Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 116
by Little PandaThe Empress Dowager Refuses
“What are you carrying that basket for?” Wan Bi couldn’t help but ask on the way to Qinghe Garden when she saw Yao Xi following behind with the flower basket from that morning.
Yao Xi smiled, hugging the flower basket to her chest. “This slave is a fan of Miss Tao, and hasn’t heard her operas since entering the palace. Since this is a rare opportunity, this slave wanted to present a flower basket to show a bit of appreciation.” She still wore the silly grin of a starstruck fan as she spoke.
“Our eunuch is certainly attentive,” Wan Bi said sourly, giving Yao Xi a cold glare. She had been wondering why this girl’s smile hadn’t faded since she first heard that an opera troupe was coming to the palace. It turned out it was all for that actress surnamed Tao; Yao Xi had even ignored her hand injury to eagerly pick flowers, only for the basket to be meant for her.
“Since the eunuch likes that Tao Xiaolin so much, why doesn’t this bereaved one keep her in the palace? That way, you can listen to her operas every single day.”
“Really?” Yao Xi’s eyes lit up. But her hopeful gaze ran straight into the Empress Dowager’s icy glare. Sigh, another trap! Yao Xi tactfully smoothed things over. “No matter how well she sings, listening to her every day would get tiresome. This slave only went to operas in the past because there was little entertainment outside the palace. Now that I’m by Your Highness’s side, this slave is completely content and doesn’t need any other amusement at all.”
“Is that so?” Wan Bi stopped right outside Longyi Palace and said to Yao Xi, “Since the eunuch doesn’t need any amusement, then don’t go!”
Far from being disappointed, Yao Xi grinned with pure innocence. She stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to the Empress Dowager’s ear, and whispered, “Is Your Highness eating vinegar1?” Before anyone could notice, she blew a soft breath into her ear.
Wan Bi’s ear itched, and her heart trembled slightly. She recalled the last time they were here, when Yao Xi had blown on her ear to clear away an apricot blossom caught in her hair. The difference was that last time, Yao Xi had been trembling with fear, whereas now, she seemed to have devoured a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall, acting bold and fearless, secure in her favor.
She liked how Yao Xi acted spoiled on account of her favor. Though she loved teasing Yao Xi, she didn’t want Yao Xi to fear her.
“It’s just promoting an actress, nothing more.” Wan Bi took the flower basket from Yao Xi’s hands and passed it to a nearby maid, ordering her to take it back to their palace. She then took Yao Xi’s red little hand into her palm and said, “However, the first flower basket you ever made can only belong to this bereaved one. All your ‘firsts’ must belong only to this bereaved one. As for that actress, she can just be rewarded with extra silver later.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Yao Xi’s small face flushed as she squeezed her hand back. “And the second time?” she asked mischievously.
Wan Bi threw her a look, leaving her to figure it out on her own.
Seeing how lovey-dovey the Empress Dowager and Eunuch Yao were being, the gugu and palace maids tactfully fell back several paces, keeping a respectful distance.
Longyi was just coming out with her wife and cousin. Seeing Wan Bi, she smiled and curtsied respectfully. “Longyi pays her respects to the Empress Dowager.” Yao Shuanglan and Sun Yan followed suit and bowed.
Since entering the palace yesterday, this was the first time Sun Yan had seen Yao Xi. Seeing her holding hands tightly with the Empress Dowager, she flashed a warm, knowing smile. Yao Xi smiled back sheepishly. Everything remained unsaid, yet completely understood.
“Perfect timing. Let’s head over together!” Wan Bi led the way, hand-in-hand with Yao Xi, with a massive crowd of attendants following closely behind. Once they passed through the palace gate, Wan Bi and Yao Xi boarded the same palanquin. Longyi and Yao Shuanglan shared another, while Sun Yan, too lazy to ride in a palanquin, walked alongside her elder cousin’s window, chatting with Longyi as they went.
Seats had already been arranged in Qinghe Garden, and the opera stage had been set up.
Emperor Ming Cheng had arrived early. The Empress, Virtuous Consort, Concubine Kang, and several Beauties and Noble Ladies were already seated. Seeing the Empress Dowager arrive, everyone hurriedly rose to welcome her. Emperor Ming Cheng walked over to the palanquin to personally assist the Empress Dowager down, but his gaze drifted toward Sun Yan, who stood by Longyi’s palanquin, completely ignoring him.
“What are you looking at?” Wan Bi asked, noticing his distraction as he helped her down.
“Nothing.” Emperor Ming Cheng immediately withdrew his gaze. He had been stealing glances at Sun Yan when he suddenly locked eyes with Jieyu Lan, who was standing beside her. Feeling a pang of shame, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look further. “Yao Xi has been found?” Only then did he notice Yao Xi standing beside the Empress Dowager, and he was slightly surprised.
“This slave pays respects to the Emperor,” Yao Xi said, bowing. Emperor Ming Cheng nodded expressionlessly, then turned to the Empress Dowager. “The weather is lovely today, and the sun is not too harsh. We have pushed aside all our affairs so our family can enjoy some lively entertainment together. The Empress Dowager shall choose the first play. What would you like to hear? An opera, a song, or a dance? In addition to the opera troupe, We have also summoned the musicians from the Music Bureau.”
Qinghe Garden featured a grand opera stage. Below it lay a small lotus pond, where scattered lotus flowers had already begun to bloom in the early summer. Adjoining the pond, directly opposite the stage, was a pavilion built for the imperial masters to watch the performances, capable of holding over a hundred people. In the center stood two grand chairs for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager—the Emperor on the right, and the Empress Dowager on the left. To the Emperor’s right sat the Empress, Virtuous Consort, and the others, while to the Empress Dowager’s left sat Longyi, Yao Shuanglan, and their company.
Once Wan Bi took her seat, she ordered a small stool to be placed right next to her for Yao Xi. She then took the opera program presented by a maid and flipped through it.
“Xiao Yaozi, what do you want to hear?” Wan Bi asked with a teasing smile, glancing at Yao Xi.
“This slave loves whatever Your Highness selects.” Yao Xi deftly leapt over the trap the Empress Dowager had set. While it was true she wanted to hear Miss Tao’s opera, she was not about to show such impatience. She had to appear indifferent in front of Her Highness, no matter how excited she was in her heart.
Wan Bi tapped the program with a finger wearing a gold nail guard. “Let’s start with a scene from 《Zhulian Zhai2》.” She had only trimmed the nails of her index and middle fingers; if she did not wear her nail guards, others would surely find it strange.
“Yes, Your Highness.” The maid walked around the arched bridge to deliver the command to the stage.
Thanks to the Empress Dowager, Yao Xi enjoyed the best seat in the house. Not only was she directly facing the grand stage, but she could also make out the actors busy applying face paint and changing clothes in the pavilions beside the stage. She craned her neck, trying to see if she could recognize Miss Tao before she put on her makeup.
Naturally, she could not. She did not even know what Miss Tao looked like beneath the heavy layers of stage powder and rouge.
Once the Empress Dowager’s command was delivered, the gongs and drums resounded, and the performance began. Since the palace residents usually had very little entertainment, most of them listened with rapt attention, but Yao Xi’s mind kept drifting, her eyes constantly darting toward the pavilions beside the stage.
Emperor Ming Cheng was another who was not listening; he was staring at Sun Yan.
And Wan Bi was yet another; she was watching Yao Xi.
Yao Xi had told her openly that the flower basket was for Tao Xiaolin. Far from being angry, Wan Bi actually felt a bit more at ease. Yao Xi’s attitude showed she had a clear conscience, with no underhanded intentions, and that her feelings for the actress were pure admiration. Yet, even if it was just admiration, Wan Bi still could not stand the sight of Yao Xi being so captivated by another woman.
She had never seen Yao Xi look at anyone with such rapt devotion—except for her! It could only ever be her!
Wan Bi stared at the back of Yao Xi’s head, which was constantly turned away from her, suppressing the growing fire of anger in her chest.
Only an excerpt of 《Zhulian Zhai》 was performed. Neither the Emperor nor the Empress Dowager had their minds on the play, and both forgot to order rewards. Snapping back to his senses, Emperor Ming Cheng asked Wan Bi to choose another.
Yao Xi immediately turned around, staring pleadingly at the Empress Dowager. Wan Bi was no longer in the mood for the opera, and she knew exactly what Yao Xi was hoping for. Yet, she deliberately refused to oblige. After the laosheng3 finished, she went on to order scenes for the laodan4 and qingyi5.
The laodan sang exceptionally well, prompting Emperor Ming Cheng to say to Tang Huaili, “Reward them!” Tang Huaili immediately ordered a junior eunuch to carry some loose silver over to the stage.
Wan Bi also instructed Liufang, “The singing was indeed good. Reward them.”
Hearing the Empress Dowager say this, Yao Xi’s eyes brightened. “This slave obeys!” Her Highness had said the task of handing out rewards would be hers. If she went over to the stage, she would definitely be able to see Miss Tao.
“Who said you were going?” Wan Bi firmly pinned down Yao Xi’s restless slender leg, then said to Liufang, “Gugu, you go.”
Yao Xi rested her head pitifully against the Empress Dowager’s shoulder, whispering, “This slave only wanted to see Miss Tao once to fulfill a wish. Truly, this slave has no other thoughts.” Of course she was happy that Her Highness was eating vinegar because of her, but while eating a little vinegar was charming, eating too much would only ruin one’s health!
“If you want to see her, then see her!” Seeing Yao Xi leaning against her, Wan Bi’s heart softened, and her tone grew much gentler. She was worried that if Yao Xi missed the chance to see the actress, she would only keep longing for her. Right in front of everyone, Wan Bi wrapped an arm around Yao Xi’s shoulders, turned to Emperor Ming Cheng, and said, “This bereaved one wishes to choose 《Fan Jiang Guan6》 next.”
Yao Xi’s heart leaped into her throat. She could already see Miss Tao, fully costumed and waiting by the side of the stage, ready to make her entrance.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!!
As a little fangirl hearing her idol live for the first time, Yao Xi was screaming internally, but fearing the Empress Dowager might be displeased, she did her best to maintain a calm facade. Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!! But having not seen her for several years, Miss Tao seemed to have grown even handsomer!
Wan Bi could feel Yao Xi’s body trembling slightly, and the fire in her chest, which had never truly died down, flared up once more.
With just Tao Xiaolin’s stylized entrance pose as Fan Lihua, Yao Xi was already so excited she was on the verge of fainting.
“Where is your composure!” Consumed by jealousy, Wan Bi pulled Yao Xi even closer.
“A heroic female general, possessing marvelous divine powers, with imposing majesty that shakes the heavens, ready to sweep away the formidable foe…” The moment Fan Lihua began to sing, the audience could not help but burst into applause.
Even Emperor Ming Cheng did not stint on his praise. “What a voice! And her stage combat is spectacular. Tang Huaili, pass Our decree to award her handsomely!”
Wan Bi rolled her eyes at Emperor Ming Cheng in disgust, saying with some disdain, “This bereaved one finds it rather mediocre.”
Emperor Ming Cheng did not talk back, simply smiling and letting the matter drop.
“Shh—” Yao Xi made a shushing gesture at the Empress Dowager. She was so utterly enchanted by the performance that she had completely forgotten that the person holding her was not just her lover, but the Empress Dowager of the dynasty.
Wan Bi was so shocked her eyes widened.
Ever since she entered the palace, no one had ever dared to address her in such a manner. Had this wretched girl Yao Xi lost her mind? Did she think her life was complete now that she had seen this actress? In truth, she did not mind Yao Xi acting familiar with her, but it depended on the occasion. With so many people around, it was inconvenient to lash out and make it hard for Yao Xi to save face. She suppressed her anger, intending to settle the score once they returned to their palace!
After a few more plays, everyone was growing a little hungry. Emperor Ming Cheng ordered the meal to be served. As they were raising their cups and drinking merrily, the soft, melodious strains of music suddenly drifted in from somewhere. The white gauze curtains at the back of the pavilion were drawn aside, revealing a dozen handsome young men of various charms. Some were playing the zither, some the flute, some the erhu, and others the pipa…
Emperor Ming Cheng leaned in and whispered in Wan Bi’s ear, “We didn’t expect Yao Xi to return, and had originally planned to let the Empress Dowager choose any who caught your eye. Since they’re no longer needed, we can simply listen to their music.”
Wan Bi glanced at Yao Xi. The girl who had been so joyfully excited moments ago now had a face as dark as thunder.
“Who says they’re not needed?” Wan Bi released Yao Xi’s small shoulder and said with a smile to Emperor Ming Cheng, “Since the Emperor has shown such rare filial devotion, how could this bereaved one bear to disappoint you?”
Footnotes
- To 'eat vinegar' (chī cù) is a Chinese idiom meaning to be jealous in a romantic context.
- A classic Chinese opera play, also known as 'The Pearl Curtain Fort', which features a mix of military action and comedic domestic disputes.
- The mature male role type in Chinese opera, characterized by a refined, dignified demeanor and singing in a natural voice.
- The elderly female role type in Chinese opera, requiring the actor to sing in a natural voice with a slightly stooped posture.
- The main female role type in Chinese opera, typically representing respectable, moral, and refined women, known for their expressive singing.
- A well-known Chinese opera play, also known as 'The Fan River Pass', depicting the clash and ultimate reconciliation of female warriors.
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