072 His Identity

My thoughts were just like Zhang Bitong’s; I didn’t believe Qiu Ronghai’s explanation was that simple. Even if Zhang Bitong hadn’t asked me to stay, I would have wanted to find out what was really happening in the Palace of Clear Moonlight. So I lay prone atop the courtyard wall. It was night, and as I crouched there, few would notice me.

Within the Palace, Qiu Ronghai kept vigil at the door; everything else seemed unchanged. Before long, Minghe arrived, but she didn’t enter directly. Instead, she called Qiu Ronghai outside the palace. The two of them whispered together about something I couldn’t hear, and then Minghe took her leave and departed.

No sooner had Minghe left than Mu Yan appeared—presumably sent by Luning to inquire after the situation.

“Our humble servant greets Aunt Mu Yan. Is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager well?” Qiu Ronghai stepped forward with solicitous courtesy.

Mu Yan nodded. “Her Majesty is quite well. Having heard something was amiss here, she wished to come herself, but—given her age and the late hour—thought it unwise, so she sent me instead. May I ask, Director Qiu, how is His Majesty?”

Qiu Ronghai smiled. “Ah, it was truly the servants’ fault for exaggerating the matter and causing Her Majesty concern. His Majesty is well—at this very moment, he’s inside talking with Lady Lan. This evening, His Majesty called upon Lady Lan.”

“If His Majesty is well, then Her Majesty can be at ease. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Safe journey, Aunt. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s only my duty. You’ve worked hard, Director Qiu.”

“You praise me too highly. Safe journey, Aunt, I won’t keep you.”

After sending Mu Yan on her way, Qiu Ronghai glanced about at the palace gates, then withdrew and rapped on the door. “Your Majesty, the consorts from every palace have been here. The Empress and the Empress Dowager also sent people to inquire after Your Majesty. I reckon no one else will come tonight.”

As he finished, the door opened, and I saw the emperor standing in the doorway. The white gauze wrapped around his arm was strikingly conspicuous.

So it was not just a scratched finger—the emperor was truly wounded. He had simply suppressed the news. If it became known that Lin Lanzhi had stabbed the emperor, even he would not be able to protect her.

“Your Majesty, do you wish to—”

“Return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Not a word of this leaves your lips—if it does, I’ll have you all killed.” The servants of the Palace of Clear Moonlight all fell to their knees.

As the emperor was about to leave, he turned and looked inside. “Lady Lan, I’ll overlook what happened today, but you should take care of yourself. Until you come to your senses, I will not set foot in this palace again.”

With that, the emperor strode away with swift, resolute steps.

His meaning was clear—he was casting Lin Lanzhi into cold storage. I guessed the only reason he protected her was not out of deep affection for a woman he’d barely met, but for Lin Canglan’s sake. If the incident were made public, Lin Canglan would also be implicated, and the balance of the court would be destroyed.

So this humiliation, the emperor could only endure alone.

I looked anxiously towards the inner chambers—why had Lin Lanzhi tried to assassinate the emperor?

When the emperor had gone some distance, I suddenly heard sobbing from within the palace. I climbed down from the wall and walked to the palace entrance. After a moment’s thought, I realized I would be stopped if I tried to enter now. Officially, it would still be announced that the emperor was spending the night here.

I considered it better to return to Cuiwei Palace for the night and ask Lin Lanzhi another day.

Back at Cuiwei Palace, Zhang Bitong had already retired. Yunqing said she seemed to have caught a chill.

Early the next morning, I heard Yunqing cry out in alarm—Zhang Bitong had developed a fever. In a panic, Yunqing sent me to fetch the imperial physician, and I hurried to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Once I had brought a physician back to Cuiwei Palace, I waited outside the room.

Somehow, word of this reached the emperor. The physician had only just left and prescribed a few doses of medicine when the emperor himself arrived in haste.

“Your subject greets Your Majesty—” Zhang Bitong, pale and weary, tried to rise from her sickbed, but the emperor hurried over and pressed her down. “Beloved consort, don’t get up. You should rest—let’s dispense with the formalities.”

Zhang Bitong said, “I am useless—falling ill for no reason, unable to serve Your Majesty.”

The emperor’s voice was gentle, full of concern. “Qiu Ronghai told me everything about last night. When you heard something had happened to me, you didn’t even confirm if it was true, but braved the cold to look in on me. Did you even remember to wear a fox-fur cloak?”

Like a child caught in mischief, Zhang Bitong pouted, “I was only worried for Your Majesty’s safety and forgot.”

The emperor gently scolded her, “Look at you—am I not perfectly fine? Now you’ve gone and made yourself sick, only making me worry all the more.”

Zhang Bitong nestled against him, playfully coquettish. “If my illness brings Your Majesty’s concern, I’d rather be sick forever.”

“Don’t talk nonsense—no ill omens. If you were truly bedridden, where would I find another Consort Tong?”

Seeing the emperor and Zhang Bitong so tender with each other, Yunqing caught my eye, and we quietly withdrew. Yunqing softly closed the door behind us.

Yunqing then drew Qiu Ronghai aside, no doubt to thank him for his kind words before the emperor last night.

“Director Qiu, let me thank you on behalf of our mistress.”

“You’re too kind, Aunt. I merely spoke the truth—I was moved by Her Ladyship’s sincerity.”

“Director Qiu, you have a kind heart. Please, take this and buy yourself some wine and snacks—it’s a token of Her Ladyship’s gratitude.” Yunqing slipped him a pouch of silver.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly—” After a polite refusal or two, Qiu Ronghai tucked it into his sleeve. “Please thank Her Ladyship for me.”

“No need for ceremony, Director Qiu. We’ll rely on your help again in the future.”

I waited at the palace gates. Suddenly, someone called out to me. I looked and saw Chu Die beckoning.

I glanced back at the room, then stepped outside. “Miss Chu Die, can I help you?”

She replied, “Would you come with me? My mistress is waiting for you in the Imperial Garden—she wishes to speak with you.”

“Lady Lan?”

“Yes, my mistress told me to bring you.”

She actually used the word “invite.” I realized this likely concerned last night’s incident.

“Very well, I’ll accompany you.”

Following Chu Die to the Imperial Garden, I found Lin Lanzhi dressed in plain mourning white, sitting forlorn on a swing.

“My lady, I’ve brought Xiao Xiaozi as you asked.”

Lin Lanzhi looked up at me. “Chu Die, keep watch for us. I have something to say to Xiao Xiaozi.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Chu Die withdrew a little way off to keep an eye on our surroundings.

I bowed. “Your servant greets Lady Lan.”

“Xiao Xiaozi, you may rise.”

“Thank you, Lady Lan.”

I straightened and looked at her. “May I ask what you wish of me today, my lady?”

Lin Lanzhi gazed at me. “It may sound strange, but ever since you caught me with Yunhe that day, I’ve had an unaccountable trust in you. I’ve come to ask a favor.”

“My lady, there’s no need for such formality. If there’s anything I can do, just say so.”

“You must have heard about last night’s assassination attempt on His Majesty?”

I nodded. “I’ve heard some rumors, but later it was said that His Majesty merely scratched his finger and was unharmed—people exaggerated the story.”

Lin Lanzhi shook her head. “It wasn’t exaggerated. I did try to kill His Majesty last night.”

Knowing the truth already, I wasn’t surprised. “Why did you—?”

She said quietly, “I knew this day would come once I’d recovered. I hoped to delay it, but it was inevitable. The emperor suddenly called for me, ordering me to share his bed. My heart belongs to Yunhe—how could I ever be willing? When the emperor arrived and tried to force himself on me, I panicked and struggled. Out of fear, I seized a pair of scissors and wounded him.”

So that was how it happened. Clearly, Lin Lanzhi truly loved Liu Yunhe and could not bear to betray him. But even so, how long could this last? The emperor, for Lin Canglan’s sake, might delay, but sooner or later, he would claim her.

“My lady, you have suffered. Others may not understand, but I do.”

At my words, Lin Lanzhi’s eyes filled with tears. “How long must these days go on? Sometimes I wish I were a bird in the sky or a butterfly in the breeze—even if life were short, so long as I could be with Yunhe, it would be enough.”

I said, “My lady, you must keep up your spirits. You’re still young—there is always a way.”

She bit her lip, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and said, “Forgive me for showing such weakness. The reason I asked you here today is that I need your help delivering a message.”

“Please instruct me.”

“I won’t deny that I’m making use of you—I simply have no one else to trust. None of my people can be relied on now. After this incident, many eyes will be on the Palace of Clear Moonlight. At such a time, I can’t afford a single misstep. I know Yunhe’s temperament—once this news spreads, he’ll guess the truth and will either try to come to me or do something reckless.”

“My lady wishes me to seek out Master Liu?”

Lin Lanzhi shook her head. “No need. I know Princess Xihe is fond of you. If you visit her in the Purple Dream Hall, no one will be suspicious. I want you to pass a letter to Lady Meng Jieyu—she’ll know how to get it to Yunhe.”

“Lady Meng Jieyu?”

She nodded. “Meng Jieyu is Yunhe’s elder sister—of course she’ll help.”

Elder sister.

Liu Yunmeng, Liu Yunhe—how had I not thought of it before?

Since the relatives of imperial consorts are rarely allowed in the palace, and Liu Yunhe holds no official post, few people know him. Thus, even if he works in the harem as a physician’s apprentice, no one would be the wiser.

“My lady, will you allow me to do this for you?”

Seeing Lin Lanzhi’s earnestness, and moved by her and Liu Yunhe’s devotion, I replied, “Of course, my lady—I’ll go at once.”