Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 158: The Promise of That Year

   Wei Yingluo actually brought Yuan Chunwang to Chengqian Palace, where the Step Empress resided.

Chengqian Palace was solemn and dignified. Unlike other palaces that were always filled with pleasant incense, here the fragrance came mostly from fruits. The Step Empress had people place many seasonal fruits in basins—serving both as a form of natural fragrance and to satisfy the appetite. This practical yet non-extravagant measure had earned great praise from Hongli.

Perhaps because of the fresh fruit scent, the Step Empress appeared to be in an excellent mood; her complexion looked particularly good: “Consort Ling, why do you look so much more haggard after just one day?”

In comparison, Wei Yingluo’s face was wan and pallid, like a flower battered by wind and rain, slowly withering and drying up. She gave a pale smile: “Your Ladyship, let’s not speak in riddles in front of a clear-sighted person. Everything has been your planning all along, hasn’t it?”

“Consort Ling has truly lost her senses, saying such strange things?” The Empress smiled sweetly. “Was I who instigated you to take contraceptives?”

Wei Yingluo: “No.”

“Was I who I ordered you to fight with Noble Consort Chun?”

Wei Yingluo: “No.”

“Was I who I commanded you to kill Xitara woman?”

“No.” Wei Yingluo looked at her. Beneath the disgust in her eyes lay a trace of admiration. “Everything was done of my own volition. From beginning to end, Your Ladyship never said an extra word, never stained your hands with a single drop of blood. Effortlessly, you eliminated your mortal enemy Noble Consort Chun, and then — delivered the fatal blow to me!”

The Empress gently stirred the edge of her teacup with the lid, her movements elegant and impeccable — just like her character. Every gesture, every smile or frown, was flawless, giving others no fault to find.

“Consort Ling, you are not ill — you are suffering from hysteria.” She continued stirring the cup rim unhurriedly. “Listen to what you’re saying; I’m growing more and more confused.”

Wei Yingluo suddenly raised her hand and pointed. “Him!”

The Empress followed her finger and smiled. “Isn’t he the most trusted chief steward by your side?”

“No.” Wei Yingluo sneered coldly. “From today onward, he will be the most loyal dog at your side!”

Yuan Chunwang exclaimed in shock, “Consort Ling, what are you saying?”

Wei Yingluo looked at him — the person she once knew best, now the most unfamiliar.

“I should have realized it earlier,” she said slowly. “Merely the death of Erqing was not enough to shake my position. How could the Emperor be made to utterly despise me? Only by exposing that I had been secretly taking contraceptive decoctions. But that was my greatest secret. How did you; Empress come to know of it? Unless… there was an informant right beside me.”

“Yingluo, you’re not suspecting me, are you?” Yuan Chunwang looked somewhat hurt.

“The only people who knew I was taking the contraceptive soup were Ye Tianshi and you. I didn’t even tell Ming Yu — I was afraid her impulsive nature might cause her to let it slip by accident.” Wei Yingluo paused; the fist hidden in her sleeve trembled faintly. “…I entrusted everything to you without reservation. Why would you do this to me?”

Yuan Chunwang looked at her. The corners of his lips slowly curved upward into a smile as gorgeous and menacing as a snake’s.

“Are you very angry? The day I heard you were entering the palace to become a consort, I felt exactly the same anger.” There was not a trace of guilt on his face; he smiled cheerfully. “Remember the vow we made back then? Share blessings together, share hardships together. You promised to stay with me at Yuanmingyuan as my companion, yet you betrayed me. Naturally, I had to betray you once in return — so as not to break our original oath.”

You don’t know… I had already prepared to return to Yuanmingyuan together with you… Wei Yingluo sighed silently in her heart, then asked aloud: “…When exactly did you become the Empress’s person?”

Seeing that she did not erupt into hysterics on the spot, Yuan Chunwang seemed somewhat disappointed and unsatisfied.

His right hand still bore old scars — tooth marks and bruises from impacts. During the days and nights after she entered the palace as a consort, he had often been unable to sleep from hatred. Sometimes he pounded the wall; sometimes he sank his teeth viciously into his own hand, turning the unbearable pain in his heart into physical agony.

The wounds never healed. Neither did his rage.

“From the very first day I decided to return to the Forbidden City, I secretly paid my respects to the Empress.” Yuan Chunwang deliberately tried to provoke Wei Yingluo — hoping to make her feel the same heart-rending pain he had felt, so that she would rush at him, the two of them tearing into each other until their blood splashed and mingled.

“I treated you like my own elder brother, and you turned around and stabbed me in the back!” Wei Yingluo finally exploded in fury. “Very good. Very much in character for you.”

Yuan Chunwang looked at her expectantly: “Likewise!”

Wei Yingluo gave him an extremely disappointed glance, then turned her gaze to the Empress. “Your Ladyship Empress — what exactly did you offer him in return?”

Yuan Chunwang blamed every fault on her, but she refused to believe he had acted with absolutely no personal ambition. Both of them understood clearly: he was an ambitious man, his blood coursing with the instinct to climb ever higher — like a snake forever gazing up at the fruit hanging at the top of the tree.

The new Empress watched this delightful spectacle of sibling rivalry with great relish. Now that Wei Yingluo no longer posed any threat, she generously granted her a quick end and announced with mock benevolence: “Consort Ling, I am quite taken with this steward of yours. From today onward, he shall take over Wu Shulai’s duties!”

Wei Yingluo was momentarily stunned, then let out a mocking laugh. “Wu Shulai has served in the palace for thirty years before climbing to his present position. Yuan Chunwang’s qualifications are far from sufficient!”

“Yuan Chunwang has handled his duties in the Guangchu Division and at the Yuanmingyuan with exceptional skill. Or Consort Ling, have you forgotten?” Only now did the Empress finally reveal her true desire for control in front of others. Beneath her dignified and virtuous facade lay another side. “With my support, he is the most suitable candidate!”

Cultivating loyal followers, eliminating rivals, and silently taking control of the entire inner palace—even of Hongli himself—without leaving a trace: that was the real her.

Having finally seen her true face, Wei Yingluo could not help but burst into loud laughter. “How pitiful—I exhausted every effort, only to clear the path for Your Majesty the Empress. How pitiful Wu Shulai was, flattering and pledging loyalty, only for Her Majesty to use the opportunity to remove him and install her own confidant! A single move that attacks and defends at once, every link perfectly connected—impressive, truly impressive!”

The Empress gave a soft smile. “Consort Ling, you should return and rest.”

There was no need for her to say it—Wei Yingluo would leave on her own. What was the point of staying? To kneel and beg for mercy? Or to let the Empress enjoy the sight of her utter defeat?

“No matter what plans Your Ladyship has, at least I have avenged myself. I sought benevolence and obtained it; I have no regrets.” Under the Empress’s surprised gaze, Wei Yingluo gave her a formal curtsy. “From this day forward, I wish Your Majesty the Empress every success, good fortune, health, and longevity.”

After the bow, she straightened her back once more, turned, and walked away.

A trace of regret—and a trace of admiration—flashed in the Empress’s eyes. Smiling toward her departing figure, she called out, “Wei Yingluo, you are the most graceful loser I have ever seen in my life!”

“And you are the most patient hunter I have ever encountered.” Wei Yingluo did not look back. She laughed loudly as she stepped through the door—a free, unrestrained laugh that brought to mind the famous line of poetry:

I laugh aloud to the heavens as I stride out the gate—

   How could men of my kind ever be mere tumbleweeds?

“What’s wrong?” The Empress turned her head with a smile. “Having second thoughts?”

Yuan Chunwang withdrew his complicated, unreadable gaze. He turned around, dropped to his knees before the Empress, and kowtowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground. “This servant swears to serve Your Majesty the Empress unto death—”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 157: Heart Dead to Ashes

   “Your Majesty.” Li Yu came to report, “The Empress has arrived and says she has an important matter to discuss.”

“Let her enter.” Hongli spoke while looking deeply worried.

Yingluo had been far too impulsive. Even if she wanted to deal with Erqing, she should not have used such extreme means. The real problem now was how to return that corpse—with blood still seeping from the mouth and nose—to the Fucha residence. Sending it back like this would surely cause an enormous uproar.

The most urgent task was therefore to disguise the body—at least on the surface—so it appeared to be suicide rather than poisoning.

For that, at least one imperial physician would be needed…

“Your Majesty.” The Empress entered, and as expected, a imperial physician followed beside her. She hesitated, then said, “I was ordered to handle the matter concerning Lady Zhongyong, but unexpectedly learned a secret… This matter concerns Consort Ling of Yanxi Palace. After much consideration, I decided I must report it to Your Majesty and let you decide how to handle it yourself.”

Hongli sighed. “Is there some difficulty?”

In the end, he had still chosen to shield Wei Yingluo. This emperor who ruled the world found himself helplessly at a disadvantage when it came to matters of the heart between man and woman.

The Empress glanced at the imperial physician beside her. “Imperial Physician Liu, tell His Majesty in detail what you have verified.”

“Yes.” Imperial Physician Liu said respectfully, “This humble servant was ordered to handle Lady Zhengyong’s body, which required a considerable amount of medicinal herbs. Unexpectedly, many of the herbs had disappeared without a trace. Upon investigation, most of them had been taken by Imperial Physician Ye.”

Hongli felt baffled, even faintly displeased. The finger wearing the emerald ring gently tapped the tabletop as he said coolly, “Consort Ling’s health is poor. Imperial Physician Ye has always been ordered to take her peace pulse. Empress, did you come here late at night just to tell me this?”

“Imperial Physician Liu,” the Empress said, “you still haven’t told His Majesty exactly what kinds of medicines Imperial Physician Ye took.”

“Ginseng, goji berries, and also… also…” Imperial Physician Liu lowered his head even further, finally gritting his teeth and saying, “Consort Ling has been taking contraceptive decoction all along.”

BOOM——

A flash of lightning streaked across the window, illuminating Hongli’s face deathly pale.

Yanxi Palace.

   After removing the last hairpin and gently placing it into the dressing case, Wei Yingluo, wearing only a thin white inner garment, quietly looked at herself in the bronze mirror.

In the mirror was the emperor’s most favored consort — endlessly doted upon, almost always the one summoned to serve in the imperial bedchamber. Yet she had never conceived, so the body beneath her clothes remained as slender and delicate as a young girl’s, without the slightest sign of swelling.

But Wei Yingluo knew there was a price for this.

“This humble servant respectfully greets Your Majesty’s peace.”

“Get out!”

The door behind her was suddenly kicked open. Hongli stormed in, face full of fury: “Everyone get out!”

No one knew why he was so furious, and Wei Yingluo didn’t know either — until he slammed the door shut behind him, rushed over, and seized her wrist in a tight grip: “Wei Yingluo, the ‘health-nourishing soup’ you drink every month — what medicine is it really?”

Wei Yingluo was startled.

“It’s contraceptive, isn’t it?” Hongli panted. He had clearly run all the way here; his shoulders were soaked, as though drenched by rain.

Wei Yingluo stared at his shoulders and couldn’t speak for a long time.

Hongli wasn’t a fool. He had only been willing to live with his eyes covered because he loved her. Now the Empress had brutally torn off that blindfold, forcing him to see her clearly. With bitter pain he said, “You approached me to avenge the Empress, didn’t you?”

Wei Yingluo was silent for a very long time before finally giving a single nod.

As expected. Hongli’s heart ached sharply. “Every time you served me in bed, every time you spoke to me, every time you tried to please me — it was all to raise your own status, to gain the capital to contend with Noble Consort Chun, wasn’t it?”

Wei Yingluo closed her eyes. “…Yes.”

She was like an assassin. That single “yes” was the sharpest blade in the world, stabbing a wound straight into his heart. Hongli took two deep breaths, as though he had lost too much blood; even his lips began to turn pale. “…Why admit it now? Is it because Noble Consort Chun is dead, and in your eyes I no longer have any value to be used, so you’ve stopped hiding it and stopped trying to please me?”

“I…” Wei Yingluo hesitated, “…I…”

I just feel that I have wronged Her Majesty the Empress.

   Erqing had become her nightmare. Whenever she closed her eyes, she would see Erqing clutching her leg, her face covered in blood streaming from her nose and mouth, grinning at her viciously: “Wei Yingluo, I betrayed the Empress—and so did you! Don’t forget, you personally promised her that you would never be with His Majesty, never steal her husband!”

   She had looked so conflicted that Hongli misunderstood her meaning.

“…I really am a fool.” He gave a bitter laugh, the sound wretched and broken. “What was I even hoping for? You secretly drank the contraceptive decoction—why? Because in your heart, I’m nothing at all. I’m just a tool you used. You never wanted to bear a child for a tool.”

In that instant, his heart turned to ashes.

“…You don’t need to drink it anymore.” Hongli slowly released her hand and turned his back to her. “From now on… I won’t appear in front of you again.”

Outside, the rain was still falling. Without looking back, he strode straight into the downpour.

Behind him, Wei Yingluo slowly collapsed to the floor.

“Your Ladyship.” Ming Yu hurried over to support her. Seeing her look so lost and devastated, she tried to comfort her: “You did nothing wrong. The one who’s wrong is His Majesty. There are so many women in the world, yet he had to favor Erqing of all people—she’s the Empress’s own sister-in-law, Fuheng’s wife…”

“I’m fine.” Wei Yingluo cut her off, her voice exhausted to the extreme. “I already foresaw this ending for myself long ago. I even looked forward to it. I used him to take revenge. Once the revenge was complete, I let the contraceptive decoction matter come to light so I would fall from favor. Otherwise, how could I ever face the Empress?”

“But…” Ming Yu looked at her with worry. “Why are you crying?”

Wei Yingluo froze. She raised a hand to touch her cheek; her fingertips came away warm with tears.

“Why am I crying?” She stared at the tears on her fingers, finding it unbelievable herself.

Her great revenge had been accomplished. She had gotten exactly what she wanted. So why… did her heart feel so unbearably painful?

   Ming Yu gazed at her with pity. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears. The tears flowed like the rain outside the window—endless, unstoppable. With a sigh, she simply reached out and pulled Wei Yingluo into her arms, resting the other woman’s head on her shoulder. Softly she said, “If you want to cry, then cry. I’m here with you. Even if His Majesty never comes again, even if Yanxi Palace becomes a cold palace, at least I’ll always be by your side.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Wei Yingluo leaned against her shoulder, choking on her words. “You still have to get married.”

“I’m not getting married anymore.” Ming Yu said firmly.

“Then that forehead band you gave Hailancha the other day—was it all for nothing?”

“Let him have it for cheap!”

Hatred gives a person boundless strength; it can enable someone to do things they never thought possible. But once the great enmity is avenged, the person loses their purpose. Their heart becomes hollow—nothing remains except the ashes of the beloved and the ashes of the enemy.

Some people cannot endure a single night like this and choose to end their own lives.

Thanks to Ming Yu’s companionship, Wei Yingluo managed to get through it.

When dawn came, she summoned all the palace servants of Yanxi Palace. While news of her fall from favor had not yet spread, she used the last scraps of authority she still held to reassign most of them to other posts. Almost everyone obeyed the orders—except Ming Yu and Xiaoquanzi, who refused to leave no matter what.

Having no choice but to keep the two of them, Wei Yingluo turned to look at Yuan Chunwang: “Brother, accompany me to a place, will you?”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 156: Betrayal

   It turned out that the day before the Empress took her own life, Erqing had met with her once.

   At that time, Wei Yingluo was not present. The one serving tea and water was Amber. Amber had a bad habit of eavesdropping. While the Empress and Erqing were talking inside, her habit flared up again, and she hid outside the door to listen.

   “Wuwu… wuwuwu…”

   Hupo found it strange. The one who had lost a child was the Empress—why was it Erqing who was crying?

   The Empress, utterly exhausted in body and mind, still forced herself to gather her strength and comfort her: “Erqing, what’s wrong? Did something happen to you at home? Were you wronged?”

   “This servant just saw His Majesty,” Erqing said. “I couldn’t help but remember… couldn’t help but remember that night…”

   “That night?” The Empress was momentarily stunned.

   “It was the night you gave birth to the Seventh Prince. You ordered this servant to deliver a quilt to His Majesty. This servant went, but unexpectedly, His Majesty grabbed this servant’s hand and insisted that this servant… serve him in bed…” Erqing sobbed pitifully. “This servant didn’t dare resist, afraid that if anyone came in it would ruin the reputation of the Fucha family. Who could have known that later… this servant actually became pregnant!”

   Slap!

   The Empress struck her across the face with one sharp palm.

   “You wretch!” Already pale, the Empress now trembled with rage, on the verge of collapse. “You actually…”

   Erqing kowtowed frantically like pounding garlic, tears streaming endlessly, her voice broken and mournful: “This servant had long thought of ending her own life, but when mother learned of it, she believed it was the Fucha family’s bloodline and was overjoyed beyond measure! If this servant and her child were to meet with misfortune, the first one who could not bear it would be my mother. That’s why this servant has clung to life! Your Ladyship, as long as you give the word, this servant will die at once—to preserve the Fucha family’s honor!”

   The Empress trembled with fury. After a long while, she let out a mocking laugh: “What honor does the Fucha family have left? You’ve destroyed it all!”

   Erqing: “Your Ladyship, this servant deserves to die a thousand deaths. But the instigator of all this was His Majesty. This servant is merely a weak woman—how could she possibly resist imperial power?”

   Tears welled up in the Empress’s eyes as she murmured, “One after another… all the people closest to me… and it’s you of all people, joining hands to betray me! Get out—get out right now. For the rest of my life, I never want to see you again!”

   Erqing hurriedly rose to her feet: “Your Ladyship, you must take good care of yourself. The entire Fucha clan depends on you. This servant will return at once, confess my sins before my mother, and let her deal with me as she will!”

   The Empress practically spat the words through clenched teeth, her voice filled with hatred: “From this day forward, this matter rots in your stomach. You are not to breathe a single word of it to your mother, and you are never to enter the palace again!”

   Erqing tearfully bowed farewell. Once she stepped out of the bedchamber, she lightly smoothed her hair, straightened her posture, and put on a gentle, dignified, and serene smile. To anyone looking at her from the outside, no one would ever guess she was a woman who had climbed onto the Emperor’s bed and driven her own mistress to death. Smiling, she said:

   “Lead the way.”

   In the main hall of Changchun Palace, the silence was terrifying.

Erqing swallowed hard and said to Wei Yingluo, “You heard it too — I was forced. It was the Emperor who took the initiative…”

“That night the Emperor was drunk, and the one guarding the door was Li Yu,” Wei Yingluo said coldly. “Li Yu is a man who knows his place and his limits. You weren’t a palace maid of Changchun Palace — you were Lady Zhongyong. If you had shouted even once, Li Yu would have come in to help you and would have done everything possible to cover it up.”

But Erqing had never even thought of escaping. In fact, she had deliberately avoided Li Yu — slipping in secretly while he was in the privy. From the very beginning, that had been her plan!

“Her Ladyship had just lost her beloved son and was grieving beyond endurance. You should never, ever have delivered that final blow,” Wei Yingluo said, gripping the armrest tightly. “I don’t understand. You came from Changchun Palace, you were deeply favored by Her Ladyship, and you became the young madam of the Fucha household. Only if Her Ladyship prospers can the Fucha family prosper. What exactly were you after by doing this?”

“What was I after?” At this point, Erqing simply admitted everything. After all, she was now the honored young madam of the Fucha household — no matter how much Wei Yingluo hated her, what could she actually do? She laughed out loud. “Of course it was to take revenge on Fuheng!”

The man who once held her heart had now become a thorn in it, stabbing her until she bled. Very well — then she would make him bleed just as much!

“He never cared about me — only about other people. About you, about the Emperor, about the Empress!” Erqing said viciously. “Back then I couldn’t do anything to you, but that didn’t matter. I could make the Emperor my subject beneath my skirts and put an everlasting cuckold hat on Fuheng’s head. Ha! You should have seen his face when he found out — tsk tsk, it was absolutely priceless!”

“Just for that?” Wei Yingluo found it unbelievable. “Just for the sake of momentary satisfaction?”

“Yes.” Erqing let out a long, extremely satisfied sigh. “As long as I could see Fuheng cry, I felt satisfied.”

Wei Yingluo closed her eyes in pain. There are deaths as light as a feather and deaths heavier than Mount Tai. She would rather Erqing had been bought off by someone else than this…

“You made the Empress’s death look like a joke.” She opened her eyes; bloodshot threads webbed across them like spider silk. With a lift of her hand, Ming Yu brought forward a tray. From left to right lay: a dagger, white silk, and a bottle of crane-top red poison.

“Choose one,” Wei Yingluo said coldly. “Don’t force me to do it myself.”

The smile slowly faded from Erqing’s face. Her gaze shifted from the tray to Wei Yingluo’s face. Incredulous, she said, “Wei Yingluo, have you gone mad? I am a titled lady of the court — the wife of the first-rank Duke Zhongyong! How dare you carry out a private execution!”

Wei Yingluo: “Choose.”

Erqing finally began to panic. “Wei Yingluo, don’t be foolish! You have everything now — why would you destroy your own future like this? Are you insane?!”

“If you won’t choose, I’ll choose for you.” Wei Yingluo picked up the crane-top red — the most painful way to die.

She wanted to watch her guts burn and rot, to vent the hatred in her heart.

“No — no!” How could Erqing submit so easily? She shoved Wei Yingluo aside and bolted for the door. Several eunuchs immediately rushed forward and pinned her down.

Wei Yingluo steadied herself and bent to pick up the bottle of crane-top red that had fallen to the floor. But unexpectedly, Ming Yu darted forward in a flash, snatched the bottle first, then rushed to Erqing’s side. With one hand she pinched Erqing’s jaw open and with the other poured the entire contents of the poison down her throat.

“Don’t dirty your hands,” Ming Yu said coldly. “I’ll do it. I’ll send this wretched bitch down to the underworld myself!”

The poison took effect quickly. Erqing collapsed to the ground, clutching her stomach, blood seeping from her mouth and nose. She was in agony beyond bearing, yet death refused to come swiftly.

“Wei Yingluo!” In her dying moments, she roared like a beast on the verge of death. “I betrayed the Empress — but so did you! Don’t forget — you once swore to her with your own mouth that you would never be with the Emperor, that you would never steal her husband!”

Wei Yingluo froze.

At that very moment, Yuan Chunwang’s voice came from outside the door: “This humble servant respectfully greets Your Majesty!”

Hongli shoved Yuan Chunwang aside and strode swiftly into the main hall.

Just one hour earlier, Erqing had still been radiantly beautiful. Now she lay on the floor as a cold corpse, curled up, blood streaming from her facial orifices, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

Wei Yingluo stood beside her, her face completely impassive. She even curtsied toward him. “Your Majesty, you have arrived.”

“Wei Yingluo!” Hongli erupted in fury. “The Xitara clan lady is a court-appointed noblewoman, the wife of a first-rank Duke of Loyalty and Valor—how dare you—”

“She is the murderer who killed the Empress.” Wei Yingluo’s expression remained utterly calm. “On the day Her Late Majesty passed away, she went to see the Empress and told her… that she was carrying Your Majesty’s child…”

Hongli froze at the words. “Yingluo, things are not what you think.”

Wei Yingluo neither cried nor laughed. Her excessive calmness looked less like indifference and more like complete despair. She stared at the corpse on the ground and said softly, “Then Your Majesty, tell me—what is the truth?”

“It’s…” Hongli had just begun to explain when someone hurried in from outside—it was the new Empress. The moment she saw the body on the floor, she staggered and steadied herself on the arm of a palace maid. “Consort Ling, what have you done?”

Before Wei Yingluo could reply, Hongli already spoke in a deep voice: “Empress, the wife of the Duke Zhongyong came to pay respects to the late Empress, but due to overwhelming grief, she unfortunately followed her former mistress in death.”

Wei Yingluo turned her gaze toward him. A faint spark reignited in eyes that had already turned to dead ashes. Even now, at this moment, he was still shielding her?

Hongli met her eyes; his gaze was extremely complicated. He had always despised women who used ruthless methods—once he discovered the truth, no matter how deep their past affection had been, he would never keep them. Only with Wei Yingluo had he repeatedly let her stay, repeatedly forgiven her. The taste of it was bitter; it even made him feel humiliated.

“Your Majesty, since the Lady Duke of Zhongyong is still a court noblewoman, allow this matter to be handled by me,” the Empress said. Her voice became his lifeline.

“Then I leave it to you, Empress.” Hongli gave the order with visible weariness. He glanced once more at Wei Yingluo—a look that could not be distinguished as warning or disappointment—then turned and swept out of the room.

“Consort Ling.” The new Empress slowly walked over to stand beside Erqing and sighed. “After all, the Lady Duke of Zhongyong is the wife of a first-rank duke. You dared to grant her death without even asking the Emperor’s opinion.”

Wei Yingluo replied indifferently, “The Xitara lady was His Majesty’s lover. Would His Majesty really bear to kill her?”

Moreover, this woman had borne His Majesty a son.

The Empress smiled faintly. “When it comes to decisiveness and ruthlessness, I have to admire you. It’s just a pity… was it really worth it to sever His Majesty’s favor for the sake of a mere Xitara Erqing?”

Hongli had already left and did not look back for a long time. Wei Yingluo slowly withdrew her gaze and said to the Empress in a flat voice, “Doesn’t this perfectly fulfill Your Ladyship’s wish?”

A mere Cleansing Division servant like Hupo could never have barged into Yanxi Palace to meet Consort Ling without an imperial summons—not with all the guards along the way. The only way she could have succeeded was if the Empress, who controlled the inner palace, had deliberately allowed it.

The Empress had long known what Erqing had done.

She also knew that with Wei Yingluo’s temperament, once she learned the full truth, she would decisively act against Erqing—before the woman left the palace and disappeared forever, beyond any chance of revenge.

“Truly impressive tactics,” Wei Yingluo said after piecing it together. “With Noble Consort Chun gone, it’s my turn now, isn’t it?”

The Empress smiled without answering, like a silent wolf. Extremely patient, lying low in the grass—even covered in winter snow it would not move an inch—waiting until the perfect moment, then leaping up to tear out its prey’s throat.

   The moment that smile appeared was the moment she bared her fangs.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 155: Sudden Change

   Ming Yu stared at Xiaoquanzi until he finished reciting all the palace rules, then finally returned to the bedchamber.

Just as she reached the doorway, she heard intermittent arguing coming from inside.

Yuan Chunwang:

“You regret it?”

Wei Yingluo:

“Why should I regret anything?”

Yuan Chunwang:

“The Emperor treats you with true sincerity. He eagerly sends you the very best things just to make you happy. And what have you done?”

Wei Yingluo:

“…You wouldn’t understand.”

Yuan Chunwang sneered coldly: “In the past, I didn’t understand, but these days I’ve seen everything clearly. Wei Yingluo, you really are a cold-hearted person—no one can warm you up.”

The door was suddenly flung open. Yuan Chunwang stormed out from inside, his face livid with anger.

Under the fierce glare he shot her, Ming Yu felt as though a venomous snake had fixed its eyes on her; her blood seemed to freeze in an instant. Only after he strode past her did she finally let out a breath.

“…The more I look at this Yuan Chunwang, the less he seems like a good sort,” she thought, watching his departing figure. “He’s nowhere near as reliable as Xiaoquanzi. Yet Yingluo insists on trusting him.”

Shaking her head, Ming Yu stepped into the room and called out, “Yingluo, what happened?”

“…His Majesty just had someone deliver this.” Wei Yingluo lowered her head to look at the sable fur laid out on the table.

According to Li Yu, a new batch of pelts had just been bestowed upon the harem. Most palaces received black tiger or white leopard pelts; Shoukang and Chengqian received first-grade sable. Only hers was different.

It was a single piece of clouded fox fur.

When she lifted it up, amid the shimmering silver sheen were several naturally formed patterns—exquisitely beautiful and extremely rare.

There was only one such clouded fox pelt in existence. Even when the Empress wanted it, Hongli had not given it to her. One could see just how highly Wei Yingluo ranked in Hongli’s heart.

Wei Yingluo stroked the clouded fox fur with a complicated expression. Her heart felt faintly warm, like a stone slowly being warmed by someone’s hands. She touched the pelt again and said, “…Ming Yu, bring me my needlework box.”

“Your Ladyship, are you going to…?” Ming Yu’s eyes lit up. She quickly fetched the needlework box.

Wei Yingluo threaded the needle. Amid the pattering sound of raindrops striking plantain leaves, her silver needle gently pierced the clouded fox fur.

Half a month later—

   The Silkworm-Rearing Ceremony was about to begin. Wu Shulai was extremely busy, constantly directing the young eunuchs below: “Be careful! Send everything to the Silkworm Platform! Oh dear, watch out—that’s a golden hook! Hurry, hurry, don’t miss the auspicious time!”

Since everything was not yet ready, Hongli naturally would not go to the Silkworm Platform ahead of time to wait. He sat in the Yangxin Hall, suddenly set down the memorial in his hand, and looked at Hailancha opposite him: “What on earth is that thing on your head?”

Hailancha touched the forehead band tied around his brow and gave a foolish grin.

“A gift from your sweetheart?” Hongli only glanced once before lowering his eyes to continue reading the memorial. He spoke slowly and deliberately, “Women always like to fuss over these trivial things—embroidering a pouch today, a handkerchief tomorrow. It’s truly a waste of time.”

Hailancha felt a little unconvinced and muttered under his breath, “Yes, yes, this servant’s woman is just like that. She can’t compare to Her Ladyship Consort Ling. Her Ladyship Consort Ling would never waste time on such trivial matters.”

The hand flipping the memorial paused. Hongli said indifferently, “I don’t like receiving pouches and handkerchiefs either.”

“Your Majesty.” Li Yu suddenly came in from outside, holding a tray on which rested a pure white fur hat. “A hat was sent from Yanxi Palace. Ming Yu said it was personally made for you by Her Ladyship Consort Ling.”

Hongli: “Bring it here quickly!”

Hailancha: “…”

The hat was soon placed in his hands. The stitches were fine and dense, the embroidery exquisite—clearly the work of her own hand. What was most special was the long strip of sable fur attached to the back: pure white and flawless, with naturally formed spiral patterns hidden within it. It was unmistakably the very clouded fox fur he had sent her.

“Give a peach and receive a plum in return”—for some reason, this saying suddenly flashed through Hongli’s mind.

“Her Ladyship Consort Ling said that in winter, when you wear the hat, the sable fur can wrap around your neck for convenience and warmth,” Li Yu explained. “But the weather is warm now, so this servant will put it away for Your Majesty and bring it out again when winter comes.”

Noticing Hailancha secretly glancing at him, Hongli put on a stern face and said, “Who told her to make such useless things? When I go out, I’m surrounded by attendants front and back—could I possibly get cold? What a busybody!”

“Emperor, you are right,” Li Yu wanted to put the hat away for him, but unexpectedly, Hongli ignored him entirely. He reached up, took off the hat on his head, and put on the sable fur cap instead.

Li Yu: “…”

Placing the removed hat into Li Yu’s hands, Hongli asked, “Is there anything else?”

If there was nothing else, he was going to head to Yanxi Palace. He rather missed the “stone” living in Yanxi Palace. She used to be ice-cold all the time; now, finally, he had managed to warm her up a little.

Unfortunately, his wish was not granted, because Li Yu quickly said, “Yes, someone outside requests an audience.”

“Who?” Hongli was taken aback.

“Lady Zhongyong — Xitara Erqing!”

Though she was already a woman who had borne a child, Erqing still looked as delicate and youthful as an eighteen-year-old girl. It was clear she had lived a life of comfort and privilege in the Fucha family, never suffering the slightest hardship.

“Your Majesty.” She knelt on the ground, tears glistening in her eyes, on the verge of weeping. “Previously, Fuheng doted on a maidservant, causing chaos in the household! Because that maid kept sowing discord, he began to suspect An’er’s parentage. In a moment of anger, I had the maid married off. Then he started shouting that he would divorce me… sob sob…”

Hongli’s head ached from her crying. He pressed his temples and said, “Erqing, tell me truthfully — is An’er really…”

He desperately hoped she would say no, but how could Erqing grant him that wish?

   Erqing gave him a slight nod, then wiped her tears and said, “This servant has sinned. But what is past is past. This servant sincerely wishes to be a good daughter-in-law to the Fucha family. Your Majesty, I know the Son of Heaven does not interfere in his subjects’ family affairs, but this marriage was arranged by your own hand. Now even the old madam can no longer persuade Fuheng. Only you can convince him not to divorce this servant.”

Hongli raised an eyebrow. From her words, he actually caught a faint whiff of… threat.

If he did not help her, what would she do? Make the whole affair public? Let the entire world know that he, the Son of Heaven, had actually touched his subject’s wife?

In an instant, a surge of killing intent rose in Hongli’s heart, but he forcibly suppressed it and said indifferently, “You may withdraw for now. I will consider this matter.”

After Erqing kowtowed in thanks and left Yangxin Hall, she lightly smoothed her sideburns, straightened her posture, and put on a gentle, dignified, virtuous smile. From her outward appearance alone, no one could possibly guess she was a woman who had willingly cuckolded her own husband.

She smiled and said, “Lead the way.”

A palace maid guided her toward the palace exit. As they passed a patch of grass, a haggard-looking palace maid who was weeding suddenly raised her head.

“Erqing!”

Erqing was startled. “You are…?”

The palace maid threw down her work and rushed over. “It’s me! It’s Hupo! For the sake of the days when we both served the Empress together, please help me…”

Erqing, having once worked in the palace herself, took one look at the woman’s current attire and the task she was performing and immediately understood she had almost certainly been sentenced to the Cleansing Division (the laundry punishment bureau). She immediately assumed a haughty air and said,

“Do your work properly. Stop picking and choosing. What kind of behavior is this?”

Seeing that Erqing showed not the slightest trace of old friendship, a flash of bitter resentment passed through Hupo’s eyes. Just then, an older supervising maid came over with a whip to lash her. Hupo ducked, dodged the blow, and ran straight in the direction of Yanxi Palace.

Erqing paid her no further attention and continued walking toward the palace gates. Halfway there, someone suddenly caught up from behind — a strikingly handsome young eunuch with a voice as clear and cool as spring water.

“Erqing, the Emperor has something to say to you.”

Erqing did not suspect anything and followed him. They walked for quite a while, one in front of the other. Suddenly she stopped.

“This isn’t the way to Yangxin Hall.”

“This way, please.” The handsome eunuch gestured lightly and said indifferently, “The lady is waiting for you inside.”

“Lady? What lady? Who exactly are you?” Two more eunuchs emerged from behind the trees and seized Erqing from both sides. She screamed in terror, “Let go! Let go of me!”

The handsome eunuch took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her mouth. While Erqing struggled, whimpering and kicking her legs, she suddenly heard the handsome eunuch say calmly:

“We’ve arrived.”

She looked up and saw a towering palace ahead, with a plaque hanging in front. The inscription read—Changchun Palace.

Entering the main hall, a handsome eunuch gave her a sharp push from behind. Erqing stumbled forward, crashing into the table in front, causing the offerings and candlesticks on it to sway wildly. Wait—offerings? Candlesticks? She slowly raised her head and saw the Empress’s portrait hanging on the wall, staring down at her from above.

“Ah!” Erqing’s face turned deathly pale. She retreated again and again until she finally steadied herself. Looking around, her gaze finally locked onto a woman seated in a chair. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Wei Yingluo, what exactly do you want to do?”

Changchun Palace had been arranged by Wei Yingluo to resemble a funeral hall. She herself was dressed in plain white mourning clothes. Her gaze was icy cold as she stared at Erqing. “Hupo, do you dare confront her face to face?”

“This servant dares.” Hupo bowed and stood respectfully at her side. A whip mark still lingered on her face—clearly inflicted by one of the Cleansing Division mamas who had chased her all the way after she tried to flee to Yanxi Palace. She had wanted to escape that hellish place called the Cleansing Division, but Erqing refused to help her. Left with no choice, she sold out Erqing to win Consort Ling’s favor.

Having made up her mind, Amber no longer cared about their many years of camaraderie as fellow servants. She raised her head and stared straight at Erqing, enunciating each word clearly:

“Erqing, I saw it with my own eyes—you are the one who caused Her ladyship; Empress’s death.”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 154: The Silkworm-Rearing Ceremony

   “Your Ladyship.” Zhener came in to report, “His Majesty has already left.”

It was already noon, yet the Step Empress still had not risen. She remained reclining on the couch. Upon hearing Zhener’s report, she nodded slightly and continued reading the book in her hand.

Zhener hesitated for a moment before asking, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty did not pursue your discourtesy. Why are you still so stiff?”

The Step Empress slowly turned a page, replying indifferently, “Don’t worry. His Majesty will not blame me.”

Zhener: “Why not?”

The Step Empress gave a soft, cold laugh and turned her head to look at her. “Because he feels guilty.”

Zhener was startled. “Niangniang!”

“Do you think I’ve truly gone mad? The whole world may be mad, but I am perfectly clear-headed!” The Step Empress’s gaze was terrifyingly calm—completely unlike the rumors outside that she had changed temperament drastically after her father’s death and now refused even to acknowledge the Emperor. “If my own father died and I acted as though nothing had happened, that would truly be inhuman!”

Only then did Zhener grasp the deeper meaning. “You mean…”

The Step Empress gave a cold smile. “A person who has always followed every rule, the moment she steps out of line even once, is when the Emperor will truly take notice! Only by making His Majesty remember my grievance, my anger, will the entire six palaces remember it too!”

Everything went exactly as she had planned, exactly as she had predicted.

Before the afternoon was over, Hongli ordered someone to deliver an old fur cloak.

There was precedent for this.

When Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou were estranged, and Empress Zhou went on a hunger strike in protest, Chongzhen sent her an old fur mattress, and the couple reconciled as before.

Now he was imitating the ancients, sending an old garment—his meaning was obvious.

“The Emperor still remembers the grievances of the former Empress and still cherishes the old affection between the two of them.” — This message was not only conveyed to the new Empress, but to the entire harem.

Some people were delighted by this, some felt uneasy, and some… began to take action because of it.

Shoukang Palace.

   “This year there has been severe drought in eastern Zhejiang and locust plagues in Shandong,” the Empress Dowager said lightly while gently stirring the tea lid, “so let’s dispense with the Silkworm Ceremony this year.”

The ceremony in which the Empress personally offers sacrifices to the First Silkworm and encourages mulberry cultivation and sericulture is an ancient tradition. Moreover, the Imperial Household Department had already prepared everything and was only waiting for the Empress Dowager’s approval to proceed according to precedent. How could it suddenly be canceled?

“Empress Dowager,” the current Empress spoke carefully, “precisely because disasters are occurring in various regions and the people are restless, I wished to personally pick mulberry leaves and raise silkworms, to encourage sericulture among the common people and pray for favorable weather next year. In previous years, this has always been done…”

“Empress,” the Empress Dowager interrupted, “when Rongyin was still here, the Silkworm Ceremony was held every year without fail. But since you succeeded as Empress, such a grand event has never again been organized. I understand the grievance in your heart. However, this year there are natural disasters everywhere. The ceremony is extremely costly and requires mobilizing a great number of people — it is truly inappropriate. If you truly have the heart for it, there is no harm in holding it next year.”

How could such a matter be deferred?

The Empress gritted her teeth and said, “Empress Dowager, the Silkworm Altar and the mulberry-picking grounds have already been fully prepared. The consorts, princesses, and titled ladies are all aware of this matter. To suddenly cancel it would invite discussion and criticism both inside and outside the court. I venture to earnestly request that this year’s Silkworm Ceremony be held as usual.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s expression suddenly darkened. “You say you came to ask for my decision, yet you have already instructed the Imperial Household Department to make all preparations — and still you want me to decide something? Empress, aren’t you being far too presumptuous?”

“Far too presumptuous.”

   She used such heavy words, and said them in front of so many people — what else could the Empress do? She immediately knelt down.

“Empress Dowager, I was merely following precedent in making preparations and failed to consider things as thoroughly as Your Majesty. Since it displeases you, I will immediately order them to stop all preparations. I only beg Your Majesty to calm your anger.”

The Empress Dowager said coldly, “I am tired. You may withdraw.”

With that, without waiting for the Empress to reply, she rose first, supported by Aunt Liu’s hand, and left.

Back at Chengqian Palace, the Empress’s face was grim. She dismissed everyone except Zhener, then instructed her:

“I want you to go find someone…”

At this moment, who else could make the Empress Dowager change her mind?

Or rather — who would dare to speak up for the current Empress in front of the Empress Dowager?

“…Prince He?” Zhener asked tentatively.

The Empress nodded with a smile. “Yes, exactly him.”

In the eyes of others, Hongzhou was a dissolute, good-for-nothing playboy prince. But in her eyes, every person is useful — it only depends on the timing.

Right now, no one else was suitable to persuade the Empress Dowager, but a prince could.

Moreover, if he weren’t useful, the Empress would not have deliberately gone to the watchtower that night, nor specifically arranged for Zhener to fetch him. Though she nearly froze to death on that tower, the outcome had been quite satisfactory…

“…Didn’t he say he would do anything for me?” The Empress smiled charmingly, just as she had that night when she turned to look back at him on the watchtower. “Then let him know what happened today — and let him go convince the Empress Dowager on my behalf.”

The Empress was skilled at reading people — and even more skilled at using them.

A few days later, the Empress Dowager indeed changed her mind and approved the Silkworm Ceremony.

The Empress had just breathed a sigh of relief when Wu Shulai reported:

“Your Majesty, as per your instructions, all the tools to be used by the various ladies, consorts, princesses, and titled women for picking mulberry leaves on the day of the ceremony have been fully prepared. Please review them.”

The Empress nodded. A group of young eunuchs then carried the tools into Jiaotai Hall:

For the Empress — a golden hook and yellow basket;

For the Noble Consort — a silver hook and zhe-yellow basket;

For the other consorts and concubines — copper hooks and zhe-yellow baskets;

For the princesses and titled ladies — iron hooks and vermilion baskets.

As she passed by one basket after another, one hook after another, the Step Empress suddenly stopped in front of a citron-yellow basket. The smile on her face slowly faded: “This is……”

Wu Shulai lowered his head and replied, “These are the silver hook and citron-yellow basket prepared for Her Ladyship Consort-Ling to pick mulberry leaves.”

The Step Empress immediately changed color. Behind her, Zhener rebuked sharply: “Wu Shulai, the Empress uses a gold hook, the Noble Consort uses a silver hook, ordinary concubines use copper hooks. Consort-Ling is merely of consort rank—how dare she overstep and use a silver hook? Do you not want to live anymore?”

Wu Shulai hurriedly knelt and said, “I beg the Empress’s forgiveness. This was by the Empress Dowager’s explicit decree. The Imperial Household Department reported it to the Emperor, and the Emperor also gave his approval.”

Zhener was struck speechless and quickly turned to look at the Step Empress’s expression.

By this time the Step Empress had already concealed the gloom on her face and was smiling with her usual dignified and virtuous demeanor: “Since both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have issued clear instructions, everything should be carried out according to their wishes.”

After the inspection was finished and they returned to Chengqian Palace, Zhener asked uneasily, “Your Ladyship, according to Consort-Ling’s rank, she is not qualified to use a silver hook at all. What exactly is the intention behind the Empress Dowager and the Emperor allowing this?”

While trimming a potted plant, the Step Empress replied calmly and composedly, “Naturally, they intend to elevate Consort-Ling and help her advance further.”

“This……” Zhener said angrily, “The Emperor may favor that person in Yanxi Palace, fine—but how could even the Empress Dowager……”

The Step Empress scoffed with a sneer and said icily, “Ever since the incident with my father, the Empress Dowager has already been angry with me. Now that I am using Prince He to hold a grand, magnificent Silkworm Ceremony, the Empress Dowager is even more displeased. That is why she deliberately elevates Consort-Ling—to make things difficult for me on purpose.”

Things were getting harder and harder. Zhener gradually began to feel like giving up, so she advised, “Your Ladyship, the Empress Dowager’s position is extremely exalted, and the Emperor is deeply filial to his mother. Why must you insist on holding the personal sericulture ceremony?”

The Step Empress slowly shook her head: “After what happened to my father, everyone in the Ulanara clan is fearful and on edge. By holding a grand, glorious Silkworm Ceremony, I want to make it unmistakably clear to the court and the realm that the position of Great Qing’s Empress remains as unshakable as ever. Only in this way will no one dare look down on me.”

“This servant is only afraid……” Zhener said anxiously, “afraid that from now on the Empress Dowager will keep targeting you.”

“Then endure,” the Step Empress said lightly, still holding the golden shears. “Endure until the day we rise above it all……”

Snap—

With a crisp sound like a beheading, she snipped off a red flower.

In contrast to the heavy atmosphere in Chengqian Palace, the mood inside Yanxi Palace was exceptionally relaxed and cheerful. On the table, a music box played a light Western waltz; the cheerful melody melted into the air and into everyone’s ears.

The news that Consort-Ling would be using a silver hook had already reached Yanxi Palace. Everyone took it as a clear signal that Consort-Ling was about to be promoted, so every face was lit with joy.

Wei Yingluo herself, upon hearing the news, merely smiled faintly and didn’t take it too seriously. She continued to guide Ming Yu: “Hailancha already has one pouch you made. Sending him another would be meaningless.”

Ming Yu had already been embroidering the same pouch for three days; her fingers were pricked full of holes like a beehive. Just as she was at her wits’ end, she heard this remark and reflexively replied, “How did you know I was going to give it to Hailancha?”

Wei Yingluo didn’t answer, only stood with her hands behind her back, looking at her and smiling.

Ming Yu blushed bright red under her gaze and said softly, “Alright…… I know what you’re going to say. It’s written all over my face, isn’t it?”

Wei Yingluo burst out laughing, sat down beside her and said, “Hailancha lost his father when he was young and was raised single-handedly by his widowed mother. Men who grow up in such families are either strong mother–weak son, or weak mother–strong son. Judging from Hailancha’s resolute and tough temperament, his mother must be a gentle and virtuous woman. If you want to win his heart, you must first win hers.”

Ming Yu’s eyes lit up: “You mean……”

“Making a pair of shoes for his mother would be far better than giving him another scented sachet,” Wei Yingluo advised. “Don’t forget—he will eventually go to the battlefield. What he needs even more is a wise wife and good mother, not a frivolous little girl who only knows romance and flowers.”

Ming Yu nodded, then shook her head: “But I don’t know how to make shoes, and I don’t even know her foot size.”

Wei Yingluo tapped her forehead in exasperation: “I’m not telling you to make them right now! For this time, just make her a forehead band instead!”

Anyway, whether it’s shoes, a headband, or a pouch, Hailancha would happily accept them all, because they all represent a piece of Ming Yu’s sincere affection.

At that moment, Yuan Chunwang walked in, holding a bowl of brownish medicinal soup in his hands:

“It’s time to take your medicine.”

Every month at this time, Wei Yingluo had to drink a bowl of this medicine, and Ming Yu was already accustomed to it. She took the bowl from him, blew on it lightly to cool it a little, and was about to feed it to her — when suddenly a loud shout came from beside her:

“There’s poison in the medicine!”

Ming Yu was startled. Wei Yingluo also turned her head to look.

They saw Xiaoquanzi rushing in panting for breath. He dropped to his knees with a thud in front of Wei Yingluo, his peripheral vision darting toward Yuan Chunwang:

“Master, this servant saw it with my own eyes — Yuan Chunwang put a packet of medicine into the tonic that Master drinks every day.”

Ming Yu was shocked:

“Xiaoquanzi, you can’t just say things like that!”

Xiaoquanzi:

“This servant is willing to swear to the heavens — if even half a sentence is false, may I be struck by lightning!”

The room fell deathly silent. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Wei Yingluo.

Wei Yingluo smiled slightly, suddenly lifted the medicine bowl, and drank it all in one go.

After setting the bowl down, she spoke calmly as if nothing had happened:

“Ming Yu, Xiaoquanzi’s words and actions were improper. Deduct one month of his salary. Take him away and make sure he recites the palace rules once from beginning to end.”

Xiaoquanzi’s face crumpled:

“But… but Master…”

“Enough!” Ming Yu came over and twisted his ear.

“Get over here already!”

After the two of them left, Wei Yingluo turned to look at Yuan Chunwang:

“You deliberately let him see it?”

Xiaoquanzi had always been somewhat jealous of Yuan Chunwang.

He seemed to feel that if Yuan Chunwang hadn’t interfered, the position of chief steward of Yanxi Palace would have belonged to him, and Wei Yingluo’s right-hand and left-hand assistants should have been him and Ming Yu.

So whether there was something to complain about or not, Xiaoquanzi loved finding fault with Yuan Chunwang and frequently badmouthed him in front of Wei Yingluo. Given how cautious and careful Yuan Chunwang usually was, how could he possibly have let himself be caught with such a huge piece of evidence?

“Yes, I did it on purpose.” Sure enough, Yuan Chunwang smiled slightly.

“I wanted him to know just how much you trust me — so he stops provoking me again and again.”

Wei Yingluo shook her head helplessly.

“…Yingluo.” Yuan Chunwang hesitated for a moment before asking,

“Are you still going to keep drinking this medicinal soup?”

“Yes.” Wei Yingluo answered without the slightest hesitation, her voice calm.

“Why wouldn’t I? This is exactly the medicine I need.”

Knock knock knock. Li Yu’s voice came from outside the door:

“Your Ladyship.”

Wei Yingluo and Yuan Chunwang exchanged a glance. Yuan Chunwang quickly hid the medicine bowl away.

The door opened. Wei Yingluo asked in an unruffled tone:

“Chief Steward Li, is something the matter?”

STORY OF YANXI PALACE CHAPTERS HOME

  

   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 153: Heart-to-Heart

After returning from Chengqian Palace, Hongli felt a deep sense of bewilderment.

He didn’t want to go back to the Yangxin Hall. The table there was covered with memorials singing praises—on the surface lauding Naerbu’s death as well deserved, but in reality praising him for the killing itself.

And when he looked at the names of those who had submitted the memorials—ha! —they were precisely the real culprits who had embezzled the disaster-relief funds.

A wave of nausea rose in Hongli’s heart—disgust toward them, and disgust toward himself. His feet wandered aimlessly until, without realizing it, he found himself at Yanxi Palace.

A strain of music drifted out from inside—not the zheng, not the qin, neither flute nor drum.

Hongli paused, then stepped inside and saw the music box on the table.

Inside the music box, a pair of doll-like lovers with golden hair and blue eyes, dressed in Western formal attire, held each other’s hands and twirled gracefully to the melody. Beside it, Wei Yingluo had taken Ming Yu’s hand; both wearing palace-style qipao, they too twirled to the music—until with an “Ouch!” Wei Yingluo exclaimed, “Wrong, wrong! Yin said it’s not supposed to turn like that. Let’s start over.”

Ming Yu’s fingers were nimble—she could make all kinds of delicate snacks—but her feet were far less cooperative. After a few more stumbling steps, she gave up. “This servant isn’t dancing anymore. I can’t do it!”

Wei Yingluo: “Come on, just try again!”

Hongli watched for a while. The two of them kept stepping on each other’s skirts and toes, hopping around like shamans in a ritual dance. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Hearing his voice, both women hurried over to curtsy.

“What are you doing?” Hongli waived the formal greeting, reached over, and wound the music box to play a different tune.

Wei Yingluo smiled brightly. “This Western gadget was just gathering dust in the Imperial Household Department. I specially asked Yin—the Frenchman—for advice. He even demonstrated a segment of the dance for me.”

Hongli was both annoyed and amused. “I had the French missionary stay in the Forbidden City specifically to revise the calendar and improve firearms—not to entertain you with dancing lessons.”

Wei Yingluo didn’t answer his words. She simply smiled, stepped forward, placed her hands on his waist, and led him into the dance.

A waltz—much like the relationship between man and woman: you advance when I retreat, you retreat when I advance.

It was precisely the kind of dance well suited to couples. Even if one partner had no idea what they were doing, under the other’s guidance they quickly picked it up.

“How is it?” Wei Yingluo smiled. “Isn’t it fun?”

By now Hongli was already dancing quite decently. He had just begun to smile when his face suddenly darkened again. “Did you dance like this with that foreigner too?”

“Like what?” Wei Yingluo asked on purpose.

Hongli scoffed with a sneer and pinched her waist.

That spot was especially ticklish. Wei Yingluo burst out laughing from the pinch and hurriedly grabbed his fingers. “No, no! Yin only demonstrated it to a little eunuch for me to watch.”

Only then did Hongli’s expression clear, shifting from cloudy back to sunny.

“Your master really has her ways,” Li Yu observed quietly, noting the change. He leaned toward Ming Yu and whispered, “His Majesty has been in a foul mood these past two days. Only here, in your palace, has he finally shown a smile.”

Ming Yu watched the two people spinning nonstop in front of her, covering her mouth and laughing continuously.

Li Yu was puzzled by her laughter: “What are you laughing at?”

“Wait a moment.” Over there, Hongli also sensed something was off. He frowned in confusion. “It feels like… something’s not quite right, doesn’t it?”

Wei Yingluo blinked innocently: “What’s not right?”

“…” Hongli’s hand slowly slid down, catching the hand that Wei Yingluo had placed on his waist. He raised an eyebrow with a hint of danger. “I’ve heard that when Westerners dance, the man places his hand on the woman’s waist—so why are you—Wei Yingluo, you’re deliberately teasing me again!”

Wei Yingluo obligingly took his hand in return and placed it on her own waist.

Hongli: “…Do you think doing that will stop me from getting angry?”

“Your Majesty, don’t be angry anymore.” Wei Yingluo slowly leaned her head against his shoulder. “I just wanted to make you happy.”

They leaned close together, performing the most intimate steps of the waltz. Accompanied by the roundelay tune from the music box, they spun and spun and spun…

A bright full moon rose into the sky.

Tired from dancing, the two sat side by side at the window, gazing at the bright moon outside.

“Your Majesty.” Wei Yingluo looked up at him. “You’re unhappy again?”

Hongli was often unhappy; only rarely could he laugh freely. Now he had returned to his usual solemn expression and said lightly: “Yingluo, if there is someone who absolutely must be killed, what would you do?”

Wei Yingluo smiled: “Kill him.”

Hongli was stunned and lowered his head to look at her: “What if he has been wrongly accused?”

Wei Yingluo: “Release him.”

Hongli: “…And if he has been wronged, but for the sake of the greater good he still must be killed?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Wei Yingluo replied: “Both kill and release.”

At first Hongli thought she was speaking reasonably, but when she said that, he felt she was just brushing him off: “What kind of answer is that!”

“On the surface, carry out the execution without fail; in secret, swap him with a substitute.” Wei Yingluo said, “Your Majesty could find a death-row prisoner who resembles him closely and secretly exchange the two—wouldn’t that work?”

Hongli was stunned at first, then burst into loud laughter: “Do you think the Ministry of Justice’s prison is a vegetable market? When someone is beheaded, their identity must be verified!”

“Of course I know that before a beheading the identity must be confirmed. And I also know exactly who the ‘he’ in your words refers to,” Wei Yingluo said.

Hongli’s smile froze.

After a long silence, Wei Yingluo spoke first: “…Lord Naerbu. In the end, Your Majesty still wanted to kill him.”

Hongli grumbled in a muffled voice: “Nonsense! I’ve never thought any such thing!”

“But even if you granted the Empress a favor and changed the sentence from beheading to exile, would he be safe on the road to exile? There is no one in the world the Son of Heaven cannot eliminate if he truly wishes it. You simply—” Wei Yingluo paused, but still finished the sentence, “—did not want him to live!”

Hongli stared at her with a dark expression for a long time before giving a faint smile: “You’re right.”

He rose from beside Wei Yingluo and walked alone to the window. Placing both hands on the railing, he looked down at the scenery below—pavilions, towers, palace maids, and eunuchs—all shrinking in his gaze.

“…Naerbu did not embezzle disaster relief grain. But he committed two wrongs: first, he knew of the corruption and failed to report it; second, he was muddled and incompetent. In various places across eastern Zhejiang, similar situations existed to a greater or lesser degree, yet not a single riot broke out elsewhere, and no disaster victims starved to death.” Hongli gripped the railing tightly and spoke slowly. “Sometimes an incompetent and muddle-headed official does no less harm than a corrupt one. He may have been wrongly accused, and the Empress may plead for him—but who will speak for the disaster victims who died unjustly? I sentenced him to exile only out of consideration for the Empress’s feelings, giving him a relatively dignified way to die. I simply never expected that the Empress Dowager would act one step ahead…”

After a slight hesitation, he asked in a low voice, “Yingluo, do you think I am a very cruel emperor?”

“Yes.”

Hongli’s expression darkened.

A pair of hands slowly reached out from behind him and wrapped around his waist.

“But so what?” Wei Yingluo pressed her face against his back. “Your Majesty, you always want to be a perfect person, but where in this world is there such a thing as a perfect person? Execute corrupt officials, and the corrupt officials will hate you. Execute incompetent ministers, and the incompetent will resent you. Let them hate if they must hate; let them resent if they must resent. Once the move is made, there is no regret—never look back!”

Hongli slowly began to smile. “Well said. Once the move is made, no regret—never look back!”

Moonlight shone upon the mortal world. Beneath the railings, beneath the pavilions, Zhener rushed about like a headless fly. In her distraction, she suddenly collided with someone.

“Zhener?” Seeing her dazed and disoriented appearance, Hongzhou frowned. “Why aren’t you attending to the Empress? What are you doing running around here?”

“Chengqian Palace, the Imperial Garden, the Household Department…” Zhener’s eyes were unfocused as she rattled off a long string of places. Then she suddenly lifted her head, looked at him, and burst into tears. “None of them! I can’t find Her Majesty the Empress anywhere!”

Hongzhou’s heart jolted. Forgetting all propriety, he seized her arm. “What did you say? What’s happened to the Empress?”

“The Empress is missing.” Zhener had been searching all day; she was already frantic and at her wit’s end, sobbing uncontrollably. “This servant has looked everywhere—everywhere—and can’t find her. I didn’t dare tell anyone else…”

Hongzhou shot a fierce glare at the eunuch who had been leading the way. The eunuch understood at once and immediately lowered his eyes, pretending he had heard and seen nothing.

Turning back, Hongzhou said gravely to Zhener, “We’ll split up and search two separate paths. We must find Her Majesty the Empress before anyone else notices she’s gone.”

Though the Forbidden City was vast, once they excluded the places Zhener had already searched, the area became much more manageable. The two quickly divided the remaining locations between them and set off in different directions.

Not here. Not here. Not here either… Hongzhou hurried past the base of a corner tower, then suddenly stopped. He looked up. When he clearly saw the figure standing atop the tower, he cried out in shock, “Empress!”

Thump, thump, thump—his boots pounded rapidly up the wooden stairs.

In almost an instant, Hongzhou reached the top of the corner tower, breathing hard. He stared at the Empress standing barefoot on the railing ahead, his voice trembling. “Empress, what are you doing? Please come down first, all right?”

The Step Empress slowly turned her head. In the moonlight, her face looked deathly pale. “…Did you think I was going to jump from here?”

With that, she turned back around, spread her arms wide, and took one step after another toward the edge of the tower.

With every step she took, Hongzhou felt his heart rise into his throat. Without thinking, he followed her forward.

If the Step Empress were to lose her footing at this moment… the palace servants would likely discover two bodies the next day.

“I’ve been standing here all day,” the Step Empress suddenly stopped and gazed into the distance. “I just wanted to know what it felt like for Fucha Rongyin when she stood in this very spot.”

Then she laughed—a laugh that was unusually light and carefree.

“Fucha Rongyin and I entered the household one after the other. She was the gentle, dignified principal wife; I was the cautious, careful side wife. We had many things in common, yet we were also very different. What we shared was entrusting our true hearts to our husband. What differed…” The Step Empress lowered her head to look at the drop below. “…was that she jumped from this very place, while I became the lofty Empress.”

No wonder this spot had been so deserted all along the way—palace maids and eunuchs seemed to deliberately avoid it.

   This was the very place where the late Empress had fallen to her death.

   The ground below looked clean and spotless, yet it bore blood, tears, and the lingering souls of the departed.

   Hongzhou said gravely, “Empress, what is past is past. Why bring it up again? You are not Fucha Rongyin, and you will never become her.”

“Indeed, I am not Fucha Rongyin. Even standing here, I have never once wished to die.” The Step Empress sighed and turned to look at him. “Do you know why?”

Hongzhou gazed at her.

“Because I’m not willing to accept it,” the Step Empress said softly. “I once thought that by becoming the mistress of the six palaces, by becoming the Empress of Great Qing, I would never again be trampled upon, never again have to tread so carefully. But I was wrong. In the past, Consort Xian could not protect my mother and brothers. Now, as Empress, I still cannot protect my father… because the power I hold is too little, far too little…”

“No, it’s not like that…” Hongzhou wanted to comfort her, yet he didn’t know how.

He had personally investigated the matter of Naerbu. He knew the truth better than anyone.

Even the reason for his death—he could guess seven or eight parts of it…

Everything was just as the Step Empress had said. Even as Empress, she still could not protect her own father—because the one who wanted her father dead was her husband, the current Emperor.

“It’s not like that… You just…” Hongzhou said miserably, “You simply still held hope in His Majesty…”

And he had let down your hopes…

The Step Empress said nothing.

The moonlight fell on her thin shoulders, making her appear all the more solitary and pitiful.

And her husband? He was probably staying at Yanxi Palace again tonight…

Hongzhou looked at those shoulders. As if possessed, he reached out his hand, yet stopped a palm’s distance away, not daring to place it there.

“Go back,” the Step Empress suddenly spoke without turning her head. “Both you and I should return.”

With that, she slowly turned around, once again resuming her usual dignified and virtuous demeanor. If not for the tear stains on her cheeks, no one would have guessed she had been crying.

Hongzhou could only follow suit and revert to the role of a subject. Respectfully, he stepped aside to let her descend the stairs first. Watching her lonely figure gradually move farther away, his expression was complicated. His fists clenched and unclenched, until finally he could no longer hold back and called out:

“Empress, in the future, if there is ever anything Hongzhou can do for you, please tell me. I want to… do something for you.”

The Step Empress’s steps paused for a moment. She did not turn back, and continued walking forward.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 152: The Empress Dowager and the Empress

   The Empress felt utterly useless.

   She held the power of life and death over an entire harem of women, yet she could not save her own father’s life. On the surface she stood above ten thousand people, second only to one—yet at the most critical moment, all she could do was kneel on the ground, powerless to accomplish anything else.

She had taken not a single drop of water nor a morsel of food, kneeling for a full day and night. Finally, the door opposite her creaked open.

“Empress.” Hongli slowly walked up to her. “You have knelt here all night long—are you trying to threaten me?”

Li Yu held a lantern in his hand; its light fell on the Empress’s face, stinging her eyes until tears welled up. She raised her head and said: “Your Majesty, the disaster relief grain has been skimmed away layer by layer. By the time it reached my father’s hands, almost nothing was left.”

Hongli was taken aback.

“Do you know how the other relief kitchens are operating?” the Empress questioned him word by word. “Either they extort the local gentry and wealthy merchants, or they fill the quotas with tree bark and grass roots, then suppress the starving people with heavy troops so that the disaster victims dare to be angry but dare not speak. My father was the stupidest of them all—he went door to door visiting the powerful families, yet he was no good at threats or inducements, so he collected far too little. In the end, he took out all of his own family assets—including the residence and fields bestowed by Your Majesty, all sold off. Even… the very house he himself lived in, his last remaining piece of property.”

The Empress had never been someone willing to sit and wait for death.

She knew that relying on emotion alone would hardly move Hongli, so she desperately needed to prove one thing… to prove that her father was innocent. To that end, she had even gone to Hongzhou and asked him to help her gather information about what was happening outside.

As for why Hongzhou obeyed the woman who belonged to his older brother… for the time being, she refused to think about it.

“…When the disaster victims rioted, he delayed sending out the soldiers for the longest time, terrified of injuring unarmed common people. But they nearly beat him to death! Only when the soldiers were finally enraged by the mob’s brutality did the casualties occur afterward.” The Empress spoke as though her heart were bleeding like a cuckoo crying blood. “Was it really incompetence? He could not bear it. He simply could not!”

Hongli sighed. “I know.”

That answer instantly chilled half of the Empress’s heart.

He knew…

He clearly knew, yet he had still refused to release her father.

In that moment the Empress understood everything. Hongli’s delay in freeing him was not because he did not believe, but because he could not.

The realization made her blood run ice-cold in an instant; her vision went blank and her body swayed unsteadily. After a moment she fiercely bit the tip of her tongue, clinging to one last shred of hope: “…I understand. You face many difficulties. Therefore I dare not beg for complete forgiveness—only that, considering how hard he tried with all his heart… please spare his life!”

Hongli looked at the woman before him. She was not the woman he loved most, yet she was the best Empress. She possessed every virtue that Wei Yingluo lacked: respectful and obedient, virtuous and gentle, never complaining and never demanding. The entire harem, entrusted to her hands, was managed with perfect order.

Even if he set aside her merits, he could not ignore her hardships. Hongli truly could not bear to refuse a woman who had given so much—for him, and for the harem. With another sigh, he reached out to help her up: “Very well, I will not execute him. Get up first… Empress—Empress! Someone, come! Summon the imperial physician!”

Perhaps because she had knelt on the ground too long and gone without food for too long, in the surge of great joy she suddenly fainted.

When she slowly regained consciousness, she was already lying in the bedchamber of Chengqian Palace.

Zhen’er personally served her a bowl of medicinal soup. The Empress took only a few hasty sips before asking her: “Has my father been released?”

“The Emperor has already issued an order: Lord Father’s death sentence is commuted, and he is to be exiled to Ningguta.” Zhener brought a spoonful of medicinal decoction to her lips. “The one handling this matter is Prince He.”

The Step Empress pushed the spoon away. “When was the order issued?”

Zhener: “Just today.”

The Step Empress: “Quickly, help me pack some things. Let Prince He deliver them to my father for me.”

Zhener had originally wanted the Empress to remain lying down while she packed everything herself, but how could the Step Empress stay in bed? She struggled to get up and, together with Zhener, packed a bundle.

“Ningguta is a place of bitter cold.” The Step Empress stuffed a thick garment into the bundle. “We need to bring more warm clothing… What about the medicine?”

“Here.” Zhener handed over a bottle of wound ointment.

As the Step Empress tucked the medicine bottle inside, she murmured incessantly: “His leg was injured by someone. There won’t be any good doctors along the way, nor time to recover properly. I only hope these wound medicines can lessen some of his pain…”

Sending the old generation burying the young generation is tragic; burying the old generation by the young generation is equally tragic. Ningguta is ten thousand li from the capital—once parted today, they might never meet again in this lifetime.

One bundle could never hold all a daughter’s sentiments. She packed item after item in, then took some out again, only to repack them. In the end the bundle was stuffed full, with many more things left beside it that simply couldn’t fit.

“Go now,” the Step Empress said wearily. “Deliver this bundle to Prince He for me.”

Zhener hugged the bundle tightly, nodded, and before leaving asked, “Is there any message you would like Prince He to convey to Lord Father on your behalf?”

The Step Empress gave a bitter smile. Through the cloth of the bundle, she gently stroked the knee pad inside. “Tell him… your daughter is unfilial and cannot personally see him off. Please ask him to take good care of himself.”

Zhener nodded and departed.

Left alone in the room, the Step Empress picked up the unfinished bowl of medicinal decoction and slowly finished it, spoonful by spoonful.

“Is there hot soup in Ningguta?” She couldn’t help letting her thoughts wander. “Are the clothes I prepared thick enough… Ningguta is truly very cold, so very cold…”

The door creaked open.

The Step Empress turned her head and asked with a weak smile, “How did things go?”

“Your Ladyship…” Zhener hesitated, her expression strange.

The smile on the Step Empress’s face faded bit by bit. Her ice-cold fingers tightened around the medicine bowl. “Speak! What happened?”

“Your Ladyship…” Zhener hesitated for a long while before finally choking out, through sobs, “the Old Master… has taken his own life.”

In the prison cell, there was no daylight—only the torches on the walls and in the jailer’s hands burned, their flickering light illuminating the corpse ahead.

Hongzhou held the blue cloth bundle Zhener had given him, standing before the body with a dark and gloomy face.

Blood flowed from all seven orifices; the face was twisted in agony. One hand still clutched fiercely at the throat, as though desperately trying to claw something out from inside.

Poison suicide?

“…Where would poison come from in a prison cell?” Hongzhou ground his teeth, roaring inwardly. “He absolutely did not kill himself!”

If even he refused to believe it, how could his daughter possibly believe it?

After two days of fasting, Hongli finally had no choice but to visit Chengqian Palace.

“Your Majesty.” On the bed, the Step Empress—with her long hair unbound and wearing only a plain white garment—slowly turned her head. Her clear black-and-white eyes fixed straight on him. “You have finally come.”

Hongli stood with hands behind his back. “Empress, my decree arrived one step too late.”

Hearing this explanation, the Step Empress said nothing. She simply continued to stare straight at him.

“…I have already issued an edict to have Naerbu’s funeral affairs properly arranged,” Hongli said. “If you wish to handle them personally, I can permit that as well.”

Despite all these explanations, the Empress remained silent, simply staring at him—staring until a chill crept into his heart.

“…Rest well,” Hongli finally said. But just as he turned to leave, the Empress behind him spoke.

“Did Your Majesty kill him?”

Hongli’s footsteps halted. “No.”

The Empress fixed her gaze on his back. This time it was no longer a question, but a statement: “Then it was the Empress Dowager who acted.”

Hongli whipped around. “Empress! Your father took his own life!”

His explanation—or rather, his cover-up—caused the Empress to burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“My father was loyal and straightforward; he was dull-witted, yes—but he was still a human being. And any human being clings to life.” The Empress wiped away the tears that had come from laughing so hard. “Otherwise, a few days ago he would not have set aside his dignity to come beg me… Tell me, how could a man like that possibly commit suicide?”

“Empress,” Hongli said gravely, “the man is already gone. Pursuing this further is meaningless.”

The Empress smiled at him. “Your Majesty, my father suffered an injustice. He has become, in the eyes of the world, a great corrupt official who, fearing punishment, hanged himself in prison. As his daughter, am I supposed to pretend I saw nothing and say not a single word?”

Hongli fell silent.

No matter how virtuous or how deferential she was, the Empress was still a person. And any person has parents; they can be filled with towering rage at the injustice done to their father or mother—even to the point of throwing caution to the wind.

“…Empress, I know you are deeply grieved.” Hongli understood this and could not bear to blame her—yet he also could not bear to blame the other woman. “You may blame me, hate me—but do not blame the Empress Dowager.”

But how could the Empress not blame her? How could she not hate her?

If Naerbu had truly embezzled the relief funds and met such an end, she would have had nothing to say.

The problem was that he had not.

Her father not only had not embezzled a single grain of relief money—he had used his entire family fortune to fill the shortfall, and in the end he had paid with his life. And the result? Utter disgrace, reviled by all.

“Your Majesty.” The Empress refused to swallow this bitterness. She scoffed with icy disdain. “Do you truly believe the Empress Dowager acted without any selfish motive?”

Hongli’s expression darkened. “Empress, no matter how heartbroken you are, you should not be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress scoffed. Through Hongzhou she had already had the truth investigated—and what she learned went far beyond her father’s innocence. Now that her father was dead, there was no longer any need to conceal anything for others. She immediately said:

“Do you know that the Empress Dowager’s own nephew was also involved in the embezzlement case?”

Zhener gave a start and quietly tugged at the Empress’s sleeve.

“…As soon as Father’s case broke, the Empress Dowager’s brother and sister-in-law entered the palace to plead for mercy. If the investigation were carried to the end, the Empress Dowager’s Niohuru family would also be implicated.” The Empress paid no heed and continued, “That is why she unhesitatingly pushed my father forward to be the scapegoat!”

“Master!” Zhener was terrified and immediately seized her hand. “Don’t say any more!”

The other palace servants either knelt or bowed their heads, wishing desperately that they had gone deaf so they would not have to hear such a terrifying secret.

Yet the Empress pushed Zhener aside, stepped down from the bed, and walked straight up to Hongli. Her face wore a smile, but her eyes brimmed with tears:

“Your Majesty, the officials are mediocre, greedy, muddle-headed, and cunning—and the splendid, flower-filled rear palace is exactly the same! Everyone is an actor, performing the grand spectacle of a flourishing age and an enlightened era. They band together to deceive you, to fool you. Even though you rise before dawn and retire long after dusk, working tirelessly day and night, you still cannot protect the wronged ministers, and you cannot eradicate all the insatiable corrupt vermin!”

This time it was Hongli who stared at her for a long while.

“…Li Yu,” he finally spoke. “The Empress is ill. Summon the imperial physicians to diagnose and treat her.”

After he left, Zhener was drenched in cold sweat and no longer had the strength to stand. She collapsed onto the edge of the bed and let out a long breath:

“Your Ladyship… please, never say such things again. Today His Majesty did not punish you, but next time… who knows what might happen…”

“Yes, exactly—I didn’t say anything wrong, yet I’m the one being punished.” The Empress said in a faint, distant voice. “Clearly it was the Empress Dowager who did wrong, but because her son is the Emperor, she doesn’t have to face any consequences…”

“Empress!” Zhener rushed over, wishing she could reach out and cover her mouth.

Fortunately, after that remark, the Empress fell silent again. A single candlestick burned on the table, and she stared fixedly at the flickering flame, lost in thought.

When the candle went out, Zhener brought a new one and relit it.

The newly born flame leaped into the Empress’s eyes, illuminating a wild ambition that had sprung from nowhere.

“I used to think that once I became Empress, I could rest easy—that I could protect myself and my family.” The Empress thought to herself. “It turns out being Empress isn’t enough. I need to become Empress Dowager… and have a son who becomes Emperor. Only then can I truly protect myself and my family…”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 151: Choices and Sacrifices

   Hongli finally set down the memorial in his hand and said calmly, “Empress, you have lost your composure.”

The Empress was kneeling on the ground, her forehead pressed to the floor. She had maintained this posture for a very, very long time.

“You claim your father has been wrongly accused.” Hongli sighed, walked over, and helped her up. “The disaster victims smashed the relief workshop to pieces. He and nine other relief officials were helpless; the situation spiraled out of control, resulting in countless casualties. The officials I sent to investigate discovered that the grain newly allocated to the granary was less than thirty percent of what it should have been. Tell me—who has wronged your father? The disaster victims? The censors? Or… me?”

The Empress suddenly raised her head and stared at Hongli. “Your Majesty, for more than twenty years my father has never understood how to climb the ranks or amass wealth, never understood how to scheme and scramble. Whatever Your Majesty said, whatever the people needed, that was how he handled affairs! Three years ago when the river dikes in Zhili burst, he was merely passing through, yet he stayed behind to help the local officials and people. At the most dangerous moment, he personally went down to the dike and used sandbags—even used his own body—to block the breach! Tell me, would a man like that embezzle the people’s disaster relief grain?”

Hongli was stunned.

“Your Majesty.” Tears finally fell from the Empress’s eyes as she pleaded miserably, “I beg you—give him one more chance. Investigate once more, please?”

Humans are not made of wood or stone; how can one be without feeling?

   “So you agreed to her request?” In Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager continued trimming her potted plants without turning her head.

Hongli paused, then gave a wry smile. “I hadn’t even finished speaking, and Royal Mother you already guessed.”

“What’s so hard to guess?” The Empress Dowager laughed, her expression kind and benevolent. “Emperor, you dislike most when the inner palace interferes in government affairs—that is the thing you resent above all. Yet you tolerated the Empress weeping and pleading. Doesn’t that mean, deep in your heart, you already believe Naerbu is innocent?”

“And the facts bear it out.” Hongli said calmly, “Hongzhou, together with the Ministry of Justice, conducted multiple investigations and confirmed that even before the relief grain reached the granary, it had already been skimmed away layer by layer. Naerbu was trying to cook without rice—how could he provide relief?”

With a crisp snip, the golden shears cut off a camellia blossom. The Empress Dowager turned back coldly: “So what?”

Hongli was taken aback. “Royal Mother, what is your view?”

Casually tossing the flower and shears aside, the Empress Dowager slowly walked to the chair and sat down. With extreme calm she said:

“Naerbu has more than enough loyalty and integrity, but far too little ability. In the Zhejiang–Fujian region alone, 126 congee kitchens were set up—yet only his congee kitchen met with disaster. When he discovered the victims rioting, he not only failed to control the situation, he allowed it to spread rapidly, resulting in countless dead and injured among the disaster victims and shaking the entire court. If everyone were as incompetent as he is, what kind of chaos would the Great Qing fall into?”

Her meaning could not have been clearer. Hongli stared at her: “…Royal Mother, you wish me to execute Naerbu?”

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly and countered with a question: “If he is not killed, how can the people’s anger be appeased?”

The room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense. On the table stood a statue of Maitreya Buddha, and even the walls bore hanging portraits of the compassionate and merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva. Looking at the benevolent smile on the Empress Dowager’s face, Hongli felt a chill creep into his heart.

“You have spent years eating vegetarian meals and reciting the Buddha’s name. Even when palace maids and eunuchs make mistakes, you are reluctant to punish them lightly.” He asked slowly, “Yet now, for a clearly wronged loyal minister, you urge me to kill him?”

The Empress Dowager sighed, like an elderly mother gently instructing her young, ignorant child. “Emperor, if you do not kill Naerbu, then you must thoroughly investigate this case—and that means punishing many more people, including your imperial uncles, your cousins, and even thousands of disaster-relief officials. The grain passed through their hands, bit by bit, like sand slipping through an hourglass—leaving less and less behind.”

Imperial uncles? Cousins?

Hongli finally understood. The Empress Dowager was merciful—merciful only toward her own blood kin. As long as she could protect that group of imperial relatives who had embezzled the disaster-relief funds, what did the sacrifice of a mere servant matter?

“Empress Dowager!” Hongli said through gritted teeth. “From top to bottom, layer upon layer of exploitation—this is how things have come to this. They must pay the price!”

“Those who embezzled the relief grain are indeed guilty of a crime deserving ten thousand deaths,” the Empress Dowager said, suddenly shifting her tone. “But you cannot execute them all in a single day.”

She gently swirled the lid of her teacup and continued in an orderly, persuasive manner: “The imperial clan is bound together like branches of the same tree. Move against one, and nothing happens. Move against two, and trouble arises. Move against three, and the realm falls into chaos. Think of your late father, the previous emperor!”

Hongli was stunned. Memories flooded back of the previous emperor’s reign—opposed at every turn by his own brothers and the imperial clan, every policy met with extreme difficulty in implementation. Many measures clearly intended to benefit the common people were twisted by those below into harsh exploitation, until eventually the entire populace blamed the emperor himself.

In the end, the only thing the previous emperor could do was to stop killing with more killing.

“Are you going to follow his example now?” the Empress Dowager pressed relentlessly. “And end up like him… abandoned by all, kin and subjects alike?”

“…So by killing the innocent Naerbu and shielding this pack of corrupt officials, the Great Qing will somehow become better?” Hongli mocked. “I fear they will only grow bolder next time and hollow out my country completely.”

But the Empress Dowager deliberately redirected the conversation, focusing all the contradictions on Naerbu alone, making him the scapegoat for the entire clan.

“I have already said—he is not innocent. He is incompetent!” She emphasized her words. “The people only believe what they see, hear what they hear, and understand what they can understand! They have decided that Naerbu embezzled the funds—so you present them with Naerbu’s head. It is the simplest principle in the world!”

Hongli said in deep pain, “Empress Dowager, he is the last remaining blood relative of the Empress!”

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly—exactly like the Maitreya Buddha beside her, like the Guanyin portrait behind her. “If he were anyone else, he might be allowed to linger on in life. But precisely because he is the Empress’s closest kin, he must be killed. Kill Naerbu, and the world will believe that the laws of the Great Qing show no favoritism, and that the Emperor is utterly impartial and selfless!”

Hongli’s fist clenched tightly, then slowly loosened. Finally, he rose abruptly. “I will consider your words, Empress Dowager.”

He truly did not wish to quarrel with his own mother, nor did he wish to hear any more of such cold-hearted counsel. He could only lift his foot and leave.

“Emperor!” From behind, the Empress Dowager called after him. “The border wars have not yet been pacified, natural disasters strike everywhere—kill one Naerbu, and others will praise you for your swift and decisive action in punishing the chain of disaster-relief officials. But the court officials and imperial clan will blame Your Majesty for being ruthless and heartless, while the common people will begin to doubt the integrity of the Great Qing’s administration… Which outcome do you want?”

Hongli’s footsteps paused for a moment, then he continued walking out.

The Empress Dowager was not the only one urging him in this way.

Afterward, memorials impeaching Naerbu flew into the Yangxin Hall like snowflakes.

In the end, there even came a joint petition—a long scroll densely covered with names.

“This is a ten-thousand-word petition from the people of eastern Zhejiang demanding that I execute the chief culprit, Naerbu.” Hongli wearily sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples as he asked, “Hailancha, if you were me, what choice would you make?”

Hailancha hemmed and hawed for a long time. Hongli, growing impatient, spoke in a low voice: “Speak!”

“If this servant were handling this matter…” Hailancha hesitated, then finally said resolutely, “This servant would kill Naerbu.”

Hongli had originally thought that, at the very least, he could hear a different answer from him. Who would have expected that Hailancha—always straightforward and honest by nature—would actually say such words? He couldn’t help opening his eyes wide in surprise as he looked at him: “Why?”

Hailancha gazed at him, his face still bearing the same loyal and devoted expression as always: “Your Majesty, killing one person can appease public anger. Killing a group of people, however, will incite chaos. As for the real vermin, we can settle accounts with them one by one later. But that Naerbu right now… must be killed!”

Hongli remained silent. After a long pause, he waved Hailancha away, then turned and asked Li Yu: “Go outside and see—has the Empress… left yet?”

Li Yu went and quickly returned, reporting cautiously: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is still kneeling outside. She has already… been there for a full day.”

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 150: Impermanence

   “Yingluo, why aren’t you hurrying to go apologize to His Majesty?” Ming Yu asked anxiously, at the same time giving a meaningful glance to Xiaoquanzi beside her.

Xiaoquanzi immediately took the hint and chimed in: “Exactly! Dragging it out like this isn’t a solution. Today Shu Bin composed a new piece and invited His Majesty to appraise it together. Before he goes…”

Without needing him to say it, Ming Yu was the first to speak indignantly: “They even sent people to our Yanxi Palace to take back the qin they gave you! If that qin ends up staying with her, how will Yanxi Palace ever show its face again… Hey! Why aren’t you anxious at all!”

Truly it fits the saying: the emperor isn’t worried to death, but the eunuch is worried sick.

The two of them were like ants on a hot pan, yet Wei Yingluo leisurely ate her snacks, only setting down her bowl and spoon after finishing an entire bowl of creamy yogurt. Then she walked over and sat in front of the bronze mirror.

Ming Yu thought she had finally changed her mind. Delighted, she came over: “That’s more like it! Let me redo your hair and makeup—we’ll hurry to the Yangxin Hall…”

But Wei Yingluo merely yawned. “I’m sleepy. Take off my accessories for me. I want to rest.”

Night fell, and Yanxi Palace was wrapped in silence.

Wei Yingluo lay on her side inside the bed curtains, sleeping soundly, when suddenly a zheng note rang right beside her ear. She frowned, turned over, and continued sleeping.

“Thump thump thump!”

“Thump thump thump thump!”

“Thump thump thump thump thump!”

Wei Yingluo shot upright from the bed as if jolted awake from a nightmare.

They say the sound of the qin is graceful, like the tinkling of a mountain spring.

But when it tinkles too urgently, too chaotically… it turns into the sound of firecrackers exploding.

Wei Yingluo clapped both hands over her ears and stormed furiously to the door. She yanked it open and shouted at the person outside: “Your Majesty! It’s already the third watch of the night. Instead of resting at Concubine Shu’s place, what are you doing here?”

The only person in the entire palace who had the audacity to show up at this hour, dancing like a madman at the door of Yanxi Palace’s bedchamber without being dragged away and beaten to death by the guards, was one man alone.

Hongli sat ramrod straight in front of the door, an ancient qin laid across his knees. At first glance he appeared calm and composed, his bearing elegant and outstanding—like Boya by the spring. Then his hand strummed… thump thump thump thump thump!

Not only Wei Yingluo—even the corner of Li Yu’s eye twitched at the explosive racket.

“How is it?” Hongli glanced at her with feigned nonchalance. “My newly acquired piece. I came especially to play it for you. Give me your critique.”

Critique? This was auditory torture! Wei Yingluo planted one hand on her hip and said irritably, “Your Majesty really knows how to joke. Playing music in the middle of the night—what exactly do you want to lecture me about?”

His hand slowed on the strings. Hongli gave her a cool look. “So you do know you’ve done something wrong?”

“Didn’t Your Majesty suspect me of killing Noble Consort Chun—so much so that you wouldn’t even let me fly a kite? I’m already confining myself here to reflect on my faults.” With that, Wei Yingluo moved to close the door and go back to sleep.

“I know.” Hongli said, “You didn’t kill her.”

Her hand paused on the door. Wei Yingluo turned back and stared at him, trying to read the truth in his eyes. “Right now everyone in the palace is saying I killed Noble Consort Chun.”

Hongli gently shook his head, completely unmoved by the gossip. “Given your usual temperament, you wouldn’t deign to kick someone when they’re already down. Moreover, with Noble Consort Chun banished to the cold palace—stripped of everything—you would let her live a couple more years so she could suffer a couple more years of torment.”

Wei Yingluo burst out laughing. “Your Majesty… is that supposed to be praise, or an insult?”

Hongli glanced at her. “Wei Yingluo, in my heart, that’s exactly how petty you are.”

Wei Yingluo sighed inwardly. He was right—she really was that petty.

Death is too easy: eyes close, legs kick once, and it’s over.

That was not what Wei Yingluo wanted.

The previous Empress suffered so much and died in such lonely helplessness—how could she possibly allow Noble Consort Chun to die so easily? She had to make her experience the same pain, the same loneliness, the same despair before permitting her to go underground and accompany the previous Empress.

“Also, I’m very angry,” Hongli suddenly said.

Wei Yingluo was stunned. “Your Majesty knows it wasn’t me who did it—so what are you angry about?”

“It wasn’t you who did it…” Hongli slowly walked up to her; the faint, distinctive scent of ink that belonged only to him drifted over. “Then why didn’t you explain it to me?”

Wei Yingluo remained silent.

“If you don’t explain, it proves you don’t care what I think of you in my heart.” He still wore that calm, unruffled expression, yet for some reason it carried a trace of childish sulkiness. “I… am very unhappy.”

It was as though, in his awkward, roundabout way, he was saying: I did come to explain to you—I do care about you.

“I…” For a moment, Wei Yingluo didn’t know what to say.

She had used every trick in the book, even deliberately offending other consorts, all to seize Hongli’s favor.

But now that he had truly opened his heart and placed it in front of her, she found herself at a complete loss.

Because she had always been someone who repaid kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity. Hongli himself might not even realize it, but the Wei Yingluo standing before him now was actually half a performance—he wanted a woman like this, so she had played the part of such a woman.

…Wei Yingluo knew exactly how to be a favored consort, but she had no idea how to be a lover in a mutual, loving relationship.

Hongli suddenly sighed and pulled the still-dazed woman into his arms. Perhaps unwilling to appear at a disadvantage in this romance, he deliberately spoke in a firm tone: “You’re being completely unreasonable. I shouldn’t have come looking for you!”

Wei Yingluo reflexively replied, “But you still came…”

Hongli: “…”

“Just treat it as an exception this once?” Wei Yingluo offered him an easy way out.

“…It’s not the first time.” Hongli was silent for a long moment before slowly speaking again. “I don’t like making exceptions. I don’t like this version of myself that keeps wavering.”

Before meeting Wei Yingluo, he had always been a man of strict self-discipline.

He never spoke while eating or sleeping; no matter how much he liked a dish, he would eat at most two bites and never take a third. He attended court on time and left on time. Even when bestowing favor on his consorts, he tried his best to be fair—never excessively favoring one, nor coldly neglecting another.

But then Wei Yingluo arrived—like a hammer, she smashed all his persistence, and even smashed himself.

“…Then you—you don’t have to be like this.” Wei Yingluo hesitated. “You can go back to Concubine Shu.”

You’re in turmoil, and so am I… Why don’t we separate for a while and each calm down?

Hongli glanced at her, seemingly misunderstanding her meaning: “Li Yu!”

Li Yu: “This servant is here.”

Hongli: “Tell Concubine Shu not to wait for me tonight. I will be staying at Yanxi Palace.”

Li Yu: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hongli pulled Wei Yingluo straight into the bedchamber. Outside, Li Yu shook his head, went off to inform Concubine Shu, and on the way gave Ming Yu a gentle reminder: “Hurry up and put the qin away.”

Ming Yu glanced at the “Moonlit Companion” qin that Hongli had left behind and asked, “Shouldn’t we take it to Concubine Shu?”

“Throughout all this time, it’s only ever been your mistress who takes things from other people’s hands,” Li Yu said with a cheerful chuckle. “Have you ever seen anyone manage to take something from her hands?”

The next day, Chengqian Palace.

   The Step Empress sat by the window, head lowered, sewing a pair of knee pads.

Outside came a few soft knocks at the door. Zhener rose to answer it. After a moment, she returned to the Empress’s side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Having heard what had happened in Yanxi Palace, the Step Empress smiled slightly. “Let them fight and scramble all they like. I will simply keep sewing these knee pads in my hands.”

Zhener had originally assumed the knee pads were being made for Hongli. Hearing this, she asked in surprise, “Your Ladyship, these knee pads are…?”

The needle in the Step Empress’s hand passed through the fabric once more; her gaze beneath the candlelight appeared exceptionally gentle. “My father is getting on in years, and his old cold-leg ailment is growing worse. The ones my mother used to make for him must be very worn by now…”

Suddenly her movements stopped. She stared blankly at the knee pads, lost in thought. Zhener couldn’t help asking, “Your Ladyship, are you thinking of Madam again?”

The Step Empress let out a soft laugh. “Keep sewing. When I was little, Mother was especially strict with me. Every movement—walking, sitting, lying down—had to follow the rules. She tolerated not the slightest carelessness. Only Father doted on me the most; he was always protecting me…”

A palace maid suddenly entered, paid her respects, and said, “Her Majesty the Empress, Lord Naerbu is waiting outside the Qianqing Gate. He requests an audience with Your Ladyship.”

The Step Empress was startled. “Isn’t he in eastern Zhejiang providing disaster relief? Why has he suddenly returned?”

The palace maid replied, “Lord Naerbu said the relief efforts have been properly concluded. Because the anniversary of Madam’s death is approaching soon, he specially requested leave to return to the capital.”

The Step Empress glanced out the window. The sun was already setting; night would fall soon. By the time she reached the palace gate, the gates would likely already be locked for the evening. She sighed softly. “Go tell him it is too late tonight. He may come see me tomorrow.”

Zhener tried to persuade her. “Your Ladyship, Lord Father has traveled long and hard through wind and dust. What harm would there be in making an exception just this once?”

The Step Empress gently shook her head. At least in front of outsiders, in front of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, she had to appear as self-disciplined as Hongli had once been. “I am the Empress. I must observe palace regulations all the more, lest I give others cause for gossip. Go now.”

The palace maid bowed once more to her, then left to deliver the message at the Qianqing Gate.

A man with slightly graying temples was pacing back and forth outside the gate, hands clasped behind his back, clearly preoccupied with heavy thoughts. When he saw the palace maid approaching, he hurried forward to meet her. Not seeing his daughter behind her, a look of profound disappointment crossed his face.

After hearing the message, he let out a long sigh. “Heaven’s will… it is Heaven’s will.”

The palace maid, noticing his strange expression, asked, “My lord, what is the matter?”

Naerbu said nothing. Suddenly he turned toward the direction of Chengqian Palace and knelt deeply, bowing low, tears choking his voice. “This old minister only wished to see Her Ladyship one last time, but alas, it cannot be. I can only offer distant blessings: may Her Ladyship henceforth enjoy peace, prosperity, good fortune, longevity, and health.”

His words were vague and cryptic, sending the palace maid’s heart pounding. The moment he left, she hurried back toward Chengqian Palace, determined to report this strange behavior to the Step Empress.

At the same time, outside Yangxin Hall, two men stood in tense confrontation.

“Hand it over!” Hongzhou blocked Hailancha’s path and said coldly, “Give me the memorial accusing Lord Naerbu!”

Hailancha looked at him strangely. “Hongzhou, have you gone mad? This is a memorial presented to the Emperor!”

Hongzhou actually reached out to snatch the memorial from his hand. But Hailancha was a first-rate martial artist—how could something in his grasp be taken so easily? When brute force failed, Hongzhou resorted to verbal threats. “It’s nothing but a false accusation! Don’t forget—the ringleader who slandered Lord Sun was beheaded!”

Hailancha was not one to be intimidated. With a wave of his hand: “Step aside!”

Hongzhou still refused to yield and continued to tangle with him. Suddenly, from inside the hall came Hongli’s voice: “Hailancha, come in!”

Hailancha strode quickly inside. Behind him, Hongzhou gritted his teeth and followed.

The memorial was very long. Halfway through reading it, Hongli tossed it aside in fury. “What a fine Lord Naerbu! Of all the things he could have embezzled, he actually set his sights on disaster relief grain!”

Hongzhou hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, Lord Naerbu has always been diligent, honest, and incorruptible. This matter is surely a frame-up. I beg Your Majesty to grant your younger brother a little time so that I may thoroughly investigate…”

“Frame-up?” Hongli interrupted with a cold laugh. “Every day he distributed what was little more than plain water as congee, provoking a riot among the disaster victims—185 dead, more than 500 injured. Is that also a frame-up?!”

Hongzhou was rendered speechless.

Hongli scoffed with a sneer and turned his gaze to Hailancha, issuing the order: “Immediately throw Naerbu into prison and have the Ministry of Justice interrogate him rigorously!”

Hailancha: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Inside Chengqian Hall.

   The Empress was still seated by the window, in the same spot as yesterday, at the same time of evening as yesterday. The only difference was… the knee pad in her hands had now been fully sewn.

The news brought back by the palace maid yesterday had left her weighed down with worry; she hadn’t slept at all the entire night.

Since she couldn’t sleep, she stopped forcing herself. She simply got up and continued sewing the knee pad in her hands, planning that as soon as daybreak came, she would summon her father and give the knee pad to him.

The knee pad was made of the finest material, with no elaborate patterns on the front—only two characters embroidered on the back: “Peace and Safety.”

Her expectations of this father were not high. If he truly were a capable and competent man, his wife would not have died early, and his daughter would not be left alone in the palace, fighting until her head bled and her face was torn…

“Peace and safety are enough,” the Empress murmured to herself, clutching the knee pad tightly. “Peace and safety are enough…”

“Your Ladyship!” Zhener rushed in from outside. “Niangniang, something terrible has happened! The Old Master—the Old Master has been thrown into prison!”

Thud—the knee pad suddenly fell from her hands.

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   Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 149: The Great Dream Comes to Nothing

   The Cold Palace is a place for storing things no longer in use.

   Old tables no longer used, old chairs no longer used, old beds no longer used—and… Noble Consort Chun.

Noble Consort Chun sat alone on an old chair. As the sky gradually darkened, her figure was slowly swallowed by the shadows until, with a creak, the door opened. A beam of light pierced through the crack and fell across her face.

“I thought the person who would come here tonight would be Wei Yingluo,” she said with a smile toward the newcomer. “I never expected it to be you.”

Leaving the palace servants to guard outside, the Empress entered alone. “Wei Yingluo?”

Noble Consort Chun sighed. “I finally understand why Wei Yingluo went to such lengths to compete for favor, even deliberately stirring up jealousy throughout the harem.”

“Of course it was to make you jealous, to make you anxious—no, more precisely, to make you afraid. Afraid that she would use the Emperor’s favor to expose what happened to Seventh Prince all those years ago.” The Empress set the six-sided palace lantern she carried down on the old table. “The more ostentatious Wei Yingluo became, the more terrified you grew, and the more likely you were to strike. And the moment you acted, you were bound to reveal your flaws.”

“She deliberately leaked the news about horseback riding to provoke me into making a move. In truth, this time it really wasn’t me who acted. But so what? The Emperor still became suspicious of me.” Noble Consort Chun gave a self-mocking laugh. “Rather than waiting every day for her next scheme, I decided to go all in. Unfortunately, I failed… But tell me, Empress—what role exactly did you play in all of this?”

“Me?” The Empress smiled. The candlelight illuminated half her face, leaving the other half in shadow. “Noble Consort Chun, you and Consort Ling had enmity between you. As the mistress of the Six Palaces, naturally I had to uphold justice.”

Noble Consort Chun stared at her profile. After a moment, she suddenly burst into loud, bitter laughter. “How foolish I was—to have been nothing more than a pawn in your hands all this time. The death of the previous Empress… was it truly unrelated to you?”

The Empress smiled calmly. “Of course.”

“You’re lying!” Noble Consort Chun suddenly shouted at her. “The one who instigated me to kill—was you!”

Hongli had always been fond of Noble Consort Chun’s transcendent, otherworldly aura. And Noble Consort Chun had truly once been like that—devoted entirely to playing the qin and gazing at the moon, unlike the other consorts who were obsessed with vying for favor. That is, until she gave birth to Yongrong—

At that time, the Empress who had succeeded as the new Empress (still Consort Xian back then) used this as an excuse to frequently visit her, constantly reminding her: Yongrong was intelligent, the Emperor liked him very much. It was just a pity that the Empress had given birth to the Seventh Prince; she could never outcompete the Empress, and Yongrong would never outcompete the Seventh Prince either.

“A mother is always too greedy, wanting to leave the very best for her son.” Noble Consort Chun stared at the Empress and said, “Later on I did many things, but without your secret support behind the scenes, I could never have accomplished any of them. Even when Wei Yingluo left the palace to visit her family, it was you who specially sent someone to notify me, hinting that Changchun Palace was short of manpower and that it was time to make a move.”

In the past she had thought herself extraordinarily clever and resourceful; only now did she suddenly realize there had been an invisible hand guiding everything from behind.

Yuhu had seduced Wang Zhong, but the Fire Department wasn’t managed by Wang Zhong alone. Yet within just one short month, the other two stewards—one fell ill and the other was transferred elsewhere. With them gone, everything fell under Wang Zhong’s sole control.

Later she bribed a little eunuch to secretly replace all the charcoal in Changchun Palace with highly flammable chrysanthemum charcoal. Everything went unbelievably smoothly. Looking back now, it filled her with icy dread. Back when the Empress gave birth, it was the Step Empress who was in charge of managing the Six Palaces. The charcoal substitution happened right under her nose, yet she pretended not to see, turning a blind eye and deaf ear from beginning to end.

“I was the one who killed the Seventh Prince—but the knife that killed him was handed to me by you.” Noble Consort Chun began to laugh, laughing uncontrollably, slapping the armrest over and over. “No—no, that’s not all. The Seventh Prince was the late Empress’s most precious treasure. Once he died, the late Empress was finished! Lady Nara—you step by step by step forced the Empress to her death. Right from the very beginning, your goal was to take her place!”

The Step Empress gazed at her with a smile—a smile that sent chills down the spine, like the face hidden behind a shadow-puppet screen, fingers twitching to manipulate the joy, anger, sorrow, and joy of the puppets on stage, and the emotions of the audience below, while that face itself laughed silently in the shadows.

“Kill the Seventh Prince, drive the late Empress to suicide, entice Wei Yingluo and me into a fight to the death, and finally use her hand to plunge me completely into the abyss. Yet your own hands remained spotlessly clean from start to finish! Hahaha, oh heavens, it’s too funny! Who exactly was I fighting for? Who was I working myself to death for?” Only now did Noble Consort Chun awaken from her great dream. As she laughed, tears poured out. “It was all one vast, empty dream—I ended up making wedding clothes for someone else! Succeeding Empress, what superb skill! At this point, I have nothing more to say. I only want to ask you one thing: after I die, will it be Wei Yingluo’s turn next?”

The affairs of the world are but one great dream—how many autumn chills does a life endure?

   “What did you say?”

In Yanxi Palace, upon hearing the news delivered by Yuan Chunwang, everyone froze.

Yuan Chunwang: “…Blood was everywhere. Her neck was almost completely strangled off.”

Ming Yu couldn’t help touching her own neck, as though she had just heard a ghost story; her face turned deathly pale. “Strangled off?”

Yuan Chunwang: “I didn’t see it with my own eyes either. The palace maid in charge of cleaning fainted from sheer terror.”

Ming Yu’s teeth were chattering. “What kind of thing could strangle a person’s neck… until it was hanging by a thread?”

Inside Yangxin Hall, Hongli’s expression was unreadable.

Since even Yanxi Palace had already heard the news, there was no way he could remain ignorant.

Li Yu, while bringing the dreadful tidings, had also brought something else…

Hongli lowered his head to look at the bloodstained half-length of kite string lying on the table.

Kite string seemed innocuous, yet when pulled taut, it became an extremely thin, razor-sharp blade—capable of easily slicing through a person’s throat.

No one in the room dared breathe loudly until Hongli slowly spoke: “This matter ends here. No one is permitted to discuss it privately. Anyone who violates this will be punished according to palace regulations.”

Afterward, he left Yangxin Hall and walked straight, without pause, to Yanxi Palace.

He didn’t even know why he had come here, nor what words he wanted to ask her. The moment he stepped through the door, he saw Yuan Chunwang holding a tray of kite-making materials and kneeling before him: “This servant respectfully greets Your Majesty.”

Hongli looked at the bundle of kite string on the tray; his smile suddenly vanished. “Take it away!”

“What’s wrong?” Wei Yingluo was sitting at the table, an unfinished iris kite laid out before her. A length of kite string was still wrapped around her finger. “My kite isn’t finished yet.”

Hongli strode over in a few steps, snatched the kite string from her hand, and threw it to the ground. “Stop making it!”

Seeing Wei Yingluo look at him in confusion, he sighed inwardly and softened his tone: “Your hand was injured before. The bamboo strips can easily hurt you. Don’t do this anymore.”

Wei Yingluo: “Then let Ming Yue do it for me.”

Hongli: “I said, stop! No one in Yanxi Palace is allowed to make them!”

Wei Yingluo: “Why?”

Hongli: “No reason.”

The two stared at each other for a moment. For some reason, Hongli was always the one to yield first. He casually swept the kite on the table to one side, then had Li Yu place a long qin (ancient zither) on top.

Wei Yingluo came from a humble family and was not familiar with such things. She couldn’t tell what era this ancient qin was from; she only knew its grain was intricate and it gave off a faint, unique woody fragrance—like the scent distilled by the passage of years.

“Yingluo, last time I taught you to play the qin, you said the instrument wasn’t good enough. So I had someone fetch the Yuelu Zhiyin that I used when I was learning.” Hongli sat down in front of her and said gently, “Use this qin to practice from now on, alright?”

But Wei Yingluo merely smiled coyishly: “I don’t feel like learning the qin today. I just want to make a kite.”

Hongli’s expression gradually cooled. Li Yu, standing beside him, hurriedly spoke up: “Consort Ling Niangniang, this qin was specially brought back by His Majesty from the Yuanmingyuan Gardens. Ordinary people aren’t even allowed to touch it!”

Wei Yingluo smiled at him, then—in the same careless manner Hongli had used earlier—pushed the precious ancient qin aside. She picked up the kite that had been swept away and continued working on it with her head lowered.

Only after Hongli flung his sleeve and left did she finally raise her head again.

“Yingluo!” Only then did Ming Yu speak. Her face was still a little pale, clearly frightened by Hongli’s earlier expression. With a mix of reproach and worry, she said, “You already know the cause of Noble Consort Chun’s death. At a time like this you should be avoiding suspicion—why are you still making a kite?”

Wei Yingluo gazed in the direction Hongli had gone, her eyes cool and clear: “If I don’t make a kite, will others stop suspecting me?”

In the palace, the most common thing, the most habitual thing, and the thing they were best at… seemed to be suspicion.

Back at Yangxin Hall, Hongli tossed the bloodstained kite string to Li Yu: “Get rid of it.”

Apparently not expecting that he would return from Yanxi Palace in such a mood after hitting a wall, Li Yu reacted half a beat late: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

While clearing the kite string from the table, Li Yu carefully observed Hongli’s expression and ventured cautiously: “Your Majesty, although Consort Ling Niangniang has a rather stubborn temper, she doesn’t seem like someone so cruel.”

Hongli scoffed with a sneer. Li Yu immediately slapped himself: “This servant spoke out of turn!”

He was about to withdraw when Hongli spoke coldly: “I’m angry because she doesn’t care at all—not even half a sentence of explanation!”

After a pause, he added with a sigh: “…Is she really so certain that I will definitely believe her and protect her?”

Li Yu let out an inward sigh as well. Precisely because suspicion was the most common, most habitual, and most skillfully practiced thing in the palace, such trust had become something especially precious.

“Your Majesty, once Consort Ling comes to her senses, she will surely come to apologize,” he could only say what he knew the other most wanted to hear, going along with his mood.

Hongli looked unconvinced, yet the moment Li Yu stepped out the door, he stiffly tossed out one sentence: “If she comes, don’t let her in… Make her stand at the door as punishment.”

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