Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 78: Keeping Each Other Warm

After the weeding was finished, everyone else went back to rest, but Wei Yingluo still had to wash a large pile of night-soil buckets.

Several gashes on her hands—cuts from the tough weeds—now burned with piercing pain the moment they touched water. While grimacing, Wei Yingluo soaked her hands in the bucket. Halfway through, a hand suddenly reached out from beside her and pulled her injured hand out of the water.

Wei Yingluo turned her head. “Yuan Chunwang!”

Yuan Chunwang glanced at her. “Call me Big Brother Yuan.”

Wei Yingluo’s mouth twitched. “That’s so cringey—I can’t say it. Let Jinxiu and the others call you that.”

“Forget them. I’m not interested.” Yuan Chunwang gave a lazy smile, suddenly pulled out a few strands of wild grass, stuffed them into his mouth, chewed them thoroughly, then spat out the pulp and applied it to her wounds.

Wei Yingluo was startled and tried to pull her hand back, but he explained, “This is Sonchus oleraceus—field sow thistle. It stops bleeding and reduces inflammation.”

Wei Yingluo was half-convinced, half-doubtful. After a while, a cool, numbing sensation spread over the wounds, and she realized he was telling the truth.

“People like us are born with worthless lives. In the eyes of the Noble Ladies, we’re just watchdogs guarding the house. Once we lose our usefulness, even if you die by the roadside, you’re nothing but a stray dog—no one will spare you a second glance.” Yuan Chunwang smiled as he spoke to her. “So don’t be so foolish. You have to cherish your own life.”

Wei Yingluo looked at him with complicated emotions. She couldn’t understand why he was suddenly being so kind to her. Did he have some ulterior motive?

When she came back to herself, the thought struck her as absurd. Perhaps he had once felt the same suspicion toward her—wondering whether her sudden kindness carried some hidden agenda.

The world is unpredictable; almost overnight, their positions and their thoughts had completely reversed.

After tending to Wei Yingluo’s wounds, Yuan Chunwang stood up—but instead of leaving, he turned around and began scrubbing the night-soil buckets for her. The sound of water splashing filled the air, accompanied by his clear, crisp voice. With his back to her, he said:

“No matter how much Fucha Fuheng loves you, it’s only because you’re young and beautiful, fresh and interesting. Even if you use every trick to marry into the Fucha family, after many years pass and the passion fades, will he still love you as deeply as he does now?”

He suddenly turned his head, smiled at her, and asked:

“Forget about the future—just look at right now. When you need him the most, where is he?”

Wei Yingluo’s face stiffened. She replied coldly, “None of your business!”

“If I don’t mind your business, then let him come help you scrub these.” Yuan Chunwang laughed.

Wei Yingluo struggled up from the ground and reached out to snatch the brush from his hand, but Yuan Chunwang raised his arm high. Though he was only a young man, his arms were long, and even when she stood on tiptoe, she couldn’t reach it.

“I’m doing this for your own good,” Yuan Chunwang said with a smile. The smile looked utterly fake no matter how you looked at it.

Wei Yingluo withdrew her hand and stared at him coldly. “Yuan Chunwang, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

Yuan Chunwang was momentarily taken aback.

“The moment you smile like that, I know what kind of mischief you’re plotting,” Wei Yingluo said gravely. “You’re not doing this for my sake. You’re just too lonely, so you want me to become like you—hating others, taking revenge on others, eventually turning into the same kind of person as you… That way you won’t be alone anymore. Isn’t that right?”

Yuan Chunwang remained expressionless for a long moment. Then the corners of his mouth slowly lifted, and the smile spread wider bit by bit.

Compared to his earlier smiles, this one was both eerie and strikingly beautiful—like a venomous snake slowly rearing up, sending a chill down one’s spine. Yet for some reason, Wei Yingluo felt that this was his true smile, one that came straight from the heart.

“The moment your eyes flicker, I know what kind of mischief you’re plotting,” Yuan Chunwang said. He seized her right hand, which was covered in wounds and scars, wrapping around it like a snake coiling around prey that interested it. A bright, eager light danced in his eyes. “We understand each other so well—it’s like looking into a mirror. How about this… stop liking Fucha Fuheng. Come and like me instead. Wouldn’t that be much better?”

“No thanks,” Wei Yingluo replied without the slightest hesitation, pulling her hand back. “Two snakes are both cold-blooded creatures. Can they really warm each other?”

Yuan Chunwang pressed his lips together. Rather than looking offended, he seemed to be savoring the word “snake.” In the end he appeared oddly satisfied and let out a soft, hissing laugh. “If we can’t warm each other, we can at least take care of each other! Wei Yingluo—what do you say to an alliance?”

Wei Yingluo hadn’t expected that word to come out of his mouth. “An alliance?”

Yuan Chunwang glanced around, then used a stack of night-soil buckets piled like a wall to climb up in a few quick steps. Standing on the top, he turned back and extended his right hand toward Wei Yingluo. “Come up.”

Wei Yingluo hesitated. This person was unpredictable and impossible to read with ordinary logic. Truthfully, she didn’t really want to get too involved with him…

Yuan Chunwang gave another eerie smile and suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs: “Wei Yingluo killed Manager Zh—”

“Shut up!” Wei Yingluo was shocked. Without waiting for his help, she scrambled up using the other buckets, hands and feet working together until she reached the top. She immediately clamped both hands over his mouth and hissed in a low voice, “Are you insane? If I get caught, what good outcome do you think you’ll get?”

Faced with the furious Wei Yingluo, Yuan Chunwang merely curved the corners of his eyes. His eyes were exceptionally beautiful—especially when he smiled. They seemed heartless yet full of feeling, carrying a bone-deep tenderness.

He lifted a hand and gently pulled her fingers away from his lips, then drew her down to sit beside him. Tilting his head back, he said, “Look.”

Wei Yingluo frowned and followed his gaze. Above them stretched the vast night sky, filled with countless stars that formed a silver river, quietly flowing overhead—and quietly flowing into her eyes as well.

“So what if someone is born of noble blood? In the endless river of stars, a person is just a tiny speck. Who is nobler than whom?” Yuan Chunwang’s voice sounded softly beside her ear.

Wei Yingluo slowly turned her head. He was still gazing up at the starry sky, ambition brighter than starlight shimmering in his eyes. He seemed to be murmuring to himself, yet also swearing an oath to the heavens: “One day, I will make everyone see with their own eyes just how far a low-born mongrel dog like me can walk, and how high I can climb, inside the Forbidden City!”

Wei Yingluo suddenly felt her fingers tighten. Looking down, she saw that he was gripping her hand hard. When she raised her head again, he had already turned to face her. A pair of eyes bright as stars stared straight into hers. His voice was extremely gentle, carrying an enchantment even more intoxicating than the night itself:

“Wei Yingluo, from now on, I am your older brother, your closest confidant, your protector—and the same goes for you! We rely on each other, support each other, and survive together in the Forbidden City!”

Wei Yingluo looked at him with a complicated expression.

No one can survive entirely alone—especially not in a hellish place like the Cleansing Department. And if she had to choose an ally, after thinking it over, the Yuan Chunwang standing before her was actually the best choice. Compared to Jinxiu and the others, he had brains, he had courage, and most importantly, each of them held something incriminating over the other.

A relationship built on shared guilt was sometimes far more unbreakable than even a marriage.

Once she made up her mind, Wei Yingluo immediately gripped his icy fingers in return and said solemnly, “All right. You look after me, I look after you. The two of us will survive together!”

Yuan Chunwang lowered his head to look at their clasped hands, then raised his head with a smile. “How about I become your lover too, alright?”

Wei Yingluo felt a pang of embarrassment in her heart. Why was he suddenly joking around when they were talking about serious matters? What exactly was going through this person’s mind? Seeing him lean his face even closer, taking advantage, she immediately reached out and pushed him. “In your dreams!”

Who would have thought that Yuan Chunwang seemed to have anticipated her move? The moment she extended her hand, he caught it. As a result, both of them lost their balance together and tumbled down from the top of the wall in a rolling heap, sending the night-soil buckets scattering in all directions.

Wei Yingluo winced in pain, struggling to sit up from the ground. Furious, she snapped, “Yuan Chunwang, you—”

“Hahaha!” Yuan Chunwang, on the other hand, was delighted. Even after they landed, he still didn’t let go of her hand. He pulled it to his mouth and bit down, leaving a shallow but distinct tooth mark. Staring at Wei Yingluo, he said, “I told you long ago—I can guess every single one of your moves. Stop wasting your energy. Come on, call me ‘big brother’!”

“Big brother my foot!”

Under the same night sky, some people were close at hand, others far beyond reach. Some used their teeth to bite Wei Yingluo, while others could only silently recite her name in their hearts.

“Sigh.” Inside Changchun Palace, the Empress sighed in front of the mirror, her expression weary, wanting to speak but holding back.

The healing ointments had long been prepared—not just one bottle, but more than a dozen piled on the table, enough to last ten years. With just one word from her, they could be sent to the Department of Punished Labor and placed in Wei Yingluo’s hands. Yet she hesitated for a long time before finally giving up.

The Emperor’s anger had not yet subsided. She feared that her momentary kindness might end up harming the other party instead.

“Your ladyship.” Ming Yu stood behind her, removing the hair ornaments from her head. “The imperial physician said you need to rest quietly and recuperate. Tomorrow the Empress Dowager is holding a banquet at Yujing Pavilion for the Chongyang Festival. Since you are with child, climbing heights is already inconvenient. Why not request leave in advance? The Empress Dowager has always been lenient—she won’t blame you!”

Before the Empress could reply, Erqing had already scolded, “Ming Yu, the Empress Dowager has been depressed ever since the matter with Dowager Consort Yu. Today she is forcing herself to hold this small Chongyang banquet. If the Empress does not attend, wouldn’t that dampen her spirits even more? Even if the Empress Dowager says nothing, what about the one in Chuxiu Palace? She stirs up trouble even when there’s no wind—let alone when Niangniang personally hands her a handle! When the time comes, Noble Consort will surely accuse the Empress of relying on her pregnancy to act spoiled and arrogant!”

Ming Yu pouted. “But Niangniang is clearly unwell…”

“Enough, enough.” The Empress laughed helplessly. “Look how nervous the two of you are. This palace is perfectly healthy—there’s nothing seriously wrong. I’m just feeling a bit lazy and don’t want to move around, that’s all.”

She spoke lightly, but in truth, over the past few days she had been feeling increasingly unwell. Still, she was extremely good at enduring; all her bitterness and fatigue were hidden deep inside, and others could hardly notice.

“Tomorrow, Erqing will stay behind. Ming Yu will accompany this palace to the banquet.” Looking at her increasingly pale face in the mirror, the Empress paused for a moment before adding, “…When the time comes, apply a bit more rouge for this palace.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 77: Venomous Snake

   Darker than the night itself was perhaps the manure cart in front of her, covered with its lid.

Having avoided prying eyes the whole way, Wei Yingluo arrived at the courtyard where the night-soil carts were parked. She lifted the cover and looked inside—then let out a sharp cry and stumbled back several steps.

The pale moonlight shone into the cart.

Manager Zhang was already a cold, lifeless corpse.

But the cause of his death was definitely not the single blow to the back of the head. His entire body was covered in venomous snakes. One of them was coiled around his neck, rearing up its brightly colored upper body and hissing at Wei Yingluo, flicking its forked tongue.

Where did these venomous snakes come from? No—who put these venomous snakes here?

“Are you here to silence a witness?” A pleasant voice rang out from behind Wei Yingluo, each word clear and crisp like the tinkling of spring water.

Wei Yingluo slowly turned her head and saw Yuan Chunwang step out from behind a tree, walking toward her unhurriedly. His calm and composed bearing made it seem as though this place belonged to him, and he had merely come out to greet a guest who had been waiting for him for a long time.

“…It wasn’t me who killed him,” Wei Yingluo said, her voice somewhat hoarse. “When I got here, he was already dead… killed by these snakes…”

“What a fitting way for him to die,” Yuan Chunwang said with a smile. “A single blow to the head would have been far too cheap for him. This is much better—unable to live, unable to die, suffering the whole night long, and in the end dying with eyes wide open.”

His tone was far too relaxed, and the details he described were far too precise. Wei Yingluo couldn’t help blurting out:

“…Was it you?”

“If it wasn’t me, then it was you,” Yuan Chunwang said, glancing past her toward something behind her.

Wei Yingluo hid the carrying pole behind her back a little more and shook her head. “You’re wrong. I’ve never even killed a chicken—how could I possibly kill a person?”

“Oh?” Yuan Chunwang gave a half-smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Really?”

A moment later, Wei Yingluo burst into laughter—a smile so identical to Yuan Chunwang’s that it seemed to mirror his own. “False. If you didn’t kill him, I would have. A bastard like that who tortures palace maids to death—I naturally had to get rid of him, so he wouldn’t be released outside the palace and go on harming others.”

“And so he wouldn’t wake up and come looking for revenge against us,” Yuan Chunwang added. He clasped his hands behind his back and strolled over until he stood right in front of Wei Yingluo. “Cut the grass and remove the roots, eliminate future trouble once and for all. Finally, you’ve stopped pretending to be an innocent, kind-hearted little palace maid! Wei Yingluo, I like this version of you very much—because deep down, you and I are exactly the same kind of person!”

Wei Yingluo gazed at him quietly. How could she ever have thought he was some sensitive, pitiful little creature? This was clearly a brilliantly colored venomous snake—its appearance as vivid as its poison was deadly.

His footsteps halted right before her. Yuan Chunwang gave her a gentle smile. “Now we’re on the same side.”

“…On the same side?” Wei Yingluo blinked.

“Of course.” Yuan Chunwang tilted his chin toward Manager Zhang’s direction. “We both had a hand in this. You cover for me, I cover for you—what else could we be but comrades?”

A breeze blew from the direction of Manager Zhang, carrying the faint stench of a corpse along with the low hiss of a snake.

Wei Yingluo pressed her lips together. A strand of hair clung to her lower lip; as she reached up to brush it away, Yuan Chunwang moved first—his finger gently lifted the strand past her lips.

“…What are you doing?” Wei Yingluo quickly stepped back, brows furrowing. “Do you have any idea how rude that is to a woman?”

“Have you forgotten who I am?” Yuan Chunwang laughed carelessly. “Between you and me, there are no such things as propriety between men and women—what are you getting nervous about? Besides, I’m hardly some well-bred gentleman raised on Confucian rules. I’ve never been molded by etiquette, so where would rudeness even come from?”

Wei Yingluo bit her lip. Ever since he had revealed his true face in front of her, he had grown bolder and bolder. In the end she could only say helplessly, “The palace maids in the Laundry Cleaning Department all adore you so much—I have no desire to become a target for their jealousy!”

Yuan Chunwang scoffed with icy disdain. “Rest assured—this is the Yong Alley.”

Wei Yingluo was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“The lowest, most despised palace maids of the Laundry Cleaning Department still look down on the filthy eunuchs who haul the night-soil carts. Their so-called ‘liking’ is nothing more than chasing after a pretty face—just like that Jinxiu in your room—” He paused, then smiled with serpentine allure.

Wei Yingluo felt a chill. Of all people, he chose to mention Jinxiu. What did he mean? Could it be that, just like her, he had secretly followed and observed, and knew about the grudge between her and Jinxiu?

“…Jinxiu never sets foot in a place like this either! I can’t afford to accept that kind of ‘liking.’” Yuan Chunwang finished the sentence he had left hanging earlier.

Wei Yingluo studied him deeply, her voice turning a little dry. “Yuan Chunwang, is that why you despise them?”

“I don’t love women,” Yuan Chunwang said calmly.

Wei Yingluo was stunned. “Then you like… men?”

Yuan Chunwang threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t love men either.”

“You don’t love men, and you don’t love women…” Wei Yingluo stared at him as the answer became obvious.

“I only love myself,” Yuan Chunwang stated frankly. One hand gently lifted Wei Yingluo’s chin; he lowered his gaze to look down at her and said in a soft voice, “You’re the same. Wei Yingluo, Fucha Fuheng stands in the sunlight, while you can only stand in the shadows. The two of you will never have a future. In the end, you’ll realize no one loves you—the only one who will ever love you is yourself.”

Wei Yingluo’s eyes widened. Suddenly she seized the unruly hand that still held her chin and asked in a low, serious voice, “That day you didn’t leave—you were watching from the side, weren’t you?”

She had asked this question several times before, but every time she received no answer.

Until today, Yuan Chunwang looked at her, the smile on his face slowly widening—whether it was teasing or mockery was impossible to tell. Laughing, he said, “Yes, I didn’t leave. I saw… I saw everything.”

Because of those words, Wei Yingluo couldn’t sleep properly for several nights.

Three days later, with two dark panda-like circles under her eyes, she was wearily pulling weeds, her mind weighed down with heavy thoughts.

The sun blazed high overhead. The palace maids pulling weeds alongside her were drenched in sweat; drop after drop fell to the ground only to be instantly evaporated by the scorching heat.

One palace maid wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, “Hey, have you all heard? Manager Zhang has really gone missing! Chief Steward Wu is furious—says he was unreliable and irresponsible in his duties, and that when they catch him he’ll be severely punished!”

“Hmph,” another maid beside her snorted. “That kind of beast is better off disappearing forever!”

“Still got energy to chat? Have you finished your work?” Momo Liu’s voice cut in abruptly. “Wait—get up, get up! Everyone up! Clear the way for the master!”

All the working palace maids immediately stopped what they were doing and turned to face the wall. Only Wei Yingluo forgot to avert her gaze; she remained squatting on the ground, staring dazedly at the approaching imperial palanquin of the Empress.

Slap! A fiery sting exploded across Wei Yingluo’s back. She turned to see Momo Liu standing behind her, whip in hand, eyes glaring with terrifying ferocity.

Wei Yingluo clenched her teeth, knelt, and retreated, blending into the vast sea of palace maids like an insignificant drop of rain.

The palanquin passed behind her. The palanquin moved away. She didn’t know whether the person inside had seen her. She didn’t know whether the person inside had sighed for her sake.

“Wei Yingluo, you are now nothing but a lowly servant in the Cleansing Division,” Momo Liu walked up beside her, using the handle of the whip to lift her chin. Her smile was full of malice as she reminded her, “Do you really think the Empress still remembers you? Don’t dream of escaping this sea of suffering. Behave yourself and work obediently!”

Wei Yingluo slowly lowered her head.

Though Manager Zhang was dead, her situation had not improved. On the contrary, her days grew harder and her tasks heavier, as if someone—someone especially powerful and highly placed—had given the order to torment her.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 76: The Attack

“Li Yu.” Hongli tossed the memorial in his hand aside. “How many days has that woman been scrubbing night-soil buckets in the Cleansing Division?”

Li Yu hurriedly replied, “More than half a month.”

Under the candlelight, there wasn’t the slightest smile on Hongli’s face. In fact, ever since he failed to obtain Yingluo from the Empress in Changchun Palace, he had been wearing a foul expression for a full half month.

“She hasn’t cried?” Hongli asked with a sullen face.

Li Yu inwardly groaned but could only answer honestly, “No.”

“She hasn’t begged for mercy?” Hongli’s face immediately became even darker.

“No…” The words had barely left Li Yu’s mouth when Hongli swept all the memorials off the table with one furious motion and roared, “I see she won’t shed tears until she sees her own coffin—and even after seeing the coffin she’d probably still insist on lying down in it!”

Watching the supreme ruler of the Nine Provinces throw a tantrum like a petulant child, Li Yu really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He cautiously probed, “Then… shall this servant immediately give orders to increase her workload?”

Hongli’s cold gaze swept over. Just as Li Yu’s heart was pounding, thinking he had misread the imperial intent and said the wrong thing, Hongli huffed with a sneer:

“Increase it until she cries!”

In the Yong Alley.

   Wei Yingluo stood with head bowed and posture upright. Standing before her were Momo Liu and Manager Zhang.

Normally when Manager Zhang came to inspect this place, he would cover his nose with a handkerchief. Today was different—he put the handkerchief down, sniffed, and asked in confusion, “What did you put in those night-soil buckets? Why can’t I smell anything?”

“Reporting to Manager Zhang,” Wei Yingluo answered, “ordinary commodes have charcoal ash added, those used by consorts have fine sand, and for even better ones—this servant couldn’t find the materials. If one could obtain fragrant wood and leave behind the fine powder, it would wrap up the filth so not a trace of odor could be detected.”

Manager Zhang clicked his tongue in admiration. “You really are clever. No wonder the Empress values you so highly. Ai, someone like you being kept here is truly a waste. Momo Liu, in the future let her do some lighter…”

Before he could finish, a little eunuch suddenly darted in from outside, leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words. Manager Zhang’s expression changed instantly. He berated:

“Wei Yingluo, even scrubbing toilets you manage to do it differently from everyone else—this is called being pretentious! Keep scrubbing. After you finish, go carry all the water!”

With that, Manager Zhang huffed with a sneer, flicked his sleeve and left. But as he passed Yuan Chunwang, one arm casually reached toward the other man’s waist—only to be dodged by Yuan Chunwang taking a step back.

Wei Yingluo quietly took in the whole scene.

“Ungrateful thing!” Perhaps feeling he had lost face, Manager Zhang viciously cursed once and then hurriedly departed.

The little eunuch who had come to deliver the message earlier sauntered up to Yuan Chunwang and spoke in a sarcastic, affected tone:

“Born with such a good face, yet you have a block of wood for a brain! Manager Zhang has taken a fancy to you—that’s the good fortune you accumulated over several lifetimes. As long as you follow him, you won’t have to remain the lowest-ranking cleansing soldier anymore!”

Yuan Chunwang replied coldly, “I am a man, not a rabbit.”

This was the first time Wei Yingluo had heard him speak. Every word was clear and crisp, like spring water tinkling—unspeakably pleasant to the ear.

Not only could he speak, but what he said was especially sharp. In the end the little eunuch who had come to pick on him couldn’t out-talk him, and could only throw down one last vicious remark before stamping his foot and leaving in frustration.

“So you can talk after all.” Only after the other person left did Wei Yingluo step forward to chat with Yuan Chunwang. Very sincerely she said, “Your voice sounds really nice.”

Unexpectedly, he suddenly glanced at her, his face flushed red, and awkwardly turned his head away.

This reaction actually stunned Wei Yingluo for a moment. For no apparent reason, why did he suddenly look so shy? If he were interested in her, he should have been embarrassed the first time they met—why wait until now, after so much time had passed… wait!

“You… didn’t leave that day, did you?” Wei Yingluo’s voice involuntarily rose. “You saw me undressing?”

Yuan Chunwang glanced at her, then suddenly turned and left. No matter how much Wei Yingluo called after him, he didn’t stop, and naturally he didn’t give her a definite answer.

That half-hearted, ambiguous response was the most unsettling of all.

One must understand that a palace maid having an illicit affair with a guard was a grave taboo—especially for someone like her, who had already committed an offense and been punished by being sent to the Cleansing Department.

“That day… did he not leave? Did he see me with Fuheng? How much did he see? How much did he hear?” Wei Yingluo murmured to herself. “No, I have to find a way to get a clear answer.”

Getting a straight answer out of Yuan Chunwang’s mouth was truly difficult. Most of the time he was like a mute—nothing you said could pry a single word out of him.

After several fruitless days of trying, Wei Yingluo grew increasingly preoccupied. On her way to the dining hall to get food, she accidentally bumped into someone.

“Watch where you’re going.” Manager Zhang gave her a glance, then brushed past her.

Wei Yingluo watched his departing back thoughtfully. Then she turned back, lifted the lid of the pot—only one steamed bun remained inside. She shook her head and wrapped it up.

“Here.” When she found Yuan Chunwang again, she held out the still-warm steamed bun.

It was the same old well, the same bucket of well water. Yuan Chunwang sat beside the bucket, scooping water into his mouth spoonful by spoonful. That was his meal for the day. That was all the food he had.

Even after Wei Yingluo’s arm grew tired from holding it out, Yuan Chunwang never once turned his head to look at her, let alone take the steamed bun from her hand.

“A person has to eat to live. Otherwise, sooner or later you’ll collapse.” Wei Yingluo placed the bun—together with the handkerchief it was wrapped in—down on the grass beside him. “If you collapse, I’ll be the one who has to push the night-soil cart out of the palace. So eat.”

Certain that he wouldn’t touch it while she was there, Wei Yingluo left without hesitation after setting the bun down.

Behind her, Yuan Chunwang stopped scooping water. For a long moment he looked at her retreating figure with a complicated expression, then slowly shifted his gaze to the steamed bun on the ground.

After a long while, a pale hand finally reached out toward it.

From behind a tree, someone secretly watched the scene and began counting silently in their heart: one, two, three… When they reached fifty, there was a sudden thud. Their heart leaped with joy. They stepped out from behind the tree in a few quick strides.

Half of the eaten steamed bun lay on the ground, rolling in the mud. Yuan Chunwang braced one hand against the well’s edge, trying shakily to stand, but after several attempts he fell back down each time.

“…Who’s there?” He jerked his head around.

Manager Zhang had already emerged from behind the tree and was standing beside him. Lust swelled across his face. He shoved Yuan Chunwang to the ground and pressed a greasy mouth against his face in a frenzy of kisses. “Little Chunwang, let’s see where you can run to this time!”

Yuan Chunwang’s face turned ashen. He struggled with all his might, but his limbs were limp and weak; the blows he landed on the other man felt like nothing at all.

“I’ve taken a fancy to you—that’s your good fortune. Just behave and let me take good care of you.” Seeing this, Manager Zhang grew even more smug. He began to undo the other’s sash. Halfway through, his movements suddenly froze. His eyes widened round and huge. Slowly, he rolled off Yuan Chunwang.

Behind him stood Wei Yingluo, gripping a carrying pole used for night-soil buckets. One end of the pole was stained with strands of hair and fresh blood.

After catching her breath for a moment, Wei Yingluo said to Yuan Chunwang, “Can you get up by yourself?”

Yuan Chunwang propped himself up on his elbows, but he couldn’t lift his body.

Wei Yingluo dropped the pole and was about to help him up from the ground when Yuan Chunwang reached out and pushed her away.

“Put that thing away. Don’t let anyone see it.” He pointed at the bloodstained carrying pole on the ground, then turned his gaze to the unconscious Manager Zhang. Very calmly, he said, “And him—if he lives, neither of us will survive.”

Wei Yingluo was silent for a moment. She walked over to Manager Zhang, grabbed one of his arms, and began dragging him toward the night-soil cart. A young girl didn’t have much strength; before long she was covered in sweat.

Yuan Chunwang watched her from the ground for a long while. Finally, having gathered a little strength, he laboriously climbed to his feet, staggered a few steps over, and grabbed Manager Zhang’s other arm. With tremendous effort, the two of them managed to heave the man into the night-soil cart.

After it was done, Yuan Chunwang even untied Manager Zhang’s sash and used it to bind his hands and feet. Then he scooped up a clump of muddy earth mixed with bits of grass from the ground and stuffed it into Manager Zhang’s mouth.

Wei Yingluo watched from the side. Every single one of his movements was meticulous to the extreme.

All she could do was pull off Manager Zhang’s waist token and say to him, “Tomorrow morning at dawn, the night-soil cart will be transported out of the Forbidden City. The cart is filthy, and the guards are used to it—they won’t inspect it. Without his waist token, he would be considered a private escapee from the palace. Returning would mean the death penalty. He definitely wouldn’t dare come back.”

Yuan Chunwang stood silently to one side.

He rarely spoke, and merely from his expression, Wei Yingluo found it very difficult to guess what he was thinking. She carefully tucked the waist token away, hesitated for a moment, then offered a word of comfort: “Without him around, you can finally go back and eat in peace. You won’t have to hide anymore to eat rotten leftovers scooped out of the gutter, or drink cold water to fill your stomach.”

“You were following me,” Yuan Chunwang suddenly spoke, his tone calm and certain.

Wei Yingluo was taken aback.

“Otherwise, how would you know that besides well water, I also dig through the gutter for food?” Yuan Chunwang narrowed his eyes and smiled. “You just said it yourself—I eat these things ‘while avoiding people.’”

This time it was Wei Yingluo’s turn to fall silent.

While she was thinking of how to explain, Yuan Chunwang suddenly shifted his gaze to Manager Zhang and said indifferently, “But first, we still need to deal with this nuisance. You too—get rid of that carrying pole in your hand first.”

The two of them temporarily split up to act separately. After cleaning the blood off the carrying pole, Wei Yingluo returned to the palace maids’ quarters in the Department of Punished Labor. It was already late; most of the maids had already crawled into bed. The few who were still awake were huddled together whispering. But the room was so small that even the slightest sound was amplified, and fragments of their hushed conversation drifted into Wei Yingluo’s ears. She heard them talking about Manager Zhang.

“Just now Liu’er was looking everywhere for Manager Zhang. Strange—where did that old bastard disappear to?”

“Maybe he drank too much and passed out somewhere!”

“Don’t even mention that beast. Do you remember how Nian’er and Liu’er died? When Liu’er died, her eyes wouldn’t even close! How many palace maids has he ruined? He wouldn’t even spare the good-looking eunuchs. It would be best if he never wakes up one day!”

Wei Yingluo had arrived late and didn’t know what kind of person Manager Zhang was. Now, with the maids exchanging words back and forth, a complete image of him gradually took shape in her mind.

Or rather—not a person. Merely a beast.

The discussion gradually faded away, replaced by the rise and fall of snoring all around her. Wei Yingluo turned over, gazing at the cold, clear moonlight outside the window. For some reason, the face of Yuan Chunwang suddenly appeared in her mind—along with the words he had spoken while looking at Manager Zhang: “But first, we still need to deal with this nuisance…”

Wei Yingluo abruptly sat up in bed.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 75: Returning the Favor.

   Changing rooms was impossible. Though she didn’t know exactly why, Momo Liu was extremely unfriendly toward her. Otherwise, with so many different chores in the Cleansing Department, there was no reason to immediately assign her the dirtiest and most exhausting tasks, nor to give her the bed closest to the night-soil bucket.

Since asking others for help was useless, starting the next day, whenever Wei Yingluo had any free moment, she wandered around the courtyard, stopping here and there, collecting leftover charcoal and ashes from the ground.

The others didn’t understand what she was doing and pulled Jinxiu aside to ask: “You’re close to her. What do you think she’s up to?”

It was the height of summer, yet she was gathering the charcoal ashes left over from winter use in the various palaces. Jinxiu found it utterly baffling and had no idea what she was planning. She could only give a cold snort and say, “That girl is full of schemes. Whatever she’s doing, just stay away from her… Ah!”

Her gaze shifted away from Wei Yingluo and fixed firmly in one direction. In an extremely sweet, syrupy voice she called out, “Brother Yuan, you came so early!”

The rumbling sound of wheels grew closer and closer. A night-soil cart was pushed into the courtyard.

The filthiest thing in the world, the most foul-smelling thing in the world—and the one pushing it was the most beautiful man in the world.

Hongli and Fuheng were also extremely handsome, but their beauty was a masculine kind—one refined and elegant, the other valiant and heroic. The youth before them was different. He looked about sixteen or seventeen. Perhaps because he had been castrated, his face was as delicate as a woman’s, exuding an androgynous, bewitchingly sinister beauty.

It was as though all the beauty and all the resentment of the women banished to this Yong Alley had been drawn out and poured into a single person.

“Brother Yuan, why won’t you pay attention to me?” Jinxiu sidled up to him, tugging playfully at his sleeve like a spoiled child.

The young eunuch shook off her fingers, lifted the buckets one by one from the courtyard, emptied all the waste into the night-soil cart, then pushed the cart away without saying a single word.

Jinxiu stamped her foot in anger behind him. Another palace maid mocked her: “I told you long ago—Brother Chunwang won’t like you. Stop wasting your energy!”

Jinxiu shot her a glare. “If he doesn’t like me, does he like you? Look at your own face!”

“Even if you’re pretty, you’re still not as pretty as Yuan Chunwang,” another palace maid said, shaking her head. “But what’s the use of him being so good-looking? His personality is colder than ice. Even if I wanted to find a ‘food companion,’ I wouldn’t choose someone like him.”

“As if he’d want you even if you did want him…”

So the young eunuch’s name was Yuan Chunwang.

The palace maids in the courtyard, taking Yuan Chunwang as their starting point, began discussing the other eunuchs. The conversation gradually grew deeper and more explicit—food and sex being fundamental human nature. In the deep palace, the lonely consorts could seek the Emperor; the palace maids could secretly seek the guards. But for this group of lowly women, all they could do was find some equally unfortunate eunuch nearby, form a “food companion” relationship—a fake husband-and-wife arrangement.

Yuan Chunwang was clearly the “food companion” target Jinxiu had set her sights on—or rather, the target most of the palace maids had their eyes on. After all, a eunuch so young and so beautiful was extremely rare. With such looks, even if his temperament was a little cold, he should still have been able to serve one of the higher-ranking ladies. No one knew why he had been demoted to the Cleansing Department…

Everyone was speculating and gossiping when Wei Yingluo shook her head, unwilling to join in. She continued quietly gathering the leftover charcoal from the ground until Momo Liu entered the courtyard and called her back to continue yesterday’s work.

Another night passed, and the night-soil buckets were once again piled as full as the day before—still just as foul. Even though Wei Yingluo had folded her handkerchief into a triangular mask and tied it over her face to block the smell, the odor still seeped through, making her face turn pale.

I couldn’t eat tonight’s dinner either.

After finishing cleaning the night-soil buckets, Wei Yingluo walked heavily toward the well, intending to draw a few buckets of water to wash her hands and also wipe down her body. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t be able to swallow even one bite of the steamed bun in her arms.

But unexpectedly, someone had already arrived at the well ahead of her.

Gulp, gulp, gulp…

A wooden bucket was pulled up from the well, sloshing with ice-cold well water. The moment the bucket touched the ground, the person who drew it immediately braced both hands on the rim and buried his face in the water, drinking greedily with loud gulping sounds.

Wei Yingluo’s footsteps were very light, but he was as alert as a small wild animal. Almost the instant she approached, his right ear twitched, and he abruptly turned his face toward her.

An extremely beautiful, yet extremely cold face.

It was as though a beauty who had died by falling into a well had absorbed the moonlight, turned into a wisp of white mist, slowly drifted out of the well mouth, sighed softly, and returned to the mortal world.

“It’s you?” Wei Yingluo was momentarily stunned.

The beautiful young man before her was none other than Yuan Chunwang. His gaze, cool as well water, swept across Wei Yingluo’s cheek. He lifted a hand to wipe the water droplets from the corner of his lips, then stood up and turned to leave.

Just as they passed each other, Wei Yingluo suddenly said, “Wait.”

Yuan Chunwang’s steps halted.

Wei Yingluo hesitated for a moment, then took out a steamed bun wrapped in a handkerchief from her arms and held it out. “Do you want to eat this?”

Momo Liu had been disgusting her nonstop today, deliberately sending her dinner into the night-soil room once again, completely ruining Wei Yingluo’s appetite.

Moreover, the weather was hot. Especially in the large communal bed where dozens of people slept, the night felt like a steaming cage. A steamed bun left overnight would definitely go bad. Rather than throw it away, it might as well be given to the person in front of her…

Yuan Chunwang stared at the steamed bun in her hand. His throat moved noticeably.

Wei Yingluo took in this detail and thought to herself: As expected.

Though this young man had outstanding looks, his complexion was very poor. Up close, he was so thin that the bones were visible. Combined with the earlier scene of him treating water as a meal, Wei Yingluo immediately understood: life in the Department of Punished Labor must be extremely hard for this boy—perhaps even worse than hers.

After all, no matter how much Momo Liu targeted her, she still gave her food to eat. But this young man… it seemed he hadn’t had a full meal in a very long time.

The palace was full of sordid affairs. They weren’t close, so Wei Yingluo didn’t ask too many questions. She simply felt that he needed it, and she happened to have no appetite, so why not do him a small favor? She pushed the steamed bun a little closer and said, “Take it and eat.”

Yuan Chunwang looked at the steamed bun in her hand. His gaze slowly moved upward. A pair of eyes filled with confusion and wariness fixed on her face—like a small animal watching someone trying to feed it. Finally, he turned his head sharply and ran away.

Watching his fleeing back, Wei Yingluo let out a helpless sigh and turned to look at the wooden bucket he had left behind.

He had only drunk about a quarter of it. There was still plenty of well water left in the bucket. Having worked hard all day and eaten nothing, Wei Yingluo’s arms and legs felt weak and sore. She really didn’t want to go through the effort of drawing fresh water again, so she simply decided to use the remaining water he had left to wash herself.

Wei Yingluo set the steamed bun aside, then dipped the handkerchief that had wrapped it into the bucket. After thoroughly soaking it, she began using the cloth to wipe her cheeks, neck, and arms.

The shock of the ice-cold well water caused goosebumps to rise all over her arms. Without saying a word, she kept wetting and wringing out the handkerchief, wiping her body over and over until every exposed part was clean and free of any lingering odor. Only then did she hesitate, glance around left and right, and ask softly:

“Who’s there?”

No one answered. Strangely, she actually felt relieved.

Her fingers slowly moved toward her waistband. Just as Wei Yingluo was about to untie her clothes to wipe the rest of her body, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and landed on her shoulder.

Wei Yingluo was greatly startled and was about to struggle free when a familiar voice sounded beside her ear:

“It’s me.”

Wei Yingluo froze for a moment, then turned her head and asked, “Why are you here?”

Clouds parted, the moon emerged, and shadows danced among the flowers. Fuheng’s face appeared faintly under the moonlight—still as extraordinarily handsome as ever, like an immortal who had descended to the mortal world. It only made Wei Yingluo, covered in dust and grime at this moment, look all the more disheveled by comparison.

Yet despite the vast gulf between them now, the way he looked at her remained exactly the same—filled with pity and deep love.

“Come with me.” He reached down and pulled Wei Yingluo up from the ground in one motion. “I’ll take you to the Yangxin Hall to see the Emperor. I’ll ask him to issue an edict and grant us marriage immediately!”

Fuheng had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped—because Wei Yingluo had already shaken off his hand. She retreated while shaking her head at him. “I’m not going. The Emperor already said that if I ever come near you again, even half a step, he would kill me to vent his anger. Do you really think I would disregard my own life for your sake?”

“I won’t let him harm you.” Fuheng gazed at her earnestly, every word coming straight from the heart. Even if it meant defying an imperial decree, he would have no regrets.

Wei Yingluo’s heart ached fiercely. She took another step back, putting more distance between them, and deliberately hardened her voice. “And then what? You would anger the Emperor and be punished. I refuse to become the wife of a criminal and live the rest of my life unable to raise my head!”

Fuheng looked at her steadily for a long moment, then stepped toward her. “Yingluo, both you and I know that what you’re saying right now is false. Why keep saying it?”

“I…” Wei Yingluo was caught by both arms and had no choice but to lift her head to meet his eyes.

Words can lie, but eyes cannot.

“Or are you saying that in your heart, I; Fuheng is such a fool that I can’t even see your true feelings?” Fuheng gave a tender, pained smile. “You could use me so easily—you could get out of this wretched place in an instant if you wanted to. But you didn’t. You’ve been avoiding me, hiding from me, afraid of dragging my future down with you. If you’re willing to humble yourself and suffer for my sake, then how can I not be willing to give up this so-called ‘future’ for you?”

Wei Yingluo stared at him—stared at his deep affection, and also at his ideals.

The room full of military books, the bright gleam in his eyes whenever he spoke of leading troops into battle and achieving glory on the battlefield—how could she ever forget that?

“…Why ruin everything for the sake of one woman and anger the Emperor?” Wei Yingluo lowered her head and said softly, “If you lose his favor, how will you ever go to the battlefield? How will you fulfill your dream of winning honor and merit on horseback?”

She didn’t dare look up at him, afraid her own eyes would betray her heart again.

After a long silence, Fuheng’s voice finally sounded once more—calm, so calm it was like the still surface of the sea hiding a whirlpool beneath.

“Wei Yingluo, you are someone who distinguishes clearly between kindness and enmity. You were the one who deliberately approached me first, who intentionally seduced me afterward. I couldn’t guard against it and fell completely into your trap. Now you say you’ll let go just like that—but the feelings you took from me, the heart you took from me, how are you going to return them?”

Wei Yingluo was ice-smart; the moment she heard those words, she already knew what he would say next.

“If you can’t return them, then use the rest of your life to repay me.”

Wei Yingluo clenched her teeth. Her slightly trembling fingers moved to her waist. After a brief hesitation, she resolutely pulled open her sash.

With a soft rustle, under Fuheng’s stunned gaze, her gray-blue palace maid’s upper garment slipped gently to the grass.

A graceful, slender figure was reflected in his pupils, bathed in moonlight, like a jade statue come to life.

“…I’m returning it to you.” Wei Yingluo hugged her arms across her chest and said softly, “I’m giving you this body.”

Her body trembled faintly in the night wind, like a prisoner awaiting execution—every second an unbearable torment.

At last, she received his answer.

A robe was gently draped over her, once again covering the body she had offered.

“Don’t do this.” Fuheng pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with pain. “You know what I want… it’s not this.”

Wei Yingluo’s eyes instantly grew hot; tears nearly fell right then and there.

“This body will belong to me sooner or later—but not now, and not in this way.” Fuheng tenderly kissed her temple. “I won’t force you anymore. Since you don’t want to come with me, then I’ll wait. I’ll wait until you come out of the Laundry Cleaning Department. I’ll wait until the day you’re finally willing to accept me.”

His words were filled with reluctance, yet in the end he still loosened his unwilling fingers and let her go.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 74: Xinzheku – the Forced Labor Department for Convicted Palace Women

The rain had stopped for three days. Dowager Consort Yu had been gone for three days.

But that did not mean the matter had blown over.

“Yingluo!” The Empress’s face was extremely stern. “Kneel!”

Thump. Wei Yingluo dropped to her knees before her.

The room contained only the two of them; everyone else had been dismissed by the Empress on various pretexts. The Empress sat in her chair, looking down at her for a long time before speaking slowly: “On the day of the incident at Shoukang Palace—what exactly did you do?”

Wei Yingluo had her answer ready: “This servant heard that Dowager Consort Yu was the one who murdered my sister, so I deliberately confronted her with two questions. The Dowager Consort swore an oath that she was not the killer—otherwise may heaven strike her with lightning. The moment she finished speaking, a bolt of thunder struck her dead…”

“Enough!” The Empress slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her voice sharp. “Even in front of this palace, you still refuse to tell the truth?”

A strange glint flashed through Wei Yingluo’s eyes.

“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 threat echoed once again in her ears.

What happened after that?

She returned to Changchun Palace and took the silver needle that Erqing handed her.

The silver needle sank to the bottom of the water again and again. In her ears rang Ming Yu’s mocking laughter: “And here I thought she was the most outstanding embroiderer from the embroidery workshop—turns out she’s no better than me.”

Those words struck her like a bucket of cold water, suddenly clearing her mind and making her eyes light up.

That very night, she returned to the embroidery workshop and sought out Momo-Zhang, who had always treated her with special care.

“Momo.” Her clear black-and-white eyes gazed at the older woman with utmost calm. “I’ve heard that Shoukang Palace has been preparing for the longevity banquet for a long time. The canopy and window gauze for that… should have been supplied by our embroidery workshop, right?”

Momo-Zhang regarded her like her own niece or daughter. Without even asking the reason, she handed over the window gauze that had already been prepared for delivery to Shoukang Palace. Wei Yingluo did not hide anything from her. Right in front of Momo-Zhang, she took from the small pouch she always carried on her person a handful of extremely fine, soft iron wire and carefully sewed it into the gauze.

If Momo-Zhang had spoken to stop her, she would have halted immediately. But from beginning to end, Momo-Zhang did not say a single word—she silently acquiesced to Wei Yingluo’s revenge, and could even be said to have become her accomplice.

Wei Yingluo said nothing either. She placed the now-finished gauze back into Momo-Zhang’s hands, then knelt down without a word and kowtowed three resounding times.

“Momo, thank you. And… I will never implicate you. This matter will stay buried in my heart forever. No matter who asks, I will not speak a word. If in the end it is unfortunately exposed, I will bear all responsibility alone!”

Wei Yingluo slowly raised her head and looked at the Empress before her.

Though filled with guilt, in order not to drag Momo-Zhang down with her, she still forced herself to harden her heart and say: “Your Majesty, this servant truly knows nothing about this matter. It was simply that Dowager Consort Yu committed so many evil deeds that in the end retribution caught up with her…”

“Enough!” The Empress raised her hand, cutting off the lies she was about to continue telling.

Seeing the Empress’s body sway and collapse back into the chair as if her soul had left her, Wei Yingluo was filled with extreme worry. She crawled over and said, “Your Majesty, you are with child now. Please take care of your health—do not get angry because of me…”

The Empress rubbed her temples, closed her eyes to rest for a moment in the chair, then slowly opened them again. Exhaustion permeated both her gaze and her voice as she said faintly, “Wei Yingluo, I know you harbor deep resentment and have been waiting for an opportunity for revenge. That is why I have tried every possible way to persuade and guide you. I never expected you to be so stubborn and unrepentant! Do you think you have several heads to spare, or do you rely on my usual indulgence to act so fearlessly and commit murder?”

Wei Yingluo was stunned. “Your Majesty…”

“Enough. I do not want to hear any more of your sophistry.” The Empress waved her hand. “Though Changchun Palace is large, it can no longer accommodate a servant as audacious as you. From today onward, you will go to the Cleansing Department to reflect on your faults in solitude!”

“Your Majesty… you are driving me away?” Wei Yingluo was shocked and terrified. She was not afraid of the hard labor in the Cleansing Department—or rather, even before she had plotted against Dowager Consort Yu, she had already prepared herself to be punished. But the time to leave was not now. She hurriedly crawled to the Empress’s feet, hugged her knees, and pleaded, “Your Majesty, you are currently with child. The entire palace is watching with tiger-like eyes. Please allow this servant to remain until you have safely given birth! As soon as you deliver a little prince, this servant will leave immediately and never again be an eyesore to you!”

“No.” The Empress shook her head decisively. “Pack your things and leave right now!”

Wei Yingluo begged again and again, but the Empress closed her eyes and her ears—she neither heard nor saw. Seeing that her mind was made up, Wei Yingluo could only sniffle, her voice choking as she said, “Your Majesty is right. I truly love causing trouble and does not dare hope to remain. But this servant has received Your Majesty’s great kindness in this lifetime and will never forget it. If one day Your Majesty has need of Yingluo, I am willing to offer my liver and brains, to repay you with my life and death!”

She kowtowed three resounding times to the Empress, then left Changchun Palace, looking back three times with every step.

She did not have many possessions to begin with. Moreover, in a place like the Cleansing Department, valuable items could not be brought in—and even if they were, they would quickly cease to belong to her. So she simply left behind all the silks, satins, and hairpins the Empress had bestowed upon her, distributing them among the few young palace maids with whom she had gotten along well.

A simple blue cloth bundle. Wei Yingluo sighed, hugged the bundle to her chest, and walked out the door. She hadn’t gone far when she heard hurried footsteps approaching rapidly from the distance.

“Hurry and go!” Erqing rushed in and said, “His Majesty is coming—he’s preparing to arrest you. The Empress wants you to leave through the back gate right now and report immediately to the Cleansing Department!”

Wei Yingluo froze for a moment, then her eyes grew hot with emotion.

She never underestimated anyone, yet she still hadn’t expected things to be exposed so quickly.

But in the end, she had underestimated one person… She had underestimated the depth of the Empress’s affection and protection toward her.

The Empress wasn’t expelling her from the palace merely to avoid trouble for Changchun Palace. Clearly, she had already anticipated that the Emperor would come to arrest her and had preemptively punished her by sending her to the Cleansing Department. Hard labor was grueling, yes—but it would shield her from the Emperor’s wrath and interrogation.

“Your Ladyship…” Wei Yingluo murmured, gazing in the direction of Changchun Palace.

“Aiya, what are you waiting for? Go quickly!” Erqing urged in her ear.

Wei Yingluo gritted her teeth. Not daring to let the Empress’s kindness go to waste, she etched that kindness deeply into her heart. Then she hugged the bundle tightly to her chest and hurried out through the back gate.

Leaving Changchun Palace and stepping into the Yong Alley felt like walking from spring straight into winter.

Even though it was summer, a bone-chilling wind swept through the alley. The towering gray walls on both sides resembled the iron bars of a prison, locking sinners firmly in this bleak and desolate place.

The one who greeted Wei Yingluo was a gray-robed Momo surnamed Liu. She looked Wei Yingluo up and down, her voice as cold and desolate as the Yong Alley itself: “You used to be a senior palace maid by the Empress’s side—wherever you went, people showed you respect. But once you enter the Cleansing Department, forget your former status. Here, you are nothing but a criminal assigned to the lowest, most menial labor.”

“Yes.” A powerful dragon does not suppress a snake in its own territory. Wei Yingluo responded obediently.

“The Cleansing Department has its divisions of labor. We are mainly responsible for the most despised heavy chores in the Inner Palace—whatever others refuse to do, you people must do! Rise at cockcrow to sweep the palace paths. At the hour of Chou, weed the three main halls. From dawn till deep into the night, undertake all the heavy miscellaneous tasks for every palace. As for you—” Momo Liu led her into a room and pointed to the mountain-high pile of night-soil buckets stacked in the corner. “You will start by cleaning these night-soil buckets.”

Wei Yingluo stared at the buckets in stunned silence.

Back in Changchun Palace, she had spent her days surrounded by orchids. Even when there was dirty or tiring work, the Empress had never been willing to let her do it. Now, banished to the Cleansing Department, though she had mentally prepared herself, the sight of those buckets—stained with filth, faintly yellowed—and the acrid, choking stench still made her stomach churn uncontrollably.

Seeing the awful look on her face, Momo Liu’s lips curled into a cold smirk. “Hurry up and wash them. If they’re not finished by evening, you’ll have to eat your dinner right here.”

Suppressing the urge to vomit, Wei Yingluo said in a low voice, “…Yes.”

And so, the hands that had once sewn phoenix robes for the Empress now lifted night-soil buckets. The fingers that had once arranged flowers were now stained with the foul reek of excrement. Though she tried her utmost, evening arrived too quickly. Wei Yingluo still hadn’t finished the task at hand. When Momo Liu handed her a single yellowish steamed bun, Wei Yingluo—exhausted after a full day’s labor—found she had no appetite at all.

After washing her hands more than ten times, she wrapped the bun in a handkerchief, then staggered back to the palace maids’ quarters. The Cleansing Department had no proper beds; the living conditions were even worse than the maids’ dormitory when she had first entered the palace. It was just one large communal sleeping platform—everyone slept on the floor.

When she had come to drop off her belongings that morning, the room had been empty; everyone was out working. Now they were returning one after another. Among them was someone Wei Yingluo actually knew.

“Well, well—if it isn’t Wei Yingluo?” A mocking, feminine voice rang out, sharp with malice. “The great favorite by the Empress’s side, the most dignified figure in the Forbidden City—how is it that in the blink of an eye you’ve fallen to a place like this?”

Wei Yingluo paused mid-step and turned her head.

A sharp chin, peach-blossom eyes, an air of coquettish charm rising from her feet to her face—it was none other than Jinxiu, the former embroiderer from the Embroidery Workshop who had been banished to the Cleansing Department after falsely accusing Wei Yingluo of having an improper relationship with a guard.

Wei Yingluo had no energy to argue with her—or perhaps she was simply too exhausted. She gave the other woman a cold glance, then walked to her own sleeping spot and lay down. Her fingers, trembling and cramping from overwork, reached into her bosom and pulled out the handkerchief-wrapped steamed bun.

“I have to eat something,” she told herself silently. “Otherwise tomorrow will be unbearable.”

The sound of splashing water rang in her ears. She glanced over and saw a night-soil bucket placed not far from her head. A palace maid, holding up her skirt, stood up; a few drops dripped from beneath her skirt and fell into the bucket.

A hot, pungent, foul odor drifted over. Wei Yingluo turned over. Several times she brought the steamed bun to her mouth, but she simply couldn’t force herself to bite into it. In the end she had no choice but to wrap the bun back in her handkerchief, then pull the bedding tightly over her nose and mouth.

Even so, she still couldn’t block out the stench from the night-soil bucket, nor the foot odor and armpit smell coming from who-knows-where.

“This won’t do.” After tossing and turning for a long time, Wei Yingluo finally couldn’t sleep anymore. She opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling, and murmured, “I have to think of a way…”

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   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.”

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   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.

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   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.”

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