"What you said makes sense," I nodded and said, "but how can I bring it up?"
"You're just so stubborn and suffer for it." Shen Suxin stomped her feet in anger. "Fine, I'll just wait for the Seventh Young Master to come and talk to you himself."
2
I didn't enter the manor until late at night, only to find Dugu Leng waiting for me in the pavilion by Chewan Lake. In the pale night, only a few fireflies danced on the lotus leaves of the lake. His white robes reflected the moonlight throughout the pavilion, as if the aroma of mellow wine wafted through the air. Dugu Leng's long hair was casually draped over his shoulders, as if waiting for me to comb it with a peach wood comb.
Such a gentle and refined man, I would gladly serve by his side for the rest of my life. To keep him company as he studies late into the night, and to stay by his side wherever he travels.
He drank wine under the full moonlight and amidst the splendid blossoms of the tree; he didn't get drunk, but I did.
The tiny sound of his embroidered shoes stepping on a withered branch was enough to make him turn around. Dugu Leng smiled, revealing his teeth, and although he tried his best to hide it, the relieved expression still stirred a deep feeling in my heart.
"Ruyan, you're back?"
"Are you waiting for me?" I smiled, revealing a captivating charm.
Dugu Leng neither admitted nor denied it, but simply raised his wine glass and asked, "Would you like a cup of Jasmine Spring, brewed by Miss Ye Bai?" No wonder the aroma of this wine, mixed with the fragrance of a tree full of blossoms, was so harmonious. It turned out that this wine was also made from flowers.
I sat down opposite him. The wine bottle was an exquisite white jade porcelain with many subtle patterns, and the wine cups were engraved with jasmine flowers. They were so delicate that they seemed to exude fragrance.
My fingers gently traced the subtle patterns on the surface of the cup, and a figure suddenly flashed into my mind. I sighed, "Someone once told me that his favorite tea was Jasmine Spring. The tea leaves had to be the tender, fully unfurled leaves, not the buds. The jasmine flowers had to be unopened buds, made from the first melting snow of plum blossoms in early spring. Such Jasmine Spring tea had a bright yellow and clear liquor, with a fresh, mellow, and sweet taste, as if the essence of spring had been completely infused into the tea."
"You mean Lan Chengyu?" Dugu Leng put down his wine glass and said with some displeasure, "It's best if that kind of madman doesn't appear in front of me."
"He certainly knows how to appreciate tea. I just didn't know that Jasmine Spring could be made into wine." I asked abruptly, "Miss Ye Bai is that dancer from the Western Regions, right? When did you become so familiar with her?"
"A banquet was held in the manor tonight, and Miss Ye Bai's whirling dance won over the audience and greatly pleased Consort He. However, after the banquet ended, Consort He returned to her quarters and, not finding the blue lotus screen, inquired about it. The people in the manor dared not conceal the truth and told them the whole story. Consort He indeed flew into a rage, declaring that she would find the person who stole the blue lotus screen and tear them to pieces. Now, the maids in the manor are probably serving her with utmost care, fearing that something else might go wrong."
"I'm asking you, when did you become so familiar with that girl Ye Bai?"
Lonely Cold looked up and laughed: "My wife is jealous, isn't she? How sour!"
"If you don't want to talk about it, fine. This wine is so fragrant it's intoxicating; it's probably only suitable for someone as impulsive as you. I'll go back to my room to rest now." I flung my sleeves and was about to leave when Dugu Leng grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap. I struggled a couple of times, but ultimately couldn't overcome his strength. His breath brushed against my ear, like a spring breeze.
“My lady, please don’t be angry with me all the time. Miss Ye Bai gave me this wine, and it would be impolite not to accept it.”
“My husband is certainly well-mannered.” I smiled slightly, my expression becoming even more distant. “As a woman, I have no right to speak, so why should my husband explain?”
With a gentle poke of my finger, Dugu Leng's ribs went numb, and his arm went limp. I didn't look at his face, turning to return to the courtyard, when suddenly I heard a woman's scream coming from the direction of Jin Hong Courtyard, followed by an explosive, ghostly wailing: "A ghost! Help! A ghost!"
Dugu Leng and I exchanged a glance, then leaped towards Jin Hong Courtyard. When we arrived, the dancers and singers were running out of their rooms, their clothes disheveled. Two young dancers sat on the ground, eyes wide with shock. Prince Yan Min and Princess Zhu had probably not yet retired for the night; servants carrying lanterns came to check on them personally.
Princess Zhu asked unhappily, "What's all the noise about? The Imperial Concubine is right here in the mansion. If you startle her, not only will you all die, but you will also implicate the mistress."
One of the dancers, regaining her senses, said, "Your Highness, we just saw Meixiang..."
"Meixiang?" Prince Yanmin snorted. "Isn't that the Meixiang who stole something and ran away from the palace? How dare she come back?"
The dancer's face turned deathly pale. She shook her head and said, "No, Your Highness, Meixiang did not escape. Meixiang must have been murdered. Otherwise, why would she have returned with a blue face and fangs, covered in blood, standing under her favorite peach tree? It was truly terrifying."
Princess Zhu's expression immediately changed, and she shouted sternly, "Don't talk nonsense! Meixiang stole something and ran away. If you, this audacious servant, dare to spread rumors again, I'll drag you out and kill you first."
"Your Majesty, not only did I see it, but Xiaoyun saw it too."
The other terrified little dancer nodded repeatedly and cried, "Sister Meixiang is dead. This is the place she lived for several years. She has become a ghost, but she will come back."
Dugu Leng pulled me behind him and walked straight to the peach tree the little dancer had mentioned. I followed her step by step. There was no bloodstain under the peach tree. Under the silvery moonlight, the peach tree, which had already sprouted new buds, exuded a ghostly green, like the eyes of an evil spirit.
Prince Yanmin glared at the dancer, his displeasure deepening: "You've probably heard too many ghost stories and are just scaring yourselves. If this happens again, I won't let you off easily."
Princess Zhu chimed in, "If you dare disobey the Prince's orders, you'll all be going to meet your maker. Hurry up and go back to rest."
I smiled unconsciously. This Princess Zhu probably also believed in the tales of evil spirits claiming lives, and was just bluffing. Her face was already pale, and she was clinging tightly to Prince Yan Min, looking as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
Prince Yanmin looked at me meaningfully, and I quickly turned my head away, but this scene still fell into Dugu Leng's eyes. He probably already knew the lingering affection in Prince Yanmin's eyes, and his expression turned cold. He domineeringly put his arm around my waist and said, "It's getting late, we should go and rest."
Men are possessive creatures; if something belongs to them, they won't easily give it away even if they don't want it. Especially when their wife is being coveted, they won't hesitate for a second.
Wang Xiongcheng 2009-09-11 21:03
3
My relationship with Dugu Leng seemed to cool down again that very night. I couldn't say for sure what the reason was, but the way he looked at me became increasingly complicated, and I could only remain coldly distant. We were practically keeping a respectful distance from each other. At noon, the girl in the night came again, saying she was bringing Dugu Leng some wine.
I stayed in my room and only heard Xi'er talking to her outside the window. Ye Bai spoke with a very strong accent, but her voice was very pleasant, as soft and gentle as glutinous rice. She said, "Young Master Dugu praised the wine, and Ye Bai has finally met a kindred spirit, so I've come to deliver a pot."
“Our young master is not here.” Xi’er said politely but with a hint of determination. “Miss, please come later.”
"I inquired before I came, and Young Master Dugu has not left the manor." That night, Miss Bai's voice was still smiling, but it also carried a hint of mockery.
Dugu Leng was merely reading in her study in the morning; she indeed hadn't left the manor. I examined my simple yet elegant makeup in the mirror. My peach-pink brocade robe trailed with a long tail, like the proud and beautiful tail of a peacock. I didn't usually like such elaborate attire; those who roam the martial world fear nothing more than trouble. However, as a young mistress of a noble family, I was obliged to pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine. To dress casually would be impolite.
I pushed open the door and went out, meeting Ye Bai's gaze. Seeing my smiling face, she was taken aback at first, then curtsied and said, "So, the Seventh Young Mistress is here too."
If I'm not mistaken, she knows that Dugu Leng hasn't left the manor, and she must also know that I'm in the courtyard. I didn't intend to expose her, but simply nodded and said, "My husband is in the study. I was just about to ask him to go and pay his respects to the Imperial Concubine. Please come with me."
Ye Bai glanced at him with a seductive look and said, "Thank you, young mistress." The amazement in her eyes lingered, and she even seemed a little annoyed. Once they reached the study, she swayed her graceful figure like a flower and said ingratiatingly, "Young Master Dugu, there are probably only a few jars of Jasmine Spring tea left, so I specially brought some for you."
"I'm sorry to trouble Miss Ye Bai with your concern." Dugu Leng pushed her away without a word. In front of other women, he still showed consideration for me. I, however, looked on with amusement, staring at his face with a half-smile and saying, "Husband, I'm afraid we'll be late and the Imperial Concubine will be displeased."
Dugu Leng looked helpless and sent Xi'er to see the guest out.
When we reached the back garden, he finally spoke, saying, "That night, Miss Bai only brought wine."
I laughed even harder: "I have eyes and can tell right from wrong. That Ye Bai girl even offered herself up, looking like she was ready to be taken. Although I am kind, I am not stupid. Ye Bai girl is indeed incomparably beautiful. Why don't you take this opportunity to take her as a concubine, and from then on have her on both sides and enjoy the bliss of having two women?"
Dugu Leng abruptly stopped and asked, "Is that really what you think?"
I was taken aback and replied, "Does my husband think this suggestion is bad?"
Dugu Leng didn't answer; the air was so still it was suffocating. Perhaps I had spoken his mind. Because I was his wife, he couldn't bring himself to suggest taking a concubine, fearing I would be hurt. If I had brought it up myself, that would have been perfect. Other wives would be heartbroken over taking a concubine; it was rare for my wife to be so understanding. He would probably be overjoyed in his dreams.
A passing maid's soft, hurried greeting broke our silence. It was as if thousands of years had passed, and two people weathered by time suddenly felt the warmth of humanity.
When we entered the room, the Imperial Concubine was still resting in bed. Her personal maid said that the Concubine had caught a cold and would not be receiving guests for the time being. As we left the room, the quick-witted maid followed us out and said that the Concubine was not actually ill, but had heard that the blue lotus screen was missing, and that her illness stemmed from her heart. She urged us to find the screen quickly, otherwise the Concubine would be plagued by this illness for the rest of her life.
In the end, it all comes down to that blue lotus screen.
I just find things increasingly strange, and I can't seem to come up with a reasonable explanation for Princess Zhu's work on the embroidered screen. It's contradictory from any angle.
As evening fell, Ye Bai returned, seemingly covered in bells that jingled in the wind. Dugu Leng did not refuse her favor; he watched her dance in the courtyard, his fingers stained with the scent of jasmine wine. I increasingly felt that the beautiful scenes of this world were nothing but superficial splendor, their inner selves riddled with holes and rotten to the core.
Xi'er has probably run back to Princess Zhu's place again. I left the courtyard, afraid of disturbing this erotic scene. The dim light of the red lanterns was reflected on the lake at dusk. I wanted to cry, but I had no tears left. As the saying goes, there is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. It is because my heart is dead that I feel so unusually at ease.
4
I was enjoying the koi and tea at Chewan Pavilion when Prince Yanmin arrived. He sat down beside me without making a sound. If Princess Zhu were to see this, she would probably accuse me of seducing her husband. Most women in this world are troubled by love. Perhaps they don't covet his wealth or power, but simply want to travel the world with him, detached from worldly affairs and the ways of the world, living as a pair of celestial lovers.
"Ruyan, there's something I don't know if I should tell you."
"Your Highness, please feel free to speak your mind."
“Yesterday I found something in the princess’s storage box that really surprised me.”
I immediately became interested and asked, "What is it?"
"It is a piece of silk embroidered with a blue lotus pattern."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, even more puzzled. "Is it a piece of fabric the size of a screen?"
“Indeed.” Prince Yanmin’s handsome face was filled with suppressed silence. “To be honest, Princess Zhu is the daughter of Prince Zhu, the emperor’s most favored son, and also my wife. If the loss of that screen is related to her, I really don’t know how to deal with it.”
"Was it in the princess's storage box?"
"Indeed." Yan Minwangfu looked distressed. "Now, the Imperial Concubine has become heartbroken over that blue lotus screen. My father and her father have known each other for many years. I've heard that she's always been a stubborn person. If she can't get what she wants, she won't be able to eat. Master He is extremely worried. Before she was married, she would have anything she wanted. Now that she's an Imperial Concubine, if she's depressed over an embroidered screen, I'm afraid the Emperor will blame her."
"Why don't you go and ask the Princess yourself? You're probably her closest confidant," I said tentatively. "Or perhaps the Prince knows something?"
The alluring moonlight shone on people's faces, making it impossible to hide any secrets. Prince Yan Min's knuckles were clenched so tightly that they turned white, and his slightly rapid breathing betrayed a hint of panic in his heart.
"I suspect that the dancer Meixiang didn't steal anything from the Prince's mansion and run away, but was instead murdered by the Princess. If it weren't for the haunting of Jinhong Courtyard last night, I wouldn't be so sure. But if Meixiang isn't dead, how could her ghost have returned?"
I chuckled and said, "Does Your Highness believe in ghosts and gods?"
Don't you believe me?
"Whether I believe it or not is not important. I just want to know why Your Highness suspects that the Princess killed Meixiang?"
"You don't know, but the Princess is virtuous and manages the entire palace perfectly. However, she is naturally suspicious and easily jealous. Meixiang is the best dancer in Jin Hong Courtyard, and guests often request her to perform court dances. It's my fault for being negligent; Meixiang is indeed somewhat arrogant, openly and secretly plotting to rise in rank. The other day, when I heard the Princess say that Meixiang had escaped from the palace, I found it strange. Servants in the palace would never be allowed to leave without a pass. Moreover, the guards said that Meixiang hadn't left the palace. So, I casually asked the Princess what she had lost, and she said it was her large green jade thumb ring and some jewelry. You see, Jin Hong Courtyard is separated from the Princess's palace by Chewan Lake, and there are always guards and maids outside her palace. It's highly unlikely that Meixiang stole her things."
So much happened that night. They seemed unrelated, yet there was an orderly, almost manipulative force at play. Aside from the bloodstained sedan chair that Dugu Leng discovered, I learned from the night watch guards that three sedan chairs went out that night, but only two returned.
Strangely, after returning from her trip outside the palace, Princess Zhu went out again, this time in the sedan chair belonging to Prince Yan Min. If I'm not mistaken, one of the sedan chairs Princess Zhu took when she left the palace twice carried the deceased Mei Xiang.
Prince Yanmin interrupted my thoughts and asked, "Ruyan, what are you thinking about?"
Did Your Highness go out that night?
Prince Yan Min was startled again, then pondered for a long time before saying, "You're right, I did leave the manor that night. It's strange, the manor is always heavily guarded, I don't know why an assassin broke in that night. I was returning to my bedroom from the study when I saw a dark figure flash by near Wangchuan Courtyard. So I chased after him, and the assassin suddenly turned around and attacked. I couldn't dodge in time and was struck by his sword. That night was only a few days before the Imperial Concubine's visit home, and I was afraid of causing panic, so I only notified my attendants to come with me to treat my wound." Yan Min clutched his abdomen, his brows furrowing slightly. Although the knife hadn't hit a vital spot, it had still severely damaged his vital energy.
I've been secretly observing the kitchen these past few days and have noticed that the Prince's food is extremely bland, mainly consisting of medicinal tonics. Considering Yan Min's fondness for sweet and rich foods, this is indeed rather strange. So I quietly went to the laundry room to check Yan Min's clothes, only to find that every single one of her undergarments was stained with blood.
If Meixiang died from eating poisoned bird's nest, she wouldn't have bled. Therefore, the sedan chair that left the manor that night must have belonged to someone else, and that person was seriously injured. Thinking this way, all the questions were answered. However, I only knew that the Prince was injured, but I dared not inquire easily. There was already a Princess Consort Zhu in this manor who wanted me dead; acting rashly without investigation would only bring harm. I smiled slightly and nodded, understanding everything. Prince Yanmin's reason for concealing his injury was also reasonable.
What were the characteristics of that assassin?
"It was late at night and the lights were dim, so I couldn't see clearly..."
"so……"
We fell silent. Under these circumstances, we had to find a way to determine the connection between Princess Zhu's and Yingchun's deaths; this was key to solving the disappearance of the Blue Lotus Embroidery Screen. Suddenly, a maid's scream came from the direction of the back garden: "Help! Someone, help! There's a ghost! Someone, help!"
Consort He's face was pale and as if she had suffered a severe fright. All the guards dared not approach the Lotus Fragrance Garden where she resided. This back garden was guarded by both the Prince's guards and the palace's top experts at night. Consort He had already retired for the night, and several maids were attending to her in her room. In the quiet of the night, it was inevitable that they would doze off. They were jolted back to reality by the Consort's scream, and saw a ghostly figure flash past the window, causing them to scream in terror.
The Lotus Fragrance Garden had been renovated before Consort He's arrival, and the beams and pillars inside were carved with lotus patterns, the Consort's favorite. The incense burner inside emitted wisps of herbal fragrance, and the boudoir was filled with soft pillows and the beautiful woman. At this moment, Consort He had completely transformed into a sickly beauty, her face filled with terror.
Prince Yan Min called out anxiously, "Your Highness, the imperial physician accompanying you will be here shortly. It's all my fault for not taking good care of you. Please punish me, Your Highness."
"Never mind, it's not the prince's fault." Consort He sighed, her voice heavy with worry. "Yesterday, I heard from my maid Lian'er that the Jin Hong Courtyard where the dancers live is haunted. I never expected that the ghost would come to my room today. It really scared me to death. Ever since my blue lotus screen went missing, I've had a vague feeling of unease, a feeling that something is going to happen."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, Princess Zhu has already invited a famous Taoist priest from Qiantang. He should arrive tomorrow and can perform a ritual to exorcise demons."