Chapter Twenty-Four: Leaving the Palace
Once Mingxia and the others left, they never returned. All the palace maids and eunuchs in the East Palace Embroidery Pavilion were replaced by the Empress Dowager's confidants, who would never utter a word except when absolutely necessary. The embroidery pavilion was silent all day long. Fortunately, Ruan Bi was determined and managed to stay calm, reciting and writing every day to amuse herself.
This went on for about ten days.
Early that morning, just after she had finished washing and dressing, two palace maids entered and, without a word, dragged her to the Empress Dowager's private quarters. The Empress Dowager leaned against the back of the couch, her expression indifferent as she looked at the jujube tree outside the window. Palace Commander Lu stood beside her, his eyes lowered, holding a lacquer tray with a delicate porcelain wine cup on it, the aroma of wine filling the air.
No one drinks alcohol so early in the morning. Could this be a cup of poison? Ruan Bi felt a chill run down her spine. Although she wasn't afraid of death, she didn't want to die right now. She took a deep breath, calmed herself, knelt down, kowtowed, and said loudly, "I respectfully wish Your Majesty the Empress Dowager good health."
The Empress Dowager seemed not to hear, her eyebrows not even twitching, still staring at the jujube tree. After a long while, she said coldly, "It's being said outside that you've died in the palace."
Ruan Bi didn't know how to answer, so she simply didn't.
"Trying to use the people's voices to force me to let you go back, what a wishful thinking!" She said, emphasizing each word, her voice filled with anger and a hint of murderous intent.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is indeed brilliant. My humble tricks are hardly worthy of being presented in a refined manner."
An ordinary person would have cried and wailed in denial, but she readily admitted it. The Empress Dowager stared at her prostrate head, her mind a jumble of thoughts, her expression shifting between light and shadow. "Your skin is the thickest I've ever seen in my life."
"Your Majesty is truly brilliant. I, a humble woman, am simply out of my depth."
"Ridiculous! Do you think this is a child's play? Do you think you can frame me at will?"
"I never intended to frame Your Highness, but I did have the idea of playing a game with Your Highness."
"Even in this gamble, you've lost. Ruan Wu, have you considered the consequences?"
Ruan Bi quickly racked her brains and said, "Your Majesty, when Bing Ji was prime minister, there was a coachman from the border region who was addicted to alcohol. Once, while accompanying the emperor on an outing, he got drunk and vomited on the carriage. The chief clerk of the Western Office suggested that the coachman be dismissed, but Bing Ji said, 'If I dismiss him for such a small offense as drunkenness, where will he find a place to live? He's just soiled the carriage cushion; I'll spare him this time.' Later, when the barbarians attacked the border, the coachman devised strategies for Bing Ji, helping to repel the enemy and achieve merit. This shows that even humble people can be useful. When Lord Mengchang was imprisoned in Qin, his three thousand retainers were at a loss, while petty thieves and scoundrels became famous throughout the land. Therefore, those who employ people should not only consider their character but also their talents."
Her voice was clear and melodious, her tone gentle and persuasive. Though she was pleading for mercy and protecting herself, there was not a trace of flattery in her. She quoted extensively from classical texts and spoke eloquently, giving the Empress Dowager the illusion that she was not in the small living room of the Cining Palace, but in the magnificent Zichen Hall, listening to the ministers' advice.
She rose from one of the four concubines to Empress Dowager, and elevated the Third Prince, whose talent was not particularly outstanding, to the position of Crown Prince. This naturally demonstrated her exceptional intelligence and unique insight. Whether someone possessed talent or not, she only needed to hear a few words to discern. Therefore, looking at Ruan Bi, she felt a pang of heartache. How could she be a woman? And how could she have a grudge against her?
Lu Gongling, seeing that she hadn't spoken for a while, glanced at her and noticed a hint of hesitation in her brow. He knew then that he couldn't offer her the cup of poisoned wine. Sure enough, after a long pause, the Empress Dowager waved her hand without a word. Two palace maids, sensing the situation, stepped forward, helped Ruan Bi up, and led her back to her embroidery chamber.
The Empress Dowager sighed, closed her eyes, rubbed her temples, and said, "Su'e, am I getting old? Why am I so indecisive?"
Lu Gongling handed the wine to the palace maid, walked behind her, and gently massaged her temples with both hands, saying, "Your Majesty isn't old; Your Majesty cares too much about Prince Jin." After a moment's hesitation, he added, "To be fair, it's Prince Jin's fault. Marriage is a major event, ordained by one's parents, yet he quarreled with Your Majesty over a woman. Otherwise, why would things have come to this?"
The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, then closed them again after a moment and said, "Send her back."
Lu Gongling agreed and asked, "Should we send someone to keep an eye on her?"
"Pass on my imperial decree to Ruan Chi: if she runs away, he will be held solely responsible."
"yes."
Lu Gongling bowed, left the living quarters, went to the embroidery pavilion, and said coldly, "Fifth Miss, please come with me." After saying that, he turned and left.
Ruan Bi gave a soft "hmm," not asking where they were going, and stood up to follow her out. After leaving Cining Palace, they boarded a sedan chair, went to Xihua Gate, transferred to a horse-drawn carriage, and finally exited the palace. Only then did her heart skip a beat. Was the Empress Dowager going to let her return to Yuxu Temple? The rumors outside were spread by Liu Shizhi on her orders, but with the Empress Dowager's wisdom, there were ways to dispel them. For example, she could take Ruan Bi out of the palace to show her face, and the rumors would naturally disappear.
The carriage left Xihua Street and turned south onto the bustling main street. Ruan Bi was now certain that the Empress Dowager wasn't sending her back to Yuxu Temple. Yuxu Temple was located northwest of the palace; if she were being sent back, she should have exited the city gate to the north. So what was her intention? She glanced out the window out of the corner of her eye, but her expression remained calm and composed.
Lu Gongling had been observing her coldly, and seeing her remain calm and composed, he couldn't help but admire her. Few could match her composure and poise. He felt uneasy thinking that letting her go would betray Consort Xie's trust. Then he remembered his earlier criticism of Prince Jin, and the Empress Dowager's stiffening—she probably didn't like it. He'd better be careful in the future and avoid saying anything that offended her.
The carriage wound its way through the bustling streets, and the surrounding scenery gradually became familiar. Ruan Bi finally realized she was on her way to the Ruan family mansion in Huai Shu Lane, west of the capital. A sense of unease crept into her mind. Why was the Empress Dowager sending her back to the Ruan family mansion? The thought of returning filled her with mixed emotions. She wondered if Ruan Lan had heeded her advice and gone to Yangzhou. If not, then so be it. In any case, she had done her duty by acting on Ruan Lan's behalf, and they would be even from now on.
Lost in thought, she suddenly heard Lu Gongling say coldly, "Fifth Miss, we have arrived at the Ruan residence. You may get out of the carriage. Her Majesty instructed me to give you a piece of advice: behave yourself and behave yourself."
"Thank you," Ruan Bi said softly as she climbed out of the carriage. Looking up, she was startled.
A white cloth ball hung on the plaque above the Ruan residence's gate, the large red lanterns in front of the door had been replaced with white ones, and even the two lions crouching at the entrance were dressed in mourning clothes... Such a solemn occasion meant that an elder in the family must have died. No wonder the Empress Dowager had sent me back; she had no choice.
The gatekeeper and the servants at the entrance felt a little apprehensive when they saw the palace carriage stop, and they were even more surprised when Ruan Bi alighted from the carriage. After looking at each other for a while and pushing and shoving each other, the gatekeeper finally stepped forward hesitantly, bowed, and said, "Fifth Miss is back?"
Ruan Bi turned to look at him and asked in a low voice, "Who is it..."
"Yes... Madam."
The gatekeeper's voice was barely audible, but Ruan Bi heard it clearly and was startled again. She had assumed it was the elderly, frail matriarch, but it turned out to be the First Madam, still in her prime. Without asking further questions or lingering, she turned and walked into the mansion. Along the way, the maids and servants looked at her as if she were a ghost, staring blankly, too afraid to approach and greet her.
As I passed through the front courtyard, I heard faint chanting and sobbing coming from the mourning hall. Life is like a dream, seemingly real yet illusory. Passing through the hanging flower gate, I went straight to the old lady's courtyard. The few maids guarding the gate were also stunned when they saw her, speechless.
Ruan Bi lifted the curtain and went inside. Before she even reached the side hall entrance, she heard the old lady say, "...This octagonal celadon vase is a tribute porcelain from the previous dynasty. There are very few left in the world. Your great-grandfather acquired it from the common people at a high price. Look at the color, so emerald green, it really looks like it's been dyed with spring water. Even when Emperor Renzong took a liking to it, your great-grandfather was reluctant to give it to him..."
"Mother, even the best things are still inanimate objects. How can they compare to a living person? Rescuing Jiaxuan is the most important thing."
The old lady sighed deeply again and said, "They say misfortunes never come singly, and that's absolutely true."
What happened to Ruan Jiaxuan again? Ruan Bi wondered as she entered. She saw the old lady sitting on the couch, Ruan Lan sitting on an embroidered stool beside her, and Manyun standing to one side, holding paper and pen. The old lady looked much older; her once half-white hair was almost completely white, her cheeks were sunken, and her skin was loose, though her complexion wasn't bad. Ruan Lan was still as thin as before, her eyebrows and eyes drooping even more, radiating an aura of sorrow. Manyun looked alright, but even her dimples seemed tinged with melancholy.
Hearing footsteps, they looked up and saw that it was Ruan Bi. They were speechless.
After a long silence, Ruan Bi asked in a low voice, "How...did Mother die?"
The old lady's eyes reddened instantly, and she shook her head repeatedly, saying, "Don't mention it, don't mention it."
Ruan Lan blinked and tears streamed down her face.
"Fifth Miss, the First Madam was flogged twenty times in the palace and developed a high fever when she returned that night. Doctor Xu said it was due to excessive fright that evil spirits entered her lungs and internal organs. She lingered for seven or eight days and passed away the night before last." Manyun recounted the events in a low voice, omitting the details of how the First Madam was scolded by the Master and the Old Madam after returning from the palace, blaming her for acting on her own initiative, falling into the trap of a villain, and causing the Fourth Miss to be sent to the Cold Palace, and how the First Madam vomited blood three times in shame... and so on.
Ruan Bi remained silent for a moment, about to ask Ruan Jiaxuan what was wrong, when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching. The curtain swayed, and the second young lady, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, rushed in, raising her hand to slap him. Ruan Bi quickly took a step back, frowning as she asked, "What are you doing?"
"What did I do? What did I do?" The second daughter was so angry that her mouth twisted and her eyes slanted. She pointed at Ruan Bi and said, "It's all your fault! You're the one who killed my mother!"
The old lady shouted sternly, "Second girl, stop fooling around!"
The second daughter wouldn't listen and stepped forward again, raising her hand to slap her. Ruan Bi dodged, then retaliated with a powerful slap across the face, twisting the second daughter's neck to the side and leaving her stunned. "You're always so cowardly and incompetent, only knowing how to point your fists at your own family. I ask you, if Mother hadn't been so clever and misled Dunluye, how would she have ended up like this? You don't go to settle accounts with Dunluye, but come to me? It's truly absurd, ridiculous, and laughable!"
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