Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 62: The Aftermath Lingers

   She had come full of expectation and left in utter dejection.

The world seemed gray and bleak. Every step Naran Chuxue took felt as though she were sinking into a muddy swamp — heavy, dragging, sinking deeper with each movement.

As she passed through the Imperial Garden, she saw several young palace maids singing and dancing inside.

One little maid lifted the hem of her skirt high, twirling in an attempt to look ethereal and immortal — completely unaware that, to onlookers, she looked clumsy and awkward, like a duck flapping about. She turned proudly to her companion and asked, “How do I look? Do you think I resemble Goddess Luo?”

Her friend laughed and teased, “You do! You’re just missing the flowing immortal skirt. One of these days, go beg Yingluo from Changchun Palace to make one for you too!”

Naran Chuxue had originally paid the two girls no mind. But when she returned to Jingren Palace, her personal maid Dongzao came forward to support her back to the sleeping chambers. On the way, Dongzao whispered, “My lady, this servant has found out the truth. It’s said that Her Majesty the Empress dressed up as Goddess Luo and managed to keep the Emperor there — that’s why you waited in vain all night!”

Naran Chuxue’s footsteps halted. She remembered the inch-by-inch despair she had felt beneath the brocade quilt. She remembered the two silly maids preening in the Imperial Garden. Hatred surged and filled her eyes completely. Her chest heaved for a moment before she suddenly lowered her voice and said to Dongzao, “Go to Chuxiu Palace. Deliver a message to Noble Consort Hui for me. Tell her that the day after tomorrow the Empress Dowager will return from Changchun Garden. I have a way to make the Empress completely lose the Empress Dowager’s favor — so that in front of Noble Consort, she will never be able to raise her head again!”

“Yes!” Dongzao left quickly and soon returned with Noble Consort Hui’s reply — just nine short words:

“I will give you one more chance.”

Two days later, in the Imperial Garden, the sun shone brightly and a hundred birds sang.

An old woman, solemn and dignified, her hands wrapped around Buddhist prayer beads, walked at the very front. The Empress supported her arm with deference, while the other consorts and concubines did not even qualify to offer an arm — they could only follow respectfully behind.

This woman was none other than the current Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager patted the Empress’s hand. “While I was at Changchun Garden performing Buddhist rites, it must have been difficult for you to manage both ends. You’ve worked hard these past days.”

The Empress replied softly, “Managing the inner palace and serving the Empress Dowager are this subject-wife’s proper duties. I dare not claim any merit.”

The two chatted casually about family matters, but unexpectedly Noble Consort Hui suddenly curled her lip and interjected:

“Your Majesty may not know, but the Empress is of noble character and pure virtue, with a mind as fragrant as orchid. Every woman in the palace regards her as a model — imitating her every word, every action, every frown and every smile, all hoping to win the Emperor’s favor!”

Wei Yingluo was stunned by the words and couldn’t help staring hard at the other woman. There was something strange and off about the tone—could she be up to mischief again?

Between the dignified wife and the seductive one, the Empress Dowager, like any ordinary mother-in-law, naturally favored the former. She immediately smiled and said, “The Empress has always handled matters justly and with perfect decorum. If every consort and concubine in the palace could learn even three-tenths of her grace, I would be completely satisfied.”

“Empress Dowager, this subject consort does not deserve such praise…” The Empress quickly tried to decline modestly.

“No need for modesty.” The Empress Dowager interrupted her with a cheerful smile. “I know you best of all! His Majesty works tirelessly day and night, attending to every matter personally and inevitably neglecting his own well-being. The affairs of the inner palace are complicated and the numbers vast—yet everything runs smoothly only because of your careful management. Because of you, His Majesty can focus entirely on state affairs, and peace and harmony prevail throughout the palace. In my heart, no one in the world is more dependable than you!”

As if unwilling to let the Empress take all the credit, Noble Consort Hui interjected, “By the way, Empress Dowager, did you like the Buddhist pagoda relic that was presented earlier?”

The Empress Dowager was devout in her faith—otherwise she wouldn’t have even her clothes scented with sandalwood. The relic was something she had sought for many years, and now that her wish was fulfilled, she naturally would not forget the one who provided it. She immediately asked, “Where is the Noble Lady who presented the pagoda relic?”

“Noble Lady Shu.” Noble Consort Hui stepped aside slightly. “Come forward.”

Naran Chuxue hurriedly took a few quick steps and knelt before the Empress Dowager. “This concubine respectfully greets the Empress Dowager and wishes Your Highness peace and health!”

The Empress Dowager looked her up and down. Because Naran Chuxue had an elegant and virtuous appearance, quite similar to the Empress in demeanor, she already pleased the elderly woman greatly on looks alone. Add to that the gift of the Buddhist relic, and the favor increased by another three points. The Empress Dowager nodded approvingly. “To be able to obtain a Buddhist relic shows you have an affinity with the Buddha. I never expected such a refined and beautiful young woman. Come, come closer to me.”

“Yes, Empress Dowager.” Naran Chuxue obeyed readily, supporting the Empress Dowager’s other arm. When they reached a fork in the path, she subtly guided the Empress Dowager toward the right. “Empress Dowager, Yanhui Pavilion is just ahead. The peonies in front of the pavilion are all in bloom. Why don’t we go and admire them?”

Hearing her words and watching her movements, Wei Yingluo felt more and more that something was wrong.

Everything seemed far too deliberate…

“Ah!!”

Suddenly a blood-curdling scream rang out. Wei Yingluo looked up just in time to see a palace maid falling from a high point of Yanhui Pavilion. With a heavy thud, the figure disappeared into the peony bushes.

“Zhilan!” Almost the instant the figure hit the ground, Noble Consort Hui shouted, “Quick, go see!”

“Yes!” Zhilan rushed over at once. Wei Yingluo’s eyes flashed; she too hurried forward.

The two arrived beside the peony bushes almost simultaneously. A palace maid lay limp on the ground. Wei Yingluo reached out to check—there was no breath, no pulse. She immediately stepped back half a pace. Up above, two palace maids leaned out, faces full of panic, whispering words that included “Empress” and “disguise.”

Not far away, Aunt Liu’s scolding voice already rang out: “Hurry! Everyone over there—find out exactly what happened!”

Zhilan shoved aside Ming Yu, who was trying to hold her back, and sneered coldly, “Something this serious has happened—even if you try to stop me, it’s useless!”

Wei Yingluo stared at the palace maid’s body and pressed her lips tightly together.

The large group arrived majestically at the base of Yanhui Pavilion. Naran Chuxue immediately said, “Empress Dowager, it’s right here!” Everyone saw the corpse; a handkerchief still covered the face. The Empress Dowager’s expression changed dramatically as she demanded, “What in the world has happened here?”

Wei Yingluo answered calmly, “Reporting to the Empress Dowager: because she fell from a great height, her face was severely damaged. To avoid frightening the mistresses, a handkerchief was specially placed over it. As for the reason for the fall, this servant has not yet had time to inquire.”

Aunt Liu swept her gaze over the two palace maids and barked sharply, “Are you two from Yanhui Pavilion?”

The two palace maids dropped to their knees with a thud. One of them seemed to summon all her courage before speaking: “The three of us are sweeping maids of Yanhui Pavilion. We were just playing around earlier, and who knew she would misstep and fall from such a height! We were caught off guard and couldn’t grab her in time, so…”

The Empress Dowager’s face was ice-cold. “This is a human life. To dismiss it with the light words ‘just playing around’—is that not far too frivolous!”

Naran Chuxue shot a glance at the two palace maids and said, “The Empress Dowager is right. Since the three of you were on duty, you should have carried out your tasks properly. Why were you fooling around here? Confess everything truthfully at once!”

The palace maid understood and quickly replied, “Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please forgive us! Lately a costume role-playing game has become very popular in the palace. Everyone loves to imitate the appearances of classical beauties for fun. We servants were just momentarily carried away by the game and ended up committing such a monstrous offense!”

Another palace maid hurriedly chimed in, “Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! We didn’t mean to! We beg for your forgiveness!”

The Empress’s expression changed slightly. Erqing felt anxious and looked toward the Empress, wanting to speak but hesitating.

The Empress Dowager looked puzzled. “What costume role-playing game?”

The palace maid stealthily glanced at the Empress before answering, “It… it spread from Changchun Palace. Her Majesty the Empress—”

Wei Yingluo suddenly cut in: “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this servant ventures to guess that the palace maid just now was imitating the drunken state of Noble Consort Yang. She accidentally fell from the top of Yanhui Pavilion. As for why she chose to imitate Noble Consort Yang, it is probably because Noble Consort Hui’s performance of ‘The Drunken Beauty’ was so captivating that the palace maids all wanted to copy her!”

The Empress Dowager’s anger was already rising. “The Drunken Beauty? What—is Noble Consort Hui putting on operas in the palace?”

Noble Consort Hui immediately snapped, “You filthy slave! What nonsense are you spouting? When has this palace ever told the maids to imitate anything?”

Wei Yingluo smiled coyishly, humbly lowered her head and replied, “Of course Noble Consort need not say a word—leading by example is enough. In Chuxiu Palace, the huqin never stops playing every day; Peking operas follow one after another. Today it’s The Palace of Eternal Life, tomorrow it’s Farewell My Concubine… Especially Your Ladyship’s rendition of ‘The Drunken Beauty’—performed with such divine skill and such soft, graceful movements. It is deeply loved by His Majesty! The palace maids admire it in their hearts and wish to imitate Your Ladyship to win the Emperor’s favor. That is only human nature. Ming Yu, would you not agree?”

Ming Yu suddenly snapped back to attention and hurriedly said, “Yes, yes, yes! Empress Dowager, yesterday this servant even saw someone imitating Yu Ji!”

Wei Yingluo sighed and said, “Noble Consort, please do not blame this servant for speaking out of turn. Farewell My Concubine carries the omen of a kingdom’s fall—Your Ladyship would do better to stick with Noble Consort Yang!”

Ming Yu pretended to scold, “I told you to read more books! Who says imitating Noble Consort Yang is good? Noble Consort Yang met her tragic end at Mawei Slope—her fragrant soul and jade body perished—and the great Tang dynasty declined amid the An Lushan Rebellion. That is hardly auspicious either!”

By now the Empress Dowager’s face had turned livid with rage. She stared at Noble Consort Hui without saying a word. Noble Consort Hui felt terror in her heart and trembled slightly.

Naran Chuxue was also furious and said, “The costume trend clearly originated from Changchun Palace—how has it suddenly become Noble Consort’s fault? Wei Yingluo, you must not casually slander a Noble Lady!”

Wei Yingluo put on an innocent, bewildered look and said, “But Her Majesty the Empress does not perform ‘The Drunken Beauty,’ nor has she ever publicly dressed up as Noble Consort Yang. What does this have to do with her? Everyone in Chuxiu Palace can hear the little opera stage performing every single day!”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand impatiently. “Enough! Stop arguing! Empress—this costume fad, where exactly did it start?”

The Empress hesitated, then opened her mouth. “Empress Dowager, this concubine…”

Wei Yingluo smiled faintly and confidently continued, “If the Empress Dowager permits, this servant can prove it to everyone right now!”

Naran Chuxue scoffed with icy disdain. “What proof could you possibly have?”

Wei Yingluo walked over to the corpse, suddenly pulled away the cloth covering it. Everyone looked—and saw that the face of the body was blotchy: patches of red and black, with obvious stage makeup mixed in the blood, making the features look grotesque and terrifying.

Naran Chuxue was greatly shocked. “How… how can this be?!”

Noble Consort Hui suddenly shot a fierce glance at Zhilan. Zhilan lowered her head, not daring to meet Noble Consort Hui’s eyes.

The Empress Dowager swept a cold look over Noble Consort Hui and said in a deep voice, “Return to the palace!”

Immediately everyone gathered around the Empress Dowager and departed in a grand procession.

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