Chapter 3

Yao Xi felt as if she were frozen in place, as if under a spell of ice. Zheng Dayun, kneeling and kowtowing before her, along with the piercing gaze behind him, had already revealed the gravity of the situation. Now, a song titled “Liangliang” echoed in her mind, a lament for her impending demise.

To be honest, Yao Xi was not the type to speak without thought; otherwise, she would not have survived in the perilous environment of the palace. Today, she had been startled by Zheng Dayun’s words about assisting her transfer to Ning’an Palace, and in her haste, she had spoken too quickly, leading to a significant disaster.

Do not blame her for her timidity. She had not fully grasped the nature of the Empress Dowager nor the reality of Ning’an Palace.

Although Yao Xi had only been in the palace for a few years, she had heard many strange tales about the current Empress Dowager, Wan. Among officials and the common people, she bore an unspoken nickname—the Witch Queen. Such a title was reserved for someone who could only be described as a calamity to the nation and its people.

Two events had etched Wan’s name into the annals of history, both involving the late emperor and the current Empress Dowager.

Ten years prior, the late emperor, nearing forty, had publicly deposed the empress to marry Wan Yi as his new empress. Had the story ended there, it would have merely been an ancient tale of a mistress ascending to the throne, perhaps a source of jest among the populace. However, what no one could have anticipated was Wan Yi’s refusal to accept the marriage. It was a revelation to Yao Xi that an emperor’s decree could be rejected.

The late emperor was indeed a peculiar man. He had not even consulted Wan Yi before announcing their union to the world. He had brought this upon himself. The tale could have concluded with the scoundrel abandoning his wife for the goddess, only for the goddess to remain ungrateful. Yet, the late emperor continued his machinations. He reinstated the deposed queen, and shortly thereafter, Wan Yi entered the palace as a concubine.

Upon hearing this bloody saga of the royal family, Yao Xi felt pity for the late queen and disdain for the late emperor, whom she deemed a scoundrel. As for Wan Yi, she embodied both the role of a scoundrel and a victim. Yao Xi could almost envision Wan Yi, ten years ago, nestled in the late emperor’s embrace, saying, “I wish to be with you, but I do not want you to harm the queen for my sake. I am content as long as I am by your side. I do not desire the title of queen…”

Yet, considering the customs of ancient times, where men had many wives and concubines, and the fact that the other party was the reigning emperor, perhaps Wan Yi truly did not wish to harm the late queen or let the late emperor bear infamy on her account. Regardless of the truth, Yao Xi felt the deepest sympathy for the late queen. The late emperor and Wan Yi were entangled in their affections, while the late queen bore the brunt of their misfortunes, being deposed and then reinstated. It was a tale meant for three, yet she alone suffered all the misfortunes.

Another significant event occurred five years ago, when the current emperor had only been on the throne for a year. What did our formidable Empress Dowager Wan Yi, who had outlasted both the previous empress and the late emperor, do to astonish the world? She stormed into the court and publicly beheaded the censor who had impeached her, all before the emperor. In the eyes of the Empress Dowager, the harem’s interference in politics and the execution of censors were trivial matters.

Yao Xi found this behavior utterly outrageous. The first incident might have been excusable, but the execution of the censor was nothing short of tyrannical. Moreover, the Empress Dowager was merely that—an Empress Dowager, not the emperor himself. Yet, the officials could do nothing against her. No matter the laws and regulations, they could not challenge the edict of the late emperor. That decree was the talisman of Empress Dowager Wan Yi.

Due to this edict, the current emperor could not elevate his biological mother to the status of Empress Dowager, but only as a concubine. Because of this decree, the laws of Daxing held no power over the Empress Dowager. Consequently, countless individuals had attempted to assassinate her over the years, and all who served in Ning’an Palace had to be prepared to sacrifice their lives for their master at any moment.

Yao Xi even suspected that the constant troubles in Ning’an Palace might have something to do with the Emperor himself. The palace was heavily guarded, yet Ning’an Palace remained oddly unprotected, as if it were a mere tourist attraction for assassins. And the Empress Dowager—her fortune was truly remarkable. No matter how many attempts were made on her life, she always managed to survive.

“Your servant, Yao Xi, pays respects to the Empress Dowager.” Yao Xi brushed her sleeves and knelt beside Zheng Dayun. Naturally, she did not dare to raise her gaze. The highest point she allowed herself to see was the hem of the Empress Dowager’s aqua-green skirt. The golden embroidery of her shoes was mostly concealed beneath the fabric, with only the slightest tip peeking out. A flicker of hope remained in Yao Xi’s heart—perhaps the Empress Dowager had not overheard the treasonous words she had just spoken to Zheng Dayun.

The Empress Dowager’s exact age was a mystery, but Yao Xi knew she was the Emperor’s stepmother, meaning she could not be younger than him. The current Emperor was in his thirties, which meant the Empress Dowager must be nearing forty. Perhaps her hearing was no longer as sharp as it once was.

Unfortunately, Yao Xi was gravely mistaken—on two counts.

First, the Empress Dowager was much younger than the Emperor.

Second, her hearing was exceptionally keen.

The moment Wan Yi stepped into the cherry blossom grove, she overheard a eunuch saying he would rather die than serve in her palace. His tone was filled with both fear and disdain. Fear was natural—after all, a servant ought to revere his master. But disdain? Wan Yi almost wanted to pry open the little eunuch’s head and see if there was anything inside at all.

She said nothing at first, and the palace maids behind her dared not utter a sound. The entire grove fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the rustling of cherry blossoms in the wind. Wan Yi lowered her gaze to the two young eunuchs kneeling before her. The one who had spoken so disrespectfully was named Yao Xi, his kneeling posture resembling that of a lowly maidservant.

“Why is a man as resolute as you kneeling before me?” Wan Yi addressed Yao Xi directly, amusement lacing her tone. Life in the palace was dull, and she found herself entertained by this impudent little eunuch who knew nothing of decorum. “After all, you would rather die than enter Ning’an Palace, would you not? Such integrity—you are truly a man of principle.”

Yao Xi, upon hearing the speaker’s voice, judged that she could not be more than twenty years old. He assumed it was one of the Empress Dowager’s palace maids speaking on her behalf. Clinging to the hope of survival, he kowtowed and pleaded, “Sister, you don’t understand. I have my own reasons for refusing to serve the Empress Dowager!”

Sister? Who was he calling sister?

Wan Yi’s expression darkened. This audacious little eunuch actually dared to claim kinship with her.

Zheng Dayun, head lowered, silently mourned for his unfortunate companion. Yao Xi was but a low-ranking palace servant—so insignificant that he had never even served the legitimate masters of the palace, let alone encountered the Empress Dowager herself. It was no wonder he failed to recognize her voice.

Wan Yi had initially intended to have the impudent eunuch dragged away and beaten to death on the spot. However, upon hearing that he had “his own reasons,” her curiosity was piqued. She decided to listen, interested in how he would justify himself.

Yao Xi knew that his survival depended entirely on his next words. Calming himself, he spoke, “You don’t understand, Your Majesty. I have an inauspicious fate—I bring misfortune to all who cross my path. When I was still at home, I caused the deaths of my parents, my brothers, and my sisters-in-law. I had no choice but to be sold into the palace as a eunuch. Fearing I might bring disaster upon others, I have never dared to acknowledge even a godfather, let alone serve a master.”

A palace maid spread a brocade cushion atop the rock where Yao Xi had been sitting moments before. Wan Yi allowed herself to be helped into a seated position, settling in leisurely. “So, if I were to kill you now, it would simply be a matter of ridding the world of a scourge, would it not? That way, you wouldn’t have the chance to bring harm to anyone else.”

Yao Xi’s heart sank. The ominous weight of her words crushed any hope he had left. Worse yet, he now realized that the very voice he had mistaken for a palace maid’s had been the Empress Dowager’s all along.

Calling the Empress Dowager “sister”… he was doomed.

Still, his survival instinct refused to let him give up. Scrambling to defend himself, he hurriedly added, “Your Majesty, while I may be ill-fated, how could I possibly be stronger than the Emperor’s dragon spirit? How could I overpower the Empress’s divine blessings? How could I compare to the everlasting foundation of Daxing? I work in the palace, close to Your Majesty and His Majesty day and night, and I am bathed in the fortune of the imperial family. Even the worst of fates can be altered in such an environment. However, for fear of any lingering misfortune, I have always kept my distance from my masters, lest I bring them ill luck.”

“Are you finished?” Wan Yi’s voice was unreadable.

Yao Xi raised his head cautiously, hoping to glean some indication of her mood. His fate now rested entirely in her hands.

Wan Yi sat right before him, their eyes meeting for the first time.

They were both momentarily taken aback.

Wan Yi had not expected such a strikingly handsome eunuch.

Yao Xi had not expected the Empress Dowager to be so young.

A pity, Wan Yi mused. Such a face, wasted on a eunuch.

Still, that fleeting sense of regret was not enough to convince her to spare him. “I will give you two choices,” she said languidly. “Would you prefer to end your life yourself, or go to Ning’an Palace?”

Yao Xi understood immediately.

The Empress Dowager was essentially asking: Would you like to die now, or suffer a worse fate first?

If he chose to take his own life, death was guaranteed. If he chose to serve in Ning’an Palace, he would surely suffer an even more miserable demise. He had just claimed that his ill fortune would bring disaster to those around him—yet now, to save himself, he was willing to disregard the Empress Dowager’s well-being? He wanted to slap himself for such foolishness. His own reckless mouth had led him straight to his doom.

“Hmm?” Wan Yi found Yao Xi’s ever-changing expressions—from despair to indignation to anxiety—rather amusing. Maliciously, she prodded, “Well? Speak.”

“Your servant…” Yao Xi gritted his teeth, steeling himself. “Your servant is ill-fated and dares not bring harm to Your Majesty. I am unworthy of serving in Ning’an Palace. In this life, I cannot bear the fortune of such an honor, so I would rather end my own life.”

At least this way, he could choose a death that was swift and dignified. If he angered the Empress Dowager further, who knew what torments awaited him?

Wan Yi smirked. Clever. He had answered well.

“Once you enter the palace as a slave, your life is no longer your own,” she remarked. “It is not for you to decide whether you live or die.”

A yawn escaped her, which she covered gracefully with her hand. Then, addressing a maid, she ordered, “Inform the Internal Affairs Bureau—this young eunuch will take the night duty vacancy.”

Yao Xi let out a quiet breath. He had survived. For now.

But almost immediately, dread settled in his chest.

Given the Empress Dowager’s reputation, how could she possibly let him off so easily? Clearly, she meant to keep him close—so she could torment him at her leisure.