Chapter 28
Deep into the night .
In the embroidery workshop, many lights were lit .
The light dyed the paper panes of the windows orange, passing through to the outside . It was obviously time for the evening meal . But the palace maids were still congregated in the workshop . Even though their bellies rumbled, not one of them left .
Once again, the needle pricked Jixiang’s finger and she yelped . She sucked at that injured finger . Turned her head to look at the front doors . Inarticulately, she said “Big Sis Yingluo still hasn’t returned?”
Linglong, who sat beside her, continued to embroider, saying without raising her head, “Maybe she couldn’t come back…”
“What are you saying?!” said Jixiang, furious . “Pei, pei, pei¹! Hurry and spit three times for me!”
Linglong curled her lip, too lazy to perform such vulgar actions . Noticing this, Jixiang grew even more furious, almost at the point where she really wanted to debate with her . All of a sudden, the palace maid closest to the door screamed, “They’re here, they’re here! Someone’s outside!”
Jixiang froze . Quickly abandoned Linglong and ran outside .
A gust of wind blew past her . Someone had run even faster than Jixiang .
“G-granny Zhang?” Jixiang stared at the woman’s figure, dumbstruck .
As if she were an elderly person whose only one son went far away to take an exam, Granny Zhang was practically sprinting to the main doors . Then she stared at the eunuch, anxiously waiting, really hoping to hear some good news . At least not bad news!
“Congratulations, Granny Zhang . ” Three palace maids had arrived, and the leader possessed an even higher rank than Granny Zhang . At this moment, she treated Granny Zhang courteously . A smile on her lips, she said, “Your embroidery workshop’s Wei Yingluo was in the limelight during the birthday feast . These are the things Her Majesty the empress bestowed on her . ”
She beckoned and the two palace maids behind her approached carrying a tray each .
On one of the trays lay two bolts of silk . On the other tray lay a pair of hairpins .
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The things made in the palace were the highest-quality in the world . Much less the items the empress gifted . They were the peak of the peak in craftsmanship, peak of the peak in materials .
Those two hairpins were made from jade . Everyone could not discern how great their quality was . They only could tell that the color was especially brilliant . At the top was a faint layer of white smoke, an indistinct color, mist-like yet not . Perhaps it was made from Lantian Jade² . Therefore as the sun rose over the mountain of Lantian, the jade would produce smoke³ .
It was a different story with the two bolts of silk . Everyone had been working in the embroidery workshop for more than half a year, and naturally could tell how good the quality was . One palace maid was astonished . “This is such great material . When one puts it on, it’s like wearing spring water . To wear it often not only is beneficial for the skin but good for the person . ”
“What do you know? This silk is a tribute from Jiangnan,” said another palace maid who was even more knowledgeable, envy flashing in her eyes . “It’s used to make clothes for the masters . Yingluo truly has a good life…”
Granny Zhang led the leader of the three palace maids aside for some conversation . Then she retrieved some money from her sleeve and thrust it into the palace maid’s hand . The other party tried to reject it for a long time, but in the end she could only receive it reluctantly . Granny Zhang personally sent them off and returned with joy on her face . She turned to the impatient palace maids before her and declared, “It’s nothing . You can all have your meals . ”
At this time, who would have the mood to eat?!
Jixiang was the first one to run over . “Granny, good Granny, hurry and tell me! What did Big Sis Yingluo do at the birthday feast?”
“Yes Granny, please let us know,” said Linglong, who had also run to their sides, not batting an eyelid . “Just what did Yingluo do so that Her Majesty the empress not only did not punish her, but actually rewarded her?”
Granny Zhang was in great spirits . She faced the two girls with a smile . “I am not sure as well . Why don’t we wait until she returns and directly ask her?”
Linglong fell silent for a while . Then she asked, “Where is she right now?”
“She received her reward,” said Granny Zhang . “So naturally she needs to kowtow before Her Majesty to thank her for the grace!”
Outside of Changchun Palace .
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In Mingyu’s hand was a six-sided lantern . The orange glow illuminated a frail figure kneeling with the head seemingly touching the ground, their shadow stretching long .
“Your Majesty . ” Wei Yingluo’s forehead rested on the back of her hands . “This slave has come to beg for forgiveness . ”
“Oh?” Empress Fucha had already removed the burdensome ceremonial robe, and was wearing the plain and simple white robe she usually wore . Under the moon, she slowly approached Wei Yingluo . Just like Chang’e⁴, who only showed up during the full moon .
“Yes . ” Wei Yingluo reported in detail what had happened, not leaving a shred of information out . “A couple days ago, a thief struck in the embroidery workshop, taking the peacock feather thread . Left with no other choice, this slave chose to use thread made from the fur of a deer’s tail as replacement . In order to bluff a way out of this in the grand hall, this slave made up a story . ”
“Since you have already gotten away with it, why have you come to confess to this palace?” asked Empress Fucha with a smile .
Wei Yingluo thought, because I don’t believe that .
The situation had gone too smoothly . To the point it seemed Empress Fucha had acted in concert with her .
After Wei Yingluo had thought of this clearly, her back was drenched with cold sweat . And she no longer dared to think it was all a fluke, rushing to Empress Fucha without any objection to beg for forgiveness .
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“Your Majesty is benevolent, empathizing with the subordinates . Not only have your honored self not exposed me in public, but even bestowed gifts . This slave is terrified . As a person who committed such a big crime, how could this slave have the face to accept your honored self’s gifts?” Wei Yingluo kowtowed . “May Your Majesty take back the gifts and punish this slave . ”
“How could the things that have been bestowed be taken back? What do you take this palace as?” Light laughter spilled from Empress Fucha’s lips . “Furthermore, what has passed has passed . Today is this palace’s birthday . This palace does not want any unpleasant things to occur today, do you understand?”
Wei Yingluo kowtowed once more . “This slave will never forget Your Majesty’s kindness . ”
“However… There is something this palace finds extremely strange…”
“May Your Majesty speak . ” Wei Yingluo hurriedly said, “This slave will definitely reveal everything . ”
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“Mingyu said that when you were still waiting outside the hall, you kept stalling, stalling until you were the last one to enter,” said Empress Fucha . “Back then, what were you waiting for?”
Wei Yingluo’s eyes darted left and right in thought . Right before she could respond, Empress Fucha had already come to the answer .
“You were waiting for the emperor . Am I correct?”
Wei Yingluo was startled . She reflexively looked up, her gaze meeting with wise and farsighted eyes .
How could those who had such eyes be unintelligent? How could they be masters who were easily fooled?!
Quick as lightning, Wei Yingluo had come to a decision .
“Yes!” She gritted her teeth . “Your Majesty is highly favored . This slave wanted to borrow His Majesty’s presence so that Your Majesty would be in high spirits . In this way, when this slave enters the hall with the gift, Your Majesty would not be furious . ”
All of a sudden, Empress Fucha’s expression darkened . “You’re certainly brave! Even daring to use the emperor!”
“May Your Majesty the empress grant forgiveness!” Wei Yingluo kowtowed again and again, handing her life to the other party and resigning to her fate . “If punishment is necessary, then please just punish this slave only . Please don’t have the embroidery workshop implicated!”
“Punishment is absolutely required . Let this palace think…” Empress Fucha fell silent .
Until the point Wei Yingluo’s breathing grew rough and jagged, she snickered . “Your punishment is to remake all of this palace’s daily clothes using only deer tail fur . Understand?”
—
Wei Yingluo immediately raised her head . As if she were a pardoned criminal on death roll . After a long period in a daze, her face grew ecstatic . She banged her forehead on the ground in a kowtow . “Yes! Many thanks to Your Majesty!”
“Enough . It’s getting late . You may return . ” Empress Fucha looked at her with a gentle gaze . “Once you’ve finished the clothes, personally deliver them to Changchun Palace . Furthermore…”
She turned to Mingyu, who was standing at the side . “For a thief to appear in the palace out of the blue, Wu Shulai cannot shirk the responsibility . Tell him to investigate!”
Mingyu hurriedly sounded her acknowledgement .
“Enough . This palace is tired . ” Empress Fucha nodded . “Send her back . ”
The six-sided lantern illuminated the road out of Changchun Palace .
“Big Sis Mingyu, just this far is enough . ” Wei Yingluo didn’t dare to have Mingyu actually escort her all the way back . From Changchun Palace to the embroidery workshop, even if one rushed on the way, it would take a bit less than an hour . “I can go the rest of the way . ”
Mingyu also did not want to waste time on this little palace maid . On the spot, she said, “Alright, then I’ll leave first . ”
In the blink of an eye, she turned around, heading back to Changchun Palace .
Wei Yingluo watched her figure shrink into the distance . But if one were to say she was watching Mingyu leave, one might as well say she was gazing at Changchun Palace from afar .
Deep into the night, Changchun Palace was still bright outside . What was illuminating the exterior were the many lanterns the palace maids had hung and the Glowing Pearl offered by Haishi⁵ . Or perhaps it could be the coral tree that was gifted during the birthday feast?
Indeed, this was the residence of Empress Fucha . The dwelling of the most noble woman in the imperial harem .
Previously, Wei Yingluo had only been able to look at it from afar . But from this day forward, it was no longer as distant .
“Fucha Fuheng…” Her voice could only be heard by herself . “Wait for me . I’ll be looking for you…”
The faraway Changchun Palace was as bright as if it were daytime . However, Wei Yingluo’s surroundings proved pitch black .
The night swallowed her body whole, swallowed her expression, turning her into a dark silhouette . And the brightly lit Changchun Palace from far away seemed incompatible with it…