A Peaceful Spring

Chapter VIII

The whole inner palace was in mourning, so grand and elegant, yet Ying Luo knew it was all a ploy to cover up. Ying Luo had a suspicion that the Emperor had known about at least some of the Empress's crimes. If he was aware of A'ruo, he must be aware of others. So Ying Luo put together that His Majesty wanted to make his Empress seem like the greatest to save face for himself. As one would say, making a big fuss over cold tea, not realizing you abandoned the tea. Ying Luo followed the part, fake tears rolling down, masking the victory she felt at achieving her revenge.

It was simple; although she didn't cause the chain reaction that was Jia and Mei by killing the 7th prince, she worsened it by adding the disaster. Ruyi was a big help, but Lianxian was the star: she knew water combined with the Empress's current illness would be doubly harmful and likely fatal. And she heard whispers before the empress's death saying 'A measure for a measure.'

And she was exactly right

Not an ounce of empathy for the Fuca Langhua .

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Paying attention to harem politics wasn't proper for a maid, but neither was writing. During the mourning ceremony, Ying Luo paid close attention to how Noble Consort Chun acted. No one's intentions were hidden anymore, they all wanted the empress seat. Chun had an advantage: she had sons, while Ruyi had none. Yet, favor rested on Ruyi besides others. One would say love, but love wasn't even an option here. It was an illusion between an emperor and his women. How can love exist within such a power difference? How could love bloom in such a dark place, where they mask snowy days with a few planted flowers that wilt in a second?

Ruyi, despite her growing mistrust, still loved Qianlong. She cherished too much. She wasn't around Ruyi as much as she wanted to, as Suo Xin was the Gugu of Yikin gon. Ying Luo knew the going ons to an extent. Suo Xin gave her updates when she could.

It wasn't much of a surprise when Chun and her sons, even the first prince, played their cards too hard and lost favor. It was almost predictable. Chun and her sons was Icarus, who came too close to the sun. Yonghuang didn't even have the decency to pretend to mourn. She watched in the background. Qianlong came close to his sons and slapped them, "Unfilial sons!"

Everyone kowtowed, "Your Majesty, please disperse your anger."

"Empress Xiaoxianchun is your official mother and she died, why do you not feel sorrow!"

Ying Luo could hear the anger. Chun had lost favor, perhaps forever. Only Ruyi had a chance at the empress spot, which was proved even more when she was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort Xian after the funeral. Ying Luo looked on proudly, standing beside Suo Xin during the conferment ceremony. But no matter how many victories one faces, another foe comes in its wake.

Master Anji stayed in the Forbidden City to pray for the war to end.

Ying Luo watched as Suo Xian and Jiang Yuben were being cute from the paper screen. "Aiyo. isn't that Jiang and Suo Xin?" Ying Luo teased as she watched them with Ruyi.

"Indeed." Ruyi smiled.

Ying luo was happy for Suo Xin; if anyone deserved a happy ending, and to escape this hell hole, it was Suo Xin. Ying Luo snickered as she walked away to complete other tasks though she saw though the paper window, the love birds bowing. They were going to get married soon, she could feel it. The marriage was going to be a month after the six-month mourning period. It was perfect.

That night, Suo Xin and Ying Luo helped Ruyi out of her bath, placing a towel around her and then helping her dress. The night was normal until the sounds of an assassin broke the stillness of the night, which put the entire palace in shock. How could an assassin come into the inner palace? It was unthinkable. Ruyi glanced at Ying Luo and she knew to investigate.