Chapter 23: Someone Died

The rain kept falling, stopping for a while and then eagerly starting again, making the morning as gloomy as dusk.

The water lily leaves in the round pot had long since withered, and the maids and eunuchs, taking advantage of the rain stopping, quickly moved them indoors, intending to replant them next spring when the flowers bloom.

Jiang Ling pulled his hood tighter to block the biting cold wind from hitting his face, and gazed wistfully at the sky.

The true winter in Beijing arrives suddenly overnight, without giving anyone time to prepare.

"My lady, it's cold outside, please come inside," Wenjuan said after a moment's hesitation.

It was not yet the time for the furnace to be opened, and there was no charcoal in the rations; the room was dark and cold.

Jiang Ling shook his head, sat on the stone railing, and stared blankly at it.

A'Ruo was doing needlework outside. Her hands were cold, so she would stop after a few stitches and breathe on them to warm them. Seeing Jiang Ling's furrowed brow, she moved her needle basket over and said angrily, "You've only been in charge of the lamps and candles for a few days, and such a terrible thing has happened. Someone must be jealous and secretly plotting against you. You can't let this go, or they'll think you're easy to bully!"

Jiang Ling was in a bad mood and hadn't intended to pay any attention to A'Ruo, but upon hearing this, she smiled and asked, "What do you think we should do?"

A'Ruo was taken aback. Jiang Ling asked, "Since you've said that, we can't just let it go like this. What do you think we should do to make it seem like we're not easy to bully?"

“Kindness is often taken advantage of, anyway, anyway…” Aruo stammered, her mind racing with ideas.

If she wanted to use her rank to intimidate others, there were countless concubines in the harem of higher rank than her. As for favor, Jiang Ling hadn't been favored by the emperor in a long time. In terms of family background, offspring, and the power and influence of the harem, Jiang Ling couldn't compete in any of these areas.

A'Ruo felt that if it were her, she would definitely be angry if she were bullied and wronged. She had no idea what to do and couldn't come up with a solution for a long time.

"Aruo, it's easiest to gossip and say hurtful things."

Jiang Ling was in a low mood, and when he spoke, he became sharp and merciless.

"If you were truly capable, you would have already been promoted to a female official as you wish. Unfortunately, after so many years in the palace, you are still just a lowly palace maid without any rank. You cannot accomplish anything great, and you can't even be a bad person."

Aruo bit her lip, her head drooping in grievance, not daring to utter a word in rebuttal, yet quite unconvinced.

It's hard to be a good person, but it's not easy to be a bad person either. Not everyone has the guts to kill or commit arson. Some people are just bad, and in the end, they can only become lowly thugs who run errands and take the fall. After all, there are only a few bosses.

Recognizing and acknowledging one's own mediocrity and dullness, breaking through illusions and facing oneself directly, is not easy and is painful.

Seeing A'Ruo's reaction, Jiang Ling felt a pang of disappointment. She summoned Fang He, Wen Juan, Qing Wen, and the others, saying, "You all know that some things have happened in the palace recently. Remember, be careful what you say and do. Don't inquire about things you shouldn't hear, and don't talk nonsense. Being too clever for your own good will only harm you. If you cause trouble, I can't save you. Whether you live or die is up to fate."

The group rarely saw Jiang Ling so serious, so they quickly agreed in unison.

Jiang Ling had been working at Fanying Pavilion for quite some time now, and since Wen Juan and Qing Wen had started their duties, she had never really paid any attention to them. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "From now on, Wen Juan will be in charge of everything around me, and the three of you will follow her instructions."

Wenjuan was taken aback, then her eyes gradually lit up with surprise. The others were quite surprised. Fanghe and Aruo couldn't hide their disappointment, while Qingwen remained calm and respectfully agreed.

The monthly salary and rank of palace maids were determined by the Imperial Secretariat. Even Consort Lin could not arbitrarily issue orders to promote them.

The palace maids who were close to the favored concubines often received rewards and were fawned over by their subordinates, living a more comfortable life than the concubines who were not favored.

Jiang Ling's rank was low, and the palace maids serving her were all without rank according to the rules. Jiang Ling could not directly promote Wen Juan, and with her salary, she could not afford to give her a reward casually.

The more you do, the more mistakes you make; you work hard and worry, but your monthly allowance remains unchanged. Now, Jiang Ling is in the same predicament as Wen Juan, facing the hot potato that is the lamp and candle department.

Jiang Ling was already full of resentment and would definitely not let Wen Juan suffer any loss. After thinking it over, she decided to set aside two qian of silver each month to subsidize Wen Juan. She would adjust the amount as needed based on Wen Juan's performance.

Jiang Ling said to Wen Juan, "You are in charge of overseeing the other menial tasks in the pavilion. Go and arrange their shifts, and make sure everyone has four days of rest within a month. Those not on duty must ask permission in advance if they want to go out, and they must go in groups; no one may act alone."

Wenjuan quickly agreed, saying, "Don't worry, my lady, I will do my job well and will not let you down."

Jiang Ling sincerely hoped that Wen Juan would live up to her words. She neither liked nor was good at making empty promises, and simply said, "You all go ahead and get busy."

Wenjuan gestured for the others to leave. Jiang Ling stood under the eaves for a while, but then it started to drizzle again. It was too cold outside, so she turned around and went back inside.

Just as she lay down on the couch, Wenjuan lifted the curtain and entered the room, saying, "My lady, someone has arrived at the storeroom. They say that Huang Daban and Song Sizheng from the Palace Administration have come to the storeroom together. Chen Shanggong has already gone there. Would you like to go?"

Huang Liang and Song Sizheng went to the storeroom, presumably to investigate a case. Jiang Ling immediately sat up, slipped on his shoes, and walked outside: "You and A'Ruo come with me."

Wenjuan quickly took a hood and draped it over Jiang Ling, saying, "My beauty, don't worry, it's raining outside. Let me go get an umbrella."

Jiang Ling nodded, and Wen Juan ran out to call A Ruo, who brought an umbrella and wooden clogs. After getting dressed, they hurried to the storeroom.

Huang Liang and Song Si were on duty in the storeroom, and they summoned a palace maid from the candle-lighting department to ask her questions, while Chen Shanggong waited outside the door. Upon seeing Jiang Ling arrive, Chen Shanggong stepped forward to greet her, saying, "Your beauty has arrived."

Jiang Ling nodded to her and glanced over. Chen Shanggong had dark circles under her eyes and a sallow complexion, as if she hadn't slept well the night before; she looked listless.

The eunuch went inside to report to Huang Liang, who soon came out with Song Sizheng. He raised his hand and said, "The beauty has arrived. This servant and Song Sizheng are here on His Majesty's orders to question the palace maids on duty in the storeroom. His Majesty has decreed that the beauty should not be disturbed, so this servant did not come to ask for permission."

She was nominally in charge of the candle and lamp department, so if Huang Liang and Song Sizheng were to casually question the palace maids on duty, they should at least inform her and Chen Shanggong.

Jiang Ling's heart sank slightly. He barely managed to suppress his unease and said, "Since it is the Emperor's order, you should carry it out as ordered."

Huang Liang agreed. He looked up and frowned, saying to the eunuch, "Why hasn't Fang Si Deng arrived yet? Go and urge him."

The eunuch hurriedly went to find Fang Sideng, and as soon as he reached the main gate, he met the eunuch who had gone to find Fang Sideng earlier.

The man looked nervous and said something that made his expression change drastically. The two of them ran back together.

Huang Liang came out when he heard the commotion. The eunuch, panting, said in a low voice, "Huang Daban, Fang Sideng is in the guard room. He has already passed away, and his body is stiff."

Jiang Ling deliberately leaned close to eavesdrop. When the eunuch's words reached her ears, her face changed drastically, and she exclaimed, "What? Fang Si Deng is dead?!"