“How dare you speak so disrespectfully to His Imperial Highness!” the eunuch following Ning Wang loudly rebuked. “This is the imperial palace, Miss Yun, please be careful with your words!”
“I’m cursing the son-of-a-bitch who tried to assassinate my family. Why are you jumping in to defend your Wangye? Are you suggesting your Wangye was behind it?” Fuyi shot back. “You’re a person, not a dog, yet here you are barking at everyone you see.”
“You!” The eunuch’s face flushed with anger, glaring at Fuyi. “Miss Yun, His Imperial Highness had nothing to do with the assassination! You’ve been friends with him for years, and now that he’s fallen from power, you’re acting like those opportunistic cowards, kicking him while he’s down. We’ve misjudged you all along!”
“Fallen from power?” Before anyone could react, Fuyi had already swiftly stepped in front of the eunuch and slapped him hard across the face. “His Majesty has lined the streets with celebratory lanterns for Ning Wang’s wedding. Such a grand display shows his deep affection for his younger brother. The entire court is moved by His Majesty’s care, and yet here you are, a confidant of Ning Wang, full of resentment. I can’t help but wonder—who’s put this treasonous idea in your head?!”
The slap was delivered with full force, and everyone present watched in gape as the eunuch was sent flying through the air and slammed heavily onto the vermilion palace walls.
The eunuch escorting Fuyi swallowed nervously—‘M-miss Yun is very strong!’
“Thank you, Miss Yun, for disciplining a foolish subordinate of mine who spoke out of turn,” Ning Wang said, knowing that he would be the one put in a disadvantaged position if this matter escalated. For the past two years, he had been treading carefully, never daring to overstep his bounds.
“I’m too dull to tell whether he was speaking out of turn or simply telling the truth,” Fuyi retorted, rubbing her wrist with a sarcastic sneer. “There’s no need to explain to a mere subject daughter, Wangye. Right and wrong will be judged by Their Majesties.”
She sat back in the sedan chair. “Her Majesty is kind and compassionate. This subject daughter is in a hurry to meet the appointed time and can’t delay any further. Allow me to take my leave!”
Fuyi’s eunuch glanced at the fallen eunuch, then bowed to Ning Wang before turning to the sedan chair, “Miss Yun, we are departing.”
Ning Wang watched as the sedan chair moved into the distance, his hands clenched tightly within his sleeves.
“Your Imperial Highness,” another of Ning Wang’s eunuchs said, filled with indignation, “Who would’ve thought Miss Yun could be so heartless and ungrateful? She could flaunt her power in the capital for years thanks to your protection. Now, in order to curry favor with the new emperor, she abandons you like a worn-out shoe. Such a fickle, two-faced person is not worth your sorrow.”
Ning Wang closed his eyes and soon regained his usual calm demeanor. “It’s not your turn to speak about Miss Yun. Help him up. I must go apologize to Imperial Brother.”
…
For generations, the Zhaoyang Palace had always been the residence of the empress. When the late emperor still reigned, he had once intended to bestow the palace to Ning Wang’s birth mother, the then Noble Consort.1 However, many veteran ministers strongly opposed it, so the palace remained vacant. Now, with a new emperor on the throne, this palace, which has been quiet for nearly a decade, has finally welcomed another empress and come alive.
Yun Fuyi dismounted the sedan chair and ascended the steps. Upon her arrival, the attendants at the entrance didn’t make her wait for summon, instead directly leading her into the inner hall where the empress was already waiting.
As soon as she entered, Yun Fuyi bowed deeply without waiting for the Empress to speak. “This subject daughter has arrived late. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“Good girl, quickly rise,” the Empress said, motioning for her court lady to help Fuyi into a chair. “It’s been three years. You’ve grown taller, but also thinner,” she gazed at Fuyi warmly.
Yun Fuyi hadn’t expected such intimate kindness from the Empress. She attempted to rise and curtsy in response, but the Empress gently took her hand. “No need for formalities. Let’s speak while seated.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Seeing that the Empress didn’t ask about her lateness, Fuyi simply raised the issue herself. After all, she, Yun Fuyi, was not one to miss a chance to air her grievances. Holding grudges was her specialty.
“Upon hearing that Your Majesty had graced me with a summon, this subject daughter was overjoyed. I rose before dawn to prepare every detail, but on the way, I encountered a disrespectful eunuch from Ning Wang Manor, which caused the delay.” Fuyi feigned a look of guilt. “It’s all my fault. I acted too impulsively and caused a scene.”
This was obviously news to the Empress. Hearing how Fuyi seemed to have come into a conflict with Ning Wang’s people, she summoned the eunuch who had escorted Fuyi and personally questioned him. When she learned that Fuyi had hurried to meet her, not caring about Ning Wang’s dignity, a smile secretly tugged at the corner of her lips. She had to silently repeat ‘the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother’2several times in her heart before she managed to suppress the smile.
When she heard how Fuyi had slapped the insolent eunuch and scolded him aloud, her smile returned in full force. No amount of ‘empress composure’ and ‘sister-in-law’s maternal duty’ could stop her now.
“As a mere subject daughter, I have acted rashly. Please punish me, Your Majesty.” Fuyi glanced at her hand, still held firmly by the Empress. Unable to withdraw without seeming rude, she bowed her head in a display of ‘repentance.’
“It’s good for a young woman to show some spirit. What’s more, the eunuch was at fault. You were protecting His Majesty’s honor—where’s the wrong in that? Still…” The Empress opened Fuyi’s palm and carefully inspected her hand. “But you must be careful not to hurt your delicate hands. Those small-minded people are not worth it.”
Good scolding, good beating, well done!
After the attendants served tea and refreshments, the Empress instructed a court lady to fetch a few jars of ointment for Fuyi. “These are skincare balms to keep your hands soft and smooth. Take them home and use them.”
“Thank you for the generous gift, Your Majesty,” Yun Fuyi said, glancing at the jars. Her suspicions were confirmed—clearly, the Empress was quite pleased with her actions.
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- In china imperial harem system, the inner palace is headed by the empress, followed by the Four Consorts which are the noble Consort (貴妃; Guifei), Shu Consort (淑妃, Shufei), De Consort (德妃), Xian Consort (賢妃, Xianfei). Not all dynasties had an Imperial Noble Consort, and in its absence, the Noble Consort led the four consorts, second in position only to the empress.
- An old saying in China. In the absence of parents, the eldest brother and his wife take on parental responsibility for their younger siblings.