Fish Meat – Chapter 185

The Fourth Year of Zhao Wu

Secrets in the Sleeve (5)

The cleft-lipped child was happily playing with Gong’er, when suddenly he was kicked and sent flying, rolling twice on the ground. Being tough-skinned and thick-fleshed, he was unharmed and stood back up. His previous joy vanished as he stared dazedly at the woman who had kicked him, then looked at the equally startled Gong’er.

            

The woman before him was unlike any sister he had ever seen – frost-like severity with fire in her eyes, like a celestial immortal yet also like a war deity from hell. The Zhuiyue Army soldiers fanned out from behind her in unison, surrounding the child. The child shrank into himself like a stick, holding his breath in fear.

“Who are you?” Li Yanyi approached and questioned him.

The child, appearing only four or five years old, had never encountered such a situation. Trembling, he couldn’t utter a single word, and instead wet himself.

            

Gong’er’s round eyes rolled once, and with an “Aiya!” she fell to the ground, clutching her stomach and crying out.

Li Yanyi turned back to look at her irritably, seeing her rolling on the ground with a flushed face, and asked impatiently: “What’s wrong with you now?”

“Mother Emperor, your child minister… my stomach hurts… hurts so much, am I going to die?”

            

The Zhuiyue Army soldiers lifted her up, but Gong’er would accept no one but Li Yanyi, who had no choice but to hold her, wiping the sweat from her forehead: “Call the Imperial Physician.”

“Yes!”

“Mother Emperor…” Gong’er clutched Li Yanyi’s sleeve tightly, as if afraid she would leave.

            

Li Yanyi said: “What do you know of death? Stop talking nonsense.”

“Gong’er isn’t talking nonsense, Mother Emperor, Gong’er’s stomach really hurts…” While nestling in Li Yanyi’s arms acting coquettishly, she signaled with her eyes to the cleft-lipped child, telling him to leave quickly.

The cleft-lipped child understood her meaning and turned to flee, but suddenly crashed into a Zhuiyue soldier wearing heavy armor, nearly flattening his small nose, falling back with an “Aiyo!”. Gong’er inwardly clicked her tongue in disgust, and simply closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around Li Yanyi’s neck, and committed to playing dead.

            

“Is your mother’s surname Feng?” Li Yanyi, still holding Gong’er, turned back to ask the cleft-lipped child.

“Y-yes…” The cleft-lipped child lay prostrate, not daring to raise his head.

“Haven’t you and your mother been staying in Yonghe Palace? There are guards posted outside, how did you get out?”

            

His mind went blank with fear, unable to answer. As Li Yanyi was about to question further, Eunuch You emerged from Changning Palace.

“Paying respects to the Emperor!” After Eunuch You performed a prostrate bow, he first addressed Gong’er, “Young Imperial Highness must not make mischief, quickly get down from the Emperor’s person.”

Gong’er lingered for a moment before reluctantly getting down.

            

“The Emperor has reached the gate, why not enter? The Empress Dowager has been waiting for some time, and specifically sent this old servant to check.”

Li Yanyi gave a meaningful look to the Zhuiyue Army soldiers. These troops, selected by Ah Xin, were both intelligent and loyal, and those who frequently accompanied Li Yanyi could understand her intentions from just a glance.

The soldiers nodded, took away the cleft-lipped child, and quickly disappeared from before Changning Palace. Li Yanyi led Gong’er into Changning Palace and asked her:

            

“How did you come to know that little slave?”

“Gong’er dares not deceive Mother Emperor, but Gong’er fears Mother Emperor’s anger if I speak, Gong’er is in quite a difficult position.”

Li Yanyi looked at her with a smile: “Is there anything in this world you actually fear? Earlier you pretended to have a stomach ache to fool Mother Emperor, does it still hurt?” As she spoke, she gave Gong’er’s stomach a playful poke. Gong’er giggled, and after adjusting her clothes, knelt before Li Yanyi:

            

“Previously, when Gong’er was being mischievous and almost fell into a well, fortunately that little slave saved me and preserved my life. That little slave is Gong’er’s life-saving benefactor. Mother Emperor has always taught Gong’er to be someone who values relationships and shows gratitude, Gong’er dares not forget this, which is why I just now told a lie to deceive Mother Emperor. Please punish me as you see fit.”

Li Yanyi said: “If you put it that way, if I were to punish you, wouldn’t that make me an incompetent ruler? Rise.”

Gong’er was overjoyed: “Thank you, Mother Emperor!”

            

Li Yanyi led Gong’er into Changning Palace, where they saw Mu’er reciting classical poetry, while Empress Dowager Geng sat beside him listening, eyes half-closed, nodding along to his childish voice. Several plates of cold dishes were on the table, and as soon as Li Yanyi arrived, the palace eunuchs swiftly brought out all the remaining dishes, filling the table with steaming delicacies.

Li Yanyi stared at the eunuchs, who immediately departed after setting down the dishes.

Empress Dowager Geng waved her hand: “The Emperor need not mind them, they were all called back by this grieving one’s orders to Eunuch You. Your Mother Empress is getting old, it’s more peaceful to let them serve. Those Zhuiyue Army troops the Emperor keeps around are all fierce as demons, frightening to look at.”

            

Li Yanyi said nothing, sat down opposite, and told Mu’er and Gong’er to leave first.

“Mother Emperor, Mu’er hasn’t finished reciting yet,” Mu’er refused to leave, “Imperial Grandmother said she likes Mu’er reciting poetry to relieve her boredom!”

Gong’er, listening anxiously on the side, secretly tugged at his clothes.

            

“Why are you pulling at me!” Mu’er waved his hand in displeasure.

Gong’er ignored him and, after paying respects to Li Yanyi and Empress Dowager Geng, left. Only when Empress Dowager Geng personally told Mu’er to leave did he depart sullenly.

Mother and daughter ate slowly around the table. Li Yanyi held her chopsticks while her thoughts drifted elsewhere, not even aware of what she was eating. When her mind returned to Changning Palace, she realized Empress Dowager Geng hadn’t eaten at all but had been watching her the whole time.

            

“What are you looking at?” Li Yanyi disliked her wordless staring, even simple silence made her agitated, and she threw out these words while suppressing her anger.

“I’m looking at my Huaichen, who has become increasingly unfamiliar since becoming Emperor.”

Li Yanyi continued picking at her food.

            

“She used to be so spirited and loved to laugh. Now as Emperor, she’s surrounded by so many worries. As a mother, it’s so difficult to even see my own child, and when I do, I’m met with only a cold face and reluctance. This grieving one has grown old, and lately often dreams of your Imperial Father. I wonder if making you Emperor was right or wrong.”

Li Yanyi slammed her chopsticks on the table with a “pa!”, startling the Empress Dowager.

“Does Mother Empress regret it? Too bad Li Ju has already rotted into mud underground!” Li Yanyi stood up with a “hu!”, her knee scraping the table with a “zhi-ga” sound, knocking it askew and scattering the elaborate dishes. “Mother Empress, search your conscience – was there no self-interest in supporting my ascension to the throne? Yet now you come to criticize me. Since I became Emperor, you’ve been dissatisfied with everything I do! Obstructing at every turn! Now with two imperial children by your side, what more could you be unsatisfied with? Being Emperor has been bitter! The noble families all want to carve flesh from my empire! Among the humble families, there are few worthy of great use! And the trusted ministers who accompanied me have proven to be two-faced! Runing!” Li Yanyi pointed at the ceiling, shouting in anger, “How many wronged spirits are here with wide eyes, waiting, hoping for my death! Since my ascension, this Forbidden Garden has become my prison. Why must Mother Empress bring up the past now? The Li Yanyi of the past would only be torn apart by those self-serving ministers today!”

            

“How is it,” the Empress Dowager said, “that we mother and daughter have fallen to where we can’t even speak to each other?”

Li Yanyi sat back down calmly, still holding the golden-gleaming chopsticks.

After searching for a while, she found her most proper smile and looked up at the Empress Dowager: “What are you saying, Mother Empress? Huaichen isn’t reluctant at all. I was just startled outside Changning Palace and am still shaken from it.”

            

The Empress Dowager frowned, not understanding what she meant, so she told her about the encounter with the cleft-lipped child.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager seemed as if she’d eaten a dead rat [死老鼠 | sǐ lǎo shǔ | expression of extreme disgust], feeling nauseated, and grabbed Li Yanyi’s hand: “That is… Feng Shiyi’s cursed offspring!”

“Indeed, that child.”

            

“Initially, to silence gossip, we didn’t kill them. They’ve been kept under special guard in Yonghe Palace, supposedly unable to move freely. How did they get to Changning Palace! Could they be seeking revenge?”

“They wouldn’t dare seek revenge. With so many guards inside and outside Changning Palace, even with wings, a mad woman and child couldn’t fly in. Mother Empress can rest assured about this. However, there’s another troubling matter – that deformed child actually schemed to get close to Gong’er.”

Li Yanyi relayed Gong’er’s earlier words to the Empress Dowager, who expressed doubt: “That deformed child was born in the eleventh year of Shenchu, making him only five years old now. Feng Shiyi went mad long ago, how could she scheme to approach Gong’er?”

            

“Unless someone else is pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

“Huaichen, are you saying this is all Wei Zizhuo’s doing?”

Li Yanyi took a bite of food and coldly smiled: “Not just this matter, she’s even trying to drive a wedge between me and the Zhuiyue Army.”

            

In truth, she was using Ah Wen to damage her relationship with Ah Xin, but Li Yanyi didn’t want to mention Ah Xin before the Empress Dowager, so she substituted “Zhuiyue Army.”

Actually, this wasn’t wrong – Wei Tingxu wanted to separate Ah Xin from her side, ultimately aiming to split the relationship between the Emperor and the Imperial Guard. The current Zhuiyue Army was built by Ah Xin’s own hands, and though they were loyal to the Emperor, Ah Xin still held considerable authority, as agreed upon when the new Zhuiyue Army was first established. Zhen Wenjun was to be used, even promoted to the high position of Army Commander and given the title of Bandit-Quelling General, but without real power. Like a double-edged sword sharpened and set aside – best not to hurt oneself with it, only to be used when absolutely necessary.

One must admit Wei Tingxu’s vision was sharp and her thinking clear. She understood that the Zhuiyue Army wasn’t truly controlled by Zhen Wenjun as Commander – this iron-armored force protecting Li Yanyi and the Forbidden Garden’s safety had its most vulnerable point in Ah Xin. Breaking Ah Xin and elevating Zhen Wenjun again was Wei Tingxu’s plan, as she was confident she could control Zhen Wenjun once more.

            

“But how could Wei Zizhuo have such heaven-reaching abilities, to lay such an intricate trap in the Forbidden Garden? How could she plan so much from thousands of li away?” the Empress Dowager said, “Huaichen, perhaps you’re making her out to be too formidable. No matter how clever she is, she can’t plan for everything. Perhaps she knows of your concerns and is using this to make noise in the east, strike in the west [聲東擊西 | shēng dōng jī xī | meaning: to confuse], to distract you! Previously, I urged you to select consorts early from among the families, not only hoping you’d soon have an heir to inherit the throne, but more importantly, because since ancient times the inner palace has been one means of balancing court power. Right now, the most important thing is establishing a crown prince early – only when the crown prince is set can the foundation of all of Da Yu be stable. Between Mu’er and Gong’er, who do you think is more suitable?”

The first half of the Empress Dowager’s words indeed gave Li Yanyi something to consider, but the latter half’s sudden turn rekindled her irritation. Li Yanyi said: “Mu’er and Gong’er are still so young, how can we decide? If we determine now, if the crown prince proves dim-witted later, must we depose him? I will decide this matter myself, Mother Empress need not worry.”

After Li Yanyi left, the Empress Dowager finished reciting one Buddhist sutra and closed the book, but her worries weren’t much relieved. She raised her hand slightly, and Eunuch You at her side passed over the prepared Furong powder.

            

After a session of cloud-inhaling and mist-exhaling, the Empress Dowager’s furrowed brow relaxed, and she sighed. Eunuch You knew that after taking Furong powder, she always wanted a bowl of iced grape wine, which was always prepared in advance, and now presented it timely: “Empress Dowager, please partake.”

The Empress Dowager held the thin crystal wine cup, glancing at Eunuch You: “Speak, what is it?”

Eunuch You waved away the serving maids nearby and whispered something in the Empress Dowager’s ear.

            

The Empress Dowager’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before returning to calm, and she coldly snorted: “So this is why she had such an outburst today – it’s because that Xie woman left Runing.”

Eunuch You knelt down and gently massaged the Empress Dowager’s legs, saying worriedly: “This servant is concerned for Her Majesty. Her Majesty’s emphasis on sentiment truly brings no benefit to the empire.”

The Empress Dowager drained her wine in one gulp: “Even a eunuch understands this principle, yet my child remains obstinately confused.” A ripple appeared in her eyes as she looked at Eunuch You and asked: “You say that Secretary Supervisor Wei Zizhuo wants to see me?”

            

Eunuch You continued his massaging motions, nodding in response: “It seems Her Majesty has been too harsh in suppressing the Wei family, and this young lady has come to you, Empress Dowager, having nowhere else to turn.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with an “mm”, unclear whether in agreement or mere acknowledgment. After running her fingers over the wine cup, she said: “Choose a day to summon her. This grieving one would like to see what kind of person Da Yu’s first female official is, who makes my child so wary.”

Never finding peace at Changning Palace, Li Yanyi hastily finished the meal with the Empress Dowager and left. As she was boarding her carriage, Zhuiyue Army soldiers came to report that Feng Shiyi and the cleft-lipped deformed child had been killed, along with all the guards at Yonghe Palace [LP: It’s written as ‘Yong’an’ in the original, but might be a typo], executed on the spot.

            

Li Yanyi nodded, and as she was about to lower the curtain, she noticed Gong’er standing not far away in the twilight, holding fruits as a filial offering.

She had clearly heard the Zhuiyue Army’s words, and when caught by Li Yanyi’s murderous gaze, she dropped the fruits in shock and quickly knelt:

“Your child minister… your child minister heard nothing! Heard nothing at all!”

            

As Li Yanyi was about to lower the curtain, Gong’er raised her head, giving her a look that Li Yanyi clearly remembered.

The carriage moved forward, with the orderly footsteps of the Zhuiyue Army following behind. Sitting inside, Li Yanyi recalled Gong’er’s expression.

Resentment? Fear? Or some other emotion? Li Yanyi found herself unable to read what this six-year-old child was thinking.

            

Gong’er reminded her of someone.

Li Yanyi continuously rotated the prayer beads in her hand, quickly fingering them one by one.

Wei Tingxu – she was too much like Wei Tingxu.

            

That Wei Tingxu who hid ten meanings behind one word, that unfathomable Wei Tingxu – Gong’er was far too similar to her.

At this thought, Li Yanyi shuddered and had the carriage turn toward Zichen Palace.

She couldn’t wait any longer – she had to take her portion of the Yellow Dragon Pill right now!

            

She had someone retrieve the Yellow Dragon Pill from the alchemy furnace, place it in a crystal basin, and bring it before her.

Li Yanyi held it in her hand, staring at it as if possessed, and brought it to her lips.

All her impatience culminated in this moment, making her heart race wildly.

            

But in the end, she didn’t take it.

Li Yanyi stared at the ceiling of Zichen Palace for a long while, then lowered the Yellow Dragon Pill, holding it suspended in mid-air, before suddenly throwing it away as if it had bitten her viciously.

The Zhuiyue Army soldiers looked at each other in confusion, not understanding what had come over Her Majesty.

            

“Water!” Li Yanyi called out, and immediately someone brought forward a basin filled with clear water.

Li Yanyi washed her hands, washing them frantically, over and over, almost scrubbing off a layer of skin.

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