The Lonely City Closed

Chapter 7

Apart from Consort Zhang, everyone in the hall who heard what I had just said smiled. The Palace Attendant then explained the reason, and Consort Miao turned to look at me with gratitude in her eyes. Consort Yu also breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Consort Miao.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Lady Zhang stood up again, pointed at the doll on the ground, and asked the princess sternly, "What about this doll with the needles stuck in it? Why did it appear right after you went to the back garden?"

The princess frowned, turned her face slightly away, and ignored her.

Zhang Meiren, however, did not stop talking. Instead, she picked up the doll and presented it directly to the princess: "I have always heard that the princess is bold and responsible. Why is she silent now?"

The princess kept her lips tightly pressed together, ignoring her completely. Consort Zhang continued to press for answers, and seeing this, the Empress advised the princess, "If this matter has nothing to do with you, then explain it to Consort Zhang."

The princess bit her lip and lowered her eyes. After a long while, she finally uttered four words: "I can't do it."

"You don't know how to do it?" The Empress's tone was gentle, intending to entice her to explain further. "What don't you know how to do?"

This time, however, the princess refused to speak. Consort Miao was anxious and repeatedly urged her to answer, but the princess remained silent.

The Empress remained silent, Consort Zhang looked furious, and Consort Miao, after trying to persuade her for a while, seeing that everyone in the hall was silent, felt that her words of advice were particularly clear, so she quickly fell silent. An awkward silence descended upon the hall once more.

It was I who finally broke the silence.

"Your Highness, the princess has answered." When this voice rang out, I was just as surprised as everyone else: a mere eunuch had dared to interrupt twice to discuss a mysterious matter in the harem—where did he get the audacity? Where did he get the audacity!

But since I had already spoken, I had no choice but to continue: "In the past, Zhao Feiyan accused Ban Jieyu of cursing. Emperor Cheng of Han questioned Jieyu, and she replied, 'I have heard that life and death are preordained, and wealth and honor are determined by Heaven. Even doing good does not bring blessings, so what hope is there in indulging in evil desires? If the gods and spirits are aware, they will not accept the accusations of wicked people; if they are not aware, what is the use of accusing them? Therefore, I will not do it.' I dare to guess that what the princess just said, 'I will not do it,' is the same as what Ban Jieyu meant by 'therefore I will not do it.'"

As I finished speaking, I felt the princess turn her head and gaze at me. Our eyes met for a moment, and I felt her eyes sparkle, with a faint smile appearing on them. My cheeks flushed instantly, and I lowered my head.

Everyone was speechless for a moment. After a while, Yu Jieyu laughed and praised, "What a clever little eunuch! What you say makes perfect sense. It must be so."

The Empress nodded and smiled. Consort Miao and the Palace Attendant also looked at me with pleasant expressions. However, Consort Zhang became increasingly angry and stared at me, scolding, "You compared me to Zhao Feiyan?"

I was taken aback. Initially, I only wanted to defend Princess Fukang, so I cited the story of Consort Ban. I had no intention of comparing Consort Zhang to Zhao Feiyan, but now it seems difficult to explain.

Fortunately, a message from an eunuch outside saved me at that moment: "His Majesty has woken up and wants to see Princess Fukang!"

The palace ladies all stood up. The Empress took Princess Fukang's hand and said, "Come, let's go see your father." The two immediately left the hall, followed closely by Consort Miao and Consort Yu. Lady Zhang was stunned for a moment, then quickly grabbed her daughter and hurried off as well.

The rest of the people in the hall gradually dispersed. I stood there for a long time, and when I saw that no one cared about me anymore, I walked out of the hall and returned to the painting academy along the same route.

The Lonely City Closes (The Princess Who Fell in Love with the Eunuch) Autumn Harmony (Autumn Harmony)

Chapter word count: 4961 Update time: 08-08-21 15:33

For the next few days, life at the Painting Academy proceeded uneventfully, as usual, without any major news from the inner palace. I couldn't help but inquire with my childhood companions who had been transferred to the Inner Palace Attendants' Bureau. They told me that the Emperor's health was gradually improving. He was deeply moved upon hearing that Princess Fukang had prayed to the moon during his illness, offering herself in place of her father, and from then on, he loved the princess even more. Although Consort Zhang was arrogant in public, she was very perceptive when facing the Emperor. Now that she saw him treating the princess like his precious jewel, she refrained from mentioning witchcraft again. Moreover, since Youwu's condition had improved slightly, she temporarily refrained from making things difficult for the princess.

On the day Cui Bai left the painting academy, I saw him off to the palace gate. Before I left, he led me to a secluded spot, took out a scroll, and handed it to me with both hands, asking, "Huaiji, could you please give this painting, 'Autumn River and Hibiscus,' to a friend for me?"

Without thinking, I agreed, but after receiving the painting, I was surprised to find that Zixi had another friend in the palace.

Unfolding the painting, one sees a scene of autumn waters, with lotus blossoms half-open and hibiscus in full bloom. Two or three wagtails skim the water and perch among the flowers and leaves, while above them, a pair of wild geese fly in pairs, one stretching its neck to the right and the other spreading its wings to the left, circling and soaring in succession. The scenery is lively and expressive, and the colors are light and elegant.

I couldn't help but admire him and asked him who he wanted to give it to.

He laughed heartily and said, “Before the New Year, His Majesty ordered the court painters to create a scroll depicting scenes of revelry. However, after the draft was completed, the Emperor was dissatisfied, saying, ‘The layout of the rooms is fine, but the palace women's clothing isn't fashionable.’ So he ordered the ladies-in-waiting of the Imperial Clothing Bureau to explain the characteristics of palace attire to us and demonstrate how to style hair. The ladies-in-waiting worked in pairs, one styling the other's hair and adding a crown. Among them was a little girl of about twelve or thirteen, with a delicate and lovely appearance. For some reason, she was weeping as she styled her hair. I found it strange and asked her why. She said, ‘This morning, my pet water sparrow died.’” Her voice was soft and gentle, truly pitiful to behold. I promised her I would give her a miraculous bird the next day. That very evening, I painted a wagtail and gave it to her the following day. She was overjoyed and thanked me profusely. Her skin was fair and delicate, her cheeks slightly flushed, and even the middle of her nose had a touch of childlike rouge, like a lotus in the autumn dawn, very beautiful. I jokingly asked her, "What kind of rouge did you use, young lady? What's the name of your makeup?" She was shy and didn't answer, so I didn't press her further, but asked her to keep this makeup color, as I wanted to include her in my painting of her enjoying herself. For the next few days, she indeed wore this makeup until I finished painting her.”

I nodded and said, "The Department of Clothing and Appearance is in charge of cosmetics, towels, combs, clothing and toys. Applying makeup should also be part of their duties."

Cui Bai laughed and said, "But I later learned that her makeup wasn't painted on... She was absent on the last day that the people from the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs came to the Painting Academy. I asked her companions, and they told me that although her skin was fair and unusual, she was also unusually sensitive. Changes in weather or improper diet could cause her face to turn red. On the day I asked her about her makeup, she first went to comb Consort Miao's hair, and Consort Miao casually gave her a peeled pomegranate. She shouldn't eat such hot and sour things, but out of respect for Consort Miao, she had no choice but to eat it. Afterwards, her cheeks turned red, as if she had applied rouge."

I understood a little: "So, in the following days, she deliberately ate spicy and greasy foods to maintain her makeup for you to apply?"

Cui Bai nodded and sighed, "As a result, her anger stagnates, making her feel unwell all over, and she eventually fell ill. I haven't seen her since then. I've always felt very guilty about this, so I painted this new picture to give to her as a token of my apology."

I then asked the girl's name, and Cui Bai said, "Her surname is Dong, and I heard the other ladies call her 'Qiuhe'."

I reiterated my promise to deliver the painting. Since we were quite familiar with each other, I casually remarked, "When I saw you take out the scroll earlier, I thought it was a gift for me."

Cui Bai laughed loudly: "How dare I disregard the noble lady! I originally wanted to present her with a fine work, but after looking around, I couldn't find one that would be worthy of her appreciation. But I will keep this in mind and will paint a good one for you in the future."

After Cui Bai left, I immediately went to the Bureau of Clothing and Stuff to look for Lady Dong, but she was not there. The Bureau of Clothing and Stuff, like the Bureaus of Medicine, Brewing, Carriage, and Food, was located in the northeast of the palace, not far from the Inner Palace Secretariat. I went there several more times afterward, but still couldn't find her. According to other palace women, Lady Dong was meticulous and had excellent skills; therefore, the concubines in the palace all loved to have her do their hair, often staying until dark before returning.

Even though I am a palace attendant, it is not proper for me to go to a palace maid at night. Passing on a painting to someone outside the palace would be considered a secret transaction, and it is also inconvenient to leave the scroll for another palace maid to pass on. Therefore, this matter has been temporarily put on hold.

One day, after finishing my service at the Painting Academy, I returned to my residence in the Inner Palace. When I reached the Tongye Gate, which connects the Inner Palace, the Ministry of Personnel, and the place where the Emperor reviewed affairs, I saw a young eunuch in front of me who was about the same age as me. He was holding a brocade box in one hand and pressing his other hand tightly against his abdomen. He was bending over and slowly squatting down against the wall, and his expression seemed to be one of great pain.

I rushed over and asked him what was wrong. He said he had a severe abdominal pain, probably a relapse of intestinal disease. I offered to help him to the Imperial Pharmacy, but he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, “Today, His Majesty received the newly appointed Judge of the Court of Judicial Review and Lecturer at the Imperial Academy, Sima Guang, at the Erying Pavilion. After listening to his lecture, His Majesty was greatly pleased and bestowed upon him a glass cup. The receipt for the gift was submitted to the Contract and Voucher Department for review, which took quite a while. I just retrieved the glass cup from the Imperial Treasury. His Majesty has now returned to the Funing Palace, and Lord Sima is still waiting at the Erying Pavilion. I wanted to hurry over to give it to him, but I suddenly fell ill… Brother, could you please take the glass cup there for me? The Imperial Pharmacy is nearby; I can walk there myself.”

I hesitated for a moment, but he kept urging me, looking very anxious. Finally, I agreed, took the brocade box, and headed towards Erying Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion sat a gaunt gentleman, waiting. He looked quite young, probably not yet thirty, but his expression was serious and mature. When he saw me enter, he looked up at me, his eyes bright and piercing.

I hesitated for a moment and then softly called out "Lord Sima." Seeing him nod, I approached with peace of mind and bowed to present the brocade box to him.

He turned towards the direction of Funing Palace, bowed to thank Ruyi, and then slowly opened the brocade box.

The moment the box was opened, he suddenly froze. Seeing his strange expression, I looked into the box and was immediately struck dumb, standing there speechless.

The glass cup inside had a clear, bright, and sparkling glaze, but it was already cracked in two.

A brief blank in my mind, followed by a jumble of thoughts: It wasn't me, it wasn't me, I held the brocade box steadily the whole time, it never fell... I even forgot to ask the young eunuch's name... Finding him is useless, I have no way of proving that the glass cup was already broken before it was handed to me...

At this moment, the palace gates suddenly opened wide, and several eunuchs rushed in. The last one to enter was Ren Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of the Inner Palace Attendants Department.

Ren Shouzhong walked slowly to my side with his hands behind his back.

"Good lad, you've broken a treasure bestowed by the Emperor..." he said with a gloomy face. Suddenly, he turned his head and gestured to the eunuchs on his left and right. Immediately, someone stepped forward and forced me to kneel on the ground.

Ren Shouzhong bowed to Sima Guang again and said, "According to the old rules of the palace, if a eunuch damages an item bestowed upon a minister by the emperor, the minister is free to deal with it. Whether this boy should be beaten or expelled is up to you, sir."

I was utterly powerless to defend myself. It felt like I was back in my childhood, locked in a dark room. My vision blurred, my thoughts faded, and the air I breathed was filled with the scent of death. I stared blankly at the afterglow of the setting sun peeking through the window, unsure if I would ever see the bright sun of tomorrow.