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Chapter 56
"A miscalculation," Yixing said. "If I had known, I would have let Huai’en and the others follow us. It’s not like your storehouse is a shameful secret. If someone had been waiting outside, the eunuch locking up wouldn't have been able to shut us in."
The Emperor thought to himself that Huai’en was far too clever; his absence was clearly an attempt to play matchmaker. Although his own feelings for this Old Auntie were plain at best, he couldn't help that his subordinates viewed them as a pair. Servants, though they were servants, had their own thoughts and designs, and as an Emperor, it was unseemly to micromanage every detail. In any case... this time was an accident.
Looking at the sky, he gave the door bolt one last, stubborn tug, but it was indeed locked tight from the outside; there was no way out. The Emperor said, "It doesn't matter. Just wait a bit. When Huai’en and the others see that I haven't returned, they will surely come looking."
Yixing expressed her doubt. "Really? What if they think you’ve gone on a 'palace visit' and stayed at my place, while my people think the Emperor has diligently kept me and I’m staying overnight at the Hall of Mental Cultivation? If there’s a misunderstanding on both sides, what will we do?"
The Old Auntie truly dared to say anything. In some respects, she was more open-minded than the Emperor, which actually caused him to flush red.
Fortunately, under the cover of moonlight, the Emperor straightened his back and said to her with disdain, "A young lady should be more demure. Talking about 'palace visits' and 'overnight stays'—you truly have no shame."
Yixing replied, "Why should I be ashamed? I’ve been promoted; I am your Concubine. My green name tag is placed on your large silver tray every day. If you aren't ashamed to flip the tags, why should I be ashamed of anything?"
The Emperor was left speechless, marveling that such a person existed in the world—someone who yielded all the disadvantage to others while she herself stood outside the mundane world like a wild crane, viewing the matter objectively. Perhaps because she simply didn't care, she felt free to discuss anything.
Maybe today was a good opportunity. With the two of them trapped in this small courtyard, they could have an open and honest conversation.
What the Emperor was most curious about was his status in the Old Auntie's eyes.
"I ask you, how do you think you and I should get along in the future?"
In the pitch black, the buzzing of mosquitoes filled their ears. Yixing fanned them away with her hand and replied casually, "Just like this. Don't we often have very pleasant conversations?"
True—provided he was always the one getting the short end of the stick.
The Emperor said no. "What I mean is the matter of seniority. Do you take it seriously in your heart?"
Yixing said, "Seniority is naturally important. By right, you should call me 'Old Auntie.' Who told you to marry my niece?"
The Emperor was rendered speechless once again. The fact that he had married her niece was an unalterable reality; thus, his seniority was pinned down firmly—he was one generation lower than her.
"But now... Zhiyuan and I have parted ways. That so-called seniority should no longer count."
Yixing said no. "According to the ancestral order, my 'Old Auntie' was your grandfather's Imperial Noble Consort Duanyi. No matter how unwilling you are, you are still my junior. You must call me 'Old Auntie.'"
The Emperor felt a bit stifled. "I originally thought you were a person who didn't dwell on small details, but I didn't expect you to calculate seniority so clearly without saying a word."
Yixing smiled. "You are wrong. When it comes to things where I can gain an advantage, I am never muddled. Seniors are seniors, and juniors are juniors. You can't ignore seniority just because of your noble status."
The Emperor became depressed. Since she was a senior, how was he supposed to flip her tag in the future? If he had to call her "Old Auntie" repeatedly while in bed, could that actually become a form of flirtation?
Suddenly, a sharp smack interrupted his thoughts. Yixing grumbled and complained, "There are so many mosquitoes; I’ve been bitten several times."
There was no one here to burn mosquito incense, and there was no ceiling. For those mosquitoes and flies finally getting a taste of fresh meat, they were bound to pick the tenderest spots.
She said it wouldn't do; they had to keep moving. So, she started walking in circles around the small courtyard, calling out to the Emperor as she went: "Don't you know horsemanship and archery? Can a single wall really stump you? If you just did a 'sparrow-hawk flip' over the wall and found someone to open the door for me, wouldn't we both be out?"
The Emperor simply didn't want to deal with her. "Have you read too many storybooks? Can palace walls be climbed over so casually? Furthermore, I am the dignified Emperor; what would it look like for me to climb a wall? It would be a laughingstock if it got out."
So men sometimes care too much about their "face." Wouldn't being trapped in this Three Hall Compound also make them a laughingstock? But if you insisted on reasoning with him, it was a dead end. Yixing thought for a moment and said, "How about this: I’ll be a stepping stone for you at the bottom. You can step on my shoulders to get over the wall. If there's no one outside, you climb over; if there is someone, you shrink back. How's that?"
In the end, the Emperor said no and showed great disdain for her wild imagination. "You overestimate yourself. If I used you as a stepping stone, I could stomp your guts out with one foot. Do you believe me?"
Heavens, the way this Emperor talked was truly disgusting. She wasn't a bug that could have its guts stomped out so easily. Yixing also got a bit annoyed. "This won't work, that won't work. If it really doesn't work, you stay at the bottom and I’ll climb the wall. I’m not afraid of losing face. As long as I see someone, no matter who it is, I’ll just have them open the door."
Unfortunately, His Majesty still said no. "If I stay at the bottom... how can my imperial dignity be preserved?"
There was no way around it then; they had to wait. Only when Huai’en or Hanzhen and the others realized they were missing would there be hope of getting out.
However, as to how long they would have to wait, it was hard to say. The moonlight was bright and pure, but there were too many mosquitoes, and there was the chirping of insects at the foot of the wall. Yixing stood on the steps and tilted her ear to listen. "Is that a mole cricket calling?"
If the mole crickets called, the harvest would be poor. The Emperor said crossly, "I think you’re the mole cricket. Those are 'oil gourds' and 'lingzi' crickets. They are the most common things in the palace during summer; there isn't even a single katydid."
Yixing didn't care about his sarcasm and just pressed him: "How do you know?"
"Because when I was little, I turned over every wall-base in every palace courtyard. I can distinguish those calls just by listening. Do I need to explain further?"
He seemed quite proud. Yixing felt that he actually hadn't grown up. It was shameful for a dignified Emperor to jump a wall, yet "turning over wall-bases" was considered glorious. She gave an unceremonious snort of laughter. "If you wanted a katydid, couldn't you have sent someone to buy one? You went through all that effort and didn't catch a single one."
Finally, mosquitoes started biting him too. He smacked his neck with a slap and took the time to tell her, "Buying one isn't as fun as catching one. What do you know?"
Yixing rolled her eyes at the dark figure. After moving around for a while, she felt a bit tired and sat down on the steps, murmuring to herself, "If only I had a fan. Right now I have nothing to drive the mosquitoes away; I’m being bitten to death."
Hearing this, the Emperor asked, "Did the Palace Household Department not distribute circular fans to your palace?"
Yixing gave a hum of affirmation. "There were three, but the styles weren't very nice, so I didn't like carrying them."
The Old Auntie came from a prestigious family and had seen many fine things; anything slightly inferior couldn't catch her eye. The Emperor sighed and said, "Once we’re out, I’ll order them to prepare a few beautiful ones for you." As he spoke, he sat down on the steps beside her and told her to flip down her "horse-hoof" sleeves to cover the backs of her hands, while he quietly rolled up his own sleeves.
Yixing said, "Thank you, Emperor," but she still looked listless.
Setting the jade bowl aside, she sat there with her head drooping, looking like someone begging in front of a temple gate. Under the moonlight, she was feeling emotional about the turns her life had taken, letting out long sighs.
The Emperor glanced at her. "Concubine Chun, up to this day, do you regret entering the palace?"
Even if she did regret it, she naturally couldn't admit it. Yixing thought he was a bit silly. She responded softly, "Am I not currently a Mistress? I enjoy fine clothes and food; wouldn't it be ungrateful to regret it? Besides, if I hadn't entered the palace, how would I have met you? This is all destiny, Your Majesty."
She was too good at saying pleasant things. Even though it sounded so fake, the Emperor still found it very pleasing to hear.
A mosquito bit his arm; he smacked it, then turned to look at the moon in the sky, murmuring, "Isn't it destiny? If the former Empress were still here, you wouldn't have been selected to enter the palace... things are predestined in the dark. One must accept one's fate."
Fortunately, she was a bit different now that she had grown up compared to when she was a child. At least she no longer had a head of yellow hair, and she knew how to show restraint in some areas; one could make do for a lifetime. As for himself, he was the favored of heaven, the Sovereign of the nation. Although he cared a bit much about face, his temper wasn't bad. Perhaps in time, he could make her fall head over heels for him!
Of course, these were all the Emperor’s thoughts. For Yixing, as long as she didn't think about the suffering her eldest niece had endured, she didn't hate him as much.
A young girl alone in the Eight Outer Temples, surrounded by the "green lamp and ancient Buddha" all day—what a sense of disappointment and loneliness that must be. He was high above; how could he possibly know? A woman's years are so precious. Having followed him for the first few years, the remaining ten or twenty years would be wasted in a temple. Who could she tell of such grievances?
In fact, she wanted to ask if there was any way he could show mercy and let Zhiyuan return to the secular world, but before she could speak, he slapped her face.
"What are you doing? Taking the chance to get revenge?" Yixing asked irritably. Even if the slap didn't hurt, it still made her feel a bit angry.
The Emperor didn't speak. He wiped his thumb across her cheek and then spread his palm before her. There was a large smear of blood on his palm. He said with disdain, "A mosquito was biting you for ages; how did you have no sensation?"
Only then did Yixing reach up to scratch it. To argue with him, she said unwillingly, "Who told you to hit it? I liked feeding it. Once it was full, it would have naturally flown away."
Now the Emperor had nothing to say. When she became unreasonable, she was simply reckless.
Calculating the time, they had been trapped here for nearly an hour. If the servants didn't come soon, he planned to take her into the hall; if push came to shove, they would stay here tonight.
However, just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard the sound of a key in the palace gate lock. The light of two lanterns revealed the faces of Huai’en and Hanzhen. Seeing the two sitting on the steps, they gasped and said, "Heavens, we are late."
Stepping forward to check on their respective masters, Huai’en said, "Your Majesty, I was muddled. I should have come to meet you earlier."
Yin Zhu used a handkerchief to wipe the remaining blood from Yixing's face, saying guiltily, "Mistress, you’ve suffered, feeding the mosquitoes for all this time..."
Yixing said it didn't matter, clutching the jade bowl in her arms; at least the trip hadn't been in vain. As she was about to return to her bedchamber, she curtsied to the Emperor and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your help. If I’m free tomorrow, I’ll go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to pay my respects." Before leaving, she didn't forget to remind Huai’en, "Take some medicine back and apply it carefully for His Majesty. Wild mosquitoes are very poisonous; make sure no scars are left."
Huai’en repeatedly said yes, bowing as he watched the Old Auntie step out of the palace gate before turning back to serve the Emperor's return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Previously, it had been too dim to see clearly, but once inside the Warmth Pavilion, it became clear: the Emperor's arms were covered with over a dozen mosquito bites. Huai’en was shocked. "The mosquitoes at the Three Hall Compound have such powerful mouths; they can pierce through sleeves to bite your skin."
The Emperor didn't speak. He carefully applied mint ointment to the bites himself. Once finished, he closed the lid and ordered Shìzi, "Take this to Concubine Chun."
Sending things late at night was actually quite a hassle, but fortunately, those in the Imperial Presence had waist tags, allowing them to skip the registration procedures.
When Shìzi delivered the mint ointment, Yin Zhu had just finished helping Yixing with her bath. Hanzhen thanked him on behalf of her mistress and saw Shìzi out of the palace gate. Turning back, she saw a large bite on her mistress's face. Yixing said dazedly, "It bit my face. If it swells up tomorrow, how can I see anyone?"
Hanzhen hurried to pull her under the lamp, carefully applying a layer of medicine. When asked how it felt, she only said it was cool and no longer itchy.
Later, she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed, falling into a dream in her haze. In the dream, she and the Emperor were arguing incessantly about climbing the palace wall. The Emperor said, "I am on top, you are on bottom," and she kicked him, saying, "This Consort is on top, you are on bottom." Later, the pulling and shoving turned into a mutual fight. She vented all her resentment toward the Emperor, using both hands and feet to punch and kick, shouting, "I’ve endured you for a long time!" She beat the Emperor until his hair was a mess and his face was bruised and swollen.
Hanzhen, who was on the night shift, heard the commotion and hurried to pull back the curtains to look. The Old Auntie had already rolled to the edge of the bed and was about to fall off. She hurriedly whispered, "Mistress... Mistress... are you having a nightmare?"
Only then did Yixing wake up. She let out an "oh" and said it was nothing. "I was in a fight." She rolled back to the inside of the bed and fell asleep again.
The next day, the mosquito bite on her face was no longer swollen, leaving only a red dot the size of a sesame seed. After carefully covering it with two layers of powder, it was basically invisible. Hanzhen finished preparing her, and Yin Zhu accompanied her to Yonghe Palace to pay respects. When passing the Palace of Heavenly Purity, she still habitually paused, but looking toward the Imperial Pharmacy again, her state of mind was completely different from before, revealing a hint of unprovoked sadness.
Yin Zhu tugged at her sleeve. "Mistress, don't think about it anymore. Let's go."
Yixing smiled. "I just feel like I owe a favor and couldn't repay it; I feel quite bad for him."
Yin Zhu said, "Actually, given Physician Xia's relationship with the Emperor, there's no need for you to repay him. Isn't promoting him just a matter of a single word from the Emperor?"
Thinking about it, that seemed right. The reason the Emperor didn't give him a promotion or title might be due to other reasons. Since Physician Xia had drawn a clear line with her, she wouldn't worry about it anymore!
Taking a breath, she hurried to Yonghe Palace. Most people had already arrived; she was the only one missing. Yixing entered and smiled as she curtsied to the Noble Consort. "I am late today; please forgive me, Noble Consort."
The Noble Consort nodded and slightly raised her chin to signal her to take a seat, but her gaze lingered on Yin Zhu. She said with a smile, "It isn't Hanzhen serving today? How many senior maids does the Palace of Eternal Longevity have now? If you’re short-handed, I’ll have the Palace Household Department add two more."
In fact, Yixing understood the Noble Consort's intention. It wasn't about adding staff; it was clearly to draw everyone's attention to Yin Zhu.
This was the first time Yin Zhu had accompanied her to Yonghe Palace. Since she was here, it was inevitable she would run into Consort Gong and Consort Yi. Those two mistresses had been placed under house arrest for punishing Yin Zhu; seeing an enemy made their eyes red with hatred, and they would naturally find every way to cause trouble.
Yixing leaned forward slightly from her seat. "Thank you, Noble Consort. I have enough staff around me. Adding more would break the rules; I wouldn't dare be so bold."
Consort Yi gave a snorting laugh. "Given your favor, sister, rising another rank is just around the corner. What's this about 'bold' or 'not bold'? It sounds so distant."
Yixing smiled and looked at Consort Yi. "I wouldn't dare accept those words. I have no backing in the palace. With my experience, it will be very hard to be promoted to the rank of Consort. I’m not like you, rising through the ranks so easily."
This struck a sore spot for Consort Yi. She was made a Consort as soon as she entered the palace, mainly out of respect for the Empress Dowager. Having received no promotions over the years meant her own character and learning weren't great. Yixing’s words were like a needle hidden in silk; naturally, she didn't take them well. Those listening from the side also covered their mouths and laughed. In any case, palace life was boring; no matter who was made a fool of, everyone enjoyed the spectacle.
Consort Yi’s face turned red and her neck thickened with anger. Consort Gong couldn't stand the sight and said acidly, "Sister Concubine Chun's mouth has indeed become more formidable. It wasn't like this when you first entered the palace."
Yixing gave her a disdainful glance. "Consort Gong is right. I originally thought I would be a minor palace girl for the rest of my life. Being where I am today is also thanks to Consort Gong."
In fact, it was an open secret that Consort Gong had ordered Chief Ceremonist Wu to filter her out of the third round of selection. The Old Auntie had come full circle and still gained a position, showing that Consort Gong had acted the villain in vain. Now she was provoking Yixing again; if Yixing didn't unpleasantly return the favor, wouldn't that waste her clever schemes?
The Noble Consort watched the show happily for a while before finally speaking up. She mentioned that tomorrow was the anniversary of the late Emperor's death and the day after was the Empress Dowager's birthday. Each palace should go back and prepare. Tomorrow they would follow the Dowager to the Hall of Imperial Peace to offer incense and pay respects to the late Emperor.
Everyone stood up and said yes, performed their bows, and retreated from the hall.
The group headed toward the palace gates, generally with one maid supporting one mistress. But whether it was intentional or not, as they stepped through the Yonghe Gate, Consort Gong suddenly shifted her body. Yin Zhu couldn't avoid it in time and happened to bump into her. Consort Gong took the opportunity to erupt, shouting "Stop!" which startled the other mistresses, who all turned back to watch.
"You bumped into me and didn't even say a word of apology. Who taught you the rules?"
If this had happened before, Yin Zhu would have already stood up to her, but since the Old Auntie now had a rank and she was her senior maid, she was afraid her impudence would implicate her mistress. She had no choice but to swallow her anger and prepare to step forward to curtsy and admit her mistake.
But just as she was about to move, Yixing secretly pulled her back and said to Consort Gong with a smile, "What's wrong, sister? Who bumped into you and made you so angry?"
Baozhu, who was with Consort Gong, was also no pushover. She said loudly, "Is Concubine Chun intentionally showing favoritism? Your person bumped into our mistress; I saw it with my own eyes. Why must Concubine Chun pretend to be muddled? It would be better to have her come out and kowtow to our mistress and admit her mistake; then the matter will be over."
Yin Zhu had been with the Old Auntie for so long that they could be said to have one heart; with just a single glance, she immediately understood the Old Auntie's strategy—just deny it to the death. She said, "Although I have offended Consort Gong before, that matter is over, and the Noble Consort has already given a judgment. Today is the first day I’ve accompanied my mistress to Yonghe Palace to pay respects. Why must Consort Gong take the opportunity to cause trouble and be so aggressive?"
Consort Gong had wanted to suppress them, but she hadn't expected to encounter such a rogue mistress and servant. Her face turned pale with anger, and she said sharply, "This dog-slave doesn't know her place and dares to be disrespectful to me. Baozhu, slap her mouth hard and teach her the rules!"
Baozhu said yes and indeed raised her hand high. Unexpectedly, the Old Auntie stepped forward and said to Baozhu with a smile, "Slapping her mouth is just a tickle; it won't satisfy the hatred in your heart. It would be better to slap my mouth; that would make Consort Gong truly happy."
Now Baozhu absolutely didn't dare let the slap fall. She held her hand up awkwardly and looked toward her mistress.
Consort Gong was furious, saying through gritted teeth, "Concubine Chun, don't think that just because you’ve been promoted to Concubine, you can act without regard for the law."
The Old Auntie smiled and said the feeling was mutual. "Consort Gong has also beaten us before. In any case, we are used to being beaten; what does one more beating matter?"
This was the first time the mask had been torn off between consorts. Those watching from the side whispered and discussed, and someone intentionally instigated: "Consort Gong is one of the four high-ranking Consorts..."
Hearing this, Consort Gong felt her face was even more damaged. In a moment of rage, she thought she was qualified to discipline a Concubine. If Baozhu couldn't strike, she could. Shouting "Presumptuous!" she raised her hand to slap her.
Little did she know the Old Auntie was more agile than her. She grabbed her wrist in one go and said with a fake smile, "I told you to hit, and you actually did? I’m no longer a minor palace girl in the Bureau of Ceremonies. Consort Gong, please respect yourself!" Having said that, she gave a push, sending Consort Gong stumbling. She dusted off her hands and said, "Consort Gong, times have changed. If you hit people again, we will hit back. You are a noble and precious Mistress, while we come from a background of manual labor. If we accidentally hurt you somewhere, it isn't our intention. Don't go to the Emperor to file a formal complaint."
Consort Gong’s wrist hurt from being squeezed, yet she couldn't do anything to them. Her hands and feet shook with anger. "You... you..."
Yixing gave a subtle smile. "Mistress, take care of your phoenix body. It isn't worth making yourself sick over us." Having said that, she suddenly raised her hand, making Consort Gong take a step back in fear.
To her surprise, Yixing just laughed, turned around, and placed her hand on Yin Zhu’s forearm. Under everyone's astonished gaze, she walked gracefully toward the Deyang Gate.
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