The hall was brightly lit with candles, and extinguishing one or two wouldn’t normally attract much attention.
However, the Danbi platform was too prominent, and the imperial concubines below all wore varied expressions.
Yuan Mingdi turned his head to look, his face slightly darkening. Without speaking, he took Xiao Yunrui’s calligraphy and lowered his gaze to examine it.
Huang Liang, who was attending nearby, quickly stepped forward personally to relight the beeswax candle. He paused, removed the beeswax candle and held it in his hand, summoned his trusted aide and handed it to him, whispering instructions: “Go quickly and fetch a few new beeswax candles.”
The eunuch retreated silently and soon returned with new beeswax candles to light them. The Danbi platform regained its brightness. Yuan Mingdi praised Xiao Yunrui’s calligraphy, then sternly admonished him not to become arrogant before dismissing him.
Not wanting to be left behind, Xiao Yunjue grabbed his own calligraphy and pattered up, saying: “Father, I’ve also prepared a longevity gift for you.”
Yuan Mingdi pretended to sternly frown, though his voice carried laughter: “You little rascal, it’s rare for you to willingly write. I must examine this carefully.”
Xiao Yunjue giggled and presented his calligraphy. Usually mischievous and domineering by nature, Yuan Mingdi was stricter with him and immediately began correcting his characters: “Look at this stroke, all crooked and twisted. You must have been restless, rushing to finish so you could go play. Go back and practice writing more pages. No slacking off—I’ll be checking carefully.”
“Oh, Father!” Xiao Yunjue stomped his foot, twisting his chubby body dismissively: “I know, I know.” After speaking, he gave a careless salute and pattered back to his seat.
Lin Guifei sat upright with an expressionless face. Xiao Yunrui, who closely resembled her in features and demeanor, sat stiffly without moving.
After sitting down, Xiao Yunjue eagerly picked up pastries and began eating. Zhao Defei gazed at him affectionately, picked up a pastry and took a small bite, making small talk with Consort Liu beside her: “Watching A Jue eat makes everything taste sweeter. It’s given me an appetite too.”
“Indeed, A Jue is growing so strong,” Consort Liu agreed with a smile. The eldest princess, Xiao Jiatong, maintained perfect decorum with downcast eyes, elegantly tasting her soup.
Melodious music filled the hall as dancers swayed gracefully. Everyone appeared harmonious and joyful, as if nothing had happened.
Jiang Ling held a wine cup, its contents spilled on her clothes without her notice. Distracted, she kept looking around anxiously.
On the Danbi platform, one of the replaced beeswax candles extinguished again. Three went out on the eastern side of the hall, four on the western side.
The attending palace maids hurried forward to trim the blackened wicks and relight them.
Before long, the candle flames flickered and went out again.
The flickering lights made Jiang Ling’s heart rise and fall with them, filled with restless fear.
After roughly half a shichen, the banquet hastily concluded. Yuan Mingdi rose and departed. The imperial concubines stood to see him off, then returned to their palaces in groups.
Jiang Ling followed the crowd out of the main hall. A cold wind carrying subtle moisture brushed her face. Unnoticed, a drizzling rain had begun to fall.
Lanterns cast dim yellow light, making the solemn hall appear exceptionally gloomy and terrifying.
Returning to Fanying Pavilion, Jiang Ling sat on her couch, staring blankly at the candles. Wen Juan entered with tea, saying: “Mei Ren, please have some hot tea to warm yourself.”
Wen Juan and Qing Wen were on duty tonight, having accompanied her to Lan Yue Hall. Jiang Ling suddenly looked at Wen Juan and asked: “Has it ever happened before that beeswax candles extinguish while burning?”
Wen Juan paused slightly, furrowing her brow in thought. “If the wicks were faulty, they would often extinguish. But these are all paraffin wax and Chinese tallow wax. The beeswax and white wax sent to the palace, along with the rush wicks, undergo meticulous selection. Unless there’s strong wind, they definitely wouldn’t extinguish so easily.”
Back when Xie Fang Pavilion only had white wax, Jiang Ling had never encountered situations where white wax would extinguish for no reason.
The last shred of hope in her heart was utterly extinguished.
And coincidentally, it happened during Yuan Mingdi’s birthday celebration—the beeswax candles in the main hall chose that moment to go out.
Even if it were merely coincidence, the symbolism of “life extinguished like a lamp” was terribly ominous. Though Yuan Mingdi hadn’t erupted in anger on the spot, he would never let this matter rest.
Though she had only taken charge of the candle affairs a few days ago, she bore the official responsibility and couldn’t escape blame.
She had been obscure in the rear palace, without power or influence. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight by Yuan Mingdi, she made the perfect scapegoat.
Either the beeswax had been tampered with, or there were problems when it was delivered to the palace.
If the beeswax had been tampered with, it could only have happened after the Shang Yi Bureau received it and before the hall was lit.
The Shang Yi Bureau was jointly managed by Zhao Defei and Lin Guifei. Besides the palace maids from Shang Yi Bureau working in Lan Yue Hall, there were also eunuchs from the Neishi Inner Province present.
Though there were duty records to check, with people coming and going, the personnel remained chaotic. Identifying the culprit would likely prove difficult for now.
Zhao Defei had just handed over the candle duties—even Jiang Ling wouldn’t act so hastily. Besides appearing too deliberate, causing trouble during Yuan Mingdi’s birthday would draw his wrath upon herself.
If the beeswax delivered to the palace was problematic… though Lin Guifei was at odds with Zhao Defei and plotting against her, the candle business belonged to the Lin family. Lin Guifei wouldn’t allow it to be exposed before Yuan Mingdi.
However, Jiang Ling had already misjudged Zhao Defei’s intentions once and dared not make assumptions lightly.
The only thing she could determine was that the beeswax extinguishing before Yuan Mingdi was meant to provoke him.
But after angering Yuan Mingdi—to what end? Who was the true target?
No matter how Jiang Ling racked her brains, she couldn’t comprehend or see clearly.
“Wen Juan.” Jiang Ling looked around in panic. A Ruo and Fang He had already ended their shifts, Qing Wen was busy in the cleaning room. She lowered her voice and called out.
Hearing the tremor in Jiang Ling’s voice, Wen Juan hurried forward and whispered, “Is Mei Ren worried about the beeswax extinguishing in the main hall?”
Among those serving her, only Wen Juan had barely earned Jiang Ling’s trust. Gnawing on her finger, Jiang Ling nodded heavily, casting caution aside in her desperation. “You previously served in the front halls—could you go inquire whether the Emperor showed anger?”
Spying on the imperial presence was a crime punishable by execution and family extermination if caught. Immediately after speaking, Jiang Ling regretted it, anxiously waving her hands. “No, no, you didn’t hear anything.”
Wen Juan hesitated briefly, warmth blooming in her heart as she hurried to comfort Jiang Ling. “Mei Ren need not worry. If the Emperor is angered, he will surely investigate thoroughly. Since Mei Ren is innocent, there’s nothing to fear from investigation.”
Jiang Ling hummed in acknowledgment, dismissing Wen Juan. Gazing blankly at the darkness beyond the window lattice, she fell into a daze.
The night was impenetrably thick, layers of palace buildings shrouded in drizzle, resembling a tranquil lake surface—peaceful and serene.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Wen Juan entered with a grave expression. “Someone from Chui Gong Hall has come, summoning Mei Ren to attend. Don’t be afraid, Mei Ren. This servant knows a few people in the front halls and will accompany you there.”
Jiang Ling’s heart rose to her throat as she stumbled through the dim light to Wende Hall at the rear of Chui Gong Hall.
Wende Hall was where Yuan Mingdi would rest before and after court sessions, and where he would occasionally receive ministers and handle state affairs.
For some reason, only two tung-branch lamps were lit in the hall, their faint candlelight flickering in the solemn, imposing space.
Yuan Mingdi sat on his throne with a darkened expression. Imperial Concubine Lin and Consort Zhao had already arrived, standing with bowed heads in the center of the hall.
Consort Liu, Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and others entered the hall in quick succession. Jiang Ling’s heart instantly sank to the depths.