Красоты династии Сун

Глава 28

"I would like to ask, if someone were to poison the young lady, and she refused to comply, would it still be possible for her to vomit poisoned blood?"

Wan Qing felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and her eyes grew even colder. It wasn't that she hadn't thought of it, but that she couldn't bear to think about it. If Aunt Wan hadn't done it willingly, no matter how determined the poisoner was, they couldn't have succeeded!

"Wan'er has been planning this for many years, and I will grant her wish!"

His tone was cold and indifferent, seemingly filled with unspeakable sorrow and helplessness. Wanqing listened with slight anger.

"Grant her your wish?! If Aunt Wan wanted to commit suicide, why would she have been confined to the palace for so many years!"

"Why do you think Wan'er agreed to return to the palace with me back then?"

According to Granny Wu, Aunt Wan and Young Master Lan were indeed in love back then. After Young Master Lan ascended the throne, Aunt Wan wanted to leave alone, but was then invited back to the palace. Considering the current situation... Wan Qing couldn't help but feel alarmed. Could it be...?

"Someone has been lingering in the Dark Palace for over twenty years, waiting for you, young lady. Do you have the courage to ask him for an explanation?!"

After a moment of silence, Wanqing flicked her palm, unleashing a powerful gust of wind. The flames in the candle before the portrait instantly leaped up, licking at the upper and lower corners of the painting. An Ying was momentarily stunned, then quickly followed suit with a palm strike, forcefully extinguishing the flames. In the painting, the hem of the beauty's skirt was already burned.

"you!"

"Hahaha! You're willing to sacrifice people, but you can't even bear to part with a mere image!" Wanqing laughed bitterly, then knelt down. "This humble woman was foolish and clumsy, and accidentally set fire to the jade statue of the Empress. I beg Your Majesty to punish me in the Dark Palace!"

The shadow stared at the kneeling man and said in a harsh voice, "I will grant your wish!"

The Dark Palace was actually a dungeon, dark and damp. The last ray of moonlight was blocked by the heavy stone door, plunging everything into darkness. After her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Wanqing slowly walked deeper into the room. Soon she reached a round hall, which led to a long corridor. Dozens of dimly lit huts lined both sides, all now empty. Did each of these huts once hold the souls of those who died in despair? Suddenly, she saw a faint light on her left. Pushing open the door, she found a small oil lamp on the corner of a table. The room contained simple everyday items, crude but still relatively clean. Wanqing took the lamp and hurried to the hut at the end of the corridor, where a faint presence could be heard.

The door wasn't closed, and a figure on the couch came into Wanqing's view. Her heart clenched. Perhaps startled by the breath, the person turned towards the door. Their cloudy eyes were unfocused, and their face was sickly pale as paper. The once delicate features still hinted at their former beauty. The person leaned weakly against the couch. The bedding was old but clean, and there was no unpleasant odor in the room as expected. Wanqing immediately understood: although the Emperor had tortured this person terribly, he didn't intend for them to die!

"Granny Li!" Wanqing tried calling out softly, even though she knew it was useless.

As expected, there was no reaction. Wanqing stepped forward, and perhaps due to the approaching unfamiliar presence, Li Mama's face showed fear, and she trembled as she retreated to the corner of the bed. Wanqing slipped a silk handkerchief from her sleeve into Li Mama's hand. Li Mama immediately froze, her hands trembling as she fumbled for the embroidery on the handkerchief. When she touched the character 'Wan' at the corner, a joyful smile spread across her face, and two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks! Trembling, she reached out her hands, and Wanqing took them in hers, feeling the frail fingers lightly trace the lines in her palm. Upon closer inspection...

"How is Jiu'er?"

Wanqing confirmed her guess, and Jingjing also wrote "Good!" in Li Mama's palm.

Through this written conversation, Wanqing roughly explained her background to Granny Li, and gradually discovered that Granny Li's health was worse than she had imagined. Not only did she suffer from severe rheumatism, but she was also extremely weak and often fainted. After talking for about fifteen minutes, she could no longer continue. Wanqing had no choice but to make arrangements for Granny Li and ask her again the next day.

The Dark Palace only delivered meals in the morning. Although the ingredients were not bad, the food was extremely unpalatable. Wanqing managed to swallow some, but seeing that Granny Li had finished all the food, she couldn't help but feel sad. What kind of willpower did she have to endure these twenty years?

The written conversation proceeded intermittently and with difficulty. In the dark palace, there was no clock, and it was impossible to distinguish between day and night. It was roughly estimated that it was in the afternoon of the second day that Wanqing noticed someone entering the prison warden's round hall. She walked through the long corridor to greet them and saw Hua Lian standing in front of her, holding a candle.

"What have you done!"

"Don't you know, sir?"

"Why? That portrait is His Majesty's lifeblood!"

"Oh?!" Wanqing asked with a light laugh.

"Still laughing! Do you know that once you enter the Dark Palace, you're trapped here for life!"

"Wouldn't that mean no one will come after you for your debts? Heh!"

"What's wrong with you?!" Hua Lian roared.

Wanqing put her finger to her lips, leaned closer and whispered, "Don't worry, if I don't want to stay, the Dark Palace can't hold me! There are many eyes and ears in the palace, so don't come again. Tell the Prince to find a way to see me in four days!"

"Are you confident?" Hua Lian whispered.

"Lord Attendant, I was ignorant and reckless, and I have failed Her Highness the Virtuous Consort's kindness..." Wanqing suddenly raised her voice, winked at Hualian, and gestured the direction of the vent.

Hua Lian immediately realized someone was eavesdropping and shouted, "You sinful woman, it's already a great favor that the Emperor hasn't ordered your death..."

Wanqing gestured for him not to linger, and Hua Lianchong nodded solemnly to Wanqing before turning and leaving.

The written conversation progressed slowly, but what Wanqing learned only made her heart ache more!

While waiting for Granny Li to wake up, Wanqing suddenly heard the sound of the prison door opening and closing. She couldn't figure out who would come, so she became alert and quickly grabbed a candle to greet them.

The round hall was empty! Wanqing held her breath and peered intently, sensing a presence near the cell door. Had that person been standing there the whole time?! She rushed out and saw Xiaoran, wrapped in a bulky robe, standing anxiously by the closed door, holding a candle.

“Song… Wan, Miss Wan!” Xiao Ran exclaimed happily as she saw the person coming up ahead.

Wanqing waved to Xiaoran, who quickly ran down, her robes making a strange rustling sound.

"It's so dark in here!" Xiao Ran said, her voice weak as she tugged at Wan Qing's sleeve.

Wanqing couldn't help but smile, "Afraid you'll come again?!"

"I'm not scared at all!" She met Wan Qing's smiling eyes. "Oh, just a little bit. Where's your room? I brought you some good stuff!" she said, shaking her sleeve.

Wan Qing smiled and led Xiao Ran by the hand into their dimly lit room. The simplicity of the room pained Xiao Ran deeply.

"What good things did you bring me?"

"I heard the food here is the worst. Look! This is lotus-scented pastry, this is mooncake cake, this is red glutinous rice ball, and there's even a braised chicken! You have no idea how long I wrapped it to keep the flavor from escaping! It's still a little warm, try it! It's damp and stuffy here, so I brought a wide hemp robe for you. This is a nine-ringed lock, it can help relieve the boredom! This is..."

"Aren't you afraid the Emperor will find out?"

"At worst, I'll get a beating!"

"Aren't you afraid I'll be locked up here for life?" Wanqing asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Xiao Ran stopped laughing, grabbed Wan Qing's shoulder, and said seriously, "You said you would get out safely, I believe you!"

Wanqing was inexplicably moved. After pausing for a moment, she said, "Alright, let's go back now!"

"Let me spend more time with you!" Ran said with a smile, trying to be playful.

"Don't linger in this dangerous place, come here!" Wanqing got up and took Xiaoran's hand.

Walking along the long corridor, all was quiet. Wanqing suddenly stopped, lowered her eyes, and whispered.

"Brother Ran, answer me honestly, does Prince Li have any ambition to become the heir apparent?"

Xiao Ran was silent for a moment, then whispered, "My grandmother was of lowly status. With my fourth and ninth uncles around, my father gave up on the idea long ago!"

They remained silent the rest of the way.

44. Success

A quiet stillness enveloped the dark palace; Granny Li was fast asleep. Wanqing sat quietly in the room, her eyes slightly closed, the dim candlelight casting a hazy glow. The fragments of Granny Li's words from the past few days echoed in her mind…

"I entered the palace as a child, and along with Granny Zhao, I served the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine. After their passing, we were retired from the palace. After His Majesty ascended the throne, we were assigned to serve Consort Dan in Xiao'an Palace. Consort Dan was originally from the martial arts world, but after entering the palace, she gained His Majesty's favor and treated us very kindly. In all my years in the palace, I have never seen such a kind mistress! When Consort Dan entered the palace, she was nearly two months pregnant, and gave birth to Jiu'er eight months later. Consort Dan is a beautiful woman with extraordinary looks, but she is always melancholy, only occasionally showing a hint of sadness when she is with Jiu'er." A warm smile appeared on her face. Jiu'er was exceptionally intelligent, calm and composed even at a young age, her temperament remarkably like the Emperor's. People in the palace privately said that Jiu'er would surely grow up to be a ruler! However, we worry for the Empress and Jiu'er. The Celestial Empire has seen three reigns so far, and most of the Empresses and Consorts throughout history have come from the Jiang and Wang families. The Crown Prince will also inevitably be a descendant of these two families and the royal family. The Jiang family's Virtuous Consort has no heir, while the Wang family's Virtuous Consort has two sons and two daughters. The fourth prince is exceptionally talented and rumored to be the designated Crown Prince. Moreover, the Virtuous Consort is deeply scheming. The Empress and Jiu'er are helpless in the palace and may face misfortune. May they live peacefully until... My son was six years old when one night, Zhao, the old nanny, came to me, crying and uttering incoherently. Zhao was quite knowledgeable in health preservation and often brewed medicinal soups for the Empress. However, the Consort Shu and the Fourth Prince had detained Zhao's family members outside the palace and forced her to put a slow-acting poison into the Empress's medicine! After much deliberation, we reported this to the Empress. Unexpectedly, she knelt before us with a smile, begging us to grant her request! She asked Zhao to poison the medicine as instructed and to preserve all evidence related to the Consort Shu and the Fourth Prince. I, on the other hand, had to keep the secret until someone came looking for me with a handkerchief, at which point I would then tell them the truth. "I confessed everything. Zhao Mama and I swore we would never agree, but Her Majesty pleaded with us, even threatening to kill herself, and we finally obeyed. The poison was colorless and odorless, causing Her Majesty's health to deteriorate day by day, undetected even by the imperial physicians. During this time, Her Majesty entrusted a blood-stained palace handkerchief to a martial arts master surnamed Tong in Jingzhou. A year later, Her Majesty vomited blood due to her weakness and died, entrusting Jiu'er to Consort Xian before her death. Zhao Mama, filled with remorse and fearing Consort Shu's coercion, committed suicide in Xiao'an Palace. I was banished to the Dark Palace by the Emperor, and have endured until now, finally waiting for the young lady, to fulfill Her Majesty's trust..."

As the date was approaching, Wanqing heard a faint sound from the prison door. She got up, took a lamp, and went to greet her. Before she even left the long corridor, she saw a palace lantern dimly lit in the round hall at the end of the corridor, illuminating a beautiful face that seemed both near and far. Her heart ached slightly. She hurried forward, forced a smile, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Jiu Ru moved the palace lantern closer to Wan Qing's face and gazed at it quietly for a long while.

"You've lost weight!"

Wan Qing's eyes stung with tears, and she quickly turned around, saying, "Come with me!"

The two sat cross-legged facing each other on the humble couch. Seeing Wanqing bow her head in silence, she seemed to chuckle softly after a while.

"You have poison in your sleeve!"

Wan Qing suddenly looked up, stared at her face, which had remained calm and expressionless for a long time, and then chuckled softly.

"I've kept Your Highness waiting!" he said, placing a silk handkerchief from his sleeve into Jiu Ru's hand.

Jiu Ru glanced at the silk handkerchief, her expression instantly changing drastically. She stared at Wan Qing with piercing eyes and said sharply.

“Impossible, my mother has been using ‘Chao Dan’ for many years…”

Wanqing's eyes were filled with sorrow. She remained silent for a long time, as if she had stopped abruptly. Then she spoke again.

"Even if it were possible, how could Father Emperor possibly allow it?!"

The sorrow in Wanqing's eyes deepened as she softly recounted the truth...

The room remained silent for a long time. Jiu Ru, head bowed, disappeared into the increasingly dim candlelight. Her hand, which had been tightly clutching the silk handkerchief, was no longer trembling.

"Your Highness, once you have obtained the evidence, please act swiftly!" After a moment's hesitation, he added, "It seems that Prince Li and Wang Zhongshu are not directly involved in this matter. Your Highness is destined to rule the world in the future, so please prioritize the overall situation and do not act rashly due to personal feelings!"

When he looked up again after a long while, his face was expressionless, only cold indifference remained. "The matter has been investigated. Come with me back to the manor!"

"To avoid trouble, I'll wait here for good news! Come with me to see Granny Li; she misses you dearly!"

As the withered, cold fingers traced her face, tears welled in Li Mama's eyes, and tears streamed down her face. Wanqing stood outside the door, unable to bear the sight any longer...

After being escorted to the round hall, Jiu Ru climbed the steps alone, stopping halfway up and saying with a hint of self-mockery,

"You hid it from me before because you were afraid I couldn't handle it?! Am I really that worthless in your eyes?!"

Wan Qing gazed at the figure in the dim light, lonely and cold, yet full of strength!

I stayed in the Dark Palace for nearly twenty more days. It was surprisingly relaxing. Apart from chatting with Granny Li about the past, I slept soundly without any dreams.

Before the food was to be delivered, Wanqing saw the usually cold-faced guard standing in the round hall, smiling and carrying a food basket that emitted a strong poisonous aura.

"Miss Wan, congratulations! His Majesty has sent someone to invite you; they're waiting upstairs! His Majesty also rewarded Granny Li with a basket of fragrant cakes, which I must deliver to her now. I won't see you off; please take care!"

Wan Qing clenched her fists, finally sighed softly, and walked toward the light of dawn, ignoring the footsteps that had already gone deep into the corridor.

Wanqing was taken to a place to bathe away the grime of the past few days. Sitting in the bathtub, she listened quietly to the two young palace maids outside the door whispering about the horrifying news a few days ago that Consort Shu and the Crown Prince had been ordered to commit suicide!

After changing into clean clothes, I was led to Xiao'an Palace. The hall was no longer as cold and eerie as it had been that night. The man in the yellow robe on the chair was carefully examining me.

"The girl's eyes resemble your mother's, but I don't know her face..."

"Like my father!"

The person in the chair smiled knowingly.

"The other day, Wang Zhongshu and Jiang Shangshu advised me to make Jiu'er the crown prince. I intend to do so and will make Jiang Shangshu's daughter the crown princess. I will abdicate the throne to Jiu'er in six months and then travel the world. But Jiu'er is hesitant! Miss, guess what Jiu'er is hesitating about?"

Wan Qing paused slightly, then chuckled softly.

"Even when Aunt Wan wanted to leave, did His Majesty ever hesitate for the throne?"

After a moment of silence, a deep voice came, "Never!"

"I've heard that Prince Qing's temperament is very much like His Majesty's!"

Phoenix eyes narrowed as it stared at Wan Qing for a long while.

"Wan'er had an innocent background back then, but given her family's circumstances, I am in a difficult position!"

Wan Qing's smile deepened. "It is truly unfortunate that Your Majesty is in such a predicament. However, I do have a way to resolve Your Majesty's predicament!"

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