Chapter 4 Chapter 4 (minor revision of the last part) The Wind Rises
Qingzan never expected that she would faint at the door of the servant's room.
Her forehead burned so badly that Qingzan felt as if she had become a steamer basket of buns, being placed on the fire and roasted continuously, until her lips and mouth were parched and dry, making it difficult to swallow. In her daze, someone was feeding her water and calling her, "Sister Qingzan, Sister Qingzan—"
Water. Water.
Perhaps it was because she was too eager for the moistness of the water, but suddenly, she felt as if someone were pushing her underwater. Eyes, ears, mouth, nose, the pervasive water instantly swallowed up all her breath. Qingzan wanted to reach out and flutter, but she found that her small hands were grasping the edge of the water tank, trying her best to prevent her whole body from falling into the water. Her feet, dangling in the air, also struggled desperately, trying to cling to the huge belly of the water tank, but the person holding her down was getting stronger and stronger, and she was becoming less and less able to resist.
Not far away, someone was watching all this—the eldest daughter of the Yongning Marquisate had a maidservant kneeling on the ground, using her as a human stool. The innocent and lovely eldest daughter sat high on the maidservant's back, commanding the two maids in a tender voice, "Hurry up! Why are you still struggling? You can't even subdue a little kid. I'll complain to my mother later!"
As she said this, the two little lamb-horn-like buns on the eldest lady's head swayed, and they were adorned with sparkling pearls, making her look like a spirit boy and a beautiful girl under the Bodhisattva's throne.
Qingzan seemed to remember that this was the day when she first entered the Marquis' Mansion when she was three years old.
My ears were filled with water, causing them to feel painful and swollen, and more sounds came pouring in.
"No, I can't keep her here. What if she holds a grudge against my Anan because of what happened today?"
"Madam, please be magnanimous. She is so young, how can she be old enough to remember things?"
After a while, the eldest lady laughed crisply: "Quick, drown her, whoever has the strongest hand will get the reward!"
A moment later, another voice, holding back tears, said, "My little lady, if you wake up, you must completely forget everything that happened today. Only then can you live in the Marquis' Mansion, as your mother wishes!"
Live... These few words suddenly became a repetitive verse from the Bible, chanting in the ears of the departed soul. She wanted to live, she had to live! To survive and find her mother!
After a burst of heavy gasping, Qingzan suddenly opened his eyes and sat on the bed coughing.
Suo Ying, who also worked in the warehouse, sat beside the bed, holding a coarse porcelain cup, and looked at her with surprise and worry: "Sister Qingzan, you finally woke up?"
Seeing Qingzan coughing so hard she couldn't speak, Suoying patted her back and said, "Sister, are you in a nightmare? You've been unconscious for half a day. Someone from the Xiguan Bureau came to see you just now. You must have been caught in the rain yesterday and caught a cold. You must be too weak to pass out."
The Xiguan Bureau was the place where the palace's servants received medical treatment. Unlike the Imperial Physician's Office, which served only the nobles and their masters, the Xiguan Bureau used strong medications, ensuring that sick servants recovered quickly so they could serve their masters as soon as possible. Most of these medications were very harmful, so upon learning that Qingzan was only suffering from a cold, Suoying didn't dare preemptively administer the medication, leaving the entire package untouched by the bedside.
Qingzan took a few breaths, and the scenes of Baoying's nineteen years receded like a tide.
It was now the second year of Shenwu, and it had been three months since she had followed the empress into the palace to serve.
Just now, she dreamed of the young queen and herself.
Why did the queen hate her so much when she first saw her, to the point of wanting to kill her?
This problem, which has troubled Qingzan for more than ten years, still remains unsolved.
She looked at Suoying, knowing that it was Suoying who had taken care of her when she was unconscious, and Qingzhan couldn't help but feel moved.
Servants in the palace rotated, with a distinction between on-duty and off-duty. Even when off-duty, they were required to be on call 24/7, ready to serve their masters at any time. Only one day a month was truly allowed for rest. Suoying suffered from abdominal pain during her period, so she saved that day off for her period. Being able to stay by her side today must have been an early leave.
While Qingzan was moved, she couldn't help but worry that the Queen's dislike for her would eventually spread to those around her, so she said with a cruel heart, "I'm sorry to trouble you... Actually, you shouldn't get too close to me."
Suoying was not originally employed in the warehouse. She spent her first month in the Fengzao Palace trimming flowers and plants in the courtyard. Because she did not give gifts to her aunt who was the head waiter, she was bullied and excluded by other palace servants, so she was sent to the warehouse. She was timid and silent in front of outsiders, and her life was not much better after she arrived at the warehouse, so Qingzan took better care of her.
But after experiencing last night and today, she felt more and more that letting her get too close to herself might bring disaster to her.
As for Suoying, she had been holding on until now, and when she heard Qingzan not only didn't appreciate her, but also seemed to want to break up with her, she felt wronged and confused, and couldn't hold back her tears. She wiped her red eyes and said, "Sister, what are you talking about? I broke the box in the warehouse before, and you helped me fix it. I was fined two months' salary before I came to the warehouse, and it was also thanks to your help. Sister, have you ever thought I was troublesome? What do you mean by "I shouldn't get too close to you"? Do you think I'm useless...?"
Qingzan could not bear to see her cry, but if he told her his concerns clearly, she would be even more unwilling to abandon him.
But when she helped Suoying, she didn't originally want to be friends with her.
In this palace where everyone is in danger, she has no roots and is drifting everywhere. Even a small lackey like Jinyu is enough to make her suffer, let alone a ferocious big tiger?
Only by walking alone and taking care of yourself can you avoid bringing trouble to others.
However, in her distant memory, there is always a gentle woman who holds her tender little hand again and again and tells her to be kind to others and do her best.
Qingzan's heart softened once again.
She sighed. They were now living under the same roof and on duty together. It wouldn't be easy for them to leave each other alone. She was afraid she would have to find another way. Seeing the tears welling in their eyes, she hurriedly said, "Little Ancestor, please stop crying. I was so sick that I was confused and said the wrong thing."
Only then did Suoying burst into laughter.
After a while, Suo Ying spoke of last night's events with lingering fear: "Fortunately, it was Aunt Li who was on duty last night. She's very talkative. When she came to check on the ward, I told her you were going to get something for the Empress, and begged her not to remember your name. If it had been someone else, I really don't know what I would have done."
"By the way, Sister Qingzan, did you find a place to stay last night..."
Qingzan's eyes narrowed slightly. Suoying said hurriedly, "If it bothers you, sister, I won't ask."
"I went to Lianbi Palace." Qingzan omitted the details of the incident because he didn't want Suoying to worry too much. Suoying was tight-lipped, so there was no need to worry about her telling anyone.
It took Suo Ying a while to remember where this place was. "Yes, His Majesty hates that prince deeply. I don't think the Imperial Guards would get too close when they're on patrol at night!"
Despise it deeply? Qingzan thought, if he really despised it deeply, why would he appear there alone? I'm afraid the Saint's heart is unfathomable, and people's words are often contradictory.
But these have nothing to do with her. After last night, she and the emperor will no longer have any contact.
Whether that man intended it or not, his every move last night was all about leveraging his power and oppressing others. Qingzan didn't want to be associated with the powerful, nor did she want to live under the shadow of the emperor's majesty. All she could do was keep a respectful distance and stay quietly in the palace until she was twenty-five.
The old lady had promised her that she would be allowed to leave the palace when she turned twenty-five. Then she would be free and would not have to be a slave for the rest of her life in this cannibalistic place.
This was the only way out Qingzan could hope for, and she couldn't help but believe it. Besides, there was no need for the old lady to lie to her.
The old lady of the Marquis's residence was a devoted Buddhist, a deeply compassionate woman, sympathetic to the poor and vulnerable. Qingzan remembered that when she was three years old, many strangers suddenly arrived at their home. Her aunt, who had been caring for her mother and her aunt, took her out and took her to an inn for a few days. Later, they brought her to the Marquis's residence, claiming they had found her a place to stay. After that, her aunt seemed to have left with her mother, and she never saw them again. It was the old lady who took her back and brought her back to her own courtyard... Over the years, she had always taken good care of her and relied heavily on her.
So the old lady wanted her to enter the palace, saying that she was capable of doing things reliably and asked her to give more advice to the queen. With such a favor in mind, how could Qingzan refuse? And as a slave, she had no right to refuse.
Thinking that she would leave one day, Qingzan couldn't help but look at Suoying worriedly. She was really too easy to bully. Until now, she was often forced by the palace servants in the front hall to do some work like planting flowers and watering plants for them.
At this time, Qingzan heard a distant noise outside and stopped talking.
Suo Ying listened carefully and said, "It's Ling Ruo and Man Chun from next door who are back."
Qingzan knew that her hearing was better than that of an average person, and she couldn't help but worry that once she left, it would be even harder for anyone to take care of her. So she said sternly, "Your hearing is better than that of an average person, so don't let anyone else know."
Seeing Qingzan's sudden seriousness, Suoying's eyes flickered for a moment, and then returned to normal the next moment.
She always listened to Qingzan's words and put the pillow under Qingzan's waist. "I know. Why did you suddenly say this, sister? Just lean back and rest for a while. I'll go get you some porridge. I was worried that you didn't have breakfast or lunch, so I saved some for you. I just put it under the quilt, so it must be warm!"
Qingzan felt a little jealous for no reason, but a gentle smile appeared on her pale lips: "I am really a little greedy right now."
In this troubled world, having such a bowl of porridge to care for her makes her feel that God is not too unkind to her.
Let her be weak and greedy for once, and keep this friend.
*
Purple Spring Hall.
The Empress Dowager was about to turn forty, and the fine lines of time had inevitably appeared at the corners of her eyes. Fortunately, her bones were deep and majestic, and she could hold her flesh, so she did not look old at all, and looked like a beautiful woman with a mature charm.
After hearing from the palace servants that His Majesty had sent someone to inform us that he would be coming for dinner today, the Empress Dowager reclined on the chaise longue and said angrily, "Didn't he just come a few days ago? Why is he here again? This boy, he has left all these new beauties in the palace and keeps coming to me all day. What's he doing? He must be causing trouble for me again."
Lian Lian, the head aunt at the Empress Dowager's side, smiled and replied, "Your Majesty values filial piety and is willing to be close to you. It would be a good thing for the people of the world to know this."
The Queen Mother glanced at her and said, "You are getting older and more fond of polite words. The mother-son relationship between me and the emperor does not need a meal to show. But every time he comes, everyone in my palace serves him with fear, not daring to neglect his imperial majesty. It is inevitable to mobilize a large number of troops and make a grand arrangement, which ruins my leisure and elegance. Even though we are mother and son in the royal family, it is really impossible to be close."
Lian Ma, who had watched the emperor grow up and treated him like a half-son, joined in the fun by saying, "If you really think so, I will tell His Majesty everything he said later. But I'm afraid he'll be heartbroken."
The Queen Mother feigned anger and threw the fruit at the others. "I thought you were on his side, but it turns out you're deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us! I can't keep you in my Purple Spring Palace. Why don't you send your eldest niece to the palace tomorrow? I think she'll please me much better than you."
Although the Queen Mother said this in a joking tone, Nanny Lian knew very well that she would never say such a thing unless she really had this idea. She immediately remembered that before this selection, the Queen Mother had thought about letting her niece enter the selection as well.
The Empress Dowager's most favored slave put away the teasing expression on his face and looked at his master hesitantly, "Your Majesty..."
"Alright, alright, I was just saying that. The election just ended, and there are already many new faces in the palace. Why add another one?" The Queen Mother sighed again, as if quite distressed. "I'm trying to promote your husband's family with good intentions, but you're putting it in a difficult position."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager pointed to the gold- and jade-inlaid gift boxes displayed on a nearby cabinet. "See if anything is acceptable and store it in the storeroom. Anything unacceptable should be returned. Before the election, everyone rushed to give me gifts, hoping their daughters would be selected. Now that I've been selected, they're still trying to shove gifts into my hands, hoping their daughters will be favored. What do they think of me? If I truly had the ability to influence the Emperor, I would certainly prefer to promote my own people."
Nanny Lian sorted through the items and took out only one: "This one wasn't sent by the ministers, it was the wild ginseng presented by Concubine Yang."
The Queen Mother glanced at him leisurely, not knowing whether she saw anything.
At dinner time, the emperor arrived at Ziquan Palace as promised.
The Empress Dowager did not want to keep the Emperor in suspense. She had a table full of his favorite dishes prepared. During the meal, she asked everyone, "Why do you come so often? Haven't you been busy with government affairs lately?"
No one knows a son better than his mother. Logically speaking, if the emperor really had something to say, he should have said it out loud by now.
But today, this young emperor, who had ascended the throne and held sway over the world, did not remove his majestic and profound imperial crown in front of his mother as he had in the past. He smiled slowly and calmly put down his chopsticks. He then offered an obvious riddle: "You're overthinking it. I just want to be with you, Queen Mother. Do you think you won't allow it?"
Even the Queen Mother was a little confused by him.
Before leaving, the emperor ordered all the palace servants in Ziquan Palace to gather at the square in front of the palace.
Two young eunuchs held two trays, and Xu Delu took out snowflake silver ingots one by one from the trays and distributed them to everyone: "Everyone has one. Come and get them according to the list. This is the reward from His Majesty. The Empress Dowager's fortieth birthday is coming soon. Everyone must perform their duties with extreme care. Those who do their best will be rewarded!"
Inside the palace, the Queen Mother leaned against the window, watching this scene, and asked Nanny Lian, "Look, what's he singing now?"
Even Nanny was baffled, but at the beginning of the year, the Imperial Eunuch Xu had told her that His Majesty intended to increase the salaries of the palace servants in Ziquan Palace. She didn't know how it had become such a grand reward. So she told him the truth.
On the platform in front of the palace, the emperor watched all this in silence and cold eyes.
Only after Xu Delu had distributed all the rewards did he go up the stairs to report to him.
"Not one missing? No mistakes or omissions?" Xiao Fang asked.
"Your Majesty, they all match, not one less, not one more," Xu Delu confirmed. He was referring to the palace maid's list, which had every age and physical description recorded, so there would be no false or impersonation.
But His Majesty was as calm as water, and was obviously not satisfied with the result.
Just as Xu Delu was panicking, he saw the emperor turning around to leave, so he saluted loudly: "Get up—"
Sitting on the royal carriage, the emperor, who remained calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, almost laughed out of anger.
Lie to him?
Dare to lie to him.
I thought that pretending to reply to him and taking the opportunity to escape was the pinnacle of courage for the little palace maid.
Unexpectedly, even her reply was a complete lie.
Really——
Your courage is commendable.
*
In the following days, the emperor was busy with state affairs and did not enter the harem. He only had dinner with the empress dowager.
The emperor's time is of the utmost importance. From major matters such as military deployment and local grain transport to minor matters such as official promotions and filling vacancies, he can spend seven or eight hours a day dealing with state affairs and cannot easily rest.
On this day, finally hearing that he was going to the harem, the concubines immediately felt a sense of anticipation. The Queen was no exception, and before the time came, she asked several times, "Where did your Majesty go?"
The palace maid shrank her neck and said, "I heard...she went to Huying Pavilion in Guanju Palace, to the newly arrived Concubine Yang."
Fengzao Palace then broke another set of secret color porcelain tea cups.
Concubine Yang was the one with the highest initial title among this group of newcomers. She was the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. The Empress had always paid extra attention to her, but she didn't expect that she would be the first to get the chance to sleep with the emperor. What would happen in the future?
Fortunately, Fengzao Palace had ample reserves, which could withstand the continuous losses.
When the palace maid from the main hall came to the storehouse to get new tea sets, although she lowered her head to hide it, Qingzan still noticed a red bruise above the left eyebrow of the visitor.
Qingzan took out a bottle of ointment she had prepared and gave it to the man: "What's wrong with your forehead? You need to treat it quickly, otherwise it will hurt."
The young maid, already preoccupied with her duties, hadn't been able to get the medicine to treat her wounds in time, so she could only endure the pain. It would have been nice if no one had asked about it, but then someone suddenly spoke with such concern. As she took the medicine bottle, she burst into tears: "Thank you so much. I don't know what's wrong with the Queen lately..."
This is the limit of what can be said. Even if this palace maid is given the courage of a bear and a tiger, she dare not say anything bad about the queen. If she lets out even a word, she will not know what kind of fate will be waiting for her.
But at the same time, it was enough to say this. Qing Zan knew that the Queen was taking out her anger on others again, so she didn't ask any more questions.
However, the young maid saw Qingzan's indifferent reaction, closed the door of the storeroom, and said aggrievedly: "Sister, you don't know, I heard that His Majesty hasn't been to the harem recently. Today, he finally came, but went to Yang Meiren's place. How can Your Majesty not be sad?"
"Those who work in the Empress Dowager's palace are truly blessed. His Majesty is benevolent and filial. I heard that he personally visited the Purple Spring Palace that day and ordered a reward for the entire palace."
The more indifferent Qingzan's reaction was, the more excited the young maid became, eager to spill her guts, saying, "All the palace maids were summoned to the palace. Not only did they get to show their faces before His Majesty, they also received a whole ingot of silver as a reward. Unlike us, we got nothing at all and our heads were hanging by a thread."
Finally, he called out to himself: "Hey, look at me, I've been busy talking to you, I have to hurry back."
The windows on all four sides of the west warehouse are sealed. In order to reduce the damage caused by wind and sun to the treasures in the warehouse, there are many corners on the walls that are dark all year round.
Now, in this dim and dark room, a woman with a slim and graceful figure is standing in a corner, using a feather duster to repeatedly brush a tall porcelain vase standing on the ground.
As she raised her hand, her wrist, as white as moonlit snow, was slightly exposed from the wide cuffs. But if you looked closely, you could see that it was trembling uncontrollably...
She was not nearly as calm as she appeared.
Just as the little palace maid was about to step out of the door, she heard the woman who seemed to be indifferent to the palace gossips just now actually speak.
"But has everyone in Ziquan Palace received their reward?"
The young maid didn't notice the trembling in her gentle, clear, frosty voice. She simply thought she had finally piqued her interest and turned around to say, "Yes, yes. I have to go now. I'll talk to you next time I have time. You often work in the warehouse, so it's inevitable that you know less!"
Qingzan looked at the warehouse door that opened and closed. The coldness from the long rain crawled from her feet to her head like a wildly growing vine, blocking and tangling in her heart, and finally grew into a thriving and absurd idea.
He was looking for her.
The emperor did this to find her.
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