After the fire in the Cold Palace on the Double Ninth Festival, vague rumors began circulating through the palace. They said that now the Emperor had mentioned Consort Xian again, he might even pardon her and release her from the Cold Palace.
“Will Consort Xian really be released from the Cold Palace?” Achu’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Who wouldn’t be curious? The woman’s life was simply too legendary. She and the Emperor had grown up together, and she had remained favored without interruption when he was still a prince, arousing the vigilance of everyone in the harem. Later, she had been sent to the Cold Palace after being framed for harming the imperial fetus. Everyone had thought she would spend the rest of her life there, wasting away in obscurity. Yet no one had expected that the fire on the Double Ninth Festival would force the Emperor to run to the Cold Palace and reveal that he still had feelings for Consort Xian.
It was practically the standard setup for a female lead in a tragic romance. Then again, perhaps not. In the imperial harem, this might well be the story of a great female lead in a revenge-driven palace struggle.
Seeing how interested Achu was in the story between the Emperor and Consort Xian, Jinzhong grew somewhat sour and jealous. “Our Emperor is a deeply affectionate man. If Consort Xian wants to leave the Cold Palace, she’ll have to rely on a few methods and endure a few hardships before she can get out.”
Achu waved the handkerchief in her hand and gave a soft, amused laugh. “Oh, Eunuch Jinzhong, your words are so sour they could be used to dip dumplings in.”
Of course, she knew that the current Emperor was a deeply affectionate man. He was also rather heartless. He had three thousand beauties in his harem, and even after his childhood sweetheart entered the Cold Palace, he had not made any fewer visits to the chambers of those other beauties. If he truly loved Consort Xian, how could he, as the Emperor, have been unable to protect her? The truth was simply that he did not love her.
He had showered her with favor without protecting her. No wonder Consort Xian had suffered such a devastating defeat.
It was all perfectly clear to Achu. Unfortunately, Ruyi could not see it.
Jinzhong casually took Achu’s soft hand in his. His long, narrow eyes were filled with tender affection, and his tone was mournful. “What can I do? My heart is entirely in your hands. I can only let you trample it as you please.”
Every one of his words and actions changed with her happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. He was happy when she was happy, worried when she was worried, and despised whatever she despised. His emotions rose and fell because of her words, yet he was more than willing to surrender himself to it all.
Achu blinked, then suddenly leaned over and pressed a light kiss to Jinzhong’s cheek. Her exquisite little face was sweet and utterly candid as she said, “I like seeing you let me trample all over you. I like it so much that I want my Eunuch Jinzhong to let me bully him for the rest of our lives.”
Achu was always unusually straightforward and open in certain matters, completely unaware of how deeply her words could shake someone.
Damn it. How could this be? How could there be someone in this world so lovable that she left a person not knowing what to do with himself?
Jinzhong tilted his head back slightly and closed his eyes, calming the love surging through him so violently that it nearly spilled over.
Unable to restrain himself, he pulled Achu into his arms. His chin rested in the hollow of her neck, and both arms wrapped tightly around her waist in an utterly possessive embrace. Achu could even feel his heart pounding wildly, as though some emotion were taking root, sprouting, blooming, and bearing fruit within him.
Men these days really couldn’t handle even the slightest sweet talk. Achu was rather helpless. She had not even brought out a third of her usual skill, yet the other person was already unable to bear it. As someone who loved saying sweet things, Achu found herself terribly frustrated.
Achu was enjoying her romantic interlude, completely unaware that the female lead of the story was looking for her.
In the Cold Palace not far away—
“Who exactly is she?” Ruyi lay on the worn-out bed, feeling an oppressive restlessness in her chest.
She was only sixteen or seventeen, yet she possessed a face blessed by heaven. Radiant beauty flowed through her features. Her plain palace-maid attire had not diminished her beauty in the slightest. Instead, it was as if the dust had been brushed away, revealing even more clearly the dazzling elegance that made people afraid to look directly at her.
With such a face, how could she have remained unknown in the imperial harem? Who was she, and what did she seek? Why had she appeared in the Cold Palace that day?
If Suoxin had not witnessed it together with her, Ruyi would truly have thought that she had begun hallucinating after spending too long in the Cold Palace. That scene had been too beautiful to be real, too vivid and alive to belong beside those lifeless palace walls and halls.
For the first time, she began to feel afraid.
No one understood the man in her heart better than she did. The Emperor was the person most deeply acquainted with the beauty of women in this world. Every consort in the palace was extraordinarily beautiful in her own way, but before that otherworldly, pure, and lovely girl, all the splendor and freshness they had possessed throughout their lives seemed to become dull fish eyes, reduced to nothing more than complete embellishment.
She absolutely could not let His Majesty see her.
Ruyi clenched the pill in her hand. A trace of resolve flashed through her eyes. She closed them and swallowed it directly.
The medicine took effect quickly. Waves of dizziness swept through her mind. Her body seemed to float atop endless clouds of cotton, while every limb and bone lost all strength and became limp and powerless. The fear of death nearly drowned Ruyi.
Yet at that juncture between life and death, what appeared in her mind was the girl’s sweet smile, blooming like a pear blossom.
People often said that when someone died, the most deeply etched memories of their life would appear in their mind. Gradually, the anxiety faded from Ruyi’s eyes, blurred by tears. All that remained was her unconscious murmur:
“Where are you? Where are you? I’ll definitely…”
Find you.
A glimmer of bright yellow slowly approached. The Emperor stopped beside Ruyi’s bed. Hearing her unconscious murmurs, his expression became deeply moved. He took her hand and spoke in an exceptionally gentle, soothing voice.
“I’m here, Ruyi. I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Ruyi closed her eyes. Perhaps she had heard his reply, because a peaceful smile appeared on her face.
In the imperial harem, no news could remain concealed for long. The Empress and Noble Consort Hui were standing beneath the veranda, chatting idly about everyday matters. At that moment, Zhao Yitai hurried in and respectfully saluted.
“Greetings to the Empress. Greetings to Noble Consort Hui.”
The Empress frowned slightly. “Why are you in such a panic? What happened?”
Zhao Yitai answered, “His Majesty just went to the Cold Palace. He personally addressed Ulanara Ruyi as Consort Xian and said… said that he would release her from the Cold Palace in a few days.”
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Hui swayed, and her voice rose several degrees. “Hadn’t Ulanara Ruyi already been demoted to a commoner? How could she possibly be released from the Cold Palace? You said His Majesty personally called her Consort Xian? His Majesty has lost his mind.”
The Empress’s expression changed slightly, but she remained composed. “Why will she leave the Cold Palace in a few days, rather than immediately? Zhao Yitai, explain yourself clearly.”
Zhao Yitai collected himself and explained in detail, “Somehow, Ulanara Ruyi was poisoned with arsenic. She has not yet fully recovered. His Majesty instructed that she is to leave the Cold Palace once she is able to rise from bed.”
“I understand. You may all withdraw for now.” After hearing this, the Empress waved for Zhao Yitai and the others to leave.
The Empress turned a suspicious gaze toward Noble Consort Hui. “Noble Consort, was it you?”
Noble Consort Hui felt terribly wronged. “Me? If it had been me, how could I possibly have allowed her to leave the Cold Palace?” Was she really that stupid?
Seeing her expression, the Empress furrowed her brows and fell into thought. Who would have poisoned Ruyi at such a critical moment? How utterly foolish. Not only had the poison failed to kill her, it had also drawn the Emperor over and caused their greatest threat to be released because of the incident.
Noble Consort Hui knitted her delicate brows tightly and said resentfully, “Whoever poisoned her didn’t even know how to do it properly.”
Her words interrupted the Empress’s thoughts. The Empress asked again, “Are you truly certain that you weren’t the one who did it?”
She could hardly be blamed for suspecting Noble Consort Hui. If one asked who in the palace hated Ruyi the most—and who had the least sense—it could only be this Noble Consort, who was always charging into battle on her behalf.
Noble Consort Hui had no idea that the Empress was calling her foolish in her heart. She hurriedly swore to prove her innocence. “No, no, Your Highness, it truly wasn’t me. I hadn’t even gotten around to making a move yet.”
As though she had thought of something, she offered another possibility. Besides herself, there was one other person who hated Ruyi the most and wanted her dead more than anyone.
“Could it have been that vile maid A’Ruo?”
The Empress shook her head. “She wouldn’t dare act on her own behind my back and yours. If something went wrong, no one would be able to help her.”
“Then who else could it be?” Noble Consort Hui looked utterly bewildered. “Concubine Mei? Consort Jia?”
“Like you, I have no idea.” The Empress’s expression remained calm, and there was no great concern in her voice. “However, as long as Noble Lady Shen is around, she is less able than anyone else to tolerate Ulanara Ruyi.”
The ones who should be anxious were not them, but Noble Lady Shen. After all, her current position and glory had been obtained by betraying her former master. If Consort Xian could leave the Cold Palace, it meant that her plot against her former mistress would certainly be exposed. The only path awaiting her then would be death. She should be more desperate than anyone else to see Ruyi dead.
Hearing this, Noble Consort Hui smiled knowingly. She understood the meaning behind the Empress’s words and rose to her feet.
“Your Highness is truly wise.”
Two major events took place in the palace that day. Ulanara Ruyi left the Cold Palace and was restored to her position as Consort Xian, while Noble Lady Shu of the Yehenara clan was elevated to Consort Shu.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Consort Xian wore a brocade robe patterned with mandarin ducks. She was personally helped out of the Cold Palace by Li Yu, the Emperor’s personal eunuch, and was granted residence in Yikun Palace.
Everyone in the harem assumed that the first thing Consort Xian would do after leaving the Cold Palace would be to take revenge on Noble Lady Shen, who had betrayed her former master to seek favor and was now enjoying the Emperor’s favor. Yet no one could have imagined that instead, she would make a grand show of selecting a bride for a guard—one who was stationed in the Cold Palace, no less.
“Sister, you still haven’t found anyone suitable?” Hailan, her large belly protruding, looked at Ruyi, who was frowning as she examined the register of palace maids in her hands. Over the past few days, nearly every palace maid in the palace had come to Yikun Palace for her elder sister to choose from. There were countless maids with delicate, refined features, yet her elder sister always said that none of them were satisfactory.
Hailan could not help wondering. “He’s only a guard from the Cold Palace. Why go to such lengths to choose someone? Don’t tell me he wants to marry a fairy?”
Ruyi did not explain the reason to Hailan in detail. She merely came up with an excuse. “Ling Yunche once saved my life. Now he has also suffered an injury to his feelings. I want to find him someone of excellent appearance and character who can take good care of him and help him leave his gloom behind as soon as possible.”
Why had there been no one after searching for several days? It was as if the girl had vanished from the world. That did not make sense. A girl so breathtakingly beautiful—since all the palace maids were women of the same station, they must have seen her. Yet if they had, why was every single one refusing to say a word? Could it be that everyone was helping the girl cover up her existence?
There had to be something she had overlooked.
The activity surrounding Consort Xian soon attracted Achu’s attention. In particular, the veiled warnings from the palace maids she had once been friendly with made her sense of foreboding grow increasingly strong.
Achu could not make up her mind. She only thought of finding Jinzhong to discuss it with him. But everything happened too quickly. By the time Achu realized what was going on, she was already on her way to Yikun Palace, the residence of Consort Xian.
Halfway there, Achu began to lose her nerve. All sorts of conspiracy theories kept surfacing in her mind. Her only connection with Consort Xian was that single encounter in the Cold Palace. Could it be that because she had witnessed Consort Xian in her most wretched state, the woman had sent someone to kill her and silence her?
Surely Consort Xian wasn’t that narrow-minded!
She hurried a few steps, following closely behind the eunuch in front of her. Her heart was filled with unease. Finally, she gathered her courage, reached out, and lightly tugged at the eunuch’s robe.
Her voice was pitifully soft. “Eunuch, could you tell me why Consort Xian wishes to see me?”
Sanbao, whose robe had been tugged, felt incomparably nervous.
So… so close.
His gaze instinctively moved away from hers, yet he could not help stealing glances at her from time to time.
Every time their eyes met, his heart raced as though it were about to leap from his chest. He tried to put on his usual stern expression, but he simply could not manage it.
How could anyone be so beautiful that even a eunuch would be captivated?
Dazed and flustered, Sanbao was so nervous that he had no idea what answer he gave her. He only knew that before long, they had arrived at Yikun Palace.
When Achu stepped into Yikun Palace, which stood on equal footing with Changchun Palace, the residence of the Empress, she secretly looked around. The furnishings in the hall were not extravagant, but each piece was distinctive and elegant. Clearly, considerable thought had gone into arranging the palace.
Her understanding of the Emperor’s feelings for Consort Xian deepened even further.
“Her Highness only asked you to enter alone.” Sanbao pushed open the door. As he closed it, he quietly reminded her, “Her Highness isn’t in a very good mood today.”
Achu gave Sanbao a grateful look.
If Consort Xian was in a bad mood, Achu knew she was in for a difficult battle.
Thin strands of sandalwood incense drifted upward. A woman sat on the couch and spoke slowly.
“You are Achu? Raise your head.”
Achu did as she was told and slowly lifted her head.
The moment her face was revealed, someone seemed to draw in a sharp breath. A strange silence suddenly spread through the air, as though even the dust had frozen in place.
Ruyi sat upright on the couch, but a great sorrow surged through her heart.
How laughable. She was clearly the honorable Consort Xian. She was the one seated high on the couch, while that little palace maid was kneeling on the floor. Yet the person reduced to the status of mud beneath someone’s feet was actually herself.
Ruyi’s thoughts turned sluggishly in this direction, but her gaze could not move away from Achu at all. Nor could she summon any dislike toward the little palace maid kneeling before her.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of her robe, as if she wanted to draw a trace of strength from it. With a hint of difficulty that was almost impossible to detect, she slowly began to speak.
“You are now at the age when a woman is like a flower and jade, yet you have never been married. I heard that both your parents have died and that you no longer have any relatives at home. My heart truly cannot bear to see someone as young as you spend the rest of your life alone and forlorn in the palace. Though this deep palace has fine clothes and delicious food, what it lacks is warmth and companionship. Therefore, I have specially found you a good marriage.”
She paused slightly.
“Ling Yunche. You may have heard his name. He has saved my life several times. He is honest and dependable, and his character is excellent. I have some history with him as well, and I know him to be a good man worthy of entrusting your entire life to.”
Then Ruyi’s tone became even gentler. She said softly, “I found you clever and quick-witted, and I felt an instant sense of familiarity when I first saw you. I am very fond of you.”
“Therefore, I have decided to take you as my sworn younger sister and marry you to Ling Yunche. Would that not make a fine story to tell?”
At her words, Achu froze in a daze. When she finally understood what Ruyi meant, she clenched her lower lip, a tremendous fury surging in her heart.
Although she had known for a long time that people in ancient times had no rights, this was her own life—and it had been given away so lightly. Just because that man had once saved Consort Xian’s life, she was to be sent away like a gift, offered as a reward. And then there was the matter of becoming her sworn younger sister. Sworn younger sister, my foot! Her entire family was practically dead, and she still wanted to make her a sworn younger sister?
Achu could not accept this so-called “sworn younger sister” arrangement. In her eyes, it was nothing more than the act of beating a dog and then tossing it a sweet date. Besides, she already had someone she liked. How could she possibly agree to such a request?
Achu looked straight at Ruyi and spoke softly. Her voice trembled slightly, but every word was clear and forceful.
“Consort Xian, this servant is grateful for Your Highness’s kindness, but forgive this servant for being unable to accept this marriage arrangement.”
As she rejected the proposal, Achu bent even lower at the waist.
“This servant is unwilling to be forced into marriage because of another person’s arrangements, and even less willing to sacrifice her entire life because of some so-called life-saving favor. Your Highness, please show mercy.”
Ruyi fell silent for a moment. Her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the mute stubbornness between Achu’s brows. That stubbornness did not diminish her beauty; instead, it was like the finishing touch that made her even more captivating in a way that was difficult to describe. She was like a lily swaying in the wind and rain—delicate yet resilient, making anyone who saw her feel pity for her. Even Ruyi, who was acting as the executioner here, could not bear to force her into a difficult position.
The longer Ruyi looked at her, the more complicated her emotions became. She was wary of Achu, yet could not help being drawn to her.
What a calamity of a beauty.
Ruyi closed her eyes and sighed, trying to calm the struggle within her.
“What if I insist on making you marry him?”
For a moment, Achu was at a loss. But she understood that within the imperial palace, she was merely an insignificant little maid from the Flower House. A single word from someone above her could determine the course of her entire life. She had no power to resist these exalted nobles.
She did not know what she could do. But if she was expected to submit just like that, she felt utterly wronged and sick with anger. To marry a man she did not even like—some man casually assigned to her—there was only one answer.
She was unwilling. Even if she died, she would never agree.
Everyone said that Consort Xian was as indifferent as a chrysanthemum and gentle by nature. But in Achu’s eyes, she was nothing more than a hypocrite.
A palace maid’s suicide was a grave offense that could implicate her family. Fortunately, Achu had no family ties left. She would only be letting down Aunt and Jinzhong. She had promised to stay with them for the rest of their lives, to care for Aunt in her old age and see her through to the end, and to live alongside Jinzhong through thick and thin. She would not be able to fulfill any of those promises now. She only hoped Jinzhong would take good care of Aunt for her and fulfill her duty of filial devotion in her place.
Since she knew she was going to die, keeping silent would only leave her even more frustrated. Her eyes reddened as she sniffed and summoned all her courage. Then she spoke bluntly to Ruyi.
“That life-saving favor was not done for this servant. If Your Highness truly wants to grant him a marriage, why don’t you marry him yourself?”
After hearing Achu’s words, an expression of disbelief appeared on Ruyi’s face. She widened her eyes and scolded her furiously.
“You! How dare you!”
Hah! So what if she dared? Seeing that there were only the two of them in the room, Achu assessed their respective strength. Then she stood up.
She was not going to kneel anymore!
Though she was timid, she was absolutely not afraid of trouble. In fact, her temper was terrible. Before Ruyi could react, Achu rammed into her with all her strength.
In the space of a few moments, Achu was leaning over Ruyi.
She opened her mouth and bit down hard on Ruyi’s shoulder without the slightest hesitation.
Damn that hateful Consort Xian! Damn this wretched ancient world! And that Ling Yunche she had never even met—seriously! Of all the people he could have saved, why did he have to save this crazy woman? What had she done in eight lifetimes to end up meeting this Consort Xian?
Ruyi hissed in pain. Struck by the sudden pain, she fell into a brief daze. She had never seen a woman so overbearing, vulgar, and utterly unaware of her own ingratitude.
But gradually, she noticed how light Achu felt, as light as a cloud. Ruyi could not help wondering whether this little palace maid had never eaten properly. Otherwise, how could she be so tiny?
Achu’s teeth were beginning to ache. Why hadn’t this Consort Xian ordered someone to drag her away and beat her to death yet?
After waiting for ages and receiving no response at all, Achu was speechless. Besides, Ruyi was really heavy. Achu felt as though she was about to be crushed beneath her.
Time slipped by unnoticed. In the afterglow of dusk, the huanghuali-wood dressing table with its five-panel screen design appeared especially quiet and solemn.
Set into the center of the dressing table was a Western mirror the size of a round fan. It glimmered faintly, reflecting the two women tangled together on the couch in perfect detail. Their figures intertwined in the mirror, and from a distance, it looked like an exceedingly suggestive and sensual scene.
“Outrageous!”
In the days since Ruyi had left the Cold Palace, the Emperor had often gone to see her. He had never summoned her for his favor or stayed the night, but today he had finally felt inclined to do so. When he arrived, however, he found all the palace maids and guards of Yikun Palace waiting outside. He had intended to see what Ruyi was doing, but the moment he entered, he was confronted with such a scandalously defiant sight.
The Emperor’s expression was dark and heavy, like a bowstring drawn to its utmost limit, ready to snap and explode at the slightest provocation.
“Why are you still standing there? Get that person off her!”
The palace maids and guards outside were scared out of their wits by the sudden roar. They dropped to their knees all at once, not daring to raise their heads.
Li Yu, who had witnessed the scene as well, had gone pale. The sight before him was truly testing the limits of his mental endurance.
Everyone knew that if an imperial consort had an affair with a palace servant, it would be a scandal of earth-shattering proportions. If things went badly, every person involved would have to be buried with her. Li Yu was so frightened that he was nearly beside himself. Suoxin was still serving Consort Xian—what was he supposed to do?
Before Li Yu could come up with a solution, his two disciples had already reacted. They charged forward decisively.