In the dead of the night, Hong Xiu was still serving Xiao YuAn as usual; she then waited for him to rest before leaving.
Xiao YuAn was just lying on his bed when he suddenly asked, “Hong Xiu, is there a famous Qin player in Jing Yang palace?”
After thinking for a while, Hong Xiu replied: “Answering to His Majesty, there is.”
Seeing Xiao YuAn nodding his head, Hong Xiu asked with sincerity: “Does His Majesty want to…”
“No! I was just asking! No other meaning! Don’t over-interpret!” Xiao YuAn interrupted her quickly.
Hong Xiu bowed her head to salute and said, “This maidservant was too stupid. Xiao Fengyue has been in the Palace for a year, but His Majesty has never seen him. Why is His Majesty suddenly asking about him today?”
After all, I heard the sound of the Guqin twice by accident and I’ve always wondered who was the one playing it. So his name was Xiao Fengyue.
Xiao YuAn searched the name back and forth twice in his mind, but he didn’t have any recollection of it. It seemed to be a character not mentioned in the original book.
Xiao YuAn said: “I was just curious, don’t worry.”
Hong Xiu nodded and extinguished the candlelight beside the bed. Xiao YuAn, who had breathing sounds next to him, soon fell asleep.
Seeing Xiao YuAn sleeping, Hong Xiu leaves quietly. Outside the Palace, the moon was bright in the sky, but the night was really dark; and Hong Xiu, wrapping the clothes, was full of worries.
Eunuch Zhao’s words were still lingering inside Hong Xiu’s heart. In the past, she would go back to rest by now, but this time she couldn’t help but walk out towards the Jing Yang Palace.
Yang HeQing’s wing room is on the far East side of Jing Yang Palace. Because of the curfew, at this time, Jing Yang Palace is quieter at night.
Hong Xiu was only thinking about things when unconsciously she got there. When she was about to leave, she saw a figure in the East part of the courtyard!
Hong Xiu’s heart was shocked. Holding her breath she saw Yan HeQing standing in the middle of the courtyard, facing South, staring at the moon.
The night was as cold as water, and the bright moonlight was falling on the cool snow, on the dry tree branches and in the eyes of Yan HeQing, for quite a while.
The vast land ten thousand miles away from this place was his hometown, and the white bones buried under it were his ancestors.
Yan HeQing held the jade hairpin tightly in his right hand. There was unwillingness, remorse and determination in his eyes. When he raised his eyes again, they were flowing with murderous intent.
Hong Xiu was horrified, and her head was filled with Eunuch Zhao’s advice: The people in Jing Yang Palace are going to be sent to His Majesty’s bedside. If you send a wolf, you will hurt His Majesty…
At this time, Eunuch Zhao sat on a chair drinking tea. While Steward Feng was massaging his legs for him, he asked: “Eunuch Zhao, you said that this Hong Xiu is just a maidservant; after listening to your words, what else can she do? I’m afraid that Yan HeQing’s days at Jing Yang Palace will be very comfortable.”
After hearing this, Eunuch Zhao sneered and shook his head: “The only thing I’m worried about is that she didn’t listen to my advice.”
“Huh? Did Eunuch Zhao make some arrangements in Jing Yang Palace?” Steward Feng was surprised.
Eunuch Zhao looked at Steward Feng with disgust: “You, why don’t you just ask directly?”
Steward Feng was a yes-man: “Instruct me Eunuch Zhao.”
Eunuch Zhao said, “Do you know how many years has Hong Xiu been in the Palace?”
Steward Feng wiped the cold sweat: “This slave is stupid, I don’t know.”
“Humph.” Eunuch Zhao sneered. “She, ah, she entered the Palace at the age of eighteen and she has been in charge of the Jing Yang Palace for more than five years. Do you know why it took her only three years to become the head master of the Jing Yang Palace?”
Steward Feng stuttered: “This s-slave…”
Eunuch Zhao continued: “I will tell you something, one of these male concubines was once found to be an assassin. This assassin should have been executed immediately, but his appearance was extremely pleasing for His Majesty. His Majesty’s heart was very itchy and impatient, but he was also afraid of the beautiful man’s force, so he handed the man over to Hong Xiu. Later, the next day, the assassin’s tendons were cut and his teeth were broken. Then, he was sent to His Majesty’s bedside.”
After finishing his speech, Eunuch Zhao disregarded the fright in Steward Feng’s face and stood up from the chair. He knocked on his old leg with the back of his hand and said: “There’s some things that can’t be changed.”