Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 155: Sudden Change

   Ming Yu stared at Xiaoquanzi until he finished reciting all the palace rules, then finally returned to the bedchamber.

Just as she reached the doorway, she heard intermittent arguing coming from inside.

Yuan Chunwang:

“You regret it?”

Wei Yingluo:

“Why should I regret anything?”

Yuan Chunwang:

“The Emperor treats you with true sincerity. He eagerly sends you the very best things just to make you happy. And what have you done?”

Wei Yingluo:

“…You wouldn’t understand.”

Yuan Chunwang sneered coldly: “In the past, I didn’t understand, but these days I’ve seen everything clearly. Wei Yingluo, you really are a cold-hearted person—no one can warm you up.”

The door was suddenly flung open. Yuan Chunwang stormed out from inside, his face livid with anger.

Under the fierce glare he shot her, Ming Yu felt as though a venomous snake had fixed its eyes on her; her blood seemed to freeze in an instant. Only after he strode past her did she finally let out a breath.

“…The more I look at this Yuan Chunwang, the less he seems like a good sort,” she thought, watching his departing figure. “He’s nowhere near as reliable as Xiaoquanzi. Yet Yingluo insists on trusting him.”

Shaking her head, Ming Yu stepped into the room and called out, “Yingluo, what happened?”

“…His Majesty just had someone deliver this.” Wei Yingluo lowered her head to look at the sable fur laid out on the table.

According to Li Yu, a new batch of pelts had just been bestowed upon the harem. Most palaces received black tiger or white leopard pelts; Shoukang and Chengqian received first-grade sable. Only hers was different.

It was a single piece of clouded fox fur.

When she lifted it up, amid the shimmering silver sheen were several naturally formed patterns—exquisitely beautiful and extremely rare.

There was only one such clouded fox pelt in existence. Even when the Empress wanted it, Hongli had not given it to her. One could see just how highly Wei Yingluo ranked in Hongli’s heart.

Wei Yingluo stroked the clouded fox fur with a complicated expression. Her heart felt faintly warm, like a stone slowly being warmed by someone’s hands. She touched the pelt again and said, “…Ming Yu, bring me my needlework box.”

“Your Ladyship, are you going to…?” Ming Yu’s eyes lit up. She quickly fetched the needlework box.

Wei Yingluo threaded the needle. Amid the pattering sound of raindrops striking plantain leaves, her silver needle gently pierced the clouded fox fur.

Half a month later—

   The Silkworm-Rearing Ceremony was about to begin. Wu Shulai was extremely busy, constantly directing the young eunuchs below: “Be careful! Send everything to the Silkworm Platform! Oh dear, watch out—that’s a golden hook! Hurry, hurry, don’t miss the auspicious time!”

Since everything was not yet ready, Hongli naturally would not go to the Silkworm Platform ahead of time to wait. He sat in the Yangxin Hall, suddenly set down the memorial in his hand, and looked at Hailancha opposite him: “What on earth is that thing on your head?”

Hailancha touched the forehead band tied around his brow and gave a foolish grin.

“A gift from your sweetheart?” Hongli only glanced once before lowering his eyes to continue reading the memorial. He spoke slowly and deliberately, “Women always like to fuss over these trivial things—embroidering a pouch today, a handkerchief tomorrow. It’s truly a waste of time.”

Hailancha felt a little unconvinced and muttered under his breath, “Yes, yes, this servant’s woman is just like that. She can’t compare to Her Ladyship Consort Ling. Her Ladyship Consort Ling would never waste time on such trivial matters.”

The hand flipping the memorial paused. Hongli said indifferently, “I don’t like receiving pouches and handkerchiefs either.”

“Your Majesty.” Li Yu suddenly came in from outside, holding a tray on which rested a pure white fur hat. “A hat was sent from Yanxi Palace. Ming Yu said it was personally made for you by Her Ladyship Consort Ling.”

Hongli: “Bring it here quickly!”

Hailancha: “…”

The hat was soon placed in his hands. The stitches were fine and dense, the embroidery exquisite—clearly the work of her own hand. What was most special was the long strip of sable fur attached to the back: pure white and flawless, with naturally formed spiral patterns hidden within it. It was unmistakably the very clouded fox fur he had sent her.

“Give a peach and receive a plum in return”—for some reason, this saying suddenly flashed through Hongli’s mind.

“Her Ladyship Consort Ling said that in winter, when you wear the hat, the sable fur can wrap around your neck for convenience and warmth,” Li Yu explained. “But the weather is warm now, so this servant will put it away for Your Majesty and bring it out again when winter comes.”

Noticing Hailancha secretly glancing at him, Hongli put on a stern face and said, “Who told her to make such useless things? When I go out, I’m surrounded by attendants front and back—could I possibly get cold? What a busybody!”

“Emperor, you are right,” Li Yu wanted to put the hat away for him, but unexpectedly, Hongli ignored him entirely. He reached up, took off the hat on his head, and put on the sable fur cap instead.

Li Yu: “…”

Placing the removed hat into Li Yu’s hands, Hongli asked, “Is there anything else?”

If there was nothing else, he was going to head to Yanxi Palace. He rather missed the “stone” living in Yanxi Palace. She used to be ice-cold all the time; now, finally, he had managed to warm her up a little.

Unfortunately, his wish was not granted, because Li Yu quickly said, “Yes, someone outside requests an audience.”

“Who?” Hongli was taken aback.

“Lady Zhongyong — Xitara Erqing!”

Though she was already a woman who had borne a child, Erqing still looked as delicate and youthful as an eighteen-year-old girl. It was clear she had lived a life of comfort and privilege in the Fucha family, never suffering the slightest hardship.

“Your Majesty.” She knelt on the ground, tears glistening in her eyes, on the verge of weeping. “Previously, Fuheng doted on a maidservant, causing chaos in the household! Because that maid kept sowing discord, he began to suspect An’er’s parentage. In a moment of anger, I had the maid married off. Then he started shouting that he would divorce me… sob sob…”

Hongli’s head ached from her crying. He pressed his temples and said, “Erqing, tell me truthfully — is An’er really…”

He desperately hoped she would say no, but how could Erqing grant him that wish?

   Erqing gave him a slight nod, then wiped her tears and said, “This servant has sinned. But what is past is past. This servant sincerely wishes to be a good daughter-in-law to the Fucha family. Your Majesty, I know the Son of Heaven does not interfere in his subjects’ family affairs, but this marriage was arranged by your own hand. Now even the old madam can no longer persuade Fuheng. Only you can convince him not to divorce this servant.”

Hongli raised an eyebrow. From her words, he actually caught a faint whiff of… threat.

If he did not help her, what would she do? Make the whole affair public? Let the entire world know that he, the Son of Heaven, had actually touched his subject’s wife?

In an instant, a surge of killing intent rose in Hongli’s heart, but he forcibly suppressed it and said indifferently, “You may withdraw for now. I will consider this matter.”

After Erqing kowtowed in thanks and left Yangxin Hall, she lightly smoothed her sideburns, straightened her posture, and put on a gentle, dignified, virtuous smile. From her outward appearance alone, no one could possibly guess she was a woman who had willingly cuckolded her own husband.

She smiled and said, “Lead the way.”

A palace maid guided her toward the palace exit. As they passed a patch of grass, a haggard-looking palace maid who was weeding suddenly raised her head.

“Erqing!”

Erqing was startled. “You are…?”

The palace maid threw down her work and rushed over. “It’s me! It’s Hupo! For the sake of the days when we both served the Empress together, please help me…”

Erqing, having once worked in the palace herself, took one look at the woman’s current attire and the task she was performing and immediately understood she had almost certainly been sentenced to the Cleansing Division (the laundry punishment bureau). She immediately assumed a haughty air and said,

“Do your work properly. Stop picking and choosing. What kind of behavior is this?”

Seeing that Erqing showed not the slightest trace of old friendship, a flash of bitter resentment passed through Hupo’s eyes. Just then, an older supervising maid came over with a whip to lash her. Hupo ducked, dodged the blow, and ran straight in the direction of Yanxi Palace.

Erqing paid her no further attention and continued walking toward the palace gates. Halfway there, someone suddenly caught up from behind — a strikingly handsome young eunuch with a voice as clear and cool as spring water.

“Erqing, the Emperor has something to say to you.”

Erqing did not suspect anything and followed him. They walked for quite a while, one in front of the other. Suddenly she stopped.

“This isn’t the way to Yangxin Hall.”

“This way, please.” The handsome eunuch gestured lightly and said indifferently, “The lady is waiting for you inside.”

“Lady? What lady? Who exactly are you?” Two more eunuchs emerged from behind the trees and seized Erqing from both sides. She screamed in terror, “Let go! Let go of me!”

The handsome eunuch took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her mouth. While Erqing struggled, whimpering and kicking her legs, she suddenly heard the handsome eunuch say calmly:

“We’ve arrived.”

She looked up and saw a towering palace ahead, with a plaque hanging in front. The inscription read—Changchun Palace.

Entering the main hall, a handsome eunuch gave her a sharp push from behind. Erqing stumbled forward, crashing into the table in front, causing the offerings and candlesticks on it to sway wildly. Wait—offerings? Candlesticks? She slowly raised her head and saw the Empress’s portrait hanging on the wall, staring down at her from above.

“Ah!” Erqing’s face turned deathly pale. She retreated again and again until she finally steadied herself. Looking around, her gaze finally locked onto a woman seated in a chair. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Wei Yingluo, what exactly do you want to do?”

Changchun Palace had been arranged by Wei Yingluo to resemble a funeral hall. She herself was dressed in plain white mourning clothes. Her gaze was icy cold as she stared at Erqing. “Hupo, do you dare confront her face to face?”

“This servant dares.” Hupo bowed and stood respectfully at her side. A whip mark still lingered on her face—clearly inflicted by one of the Cleansing Division mamas who had chased her all the way after she tried to flee to Yanxi Palace. She had wanted to escape that hellish place called the Cleansing Division, but Erqing refused to help her. Left with no choice, she sold out Erqing to win Consort Ling’s favor.

Having made up her mind, Amber no longer cared about their many years of camaraderie as fellow servants. She raised her head and stared straight at Erqing, enunciating each word clearly:

“Erqing, I saw it with my own eyes—you are the one who caused Her ladyship; Empress’s death.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME