Ming Hua's palanquin came to a stop before the Cool Breeze Hall in the Northern Garden, where Xie Chan and her birth mother, Talent Li, resided.
Qingyun and Nuanxue helped Ming Hua out of the palanquin. The three of them—mistress and maids—looked up at the desolate, crumbling hall before them, all wearing expressions of surprise.
The palace walls of the Cool Breeze Hall were covered in thick green vines, and the characters on the plaque above the door had long since lost their gold paint.
The heavy, rotting door was only half open, revealing a courtyard strewn with fallen leaves and withered branches—wild and neglected, with not a single palace attendant on duty or sweeping in sight.
Qingyun wrinkled her small face as she looked at the door, whose vermilion lacquer had almost entirely peeled away to reveal the bare wood beneath, faintly emanating a musty odor.
"How can this place be so dilapidated? Is this really where Talent Li and the Ninth Princess live?"
"It looks more like a hall that's been abandoned for years, with no one living in it! Even the quarters where our servants live are far better than this!"
Nuanxue stepped forward, peeked inside at the courtyard filled with yellowed, rotting leaves, and quickly retreated, covering her nose with her handkerchief. "Even if Talent Li and the Ninth Princess come from humble origins, they are still honored personages with status in the palace. How could they be arranged to live in a place like this?"
Ming Hua furrowed her delicate brows, looking at the hall before her—so ruined and desolate it could barely be called habitable—and explained helplessly, "Although this imperial city has changed hands, Empress Dowager Lu is still the legal mother and stepmother of the late emperor's consorts and princesses. Within the Northern Garden, they remain under Empress Dowager Lu's jurisdiction. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager find it difficult to interfere too much in the affairs of the Northern Garden."
"Talent Li is of low status and has never been favored by Empress Dowager Lu and her daughter, so naturally she wouldn't be placed in any good quarters. I just didn't expect it to be this bad."
Nuanxue said indignantly, "How can anyone live in a place like this? Empress Dowager Lu has gone too far!"
"Her reputation in front of the world is so virtuous and kind, yet in private she treats other consorts and princesses so harshly! We should tear off her hypocritical mask and let the world see her true face of feigned kindness!"
"Then let's see who still believes those rumors slandering His Majesty today!"
Hearing Nuanxue's words, Qingyun suddenly gave her mistress a meaningful look, then blinked and smiled mischievously, immediately understanding why her mistress had been so stubbornly insistent on coming to the Northern Garden to see Xie Chan.
She teased, "So, Your Grace—despite your injured foot—was so determined to come to the Northern Garden to visit the Ninth Princess. Was it because you thought of Empress Dowager Lu's true nature, and came to find the Ninth Princess and Talent Li as witnesses, to come forward and testify against Empress Dowager Lu, expose her false kindness, and thereby make today's rumors against His Majesty collapse on their own? Is that it?"
Qingyun had served by Ming Hua's side for many years, often accompanying her to various banquets and palace gatherings where noble ladies and daughters of high-ranking families assembled.
She had vaguely heard before of some of Empress Dowager Lu's venomous methods within the harem—that the low-ranking consorts and princesses had a very hard time under her and Xie Zhi's rule.
Ming Hua looked at Qingyun's teasing smile and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Her small face flushed slightly. She lifted her chin and looked elsewhere, stubbornly insisting, "It's not only that. When helping someone, one should see it through to the end. I also genuinely think the Ninth Princess is pitiful, and I can't bear to see her continue being ground down by Empress Dowager Lu and her daughter!"
Just then, a palace maid dressed in a faded blue garment peeked out from behind the hall door. Upon recognizing the visitors as Ming Hua and her party, she quickly stepped out from behind the door and respectfully performed the greeting.
She was the same young blue-clad palace maid who had been attending Xie Chan yesterday.
"Your slave pays respects to the Noble Consort. May the Noble Consort enjoy ten thousand blessings. Your slave was not aware of Your Grace's arrival and failed to welcome you from afar. I beg Your Grace's forgiveness!"
Ming Hua raised her hand to signal the young maid to rise, a faint smile on her face as she said warmly, "It's no trouble. Please, rise quickly."
"How are the wounds on your princess's body? Has she improved today? I would like to see her injuries. Would your princess be available to receive me now?"
The blue-clad maid's thin, sallow face was filled with barely contained joy. Looking both flattered and overwhelmed, she nodded repeatedly and said with excitement, "She's available! She's available!"
"Your slave will lead the way for Your Grace. Your Grace's visit to the Cool Breeze Hall to see our princess brings great honor to this humble hall! Our princess was just thinking of how she might thank Your Grace for saving her yesterday!"
Supported by Qingyun and Nuanxue, Ming Hua followed the blue-clad maid into the Cool Breeze Hall. The group walked along a clean, neatly swept cobblestone path that had been cleared separately, passing through the front courtyard and heading deeper inside.
The blue-clad maid looked at the noble consort in her resplendent robes, her noble bearing so out of place in this desolate, ruined courtyard. She clutched her sleeves tightly, her face betraying a hint of unease.
She gave an awkward smile and explained, "This servant is the only one attending to the Princess and Talent Li. Moreover, since no one ever sets foot in Qingliang Hall on ordinary days, this servant grew lazy and slack, and didn't bother much with cleaning the main hall and courtyard in front where no one resides. I beg the Noble Consort to forgive this servant…"
Talent Li came from a humble background and held a low rank, so she could not reside in the main hall of a palace.
Though the late Emperor had no princes, he had many princesses. The Ninth Princess, whose birth mother came from a humble background, was not favored by the late Emperor either. She had not been given her own palace before and had always lived with Talent Li in a small courtyard.
Now that a new emperor had ascended the throne, the late Emperor's consorts had all been relocated to the Northern Garden. Though they lacked nothing in food and clothing, it was certainly not as splendid as when the late Emperor was still alive. All the princesses lived together with their birth mothers in the same palace.
Even Xie Zhi, who had always prided herself on being a legitimate princess, now had to share Tongque Hall with Empress Dowager Lu in the Northern Garden.
Ming Hua looked at the thin little palace maid, whose face was full of fear and unease, and felt quite sorry for her. She smiled gently and reassured her, "It's no matter."
"You alone have to attend to the Ninth Princess and Talent Li. If you were also expected to keep this entire vast hall clean from top to bottom, that would truly be asking too much of you."
Then, with a puzzled expression, she asked, "His Majesty treats the late Emperor's consorts and princesses well. Though the monthly allowances may not be as lavish as when the late Emperor was still alive,"
"their daily necessities of food and clothing should never be lacking. How did the Princess and Talent Li end up being assigned to a place like this? And with only one little palace maid to attend to them?"
The little palace maid in blue first let out a sigh of relief, but then upon hearing Ming Hua's subsequent question, her clasped hands turned white from gripping too tightly, and a conflicted expression appeared on her small, thin face.
Then, after thinking for a moment, she lowered her eyes and averted her gaze, saying, "The Princess and Talent Li are in poor health and have always preferred quiet. Thus, they requested to come to this secluded Qingliang Hall to recuperate, and asked for only this servant to attend to them."
Ming Hua could tell that the little palace maid had not told her the truth, but she did not press further. Instead, with a natural expression and a faint smile, she said, "This Qingliang Hall is indeed peaceful and well-suited for recuperation, but it is also far too desolate."
"Moreover, having only one little palace maid to attend to the Ninth Princess and Talent Li is truly improper. If someone who didn't know the situation were to hear of it, they might think His Majesty was mistreating you all."
Ming Hua continued with pointed meaning, "If word were to spread to the court, it would give those with ulterior motives an opportunity to make a fuss and slander His Majesty's reputation."
"Later, I will have the Bureau of Palace Affairs send people to clean up and repair the damaged areas of Qingliang Hall, and also have them select a few more servants to send over, to attend to the Princess and Talent Li alongside you."
Upon hearing this, the little palace maid in blue immediately could not contain her joy and said with flattered surprise, "Then this servant will, on behalf of the Princess and Talent Li, thank the Noble Consort!"
As the group chatted, they walked into a small courtyard. Though the buildings looked somewhat worn, they were still fairly spacious and had been swept very clean and tidy.
In one corner of the small courtyard, bamboo poles had been set up, with some washed-out clothes hanging out to dry. Beneath the courtyard wall, two vegetable plots had been carved out, fenced with bamboo, planted with seasonal vegetables that grew lush and green, thriving well.
If Ming Hua did not clearly know that she was currently within the imperial city, looking at such a simple, rustic little courtyard, she would have thought she was visiting a farm household as a guest.
Who could have imagined that this was the residence of palace consorts and a princess?
Looking at everything in this small courtyard, it was not hard to guess that these three—mistress and servants—probably could not even eat their fill or stay warm on ordinary days.
Xie Chan was at that moment lying on the daybed inside the room recovering from her injuries. When she heard her palace maid Chuntao run in with a joyful expression to announce that the Noble Consort had come to visit, she hurriedly rose from the daybed to receive her with a bow.
"Your subject does not know the Noble Consort has arrived and failed to welcome you from afar. I beg the Noble Consort to forgive me!"
Ming Hua saw that the white sleeping robe on her back had been stained red by blood seeping from her wounds, pulled open by the movement of bowing. She quickly signaled the palace maid in blue to help her up.
"The Princess still carries injuries on her person. There is no need for such formalities. Please rise quickly and sit."
But Xie Chan stubbornly refused to let Chuntao help her up. With a respectful and sincere expression, she said, "Your subject thanks the Noble Consort for saving her yesterday. Your subject will never forget the Noble Consort's life-saving grace!"
"Your subject ought to have gone in person to Yilan Hall to kowtow and express gratitude, but unfortunately, your subject is injured and cannot move about, and also feared offending the Noble Consort. I never expected the Noble Consort to come in person to visit your subject."
"Though your subject has nothing worthy of offering to repay the Noble Consort's great kindness, your subject is willing to serve the Noble Consort like a beast of burden, to repay the Noble Consort's life-saving grace!"
Having said this, she kowtowed three times to Ming Hua.
Ming Hua quickly signaled Nuanxue beside her to help Xie Chan up and have her sit properly on the daybed. She smiled gently and reassured her, "I understand the Princess's sentiments. Please sit properly and be careful not to let your wounds bleed again."
After Xie Chan was seated, she quickly instructed Chuntao beside her to pour some water and bring out some rice cakes she had made herself.
She lowered her eyes, looking embarrassed, and said, "This humble daughter has no fine tea to offer the Noble Consort. Please forgive me. These rice cakes were made by me, and they taste passable. If the Noble Consort does not mind, please try one…"
"I was feeling rather thirsty on the way here, and I would like to eat something as well."
Ming Hua could see Xie Chan's embarrassment. She sat down on the small, slightly chipped stool before Xie Chan's couch, then took the water Chuntao brought and drank a couple of sips. She then picked up a rice cake and took a bite, her eyes sparkling as she praised, "Sweet but not cloying, the taste is truly excellent! I didn't expect the Princess to have such skillful hands!"
"If the Noble Consort likes them, this humble daughter can make them daily and send them to Yilan Hall," Xie Chan said, watching Ming Hua's face show not a trace of disdain. She finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer feeling so embarrassed and uneasy.
She had seen this Noble Consort a few times before.
The youngest daughter of the illustrious Duke Fuguo's household, doted on and cherished, with looks and family standing both of the highest caliber. Even Xie Zhi would yield to her with deference on ordinary days.
She had originally thought that this pampered youngest daughter of the Ming family would have a temperament like Xie Zhi's, who had also been spoiled since childhood—arrogant, domineering, and looking down on others. She never expected her to be such a kind person.
"Alright, the honey milk cakes from my palace's small kitchen are also quite good. When you come, you can try them as well."
Ming Hua wore a warm smile and asked with concern, "Did the imperial physician come to see the Princess yesterday? Has medicine been applied to the Princess's wounds? Are you feeling any better now?"
Xie Chan said with gratitude, "This humble daughter thanks the Noble Consort for her concern. The imperial physician came yesterday to treat both me and my mother, and left quite a lot of medicine. I am already feeling much better now, nothing serious."
"That's good," Ming Hua instructed Qingyun to have the young palace maids holding several brocade boxes outside come in.
Then she explained to Xie Chan, "The Princess is so thin and frail, and suffered such severe injuries. I have brought some nourishing ginseng and donkey-hide gelatin and such. After the Princess recovers, you can slowly take them to regulate your health."
Xie Chan was overwhelmed by the favor and tried to decline with some trepidation, "This humble daughter has yet to repay the Noble Consort's kindness from yesterday, so how could I possibly accept such generous gifts? Please take them back, Noble Consort. I am unworthy of them."
Ming Hua had the young palace maids set everything down, then explained with a faint smile, "I know the Princess has a grateful heart, but my help yesterday was not to seek repayment from you."
"I simply could not bear to see you beaten like that. Even if Xie Zhi had been beating a lowly palace maid yesterday, I would still have stepped forward and found a way to save that person."
"Also, you must already know of the grudge between me and Xie Zhi. Yesterday could also be considered me deliberately seeking to make things difficult for Xie Zhi. You need not take it too much to heart."
Xie Chan wept tears of gratitude and wiped her eyes with her sleeve, saying in a choked voice, "The Noble Consort is kind-hearted. To have encountered the Noble Consort yesterday was my fortune…"
"Does she always bully you like this?" Ming Hua looked at Xie Chan's sallow, thin face and asked with furrowed brows, "And what was it about yesterday that made her beat you like that?"
Xie Chan's eyes reddened, but in the end she held it back. She lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact, and stammered evasively, "Third Sister has a somewhat hasty temper. She only acts this way when she occasionally throws a tantrum—it's not often."
"Yesterday… yesterday it was also because I did something wrong and made Third Sister angry, so she could not help but raise her hand against me…"
Hearing this, Ming Hua could not help but feel somewhat exasperated at Xie Chan's cowardice, and said with some anger, "You've been bullied by her to this extent, so why are you still covering for her?"
After saying this, Ming Hua thought that not everyone could have family and standing like hers to rely on, allowing them to act without restraint. She also thought of the origins of Xie Chan's birth mother, and her voice softened again. She came straight to the point and stated her purpose directly.
"I have long known the true face of Empress Dowager Lu."
"The Emperor is currently being slandered by the rumors she spreads. Right now, I need someone to step forward and expose her hypocritical mask, so that the world will no longer believe in her false posturing."
"I have come now to ask the Princess to come forward and testify to the evil deeds of this mother and daughter over the years, so that the law and palace regulations may severely punish them, and they may no longer wreak havoc in the palace."
"If I promise to seek justice for you, would you be willing to tell me the truth and step forward to expose her hypocritical mask?"
Hearing this, Xie Chan lowered her head, biting her lower lip tightly, her face full of pain and inner conflict. She hesitated, "This humble daughter… this humble daughter…"
Chuntao, who was beside her, grew anxious and fell to her knees with a thud, tearfully pleading to Ming Hua, "Noble Consort, our Princess has her reasons for being this way!"
"Our Princess is not a coward. It is truly because our Lady's and her maternal family's lives are held in Empress Dowager Lu's hands. If our Princess dared to say even half a word out of line, Empress Dowager Lu would take the lives of our Lady's entire family!"
After saying this, she turned to look at Xie Chan and pleaded bitterly, "Princess, at a time like this, why not tell the Honored Consort the truth and let her make decisions for us?"
"Third Princess has already been sent to Qinglong Temple, and Empress Dowager Lu will not easily let us go."
"Once the storm passes, who knows what methods Empress Dowager Lu will use to torment the Princess and the young lady!"
"As things stand now, we are doomed to die no matter what. Why not take this opportunity to let the Honored Consort act on our behalf and vent some of this anger?"