Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 170: Friends

   As the years passed, Yongrong’s appearance grew more and more like his mother, Noble Consort Chun—delicate and refined, like the small bridges and flowing streams of Jiangnan. Though beautiful, he was excessively frail, so much so that when his brothers hung him from a tree, he had no strength to resist.

“Who gave you the nerve to badmouth me behind my back?” Yongcheng said, then lashed him with the horsewhip—again and again. Seeing Yongrong’s cries grow louder, he ordered the companions beside him: “Stuff his mouth!”

The two study companions had no choice but to step forward and gag Yongrong. One of them hesitated for a moment and said, “Fourth Prince, perhaps we shouldn’t make this too big. If anyone finds out…”

Yongcheng cut him off impatiently: “His mother, Noble Consort Chun, is a convicted criminal! Imperial Father doesn’t even glance at him—what are you afraid of!”

With that, the whip fell like rain. He paid no heed to the fact that the same blood ran in their veins; he beat the other boy as though he were no more than livestock.

No matter how unfavored Yongrong was, he was still a prince who had grown up pampered and sheltered. How could he endure such treatment? After one more lash, he fainted.

“You can’t bully people like this, you know!”

Yongcheng was just about to order the companions to fetch water and splash the boy awake when a voice suddenly rang out from behind, startling him badly. When he turned and saw who it was, his face changed color.

It was Concubine Rong!

Yongcheng felt a surge of annoyance—why did it have to be this woman who saw? Afraid she would report him to Hongli, he quickly set down the whip and forced a smile: “Concubine Rong, I was just joking around with Sixth Brother.”

Chenbi walked toward him, her waist chain and ankle bells chiming softly with each step. “You two are blood brothers—you should love and care for each other. You can’t do this. Hurry and let him down!”

The two companions looked toward Yongcheng. He barked: “Didn’t you hear what Concubine Rong said? Let him go!”

Only then did the two of them hurriedly and clumsily set Yongrong down. Yongcheng had no desire to linger any longer. Everyone in the palace knew how favored Concubine Rong was—Hongli could hardly bear to be apart from her for a moment. If he stayed any longer, Hongli might very well show up right behind him. So he said:

“Concubine Rong, Your Ladyship, today was merely some playful sparring between us brothers. There’s no need to take it to heart. Since everything is fine now, I won’t disturb your enjoyment of the scenery any further. I’ll take my leave.”

He turned to go, but he had only taken a few steps when something shot toward him from behind like a snake, wrapping tightly around his ankle. Yongcheng let out a miserable scream. In the next instant, he was flipped upside down and hoisted into the air, dangling from a tree.

Staring at the culprit, Yongcheng cried out in shock:

“You—what are you doing?!”

Chenbi dusted off her hands:

“I’m used to lassoing lambs back home, so I always carry a rope snare with me. I never thought I’d actually get to use it one day!”

Yongcheng: “Let me down! Let me down right now! Concubine Rong, I am the Empress’s son! How dare you treat me this way—release me at once!”

The innocent expression on Chenbi’s face instantly darkened:

“Shut your mouth!”

Yongcheng froze.

Chenbi, who always wore an innocent, pure expression as radiant and beautiful as a celestial maiden, now looked faintly sinister:

“You’re already sixteen. In our tribe, boys your age have long since gone to the battlefield, wielding weapons and fighting enemies to the death. Yet here you are, acting like a spoiled child—only knowing how to bully your own brothers—and still putting on an act in front of me! If His Majesty finds out what you did today, do you know what will happen?”

Yongcheng tried to muster his courage:

“I—I am the Empress’s…”

Chenbi scoffed with a sneer:

“Even someone like me, who has only recently entered the palace, knows that the Empress now has the Twelfth Prince and Thirteenth Prince. A foster son like you has long been useless. Yet you’re still daydreaming!”

Yongcheng: “You’re lying! You’re trying to drive a wedge between me and my mother!”

Chenbi: “Dear sweet Fourth Prince, how is it that you’ve only grown taller and not smarter? Your kind, benevolent Royal Mother would love nothing more than for you to keep making mistakes—the more mistakes, the better! With the Eldest Prince out of favor, and you constantly getting into trouble, the throne will eventually fall to her own flesh-and-blood son!”

Yongcheng was stunned:

“No… that’s impossible… impossible…”

Chenbi circled around him. With every sentence, she gave him a push, making him sway dizzily:

“Look at that pitiful, abandoned-puppy expression on your face. Tsk, how sad. Didn’t your Royal Mother always tell you: ‘It doesn’t matter if our Yongcheng doesn’t like to study—Manchus rule the world through riding and archery!’ ‘It doesn’t matter if your study companions don’t obey—Mother will find you clever, quick-witted ones!’ ‘It doesn’t matter if your teachers dislike you—they’re the ones without insight!’ She gave you whatever you wanted, never blamed you, always cared for you, always protected you in every way. Fool—she dotes on you to death. She spoils you until you become a complete idiot!”

Yongcheng was deeply shaken. Tears streamed down his face as he listened:

“No… it’s not like that… you’re lying to me… Royal Mother isn’t that kind of person…”

Chenbi: “The Sixth Prince has no birth mother—truly pitiful. But you? You have a venomous-hearted foster mother sitting in a high position. Your situation is a hundred times, a thousand times worse than his—and yet you still don’t know how to restrain yourself!”

Yongcheng struggled while shouting:

“I’m going to ask Royal Mother!”

Chenbi giggled:

“Go ahead! If you dare breathe even half a sentence of what I said today to her, that Royal Mother of yours will make sure you ‘die of illness’ without anyone ever suspecting a thing. Understand?”

Yongcheng was so terrified he couldn’t speak.

Chenbi gently stroked his cheek:

“Go straight back to the Prince Residence and bury yourself away. If you ever dare bully the weak again, next time I’ll pierce a hole through your tongue and hang you up by it. Got it?”

Yongcheng trembled as he nodded.

“So cute. Good boy.” Chenbi praised him, then released the rope. Yongcheng fell to the ground with a heavy thud, dazed and disoriented. He didn’t dare utter a single complaint. After one frightened glance at her, he fled as if he had seen a ghost.

Chenbi no longer bothered with him. She returned to the still-unconscious Yongrong, gazing at him tenderly for a long moment before gently shaking him awake.

The instant Yongrong woke, he curled up like a small animal caught in a trap—panicked, clutching himself tightly, his wide, terrified eyes darting everywhere.

“Don’t be afraid,” Chenbi said softly. “I’ve already chased your Fourth Brother away.”

Only then did Yongrong realize she was beside him. When he heard her words, his delicate, scholarly face immediately flushed bright red. He stammered:

“Concubine Rong, Your Ladyship… I’m sorry… I caused trouble for you.”

“Sixth Brother, you didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no need to apologize.” Chenbi sat beside him. A gentle breeze lifted her long hair, and the tiny bells tied in it chimed softly like a song. “Wolves chasing sheep is a common sight on the grassland—no one finds it strange. But the children of the grassland never bully one another because of differences in strength. They rely on each other and stand together against enemies. So Yongrong, you are not at fault.”

No one had ever spoken such words to him before. Yongrong felt both moved and ashamed. He lowered his head to look at himself—if he had merely fainted, that would have been one thing, but he had actually been so frightened by Yongcheng that he wet his pants. Why did it have to happen now, of all times, and right in front of her?

Chenbi seemed not to notice the damp patch on his trousers at all. She simply smiled and said, “What happened today—I’ll keep it a secret for you. But in return, you have to promise me one thing, all right?”

Yongrong lifted his head and looked at Chenbi. In that moment, he felt he would agree to anything she asked.

Chenbi continued: “I know that the Manchu princes study in the morning and practice riding and archery in the afternoon. You must promise me that you will train hard at your martial skills, become strong as soon as possible. If he gives you one punch, you give him two in return.”

Yongrong was stunned. “But he’ll bring people to beat me together.”

Chenbi replied calmly: “No matter how many people come at you, you only hit him—one person. Hit him until he’s afraid of you.”

Yongrong was dumbfounded.

“The Fourth Brother bullies you because the difference in strength between you is too great. But once you grow strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with him—no, once you become even stronger than he is—you’ll be able to conquer your own fear. Don’t be afraid.” Suddenly Chenbi gave him a mischievous wink. “Besides, if you really can’t win the fight, the worst you can do is show your wounds to your Imperial Father. No matter how much he dislikes you, he won’t tolerate brothers harming each other.”

Yongrong’s face turned even redder. He nodded repeatedly, then ran off. After going quite a distance, he still turned back and called: “Thank you!”

Chenbi watched him leave with a smile, then prepared to turn and go herself.

Wei Yingluo stepped out from her hiding place. Behind her, Ming Yu stood gaping in astonishment.

“Oh dear, I accidentally revealed my true nature!” Concubine Rong grinned playfully, then sighed. “Will you tell the Emperor?”

Wei Yingluo: “Tell him what?”

Chenbi blinked. “Tell him that I’m a two-faced person who can change faces?”

Wei Yingluo laughed.

She had come at Yongqi’s request to help Yongrong. How could she have known she would witness such a wonderful scene?

Chenbi sighed again, came over, and took Wei Yingluo’s hand. “I want to beg you not to do it. He might very well send me back to the tribe. Although my brother has become the leader, he’s an arrogant and conceited fellow—he would definitely mock me as a ‘returned gift.’ My days would become unbearable! Will you tell him?”

Wei Yingluo looked down at their joined hands. “What do you think?”

Chenbi hung her head dejectedly. Then suddenly she threw it back, lay down on the grass in a fit of self-abandonment, and said: “I don’t like the Forbidden City—not one bit. If you want to tell the Emperor, go ahead. Let him send me back soon so I can still make it to the grand tribal celebration.”

Wei Yingluo: “What is your celebration like?”

Chenbi sat bolt upright from the grass, suddenly full of childlike excitement: “We roast whole sheep in front of the tents—crispy and charred on the outside, the fragrance drifting for miles! The children run around happily, just as excited as when you people celebrate the New Year! Travelers passing by often stop; the bolder ones even try to buy some roast mutton! And then I shout at them—’No sale! No matter how much silver you offer, we won’t sell!’”

At this point she burst into proud, hearty laughter. Her carefree, unselfconscious manner left Wei Yingluo both surprised and… a little envious.

Chenbi went on: “When they’re drooling with hunger, I give them a whole roasted sheep leg. Watching their stunned, dumbfounded faces—I can laugh about it for a whole year! How could guests from far away go home empty-handed? We have plenty of meat, specially prepared for them!”

Wei Yingluo: “The Forbidden City’s celebrations also have roast mutton.”

“Not the same—not the same at all!” The pride slowly faded from Chenbi’s face. She spoke with a touch of melancholy: “Just like the sunsets in the Forbidden City—beautiful, yes, but they don’t taste the same—”

Wei Yingluo looked at her the way one might look at a gust of wind locked inside a cage.

“Consort Ling, you’re not like those other consorts either,” Chenbi suddenly said, lifting her head to gaze at her. “I like you.”

Wei Yingluo was momentarily stunned, caught off guard by how abruptly the topic had shifted, but she soon laughed softly. “You and I are both His Majesty’s consorts. We’re hardly in a position to simply admire each other.”

Chenbi looked puzzled. “Why not? My father has many wives, and they all get along peacefully.”

Wei Yingluo echoed, “Peacefully?”

Chenbi nodded. “Yes! Father treats everyone equally. The gold bracelets he bought for my mother, he bought one for every concubine too! He takes turns spending the night in their tents, never favoring one over the others. All the concubines have very good relationships with each other!”

Wei Yingluo listened without comment. Whether it was truly good or not, outsiders could never tell. On the surface, the consorts of the rear palace could appear harmonious and joyful, but behind closed doors it was an entirely different story.

Chenbi continued, “Since I came to the Forbidden City, no one likes me except His Majesty. I’m just an outsider here. But now I’ve met you—and they don’t like you either, do they?”

Before Wei Yingluo could answer, Chenbi took hold of her hand. “You keep my secret for me, and I’ll be your friend—okay?”

Wei Yingluo replied, “I don’t need friends.”

But Chenbi laughed, a smile that was both mischievous and strangely perceptive. She reached up and pinched Wei Yingluo’s cheek, her voice sweet and childlike: “Your face is clearly written all over with ‘I’m very lonely, I need Chenbi to be my friend.’”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 169: Former Enemy, Now Friend

The next day, Hongli came to Chengqian Palace to visit Yongjing.

Yongjing was a chubby, tiger-headed little boy, with brows and eyes that strongly resembled Hongli’s. Lying in his swaddling clothes, he babbled happily and kept reaching out his small, plump hands toward Hongli. Hongli adored him. He personally picked the child up, held a rattle drum, and played with him until Yongjing grew tired and began to doze off. Only then did he carefully place him back into the cradle.

Yongjing rolled over, hugged a finely crafted cloth tiger, and fell asleep.

“This cloth tiger was the Dragon Boat Festival gift Consort Ling sent to Yongjing,” the Step Empress’s voice sounded beside his ear. “Everyone else sends gold and silver ingots, bracelets, and longevity locks. Hers is actually much more thoughtful.”

Hongli glanced at her but pretended not to hear.

The Step Empress didn’t seem to care much. She simply instructed Court Physician Zhang, who stood nearby: “Court Physician Zhang, later go to Yanxi Palace and take Consort Ling’s peaceful pulse. She has been looking after the Empress Dowager at the Yuanmingyuan all this time, paying no attention to her own illness. Since she suffers from sleepless nights and has little appetite, we must have the imperial physician properly regulate her condition.”

Hongli continued to act as though he hadn’t heard or seen anything.

Following the Step Empress’s orders, Court Physician Zhang left Chengqian Palace and went straight to Yanxi Palace. After diagnosing Consort Ling and leaving a medical prescription, he had barely taken two steps out of the palace gates when someone suddenly grabbed his arm.

Who is this? So rude and lacking in manners! Court Physician Zhang was just about to scold the person when he turned his head—and his face instantly paled. “Y-Your Majesty?”

“How is Consort Ling’s condition?” Hongli asked coldly.

Court Physician Zhang hurriedly replied: “Your Majesty, aside from insomnia, Consort Ling also suffers from disharmony of the liver and stomach. This minister has prescribed the Xiangsu Hewei Decoction to slowly regulate her condition for Her Ladyship.”

Hongli frowned. “Disharmony of the liver and stomach?”

“Her Ladyship’s irregular eating habits have caused pain in the stomach region…” Court Physician Zhang hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Moreover, this minister has heard that Consort Ling has been copying the Avatamsaka Sutra in her own blood. Even after going to the Yuanmingyuan, she has not stopped for a single day. Over time, this has led to a depletion of qi and blood, resulting in food damage syndrome, which in turn has caused the stomach to lose its nourishment…”

Hongli’s expression changed dramatically. Without another word, he turned and strode toward Yanxi Palace.

The eunuch at the entrance was about to announce him, but Hongli raised a hand to stop him. He walked straight into the bedchamber and then stood silently, gazing at the person on the bed.

It felt as though they hadn’t seen each other for years, yet also as though they had parted only yesterday. The long separation had not created any real distance between them. On the contrary, all those memories he had deliberately tried to forget surged back like the rising tide, crashing against his heart again and again.

“Ming Yu?” Even though it was broad daylight, Wei Yingluo looked utterly exhausted. She lay reclining on the couch with her eyes closed, her left hand propping up her temple as she instructed: “Sort the twenty scrolls and have someone send them to the Yuanmingyuan.”

There was no response for a long time.

Only then did Wei Yingluo slowly open her eyes. When she saw Hongli, she started and sat up abruptly. “Why has Your Majesty come here!”

But Hongli’s gaze was fixed on her left wrist.

She had been supporting her head with her left hand; her sleeve had naturally slipped down halfway, revealing a strip of white cloth wrapped around her wrist. Fresh blood had seeped through, staining the white fabric half red, half white.

Hongli tried to pretend he didn’t care, but in the end he couldn’t hold back. He seized her hand. “What is this?”

Wei Yingluo hurriedly pulled her hand back, lowered her sleeve, and said calmly as if nothing were wrong: “It’s nothing—just the wound from bloodletting.”

Hongli was furious. “Are you trying to throw your life away? I order you: you are not allowed to continue writing!”

Wei Yingluo: “Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I cannot obey.”

Hongli’s anger flared. “You—”

Wei Yingluo: “Since I promised the Empress Dowager to complete all eighty-one scrolls, I cannot stop halfway. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Hongli was speechless. After a long silence, he swallowed his anger and sat down to one side. “I originally intended to let you fend for yourself. Only because you have carefully served the Empress Dowager did I come to warn you. If you insist on refusing to listen, there is nothing more I can do. But whatever consequences come, you must bear them yourself. If in the future the Empress Dowager blames anyone, it will have nothing to do with others.”

Wei Yingluo: “I understand.”

The more Hongli looked at her, the angrier he became. He stood up and headed for the door.

“Does Your Majesty still remember the promise you made to me?” Wei Yingluo suddenly called out from behind him.

Hongli’s footsteps halted.

“Your Majesty once said you would not allow anyone to bully me.” Wei Yingluo sighed. “Tonight Your Majesty came to Yanxi Palace—everyone in the rear palace has seen it. If you simply turn and leave now, how can I possibly hold my ground in the harem? I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stay in this Forbidden City for even a single day.”

Hongli: “Tonight I will stay overnight at Yanxi Palace and preserve your face in full. As for anything else—don’t even think about it!”

Having said that, he instructed Li Yu to tidy up the side hall. He would rather sleep alone in the side hall than share a bed with Wei Yingluo. Li Yu worked efficiently and soon had the side hall spotless. After helping Hongli settle in for the night, he stood guard alone at the door.

In the middle of the night, Hongli tossed and turned, unable to sleep—not because he was unaccustomed to sleeping alone, but because the moment he closed his eyes, he saw the wound on Wei Yingluo’s wrist.

He turned over again, then suddenly opened his eyes. The room was unlit, pitch dark, impossible to see even a hand in front of one’s face, let alone discern the face of the person before him. Yet he still recognized her—by her breathing, by the warmth of her skin, by the fragrance in her hair.

Hongli said coldly, “Get out.”

Wei Yingluo, who had somehow slipped into bed beside him at some unknown moment, shook her head and said pitifully, “Your Majesty, there are rats in my sleeping chamber. I’m afraid.”

It was truly a laughable excuse. Hongli repeated, “Get out!”

“Your Majesty, when I came over, I forgot to put on my shoes,” she tried another excuse. “The floor is so cold—I can’t walk back.”

Hongli still refused to accept it and barked sharply, “Get out!”

After a long silence, Wei Yingluo suddenly sighed softly and said in a gentle voice, “Your Majesty, I took the contraceptive medicine… because I was afraid!”

The words “get out” had already reached Hongli’s lips, but what finally came out was: “…What are you afraid of?”

“Afraid of losing you.” Wei Yingluo gave a bitter smile. “Once I become pregnant, I’ll turn into a big, fat woman. I’ll become uglier and uglier, and my body will start to smell strange. You’ll quickly grow tired of me and go to other women.”

Hongli listened seriously and said, “…I am not that kind of person.”

“And also… I’m very afraid of dying.” Wei Yingluo pressed her forehead against his chest, her voice trembling with lingering fear. “When the Empress had a difficult labor, I was right by her side the whole time. Giving birth is like passing through the gates of hell. I don’t have her kind of courage. I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Hearing her repeat “I’m sorry” over and over, Hongli remained silent for a long time before finally saying softly, “Stop talking. I don’t blame you.”

“Really?” Wei Yingluo raised her hand to caress his cheek, her eyes wet as she looked at him.

Hongli’s body stiffened for a moment, but in the end he did not push her away, nor did he shout at her to leave.

His silent permission emboldened her. She cautiously leaned closer, tentatively brushing her lips against his in a light peck—like a little bird stealing a grain of millet—then quickly pulling back. After a moment, seeing no resistance, she pecked again… and again…

Suddenly, Hongli’s large hand pressed against the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

The hibiscus curtains warmed the spring night. Within the translucent canopy, two bodies entwined until Wei Yingluo, exhausted, fell into a faint. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind. She heard Hongli whisper gently in her ear, “You should have told me earlier… As long as you don’t want to, I will never force you.”

The corners of Wei Yingluo’s lips had just begun to lift when tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.

Night passed, dawn arrived. The person was gone, the pillow empty.

In the warm bed, Wei Yingluo slowly woke. She reached out—empty. The bedding had long since turned cold.

“Your Ladyship, you’re awake.” Ming Yu came in carrying a basin of water, ready to help her wash.

“It’s still not the same after all,” Wei Yingluo murmured, staring at the ceiling. “In the past, he would always wait for me to wake up. We’d get up together, eat together… Now who is he eating with?”

Ming Yu paused in wringing out the towel. After a long moment, she replied, “His Majesty… has gone to Baoyue Tower. He is having breakfast with Her Ladyship Concubine Rong.”

“…Is that so?” A hollow feeling rose in Wei Yingluo’s heart. She said no more, simply staring blankly at the ceiling.

Seeing her like this, Ming Yu’s heart ached. She almost opened her mouth to advise her to let go—but then she thought: let go, and go where? Yingluo was now at the peak of her beauty. Was she supposed to retire to the Yuanmingyuan like the Empress Dowager and grow old there? In the end, she swallowed the words of comfort, stepped forward to help her wash, and dressed her in fresh clothes.

Just as the clothes were put on, Xiaoquanzi came running in with hurried steps. “Your Ladyship! His Majesty summons you to Baoyue Tower to attend him at the meal.”

Baoyue Tower was built overlooking the water. From afar, it resembled the Moon Palace of legend. Across from it stood the Hui Muslim camp and a mosque. When Concubine Rong looked out from the upper floor, it was as if she were seeing the scenery of her homeland.

Upon entering the building, Wei Yingluo discovered that Hongli’s favor toward Concubine Rong went far beyond what she had imagined. The interior was resplendent with gold and splendor; the attending palace servants were all dressed in Hui (Muslim) style, and even the dishes laid out on the table were entirely Hui cuisine—hand-grabbed rice, stir-fried mutton with scallions, and other rich, heavily spiced dishes with an overpowering sandalwood aroma. None of it aligned with Hongli’s usual tastes, yet he ate with great relish.

…Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say: as long as Concubine Rong was happy, he felt happy.

Wei Yingluo stood off to the side for a long while before he finally noticed her. He smiled and said, “You’re here?”

Concubine Rong turned her head to look at her, eyes full of curiosity. “Is she Consort Ling?”

“Yes.” Hongli used his handkerchief to wipe the grease from her face, his tone indulgent. “Didn’t you say the Momo who teaches etiquette is very strict and you don’t like her? When a new consort enters the palace, most of the rules are learned from high-ranking concubines. For example, Consort Ling—she learned her etiquette from the late Empress back then. I was thinking of sending you to Yanxi Palace to study under Consort Ling. Would you be willing?”

Concubine Rong tilted her head and studied Wei Yingluo for a moment, then smiled with innocent delight. “Sure, I like her.”

But Wei Yingluo could not bring herself to like her.

Hongli told her to sit and ordered a portion of food brought for her. He knew full well that her stomach was delicate and she could only handle plain congee and light dishes—yet he still placed a whole pot of mutton soup in front of her. The soup smelled excellent, but she could not swallow a single mouthful.

Steam rose from the pot. Through the haze, she watched the two people opposite her, utterly bewildered. If he didn’t care about her, then the sweet words he had whispered in her ear last night still rang clearly. If he did care, then why torment her like this? Being intimate with another woman was one thing—but deliberately making her watch?

“Once, his heart held only me. Now his heart is split in two… and I occupy only the smaller half.” Wei Yingluo thought to herself. Unable to bear it any longer, she dabbed her mouth with her handkerchief and said, “Your Majesty, I’m full. I’ll take my leave first.”

Hongli waved his hand indifferently, as if he couldn’t care less whether she stayed or left. Halfway to the door, she heard Chenbi call after her:

“Her Ladyship Consort Ling really doesn’t like mutton soup? Actually, just one sip and you’ll know—it’s delicious.”

Hongli immediately ordered: “Li Yu, take this pot of mutton soup back to Consort Ling. Stand there and make sure she finishes it.”

Wei Yingluo’s heart felt even heavier; her eyes stung with unshed tears. Afraid she would lose composure in front of Concubine Rong, she quickened her steps and left Baoyue Tower. When she returned to Yanxi Palace, she found Yongqi waiting for her. The moment he saw her, he hurried over: “Mother Consort Ling, please save Sixth Brother!”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 168: Heavenly Maiden

   “In the Great Qing, girls reach hairpin maturity at fifteen. A woman of twenty-seven is long since surrounded by children. Yet such an ‘aged beauty’ has become the woman most favored by His Majesty. Wei Yingluo, are you truly not worried?” The Empress answered for her. “If you were not afraid, you would not have returned to the Forbidden City! In the Forbidden City, there are only eternal interests—never eternal enemies. Only if you and I cooperate can we deal with Concubine Rong. Otherwise, you will ultimately have to return to the Yuanmingyuan! Think carefully. I await your reply!”

Wei Yingluo was silent for a long moment before she resumed walking.

Seeing that despite everything she had said, Wei Yingluo still left in the end, the Empress frowned. She tossed the wisteria flower in her hand to the ground and spoke coldly:

“Yuan Chunwang, will Consort Ling truly agree to cooperate with me?”

As the most patient hunter in the Forbidden City, a trace of impatience actually crept into her voice—proof of just how formidable her opponent was, far beyond what Wei Yingluo had imagined.

“She will.” Yuan Chunwang calmly watched the direction in which Wei Yingluo had departed. “Hearing is false; seeing is believing. As soon as she catches one glimpse of Chenbi, she will obediently come begging you.”

On the way back to Yanxi Palace, Wei Yingluo was weighed down with heavy thoughts. Ming Yu glanced at her several times, wanting to speak but hesitating. The two walked in silence for a stretch until Wei Yingluo suddenly stopped, let out a soft scoff, and said:

“I still fell for his trick after all.”

Yuan Chunwang had not invited her to attend a welcoming banquet—he had invited her to catch a single glimpse of someone.

That was why the reception banquet was held in the Imperial Garden: because Hongli and a certain someone was also there in the Imperial Garden.

Not far ahead, a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs had gathered beneath a large tree. Hongli was looking up and shouting toward the branches:

“Come down right now!”

The branches swayed. Everyone below immediately raised their hands in unison. The scene was at once comical and solemn, as though thousands upon thousands were welcoming the descent of a heavenly maiden.

Suddenly, a clear chime of silver bells rang out. In the blink of an eye, a woman in white—with silver bells tied around her ankles—descended gracefully from above, ethereal as moonlight among clouds, pristine as snow on the Heavenly Mountains.

She resembled an immortal descending from the heavens and landed steadily in Hongli’s arms.

Hongli caught her firmly, then asked in a low voice:

“What happened?”

A palace maid beside them explained nervously:

“Reporting to Your Majesty: when Her ladyship Concubine Rong passed by, she noticed a fledgling bird had fallen from the tree and wanted to return it to its nest.”

Hongli: “Chenbi!”

“Your Majesty, please don’t be angry,” Chenbi spoke. Her voice was extraordinarily pleasing—each word sounded almost like singing. “It was this concubine’s fault. You have told me many times not to act on whim. Next time something like this happens, I will definitely instruct them to handle it and won’t let you worry anymore, alright?”

Legend said that in the West there was a wondrous bird of exquisite voice called the kalavinka, which served the Buddha with its song. Her voice was exactly like that of a kalavinka—one capable of delighting even the Buddha—and it likewise delighted Hongli. He sighed, took out a handkerchief, and personally wiped the dust from her face.

Chenbi laughed softly, like a kalavinka gently beginning to sing. Halfway through the song, she suddenly turned her head toward the direction where Wei Yingluo stood. Her eyes sparkled with innocence and curiosity.

Wei Yingluo’s entire body stiffened. The instant she saw Chenbi’s face, her mind went blank. No word could describe her appearance; she felt only a profound sense of inferiority and shame.

“What is it?” Hongli followed her gaze but saw nothing—there was no one ahead.

“Someone was standing there just now,” Chenbi said with a smile. “Watching us the whole time. The moment you turned your head, you scared her away.”

Hongli glanced toward Li Yu. Li Yu reminded him quietly:

“Your Majesty, it was Her Ladyship Consort Ling.”

At the mention of that name, Hongli’s face immediately darkened. He took Chenbi’s hand and led her in the opposite direction:

“Come. I’ll take you to the watchtower to watch the sunset.”

The sunset over the Forbidden City was magnificent and grand, like a splendid brocade unfurling from the horizon across the earth. Yet Wei Yingluo had no heart to appreciate it.

Ming Yu: “Yingluo, are you really going to cooperate with the Empress?”

Wei Yingluo: “Why not?”

Ming Yu: “But I don’t understand. You had already refused her. Then, after just one glance at Concubine Rong, you immediately changed your mind. Is she really that special?”

The two of them had already returned to Yanxi Palace. The setting sun streamed in through the window, dyeing the mirror in front of Wei Yingluo a deep red. She pointed at her own reflection in the glass:

“Look at this face.”

Ming Yu followed Yingluo’s gaze and asked curiously, “What’s wrong with it?”

Wei Yingluo’s finger slowly traced across the mirror—over her lips, her nose, and finally her eyes:

“This face isn’t cute at all. It’s like the moment my eyes blink, some wicked scheme is already brewing.”

Ming Yu burst out laughing. “Who talks about themselves like that? So what’s so different about Concubine Rong’s face?”

Recalling that fleeting, breathtaking glimpse of beauty, Wei Yingluo suddenly felt she understood why Hongli had forgotten her—forgotten to reply to her letters.

With a woman like that in the world—one who seemed to gather every beautiful thing between heaven and earth, like a celestial maiden descended—who would still pay attention to ordinary rouge and powder?

“Concubine Rong’s face is exactly the one I’ve always wanted most.” Wei Yingluo stared blankly at her own reflection, unconsciously comparing herself to that other face. “…Pure and flawless, gentle and approachable, the kind that makes people’s hearts fill with tender affection.”

Ming Yu couldn’t help laughing again. “So that’s why you decided to work with the Empress? Just for a face?”

Wei Yingluo shook her head. “It’s not only because of her appearance. It’s also her manner.”

Ming Yu looked puzzled.

“For the sake of a little bird, she climbed up a tree… On anyone else, it would seem ridiculous. But on her, it’s called innocence.” Wei Yingluo closed her eyes and sighed wearily. “A woman who is innocent and untouched by the dust of the world is the most dangerous, because she is the one who most easily wins a man’s heart—especially a complicated man like His Majesty…”

She really wished she could have a face like Concubine Rong’s.

If she too had been born so pure and guileless, making people feel protective and tender at first sight, then her path in the palace would have been so much easier. She wouldn’t have faced so much suspicion from so many people the moment she entered—especially from Hongli. It wouldn’t have taken so much time and so many trials to finally change the way he looked at her.

“That makes sense.” Seeing her mood dip, Ming Yu quickly tried to change the subject with a teasing tone. “If you had a face like that, seducing His Majesty would be twice the result with half the effort!”

Was that really how one should phrase it? Wei Yingluo instantly forgot her melancholy, shot her a glare, and retorted irritably:

“Wrong! With a face like that, how convenient it would be to do bad things!”

“But right now His Majesty clearly likes women like Concubine Rong…” Ming Yu hesitated for a moment, then cautiously suggested, “How about… you try imitating Concubine Rong?”

“I can’t imitate her, and I don’t want to.” Wei Yingluo was silent for a long while before finally smiling. “Wei Yingluo is Wei Yingluo. Why should I turn into someone else? If I want to win someone’s heart, I’ll do it my own way. All right—please make another trip for me. Deliver a message to the Empress. Tell her…”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 167: Sunken Jade

   Sometimes, Wei Yingluo couldn’t help but think: the older the ginger, the spicier it gets. Even she herself hadn’t clearly seen into her own heart, yet the Empress Dowager had seen it clearly. That was why, under the pretext of an order, she had made her write a letter to Hongli.

But that was all there was to it. Hongli could never forgive her, and she could never forgive herself. The only connection left between them in this lifetime would be entrusted to these family letters.

Yet the Empress Dowager would not let her have her wish.

The month’s end had not yet arrived when the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned her. She lay reclining in a rocking chair with her eyes closed while Aunt Liu knelt to one side, gently pounding her legs. All of a sudden she spoke:

“Consort Ling, how long has it been since the Emperor last replied to your letters?”

Wei Yingluo was taken aback.

The Empress Dowager continued: “Ming Yu, you tell her.”

Ming Yu was an honest person, so she answered straightforwardly:

“Three months ago, Consort Ling sent a family letter into the palace. After that, she never received any reply.”

“Consort Ling, your days have been far too comfortable,” the Empress Dowager said meaningfully. “You should think carefully about why the Emperor no longer writes back to you.”

On the way back from the Empress Dowager’s bedroom, Ming Yu tried to comfort her:

“Don’t worry. It must be because the Emperor has been too busy lately…”

“What am I worried about?” Wei Yingluo said softly. “I already expected this. He won’t wait for me forever. There will surely be someone younger, someone more beautiful, to take my place…”

Even though she said it that way, a sour ache still rose in her heart.

Back in her own residence, she spread out snow-white letter paper on the table. The candle burned down to nothing; night passed into dawn. Finally, Wei Yingluo set aside the brush whose ink had long since dried and said:

“Let’s go.”

Ming Yu, who had stayed up with her the entire night, asked: “Where to?”

“To take my leave of the Empress Dowager.” After a pause, Wei Yingluo turned around, looking at Ming Yu with a complicated expression. “Will you blame me? I promised the Empress that I would never become his consort…”

Ming Yu shook her head and gently took her hand, speaking tenderly:

“I believe in you. If the Empress were still alive, no matter what, you would never have become His Majesty’s consort.”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head; tears fell.

The Empress Dowager, despite her age, rose very early. When Wei Yingluo came to pay morning respects, she was already having breakfast. On the table were bird’s-nest roast duck, braised spring bamboo shoots with fat chicken, a dish of Huizhou tofu, a jar of red-bean congee, and more—fragrant and colorful. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager seemed to have little appetite today; most of the dishes remained untouched. She merely picked up an orange and ate it slowly.

After listening to Wei Yingluo’s purpose in coming, she said indifferently:

“You should have come sooner. Fortunately, it’s not too late to say it now. You haven’t disappointed me too greatly.”

Wei Yingluo was stunned by the words.

“Consort Ling, you do have some ability—to make the Emperor so worried about you, so unable to forget you.” The Empress Dowager looked at her with eyes that saw clearly through right and wrong. “But starting from today, you must prepare yourself: you are no longer the most special one! For the past three months, the Emperor has not thought of you even once! Perhaps the days at the Yuanmingyuan have been too peaceful, numbing your sharpness. Or perhaps you have been too confident—confident enough to completely forget one saying: there is always someone better, and heavens beyond the heavens!”

Wei Yingluo felt a chill in her heart. She asked gravely:

“Dare I ask Your Majesty, who exactly is this ‘someone better,’ this ‘heavens beyond the heavens’?”

“Iparhan of the Hezhuo clan,” the Empress Dowager said calmly. “The Emperor personally gave her a Han name: Chenbi.”

Long smoke cleared away, bright moon stretching for a thousand miles, floating light leaping like gold, still shadow sunken like jade; fishermen’s songs answering one another—what joy could surpass this?

“Chenbi…” Wei Yingluo slowly repeated the name.

When a man gives a woman such a name, it must mean she truly brought him immense joy—so much so that he… loved her to the utmost.

Thus she spent a sleepless night. At the first pale light of dawn the next day, Wei Yingluo rose, washed and dressed, and set off with Ming Yu back to the Forbidden City.

Fully expecting to spend a full day first tidying up the long-abandoned Yanxi Palace, she was surprised upon entering to find the windows bright, the tables spotless, and everything neatly arranged.

Even the palace maids and eunuchs were the same ones from before. One by one, they respectfully saluted Wei Yingluo, as though she had never left, never fallen from favor, and was still the radiant Consort Ling of those days at the height of her glory.

“Xiaoquanzi, you handled this assignment very well this time.” Ming Yu gave him a pat on the back from behind. “I told you to come back early and make preparations, and you got everything ready so quickly!”

Xiaoquanzi smiled obsequiously. “This humble servant dares not take credit. By the time we returned to Yanxi Palace, they had already prepared everything!”

Wei Yingluo listened and frowned in silence, but Ming Yu could hardly hide her delight. She grabbed her arm and said, “Yingluo, the Emperor really does still care about you. Before you even returned, everything was already arranged perfectly…”

Before she could finish, a clear, cold voice came from outside: “Your Ladyship Consort Ling, are you satisfied with the arrangements in Yanxi Palace?”

Everyone turned toward the sound. Standing at the doorway was a strikingly beautiful eunuch—more beautiful than many of the consorts—with eyes that passed over the crowd to rest on Wei Yingluo. He gave her a slight smile. “This servant greets Your Ladyship Consort Ling.”

It was Yuan Chunwang.

Wei Yingluo returned a smile, equally clear and cold. “Chief Steward Yuan, it has been a long time.”

Yuan Chunwang lowered his head slightly, concealing the complicated look in his eyes, and said respectfully, “The Empress has been waiting for some time. Please, Your Ladyship Consort Ling, come with me.”

In the cool pavilion of the Imperial Garden, old enemies met once again.

Wei Yingluo glanced at the stone table: hibiscus pastries, rose cakes, grape wine, and fresh seasonal fruits—all things she loved. How would the Empress know? She looked at Yuan Chunwang standing behind her. With this man here, of course the Empress knew her tastes like the back of her hand.

The Empress smiled. “The moment I heard you were returning to the palace, I immediately sent people to prepare everything. I only hope you like it. If there is anything else you need, just give the order to Chief Steward Yuan.”

Wei Yingluo looked at the Empress with a strange gaze.

She had originally thought that after she left, Yanxi Palace would stand empty and soon fall into ruin. Yet upon her return, there was not a speck of dust inside the rooms, not a single weed in the courtyard—it was clear someone had been specially maintaining it. But why?

“What’s wrong?” the Empress asked with a smile. “Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements?”

Wei Yingluo shook her head and said, “No. I was just thinking: as the mistress of the Six Palaces, you gave birth to the Twelfth Prince in the seventeenth year of Qianlong’s reign, and this year you added the Thirteenth Prince. The entire rear palace is under your control. What kind of woman could it be that, within just three months of entering the palace, made even you, Her Ladyship Empress, unable to sit still?”

The Empress was momentarily stunned, then laughed softly. She lifted a cup of grape wine, took a sip, and said meaningfully, “If you met her, you would feel the same wariness I do. No—not wariness. Fear.”

These words surprised Wei Yingluo slightly. The Empress was the most terrifying hunter she had ever encountered. What kind of opponent could make even her feel fear? Unable to hold back, Wei Yingluo asked, “Is there really such a beauty in the world—more so than the late Noble Consort Hui?”

Noble Consort Hui had been renowned as a kingdom-toppling beauty, called the “Peony of National Grace.” Whether before or after her death, Wei Yingluo had never seen anyone whose appearance could compare. Yet the Empress merely gave a light laugh, as if she didn’t take her seriously at all. “True beauty does not lie in outward appearance. The Emperor has seen countless beauties—how could he be captivated by a mere face? In my view, ten Noble Consort Huis could not compare to one Lady Rong.”

Wei Yingluo frowned slightly. “Your Ladyship Empress, even if Lady Rong is an unparalleled beauty and deeply favored by the Emperor, she still cannot threaten your position. I still don’t understand—what reason could there be for you to humble yourself and show goodwill toward me?”

Yuan Chunwang, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. “Your Ladyship Consort Ling, Lady Rong has now been promoted to Concubine Rong.”

Yingluo froze.

The Empress rose to her feet. Outside the pavilion, flowers bloomed in profusion—clusters and swathes of them—like the beauties filling the rear palace. Especially striking was a wisteria vine, its blossoms blooming all at once in chaotic profusion, thousands of flowers opening together. The Empress reached up, plucked a single wisteria blossom, twirled it between her fingers, and said slowly and deliberately:

“She is the daughter of the Taiji of the Dzungar tribe, Hezha Mai. Her elder brother Tuerdu distinguished himself greatly in quelling the rebellion. To show lasting friendship and alliance, they specially sent his younger sister Iparhan into the palace. The Emperor personally bestowed upon her the name Chenbi—Deep Jade—and favors her profoundly, far more than he ever favored you back then!”

She suddenly turned around, extended the wisteria blossom toward Wei Yingluo, and said gravely:

“That is why—we must join forces against a common enemy!”

Wei Yingluo looked at the flower she was offering, and after a long pause, she shook her head. “Your Ladyship Empress, I have already experienced your good intentions.’ This time, let us skip the cooperation.”

Cooperating with the Empress was no different from bargaining with a tiger for its skin. Even if Wei Yingluo wanted to contend with Chenbi, she would not do so through the Empress’s hand. None of the fruit on the table had been touched. Wei Yingluo gave her farewells and had just turned to leave when she heard the Empress call out loudly from behind her:

“When she entered the palace, she was already twenty-seven years old!”

Wei Yingluo’s footsteps halted.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 166: Family Letter

   He was the Empress’s most loyal dog, and also the most prominent figure in the rear palace.

Yuan Chunwang pushed open the door and frowned.

There was an extra trunk in his room.

It was half a person tall, made of red sandalwood, with hibiscus flower patterns carved in relief on the surface. Yuan Chunwang stared at the trunk for a moment, then said coolly, “Come out.”

The trunk opened.

A young maiden emerged like a lotus rising from water. Dressed in green, she looked timidly upward at Yuan Chunwang, her eyes rising from below.

“Who permitted you to come in?” Yuan Chunwang’s expression darkened.

The girl quickly lowered her gaze, clearly frightened of him; even her voice stuttered: “I… I… was sent by Steward Liu to serve Chief Steward Yuan…”

Before she could finish, a single finger pressed against her chin.

That finger slowly lifted her chin. A pair of phoenix eyes gazed at her from the opposite side.

“At first glance, there is about five parts resemblance.” The phoenix eyes narrowed, growing even more radiant and alluring. “What’s the matter—are you afraid of me?”

After saying this, he leaned in close, his breath warm and mere inches away, as though he were about to kiss her.

Whether from shock or from shyness, the young girl suddenly squeezed her eyes shut.

Slap!

The girl tumbled to the floor, one hand covering her face as she stared up at him in horror. “Yuan… Chief Steward Yuan…”

Screams rang out again and again. The people outside heard them but dared not enter to stop it.

After an unknown stretch of time, the sounds abruptly ceased. The door slid open with a whoosh, and Yuan Chunwang stepped out from within. Calmly he said, “Go inside and clean up. Oh—and by the way, tell Steward Liu that the gift he sent… I am very satisfied with it.”

“Yes!” The two young eunuchs hurriedly responded.

Only after Yuan Chunwang had walked far away did the pair cautiously turn back and peer inside the room.

On the floor lay the corpse of a young woman, her figure graceful and slender, clad in green silk that from a distance resembled a pool of spring water reflecting lotuses. Around her neck was wound a length of white silk ribbon, twisting and coiling like a white snake that had taken her life.

Though terrified, the two young eunuchs did not dare disobey Yuan Chunwang’s command. One took her arms, the other her legs, and together they carried the girl out to the courtyard to bury her.

As one of them swung the hoe, he asked, “Since Chief Steward Yuan said he was satisfied, why did he still kill her?”

The other glanced at him. “Don’t you think she looked a lot like someone?”

At those words, the first eunuch took a closer look at the girl in the pit. Suddenly his face went pale. “She… she looks like… Her Ladyship Consort Ling…”

At first glance, the girl bore at least a five-part resemblance to Consort Ling.

That was precisely why Yuan Chunwang had looked at her a few extra times while inspecting the embroidery workshop.

But he had not expected that every one of his glances would be noticed by others. In order to curry favor with him, Steward Liu of the embroidery workshop could not even wait until the next day—he hurriedly had the girl packed into a box and delivered straight to him.

“Your Ladyship Empress.” Having composed himself, Yuan Chunwang entered the upper floor of Chengqian Hall. He took the comb from a young palace maid’s hand and began gently combing the Empress’s long hair, stroke by stroke. “This servant has something to report.”

“What is it?” In the mirror, the Empress smiled, a trace of mockery in her expression. “If it’s about the women in your quarters, handle it yourself.”

Nothing escaped her notice. She was the cleverest woman in the Forbidden City—and also the most ruthless.

“It concerns the Empress Dowager,” Yuan Chunwang said. “The Empress Dowager has taken Consort Ling and moved into the Yuanmingyuan Gardens. His Majesty has gone there several times but has not been granted an audience. Your Ladyship, do you think His Majesty might…”

“What is there to fear?” The Empress smiled slightly. “That letter was left behind by Lady Wenshu. It was hidden by Dowager Consort Yu and discovered by the Prince of He—from beginning to end, what does any of it have to do with me?”

Yuan Chunwang lowered his gaze. “Your Majesty, if the weed is not pulled up by the roots, it may bring great trouble later.”

The Empress raised an eyebrow and looked at him through the mirror. “Why do I get the feeling that you hate Consort Ling even more than I do?”

Yuan Chunwang merely smiled and said nothing.

His smile was truly beautiful, like a flower in springtime. Merely looking at it brought a sense of peace to the heart.

That Wei Yingluo really was useless. To have such a capable man—one with a beautiful smile and exceptional skills—slip through her fingers and end up serving her rival instead… The Empress adjusted her hair ornament. Yuan Chunwang’s combing technique was superb; the hairstyle he created made her appear several years younger.

“His Majesty knows the Empress Dowager has gone to the Yuanmingyuan to recuperate from illness and immediately sent a large number of servants to accompany and attend her—clear proof of how concerned he is for her. To act against her at such a moment would only invite disaster upon ourselves, wouldn’t it?” The Empress laughed. “Moreover, I am now firmly seated on the fish platform. Even if Consort Ling has won the favor of that old fox by following the Empress Dowager, she has lost any chance to compete for His Majesty’s affections. By the time she returns—if she returns—the Forbidden City will already belong to a new master!”

In spring one views flowers, in summer gathers lotuses, in autumn welcomes maples, in winter admires snow. Compared to the Forbidden City, life in the Yuanmingyuan was carefree and joyful.

Freed from the confines of the palace, Wei Yingluo began to live like one of the secluded young ladies in Dream of the Red Chamber: practicing calligraphy every day, burying fallen flowers, and paying no attention to worldly affairs.

Only at the end of each month, forced by the Empress Dowager, did she write a letter to Hongli—one family letter after another, all in an attempt to slowly win back his heart.

At first, Wei Yingluo was unwilling to write, and Hongli was unwilling to reply. It was only after three or four months that, for the Empress Dowager’s sake, he reluctantly sent back one or two words—such as “Noted” or “Understood.”

Wei Yingluo, however, remained tirelessly diligent. She wrote that a particularly beautiful peony had bloomed in the Yuanming Garden; she wrote that the Empress Dowager had recently been feeling drowsy all the time. She wrote in fine, trifling detail, chattering on and on, until unconsciously the family letter stretched to several long pages.

He still replied. At first it was just one or two characters, but gradually the number of words increased. With every additional word, Wei Yingluo would feel happy for a very long time. Then, coming back to her senses, she would feel both ridiculous and pathetic, swearing to herself that she would never do such a foolish thing again—only to immediately spread out fresh letter paper once more.

“Who sends brocade letters from the clouds? When the wild geese return in formation, the moon fills the west tower.”

“This feeling has no remedy to dispel; just as it leaves my brow, it rises again in my heart.” Looking at the line of poetry she had unconsciously let fall onto the paper, Wei Yingluo sighed and crumpled the letter into a ball.

Forbidden City.

   “Your Majesty.” Li Yu presented the letter. “A family letter from the Empress Dowager.”

“Set it down.” Hongli spoke as though he didn’t care.

Li Yu placed the letter down. He had barely taken a step out of the main door of Yangxin Hall when he heard Hongli call from inside:

“Li Yu!”

“This servant is here.” Li Yu hurriedly turned back.

The letter had already been opened. He had acted as if he didn’t care, yet the moment no one was nearby, he had eagerly torn it open to read.

In fact, the instant he picked up the envelope, Hongli had already sensed something was wrong.

—It was too light.

Compared to the previous family letters that often contained several pages, this one felt far too thin. When he opened it, sure enough, there was only a single sheet.

And on that single sheet was just one character: 安 (Peace/Safety).

The handwriting was unfamiliar—even this single character had not been written by Wei Yingluo. Hongli frowned at it for a long while before finally raising his head to ask Li Yu:

“Go and find out what has happened at the Yuanming Garden.”

Seeing the grave expression on his face, Li Yu also grew tense. He quickly withdrew to make inquiries. Not long afterward, he returned to report:

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty… a while ago the Empress Dowager caught a minor cold and was bedridden for three days. Fortunately, the imperial physicians treated her promptly and she was well cared for. She has now fully recovered.”

Hongli was stunned. “The Empress Dowager was ill?”

Li Yu: “Her Ladyship Consort Ling, attended to her during the illness and also fell ill.”

Hongli’s expression changed dramatically. He rose abruptly to his feet. “She also fell ill?”

Li Yu: “Please do not be anxious, Your Majesty. When this servant made inquiries, Consort Ling’s condition had already greatly improved. Yesterday she was already able to get out of bed. It was only because of this that the family letter was written by a palace maid on her behalf…”

Hongli let out a breath of relief, then suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed.

He kept insisting that he didn’t care about her, yet the moment he heard something had happened to her, his face changed color, his hands and feet grew flustered. And he still claimed he didn’t care? Even he himself could no longer believe those words…

Fortunately, at that moment Hailancha arrived, sparing him from further awkwardness.

“Your Majesty!” Hailancha’s face was full of joy. “A great victory for our army in the Battle of Altishur! The elder and younger Khoja brothers fled in panic to Badakhshan with only three hundred men, but were finally captured by the pursuing troops. The great army will soon return in triumph to the capital!”

Hongli’s face lit up with delight—both at the complete victory and at the perfect timing of Hailancha’s arrival, which saved him from further embarrassment.

“Excellent! Immediately issue orders to prepare for the triumphant return of the western expedition generals and soldiers to the capital. I will personally welcome them and hold a banquet in their honor!”

Hailancha: “Your Majesty, General Zhaohui also said he will bring back a gift.”

Hongli was taken aback. “A gift?”

Whether it was an illusion or not, he always felt that Hailancha’s current expression was somewhat strange.

“It’s…” Hailancha said with a complicated look on his face, “the Tuerdu Taiji of the Dzungar tribe intends to present to His Majesty the Emperor of Great Qing a… beautiful gift.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 165: Departure

The guard whom the Empress Dowager had summoned was named Wang Tianyi.

Upon entering Yangxin Hall, he immediately tried to kneel and pay respects, but his knees simply wouldn’t bend. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he grimaced in pain.

Hongli frowned deeply at the sight until Li Yu leaned close to his ear and murmured softly:

“Your Majesty, Lord Wang once took a firearm shot to the knee while protecting the late Emperor. In his old age, the old injury flares up repeatedly…”

Looking at the elderly man with graying temples below, Hongli sighed inwardly and said:

“Grant him a seat.”

Li Yu personally brought over a chair. Wang Tianyi sat down very carefully, occupying only the edge of the seat, ready at any moment to rise and kneel again.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“…You once personally taught me riding and archery. You can be considered my teacher. Whatever I ask you now, you must answer truthfully.” Hongli had already investigated the man’s background and was surprised to discover they shared a past connection. “Back then, when the late Emperor made a private visit to Shanxi, Lady Qian accompanied him. Are you aware of this matter?”

Wang Tianyi hesitated for a moment before replying:

“Yes, Your Majesty, that did happen.”

Hongli couldn’t help clenching his fingers:

“When you went to greet him, did the late Emperor return together with Lady Qian?”

Wang Tianyi: “Yes.”

Hongli exploded in fury and slammed his palm on the desk:

“The Empress Dowager actually dared to deceive me!”

Wang Tianyi dropped to his knees with a thud. The sudden movement caused a sharp crack from his knee. He clutched his right knee in agony, sweat dripping to the floor. It took him a long while to find his voice again. Hoarsely, he pleaded:

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger…”

By this time Hongli had already stepped out from behind the desk and hurried to his side. He personally helped the old man up, his gaze earnest:

“Wang Anda, you followed the late Emperor for decades. When I was small, you carried me around the courtyard on your back… For the sake of our past bond…”

He paused, and a thread of chilling coldness suddenly entered his voice:

“Tell me… was Lady Qian killed by the Empress Dowager?”

Wang Tianyi froze for a second. He had only just stood up before dropping to his knees once more.

Hongli said nothing. Li Yu said nothing. Everyone waited for Wang Tianyi to speak.

One could say that in this moment, this elderly man with inconvenient legs and graying temples held the power to decide life and death. A single sentence from him could determine the fate of the Empress Dowager—and the fates of many others…

“Your Majesty…” Wang Tianyi said through tears, “Lady Qian, in order to save the late Emperor, submitted her body to the Ming bandits, causing the late Emperor to lose all face. She… was granted death by the late Emperor himself!”

Hongli went rigid at the words.

A buzzing filled his ears. Whatever Wang Tianyi said afterward, he barely heard any of it.

In truth, when he first heard Lu Wanwan tell that story of chastity and righteousness, a vague answer had already formed in his heart. But because of Qian Zhengyuan’s death, and because of the new Empress’s deliberate interference, his preconceptions had deepened, causing him to place suspicion on the Empress Dowager first.

Yet once he brushed aside those prejudices, wasn’t the answer… quite obvious?

A woman who had lost her chastity—how could she possibly continue to live in the rear palace, under the endless gossip and condemnation of the world?

If she were allowed to live, how could she possibly go on living in the days to come? And what would become of her child?

Hongli could not help but recall the words the Empress Dowager had once spoken: “Right up until the moment of death, she held my hand tightly, refusing to close her eyes until I promised her that I would treat you as my own son. Only then did she finally close them.”

   …Yes. Apart from death, what other path was left for Lady Qian?

Apart from entrusting her son to the Empress Dowager, what other path did she have?

   “…Empress Dowager.” Hongli suddenly murmured the words and rushed out the door.

Guilt weighed heavily on his heart; he wished he could immediately kneel before the Empress Dowager and beg forgiveness. Yet when he reached Shoukang Palace, it was completely empty. Hongli stared at the deserted palace, at the vacant carved windows, then slowly turned around and demanded of the rows of kneeling palace maids and eunuchs:

“Where is the Empress Dowager?”

A palace maid answered tremblingly: “The Empress Dowager… the Empress Dowager has taken Consort Ling and left the palace to recuperate from illness.”

“What did you say?” Hongli exclaimed in shock. Then, already striding hurriedly outward, he shouted: “Prepare the horses! Prepare the horses at once!!”

He galloped out of the palace gates, Hongli at the very front, a group of guards trailing behind. Seeing him whip his horse as if his life depended on it, the guards grew tense and closed ranks tightly around him, afraid he might fall if he lost control for even a moment.

“Whoa!” Suddenly Hongli reined in hard. The horse reared, hooves kicking up dust, then settled into restless small steps. From atop the saddle, Hongli looked at the person blocking the road.

“…Noble Lady Qing, what are you doing?”

Lu Wanwan, her face deathly pale, gave him a respectful curtsy: “Your Majesty, this concubine has been ordered by the Empress Dowager to wait here and convey several urgent words to Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to dismiss your attendants.”

Hongli waved his hand. The guards immediately turned their horses and withdrew. He dismounted, walked up to Lu Wanwan, and asked: “What did the Empress Dowager say?”

“The Empress Dowager instructed this concubine to tell Your Majesty: The late Emperor reigned for thirteen years and rested only on the day of his birthday. He never once went on the Mulan autumn hunt, nor indulged in pleasure excursions. He governed with utmost diligence, all because he wished to be a good emperor. The late Emperor once said that in this life he bore the infamous reputation of plotting against his father, forcing his mother, killing his brother, and slaughtering his younger brothers—like carrying a towering mountain on his back while walking against the wind. He knew full well how crucial it was, for any heir, to have a legitimate and unsullied name!”

Lu Wanwan sighed. “He did not lack pity for Lady Qian—he simply could not bear to let Your Majesty be stained by shame!”

Hongli listened in silence.

“That day, when the Empress Dowager was ordered to bring the poisoned wine to see the Lady, the Lady said not a single word. She merely bowed three times to the Empress Dowager, then calmly drank the poison and died.” At this point Lu Wanwan’s own eyes filled with tears, as though she felt the pain herself. “The Empress Dowager said that since she had accepted those three bows, she had taken on a thousand-boulders burden. She would care for Your Majesty her whole life as though You were her own flesh and blood…”

Hongli let out a long sigh. He lifted his head high; tears glistened at the corners of his eyes.

After finally forcing the tears back, he abruptly remounted and galloped off in the direction the Empress Dowager had gone. Behind him, Lu Wanwan called out urgently: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Empress Dowager said the Forbidden City is no longer peaceful. She is going to the Yuanmingyuan to recuperate. Consort Ling will take good care of her. She asks that Your Majesty not pursue her…”

But how could Hongli listen? Again and again he lashed the horse; hooves thundered, raising clouds of dust as he chased after the Empress Dowager’s carriage.

   Yet when someone has already resolved to leave, how can they ever be chased back?

   Clop-clop-clop. On the road to the Yuanmingyuan, the Empress Dowager reclined against a welcoming pillow, sipping the tea Aunt Liu offered her. She looked perfectly at ease, calm and composed—not at all like someone who was ill.

“What is it?” She set down the teacup and smiled at Wei Yingluo sitting opposite her. “Do you have something to ask me?”

Wei Yingluo asked curiously: “When did Your Majesty recover?”

The Empress Dowager laughed. “You should be asking when I fell ill.”

Wei Yingluo was somewhat puzzled. Aunt Liu gave a gentle smile and offered her a hint: “Consort Ling, if the Empress Dowager had not fallen ill, how could she have made the Empress lower her guard?”

It was more than just making the Empress lower her guard…

   This illness of the Empress Dowager’s had come at exactly the right moment. Not only did it cause the Empress to relax her vigilance, it also won Hongli’s pity—buying precious breathing room for the decisive counterstrike that would come later.

   When something happens with such perfect timing, nine times out of ten someone is pulling strings behind the scenes.

   Wei Yingluo finally understood. “Your Majesty, how did you manage to deceive the imperial physicians’ eyes?”

Court Physician Zhang might be bribable, but after him, Ye Tianshi also came to take the pulse. If Zhang could be bought off, Ye Tianshi was certainly not someone so easily purchased.

“The Empress thinks herself clever, having bought off Court Physician Zhang—but who would know…” The Empress Dowager turned her head to look at the unremarkable Aunt Liu beside her. “The one by my side, Aunt Liu, happens to be an expert in the use of medicines?”

Aunt Liu smiled. “Her Majesty flatters me. Using golden needles to manipulate things can deceive for a moment, but not forever. That is why Her Majesty must leave the Forbidden City.”

The Empress Dowager had fallen ill at just the right moment, and departed at just the right moment.

Leaving at this precise time was the surest way to make Hongli regret it bitterly. Given that monarch’s temperament, he was probably already galloping on horseback right now, chasing after the carriage.

“Empress Dowager, you are wise,” Wei Yingluo praised.

But the Empress Dowager shook her head, took her hand, and said, “Consort Ling, relying only on a few words from Aunt Liu, you managed to tell the Emperor a fine story. We understood each other at once… but your story is still not complete. I must help you finish it.”

Wei Yingluo was startled upon hearing this.

Was there some flaw in her plan—or in the story she had told?

“Your Ladyship Consort Ling,” Aunt Liu asked with a smile, “do you know why the Empress Dowager is taking you with her when she leaves?”

Wei Yingluo shook her head.

The Empress Dowager looked at her fondly. “Consort Ling, you are very clever, but your methods are still too immature. You have thoroughly offended the Emperor. The more you linger in front of him, the more you will annoy him. You need to make him think of you, miss you—and yet be unable to see you.”

In that instant, one phrase flashed through Wei Yingluo’s mind: The older the ginger, the spicier it gets.

   Aunt Liu seized the moment and said, “Your Ladyship Consort Ling, why don’t you thank the Empress Dowager? She is helping you.”

Wei Yingluo rose from her seat and solemnly bowed to the Empress Dowager. “I thank Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

In the past, the Empress Dowager had merely used Wei Yingluo. But after sharing hardship together, genuine affection had begun to grow. She personally helped her up and let her sit close beside her, speaking softly: “In the entire Forbidden City, no one is better at winning people’s hearts than you. I am bringing you to the Yuanmingyuan because I want someone to keep me company.”

Wei Yingluo hesitated for a moment, then finally asked cautiously, “Empress Dowager, there is one thing… I venture to ask.”

The Empress Dowager saw right through her. “You want to ask why Lady Qian really died?”

Hearing it stated so plainly, Wei Yingluo suddenly didn’t dare press further. She only dared to steal glances from the corner of her eye.

   A kindly, benevolent smile gradually appeared on the Empress Dowager’s face. If the current Empress were present, she would surely recognize it—the very same smile the Empress Dowager had worn when she persuaded Hongli to execute her innocent father.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 164: Integrity and Righteousness

   Yangxin Hall.

   Hongli was bent over the desk, staring at the scroll of “Spring Radiance” that lay spread out before him.

These past few days he seemed almost possessed, constantly gazing at this painting, as though if he looked long enough, the figure in it would come to life and tell him the truth.

“Your Majesty.” Li Yu hurried in. “A report has come from Shoukang Palace—the Empress Dowager is delirious, convulsions have not stopped, and she can hardly swallow even soup!”

It was a long while before Hongli raised his head, murmuring as if in a dream: “…What did you say?”

Li Yu repeated it. Only then did he startle awake from his daze. He snatched up the “Spring Radiance” scroll from the table, rushed out of Yangxin Hall, and hurried without pause straight to Shoukang Palace.

Aunt Liu came out to greet him. Hongli waved away her formalities and said, “I wish to see the Empress Dowager.”

The bead curtain swayed gently. A hand holding a book reached out from behind it, followed by a serene, lotus-like face—it was Lu Wanwan.

“Your Majesty.” She had come from the direction of the inner chamber. Respectfully, she offered the book in her hands to Hongli. “The Empress Dowager says she understands the purpose of Your Majesty’s visit. If Your Majesty opens this book, everything will become clear.”

Hongli took the blue-bound volume and looked—Notes from Yuewei Cottage.

The notebook was filled with many bizarre and supernatural tales. Hongli had no interest in them. He casually took it, glanced at it without really looking, and tossed it to Li Yu. Then he moved to step past Lu Wanwan and enter the inner chamber.

Lu Wanwan subtly shifted a step, blocking his path. Since he refused to look, she smiled and began telling him the story herself:

“There’s a tale in the book about a beautiful farmer’s wife surnamed Guo in Huai Town. Her husband fled famine to another region and entrusted his aging parents to her care. She kept her doors tightly shut, spinning and weaving day and night to support her in-laws. But her earnings were meager and could not sustain them. In desperation, she turned to her neighbors for help, yet no one could aid her. After a bout of bitter weeping, she had no choice but to stand by the door and sell her smiles (prostitution).”

Hongli grew somewhat impatient. He had not come here to listen to her tell stories. “Lady Qing, step aside.”

But Lu Wanwan did not yield. She continued her tale:

“Lady Guo sold her own body to provide for her parents-in-law. With the money earned from selling herself, she purchased a beautiful young girl and raised her in the household. When her husband finally returned, she said to him: ‘You have returned safely, your parents remain untouched and whole, and this innocent maiden is the new wife I have chosen for you.’ Having spoken these words, she raised a knife and took her own life.”

At this point, she suddenly turned her head and glanced toward the inner hall. It was unclear whom she saw or whose silent approval she received, but only then did she muster the courage to finish the story under Hongli’s furious glare.

“…After her death, her eyes remained open, unclosed. The county magistrate judged her unchaste and ruled that she be buried in the ancestral grave but not interred beside her husband.” Lu Wanwan continued, “Only her parents-in-law wept bitterly for her, saying their son was unfilial for abandoning his parents, and that this frail woman had lost her chastity only to fulfill her duty of supporting them—what fault was there in that? At the time, people argued endlessly: between chastity and righteousness, which truly matters more?”

Even earlier, when she had turned her head, Hongli had followed her gaze. Behind the beaded curtain, a corner of a qipao was visible, with a gardenia flower blooming against the hem of the skirt.

“…Your Majesty! Back in the great drought in Shanxi, Lady Qian accompanied the Emperor Yongzheng on his private inspection tour. Amid the fierce struggle for the throne, they encountered numerous dangers. After becoming separated from their entourage, the Emperor Yongzheng was struck by an arrow and wounded. To evade the assassins, he was forced deep into the mountains—only for misfortune to compound when they encountered bandits hiding in the Taihang Mountains. At the moment of life and death…” Lu Wanwan spoke gravely, “…Lady Qian left the Emperor Yongzheng hidden in a farmhouse, put on his clothes, and went alone to draw away the pursuing rebel troops.”

Hongli had been about to walk toward that gardenia flower when these words made him whip around and stare at her. “What did you say?”

Lu Wanwan shrank back a step under his gaze, lowered her head, and said, “Some say Lady Qian was captured by the bandits. Others say she leaped from the summit of the Taihang Mountains… Whether she truly submitted to the bandits or took her own life to preserve her chastity, either way it was to protect her husband—she acted with both affection and righteousness, truly moving and admirable! But once the story spread, she would suffer the same fate as Lady Guo: having performed an act of supreme righteousness, yet condemned and reviled by all under heaven. Even Your Majesty would not escape the storm of gossip and criticism. This is precisely why the Empress Dowager has guarded the secret so fiercely…”

Hongli stared at her fixedly.

If what she said was true, then it was no wonder this matter had become a closely guarded secret.

   Between chastity and righteousness—which carried more weight? It was hard to say clearly. But if such a thing happened to a consort, everyone would demand that she fulfill both perfectly. The best outcome would be for her to take her own life; if she could not, someone else would help her do so—and that someone might very well be the very person she had sacrificed herself to protect…

   How exactly had Lady Qian died? Had she committed suicide, or had she been granted death? Hongli opened his mouth, but the words would not come out…

   “…Beside the Emperor Yongzheng was a personal bodyguard—the very first person to find him that year. He has now retired to his hometown in Jiaozhou.” Lu Wanwan carefully observed his expression. “The Empress Dowager has already sent people to summon him. He will arrive no later than tomorrow. When the time comes, if you have any questions, you may ask him directly.”

Hongli’s mind was in utter turmoil. His gaze flickered between the Spring Radiance Painting in his hand and the Notes from the Yuewei Cottage now held by Li Yu. For the moment he could not tell whether her words were true or false, nor did he know what to ask next. Very well—since a witness had already been summoned, he might as well start with that witness.

“…If what the Empress Dowager says is true, tomorrow I will personally come to Shoukang Palace and kneel to beg her forgiveness.” In the end, Hongli gave one deep look toward the inner hall, toward the corner of the skirt behind the beaded curtain, then turned and left.

The moment he was gone, Lu Wanwan let out a long breath. Her legs went weak; she nearly collapsed to the floor.

“Careful.” A hand reached out from behind and steadied her. Today Wei Yingluo’s qipao was embroidered with several gardenia flowers. She said to Lu Wanwan, “Lady Qing, you’ve worked hard.”

Lu Wanwan pressed a hand to her chest. She had always been timid as a mouse—especially in front of Hongli, barely daring to breathe. For the most part she had behaved like a delicate doll, allowing him to do as he pleased. It had been a very long time since she had spoken so many words in his presence.

Looking at Wei Yingluo with a complicated expression, she asked, “…Your Ladyship Consort Ling, why didn’t you tell His Majesty these things yourself?”

“His Majesty does not wish to see me. I cannot drag the Empress Dowager down with me.” Wei Yingluo smiled slightly. “Besides, with these words, His Majesty will surely remember you. Isn’t that a good thing?”

This was the method of achieving both goals at once: on one hand, conveying the Empress Dowager’s hardships and to Hongli; on the other, winning favor for Lu Wanwan.

If it weren’t for that, how could Lu Wanwan possibly speak up for her like this?

“Now everyone avoids Shoukang Palace, avoids the Empress Dowager and me. For you to come here at a time like this is both your kindness and your good fortune.” Wei Yingluo patted her hand and said gently, “Good intentions should be rewarded. Let me help you along…”

When it comes to beauty, schemes, or methods, this Lu Wanwan falls short in every way. Yet she appeared in Shoukang Palace at precisely this moment. One can only say that everyone has their own destiny. She is fated to use the Empress Dowager’s misfortune—and through Wei Yingluo’s hand—to gain a great opportunity, a lifetime of glory and splendor.

Who would push away such a chance? Even someone as timid as a mouse like Lu Wanwan still harbors a tiny spark of ambition, a faint glimmer of hope. So after her eyes flickered for a moment, she gripped Wei Yingluo’s hand and asked in a small voice:

“Consort Ling, Niangniang… what should this concubine do next?”

Wei Yingluo thought for a moment, then leaned close to her ear and whispered:

“Next, what you need to do is…”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 163: The Loser

When the news of Qian Zhengyuan’s sudden death arrived, it shocked the Empress Dowager so much that she immediately fell ill.

“Empress Dowager.” Aunt Liu came over carrying a bowl of medicine, worriedly saying, “The imperial physicians have all said that this is acute anger attacking the heart, with qi deficiency and disharmony. You must calm your mind, settle your emotions, and focus on recuperating.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, refusing the medicine in her grasp: “I’m fine. It’s just that I always feel as though a huge stone is pressing on my chest, making it hard to breathe… Has His Majesty visited yet?”

Aunt Liu gave an apologetic smile: “His Majesty is currently busy with morning court affairs. Once he has a moment, he will certainly come to visit the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager sighed: “In the past, even if I merely coughed once, he would immediately set aside state affairs and rush over. Now that I’m truly bedridden, he shows complete indifference.”

“Empress Dowager, you misunderstand.”

Both the Empress Dowager and Aunt Liu turned toward the voice. They saw the new Empress approaching gracefully with a smile on her face: “Today the Grand Council ministers are all in the Western Warm Pavilion discussing affairs. His Majesty truly cannot get away. But since the Empress Dowager is ill, His Majesty is extremely worried and anxious, so he immediately sent me to come and attend to you.”

The Empress Dowager stared at her, her eyes seeming to shoot arrows.

The Empress took the medicine bowl from Aunt Liu’s hands, scooped up a spoonful, thoughtfully blew on it to cool it, then brought it to the Empress Dowager — every gesture perfectly that of a dutiful daughter-in-law.

Yet the Empress Dowager scoffed with icy disdain: “Empress, that letter was delivered to His Majesty by you, wasn’t it?”

The Empress smiled coyishly: “Empress Dowager, the person who sent the letter was Prince He, and the one who hid the letter was Dowager Consort Yu. I would never have such great audacity.”

“Prince He and Dowager Consort Yu?” The Empress Dowager now understood everything clearly. “One of them lacks the brains, the other lacks the courage.” In this harem, the only person with both the courage and the intelligence to devise such a vicious scheme against her was one person alone.

Looking at the woman smiling gently before her, the Empress Dowager said in a deep voice: “You endured silently for so long, and finally found an opportunity to avenge your father. Lady Nara… all this time, I have truly underestimated you!”

The Empress replied softly: “Empress Dowager, excessive worry and overthinking are the greatest taboos for the sick. Please don’t let your imagination run wild. Take your medicine properly…”

Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager raised her hand and knocked the spoon and bowl out of her grasp. The dark brown medicinal liquid splashed all over the Empress, steaming hot.

The Empress Dowager said viciously: “Get out!”

“Yes.” Not a trace of anger appeared on the Empress’s face. She lightly brushed the medicine stains off her clothes with a handkerchief, then turned to leave — only to suddenly turn her head again. “Oh yes, I almost forgot one thing. Your nephew has been accused of participating in the disaster relief grain embezzlement case and has been thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison. Because the amount embezzled is enormous, I’m afraid he will be sentenced to beheading.”

The Empress Dowager was stunned upon hearing this.

“Your brother and sister-in-law rushed into the palace and have been kneeling outside Shenwu Gate for an entire day.” The Empress still wore that gentle smile on her face. “But His Majesty said that the Empress Dowager is deeply righteous and understands the greater principle. Knowing that her own nephew committed a crime, the first thing she must do is place righteousness above family ties. That he is not pursuing their responsibility for failing to educate him properly is already extraordinary mercy. Even if they kneel until the end of time, a head that deserves to be cut off will absolutely not be spared!”

Place righteousness above family ties? That phrase sounded familiar.

Upon thinking carefully — wasn’t that exactly the reason her own father was executed?

The Empress Dowager took several deep breaths, her voice trembling: “Empress, do you really think that back then I insisted on having your father killed just to protect my nephew?”

“Oh?” The Empress looked at her curiously. “Was it not?”

“Was he the only one who embezzled disaster relief grain? It was easy for His Majesty to kill him — but could he kill every single prince and minister in the imperial clan? He couldn’t. And neither can you!” The Empress Dowager said sharply, “The one I was protecting was not someone else — it was His Majesty, and the rivers and mountains of Great Qing! The one truly indulging in personal vengeance… is you!”

The Empress scoffed with icy disdain. Such high-sounding words could only deceive newly arrived young palace maids — they could never deceive someone whose parents had already been killed.

“Empress Dowager, you really have worked hard,” the Empress said mockingly. “But from now on, you no longer need to trouble yourself.”

Hearing the implication in her words, the Empress Dowager’s voice began to shake: “…Do you think you can drive a wedge between me and His Majesty’s mother-son bond?”

“Why can’t I?” The Empress laughed lightly. “His Majesty’s temperament is such that when he loves someone, he wants them to live; when he hates someone, he wants them dead. Now he believes you are the murderer of his birth mother, and that you have deceived him for so many years while wearing the mask of a loving mother. Do you think he will ever forgive you?”

Before the words “The Emperor will never believe…” could fully leave her mouth, the Empress Dowager herself froze.

Because she suddenly remembered the intelligence that Aunt Liu had brought earlier—Qian Zhengyuan, of all people, had to go and die by falling from his horse… and at exactly this moment?

“You finally remembered?” The Step Empress’s voice sounded right beside her ear, dripping with malice. “The Emperor originally didn’t believe it. Unfortunately—such a pity—Lord Qian Zhengyuan just happened to fall off his horse at this precise time. Tell me… who do you think he will suspect first?”

By now the Step Empress had completely seen through the secret. She immediately glared at the other woman and spat:

“Poisonous woman—it was you who killed Minister Qian—”

“Hahaha!” The Step Empress threw her head back and laughed, utterly delighted. “Rest assured, Empress Dowager. The Emperor definitely won’t kill you, but he will absolutely never forgive you! From this day forward, you may continue to sit high as the exalted Empress Dowager—like a Bodhisattva enshrined in Yinghua Hall—but nothing more than a noble ornament! Enjoy the rest of your life in peace!”

The Empress Dowager was so enraged her eyes turned bloodshot. With a sudden roar she lunged forward, hair disheveled, completely shedding her usual saintly Bodhisattva demeanor and looking instead like a vicious ghost that had crawled out of hell.

But the Step Empress simply stepped aside. The Empress Dowager, carried by momentum, overshot and crashed headlong into the bedpost. In an instant her mouth twisted to one side, her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Aunt Liu cried out in alarm: “Empress Dowager! Empress Dowager!”

Wei Yingluo happened to arrive at that exact moment. She rushed forward at once, feeling for the Empress Dowager’s pulse while urgently shouting: “Quick—go summon the imperial physician!”

In stark contrast to their frantic panic, the Step Empress remained perfectly composed. She bent down, smiled, and said sweetly:

“Consort Ling, your last backer has fallen. From now on… what exactly are you going to do? Hahahaha!”

The Step Empress laughed heartily as she left. On her way out, Yuan Chunwang drew close and spoke in an extremely calm voice, issuing a cool reminder:

“Empress, right now the Emperor detests the Empress Dowager, but after all they are mother and son with many years of deep affection. If one day he recalls the kindnesses of the past and begins to feel tender toward her again, wouldn’t you have made an enemy for nothing?”

Those words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the triumph on the Step Empress’s face. She calmed down, thought for a moment, then turned to Yuan Chunwang with a smile:

“Since you ask that question, do you already have some plan in mind?”

Yuan Chunwang lowered his gaze. His eyes were perfectly tranquil, yet the words that came out carried a rolling murderous intent:

“Court Physician Zhang’s son died young, leaving behind only one little grandson, whom he regards as the apple of his eye, his very lifeblood…”

And the physician who had always come to take the Empress Dowager’s peaceful pulse was precisely Court Physician Zhang.

Especially as the Empress Dowager grew older—although she took excellent care of herself—various ailments common to the elderly inevitably appeared. Whenever anything happened, she would summon him. This time was no exception.

“Court Physician Zhang,” Aunt Liu asked anxiously, “how is the Empress Dowager?”

Court Physician Zhang withdrew his fingers from her wrist, frowning:

“The Empress Dowager has a deviated mouth and eyes, clenched jaw, and intermittent trembling in the right hand’s sinews. In my humble opinion, I fear this is obstruction of the meridians.”

Obstruction of the meridians had another name: minor stroke.

In severe cases it could lead to hemiplegia, inability to swallow even liquids—little different from death.

Aunt Liu trembled all over at the words, but fortunately Court Physician Zhang continued:

“Fortunately the Empress Dowager’s condition is very mild. As long as we prescribe a decoction to soothe the sinews and activate the collaterals, calm the liver and extinguish wind, and unblock the channels, recovery is still possible.”

Wei Yingluo, who had been holding the Empress Dowager’s hand, finally let out a breath of relief—only to immediately sense something wrong. Looking down, she saw the Empress Dowager’s hand twitching slightly. The woman kept opening and closing her mouth with great difficulty, as though struggling to say something.

But with her mouth crooked and drool running freely, she could not speak. In the end she could only stare fixedly at Court Physician Zhang with wide, intense eyes.

Wei Yingluo seemed to understand. Once Court Physician Zhang had left to prepare the medicine, she asked softly:

“Empress Dowager, you do not trust him?”

The Empress Dowager still could not speak; she could only blink forcefully in confirmation.

Wei Yingluo nodded, then turned to Aunt Liu:

“I will go find Physician Ye.”

“This…” Aunt Liu hesitated. “How can he possibly enter?”

Because he had once boiled the contraceptive decoction for Wei Yingluo, Ye Tianshi had been stripped of office but allowed to remain in service—in other words, he was kept on as a criminal in name only. Out of consideration for his past merits they did not execute him, yet they had no intention of ever employing him again. He was simply another mouth to feed in the palace, given food and drink and nothing else.

It was a form of punishment—to let a man of outstanding talent waste away until he died.

“I have my own way.” Wei Yingluo walked toward the palace gate.

After a while, she led several palace maids and eunuchs inside. Some carried trays, others held towels. Because Wei Yingluo was leading them, the supervising eunuch only glanced once and let them pass.

The items were placed in the sleeping chamber. Wei Yingluo pointed at one of the palace maids and said, “You stay and attend to the Empress Dowager. Everyone else, leave.”

Once the others had withdrawn, the “palace maid” raised her head, revealing the unmistakably bitter face of Ye Tianshi: “What exactly are you people doing?”

Wei Yingluo didn’t waste time on small talk. She directly handed him the prescription left by Court Physician Zhang. Ye Tianshi took it, read it, then felt the Empress Dowager’s pulse, and fell silent in thought.

“What is it?” Wei Yingluo asked. “Is there something wrong with the prescription?”

“No problem.” Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, Ye Tianshi continued, “But if she really takes it this way, I’m afraid recovery will be hopeless.”

“How so?” Wei Yingluo asked.

“This prescription is less a medicine and more of a tonic,” Ye Tianshi gave a dry laugh. “She won’t die from taking it, but she won’t get better either—it makes no real difference whether she takes it or not.”

Upon hearing this, Aunt Liu’s expression immediately turned cold: “So Court Physician Zhang really was up to no good?”

“Not exactly,” Ye Tianshi said with a wry smile. “There’s an old saying in the capital: ‘Hanlin Academy essays and Imperial Academy prescriptions—beautiful on the surface only!’ After all, the Empress Dowager is of noble body. Who would dare use fierce, attacking drugs on her? So they can only slowly nourish and tonify. Even if this prescription is investigated from top to bottom, it’s all perfectly good medicine—no one can find the slightest fault!”

Wei Yingluo sighed. “Physician Ye, I must trouble you—please write a prescription for the Empress Dowager.”

The two had known each other for many years, and this was a matter of saving a life—a deed of great merit. Ye Tianshi did not refuse. He wrote two prescriptions for her, left a few medical instructions, then disguised himself as a palace maid again, picked up a basin of water, and left.

After seeing him off, Aunt Liu returned and said to Wei Yingluo with a sigh: “In the situation we’re in now, Shoukang Palace can no longer protect you. If you can leave, leave quickly—don’t get dragged down with us. The Emperor, he…”

Wei Yingluo smiled and cut her off: “The Emperor has never favored me anyway—what is there to fear? Besides, the Empress Dowager once protected me and spared me from humiliation. If I abandon her at a moment like this, what kind of person would that make me?”

Aunt Liu fell silent. The Empress Dowager, lying weakly on the bed, also quietly watched her.

“Empress Dowager,” Wei Yingluo slowly sat down beside her and gently took her hand. “The Empress has planned this for a long time and is coming with overwhelming force. If we are to respond, could you tell me about the past?”

The Empress Dowager looked at her with a complicated expression. After a long moment, she turned toward Aunt Liu and gave her a slight nod.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 162: Storm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hongli asked sharply, “Rather what?”

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

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

On the other side, at the Imperial Guard Station.

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

“Hailancha!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

So many dishes, yet only one pair of chopsticks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hailancha pressed his lips together and did not answer.

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

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

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

Yanxi Palace.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hailancha accepted the command and left.

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

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

At these words, Hongli’s expression changed dramatically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shoukang Palace.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face froze.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Unfortunately what?” Hongli asked quickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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