Chapter 48: Great Heat (3)

Chapter 48: Great Heat (3)

Sometimes Yingming couldn't comprehend where those who served the emperor found the audacity to try and place her before his eyes, just as the Empress Dowager had done. She didn't get along with the emperor, and while others might not know, those in the imperial court were well aware. From the day she entered the palace, the emperor treated her with disdain, barely acknowledging her existence. Occasionally, she pondered if their astrological signs clashed, and when she visited the Shouan Palace to pay respects, she discreetly asked the Empress Dowager if the palace practiced matching birthdates.

The Empress Dowager replied, "Of course we do, and even more strictly than outside the palace walls."

In the palace, there was an Imperial Astronomical Bureau responsible for observing celestial phenomena and calculating seasonal changes. However, their duties extended beyond that. In simpler terms, they were imperial fortune-tellers and geomancers, skilled in matching birthdates for marriage, interpreting fate, and assessing feng shui. Matching the emperor's birthdate was of paramount importance, typically requiring the supervisor, chief clerk, and five officials of the Celestial Observatory to repeatedly examine the couple's birthdates. If there were no clashes and it indicated an excellent match, that would be the preferred choice.

"Back when I entered the palace, my birthdate was also calculated," the Empress Dowager reminisced with a smile, remembering her journey from Chahar, full of anticipation and the sweet scent of spring despite the dust on the road.

Noticing Yingming's puzzled expression, the Empress Dowager paused and sighed. "Don't dwell on it. Matching birthdates is just the beginning. Whether two people have shared interests or compatible personalities depends on their efforts. I know what you're thinking – how could my excellent match with the late emperor not lead to love, and why he left me without any children… Such things are difficult to explain. Why did I not worry about your arguments with the emperor? It's because through your interactions, a bond can develop from the bickering. With the late emperor, we truly couldn't utter a single word to each other." The Empress Dowager recalled those times with a sigh. "He saw me as a dull deer in Cihang Palace, and I viewed him as a droopy-eared lion in front of the Qianqing Gate. We simply didn't click. Even now, I don't think there's anything wrong with me, but when a man doesn't see your worth, there's no reason – some men are just blind."

Occasionally, the Empress Dowager spoke candidly, and Yingming detected a hint of resentment in her words. She had restrained herself, perhaps wanting to say that he had high standards, yet he died young. He was nowhere to be found now, while she continued to live a long life. Being alive was a victory in itself. Who knew if the late emperor's short life was karma?

Yingming tried to divert the conversation. "Your servant and His Majesty always end up arguing after just a few words. Perhaps it's because our birthdates don't match!"

The Empress Dowager dismissed the idea. "Nonsense! The Empress Dowager instructed the Astronomical Bureau to carefully calculate this. Seven officials spent three days on it, and every one of them concluded it was a divine match. Even if you two seem incompatible at present, a good outcome will still come eventually."

Yingming was deeply disappointed that even the excuse of an astrologically incompatible fate had failed. She was bound to be tied to the emperor for this lifetime, no matter what.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager shared with her an even more despairing piece of news: "Your union has the support of noble patrons. With their aid, how could it not succeed?"

Yingming smiled bitterly, thinking to herself that indeed, there were many influential figures, including the Old Buddha and the Empress Dowager, as well as the Three Treasures of the imperial court, De Lu, Little Fu, and San Qing. Each one of them was determined to bring her and the emperor together.

De Lu also wore a smile. As a meticulous eunuch in charge, he said while holding his sleeves, "I'll be on duty in the main hall, specifically overseeing the midnight military council office. The passage behind will be all yours. Please bear with it and take care." Glancing at Songge, he continued, "Miss Songge isn't allowed to spend the night in the Nourishing Heart Palace according to protocol. You should return and get a full night's sleep. How fortunate."

Songge stared blankly at De Lu, unable to find words. Eventually, she bowed and acknowledged the order.

In reality, there were no urgent military affairs to convey during the middle of the night in the military council office, unless there was a natural disaster, drought, or a crisis at the borders. In this era of prosperity, urgent messages traveling eight hundred miles were non-existent. Thus, when De Lu praised Songge's fortune, he secretly rejoiced, knowing he could also catch some rest that night.

Being a eunuch before the emperor was a position of external prestige but internal hardship. When De Lu first entered the palace, he stood on duty in silence. On tranquil afternoons, without any sounds in the palace, standing still felt like carrying a thousand pounds on his eyelids. A momentary lapse could result in a slap. Eunuchs were servants before their masters, and apprentice servants were barely considered human by those in charge. The chief eunuch would assess their potential before promoting them, evaluating their skills in tasks such as hairdressing, serving tea, dressing, conveying messages, and reporting. For De Lu, the most challenging task was standing on duty. Being young and prone to drowsiness, he eventually resorted to wearing larger shoes when receiving his uniform. People joked that he wasn't tall but had large feet, saying they were filled with burrs. When dozing off, a gentle push from his toes could instantly awaken him. Relying on this trick, he endured countless tedious afternoons.

Now, as a supervisor, he didn't have to stand on duty, but he needed to read people's expressions and understand the emperor's intentions. If the emperor made efforts to communicate something, and De Lu remained clueless, what use was he? Serving the emperor required courage and attentiveness, addressing his urgencies. The emperor was the ruler of the world, and while he might discuss matters with others, that wasn't the case with him. The emperor valued grand gestures and appearances. Anticipating what the emperor hadn't instructed, but what he might appreciate, would earn De Lu favor.

De Lu walked into the eastern warmth chamber with the grace of a crane. It was time for the emperor to take a brief rest. San Qing was sorting documents nearby, and the emperor put down his imperial writing brush and stood up.

"Master, just now, Miss Yingming was speaking with this servant. I mentioned that Little Fu wasn't feeling well today. Miss Yingming is such an understanding person; she worries about our shift and has offered to stay up for the night to attend to you," De Lu reported.

The emperor was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely said, "I took eight taels of silver from her yesterday. She might be harboring resentment right now."

De Lu refuted, "Doesn't Master know Miss Yingming's character? She serves you wholeheartedly. It's just that being new here, she might inadvertently cause some misunderstandings. Over time, she'll surely adapt and flourish."

The emperor snorted and didn't say anything more. He proceeded toward the sleeping quarters. As he crossed the hall, he saw her standing in the shadows before the Tishun Hall. Her slender figure, long black braids, and the backdrop of a grand cascade of light captivated him. The emperor paused, wondering if she had also developed some feelings, starting to pay attention to the empress's allocation of rooms.

Just then, she turned around and spotted him. The emperor couldn't avoid her gaze, so he pretended to stroll casually through the hall. Upon reaching the entrance of the main room, he stopped and asked, "I heard you're replacing Little Fu tonight?"

Yingming confirmed, "Your servant is on night duty for Master. If there's anything you need, just command your servant."

Upon hearing her words, something stirred in the emperor's heart, but he dared not entertain any improper thoughts. Instead, he found a way to tease her, "Command you? Can you serve tea or water, or massage my legs with Five Flowers Fist?" He paused, then recalled, "Ah, yes, you can serve tea, but you wouldn't know to discard it if the rim was burnt. I underestimated you."

Yingming was indignant. She thought, Because of you, I was subjected to my imperial grandmother's test, and you still have the nerve to make sarcastic remarks? But if she were to refute, it would involve the empress's position, which she didn't wish to discuss at the moment. So, she swallowed her pride, adopting a subservient attitude, "If I discarded it, Old Buddha would send me back home. Your servant hasn't served His Majesty enough yet, and I'm unwilling to leave."

Unwilling to leave... While she spoke sweetly, the emperor perceived a different meaning. Frowning, he watched her, sensing a tinge of sorrow. If he ordered her to leave the palace, she'd probably disappear in an instant!

Observing the emperor enter the main room with a serious look, Yingming noticed one of the windows left ajar. It was scorching hot, and as usual, he didn't need anyone to fan him while resting. Sometimes, she wondered if he was innately cold-blooded.

Yingming fanned herself twice, not dwelling on it. She entered the Tishun Hall, a five-bay structure equivalent to the eastern annex of the rear palace. The Nourishing Heart Palace's rooms were compact and intricately designed, not like outsiders imagined, with the emperor living alone in a vast, isolated chamber. Every table and chair were exquisitely crafted, and there were rosewood objects, gemstone flower pots, and European clocks, all reflecting the imperial family's prestige and extravagance.

With her master resting, she dared not do the same. In the western corner room, there was a bookshelf adorned with various books. In her leisure time, she enjoyed reading as a way to pass the time. However, since entering the palace, such pastimes had become scarce; whenever she had free moments, she would occupy herself with sewing and embroidery.

She fetched a chair and sat before the bookshelf, engrossed in her reading. The gauzy summer silk drapes gracefully around her, accentuating her slender profile. On the other side of the wall, the Emperor, too, was not taking his afternoon nap. He leisurely paced about the room, lost in some unseen contemplation.

Holding his whisk behind the supporting pillar in the corridor, De Lu observed with a touch of sentimentality. He imagined this was how the emperor and empress would feel in the future. The Emperor appeared calm on the surface but harbored a passionate heart; without such ardor, one could not rule over thousands of miles of land. As for Ying Miss, her spiritual resolve was unwavering, and she reveled in the elegance of mortal life. Her captivating gaze and transcendent demeanor echoed her detachment from worldly affairs. To some extent, she resembled the Empress Dowager, which was why the latter took a particular liking to her. Affection in this world never arises without reason—it either stems from an instant spark of infatuation or the discovery of one's own reflection in another.

Oh, the heat, it was unbearable. The old adage that a calm mind brings coolness in the heat was nothing but a deception. In the scorching afternoon, with not a whisper of wind to be found, the world felt like a vast steaming oven. De Lu stood there, drenched in sweat, feeling as if he were being cooked alive. In the nearby Cining Palace garden, towering trees sheltered a chorus of chirping birds whose melodious cries reverberated across several miles. The louder the cicadas sang, the more vexed one became; their incessant noise was like a lamp burning through oil, only subsiding gradually as the evening approached.

His Majesty the Emperor had gone to the Office of Military Matters to deliberate on state affairs, and it was only upon arriving at the imperial presence that Yingming gained a full understanding of how hectic the emperor's governance truly was. She had initially assumed that with so many ministers supported by the court, every issue would have its share of minds to ease the burden. However, this was not the case. Some officials were adept at offering suggestions, keen to demonstrate their thoughtful nature to the emperor, yet they would propose these ideas without addressing them, indicating that these suggestions served merely to occupy the emperor's time. There were also numerous ministers who diligently attended to practical matters; when the emperor was busy, so were they. Of course, there were exceptions like Lord Na, who managed to muddle through his duties while idling away his days. Yingming had always wondered how her father found so much leisure to patronize actors and keep mistresses; now she realized it was the emperor, not him, who bore the brunt of the work.

Upon reflection, it seemed somewhat unfair to the Emperor. His tireless efforts had enabled nobles like Marquis Na to indulge in the pleasures of the world. Yingming waited at the entrance of the Yangxin Gate as night fell. White silk lanterns were hung high outside, casting a glow upon the ground. In the shadows, countless tiny figures scurried about; where there was earth, there were insects. She was terrified of these small creatures, not just the flying insects drawn to light, but also the plump worms on leaves and the "suspended ghosts" hanging from branches. She feared them all.

Huddled in the shadows, it wasn't until nearly the end of Xu hour (7-9 pm) that the emperor returned. At last, she needn't remain exposed to the elements. Upon seeing him, she broke into a wide grin. "My lord has had a strenuous day."

The Emperor looked at her quizzically. "You've found a piece of doghead gold?"

She replied, "Your Highness has been occupied until now. It's time to rest. I've prepared some snacks for you. Please have some to loosen your muscles and bones."

No fallacious arguments, no unnecessary distress – it was pleasant to know she would be there when he returned. The emperor's expression softened as he entered the main chamber with his hands behind his back. On the table sat a spring box filled with delicate snacks of the fourth rank, alongside a jade cup holding finely textured almond jelly.

The emperor washed his hands and sat down at the table, picking up a dove-shaped glass cake. Only then did he remember to ask her, "Have you tried these before?"

Yingming shook her head. "I don't eat at night. I'm afraid it'll give me indigestion."

Just as the emperor was about to take a bite, her words made him put it back down. "You're afraid of indigestion, yet you prepare so much for me. Are you trying to trick me again?"

San Qing and De Lu didn't even bother looking up, knowing that Yingming would handle the situation. Indeed, she diffused the tension herself. "Your Majesty, please don't treat your servants like thieves. How dare I deceive you in front of the imperial throne? Even if I did, where could I hide? The food is prepared out of concern for your hard work. Unlike me, you don't have leisure days. You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, so you must eat well and rest properly, or Your Sacred Body won't be able to endure it."

Upon hearing this, the emperor seemed to find some humanity in her words. He wasn't someone who hoarded food for himself. He invited her over and shared a piece of golden milk custard with her. "A reward for you."

The more she talked about indigestion, the more food she received. In truth, Yingming was quite eager to try those pastries. The imperial kitchen had delicacies that the palace's longevity kitchen lacked, such as the milk-white jujube treasure. She hadn't tasted it since entering the palace, so she smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generosity. But I don't eat single servings."

The emperor had already figured out her antics. "So it has to be in pairs, does it? What's the significance of that?"

Yingming replied, "It's considered more auspicious."

The emperor let out a sigh. "Ah, how could I not have thought of that?" Noticing her gaze on the box of milk-white jujube treasure, he used his precious fingers to nudge it towards her. "I'll give this to you as well."

Yingming blushed and smiled bashfully. "How can I accept that? If I take it all, my master will have none left."

The emperor dismissed her concern, "It's nothing. I'm just worried about indigestion."

However, her bashful smile lingered in his mind. She must have used this innocent and polite demeanor to charm the Empress Dowager and the empress. Who could have imagined that such a well-behaved lady would plot against him?

He raised his chin and said, "Have a seat."

Yingming thanked the emperor, then held the small silver spoon and gracefully tasted the dessert. Her joyous expression after savoring the delicious food was identical to the one she had when she was greedy for wealth.

The emperor felt dizzy again and looked away. The almond tofu tonight was better than usual. It was a pity there was only one serving; otherwise, it could have filled the void in his heart.

Yingming ate contentedly, praising after each bite, "The imperial chefs are truly skilled! Your Majesty, your servant is full and feels energized tonight. If you have any orders, just call me. I'm right next door, and I'll come at the sound of your voice."

She didn't know the specific rules for attending to the emperor at night. Normally, attendants couldn't comfortably rest in their own rooms but would sleep on mats outside the master's quarters. However, she was not required to follow this rule. The emperor nodded with his eyes lowered, allowing her to stay in the adjacent room.

His daily routines were managed by specialized personnel, so he didn't need her to worry about them. After freshening up, he returned to Rixin Hall, where San Qing helped him change into plain silk clothes. Once everything was in order, the courtiers withdrew.

Outside the window, a solitary moon cast a dim light. Lying on his pillow, the emperor pondered the events in the court while his thoughts wandered to the girl next door. He wondered what she was doing at that moment, perhaps scratching her feet. Suddenly, he heard a startled cry, like a rooster's dawn chorus, piercing the stillness of the night. Startled, he recognized her voice and immediately jumped out of bed without putting on his shoes. He rushed into Tishun Hall like a gust of wind.