“Chapter 85: Peril on the Cloud Platform 2”

"Chapter 85: Peril on the Cloud Platform 2"

"The Yuntai mentioned by the Empress was built by the late Emperor for the devout Buddhist beliefs of the Great Empress Dowager."

"Yuntai consists of nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, making it the tallest structure in the palace."

"In the words of the late Emperor, this was 'reaching towards heaven', signifying that the closer one is to heaven during Buddhist rituals, the more devout they are."

"Atop Yuntai, a temple dedicated to the Ten Heavenly Bodhisattvas is worshipped, where incense burns year-round, serving as a sacred place for prayers and blessings within the palace."

"However, due to Yuntai's immense height and lack of shortcuts to the top,"

"Even the Emperor must ascend step by step if he wishes to pray there."

"Over time, the palace masters gradually grew reluctant to visit this place for prayers."

"The Empress, however, was different."

"Every month on the fifteenth, she personally climbs to the top, offering peace charms she wrote herself at the Ten Heavenly Bodhisattvas Temple, letting them be purified by the overnight incense before personally retrieving them to give to Xiao Jingheng, ensuring the Emperor's safety and good fortune."

"Xiao Jingheng, finding the task laborious and unnecessary, often advised the Empress not to exert herself so much,"

"But the Empress persisted every month, stating it was her heartfelt gesture towards Xiao Jingheng and only asked for his indulgence."

"Thus, the Empress's monthly ritual of ascending Yuntai on the fifteenth and sixteenth became well-known among the palace residents."

"But today was different from usual,"

"She had just suffered a heart condition, and with the snowfall yesterday, even if the palace attendants cleared the way, Yuntai would still be slippery and dangerous with residual snow."

"A young palace maid stepped forward, offering, 'Your Majesty, shall I go and retrieve it for you?'"

"But before she could finish, Shuangruo reprimanded her, 'The peace charms are personally placed by the master; how can we servants retrieve them? Doing so would disrespect the Empress's heartfelt intentions.'"

"Song Zhao stood rigidly to one side, listening to Shuangruo's implications,"

"The Empress, appearing frail and unwell, clearly couldn’t go. If Song Zhao went and happened to fall on Yuntai, Xiao Jingheng would hold her accountable for not intervening in this matter, turning it into a transgression."

"Shuangruo added that neither palace maids nor eunuchs could retrieve the charms, as they were mere servants."

"Therefore, the most suitable person left to retrieve the peace charm for the Empress was Song Zhao herself."

"Caught in a dilemma, going or not going posed a problem for her."

"After a moment of silence, seeing the Empress’s determination to proceed, Song Zhao stepped in front of her, tentatively suggesting,"

"'Perhaps I could retrieve it for Your Majesty?'"

"The Empress, of course, refused, saying, 'The steps of Yuntai are steep and even more slippery after the snow. How could I let you go? I shall go myself.'"

"Hearing this, Song Zhao thought, if she couldn’t go, how could the Empress, the head of the harem, take such a risk?"

"With that, even if Song Zhao didn’t want to go, she now had no choice."

"'Your Majesty personally offering the peace charm already shows your sincerity to the gods. I too wish to pray for the Emperor’s well-being. Please allow me the opportunity to retrieve the charm,' Song Zhao insisted."

"Thus, the Empress relented halfway, saying, 'Very well, but be careful.'"

"After leaving the Empress’s palace and walking a distance away, Yunshan whispered to Song Zhao,"

"'Do you really have to go, my lady? I find this whole situation very strange. If the Empress wanted to retrieve the charm, she could have done it in the early morning before the snow froze, why wait until now?'"

"Song Zhao replied, 'The Empress has spoken her mind, I have to go. I just need to be careful.'"

"When the master and servant arrived at Yuntai, they saw palace attendants clearing the steps."

"The snow at the bottom steps had been swept clean and salt was scattered over it,"

"Yunshan cautiously walked back and forth on the first few steps, ensuring they weren't slippery, before informing Song Zhao,"

"'My lady, the steps are safe.'"

"Song Zhao tested a couple of steps herself. Though slightly wet, the steps sprinkled with salt were not icy or slippery."

"Still, she remained extra vigilant."

"After all, Yuntai was steep and tall, and a fall from such a height could be fatal."

"Standing at the bottom, she watched a palace maid offering incense climb effortlessly to the top without any mishap, then said to Yunshan,"

"'Let's go, but we’ll take it slowly.'"

"Yuntai was bordered by a mountain on one side and a sheer drop on the other,"

"With the mountain to the right and the drop to the left,"

"According to the protocol of facing the court on the left, Song Zhao should have walked on the left, with Yunshan on the right,"

"But concerned for Song Zhao’s safety, Yunshan disregarded protocol and took the exposed left side,"

"'My lady, walk on the inside for more safety.'"

"The two of them supported each other, having only ascended a dozen steps when they suddenly heard an arrogant female voice from behind,"

"'Stop right there.'"

"Song Zhao turned around abruptly to see Consort Chen’s palanquin passing by,"

"Consort Chen lifted the curtain and looked at Song Zhao, her eyes slightly narrowed, scrutinizing her from head to toe with a sharp gaze."

"'What are you up to?'"

"Having climbed several steps, Song Zhao was positioned significantly higher than Consort Chen."

"Knowing she couldn't stand higher than Consort Chen to pay her respects, Song Zhao quickly descended to stand in front of Consort Chen’s palanquin and respectfully performed a bow, saying,"

"'Replying to Consort Chen, the Empress has sent me to retrieve the peace charm from the Ten Heavenly Bodhisattvas Temple.'"

"Consort Chen scoffed coldly and said disdainfully,"

"'Clinging to me yet eagerly trying to please the Empress? You really know how to play both sides!'"

"Song Zhao hastily replied, 'I had no intention of pleasing the Empress. It’s just that...'"

"She explained everything that had happened in the Phoenix Pavilion earlier,"

"Concluding with a sigh of helplessness, 'I just happened to be involved in this matter and had no choice. With Yuntai being so high and the recent snowfall, I'm quite frightened, to be honest.'"

"Consort Chen, however, was not interested in Song Zhao’s explanation,"

"She idly stroked her hair and rolled her eyes at Song Zhao, saying sarcastically,"

"'Just watch your step carefully, and you have nothing to be afraid of. I see your hands are suffering from frostbite. The chains on both sides of Yuntai are as cold as ice blocks in winter. Better not touch them, lest you freeze your delicate hands, making it difficult to serve the Empress later!'"

"With a snort, she dropped the curtain in a huff and ordered her attendants to carry her palanquin away."

"Even though Consort Chen was always like this, Song Zhao felt something was off about her today."

"Perhaps because of Consort Chen’s warning, Song Zhao avoided touching the iron chains on either side of Yuntai as she climbed the steps."

"Though she didn’t touch them, her eyes were fixed on them."

"Halfway up, she gradually slowed down, and Yunshan looked back at her,"

"'What’s wrong, my lady?'"

"Song Zhao paused, shifting her weight towards Yunshan and casually grabbed one of the iron chains, giving it a slight tug,"

"With that simple pull, the chain's connecting point couldn't withstand the force and snapped off immediately,"

"The clinking sound startled Yunshan, making her shiver."

"Be careful, my lady!"

She firmly supported Song Zhao, looking at the loosened iron chain on the ground with a frightened expression:

"It's fortunate that you didn't lean on the iron chain. If you had, and it suddenly broke, you would have certainly fallen!"

Standing at a high place, the biting cold wind kept blowing into Song Zhao's collar.

Yet, she was so frightened that she broke out in a sweat,

"This chain is adorned with auspicious cloud patterns, and only the masters, not the palace servants, are allowed to touch it. The palace maid we saw earlier serves in the Buddha Temple and climbs to the Cloud Platform daily, trained to not feel tired.

But the masters in the palace are not accustomed to physical labor like the servants. If someone tired leans on this chain, they could fall off and be smashed to pieces..."

Yun Sange was startled by these words and filled with anxiety, saying:

"It's the Empress who wants to harm you!"

Song Zhao silently looked at the steep steps behind her, exhaling a warm mist,

"It's Chen Consort who saved me."