Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 67: Revenge

   Hongzhou thought the matter of the “female ghost” was finally over, but someone always seemed to bring it up again. Irritated, he turned around and snapped, “Hailancha, I finally managed to get away from Imperial Brother and have a moment of peace. Why do you keep following me around for no reason!”

Hailancha looked curious. “Fifth Master, about that female ghost the other day—”

Hongzhou waved his fan casually, looking completely at ease. “Taken care of!”

Hailancha asked in surprise, “You caught the female ghost?”

Hongzhou gave a meaningful smile. “Not only was she not a ghost—she turned out to be a lovely, refined beauty!” As he spoke, he suddenly spotted Wei Yingluo walking over from the other side. He immediately went up with a cheerful grin and called out, “Little sister-in-law!”

Wei Yingluo was startled. She stopped, curtsied, and said, “Prince He, please don’t tease this servant.”

Hongzhou made a “tch” sound and said seriously, “How is this teasing? You really are this prince’s little sister-in-law!”

Wei Yingluo raised an eyebrow. “So you’re truly acknowledging this connection, Your Highness?”

Hongzhou stared at Wei Yingluo intently, clearly moved by her appearance. Grinning mischievously, he said, “Of course I acknowledge it! How could I not? These days the Emperor keeps me under strict supervision to make me behave, so now we can see each other every day!”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head, stepped to the side, and walked away.

Hongzhou chased after her for a couple of steps and called out, “Hey, I wasn’t finished talking—why are you leaving already?”

Wei Yingluo stopped, turned her head, and gave him a light smile. “Doesn’t Your Highness enter the palace every day? If you want to talk, there will be plenty of opportunities later.” With that, she quickened her pace and left.

Hongzhou’s soul seemed to be snatched away by that smile; he stood there dazed for a long moment, unable to snap out of it. Hailancha waved his fingers back and forth in front of his eyes like someone trying to call back a wandering spirit. “Fifth Master! Fifth Master!”

Hongzhou suddenly snapped his fan shut and said with relish, “Beautiful—prettier than her older sister!”

Hailancha frowned and said seriously, “What did you just say? Fifth Master, let me warn you: you absolutely must not touch this girl!”

Hongzhou shrugged it off carelessly. “She’s just a palace maid—what’s untouchable about her? As long as I say the word, His Majesty might very well gift her to me.”

Hailancha replied, “Fifth Master, Fuheng treasures her like the apple of his eye!”

Hongzhou laughed smugly. “That depends on whether she chooses Fuheng or me, Prince He!”

Hailancha grew anxious. “Fifth Master, the way you’re acting is really not honorable!”

Hongzhou burst into loud laughter, patted Hailancha on the shoulder, and said, “Relax. Fuheng and I grew up together—we’re like brothers. How could I possibly have any improper thoughts? I’m just someone who appreciates beauty; I only want to look, that’s all!” With those words, Hongzhou turned back once more, reluctantly gazing at Yingluo’s figure before finally walking away with a smile.

Hailancha felt uneasy. He turned and headed straight for the imperial guards’ station.

Fuheng was reading a book at the guards’ station. From far away, he heard Hailancha’s voice: “Fuheng! Something’s happened! I have to tell you!”

Fuheng didn’t even look up. “What do you want to tell me?”

Hailancha rushed over in a panic. “Fifth Master is trying to steal your wall!”

Fuheng found it amusing. “Steal what wall?”

Hailancha slammed the table in frustration. “The woman! The one you like most—do you understand now!”

Fuheng’s expression changed. “You mean—”

Seeing that Fuheng finally understood, Hailancha sighed. “Exactly what it sounds like. I can tell that kid Hongzhou has gotten some crooked ideas. You’d better keep a close eye on her!”

Fuheng closed the book with a snap and tossed it onto the table.

Recently, there had been a new bereavement in the palace: Dowager Consort Guo had passed away. Changchun Palace naturally had to make some gesture of condolence, so the Empress ordered Wei Yingluo to deliver sacrificial offerings to Shou’an Palace.

Night fell, with a bright moon hanging high. Wei Yingluo carried a small, delicate bamboo basket and walked along the covered passageway. Hongzhou spotted her from a distance and immediately followed behind her. The little eunuch at his side asked in confusion, “Your Highness, where are you going? We have to leave the palace before the gates are locked for the night.”

Hongzhou said impatiently, “Mind your own business!” Then he narrowed his eyes and added, “Take off your clothes and give them to me!”

In just a few quick motions, Hongzhou stripped the little eunuch’s clothes off and put them on himself. He snatched the eunuch’s hat and clapped it onto his own head. “You take my waist token and leave the palace as usual!”

The little eunuch clutched the clothes, hopping anxiously. “You can’t do this, Your Highness!”

Hongzhou placed one hand lightly around the little eunuch’s neck and said softly, “If you dare breathe a word of this, I’ll take your life!”

The little eunuch immediately fell silent.

Wei Yingluo continued walking until she reached a small grove. She looked around carefully and, seeing no one nearby, took out a candle and a fire folder from the bamboo basket. Suddenly a hand seized her wrist. Hongzhou stepped out from behind a tree and said loudly, “Aha! So what exactly are you up to!”

Wei Yingluo looked flustered. “Prince of Harmony, I was simply ordered to deliver the sacrificial offerings for Dowager Consort Guo—”

Hongzhou stepped closer, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me. Shou’an Palace is outside the grove—why did you come into the woods? Oh, I get it. You’re secretly paying respects to your older sister, aren’t you!”

Wei Yingluo turned her face away awkwardly. “Your Highness, I know the palace forbids private sacrifices, but since you promised to welcome my sister into your household, it’s still a major matter. I had to let her know somehow!”

Hongzhou snarled viciously, “You knew perfectly well that sacrifices aren’t allowed, yet you deliberately broke the rules! Come on, come with me to see the Empress. I’d like to see whether she’ll cover for you!”

Fear appeared in Wei Yingluo’s eyes. She pleaded pitifully, “Your Highness, didn’t you say I could be considered your little sister-in-law? Since we’re family, why must you be so harsh?”

Hongzhou laughed, reached out, and boldly touched Yingluo’s waist, speaking in a roguish, crude tone: “Since we’re family, why don’t you take your sister’s place and ‘serve’ this prince for a while?”

Wei Yingluo immediately dodged away, displeased. “Your Highness, this is no joking matter!”

Hongzhou’s face grimed. He threatened, “I’m not joking with you. If you don’t agree, I’ll spill the whole thing!”

Wei Yingluo froze. After a moment, she spoke hesitantly, “Let me think about it… At the very least, I need to ask my sister first…”

Seeing the delicate beauty soften her tone, Hongzhou generously said, “Fine. I’ll wait right here for you.”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head. She brought the fire stick close to the candle. Covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, she spoke in a heartbroken voice as though on the verge of tears: “Sister, Yingluo came here especially today to see you because I have something important to tell you. Prince He has deeply regretted what happened in the past. He has agreed to welcome you into his household and even said he would move your grave.”

As the fire stick flared, white smoke rose. Hongzhou, bored, rummaged through the basket nearby. Suddenly finding it odd, he asked, “Why didn’t you bring any gold ingots or paper money for the offering?” Before he could finish, his vision blurred. Dizzy and unsteady, he muttered, “What… what is this smell—?”

The frail, pitiful look on Wei Yingluo’s face vanished in an instant. She stood up, her voice now utterly calm and cold: “Sister, I know you will never forgive him. Today, please watch with your own eyes how I punish the true culprit on your behalf!” With that, she grabbed the heavy bronze candlestick and smashed it down hard toward the back of Hongzhou’s neck!

Caught completely off guard, Hongzhou fell to the ground. In disbelief, he gasped, “You deliberately lured me here… and that fire stick—you tampered with it!”

Wei Yingluo said nothing. She raised the candlestick again and brought it down toward his face.

Hongzhou grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it upward. Wei Yingluo dodged backward. Seizing the moment, Hongzhou scrambled with all his strength, rolling and crawling desperately into the depths of the woods. Wei Yingluo immediately gave chase.

Using the cover of night and the dense trees, Hongzhou hid behind a large trunk. Wei Yingluo advanced slowly, candlestick in hand, scanning the surroundings for any trace. Her voice was calm as she spoke: “Hongzhou, do you know why I want to kill you?”

Hongzhou held his breath, trembling slightly from fear.

Wei Yingluo’s voice was filled with hatred: “To you, Wei Yingning was just a palace maid you violated in a drunken moment. But to me, she was the most important person in the world! My mother died in childbirth. My father never cared for me. Only my sister took care of me like a mother!”

Tears shimmered in Wei Yingluo’s eyes. She gripped the candlestick tighter and tighter. “When my sister entered the palace at fifteen, I went to the Shenwu Gate every single day—waiting, hoping, watching with longing. Nine years. I waited nine whole years. My sister was finally about to come home! But because of your momentary debauchery, she died!”

The footsteps drew closer. Hongzhou covered his mouth, terrified of making the slightest sound.

Wei Yingluo’s voice continued: “Even more ridiculous—you, a rapist who should be carved into a thousand pieces, escaped punishment so easily just because you’re of imperial blood. And you even had the audacity to boast about welcoming her into your house. Pah! As if you’re worthy! Forgiving you isn’t hard. All it takes is your life in repayment!”

Yingluo’s gaze swept inch by inch through the woods. But the moonlight was blocked by thick clouds, leaving everything pitch black. After searching for a long time without finding him, she turned and headed in another direction.

Hongzhou finally let out a breath of relief. He stepped out from behind the tree and staggered slowly outward. He had only taken a few steps when a sharp, violent pain exploded at the back of his head. He collapsed with a crash and lost consciousness.

Wei Yingluo had circled around from the other side and struck him from behind with the candlestick.

The clouds parted. Under the moonlight, Wei Yingluo looked down at Hongzhou from above, her gaze extremely cold. She murmured to herself: “Rest assured—this is far from over.”

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