Chapter 8, Offering Incense · Text

After a long time, the sky gradually brightened. Outside the palace door, hurried footsteps could be heard again. Su Ying secretly peered through the crack of the door and saw a familiar figure—Young Master Bai was walking past outside the palace.

Su Ying has been in the palace for several days but has not yet become familiar with everyone in the Danxi Palace. Not knowing the background of this eunuch, it is also inappropriate to inquire further.

The Liuxuan Palace is twice the size of the Ruzhu Palace, with its interior resplendent in gold and jade, adorned with exquisite decorations throughout. The palace attendants serving Consort Dan are all dressed in vibrant attire, surrounding her like stars encircling the moon. Consort Dan is pouring and drinking for herself, and the cup surely contains strong liquor, with a potent aroma of alcohol.

Su Ying respectfully bowed to Lady Dan and heard her aunt ask: "I heard that Lord Ju has recognized you as his adopted daughter?"

The queen had not slept all night yet still appeared radiant. After listening to Su Ying recount the events, she offered a few words of comfort and then asked Bai Xinmo: "Deputy Guard, who are those two eunuchs?"

Ruyuan said with concern: "Aunt's temperament is quite different from what we knew back in the day—sister must be careful."

Coincidentally, the palace maid beside Wen Fengxiang also spoke of Wen Fengxiang's ill intentions towards Su Ying. The Empress was both angry and resentful, unable to close her eyes all night, insisting that the eunuch Wei Wei must find Su Ying, whether alive or dead.

The second person let out a low "mm" sound

She spoke deliberately in a light-hearted manner, her face adorned with the innocence of a young girl. Wanwei and Lingrou did not think much of it and replied with gentle laughter: "Fengxiang, you may not be aware: ever since the Emperor took to Buddhism, the people in the palace have been racking their brains to recite scriptures, yet none have derived any benefit from it. It may not be easy for Fengxiang to obtain scriptures now—last winter, the palace burned scriptures for warmth, and I wonder if there are any left now."

She, disheveled and dirty, did not dare to go to the Danxi Palace to pay her respects, and instead returned to her own residence. Wanwei and Lingrou, upon seeing her return, both cried and laughed: "Fengxiang disappeared after going with the eunuch, we were so worried!"

Su Ying did not take Wen Fengxiang to heart—this woman would always be driven out by the Empress. However, Su Ying did not anticipate that she would linger in the palace for so long without leaving

Su Ying chuckled softly and said, "That is His Majesty! How can you deceive Him with just a few verses of scripture? Well, you just need to go find it for me, no matter how much, the more the better"

Su Ying understood that they had said everything they needed to say, and staying any longer would be pointless, so she stood up to take her leave

It is said that the shaman heard the voice of the ancestors, stating that Suhui and Suluo must marry within a month to preserve their lives. Lord Su did not believe this and had no intention of complying. After a few more days, seeing that the situation was dire, Lord Su hurriedly pulled out the marriage invitations sent by the matchmaker and hastily selected a son-in-law for Suhui, sending her off in a rush. Strangely enough, ever since Suhui entered her new home, her health gradually improved, and before long, she seemed to be perfectly fine. Lord Su could only lament her unfortunate fate. Strangely enough, ever since Suhui entered her new home, her health gradually improved, and before long, she seemed to be perfectly fine. Lord Su could only lament her unfortunate fate.

Su Ying was startled by her erratic behavior, and after calming her mind, she said: "Aunt is drunk, A Ying has a sobering incense..."

One day, she indirectly asked the maidservant who attended to her: "Has Wen Fengxiang been diligently preparing any new fragrances lately? I haven't seen her present incense to the Empress for several days."

After Xin Mo returned, he was puzzled and naturally glanced at Su Ying. Su Ying did not turn around, but she knew he was looking at her, so she gently shook her head

I am here to convey a message to you—on the fifth day of next month

This name, Su Ying, was already known to her; it was indeed him! Her mind was filled with countless thoughts, wondering why the nephew mentioned by her aunt, who held a position in the Eastern Palace, had come to the Danxi Palace. Presumably, the internal circumstances were as she had just heard, related to her adoptive father. She did not wish to think further and softly said: "Thank you for your concern, Deputy Guard... It is dawn now, and it would not be appropriate for people to see me with the Guard."

Su Ying had never seen a woman act so wildly, and for a moment, she felt a bit flustered. However, she quickly organized her thoughts and replied: "Aunt is an elder, so it is only natural for me to pay my respects. Moreover, in another six months, Seventh Sister Su Lan will enter the palace—she is the biological sister of Eldest Sister and Second Sister, and thus different from me. By then, Eldest Sister and Second Sister will not have as much attention to spare for me." Su Ying took a breath, her tone having returned to calm: "In Aunt's eyes, we are merely nieces. In the future, whether it is a major or minor matter, Aunt will not show favoritism towards any one of us or treat anyone unfairly..."

Su Ying lowered her head, murmuring her thanks, and sidestepped past him

After walking for a while, she felt something was amiss and asked, "Where is Grandfather going? The Danxi Palace should be in this direction!"

Ruyuan smiled and changed the subject, and the three sisters chatted aimlessly for quite a while. Suying knew that their minds were not on the current topic, so when there was a moment of silence, she asked: "Although my younger sisters have not learned the clever things like my elder sisters, I can still tell that you have something to discuss—may I ask if there is anything that Suying can assist you with? If it involves blending or creating fragrances, I would be more than happy to serve my elder sisters."

"Please, Your Highness." As Su Ying had just stopped waiting for a moment, a figure suddenly rushed out from the dark palace, covering her mouth and dragging her inside the hall

Wanwei and Lingrou exchanged a smile when Suying was not paying attention. Suying actually saw it and asked, "What? Is it amusing to read the Buddhist scriptures?"

How can I go like this? Su Ying shook her head in disapproval

Is the right guard also among them?" the first person asked

On the fifth day of next month! The one with a higher status repeated it, sounding a bit excited

Su Ying was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Isn't Wen Fengxiang serving in the palace tonight?"

Su Ying was astonished and noticed that the palace maids around her were constantly exchanging glances with Consort Dan, realizing that there was something unusual going on.

Su Ying suddenly realized: she had been deceived

Su Ying's heart suddenly raced; she was grateful that she had her back to him, otherwise he would surely have seen her face flushed with embarrassment

That night, the Emperor went to the Danxi Palace for a brief visit, while Wen Fengxiang attended to him in the palace. Su Ying, having some free time, carefully selected a few sets of incense and dressed up before going to the Liuxuan Palace of Concubine Dan to pay a visit to her aunt

The lady feels sympathy for Su Ying, and Su Ying is already immensely grateful

Wanwei and Lingrou spoke in unison: "What is wrong with this? It can't even be pretended! Fengxiang, let's hurry to the Danxi Palace."

If he is not removed, I cannot feel at ease

When Su Ying arrived at the Danxi Palace, Wen Fengxiang was still serving by the side of the Empress in the palace

Su Ying gazed at his agile figure, momentarily lost in thought, unsure of where to go. After standing outside the hall for a moment, she finally retraced her steps from the previous night.

Su Ying observed that her expression seemed very sorrowful, so she gently said: "I have been too busy and have not yet visited my aunt."

At this moment, not only was Xin Mo at a loss, but even Su Ying was equally perplexed

Please, please help me, Deputy Guard! Su Ying's numb body suddenly regained sensation, feeling the slight chill of the morning, and began to tremble all over

After a while, Dan Pin finally chuckled and said: "Looking at Li Yuan and Rou Yuan like that, I still feel sorry for my brother: good girls were not sent in, and the two who came in are a disgrace to our family all day long. Look at you, you seem to have a bit of good fortune. A Ying, stand up and let me have a look!"

Ah—Deputy Guard! Su Ying called out in a clear voice, and he immediately turned around.

Su Ying emerged from the Flowing Spring Palace, still feeling a sense of trepidation—her aunt's character and demeanor were completely different from what she had imagined. Logically speaking, a person as willful as Consort Dan should find it difficult to establish herself in the imperial harem. Yet, she was thriving and looked down on everyone. Su Ying vaguely sensed that the reason behind this was closely related to her adoptive father, but she could not comprehend the exact nature of the situation.

Dan Pin remained silent for a long time. Su Ying lowered her head, not daring to look at her expression, only feeling her heart pounding wildly.

The Emperor left after a brief stay, and Wen Fengxiang has also disappeared without a trace. The Empress has searched several times but could not find him, and is in a great rage. It just so happens that someone came to look for you, and you are not here—at this moment, the Empress is quite furious!

The queen seemed very tired, and after resting for a while, she said: "After a night of turmoil, you should go rest; there is no need to come in today."

"Offering incense." Bai Weiwei suddenly said: "Is the seventh lady of your esteemed house, the Bai family, your adoptive mother?"

Wan Wei shook her head and said: "Feng Xiang is truly generous! We all know that the palace maid beside Wen Feng Xiang has already reported to the Empress, stating that Wen Feng Xiang mentioned a couple of days ago that she would give you a warning. This incident is closely related to her!"

The two young palace maids beside Su Ying, one named Wan Wei who is sixteen years old and the other named Ling Rou who is seventeen, are both older than Su Ying and have been in the palace for many years. They speak and act with great care and composure. They exchanged glances, and Ling Rou smiled at Su Ying, saying: "Wen Fengxiang is not only used for the Empress, but the incense for the Emperor is also prepared by her." Wan Wei added: "The incense used in the Emperor's scripture hall is exclusively prepared with Wen Fengxiang— the Emperor said that the incense blended with Wen Fengxiang has a special affinity."

In that case, we can be considered relatives. If Su Fengxiang encounters any difficulties, I, Bai, will certainly lend a hand. " He paused and said, "I am Bai Xinmo.

"Is the offering incense here? Where is the offering incense? Everyone in the Danxi Palace is looking for you." The Deputy Guard Bai picked up the lock on the palace door and looked at it, "Who locked the offering incense here?"

Su Ying smiled and said, "What could it be! Even if my sisters did not say these words, I would still handle it this way—during these few days since I entered the palace, no one has bullied me, and isn't it precisely because my sisters are here?"

Another person said in a low voice: "If it were not for that reason, how could the Left Guard Commander be transferred from the Eastern Palace"

Dame Dan half-opened her hazy, intoxicated eyes, looked at her from front to back, and frowned, saying: "Your attire is too plain! Yingrong, bring me the box of jewelry I prepared yesterday!"

The queen leaned dejectedly against the wooden stool and let out a long sigh: "Go call back Deputy Guard Bai."

The two eunuchs also saw them and immediately turned to run away

The queen rubbed her forehead and said, "Deputy Guard, there is no need to investigate this matter any further— you may leave now"

A palace maid brought a small box and opened it for Consort Dan. Consort Dan picked out some hairpins and earrings from inside, gesturing for Su Ying for quite a while, and said: "Dressing like this is more appropriate—take these and tidy yourself up well."

Upon seeing her two elder sisters this time, Su Ying noticed that they appeared somewhat different—Su Mei's brows were always slightly furrowed, wearing an expression of deep concern. This demeanor seemed to have become a habit, to the extent that she herself was unaware of it. Su Chun's expression was somewhat frivolous, her gaze occasionally drifting to the sides, resembling a roll of the eyes, yet also appearing vigilant—this behavior was worlds apart from Su Ying's memories of them, to the point where Su Ying almost did not dare to recognize them

Su Ying quickly got up

Dan Pin let out a cold snort: "What about Feng Xiang? Isn't Wen Caihuan also Feng Xiang? Isn't she still flaunting herself every day?"

Su Ying's matter of seeking scriptures somehow came to the attention of her elder sister Li Yuan and her second sister Rou Yuan. Each of them sent a stack of scriptures along with some other small items. Su Ying hurriedly prepared several packages of well-mixed spices to express her gratitude to her two sisters

Su Ying rushed to the door and knocked forcefully, loudly asking: "What do you want to do?!"

Liyuan let out a cold snort and said: "So what if she finds it strange? With me and Rouyuan here, we won't let her make things difficult for you"

Wanwei and Lingrou shook their heads together: "Fengxiang, hurry up and go!"

"I got lost halfway." Su Ying, still in shock, said with a smile, "I don't know the way in the palace, so I ended up getting lost."

The first person struck the palace gate with a heavy punch, producing a muffled echo in the empty palace that nearly caused Su Ying to cry out

Su Luo had always been stubborn, refusing to marry even at the cost of her life. "If my father insists on marrying me off, I will die immediately! Either way, I will die, so my father might as well not concern himself with me." This was what Su Luo said at the time, and Mr. Su was at a loss for what to do, ultimately resigning himself to fate. However, Su Luo later, for reasons unknown, suddenly improved and was selected to enter the palace after participating in the selection of maidens. Yet, news soon arrived from the palace regarding Su Mei and Su Chun: Su Luo's health was poor, lacking nourishment in the palace, and one night she suddenly died.

Bai Xinmo knelt and replied: "They said it belongs to Zhao Wenge."

Su Ying knew that Zhao Wen Pavilion was a study of the Emperor, but was unaware of the connection between this matter and the Emperor

Liyuan and Rouyuan exchanged a glance, and Liyuan said: "There are some matters we need not speak of, as my sister will discover them in due time. It would be better for us to be open and honest: Danpin has been indulging in her own beauty in the harem and has not been on good terms with us sisters for quite some time. Logically, as a family in this harem, we should support one another. Yet, it is clear that Danpin cannot be relied upon... Now that my sister is serving before the Empress, it is only right to assist our elder sisters—we are sisters after all, and not like others."

The current sovereign highly esteems Buddhism, frequently gathering people to expound the teachings every few days, and has even established a Buddhist hall within the palace, offering exquisite fresh flowers and vegetarian fruits daily

Bai Weiwei looked at her tear-streaked face and her astonished expression, unable to suppress a smile: "I found a rusty and easily breakable ring. Su Fengxiang, do not be surprised, quickly return to Danxi Palace."

The queen moved slightly: "It must be nonsense—bring them up, I will question them myself"

The night grew darker, and Su Ying felt drowsy. Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside the hall. Uncertain whether she was dreaming or awake, or if it was an illusion, she wanted to call for help, but then she heard someone say: "Is it real or fake?"

When she returned to her own room, Wan Wei and Ling Rou were anxiously waiting for her. As soon as they saw her, they said: "Where has Feng Xiang gone? The Empress has called for her twice!"

"Su Fengxiang should get along well with Wen Fengxiang," Wan Wei said, "Wen Fengxiang is quite clever and will eventually make a name for herself."

Su Ying secretly scoffed to herself: Together, the two of them are not as capable as Dan Pin; their words are merely a show in front of her. However, since she has said these kind words, Su Ying cannot remain indifferent, so she hurriedly replied: "With my elder sisters looking out for me, I feel much more at ease. After all, my aunt is family and will not make things difficult for me."

It is truly said that one can know a person’s face but not their heart... His voice was filled with disappointment and anger, "What should we do now? The left guard commander has left the Eastern Palace, and the right guard commander is in league with the traitor... He has truly wrapped me up so tightly that not even a breeze can get through!"

The niece is merely a fragrant offering, and does not dare to dress too ostentatiously

Su Ying, with her clever mind, immediately understood that the Empress intended to take this opportunity to eliminate Wen Fengxiang, and she felt reassured. Upon entering the Danxi Palace, she saw Bai Xinmo kneeling to one side

Xin Mo went out to summon the two eunuchs. A palace maid brushed past him and hurriedly approached the Empress, whispering a few words. The Empress's expression changed suddenly, and she asked in a low voice, "Is it true?"

Wen Fengxiang is not a young lady from a prestigious family, nor does she have anyone in her family serving in the court. Although she arrived at the Danxi Palace earlier and has slightly more seniority than Su Ying, she is aware that Su Ying comes from a good background, with an aunt and two elder sisters in the imperial harem, and a brother in the Eastern Palace. Therefore, she always feels somewhat awkward when meeting Su Ying.

On the way to the palace, Su Ying heard that last night the Emperor and the Empress had an unpleasant conversation. After the Emperor left in a huff, the Empress felt discontented and wanted to light a censer to calm her mind. Unfortunately, Wen Fengxiang was nowhere to be found. The palace maids around Wen Fengxiang were hesitant in their responses, which made the Empress angry, so she sought out Su Ying. After three attempts, upon hearing from Wan Wei and Ling Rou that Su Ying had already gone to serve in Dan Qian Palace, the Empress grew suspicious and sent people to search everywhere, but they could not find her.

Su Ying, upon hearing matters concerning her brother, dared not make a sound and held her breath to listen intently

Hello—hello! She called out several times loudly, but no one came. Presumably, this is a place rarely visited by people. She sighed in frustration and then carefully examined the situation inside the hall: it was empty, with nothing at all.

She had just finished speaking when she caught sight of two eunuchs approaching from a distance, and hurriedly exclaimed: "It is them! They are the ones who locked me up here!"

Su Ying had no impression of Dan Pin Su Yu Chan: when Dan Pin entered the palace, Su Ying was still too young to remember. Hearing Rou Yuan say this, Su Ying smiled lightly and said, "In that case, you should quickly go and pay your respects to your aunt, lest she take offense."

Fengxiang is a name that was spontaneously decided upon by the Emperor and Empress, and it is not a traditional system nor is there a fixed number of personnel associated with it

Oh... Su Ying replied softly, feeling a bit more cautious towards Wen Fengxiang in her heart

The queen had not spoken for a long time, appearing particularly weary. After a while, she finally said: "Suying, I feel that we have a special connection, and I wanted to help you catch your breath, but... I fear that in the end, you will still have to endure some grievances"

Su Ying was taken aback, unsure why she had brought this up first, especially since this matter should not be publicized. She remained silent, paying close attention to the tone of Dan Pin, who coldly laughed and said: "I knew it, how could he ignore me? It turns out he has found someone more useful!"

Damei laughed while drinking, saying: "Dead girl, what do you want from me? Speak quickly! I used to enjoy guessing other people's thoughts, but now I am too lazy—anyone I can't be bothered to guess, I simply throw out and beat to death!"

At this moment, a young eunuch came to inquire: "Which one is Su Ying?" Su Ying suspected that he had come from the Danxi Palace, so she hurriedly followed him out.

Su Ying calmed her mind and thought for a moment, hurriedly holding the prepared incense in her arms, and said: "I will go in now. Quickly check if there is anything inappropriate about me"

The eunuch said: "We will not go to the Danqian Palace. We are going to the Imperial Garden."

Su Ying shook her head vigorously, tears dripping down once again. She blamed herself for being so weak: she had promised not to cry anymore, yet she found herself shedding tears over such a trivial matter.

"Please return to the Danxi Palace first," Bai Xin said quietly before chasing after her

Bai Weiwei exerted force with both hands, and with a "crack" sound, he broke the iron chain that was wrapped around the door, opening it.

It was said by the Supervisor of Zhaowen Pavilion

Su Ying noticed that their conversation was quite strange, so she refrained from asking further questions

Dame Dan laughed heartily: "Him? He wouldn't be willing to give me anything! He only likes those vixens... I won't say much more to you. Ah Ying, be careful when walking in the Danqian Palace; there isn't a single person there who is easy to deal with—just wait and see!"

Upon seeing Su Ying, Rou Yuan immediately affectionately helped her up, looking left and right, praising her without end: "It has been many years since we last met, and my sister has grown into a young lady."

After two days, she said to Wanwei: "Everyone in the palace can casually recite a few lines of Buddhist verses. I didn't study this at home—please find me two Buddhist scriptures to read."

The queen continued, "Last night at Zhaowen Pavilion, the emperor favored Wen Fengxiang and immediately conferred upon her the title of talented lady. I do not know what she said in front of the emperor, but His Majesty actually sent two young eunuchs to tease you!" She let out a cold laugh and said, "This is the advantage of the palace: those with a bit of cleverness, once touched by the emperor, immediately ascend to greatness and engage in wrongdoing." After saying this, she sighed to Su Ying, "You have suffered injustice, yet cannot speak of it to anyone; truly... what kind of matter is this!"... what kind of matter is this!

Su Ying struggled desperately, and the man did not force her; he pushed her to the ground and immediately ran out, locking the palace door from the outside

After they exchanged high-fives, they each went their separate ways, leaving Su Ying too frightened to make a sound. She had already guessed who this person was, and thus dared not make the slightest movement

Is the empress feeling frustrated and going to the imperial garden to relax? Su Ying asked again, but the eunuch hesitated and did not elaborate further

She had not finished speaking when Dan Pin raised her wine glass and smashed it in front of her, saying sternly: "Answer me what I ask! Why are you looking for me? Why don't you go find your sister?"

Wen Caiyuan? Su Ying was greatly astonished.

Upon arriving at a secluded palace, the eunuch suddenly patted his waist and exclaimed, "Oh no! The badge has fallen off—please wait a moment while I retrieve it." He then turned around to search for it

Liyuan casually exchanged a few words with Su Mei, dismissed the people around them, and asked Su Ying: "Sister, have you been to visit our aunt?"

Su Ying, fearing that she might say something unpleasant, quickly replied: "Aunt's belongings must surely be bestowed by His Majesty, and I dare not accept them"

Liyuan and Rouyuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile: "Aying is indeed smart and understanding"

At this point, the only daughters of the Su family who have entered the palace, Su Mei and Su Chun, are safe and sound. They are a pair of identical twins, very charming in appearance, and they are inseparable, sharing a strong bond. Everyone finds the twin sisters fresh and interesting, and in addition to their pleasant speech and graceful demeanor, they gradually gain a good reputation in the palace

Su Ying responded with a hint of confusion and then heard the Empress say: "This is due to a playful remark between Wencai Yuan and His Majesty. It concerns the secrets of the palace, so it should not be made public"

Su Ying quietly nodded and listened as he continued, "That is my half-aunt."

By the light of the moon, she saw that the person who had pushed her to the ground was also a eunuch, who walked away together with the eunuch that had guided her.

Su Ying leaned against the door, not daring to move about recklessly. She thought to herself, regardless of who the instigator was, they likely did not wish for her life. At most, they would just give her a bit of hardship. With this thought, Su Ying felt less afraid and simply changed to a more comfortable sitting position

Fortunately, that matter has been settled, and you can feel somewhat at ease

Su Ying was left speechless—though the iron chain was not thick, she had never seen anyone able to break an iron chain with their bare hands

Liyuan and Rouyuan are having tea in Liyuan's Ruizhu Palace. The last time Suying met them was six years ago—during that time of the royal selection of women, her eldest sister Sumei, second sister Suchun, third sister Suning, fourth sister Suhui, and fifth sister Suluo were all fourteen years old. Each of them had their own merits, and Master Su had high hopes for them. Unfortunately, the third sister fell seriously ill just before the selection and passed away before she could participate. The fourth and fifth sisters also fell ill. A panicked Master Su sought divine help and prayed fervently. Unfortunately, the third sister fell seriously ill just before the selection and passed away before she could participate. The fourth and fifth sisters also fell ill. A panicked Master Su sought divine help and prayed fervently.

Ling Rou also said: "What exactly happened last night? Feng Xiang, the Empress is still waiting for your response!"