Empress Orchid by Anchee Min

was told to leave my door open during the day. I sat down on my bed, covered with a beige spread. Eight folded comforters made of the finest silk and cotton were stacked against the wall. The floor-length bed curtains were embroidered with white wisteria. The red border had pink and green peonies on it.
    I saw Chief Eunuch Shim walk by my window with a group of young eunuchs following him. “Why are the lanterns not lit?” He was displeased. Then he saw me through the window. With a humble smile on his face Chief Eunuch Shim got down on his knees and said, “Lady Yehonala, your slave Shim at your service.”
    “Rise, please.” I stepped out into the yard.
    “Have the slaves introduced themselves, Lady Yehonala?” Shim asked, still on his knees.
    “Not yet,” I replied.
    “They should be punished, then. It is their duty.” He rose and snapped his fingers.
    Two large-framed eunuchs appeared, each holding a leather whip longer than a man.
    I was confused. I didn’t know what Chief Eunuch Shim intended to do.
    “The guilty ones, line up!” he ordered.
    Trembling, my servants lined up.
    Two buckets of water were brought. The large eunuchs dipped their whips in them.
    “Chief Shim,” I called. “Please understand that it is not my servants’ fault that they haven’t introduced themselves. I was not ready until now.”
    “Are you forgiving your slaves?” Chief Eunuch Shim asked, a wicked smile crossing his face. “You should expect nothing less than perfection from your slaves, Lady Yehonala. The slaves must be punished. The Forbidden City tradition can be summed up in six words: Respect comes out of a whip.”
    “I am sorry, Chief Shim. I can’t see myself whipping anyone who did no wrong.” I regretted the slip of my tongue, but it was too late.
    “I am sure the servants
are
guilty.” Shim was annoyed. He turned around and kicked a young eunuch.
    I felt violated and retreated to my room.
    Chief Eunuch Shim took his time to reveal the purpose of his visit. We were in my sitting room with more than twenty servants and eunuchs present. With an air of concerned patience he explained to me how the Forbidden City was run. He introduced the various departments and craft shops, most of which seemed to fall under his authority. He was in charge of the departments that supervised the vaults of gold and silver bullion, furs, porcelain, silk and tea; he was also responsible for thosewho provided the court with the sacrificial animals, grain and fruit for religious ceremonies. He controlled the eunuchs who looked after the kennels where Pekingese were bred. He oversaw the departments that maintained the palaces, temples, gardens and herb farms.
    I stood with my back straight and my chin slightly raised. Even if Chief Shim was merely displaying his own power, I was glad to be informed. Besides the locations of the courts and the schools that educated the princes, he told me about the Imperial armory, which served as the palace police. “My duties extend to the Imperial buttery, the Imperial weaving and dye shops, also the bureaus that take care of the Emperor’s boats, wardrobes, games, the printing offices, the libraries, the silkworm and honey farms.”
    Of all the departments, the royal theatricals interested me the most. Also the Imperial craft workshops, which produced the work of China’s most talented artists and craftsmen.
    “I have many responsibilities,” Chief Eunuch Shim concluded. “But above all, I exist to safeguard the authenticity of Emperor Hsien Feng’s succession.”
    I realized that he expected me to acknowledge his power. “Guide me, Chief Shim, please,” I began, “for I am a naïve girl from the countryside of Wuhu, and I shall be grateful for your advice and protection.”
    Satisfied with my manners, he revealed that he was here to fulfill two orders from my mother-in-law. First was to reward me with a cat.
    “The days will be long for you, living in the Forbidden City,” Chief