been a palace maid. When his grandfather was alive, she was titled "Hu Zhaoyi" .
It was unusual that a consort who bore two sons was only given the rank of third-grade Zhaoyi—but Hu Zhaoyi had been a palace maid.
She served the original empress Liao, who was frail and had suffered postpartum bleeding, unable to bear children. At that time, Noble Consort Zheng was favored and had given birth to two sons, which distressed Empress Liao.
Liao requested the emperor to allow a capable palace maid to bear a child for her, which he agreed to. Once a prince was born, he would be officially recorded under the empress's name.
The emperor also wanted legitimate heirs. The court physician confirmed the empress could not conceive, so he consented.
Legitimate sons were crucial for the empire. Without them, allowing illegitimate sons to inherit would set a dangerous precedent. Future princes would fight violently for the throne.
The former emperor himself ascended the throne because he was a legitimate son, defeating capable illegitimate brothers. Without supporting the eldest legitimate son, he would never have had a smooth reign.
In this situation, Liao had to ensure heirs, using palace maid children, and the emperor approved.
Hence, the emperor disliked Hu Zhaoyi, barely acknowledging her. Other consorts were once favored, bearing children for the emperor, but Hu Zhaoyi's children were for Empress Liao.
The emperor and An Prince were born to a palace maid but officially raised under Empress Liao's care, enjoying the status of "legitimate" sons. They barely knew their birth mother.
Empress Liao died when the emperor was twelve, but the two princes' status remained secure. Their health was robust because their mother had been a palace maid doing physical work, and Empress Liao's care ensured they were strong and grew to adulthood.
Years later, the emperor remarried Consort Qi. Upon the former emperor's death, his concubines either went to their sons' estates, retired to temples, or remained in the palace.
Consort Qi became Empress Dowager, while Hu Zhaoyi became a problem. Historically, there was no precedent.
Officials suggested sending Hu Zhaoyi away, as the princes were raised under Liao, having little to do with her.
Yet Hu Zhaoyi, silent for years in the deep palace, began making a scene, accusing the emperor of being "unfilial."
Under pressure, the emperor and An Prince acquiesced; officials relented, and Hu Zhaoyi was granted the title of Empress Dowager.
The palace then had two dowagers: one in the west (Consort Qi, "West Dowager") and one in the east (Hu Zhaoyi, "East Dowager"), informal distinctions, not official titles.
Thus, Hu Dowager was Xiao Mingyu's grandmother, though he had barely seen her growing up.
After his parents' deaths, she assumed control over his marital affairs. Hu Dowager, from a palace maid background, was somewhat crude and vain, so Xiao Mingyu had to comply.
She chose a royal wife for him—a cunning, greedy woman who flattered Hu Dowager and earned her favor.
Xiao Mingyu and this princess shared no affection.
By chance, a serious illness claimed her life. Later, Hu Dowager tried arranging another marriage, but Xiao Mingyu pretended he loved the previous princess deeply, convincing Hu Dowager to give up.
From then on, no one dared arrange a marriage for him without his consent, giving him freedom.
He disliked children and restrictions, so his mansion had only four Beauties, accompanying him leisurely.
Even the emperor feared Hu Dowager causing trouble and left Xiao Mingyu's marriage alone.
Xiao Mingyu's four concubines were carefully chosen. He treated them well—except that upon entering his mansion, he secretly made them permanently infertile.
The concubines were like pets; first neutered, then indulged.
When the other three Beauties complained that the prince gave only Cheng Meiren the "good stuff," Xiao Mingyu was confused: "What good stuff?"
"You pretend not to know! My courtyard is lower than Cheng Meiren's, next to the pond, full of mosquitoes, yet you didn't think of me?"
"Why give Cheng Meiren nine portions, but not me one? You're so biased."
"Exactly! You always tell us to get along, yet you favor her, clearly sowing discord among us. How can we be harmonious?"
Xiao Mingyu: "..."
He had completely forgotten about the mosquito coils Zheng Qian had sent, so he was bewildered by their complaints.
"It's mosquito coils!" another concubine reminded him. "They work well, unlike burning mugwort that chokes the room. This fragrance repels mosquitoes, keeps the room cool and airy at night. Why only give Cheng Meiren? We deserve some too!"
Xiao Mingyu: "..."
He suddenly stood and walked toward Cheng Meiren.
The other three concubines: "Your Highness, will you give it to us?"
The pages stopped them, asking them to leave first.
Xiao Mingyu reached Cheng Meiren, asking how many coils remained.
"Your Highness, were the others gossiping?" Cheng Meiren said. "Only three left; I won't share. I wanted to ask you for more."
"Bring them out."
"Really, Your Highness?"
"Quickly!" Xiao Mingyu raised his voice.
Rarely stern with his concubines, Cheng Meiren was startled, pale, and obediently handed him the remaining three coils.
Xiao Mingyu took them and briskly walked away.
That night, he and his guards went to Qinglian Pavilion, the mansion's mosquito-infested spot, carrying the mosquito coils.