"
As soon as the Pearl Empress had spoken she realized that she had
committed a great indiscretion. A babel of voices, of cries,
questions and contradictions instantly arose. Decorum was
abandoned. The Lady of Chen swooned, nor could she be revived for
an hour, and the Princess of Feminine Propriety and the White
Jade Concubine could be dragged apart only by the united efforts
of six of the Palace matrons, so great was their fury the one
with the other, each accusing each of encouragement to the Lady
A-Kuei's pretensions. So also with the remaining ladies. Shrieks
resounded through the Hall of Virtuous Tranquillity, and when the
Pearl Empress attempted to pour oil on the troubled waters by
speaking soothing and comfortable words, the august Voice was
entirely inaudible in the tumult.
All sought at length in united indignation for the Lady A-Kuei,
but she had modestly withdrawn to the Pearl Pavilion in the
Imperial Garden and, foreseeing anxieties, had there secured
herself on hearing the opening of the Royal Speech.
Finally the ladies were led away by their attendants, weeping,
lamenting, raging, according to their several dispositions, and
the Pearl Empress, left with her own maidens, beheld the floor
strewn with jade pins, kingfisher and coral jewels, and even with
fragments of silk and gauze.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213