CONTENT WARNING: MILD TORTURE
Zhangzhi Hall
Concubine Xiao had been in an abnormally good mood ever since the Imperial edict was announced that morning. She had her maids fetch a few types of flowers, then went to her little garden to plant them.
The flowers in the courtyard were well taken care of. Some of them had already ended their flowering season, but were still kept there and tended lovingly, while some early autumn flowers were in full bloom. As she held onto a plant and placed it in the soil, she commented, “This season is the most suitable for growing flowers; their blooms will surely be magnificent.”
The maid by her side commented, “The flowers cultivated by Your Highness are the best-looking in all the palace.”
“Oh? Is that right?”
“Of course. Your Highness is deft; under the loving care of Your Highness, every plant would bloom magnificently.”
“You la.s.s, such a sweet tongue you have. This seat shall reward you with a box of honey preserves.”
“Many thanks, Your Highness.” The little maid grinned ear to ear. It was such a great honor to receive rewards from Concubine Xiao; there were many that wouldn’t get it even if they begged.
The little maid seemed to be hoping for more rewards. She continued speaking, full of smiles, “Your Highness must be very happy about Prince Yi’s marriage? That Miss Ji must have garnered great fortune from somewhere to be able to marry Prince Yi as his Consort.”
“Good fortune?”
“Isn’t that so? This servant heard that Prince Yi has many supporters in the imperial court.”
“Who did you hear that from?”
“Many people! Prince Yi is so intelligent and well liked by the Emperor; thus, Your Highness is fortunate as well.”
“How has this seat been fortunate?” Concubine Xiao still had a smile on her face, but this smile turned increasingly terrifying.
The other maids around them all felt that something was peculiar. They looked terrified and apprehensive. However, that little maid didn’t detect anything untoward about the atmosphere and continued her flattery, “When Prince Yi becomes Crown Prince, then Your Highness would also be reflected in his glory as his mother.” Reflected in his glory! What she said was absolutely correct.
Concubine Xiao pinched that plant in her hands, which she had yet to fully plant into the soil, and that small branch broke with a snap.
That little maid finally realised that she had said something wrong. In an instant, her face turned as white as a sheet. She took a few steps back and lowered her head as she said, “This servant… has said something wrong.”
Concubine Xiao revealed a dagger-like smile, “Wrong? Where did you go wrong?”
“Wrong…” She actually had no idea where she had gone wrong. She frantically stammered all the while, “This servant was too talkative, and made Your Highness unhappy. This was the fault of this servant.”
Ha. Concubine Xiao reached out a hand, pinched that maid’s chin, and yanked it upwards. The maid’s line of sight met with Concubine Xiao’s. She immediately s.h.i.+fted her gaze and trembled all over. However, Concubine Xiao’s red lips were still curved upwards. She turned that maid’s face left and right, still holding her chin, as if she were admiring an object. Her smile turned tight and her brow slowly knitted together.
“Your Highness? This servant…”
“What are you so nervous for? This seat wouldn’t chop off your head.”
“Ah…” After Concubine Xiao released her chin, that maid immediately lowered her head.
“Raise your head.” She commanded sternly.
That maid raised her head once again. She was so terrified that her eyes were dilated and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Concubine Xiao suddenly picked up the pair of scissors that she had put aside, and pressed its sharp edge against that maid’s face.
Her fingers pressed down.
Following the pressure of her hands, that pair of scissors slowly slid down that maid’s face and slit it open. “Ah! Your Highness…”
“Don’t scream. You’re not allowed to move either.”
“Ah!” The scissors slid all the way down. That young, tender cheek was sliced open just like that. Fresh blood poured out from the cut flesh and dripped down her neck, her clothes, and the floor… A swath of vibrant, blood red.
The other maids around them were all so terrified they didn’t dare to make a single peep.
Concubine Xiao closed the scissor blades and tossed it onto the ground. Another maid served her a handkerchief to wipe her hands clean.
That little maid kneeled on the floor, propped up weakly by her arms and sobbed through the pain, “I beg Your Highness to spare my life. This servant… this servant admits her mistake.” Her tears mixed with the blood on her face.
Concubine Xiao asked again, “Where did you go wrong?”
She still couldn’t answer. Just where did she go wrong? Wasn’t what she said true? When Prince Yi gained power, wouldn’t Concubine Xiao be reflected in his glory? In the end, her trembling lips still couldn't produce a single word.
Concubine Xiao narrowed her phoenix eyes with a bone-chilling glare at the trembling maid on the floor. “It’s fine to be greedy, but you can’t reveal your greed too clearly, or you would invite disaster upon yourself.”
Greed! That little maid finally understood.
“Let today be a little lesson for you. Prince Yi’s marriage is a cause for celebration, so this seat won’t demand your life. However, if this happens again, this seat will have someone rip your mouth off.”
“This servant will not dare… thank you for your mercy, Your Highness. Thank you for sparing my life.” The little maid was sobbing so hard her words could barely be distinguished.
Concubine Xiao covered her nose daintily with her hand, “How unlucky. This was supposed to be a joyous day, but you had ruined it.”
Just then, Sang Lan arrived. When she laid eyes on this scene, she paused for a short while in surprise before immediately reporting, “Your Highness, the Ministry of Rites have finished drafting the ceremonies for the Princess’s marriage. They requested that you review the list.” She pa.s.sed a booklet over.
Concubine Xiao opened it. The listed gifts were extremely precious, much more than those that the Emperor had sent over to that woman Ji Muqing. After a few glances, she shut the account of gifts and asked, “How is it with the princess?”
“Your Highness, the princess has been very quiet lately. She hasn’t been making a fuss.” She’s become sensible!
“That’s good.” She looked at the kneeling maid again with narrowed eyes. “Take her to get bandaged. Don’t let the blood pollute this seat’s quarters.”
“Yes.”
Done with her instructions, Concubine Xiao left with Sang Lan.
Once they left, that little maid collapsed onto the ground. The floor was covered in blood and looked as if it could almost form a river. A few other maids hurried forward to help her up. One of them chided, “Really, you’ve only just entered the palace and you’re already blabbing with impunity. You’re really lucky that Her Highness didn’t kill you.”
She cradled her bleeding cheek and sobbed, “How would I know that?”
“Didn’t the people in charge of admissions tell you? You must never say nonsense in front of Concubine Xiao. It’s better if you don’t say anything, don’t listen to anything, and don’t hanker for any rewards, than to say too much.”
How would a la.s.s that had just entered the palace know all these?!
“You better be more careful next time. Her Highness only let you off this time because of Prince Yi’s marriage.”
“I… I know that now.”
“Later when you go to the pharmacy, just say that you fell yourself. You can’t ever say that it was Her Highness, or you can forget about keeping your life.”
“Mn.” She leaned against the arm of another maid as she headed towards the Imperial pharmacy.
Everyone said that Concubine Xiao was good natured and treated people very well, and that the maids in the palace received plenty of rewards. She thought that, with her sweet tongue, she would surely be able to receive even more rewards if she came. In fact, she had merely said a short sentence and Concubine Xiao did reward her with a box of honey preserves. Then, she had thought that she had chosen the right master.
Little did she realise that she clearly had a poisonous heart!
This little fable also teaches us that people should never be too greedy.
When pushed to the extreme, the result will be opposite of what you desire. [1]
[1] For anyone interested, the phrase is 物极必反. Phew. Took me so long to understand what it meant.