Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 101
by Little PandaThe Empress Dowager Refuses
After Emperor Ming Cheng left, Wan Bi ordered her servants to go over by the stream and fetch Longyi. Even though she knew Yao Xi had been sent away by Longyi, she could not rest easy as long as the girl was not standing right in front of her at all times.
How dangerous it was out there! She did not know where Longyi had settled Yao Xi, or how many people were accompanying her. The girl was so reluctant to part with her; alone in the outside world, would she miss her so much that she would lose her appetite and grow thin and haggard? But what she worried about most was Yao Xi’s stubborn streak. With that girl’s temperament, she feared the girl would stop at nothing to return to her side. Every time she thought of this, Wan Bi felt a mixture of delight and anxiety.
When Longyi arrived at Wan Bi’s palace, she stepped into the Main Hall with confusion and bowed to Wan Bi. “Longyi pays her respects to the Empress Dowager.” She did not understand why Wan Bi had summoned her so early in the morning.
“Mm.” Seeing Longyi today brought a slight touch of discomfort to Wan Bi’s heart, but she did not let it show. She simply instructed Yuanqian, “Gugu, go outside and close the doors behind you.”
Once Yuanqian had left and they were the only two in the hall, Wan Bi looked at Longyi and said flatly, “Have Yao Xi sent back to this bereaved one within the day. Considering your good intentions toward the Yao family, this bereaved one will not hold this matter against you.”
Longyi had only just sat down when she heard the Empress Dowager demanding Yao Xi’s return and mentioning the Yao family. Her heart instantly leaped into her throat. “Longyi does not understand the Empress Dowager’s meaning.”
Wan Bi picked up the registry of palace entries and exits that Yuanqian had brought back from her desk and tossed it to Longyi. “When Yao Xi vanished yesterday, you happened to be outside the palace? This bereaved one has also heard that Jieyu Lan was once your reading companion…”
The mention of Jieyu Lan brought another pang of frustration to Wan Bi’s chest. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she said languidly to Longyi, “This bereaved one knows Yao Xi is Yao Xian. I also know what you and Jieyu Lan are worried about. This bereaved one has already said this to Jieyu Lan, and today, this bereaved one shall say it to you once more—Yao Xi has this bereaved one’s protection. Not even a crime that pierces the heavens will fall upon his head. This bereaved one will also take charge of settling the Yao family’s case. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
“Longyi left the palace only to purchase those Dragon Boat Festival gifts that were delivered yesterday evening for the Empress Dowager. You also know, Empress Dowager, that Longyi brought very little when returning to live in the palace temporarily; what Longyi has in the palace are merely the dowry gifts bestowed by you. Longyi is also very worried about Yao Xi’s disappearance!” Longyi feigned ignorance. She could not comprehend how the Empress Dowager had discovered that Yao Xi was Yao Xian. Could that foolish child have lost her mind and confessed of her own accord?
Having already uncovered the truth, Wan Bi had no patience to listen to Longyi spin these lies. She glared coldly at Longyi, her voice laced with a threat. “This bereaved one knows Yao Xi was bound and taken out of the palace by your hand.” Wan Bi heavily emphasized the word “bound.” At the thought of Yao Xi desperately refusing to leave, her heart was filled with comfort. She stared fixedly at Longyi. “While this bereaved one is still speaking to you civilly, return him to me obediently!”
Wan Bi hoped Longyi would be sensible. Otherwise, she would have no choice but to use what she had witnessed last night to force her into submission. If they truly came to that, the mother-daughter relationship between her and Longyi, which had only just begun to thaw, would likely shatter into a pile of dust once more.
Regarding Yao Xi’s disappearance, Longyi neither admitted to it nor denied it. Since the Empress Dowager already knew Yao Xi had been bound and taken, and her tone when demanding Yao Xi’s return was so absolute, she must have learned the details from someone. Further denial would be futile. Yet, she could not send Yao Xi back now—not until the Yao family was cleared of their crimes. She could not take that risk.
“Since you say you will settle the Yao family’s case, why not wait until you have actually settled it before we talk?”
An excessively smooth life had blessed Wan Bi with supreme confidence, but to Longyi, that confidence had gradually swollen into arrogance—an arrogance so profound she believed she could stand against the entire world single-handedly. Yao Xi carried the weight of a capital offense; even her Imperial Brother had to tread carefully around the civil and military officials and might not be able to shield her. On what grounds did Wan Bi believe she could keep Yao Xi completely safe?
Or was it that Wan Bi simply enjoyed having Yao Xi wait on her, and so she was in a rush to drag him back, fully prepared to simply replace him with another male favorite if things went south later? Longyi did not trust Wan Bi in the slightest. Wan Bi could change her male favorites at a whim, but Jieyu Lan had only this one brother. Anyone could mouth pretty words; if Wan Bi truly had the capability, she should clear the Yao family’s name first before talking.
Wan Bi understood. Longyi was admitting that she had sent Yao Xi out of the palace, but she had no intention of returning her until the Yao family was cleared. Wan Bi understood that Longyi truly cared for Yao Xi’s life and safety. Of course she would take care of the Yao family’s case, but she could not wait until the verdict was overturned to be reunited with Yao Xi.
She wanted to see Yao Xi immediately. She felt as if she could not wait a single second longer; any further delay would drive her mad.
“Longyi, won’t you trust this bereaved one just this once?” Wan Bi’s tone softened considerably. They both wanted what was best for Yao Xi; there was no need to turn against each other.
Longyi remained seated, staring intently into the Empress Dowager’s eyes. She bit her lip and shook her head.
Wan Bi had not intended to use the matter of Jieyu Lan to threaten Longyi, but she planned to use it to earn her trust. “This bereaved one actually knows that you and Jieyu Lan share that sort of relationship—but because this bereaved one feared a rift between you and the Emperor, this bereaved one has kept it from him all this time.” Wan Bi watched the previously composed Longyi instantly lose her footing. The princess’s face drained of color, and her fingers clenched the hem of her robes tightly. At this sight, Wan Bi could not help but slightly curve her lips.
“Does the Empress Dowager intend to threaten me with baseless fabrications?” Longyi did not dare to admit it.
Confessing to binding and taking Yao Xi was of little consequence; she had acted alone, and no matter how deeply the Empress Dowager investigated, she could not blame anyone else. But if she admitted to her relationship with Jieyu Lan, it would cost Jieyu Lan her life. Standing up in a fit of rage, she snapped, “If the Empress Dowager has lost someone from her side, find him yourself if you are so capable! Yao Xi’s disappearance has nothing to do with me. Threatening me is useless!”
With that, Longyi turned and strode toward the exit of the hall.
Wan Bi spoke to Longyi’s retreating back, “Whether it is true or false, you know very well in your heart. This bereaved one only wishes for you to understand: if this bereaved one wanted to harm you, it would not take the slightest effort.”
After a brief pause, Wan Bi added softly, “This bereaved one simply cannot bear to hurt you.” She spoke with utmost sincerity and tenderness, carrying a faint trace of grievance.
Longyi’s back trembled slightly. Feeling somewhat ashamed, she lowered her head, pushed open the doors, and left.
“Wretched girl!” Wan Bi cursed in irritation as she watched Longyi recede into the distance. Could it be that her performance as the sorrowful stepmother had not been convincing enough? The girl had clearly been moved, yet she still refused to reveal Yao Xi’s whereabouts. “Yuanqian!”
Wan Bi loudly called Yuanqian inside.
“Your Highness, this slave-girl is here.” Yuanqian quickly entered the hall to await her orders.
“Pass down this bereaved one’s decree. Order everyone at the capital’s branches of Wanfu Silk House and our other shops to take Yao Xi’s portrait and search every single corner. Have Liufang deploy several eunuchs and palace maids from Ning’an Palace, take this bereaved one’s token, and make a trip to Longyi’s fiefdom. Search the Princess’s Mansion thoroughly for this bereaved one!” Since Longyi had told her to find her own servant, she would not stand on ceremony.
“The Eldest Princess’s fiefdom?” Yuanqian was clever; she knew Jieyu Lan and Princess Longyi had always been close. It seemed Yao Xi was unharmed and had merely been sent away. “This slave-girl obeys your decree.” However, she could not help but worry whether Old Tang had a hand in this.
“Once you have passed down the orders, Gugu, return to Ning’an Palace. Without you watching over the treasury, this bereaved one cannot rest easy.” Wan Bi waved her hand to dismiss Yuanqian, then picked up a brush and began to paint Yao Xi’s portrait. She had to finish it quickly and have it sent to the shops under her name. It would be best if they could find Yao Xi before nightfall; otherwise, she would not be able to catch a single wink of sleep tonight.
The portrait was finished in no time. Yao Xi’s features were deeply etched into Wan Bi’s mind; the moment she closed her eyes, the girl’s face would appear. “Ping’er, take this painting to the artists. Have them copy it several times and distribute them to our major shops.”
Looking at the unfamiliar, handsome young master depicted in the portrait, the palace maid Ping’er asked in bewilderment, “Your Highness, who is the person in this painting?”
“Yao Xi! Have you never seen him?” Wan Bi urged her, “Hurry. This bereaved one wants to see Yao Xi before nightfall!”
The young master in this portrait was Yao Xi?! He was so handsomely painted that he seemed to belong to the heavens rather than the mortal realm—how could that possibly be Yao Xi?
Ping’er was shocked. Of course she had seen Yao Xi; they both served before Her Highness, and she saw him practically every single day. But Yao Xi was not nearly as good-looking as the person in this drawing! Was she blind, or was there something wrong with Her Highness’s eyes? Trying to find Eunuch Yao using this portrait… it would be an uphill battle!
“This slave-girl obeys your decree,” Ping’er said, holding the portrait as she bowed and withdrew.
Yao Xi and Sun Yan sat in the dining hall chatting for a short while as servants carried in one dish after another.
“Whoa!” Having slept and starved all through her journey, Yao Xi’s eyes went completely wide at the sight of the mouthwatering delicacies being continuously laid out on the table. The cooks in the Princess’s Mansion did not seem to follow the same style as the imperial chefs in the palace. For instance, the meals in the Empress Dowager’s palace triumphed in their exquisite refinement, but the portions were rather small. One had to eat with extreme caution; if she used her chopsticks too greedily, the Empress Dowager would have nothing left to eat.
Most terrifying of all, the meals in the Empress Dowager’s palace always carried the risk of being poisoned. Every time she accompanied Her Highness for a meal, she was on tenterhooks. Even though they ate the exact same dishes, she was terrified while Her Highness remained entirely unbothered. Perhaps Her Highness possessed some unique constitution that made her immune to all poisons; that had to be how she managed to survive so many hidden arrows and open spears.
The food in the Princess’s Mansion lacked a bit of courtly air but possessed far more of the warmth of the ordinary world. Crucially, the portions were massive, which instantly whetted one’s appetite.
Yao Xi licked her lips, her hand itching to reach for the chopsticks. She was starving, but seeing that only she and Cousin Sun were seated at the table, she did not dare make a move, fearing that the head of the household had not yet arrived.
“Please, Eunuch,” Sun Yan said, seeing Yao Xi’s hesitation. She personally served some food into Yao Xi’s bowl and said, “My cousin has not returned, so it is just the two of us dining. It is indeed a bit quiet.”
Yao Xi hastily thanked Cousin Sun and said with a smile, “It’s not quiet at all, not quiet at all. Usually, it is only the Empress Dowager and I dining together.” Accompanying Her Highness for meals was far more than merely ‘not quiet’—it was practically a heart-stopping ordeal with every single bite.
“You usually dine with the Empress Dowager, Eunuch?” Sun Yan had certainly not expected the Demon Empress, Wan Bi, to possess such an approachable side.
Yao Xi lowered her head and smiled bashfully. “Yes. It’s just that now that I have left the palace, I do not know if Her Highness is eating properly. Her Highness is quite prone to losing her appetite; she loses it when she feels playful, and she loses it when she has things on her mind. She refuses to eat at the slightest provocation…” As she smiled, tears began to well up in Yao Xi’s eyes. She kept her head down, letting her tears fall silently to the floor to avoid being seen by Cousin Sun, and only looked up once the wet tracks had dried.
She really missed the Empress Dowager.
But she was different from Her Highness. No matter how sorrowful she felt, she could still eat.
Man is iron, food is steel; miss a meal and you’ll famish!1 Yao Xi felt incredibly guilty as she shoveled food into her mouth through a blur of tears. They said that when you missed someone, you would lose all desire for tea and food, and find no sleep at night. Yet… the food at Princess Longyi’s mansion was truly delicious.
“Eat slowly, Eunuch,” Sun Yan said, watching Yao Xi’s frenzied eating speed. She was truly afraid he would choke himself to death. Hearing Yao Xi voice her worries about the Empress Dowager not eating properly, she could not help but ask, “Is the Empress Dowager very good to you?”
Her mouth stuffed to the brim with food, Yao Xi was unable to speak, so she simply nodded.
“No wonder you want to return to the palace. Do you like the Empress Dowager? What kind of person is she? Is she truly as terrifying as the rumors say?” Driven by rising curiosity, Sun Yan fired off a string of questions. She had heard her cousin Longyi speak of the current Demon Empress, Wan Bi. However, due to the matter of her eldest maternal aunt, her cousin’s assessment of the Empress Dowager might well have been biased.
In any case, seeing the sweet look on Eunuch Yao’s face whenever the Empress Dowager was mentioned, she felt that perhaps the Empress Dowager was not so wicked after all. Seeing Yao Xi so engrossed in her meal that she could not speak, and fearing he might choke, Sun Yan quickly added, “Do not rush, Eunuch. We have plenty of time to chat slowly.”
Plenty of time to chat slowly? Did Cousin Sun mean she had no intention of letting her leave?
After they finished eating, Sun Yan prepared to bathe and retire for the night. Before leaving, she instructed her servants to lead Yao Xi to the guest room. “There is a washroom in the guest room. After you have cleaned up, Eunuch, you should rest early as well. Tomorrow, I will take you out for a stroll.”
Go out for a stroll? Ah! That’s a perfect opportunity to escape! Yao Xi let out an immensely satisfied burp and followed the servant toward the guest room. Having eaten her fill tonight, she would get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow she must find an opportunity to escape back to the palace.
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