The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - Chapter 26

Xiang Rui was startled. “Eunuch, I dare not take such a risk. With Consort Shu’s temper and means, if I really do this, my own life would be at stake.”

“That won’t happen. Your life is still useful to me; I won’t let you die,” Hu Jinzhong said. “Just do as I say, boldly and without worry. If you succeed, I’ll transfer you to Qianqing Palace. How about that?”

Xiang Rui’s eyes lit up. “Eunuch, do you mean it?”

Hu Jinzhong put on an air of authority. “I am the dignified Second Chief Steward before His Majesty. Is there any need for me to deceive a mere Palace Maid like you?”

Xiang Rui nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, Eunuch. I will do as you command.”

Hu Jinzhong waved her away. After she left, he turned and returned to Qianqing Palace, shaking his head and sighing as he walked. “What a stubborn girl. I really want to see how long you can hold out.”

Wanyu knew nothing of this. When she returned to that secluded room, she found that the straw on the bed had been replaced with fresh, thick, and soft straw, without a trace of mustiness.

She knew this was Xu Qingzhan’s doing again, but she couldn’t figure out how Xu Qingzhan’s people managed to bring in the straw so stealthily.

She remembered the medicine bottle she had hidden under the straw and hurried to check. The bottle was still there, hidden exactly where she had left it.

There was only one kettle of hot water. She washed her hands and face first, then her feet. After making do with her washing, she sat on the bed and carefully applied ointment and chilblain cream to her hands.

The scab from the burn had long since been soaked off by cold water, revealing the red flesh beneath. When the ointment touched it, the pain was piercing.

She gritted her teeth and endured it, tears welling in her eyes.

When she really couldn’t bear it, she thought of the person outside the palace.

Thinking of that person now trying to find a way to rescue her from the palace, the pain seemed to lessen.

She couldn’t just passively wait for that person and Xu Qingzhan to save her; she had to think of a way to save herself as well. Although her current situation was dire, as long as she persevered, she would surely find a turning point.

She hid the medicine bottle again, crawled into bed, and as dusk enveloped the earth, closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, in Qianqing Palace, one palace lantern after another was being lit.

The warm yellow light illuminated the entire palace like a fairyland, forming a stark contrast with the cold, dark Lateral Courts.

Qi Rang had just finished his dinner and was sitting in the Warm Pavilion, enjoying the fire while reviewing memorials.

Tonight, he still hadn’t summoned anyone, nor was he willing to return to his sleeping quarters. It seemed he was still dissatisfied with the beds prepared by those Palace Maids.

Sun Liangyan was quite helpless and could only keep him company through the long night.

Consort Shu had kept His Majesty company all night yesterday; no matter how willful she was, she couldn’t stay in Qianqing Palace for two nights in a row.

Sun Liangyan thought, perhaps tomorrow he should send someone to Taiping Office to check on Xue Ying.

If Xue Ying’s illness was not serious, she could return to take her turn.

After all, she and Wanyu used to alternate shifts in the sleeping quarters, and His Majesty had never complained about the beds she made.

Just as he was lost in thought, Qi Rang suddenly asked without looking up, “Did you get your cloak back?”

Sun Liangyan was startled and quickly bowed. “Your Majesty, I thought the cloak was thick and heavy, and in this cold weather, it probably wouldn’t dry in a day, so I planned to fetch it tomorrow.”

Qi Rang put down his brush and glanced at him.

The men of the Qi family were known for their good looks, famed throughout the land. In Qi Rang’s generation, they were all exceptionally handsome, especially Qi Rang himself, whose appearance surpassed all his brothers. Everyone said that even if a celestial being descended from heaven and met him, they would be ashamed and bow their heads, fleeing back to the heavenly realm.
Yet, such a handsome man was born with a cold, hard heart. He killed his father and murdered his brothers, bathed the palace in blood, and ascended the throne atop a pile of bones, striking terror into all who heard his name.

Sun Liangyan had served him since he was two or three years old. Now, as the closest person by his side, he still dared not look directly into his eyes.

At this moment, Qi Rang cast a sharp glance his way, making Sun Liangyan’s heart pound wildly and a cold sweat break out across his back.

“It was this servant’s fault. I’ll go fetch the cloak right away,” he stammered, trembling, secretly watching Qi Rang’s reaction from the corner of his eye.

Qi Rang gave no reaction.

He neither approved nor disapproved, simply picked up his brush and resumed reviewing memorials.

Sun Liangyan was so distressed he wished he could die.

With His Majesty’s temper, he was increasingly at a loss as to how to serve him.

Qi Rang reviewed the memorials with growing impatience. Opening one, he found yet another urging him to appoint an empress, and he grabbed it and tossed it into the brazier, sending sparks flying.

The memorial caught fire and burned with a whoosh.

Sun Liangyan was so frightened he fell to his knees with a thud. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Please calm your anger!”

“Get out!” Qi Rang shouted angrily.

Sun Liangyan dared not say another word, scrambled up, and retreated out.

Fuzi was waiting outside the door. Hearing the commotion inside, his heart leapt into his throat.

Seeing Sun Liangyan come out, he hurriedly whispered, “Master, what happened?”

Before Sun Liangyan could reply, Hu Jinzhong suddenly poked his head out from behind Fuzi like a ghost. “Chief Steward Sun, what’s going on?”

Both Sun Liangyan and Fuzi jumped in fright.

Sun Liangyan saw Hu Jinzhong clutching a branch of white plum blossoms, his triangular eyes darting about like a thief, and was instantly furious. “None of your business! Go do your own work!”

After scolding him, he sent Fuzi in to serve.

Fuzi shrank his neck. “If even Master can’t serve him well, how could I?”

“I can, I can! Let me go!” Hu Jinzhong said eagerly, holding up the plum blossom branch.

Sun Liangyan opened his mouth to scold him, but changed his mind at the last moment. “Fine, you go. Serve carefully.”

“Alright!” Hu Jinzhong replied cheerfully, trotting inside.

Qi Rang was staring at the ashes of the burned memorial, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Hu Jinzhong, frowning. “What are you doing here? Get out!”

Hu Jinzhong knelt and kowtowed, speaking cautiously, “Your Majesty, this servant just passed by the Lateral Courts and saw a tree of white plum blossoms blooming beautifully inside the wall. I couldn’t get in, but after much effort, I managed to break off a branch for Your Majesty. Please smell it-isn’t it fragrant?”

Qi Rang’s frown eased at the mention of the Lateral Courts. He glanced, seemingly unintentionally, at the branch of white plum blossoms in Hu Jinzhong’s hands, and asked in a neutral tone, “Why couldn’t you get in?”

Hu Jinzhong replied, “The Lateral Courts were locked early. When I passed by, the palace gates were already secured. Otherwise, I would have brought back more branches for Your Majesty to put in a vase, so the whole room would be filled with fragrance.”

Qi Rang beckoned him over.

Hu Jinzhong hurried forward, presenting the branch with both hands.

Qi Rang took the branch, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. The subtle fragrance of plum blossoms lingered at the tip of his nose, stirring faint desires deep within his heart.

He set down the branch and stood up. “Let’s go. I’ll go with you to take a look.”