Chapter 185: The dusk hides the secrets, the warm lights illuminate the common heart
Dusk, like a thin veil, gently enveloped the Forbidden City. The crabapple tree in Shufangzhai cast a long shadow in the setting sun. The evening breeze rustled the leaves, bringing a hint of early autumn coolness. Inside, a goat-horn lantern had been lit, its warm yellow glow filtering through the window paper, spreading a soft glow across the blue brick floor.
Xiaoyanzi was squatting on the porch, holding a bamboo basket filled with plump mint candies wrapped in clear wrappers that shone a faint green under the light. She picked up one, shook it, and smiled at Yongqi beside her, "Look at this candy, it's like a small pebble. When the time comes, just put it in your pocket and take it out whenever you need it. It's guaranteed to be safe!" Yongqi reached out, pinched one, and put it in his mouth. The cool minty flavor instantly spread on his tongue. He raised an eyebrow and said, "It's quite refreshing. Just make sure the little bugs don't see it, or they'll definitely steal half of it."
"Who said I was eating secretly?" Little Bug came out of the kitchen, holding a piece of unfinished Poria cocos cake in his hand, with cake powder on the corner of his mouth. "I'm trying it for Princess to see if it's poisonous!" Little Mosquito followed behind, holding a tray with several bowls of lotus seed soup on it, muttering, "Wow, this mint candy is so cool, it won't make you drunk after eating it!" He handed the lotus seed soup to Ziwei and Erkang, "Princess, try it quickly, it's freshly cooked in the kitchen with rock sugar, it's so sweet!"
Ziwei sat on a soft couch by the window, holding an apricot-colored silk handkerchief, embroidering a small "peace" character with silver thread. She looked up at Xiaoyanzi, the silver thread on her fingertips gleaming in the light. "I've embroidered a few peace handkerchiefs. We'll all carry them with us when the time comes, for peace of mind." Erkang sat beside her, holding a slip of paper with a freshly drawn topographical map of the area near Chuxiu Palace. He pointed to a marked spot and said, "Madame Li has been going to the imperial kitchen a lot these past few days. I've had the Fu family keep an eye on her. She always carries a small cloth bag with her. Maybe that's the itching powder."
Xiaoyanzi leaned over to look at the map, her finger pointing at the imperial kitchen. "The imperial kitchen is closest to Changyin Pavilion, where the birthday banquet is being held. If she wants to do something, she'll definitely sprinkle the powder in while the dishes are being served." Her eyes rolled and she clapped her hands. "I got it! Then, have the small tables and stools follow the line of people serving the dishes, pretending to help pass the food around. They'll keep an eye on those suspicious cloth bags and signal us if they make any noise!"
"That's a good idea!" The little stool immediately puffed out his chest, still holding the copy of Journey to the West in his hand, "Then I'll say 'Sun Wukong has flaming eyes and golden pupils, specializing in catching sneaky monsters', and it will surely scare them!" The little table then made a fist-waving motion, "Whoever dares to make a move, I, the little table's shadowless kick, will not be polite!" Everyone laughed, and the lanterns in the corridor swayed slightly due to the laughter.
As they were talking, Guard Zhou strode in, holding a small oil-paper bag. He handed it to Xiaoyanzi, "Princess, this is a sample of 'itch powder' we found from the herbal medicine merchant. Imperial Physician Wang says this powder evaporates when heated, causing constant itching if it comes into contact with the skin. It needs to be relieved by rubbing it with peppermint oil." Xiaoyanzi opened the bag, revealing a pale yellow powder. She sniffed it closely; it had no odor. Frowning, she said, "It looks insignificant, but it's incredibly poisonous." She handed the bag to Ziwei, "Keep it, sister. Have Imperial Physician Wang research the antidote and stock up on more peppermint oil before we're safe."
Ziwei carefully placed the paper package into the brocade box and whispered, "Luckily, Guard Zhou found the sample in time, otherwise we wouldn't even know what it looks like." Yongqi touched his chin and said thoughtfully, "I'll have the Imperial Hospital staff prepare all the peppermint oil. When the time comes, each guard will carry a small bottle, just in case." Erkang nodded in agreement, "I've also had peppermint oil applied to the beams and pillars of Changyin Pavilion in advance. Even if some powder drifts over, it will be able to neutralize most of it."
By this time, the lights had already been lit in Chuxiu Palace. Nanny Li was kneeling on the floor, holding a small brocade box. Inside was the pale yellow itching powder. Concubine Gao sat at her dressing table, her hairpins and rings removed by a palace maid. The phoenix hairpin, inlaid with red gold and kingfisher feathers, was gently removed, revealing her smooth forehead. But her eyes were as cold as ice: "Is this powder really effective?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Madam Li said, lowering her head. "This is a secret recipe from the Western Regions. Just a little bit will cause itching for three hours, and even the imperial physicians can't find the cause. I've bribed the Imperial Kitchen's steward, Liu, to secretly sprinkle it into the sweet soup when he serves the two princesses." She paused, then added, "I've also made a backup plan. I've sewed some into the cushions of their chairs to ensure they'll be terribly uncomfortable."
Concubine Gao picked up a diamond-shaped mirror, looked at her face in the mirror, and a cold smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Very good. On the day of the birthday banquet, I want to see them rolling on the ground in front of the Empress Dowager, and see how the Emperor will protect them!" She put down the mirror and her voice suddenly rose, "If you fail, you will come to see me with your head on your head!" Nanny Li was so scared that she kowtowed repeatedly: "This servant will definitely get it done and will never let the Empress down!"
As the night deepened, the lights in Shufangzhai grew even brighter. Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei sat at the table, filling their purses with mints. Yongqi and Erkang checked the seating chart for the birthday banquet. In the courtyard, mosquitoes and bugs competed in shuttlecock kicking. Small tables and stools rehearsed how to "scare" suspicious individuals. In the halo of the sheep-horn lanterns, everyone's face wore a smile, as if the impending storm had been kept at bay by the warmth that filled the room.
Xiaoyanzi picked up an embroidered peace handkerchief, the word "An" on it gleaming silver. She handed it to Yongqi: "Here, take it with you when the time comes." Yongqi took the handkerchief, his fingertips touching her warmth, and his heart warmed: "You should take it with you too, and don't be so reckless as you were during your sword practice last time." Xiaoyanzi snorted, but carefully tucked the handkerchief into his lapel: "I understand, butler!"
Moonlight crept up the crabapple treetops, filtering through the gaps between the leaves and spilling onto the ground like a handful of silver coins. Laughter from Shufangzhai drifted away on the evening breeze, while within the lanterns of Chuxiu Palace, a conspiracy quietly grew. But at this moment, everyone in Shufangzhai knew that as long as they were united in purpose, no matter how sinister their schemes, they could not extinguish the warmth and friendship that filled the room.
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