Chapter 11 The princess was reborn.
Yue Yining told Fu Yao about the discovery of konjac and asked her to inform Manager Yang. Manager Yang, who runs the largest inn in Jiulian Town, is not only generous and righteous, but also the person with the widest network of connections and the best information in the town.
Sure enough, in the following days, the number of refugees outside the village gradually decreased. The deathly aura that had previously permeated the village was suddenly swept away, and smiles returned to the faces of the villagers.
Time flies, and the deadline of the 27th is drawing ever closer.
Three days remain.
Two days remain.
One day remains.
The twenty-seventh day of August has arrived, which is today.
The earth is scorching hot, and the summer heat has not subsided.
The predicted heavy rain failed to arrive.
This was the first time that the divination she performed was completely wrong and contradicted reality.
Yue Yining waited from dawn till dusk, sitting on the long corridor outside the house from sunrise to sunset, but not a single drop of rain came.
The sun was almost completely setting, and the sky was ablaze with crimson and orange clouds, making the entire heavens seem as if they were mocking her overestimation of her abilities and arrogance.
Fu Yao stood under the eaves, watching Yue Yining's retreating figure with deep concern. Someone approached slowly behind her and asked softly, "How is it?"
Fu Yao quickly turned her head and saw that it was A Yu. The worry between her brows froze like frost: "I just tried to persuade her, but Miss said she wouldn't eat."
"But it's already evening, and she hasn't eaten anything all day..."
Ayu gazed intently at Yue Yining, whose back was straight and whose black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. He remained motionless, his silhouette almost blending into the fiery sunset painting.
That frail, thin back bore the weight of the setting sun and the end of a great dynasty.
He knew that the story of Yue Yining had not yet begun. At this moment, Yue Yining was a traveler who was briefly stopping in Jiulian Town, just an unknown and inconspicuous Taoist priest, with a long way to go before becoming an unparalleled strategist. She would experience helplessness, reluctance to part, sorrow and pain, and then walk towards her own ending.
No one expects such an ending after pouring their heart and soul into their work and giving their all.
Fu Yao didn't get a response from him, so she glanced at him again and found that he was staring at the young lady's back, seemingly lost in thought.
The usual gentleness on that beautiful face vanished without a trace, replaced by an unusual gloom.
"...Ayu?"
When Ayu came to his senses, Fu Yao, who had been calling him, asked with some surprise, "Were you just spacing out?"
Ayu: "...No. I was just wondering what Miss is thinking right now."
Fu Yao sighed: "What else could she be thinking? She must be very frustrated right now, but she's afraid of worrying us, so she's been forcing herself not to show it..."
“You’re right. I think our worries are just a burden to Miss,” Ayu said. “Miss doesn’t really need comforting. We just need to stay by her side and get through the night.”
Fu Yao's brow furrowed with worry: "However, the drought and food shortage remain pressing issues. I understand Miss's anxiety. If the divination is truly wrong, what if there is no rain at all...?"
Ayu shook her head: "No, that rain will come."
It will be here soon.
Why are you all standing here?
Fu Yao and A Yu were taken aback. Yue Yining, who had been sitting in front of the courtyard, had stood up and come to their side. Although her expression was still not good, she gave a faint smile: "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
She reached out and tugged at Fu Yao's sleeve: "Yao Yao, I want to eat something, I'm a little hungry."
Fu Yao was overjoyed: "Miss! I'll go and bring dinner over right away!"
Fu Yao ran off in a flash, and Yue Yining watched her run away, the smile on her face slowly fading.
After a long silence, she looked at Ayu standing to the side: "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Ayu: "I believe in Miss, and I believe that the divination you performed is correct."
Yue Yining was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to say that.
Ayu glanced at the end of the corridor, where Fu Yao was already carrying tea and food.
His voice was gentle as he continued, "Miss, please go and rest after you've finished your meal. Miss Fu, you should do the same. I'll keep watch tonight."
"I will be waiting outside the door, Miss. Please call me anytime if needed."
Yue Yining looked at him and slowly said, ".......Okay."
The moon rises above the clouds, the sky is deep and dark, with a few scattered stars lying there.
After dinner, the bamboos are bathed in moonlight and shadows fill the courtyard.
Yue Yining lay on the bed, her head resting on a cool wooden pillow. The ends of her hair sticking up and brushing against her eyelashes, and she couldn't help but close her eyes.
The wind rustled through the bamboo leaves in the courtyard, the sound like a rattle. Beneath her lay a long mat woven from bamboo strips, and though she lay in nature's cradle, she still couldn't fall asleep.
Yue Yining opened her eyes again, only to see the person's shadow reflected on the door. The flowing moonlight, like snow, extinguished the raging summer heat, turning him into a rich and gentle ink-like color on the window screen.
She gazed at that shadow, like the moon looking down upon the dark world.
Yue Yining slowly closed her eyes.
A dream as soft as silk enveloped her; she felt herself being wrapped up like a silkworm, gradually sinking into the deep night.
........
The rooster crows three times, and the sun rises to the ninth heaven.
The morning bell tolls in the golden palace, opening ten thousand doors; the jade steps are adorned with a thousand officials by imperial procession.
A silver-winged bird flapped its wings and flew over the carriages of officials heading to the Forbidden City, leaping over the red and glazed tiles of the palace walls, landing atop the many palace corners, gazing at the palace gardens adorned with exotic flowers and rare herbs. From the long corridor outside the palace to the palace gate, countless palace maids stood in rows, heads bowed in silence.
The young eunuch knelt in the center of the hall, his knees trembling like mud. He fell to the ground in terror, his peripheral vision darting forward.
Several guards in cicada-shell armor stood on either side, one hand on their swords. In the center, a beautiful woman with crimson lips and snow-white skin sat on a gold-threaded sandalwood chair inlaid with jade. She wore a brocade palace dress, her figure graceful, her breath sweet as orchids, her eyebrows more beautiful than daylilies, and her red skirt more alluring than pomegranate flowers.
She casually toyed with a red bird-shaped hairpin with pearls, its pointed head and heavy tail held between her nail-painted fingers as if it might be dropped at any moment to pierce his neck.
The little eunuch, terrified by his own imagination, wished he could bury his head in the blue bricks.
The young eunuch was filled with regret. He had only ever heard that Consort Li was favored by the emperor and was the daughter whom General Gu cherished like a treasure, but he had never heard that this consort was so unscrupulous that she actually sent her guards to drag him directly out of his master's palace and bring him here!
Judging by this situation, he's probably going to die here today!
Consort Li tapped the armrest with her long, gold-trimmed fingers, and spoke softly: "I've heard that some people in the palace have been gossiping and spreading rumors, criticizing the deceased eldest prince. You eunuch, do you have anything to say?"
The young eunuch kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Highness, I truly do not know anything about this. It must all be a misunderstanding. Please, Your Highness, investigate thoroughly!"
Consort Li ignored him, her voice sweet and melodious: "The Crown Prince has passed away, and His Majesty is deeply grieved. As a concubine, I will accompany His Majesty to observe a vegetarian diet and wear mourning clothes for a month in mourning for the country."
"Who would have thought that someone would harbor malicious intentions and spread rumors in the palace, claiming that Consort Li was closely related to the death of the eldest prince."
As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Li slammed the hairpin in her hand heavily onto the sandalwood chair, and a perfectly round pearl suddenly flew out and landed in front of the trembling eunuch.
Consort Li sneered, "You eunuch, who gave you the audacity to fabricate palace affairs?!"
The little eunuch was already terrified: "I'm innocent! I'm innocent!"
Consort Li waved her hand, and the guards on both sides immediately stepped forward to restrain the little eunuchs crawling all over the ground and took them out. Screams and wails echoed in the courtyard outside.
The maid entered the hall and gave a slight curtsy: "Your Highness, the Princess has arrived and is waiting outside the hall."
Consort Li forced herself to straighten up and instructed the Imperial Attendant beside her, "Go to the door and tell them to stop fighting. Quickly take that eunuch away for interrogation. Don't disturb my and Hua'er's peace and quiet."
"Bring Hua'er in."
The young palace maid standing beside Consort Li slowed her fanning motion slightly. This was her first time being transferred to serve in the main hall, and she never expected to have the opportunity to meet the renowned Princess of Yanjing.
As the ceremonial procession entered the hall, she stole a glance at the front and the first thing she saw was a pink silk dress with a lotus flower pattern, and a glass gauze shawl tied between her two jade-like arms. Her shoulders and neck were as white as snow, and her skin was tender and fragrant.
Further up, a crescent moon veils the eyebrows, spring peach blossoms brush the face, and a pair of bright, autumn-water eyes sparkle.
The young palace maid was stunned. She lost her grip on her fan and accidentally knocked it against the armrest of the wooden chair.
Her mind went blank; she was terrified and completely lost her composure. With a thud, she knelt on the ground, crying, "This servant deserves to die! This servant has accidentally disturbed Her Highness the Imperial Concubine; this servant deserves to die a thousand deaths, please forgive me, Your Highness..."
She suddenly knelt down, and the surrounding palace maids all stepped back a few paces, bowing their heads and standing silently.
Consort Li glanced lazily at the trembling figure on the ground. Next to her, a palace maid was kneeling and tidying up the princess's skirt and shoes as she sat down. After finishing, she immediately stepped back. Another palace maid came over with tea and pastries and placed them respectfully on the table.
The eldest princess glanced at the young palace maid on the ground, then turned her head and said softly, "Mother, I think this palace maid is still very young. Since it was an unintentional mistake, please forgive her."
Consort Li was not in a good mood today, but since it was her own daughter pleading for her, she agreed: "Fire her with a month's salary, and let Qingrong discipline her more in the future."
The young palace maid, having been forgiven, quickly got up, bowed her head, and left the palace.
She felt reborn, almost bursting into tears of joy, her heart filled with gratitude for the princess she had only met once.
It turns out that the legendary eldest princess was indeed as beautiful and kind as a celestial being.
Consort Li turned around, and a smile appeared on her face as soon as she saw her daughter: "You used to come to see me in the afternoon, why did you come so early this morning?"
Princess Wei Yihua said with a coquettish smile, "Hua'er came early, of course I missed you, Mother! Doesn't Mother want to see Hua'er?"
Consort Li beamed with delight, tapping Wei Yihua's forehead with her finger: "You, you have the sweetest tongue!"
Outside the garden, birds chirped and sang.
The incense sticks inside the hall burned out, and the soft ash at the top fell down.
Wei Yihua left Huaqing Palace, followed by a grand procession, and returned to her residence.
She sat by the window, sipping the calming tea brought to her by a servant. Her personal maid, Su Yue, dismissed the other maids serving in the hall, quickly approached the table, and asked in a low voice:
"Princess, do you really want to do this?"
In Su Yue's eyes, the eldest princess had started acting strangely three days ago.
First, she would wake up in a fright every morning, feeling unsettled. Then, she would often dismiss the maids who served her personally, and always stay alone in the palace.
Two days ago, the eldest princess actually went to see the emperor, mentioning the severe drought in the north and requesting permission to leave the palace to go to the Tianguan Temple in Jinling to pray for the people.
It was common knowledge in the palace that state affairs had been suspended for many days, after all, the emperor had been bedridden for a month. For several days, he had not only missed the morning court sessions, but he had also barely reviewed the edicts that were reported to him, and the memorials sent to the imperial study had already piled up like a mountain.
Su Yue was very worried at the time, fearing that the princess's actions would anger the emperor. Fortunately, the emperor granted her permission after hearing the news.
But before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Wei Yihua told her her real plan.
The eldest princess had no intention of going to the Tian Guan Temple in Jinling to pray for blessings! She just wanted a legitimate excuse to leave the palace, and her real purpose was to go to a remote town near Jinling.
The royal family always maintained strict secrecy when traveling incognito. Even when going to the Heavenly Temple to pray for blessings, they would not reveal their true faces but would wear veils the entire time. Wei Yihua planned to have a personal maid with a similar build act as her double. She arranged for Su Yue to find a suitable candidate and also asked her to prepare a carriage so that they could slip away and head to their real destination once they arrived in Jinling.
Su Yue: "If the Imperial Concubine and the Emperor find out about this, I'm afraid..." I'm afraid a large number of people will die!
Wei Yihua put down her teacup and said in a sweet voice, "I know what I'm doing. You go and get on with it."
"We must depart from the palace this afternoon; there can be no mistakes in this matter."
Su Yue's expression hardened: "...Yes, this servant understands. This servant will do her best. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
Su Yue curtsied and bowed her head before leaving the hall.
Wei Yihua sat alone in the hall. She looked down at the teacup in her hand. The tea was clear and delicious, with a rich and mellow color, reflecting her eyes, which were full of complex emotions.
If it weren't for the verification over the past three days, she really wouldn't have believed that such a thing could happen to her.
She, Wei Yihua, was reborn, returning to the age of seventeen.
At seventeen, Wei Yihua was still a carefree and proud princess. Her father had not died, the Dongxi Dynasty had not been destroyed, and her brothers had not killed each other.
There is still a chance to salvage the situation.
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