Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 56

In that instant, I seemed to understand something. I walked up steadily, and the two of them looked at me with surprise.

I smiled slightly, "I won't report this to the Emperor."

Seeing that the two of them quickly regained their composure, I gave a cold smile and glanced at the woman, "Go back to where you were going—"

Only Fifth Uncle and I remained in the courtyard.

I looked at him coldly, "Why?"

His casually raised, warm smile stung my eyes. I clenched my fist and slapped him across the cheek.

He was stunned, looking at me with disbelief.

"Don't use that kind of smile, you'll never deserve it." My eyes were devoid of any warmth. "You still haven't answered me, why? Don't try to fool me by saying it's just because of a bitch in Eighth Master's room."

He brushed a hand over his lips and narrowed his eyes. "You're quite shrewd. You tell me."

I controlled my trembling right hand, "Go after Eighth Master, make Seventh Master lose his right-hand man, and get him all dirty. Because you also want... that position..."

"Why wasn't that position mine? Why does he always get more than me? Why was he sent to the Empress's Palace instead of me? Why did he learn the ways of a ruler while I learned the ways of a subject? Why can he marry a woman from the incredibly prestigious Rong family, while I can't?"

I looked at him; his hands had stopped trembling.

"Because he has lost more than you have..."

He fell silent, looking at me without saying a word.

My voice choked with sobs. "His dependence on others, his suppressed grievances, the loss of his birth mother's care from a young age, his inability to laugh or cry freely—these are things he lacks compared to you. He married a woman from a prominent family, but because of this, he painfully severed his truest feelings and betrayed the woman who was sincere to him. The theories of being a ruler he learned only filled him with panic and confusion, and because of that position… he stained his own hands, destroyed his gentlemanly integrity, and is trapped in purgatory burdened with guilt, something he can never escape, just as his hands can never be cleaned again…"

Fifth Master looked at me with a somewhat dazed expression, "Zheng'er, you..."

I turned my head away. "Don't call me that. In your heart, I'm just like that bitch who just left—someone you can use, isn't I? You used her to learn about the Eighth Prince's every move, while I'm the Emperor's closest maid. One day, will you also use me to learn about the Emperor's thoughts? Isn't all of this just your wishful thinking? Wearing a fake mask, pretending to be indifferent to the world and honest and dutiful, but inside you are incredibly restless because you don't know how to be satisfied. You will never know what you want."

He gave a bitter smile and reached out to pull me. My tears fell in panic, and I hurriedly backed away. "Don't smile at me like that, Fifth Master. I've told you, don't smile like that. It really makes me feel uneasy. The person who smiles at me like that is just like you, using me in the most despicable way to get what they need from me. It's because of the pretense that their smile is so warm. If that's the case, I'd rather never accept any smiles again."

The Emperor ultimately ordered Lu Li to reflect on his actions at home, but imprisoned Lu Xiu in the West Alley, a horse-breeding courtyard where most members of the royal family who committed crimes were detained for the rest of their lives. Imprisonment was nothing to Lu Xiu, but he had already fallen ill after kneeling in the Buddhist hall for three days without a drop of water. His precious body had never suffered such torment before.

When the news came, I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

"I like Eighth Master." Under the dim light, Xiaoyu's profile was illuminated as she focused on her needlework, her words seemingly spoken casually.

I looked up at her from the book. Her smile was still faint. "I mean it. Today in the palace, I saw the real Eighth Prince. Before, I only thought he was unruly and did outrageous things just to get the Emperor's attention. But now I understand that the Eighth Prince does things according to his heart. Such a person is real and reassuring. But seeing this kind of Eighth Prince also makes my heart ache."

Xiaoyu's words struck a chord with me, and I smiled along, "Me too."

"What?"

"Is Miss Yan here?" Chang Gonggong's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Yes," I replied hastily. "Does His Majesty have any orders? I'm not on duty tonight."

"The Emperor said he wanted to drink the tea brewed by the young lady."

As we walked along the corridor, we heard Eunuch Chang instruct us, “Don’t say a word about Eighth Master. Today, the eunuch on duty only said that Eighth Master is good to us, and he was punished with several strokes of the cane. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Neither Xiaoyu nor I said a word; we just silently carried our tea as we walked.

Throughout the night, the Emperor served tea several times. Seeing that Lu Xiu was in a relatively good mood, the Emperor couldn't help but want to plead for him.

Several times, the words were on the tip of her tongue, but seeing Eunuch Chang shaking his head behind her, she swallowed them back.

Xiaoyu replaced the herbal tea and handed it to me. I turned around and left the hall to refill the water.

As soon as Xiaoyu finished speaking, I couldn't take another step.

Xiaoyu pleaded earnestly, "I beg Your Majesty to grant the Eighth Prince a royal physician."

I stood there, stunned. It should have been me pleading for mercy.

I handed the teacup in my hand to a maid, turned around and went back to the warm pavilion. I knelt down next to Xiaoyu and said, "I beg Your Majesty to grant the Eighth Prince a royal physician."

The Emperor stared at us silently for a long while, then said coldly, "You really dare to say anything now that you're relying on my favor!"

The sadness in my heart is not for myself, but for the pain that Lu Xiu has borne the Emperor's long-standing grudge for the Rong family.

I kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Isn't the Eighth Prince the Emperor's own flesh and blood? The Emperor is a benevolent ruler. Considering that Consort Yuan passed away early and only left behind this one son, please save the Eighth Prince no matter what. This servant is willing to accept any punishment."

The Emperor rose and said angrily, "It seems I have never punished you."

In front of the dark Chaoyang Hall, all was quiet except for the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. A slight pain came from my leg; I touched my knee and tried to move it, only to feel another sharp pain.

Seeing my reaction, Xiaoyu said, "You were going out anyway, why did you come back to join in the fun?"

I gave her a smile. "Are you the only one allowed to feel sorry for him?"

"What?" Xiaoyu tilted her head and changed her kneeling position.

"I said me too." Seeing her serious expression, I wanted to laugh even more. "I like this Eighth Prince too, but my heart... aches for him too."

"Anyway, I think it was worth it." Xiaoyu looked up at the not-so-bright moon. "I did what I could."

He did what he could... Lu Xiuyi did what he could for the Rong family.

Lu Xiu, who stubbornly knelt before the Buddha without remorse, and I met in a dramatic way, with a misunderstanding and entanglement. In front of me, he always smiled cynically, intending to make fun of me, but he always stood up for me at the crucial moment, arguing with his most respected Seventh Brother on my behalf.

A bitter smile escaped from the corner of my mouth. I never imagined that we two, who used to bicker and joke around, would be so inseparable if one of us were in trouble. Having one true friend in life is enough.

Before dawn, footsteps could be heard in front of the palace. Xiaoyu nudged me as I leaned on her shoulder.

I was still half asleep, but I could hear the footsteps getting closer and closer.

"Fourth Brother, Seventh Brother, look at this..." It was Ninth Master's voice.

Xiaoyu and I looked at the gentlemen standing not far away.

Finally, someone approached us, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the person we least wanted to see.

"Fifth Master," Xiaoyu called out.

I stubbornly remained silent, thinking that since I was already kneeling, I might as well just consider this a proper greeting.

Fifth Master wasn't angry. It wasn't quite dawn yet, so I couldn't see his expression.

"You two ladies, get up and rest. Around midnight, the Emperor sent the imperial physician to the west alley to treat the Eighth Prince."

Chapter Nine: Speaking Frankly

Back in the palace, I was no longer sleepy at all.

After changing his clothes and washing up, he returned to the warm chamber, pondering how to apologize.

As soon as I stepped into the inner hall, I saw the princes sitting far away. The emperor seemed to have stayed up all night and had just finished breakfast. Several palace maids were helping him wash his hands. I noticed their unfamiliarity with me and said softly, "Let me serve you instead."

The Emperor did not refuse, so I went over and skillfully washed his hands. After applying a hot towel to them, I couldn't help but sigh, "Your Majesty, please don't stay up so late anymore; your body is swollen."

"Several imperial physicians just reported that the Eighth Prince's fever has subsided and he has regained consciousness." He slightly raised his eyes and looked at me. "I've gotten so used to being served by you that I've become quite pampered."

I was startled and suddenly wondered why they weren't scolding me, but were talking about these things instead.

He leaned back slightly, his eyes half-closed. "After your commotion yesterday, I remembered that you were recommended by the Eighth Prince, so you're one of his people?"

“As I said, I serve before the Emperor; I am His Majesty’s person.”

The Emperor glanced at me and asked, "Is your heart with the Eighth Prince?"

Not knowing what the emperor meant, I only felt a shiver run through my body and a chill run down the back of my neck.

With a smile, Eunuch Chang scolded, "Miss, why haven't you answered for so long?"

"This servant does not understand. What does Your Majesty mean?"

"Do you have anything to say about my punishment of the Eighth Prince?" the Emperor asked aggressively.

Eunuch Chang frowned and shook his head slightly in the shadows, signaling me to be careful what I said. Careful speech again. When was Rong Zhaozhi ever careful with her words? She wasn't even given a chance to say "no" before he personally ordered her execution. She endured for so many years, only to be manipulated by others. Today, those words are stuck in my throat, yet I'm filled with fear.

I felt every part of my body trembling. My hands shook violently. The image of the emperor before me gradually blurred.

Rong Zhaozhi is not afraid of death. But Yan Zheng is afraid now.

To speak or not to speak. It's a matter of life and death.

I kowtowed with all my might and said, "It's only four words more than Eighth Master's."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly relaxed completely; his hands stopped trembling, and his body stopped shaking.

Despite my utmost rationality and caution, when the time came, I still followed my heart.

"Speak." That single word revealed the emperor's wrath.

"Eighth Prince is innocent, Rong is innocent, Huainan is innocent."

His words caused a stir among those present.

Even the princes sitting in the distance were terrified by me.

Even Xiaoyu was pale, her eyes red and swollen, as if she was about to shed tears for me.

The emperor stared at me, stunned for a long time.

As I said those words, I became incredibly lucid. I knew the consequences of what I was saying, but I had to say it, even if it meant my death, because the Rong family blood still flowed in my veins.

Perhaps it was disbelief that those words came from my mouth, or perhaps they couldn't see through my audacity, but the emperor was stunned for a long time, and gradually leaned back.

"Fine, you three are innocent, but I must tell you that you are guilty—" He was exhausted at this moment, "Lady Yan Zheng, you have become arrogant because of my favor, and your words and deeds are wicked. You shall be punished with twenty strokes of the cane."

At least it's not execution, I comforted myself.

After respectfully kowtowing three times to the emperor, someone ordered, "Bring the torture bench."

Before long, several palace servants came out from the outer room, carrying torture benches.

Eunuch Chang instructed the person standing to the side, "Hold down Yan girl and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

His words contained helplessness and reluctance, but facing the furious emperor, he had to suppress all his emotions.

Xiaoyu walked up cautiously, "This servant will do it."

She placed her hands on my shoulders, and I could feel that her hands were trembling violently.

I suddenly felt a chill on my neck; something had fallen and was wet.

The board seemed to have been raised, but it didn't fall for a long time.

With a slightly tearful voice, Eunuch Chang asked, "Your Majesty—"

"beat!"

The moment the sound faded, the board came down.