As long as Han Yunxi died, the position of head wife would be forever empty. After Murong Wanru became the secondary wife, she could enjoy all the benefits of a consort and forget about her nightmarish status as a woman of low birth. When they finally reached the woodhouse door, the calm Murong Wanru almost couldnât wait any longer. As soon as the guards unlocked the doors, she pushed her way inside. In the room filled with firewood, an icy-blue figure lay paralyzed in the sogon grass, weak and frail as if a single puff of wind could blow her away.
âHeheh, I knew she had fainted,â Grand Concubine Yi gave a cold snort. âSomeone, go wake her up.â
The guard immediately brought over a bucket of water. Murong Wanru knew exactly how things stood and suppressed her rising emotions as she spoke. âMufei, the waterâs so cold. Why donât I go wake up sister-in-law instead?â
Grand Concubine Yi gave her a grudging look. âYouâre still so softhearted!â
Murong Wanru was filled with exultation as she quickly stepped forward, pretending to push Han Yunxi. âSister-in-law, sister-in-law, wake up. Mufeiâs hereâŚsister-in-law. Sister-in-law, be good and admit your wrongs to mufei, sheâll forgive you then.â
While she pushed, she used her body to block the view of the people behind her while her other hand trembled involuntarily. She was both excited and a bit fearful, but still went to check for Han Yunxiâs breathing beneath her nose. As the finger drew closer, her heart clenched. She already knew what to shout after discovering that Han Yunxi had died, and exactly what to say.
But!
Murong Wanruâs hand didnât even reach Han Yunxiâs nose before the latter opened her eyes to stare at her.
âIâm not dead yet. What are you doing?â Although she was already extremely weak, Han Yunxi hadnât lost consciousness. Her innate cautiousness made her stand on guard right now like a hedgehog, her phoenix eyes giving Murong Wanru a glare as sharp as a knife. Startled, Murong Wanru gave a shrill cry of âAh!â and tumbled backwards.\nâWanru! Whatâs wrong?â Grand Concubine Yi cried out in alarm. Two guards immediately rushed over to hold Han Yunxi in place.
Taking Murong Wanru by the hand, Grand Concubine Yi looked disdainfully down at at Han Yunxi. âWhat did you do to Wanru?â
âI havenât eaten for daysâŚmufei, what do you think I could still do to her?â Han Yunxi mocked in return.
Grand Concubine Yi was speechless for a while, before flying into a rage out of humiliation as she kicked aside the rancid food. âEven a dog of the house can eat but what, you canât?â
Was this insult to say that she was less than even a dog?
Han Yunxi raised herself up with difficulty. âMufeiâŚchenqie will, will place a bet with you, howâs that?â
Grand Concubine Yi was unhappy but still curious. âWhat other things could you have? Say it for us to hear.â
Han Yunxi used great effort to lift the bowl of clear water by her side. âMufeiâŚI bet that even the dogs of the house wonât drink this water.â
Murong Wanru was astonished. âSister-in-law, why are you betting with mufei like this? Mufei was just too angry, thatâs why she used dogs as an example. The younger generation shouldnât try to match wits with the older one.â So speaking, she seized the water from Han Yunxiâs hands and angrily poured it out. In response, Han Yunxi carried a cold smile in her heart. She was so weak that it took effort to even talk, much less argue with Murong Wanru. All she wanted was to verify her guess. With Murong Wanru acting so nervous, she was certain without a doubt that the poison was hers!
As Han Yunxi looked at her, her white lips drew into a ridiculing smile. Murong Wanru seemed to have gotten an electric shock and hastily avoided her gaze. She held onto Grand Concubine Yiâs hand instead. âMufei donât be angry, give sister-in-law a little more time. Sister-in-law will definitely admit her mistakes.â\nHan Yunxi smiled coldly. Murong Wanru was afraid that sheâd apologize, right? She feared that she and Grand Concubine Yiâs relations would warm up, didnât she? Murong Wanru was like a mediator in a quarrel, hurriedly trying to drag Grand Concubine Yi away. Compared to the likes of her, who acted meek and subservient to get to Grand Concubine Yiâs good graces, Han Yunxi had a bargaining chip that no woman of this time period possessed. She looked icily at Murong Wanru, her lips quirked in that perpetually mocking smile.
Right at this moment, Gui mama suddenly rushed in from outside. âGrand Imperial Concubine! Grand Imperial Concubine, itâs not good! Not good!â
âWhatâs made you so flustered?â Grand Concubine Yi said unhappily.
âGrand Imperial Concubine, Princess Changpingâs arrived!â Gui mama said in a rush.
With these words, Han Yunxiâs smile widened as she saw Murong Wanru grow suddenly fearful.
âPrincess Changping?â Grand Concubine Yi was flabbergasted. This spoiled princess of the empress dowager and empress had never come to the Duke of Qinâs estate before, what did she want?
When there was nothing going on, the grand concubine never visited the imperial halls. It had been a long time since sheâd formally faced off against the empress dowagerâs people. In a moment, Grand Concubine Yi was filled with high spirits as she pushed Han Yunxiâs matter to the back of her head.
âSo what if sheâs come? Why are you so flustered? Even if the empress dowager comes, itâs the same thing! Let her wait, I donât have time to see her,â she gracefully waved a hand. âIâll go soak in a hot bath first, then take a nap. Aye, itâs still the hot springs at home that are comfortable.â
Upon seeing this, Gui mama was laden with grief. She didnât dare speak, yet she couldnât not say it, either. âGrand Imperial ConcubineâŚPrincess Changping saidâŚshe said she wants to see Qin Wangfei!â\nWhat?
Everyone was shocked by those words. So sheâd come to find Han Yunxi. Murong Wanru was greatly alarmed and looked with dread at Han Yunxi. Grand Concubine Yiâs face was burning with shame and anger as she kicked Gui mama with her foot. âUseless thing, you canât even report things properly! What does Princess Changping want to see her for?â
âYour servant doesnât know. Princess Changping is very anxious. She says if she doesnât see her, sheâll stay here overnight,â Gui mama replied quickly.
Only then did Grand Concubine Yi turn to look at Han Yunxi with a cold scoff. âWhat does Changping want you for?â
Han Yunxi withdrew her smile and pretended to shake her head weakly. She didnât reply. Grand Concubine Yi narrowed her eyes but didnât ask further, only delegating Gui mama. âGo tell her that Qin Wangfei has no time, and to let her wait.â Since the empress dowager had dared to issue an arrest warrant for the Duke of Qinâs people behind her back, of course sheâd seize the opportunity to show strength against Princess Changping.
Seeing the group of people leave, Han Yunxi finally lowered her guard to lie listlessly on the grass, her hands clenched into fists. So painful, it felt like her insides were eating her up. Still, she encouraged herself from the bottom of her heart. âHan Yunxi, you have to hold on. Just bear it a bit longer, youâll be okay very soon.â
âŚâŚ
How could Princess Changping stand waiting around? She shouted and screamed from the guest hall, but Grand Concubine Yi allowed her to do as she pleased without paying any attention.
âWhat a Han Yunxi! Hmph, this princess will go find imperial mother, then weâll see if you meet me or not!â Princess Changping left behind these words and angrily stormed out.\nGrand Concubine Yi was very puzzled. âWanru, why do you think Princess Changping came by?â
âI thought it strange too. Sheâs not holding a grudge from the young generalâs incident, right?â Murong Wanru guessed.
âAs if she dares! I havenât even settled accounts with her yet, but she still has the face to see me?â Grand Concubine Yi immediately grew angry.
No matter why Princess Changping came, Murong Wanru wouldnât give Han Yunxi any chance to leave the woodhouse. She had to show a strong hand first. That night, sheâd arranged for hitmen to kill her, but unexpectedly, Princess Changping came at late night with the empress instead. The empress differed from Princess Changping in that she was the mother of the nation and the emperorâs official wife. Grand Concubine Yi still had to be polite on the surface.
âOh my! What kind of breeze did we have tonight to blow mother and daughter to this oneâs house?â Grand Concubine Yiâs face was pleasant and amiable as she summoned the servants to bring out good tea.
The empress sat in a higher position than an imperial concubine, but in terms of filial piety, she still had to pay respects to Grand Concubine Yi. Of course, the grand imperial concubine returned the salutations. Princess Changping was already in a huff and stood to one side, unmoving. Only now did Grand Concubine Yi discover that the princess was wearing a bamboo hat with a white muslin veil all around the perimeter, completely covering her face and head.
âChangping isâŚâ Grand Concubine Yi was curious.
A single question was enough to incite Princess Changping, who cried out, âIâm fine!â
âChangping, donât be rude,â the empress chided unhappily, though she was helpless at heart.
Princess Changping had no idea what sort of dirty thing had infected her that night at the prisons. After her feet and face had tickled for two days, an unbearable itch had developed that made her claw and scratch. Who knew that sheâd grow a tinea[1] rash afterwards?\nAt first it started on her feet, but by the second day itâd grown on her face. There were chunks after chunks of skin that resembled psoriasis, but all the imperial physicians sheâd seen said that wasnât the case. They could only verify that it wasnât psoriasis, but no one could diagnose it specifically. A few suspected that it was poison, but none of the poison doctors could figure it out, either. Thanks to Mu Qingwuâs incident, Princess Changping hated Imperial Physician Gu and didnât look for him. But ever since the day before yesterday, her foot rash began to itch again. There was no way Princess Changping could stand it beyond scratching and scratching until she clawed her skin open. The imperial physicians who saw her could only stammer that she might leave scars.
Princess Changping was desperate enough to set aside her resentment to look for Imperial Physician Gu. He said it should be poison, but it wasnât something he could treat. Then he suggested she ask Han Yunxi to have a look instead. Princess Changping had lost it right then and there, saying that was impossible.
And yet, starting from yesterday, the rashes on her face began to itch as well. If she scratched, sheâd leave scars, but when the rash reacted, she couldnât help but roll around the ground in suffering, not daring to touch them with her hands.
She didnât want to ruin her face!
Though she was neither resigned to nor believed in Han Yunxiâs medical skills, there was no other way left. She couldnât give up her last thread of hope and ended up sullenly looking for Han Yunxi.
Grand Concubine Yi drew her lips up in a satirizing smile. âThis girlâs is just this temper, Iâm used to it.â
The empress was here for a favor and didnât dare retort. Instead she laughed. âGrand Concubine Yi, is Qin Wangfei not at home? Changping said she came at night but didnât see her.â\nGrand Concubine Yi asked in reply, âWhat matter do you have with Yunxi?â
The empress was about to speak when Princess Changping cut her off. She didnât want Grand Concubine Yi to know her face was ruined. The more people that knew, the more people would laugh at her! If Grand Concubine Yi treated it as a joke, sheâd be even more disgraced
âI have some business to find her for. Grand Concubine Yi, hurry and have her come out, I have important matters that will take her into the palace,â Princess Changping said directly.
Grand Concubine Yi exhaled lightly. She didnât ask any more, but said lightly, âIs it like that? But Yunxi and the Duke of Qin went out for a sightseeing tour.â
âWhat? Where did they go?â Princess Changping was astonished enough to take a few steps forward, extremely agitated.
âAiya, Changping. You should know your Imperial Uncle Qinâs disposition. He never tells this mother of his where heâs going,â Grand Concubine Yi wore a helpless look on her face.
Princess Changping was burning with impatience. âThenâŚthen theyâŚâ
At this moment, the empress suddenly grabbed Princess Changpingâs hands. An empress was still an empress. She knew Grand Concubine Yi was purposely making things difficult. Princess Changping still wanted to talk, but the empress tightened her grip on her hands, rebuking her sternly.
âChangping, Iâve taught you so many times not to be so forward. Youâre showing no respect for your elders. Yes, your matterâs very important, but since the Qin Wangfeiâs not here, arenât you just making things awkward for Grand Concubine Yi?â
-o-
[1] tinea (?) â xuan, also called ringworm due to its appearance as a circular rash with a ring-like appearance. A type of common fungal infection of the skin.\n