Chapter 155 "In my heart, you are not even a divine voice..."
In the blink of an eye, the women who participated in Empress Wei's religious ceremony had already been staying in the palace for three days.
When Princess Yu saw Madam Chen again, she could hardly believe her eyes.
"Mother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
She knew that Lady Chen and Empress Wei had a deep-seated grudge, and even though the latter had passed away many years ago, she still held a grudge. This time, staying overnight in the palace made her feel uncomfortable in every way. She had planned to spend more time with her mother these few days, but Princess Tong'an somehow asked her for help, calling her "Third Sister-in-law" affectionately.
Princess Yu was always eager to take the lead when managing the affairs of Min'en Temple. Now, seeing how much Emperor Qingxi valued this Buddhist ceremony, she was even more reluctant to miss the opportunity. She was unwittingly assigned a bunch of tedious tasks and kept extremely busy.
Unexpectedly, in just three days, Madam Chen looked as if she had aged more than ten years in an instant. Her eyes were bloodshot, and even the heavy makeup could not hide her sallow complexion. She was like a frightened bird, nervously looking around at the slightest sound.
Princess Yu was unaware of the situation. Although the accommodations in the palace were not as good as her own home, the other women had all endured it while several of them were crammed into one room. Why was it that only Madam Chen seemed to be suffering immense torment?
She asked in a low voice, "Have you not been resting well these past few days? Should I have someone invite the imperial physician over..."
“No need.” Madam Chen refused through gritted teeth, clenching her sleeves as if speaking to herself, “Just bear with it a little longer, it will be over after the ceremony.”
No matter what kind of demons or monsters they are, once the ritual for their salvation is over, their souls will surely be scattered and they will never be able to come out and harm people again!
Madam Chen appeared fierce but was actually weak. Her gaze swept quickly across the surrounding void, as if she were searching for something.
Wei Shenyin... I'm not afraid of you!
Princess Yu had no choice but to help Madam Chen into the Fengxian Hall. As soon as she looked up, she saw long strips of linen hanging from the beams throughout the hall, with some incomprehensible black ink blocks depicted on them.
A breeze blew in from outside the hall, causing the long curtains to flutter, creating a mysterious and ethereal atmosphere, yet also carrying a sense of profound and eerie mystery.
Princess Yu muttered to herself, "What kind of nonsense is this? Who would come up with so many elaborate rituals for the deceased?"
These words made Madam Chen tremble slightly, confirming her suspicions.
Something sinister must have happened in the palace, forcing Emperor Qingxi to use the anniversary of Empress Wei's death as an excuse to hold a grand sacrificial ceremony.
Then there were those supernatural tales that Pei Jinghuai vividly recounted, taking turns performing in her mind.
In the dead of night, during a thunderstorm, a palace maid repeatedly attempts to jump into a well… The sound of a baby crying echoes from a long-abandoned palace… Outside the door, a pair of embroidered shoes clatter back and forth…
Madam Chen was in a bad mood and was almost forcibly helped into the hall by Princess Yu, where she found a corner to sit down.
When familiar female relatives came forward to chat, Madam Chen seemed not to hear them, as if her ears were covered by a membrane, making a constant thumping sound.
Princess Yu had no choice but to explain on her behalf: "My mother is old and has difficulty sleeping in a bed. She hasn't been resting well these past few days and is feeling a bit unwell."
With the ceremony about to begin, Princess Yu was seated with the female members of the imperial clan. Before leaving, she worriedly reminded Madam Chen, "Don't push yourself too hard. If you really can't hold on, go to the side hall to rest. No one will dare to gossip there."
Madam Chen did not answer, sitting there absentmindedly, it was unclear whether she had heard anything or not.
With the sound of the gong, Emperor Qingxi, followed by Prince Yu, Princess Tong'an, and other members of the royal family, as well as concubines, entered the hall.
Emperor Qingxi sat at the head of the table, with Consort Gao attending to him.
He turned to Princess Tong'an and instructed, "We may begin."
"Yes, Father."
Princess Tong'an waved her hand, and soon a group of monks and nuns walked in from outside the door, carrying various ritual implements such as lotus flowers and vases. The person in the lead was none other than Lan Ya'er, dressed as the Water Moon Guanyin. Her hands were clasped together, and she was exceptionally beautiful, with a noble and holy air that seemed untouched by the mortal world. Her lowered eyes also conveyed a sense of compassion for the mortal world.
Consort Gao felt her eyes light up. She had seen countless beauties in the harem, but she had never seen such a beautiful face, like that of Guanyin and the body of Chang'e.
Emperor Qingxi also glanced at her a few more times, and asked Princess Tong'an in a low voice, "This little girl has a natural Buddhist nature. Where did you find her?"
"Father, don't you remember? She was the maid who was adopted by Consort Li, the birth mother of Prince An. There have long been rumors among the people that she was the reincarnation of Guanyin. The people have great faith in her, and wherever she goes, crowds flock to her, and countless people pray for blessings."
Princess Tong'an smiled slightly: "I thought that this time, when holding a religious ceremony for the Empress Dowager, I would invite her to chant scriptures and pray for blessings. This will surely make things twice as effective."
Emperor Qingxi's expression softened slightly. "You've put your heart into it."
In the group of relatives, Princess Yu took advantage of a moment when no one was looking and pinched Prince Yu hard on the lower back, saying in a low voice with annoyance, "Tone it down, your eyes are practically glued to people!"
This foolish lecher, he doesn't even consider the occasion when he's in the mood for his spring fever!
Prince Yu gasped in pain, no longer daring to stare directly at Lan Ya'er, but still stealing several lingering glances.
Until he felt a chilling gaze from the side, almost tangible, piercing him like a knife.
Prince Yu subconsciously looked up, only to see Lu Xilou holding a brocade spring knife, standing expressionlessly in the corner of the hall, seemingly on guard duty.
...He and Lu Xilou had never had any grudges or enemies, so why was Lu Xilou glaring at him for no reason?
Prince Yu rubbed his eyes, pretending he had misread it.
While the Princess Consort wasn't paying attention, his little eyes began to lecherously search around, looking for pretty little nuns or palace maids.
Lan Ya'er walked to the large wooden fish that was half her height, stood still, put her hands together and recited a Buddhist chant, then picked up the wooden mallet and began to strike it.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The solemn and deep sound of the wooden fish echoed throughout the hall, accompanied by her ethereal voice reciting the Ksitigarbha Sutra, sweeping in like waves and cleansing the soul.
Everyone present lowered their eyes and looked solemn, as if in mourning.
This solemn atmosphere also affected Madam Chen. She had been restless and unable to eat or sleep in the palace for the past few days, suffering from auditory and visual hallucinations. Only when she heard the chanting of Buddhist hymns did she finally feel a sense of peace. She even felt a long-lost sense of tiredness and sleepiness. She felt as if she had been sent to the thirty-third heaven, floating and drifting as if she were on a cloud.
In a daze, she stared at a long cloth curtain hanging not far away beside her, on which large, irregular ink blots seemed to come alive and slowly flowed.
Madam Chen thought she was just too tired and her eyes were blurry, so she blinked twice unconsciously and looked at the blank wall on the left side of the main hall.
"……ah!"
She suddenly screamed, her face filled with terror, and stumbled back several steps, waving her hands wildly and erratically. "Wei Shenyin, don't come any closer! Get away from me!"
The sudden noise shattered the solemn atmosphere in the hall. Emperor Qingxi looked over with displeasure. "Who's making a fuss?"
Princess Yu recognized her mother's voice and was startled. She hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down, and begged for forgiveness: "Father, please calm your anger! My mother is old and frail, and her eyesight is failing. She must be missing the Empress too much to have misjudged her..."
"Missing? Hmph, I don't see how much she misses the Empress."
Emperor Qingxi snorted coldly and frowned in displeasure.
Princess Yu disregarded etiquette and rushed to Madam Chen's side, grabbing her arm and shaking it vigorously. "Mother, wake up! There's no Empress here!"
Madam Chen came to her senses, her face showing a hint of bewilderment as she looked around in disbelief.
What happened?
She pointed tremblingly to the open space opposite and shouted, "I saw it! I really saw it! Wei Shenyin was standing right there! It was definitely her!"
Princess Yu looked in the direction she pointed, and in the corner there was only a white wall and a few rows of candlesticks. There was no Empress.
"Mother, you must be getting senile."
Princess Yu was worried that if Madam Chen stayed any longer, she might say something outrageous, and if she angered Emperor Qingxi, things would really get out of hand.
She looked up and pleaded, "Father, please calm your anger. I beg you to allow my mother to go and rest..."
Emperor Qingxi, however, strode down with a stern face, stopped in front of Madam Chen, and asked directly, "Did you really see Shenyin? Where is she? Tell me quickly."
Madam Chen snapped out of her daze and faced the emperor, who was so close to her, the man who had almost become her husband years ago. But as if she had regained her senses, she coldly turned her face away and said, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I was seeing things."
She was now convinced that it must be Wei Shenyin's vengeful spirit that had deliberately appeared to scare her.
Hmph, so what? She simply refused to tell Emperor Qingxi where Wei Shenyin was, because she didn't want him to see her again!
Emperor Qingxi clenched his fists, knowing full well that Madam Chen was lying through her teeth, but he couldn't really do anything to her.
Shenyin, is she really back? Why won't she let him see her?
Emperor Qingxi looked around anxiously, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the hall.
At this moment, an elderly matriarch from the Duke's mansion suddenly exclaimed, pointing in another direction, "Her Majesty the Empress? Has Her Majesty the Empress appeared before us?"
Emperor Qingxi immediately abandoned Madam Chen and strode to the old lady's side, urgently asking, "Where is she? Where is the Empress?"
The old lady pointed and said uncertainly, "Your Majesty, just now my vision blurred, and I vaguely saw a figure flash by on the wall. The features were very similar to those of the Empress from back then..."
Emperor Qingxi ran in the direction she pointed, shouting, "Shenyin! Shenyin, come out! Why won't you see me one more time!"
Seeing that the time was right, Princess Tong'an quickly stepped forward and helped Emperor Qingxi up, saying, "Father, I knew that Mother's spirit must have been unable to rest for a long time, which is why it came to my dream... Now that things have come to this, why don't we perform a spirit writing ceremony right here and ask the spirit medium to see if Mother has anything to tell us?"
Emperor Qingxi was already in a state of great confusion and had no time to think. He quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, I will do as you say."
Princess Tong'an quickly ordered people to prepare all the materials and tools needed for the spirit writing ritual.
Consort Gao walked over and supported Emperor Qingxi's other arm, speaking softly with concern: "Your Majesty, you must not be overjoyed or saddened, lest you exhaust your spirit. If the Empress were alive, she would certainly not want to see you so grief-stricken and missing her."
When Emperor Qingxi saw her, she seemed to remember something and quickly asked, "My dear consort, you have always been fond of studying metaphysics and supernatural powers. Do you have any way to definitely summon the Empress's ghost?"
Consort Gao frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "I can cast a divination using the Lesser Six Ren method to calculate the auspicious eight characters for today's events. If I can select a principal and a secondary spirit tablet on the spot, perhaps it will increase the chances of a successful descent?"
Fuji, also known as Fuluan, is usually performed by two people holding a wooden frame and manipulating a peach wood pen to draw images on a sand table. These two people are called the principal Fuluan and the secondary Fuluan.
Emperor Qingxi naturally responded to everything.
Soon, Consort Gao calculated the two birth dates with her fingers and looked puzzled.
"My beloved concubine, what's wrong?"
Consort Gao replied, “Your Majesty, it is quite a coincidence. I am very familiar with the birth dates of the principal wife and the secondary wife. They were the two young mistresses of the Changning Marquis’s mansion who were introduced to the family by me as matchmaker.”
"It's them?"
Emperor Qingxi thought about it and seemed not to be surprised. These two girls had some luck on them. Otherwise, when Prince Heng forced the emperor to abdicate and everyone in the harem was in danger, they would not have been able to escape unharmed to save him.
"Good, good, good. Quickly summon the two of them over. With this good fortune bestowed upon them, they will surely be able to tell Shenyin what she wants to say."
Thus, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, who were originally mixed in with the ladies of the court, were brought to the front without any understanding of what was happening.
Shen Lingyue looked confused. "What is spirit writing? Should I do it?"
She nervously grabbed Yan Yi's arm and emphasized to Emperor Qingxi, "Your Majesty, my sister-in-law is pregnant. Would it be inappropriate for her to preside over this ceremony?"
Emperor Qingxi was amused by her ignorance, and pretended to be angry, putting on a stern face: "Nonsense! The Empress is kind and gentle, and loves children the most. She is too busy protecting you to harm anyone."
She forced a friendly smile at Yan Yi: "Don't worry, perhaps the Empress will be more willing to show herself for the sake of the baby in your womb?"
Yan Yi replied respectfully, "This humble woman is willing to share the burdens of Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."
Soon, the sand tray, wooden frame, peach wood pen, and other tools used for spirit writing were brought up.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi exchanged a glance, each holding one end of the wooden frame, with the tip of their pens suspended above the sand table.
Consort Gao held a small bronze zither in her hand and tapped it lightly.
"Your Majesty, I humbly beseech the spirit of the Goddess Wei. The road to the Yellow Springs is long; may your soul return! With vermilion ink dotted in sand, the divine decree is revealed. May the Supreme Lord Laozi hasten your command!"
He then struck the gong three more times, and everyone present responded in unison.
"Return, soul!"
"Return, soul!"
call……
Winds rushed into the main hall from all directions, causing the curtains to flutter and the wind to whisper mournfully, as if weeping and lamenting.
Shen Lingyue's body suddenly jerked forward, and at the same time, the wooden frame in her hand began to move slowly and uncontrollably.
Her face showed panic, as if she couldn't control her movements and could only watch as the peach wood pen wrote stroke by stroke on the sand table.
"I ask you... is the crabapple still the same?"
Yan Yi read it aloud softly, and when she looked up, she met Emperor Qingxi's excited expression.
He rushed to the sand table, raised his hands and tentatively touched the air, "Shenyin, is that you? I knew you still resented me, which is why you haven't come to see me all these years... The crabapple trees we planted together the year you entered the palace have now grown into a grove of flowers, tall and graceful. I specially arranged for someone to take care of them. Do you see them?"
Above the sand table, the peach wood pen was still moving on its own.
Emperor Qingxi stared intently at the plate, not blinking. "Is there anything else you want to tell me? Speak slowly, I'll be waiting here..."
A cold sweat quietly broke out on Shen Lingyue's back.
Although she had practiced at home for many days, it was a true test of both acting skills and courage to actually act strangely in front of the emperor, the supreme ruler of the empire, without him noticing anything amiss.
Shen Lingyue chose to close her eyes and leave it to fate.
May the Goddess of Mystery bless you, may the spirit of the Empress in heaven bless you, we are risking our lives to clear your name...
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable, wondrous sensation coursed through her body, as if half of her soul had been extracted from her flesh and was examining her from a higher-dimensional perspective, as if an invisible hand was manipulating her.
With her eyes closed, Shen Lingyue's entire body was relaxed and at ease. Unconsciously, she wrote another line of seal script on the sand table.
Emperor Qingxi read them aloud one by one, following her handwriting.
"Flowers, houses, willows."
"Corrosion, heart, deadly, poison."
"Chen, Yang, oh, me..."
Chen Yang!
Emperor Qingxi reacted instantly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he looked directly at Madam Chen, who was being supported by Princess Yu.
Chen Yang is actually her maiden name!
He suddenly burst forth with speed and strength beyond his years, striding towards Madam Chen, his large, iron-like hands gripping her shoulders and shaking her violently.
"Tell me, did you kill Shenyin? You poisoned her, didn't you!"
Even after so many years, Emperor Qingxi would occasionally recall every detail of Empress Wei's illness and death during sleepless nights.
He couldn't understand it. Shenyin had always been in good health and had a broad mind. Even during the darkest days before his ascension to the throne, she could still support and encourage him with a smile. As long as he didn't give up, he could always persevere until the dawn.
Even though Shenyin was devastated and bedridden for months because of the death of their only son, she eventually pulled through thanks to her strong will.
Honestly, even if General Wei were impeached by the court, could that be any bigger than losing their only legitimate son? How could Shenyin be so easily angered to the point of falling ill?
But if someone took advantage of her vulnerability and poisoned her, then everything would make sense!
Emperor Qingxi's eyes were bloodshot. In his extreme rage, he grabbed Madam Chen by the throat, like a ferocious tiger, and threatened her step by step, "Tell me, was it you! Shenyin treated you like her own sister. When you got married, she even came out of the palace to add to your dowry and promised to arrange a marriage between your children... But you actually poisoned her, you venomous woman!"
Madam Chen's nerves, which had been taut for many days, finally snapped under Emperor Qingxi's relentless questioning.
She burst forth with astonishing strength, suddenly breaking free from Emperor Qingxi's control. Clutching her throat, she laughed hoarsely, her gaze wandering aimlessly through the void.
"Wei Shenyin! Is this all you've got? You couldn't beat me when you were alive, so you can only try to scare me after you're dead?"
Everyone present stared in astonishment as the usually proud and arrogant Madam Chen seemed to have lost her mind, baring her teeth and brandishing wildly, hurling curses and insults at the deceased Empress Wei.
"...Who cares about being sisters with you! I want to be the Crown Princess, I want to be the Empress!"
“Every time you summon me to the palace to speak, you see me bowing and scraping before you, and you even pretend to say that there’s no need for formalities between sisters… Ha, it’s all an act. You actually enjoy the feeling of me kneeling at your feet!”
“Our Chen family has been noble and meritorious for generations, with outstanding military achievements. When my grandfather was fighting on the battlefield, your Wei family ancestor was just a lowly soldier. How dare you compare yourself to our family?!”
Madam Chen appeared to be insane, crying and laughing hysterically.
"Blame it on your own bad luck, you can't handle such incredible fortune... Speaking of which, your sickly youngest son is much easier to deal with than you are, hahaha!"
Emperor Qingxi was struck dumb, frozen in place for a long time.
What?! His child with Shenyin... was also killed by this madwoman?!
Princess Yu was terrified, her face deathly pale. She scrambled to Madam Chen's side and tried to cover her mouth.
"Where did this wandering ghost come from? Get off my mother! What nonsense are you spouting? Are you trying to kill my whole family?!"
She screamed and frantically tried to signal to Mrs. Chen, but did she even realize what she was saying?
Murdering the Empress, murdering the Empress's legitimate son... these are crimes punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
"Guards, gag Princess Yu and drag her away!"
Princess Tong'an hadn't expected their plan to have such an unexpected benefit. Without hesitation, she pointed at Princess Yu and shouted sternly.
Princess Yu struggled desperately, but she was used to a life of luxury and how could she possibly compete with the shrewd and capable female guards in the princess's residence?
She continued to sob as she was dragged away, trying to bring Madam Chen back to her senses.
But Madam Chen seemed to be possessed. After cursing Empress Wei, she suddenly changed her expression, crawled on her knees to Emperor Qingxi, tugged at his clothes, and looked up at him in a daze.
"Your Highness, don't you remember? When I was ten, my mother took me to a banquet in the palace. I got lost while playing in the garden, and you suddenly appeared and led me out of that flowerbed. You even told me not to cry, saying that crying like a little kitten would make me less pretty... I said I wanted to be your bride in the future, and you smiled and agreed... But why have you forgotten everything since then? Why did you choose Wei Shenyin instead of me!"
Emperor Qingxi frowned and ruthlessly shoved her away.
Who would take a few playful words between children to heart?
Later, when he reached the age to choose a consort, the Chen family, which had become increasingly powerful in the army, became more and more arrogant. They also played both sides, sending their eldest daughter to the palace to participate in the selection of the crown princess, while at the same time flirting with his elder brother.
How could he be so out of his mind to choose such an unreliable in-law family?
not to mention……
Emperor Qingxi looked coldly at Madam Chen, who was prostrate at his feet, his expression indifferent.
"A woman as sharp and arrogant as you is not even worth a hair on Shenyin's head in my heart. How can you be worthy of being the mother of a nation? Chen Yang, you are not worthy!"
Madam Chen's face drained of color instantly, and she stared at him in disbelief.
Emperor Qingxi curled one corner of his lips in a mocking smile. "If you hadn't mentioned your childhood, I would have almost forgotten that you got lost in the Imperial Garden while chasing a kitten. Because it was wild and unruly, you had a eunuch catch it in a net and then threw it off the top of the artificial hill, where it fell to its death!"
He recalled how young Chen Yang pointed at the bloody mess on the ground and laughed arrogantly.
"Hmph, any beast that disobeys me must die!"
No matter how beautiful her face was, in Emperor Qingxi's heart she was no different from a demon or a rabbi.
"Sheyin is different from you. She is the kindest and most perfect wife in my heart. Even if all the women in the world died, I would not give you a second glance!"
Emperor Qingxi cast a final, disgusted glance at her, then turned and coldly ordered, "Lu Xilou, take Chen Yang and all her family members who are involved with her away. Within three days, I want you to get to the bottom of this!"
"I obey the decree!"
Lu Xilou answered readily, but after a moment it took him a moment to realize, "Your Majesty, what about Prince Yu..."
He's Mrs. Chen's son-in-law.
Emperor Qingxi frowned as he scanned the crowd. He saw that Prince Yu was practically burying his head in his neck, desperately trying to minimize his presence.
"...Take them all with you!"
Emperor Qingxi was furious at his pathetic appearance. Who knew if Chen Yang's plot to murder the Empress and the prince in the inner palace was to pave the way for him to ascend the throne?
Empress Wei's death was his absolute taboo subject, and he would show no mercy to anyone involved in the case.
In an instant, whispers rose from all corners of the hall, only to be quickly covered up and dragged away by the swift-thinking Imperial Guards.
A sense of impending storm hovered over the main hall, and an invisible gloom weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
Emperor Qingxi, displaying his imperial might, returned to the sand table with a stern face and asked Shen Lingyue, "What other words did Her Majesty the Empress leave behind?"
At this moment, his aura was incredibly intimidating; this was the true wrath of the emperor, with blood flowing for thousands of miles, and the slightest carelessness would lead to annihilation.
Shen Lingyue had lost the audacity she used to have, daring to speak recklessly in front of him. Her body was tense, and her hair stood on end.
She was about to shake her head, trembling, when Yan Yi suddenly pointed to the corner of the sand table.
"Your Majesty, please look. After you left, another line of text appeared here."
Shen Lingyue suddenly widened her eyes, not daring to move, and could only glance at Yan Yi out of the corner of her eye.
...She practiced those few seal characters, revealing the truth about Madam Chen's poisoning, and then she called it a day.
Why is there another line of text on the sand table?
Emperor Qingxi bent down with a stern face and read it aloud word by word.
"Do not drink cold tea, do not dwell on regrets, I will stay with Ji'er forever, unafraid of the dark earth..."
As Emperor Qingxi was reading, he suddenly collapsed onto the sand table and burst into tears.
"Shenyin, Ji'er, why did you all abandon me..."
Princess Tong'an quietly walked up behind Shen Lingyue and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "How did you know that the prince who died young was named Ji'er?"
That phrase wasn't in their original plan.
Shen Lingyue looked down at her hands, her expression blank.
Yes, she can't write seal script at all. She memorized the shapes of the characters in the previous sentences by rote. How come there's suddenly an extra sentence?
Shen Lingyue suddenly looked up at Yan Yi.
Could it be that Yan Yan improvised to increase credibility?
Yan Yi shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Just now, the two of them were holding onto the wooden frame when they saw Little Moon suddenly become a different person and write that line of words without hesitation.
The three people looked at each other, then suddenly looked up at the sky.
Princess Tong'an murmured, "Mother...is it really you who has returned?"
Was it the Empress Dowager's last words of advice to the Emperor, delivered through A-Yue's hand?
Emperor Qingxi was still prostrate on the ground, weeping bitterly.
A small, pale pink crabapple petal drifted down from somewhere and gently landed on his shoulder.
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Author's Note: Moon Child: (Rolling up his sleeves) Watch me play tricks!
...
Moon Child: Mommy, there really is a ghost! [crying][crying]
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