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The next day, Ye Tingyan requested leave.
He was always diligent in his duties and rarely took time off. When Song Lan sent someone to inquire, the response was that he had caught a chill.
Though it was unclear how one could catch a chill in summer, Song Lan still dispatched a physician with medicine to demonstrate his favor.
Upon returning, the physician confirmed that Lord Ye had indeed caught a chill for some unknown reason and was running a fever. Fortunately, he was well cared for and would recover after some rest.
Luo Wei sat beside Song Lan, idly playing with a handful of melon seeds on the table. She couldn’t help but imagine Ye Tingyan deliberately exposing himself to the wind at night just to explain his absence to Song Lan. The more she thought about it, the more amused she became.
At this moment, Song Lan glanced over and asked, “What’s amusing you, Sister?”
Luo Wei lazily replied, “Nothing. A frail scholar like Lord Ye will surely suffer from illness. Zilan should comfort him.”
Song Lan set down the memorial he was reading and laughed, “Does Sister think of him as a frail scholar? He comes from a military family and is quite skilled, though he rarely shows it.”
Assigning Ye Tingyan to follow her, he wasn’t afraid she’d find out. His words were a subtle reminder to her.
Luo Wei rubbed the melon seeds in her hand one by one, teasingly aligning with his thoughts, “Such talent must be used by Your Majesty. I congratulate you.”
Song Lan responded with some playful banter.
Today, before she could review a few memorials, Song Lan declared it late and ordered dinner served. After dining together, Luo Wei claimed discomfort, prompting Song Lan to express concern before departing to Consort Yan’s quarters.
Consort Yan, formerly an attendant to Empress Dowager Chenghui, was named Yan Yu. Though Song Lan had vowed not to expand his harem when he married Luo Wei, pressure led him to take in both the daughter of Yu Qiushi and an attendant sent by Empress Dowager Chenghui.
Thus, his harem consisted of only three women—a stark contrast to previous dynasties.
After Song Lan left, Luo Wei returned to Qionghua Palace with Yan Luo. Liu Mingzhong, apprentice to Liu Xi, hadn’t accompanied the emperor and now trailed far behind them.
After walking a few steps, Luo Wei asked, “Has Her Majesty caused any trouble recently?”
Liu Mingzhong whispered, “Yes. His Majesty often visits Consort Yan these days because he’s worried about Her Majesty’s episodes. If physicians don’t arrive promptly, it could disturb the palace.”
After Song Lan ascended the throne, he honored his birth mother as Empress Dowager Chenghui and moved her into the palace. Officials opposed her regency, citing her former status as a concubine disliked by the late emperor, allowing Luo Wei and Yu Qiushi to gain influence.
Only a few close confidants knew that regardless of opposition, Empress Dowager Chenghui wouldn’t assume regency—because she suffered from madness.
Her condition differed from Ye Tingyan’s sporadic heart ailments. It wasn’t latent or easily concealed; episodes were violent and harmful.
It was said she had this illness during her confinement in Xiyuan and Lanxun Pavilion, remaining delirious and neglecting Song Lan, leaving him to endure harsh treatment from palace attendants.
When Luo Wei first visited her, she witnessed an episode. Several attendants restrained her limbs to prevent her from harming others.
Meanwhile, Song Lan knelt aside, expressionless.
An attendant applied medicine to his scalded hand amidst shattered medicine bowls scattered on the floor.
Despite uncovering more unsettling truths about Song Lan over the years, his care for his only remaining family member seemed genuine, leaving Luo Wei unable to discern any flaws.
Initially after her ennoblement, Empress Dowager Chenghui believed she was still in the late emperor’s harem, receiving a queen’s title, and demanded residence in Kunning Palace. Unable to dissuade her, Luo Wei vacated Kunning Palace and moved to the more secluded Qionghua Palace.
This suited her intentions perfectly. The former empress also resided in Kunning Palace until illness forced her move to Qionghua Palace, which boasted a beautiful garden.
After asking a few more questions, Luo Wei dismissed Liu Mingzhong.
Seeing him leave, Yan Luo said, “I’ve delivered your invitations as instructed.”
Luo Wei replied, “Good.”
Yan Luo hesitated slightly, “Lord Ye has been ill these past few days. I wonder…”
After a moment’s silence, Luo Wei responded, “No matter. With his intelligence, had he come that day, he would have understood the gravity without needing to consult me.”
•
Perhaps due to this year’s intercalary second month delaying the start of summer, the lotuses in Hui Ling Lake bloomed several days later than usual. The flowers in the small pond behind Qionghua Palace bloomed even later. After Song Lan’s suggestion, several more days passed before Luo Wei finally hosted this small banquet in the palace.
Besides the sparse royal relatives, Song Lan invited several high-ranking officials to feast on the pavilion over Hui Ling Lake. The ladies were invited by Luo Wei to Qionghua Palace.
The rhyme scandal remained unresolved, but fortunately, the rhyme circulated only briefly among the common folk before being suppressed. Today, Song Lan was unusually cheerful, leaning against the railing admiring the blooming lotuses behind him, praising, “Last year, I had more seeds sown. This year’s flowers are more abundant than ever.”
Palace dancers and musicians performed in the pavilion. Today’s dancers were appropriately dressed in long white gauze and light green fairy skirts, their figures graceful.
While Song Lan was speaking, Ye Tingyan came forward to offer wine, commenting, “Looking south of the river, with clear skies and a face of red lotus flowers[1], such a fine view, I congratulate Your Majesty.”
Song Lan took the wine with a smile, “I often heard that lotus flowers are lovely, and I picked them to make a dress[2]-I heard that in Northwood, people call you ‘Master Infinite Flowers’?”
Ye Tingyan replied, “Just something they called me in jest.”
Usually, his heart condition didn’t flare up during the day. That day at Xiu Qing Temple, overwhelmed by emotions while speaking with Luo Wei, he nearly lost control, risking exposure.
True enough, a few words from her could reduce him to disarray.
That day, after Pei Xi escorted him home, Bai Sensen was alarmed and immediately administered acupuncture and medicine to stabilize him.
This episode was more severe than previous ones. Unable to attend court the next day, Bai Sensen prescribed medication inducing a cold to deceive the imperial physician sent by Song Lan.
Seeing his still-pale complexion, Song Lan urged him to return to his seat. After Ye Tingyan resumed his place, he overheard disdainful remarks from upright ministers near Yu Qiushi.
They branded him a sycophantic villain. Unperturbed, Ye Tingyan smiled, raising his wine cup to toast those venerable old ministers.
While navigating these turbulent waters, Luo Wei’s hall buzzed with rare liveliness.
Though the empress gained fame in Bianjing during her maidenhood, seen at various banquets, meetings with her diminished after Song Lan’s ascension.
Governance as a woman was complex, and she avoided socializing with officials’ wives and noblewomen to evade accusations of factionalism.
Noblewomen envied Luo Wei’s power or the emperor’s affection. Meanwhile, the moralists silently admired how the young empress adeptly navigated the harem and court, avoiding all potential grounds for impeachment, making her impeccable.
Luo Wei sipped Holland wine from her side, a faint smile curving her lips.
Since assuming power, she painstakingly cultivated her reputation, earning widespread respect. Soon, it would prove useful.
She scanned the room, asking the attendant beside her, “Has Princess Shu Kang arrived?”
The attendant replied, “Yes, I saw the princess heading to the rear hall.”
Excusing herself to change, Luo Wei returned to the hall.
Today’s banquet had drawn all palace attendants to the lakeside pavilion, leaving fewer than usual in the main hall. Her inner chambers, per instructions, were guarded solely by Yan Luo.
Song Yaofeng was familiar with the palace’s layout. Otherwise, she might not have found her way.
Entering the hall, she closed the door. Yan Luo greeted her, “The princess went to Her Majesty’s inner chamber.”
Luo Wei hummed and, before entering, pulled Yan Luo along, “Come in with me.”
The inner chamber was cramped. Song Lan repeatedly suggested Luo Wei move to a more spacious palace—Qionghua boasted many larger halls, some vast enough to accommodate Xiu Qing Temple’s large Buddha statue, let alone a few altars.
But Luo Wei insisted, and eventually, Song Lan stopped mentioning it.
She lifted the curtain to see Song Yaofeng standing before three portraits she hung, gazing upward in fascination.
Three sticks of incense burned in the censer, filling the air with a dense sandalwood scent.
Luo Wei called, “Shu Kang.”
Song Yaofeng simply acknowledged with a hum, not turning around.
Luo Wei asked, “How does your husband treat you?”
Song Yaofeng remained concise, “Very well.”
Luo Wei silently replied, “That’s good.”
Song Yaofeng slowly turned, first noticing Yan Luo beside Luo Wei, scrutinizing her, “Each time I see you like this, I feel disoriented. Xue Chu’s disguise skills are remarkable. Though little changed, you’re vastly different. Circulating among those in the outer hall, they probably wouldn’t recognize you. Only I find you somewhat familiar.”
Yan Luo offered a rare smile, “Xue Chu said complete transformation requires excruciating medication. Having lived secluded, few have seen me. Afraid of pain, if I used that medicine, even you might not recognize me.”
Song Yaofeng sat on the prayer mat before the portraits, stretching lazily before looking at Luo Wei, “Are you happy as empress?”
Luo Wei sat beside her, mimicking her brevity, “Very well.”
Yan Luo couldn’t suppress a laugh.
The three sat silently in the incense-filled inner chamber. As the three sticks of incense burned halfway, Luo Wei stood, “Being away too long is impolite. I’ll return.”
Song Yaofeng murmured, “You should go back.”
Luo Wei and Yan Luo left the inner chamber, heading back to the small pond. Glimpsing the pavilion’s pinnacle, a eunuch stumbled and crawled to her feet, “Your Majesty, something’s amiss!”
Yan Luo reprimanded, “Speak properly in Her Majesty’s presence.”
“Y-yes,” the eunuch stammered, “Your Majesty, please hurry to Hui Ling Lake. His Majesty is extremely angry.”
Luo Wei decisively sent Yan Luo to soothe the ladies in the outer hall and followed the eunuch to Hui Ling Lake, “Explain slowly. What happened?”
The eunuch recounted, “His Majesty feasted joyfully today at Hui Ling Lake with the ministers, presenting a set of twelve beautiful women as gifts. However, unbeknownst to everyone… Mixed in with a Copperone! The craftsmanship was so precise that only Lord Ye, familiar with copper weapons, detected the copper beneath the gold foil.”
“More alarmingly, peeling the copper calendula revealed a treasonous phrase.”
Luo Wei asked, “What did it say?”
The eunuch stuttered, “I-I daren’t say.”
“Was it ‘False Dragon Chant’?”
“No, no,” the eunuch hastily shook his head, “Worse… Your Majesty should see for yourself.”
Luo Wei’s right eyelid twitched.
Qionghua Palace wasn’t far from Hui Ling Lake. Walking there took only moments. Approaching the pavilion, she saw guards in Zhuge attire surrounding the area. Recognizing her, the leader stepped aside to let her pass.
For some reason, she found the leader vaguely familiar.
She walked closer, seeing Song Lan’s grim face at the head of the pavilion, toying with the copper calendula stripped of its gold foil. The attendees wore varied expressions. Ye Tingyan noticed her arrival, his hand trembling as he held the calendula. Seeing she didn’t look at him, he slowly drained his wine.
Luo Wei paid no heed, stepping forward. Without a word, Song Lan handed her the copper calendula. Taking it, she examined the almost illegible tiny characters engraved on the base.
—False dragon, no virtue; Ting Hua, Injustice.
Instantly, Luo Wei felt a chill run down her spine.
This wasn’t the phrase she originally planned to inscribe on this copper calendula!
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