Tangli Fried Snow

After the New Year, time flies by. When I was a child, I loved writing essays about how time flies, how fleeting it is, and how life is like a song. I didn't mean anything by it; I just wanted to show off, to prove that even though I didn't have much literary knowledge, my writing was beautiful. Now I realize that idioms truly deserve their name; they are the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients. A thousand words can be summarized in four characters—truly concise and to the point.

After she took off her heavy winter clothes and put on her newly made spring palace dress, it seemed like only a blink of an eye had passed before Shirley had been in the palace for more than four months.

A group of young palace maids had to go to the Imperial Household Department to collect their new palace attire when the seasons changed. With the war at the front lines in full swing, Consort Shen had been cutting back on the expenses of the harem. She set an example by reducing her own and the princess's food, clothing, and other necessities. The women in the harem followed suit, and a frugal lifestyle began to become popular. In recent months, many palace maids and eunuchs who had reached a certain age were also released to reduce palace expenses.

Originally, the new palace dresses were supposed to be received in March, but it was delayed until April. Some of the younger palace maids who grew quickly had already grown too short in their dresses. Shirley was pleasantly surprised to find that after this winter, when she took off her cotton-padded coat, she realized that she had also grown two or three centimeters taller. Perhaps it was because she had moved to the capital and changed her environment, or perhaps it was the effect of the medicine she had taken before. She had actually grown taller again at the age of sixteen.

The hotter the weather, the more time and effort she spent on disguise. As she wore less clothing, her figure became more and more apparent, alluring and sexy from behind, and revealing her curves from the side. With more and more skin exposed, she had to use a lot of powder to cover it up. Sometimes, when it got hot and she sweated, the powder on her face would gradually become patchy and uneven.

Especially when she comes back from running errands at noon, her face is flushed and covered in sweat, and the fake nose, being fake after all, will not change much, making it easy for anyone to spot the flaw.

She had just returned from collecting her clothes and was covered in sweat again, so she couldn't help but wipe the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

I had only taken a few bites of my food when someone stopped me.

Su He looked her up and down and carefully reminded her, "Mu Yan, are you feeling unwell? Is it because it's hot? You've been running around and are sweating. Go back to your room and rest."

Sherry, bewildered, swallowed the half-eaten meal before being pulled away from the table and pushed into her room. She pulled out a makeup mirror from her backpack and nearly rolled her eyes at the sight of her makeup.

Now that there are no chemical cosmetic ingredients, no setting spray, and no setting powder, her makeup is simply a disaster, making it unbearable to look at.

She had no choice but to close the door, remove all her makeup, and redo it.

At first, she would apply makeup two or three times a day. Later, as the weather gradually got warmer, she would apply it four or five times at most. Often, her face would look terrible after three or four hours, and she would have to touch up her makeup again.

Each drawing was different; often, it looked one way in the morning and another way in the afternoon, which annoyed Sherry to no end.

On one hand, she secretly hoped that she could be sent to impersonate Duan Xueyao so that she would no longer need to wear makeup. On the other hand, she secretly prayed that day would never come. She didn't want to be found out or have her throat slit after the truth was revealed.

She's acting crazy all the time; she's practically developing a split personality.

Life in the palace was relatively peaceful. She was the adopted granddaughter of Aunt Zhuxiao and the apple of Aunt Ruyi's eye. The Empress Dowager was also the highest-ranking woman in the palace, so no one dared to come to Jingfu Palace to cause her any trouble. Xue Li ran errands outside every day, doing odd jobs and gathering gossip. Now she was considered half a know-it-all in the palace.

She knew exactly which palace maid was secretly flying a kite with the princess, and what tune the ladies in each palace were playing at night.

That lecherous scoundrel Yin Tong, who had no tools, even sent people to inquire about her a few days after the New Year, and even led people to intercept her in the palace several times.

Once, outside the emperor's palace, he pestered her and said some inappropriate things, "Little beauty, I haven't seen you lately. You seem to have become even more beautiful. Your eyebrow pencil is no good. It didn't draw the ethereal beauty of long, arched eyebrows. Why don't you come to my place tonight? I'll give you half a snail shell of eyebrow pencil."

Disgusting, absolutely disgusting! You're giving away half an eyebrow pencil, and I have to come to your place to have it drawn on. You can even use half an eyebrow pencil to fool people? What kind of person are you?

Sherry didn't want to confront him directly. He had powerful connections and a dozen or so lackeys. Every time he appeared, he was surrounded by a retinue and acted arrogantly. She was afraid of offending him, being pestered by him, and having her identity exposed. So, whenever she encountered him, she either avoided him or acted like a coward.

Fortunately, he had two or three palace maids with him at the time, and Xiangyun was also there. The lecherous man was easily led astray by Xiangyun's few words. "Eunuch Tong, I heard that you have many beauties in your courtyard. Even half a snail-shaped ink wouldn't be enough to paint for them all, would it? Our Muyan has received a generous reward from the Empress Dowager and has two new blue smoke inks on hand, so we won't trouble you with your troubles. It's already noon and getting late. We still have to go back to the Empress Dowager's palace to serve. Goodbye."

He was so angry that his face turned green. He had lost all face in front of his subordinates. His face turned red and then green as if it had been dyed, which was really ridiculous.

Later, he still wouldn't give up and sent someone to the Empress Dowager to inquire. He learned that this inconspicuous little palace maid was quite influential in Gyeongbokgung Palace. Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. He didn't dare to be too presumptuous and gradually stopped bothering her.

That disgusting eunuch hasn't shown up lately. Xiangyun even secretly bribed someone in the Empress's palace with some silver to inquire about him. She heard that this Eunuch Yin had recently acquired a beauty from outside the palace and was in high spirits, so he didn't have time to pay attention to anyone else. Only then did Xue Li feel completely relieved.

It turns out that those influential eunuchs could afford to buy houses in the capital and keep several beautiful concubines and young boys in their own residences, living a more comfortable life than some officials in the capital.

Although Sherry would curse him for being despicable, shameless, and a smug little man, she wouldn't bother to inquire about his dirty deeds if he didn't provoke her.

…………

Early that morning, the Empress Dowager ordered someone to stew some tonics, which were simmered over a low flame all morning. At noon, she personally delivered them to her son.

Shirley, along with several senior palace maids and Aunt Ruyi, carrying soup and snacks, followed the Empress Dowager to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. This was also her first opportunity to see the Emperor of Song up close.

She had come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Aunt Ruyi to deliver things before, but she always waited outside the inner and outer rooms and only caught a few glimpses of the emperor from afar. She had only seen the general appearance of the emperor, and the empress's people would take the things and then let her leave. She had never seen the emperor up close, let alone had the right to speak with the emperor and empress.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor, having finished discussing important military and national affairs, were chatting casually when the Empress Dowager appeared at the opportune moment. With her son and daughter-in-law present, they naturally had a private conversation for a while.

Sherry peeked inside a few times, but there were many people serving here who could see and hear her, so she didn't dare to be presumptuous. She took advantage of the few seconds she had to go in to look up and then looked inside again. She quickly lowered her head and stood quietly to the side.

The emperor had been ill for more than half a year. He had lost his majestic masculine appearance, his face was pale, his body was thin, his wrists were slender, and his voice was gentle. Although he was not getting better, his life was not in danger.

The Golden Queen was still as alluring as ever; power seemed to have infused her with new vitality, making her even more beautiful than after Botox injections. She looked even more stunning than before. Perhaps it was because Shirley's gaze was too captivating; when those bright, penetrating eyes pierced her, Shirley lowered her head guiltily, silently chanting, "You can't see me, you can't see me..."

The Emperor hadn't seen his mother, the Empress Dowager, for a long time. He was very happy to see her and inquired in detail with Aunt Ruyi about her health and the medicine she had been taking recently. The Empress Dowager was in good health, at least much better than her son.

The Empress Dowager spoke with the Emperor for a while, and fearing he might be tired, she personally attended to him and helped him rest. She then carefully inquired of the palace servants what time the Emperor went to sleep each day, what time he woke up, how many times he woke up at night, how much he ate each day, what medicine he took each day, and how his bowel movements were. The more questions the Empress Dowager asked, the more unpleasant her expression became.

Empress Jin saw the Empress Dowager's eyes fall on her for the eighth time before she finally spoke, gently saying to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, you must be tired. You should rest for a while. I will escort the Empress Dowager back to the palace."

The emperor held the empress dowager's hand and said, "Mother, don't worry about me. I'll be much better in a few days. It's most important for you to take care of yourself."

The Empress Dowager smiled and patted the Emperor's hand, which was terribly thin. The more she patted it, the more her heart ached. She quickly tried to remain calm and said, "Yes, it will be fine in a few days, it will be fine in a few days."

Fearing they would disturb their son's rest, the Empress Dowager and the Empress left the Hall of Mental Cultivation one after the other.

The two women appeared to be on good terms, but in reality, Sherry felt there was even a hint of awkwardness between them.

Two women of noble status walked in front, followed by a large group of palace maids and eunuchs. Shirley, standing in the middle of it all, felt a sense of dissonance, as if she were filming a period drama.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law arrived at a garden pavilion. There was a winding stream with artificial hills and clear water. The stream was clear and the rocks were strange. Under the sunlight, the water moved and the rocks changed, creating an endless illusion.

Springtime was in full bloom, and the Imperial Garden was lush and green, filled with tender pink buds and blossoms. Pink cherry blossoms and white apricot blossoms were vying for attention, blooming beautifully.

Only two palace maids served in the pavilion: Aunt Ruyi and Yuanyang, the Empress's personal maid. The rest of the people stood on the surrounding paths, heads bowed, picking stones.

The two women in the pavilion clearly had no interest in appreciating the beautiful spring scenery.

The Empress's beautiful face was full of respect. She remained silent, only smiling at the Empress Dowager, waiting for her to speak.

After a long while, the Empress Dowager said in a low voice, "I have lost two children."

The Empress's phoenix eyes flashed with a complex light. She was greatly shocked that the Empress Dowager's first words were this, and she couldn't help but sit up straighter, her attitude becoming even more serious.

"You must know what that excruciating pain is like."

“I was only twenty years old then. It was New Year’s Eve, and everyone was reuniting with their families to welcome the new year. But my son closed his eyes forever in my arms. He was so small, yet he was a warrior. He fought against a high fever for more than half a month, fighting to the very end. That day, he lay in my arms as if he were asleep, no longer breathing. My tears had almost dried up, but what good was it?”

He was my first child.

"If it weren't for Shun'er, I'm afraid I would have gone with him."

In her daze, the Empress seemed to think of her soft, delicate daughter in her arms, and her heart ached as if it were being torn apart. This was a pain that would never fade from her heart. When they took her daughter's swaddling clothes away from her, her only nightmare in this life was that child being slowly bitten by insects.

Pain surged into my heart like a tidal wave.

The Empress Dowager's voice seemed to come from heaven, "And my child's father is with another woman, living happily ever after with her, whispering sweet nothings about being one for life. The poor child who came to see me the next day told me that the first day of the Lunar New Year is unlucky and that the funeral should be held after the third day."

A crack finally appeared in the Queen's eyes, which had been shimmering.

“I didn’t see him when they put him in the coffin. I couldn’t imagine what he looked like in there. I prayed in the Buddhist temple for two whole years, asking them to give my child back. A few years later, I became pregnant again, and I was overjoyed… But when he was taken away in a copper basin again, I finally understood. I understood… I understood what I wanted!”

The Empress looked at the Empress Dowager, her lips pressed tightly together, her breathing rapid. At this moment, the tide in her heart was still churning.

"Just what you want now."

The silence that followed felt like an eternity.

The Empress Dowager slowly spoke again: "Are you and I good people?"

Are you and I bad people?

"I can only say that I am a complicated person, with both good and bad qualities."

"We are both women, and we want many things, but what is the most important?"

"Yu Yan, tell me what you think."

The Empress smiled subtly but meaningfully, and said softly, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager gave her a deep look and said, "It is safe and sound."

"Only when the world is at peace can power truly be power; only when everyone lives in peace can the person sitting on the throne be at peace."

"The world is in turmoil, and the throne will be in jeopardy. Even if you manage to sit on it, what then? In the end, won't you be unable to hold your position and fall again?"

The Empress felt a chill run down her spine and looked directly at the Empress Dowager with her phoenix eyes, asking, "What does the Empress Dowager wish to say?"

The Empress Dowager stood up, her back to the Empress, and looked at the spring scenery in the distance. She slowly said, "Let the Crown Prince and Yaoguang get married. Release the Prince of Wei from prison. We all know it wasn't him who poisoned him."

After a long pause, the Empress finally said, "The matter has not yet been clarified, Your Majesty, you should not jump to conclusions."

The Empress Dowager turned around and looked at the Empress seriously, saying, "If the Emperor leaves, what do you plan to do?"

A hint of awkwardness crossed Empress Jin's face as she said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of your life; it's too early to be thinking about these things."

“Xi’an is still young, only eight years old after the New Year, while He Hua is already twenty-three. Children cannot govern a country. For the sake of stability, Yu Yan, you must prioritize the overall situation.”

The Empress slowly stood up, respectfully performed a palace curtsy, and said to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, I will follow your instructions."