Chapter 4, Pink Powder

What use is there in those who remain unyielding and continue to resist? They are merely suppressed and sent to the springboard, with a noose tightly fastened around their necks, not given a moment's respite. With the ground slipping away beneath their feet, they kick and struggle a few times, silently completing the entire journey.

Although this fate was anticipated early on, when faced with death, it feels as if one has fallen into a nightmare from which there is no awakening

At this point, there is nothing more to say. She sat down and took a sip of soup, and before she could swallow, the chief eunuch announced loudly: "It is time, Your Highnesses, please put down your chopsticks and proceed!"

The sound of a thumping heartbeat echoed in the hall, each beat deafening. Tong Yun came to support her; she had no strength in her legs and leaned against her, swaying as they followed the crowd towards the Central Hall

Lingzi fastened her collar, and all past memories scattered away. She could no longer see the lush tea gardens on the back mountain, nor could she see the Longquan that her father had carefully introduced into the courtyard. All she could hear was the voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies, echoing as if across the vastness of the universe, lamenting: "The ladies are on their way, take good care of the Emperor..."

Yin Lou did not dare to look at others; she passed through the ring and saw that a censer had been placed on the high table beneath the window. The person dressed in white elegantly blew on the fire to light the incense, their white fingers almost transparent in the sunlight

"Silence everyone," he raised his voice, his cold tone cutting through the noise like a knife. "Crying is one way, not crying is another; it wounds the heart and lungs, and the Emperor is displeased. The palace maids have historically been given preferential treatment in death. The additional posthumous title is in my hands, it is appropriate to recommend a distinguished title, to demonstrate virtue and conduct; this has long been decided. Ladies, please restrain your grief!" After speaking, he turned around and performed a grand salute to the Consort Shun sent from Qixiang Palace, saying, "The auspicious time has come, please proceed, Your Highness." The additional posthumous title is in my hands, it is appropriate to recommend a distinguished title, to demonstrate virtue and conduct; this has long been decided. Ladies, please restrain your grief!" After speaking, he turned around and performed a grand salute to the Consort Shun sent from Qixiang Palace, saying, "The auspicious time has come, please proceed, Your Highness."

"There are four or five taels of silver and some jewelry in the box, which I no longer need, so I will give them all to you." She thought for a moment and still felt she should say something, "Does this count as an untimely death? Will I still be able to be reincarnated in the future?"

To die as a glutton, akin to having a final meal before the execution, is the last bit of charity in this world. The palace gates are wide open, and a line of eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen enters, each pair carrying a small kang table. The open space outside the hall is covered with a carpet, and those kang tables are arranged neatly, inviting them to the banquet to bid farewell to the sun. Who can eat at a time like this? Yin Lou looks back, and Tong Yun is still by her side. The palace maids do not have to die; they can still assist her onto the spring stool, serving her as she places her head into the noose.

Qiu Andao: "There is nothing urgent, His Royal Highness the Prince of Fortune sent me to check on the steps of the talented person. Supervisor, you are busy, I will go in and ask Wei Chengji."

The world has been refreshed, and the air is filled with the fragrance of new soil. It seems to be a good omen, as all misfortunes should dissipate. Looking up at the dome, high and vast, the sound tower is still astonished by how blue the sky is, while the funeral bells of the six palaces have begun to toll

As soon as he arrived at the corridor, he saw Qiu An approaching briskly. He was also a member of the Court of Ceremonial, currently assigned to serve at the Jinshen Hall for the funeral rites. He stepped forward, bowed, and addressed him as "Supervisor".

The cries surrounding me were deafening, and I knelt in the sound tower, my legs weak and powerless, unable to rise from the ground. Just a couple of days ago, I still harbored a glimmer of hope, always thinking that the emperor was still young and had at least a few more years to live. Who would have thought that in such a short time, he would truly have passed away

The spring wind is strong, blowing over the eaves and the tiles, with a sobbing low moan resembling a lament, sending chills down one's spine. Finally, someone clings to the door frame and screams, "I don't want to die! Save me!" The crowd then comes to their senses, erupting into chaos once more, leading to a new round of sorrowful wails.

When Xiao Duo turned back, the task had almost been completed. He squinted his eyes and beheld a truly extraordinary sight; the people who had just been shouting hoarsely were now silent, suspended in mid-air, drifting aimlessly without any support. In death, there was tranquility.

He stood pondering for a moment, then instructed someone to go in and convey a message to Wei Cheng, urging him to expedite the transport of the coffin to the Qin'an Hall for the Cabinet's review. Once the posthumous title was assigned, this minor talent would earn the title of Tai Fei, thereby justifiably residing in the palace, fulfilling the wishes of the Prince of Fortune.

The brand new white cloth emitted a putrid odor of decay, as a group of palace maids from the Bureau of Imperial Attendants rushed in through the door. Shaking their collars, they unfurled the mourning garments that had long been prepared. Most of the people were so frightened by the imperial edict that they were nearly paralyzed, unable to even stand, let alone change their clothes. The palace maids, with their rough hands and large feet, came forward to handle them, stripping away their colorful garments and removing the intricately stacked hairpins from their heads. With the right side crossed over, they tightened the sash around the waist, and one was quickly attended to.

He has a flawless face, with tightly pressed lips that convey a hint of arrogance, yet his eyes are surprisingly warm. With long eyelashes and slightly upturned eyes, one might easily mistake him for a young master from a prestigious family, raised in luxury, were it not for the ceremonial badge hanging from his waist.

What are you crying about? This is a joyous occasion, a blessing that comes from the virtues accumulated by our ancestors. Serving the late emperor, the court will naturally provide preferential treatment. In the future, when the family receives titles, they should remember the kindness of the empresses, so that the grace of nurturing is not in vain. The chief eunuch's clumsy attempt to console could not quell the fear and panic among the crowd; no one took his words seriously, and he did not care much either. With his sleeves tucked in, he commanded, 'Come, assist the empresses in changing their clothes. We cannot afford to miss the auspicious time.'

On the second day, as dawn broke, the clouds began to disperse at a quarter past the third hour, marking the sudden end of the lingering rain that had persisted for over a month

She looked at her, her lips moving, unable to utter a single word

A figure emerged from the shadows, dressed in plain garments, approaching gracefully. They came to a halt three feet away from the door, their tall stature accentuated by the simplicity of their attire, making their lower body appear particularly elongated

Qiu An should have gone out again.

Almost simultaneously, a dozen eunuchs dressed in mourning attire entered the Qianxi Wusuo, holding an imperial edict. The wind stirred the mourning ribbons that hung low beneath their caps, and their expressionless horse-like faces resembled the grim figures of the underworld demanding souls. The one at the front stood in the courtyard and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Everyone come out, there is an edict."

Tong Yun cried heart-wrenchingly, "Master... Master..."

Tong Yun comforted her, "What you are doing is martyrdom; even the King of Hell would treat you with courtesy upon seeing you." After saying this, she wiped her tears, "I advised you to think of a solution, but you did not listen, and now you have ended up in this situation, is it good?"

Yin Lou followed the crowd outside the hall to await the imperial decree. In the midst of pushing and shoving, he fell to the ground, listening to the eunuch from the Imperial Sacrificial Office read the edict from the steps. The content was very simple and did not require much elaboration—"The great Emperor has ascended to heaven. Those without sons are not to emerge; all are commanded to die." And that was it

She does not wish to die either; being forced to hang oneself is no laughing matter. If one wants to be like Li Meiren, one must have connections, at the very least, one must be someone whom others find worthy. She has always had poor luck with romance; the favor of noblemen has never graced her, and not a single eunuch has shown her any kindness. Reflecting on this is truly a failure.

I do not know how Li Meiren is doing, as she is not among those listening to the edict. Since they do not share the same quarters, she has not been seen since she went to find Eunuch Yan, and she has not appeared at the Yin Building either. Perhaps they are enjoying each other's company, and Li Meiren has already moved out of Qianxi No. 5 to reside at Eunuch Yan's place. Under the pressure of power, one must bow down; it sounds quite tragic to serve a eunuch, but at least it ensures the preservation of one's life, and Yin Building feels relieved for her.

Her mind was shrouded in a thick fog, devoid of any thoughts. All she knew was that she had just turned sixteen, had left home to enter the capital for selection, and had merely acquired the title of a talented person. She had yet to savor the essence of being an empress, yet she was to go to her death alongside the emperor she had never met.

"You handle the matter below, the coffins are all placed outside the hall, examine each one carefully, and once verified, close the coffins!" He pinched his nose, as some people may lose control of their bowels upon death, and the smell here was not pleasant; he could not stay a moment longer. He hurriedly instructed Wei Cheng and glanced at the concubine who had been laid down early, then stepped over the threshold with his hands tucked in.

The meaning of this is self-evident. Concerned that someone might mediate, he raised his chin, and the attendants behind him dispersed, driving everyone in the room out.

Lower-ranking concubines do not have independent chambers like those of higher rank. They usually share a room with several others, and the courtyard, which consists of five sections, is filled with people, with a total of around forty to fifty individuals across all five sections.

That hall has always been a place where the women of the court tread with righteousness. Perhaps too many have perished here, for upon entering, one immediately feels a bone-chilling cold. The palace concubines huddle together, standing at the entrance to peer inside. The main hall is long and deep, with sunlight streaming in from the window at the other end, casting shadows on the blue brick floor, so distant that it does not illuminate the path beneath their feet. The beams inside the hall are much thicker than those in other places due to the weight they bear. Sixty-eight lengths of white silk are hung across, all tied in knots, creating a scene of peculiar terror when combined with the sixty-eight small wooden beds beneath them.

It is only at this moment that she feels a pang in her nose, realizing that her final words cannot be conveyed, and that her deep concerns for her parents are merely empty talk. Fortunately, there are six siblings at home; if she were to die, the pain would only last for a while before it passes.

Everyone was crying, yet there was no compassion in his expression. Those warm eyes continued to radiate warmth, still out of habit. He scanned each person, and when his gaze turned back, it met hers, pausing in inquiry. The eunuch Wei Cheng, who was behind him, immediately stepped forward to whisper in his ear. He raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.

At the command, everyone was brought to the bench, with two people standing beside it, one supporting the other, and one waiting to pull the bench away. The heart of Yin Lou was numb; facing death, he instead became calm. It was just a fleeting moment, and once it was over, it was over.

She is a person who lingers, unable to feel great joy when happiness arrives, and unaware of tears when sadness strikes. The sharp sounds that whistle by her ears come from a piercing throat, and she only feels fear, trembling all over, her limbs stiffening, as a chill seeps and crawls from her extremities, piercing straight into her heart.

Xiao Duo halted in his tracks and, with his hands behind his back, asked: "What is it?"

"What are you looking at? They are all in coffins." Seeing Qiu An in a daze, he frowned and said, "They won't die; appearances must be maintained. Go and inform His Highness the Prince of Fu that I will make my own decisions, so please rest assured, Your Highness."

So one must smile while facing death? She shivered, originally hoping that her brother and nephew would come to visit her in the capital, but now it seems that as long as they pay their respects during the holidays, that will suffice. It does not matter if they are far away, she could just step over. However, the souls of the buried will be suppressed, right? Perhaps sealed within the tomb, never to see the light of day

The sound tower was pushed around in circles, barely managing to stand firm while looking around. Everyone was unwilling, each face reflecting pain and despair, yet not a single person rose to resist. In this lamentable era, even struggle is futile; those who are doomed must meet their fate. Generously setting out on the road may provide shelter at home, but if one is not so willing, in the end, one sacrifices in vain, gaining nothing of benefit.