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“You are going to sweep the snow again?” asked the empress, the moment Wei Yingluo had returned to Changchun Palace. The empress called her over to her side. Then she continued to say affectionately, “This palace has already said that you need not worry about these things anymore. Just leave it to Zhenzhu and the others. If you have time, read more books. Perhaps come to this palace and help grind ink or handle some other business for me.”
It was clear that she sincerely wanted to cultivate Wei Yingluo into a trusted aide. If the empress didn’t, then the empress would rather be blind. For this reason, she had Wei Yingluo read books and practice writing her characters, so that she would understand more things. So much so that the empress even discussed matters of the Imperial Household Department with her.
Once Wei Yingluo had heard her words, she trembled in fear. Yet also worried if she had crawled too high too quickly. Yet also felt moved that the empress placed so much importance on her. As a result, Wei Yingluo was frank when speaking to her master.
Four hours later, the empress set down her brush, a trace of exhaustion on her face. “In just a blink of an eye, so much time has already passed.”
In a flash, Wei Yingluo made her way behind the empress, softly massaging her temples. “Your Majesty, take a rest. This slave will chat with you.”
“Mm.” The empress closed her eyes, casting aside her worries for the time being. They chatted about everyday topics. “Speaking of which, a while ago, some court eunuchs came to report something. They said that recently, Noble Lady Yu often woke up with a start in the night. She’s emaciated to the point where she’s only skin and bones, where she’s unrecognizable.  The imperial physicians said… a mental illness is the cause. And mental illnesses require medicine for mental illnesses.”
To which Wei Yingluo pondered for a moment.
“Now that Imperial Concubine Yi is no longer around, the emperor is her sole medicine,” said the empress, sighing. “However, the emperor is always busy. When can he ever check on her?! It’s easy to find a priceless treasure, but difficult to find a man who wholeheartedly loves you. Noble Lady Yu is not Consort Donggo. Where can she find another Emperor Shunzhi?”
Everyone knew that Emperor Shunzhi had eyes for only Consort Donggo. Back then, Consort Donggo died of an illness, and Emperor Shunzhi fell gravely ill soon after. Once he recovered, he shaved his head and became a monk. Even ordinary commoner men wouldn’t do this for their wives and children, let alone an emperor with the world in his hands.
A pause. The empress realized her slip of the tongue. She smiled, somewhat disappointed and frustrated. “Looks like this palace has been muddleheaded. Look what this palace has said!”
Wei Yingluo knew what was on her mind. This woman did not want to become a Consort Donggo. But her expectations were too high, and in the end, she could not help but be disappointed.
Wanting to console her, Wei Yingluo thought a bit before saying, “Indeed, Emperor Shunzhi’s infatuation toward Consort Donggo is something to be admired. But if one looks at it from another angle, the feeling one gets is entirely different!”
“Oh?” said the empress, curious. “Speak.”
“Your Majesty the empress, after Consort Donggo perished from her illness, Emperor Shunzhi grieved, heartbroken. He suspended court for five days, burned down two palaces and countless treasures. He even ordered for the suicide of thirty court eunuchs and palace maids each! For Consort Donggo, her encounter with this infatuated monarch was something of great fortune. But those sixty innocent palace servants also had families and were people too! What’s more, because of Consort Donggo, Emperor Shunzhi did not care about his countless subjects.” Wei Yingluo sighed. “Perhaps the civil and military officials, commoners, and imperial concubines all hope for the emperor to be heartless.”
“Presumptuous!” a man suddenly said, scaring Wei Yingluo and the empress into rising to their feet. Then, they kneeled while facing that person.
A pair of bright yellow boots arrived before Wei Yingluo’s eyes.
This was her second time seeing this pair of boots.
“Who allowed you to presumptuously comment on Emperor Shunzhi! Truly a crime worthy of death!” shouted Hongli, his voice ringing above her head. Following that, he said with endless fury, “Servants—”
What should I do?!
Wei Yingluo grumbled inwardly. Never had she anticipated that a majestic emperor would actually like to eavesdrop on others. Now, she was in trouble without doing anything. The only thing she could do was…
She gritted her teeth. Before the imperial guards could arrest her, she yelled, “Your Majesty, these words weren’t said by me.”
“Oh?” said Hongli coldly. “Then who said them?”
“Emperor Shunzhi.”
Hongli was startled.
“Your Majesty, Emperor Shunzhi left behind an imperial decree blaming himself for the suffering of the people. It mentioned that he favored Consort Donggo too excessively, and should have followed protocol and not solely favored her. To this, he deeply regretted.” Wei Yingluo took advantage of Hongli’s distraction, and rushed to say the remaining words. “Just now, this slave was merely repeating what Emperor Shunzhi had said.”
If he wanted to punish her for this, then wouldn’t he be disobeying and disrespecting his ancestors and teachers?
Hongli fell silent for a while. Then, taking his time, he said, “Then when you criticized him for having palace servants buried with Consort Donggo, could he have said that as well?”
“No, he did not.”
At once, Hongli sneered. “Servants—”
“Those were Emperor Kangxi’s words!”
Hongli was speechless.
“Emperor Kangxi gave an order long ago that prohibited burying people alive as sacrifice. From then on, no living person was ever buried again!”
Once more, Hongli stayed quiet for a good while. Perhaps he was suppressing his turbulent emotions.
This person seemed to be a somewhat petty emperor. Seemed like he absolutely didn’t intend to let her off just like that. He pondered for a while, then finally recalled something. Fuming with rage through gritted teeth, he said, “Fine. Then let Us ask you this: a moment ago, you said the commoners would rather have an emperor that was heartless. What is that supposed to mean?”
But Wei Yingluo only sighed in relief.
For she had not spoken too much to the empress, so this question should be his last.
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“Responding to Your Majesty,” said Wei Yingluo slowly as she kowtowed, “this slave has heard that an emperor wakes up every day at the period of Mao. During the summer, the sky would start to brighten, but during the winter, it’s still dark before the fifth watch ends. When the western frontier requires soldiers, and a report from the army arrives, even if it’s in the middle of the night, the emperor must quickly summon the senior officials of the Grand Council. The members would take turns on duty every five to six days. It’s exhausting enough, let alone the fact that the emperor must do this every day, every year, must be diligent in political affairs. It’s truly admirable! However, with the emperor so busy with governing, too busy to attend to his harem, the imperial concubines would inevitably feel lonely. It’s clear that in order to be a wise ruler, and to love the common people and the world, one could only be heartless to the imperial concubines!”
After hearing those words, Hongli opened and closed his mouth like a fish. A long time passed without him saying anything.
“Correct, a great love is heartless. Your Majesty is a wise ruler who is diligent in governing!” said the empress, coming over suddenly. She waved at Wei Yingluo. “Enough, you can leave. This palace needs to talk to the emperor.”
All of a sudden, a wave of relief washed over Wei Yingluo. The empress had taken the chance to help her out. Now that the emperor’s three questions were over, once Wei Yingluo stepped through those doors, she would be safe…
But at that moment, the emperor said, “Wait!” His voice rang out above her. “Lift your head!”
Wei Yingluo could not help but be startled. The empress as well. “Your Majesty?”
“Your tone and voice sounds more and more familiar…” Hongli’s voice carried a sliver of suspicion, a sliver of scrutiny.
The moment Wei Yingluo had heard him, she naturally dared not raise her head, merely remaining on the ground. Frozen like a stone sculpture of many years.
“We remember now…” In a flash, Hongli’s tone grew cold. “You are—”
“Leave!” said the empress abruptly. “Don’t provoke the emperor’s annoyance. Go outside and kneel!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Wei Yingluo tried to escape outside in a frantic manner.
Behind her, the sound of the emperor and empress arguing.
“The last time We saw her, she was a low-ranked palace maid. Less than a month later, she climbed her way up into Changchun Palace, and even became your trusted aide. It’s clear she’s full of evil schemes and unfathomable thoughts! Empress, how can you keep such a person by your side?”
“Your Majesty, a master like this concubine is the most clear on Yingluo’s moral conduct.”
“Empress, if you are excessively lenient, careful that you invite calamity by nurturing a tiger!”
“Your Majesty, if one wants to use a person, one must not doubt them; if one doubts a person, one must not use them. This concubine trusts in my own eyes. Yingluo is definitely not that kind of person!”
Suddenly, Wei Yingluo stopped in her tracks. Caught in a daze,  she looked back.
She wasn’t that kind of person?
No, the emperor was correct. She was someone full of evil schemes and unfathomable thoughts.
“But I won’t let down your trust. I definitely won’t let anyone harm you.”