Chapter 3 Torture Her Heart Rather Than Destroy Her Body

After sending the gardener Zhao An away and returning her room, Gu Yunxi couldn't wait to yell at Gu Yunyao,

"Sister, are you mad?!"

"Don't shout to me, my dearest sister."

Gu Yunyao closed the door hurriedly, turned back and looked at Gu Yunxi. Beholding some tears in her eyes, Gu Yunyao reached out her hand and touched Gu Yunxi's head gently. She explained to her amiably,

"I have been in love with him since a long time ago. He is loyal, kind and honest. And he treats me very well. Today... he didn't do anything excessive to me."

"It's fine for me to see what you did. But if it were discovered by Nanny Gu and the Master..."

"Take it easy. Shortly after the feast began, words came from the palace to summon all the men in the Eastern Depot. Yunjin lost her temper and was coaxed to roll the dice by Nanny Gu. That's why I can be free to..."

Gu Yunyao said, blushing.

Gu Yunxi fixed her eyes on Gu Yunyao. She felt that Gu Yunyao did not look as if she had been guilty, but as if she had been lingering in the aftertaste.

"Sister, don't you remember that you are about to enter the palace? Don't be silly at this crucial moment! "

"Do you...really think it's good to enter the palace?"

Gu Yunyao re-concentrated, reviewing Yunxi's impatience with a little surprise.

"Isn't it? We are girls who grow up in sub-residence. Aren't we aimed at entering the palace and accepting orders?"

Gu Yunxi was confused.

Gu Yunyao smiled at her, feeling pity yet helpless.

"My silly sister, for all those parents who really care for their children, nobody wants to throw them into the fiery pit? The Palace... is exactly a fiery pit with no return!"

"Sister...?"

Gu Yunxi was surprised. She looked up, puzzled by Gu Yunyao's dreary and gloomy look.

With a forced smile, Gu Yunyao said to her,

"My dearest sister, I tell you these secrets because I regard you as my full sister. Just keep them in your heart. Don't tell others casually. One day you will understand what I mean. Make plans for yourself as early as possible. The Garden is by no means our long-term shelter."

"Sister..."

Gu Yunxi felt the facial expression of Gu Yunyao, her eldest sister, was quite strange, as if in some inexplicable inner struggle.

Gu Yunyao merely smiled at her, without saying anything more,

"I believe you will understand sooner or later. Fine. It's late now. Let's go to sleep."

----I’m a hateful dividing line----

Summoned by the Imperial Noble Concubine, Leng Qingtang left Youzhu Garden in a hurry. It was already over 9 p.m. when he entered the palace and then was led by the servants to Yongning Palace.

He went through the Main Hall and reached the bedroom. As soon as he came in, he caught the sight of some wet stains in the red brocade carpet with golden phoenix patterns in the front of the road.

"She must have lost her temper again and broken the glass."

Leng Qingtang thought secretly. Not daring to delay, he followed a maid in the palace in a colorful silk skirt to the broad bed made of eaglewood.

A beauty was lying on the bed inside the silk and brocade draperies, which were embroidered with beads of golden hibiscus flowers. She didn't wear the red sleeved robe with golden dragon and phoenix patterns. Instead, she only draped herself with a red dress. Her white neck was exposed outside, and a furrow loomed in her purple tube top dotted with flowers.

It should be the sleep time for all the concubines in the imperial harem now. And she had removed those gorgeous and ornate headdresses long before. After she took the bun adorned with butterfly and cloud patterns from her head, her long black hair, wrapped in pear fragrant head oil, was like a black waterfall spreading on the brocade bedding embroidered with warm yellow phoenix design.

Judging from her face, she was undoubtedly a beauty.

The smooth white skin of her oval face reflected some ivory sheen under the candlelight of the jasper glass lamp beside. Under her slender eyebrows, a pair of enchanting peach-blossom-like eyes were filled with rage and wrath.

Named Wan Yuyao, she was the master of Yongning Palace and Emperor Jingxiao's favorite concubine.

“I send my best regards to Your Grace. Wish Your Grace a healthy body.”

Leng Qingtang stopped in front of the bed, smiled gently and bowed as a sign of respect. His greetings were deliberately drawled, with a higher pitch at the end of his words, showing a tone of ridicule.

"Hmm..."

Without opening her mouth, the Imperial Noble Concubine Wan forced some voice out of her throat.

At the sight of Leng Qingtang, her rage diminished a little. Then she lazily moved her body and adjusted the sitting position, so as to make some room for him on her bed.

"Why do you come so late?"

"Pardon me, Your Grace."

She didn't blame him. Instead, she glanced at the empty place on her bed, eyes flickering. Understanding what she meant, Leng Qingtang stood up directly and sat on that place, regardless of the several maids present.

"Who dared to agitate you, Your Grace?"

Leng Qingtang approached her, asking with a flattering smile.

"Who else?"

Wan Yuyao sneered, tilting up her delicate chin and said with abhorrence,

"The lady in Chuxiu Palace...is pregnant again."

"Pregnant again?" Leng Qingtang was a little astonished.

Needless of further explanations, he knew the reason why such a superior Imperial Noble Concubine ran against the rules of the palace and summoned him, the Master of the Eastern Depot, into the imperial harem late at night.

Since Emperor Jingxiao ascended the throne, there had been three masters in his imperial harem. They were Empress Qian in Kunning Palace, the Imperial Noble Concubine Wan in Yongning Palace, and the Imperial Concubine Xu in Chuxiu Palace.

The lady in Chuxiu Palace, mentioned by Wan Yuyao just now, virtually referred to the Imperial Concubine Xu, whose full name was Xu Yuanjiao.

Wan served the emperor a few years earlier than Xu. Due to her beauteous appearance, she was much favored by the emperor. Within one year she was crowned the Imperial Concubine.

However, Leng Qingtang was clear that another reason for her high status, was her illustrious family background.

Her father, Wan Zongguan was crowned Great Conqueror of the West. He was not only an influential official in the court, but also a military general with pivotal armies in hand. His younger brother, Wan Li, was conferred a dukedom at a rather young age, fully demonstrating the emperor's high opinion on the Wan clan.

However, nothing was perfect.

Though Wan Yuyao was favored, she had only given birth to two princesses for the emperor in the past few years. But since the winter the year before last, Xu Yuanjiao, who had just entered the palace to serve the emperor, was said to have been pregnant.

Leng Qingtang also understood why the pregnancy of Xu could worry Wan so much.

Since the death of the emperor's legitimate prince five years ago, his mother, the Empress, had been much distressed. Now, she was paying homage to the Buddha all day long and had no interest in taking care of the imperial harem, leaving everything to the Imperial Concubine.

The Wans wielded the scepter now. The only problem was that the Imperial Concubine Wan hadn't born a son for the emperor to consolidate their position. The Imperial Concubine Xu, however, had been pregnant recently. It was widely acknowledged in the palace that mothers relied on their sons to improve status. Therefore, once Xu was successfully delivered, Wan's power would absolutely be diminished.

Leng Qingtang wouldn't forget that the year before last, Xu Yuanjiao suddenly miscarried due to an accident in April. She cried to the emperor, claiming that she lost her son as a result of others' evil schemes. The emperor was so furious that he asked the men in the Eastern Depot to investigate it for a rather long time.

He was clear. It must have been done by the Imperial Noble Concubine Wan, who bribed the servants to make Xu Yuanjiao miscarry. Then she just chose some maids randomly as the scapegoat. In this way, she succeeded in muddling through the case.

However, no one expected that Xu's belly could be such a piece of treasure. Only after one year, she was pregnant again!

No wonder Wan was so worried.

"Oh, women in the imperial harem... have never stopped intriguing against each other!"

Leng Qingtang thought secretly. Without showing any aversion on his face, he asked slowly,

"What’s your plan this time?"

"I would like to ask you if there is a permanent solution."

Wan Yuyao asked coyly, approaching Leng Qingtang, with her rosy cheek touching his face and her slender arms hooking his neck like a pair of white snakes.

Knowing he couldn't avoid this, Leng Qingtang simply moved his fingers, picking up a strand of hair from Wan Yuyao's temple to play with in his palm.

Wan Yuyao couldn't help urging him,

"What? Even you, the Master in the Eastern Depot, cannot come up with any solution to deal with the lady in Chuxiu Palace?"

"You shouldn't frame Xu Yuanjiao!" He shook the green leather off his palm and answered quickly.

"Why?" She felt aghast.

"Your Grace, please think about it. Last year, Xu's miscarriage startled the whole imperial harem. This year, she has just been pregnant, but you can't wait to take actions. If anything happens and involves the Empress..."

"Bah! Why should I be afraid of that old woman?"

Wan Yuyao was very displeased. She let go of Leng Qingtang, but after rethinking for a while, she got closer to him again, unreconciled. Shaking his body slightly, she whined to him,

"I understand the pros and cons of this thing. That's why I hope you can come up with an idea for me. I need an idea that is thorough, impossible to detect, once for all!"

Xu Yuanjiao, daughter of Defense Minister Xu Langxuan.

Relying on his identity as the kindred of the emperor, Xu Langxuan submitted written statements to Emperor Jingxiao on many occasions in the court, asking for the cancellation of the Eastern Depot. He was indeed the political enemy of Leng Qingtang.

"Now the Imperial Concubine Wan wants to discomfit Xu desperately. If she succeeds in giving Xu some punishments, I can take advantage of this to give Xu Langxuan a blow.

But if the baby of the Imperial Concubine Xu is truly a boy, that will be helpful to me.

“I can put it on hold to see what will happen later," thought Leng Qingtang.

"As for solutions... there is one..."

Secretly weighing the pros and cons, Leng Qingtang's lips moved, with a spurious smile on his face.

"Just say it!"

Wan Yuyao was obviously impatient.

Seeing Leng Qingtang was still silent, Wan Yuyao hastily ordered the maids and servants in the palace,

"You all go out and wait."

"Yes."

After all the attendants retreated from the Bedroom of Yongning Palace, Leng Qingtang said to Wan Yuyao in a low voice,

"Recently, the western tribes have developed a chronic poison called 'One-Hundred-Day Killer'. It is odorless and colorless. Even the silver needle cannot detect its toxicity."

"Is the poison okay?" Wan Yuyao was doubting.

Leng Qingtang smiled cunningly,

"Your Grace, if you want to eliminate your worries thoroughly, you know the same method cannot be applied to Concubine Xu again. Please be patient. Leave her pregnant for a while. After the baby grows to certain months, feed her a small dose of 'One-Hundred-Day Killer' every day. At that time, even if she doesn't die, the baby in her belly cannot survive. As long as the baby dies, Your Grace, the emperor and empress will be..."

"Good! Wonderful!"

Wan Yuyao was so pleasant that she repeatedly applauded,

"The emperor and empress are eager to have a son. They will definitely vent their anger on Xu! At that time, we can ask Observatory Director to make up something. Master Leng, you choose to torture her heart rather than destroy her body. That's fantastic!"

Leng Qingtang stood up and knelt down at Wan Yuyao's feet,

"Your Grace, it is my duty to ease your worries. Your delight is also my delight."

"Stand up! You are really my placebo."

...

A soon as he walked out of the gate of Yongning Palace, Leng Qingtang stopped smiling and turned serious, without any facial expression, forming a sharp contrast with his blandishment just now.

Having a glance at Xiao Xiaoshen, the close guard waiting outside, he didn't say anything to him, but hurried towards the gate of the palace, feeling as if he were burdened with much distaste and anxiety, and no longer willing to stay in this world for another moment.

As he walked and thought, some fragrance made Leng Qingtang suddenly stop. Behind him, Xiao Xiaoshen and two guards he brought also stopped hastily, waiting for orders.

"Stay here and wait for me."

Leng Qingtang commanded them briefly, with his low voice showing tremendous fatigue.

Along the road to the west, a palace came into his sight. On the top of the red lacquer gate hung a party of black Nanmu plaque, engraved with two words: Concubinary Kitchen.

In the Palace of Dayi there were two kitchen divisions, the Concubinary Kitchen and the Imperial Kitchen. They were responsible for the diets of the concubines and the emperor respectively.

It was midnight now. The gate of Concubinary Kitchen was widely open. Inside it the candle flame was flickering. The servants should have been busy preparing midnight snacks for some masters in the imperial harem.

Leng Qingtang only glimpsed at Concubinary Kitchen. Without making any stop, he moved on straight to an Osmanthus tree out of the gate. It was rather old and leafy, with a thick trunk.

It was autumn. The Osmanthus flowers were in full blossom. Myriads of golden flowers interspersed in verdant leaves, exuding agreeable fragrance from time to time.

Leng Qingtang knew very well it was the special and familiar fragrance that led him here. He stood under the Osmanthus tree alone with his hands back. As the night breeze blew, countless yellow flowers fluttered down like raindrops. He closed his eyes wearily, letting these petals falling on him at random.

All of a sudden, a slender figure emerged from the depths of his memory and stood there, smiling at him in tenderness.

Leng Qingtang opened his eyes abruptly, heaved a sigh and looked up to the Osmanthus flowers on the tree.

Behind him, Xiao Xiaoshen came along the road, holding a black brocade cloak in hand. Seeing the Master standing under the Osmanthus tree alone, lost in thought, he didn't dare to ask more, and just came to him silently, draping the cloak around his body.

"Master, it is autumn now. Please be careful not to catch a cold."

Leng Qingtang still remained silent. He tied the cloak well and walked away. Under the chilly moonlight, his figure seemed to be wrapped in solitude.

"It is already ten years since then. The Osmanthus flowers are still here, yet you have vanished! Rushi, how are you doing now over there?" he thought quietly.