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Chapter 14
The Anle Tang was not the Hall of the King of Hell; it was more like an inn situated right on the line between life and death.
Because of the sheer number of people in the palace, falling ill was the ultimate taboo. For instance, a common cold or a cough was no big deal—one could just wrap up warm, work up a good sweat, and perhaps recover. But once a serious illness took hold and became untreatable, one had to be sent to this very place.
Everyone understood in their hearts: entering the Anle Tang was equivalent to stepping one foot into a coffin. If regular palace servants feared catching a sickness and dared not serve the ill, were those on duty at the Anle Tang not afraid as well? Consequently, when the sick were sent in, they were mostly just waiting to die. Anyone with a way out would never choose this step; they would pretend to be recoverable just to stay in their own rooms (Tatan). Only when they truly couldn't fake it or hide it anymore would they be sent here as a last resort. The patients themselves were already weak, and the Anle Tang was permeated with the aura of death; once they crossed this threshold, they were effectively separated from the world of the living.
Yi xing had asked Nanny Gu if anyone had ever fallen ill and then gradually recovered. Nanny Gu said there were cases, but they were extremely rare.
"They’re sick, drifting in and out of consciousness all day without eating or drinking. We also fear the sickness, so no one sincerely feeds them or gives them water. Think about it—even a strong, healthy person can’t last three days without food, let alone them. Once they’re in here, whether they live or die depends entirely on fate. The physician prescribes medicine; those who can drink take a couple of bowls, and those who can't—well, so be it. It’s not that we’re heartless, but with the lowest monthly silver in the entire palace, it’s not worth losing our own lives over."
In a harsh environment, preserving oneself is the most important thing. The veterans of the Anle Tang repeatedly warned her not to be driven by youthful impulsiveness, for when life and death are on the line, such impulsiveness is the most useless thing of all.
Earlier, Manager Gao had said they might not even welcome one person a month, and Yi xing had believed him. But today, it was just that coincidental. While she was burping and strolling under the eaves to check the weather, a palace maid was carried in on a wooden board.
The maid was wrapped tightly in a quilt, revealing only a head of long, messy black hair; her face was hidden for now. But Yi xing immediately spotted the person accompanying her. That person had a face full of solemnity, and when expressionless, she radiated a sense of formidable authority—it was Wu Shangyi.
It seemed everyone has their narrow moments. Yi xing turned back and shouted, "Gao Anda, someone’s here."
Gao Yang emerged from inside upon hearing her voice, his dark, thin face even more indifferent than Wu Shangyi’s.
"What illness is it?"
The four nannies carrying the board stopped before the steps. The rule of the Anle Tang was that without an arrangement, one could not enter at will. It was truly a case of the "Feng Shui" wheels turning; usually, the Anle Tang was the most looked-down-upon department, but at the very end, it was the one that could hold the most leverage.
Wu Shangyi paused for a moment, then forced out a few words. "The physician says it is Laoqie (Consumption/Tuberculosis)."
The moment the words Laoqie were spoken, Gao Yang’s expression on the steps became even more unpleasant. "This illness is liable to be contagious. Why bring her here? Why not send her out of the palace?"
Even as arrogant as Wu Shangyi usually was, seeing that Gao Yang wasn't buying her status, she had to soften her tone to negotiate. "Anda, I am the manager of the Bureau of Ceremonies, and this is my goddaughter. She fell ill last month, and by now she’s wasted away. I had no other choice but to bring her here. Anda, everyone has someone dear to them. She’s at such a fine age; if she survives this crisis and stays alive, it will be hard for her to get back into the palace later. So I must ask for your help. We all serve in the same palace; 'teeth and tongue live close together,' there will surely be a time to look out for one another in the future."
Gao Yang listened, then smiled. "The Madame thinks too highly of me. I am a poor eunuch; I don't have wealthy relatives under the Banners. What you say is true—those serving in the palace should help each other. It’s not that I’m intentionally being difficult, but really..." He glanced at the person on the board. "She’s already sick to this extent. If she’s left with us, who would dare look after her? Leaving her here is just wasting days."
Hearing Gao Yang’s words, Wu Shangyi turned her gaze toward Yi xing, putting on a warm face. "Miss, are you adjusting well here?"
Yixing lowered her eyes and gave a slight bow. "Thanks to your blessing, it’s quite good here."
How could a place that receives the dying be "good"? Wu Shangyi didn't believe her for a second, thinking she was just being stubborn. However, this was a good time to strike a deal. She said, "When moving about the palace, you help me today, and I’ll help you tomorrow—one turn of the body and we’re past the trouble. This girl is said to be my goddaughter, but she is actually my niece from my maternal home. I have no children of my own; keeping her by my side is a comfort. Unfortunately, her fate is thin and she caught this ailment. My meaning is: if you take care of her wholeheartedly on my behalf until she recovers, I will take you both back to the Bureau of Ceremonies together. I will remember your merit, and in the future, I will cherish you as if you were my own child. What do you think?"
So, to rely on someone, one must trade their own life?
Yixing also had to stall for a moment. She demurred, "The physicians have all seen her, and she was only sent here because it was a lost cause. I’m no immortal; what could I possibly do?" As she spoke, she glanced at Manager Gao.
Gao Yang showed no expression, squinting at Wu Shangyi with his hands tucked into his sleeves, as if waiting for her response.
Wu Shangyi had hit a "soft nail." In normal times, she would have flicked her sleeves and left. This time, "standing under low eaves," she had to yield. "Whether she lives or dies is up to Heaven's will. I won't speak of a full recovery; I only hope she can live for another ten days or half a month. That will count as your merit."
This condition was undeniably tempting. After all, the tiny Anle Tang was far from the "ladder to the heavens." She was a person who aspired to be the Imperial Noble Consort (Huang Guifei); only by staying in the Bureau of Ceremonies would she have the chance to be assigned to the Six Palaces.
As for her future plans, Yi xing had spent last night considering them carefully. She had even thought about bypassing the Emperor to please the Empress Dowager first. But that was for later; all plans required her to leave the Anle Tang first.
This threw the problem back to Gao Yang. Gao Yang tilted his head and asked Yi xing, "What is your plan? Since the Madame has put it this way, if the Miss has the courage to take this on, there’s no harm in trying."
Yivxing thought for a moment. She had intended to demur a bit more, but she couldn't fake that kind of posturing.
She turned her gaze to the person on the board. She was indeed gravely ill, but the quilt was still rising and falling, showing she was still breathing.
To take on a "sick ghost" did indeed require immense courage, but "if you don't risk the child, you won't catch the wolf." She hardened her heart and agreed. "I will do my best to look after her, but life and death are destined. If anything happens to her, I hope the Madame won't make things difficult for me because of it."
A bit of a smile pushed onto Wu Shangyi’s long face. "What are you saying? I only ask that you do your best; I ask for nothing else." She then looked at Gao Yang. "Manager, please point out a room."
Gao Yang’s hand came out of his sleeve reluctantly. He pointed vaguely to the east. "That one then. It faces the sun—good Feng Shui."
Wu Shangyi quickly signaled the nannies to move. They entered the room and together moved the girl onto the bed.
Those with Laoqie cannot be exposed to the wind. Only now was a corner of the quilt lifted, finally revealing the person's face. She looked to be eighteen or nineteen; if not for her face being flushed red from fever, she could be described as a very decent-looking girl.
Wu Shangyi spoke of pitying her goddaughter, but in truth, she didn't want to stay long. She hurriedly entrusted her to Yi xing and left.
As Yi xing was about to enter, Gao Yang stopped her. "What’s the rush?" Gao Yang said. "Going in like that, do you want to lose your life? Go get a piece of thick gauze, fold it several layers deep, and cover your nose and mouth before talking."
Yixing gave an "Aye." Only now did she ask, "Anda, you were intentionally making things difficult for Wu Shangyi just to help me out, weren't you?"
Gao Yang raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Good girl, you know what’s what! Actually, how could our Anle Tang have any reason not to accept people? I just made a hurdle so it would be easier for you to negotiate. You—a perfectly fine girl, a daughter of the Shang family, how can you be wronged here? You should aim high and look far, to the place where you belong."
Yi xing’s nose suddenly felt sore. She had often heard people say that "righteousness is often found among the butchers and dog-slaughterers," but because she had been pampered since childhood, she had never truly witnessed it.
Now that she was in the Anle Tang, the lowest of places, the people inside were actually looking out for her. Compared to the glitzy Bureau of Ceremonies, the Anle Tang was much more human.
"I don't know what to say... I’ll just... give you a curtsy." Yixing smoothed her robe and performed a steady, respectful bow to Gao Yang. "As long as I can get out of here, I will definitely not forget your kindness."
Gao Yang laughed and waved his hand. "I also see that your family has a strong foundation—so many Consorts among your ancestors! By your generation, things surely won't go wrong. Don't worry about anything else; we don't expect you to save her life, but if you can let her linger for ten days or half a month, if Wu Shangyi doesn't let you back, even I will look down on her."
Yixing responded, lifted her robe, and went to find gauze. Nanny Gu watched her back and sighed with emotion, "Look at that lively energy, how wonderful!"
Rong Bao was also watching. He turned and asked, "Master, when she has a future, do you think she can transfer us out of the Anle Tang one by one?"
Gao Yang reached back and gave his head a thump. "Just calculate that in your head; why ask? To live in this world, one should sow many seeds of kindness. I’ve been having a run of bad luck for over a decade; if she can climb a high branch and give us a lift, I want to go to the Bureau of Provisions (Jiucumian Ju) for duty..."
On the other side, Yixing truly began to diligently care for that "sick ghost."
People with this illness were not easy to serve; they coughed and wheezed, liable to lose their breath at any moment.
Yi xing had been a pampered lady at home; she didn't even wring her own face towel. This time, feeding soup and medicine while also wiping the girl's body down truly took her "the strength of nine bulls and two tigers."
Fortunately, this girl was also resilient. Having moved to a new place and "cleared the bad luck," she had a bit more spirit than when she arrived. Perhaps because she was young and hadn't yet become a jaded "palace oil slick," she was very grateful for Yi xing’s care. When she was conscious, she told Yi xing her name was Han Zhen. She had entered the palace at thirteen and was eighteen this year. She had endured five hard years with her godmother. This spring, she was supposed to go before the Emperor, but unfortunately, she caught this illness, and her hopes were instantly severed.
But to Yi xing’s ears, this was incredible. To go before the Emperor! If she had an acquaintance to work with from the inside and outside, wouldn't she be just waiting for a chance to show her face to the Emperor?
So, she had to cure her. Yi xing encouraged her, "Good days are ahead. I can read faces; you have at least sixty more years to live."
After comforting her, she went out to ask Gao Yang for instructions. "Anda, I want to go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to find that Physician Xia. He is a master of women’s medicine; maybe he can cure Han Zhen’s illness."
Gao Yang thought about it and nodded. He called over Rong Bao. "You know the way; accompany her." He then added, "There are many physicians in the Academy; the one you’re looking for might not be there. If you don't find him, just invite any one to come, take her pulse, and change the prescription."
Yixing agreed and set out with Rong Bao.
Strictly speaking, the Imperial Academy of Medicine inside the palace wasn't called an "Academy"; it should be called the Physician's Duty Room (Taiyi Zhifang). The duty rooms were divided into "Inner Duty" and "Outer Duty." The Inner Duty treated the Emperor and the Mistresses and was located in the Imperial Pharmacy next to the Emperor’s bedchamber. The Outer Duty treated palace servants and was located in the South Three Residences (Nan Sansuo).
The Forbidden City was truly massive. This trip from north to south took Yixing a full hour. By the time she stepped through the gate of the South Three Residences, her calves were cramping. She couldn't lean against the doorframe, so she tilted her body into a bow and shouted toward the gate:
"Greetings, Masters. I am on duty at the Anle Tang, looking for Physician Xia to treat someone at the hall. May I ask if he is in?"
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