Chapter 2 Deep within the palace, sparse willows sway in the breeze. Looking back, Granny Liu holds an iron...
Yang Liuqing looked back and saw that Aunt Liu had taken the iron to her room and closed the door very quickly.
She seemed to be deep in thought.
Unfortunately, it was getting late. She wasn't familiar with the way to Yuhua Palace, and others, annoyed that she'd just come from the inner palace, wouldn't talk to her. Yang Liuqing stood there, troubled, when she happened to run into Dai Xian, the eunuch who had been emptying chamber pots, returning home.
"Qingniang, what brings you here?"
Yang Liuqing quickly turned her head and saw Dai Xian's innocent smiling face. She immediately smiled back and explained the reason.
Dai Xian was also fourteen years old. Ten years ago, he came to the palace and became the godfather of an old eunuch. When Yang Liuqing first entered the palace, she couldn't find her way back to the inner palace. It was this boy who sat on a cart, waved to her, and pointed to the right to indicate the direction.
They didn't have much contact, but their few brief conversations were all extremely harmonious. Yang Liuqing carefully smoothed down the corner of her skirt that had been blown up by the wind, and smiled:
"It's really funny, I thought I would never see the splendor of the palace in my lifetime."
The little girl was dark-skinned, thin, and narrow, as inconspicuous as a blade of grass on the verge of death. Her wide-sleeved short blouse accentuated her slender frame. When she smiled, a slight white tooth was revealed, and her clear eyes held two pools of water—not pleasing to the eye, but not overly offensive either. Her gaze, when looking directly at people, carried a timidity born of her status, but also a touch of melancholic innocence.
No one would perceive it as a threat at first glance.
Dai Xian adjusted his crown, met her clear gaze, pushed the cart into a narrow alley, and said:
"You've been in the palace for half a year now, why are you still so clueless? If Consort Yue Rong were still favored, how could it be your turn to show your face? Have you heard what Sister Deng and the others are saying?"
Yang Liuqing paused for a moment, her smile fading.
really…
Dai Xianhuan said, "Lady Hongzhu, who won the Emperor's favor five days ago, is now a big shot. Who wouldn't want to curry favor with her? Aunt Liu usually leaves all the work to you so she can relax, but did she run away today?"
This is true. Not only did they not run away, they even found the iron. Combining the above and the below, they probably went to iron clothes for Madam Hongzhu, personally delivering them to her to gain her favor.
"..." Yang Liuqing remained silent, and seeing this, Dai Xian continued:
"It doesn't matter. Even if Aunt Liu doesn't want to, it won't be your turn. Sister Deng has been asking around these past few days, as have Sister Li, Sister Wang, and Sister Wu, but Aunt Liu has managed to suppress them all."
It turns out that everyone was secretly working hard to build their business.
Yang Liuqing hesitated for a moment, then smiled helplessly and shook her head:
"I'm stupid."
“You’re simple-minded. They’ve been in the palace for too long. Actually, most of them were innocent and kind when they first came.” Dai Xian smiled, and Yang Liuqing nodded as well, holding no grudges.
After chatting and laughing for a while, Yang Liuqing gently squeezed her itchy hand and then became serious:
"Dai Xian, what kind of person is His Majesty now? I have some questions—"
She stopped speaking abruptly, her right eyebrow furrowing, a hint of sorrow in her expression.
Upon seeing this, Dai Xian knew that Yang Liuqing was probably afraid of death. Most palace servants were like this; he was used to it and shrugged.
"What kind of person is he? Perhaps he's just like the rumors suggest."
Although I've been in the palace for quite some time, I've always stayed on the outskirts. My adoptive father forbids me from going inside. That place is a living hell; I fear I wouldn't survive there. However, His Majesty is known for his elusive nature; even Grand Eunuch Wang and Prime Minister Lin often can't find him. Furthermore, Consort Yue Rong has lost favor, so His Majesty will likely be less visible these days. You don't need to worry too much.”
She hunched her shoulders and nodded, then pursed her lips: "...Speaking of which, I recently heard music in my dream, but I don't know if it was real or not."
"Huh?" Dai Xian exclaimed in surprise, "No way? The inner palace is damp and gloomy, how could His Majesty have gone there? Qingniang, you must be still half asleep."
A strange feeling crossed Yang Liuqing's mind, but she didn't refute it: "I think so too. I've been busy lately and don't know what's going on."
Actually, Yang Liuqing wanted to ask more about Lady Hongzhu, who was currently favored by the Emperor. However, Dai Xian had already straightened his sleeves, seemingly ready to continue working. So she thanked him and was about to leave when Dai Xian suddenly called her back. In the moment of Yang Liuqing's surprise, a small porcelain ornament was found pressed on her skirt. It was delicate and beautiful, quite incongruous with her drab appearance.
The boy pulled back his arms, rubbed the calluses on his hands, and smiled brightly:
“Look how many times you’ve pinched your frostbite. Here’s some good stuff my godfather gave me, take it and use it. If you get anything from Madam Yue Rong…” He trailed off, “remember to share some with me.”
She had frostbite on her hands long ago, but it got worse after she came to the Yeting Palace and worked every day, causing it to repeatedly ulcerate and scab over.
Unexpectedly, Dai Xian was so observant, noticing a small detail that everyone in the Yeting Palace completely ignored. Yang Liuqing chuckled, her gratitude quite genuine:
"Thank you, I will never forget you."
Dai Xian waved his hand casually, then pushed the cart and ran away in small steps.
Remembering the route she had taken to the important figures, Yang Liuqing nervously made her way to her destination. She passed through layers of palace walls, turning left and right. The further she went in, the lower her head became. Finally, she arrived at the Jade Flower Palace, filled with plum blossoms. Yang Liuqing secretly glanced up, her calm expression masking her awe at the palace's splendor.
The Forbidden City as seen on TV is probably nothing special. As she turned the corner, she immediately lowered her gaze and respectfully presented the waist tag with inscription to the maid at the door.
The maid seemed to have been waiting for her. Without taking the gift, she spat out angrily, "They're all opportunistic scoundrels."
How could a nobody like herself dare to say anything? Yang Liuqing's forehead was beaded with sweat. She stood there for a moment, holding her skirt, but the maid showed no sign of taking it. Instead, she put her hands on her hips, giving Yang Liuqing a disdainful once-over, and sneered:
"You look unfamiliar, are you new here?"
Yang Liuqing nodded honestly: "Replying to Miss, this servant entered the palace half a year ago."
"So ugly! That Aunt Liu would send you to deliver clothes shows she completely disregards my mistress!" The maid's eyes darted around, and she suddenly shrieked, sweeping away the silk skirt. The thin gauze fell onto the bluestone bricks, scattering, and the tray clattered, hitting Yang Liuqing squarely on the toe. Yang Liuqing winced in pain, quickly kneeling down.
“Young lady, Aunt Liu is not—”
The maid interrupted relentlessly: "Not what? Not opportunistic?! What a shameless old woman! You pestered me for so long just to see the Madam, and now you think you can fool His Majesty into not visiting the Jade Flower Palace again with just a new face? Who gave her the audacity? Does she really think she can completely captivate the Emperor's heart by singing a few lines?"
As he spoke, he kicked her in the shoulder. Yang Liuqing staggered twice from the kick. She gritted her teeth; her vague suspicions had been confirmed.
Liu Ao knew that Lady Yue Rong would be angry because of the sudden appearance of Lady Hong Zhu. She was eager to please the newcomer and didn't want to deal with the old ones, so she sent Liu Ao, the one with the least backing, to let Yu Hua Palace vent its anger. She didn't care whether she was beaten or scolded; after all, she had a certain status and could be bullied by anyone.
She smiled bitterly to herself, suddenly recalling Dai Xian's hesitant expression. She frowned; he had expected this all along.
"And learn your lesson well!" The female servant raised the projection of her right hand high on the stone ground, accompanied by the sound of wind in her ears.
The slap rang out sharply. Yang Liuqing took a deep breath; her left ear was ringing, and her head was tilted to one side from the blow. She had no choice but to close her eyes and endure the punishment, lowering her posture even further and letting the maid vent her anger.
She neither begged for mercy nor struggled. She seemed used to accepting whatever fate brought her.
The maid was fairly satisfied. She struck again, then her brow relaxed slightly as she stared at the silent Yang Liuqing.
"Go back and let Aunt Liu take a good look at your face."
Yang Liuqing, her face flushed and swollen, softly agreed. She slowly rose to pick up her skirt. The maid squinted, surprised that this thin, dark-skinned girl was so obedient to the rules. Yang Liuqing folded the clothes again and placed them on the tray, about to bow in greeting. Suddenly, a long, drawn-out melody drifted through the hall, accompanied by a female voice:
"Qihuang, what happened?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Liuqing felt as if her ears had been cleansed by the gentle flow of spring water. She was stunned, and in that instant, she found it even more moving than the song of a nightingale.
Even though she had never seen an oriole before.
But it really sounds beautiful. So beautiful that it could even be described as a musical instrument.
She stared at the toes of her shoes, gripped her sleeves tighter, and pursed her lips.
This is the Lady Yue Rong, Wen Puti, whom Deng Mengnu used to admire so much.
Wen Puti, a woman from the Wen family of Taiyuan.
She played the zither beautifully, and even before her marriage, her beauty was renowned throughout the region. Suitors flocked to her door. She was originally betrothed to the second son of the Li family of Longxi. However, the young emperor, newly accustomed to women, became infatuated upon hearing a courtesan mention her beauty. Two years ago, an imperial decree seized the Wen woman, bestowing upon her the title of Lady Yue Rong and granting her the Jade Flower Palace.
For the past two years, she has enjoyed undiminished favor, and no one could shake her position as the most favored concubine. But now, without any warning, she has been surpassed by Lady Hongzhu.
Suddenly, a sea of fragrant snow appeared before her nose. The maidservant hurried over to help her.
A fragrant breeze, pinkish-red in hues, wafted before Yang Liuqing's eyes. She blinked quickly before she could make out that it was Lady Yue Rong's ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). Two inches of crimson shoe tips peeked out from under the skirt. Even before seeing her face, just the sight of her made her inexplicably thirsty.
She lowered her eyes, unconsciously clenching the corner of her wide sleeve. Suddenly, these eight characters flashed into her mind:
The young emperor's lustful nature is no exaggeration.
"What's your name?" While Yang Liuqing was lost in thought, the beautiful woman gently opened her mouth.
Yang Liuqing's ears were instantly cleansed by the celestial dew again, and she became inexplicably nervous, even stuttering:
"This servant, this servant, this servant is Yang Liuqing."
“This name,” Lady Yu Rong paused slightly, her melodious voice rising softly, “is rather unique.”
Unique earthenware, isn't it?
She remained silent. It's true that everyone reacts to some degree when they hear their own name. This applies even across time.
"That sounds natural, Qingnu. Where are you from?"
Yang Liuqing obediently prostrated herself on the ground: "Madam, I am from the capital."
The beauty clicked her tongue in surprise and exclaimed:
"So you're from the capital? I thought you were from the Taiyuan area because you're so dark-skinned."
Taiyuan is located in the northwest, facing the loess soil and backing onto the sky. Green forests are scarce where people live, so most of the common people are dark-skinned and thin.
Yang Liuqing was embarrassed. She hadn't expected that Madam Yue Rong would think she was from the same hometown.
Well, it's not that dark, is it?
She was momentarily at a loss, and the beauty let out a lazy sigh:
"I'm the only one from Taiyuan in this harem. I was quite happy to see you just now, thinking I could hear some stories about my hometown."
"I see." Yang Liuqing didn't know what to say, so the maidservant quickly took over, her tone dismissive:
“How can a commoner be worthy of sharing a room with a lady? If you miss your hometown, I will go and find some fashionable items.”
Lady Yuerong said displeasedly, "Objects are inanimate; how can they compare to people? I had already planned to ask His Majesty to summon my family to the palace for a visit, but that woman interfered..."
Qi Huang, filled with righteous indignation, retorted, "Damn bitch!" She glanced again at the motionless Yang Liuqing, the branches and leaves in the hall swaying at that moment. Qi Huang's anger suddenly subsided, and supporting Lady Yue Rong, she coldly addressed Yang Liuqing:
"This is none of your business, get lost."
Yang Liuqing finally relieved his knees, and despite his insincere words, he still had to express his gratitude. As he stood up, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of three-quarters of Madam Yue Rong's profile. Just one glance, and Yang Liuqing stood frozen in front of the closed vermilion door for a full three seconds. On the way back, that face kept replaying in his mind.
With eyes like autumn water, a nose like dewdrops, and lips like pink jade, she is a mature and beautiful woman, like a spring flower.
No wonder the young emperor favored her. Then, how astonished must Lady Hongzhu, rumored to be even more beautiful than her, be?
She really couldn't imagine it right away.
There was still an hour until noon. Yang Liuqing, pressing against the wall and stepping on his own shadow, suddenly felt like slacking off.
So tired.
He didn't even see Yan Dibai, and instead got beaten up for Aunt Liu. What a bummer.
The most tiring job she ever did while working part-time was sorting packages, which was only because a classmate who worked as a middleman tricked her into it. Even that only made her sleep for two days and feel too tired to move.
The days of handing out flyers, working as a waiter at a hot pot restaurant, queuing to buy milk tea, and even brushing orders on Taobao are nothing compared to what we have now.
Today's ordeal was a combination of physical and mental torture and personal humiliation.
Yang Liuqing sighed heavily.
Yang Liuqing took out the medicine Dai Xian had given her, applied it to her hands and face, found a secluded corner to squat down, squinted her eyes, looked up to bask in the sun, and waited for the swelling on her face to go down.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com