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Chapter 32
From raising a Gu King to taming a wild Eagle, the Emperor harbored immense expectations and a firm determination for the "Old Auntie" to grow into a powerhouse of the harem.
One must endure the bitterest of hardships to become a person above others. Governing a harem was much like governing a nation; one had to understand where the chronic ailments lay before applying the right remedy to achieve a comprehensive cure.
The Old Auntie of the past had been arrogant and self-assured, living a more carefree life than any other young lady of noble birth. How could she have understood the difficulties of the deep palace? Thus, like taming an Eagle, she had to be put through trials so that a flower could bloom from the rubble.
Of course, if the rubble were to press down too hard on her head, the Emperor was willing to consider moving it aside. After all, growth required nurturing; he wasn't such an unreasonable man. Just like this braised beef—when the "Eagle-taming" showed its first signs of success, a little reward could be given to keep her motivated. Otherwise, the atmosphere within the Forbidden City was far too cold; it wouldn't be good if he trained her to have a heart of stone.
Shizi returned quickly from the Imperial Kitchen, carrying a round piece of beef shank inside an enamel food box.
The Emperor lifted the lid and glanced at it. The fat had been trimmed away perfectly; items from the Imperial Kitchen were always exquisitely prepared. However, carrying it in a food box was somewhat inconvenient; wrapping it in oilcloth would feel more "grounded."
Huai En brought over a medicine chest and placed the beef inside. To prevent the meat from spoiling in the heat, he cracked a piece of ice and carefully placed it at the bottom. As he worked, he said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. Your servant will notify the Bureau of Ceremonies to assign the Old Auntie a task and transfer her here to the Rain Flower Pavilion, making it easier for Your Majesty to meet her."
The Emperor thought for a moment and said there was no need. "Use the excuse of checking on that round-faced maid's injury to make another trip. It will avoid making her suspicious of why she keeps running into Physician Xia everywhere."
Huai En agreed. "Indeed, meeting everywhere would seem too deliberate. But the weather is hot after midday, and it’s a long way from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Your Majesty must also preserve your sacred person. Your servant suggests preparing a small sedan chair to be carried secretly to the Hall of Preserving Neutrality (Baozhong Dian). Your Majesty can then walk to the Imperial Garden from there. This way, we avoid prying eyes and the journey remains cool. What is Your Majesty's will?"
The West First Long Street was indeed quite long. The days of walking under the scorching sun had long passed since he became Emperor, so he relented. "Let it be done that way."
Thus, Huai En arranged for a sedan chair carried by two men to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation, parking it in the side hall to await the Emperor's arrival. The porters were eunuchs drawn from the imperial guard. Once the Emperor was seated, they hoisted it steadily onto their shoulders and traveled all the way from the West Second Long Street into the Hall of Preserving Neutrality.
The Hall of Preserving Neutrality was not far from the Imperial Garden, just across from the theater stage. Once the Emperor's carriage departed, Manfu went to find Liu Quanyun, asking him to find a way to tell Shangyi Wu to order the Old Auntie back to the living quarters to look after Yin Zhu.
Liu Quanyun didn't understand. While agreeing and sending a young eunuch to deliver the message, he inquired, "Why is your Imperial Presence suddenly so concerned about her? Didn't she have her tag discarded and become a palace maid?"
Manfu couldn't reveal much and gave a vague smile. "She is the Old Auntie of the former Empress. With such high seniority, how could people not be concerned? Didn't she serve at the Longevity Feast last time? The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and all the mistresses of the Six Palaces were watching her."
"Then the Emperor..."
"Oh, I just remembered! I still have to go to the Imperial Kitchen to order snacks. Quick, quick—I can't chat with you, I must hurry." Fearing that he might say too much, Manfu fabricated a lie and hurried away, his cool-cap bobbing as he vanished.
Liu Quanyun watched Manfu’s retreating back and shook his head twice. "I knew it. A person born with phoenix bones can't be raised as a chicken. Shangyi Wu followed orders and orchestrated that whole scene back then, but it's only been a few months, and it looks like the lid of the coffin can't be held down anymore."
The attendant beside him also gazed in the direction Manfu had gone. "Master, do you mean the Shang family's Old Auntie has caught the Emperor's eye?"
Liu Quanyun gave a huff. "When a man looks at a woman, one glance is enough. During the selection, things were so strict, measuring inch by inch with a ruler. But once the person is in front of you, as long as there's no smell under the armpits and no pockmarks on the face, who cares how long the arms are or if there are flat feet inside the shoes?"
The attendant gave an "Oh." "Then if the Old Auntie rises to a high position, won't Shangyi Wu be the first one to be crushed?"
Liu Quanyun chuckled. "Who knows? In this palace, fortune and disaster are intertwined; you can't say for sure in a few words. But if she truly gets a promotion, the mistresses of the harem likely won't be able to sit still. They just sent away one deposed Empress, only to welcome an 'Old Auntie' who is of the same generation as the Empress Dowager. If this continues, won't everything be turned upside down!" The more he spoke, the more interesting it seemed, and he actually began to look forward to the chaos.
Meanwhile, Yi Xing received orders from Shangyi Wu. Shangyi Wu said, "Yin Zhu has been bedridden for quite some time, and she looks to be mostly recovered. Have her return to duty. Go back to the quarters and check on her one more time; if her injuries are healed, that's for the best. If not, find a physician to look at her again. It’s no good to keep nursing her like this forever. I won't say anything, but those beneath me will start gossiping behind our backs."
Yi Xing gave a sound of assent. "I'll go check on her right now."
Flicking her long braid, she hurried back toward the quarters with high spirits. Just as she reached the Right Gate of the Splendid Garden (Qiongyuan), she saw a man wearing a face cloth coming along the path. Delighted, she stopped and called out, "Physician Xia! Speak of the devil—I was just thinking of you, and I didn't expect to run into you here."
What was this called? A lingering thought brings an echo? Perhaps!
Physician Xia raised an eyebrow and said, "Why was the Miss thinking of me? I just went to the Hall of Peaceful Joy (Anle Tang) and remembered the 'Big-Face'... Miss Yin Zhu's injury, so I detoured to take a look."
Yi Xing’s smile stiffened. She thought to herself: Why did he add "Big-Face" before "Miss Yin Zhu"? Yin Zhu’s face was like a silver platter—it should be called "plump and full"—but in Physician Xia's mouth, it became "Big-Face."
However, she couldn't say anything. After all, he had treated Yin Zhu, and she planned to ask him for another bottle of Tai-Zhen Red Jade Ointment later. So she suppressed her irritation and said, "Yin Zhu's injury is mostly healed, but the caning damaged her meridians. It hurts a bit to move her legs when she walks. Since you're here anyway, why not go in and have a look? You could even prescribe a couple of doses of medicine."
But Physician Xia didn't move. "After such an injury, damage to the bones and sinews is inevitable. There's no point in looking, and no medicine to take. Just use the medicinal oil I gave you last time, rubbing it in every morning and evening so it penetrates the painful areas."
Yi Xing gave an "Oh," and her mind began to waver again, wondering how much truth there was in the words Manfu had spoken earlier that morning.
In truth, if she simply asked Physician Xia for confirmation, the knot in her heart would be untied. She took a breath and was about to speak when she saw Physician Xia lower his head to open the lid of his medicine chest. He pulled out a paper bundle and handed it to her.
"Take this."
Yi Xing hesitated, asking what it was. The moment she touched it, she smelled the aroma of spices and immediately understood. She looked at Physician Xia with wide eyes and let out a joyful whimper.
Seeing her like that, Physician Xia felt a sense of disdain in his heart, thinking this girl was just as useless as she had been as a child. But seeing her shimmering, watery eyes flashing with gratitude, he decided not to mind her pathetic appearance. He turned his gaze away with some arrogance, only glancing at her with the corner of his eye. With hands behind his back, he said, "No need to thank me. If you must thank someone, thank the Emperor. This is a gift from the Throne; the Emperor has bestowed braised beef upon you."
Holding the meat, Yi Xing was a bit stunned by his words. "Imperial beef? I haven't performed any meritorious service; why would the Emperor reward me?" Regardless, the meat was indeed in her hands, so she turned toward the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and made a deep, respectful bow. "Your servant, Shang Yi Xing, thanks the Emperor for the gift of meat."
It was necessary for a sovereign to be clear about rewards and punishments. Physician Xia said, "Actually, it’s not entirely a reward for you. I was checking the Emperor's pulse today, and he noted my hard work lately and asked if there was anything I wanted. I took the opportunity to mention you. Didn't you ask me last time to put in a good word for you? I did so, and the Emperor still remembers you, saying he knew you when you were young."
Yi Xing let out an "Ah!" "Did the Emperor say that? That he knew me when I was young? Then, from the sound of his voice, did he seem to be grinding his teeth? Was there any sense of extreme resentment?"
Physician Xia thought to himself: Very good, she actually has some self-awareness. However, if he didn't ask her for the reason, it would lead her to be suspicious, so he asked knowingly, "Why does the Miss say that? Do you have a grievance with the Emperor? Why would he grind his teeth at you?"
This was hard to explain. Yi Xing used her thumb and index finger to make a difficult gesture showing a tiny gap. "It was... a small misunderstanding when we were young. I offended the Crown Prince of that time. But so many years have passed; the Emperor is magnanimous, so he must have forgotten long ago..." But she still felt uneasy, looking down at the piece of braised beef. "Did you tell the Emperor I wanted to eat braised beef? There isn't anything... extra added to this meat, is there? The Emperor wouldn't use this meat to secretly execute me, would he?"
Physician Xia clearly didn't understand why she would think such a thing. "In your heart, is the sovereign of a nation a man of such petty character? If he wanted to dispose of you, would he need to poison braised beef? You underestimate the Emperor too much. I requested this meat before the Throne, and it was brought out from the Imperial Kitchen and handed to me. You can rest easy. Furthermore, Manfu mentioned to me that you didn't believe I had spoken well of you to the Emperor, and that you declined the chance to show your face the day after tomorrow. Is that so?"
Only now did Yi Xing truly set her heart at ease. Holding the braised beef, she said, "I won't lie to you. When Eunuch Manfu told me that earlier, I didn't truly believe it. After all, there are pitfalls at every step in this palace, and I was afraid I would trip and fall. Now that you've told me yourself, I have no reason not to believe your words. Thank you for truly taking my request to heart."
"That’s only natural. I’m also tired of wearing this quail-patterned rank patch; I want to get a fourth or fifth-rank official post." Physician Xia spoke without reservation. Although his words had a hint of playful mockery, there was no ill intent. "Opportunities for the Emperor to tour the garden are few. If you want to climb to the heights and rescue your family, then put all your energy into carrying out your plan. The Emperor is also a mortal; how can a mortal not have a mortal heart? Didn't you say you were beautiful? With your looks, just make a strong appearance before him. Whether it succeeds or not, you must try, so as not to betray your original intention."
Yes, she shouldn't shrink back when it came time for the battle. Yi Xing had originally been undecided, but after this push from Physician Xia, her confidence suddenly swelled.
She gripped the braised beef and boldly stretched her neck. "Look at my quality, can I really succeed?"
Physician Xia looked her over carefully. That slender neck was like an ivory carving, with faint blue veins showing. When she held it high like that, it had a very "fox assuming the tiger's majesty" flavor.
"I think it will work," Physician Xia said. "You must believe in yourself. One day you will stand at a high position and look down upon those who once harmed you."
To vent her frustrations and hold her head high, she had to pull herself together. Thus, Yi Xing nodded firmly. "I'll take your auspicious words. I understand now; I can't keep crawling around the Bureau of Ceremonies as a lowly errand girl. I have to break out and make those who looked down on me kowtow to me in the future."
Physician Xia admired her ambitious state and nodded. "You can definitely do it. Everything in the past has been a trial to temper you. No one in power ever reached the top by acting spoiled or throwing fits. Only by stepping into the mire can you know how deep the water is, and only then will you have people who follow you with a sincere heart. So, will you still keep the appointment at the Imperial Garden the day after tomorrow?"
Yi Xing said, "I will go without a doubt. Don't worry, I will perform well and won't fail the cultivation you've given me."
Physician Xia said, "Good. Whether I get a promotion or not depends entirely on the Miss. Alright, the weather is hot; go back and escape the heat, and eat your braised meat. I should head back to the Imperial Pharmacy."
Yi Xing’s gratitude toward Physician Xia had reached a point beyond words; she could only nod repeatedly.
Physician Xia let out a small sigh, thinking to himself that it hadn't been easy, but everything was finally settled. He turned to walk toward the Right Gate of the Splendid Garden. He had only gone a few steps when he heard the Old Auntie behind him cheering him on:
"Physician Xia, don't cover your face in the future! The weather is hot; you'll get heat rash. Truly, looks aren't the most important thing, what matters is that you have a kind heart! Really, we don't judge a hero by his beauty. Even if there is some... deficiency on your face, I will still think highly of you."
Physician Xia froze. He didn't feel a surge of hot-blooded emotion from her stirring words; instead, the veins on his temples began to throb. He discovered that this Old Auntie was just as nonsensical as she had been as a child.
What do you mean "deficiency on your face"?! Even if his whole face wasn't exposed, surely she could see his eyes, eyebrows, and ears! Three of the "five features" were already so well-proportioned; even if the rest were bad, how bad could they be!
Vaguely, a childish voice echoed in his ears: "I'm young and my eyes aren't fully grown, so I can't see clearly anyway, so don't be embarrassed..." Her tone now was so similar to back then; it turned out this Old Auntie hadn't changed at all.
Calm down. I've dealt with her foul personality before...
"I was afraid you were carrying consumption and would pass the sickness to me! It’s not that I’m missing a nose or a mouth and have turned into a freak! You don't need to pity me!" Unfortunately, he couldn't hold back after all and shouted back quite sharply, venting all his resentment from childhood in one go.
Yi Xing was stunned. She hadn't expected her flattery to land on a horse's hoof. On one hand, she felt guilty for provoking him; on the other, she was glad that he had everything in the right place.
"Alright, alright..." She smiled and gestured for him to calm down. "I know you're not missing a nose or a mouth. Don't shout so loud; it's not good if others hear."
Physician Xia was nearly floored by her. He wanted to argue, but she took on an attitude of "I understand, you don't need to say more," waving the braised beef at him and telling him to hurry along. "I won't see you off!"
Physician Xia eventually left the there in a dejected state. Yi Xing held the beef in her hands, her heart feeling very warm.
No matter who sent it, once she was sure the meat wasn't poisoned, she ran back happily. The moment she entered, she proclaimed to Yin Zhu: "Look what good things I've brought back!"
Opening the oilcloth, it was truly... that round piece of shank meat, its edges and corners trimmed clean, looking so full and rich.
Yin Zhu’s eyes lit up. "Where did it come from?"
"Physician Xia... no, the Emperor... the Emperor wanted to reward Physician Xia, and he asked for a piece of beef for me." She held it out before Yin Zhu. "This is the handiwork of the Imperial Kitchen, not the big-pot food from the lower kitchens. Smell it—isn't it fragrant?"
Yin Zhu indeed used her nose to sniff. After one whiff, she collapsed directly onto her pillow. "Heavens, it smells too good!"
Yi Xing laughed, though her smile held a hint of sorrow.
How times had changed. Back at home, who would have cherished braised beef? Braised beef was dark in color and not as clean and translucent as crystal jellied pork with its alternating layers of white and pink. Now that she had entered the palace and lived so blandly for so long, only this kind of heavy-flavored dish could satisfy her cravings.
Unfortunately, she didn't have a knife; sharp tools weren't allowed in the palace. Yi Xing had no choice but to find a pair of sewing scissors, washing them carefully for temporary use. With a "snip," the outer membrane of the meat split open; the texture of the meat fibers was truly beautiful!
Saving half for Hanzhen, Yi Xing re-wrapped the other piece of beef and tucked it onto the desk. She turned and cut a slice of meat to stuff into Yin Zhu’s mouth, then ate a piece herself. She fell back onto the bed with Yin Zhu, chewing the meat while staring at the ceiling and sighing:
"Yin Zhu, in the future I will definitely let you eat meat at every meal. You can eat as much as you want; a huge bowl will be placed before you every day, and it'll be enough."
Yin Zhu chuckled. "Then you’ll have to become at least an Imperial Noble Consort; the monthly allowance of the other mistresses wouldn't be enough to feed me."
Yi Xing hummed. "Physician Xia came today and brought me some news. Whether I can rise depends on the day after tomorrow." She then told Yin Zhu the full details of what had happened.
Yin Zhu’s eyes widened, and she propped herself up. "Then we must prepare well so the Emperor falls for you at first sight. Guba, if you become a Mistress, I’ll follow you and serve you with total loyalty. I won't get married in the future either; I’ll just be a momo (senior maid) in the palace. Look at those jingqi momos (elite nannies) giving orders, they look so impressive."
Yi Xing teased her for being unambitious. "If we can leave, it’s obviously better to leave and get married. To stay in the palace and suffer so many losses isn't a good deal."
"So everything depends on you. In the future, you’ll be 'below one person and above ten thousand,' and we can follow in your glory. How wonderful that would be."
A life that had been suppressed for too long needed to be revitalized and pushed forward. Yi Xing rolled over and sat up, crossing her legs with a solemn face.
The Emperor was going to tour the garden the day after tomorrow. Good—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She rubbed her hands together, already impatient to let the Emperor witness her beauty.
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