Chapter Forty-Four: Washing Blue

  Xiao Lianzi and Gan Cai had been waiting at the ferry terminal, and when they saw Xuan Qing standing at the ferry terminal with me returning together, they were also shocked for a moment. In the end, it was Gan Cai who was quick-witted, silently paid her respects, and then supported me to walk towards Tongli Palace.

  I whispered: "Just now, except for me, neither of you saw anyone else."

  "Is. The slave is just picking up the young master from Madame Feng's place and returning him to the palace."

  Xiao Lianzi followed closely behind, entering Tongli Palace together.

  Everyone was dismissed by Xiaoyanzi in the Qingyuan Pavilion, I quietly returned to the inner hall, changed into comfortable clothes, and only then felt thirsty. Just as I was about to speak, Xiaoyanzi had already poured a cup of tea for me, I took a sip and pushed it away, thinking for a moment: "Go change some other ones."

  Xiao Yuanzi smiled and said: "There is swallow's nest in the small kitchen, would you like to have some?"

  I nodded, "Tell Bi Xi to bring it in."

  Xiao Yuanzi was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately didn't dare to ask more questions. She let Huanbi bring the swallow's nest instead.

  The maid came in with the swallow's nest, saw me sitting there properly, and couldn't help but change her expression slightly, looking concerned as she said: "Miss, was your trip smooth? Coming back so late made me worry terribly."

  I felt annoyed, stared at her for a moment, and she slightly lowered her head as if feeling guilty and not daring to look at me. I let out a "heh" and said, "It's not just smooth sailing, it's downright enjoyable."

  "Has Your Majesty released Browning Zhuang's young master?!"

  "It's not." My gaze swept across her face, word by word: "The Emperor rebuked the Imperial Consort Hua, and even forbade her from seeing the Warm and Virtuous Princess." I sighed softly: "Originally, the Emperor was going to restore her power to manage the six palaces, but now...I'm afraid she can't even protect herself."

  "Did His Majesty scold Consort Hua?"

  I said leisurely: "Yes. Who made her offend the emperor? Queen Hua is too proud, isn't she, Bianbi?"

  Bian Yu was momentarily embarrassed and forced a smile, saying: "This slave also doesn't know whether the heart of Empress Hua is high or not, but the Emperor's wise intentions should be correct."

  I slightly turned my head, and Hua Lian and Xiao Yuanzi, Xiao Lianzi all retreated together. The room was left with only me and Huabi, her voice as always, softly said: "Miss." As she spoke, she lowered her hands and stood beside me. I coldly stared at her, Huabi unconsciously moved slightly, asking: "Why is Miss looking at me like this?"

  She suddenly withdrew her gaze, and then smiled: "I let them go out, also to preserve your dignity. Xuan Bi, these days you have been working hard, suffering a lot. It's really hard for you."

  "Miss, how can you say such a thing? It's too much for me to bear."

  I stood up, slowly circled around her twice, and suddenly stood in front of her, stretched out my hand to gently stroke her cheek, and sighed: "Actually, if you look closely, we still have some similarities." Paused for a moment and said: "But some people and things are not consistent with their appearance and heart. Even those who grew up together since childhood may know each other's faces but not hearts, it really chills me to the bone."

  Her face turned pale and she forced a smile, saying: "Miss, I don't understand what you're saying."

  "A cold tone suddenly emerged, 'Alright! I've had enough of people being two-faced around me, and I didn't think it would be you this time.'"

  I have always treated her with kindness and warmth, never speaking harshly to her before. Yu Zhu suddenly knelt down in a flurry, calling out: "Miss!"

  I didn't even bother to respond, and continued: "That day in the Water Green South Fragrance Palace, Empress Cao had used the Emperor's name to meet with me under the guise of the six princes' names, and at that time I suspected it was someone close to me who leaked the information. But I hadn't thought it was you. The one who went with me that day was Liu Zhu, she knew the most about the whole thing from start to finish, her temperament is not as calm as yours, sometimes straightforward and hasty, I think maybe she accidentally let it slip while joking around with the palace maid, but it's also possible. Who would have thought that today, just after I left Tongli Palace, someone went to spread rumors. I don't believe that Empress Hua would know about my trip to Cunjing Hall out of nowhere, it must be someone close to me who intentionally leaked the information."

  Her expression gradually calmed down, and she looked up at me: "I know that the young master is not just a slave going to explore Mei Zhuang's young master. Why do you think it's Huibi? Or did the young lady have a preconceived notion about Huibi?"

  I smiled faintly, "You're indeed careful in covering your tracks. Unfortunately, you overlooked one thing—"

  "What?"

  "Do you remember that the Emperor gave me a box of Mihe Xiang, a tribute from Nanzhao, some days ago? This fragrance is faint and almost tasteless, but once it's applied to clothing, it will last for a long time and become more fragrant. That's why it's so precious. The Emperor gave me the entire box, but I gave it all to Consort Cao. I saw her put it in her inner chamber myself."

  I glanced at Yuexi's face, which was gradually turning pale, and gently wiped away the fine sweat on her forehead with the back of my hand.

  "I remember telling you to stay in the inner hall and not go out before I left," I said slowly. "If what you say is true, and you didn't have any ill intentions towards me, then why would you be going in and out of Consort Cao's inner chamber? And how did your body come to smell like Mihe Xiang?"

  Lingbi stared at me with a tongue-tied expression and weakly said: "The slave has nothing..."

  "I deliberately left the Flowing Vermilion in the outer hall, precisely because I knew you would exit from the side door of the inner hall. Didn't you find it suspicious? And yet, I allowed you to remain alone in the hall." I said: "If you still refuse to admit it, just take a sniff and see if there's any scent of honeyed fragrance on your body."

  Lan's face rose with a frightened expression, hesitated to pull up her sleeves and sniffed carefully again and again, her complexion gradually turned pale.

  I smiled and said, "This fragrance will linger for several days once it's on you, and the scent is subtle, not easily noticeable." I stopped smiling and said coldly, "Aren't you going to tell the truth yet?"

  Her face turned pale as she heard his words, and she looked up at the sky, saying: "Forget it. Forget it. Who asked me to fall into your trap!"

  "I said, 'I'm just being cautious. You and Liu Zhu, Qi Wei know the things around me best. Although Qi Wei has only been by my side for a year, Liu Zhu can be a bit impatient at times, but they are both loyal to me. Only you and I have some... issues. But I couldn't quite put my finger on whether it was really you or not, so I had to test you.' I smiled lightly: 'Who knew you wouldn't keep your cool, wasting the trust I've placed in you all these years.'"

  Feng Qing was speechless, only bitterly smiling: "Indeed, it's just that my fate is unlucky. Whatever you want to do, I'll let you."

  "However, I still want to thank you. If it wasn't for you spreading the word, I wouldn't have been able to get rid of Empress Hua so easily today. Without her, I can finally live in peace for a while."

  Lan's voice was almost hesitant, trembling as she said: "You..."

  I smiled: "It's all thanks to you, of course. I'm afraid the Empress is furious with you now, thinking that we're in cahoots." I glanced at her a few times: "You really are quite capable."

  He stared at me for a long time before saying, "Your mind is deeper than mine, I am ashamed to be inferior to you."

  I gazed at her for a long time, my voice softening as I sighed, "I've always admired your composure, but now it seems you still fall short. You're too eager to succeed and don't handle things with enough finesse. How can I be at ease sending you off to marry into an official's family? In the future, how will you manage those restless concubines as a proper wife?"

  Feng Qing was momentarily stunned, and slowly said: "You... you want me to marry into an official's family as a legitimate wife?" She immediately shook her head: "You just want me to stay by your side and help you for the rest of my life, when have you ever thought about what's good for me? Why bother speaking sarcastically to me again."

  "I said, 'I've been thinking about your future for a long time, and even if I didn't say it, Father has also been making plans for you. Just because we don't talk about it, do you think I haven't thought about your future? Even if you're very capable of helping me, you'll still have to get married and have children one day. If Flowing Vermilion wants to get married in the future, I'll also find a good match for her. How could I neglect you?'

  She looked dazed and asked in doubt: "Really?"

  I looked at her in surprise and asked, "If not, what do you want to do? Are you going to become a concubine or marry into a commoner's family? Before entering the palace, Father instructed me to find a good family for you, and I solemnly agreed. This is also why I brought you into the palace. If we had stayed in the Zheng household, at most you would have been married off to some minor official, wouldn't that be a waste of your life?" I couldn't help but feel sad, "Isn't what you're doing and seeking just for the sake of social status?"

  Lingbi seemed unable to fully believe it, yet appeared to be moved, and involuntarily called out: "Miss."

  I bent down to help her up, and whispered: "There's no one around, do you still have to call me 'Miss'? You should be calling me 'Elder Sister' instead."

  Tears welled up in her eyes as I said, "You won't call me that? Actually, you've known how I feel about you for a long time. The heartache between us isn't even our own, it's just something left over from the previous generation." I pulled her down to sit beside me. "I know you've been wronged for many years. Although Father is your biological father, your name isn't in the family tree, and you can't even use the 'Yu' character that's reserved for our generation. Not even your mother's spirit tablet can be placed in the ancestral hall to receive offerings. But Bianbi, doesn't Father love you? Even though you're technically my maid, I've always treated you like a sister."

  She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip and said: "But I... as long as I think of my mother, think of myself... no! As long as I become a concubine like you, Father can openly acknowledge me, and Mother's spirit tablet can be properly placed in the Zheng family ancestral hall." She raised her head proudly and said: "You can despise the 'Yu' character in your name for being common and not use it, but you don't know that this 'Yu' character is something I've been longing for my whole life but couldn't get."

  "Do you think everything is that simple? Once you become a concubine, the harem's struggle for favor will expose your mother as the daughter of a guilty minister. Do you know what the consequences would be? Not only will the Zhennan family be implicated by you, but Father's crime of secretly taking in a guilty minister's daughter is enough to get him exiled 3,000 miles away. At his age, how can he withstand such turmoil? How can you bear to do this?

  I paused and continued: "Not to mention others, do you think that relying on Cao Concubine will guarantee someone to help you, making you carefree? In the end, you are a person who came out from here. Actually, Cao Concubine is just using you; otherwise, she wouldn't have mentioned your betrayal in front of me at the Shuiguan South Fragrance Hall. Don't be disbelieving, look at Li Gui Concubine - once you lose your usefulness, your fate will be even more miserable than hers! Moreover, after today's events, do you think Empress Hua and Cao Concubine will still trust you?"

  Her face was covered in sweat, her lips trembling slightly. I continued: "This is not all, what if one day you and my sister have to compete for favor, can you bear to see Father heartbroken? Moreover, with your current mediocre skills, how can you possibly rival me? You're just going to end up being a sacrifice for someone else! How foolish of you."

  She lowered her head in shame and stuttered, "I didn't want to compete with you." Her voice was sorrowful: "Miss, I wasn't intentionally trying to frame you. The Emperor likes you so much that even if he knew you went to see the young master of Mei Zhuang, he wouldn't blame you severely, at most he would just confine you for ten days or half a month... I... The Emperor only has eyes for you, as long as you disappear for a while, the Emperor will definitely notice my devotion to him..." She hesitated for a moment, "Can't we serve the Emperor together? This is an honor for our ancestors and family..."

  "You are my sister, serving the emperor together is nothing wrong." I looked at her and asked: "Huanbi, tell me, do you like the emperor?"

  Lingyu thought for a moment and shook her head firmly.

  I said sorrowfully, "Do you think that marrying the emperor will give you a name? In the end, it's just being a concubine." I took out my handkerchief to wipe away tears and said, "Your mother didn't even have the status of a concubine when she was alive. Are you going to tell her spirit that you can only be a concubine?! Besides, you don't like the emperor. For the rest of your life, you'll be living with a man you don't love, enduring his blame and coldness towards you because of other women, competing with other women for him, giving birth to children for him... even if he can give you wealth and glory, the next moment you could be in the cold palace. Are you willing to do that? You're betraying me to gain honor, even with the protection of the imperial concubine, will the people in the harem look up to you? Will the emperor look up to you?"

  Her complexion faded bit by bit, unable to speak. The red candle swayed gently, and her shadow also swayed on the wall. A glance made it seem as if she was trembling.

  I said again: "This is one thing. And can you guarantee that the emperor will definitely like you? Judging from the current situation, the emperor seems to have no special favor towards you, and it's quite hard for you to win his favor."

  I gazed out the window at the beautiful night scene, bent down to help her up, and spoke softly: "Actually, I had already planned for you. If I continue to be favored by the emperor, I will definitely arrange a good marriage for you in the future. You can also choose someone you like to spend your life with. As a red person by the emperor's concubine, it is natural to marry into a good family. At that time, I will let you recognize my father as your godfather, and you will be married from the Zhen family. Your mother's memorial tablet can naturally enter the Zhen ancestral hall, and your name will also be recorded in the genealogy. Your wish will also be fulfilled. Isn't this the best outcome?" I sighed with downcast eyes, "It's my fault too. If I had told you about my plans earlier, there wouldn't have been today's misunderstanding."

  Fen Bi looked up at me with a mixture of sadness and guilt in her eyes, which gradually welled up with tears. A single drop fell onto my arm, warm to the touch. Fen Bi called out to me with tears streaming down: "Elder sister."

  I too shed tears and said: "This one call of 'older sister', can you understand how many years I've been waiting to hear it?"

  She buried her face in my bosom: "I truly did not know that elder sister would treat me with such kindness, or I would have committed a grave error." She also sobbed and shed tears: "These past few days, I was indeed foolish, causing trouble for elder sister. I know my mistake, from now on I will definitely be of one heart and mind with elder sister."

  I took a deep breath and said, "Yu Yao is weak, Yu Jiao is young, and Brother is on the battlefield. In our family, only we sisters can rely on each other. If we are manipulated by scoundrels and hurt each other's hearts, then the Zhen family will have no hope."

  Feng Qing cried out in a sobbing voice: "Feng Qing has let down eldest sister for many years of teachings, please forgive me for my ignorance and shallowness."

  I personally helped her up and said, "You haven't mentioned your mother's affair to the Imperial Consorts, have you? If they already know about it, I'm afraid there will be more trouble in the future, and the Zhennan Gate will be bothered endlessly."

  "I never mentioned it to them. Months ago, on Mother's birthday, Cao Jieyu saw me crying alone in a corner of the Shanglin Garden and thought you had wronged me, so she took the opportunity to get close to me. I just wanted to use her and Empress Hua to attract the Emperor's attention, not intentionally trying to harm my elder sister. Besides, Mother's matter is too important, I didn't dare mention it to them."

  I nodded, "You don't say is a blessing in disguise." I also said: "What you want to ask for may not be given by them, but I am your elder sister, and I will definitely do it."

  She asked a few more questions about Hua Fei and Cao Jieyu's interactions with her, before changing into casual clothes to enter the room for overnight companionship.