Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 162: Storm

   Upon hearing that Hongli had come to Chengqian Palace, the Step Empress hurried out to greet him.

“Emperor?” Seeing his dark and gloomy expression, she asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Hongli dismissed everyone else with a wave, then hesitated, seemingly on the verge of speaking but holding back.

The Step Empress gently guided him to sit in a chair, took both his hands in hers, and refused to let go. The warmth of her palms flowed into his. She said nothing, simply gazing at him with gentle, loving eyes—as if to say: We are husband and wife, one body and one heart. I am right here. You can tell me anything at any time; I will always share your burdens.

Hongli looked at her in silence for a long while before finally speaking. “This matter concerns my own origins. Right now my heart is in turmoil—I no longer know who to believe…”

After hesitating again and again, he finally told her everything the Empress Dowager had said. When he finished, the Step Empress looked astonished. “The Empress Dowager really said that?”

Seeing Hongli nod, she immediately hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Hongli: “Empress, do you have something to say?”

The Empress spoke somewhat haltingly: “Your Majesty, in Your Majesty’s heart, the Empress Dowager is a kind and benevolent mother. I do not wish to speculate about her with malice.”

Hongli said gravely, “Speak. I want to hear the truth.”

Only then did the Empress sigh and continue: “Your Majesty, think about it. Although the Niohuru clan is from a prestigious family, the branch that the Empress Dowager comes from is only a collateral line. Her own father was merely a fourth-rank ceremonial official, and there are no particularly prominent figures in her branch of the clan…”

Hongli frowned, not fully grasping her meaning, but he continued to listen.

“When the Empress Dowager entered Prince Yong’s household, she was merely a a secondary consort of lower rank. Above her were the primary wife and side wife. Especially later, when the Empress Xiaojingxian (Consort Ulanara) lost her only legitimate son in the 43rd year of Kangxi’s reign, her position became even more precarious. If the late Emperor truly wanted to find a high-born birth mother for you…” She looked at him and asked word by word, “Why would he have chosen the present Empress Dowager at that time?”

Hongli pressed his lips together. “…The Empress Dowager said it was because she was entrusted by Lady Qian.”

“Your Majesty, at that time in Prince Yong’s household, the only son was the one born to Side Wife Lady Li. The Primary Wife, side wife, and all the lower rank consorts had long been green with envy. If Lady Qian was frail and unable to raise the child herself, wouldn’t that have sparked fierce competition from all sides?” The Empress spoke hesitantly. “Yet the Empress Dowager emerged victorious and even leapt to become Your Majesty’s birth mother — and for all these years, no one has ever questioned it. I truly cannot imagine… Perhaps there was no real competition in Prince Yong’s household, nor any entrustment of the child, but rather…”

Hongli asked sharply, “Rather what?”

Pressed by him, the Empress seemed to let it slip out unintentionally: “Rather… it was a re-enactment of the old tale of the civet cat exchanged for the crown prince!”

Her words landed like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Hongli’s face turned deathly pale. Unconsciously, he gripped the Empress’s hand so tightly that her bones creaked. Only slowly did he come back to himself, murmuring as if to himself: “Could it be… just as Lady Wenshu said — that Lady Niohuru killed the mother and stole the son, and that is the real truth?”

On the other side, at the Imperial Guard Station.

   Ever since Hailancha left Yangxin Hall, he had been waiting anxiously inside the guard station.

“Hailancha!”

He turned abruptly, looking as if a weight had been lifted yet also as if he were sighing. “You’re here.”

Ming Yu came in carrying a food box. As she set it on the table, she smiled and asked, “Did the old madam like the forehead band I sent you last time?”

Following Wei Yingluo’s suggestion, Ming Yu had made two forehead bands: one for Hailancha to wear, and one sent to his mother.

“She loved it!” Hailancha answered without hesitation. “Of course she loved it!”

Ming Yu shyly lowered her head, opened the lid of the box, and began taking out dish after dish of steaming-hot food. “These are little side dishes I made myself. The wild vegetable seeds Xiaoquanzi brought back — we planted them all in the backyard. They’re nothing rare, but they’re very fresh.”

“There’s so much — I can’t finish it all by myself.” Hailancha pulled her down to sit beside him. “Let’s eat together.”

So many dishes, yet only one pair of chopsticks.

But for a pair of lovers, it was just right.

You feed me a bite, I feed you a bite. Plate after plate was quickly emptied, though Ming Yu had a small appetite, so most of the food ended up in Hailancha’s stomach.

   Accepting a mouthful of vegetables from her chopsticks with his mouth, Hailancha asked, “Are Concubine Shu and the others still bullying you all now?”

Ming Yu shook her head and smiled. “Although our master no longer enjoys the Emperor’s favor, she spends every day by the Empress Dowager’s side. Who would dare give her a sour face?”

Unexpectedly, Hailancha fell silent upon hearing this. After a long pause, he suddenly spoke: “Ming Yu, I’m afraid Shoukang Palace will not be peaceful in the future either. You’d best advise Consort Ling to keep some distance from the Empress Dowager, so as not to bring disaster upon herself.”

Ming Yu was startled. She knew Hailancha’s character well — he was not someone who spoke without reason. For him to say such words meant there must be something serious behind it.

“Why?” Ming Yu asked, searching his face.

Hailancha pressed his lips together and did not answer.

“Is it related to some secret that you can’t tell me?” Ming Yu tossed her chopsticks into the food box in a fit of pique. “Then pretend I never asked!”

She stood up to leave, but Hailancha grabbed her arm. “No! It concerns His Majesty’s origins. The fewer people who know, the safer they are…”

Perhaps realizing that continuing to conceal it would not only drag Consort Ling deeper into danger but would also leave Ming Yu unable to escape, Hailancha gritted his teeth, looked up at her, and lowered his voice: “Consort Ling has attached herself to the Empress Dowager; sooner or later she will find out anyway. I’ll tell you everything so she can prepare in advance…”

Yanxi Palace.

   It was already past noon. Wei Yingluo, having eaten and drunk her fill, lay reclining on a rocking chair, gently swaying back and forth to aid digestion. Without even opening her eyes, she asked, “Did he really say that?”

Ming Yu stood beside her with a grave expression. “Yes. His Majesty suspects that the Empress Dowager was the mastermind behind the death of Lady Qian. That’s why Hailancha asked me to warn you: do not go to Shoukang Palace again in the near future, or you will be implicated.”

“Master, Guard Soulun is right,” Xiaoquanzi added. Though he did not have a direct source like Hailancha that Ming Yu had, he was on good terms with many palace servants. By piecing together their fragments of conversation, he could more or less sense that something was off. “This servant feels the wind in the Forbidden City is about to change direction. We need to turn the rudder quickly!”

As the center of this brewing storm, the Empress Dowager’s days were even more difficult.

“Empress Dowager.” Aunt Liu stepped into the Buddhist hall. “It’s already this late—you must come up with a plan!”

Tap, tap, tap. The Empress Dowager continued striking the wooden fish, kneeling motionless on the prayer cushion, saying nothing.

Aunt Liu sighed. “Empress Dowager, if His Majesty were to meet with Minister Qian, all the years of effort you have poured in would be ruined in an instant.”

The sound of the wooden fish stopped. The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes. “Go and make inquiries. Find out where Minister Qian is right now.”

A river may appear clear on the surface, but once the Emperor gives the order, countless hands will reach in and dredge up even the deepest silt at the bottom.

“Your Majesty.” Inside Yangxin Hall, Hailancha reported, “This servant carefully questioned the old servants who once waited on the prince’s household. Some still remember Lady Qian from back then. She did indeed come from Jiaxing. At nine years old she was sold through various hands into the prince’s mansion. In the sixteenth year, when the prince fell ill with an epidemic, she nursed him devotedly and thus gained favor.”

Hongli sat in his chair, fingers drumming lightly on the tabletop. “Did she… have any family?”

Hailancha hesitated for a moment. “Qian Zhengyuan is her own elder brother.”

“Qian Zhengyuan?” Hongli was startled. Almost unconsciously, he unfurled the scroll of the Spring Radiance Painting that Qian Zhengyuan had previously presented. On it was depicted a mother holding thread, and a wandering son wearing clothes.

“Yes.” Hailancha lowered his head. “The Qian family was poor and feared their young daughter would starve, so they entrusted her to relatives. But that year there was a severe drought, and she ended up being sold instead. Lady Qian’s mother searched for her daughter across a thousand li, spending several years before finally locating her at Prince Yong’s mansion. By then, however, Qian had already become a lower consort—they could not take her away. Later, Qian Zhengyuan pursued the path of the imperial examinations, and only then did the Qian family begin to rise again.”

Halfway through listening, Hongli suddenly unfurled the Spring Radiance Painting with a rustle.

He had not examined it closely before. Now, scrutinizing it inch by inch, he sighed. “Indeed, it is so.”

Hidden behind the woman in the painting was the small figure of a little girl, peeking out curiously with an adorably innocent expression.

“Spring Radiance Painting… Spring Radiance Painting…” Hongli gently stroked the little girl’s face in the picture. Whether it was psychological suggestion or not, the more he looked, the more he felt she resembled him. A sense of blood connection surged up; his voice trembled slightly as he said, “Qian Zhengyuan offered this painting to remind me that the one I truly ought to repay… is not Lady Niohuru…”

It took him quite a while to calm his surging emotions. Then, in a grave voice, he ordered: “Issue an edict. Summon Qian Zhengyuan for an audience. I want to ask everything clearly!”

Hailancha accepted the command and left.

Hongli waited anxiously in Yangxin Hall. For several consecutive days he felt restless and uneasy; he could not even focus on the memorials. Finally, when Hailancha returned, he looked eagerly behind him but saw no sign of Qian Zhengyuan. He quickly asked, “Where is he?”

Hailancha’s face was ashen. He cupped his hands and reported: “Your Majesty, the guards came galloping back with urgent news. Lord Qian, the Vice Minister of Rites, unfortunately fell from his horse. His skull was fractured… and he did not survive.”

At these words, Hongli’s expression changed dramatically.

After a long pause, she finally gritted her teeth and said bitterly: “Empress Dowager…”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 161: Who Is the Birth Mother

   “Your Majesty.” Hailancha knelt on the ground. “This humble servant has, as instructed, examined the imperial clan genealogy.”

Hongli sat behind the desk with a dark expression. The painting of maternal affection titled Spring Radiance had been rudely shoved aside by him. He said heavily, “Speak!”

Hailancha replied, “The imperial genealogy clearly records that Your Majesty was born on the thirteenth day of the eighth month in the year of the fiftieth year of Kangxi (1711), to the present-day Empress Dowager Chongqing of the Niohuru clan, daughter of Lingzhu, at Yonghe Palace.”

Hongli, however, was not satisfied with this answer. He said, “The births of imperial children are reported once every three months, noting the date of birth and the birth mother. Every ten years, the records are copied from the draft registers into the official genealogy.”

Hailancha was startled and quickly responded, “Your Majesty, even though it is updated every ten years, there are draft records preserved. That alone cannot prove the genealogy has been tampered with by human hands!”

Hongli’s mind was in turmoil—he didn’t know whether this result was good or bad. But once suspicion had taken root, he had to get to the bottom of it. He immediately pressed further: “What did you find in the Veritable Records of the previous emperor?”

Hailancha answered, “The Veritable Records are entirely consistent with the genealogy. An imperial edict to the Ministry of Rites, issued upon the gracious command of the Empress Dowager, decreed: Side Wife; Consort Nian to be elevated to Noble Consort; Side Wife; Consort Li to be made Consort Li; Lady Niohuru to be made Consort Xi—”

“…Since the records reveal nothing conclusive, it seems only one person can tell me whether what Lady Wenshu said was true or false!” Hongli abruptly stood up, leaving everyone in the Yangxin Hall behind as he strode straight out the door.

Shoukang Palace.

   The Empress Dowager was in the midst of Buddhist devotion, the wooden fish being struck rhythmically, when a sudden rush of footsteps burst in, shattering the tranquility of the Buddha hall.

“Your Majesty?” The Empress Dowager turned her head in surprise. “What’s wrong? Your face looks terrible.”

Hongli’s expression was thunderous. With a wave of his hand: “I have urgent matters to discuss with the Empress Dowager. Everyone, get out!”

Aunt Liu glanced at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager nodded to her, and only then did she lead the others away.

Once the door was closed, the Empress Dowager rose from her prayer cushion, approached him with a kindly smile, and asked, “What exactly has happened? You can tell me now.”

Hongli stared at her smiling face, as though trying to discern whether the smile was genuine. “Before Lady Wenshu passed away from illness, she left me a deathbed letter. Empress Dowager, I only wish to ask you one question: my birth mother… was it truly you, or was it a woman of the Qian family?”

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face froze.

That tiny change in expression did not escape Hongli’s notice. He pressed, “If my birth mother truly was a Han woman, then why have you, who reside in Shoukang Palace, always presented yourself as my birth mother?”

The Empress Dowager quickly regained her composure and turned the question back on him: “Your Majesty must not believe such absurd rumors. Would the imperial genealogy be falsified?”

“Both the genealogy and the edicts can be fabricated by later generations. No one knows the truth of what happened back then.” Hongli spoke each word deliberately. “That is why I have come in person to demand an answer. I ask the Empress Dowager to speak frankly.”

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips tightly together, her face showing the indignation of someone who had been insulted.

“…Lady Wenshu was my wet nurse. I know her character better than anyone.” In the past, Hongli would already have softened, but today he refused to yield. “If you will not tell me, I can investigate. I will track down every surviving servant from the old Prince Yong household, one by one. When that time comes, the choice will no longer be yours, Empress Dowager.”

After those final words, a deathly silence fell over the great hall.

Wei Yingluo had originally been carrying a stack of sutras over when she noticed the tense atmosphere. She could only hide behind the flower-and-bird screen, not daring to breathe a sound.

After a long while, she heard the Empress Dowager let out a soft sigh: “Yes, the Emperor’s birth mother was indeed from the Qian family of Jiaxing.”

Hongli was utterly shocked and pressed urgently, “Why, after all these years, has no one ever told me?”

The Empress Dowager slowly turned around, prayer beads wrapped around her hand. She walked step by step to the front of the Buddha statue, her back to him as she said, “At that time, the late Emperor was still Prince Yong. Lady Qian was merely a maidservant in the prince’s mansion. Once, when the prince fell gravely ill with an epidemic, she nursed him day and night without removing her clothes, attending to him with utmost care. The prince was deeply moved and, in an exceptional act, elevated her to the rank of lower rank consort. Unfortunately…”

“Unfortunately what?” Hongli asked quickly.

The Empress Dowager: “Unfortunately, your fate was too grand.”

Hongli was stunned. “I don’t understand…”

“Xin Mao, Ding You, Geng Wu, Bing Zi—your eight characters encompass the Five Blessings. Wealth and honor come naturally to you; you were destined to help the prince ascend the dragon throne and rule the Nine Provinces. With such an exalted destiny, how could you possibly be raised by a lowly Han woman of humble birth?” The Empress Dowager suddenly turned and stared straight at him. “The physiognomist said that if you were left in Lady Qian’s care, it would hinder your fate. Therefore, from the moment you were born, you were taken from her arms and brought to me, becoming my son.”

“Then…” Hongli’s voice trembled slightly, “…what about Lady Qian?”

The Empress Dowager sighed. “When Lady Qian gave birth to you, she damaged her vital energy. In just two or three years, her life force was exhausted, and she passed away. Before she died, she held my hand tightly, refusing to close her eyes until I promised her that I would raise you as my own flesh and blood. Only then did she finally pass in peace.”

Hongli fell silent. He seemed desperate to believe her, yet he couldn’t help doubting the truth of her words. After a long pause, he rasped, “Empress Dowager, is everything you have said… the absolute truth?”

“Emperor!” For the first time, a trace of suppressed anger appeared on the Empress Dowager’s face. “The debt of giving birth can never outweigh the debt of raising a child. Even if I am not your birth mother, I have raised you with care for all these years. Think carefully—have I ever neglected you in the slightest? I have held you in the palm of my hand like a precious pearl. And yet you refuse to trust me at all?”

Hongli stared at her furious expression for a long time before finally lowering his head slowly. “Empress Dowager, you are right. It was presumptuous of me. I beg the Empress Dowager’s forgiveness.”

Seeing him willing to bow his head, the Empress Dowager softened her tone and reached out to take his hand. “Emperor, Lady Wenshu truly left a suicide note. Why was it not brought out in all these ten years? That letter must have been forged by someone intent on driving a wedge between us, mother and son. They were certain that you are profoundly filial toward me; upon suddenly hearing such news, you would surely fly into a rage…”

Whether intentionally or not, Hongli subtly avoided her reaching hand. He turned away and said, “Empress Dowager, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Today I have disturbed you—entirely due to my own unfilial behavior. Another day I will come to apologize properly. Your son will take his leave now.”

The Empress Dowager was stunned. She called after his retreating figure, “Emperor!”

Hongli acted as though he hadn’t heard her and walked straight out of the palace gate without looking back.

Behind him, the Empress Dowager hurried forward a few steps in pursuit. In her haste, she stumbled and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Wei Yingluo quickly emerged from behind the screen and reached out to help her up.

“It’s over.” The Empress Dowager looked completely dazed, murmuring the same phrase over and over. “It’s all over.”

“Please forgive me, Empress Dowager. I did not intend to eavesdrop.” Wei Yingluo first offered an apology. Seeing that the other woman seemed completely indifferent to it, she shifted the topic to the matter at hand. “Empress Dowager, everything you said just now was spoken with utmost sincerity. His Majesty will surely not develop any estrangement toward you simply because his birth mother was someone else.”

But the Empress Dowager shook her head, her face full of worry. “Merely because of this matter, the Emperor’s expression would not have been so terrifying. What I fear is… that the contents of that letter are not so simple.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 160: The Death Warrant

Naran Chuxue, still unwilling to accept defeat, left Shoukang Palace and went straight to Chengqian Palace to weep and complain to the Empress. However, the Empress merely comforted her with a few words and had no intention of seeking justice on her behalf.

After Naran Chuxue left in resentment, Yuan Chunwang emerged from behind the screen and said indifferently, “Consort Ling’s actions today were nothing more than borrowing the Empress Dowager’s authority to intimidate Concubine Shu and awe the harem. From now on, even if the master of Yanxi Palace lacks the Emperor’s favor, no one will dare to bully her lightly — after all, the Empress Dowager stands behind her.”

The Empress leaned back in her chair, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes. “It seems the Empress Dowager is determined to oppose me… Yuan Chunwang.”

“This servant is here,” Yuan Chunwang stepped forward.

The Empress: “What progress have you made on the matter Wu Shulai mentioned?”

Yuan Chunwang bent down, his long black braid slipping from his shoulder like the tassel of a sword. His vermilion lips moved close to the Empress’s ear, whispering a few words.

After listening, a sharp, sword-like smile slowly bloomed on the Empress’s face. “Well done! If the skin is gone, where can the hair attach itself? Truly brilliant!”

Yuan Chunwang: “Shall I…”

“No, you cannot be the one to deliver this letter,” the Empress shook her head. “I have a better candidate in mind.”

A few days later, Hongzhou entered the palace to pay his respects to the late Dowager Consort Yu.

The place was deserted. In a side hall of Shoukang Palace, where Dowager Consort Yu once resided, only one or two old servants remained to sweep and clean. When Hongzhou arrived, he happened to see one of them — an elderly eunuch holding a wrapped bundle, about to leave.

“What is this?” Hongzhou asked, looking at the bundle in his arms.

The eunuch replied, “In response to Your Highness, these are all old belongings of Dowager Consort Yu. The Imperial Household Department has set aside Jing’an Hall to store them.”

Hongzhou: “Since they are Mother Consort’s belongings, I will report to the Emperor and take them all back to the princely residence as a memento. Put them down.”

The eunuch hesitated slightly, but under Hongzhou’s glare, he obediently set everything down.

Having picked up the bundle, Hongzhou did not leave right away. Instead, he paced back and forth in the room, gently touching each table and chair, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

“Your Highness.” The young page boy who had entered the palace with him carefully observed his master’s expression. “Shall we… collect the other old belongings as well?”

“…Very well.” Hongzhou nodded. “In the past, I traveled light and could come here often to pay my respects. Now I’m constantly sent out of the capital on assignments, gone for months at a time. With no mementos of Mother around me, I might as well pack everything up and take it with me. That way I won’t have to come back and get angry every time.”

Xiaotongzi smiled ingratiatingly. “Who would dare give Your Highness cause for anger?”

“Who else but that vile Consort Ling!” Hongzhou said in a low, heavy voice. “In the past she had the Emperor completely bewitched; now she flatters the Empress Dowager at every turn. The problem is that woman has too many tricks up her sleeve—she’s truly hard to deal with. Better to be out of sight and out of mind!”

At the height of his hatred, he couldn’t help but slam his fist down on the table. Unfortunately, the bundle was resting right there on the tabletop; the knot had been tied very loosely, and with one blow the bundle tumbled to the floor, its contents spilling out.

Lying on top was—a letter.

Hongzhou froze. He bent down, picked it up, opened it—and his expression changed dramatically.

Xiaotongzi leaned closer. “Your Highness, this is…?”

Hongzhou quickly closed the letter and scoffed with icy disdain. “I never imagined that after all these years of being bullied and oppressed by the Empress Dowager, Mother had quietly left herself an insurance policy!”

Xiaotongzi: “An insurance policy?”

Hongzhou thought for a moment, then corrected himself with a smile. “No—it’s the Empress Dowager’s death warrant!”

Xiaotongzi: “What?”

Tucking the letter into his sleeve, Hongzhou strode quickly toward the door.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, wait for this servant!” Xiaotongzi didn’t even have time to gather up the scattered bundle. He chased after him, calling out, “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

Hongzhou’s gaze was icy cold. “Yangxin Hall!”

In the study of Yangxin Hall, a painting titled Spring Radiance (Chun Hui Tu) lay spread out on the desk.

The thread in the loving mother’s hand,

   The garment on the wandering son’s body.

This painting had been presented by Qian Zhengyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. His mother had been widowed for forty years, served her parents-in-law until their deaths, and raised Qian Zhengyuan and his brother single-handedly. Because the family was poor, she spun yarn day and night until she eventually went blind in both eyes. Today was the old lady’s eightieth birthday, and Qian Zhengyuan had offered this painting, requesting that Hongli inscribe words of praise for his mother.

“Who says the heart of an inch of grass can ever repay the radiance of three spring suns?” Hongli recited slowly. He himself was a filial son and would never refuse another filial son’s request to honor his mother. He picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and was just about to write when Li Yu announced:

“Prince He has arrived.”

Hongzhou strode in quickly and performed the greeting. “This younger brother respectfully wishes Your Majesty well.”

Hongli dipped the brush again and wrote the character “Qing” (清) on the Spring Radiance painting.

“Why so silent for half a day?” He did not lift his head. “I have many affairs to attend to—I have no time to play guessing games with you.”

Only then did Hongzhou speak, though his voice was heavily suppressed, like a volcano that had lain dormant for years suddenly awakening: “Your Majesty, while this younger brother was sorting through Dowager Consort Yu’s belongings, I unintentionally discovered a letter.”

Hongli wrote another character, “Fen” (芬): “What letter?”

Hongzhou: “A personal letter written by Lady Wenshu on her deathbed.”

The brush tip paused. Hongli raised his head and looked at him. “My wet nurse?”

Hongzhou: “Yes.”

Hongli set the brush down. “Present it.”

Li Yu stepped forward, received the letter, and offered it to Hongli. Just as Hongli was about to open it, Hongzhou suddenly spoke:

“Your Majesty!”

Hongli looked toward Hongzhou.

Rather than an inquiry, it was more of a provocation when Hongzhou said, “If opening this letter would affect the mother-son bond between you and the Empress Dowager, would you still read it?”

Hongli didn’t understand why he would say such a thing; to him the question seemed utterly absurd.

“A mother’s grace is as vast as the sea—impossible to repay in a lifetime. There is nothing in this world that could affect the relationship between me and the Empress Dowager.” As he spoke, he unfolded the letter in his hand.

The first line that met his eyes read:

“The birth mother of the Fourth Prince was originally a woman of the Qian family from Jiaxing. Lady Niohuru killed the mother and stole the child. We earnestly beseech Your Highness to be cautious.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 159: Blood Scripture

   What was there to regret?

   Using people as stepping stones, climbing higher step by step—that had always been his dream, hadn’t it?

   “Chief Steward Yuan.” A young eunuch entered the room. “There has been an incident involving Wu Shulai.”

Yuan Chunwang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window, and said calmly, “Speak.”

“After drinking, he spoke carelessly in front of his disciple and said many bad things about you.” The young eunuch continued respectfully, “Later, he unintentionally mentioned that he holds leverage over the Empress Dowager and plans to ask Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to intervene on his behalf.”

“…I see.” Yuan Chunwang pondered for a moment, then nodded. “By the way—who gave you this information?”

The young eunuch glanced at him, then lowered his eyes. “It was his disciple.”

At that, Yuan Chunwang could not help but laugh.

See? Everyone was just like him—ruthless, willing to use others as ladders. What was there for him to regret?

“Go and invite Chief Steward Wu to come,” Yuan Chunwang said slowly, turning a pair of wenwan walnuts in his hand. “I have some things I wish to discuss with him.”

In the secret chamber, there was no light of day.

Wu Shulai slowly regained consciousness. After a moment of confusion, he struggled in the chair and growled, “Who is it? Which bastard tied up your grandfather?”

His hands were bound behind the chair back, and a black silk cloth still covered his eyes. Suddenly a hand reached forward, pulled the blindfold away, and a voice laughed: “It’s me.”

When he saw the face clearly, Wu Shulai’s complexion paled. “Yuan Chunwang… I’ve already let you take my position. What more do you want?”

Yuan Chunwang had helped the Empress eliminate the great threat of Wei Yingluo; naturally the Empress would not treat him poorly.

Using “negligence in supervision” as an excuse, the Empress Dowager removed Wu Shulai from his position and gave the post to Yuan Chunwang instead.

Some positions are easy to lose but extremely difficult to regain. Wu Shulai was like a consort banished to the cold palace—utterly disheartened. Every day he drowned his sorrows in wine, occasionally venting his anger with a few bitter complaints.

—Yet who could have imagined that, after closing his eyes and opening them again, he would find himself tied up here.

“I warn you, don’t do anything rash.” Wu Shulai said sternly, his voice trembling with both fear and fury. “Even though I’ve fallen from favor now, I was still promoted by the Empress Dowager. You… ah!!”

A short dagger plunged into his thigh. Fresh blood gushed out, splattering onto Yuan Chunwang’s hand.

Releasing the dagger’s hilt, Yuan Chunwang drew out a handkerchief and carefully wiped his fingers.

“So you’re one of the Empress Dowager’s people,” he said with a smile. “Then I have even more reason not to let you live—lest you go running to her to complain…”

With that, he yanked the dagger out. Blood spurted again. Wu Shulai screamed in agony and hurriedly shouted at Yuan Chunwang, “Stop, stop! I’ll tell you a secret—trade it for my life!”

“A secret?” Yuan Chunwang shook his head. “I don’t believe there’s any secret worth your life.”

“There is! There is!” Wu Shulai cried. “I have a deathbed letter from Lady Wenshu!”

“Lady Wenshu?” Yuan Chunwang raised an eyebrow. “Who’s that?”

“She was His Majesty’s wet nurse!” Wu Shulai gasped between pained breaths. “Back then I was just a lowly eunuch in the Anle Bureau. I was attending her when she was on her deathbed. This letter has been hidden for ten years—I originally kept it to save my own life. Now I’m giving it to you, giving you this enormous secret! Just let me go, let me go, all right?”

Yuan Chunwang gave a dazzling, beautiful smile. The torch burned on the wall beside him, casting his face half in light, half in shadow. “That depends on whether this information of yours is truly valuable…”

One letter was enough to change a person’s fate.

One bowl of medicinal soup was also enough to change a person’s fate.

After the matter of the contraceptive decoction, Yanxi Palace had truly become a cold palace. Few people remained. Apart from a handful of loyal ones, the rest had either been sent away by Wei Yingluo or had left of their own accord.

Ming Yu carried in the meal tray. “It’s time to eat.”

Only Wei Yingluo, Xiaoquanzi, and Zhenzhu were left in the room. Xiaoquanzi, who had once been a petty thief, had the sharpest eyes. He immediately noticed something. “Sister Ming Yu, your face…”

Ming Yu’s face was caked with a thick layer of powder. As she moved, chunks of it flaked off and fell—like a country girl who had suddenly struck it rich overnight, completely clueless about proper makeup or grooming, simply slapping an entire box of white lead powder onto her face.

“The small kitchen isn’t operating anymore, so these dishes all come from the Imperial Tea and Meal Bureau,” Ming Yu said softly, setting the food in front of Wei Yingluo with her head lowered. “Lotus root is the freshest at this season, and there’s also longevity greens. This millet cake with barn grain is especially delicious—please try it later.”

Wei Yingluo stared at her face. “Sit down and eat with me.”

Afraid Wei Yingluo would see through her, Ming Yu refused at once. “Even though only a few of us are left now, we still can’t break the rules. I’ll go eat with the others downstairs.”

She hurried away, leaving Wei Yingluo sitting motionless, chopsticks untouched, staring blankly at the food on the table.

That evening, Xiaoquanzi slipped quietly back in from outside. “Mistress, I’ve found out everything.”

The dishes on the table were barely touched—actually, the midday meal had barely been touched either. With something weighing on her heart, Wei Yingluo had no appetite. She turned to look at him. “Speak.”

“Yes.” Xiaoquanzi replied, “Today when Ming Yu went out, she was harshly bullied by Concubine Shu. Her hand was injured, and there’s a bloody scratch across her face…”

“…Nalan Chuxue.” Wei Yingluo murmured the name, then let out a mocking laugh. “I don’t go looking for trouble with others, yet others insist on coming to provoke me. Xiaoquanzi, do I look like someone who will swallow humiliation and keep silent?”

She was not.

She could strip off her wedding dress and rush into the palace to avenge her deceased sister; she could also put on a wedding dress and marry Hongli to avenge the Empress. What “enduring humiliation”? She was clearly a person who would seek revenge for even the smallest slight.

Yet, people often forgot this about her.

No matter. She would make them remember—make them recall exactly what kind of person she was…

A few days later, at Shoukang Palace.

“Empress Dowager.” Naran Chuxue personally presented a scroll of sutra. “This concubine has hand-copied one volume of the ‘Universal Gate Chapter of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’ to pray for Your Majesty’s health and peace, and for the blessings of Jixiang.”

The Empress Dowager had someone receive it. “Concubine Shu is thoughtful.”

Naran Chuxue pressed her lips into a gentle smile. Her posture of respectful obedience closely resembled that of the late Empress. Knowing that both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor missed the late Empress, she deliberately imitated her in every way: “This concubine has heard that Your Majesty still lacks a copy of the Avatamsaka Sutra. If Your Majesty does not disdain it, this concubine is willing to continue copying sutras for you.”

“No need.” To her surprise, the Empress Dowager smiled. “Consort Ling is already copying the Avatamsaka Sutra.”

Naran Chuxue’s expression changed instantly. “Consort Ling?”

The bead curtain stirred, and a figure emerged from behind it, also cradling a scroll of sutra in her arms. She smiled and said, “Empress Dowager, today’s copying did not yield much insight; the writing feels dry and dull. It seems I must first go study Master Chengguan’s commentaries and annotations.”

The sutra was unrolled in the Empress Dowager’s hands. Lu Wanwan let out an involuntary gasp and cried out, “Blood sutra?”

Naran Chuxue stared fixedly at the white silk handkerchief wrapped around Wei Yingluo’s wrist. The silk was snow-white, yet half of it had been stained crimson with blood. She enunciated each word: “You copied the sutra with your own blood?”

Due to blood loss, Wei Yingluo’s smile was somewhat pale. “The Mahāprajñāpāramitā Śāstra states: If one truly loves the Dharma, one should use one’s own skin as paper, one’s own bones as brush, and one’s own blood as ink. Only then does it demonstrate true sincerity and devotion.”

Naran Chuxue gnashed her teeth and picked at faults: “This paper is so ordinary. For Consort Ling to copy sutras for the Empress Dowager with such perfunctory materials— isn’t that rather careless?”

Wei Yingluo remained calm and composed: “Concubine Shu uses magnetic-blue paper, deep indigo in color and shimmering with flowing light—truly incomparable to ordinary paper. After all, a single sheet costs one tael of silver, enough to buy eighty liters of rice or fifty catties of fresh fish for an ordinary common household.”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned, displeased. “Concubine Shu, copying sutras is meant to cultivate the mind and nurture virtue. Such extravagance and waste are unbecoming. From now on, you need not concern yourself with it anymore!”

With that, she turned to Wei Yingluo. Her brows relaxed, and her smile became kindly. “It is truly touching that you are so devout. Starting tomorrow, accompany me to Yinghua Hall to pay respects to the Buddha.”

Wei Yingluo bowed her head. “This concubine thanks the Empress Dowager for her grace.”

Afterward, the Empress Dowager pulled her aside to chat, completely ignoring everyone else. Naran Chuxue felt as though the time dragged on like years. When the Empress Dowager finally retired to rest and the group emerged from Shoukang Palace, she could no longer hold back. Turning viciously to Lu Wanwan beside her, she complained bitterly: “What a Wei Yingluo! The moment she saw there was no hope with His Majesty, she immediately latched onto the Empress Dowager! I went to such trouble preparing magnetic-blue paper, and it ended up being treated as a fault!”

Lu Wanwan tried to soothe her gently: “Sister Nalan, the Empress Dowager is deeply devout in Buddhism, so palace women often copy sutras to please her. But have you ever seen anyone dare to copy with their own blood? This isn’t something that can be finished in a day or two. The Avatamsaka Sutra has eighty-one full volumes—it will take more than ten years to copy, and once she has promised the Empress Dowager, she can never stop.”

“Hah, I’m afraid it won’t even take ten years.” Naran Chuxue gave a venomous laugh. “Perhaps in three or four years at most, she’ll have bled herself to death!”

“Bled herself to death?”

Naran Chuxue and Lu Wanwan spun around quickly—only to find Wei Yingluo had somehow appeared behind them without a sound.

“Her Ladyship Consort Ling.” Lu Wanwan hurriedly curtsied to her. Naran Chuxue beside her, however, was somewhat reluctant. Relying on the favor she currently enjoyed, she refused to perform the proper greeting toward this “disgraced consort” standing before her.

The very next moment—slap!

Naran Chuxue clutched her face, staring at the other woman in disbelief. “You…”

“Concubine Shu.” Wei Yingluo fanned her slightly reddened hand and gave her a radiant smile. “No matter how far I’ve fallen, my rank is still far above yours. The next time you dare to overstep, it won’t be just a slap.”

The reason people dared to bully those from Yanxi Palace was simply that they thought Yanxi Palace had lost its backing.

Now, with the Empress Dowager as such a powerful patron, who would dare to casually lay a hand on or show disrespect to anyone from Yanxi Palace? This Naran Chuxue was a prime example.

Wei Yingluo, leading Xiaoquanzi, slowly walked past Naran Chuxue. At this moment, Naran Chuxue seemed to have come to her senses. No matter what she thought in her heart, she no longer dared to show any outward disrespect. She stood obediently to the side, as if respectfully seeing Wei Yingluo off.

Xiaoquanzi’s face was flushed with excitement. Upon returning to the palace, he specially went to the small kitchen and prepared a plate of braised pork to celebrate. But Wei Yingluo merely glanced at it, tapped the dish with her chopsticks, and said, “Take this dish away and share it with Ming Yu and the others.”

“Master…” Xiaoquanzi said, stunned. “Is this dish not to your taste?”

Wei Yingluo shook her head, gently stroking the handkerchief on her wrist, and murmured, “The Empress Dowager once had a blood sutra, but over time, its color darkened and turned black. She often sighed, saying that only a blood sutra personally copied by a monk who abstained from meat and observed vegetarianism could retain its pure blood-red hue, with characters even faintly golden…”

Xiaoquanzi stared at her in astonishment.

Wei Yingluo looked up and gave him a pale smile. “From today onward, I too will observe a vegetarian diet.”

Using blood as scripture — to gain a patron, to secure… the Empress Dowager’s protection for all of you.

Inside Shoukang Palace, the scent of sandalwood incense lingered like agarwood.

Aunt Liu placed the first volume of the blood sutra before the Buddha statue, then returned to the Empress Dowager’s side. “Your Majesty, why do you wish to elevate Consort Ling?”

Amid the wafting sandalwood fragrance, the Empress Dowager knelt on a golden cushion, slowly opening her eyes. As she fingered the prayer beads in her hand, she smiled with benevolence and kindness. “Wu Shulai was someone I promoted back then, but the Empress couldn’t wait to replace him, clearly showing her ambitious nature. If there were no Consort Ling in the Forbidden City… it would truly become the Empress’s world alone.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 158: The Promise of That Year

   Wei Yingluo actually brought Yuan Chunwang to Chengqian Palace, where the Step Empress resided.

Chengqian Palace was solemn and dignified. Unlike other palaces that were always filled with pleasant incense, here the fragrance came mostly from fruits. The Step Empress had people place many seasonal fruits in basins—serving both as a form of natural fragrance and to satisfy the appetite. This practical yet non-extravagant measure had earned great praise from Hongli.

Perhaps because of the fresh fruit scent, the Step Empress appeared to be in an excellent mood; her complexion looked particularly good: “Consort Ling, why do you look so much more haggard after just one day?”

In comparison, Wei Yingluo’s face was wan and pallid, like a flower battered by wind and rain, slowly withering and drying up. She gave a pale smile: “Your Ladyship, let’s not speak in riddles in front of a clear-sighted person. Everything has been your planning all along, hasn’t it?”

“Consort Ling has truly lost her senses, saying such strange things?” The Empress smiled sweetly. “Was I who instigated you to take contraceptives?”

Wei Yingluo: “No.”

“Was I who I ordered you to fight with Noble Consort Chun?”

Wei Yingluo: “No.”

“Was I who I commanded you to kill Xitara woman?”

“No.” Wei Yingluo looked at her. Beneath the disgust in her eyes lay a trace of admiration. “Everything was done of my own volition. From beginning to end, Your Ladyship never said an extra word, never stained your hands with a single drop of blood. Effortlessly, you eliminated your mortal enemy Noble Consort Chun, and then — delivered the fatal blow to me!”

The Empress gently stirred the edge of her teacup with the lid, her movements elegant and impeccable — just like her character. Every gesture, every smile or frown, was flawless, giving others no fault to find.

“Consort Ling, you are not ill — you are suffering from hysteria.” She continued stirring the cup rim unhurriedly. “Listen to what you’re saying; I’m growing more and more confused.”

Wei Yingluo suddenly raised her hand and pointed. “Him!”

The Empress followed her finger and smiled. “Isn’t he the most trusted chief steward by your side?”

“No.” Wei Yingluo sneered coldly. “From today onward, he will be the most loyal dog at your side!”

Yuan Chunwang exclaimed in shock, “Consort Ling, what are you saying?”

Wei Yingluo looked at him — the person she once knew best, now the most unfamiliar.

“I should have realized it earlier,” she said slowly. “Merely the death of Erqing was not enough to shake my position. How could the Emperor be made to utterly despise me? Only by exposing that I had been secretly taking contraceptive decoctions. But that was my greatest secret. How did you; Empress come to know of it? Unless… there was an informant right beside me.”

“Yingluo, you’re not suspecting me, are you?” Yuan Chunwang looked somewhat hurt.

“The only people who knew I was taking the contraceptive soup were Ye Tianshi and you. I didn’t even tell Ming Yu — I was afraid her impulsive nature might cause her to let it slip by accident.” Wei Yingluo paused; the fist hidden in her sleeve trembled faintly. “…I entrusted everything to you without reservation. Why would you do this to me?”

Yuan Chunwang looked at her. The corners of his lips slowly curved upward into a smile as gorgeous and menacing as a snake’s.

“Are you very angry? The day I heard you were entering the palace to become a consort, I felt exactly the same anger.” There was not a trace of guilt on his face; he smiled cheerfully. “Remember the vow we made back then? Share blessings together, share hardships together. You promised to stay with me at Yuanmingyuan as my companion, yet you betrayed me. Naturally, I had to betray you once in return — so as not to break our original oath.”

You don’t know… I had already prepared to return to Yuanmingyuan together with you… Wei Yingluo sighed silently in her heart, then asked aloud: “…When exactly did you become the Empress’s person?”

Seeing that she did not erupt into hysterics on the spot, Yuan Chunwang seemed somewhat disappointed and unsatisfied.

His right hand still bore old scars — tooth marks and bruises from impacts. During the days and nights after she entered the palace as a consort, he had often been unable to sleep from hatred. Sometimes he pounded the wall; sometimes he sank his teeth viciously into his own hand, turning the unbearable pain in his heart into physical agony.

The wounds never healed. Neither did his rage.

“From the very first day I decided to return to the Forbidden City, I secretly paid my respects to the Empress.” Yuan Chunwang deliberately tried to provoke Wei Yingluo — hoping to make her feel the same heart-rending pain he had felt, so that she would rush at him, the two of them tearing into each other until their blood splashed and mingled.

“I treated you like my own elder brother, and you turned around and stabbed me in the back!” Wei Yingluo finally exploded in fury. “Very good. Very much in character for you.”

Yuan Chunwang looked at her expectantly: “Likewise!”

Wei Yingluo gave him an extremely disappointed glance, then turned her gaze to the Empress. “Your Ladyship Empress — what exactly did you offer him in return?”

Yuan Chunwang blamed every fault on her, but she refused to believe he had acted with absolutely no personal ambition. Both of them understood clearly: he was an ambitious man, his blood coursing with the instinct to climb ever higher — like a snake forever gazing up at the fruit hanging at the top of the tree.

The new Empress watched this delightful spectacle of sibling rivalry with great relish. Now that Wei Yingluo no longer posed any threat, she generously granted her a quick end and announced with mock benevolence: “Consort Ling, I am quite taken with this steward of yours. From today onward, he shall take over Wu Shulai’s duties!”

Wei Yingluo was momentarily stunned, then let out a mocking laugh. “Wu Shulai has served in the palace for thirty years before climbing to his present position. Yuan Chunwang’s qualifications are far from sufficient!”

“Yuan Chunwang has handled his duties in the Guangchu Division and at the Yuanmingyuan with exceptional skill. Or Consort Ling, have you forgotten?” Only now did the Empress finally reveal her true desire for control in front of others. Beneath her dignified and virtuous facade lay another side. “With my support, he is the most suitable candidate!”

Cultivating loyal followers, eliminating rivals, and silently taking control of the entire inner palace—even of Hongli himself—without leaving a trace: that was the real her.

Having finally seen her true face, Wei Yingluo could not help but burst into loud laughter. “How pitiful—I exhausted every effort, only to clear the path for Your Majesty the Empress. How pitiful Wu Shulai was, flattering and pledging loyalty, only for Her Majesty to use the opportunity to remove him and install her own confidant! A single move that attacks and defends at once, every link perfectly connected—impressive, truly impressive!”

The Empress gave a soft smile. “Consort Ling, you should return and rest.”

There was no need for her to say it—Wei Yingluo would leave on her own. What was the point of staying? To kneel and beg for mercy? Or to let the Empress enjoy the sight of her utter defeat?

“No matter what plans Your Ladyship has, at least I have avenged myself. I sought benevolence and obtained it; I have no regrets.” Under the Empress’s surprised gaze, Wei Yingluo gave her a formal curtsy. “From this day forward, I wish Your Majesty the Empress every success, good fortune, health, and longevity.”

After the bow, she straightened her back once more, turned, and walked away.

A trace of regret—and a trace of admiration—flashed in the Empress’s eyes. Smiling toward her departing figure, she called out, “Wei Yingluo, you are the most graceful loser I have ever seen in my life!”

“And you are the most patient hunter I have ever encountered.” Wei Yingluo did not look back. She laughed loudly as she stepped through the door—a free, unrestrained laugh that brought to mind the famous line of poetry:

I laugh aloud to the heavens as I stride out the gate—

   How could men of my kind ever be mere tumbleweeds?

“What’s wrong?” The Empress turned her head with a smile. “Having second thoughts?”

Yuan Chunwang withdrew his complicated, unreadable gaze. He turned around, dropped to his knees before the Empress, and kowtowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground. “This servant swears to serve Your Majesty the Empress unto death—”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 157: Heart Dead to Ashes

   “Your Majesty.” Li Yu came to report, “The Empress has arrived and says she has an important matter to discuss.”

“Let her enter.” Hongli spoke while looking deeply worried.

Yingluo had been far too impulsive. Even if she wanted to deal with Erqing, she should not have used such extreme means. The real problem now was how to return that corpse—with blood still seeping from the mouth and nose—to the Fucha residence. Sending it back like this would surely cause an enormous uproar.

The most urgent task was therefore to disguise the body—at least on the surface—so it appeared to be suicide rather than poisoning.

For that, at least one imperial physician would be needed…

“Your Majesty.” The Empress entered, and as expected, a imperial physician followed beside her. She hesitated, then said, “I was ordered to handle the matter concerning Lady Zhongyong, but unexpectedly learned a secret… This matter concerns Consort Ling of Yanxi Palace. After much consideration, I decided I must report it to Your Majesty and let you decide how to handle it yourself.”

Hongli sighed. “Is there some difficulty?”

In the end, he had still chosen to shield Wei Yingluo. This emperor who ruled the world found himself helplessly at a disadvantage when it came to matters of the heart between man and woman.

The Empress glanced at the imperial physician beside her. “Imperial Physician Liu, tell His Majesty in detail what you have verified.”

“Yes.” Imperial Physician Liu said respectfully, “This humble servant was ordered to handle Lady Zhengyong’s body, which required a considerable amount of medicinal herbs. Unexpectedly, many of the herbs had disappeared without a trace. Upon investigation, most of them had been taken by Imperial Physician Ye.”

Hongli felt baffled, even faintly displeased. The finger wearing the emerald ring gently tapped the tabletop as he said coolly, “Consort Ling’s health is poor. Imperial Physician Ye has always been ordered to take her peace pulse. Empress, did you come here late at night just to tell me this?”

“Imperial Physician Liu,” the Empress said, “you still haven’t told His Majesty exactly what kinds of medicines Imperial Physician Ye took.”

“Ginseng, goji berries, and also… also…” Imperial Physician Liu lowered his head even further, finally gritting his teeth and saying, “Consort Ling has been taking contraceptive decoction all along.”

BOOM——

A flash of lightning streaked across the window, illuminating Hongli’s face deathly pale.

Yanxi Palace.

   After removing the last hairpin and gently placing it into the dressing case, Wei Yingluo, wearing only a thin white inner garment, quietly looked at herself in the bronze mirror.

In the mirror was the emperor’s most favored consort — endlessly doted upon, almost always the one summoned to serve in the imperial bedchamber. Yet she had never conceived, so the body beneath her clothes remained as slender and delicate as a young girl’s, without the slightest sign of swelling.

But Wei Yingluo knew there was a price for this.

“This humble servant respectfully greets Your Majesty’s peace.”

“Get out!”

The door behind her was suddenly kicked open. Hongli stormed in, face full of fury: “Everyone get out!”

No one knew why he was so furious, and Wei Yingluo didn’t know either — until he slammed the door shut behind him, rushed over, and seized her wrist in a tight grip: “Wei Yingluo, the ‘health-nourishing soup’ you drink every month — what medicine is it really?”

Wei Yingluo was startled.

“It’s contraceptive, isn’t it?” Hongli panted. He had clearly run all the way here; his shoulders were soaked, as though drenched by rain.

Wei Yingluo stared at his shoulders and couldn’t speak for a long time.

Hongli wasn’t a fool. He had only been willing to live with his eyes covered because he loved her. Now the Empress had brutally torn off that blindfold, forcing him to see her clearly. With bitter pain he said, “You approached me to avenge the Empress, didn’t you?”

Wei Yingluo was silent for a very long time before finally giving a single nod.

As expected. Hongli’s heart ached sharply. “Every time you served me in bed, every time you spoke to me, every time you tried to please me — it was all to raise your own status, to gain the capital to contend with Noble Consort Chun, wasn’t it?”

Wei Yingluo closed her eyes. “…Yes.”

She was like an assassin. That single “yes” was the sharpest blade in the world, stabbing a wound straight into his heart. Hongli took two deep breaths, as though he had lost too much blood; even his lips began to turn pale. “…Why admit it now? Is it because Noble Consort Chun is dead, and in your eyes I no longer have any value to be used, so you’ve stopped hiding it and stopped trying to please me?”

“I…” Wei Yingluo hesitated, “…I…”

I just feel that I have wronged Her Majesty the Empress.

   Erqing had become her nightmare. Whenever she closed her eyes, she would see Erqing clutching her leg, her face covered in blood streaming from her nose and mouth, grinning at her viciously: “Wei Yingluo, I betrayed the Empress—and so did you! Don’t forget, you personally promised her that you would never be with His Majesty, never steal her husband!”

   She had looked so conflicted that Hongli misunderstood her meaning.

“…I really am a fool.” He gave a bitter laugh, the sound wretched and broken. “What was I even hoping for? You secretly drank the contraceptive decoction—why? Because in your heart, I’m nothing at all. I’m just a tool you used. You never wanted to bear a child for a tool.”

In that instant, his heart turned to ashes.

“…You don’t need to drink it anymore.” Hongli slowly released her hand and turned his back to her. “From now on… I won’t appear in front of you again.”

Outside, the rain was still falling. Without looking back, he strode straight into the downpour.

Behind him, Wei Yingluo slowly collapsed to the floor.

“Your Ladyship.” Ming Yu hurried over to support her. Seeing her look so lost and devastated, she tried to comfort her: “You did nothing wrong. The one who’s wrong is His Majesty. There are so many women in the world, yet he had to favor Erqing of all people—she’s the Empress’s own sister-in-law, Fuheng’s wife…”

“I’m fine.” Wei Yingluo cut her off, her voice exhausted to the extreme. “I already foresaw this ending for myself long ago. I even looked forward to it. I used him to take revenge. Once the revenge was complete, I let the contraceptive decoction matter come to light so I would fall from favor. Otherwise, how could I ever face the Empress?”

“But…” Ming Yu looked at her with worry. “Why are you crying?”

Wei Yingluo froze. She raised a hand to touch her cheek; her fingertips came away warm with tears.

“Why am I crying?” She stared at the tears on her fingers, finding it unbelievable herself.

Her great revenge had been accomplished. She had gotten exactly what she wanted. So why… did her heart feel so unbearably painful?

   Ming Yu gazed at her with pity. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears. The tears flowed like the rain outside the window—endless, unstoppable. With a sigh, she simply reached out and pulled Wei Yingluo into her arms, resting the other woman’s head on her shoulder. Softly she said, “If you want to cry, then cry. I’m here with you. Even if His Majesty never comes again, even if Yanxi Palace becomes a cold palace, at least I’ll always be by your side.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Wei Yingluo leaned against her shoulder, choking on her words. “You still have to get married.”

“I’m not getting married anymore.” Ming Yu said firmly.

“Then that forehead band you gave Hailancha the other day—was it all for nothing?”

“Let him have it for cheap!”

Hatred gives a person boundless strength; it can enable someone to do things they never thought possible. But once the great enmity is avenged, the person loses their purpose. Their heart becomes hollow—nothing remains except the ashes of the beloved and the ashes of the enemy.

Some people cannot endure a single night like this and choose to end their own lives.

Thanks to Ming Yu’s companionship, Wei Yingluo managed to get through it.

When dawn came, she summoned all the palace servants of Yanxi Palace. While news of her fall from favor had not yet spread, she used the last scraps of authority she still held to reassign most of them to other posts. Almost everyone obeyed the orders—except Ming Yu and Xiaoquanzi, who refused to leave no matter what.

Having no choice but to keep the two of them, Wei Yingluo turned to look at Yuan Chunwang: “Brother, accompany me to a place, will you?”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 156: Betrayal

   It turned out that the day before the Empress took her own life, Erqing had met with her once.

   At that time, Wei Yingluo was not present. The one serving tea and water was Amber. Amber had a bad habit of eavesdropping. While the Empress and Erqing were talking inside, her habit flared up again, and she hid outside the door to listen.

   “Wuwu… wuwuwu…”

   Hupo found it strange. The one who had lost a child was the Empress—why was it Erqing who was crying?

   The Empress, utterly exhausted in body and mind, still forced herself to gather her strength and comfort her: “Erqing, what’s wrong? Did something happen to you at home? Were you wronged?”

   “This servant just saw His Majesty,” Erqing said. “I couldn’t help but remember… couldn’t help but remember that night…”

   “That night?” The Empress was momentarily stunned.

   “It was the night you gave birth to the Seventh Prince. You ordered this servant to deliver a quilt to His Majesty. This servant went, but unexpectedly, His Majesty grabbed this servant’s hand and insisted that this servant… serve him in bed…” Erqing sobbed pitifully. “This servant didn’t dare resist, afraid that if anyone came in it would ruin the reputation of the Fucha family. Who could have known that later… this servant actually became pregnant!”

   Slap!

   The Empress struck her across the face with one sharp palm.

   “You wretch!” Already pale, the Empress now trembled with rage, on the verge of collapse. “You actually…”

   Erqing kowtowed frantically like pounding garlic, tears streaming endlessly, her voice broken and mournful: “This servant had long thought of ending her own life, but when mother learned of it, she believed it was the Fucha family’s bloodline and was overjoyed beyond measure! If this servant and her child were to meet with misfortune, the first one who could not bear it would be my mother. That’s why this servant has clung to life! Your Ladyship, as long as you give the word, this servant will die at once—to preserve the Fucha family’s honor!”

   The Empress trembled with fury. After a long while, she let out a mocking laugh: “What honor does the Fucha family have left? You’ve destroyed it all!”

   Erqing: “Your Ladyship, this servant deserves to die a thousand deaths. But the instigator of all this was His Majesty. This servant is merely a weak woman—how could she possibly resist imperial power?”

   Tears welled up in the Empress’s eyes as she murmured, “One after another… all the people closest to me… and it’s you of all people, joining hands to betray me! Get out—get out right now. For the rest of my life, I never want to see you again!”

   Erqing hurriedly rose to her feet: “Your Ladyship, you must take good care of yourself. The entire Fucha clan depends on you. This servant will return at once, confess my sins before my mother, and let her deal with me as she will!”

   The Empress practically spat the words through clenched teeth, her voice filled with hatred: “From this day forward, this matter rots in your stomach. You are not to breathe a single word of it to your mother, and you are never to enter the palace again!”

   Erqing tearfully bowed farewell. Once she stepped out of the bedchamber, she lightly smoothed her hair, straightened her posture, and put on a gentle, dignified, and serene smile. To anyone looking at her from the outside, no one would ever guess she was a woman who had climbed onto the Emperor’s bed and driven her own mistress to death. Smiling, she said:

   “Lead the way.”

   In the main hall of Changchun Palace, the silence was terrifying.

Erqing swallowed hard and said to Wei Yingluo, “You heard it too — I was forced. It was the Emperor who took the initiative…”

“That night the Emperor was drunk, and the one guarding the door was Li Yu,” Wei Yingluo said coldly. “Li Yu is a man who knows his place and his limits. You weren’t a palace maid of Changchun Palace — you were Lady Zhongyong. If you had shouted even once, Li Yu would have come in to help you and would have done everything possible to cover it up.”

But Erqing had never even thought of escaping. In fact, she had deliberately avoided Li Yu — slipping in secretly while he was in the privy. From the very beginning, that had been her plan!

“Her Ladyship had just lost her beloved son and was grieving beyond endurance. You should never, ever have delivered that final blow,” Wei Yingluo said, gripping the armrest tightly. “I don’t understand. You came from Changchun Palace, you were deeply favored by Her Ladyship, and you became the young madam of the Fucha household. Only if Her Ladyship prospers can the Fucha family prosper. What exactly were you after by doing this?”

“What was I after?” At this point, Erqing simply admitted everything. After all, she was now the honored young madam of the Fucha household — no matter how much Wei Yingluo hated her, what could she actually do? She laughed out loud. “Of course it was to take revenge on Fuheng!”

The man who once held her heart had now become a thorn in it, stabbing her until she bled. Very well — then she would make him bleed just as much!

“He never cared about me — only about other people. About you, about the Emperor, about the Empress!” Erqing said viciously. “Back then I couldn’t do anything to you, but that didn’t matter. I could make the Emperor my subject beneath my skirts and put an everlasting cuckold hat on Fuheng’s head. Ha! You should have seen his face when he found out — tsk tsk, it was absolutely priceless!”

“Just for that?” Wei Yingluo found it unbelievable. “Just for the sake of momentary satisfaction?”

“Yes.” Erqing let out a long, extremely satisfied sigh. “As long as I could see Fuheng cry, I felt satisfied.”

Wei Yingluo closed her eyes in pain. There are deaths as light as a feather and deaths heavier than Mount Tai. She would rather Erqing had been bought off by someone else than this…

“You made the Empress’s death look like a joke.” She opened her eyes; bloodshot threads webbed across them like spider silk. With a lift of her hand, Ming Yu brought forward a tray. From left to right lay: a dagger, white silk, and a bottle of crane-top red poison.

“Choose one,” Wei Yingluo said coldly. “Don’t force me to do it myself.”

The smile slowly faded from Erqing’s face. Her gaze shifted from the tray to Wei Yingluo’s face. Incredulous, she said, “Wei Yingluo, have you gone mad? I am a titled lady of the court — the wife of the first-rank Duke Zhongyong! How dare you carry out a private execution!”

Wei Yingluo: “Choose.”

Erqing finally began to panic. “Wei Yingluo, don’t be foolish! You have everything now — why would you destroy your own future like this? Are you insane?!”

“If you won’t choose, I’ll choose for you.” Wei Yingluo picked up the crane-top red — the most painful way to die.

She wanted to watch her guts burn and rot, to vent the hatred in her heart.

“No — no!” How could Erqing submit so easily? She shoved Wei Yingluo aside and bolted for the door. Several eunuchs immediately rushed forward and pinned her down.

Wei Yingluo steadied herself and bent to pick up the bottle of crane-top red that had fallen to the floor. But unexpectedly, Ming Yu darted forward in a flash, snatched the bottle first, then rushed to Erqing’s side. With one hand she pinched Erqing’s jaw open and with the other poured the entire contents of the poison down her throat.

“Don’t dirty your hands,” Ming Yu said coldly. “I’ll do it. I’ll send this wretched bitch down to the underworld myself!”

The poison took effect quickly. Erqing collapsed to the ground, clutching her stomach, blood seeping from her mouth and nose. She was in agony beyond bearing, yet death refused to come swiftly.

“Wei Yingluo!” In her dying moments, she roared like a beast on the verge of death. “I betrayed the Empress — but so did you! Don’t forget — you once swore to her with your own mouth that you would never be with the Emperor, that you would never steal her husband!”

Wei Yingluo froze.

At that very moment, Yuan Chunwang’s voice came from outside the door: “This humble servant respectfully greets Your Majesty!”

Hongli shoved Yuan Chunwang aside and strode swiftly into the main hall.

Just one hour earlier, Erqing had still been radiantly beautiful. Now she lay on the floor as a cold corpse, curled up, blood streaming from her facial orifices, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

Wei Yingluo stood beside her, her face completely impassive. She even curtsied toward him. “Your Majesty, you have arrived.”

“Wei Yingluo!” Hongli erupted in fury. “The Xitara clan lady is a court-appointed noblewoman, the wife of a first-rank Duke of Loyalty and Valor—how dare you—”

“She is the murderer who killed the Empress.” Wei Yingluo’s expression remained utterly calm. “On the day Her Late Majesty passed away, she went to see the Empress and told her… that she was carrying Your Majesty’s child…”

Hongli froze at the words. “Yingluo, things are not what you think.”

Wei Yingluo neither cried nor laughed. Her excessive calmness looked less like indifference and more like complete despair. She stared at the corpse on the ground and said softly, “Then Your Majesty, tell me—what is the truth?”

“It’s…” Hongli had just begun to explain when someone hurried in from outside—it was the new Empress. The moment she saw the body on the floor, she staggered and steadied herself on the arm of a palace maid. “Consort Ling, what have you done?”

Before Wei Yingluo could reply, Hongli already spoke in a deep voice: “Empress, the wife of the Duke Zhongyong came to pay respects to the late Empress, but due to overwhelming grief, she unfortunately followed her former mistress in death.”

Wei Yingluo turned her gaze toward him. A faint spark reignited in eyes that had already turned to dead ashes. Even now, at this moment, he was still shielding her?

Hongli met her eyes; his gaze was extremely complicated. He had always despised women who used ruthless methods—once he discovered the truth, no matter how deep their past affection had been, he would never keep them. Only with Wei Yingluo had he repeatedly let her stay, repeatedly forgiven her. The taste of it was bitter; it even made him feel humiliated.

“Your Majesty, since the Lady Duke of Zhongyong is still a court noblewoman, allow this matter to be handled by me,” the Empress said. Her voice became his lifeline.

“Then I leave it to you, Empress.” Hongli gave the order with visible weariness. He glanced once more at Wei Yingluo—a look that could not be distinguished as warning or disappointment—then turned and swept out of the room.

“Consort Ling.” The new Empress slowly walked over to stand beside Erqing and sighed. “After all, the Lady Duke of Zhongyong is the wife of a first-rank duke. You dared to grant her death without even asking the Emperor’s opinion.”

Wei Yingluo replied indifferently, “The Xitara lady was His Majesty’s lover. Would His Majesty really bear to kill her?”

Moreover, this woman had borne His Majesty a son.

The Empress smiled faintly. “When it comes to decisiveness and ruthlessness, I have to admire you. It’s just a pity… was it really worth it to sever His Majesty’s favor for the sake of a mere Xitara Erqing?”

Hongli had already left and did not look back for a long time. Wei Yingluo slowly withdrew her gaze and said to the Empress in a flat voice, “Doesn’t this perfectly fulfill Your Ladyship’s wish?”

A mere Cleansing Division servant like Hupo could never have barged into Yanxi Palace to meet Consort Ling without an imperial summons—not with all the guards along the way. The only way she could have succeeded was if the Empress, who controlled the inner palace, had deliberately allowed it.

The Empress had long known what Erqing had done.

She also knew that with Wei Yingluo’s temperament, once she learned the full truth, she would decisively act against Erqing—before the woman left the palace and disappeared forever, beyond any chance of revenge.

“Truly impressive tactics,” Wei Yingluo said after piecing it together. “With Noble Consort Chun gone, it’s my turn now, isn’t it?”

The Empress smiled without answering, like a silent wolf. Extremely patient, lying low in the grass—even covered in winter snow it would not move an inch—waiting until the perfect moment, then leaping up to tear out its prey’s throat.

   The moment that smile appeared was the moment she bared her fangs.

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   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.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 154: The Silkworm-Rearing Ceremony

   “Your Ladyship.” Zhener came in to report, “His Majesty has already left.”

It was already noon, yet the Step Empress still had not risen. She remained reclining on the couch. Upon hearing Zhener’s report, she nodded slightly and continued reading the book in her hand.

Zhener hesitated for a moment before asking, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty did not pursue your discourtesy. Why are you still so stiff?”

The Step Empress slowly turned a page, replying indifferently, “Don’t worry. His Majesty will not blame me.”

Zhener: “Why not?”

The Step Empress gave a soft, cold laugh and turned her head to look at her. “Because he feels guilty.”

Zhener was startled. “Niangniang!”

“Do you think I’ve truly gone mad? The whole world may be mad, but I am perfectly clear-headed!” The Step Empress’s gaze was terrifyingly calm—completely unlike the rumors outside that she had changed temperament drastically after her father’s death and now refused even to acknowledge the Emperor. “If my own father died and I acted as though nothing had happened, that would truly be inhuman!”

Only then did Zhener grasp the deeper meaning. “You mean…”

The Step Empress gave a cold smile. “A person who has always followed every rule, the moment she steps out of line even once, is when the Emperor will truly take notice! Only by making His Majesty remember my grievance, my anger, will the entire six palaces remember it too!”

Everything went exactly as she had planned, exactly as she had predicted.

Before the afternoon was over, Hongli ordered someone to deliver an old fur cloak.

There was precedent for this.

When Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou were estranged, and Empress Zhou went on a hunger strike in protest, Chongzhen sent her an old fur mattress, and the couple reconciled as before.

Now he was imitating the ancients, sending an old garment—his meaning was obvious.

“The Emperor still remembers the grievances of the former Empress and still cherishes the old affection between the two of them.” — This message was not only conveyed to the new Empress, but to the entire harem.

Some people were delighted by this, some felt uneasy, and some… began to take action because of it.

Shoukang Palace.

   “This year there has been severe drought in eastern Zhejiang and locust plagues in Shandong,” the Empress Dowager said lightly while gently stirring the tea lid, “so let’s dispense with the Silkworm Ceremony this year.”

The ceremony in which the Empress personally offers sacrifices to the First Silkworm and encourages mulberry cultivation and sericulture is an ancient tradition. Moreover, the Imperial Household Department had already prepared everything and was only waiting for the Empress Dowager’s approval to proceed according to precedent. How could it suddenly be canceled?

“Empress Dowager,” the current Empress spoke carefully, “precisely because disasters are occurring in various regions and the people are restless, I wished to personally pick mulberry leaves and raise silkworms, to encourage sericulture among the common people and pray for favorable weather next year. In previous years, this has always been done…”

“Empress,” the Empress Dowager interrupted, “when Rongyin was still here, the Silkworm Ceremony was held every year without fail. But since you succeeded as Empress, such a grand event has never again been organized. I understand the grievance in your heart. However, this year there are natural disasters everywhere. The ceremony is extremely costly and requires mobilizing a great number of people — it is truly inappropriate. If you truly have the heart for it, there is no harm in holding it next year.”

How could such a matter be deferred?

The Empress gritted her teeth and said, “Empress Dowager, the Silkworm Altar and the mulberry-picking grounds have already been fully prepared. The consorts, princesses, and titled ladies are all aware of this matter. To suddenly cancel it would invite discussion and criticism both inside and outside the court. I venture to earnestly request that this year’s Silkworm Ceremony be held as usual.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s expression suddenly darkened. “You say you came to ask for my decision, yet you have already instructed the Imperial Household Department to make all preparations — and still you want me to decide something? Empress, aren’t you being far too presumptuous?”

“Far too presumptuous.”

   She used such heavy words, and said them in front of so many people — what else could the Empress do? She immediately knelt down.

“Empress Dowager, I was merely following precedent in making preparations and failed to consider things as thoroughly as Your Majesty. Since it displeases you, I will immediately order them to stop all preparations. I only beg Your Majesty to calm your anger.”

The Empress Dowager said coldly, “I am tired. You may withdraw.”

With that, without waiting for the Empress to reply, she rose first, supported by Aunt Liu’s hand, and left.

Back at Chengqian Palace, the Empress’s face was grim. She dismissed everyone except Zhener, then instructed her:

“I want you to go find someone…”

At this moment, who else could make the Empress Dowager change her mind?

Or rather — who would dare to speak up for the current Empress in front of the Empress Dowager?

“…Prince He?” Zhener asked tentatively.

The Empress nodded with a smile. “Yes, exactly him.”

In the eyes of others, Hongzhou was a dissolute, good-for-nothing playboy prince. But in her eyes, every person is useful — it only depends on the timing.

Right now, no one else was suitable to persuade the Empress Dowager, but a prince could.

Moreover, if he weren’t useful, the Empress would not have deliberately gone to the watchtower that night, nor specifically arranged for Zhener to fetch him. Though she nearly froze to death on that tower, the outcome had been quite satisfactory…

“…Didn’t he say he would do anything for me?” The Empress smiled charmingly, just as she had that night when she turned to look back at him on the watchtower. “Then let him know what happened today — and let him go convince the Empress Dowager on my behalf.”

The Empress was skilled at reading people — and even more skilled at using them.

A few days later, the Empress Dowager indeed changed her mind and approved the Silkworm Ceremony.

The Empress had just breathed a sigh of relief when Wu Shulai reported:

“Your Majesty, as per your instructions, all the tools to be used by the various ladies, consorts, princesses, and titled women for picking mulberry leaves on the day of the ceremony have been fully prepared. Please review them.”

The Empress nodded. A group of young eunuchs then carried the tools into Jiaotai Hall:

For the Empress — a golden hook and yellow basket;

For the Noble Consort — a silver hook and zhe-yellow basket;

For the other consorts and concubines — copper hooks and zhe-yellow baskets;

For the princesses and titled ladies — iron hooks and vermilion baskets.

As she passed by one basket after another, one hook after another, the Step Empress suddenly stopped in front of a citron-yellow basket. The smile on her face slowly faded: “This is……”

Wu Shulai lowered his head and replied, “These are the silver hook and citron-yellow basket prepared for Her Ladyship Consort-Ling to pick mulberry leaves.”

The Step Empress immediately changed color. Behind her, Zhener rebuked sharply: “Wu Shulai, the Empress uses a gold hook, the Noble Consort uses a silver hook, ordinary concubines use copper hooks. Consort-Ling is merely of consort rank—how dare she overstep and use a silver hook? Do you not want to live anymore?”

Wu Shulai hurriedly knelt and said, “I beg the Empress’s forgiveness. This was by the Empress Dowager’s explicit decree. The Imperial Household Department reported it to the Emperor, and the Emperor also gave his approval.”

Zhener was struck speechless and quickly turned to look at the Step Empress’s expression.

By this time the Step Empress had already concealed the gloom on her face and was smiling with her usual dignified and virtuous demeanor: “Since both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have issued clear instructions, everything should be carried out according to their wishes.”

After the inspection was finished and they returned to Chengqian Palace, Zhener asked uneasily, “Your Ladyship, according to Consort-Ling’s rank, she is not qualified to use a silver hook at all. What exactly is the intention behind the Empress Dowager and the Emperor allowing this?”

While trimming a potted plant, the Step Empress replied calmly and composedly, “Naturally, they intend to elevate Consort-Ling and help her advance further.”

“This……” Zhener said angrily, “The Emperor may favor that person in Yanxi Palace, fine—but how could even the Empress Dowager……”

The Step Empress scoffed with a sneer and said icily, “Ever since the incident with my father, the Empress Dowager has already been angry with me. Now that I am using Prince He to hold a grand, magnificent Silkworm Ceremony, the Empress Dowager is even more displeased. That is why she deliberately elevates Consort-Ling—to make things difficult for me on purpose.”

Things were getting harder and harder. Zhener gradually began to feel like giving up, so she advised, “Your Ladyship, the Empress Dowager’s position is extremely exalted, and the Emperor is deeply filial to his mother. Why must you insist on holding the personal sericulture ceremony?”

The Step Empress slowly shook her head: “After what happened to my father, everyone in the Ulanara clan is fearful and on edge. By holding a grand, glorious Silkworm Ceremony, I want to make it unmistakably clear to the court and the realm that the position of Great Qing’s Empress remains as unshakable as ever. Only in this way will no one dare look down on me.”

“This servant is only afraid……” Zhener said anxiously, “afraid that from now on the Empress Dowager will keep targeting you.”

“Then endure,” the Step Empress said lightly, still holding the golden shears. “Endure until the day we rise above it all……”

Snap—

With a crisp sound like a beheading, she snipped off a red flower.

In contrast to the heavy atmosphere in Chengqian Palace, the mood inside Yanxi Palace was exceptionally relaxed and cheerful. On the table, a music box played a light Western waltz; the cheerful melody melted into the air and into everyone’s ears.

The news that Consort-Ling would be using a silver hook had already reached Yanxi Palace. Everyone took it as a clear signal that Consort-Ling was about to be promoted, so every face was lit with joy.

Wei Yingluo herself, upon hearing the news, merely smiled faintly and didn’t take it too seriously. She continued to guide Ming Yu: “Hailancha already has one pouch you made. Sending him another would be meaningless.”

Ming Yu had already been embroidering the same pouch for three days; her fingers were pricked full of holes like a beehive. Just as she was at her wits’ end, she heard this remark and reflexively replied, “How did you know I was going to give it to Hailancha?”

Wei Yingluo didn’t answer, only stood with her hands behind her back, looking at her and smiling.

Ming Yu blushed bright red under her gaze and said softly, “Alright…… I know what you’re going to say. It’s written all over my face, isn’t it?”

Wei Yingluo burst out laughing, sat down beside her and said, “Hailancha lost his father when he was young and was raised single-handedly by his widowed mother. Men who grow up in such families are either strong mother–weak son, or weak mother–strong son. Judging from Hailancha’s resolute and tough temperament, his mother must be a gentle and virtuous woman. If you want to win his heart, you must first win hers.”

Ming Yu’s eyes lit up: “You mean……”

“Making a pair of shoes for his mother would be far better than giving him another scented sachet,” Wei Yingluo advised. “Don’t forget—he will eventually go to the battlefield. What he needs even more is a wise wife and good mother, not a frivolous little girl who only knows romance and flowers.”

Ming Yu nodded, then shook her head: “But I don’t know how to make shoes, and I don’t even know her foot size.”

Wei Yingluo tapped her forehead in exasperation: “I’m not telling you to make them right now! For this time, just make her a forehead band instead!”

Anyway, whether it’s shoes, a headband, or a pouch, Hailancha would happily accept them all, because they all represent a piece of Ming Yu’s sincere affection.

At that moment, Yuan Chunwang walked in, holding a bowl of brownish medicinal soup in his hands:

“It’s time to take your medicine.”

Every month at this time, Wei Yingluo had to drink a bowl of this medicine, and Ming Yu was already accustomed to it. She took the bowl from him, blew on it lightly to cool it a little, and was about to feed it to her — when suddenly a loud shout came from beside her:

“There’s poison in the medicine!”

Ming Yu was startled. Wei Yingluo also turned her head to look.

They saw Xiaoquanzi rushing in panting for breath. He dropped to his knees with a thud in front of Wei Yingluo, his peripheral vision darting toward Yuan Chunwang:

“Master, this servant saw it with my own eyes — Yuan Chunwang put a packet of medicine into the tonic that Master drinks every day.”

Ming Yu was shocked:

“Xiaoquanzi, you can’t just say things like that!”

Xiaoquanzi:

“This servant is willing to swear to the heavens — if even half a sentence is false, may I be struck by lightning!”

The room fell deathly silent. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Wei Yingluo.

Wei Yingluo smiled slightly, suddenly lifted the medicine bowl, and drank it all in one go.

After setting the bowl down, she spoke calmly as if nothing had happened:

“Ming Yu, Xiaoquanzi’s words and actions were improper. Deduct one month of his salary. Take him away and make sure he recites the palace rules once from beginning to end.”

Xiaoquanzi’s face crumpled:

“But… but Master…”

“Enough!” Ming Yu came over and twisted his ear.

“Get over here already!”

After the two of them left, Wei Yingluo turned to look at Yuan Chunwang:

“You deliberately let him see it?”

Xiaoquanzi had always been somewhat jealous of Yuan Chunwang.

He seemed to feel that if Yuan Chunwang hadn’t interfered, the position of chief steward of Yanxi Palace would have belonged to him, and Wei Yingluo’s right-hand and left-hand assistants should have been him and Ming Yu.

So whether there was something to complain about or not, Xiaoquanzi loved finding fault with Yuan Chunwang and frequently badmouthed him in front of Wei Yingluo. Given how cautious and careful Yuan Chunwang usually was, how could he possibly have let himself be caught with such a huge piece of evidence?

“Yes, I did it on purpose.” Sure enough, Yuan Chunwang smiled slightly.

“I wanted him to know just how much you trust me — so he stops provoking me again and again.”

Wei Yingluo shook her head helplessly.

“…Yingluo.” Yuan Chunwang hesitated for a moment before asking,

“Are you still going to keep drinking this medicinal soup?”

“Yes.” Wei Yingluo answered without the slightest hesitation, her voice calm.

“Why wouldn’t I? This is exactly the medicine I need.”

Knock knock knock. Li Yu’s voice came from outside the door:

“Your Ladyship.”

Wei Yingluo and Yuan Chunwang exchanged a glance. Yuan Chunwang quickly hid the medicine bowl away.

The door opened. Wei Yingluo asked in an unruffled tone:

“Chief Steward Li, is something the matter?”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 153: Heart-to-Heart

After returning from Chengqian Palace, Hongli felt a deep sense of bewilderment.

He didn’t want to go back to the Yangxin Hall. The table there was covered with memorials singing praises—on the surface lauding Naerbu’s death as well deserved, but in reality praising him for the killing itself.

And when he looked at the names of those who had submitted the memorials—ha! —they were precisely the real culprits who had embezzled the disaster-relief funds.

A wave of nausea rose in Hongli’s heart—disgust toward them, and disgust toward himself. His feet wandered aimlessly until, without realizing it, he found himself at Yanxi Palace.

A strain of music drifted out from inside—not the zheng, not the qin, neither flute nor drum.

Hongli paused, then stepped inside and saw the music box on the table.

Inside the music box, a pair of doll-like lovers with golden hair and blue eyes, dressed in Western formal attire, held each other’s hands and twirled gracefully to the melody. Beside it, Wei Yingluo had taken Ming Yu’s hand; both wearing palace-style qipao, they too twirled to the music—until with an “Ouch!” Wei Yingluo exclaimed, “Wrong, wrong! Yin said it’s not supposed to turn like that. Let’s start over.”

Ming Yu’s fingers were nimble—she could make all kinds of delicate snacks—but her feet were far less cooperative. After a few more stumbling steps, she gave up. “This servant isn’t dancing anymore. I can’t do it!”

Wei Yingluo: “Come on, just try again!”

Hongli watched for a while. The two of them kept stepping on each other’s skirts and toes, hopping around like shamans in a ritual dance. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Hearing his voice, both women hurried over to curtsy.

“What are you doing?” Hongli waived the formal greeting, reached over, and wound the music box to play a different tune.

Wei Yingluo smiled brightly. “This Western gadget was just gathering dust in the Imperial Household Department. I specially asked Yin—the Frenchman—for advice. He even demonstrated a segment of the dance for me.”

Hongli was both annoyed and amused. “I had the French missionary stay in the Forbidden City specifically to revise the calendar and improve firearms—not to entertain you with dancing lessons.”

Wei Yingluo didn’t answer his words. She simply smiled, stepped forward, placed her hands on his waist, and led him into the dance.

A waltz—much like the relationship between man and woman: you advance when I retreat, you retreat when I advance.

It was precisely the kind of dance well suited to couples. Even if one partner had no idea what they were doing, under the other’s guidance they quickly picked it up.

“How is it?” Wei Yingluo smiled. “Isn’t it fun?”

By now Hongli was already dancing quite decently. He had just begun to smile when his face suddenly darkened again. “Did you dance like this with that foreigner too?”

“Like what?” Wei Yingluo asked on purpose.

Hongli scoffed with a sneer and pinched her waist.

That spot was especially ticklish. Wei Yingluo burst out laughing from the pinch and hurriedly grabbed his fingers. “No, no! Yin only demonstrated it to a little eunuch for me to watch.”

Only then did Hongli’s expression clear, shifting from cloudy back to sunny.

“Your master really has her ways,” Li Yu observed quietly, noting the change. He leaned toward Ming Yu and whispered, “His Majesty has been in a foul mood these past two days. Only here, in your palace, has he finally shown a smile.”

Ming Yu watched the two people spinning nonstop in front of her, covering her mouth and laughing continuously.

Li Yu was puzzled by her laughter: “What are you laughing at?”

“Wait a moment.” Over there, Hongli also sensed something was off. He frowned in confusion. “It feels like… something’s not quite right, doesn’t it?”

Wei Yingluo blinked innocently: “What’s not right?”

“…” Hongli’s hand slowly slid down, catching the hand that Wei Yingluo had placed on his waist. He raised an eyebrow with a hint of danger. “I’ve heard that when Westerners dance, the man places his hand on the woman’s waist—so why are you—Wei Yingluo, you’re deliberately teasing me again!”

Wei Yingluo obligingly took his hand in return and placed it on her own waist.

Hongli: “…Do you think doing that will stop me from getting angry?”

“Your Majesty, don’t be angry anymore.” Wei Yingluo slowly leaned her head against his shoulder. “I just wanted to make you happy.”

They leaned close together, performing the most intimate steps of the waltz. Accompanied by the roundelay tune from the music box, they spun and spun and spun…

A bright full moon rose into the sky.

Tired from dancing, the two sat side by side at the window, gazing at the bright moon outside.

“Your Majesty.” Wei Yingluo looked up at him. “You’re unhappy again?”

Hongli was often unhappy; only rarely could he laugh freely. Now he had returned to his usual solemn expression and said lightly: “Yingluo, if there is someone who absolutely must be killed, what would you do?”

Wei Yingluo smiled: “Kill him.”

Hongli was stunned and lowered his head to look at her: “What if he has been wrongly accused?”

Wei Yingluo: “Release him.”

Hongli: “…And if he has been wronged, but for the sake of the greater good he still must be killed?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Wei Yingluo replied: “Both kill and release.”

At first Hongli thought she was speaking reasonably, but when she said that, he felt she was just brushing him off: “What kind of answer is that!”

“On the surface, carry out the execution without fail; in secret, swap him with a substitute.” Wei Yingluo said, “Your Majesty could find a death-row prisoner who resembles him closely and secretly exchange the two—wouldn’t that work?”

Hongli was stunned at first, then burst into loud laughter: “Do you think the Ministry of Justice’s prison is a vegetable market? When someone is beheaded, their identity must be verified!”

“Of course I know that before a beheading the identity must be confirmed. And I also know exactly who the ‘he’ in your words refers to,” Wei Yingluo said.

Hongli’s smile froze.

After a long silence, Wei Yingluo spoke first: “…Lord Naerbu. In the end, Your Majesty still wanted to kill him.”

Hongli grumbled in a muffled voice: “Nonsense! I’ve never thought any such thing!”

“But even if you granted the Empress a favor and changed the sentence from beheading to exile, would he be safe on the road to exile? There is no one in the world the Son of Heaven cannot eliminate if he truly wishes it. You simply—” Wei Yingluo paused, but still finished the sentence, “—did not want him to live!”

Hongli stared at her with a dark expression for a long time before giving a faint smile: “You’re right.”

He rose from beside Wei Yingluo and walked alone to the window. Placing both hands on the railing, he looked down at the scenery below—pavilions, towers, palace maids, and eunuchs—all shrinking in his gaze.

“…Naerbu did not embezzle disaster relief grain. But he committed two wrongs: first, he knew of the corruption and failed to report it; second, he was muddled and incompetent. In various places across eastern Zhejiang, similar situations existed to a greater or lesser degree, yet not a single riot broke out elsewhere, and no disaster victims starved to death.” Hongli gripped the railing tightly and spoke slowly. “Sometimes an incompetent and muddle-headed official does no less harm than a corrupt one. He may have been wrongly accused, and the Empress may plead for him—but who will speak for the disaster victims who died unjustly? I sentenced him to exile only out of consideration for the Empress’s feelings, giving him a relatively dignified way to die. I simply never expected that the Empress Dowager would act one step ahead…”

After a slight hesitation, he asked in a low voice, “Yingluo, do you think I am a very cruel emperor?”

“Yes.”

Hongli’s expression darkened.

A pair of hands slowly reached out from behind him and wrapped around his waist.

“But so what?” Wei Yingluo pressed her face against his back. “Your Majesty, you always want to be a perfect person, but where in this world is there such a thing as a perfect person? Execute corrupt officials, and the corrupt officials will hate you. Execute incompetent ministers, and the incompetent will resent you. Let them hate if they must hate; let them resent if they must resent. Once the move is made, there is no regret—never look back!”

Hongli slowly began to smile. “Well said. Once the move is made, no regret—never look back!”

Moonlight shone upon the mortal world. Beneath the railings, beneath the pavilions, Zhener rushed about like a headless fly. In her distraction, she suddenly collided with someone.

“Zhener?” Seeing her dazed and disoriented appearance, Hongzhou frowned. “Why aren’t you attending to the Empress? What are you doing running around here?”

“Chengqian Palace, the Imperial Garden, the Household Department…” Zhener’s eyes were unfocused as she rattled off a long string of places. Then she suddenly lifted her head, looked at him, and burst into tears. “None of them! I can’t find Her Majesty the Empress anywhere!”

Hongzhou’s heart jolted. Forgetting all propriety, he seized her arm. “What did you say? What’s happened to the Empress?”

“The Empress is missing.” Zhener had been searching all day; she was already frantic and at her wit’s end, sobbing uncontrollably. “This servant has looked everywhere—everywhere—and can’t find her. I didn’t dare tell anyone else…”

Hongzhou shot a fierce glare at the eunuch who had been leading the way. The eunuch understood at once and immediately lowered his eyes, pretending he had heard and seen nothing.

Turning back, Hongzhou said gravely to Zhener, “We’ll split up and search two separate paths. We must find Her Majesty the Empress before anyone else notices she’s gone.”

Though the Forbidden City was vast, once they excluded the places Zhener had already searched, the area became much more manageable. The two quickly divided the remaining locations between them and set off in different directions.

Not here. Not here. Not here either… Hongzhou hurried past the base of a corner tower, then suddenly stopped. He looked up. When he clearly saw the figure standing atop the tower, he cried out in shock, “Empress!”

Thump, thump, thump—his boots pounded rapidly up the wooden stairs.

In almost an instant, Hongzhou reached the top of the corner tower, breathing hard. He stared at the Empress standing barefoot on the railing ahead, his voice trembling. “Empress, what are you doing? Please come down first, all right?”

The Step Empress slowly turned her head. In the moonlight, her face looked deathly pale. “…Did you think I was going to jump from here?”

With that, she turned back around, spread her arms wide, and took one step after another toward the edge of the tower.

With every step she took, Hongzhou felt his heart rise into his throat. Without thinking, he followed her forward.

If the Step Empress were to lose her footing at this moment… the palace servants would likely discover two bodies the next day.

“I’ve been standing here all day,” the Step Empress suddenly stopped and gazed into the distance. “I just wanted to know what it felt like for Fucha Rongyin when she stood in this very spot.”

Then she laughed—a laugh that was unusually light and carefree.

“Fucha Rongyin and I entered the household one after the other. She was the gentle, dignified principal wife; I was the cautious, careful side wife. We had many things in common, yet we were also very different. What we shared was entrusting our true hearts to our husband. What differed…” The Step Empress lowered her head to look at the drop below. “…was that she jumped from this very place, while I became the lofty Empress.”

No wonder this spot had been so deserted all along the way—palace maids and eunuchs seemed to deliberately avoid it.

   This was the very place where the late Empress had fallen to her death.

   The ground below looked clean and spotless, yet it bore blood, tears, and the lingering souls of the departed.

   Hongzhou said gravely, “Empress, what is past is past. Why bring it up again? You are not Fucha Rongyin, and you will never become her.”

“Indeed, I am not Fucha Rongyin. Even standing here, I have never once wished to die.” The Step Empress sighed and turned to look at him. “Do you know why?”

Hongzhou gazed at her.

“Because I’m not willing to accept it,” the Step Empress said softly. “I once thought that by becoming the mistress of the six palaces, by becoming the Empress of Great Qing, I would never again be trampled upon, never again have to tread so carefully. But I was wrong. In the past, Consort Xian could not protect my mother and brothers. Now, as Empress, I still cannot protect my father… because the power I hold is too little, far too little…”

“No, it’s not like that…” Hongzhou wanted to comfort her, yet he didn’t know how.

He had personally investigated the matter of Naerbu. He knew the truth better than anyone.

Even the reason for his death—he could guess seven or eight parts of it…

Everything was just as the Step Empress had said. Even as Empress, she still could not protect her own father—because the one who wanted her father dead was her husband, the current Emperor.

“It’s not like that… You just…” Hongzhou said miserably, “You simply still held hope in His Majesty…”

And he had let down your hopes…

The Step Empress said nothing.

The moonlight fell on her thin shoulders, making her appear all the more solitary and pitiful.

And her husband? He was probably staying at Yanxi Palace again tonight…

Hongzhou looked at those shoulders. As if possessed, he reached out his hand, yet stopped a palm’s distance away, not daring to place it there.

“Go back,” the Step Empress suddenly spoke without turning her head. “Both you and I should return.”

With that, she slowly turned around, once again resuming her usual dignified and virtuous demeanor. If not for the tear stains on her cheeks, no one would have guessed she had been crying.

Hongzhou could only follow suit and revert to the role of a subject. Respectfully, he stepped aside to let her descend the stairs first. Watching her lonely figure gradually move farther away, his expression was complicated. His fists clenched and unclenched, until finally he could no longer hold back and called out:

“Empress, in the future, if there is ever anything Hongzhou can do for you, please tell me. I want to… do something for you.”

The Step Empress’s steps paused for a moment. She did not turn back, and continued walking forward.

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