Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 86
by Little PandaThe Empress Dowager Refuses
Wan Bi put the copper coin jar back on the corner of the desk and said to Yao Xi, “In the future, whenever you need silver, just take it from the coin jar yourself. What is this bereaved one’s is yours.”
Hearing the Empress Dowager say this, Yao Xi brazenly took tiny steps over to the coin jar. While keeping an eye on the Empress Dowager’s expression, she reached her hand inside. She grabbed a large handful and was just about to stuff it into her robes, but seeing the Empress Dowager watching her, she sheepishly let go and dropped some back. Seeing the Empress Dowager still watching her, she let go again and dropped a bit more back.
In the end, she only pocketed a few taels of silver.
“Take what you want. What are you afraid of?” Wan Bi was amused by Yao Xi’s timid appearance.
There was actually only about a hundred taels in the jar. Moreover, Noble Lady Lan’s visit had suddenly made her realize that it was actually impossible to bind Yao Xi with silver. Even if she didn’t give Yao Xi a single copper coin, Noble Lady Lan, as her older sister, would. Even her previous thought that the palace restrictions were too strict for Yao Xi to possibly escape was laughableβif Yao Xi wanted to flee the palace for fear of her identity being exposed, how could Noble Lady Lan not help?
Given the terrible impression she had left on Noble Lady Lan, it was perfectly understandable that the other woman would want to take her younger sisterβwho had become her male favorite and whose identity could be exposed at any momentβaway from her side. If Noble Lady Lan, as an older sister, was dissatisfied with her and took every opportunity to badmouth her in front of her sister, even if Yao Xi loved her deeply, there might come a day when she wavered. That day would certainly also be the day Yao Xi made up her mind to leave her.
She would not let that happen. She would not let anyone or anything try to dilute Yao Xi’s love for her. But she couldn’t just simply and brutally eliminate Noble Lady Lan either; that was Yao Xi’s biological sister. Since she couldn’t take the hard approach, she could only take the soft one.
Wan Bi sat back in her chair, forced out an amicable smile, and ordered the unwell Yao Xi to sit close beside her. As soon as Yao Xi sat down, Noble Lady Lan entered the Main Hall, leading a few palace maids carrying a chest.
When Yao Xi saw Noble Lady Lan enter with people, her eyes widened in surprise. Wasn’t the palace maid supporting Noble Lady Lan actually Yunxiang? Had Yunxiang been assigned to Noble Lady Lan after Lady Lin died? This was good; Noble Lady Lan was a good master, so Yunxiang wouldn’t be abused and bullied anymore if she followed her.
Yao Shuanglan had been deeply apprehensive the whole way to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager loathed her and might very well throw her and her things right out. But she had no choice but to come. This trip was actually for three matters: first, to present the Empress Dowager with a Dragon Boat Festival gift; second, to ask the Empress Dowager to visit the Emperor at Qianqing Palace; and third, which was the most important, to visit her sick younger brother and conveniently tell him about the new escape plan.
“This subject-concubine greets the Empress Dowager.” After entering the Main Hall, Yao Shuanglan knelt without looking sideways. She didn’t dare look at her younger brother for fear of arousing the Empress Dowager’s suspicion, keeping her head bowed low as she paid her respects. Yesterday, Imperial Physician Fu had rushed into the palace. Longyi had waited for him to leave before inquiring, only then learning that Eunuch Yao by Her Highness’s side had contracted a sudden illness. First thing this morning, Longyi had sent someone to Qianqing Palace to inform her.
Only then had she sorted out a chest of items rewarded to her by the Emperor to act as a Dragon Boat Festival gift for the Empress Dowager, taking the opportunity to check on her younger brother. As she crouched to bow, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of her brother sitting right beside the Empress Dowager. He seemingly had no major issues, which set her mind much at ease.
“Rise! Grant Noble Lady Lan a seat.” Wan Bi smiled pleasantly at Noble Lady Lan. “You are quite thoughtful. Knowing that this bereaved one would be too busy the day after tomorrow for the Dragon Boat Festival, you brought your festival gift early.”
Yao Shuanglan looked up at the Empress Dowager suspiciously. She thought she had misheard, and seen wrong. The Empress Dowager was smiling at her? And not only was she not blaming her for the presumptuousness of sending the gift early, but she was actually praising her for being thoughtful? There was a high probability of deceit in Her Highness’s sudden display of goodwill.
“As long as Your Highness does not blame this subject-concubine for being presumptuous and ignorant of etiquette.” Yao Shuanglan also smiled as she sat down in a chair, mentally preparing herself to parry whatever attack came.
“How could I.” The smile on Wan Bi’s face was as warm as the spring breeze. “With your filial piety, this bereaved one is too happy to even have time to blame you. How could I? The Emperor is busy with affairs; if you ever feel bored alone in Qianqing Palace, you may come over to sit with this bereaved one more often.” These words were not entirely just polite pleasantries. Her heart ached for Yao Xi being separated from her family, so it would be good if Noble Lady Lan could occasionally come over and see her.
It was just strangely baffling. For two daughters born and raised by the same parents, their temperaments were far too different. After learning that Noble Lady Lan and Yao Xi were actually sisters, Wan Bi’s disgust for Noble Lady Lan had already dissipated a lot. She had previously loathed Noble Lady Lan mainly because she mistakenly believed she liked to seduce handsome young little eunuchs. But she still couldn’t bring herself to like Noble Lady Lan.
Hearing the Empress Dowager say this, Yao Shuanglan’s heart instead grew increasingly uneasy. It was clear that not long ago, the Empress Dowager had told her never to come pay her respects again.
The Empress Dowager had managed to stand unshakeable in the palace for ten years; she certainly possessed certain methods. Since Her Highness also mistakenly believed there was an illicit affair between her and her younger brother, even if Her Highness liked her brother and couldn’t bear to do anything to him, she definitely wouldn’t let her off. The last time Her Highness tied up an unrelated eunuch and went to Qianqing Palace to tattle to the Emperor was just the beginning. As far as she knew, no one in the palace who had offended Her Highness ever had a good end.
The most unnerving thing, of course, was the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward her today. It was unbelievably good!
Could it be that Her Highness had already come up with a plan to deal with her, and was trying to dispel her wariness with gentle words and a soft tone?
“This subject-concubine wouldn’t dare disturb Your Highness.” Yao Shuanglan grew vigilant. If she happily agreed, Her Highness would surely suspect she was coming for Eunuch Yao, wouldn’t she?
Seeing that Noble Lady Lan was very guarded against her, Wan Bi temporarily didn’t know what to say. Offending people was her forte, but currying favor with themβ¦ she might as well just kill herself!
“Will Your Highness go to Xiyuan to watch the dragon boats this year?” Yao Shuanglan picked up the tea a palace maid had just served, asking while pretending to casually glance at the floating leaves.
She planned to take advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival to send her younger brother to Longyi’s fiefdom, provided, of course, that the Empress Dowager didn’t hole up in her own palace and go nowhere, like she had last year. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, there would be a dragon boat race in Xiyuan, which was exceptionally lively. When the race ended and the crowd dispersed in a chaotic jumble, it would be easy enough to stuff her brother into Longyi’s palanquin and send him away.
Wan Bi lowered her eyes and smiled. This move by Noble Lady Lan was quite viciousβasking her to go to Xiyuan to watch the boat race? Was she hoping she’d die at the hands of assassins? She never went anywhere crowded without disguising herself first.
“Does the Noble Lady wish for this bereaved one to go?” Wan Bi’s smile turned a bit colder. In her heart, she was thinking: If it weren’t for the fact that you’re Yao Xi’s sister, this bereaved one would torment you to death, you little vixen!
Yao Shuanglan sensed the subtle change in the Empress Dowager’s tone. She also understood that any answer to this question would be wrong. If she hoped Her Highness would goβ¦ so many people wanted to kill Her Highness, wouldn’t she be harboring ill intentions? If she hoped Her Highness wouldn’t goβ¦ the Dragon Boat Festival was a joyous occasion celebrated by the whole nation, and even the Emperor’s imperial carriage would personally travel to Xiyuan. On what grounds would she not want Her Highness to go?
At a time like this, she could only retreat in order to advance. Noble Lady Lan said in a gentle tone, “This subject-concubine heard the Emperor say that Your Highness prefers quiet and dislikes lively places. I was thinking that if Your Highness does not disdain it, this subject-concubine would like to paint a picture of the boat race to present to Your Highness when I go to Xiyuan for the Dragon Boat Festival. Fearing it might be an unnecessary effort, I boldly asked if Your Highness would be attending in person.”
“Hmmβ” Hearing Noble Lady Lan say this, it seemed she didn’t have any intention of harming her, so Wan Bi didn’t pry further. “This bereaved one will not go.”
Yao Xi sat silently beside the Empress Dowager, feeling that the atmosphere in the Main Hall was somewhat bizarre. She peeked at the Empress Dowager; Her Highness’s expression was as usual, bearing a smile on her lips. She then sneaked a look at Noble Lady Lan; Noble Lady Lan’s expression was also devoid of anything unusual, still smiling gently as she normally did.
When Yao Xi doubtfully withdrew her gaze, she noticed that Yunxiang, standing behind Noble Lady Lan, was looking at her. She smiled at Yunxiang. The last time in Lady Lin’s palace, Yunxiang had stepped forward to stand up for her, and Yao Xi had always been grateful for that. Seeing Yao Xi suddenly look at her, Yunxiang bashfully lowered her head. Only after a moment did she dare lift her head to pretend to casually glance at Yao Xi. Seeing Yao Xi still looking at her, she lowered her head again, covering her mouth lightly as she smiled.
Wan Bi was talking with Noble Lady Lan when she suddenly saw the palace maid behind the Noble Lady smiling coquettishly at Yao Xi by her side. Turning her head, she saw that Yao Xi was also smiling at that palace maidβ¦ Wan Bi’s expression instantly turned ugly, and she no longer had the mood to feign amicability with Noble Lady Lan.
She felt the palace maid looked somewhat familiar, and upon closer inspection, recognized her. It was that little palace maid who had stood up for Yao Xi in Lady Lin’s palace. Were these two making eyes at each other right in front of her?
Wan Bi then remembered the words Yao Xi used to praise that palace maid when she had just emerged from the bath: ‘graceful and charming appearance’!
When Yao Xi praised her, she had never used such flowery words.
The word to praise her: Good!
To praise her looks: Pretty!
At most, another superficial exclamation of amazement: Wow!!!
And then, nothing more. At the time, she assumed Yao Xi was uneducated, so she hadn’t held it against her.
But when Yao Xi praised that little palace maid? Suddenly she had literary talent, rattling off set after set of pedantic and amorous phrases. She knew it! Yao Hezheng was a Jinshi; how could his daughter possibly be so uncultured?
Yao Xi was hiding her brilliance and feigning incompetence for fear of exposing her identity in front of her!
Otherwise, how could a girl who only attended a private school for a few days in her childhood keep ledgers so quickly and so well? Even though the girl’s handwriting was ugly, she knew quite a number of characters. If attending a private school for just a few days could produce such a child, then that private school teacher could come to the capital to be a Junior Tutor.
It wasn’t that the wench was uneducated and didn’t know how to praise people; she just didn’t want to praise her!
Hah! Wan Bi cast a faint sidelong glance at Yao Xi. I’ll deal with you later, you little wretch!
Noble Lady Lan fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying, “This subject-concubine also wanted to invite the Empress Dowager to go check on the Emperor⦔
“What? Does the Emperor need this bereaved one for something?” Wan Bi had originally planned to make a trip to Qianqing Palace anyway. With such a massive incident occurring in the palace, the Emperor must be feeling terrible, and there were barely a few people in the palace who truly cared about him besides her.
Noble Lady Lan said with a worried look, “It was this subject-concubine’s idea. The Emperor didn’t sleep a wink last night, and he didn’t attend the morning court session today either. He has just been sitting constantly in front of the Late Emperor’s eternal flame in Huiling Hall.”
The Emperor wouldn’t allow anyone to wait on him either, just sitting there without eating or drinking, not saying a word. She didn’t love the Emperor, and she even bore some resentment toward him because of his sudden decree summoning her into the palace, but seeing him like this now truly broke her heart. Whether it was for the country and its people, or for her and the Yao family, the Emperor was irreproachable.
Wan Bi felt somewhat moved when she saw Noble Lady Lan’s worried expression as she said this.
Although Noble Lady Lan’s heart was not set on the Emperor, her concern for him at this moment was genuine. Thinking about it closely, it was somewhat similar to her feelings for the Late Emperorβshe was grateful and she cared, she worried and her heart ached for him. But she just didn’t love him.
“Because of the fake eunuch incident?” Wan Bi asked.
“Mn. And the rumors spreading among the common folk regarding Empress Zhu and the Second Prince⦔ Noble Lady Lan wasn’t trying to file a complaint against Empress Zhu; she was merely reporting truthfully.
“Rumors?” Wan Bi thought of Feng Xin’s appearance and rather felt they might not necessarily be just rumors. “When you go back in a little while, tell the Emperor that this bereaved one will be taking her midday meal at Qianqing Palace.”
“Yes,” Yao Shuanglan acknowledged.
Wan Bi glanced at the palace maid named Yunxiang, then said to Noble Lady Lan, “You have too few people serving by your side, and their quality isn’t up to par either!” Wan Bi deliberately stared at Yunxiang as she said this, then continued, “Your filial piety in presenting this bereaved one with a festival gift is commendable, so this bereaved one will reward you with two palace maids!”
After speaking, Wan Bi called two palace maids inside and instructed, “Ying’er, Fu’er. The two of you will serve by Noble Lady Lan’s side from now on. If you dare to not exert your utmost effort, this bereaved one will be the first to not spare you.”
Of the two palace maids, one stared at Yunxiang and the other at Noble Lady Lan. Perfect. Actually, the main purpose was still to keep an eye on Noble Lady Lan; Wan Bi knew she would definitely still try to find a way to send Yao Xi out of the palace. With Yao Xi’s cowardly temperament, she might not dare disobey her eldest sister and just foolishly leave. Not only did she have to keep a tight leash on Yao Xi, but she also had to guard against Noble Lady Lan.
“This subject-concubine thanks Your Highness for the reward.” Yao Shuanglan stood up, knelt to receive the reward, and sighed secretly: The Empress Dowager has dispatched two pairs of eyes to watch me every single moment! Sighβ¦ From now on, not only will speaking to my brother be impossible, but even going to see Longyi won’t be convenient.
“Alright. You may return! This bereaved one will head over shortly.” Wan Bi smiled and waved her hand dismissively at Noble Lady Lan.
Yao Shuanglan bent her knees in a bow and said, “This subject-concubine takes her leave.”
Noble Lady Lan led the people she had brought along with Ying’er and Fu’er away. Wan Bi ordered the other palace maids to carry the chest off and close the main doors. Once again, only she and Yao Xi remained in the Main Hall.
“Eunuch!” Wan Bi called out to Yao Xi while absentmindedly playing with her gold nail guards.
Yao Xi consciously stood up from her chair. Her Highness had gone mad again. Whenever she called her “Eunuch” or “Eunuch Yao,” there was absolutely nothing good to follow. “This slave is here.”
Wan Bi’s lips curled into a smile. Looking at Yao Xi out of the corner of her eye, she commanded, “Praise this bereaved one.”
What the heck? Yao Xi was utterly bewildered. She had guessed right; Her Highness was having another fit of madness. “Then what would Your Highness like to hear this slave praise?” At least tell me which aspect you want to be praised on!
“Never mind what this bereaved one wants to hear. Just say what you want to say.” Wan Bi was jealous that Yao Xi hadn’t spared any words of lavish praise for that palace maid named Yunxiang, yet blindly played the fool in front of her.
Yao Xi didn’t really dare to praise her. Her Highness was too hard to please; one displeasing word and she would throw a tantrum. She tried to evade it: “This slave hasn’t read many books and truly does not know how to say pleasant-sounding words. I beg Your Highness to forgive this crime.”
Wan Bi completely refused to buy into Yao Xi’s act. She coaxed and tricked Yao Xi: “This bereaved one heard the eunuch talking in his sleep last night, and you were highly educated indeed. You were spouting literary masterpieces1!” How could a daughter raised as a son by Yao Hezheng not be a person of broad learning and great talent?
Yao Xi was terribly frightened by this. She talked in her sleep last night? And she had been spouting literary masterpieces? Could it be that she had recited her high school textbooks right in front of Her Highness? “This slave feels that even the most gorgeous rhetoric is unworthy of Your Highness. The wind, the frost, the clearing rain; the sun, the moon, the mountains, the flowersβcompared to Your Highness, they are all rendered utterly colorless⦔
“Mhm~” Wan Bi listened languidly. What she actually wanted to hear wasn’t these empty words, but Yao Xi’s true innermost thoughts. “Yao Xi. You know that there are many people in this world who want this bereaved one’s life, right?”
Yao Xi didn’t dare say she knew. Wouldn’t that be tantamount to openly saying Her Highness was hated by others?
“If this bereaved one were to be assassinated tonightβ¦ would you regret that there were words you never said to this bereaved one?” Wan Bi asked, gazing seriously at Yao Xi.
Yao Xi felt a sudden rush of scalding heat flow across her chest.
Yes. Many, many things. But I cannot say themβ¦
“This slave will protect Your Highness! I will protect Your Highness forever!” Yao Xi crouched down and rested her head gently against the Empress Dowager’s knee. She had actually already come to view the Empress Dowager as more important than her own life; it was just that she couldn’t bring herself to implicate everyone in the Yao family because of her own romantic love.
Wan Bi was moved to tears by the word “forever.” But she couldn’t cry in front of Yao Xi; shedding tears that time in Lady Lin’s palace had been humiliating enough for her. She gently stroked Yao Xi’s head and said, “From now on, you are not allowed to smile at others.”
“Not allowed to smile at others?” Resting on Her Highness’s knee, Yao Xi blankly lifted her small face, a look of incomprehension in her eyes.
Wan Bi lightly poked Yao Xi’s forehead and said, “Yunxiang. Don’t think about playing dumb! What is there to smile about with her?”
“Yunxiang helped this slave the last time in Lady Lin’s palace⦔ Yao Xi started explaining, but as she did, she suddenly burst out laughing. She stood up, bent over, and leaned close to the Empress Dowager, asking happily, “If Your Highness forbids this slave from smiling, then this slave can’t just go around pulling a long face whenever I see others, can I?” Was Her Highness jealous over her? Yao Xi was trying hard to find evidence that the Empress Dowager loved her.
Wan Bi pulled Yao Xi into her embrace, holding her tightly, and murmured into her ear, “Wouldn’t it be fine if you just didn’t see anyone else?”
Yao Shuanglan did not head directly back to Qianqing Palace. On her way back, as she passed outside Longyi Palace, she was stopped by a palace maid from Longyi’s side.
“Noble Lady Lan, the Eldest Princess invites you inside to speak,” the palace maid passed on the message.
Yao Shuanglan thus ordered her people to wait outside and followed the palace maid in to see Longyi.
Once inside the room with the door closed, Longyi wrapped her arms around the Noble Lady’s waist, meaning to kiss her, but was firmly pushed away by Noble Lady Lan. “The Empress Dowager has assigned two palace maids to follow me. If those two are sharp-eyed and discover my makeup and hair are mussed after a trip inside, it won’t be good.”
“Why did she order people to follow you?” Longyi released Noble Lady Lan reluctantly.
“Doesn’t Her Highness suspect that Ah Xian and I are having an illicit affair?” Yao Shuanglan straightened her clothes and said, “I can’t find an opportunity to speak with Ah Xian, so I can still only entrust the matter of sending him out of the palace to you. The Empress Dowager won’t be going to Xiyuan for the Dragon Boat Festival; I think it’s better to send Ah Xian out of the palace under the cover of night. When you send Her Highness a festival gift, you can prepare one for Ah Xian as well, and hide the escape plan inside his gift.”
“Alright.”
“Have you found the owner of that silk handkerchief?” Yao Shuanglan felt that if the Emperor could reunite with his sweetheart again, perhaps everything would be fine, and she could also be freed from the misunderstanding.
Longyi shook her head. “It is impossible to start searching based solely on a single silk handkerchief. However, I have already started scouting for new women in the capital for my Imperial Brother.”
“It isn’t the same,” Yao Shuanglan said softly.
“The romantic sentiments between children cannot be taken as real.” Longyi still leaned toward finding the Emperor a new love.
Yao Shuanglan looked at Longyi and smiled. “Is that so? The feelings between children cannot be taken as real?”
“Except for ours,” Longyi said with a sweet smile.
“I must go back.” Yao Shuanglan gently grasped Longyi’s hand, then turned and headed back to Qianqing Palace.
During the midday meal, Wan Bi went to Qianqing Palace. The dishes were set on the table, but Emperor Ming Cheng was absent. Noble Lady Lan explained, “Your Highness, the Emperor still refuses to come out.”
Wan Bi ordered someone to bring a tray, picked out several dishes according to Emperor Ming Cheng’s tastes, and personally carried the items to Huiling Hall, where the Late Emperor’s eternal flame was kept. “Emperor! It’s this bereaved one,” Wan Bi said at the door.
“Leave, Empress Dowager! We wish for a moment of quiet alone.” Emperor Ming Cheng didn’t even have much energy to speak.
The Empress Dowager had issued an edict to interrogate all the senior servants waiting upon the concubines who had given birth to imperial princes and princesses, and they had extracted quite a lot of information. There were even rumors spreading among the populace that Feng Xin was not of his seed; it was said that Feng Xin’s biological father, a fake eunuch who had been sent out of the palace by the Empress, had personally told people. Coincidentally, several years ago, a eunuch from the Empress’s palace had indeed mysteriously disappeared.
The Empress had followed him very early on. Because he had already held someone in his heart since childhood, he felt an extra measure of guilt toward the Empress. After ascending the throne, he selected concubines to fill the harem, and the women around him grew more and more numerous. But a first wife was ultimately a first wife, and he cared about the Empress. He had never once thought the Empress would betray him either; in the past, even if many, many people secretly said Feng Xin didn’t look like him, he had never harbored any suspicions.
Right now, the inner palace was a chaotic mess, rumors about the Empress were flying everywhere, and Noble Lady Lan also disdained him and was unwilling to let him touch her.
“Imperial Father, it turns out that in the end, everything is nothing but emptiness!” Emperor Ming Cheng sighed as he gazed at the Late Emperor’s eternal flame. Truly worthy of the dragon’s breath! This very sigh actually blew out the Late Emperor’s eternal flame. Panicking, Emperor Ming Cheng hurriedly picked up a nearby candle to relight the Late Emperor’s flame.
The main doors of Huiling Hall were tightly shut. Wan Bi called over two eunuchs and commanded, “Smash the doors open for this bereaved one!”
This was Huiling Hall, where the Late Emperor was enshrined! The two eunuchs were terrified into kneeling and begging for mercy: “Your Highness, these slaves wouldn’t dare.”
“You wouldn’t dare? Guards! Drag these two bastards away and behead them!” Wan Bi deliberately raised her voice toward the inside of the room.
The doors to Huiling Hall suddenly opened. Propping his hands against the door leaves, Emperor Ming Cheng looked at Wan Bi in disappointment and said, “Do you feel We do not have enough troubles on Our mind? Are you going to stick your foot in this as well?”
Holding the food, Wan Bi gave Emperor Ming Cheng a heartless, brilliant smile, her eyes curving into lovely crescents. She said gently, “This bereaved one has come to keep the Emperor company and chat.” After speaking, she bent her waist and nimbly ducked under Emperor Ming Cheng’s outstretched arms, slipping into the room.
Seeing Wan Bi’s behavior, Emperor Ming Cheng couldn’t vent his anger even if he wanted to. He knew Wan Bi actually meant well.
“You do not need to bring food; We are not hungry.” Emperor Ming Cheng closed the doors without driving Wan Bi out.
Wan Bi sat down on a meditation cushion. Holding the tray, she picked up the single pair of chopsticks inside and started picking up food to eat. “What wishful thinking? This bereaved one brought this for herself to eat; I wanted to chat with the Emperor while I ate.”
“⦔ Watching Wan Bi eat with such gusto, Emperor Ming Cheng secretly swallowed his saliva.
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