Chapter 154 "Do you suspect... the palace..."
Sixteen years after Empress Wei's passing, this was the first time Emperor Qingxi had publicly issued an edict to hold a grand memorial service for her.
Gossip about the emperor and empress's relationship has resurfaced in various small circles in the capital.
Only the elderly remember that when Empress Wei suddenly passed away, everyone in the palace kept it a secret. Emperor Qingxi was furious and severely punished a group of palace staff and the imperial physicians on duty. Even the Wei family was implicated and exiled. The once glorious and loyal military family faded into obscurity.
Later, a rumor spread from who-knows-where that Empress Wei had committed suicide because she had disobeyed the emperor in defense of her family. This rumor, told with great detail, gradually became the most widely circulated version.
Furthermore, Consort Gao enjoyed the emperor's favor for over ten years after entering the palace. Although she did not have the title of empress, she was in fact the empress. This further confirmed people's suspicions that the emperor and empress's relationship had long since broken down, and the emperor deeply resented it and did not want to mention it again.
Sixteen years later, Emperor Qingxi unexpectedly broke with tradition and not only held a grand ceremony for Empress Wei, but also issued a special decree ordering female members of the imperial family and ladies of official rank to enter the palace three days in advance to stay overnight, burn incense, bathe, and recite scriptures to calm their minds, in order to show their solemnity and piety.
Therefore, the long-vacant West Palace complex was specially cleaned in advance for the women of each family to rest in.
However, the palace had limited rooms, so it was impossible for the women to be as comfortable as they were at home. The older ladies were already considered fortunate to be assigned a single room, while the younger, lower-ranking ladies of the outer court had to share a room with three or four people, which was worse than the first-class maids in their own homes.
The people dared not speak out in anger, since the one who issued the decree was the one sitting on the dragon throne. He wanted to express his grief for his deceased wife in a grand manner, so they, his subjects, had no choice but to cooperate obediently.
I could only silently comfort myself, telling myself to just bear with it and get through these three days.
Madam Chen, on the other hand, did not have to endure sharing a room with others. Given her status as the mother-in-law of Prince Yu and her age, she rightfully had a private room to herself.
But her frustration and anger were no less than anyone else's. Whenever she thought that Emperor Qingxi was making such a big fuss and wasting so much money and resources, all for that woman Wei Shenyin, Madam Chen wished she could curse her with vicious witchcraft so that she would never be reincarnated.
"Mother, all the bedding and utensils in your room are brand new, please bear with it for a few more days."
Princess Yu entered from outside and saw Madam Chen standing in front of a half-open window on the west side, her face extremely pale. She quickly stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong?"
Madam Chen, her face grim, pointed to a crabapple branch that stretched out from the wall outside. "Who chose this room for me? Go and break it off, but don't let me see it."
Princess Yu looked troubled. "Next door is the Imperial Garden. That crabapple grove was planted by order of the Emperor and has been maintained by special people for many years. No one dares to touch it..."
Madam Chen dug her fingernails deep into the window frame and let out a cold laugh.
Crabapple, crabapple again, how could he not forget her?
She recalled wistfully, "The last time I stayed overnight in the palace was more than thirty years ago."
That year, the late emperor intended to choose a wife for the crown prince. He carefully selected eligible daughters from various families in the capital and allowed them to stay in the palace for a month under the pretext of keeping the empress dowager company.
They all knew why they had come to the palace. Before they came, their families had high hopes for them, hoping that they would catch the eye of the Crown Prince and rise to prominence in the palace.
During that month, everyone was both companions and rivals, testing and getting to know each other. Some hit it off immediately, while others secretly plotted against each other.
But in the end, only one lucky person can win the game.
That was the first time in Mrs. Chen's life that she had lost to someone.
When the imperial edict appointing her as Crown Princess was delivered to the Wei family, no one knew that she was hiding in her room, cutting the handkerchief that Wei Shenyin had given her before she left the palace into shreds.
“I swore that I would never return to this place in my life.”
Madam Chen said something seemingly out of the blue to Princess Yu, then suddenly burst into laughter, "After so many years, revisiting this place, I now have a house full of children and grandchildren. Where is Wei Shenyin now? Hahaha!"
Princess Yu's face changed slightly in fright, and she wished she could step forward and cover her mother's mouth. "What nonsense are you talking about? This time His Majesty is going to hold a religious ceremony for the Empress. Even if you don't like her... you should at least put on an act and endure these few days."
"What are you afraid of? There are no outsiders here." Madam Chen said dismissively and impatiently shooed him away. "Alright, I'm tired after all this fuss. Go ahead and do your work. Let His Majesty see your filial piety."
"My father has entrusted all matters related to the ritual to Princess Tong'an. Where am I supposed to find an opportunity to make a difference?"
Princess Yu muttered something under her breath, and before leaving, she added, "Then you should rest for a while, and I'll come over for dinner."
...
The conditions in the palace were far inferior to those at home, and Madam Chen slept very restlessly that night.
As soon as she closed her eyes, the image of the crabapple branch that stretched in from outside the wall bloomed unrestrainedly in her mind.
She thought she heard a rustling sound mocking her.
Half of the palace belongs to me, and His Majesty planted crabapple trees all over the Imperial Garden for my sake. No matter how glamorous you are outside the palace, once you come here, you can only obediently listen to my daughter's arrangements...
"Shut up!"
Mrs. Chen sat up angrily, pounding the bedsheets hysterically, trying to drive the voice out of her head.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to fall asleep as soon as possible. The dark palace was silent, with only her slightly rapid breathing as the only sound.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but just as she was drifting off to sleep...
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A series of faint sounds came from above, like beads breaking and rolling in all directions.
A faint fragrance drifted in through the crack in the window, its allure growing stronger in the darkness, as if something unseen was slowly approaching...
Madam Chen suddenly opened her eyes, her back covered in a cold sweat.
She jumped up like a startled bird, and before she could even put on her shoes, she jumped barefoot off the bed, staggered to the window, and shoved it open.
"Who's outside!"
The moonlight was soft and warm, and the courtyard was deathly silent; no one answered.
Madam Chen stared intently at the dark, secluded corner in the distance for a long while before slowly closing the window and returning to bed.
However, after a short while, a clicking sound came from above her head, one after another, with the intervals getting longer and longer, like a cat playing with a mouse, as if it was maliciously enjoying her fear.
Madam Chen trembled slightly, pulled the quilt over her head with all her might, gripped the corners of the quilt tightly with both hands, and cursed through gritted teeth.
"Wei Shenyin, you couldn't beat me when you were alive, but do you think you can scare me now that you're dead? I'm not afraid of you, not at all!"
...
Early the next morning, Madam Chen angrily went to the duty room of the Jinwu Guard, who was responsible for patrolling the palace.
"Get your officer out here, I have something to ask him!"
A moment later, Pei Jinghuai slowly walked out, cleared his throat, and politely asked, "Madam Chen, you wanted to see me?"
Madam Chen recognized him and her tone softened a bit, "So it's the second young master of the Pei family. I had forgotten that you are now in charge of the Imperial Guards."
Pei Jinghuai bowed towards the east, saying, "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's trust and can only do my utmost in gratitude."
Madam Chen then explained her purpose: "Last night there were constant noises coming from the roof of my room, which kept me from sleeping. When you Imperial Guards were patrolling at night, did you see any suspicious people?"
“Could it be stray cats in heat? That happens often this time of year,” Pei Jinghuai replied seriously. “You can rest assured, the palace is heavily guarded. Not to mention suspicious people, not even a suspicious fly can get in.”
Mrs. Chen frowned slightly. "But I really heard it. The sound was continuous and not made by a cat at all."
Pei Jinghuai paused slightly, quickly glanced left and right, and then lowered his voice: "Do you suspect... the palace is haunted?"
Mrs. Chen: "...I didn't say that."
“Sigh, it’s only natural for you to think that way.” Pei Jinghuai said, as if he was used to it. “There have been many more wronged souls in this imperial city over the past few hundred years. Didn’t the palace coup of Prince Heng kill many people recently? And what about the princes and princesses who died young, the concubines who lost in palace intrigues… there must be a few who are too resentful and refuse to be reincarnated.”
Madam Chen's face grew increasingly grim. "You're such a young child, how could you believe in this?"
"You can't deny it. I only found out after I took up a post as a member of the Imperial Guard."
Perhaps because he's spent so much time with Shen Lingyue, Pei Jinghuai can now make up lies without even thinking, speaking with such conviction, "I can tell you at a glance that you're someone who can keep secrets, you won't tell on me, will you?"
Mrs. Chen shook her head instinctively and held her breath nervously.
Pei Jinghuai immediately launched into several ancient versions of palace ghost stories about the Shen Lingyue Cult.
Finally, he added, "These are all things that our Jinwuwei brothers have personally experienced. Several of them were so frightened that they became mentally unstable and are still lying at home, still delirious."
Seeing that Madam Chen's face was growing paler, Pei Jinghuai decided to stop while he was ahead and comforted her, "Don't worry, you can leave the palace and go home as soon as Her Majesty the Empress's ritual is over. At worst, I'll personally lead a few people to patrol outside your room tonight, and no demons or monsters will dare to come near."
Mrs. Chen breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, then I'll have to trouble you."
Pei Jinghuai watched her walk away, looking absent-minded, before letting out a long yawn and revealing a hint of weariness.
A guard who was on good terms with him passed by and teased him with a smile: "Lord Pei, did you go out to steal last night? You're so sleepy this morning."
Pei Jinghuai retorted without hesitation, "Nonsense, I was at home with my wife last night."
The other person gave him a knowing smile and winked at him, "Then you'd better step up your game. We're all waiting to celebrate the young master's one-month birthday."
"Go away, you dare to joke with your superior? Believe me or not, I'll assign you night patrols for half a month straight!"
Pei Jinghuai pretended to swing his fist, sending the man off to patrol.
That evening, taking advantage of the shift change between the two patrol teams of the Imperial Guards, he skillfully climbed onto Madam Chen's roof and gently lifted a corner of a tile.
A dim lamp was lit in the corner of the room, vaguely illuminating the silhouette of Madam Chen tossing and turning restlessly on the bed.
Pei Jinghuai took a handful of beans from his pouch and flicked them one by one at the tiles.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Inside the room, Madam Chen suddenly opened her eyes.
That voice... it's here again!
The terrifying rumors she had heard from Pei Jinghuai during the day uncontrollably flooded her mind, now transforming into menacing ghostly figures lurking in the shadows.
If there are truly so many unjustly killed ghosts lingering in the palace, their resentment lingering...
Could Wei Shenyin be among them?
If she had already passed away and been reborn in the Pure Land, why did Emperor Qingxi suddenly hold such a grand memorial service this year?
Could it be that she has been wandering around the palace the whole time, unwilling to leave?
From the moment she moved into the palace, was she targeted by Wei Shenyin?
Mrs. Chen screamed and covered herself completely with the blanket, curling up into a ball.
Under her bed, there was a tiny, fingernail-sized bait, emitting a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance that seeped into her mouth and nose through the gaps in the blanket.
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Author's Note: [I'm melting] My back hurts so much... Let's start with an appetizer tonight.
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