Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 119
by Little PandaThe Empress Dowager Refuses
Wan Bi sat in a chair within her bedchamber, raising her teacup as she cast a cool glance at the musician the palace maid had just led inside. “What’s Yao Xi doing?”
The maid replied deferentially, “To answer Your Highness, when this slave-girl entered, Eunuch Yao was crying for some reason. He should still be in the main hall at this moment.”
In truth, the maid knew exactly why Eunuch Yao was so miserable—he had fallen from favor! The Empress Dowager had not favored anyone in all these years. When Yao Xi first won her grace, every veteran servant who had spent years in Ning’an Palace had assumed Her Highness would surely remain devoted to him for a long time. Who could’ve imagined that in a mere month, things would turn out like this?
Wan Bi silently took a sip of tea and fell quiet. She had kept this musician around precisely because she wanted to make Yao Xi miserable. Yet, now that Yao Xi was truly weeping with heartbreak over being replaced, Wan Bi didn’t feel the slightest bit of satisfaction. Instead, she felt even worse—even though she was still furious with her.
Today, Yao Xi’s attitude toward Tao Xiaolin had truly cut her deep. What made it worse was that the silly girl felt entirely clear in her conscience, utterly unable to comprehend Wan Bi’s bitterness, jealousy, grief, and fury… Wan Bi had been driven to the brink of death by sheer anger a hundred times over, yet Yao Xi remained as placid as still water.
Hearing the maid say Yao Xi had cried, Wan Bi felt a pang of heartache so sharp she even considered letting the whole matter drop. Keeping this musician handpicked by the Emperor at her side wasn’t just a way to disgust Yao Xi; it disgusted herself as well! She turned her gaze back to the musician kneeling before her. His features were clean and decent enough, but he carried a certain effeminacy that she found inexplicably off-putting.
Only two males had ever set foot in her bedchamber: the Late Emperor and Emperor Ming Cheng. To spite Yao Xi, she was truly going to any length.
Without a trace of emotion, Wan Bi asked the musician, “The palace has its rules, and men are not permitted to remain for long. What instructions did the Emperor give you?” The Emperor had once told her that if she wished to keep a male favorite, she could only do so at a temporary palace. How could he be willing to send someone directly to her quarters?
The musician smiled and replied, “His Majesty commanded this slave to come and serve Your Highness for a few days first to see. If Your Highness is pleased, this slave can then move to the temporary palace for a long-term stay. If Your Highness is displeased…” He bit his lip hard. “…this slave shall leave the palace.”
Wan Bi nodded. A few days? That was perfect. It would be just enough to vex Yao Xi, and then she could send him away.
Over in the main hall, Yao Xi dried her tears before long. That musician had entered the bedchamber and had not emerged since. Even the palace maid jiejie who had escorted him inside had already come out. Surely he and the Empress Dowager weren’t doing anything… inappropriate in there?
At that thought, Yao Xi forgot all about crying. The Empress Dowager’s anger wasn’t entirely without reason, and she had to coax her back into a good mood before things became irreversible. If Her Highness truly allowed that man to serve her in bed in a fit of anger—good heavens! Just the thought of it felt like a knife twisting in Yao Xi’s heart.
She hurried to the entrance of the bedchamber and knocked on the door. “Your Highness, this slave has something to say to you.”
Wan Bi was currently feeling deeply uncomfortable. Sharing a room with this musician was thoroughly awkward, yet she couldn’t simply throw him out. If she did, that wretched girl Yao Xi would surely gloat in secret, becoming even more bold and fearless in her presence hereafter.
“Come in!” Wan Bi wished for nothing more than Yao Xi’s entrance. A performance required an audience. If Yao Xi wasn’t here to witness it, wouldn’t she have suffered being in the same room as this musician for nothing?
“Oh? What brings you here, Eunuch?” Wan Bi’s voice was sour with jealousy. The moment she set eyes on Yao Xi, thoughts of Tao Xiaolin rushed back, and her temper flared.
Yao Xi shot a sidelong glare at the musician, a raging fire of jealousy igniting in her chest as well. However, she was here to coax her, so she swallowed her grievance and offered the Empress Dowager a placating smile. “This slave has come to serve Your Highness.”
“The Eunuch had best tend to his injuries. This bereaved one has…” Only then did Wan Bi realize she hadn’t even remembered the musician’s name. He had mentioned it when paying his respects, but she had not paid any attention.
“What is your name, then?” Wan Bi asked, drawing out her words in a rare, gentle tone, though she had been intentionally cold when speaking to Yao Xi. “Quickly, stand and speak. The floor is cold.”
“This slave is surnamed Ni, given name Dong.” Ni Dong was somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He struggled to his feet and plucked up the courage to steal his first look at the Empress Dowager. She was so beautiful! So young! So gentle! Was this truly the nation-ruining Demon Empress1 of the rumors?
Wan Bi smiled and nodded at Ni Dong. “A fine name. Where are you from?” She did not look at Yao Xi again, deliberately leaving her out in the cold as she conversed with Ni Dong with an amiable smile.
Yao Xi clenched her small hands into tight fists, her teeth grinding together. The Empress Dowager was clearly doing this just to spite her! She’d never treated the Emperor with such warmth!
“This slave is a native of the capital. My grandfather, Ni Shen, once served as the Minister of State Ceremonies…” Ni Dong didn’t dare say any more. His Ni family had been influential officials of the previous reign, but unfortunately, they had backed the wrong side when Emperor Ming Cheng ascended the throne, and he had fallen from a young master of a prestigious clan to a mere musician. As the descendant of a disgraced official, he was barred from taking the imperial examinations to earn an official rank. Winning the Empress Dowager’s favor was perhaps the Ni family’s only chance to rise again.
If a consort’s rise meant even her dogs and chickens ascended to heaven2, then a male favorite could do the same!
Ni Dong had come with ambition. This was especially true now that he saw how exceptionally beautiful the Empress Dowager was, and how she seemed to look upon him with favor.
“Ni Shen was your grandfather?” Wan Bi actually held no strong opinions regarding the succession struggle of those years; it made no difference to her who sat on the throne. “You’re indeed from a notable lineage. I expect you’re well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette, and the classics. When you find some free time, paint a portrait of this bereaved one for me to see.”
Standing to the side, Yao Xi was so furious she felt her inner cosmos about to explode.
Oh, indeed! Master Ni comes from a distinguished family, unlike her—a girl born into a dirt-poor, ordinary household.
And yes! The portrait she had painted of the Empress Dowager was monstrously ugly, but was that because she hadn’t wanted to paint it well? No, she simply didn’t know how! If she didn’t know, she’d just have to practice. She’d practice calligraphy, painting, and chess—she absolutely wouldn’t lose to this Ni Dong!
Hmph!
Hmph, hmph, hmph!!!
Although Wan Bi was looking at Ni Dong, she constantly stole glances at Yao Xi from the corner of her eye. Seeing Yao Xi’s face turn green then pale with rage brought her a sense of profound satisfaction. The girl’s care for her was written clearly on her face, as was her hostility toward her rival. Wan Bi thought the way Yao Xi glared at Ni Dong was just like a furious little beast.
She was adorable.
“The weather is indeed quite pleasant today. Ni Dong, support this bereaved one as we walk in the garden. I heard from Eunuch Yao that the flowers in the rear garden are in full bloom.” Wan Bi stood up and languidly extended her hand to Ni Dong.
Yao Xi swiftly took a step forward and caught the Empress Dowager’s hand, saying petulantly, “Master Ni has only just arrived at our palace and is unfamiliar with the paths. This slave fears he might cause Your Highness to trip. It’s better that this slave guides you!”
Ni Dong had been about to step forward to support the Empress Dowager, but with Yao Xi blocking him, his expression turned cold.
“No matter. This bereaved one knows the way well.” Wan Bi brushed Yao Xi’s hand aside and placed her hand on Ni Dong’s already-raised arm, leisurely stepping out of the bedchamber.
Yao Xi hurriedly followed. She couldn’t rest easy leaving the Empress Dowager alone with this Ni fellow. The Empress Dowager could be angry with her, but she must not have physical contact with other men; she had to keep a constant watch.
Wan Bi glanced back at Yao Xi, who was shadowing her like an inescapable ghost. She suddenly felt that keeping Ni Dong around for a few days to provoke her was an excellent idea. Having tasted this sweetness, she realized that with a rival in play, Yao Xi had indeed become unprecedentedly attentive. The moment she and Ni Dong drew even slightly closer, Yao Xi’s brow would furrow, her little hands and feet itching to act, as though she were ready to charge forward and shove Ni Dong away at any second.
“The lotuses are blooming beautifully,” Wan Bi remarked idly to Ni Dong as she strolled through the garden.
Ni Dong bowed slightly and said obsequiously, “This slave shall wade into the lotus pond to pluck a stem for Your Highness.”
Suddenly, Wan Bi’s view of the path was blocked. Blocking her sight was a single, fully bloomed pink lotus. Surprised, Wan Bi raised her head to find Yao Xi’s delicate little face, lightly beaded with sweat, right before her.
So fast! Wan Bi marveled in her heart. The moment the words had left her mouth, Yao Xi had already plucked the flower and returned. She dumbly accepted the lotus. By the time she looked up again, Yao Xi had already walked over to the side, sullenly plucking at the leaves of the roadside plants.
Ni Dong refused to be outdone. He knew the Empress Dowager had once favored this Eunuch Yao, but a eunuch was ultimately just a eunuch. So what if he had a decent face? The moment the Empress Dowager laid eyes on him, had she not refused to spare Eunuch Yao a single pleasant look? With his right hand supporting the Empress Dowager, Ni Dong used his left to pluck a peony, offering it to her. “Please look, Your Highness. This single flower bears three distinct shades. It’s truly beautiful.”
Wan Bi casually tossed the lotus Yao Xi had given her onto the ground, took the peony, and said insincerely, “It is indeed beautiful. However, it doesn’t bear three colors, but four. Look closely at the stamen; there is a touch of white.”
As he continued to guide the Empress Dowager forward, Ni Dong deliberately stepped onto the lotus that had been cast aside, grinding it beneath his heel.
Watching this, Yao Xi felt her heart break. She walked some distance away, quietly wiped her tears, and then plucked a fresh flower, presenting it to the Empress Dowager with a forced smile.
Wan Bi’s heart sank slightly. She cast a cool glance at Ni Dong, opening her little mental notebook to jot this down. Seeing Yao Xi offer another flower, Wan Bi tossed aside the peony Ni Dong had given her, feigned a careless step to trample it, and ground it heavily underfoot before accepting Yao Xi’s offering.
Yao Xi had been thoroughly miserable, but seeing this instantly lifted her spirits. Was the Empress Dowager standing up for her? Did this mean she was no longer angry?
Not long after they finished strolling through the garden, it was time for the evening meal.
The Empress Dowager’s act of trampling the peony in the garden had given Yao Xi boundless courage. She had shamelessly trailed after her the entire afternoon, and the Empress Dowager had neither lost her temper nor chased her away. What did this mean? It meant she was deliberately waiting for Yao Xi to coax her!
Wan Bi realized this as well. After her impulsive act of standing up for Yao Xi, the girl had done nothing but grin foolishly, completely forgetting to be jealous of Ni Dong. This wouldn’t do. She had to let Yao Xi taste the bitterness of jealousy. Only by putting herself in Wan Bi’s shoes and understanding how she had felt today would Yao Xi learn to exercise restraint around outsiders in the future.
Upon arriving at the dining hall, Wan Bi commanded Ni Dong to sit right beside her. Yao Xi, wearing a bright smile, went to seat herself in the chair next to the Empress Dowager as well. Wan Bi glared at her, hardening her heart as she said, “Stay far away from this bereaved one.” She deliberately made her tone icy, letting cold indifference permeate every word.
Yao Xi froze, her smile instantly vanishing. After taking a seat far from the Empress Dowager, she suddenly lost all appetite for food.
The last time she had lost her appetite was back when she was outside the palace, hearing the proprietress of a breakfast stall gossip that the Empress Dowager was searching the entire world for a new male favorite.
This time, the reality was even harsher. The Empress Dowager’s new male favorite was right before her eyes, eagerly scooping porridge and serving dishes for her.
She should’ve been outside the dining hall, not inside, watching how sweet the Empress Dowager was with this newcomer…
Yet, if she didn’t keep watch over them, her heart wouldn’t find peace. But staying to watch only left her heart aching with every single gesture.
Ni Dong was utterly clueless about the Empress Dowager’s culinary preferences. Unable to bear it any longer, Yao Xi called out from afar, “When Your Highness drinks egg drop soup, she doesn’t eat the egg drops.”
Ni Dong glanced at the spoonful of thick egg drops, shot a displeased look at Yao Xi, and had no choice but to scoop another spoon. He thought he finally understood why this Eunuch Yao had fallen from grace—the fellow possessed absolutely no sense of propriety before the Empress Dowager. Had his master permitted him to speak? Yet there he was, running his mouth endlessly. And for some reason, the Empress Dowager simply allowed this Yao person to direct things.
After a moment, Yao Xi spoke up again. “Pick the ginger pieces out of her porridge.”
“When Your Highness eats pig’s trotters, she only eats the skin, not the meat. It is the same with fish.”
“She only drinks the third brew of tea…”
Wan Bi silently ate her meal. Hearing Yao Xi recite these details, her heart swelled with a complex mixture of sweetness and ache.
Ni Dong had been left utterly bewildered by Yao Xi’s interjections, feeling as though whatever he did was wrong.
Just as he was hesitating over which dish to serve next, Yao Xi suddenly stood up. She walked over, picked up a clean spoon, scooped up a small meatball, and fed it directly to the Empress Dowager’s lips. “If you don’t eat it now, it’ll grow cold,” she said. “This slave knows Your Highness is angry with this slave. But angry as you may be, don’t mistreat yourself. You starved for so long recently; your stomach still needs care. In any case, this slave is set on pestering Your Highness for the rest of this life. Wait until your health is fully restored before you bicker with this slave again.”
Wan Bi did not open her mouth, only staring fixedly at Yao Xi. She felt there was something unusual about Yao Xi’s expression at this moment—was it a trace of domineering possessiveness?
The author has something to say:
Thank you to all the friends who left comments of support~
I revised the chapter because I felt the previous plot was slightly forced, but the trajectory of the story has not changed.
Footnotes
- Yaohou (妖后), literally 'Demon Empress,' is a historical derogatory epithet used to vilify powerful royal women or empresses who were accused of bringing ruin to a dynasty.
- A Chinese idiom (yi ren de dao, ji quan sheng tian) meaning that when a person gains power, all their associates benefit by association. It literally refers to a Daoist master's household animals ascending to heaven along with him when he attains immortality.
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