At dusk on the eleventh day of the second month in the ninth year of Zhenguan, as Wei Shubin stood behind Chai Yinglu at the palace gate of Da’an Hall waiting to be admitted, her mind was surprisingly peaceful and calm.
Looking back later, it seemed very strange. By then, she had vaguely anticipated the storm that would break that night and the turbulent waves that would follow. The calmness probably came from a deep inner exhaustion, numbness, or even fear… In common parlance, she was “scared senseless.”
She had first learned from a maid sent by Crown Princess Su Lingyu to Zixu Temple that she was to be sent to Tibet for a political marriage, which was later confirmed by Chai Yinglu and others. She hadn’t even had time to break down and cry about it, frantically rushing to inform Prince Wu Li Yuangui and intercept the poor little princess who was about to be sent back into the tiger’s den.
After all that chaos and several days of running around, the poor little princess had escaped the tiger’s den only to enter the wolf’s lair, while Wei Shubin herself had returned to Da’an Hall with Chai Yinglu to participate in this treasonous act punishable by the execution of nine generations of family—Wei Shubin gave herself a vague smile, feeling an inexplicable surge of pride and passion.
“Upper Truth Master has been waiting long,” a duty captain emerged from within Da’an Hall’s gate, respectfully saluting Chai Yinglu, though unable to hide the awkwardness on his face. “There are orders within the hall: due to recent intruders in the forbidden garden, security has been tightened. Especially for those seeking an audience with the Retired Emperor in Da’an Hall—everyone must first submit to a body search… Please pardon the offense.”
Behind him stood two strong male-dressed serving women, who had been assigned by Consort Yin De after Chai Yinglu’s visit was announced. Given previous events, such precautions were expected, and the normally proud and dignified Zixu Temple Master said nothing, silently extending her arms to allow the serving woman to search her.
The other serving woman came to search Wei Shubin, as only the two of them were entering the hall. Wei Shubin endured the discomfort of rough hands roaming over her body while also opening her medicine box for inspection. In front of her, Chai Yinglu had her waist knife confiscated, and even her Daoist whisk was carefully taken away.
After the body search, the two serving women closely followed the two women inside, four eyes watching them intently without a moment’s relaxation. After stepping onto the gallery walkway, the number of serving women and maids monitoring them increased to six, surrounding them front and back, matching their every step. Chai Yinglu walked ahead fearlessly with her head held high as if she were out on a spring outing with her servants.
When they entered the western pavilion of Da’an Hall, the outer chamber was also filled with servants. Though all were women, each showed a fierce glint in their eyes, and some even held clubs. After turning past the screen, they saw Consort Yin De seated on a small couch beside the Retired Emperor’s bed. She didn’t rise to greet them, only coldly watching as Chai Yinglu bowed to her grandfather inside the bed.
“The Retired Emperor is still asleep and must not be disturbed, Upper Truth Master,” a palace maid spoke in a flat tone. Wei Shubin quickly scanned the four palace maids standing in attendance and noticed that the two who had been present during their previous audience were not among them.
That time, they had drugged Consort Yin De and taken away Seventeenth Princess, and the palace maids had been unable to stop them, partly confused and partly frightened by Chai Yinglu. After Consort Yin De awoke, she must have vented her fury on the servants—who knew what cruel punishment those two maids had suffered…
“Yes. Yinglu dare not disturb His Majesty, only requests to check the Retired Emperor’s pulse by his wrist,” the Daoist priestess answered softly.
None of the maids in the room dared move, all looking to Consort Yin De for instructions. The de facto mistress of Da’an Palace sat with a face like still water, showing no response.
Chai Yinglu didn’t look at her either, waiting a moment in silence before stepping forward to lift the bed curtain herself.
“Wait!” Consort Yin De finally spoke, “What miraculous medicine has Upper Truth Master brought this time? Poison from the Zhen bird or some mechanical pill? How do you plan to harm the Retired Emperor? Lady Chai, why not speak plainly!”
The Daoist priestess ignored her, still lifting the bed curtain to check on her grandfather’s complexion in his sleep, briefly taking his pulse before responding:
“Consort De speaks too harshly. Treason and regicide are heinous crimes that would doom nine generations of family. Does Madam Yin not fear the consequences of making such baseless accusations?”
“Baseless accusations?” Consort Yin De smiled, rising from her couch, “Neither of us is foolish, so let’s speak plainly. Why are you here? To confirm whether the Retired Emperor is still alive? To see if you can immediately order the garrison troops to storm Da’an Palace and arrest my sister and me for punishment?”
From her tone, she seemed to suspect Chai Yinglu had been sent by the Empress or Emperor specifically to deal with her.
The Daoist priestess’s gaze flickered as she said leisurely: “The Retired Emperor’s good health is a blessing for the state, and it is because the Emperor and Empress work tirelessly in their filial duties, moving the heavens, that his sacred longevity is preserved. Others should not presume to claim credit from heaven or boast and preen, much less abuse power like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might. Know that fortune and misfortune have no door—people bring them upon themselves. Good and evil are repaid as surely as a shadow follows its form…”
“Silence!” Consort Yin De cut off the Daoist priestess’s sermon, smiling through gritted teeth as she walked to the palace maid by the bed and asked:
“A Zhai, tell me, what did you just see?”
The palace maid bowed and said in a clear voice: “This servant saw Upper Truth Master lift the bed curtain, ignoring Consort De’s warnings, and reach out to grip the Retired Emperor’s royal neck—such dangerous, frightening behavior!”
“A Dian, what about you?” Consort Yin De turned to ask another maid, who replied: “This servant saw Upper Truth Master take out a pill from her sleeve and, when others weren’t watching, try to force it into the Retired Emperor’s mouth. Fortunately, Consort De acted quickly and stopped her just in time!”
Consort Yin De smiled with satisfaction, taking out a paper-wrapped pill from her silk pouch and holding it up to ask: “A Dian, look carefully, is this the pill?”
“Yes, that’s it exactly! This servant would stake her life on it!” the maid answered without blinking.
“Then I must ask Upper Truth Master—what exactly were you trying to secretly put in the Retired Emperor’s mouth?” Consort Yin De held the pill out to Chai Yinglu.
The Daoist priestess had been watching this performance between mistress and maids with a contemptuous smile: “Madam Yin if you brought these claims before Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, would anyone believe them?”
“With so many witnesses, why wouldn’t they believe?” The Retired Emperor’s favored consort spun around, holding the pill as she walked toward Wei Shubin. “Well then, how about we add some physical evidence?”