Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 73: Madness

   “Stop right there!”

On the corridor outside Changchun Palace, Erqing’s footsteps halted. She turned around. “…Yingluo, is something the matter?”

Wei Yingluo approached slowly, her expression far from friendly. “What exactly did you say to the Empress just now?”

Was this an interrogation? Erqing forced a relaxed smile. “Yingluo, I was merely worried for Her Majesty, which is why I made such a suggestion. Besides, securing favor among the palace consorts is quite common. I was momentarily muddled and mistakenly treated you as one of those women. I won’t mention it again.”

She tried to downplay the matter, to brush it off as a minor, harmless joke. But clearly, Wei Yingluo had no intention of treating it as a joke.

“Erqing, how many years have you served the Empress Dowager?” Wei Yingluo suddenly asked with a smile.

Erqing remained silent.

“Four years? Or five? In any case, longer than I have.” Wei Yingluo smiled as she stepped closer. “The Empress Dowager’s deep affection for His Majesty is something even I can see. How could you possibly not see it?”

That smile was more terrifying than any blade, forcing Erqing to take a step back.

“And right now the Empress is with child. If, at a time like this, the person she trusts most were to take the opportunity to climb into His Majesty’s bed, what a devastating blow would that be to her?” Wei Yingluo reached out with both hands and straightened the collar of Erqing’s robe for her. “So—so not only will I never do such a thing, I will absolutely never allow anyone in Changchun Palace to even entertain such an idea…”

At this point, her hands moved upward. Her ten fingers slowly closed together, wrapping around Erqing’s throat like a rope.

Boom—

Erqing shuddered violently. Whether it was because of the thunder rumbling outside the long corridor or because of Yingluo’s ice-cold fingers, she couldn’t tell.

Boom—

Dark clouds rolled in, turning day into night. Several flashes of lightning snaked through the black clouds like twisted, writhing serpents.

“Ah… it’s thundering.” Wei Yingluo released her fingers and looked out at the sky beyond the corridor. “It’s getting late. I should go attend Dowager Consort Yu’s birthday banquet.”

Erqing retreated several steps, her fingers touching her own throat as she stared in terror at the other woman’s retreating back.

The sound of her departing footsteps felt even more frightening than the thunder outside.

Shoukang Palace.

   The birthday banquet had been in preparation for many days, with most of the effort concentrated on erecting the canopy.

“How is it coming along?” Dowager Consort Yu personally inquired. “Is the canopy fully set up yet?”

One of the eunuchs busy installing window gauze stepped forward and replied respectfully, “In reply to Your Highness, it’s almost finished.”

“This morning you said ‘almost,’ and now you still say ‘almost.’ When exactly will it be done? Give me a definite answer.” Dowager Consort Yu was displeased.

The eunuch wiped sweat from his brow. “Before the sun sets, it will definitely be completely finished!”

Only then did Dowager Consort Yu give a reluctant nod. She instructed the maid beside her, “Stay here and keep an eye on them. I’m going to recite sutras.”

Fingering the prayer beads in her hand, Dowager Consort Yu passed by the still-unfinished canopy. For some reason—perhaps it was only her imagination—she thought she saw a faint trace of golden light drifting across the gossamer-thin white gauze…

Dowager Consort Yu frowned and was about to continue walking when suddenly an irritating voice, accompanied by peals of thunder, came drifting from far outside the palace gates:

“Dowager Consort Yu! I have an extremely important secret concerning Prince He that must be reported to you at once!”

“Dowager Consort Yu! Dowager Consort Yu! This matter concerns both Prince He’s reputation and yours. I dare not fail to report it!”

“Are you unwilling to see me, or do you not dare to see me?”

That mad girl again!

Dowager Consort Yu’s expression turned icy. The maid beside her glanced at her face and said, “Your Highness, this servant will have her immediately removed from the palace.”

“No. Let’s go out and take a look.” Dowager Consort Yu scoffed with icy disdain. “Otherwise she’ll think I’m afraid of her.”

Supported by her maid, Dowager Consort Yu walked out through the palace gates. Several gate-guarding palace maids were currently pushing and shoving with Wei Yingluo. Dowager Consort Yu slowly turned the sandalwood prayer beads between her fingers and spoke in a measured, leisurely tone:

“Wei Yingluo, have you completely forgotten every warning I gave you?”

The struggling immediately stopped. Wei Yingluo slowly turned to look at her.

Dowager Consort Yu held an umbrella over her head, but Wei Yingluo had none. The downpour drenched her completely, turning her into a drenched chicken, yet she seemed utterly unaware. Her clear black-and-white eyes fixed intently on Dowager Consort Yu. After a long moment, she suddenly gave a strange, eerie smile:

“I have not forgotten Dowager Consort Yu’s threats, but my sister died too horribly—how could I possibly forget? If in this lifetime I cannot seek justice for my sister, if I cannot expose your mother-and-son crimes to the entire world, then Wei Yingluo will never rest in peace even in death!”

Dowager Consort Yu’s fingers, which had been turning her prayer beads, paused. She stared coldly at the other woman, not believing for a moment that she truly had the courage or the backing to make the truth public. She didn’t care whether her clansmen would lose their lives over this—could she possibly not care whether she herself would lose hers?

But in the next instant, Wei Yingluo turned toward the crowd and shouted loudly:

“Everyone, listen well! On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Prince He—Hongzhou—illegally entered the palace and raped the embroidery workshop palace maid A-Man! That is crime number one! Dowager Consort Yu, in order to cover up her son’s crime, did not hesitate to murder the innocent victim! That is crime number two! This mother and son—one behaves outrageously and without shame, the other is ruthless and vicious, hiding behind a mask of virtue! And because I discovered the truth, they even tried to destroy the evidence and silence me by killing me!”

An uproar erupted throughout Shoukang Palace.

Dowager Consort Yu gripped her prayer beads so tightly her knuckles turned white. The constant whispering poured into her ears. If these had been only the palace servants of Shoukang Palace, naturally they would not dare to chatter so boldly in her presence. But in preparation for the birthday banquet, many outsiders had been brought into Shoukang Palace today. These people were not under her authority, so of course they dared to point and murmur behind her back.

“…Right and wrong will be judged by the public; justice lies in the hearts of the people.” Dowager Consort Yu raised her head with righteous dignity and declared, “I have believed in Buddhism all my life and have never done a single thing that goes against my conscience, nor have I ever harmed an innocent life! Everything you say is pure slander!”

With that, she gave a meaningful glance to the palace maid beside her. The maid understood immediately and shouted:

“Wei Yingluo has openly slandered a Dowager Consort—this is the capital crime of extreme disrespect! Seize her at once!”

Several eunuchs immediately rushed toward Wei Yingluo. She did not struggle at all, allowing them to restrain her. Amid their grip, she let out cold, mocking laughter:

“Dowager Consort Yu keeps claiming she believes in Buddhism. I only want to ask one question—do you dare to swear before the Buddha that you have truly never done anything against your conscience, and never harmed a single innocent life?”

“What is there to fear?” Dowager Consort Yu’s devotion to Buddhism was performed for others to see; in her heart there was no Buddha, so naturally she did not fear him.

“Murder demands a life in return; debts must be repaid. If men do not collect, Heaven will.” A sudden clap of thunder roared overhead, illuminating Wei Yingluo’s face deathly pale. She said coldly, “Dowager Consort, are you truly not afraid at all?”

What do I have to fear? Dowager Consort Yu sneered inwardly, but her outward expression grew even more righteous and awe-inspiring. She raised the hand wrapped around her prayer beads toward the sky and declared:

“I have a clear conscience! What harm is there in swearing to Heaven? With the Buddha above as my witness—I have lived my life doing good deeds and being a good person. I have never taken a life, never wronged a single soul! If even one word of what I say is false, may a bolt of heavenly thunder strike down and shatter me to pieces!”

BOOM—

Wei Yingluo slowly lifted her head, gazing at the white serpent of lightning coiling and twisting endlessly amid the black clouds. She murmured:

“Heaven, did you hear that?”

BOOM—

“The murderer is right here. Heaven, open your eyes. Look at her.”

BOOM—

“When A-Man died, you were already too late. Do not keep being late forever. Heaven, open your eyes—please, open your eyes and look!”

BOOM—

Her figure, repeatedly pleading to the sky, was reflected in everyone’s eyes. One eunuch shook his head:

“She’s gone mad.”

“If she weren’t mad, how would she dare clash with the Dowager Consort like this?”

“How does the Imperial Household Department handle things? Letting a madwoman into the palace—aren’t they afraid of offending the noble ladies?”

Seeing public opinion gradually turning in her favor, Dowager Consort Yu resumed slowly turning her prayer beads. With a compassionate sigh, she said:

“Those who slander the virtuous will fall into the Hell of the Tongue Being Torn Out in the future. Wei Yingluo, I originally should punish you severely, but seeing you in this deranged and pitiful state, my heart cannot bear it. Never mind, never mind. Someone—take her to the Bureau of Careful Punishments!”

As the prayer beads turned in her hand, Dowager Consort Yu turned and left. But what was turning in her mind was not any thought of mercy.

“This woman cannot be allowed to live,” she thought. “I’ll make some arrangements above and below—let her ‘fall ill’ and die in the Bureau of Careful Punishments…”

BOOM—

Another clap of thunder rang out, accompanied by Wei Yingluo’s furious roar: “If Dowager Consort Yu is truly the murderer, then let her words become reality—let her wish be fulfilled!!”

In that instant, the window gauze hanging from the ceiling suddenly flared bright, as though a spiderweb had been set ablaze. It fell from above like burning silk, enveloping Dowager Consort Yu.

“Ahhh!!!” Dowager Consort Yu let out a blood-curdling scream amid the flames.

Everything happened so quickly that no one could react in time. Only when Dowager Consort Yu collapsed with a heavy thud—her body giving off the acrid smell of charred flesh—did Shoukang Palace fall into utter, deathly silence. Everyone stared at her in stunned disbelief, yet not a single person made a sound.

“…Hahahahaha!!”

The sudden, jarring laughter sent a shiver through the crowd, snapping them out of their daze.

“Retribution! This is retribution!” Wei Yingluo laughed wildly. “You all heard it—Dowager Consort Yu swore it with her own mouth. You all saw it—heaven itself sent down the thunder! Dowager Consort Yu—you have gotten exactly what you wished for!!”

Buddha above, in this life I have done good deeds, been a good person, never taken a single life, never wronged a single soul! If even half a sentence of what I say is false, may a bolt of heavenly thunder strike me down and reduce me to ashes—that was the oath Dowager Consort Yu had just sworn. Less than the time it takes to finish half a cup of tea had passed. How could anyone possibly forget?

   “…Someone…!” Dowager Consort Yu still had one breath left. She lay on the ground; one eye had already gone blind. She stared upward with her remaining right eye. The burning gauze overhead continued to drip bright red liquid onto her face, onto the ground around her… Strange—what were these red things? She had no strength left to ask. She only managed to whisper weakly: “Save me… quickly, save me…”

But who dared to save her?

Her personal maid, Bailing, took only one step forward before another peal of thunder sounded overhead. She immediately drew her foot back, clasped her hands together, and began chanting frantically: “Please, Thunder God, quell your anger! It was Dowager Consort Yu—Dowager Consort Yu who did wrong! It has nothing to do with me! Mercy, Bodhisattva! Mercy, Buddha! Please, Thunder God, calm your wrath!”

She was terrified—and so was everyone else.

No one noticed anything unusual about the window gauze. No one paid attention to the eerie red liquid dripping from it. Once it hit the ground, the pouring rain washed it away completely—along with the truth—leaving no trace behind.

“You bunch of… lowly sluts…” Dowager Consort Yu’s breathing grew fainter and fainter. She called for Bailing, for the other eunuchs and maids, but they were all paralyzed with fear. They would rather face severe punishment later than take even half a step forward now. Seeing this, Dowager Consort Yu cursed in despair: “You… will all die miserable deaths… you… you…”

The world before her eyes flickered between light and darkness. The last thing she saw was Wei Yingluo’s smile.

—A smile of a wish fulfilled.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 72: Never Betray

   Hongli waited behind the screen for a while. The tea gradually cooled, and so did his body.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath. “Why isn’t she here yet?”

The words had barely left his mouth when the door opened.

Someone entered very quietly, footsteps as light as a cat’s—so soft that if you weren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t hear them at all.

“Why so cautious?” Hongli imagined the nervous, uneasy expression on the other person’s face right now and couldn’t help but smile. “Come here!”

The footsteps paused for a moment, then hurried over in small running steps.

When he saw who it was, the smile vanished from Hongli’s face at once.

“Who are you?”

The person holding the clothes was clearly a delicate, handsome young eunuch.

Startled by Hongli’s sharp tone, he stammered in reply:

“Reporting to Your Majesty… it was Yingluo’s older sister who asked me to come…”

“Where is she?” Hongli lifted his gaze, looking past him toward the door, and said sternly, “Wei Yingluo, I ordered you to change my clothes, yet you push the task onto someone else. Have you really grown the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard? Get in here yourself!”

A soft sigh came from outside the door.

The little eunuch scrambled out in a panic, returned the clothes to Wei Yingluo’s hands, his small face pale as he said:

“Yingluo older sister, you should take them in to His Majesty yourself. I—I’ll go ahead…”

Without waiting for Wei Yingluo to respond, he hurried away.

Wei Yingluo shook her head at his retreating back. It wasn’t that she had pushed the task onto him—this little eunuch had ambitions and had voluntarily offered to serve His Majesty in her place. Now it seemed that the path of ambition was indeed not so easy to walk.

“Your Majesty.” Yingluo knocked helplessly on the door. “This servant is coming in.”

With slender hands she undid the clothing. Layer after layer of the ordinary robe was peeled away, like peeling the skin from a fruit—beneath the skin lay the tantalizing flesh that everyone in the harem coveted: the body of the man beneath the robe.

Even through the inner garment, one could still sense the strength of that body.

It was not as sharply muscled as a guard’s, yet the lines were smooth and flowing, without a trace of excess fat, and it carried a pleasant scent—not the seductive fragrance women used, but something between sandalwood and ink, the faint aroma of someone who spent long hours bent over documents and state affairs.

She unfolded the clean robe in her hands and, without saying a word, began to dress the man before her. The moment she draped the garment over his shoulders, her right hand was suddenly seized and yanked, pulling her straight into his embrace.

A pair of cool, thin lips pressed against her ear, warm breath mingling with cold words:

“Tell me—what exactly do you want by getting close to Fuheng?”

Wei Yingluo’s cheeks flushed faintly—whether from shame or anger, it was hard to tell.

“Your Majesty, this servant doesn’t understand what you mean!”

A soft chuckle. A man’s hand lifted her chin.

“No need to pretend. I have long seen through that pretty shell of yours.” Hongli pinched her chin, smiling as he looked down at her. “Fuheng comes from an illustrious family; his character is noble and precious. Yet you have schemed and deliberately approached him, all to escape your status as a servant and become the wife of a noble. But don’t forget—Fuheng is my brother-in-law, and the Fucha clan are my most trusted vassals. I will never allow a woman like you to have even the slightest connection to the Fucha family.”

At first Yingluo had resisted his touch, but after hearing those words, she simply stopped struggling. She lifted her head to look straight at him and asked in return:

“This servant has never harbored any ambition to fly up to the branches. I don’t even know where Your Majesty got such an idea. This servant truly doesn’t understand—right from the beginning, why has Your Majesty harbored such special loathing toward this servant? Why?”

Hongli was momentarily stunned. Then he quickly hardened his expression and said coldly:

“Because you are presumptuous and rude, and your face is detestable!”

“Your Majesty is always gentle and amiable toward Erqing and Ming Yu. Is it just because this servant is not respectful enough that you hate me to this extent?” Yingluo looked at him in genuine confusion.

Even though she was in the palace and didn’t like Hongli, she also didn’t want to become his target. If only she could know the reason he disliked her—she would find a way to mend the rift between them. Even if she couldn’t make him like her, at least she could prevent them from mutually despising each other…

Their eyes met. Hongli stared at her for a very long time—so long that the hand pinching her chin slowly relaxed and slid up to caress her cheek.

“Your Majesty?” This ambiguous touch frightened Yingluo far more than violence ever could. She quickly turned her face away, avoiding his hand.

His hand met empty air. Hongli was silent for a moment. Then, like a volcano erupting after long quiescence, he reached out again—not toward her cheek this time, but downward, deftly unfastening the first button of her clothing.

“…If you want to climb onto a high branch, wouldn’t it be better to come beg me directly?” His well-defined fingers slowly moved to the second button. Hongli spoke in a low voice. “I can grant you everything you desire…”

Thump. Yingluo collapsed to her knees on the floor.

She kowtowed several resounding times, her voice trembling as her face pressed to the ground: “This servant thanks Your Majesty for your favor, but Yingluo is of lowly status and meager fortune—I dare not climb so high.”

Hongli looked down at her from above.

Seeing those bright yellow dragon boots draw closer, Yingluo scrambled backward on her hands and feet. Whether by accident or design, she knocked into the screen behind her.

The screen crashed to the floor with a loud clatter. Li Yu quietly opened the door a crack: “Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty!” Yingluo kowtowed again and again with loud thuds. “The Empress is right next door! She is with child!”

Hongli’s hand, extended toward her, froze in midair.

At the same moment, in the sleeping chamber, the Empress’s eyelashes fluttered. She slowly awakened.

“What was that noise just now?” she asked, turning her head.

“His Majesty was just here,” Erqing said, lifting the bed curtains. “He accidentally spilled something on his robes, so Yingluo went to attend to him. Perhaps—”

She abruptly fell silent, her eyes darting away. She bit her lip, looking as though she wanted to speak but hesitated.

“Erqing,” the Empress said, “You have served this palace for so many years—what is there that you cannot say?”

Erqing sighed, adjusted the welcoming pillow behind the Empress, and spoke softly: “Now that you are with child, some people have begun to grow restless. Your Ladyship should be on guard.”

The Empress frowned. “Are you suspecting Yingluo?”

Erqing was skilled at reading expressions. Seeing the displeasure on the Empress’s face, she immediately changed her tone: “Of course this servant is not suspecting Yingluo! Although she has not been in the palace long, she has always been loyal and devoted to the Your Majesty—how could she possibly harbor disloyal thoughts?”

Only then did the Empress’s expression soften slightly.

“Yingluo has no disloyalty, but that doesn’t mean others won’t stir up trouble,” Erqing said carefully, watching the Empress’s face as she chose her words. “If Your Ladyship wishes to promote her, you could recommend Yingluo to His Majesty—use her to secure favor. After all, she came from Changchun Palace; remembering the kindness and care Your Ladyship showed her, she would surely become your strong support.”

These words appeared to be spoken for the Empress’s benefit—even for Yingluo’s—but in truth, they were a blatant attempt at sowing discord.

Seeing the Empress’s expression change, Erqing felt secret delight and was about to add fuel to the fire when the door behind her opened. Yingluo’s cheerful voice drifted in from afar: “Your Ladyship is awake?”

Yingluo entered carrying an armful of fresh orchids, their petals glistening with crystalline dewdrops that rolled gently down the leaves. She walked to a slender-necked vase on the table, replaced the old flowers with the new ones, and spoke casually as she worked: “Did we disturb Your Ladyship earlier? A little eunuch accidentally knocked over the screen. His Majesty was furious and stormed off in a rage.”

“I see,” the Empress said thoughtfully, watching her back. “I thought something serious had happened.”

With her back to the Empress, Yingluo carefully arranged the flowers: “Right now, the most important thing in Changchun Palace is Your Ladyship resting and protecting the pregnancy. Nothing is more important than that.”

The Empress looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Yingluo, someone suggested to this Palace that you be offered to His Majesty. Are you willing?”

The hand that had been arranging flowers paused. Wei Yingluo slowly turned her head and fixed her gaze on Erqing. That look was like a thorn, stabbing so sharply that Erqing’s eyes stung with pain. She turned her face away unnaturally, avoiding the stare.

“…Your Majesty.” Yingluo withdrew her gaze, knelt before the Empress, and said, “This servant is unwilling.”

“Why not?” The Empress leaned back against the welcoming pillow, her hands crossed over her slightly protruding belly, smiling at her. “You have always been proud and ambitious. If you became one of the consorts or concubines, no one would dare bully you again.”

Erqing’s eyes flickered. She immediately chimed in: “Yingluo, this is an act of grace from Her Majesty the Empress—something others could beg for and still not receive! Think carefully before you answer. Once you step out of Changchun Palace, everyone will look at you with new respect!”

Another attempt at sowing discord.

If at this moment Yingluo said yes—or even hesitated for just a second—it would plant a thorn deep in the Empress’s heart. With Erqing’s daily reminders, that thorn would sooner or later cost Yingluo her life.

Yingluo glanced at her coldly. “Many thanks for Erqing’s kind intentions, but this servant cannot accept them.”

Erqing’s expression changed. Realizing her scheme had been seen through, she decided to press forward instead of retreating. She accused: “Haven’t you always claimed to be utterly loyal to Her Majesty? Now that Her Majesty is with child and cannot serve His Majesty in the bedchamber, if you were to take her place and attend to him, wouldn’t that be the greatest show of loyalty?”

Yingluo shook her head. Instead, she seized the opportunity to make her declaration to the Empress: “Your Majesty has shown this servant kindness as deep as the sea. Even if this servant were to shatter into pieces, it would not be enough to repay you. But if this servant truly became a consort or concubine—if I received no favor, how could I speak of loyalty? And if I did receive favor, there would surely be children. As time passed and private ambitions arose, could I still serve Your Majesty with single-hearted devotion? That is the matter of public duty. As for private feelings…”

She paused. Her eyes gazed at the Empress with childlike adoration; the sincerity in them rolled like waves, clearer and more transparent than the dew on an orchid petal.

“…If I may speak presumptuously, in this servant’s heart, Your Majesty is not only my master and my esteemed teacher—you are like my own elder sister.” Yingluo spoke gently, the way a child looks at the person closest to them, the way a lone whale that has wandered every ocean finally finds another of its kind. “This servant swears to serve Your Majesty with lifelong loyalty. His Majesty is your husband, the person you hold dearest in your heart. Anyone in the world may become a consort or concubine—except me. I would rather die than betray you!”

The Empress gazed steadily at her.

She came from an illustrious family, yet the more noble the lineage, the colder the familial affection. Such deep devotion—not even her own siblings had ever shown it to her, nor had Hongli…

   After all, no matter how much Hongli valued her, he would never promise her a lifetime of monogamy. Yet in Yingluo’s heart, she was the one and only: the only master, the only teacher, and the only… elder sister.

   “…Yingluo, come here.” The Empress sighed and beckoned to her.

Yingluo shuffled forward on her knees until she was right in front of her. Only at such close range did the Empress notice the circle of tears glistening in her eyes—like a child who had been wronged but refused to speak of it.

The Empress’s heart immediately softened. She gently stroked Yingluo’s cheek. “Rest assured—this Palace will never let you become a consort or concubine. That would be wasting your future. One day, this Palace will personally see you married off in grand style.”

Yingluo rubbed her cheek against the Empress’s fingers like a small animal, smiling through her tears. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 71: Bestowal of Marriage

Fortunately, though many unfortunate things had happened, every once in a while, something good occurred as well.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!” Imperial Physician Zhang bowed to Hongli. “This is a happy pulse—the Empress is with child!”

The moment news of the Empress’s condition reached him, Hongli had rushed over at once. Even during the examination he had sat by her side, holding her hand, worry etched deep on his face for a long time. When he suddenly heard this joyful news, he was so stunned that for a long moment he couldn’t speak.

It was the Empress who recovered first. Struggling to sit up, she parted the bed curtains and looked at Physician Zhang with seven parts nervousness and three parts anticipation: “Is this true?”

“This concerns the imperial heir—how could this humble minister dare speak falsely?” Physician Zhang hurriedly replied. “Your Ladyship, you have been with child for two months already.”

The Empress abruptly covered her mouth. Tears shimmered faintly in her eyes.

“Empress, did you hear that?” By now Hongli had come back to himself. He pressed the Empress’s hand to his chest so she could feel the strong, rapid thudding of his heart. “I finally have a legitimate son. Empress—I am truly, truly overjoyed!”

The Empress smiled through her tears. “Your Majesty, we still don’t know whether it will be a little prince or a princess. Don’t celebrate too soon!”

“It must be a little prince!” Hongli could barely contain his excitement. “I know it—in Heaven’s mercy, after taking Yonglian away, They will return a son to me! I want to reward every single person in Changchun Palace—no, every single person in the Forbidden City—”

If the Empress had not stopped him, Hongli might have issued a general amnesty on the spot or opened the imperial treasury to distribute treasures to everyone by the handful.

Even though he was ultimately restrained, his mood remained jubilant. He was unusually gentle even toward the servants attending him. When a young eunuch accidentally knocked over a teacup as he returned to Yangxin Hall to handle state affairs, he said nothing harsh—instead he mildly instructed Li Yu not to punish the boy too severely, lest it affect the good fortune of the little prince.

But his heart was so preoccupied with the Empress and the child that he found himself unable to focus on government matters. Setting down his brush, Hongli looked around and asked:

“Where is Fuheng?”

Hailancha quickly stepped forward to report: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Fucha Guard went to offer congratulations to the Your Majesty!”

“He really runs to Changchun Palace quite diligently,” Hongli said with a laugh. “Besides visiting the Empress, is there perhaps someone he has feelings for there?”

Hailancha blinked. “Your Majesty has a sharp eye; this servant dares not deceive you. However, this is a private matter—you should ask Fuheng about it yourself.”

“Oh?” Hongli had only asked casually, never expecting such a reply. This was practically an admission that there really was someone. His spirits immediately lifted. “When Fuheng returns, tell him to come see me at once!”

As today’s duty captain of the guards, Fuheng naturally could not stay away too long. He soon returned to Yangxin Hall. Seeing Hailancha at the door winking and making faces, he raised an eyebrow and said, “Have your eyes cramped up?”

“Heh heh, brother.” Hailancha bumped his shoulder. “You really owe me big time—I did you a huge favor!”

Fuheng looked at him in bewilderment, about to ask what exactly he had done behind his back, when Li Yu’s voice called out: “Fucha Guard!”

The Emperor had summoned him. Fuheng could only swallow the question, shoot Hailancha a fierce glare, and enter the study.

Inside the study, the air was thick with the fragrance of ink. Memorials to be handled were piled high on the table. Hongli rested one hand against his temple, flipping through the memorial before him while asking, “Censor Shen Shifeng has impeached Minister of Justice Lai Bao, saying he has sincerity in abundance but insufficient experience and is unfit for the important duties of the Ministry of Justice. Fuheng, what do you think?”

Fuheng assumed the Emperor wanted to discuss state affairs with him. He immediately straightened his expression, thought for a moment, and replied, “When Lai Bao served in the Ministry of Works, he was diligent and conscientious and received much praise. Although he is not yet fully familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Justice, given his past diligence, it is only a matter of time before he firmly grasps control of the ministry. This servant believes Your Majesty should give him a chance!”

“Insolent!” To his surprise, Hongli suddenly slammed the table. “You dare defend Lai Bao for your own selfish reasons—truly detestable!”

Fuheng was utterly baffled. He dropped to one knee and said, “This servant does not understand what Your Majesty means by ‘selfish reasons.’”

“Pfft—”

Fuheng froze for a moment. Looking up, he saw Hongli laughing so hard he could barely contain himself. Only then did he realize the Emperor had merely been pretending to be angry. A wave of helplessness washed over him. “Your Majesty…”

“All right, get up, get up.” Hongli waved his hand, sounding almost like the villain complaining first. “Don’t put on airs in front of me. I know your character best. Unless you truly liked someone, how could you visit the inner palace so often! Among the senior palace maids by the Empress’s side, Erqing has a gentle temperament, Ming Yu is overly lively, and as for the other one—words fail me! It’s completely understandable that you would take a liking to Erqing. Rest assured, I will raise her entire family’s banner status so they will not disgrace your house…”

Hearing this, how could Fuheng not understand what he meant? He simply remained kneeling and said, “Your Majesty has misunderstood! This servant has never harbored the slightest affection for Erqing. I spoke up for Lai Bao purely because I believe he is a capable minister!”

As it turned out, this Lai Bao was none other than Erqing’s father. His grandfather had even been Minister of Justice and a Grand Secretary of the Deliberative Council, making their family one of the most prominent bondservant (booi) lineages among the Bordered Yellow, Plain Yellow, and Plain White Banners. Yet a bondservant was still a bondservant—despite reaching the highest ranks, they still had to dismount and bow when encountering their banner master, even hold the horse and stirrup. For Erqing’s family, therefore, the greatest wish was to have their banner status elevated.

But Hongli had misunderstood his intention and laughed. “Not Erqing? Then could it be Ming Yu? Compared to Erqing, this Ming Yu is a little…”

“No!” Fuheng said firmly.

Not Erqing, not Ming Yu—then it could only be…

Hongli stared at Fuheng; the smile gradually faded from his face. “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to Wei Yingluo.”

“This servant dares not conceal anything from Your Majesty.” Since he had already admitted it once, Fuheng saw no reason not to admit it again. “It is indeed Wei Yingluo!”

An inkstone suddenly flew from Hongli’s direction, grazing past Fuheng’s temple. Several drops of ink splashed out, staining his handsome cheek. He did not wipe it, merely lowered his head and said, “This servant truly admires Yingluo with all my heart. I beg Your Majesty to grant your permission!”

His humble plea was met only with Hongli’s uncontrollable fury.

“I knew it!” Hongli slammed the table and stood up. He strode over to Fuheng’s side, grinding his teeth as he spoke. “That woman is vain and harbors ulterior motives. She deliberately seduced you while you were visiting the Empress!”

Fuheng shook his head and defended Yingluo. “Although this servant has developed feelings for her, she has never given the slightest indication, nor has she ever overstepped in any way. If Your Majesty wishes to blame someone, blame this servant alone—Wei Yingluo has nothing to do with it.”

“No relation at all?” Hongli laughed in furious disbelief. “Given your character and background, you ought to marry a lady from a prestigious noble family. Wei Yingluo is not only of lowly bondservant status from the Imperial Household Department, but she is also audacious, willful, and utterly reckless! Fucha Fuheng, when one marries, one marries virtue. If I were to bestow such a woman of no moral standing upon you, it would bring ruin upon your entire life! Mark my words: among the noble ladies and virtuous women of the Eight Banners of Great Qing, no matter whom you take a fancy to, I can grant you the marriage by imperial decree—except this woman. She is out of the question!”

Hongli remained stubbornly unyielding, but Fuheng was not the sort of person who could be easily persuaded. The conversation ended in discord, with neither side giving in.

Hongli had already been in no mood for state affairs that day. After this incident, he found it even harder to concentrate. He forced himself to read a few lines, then suddenly swept his hand across the table. The heap of memorials scattered and fell to the floor with a crash.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.” Li Yu hurriedly knelt down to gather up the fallen memorials.

“Prepare the sedan for Changchun Palace.” Hongli abruptly rose from his seat and scoffed with icy disdain. “Fuheng, I want you to see clearly what kind of woman she truly is!”

Inside the bedchamber of Changchun Palace, a single stick of calming incense burned quietly. In the long, lingering fragrance, the Empress lay curled on her side within the snow-white bed curtains, her breathing slow and steady like the drifting smoke.

Erqing sat on the edge of the bed, holding a light silk fan. She fanned the Empress absentmindedly, her thoughts already drifting far away to her family. In her mind she saw her father, mother, elder brother, and sisters gazing at her with eager expectation, speaking earnestly: “Erqing, if you ever get the chance, you must not let it slip… If you become an imperial consort, not only will you enjoy lifelong wealth and honor, but our entire family will be able to raise our banner status. This is a matter of bringing glory to our ancestors—one chance in a lifetime.”

Lost in thought, Erqing was startled when a hand suddenly patted her shoulder.

“Shh.” Hongli’s voice came from behind her—low, husky, and filled with the mature allure of a man. “Don’t wake the Empress.”

“Yes.” Erqing replied softly.

Hongli gazed at the Empress’s sleeping face for a while before turning to leave. Erqing hesitated only briefly, then handed the fan to a young palace maid nearby, motioning for her to continue fanning. She rose and quietly followed Hongli.

Once outside the bedchamber, Hongli looked left and right, seemingly searching for someone.

Ming Yu hurried out after him. Just then, a young palace maid approached carrying a tea cup. An idea flashed through Erqing’s mind. She took the tea from the maid’s hands and personally carried it to Hongli, bowing her head with gentle grace: “Your Majesty, please have some tea.”

Having rushed over in haste, Hongli did indeed feel thirsty. He reached out to take it—only for Erqing to let out a startled “Ah!” Half the tea spilled from the cup, splashing across his robe.

Hongli’s expression darkened instantly. He stared at her coldly.

“This servant deserves death! Please quell your anger, Your Majesty!” Erqing dropped to her knees before him with a thud, though from the corner of her eye she glanced toward the door of the bedchamber.

In a foul mood already, Hongli had intended to punish her severely, but when he followed her gaze and remembered the Empress resting inside, he suppressed his rage and said icily, “I need to change. Go find clean clothes and deliver them to Li Yu!”

With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode away, disappearing behind a screen painted with immortal cranes dancing beneath the moon.

“Yes.” Erqing kowtowed in apparent terror, but when she raised her head, there was no trace of fear on her face—only a smug smile of triumph at her scheme succeeding.

In less than half the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Erqing returned holding a set of sapphire-blue casual robes. Standing on the other side of the screen, she spoke in a shy, timid voice: “Your Majesty, this servant could not find Chief Steward Li, so I have brought the clothes myself. Please allow this servant to assist Your Majesty in changing.”

The silhouette of a man was reflected on the screen. Perhaps because he regularly practiced martial arts, his figure was exceptionally well-proportioned—his outline on the screen looked almost as if a painter had drawn it.

But his voice remained as cold as ever: “Tell Wei Yingluo to get in here.”

Erqing was stunned. “Your Majesty…”

“Did you not hear what I said?” Hongli’s tone was thick with undisguised disgust.

He had far too many women around him; a petty trick like this was far too obvious to miss. In that moment he suddenly felt that the Empress must be blind—surrounded by women like this, all harboring hidden schemes. Erqing was one of them, and Yingluo was even worse…

“…Yes.” Erqing had no idea what was going through Hongli’s mind, but she could not openly defy him. She could only retreat backward out the door. After searching for a moment, she shoved the bundle of clothing heavily into Wei Yingluo’s arms and said with both hatred and jealousy:

“His Majesty’s clothes got wet. You take them to him.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 70: Soothing My Heart

   Some people said she had gone mad.

   Otherwise, she wouldn’t spend an entire night alone in the courtyard throwing needles.

   Wei Yingluo felt that sooner or later she really would go mad—from rage. A fire burned fiercely in her chest, yet she had no way to release it. If only she were truly alone in the world, with no one else to worry about, then a single knife could settle everything. But…

“Father…” Wei Yingluo let out a soft sigh.

Could the bond between father and daughter really be so easily discarded?

“Ah, Fucha Guard is here.”

Wei Yingluo looked up and saw Fucha Fuheng walking into the courtyard. Their eyes met; he suddenly turned his face away: “Erqing, how has my sister been feeling lately?”

Whether because of spring drowsiness or autumn fatigue, the Empress had recently been sleepy all the time, lying bonelessly in bed. Several senior palace maids were debating whether they should summon an imperial physician to take a look, when unexpectedly Fuheng got wind of it first and entered the palace to visit her.

“Nothing serious, she just keeps feeling drowsy,” Erqing replied with a smile.

Fuheng nodded: “Please announce me.”

Erqing went inside to report. Wei Yingluo quietly slipped behind him, raised her small hand, and gently tugged at his sleeve.

He did not react.

“Young Master…” Wei Yingluo called softly. Even she herself was surprised—when had her voice become so weak and fragile?

Perhaps it was because of the matter with Dowager Consort Yu that she had become so uneasy and fearful, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, struggling to fly through fierce winds and sudden rain, desperately seeking a branch where she could take temporary shelter from the storm.

Fuheng did not respond to her, nor did he turn back.

“Fucha Guard.” Erqing hurried out from the inner hall. “The Empress is waiting for you in the main hall.”

Fuheng gave an “mm” in acknowledgment, calmly and unobtrusively drawing his sleeve out of Wei Yingluo’s grasp. He followed behind Erqing and entered the hall together with her.

“What the…” Watching him leave, Wei Yingluo’s mood darkened involuntarily. She murmured under her breath, “He smiles so brightly at her, yet ignores me completely…”

In that moment her heart felt both sour and bitter. She couldn’t quite explain why, only that she felt wronged and deeply uncomfortable…

“What did you say?”

The Empress stared at her own younger brother in front of her, astonishment written plainly across her face.

“Empress.” Fucha Fuheng’s expression remained calm as he repeated what he had just said: “I want to marry Yingluo.”

The Empress leaned back into her chair, rubbing her temples as if she had a headache, and tried to persuade him: “Fuheng, Yingluo has such a strong and unyielding personality. Would she be willing to become any man’s concubine? I’m afraid that within half a year the entire Fucha household would be turned upside down.”

“It seems the Empress understands Yingluo’s character even better than I do.” Fuheng smiled. “If that’s the case, then why would you even mention taking her as a concubine?”

The Empress stared at him for a long time until finally Fuheng sighed, looked at her with firm determination, and said: “I want to welcome her through the main gates with an eight-carrier sedan chair. I want to marry her as my wife!”

Her right hand slammed down on the table. The teacup jumped violently, tea spilling out and soaking half the tabletop. The Empress sat up straight and stared at him: “Fucha Fuheng, do you even know what you’re saying?”

“I know.” Fuheng still appeared perfectly calm. “The Wei family may only be bondservants of the Imperial Household Department, but I am confident I can persuade Ama and E Niang to allow me to bring her into the household.”

The Empress shook her head. She was not as naive as her brother. Her tone grew grave: “Fuheng! With Ama’s rigid and traditional character, do you really think he would agree to such an unsuitable match where the families are so unequal in status?”

Fuheng blinked at her playfully: “Isn’t there still you, Elder Sister?”

The Empress was momentarily stunned, then pretended to be annoyed and flung the fan in her hand: “Fine! So after all this, you’ve been scheming to make use of me!”

The fan spun several times in the air. Before it could fall, Fuheng reached up and caught it effortlessly. With a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, he fanned himself lightly in front of his chest: “The debt of gratitude I owe our parents for raising me—I, Fuheng, would never dare forget it. I will not argue or fight with them over this marriage; that would be greatly unfilial. But if I am to marry and have children, it can only be with the person who suits my heart. Otherwise, I would rather marry no one at all and live alone for the rest of my life.”

Though he was smiling, he was not joking.

The Empress knew her younger brother well. She understood that he had already made up his mind. Even if she refused to help, he would stubbornly go his own way. So she shook her head helplessly: “Fine. Even if I help you persuade them, Yingluo is still a palace maid serving in the inner court. How do you plan to handle that?”

Fuheng frowned. Before he could think of an answer, the Empress sighed again: “Fuheng, do you know that yesterday, during the Qixi Festival, in order to win the competition, Yingluo endured threading needles for a full four hours? In the end she nearly fainted. If she can be so ruthless toward herself, how do you think she would treat others? If in the future you ever wrong her even slightly—”

The Empress genuinely liked Wei Yingluo, but that did not mean she liked every part of her. In particular, Wei Yingluo’s stubborn, single-minded determination always gave others the uneasy feeling that one misstep could send her plummeting into an abyss.

If Fuheng were by her side, wouldn’t he be dragged down along with her?

“I understand everything.” Facing his sister’s worry, Fuheng hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to speak his true feelings: “Elder Sister, I truly admire her from the bottom of my heart. I am willing to accept all of her—her good sides, her bad sides, her intense loves and hatreds, her clear distinctions between gratitude and grudges. Fucha Fuheng has never made vows lightly, but if I marry Wei Yingluo, I will treat her well for the rest of my life. I will never let her down!”

The Empress looked at him, speechless for a long moment.

Though she was the Empress—one below only the Emperor himself, possessing all the rare treasures of the world and every exotic marvel within the realm—at this moment, she actually found herself envying Wei Yingluo.

It is easy to find priceless treasures, but hard to find a man who truly loves you.

After a long sigh, though her expression remained stern, her tone had softened somewhat. The Empress asked:

“Fuheng, have you ever asked whether Yingluo is willing to marry you?”

“Even if her heart is a block of ice, I will warm it with my true feelings,” Fuheng said with utmost seriousness. “One day is not enough? Then two days. One year is not enough? Then two years. Year after year, generation after generation—someday, I will earn her promise.”

Every word overflowed with tender affection.

Standing motionless behind the door, Erqing held a tray with a pot of tea and a plate of warm pastries. The steam rising from the pastries gradually faded, while the jealousy on her face grew thicker and thicker.

No one is perfect; everyone has desires.

Some seek wealth, some seek beauty, some seek power. As the daughter of a powerful minister serving in Changchun Palace, Erqing naturally had her own desires. Yet after searching and turning in circles, she discovered that wealth, power, beauty, and favor had all been claimed by one single person.

“A mere embroidery girl enters Changchun Palace, the Empress favors and promotes you,” Erqing murmured to herself. “And now even Lord Fucha has fallen for you. Why does every good thing in the world happen to you, while others can’t even get a sip of soup…”

Her thoughts were in complete disarray, but Wei Yingluo had already collected herself.

The palace gate opened. Familiar footsteps crossed the threshold, approaching her step by step from behind.

“Ahem.”

A slightly deliberate cough sounded behind her.

Yet Wei Yingluo acted as if she hadn’t heard, still squatting beside the flower bed. Her golden scissors went snip-snip, trimming the branches in front of her.

If you ignore me, then I’ll pretend you don’t exist.

“Yingluo,” Fuheng’s voice came from behind her, “yesterday someone gave me a sachet.”

The hand trimming the flowers paused ever so slightly.

“I could tell at a glance it wasn’t made by you,” Fuheng said with a smile. “You’re one of the most outstanding embroiderers in the workshop this year—how could you possibly embroider an orchid to look like chives?”

Snip. A single orchid blossom fell from the branch.

Wei Yingluo stared expressionlessly at the fallen flower, but inside her heart was anything but calm.

“Did you accept it?” —the question nearly slipped out.

“On Qixi, when the Cowherd and Weaver Girl meet, that day is different from all others, and the sachets given on that day are different too,” Fuheng said softly. “They are given to the one in your heart.”

A sudden bitterness filled her mouth—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy; anger and grievance all mixed together. Wei Yingluo chewed them fiercely, swallowed hard, and finally managed to spit out only one seemingly indifferent sentence:

“So you came here to show off to me?”

“I came to demand an explanation,” Fuheng’s voice suddenly grew serious. “You didn’t give your sachet to me—so who did you give it to?”

Wei Yingluo was stunned. She turned around and saw Fuheng standing against the light, expressionless behind her.

“I’m very angry,” he said, suddenly extending his hand. “Where is my sachet?”

Wei Yingluo stared at him in a daze for a long moment, then turned her face away and spat lightly: “What ‘your sachet’? I didn’t make one.”

“Then when will you make it?” Fuheng pressed, refusing to let it go.

His words unexpectedly amused her. She set the golden scissors aside, patted her hands, stood up, tilted her head, and gave him a smile:

“You’re a grand young master—do you really lack one little sachet from me?”

Unexpectedly, Fuheng nodded with utmost seriousness and said to her:

“I do lack it.”

Wei Yingluo looked at him with a bright smile, but seeing that he never smiled back, she gradually let her own smile fade.

“Yingluo.” Fuheng suddenly took her hand. His grip was not heavy, yet it carried less weight than the gravity in his gaze. “I don’t have a scented sachet to give you—only one sentence I want to say to you.”

“Wh-what sentence?” Wei Yingluo asked, then immediately regretted it. She forcefully pulled her hand back. “I still have things to do. If you have something to say, we can talk about it next time…”

“Don’t run away.” Fuheng grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him again. “I know your heart carries a heavy burden, but I don’t mind.”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head, thinking to herself: How could you possibly not mind?

“Because no matter how deep the obsession, there will come a day when it is let go.”

Who knows when that day will arrive—perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next year, or perhaps it will never come, not even at the moment of death…

“Until that day, I will keep waiting for you.”

Wei Yingluo froze for a moment, then raised her head to look at him.

She hoped to find deceit in his eyes, to find false affection—but all that met her gaze was pure, unguarded sincerity.

“I will keep waiting for you…” Fuheng looked at her, laying his heart completely bare before her, each word like a vow. “Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next year, or perhaps until the day I die—I will stay by your side, guarding you, until the day your heart finally opens to me.”

Wei Yingluo felt a sudden heat bloom in her chest.

She had never known that words could hold such power. With just one sentence, he soothed the restlessness in her heart, swept away the dark clouds that had lingered there, and—for reasons she couldn’t quite name—made her want to cry…

“I…” Just as she was about to say something in response, a sharp scream rang out. It sounded faintly like Erqing’s voice.

“Someone—come quickly!” Erqing cried shrilly. “The Empress has fainted!”

Wei Yingluo and Fuheng exchanged a glance. Both their expressions changed at once. Without another word, they turned and rushed together toward the palace gate.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 69: Warning

   As the weather grew hotter, inside Shoukang Palace several palace maids stood by the Empress Dowager’s side fanning her. Though a cool breeze was blowing, the Empress Dowager still felt stifled by the heat. She gave a few instructions to the maid beside her, who soon returned carrying a beautifully crafted box.

“What is this?” the Empress Dowager asked.

The maid replied, “His Majesty, in his filial piety, specially ordered the Imperial Household Department to make this ice box and send it here. It is truly very convenient.”

When the box was opened, it revealed a layer of ice blocks topped with clusters of iced grapes. The deep purple grape skins were frosted with a layer of fine ice crystals.

The Empress Dowager picked up one grape and ate it. Instantly she felt every pore in her body relax, and a faint smile appeared on her face. “The weather really gets hotter day by day. Are you still unwilling to go to Changchun Garden to escape the summer heat with me?”

Dowager Consort Yu let out a soft sigh. “They say illness comes like a landslide but leaves like silk being drawn out. This serious illness nearly took half of Hongzhou’s life. I am truly worried, so I’d rather stay here to accompany him while he recovers.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. “Your motherly heart is truly touching. I only hope Hongzhou will remember it well.”

“Empress Dowager,” Dowager Consort Yu said meaningfully, “Hongzhou deeply regrets everything he has done. If he were able to get up, he would have long since come to the palace to plead guilty!”

This time, however, the Empress Dowager did not nod. Instead, she gave Dowager Consort Yu a deep, meaningful look and gently shook her head. “The Emperor, out of brotherly affection, has fully protected Hongzhou and has fallen into serious discord with the imperial clan. The storm has not yet passed. Tell Hongzhou to remain quietly in his residence to recuperate and not enter the palace lightly for the time being.”

“But…” Dowager Consort Yu wanted to press the matter further, but the Empress Dowager’s expression immediately turned cold. She said indifferently, “I am tired. You may go back now.”

Dowager Consort Yu hesitated, wanting to speak but ultimately not daring to say more. She curtsied and withdrew.

Once she left Shoukang Palace, the anger she had been suppressing finally surged to her face.

“It’s all because of that lowly woman!” Dowager Consort Yu said, twisting the handkerchief in her hands. “She caused Hongzhou to fall gravely ill and even made the Empress Dowager grow tired of him!”

The palace maid beside her also fanned the flames:

“Dowager Consort, Wei Yingluo is extremely skilled at flattery. She coaxed the Empress into complete submission and even personally vouched for her in front of the Emperor. I heard that this icebox was something she came up with to please her master, and now it has become fashionable throughout the Forbidden City. All the palaces are now urgently ordering the Imperial Household Department to produce more of them!”

“Oh, she really is clever and quick-witted!”

Dowager Consort Yu paused in her steps upon hearing this, then gave a sinister smile.

“Bailing, go to Changchun Palace at once!”

Bailing: “What does Dowager Consort mean?”

“To borrow someone?”

Inside Changchun Palace, the Empress was surprised.

“Yes.” Erqing said, “Dowager Consort Yu sent someone over and specifically named Yingluo — she wants to borrow her.”

The Empress shook her head.

“Are you planning to refuse them, Your Ladyship?” Erqing asked. “This servant feels that would not be wise.”

“What’s unwise about it?” The Empress said with displeasure. “You know perfectly well that Dowager Consort Yu blames Yingluo because of the Prince He matter, and you still want to send her there?”

“But, Your Majesty,” Erqing explained, “Dowager Consort Yu has openly stated that she wants Yingluo to go and instruct the palace maids on how to use the icebox. The request is perfectly reasonable — how could this servant refuse?”

“Then just say Yingluo is ill. To avoid passing on the sickness to the noble ladies, the matter should be excused for now,” the Empress thought for a moment and said.

“But she will recover eventually,” Erqing replied. “And if she’s sick this time, will she be sick again next time? Wouldn’t that be openly mocking Dowager Consort Yu? Your Ladyship, Dowager Consort Yu has lived with the Empress Dowager in Shoukang Palace for many years and is the birth mother of Prince He. She enjoys considerable respect in the palace. If you openly humiliate her, how could she possibly swallow her pride? I’m afraid that what began as merely wanting to vent her anger might end up…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but the Empress could guess what she meant.

For many high-ranking women in the palace, face mattered more than substance.

Sometimes, just to regain face, they would rather be punished than refrain from killing one or two people.

“Sigh.” The Empress felt quite helpless and could only say:

“Call Yingluo here. I will give her a few words of instruction.”

Although she received quite a bit of guidance from the Empress, the path ahead still had to be walked by Wei Yingluo herself — like walking across floating ice, with an abyss of ten thousand feet beneath. She had to be extremely cautious and carefully choose where to place her next step.

“Here.”

In a side hall of Shoukang Palace, Wei Yingluo pointed to the bottom of the icebox and said:

“Leave a small hole here so that the melted ice water can flow out smoothly. Then place a small basin underneath. The cold water will help lower the temperature of the entire room.”

Dowager Consort Yu laughed.

“To please your master, you really have put a lot of thought into this!”

Her words dripped with blatant mockery and undisguised malice.

Wei Yingluo had no desire to argue with her, nor did she wish to stay here any longer. Pretending she hadn’t heard the previous remark, she said:

“Dowager Consort Yu, I have finished explaining how to use the icebox. This servant asks permission to withdraw.”

But then there was a loud bang.

Looking toward the sound, she saw two eunuchs walk in and then slam the door shut behind them.

Wei Yingluo slowly turned her head:

“Dowager Consort Yu, what exactly do you intend to do?”

Dowager Consort Yu narrowed her eyes dangerously and suddenly barked:

“I should be the one asking you — what does sending a human head mean?!”

She wanted to strike first and accuse, but Wei Yingluo was not intimidated.

She carefully looked Dowager Consort Yu up and down, then suddenly smiled:

“Everyone knows that you; Dowager Consort Yu is deeply devout and observes Buddhism. In summer you won’t even step into the garden for fear of crushing an ant. Yet who would have thought that beneath your merciful appearance hides the heart of a jackal and a wolf? Not only did you kill my sister, but now you want to kill me to vent your anger!”

Seeing how easily Wei Yingluo had guessed what was in her heart, Dowager Consort Yu actually gained a little more respect for her.

But some things, even when pointed out, Dowager Consort Yu would never admit. She immediately sneered:

“You say I killed your sister? Do you understand what crime it is to slander a Dowager Consort?”

“Is it slander? You; Dowager Consort knows better than anyone in her heart.” Wei Yingluo said fearlessly, “That day, the Dowager Consort said she had visited Prince He’s residence and understood the whole sequence of events. But at that time, Hongzhou was unconscious and unresponsive—so who exactly told you the truth? There’s only one possibility: the person who killed my sister was you… Ah!”

A hand suddenly pressed against the back of Wei Yingluo’s head and forcefully shoved her face into the ice chest in front of her.

“Mmph—!”

Shards of ice jabbed into her face. As she struggled, grapes were crushed one by one, turning into red juice that stained the entire ice chest—and Wei Yingluo’s whole face—a vivid blood-red.

Seeing Wei Yingluo’s struggles growing weaker and weaker, the hand finally released the pressure on the back of her head.

“Huff… huff…” Wei Yingluo slowly lifted her head. Crimson juice, like blood, dripped continuously from her chin. She looked somewhat disheveled as she stared at Dowager Consort Yu standing opposite her.

“You’re right,” Dowager Consort Yu said, gently fanning herself with a satisfied smile. “I was indeed the one who killed your sister.”

The moment Wei Yingluo heard this, she reflexively lunged forward—but the two eunuchs behind her clamped down hard on her shoulders, pinning her in place like a fish on a chopping board. She couldn’t move an inch.

“Do you know why I killed her?” Dowager Consort Yu slowly walked up to her. “Because she seduced Hongzhou—she was a born slut!”

“Shut your mouth!” Wei Yingluo snapped. “It was clearly Hongzhou who was overcome by lust, yet you blame my sister. You’re the one twisting black and white!”

“There are far too many women who dream of climbing onto a high branch to become a phoenix. Should we blame the parasol tree for growing too tall?” Dowager Consort Yu sneered. “If it weren’t for you low-born bondservant sluts crawling into beds, Hongzhou would never have fallen so low! I called you here today only to tell you one thing—so listen carefully!”

One of the eunuchs grabbed Wei Yingluo by the hair, yanking her head up as though displaying a fish for sale, forcing her furious and unwilling face directly toward Dowager Consort Yu.

“You’re a favorite around the Empress, and you’re also the loyal servant who fell ill while attending His Majesty. I cannot kill you openly. But don’t forget—” Dowager Consort Yu tapped Wei Yingluo’s cheek lightly with her fan and smiled. “—your father is still serving honorably as the Inner Steward. With just one word from me, his fate will not be much better than your sister’s.”

“You…” Wei Yingluo hadn’t even finished the word when the eunuch behind her gave a sharp yank and slammed her to the ground.

Her whole body ached so badly that for a long moment she couldn’t even crawl back up.

“From now on, keep your tail between your legs and behave. If you ever cross me again, I won’t just take your head—I’ll make the entire Wei clan accompany you in death.” Dowager Consort Yu’s voice drifted lightly down from above her. The last thing to fall was the palace fan that had just struck her cheek.

Dowager Consort Yu despised her sister, despised her, and even felt the fan that had touched her face was now filthy.

She accepted a handkerchief from a palace maid, slowly and deliberately wiped her hands, then glanced down at Wei Yingluo on the floor without any warmth and uttered two indifferent words:

“Get lost.”

Wei Yingluo returned to Changchun Palace in a daze. The moment she stepped into the inner courtyard, she heard voices and laughter inside.

The scene was vibrant with blooming flowers like brocade. Beneath the falling petals stood a long tea table, on which rested more than a dozen small porcelain bowls—some white, some green, some plain, some brightly colored. A few flower petals floated on the surface of the water in each bowl. More than a dozen young palace maids were gathered around the bowls, playing the needle-dropping game.

Although she had hastily tidied herself up, Wei Yingluo still looked utterly exhausted and haggard. She raised her hand to wipe her face, feeling that her sleeve still carried the smell of grape juice mixed with humiliation. She tried to slip quietly toward the west ear chamber without drawing attention—when suddenly Erqing called out:

“Yingluo, you’re back! Come here, come here!”

Several familiar young maids even ran over, one tugging her left sleeve, another her right, and together they pulled her into the middle of the crowd.

Wei Yingluo had no choice: “What are you all playing?”

“You really are forgetful, Noble Lady,” Erqing laughed. “Today is the seventh day of the seventh month—the Qixi Festival, the Festival of the Weaver Girl. We’re all begging for skillful hands!”

Wei Yingluo glanced at the tea table and understood at once.

If you place a needle pointing north-south on the surface of the water, and sunlight passes through the eye of the needle, the Weaver Girl will bless the person with dexterous hands.

Several of the young maids had already tried, one after another. Without exception, every needle sank straight to the bottom of the bowl.

“Yingluo, you try it,” Erqing said, handing her a needle. “Your hands are the cleverest of all—you’re sure to succeed.”

Wei Yingluo had no interest whatsoever in the Qiqiao needle-threading game, but under the urging and encouragement of the crowd, she reluctantly took the needle. The moment the needle tip touched the surface of the water, ripples spread outward, and floating up on the water’s surface was the face of Dowager Consort Yu.

“Your sister really was killed by me.” She smiled. “Do you know why I killed her? Because she seduced Hongzhou—she was a born lowly wretch!”

   Wei Yingluo’s hand trembled; the silver needle immediately sank to the bottom.

A brief silence fell over the surroundings. Finally, Wei Yingluo was the first to break it. With a calm expression she said, “I’ll try again.”

The needle touched the water once more, and Dowager Consort Yu’s face reappeared on the surface.

“Your father is still living quite comfortably as the Inner Steward. But with just one word from me—his end won’t be any better than your sister’s.”

   Wei Yingluo’s hand shook again; the needle’s shadow tilted once more.

Erqing, sharp-eyed and attentive, frowned slightly and asked, “Yingluo, are you all right? Why is your hand shaking so much?”

Wei Yingluo lowered her gaze and only then noticed that her right hand was trembling uncontrollably. She grasped her own right hand tightly, expressionless, and said, “I’m fine. Let me try again.”

The needle sank once more.

“I’ll try again.”

The same thing happened.

“I’ll try again.”

…

The moon cast long shadows across the courtyard; insects chirped all around. Unnoticed, everyone else had already left the yard. Only Wei Yingluo remained standing beside the tea table, stubbornly dropping silver needle after silver needle into the water.

“I’ll try one more time,” Wei Yingluo murmured to herself.

No one answered beside her. The only response was that ugly, hateful face rising to the surface of the water again.

“From now on, keep your tail between your legs and behave. If you ever fall into my hands again, I won’t just take your head—I’ll make the entire Wei clan accompany you in death.” Through the water’s surface, Dowager Consort Yu smiled at her mockingly, tauntingly. “Get lost.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 68: Blood for Blood

Inside Shou’an Palace, a coffin had been placed. The mourning hall was arranged very simply—there wasn’t even a spirit tablet, only a single sheet of paper with the character “Sacrifice” fluttering in the cold wind.

With all her strength, Wei Yingluo gritted her teeth and dragged Hongzhou little by little into the coffin. The jolting woke him. He looked around in panic and realized he had been placed inside the coffin—right on top of a female corpse. His face drained of color. He struggled desperately to speak, but his voice came out weak and faint: “You… what are you going to do? Where… where exactly is this place?!”

Wei Yingluo laughed, almost maniacally, as she asked: “Prince He, doesn’t the scent of mandala powder smell wonderful? This is Shou’an Palace—the residence of Dowager Consort Guo. Even during the previous emperor’s lifetime, she never enjoyed favor. After the previous emperor passed, she could only support herself by selling embroidery. All the savings of her lifetime amount to nothing more than this thin coffin! Just like scum like you, who were born a prince, while countless kind people must face the yellow earth and toil their entire lives. It really is unfair, don’t you think?”

With that, Wei Yingluo calmly took out a small wine jar, pulled out the stopper, and slowly poured the wine from the jar over Hongzhou’s face. Hongzhou choked, unable to speak, in extreme agony.

Wei Yingluo said with delight: “Didn’t you love lying in a coffin, basking in the pleasure of everyone weeping over you? Tomorrow, the whole world will know that Prince He got drunk, crawled into the old consort’s coffin, and—by a moment of carelessness—suffocated to death inside!”

Hongzhou’s eyes widened in terror. He shook his head desperately, pleading: “Let me go… I was wrong… please… I really know now… I was wrong… please… don’t kill me… don’t kill me!” As he spoke, tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

Wei Yingluo let out a soft chuckle, leaned close to the coffin, and asked in a gentle yet low voice: “Prince He, right now—are you very afraid? Very desperate? Very regretful?”

Hongzhou nodded frantically with what little strength he had left, whispering hoarsely: “Please! I beg you!”

But Wei Yingluo’s expression suddenly darkened. She cursed furiously: “My sister must have been just as terrified back then—but who ever let her go? I just want you to taste it for yourself—the despair and pain as death closes in step by step!”

Hongzhou’s teeth chattered uncontrollably.

Wei Yingluo raised a finger to her lips. “Shh! What’s there to be afraid of? Aren’t you a noble of the imperial clan, a favored son of Heaven? Look at you—snot and tears everywhere. How unsightly!”

She then drew out the handkerchief that had been clutched in the old consort’s hand inside the coffin and gently wiped away his tears bit by bit, saying with satisfaction: “Starting tomorrow, you will be known as a criminal who, in a drunken stupor, defiled the corpse of his late father’s consort. No matter how much the Emperor favors you, he won’t be able to silence the mouths of the world. Your reputation will be a hundred times, a thousand times worse than my sister’s. I want Aisin Gioro Hongzhou to be reviled and stink for ten thousand years!”

Hongzhou stared in horror as Yingluo slowly pushed the coffin lid closed. In desperation, he struggled to pull the hairpin from the old consort’s hair and stabbed it hard into his own arm. The sharp pain jolted him awake. With all his remaining strength, he braced himself against the lid of the coffin, gripped the hairpin, and thrust it toward Wei Yingluo!

The hairpin struck her shoulder. Wei Yingluo instinctively stepped back. Using his very last ounce of energy, Hongzhou scrambled out of the coffin and fled in a panic.

Wei Yingluo pressed a hand to her wounded shoulder and quickly gave chase.

The Imperial Garden was brightly lit with lanterns. In the cool pavilion, Hongli was painting a moonlit garden scene when he suddenly seemed to hear someone crying for help. Frowning, he asked: “What’s that sound?”

Li Yu was about to send the young eunuchs to investigate when Hongli had already stepped out of the pavilion.

Hongzhou saw countless people approaching with lanterns and broke into a relieved smile. But Wei Yingluo was right behind him. Acting decisively, she tore her sleeve open with force, exposing the wound on her shoulder where the hairpin had pierced her. She strode past Hongzhou and cried out loudly: “Help! Someone, come quickly! Help me!”

Hongzhou stared in disbelief as Yingluo overtook him. In the instant she brushed past, she turned her head and gave him a strange, eerie smile.

Before Hongzhou could react, Wei Yingluo had already rushed forward.

Hongli walked at the front of the group. Yingluo, running too fast, stumbled and fell straight into his arms. She clutched desperately at Hongli’s sleeve and gasped: “Your Majesty, save this servant!”

Hongli saw the tears glistening in Wei Yingluo’s eyes and froze for a moment.

Hongzhou arrived panting for breath and pointed at Yingluo in fury: “Imperial Brother, this woman tried to kill me!”

Wei Yingluo, as though overwhelmed with fright, immediately hid behind Hongli and cried in a voice on the verge of breaking: “Your Majesty, Prince He has gone mad! He just crawled into Dowager Consort Guo’s coffin and tried to undress her! When I discovered him and tried to stop him, he tried to silence me by killing me!”

Hongzhou was dumbfounded. He stammered in defense: “Imperial Brother, don’t listen to her nonsense! She deliberately lured me there—she wanted to kill me! She drugged me, sealed me inside the coffin, and tried to suffocate me alive!”

Hongli turned to look at Wei Yingluo. She clung tightly to his sleeve, her voice trembling: “Your Majesty, Prince He reeks of alcohol and is holding a weapon. The wound on this servant is proof that he tried to kill me to silence me! If you don’t believe me, go and look at Dowager Consort Guo’s coffin—see whether her clothes are disheveled and her hairpins scattered—”

Hongzhou threw the blood-stained hairpin in his hand to the ground and declared, “That was me who crushed her!”

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

Realizing he had spoken carelessly, Hongzhou said in furious agitation, “That’s not what I meant! She deliberately locked me inside the coffin, that’s why the Imperial Noble Consort’s body got crushed!”

Wei Yingluo clung tightly to Hongli and refused to let go. With red eyes she said, “The palace gates have already been locked for the night. You, a dignified prince, are lingering in the palace dressed in eunuch clothing—this is clearly treacherous intent. After I discovered you, you even fabricated such a lie. How could a weak woman like me possibly scheme to lock a prince inside a coffin? It’s simply absurd!”

Hongzhou roared in rage: “You lowly wretch!”

Seeing Hongzhou in eunuch attire with disheveled clothes, Hongli was instantly furious. He slapped him hard across the face: “Beast! Look at the disaster you’ve caused!”

Hongzhou staggered back half a step in disbelief and stammered, “Imperial Brother, how can you believe her? I’m your own flesh-and-blood brother! What is this woman even worth? She—”

Hongli closed his eyes as if he could no longer bear it: “Gag his mouth. Send people to investigate the scene at Shoukang Palace.”

Not long after, the guards who went to investigate returned. Shoukang Palace reeked of alcohol; the floor was covered with shards of wine jars, and the Imperial Noble Consort’s coffin was in complete disarray. With both witnesses and physical evidence, Hongzhou was temporarily detained in his residence, while Wei Yingluo was taken back by the Empress.

A few days later, while Wei Yingluo was pruning branches in Changchun Palace, Erqing walked over with a troubled expression and said, “Yingluo, Dowager Consort Yu wishes to see you…”

Wei Yingluo suddenly raised her head. Their eyes met, and then Dowager Consort Yu knelt down.

Wei Yingluo knew this elderly consort was Hongzhou’s birth mother. She hurried forward to help her up: “Dowager Consort, what is the meaning of this?”

Yet Dowager Consort Yu refused to rise: “Yingluo, I have just come from Prince He’s residence. I now know the whole sequence of events. It was all Hongzhou’s fault. As his mother, I apologize to you on his behalf!”

Wei Yingluo replied calmly, “One person should bear the consequences of their own actions. What does this have to do with you Dowager Consort?”

Dowager Consort Yu’s face was full of pleading: “Hongzhou is my own flesh and blood son. If he committed wrongdoing, it is because I failed to discipline him properly! Now he has fallen into convulsions and coma; his condition is grave. The imperial physicians say he will lose at least ten years of life! I know ten years cannot repay A-Man’s life, nor can it dissipate the hatred in your heart! That is why I beg you—come at me instead, and spare Hongzhou!”

Wei Yingluo asked quietly, “Dowager Consort Yu, did you come today to ask me to tell everyone that Prince He had only gone to pay respects to Dowager Consort Guo, that I myself misjudged the situation for a moment and nearly caused a misunderstanding—is that it?”

Dowager Consort Yu’s eyes lit up: “As long as you are willing to forgive Hongzhou, no matter what condition you propose, I will agree!”

Wei Yingluo shook her head: “The Empress once strongly defended me in front of His Majesty. If I were to go back on my word now, what position would that put Her Majesty in?”

The palace maid Bailing beside Dowager Consort Yu angrily said, “Wei Yingluo, you are merely a little palace maid. The Dowager Consort is of such high status and has knelt to beg you—don’t go too far!”

Dowager Consort Yu raised her hand to stop her. She gave Wei Yingluo a long, deep look and said, “Don’t blame her. I came today to do what a person can do, and leave the rest to fate. That Hongzhou has ended up like this is no one else’s fault. Yingluo, I have troubled you.”

Wei Yingluo watched Dowager Consort Yu walk away, her expression thoughtful. Erqing came over, patted her hand and said, “The Empress has been greedy for coolness again and drank watermelon juice. Go inside, serve her and try to persuade her.” Wei Yingluo came back to herself and answered, “Yes.”

Inside the main hall of Changchun Palace, the Empress looked displeased: “Yingluo, you’ve become truly audacious—now you’re even controlling me!”

Wei Yingluo was massaging the Empress’s shoulders and spoke softly: “Your Majesty, watermelon juice may taste good, but it is very cooling in nature. You must not drink a second cup.”

The Empress said helplessly, “I order you—pour another cup!”

Wei Yingluo pressed her lips together: “Whatever Physician Ye says, that is what this servant will do. As long as it is good for Your Majesty, this servant is willing to accept any punishment!”

The Empress was simply helpless against her.

Outside the hall, a man’s voice suddenly rang out: “Why is it so lively? What is the Empress doing?” It was none other than His Majesty the Emperor, who had arrived in person. Everyone was startled and hurriedly paid respects to the Emperor.

The Empress immediately rose and curtsied: “This subject-wife respectfully greets Your Majesty and wishes you well.”

The Emperor took the Empress’s hand and said gently, “The weather is too hot. I remember you’ve always feared the summer heat, so I specially ordered them to send more ice blocks over. Does it feel better now?”

The Empress smiled and replied, “This subject-wife thanks Your Majesty for your concern. This year, Wei Yingluo came up with a new idea, and it’s actually very effective at relieving the heat.”

The Emperor subtly furrowed his brow, then gave a cool, indifferent “Oh,” before his gaze fell on the wooden box nearby. He asked, “Is this the thing? What’s so special about it?”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head, opened the box, and the Emperor stepped forward to look inside. He saw that the interior of the wooden box was lined with a layer of lead foil; wooden partitions divided it into sections, with one layer of ice blocks, then a layer of fruit, covered with a cotton quilt for insulation.

The Emperor finally showed some interest and asked, “What is this lead foil for?”

Wei Yingluo, still keeping her head lowered, answered, “In reply to Your Majesty, it can block out external heat and maintain the low temperature inside the box.”

The Empress looked at Wei Yingluo with appreciation and said happily, “With this, whenever we want to eat iced fruit or drink something cold, it’s very convenient!”

The Emperor thought for a moment and said, “Li Yu, have the Imperial Household Department make two more and send them to Yangxin Hall. Also send one to the Empress Dowager!” Then, as if casually, he added, “Empress, there is one more thing I must tell you. After consultation by two imperial physicians, it has been confirmed that Prince He’s condition is grave and he needs quiet rest and recovery. I can only wait until he is fully healed before considering anything else.”

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze. After a moment, the Empress sighed and said, “Your Majesty’s decision carries the full weight of pressure from the imperial clan and must suppress all the various criticisms directed at Prince He. You treat him with such generosity and leniency; I only hope he will recognize his mistakes, reform, and cherish Your Majesty’s grace!”

While speaking to the Empress, the Emperor’s eyes remained fixed on Wei Yingluo. With deliberate meaning, he said, “Hongzhou is my own younger brother. No matter what mistakes he has made, it is for me alone to deal with him. I will absolutely not allow anyone to overstep their bounds and interfere.”

Wei Yingluo stood respectfully to the side, remaining completely silent, though inside her sleeve her fist was clenched in anger.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 67: Revenge

   Hongzhou thought the matter of the “female ghost” was finally over, but someone always seemed to bring it up again. Irritated, he turned around and snapped, “Hailancha, I finally managed to get away from Imperial Brother and have a moment of peace. Why do you keep following me around for no reason!”

Hailancha looked curious. “Fifth Master, about that female ghost the other day—”

Hongzhou waved his fan casually, looking completely at ease. “Taken care of!”

Hailancha asked in surprise, “You caught the female ghost?”

Hongzhou gave a meaningful smile. “Not only was she not a ghost—she turned out to be a lovely, refined beauty!” As he spoke, he suddenly spotted Wei Yingluo walking over from the other side. He immediately went up with a cheerful grin and called out, “Little sister-in-law!”

Wei Yingluo was startled. She stopped, curtsied, and said, “Prince He, please don’t tease this servant.”

Hongzhou made a “tch” sound and said seriously, “How is this teasing? You really are this prince’s little sister-in-law!”

Wei Yingluo raised an eyebrow. “So you’re truly acknowledging this connection, Your Highness?”

Hongzhou stared at Wei Yingluo intently, clearly moved by her appearance. Grinning mischievously, he said, “Of course I acknowledge it! How could I not? These days the Emperor keeps me under strict supervision to make me behave, so now we can see each other every day!”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head, stepped to the side, and walked away.

Hongzhou chased after her for a couple of steps and called out, “Hey, I wasn’t finished talking—why are you leaving already?”

Wei Yingluo stopped, turned her head, and gave him a light smile. “Doesn’t Your Highness enter the palace every day? If you want to talk, there will be plenty of opportunities later.” With that, she quickened her pace and left.

Hongzhou’s soul seemed to be snatched away by that smile; he stood there dazed for a long moment, unable to snap out of it. Hailancha waved his fingers back and forth in front of his eyes like someone trying to call back a wandering spirit. “Fifth Master! Fifth Master!”

Hongzhou suddenly snapped his fan shut and said with relish, “Beautiful—prettier than her older sister!”

Hailancha frowned and said seriously, “What did you just say? Fifth Master, let me warn you: you absolutely must not touch this girl!”

Hongzhou shrugged it off carelessly. “She’s just a palace maid—what’s untouchable about her? As long as I say the word, His Majesty might very well gift her to me.”

Hailancha replied, “Fifth Master, Fuheng treasures her like the apple of his eye!”

Hongzhou laughed smugly. “That depends on whether she chooses Fuheng or me, Prince He!”

Hailancha grew anxious. “Fifth Master, the way you’re acting is really not honorable!”

Hongzhou burst into loud laughter, patted Hailancha on the shoulder, and said, “Relax. Fuheng and I grew up together—we’re like brothers. How could I possibly have any improper thoughts? I’m just someone who appreciates beauty; I only want to look, that’s all!” With those words, Hongzhou turned back once more, reluctantly gazing at Yingluo’s figure before finally walking away with a smile.

Hailancha felt uneasy. He turned and headed straight for the imperial guards’ station.

Fuheng was reading a book at the guards’ station. From far away, he heard Hailancha’s voice: “Fuheng! Something’s happened! I have to tell you!”

Fuheng didn’t even look up. “What do you want to tell me?”

Hailancha rushed over in a panic. “Fifth Master is trying to steal your wall!”

Fuheng found it amusing. “Steal what wall?”

Hailancha slammed the table in frustration. “The woman! The one you like most—do you understand now!”

Fuheng’s expression changed. “You mean—”

Seeing that Fuheng finally understood, Hailancha sighed. “Exactly what it sounds like. I can tell that kid Hongzhou has gotten some crooked ideas. You’d better keep a close eye on her!”

Fuheng closed the book with a snap and tossed it onto the table.

Recently, there had been a new bereavement in the palace: Dowager Consort Guo had passed away. Changchun Palace naturally had to make some gesture of condolence, so the Empress ordered Wei Yingluo to deliver sacrificial offerings to Shou’an Palace.

Night fell, with a bright moon hanging high. Wei Yingluo carried a small, delicate bamboo basket and walked along the covered passageway. Hongzhou spotted her from a distance and immediately followed behind her. The little eunuch at his side asked in confusion, “Your Highness, where are you going? We have to leave the palace before the gates are locked for the night.”

Hongzhou said impatiently, “Mind your own business!” Then he narrowed his eyes and added, “Take off your clothes and give them to me!”

In just a few quick motions, Hongzhou stripped the little eunuch’s clothes off and put them on himself. He snatched the eunuch’s hat and clapped it onto his own head. “You take my waist token and leave the palace as usual!”

The little eunuch clutched the clothes, hopping anxiously. “You can’t do this, Your Highness!”

Hongzhou placed one hand lightly around the little eunuch’s neck and said softly, “If you dare breathe a word of this, I’ll take your life!”

The little eunuch immediately fell silent.

Wei Yingluo continued walking until she reached a small grove. She looked around carefully and, seeing no one nearby, took out a candle and a fire folder from the bamboo basket. Suddenly a hand seized her wrist. Hongzhou stepped out from behind a tree and said loudly, “Aha! So what exactly are you up to!”

Wei Yingluo looked flustered. “Prince of Harmony, I was simply ordered to deliver the sacrificial offerings for Dowager Consort Guo—”

Hongzhou stepped closer, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me. Shou’an Palace is outside the grove—why did you come into the woods? Oh, I get it. You’re secretly paying respects to your older sister, aren’t you!”

Wei Yingluo turned her face away awkwardly. “Your Highness, I know the palace forbids private sacrifices, but since you promised to welcome my sister into your household, it’s still a major matter. I had to let her know somehow!”

Hongzhou snarled viciously, “You knew perfectly well that sacrifices aren’t allowed, yet you deliberately broke the rules! Come on, come with me to see the Empress. I’d like to see whether she’ll cover for you!”

Fear appeared in Wei Yingluo’s eyes. She pleaded pitifully, “Your Highness, didn’t you say I could be considered your little sister-in-law? Since we’re family, why must you be so harsh?”

Hongzhou laughed, reached out, and boldly touched Yingluo’s waist, speaking in a roguish, crude tone: “Since we’re family, why don’t you take your sister’s place and ‘serve’ this prince for a while?”

Wei Yingluo immediately dodged away, displeased. “Your Highness, this is no joking matter!”

Hongzhou’s face grimed. He threatened, “I’m not joking with you. If you don’t agree, I’ll spill the whole thing!”

Wei Yingluo froze. After a moment, she spoke hesitantly, “Let me think about it… At the very least, I need to ask my sister first…”

Seeing the delicate beauty soften her tone, Hongzhou generously said, “Fine. I’ll wait right here for you.”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head. She brought the fire stick close to the candle. Covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, she spoke in a heartbroken voice as though on the verge of tears: “Sister, Yingluo came here especially today to see you because I have something important to tell you. Prince He has deeply regretted what happened in the past. He has agreed to welcome you into his household and even said he would move your grave.”

As the fire stick flared, white smoke rose. Hongzhou, bored, rummaged through the basket nearby. Suddenly finding it odd, he asked, “Why didn’t you bring any gold ingots or paper money for the offering?” Before he could finish, his vision blurred. Dizzy and unsteady, he muttered, “What… what is this smell—?”

The frail, pitiful look on Wei Yingluo’s face vanished in an instant. She stood up, her voice now utterly calm and cold: “Sister, I know you will never forgive him. Today, please watch with your own eyes how I punish the true culprit on your behalf!” With that, she grabbed the heavy bronze candlestick and smashed it down hard toward the back of Hongzhou’s neck!

Caught completely off guard, Hongzhou fell to the ground. In disbelief, he gasped, “You deliberately lured me here… and that fire stick—you tampered with it!”

Wei Yingluo said nothing. She raised the candlestick again and brought it down toward his face.

Hongzhou grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it upward. Wei Yingluo dodged backward. Seizing the moment, Hongzhou scrambled with all his strength, rolling and crawling desperately into the depths of the woods. Wei Yingluo immediately gave chase.

Using the cover of night and the dense trees, Hongzhou hid behind a large trunk. Wei Yingluo advanced slowly, candlestick in hand, scanning the surroundings for any trace. Her voice was calm as she spoke: “Hongzhou, do you know why I want to kill you?”

Hongzhou held his breath, trembling slightly from fear.

Wei Yingluo’s voice was filled with hatred: “To you, Wei Yingning was just a palace maid you violated in a drunken moment. But to me, she was the most important person in the world! My mother died in childbirth. My father never cared for me. Only my sister took care of me like a mother!”

Tears shimmered in Wei Yingluo’s eyes. She gripped the candlestick tighter and tighter. “When my sister entered the palace at fifteen, I went to the Shenwu Gate every single day—waiting, hoping, watching with longing. Nine years. I waited nine whole years. My sister was finally about to come home! But because of your momentary debauchery, she died!”

The footsteps drew closer. Hongzhou covered his mouth, terrified of making the slightest sound.

Wei Yingluo’s voice continued: “Even more ridiculous—you, a rapist who should be carved into a thousand pieces, escaped punishment so easily just because you’re of imperial blood. And you even had the audacity to boast about welcoming her into your house. Pah! As if you’re worthy! Forgiving you isn’t hard. All it takes is your life in repayment!”

Yingluo’s gaze swept inch by inch through the woods. But the moonlight was blocked by thick clouds, leaving everything pitch black. After searching for a long time without finding him, she turned and headed in another direction.

Hongzhou finally let out a breath of relief. He stepped out from behind the tree and staggered slowly outward. He had only taken a few steps when a sharp, violent pain exploded at the back of his head. He collapsed with a crash and lost consciousness.

Wei Yingluo had circled around from the other side and struck him from behind with the candlestick.

The clouds parted. Under the moonlight, Wei Yingluo looked down at Hongzhou from above, her gaze extremely cold. She murmured to herself: “Rest assured—this is far from over.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 66: Compensation

   Hongzhou’s legs went weak. He stood rooted to the spot, utterly horrified, murmuring to himself, “It’s her… it really is her…”

The dark shadow and fear buried deep in his heart seized him in that moment, reminding him of what he had once done. Hongzhou staggered a couple of steps and collapsed into the muddy water. When he opened his eyes again, the palace maid on the wall had vanished. He had just begun to breathe a sigh of relief when, in the blink of an eye, a pair of dripping embroidered shoes appeared right in front of him. He jerked his head up—only the woman’s snow-white chin and vivid red lips were visible. Around her waist dangled a plum-blossom tassel, swaying gently in the wind.

In a panic, Hongzhou screamed, “It’s you! I’m not afraid of you! Don’t come any closer! Stay back! I’m not afraid of anything!” As he shouted, he grabbed his umbrella and swung it wildly to keep the “female ghost” away.

In the midst of the storm, someone suddenly seized his arm and pulled him to his feet. Fuheng said, “Hongzhou! Hongzhou! Snap out of it!”

Hongzhou, completely pale with terror, shrieked, “A ghost! A ghost! There’s a female ghost!”

Fuheng wiped the rain from his face. “Where?”

Hongzhou, eyes squeezed shut, pointed at the wall. “Right there! On the wall!”

Fuheng strode quickly to the wall. The surface was perfectly smooth, showing nothing unusual. He reached out and ran his hand over the spot. Under the washing rain, all he felt was a faint sticky residue.

Hailancha hurried over and asked, “Well? Did you find anything?”

Fuheng hid his hand behind his back to conceal the sticky substance, replying calmly, “Nothing for now.”

Hongzhou rushed forward and began frantically slapping the wall again and again, as if possessed, repeating obsessively, “It was right here! Just now—right before you arrived—there was a palace maid with disheveled hair covering her face! I saw her with my own eyes! It was her! How could there be nothing? Come out! Come out right now!”

Hailancha asked in astonishment, “Her? Fifth Master, who are you talking about? Do you actually know this ‘female ghost’?”

The next moment, Hongzhou’s voice abruptly cut off.

Fuheng pressed down on Hongzhou’s shoulder and said, “Hongzhou, I already checked just now. It’s only a wall—there’s nothing there.”

Hailancha also chimed in, “Fifth Master, you must have seen wrong.”

Hongzhou, his face full of fury, kicked the wall hard. “It wasn’t just me who was there earlier—so many people saw it with their own eyes!”

Fuheng shouted loudly, “Enough!”

Hailancha asked in surprise, “Fuheng, what’s wrong?”

Fuheng exhaled heavily and said, “Go back first. I still have something to take care of!” With that, without looking back, Fuheng plunged straight into the rain.

The rain stopped.

Fuheng waited outside Changchun Palace until Wei Yingluo returned. His gaze was as dark and deep as the night. He asked, “Where were you?”

Wei Yingluo avoided his eyes and answered, “I felt stifled and went out for a walk.”

Fuheng was silent for a moment before asking, “The person playing tricks with ghosts and apparitions just now—was that you?”

Wei Yingluo replied lightly and breezily, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Fuheng said, “I found adhesive on the palace wall. The clan members all said they saw a ghost. Clearly, it wasn’t a ghost—someone stuck something reflective on the wall, which created the so-called ghostly shadow. Because it was a stormy night with flickering light, no one could see clearly, so they believed it was real!”

Wei Yingluo suddenly burst out laughing. Finally looking at Fuheng, she said, “Reflective? You mean a bronze mirror? How would a mirror be stuck on a palace wall? Imperial Guard Fucha, your imagination is really running wild, isn’t it?”

Fuheng took out a piece of glazed glass and showed it to Wei Yingluo. “Not a bronze mirror—a piece of glazed glass. I just went to the Imperial Household Department. You requisitioned glazed glass.”

Wei Yingluo laughed in amusement. “Imperial Guard Fucha, you’ve really misunderstood. I requisitioned the glazed glass to replace the broken pieces on the palace lanterns for Her Majesty the Empress. Why would I use it to play ghost and scare people? You should hurry back to Qianqing Gate before people start gossiping.” With that, she quickly walked into Changchun Palace.

Fuheng stood rooted in place, his voice low and suppressed as he pleaded, “Yingluo, don’t act rashly against Hongzhou! He is the Emperor’s closest brother. As long as he doesn’t commit the crime of treason, the Emperor will tolerate him for life!”

Wei Yingluo walked through the door without the slightest hesitation.

Hongzhou was still standing in front of the supposedly haunted palace wall, muttering to himself, “Impossible. There has to be something wrong.”

A hand suddenly clapped down on his shoulder from behind. Hongzhou jumped in fright. Turning around and seeing it was Fuheng, he patted his chest and complained, “Can’t you not sneak up behind me? Haven’t I been scared enough already?!”

Fuheng looked at him with an odd expression and asked, “What are you doing?”

Hongzhou patted the wall. “Last night I also thought it was a ghost at first, but thinking it over carefully, something’s not right. Someone’s playing tricks with ghosts on purpose—trying to dig up old matters! Hmph, when I catch the culprit, I’ll flay her alive and tear her to pieces!”

Fuheng raised an eyebrow and slowly asked, “The ‘old matter’ you’re talking about—is it the night of the tenth day of the first lunar month?”

Hongzhou froze completely, staring at Fuheng in shock and horror.

Fuheng’s expression grew heavy and cold. “That night was supposed to be my shift, but Mother fell ill, so I had to trade with someone. My clothes and court belt were left at the guard station. Because I left in such a hurry, I even forgot to take off my jade pendant. That night you went to the guard station and took my clothes—didn’t you?”

Hongzhou guiltily rubbed his nose. “Fuheng—”

Fuheng cut him off impatiently. “Don’t bother explaining. I don’t want to hear it! Do you want to know who was behind the tricks yesterday?”

Hongzhou immediately said, “Of course!”

Fuheng said calmly, “I can tell you. Come with me.”

The moment Wei Yingluo stepped into the main hall, she knew something was wrong. The Empress was looking at her with worry written all over her face. Hongzhou stood nearby, glaring like a tiger ready to pounce. He took one furious step forward and said indignantly, “So it was you pulling strings behind the scenes all along!”

Wei Yingluo immediately took a step back.

Hongzhou tried to press closer again, but Fuheng raised a hand to block him, frowning as he said:

“Enough!”

Hongzhou said unwillingly:

“Last night she scared me half to death, and I haven’t even done anything yet—you’re already protecting her like this?”

Fuheng said sternly:

“Hongzhou, don’t forget what you promised me!”

Hongzhou gave a tsk and stepped back one pace.

“I remember—settle this peacefully, right? I promised you I wouldn’t make things difficult for her anymore, so I absolutely won’t lift a finger! As for her sister…”

Hongzhou clapped his hands once. A eunuch came forward carrying a tray covered with red silk. Hongzhou pulled back the silk, revealing a dazzling pile of gold that lit up the entire hall.

Wei Yingluo’s gaze swept over the gold; she already had an idea in mind. She asked:

“What does this mean?”

Hongzhou grinned cheekily.

“An apology to you and your sister.”

Wei Yingluo asked coldly:

“With gold?”

Fuheng spoke with difficulty:

“Yingluo, Hongzhou was drunk and lost control that night—he committed a grave mistake in a moment of impulse. Hongzhou!”

Hongzhou helplessly raised both hands.

“Fine, fine, fine—I’m sorry. I was too drunk and muddle-headed; I hurt your sister. Afterward I regretted it very much and even went back looking for her! But to avoid the patrolling guards, I sneaked into the Imperial Garden to admire the night-blooming cereus and specially changed into Fuheng’s clothes. It wouldn’t have been proper to make a big fuss about it! By the time I found her, she had already left the palace!”

The Empress frowned, displeased.

“Hongzhou, do you know that after A-Man was expelled from the palace, she was strangled to death by someone?”

Hongzhou hurriedly said:

“I can swear to Heaven—that wasn’t me! I’m a straightforward person. If I really wanted to kill someone, I wouldn’t need to sneak around, much less disguise it as suicide!”

Wei Yingluo stared at Hongzhou and asked in a cold voice:

“Defiling a palace maid’s chastity—what difference is there from murdering her? My sister died, and she can’t even enter the Wei family ancestral grave—she can only be buried in a random burial ground!”

Hongzhou immediately said:

“I’ll make compensation!”

Wei Yingluo asked furiously:

“This is a human life—how exactly are you going to compensate?”

Hongzhou thought for a moment and said:

“Ms. Wei, I’ll take your sister as my wife and give her a proper status—how about that?”

Wei Yingluo said in disbelief:

“What did you say? Take her as your wife?!”

Hongzhou seemed to have hit upon a brilliant idea. He slapped his fan and said:

“That’s right! If I take her, a side consort has to be recorded in the jade register—the Wei family doesn’t qualify for that, but she can be a concubine! That way, no one will ever say she lost her virginity before marriage or question her virtue!”

Wei Yingluo stared fixedly at Hongzhou. Suddenly she scoffed with icy disdain, turned, and started to leave.

Hongzhou asked in confusion:

“Hey—where are you going?”

Just as Wei Yingluo stepped out the door, she ran straight into Wei Qingtai. She froze and called out blankly:

“Father…”

Wei Qingtai didn’t look at her. He simply saluted:

“This slave pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress and to Prince He.”

The Empress gave Wei Yingluo a surprised glance before saying:

“Rise.”

Wei Yingluo asked:

“Why are you here?”

Wei Qingtai didn’t answer. Hongzhou eagerly boasted:

“Your father has been without a good position all this time, hasn’t he? I personally wrote a letter of recommendation. Starting today, he’ll serve as an inner steward in the Imperial Household Department. As long as he does his job well, there’s no worry about promotions in the future!”

Wei Yingluo looked at Wei Qingtai, her expression complicated. She asked:

“You agreed to this?”

Hongzhou chimed in from the side:

“He’s already taken up the post!”

Wei Yingluo let out a short, sharp laugh and asked:

“Father, how does it feel to trade your own daughter’s life for a better future prospects?”

Wei Qingtai let out a heavy sigh and asked:

“Yingluo! Are you still going to be this stubborn? Do you really want to watch your sister’s soul wander with nowhere to rest?!”

Wei Yingluo’s whole body shuddered. She stood frozen.

Wei Qingtai’s eyes were full of sorrow as he said, “Yingning did not die a peaceful death, and she has been left with a sullied, unclean reputation. She can never be buried in the ancestral grave. Our entire Wei family will never be able to hold our heads high again! But Prince He has promised to welcome Yingning’s spirit tablet into his mansion! With this, no one in the entire Wei clan will dare speak ill of her anymore, and she can finally rest in peace down below!”

Hongzhou chimed in from the side, chattering away: “Exactly! I will definitely find her an excellent feng shui site and bury her properly so she won’t become a lonely wandering ghost. Consider this my sincere apology!”

Fuheng looked at Yingluo with worry and softly called her name: “Yingluo…”

Wei Qingtai turned to his youngest daughter and said, “Yingluo, if you are willing to let this matter go today, I will forgive you for your earlier willful and reckless behavior. But if you remain stubbornly obsessed, I will have no choice but to expel you from the family to prevent you from causing more disasters! Think carefully: is a moment of anger more important, or is your sister’s peace in the afterlife and our father-daughter bond more important?”

Wei Yingluo bit her lip. Ignoring everyone else, she looked toward the Empress—like a small child seeking shelter from a trusted adult: “Your Majesty, you have always taught this servant to be forgiving and tolerant. This time, I would like to ask you: is forgiveness possible?”

The Empress took a deep breath, looked at her with heartache, and said, “Yingluo, I am not you. I cannot forgive someone in your place.”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying, “This servant understands.” She turned to Hongzhou and said, “For the sake of my sister finding peace in the afterlife, Prince He, I can forgive you. However, you must keep the promise you made today and never forget it!”

Hongzhou grinned so widely his eyes narrowed into slits. “That’s more like it! It’s better to resolve enmity than to keep it alive. From now on, the Wei family can be considered half my in-laws. Lord Wei’s promotion, and your own marriage once you come of age and leave the palace—I’ll take care of everything!”

Wei Yingluo smiled slightly. “Then many thanks to Prince He.” But right after, as though she could no longer bear it, she turned and walked away.

Fuheng quickly called, “Yingluo!”

She paid no attention and hurried off. Fuheng started to follow, but the Empress said sharply, “Stop!”

Fuheng had no choice but to halt. He turned back to his sister, puzzled. “Empress—”

The Empress’s face was full of anger. “Who gave you permission to do this!”

Fuheng knew exactly what she was referring to. He answered calmly, “Sister, you have seen with your own eyes how much the Emperor favors and trusts Hongzhou. If Yingluo insists on taking revenge, what do you think her fate will be? Now that she is willing to let go of her hatred—isn’t that something we should all be happy about?”

The Empress said in disappointment, “Coercion and bribery are not the ways of a gentleman.”

But Fuheng suddenly raised his voice: “I only want her to be safe!”

The Empress was stunned. Erqing’s face showed even greater shock.

Fuheng looked in the direction Yingluo had left and repeated, “Even if she hates me, even if she blames me, I must make sure she lives in peace and safety.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 65: Dragon Sons and Dragon Grandsons

Zhenzhu sucked in a sharp breath and stared at Wei Yingluo in disbelief.

Fuheng fixed his gaze on Yingluo and asked gravely, “Yingluo, I don’t believe what others say. You tell me yourself. Do you—want to kill me?”

Wei Yingluo scoffed with icy disdain. She walked quickly to the Empress, picked up the teacup in front of her, and drank it all in one gulp.

Fuheng rushed forward in an instant, seizing her wrist tightly. “What are you doing?!”

Wei Yingluo smiled faintly, pushed his hand away, and turned the empty cup bottom-up for everyone to see. “Proof enough for you now?”

Fuheng’s heart eased at once. The Empress smiled and said, “There was no need for that. I never doubted you.”

Wei Yingluo felt a warmth in her heart. She nodded and said:

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Last night, Noble Consort Hui summoned me to Chuxiu Palace and ordered me to poison you. She told me that my sister A-Man was defiled by Fuheng, and that in order to cover up the crime, you expelled my sister from the palace and sent someone to assassinate her!”

The Empress clenched her fists, her face clouded with anger.

“Yingluo, I have never done such a thing! And I firmly believe that Fuheng is absolutely not that kind of person!”

Wei Yingluo gave the Empress a gentle smile.

“Your Majesty, I am not blind—I can distinguish right from wrong. You have taught me calligraphy and painting with such wholehearted dedication, far beyond the bounds of master and servant. Even if I were completely unable to tell right from wrong, I wouldn’t simply believe whatever anyone tells me.”

Consort Chun sighed of relief and said apologetically:

“It was I who wrongly blamed you.”

The Empress asked with concern:

“Yingluo, why didn’t you tell me about this matter earlier?”

Wei Yingluo was silent for a moment before replying:

“This is a personal vendetta. I didn’t dare disturb Your Majesty.”

The Empress disagreed.

“But I could have helped you investigate—”

Wei Yingluo shook her head firmly.

“Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Majesty, but Yingluo has her own ways of finding the true culprit. I still have duties to attend to—please allow me to take my leave first!”

Fuheng quickly spoke up:

“Your Majesty, I also have matters to attend to. I beg your leave!”

With that, he immediately hurried after Yingluo.

Consort Chun watched as Wei Yingluo and Fuheng left the hall one after the other. Turning back to the Empress, she said gravely:

“Your Majesty… Wei Yingluo acts impulsively and unpredictably. A person like her… it would be best not to keep her close, lest she become a source of endless trouble in the future!”

The Empress tilted her head slightly, clearly unconvinced.

“Consort Chun, it is true that Yingluo’s temperament can be somewhat extreme, but since she has been studying and practicing calligraphy with me, she has gradually become much steadier. I believe her nature is upright and she clearly distinguishes right from wrong. She should be properly guided and cultivated. Moreover, regarding this matter, my conscience is clear—why should I send her away?”

Consort Chun still wanted to persuade her:

“But—”

The Empress waved her hand.

“No need to say more. My mind is made up.”

Wei Yingluo strode quickly into the courtyard. Fuheng caught up, reaching out to take her hand, calling her name in a low, pleading voice:

“Yingluo…”

Wei Yingluo turned around and flung her court sash into his face, furious.

“And now you still dare to say this has nothing to do with you!”

Fuheng caught the sash. His expression shifted several times before he finally asked:

“Yingluo… do you believe I did it?”

Wei Yingluo’s face was cold.

“If I truly believed it was you, would I still be standing here wasting words with you?”

Fuheng’s expression immediately softened, and he said happily:

“Thank you for believing in me.”

Wei Yingluo, however, turned her face away and said:

“Even if it wasn’t you, you’re not entirely innocent. A jade pendant might be lost by accident, but a court sash is something you never part with—how could it just happen to end up in the Imperial Garden unless you were undressing? My guess is that on the tenth day of the first lunar month, someone put on your clothes and entered the Imperial Garden! If it had been an ordinary palace guard, there would have been no need to change clothes. The very purpose of changing clothes was to avoid the patrolling guards! Therefore, that person must have been a member of the imperial clan attending the banquet at Qianqing Palace! As for the little eunuch Noble Consort Hui found—he was too afraid of the imperial bodyguard’s reputation to get close and never actually saw who it was! So she conveniently led me to believe that the owner of the court sash was the murderer!”

Fuheng’s expression grew tense. He immediately grasped Yingluo’s hand and said urgently:

“Enough, Yingluo!”

But Yingluo shook off his hand and stared straight at him, as though trying to peer into the depths of his heart. She asked:

“With your current power and status, you don’t even take Prince Yi seriously—let alone an ordinary member of the imperial clan! I really wonder: who exactly is this person that you would protect him at the cost of your own reputation?”

Fuheng shook his head.

“Yingluo, I’m not protecting him—I’m protecting you.”

Yingluo gave a scornful laugh.

“Protecting me?”

Fuheng’s voice turned hoarse.

“If you keep investigating, it will drag in more grudges and enmities. I don’t want you to encounter any danger.”

Wei Yingluo took a deep breath and said:

“Fucha Fuheng, I’ll ask you just one question: who exactly is this person?”

Fuheng gazed at her steadily, his eyes filled with pain and guilt. He said:

“I’m sorry.”

Wei Yingluo turned and walked away.

It felt as though she were lost in a thick fog. She had once thought there was someone in the mist she could hold hands with and walk together, but in the end, she was alone again. Wei Yingluo wandered forward aimlessly until someone called out to her: “Yingluo, where are you heading in such a hurry?”

She snapped back to reality and saw Desheng and others passing by, carrying stacks of tea trays and other items. She forced a smile and replied, “I’m going to the Imperial Household Department to collect something. And you—why are you rushing around with so many people?”

Desheng smiled and said, “His Majesty suddenly felt like it and decided to hold a tea banquet at Chonghua Palace, inviting the Princes and Prince of Third Rank to join him for tea. This servant is hurrying over to make preparations!”

Wei Yingluo’s heart stirred. She asked, “Princes and Prince of Third Rank?”

Desheng nodded. “Yes! Anyone who can attend a tea gathering at Chonghua Palace is someone of prominent status among the imperial clan! Ah, I can’t chat any longer. Please give my regards to Her Majesty the Empress—tell her this servant will come pay respects another day!”

Yingluo nodded with a smile and watched Desheng leave. She murmured to herself: “Chonghua Palace…”

Inside Chonghua Palace, the hall was filled with the Emperor’s descendants and the sons of phoenixes—yet no matter how noble their blood, they were still human, and humans cannot avoid gossip and chatter.

Yunxi ate a grape and sighed. “Prince Yi has already fallen into misfortune, so how is Hongzhou still doing so well?”

Hongzhan looked baffled. “What do you mean Fifth Brother can’t be doing well?”

Yunxi said mysteriously, “You really haven’t heard? Hongzhou had a coffin made. He had his wives, concubines, and servants wail and mourn for him as though he were already dead—while he himself lounged there with his legs crossed, sitting in the main hall, laughing heartily while listening to everyone sob and cry. Don’t you think he’s gone mad?”

Suddenly a burst of loud laughter came from outside the door. A man’s voice rang out: “There’s no one in the world who lives to a hundred—why should anyone be so superstitious about it!”

Everyone was startled. Hongzhou strolled in, fanning himself elegantly with a folding fan, looking completely at ease.

Hongzhan asked in surprise, “Fifth Brother, did you really have a coffin made for yourself?”

Hongzhou grinned and replied cheerfully, “I just wanted to get a head start on enjoying the honor that comes after death! And while I was at it, I wanted to see who would cry the hardest and who truly cared about me!”

Fupeng slammed his wine cup down on the table, about to scold Hongzhou—when suddenly Hongli’s voice cut in: “Is everyone here?”

The room instantly fell silent. Everyone stood and bowed in unison: “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Hongli waved his hand with a faint smile. “Today is a family banquet. Everyone here is close kin by blood—there is no need for so much formality. Take your seats.” Then he turned to Hongzhou and asked gently, “Have you caused trouble again?”

Hongzhou put on an innocent smile. “How could I, Imperial Brother? Your little brother has always kept your words in mind—working diligently and behaving properly!”

Everyone else wore expressions of clear disbelief. Hongli noticed but only smiled slightly and said, “Serve the tea.”

The tea trays were brought forward, and each member of the imperial clan was given a cup, accompanied by steamed buns and pastries.

Hongzhou lifted the lid of his teacup, let out a surprised sound, and asked, “What is this?”

Hongli answered, “Snow water steeped with plum blossoms, pine nuts, and finger citron, blended with Longjing tea. It is called Three Purities Tea.”

Everyone raised their cups and tasted it, their faces showing appreciation.

But Hongzhou hesitated and said, “Imperial Brother, I’ve heard that mixing pine nuts with finger citron can easily produce poison!”

Hongli laughed. “And where did you hear such nonsense?”

Hongzhou laughed heartily a couple of times and replied, “Yesterday, while I was lying in the coffin, Lord Yama himself told me!”

Hongli shot him a glare and scolded, “Just drink your tea quietly!”

Hongzhou grinned, grabbed his cup, and downed it in one gulp.

Moments later, his face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled uncontrollably, and his whole body began shaking as though he had caught a violent chill.

Hongzhan was startled. “Fifth Brother, what’s wrong with you?”

Hongzhou’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed straight backward onto the floor.

Hongzhan rushed forward and forcefully pushed Hongzhou. Hongzhou kept convulsing. Everyone looked on in shock and suspicion. Hongli suddenly stood up.

Hongzhan panicked and cried, “Could it really be that mixing pine nuts and bergamot is poisonous? Quick, spit it out!”

Everyone was terrified. One after another, they frantically tried to gag themselves, desperately attempting to vomit up the tea they had drunk. Fupeng dramatically pounded his own chest. Yunlu pressed hard on the base of his tongue and—with a retching sound—spat out the tea and snacks in a gush. Yunxi went even further, shoving a spoon straight down his throat.

Hongli, on the contrary, remained calm. He didn’t even lift an eyelid, quietly sitting there eating steamed buns.

In the midst of all the chaos, Hongzhou suddenly sat bolt upright, his face full of bewilderment. “What’s wrong with all of you?”

Yunlu raised his head, incredulous. “Weren’t you poisoned to death—?”

Hongzhou flashed a mischievous grin. “The Three Purities tea tasted so good that I lost myself for a moment and nearly had one of my old epileptic fits! What’s the matter with all of you? Did you have fits too?”

Fupeng exploded in fury. “Hongzhou, you were clearly toying with us on purpose! Your Majesty, Hongzhou’s behavior is utterly outrageous—you cannot let this go unchecked!” With that, he charged forward, ready to throw a punch.

Hongli barked sharply, “Everyone, sit down!” The whole group froze.

Forced back to their seats, they all glared at Hongzhou with resentment. Hongzhou fanned himself leisurely, sweeping a smug gaze over them.

After the banquet ended, everyone left Chonghua Palace. That night, a torrential downpour began. Hongzhou walked ahead, while the others trailed behind, muttering angrily under their breath.

Suddenly, the man who had been leading the way—Hongzhou—whirled around with an ominous look. “What nasty little scheme are you all plotting now? Planning to tattle to His Majesty about me, aren’t you!”

Fupeng was just about to speak when his eyes suddenly widened in terror. He shouted loudly, “Look!”

Hongzhou sneered disdainfully. “I’ve played this old trick myself ages ago. Trying to scare me? In your dreams!”

Hongzhan, trembling all over, stammered, “Fifth Brother, no—it’s not that!”

Hongzhou frowned and turned back. Just then, a flash of lightning illuminated the palace wall. The shadowy figure of a palace maid appeared faintly upon it. In the instant Hongzhou’s eyes widened, the maid twisted her head around. Her long, disheveled hair covered her face, making her features indistinct—yet she lifted her lips in a faint, eerie smile directed straight at them.

Hongzhan turned and bolted. The others didn’t even think—they dropped their umbrellas and fled for their lives into the pouring rain.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 64: Poison

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

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

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

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

Wei Yingluo spun around sharply.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wei Yingluo’s expression changed abruptly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wei Yingluo cut her off sharply: “Enough!”

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

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

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

Wei Yingluo asked, “How should I serve?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consort-Chun smiled coyishly. “Rise.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wei Yingluo returned a smile as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME