Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 43: Chaos of the Lychees

One after another, dishes made from lychees were carried to the tables like a flowing stream.

There were lychee shrimp balls, deep-fried lychee-stuffed eggs, fresh lychee cold-mixed roast duck, crimson lychee rolls, lychee pork meatballs, and more. The Empress ladled up a spoonful of clear white soup. Floating in the broth was a single snow-white lychee along with a few bright red goji berries—white touched with red, like one or two red plum blossoms drifting through snow. It was utterly charming.

“Empress, this is ‘Snow Amid Red Plum Blossoms,’ specially prepared by the imperial kitchen,” Erqing explained upon noticing her curiosity. “Lychees are prone to causing internal heat, so they were first soaked in warm saltwater, and goji berries were deliberately added to balance it.”

“The Tea and Meal Bureau has truly put thought into this. Just the presentation alone is exceptionally elegant,” the Empress said with a smile. “Your Majesty, please try it.”

Hongli seemed distracted, his gaze wandering around the crowd as though searching for someone among the faces. Only when the “Snow Amid Red Plum Blossoms” was placed before him did he offer the Empress a faint smile. “The Empress has been most considerate.”

A flicker of jealousy passed through Noble Consort Hui’s eyes. Toying with her tortoiseshell nail guard, she smiled and said, “Lychee dishes are quite ordinary—after all, dried lychees are sent as tribute every year. But once seasonings are added, the flavor changes completely! Those who truly know how to enjoy lychees are most interested in fresh ones. Empress, weren’t you going to personally pick the lychees today? Why hasn’t there been any movement yet?”

The Empress also found it strange. By this time, the lychee trees should already have been brought in—yet there was still no sign of them.

“Speaking of which, who exactly is in charge of this matter…?” Noble Consort Hui gave a meaningful smile. “Ah, now I remember—it’s that palace maid named Wei Yingluo, isn’t it?”

Hongli’s hand, which had just picked up a piece of lychee flesh, suddenly paused.

The Empress did not notice. She merely frowned at Noble Consort Hui’s smile. After so many years of rivalry, the Empress could claim to be the person in the world who understood Noble Consort Hui best. That smile clearly carried ill intent. What was she planning? What could she possibly do?

“It’s getting rather late,” Hongli suddenly spoke up. “Have that palace maid… Wei Yingluo bring the lychee trees in.”

The Empress was startled. Though a sense of unease rose in her heart, since the Emperor had already given the order, how could she openly contradict him in public? She could only say, “Where is Yingluo? Have her bring the lychee trees forward.”

The command was passed down, yet no one appeared for a long time.

Gradually, murmurs of discussion began to spread.

“My, my—what nerve that Wei Yingluo has, making so many people and even His Majesty wait for a mere servant,” Noble Consort Hui said, her smile deepening. “Only in the Empress’s palace could such a subordinate be raised. Hehe.”

The Empress’s brows knitted tightly. From what she knew of Wei Yingluo, the girl would never deliberately cause such a scene or show disrespect to so many high-ranking ladies—what benefit could there possibly be for her in that? Something unexpected must have happened.

From the corner of her eye she glanced at Noble Consort Hui and saw the other woman wearing the expression of someone waiting to watch a good show. A chill ran through the Empress’s heart: “I’m afraid this matter has something to do with her…”

The Empress wanted to smooth the situation over somehow, but the arrow was already on the string—it had to be loosed. So many eyes were watching her: the Emperor, Noble Consort Hui, Concubine Jia… all waiting for her response.

How should she reply…?

“Your Highness!” Just as the Empress was at her wits’ end, Erqing’s voice suddenly sounded close to her ear. “It’s Wei Yingluo! She’s here!”

Wei Yingluo had arrived?

Everyone turned to look, all eager to see what this audacious palace maid actually looked like.

At first glance, her clothing and appearance were no different from any other palace maid.

At the second glance, however, she seemed utterly unlike all the others.

That appearance… was simply too striking.

Her breath was fragrant like orchid, her purity like a lotus bud. Not to mention ordinary palace maids—even among the carefully selected consorts, few could compare with her in looks. The Empress must have a truly bold heart to keep such a beauty by her side—did she not fear the Emperor would take notice?

By comparison, the woman supported by Wei Yingluo seemed dimmed and colorless, withered like a flower past its bloom. The only thing that could rival Wei Yingluo was perhaps the robe she wore—the garment of a mistress.

“Noble Lady Yu, why have you come?” the Empress asked in surprise.

The woman being helped forward by Wei Yingluo was none other than Noble Lady Yu, who should have been resting and nurturing her pregnancy in Yonghe Palace.

She smiled at the Empress. “Your Ladyship is hosting a banquet—how could this concubine possibly be absent? Since Your Ladyship is so considerate, this concubine must not be lazy.”

Hongli’s gaze slowly shifted from Wei Yingluo’s face to Noble Lady Yu’s. “Noble Lady Yu, has your illness improved?”

Noble Lady Yu quickly curtsied to him. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This concubine’s spirit has already improved greatly.”

“That’s good. You must take good care of your health and not let the Empress worry and tire herself on your account.” Hongli nodded. “Sit.”

Only then did Noble Lady Yu take her seat. As she sat down, she exchanged a knowing glance with Wei Yingluo.

Almost at the same moment, Noble Consort Hui and Concubine Jia exchanged a similar glance. Concubine Jia spoke up: “Your Ladyship the Empress, when will we begin picking the lychees? This concubine has been craving them and is eagerly waiting to taste the fresh ones—full of color, fragrance, and flavor!”

The Empress was momentarily taken aback. Her worried gaze turned toward Wei Yingluo.

“We have kept the mistresses waiting too long,” Wei Yingluo replied with a reassuring smile, then called out loudly, “Bring it forward!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, two eunuchs together carried in a wooden barrel. A large piece of red silk was draped high over it, covering the lychee tree completely from top to bottom.

“Your Ladyship the Empress.” Wei Yingluo presented a tray on which lay a pair of golden scissors. “Please do the honors of picking them yourself.”

The Empress had already sensed that something unusual was afoot. For a moment she couldn’t think of how to respond, but she trusted Wei Yingluo—she believed the other woman had already devised a way to handle it. So she smiled, accepted the golden scissors, and walked step by step toward the barrel. Then she slowly reached out and lifted the red silk…

“Woof!”

The Empress startled backward a step. When she saw clearly what was beneath, she was left speechless: “This… this is…”

Under the red silk, the lychee tree’s branches and leaves were wilted and sparse; hardly any fruit remained on the branches. Most of the lychees had fallen into the mud in the basin below. On closer inspection, the trunk was covered in deep scratch marks. The culprit was obviously…

Everyone’s eyes turned in unison toward the snowball-like white furball beneath the tree.

As if sensing the unfriendly stares, the furball barked a few more times—” Woof woof!”—then swiftly leaped down from the basin and dashed straight toward Noble Consort Hui.

“Ah!!” Noble Lady Yu suddenly let out a piercing scream. She frantically clung to Wei Yingluo’s arm and shrank behind her. “Don’t come near! Don’t bite me—don’t bite me!”

She cried out so heart-wrenchingly, as though the dog’s teeth had already sunk into her throat and were tearing at her flesh.

Hongli glanced at her. “Someone—catch that dog.”

The eunuchs rushed forward, grabbing and wrestling until they finally secured the little furball. Clearly spoiled and unaccustomed to such rough treatment, it whimpered pitifully a few times, then turned in one direction and barked furiously.

“Be gentler with it…” Noble Consort Hui’s face was unpleasant as she looked toward Hongli. “Your Majesty…”

Before she could plead on behalf of the furball, Noble Lady Yu burst into anguished sobs: “Noble Consort Hui, once was not enough—so you had to do it a second time? Are you truly determined to take this my life?”

Hongli frowned. “What is going on here?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty.” While gently patting Noble Lady Yu on the back, Wei Yingluo replied with perfect deference, “One month ago in the Imperial Garden, this dog named Snowball suddenly rushed out and frightened Noble Lady Yu. Since no one was injured at the time, the Empress, in her magnanimity, did not pursue the matter. But poor Noble Lady Yu has suffered ever since—she could only fall asleep each night after drinking calming soup. Today her spirits had just begun to improve a little, and yet she encountered it again!”

“Insolent slave!” Noble Consort Hui snapped sharply. “What do you mean by saying that? Are you implying that I ordered that beast to frighten someone?”

To protect herself, she no longer called Snowball her “little darling” and had downgraded it to “little beast.”

“This servant would not dare.” Wei Yingluo lowered her head. “This servant is merely speaking the truth.”

Suddenly, Noble Lady Yu broke free from her embrace and threw herself at Hongli’s feet, sobbing, “Your Majesty, save me! Save this concubine, please! If this continues, this concubine will not be able to endure—I will end up with one corpse and two lives lost!”

Hongli lowered his gaze to look at her, like a god or Buddha in a temple hall looking down upon a mortal prostrating on the ground.

“Come, help Noble Lady up,” he said slowly. “Rest assured—this matter, We will decide for you.”

“Your Majesty!” Noble Consort Hui hurriedly interjected. “Surely you do not truly believe her nonsense? Look carefully at that lychee tree—it was clearly scalded to death by boiling water, yet she insists it was scratched to death by a dog…”

Scalded to death by boiling water?

A thought flashed through the Empress’s mind: Oh? You didn’t even examine the lychee tree closely—how do you know it was scalded by boiling water? I’m afraid it was you who secretly ordered someone to do it.

“Noble Consort Hui!” The Empress gave her no chance to explain further and immediately spoke sternly. “You have repeatedly disturbed Noble Lady Yu—was that not enough? Today, at my Lychee Banquet, you deliberately caused trouble and nearly frightened Noble Lady Yu again. What exactly are your intentions?”

“Snowball is usually very well-behaved and has never caused any trouble!” Noble Consort Hui gritted her teeth. “This time, I fear someone deliberately framed me and used it to slander me!”

“Framed?” The Empress shook her head. “That vicious dog attacked Noble Lady Yu in the Imperial Garden last time. Today it didn’t bite anyone—it went straight for the Fujian tribute, the gift His Majesty specially sent to me!”

Noble Consort Hui was rendered speechless.

If not for the prior incident in the Imperial Garden, people might still have believed her.

But with an established history of assault, how could such a vicious dog possibly be as docile and trouble-free as she claimed?

“Noble Consort.” Hongli’s indifferent gaze swept over her. “Do you have anything else to say in your defense?”

In the palace, to survive—and to survive well—one must learn to read people’s expressions, especially the Emperor’s.

Noble Consort Hui dropped to her knees with a thud before Hongli and cried, “It’s all that beast Snowball’s fault—I will surely skin it alive when we return…”

“When tigers and rhinos escape their cages, when tortoise shells and jade are ruined inside their cases—who is to blame?” Hongli suddenly interrupted her.

“When tigers and rhinos escape their cages, when tortoise shells and fine jade are destroyed in their boxes, naturally it is the fault of the one entrusted with their care.” Wei Yingluo suddenly knelt at the side. “Today, while the lychee tree was being transported, Snowball kept darting back and forth underfoot. But because it is Noble Consort Your Highness’s beloved dog, the servants did not dare drive it away. As a result, this incident occurred—it was the servants’ failure to keep proper watch. We are willing to accept punishment! However…”

Her peripheral vision swept across Noble Lady Yu, who was crying like a tear-soaked figure, and she continued in a low voice, “This servant boldly asks one question on Noble Lady Yu’s behalf: the ones who were supposed to guard the lychees have already been punished—so what about the one who destroyed the lychees?”

“Insolent!” Concubine Jia slammed the table and stood up. “This is no place for a mere slave like you to speak!”

“…She is asking for me.” Noble Lady Yu let out a faint, mournful sigh. She lifted her tear-streaked face. While other women grew rounder during pregnancy, she alone had not gained any weight—her cheeks had even sunk inward, making her look almost like a walking skeleton. “This concubine also wants to know—does this palace still have any place left for me?”

For a moment, Concubine Jia was speechless.

“Her Majesty the Empress is merciful, His Majesty is merciful—please forgive this servant’s rudeness!” Wei Yingluo spoke boldly. “Noble Lady Yu carries the imperial heir and holds a precious status; the lychees are annual tribute from Fujian, personally bestowed by the Son of Heaven; Her Majesty the Empress is magnanimous and tolerant, yet her position is supremely honorable and cannot tolerate repeated provocations! Every single incident traces back to Snowball, but after all, that vicious dog is merely an animal—it knows neither etiquette nor rules. If blame must be assigned, blame its owner, who neither disciplines nor restrains it, allowing it to cause trouble again and again! This servant ventures to beg His Majesty to render holy judgment!”

Hongli gazed down at the woman kneeling before him for a long moment, then slowly turned his head. His voice was calm and light, yet carried an lofty, undeniable authority:

“Noble Consort Hui.”

There was no joy in that tone, no anger, no reproach—yet Noble Consort Hui’s body trembled faintly.

“…Yes. Snowball was not properly disciplined,” Noble Consort Hui said, clenching her fists. Suddenly she called out, “Concubine Jia! Come here at once and beg forgiveness from His Majesty!”

Sacrifice the chariot to save the general!

   The same phrase flashed through everyone’s mind.

Including Concubine Jia’s.

She inwardly groaned, knowing there was no escaping this. After all, she had been the one to suggest the plan to Noble Consort Hui—and she was the one who had botched it.

“Your Majesty, it is all my fault,” Concubine Jia rose and knelt before Hongli. “Noble Consort Your Highness was worried that Snowball’s unruly nature might ruin Her Majesty the Empress’s banquet, so she specially instructed this concubine to keep a close watch on it. It was this concubine’s carelessness that led to such an incident—Noble Consort Your Highness bears no responsibility at all! If Your Majesty must punish someone, punish this concubine!”

Hongli tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He didn’t entirely believe Concubine Jia’s words, but Noble Consort Hui had powerful backing; it was impossible to severely punish her over a few trees. Letting the punishment fall on Concubine Jia would satisfy everyone, so he said indifferently:

“The lychee trees are annual tribute from Fujian, transported thousands of miles to the capital. I personally presented them to the Empress so that she might be delighted. Yet because of your negligence, all My effort has gone to waste. Now is not the time to beg My forgiveness—you should be apologizing to the Empress!”

“Yes!” Concubine Jia gritted her teeth, shuffled forward on her knees two steps, and kowtowed heavily to the Empress. “This concubine is incompetent and failed to restrain it properly. I beg Her Majesty the Empress to forgive my crime!”

Having caused such a major disaster, how could a few light words earn forgiveness?

Seeing that the Empress remained silent, Concubine Jia had no choice but to continue kowtowing. For a time the banquet fell utterly quiet, with nothing to be heard except the repeated thud of her forehead striking the floor.

“…Enough.” After dozens of kowtows, the Empress finally spoke. “I have merely lost one banquet, but Noble Lady Yu suffered a severe fright! If things had gone wrong and the imperial heir had been harmed, how would you make amends?”

This was demanding that she not only kowtow to the Empress, but also to Noble Lady Yu and admit fault.

A wave of humiliation surged through Concubine Jia. Kowtowing to the Empress was one thing—after all, she was the mistress of the Inner Palace, and everyone had to bow lower before her. But what was Noble Lady Yu? Did she deserve to have Concubine Jia kneel before her?

   “What?” The Empress said coldly. “Do you harbor resentment in your heart and refuse to admit your wrong?”

“…I dare not.” The situation was stronger than the person. With things having reached this point, Concubine Jia could only grit her teeth and kowtow in Noble Lady Yu’s direction. “Noble Lady Yu, due to a moment’s negligence, I nearly caused a grave disaster. I beg your magnanimity to forgive this older sister this once!”

Once that kowtow landed, it was like spilled water—impossible to take back.

From this day forward, everyone in the palace with even a shred of inside information would know: Concubine Jia had knelt and kowtowed to Noble Lady Yu.

Noble Lady Yu looked at the woman kneeling before her. Her words seemed directed at her, yet also at Noble Consort Hui standing behind her:

“I only hope that you truly repent and will never again indulge a vicious beast in harming others!”

“Woof woof, woof woof!” Snowball seemed to think someone had mentioned it and began barking loudly.

“Enough. I no longer wish to see this dog!” Hongli cast a disgusted glance at it and delivered the final verdict. “Concubine Jia was negligent for a moment and caused a great calamity. She is demoted to Noble Lady and confined to her palace for three months! Noble Consort Hui, as the principal of the Chuxiu Palace, is incapable of managing her people—and equally incapable of managing her dog. She is utterly incompetent. She is fined one year’s stipend and shall reflect properly behind closed doors!”

With that, unwilling to witness any more of the women’s scheming and backstabbing, he flicked his sleeve and departed.

Wei Yingluo couldn’t help but wonder if it was her imagination, but just before he left, Hongli seemed to glance back at her once. That look was exceedingly complex, and Wei Yingluo couldn’t quite decipher its meaning.

Once Hongli departed, the remaining guests also lost interest and began to feel the urge to leave. The Empress saw this and did not insist they stay. After offering a few more cups of wine, she brought the now completely off-topic lychee banquet to an end.

As the music faded and the guests dispersed, Noble Lady Yu stayed behind.

Knowing she had something to say, the Empress arranged a small separate table with a few plates of fruit, snacks, and tea. Smiling, she said to her, “Why did you come today? Weren’t you supposed to be resting and recovering in Yonghe Palace?”

“Resting” was merely an excuse; both women understood the real reason. Noble Lady Yu had been avoiding coming because she feared running into Noble Consort Hui.

“It was Yingluo who persuaded me to come,” Noble Lady Yu said, gently stroking her slightly swollen belly with a smile. “She convinced me that the more I fear Noble Consort Hui, the more she will torment me. Even if not for my own sake, I should at least stand up for Concubine Yi and get some justice for her… Even if my own voice carries little weight, adding this child to it should be just barely enough…”

The two chatted idly about family matters for a while. Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Noble Lady Yu soon showed signs of fatigue on her face. Seeing this, the Empress instructed Erqing to escort her back to her palace to rest. Once she had left, Yingluo suddenly dropped to her knees beside the Empress with a thud.

“This servant acted without authorization. I beg Her Majesty the Empress to forgive my offense.”

Yet the Empress showed no trace of blame. Instead, she reached out affectionately and lightly tapped her forehead with one finger. “You, you… to think you could come up with such an idea. Noble Consort Hui used Snowball to frighten Noble Lady Yu back then. Settling that unsettled debt today isn’t exactly unjust to her.”

Wei Yingluo replied with utmost sincerity, “For this servant to accept punishment is a small matter. But Noble Consort Hui and Concubine Jia’s actions were intended to make Your Highness lose all face—how could I allow them to succeed? It is true that this servant failed in her duty and the lychees were ruined—that is no small offense. But compared to Noble Consort Hui instigating a vicious dog to attack Noble Lady Yu, destroying the annual Fujian tribute, and ruining the Empress’s banquet, it is far less serious.”

The Empress suddenly laughed. “Do you know that His Majesty has already seen through the fact that you were using him?”

Wei Yingluo was greatly startled and almost immediately looked up at the Empress.

Her stunned, foolish expression seemed to amuse the Empress, who chuckled happily. “But you needn’t worry too much. Since His Majesty saw through it and still allowed you to make use of him, it shows that he also feels Noble Consort Hui has gone too far. He was simply taking the opportunity to give her a warning.”

Wei Yingluo let out a breath of relief, though she still felt a slight chill on her back.

“Yingluo,” the Empress suddenly asked her, “what kind of person do you think our Emperor usually is?”

Wei Yingluo didn’t understand why the Empress was asking her this. After a moment’s thought, she gave a safe, conventional answer: “Diligent in governance and loving toward the people.”

The Empress shook her head. “That’s not what this palace means. This palace is asking about his temperament.”

Wei Yingluo offered several words in succession, but the Empress shook her head each time—until she hesitantly ventured one: “Decisive and ruthless in killing?”

“Yes!” The Empress clapped her hands like a child. “Exactly! What kind of person is His Majesty? The Emperor of Great Qing, ruler of all under Heaven. Anyone he finds displeasing—snap! —their head falls to the ground, and that’s the end of it! Why leave someone alive to cause himself trouble later?”

Wei Yingluo felt another chill run down her back. Sweat poured over her like a waterfall. Forcing a smile, she said, “Perhaps… perhaps His Majesty has some reservations?”

“Impossible!” The Empress declared firmly. “What reservations could His Majesty possibly have? Look at E Shan—such great favor, so many officials pleading for mercy, and yet he was killed without the Emperor even blinking!”

“Then… then…” Wei Yingluo’s face crumpled in distress. “Your Highness, is His Majesty really going to settle the account later and take this servant’s head?”

Her pitiful, pleading expression was like that of a cat who had gotten into mischief—ready at any moment to leap onto her mistress’s lap, roll around, meow coquettishly, and beg for protection.

“Rest assured—you will be fine,” the Empress said with a meaningful smile. “You are a young woman… a beautiful young woman.”

Though she said there would be no trouble, after hearing those last words, Wei Yingluo felt not just her back but her entire body turn ice-cold, as though she had fallen into a deep well.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 42: The Lychee Banquet

   Concubine Jia was utterly shocked.

   Of course she could deny it outright, but upon careful reflection, since Noble Consort Hui had asked such a question, it was clear she had already uncovered something. If Noble Consort Hui could take a life even without reason, how much more so when she had one?

Concubine Jia immediately threw herself at her feet. “Your Highness, everything this concubine has done has been for Your Ladyship’s sake!”

“For me?” Noble Consort Hui sneered coldly. “Using my dog to frame and slander me, and then claiming it’s for my benefit? I’m afraid it’s not for me at all, but for your Fourth Prince—so that Noble Lady Yu won’t give birth to another prince and ruin your plans!”

Complete denial would seem far too fake. Concubine Jia gritted her teeth. “Yes, this concubine admits it: I do not wish for Noble Lady Yu to bear another prince. But everything this concubine has done has also been in consideration of Your Ladyship. You have already formed a deadly enmity with Yonghe Palace. If we do not completely cut off Noble Lady Yu’s path forward, the consequences will be endless!”

Noble Consort Hui pondered for a moment. “Tell me exactly what you did to Noble Lady Yu.”

“Yes…” Concubine Jia hurriedly laid bare all her previous schemes. Upon hearing that Noble Lady Yu had already been taking the fake Zhenzhu powder for half a month, Noble Consort Hui showed a trace of surprise. “Is this woman really so foolish that she hasn’t noticed the slightest thing?”

“That woman was stupid to begin with, and she only has Fangcao as her one confidante. Once Fangcao turns against her, she’s finished.” Concubine Jia smiled. “Yesterday Fangcao came to report that the last batch of shell powder has run out and asked for a new supply to be sent over.”

“Give it to her!” Noble Consort Hui laughed heartily. “Give her as much as she wants—stuff it all into Noble Lady Yu’s belly!”

Seeing her so delighted, Concubine Jia breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Of course Noble Consort Hui could simply revel in the momentary satisfaction and send crates and barrels of shell powder flooding into Yonghe Palace. But Concubine Jia was different from her: compared to quick pleasure, she preferred certainty.

“If we believe every word Fangcao says without question, we will become the second Noble Lady Yu.” Concubine Jia shed the servile, fawning demeanor she wore in front of Noble Consort Hui and calmly instructed her trusted confidante beside her. “Go outside and make inquiries—especially around the Imperial Medical Bureau. Find out what new news there is from Yonghe Palace lately.”

Her confidante soon returned with information.

“Noble Lady Yu has recently been suffering from severe abdominal pain. The people at the Imperial Medical Bureau couldn’t find anything abnormal and prescribed more stabilizing medicines, telling her to take several extra Zhenzhu pills every day.” The confidante asked tentatively, “Your Highness, shall this servant go prepare a new batch of shell powder right away?”

“Go… wait!” When the person had already taken a few steps, Concubine Jia suddenly called out from behind.

“Your Highness, is there anything else you wish to instruct?” The confidante hurriedly turned back.

“Go tell Fangcao…” Concubine Jia pondered for a moment. “The shell powder requires careful preparation—it will take two days. Tell her we’ll meet during the Lychee Banquet to hand it over.”

The confidante looked puzzled. “But there is still shell powder left…”

Concubine Jia cut her off. “Do exactly as I say!”

Though filled with confusion, since it was her master’s order, the confidante swallowed all her questions, curtsied, and left.

“I hope I’m just overthinking it. Noble Lady Yu doesn’t seem like someone capable of coming up with such a scheme,” Concubine Jia murmured to herself as she watched the departing figure. “But just in case…”

Today, as usual, Wei Yingluo came to Yonghe Palace to deliver the Zhenzhu powder.

Fangcao had been waiting for her for a long time. The moment she saw her arrive, she rushed forward anxiously. “Yingluo, Concubine Jia just sent someone to find me. She wants me to go to her place during the Lychee Banquet to collect the shell powder.”

“She certainly has sharp ears.” Wei Yingluo smiled. “The Empress only just decided to hold the Lychee Banquet, and she already knows about it…”

It was clear that Concubine Jia was no simple person—she had quietly extended her claws all the way into Changchun Palace.

“You did very well. Keep it up.” Wei Yingluo patted Fangcao on the shoulder. “As long as you help me catch her red-handed this time, it will count as atoning for your past deeds.”

Fangcao hesitated. “You have to keep your word.”

The two of them settled their plan. Now, all that remained was to quietly wait for the Lychee Banquet.

The banquet was held half a month later. The main attraction was the three lychee trees that the Emperor had bestowed upon the Empress. Not a single lychee had been picked; they remained on the branches, to be plucked one by one right when the banquet began and served to the guests in the freshest, most vibrant state possible.

As Wei Yingluo passed by the banquet venue, she stole a quick glance inside. Among the guests were Consort Xian, Consort Chun, Noble Consort Hui, Concubine Jia, as well as two particularly outstanding selected consorts she had seen during the earlier selection, and finally… the Emperor himself. Wei Yingluo hurriedly lowered her head and quickened her steps to leave.

She arrived at the prearranged dark alley and stood quietly for a moment in the shadow of the wall. Not far away, two figures gradually approached.

One was Fangcao; the other was a trusted confidante of Concubine Jia.

The other woman was extremely cautious, clearly wary of eavesdroppers. She didn’t exchange many words with Fangcao. Pretending it was a casual brush-past, she slipped an embroidered brocade pouch into Fangcao’s arms and immediately prepared to walk away.

How could Wei Yingluo let her escape? She swiftly leaped out from behind the wall, seized the woman’s arm, and said sharply:

“How dare you substitute Noble Lady’s pearl powder! This is an attempt to murder the imperial heir!”

She had hoped to catch the woman off guard with her sudden accusation—perhaps, with luck, startle some confession out of her.

To her surprise, the woman turned back with perfect calm and said:

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Her composure immediately aroused Wei Yingluo’s suspicion. After a long pause, she suddenly unfolded the embroidered brocade pouch right in front of the woman. Beside her, Fangcao let out a startled cry:

“How is it just sweetgrass?”

Inside the pouch there was not a single grain of pearl powder—only a string of dried sweetgrass.

“What else could it be besides sweetgrass?” The confidante across from them gave a half-smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “This is a blessing pouch personally embroidered by Concubine Jia for the future little prince. It’s certainly not pearl powder or shell powder.”

“Concubine Jia is truly sharp— she was prepared long in advance… Oh no!” Since Concubine Jia had already noticed something amiss, why would she still specially send someone to keep the appointment? Unless… Wei Yingluo’s expression changed drastically. “We’ve fallen into a trap!”

Leaving the two women behind, she turned and ran toward the storehouse where tonight’s centerpiece—the lychee trees—was being kept.

Before she even entered the door, she heard sobbing coming from inside.

“It wasn’t me!” As soon as she stepped in, the little palace maid responsible for guarding the lychee trees turned deathly pale and desperately tried to explain to her. “I don’t know who did it! I only stepped away for a short while. When I came back, I found the lychee trees had been… had been scalded to death with boiling water!”

Wei Yingluo pushed her aside and strode to the lychee trees.

From the roots upward, the trees had been thoroughly soaked and ruined. Every lychee on the branches had fallen to the ground.

“What do we do?” The little palace maid wailed. “The Emperor will have my head…”

It wouldn’t just be her head. When tribute items were destroyed, a whole group of people would likely lose theirs—and even Wei Yingluo couldn’t be certain she herself would escape unscathed.

“Stop crying!” Wei Yingluo’s face was grim. She crouched down, picked up several fallen lychees from the ground, and examined them carefully for a moment. Then she turned to the sobbing little palace maid behind her:

“Do you want to die, or do you want to live?”

“I—I naturally want to live…” the little palace maid choked out.

“Open your hands.” Wei Yingluo placed the lychees she was holding into the girl’s palms. “Using these as the standard, pick out the ones from the ground that still look presentable. Send them to the Imperial Tea and Meal Department at once. Tell them the Empress is hosting a lychee banquet and they must figure out a way immediately! When the time comes, you will report to Her Majesty that the lychees from two of the trees were used to prepare dishes, and the remaining tree will be freshly picked on the spot!”

“Fresh—freshly picked?” The little palace maid was stunned. “But… won’t that be exposed right away?”

“That’s not your concern. You only need to do exactly what I’ve told you!” Wei Yingluo said coldly. “Hurry up and go!”

“Yes—yes!” Seeing that Wei Yingluo was willing to shoulder half the blame, the little palace maid had no reason to refuse. She immediately knelt on the ground and began frantically gathering and sorting the fallen lychees. From the corner of her eye, she saw Wei Yingluo hurry out of the storehouse.

Since the Empress had declared early on that she would personally pick the lychees to present to the Emperor, she could not easily go back on her word. At least one tree had to be brought to the banquet.

What would happen if, in the end, not even a single tree made it there?

“The Empress will surely lose all face,” Wei Yingluo thought to herself. “Noble Consort Hui and Concubine Jia will certainly seize the opportunity to accuse the palace servants of mishandling their duties, urging His Majesty to punish the group responsible for the lychee banquet—and that group… happens to include the Empress’s most capable and trusted confidants, as well as the very people she has been grooming for greater responsibility.”

Because the lychee banquet involved tribute goods and the Emperor himself, the Empress had personally assigned her most trusted and promising palace maids to handle it—including Wei Yingluo.

If anything went wrong at the lychee banquet, this entire group would inevitably be punished—and would have no choice but to accept the punishment.

In that case, not only would the Empress suffer a humiliating loss of dignity, she would also be severely wounded at the core. She might lose several of her most loyal heart-and-soul attendants in one fell swoop…

“How can I allow such a thing to happen to her?” Wei Yingluo gritted her teeth inwardly. “I must find a way. I must find a way… Someone! Go find her.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 41: Traitor

   “A traitor? How could that be?” Noble Lady Yu was shocked. “Fangcao has always taken care of me. Even in the hardest days, she never left my side…”

“That’s right!” Fangcao tugged at her hand again. “This servant is utterly loyal to Noble Lady—how could I possibly be a traitor?”

“Is that so?” Wei Yingluo tightened her grip and forcibly dragged her in front of Noble Lady Yu, forcing her to open her hand. “Noble Lady, look. Genuine pearl powder is pure white. The powder under Fangcao’s fingernails is clearly yellowish—this is not the color of pearl powder at all!”

“Pearl powder is exactly this color!” Fangcao said through gritted teeth.

Without a word, Wei Yingluo took out the pearl powder she had brought today. No further explanation was needed—the contrast was immediate and unmistakable. One was snow-white and flawless, like the first fine snow of winter; the other was dull and yellowish, like muddy footprints on that same snow.

Noble Lady Yu was not blind. The moment she saw it, her face turned ashen.

“Noble Lady, where are the pearl pills Fangcao made for you earlier? Do you still have any?” Wei Yingluo asked again.

“Yes.” Noble Lady Yu rummaged beside her pillow and finally pulled out a small porcelain bottle, handing it to Wei Yingluo. “Here. I’ve eaten more than half—only a few are left.”

Wei Yingluo uncorked the bottle and poured the remaining three pills into her palm. What met her eyes was a field of snowy brilliance—the three pills were uniformly snow-white and perfectly round.

“You’ve misunderstood me…” Fangcao seized the chance to protest from the side.

Wei Yingluo glanced at her, poured two of the pills back into the bottle, and held the last one between her fingers. With a firm pinch, the pill shattered. Powder scattered like falling snowflakes, piling up in a small heap on the table.

That snow sparkled faintly, like scattered stars.

“This is definitely not pearl powder.” Wei Yingluo dipped her finger into the powder and held it out in front of Noble Lady Yu. “I can’t tell exactly what it is, but the imperial physicians certainly would be able to.”

There were no truly mediocre people in the palace—even Noble Lady Yu, who had suffered so much humiliation, possessed some discernment. She took a small amount of the powder in her hand, sniffed it, examined it closely, and immediately understood.

“…Of course this isn’t pearl powder—it’s shell powder!” Noble Lady Yu’s bloodshot eyes fixed on Fangcao. “Fangcao, why did you pass off inferior goods and secretly replace the pearl powder sent by the Empress?”

Realizing she could no longer hide it, Fangcao immediately dropped to her knees and kowtowed repeatedly, her voice trembling with tears. “This servant is guilty! My mother is gravely ill and we have no money for treatment—I truly had no other choice. Knowing that shell powder is cheap while pearl powder is valuable, I swapped the Empress’s pearl powder, hoping to sell it for money! I beg Noble Lady, in consideration of how carefully I have always served you, please spare this servant!”

Seeing her pitiful state and remembering their past bond, Noble Lady Yu felt both heartache and disappointment. “You… you fool. If your mother was ill, why didn’t you just tell me? Would I really have ignored it? How could you do such a thing? You’ve truly let me down!”

Hearing that Noble Lady Yu seemed inclined to forgive her, Fangcao’s face lit up with joy. “This servant was momentarily confused…”

“Momentarily confused?” Wei Yingluo suddenly laughed. “No—you were extremely clever.”

Both Noble Lady Yu and Fangcao froze.

“Noble Lady, look.” Wei Yingluo poured the two remaining pills from the bottle onto the table. “On the surface, swapping expensive pearl powder for cheap shell powder looks like simple theft. But examine it closely: shell powder is naturally yellowish, and pills made from it would show mottled discoloration. Yet the shell pills Fangcao gave you are snow-white on the outside, with only a faint shimmer of powder inside. Unless you break them open, it’s impossible to tell the difference…”

She slowly raised her head and stared at the woman whose face had gone pale. “Her real purpose was never money—it was to make you swallow these fake pills without the slightest suspicion.”

Noble Lady Yu involuntarily raised a hand to her throat.

It was as though the Zhenzhu pills she had swallowed in recent days had returned to her throat—now stripped of their snowy outer coating, oozing green, venomous liquid.

She wanted to vomit.

“Speak!” Wei Yingluo snapped coldly at Fangcao. “You’ve already botched the job. The master behind you will never come forward to protect you. Your only chance of survival is to confess everything and see whether Noble Lady is willing to forgive you—and perhaps plead for you before Her Majesty the Empress!”

If this matter really reached the Empress, would she still have any chance of living?

Fangcao was now truly terrified. She no longer dared to conceal anything and blurted out, “It was Concubine Jia! Concubine Jia instructed this servant to do it!”

Everyone had expected the name Noble Consort Hui to come out of her mouth. No one anticipated this revelation. Noble Lady Yu was stunned. “Concubine Jia?”

“Yes.” Desperate to save her own life, Fangcao spilled everything like beans pouring from an overturned bamboo tube. “A few days ago, Concubine Jia sought me out and said that Concubine Yi was already gone. In Yonghe Palace, you were now the only mistress left. But you remained shut away in fear every day. Even if you gave birth to an imperial son, you would never win favor. Yonghe Palace was doomed to remain an ice cellar forever!”

Noble Lady Yu trembled with rage. “So you betrayed me?”

“No wonder… no wonder.” Wei Yingluo suddenly understood something. “Last time in the Imperial Garden, when Noble Lady Yu was attacked by the dog, not only did you fail to protect her and help her escape—you actually pushed her from behind, bringing her even closer to the beast. You were already Concubine Jia’s henchwoman back then, weren’t you?”

Fangcao sobbed and dared not answer, only hoping her tears might soften Noble Lady Yu’s heart even a little.

“Fangcao, let me ask you this,” Noble Lady Yu said in an icy voice. “Exactly what did you mix into the shell powder?”

Fangcao hesitated for a long moment before finally whispering, “To change the color of the shell powder… it had to be washed with dye…”

“You wretch!” Noble Lady Yu could no longer hold back. She let out a furious cry. “How utterly vicious you are!”

She was pregnant—how could a child born after long-term exposure to poisonous dye possibly be healthy?

No amount of past affection could withstand the erosion of Fangcao’s various vicious schemes. Noble Lady Yu sharply turned her head away, finding even a single glance at her revolting: “Yingluo, take her to see the Empress!”

“No—no!” Fangcao threw herself forward, sobbing. “This servant has already confessed everything—please don’t take this servant to see the Empress!”

Noble Lady Yu closed her eyes, steeling herself not to look at her. After a moment of consideration, Wei Yingluo spoke up: “Fangcao, when Concubine Jia handed the things to you, was there anyone else who saw it?”

Fangcao shook her head.

As expected. Wei Yingluo turned to Noble Lady Yu and said, “The other side has played their hand very cleverly. There are no witnesses, and the physical evidence is insufficient. If we rashly report it now, we might end up being counter-attacked—they could accuse Yonghe Palace of deliberately framing them.”

Noble Lady Yu was stunned. “Then…”

“Rather than disposing of this traitor right now and letting the enemy simply replace her with someone we don’t know to continue harming you, it’s better to keep her for the time being.” Wei Yingluo gave Fangcao a cold glance. “This way, she’ll believe you’re still consuming the poisoned shell powder…”

Noble Lady Yu thought it over and realized this was indeed the best course—at least it would turn their positions from being in the dark while the enemy acted openly, forcing her to constantly guard against hidden knives from behind.

“Do as you suggest,” Noble Lady Yu said with a heavy nod. “Fangcao, if anyone from Concubine Jia’s side sends someone to ask, you are to say that you’ve finished all the shell powder she sent…”

“We should set a deadline,” Wei Yingluo added after a moment’s thought. “Let’s say half a month from now. You yourself will go and inform Concubine Jia that the shell powder is used up and ask her to send more! Do you understand?”

Fangcao had no other choice but to become this double agent. She knelt and bowed low: “Yes!”

That would do.

Wei Yingluo looked down at her with icy detachment.

This operation was not only to save Noble Lady Yu, but also to protect the Empress who had shown her unwavering sincerity and trust.

If anything happened to Noble Lady Yu, an investigation would quickly trace the source of the pearl powder back to Changchun Palace. Whether it was pearl powder, ginseng, or any other tonic that had been sent, as long as this traitor Fangcao remained, the enemy could always find a way to tamper with it from above.

Wei Yingluo had anticipated this long ago.

“The mastermind behind this loves to frame others. We sent pearl powder from our palace—she’ll almost certainly try to tamper with it.” Wei Yingluo thought to herself. “Using their own trick against them has indeed caught you. I just wonder when Noble Consort Hui will realize that she has a seemingly loyal and devoted traitor right by her side…”

A grand procession marched solemnly down the corridor.

Every two eunuchs carried a wooden barrel between them. Each barrel was draped in red silk and covered tightly, so that at first glance they resembled brides veiled in red, being carried without their feet touching the ground.

“What is that? So secretive,” Noble Consort Hui said from inside the pavilion, pointing lazily at the procession ahead.

“The lychee trees offered as annual tribute by the Fujian governor,” Concubine Jia answered promptly, always well-informed. “One hundred barrels in total. After rewarding the princes and high ministers, the rest are all being sent to Changchun Palace.”

A flash of jealousy passed through Noble Consort Hui’s eyes. “Not a single one has reached me, yet entire trees are being delivered to her.”

Transported across thousands of mountains and rivers from Fujian, many of the trees had already suffered from the change in climate, shedding most of their fruit. What little remained was distributed among the Empress Dowager, the Empress, the consorts and concubines, as well as favored imperial relatives and ministers. Receiving even one lychee to taste was considered an immense blessing—enough to show just how highly the Emperor regarded the Empress.

“It’s only a few trees,” Concubine Jia said soothingly.

“Yes, only a few trees,” Noble Consort Hui echoed, gently stroking the snowball-like white dog in her arms. “The Emperor truly treats the Empress well. And I… treat you quite well too, don’t I?”

Concubine Jia was momentarily taken aback, sensing an underlying meaning. She quickly replied with caution: “Of course. This concubine owes everything I have today to Your Ladyship’s care and favor.”

Noble Consort Hui smiled slightly. Her beautiful yet venomous eyes fixed on her: “Then why did you betray me?”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 40: The Ferocious Dog

   The argument between the Emperor and the Empress came to a temporary end.

Wei Yingluo had originally thought the Empress would summon her for questioning, yet several days passed and no such summons came.

That phrase—” When employing people, do not doubt them; when doubting, do not employ them”—turned out not to be mere empty words.

A scholar dies for the one who truly understands him. Being regarded so highly by the Empress, Wei Yingluo afterward served her with even greater care and devotion.

The Empress appreciated her quick wit and clever mind, and often kept her close by her side. On this day, she invited Noble Lady Yu to stroll in the garden together. Instead of bringing Erqing or Ming Yu, she brought Wei Yingluo.

The garden scenery was beautiful, though a little chilly. Both ladies wore thick cloaks over their shoulders and carried incense hand-warmers in their sleeves. They slowly walked across the winding wooden bridge. Below, several colorful koi swam past, their trails like drifting silk ribbons.

“You shouldn’t always stay cooped up in Yonghe Palace. Come to Changchun Palace more often when you have time. You can also walk in the garden—just make sure your servants are more attentive and that someone is always by your side,” the Empress said gently.

Noble Lady Yu, pale and thin, forced a smile. “This concubine has received so much kindness from Your Ladyship; I could never repay it in a lifetime.”

The Empress smiled. “I am the Empress—it is only right that I look after the Six Palaces. There is nothing for you to repay.”

Noble Lady Yu chuckled, then sighed. “If everyone in the palace were as tolerant and magnanimous as Your Ladyship, there wouldn’t be so much trouble and conflict.”

The Empress understood whom her words referred to, yet she didn’t know how to comfort her. Worried that too much brooding would harm her pregnancy, she gave Wei Yingluo a meaningful glance, signaling her to find something cheerful to amuse Noble Lady Yu and keep her from sinking into melancholy.

For a moment, Wei Yingluo couldn’t think of any interesting topic. But then Noble Lady Yu herself looked around, suddenly stopped walking, and let out a soft exclamation: “What an adorable little dog.”

Not far ahead, a snowball-like shape came rolling toward them.

On closer look, it was a small dog with snow-white fur, not a single speck of another color. Several young eunuchs chased after it—one carrying a brightly painted food basin filled with delicate hot dishes, another running and shouting, “Aiyo, my little master, wait for this servant! Wait for this servant!”

Wei Yingluo found it amusing—even a dog was being addressed as “master.”

“What kind of master and servant nonsense is this? It’s outrageous,” the Empress, who was always strict about propriety, said with displeasure. “I wonder which consort is raising it…”

The little dog lifted its nose and sniffed the air, then ran straight and unerringly toward Wei Yingluo and the others.

Noble Lady Yu, charmed by its small size and cuteness, showed a faint smile and bent slightly at the waist, as if wanting to play with it. But as the dog drew closer and closer, the smile on her face gradually faded.

In the end, only terror remained.

“Woof woof!” The little dog bared its teeth and, like something possessed, charged madly at Noble Lady Yu. Amid the startled cries of the palace servants, it began tearing and biting at her ferociously.

“Ah—don’t come near!” Fangcao, the senior palace maid who should have been protecting Noble Lady Yu, seemed to have her soul frightened out of her. Not only did she fail to pull her mistress away, she actually pushed her from behind—driving her even closer to the frenzied dog.

Noble Lady Yu’s face had already turned as white as snow. Overcome with terror, she even forgot to call for help. Her entire body stood frozen in place like a wooden statue.

“Woof!”

A miserable yelp rang out.

A parabolic arc flew through the air, landed on the ground, and rolled several times. The puppy’s fur blended almost perfectly with the snow. It whimpered a few times but did not get up, only staring at Wei Yingluo from a distance with frightened eyes.

“How dare you!!”

A hand painted with bright red nail polish reached out from behind the dog and scooped it into her arms.

“What kind of thing are you, to dare injure my beloved dog!” Noble Consort Hui said coldly. “Seize her!”

Wei Yingluo was startled.

She hadn’t expected—no, she should have expected it. In the entire palace, who else was so arrogant and domineering as to promote even her own dog to the status of a master? Only the woman standing before her: Noble Consort Hui.

“Noble Consort Your Highness!” Seeing several eunuchs obeying her command and advancing toward her, Wei Yingluo struck first and shouted loudly, “Was it not Your Ladyship who let your dog run loose and injure someone, intending to harm the dragon fetus in Noble Lady Yu’s womb?”

Framing and accusation came smoothly from her lips. Even if Noble Consort Hui had such intentions, she absolutely could not admit it now—nor could she immediately deal with Wei Yingluo, or it would look like silencing a witness through murder.

“What an audacious slave—not only did you injure my beloved dog, but now you dare slander me.” Noble Consort Hui sneered coldly. “Empress, how do you think such a person should be punished?”

“Before punishing anyone, punish your dog first.” How could the Empress allow her to ride roughshod over her and openly bully her trusted confidante right in front of everyone? She responded calmly, “Dogs do not cause trouble for no reason. Look and see what’s in its food bowl!”

Everyone immediately rushed toward the little eunuch who was holding the food basin, only to discover that the food originally inside it had mysteriously vanished. When they questioned the little eunuch, he stammered and could only say that the dog, called Snowball, had already eaten it all.

Nonsense, yet for the moment there was nothing they could do to him.

One palace servant offered a suggestion to the Empress: “Your Highness, there is nothing left in the food basin. If we want to know what exactly this dog ate, the only way is to cut open its belly…”

“Insolent!” Before he could finish, Noble Consort Hui shrieked sharply, “Whoever dares touch a single hair on it, I will tear her apart!”

How could that palace servant dare offend Noble Consort Hui? He immediately fell silent as if struck by frost, even regretting that he had spoken up.

   Without evidence, the situation reached an impasse. The offender was merely a dog that could not speak human language—surely they couldn’t put a dog on trial?

   In the end, they could only let the matter drop.

   Both sides parted on bad terms. As they passed each other, the Empress suddenly turned back and said, “Noble Consort, Yingluo’s action just now actually helped you. If your dog had truly injured Noble Lady Yu earlier, it would have caused a tremendous uproar throughout the palace. In my opinion, you had better properly discipline the people around you! If they remain so useless that they cannot even keep watch over a single dog and allow it to cause trouble again, next time I will show no leniency!”

Noble Consort Hui’s hand, which had been stroking the little dog, suddenly tightened, causing the puppy to lift its head and let out pitiful whimpers.

Not only was she pondering the Empress’s words—on the way back, Wei Yingluo was also carefully turning them over in her mind.

“So?” The Empress asked with a smile. “Did you notice anything strange?”

“…Was Noble Consort Hui being used as someone else’s weapon?” Wei Yingluo asked cautiously.

The Empress slowly nodded, her expression somewhat grave. “If something had really gone wrong this time, in the end they couldn’t very well take it out on the dog—they would have to hold the dog’s owner accountable. Noble Consort Hui may be arrogant and domineering, but she would not do something so self-damaging and profitless for others. There must be someone else behind this…”

For the moment, it was impossible to determine who that person was.

But one thing was certain.

That means… someone is targeting Noble Lady Yu.

Wei Yingluo carefully recalled the events of the day, and a figure gradually emerged in her mind. With a cold smile, she turned to the Empress and said, “Your Majesty, this servant would like to request an assignment from you…”

She asked the Empress for the task of visiting Yonghe Palace to check on the patient.

Not only to visit, but also to deliver the pearl powder for Zhenzhu.

The reason was that ever since Noble Lady Yu had been frightened, she suffered nightmares every night and could only fall asleep by taking calming pills on schedule. However, those pills were not good for the dragon fetus and should not be taken excessively. If they had to be taken, they needed to be supplemented with top-quality pearl powder. Although pearl powder was not particularly rare, it was still not something a disfavored consort could enjoy every day. When the Empress heard about this, she specially allocated some from her own private storehouse and had it sent over.

The task was troublesome, and Noble Lady Yu was hardly an important figure, so no one wanted to take on such a job. When Wei Yingluo willingly accepted it, the others actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Today, as usual, she came carrying the pearl powder to pay a visit. Because she had been coming and going frequently, everyone in Yonghe Palace recognized her. She entered the bedchamber with ease and saw that Noble Lady Yu was still curled up on the bed. Despite being pregnant, she looked emaciated and skeletal, with not a trace of flesh on her body. Forcing a smile, she said, “Yingluo, you’re here.”

Wei Yingluo glanced around and asked with a smile, “Where is Fangcao?”

“She went to prepare the pearl pills for me,” Noble Lady Yu sighed. “We haven’t finished the last batch yet—you didn’t need to rush to bring more. cough cough Sit down. I’ll have her pour you some tea. Fangcao! Fangcao!”

“This servant is here, this servant is here.” The senior palace maid by Noble Lady Yu’s side pushed the door open and brought Wei Yingluo a cup of fine tea. But the moment the teacup was set down, Wei Yingluo seized the hand that had just served the tea.

“Fangcao.” Wei Yingluo smiled at her. “What happened to your hand?”

Apparently because she had come in a hurry, Fangcao had only hastily rinsed her hands. They weren’t fully clean—there were still traces of pearl powder left in the crevices under her fingernails, faintly shimmering with a slight yellowish tint.

“I… I was making the pearl pills earlier and didn’t wash my hands properly. I’ll go wash them now.” Fangcao tried to pull her hand back, but discovered that Wei Yingluo’s fingers were clamped around her like iron pincers, refusing to let go. Her expression changed at once.

Noble Lady Yu looked from one to the other in confusion. “Yingluo, what’s wrong?”

“Noble Lady.” Wei Yingluo slowly turned her head toward her. “There is a traitor by your side.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 39: Confidante

   “You went to sweep snow again.” As soon as Wei Yingluo returned to Changchun Palace, the Empress summoned her close and spoke with motherly affection. “I have already told you—there is no need for you to do such work anymore. Let Zhenzhu and the others handle it. When you have free time, read more books, or come here to help grind ink for me and assist with some of my affairs.”

The Empress clearly intended to groom her as a true confidante. Otherwise, she would have preferred her to remain an ignorant “blind” servant rather than allowing her to read, write, understand matters of importance, and even discuss the disposal of items from the Imperial Household Department’s inventory.

Wei Yingluo felt both alarmed and deeply moved—alarmed that she might be rising too high too quickly, and moved by the genuine trust being placed in her—so she spoke freely and held nothing back.

“I didn’t realize how late it had gotten.” Two hours later, the Empress set down her brush, a trace of weariness appearing on her face.

Wei Yingluo immediately stepped behind her and gently massaged her temples, saying softly, “Your Majesty, please rest for a while. This servant will keep you company and chat.”

“Mm.” The Empress closed her eyes, temporarily setting aside her heavy duties, and chatted idly with her about everyday matters. “Speaking of which, not long ago the imperial physician reported that Noble Lady Yu has recently been waking up startled in the middle of the night. She’s become so gaunt and emaciated that she’s almost unrecognizable. The physician said… it is an illness of the heart.”

“An illness of the heart requires medicine for the heart.” Wei Yingluo spoke carefully. “With Concubine Yi gone, His Majesty is her only medicine.”

The Empress sighed. “But His Majesty is burdened with ten thousand affairs of state—how could he possibly have time for her? It is easy to seek priceless treasures, but hard to find a lover with true affection. Noble Lady Yu is not Consort Dong E—where else could she find another Emperor Shizu…”

Everyone in the world knew that the Shunzhi Emperor had doted solely on Consort Dong E. When she fell ill and died, Emperor Shizu was so grief-stricken that he became seriously ill himself and even shaved his head to become a monk. Even an ordinary man would rarely do so much for his wife—let alone an emperor who ruled all under Heaven.

After a pause, the Empress realized she had spoken too freely and gave a somewhat forlorn smile. “Look at me—I’ve grown muddle-headed. What nonsense am I saying!”

Wei Yingluo understood what was in her heart. Every woman dreams of becoming a Consort Dong E, but when expectations are set too high, disappointment is inevitable.

Wanting to comfort her, Wei Yingluo thought for a moment and said, “Emperor Shizu’s single-minded devotion to Consort Dong E is indeed enviable. But if you look at it from another angle, the feeling is completely different!”

“Oh?” The Empress grew curious. “Go on.”

“Your Majesty, when Consort Dong E passed away, Emperor Shizu was overwhelmed with grief. He suspended court for five days, burned two entire palaces along with countless treasures, and even ordered thirty palace maids and thirty eunuchs to be put to death to accompany her! For Consort Dong E, meeting such a passionately devoted emperor was fortunate. But those sixty innocent palace servants—they too had parents, siblings, and families. They were living, breathing people! Moreover, in order to mourn Consort Dong E, Emperor Shizu disregarded millions of his subjects.” Wei Yingluo sighed softly. “I’m afraid the civil and military officials, the common people, and the other consorts in the harem would all prefer their emperor to be heartless.”

“Insolent!”

A man’s voice suddenly rang out.

Wei Yingluo and the Empress were both so startled that they rose to their feet at once and knelt in the direction of the voice.

A pair of bright yellow boots came to a stop in front of Wei Yingluo.

This was the second time she had seen these boots.

“Who gave you permission to speak so presumptuously about Emperor Shizu? You deserve to die ten thousand deaths!” Hongli’s voice thundered from above her head, filled with boundless fury. “Someone—!”

What should she do!

Wei Yingluo cried out inwardly in distress. She hadn’t expected that an emperor of all people would have a fondness for eavesdropping at walls. Now that she had crashed right into the muzzle of the gun, the only thing left to do was…

Gritting her teeth, Wei Yingluo shouted loudly before the guards could rush in and seize her: “Your Majesty, those words weren’t spoken by me!”

“Oh?” Hongli said coldly. “Then who said them?”

Wei Yingluo: “It was our Ancestral Emperor, Emperor Shizu.”

Hongli was momentarily stunned.

“Your Majesty, the Shizu Emperor once issued an edict of self-reproach in which he mentioned that he had treated Consort Dong E too indulgently, failing to restrain his feelings with proper rites, and he deeply regretted it.” Taking advantage of his momentary lapse, Wei Yingluo hurriedly finished the rest of her explanation. “This servant was merely repeating the words of the Shizu Emperor.”

If he were to punish her for this, wouldn’t that be disrespecting one’s teacher and destroying one’s ancestors?

   Hongli was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “Then what about your accusation that the Shizu Emperor ordered living palace attendants to be buried alive with him? Are you claiming that was also said by the Shizu Emperor himself?”

“That was not,” Wei Yingluo replied.

Hongli immediately scoffed with icy disdain. “Guards—”

Wei Yingluo: “That was said by Emperor Kangxi!”

Hongli: “…”

Wei Yingluo: “Emperor Kangxi long ago issued an order prohibiting the practice of human sacrifice in burials. From that time onward, the rite of burying living people with the deceased has never again occurred!”

Hongli fell silent once more—or rather, he seemed thoroughly stifled.

This emperor, who appeared to be somewhat petty, clearly had no intention of letting her off so easily. After thinking it over for a long while, he finally recalled another point. Grinding his teeth, he said, “Very well. Then let me ask you this: just now you said the common people would rather their emperor be heartless. What exactly did you mean by that?”

Hearing this question, Wei Yingluo actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Because those were more or less all the words she had spoken. Since he was asking about this one, it was clearly the last question.

“In reply to Your Majesty.” Wei Yingluo kowtowed to the ground and spoke slowly. “This servant has heard that Your Majesty rises at the hour of night every day. In summer, when the sky is still bright; in winter, when the fifth watch has barely ended. When military reports arrive from the western frontiers—even in the dead of night—Your Majesty immediately summons the Grand Council ministers for discussion. Those ministers rotate duty every five or six days and already find it extremely exhausting. How much more so for Your Majesty, who does this every single day, year after year? Your diligence in governing is truly admirable! Yet because Your Majesty is so occupied with state affairs and has no time to attend to the inner palace, the consorts and concubines inevitably feel lonely and neglected. It is clear that to be a wise ruler—to have affection for the people and for the realm—one must be heartless toward the consorts and concubines!”

After listening, Hongli opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out for a long time.

“Indeed—great love is heartless. His Majesty is precisely such a diligent and enlightened ruler!” The Empress suddenly stepped forward and waved her hand. “That’s enough. You may leave now. This palace wishes to speak with the Emperor.”

Wei Yingluo’s heart immediately settled. She knew the Empress was taking this opportunity to help her out of the predicament. Once she passed the Emperor’s three questions and stepped out this door, she would be completely safe…

“Wait!” The man’s voice suddenly rang out above her head. “Raise your head!”

Wei Yingluo was greatly startled—and so was the Empress. “Your Majesty?”

“Your tone, your voice… the more I hear it, the more familiar it seems…” Hongli’s voice carried a trace of puzzlement and a trace of scrutiny.

Hearing these words, how could Wei Yingluo possibly dare to lift her head? She remained prostrate on the ground, as motionless as a stone statue that had stood for years.

“I remember now…” Hongli’s voice suddenly turned icy cold. “You are—”

“Leave at once!” The Empress’s voice abruptly cut in. “Don’t upset His Majesty any further. Go kneel outside!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Wei Yingluo scrambled out in a rush, half crawling and half rolling.

Behind her came the sound of the Emperor and Empress arguing.

“I saw her before—she was nothing but a lowly palace maid. Yet in less than a month, she reached Changchun Palace and gained your deep trust. Clearly, she harbors ulterior motives and is plotting something treacherous! Empress, how can you keep such a person by your side?”

“Emperor, I, as her mistress, know best what kind of character Yingluo has.”

“Empress, excessive leniency may lead to raising a tiger that will devour you!”

“Emperor, when employing people, one should not doubt them; when doubting, one should not employ them. I trust my own eyes—Yingluo is absolutely not the kind of person you describe!”

Wei Yingluo suddenly halted her steps and looked back in a daze.

She wasn’t that kind of person?

No… the Emperor was right. She was exactly the sort of person who harbored dark intentions and plotted no good.

“But I will never betray your trust.” In her heart, Wei Yingluo spoke to the Empress. “I will absolutely never let anyone harm you.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 38: A Return Gift

“Young Master.”

Only one person ever addressed him this way.

Fucha Fuheng turned around. “What is it… Wei Yingluo.”

The weather had already turned quite cold; most palace maids had changed into their winter clothing. Yet a flash of pale red approached gracefully through the wind and snow—so vivid, so delicate, like a slender finger dipped in rouge, trailing a faint blush of color across the winter white.

“Young Master.” The girl in red walked up to Fucha Fuheng and held out an oddly shaped object. With a radiant, smiling face she said, “This is for you.”

Fucha Fuheng didn’t take it, only lowered his head to look: “What is this?”

“Her Majesty the Empress is always fretting, worried that you standing in the wind all the time will make you feel cold. But men aren’t like women—they can’t use hand warmers. So I went to the small kitchen and begged for a pig’s bladder, filled it with hot water, sealed the opening with hemp rope, and tucked it inside my robes. It keeps you really warm.” As she spoke, she suddenly stuffed the thing into his arms. “See? Isn’t it nice and toasty?”

A sudden warmth bloomed in Fucha Fuheng’s chest—he wasn’t sure whether it came from her concern or from the object now pressed against him.

But as a palace guard, how could he accept a gift from a palace maid? If anyone found out, he himself might be fine, but Wei Yingluo would likely get into serious trouble. So he reached out to push it back: “No need. I’m not cold.”

Yet the young girl before him simply smiled. Not only did she return the gift properly, she even prepared an excuse for him: “If anyone asks, just say it was sent by a maid from the Empress’s side on Her Majesty’s orders. What, is the Empress not even allowed to care for her own younger brother now?”

Fucha Fuheng was still somewhat hesitant, but then he saw her slowly lower her head and let out a soft sigh.

“You gave me medicine, and I wanted to give you something in return too… but I really don’t have anything decent to offer…” Wei Yingluo said quietly. “Do you… perhaps dislike it…?”

“…I don’t dislike it.” After a moment of silence, Fucha Fuheng raised his hand and accepted the warm pig’s bladder. “Thank you.”

Wei Yingluo suddenly lifted her head and gave him a bright smile.

For the next several hours, Fucha Fuheng felt somewhat distracted and out of sorts. The image of Wei Yingluo’s smile kept floating before his eyes—like the sudden arrival of spring wind in the night, causing thousands and tens of thousands of pear trees to burst into blossom.

“Achoo!” His friend beside him, Hailancha, suddenly sneezed, then rubbed his arms. “What season is this already? The wind in the Forbidden City is still freezing—blows straight down my collar, ugh!”

The other guards weren’t faring much better. The biting wind cut through them, leaving the group of duty-bound guards shivering, teeth chattering. Yet none could leave their posts; they could only stamp their feet in place or rub their bodies to generate a little warmth.

Among this crowd of guards whose faces had turned pale from the cold, Fucha Fuheng—with his normal (even slightly flushed) complexion—stood out conspicuously.

“…What are you hiding in your robes?” Hailancha had sharp eyes and even quicker hands. Before he even finished speaking, his hand had already darted forward and snatched the pig’s bladder from Fucha Fuheng’s chest. The sudden heat made him shudder with delight, and he exclaimed in surprise, “Whoa, what is this thing? Hah—so warm!”

As he spoke, he hurriedly stuffed it into his own robes.

“Give it back!” Fucha Fuheng immediately reached to grab it.

Having practiced martial arts together since childhood, though Fucha Fuheng was strong, Hailancha was no slouch either. The two traded quick, close-quarters moves, and for a moment Fucha Fuheng couldn’t get it back.

“Why so nervous?” Hailancha even had the leisure to tease him. “Don’t tell me someone gave this to you? The thing itself looks plain, but the thought behind it is clever. Looking at how tense you are, I’m guessing it wasn’t a man who gave it to you… Could it be… some little palace maid showing you favor?”

Fucha Fuheng hurriedly denied it: “It’s not!”

“Not?” Hailancha immediately grinned mischievously. “If it really was from a woman, I wouldn’t dare take it. But since it isn’t, then what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine between brothers—I’ll accept it without hesitation, haha—ahhh!”

His joy turned to disaster. With a miserable cry, the tall, burly man suddenly rolled onto the ground. Just moments ago he had been complaining about the cold; now he pressed his chest tightly against the icy snow. Still not enough, he frantically scooped handfuls of snow and stuffed them inside his robes.

“Hailancha! Hailancha! What’s wrong?” Fucha Fuheng hurriedly crouched down to check. When he saw the situation clearly, he was first startled, then furious. “…How could this…”

“Wei Yingluo!”

Wei Yingluo, who had been sweeping snow, paused her broom and turned around. “What is it?”

A palace maid said to her, “Guard Fucha is waiting for you by the well behind the palace. He says he has something to ask you.”

So soon? Wei Yingluo was momentarily stunned, then nodded. “Thank you. I’ll go right now!”

By the same well where they had parted that morning, the two met once again.

The same wind and snow, the same red clothes—the only difference was his attitude.

Fucha Fuheng abruptly seized Wei Yingluo’s wrist, gazing down at her with an indescribable fury in his eyes. “What deep grudge do I have against you that you would harm me like this!”

Wei Yingluo lifted her head to look at him, feigning surprise. “Young Master, what are you talking about?”

“That pig’s bladder!” Fucha Fuheng said in a low, heavy voice. Besides anger, his eyes held mostly disappointment. “It exploded.”

But unexpectedly, in the next second, something warm pressed into his embrace.

Soft and fragrant like jade—it was a young woman’s hand.

The overwhelming rage was instantly dispelled by half with her gentle touch and caress. Fucha Fuheng recoiled as if pierced by a sword, staggering back several steps until he bumped against the well. The cold stone rim against his back finally steadied him, though his face remained flushed as he stammered, “What are you doing?”

“How could a pig’s bladder explode?” Wei Yingluo pressed closer, her body leaning into him as both hands reached once more toward his chest. “Let me see—did it burn you?”

She moved so quickly, so unhesitatingly, it was as if she intended to drag them both into the well together.

Fucha Fuheng hurriedly caught her. Planting his feet firmly, he stood like a pine tree rooted in rock and sighed. “It wasn’t me. It was my friend Hailancha—he got scalded by the pig’s bladder.”

Wei Yingluo froze for a moment, then slowly lowered her head, hiding her current expression in shadow. She spoke softly, “It’s good that it wasn’t Young Master who was hurt. I must have been too anxious—I only wanted to deliver the gift to you as soon as possible. I didn’t seal the opening of the pig’s bladder tightly enough… Your friend… is he alright?”

“It’s nothing serious, though the burn isn’t light.” Fucha Fuheng paused, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You really didn’t do it on purpose?”

Wei Yingluo slowly raised her head. Snowflakes melted on her skin, piece by piece. The warm breath she exhaled almost reached his face, and the heat made Fucha Fuheng’s own cheeks burn. He even felt that without any explanation, he would believe her.

“Young Master, are you really alright?” Wei Yingluo slowly lifted one hand and gently touched his cheek. “Your face is so red—did you get burned too?”

Fucha Fuheng quickly grabbed her disobedient hand. “No, I didn’t…”

“But your face is very red.” Wei Yingluo’s gaze shifted to his hand. “And your hand is very hot.”

Fucha Fuheng released her hand as if scalded, turned around in obvious embarrassment, and strode away.

Behind him came the girl’s clear, melodious laughter, bright as an oriole’s song: “Young Master, actually, pig bladders filled with ice in the summer feel wonderfully cool against the skin. One of these days I’ll make another one for you to use in the summer!”

Fucha Fuheng didn’t even have the courage to turn back and reply. He fled in disarray all the way back to the guards’ duty room, where he arrived just as the imperial physician had finished changing the dressing on Hailancha’s wound and was packing up his medicine box.

“Alas, why is my fate so bitter?” Hailancha lay on the bed, sighing dramatically. “I didn’t die on the battlefield, but I nearly got blown up by a hot-water bottle.”

“Evildoers live a thousand years—don’t worry, you won’t die.” Fucha Fuheng saw the physician out, then pulled over a stool and sat beside him, asking with concern, “What did the physician say? Is it serious? Do you need me to approve some leave for you?”

“Then approve ten days off so I can escape this damned weather.” Hailancha unceremoniously demanded leave, and when Fucha Fuheng readily agreed, he relaxed. Then, with his usual playful tone, he began to tease, “I took this injury in your place—how about it? Tell me about your sweetheart.”

Hailancha had made such jokes many times before, but this time Fucha Fuheng actually paused. A flush crept over his face. After a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “…There’s no sweetheart.”

Hailancha immediately saw an opening. Forgetting his injury entirely, he sat bolt upright on the bed, eyes gleaming with interest. “Fuheng, even though that thing exploded, I still have to speak fairly! Preparing a pig’s bladder is such a hassle—you have to thread it with hemp cord to seal it, and boil it for two whole nights. For someone to go to so much trouble for you… what else could it be but that her heart is secretly set on you!”

“So much trouble?” Fucha Fuheng suddenly snapped back to attention—he realized the other man was fishing for information!

“Isn’t it?” Hailancha clapped him on the shoulder, grinning broadly. “I’d bet my life on it—that girl who gave you the hot-water bottle has fallen for you! And you? Do you like her? Which part do you like about her?”

“Which part?”

In an instant, countless images flooded into Fucha Fuheng’s mind.

Her clothes dyed red like rouge against the winter snow.

Her smile that burst forth like pear blossoms covering a thousand trees in a single night of spring wind.

The smooth, slippery skin of her wrist that he had once held in his hand.

“Hey, hey, I’m asking you a question!” Hailancha shook his shoulder. “Which part?”

Every single one.

“…Shut up already!” Fucha Fuheng suddenly snapped, though he wasn’t sure whether he was angry at the other man or at himself.

“Hey, don’t go—come back, come back! It was just a joke, why are you mad!” Hailancha shouted after him at the top of his lungs, but he couldn’t stop Fucha Fuheng’s steps. Still, the reaction confirmed something for him. Grinning cheekily toward the departing figure, he called out, “It’s getting cold now. Next time your sweetheart gives you a new pig bladder warmer, remember to let your brother borrow it, ah!”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 37: Giving Medicine

Fucha Fuheng turned his face away, presenting only one flushed red ear toward her. He stood three steps away from Wei Yingluo — a distance from which he could flee at any moment.

“Take it,” he said.

Wei Yingluo hesitated for a moment, then reached out and accepted the medicine bottle from his hand.

Fucha Fuheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Turning his body slightly, he said, “This medicine is very effective for external injuries. Apply it once in the morning and once at night.”

Compared to the pain on her body, Wei Yingluo cared more about his current attitude. She cautiously studied him. “Young Master, why are you avoiding me?”

“…” The question seemed to leave Fucha Fuheng somewhat embarrassed. After a long pause, he gave a cough and said, “A man should not look directly at a woman’s body. You… you should pull your sleeve down.”

Only then did Wei Yingluo remember that earlier, in order to inspect her own injury, she had rolled one sleeve all the way up to her shoulder, leaving her entire arm exposed in front of him—snow-white like a freshly cut lotus root growing in clear green water.

She slowly lowered her sleeve and said softly, “All right, you can turn around now.”

Only then did Fucha Fuheng turn back. He was truly rather thin-skinned; he had only seen a woman’s arm, yet his face had flushed red. He looked both awkward and pure, yet completely unaware of it himself. Maintaining his usual stern and untouchable demeanor, he asked her:

“Why did you set fire to the bed curtains today? Do you realize that if things had gone slightly wrong, you could have burned Noble Lady Yu to death—and yourself along with her?”

“I know it was extremely dangerous. But in that situation, it was the only way to draw everyone’s attention.” Wei Yingluo said in a low voice, “Think about it—if I had shouted for help and said that Noble Consort Hui was trying to kill someone, who would have dared enter Yonghe Palace? They would all have been afraid of getting involved in such a matter and would have simply pretended not to hear. But when a fire breaks out in the palace, it’s completely different. Everyone comes running to put it out. That way, Noble Lady Yu and I might have a chance to be saved.”

Remembering how she had looked so desperate and helpless when she cried out to him for help, Fucha Fuheng’s heart softened, and his tone became gentler as well:

“What if no one had arrived in time and Noble Consort Hui broke in first?”

Wei Yingluo suddenly raised her head and looked straight at him. “But you came, didn’t you?”

Fucha Fuheng was stunned by her words.

Clearly her clothes were properly in place, she hadn’t exposed anything improper, she wasn’t smiling at him, and she hadn’t done anything out of line—yet he still wanted to avoid her gaze.

Afraid she would notice that his face had flushed again.

“Young Master…” Wei Yingluo took one step closer. “Are you unwell? Your face looks a little red…”

She reached out a hand as if to feel his forehead.

Fucha Fuheng hurriedly took a step back.

“Sorry.” Seeming to realize her current behavior was inappropriate, Wei Yingluo withdrew her hand and gave him an apologetic smile.

Unable to tell whether he felt disappointment or relief in his heart, Fucha Fuheng said in a low voice:

“Be more careful next time. Don’t… don’t smile at men like that anymore. Hasn’t your mother ever taught you what proper conduct is for a lady of good family?”

Wei Yingluo stopped smiling and said indifferently, “I am not a lady of good family, and I have no mother.”

Fucha Fuheng was taken aback. While he was still searching for words to smooth things over, he heard Wei Yingluo speak again.

“I only have one older sister. Her name is Wei Yingning.” After a brief pause, Wei Yingluo smiled. “But here in the palace, she has another name—A-Man.”

Fucha Fuheng’s expression changed abruptly.

“What’s wrong?” Wei Yingluo stared at him, refusing to miss even the slightest change. “Young Master, do you know my sister?”

“I don’t.” Fucha Fuheng paused. “The medicine has been delivered. There are matters awaiting me at the Imperial Guard station. I’ll take my leave.”

It would be more accurate to say he fled in panic rather than left on an excuse.

He left so hurriedly that he failed to notice that, even after he was gone, Wei Yingluo remained standing in the same spot without moving, her fingers gripping the medicine bottle so tightly they turned white, staring after him with an expressionless face.

“This is top-quality wound medicine—ordinary people can’t obtain it. Only high-ranking military officers have access to it.”

That night, when Momo Zhang came to check on her and brought along a bottle of medicine, although it too had been obtained from the imperial physicians, compared to the bottle of military-grade wound ointment sitting on the table, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Wei Yingluo lay face-down on the bed, her clothes completely removed, her smooth back exposed. The most serious of her injuries was not on her arm, but on her back—in a place she couldn’t reach herself.

Tilting her head to glance at the jade-like, lustrous medicine bottle on the table, Wei Yingluo said coolly:

“It was sent by Fucha Fuheng. For now, I don’t want to use it.”

Hearing the coldness in her voice, Momo Zhang shook her head. While applying medicine to her wounds, she gently advised:

“Are you still suspecting him?”

“I saw Fucha Fuheng today,” Wei Yingluo said with a smile. “He claimed he doesn’t know my sister.”

“But the look on his face told an entirely different story… Ouch!”

Momo Zhang quickly lightened her touch. “How is it now? Still hurt? Listen, child—everything needs evidence. Without proof, how can you accuse him of being the murderer?”

“Evidence?” A flash of ruthlessness passed through Wei Yingluo’s eyes. “Momo, you knew my sister too. You know what kind of person she was. If she had picked up something as valuable as a jade pendant, she would have returned it to its owner without question. Yet she kept it. There are only two possibilities: either the owner was her lover, or her enemy. My sister already had someone she loved. Even if he had heartlessly abandoned her, she would never have changed her feelings so easily. That leaves only one explanation—Fuheng humiliated her!”

“It’s still just your speculation!” Momo Zhang knew she was already somewhat obsessed, so she tried to reason with her carefully. “Perhaps your sister really did find the jade pendant by chance and didn’t know who the owner was, so she couldn’t return it. Or maybe… Fuheng did know your sister, but had nothing to do with her death…”

Wei Yingluo’s expression shifted between dark and light. After a long pause, she slowly exhaled. “Momo, you said my sister lost her chastity and stubbornly refused to reveal who the man was. In the palace, the only men are the Emperor and the Imperial Guards. If it had been the Emperor, it would have been an honor—a sign of imperial favor. There would have been nothing to hide. That leaves only the palace guards. My sister appeared gentle on the outside, but she was fiercely resolute inside. If she had been insulted for no reason, she would have demanded justice. The only reason she didn’t speak wasn’t that she didn’t want to—it was that she didn’t dare! She was afraid of implicating our family, afraid of dragging our father and me down with her. Who could inspire such terror in her? Only someone with immense power and status—Fucha Fuheng!”

She suddenly turned and stared at Momo Zhang, her gaze sharp as a drawn dagger, fierce as a lit fuse. Through gritted teeth she said, “He is the pampered young master of the noble Fucha clan, the Empress’s own younger brother, the Emperor’s most trusted confidant, a future Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard. How could such a scandal be allowed to stain his name? That is exactly why my sister was murdered to silence her!”

“Enough…” Momo Zhang’s head throbbed painfully.

“Momo, can you swear it’s absolutely impossible?” Wei Yingluo challenged.

Momo Zhang was momentarily speechless.

If Wei Yingluo had simply been stubbornly unreasonable, she could have scolded her harshly. The problem was that there really was a possibility—and with the jade pendant as concrete evidence, the possibility was quite strong.

“…Fine. Even if it was Fucha Fuheng, what do you intend to do?” Momo Zhang asked helplessly. “What can you possibly do?”

“What can I do?” Wei Yingluo scoffed with icy disdain. “Naturally, a life for a life. A debt must be repaid!”

Momo Zhang had always known her temperament was fierce, but she hadn’t expected it to reach this extreme. Startled, she quickly grabbed the girl’s hand. “You mustn’t act rashly! If not for yourself, then think of your sister. Did she raise you with such hardship just so you could throw your life away?”

Wei Yingluo froze—not out of fear of death, but because of the tears glistening in the older woman’s eyes.

She couldn’t help remembering the words Momo Zhang had sighed earlier: “No one… would cry for someone who means nothing to them.”

“…You’re right,” Wei Yingluo said, lowering her head, moved and a little ashamed. “I can’t die yet.”

As long as there was still someone in this world who cared about her, she could not die. She was afraid that if she died, that person might become a second version of herself—trapped in pain and hatred, willing to sacrifice everything for revenge.

“Good child, good child…” Momo Zhang tenderly stroked her hair. “Come, turn over. Let Momo continue applying the medicine.”

Wei Yingluo obediently murmured in agreement.

The rough, calloused fingers, together with the fiery, stinging medicine, landed once more on Wei Yingluo’s shoulder.

She gritted her teeth and endured. Though her body was covered in wounds, though there might have been better options available… she refused to use even a single drop of the medicine sent by Fucha Fuheng.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 36: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

   “Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened!” Zhilan came rushing back and reported to Noble Consort Hui, “A lot of people are coming from outside! They’re all heading straight for Yonghe Palace!”

The eunuchs who had been ramming the door immediately stopped and turned to look at Noble Consort Hui.

“What are you staring at?” Noble Consort Hui refused to give up halfway. Gritting her teeth, she ordered, “The people haven’t arrived yet—hurry up and break the door down! Otherwise, you’ll all pay dearly!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

They battered the door for a long time until finally it could no longer hold.

With a thunderous crash, the door—and the tables and chairs barricading it from behind—were all flung open.

Noble Consort Hui was overjoyed. Leading her group, she charged into the hall. Her gaze swept around and landed on the brazier placed by the window. Inside it, not only were ingot-shaped candles burning, but torn bed curtains and gauze hangings had also been thrown in. Thick black smoke billowed out of the basin and straight out the window, darkening half the sky.

Her eyes slowly shifted and settled on the culprit standing beside the brazier. First came surprise, then a surge of fury at being toyed with: “It’s actually you!”

That fool who had eaten seven bowls of lotus-root starch dumplings right in front of her!

Someone who could save Noble Lady Yu from an assassin eunuch’s hands, and who could summon the entire palace with fireworks as a call for help—how could such a person possibly be a real fool!

In that instant, Noble Consort Hui completely forgot about Noble Lady Yu. She raised her hand and pointed directly at Wei Yingluo: “Kill her!”

One by one, the eunuchs advanced toward Wei Yingluo like spiders crawling across a net from every direction—there was nowhere to run. As they drew closer, their dark shadows crept over her face. Suddenly, a ray of light pierced into her eyes. Her gaze brightened. With every ounce of strength in her body, she shouted: “Lord Fucha, save me!”

That beam of light rushed to her side.

Stepping in front of Wei Yingluo to shield her, sword drawn and pointed at the several eunuchs ahead, Fucha Fuheng demanded gravely, “Noble Consort Your Highness, what exactly is going on here?”

Noble Consort Hui’s red lips parted lightly. The words to ruin someone’s reputation came easily: “I was merely passing by Yonghe Palace today and thought to pay a visit to Noble Lady Yu on the way. We happened upon this maidservant attempting murder, so naturally we had to apprehend her!”

Wei Yingluo had long anticipated she would say exactly that. She immediately replied, “The truth will be clear once Noble Lady Yu wakes up and is asked.”

Only then did everyone notice the unconscious Noble Lady Yu. Some rushed forward to check on her; others hurried out to fetch an imperial physician. When the physician finally arrived to examine Noble Lady Yu’s condition, Fucha Fuheng pulled Wei Yingluo aside and asked in a low voice, “What exactly happened? Tell me clearly.”

“I was sent here by Her Majesty the Empress to visit Noble Lady Yu. I discovered this eunuch trying to strangle her.” Wei Yingluo pointed at the culprit, who had just regained consciousness on the floor. “I couldn’t overpower him, so I could only run outside the hall to call for help. Then I ran into Noble Consort Hui. The moment she saw me, she immediately ordered my death! With no other choice, I hid inside the main hall and used smoke to draw everyone here to save myself!”

Fucha Fuheng’s gaze fell on the man. His voice turned cold and sharp: “Speak. Who are you? Who sent you?”

Compared to Wei Yingluo, this eunuch’s presence was far more suspicious.

He was covered in blood, and upon questioning, it turned out he wasn’t even from Yonghe Palace at all.

Now surrounded by everyone, he slowly lifted his head. On his blood-smeared face appeared a strange, eerie smile as he said:

“It was Her Majesty the Empress who sent me.”

“When has I ever ordered you to commit murder?”

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw that the Empress had somehow already appeared at the doorway. She had clearly overheard the eunuch’s words just now. Her usually serene and uncompetitive face now displayed a rare flash of anger.

The eunuch cast a nearly imperceptible glance toward Noble Consort Hui. Noble Consort Hui narrowed her eyes slightly. He immediately lowered his head again and kowtowed frantically to the Empress, knocking his forehead against the ground like pounding garlic:

“Empress Dowager—Your Majesty the Empress—this slave didn’t want to speak out, but now the matter has been exposed and I truly have no choice but to say it! You lost your legitimate son and harbored resentment toward Noble Lady Yu for carrying the dragon fetus. Using the pretext of arranging personnel through the Imperial Household Department, you planted this slave in Yonghe Palace and instructed me to seize the opportunity to eliminate Noble Lady Yu! Today is the seventh seventh-day memorial for Concubine Yi—palace rules forbid any formal mourning—so Noble Lady Yu had to dismiss everyone else. Only then did this slave find the chance—”

“Nonsense!” The Empress trembled with rage. Already unwell, her vision darkened even further. If Erqing hadn’t been supporting her, she might have collapsed to the floor.

“Empress, please take care of your health!” Fucha Fuheng hurriedly tried to calm her. When he turned to look at the eunuch, his eyes were as cold and sharp as blade-light. In a few strides he reached the man, seized him by the collar, and lifted him up.

“Who told you to frame the Empress? Do you realize this is a crime punishable by extermination of the nine familial exterminations!”

“This slave wouldn’t dare! If Her Majesty hadn’t ordered it, how could this slave have dared to come and kill someone? Now that Her Majesty denies it and turns her back, this slave has nothing more to say! I only beg for death—so that I may repay Her Majesty’s grace with perfect loyalty!” As he finished speaking, the corners of the eunuch’s mouth actually curved upward. He smiled slightly toward Fucha Fuheng. As he smiled, a line of dark reddish-black blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

Fucha Fuheng was greatly shocked and shouted at once: “Imperial physician!”

The imperial physician, who had been diagnosing Noble Lady Yu inside, hurried out. He placed his fingers on the eunuch’s neck, then pried open his eyelids and lips to examine them. Shaking his head, he said to Fucha Fuheng:

“Poison hidden between the teeth—extremely virulent. He cannot be saved.”

Dead men tell no tales—these four words flashed violently through Fucha Fuheng’s mind.

“He’s lying.” Just as Fucha Fuheng was burning with anxiety, a cool, clear voice sounded beside his ear. He looked over and saw Wei Yingluo standing tall. Though her hairpins were disheveled, her proud bearing remained unyielding—like an ancient pine clinging to a sheer cliff. She spoke coldly to the assembled crowd:

“If the Empress truly intended to kill Noble Lady Yu, why would she have instructed me to come and visit her? Imperial physician, please tell everyone: how many wounds does this eunuch have on his body?”

Though the physician didn’t fully understand her intent, at a glance from Fucha Fuheng he answered honestly:

“This eunuch has three wounds in total: one blood mark on the neck left by a hairpin tip, and a swollen lump on the back of the head from being struck by a heavy object.”

“I did those.” Wei Yingluo admitted quickly. At the same time she rolled up one sleeve, revealing mottled blue and purple bruises. “I have quite a few similar injuries on my own body—all from struggling with him. So I ask you: if the Empress really wanted to take Noble Lady Yu’s life, why would she send me here to stop him? Isn’t that completely contradictory?”

Seeing the crowd fall into thoughtful silence, Noble Consort Hui narrowed her eyes and lightly tossed out:

“Perhaps… the Empress sent you here to silence him by killing him?”

“Look at how wretched I appear.” Wei Yingluo walked a few steps in front of everyone, deliberately displaying her injuries, her disheveled hair, and her most miserable state for all to see. Then she smiled and asked:

“If I had come here to kill and silence him, why would I arrive empty-handed? Not even a dagger—let alone any kind of club!”

Indeed—how could that be?

The difference in strength between a man and a woman was already vast. Without even a convenient weapon, forget about killing to silence someone—she might very well have been the one silenced instead.

“But you, on the other hand…” Wei Yingluo suddenly fixed her gaze on the group of palace servants standing behind the other woman and asked softly, “Why exactly did you come to Yonghe Palace today? If you claim it was to visit, then why arrive empty-handed, bringing only a crowd of fierce and menacing eunuchs…?”

The way everyone looked at Noble Consort Hui instantly changed.

“Insolent!” Noble Consort Hui snapped in fury. “How dare you suspect me!”

The palace servants behind her all turned their eyes toward her. At a single command from her, they would rush forward and seize Wei Yingluo.

“I however, feels that not a single word she said was wrong!”

But in this place there was yet another person of far higher status. With just one sentence from her, no one would dare lay a hand on Wei Yingluo.

After resting for a moment, the Empress had recovered somewhat. Supported by Erqing, she walked slowly up to Noble Consort Hui. Their eyes met. In a calm voice she said:

“Yingluo has already given her explanation. And you, Noble Consort Hui—what explanation do you have for your actions?”

Wei Yingluo’s words had effectively cleared the path for her.

Dead men tell no tales—this applied not only to the Empress, but to Noble Consort Hui as well.

   When judging only by words, only by motive, the two were equally matched—neither could escape suspicion. And in fact, Noble Consort Hui’s suspicion was even heavier.

   If this matter were brought before the Emperor, whom do you think he would help? Whom would he believe?

   With so many eyes watching and so many ears listening, Noble Consort Hui had no choice but to take a deep breath and swallow her pride: “…I was wrong. How could one believe the words of a murderer? It must be that he deliberately slandered Your Ladyship in order to conceal the true mastermind behind it.”

“Indeed, how could one believe the words of a murderer.” The Empress spoke in a tone that was half admonishment and half warning, “You are a Noble Consort. Every word and every action of yours serves as an example to others. You should be even more cautious in your speech and conduct. Very well, return to Chuxiu Palace and reflect carefully on your mistakes!”

The Empress’s mind was as clear as snow — she had already pieced together almost the entire sequence of events and their causes.

On the way back to Changchun Palace, she raised her hand to summon Wei Yingluo to her side. With Yingluo supporting her arm, she walked slowly and said, “Noble Consort Hui has suffered this hidden loss today. She will surely hate you to the bone. Are you afraid?”

“I am afraid,” Wei Yingluo replied softly with lowered eyes, “but for Your Ladyship the Empress, and for Noble Lady Yu, I had to say those words.”

The Empress smiled with satisfaction, her gaze toward Yingluo filled with affection and pity. “If not for those few sentences of yours today, this basin of dirty water would have been impossible for me to wash clean. Good child, rest assured — this Palace will never allow Noble Consort Hui to touch a single hair on your head.”

The meaning behind her words was clear: she intended to cultivate Wei Yingluo as a trusted confidante.

A confidante, naturally, could not be treated like ordinary little palace maids or eunuchs who could be casually handed over to others. She had to be protected and cherished like wings growing from her own body.

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.” After expressing her gratitude, Wei Yingluo tentatively asked, “But… are we just going to let this matter drop like this?”

“The most important witness is already dead. With only empty words and no proof, even if we brought the matter before the Emperor, what could His Majesty do?” Thoroughly versed in palace ways and now intending to nurture her, the Empress patiently explained to Wei Yingluo, “Most importantly, Noble Lady Yu also did something she should not have done…”

“You mean…” Wei Yingluo furrowed her brows.

“I know she and Concubine Yi were as close as sisters, and Concubine Yi died because of her. That is why, on the day of Concubine Yi’s seventh-week memorial, she dismissed everyone around her and secretly set up a private spirit tablet to pay respects to her departed friend.” The Empress narrowed her eyes. “But you must understand — in the Forbidden City, only masters are entitled to receive sacrificial rites. What Noble Lady Yu did may be called a minor violation of palace regulations at best, or at worst, an open curse against the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Therefore, even to protect Noble Lady Yu and the child in her womb, this matter cannot be made public — especially not brought before His Majesty!”

“This servant understands…” Though Wei Yingluo said this, a trace of “the fox mourns the death of the hare” sorrow rose in her heart.

Poor Concubine Yi.

Just like her own sister, she suffered an unjust injustice, and even after death she had no proper spirit tablet. In the whole world, only one person remembered her and secretly offered sacrifices to her.

As her mood grew heavy, the pain from her injuries flared up again. Not wanting to grimace in front of the Empress, Wei Yingluo supported her all the way back to Changchun Palace. Only after the Empress had taken her medicine and fallen asleep did she quietly withdraw, limping toward her own room.

There was no one on the path. Wei Yingluo rolled up one sleeve and looked at the bruises on her snow-white arm, frowning inwardly: Perhaps I should go to the Imperial Physician and ask for a bottle of medicine.

“Here, take this.”

A man’s voice suddenly came from in front of her.

Wei Yingluo’s steps halted. Slowly, she raised her head.

Before her was a small bottle of snow-white medicine.

Her gaze followed the bottle, sliding along the hand that held it — distinct knuckles, long and strong — until it finally reached his face. Somewhat surprised, Wei Yingluo asked, “Young Master…”

Fucha Fuheng turned his face away, presenting only one flushed red ear toward her. He stood three steps away from Wei Yingluo — a distance from which he could flee at any moment.

“Take it,” he said.

Wei Yingluo hesitated for a moment, then reached out and accepted the medicine bottle from his hand.

Fucha Fuheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Turning his body slightly, he said, “This medicine is very effective for external injuries. Apply it once in the morning and once at night.”

Compared to the pain on her body, Wei Yingluo cared more about his current attitude. She cautiously studied him. “Young Master, why are you avoiding me?”

“……” The question seemed to leave Fucha Fuheng somewhat embarrassed. After a long pause, he gave a cough and said, “A man should not look directly at a woman’s body. You… you should pull your sleeve down.”

Only then did Wei Yingluo remember that earlier, in order to inspect her own injury, she had rolled one sleeve all the way up to her shoulder, leaving her entire arm exposed in front of him—snow-white like a freshly cut lotus root growing in clear green water.

She slowly lowered her sleeve and said softly, “All right, you can turn around now.”

Only then did Fucha Fuheng turn back. He was truly rather thin-skinned; he had only seen a woman’s arm, yet his face had flushed red. He looked both awkward and pure, yet completely unaware of it himself. Maintaining his usual stern and untouchable demeanor, he asked her:

“Why did you set fire to the bed curtains today? Do you realize that if things had gone slightly wrong, you could have burned Noble Lady Yu to death—and yourself along with her?”

“I know it was extremely dangerous. But in that situation, it was the only way to draw everyone’s attention.” Wei Yingluo said in a low voice, “Think about it—if I had shouted for help and said that Noble Consort Hui was trying to kill someone, who would have dared enter Yonghe Palace? They would all have been afraid of getting involved in such a matter and would have simply pretended not to hear. But when a fire breaks out in the palace, it’s completely different. Everyone comes running to put it out. That way, Noble Lady Yu and I might have a chance to be saved.”

Remembering how she had looked so desperate and helpless when she cried out to him for help, Fucha Fuheng’s heart softened, and his tone became gentler as well:

“What if no one had arrived in time and Noble Consort Hui broke in first?”

Wei Yingluo suddenly raised her head and looked straight at him. “But you came, didn’t you?”

Fucha Fuheng was stunned by her words.

Clearly her clothes were properly in place, she hadn’t exposed anything improper, she wasn’t smiling at him, and she hadn’t done anything out of line—yet he still wanted to avoid her gaze.

Afraid she would notice that his face had flushed again.

“Young Master…” Wei Yingluo took one step closer. “Are you unwell? Your face looks a little red…”

She reached out a hand as if to feel his forehead.

Fucha Fuheng hurriedly took a step back.

“Sorry.” Seeming to realize her current behavior was inappropriate, Wei Yingluo withdrew her hand and gave him an apologetic smile.

Unable to tell whether he felt disappointment or relief in his heart, Fucha Fuheng said in a low voice:

“Be more careful next time. Don’t… don’t smile at men like that anymore. Hasn’t your mother ever taught you what proper conduct is for a lady of good family?”

Wei Yingluo stopped smiling and said indifferently, “I am not a lady of good family, and I have no mother.”

Fucha Fuheng was taken aback. While he was still searching for words to smooth things over, he heard Wei Yingluo speak again.

“I only have one older sister. Her name is Wei Yingning.” After a brief pause, Wei Yingluo smiled. “But here in the palace, she has another name—A-Man.”

Fucha Fuheng’s expression changed abruptly.

“What’s wrong?” Wei Yingluo stared at him, refusing to miss even the slightest change. “Young Master, do you know my sister?”

“I don’t.” Fucha Fuheng paused. “The medicine has been delivered. There are matters awaiting me at the Imperial Guard station. I’ll take my leave.”

It would be more accurate to say he fled in panic rather than left on an excuse.

He left so hurriedly that he failed to notice that, even after he was gone, Wei Yingluo remained standing in the same spot without moving, her fingers gripping the medicine bottle so tightly they turned white, staring after him with an expressionless face.

“This is top-quality wound medicine—ordinary people can’t obtain it. Only high-ranking military officers have access to it.”

That night, when Momo Zhang came to check on her and brought along a bottle of medicine, although it too had been obtained from the imperial physicians, compared to the bottle of military-grade wound ointment sitting on the table, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Wei Yingluo lay face-down on the bed, her clothes completely removed, her smooth back exposed. The most serious of her injuries was not on her arm, but on her back—in a place she couldn’t reach herself.

Tilting her head to glance at the jade-like, lustrous medicine bottle on the table, Wei Yingluo said coolly:

“It was sent by Fucha Fuheng. For now, I don’t want to use it.”

Hearing the coldness in her voice, Momo Zhang shook her head. While applying medicine to her wounds, she gently advised:

“Are you still suspecting him?”

“I saw Fucha Fuheng today,” Wei Yingluo said with a smile. “He claimed he doesn’t know my sister.”

“But the look on his face told an entirely different story… Ouch!”

Momo Zhang quickly lightened her touch. “How is it now? Still hurt? Listen, child—everything needs evidence. Without proof, how can you accuse him of being the murderer?”

“Evidence?” A flash of ruthlessness passed through Wei Yingluo’s eyes. “Momo, you knew my sister too. You know what kind of person she was. If she had picked up something as valuable as a jade pendant, she would have returned it to its owner without question. Yet she kept it. There are only two possibilities: either the owner was her lover, or her enemy. My sister already had someone she loved. Even if he had heartlessly abandoned her, she would never have changed her feelings so easily. That leaves only one explanation—Fuheng humiliated her!”

“It’s still just your speculation!” Momo Zhang knew she was already somewhat obsessed, so she tried to reason with her carefully. “Perhaps your sister really did find the jade pendant by chance and didn’t know who the owner was, so she couldn’t return it. Or maybe… Fuheng did know your sister, but had nothing to do with her death…”

Wei Yingluo’s expression shifted between dark and light. After a long pause, she slowly exhaled. “Momo, you said my sister lost her chastity and stubbornly refused to reveal who the man was. In the palace, the only men are the Emperor and the Imperial Guards. If it had been the Emperor, it would have been an honor—a sign of imperial favor. There would have been nothing to hide. That leaves only the palace guards. My sister appeared gentle on the outside, but she was fiercely resolute inside. If she had been insulted for no reason, she would have demanded justice. The only reason she didn’t speak wasn’t that she didn’t want to—it was that she didn’t dare! She was afraid of implicating our family, afraid of dragging our father and me down with her. Who could inspire such terror in her? Only someone with immense power and status—Fucha Fuheng!”

She suddenly turned and stared at Momo Zhang, her gaze sharp as a drawn dagger, fierce as a lit fuse. Through gritted teeth she said, “He is the pampered young master of the noble Fucha clan, the Empress’s own younger brother, the Emperor’s most trusted confidant, a future Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard. How could such a scandal be allowed to stain his name? That is exactly why my sister was murdered to silence her!”

“Enough…” Momo Zhang’s head throbbed painfully.

“Momo, can you swear it’s absolutely impossible?” Wei Yingluo challenged.

Momo Zhang was momentarily speechless.

If Wei Yingluo had simply been stubbornly unreasonable, she could have scolded her harshly. The problem was that there really was a possibility—and with the jade pendant as concrete evidence, the possibility was quite strong.

“…Fine. Even if it was Fucha Fuheng, what do you intend to do?” Momo Zhang asked helplessly. “What can you possibly do?”

“What can I do?” Wei Yingluo scoffed with icy disdain. “Naturally, a life for a life. A debt must be repaid!”

Momo Zhang had always known her temperament was fierce, but she hadn’t expected it to reach this extreme. Startled, she quickly grabbed the girl’s hand. “You mustn’t act rashly! If not for yourself, then think of your sister. Did she raise you with such hardship just so you could throw your life away?”

Wei Yingluo froze—not out of fear of death, but because of the tears glistening in the older woman’s eyes.

She couldn’t help remembering the words Momo Zhang had sighed earlier: “No one… would cry for someone who means nothing to them.”

“…You’re right,” Wei Yingluo said, lowering her head, moved and a little ashamed. “I can’t die yet.”

As long as there was still someone in this world who cared about her, she could not die. She was afraid that if she died, that person might become a second version of herself—trapped in pain and hatred, willing to sacrifice everything for revenge.

“Good child, good child…” Momo Zhang tenderly stroked her hair. “Come, turn over. Let Momo continue applying the medicine.”

Wei Yingluo obediently murmured in agreement.

The rough, calloused fingers, together with the fiery, stinging medicine, landed once more on Wei Yingluo’s shoulder.

She gritted her teeth and endured. Though her body was covered in wounds, though there might have been better options available… she refused to use even a single drop of the medicine sent by Fucha Fuheng.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 35: Visiting the Sick

   “Drink this bowl of ginger soup.”

“Thank you for the gift, Master.”

Wei Yingluo accepted the bowl of ginger soup personally handed to her by the Empress. She took a small sip; the heat made her ice-cold body shiver.

“Thanks to you, the flowers in the garden were mostly saved.” The Empress looked at her curiously. “But how did you happen to be there?”

“Last night there was a lunar halo, and this morning black clouds gathered in the east. I suspected wind and rain were coming today and feared the courtyard flowers would suffer. So after finishing the morning sweeping of the inner and outer courtyards, I hurried over.” Wei Yingluo replied respectfully.

At her words, the Empress cast a sidelong glance at Ming Yu.

Sweeping both the inner and outer courtyards was not work one person could finish alone—it would normally take seven or eight palace maids working together. And if what she said was true, that she had swept the entire inner and outer courtyards in the morning, she must have gotten up before dawn. —Ming Yu, this didn’t quite match what you told me earlier.

   “Since you knew it would rain today, why didn’t you tell the others in advance?” After all, they had all been in Changchun Palace together for so long. Erqing, wanting to speak up for Ming Yu, asked Wei Yingluo, “If you had given everyone advance notice and prepared properly, the garden wouldn’t have lost so many flowers.”

Even with all her effort, one person’s strength has its limits. Though Wei Yingluo had done her utmost, she still couldn’t protect every single jasmine. The rain battered the petals, leaving the garden carpeted with fallen red.

“I did say so…” Wei Yingluo replied. Then, seemingly unintentionally, she glanced toward Ming Yu.

Though she hadn’t named anyone specifically, everyone in the palace had an extra pair of eyes compared to outsiders.

The Empress immediately understood whom her words were directed at. She glanced again at Erqing, who now kept her head lowered in silence, then gently shook her head. In a soft voice she said to Wei Yingluo:

“Enough for today—you don’t need to do any more work. Finish this bowl of ginger soup, go back and take a hot bath, then rest early. Don’t catch a cold.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Wei Yingluo finished the ginger soup and withdrew respectfully. From beginning to end, she never spoke a single bad word about Erqing.

But the disappointment in the Empress’s eyes could not be hidden.

“Master, I…” Erqing racked her brains, trying to find a reasonable excuse for her actions.

The Empress raised a hand, stopping her defense—or rather, stopping her from continuing to treat her like a fool.

“I have eyes. I can see for myself.” The Empress spoke half in warning, half in gentle admonishment. “Remember one thing: too many words inevitably lead to mistakes!”

Erqing appeared to lower her head in shame. But the moment the Empress turned away, she lifted a pair of eyes filled with bitter resentment.

The next day, Wei Yingluo did not catch a cold—but the Empress came down with a headache and fever.

From behind the hanging gauze curtain, a hand reached out. Imperial Physician Zhang placed his fingers on the pulse. After a long moment, he gave his diagnosis:

“Your Majesty’s headache and body aches are due to pent-up heat in the lung meridian combined with an external invasion of wind-cold. It is nothing serious. I will prescribe a dose of Qingjie Ningsou Yin, using fresh ginger and pear as guiding ingredients. With proper rest and care for half a month, Your Majesty’s health will be fully restored.”

The Empress reclined inside the bed curtains, her voice carrying a slight nasal tone: “Physician Zhang is a master of the medical arts. Of course We trust him—otherwise We would never have entrusted Noble Lady Yu to your care. Speaking of Noble Lady Yu, how has her health been lately?”

“This…” Physician Zhang hesitated for a moment before replying, “Your Majesty, Noble Lady Yu frequently suffers from dizziness. This humble physician has done his utmost to regulate her condition, yet the results have been minimal. At its root, Noble Lady Yu carries too many worries; her emotions are disordered. If this continues for long… I fear… I fear…”

“That it will affect the dragon fetus in her womb, is that it?” the Empress finished the words he dared not speak.

Physician Zhang let out a breath of relief and answered, “Yes.”

After having Physician Zhang escorted out, the Empress struggled to rise from the bed. “Erqing, help Us change clothes. cough cough We wish to go and visit Noble Lady Yu. cough cough cough…”

“Your Highness must not!” Erqing hurriedly patted her back to ease her breathing. “You have only just caught a chill. You should rest and recover properly—how can you go out into the wind at a time like this?”

A flicker of hesitation passed through the Empress’s eyes. She cared little for her own minor illness, but she feared passing it on to Noble Lady Yu and endangering the child in her belly. Her gaze shifted and landed on Ming Yu, who stood stiffly in the corner. Suddenly the Empress said, “Ming Yu, you shall go in Our place.”

“Me?” Ming Yu was stunned.

The Empress nodded. “Take the box of tribute ginseng that was just delivered from the storeroom. Deliver it to Yonghe Palace and tell Noble Lady Yu to focus on peacefully nurturing her pregnancy. We will visit her very soon.”

“…Yes.” Ming Yu’s reply was extremely reluctant.

As she left the storeroom with the ginseng box in hand, Ming Yu was filled with grievance. In the past, such trivial errands would have been handed off to any random low-ranking palace maid…

Suddenly she halted. Raising her voice toward the front, she called, “You there—come here!”

Wei Yingluo had been sweeping the main hall. Hearing the summons, she set down her broom and walked over.

Ming Yu raised her hand and tossed the ginseng box. It traced an arc through the air and was caught—barely—by Wei Yingluo.

“Go to Yonghe Palace. Tell Noble Lady Yu that the Empress has been thinking of her constantly and that she should rest easy and take good care of her pregnancy. Remember every word.” Having delivered the order, Ming Yu immediately turned and left, giving the other no chance to refuse.

Wei Yingluo had no intention of refusing anyway.

It had been a long time since she last saw her. She wondered how that pitiful Noble Lady Yu was faring.

Carrying the ginseng box, she left Changchun Palace, passed through corridors and wooded paths, and arrived at Yonghe Palace. The red doors were tightly shut. She raised her hand and knocked. “By order of the Empress, I have come to visit Noble Lady Yu. Please open the door.”

She waited a long while, but no one answered.

“Noble Lady Yu? Noble Lady Yu?” Wei Yingluo knocked again. “Is anyone there?”

Still no response.

A strange feeling rose in Wei Yingluo’s heart. This was not the outside world—inside the palace, even if the mistress had gone out to pay a visit, at least one or two eunuchs or maids would remain on duty.

She paced in front of the door a little longer, undecided whether to wait or leave, when suddenly—bang! —a loud crash came from inside.

A wave of foreboding surged through her. Wei Yingluo gritted her teeth and growled under her breath, “Noble Lady Yu—forgive the offense!”

She took a step back, then lowered her body and slammed into the door with all her strength. With a thunderous boom the doors flew open to both sides. She stumbled forward several steps, then stood frozen, staring in shock at the scene before her.

Inside Yonghe Palace, the room had been arranged like a funeral hall.

Incense candles, offerings, white cloth—everything was present. On the floor sat a bronze brazier; faint flames still flickered within, slowly consuming paper money and gold ingots.

A spirit tablet had rolled onto the ground—whether knocked over by someone or fallen from the table on its own, it was the sound of its fall that had prompted Wei Yingluo to rush in.

And then she saw—

Noble Lady Yu lay sprawled on the floor, her neck arched high, a length of white cloth wound tightly around it.

A eunuch was straddling her from behind, both hands wrapped tightly around the ends of a white cloth, pulling with such force that the veins on the backs of his hands bulged grotesquely.

“What are you doing!” Wei Yingluo shouted sharply.

Only then did the eunuch realize there was another person in the hall. A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes. He abandoned Noble Lady Yu, lunged straight at Wei Yingluo, and clamped both hands around her throat in a vise-like grip—he clearly intended to kill her to silence her!

“Ahhh!!!”

A blood-curdling scream erupted—from the eunuch’s own mouth.

He staggered backward, his right hand clamped desperately over the side of his neck—where a hairpin now protruded.

Wei Yingluo had never been one to take a beating lying down. The moment he charged at her, she yanked the hairpin from her hair without a second thought and stabbed it straight toward him. If he hadn’t dodged in time, that single thrust would surely have gone straight into his eye.

The eunuch pulled the hairpin out and gripped it in his hand.

Wei Yingluo slowly retreated—she no longer had a second hairpin on her head.

Suddenly she spun around and ran, shouting as she went:

“Help! Someone, come quickly! There’s an assassin!”

She dashed all the way into the inner courtyard. Ahead came the chaotic sound of many footsteps. A flicker of joy had just appeared on Wei Yingluo’s face when it froze solid.

A group of palace maids and eunuchs was approaching in a menacing crowd, escorting a palace consort as gorgeously vivid as a peony in full bloom.

“Noble Consort Hui,” Wei Yingluo’s heart pounded wildly. “Why is she here?”

Something was wrong—very, very wrong.

Although Yonghe Palace was quiet and neglected, Noble Lady Yu was still a titled consort, and a pregnant one at that. There should have been at least some servants attending her.

Where had those people gone? Who had drawn them away, delayed them—or perhaps silenced them permanently?

And now this uninvited group right in front of her…

As they drew closer, Noble Consort Hui’s party also spotted Wei Yingluo. Seeing Noble Consort Hui frown, Zhilan immediately raised her hand and pointed straight at her:

“Seize her!”

Run!

Wei Yingluo whirled around and bolted back into the main hall. She slammed the doors shut, threw the bolt, then hurriedly dragged tables and chairs over to barricade the entrance.

“Someone! Break the door down!”

“Yes!”

A relentless barrage of pounding and crashing against the door rose and fell like waves growing ever more urgent against the shore.

Inside, the situation was equally dire. Seeing Wei Yingluo return, the eunuch gave a vicious grin and pounced at her again. The two grappled fiercely. Fortunately, his neck wound was still bleeding profusely. Wei Yingluo seized on that weakness, relentlessly digging her fingers into the gash.

Finally the eunuch could hold out no longer. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor.

“Huff… huff…” Wei Yingluo was in no better shape. Her clothes and hair were in utter disarray; several holes had been stabbed into her garments by the hairpin, and with every step she took, fresh blood soaked the fabric a deeper red. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she staggered over to Noble Lady Yu, lifted her up, and called urgently,

“Noble Lady, wake up—wake up!”

Noble Lady Yu remained unconscious.

“What do I do?” Wei Yingluo murmured. Her eyes swept the room once, finally settling on the brazier where paper money was still smoldering. After a brief hesitation, she clenched her teeth and muttered,

“No choice… I’ll have to borrow some outside help.”

Half a cup of tea later, the entire Forbidden City erupted into chaos.

“Quick—over here, over here!”

“This little bit of water isn’t enough—get a bigger bucket.”

“Coming, coming!”

Fucha Fuheng, who had been on his way to visit his sick older sister, stopped in his tracks. He grabbed a small eunuch hurrying past and asked, “What’s going on?”

The little eunuch was carrying a wooden bucket brimming with water. Panting heavily, he glanced behind him and said, “Over there… Yonghe Palace has caught fire.”

Fucha Fuheng was stunned. He turned back and looked toward Yonghe Palace. A thick column of rolling smoke shot straight up into the clouds.

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 34: Young Master

   The first task Wei Yingluo was given upon arriving at Changchun Palace was sweeping.

It seemed someone greatly feared she might surpass them and win the Empress’s favor. Thus, the chores assigned to her were always the hardest and most tiring—and kept her farthest from the Empress.

“Anyway, the Empress only finds her novel for the moment. Give it ten days or half a month, and she’ll probably forget this person even exists.”

Overhearing these words from Ming Yu by chance, Wei Yingluo merely furrowed her brows slightly and said nothing.

If Ming Yu told her to sweep, then she swept—not only her own assigned area, but sometimes other people’s as well. Today was no different. Amid the mocking laughter of others, she swept alone near the main gate of Changchun Palace.

The advantage of frequently sweeping in such a place was that she could encounter a certain person—and be noticed by that person—without arousing anyone’s suspicion.

“Lord Fucha, you’ve arrived.” Ming Yu hurried forward with a smile. “This servant will go report to Her Highness at once!”

Fucha Fuheng stepped through the gate. Today he still wore his martial attire, yet the single tear-shaped mole beneath the corner of his eye lent him an air of refined, aristocratic elegance—like a young nobleman who carried poetry in one hand and wine in the other, whose horse’s hooves crushed the flowers of Luoyang; or perhaps a wandering swordsman dancing beneath the moon on the shores of West Lake.

As the Emperor’s favored minister and the Empress’s own younger brother, he enjoyed the privilege of entering and leaving Changchun Palace freely. Noticing the unfamiliar face now standing at the gate, he glanced over a few times.

His gaze dropped and settled on the old jade pendant hanging at her waist.

“…Lord Fucha?” Ming Yu’s eyes darted back and forth between him and Wei Yingluo. “What’s the matter? Her Highness is waiting for you inside.”

Fucha Fuheng came back to himself and gave her a small smile. “I’ll be right there.”

He took the lead and walked through the gate. Ming Yu shot Wei Yingluo a vicious glare before hurrying to catch up.

Watching the two of them depart, Wei Yingluo continued sweeping the fallen petals with calm, unhurried strokes of her broom. When the time came, the flowers that were meant to fall would fall; the person who was meant to come would come.

She did not have to wait long.

Before the small mound piled high with fallen flowers, a pair of men’s boots suddenly appeared.

The corner of Wei Yingluo’s lips curved upward. She slowly raised her head. A gust of wind swept past in an instant, sending a wisp of light, fluttering hair across her cheek along with an extremely pale white blossom. Smiling at the man standing before her, she said, “Fucha Guard, what brings you here?”

Fucha Fuheng stood in front of her, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the jade pendant at her waist.

Wei Yingluo unfastened the jade pendant, held it in her hand, and extended it slightly closer to him.

“What’s the matter with this jade pendant?”

Fucha Fuheng reflexively reached out to take it, but Wei Yingluo swiftly withdrew her hand.

“This jade pendant is the one I lost,” Fucha Fuheng replied helplessly.

“Oh?” Wei Yingluo looked at him with suspicion. “When and where did you lose it?”

“The time… I can’t quite remember clearly. It was probably… in the Imperial Garden.” Fucha Fuheng answered vaguely. “Please return it to me.”

“If you can’t even say when or where, how can I just hand it over so casually?” Wei Yingluo shook her head with a smile.

Fucha Fuheng pressed his lips together, looking deeply troubled.

A man as strikingly handsome as he was, once he showed such an expression, nine out of ten women in the world would find it impossible to refuse any request he made.

Unfortunately, Wei Yingluo was the iron-hearted tenth.

Seeing that the woman before him remained unmoved, Fucha Fuheng could only sigh and say, “The jade pendant has my name engraved on it. Besides that, there’s a small crack in the lower right corner—I accidentally dropped it and broke it. You can check for yourself.”

Wei Yingluo lowered her head to look at the jade pendant in her hand.

In truth, there was no need to inspect it. She already knew everything he said was correct.

Countless nights, countless days, countless nightmares—she had stared down at the name on the jade pendant, her fingers tracing and retracing the crack over and over.

How she wished this jade pendant could speak and answer her one question:

“Was this left behind by the real murderer?!”

   Wei Yingluo raised her head again. Inside, hatred and suspicion warred fiercely, yet her face betrayed none of it. Instead, her smile grew even sweeter and more captivating, like a flower exuding the fragrance of honey.

“Hold out your hand.”

Fucha Fuheng was momentarily stunned, then extended his right hand.

Wei Yingluo placed the jade pendant in his palm. Deliberately—or perhaps not—her soft fingertips brushed lightly against the center of his palm like a dragonfly skimming water, then gave a gentle, cat-like scratch.

Fucha Fuheng’s right hand trembled. The jade pendant nearly slipped from his grasp. In his haste to catch it, he quickly closed his fingers—accidentally enclosing Wei Yingluo’s small hand within them as well.

The man’s large hand completely enveloped the woman’s small one. The calluses left from years of gripping a sword pressed against the calluses formed from years of embroidery.

“Sorry!” Fucha Fuheng hastily released her hand and took several quick steps backward. The tips of his ears visibly flushed a faint red.

Wei Yingluo was also startled at first. She stepped back a few paces, shook her head, and said, “It’s all right, Young Master.”

That form of address made Fucha Fuheng raise an eyebrow.

“Young Master?”

“Her Majesty the Empress is my mistress. You are her brother, which naturally makes you my Young Master!” Wei Yingluo pronounced the words clearly—especially the two syllables of “Young Master.”

When spoken by a beauty as delicate and lovely as she was, any words from her lips sounded three parts more charming—let alone the soft, melodious way she said “Young Master.”

Fucha Fuheng met her smile, then quickly averted his gaze, leaving only one side of his now-crimson ear facing her. In a low voice he said, “Don’t smile at a man like that. It’s very improper.”

Wei Yingluo was taken aback.

She had originally thought he would be susceptible to such tactics.

Yet she hadn’t expected that this man’s temperament ran contrary to his appearance. He looked like a seasoned flower among blossoms, a dissolute young noble—yet upon closer interaction, she discovered he seemed remarkably inexperienced in these matters.

With a cold laugh in her heart, Wei Yingluo said to herself: “Who knows if it’s all an act—just like the me standing in front of him.”

“There are matters at the Imperial Guard that require my attention. I’ll take my leave. Thank you for helping me recover the jade pendant.” Fucha Fuheng turned and departed. It would be more accurate to say he fled in panic than that he had urgent business.

Wei Yingluo gazed at his retreating figure, her expression shifting unpredictably, until a cold female voice rang out from behind her: “Yingluo, you have some nerve!”

Turning around, she saw Ming Yu standing not far away, her face full of anger. “In broad daylight, you dare to seduce Fucha Guard!”

Wei Yingluo had no idea how long the other woman had been standing there or how much she had seen. She gave a probing smile. “Not only in broad daylight, but right in front of everyone’s eyes. With you watching, I didn’t even dare say more than a single extra sentence to Fucha Guard—where would I get the courage to seduce him?”

“You still dare talk back!” Ming Yu raised her hand. “I heard with my own ears—you called him ‘Young Master.’ What is your status, and what is his? How dare you use such indecent words to tease him?”

So that was all she had seen and heard…

Wei Yingluo’s heart immediately settled. Since the other woman held no real leverage over her, she had no intention of meekly accepting a slap for nothing. She swiftly caught Ming Yu’s wrist and smiled. “Sister Ming Yu, if I truly did something wrong, you may report it to Her Majesty the Empress. But if it’s for no reason at all, forgive me—I cannot accept such a lesson!”

Ming Yu clearly did not want to make a big scene out of it.

Or rather, she was even less willing to let Wei Yingluo get anywhere near the Empress.

“Fine, very fine. A mere little palace maid dares to talk back at every turn. Do you really think Changchun Palace is your own home and that you’re the master here?” Ming Yu flung her hand away and sneered as she ordered, “It seems you don’t have enough work to keep you busy, so you have time to let your mind wander and forget your place—go! Clean the entire main hall from top to bottom! I will come to inspect it later. If there is even the tiniest speck of dirt, I’ll have your hide!”

If earlier she had still been somewhat discreet, from this day onward Ming Yu began openly targeting Wei Yingluo without any pretense.

The most bitter tasks were assigned to her; the most exhausting labor was given to her. And after she finished, Ming Yu would nitpick—finding even a single drop of dust in a window crack meant Wei Yingluo had to wipe down the entire Changchun Palace all over again.

Even the other senior palace maid, Erqing, could no longer stand to watch. She found an opportunity to speak to Ming Yu: “You shouldn’t go too far. If she can’t endure it and complains to Her Majesty the Empress, it won’t look good for you either.”

“Do you think I’ll give her that chance?” Ming Yu laughed.

If before she had merely kept Wei Yingluo away, preventing her from meeting or speaking with the Empress, things were different now. Whenever she found an opportunity, Ming Yu would go before the Empress and badmouth Wei Yingluo.

“Master, the water for washing your face is ready.”

In the room, a bright mirror lay flat as a still lake. In its reflection, the Empress frowned slightly. “Ming Yu, why is it you bringing the water? Where is Yingluo?”

Ming Yu set the copper basin filled with hot water on the table. The water rippled faintly as she sighed. “Who knows where she’s run off to slack? If I hadn’t come ahead of time to check, Master wouldn’t even have had water to wash with!”

The Empress’s brows furrowed even tighter. “Is she really that lazy?”

“Exactly. She doesn’t know how to do anything properly—only her mouth is sharp.” Ming Yu dipped the handkerchief into the basin to wet it, her lips never stopping. “Last time I only said a couple of words to her, and she dared to give me attitude! Master, how can someone like that be allowed to remain in Changchun Palace!”

Words can be fearsome.

Once or twice, the Empress could treat them as mere passing remarks. But after many repetitions, preconceptions inevitably took root in her heart.

“Erqing, what do you think?” Partial listening leads to darkness. The Empress was not so credulous as to believe everything she was told, so she looked into the mirror and asked, “Is Yingluo really so deplorable?”

The fingers combing her hair paused for a moment.

In the part of the room the mirror could not reach, Ming Yu kept shooting urgent glances toward Erqing.

Erqing glanced at her. She didn’t want to offend her, but she also didn’t want to kick someone when they were down. After weighing her words carefully, she said, “Perhaps she just isn’t quite used to life in Changchun Palace yet. There’s still some friction when getting along with the older maids.”

“If that’s really the case, then tomorrow morning; have her return to the embroidery workshop.” The Empress spoke with a tone of disappointment mixed with frustration, like iron that refused to become steel. “Wait—did I just hear thunder outside?”

A startling clap of thunder ripped across the sky, flashing the entire world white for an instant.

The Empress sprang up from her chair, not even bothering to fix her hair, and rushed straight toward the door. “My flowers! My jasmine!”

“Master! Master, slow down!” Erqing and Ming Yu hurriedly chased after her.

The rain came suddenly and grew heavier by the moment. As the Empress and her attendants hurried along the path, fallen leaves littered the ground in countless numbers, forming a long green river under their feet.

“Quick, bring the oiled cloth! Cover the flowers!” The Empress was frantic with worry. But when she rushed into the flower garden, she suddenly froze.

Under the pouring rain, Yingluo—wearing a straw rain cape—was struggling to pull the oiled cloth over the plants. She had already managed to cover most of the jasmine flowers.

“…Your Majesty.” Hearing voices, she turned her face. Rain had washed her fair, delicate cheeks clean and pale; she looked like a jasmine blooming softly in the garden. Smiling, she said, “Why have you come?”

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