This object evokes the deepest longing.
On the way back, Yunqing’s face bore a trace of sorrow. She said to me, “I know you’ve suffered injustice this time. But in this palace one must be cautious with words and actions. Why did you wander out at night for no reason? You’ve given others ammunition against you.”
I lowered my head and replied, “This servant has learned the lesson and will never dare again.”
“That’s good. And don’t blame Her Ladyship for what happened. Noble Lady Tan stirred trouble before the Emperor, claiming Her Ladyship quarreled with Maid Mei. Her Ladyship had no choice and couldn’t rescue you, leaving you to suffer.”
Whether Yunqing’s words were true or not mattered little. I was but a servant; with the master saying this, how could I have any further grievance? For me, just being able to leave the Workhouse was already something for which I owed Zhang Bitong endless gratitude.
“Please don’t say so, Aunt Yunqing. To be released from the Workhouse is fortune amid misfortune. When I return, I must kneel before Her Ladyship and thank her for saving my life.”
Yunqing glanced at the wounds on my face and hands and said, “Don’t rush to kneel when you get back. Go rest first—I’ll bring you some medicine. There’s no need to report to Her Ladyship right away.”
“Yes!”
As we walked, we suddenly spotted Empress Dowager Lu Ning’s sedan chair approaching. Yunqing and I immediately knelt. We thought she would pass by, but to our surprise, the sedan stopped right in front of us.
“So it’s Yunqing!”
Yunqing bowed her head and said, “Your servant greets the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy prosperity and peace.”
Lu Ning was a woman whose presence brought comfort—or at least, that was how I felt at the moment.
“Where are you coming from?”
“I went to the Workhouse and brought Little Xiao back.”
“Little Xiao?”
“This servant is here!”
“Raise your head and let me see you!”
I lifted my head and looked at Lu Ning.
She immediately showed concern. “How did you get so frozen in this bitter winter? Did you commit some offense to be sent to the Workhouse?”
Yunqing replied, “The matter relates to Maid Mei; the servants were implicated as a result—”
Lu Ning nodded. “The Emperor, too, is at fault. One maid dies, and so many servants are affected. You all have it hard. Hurry back to the palace.”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager!”
“Wait, Little Xiao, you seem familiar to me.”
I stayed kneeling in silence. Lu Ning pondered and said, “I remember now. You were in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility that day, weren’t you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I must thank you again for saving my life.”
“No need for thanks. The Empress sometimes manages her people too severely. Go on, then. I’ll go see the Emperor—I’ve heard he’s unwell.”
“Your servant respectfully sees off the Empress Dowager!”
“Your servant respectfully sees off the Empress Dowager!”
Once the Empress Dowager and her entourage had gone, I asked, “The Emperor is unwell?”
Yunqing nodded. “They say he’s grieving for Maid Mei. It’s no wonder—she was favored for only a few days, and now she’s gone so suddenly.”
“But today Cui’er said the Emperor visited Jade Cherishing Pavilion last night, didn’t he?”
“Perhaps he’s haunted by memories.”
It seems Lin Tanwei has benefited from Maid Mei’s favor, which explains why the Emperor hasn’t promoted her yet. Of course, he doesn’t know Lin Tanwei is actually jealous of Maid Mei.
Yunqing and I returned to Emerald Palace, where Zhang Bitong appeared to have been waiting a long while.
“Your servant greets Her Ladyship!”
Zhang Bitong sat in her chair and gave me a cold smile. “Well, Little Xiao, I haven’t treated you badly, but you’ve bitten the hand that feeds you and dared to help Maid Mei! Do you admit your guilt?”
I hurriedly replied, “I admit my guilt, I admit my guilt.”
“I asked you to help me these past few days, but you dodged and delayed, as if you’d found a new mistress. I intended to let you rot in the Workhouse, but Yunqing kept pleading for you, saying there must be some hidden reason.”
I glanced at Yunqing, then said, “Your Ladyship, helping Maid Mei was an unintentional mistake. That day Noble Lady Tan slapped me several times, and Maid Mei spoke up for me, so I felt grateful. Later, Maid Mei’s maid, Ping’er, brought medicine and chatted with me. During our talk, I mentioned the plum blossoms blooming in Plum Courtyard, recalling Her Ladyship once said the Emperor likes plum blossoms. Ping’er, being clever, went back and told Maid Mei, which led to their meeting in Plum Courtyard. My words were unintentional; I offered no scheming advice. Please judge wisely!”
“Is that truly all?”
“My loyalty to Her Ladyship is as clear as the sun and moon.”
Yunqing addressed Zhang Bitong, “When I went to fetch Little Xiao, Cui’er from Jade Cherishing Pavilion and Minghe were also there.”
“Oh? They all went for Little Xiao?”
Yunqing nodded. “Little Xiao only recognizes her old master and has offended the Empress. Her Ladyship knows Little Xiao’s loyalty.”
Zhang Bitong looked at me. “I trust you wouldn’t dare betray me. But you said Noble Lady Tan slapped you? She knew you were my servant and still struck you? Why didn’t you report it?”
I replied, “All are masters. If a servant stirs discord and causes Her Ladyship to quarrel with another, the fault lies with the servant. I didn’t want Her Ladyship to offend others by standing up for me.”
Zhang Bitong’s expression softened and she nodded. “You’re sensible—not like other servants who run to me at the slightest grievance, eager for me to intervene. I won’t pursue the matter further. Now, the Emperor is unwell; do you have any way for me to win his favor?”
I knelt in silence.
“Little Xiao, I know you’re clever. Previously I underestimated you and didn’t let you show your wit, but now I see you’ve some talent. If you can’t come up with a way to help me, I’ll think you’re not loyal—who knows, you might go help the Empress or Noble Lady Tan someday!”
“I wouldn’t dare!” I hurriedly kowtowed, then looked up and said, “On the way back, Aunt Yunqing mentioned the Emperor is grieving for Maid Mei. Since he’s unwell, perhaps Her Ladyship could personally prepare a bowl of red bean soup. It would nourish him, and red beans symbolize longing—they would reflect the Emperor’s yearning for Maid Mei and Her Ladyship’s own affection for him.”
Zhang Bitong pondered for a moment, then her face lit up with joy. “Marvelous, marvelous! ‘Red beans grow in the south; in spring how many sprout? May you gather them—the thing most full of longing.’ I remember the Emperor loves that poem. Yunqing, make preparations at once!”
“Yes, right away.”
“Little Xiao, you’ll accompany me to see the Emperor soon. If anything happens, you can help me respond.”
“Understood!”
“And Yunqing, give Little Xiao the finest medicine from my stores. Make sure he heals quickly!”
“Yes!”
After some preparation, Zhang Bitong, not even taking Yunqing along, had me carry a bowl of red bean soup to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As we stepped out, Hongxiu was waiting in the corridor. I knew that now I had returned, things with Hongxiu were far from over. The jealousy in her eyes was plain.
“Little Xiao, why are you dawdling? Hurry up!”
“Yes!”
“Be careful—not a drop must spill.”
“This servant will be careful.”
When we reached the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Qiu Ronghai suddenly blocked our way. “Your Ladyship, please wait.”
“Qiu Ronghai, you dare obstruct me?”
“I wouldn’t dare, but the Empress just went in. Please wait until she comes out before—”
“In this bitter cold, you want me to wait outside? Qiu Ronghai, if I fall ill, your old life won’t be enough to pay for it!”
“Yes, yes, this servant deserves death, I misspoke. But—”
“Go announce my arrival, say I’ve come to visit the Emperor.”
“At once, Your Ladyship.” As Qiu Ronghai entered the hall, his gaze lingered on me, showing a hint of surprise.
Before Qiu Ronghai returned, the Empress herself came out.
“This servant greets the Empress!”
“So it’s Sister Bitong—you’ve come to see the Emperor as well?”
“I’m concerned for His Majesty’s health and came to visit. Has Your Majesty just finished?”
“I’ve just seen the Emperor. Sister, you should go back and let him rest.”
“If I don’t see the Emperor I can’t be at ease—just a glimpse would suffice. I hope Your Majesty understands my sincerity.”
The Empress glanced at Zhang Bitong but said nothing. Qiu Ronghai then came out, “Your Ladyship, the Emperor requests your presence.”
“Thank you, Eunuch. Your Majesty, I’ll go see the Emperor now and won’t keep you.”
“Mm.”
As I carried the bowl of red bean soup past Minghe, I did not expect her to stick out her foot and trip me. I fell headlong, my chin striking the threshold, and the soup splashed everywhere, shattering the bowl.
“Oh dear, so careless!” Minghe exclaimed.
“Little Xiao, what’s the matter with you? You—” Zhang Bitong began to scold.
Ignoring the blood in my mouth, I got up quickly and whispered to Zhang Bitong, “Your Ladyship, don’t worry about this now. Hurry inside to see the Emperor. Though the soup is spilled, the longing remains!”
Zhang Bitong immediately understood. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pair of bright yellow boots approaching, so I signaled Zhang Bitong, pointing to the broken pieces on the ground. She caught my meaning, knelt down to pick up the fragments, and began to cry in grief.
“Let me help, Your Ladyship.”
I knelt beside her, gathering the shards and whispered, “Bear it for now.”
Before Zhang Bitong could react, I pretended to snatch the broken shards from her hand, cutting her finger in the process.
“Ah…” Zhang Bitong gasped softly, and before she could do anything, the Emperor hurried over and immediately took her hand in his. “My beloved, what happened?”
With tears in her eyes, Zhang Bitong said, “Your Majesty, the red bean soup I made for you is spilled.”
“Silly girl—so what if it’s spilled? It’s worse that you hurt yourself.”
Zhang Bitong pouted, “Red beans are the symbol of longing—I made it especially for Your Majesty. I know you’ve been troubled lately.”
“My beloved is truly thoughtful. Let’s go inside and talk. Qiu Ronghai, summon the imperial physician at once!”