Chapter 107: Winter Solstice (3)

Chapter 107: Winter Solstice (3)

Yingming listened to the news in the Zining Palace, restless and unable to sit still.

Back at home, her mother always said she was like a monk reincarnated, not caring about anything except for her own life and death. Now that she had married into her husband's family, the emperor's safety tugged at her heartstrings. She realized she could no longer be a monk; she was destined to roll in the red dust of the world, accompanying that foolish tyrant through fire and water.

The sound of footsteps outside made her spirit lift, and she raised her eyes to look towards the door. But it was only a palace attendant coming to add charcoal, leaving her feeling disheartened.

The Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager also wore grave expressions, as this matter was indeed significant. The Xue family, like a centipede that remained writhing even after death, if they could provoke one of them to openly rebel, there would be an absolute excuse to eradicate them completely, without fear of the world's many mouths criticizing the emperor for burning his bridges or accusing him of betraying loyal ministers.

Being an emperor was truly not easy. Merely having outstanding political achievements was far from enough; one had to be impeccable, or else future wild histories would have ample material to slander you. Of course, the pen was in others' hands, and you couldn't control those sour scholars who lived for gossip, but at least you could ensure that you had no stains on your record in the official history. What the emperor was doing now was precisely to wash away those stains.

Like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who were willing would take the bait. Although Yingming understood the cruelty and ugliness of imperial power, where could one find someone absolutely clean? Being at the center of the whirlpool, no one could remain unscathed, and even she herself had begun to wield power. Once one tasted this flavor, the heart could never remain pure again.

But at this moment, she was only worried about her man. Sitting in her armchair, she tensed her spine, holding her breath. People passed by outside, and she looked out again and again, only to be disappointed time and again. She turned to look at the Grand Empress Dowager. "Grandmother, why is there no news at all?"

The Grand Empress Dowager lowered her eyelids, her expression solemn. "Don't panic, you must hold your nerve. You entered the palace during peaceful times and haven't seen the most turbulent periods. Back then, when the princes rebelled, we widows and orphans were surrounded on all sides, and the situation was far more severe than it is now, yet we ultimately endured the hardships. This matter is nothing; what should be worrying is the Xue family, not us."

Yingming agreed. The Grand Empress Dowager had experienced four dynasties and had seen too much, as if nothing in the world could shake her will. She sat there quietly, immovable as a mountain. As Yingming watched her, her heart gradually settled. After a long while, she finally saw someone coming quickly down the central path. It was Dong Fuxiang reporting back. He entered and bowed to the emperors and empresses. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and Her Imperial Highness the Empress, the Guandi Temple has been surrounded by guards like an iron bucket, and it's impossible to get in. I listened around the perimeter, and it's said that there was the sound of gunfire earlier. Now everyone is in an uproar, and no one knows what's going on."

Yingming couldn't sit still anymore. She stood up abruptly and asked, "Where did the gunfire come from? Was it from outside shooting in, or inside shooting out?"

Dong Fuxiang replied that it was from outside shooting in. "At this moment, the area within two li around the Guandi Temple has been surrounded, and not even a bird can fly out."

Yingming exclaimed softly, sitting down in a daze, muttering to herself, "From outside shooting in... from outside shooting in..."

Seeing her reaction, the Empress Dowager hurriedly said, "Don't worry. The emperor has everything under control; there won't be any problems."

Yingming nodded, but she still felt uneasy. She knew the emperor had everything under control, but how many unexpected things could happen when facing desperate men? Unlike before, when arrows and crossbows were used, which could take a person's life from a hundred paces away, that musket was thousands of times more powerful than a bow and arrow. So when she heard that there had been gunfire, her legs went weak.

Just as she was in a state of anxiety, wondering what to do, the people sent out reported back, saying that the encirclement outside the Guandi Temple had been lifted, but the news from inside the Yellow Curtain City was still sealed off and couldn't be transmitted.

Yingming held her handkerchief and pondered. It should be alright now, since the encirclement had been lifted, which meant that the person who fired the musket had been caught. Most likely, that was the case...

Indeed, this guess was soon confirmed. The messenger sent out by the Kunning Palace came in to pay respects, speaking in a light and cheerful tone. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and Her Imperial Highness, I went to investigate and happened to meet our Duke Consort. The Duke Consort was afraid that Her Imperial Highness would worry, so he ordered me to convey a message to the masters, saying that His Majesty is fine and asking the masters to rest assured. This time, capturing the criminals was like a hunt. The third son of the Xue family and his accomplices fell into the net and have already been executed on the spot. Their bodies were identified by the officials, confirming that it was indeed Heshou. At present, the commander of the Nine Gates has mobilized troops to search the Xue family's residence."

Those waiting for news in the hall finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as everything was safe, that was good. Yingming was relieved but also felt sorrowful. The Xue family had been utterly defeated. Originally, even if Duke Xue died, at least their family name wouldn't fall. Even if they were confined, at least they would know they still had a maternal family. During her birthday and memorial days, someone would remember to burn incense in front of her spirit tablet. But now, it was really over. The Xue family's lineage had been cut off completely. Even if the emperor remembered Duke Xue's early meritorious service and didn't exterminate the nine clans of the Xue family, the main family would still be doomed. Even those young children would likely not escape the fate of being consigned to the labor camp.

The Grand Empress Dowager clasped her hands, revealing a hint of fatigue at this point. "Amitabha Buddha, may heaven protect us. As long as the emperor is safe and sound, that's all that matters."

The eunuch reporting back agreed. "The Duke Consort said that the musket was indeed aimed at His Majesty. At that time, he was standing twenty steps away, and when he saw the master hit, he was so frightened that his liver almost shattered. Later, he found out that it was First-Class Attendant Gartu who took the place of the master, and that shot did indeed injure someone. Gartu bled all over the ground, nearly losing his life. If it hadn't been for him taking the place, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Just such a description was enough to make people break out in cold sweat several times. There were two people in the emperor's sedan chair at the time; the one who got into the sedan was the emperor, and the one who got out was Gartu. Heshou couldn't see faces clearly from a distance, and once the musket was fired, it caused a great commotion, quickly exposing his hiding place and leading to his encirclement and suppression. However, the emperor hadn't mentioned much about the arrangements for the next day in front of Yingming. He simply said he had everything under control and that she shouldn't worry. Such words couldn't really comfort anyone. Her emotions had risen and fallen dramatically, and now she felt weak, as if she had lost all strength.

"When will His Majesty return to the palace?" She instructed with difficulty. "Go and investigate again. It's better to see the master with your own eyes."

The eunuch reporting back acknowledged the order and bowed out.

Yingming smiled at the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. "My legs are still cramping, and I finally understand the upheavals that Grandmother and Mother experienced before. If it were me, I really don't know what I would have done."

It was only then that the Empress Dowager cracked a smile. "People are pushed to their limits, and in times of adversity, don't count on others to save you. Everything must be done by yourself. How do you get through it? By gritting your teeth and not panicking. Panic, and you'll lose your composure. People like us may seem to enjoy all the wealth and glory from the outside, but they don't know how many ups and downs we have to endure to maintain this legacy. Fortunately, today's crisis passed without incident. This is the first hurdle after your wedding, and once you've crossed it, things will go smoothly."

Yingming agreed, "It's still the servant's lack of experience. Such a trivial matter had me as anxious as an ant on a hot pot."

With that, she could finally settle down. Yingming waited for confirmation of the Emperor's return before leaving Zining Palace. The sky was still sprinkling fine snowflakes. She looked up, feeling the icy droplets land on her face, almost hearing them melt. Back in the warm east wing, she felt lightheaded and uncomfortable. Seeing her pale complexion, Hai Tang whispered, "Your Highness, let the servant help you lie down for a rest. You've been tense for so long; you must be exhausted. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Shall I summon Doctor Zhou to take a look?"

Yingming shook her head, declining. "I'll be fine if I rest for a bit. Send someone to Yangxin Hall to watch. Inform me when His Majesty returns."

Hai Tang acknowledged and helped her change clothes with Songe. Once she was settled, they left the warm room to attend to business outside.

Meanwhile, Shu Lan was also concerned, but she knew her worries had to be kept in check. Despite her anxiety, she couldn't recklessly join in the commotion. She waited until the afternoon when Shan Shan emerged from Jingqi Study. Initially intending to visit Kunning Palace for news, she hesitated, fearing her intentions might be noticed. On her way south, she changed her mind and lingered for a moment, turning to the young palace maid named Wowo. "Let's go see the snow scenery in the Imperial Garden, shall we?"

As a guest, the people of Kunning Palace treated her courteously. Since she wanted to stroll around, there was no reason to refuse. Leading her north, past the north gate was the Imperial Garden. The garden's scenery was beautiful year-round, vibrant in spring and pristine in winter. Following a winding path, they reached Qianqiu Pavilion after passing Yangxing Study. The pavilion stood on higher ground, offering a view of most of the garden's landscape.

"Let's sit inside for a while," Shu Lan said gently. "Are you cold? If so, we can walk around and head back."

She was considerate, which was why most people in Kunning Palace didn't dislike her despite her forced entry into the palace. Wowo smiled, saying she wasn't cold. "Since the lady entered the palace, this is the first time you've come to the garden. Let the servant accompany you for a tour."

Just as they were talking, two figures appeared from behind the rocks - Concubine Yi and her senior palace maid. Upon seeing Shu Lan, she exclaimed, "Isn't this Miss Shu Lan? We met twice at the Empress's palace. Do you remember me?"

Shu Lan recognized her immediately. The Noble Consort led the imperial consorts to pay respects at Kunning Palace every three days, and although most of them were quiet, Concubine Yi was talkative. Thus, Shu Lan had a strong impression of her. She curtsied. "Greetings, Your Highness. What a coincidence to meet you here today."

Concubine Yi replied, "The snow has stopped, and I've been cooped up indoors for several days. I came out today to breathe some fresh air." As she spoke, she warmly took Shu Lan's hand. "I've wanted to befriend you for a while. There aren't many sisters in the palace, so finding someone compatible is rare. I intended to visit you at Jingqi Study, but I feared you might not enjoy company, so I didn't dare to disturb you."

Shu Lan was slightly taken aback by her enthusiasm. Just as she was about to speak, Concubine Yi instructed her palace maid, "The hand warmer isn't very warm anymore. Go back and replace the charcoal." Pausing, she laughed again. "This year, I've been idle and learned to freeze fruits. Holding a hand warmer while enjoying the snow and eating fruits is quite enjoyable. Xiao Xi, take Miss Shu Lan's attendant and go back to fetch the fruits."

This was clearly an attempt to send the servants away, but it would be impolite to refuse. Wowo hesitated, being led by Concubine Yi's maid who said, "Dear sister, please accompany me. I only have two hands, and I'm afraid I won't be able to manage alone."

With the two maids gone, only Concubine Yi and Shu Lan remained. Concubine Yi led her into the pavilion and sat down, smiling. "We in the inner palace have heard about what happened to your family, Miss. At the time, everyone was discussing it, saying how could there be such a despicable wife in the world who doesn't cherish such a good daughter-in-law and resorts to such lowly tactics to bully her. Fortunately, you have support behind you, with His Majesty and the Empress standing up for you, allowing you to vent your grievances. This is your destiny, having a cousin like His Majesty. If this were outside, which cousin could stand up for his cousin? We all say that in life, it's better to suffer first and then enjoy sweetness than to start sweet and end bitter. Now that you've entered the palace, why not stay here permanently? We're all family, and you're related to His Majesty. Future honors and favors are self-evident."

Shu Lan blushed, stammering, "Your Highness, don't joke. The servant was driven out of my home, and His Majesty and the Empress saved me from the fire. I'm grateful beyond words, how could I harbor such thoughts?"

Concubine Yi tutted. "This isn't a bad thing, why is Miss so wary? People say that cousins are close generation after generation, connected even when broken. Bringing you in without any ulterior motives, could it be that this wasn't the intention? Besides, it was approved by the Empress Dowager. Miss is straightforward, didn't you think of this layer?" Afterward, she smiled again. "Miss, don't worry. Our Empress is the most understanding person. Knowing how difficult your past has been, she especially cares for you. If you have this intention, why not tell the Empress? Since the Empress cares for you, how could she disappoint your goodwill?"

Staring at Concubine Yi, Shu Lan momentarily didn't know what to say about her. She understood that this was intentional provocation. In crude terms, she had ill intentions. Knowing the Emperor and Empress's loving relationship, outsiders, including the other imperial consorts, couldn't interfere. By pushing her forward, they wanted to use her as a pawn, testing the waters with her status as the Emperor's cousin. If she succeeded, another plate would be added to the harem, causing no harm to Concubine Yi. But if she failed and offended the Empress, the one who suggested it would retreat into their shell, leaving her to face the consequences alone.

She had lived nineteen years in this world. When Enie was alive, she could have whatever she wanted. However, in the six years since Enie's passing, she had experienced the coldness of the world and the hardships of life. Those who had suffered valued blessings more, and she knew right from wrong. She couldn't do anything that would hurt her loved ones and delight her enemies.

But she couldn't speak harshly. No matter how angry she was, she could only burn herself, not scorch others. Therefore, she managed a smile. "Your Highness is doing this for the servant's sake, and I understand. But I can't make decisions on such matters myself. Speaking of it would only invite ridicule... Oh, it's getting late. The servant still needs to visit the Empress at Kunning Palace, so I won't keep Your Highness company any longer." She quickly curtsied and hurried south as if being chased.

On her way, she encountered Wowo returning. Seeing her leave, Wowo hastily handed the fruits to Xiao Xi and followed her. Xiao Xi watched their retreating backs, puzzled. "Miss Shu Lan didn't bite? She's truly an ungrateful person."

Concubine Yi snorted with amusement. "How many people in this world can resist temptation? The palace has everything, vast spaces, boundless wealth, and the most powerful handsome men in the world. If she doesn't want to stay, who would believe it? A pampered young lady who has tasted hardship, once she grabs hold of a lifeline, how could she let go easily? Even if she pretends now, she can't pretend for long. Just wait and see."

Xiao Xi nodded, somewhat hesitant. "If you incite her to advance in rank, what if she tells the Empress? You know the Empress's temperament. She deals with the harem like cutting melons and vegetables. Who in the entire palace dares to breathe heavily in front of her now?"

Initially pleased, Concubine Yi suddenly felt a chill at Xiao Xi's words. She couldn't force a smile, trying to remain calm. "How could this be considered inciting her? It was just a casual mention. The Empress can't find fault with me."

Xiao Xi was embarrassed. "Does the Empress need to find fault to deal with someone?"

Concubine Yi choked again, then summoned up her courage after a moment's thought. "That girl is as tight-lipped as a gourd; she wouldn't dare to speak. If she did, the Empress would surely suspect that she was using my name to test the waters. In that case, we wouldn't even have to say anything ourselves—the Empress would be the first one to find her intolerable."

It's true that when two tigers fight, one will inevitably be injured. But if one is a tiger and the other a frail rabbit, there's really no point in a contest. When abilities are mismatched, the weaker party tends to elicit more sympathy. After all, she is His Majesty's cousin. Should he ever waver for a moment... what a show that would be!