Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 92
by Little PandaThe Empress Dowager Refuses
On the way to Kunning Palace, Yao Xi was full of anticipation and her steps were light. Empress Zhu was famous in the palace for being generous with her rewards to subordinates; in this regard, her reputation far exceeded that of Princess Longyi, who had long been away from the palace, and the Empress Dowager, who rarely gave heavy rewards.
It was just that right now, the Lord State Uncle had been subjected to a house raid1, and the Zhu family’s mountains of gold and silver had all entered the National Treasury. Without her maiden family to send silver into the palace for her anymore, it was unknown whether the Empress would still be as generous as before. At this thought, Yao Xi’s brows furrowed in worry.
Chun Yang comforted the Empress, “Don’t be afraid, Your Highness. Don’t you still have this slave-girl? Today is the Dragon Boat Festival; Eunuch Yao must be here to deliver festival gifts to our palace. This slave-girl will go out and take a look right now.”
Empress Zhu’s hands were stiff with fright, clutching desperately at Chun Yang’s hand. She had nothing left to rely on now. The Zhu family had been raided, her son’s birth was a mystery in the eyes of the world, and after losing Beauty Yu, the Emperor had restored his favor to Noble Lady Lan. She could count on neither father, nor husband, nor son; the only one she could rely on was Chun Yang, who had served by her side since childhood.
“If the Empress Dowager sent people to arrest this palace, let them in. You must not do anything foolish; you cannot shoulder this matter. As long as we deny it to the death, it will be fine,” Empress Zhu’s voice trembled slightly.
Chun Yang offered a bitter smile and patted the Empress’s hand before turning to walk out. Upon stepping outside, she saw Eunuch Yao, who had recently gained favor by the Empress Dowager’s side, leading people carrying items and waiting in the courtyard before the main hall.
Seeing someone come out from the main hall, Yao Xi hurriedly bowed and said, “This slave Yao Xi, on the orders of the Empress Dowager, has come to deliver Dragon Boat Festival gifts to Her Majesty the Empress.” Whenever there was a festival in the palace, the masters would exchange festival gifts. This custom was actually not very good. For example, if the Empress gave a festival gift to a minor master, that minor master could not avoid adding a little something to send back to the Empress. Back and forth, the items actually all ended up in the hands of the master at the top of the food chain.
Yes. That master was her own Empress Dowager.
But for someone like Yao Xi, who served by the master’s side, she wished every day was a festival. Because there were rewards.
“Sorry to trouble Eunuch Yao. It is just that Her Highness awoke feeling unwell this morning and it is inconvenient for her to see guests. Just leave the items here!” Chun Yang smiled and whispered a few instructions to a palace maid beside her. After a while, the palace maid returned carrying a box. Chun Yang took the box, walked over to Yao Xi, and handed it to her, saying, “These items are rewards from Her Highness to everyone.”
Yao Xi accepted the heavy box and led her people away from Kunning Palace.
Once on the palace road, Yao Xi opened the box in front of everyone. The gold, silver, and precious jewels inside were so plentiful it was dazzling. Even though the Zhu family had been raided, the Empress was still as lavishly generous as ever!
“These are the items the Empress rewarded everyone with. Let’s discuss how to divide them before we go!” Yao Xi said to the palace maid Ping’er, “Ping’er-jiejie, you divide it.” Ping’er was a senior servant who had served by the Empress Dowager’s side for many years. Fearing that Yao Xi might not know the many rules on her first time running the errand of delivering festival gifts, the Empress Dowager had specifically assigned Ping’er to accompany her.
Ping’er smiled. “Everyone, suit yourselves! Hurry and divide it; we still have to rush to deliver items to the Virtuous Consort’s palace.”
After setting the box down, Yao Xi took a few steps back. Her rank was the highest among the crowd, so logically she should be the first to take her share. But she was also the latest to begin serving by the Empress Dowager’s side, so from that perspective, she should be the last.
She would just take it last! Whether there was a lot or a little left, she would leave it to fate.
Everyone looked at each other, no one daring to reach out. Worried that dragging this out would delay their errand, Ping’er took the lead and casually picked a few items from the box. Then she said to the crowd, “We’re all our own people, so don’t stand on ceremony. It doesn’t matter who gets a little more or a little less. We all serve by the Empress Dowager’s side, so we aren’t exactly lacking these little things, right? People are coming and going on the palace road; it’s not good for us to crowd around like this.” Only then did the others exchange glances and take their shares in order of seniority.
Hearing Ping’er say this, Yao Xi suspected they weren’t serving the same Empress Dowager. She was very much lacking these things!
Every hand that reached into the box made Yao Xi’s heart clench. Finally, after a long wait, everyone had taken their share, leaving only herโso humble and politeโempty-handed. As the crowd parted, Yao Xi looked nervously toward the boxโ
What was going on! How was there still more than half a box left?
Ah~ everyone must have seen that she was favored by the Empress Dowager and intentionally left it for her. But Yao Xi suddenly felt a bit embarrassed to take it. She had genuinely meant to be modest, but now this situation made it look as if she had deliberately schemed against everyone.
“Eunuch Yao?” Ping’er signaled Yao Xi to hurry and pick up the box. “We still have several masters’ palaces to visit! It’s the same whether you take more now or less later.” As Ping’er spoke, her eyes stared fixedly at the items in the box, memorizing each piece in her heart. This was the Empress Dowager’s instruction: she was to record every single piece of reward Yao Xi received, without missing a single one.
Based on her years of experience serving the Empress Dowager, Ping’er figured Eunuch Yao would probably not be able to keep these rewards. Therefore, all of Eunuch Yao’s current bashful hesitation was in vain, and all of his joy and happiness were merely temporary.
“Then I will respectfully obey!” Yao Xi gleefully picked up the box.
After delivering the items to the Virtuous Consort, Yao Xi led the group to Concubine Li at Zhongling Palace. A little eunuch said uneasily, “Eunuch Yao, right now in the palace, aside from Noble Lady Lan, the most favored is Concubine Kang. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate if we leave Concubine Kang for lastโฆ”
Yao Xi’s decision to deliver to Concubine Li first was entirely because Zhongling Palace was closer to the Virtuous Consort’s palace. It was clear that to get from the Virtuous Consort’s palace to Concubine Kang’s palace, they had to pass by Zhongling Palace. If they still put Concubine Li last despite this, some social climbers might mistakenly think the Empress Dowager looked down on Concubine Li and was covertly tripping up Zhongling Palace!
“We are running an errand for the Empress Dowager. Is there any need to curry favor or fear offending anyone?” Yao Xi couldn’t help but reveal a smug little expression. Was there anyone else in the palace who could be more badass2 than her Empress Dowager? Forget the inner palace; you could search the whole world and not necessarily find one!
After delivering the festival gifts to the Empress, the Virtuous Consort, and Concubine Li, the rewards in Yao Xi’s arms were already too many to hold.
Ping’er’s expression was also very tense. Yao Xi had received so many things that she was starting to lose track. She muttered softly the entire way, terrified of forgetting to note something down.
“This little one will help you.” A little eunuch stepped forward, wanting to take the items from Yao Xi’s arms.
Yao Xi politely declined. “No need. I can carry them.” She was currently tired but happy; the more tired she was, the happier she felt. Gugu Yuanqian truly looked out for her. Although she only had her deliver to five masters, they were the richest and most generous five; the rewards she collected could rival what others would get from visiting fifty minor masters.
After Xu Lian returned to the palace from his godfather Meng Delai’s private residence, he learned that Concubine Kang had already ordered someone to deliver the Dragon Boat Festival gifts to the Empress Dowager ahead of time. After much pleading and persuading, he finally convinced Concubine Kang to wait for the Empress Dowager’s festival gifts to arrive on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, and entrust the Empress Dowager’s people to take this painting back separately.
What Xu Lian did not expect was that the person who came to deliver the festival gifts would be Yao Xi.
He had thought that after Yao Xi became the Empress Dowager’s male favorite, he wouldn’t have to do this kind of rough work anymore. This was also his first time seeing Yao Xi; this kid was indeed quite good-looking, but compared to the young master in the Zither-Playing Portrait, he paled in comparison. He had an excess of delicate charm, but insufficient masculine spirit.
Hearing that people from the Empress Dowager’s palace had brought things, Concubine Kang came out early to wait. After receiving the festival gifts and expressing her thanks, Concubine Kang reached out her hand toward Xu Lian, who was serving to the side.
Xu Lian hastily bowed and scraped as he presented the Zither-Playing Portrait.
“This palace specifically sought out the elderly Mister Qin Taiwu to paint this, intending to offer it to the Empress Dowager as a festival gift. Because the painting was only delivered into the palace early this morning, it was not sent along with yesterday’s festival gifts. I can only trouble Eunuch Yao to take it back.” Concubine Kang had a personality that disliked meddling, but unable to withstand Xu Lian’s relentless pestering, she had agreed.
She knew Xu Lian meant well and wanted to help her gain favor with the Empress Dowager. This painting was also prepared with great care; not only was it done by the famous painter, the elderly Mister Qin Taiwu, but the inscribed poem was even composed by the Empress Dowager in her early years. Since Xu Lian had expended so much wealth and effort to prepare such a gift that money couldn’t buy, Concubine Kang felt it would be wrong to let him down.
“Concubine Kang is very thoughtful.” Yao Xi bowed as she accepted the painting.
After delivering to Concubine Kang, only Princess Longyi’s place was left to visit.
Princess Longyi had the most items. Aside from a small chest of Dragon Boat Festival gifts, there were also several large chests of dowry gifts.
Longyi sat bored in her palace, holding a cup of realgar wine3. She sniffed it again and again, but held herself back from drinking. She had promised Noble Lady Lan that she would not drink alcohol anymore, and she had kept her word, even though suddenly quitting drinking was very uncomfortable. Aside from not being able to drink, she had another matter weighing on her mind.
She had promised she would find an opportunity to send Yao Xi out of the palace. But she couldn’t find a chance; Wan Bi was practically inseparable from Yao Xi. She also felt a bit unwilling to be so cruel. After so many years, it was rare for Wan Bi to care so much about anyone. But like Noble Lady Lan, she dared not place Yao Xi’s life and the survival of the Yao family in Wan Bi’s hands. That person, Wan Bi, was truly too capricious.
“Princess, Eunuch Yao has come to deliver festival gifts for the Empress Dowager.” The palace maid was very puzzled by her master’s recent behavior. The Eldest Princess would often hold a cup of wine and sniff it endlessly, yet simply wouldn’t drink.
Longyi set down the wine, left the room, and went out to the courtyard. Sure enough, Yao Xi was leading the people from the Empress Dowager’s palace, having brought over a great deal of things.
“Why are there so many things?” In past years, Wan Bi would only send her one chest of Dragon Boat Festival gifts, but this year it was an absurd amount.
Longyi stepped forward and casually opened a chest. The items inside were unbelievably fine; picking any single piece at random would be even better than the dowry items Wan Bi had given her last time. Longyi looked at Yao Xi in confusion.
Yao Xi smiled and explained, “That chest contains the festival gifts Her Highness is giving to Your Highness the Princess. These few chests are the dowry gifts Her Highness is giving to Your Highness the Princess.”
“Where did the Empress Dowager get so many things?” Longyi’s confusion did not lessen. Hadn’t it been said that the things the Late Emperor left for Wan Bi were all used to help her Imperial Brother fill the deficit in the National Treasury?
Yao Xi was just about to say that Her Highness was incredibly rich and didn’t lack this little bit of stuff. But Ping’er suddenly stepped forward, seizing the conversation: “For the Dragon Boat Festival, Her Highness received many festival gifts, so she had them all sent over to the Eldest Princess.”
What? Yao Xi looked at Ping’er in shock. Then she instantly understood. Her Highness was too schemingโgiving people things while playing the victim4. If she hadn’t helped the Empress Dowager register the items into the vault, she might have believed it too.
“โฆ” Longyi was indeed moved again. “Go back and thank the Empress Dowager on behalf of this palace! Eunuch Yao, come inside. This palace has a matter to trouble you with.”
Hearing Princess Longyi call her inside to talk, Yao Xi was very happy. She was just wanting to ask the Eldest Princess how the Yao family’s case was going.
Leaving the crowd in the courtyard, Yao Xi went inside alone.
“Yao Xi.” Longyi saw Yao Xi enter and said directly, “Today, I will send you out of the palace.”
Yao Xi froze. She hadn’t expected Princess Longyi to talk about this matter. “This slave cannot leave the palace.”
“What?” Longyi was confused.
“If this slave disappears from Your Highness the Princess’s place, Her Highness will definitely suspect Your Highness the Princess,” Yao Xi said, finding an excuse.
Seeing that Yao Xi was worrying for her, Longyi couldn’t help but smile. “Even if the Empress Dowager knows it was I who sent you out of the palace, she won’t do anything to me.”
Seeing that making excuses was useless, Yao Xi had no choice but to say, “This slave is also reluctant to part with the Empress Dowager!”
“Youโฆ” Longyi hadn’t expected the two of them to be mutually in love. She had thought it was just Wan Bi’s wishful thinking to keep Yao Xi by her side. She actually couldn’t bear to snatch Yao Xi away from Wan Bi, so she spoke to Yao Xi earnestly, “Once your Yao family is cleared of its crimes, I will bring you back to the Empress Dowager’s side again. Before then, go hide in my fiefdom for a while, alright? If your identity is discovered, Lord Yao, Madam Yao, and your jiejie will all be implicated.”
“If I am discovered, I won’t admit to being Yao Xian,” Yao Xi said firmly. She wasn’t him to begin with. “Or suicide is fine too; either way, I won’t implicate the Yao family.” Yao Xi couldn’t bother to think too deeply. All she knew was that even if she had to die, she would absolutely never leave the Empress Dowager.
Footnotes
- Chฤojiฤ (ๆๅฎถ). The punitive confiscation of a disgraced official's entire estate and wealth by the imperial court.
- A piece of modern Chinese internet slang, literally 'cow X,' where X is a euphemism for the female anatomy. It means 'fucking awesome' or 'badass.'
- A traditional Chinese alcoholic drink infused with powdered realgar, commonly consumed during the Dragon Boat Festival to ward off evil spirits and disease.
- Mร icวn (ๅๆจ), modern Chinese internet slang meaning to purposefully play the victim or exaggerate one's misery to gain sympathy.
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