Fish Meat – Chapter 188
by Little PandaThe Fourth Year of Zhao Wu
Secrets in the Sleeve (8)
The elegant and graceful noble ladies walked hand in hand, chatting as they followed You Changshi into Changning Palace.
By the expansive lotus pond, fresh fruits transported in ice from foreign lands and various exquisite refreshments had already been prepared, with tables and cushions arranged in rows, while several long-haired, jade-eyed gentle cats strolled about.
In mid-summer, though sparks of heat seemed to dance in the air, Changning Palace remained completely free of the summer heat. The lotus fragrance, coupled with the cooling breeze from the ice mountain used for summer relief, continuously enveloped everyone, leaving them refreshed and in high spirits for conversation.
Following the announcement from a palace eunuch, Empress Dowager Geng, supported by Wang Guniang, emerged from the inner palace. Everyone bowed and greeted her, and while she maintained a gentle and kind smile, she vaguely felt something wasn’t quite right.
When she clearly saw that all the young ladies in the courtyard had done their makeup copying Xie familyβs Ah Xin’s style, her expression turned somewhat unpleasant. How had this Xie familyβs Ah Xin unknowingly become the model for noble ladies of the capital? A trend? Let alone that she had no intention of selecting a consort for the Emperor, even if she did, she would never choose the daughter of a convicted official. Wasn’t the Emperor already bewitched enough!
Empress Dowager Geng took a deep breath, her chest heaving involuntarily. Wang Guniang, noticing her anger, quietly stroked her hand to calm her down.
Empress Dowager Geng narrowed her eyes as she sat in the main seat, and after everyone paid their respects, they too took their seats.
You Changshi pointed out Wei Tingxu to Empress Dowager Geng. She looked toward the lady seated at the far end, who kept her eyes lowered submissively and appeared so sickly that she seemed unlikely to live long – quite different from the ambitious and fierce woman the Emperor spoke of who wanted to devour the Da Yu empire. At first glance, she thought she had identified the wrong person. She turned back to You Changshi for confirmation, who assured her it was indeed her.
Empress Dowager Geng shifted her gaze from Wei Tingxu to the crowd and said with a smile, “This grieving one notices that the lotus flowers these past two years weren’t as beautiful as this year’s, which reminds me of what the sage said – joy shared is better than joy alone. Wouldn’t it be a shame if this grieving one were the only one to see these flowers before they wither? It’s been many years since this grieving one has enjoyed tea and flowers with all the ladies, and my Changning Palace has been lonely for quite some time.”
Lady Zuo quickly responded with a smile, “We should have been paying regular respects to the Empress Dowager, but without an imperial decree, we didn’t dare to request an audience. Seeing the Empress Dowager today looking as young as she did years ago, with an even better complexion than before, truly makes one envious.”
Empress Dowager Geng accepted a plate of putao [θ²ζ‘ | pΓΊ tΓ‘o | a type of grape] peeled by You Changshi, giving her a pretend-angry sidelong glance: “Now you’re blaming this grieving one.”
Lady Zuo quickly smiled and begged forgiveness: “How dare chen [ε¦Ύ | qiΓ¨ | humble self-reference used by women] blame the Empress Dowager! It’s just that chen misses the Empress Dowager after not seeing her for so long. It’s chen’s clumsy words that have displeased the Empress Dowager, please forgive chen.”
Empress Dowager Geng’s expression changed from anger to a smile as she picked up a grape and put it in her mouth: “Look how frightened she is. I called you all here today for enjoyment, don’t speak of such things. Everyone should relax, just like before.”
In previous years, it was merely a group of ladies trying to impress the Empress Dowager. Besides a pretty face, skills in the four arts and poetry were important factors for entering the palace. In their view, what man wouldn’t like a beautiful woman skilled in the four arts? The Emperor was no exception.
But today it wasn’t appropriate to display these skills, as the Female Emperor had completely different tastes.
Everyone knew Xie familyβs Ah Xin was a military general, and finding a woman in all of Da Yu who could match her in combat would be difficult to count even on one hand. The Female Emperor favored women skilled in martial arts, as everyone knew, but to actually practice swordplay like Xie familyβs Ah Xin was something these pampered ladies simply couldn’t do.
This worked to Ah Liao’s advantage.
When Ah Liao came, she brought many interesting mechanical devices, palm-sized contraptions that would fly up or burrow down, stealing the show at the flower gathering. Especially the makeup box she presented to the Empress Dowager – with a light press, multiple wooden layers would unfold, revealing various popular rouge colors and carefully selected highest-grade Furong Powder. Empress Dowager Geng’s face showed genuine delight after looking at it. She closed the box and had You Changshi reward Ah Liao generously, causing the other ladies to burn with envy.
The flower gathering had barely lasted half a shichen when Empress Dowager Geng said she was tired and let everyone enjoy the garden on their own.
After the Empress Dowager left, Wei Tingxu and Ah Liao excused themselves citing official duties and withdrew from the garden together. Outside, two palace eunuch were already waiting. Upon seeing Wei Tingxu, they led them through a winding path to the side hall of Changning Palace. Just as they were about to enter, You Changshi stopped Ah Liao at the door.
“The Empress Dowager commands that only the Secretariat Supervisor may enter for an audience.”
Wei Tingxu nodded to Ah Liao, and after exchanging glances, Ah Liao said: “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Before entering, Wei Tingxu slipped two palm-sized gold cakes [ιι€ | jΔ«n bΗng | gold currency] into You Changshi’s sleeve, saying: “Thank you for your trouble.”
You Changshi smiled with narrowed eyes, quite satisfied.
In the center of the side hall stood an ice mountain identical to the one by the lotus pond. While most people would find the entire room pleasantly cool without a trace of summer heat, Wei Tingxu felt no comfort upon entering, only a penetrating chill that made her whole body tremble involuntarily.
Empress Dowager Geng, who had been consuming Furong Powder for years, was extremely sensitive to heat, making summer particularly unbearable. Thus, ice mountains were mandatory wherever the Empress Dowager stayed, as only this could counter the intense summer heat. Wei Tingxu was extremely sensitive to cold, and now her old wounds began to ache faintly. Her lips, the only part of her with any color, took on a grayish tinge, and combined with her pale face, she looked as if she might expire at any moment.
“Chen… Wei Tingxu kowtows to the Empress Dowager.” She prostrated herself according to the protocol for outer court officials. The Empress Dowager observed Wei Tingxu for a long while before allowing her to rise.
Wei Tingxu couldn’t help coughing as she rose. The Empress Dowager, with hands folded together, asked in an ambiguous tone: “Why do you seek an audience with this one?”
Wei Tingxu said: “Chen seeks a way to survive.”
Empress Dowager made an “Oh?” sound, as if not understanding her meaning.
“The Secretariat Supervisor is a key minister whom the Emperor relies upon. You should know this one no longer involves herself in court affairs, so what way of survival could I offer you?”
Wei Tingxu knelt again: “Wei family’s ancestor, Duke Ping Guo, followed the Founding Emperor in establishing Da Yu’s golden age. The Wei family has served in court for generations. Though we may not have achieved great merit in these two hundred years, we have dutifully served with dedication, loyally serving the country and implementing reforms. Chen has followed Your Majesty since childhood in building this great enterprise, never daring to harbor the slightest disloyalty. Now Your Majesty has been bewitched and suspects chen and the Wei family, causing chen great distress. Chen’s life is insignificant, and chen would willingly sacrifice everything for Your Majesty and Da Yu, but the entire Wei family has been loyal to Da Yu and Your Majesty – they shouldn’t suffer misfortune because of chen alone.”
The Empress Dowager asked: “You say Your Majesty has been bewitched? By whom?”
Wei Tingxu raised her head and said each word distinctly: “The remnant of rebels, Xie familyβs Ah Xin.”
These four words “Xie familyβs Ah Xin” were the four words the Empress Dowager hated most, her fingers unconsciously curled, though her expression remained unchanged.
“That Xie familyβs Ah Xin has saved the Emperor twice, by reason and emotion, the imperial family owes her. Why do you say she has bewitched the Emperor?”
Wei Tingxu continued: “The entire Xie family and chen share a deep blood feud. Xie familyβs Ah Xin harbors bone-deep hatred for chen. Since she cannot kill chen to avenge her father, she’s using Your Majesty’s deep affection for her, fabricating baseless accusations that chen harbors rebellious intentions. Chen is truly wronged!” As she spoke with agitation, she began coughing violently again, her deathly pale face flushing with a sickly red. It took her quite a while to catch her breath.
Empress Dowager Geng gave You Changshi a look, who immediately had someone bring a bowl of sweetened pear soup for Wei Tingxu.
After expressing her gratitude, Wei Tingxu drank the soup completely, her complexion improving slightly.
Empress Dowager said: “Is that Xie family truly like this?”
“If chen speaks even half a false word, chen is willing to accept execution by waist-cutting!”
Empress Dowager heaved a long sigh: “How could this one not know the trouble Xie family poses? But given the Emperor’s protection and favoritism toward Xie family, even this one is powerless. What Wei Qing should do now is petition the Emperor, not seek help from this one.”
“Your Majesty is now deeply bewitched by Xie family. Chen has nowhere else to turn; only the Empress Dowager can save the Wei family.” Wei Tingxu’s eyes reddened, and tears quickly followed.
Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, then raised her arm and waved. You Changshi immediately withdrew, closing the side hall’s door. After looking around, she had everyone leave, while she herself waited at the bottom of the stone steps.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick [15 minutes], Wei Tingxu emerged. You Changshi stepped forward with a smile: “The Secretariat Supervisor may leave by the same path you came. The palace eunuch outside will guide you. The Empress Dowager says that with so many eyes in the palace, she won’t keep the Secretariat Supervisor for the evening meal.”
Wei Tingxu smiled, thanked You Changshi, and left.
You Changshi watched Wei Tingxu’s figure disappear among the tree shadows and flower clusters before turning to enter the side hall.
Empress Dowager Geng, looking tired and supporting her head with her hand, asked: “Has she left?”
You Changshi replied: “The Secretariat Supervisor has been escorted out.”
Empress Dowager made a sound of acknowledgment and looked at You Changshi: “What do you make of this Wei Tingxu?”
You Changshi said: “This servant has long heard that Da Yu’s First Female Official is a formidable figure, especially given how Your Majesty is so wary of her. But seeing her today, those claims seem somewhat exaggerated.”
Empress Dowager gave a cold snort: “Her visit today was merely an attempt to use this one’s hand to eliminate Xie familyβs Ah Xin, to buy some time for their Wei family.” At this moment, Wang Guniang entered carrying the Empress Dowager’s daily medicinal soup. After finishing the bowl of medicine, the Empress Dowager ate a preserved plum candy to counter the bitter taste. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, “I heard she was struck by a sword on her wedding day?”
You Changshi replied: “Yes, this servant has heard of this incident, and there were eyewitnesses present. See, she only recently started going out after recovering for many days, yet still appears half-dead. I’ve heard this Secretariat Supervisor has always been physically weak, seemingly unable to even walk before, and just as she got slightly better, she took a sword wound. Seeing her complexion today, that sword must have damaged her internal organs; I fear she won’t live long.”
Empress Dowager’s brow relaxed: “This grieving one also sees she’s not one who will live long. Now Wei Lun is also near his end, and their second son is within this deep palace, easily controlled. The Wei family and the Zhangsun family have some influence, but that’s all in the past. Now, no matter how capable Wei Tingxu might be, she can’t shake the Li family’s hundred-year foundation. The Emperor worries too much. As for that Xie family… Wei Tingxu is right about one thing – she is the greatest threat to Da Yu’s empire. After all, this Xie family is the daughter of Xie Fuchen…”
When Wang Guniang heard mention of Xie family, she recalled something she’d heard from some palace eunuch this morning: “Empress Dowager, this servant heard something this morning concerning Your Majesty.”
Empress Dowager looked at Wang Guniang, gesturing for her to continue.
“This servant heard that Your Majesty is practicing alchemy.”
Empress Dowager started, sitting up straight: “What?!”
Wang Guniang’s face showed anxiety: “This servant only heard that Your Majesty obtained a formula from somewhere, saying it could… saying it could allow a woman to conceive without seed. Your Majesty has already refined a batch a few days ago, though hasn’t taken it yet. Perhaps waiting for that Xie familyβs Ah Xin to return to Runing before…”
“Preposterous!” Empress Dowager swept the medicine bowl off the table onto the floor, shattering it to pieces.
You Changshi and Wang Guniang quickly knelt: “Empress Dowager, please calm your anger.”
Empress Dowager clutched her chest for a while, then looked at You Changshi with fierce determination: “This Xie familyβs Ah Xin must not be allowed to remain!”
You Changshi bowed and responded: “Yes!”
“Also, have someone watch Wei Tingxu, see if she’s truly ill or just pretending. Not a single word from this person can be trusted; I fear she harbors even deeper schemes.”
“Yes!”
You Changshi withdrew and waited in a secluded spot for a moment. Immediately, two palace eunuch silently approached, as if they had emerged like ghosts from the ground.
You Changshi whispered in their ears for a while. The two nodded their heads, then quickly departed, vanishing in an instant.
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