Chapter Seventy-Three: A Chance Encounter
Upon arriving at the Dream Pavilion, they found only Master Ziying sitting alone, but Ruan Bi was nowhere to be seen.
Throughout the journey, Prince Jin had been filled with anticipation and joy at their impending meeting. However, she was not there, and his hopes were dashed. He felt both disappointed and puzzled, wanting to ask her where she had gone, but knowing it would be illogical.
Fortunately, the emperor was also curious and asked, "Master, where is your disciple?"
"The Empress just summoned her to speak with her."
The emperor said "Oh," and said to the Prince of Jin, "The Master's newly accepted disciple is quite an interesting little girl. She has some courage and seems clever, showing the style of Duke Wenxiao."
Comparing a young girl to a renowned minister of the past, even though they are related by blood, is far too high a compliment. Both Prince Jin and Master Ziying were astonished and a sense of unease arose within them.
The emperor, unaware of what was happening, continued, “Back then, my father had four ministers give me lessons, but I loved the lessons of Duke Wenxiao the most. He quoted classics but never strayed from the old ways, and his extensive references were full of wit and humor. It was as if the entire history of the past four thousand years was contained in his head alone… It’s a pity that Duke Wenxiao passed away so early.”
After hearing these words, Master Ziying and Prince Jin's unease lessened somewhat.
Feeling at ease, the Prince of Jin said, "It's rare to find someone who can catch the eye of Your Majesty. I wonder who this person is?"
“What’s so difficult about that? Eunuch Yu, go to Kun’an Palace and bring back Minister Ruan’s daughter. Tell her that I have some questions for you.”
The eunuch responded and left.
The Prince of Jin was overjoyed, and he almost punched the Emperor on the shoulder and said, "Third Brother, you're really a good friend."
The three chatted for a few more minutes before resuming their game of chess.
The Prince of Jin sat to the side, watching the white and black pieces move back and forth across the nineteen lines of the chessboard. His mind, however, was racing with thoughts of chess, and he, who usually enjoyed playing, couldn't concentrate on a single move. Time seemed to drag on endlessly, and his backside felt like it was sprouting thorns, making him restless and uneasy.
Meanwhile, in the East Hall of Kun'an Palace, even though Ruan Bi was sitting on a cushioned round bench, it felt like thorns had grown on her buttocks.
Just now, she had exaggerated the First Madam's ruthless methods to Empress Zhao, and also embellished a few of her previous workplace tactics that were done without bloodshed or ruthlessness. However, Empress Zhao was still not satisfied and kept asking questions. Finally, she sighed and said, "If only you were always by my side, telling me stories."
Ruan Bi smiled and said, "If Your Majesty the Empress wants to hear my story, just summon me to the palace."
"The palace has its own rules. You're just a commoner, not even a lady of high rank. How can we summon you to the palace all the time?" Empress Zhao said with a hint of regret. She wasn't saying this to keep Ruan Bi by her side to deal with Consort Xie. She just thought Ruan Bi was quite eloquent and had a lot of fresh and interesting stories in her head. She figured keeping her around would be nice, just for talking and entertaining.
Hearing that she couldn't be summoned to the palace all the time, Ruan Bi was overjoyed. She had no desire to do the kind of servant work that involved talking to people to relieve boredom.
At this moment, someone outside the door announced: "Her Majesty the Empress has requested an audience with the eunuch, saying that His Majesty has some questions for Minister Ruan's daughter."
Fearing the plan might fail, and also fearing premature exposure, Master Ziying did not tell Empress Zhao the purpose of bringing Ruan Bi to see the Emperor today. Upon hearing that "His Majesty has questions for Minister Ruan's daughter," Empress Zhao paused, glancing at Ruan Bi with a complex expression—a mixture of joy, resentment, and wariness. After a moment, suppressing her myriad feelings, she said, "Fifth Miss, since His Majesty has summoned you, you should go immediately."
Ruan Bi knew she was overthinking things, but she didn't say it outright. She bowed to her and left Kun'an Palace.
A eunuch stood respectfully at the entrance, head bowed and hands clasped. He was the same eunuch we had seen in the Pillow Dream Pavilion earlier; he must be Eunuch Yu.
The eunuch raised his eyelids and glanced at her, saying expressionlessly, "Miss Ruan, please come with me."
Leaving Kun'an Palace and heading north through Kun'an Gate, one arrives at the Imperial Garden. The second time Ruan Bi entered the palace, she stood at this gate for nearly half an hour, leaving a very deep and unpleasant impression. She only wanted to hurry to Zhenmeng Pavilion, but the eunuch Yu was walking slowly, almost leisurely.
Ruan Bi had no choice but to slow down and follow.
After walking about a hundred meters, they heard footsteps approaching, followed by Consort Xie, who looked like a fairy princess, emerging from behind the artificial hill. Eunuch Lu led the way, Aunt Wan supported her, and four palace maids followed behind. Perhaps because her pregnancy was still in its early stages, she had no belly at all, and remained as graceful and charming as ever.
This was truly a case of meeting on a narrow path. Avoiding it was no longer an option, especially since Eunuch Yu had already rushed forward eagerly, greeting her warmly, "Greetings, Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."
Ruan Bi had no choice but to bite the bullet and kneel down to kowtow. "This humble woman greets Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."
"Why is Eunuch Yu here? Where is His Majesty?"
Eunuch Yu said, "His Majesty is playing chess with the Immortal Ziying at the Pillow Dream Pavilion and asked me to invite Minister Ruan's daughter over for a chat?"
"Where is Minister Ruan's daughter?"
Ruan Bi didn't believe that she didn't recognize her; it was clearly intentional.
"This is the young Taoist nun before us."
"She's clearly a young Taoist nun, so how come she's also the daughter of Minister Ruan?" Consort Xie frowned and said, "I'm completely confused."
The more Ruan Bi listened, the more uneasy she felt. Based on her intuition, Consort Xie was not the kind of person who was pretentious or arrogant. There must be a conspiracy behind this encounter.
"This servant doesn't know either; I'm afraid we'll have to ask Miss Ruan."
“Raise your head.”
Ruan Biyi looked up.
Consort Xie looked down at her, her gaze icy cold.
This was definitely not a show of power; a show of power should be arrogant and smug. This was clearly a look of domination. Ruan Bi felt a constant alarm bell ringing in her heart, yet she was also puzzled. Why did this woman never let her go? She had no past grudges or recent conflicts with her, yet this woman repeatedly tried to harm her.
After a long pause, Consort Xie said with a stern face, "So it's you, Fifth Miss Ruan. What brings you here in disguise to infiltrate the palace?"
Why did they disguise themselves and infiltrate the imperial harem?
Why did they disguise themselves and infiltrate the imperial harem?
The words kept echoing in her ears, and Ruan Bi suddenly realized that this was the crime they were going to pin on her—trespassing into the forbidden palace in disguise. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Your Highness, I am a disciple of the Taoist Master Ziying, and thus a semi-Taoist. I always wear Taoist robes, and I am not disguised. Today, the Master led me into the palace through the Xihua Gate, not sneaking in. The guards at the Xihua Gate can all testify to this."
"How dare you!" Eunuch Lu said sternly. "Your Highness asked a question, but you didn't answer truthfully and even tried to contradict her." He turned to Consort Xie and said, "Your Highness, why bother talking to such a petty and cunning person? Just hand her over to the guards for disposal."
Consort Xie stared intently at Ruan Bi for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter, a smile as beautiful as a thousand crabapple trees in bloom. Ruan Bi was also mesmerized, thinking to herself, no wonder the Emperor likes her. The Empress, though not bad herself, is rather dull, while this kind of charming and alluring woman is what men truly desire.
After laughing, Consort Xie stepped forward, squatted down, and whispered in Ruan Bi's ear, "I know you just saw His Majesty, so you're sure you won't be charged with trespassing in disguise, right?"
Ruan Bi hadn't understood her meaning when she suddenly leaned back, swaying as if about to fall. Aunt Wan and Eunuch Lu quickly supported her, while the eunuch Yu shouted, "You audacious woman! Just because the Imperial Concubine asked you why you disguised yourself and sneaked into the Forbidden City, you actually became angry and pushed the Imperial Concubine, intending to harm the imperial heir! Guards, seize her immediately!"
A huge basin of dog blood was poured over her head. Ruan Bi was shocked and couldn't react for a moment. Two palace maids stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders.
Consort Xie had already helped Aunt Wan and Eunuch Lu stand up straight, without even pretending. She looked at Ruan Bi with mockery and disdain in the depths of her eyes.
The eunuch said, "Your Highness has been frightened. I will go and report to His Majesty immediately. Minister Ruan's daughter is narrow-minded. Just because Your Highness questioned her, she pushed and shoved Your Highness, trying to harm the imperial heir."
Consort Xie nodded and said, "Tell His Majesty that I am fine. Considering her youth and ignorance, she should be punished leniently."
Damn, she still has to show off her virtue and magnanimity. Ruan Bi was speechless.
The whole thing was too obvious. This unexpected encounter was premeditated, and the eunuch in charge was clearly one of Consort Xie's men. Once she was brought before the Emperor, the truth would no longer matter; all that awaited her was judgment. This disgusting and despicable framing wasn't even a trap; it was blatant mudslinging. But because she was pregnant with the Emperor's child, she held an absolute advantage, and she might not even have a chance to defend herself.
"Why?"
Consort Xie smiled dismissively, offering no explanation whatsoever. "Prepare the carriage to return to the palace."
The moment she took a step, Ruan Bi's voice rang out, cold and clear like the clinking of pearls. "Your Highness, have you ever hunted wild animals? I've heard that when hunting, they usually leave an opening to prevent the prey from turning around and attacking people when it has nowhere to go. Is that true?"
Consort Xie was taken aback, stopped in her tracks, and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Previously, she had heard Aunt Wan say that the fifth daughter of the Ruan family was not to be underestimated. However, during her several encounters in the palace, she hadn't discovered anything particularly special about her; she was merely a little more clever than other girls her age. Now, however, she saw the difference. Girls her age, faced with such entrapment, would have long since been terrified, either swearing oaths or kowtowing and begging for mercy. But what about her? She remained fearless, neither angry nor begging for mercy, and her words were enigmatic.
"I've also heard that a cornered dog will jump over a wall, and a cornered rabbit will bite. I wonder if that's true?"
Eunuch Lu said, "The Imperial Concubine has been pampered and spoiled since childhood. How could she understand the thoughts of those beasts?" He was indirectly comparing Ruan Bi to a beast.
Ruan Bi naturally understood, smiled, and said, "Zhuangzi said, 'Heaven and earth and I were born together, and all things and I are one. Mencius said, 'People share the same heart and the same feelings.' So why do we need to understand the thoughts of beasts, but understand the human heart? I'm afraid we don't even know the human heart anymore."
She quoted extensively from classical texts, leaving Eunuch Lu speechless.
However, Consort Xie understood. She knew that the first sentence was about the Taoist concept of the unity of all things, and the second sentence was about understanding each other's hearts. It meant that since all things are one, the human heart can verify the hearts of all things. Consort Xie was also well-versed in poetry and literature and confident in her eloquence. Hearing the sharp wit in Consort Xie's words, which sparked with insight, she immediately felt a desire to compete with her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
