Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 9: Dispute

Aunt Fang led the group of young maids into the palace maids’ quarters.

“Once you pass the sweeping and embroidery assessments, you will officially become palace maids.” Aunt Fang swept her stern gaze over everyone. “From now on, you live here and are under my supervision.”

The girls looked around at the place that would be their home from now on. The room was bright and clean, with tables and chairs all in place. On the wall hung a painting of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Mercy, with gentle features, holding a pure vase from which a few fresh green willow branches emerged. It hardly looked like servants’ quarters—more like the boudoir of a modestly wealthy young lady in the common world.

Especially eye-catching were the two plates on the table: one holding pea-yellow cakes, the other containing red bean cakes. The skill of the imperial kitchen was far beyond anything found in ordinary shops outside the palace. Each piece was small, delicate, and translucent. Linglong stepped closer and saw that the tops were even carved with tiny birds, their feathers exquisitely detailed, almost like works of art.

Jixiang immediately began to salivate. Her family was not well-off; they had sent her into the palace precisely so there would be one less mouth to feed at home. Having gone hungry many times, these two plates of sweets attracted her far more than the jade bead bracelet on Noble Consort Hui’s wrist. Her eyes fixed longingly on the treats as she asked, “Auntie, are these prepared as our midnight snack?”

“They are prepared for you,” Aunt Fang replied. Just as joy began to appear on Jixiang’s face, she added, “But you may only look. You are not allowed to eat them.”

Jixiang froze. “Why not?”

“You entered the palace to serve others, not to play the young mistress,” Aunt Fang said coldly. “Your hands and feet must be quick and nimble, and your appearance must be neat and clean. Above all, there must be no foul odor on your body. If a Noble Lady catches a whiff of it, that would be grave disrespect. You would suffer, and I would not escape blame either. That’s why you absolutely cannot touch fish or meat. At meals, you should eat only to about eight-tenths full, so you don’t keep running to relieve yourselves.”

The implication was clear: they weren’t even allowed to eat their fill at meals, let alone dream of having a midnight snack.

“It’s getting late. You all should sleep,” Aunt Fang said, scanning the room. Her gaze lingered especially long on Jixiang’s face. She narrowed her eyes and continued, “I’ll come by tomorrow morning. If anything is missing from those plates…”

Jixiang guiltily lowered her head.

The others did the same, standing there meekly like wooden statues until Aunt Fang finally left. The moment she was gone, the “statues” sprang to life, immediately scrambling for the beds.

“I’m sleeping here!”

“No way, I saw this spot first!”

“Just because you saw it means it’s yours?”

Jixiang was a woman of action. While the others were still arguing over a spot by the window, she had already leaped onto the kang and claimed the best position in the room. Turning back with a grin, she called out, “Come on!”

“Hey!” Linglong thought she was being called and felt a rush of warmth—thinking this fellow townsman was quite considerate. She started to step forward, only to see Jixiang waving frantically and shouting, “Yingluo! Yingluo, come quick—I saved you the best spot!”

Linglong’s foot froze mid-air. Embarrassment flooded her. She felt as though every pair of eyes in the room was on her. Her face burned red with shame.

Wei Yingluo took in the whole scene and felt a touch of helplessness. Jixiang had a good heart, but she was too straightforward and blunt—completely unaware that her innocent words could unintentionally offend someone. She’d have to talk to her about it later. But for now, after a long, exhausting day, Wei Yingluo was tired too. She carried her bundle up onto the kang. Jixiang immediately took the bundle from her hands and gave her an affectionate smile.

“Yingluo, thank you so much for today.”

“It was nothing. You’ve already thanked me a hundred times,” Wei Yingluo replied. She glanced around the room. “By the way, is everyone in this room a newly arrived palace maid?”

“Yes, why?” Jixiang looked at her curiously.

“Nothing.” Wei Yingluo smiled a little. “I was just thinking… it would be nice if there were one or two older palace sisters who entered before us. We could ask them about the rules here and avoid accidentally breaking any taboos later on.”

“You’re right,” Jixiang said, completely trusting her words. She let out a soft sigh and her eyes drifted back to the two plates of pastries on the table. “If I weren’t afraid of breaking rules, I could finish both plates by myself…”

A sharp, mocking snort rang out—distinctive in its venom. Both girls turned toward the sound and saw Jinxiu standing beside them at some point. She sneered at Wei Yingluo.

“You really believe everything she says? I see what this is. You’re not asking about rules at all—you’re just trying to curry favor with Auntie, aren’t you?”

If Wei Yingluo had retorted sharply, it might have been fine. But Jinxiu’s string of sarcasm didn’t even earn her so much as a hostile glance.

“It’s getting late,” Wei Yingluo said, not even bothering to look at her. Turning to Jixiang, she continued, “Let’s make the bed and rest early.”

“Mm!” Jixiang nodded obediently like a little sister, immediately helping her prepare the bedding. She even deliberately pulled their pillows close together so they could sleep side by side. If they couldn’t fall asleep, they could still whisper to each other in the dark.

Jinxiu suddenly felt like a clown talking to herself. She didn’t dare turn around—afraid she’d see faces full of mockery. In a panic, she grabbed Wei Yingluo’s arm and snapped,

“Say something, will you!”

“What are you doing?” Jixiang pushed her away unhappily, shoving her back from Wei Yingluo. “You’re so annoying. Sister Yingluo is exhausted today. Can’t you let her rest?”

“You don’t have to defend her like that,” Jinxiu sneered coldly. “You think she really helped you out of kindness? Let me tell you—she only did it to show off in front of Chief Wu. You’re just a stepping stone to her. We’re all just stepping stones to her!”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Jixiang was hot-tempered. She jumped down from the kang at once, rolling up her sleeves as though ready to fight.

“Am I wrong?” Jinxiu had no intention of actually fighting this reckless hothead—someone this impulsive wouldn’t know how to hold back, and her delicate body couldn’t take it. She quickly redirected the conversation toward Wei Yingluo. “If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself. Was all that grandstanding today really for anyone other than herself?”

Wei Yingluo gave her a cold, indifferent glance. She could see right through this girl’s little scheme.

If she denied it, Jinxiu would call her a liar. If she admitted it, she’d fall straight into the trap. So she simply ignored her again, unfolded the neatly folded quilt, slipped inside, and spoke in a tired voice muffled by the bedding:

“Jixiang, come here.”

“Here she comes.”

Jixiang, like a little pet summoned by her master, immediately put Jinxiu out of her mind. She kicked off her shoes and socks and burrowed into the bedding.

“Fine, you won’t talk, is that it?” Seeing herself ignored once again, Jinxiu finally lost her temper. She rushed to the table, where—besides two plates of snacks—there sat a plump teapot decorated with ink-bamboo patterns. She grabbed the teapot, strode back to the window by Wei Yingluo’s bed, and dumped the entire pot of tea over Wei Yingluo’s quilt.

“Ah!” Jixiang leaped out from under the covers and shouted at Jinxiu, “Jinxiu, what are you doing?!”

“This is what happens when she steps on us to climb up.” Jinxiu laughed smugly, then turned back to the others and asked, “Tell me, ladies—did I do the right thing or not?”

Laughter rose in waves. The palace maids chimed in one after another:

“She deserved it—just what she deserved!”

“Always showing off!”

“Exactly—she made the rest of us look like dirt!”

“She’d better learn her lesson from now on. No more rushing to stand out like that!”

Wei Yingluo slowly crawled out from under the bedding. She touched the quilt with her hand and felt how heavy and sodden it had become—wet straight through from the outside to the innermost layers. With the night cold and dew thick, sleeping under such a drenched cover would surely make anyone ill.

When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer. Jixiang slept right beside Wei Yingluo, so her own quilt had also caught some of the splash—though fortunately only a small corner was wet; the rest was still usable. She shot a fierce glare at the group of maids who were gleefully piling on, then tugged at Wei Yingluo’s sleeve and whispered, “Sister Yingluo, come sleep over here. The two of us can share one quilt.”

Wei Yingluo pinched the edge of her soaked bedding and stared at it for a long moment. Then she suddenly looked up and smiled at Jixiang. “Wait just a moment.”

With that, she tossed the wet quilt aside, slipped her embroidered shoes back on, stepped down from the bed, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.

The laughter in the room died instantly. Everyone exchanged glances; tension and guilt were plain on every face.

Linglong—who had not spoken up for Wei Yingluo earlier—could no longer hold back. She frowned and complained to Jinxiu, “Ai, why did you have to provoke her? I’m telling you, she’s definitely gone straight to Auntie to report this.”

Jinxiu felt a flicker of unease, but she was quick-witted. Her eyes darted around, then she raised her voice to address the room: “Hasn’t she already stolen enough limelight today? If she dares go and complain, we have so many mouths here—does she really think she can win against all of us?”

The maids’ eyes lit up. Yes—that made sense.

A single mouth can be drowned out by many; three people can make a tiger appear where none exists. As long as everyone in the room insisted that Wei Yingluo had soaked her own quilt and was now trying to frame Jinxiu, wouldn’t that settle it?

There were so many of them and only one of her. She had no relatives or close allies here. Why would Aunt Fang believe her over all of them?

“Jinxiu, you’re so wicked!” Jixiang stamped her foot in fury. “I hate you!”

“Am I the wicked one, or is your dear ‘Sister Yingluo’ just naturally detestable?” Jinxiu covered her lips and laughed, then turned to the women around her. “What do you all think?”

“Of course it’s Wei Yingluo!”

“I’ve been annoyed with her for ages.”

“She’s just an ambitious little schemer who only knows how to drag everyone else down…”

Laughter and curses filled the room in a chaotic din. Jixiang desperately tried to defend Wei Yingluo, but two fists can hardly block four hands—let alone so many mouths. And Jixiang was never good with sharp words; she was no match for this group’s talent for sarcasm and mockery. In the end she only managed to work herself into a rage—her small face flushed crimson, her chest heaving as she gasped, “You—you people…!”

“What about us? Go on, say it!” Jinxiu shoved her hard in the chest, pushing her back onto the wet quilt. Jixiang, furious beyond words and on the verge of lunging at her, suddenly—

Splash!

A full bucket of cold water came pouring down from behind Jinxiu.

“Ahhh!!” Jinxiu shrieked, instantly drenched like a drowned rat.

She whipped around and glared at Wei Yingluo, who stood there holding the now half-empty bucket. “What are you doing?!”

Wei Yingluo smiled slightly. Still holding the remaining water, she walked slowly through the room, calmly pouring it over every bed in turn until every quilt was soaked.

The room erupted in screams. One by one the palace maids leaped from their beds, cursing in a chaotic chorus:

“Yingluo, have you gone mad?!”

“Too much!”

“Yeah, we only said a couple of words about you, and you actually do this to us?”

“Let’s go! We’re all going to find Auntie together!” Jinxiu raised her hand to wipe the water from her face. She was soaked through and through; water droplets kept sliding down her sideburns and the hems of her clothes. She shot a vicious glare at Wei Yingluo, then strode toward the door. “I’d like to see whether Auntie can still tolerate you after you’ve done something like this!”

Seeing the situation escalating to this point, Jixiang grew anxious: “No, no—everyone, don’t go! Yingluo was just impulsive for a moment; she didn’t mean it! Yingluo, say something quickly!”

Wei Yingluo loosened her grip. The now-empty wooden bucket slipped from her hand and rolled clattering across the floor until it stopped at Jinxiu’s feet.

“Let them go,” Wei Yingluo said with a half-smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “The ones who’ll end up unlucky are them, not me.”

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