The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - chapter 12

Wanyu returned to Qianqing Palace, while Qi Rang was still in the South Study handling state affairs.

The entire palace lay silent in the lingering fog, like a magnificent yet icy mausoleum. The eunuchs and guards standing ramrod straight resembled zombies scattered throughout the tomb.

Under the colonnade of the East Side Hall, several Palace Maids learning the rules from Wanyu were gathered around Hu Jinzhong, asking why he still hadn’t decided who would be allowed to stay.

“What’s the rush? If it’s yours, it won’t run away; if it’s not, you won’t get it no matter how you beg,” Hu Jinzhong replied cryptically. “Jiang Wanyu hasn’t left yet, and that sickly Xue Ying isn’t even sure to recover. It won’t make a difference if you wait one more day. By tomorrow morning, you’ll know for sure.”

The Palace Maids said, “It’s not that we have to stay, but not having any certainty is really nerve-wracking.”

“Yes, yes, what’s going on with Gugu Wanyu anyway? And what does the Chief Steward mean by all this? Eunuch, can’t you give us a straight answer?”

“I don’t even have a straight answer myself, so how could I give you one?”

Catching sight of Wanyu out of the corner of his eye, Hu Jinzhong immediately pushed through the Palace Maids to greet her, forcing a smile. “Miss Wanyu, what took you so long at dinner? If you hadn’t come back soon, I was about to go to the kitchen to look for you.”

The Palace Maids, unsure if Wanyu had overheard their conversation, all obediently crouched and saluted her.

Wanyu walked past them in silence.

Hu Jinzhong shamelessly hurried after her, “Miss Wanyu, don’t go, let’s discuss something.”

Wanyu ignored him and quickened her pace.

Hu Jinzhong jogged a few steps in the deserted corridor to block her path. “Miss Wanyu, I’m serious. I’ve heard a bit about your family situation. You’re a daughter born of a concubine, unloved by your father and the main wife. Even if you return home, you won’t be welcomed. If the main wife gets angry and marries you off to some old man as a second wife, you’ll have nowhere to turn.”

Wanyu stopped and looked at him with disgust.

Hu Jinzhong grinned again, “Just look at our Majesty-handsome, tall, ruler of all under heaven, with the empire in his grasp. What man in the world could compare to him?

All the consorts in the harem are madly in love with him, longing every day for his favor.

Now, such a golden opportunity is right before you. If you don’t cherish it, you’d be the biggest fool under heaven.”

Wanyu couldn’t bear to listen any longer and squeezed past him to leave.

Hu Jinzhong stretched out his arms to block her again:

“Miss Wanyu, I’m speaking from the heart for your own good. I’m just a chipped teapot, I don’t want anything from you, and I wouldn’t harm you. I just want to help you secure a good future, and maybe earn a little favor with His Majesty myself.

As long as you’re willing to stay, with your looks and my brains, we’ll make a great team in the court and the harem. When you become a consort, I’ll be your top contributor.

Then, if you put in a good word for me with the Emperor, and I get promoted to Chief Steward, won’t we be able to walk through the Forbidden City as we please?”

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, his mouth foaming at the corners, his sly triangular eyes gleaming as if wealth and glory were already beckoning him.

Just as he was getting carried away, a cold laugh sounded behind him: “Deputy Chief Steward Hu, what grand ambitions you have!”

Hu Jinzhong jumped in fright. Turning around and seeing Sun Liangyan, he patted his chest nervously. “Miss Wanyu, you’re too wicked, why didn’t you warn me?”

“Warn you about what?” Sun Liangyan scolded. “You’re just bullying her because she can’t talk back, spouting nonsense. If I told His Majesty what you just said, do you think you’d still be alive?”
“No, no, no, Chief Steward, please spare me this time!” Hu Jinzhong nodded and bowed, forcing a smile. “You know what kind of person I am-I just like to speak my mind, that’s all, no other meaning. Um, aren’t you serving His Majesty? Why did you come here?”

“You still have the nerve to ask,” Sun Liangyan said. “I left you in the palace to keep watch, but you run around everywhere. His Majesty has been back for half a day and hasn’t even had a cup of hot tea. How are you managing your shift? How are you supervising your people?”

Hu Jinzhong’s expression changed instantly: “It must be those little brats abandoning their posts again. I’ll go back right now and break their legs.”

With that, he dashed off in a hurry.

Sun Liangyan cursed him a couple more times under his breath, then turned to Wanyu and said, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. As long as His Majesty doesn’t stop you, you should go out when you can. With your temperament, you’re sure to find a good future for yourself.”

Wanyu gave a bitter smile.

He said as long as His Majesty doesn’t stop her, but what if Qi Rang suddenly decides to be unreasonable and does stop her?

Sun Liangyan seemed to sense what was on her mind and sighed, “Don’t overthink it. Take one step at a time. I may not be very capable, but I’ll do my best to help you.”

Wanyu bowed deeply to him in gratitude.

Sun Liangyan made a gesture as if to help her up. “I’m off to deliver His Majesty’s lunch. You should get ready here as well!”

Wanyu nodded and took her leave with a curtsy.

When she went to make the bed in the inner hall, several Palace Maids nervously apologized to her: “Gugu Wanyu, when we asked Deputy Chief Steward Hu those questions, it wasn’t because we were afraid you wouldn’t leave. We just wanted some certainty.”

Wanyu paused her movements, looking at the young faces before her, some still carrying traces of innocence. Rarely, she gave them a gentle smile and took out the pass slip from her sleeve to show them.

She also took out the small notebook she always carried, and with a charcoal stick tucked inside, wrote: “Don’t worry. I’ve finished all the procedures. I’ll leave early tomorrow morning. You are all good girls and will surely have bright futures.”

Just as she was about to hand the notebook to the girls, their faces suddenly turned pale and they knelt down in fright.

Wanyu’s body stiffened, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.

A slender, well-defined hand silently reached over from behind, snatching away her notebook. The bright yellow sleeve carried with it a faint scent of dragon incense.

Wanyu swallowed hard, stepped back, and knelt on the floor.

Qi Rang held the notebook in his hand, his long, narrow phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the elegant handwriting.

In the suffocating atmosphere, he spoke slowly, his voice cold and thin as snow: “I told you not to slack off. How did you still find time to handle procedures? Are my words nothing but wind in your ears?”

Wanyu was filled with regret, cursing herself for letting her guard down out of momentary softness.

Sun Liangyan had just gone to deliver the meal; she never expected Qi Rang to return at this moment.

The notebook wasn’t the most important thing-the crucial item was the pass slip, still held by one of the Palace Maids.

She could only hope Qi Rang wouldn’t notice her.

No sooner had the thought arisen than Qi Rang bent his finger at the Palace Maid: “What are you holding? Present it to me.”

Wanyu’s heart leapt into her throat.

The Palace Maid crawled forward on her knees, trembling as she offered the pass slip with both hands.

Qi Rang extended two long, pale fingers and took the slip from her.

Wanyu’s heart pounded, her fists clenched tightly, her gaze fixed on his hand.