Chapter 19 - 1#
Concubine Xu’s knees went weak, and she fell directly to the ground, unable to get up. The entire Chenghuan Palace was filled with the smell of blood, and the pungent, fishy odor that assaulted the senses was nauseating.
After Emperor Jingyuan left, for a long time, no one spoke at all. There were only wails and screams, and red blood flowed on the ground.
“Someone…”
Concubine Xu’s voice was hoarse and trembling, “Someone, quickly!”
The rough-serving palace maids outside heard Concubine Xu’s voice and had no choice but to approach. Upon seeing the bloody scene in front of the hall, they also let out terrified screams.
“Shut up, shut up!”
Concubine Xu was in a terrible mood, mixed with an unconcealable sense of panic. Her beautiful long fingernails were broken to the quick, but she had no mind to care. She got up with the help of several rough-serving palace maids, her skirt already stained with blood, but she couldn’t be bothered.
“Quick, quick, to the Shoukang Palace, help me to the Shoukang Palace!”
Concubine Xu abandoned the wailing palace maids in the palace, grabbed the hand of a rough-serving palace maid, and dug out several bloody marks. She didn’t dare to stay in the Chenghuan Palace, let alone find a royal physician for treatment.
She was afraid that Emperor Jingyuan would go mad and turn back, treating her as one of his playthings and toying with her life at will.
It was precisely the emperor’s playful attitude that scared Concubine Xu out of her wits.
The palace maid was in pain but dared not dodge, suppressing her sobs as she helped Concubine Xu out.
Inside the Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager was closing her eyes to rest.
She had just finished reading the list of those who had passed the preliminary selection, circled a few names she was more concerned about, and instructed her subordinates to keep a close eye on them.
Among them, the Empress Dowager had prepared some for King Rui.
King Rui was her own son, so she naturally had to save the best for him.
“Your Highness the Empress Dowager, Concubine Xu requests an audience.”
Outside the palace gate, a eunuch said cautiously.
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said slowly, “No. It’s so late, what is there to see?”
The eunuch: “Her Highness Concubine Xu is covered in blood and is kneeling outside…”
The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp glint flashing: “What did you say?”
The eunuch recounted Concubine Xu’s disheveled state in detail. The Empress Dowager’s eyebrows rose, and her voice lowered.
“Could she be pregnant? Impossible, back then…”
The Empress Dowager wanted to say something but swallowed her words. She patted the hand of the female official beside her. The female official got up and went out, and soon brought in the disheveled Concubine Xu.
Concubine Xu was on the verge of a mental breakdown. She clung to the female official’s hand as if it were a life-saving piece of driftwood. The moment she saw the Empress Dowager, her lifeless eyes lit up. A burst of strength erupted from within her body, and she pushed the female official away, throwing herself before the Empress Dowager, wailing in a most wretched manner.
“…Your Highness the Empress Dowager… His Majesty has gone mad… He killed everyone in the Chenghuan Palace… Your Highness, save me!”
Listening to Concubine Xu’s words, the Empress Dowager ignored the blood on her and grabbed her arm: “What happened?”
Concubine Xu’s emotions were very tense. It was only when she reached the Shoukang Palace that she finally relaxed. She cried so hard that she couldn’t even speak.
The Empress Dowager asked several times but got no answer. A trace of disgust flashed in her eyes. She had someone drag Concubine Xu down for a good wash, and then summoned someone else: “Go to the Chenghuan Palace and see if there are any survivors. If there are, leave one, and kill the rest.”
She calmly wiped her fingers with a handkerchief and added.
“Did Concubine Xu come alone?”
“There are also two rough-serving palace maids.”
“Call them in.”
“Yes.”
The two female officials set off together. One led people to the Chenghuan Palace in a hurry, while the other went to call for people.
Even if the people of the Chenghuan Palace could survive, the Empress Dowager did not intend to leave too many alive.
She never minded making Emperor Jingyuan’s reputation even worse.
Over the years, the reputation of being violent was partly due to the emperor’s own madness, but also partly due to the Empress Dowager’s behind-the-scenes machinations.
That madman, Emperor Jingyuan, didn’t care at all.
It was better that he didn’t care.
The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, revealing a cold expression.
After Concubine Xu was cleaned up and her emotions were soothed, she was able to see the Empress Dowager again.
In this short period of time, the Empress Dowager had already understood the matter roughly. Now, listening to Concubine Xu’s account again was just to know more detailed information.
When Concubine Xu spoke, she still had some fear, pausing from time to time, her face pale. It took a while before she finally explained the matter clearly.
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment and sneered: “I thought the emperor didn’t care about his mother at all, but it turns out he still has some feelings for her!”
Upon hearing this, Concubine Xu’s body swayed slightly: “Could it be that I was investigating that matter of Talented Lady Yao…”
“Talented Lady Yao is as stupid as a pig. If she had obediently handed over the things to me, how could she have ended up in this state?” The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, “If I hadn’t left her some dignity, she would have been gone with just a thin coffin. How could there be a forty-nine-day Daoist ceremony?”
Concubine Xu nodded repeatedly: “Her Highness the Empress Dowager is right… But, if His Majesty finds out about Talented Lady Yao’s matter, then…” She unconsciously tugged at her handkerchief, afraid that her life would be gone.
Talented Lady Yao was a cousin of the Empress Dowager Cisheng, and Concubine Xu was from the paternal line of Talented Lady Yao’s father. To be precise, Concubine Xu and Talented Lady Yao were indeed distant relatives.
But they were not close.
After entering the palace, Concubine Xu was favored for a period of time. After losing favor, she quickly defected to the Empress Dowager. The emperor’s favor was like a flower in the mirror and the moon in the water. It couldn’t last long without accomplishing anything.
It was better to work for the Empress Dowager and have some stability.
Concubine Xu had followed the Empress Dowager’s instructions many times, and this time was no exception in investigating Talented Lady Yao’s matter. However, after Talented Lady Yao’s death, the progress was even slower.
She had originally thought that after the old woman died, she could just search her belongings and find what the Empress Dowager wanted. But she didn’t expect that the North Wing was clean everywhere, and some things were even missing.
Concubine Xu had a headache, afraid that she would not be able to report to the Empress Dowager.
At this juncture, accidents happened one after another in the Chenghuan Palace. Concubine Xu was not unafraid. It was also the successive deaths that reminded Qiu Yi of Jingzhe in the North Wing.
Those people had all met Jingzhe.
Her mind was sharp. While thinking of Jingzhe, she also vaguely remembered that someone often served Talented Lady Yao before her death. She sent someone to investigate, and it was indeed so. She then told Concubine Xu about this matter.
Concubine Xu immediately asked Qiu Yi to find Jingzhe. Regardless of whether there was evidence or not, she planned to keep him in the North Wing.
…If it weren’t for another incident that day, Concubine Xu would have been in a hurry to beg the Empress Dowager and would have had no energy to deal with Jingzhe…
That day, Jingzhe could not leave the Chenghuan Palace.
Later, when Qiu Yi went to find Jingzhe again, it was her own idea, but it was also with Concubine Xu’s tacit approval.
It was no wonder that Concubine Xu was so suspicious.
Talented Lady Yao was such a cautious person that even poison couldn’t kill her. If Jingzhe could be seen using silver needles several times, it could only mean that she trusted him.
A palace servant trusted by Talented Lady Yao could not escape suspicion. And because he never showed any flaws, he was even more suspicious.
While worrying about her own life, Concubine Xu also thought of Talented Lady Yao’s matter. She hurriedly told the Empress Dowager what she had discovered before, and said: “In the past few days, because of Qiu Yi’s death by His Majesty, I was a little flustered, so I let Changshou, who is also from the North Wing, test him…”
“Absurd!”
The Empress Dowager naturally looked down on Concubine Xu’s actions.
She usually looked very bright and generous, but why was she so petty when doing things? She was a concubine, a master of the harem. If she wanted to order a palace servant, why did she have to use such means?
What did Concubine Xu’s gentle methods ultimately ask? Regardless of whether Jingzhe was a suspect or not, she could have just arrested him and interrogated him. Would anyone come to question Concubine Xu for a mere palace servant?!
If Concubine Xu had reported this matter earlier, the Empress Dowager would not have let her drag it on for so long.
“So what if you killed him or injured him? He’s just a eunuch, can’t you make the decision?” The Empress Dowager scolded Concubine Xu.
Concubine Xu was already frightened, and now she was scolded by the Empress Dowager. Her temperament became even more desolate and pitiful.
At this moment, the female official who had gone to the Chenghuan Palace came back and curtsied: “Your Highness the Empress Dowager, most of the palace servants in the Chenghuan Palace have stopped breathing. Only one or two are still breathing and are being treated.”
Concubine Xu’s face changed drastically, and only then did she remember her palace servants.
“Where are Chunlian and Xiahe?”
“Chunlian is dead. Xiahe is still alive.”
Concubine Xu swayed, almost unable to catch her breath. Chunlian was someone she was used to using. Although it was an exaggeration to say they were like sisters, she really cared about her. Who would have thought…
“Your Highness the Empress Dowager, His Majesty suddenly acted up, and it happened to be today. Could it be because I sent Changshou to test Jingzhe? That Jingzhe…”
“Do you really think His Majesty would be angry for Jingzhe?” The Empress Dowager looked at Concubine Xu with disappointment, finding her absurd and ridiculous. “He’s doing this to deliberately anger me!”
He knew that Concubine Xu was her person, yet he still slapped her in the face like this!
Concubine Xu wiped her tears with a handkerchief. After calming down, she felt that the Empress Dowager was right. But she had lost her right-hand man all of a sudden, and the palace servants around her were all gone. It was difficult to even get things done, and she was at a loss for a while.
The Empress Dowager pinched the bridge of her nose and let Concubine Xu stay in the Shoukang Palace for the time being.
Since the emperor had slapped her in the face like this, she naturally couldn’t let him have an easy time either.
The next day, the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill. At the same time, King Rui received the Empress Dowager’s decree and entered the palace to visit.
The other masters of the harem also learned of the tragedy in the Chenghuan Palace sooner or later. Everyone was terrified. Even Consort De almost fainted when she heard about it.
Not to mention the Xiuxiu Palace, where the originally happy selected ladies were mostly pale and could neither sit nor stand.
They couldn’t help but feel anxious.
The Empress Dowager was probably angered by Emperor Jingyuan’s violent behavior, right?
It was in this tense atmosphere that King Rui entered the palace.
Inside the Shoukang Palace, King Rui, Helian Duan, entered the hall and smelled a strong medicinal scent. His originally unhurried pace became hurried, and he quickly walked to the Empress Dowager’s bed.
“Mother, are you really sick?”
Lying on the bed, the Empress Dowager’s face was pale, and her forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat, looking truly ill.
“Silly child, if I don’t do this, how can I let you into the palace?” The Empress Dowager raised her hand, and Helian Duan took a few steps forward to help her sit up. “You also know that Helian Rong is sinister and ruthless. If I don’t do the whole act, it will be troublesome.”
Her face was so pale because it was covered with a thick layer of lead powder.
Helian Duan said in a low voice: “Sooner or later, I will make sure that Mother will no longer suffer such humiliation.”
The Empress Dowager patted his hand comfortingly and asked him to sit down and talk.
“How have things been lately?”
Helian Duan nodded: “Although Xia Liao is dead, Chen Xuanming has mastered the map he left behind and was not harmed by the confiscation of his property. Now, there is no shortage of iron ore.”
“Good!” The Empress Dowager was very relieved. “Have you found what I asked you to investigate?”
Helian Duan: “The Yao family has fallen and the whole family has returned to their hometown. I sent people to investigate, and now only the descendants of concubines are left in the family. The direct line is all gone. As for the Empress Dowager Cisheng’s side, Old Dean Shen has been teaching at the Qianyuan Academy and has not left Tanzhou for a single step. There are people watching Old Dean Shen, they should be His Majesty’s people.”
Empress Dowager Cisheng was from the Shen family, a scholarly family.
This generation of the Shen family was led by the Left Censor-in-Chief, Shen Zikun, who was Empress Dowager Cisheng’s elder brother.
Empress Dowager Cisheng and Shen Zikun’s father was Old Dean Shen. And Old Dean Shen had only taught and educated people his whole life, never setting foot in officialdom.
The Empress Dowager sighed and lowered her eyes.
Helian Duan looked at his mother and couldn’t help but say: “Mother, why do you care so much about Talented Lady Yao? Is she related to the matter of Empress Dowager Cisheng back then?”
Helian Duan vaguely knew that there had been a rift between his father and Empress Dowager Cisheng, and even Empress Dowager Cisheng’s death was related to the late emperor. But the Empress Dowager cared so much, could it be…
The Empress Dowager glanced at Helian Duan, her voice calm: “You should have guessed it.”
Helian Duan: “…Back then, Mother also had a hand in Empress Dowager Cisheng’s death.”
“That’s right.”
Empress Dowager Cisheng and the late emperor were childhood sweethearts. They fell in love at a young age and naturally got together. At that time, who didn’t call them a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.
The late emperor even made a promise when he was deeply in love, promising to be with Empress Dowager Cisheng for a lifetime.
But feelings are sometimes strong, and when they fade, they become as cold as the receding tide, leaving only a scene of devastation.
Empress Dowager Cisheng was unable to have children for a long time, but the late emperor had been on the throne for several years. Under the urging of the court officials, he began to hold selections for the harem, and one after another, people entered the harem.
And these beautiful flowers also gave birth to children one after another.
The late emperor visited Empress Dowager Cisheng’s palace less and less, lingering among the fresh colors. Of course, because of his guilt, he respected Empress Dowager Cisheng very much. Anyone who dared to be arrogant and insult the empress because of favor would be immediately demoted to the cold palace.
Empress Dowager Cisheng had no reaction to the late emperor’s philandering until she became pregnant.
The Empress Dowager’s voice was faint and a little strange.
“The late emperor was overjoyed because he found that no matter how much he liked those concubines, none of them were as good as his empress. Zitong was different after all. The empress was finally pregnant, and the late emperor never went to the palaces of other concubines again. He stayed with the empress until she gave birth to the ninth prince.”
That is, Helian Rong.
The late emperor was overjoyed because the empress gave birth to a boy. This was a great event to celebrate. The harem was decorated with lanterns and colored banners for several days, and even the court granted a general amnesty to pray for the prince.
This grand joyous event ended with Empress Dowager Cisheng.
“She went mad.” The Empress Dowager laughed, “She was not happy because of the late emperor’s change of heart. She hated that she had given birth to the late emperor’s flesh and blood. On the day of the third-day bath, she almost drowned Helian Rong.”
King Rui’s brows were tightly furrowed. These were old stories he had never known.
In his previous life, he was busy fighting with Helian Rong. Later, Helian Rong’s methods were ruthless, and he directly set fire to everything. He was lucky enough to be reborn, and only then did he realize that he was actually a little arrogant and had neglected the help from his mother’s family.
As he followed the trajectory of his previous life and recruited the talents he had missed, King Rui also frequently visited the Empress Dowager to maintain their already good mother-son relationship.
“So, Father actually liked Empress Dowager Cisheng very much, so why…” King Rui frowned. Could it be that his information from his previous life was wrong? Empress Dowager Cisheng was not killed by his father, but by his mother?
“Empress Dowager Cisheng was killed by both the late emperor and me.” The Empress Dowager restrained her smile and said lightly.
Empress Dowager Cisheng’s madness was not just for a moment.
At that time, the entire palace had to keep an eye on her. If she was allowed to have contact with Helian Rong, she could think of a hundred ways to try to kill him. If the late emperor appeared, Empress Dowager Cisheng would self-harm.
Over time, the bedchamber became like a cold palace.
But the late emperor regretted it.
He felt that he had let down Empress Dowager Cisheng a lot, and he knew how proud and reserved she used to be. He couldn’t bear to see her suffer like this, so he ordered the royal physician to prescribe medicine.
He fed it to Empress Dowager Cisheng bit by bit.
The effect of the medicine accumulated over the years, and Empress Dowager Cisheng often fell into a deep sleep. It was also at this time that Talented Lady Yao was transferred to serve Empress Dowager Cisheng.
The late emperor hoped that when Empress Dowager Cisheng woke up, she would be happy to see her own family. He also didn’t want such a proud person to end up in such a miserable state.
He hoped that Empress Dowager Cisheng would die with some dignity.
So the late emperor also blocked all news of Empress Dowager Cisheng’s madness, so that no one would know.
But the Empress Dowager couldn’t wait that long.
According to the late emperor’s plan, it would take seven or eight years for Empress Dowager Cisheng to really die. At that time, besides Helian Rong, no one in the harem had been pregnant for many years because the emperor refused to enter the harem again.
How could she wait!
“If it weren’t for getting rid of Empress Dowager Cisheng, there wouldn’t be you.” The Empress Dowager said calmly, “I wouldn’t be in this position today either!”
Helian Duan: “Then the reason why Mother is investigating Talented Lady Yao is because she… has evidence of Empress Dowager Cisheng’s death in her hands?”
“After Empress Dowager Cisheng’s death, Talented Lady Yao was thrown into the cold palace by the furious late emperor. At that time, I didn’t pay much attention to her until that scoundrel Helian Rong ascended the throne.” The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth in hatred, “Last year, I found out that before the late emperor’s death, Talented Lady Yao had gone to see the late emperor once.”
“Talented Lady Yao is a convicted person, how could she get out of the North Wing?” Helian Duan asked in surprise.
“She faked a serious illness and was moved out. She only went back after the late emperor’s death.” The Empress Dowager sighed and waved her hand, “You also know that the late emperor fell seriously ill after returning from a tour, but it’s not like he didn’t even have a chance to write a will. In the end, he left nothing…”
Helian Duan: “Mother suspects that Talented Lady Yao has evidence of you poisoning Empress Dowager Cisheng back then, and she went to see the late emperor at this juncture specifically to help Helian Rong ascend the throne?”
“It must be so!”
At that time, besides those palace servants, only Talented Lady Yao was by Empress Dowager Cisheng’s side, and those palace servants had long been eliminated by the Empress Dowager.
Only Talented Lady Yao was left!
“Then why didn’t Mother tell me earlier? I could have helped you.” Helian Duan sighed. He had already been reborn last year. If she had told him earlier, he could have done something. Now it has been so long, and Talented Lady Yao is dead…
Died at the hands of his mother.
The Empress Dowager was silent. If Helian Duan hadn’t asked, she really couldn’t have told this old story. After all, poisoning Empress Dowager Cisheng was not a good thing. If there was any turmoil and it caused trouble, it would be fine for her, but it would definitely implicate Helian Duan.
Since the Empress Dowager had even told the old stories, she also told Helian Duan what had happened last night. He looked surprised and frowned slightly.
After a long while, Helian Duan said in a deep voice: “Mother, His Majesty probably doesn’t know the truth yet. If he knew, with his madness, he wouldn’t let it go.”
The Empress Dowager regretted it a little: “If I had known earlier, I would have spared Talented Lady Yao’s life.” Her action, on the contrary, alerted the emperor and attracted his attention.
It was too late to regret.
The Empress Dowager and King Rui discussed it, and Helian Duan advised her not to act rashly again.
Emperor Jingyuan had just finished his fit of madness, and that little eunuch Jingzhe was known to both sides. The emperor must also know of this person’s existence.
If the Empress Dowager were to act again, and the emperor really cared about Empress Dowager Cisheng, this move would inevitably drive Emperor Jingyuan mad.
If he really acted up, even the Empress Dowager was afraid that he would be reckless.
The Empress Dowager understood the worry in King Rui’s words and agreed, so she put the matter aside.
Since Emperor Jingyuan didn’t know, it wasn’t urgent yet.
King Rui stayed in the Shoukang Palace for more than an hour, had lunch with the Empress Dowager, and then left the palace.
As soon as he got on the carriage, King Rui’s expression became gloomy.
As he had thought, his mother’s actions were too direct and crude, and she had not thought about the reactions it would cause at all.
The soft are afraid of the hard, the hard are afraid of the stunned, and the stunned are afraid of the desperate. Emperor Jingyuan was just such a desperate person. He dared to go on a killing spree in the Chenghuan Palace, so who could guarantee that he wouldn’t suddenly go mad?
King Rui had witnessed his madness in his previous life with his own eyes!
Killing Talented Lady Yao was satisfying, but it would definitely attract Emperor Jingyuan’s attention. If the Empress Dowager was allowed to continue to act, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Fortunately, King Rui pinched the bridge of his nose.
He entered the palace today.
…
The tragedy of the Chenghuan Palace, with intentional or unintentional promotion, was known to the entire harem by the afternoon at the latest.
Even the sweeping eunuchs like Jingzhe learned of this matter. He immediately thought of Rong Jiu whom he had met last night.
Was the direction Rong Jiu was rushing to at that time the Chenghuan Palace?
Gusheng grabbed Jingzhe’s sleeve, his tone a little anxious: “Jingzhe, was that third-class eunuch who came to look for you before from the Chenghuan Palace?”
Jingzhe was silent for a moment and nodded.
“Then he…”
Jingzhe pursed his lips: “I’m afraid so.”
It was said that only one or two palace servants survived in the entire palace, and the rest were all dead.
He didn’t know if Changshou could still live.
Although Changshou had changed, Jingzhe was not a heartless person. He also tried to inquire about the news, but the news was now blocked, and he couldn’t find out at this time.
Perhaps in order to appease these newly entered selected ladies, Consort De arranged a banquet in the imperial garden to let the selected ladies relax and unwind.
All the young mistresses who had kept their nameplates had to go, and the servants who served them naturally followed. Only three or four rough-serving eunuchs were left to guard the Xiuxiu Palace. Jingzhe was one of them, and even Gusheng was transferred to help.
The usually lively Xiuxiu Palace was quiet for the first time.
Yunkui said carelessly: “Let’s take advantage of the fact that no one is here, finish the last bit of sweeping, and it should be fine.”
The remaining few were not fond of joining in the fun and were also diligent. After hearing Yunkui’s words, they took their tools and dispersed.
The place assigned to Jingzhe was exactly the back hall.
He first honestly swept the assigned place clean, and then asked the system in his heart.
“Although you are useless, can you detect if anyone is monitoring me?”
[…]
What a personal attack!
[No.]
The fewer people, the less consumption for the system. Although Jingzhe didn’t know why, he could still feel it.
He had finally caught this opportunity with few people, so he had to seize it.
After confirming that no one was watching him, Jingzhe took his tools and went in the direction Talented Lady Yao had mentioned.
—The eighth green brick on the side of the small path.
He turned into the small path, staring at the bricks that were similar in color but not the same, and counted them one by one.
…Six, seven, eight.
Jingzhe stopped, his fingers rubbing the edge of the brick, which was still very hard and firm. He took out a long, thin iron strip from his bosom, stuck it in the edge, and pried it up.
The brick and the iron block made a strange friction sound. After a stalemate for a while, the brick was pried out a little. Jingzhe immediately switched hands, pinched the small piece, and dragged it out.
His strength was not small, and he managed to drag out the brick by clamping it.
After dragging out the green brick, Jingzhe discovered that this brick was different from the others. When he turned it over, he saw that a slightly smaller box was embedded in the inner side of the brick.
Jingzhe was stunned, how to get this thing out?
It looked almost attached to the green brick. Unless the outer brick was smashed, but once it was smashed, how could it not make people guess the reason?
But if he didn’t take it now, he might not have such a good opportunity in the future!
Just as Jingzhe was hesitating, he suddenly found that there was a ring-shaped notch on the exposed side of the box.
Jingzhe looked at this familiar shape, was stunned for a moment, and muttered in his heart, “No way…” At the same time, he took out a green thumb ring from his bosom.
Ever since he realized that the North Wing was not safe, he had been carrying some valuable things with him.
He tentatively inserted the green thumb ring.
…Perfect.
The entire surface popped out for a moment, and with a click, the box opened.
Jingzhe pulled it open, but before he could see what was inside, he heard footsteps in the distance. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately took out everything and stuffed it into his bosom. Then, without even wanting the green thumb ring, he directly stuffed the whole brick back.
When the owner of the footsteps turned in, he happened to see Jingzhe bending down to sweep away the dust on the ground.
Yunkui wiped his sweat, “Jingzhe, are you done?”
Jingzhe: “The inside of the small path is not clean yet.”