Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 148: The Truth Comes to Light

   That night, in Consort Yu’s sleeping quarters.

The palace was empty and desolate. Wei Yingluo had been there for quite a while, yet not a single palace servant came to serve tea. In the end, it was Consort Yu herself who poured the tea for her—yesterday’s cold tea.

“Although I wasn’t the one who masterminded this, the Emperor will never want to see me again.” Consort Yu seemed completely unperturbed. She lifted the teacup and took a sip. “I imagine I’ll soon be sent out of the palace—either to guard the imperial tombs or to a temple to pray for the ancestors. I’ll never return to the Forbidden City in this lifetime.”

Wei Yingluo drank a sip of the cold tea along with her, tasting the bitter flavor of abandonment, then set the cup down and said, “Consort Yu, you lost too quickly.”

Consort Yu smiled at her—warmly, like Boya after finishing a piece of music, listening to Zhong Ziqi appraise its merits.

“Noble Consort Chun instigated you to use an excessive amount of ginseng—how could she possibly let Fifth Prince discover it? Yet he suddenly became clear-headed, waking at exactly the right moment, delivering a fatal blow to Noble Consort Chun.” Wei Yingluo looked straight at her and said with certainty, “Consort Yu, everything was designed by you.”

Consort Yu burst into laughter—a bright, unrestrained laugh, the laughter of someone who had finally been truly understood.

“Exactly right,” she admitted frankly. “Noble Consort Chun used Fifth Prince’s life to threaten me, demanding that I help her deal with you. So I simply went along with her plan, lurked by her side until the very end, and then turned against her.”

“Just as I thought,” Wei Yingluo sighed. “Unlike the rest of us women in the harem, Fifth Prince is exceptionally intelligent and has always been highly valued by the Emperor. Having him personally speak of Noble Consort Chun’s crimes—the Emperor would certainly believe him… But why didn’t you tell the Emperor this yourself?”

“I couldn’t,” Consort Yu said calmly. “If I had told the Emperor that I had only pretended to be close to Noble Consort Chun in order to gain her trust and gather evidence of her crimes, he would surely have believed that you and I had conspired together to frame her.”

Hongli could never have imagined that the woman in the Forbidden City who understood him best was actually Consort Yu. She knew exactly how to make him suspicious, and she knew exactly how to make him believe. It was a pity that she possessed neither the stunning beauty of Noble Consort Hui, nor the grace of Noble Consort Chun, nor even the cunning cleverness of Wei Yingluo. In the end, she remained merely an insignificant Consort Yu.

“Why go to such lengths?” Wei Yingluo sighed deeply. “Even though you brought down Noble Consort Chun, you’ve ended up in this miserable state—truly gaining nothing at all…”

“I don’t need any gain.” Consort Yu gave a gentle smile. Though she was the one most in need of comfort, she turned around to console the still-troubled Wei Yingluo. “Yingluo, I am a cowardly woman. In the past, I could only watch helplessly as my dearest friend died a tragic death, unable to avenge her. If not for the late Empress and you reaching out to help, even Yongqi’s life would not have been preserved. But no matter how cowardly I may be, I still understand the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a fountain of gratitude. Since I have received favor from others, I should repay it with loyalty until my dying breath. I am not clever enough to think of a better way—only this.”

She paused for a moment, then suddenly stood up, went into the inner room, and retrieved a pastry box. With both hands, she offered it to Wei Yingluo.

“After today’s parting, it will be hard to meet again in this lifetime. In my heart, I have no other worries—only one person… whom I wish to entrust to you.” Consort Yu gazed at her with earnest longing, then opened the pastry box in her hands. Inside lay four neat rows of lotus cake.

It was exactly the box of lotus cake that Wei Yingluo had given to Yongqi three days earlier—seven pieces in total, and now only four remained. Yongqi ate just one piece per day, treasuring them greatly.

Wei Yingluo received the box with both hands, her expression solemn as if she were accepting Consort Yu’s very life. She promised, “Leave him to me.”

Tears welled in Consort Yu’s eyes. She was about to bow when a voice suddenly came from outside: “Consort Ling Your Ladyship, His Majesty summons you to Yangxin Hall. The matter has finally come to light.”

Wei Yingluo had originally thought that “coming to light” referred to Noble Consort Chun’s false accusation of her poisoning someone. But after arriving at Yangxin Hall, she realized the matter was far more complicated.

Hongli’s face was colder than ever before. Wei Yingluo had never seen him so furious—like a volcano on the verge of eruption. The Empress stood beside him and addressed Yuhu, who was kneeling below: “Repeat to Consort Ling what you just told me.”

Yuhu was drenched in sweat from head to toe. In a wooden voice she said, “Noble Consort Chun ordered this servant to approach Wang Zhong, the manager of the fire-preparation section, and secretly bribe him to work for us. That New Year’s Eve, the late Empress was merciful and dismissed us servants early to rest. Noble Consort bribed a little eunuch from Changchun Palace to replace the chrysanthemum charcoal with highly explosive fireworks charcoal. She also arranged for Wang Zhong to tamper with the bottom of water tanks, causing the fire that melted the ice to go out midway—leading to the Seventh Prince perishing in the flames.”

Hongli had clearly already heard this once before, yet hearing it again still filled him with rage. His right hand gripped the armrest of the chair so tightly it seemed it might break. In a deep voice he said, “I originally only ordered the Empress to thoroughly investigate Consort Yu’s case. I never expected that this investigation would unearth such an old tragedy… Back then, if the Seventh Prince had not met with disaster, Rongyin would not have…”

He paused, still half believing and half doubting, and murmured, “But… would she really do something so vicious?”

Why had she worked so hard to get close to Hongli? Why had she gone to such lengths to oppose Noble Consort Chun? Why had she risked her life by falling from a horse, just to drag Noble Consort Chun down? — All for this very day! How could Wei Yingluo let this opportunity slip away? She immediately knelt and declared, “Your Majesty, I have a witness!”

Ming Yu was quickly brought into Yangxin Hall and laid out everything she knew. Thus, the full sequence of events behind a murder case was spread out before Hongli.

Suddenly, Hongli hurled the teacup in his hand at her, almost in a fit of displaced anger: “Why didn’t you speak up back then?”

Ming Yu did not dodge. The cup struck her body, and scalding tea poured over her. Wei Yingluo hurriedly shielded her and said, “Ming Yu has endured in silence for a long time. She had no evidence—only her word. To accuse a greatly favored Noble Consort Chun with nothing but words would have been like throwing an egg against a stone. Your Majesty, even palace maids have parents and family. Even if she did not cherish her own life, she had to think of her family.”

At the mention of “family,” Yuhu, still kneeling on the ground, suddenly shuddered violently and began kowtowing nonstop: “Your Majesty, every word this servant has spoken is true. This servant is willing to testify against her master and is willing to die—only begging Your Majesty, in consideration of allowing this servant to atone with meritorious service, to spare this servant’s family!”

Seeing her like this, Wei Yingluo suddenly understood. She had previously found it strange—Yuhu was not Consort Yu; she had served Noble Consort Chun for so many years and had been her most capable right-hand woman. How could she betray her so easily? It turned out… someone had threatened her with her family’s lives.

And as for who that someone was… Wei Yingluo glanced at the kind and gentle-looking Empress.

You think she was helping Wei Yingluo?

   No. Noble Consort Chun ranked only below the Empress and had given birth to the Sixth Prince. If she fell, the greatest beneficiary would be precisely the kind and gentle-looking Empress standing before them.

   Otherwise, why would she be so invested in this matter?

   Sensing Wei Yingluo’s gaze, the Empress returned a smile—a knowing smile that passed between the two of them—then said to Hongli, “After Yuhu confessed, I interrogated Wang Zhong. His account matched perfectly.”

Hongli’s expression grew extremely dark; his hand clenched into a tight fist. “Then… the matter of Consort Ling’s fall from the horse was most likely also instigated by her?”

When you love someone, you love everything about her. When you doubt someone, you doubt everything about her. The only thing that wasn’t actually done by Noble Consort Chun somehow still ended up being pinned on her head. But at this point, what difference does one more crime or one less crime make?

   Seeing the Empress nod, Hongli could no longer suppress the rage inside him. He slammed the table and declared: “Very well—Noble Consort Chun, how truly vicious you are! Li Yu! Transmit my decree! Noble Consort Chun is guilty of plotting to murder Seventh Prince—a crime that cannot be forgiven. Effective immediately, her title is stripped, she is demoted to the rank of Attendant, and she is to be confined in the Cold Palace.”

The events of that night seemed to have drained all of Hongli’s strength. After issuing the order, he waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw. Wei Yingluo lagged a step behind, gazing thoughtfully at the Empress’s retreating figure.

Many things had finally come to light, but there was still one matter she couldn’t quite figure out.

The murder of Seventh Prince had originally been a tightly guarded secret. Very few people knew about it—only Wei Yingluo herself, Ming Yu, Noble Consort Chun, Yuhu, and one Wang Zhong. No one else. And even if there had been others, they had most likely been quietly dealt with by Noble Consort Chun long ago.

Yuhu would never have voluntarily revealed such a huge secret without reason. If she had kept silent, given Hongli’s former deep favor toward Noble Consort Chun, there was a real chance the consort might have staged a comeback later.

Unless… the Empress had already learned of the matter beforehand and used Yuhu’s family as leverage to force her to confess.

“But Empress… how exactly did you come to know about this?” Wei Yingluo murmured to herself.

One person stands on the bridge admiring the scenery, while others below the bridge watch the person on the bridge. Wei Yingluo had been so focused on the Empress in front of her that she failed to notice the complicated gaze fixed on her from behind.

The doors of Yangxin Hall slowly closed behind her, yet Hongli’s eyes continued to rest on her through the closed doors.

“Do all women have two faces?” In the now-empty Yangxin Hall, his muttered words echoed. “Noble Consort Chun wears a kind face but harbors an evil heart. And you… you have been deliberately guiding me all along, making me see her true face clearly so that I would punish her.”

Hongli was no fool. He could not possibly have remained completely unaware of Wei Yingluo’s actions. He did not blame her—the Empress had shown her immense kindness, and it was only natural that she would repay that debt with loyalty. What worried him was…

With a sigh, Hongli slowly moved the brush in his hand, and on the xuan paper he wrote a single character:

“恩”

(Grace / Kindness)

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 147: Poison

“Yes.” Denial was impossible—Consort Yu had come openly to visit the sick, and countless palace servants along the way could testify to it. Wei Yingluo simply admitted, “Consort Yu ordered him to come see me and brought lingzhi and deer antler.”

Noble Consort Chun went straight to the point: “Did he eat some pastries there?”

Yingluo: “He ate one piece of lotus cake.”

Noble Consort Chun smiled. “That matches perfectly. Imperial Physician Liu!”

A certain imperial physician had already been waiting inside the palace. Upon being summoned, he stepped forward and said, “Consort Ling, the Fifth Prince has been coughing somewhat recently. I prescribed a formula centered on Sichuan fritillary bulb for treatment. However, the bulb has one key characteristic—it must never be taken together with any aconite-class medicines. Herbs such as monkshood root, aconite root, aconite daughter root, and the like are all strictly forbidden.”

The Empress: “And if they are taken together, what happens?”

Imperial Physician Liu: “In reply to Her Majesty the Empress, if taken together, it is highly likely to cause poisoning due to conflicting medicinal properties—such as whole-body paralysis, unrelenting pain, or even loss of life. When I just now took the Fifth Prince’s pulse, I already detected signs of monkshood poisoning.”

Noble Consort Chun said meaningfully, “Whether the lotus cake in Yanxi Palace contained monkshood is something only Consort Ling herself knows!”

“Why would I want to harm the Fifth Prince? Back then, it was I who saved this child.” Seeing her every word trying to tie the evidence to herself, Wei Yingluo frowned and said, “Besides, where in Yanxi Palace would such a medicine come from?”

“Consort Ling, are you pretending not to know?” Noble Consort Chun seemed to have anticipated this very question. She immediately replied, “In the entire Forbidden City, aside from the Imperial Medical Bureau, isn’t the only place that has this medicine your Yanxi Palace?”

What did she mean by that? Hongli looked toward Imperial Physician Liu, who hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, I have heard that Consort Ling fell from a horse and injured her right hand. Imperial Physician Ye then prescribed her a monkshood head ointment specifically for treating dislocation pain, traumatic swelling, and stagnant blood. That ointment requires monkshood, so naturally… Yanxi Palace has it.”

Hongli’s brows furrowed. Consort Yu clung to his leg and began to cry again, while Noble Consort Chun leaned close to his ear and fanned the flames: “Your Majesty, Consort Ling has received such profound imperial grace yet shows no gratitude in return. Instead, she harbors jealousy toward Consort Yu and poisons the Fifth Prince to death. A woman so narrow-minded and vicious in her methods is truly outrageous and hair-raising. I understand that Your Majesty is reluctant to punish Consort Ling, but if everyone follows her example, what will become of the rules in the Forbidden City? What chaos will descend upon the harem? I venture to earnestly beg Your Majesty to punish her severely, as a stern warning to all above and below, so they will know that plotting against an imperial heir is a crime that cannot be forgiven!”

“Without even a trial, you want to convict me?” Wei Yingluo looked toward Hongli. “Your Majesty, since it was the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi, let Imperial Physician Ye come here.”

“With both witnesses and physical evidence, what is there left to interrogate?” Noble Consort Chun also turned her gaze to Hongli. “Your Majesty, do not listen to her sophistry.”

The two of them placed themselves on opposite ends of the scale, tilting back and forth in Hongli’s heart. They waited quietly; the entire hall waited quietly. Finally one side fell, the other rose. Hongli said gravely, “Summon Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi!”

Noble Consort Chun’s face turned pale.

Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi was quickly summoned. Hongli asked, “Imperial Physician Ye, did you prescribe monkshood head ointment for Consort Ling?”

Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi: “Yes.”

Hongli: “Does monkshood head ointment conflict with Sichuan bulb?”

Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi: “Yes.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Hongli looked at Wei Yingluo in puzzlement. “Yingluo, what exactly do you want Imperial Physician Ye to tell me?”

Wei Yingluo’s expression was extremely calm. “Imperial Physician Ye, I do not understand medicine, but when a person has eaten something wrong, what is the very first thing that should be done?”

Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi’s peripheral vision glanced toward Yongqi lying on the bed. “Eaten something wrong?”

Yingluo: “Yes—whether a small dose of poison or food that conflicts in nature.”

Imperial Physician Ye Tianshi immediately answered, “Induce vomiting.”

Everyone turned to look at Imperial Physician Liu. From the beginning, this man had fed the Fifth Prince decoctions and, from head to toe, had never once attempted to induce vomiting.

“This… this…” Imperial Physician Liu, thinking quickly, said, “The Fifth Prince’s body is weak. I did not dare to induce vomiting lightly, so I could only administer a detoxifying decoction.”

Wei Yingluo: “Has the young prince now escaped danger?”

Imperial Physician Liu glanced at Noble Consort Chun: “This…”

“It seems Imperial Physician Liu’s skills are inadequate.” Wei Yingluo immediately turned to Hongli and said, “I beg Your Majesty to allow Master Ye Tianshi to examine Fifth Prince and diagnose his condition.”

Upon hearing this, Imperial Physician Liu’s face turned ashen. Noble Consort Chun repeatedly shot glances at Consort Yu, who hurriedly stepped forward: “Your Majesty, Yongqi’s body is frail; he cannot endure any more torment! If anything happens to him, I will have no reason to go on living! How can Your Majesty believe the words of a murderer? Consort Ling, that vile woman, clearly intends to harm Yongqi!”

Since the balance had already tilted to one side, Hongli was hardly going to listen to her easily—especially since he had not missed the meaningful looks exchanged between her and Noble Consort Chun. He said coldly, “Master Ye Tianshi, he is in your hands.”

After inducing vomiting, although Yongqi still had not woken up, his complexion looked much better than before; he was no longer groaning incessantly in his sleep. Master Ye Tianshi held the spittoon and studied its contents for a long time before concluding: “Your Majesty, there is no aconite monkshood in here.”

Imperial Physician Liu interjected: “Once aconite enters the stomach, it dissolves quickly—that’s why it cannot be seen.”

“Aconite may have dissolved, but the ginseng is still there. And I found a large amount of undissolved ginseng slices—this is truly strange,” Master Ye Tianshi said, looking toward him.

“Fifth Prince suffers from lung deficiency leading to cough, which is why ginseng was used to tonify qi,” Imperial Physician Liu said with difficulty. Anyone could hear the guilt in his voice.

“If Fifth Prince needed to tonify qi, steeping ginseng in tea would have sufficed—why swallow so much of it!” Master Ye Tianshi sneered. “Abusing ginseng causes external pathogens to linger for a long time. Especially since Fifth Prince is young and fundamentally healthy, excessive ginseng consumption instead causes qi stagnation, reversal of stomach blood, and severe damage to the body—naturally leading to unconsciousness! Imperial Physician Liu, you specialize in pediatric formulas—how could you make such a grave mistake!”

The Empress had been standing by with folded arms, not involving herself in the matter until this moment, when she spoke a single sentence—one sufficient to seal Noble Consort Chun’s fate. Smiling, she said: “Unless he was instructed by someone else and deliberately framed Consort Ling!”

Imperial Physician Liu could no longer bear the pressure—especially after realizing that both Hongli and the Empress were standing on Wei Yingluo’s side. With a thud, he knelt down: “Your Majesty, spare my life! This subject… it was Consort Yu who insisted on using ginseng slices. This subject tried to dissuade her, but Her Ladyship would not listen! Today she also insisted that Fifth Prince had taken aconite, which is why this subject misdiagnosed the pulse!”

“Your Majesty, I didn’t know that taking too much ginseng could be dangerous. I was ignorant—I am guilty! It’s all my fault. I harmed Yongqi for no reason and wrongly accused Consort Ling!” Consort Yu said in panic.

“You are guilty. As his own birth mother, you were willing to harm Yongqi’s health just to frame Consort Ling—you are utterly unfit to be Yongqi’s mother!” Hongli sneered coldly. “I know you wouldn’t have the courage to do this on your own. Speak—who gave you the nerve?”

Wei Yingluo added: “Consort Yu, if you do not confess honestly, you will become the chief culprit.”

To her surprise—she had expected Consort Yu to struggle desperately for a while—Consort Yu immediately turned and cried out: “It was her! It was Noble Consort Chun! Everything was instructed by Noble Consort Chun!”

Noble Consort Chun clearly had not expected her to confess so quickly. For a moment she couldn’t even think of an excuse to defend herself, only managing a dry denial: “Consort Yu, I have always treated you generously. You acted out of momentary jealousy and framed Consort Ling—that I can understand. But now, to save yourself, you want to drag me down with you!”

“Your Majesty,” Consort Yu said, suddenly extremely calm—calm in a way that made Wei Yingluo feel something was odd. “The plan came from Noble Consort Chun. Naturally, the ginseng was also provided by her. If you do not believe me, please investigate the records of the Imperial Household Department storehouse—you will surely find the record of ginseng issued to Zhongcui Palace.”

Noble Consort Chun was furious and was about to rush forward to argue when she suddenly heard Hongli exclaim in delight: “Yongqi!”

It turned out that Noble Consort Chun’s sharp cry had awakened Yongqi, who had been in a deep sleep. Hongli quickly walked to his side and placed a hand on his forehead: “How are you? Feeling better?”

“Royal Father…” Yongqi’s face was covered in fine sweat. His condition was neither terrible nor particularly good, yet he still forced himself to sit up, enduring the coughs, and spoke to Hongli in halting, broken sentences: “Father… cough cough… it was Noble Consort Chun… I personally heard her force mother to use ginseng every day. Mother was always crying… always crying… cough… mother was forced!”

“You—” Noble Consort Chun looked at him, then at Consort Yu kneeling nearby, and suddenly realized. “You mother and son… you mother and son joined forces to harm me!”

Hearing her actually say such words, the disgust in Hongli’s eyes grew even stronger. In the treacherous intrigues of the inner palace, he did not trust the consorts—but he did trust his own son. Yongqi enjoyed an excellent reputation both among the scholars at the study hall and among the servants: talented, upright, intelligent, and most importantly—Hongli had never once seen him tell a lie.

“How could such a child end up being used to frame you?”

“Come!” Hongli closed his eyes. “Take Noble Consort Chun and Consort Yu back to their respective palaces and imprison them. As for everyone else—send them to the Bureau of Careful Punishment. Before the sun sets today, I want answers!”

Noble Consort Chun collapsed on the floor. Together with Yuhu and the others, they were all dragged away by the eunuchs. One of the eunuchs approached Consort Yu. Before he could help her up, Yongqi staggered off the bed and threw himself onto Consort Yu. His small arms clung tightly to her as he cried, “Don’t take my mother away! Mother! Don’t go, mother!”

Consort Yu held back her tears, gently stroked his temple, and whispered something into his ear. Yongqi froze, even forgetting to cry.

Wei Yingluo took in the entire scene, and a wave of doubt rose in her heart.

Compared to Noble Consort Chun, Consort Yu’s behavior seemed unnatural in many ways—even contradictory. If she was truly loyal to Noble Consort Chun, she had confessed far too readily. If she wasn’t loyal, then her involvement in the whole affair had been far too deep. After thinking it over again and again, Wei Yingluo suddenly shuddered as an extremely absurd possibility occurred to her…

“Impossible,” she murmured to herself, yet she could not convince herself otherwise.

Because when everything was connected, this was almost the only plausible explanation.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 146: Fighting with Back to the Water

Idly tapping chess pieces as lamp flowers fall, waiting and waiting — in the end, two visitors arrived as persuaders.

“Yongqi.” Consort Yu said gently, “This is Her Ladyship Consort Ling. Go and pay respects to Her Ladyship.”

The child beside her stepped forward and kowtowed solemnly to Wei Yingluo: “Yongqi pays respects to Mother Consort Ling.”

Wei Yingluo reclined on Noble Consort Chun’s couch, looking at him with some curiosity. The boy was about eight or nine years old, with rosy lips and white teeth, jade-snow skin, and an adorably cherubic appearance — like the golden boy in New Year paintings. Yet his movements were precise and measured, like those of an elderly court minister in his eighties or nineties. It was quite amusing to watch.

Consort Yu said: “Yongqi, when you were born, your whole body was golden yellow. Everyone thought you were some monstrous creature. Only your Mother Consort Ling risked her life to protect you. If not for her, you wouldn’t have grown to this age.”

Yongqi had already stood up, but upon hearing this, he knelt down again and solemnly gave Wei Yingluo a resounding kowtow: “Yongqi thanks Mother Consort Ling for saving my life. When I grow up, I will surely be very filial to you.”

Ming Yu couldn’t stand the sight of this mother and son pair. She scoffed with icy disdain: “In the future, our Ladyship will naturally have princes to be filial to her. There’s no need for the Fifth Prince to trouble himself.”

Yongqi’s small face froze. Consort Yu’s expression changed as she said: “Ming Yu, how old is Yongqi? He spoke with sincere heart. If you won’t accept it, fine — but saying such things is really going too far!”

Ming Yu scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm: “Last night I kept hearing strange noises. I was wondering what it was — turns out we haven’t even reached New Year yet, but the weasels are already coming to the door. Master, this servant should go take a look and quickly block up the hole, so they don’t disturb your rest tonight!”

“Ming Yu.” Wei Yingluo gave her a glance, then beckoned to Yongqi. “The little infant from back then has grown so much in the blink of an eye. Come here.”

Yongqi obediently walked over. Suddenly he coughed once, hurriedly raising his slightly chubby little hands to cover his mouth. He looked at Wei Yingluo somewhat bashfully.

“What’s wrong? Is your throat uncomfortable?” Wei Yingluo asked with concern.

“He’s had a bit of a cough lately. The imperial physician already prescribed fritillaria bulb for him to take,” Consort Yu said, gazing at the Fifth Prince with tender affection.

Her look made Wei Yingluo momentarily dazed. Unconsciously, she was reminded of the way the former Empress had held her own child.

After a long moment, she came back to herself. She noticed Yongqi staring fixedly at a plate of hibiscus pastry on the table. When he sensed her gaze, he quickly looked away, adopting the posture of a proper gentleman who would never look askance.

Wei Yingluo pushed the pastries toward him: “If you clearly want to eat the pastry, and it’s right there in front of you, why pretend not to see it?”

Yongqi: “Mother said that taking something without asking is impolite.”

Yingluo laughed. She picked up a piece of hibiscus pastry and handed it to him: “Eat it. I’m giving you permission.”

“Thank you, Mother Consort Ling.” Yongqi bowed properly to her before taking the lotus pastry from her hand. He ate it with perfect manners, catching every single crumb in his hand so none would fall to the ground.

Wei Yingluo herself was nowhere near as proper when she ate, and she couldn’t help but watch him and smile.

“Ahem, ahem.” Yongqi suddenly covered his mouth and coughed twice.

Yingluo: “If you’re coughing, don’t eat too many sweets.”

Yongqi nodded obediently and quietly set down the second piece.

Wei Yingluo liked this child very much, but she did not like his mother.

Children tire easily. After Wei Yingluo exchanged a few meaningless words with Consort Yu, Yongqi began to yawn. Wei Yingluo said: “Ming Yu, take the Fifth Prince to the side hall for his afternoon nap.”

With the innocent child gone, the adults no longer needed to mince words.

“Since you’ve already chosen to stand with Noble Consort Chun, why come back to find me?” Wei Yingluo idly stirred the lid of her teacup; the fragrance of Biluochun tea rose in misty curls.

“Yingluo, not everyone is as fortunate as you—first protected by the Empress, then favored by the Emperor.” Consort Yu looked at her with a complicated expression. “I have nothing. To survive and stand firm in the Forbidden City, besides throwing in my lot with Noble Consort Chun, is there any other path for me?”

Wei Yingluo knew life had been hard for her, but that was no excuse for betraying the Empress.

“Do you know?” Wei Yingluo suddenly slammed the teacup down on the table; a flash of severity passed through her eyes. “Noble Consort Chun is the true murderer of the Seventh Prince—she is the chief culprit who forced the previous Empress to her death!”

Consort Yu gasped sharply.

Wei Yingluo stared at her intently, hoping for anger, hoping for tears. But instead, Consort Yu slowly exhaled that breath and said in a timid, submissive tone: “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. For someone as lowly as me, the only thing that matters is staying alive so I can protect Yongqi—protect my son! As for other people, other matters, I simply don’t have the ability to interfere.”

Wei Yingluo had never really expected her to be of any help.

Or rather, she had never intended to drag a mother with a child into this affair in the first place.

All she had wanted was a spark of rage, a single tear…

But Consort Yu wouldn’t even give her that!

Wei Yingluo clutched her chest, feeling a sharp, unbearable pain from the old wound; cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

“Enough! What’s the point of talking to someone like her!” Ming Yu stormed in, glaring fiercely at Consort Yu. “Even a dog, when given a piece of meat, knows to guard the house and protect its master. The previous Empress sheltered you again and again, yet you turned around and sided with Noble Consort Chun! Consort Yu, you’re truly worse than a dog!”

When Consort Yu heard this, she gave a bleak, miserable laugh: “A dog? Yes, exactly. In the Forbidden City, an unfavored woman really is worse than a dog, isn’t she?”

She truly was a pitiful woman with neither luck nor ability.

She had watched her closest sister die right in front of her, then had no choice but to bow and scrape before her enemy. After finally outlasting Noble Consort Hui, she still hadn’t managed to rise at all. Even Wei Yingluo—a former lowly palace maid of Changchun Palace—had overtaken her, climbing to a height she could only look up to from afar.

“…Yingluo, have pity on this dog of mine. Just answer me one question.” Consort Yu pleaded pitifully. “Was it you who told the Emperor that the person who caused your fall from the horse was Noble Consort Chun?”

Wei Yingluo’s chest still ached. She rubbed it slowly while staring at her with icy cold eyes.

“Right now I am Noble Consort Chun’s dog. If this matter continues to be investigated, sooner or later she will push me forward to take the blame.” Consort Yu stepped closer, trying to grasp Wei Yingluo’s hand. “It doesn’t matter if I die—but what about Yongqi? Yingluo, back then you went to such lengths to save him from Noble Consort Hui’s hands. Now can you really bear to watch him lose his mother and live alone and miserable?”

“Have you gone mad?” Ming Yu pushed her away forcefully. “You want Yingluo to let Noble Consort Chun go?”

“No, not let her go—turn swords into plowshares.” Consort Yu shook her head, then looked toward Wei Yingluo with a face full of expectation. “Yingluo, stop opposing her. No longer pursuing the cause of the late Empress’s death. Let everything pass, and the two of you can live in peace together—wouldn’t that be good?”

Wei Yingluo just practically spat the four words through gritted teeth: “No longer pursue it?”

Consort Yu nodded with tears in her eyes: “Yes. Now that you enjoy such deep imperial favor and are rising like the sun at noon, why cling so stubbornly to the past? If you reconcile with Noble Consort Chun and bear a son or daughter of your own, who in the palace could possibly contend with you? This is for my sake, for Yongqi whom you personally saved, and most of all—for yourself!”

Wei Yingluo remained silent.

Ming Yu, seeing her utter such shameless words, could no longer hold back. She was about to explode in curses, but the words caught in her throat. The door creaked open just a crack, and Yongqi rubbed his eyes as he slipped in from behind it: “Mother.”

Everyone fell silent at once and stopped discussing the matter.

“…It’s getting late. Ming Yu, prepare a plate of lotus cake for Yongqi to take back and eat.” Wei Yingluo spoke up to send them off.

A plate of lotus cake was quickly prepared and neatly arranged in a brocade box. Yongqi’s face remained calm, but his hands clutched the box tightly—clearly overjoyed inside.

Consort Yu took his hand and led him away. At the door, she suddenly turned back to look at Wei Yingluo with profound meaning: “Yingluo, as long as you are willing to protect Yongqi, I will never let Noble Consort Chun harm you again. I guarantee it.”

Wei Yingluo could not take her words seriously. A woman who could barely protect herself was boasting that she would shield her? In her heart, Wei Yingluo felt both tragic and ridiculous. After a long pause, she finally said: “Consort Yu, do you truly not regret it?”

Abandoning your dignity, abandoning your benefactor, even abandoning your own humanity to become a mere lapdog—do you truly feel no regret?

“For the sake of taking good care of Yongqi, even if the world curses me as a vile villain, even if I must kneel and serve my enemy, I can endure it all.” Consort Yu stroked Yongqi’s head, then smiled at Wei Yingluo. “Once you have a child of your own, you’ll understand how I feel today.”

Wei Yingluo was stunned.

“Your Ladyship, ignore that traitor!” Ming Yu slammed the door shut, locking the mother and son outside. Then, still fuming, she returned to Wei Yingluo’s side and forced a smile onto her face. “Let me tell you some jokes.”

Ming Yu’s jokes were not funny at all. They only made Wei Yingluo drowsier and drowsier until, without realizing it, she fell asleep.

In the days that followed, she spent most of her time in bed. The medicinal decoctions came day after day, and her injuries gradually healed. Finally, she was able to get out of bed and, supported by Ming Yu’s arm, take a slow walk in the courtyard.

As they walked, she suddenly saw someone hurrying toward her.

“Your Ladyship Consort Ling.” It was Li Yu. He held his fly-whisk and stood before Wei Yingluo with a face like frost. “His Majesty requests your presence at Yonghe Palace.”

Wei Yingluo looked at him. Sometimes he was simply an extension of Hongli’s face—whatever expression His Majesty used toward others, Li Yu mirrored it. Seeing his icy expression now, she knew whatever awaited her in Yonghe Palace would not be good.

The reality proved worse than she had imagined.

Waiting for her in Yonghe Palace was Yongqi, lying on the bed barely clinging to life.

“Consort Ling, Yongqi is still so young—how could you lay such a vicious hand on him!” Consort Yu knelt beside the bed, weeping. “Your Majesty, you must seek justice for this mother and son!”

Wei Yingluo was stunned: “Lay a vicious hand? What do you mean!”

“Consort Ling.” Noble Consort Chun stood beside Consort Yu, assuming the posture of someone upholding justice for her. “A few days ago, didn’t the Fifth Prince visit Yanxi Palace?”

Wei Yingluo looked at her. Their gazes met like clashing blades—both understood perfectly. Noble Consort Chun had finally made her move.

   This piece, this battle, was one fought with backs to the water: either you die, or I die.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 145: Black Pieces, White Pieces

When news arrived that Consort Ling had fallen from her horse, Noble Consort Chun felt extreme joy in her heart, yet she didn’t let the slightest trace show on her face.

Because Hongli was sitting right across from her. For a long time he said nothing. When he finally spoke, it was:

“You’re very happy?”

Noble Consort Chun’s heart jolted. She quickly lowered her head and sighed:

“When Your Majesty comes to Zhongcui Palace, of course I am happy. But Consort Ling has suffered a serious injury, and the imperial physicians have been coming and going from Yanxi Palace without stop. When I heard about it, I was deeply worried. If not for Your Majesty’s strict order forbidding anyone from disturbing her lightly, I would have gone long ago to visit my younger sister Consort Ling.”

Between them lay a red sandalwood chessboard, black and white pieces arranged across it. It was Hongli’s turn to move. Slowly he picked up a white piece from the box, but he didn’t place it right away. Holding it between two fingers, he lightly tapped it against the edge of the board: tap, tap, tap…

Just like the sound of Noble Consort Chun’s heartbeat at that moment.

“Someone tampered with the horse Consort Ling was riding.” Tap—he finally placed the piece on the board.

“Who would dare to be so bold?” Noble Consort Chun lifted a black piece.

“I thought that the Empress, as the Mother of the State, could not have her position threatened no matter how favored Wei Yingluo became. As for the other consorts, they wouldn’t easily have the nerve to do such a thing.” Hongli quickly placed another piece on the board and said calmly, “So tell me—who do you think it could be?”

Noble Consort Chun hesitated over her move, her chest rising and falling for a moment. Suddenly she knelt down and said:

“Your Majesty must not suspect… me. From the time You were still at Your princely residence, I have served You, spending my days with the qin and chess, keeping company with poetry and painting. Apart from a little of Your Majesty’s pity and affection, I ask for nothing! Even if You suspect everyone else in the world, You should not suspect me!”

Hongli looked down at her from above: “Before Consort Ling, you were the one who received the most favor. After she entered the palace, wasn’t the drop in status the greatest for you?”

Noble Consort Chun’s eyes brimmed with tears as she said softly:

“Your Majesty, in the past when I was favored, I often felt pity for my sisters’ loneliness and frequently urged You to spread Your affection evenly, so that the harem could live in harmony. Consort Ling may be wonderful in every way, but she has never been willing to let Your Majesty visit anyone else’s palace—she is truly overbearing to an excessive degree. I have advised her many times, yet she remains willful and unrestrained, flaunting herself too much. It is not impossible that someone, driven by momentary jealousy and hatred, would deliberately retaliate. But I can swear to Heaven—this matter truly has nothing to do with me!”

Her weeping appearance was the most moving, like the gentle Jiangnan rain, pattering softly onto the bluestone steps, washing even the surrounding air clean with her tears.

It was precisely this image of solitary elegance, untouched by worldly dust, that had once moved Hongli and allowed her to rise all the way to Noble Consort. Yet now, as he looked at her tearful face, his heart remained remarkably calm. He gave a mocking smile and said:

“Last night, I ordered that all the eunuchs from the Imperial Stables who had committed offenses be released. Guess where they went?”

Noble Consort Chun’s face gradually paled; she already knew the answer in her heart.

“Most of them went back to sleep. But one… the little eunuch who once led a horse for Consort Ling.” Hongli stared at her, enunciating each word clearly. “In the dead of night, he ran straight to your Zhongcui Palace!”

“I have never seen this person!” Noble Consort Chun said, her face ashen.

“That little eunuch was extremely alert. The moment he realized someone was following him, he immediately turned back. My guards caught him and questioned him for a long time, and he insisted he had never seen you. But if he had never seen you, why did he come to your Zhongcui Palace in the middle of the night?” Hongli leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes with weary disappointment, and said, “I also want to believe your words. I also hope this has nothing to do with you…”

Hongli did not act against her immediately—first, because there was still no concrete evidence; second, because they had once been husband and wife for many years, and that bond of affection remained. They even shared a son they had raised together.

Even so, the position of Zhongcui Palace in his heart was no longer what it once had been, and the small ambition that had existed in Noble Consort Chun’s heart would now come to nothing.

“Mother.” The Sixth Prince rubbed his sleepy eyes as he walked out, his hands small, his feet small, his steps small—like an adorable little doll.

“Child.” Noble Consort Chun reached out and embraced him, choking with sobs against his shoulder.

“Mother, why are you crying?” The Sixth Prince raised his little hand to wipe the tears from her face.

“Mother isn’t crying.” Noble Consort Chun smiled at him, thinking to herself: I haven’t lost yet. I cannot cry.

After coaxing the Sixth Prince back to sleep, Noble Consort Chun gently wiped the tears from her face. Her expression turned extremely cold as she said:

“Yuhu, go and invite Consort Yu here.”

Among all the consorts in the harem, few had any real connection with Wei Yingluo. Consort Yu was one of the few who could be considered on relatively good terms with her.

Unlike Wei Yingluo and Noble Consort Chun, both of whom had been granted consort titles because of favor, Consort Yu was different. She had only toiled bitterly her way up to consort rank after bearing a son. Out of three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, she could see Hongli only on major festivals and holidays; at all other times, he almost never set foot in her residence.

A person like her naturally stood lower in the presence of someone like Noble Consort Chun, who had both a son and a high consort rank.

Now she sat upright and proper in the chair. Beside her was placed a jade box containing a root of century-old ginseng. Its tendrils resembled hands and feet; among the common folk, such a ginseng root was called a ginseng baby or a ginseng spirit.

Consort Yu lived frugally and had no means to present such a grand gift. On the contrary, this was a gift from Noble Consort Chun to her.

“I heard the Fifth Prince has fallen ill,” Noble Consort Chun said with a smile. “Take this ginseng back and use it to nourish him.”

There is no courtesy without a reason—either treachery or theft. Consort Yu replied nervously:

“This consort is deeply grateful for Your Ladyship concern and will remember it in her heart. However, Prince Yongqi is only suffering from a cough. The imperial physicians have been treating him steadily with fritillaria. I truly dare not use such a strong tonic as ginseng and can only disappoint Niangniang’s kind intentions.”

Noble Consort Chun: “Ordinary coughs indeed should not use ginseng. But I have already consulted the imperial physicians. The Fifth Prince’s cough is caused by lung qi deficiency. This particular root was specially selected to supplement his qi. The Imperial Storehouse has thousands of pounds of ginseng—I chose the one most suitable for the Fifth Prince. You may use it with complete peace of mind.”

Consort Yu looked at her, then at the ginseng, and suddenly stood up and knelt down, saying: “Whatever Your Ladyship commands, I will certainly obey. I only beg Your Ladyship to spare the Fifth Prince…”

“The one who understands the times is the wise one.” Noble Consort Chun beckoned to her. “Come here. I have something to instruct you to do.”

…

“Ming Yu.”

Inside Yanxi Palace, Wei Yingluo suddenly opened her eyes and asked Ming Yu, who was attending her: “Guess what Noble Consort Chun’s next move will be?”

The inner palace was like a chessboard. She and Noble Consort Chun were opponents — one holding white pieces, the other black.

Click — Wei Yingluo made the first move.

   She deliberately let the news of riding lessons spread, hoping to provoke Noble Consort Chun into acting. But even if the other side didn’t take the bait, it didn’t matter.

   Wei Yingluo could arrange to fall from the horse herself.

   Then she would bribe a little eunuch from the Imperial Stables to lead Hailancha to Zhongcui Palace.

   One move after another, ultimately forcing Noble Consort Chun into a desperate position. Now it was the other side’s turn to move — and this next piece would decide the outcome of the entire game.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 144: Falling from the Horse

   Inside the racetrack, endless green turf stretched from underfoot all the way to the horizon. Horse hooves clopped over a white flower. Wei Yingluo and Hongli rode one behind the other, both changed into hunting attire. The palace’s luxurious trappings were gone, replaced by a vigorous, heroic air.

Wei Yingluo complained: “This horse is no good—it doesn’t listen at all! To the left, to the left!”

The horse snorted loudly and stepped to the right instead.

Hongli held back a laugh, tightened the reins a little, and guided its steps back: “This is my favorite Akhal-Teke blood-sweat horse. No one else is even allowed to touch it, and here you are still picking faults left and right. Why don’t you just admit you’re clumsy yourself?”

“Aiya! Aiya!” Wei Yingluo let out a series of loud yelps on horseback.

“Hold the reins tight—tight!” Hongli was truly exasperated, thinking her head must be made of elm wood—impossible to teach no matter how hard he tried. Who could have guessed that in the very next second, a pair of arms would wrap around his waist like vines? Wei Yingluo clung to him like ivy twining around a tree: “I’m going to fall!”

Hongli’s heart immediately softened. Fine, fine—he thought—what’s the point of her learning to ride? At worst they could ride double: he would handle the horse, and she could just cling to him and keep shrieking.

“Your Majesty!” A guard suddenly hurried over. “Military report incoming!”

Hongli was taken aback and had no choice but to dismount. Before leaving, he instructed: “Ride by yourself for a while. Li Yu, find a gentle horse for Consort Ling.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Li Yu waved his hand, and a little eunuch immediately led over a small brown pony.

Wei Yingluo walked to the horse’s side, reached up to stroke its ear. From the corner of her eye she glanced at the unfamiliar-looking little eunuch, then gave a strange smile and swung herself up onto the horse.

“Huo Zhanjí diverted water to flood our camp. Our army dug trenches to drain it and held out bitterly for ten days. Finally Lord Fucha arrived with reinforcements outside Heishui Camp and, together with General Zhaohui, attacked from inside and out, successfully annihilating five thousand of the enemy. However, General Zhaohui’s warhorse became mired in the mud and he unfortunately fell from the saddle, sustaining a minor leg injury. Lord Fucha is currently leading troops in pursuit of the fleeing Huo Zhanjí; no definite news has come back yet.” At one side of the racetrack, the guard presented the military report to Hongli.

Hongli listened with a frown, about to ask for more details, when suddenly a sharp scream came from behind: “Consort Ling, Your Ladyship!”

He whipped around. Amid a chorus of shrieks, he saw the brown horse let out a long neigh, rearing up on its hind legs, four hooves kicking high. A flash of red was hurled from its back.

“Yingluo!”

Inside Yanxi Palace, candles burned from nightfall straight through to dawn.

The imperial physician looked extremely tense—not because Wei Yingluo was in mortal danger, but because every half hour Hongli sent Li Yu over to ask him: “How is Consort Ling?”

The more concerned the Emperor was, the more constrained the physician felt. He revised the prescription over and over, inserted needles with the utmost caution. Only now did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, wipe his sweat, and say: “It’s done. You can report back to His Majesty like this…”

Li Yu’s legs were nearly worn out from all the running back and forth. Now that he had a definite answer, he too relaxed and hurried back to Yangxin Hall to report. Seeing the door tightly closed, he knew a discussion was underway inside, so he stood guard at the entrance.

“Speak.” Inside Yangxin Hall, Hongli’s face was extremely dark. “What have you found?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty.” Hailancha knelt on the ground. He had just returned from the racetrack and now reported everything he had discovered to Hongli: “This servant inspected the entire racetrack. The problem was in the horse’s feed trough—someone tampered with the fodder, causing an originally very docile horse to suddenly go berserk. That was how Her Ladyship Consort Ling came to fall.”

Hongli clenched his fingers until they cracked audibly. He said coldly: “From top to bottom of the Imperial Stables—arrest and rigorously interrogate the supervising minister, along with all the bureau directors and section chiefs!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the guards withdrew, Li Yu entered:

“Your Majesty, Consort Ling has already woken up.”

Hongli immediately started to rise to go over, but a guard came to report urgent military affairs. He had no choice but to sit back down. By the time he finished dealing with the matters at hand, the moon had already risen above the willow tips. Without even bothering to eat, he hurried to Yanxi Palace. As night deepened, palace servants hung paper lanterns one by one under the eaves—each one shining brightly like a small moon. He stepped in under the moonlight until he reached Wei Yingluo’s side.

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the attendants and slowly sat down beside her, his voice full of guilt:

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let you go riding.”

Wei Yingluo said nothing, lying with her back to him inside the bed curtains.

Thinking she had already fallen asleep, Hongli didn’t want to disturb her. He lowered his voice to the softest whisper:

“Setting the bones must have hurt terribly. I wasn’t even there with you. Tonight I won’t leave—I’ll stay with you the whole time, all right?”

“No.” Wei Yingluo replied.

Hongli was startled, then laughed helplessly:

“You’re awake?”

Wei Yingluo gave a soft humph and still refused to face him, keeping her gaze fixed on the wall.

“Since you don’t want to see me, then I’ll go.” Hongli pretended to stand up.

In an instant Wei Yingluo rolled over on the bed, tumbling straight into his arms. The movement tugged at her injury; she immediately grimaced in pain and began to sob quietly.

“You, ah, you.” Hongli gently helped her up, his heart aching. “Even now you’re still being mischievous.”

“Your Majesty.” Wei Yingluo clung tightly to his waist as if grasping a lifeline, sobbing as she spoke: “Someone wants to kill me.”

Hongli was stunned. He comforted her:

“Don’t let your imagination run wild. It was just an accident!”

She trembled violently in his arms. This woman, usually so stubborn and fearless, now showed such vulnerability in his embrace—it made him feel an extraordinary tenderness and pity. Her voice shook:

“Your Majesty, she wants me dead. That person… wanted me to fall from the horse!”

Suddenly she lifted her tear-streaked face and looked up at him with extreme unease and attachment, seeking a promise:

“Your Majesty, will you protect me?”

“Yes.” Hongli pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back. “I will protect you. I will definitely protect you…”

He coaxed her for a long time until she finally fell peacefully asleep in his embrace once more. Hongli carefully laid her back on the bed, drew the quilt over her, and gazed at her sleeping face for a long while. Just as he was about to leave, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he saw her small fingers clutching his sleeve tightly—even in sleep, she wouldn’t let him go.

He found himself unable to leave after all. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he said in a low voice:

“Come in.”

Li Yu entered, glanced at Wei Yingluo on the bed, and instinctively lowered his voice:

“Your Majesty, Hailancha has reported back. The ministers in charge of the Imperial Stables—along with the assistant directors, section chiefs, and eunuchs—have all been thoroughly interrogated. The only thing they got out of anyone was the word ‘wronged.’ Nothing else.”

Hongli pondered for a moment:

“Give the eunuch who was specifically in charge of feeding that horse eighty heavy strokes. The rest will have their salaries docked for one year—then let them go.”

Li Yu was surprised:

“Let them go?”

Hongli gave a cold smile:

“Yes. Let them go.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 143: Seeing Off

Where there is a policy from above, there is a countermeasure from below.

On the surface, Erqing agreed to Fuheng’s words and moved to the family temple—yet she used the excuse that she was seriously injured and stubbornly refused to actually leave the Fucha residence.

Whenever Fuheng tried to urge her, she would clutch her forehead and wail dramatically, as if trying to summon every single person in the household to witness her misery—and his cruelty.

The Old Madam, Fuqian, Fukang’an… almost everyone stood on Erqing’s side.

It made Fuheng seem like the outsider.

Living in such a home had become unbearable. Since she refused to leave, it was Fuheng who began to feel estranged.

That day at court, Hongli looked around and said calmly:

“The Dzungar rebellion of the Greater and Lesser Khoja brothers—Afeng was sent to pacify them and was killed, an entire thousand-man Green Standard battalion was wiped out, General Zhaohui of the Border-Settling Army is trapped at Heishui Camp… Who is willing to go to the rescue?”

The entire court of civil and military officials remained silent; no one dared respond.

Only Fuheng stepped forward from the crowd, clasped his hands, and said:

“Your humble servant is willing to go!”

Brave in battle, fearless of death—by any measure, Fuheng was an excellent candidate. Yet precisely because of that, Hongli hesitated.

During the Jinchuan campaign, he had issued several urgent edicts but still could not summon him back from the battlefield.

In the end, he had survived.

But what about the next time? Would he return whole and intact?

If he did not return, how could Hongli face the late Empress beneath the Nine Springs…

   “This matter…” Hongli hesitated for a moment before finally rejecting the request. “We will discuss it again tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly, the situation took a turn the very next day at court—Hongli suddenly changed his mind:

   “Fuheng, the campaign against the Dzungars is entrusted to you!”

No one changes their mind so suddenly without reason.

Who had persuaded him?

Hailancha and Fuheng were the closest of friends, and he was also the most worried about his safety. On the way out after morning court, walking side by side, he rubbed his chin with his right hand and said:

“Fuheng, because of the battle in the Muslim regions, General Yarhashan of Jing-sui was dismissed from office, Commander Shun-de-na and Commander Ma Desheng were beheaded on the spot, and now even the brave and skilled General Zhaohui is trapped in the Black Water Camp. This time you’re heading far away to the Muslim regions—you absolutely must be careful.”

Fuheng: “I understand. Don’t worry.”

“How can I not worry!” Hailancha widened his eyes, curiosity filling them. “The Emperor clearly rejected your request—how did he change his mind overnight?”

Fuheng suddenly stopped walking, cupped his hands in salute, and stepped to the side of the path.

Hailancha turned to look and quickly followed him aside, also performing a cupped-hand salute.

Along the long corridor, Wei Yingluo’s ceremonial palanquin slowly passed by.

As they brushed past each other, she suddenly turned her head and gave Fuheng a mysterious smile.

To Hailancha’s surprise, Fuheng actually returned the smile.

Hailancha glanced at Wei Yingluo, then at him. Once the palanquin had passed, he immediately pulled Fuheng to one side, his expression grave:

“Brother, you cannot go astray! Think of your parents at home, think of your wife and children…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Fuheng said calmly.

There was definitely something between these two! But Fuheng’s mouth was sealed too tightly, and it was impossible to go to Yanxi Palace and question the now-rising Consort Ling. What could he do?

   “I’ve got it!” Hailancha suddenly slapped his thigh. “I’ll go find Ming Yu!”

Compared to Wei Yingluo and Fuheng, Ming Yu was naturally much easier to deal with.

Or rather, between this pair of young lovers in the heat of passion, there were very few secrets. Most of the time, they were accustomed to sharing everything.

Sharing delicious food, sharing fine drinks, sharing each other’s worries, and sharing each other’s joys.

In the Imperial Guard station, Hailancha brought out a plate of fruit pastries to treat her, and casually asked:

“How has Her Ladyship been lately?”

“Very well!” Ming Yu popped a piece of candied fruit into her mouth and boasted with delight, eyebrows dancing. “Today at noon, the Emperor summoned our Ladyship to eat with him again.”

“Hey, what’s so special about that?” Hailancha pretended to pick a fight. “Which consort in the harem hasn’t eaten one or two meals with the Emperor?”

“It’s different,” Ming Yu shook her head. “When Her Ladyship came back, she brought the chef who prepared the meal along with her.”

“Ah?” This was completely unexpected to Hailancha.

“Not just the chef.” Ming Yu counted on her fingers for him. “Last month she took a brush washer, the day before yesterday a pocket watch, and yesterday she saw a jade bowl she liked and just took it away. In the entire Forbidden City, who else can do what our ladyship does? Whatever she wants, the Emperor gives it to her?”

Truly one of a kind, no one else like her.

“Consort Ling is truly something,” Hailancha couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up, then sighed. “Speaking of which, yesterday the Emperor clearly rejected Fuheng’s request to join the campaign, but today he suddenly changed his mind and agreed to let him go to war…”

Ming Yu blinked, then suddenly pushed his chest with her hand. “Aha! So after all this, you were just trying to get information out of me!”

Hailancha chuckled sheepishly but didn’t press her. If she wanted to answer, she would; if not, he wouldn’t force her.

He was only a little curious, after all!

   Ming Yu hesitated for a moment, then finally gave him an ambiguous reply:

“Our Ladyship is someone who repays kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity. Lord Fucha helped Her Ladyship fulfill a wish of hers, so… you understand, right?”

Hailancha was no fool. With the conversation brought this far, how could he not understand?

It was Fuheng who had helped Wei Yingluo fulfill her wish, and therefore Wei Yingluo was returning the favor by helping him fulfill his.

“Of all the women in the world, he had to fall for this one.” Hailancha thought to himself, “Fuheng, I really don’t know whether to call you fortunate or unfortunate…”

A beauty is easy to find; a true confidante is hard to come by.

   To find someone who is both a beauty and a confidante — that is a stroke of three-lives’ worth of luck, to meet such a person in this lifetime.

   “Huh? Now that I think about it, Yanxi Palace is in a completely different direction — it’s not even on the way. How could we have run into her by chance?” Hailancha suddenly realized something else and sighed inwardly. “So this meeting today wasn’t accidental at all. She deliberately came to see you off, Fuheng… You really are an unfortunate fellow!”

Three-lives’ fortune — to have won you alone.

   Yet in the end, one turned left and one turned right, walking in opposite directions. If they must part, why meet at all? If there is no fate between them, why make vows?

“You’re back?”

Inside Yanxi Palace, Wei Yingluo was arranging flowers in a basin.

“I’m back.” Ming Yu closed the door behind her, walked over, and casually handed her a sprig of jasmine.

Wei Yingluo reached out to take it, trying first one angle, then another, before finally tucking the jasmine at her chest. She sighed: “I used to watch the Empress arrange flowers and found it so pleasing to the eye no matter what she did. But the flowers I arrange myself — they really are ugly!”

Ming Yu burst out laughing: “That’s exactly why the Emperor calls you vulgar!”

Wei Yingluo smiled: “Calligraphy, painting, qin music — all of those can be improved through practice later in life. But taste and bearing… those take years of immersion from birth in a great household. I grew up in the marketplace, so naturally I can’t compare.”

Ming Yu: “Then why are you still practicing?”

After studying the flower basin carefully for a moment, Wei Yingluo finally chose a spot and inserted the jasmine there: “If I can’t match her in one day, then I’ll try for a year. If not a year, then ten. Even if I lack natural talent, diligence can make up for clumsiness. I don’t need to master qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting to perfection — but when the Emperor asks about them, I can’t just stand there like a blind fool!”

Noble Consort Chun would never — and would never want to — learn her kind of vulgarity. But she herself could learn the other’s elegance. Elegance sets the bar too high, vulgarity too low. Only a balance of elegance and vulgarity together is truly the most appealing to people.

“Master.” Xiaoquanzi’s voice suddenly came from behind her. “It’s been taken care of.”

Wei Yingluo was startled at the words. She turned quickly, unable to hide the delighted surprise in her eyes: “Brother!”

A stunningly beautiful eunuch stood behind her. When he smiled, it was as if the heavens and earth lost their color.

It was Yuan Chunwang!

“Brother!” Wei Yingluo hurried forward to meet him, running so fast she nearly lost a shoe. “I thought you wouldn’t come…”

Yuan Chunwang flicked her lightly on the forehead with his finger — an intimate gesture as though they had never fallen out: “If I don’t come, who will? Even from as far away as the Yuanmingyuan, I heard you got into trouble. Your brother had no choice but to come and clean up after you.”

Wei Yingluo rubbed her forehead, warmth flooding her heart. Earlier, when Hongli had neglected her, most of the palace servants in Yanxi Palace had scattered to seek better prospects. Only Ming Yu and Xiaoquanzi had stayed. Now that she had regained favor and been promoted to Consort Ling, she had no interest in those fair-weather servants. Hongli had given her permission to select new people from anywhere in the palace. The very first person she thought of was Yuan Chunwang.

With her current favor and status, transferring someone from the Yuanmingyuan was extremely easy.

The only fear had been that he might refuse to come.

She had tried with a heart full of apprehension — and unexpectedly received such a wonderful outcome.

“Master!” Xiaoquanzi shot a wary glance at Yuan Chunwang and quickly tried to vie for attention: “The Emperor sent someone to deliver a set of riding attire. He says tomorrow he will personally take you riding!”

“Riding?” Wei Yingluo’s attention shifted to him.

Xiaoquanzi beamed with pride: “Yes! In the future the Emperor wants to bring Master to participate in the Mulan Autumn Hunt — naturally she has to learn to ride a horse first!”

“Riding… riding a horse…” Yingluo savored the words slowly, then suddenly smiled. “Xiaoquanzi — spread the word that tomorrow the Emperor will personally teach me how to ride!”

Xiaoquanzi was stunned. Beside him, Ming Yu quickly stopped her: “That wouldn’t be good, would it? Right now you’re so favored in the palace—the consorts all hate you to the bone. If this news spreads further, won’t it be like pouring oil on the fire?”

Wei Yingluo let out a short laugh, half-smiling, half-sneering: “I just love watching them turn green with envy, stamping their feet in fury, yet completely powerless to do anything about it… Go. Do exactly as I said.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 142: Not Leaving

   Erqing raised her eyes and smiled at Fuheng. “Fuheng, what kind of joke are you playing?”

“You sold Qinglian to a private brothel,” Fuheng said, staring at her.

Erqing’s expression changed drastically. “Where is she?”

“She has already swallowed gold and taken her own life,” Fuheng replied.

What chilled Fuheng to the core was that, upon hearing this news, Erqing actually sighed of relief and broke into a smile again: “So what? You’re going to divorce me, your principal wife, over a mere maidservant?”

A human life, in her eyes, was no different from a blade of grass.

And she could still laugh!

A coldness settled in Fuheng’s heart. He spoke gravely: “The seven grounds for divorce include adultery, jealousy, and excessive talking. You have violated three of them. I can no longer tolerate this. Pack your things at once and leave the Fucha residence!”

Finally realizing he was not joking, Erqing gradually wiped the smile from her face. She gave a subtle glance to Dujuan standing nearby. Dujuan slipped silently out the door. Erqing stepped to the table, picked up the letter of divorce.

Rip, rip, rip—

The divorce document was slowly torn to pieces in her hands.

“Since I married into the Fucha family, I will never leave.” She let go, and the fragments fluttered to the floor. Erqing raised an eyebrow defiantly. “You want to divorce me? Fine — but only if I die!”

“You clearly can’t bear to die, yet you keep death on the tip of your tongue.” Fuheng’s contempt for her deepened. “You ask why I want to divorce you. I’d rather ask you — why did you go so far as to harm Qinglian?”

At the mention of the name, Erqing let out a scornful snort.

Fuheng frowned: “What are you laughing at?”

“I’m just remembering how things were back in the Forbidden City. With one word from her mistress, a servant could lose her life… no reason needed, simply because it pleased the mistress.” Erqing sighed with feeling.

Precisely because she had witnessed so many such scenes, a sense of crisis had taken root in her. No matter what she had to employ, she was determined to become a mistress herself — never again a servant.

She wanted to control other people’s fates, not have hers controlled by others!

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Erqing felt no regret over causing Qinglian’s death. When a mistress orders a servant to die, what fault could there be? She merely thought Fuheng was making a mountain out of a molehill. But since he was the head of the household, Erqing softened her tone to placate him: “Besides, Qinglian tried to harm the young master. What happened to her was simply reaping what she sowed.”

“Even now, when things have come to this, you still refuse to repent and instead sling mud at a dead woman?” Fuheng said coldly.

“Fine then — you don’t believe your own principal wife, but you believe a seductive fox instead?” Erqing clicked her tongue twice. “And you still claim there was nothing between you two? Pah! That cheap slut belonged in a secret brothel. Dying so soon was letting her off too lightly!”

Fuheng involuntarily closed his eyes.

“Enough.” He truly could no longer bear to look at this woman’s face or hear her voice. “Pack your belongings.”

Erqing was silent for a moment: “You… are really going to drive me out?”

Fuheng: “You leave today.”

“How can you be so heartless?” Erqing gritted her teeth. “No, I won’t go. I am the young madam of the Fucha residence. I’m not going anywhere!”

Fuheng didn’t even want to touch her. He called toward the door. Immediately two sturdy mamas entered. At Fuheng’s command, they seized Erqing from either side: “Young Madam, forgive the offense!”

“She is no longer the young madam,” Fuheng announced coldly. “Take her away!”

“Lord Fucha Fuheng, you’ve gone mad — you’ve truly gone mad!” Erqing struggled wildly. “I won’t go! I’ll die before I leave! Let go! How dare you servants lay hands on me — let go!”

Erqing went berserk, her sharp nails clawing toward the mamas’ eyes. One mama, caught off guard, received a bloody scratch at the corner of her eye. Furious and humiliated, she thought to herself that this woman was no longer the young madam anyway. She immediately tightened her grip, causing Erqing to cry out in pain.

“Stop this at once!”

The door opened. The Old Madam entered, supported by Dujuan’s arm. Seeing the scene, she trembled with rage: “Fuheng, what exactly are you doing to your wife?”

“Your Ladyship!” Erqing broke free from the two people and threw herself into her arms, sobbing, “Fuheng wants to divorce me because of Qinglian!”

“Mother, Qinglian is dead.” Fuheng said coldly. “She was sent by this woman into a secret brothel, suffered every kind of torment, and finally swallowed gold to end her life.”

“Fuheng! Qinglian was merely a maidservant!” The people of the Fucha household were furious beyond measure. “Moreover, you have only just entered the Grand Council—do you truly intend to throw away your official career over this?”

Qinglian might be pitiable, but the old madam cared far more about her son’s future. She did not want this incident to ruin Fuheng’s prospects.

Especially since Fuheng had entered the Grand Council at such a young age—countless eyes were already watching him, waiting for him to slip up. Divorcing a wife could be a major or minor matter, but if he really divorced his principal wife over a mere maidservant, once word got out, he would surely be impeached for failing to govern his household properly.

If a man cannot even manage his own family affairs, how can he manage affairs of state?

Fuheng clearly understood this, yet he still shook his head: “If the family tradition is not upright, how can one serve as an official? Someone, help Mother back to rest!”

Erqing and the old madam were instantly dumbfounded.

The old madam had been brought here by Erqing as her last reinforcement. She had assumed that Fuheng, being so filial, no matter how unwilling he felt inside, would still give her some face for the old madam’s sake and let her off.

Hadn’t it been that way before? Because the old madam had spoken up, he had silently allowed her to marry Erqing out of the household!

But why wasn’t it working this time?

“No—don’t!” Erqing said in panic and confusion. “Your Ladyship, don’t go—Your Ladyship, Your ladyship, save me, save me!”

The old madam was naturally on her side, but having made one mistake already, Fuheng would not allow himself to make the same mistake twice. In his view, if he had not been so weak the last time—if he had not known it was wrong yet still obeyed the old madam—Qinglian would not have met such an end…

To prevent the same tragedy from happening again, better a short, sharp pain than prolonged suffering—he must drive this vicious woman out!

“Wah!” A child’s crying suddenly rang out.

It turned out that Fuqian had arrived, carrying little Fukang’an in his arms.

Seeing his own mother being bullied, the young Fukang’an couldn’t help but purse his lips and start crying on her behalf.

Erqing saw him as her very last lifeline. She scrambled over on hands and knees, reached out, and pulled him into her arms. Mother and son together cried toward Fuheng: “An’er cannot be separated from his mother—he needs me! Fuheng, don’t drive me away!”

Fuheng said with disgust: “Having a mother like you to teach him by word and example would be greatly detrimental to his upbringing. Someone! Take the young master away!”

Two wet-nurses came forward and pulled the last straw of hope from Erqing’s arms.

Erqing collapsed to the ground and wailed loudly. Fuqian, seeing this, could not bear it and also tried to persuade: “Third Brother, you are really going too far. How can you treat your principal wife like this?”

“You feel sorry for her?” Fuheng found it laughable. “Then have you personally witnessed the smug, hideous expression on her face when she took an innocent life? Do you know how heartbroken Qinglian’s parents must be—white-haired people burying off black-haired ones? After studying the classics of the sages for so many years, is this all you’ve learned—failure to distinguish right from wrong, inability to tell black from white?”

Fuqian was rendered speechless.

To anyone watching, it was clear that today Fuheng was dead set on divorcing his wife. Even if the gods and Buddhas on the altar spoke up, they probably could not change his mind.

But how could Erqing accept being reduced to such a state?

A flash of desperate ruthlessness passed through her eyes. She suddenly raised her head and said: “Fuheng, I told you—even if I die, I will be carried out of the Fucha family gates. You will never, ever be rid of me!”

With that, she suddenly hurled herself headfirst toward the wall!

Blood gushed like a pillar!

“Wah!” Fukang’an burst into loud sobs in the wet-nurse’s arms, reaching desperately toward her: “Mother! Mother!”

The room was in complete chaos. Someone rushed over shouting her name, someone else dashed out to call for a doctor.

Blood slowly spread across Erqing’s face from her forehead, just like the red bridal veil she had worn on her wedding day. Fuqian forcefully restrained the urge to rush forward, turned to Fuheng and said:

“Third Brother, ‘upholding righteousness over personal ties’ may feel satisfying, but are you really going to force your lawfully wedded wife to her death for the sake of a maidservant? If she actually dies in the Fucha residence today, forget whether the Xitara clan will seek revenge—aren’t you afraid of ruining the Fucha family’s reputation?”

“Erqing, wake up, wake up!” The Old Madam sat on the floor, stroking and clutching Erqing’s hand:

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, Fuheng will absolutely not be allowed to divorce you!”

As if she had been waiting precisely for those words, Erqing slowly opened her eyes. Her breathing faint and weak, she murmured:

“Mother… I won’t go… I won’t leave…”

Fuqian’s words had failed to move Fuheng, but they had moved the Old Madam.

Whether for the sake of her son’s official career or for the reputation of the Fucha family, she could not allow Fuheng to divorce his wife!

“Fuheng, this is the most disappointed I has ever been in you.” The Old Madam slowly turned her head, looking at Fuheng with a face full of pain. “For the sake of one woman, you have gone to such absurd extremes! Even if Erqing truly forced a maid to her death—so what? She was merely a plaything; no one would take it seriously! Erqing is your legitimate wife, carried in through the main gate in a grand red bridal sedan. No matter how many faults she has, you should forgive her!”

Seeing that he remained unmoved, the Old Madam gritted her teeth and added:

“If you force her to leave, then I will leave too! The two of us will depart this heartless house together!”

Hearing his own mother utter such harsh words, Fuheng let out a helpless sigh and slowly said:

“I can refrain from divorcing her.”

Erqing, who had been resting her head on a maidservant’s lap with a cloth pressed to her forehead, heard this and the corners of her lips involuntarily curved upward—only for his next words to follow:

“From this day forward, she will reside in the family temple, eating vegetarian meals and chanting sutras for the rest of her life, to atone for her sins!”

The smile froze on Erqing’s lips. With great difficulty she struggled to sit up, but all she saw was the back of Fuheng as he swept his sleeve and departed.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 141: Letter of Divorce

By the time Fuheng hurried to the main hall, the room was already packed with people, some sitting, some standing.

His gaze swept over the crowd once, but Qinglian was nowhere to be seen. Fuheng quickly asked,

“Mother, where is Qinglian?”

“Why are you still mentioning her?” Lady Fucha’s face was still flushed with lingering anger. “At first I saw that the girl had delicate features and a gentle disposition, and I even considered raising her status. Who would have thought she would develop wild ideas because of it and actually push An’er into the water!”

Fuheng: “Mother, Qinglian is not that kind of person.”

Erqing, who had been massaging Lady Fucha’s back, stopped her movements and said,

“I saw it with my own eyes, and you’re still defending her!”

Fuheng gave her a cold glance. Of everyone present, she was the one he trusted the least. But because she had borne a son and “a mother is valued because of her child,” she was deeply favored by the Old Madam. Very well—Fuheng simply pretended not to see her and asked,

“Where is Qinglian now?”

Lady Fucha: “Sold!”

Fuheng’s expression changed slightly. Erqing hurriedly spoke up:

“Fuheng, don’t take Mother’s angry words seriously. Mother has always been kind to the servants. Even if Qinglian made a mistake, she was only sent back to her family.”

Fuheng was skeptical: “Really?”

Seeing him repeatedly doubting Erqing, Lady Fucha grew angry:

“If Erqing hadn’t pleaded for her, she would have been beaten to death long ago! How could she have gotten off so lightly!”

Fuheng was extremely puzzled—Erqing actually pleading for someone?

“People can change,” Erqing said, noticing his confusion. She sighed and spoke with utmost sincerity:

“For example, Qinglian. As she grew older, she gradually developed other ideas. Now that I’ve sent her away and let her parents arrange another marriage for her—isn’t that better?”

Fuheng was still somewhat doubtful: “Is that so?”

“As long as you have no intention of taking her as a concubine, I will not only not make things difficult for her, I will even add a dowry for her—consider it fulfilling her loyalty to you.” Erqing spoke with firm assurance. “The same goes for me. As long as you are willing to live well together, I can also change for the better, become the kind of person you like. I promise.”

Fuheng fell silent. He was not a man with high demands—he only wanted harmony at home and all things prospering. Although he disliked Erqing, his parents both favored her. If she could truly reform from now on and become a virtuous wife, then perhaps he could make an effort to forget the things from before. Thinking of this, he sighed and said:

“…Do as you say. Add a dowry for her.”

A small sedan chair carried Qinglian out of the mansion. With one worry resolved, Fuheng turned his attention back to work. As a high minister of the court and a trusted confidant of the Emperor, social engagements were unavoidable. That day after court, a military affairs clerk earnestly invited him to drink flower wine.

“No, thank you.” Fuheng smiled and declined. “The Great Qing Code hangs over our heads—we can’t afford sixty strokes of the cane. Besides, even if we wanted to drink, there’s hardly anywhere to go anymore. With His Majesty’s strict orders, the pleasure houses and singing-girl establishments in the capital have almost disappeared…”

He had barely finished speaking when a woman suddenly rushed toward the carriage. The coachman couldn’t stop in time. The fine horse neighed, reared up, and its front hooves struck the woman. She let out a sharp scream and rolled on the ground, then lay still.

Fuheng quickly alighted from the carriage. Seeing two men crouching beside the woman, he asked,

“Who is she to you?”

The two men were dressed in short jackets, clearly looking like Green Gang enforcers. They had originally intended to extort a large sum from Fuheng, but upon seeing his official robes, their courage instantly deflated. They fawned and said,

“She’s just a girl from our establishment. Ugly face, not worth much money—not worth much at all.”

Hearing them equate a living person to silver, Fuheng couldn’t help but frown.

The military clerk beside him, a frequent patron of such places, understood the situation better. He leaned close to Fuheng’s ear and whispered:

“What they call an ‘establishment’ is a private, underground brothel. This girl was probably sold outright, body and life. Give them a few taels and the matter will be settled.”

Fuheng shook his head, untied the money pouch at his waist, and tossed it to the enforcers:

“One human life. Make sure she gets proper medical treatment.”

The enforcers opened the pouch, saw the contents, and beamed with joy, thanking him profusely. Unable to stand their obsequious manner, Fuheng turned to get back into the carriage—when from behind came an extremely faint voice:

“Young Master…”

A familiar voice made Fuheng’s footsteps halt. He whipped around and looked at the woman lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. In shock, he exclaimed, “Qinglian?”

Fucha Residence, guest room.

   The doctor had just left. In the kitchen, medicine was being decocted. Fuheng summoned the steward, his expression shifting unpredictably between light and shadow:

“What exactly happened?”

“Young Master, it was this servant’s negligence,” the steward said with a face full of guilt. “This servant only just found out—the Young Madam merely pretended to arrange a good marriage for Qinglian on the surface. As soon as the bridal sedan left the city, it was swapped for a small sedan chair and sent directly to a private brothel.”

Fuheng’s face grimed like still water. He nearly crushed the armrest of the chair in his grip. Suddenly, a panicked cry came from beside him:

“Young Master! Young Master, something terrible has happened! Qinglian swallowed gold!”

The doctor, who had only just stepped out the door, was urgently summoned back. With tremendous effort and by using a precious hundred-year-old ginseng root from the storeroom, he barely managed to pull Qinglian back from the brink of death.

“This humble one has done all he can,” the doctor said, wiping sweat from his forehead. “But in the end, this is merely the last radiance before darkness. Lord Fucha, if there is anything you wish to say to her, you had best do so soon.”

Fuheng remained silent for a long moment before finally nodding.

The door closed behind him. Fuheng slowly sat down beside the bed and looked at the woman lying there. The once pure and lotus-like face now bore a long, ugly scar—this wound had been given to her by Erqing. On her body were countless other injuries, longer and deeper than this one, inflicted by many, many men.

Yet the true culprit was still Erqing.

“Young Master…” Qinglian suddenly turned away, facing the wall as she sobbed. “Don’t look at this servant. A filthy person like me will dirty your eyes.”

Fuheng’s heart ached. “No, you are not dirty.”

“Young Master…” Qinglian called him again, her voice extremely gentle and filled with sorrow. “Every time I call you Young Master, your expression becomes so tender. At first, this servant also harbored hope… But one day, I suddenly understood—you only wanted to hear those two words, ‘Young Master,’ isn’t that right?”

Fuheng stared at her with wide eyes.

No one knew why he had always treated Qinglian differently from the others. It was not because of her serene beauty, nor because of her graceful figure—only because of her voice.

…A voice almost identical to Wei Yingluo’s.

“All this time, everyone thought I belonged to you; Young Master, but they were all wrong.” That voice now sounded right beside his ear, carrying a humble plea. “Young Master, you have been thinking of one person, longing for one person—there has never been anyone else in your eyes. Now, I have only one wish. Could you… hold my hand? Could you… call my name just once?”

Could you, after I have served as a substitute for so long, finally open your eyes and look at me, and remember my name? My name is Qinglian.

   “Qinglian.” Fuheng called her name and took her pale, emaciated hand in his.

He held it until that hand completely lost its warmth and grew ice-cold in his grasp.

“Fuheng!”

The door burst open. Having received word from the servants, Erqing hurriedly ended that day’s tea gathering and rushed back from outside. Her gaze swept over and landed on Qinglian inside the bed curtains. Instantly, undisguised disgust appeared on her face.

“This lowly maid…”

“You’re back.” Fuheng’s voice was extremely faint and extremely cold. “The document is written. It’s on the table.”

What document?

   Erqing walked suspiciously to the table and saw a letter lying there.

   On the envelope, in stark black ink on white paper, were two characters:

   Divorce

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 140: Struggle at Court

That day, Fuheng was summoned by Hongli to Yangxin Hall for discussions.

Unexpectedly, someone was waiting for him on the path he had to take to reach Yangxin Hall.

Upon seeing her, Fuheng paused for a moment, then respectfully stepped aside, cupping his hands in greeting.

“I just received news today — Concubine Ling has been promoted to Consort Ling.” Noble Consort Chun walked slowly toward him, smiling. “Lord Fucha, is this good news for you… or bad news?”

Fuheng grew wary inside, but his expression remained calm and unmoved.

“It must be good news, I suppose,” Noble Consort Chun said with a cold laugh. “After all… her promotion to consort is entirely thanks to you!”

Fuheng finally spoke, his voice icy: “Noble Consort Chun, please watch your words.”

“Isn’t what I said the truth?” Noble Consort Chun was an intelligent woman. Though she hadn’t understood at first, gradually everything became clear to her afterward — including the role Fuheng had played in it all.

Once she understood, the realization filled her heart with both bitterness and jealousy.

“Lord Fucha Fuheng, in looks, family background, talent, and the devotion I’ve shown you — in every way I surpass her. So why do you insist on favoring only her?” Noble Consort Chun could no longer hold back; every word dripped with pain as she questioned him. “You even went so far as to risk yourself to help her… Tell me — why?”

Yuhu looked around nervously. The other palace servants had already pretended to be blind and mute, heads lowered in silence, as if they had heard and seen nothing.

“Noble Consort Chun,” Fuheng said coolly, “please remember your position. Do not ask questions that only bring humiliation upon yourself. This humble official takes his leave.”

As he turned to go, a cold voice came from behind: “Don’t celebrate too soon. Even if Wei Yingluo becomes Consort Ling, she will never block my path!”

Fuheng paused for a moment, then continued walking toward Yangxin Hall without looking back.

Yangxin Hall, West Warm Chamber.

   “Your Majesty.” Fuheng made no mention whatsoever of the encounter with Noble Consort Chun. He simply reported on state affairs with utmost respect: “Regarding the case of Anning, Supervisor of the Hushu Customs Pass, embezzling customs duties — this servant has thoroughly investigated. During his three years managing Hushu Pass, for every tael of pingyin silver actually collected at two fen five li, he falsely reported only one fen five li. Over his tenure he repeatedly withheld funds for sacrificial offerings, bridge and cable maintenance, silver chest fees, and clothing and hat silver from various ports — totaling more than eight thousand taels. The detailed accounts are clearly set out in this servant’s memorial! Such a corrupt worm — if he is not executed, the people’s anger cannot be appeased!”

“Your Majesty, this younger brother does not agree with Lord Fucha’s view.” A voice that was both dark and soft rang out.

Fuheng looked toward the sound and met the eyes of Prince He, Hongzhou.

“Lord Fucha is too young. It is good to be ambitious and enterprising, but your understanding of the customs offices… seems rather limited.” Hongzhou smiled at Fuheng. “Under Anning there are 68 yamen runners and 79 family retainers. These hundred-odd people assist in managing the customs office, yet they are not on the court’s official roster. Anning raised the tax rate precisely to cover these expenses.”

“How ridiculous. Just to cover expenses, he can arbitrarily increase taxes?” Fuheng replied coldly. “Do you realize that while Anning has lightened the burden on the customs office, he has increased the burden on the common people? If everyone imitates him and raises taxes at will, how are the people supposed to survive?”

Hongzhou: “Lord Fucha, you may have a way with warfare, but when it comes to governance, you are far behind! When the water is too clear, no fish can live in it. Are you asking the customs runners to drink the northwest wind?”

The two argued until their faces were flushed. Finally, Hongli waved his hand: “Enough, stop arguing! Even if Anning has his hardships, the fact remains that he handled matters improperly. I will issue an edict severely reprimanding him. However, the situation at Hushu Pass is complicated; we cannot easily replace him. For now, let him continue managing it. If there is any further concealment, he will be severely punished along with everything else!”

“Your Majesty is wise!” Hongzhou said, while casting a smug glance at Fuheng.

Fuheng frowned: “Your Majesty…”

Hongli closed his eyes: “You are dismissed. Kneel and retire.”

Fuheng and Hongzhou left Yangxin Hall. After walking side by side for a few steps, Fuheng suddenly spoke: “Prince He, even if you have grievances against me, you shouldn’t speak up for a parasite like Anning.”

Hongzhou: “Didn’t I already say? Anning has his own difficulties.”

Fuheng gave a short, mocking laugh, a trace of sarcasm flickering in his eyes: “Prince He still doesn’t know, does he? Anning privately owns six estates and hundreds of qing of land.”

Hongzhou was stunned.

“The Jiangnan corruption case—Wangye handled it very beautifully. I was also pleased to see you willing to handle affairs seriously.” Fuheng spoke slowly. “Just now I did not expose it in public only because I did not wish to see you suffer another setback and fall into despair once more.”

Fuheng valued old ties—not only the affection between husband and wife, but also the bond of childhood friends. They had studied together, practiced martial arts together, and grown up together. Even though their paths had diverged in adulthood, a trace of that old affection still remained.

Hongzhou, however, was different. Once their paths had parted, he believed any former sentiment should be severed cleanly. He sneered coldly: “Do you think I will be grateful to you for this?”

“I do not need your gratitude.” Fuheng shook his head. “But this is the last time. Please do not use the interests of the state as a bargaining chip just to target me!”

When Hongzhou heard this, the flesh on his cheek involuntarily twitched.

Women fight for favor in the harem; men fight for favor in the court.

Both were favored ministers before Hongli. Whose opinion the Emperor listened to more determined their power and status—and to a certain extent, even the future direction of the country.

The ways of contending for favor were exactly the same as in the harem: on the surface, each relied on their own abilities, comparing literary talent, military strategy, depth of character, and political scheming; behind the scenes… it was naturally a matter of tripping each other up, exposing weaknesses, and using every possible means to drag the other down from their current position.

Earlier, when Hongzhou kept saying “Lord Fucha knows little about the customs offices” and “Lord Fucha, you may be good at warfare, but you are far inferior in governance,” belittling Fuheng into nothing more than a martial brute who only knew how to ride and fight—that was precisely the second method.

Fuheng disdained such underhanded tactics. He spoke openly and uprightly: “Hongzhou, you must remember firmly that you are the Prince He of Great Qing. You carry a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. No matter the time, to vent personal resentment and forget public righteousness will only make others look down on you!”

Watching Fuheng’s figure leave with a flick of his sleeve, Hongzhou’s expression became extremely ugly.

“What did he notice?” Hongzhou thought darkly. “Otherwise… why would he talk about ‘venting personal resentment’?”

Fuheng had absolutely no idea that because of his words, Hongzhou’s suspicion toward him had deepened even further. After leaving the palace, he soon returned home. He tossed the reins to the steward who came out to meet him. Fuheng found it strange: “Why are you personally coming out to greet me?”

The Fucha residence was a large household with great responsibilities. Managing such a family was no easier than managing a harem. A trivial task like taking the horse should not have fallen to the steward himself.

“Young Master, you’re finally back!” The steward had clearly been waiting deliberately at the gate. His voice was urgent as he said, “Qinglian has met with trouble. The young madam claims she pushed the little young master into the goldfish pond. She has now been taken away by the Old Madam.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 139: The Struggle in the Harem

   With so many women in the harem and only one heart belonging to the Emperor, winning that heart was truly like two armies facing each other—every possible tactic was exhausted.

“Your Majesty.” Li Yu said respectfully, “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Chun has come several times. She says the case of the palace market fencing stolen goods has been thoroughly investigated and she requests Your Majesty’s judgment.”

This matter concerned not only the reputation of the harem but also involved disaster relief funds and other affairs—it could be considered quite significant. Hongli put down his brush and said: “Let’s go, to Zhongcui Palace to take a look!”

Li Yu: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The imperial palanquin left from Yangxin Hall. As it passed along the corridor, a sudden sound of bells rang out. Hongli raised his head and saw a kite soaring high in the sky.

It was a colorful mandarin duck kite, with a small golden bell hanging from its tail, tinkling crisply in the wind.

For some reason—whether the person flying it suddenly let go or the string broke—the kite swayed unsteadily in the air for a moment, then suddenly plummeted and fell not far from Hongli.

Hongli: “Bring it to me to see.”

Li Yu hurriedly went forward and retrieved the kite.

Hongli took it in his hands and saw that on the back of the kite was written a short sanqu lyric:

“Long silk thread sent to the ends of the earth,

   Letting it fly free is still in my hands.

   Paper body dressed up, no attachments left,

   Let the wild wind tear it wherever it will.

   String broken at the corner of the sea and sky,

   Cannot reel it back in, cannot see him anymore,

   Who knows in whose home he now drifts?”

   At the very end, there was also a clumsily drawn orchid flower.

The corners of Hongli’s mouth couldn’t help but curve upward. Her calligraphy had been taught to her personally by the Empress, her painting had been taught to her personally by him—how could he not recognize it?

“Let’s go.” Hongli folded the kite away. “To Yanxi Palace.”

Li Yu was stunned: “Then Noble Consort Chun…”

Hongli: “Tell Noble Consort Chun that I will see her tomorrow.”

In this battle, Wei Yingluo won with her very first move. Noble Consort Chun had spent who knows how much money and effort setting up that Jiangnan market, only to be defeated by a single small kite. She was so furious her teeth itched, yet she was utterly helpless.

The next evening, she dressed and prepared early. She placed a chessboard on the table in the sleeping chamber, then lit a stick of orchid incense in the silver corner censer. Wisps of smoke curled upward, filling the room with delicate fragrance.

Yuhu kept going out for a moment, then coming back in, appearing quite restless and unable to sit still:

“Yesterday the Emperor said he was coming, but then changed his route and went to Yanxi Palace instead. He won’t fail to come again today, will he?”

Noble Consort Chun shot her a glare, chiding her for saying something inauspicious:

“The Emperor said he would come today, so he will certainly come.”

Realizing she had unintentionally annoyed her mistress, Yuhu hurriedly smiled apologetically:

“Yes, yes. Your Ladyship has meticulously prepared the chess formation, and went to great lengths to obtain the calligraphy model the Emperor loves most. You will surely be able to keep His Majesty here!”

If one were to say that Wei Yingluo captivated with her “vulgarity,” then Noble Consort Chun captivated with her “elegance.”

zither, chess, calligraphy, painting; strings and pipes; plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum—the hall of great refinement.

Noble Consort Chun faintly furrowed her brows. She did not believe her own “elegance” would lose to Wei Yingluo’s “vulgarity,” yet she helplessly discovered that His Majesty Hongli spent fewer and fewer days in Zhongcui Palace, and more and more days going to Yanxi Palace—just like all the ordinary people in the world: occasionally enjoying strings and pipes, but most of the time still having to deal with firewood, rice, oil, and salt—the mundane necessities of life.

“His Majesty arrives!”

Noble Consort Chun snapped back to the present and quickly stepped out to greet him:

“This concubine respectfully wishes Your Majesty well.”

Hongli raised his hand in a gesture to dispense with formalities:

“No need for ceremony.”

A palace servant brought tea. Noble Consort Chun received it and personally carried it to Hongli:

“Your Majesty, regarding the chess move you left unresolved last time, this concubine has already figured out a way to break it.”

But Hongli had not come to discuss chess with her. He smiled and said:

“You said the palace market case has been thoroughly investigated. I want to hear exactly what happened.”

Hearing his true purpose, Noble Consort Chun felt secret delight in her heart.

There are two ways to compete for favor in the harem: one is open and aboveboard, the other is in the shadows. The open method is straightforward—each relying on her own abilities, whether vulgar or refined, to vie for the Emperor’s favor. The hidden method… naturally involves slander, defamation, and using every possible means to destroy the opponent.

As long as the other party no longer exists, naturally no one will compete with you for favor.

“Your Majesty,” Noble Consort Chun immediately began, “the palace market was something I personally arranged with great care, solely to please the Empress Dowager. Yet in the end it became a place to dispose of stolen goods. This is clearly someone deliberately framing me!”

Hongli gave an “oh” and asked:

“Who would want to frame you?”

Noble Consort Chun’s eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke in a wronged tone:

“This concubine holds the position of Noble Consort and has given birth to the Sixth Prince… it makes me an easy obstacle for newly arrived concubines who wish to rise!”

Hongli lightly tapped the armrest of his chair, smiling yet not quite smiling:

“Newly arrived concubines?”

Dong dong dong.

Faint but distinct, wave after wave of drumming came from outside the palace. Hongli’s gaze flicked toward the direction of the sound.

On the other side, Noble Consort Chun had already stepped forward and gently clutched the corner of Hongli’s robe, pleading sorrowfully:

“Your Majesty, this concubine has been unjustly accused. I am truly deeply wronged. I can only beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me…”

“Mm, mm.” Hongli responded absent-mindedly, as though answering her words—or perhaps answering the drumming outside.

Drums are not like the sound of the qin. Such a vulgar thing always appears in places crowded with people: on theater stages, during lion dances, at lantern markets and flower festivals. Suddenly Hongli stood up, walked to the window, pushed it open and looked out. In the night sky, a Kongming lantern slowly rose—its light like fire, like the brightest star in the heavens.

Behind him, Noble Consort Chun was still murmuring on:

“Also, Your Majesty…”

Hongli suddenly raised his hand to stop her:

“I have other matters to attend to. We’ll talk next time!”

With that, without even glancing back at her, he strode swiftly out of the palace gate.

That lantern, that drum—they were guiding his path forward.

One after another, Kongming lanterns rose into the sky, hanging there, forming a brilliant silver river.

Gradually, Hongli began to hear snippets of private conversation among the palace maids and eunuchs.

“Did you hear that? It’s drumming!”

“It seems to have drifted over from the sky lanterns.”

“How is this done?”

“You’re curious? Go ask Her Ladyship Concubine Ling! These sky lanterns that make such strange musical sounds—she made them herself, didn’t she?”

In the Imperial Garden, at some point a large crowd of palace maids and eunuchs had gathered. One of them was just about to speak when he suddenly caught sight of a figure in bright imperial yellow approaching. Startled, he quickly dropped to his knees and said, “This servant respectfully greets Your Majesty!”

The other palace servants turned to look, and one after another they also knelt down: “This servant respectfully greets Your Majesty!”

If the people of the world are as numerous as the stars, then Hongli was the sole moon.

Wherever he went, that place became the center of the night sky.

All the stars bowed their heads beneath his radiance… except for one star.

Wei Yingluo paid no attention at all. She lit another sky lantern, held it in both hands, and was just about to release it when a hand reached over from the side and took the lantern from her.

Tilting her head, Wei Yingluo looked at him strangely. “Didn’t Your Majesty go to Zhongcui Palace? Why are you back here again?”

The lantern flame flickered; the soft orange glow reflected on Hongli’s face. He smiled coyishly. “Wasn’t it you who deliberately lured me here?”

Yingluo smiled sweetly. “Your Majesty really knows how to joke. I was simply bored out of my mind and made a few sky lanterns for amusement, that’s all.”

Hongli toyed with the sky lantern in his hand for a moment. Sure enough, strange sounds came from inside—first it sounded like the beating of a drum, but faintly mixed with the tones of a zheng zither.

Hongli asked, “How did you make them produce music?”

Yingluo blinked. “Guess?”

With that, she snatched the last sky lantern back from Hongli’s hand, opened her palms, and released it. The lantern rose gently from her grasp like a giant firefly, drifting upward into the night sky.

“…Paper drums,” Hongli said, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky lantern floating above. “You attached paper drums to the sky lanterns, which is why they make that drumming sound.”

Wei Yingluo was taken aback. She had known that with Hongli’s intelligence, he would eventually figure it out, but she hadn’t expected him to guess so quickly.

“That’s right, paper drums,” she said. “Not just paper drums—there are also reed pipes. When they rise into the sky, you can hear the sound of a zheng zither as well. There, I’ve finished releasing the lanterns! Now that Your Majesty’s curiosity is satisfied, you can go back to your chess game.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Then her steps paused. Wei Yingluo slightly turned her head and looked down.

—Hongli had taken hold of her hand. Their fingers interlaced, intimately entwined.

“I’m not playing chess anymore.” Hongli tightened his grip on her hand, though his gaze remained fixed on the sky. “Stay with me and watch the moon.”

The nearby palace servants understood the situation and quietly withdrew without a sound.

Wei Yingluo stood beside Hongli for a long while before suddenly turning her head to ask, “Are you watching the moon… or watching me?”

The bright moon hung in the sky, surrounded by countless drifting sky lanterns. Their flickering lights and the scattered drumbeats created a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Yet Hongli didn’t spare a single glance at any of it…

His eyes had never left Wei Yingluo.

…

“What are you all doing?”

Meanwhile, in Chengqian Palace, the scene was entirely different.

   Palace maids and eunuchs crowded the courtyard, all craning their necks to watch the sky lanterns floating above.

Seeing this scene, Zhener was furious beyond words. She came over, scolded and dismissed the crowd, then returned to the bedroom and complained to the Empress: “Among all the concubines in the palace, Concubine Ling is the most cunning and tricky. In the past, even though the Emperor favored Noble Consort Chun, the rain and dew were still distributed evenly to others. Ever since she entered the palace, she’s used every trick in the book to compete for favor. No matter whose palace the Emperor intends to visit, she dares to intercept him halfway! And she’s always full of rotten ideas — yesterday it was love-letter kites, today it’s singing Kongming lanterns, who knows what new stunt she’ll pull tomorrow!”

The Empress smiled indifferently: “That woman is very interesting.”

When Hongli stayed too long in one place, naturally the time he spent in other palaces decreased. Zhongcui Palace grew increasingly deserted day by day, and Chengqian Palace was hardly any better. Zhener said bitterly: “Interesting? She’s just got a twisted, poisonous gut full of crooked schemes!”

But the Empress shook her head. She walked over to the window by herself, gazing at the bright trail in the night sky, and said calmly: “Zhener, a general must win battles, an official must serve the people, and a concubine must naturally compete for the Emperor’s favor. If she didn’t compete for favor, why would she have entered the palace in the first place?”

Zhener was stunned: “Your Ladyship, did I hear wrong? Why are you suddenly speaking up for her?”

“It’s simply the truth.” The Empress looked at the Kongming lantern, admiration actually flickering in her eyes. “Ever since she entered the palace, no matter what she does, she manages to be inventive and stand out, always striving to rise higher. In the embroidery workshop, a phoenix robe emerged under her hands that outshone all others. In Changchun Palace, she coaxed the former Empress into doting on her most. Even when sent to Yong Alley to scrub night-soil buckets, she somehow managed to do it in a way that set her apart. No time, no place, no circumstance can stop her from climbing step by step. What drives her is precisely that indomitable spirit!”

She suddenly sighed: “What a pity…”

Zhener asked curiously: “What’s a pity?”

“What a pity she isn’t a man.” The Empress smiled, then silently added in her heart: What a pity I am not a man either.

What a pity that neither of them was a man — they were merely women of the inner palace. No matter how fiercely they fought, they were like crickets trapped in this tiny square of ground.

   If only the two of them had been men, then the battlefield of their struggles would have lain outside the inner palace — on the court itself.

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