Chapter 8, Only you can understand the myriad feelings in my heart

"What a labor it is for a talented person to make this journey. I happen to be returning to the palace and am willing to undertake this task for the Empress Dowager." Lan Zhaoyi, this person who is "outstanding among the crowd," immediately thought of seizing the opportunity. It should be noted that up to this point, no one in the palace has seen that "noble person" from the Lianli Hall.

Due to the flooding of the Cisheng Palace, where Empress Dowager Jing resided in the Forbidden City three years ago, Empress Dowager Jing later moved to the current Cining Palace. The Cining Palace not only lacks the regal aura of the Cisheng Palace in its name, but its regulations are also considerably less grand.

Ting You took a deep breath, seeing the way Lan Zhaoyi looked today, fearing that others would not know what she was laughing about. With such a mind, it is likely that thinking of such a vicious scheme is still overestimating her.

As Tingyou stepped out of the main hall of the Green Ripple Pavilion, Nongzheng instinctively found an excuse to head to the west wing

Lan Zhaoyi is now in such a hurry to take on the task, thinking of going to see what kind of little enchantress it is that has captivated Emperor Dingxi to the point of being dazed and confused, and has not returned to the harem for a long time

At that time, Ting You speculated that this was Emperor Dingxi's test and training of Wang Ruiqing. It was presumed that once he was reused, he would surely soar like a great roc. However, it was unexpected that Emperor Dingxi's reuse of him was so extraordinary.

"Where did it come from?" Ting You asked through gritted teeth

The palace of Empress Dowager Jing has indeed been lively this past month. The concubines who usually side with Emperor Ding have now remembered the good of Empress Dowager Jing, serving her attentively and being considerate in every way, hoping that this matriarch can speak a fair word.

The Lianlitang not only has a well-chosen name, but its unique geographical location is also remarkable. However, even the noble Yu Xianfei and the favored Zeng Huifei could only look on with envy, while an unknown wild girl from outside the palace managed to move in.

I do not know whether the Emperor is aware of this or not; you should go and speak to Aunt Chang about it." Ting You said to Nong Zheng.

The pavilion is filled with a deep sense of resentment, wishing to press her forehead with her hand; why does the Empress Dowager always forget about her in such vexing matters

This speaks of something that needs to be experienced through the zither, and she is naturally quite clever

Ting You flipped through the official gazette in her hand for September and saw that Wang Ruiqing, the Governor of Jin Nan, had been transferred to the Governor of Lingxi, overseeing the military affairs of the three provinces of Shuzhong, Lingxi, and Lingbei. Suddenly, she felt a stir in her heart.

In the regions of Shu, Lingxi, and Lingbei, a map of the present day suddenly emerged in Tingyou's mind, as if a large apple had been bitten into, with Shu, Lingxi, and Lingbei representing the very spot where the apple was missing a piece

These two points are sufficient to keep the record of Tingyou in mind. Today, it was suddenly observed that he was promoted from a fourth-rank governor to a second-rank inspector, holding the title of Deputy Minister of the Right in the Censorate, and overseeing military affairs in three provinces. This left everyone who saw this month's official report greatly astonished

What are you in such a hurry for? It is merely a matter without title or rank. As a Zhaoyi, are you not belittling your own status? Even sending Jing Cairen would be a disservice to her. It is only because she is usually prudent that I allowed her to take this trip.

With a slight raise of her eyebrows, she observed the movements of the military officials. Almost all the deputy generals, commanding officers, and pacification officials from the three provinces underwent some adjustments, each one a trusted aide of the Emperor.

And the Ministry of Revenue laments its poverty, likely also due to this reason

Ting You subtly hinted at a few remarks, yet it was evident that these concubines were not in the mood to discuss matters concerning the Lianli Hall; instead, they appeared unfazed by the situation.

Looking back, Wang Ruiqing was transferred twice in three years, quickly rising from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a fourth-rank governor. However, thereafter, it seemed as if his luck had run out, as he remained stagnant at the fourth-rank governor position. Since the fifth year of Dingxi, he has consistently held the fourth rank. On the surface, one might think he has fallen out of favor with the emperor, yet he has served as governor from the south to the north, and from the east to the west, almost covering all regions, each time appointed by the emperor himself. This is quite peculiar. On the surface, one might think he has fallen out of favor with the emperor, yet he has served as governor from the south to the north, and from the east to the west, almost covering all regions, each time appointed by the emperor himself. This is quite peculiar.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the palace surprisingly became highly coordinated, and today the Empress Dowager's palace actually managed to gather two tables for playing cards. Even Tingyou was among those invited

Ting You was reading the biography of Wang Ruiqing from the newspaper he had copied, reflecting on his appointment as the Governor of Shuzhou in the fifth year of Dingxi, a time when the Yue Miao soldiers were rebelling and moving north, with Shuzhou being a critical gateway. In the sixth year of Dingxi, he was transferred to the Governor of Kuangxi, in the seventh year to the Governor of Qibei, and in the ninth year of Dingxi, he went to Sichuan, where unrest was prevalent everywhere

The days have swiftly turned to October, and it is the time of year when one should return to the Forbidden City. However, this matter has not been mentioned this year, and the reason is clear to all: it is due to the conflict between Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu.

But the suffering falls upon the women in the palace, who now seem merely to be substitutes during Emperor Dingxi's fleeting moments of indulgence. No matter how favored they are, their situation does not improve significantly. In the past, there were those who faced difficulties like wildflowers, lamenting the heart of the emperor, where there has never been any notion of fleeting passion leading to lasting affection. It is rumored that the mothers of the Second and Third Princes both fell victim to this. How could anyone else dare to provoke the tiger's whiskers now

"Baoqin, please bring me the excerpts from the official reports from the second to the ninth year of Dingxi to have a look at them." This practice of excerpting was a habit of Tingyou; whenever there was news in the reports that she could not understand at the time or that was of great importance, she would always take a notebook to jot it down. Whenever she had time, she would flip through it, and occasionally, in a certain moment, she would be able to comprehend many things that she had previously found unclear.

Regardless of whether it is for family or country, Tingyou cannot avoid advising Empress Dowager Jing. She actually does not understand Empress Dowager Jing's thoughts; harmony between mother and son leads to peace in the world. She possesses neither the capabilities of Wu Zetian nor the favor of Emperor Gaozong, yet she acts inappropriately, and in the end, she fears that she may only meet with the calamity of the Lü family.

In fact, the private matters of Emperor Dingxi's bedchamber have nothing to do with Empress Dowager Jiang, and according to Tingyou's perspective, she should not interfere. However, as the Empress Dowager of the palace, if she does not take action now, she fears that these troublesome "wives" will become even more estranged from her in the future

Ting You's fingers unconsciously traced the gap in the apple on the table, suggesting that Emperor Xidi was likely preparing for a significant upheaval. The decade of enriching the people and strengthening the military must have been planned long in advance for this day.

In fact, Empress Dowager Jing's grievances are not entirely unreasonable. Three years ago, the Ministry of Revenue could excuse itself by claiming the national treasury was empty. However, in recent years, Emperor Dingxi has made significant contributions to river management, and the past three years have seen favorable weather conditions, leading to national prosperity and strong citizens. To say that the mere sum of 500,000 taels for repairs cannot be produced is indeed quite unreasonable

This pavilion is filled with a deep sense of grievance, causing her stomach to ache; she not only resents the one who spreads the rumors but also despises the instigator. ... How could this be something she sought out ... . ... Yet, unfortunately, she finds herself unable to refute these rumors.

Recently, Tingyou has managed to understand this clearly. As the saying goes, the flowers at home are not as fragrant as the wild ones. Emperor Deding especially loves wildflowers; every year, if he does not bring in two or three to display, he cannot get through the year.

In recent days, the atmosphere in the palace has become increasingly strange, to the point where even the smile on the face of the usually impassive Consort Yu has begun to falter, not to mention the likes of Consort Hui and Consort Fang, who were once favored but are now greatly neglected.

This atmosphere compelled Ting You to think that the wild girl entering the Lianli Hall must be the nemesis of the women in the palace. No matter how fierce the internal strife usually is, at this moment, they have all united their front.

This topic is perceived by Tingyou as both mysterious and explosive, yet the attitudes of the other concubines in the palace are evidently more nuanced

The women in this palace do not fear the emperor's fickleness, but rather dread his devotion to a single person

The name Wang Ruiqing is quite familiar to me, as his experiences are indeed peculiar. He was the top candidate in the second class of the second year of Dingxi, a student of the emperor, which is a great honor. However, despite such qualifications, he did not enter the Hanlin Academy, nor did he receive any position as a scholar, but was instead appointed as a county magistrate. This is indeed strange.

However, Ting You had no idea that this favored master was actually of such a appearance

There are those who come for three to five days, as well as those who stay for ten days to half a month, but almost none remain for more than a month. These wildflowers, some of which eventually fall into the soil of the inner palace, are uncertain whether they have grown askew and incurred the emperor's displeasure, and thereafter, no one has mentioned them again

Empress Dowager Jing has always wanted to renovate the Cisheng Palace, but the Ministry of Revenue has consistently claimed poverty and found various excuses to delay the project. Empress Dowager Jing deeply believes that this is a sign of Emperor Dixi's estrangement from her, as he is unwilling to renovate even a palace for her. This issue has been particularly contentious over the past two months

Fortunately, Emperor Dingxi did not disappoint the expectations of Tingyou, and soon created new topics for the women in the Western Garden

It is said that after Emperor Dingxi's incognito visit for a day, he brought back a woman, who then resided in the Lianli Hall near the Zihan Palace

Ting You's curiosity about how the Empress Dowager remained unaware ultimately led her to kindly offer Ting You a piece of advice, "You'd best not concern yourself with the matters of the Lianli Hall"

Nowadays, everyone wishes they had been born into a farming family or a merchant household, so that they could be chosen by the emperor.

How could this not arouse the curiosity of the secluded and lonely Tingyou, her heart feeling like a cat's paw? Yet she went to the Empress Dowager's palace to pay her respects, and even the usually most flamboyant Lan Zhaoyi seemed to wilt like willow leaves under the scorching sun

The women in the emperor's harem may come from selection or be chosen through other means; in principle, both consorts and palace maids are considered the emperor's women. However, it is not normal for women from outside the palace to be admitted without reason and to exist without any status or recognition.

It is truly excessive that Emperor Dingxi has favored that wild girl from the Lianli Hall so much; for the past two months, he has not visited any other concubines. If he is not staying in the Lianli Hall, he is resting in the Zihan Palace. This has caused Tingyou to feel a sense of fear regarding Emperor Dingxi's singular devotion.

What is most concerning is that even the most well-informed individuals in the Empress Dowager's palace under Ting You are unable to penetrate even the slightest bit into Lianlitang, which is evidently the private domain of Emperor Dingxi, not allowing any outsiders to pry.

Ting You listened, her face reddening to the point of resembling a bleeding wound, her fingers gripping the pillow tightly, creating a significant dent. She had not guessed wrong; indeed, rumors about her had arisen in the palace. However, these rumors were exceedingly malicious, utterly unbefitting of what should circulate among the noblewomen of the palace, and were even more sordid than the deeds of the lowest ruffians in the marketplace.

Due to this matter, Ting You naturally had to minimize her outings to avoid becoming a source of amusement for others and to spare herself from frustration

Yet, how could Tingyou be unaware of these truths? They were in perfect agreement, allowing her to avoid being blind and deaf in the palace. However, the rumors were simply too unpleasant for anyone to dare convey them to her

While simultaneously being secluded and practical, I disdain these palace concubines. No schemes or plots seem to work, yet such lewd and filthy words have emerged, implicating Emperor Dingxi as well

Aunt Chang said it first came from Lady Lan Zhao. Aunt Chang is a person from the Empress Dowager's palace, but as the health of the Empress Dowager visibly declines day by day, and given her strained relationship with the Emperor, once the Empress Dowager passes away, those of her circle in the palace are likely to face difficult times. Even now, Ting You is in a precarious situation, so perhaps grasping at a straw is still a good option.

The Lianlitang, though small, is fully equipped with all essentials. In front of the hall, there is a wide platform piled with a chrysanthemum stand, prominently featuring the renowned variety "Liu Yun Dan Lv," which is favored by the Empress Dowager. Even in the palace, only a few pots could be maintained, yet here there are three pots, indicating the favor of its owner

Ting You is evidently a well-behaved and obedient child. Many things in this palace cannot accommodate curiosity, which can indeed be quite perilous.

There was also a time of indulgence, and in the end, those who left the palace could not help but call out a good word for those wildflowers; this is indeed the wise choice

Ting You returned to Cong Yu Xuan, and shortly after, she saw Nong Zheng walk in, her face clearly showing signs of anger. Upon seeing Ting You, her lips moved as if to speak, but it took a good half a tea time before she finally opened her mouth.

Since Emperor Dingxi ascended the throne, he has focused solely on one task over the years, which is to manage the rivers and enrich the people. It was not until the seventh year of Dingxi that significant results were achieved, leading to a flourishing era of governance and establishing him as a rejuvenating emperor. In the following three years...

They said that talented individuals, in order to charm the Emperor, do not even cherish themselves when they see red below, and are determined to cling to the Emperor

But what is most strange is that the women, who are full of conspiracies and schemes, are surprisingly oblivious to the matters of the Lianli Hall, showing no signs of even a single probe.

Although life in the palace is free from worries about food and clothing, and is exceedingly wealthy, the mental pressure is likely too great, resulting in the need to carry out two or three individuals each year. Therefore, during her six months in the palace, Ting You has not encountered the wildflowers of that year.

On this day, the pavilion was serene, leading to the Green Ripple Hall, and my mind was filled with thoughts on how to persuade the Empress Dowager to return to the palace. However, the other women in the palace, as well as the Empress Dowager herself, had other matters at hand

Esteemed talent, today you will take a trip to the Lianli Hall on behalf of the grieving family, to deliver this special Dangshan pear, and just say it is a token of my heartfelt sentiments. Beside me, a grand maid named Qingwan has already brought over a plate of plump, yellow, and juicy pears, which look quite enticing, yet the implication is somewhat lacking in grace.

Ting You is indeed a person of great prudence. Who in the Empress Dowager's palace does not speak highly of her? Moreover, considering the vicious rumors that circulated last time, she was able to endure them and let the matter pass. Furthermore, Ting You has been deliberately cultivating a relationship with Empress Dowager Jing, and how could Empress Dowager Jing not regard her with greater esteem now? However, Ting You never anticipated that Empress Dowager Jing would indeed hold her in such high regard, to the extent that she would assign her every task.