Chapter 17: Falling into a Deep Pit
Fang Si Deng respectfully said, "My lady, it's getting late. People from various places will be coming to collect the candles and lamp oil soon. Please allow me to have someone carry the candles and lamp oil out to prepare them."
The palace maids from the Imperial Household Department carried a table and placed it under the eaves on the west side of the storeroom. The accounting clerks then carried writing brushes, ink, and account books, arranging them neatly on the table.
Jiang Ling said, "We can't delay the people from all over from coming to collect their candles. Just do as we've arranged before."
Fang Si Deng had the palace maids carry the candles out. The door to the storeroom where the lamp oil was stored was also open. Jiang Ling couldn't help but go over to take a look, and his headache worsened.
The lamp oil was stored in a large urn, the mouth of which was sealed with an oilcloth. Palace maids used copper ladles to scoop the oil into smaller jars, measuring it by the oil tip, and then distributed it to various places.
Oiling inevitably involves some loss and evaporation. Whether the oil is filled to the brim or only seven or eight-tenths full, and whether some oil is left in the measuring cup, is all controlled by the palace maids of the Imperial Bedchamber.
The matter of lamp oil is a complete mess.
Jiang Ling rubbed his temples, decisively abandoning the lamp oil issue and going to count the candles first.
Granny Huang and Zhong Shanggong followed at a distance, but Jiang Ling's eyes darted around. "Better to die than to die myself," he thought.
Now she barely has four helpers. Since Consort Zhao dragged her into this, she can't refuse and has to do something about it.
"Granny Huang, Zhong Shanggong, please lend a hand and help us count them. That way it will be faster."
Granny Huang's expression changed slightly. She reacted quickly and smiled, "Normally, if Consort Jiang were to speak up, it would be my fault. But Her Highness cannot do without someone, so please wait a moment, Consort Jiang. I will go back and ask Her Highness for permission."
Jiang Ling chuckled inwardly. She wasn't good at polite conversation, so she tried her best to keep from turning hostile on the spot and nodded with a blank face.
Zhong Shanggong looked troubled and said, "On His Majesty's birthday, this servant dares not be careless. The Noble Consort previously sent someone to inquire about the imperial carriage, and this servant must hurry to report to her. Could you perhaps ask Consort Jiang to make an exception and allow this servant to visit the Noble Consort before returning to help with the counting?"
It sounded like an excuse, yet it was somehow impeccable. Jiang Ling hadn't rested at noon and was already exhausted. Besides, since she had taken on the title of "manager of lamps and candles," Zhong Shanggong was her subordinate.
She couldn't control Granny Huang, and Zhong Shanggong could leave to attend to her own business. It was unlikely that all the other palace maids in the Shangqin Bureau would be unable to leave their posts.
"You're busy reporting back to the Imperial Concubine, so send twenty palace maids from the Lantern Keeper's Office to help you." Jiang Ling didn't actually know how many palace maids were in the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau, but the more the better, so he just casually called out a number.
Zhong Shanggong showed no sign of panic. She gave a wry smile, pointed towards the door, and said, "Consort Jiang, they are all working here."
Jiang Ling glanced over and saw about a dozen palace maids bustling about under the eaves, with Fang Si Deng directing and arranging things. People were already coming to collect candles and lamp oil.
Open flames cannot be used in the lamp and candle storeroom, but the palace must be lit with lamps at dusk, so they really cannot leave.
Jiang Ling was so angry she wanted to curse. Her rare stubbornness was forced out, and she said to A'Ruo, "Go back and call everyone in the courtyard."
The palace maids and eunuchs of Fanying Pavilion, including the gatekeeper, number six in total. Adding A'Ruo and the other four, there are ten in total, which should make things a bit faster.
Zhong Shanggong lowered his eyelids and, along with Granny Huang, remained silent before bowing and taking their leave.
Jiang Ling called Fanghe and the other two into the candle storeroom and gave them instructions one by one: "Fanghe and Qingwen, you light the beeswax, Wenjuan, you light the white wax. After you're done, separate them and don't mix them up."
The three men accepted the order and stepped forward, opening the wooden frame to begin counting. Jiang Ling, holding the ledger, rolled up his sleeves and counted the items beside him.
After a while, A'Ruo arrived with six others. There was plenty of white wax and tallow wax, so Jiang Ling arranged for them all to order these two items.
The storeroom was bustling with activity as more and more people came to collect their candles. Once all the candles had been distributed, Fang Si Deng led the palace maids in to carry them out.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling pointed to the counted candles and said, "You move these over here."
The palace maid carrying the candles didn't move, looking at Fang Si Deng and waiting for her order. Jiang Ling sneered inwardly, preparing to turn hostile.
Fang Sideng replied very respectfully, "Yes."
Upon seeing this, the palace maid got up, walked over, and raised her hand to count the candles.
Jiang Ling's anger could no longer be vented.
Fang Sideng curtsied and withdrew. After a short while, she came in and said, "Lady Jiang, the Imperial Treasury has sent candles and lamp oil."
Jiang Ling was stunned for a moment, then let out a silent wail.
It turns out, she was still too oblivious. The deepest pit that Consort Zhao dug for her wasn't in the inventory treasury, but in the inner treasury!
The Inner Treasury was Emperor Ming's private treasury, but it also served as the national treasury.
All the food, clothing, and daily necessities in the palace came from the Inner Treasury. The eunuchs of the Inner Treasury, as well as the castrated men who served in the palace, were all under the jurisdiction of the Inner Palace Attendants Bureau.
Aside from tributes from various regions, the officials in charge of market transactions were responsible for purchasing firewood, rice, oil, salt, and other necessities. After these items were delivered to the palace, they were taken over by the officials in charge of the inner materials and distributed to the warehouses in various locations.
The eunuchs carried in candles and lamp oil in single file. The storeroom supervisor, Shen Yi, entered, looked around, and called out, "Fang, the lamp master, where are you?"
Fang Si Deng hurriedly went out to reply, saying, "Director of the Treasury, I am speaking with Consort Jiang. Consort De has entrusted Consort Jiang with the management of the lamps and candles. From now on, all matters concerning lamps and candles must be approved by Consort Jiang."
Shen Yi paused, then raised her hand to bow to Jiang Ling, who was slowly walking out: "This servant, Shen Yi, has come to deliver candles and lamp oil. Please give your instructions, Lady Jiang."
Jiang Ling sized up Shen Yi. He had a dark face and no beard, and a stout body. His waist was almost as thick as a large oil vat.
Although the eunuchs in the Inner Palace Service had low ranks, they wielded real power. The historically famous eunuch Tong Guan came from the Inner Palace Service and wielded immense power.
Jiang Ling couldn't afford to offend him, so he simply said, "Fang Si Deng, just put it away according to the old rules."
Fang Sideng agreed. Shen Yi glanced at Jiang Ling without showing any emotion, then raised his hand to take his leave and went to hand over the reins to Fang Sideng.
The counted candles were quickly all taken away. Candles sent from the inner treasury filled the empty space again.
As darkness fell and the candles were distributed, the palace maids began to pack up, and it was time for the storeroom to close.
Jiang Ling took stock and found only ten baskets of lit candles piled in the corner. Judging from the warehouse inventory and Consort Zhao's scheming, there was a greater than 90% chance that the Imperial Treasury would continue to send in tomorrow.
All that hard work and effort, all that water going in and out, and it was all for nothing.
Back at Fanying Pavilion, Jiang Ling lay on the couch, exhausted both physically and mentally, not even wanting to move a finger.
After dinner, Jiang Ling felt a bit better, his mind started working again, and his eyes lit up.
The next day, after breakfast, Jiang Ling led her people to the storeroom. She had planned to take stock of all the candles and other items in the storeroom before the lantern-bearing officials distributed the candles in the afternoon.
Around noon, half the candles had been counted, and the inner storehouse delivered more candles and lamp oil. Fang Si Deng and Shen Yi came to the storehouse together, and the two respectfully stepped forward to greet each other.
When Jiang Ling saw them, his face turned pale, and tears welled up inside him.
From eunuchs in the Imperial Treasury, to officials in the Market and Trade Bureau, to supervisors of the Imperial Materials Bureau, to officials in the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau, and then to officials in the Lantern Bureau.
Jiang Ling estimated that, inside and out, very few people were innocent.
Remembering how the candles and lamps had been embezzled in the past, Jiang Ling guessed that the accounts for candles and lamps were in such a bad state that Consort Zhao was eager to get rid of them.
If Jiang Ling were to carefully count the candles and lamps that Shen Yi sent, it would not benefit her regardless of whether the numbers matched.
If the numbers are incorrect, and she exposes it impartially, she will offend not only the Imperial Treasury and the Palace Attendants Bureau, but also Consort Lin and Consort Liu, who are in charge of palace affairs.
The affairs of the imperial harem, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation, are all matters of domestic life. If something goes wrong with the lighting and candles, it can lead to a chain reaction, implicating a wide range of people.
If she pretends to be deaf and dumb and acts as if she doesn't know, then she will have to bear the shortfall.
If the numbers match, that's even more terrifying.
After all, Shen Yi's actions were tantamount to actively delivering the candles to her, forcing her to count them.
She was completely baffled by this move and had no idea what their intentions were.
Jiang Ling was certain that even if she gave up on the inventory check and managed to get away with it for the time being, she definitely had a backup plan waiting for her.
The pit that Consort Zhao dug is truly bottomless.
Jiang Ling felt like a little lamb being driven by the fierce tiger Zhao Defei, jumping right into the room!
Before Jiang Ling could react, Shen Yi had already instructed the eunuchs: "Consort Jiang is short-handed, so hurry up and open the baskets and count the twigs one by one. There can't be any mistakes!"
The eunuchs quickly got to work, carefully counting and lighting every single candle.
Jiang Ling stared blankly at everything before her, her mind wandering as she realized that Huang Mama and Zhong Shanggong's refusal to lend a hand was not a way of intimidating her.
Instead, he was playing hard to get, deliberately leading her to insist on checking the inventory!
It was so terrifying that Jiang Ling felt a chill run through her body, filled with fear and unease.
What exactly are they trying to do?
The techniques and methods I'd seen in clips of palace dramas before were completely useless here.
Jiang Ling felt utterly helpless and almost cried; they weren't following the script at all!
However, she did learn something: how to feign illness or fainting to escape.
Without a reliable and understanding servant by his side, he fainted straight down. Jiang Ling was afraid that the fall would hurt him too much.
With a slight shift in her eyes, Jiang Ling placed her hand on her lower abdomen and cried out in pain, "Ouch!" Her heart was pounding, her movements were stiff, and her expression was exaggerated; it was clear she was faking it.
Even with the advanced medicine of later generations, it would be difficult to diagnose that the stomachache was feigned. A'Ruo, who was nearby, heard Jiang Ling's call and rushed over, asking with concern, "My beauty, what's wrong? Oh dear, my beauty, are you about to get your period?"
A'Ruo mumbled the word "menstruation" in a low voice. Although Fang Sideng and the others only heard her shouting, as women themselves, they had a general idea of what it meant.
Jiang Ling thought to herself that even a fool like A Ruo has a point, and she is still somewhat useful. She hadn't thought of this point before, and when A Ruo brought it up, she neither admitted nor denied it. She lowered her head, covered her lower abdomen, and said with great discomfort, "Fang Si Deng, the storeroom is now in your hands. Just follow the rules."
Fang Sideng remained calm and composed, bowing his head respectfully in response, "If you are not feeling well, please go back and rest. Take good care of yourself."
Jiang Ling nodded stiffly, and because her health was of utmost importance, she called everyone in Fanying Pavilion back.
Qingwen and the others went in and out, bringing water and handkerchiefs. Aruo, eager to show off, said, "My lady is always uncomfortable when she has her period. I'll go and fetch the imperial physician to examine her."
Even as a concubine in the imperial harem, Jiang Ling could only use menstrual belts. During these few days every month, Jiang Ling was on the verge of collapse, fearing that she might accidentally bleed on the bed.
She didn't want to talk to Aruo Fanghe at the time, so she made an excuse that she wasn't feeling well and wanted some peace and quiet.
Seeing that A'Ruo was going to fetch the imperial physician, Jiang Ling withdrew his previous praise for her and said listlessly, "Don't make a fuss over nothing, I'll just lie down for a while."
A'Ruo was very concerned and wanted to persuade her again, but Jiang Ling had already closed her eyes and stopped speaking. She was very disappointed and shut her mouth in frustration.
As Jiang Ling lay there, intending to ponder things deeply, he unexpectedly fell asleep.
"My beauty, wake up, Consort De is here." A'Ruo rushed into the room and shook Jiang Ling awake with a burst of strength.
Jiang Ling opened her eyes, still sleepy, and looked out the window. The late autumn sun shone brightly, illuminating the room.
She was suddenly startled and instinctively tensed up. She sat up, leaned against the soft cushion, pulled the quilt over her knees, and tried her best to look sickly.
Wen Juanqing led Consort Zhao into the secondary room. Jiang Ling struggled to get up to pay her respects, but Consort Zhao quickly stopped her, saying, "Sister Jiang is not feeling well, please lie down and don't move."
She sat down on the couch, gently placing her hand on the brocade quilt, and looked Jiang Ling up and down, asking with concern, "Sister Jiang, are you feeling better now? Why didn't you call the imperial physician?"
Consort Zhao's fingernails were painted with deep red nail polish and adorned with emerald green jade rings; her slender, delicate fingers seemed boneless. Standing close to her, Jiang Ling felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making it difficult to even breathe.
Now there was no need to pretend. Jiang Ling's face was as pale as if she were ill, and she said nervously, "I'm fine, Your Highness, why have you come?"
"After all, I entrusted the task of lighting candles to my younger sister. How can I be at ease if she suffers because of it?"
Consort Zhao frowned slightly and said apologetically, "If my sister is really feeling unwell, you must ask the imperial physician to examine her carefully, lest she develop a chronic illness at such a young age."
Jiang Ling felt a chill run down his spine at Consort Zhao's earnest admonitions.
She was no match for them, so after thinking for a moment, she decided to go all out and asked directly, "Why did Your Majesty entrust the task of lighting and candles to me?"
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