A Peaceful Spring

Chapter VII

Ying Luo heard about Yanwan, and while doing chores, she was approached by Ling Yuche. “Miss. Ying Luo.” Ying Luo turned to the guard, though slightly annoyed, and played along, “You are slightly annoying, Guard Ling Yuche. Can’t you see I have chores.” 

“Listen, I need your help. Can you listen to me for a split second.” 

“Everyone wants my help.” Ying Luo kept walking down the steps, “ Ayio, I helped you out in the cold palace. Did you favors.” Their tones were slightly playful, even if Ying Luo felt a bit of bitterness. 

“Yes, and you got paid in silver.” Before Ling Yuche spoke, Ying Luo held up her hand. “Wait, let me guess, it’s about Wei Yanwan.”

“She goes by Ying’er Qixaing palace.” Alarm bells rang in her head. That sounded like Ruyi’s maiden name, Qing Ying . Yanwan looked very similar to her mistress, though Ying Luo had dismissed the resemblance in the past. “Explain more.” 

“Their torturing Yanwan, I saw bruises on her wrist, and they seemed to be bulling her.” 

Ying Luo eyes hardened. Now she had to get involved.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Telling Ruyi was easy, but finding out that she had to get Yanwan out was hard. She honestly didn’t want to get her out. Even though she barely met her and she looked pitiful, Ying Luo always had that nagging feeling that there was something fishy about her.  But Yanwan was being used as a puppet to target Ruyi. And this couldn’t be made more apparent when Jia made Yanwan serve her in front of Ruyi during the Dragon Boat festival. It was a slap in the face, and Ying Luo grit her teeth, this- bitch . And the empress just excused it, barely listening to Jia's nonsensical explanation. 

Yes, Yanwan has a greedy heart and mind, and she does not like her. She was a mini A’ruo, but prettier and more competent. More dangerous . Ying Luo knew that, but the insult to Ruyi, her mistress, her big sister, she could not tolerate, only bear as a servant. 

“Do not save Yanwan.” Hai Lan said when they was walking back to Yikin gong. The conversation was ostensibly between the two consorts but this comment was clearly directed to Ying Luo. It was a messy situation. Let Ruyi be humiliated, or save the sleeping snake that only wants power and glory? Thankfully, Ying Luo didn’t have to make that choice; Ruyi abandoned saving her, and Suo Xin went to tell Ling Yuche to cherish himself. Ying Luo sighed. Ling Yuche was too good for the palace, as most decent people are. Ying Luo never considered herself a good person, she just did what she felt was right, even if it involved a bit of blood on her hands. 

Time went by like a blinking eye. Noble Consort Hui died, and Ruyi, Hai Lan, and a few other consorts were promoted. Ruyi fell ill, along with His Majesty. Now that Hui was dead, Ying Luo could focus her next target for revenge: the empress. Though Ying Luo never told Ruyi, her mistress knew she had a hand in things. Consort Jia was going to strike the Empress as well. That was evident. She was using the Empress as a cover, a way to get higher on the totem pole. Imperial Concubine Mei, from whispers, was still angry about her child. Now all she needed to do was to be clever and use all their hands to exact revenge. But her plan was halted when the Empress became pregnant. Ying Luo, determined as she was to see the Empress fall, would not harm a child. She would wait and let the others do her dirty work.