Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 64: Poison

   This time, Chuxiu Palace’s attempt to frame the Empress had failed, and the Empress Dowager had even ordered their theatrical stage dismantled. They had lost both money and men, their former arrogance completely extinguished. Everyone in the palace was secretly laughing at their misfortune.

But the people of Changchun Palace knew better: Noble Consort Hui would never let this go quietly.

That day, as Wei Yingluo left the embroidery workshop, she suddenly ran into Zhilan. The two passed each other without looking sideways, but in the instant their shoulders brushed, Zhilan asked softly:

“Wei Yingluo, do you want to know the true cause of A-Man’s death?”

Wei Yingluo spun around sharply.

Zhilan smiled coyishly and said, “Tonight at the third watch, come alone to Chuxiu Palace. Remember — if word of this gets out, you will never know the truth for the rest of your life.”

The moon was pale, clouds thin; a faint fragrance of flowers drifted on the wind. Chuxiu Palace stood magnificent and radiant in the night. Wei Yingluo followed Zhilan into the main hall and bowed to the two seated figures at the head:

“This servant pays respects to Your Ladyship Noble Consort and Noble Lady Shu.”

Noble Consort Hui covered her lips and laughed lightly. “Wei Yingluo, just now I was making a bet with Noble Lady Shu — whether you would dare to come.”

Wei Yingluo asked calmly, “This servant ventures to ask: did Your Ladyship Noble Consort win the bet, or did Noble Lady Shu win?”

Noble Consort Hui’s face grimed. She said coldly, “I have always detested sharp-tongued people — especially you, who have ruined so many of my plans! Still, for you to come to Chuxiu Palace alone shows considerable courage.”

Wei Yingluo pretended to be afraid and said, “Yingluo is actually quite timid. Before coming to Chuxiu Palace, I left a letter behind. If I do not return within one hour, I will have no choice but to ask Her Majesty the Empress to come fetch me.”

Noble Consort Hui scoffed and waved her hand lazily. “Enough. I asked you here because I want you to see someone.” As soon as her words fell, a young eunuch was pushed forward. He looked only thirteen or fourteen years old and knelt down beside Wei Yingluo.

Wei Yingluo glanced at the little eunuch with little interest and asked, “Who is he?”

The young eunuch answered tremblingly, “This servant is Xiaozhangzi, the sweeping eunuch of the Imperial Garden.”

Naran Chuxue spoke with full malice: “Xiaozhangzi, tell us exactly what you saw on the night of the tenth day of the first lunar month!”

Wei Yingluo’s expression changed abruptly.

The little eunuch stole a fearful glance at Wei Yingluo before replying timidly, “That night the Emperor was entertaining the imperial clansmen in Qianqing Palace. All the managers in the Imperial Garden had slipped away to play cards, leaving only this servant on duty. Later I heard a noise near the rockery, so I quietly went over.”

Wei Yingluo was no longer calm. Urgently she asked, “What did you see?”

The little eunuch answered in a shaking voice, “This servant personally saw… Sister Yingning being dragged into the rockery by someone…”

Wei Yingluo suddenly shouted, “Then why didn’t you save her!”

The little eunuch was terrified and collapsed backward, stammering, “This servant doesn’t dare… that person, that person…”

Wei Yingluo grabbed the little eunuch by the front of his robe and demanded, “Who exactly was that person!”

The little eunuch, choked uncomfortably, cried out loudly, “It was Fucha Fuheng! Fucha Fuheng!”

Wei Yingluo’s face filled with astonishment. Her grip loosened for a moment, and then, unexpectedly, she laughed. She nodded and said, “Not a bad story you’ve made up.”

Naran Chuxue frowned and asked, “Do you think we’re fabricating a tale to deceive you?”

Wei Yingluo regained her composure. “My older sister’s matter, and the reason I entered the palace—only Momo-Zhang knows the full truth! Today I went to the embroidery chamber to see her, but instead I ran into Zhilan, and then Zhilan claimed she knew about my sister. Isn’t that far too coincidental? You must have learned my secret from Momo-Zhang and now want to frame Fucha Fuheng, forcing me to serve the Changchun Palace. Isn’t that right?”

A dead silence fell over the hall. The little eunuch stood frozen with his mouth open, seemingly stunned.

Noble Consort Hui let out a light laugh, breaking the stillness. “Wei Yingluo, do you really think a single jade pendant is the only piece of evidence?”

Wei Yingluo’s heart tightened. “What does Your Ladyship mean by that?”

Naran Chuxue turned to the little eunuch and ordered, “Bring it out.”

The little eunuch tremblingly drew a court belt from his bosom and held it up before Wei Yingluo. “This servant found this court belt by the rockery. The other party must have left in too great a hurry and didn’t notice—”

Wei Yingluo snatched the belt away. Embroidered on it was the same Manchu script as on the jade pendant. She clenched it tightly in an instant.

Noble Consort Hui said smugly, “Fucha Fuheng—one jade pendant might still be called a coincidence, but now even his court belt has turned up. This is an item worn close to the body by a first-rank imperial guard. Are you saying such a thing could simply be lost by accident?”

Wei Yingluo gripped the belt even tighter, her gaze flickering uncertainly.

Naran Chuxue immediately pressed the advantage. “Fucha Fuheng violated A-Man’s chastity. The dignified and virtuous Empress, in order to protect her own younger brother’s reputation, expelled this pitiful palace maid from the palace. And even that wasn’t enough for her peace of mind—if the maid were to go out and speak recklessly, it would surely damage the Fucha family’s good name! To eliminate the root of the problem once and for all, she simply—”

Wei Yingluo cut her off sharply: “Enough!”

Naran Chuxue smiled sweetly. “Look at you—I haven’t even finished speaking and you’re already shaking with rage. I understand you completely. You went through so much hardship to enter the palace, all for the sake of finding your sister’s killer, only to become the sharpest blade in your enemy’s hand! That hypocritical pair of siblings must be laughing behind your back, mocking how foolish you are for mistaking the thief for your master!”

Wei Yingluo stared coldly at Noble Consort Hui. “What exactly does Your Ladyship want me to do?”

Noble Consort Hui spoke in a seductive, coaxing tone. “The Empress excels at putting on an act of virtue, deceiving the entire world with that dignified and virtuous face of hers. Now that you know the truth, this palace hopes you will serve this palace.”

Wei Yingluo asked, “How should I serve?”

Naran Chuxue extended her hand and handed Wei Yingluo a small packet of medicine. “The Empress has toyed with you and deceived you like this—don’t you want revenge? Simply put this packet of powder into the Empress’s daily food or drink, and she can be killed without anyone ever knowing or suspecting.”

Wei Yingluo froze, incredulous. “You want me to poison the Empress?”

Naran Chuxue gave a scornful laugh. “What’s wrong? Are you afraid now? The Empress is Fuheng’s greatest shield. To protect her precious little brother, she was willing to kill the innocent A-Man! Poor A-Man first lost her chastity, then was driven out of the palace, and finally strangled to death—abandoned and despised by her own family. All of this tragedy was caused by that brother-and-sister pair, yet you’re still soft-hearted!”

Wei Yingluo’s fingertips trembled as she accepted the packet of medicine.

The next day, in Changchun Palace, Fuheng came to pay a visit to the Empress. Wei Yingluo was preparing tea in the tea room when Zhenzhu approached from behind and asked, “Yingluo, is the tea ready?”

Wei Yingluo smiled. “It’s ready.” With that, she picked up the tray and walked out of the tea room together with Zhenzhu. Just as they reached the front of the main hall, they encountered Consort-Chun approaching with Yuhu. The two immediately halted and curtsied in greeting: “This servant respectfully greets Consort-Chun Your Ladyship!”

Consort-Chun smiled coyishly. “Rise.”

Zhenzhu asked, “Consort Chun, have you come to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress? This servant will go in first to announce you!”

Consort Chun glanced toward the main hall and shook her head. “No need. Imperial Guard Fucha is in the main hall. This palace will avoid him for now and come back to visit Her Majesty at noon.”

Zhenzhu and Wei Yingluo acknowledged the order. As they passed by Consort Chun, a gust of wind blew through, lifting Yingluo’s sleeve and carrying a wave of fragrance with it. Wei Yingluo walked on without noticing anything. Consort Chun suddenly turned her head back, a look of astonishment on her face.

The two entered the main hall and set down the tea and snacks. Fuheng’s gaze seemed to linger faintly on Wei Yingluo. The Empress gave a light cough and said, “Didn’t I already tell you? If there’s nothing important, don’t come to Changchun Palace. The Emperor’s grace is not something for you to squander casually.”

Fuheng smiled and replied, “Your Majesty, rest assured. This time it was Mother who sent me. She went to Huguo Temple and obtained a peace blessing charm. She insisted I bring it into the palace for you.”

The Empress sighed helplessly. “Mother really… from Longfu Temple, to Huguo Temple, now Guanghua Temple. How many temples does she plan to visit? How many peace talismans does she intend to collect?”

Fuheng spoke sweetly, “For Elder Sister’s sake, even if Mother wore her legs thin running around, she would do it gladly.”

The Empress laughed, a mix of fondness and gentle reproach in her voice. “Where did you learn to be so smooth-tongued?”

Fuheng lifted his teacup with a smile and said nothing. When he raised his eyes, he saw Wei Yingluo staring steadily at him. He couldn’t help but give her a slight smile in return.

Wei Yingluo returned a smile as well.

Just as Fuheng was about to drink, a sharp shout came from the doorway: “Don’t drink it!”

Consort Chun rushed in like a gust of wind. Without a word, she strode forward and struck the teacup from his hand.

The porcelain cup shattered into pieces on the floor. Fuheng looked at Consort Chun in shock. “Consort Chun! What are you doing?”

The Empress was equally surprised. “Consort Chun, what’s wrong?”

Consort Chun suddenly turned toward Wei Yingluo, pointed at her, and declared, “You should be asking her—what has she done?”

Wei Yingluo remained calm and composed. “Consort Chun, what do you mean by that?”

Consort Chun stepped close to Wei Yingluo, lightly sniffed, and confirmed her suspicion. “To win the Emperor’s favor, Noble Consort Hui sought out the ‘Skin-Penetrating Fragrance Pill.’ She takes it every day. Not only does her whole body exude an intoxicating scent, even the clothes she wears and the rooms she stays in carry the fragrance for a long time. To prevent others from competing for favor, she strictly forbids any palace servant from imitating it. Wei Yingluo—why does your body carry exactly that same scent?”

The Empress glanced at Wei Yingluo and said, “Consort Chun, it’s probably just a coincidence that she picked it up somewhere…”

Consort Chun shook her head, speaking with disappointment and frustration. “Your Majesty, you and I see Noble Consort Hui every single day—have we ever carried even a trace of that fragrance? There is only one possibility: Wei Yingluo went to Chuxiu Palace and stayed there for quite a long time! Because the incense burners in Chuxiu Palace are filled with exactly the same scent, and it lingers for hours. Right now Changchun Palace and Chuxiu Palace are like fire and water—why would Wei Yingluo go to Chuxiu Palace?”

Fuheng pressed his lips tightly together and looked deeply at Wei Yingluo.

Erqing grabbed Wei Yingluo’s arm in panic. “Yingluo, explain yourself!”

Consort Chun’s eyes were full of disappointment. She said bitterly, “She has nothing to say! When I first smelled the scent on her earlier, I wasn’t entirely sure—so I ordered Yuhu to search her room. And look what we found!” With that, Consort Chun extended her hand. In her palm was an empty medicine pouch.

The Empress’s voice trembled slightly. “What is this?”

Consort Chun said, “I had it examined. This is a pouch that once contained poison. It’s now empty.”

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