Cannibalistic Palace
After leaving Yuanhe Hall, Guang Jinfu took Xichun to settle down. Recalling Xichun's dazed look in the hall just now, he sighed inwardly. Such a silly girl would probably have a hard time making it in this ruthless palace.
Xi Chun noticed Guang Jinfu's scrutinizing gaze and asked uneasily, "Eunuch Guang, did I do something wrong just now?"
Guang Jinfu shook his head. "Let's go. The room you need to stay in is just ahead."
He had heard his master mention the reason why the Emperor had summoned Jiang Xichun to the palace, but unlike his master, he didn't think Jiang Xichun could rise to a high position. The Emperor's lust was common knowledge throughout the court, and there were many beauties in the harem. Take the current Consort Xian, for example; she was the most beautiful woman in the harem, no less so than Jiang Xichun. Yet, before she conceived the princess, she had spent a considerable amount of time sitting on the sidelines in the palace. Jiang Xichun was also not as eloquent as Consort Xian; how could she be like that person? What kept the Emperor around was merely a fleeting novelty.
Upon entering the palace maids' quarters, Guang Jinfu led her to the outermost room. After knocking, a voice answered before the person inside appeared.
"Who is it?" Yu Ping, who was sitting at the tea table eating almond shortbread, came over to open the door with something in her mouth.
Upon seeing that it was Guang Jinfu, she swallowed what was in her mouth in a few quick movements, forced a smile, and said, "What brings you here, Eunuch Guang?"
Guang Jinfu beckoned to Xi Chun, who was standing next to him, and when she came closer, he said to Yu Ping, "You've added another person to your room. She just entered the palace, so please take good care of her from now on."
Xi Chun walked to the door and smiled at Yu Ping inside, saying, "Hello, young lady, my name is Jiang Xi Chun."
Yu Ping has a round face and round eyes, and her skin is particularly fair and delicate. Xi Chun thinks she looks like a lucky baby from a New Year's painting.
Upon seeing Xichun, Yuping realized she was an exceptionally beautiful woman and began to speculate about her reasons for coming to Yuanhe Palace. She suspected Xichun was another woman using Yuanhe Palace as a stepping stone into the inner palace. A few years prior, Consort Li had been a palace maid serving in Yuanhe Palace, later gaining the Emperor's favor and receiving a title. However, none of that mattered to her. She hadn't come to the palace seeking a future; she only hoped to leave the palace peacefully when she reached a certain age.
Yu Ping walked over and pulled Xi Chun into the house. Turning to Guang Jinfu, she said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Guang, I will take good care of her."
Guang Jinfu had a good impression of Yu Ping, nodded to her, and then turned and left.
Xi Chun looked around the room. The room was not large, with two beds on the left and right, two wardrobes, two dressing tables, and a tea table in the middle.
Yu Ping pointed to the empty bed on the right, "Xi Chun, this is your bed. The cabinets and all the other things are empty, but they haven't been used for a long time and have accumulated some dust. I'm afraid we'll have to clean them before we can use them."
Just as Xichun was about to ask her for some cleaning tools, Yuping held up a piece of almond shortbread and offered it to her lips. Xichun looked at her in confusion, and Yuping smiled and said, "Try it. This was made by Steward Zhang from the Imperial Kitchen. I finally got a small plate of this. It's so crispy and crunchy."
Xi Chun took it, took a bite, and found it to be crispy, fragrant, and delicious. "Thank you, young lady, this pastry is really delicious."
"It's too formal to call you 'Miss.' My name is Yuping, you can just call me Yuping." When Yuping saw Xichun praising her favorite almond shortbread, she felt a little more affectionate towards Xichun.
Seeing that she was about to clean, they found some tools and helped her. Just as they finished cleaning, several eunuchs brought Xichun palace clothes, bedding, and other items.
Xi Chun lay in bed, while Yu Ping in the next bed was already fast asleep. She stared at the dark bed curtains, unable to fall asleep. Her life had changed drastically in a single day. She didn't know if Wei Qiao knew she had entered the palace, or what his reaction would be—perhaps nothing at all. After all, he had given her the answer that day in front of the Buddhist temple. Even now, she remained delusional.
The next day, Xichun went to the front hall with Yuping to take up their duties. Youlan was in charge of the Imperial Study that day. They only needed to wipe down the various utensils and treasures in the front hall of Yuanhe Hall. After cleaning, they could stand outside the hall and wait for instructions from inside. Guang Jinfu had come to see Xichun working early in the morning. Seeing that she was doing a good job, he gave her a few instructions and then went to inspect other matters in the hall.
When Yan Zhongyou returned from the morning court session, he looked displeased. Guang Jinfu quickly went to Michide and asked him, "Master, who has displeased His Majesty?"
Michide pulled him aside and whispered, "It's Zhang Zheng again. His Majesty wants to expand the Snow Garden Palace, and today Zhang Zheng submitted a memorial saying that His Majesty is wasting resources and causing hardship to the people. His Majesty is furious." Michide winked at the palace servants outside the hall, "Tell them to be careful in serving you, so they don't run into trouble today."
"Understood, Master."
Inside the imperial study, Yan Zhongyou stood before his desk, before him an unfurled map of the Snow Garden Imperial Palace, meticulously painted by an artist according to his own vision, depicting every blade of grass and tree. This was a birthday gift he intended to give to himself, but now that old man Zhang Zheng accused him of squandering the national treasury and showing no compassion for the people. The entire empire belonged to him; the common people were entitled to his every whim. How dare Zhang Zheng use the high principles of sages to rebuke him, the emperor? It was utterly outrageous!
Yan Zhongyou grew angrier the more he thought about it. He raised his hand and slammed it heavily on the desk. The loud bang echoed throughout the imperial study. Xi Chun and the others in the front hall had all been instructed by Guang Jinfu and were quietly doing what they were doing. The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Miched walked up to Yan Zhongyou and advised him with concern, “Your Majesty, why bother getting angry with Zhang Zheng? He’s like a rock in a latrine, stinking and stubborn. He’ll be retiring in a year anyway. Your Majesty might as well transfer him to a less demanding position. This would fulfill Your Majesty’s concern for his ministers, and you wouldn’t have to listen to his nonsense that angers Your Majesty.”
Upon hearing Michide's words, Yan Zhongyou's displeased expression softened considerably. After pondering for a while, he said, "You understand me best, Eunuch. Let me think carefully about what position to assign him." His eyes swept over the memorials on the desk, and thinking of all the official duties he still had to attend to, he sighed and instructed Youlan beside him, "Serve him pen and ink."
Youlan walked to the desk and began grinding ink. Lost in thought, she lost control of her strength, and the grinding noise became too loud. Yan Zhongyou looked up and gave her a disapproving glance. Startled by Yan Zhongyou's look, Youlan's movements became even more uncontrollable. Her hand trembled more and more, and accidentally, ink from the inkstone splashed onto the desk, one drop even landing on the back of Yan Zhongyou's hand.
"Fool!" Yan Zhongyou looked at the black ink on his hand, and the anger that had been suppressed rose up again.
Youlan then realized what she had just done and immediately knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly to Yan Zhongyou, "This servant deserves to die a thousand deaths, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Hearing the resounding thuds of her kowtowing, Yan Zhongyou grew even more agitated. He grabbed the teacup beside him and smashed it over her head. Blood gushed from Youlan's smooth forehead instantly. She dared not cover her eyes with the blood, and continued to beg for forgiveness.
Seeing the Emperor's furious expression, Michide knew he needed to vent his anger to feel better, so he simply stood quietly to the side without offering any words of comfort. This Youlan was also a veteran of the palace; she had been favored by the Emperor because of her beautiful appearance, and was transferred from the Flower and Bird Department to serve in the Yuanhe Hall. Unfortunately, she was a dull beauty, clumsy and awkward, and the Emperor lost interest in her after only a few conversations. Since he hadn't given her a new place, she remained serving in the Yuanhe Hall.
Yan Zhongyou rubbed his furrowed brows, glanced at Youlan whose face was covered in blood with disgust, and ordered Michide, "Have someone drag her away and give her sixty lashes. Don't let her get in my way."
Miched obeyed the order and instructed two eunuchs to drag Youlan away, and then ordered the palace to be cleaned up quickly.
Xichun saw Youlan being dragged out of the imperial study, her face and head covered in blood. Later that evening, on her way back to her room, she saw two palace servants carrying a stretcher into Youlan's room.
Seeing Xichun looking in that direction with curiosity, Yuping explained to her, "Youlan is dead. I heard from Yuhe in her room that she was barely alive when she was brought back after being flogged at noon."
Xi Chun froze on the spot, feeling as if she had fallen into an ice cave. She knew from Guang Jinfu that Youlan had been punished for splashing ink on the Emperor's hand, but she couldn't understand why someone would be beaten to death for such a small mistake.
"Come on, what are you standing here for? Let's go inside and eat." Yu Ping pulled Xi Chun towards the house.
As Xichun stepped across the threshold, she caught a glimpse of eunuchs carrying out a stretcher covered with a white sheet. The sheet was loosely draped over the stretcher, and Youlan's hand slipped out from beneath it, hanging lifelessly in the air. She turned her head and watched the eunuchs depart. Yuping, seeing that she couldn't pull her away, also looked in the direction Xichun was looking.
Seeing Youlan being carried out, Yuping sighed, "That's how it is in the palace. We servants are always working with our heads hanging by a thread. If a nobleman is displeased, we'll lose our lives."
Only then did Xichun understand the warning Guang Jinfu had given her when she first entered the palace yesterday: this palace really could devour people.
The next day, Miched found Xichun wiping vases in a side hall of the Yuanhe Hall. Now that Youlan was dead, the Imperial Study needed another palace maid, and it would be perfect to have Xichun learn to serve her.
"Xichun, the Emperor has ordered you to serve in the Emperor's presence. The work here will be left to others. Now come with me."
Thinking of Youlan's fate yesterday, Xichun's face turned deathly pale. Michide noticed her distress and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, someone will teach you." He then took the cloth from her hand and handed it to a nearby eunuch.
“This is Peilan, the head palace maid of Yuanhe Palace. Peilan is an excellent tea brewer. Today, you will learn to brew tea from Peilan.” After speaking to Xichun, Michide said to Peilan, “Peilan, I’m entrusting Xichun to you. Be attentive and teach her more.”
Perrin smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, Eunuch Mi, leave the person to me."
Michid glanced at the absent-minded Xichun, then turned and walked out of the small tea room.
After Michide left, Peilan slowly began to observe Xichun. She had a good relationship with Guangjinfu and knew why Xichun had entered the palace. Looking at the beautiful Xichun in front of her, and recalling Guangjinfu's assessment of her as naive and foolish, she suddenly felt a pang of pity for her.
Xichun also came to her senses and looked up at Peilan. Peilan was taller than her, with fair skin and a small red mole on the tip of her nose, which made her look very cute.
Seeing that she was looking at her, Peilan said, "My name is Peilan. I am much older than all of you palace maids. The palace maids in Yuanhe Palace all call me Aunt Peilan. You can call me that too."
Xi Chun readily agreed and greeted her, saying, "Xi Chun greets Aunt Pei Lan."
Pei Lan quickly pulled her up, "Come on, let me teach you how to brew tea first. The Emperor loves Tiger Hill tea the most, so I'll teach you how to brew this one first."
Xichun followed Peilan to learn how to make tea. Peilan taught her three times, and she watched and understood everything, but when she tried to do it herself, she was always doing it wrong.
Xichun looked down at the teacup in front of her, annoyed at her own clumsiness. Peilan, seeing her sullen expression, comforted her, "It's alright, everyone is like this when they first start learning. You'll get better with practice. It's almost time to serve tea to the Emperor. After I've brewed it, you can bring it to him in a little while."
Upon hearing this, Xichun felt uneasy. "I...can I do it?"
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