Two

Should she kneel or turn away, she was momentarily at a loss. She was not a person of the palace, and the palace rules were not set for her. When outsiders see the true dragon, the first thing they ought to do is to bow down to the ground.

During dinner, the noble lady mentioned this matter, saying, "I do not know what the palace is planning; at this moment, observing people, it is likely that there is a set of explanations."

Aunt Su naturally came to find Yingming. She stepped forward, squatted down, and said gently, "The Fujin has sent me to invite the second young lady. Please come with me." After speaking, she glanced at the fidgeting Lu Ge and coldly said, "You stay here. What kind of place is this? Are you allowed to wander around freely?"

Yingming is an understanding person, vaguely sensing something, yet not inquiring further, simply nodding.

With a long sigh, she pulled Lu Ge aside, leaning against the intricately carved screen that was not yet finished, gazing at the pot of plum blossoms on the incense table. Spring had arrived, yet the weather had not truly warmed up; the flower buds were small, barely the size of a grain of rice. The overwhelming scent of incense had muddied the fragrance of the plums.

They were talking over here, while nearby, the women from an unknown household gathered together to whisper, expressing their pity for the Empress Dowager, saying, "She has only been in the palace for five years, and has been ill for four and a half of those years. With her departure, she left behind no sons or daughters. It is said that only the sons and nephews of Linghe Taiji and Le Qiwang are keeping vigil in the tent."

Fortunately, Zhongcui Palace is not far from Qinan Hall; it is separated by more than half of the Imperial Garden and four palace gates. With a brisk pace, one can arrive in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. Due to the great mourning, the personnel involved are numerous, and the usual strict gatekeeping is not in place. Stepping out of the right gate of Dacheng, one finds oneself on a long street to the east. This is a passage that separates Qianqing Palace from the Eastern Six Palaces, starting from the Inner Left Gate in the south and extending to the Changkang Left Gate in the north. The palace walls on both sides are extremely high, creating a sense of confinement for those beneath them. The vermilion wall surface, washed by rain, appears even more vibrant, and in contrast to the desolate sky, it evokes a strong and eerie sense of beauty. This is a passage that separates Qianqing Palace from the Eastern Six Palaces, starting from the Inner Left Gate in the south and extending to the Changkang Left Gate in the north. The palace walls on both sides are extremely high, creating a sense of confinement for those beneath them. The vermilion wall surface, washed by rain, appears even more vibrant, and in contrast to the desolate sky, it evokes a strong and eerie sense of beauty.

The noble lady said one must not cry, for she understands the reasons behind it. This is an opportunity to express one's stance; if she were to lose her composure now, her father would be completely categorized as part of the Xue faction, becoming a thorn in the emperor's side from then on.

The cold wind blew against her face, and there were many people coming and going outside, yet the eunuch who had guided her earlier was nowhere to be seen. The officials' families had already been led to the side hall to rest, and Granny Su had also gone to report to the noble consort. She stood for a while, hesitant to intrude into the side hall, and after glancing around in the corridor, she could only retrace her steps and return to the Qinan Hall as before

The secondary consort is content with her humble circumstances, which is why the primary consort can tolerate her. It is not a bad thing for a person to have high aspirations, but such aspirations should be commensurate with one's status and accompanied by understanding. The eldest daughter born to the primary consort did not enter the palace; she married the son of the Princess of Gulan and is now titled as a county king's consort. The second daughter is born of the secondary consort, and it would be unreasonable for her to ascend to the position of a queen.

Yingming knelt on the cold, fine tiles of the Qin'an Hall, with the sound of continuous lamentation in her ears. These officials' families had experienced numerous funerals in the imperial city, honing a set of seemingly proficient mourning skills. Even without tears, they could wail with their mouths wide open, creating a lively atmosphere.

In the palace, it does not matter how old one is; when an imperial decree is issued, who can argue against it? The noble lady covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "I was also quite anxious at first, fearing that those masters would want to speak with me. I stayed up late, and even on the way back, I felt uneasy. Upon reflection, I realized that I had not seen Madam Xue in the side hall, which made me worried, worried that something might go wrong with her."

Luge knew that her master was angry, so she tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "My lord, do not listen to them. They are nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothings who eat well and do nothing. It is truly an eyesore. Even if the Empress Dowager has passed, you are still my lord, standing taller than them. How dare they presume to speak so recklessly!"

The death of the queen shattered the surface tranquility, and the hidden undercurrents began to surge uncontrollably. Initially, it was clear water, but later it stirred up even the long-accumulated silt from the riverbed, turning everything into a filthy mess. Beneath the seemingly peaceful era lies a heart as murky as ink.

As she gazed at the palace gate, no matter how much discontent she felt within, there was nothing she could do about it

After a round of weeping rituals, everyone was helped up to take a brief rest. Yingming felt both cold and painful in her eyes, she adjusted the burning corners of her eyes and retreated to the temporary pavilion set up outside the hall.

The secondary consort was determined to have her daughter marry into a common noble family. In the end, they settled on the Hai family, which, although not of the highest rank, met various acceptable conditions, and the secondary consort was quite satisfied. Once entering the palace, it was as deep as the sea. Earlier, a great-aunt from the secondary consort's family had entered the palace as a concubine. At that time, just before leaving, the matron slapped her face, saying it was as if she had not raised this daughter. The rats in the imperial city considered themselves to be three generations above the cats. If the great-aunt were to receive imperial favor, she could request a grace to return to her family, and her biological parents would have to kneel on either side of the gate, bowing their heads in welcome. Reflecting on this situation, any glory or face was overshadowed by the sorrow in her heart

Yingming did not dare to look a second time, even though the dark patterns of the dragon on his shoulders were difficult to discern through the misty rain. Just by the clusters of eunuchs and palace women standing along the path, one could guess his identity

What is there to discuss?" The Second Young Lady put down her chopsticks, "The Second Young Lady has passed the age for entering the palace and has been promised to the Hai family, it would not be appropriate to ask for someone halfway through the process.

At that moment, a sudden shock ran through my heart. A figure was walking slowly down the corridor, dressed in a plain dark robe, with a pair of reserved yet strikingly refined brows and eyes. He was not wearing a crown, as the custom of the Qi people to braid their hair on the right side had been preserved after entering the realm. The intricate and delicate strands of hair were loosely tied, appearing unassuming yet brimming with potential and strength.

The side consort glanced at the silent Naxin, seemingly sensing an impending disaster. Xue Shangzhang, being exceptionally shrewd, thought it better to recommend Yingming, rather than sending another girl from the clan into the palace to establish a flag. Yingming was their goddaughter whom they had taken in during their early years, and her father was also a minister assisting in governance. All things considered, there truly was no one more suitable than her.

Such a malady, even the Emperor cannot be touched by it. Another person subtly made a sorrowful expression, "In the Xue family, there is only this one lady, and now that she has passed away, I wonder how Mrs. Xue must be feeling.

The deer accompanied the master into the palace, indifferent to the surroundings, only concerned about the journey and the horses and carriages. "It looks like it will rain again; the path we came in on has been trampled to pieces."

She averted her gaze, waiting for the third mourning. At that moment, she saw a eunuch entering through the main gate of the pavilion, walking while looking back to guide the way, followed by the head maid of the Fujin.

With this remark from Lu Ge, it indeed deflated her. Originally, she was not afraid to step forward and argue with them, but times have changed. Since she does not wish to enter the palace, she cannot afford to stand out at this moment.

However, the tears of great sorrow, like the yawns of fatigue and the coughs of a cold, put her in a very difficult position. She had to exert great effort to suppress the overwhelming wave of grief. Incense was lit, prayers were offered, and sacrificial wine was poured, yet she did not raise her eyes to look at the crimson banner, fearing it would remind her of the person lying in the coffin. As for the eyes behind the curtain that the noble lady mentioned, she was also unwilling to delve into whose they were. Once the memorial rites were completed, she quietly withdrew from the mourning hall

Aunt Suo assisted the noble consort in managing the household, and all the young maids within the second gate were afraid of her. Lu Ge, while speaking, took a step back to hide behind her master.

She turned and entered the eastern gate of Qiongyuan, and from a distance, she saw Lu Ge standing outside the pavilion. Upon seeing her, he hurried over to greet her, softly calling her "Mistress." Before he could ask anything further, he was interrupted by Ying Ming's raised hand. At this moment, the third round of the mourning ceremony was about to begin, and the women gathered in unison, with the interior and exterior of the Qing'an Hall draped in white. Ying Ming knelt among the endless line of people, her mind blank, and it was not until she got into the carriage to return to the residence that she gradually came to her senses.

There are too many people, how can one manage all of that. Yingming said: "Once the ceremony is over, it will be fine to arrive a little later. In any case, the lady will also be coming to Shunzheng Gate after the formalities are completed."

Madam Suo has always been impartial; the palace has its own regulations, and no one is allowed to act recklessly. With a soft sound, she signaled Lu Ge to wait, then lifted her robe and stepped out of the pavilion alongside Madam Suo. The eunuch leading the way remained two or three zhang ahead. Taking advantage of the supporting gesture, Madam Suo whispered in her ear: "The Fujin has instructed me to convey a message. When you turn back to offer incense before the spirit of the late Empress, remember, you must not look around. There are eyes behind the curtain; you should know this by now and act according to your usual conduct. Just one thing, do not cry; even if there are tears, they must flow inward. This palace is not like our home; a single misstep can lead to catastrophic consequences. Do you understand, young lady?"

The dining table was originally lively, but as soon as this topic was brought up, everyone fell silent. Ama tilted his head in thought, while the expression on Side Concubine's face was not pleasant.

Just as she was about to kneel, the emperor's robe swirled as he entered the left gate of the Guangsheng Hall. That gate connected the Chengqian Palace and the Yonghe Palace. Yingming initially thought that since the empress had passed away, the emperor would surely hold numerous memorial ceremonies to express his sorrow. However, it turned out that he only came to personally oversee the small burial and the consecration on the day of her passing. After that, he ceased to attend court and, when the officials gathered to mourn, he merely made an appearance. As for the pain of losing his wife, it was merely for show.

The position of the queen has become vacant, and everyone is watching closely. Families with daughters, from high-ranking officials to lower-ranking leaders, cannot predict who will benefit from this fortunate turn of events. Yinging lowered her head, clenched her fists, and thought to herself that the initial words she heard were indeed not without reason; everyone inside and outside the imperial city was hoping for her early demise. Now that she has truly died, these people are openly mourning while secretly rejoicing, as if her death would allow them to ascend to higher positions and become royal relatives.

The rules in the palace are exceedingly strict. When the Emperor arrives, you must not stare at him. If he sees you first, you must obediently kneel and bow to welcome him; if he does not see you, you should quickly turn your back to the wall to avoid startling the Emperor

From the south came the thunderous sound of weeping, as the consorts and concubines of the imperial harem recounted the virtues of the late Empress Dowager. Yingming gazed at the overcast sky outside, where thick clouds stretched for miles. In the palace, only during a great mourning is it permitted to burn paper money; from the direction of the Zhongcui Palace, light smoke rose straight up, merging with the heavens, as if those clouds were born from the profound knowledge of her passing.

The queen's coffin was placed in the main hall of the Zhongcui Palace. Previously, she could enter and exit with the imperial decree, but now that she is gone, she can only join the women of official families without titles to pay their respects in the Qinan Hall.

In the Qin'an Hall, countless white banners are hung, and all the ceremonial arrangements are made according to the original layout of the Zhongcui Palace. However, there is no coffin; at the end of layers of white drapery, a divine tablet is enshrined high above, on a blue background sprinkled with gold paper, inscribed with the brief posthumous title belonging to the deeply revered Empress Xiaohui.

The footsteps of the soft chirping slowed slightly, and she secretly pondered that over the years, she had walked this long street countless times. The East Gate of Qiongyuan was just ahead, and she did not rush into the Imperial Garden, instead turning back to glance at the direction of the Qianqing Palace behind her

It is still possible to enter the Zhongcui Palace, something that was previously deemed an unattainable luxury. A light rain begins to fall from the sky, and through the melancholic mist of the rain, the painted red walls pass by her eyes. She clearly sees the figure standing under the magnolia tree, yet upon closer inspection, there are only one banner after another, laid out in succession towards the main hall of the Zhongcui Palace.

Lu Ge was a bit puzzled: "Why has this old woman come?"

The temperament of the noble consort is such that if someone were to confront her head-on, she could easily put you in a difficult position. However, if she sees that you understand the boundaries and are genuinely facing a challenge, she would never resort to harsh words or actions against you

Idle gossip is like salt flowers, sprinkled slowly and deliberately onto a wound. Xue Shangzhang has seized power and is rampantly dominating the court, eliminating his rivals without even blinking. Now that the Xue family has encountered a setback, what can be said in the palace? It is not as if one has died and another can simply be chosen from the clan to fill the vacancy; this truly undermines the rule of law.