Thunder and rain are both acts of kindness (Part 4)
On the stage, the actors were singing a heart-wrenching song, their flowing sleeves fluttering, their mournful voices lingering in the air. Zhu Hua leaned back in a round-backed chair covered with a snow-white fox fur, like a lazy yet dangerous cat, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest, her gaze drifting far into the distance.
Wang Miaoxiao, sitting to the left, removed the openwork silver mask that covered the upper half of his face, revealing half of his broken eyebrow. He had a very deep and long scar on his right cheek, running from his lip to the end of his eyebrow.
The actress 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!"
Wang Miaoxiao chose the play, and although his gaze seemed focused on the stage, his eyes were constantly on Zhu Hua.
Zhu Hua had dark circles under her eyes and a stern face. The servant beside her served her tea, not daring to breathe loudly, only daring to quietly adjust the incense beside her chair when her gaze fell on the stage.
“The girl in this play is really pitiful,” Wang Miaoxiao said slowly, lowering his voice. “She is pushed out as a pawn by her closest relatives, and she has to be careful about how others treat her when she asks for help.”
Zhu Hua twirled the fur of the fox fur coat: "Lord Wang is quite the gentleman."
“If it were me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to swallow this insult.” He changed the subject, his hand subtly covering Zhu Hua’s hand resting on the chair. “If I see this young lady, I will definitely help her get justice and make those heartless people pay a hundredfold.”
The temperature of his hand wasn't low, and Zhu Hua's fingertips trembled. His eyes flashed like knives: "Lord Wang, don't you want your claws anymore?"
“I feel sorry for the princess, who is about to put herself in this situation again.” Wang Miaoxiao leaned forward, grabbed Zhu Hua’s hand and pulled her close. “Doesn’t the princess want to take revenge on General Wan? The news that you asked him to send troops to Siam to help you get married has spread throughout the capital. Your Highness has lost face and gained nothing. He didn’t even show his face, but only sent a deputy general to deliver a message of refusal.”
"If I were you, I would definitely be furious and embarrassed." Wang Miaoxiao smiled, but a ruthless glint was hidden in his eyes.
Zhu Hua looked at him and said, "What's the use of getting angry? In the end, it all comes down to His Majesty's will. Do you think I can still persuade His Majesty now?"
"Of course I wouldn't dare." Wang Miaoxiao cupped his hands towards the sky. "His Majesty has always been wise."
“I am his man, so naturally I cannot disobey the Emperor’s will. But I have a brilliant plan to deal with Wan Qi.” Wang Miaoxiao smiled again.
Zhu Hua then turned her head, her eyes squinting upwards. She suddenly lifted her foot, the tip of her shoe lightly brushing against Wang Miaoxiao's knee, then slowly moving down to stop at his waist.
"What brilliant plan?" Her voice softened. "If it's not good, watch your tongue."
“The brilliant plan is…” Wang Miaoxiao leaned closer, his breath brushing against Zhu Hua’s ear, “to find his weakness.”
Wang Miaoxiao: "Wan Qi is a tough nut to crack. But everyone has a weakness. His weakness is right here in the deep palace, receiving the emperor's favor every day."
"You mean, Wan Zhen'er?" Zhu Hua's shoes paused, her eyes darting around, as if she had thought of something.
"This is quite a show." Zhu Hua's lips curled into a cold smile.
“But this is something I might have trouble handling alone.” Her slender foot moved down again, finally hovering three inches below Wang Miaoxiao’s navel, above that vital spot that symbolized male dignity.
"Lord Wang, would you be willing to help me?" The orphan girl on the stage was holding a knife, her eyes flashing with determination. Zhu Hua looked at that light and asked reproachfully.
——
The flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, their petals trembling gently in the breeze.
Zhiwei was hiding behind the artificial hill when her skirt suddenly sank as someone stepped on it.
She stumbled and turned around to see Shao Zhao's panicked face.
"Sister!" Shao Zhao, like a startled rabbit, quickly withdrew her foot, but her eyes were still fixed on the two people in the distance. Sun Weizheng was ordered to chase a tender yellow butterfly, and Wan Zhen'er followed behind him, her laughter clear and crisp.
Zhiwei immediately understood that Shaozhao was secretly following Sun Wei.
"Shao Zhao," Zhiwei said, "Do you know what time it is? It's the time when Lord Jiang is giving a lecture, and you dare to skip class and come here to peek."
Zhiwei deliberately lowered her voice to appear stern: "Didn't you say you wanted to learn more? That's why I went to ask Lord Jiang to reserve a place for you in the academy."
It's true that he needed help. Jiang Tan was a favorite of the emperor and a young man who had passed the imperial examinations at a young age, enjoying immense prestige. He was kind-hearted and, seeing that many officials in the palace had low levels of education, he volunteered to open a charitable school to teach them.
Shao Zhao, however, did not hold any official position, so opportunities naturally had to be sought out.
Zhiwei experienced many ups and downs in the deep palace, witnessing the vicissitudes of life. She often lamented that she was fortunate to have a skill to rely on after being transmigrated to this era alone. However, the culinary skills belonged to her, not Shao Zhao, and the emperor's favor was also hers, not Shao Zhao's.
Having spent so much time by Zhu Liji's side, Zhiwei had witnessed firsthand how things could be "favored in the morning and neglected in the evening." She only hoped that Shao Zhao could strengthen herself, learn some literature and science, and master some survival skills, since she couldn't protect her forever.
“Do you know that Lord Jiang Qin’s classes are incredibly difficult to get into outside, and people would kill to even get a chance to attend? And here you are…” Zhiwei glared at Shao Zhao, “Go back to class right now.”
Shao Zhao shrank back slightly, stubbornly biting her lip: "I...I was just passing by."
"Still lying." Zhiwei grabbed her arm and pulled Shao Zhao to a secluded wisteria trellis. "Do you think I'm blind? From Jingfang Garden to the school, which road passes through this Imperial Garden and goes so deep into this secluded place?"
This wasn't the first time Zhiwei had witnessed Shao Zhao's infatuation, but this was the first time she had neglected her duties to follow him.
This time it was stalking, but what about next time? What if I hide under someone's bed and ruin my reputation? That would be terrible!
Zhiwei grabbed Shaozhao by the collar, like a mother disciplining a wayward child.
"Wake up! Sun Wei only has eyes for Consort Wan. What will you gain by staying here, besides wasting your life?"
Shao Zhao is a smart girl; she shouldn't be holding onto a hopeless relationship.
Shao Zhao suddenly raised her head, her voice choked with sobs: "I don't ask for anything!"
"I know, I know he doesn't care about me! But I just... I just can't control my heart!" Shao Zhao almost burst into tears.
“Sister, turn around and look at Brother Sun. Isn’t he the same? He’s with Consort Wan, knowing it’s impossible, but he’s still willing. Whether he’s been let down or hasn’t received a response, at least… at least I tried. I’ve accepted this willingness!”
Shao Zhao raised her hand and wiped away her tears: "I don't need his response. I just want to see him doing well, to see him... happy. Just like now."
Zhiwei looked at the redness in Shaozhao's eyes and suddenly couldn't speak. Her heart felt like it had been clenched by something.
Perhaps, one feels that all the love and affection in this world is shrouded in an indescribable bitterness.
Lovers cannot stay together, while those who are not in love cannot let go.
"Silly girl..." In the end, Zhiwei just sighed deeply, raised her hand, and gently wiped away the tears on Shao Zhao's cheeks with her fingertips.
——
In the afternoon, Jingfang Garden was quiet.
Zhiwei leaned against the soft couch by the window for a short rest. She was exhausted from serving Zhu Liji for days, and finally got a break from her shift. She fell into a deep sleep, which was a rare treat.
"Lady Yan! Lady Yan!" Pinghai's shrill and anxious voice pierced the silence like an awl.
"His Majesty has summoned you urgently! He says you need to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Zhiwei woke up with a start, but before she was fully awake, Pinghai pulled and dragged her outside.
She could only hurriedly straighten her clothes as she walked, following Pinghai as they rushed toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The closer one got, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, making it hard to breathe. The palace doors were wide open, and the interior was eerily quiet.
Zhu Liji sat on the dragon throne, his fingers gripping a memorial, his face grim. Zhu Hua stood beside him, a provocative smile playing on his lips, his gaze fixed on the person kneeling on the ground.
Wan Zhen'er looked vacant, her hair disheveled, likely having been dragged there. There were red marks on her wrists from her resistance.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent!" Wan Zhen'er's voice trembled. "The Princess's accusation that I had an affair with Guard Sun is a complete fabrication!"
Zhiwei was greatly alarmed.
"False accusation?" Zhu Hua sneered and raised his hand, and the eunuch behind him brought forward a maid.
That was one of Wan Zhen'er's personal maids, who was bowing her head at the moment.
"Your maid has confessed, saying she saw you and that guard having an affair and even making lanterns together. How can this be a false accusation?"
Upon hearing Zhu Hua's voice, the maid knelt down with a thud, kowtowing and saying, "Your Majesty, spare my life! It was...it was this servant who saw it with her own eyes. Consort Wan and Guard Sun were indeed involved in something improper!"
"You're talking nonsense!" Another maid rushed forward; it was Siyu. She grabbed the maid's sleeve. "How dare you slander your mistress!"
"You dare touch my witness?" Zhu Hua had barely finished speaking when Wan Zhen'er slapped Si Yu across the face. The crisp sound echoed in the hall. Si Yu covered her face, her eyes filled with shock.
Wan Zhen'er turned her head away, her voice tense: "This is none of your business, step back!"
Zhu Liji slammed his hand on the table, the dragon throne creaking loudly: "Enough!"
"I called you here to sort this out, to find out who is wronged and who is innocent. It will be clear once we investigate."
Zhu Liji's gaze suddenly turned to Zhiwei, filled with a scrutinizing coldness: "You've been getting close to Wan Zhen'er. Tell me, is there anything unusual between her and that guard?"
“We can’t cover it up, otherwise it would be malicious concealment, which is a big taboo,” Zhu Hua continued to chime in from the side.
For several seconds, Zhiwei's heart was in her throat. She didn't know whether to stammer or not, and she dared not be honest.
Of course she knew about Wan Zhen'er and Sun Wei's relationship, that they were in love, and that they even met secretly. But Sun Wei was sensible and knew that the two of them had not crossed any lines.
But what could she say now? To say she knew nothing? That would be like deliberately trying to distance herself from the situation. Wan Zhen'er's life was probably in danger. If she didn't speak up, Zhu Liji's anger might be directed at her.
She clenched her fists, cold sweat beading on her forehead, and for several seconds, her mind remained blank.
Just as she was about to speak, a commotion suddenly arose outside the hall.
Several guards carried a person in. The person was covered in wounds, with a bruised and swollen face, and his hair was stuck to his forehead with blood. It was Sun Wei.
Sun Wei was thrown to the ground with a dull thud. He struggled to lift his head, his gaze sweeping across the hall before finally settling on Wan Zhen'er.
Seeing his appearance, Zhu Hua's anger intensified: "You lowly slave! You have audacity to have an affair with the imperial concubines! Do you know your crime?"
Sun Wei lay on the ground, coughing a few times, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He slowly raised his hand, pulled a small dagger from his pocket, and its cold light flashed.
Upon seeing this, Pinghai shouted for protection.
The guards immediately surrounded him, swords drawn, pointing directly at Sun Wei.
Wan Zhen'er suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with panic, but she dared not utter a word. It was Zhiwei who spoke first, telling Sun to calm down.
Sun Wei didn't move, but stood up shakily, holding the dagger in his hand, not pointing it at anyone.
He gazed at Zhu Liji through the layers of guards, his voice hoarse yet clear: "Your Majesty, my relationship with Consort Wan is completely innocent. The Princess may have misunderstood something."
"Your Majesty, I still remember when I was a cook in the Shu army camp. You personally led the troops and said that soldiers should be loyal to the emperor and love their country, and should not do unjust things. I have always remembered your words. How could I dare to do such a despicable thing?"
Sun Wei paused, glanced at Zhu Hua, and continued, "I was merely delivering a letter to Consort Wan on behalf of Imperial Chef Yan. The letter was full of everyday conversation. How could it be considered an affair? If the Princess does not believe me, she can go to Jingfang Garden to check. I have proof of the letter's delivery here."
Zhu Liji frowned and remained silent. Zhu Hua, however, sneered: "Proof? Who knows if you've already colluded with them!"
Sun Wei swayed, and unconsciously looked up at the sky, a strange smile appearing on his lips.
"I know that words alone are not enough and Your Majesty will not believe me." He raised the dagger, the tip pointing at his lower abdomen and his genitals.
"I have only one way to prove my innocence."
Zhiwei seemed to realize something, her expression changed drastically, and she cried out shrilly, "No!"
But it was too late.
Sun Wei closed his eyes and plunged the dagger down. Blood instantly stained his robes, and a piercing wail echoed throughout the Hall of Mental Cultivation, making everyone's eardrums ache. He fell to the ground, the dagger rolling to the side, but a hint of relief remained in his eyes.
Fortunately, Wan Zhen'er never said a word in his defense.
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