Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 125
by Little PandaThe Empress Dowager Refuses
Yao Xi had worked up a sweat wandering around outside the palace, so she busied herself with bathing and changing clothes the moment she returned. She even hummed a cheerful little tune while washing up in the washroom.
The response at the teahouse today had been excellent. With word of mouth spreading, there’d surely be an even larger crowd tomorrow. She didn’t charge the teahouse owner a single copper for her storytelling, nor did she take any money from the listeners. So how was she going to make a profit? Naturally, once she drew in a massive audience, she could slide in advertisements during her performance! Or she could secure naming sponsors. That was where the real money lay.
The novels she’d read, the dramas she’d binged, and the comics she’d followed before her transmigration were enough to last her a lifetime. When it came to the variety and excitement of her stories, she possessed knowledge spanning the ancient past, the present, and the future. What hope did other storytellers have of competing with her? Hahahahaha… Thinking of it this way, earning ten thousand taels of silver wasn’t a pipe dream!
Wan Bi closed the main hall doors and went into the warm pavilion to look for Yao Xi, only to find no one there. She faintly heard movement coming from the washroom in the eastern corner of the bedchamber. She stepped out to listen closely. My, the wench must’ve run into some stroke of luck outside, humming away so happily!
But she couldn’t bring herself to smile. Her stomach was growling with hunger…
Wan Bi glanced at the washroom, where water was splashing, and swallowed hard. She didn’t even know if she was swallowing because she was hungry from missing her midday meal, or because she was craving the mental image of Yao Xi bathing.
Yao Xi would take at least half an hour to bathe, wouldn’t she? That would be plenty of time to grab a bite to line her stomach. Wan Bi had originally assumed Yao Xi was only coming in to change her clothes. Driven by her stubborn pride, she hadn’t wanted Yao Xi to know she’d gone hungry waiting for her all this time, and she’d actually been prepared to starve until the evening meal.
Who would’ve thought the wench would go straight for a full bath…
Now was her chance!
Wan Bi hurried out of the hall and instructed a palace maid, “Go to the kitchen immediately and bring back some food for this bereaved one. Keep it quiet.”
“Yes,” the maid replied, scurrying away with quick, light steps. It took quite a while before she returned with a tray of food. The midday meal had actually been prepared long ago and kept warm in the kitchen; the delay was mainly due to the tedious food-tasting procedures.
The maid entered the main hall carrying a massive tray and was about to lay out the various dishes on the desk when the seated Empress Dowager impatiently interrupted her. “There’s no need for so much. This plate of fire velvet pastries1 is enough. Take the rest away right now!” She was terrified that Yao Xi might step out at any moment; her only goal was a quick bite to tide her over, and she could always order the evening meal to be served earlier.
“Wait!” Wan Bi called out, halting the maid. She reached out and snatched the two fire velvet pastries from the plate, then ordered, “Take the plate away too.” She couldn’t leave behind even the slightest trace that might arouse Yao Xi’s suspicions that she was sneaking food. She simply couldn’t afford to lose face like that!
The maid took the plate and closed the main hall doors as she withdrew. Still feeling uneasy, Wan Bi peered toward the bedchamber. Seeing no sign of Yao Xi, she finally picked up a fire velvet pastry, took a small bite, and then continued, bite after tiny bite…
“Your Highness, didn’t you read this letter?” When Yao Xi returned to the warm pavilion after her bath, she found the bedding in disarray. Her Highness clearly hadn’t summoned anyone to tidy it yet, and the letter she’d left for her was still resting untouched on the pillow. Picking up the letter, she walked toward the main hall with light, brisk steps.
Wan Bi, caught mid-bite, froze.
She heard Yao Xi speaking clearly, and the sound of her approaching footsteps drew closer and closer. Yet, more than half of the fire velvet pastry was still in her hand…
Chomp—! Wan Bi opened her mouth wide and stuffed the entire remaining pastry inside, then quickly wiped the crumbs from her lips with a handkerchief. She tried to swallow it in one gulp, but the pastry was too dry and bulky, lodging itself right in her throat.
Yao Xi’s approaching footsteps were like a death-summoning talisman. In a panic, Wan Bi frantically poured a cup of tea, hoping to wash it down. But the instant the tea touched her lips, she almost screamed.
It was scalding hot!!!
She suppressed the urge to fling the teacup and checked her desire to scream, gently setting the cup down with tears welling in her eyes. The very moment Yao Xi stepped into the main hall, Wan Bi swiftly turned her back, her mouth working frantically to chew.
Almost there! Almost there! Just a couple more chews and she’d be able to swallow.
Wan Bi felt incredibly bitter inside. What sin had she committed to deserve this?! To think that she, the formidable Empress Dowager of the Great Xing Dynasty, had ever been in such a sorry state! Starving, sneaking bites, choking, getting scalded…
“Your Highness, you haven’t read this letter yet, have you?” Yao Xi withdrew the letter and the silver notes from the envelope, saying with a smile, “It doesn’t say much anyway. I was just afraid you’d worry, so I wrote to let you know I was going out of the palace. Also, I’m returning these two silver notes to Your Highness.”
What silver notes? Wan Bi dared not turn around; her cheeks were still stuffed full.
Yao Xi placed the silver notes on the desk, then stepped forward to wrap her arms around the Empress Dowager from behind, murmuring affectionately, “I want to discuss something with you, Your Highness. I’ve found a job, so from now on, I might have to leave the palace once a day. But I’ll only be gone for two or three shichen2.”
Wan Bi was so shocked she even forgot to chew the food in her mouth. If she couldn’t see Yao Xi for even a short while, she’d grow restless and uneasy. How could she possibly let the wench run out of the palace every single day?!
Forcing the dry mass down her throat, she spun around and spoke with absolute finality, “Don’t even think about it! Why are you looking for some job outside the palace for no reason? Serving this bereaved one is your job!”
“Serving Your Highness used to be my job, but from now on, it won’t be.” A trace of bitterness welled up in Yao Xi’s heart. She looked up at the Empress Dowager and said, “I don’t want to be your male favorite!”
“Yao Xi, you…” Wan Bi’s heart suddenly clenched. Was Yao Xi planning to leave her? Absolutely not! She suddenly found herself at a loss, unable to fathom what had gone wrong. Hadn’t everything been fine last night?
“I want to be the partner who accompanies you for a lifetime, not some male favorite.” A bright, shimmering light shone in Yao Xi’s eyes, though her voice carried a touch of self-doubt. “I know my status is low, and I know this is a wild hope. You can still treat me just like before. It’s just that… I really don’t want to be a favored attendant kept like a pet anymore…”
With lingering fear, Wan Bi pulled Yao Xi into a tight embrace. “You wretched wench, you scared this bereaved one to death!” She’d nearly believed Yao Xi was going to leave. As long as she stayed, nothing else mattered. Besides, wanting to make something of herself was a good thing.
“So, you agree?”
“You can leave the palace, but someone has to accompany you, and you must return within two shichen.” The moment she compromised, Wan Bi immediately regretted it. She asked uneasily, “Do you really have to go out every day? This bereaved one can lend you some capital. You can buy a few shops and hire people to manage them. When you make money, you can just return the capital to this bereaved one. Wouldn’t that be better?”
“Your Highness—” Yao Xi said, mock-glaring. “No helping. I can do this on my own.”
“Is that so?” Wan Bi sat back down in her chair with a smile, taking a sip of her now-cooled tea. “Then tell me, Eunuch: how much did you earn today, and how much did you spend?”
Yao Xi counted on her fingers, her face instantly turning a bright crimson. “Today’s outing was only to test the waters. Besides, I plan to play the long game—the returns will be high, but the results will take time. As for expenses… I spent sixteen taels3 and eight mace4…”
“Mhm.” A trace of a smile tugged at the corner of Wan Bi’s mouth. “Then tell me, Eunuch, what wonderful business did you find?”
“Storytelling at a teahouse…” Yao Xi’s voice grew fainter as she spoke. She lowered her head, twisting the corner of her robe as even the tips of her ears flushed red.
The smile on Wan Bi’s face deepened. How much could you possibly earn from storytelling?
“It’s a good thing that you want to stand on your own two feet, and this bereaved one won’t stop you. However, you must either earn silver or accompany this bereaved one—you can’t fail at both. This bereaved one has never treated you as a male favorite. If any other favorite acted like you, they’d have been put to death eight hundred times over. Even ordinary couples divide their responsibilities between the household and the outside world, don’t they? If your storytelling doesn’t yield much silver, then obediently return to help this bereaved one manage the businesses under my name. Will that do?”
“Mhm.” Yao Xi nodded obediently.
“By the way, didn’t you want to tell this bereaved one about your life before entering the palace the other day? What? Is that brain of yours, supposedly ruined by the traffickers’ drugs, actually able to remember things now?” Wan Bi recalled the matter at hand. Now that Sun Erbao had confessed, she wanted to hear what Yao Xi had to say.
“Please don’t be angry when you hear this, Your Highness,” Yao Xi said sheepishly. “The story about my brain being ruined by the traffickers’ drugs was actually just a lie I made up on the spot to hide my female identity.”
“Mhm, this bereaved one isn’t angry. It’s a good thing your brain isn’t damaged!” Wan Bi nodded, gesturing for Yao Xi to continue.
“I was originally surnamed Sun, and my name was Xibao. Before entering the palace, I lived in Caihua Alley in Yuyang Town, north of the capital. In the autumn of the year before last, my older brother and sister-in-law conspired with Eunuch Liufu of the Directorate of Palace Servants. They drugged me and sold me into the palace. However, Eunuch Liufu was kept in the dark by my brother and sister-in-law, so he had no idea I was actually a woman. Later, I happened to run into Noble Lady Lan in the palace—well, she should be called Jieyu Lan now. She mistook me for Young Master Yao Xian, the son of Lord Yao, which was how I learned that I look identical to him. Eunuch Liufu’s purchase of me must have been targeted at the Yao family as well; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been such a coincidence that he named me Yao Xi.”
Yao Xi poured out everything in one breath. She didn’t know if she was making complete sense; she simply spoke as the thoughts came to her. Once she finished, she felt immensely relieved. The secret she’d kept hidden for so long had finally been laid bare.
Wan Bi didn’t reply immediately. She simply pulled Yao Xi’s hand into her own with a look of quiet comfort, rubbing it gently.
Everything Yao Xi said matched what she’d uncovered. The wench hadn’t lied to her, and that was enough. As for whether Yao Xi’s surname was Sun or Yao before entering the palace, it didn’t matter in the slightest. In fact, Wan Bi was rather pleased—so it turned out Yao Xi had drawn her so hideously simply because she lacked the skill, not the heart.
“No matter who got you into the palace or what they wanted to achieve by using you, you don’t need to be afraid. This bereaved one is here!” Wan Bi comforted Yao Xi.
“Then… do you think I should tell Jieyu Lan that Young Master Yao is likely no longer of this world?” Yao Xi asked, looking up at the Empress Dowager expectantly as she held her hand.
Wan Bi nodded. “You can’t pretend to be Yao Xian forever. It’s best to tell her soon.”
“Then I’ll go right now?” Yao Xi made to leave.
Wan Bi pulled her back into her arms with a quick tug and said, “There’s no rush. Stay and talk with this bereaved one a little longer. Tell me some amusing stories from your childhood, perhaps?”
“I don’t remember anything from my childhood,” Yao Xi said, looking slightly troubled. The memories belonging to the original owner before her transmigration had only ever appeared to her in fragmented, fleeting dreams.
Hearing Yao Xi say this, Wan Bi didn’t press further. Finding Yao Xi’s biological parents wasn’t that important anyway; she already had her to care for her now. Besides, so many years had passed. The two elders had likely moved on from the grief of losing their daughter, and maybe they were already surrounded by a flock of children and grandchildren by now.
To meet again would be fate; if not, then let each live out their lives in peace.
Footnotes
- A traditional Chinese flaky palace pastry (huoróngsū) made with multiple thin, crisp layers, typically filled with a rich, savory pork or beef paste.
- A traditional Chinese unit of time (shíchén) equivalent to two hours, which was historically used to divide the twenty-four-hour day into twelve periods.
- A traditional Chinese unit of weight used primarily for measuring silver currency (liǎng), with one tael being roughly thirty-seven and a half grams.
- A traditional Chinese unit of weight and currency (qián) used for silver transactions, where exactly ten mace are equal to one tael.
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