frightfiction Chapter 54 Around the Lantern Festival (Page 12)
Chapter 54 Around the Lantern Festival (Page 12)
The director closed the game, and Mingyu raised another question: "Will those people worshipping that thing strengthen the power of evil spirits?"
Yuan Yidao said, "In the Cthulhu universe, there are also some followers of R'lyeh who worship the Old Gods, but their worship rituals are merely a form of self-sustaining pilgrimage. They cannot change the orbits of planets or awaken the Old Gods. The same principle applies here. To give an analogy, if one day you see a group of ants arranging grains of rice into a special pattern, would you think that these ants could have any influence over you?"
Mingyu said, "You'll just find it strange."
Yuan Yidao said, "That's right. In the small world, everyone except the chosen one is more insignificant than an ant to the indescribable thing that transcends the Heavenly Dao of the small world. Whatever they do will have no effect on the indescribable thing. But the indescribable thing can easily affect a person's spirit."
As for whether these people's behavior was influenced by something indescribable, or whether they degenerated into fanatics due to their inability to accept the disparity and their inability to change the status quo, or perhaps both, it remains unknown. "Hmm? Guests have arrived at Changchun Palace. You may log off now."
Zhao Yitai entered and announced, "Your Majesty, Consort Shu has arrived."
Consort Shu? This is a rare guest. The two exchanged a glance, and Rongyin said, "Please come in quickly."
Yi Huan entered, and Rong Yin offered her a seat and then had Song Zhi pour tea.
Yi Huan sat down, her mind heavy with worries, her heart filled with doubts.
She used to think that Ruyi was a kindred spirit to her, and after visiting Cuiyun Pavilion several times, she felt that Ruyi was different from the others in the harem.
She once lamented to Ruyi, "In this entire palace, among all these people, the way they look at the Emperor, their smiles, are all naked desire. Only you, only you look at the Emperor with the same eyes as I do." (Quoted from the original drama)
That afternoon, the entire Forbidden City heard the thunderclap. Not long after, Ruyi, charred black by the lightning, was dragged back to Cuiyun Pavilion by Shuangxi. Then, an imperial edict was issued, confining Consort Xian to Cuiyun Pavilion. She was not allowed to leave without an imperial decree, and no one was allowed to enter without permission. Her head maid, Hailan, was imprisoned in the Shenxing Division.
Afterwards, rumors spread like wildfire, saying that Ruyi and Hailan had secretly colluded with the imperial guards to fabricate charges against loyal officials, only to be punished by heaven instead. There were even rumors that Ruyi and the imperial guard were exchanging flirtatious glances; otherwise, why would an imperial guard with such a promising future act on behalf of a concubine, hiding his actions from the emperor?
She didn't believe it, but for a moment she didn't know who to ask. After thinking for a while, although she didn't know why she often disliked the Empress, and felt that the Empress was not as affectionate towards the Emperor as she and Ruyi were, the Empress did understand the Emperor's poetry because of her offspring, and was slightly more pleasing to her eye than others. So she thought she would ask the Empress.
Yi Huan has always been lazy and unpretentious, so she just asked what she wanted to ask directly.
The Empress only said that this matter involved the previous dynasty, and even she could not interfere, and told Yi Huan not to believe the rumors or inquire casually. As for the thunder in the drought, although she had seen it with her own eyes, this strange phenomenon had to be investigated by the Imperial Observatory, and the concubines should not speak recklessly.
“This gossipy servant is outrageous. I will investigate and deal with him after the Lantern Festival.”
Yi Huan was suspicious, but she couldn't ask any more questions now that the conversation had reached this point, so she could only remain silent.
Rongyin changed the subject at the right time, and had Yingluo bring her a string of ruby beads that were a tribute from Mongolia.
He Xi hurriedly accepted it, and Yi Huan said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your reward."
For the past six months, perhaps because of her kidney deficiency preventing her from serving the emperor, the Empress, in an effort to appease her, would often bestow jewelry upon her, mostly jade bracelets and emerald bracelets. This was quite a rare treat for the Empress, who usually disliked gold and jade jewelry. Everyone said it was because Empress Fucha and Empress Yehenara were related by marriage, so the Empress favored her relative, which Consort Gao was reportedly very indignant about.
On one occasion, when paying respects to the Empress, she mentioned that one could change the jewelry one wore.
She wondered if the Empress disliked the gold bracelet, whether it was the scent of the incense or the Emperor's affection and thoughtfulness towards her. The bracelet was a gift from the Emperor, representing his heart, and she was reluctant to take it off. Even after He Xi pleaded with her, she only removed the incense, hoping that this would alleviate the Empress's discomfort. Now, although she had recovered and was back on the green-headed plaque, the Emperor no longer chose her. She comforted herself, telling herself that the Emperor was busy during the New Year and always considered her frail health.
But deep down, she felt inexplicably uneasy. However, wearing the gold bracelet made her feel closer to the Emperor's heart, so she wore it all the time.
She thanked him and, finding nothing more to say, rose to take her leave.
After Yi Huan left, Rong Yin breathed a sigh of relief and said to Song Zhi, "No matter what rumors are circulating outside, you must not spread them, especially not to Ying'er. Also, don't ask Ying'er to go on any errands to Changchun Palace these next few days."
Songzhi responded, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, although Ying'er seems a bit dull, she understands many things. I'm worried that even if we try to keep it from her, we might not be able to."
Rongyin sighed, "Haste makes waste. Let's keep it a secret for now."
On the second day of the Lantern Festival, the emperor hosted a banquet for members of the imperial family and important officials. The empress dowager and Princess Roushu also returned to the palace to attend the banquet, where there was fine wine and delicious food, and music and singing.
When the emperor was selecting plays, he specially gave the script to the empress.
Rongyin glanced at the script, which also contained other plays. Perhaps the indescribable element had been weakened, so it was no longer just "Over the Wall".
She requested a performance of "Beating the Drum and Cursing Cao Cao".
"In the past, King Wen visited Jiang Shang and met a pillar of the state by the Wei River. I sat in my carriage while you held the reins. It is only right to seek out worthy men for the country. I am a true scholar, while you are an ignorant child, unworthy of being prime minister. You are a treacherous dog who doesn't know the difference between stench and fragrance..."
On the sixteenth day of the first month, the Empress Dowager sent Aunt Fu Jia to invite the Empress to Shou Kang Palace.
The Empress Dowager had been worshipping Buddha in Qingyi Garden for a long time, and she really seemed to have become a lay Buddhist, but her sharp features remained undiminished.
She warmly asked the Empress to dispense with formalities and then offered Fu Jia a seat.
As Rongyin sat down, she heard the Empress Dowager say, "Hengti is about to get engaged, so the Empress needs to give her a good opinion."
Rongyin respectfully said, "This engagement should be decided by His Majesty. I believe His Majesty will carefully select a suitable husband for my sister Hengti."
The Empress Dowager said, "The Princess's residence has been completed. Hengti will be able to be betrothed to a family in the capital and stay with me. Besides, Hengti also owns a charitable organization. This reputation for benevolence will be an asset to her in the future. I have no worries. This is how the Empress treats Hengti, and I appreciate it. Therefore, I must also give the Empress some advice regarding the Second Prince's marriage."
Seeing that the Empress was listening attentively, she said, "After I returned to the Forbidden City, I heard that His Majesty has already betrothed the granddaughter of Prince Chaoyong to the Second Prince. Prince Chaoyong's descendants are naturally good, but Your Majesty, Prince Chaoyong was originally from the Borjigit clan, and his tribe was designated by the Holy Ancestor as the Chahar Bordered Yellow Banner, so he was a true Mongol."
Although Manchu-Mongol intermarriage was an old custom, the Mongol empress's position became precarious after Emperor Shunzhi entered the Central Plains. Otherwise, Emperor Shunzhi wouldn't have deposed one Mongol empress, nor would he have had any children with his subsequent empress, Empress Xiaohui. Since Emperor Kangxi, all empresses had been from prominent Manchu families, not Mongol women.
Rongyin and Yingluo wondered if the world was still like this. They thought that the emperor was even wary of the small northern countries, and that his situation was probably worse than under Emperor Shunzhi, so he should rely more on the Mongols.
However, this sounded a bit dangerous, so Rongyin could only say, "Yonglian is just a prince, so naturally he doesn't need to worry about that. As long as Yonglian and the princess can get along well, I will be satisfied."
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "I have spoken frankly with the Empress, so why is the Empress so wary of me? Although the Emperor is nominally my son, he was raised in the Yuanmingyuan Garden from a young age. He is attached to his status as an illegitimate son and secretly desires the legitimate son born to you, Empress, to be the crown prince. However, because he grew up in the Yuanmingyuan Garden, he has not experienced many important and minor matters. I'm afraid he thinks that Prince Chaoyong's status is noble and can be an aid to Yonglian, and can also give more support to Cherdenzabu, an illegitimate but meritorious minister, and rely more on him. He also wants to divide and balance the northern deserts, but he didn't expect these things."
Yingluo thought to herself that the old emperor really could step on anyone.
Rongyin said, "Your Majesty is still young, and besides, such matters are decided by Your Majesty alone. Your Majesty and I would not dare to have such thoughts."
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly and said, "Enough, enough. I know that deep-seated problems don't arise overnight, and the marriage is already arranged. The Emperor is worried about the northern frontier, and I think he has learned his lesson from the Jiangxuexuan incident back then. He won't want to break his promise again. However, there is one thing that the Empress must carefully consider."
The Emperor didn't grow up in the Forbidden City and doesn't know many of his elders, but I do. Princess Chunque's birth mother was Consort Tong, of the Ulanara clan, a concubine of the Holy Emperor. Although Consort Tong and Jingren Palace were not of the fifth degree of kinship, Ruyi's kinship with Jingren Palace wasn't particularly close; they were still related by blood. And Princess Chunque was, after all, the legal mother of Cherdenzabu, the grandmother of a princess. Although the princess had passed away many years ago, Consort Tong was still alive. I have said all I need to say; I hope the Empress will consider it carefully.”
Rongyin thanked the Empress Dowager respectfully, and then let her leave.
According to old palace customs, from the fifteenth to the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, members of the imperial family would enter the palace to enjoy themselves with the emperor, and sometimes some concubines would be arranged to meet with their families.
When Rongyin returned to her palace, Yonghuang came to pay his respects and inquired about the drought thunder.
"Your subject heard from Uncle Wang that the remnants of the Ulanara clan, now reduced to beggars, still harbor evil intentions and engage in witchcraft. They even preserve the corpses of executed criminals into so-called idols and secretly worship them. Their actions are truly appalling. Currently, Uncle Wang, Uncle Wang, and several other officials are investigating this matter together. Your subject experienced this back then... Now that I think about it, perhaps these people are the ones who secretly committed these heinous acts."
Rongyin reiterated that the matter had been handed over to the Censorate and the Imperial Observatory, and that she believed the truth would come to light. She also comforted Yonghuang and instructed him not to believe rumors or mention the case to his younger siblings before the case was cleared up, so as not to frighten them.
Yonghuang agreed. At this moment, Jingse brought Jingtai over to play with Yonghuang. Rongyin told them not to make too much noise about their older brother and then let them leave.
As she was thinking about Consort Tong, Zhao Yitai came to report that Consort Gao was requesting an audience.
Gao Xiyue came in and started crying after saying only a few words. Rongyin had no choice but to ask Moxin what had happened.
Mo Xin stammered, saying that the old lady had come to Xianfu Palace to visit, and the Consort had also been saddened because she had not seen her relatives for a long time.
Upon hearing this, Gao Xiyue burst into tears, saying, "Madam Ma's words implied that I should not worry about giving birth to an imperial heir, but rather take good care of Yongcheng. She even said it was Father's idea, but I don't believe it. I am just temporarily ill, so why can't I have my own child! It's clear that Madam Ma's own daughter is grown up, and she can't stand to see me, the daughter of the first wife, doing well!"
When Rongyin heard her call her stepmother "Ma Shi" directly, she quickly stopped her from speaking, comforted her, rewarded her with tonics, and gave Yongcheng some small trinkets.
Gao Xiyue left, sobbing.
Rongyin's busy day was finally coming to an end, but for Agui, his busy days had just begun.
He was transferred from the Ministry of War to the Ministry of Justice, and then this huge case occurred, involving kidnapping, self-immolation, witchcraft, and royal secrets. The Imperial Clan Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Colonial Affairs all sent people to supervise the case, and even the Third Changkya Khutuktu was alarmed.
But after investigating, the case, apart from appearing sinister and terrifying, didn't seem that complicated.
Although it involved witchcraft, this so-called "Black Mother" was not like the White Lotus Sect or the Maitreya Sect, which gathered a large number of people to cause trouble. Apart from the dead instigator and the beggar, there were only four people left in this organization, two men and two women. There was also a third person who did not participate in this trouble and was not in that courtyard. He just regularly delivered money to others. After hearing about the incident, he took the initiative to come forward.