018 Exposed

That day, I had only caught a fleeting glimpse of Xiao Ruo at the entrance of Cuiwei Palace. Now, several days later, I saw her again. This alone did not surprise me; what astonished me was that Xiao Ruo’s appearance had utterly changed. She was no longer the gentle, noble concubine I had seen before, but instead dressed in the same attire as Hong Xiu. She had clearly become a palace maid.

“Why are you only just arriving? Don’t you know that Her Ladyship has been waiting for her clothes?”

Cui’er came out and immediately scolded Xiao Ruo, snatching the garments from her hands. “Next time, hurry up! If you delay Her Ladyship, you can’t afford the consequences.”

“Yes!” Xiao Ruo replied quietly, head bowed.

I looked up and realized I was not far from Xiyu Pavilion.

“Hurry on. Next time, be quicker. If Her Ladyship is pleased, she might even reward you. But isn’t it amusing? The mistress of yesterday, and now look at you.” Cui’er sneered, casting Xiao Ruo a contemptuous glance before turning inside.

I felt a deep confusion. How had Xiao Ruo fallen from the rank of concubine to a laundry maid? What had happened in those few days?

When Xiao Ruo was still a concubine, I had never found a chance to meet her. Now that she had been demoted, was it appropriate for me to seek her out?

I lingered by the wall, watching Xiao Ruo walk away. As she left, she glanced back at the palace gate—her eyes full both of hope and disappointment.

I stood there, torn and indecisive, while Xiao Ruo’s figure disappeared into the distance. I had no idea how I should approach her, or what I ought to do next. For now, I could only return to Cuiwei Palace and reconsider my options.

Not long after my return, a group of eunuchs and guards arrived. At that moment, Zhang Bitong and Yun Qing were not in the palace.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Lanyan questioned them at once, sensing danger. “This is Her Ladyship’s residence. It’s not a place for you to run wild.”

One of the guards stepped forward and announced, “By order of His Majesty, we are to thoroughly investigate the whereabouts of all suspicious masters and servants from last night. Each of you, state where you were last night.”

Hong Xiu emerged and asked, “May I ask what has happened?”

“There has been another murder in the palace. Speak up, or be taken away!”

Lanyan replied, “Where could we have gone? Xiaoluzi and I were at the door, keeping watch for Her Ladyship.”

Xiaoluzi nodded, “That’s right. I was on guard outside with Sister Lanyan.”

“And you two?” The guard looked to Hong Xiu and me.

Hong Xiu said, “I was sleeping in my room all night.”

“Can anyone vouch for you?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“No? Then come with us!” Two eunuchs moved to seize her, but Hong Xiu quickly broke free. “I was truly asleep, but I know someone who went out.”

“Speak!”

“It was little Xiao. I got up during the night to drink water and saw him sneaking out. He came back much later, looking flustered!”

I hadn’t expected Hong Xiu to point directly at me.

I had already prepared to lie my way out—I knew they were investigating the incident concerning Concubine Mei. Long Zhan had chosen to trust me, but I never imagined Hong Xiu would betray me.

Hong Xiu taught me a lesson: when you help someone, perhaps out of gratitude, they will help you in return. But that does not mean they consider you a friend. When danger comes, they won’t hesitate to cast you aside.

In this palace, there are no friends—only interests.

“Take him away!” The two eunuchs didn’t bother with explanations and dragged me off.

I thought they would at least interrogate me somewhere so I could defend myself. But to my horror, I was taken straight to the Punishment Bureau and tortured immediately.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one suffering this fate.

Only then did I understand why Hong Xiu had so readily pointed to me—she knew exactly what awaited her if she was taken away.

I was tied to a chair, my face beaten until it bled, and all ten fingers crushed until I could no longer feel them. I had the illusion I no longer even had hands.

I fainted from the pain, only to be revived by a bucket of cold water.

“Ready to talk now?” I opened my eyes to see Qiu Ronghai’s terrifying face.

He glanced at the several of us—palace maids and eunuchs, all barely alive—and sneered, “Speak! Confess and you’ll suffer less. Which one of you killed Concubine Mei, and on whose orders? If you reveal your master as well, not only will you go unpunished, but His Majesty will reward you handsomely!”

We looked at each other, and suddenly one of the maids burst out sobbing. “Sir, I am innocent! I went out that night but did nothing, I swear!”

“Still not telling the truth? Beat her!”

At Qiu Ronghai’s command, a eunuch struck her across the mouth several times with a bamboo plank. Blood poured from her lips and she collapsed unconscious.

“Sir, she’s barely breathing.”

“Then drag her out…”

“Yes, sir…”

“You act without distinction—if the murderer is only one, won’t the others suffer needlessly?” I couldn’t help but speak.

Qiu Ronghai turned to me, squinting and smiling coldly. “So it’s little Xiao. What’s this, getting bold after serving at Cuiwei Palace? You’re right. If you don’t want to implicate others, then confess yourself. You and your master—tell me everything, so I may report to His Majesty.”

“I have nothing to confess. I did not kill anyone. Isn’t Lord Long investigating this case?”

“Oh, you know quite a lot, little Xiao. Lord Long will investigate, but I also act on His Majesty’s orders. If you all refuse to confess, I’ll just have to use more persuasive methods!”

With a signal from him, I braced myself for another wave of agony.

A maid beside me screamed as needles were forced under her fingernails. Her cries shook me to the core, leaving me at a loss.

I was terrified too, afraid of the pain, and uncertain what to do. Who could I count on to save me in the Punishment Bureau? Long Zhan would not come, and Jiang Xuan even less so. Was I to be tortured to death like that eunuch before me?

“I’ll confess—I’ll tell you…” The maid with needles under her nails gasped, barely clinging to life.

“Stop!” Qiu Ronghai commanded, and the eunuchs halted.

He walked over, covering his nose with a handkerchief. “Speak.”

“My mistress was jealous of Concubine Mei and ordered me to kill her. I was forced to do it.”

“And who is your mistress?”

“Concubine Rong of Jiyue Palace.”

“Very well. Come with me.” The maid was untied and carried out by two eunuchs.

“Sir, what about the others here?” another eunuch asked Qiu Ronghai.

“Leave them in the Punishment Bureau. If their masters come to claim them, let them go. If not, their masters clearly don’t want them—leave them here.”

“Yes, sir.”

We were untied, then thrown into a straw-strewn room. No one in the palace cared whether a maid or eunuch lived or died, let alone sought out a doctor for us.

The lucky ones survived. Those less fortunate would die after a few years in this place.

I sank into unconsciousness. Soon I developed a high fever and became delirious. None of the other maids or eunuchs with me had any masters come to claim them.

Because we were involved in Concubine Mei’s case, no master would risk getting entangled. Even if we were innocent, no one wanted us anymore. There were always more servants in the palace.

For us, the only fate left was to wait for death—or endure endless suffering and toil.

The Punishment Bureau’s servants were the lowest of the low, forced to do everything.

Even with our battered bodies, we were still whipped out of bed at dawn to work. This continued for three days.

In those three days, I heard that Concubine Rong was sentenced to hang herself with three feet of white silk. As for the maid, she certainly didn’t escape punishment as promised, but followed her mistress to the same fate.

I had never met Concubine Rong. Why did she want to kill Concubine Mei? Was it truly just jealousy?

Was the matter really so simply concluded? I didn’t know.

But I did know that my greatest task now was to get out. I had not come to the palace to await death in this place. I had to escape!

Heaven does not forsake the determined. I happened to see Ping’er.

With Concubine Mei’s death, His Majesty, remembering her, treated Ping’er kindly and made her a personal maid to the emperor. In fact, Ping’er was now more favored than before.

Ping’er did not come to the Punishment Bureau for any official duty. She knew I was there and came specifically to see me.

I was indebted to that pair of mistress and servant.

“Little Xiao, you’ve suffered so much!” Ping’er’s eyes reddened when she saw the state I was in.

“Don’t cry, Sister Ping’er. I have thick skin—a little hardship is nothing.”

Wiping away her tears, Ping’er said, “I feel guilty that you ended up here because of my mistress, but there’s nothing I can do to get you out. I thought of pleading with His Majesty, but Qiu Ronghai warned me not to mention Concubine Mei again, fearing it would sadden the emperor.”

“Sister Ping’er, your kindness is enough. But there is something you can help me with.”

“Really? Tell me. If I can help, I will!”

“Spread the story I told Concubine Mei about winning favor—just among the inner palace, don’t let the emperor hear. Especially among the palace maids and eunuchs of the consorts—tell as many as you can. And mention that Zhang Zhaoyi’s water sleeve dance was my idea as well. Do you understand?”

“I understand. I’ll do it at once.”

“Thank you, Ping’er!”

I had not wished to make a name for myself so soon, nor to use Concubine Mei thus. But now, I had no other choice. I could only hope things would go as I planned.