In the morning, Yu Xiyu went to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Song.
The Empress Dowager told Yu Xiyu that she had dreamed of the late Emperor the night before: "I plan to go to Huangqi Temple in a few days to abstain from eating meat, pray to Buddha, and fulfil the late Emperor's vow." She did not mention exactly when she would return.
Yu Xiyu disagreed, "Mother, it's already deep into winter, and it's freezing cold on the mountain. I'm worried your body won't be able to handle it. If you're truly concerned, I can go on your behalf to burn incense and fulfil the vow."
The Empress Dowager replied, "My mind is made up. There's no need to persuade me further. I'll head to Huangqi Temple the day after tomorrow to burn incense." She was informing Yu Xiyu, not asking for her opinion.
Yu Xiyu fell silent.
Back in her chambers, Yu Xiyu asked Momo Jin, "She can't hold back anymore, can she?"
The rose bath that the Empress Dowager took every day held a dark secret. The recipe was not harmful if used occasionally but bathing in it every day for a long time would have certain consequences. Those consequences had an aphrodisiac-like effect. Ever since the Empress Dowager had received this recipe, she had been taking these medicinal baths every day. It was no surprise she was now in such a state. The fact that she was even considering going to Huangqi Temple to find a man was truly audacious.
Momo Jin said, "Niangniang1, it doesn't seem appropriate for the Empress Dowager to go to Huangqi Temple. If she defiles the purity of the Buddha's sacred place, it'll be on us."
Momo Jin had great respect for the Buddha.
Yu Xiyu smiled, "Flies don't land on eggs without cracks2. If the abbot of Huangqi Temple were truly a virtuous monk with a high moral standing, he wouldn't allow that venomous woman to act recklessly in the temple."
Whether or not the Buddha's sanctity was disturbed depended not on her, but on the abbot and monks of Huangqi Temple.
Momo Jin said nothing more. She knew in her heart that the Empress harboured a deep hatred for the Empress Dowager. The fact that she had endured until now was already remarkable.
Momo Jin said, "Niangniang1, this matter will come to light sooner or later. Tong Shi cannot be allowed to remain."
The prescription had been secretly given to Tong Shi, the Second Madam Song, through a method orchestrated by Yu Xiyu. Tong Shi, who had always sought the Empress Dowager's favour, naturally didn't keep the recipe to herself after receiving it. If the Empress Dowager truly sought out an illicit affair, the matter would eventually be exposed, and that would pose a hidden threat. It was best to eliminate this risk while there was still time.
Yu Xiyu nodded, "Tong Shi is already half dead, so doing something to her now won't arouse anyone's suspicions."
It was worth thanking Jing Wangfei3 for this. Had Tong Shi been in good health, it would have taken considerable effort to eliminate her without leaving a trace.
That very night, news came that Tong Shi had passed away. Yuchen was playing the qin at that time. When she heard the news, her hand pressed the strings too hard, causing one of them to break.
Yuchen asked, "Didn't the Imperial Physician say yesterday that Tong Shi had three to five years to live? Why did she suddenly pass away today?"
The whole situation felt suspicious.
Momo Gui said, "Over the years, Tong Shi relied on the support of the Song family and made many enemies. It wouldn't be surprising if someone took action in secret." Tong Shi's death was undoubtedly unnatural, and Momo Gui was certain of it.
Yuchen stood up and muttered, "She got off too easily." She had wanted Tong Shi to suffer more, but now that woman had found release.
After speaking, Yuchen glanced at the qin with the broken string and instructed a maid to take it away, planning to have the string replaced by a master craftsman.
Later that evening, Jing Wang4 returned and mentioned to Yuchen that Empress Dowager Song was planning to go to Huangqi Temple to burn incense. Yuchen found this rather sudden and asked with some surprise, "Why would Mother want to stay on the mountain in this freezing weather? What if she gets sick?"
Of course, Yuchen didn't truly care about the Empress Dowager's health. Her words were merely for show.
Jing Wang shook his head, "Both Imperial Brother and I tried to persuade her, but since Mu Hou5 still insists on going, we can only let her go. I think she's feeling lonely. If you have time, go and talk to her more often."
It had to be said—Jing Wang4 was a dutiful son.
Yuchen nodded, "All right."
The next morning, Yuchen dressed herself up elegantly and headed to the Imperial Palace. Empress Dowager Song, who didn't like Yuchen, exchanged a few polite words before trying to send her away. "There's nothing going on here. You should go back and take good care of Yan-er."
If one didn't know better, they would think she was a very loving grandmother!
Since she had been dismissed, Yuchen couldn't possibly stay any longer. She went to see the Empress at the Kunning Palace, had a lengthy conversation with her, and then left the Imperial Palace.
Momo Gui remarked, "I really don't understand why the Empress Dowager dislikes Niangniang1 so much." The entire capital was aware of Empress Dowager Song's disdain for her mistress.
Yuchen touched her face and responded with a smile, "I didn't know before, but now I do. It's because she feels uncomfortable looking at me."
Momo Gui, sharp as she was, quickly understood the implication of Yuchen's gesture. The Empress Dowager was jealous of Yuchen's youth and beauty, which made her unwilling to tolerate her presence. Still, Momo Gui hesitated, unsure. "Wangfei3, that can't be!"
Beauty, no matter how extraordinary, would fade with time. Besides, the Empress Dowager looked like she was only in her early thirties and didn't seem old at all. Of course, there was no comparison with Yuchen, who was in her twenties and breathtakingly beautiful.
Yuchen pressed her face lightly, and the soft, jade-like skin left a faint red mark. "Apart from that, there's no other explanation." It was precisely because she suspected this was the reason that Yuchen always made a point of dressing extra elegantly when she visited Kunning Palace. It served no real purpose, but it was enough to annoy the Empress Dowager.
Momo Gui was speechless. The Empress Dowager was only in her forties. If she was already this angry just by looking at Yuchen, would she not be able to tolerate the sight of young, radiant girls when she turned seventy or eighty?
Yuchen wasn't surprised and said, "The world is vast, and there are all kinds of people." As she spoke, the carriage suddenly screeched to a halt. Caught off guard, Yuchen was thrown to the side and hit her head on the carriage wall, leaving a bump on her head.
Momo Gui took out some ointment and began to massage the bump for Yuchen. Meanwhile, Shiqin lifted the curtain and stepped out to ask the driver what had happened.
Yuchen asked, "What just happened?" This driver was highly skilled and had never made a mistake. For him to brake so suddenly on a main road, there must have been some kind of incident.
Shi Qin replied, "It was a military courier from the northwest. He wasn't familiar with the roads and almost collided with our carriage. But since he was delivering urgent military dispatches, Guard Zhao didn't pursue the matter and let him go." No one dared interfere with an urgent military dispatch from 800 miles away—not Guard Zhao, and certainly not Yuchen. If anything happened because of a delay, the consequences would be unbearable.
Yuchen felt a bit unlucky and said, "If it wasn't intentional, let it go." If they wanted to hold him accountable, they could wait until he delivered his message. However, with Yuchen's words, the matter was considered resolved.
Before dinner, Momo Gui received news from the palace. When she heard it, her face turned pale. She returned to the main courtyard and immediately dismissed Shiqin and the other maids.
Yuchen asked, "What's wrong?"
Momo Gui replied, "Wangfei3, news has just come from the Imperial Palace…" She leaned close to Yuchen's ear and whispered the rest of the words.
Yuchen's pupils constricted, and her eyes widened. "Is this true?"
Seeing Momo Gui nod, Yuchen's expression turned grim.
After a moment, Yuchen calmed herself and asked, "What exactly happened?"
Yuchen had a confidant in the Kunning Palace who held a relatively high position. This person felt that Empress Dowager's actions would eventually lead to disaster and drag everyone in the Kunning Palace down with her. Unwilling to risk her own life, she decided to inform Yuchen, hoping she could save her.
Momo Gui shook her head, "The Empress Dowager's diet and daily life have been perfectly normal lately, with no abnormalities."
Yuchen shook her head. "Impossible. Something must have gone wrong. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would never…"
Such vulgar words as 'lust for men' were truly not something Yuchen could bring herself to say.
Momo Gui also believed the Empress Dowager had been set up. How else could she suddenly desire a man when she'd been fine before? Momo Gui said, "Wangfei3, she is the only one capable of plotting against the Empress Dowager and succeeding."
No one else but the Empress.
Yuchen didn't need Momo Gui to tell her—she already knew it was the Empress. Frowning, she said, "There are many ways to seek revenge. This method is too vile."
She could understand the Empress wanting revenge for her son's death, but she couldn't approve of such a method.
Momo Gui spoke pragmatically: "Unless the Empress Dowager commits an unforgivable mistake, no one can shake her position. The Empress must have gone to great lengths to come up with this plan."
Yuchen shook her head. "If this gets out, the entire royal family's reputation will be ruined."
She understood the Empress's hatred for the Empress Dowager, but she couldn't condone this approach.
Momo Gui quickly said, "Wangfei3, we must not interfere in this matter." Getting involved would mean opposing the Empress, and it wasn't worth it to go against her for the Empress Dowager's sake.
Yuchen laughed bitterly as she responded, "Consider this repaying her a favour." Last time, the Empress had turned a blind eye to her actions; this time, she would do the same.
Footnotes Full List
- addressing or referring to an empress or an imperial concubine
- Chinese proverb: problems or scandals usually arise when there is already a flaw or weakness in a situation or person.
- wang = king, fei = consort
- king
- mu = mother, hou = Empress
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi