Chapter 12
The flowers and plants in the courtyard have sprouted new buds, as green as the jade bracelet that Ji Liangren used to wear on her wrist, but with a bit more vitality than dead things. They are scattered outside the huge palace, welcoming the coming spring.
Li Fuquan accepted the reward that day, but the new bride would have to wait for a while, and he still had to sweep the courtyard himself during this time. The beauty who had lived in the palace for a long time was even happier than him, changing into red clothes and going out to enjoy the early spring scenery.
She should be a concubine now. Li Fuquan received the reward he deserved from her. Seeing that she had gotten rid of the trace of illness she had last year and was as beautiful as a painting, the palace had been replaced with more expensive incense. The smoke lingered between the beams and pillars all day long, attracting the fluttering butterflies that accidentally flew in and were trapped in the small space.
He went in and out of the palace more often, sometimes delivering messages for the imperial concubine or doing some unimportant things. Li Fuquan began to get used to the incense, smelling it every day, and could even recognize the different styles and aromas.
In the blink of an eye, only a few months had passed, and he had already been in the palace for almost a year. The wooden sign had been forgotten by him under the wintersweet tree. The newcomer he had sent to clean the courtyard was very similar to Zhao Cai at that time. He would tremble uncontrollably at the mere mention of harsh words. He seemed to be a quiet person, and as long as no one provoked him, he would not cause any serious trouble.
Li Fuquan even had someone check which family had sent the child to the palace, and was relieved to learn it wasn't the same official who had sent him there before. Only his own residence remained, and the imperial concubines asked him about it several times, but he always evaded them with excuses about his current disability.
Of course, only he himself knew that it was for the convenience of opening the window at any time. By opening the window, one could see the wintersweet standing in the center of the courtyard. It was the emperor's original reward, and it would occasionally remind His Majesty of the concubine in the palace, and then stay here overnight, so that their long wait would not be in vain.
The wintersweet also put out new branches, and just like when it bloomed in the heavy snow before, clusters of green swayed in the breeze, becoming the most lively living thing in the hall - compared to them, compared to other dead things, compared to the scenes that repeated day after day.
The flowers in the garden blossomed and faded, and the fragrant spring breeze that had just caressed his face had already brought the summer heat. Li Fuquan had gradually grown accustomed to the days of having someone to give him orders, but late into the night he still felt unsatisfied. He felt that in his current position, neither high nor low, he could still reach higher, just like when he stole chickens in the past, waiting for an opportunity, waiting for a meal that would make him remember for years to come.
His Majesty has started to stay overnight in the palace again recently, and the concubine no longer leaves the palace. She waits every day for boxes of imperial gifts to be carried in.
Li Fuquan went to collect his monthly salary as usual. Now he could mingle among the eunuchs and listen to their gossip. He had a better understanding of the promotion and demotion of positions. According to age, if the concubine he served did not receive great favor again, it would be impossible for her to climb up the ladder.
I will stay in this position forever. If nothing goes wrong, after a few years I will be transferred to serve the new concubines in the palace or serve as a clothes maid after being tired of her.
He fumbled with his full purse, sat on the edge of the couch, and gazed at the illuminated palace. Whether the palace gates were open or closed was of no concern to him. He simply inhaled the wafting fragrance of cosmetics and considered what he had actually gained this year. He hadn't seen the imperial concubine in nearly two weeks, and the last time the emperor had awarded him only half a piece of broken jade, which he had immediately placed with the silver.
Only now did he remember that, as he kept touching the faint patterns on it with his fingertips, and then carefully counted the silver he had saved this year, it was naturally much more than the original 750 coins, so much that he could hardly count them.
However, it would be difficult for him to keep such a large amount of silver. Li Fuquan had already made up his mind and planned to go to the Minister of Personnel next month to ask him to leave him a vacancy. After the Concubine made her plans, he would leave the palace and replace her with someone new. It was nothing for him to get used to.
Leaving this temple, leaving behind the days of constantly gazing at the wintersweet, he could continue to climb, following his heart's desire. He wasn't old enough to stop climbing, after all; the effort and wealth he put into this climb would be worth it. There wouldn't be worse days than now, and he wouldn't fall again. He had already endured the pain that felt like being cut by a thousand knives last year, and when it came to letting go of other things, he was just a little more hesitant than usual.
He decided on his next route that night, and after thinking it over, he decided to send some gifts early the next morning and make arrangements.
He changed into new clothes and waited outside the door, looking at the silhouettes of people reflected in the lights that were still on. He didn't know what they were whispering about. He thought they were probably here to do the same thing as him.
Li Fuquan waited quietly, and unexpectedly met the visitor's eyes when he came out. Judging from his stature, he didn't look like a palace servant waiting inside, but more like a guard guarding the palace gate.
The attendant followed him, opened the door, and with a smile, gently invited him in to sit down. Before Li Fuquan could take out the purse and the broken jade, he closed the door, extinguished the lamp that had been burning, and said, "I'm afraid it's inconvenient for a guest to come in this early morning. But you came at the right time. I don't like these material things—" The attendant stretched out his words and leaned close to his ear, "I remember whose palace you belong to. I have a ready-made business. Do you want to do it with me?"
Li Fuquan was puzzled, but he had to agree to the other party's question and ask, "I came here for these matters. I wonder how much benefit I can get from the business you mentioned."
The attendant sat up straight, took out a small object wrapped in oil paper from his sleeve, placed it in his palm, and said word by word, "After this is done, I will owe you a favor. You can ask for anything that is within your responsibility."
Li Fuquan held the light oil paper and began to panic as before. The minister seemed to have sensed his hesitation and said, "This medicine is just something that consumes your energy. You don't need to use it every day. Just mix some in your makeup cream occasionally. It won't cause any serious consequences."
He then took out a small bag of silver from his sleeve and handed it to Li Fuquan along with the oil paper. "If you're not sure, you can just try it once. If you want to come again later, you're always welcome."
He loosened his hand, looked at what Li Fuquan was holding and smiled, "Go back. You've only been in the palace for a short time, so I'm afraid you don't understand yet. The way out for all of us is in the hands of the emperor. Secondly, it's in our own hands. Others can't even protect themselves, so how can we rely on them?"
Li Fuquan stood up and was escorted out the door. He stuffed all the things into his sleeves after feeling the hot wind in his face. Then he covered his fingertips that were trembling with excitement and panic, and returned to the side of the hall as usual.
The imperial concubine's rouge was paid monthly, and sometimes it would pass through his hands. Counting the days, he knew today was the day for a new one. The maids waited in the palace as usual. Li Fuquan counted this month's allotment, said goodbye to the attendant who had brought the gifts, then opened the oil-paper package hidden in his sleeve and sprinkled the finely ground powder into the ochre rouge. Once it had dissolved, he closed the lid and asked the maid to take it back to the palace for the imperial concubine.
He mixed the silver he got from the minister with the money in his own purse. He could hardly hold the weight with one hand. Thinking of the last words he had just heard, he made up his mind. After all, he had already done what the man had ordered.
Just as the Minister of the Interior had said, the Concubine only looked a little puffy, and after applying the new cream, it was no longer noticeable. Perhaps there were other differences. Li Fuquan carefully observed the movements in the palace. The maids had all been injured to varying degrees these past few days, and they were always avoiding people when entering and leaving.
None of this had anything to do with him, he repeated, and went to the Minister of the Interior to get the same two packets of oil paper. He feigned concern and mixed them with the newly delivered ointment, helping the maid, who was unable to move, to bring it into the palace. The concubine was furious, her jade hairpins scattered all over the floor. He knelt down and offered some unnecessary compliments to calm her down. He then placed the new ointment next to the dressing table, where he could reach it.
Li Fuquan returned to his residence. The minister only allowed him to open the packages one by one according to the month. He was a little impatient and finally thought through some things. Since the concubine was always waiting for the emperor, he might as well let him reveal some explosive information and fan the flames until the emperor came again - perhaps he could hold his life in his own hands first, and then hand it over to the emperor personally.
Fortunately, the heavens didn't make him wait too long this time. A midsummer downpour had just ended in the courtyard, and the emperor, passing by the palace at nightfall, first entered to take a look at the flourishing wintersweets before asking about the imperial concubines in the palace. Li Fuquan personally took the lantern and replied, saying that perhaps she had gone to bed early. The emperor then dismissed the attendants who followed him and entered the palace alone.
This time he did not stand beside the wintersweet, waiting for unusual noises to be heard - it was late at night, and suddenly there was a noise in the hall, as if something was smashed.
He called the eunuchs and guards who were on night watch outside, and hurried to the palace gate with a lantern in hand. He asked in a low voice what the emperor had ordered, and listened carefully to the unusual sounds before rushing into the palace.
The oil lamp in her hand illuminated the scene in the hall. The emperor saw that the concubine had her hair loose and was holding something in her hand. He was furious, but he could not control the mad woman with the help of the light. Li Fuquan tried to persuade her and hurried forward to snatch the thing from the concubine's hand. He did not stand up and kneel down to see the emperor's expression until the guards who came in stabbed her to death with a few swords.
He seemed completely unaware that his formal attire had been ripped, his arm exposed and dripping with red blood. After the Emperor inquired about the entire situation, he spared a moment or two to calm his fear and anger. "He may appear small, but he was incredibly strong. Now that he's dead, have the Empress send someone to investigate. As for you—you've been instrumental in protecting the Emperor. If you're cleared of suspicion, follow me and continue your shift as the lamplighter."
Li Fuquan paid his respects, waited for half a month for the inspection, and then followed the emperor's order from then on. Naturally, nothing was found, as the box of ointment was knocked over by the imperial concubine herself that day. When he met the minister again, he personally performed the favor and had a long talk with the minister, clapping his hands.
He gradually forgot what the concubine looked like, and also the figure that emanated from the darkness that night. He only occasionally saw the long scabs on his arms and smiled softly. He just thought it was fate. The concubine had chosen that box of ointment in the first place, without any precautions, so naturally he couldn't blame himself.
He finally agreed to change his residence. Now he followed the emperor day and night, following behind His Majesty. He felt that his wish had come true. For the rest of his life, he only needed to serve His Majesty well. The stairs to climb up were right in front of him.
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