The Death of the Longevity Tortoise (Part 3)
The sky was clear and blue, with wispy, light clouds.
Beside the drooping willow branches, silver spider webs hang from them.
It was a sunny and warm day, perfect for an outing, but not for visiting a madman.
Zhiwei stood in front of the princess's residence, frozen like a block of ice.
Shao Zhao's words from yesterday still echo in my ears.
Why does the eldest princess want to see me?
The two shouldn't have interacted before. Could it be that Princess Cheng is testing her? But why now?
They even deliberately chose times when Zhu Mingyu was not in the palace.
Does she feel she's not good enough for Zhu Mingyu and want to give him a warning in secret?
Well, I can't exactly kneel down and lick shoes myself, can I?
The servant's pained yet obsequious face resurfaced in Zhiwei's mind.
Recalling Zhu Hua's actions at the banquet that day, Zhiwei's legs went weak, and she could only shake her head desperately to suppress the inappropriate thoughts.
In short, Zhu Hua's words and actions cannot be explained by general logic.
Just as the Emperor had specially prepared a new residence for her outside the capital, she insisted on living in the imperial city. Unlike Zhu Mingyu, who liked to stay close to his parents and therefore lived in the palace, Zhiwei always felt that the Princess had some other intentions.
Zhiwei steadied her breathing and resolved to stop thinking about it.
She lowered her hand, her fingertips still clutching the crimson lotus-patterned earring she had plucked from the shadows of the bushes. Zhiwei tucked it into the deepest part of her sleeve pocket; the sharp edge of the gold ornament grazed her skin, leaving a slight sting.
"Shao Zhao, Shao Yang, wait for me outside," Zhi Wei said, taking a deep breath.
——
As you step into Zhu Hua's luxurious bedroom, a strong fragrance wafts towards you.
Zhu Hua sat reclining on the couch covered with snow-white fox fur in the center of the main hall, twirling a few strands of black hair between her fingers, a half-smile on her face.
"Yan Shangshi," Zhu Hua said lazily, like a cat that had just licked its paws, "I've heard your life has been quite lively lately. I wonder what you're doing, so successful that you've practically turned over all the ashes in the imperial kitchen's stoves." She glanced at Zhiwei and yawned casually.
Zhu Hua already knows about what happened yesterday?
Zhiwei dared not think about it too much. She lowered her eyes and looked down at the tips of her official boots.
"Your Highness, it was Consort Wan, the Crown Prince's concubine who was temporarily residing in the palace. Her pet turtle died suddenly after accidentally eating almond soup sent by the Imperial Kitchen. Food is the responsibility of the Imperial Kitchen, and this matter is our dereliction of duty. We dare not fail to investigate it thoroughly."
"And the result?" Zhu Hua raised her hand and lightly brushed her newly painted nails.
Zhiwei stepped forward: "It was the Imperial Kitchen's fault. The heat was not properly controlled when roasting the almonds, which inadvertently caused them to become dry and toxic. The toxins accumulated and caused a disaster. As a result, the eunuch on duty in the Imperial Kitchen was punished on the spot."
Zhiwei's words are like a polished stone, without any sharp edges.
Zhu Hua looked listless: "Is that all they found? Is that everything?"
"Or are you saying," Zhu Hua drawled, her voice rising lightly at the end, "that you consider my intelligence network just for show?"
"Last night, you went to the Imperial Kitchen again and chatted with the eunuch on duty. Do you need me to repeat what you said to him?"
Zhu Hua's patience had run out, and Zhiwei quickly knelt down, gritted her teeth, and told him all her guesses.
"So, someone added a trace amount of bitter almonds to the roasted almonds, and the turtle ate them and died from the poison?"
“Exactly.” Zhiwei bowed and replied.
Zhu Hua still seemed uninterested.
She sat up, the wide, crimson sleeves of her robe slipping down to reveal a section of her snow-white forearm: "I thought you could give me a more interesting explanation. For example..." She tapped her earlobe with her fingertip, her smile deepening, "...for example, those pretty things that shouldn't be in those filthy corners?"
The gold earrings in the sleeve pocket instantly became scalding hot, almost burning through the fabric.
Zhiwei's throat tightened, and a thin layer of sweat instantly seeped out on her back. She forcibly suppressed her wildly beating heart, and tasted a hint of rust on her tongue. It turned out that she had bitten her inner lip.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I am foolish and did not notice anything amiss." Zhiwei heard her own dry voice.
The hall suddenly fell silent, with only the faint smoke from the precious sandalwood incense burning in the censer.
"Heh..." A soft laugh broke the silence. Zhu Hua suddenly slapped the edge of the bed and laughed so hard that he was doubled over, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Boring, absolutely boring! Yan Zhiwei, when you look at my second brother's coffin-like face, are you also like a gourd with its mouth sawed off?"
Zhu Hua laughed so hard she could hardly breathe, as if watching a farcical play. It took her a while to finally stop, and she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Alright." She waved her hand, as if brushing away a speck of dust. "I won't tease you anymore. That poisoned soup was put there by someone I ordered."
"The earrings you found were also specially left behind by my personal maid," Zhu Hua said quickly, as if sharing an interesting anecdote.
Zhiwei suddenly looked up and met Zhu Hua's smiling eyes. A chill instantly ran from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
"Why? Why did you kill Ashou for no reason?" The words were squeezed out of Zhiwei's throat with difficulty. "Your Highness's poison won't kill anyone."
Zhu Hua, what are you thinking, going to such lengths to investigate the concubine's lifestyle just for a pet?
"Why?" Zhu Hua raised an eyebrow, looking down at him with disdain, her red lips curving into a smile. "For no reason. There is rarely any logic to things in this world."
"Just like at that banquet, when the servant licked my shoe with his tongue, did anyone ask 'why'?"
“If I really have to find a reason, hmm, let me think…” Zhu Hua frowned. “Actually, I’m not that familiar with Wan Zhen’er. If I had to give a reason… right, boredom, just boredom!” Zhu Hua tilted his head and smiled.
"That's right, I'm so bored that I want to see if you, this little cook from Lingnan, really have any skills or if you just got here by luck."
Zhu Hua scrutinized Zhiwei's deathly pale face as if admiring a newly acquired trinket: "As for that silly girl Wan Zhen'er, she always clings to a turtle as if it were her lifeblood, and she cries about it. It's quite peculiar."
Zhu Hua drawled, his gaze lingering on Zhiwei's face: "Let's not talk about such trivial matters."
"Let's get back to you. You didn't disappoint me. Your quick wit in testing drugs and tracing leads is exactly as my second and third brothers described."
"That's very interesting," Zhu Hua exclaimed.
A torrent of absurdity, anger, and lingering fear surged through Zhiwei's chest.
A life, a girl's cherished companion, and a storm that almost had far-reaching consequences all stemmed from the whim of this pampered young lady.
Fear, only fear.
Zhiwei's hand clenched tightly in her sleeve.
"Your Highness thinks too highly of me, I am humbled." She lowered her eyelids, trying her best to suppress all the surging emotions in her eyes.
"Tsk, here we go again." Zhu Hua noticed the strange expression on Zhiwei's face, lost interest, and leaned back against the soft pillows listlessly.
Zhu Hua's fingertips unconsciously traced the shadow on her left cheek near her jawline, something seemed off.
"Bring water," she ordered lazily.
The silver basin was carefully presented by a palace maid.
Zhu Hua scooped up a handful of water and carefully washed away the heavy makeup from her face.
As the makeup faded, a small, red, and ulcerated wound, about the size of a fingernail, was clearly revealed below his left cheek.
The wound was covered with new skin layered on top of old scabs, the edges tinged with an unhealthy, damp red, like a hideous crack on a jade disc.
“Look.” Zhu Hua turned his face to the side, exposing the wound completely to the light, speaking casually as if showing off an old piece of clothing. “I’ve never been very healthy since I was a child, especially in the summer when I’m prone to eczema. A few days ago, I ate some dry food and I like to pick at it, so I ended up looking like this.”
"The imperial physicians in the palace only prescribe bitter herbal medicines, and even after applying them for half a month, there is still no improvement."
"Lady Yan."
Zhu Hua turned his gaze to Zhiwei, his expression casually inquisitive: "Is there any way to make this thing quiet down? It's an eyesore."
The topic abruptly changed, but Zhiwei's tense nerves did not relax. She steadied herself and forced herself to look away from the glaring festering sore.
Asking her to use food therapy? That's not too difficult.
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask if you have any dietary preferences lately? Or any discomfort with your daily routine?" The voice remained respectful, but carried a hint of the certainty one would expect when seeking medical advice.
"Preferences?" Zhu Hua scoffed. "I do have some preferences. I like piping hot deer blood soup, strong liquor, and cloyingly sweet chilled lychees."
"What, is there a problem?"
“Deer blood is very dry, strong liquor is fiery, and iced lychees are extremely cold and suddenly become hot, which can easily induce skin sores.” Zhiwei met her scrutinizing gaze with a calm tone.
"Your Highness's condition is caused by excessive internal heat, invasion of external pathogens, and blood stasis in the face. The imperial physicians have mostly prescribed some heat-clearing decoctions, but the skin is ulcerated and damp, so internal medicine alone will not be effective."
Zhiwei pondered for a moment: "If Your Highness trusts me, you may try the external application method, which may help heal sores and promote tissue regeneration, and relieve pain and itching."
Zhiwei's gaze fell on a few plump lychees in the fruit plate: "Pound fresh lychee flesh into a very fine powder, mix in a little honey and egg white, and apply it to the affected area. This can temporarily relieve the burning pain and nourish the skin. But this is only a temporary measure; the most important thing is..."
Zhiwei paused for a moment: "Your Highness should restrain your appetite for a while, avoid spicy and hot foods, and eat more cooling and nourishing foods such as mung beans, white fungus, and lotus root."
"Mung beans? Lotus root?" Zhu Hua tapped the edge of the bed with her fingertips as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. "I'm not a rabbit! Sigh, fine, fine, I'll believe you this time. And that lychee paste, get it here quickly!"
Zhiwei said no more, washed her hands, and deftly took the fresh lychees prepared by the palace maid.
The glistening white pulp was mashed into a smooth paste by her fingertips, mixed with clear honey and bright egg white.
Zhiwei moved swiftly and cleanly, her fingertips dabbing at the ointment as she brought the ointment close to Zhu Hua's cheek.
The sweet aroma of fruit mixed with the slightly fishy smell of egg white filled the air.
Zhu Hua's body tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment, then relaxed, closed her eyes, and let Zhi Xiao carefully apply the cool, sticky ointment to the ulcer on her cheek.
The incense inside the hall was still strong, but it seemed as if a hole had been torn open by that sweet scent.
"How is Your Highness feeling?" Zhiwei asked softly after a moment.
Zhu Hua opened her eyes, raised her hand, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"Hmm, that fiery intensity has indeed faded a bit." Her brows relaxed slightly, and her gaze towards Zhiwei became more genuine. "That's interesting."
Just then, the soft sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from outside the hall. Zhu Hua's eyes lit up, and her previous gloom and irritability vanished.
"You've come at the right time. My stage is all set up, let's go take a look." Before Zhiwei could speak, Zhu Hua gestured with her eyes, and two personal maids stepped forward and put their arms around Zhiwei.
——
It was nearly dusk.
The stage is set up by the water, with bright lanterns hanging high around it.
The stage was brightly lit, reflecting off the shimmering water.
As the drumbeats began, a female entertainer dressed in palace attire began to sing mournfully:
"Cold porridge and leftover rice fill my hungry stomach, while the imposing palace walls serve as my prison!"
"A smile may conceal a thousand thorns, and kind words are nothing but sugar coating!"
"Your own parents? Heartless bastards!"
"A promise made lightly for life ends in betrayal by a heartless and treacherous lover!"
The string music suddenly became rapid, and the female singer flicked her water sleeves as if trying to break free of invisible shackles.
Zhiwei sat in the guest seat, feeling a chill run down her spine.
"A good man? A jackal!"
"Sweet words bewitched my heart, deceiving me into exchanging wealth for cold frost!"
"He stole my dowry to feed his own people, and drunkenly beat his beloved wife like cattle!"
Upon reaching this line, the female singer swayed and staggered, her voice filled with heart-wrenching pain:
"Endure! Endure! Endure! How long will this endurance last?"
"Tears have dried, bones are decaying, hatred has driven me mad!"
The drumbeats were like a sudden downpour and a fierce wind. The female performer suddenly tore open the plain, tattered outer garment, revealing a crimson outfit that had been prepared inside.
Zhiwei had never seen such a trick before and was momentarily blinded by it.
From the main seat, Zhu Hua observed Zhiwei's expression.
"What do you think will happen next?" Zhu Hua asked.
Zhiwei turned her head and saw the young man on the stage, symbolizing the prince consort, scream and fall to the ground. The female performer stepped on the "corpse" and walked up, her iron sword gleaming coldly.
"Fight back." Zhiwei's eyes gleamed. "Having endured inhuman humiliation, the culprits should naturally pay the price."
Her voice was clear and calm, echoing in the waterside pavilion: "One who is confined to shallow waters is no longer a creature of the pond. Only by breaking free from the cocoon and transforming into a dragon can one know the vastness of the world."
The waterside pavilion fell completely silent, as if gathering strength for the final performance, with only the soft tinkling of the copper bells on the eaves in the wind.
Zhu Hua stared intently at Zhiwei, the lamplight flickering in her unfathomable eyes.
She suddenly clapped her hands, the crisp sound particularly jarring in the silence.
"Good! What a wonderful transformation!" Zhu Hua laughed loudly, with a sense of unbridled joy. "Yan Zhiwei, I didn't realize you were so interesting!"
In an instant, shouts of battle shook the heavens, and the drumbeats were as dense as thunder.
"Strip off this pathetic outfit! The red dress has sealed the fate of this heartless lover!"
"Gather brave warriors and listen to my command! A hundred thousand troops will march towards the imperial city—"
Kill! Kill! Kill!
After a fierce battle, the last barrier symbolizing the palace gate was cleaved open by the female entertainer's sword!
She stood atop the high platform, clad in a dragon robe and wearing a golden crown.
"The phoenix throne presses down on the dragon court, and I alone lean on the railing in the nine heavens!"
"I am the First Phoenix of the Heavens!"
As the lyrics ended, the lights suddenly dimmed. Night fell, leaving only a solitary lamp in the main seat.
Zhu Hua didn't move. The flickering light illuminated half of her face, while the other half remained hidden in shadow.
Zhu Hua leaned forward slightly, his eyes, reflecting the embers of the stage, locked onto Zhiwei, carrying an interest that Zhiwei couldn't understand.
"When you have free time in the future, come and watch plays with me often."
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