Miao Yin's Daughter

  I woke up with a start in my dream, feeling anxious and uneasy, and couldn't help but get out of bed despite the late hour. I immediately sent Qingjing to go to the Weimeiyuan garden to see if the small statue I had hung up for good luck was still there. Qingjing saw that I was in a hurry and didn't dare ask what the reason was, so she quickly changed into warm clothes and went out. As soon as she left, the entire palace was alarmed, and I could only say that I had woken up from a nightmare.

  After a long time, as if it were a long night, Jing Qing finally came back and told me that my small statue was gone, probably blown away by the wind. My heart suddenly felt like being drenched with cold water, and I remained silent for half a day. Xi Zhen and others thought I lost my small statue because they believed it was unlucky, so they were gloomy and quiet. They tried to comfort me for a long time, telling jokes to cheer me up. I forced myself to be strong and comforted myself with a few words, thinking that maybe it really was blown away by the wind or perhaps some palace maid saw its beauty and picked it up to play with it. Although I said so, my heart still felt uneasy. Fortunately, the days passed as smoothly as a mirror, without any disturbances affecting me in Tong Li Palace. I remained in the palace, quietly nursing myself, and was even exempt from attending the New Year's court assembly on the first day of the month.

  One day, after lunch, I was resting in the warm pavilion when Mei Zhuang lifted the door curtain and came in, with a hint of a smile on her face, saying: "There's something strange that I want to tell you about."

  I stood up and laughed: "What's new in this palace?"

  The Empress smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty somehow took a liking to a Yu surname's palace maid in the Mei Garden, and recently promoted her to be an imperial concubine. Although it is the lowest rank of eighth grade, compared to being a palace maid, she is now a proper young mistress."

  I stroked the hand warmer in my bosom and said, "The emperor favoring a palace maid and making her a concubine is also a common occurrence throughout history. Shun Chen Imperial Consort isn't...". Mei Zhuang looked at me, I smiled: "You're so cautious, now this place of mine is where you can speak the most freely."

  She lowered her head and stroked the embroidered flowers on her skirt, saying slowly: "Nowadays, the emperor is very fond of her."

  "Is she beautiful?"

  "But I've only heard that his singing is very good."

  I smiled silently, my fingers gently stroking the three-inch-long silver armor inlaid with shattered jade on my chin. After a while, I said: "The emperor is also a temporary novelty. Besides, even if he favors her, according to the ancestral system, palace girls can only be promoted step by step, and for the time being, she cannot surpass you."

  Meizhuang smiled and said: "I know this. It's just... Ling Rong is unhappy in her heart."

  I was slightly surprised: "Is Ling Rong still out of favor?"

  She nodded slightly and said, "Having entered the palace for so long, the Emperor has not yet summoned her." After saying that, she let out a soft sigh. "Others being favored is one thing, but it's precisely a palace maid with an even lower status than hers, naturally making her feel uncomfortable."

  I recall the night before entering the palace, Ling Rong's appearance in the wind and dew, her feelings towards my brother... Could it be that she, like me, wants to avoid favor? I hesitated: "Could it be that Ling Rong herself doesn't want to accept the favor?"

  Meizhuang looked at me with a puzzled expression: "How could that be? Although she appears to be calm and composed, shouldn't she want to curry favor? Otherwise, with her family background, how can she stand firm in the palace?"

  "I hesitated: 'Do you know if she has anyone else in mind?'"

  Mei Zhuang was startled by my words, her face flushing layer by layer: "Don't talk nonsense. We are all imperial concubines, our bodies and hearts belong to the emperor, how can we have someone in our hearts?"

  I also felt embarrassed and said with a red face: "I just casually asked, why are you so anxious?"

  Meizhuang thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "I really don't know if she has someone in mind. Looking at her like this, it should be none." After that, he changed the subject, chatted for a while, and then dispersed.

  After seeing off Mei Zhuang, she saw Pei'er bring in charcoal and change into it. She casually asked: "I heard that the palace maid in Yilan Garden was sealed for changing clothes?"

  "Isn't that so? People say she's lucky, I heard that on New Year's Eve, she said two sentences to the Emperor, and on the second day of the new year, Li Gonggong from the Emperor's side came to look for her. She answered two sentences and was taken away. Who knew that once she left, she never came back? Only then did we know that the Emperor had already issued an edict, appointing her as a palace maid."

  I smiled slightly, and indeed it was a palace maid, what a clever palace maid! She helped me block this round. It seems that the palace has always been short of carp wanting to jump over the dragon gate. As we spoke, Xun Qi had already walked in, kneeling sideways in front of the couch to massage my legs. Seeing Pei'er change the charcoal and go out, only I and she were left in the warm pavilion, and she said softly: "That night, did Master also go to Yumeiyuan? Did you meet anyone else?"

  I picked up a dried plum and put it in my mouth, saying: "Whether seen or unseen, what's the big deal?"

  She smiled and said, "It's also a slave's wild imagination. But in this palace, there are too many cases of wolves in sheep's clothing and fake pearls being passed off as real ones. I'm afraid it would be taking advantage of others."

  I spat the pit of the candied fruit into a nearby spittoon and then spoke up, "Sometimes it's not just others who get the advantage, but also oneself."

  More than a month had passed, and Rong's favor remained unchanged. However, Yu became more clever and skilled in music, and the emperor's affection for her did not decrease. Within a month, she was promoted to the rank of Cai Nu and then Xuan Shi, and was appointed as the Seventh-Rank Mei Yin Daughter, residing in the Hongniu Pavilion. For a time, her reputation soared, and even Empress Hua personally bestowed gifts upon her. Yu was also skilled at flattering Empress Hua, and the two became extremely close. As Yu's status gradually rose, she began to look down on others, including Mei Zhuang, Liu Liangyu, and Tian Gui Ren, speaking to them in a haughty manner. Even Mei Zhuang, who had good breeding, could not help but feel somewhat annoyed.

  Although it's already February, the weather hasn't warmed up yet. These two days have been getting colder and colder, with a gloomy sky and dark clouds that seem to be gathering for another snowfall. Sure enough, by evening, the snowflakes were falling thick and fast again, and it snowed heavily all day and night. By the second night, the snow had gradually let up, and Xiaoyuanzi and Xiao Lianzi came in from sweeping the courtyard, their bodies already wet and shivering with cold, muttering to themselves about "this awful weather", and then quickly changed into dry clothes and warmed themselves by the fire.

  I put down the handkerchief I was embroidering and said, "This year's weather is really bad. It's already February 2nd, Dragon Head Raising Day, and it's still snowing. I'm afraid all these flowers and grasses will be frozen to death."

  Li Zhu smiled and said: "Miss is worried about those flowers and grasses, at the end of autumn, the little eunuchs wrapped them all in straw to keep them from freezing."

  I smiled faintly and lowered my head to embroider the oriole on the handkerchief. Faintly, I heard the sound of wheels rumbling in from afar, and I was puzzled - Tongli Palace is located in a remote area, and there are rarely any carriages coming and going. How could there be carriage sounds at this hour? I looked up to see Xun Yu standing solemnly with his hands hanging down, saying softly, "Reporting to the young master, that is the sound of the Fengluan Chun'en carriage." I remained silent, knowing that the Fengluan Chun'en carriage was a special vehicle for imperial consorts who had been summoned to serve the emperor in bed.

  I listened intently for a while, and the sound of the carriage grew louder. In the quiet snowy night, I could hear the tinkling of jade pendants on the carriage. Faintly, there was also the sound of a woman singing, her voice so melodious and high-pitched. She was singing the new congratulatory poem from the palace: "The fragrance of agarwood wafts, snowflakes dance outside the beaded curtains. The six palaces present wine, the dragon and phoenix dance on the emperor's robes." I listened for a while before saying, "She sings well, no wonder the emperor gave her the title 'Wonderful Voice'."

  Xiao Yuanshu lowered her head and whispered: "Isn't singing loudly in Yong Lane at midnight against the palace rules?"

  I didn't raise my head, and said: "This is enough to show the emperor's favor towards her!" No one else spoke, the room was silent, only the sound of charcoal burning in the brazier, the howling wind outside the window, and the gradually fading laughter. Her laughter was so proud, echoing in the quiet snowy night, among the endless corridors and halls of the palace... This was the first time I heard the sound of the Phoenix Carriage, it sounded very beautiful. I don't know how many women's ears and eyes would be attracted by this carriage sound as it went away, how many women's hopes, losses, tears, and smiles would be carried on this small carriage. In the evenings of many palaces, they stood quietly in the courtyard, waiting for the Phoenix Carriage to stop at the palace gate and take them to the emperor's bedroom. When I was a child, I followed my brother under the window of the west wing and listened to the teacher recite Du Mu's "Ode to the A Fang Palace". There were a few sentences that made me think now - "The thunderbolt suddenly shocked, the palace car passed; The rumbling sound was heard from afar, but it was unknown where it went. One muscle and one appearance, all showed extreme beauty, standing far away and looking at each other, hoping to be lucky, there were those who couldn't see, thirty-six years!" Thirty-six years, I'm afraid that's the life of many women! Extreme beauty, which woman in the palace is not as beautiful as a fairy? But beauty is the most common thing in this palace. Every day, new and fresh beauties appear, old beauties age, new beauties come, younger bodies, smooth foreheads, bright red lips, bright eyes... And what they do most often is just "standing far away and looking at each other, hoping to be lucky". In this palace, women without the emperor's favor are like paper dolls without life, even an autumn breeze can blow them down. But those with the emperor's favor can rest easy? I'm afraid their days are more worrying than those without favor, "Using beauty to serve others, how long can it last?" They fear losing favor, fear aging, fear that a more beautiful woman will appear. Without love, the emperor's favor is not more solid than silk paper. And love, I'm afraid it's the most lacking thing in this vast imperial palace. Palace women may approach the emperor for status, glory, and favor, but who has heard of approaching him for love? I only feel a sourness rising in my head, put down the needlework and said to Fenbi: "The charcoal smell is not good, it's making my temples ache, go change it to incense."

  Miss, this month's incense hasn't arrived yet, it's already been delayed for several days, or else I'll send someone to ask.

  It's clear to me that the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department are cheating me, taking advantage of my lack of imperial favor and embezzling my allowance. "These past few days have been snowy, so it's possible that the people from the Imperial Household Department were lazy and delayed for a few days. Never mind, just light whatever incense you like."

  Lan Caihe hastily agreed and went out, but as soon as she reached the door, she exclaimed: "Ah, Chunyang is here! How can you stand alone in the wind? Aren't you afraid of catching a chill? Please come in quickly."

  I heard something unusual, so I quickly got up and went out. Sure enough, Chun was standing alone under the palace gate, his nose frozen bright red, but his cheeks were pale white, and he just stood there silently. I hastily asked: "Chun'er, why are you here by yourself?"

  Chun Chang slowly turned his head, his eyes rolled around in a circle, and his face gradually showed an expression. "Wow" he cried out loud: "Guan sister, I'm so scared!"

  I saw that something was amiss, so I quickly pulled her into the warm pavilion and asked Jingqing to bring a brazier to warm her up. I also asked Pin'er to serve her some hot milk porridge to drink. Only then did I slowly ask her what had happened. It turned out that after dinner, the snowfall gradually subsided, and Shi Meiren was on her way back to the palace with Chun Changzai seeing her off. The sky was dark, and the road was slippery, so they lit lanterns to light the way. However, the paper lantern in the hand of Shi Meiren's palace maid suddenly caught fire due to the wind. Coincidentally, Miao Yin's sedan chair happened to be passing by, and the horse got startled by the fire. Although it was a well-trained imperial horse, and the coachman discovered the situation early, the sedan chair still shook slightly. It wasn't a big deal, but Miao Yin was not willing to let it go. Shi Meiren took advantage of her seniority in entering the palace and her higher rank than Miao Yin, adding to the fact that Miao Yin had recently been favored, so she spoke with an unyielding tone. Miao Yin got angry and ordered the Yeting Commander to lock up Shi Meiren in the "Baoshi" (1). I was shocked upon hearing this - the "Baoshi" was a place where deposed consorts and palace maids who had committed mistakes were imprisoned and forced to do hard labor. Since Shi Meiren had not been deposed, nor was she a palace maid who had made a mistake, how could she be locked up in the "Baoshi"?

  "I hastily asked: 'Has anyone gone to ask for the emperor's or empress's decree? Is it that neither the emperor nor the empress has spoken?' "

  Chun Chang shook his head in dismay, wiping away tears and said: "She... Miao Yin said that it was just a small matter and didn't need to trouble Your Majesties, startling the Emperor and Empress would require an imperial decree."

  I was even more bewildered, the Empress Dowager Mei did not have an imperial edict, yet she privately ordered the palace maid to be locked in the "punishment room", such arrogance is truly unheard of!

  The corners of my lips slowly rose into a smile, and then returned to normal in an instant. Being so arrogant and reckless, with words and actions not being cautious, I'm afraid that my luck will also be exhausted.

  I comforted Chun for a while, and then ordered Xiao Lianzi and Pin'er to send her back properly. It's really hard on her, at such a young age, to suffer such a fright in the palace.

  The next morning, Mei Zhuang and Ling Rong arrived early. I was having breakfast when I saw them and smiled: "What a keen nose! Knowing that Qiu Xiang made the best beef bone marrow tea soup, you came to catch this early show."

  Meizhuang said: "You're the only one in the whole palace who can still be carefree. Outside, it's going to be a huge commotion!"

  I sipped my tea and smiled: "What? Can't even you keep a level head?"

  Ling Rong said: "Sister, did you hear the singing last night?"

  I smiled and said: "Of course I heard it. 'Miao Yin' is indeed a renowned name, her singing voice is truly captivating."

  Meizhuang remained silent for a long time before saying, "She relied on her imperial favor to be arrogant and sing loudly at midnight! She actually secretly ordered that Shi Meiren, who used to live with you, be thrown into the 'violent room'."

  I smiled and said, "That's great."

  "Is it a good thing?" Mei Zhuang's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and Ling Rong also looked puzzled.

  "She suddenly gained favor, which has already made the people in the harem dissatisfied. Being so reckless and arrogant, relying on her favor to be proud, isn't she asking for trouble? Asking for trouble is still better than having it forced upon you one day and having to take matters into your own hands." I continued: "With such a temperament, not knowing how to restrain herself, it's clear that she's foolish. Such a person will never pose a threat to your position. You can rest easy now." I raised my cup with a smile: "Such good news, isn't it worth finishing this cup for?"

  Mei Zhuang said: "Although it is so, the emperor has not yet spoken out to punish her? Moreover, she is on good terms with Empress Hua."

  I calmly said, "That's inevitable. Yesterday's incident has already hurt the Empress's face and disrupted the order of seniority in the harem. Even if Consort Hua wants to protect her, she can't. Besides, Consort Hua is so intelligent, why would she go out of her way to stir up this muddy water?"

  "Ling Rong smiled and said, 'I'm afraid she's so favored that Empress Hua's face may be calm but her heart is not at ease. How could she help her?' After speaking, he raised his cup and laughed: 'Ling Rong uses tea instead of wine, let's drink this first cup.'"

  Meizhuang smiled and said: "In that case, I won't decline your generous offer."

  As expected, in the afternoon, the emperor issued an edict to release Shi from the "Violent Room", comforting her with good intentions. At the same time, Yu was ordered to reflect on her mistakes for a week, stripped of the title of "Miao Yin", although she was still a seventh-rank princess, but the difference in status was already quite significant.