The Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 27: The Dedication

   The Story of Yanxi Palace《延禧攻略》Yanxi Gonglue

   The Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 27: The Dedication

   The Grand Eunuch Liyu, with a snow-white duster across his elbow, enters at a brisk pace, followed by a string of eunuchs carrying a rosewood chest.

   “Her Highness Empress Greetings!” Liyu smiled as if he were a Maitreya Buddha and said, “His Majesty entrusted me with the birthday gift for this year's Thousandth Anniversary.”

   The Empress rose to meet her and said, “His Majesty's kindness, I thank you.”

   “Her Highness, don't worry, His Majesty has prepared a special gift for you, in addition to the usual gold, silver and silk.” At that, Liyu clapped his hands and two young eunuchs with beautiful faces came in carrying an exquisite trousseau.

   The time is just right, the hour of the Son, the hour of the birth of the Fucha Empress.

   The little black box at the top of the trousseau suddenly opened and out popped an emerald green cuckoo, which at first glance appeared to be lifelike but on closer inspection was found to be carved from a single block of emerald, with the exception of two black onyxes dotting the eyes, which were exquisitely lovely in their light and which, on seeing the Fucha Empress, stretched out its green plumes and The moment she sees the Fucha Empress, she spreads her green plumes and cries out “cuckoo, cuckoo.”

   The Empress immediately looked fond of it, “Is this a clock?”

   “His Majesty had ordered the bell maker to make it early in the morning in order to surprise you, they worked on it for a long time and made a birthday bell but His Majesty said that we Chinese don't like to give that kind of thing on birthday, so he ordered them to modify it, you see.” Liyu opened the trousseau box, which contained all sorts of jewelry, mostly emeralds and onyx jewelry, just in time for the birds chirping in the cuckoo-cuckoo and Liyu laughed and said, “It's a trousseau but with a little box on top that tells the time on time!”

   Precious is the next best thing but what is most remarkable is the thought the emperor has put into it.

   The Concubines and Consorts in the audience were all envious, especially Noble Consort Hui, whose false nails dug into the flesh of the maid beside her and who, despite the pain, dared not make a sound.

   “It's a wonder His Majesty has gone to so much trouble for me.” Her Highness Empress finally smiled for the first time at this birthday party.

   The people around her gathered around her and spoke compliments to her, the Empress waved her hand, the voices stopped and she said to Liyu: “Eunuch Li, please go and speak to His Majesty, I will come over later to thank him personally.”

   “Yes, Her Highness.” Liyu replied respectfully and as he turned away, his steps suddenly stopped.

   Wei Yingluo stands on the side of the road, holding her tray aloft as if nothing had happened, intentionally or not, it covers her face.

   Liyu did not want to order her to look up at this moment, as it would cause unwarranted speculation and he had the Empress's instructions.

   After he had gone, the eyes and murmurs of the crowd remained focused on the cuckoo and it was a long time before the Fucha Empress remembered that there was a court maid present who had come to offer gifts and turning to her, asked her in a pleasant manner: “What has the Embroidery Workshop sent?”

   Wei Yingluo slowly unfolds the yellow silk shining on the tray to reveal the folded phoenix robe at the bottom.

   A gasp rang out around the room but not at the beauty of the phoenix robe.

   Rather ... marvel at its shoddiness.

   “Bold!” No sooner had the Fucha Empress spoken than Mingyu, the Grand court maid beside her, had snapped, “How dare you give such a thing to the Empress!”

   The phoenix robe is exceptionally well embroidered, with the phoenix on it spreading its wings and ready to fly, not much better than the previously ingeniously crafted cuckoo bird.

   The difference is that the cuckoo is carved from precious emeralds, while the phoenix robe in the tray is woven from the fur of an unknown animal.

   “I remember sending the Embroidery Workshop peacock thread, what is it now?” Mingyu came quickly, grabbed the phoenix robe and took a look at it, her face became even more furious and said, “It's not gold or even silver thread, how dare the Embroidery Workshop embezzle the peacock thread in such a blatant manner and come up with such a crude thing to make up the numbers?”

   Wei Yingluo quickly fell to her knees and said, “I wouldn't dare.”

   “You wouldn't dare? I've already done it, what's there to be afraid of?” Mingyu was about to throw the phoenix robe in her hand at her opponent's face when a cry from the Fucha Empress rang out behind her: “Wait.”

   The Fucha Empress beckoned and ordered Mingyu to hand up the garment and, looking down for a moment, her brow furrowed as she looked up at Wei Yingluo and said, “If I am correct, this is silk thread made from deer tail fleece.”

   “Her Highness Empress.” Wei Yingluo, without any concealment, admitted it openly.

   The crowd erupted.

   The Embroidery Workshop is really the lowest of all embroidery threads, deer tailed hair, which even a maid of a slightly higher status would not use for her garments.

   For a moment, the eyes of the crowd glanced intentionally at Noble Consort Hui.

   Even the Fucha Empress had similar doubts in her mind and her face grew cold as she asked: “Why did the Embroidery Workshop choose such a thread?”

   Was the Empress only worthy of such embroidery thread, or was there a mistake in the material sent from above? The answer, whatever it was, was an insult to the Empress. The former, needless to say, was a sign of the Empress's inability to control the harem and that anyone could have switched materials and then humiliated her with a deer tailed phoenix robe at such an important time as the birthday banquet.

   Whatever the Empress will do after the birthday feast, this little court maid ... is dead!

   Wei Yingluo took a deep breath, maintaining her hand on the tray and said clearly: “I heard that Her Highness Empress was always frugal and had said that gold and silver threads were extravagant and wasteful. This time, I dare to abandon the gold and silver threads and return to the old custom, not only to comply with Her Highness Empress's intention to be frugal but also to remind everyone of the hardships of our ancestors in creating the empire.”

   “This ...” Mingyu was ready to call for someone to deal with Wei Yingluo but when he heard her say such a thing, he was speechless and after a long time, he could not find any thorn in her words, so he turned his eyes to the Fucha Empress for help.

   What will the Fucha Empress do with Wei Yingluo?

   Wei Yingluo has guessed it all.

   Earlier she wouldn't come in to give the gift because the Empress was in a bad mood at the time because of the gift from Noble Consort Hui.

   Even a good man who has been fasting all year round cannot guarantee that when he is in a bad mood he will reach out and kick the family dog at his feet.

   So, she waited left and right, delayed left and right and finally dragged out the emperor's gift.

   The bright green cuckoo bird that brightened the Empress's gloomy heart.

   Even a grumpy person, when in a good mood, will speak in a softer voice and will even be kind enough to reward a roadside beggar with a bun or two.

   “It's in the man's hands to make things happen...” Wei Yingluo would like to say, “Heaven ... Please don't disappoint those who have a brave heart.”

   Heaven, naturally, will not disappoint those who have a brave heart.

   “... You, girl, have a clever mind.” She crouched on her knees and could only hear the Fucha Empress's voice coming from above her head, saying with relief and pleasure, “... now that extravagance is on the rise in the palace, if we all remember the hardships of our ancestors, we should abandon luxury and live in simplicity. Come to receive a reward!”

  

   The Story of Yanxi Palace《延禧攻略》CHAPTERS

 

   The Story of Yanxi Palace《延禧攻略》Yanxi Gonglue

   The Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 28: A humble apology

   It's late at night.

   A light is on in the Embroidery Workshop.

   The light stained the window paper orange and when I looked in through one of the windows, it was already time to eat but all the palace maids were gathered here and even though their stomachs were rumbling with hunger, none of them had left.

   Sticking the needle in her finger again, Jixiang gave an ouch and took the bleeding finger in her mouth, looked back at the door and asked in a slurred voice, “Hasn't Sister Yingluo come back yet?”

   Linglong beside her, while working on her embroidery, said without raising her head: “I don't think she will be coming back...”

   “What are you talking about!” Jixiang said angrily, “Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah, bah-bah bah three times!”

   Linglong brushed her mouth off, not bothering to do this vulgar action, Jixiang saw this and became even more angry and was about to have a good talk with her, when a maid nearest the door suddenly shouted: “Coming, coming, someone is coming outside!”

   Jixiang flinched and immediately left Linglong to run outside.

   There was a gust of wind blowing beside her and there was a man running faster than she could.

   “Zhang, Zhang Momo?” Jixiang stared blankly at the other's back.

   Like an old man whose only son is going to the imperial examinations, Zhang Momo almost rolled out the door and then looked at the eunuch outside, hoping to hear some good news from him, or at least not bad news!

   “Congratulations, Zhang Momo.” The leader of the three court maids, who was even higher in rank than Zhang Momo, was now polite to her, smiling and said, “Your Wei Yingluo from the Embroidery Workshop made a big splash at the birthday feast and these are Her Highness Empress's gifted something for her.”

   As soon as she beckoned, two palace maids behind her came over with a tray.

   In one tray are two piles of silk and in the other a pair of hairpins.

   The things made by the palace are of the highest quality on earth, not to mention the first-class workmanship and materials of the Empress's bounty.

   The two jade hairpins, which no one could judge as good or bad, were only known to be of an exceptionally well-defined color, with a faint layer of smoke and clouds lingering on them, if at all, seemingly misting, perhaps made of the legendary blue field jade, hence the warmth of the blue field sun and the smoke from the jade.

   The two silks were different and the guys had been working in the Embroidery Workshop for more than half a year, so they knew how good or bad the material was.

   “What do you know, it's a tribute from the weavers in Jiangnan.” Another, more knowledgeable maid said enviously, “It's all for Zhuzi's clothes, Yingluo has a good luck ...”

   Zhang Momo took the lead maid aside to talk for a while and then shoved some silver out of her sleeve and gave her some money. The other party pushed back for a long time and finally had to accept it with difficulty. When she personally sent the person away, Zhang Momo was full of joy. After returning, the maids who looked at her eagerly announced: “You may go back to your meals.”

   At this time of the day, how could the crowd have the heart to eat!

   Jixiang was the first to pounce and say: “Momo, good Momo, tell me quickly, what did Yingluo do at the birthday party?”

   “Yes, Momo, just tell us.” Linglong also came over and said without moving, “What on earth did Yingluo do that Her Highness Empress not only did not punish her but even rewarded her?”

   Zhang Momo, in a very good mood, smiled at the two of them and said, “I can't say anything about this, so why don't we wait for her to come back and tell you in person.”

   Linglong was silent for a moment and asked, “Where is she now?”

   “Having received the reward.” Zhang Momo said, “Of course I had to go and bow down to Her Highness Empress to thank her!”

   The Changchun Palace outside.

   Mingyu carried a hexagonal palace lamp in her hand, the orange light of which, illuminating the single figure crouched on her knees before her, draws her shadow extremely long and long.

   “Her Highness...” Wei Yingluo pressed her forehead to the back of her hand and said, “I have come to ask forgiveness.”

   “Oh?” the Fucha Empress, having removed her heavy gown and changed into the plain white dress she usually wore, came under the moon, like a Chang'e returning from the moon, with a graceful smile, saying, “Not to thank you for your kindness but to ask forgiveness?”

   “Yes.” Wei Yingluo, without any disguise, said, “The Embroidery Workshop was robbed some days ago and the thieves stole the peacock feather threads, so I had no choice but to use deer tailed down threads instead and made up a story in order to muddle through in the Great Hall.”

   “Why confess to me when you've already muddled through?” the Fucha Empress asked with a smile.

   Wei Yingluo said to herself: because I don't believe it.

   Things were going too well, as well as if the Fucha Empress had meant to cooperate with her.

   After thinking this through, a cold sweat broke out on Wei Yingluo's back and she didn't dare to take any chances, so she came to the Fucha Empress without saying a word.

   “The Empress was kind and compassionate and not only did she not expose me in public but also rewarded me with a gift, which I was terrified of, for how could a man like me, who had committed such a great wrong, have the face to accept your gift.” Wei Yingluo bowed her head and said, “I hope Her Highness will take back the reward and give me my punishment.”

   “How can you take back what you have rewarded, what do you take me for?” the Fucha Empress said with a soft laugh, “Besides, what's done is done and today is my doing and I don't want anything unpleasant to happen, do you understand?”

   Wei Yingluo bowed again and said: “Her Highness benevolence, I bear in mind.”

   “But ...” the Fucha Empress trailed off a little and said, “There is one thing that I find very strange ...”

   “Her Highness, please speak.” Wei Yingluo said quickly, “I know everything.”

   “Mingyu said that you had been stalling for time earlier while waiting outside the temple, dragging yourself in until the end.” the Fucha Empress asked, “What exactly were you waiting for then?”

   Wei Yingluo's eyes were slithering, wondering what answer to give, when the Fucha Empress had already given her answer first.

   “You are waiting for His Majesty.” the Fucha Empress asked, “Right?”

   Wei Yingluo was taken aback and reflexively looked up to meet a pair of wise eyes.

   How can a person with such eyes be frugal, how can he be a master who can be easily fooled!”

   In a flash of lightning, Wei Yingluo had made her decision.

   “Yes!” Wei Yingluo gritted her teeth and told the whole story, saying, “Her Highness Empress is greatly favored and I want to take advantage of His Majesty's gust of wind to make Her Highness happy. In this way, Her Highness will not be furious when I come back into the hall to report.”

   The Fucha Empress suddenly looked pale and said, “How dare you! How dare you even use His Majesty!”

   “Please, Her Highness Empress, forgive me!” Wei Yingluo kowtowed repeatedly and said, with a resigned look of total submission of her life into the other's hands, “If you want to condemn, please condemn the servant girl alone, not the Embroidery Workshop innocent!”

   “Punishment is certainly in order, let me think ...” the Fucha Empress falls silent.

   It was only when Wei Yingluo's breathing grew heavy that she snorted and said, “Just punish you for remaking my regular clothes, all in deer tailed short fleece instead, remember?”

   Wei Yingluo looked up sharply, as if she had been pardoned from a death sentence and froze for a long time before she thumped her forehead on the ground with a loud thud and said: “Yes! Thank you, Her Highness!”

   “Well, it's late, you go back.” the Fucha Empress looked at her gently and said, “Later, when you have finished embroidering your regular clothes, you will send them to the Changchun Palace yourself and ...”

   She turned to Mingyu, who was beside her and said: “Wu Shulai is responsible for the unexplained theft in the palace, tell him to investigate it thoroughly!”

   Mingyu responded hastily.

   “Well, I'm bored.” the Fucha Empress nodded and said, “You see her off.”

   The hexagonal palace lantern leads the way, lighting the way out of the Changchun Palace.

   “Sister Mingyu, let's send it here.” Wei Yingluo wouldn't dare to ask Mingyu to accompany her on such a trip, from the Changchun Palace to the Embroidery Workshop, a round trip, even with quick feet, would take a little over half an hour.

   Mingyu was also unwilling to waste her time on this little court maid and said at once, “Fine, then I will go back first.”

   She immediately turned around and headed inside the Changchun Palace.

   Wei Yingluo had been watching her from behind, not so much watching her as gazing at the Changchun Palace in the distance.

   Is it the palace lamps hung on the walls by the palace maids, the night pearls offered at the sea market, or the coral tree at the birthday feast today?

   That is the bedchamber of the Fucha Empress, the residence of the most honorable woman in the harem.

   Once upon a time she could only watch from afar but from this day onwards it is no longer so out of reach.

   “Fucha Fuheng ...” Wei Yingluo murmured in a voice that only she could hear, “Wait for me, I'm coming for you ...”

   In the distance the Changchun Palace is lit up like daylight, while Wei Yingluo is surrounded by darkness.

   The night engulfed her body, swallowed her expression, turned her into a black silhouette, so out of place in the distant lights of the Changchun Palace ...

  

   The Story of Yanxi Palace《延禧攻略》CHAPTERS