______
Hello, lovely readers! ^^
Sorry for the interruption, but we'd like you to help with a tiny request. It'd mean a lot to us if you're willing to spare 3 minutes to help with this poll on Ko-fi telling us what series brings you/which you read mostly on this site. Here's the link - https://ko-fi.com/polls/What-series-do-you-enjoy-the-most-on-our-site-Or-A0A71UA533 Thanks in advance! Bless you all. đź’—
Chapter 23
"What exactly did that smile mean?" Manfu, a eunuch from the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin Dian) hiding nearby, was somewhat puzzled.
After delivering the item, he had concealed himself behind a floor-to-ceiling Thangka. Having overheard the conversation between the Old Auntie and the young palace maid, he couldn't for the life of him understand how a gracious favor from the Emperor had somehow been attributed to that "dog-ignored" Yan Songyin.
Furthermore, the Old Auntie’s silly, simple-minded smile carried a distinct scent of first love's awakening...
The thought made Manfu break into a cold sweat. Once a girl’s heart turned wild, ten oxen couldn't pull her back. Moreover, she was so beautiful; if something really happened between her and Physician Yan, wouldn't she be having an affair right under the Emperor's nose?
The managing eunuch of Baohua Dian, hands on his hips, was also mulling it over. "This medicine of yours... was it really sent by Physician Yan?"
As soon as he spoke, Manfu gave him a contemptuous look, thinking: Does this country bumpkin look down on me or what? He was a personal eunuch to the Emperor—did the man not know what that meant? He served the Emperor directly; no matter who someone else thought they were, they wouldn't dare try to command one of the Four Great Guardians of the Imperial Presence.
"You, the reason you were kicked out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and sent here to watch over the incense oil at Baohua Dian is exactly because of this—your brain just doesn't think things through." Manfu shook his head. "Fine, fine, get back to your work and stop making a fool of yourself."
Manfu peeked out once more, and seeing the Old Auntie cheerfully wiping tables, he didn't dare linger. He hurried back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The weather was poor today; muffled thunder rolled in the afternoon, the sky pressing down lower and lower, harboring a heavy downpour. Manfu braved the rain back to the side hall. Looking back, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was lit up everywhere with lamps; for a moment, he felt a dislocation of time, as if the hour for locking the gates had already arrived.
A young eunuch brought him dry shoes, saying, "Master, you should change. You have corns on your feet; if they're smothered in wet shoes for too long, they might start talking to you."
The veteran eunuchs in the palace were like this—the first half of a sentence sounded respectful, but the second half went off the rails, daring to tease even their own masters.
However, while such people were slippery, they were exceptionally shrewd in their duties. In places where the Emperor couldn't see, they joked among themselves; over the years, they had become a bit informal.
Manfu leaned his backside against the wall for support, lifted a foot out of its shoe, and gave the young eunuch a kick on the shoulder. "You little whelp, if they talk, they'll be calling you 'son.'"
After the banter, he didn't dare stay. He slipped into his shoes and ran into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Emperor always had endless official business to handle and books to read. Having finished reviewing memorials in the morning, he had now moved to the side room to leaf through the Complete Tang Poems. Upon entering, Manfu performed a deep "thousand-step" bow. With his eyelids lowered, he could see only the gold-dusted edges of the deluxe book pages; as a page turned, it cast a golden flash under the lamplight.
"The task Your Majesty entrusted has been completed. This servant is here to report back to the Master."
The Emperor’s expression was relaxed. This was his usual manner—he never showed significant emotional fluctuations regardless of the situation; he always had a strategy and could handle anything. It was said the Emperor’s mind was difficult to fathom; what he required was internal constancy, viewing joy and anger as fleeting clouds.
The gold-dusted paper made a crisp sound as it was turned. The Emperor gave a hum of acknowledgement. "As long as it was delivered. A girl’s hand... it doesn't look good with a scar."
Though he maintained an attitude toward the harem that seemed caring but was actually one of "free-range" neglect, he occasionally had moments of "pitying the fragrance and cherishing the jade." Of course, such pity was rare, but as the supreme ruler, such attention to detail was enough to build the image of a gentle and affectionate sovereign.
Manfu replied, "Yes. When the lady received the Supreme True Red Jade Ointment, her face lit up with joy. This servant saw that she looked very moved."
The Emperor didn't take it to heart, resting his chin on one hand while his eyes remained on the book, knowing she would surely be grateful for Physician Xia’s kindness—that was nothing more than the thoroughness expected of a physician on duty.
However, Manfu’s next words surprised him slightly.
Manfu said, "Master, the lady was talking to Yin Zhu. When Yin Zhu asked who sent it, the lady didn't even stop to think—she said Physician Yan sent it. Look at that, the lady has thanked the wrong person. If I hadn't been without Your Majesty’s orders at the time, I truly wanted to tell her to her face that this is a fine medicine available only from the inner court duty station."
The Emperor seemed to freeze for a moment, but it was only for an instant. His hand turned another page, and he said calmly, "Forget it. She’s just entered the palace and hasn't seen the world. To expect her to distinguish which medicines are provided by the inner court duty station is asking too much of her."
Manfu held his breath, peeking at the Emperor’s expression. "Master, it would be one thing if she just thanked the wrong person, but she also smiled at the doorway."
As the most observant eunuch of the Imperial Presence, Manfu once again proved his worth. He described the Old Auntie’s expression—two parts surprise, three parts happiness, and five parts longing—in great detail to the Emperor. Finally, he said, "Master is kind-hearted and looked after her because of their childhood acquaintance, but Miss Yixing thanked the wrong person. Isn't this a waste of Master’s good intentions?"
Manfu was talking a bit too much today. Huai'en, standing to the side, felt his heart hanging in suspense. Seeing that the Emperor still showed no reaction, he quickly gave Manfu a meaningful look, signaling him to withdraw immediately.
Huai'en was, after all, a veteran of the Imperial Presence. He had accompanied the Emperor to the South years ago and knew the origins of the "ill-fated karmic bond" between the Emperor and the Shang family's Old Auntie. However, such painful memories of the past could not be revisited; a few soothing words to the Emperor would make any unpleasantness vanish in a blink.
Thus, he bowed his back and said, "The Shang girl has been like this since she was small—straightforward and without a devious bone in her body. Because Physician Yan treated her before, she assumed this fine medicine was sent by him. After all, the girl has no support in the palace; anyone who doesn't play tricks on her is a good person... Thinking on it, it's rather heart-wrenching."
The Emperor’s gaze shifted slightly, but he did not respond to Huai'en.
Huai'en breathed a soft sigh of relief. Serving the Emperor was like this—one hoped for everything to go smoothly every day, which relied entirely on the Emperor’s peaceful state of mind. Turning big matters into small ones and small ones into nothing was their usual way of doing things. Manfu was young and impetuous, sometimes lacking discernment, but since he was the apprentice he had raised, Huai'en had to help him out.
On careful reflection, the Imperial Grace was vast, yet the recipient had thanked the wrong person—this was indeed rather ungracious. Fortunately, the Emperor didn't seem unhappy. Huai'en thought the matter had passed, but after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Emperor suddenly said, "She has forgotten Physician Xia."
Huai'en’s tongue felt numb. Generally, the longer the Emperor took to react, the more serious the situation was. For the Emperor to be bothered by such trivial matters was not a good omen.
Indeed, how could she forget Physician Xia? Her ability to return to the Bureau of Ceremonies was entirely due to Physician Xia curing Wu Shangyi’s god-daughter. Having received such fine medicine, the first person she thought of was actually Yan Songyin—the girl's heart was truly biased.
Huai'en stammered, "I... I suppose it's because the inner court station is busy; she likely assumed Physician Xia wouldn't have the time."
The Emperor fell silent again, and after a long while, he shook his head with a sigh. "I hope I haven't misjudged her."
When choosing a "gu-insect" (a venomous insect in a jar), the most interesting part was watching her counter-kill, but the insect had to have good potential first.
The Emperor closed the book, took a sip of tea, and leaned back, saying to Huai'en, "You saw her as a child, and look at her now... although they say 'a girl changes eighteen times by the time she's eighteen,' in my eyes, she doesn't seem to have become any smarter."
In truth, this was entirely the Emperor’s prejudice. The Shang family Old Auntie’s cleverness was adjusted according to her mood. Because she had lived willfully since childhood, she was reckless most of the time, but when she became shrewd, she could poke a hole right through someone with her words.
Huai'en’s voice became distant. "I still remember when we followed the Old Emperor to the South; the Old Auntie was like a village bully. She had a head of sparse yellow hair, though her face was quite well-proportioned."
Speaking of Yixing’s yellow hair, Huai'en smiled wistfully. She really didn't have much hair as a child. When receiving the imperial entourage, her grandmother had placed a nest of false hair on her forehead to make her look dignified. It was black on top and yellow underneath, looking like she was wearing a hat—it was comical in every way. She had a pair of large eyes; when she was up to no good, her pupils would roll around. If she didn't bat an eye before a battle, it meant some nonsense was coming next.
However, as time passed, the little girl of those years had grown into her current self. That large braid was as if it had fallen from heaven—suddenly grown thick and lustrous. Looking purely at her appearance, the ladies of the harem were not fit to discuss beauty with her. Huai'en had seen her at the Wanshou Festival banquet; seeing her kneeling and kowtowing with such caution, let alone the Emperor, even he felt a strange sense of heartache.
Ultimately, she was still benefiting from those childhood days. The Emperor wanted to tighten the strings of the harem and gave her an opportunity others couldn't get. On one hand, he wanted to cultivate her for his own use, but if she turned out to be "rotten wood that cannot be carved" and was defeated by the harem ladies, it would count as avenging that "arrow to the heart" from their childhood.
But there were times Huai'en didn't understand. He asked the Emperor, "Master, why not simply summon her to the Hall of Mental Cultivation? If Master explains his thoughts to her, her mind will be clear."
After hearing this, the Emperor’s lips curled slightly. That fleeting expression seemed somewhat like a cold smile.
"Without fighting a bloody battle, how can one stand at the top of the pagoda? Granting a rank is easy; the important thing is that if she takes a rank without knowing how to use it, wouldn't she be just like those concubines of the six palaces?" The Emperor’s hand rested on his knee, slowly tapping out a rhythm. "The Shang family has just lost an Empress; she must earn her own face. I do not lack favored concubines, nor do I have the heart to restore the Shang family's former glory. As long as she has the ability herself, there is plenty of room for her to show her stuff. However, I see her 'threads' need to be properly straightened out; she must suffer some hardships before she can succeed."
Huai'en voiced his agreement repeatedly. From this perspective, the Emperor was being magnanimous and surely wouldn't hold a grudge over such a small matter.
Just then, Shizi announced at the door that Consort Yu (Yu Pin) of the Jingyang Palace requested an audience. Most concubines came from good backgrounds; the Emperor’s interactions with the harem were like international diplomacy—everywhere filled with the polite standards of a great power.
"Let her in." The Emperor composed himself and sat upright on the southern heated bed (kang).
Consort Yu entered the side room gracefully, bowed with a smile, and said, "Master, the first batch of fresh peaches this year has been harvested. I ordered peach congee to be made, and the small kitchen fried a plate of 'Jade Spring Sticks' for Your Majesty to try."
The Emperor had seen and eaten everything; he often found the earnest offerings of his concubines to be a bit childish, but he never snubbed them to their faces, always giving the most appreciative feedback.
"It’s raining hard outside, and you are not in good health; why walk through the rain? I’ve just finished lunch; you needn't have sent it from so far." As he spoke, he pointed to a stool. "Sit. I recall the Noble Consort loves peach congee; have you sent someone to the Yonghe Palace with a portion?"
Consort Yu smiled. "Naturally. I ordered someone to head to the Yonghe Palace as I was leaving. I brought it to Master personally, first because I feared the servants might be careless, and second because I haven't had a good talk with Master for a long time, so I came specifically to see you."
Though the Emperor felt impatient, he remained polite on the surface. He took a sip of tea and said, "I am doing well in all respects, only recently I’ve been busy with government affairs and truly can't find the time. Do you have other matters today? I recall you have a cousin who entered the palace; if you'd like her company, go ask the Noble Consort for instructions and have her move into your palace."
For an Emperor to have such delicate thoughts and be willing to consider the emotional needs of his concubines was truly enough to move someone beyond words. However, Consort Yu said no. "Thank you, Master, for the grace. She is doing quite well in Consort Kang’s palace. If she were with me, I would inevitably protect her; having Consort Kang teach her the rules will help her learn some restraint. However, I heard that Consort Mao (Mao Pin) had a dispute with her last time and scared her half to death..." She paused, checking the Emperor’s face. Seeing him remain silent, she continued, "Consort Mao is now carrying the imperial seed, and her temper is becoming increasingly strange. Last time she beat a small palace maid to death; now, for those of lower rank, she glares and scolds as she pleases... None of us come from poor families; who would want to endure her foul temper?"
Thus, concubines were not suitable for casual conversation; everyone had a private agenda. They would take the long way around just to bring up a topic and take the opportunity to complain or file a grievance.
Regarding Consort Mao’s pregnancy, the Emperor was actually a bit confused himself. He didn't know when he had last visited her; it seemed as though she had been pregnant with that child for years—long enough for everyone to almost forget.
In short, he didn't want to discuss it further, saying only, "Consort Mao has a strange temper; you all should just yield to her a bit." He looked at the incense on the desk; it had been burning since Consort Yu entered and was now more than half-spent, so he tactfully dismissed her. "I still have some memorials to finish reviewing; you may take your leave. Right, the Governor of Sichuan sent a batch of 'Bird's Tongue' tea yesterday... Huai'en, give a tin to Consort Yu."
The Emperor never took advantage of people in small matters, always believing in give-and-take. Thus, a tin of tea repaid Consort Yu’s kindness. Consort Yu left with a thousand thanks, looking back at every step with an air of lingering reluctance.
Meanwhile, at Baohua Dian, there were many cleaning tasks and miscellaneous chores. Added to that, the managing eunuch kept assigning new tasks, so the group was busy until dusk without finishing.
"Be quick about it! Such a small amount of work, yet you've managed to stall until now!" That head eunuch, who wasn't much of an organizer, was like a braised jackdaw—his body might be rotten but his mouth wasn't. He looked around with his hands on his hips, dissatisfied. "Hurry up, hurry up... the Lamas are coming tomorrow to chant sutras. If the hall isn't cleaned, the higher-ups will blame us!" As he spoke, he clutched his chest. "Ouch, my stomach hurts from hunger. What a bunch of luckless people!"
A little eunuch following him was the most clever, saying softly, "Master, don't suffer. There are cakes and tea on the copper stove to the east. Go over and have some to tide you over."
The manager thought this was a good idea and paced out of the prayer hall with measured steps.
The rest of the people were starving but dared not speak out. They could only quicken their pace, hoping to return to their quarters before the palace gates were locked.
Unfortunately, it was too late. The sound of the night watchman's clappers echoed along the Long Street, and the gate hinges of the entire Forbidden City let out a continuous, desolate creak. They were all trapped in Baohua Dian.
The work couldn't stop, and someone grumbled, "He only knows how to order people around. We've done the reworked tasks over and over again. How is such a bastard still a manager? Why doesn't Heaven strike him dead with a bolt of lightning?"
But what use was complaining? The man remained unaffected.
Yi Xing worked in silence. This was what her mother had said when scolding servants, one had to hold in one's breath; talking too much would leak one's spirit. If one only cared about complaining, the work would never get done.
She polished the bronze work, gritting her teeth and putting in every ounce of strength. She finally managed to clean the gaps in a sunflower pattern. Just then, Yin Zhu leaned over and held out her palm for her to see. "Look, what’s this?"
Yixing looked closely. It was a piece of aloeswood about the thickness of a finger, carved with a pattern of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) with Holy Water. However, the carving wasn't finished—the upper half was as detailed as every strand of hair, but the dress of the lower half was only roughly outlined.
"Where did you find this?" Yixing flicked it with her finger.
Yin Zhu pointed under the altar. "I suppose the carver lost interest and just threw it away." She turned it over and over, then sniffed it. "It’s truly a good piece of wood. Hanging it in a wardrobe could scent the clothes."
In any case, it was a worthless item that had been tossed aside, originally meant to be cleared out and burned. Yin Zhu thought about it and decided to keep it, tucking it into her sleeve.
The group worked for a good while longer. By the time the managing eunuch returned, picking his teeth, the hall was basically cleaned. The manager looked around and found no faults, then turned to his follower. "I asked Manager Liu for instructions early on; the tablets for Chonghua Gate and Chunhua Gate have been left. Take the tablets and have the guards open the gates to let them back to the Bureau of Ceremonies."
The little eunuch gave an "aye" and waved to lead the way. "Everyone follow me."
A small palace lantern was held high, and the group used the weak light to walk in a line along the Long Street. Once they entered Chonghua Gate, they were in the territory of the Bureau of Ceremonies. The maids living in the large common bunks had to return to the row houses. Yixing and Yin Zhu lived with Hanzhen in the rooms behind the Jade Emerald Pavilion; there was a short path there that connected to the Imperial Garden. At the end of the path was a lantern for the night watch, making the path underfoot barely visible.
Because Yin Zhu had left her needlework in the duty room, she took a turn to fetch her basket. Yi xing headed back to the quarters alone. Having been busy for two consecutive hours and previously punished with kneeling, her entire body was aching. She couldn't help but support her waist and twist her neck, walking with unsteady steps.
But halfway there, she suddenly heard someone cough. She gave a start and asked with wide eyes, "Who is it!"
The voice hesitated for a moment before finally making up its mind. "It's me."
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
We hope you enjoyed this chapter! You can vote for this novel translation and drop a review on Novel Updates!
Show support by clicking on the Support Us button below!❤️
We hope you enjoyed this chapter! You can vote for this novel translation and drop a review on Novel Updates!
Show support by clicking on the Support Us button below!❤️
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments
What's on your mind...