The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0585 For Every High Mountain There Is An Even Higher Mountain

In the morning, Yu Xiyu went to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Song.

The Empress Dowager told Yu Xiyu that she had dreamed of the late Emperor the night before: ”I plan to go to Huangqi Temple in a few days to abstain from eating meat, pray to Buddha, and fulfil the late Emperorʼs vow.” She did not mention exactly when she would return.

Yu Xiyu disagreed, ”Mother, itʼs already deep into winter, and itʼs freezing cold on the mountain. Iʼm worried your body wonʼt be able to handle it. If youʼre truly concerned, I can go on your behalf to burn incense and fulfil the vow.”

The Empress Dowager replied, ”My mind is made up. Thereʼs no need to persuade me further. Iʼll head to Huangqi Temple the day after tomorrow to burn incense.” She was informing Yu Xiyu, not asking for her opinion.

Yu Xiyu fell silent.

Back in her chambers, Yu Xiyu asked Momo Jin, ”She canʼt hold back anymore, can she?”

The rose bath that the Empress Dowager took every day held a dark secret. The recipe was not harmful if used occasionally but bathing in it every day for a long time would have certain consequences. Those consequences had an aphrodisiac-like effect. Ever since the Empress Dowager had received this recipe, she had been taking these medicinal baths every day. It was no surprise she was now in such a state. The fact that she was even considering going to Huangqi Temple to find a man was truly audacious.

Momo Jin said, ”Niangniang, it doesnʼt seem appropriate for the Empress Dowager to go to Huangqi Temple. If she defiles the purity of the Buddhaʼs sacred place, itʼll be on us.”

Momo Jin had great respect for the Buddha.

Yu Xiyu smiled, ”Flies donʼt land on eggs without cracks. If the abbot of Huangqi Temple were truly a virtuous monk with a high moral standing, he wouldnʼt allow that venomous woman to act recklessly in the temple.”

Whether or not the Buddhaʼs sanctity was disturbed depended not on her, but on the abbot and monks of Huangqi Temple.

Momo Jin said nothing more. She knew in her heart that the Empress harboured a deep hatred for the Empress Dowager. The fact that she had endured until now was already remarkable.

Momo Jin said, ”Niangniang, this matter will come to light sooner or later. Tong Shi cannot be allowed to remain.”

The prescription had been secretly given to Tong Shi, the Second Madam Song, through a method orchestrated by Yu Xiyu. Tong Shi, who had always sought the Empress Dowagerʼs favour, naturally didnʼt keep the recipe to herself after receiving it. If the Empress Dowager truly sought out an illicit affair, the matter would eventually be exposed, and that would pose a hidden threat. It was best to eliminate this risk while there was still time.

Yu Xiyu nodded, ”Tong Shi is already half dead, so doing something to her now wonʼt arouse anyoneʼs suspicions.”

It was worth thanking Jing Wangfei for this. Had Tong Shi been in good health, it would have taken considerable effort to eliminate her without leaving a trace.

That very night, news came that Tong Shi had passed away. Yuchen was playing the qin at that time. When she heard the news, her hand pressed the strings too hard, causing one of them to break.

Yuchen asked, ”Didnʼt the Imperial Physician say yesterday that Tong Shi had three to five years to live? Why did she suddenly pass away today?”

The whole situation felt suspicious.

Momo Gui said, ”Over the years, Tong Shi relied on the support of the Song family and made many enemies. It wouldnʼt be surprising if someone took action in secret.” Tong Shiʼs death was undoubtedly unnatural, and Momo Gui was certain of it.

Yuchen stood up and muttered, ”She got off too easily.” She had wanted Tong Shi to suffer more, but now that woman had found release.

After speaking, Yuchen glanced at the qin with the broken string and instructed a maid to take it away, planning to have the string replaced by a master craftsman.

Later that evening, Jing Wang returned and mentioned to Yuchen that Empress Dowager Song was planning to go to Huangqi Temple to burn incense. Yuchen found this rather sudden and asked with some surprise, ”Why would Mother want to stay on the mountain in this freezing weather? What if she gets sick?”

Of course, Yuchen didnʼt truly care about the Empress Dowagerʼs health. Her words were merely for show.

Jing Wang shook his head, ”Both Imperial Brother and I tried to persuade her, but since Mu Hou still insists on going, we can only let her go. I think sheʼs feeling lonely. If you have time, go and talk to her more often.”

It had to be said—Jing Wang was a dutiful son.

Yuchen nodded, ”All right.”

The next morning, Yuchen dressed herself up elegantly and headed to the Imperial Palace. Empress Dowager Song, who didnʼt like Yuchen, exchanged a few polite words before trying to send her away. ”Thereʼs nothing going on here. You should go back and take good care of Yan-er.”

If one didnʼt know better, they would think she was a very loving grandmother!

Since she had been dismissed, Yuchen couldnʼt possibly stay any longer. She went to see the Empress at the Kunning Palace, had a lengthy conversation with her, and then left the Imperial Palace.

Momo Gui remarked, ”I really donʼt understand why the Empress Dowager dislikes Niangniang so much.” The entire capital was aware of Empress Dowager Songʼs disdain for her mistress.

Yuchen touched her face and responded with a smile, ”I didnʼt know before, but now I do. Itʼs because she feels uncomfortable looking at me.”

Momo Gui, sharp as she was, quickly understood the implication of Yuchenʼs gesture. The Empress Dowager was jealous of Yuchenʼs youth and beauty, which made her unwilling to tolerate her presence. Still, Momo Gui hesitated, unsure. ”Wangfei, that canʼt be!”

Beauty, no matter how extraordinary, would fade with time. Besides, the Empress Dowager looked like she was only in her early thirties and didnʼt seem old at all. Of course, there was no comparison with Yuchen, who was in her twenties and breathtakingly beautiful.

Yuchen pressed her face lightly, and the soft, jade-like skin left a faint red mark. ”Apart from that, thereʼs no other explanation.” It was precisely because she suspected this was the reason that Yuchen always made a point of dressing extra elegantly when she visited Kunning Palace. It served no real purpose, but it was enough to annoy the Empress Dowager.

Momo Gui was speechless. The Empress Dowager was only in her forties. If she was already this angry just by looking at Yuchen, would she not be able to tolerate the sight of young, radiant girls when she turned seventy or eighty?

Yuchen wasnʼt surprised and said, ”The world is vast, and there are all kinds of people.” As she spoke, the carriage suddenly screeched to a halt. Caught off guard, Yuchen was thrown to the side and hit her head on the carriage wall, leaving a bump on her head.

Momo Gui took out some ointment and began to massage the bump for Yuchen. Meanwhile, Shiqin lifted the curtain and stepped out to ask the driver what had happened.

Yuchen asked, ”What just happened?” This driver was highly skilled and had never made a mistake. For him to brake so suddenly on a main road, there must have been some kind of incident.

Shi Qin replied, ”It was a military courier from the northwest. He wasnʼt familiar with the roads and almost collided with our carriage. But since he was delivering urgent military dispatches, Guard Zhao didnʼt pursue the matter and let him go.” No one dared interfere with an urgent military dispatch from 800 miles away—not Guard Zhao, and certainly not Yuchen. If anything happened because of a delay, the consequences would be unbearable.

Yuchen felt a bit unlucky and said, ”If it wasnʼt intentional, let it go.” If they wanted to hold him accountable, they could wait until he delivered his message. However, with Yuchenʼs words, the matter was considered resolved.

Before dinner, Momo Gui received news from the palace. When she heard it, her face turned pale. She returned to the main courtyard and immediately dismissed Shiqin and the other maids.

Yuchen asked, ”Whatʼs wrong?”

Momo Gui replied, ”Wangfei, news has just come from the Imperial Palace…” She leaned close to Yuchenʼs ear and whispered the rest of the words.

Yuchenʼs pupils constricted, and her eyes widened. ”Is this true?”

Seeing Momo Gui nod, Yuchenʼs expression turned grim.

After a moment, Yuchen calmed herself and asked, ”What exactly happened?”

Yuchen had a confidant in the Kunning Palace who held a relatively high position. This person felt that Empress Dowagerʼs actions would eventually lead to disaster and drag everyone in the Kunning Palace down with her. Unwilling to risk her own life, she decided to inform Yuchen, hoping she could save her.

Momo Gui shook her head, ”The Empress Dowagerʼs diet and daily life have been perfectly normal lately, with no abnormalities.”

Yuchen shook her head. ”Impossible. Something must have gone wrong. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would never…”

Such vulgar words as ʼlust for menʼ were truly not something Yuchen could bring herself to say.

Momo Gui also believed the Empress Dowager had been set up. How else could she suddenly desire a man when sheʼd been fine before? Momo Gui said, ”Wangfei, she is the only one capable of plotting against the Empress Dowager and succeeding.”

No one else but the Empress.

Yuchen didnʼt need Momo Gui to tell her—she already knew it was the Empress. Frowning, she said, ”There are many ways to seek revenge. This method is too vile.”

She could understand the Empress wanting revenge for her sonʼs death, but she couldnʼt approve of such a method.

Momo Gui spoke pragmatically: ”Unless the Empress Dowager commits an unforgivable mistake, no one can shake her position. The Empress must have gone to great lengths to come up with this plan.”

Yuchen shook her head. ”If this gets out, the entire royal familyʼs reputation will be ruined.”

She understood the Empressʼs hatred for the Empress Dowager, but she couldnʼt condone this approach.

Momo Gui quickly said, ”Wangfei, we must not interfere in this matter.” Getting involved would mean opposing the Empress, and it wasnʼt worth it to go against her for the Empress Dowagerʼs sake.

Yuchen laughed bitterly as she responded, ”Consider this repaying her a favour.” Last time, the Empress had turned a blind eye to her actions; this time, she would do the same.