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Chapter 44
Today, Concubine Mao moved into the West Side Room, sitting on the southern heated brick bed (kang) with the Noble Consort. Fragrant smoke curled upward from a green-glazed suanni incense burner on the bed-table. Concubine Mao’s expression was poor; whenever the Noble Consort spoke to her, her replies were half-hearted.
When Noble Consort Yu saw Yi Xing arrive, she did not give her a kind look this time. She said coldly, "Daying Yi, I thought that after your promotion, you would at least act with more gravity. Who knew you would be like a frantic chicken, actually colliding with Concubine Mao? Do you not know that Her Ladyship is carrying the Imperial lineage in her womb? Fortunately, the ancestors of the Great Ying protected her, and the little Prince was not harmed in the least. If anything had gone wrong, how would you account for it to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?" Seeing her still standing timidly before the screen, the Consort barked again, "What are you dazing there for? Come over quickly and kowtow to apologize to Concubine Mao."
Following Noble Consort Yu's summons, Yi Xing knelt before the footstool. At this moment, a little suffering for her knees didn't matter; what mattered was lifting the confinement order so she could act later.
"Your Ladyship, I was reckless and gave you a fright. After returning, I reflected deeply; I was so terrified I didn't dare close my eyes all night." Yi Xing tried her best to make her somewhat insincere words sound tactful, searching her mind: "Actually, I wanted to please Your Ladyship in my heart, Your Ladyship knows this—but I am dull and only know those stupid methods. In the end, I was clumsy and made a mess of things... Ladyship, please don't be angry with me. I am sincerely devoted to Your Ladyship and had absolutely no ill intentions."
Concubine Mao looked down on their "double act" of singing and harmonizing. She didn't want to hear a single word of the Old Auntie’s excuses; she only wanted her to scurry back to the Yilan Pavilion and stop being an eyesore.
Noble Consort Yu saw her arrogantly avert her gaze and give a disgruntled side-glance, knowing she resented her for meddling. But what choice was there? She hadn't wanted to come either, but she couldn't ignore the Emperor's earlier request to look after the Old Auntie.
"You see, she also meant well," the Noble Consort gave a dry laugh. "Knowing how precious the Imperial seed in your womb is, even if she intended harm, she likely wouldn't have the courage. I've advised you much just now, sister; I don't know if you've taken it to heart. Living in the same palace, teeth are bound to graze the tongue sometimes. If you are both more yielding, the matter will pass."
However, Concubine Mao did not agree with the Noble Consort's words.
She sat up straight and said, "It’s not that I won't give the Noble Consort face, but this wench is truly hateful. I said I wouldn't eat, yet she insisted on bringing it up. If you say she didn't do it on purpose, I won't believe it no matter what. Since the Noble Consort favors her so much, that's easy—just take her to your palace. Spend more time with her, and you'll know she has a blackened heart. Being able to tolerate her is Your Ladyship's grace, but anyway, there is no room for her here. Please, Noble Consort, think of a way to satisfy both sides."
This was an overt challenge. Noble Consort Yu was embarrassed by Concubine Mao's retort and became somewhat irritated herself. She let out a scoffing laugh: "I would like to, but when His Majesty gave the order, he explicitly assigned Daying Yi to Chuxiu Palace. What can I do? Since sister feels that Daying Yi’s residency makes you unhappy, please go report it to the Emperor. As long as His Majesty speaks, I will immediately settle her in my Yonghe Palace to restore your peace."
Seeing Noble Consort Yu put on a stern face, Concubine Mao finally felt some fear. One was a Concubine, the other was already a Noble Consort, and one who managed the affairs of the six palaces. Truly offending her would bring no benefit.
But even so, the arrogance in her bones was hard to suppress. Concubine Mao grew stubborn, turning her body away and remaining silent as a form of protest against the Noble Consort.
Noble Consort Yu, seeing her obstinacy, coolly looked away. "Daying Yi has just been promoted; if her name-tag is removed now and the Emperor asks, I won't be able to answer. Though sister's Imperial pregnancy is important, aren't things fine right now? Leaving someone a path is also gathering virtue for the child. If you truly feel unwell, summon a physician for a pulse check at any time, or take a few doses of calming medicine, and your heart will be at peace. Why be so relentless? It makes you, the Mistress of a palace, seem narrow-minded, as if you're specifically picking on an inferior."
Stung by these words, Concubine Mao said exasperatedly, "Does the Noble Consort think that as long as the Imperial seed is still there, it isn't a big deal? She intentionally collided with me, yet it’s turned into me picking on an inferior?"
Noble Consort Yu said, "There was a collision last time too, and didn't you already beat someone to death? Because you were carrying the Imperial seed, the superiors didn't investigate, and I covered it up for you. According to the laws of the Great Ying Harem, what is the crime for a consort killing a maid? At best a fine of salary, at worst a demotion, it’s not like you don't know. Now, Daying Yi is not a maid; she has a rank. You've confined her, but the Hall of Mental Cultivation is waiting to flip name-tags. If the Emperor cannot find her green-headed tag, please go explain it to him yourself. This palace will no longer interfere."
After speaking, Noble Consort Yu stood up indignantly and said to Yi Xing, who was still kneeling: "Get up and return to your Yilan Pavilion. It is the business of Chuxiu Palace for Concubine Mao to punish you; as a Noble Consort, I naturally cannot manage it. Fine, whether your confinement can be lifted depends on your own luck. If the Emperor happens to think of you, people from his presence will come to fetch you."
The Noble Consort stepped off the footstool. Cui Piao and Liusu came forward to support her, and they were about to head out.
Only then did Concubine Mao truly become afraid. She feared the matter would escalate; if it really alarmed the Emperor, it would be fine if she were truly carrying a son, but now... wasn't she "hollow"? She quickly signaled her attendants to stop the Noble Consort, while she herself began to weep with tears in her eyes. "Noble Consort, please appease your anger. I just hadn't come around to it yet. She collided with me, and I took it to heart; thinking back now, I was being small-minded. Fine, since the Noble Consort has spoken, I have nothing more to say. I will lift Daying Yi’s confinement order and let her name-tag remain as usual."
Yi Xing listened to their battle of words for a long time, finally getting the order she wanted, and let out a long sigh in secret. But she also saw Concubine Mao’s grievance. The hierarchy of this harem truly could not be crossed. Usually, everyone called each other "sisters" happily, but when trouble arose, high rank was high rank, and low rank was low rank. With one sentence from Noble Consort Yu, no matter how dissatisfied or fierce Concubine Mao was, she had to obey.
Since Noble Consort Yu’s goal was achieved and she had gained enough face, her expression softened again. She spoke a few more words of care, telling Concubine Mao to take good care of her pregnancy, and then led Yi Xing out of the main hall.
"You must be more alert from now on. In the palace, you cannot make a single misstep. Do you know how much this recklessness has damaged your future?" the Noble Consort said while standing under the corridor. She didn't speak behind anyone's back, intentionally letting everyone hear, her voice drawn out. "This time, Concubine Mao was merciful to you. If a complaint were lodged with the Empress Dowager, I fear you wouldn't be able to remain a Daying; you might even be sent to the Sincheok-ku to wash clothes. Be grateful in your heart to Concubine Mao. At least I came to plead for you today and she listened to me; if she were determined to punish you, then no matter how much face I have, she might not have yielded."
Yi Xing curtsied and said, "It’s all my fault for being reckless, nearly hurting Concubine Mao and alarming the Noble Consort."
Noble Consort Yu said: "Alarming me is a small matter, but offending the Imperial seed in Concubine Mao’s womb is a grave matter. Be more steady from today on. The matter of waiting in the rooms at night cannot be delayed. You've just been promoted; you must cherish the favor given by the Master. Don't accidentally cut off your own future, or it will be too late for regrets."
After the Noble Consort finished her admonition, she was supported by her attendants down the steps. The weather was hot, and the sun shone so brightly the ground seemed to reflect it. Cui Piao raised an umbrella made of thick oil-silk with a "plum blossoms in snow" pattern, escorting Noble Consort Yu south to the sedan chair waiting before the screen wall.
The person inside the window watched the activity outside. Seeing Noble Consort Yu leave and the Old Auntie return to the Yilan Pavilion, she felt a surge of stifled rage she couldn't vent, pounding the "blessings and longevity" pillow on the bed-head.
Qingshan came up to comfort her, saying, "The Noble Consort is merely relying on having managed the Palace for two years; her speech is full of the arrogance of a head mistress. Who in the palace doesn't gossip about her behind her back? Mistress, appease your anger for now and endure it. Once the little Prince is born, your good days will come."
But Concubine Mao was very pessimistic, her loneliness deepening. Leaning against the cushion, she murmured, "What if I give birth to a Prince? The Emperor might not necessarily like him. By then, I fear the child won't even stay with me and will be taken to be raised by the Noble Consort. Then I’ll have labored in vain, only to 'sew a wedding dress for someone else.'"
Qingshan and Ruyi looked at each other. In truth, the situation she feared was likely to happen. They wanted to advise her but didn't know what words to use. For a time, the hall was quiet, as if time had frozen.
After a long while, Concubine Mao stroked her high-protruding belly and spoke to herself: "Noble Consort Yu is on good terms with the one in the Yilan Pavilion. That lunge yesterday wasn't so simple; I fear they conspired to test me on purpose... Could they have noticed something?" Saying this, her eyes widened as she glanced toward the east end-room. "If one day they use the excuse of a thief in the palace and then pick someone to claim the thief entered Chuxiu Palace, and the Noble Consort orders a thorough search, what should be done?"
Her scenario sent a cold sweat through the people around her.
"Mistress..."
"No... the more I think, the more things feel wrong." Concubine Mao panted sharply, only calming down after a long while, her face showing the daze that follows terror. The hand stroking her belly slowly tightened on the fabric. She let out a long breath as if having made a painful decision. "If I am truly pushed to that point, I cannot be blamed. Sacrificing a child to drag down a Noble Consort, to appease me, the Emperor might not refuse to promote my rank. That way... it will be worth it for me."
With the confinement order lifted, life returned to her. Before nightfall, the bathtub was filled with warm water for the Old Auntie to bathe.
The Old Auntie had a gauze towel over her head; at this moment, she was mindful of the Emperor’s kindness. Resting the back of her neck on the rim of the tub, she closed her eyes and murmured a prayer: "May Heaven protect my Master to be keen of ear and eye. I’m a bit short on food; I want to eat lotus seed soup, and I also want to eat stuffed flour sausage... if His Majesty can hear me, may he protect the Imperial Kitchen to send me these two dishes tomorrow..."
Beside her, Han Zhen couldn't help but chuckle. "You, usually you don't think of the Emperor at all, but when it’s your turn to want something to eat, you remember his kindness."
Yi Xing grinned. "Actually, in the palace, you have to live like this to be comfortable. Look at those mistresses, each competing for face and favor—it’s because they like the Emperor. With so many women, which one should the Emperor be with? Fortunately, there are palace rules to restrain them, otherwise, they’d be 'cracking each other's heads open'; they truly have no sense of dignity at all."
Yin Zhu, who was preparing blue salt in the outer room, heard this and craned her neck into the end-room, whispering, "I heard the Emperor is even more beautiful than the mistresses. Who wouldn't love a beautiful man? Even if his 'Imperial Majesty' is a bit unpredictable, it can be overlooked for that face."
Yi Xing, remembering the way the Emperor made her read books, didn't think he looked good at all. She cupped some water and splashed it on her face, muttering, "What's all this about beautiful or not? Living in this world, having good character and a good heart is the primary thing."
She was comparing him to Physician Xia again. Truly, when a girl has someone in her heart, she cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes.
Yin Zhu brought a towel from the outer room to dry her, helping Hanzhen assist her out of the tub. She shook out a magnolia-colored shirt with a persimmon-pattern from the rack. "To bestow such beautiful clothes, could his character and heart be anything but good? Mistress, you truly are an ungrateful 'white-eyed wolf'."
Yi Xing puffed out her cheeks and made a gesture of raising a hand. "You dare talk nonsense again? See if I don't hit you!"
Yin Zhu hurriedly handed the clothes to Hanzhen and stuck out her tongue. "I’ll go outside to see if the mistress's light porridge is stewed yet."
A Daying's living quarters weren't like those of high-ranking concubines with their own small kitchens. They only had a tea-stove, used in spare time to boil a bowl of porridge or steep a pot of tea.
Yi Xing ate light at night, mainly because she was preparing to serve the Emperor. Although the name-tag might not be flipped to her, it was necessary to be prepared. Not just her; the mistresses of every palace were the same. If you gorged yourself at night and were called upon at the right time, and the scent of fish or meat on you offended the Emperor, you could forget about ever rising; you'd spend your life clutching your green-headed tag.
A bowl of porridge and a side dish, Yi Xing smacked her lips; there was truly no flavor at all. No choice, she had to make do. She finished quickly, rinsed her mouth, and applied lip glaze. Once everything was packed, she could step out of the palace gate and go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to wait for orders.
As luck would have it, today, just as she left Changtai Gate and hadn't walked far, she ran into Concubine Gong, whose confinement had also been lifted. Perhaps this period of "facing the wall and reflecting" had been exhausting; Concubine Gong's plump white face had shrunk a bit. She wore a honey-yellow robe with peony patterns and a ruyi hairpin set with white jade and red coral beads. Supported by Baozhu, she stood before the palace gate, looking at them with a cold smile.
Yi Xing thought to herself, What bad luck, she had run into an enemy again. Interacting with people is so bizarre; even if you weren't in the wrong, if the other person was punished because of you, meeting again made you feel a bit guilty.
Anyway, there was no avoiding it this time. Yi Xing resignedly stepped forward and gave a curtsy. "Paying respects to Concubine Gong."
Concubine Gong narrowed her eyes, looking at her just like that. Suddenly she snorted, "I wondered who it was—turns out it’s Daying Yi. I’ve been confined by the Noble Consort lately and knew nothing of the world outside. I didn't expect that even you would be promoted. I suppose you used good tricks, I heard you went to the Imperial Garden to dance. It seems I underestimated you before."
"Replying to Your Ladyship, it wasn't dancing, it was catching butterflies." Yi Xing didn't listen to her barbed words at all; she even had the heart to correct her mistake.
Concubine Gong was stunned, and her heart filled with disdain. Catching butterflies is catching butterflies; it’s not exactly something glorious, yet she specifically reasserted it. Clearly, she has a blockhead that doesn't understand human speech. The Emperor actually let the Noble Consort look after her, could it be that the Emperor finds the Noble Consort "old and faded" and is intentionally giving her "small shoes to wear"?
Thinking of this, Concubine Gong couldn't help but scoff. A maid supported her arm as she walked south, her exquisite flower-pot-sole shoes walking with a swaying willow-like grace.
"What do you Dayings do all day?" Concubine Gong glanced at her sideways. "This outfit is quite elegant. In the entire harem, I fear there isn't a single Daying who knows how to dress as well as you!"
Yi Xing said submissively, "Replying to Concubine Gong, this outfit was bestowed by the Emperor. Since it is an Imperial gift, I do not dare not wear it. As for what I do normally, there is truly nothing to do, nothing more than practicing calligraphy and reading books."
Concubine Gong looked down on her even more. "As a Daying, shouldn't you help the Mistress of the palace with chores? How is your Chuxiu Palace different from others? I suppose it's because Concubine Mao has 'encountered joy' and is now acting like a Bodhisattva... How about this? My palace is currently preparing the 'Ten Thousand Longevity Map' for the Empress Dowager's birthday. Come to my Yikun Palace and help sort the embroidery threads!"
This was interesting. Although Concubine Gong was the Mistress of Yikun Palace, they lived in different palace complexes; it wasn't her place to command someone from another palace.
Yi Xing glanced at Han Zhen. "I’ve just been promoted and don't know the rules for palace ladies. Concubine Gong wants me to help sort threads... How about this? Once I've reported back to Concubine Mao and she approves, we will go to Yikun Palace tomorrow."
Hanzhen, however, looked very troubled and said cautiously, "If we report this to Concubine Mao, I fear we will suffer for it. What if she later says you don't have her in your eyes... what then..."
Concubine Gong laughed. "True, you just collided with her yesterday; she certainly won't want to see you now. Forget it, I won't make it difficult for you; let’s drop the matter."
While speaking, they reached Zunyi Gate. People from the Respectful Affairs Office were waiting under the eastern corridor. Seeing Concubine Gong arrive, they bowed from afar.
Concubine Gong naturally had no mind to deal with the Old Auntie anymore; leaning on Baozhu, she headed straight north. Concubines waiting to be "placed on the silver tray" were all like this; even if the Emperor called them every night, they never tired of competing for a good position on that tray.
Yi Xing walked a bit slower. Anyway, the positions in the West Waiting Room were fixed; if you didn't come, it stayed empty—there was no such thing as someone taking your seat.
As she moved her feet, she was planning how to put the Zeqi given by Physician Xia to its full use. She caught a glance to the south and saw Manfu and Shizi approaching, discussing something: "Those dogs in the Internal Affairs Department are getting lazier. They claim Mistress Mao has a bad temper and they're afraid of being scolded—I don't believe it. If they’re delivering things, would Mistress Mao eat them...?"
Shizi looked up, his gaze meeting the Old Auntie’s. He hurriedly let out a "yo" and lowered his sleeves: "Mistress Yi is here! Paying respects to you."
Hearing them mention delivering things to Concubine Mao, Yi Xing kept it in mind and asked, "What's wrong with the Internal Affairs Department that has made you so angry?"
Manfu tilted his head and gave her a sheepish look. "Isn't it... because you collided with Concubine Mao last time? After the Emperor found out, he felt pity for Concubine Mao carrying the Imperial heir and wanted to appease her. At this time, the Kingdom of Goryeo has just presented some ginseng-processed scented powders and creams; the Emperor ordered them sent to Concubine Mao. Those in the Internal Affairs Department don't want to go to Chuxiu Palace, saying she constantly uses her pregnancy to pressure people, saying this is no good, that is no good... Before dinner today, they handed the items to the Chief Manager, asking him to assign someone to deliver them. Concubine Mao would at least give face to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and wouldn't be intentionally critical."
Yi Xing gave a long "oh." "So that’s how it is..."
Actually, she wasn't stupid; she could certainly see that Manfu and the others had intentionally mentioned this in front of her. Physician Xia had just given her the Zeqi, and now the Hall of Mental Cultivation just happened to be sending scented powders and creams to Chuxiu Palace. How could such a coincidence not make one suspect that Physician Xia had long ago conspired with the Emperor to provide her with such an opportunity?
For a courtier to be so "in sync" with the Emperor, it seemed their relationship was extraordinary... Yi Xing thought for a bit, finding it more and more suspicious. Physician Xia and the Emperor were similar in build; did the Emperor look at him as if seeing another version of himself?
Self-loving and narcissistic people, at their root, like themselves the best. If there were someone who had a similar charm...
A buzz suddenly went off in Yi Xing’s head, and she didn't dare think further. She steadied her mind and asked, "The gates are locked now, are you going to Chuxiu Palace?"
Shizi said, "How could that be? It's not a rush. Tomorrow..." He looked at Manfu. "When was it tomorrow?"
Manfu thought for a bit. "Tomorrow afternoon, we first have to serve the Master at the morning court, then serve him his meal, where would there be the spare time for this extra task?"
Yi Xing thought to herself, Good. Since everything had been prepared for her, she would just go with the flow. Of course, she couldn't say it aloud; acting as if she didn't understand, she pointed north and said, "I should go to my shift too. Carry on, Eunuchs." She took Han Zhen’s hand and went straight to the West Waiting Room.
Sitting in the waiting room, she looked out blankly, seeing the small eunuchs raising palace lanterns high onto the eaves. It was the time between light and dark; the sun had set, but there was still a lingering glow in the sky. However, that light was no longer bright; once dozens of lanterns were deployed together, it was heartlessly outshone.
Xu Sa went and returned. As expected, today it was still "Dismiss." No one dared discuss it in front of others, but they muttered in their hearts: What’s wrong with His Majesty? He’s completely stayed away from women lately—is he going to cultivate into a Buddha?
The people in the waiting room dispersed pointlessly. Lately, the greatest joy of the "roll-call" had evolved into seeing when the Emperor would "break his fast."
Yi Xing pulled Hanzhen and hurried back to Chuxiu Palace. On the way, those mistresses still wanted to mock her about the collision with Concubine Mao, but she gave them no chance.
Entering the Yilan Pavilion, she closed the door and sat cross-legged on a chair. She raised her hands, summoning her "left and right arms." The Old Auntie proposed a bold idea: "Could it be that the Emperor and Physician Xia are plotting something together!"
Yin Zhu was completely confused. "What... does that mean?"
Han Zhen also looked at her in confusion.
Yi Xing lowered her voice another notch. "The Emperor hasn't flipped a name-tag in ages; likely someone gave him the confidence not to. Right now, I feel like I’m being used by them. One gives me medicine, the other lets me find an opening, they just want to use my hand to get rid of Concubine Mao."
Yin Zhu was stunned. "Even if that’s the case, what happens after getting rid of her? What benefit does this bring them?"
"The benefit is huge," Yi Xing said, her eyes flashing with "wisdom" under the lamp. "Using the opportunity to promote me, creating a false image of me being favored. Because he knows my heart isn't in 'serving the bed,' the Emperor can boldly not flip anyone else's tag." She clicked her tongue while speaking: "Aha, they’re using me as a tool! But it doesn't matter; as long as I’m promoted, I can tolerate these small things."
The more she spoke, the more mysterious it became. Han Zhen said hesitantly, "Mistress means...?"
Yi Xing showed a sorrowful expression again, resting the back of her neck on the chair. Every word was the sound of a broken heart: "Otherwise, how could an inconspicuous little maid like me be worth Physician Xia approaching? I am of the Shang family; he knows I’m dissatisfied with the Emperor’s treatment of my brother and eldest niece, yet he still helped me get promoted. Why? Because they need someone who won't compete for favor, so they can..." The more she spoke, the sadder she became, finally covering her eyes and weeping: "...live together forever."
Yin Zhu and Han Zhen were as if struck by lightning, standing frozen and unable to recover. It took a long while before they issued a unified doubt: "Mistress, what kind of nightmare are you having?"
The words were insubordinate, but only such an exclamation could express their shock.
The Old Auntie’s meaning was that there was an unspeakable secret between the Emperor and Physician Xia, the Emperor had fallen in love with "another gender." This... this was simply utter nonsense! The Emperor was the ruler of a country; the Yuwen clan had been in the central plains for many years, and there had never been an Emperor with "broken-sleeve" tendencies. For an Emperor to be obsessed with male beauty, that was not a good omen. Which Emperor in history who kept male favorites had a good end? If the Emperor were truly like that, wouldn't the Great Ying be showing signs of a falling dynasty!
"Truly..." Yi Xing opened her lips, but before she could finish, Yin Zhu covered her mouth.
"Mistress, you mustn't talk nonsense," Yin Zhu said. "Do you not want your life? If someone hears this, it will be disastrous!"
Although Han Zhen was surprised, she wasn't panicked, continuing to comfort her with gentle words: "Whether it’s true or false, Mistress must keep this in her belly. Even if you talk in your sleep, you must avoid this. Mistress, what is your goal now? Is it that bit of 'private feeling,' or is it promotion?"
Yi Xing said without hesitation, "Promotion! Originally I was still mulling over those 'messy' things, but since I figured it out tonight, I desire nothing else. I have to climb up and rescue people."
"That’s right," Han Zhen said. "You can only do one thing earnestly. Whether it's the Emperor or Physician Xia, whoever loves whoever, alright?"
Yi Xing said fine. Since the gentleman is heartless, I shall cease. Who wasn't a decisive person?
However, she didn't sleep well that night, tossing and turning in bed. For the first time in her life, she liked someone, and she hadn't expected the "famous grass" to already have a master. Thinking about it truly made one's heart ache.
But the next day, the Old Auntie was lively again. After finishing her grooming, she waited until around the Si hour (9-11 AM) and then headed out with Han Zhen.
To make everything seem normal, she stopped at Yong Changzai's door for a moment, greeting her warmly: "I’m going to pay my respects to the Noble Consort; do you want to go together?"
The look Yong Changzai gave her was like looking at a fool. "I returned from paying my respects not long ago."
In the palace, those with ranks above Changzai had to greet the Noble Consort every day; there was no choice, as the Noble Consort was currently the most powerful. Dayings were different; because their rank was too low, they just greeted the Mistress of their own palace, they usually didn't have the honor of seeing the Noble Consort.
Yi Xing gave an "oh" and laughed foolishly: "I was so muddled... in that case, you rest. It's such a hot day; I’ll go and return early."
She took Hanzhen out of the Chuxiu Palace gates, but instead of going north into the Baizi Gate, she went all the way south toward the Zhongsi Gate.
In high summer, the sun was already high at this hour. Those mistresses who were good at maintaining themselves would never come out, so Yi Xing went south smoothly. On the road, besides a few eunuchs on business, she didn't meet a single familiar face.
Finally, she reached Zunyi Gate. Stepping in, she felt it was a bit unbelievable that she could have such courage, a tiny Daying daring to rush here without a summons.
Anyway, she was just "trading on her seniority," using her rank to act willfully. Fortunately, the Imperial eunuchs also accepted her; Minghai came forward to bow and said, "Why has Mistress come at this hour? His Majesty is currently having his meal. Why don't you wait a bit, and I’ll go inside to pass the word to the Chief Manager?"
Yi Xing said fine. "I appreciate the trouble." As she spoke, she glanced toward the East Side Hall.
So coincidentally, on the rosewood long-table inlaid with mother-of-pearl flowers and birds in the hall, there were two exquisite wooden boxes. Those boxes were clearly foreign tributes; the style and color were different from those within the pass. The beechwood lids were covered with white backgrounds and black characters, those words were circle upon circle, and no matter how you looked at them, they weren't the common script of the Great Ying.
Yi Xing signaled with her chin to Hanzhen. Hanzhen nodded, indicating, "I’m here, rest assured."
Doing bad things was usually like this: two people had to discuss and cooperate sincerely. Usually, one would lead the charge while the other stayed behind to act. Plus, this matter was likely already tacitly approved by the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so doing it wouldn't basically risk their lives—as long as it wasn't too obvious, no one would ask questions.
Minghai, who had gone to report in the hall, soon returned. Approaching with his sleeves down, he bowed and said, "Mistress, please enter the hall; His Majesty summons you."
Yi Xing gave a delayed "oh" and said pretentiously to Han Zhen: "I’m going to see the Emperor; you just wait for me outside. The sun is hot, be careful of the heat; find a shady place to hide, alright?"
Han Zhen gave an "aye," escorting her to the veranda.
Entering the hall, Yi Xing was indeed a bit nervous, but to find a suitable reason for appearing at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she had to brace herself and see the Emperor.
Inside, Huai'en came out to meet her, lifting the door curtain with a smile: "Please enter, Mistress Yi."
Yi Xing bowed slightly to him before stepping over the threshold.
Once inside, it was quite something. She saw the Emperor sitting at a long table covered with bright yellow dragon-patterned silk. The table was set with various dishes—at least twenty or thirty. But checking the clock, wasn't it not yet time for a main meal? At this time, it should be a "small meal"—all pastries, like flower-rolls, triangle-buns, or pea-flour cakes.
Yi Xing had already forgotten what she came for, her soul leaving her body as she curtsied to the Emperor: "May His Majesty live ten thousand years."
The Emperor behind the dining table looked at her expressionlessly. At a time like this, talking about "ten thousand years", he wasn't holding a birthday banquet. But seeing her eyes constantly darting to the table, he found it a bit amusing.
"I did not summon you. What important matter do you have for seeking an audience now?"
Yi Xing said none. "If there is any, it’s a small matter... Your Majesty, eating so many dishes in the middle of the day, aren't you afraid of it being too rich?"
"You don't understand Imperial affairs. If I want to eat 'hard' dishes at midday, I have my reasons." Seeing her eyes practically stuck to the bowl-dishes, the Emperor gave a forceful cough, gripping his green-jade gold-inlaid chopsticks and deliberately moving his yellow-ground famille-rose bowl. "If you have business, say it; if not, withdraw. Do not disturb my meal."
Yi Xing saw no choice and pulled the Meicun Collection from her sleeve. "I’ve been studying for a while and came to ask the Emperor to test my lessons... without saying more, I’ll recite a passage first for the Emperor's correction?"
The Emperor nodded. At this time, a serving eunuch placed food in his bowl; a piece of glistening "cherry meat" on the chopsticks gave off an amber-like full luster.
Looking at that meat, Yi Xing felt a surge of torment in her heart. "Wash the pot clean, use little water, let the wood smoke without flame. Let it cook itself without rushing; when the heat is sufficient, it will be delicious on its own... Your Majesty, are you short of someone to test your food? I am loyal and brave; let me test it for poison for you!"
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