A Peaceful Spring

Chapter XVI

 Ying Luo and Ruyi, in a desperate plea to the Empress Dowager, sent their children to her. She was thankful that Zhen Huan took them in, out of favoritism for Ying Luo and respect for Ruyi’s position. The Empress Dowager was only partially aware of what was happening with Yanwan, but Ying Luo knew she would come in at the right time. Yanwan wouldn’t touch the children. After a day, praying to Yong Qi, Ying Luo dressed and simply prayed—she had never prayed like this. It was wired and fulfilling. She breathed in, thinking about her son Yong Yun. It still made her heart ache, but it also made her push forward. She knew how lucky she was in the harem; she had never truly felt Qianlong’s wrath. But for those around her, her heart ached all the more. She opened her eyes as Rong Pei and Ming Yu began to question Chunchan, who was tied up.

”It doesn’t matter how much you question, I will never betray my mistress. And my mistress wouldn’t do such crimes,” Chunchan said, remaining firm.

“I wonder what happened to that other maid servant.” Ming Yu began, planting a seed of doubt in Chunchan’s head, “Didn’t she die from Noble Consort Min’s hand? Careful now, she might rid you too.” 

Ying Luo made a small smirk while still praying. “Those who work for Noble Consort Min, all died.” Rong Pei said, “Chunchan, you know so much about her—do you suppose she’ll get rid of the next witness to her crimes?”

Ying Luo could hear the fear in Chunchan’s voice, masked as mocking her and Ruyi’s servant, “Don’t bother trying to pull us apart, I know nothing.” 

“Then there's nothing to discuss.” Ying Luo held her right arm out, allowing Ming Yu to help her stand and walk away. Ying Luo spared a glance at Chunchan, who seemed to be thinking. “Aunt Rong Pei, release her after dark.” That should do it, to start the flames of mistrust.

And it worked like a charm. Yanwan began to turn her sights on Chunchan—like a cornered dog, she turned against friend and foe alike. Her nerves were already bad with Noble Lady Dun gathering all of the attention and imperial favor. 

iThree days later, Yanwan moved against Chunchan, using poisoned lipstick and sending her outside the palace. Ying Luo made sure she was spared by Docter Yi. She needed her to testify, along with Ling Yuche, who was also keeping himself hidden from Yanwan’s spies in Beijing. 

Oh, but her teaching her son not to obey his Imperial Father, and only be loyal to her, made Ying Luo’s job easier, demonstrating that Yanwan was a bad mother, unfit to teach princes of the Qing dynasty . Jingse turned out to have some use after all. Meanwhile, Qinalong began to get sicker, while Ruyi prepared sutra flags of those who Yanwan killed or harmed. 

Hai Lan did her part to, talking to Wangchen, telling him to preserve his life. Xianjian helped Ying Luo by recalling Yanwan’s brother from exile among the border tribes, back to Beijing. Thing was working slowly. Until finally, Qinalong was dreadfully ill. Ruyi, Ying Luo and Yanwan, the top three of the harem, met in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Each of them took turns caring for him. Yanwan took the bait, like a desperate fool. Once she heard that there was no name on the crown prince from the empress dowager private conversation, and saw where the secret box was. She snuck into where it was[ within her own sleeve, she had hidden a forgery naming her son, the Sixteenth Prince, as the Crown Prince chosen. But as soon as she moved the box, Qianlong came to, fully awake, and well, in the adjacent room.