Accord de Mu Yucheng

Chapitre 65

The Emperor turned his head to look at the Fourth Prince and Lu Li. "I heard that your mother has not been sleeping well these days."

"It's nothing serious. It's just that the season has changed, and I'm having some trouble adjusting," Fourth Master replied respectfully.

The Emperor nodded. He glanced at me. "Your calming tea is exceptionally well-prepared. Have the seventh and fourth princes each take some to distribute to the harem."

I responded with a sound. The Emperor suddenly remembered something. He pulled me closer, brushed a stray hair from my forehead with one hand, and smiled, his eyes narrowing. "Luckily, no scars. It healed quite quickly."

My face flushed, and I stepped back. "The imperial physician was very good, and the ointments sent by the gentlemen were also very good."

The Emperor smiled and glanced at his sons. "They're quite thoughtful."

Back in the room, I felt like my whole body was about to fall apart. I leaned against the headboard and squinted until I heard someone knocking on the door. When I opened the door, I saw Eunuch Chang helping a little maid walk over.

The young maid limped in, and Eunuch Chang said to me, "This is the young maid I happened to see at the laundry department. She fell and hurt her leg. Do you still have the ointment that Seventh Master gave you last time?"

"We have plenty of ointment, but none of it has been sent by Seventh Master."

Eunuch Chang chuckled, "Miss, wasn't that bottle on your table last time a gift from Seventh Master?"

I opened the cabinet and looked at the three bottles of ointment lined up in a row. Was that one really his?

I took out the ointment and handed it over, then carefully examined the little girl. She looked about seven or eight years old, with fair skin, big, watery eyes, and a gentle smile. Seeing that she was obedient and well-behaved, I asked my father-in-law for her, and I named this girl Ruan Siliang. Apart from serving the Emperor, she followed me around all day, calling me "Auntie."

After Yang Wei led his army on the expedition, Pang Jian's forces were reduced to only 100,000 in the capital. Now, the court could no longer maintain its strong central government and weak local factions. Furthermore, he secretly supported the former Rong clan's faction within the court, placing spies sent by Qiu Minghao among the officials to constantly monitor the court's every move, analyze the officials' sentiments, and discern the tendencies of factions within the court.

Qiu Ming sneaked into the palace to see me.

He wouldn't have taken this risk unless it was an emergency.

Qiu Ming personally handed me a secret letter from Lu Hong. The letter contained only a few sentences, saying that he had no objection to the appointment of General Wang Yangwei and that everything was under control.

“I’ve investigated. The Xiaoyu you mentioned has a special identity. Her surname is Hua, and her given name is Yushang. She is the eldest daughter of the Hua family in Yangzhou. It is said that the sons of officials in Yangzhou are fighting tooth and nail for her, but for some reason, this eldest daughter of the Hua family insisted on entering the palace as a maid. With such an extraordinary background, you must be careful. Also, the matter of the prescription... is your biggest weakness.”

"What do you mean?" I asked in surprise.

"Following the prescription is the solution; the problem is that residual toxins haven't been eliminated from your body."

There was no surprise as expected, because the worst-case scenario had been anticipated.

"Go out through the back door," I said quickly, noticing the noise outside.

Qiu Ming held his breath and retreated from the back.

I slowly walked out of the woodshed and saw Xiaoyu standing by the door. I smiled and walked over.

Xiaoyu looked at me, "What...do you want?"

"What do you mean?" I shielded my eyes from the glaring sunlight with one hand, casually looking at her with the other, and smiled with narrowed eyes. "You've been following me?"

She pursed her lips tightly. "Whose side are you on?"

I still smiled, "And who does Miss Hua work for?"

Seeing the slight panic in her eyes, my smile became even more unrestrained. "Aren't we all people of the current emperor? But your master is Pang Jian? What a pity, I don't want my friend to be the enemy's slave."

"You—" Xiaoyu's eyes suddenly froze, "Don't say anything."

"Why won't you speak?!" I gritted my teeth. "Are you afraid? I've never been afraid. Why should I be? You'll see the rebels occupy the entire capital, capture the palace—just like when they besieged Huainan. I'll make those people learn their lesson, make them kneel before my ancestors' spirits and atone with their deaths—I'll make the instigator lose the empire, lose the hearts of the people, even lose his own flesh and blood. I'll make him the loneliest person in the world—this is the consequence of his cruelty towards his sworn brothers, his framing of meritorious officials, and his disregard for over twenty years of marital affection—"

"Shut up—" Xiaoyu rushed over to cover my mouth, but I reached out and blocked her.

I smiled silently in the warm breeze, a single tear quickly sliding down my cheek. "Xiaoyu, do you know what I'm doing? It's like plotting a coup—"

Seeing Xiaoyu's pale, terrified face, I turned around with a smile, looking at the familiar figure behind me. I paused slightly, then smiled gently, the same smile he loved most. My lips involuntarily turned up, trembling slightly. "Fourth Master... eavesdropping isn't a good habit..."

I had never seen Fourth Master's face so pale. He walked up to me stiffly and lifted my head. "Look at me! You actually had such a scheme... The woman who used to stand in the cold wind with a gentle smile is not you."

“Yes, it wasn’t me—” I said firmly, “She’s dead, isn’t she? Dead in the twenty-first year of Tianyou, dead before you, dead in the cold palace, isn’t she? That person died long ago. She was given poison by your wise and mighty father, wasn’t she?! She was as lowly as an ant, her fate controlled by others, from birth to death, she could only silently endure, watching her father, brothers, and mother die before her eyes, and then accepting her own death without any resistance—”

The Fourth Prince's face was ashen, and his hand gripping mine trembled slightly. "So you used the Emperor, you used the Eighth Prince, the Fifth Prince, you used Yang Wei, you used Xin Nuo, do you need to tell me yourself that you also used me..."

He pressed my hand against his chest and said, "Do you know how much it hurts? How can you bear to hurt me like this?"

“I am ruthless, I am cunning, but I have never taken anyone’s life. Yet your father took everything from me, leaving me neither human nor ghost, neither alive nor dead. Whose fault is this?!”

"Shut up!" Fourth Prince roared, veins throbbing on his forehead. He stared at me intently and said, "Get out! I don't want to see you again! Get out of the palace right now!"

I gave him a slight bow, then turned and strode away. Standing in the wind, hand to my chest, I was in so much pain that I could barely walk, as if a sharp knife had pierced my heart.

Zhun Shen saw Xiao Yu catching up. I stood ten steps away from him, slowly shook my head, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't come any closer. I am indeed a ruthless person. I don't need anyone's sympathy."

Xiaoyu looked at me and asked softly, "Who are you?"

"Me?" I smiled and looked up at the unpredictable sky. "I'm just a wandering ghost..."

Chapter Twenty-One: Shock and Hatred

For four days in a row, all I heard was that Fourth Master was sick in bed and had not drunk a drop of water.

As usual, Xiaoyu brought over the milk, and as I looked at her, I couldn't see her clearly anymore.

Her voice was very soft, “From today onwards, I will no longer serve the Emperor. The eunuch has sent me to Consort Lin’s quarters.”

I remained silent.

She suddenly laughed, "Don't worry, young lady. I'm not Fifth Master's man, much less a member of the Pang family. My master isn't your enemy either; at least I don't see him targeting you in any way."

I held the steaming hot milk in one hand and asked, "Is this... really a gift from the Emperor?"

"No," Xiaoyu answered crisply.

The two looked at each other, but remained silent.

"Young lady, please be careful in everything you do." She said, turning to leave.

"Please thank Seventh Master for me."

As soon as I finished speaking, Xiaoyu stopped walking, just as I expected.

I just smiled. With a flick of my wrist, all the soup spilled onto the floor. "Just say I owe him a favor."

Xiao Yu remained silent. She stepped across the threshold.

Leaning against the headboard, my mind is in turmoil.

Eighth Prince. Pleading for mercy. Southern Study. Mongolian script. The poison hasn't been completely neutralized. A conspiracy…

This series of clues unfolded before Lu Li. Was he feigning ignorance, or simply unable to believe it…?

I devoted all my attention to teaching Siliang. Occasionally, I would gaze out the window, lost in thought. Or, like now, I would write lines of sparse, irregular characters. Only by quietly imitating his handwriting could I feel a sense of tranquility.

"Auntie—" Siliang knocked on the door. I quickly put the Xuan paper into the box beside me and looked up to call her in.

She came up and said, “Aunt, the Emperor said that the Fourth Prince has just recovered from a serious illness and wants to hold a family banquet for him to dispel the illness.”

I nodded, said nothing more, got up and walked to the bedside. I took out my purse from under my pillow and gently held the two jade thumb rings in my hand. In the end, I reluctantly took out the white and smooth Hetian jade and rubbed it between my fingertips. What is not mine will never belong to me...

Sitting before the mirror, looking at my pale face, I gave a bitter smile, gently applied rouge, styled my hair into an elegant bun, and pinned on Xin Nuo's white magnolia hairpin. Seeing Si Liang's envious look behind me, I gently pulled her to my side, picked out a glass peony embroidered hairpin from the box, and placed it in her hair. Pushing the mirror in front of her, I said with a smile, "This was a gift from the Emperor not long ago. I find it too flashy, but it looks bright and beautiful on you. You can wear it from now on."

Leading Siliang, I stepped into the main hall of Chang'an where the family banquet was being held today, where palace maids were already tidying up.

After bypassing the main hall, we listened to the people from the imperial kitchen announce the menu, fruits, and snacks in the back hall. Si Liang, who was behind me, curiously wandered through the courtyard. I was busy checking the menu, so I went with her to play.

"Raise the lanterns on this corridor by half an arm's length, yes, slightly to the left." I instructed the young eunuchs to hang red lanterns on the corridor outside the palace, creating a festive atmosphere as if it were New Year's Day.

"Aunt Yan, when will the fruits and tea be served? The Third Master, the Sixth Master, and the Seventh Master have already arrived in the hall, all with their families. It's quite a lively scene, with men and women of all ages."

"Miss Yan, would you like to light some candles in the main hall?"

"Let's go now. Tell everyone to watch their step. The little princess and the little prince will inevitably run around and play, so make sure they don't bump into anything."

I looked up at the increasingly dark sky, nodded to myself, and walked towards the main hall. A small figure darted out from the side, covered in dirt, and hugged my waist. "Auntie, Auntie, the young prince stole my hairpin!"

I looked down at her face, which was streaked with tears, and took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. I then re-combed her hair and put my hands on her shoulders, gently comforting her, "It's alright if you took it. Your aunt will give it back to you. You can't cry and fuss in the palace and upset the masters."

Siliang nodded, and I was about to lead her away when I saw Jingqing running over with a hairpin in her hand. Siliang quickly hid behind me, only peeking out her little head to look at Jingqing.

Jing Qing paused, glanced at me, then looked at Si Liang, and handed over the hairpin. "My mother said I was domineering and wants me to return it to you."

Siliang reached out and snatched the hairpin back.

I looked at the two children who were about the same age, smiled, and pulled Siliang over. "Siliang, go and give this young master a thank-you gift."

“I don’t—” Siliang turned her head away.

Jing Qing's eyes also reddened with anger, "Who told you not to wear the one I gave you? You're not allowed to wear anything else either."

I think I understand what happened. I pretended to be angry and looked at Siliang, "If that's the case, how can you let down my kindness?"

Siliang lowered his head. "The young master gave it to me, and Princess Yuan took it away right afterward."

Jing Qing frowned and stomped her foot. "It's that brat from Third Uncle's family again. You wait, I'll get her back for you."

I quickly grabbed Jingqing, who was about to settle accounts, and said, "Young master, today is the day your royal grandfather is hosting a banquet to cure your father's illness. You can't cause a scene. It's just a hairpin."

"Your Aunt Yan is right."

I quickly bowed to the person who came and said, "Greetings, Fourth Princess Consort."

"Jingqing is being silly, please don't mind him, young lady." Fourth Sister-in-law smiled at me and reached out to pull me up.

I stood up and saw the child being held by the wet nurse behind her. The child's rosy face resembled the Fourth Prince by three or four points.

Fourth Sister-in-law took the child from the wet nurse's arms, her eyes filled with boundless maternal love. "This is my youngest daughter. She's at that clingy age; she cries and wants to follow me wherever we go."

"We only have this one girl in our household. Not to mention the prince, we spoil her rotten."

I suppressed my smile and quickly lowered my head. "Your Highness is blessed, Your Highness is blessed."

I saw Sangsang looking around restlessly in her fourth sister-in-law's arms, her chubby little hands already reaching out to me. I hesitated whether to take her little hand in mine.

A cold voice came from behind, "Don't touch her—"

My hand froze in mid-air, finally falling limply to my side. Was that sound meant for me or for the baby in swaddling clothes? It didn't matter who it was, it meant the same thing.

My chest felt tight and clenched, as if an invisible hand was gripping it and pulling me down.

The gray robe came into my view. He didn't look at me, but spoke softly in the direction of Fourth Sister-in-law, "Wanqing, you haven't been out of confinement for long. Don't catch a cold standing in the wind. Take the child inside."

I didn't listen to their pleasantries anymore, but I did notice that when Fourth Sister-in-law left, she turned back and gave me a polite smile and a nod.

The air was heavy. Jing Qing led Si Liang into the hall. I stared at the black boots under the gray robe at my feet until my eyes stung with tears. Only then did I realize that it was completely dark. I looked up slightly at his face, which was devoid of warmth in the darkness. It had only been four or five days since I last saw him, but he seemed to have aged several years and become even thinner. A pang of heartache involuntarily welled up in my heart, and then this heartache swelled up.

I stared into Fourth Master's deep, cold eyes. "Is your body... completely healed?"

Seeing his brow furrow even deeper, I knew I wouldn't get an answer. I couldn't help but raise my hand to smooth his furrowed brow, but he pushed me away, took a few steps back, and said, "Get away! You're not allowed to touch me!"

My heart ached sharply for a moment, and then it went numb and stiffened.