Plot Overview : Empress Orchid by Anchee Min

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“Like a singing river, You break out to flow freely, I am the maintain behind, Happily I watch you, Memory of us, Full and sweet.” Orchid recites this poem in her head before she enters the Forbidden city gives an excellent insight to who Empress Orchid was within herself during her youth. The novel Empress Orchid by Anchee Min tells the tale of the true last Empress of China. This drama-filled story explains the challenges that this young woman from the countryside faces in order to help herself and her family to survive after the death of her father. Orchid believes that she can save her family if she can become one of the Emperor’s concubines. It is not until Orchid is selected to be Emperor Hsieng Feng's fourth wife, before she realizes that her struggles in life are just beginning.

In the beginning of this tale, it is very much apparent as to the extensiveness of the poverty that awaited the Yehonala family. Orchid’s mother had spent essentially all of the family’s money to transport her deceased husband’s body back to the land in which he was born for the burial ceremony.  It was upon being forced to live with a distant uncle when Orchid realized she had to do something to save her family from living on the streets or worse being forced to marrying her opium-addicted cousin- Ping or Bottle, as he was better known. While she worked at a store that specialized in the manufacturing and repairing of wealthy Manchu women’s shoes; which was owned by a middle- aged woman known as Big Sister Fann, she came to look up to this woman for advise and guidance. At first glance, Big Sister Fann does not see the beauty hidden under the peasant attire that Orchid has been reduced to, but when Orchid enters the Emperor search for his Imperial wives and has passed the first inspection Fann’s opinion changes.

Big Sister Fann becomes one of Orchids closes allies in her first quest in the beginning of the new life she hopes to bring to her family. With the assistance of Big Sister Fann, Orchid successfully passes all of the inspections putting her in the running to become the one of the emperor’s 200 concubines. Her life seems to be going a lot better when she is selected as one of the seven imperial wives; she is ranked fourth. Emperor Hsieng Feng bestows the title of “Lady of the Greatest Virtue” and grants her the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility as her living quarters.

After the wedding ceremony, Orchid begins to see past the glitz and glamour of imperial life, so much that she starts to allow the loneliness in front of her nearly drives her mad. If it had not been for a eunuch that she befriends named An-Te-Hai she probable would have ended her own existence.  The relationship between An-Ti-Hai and Orchid seems very interesting to me. It starts as this eunuch advising her on the standards of imperial life, and teaching her more of the etiquette of the concubines. His goal in life is to serve Orchid in whatever her wish desires. He has pretty much promised himself as a loyalist to Orchid no matter what. An-Ti-Hai advises Orchid on how she can gain entry to his majesty’s bedchamber; she was instructed to bribe the chief of the eunuchs Chief Eunuch Shim. She gave to Shim her Ruyi in exchange that he talk his majesty into calling on Lady Yehonala to his bedchamber. It was a successful bribe although the chief eunuch despises Orchid for his own reasons. Once Orchid discovers that she has achieved entry she request assistance from Big Sister Fann as to how she can please his majesty. With the permission of the Emperor to go see her family she sneaks off to a whorehouse to get lesson on the art of pleasing a man, with An-Ti-Hai and Big Sister Fann in tow.

After returning to her palace, she practiced the “Fan Dance”, the trick that she learned at the whorehouse in preparation for her big night. The night she went to claim her prize was something that she could have never expected. It was awkward, yet it revealed the type of relationship she would have with Hsieng Feng. The night was nothing she expected, he came into the room and acted as if she was not there. He rampaged about the challenges that faced China and then pretty much started an argument with her. Since Orchid is the untamed free spirit, she argues back with as if he were not the son of heaven but a common person. Her behavior intrigues him and thus is the reasoning behind his trust of her. She was the realest person in his presence and thus was his truest adviser.

Over time, the Emperor saw Orchid as his unofficial secretary when the strains of China’s frustration become too much for him to bear. He begins to depend on Orchid to help him give the impression that all is well with China and the foreigner’s have not broken down the Emperor. Despite all the frustrations going on Orchid gives birth to the Emperor’s only son Tung Chih. During the pregnancy, Orchid loses favor with Hsieng Feng with the help of Empress Nuharoo (concubine of 1^st Rank). Although Nuharoo hates Orchid for occupying all of the emperor’s time, she never truthfully shows her true self to Orchid. Orchid sensed this when her pregnancy became known to the imperial wives and she begins to fear the hidden death she felt awaited her around every turn. There was an immense amount of jealousy between the wives, everyone had their spies secretly hidden everywhere. Therefore, Orchid’s relationship with the other concubines never went past the formalities of the court.

From the time when the child was, born Orchid was in a constant battle with Empress Nuharoo over the boy. Although biological Tung Chih was Orchids son, Nuharoo was the Imperial mother and therefore could claim the child as her own.  Although this hurt Orchid, she was able to assist the emperor once again with his duties to China. The challenges that Orchid faced were not truly hers to deal with, in accordance with the etiquette Orchid was not suppose to be handling any of the business of the court. With the Emperor creeping closer to death, she had to begin to make decision for the Son of Heaven. With barbarians threatening invasion if the emperor does not agree to the treaties they forced upon China, she began to make decisions on the best tactics to use with these intruders. Her involvement was unknown by anyone other than the emperor, his eunuchs and herself it was shocking when General Su Shun witnessed the Emperor seeking advise from Orchid in the middle of their conversation. In the Chinese culture, this was improper. Since Su Shun had been seeking power to the throne then he wanted to be rid of Orchid, he saw her as a threat to his chance of sneaking in and taking control.

When word reaches the Forbidden city that, the barbarians are less than twenty miles away from the city the imperial family retreat to the hunting grounds of Jehol. While the family is safe in Jehol, the forbidden city is destroyed. Moreover, the only person who it appears will be able to stop these invaders is Prince Kung, the emperors brother known as the sixth son.  Within the gates of Jehol, the Emperor names Tung Chih as his successor and Orchid, Nuharoo, and Su Shun as his Regents until he comes of age to rule on his own. This final wish of Hsieng Feng angered Su Shun. He was being forced to make all decisions of the court through two “concubines” he was not happy at all with this. When his majesty entered the land of the spirits, Orchid devised a plan to get Su Shun’s intentions exposed. He had placed a ban on Prince Kung from coming to Jehol to mourn the death of his brother to keep Orchid and Nuharoo (who now is beginning to see the truth of Su Shun) as far apart as possible. Orchid knows that she must get a message to Prince Kung, so she has her first attendant An-Te-Hai act as if he had lost the emperor’s seal on the journey to Jehol. He was instructed by Orchid to hid the message inside of his shoe and once he was handed over to the commander in chief Yung Lu, pass the message on so that it may reach Prince Kung and he can devise a plan to get rid of Su Shun. 

On the way, back to the Forbidden City for the burial of the Son of Heaven Su Shun went out of his way to arrange the kidnapping of Orchid, Nuharoo, and Tung Chih. They were rescued by Prince Kung and sent back with the procession to the city. The capture of Orchid was killed and Orchid was brought immediately to the Forbidden City, word was sent out that she was dead. Su Shun celebrated what he thought was the defeat of Orchid. Only to be arrested and charged with treason against the crown. He and his entire family were beheaded with the exception of his daughter who was allowed to be free for she was not considered a threat.

In the close of the novel, Orchid comes to retain the trust and respect of the head court officials of china. Even though Orchid Loved her husband, She professed the lust she had for Yung Lu, the handsome general who loved for her enough to never pursue her and dishonor the imperial family.