Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 124

[Note: Chapter 123 on JJWXC is locked and can’t be accessed anymore.]

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The Empress Dowager Refuses

While waiting for Yuanqian to fetch Sun Ergou from Ning’an Palace, Wan Bi asked the palace maid who was attending to her morning grooming, “Where is Yao Xi?” Having been awake for quite some time without catching sight of Yao Xi, Wan Bi felt a trace of unease in her heart. She had already checked the washroom in the eastern corner of her bedchamber; there was no one there, though Yao Xi’s changed-out clothes were hanging inside.

            

“Eunuch Yao left the palace with two others to attend to some business,” the palace maid replied. “He said Your Highness had permitted it.” The maid was also somewhat puzzled. Could the Empress Dowager truly be unaware of this? Eunuch Yao was getting bolder by the day, even daring to forge Her Highness’s decree.

Only then did Wan Bi recall the words she had spoken to Yao Xi while half-asleep that morning… So this was the kind of leaving the palace she meant! Had she known Yao Xi wanted to go outside the palace gates, she would never have agreed. It was so dangerous out there!

“Did she not say where she was going or what she was doing?” Wan Bi did not worry that Yao Xi would refuse to return; she only feared that the girl might run into trouble outside the palace and be unable to come back even if she wanted to. Even though Yao Xi had taken two attendants with her, Wan Bi still could not ease her mind.

            

“Replying to Your Highness, the eunuch didn’t say,” the palace maid said as she picked up a hairpin from the dressing table and secured it in her mistress’s hair.

By the time Wan Bi finished dressing, Yuanqian had arrived, escorting her prisoner.

Sun Ergou had been stuffed into a palanquin and carried straight into the main hall. Yuanqian had reasoned that with so many people coming and going within the palace, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble. Had anyone caught sight of him, there was no telling what wild rumors might have spread.

            

Wan Bi sat in a horseshoe-back armchair in the main hall. She watched as Yuanqian dragged Sun Ergou out of the palanquin and threw him onto the floor. Not only were his hands and feet bound tightly, but his mouth was also stuffed with a thick cloth rag. Wan Bi was highly satisfied with Yuanqian’s prudence. “Remove the cloth from his mouth, Gugu, and then you may return to your duties. This bereaved one will handle the rest.”

“Understood,” Yuanqian replied. She bent down to pull the cloth from Sun Ergou’s mouth, left the palanquin in the main hall, and led her attendants back to Ning’an Palace.

The moment Sun Ergou regained his voice, he began to beg for mercy. “Empress Dowager, spare my life! Spare my life!” He had no idea what was happening. He had merely gone to the government office to inquire about his sister’s whereabouts, hoping to extort a bit of silver to spend. Instead, he had been mysteriously abducted, brought into the palace, and subjected to severe torture. He had already confessed everything he knew, yet the Empress Dowager’s people still wouldn’t let him go.

            

He had seen the eunuch named Yao Xi, and no matter how he looked, she was his sister, Sun Xibao. But no matter how he insisted, his interrogators refused to believe him, claiming he was lying.

“This bereaved one has heard that Yao Xi is actually your sister, Sun Xibao?” Wan Bi swept a glance over Sun Ergou, her eyes cold with disdain. As an older brother, he had actually sold his own sister into the palace to become a eunuch for a bit of silver. And on top of that, he had blurted out that Yao Xi was a woman the moment he faced a little torture. If Yao Xi hadn’t been with her, how could she still be alive once people found out she was a fake eunuch?

Sun Ergou was pushing his sister into a fiery pit again and again!

            

“Replying to Your Highness… This lowly one knows that impersonating a eunuch to enter the palace is a capital offense, but my sister was forcibly bought by a eunuch named Liufu! This lowly one had no other choice!” Sun Ergou had been slapped across the mouth; the corners of his lips were split, making him wince and suck in cold air from time to time as he spoke.

Wan Bi had no patience to waste on a piece of trash like Sun Ergou. If she could get answers by questioning him, she would; if not, she would have him beaten. If he fainted, she would summon an imperial physician to revive him, and once he was revived, she would continue to have him beaten.

“This bereaved one will give you one last chance. Are you certain Yao Xi is your sister? There is still time to speak the truth. If this bereaved one finds out she is not, this bereaved one will kill you immediately. And it will be the death of a thousand cuts! You will be bound next to a boiling cauldron of oil, where a piece of your flesh will be sliced off and fried, then stuffed into your mouth to force you to swallow it!”

            

Sun Ergou was truly terrified. He had long heard of the Demon Empress’s evil reputation, but he never expected the woman herself to be far more ruthless and venomous than the rumors suggested.

“Your Highness, spare my life! Yao Xi is indeed this lowly one’s sister,” Sun Ergou whimpered, his face turning deathly pale. “It is only… she is my adopted sister…”

When she was small, his sister had constantly clamored to go home, but as time passed, she had probably forgotten and stopped bringing it up. But if Her Highness asked about his sister’s childhood, who knows what might come out. He was better off confessing everything honestly.

            

Wan Bi remained silent, merely gesturing for Sun Ergou to continue.

“Xibao was actually found and brought home by my mother. She was only about three or four years old back then. Seeing how adorable she was, my parents adored her completely, so they kept her and raised her as their own daughter. Five years ago, after my parents passed away, my wife and I were left to live with Xibao. I thought to find her a good family to marry into, but the girl didn’t know any better and refused to marry anyone. Who could have foreseen that Eunuch Liu would later come knocking on our door and, for some unknown reason, forcibly buy Xibao to bring her into the palace as a eunuch…”

“Since she was found, did you never ask what she remembered so you could return the child to her biological parents?” Wan Bi gradually felt a murderous intent rise toward Sun Ergou. His parents might have truly loved their daughter, but the moment the two elders died, Sun Ergou had been in a frantic hurry to find the girl a husband. Was he afraid she would eat a few extra bites of food at home, or was he eager to exchange her for a bride-price early on?

            

“We did ask. When she was first brought home, she seemed frightened. No matter how we asked, she wouldn’t say her name or her parents’ names. As she grew older, she forgot even more.” Sun Ergou wanted to kowtow and beg for mercy, but he was bound so tightly that he could not budge. With a sob in his voice, he cried, “This lowly one really isn’t lying to Your Highness! Xibao’s impersonation of a eunuch has nothing to do with me. Whether Your Highness wants to execute or punish her, that is the child’s fate; this lowly one dares not plead for her. I only beg Your Highness to spare my life!”

Heh. Wan Bi’s face was cold as she pointed to the palanquin and said, “Get back into the palanquin! This bereaved one will have someone send you out of the palace immediately.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your immense grace! Thank you, Your Highness, for your immense grace!” With his hands and feet bound, Sun Ergou struggled with all his might to inch toward the palanquin. Though he was only a step away from the palanquin, it took him a long while to wriggle his way over.

            

While Sun Ergou was struggling to get inside, Wan Bi stepped briefly into her bedchamber. She emerged holding a hand gun¹ and walked back to the palanquin with measured, elegant steps. Aiming the weapon directly at Sun Ergou’s chest inside the palanquin, she said, “When you see your parents, pass a message on this bereaved one’s behalf. Tell them the girl is living very well under my care, so they can rest easy.”

Bang!

Blood sprayed all over the interior of the palanquin, but the floor of the main hall was perfectly clean. Wan Bi let the curtain fall. Walking over to open the doors to the main hall, she instructed the palace maids outside, “Have someone carry this palanquin out of the palace and burn it.”

            

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The moment Yao Xi left the palace, she plunged straight into a clothing shop. Pointing at the garments hanging on the racks, she told the shopkeeper, “Give me three sets in that style, tailored to fit me and these two.”

The everyday clothes the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon her were far too luxurious, and the two junior eunuchs were still wearing their official uniforms. It would be highly inconvenient to walk around outside the palace.

The two junior eunuchs huddled together, laughing and whispering to each other, “It turns out Junior Director Yao came out of the palace just to go shopping.” They had thought they were on some serious business and had remained on high alert throughout the entire journey.

            

The shopkeeper, who had been flicking the beads of an abacus behind the counter, hurried out, bowing and scraping, to greet them upon hearing Yao Xi’s words. “We don’t have that exact style in a size that fits you, young master,” he said, “but we do have this one.” He took down another garment and presented it to Yao Xi with both hands.

The shopkeeper was internally apprehensive. This young master was dressed in splendid attire and accompanied by two eunuchs; he might very well be some young prince. How could he afford to offend him? Yet the young master’s stature was petite, so finding clothes that fit well was genuinely difficult. He didn’t know if the young master would take offense at him speaking so bluntly.

“Either is fine,” Yao Xi replied breezily. She had only come out of the palace today to see how things were, and she still had to rush back to serve the Empress Dowager. She did not dare linger too long.

            

After changing into her new clothes inside the shop, Yao Xi turned to the two eunuchs. “Let me ask you two about a place. Is there a two-story tea house around here that has an opera stage but no opera troupe currently performing?”

“Tea houses with opera stages are common enough, but one without an active troupe… We only know of one.”

“Lead the way.” Yao Xi had imagined countless times what she would do to make a living once she finally left the palace. She had thought that if she had enough capital, she would purchase some properties and land to run a small business. If her capital fell short, she would head to Tianqiao² to become a storyteller.

            

Storytellers could make a fortune if they managed to build a reputation. Unlike Miss Tao’s profession where one could not perform an opera alone, storytelling was a solitary art. However, telling stories at Tianqiao was truly a last resort; the crowds there were a mixed bag, and as a young woman, it was best for her to avoid such places. Her best option was to find a tea house with an opera stage, where she could properly sit on the stage to tell her stories. Such venues had excellent acoustics, which would save her voice.

Upon arriving at the tea house the eunuchs had mentioned, Yao Xi said to them, “I’m going inside to handle some matters. Since it’s a rare opportunity for you to leave the palace, go ahead and buy whatever you need. Meet me back here later.”

“You’re going in alone, Eunuch?” The two eunuchs could not hide the grins on their faces. Accompanying Eunuch Yao outside was a dream assignment—not only had they received a brand-new set of clothes, but they were also free to wander and enjoy themselves.

            

“Yes,” Yao Xi replied with a smile. After bidding them farewell, she turned and stepped into the tea house. Her goal today was simply to enjoy some food and drink, and perhaps shoot the breeze with people.

“What would you like to order, guest?” the tea house waiter welcomed Yao Xi with a bright smile.

Yao Xi casually ordered a few dishes and a flask of wine, then went over to sit at a table next to a few young gentlemen.

            

An attractive person naturally drew the eyes of a crowd. Yao Xi could feel the guests at the neighboring tables stealing glances at her. Whenever she met someone’s gaze, she offered a warm, welcoming smile in return.

Yao Xi’s warm smile emboldened those who wished to make her acquaintance. Seeing her drinking alone, several men who looked like scholars called out, “If you don’t mind, young master, why not share a table with us? It’d be far livelier to share a drink and chat together.”

“I was just worrying about being bored on my own,” Yao Xi replied. She rose to carry her chair over, but someone had already stepped forward to take it from her hands. Yao Xi was deeply suspicious by nature. With these men being so excessively attentive to someone dressed as a young man… could they be fond of the cut sleeve³?

            

It was fine; she would just avoid the wine.

The group drank and chatted. Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Yao Xi took a sip of tea and laughed. “How about I tell everyone a story? You can just treat it as a bit of casual entertainment.” With that, she began to speak.

At first, only the scholars sharing her table listened, but gradually, many other patrons gathered around to eavesdrop. Even as their food grew cold and their tea lost its flavor, they refused to leave, constantly pressing her to reveal what happened next.

            

Yao Xi spoke until her throat was parched. Seeing everyone listening with great interest, she took another sip of tea and continued. The old patrons would not leave while new ones kept arriving. In the tea house, which hadn’t been particularly lively to begin with, a corner was now packed to the brim. Latecomers who didn’t know the beginning of the tale whispered to those who had arrived earlier, asking what had transpired.

Right at the most gripping part, the two junior eunuchs appeared at the tea house entrance carrying bundles and packages of all sizes. Yao Xi rose and said, “It’s getting late, and I have to head back. If everyone still wants to hear the rest, shall I come back tomorrow?”

“Great! You must come back!” the eager audience cheered, still craving more.

            

“If the proprietor doesn’t mind, perhaps I could borrow the stage tomorrow? That way, you won’t have to squeeze together standing up to listen.” Yao Xi looked toward the counter, scanning the room for the proprietor.

A chubby little hand was raised from the crowd, and the proprietor, who had been squeezed out of shape by the throng, said excitedly, “Feel free to use it, young master! The stage is just sitting empty anyway.”

Not to mention he wanted to hear the rest of the story himself, the main thing was that this young master was exceptionally good-looking and told a brilliant tale. This was practically welcoming a God of Wealth for free! With more people listening to the story, more people would naturally buy his food and drinks. Because he lacked a good opera troupe, his business had always been quite bleak, and he had recently been planning to sell the tea house.

            

“Then, everyone, until tomorrow.” Yao Xi cupped her hands in a bow to the crowd.

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Wan Bi sat on the stone steps in front of the hall, resting her chin on both hands as she gazed in the direction of the stone bridge, eagerly waiting for her wife to return.

The hour of the midday meal had already passed, yet she had eaten nothing. Without Yao Xi by her side, she simply couldn’t eat at all.

            

The last time Yao Xi had been sent out of the palace by Longyi, Wan Bi had waited foolishly like this too. The anxiety of waiting, her yearning for Yao Xi, and the terror that the girl might never return… these emotions had tortured her repeatedly, vanishing only when Yao Xi finally appeared.

She knew she couldn’t keep Yao Xi tied to her side at all times. There would always be times when they had no choice but to part temporarily. It was simply that she still found it difficult to accept. When Yao Xi was absent, she felt as though nothing in the world had any meaning. When Yao Xi was there, she found even staring blankly at each other was interesting.

The reason she had been angry about Tao Xiaolin’s matter, besides Yao Xi’s rare generosity, was even more because she suddenly realized she wasn’t the entirety of Yao Xi’s life; Yao Xi’s thoughts would be divided among other people and other things.

            

Yes, she was just eating the whole world’s vinegar.

Wan Bi curled into a ball, hugging her knees. The web of her hand was still aching slightly from the hand gun’s recoil, and her heart ached too. Why wasn’t Yao Xi back yet? Why wasn’t she back? Why wasn’t she back!!!

These words were like a spell; the moment she finished murmuring them, Yao Xi returned.

            

Yao Xi was wearing a set of new clothes Wan Bi had never seen before, and the two eunuchs behind her had their arms completely full. Had they gone on a shopping spree? Wan Bi rose, walked coldly back into the main hall, and pretended she had not been waiting at all.

“What did you go out of the palace for?” Wan Bi had originally assumed the two eunuchs were carrying items they had bought for Yao Xi, but seeing that Yao Xi had only entered holding her changed-out clothes, she could not help but ask.

“Just wandered around casually,” Yao Xi replied, her smile practically stretching from ear to ear.

            

Wan Bi felt a wave of disappointment. This heartless little thing. In the past when she left the palace, she would always bring back some small trinkets. Now that she had gotten her way, she could not even be bothered to bring anything. “Wash your hands and have your meal!” Wan Bi said, her tone rather sour.

“I already ate outside,” Yao Xi replied with an innocent grin. By the time she left the tea house, the hour for the midday meal had already passed. It had been hard work for the two eunuchs to accompany her out, and as their superior, she could not let them go hungry. Thus, the three of them had found a tasty tavern and enjoyed a hearty meal. Fortunately, she had brought plenty of loose silver, or she would have made a fool of herself when the bill arrived.

The smile on Yao Xi’s face slowly froze. “Your Highness… you didn’t skip your meal to wait for my return, did you…?” If that were true, her sin would be immense indeed.

            

“In your dreams! This bereaved one has already eaten.” While Yao Xi went back to the warm pavilion to change her clothes, Wan Bi seized the opportunity to instruct the palace maids waiting outside the hall, “Spread the word that not only has this bereaved one eaten her midday meal, but she also ate exceptionally well. If anyone lets the truth slip, they can expect a severe punishment!” With that, she angrily shut the hall doors.

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