Chapter 5: The Palace Detainment

When Wen Qiao returned, the hall remained in a harmonious atmosphere. Apart from Wen Qi sitting with her head bowed and Wen Zehan painstakingly trying to cheer her up by his side, there was nothing that made her feel disgusted.

“Why were you gone so long? Was something the matter?” the Empress Dowager asked kindly, patting Wen Qiao’s hand with a gentle smile.

Wen Qiao shook her head timidly, casting a glance toward Wen Zehan before quickly lowering her gaze again, her voice muffled. “Your servant is fine. It’s just that earlier I felt a bit overwhelmed. It is my first time seeing so many people; I was naturally a little nervous.”

The Empress Dowager’s heart stirred with some displeasure. She glanced discreetly at the seat reserved for the Marquis’s household and felt a pang of sympathy for Wen Qiao.

“You must come by my side more often. I will take you to see more. You’re such a child…”

Recalling her deceased youngest daughter, the Empress Dowager’s heart ached a little.

In her lifetime, she bore three sons and two daughters, but only one son, Xiao Zheng, remained. The others fell victim to palace intrigue. One youngest daughter had reached the age of marriage. They had thought that with the emperor’s backing, she would avoid hardship, yet unexpectedly, she passed away prematurely.

She herself was born into a prominent family, cherished and well-protected by her own kin. Though ignorant upon entering the palace, she was accompanied by two clever maids and was fortunate enough to have a son who was impressive, allowing her to become Empress Dowager without ever having been empress.

Although she had some understanding of the sordid affairs in the mansions of noble families and knew the Marquis’s household was unclean, she never imagined they had the audacity to meddle during the princess’s childbirth, much less that Wen Qiao’s being switched at birth was deliberate. She had only thought it was a matter of unfortunate fate for the youngest daughter and granddaughter.

Back then, her youngest daughter, Chang Le, was to be betrothed. The custom in Xiao Kingdom forbade princes consort from holding government positions. She did not know what sort of spell Wen Congqing had cast on her, but Chang Le was determined to marry down. Though the Empress Dowager disliked Wen Congqing, she maintained a courteous attitude for her daughter’s sake.

Outside the hall, Xiao Jingheng struggled to crawl behind the rockery.

Though Wen Qiao had just administered an injection to him, the poison was virulent and would take time to dissipate. When the toxin flared, his appearance was frightening, deterring others from approaching; even the servants secretly mocked him as a monster.

His origins were pitiable. His biological mother was a lowly palace maid. During Xiao Zheng’s struggle for succession, his brothers had poisoned him and planned to give an antidote to a young and unstable concubine, framing him for impropriety in the harem to tarnish his reputation.

Though a palace maid ultimately cured him without incident, he could not overcome the mental scars.

He blamed himself for not being cautious enough.

Had Xiao Zheng not been sabotaged, he would never have favored his mother, and thus, Xiao Jingheng would not exist.

That treachery marked Xiao Zheng with shame and tainted his view of the son his palace maid bore; he detested him.

Since childhood, Xiao Zheng had neglected and ignored Xiao Jingheng.

Over the years, Xiao Jingheng suffered endless humiliation in the palace. Anyone could trample on him. Were it not for his own endurance and discretion, he would have long been crushed by his siblings.

“Ugh…” Xiao Jingheng stifled a groan.

“Your Highness, are you alright?” An old maid in tattered clothes approached from the other side of the rockery. Her eyes were dull and her steps unsteady, likely blind.

Those without sight often have heightened other senses. Had Xiao Jingheng not made a sound, she would not have known he was nearby.

“Granny Zhao,” he rasped.

She had been a trusted servant of his late biological mother, Zhao Guihua.

Once, Granny Zhao served in the imperial consort Xiu’s palace. When Xiu’s maternal family was found guilty of salt smuggling and illegal mining, Xiao Zheng deemed them traitorous and had them executed.

Though Xiu escaped death, she was banished to the cold palace. Granny Zhao was sent to the laundry bureau, washing clothes in icy water during winter, her hands covered in frostbite.

Zhao Guihua, seeing that Granny Zhao was aged and also from her hometown, took pity and spent a great deal of silver smoothing her way, secretly sending her warm clothes and medicine. Otherwise, she might have frozen to death that winter eighteen years ago.

If not for Granny Zhao’s care since childhood, Xiao Jingheng might never have survived to grow this old.

Pale-faced, Xiao Jingheng’s condition worried Granny Zhao deeply. She helped him back to his own chamber.

Though called a palace, it was no more than a dilapidated courtyard — a place even more desolate than the cold palace, which no outsider would believe existed within the imperial grounds.

At this hour, with no entertainment, everyone had grown accustomed to early nights. The banquet ended before seven.

The Empress Dowager, frail with age, could not endure long and asked Wen Qiao to help her back to the Cining Palace.

Wen Congqing bit his lip, seeming to want to say something but ultimately swallowing his words.

“It is late, and the Empress Dowager’s health is fragile. I had the Sixth Miss escort her back. Marquis Yongning, the Empress Dowager also misses Chang Le. By tomorrow noon, I will personally see that your daughter is returned to you safely,” the emperor said, his mood lifted.

Usually displeased with Wen Congqing, the emperor still granted him some face at the banquet, since Chang Le had chosen him herself.

Moreover, he had yet to investigate Wen Qiao’s relationships within the Marquis’s household after her return.

Once he had gathered the facts, he would decide how to handle Wen Congqing.

“To receive the Empress Dowager’s favor is an honor. If she wishes to keep her in the palace for days or weeks, your servant would not object,” Wen Congqing said, attempting to curry favor.

Yet the emperor’s expression soured. He glanced at him meaningfully, waved him off, and called him back to his seat.

Marquis Yongning was baffled, thinking his words had been too brief to please the emperor.

Had Wen Qiao been present, she would have doubted how Wen Congqing had managed to survive in the capital relying on such wit.

The Empress Dowager rested early. After washing and preparing for bed, she asked Wen Qiao to stay and chat for a while.

Only when worried Wen Qiao might tire did the latter take her leave.

No matter what the Empress Dowager asked, Wen Qiao replied humbly, almost as if “marquis’s household mistreats me” was written across her face, which deeply moved the Empress Dowager.

“You child, if anything troubles you, just come to Cining Palace to find me. Your mother was just like you at your age, running about at my side, mischievous, untamed even by the emperor. Unable to bear to scold or strike her, I was ever anxious when she grew up and married into the Marquis Yongning’s household, fearing she would suffer. But in the end…” Her voice choked with emotion.

Wen Qiao, unwilling to see this gentle and kind old lady sorrowful, comforted her for some time until the Empress Dowager’s feelings settled. She then withdrew from the bedchamber and followed two maids assigned by the Empress Dowager to a side hall to rest.

Her arm’s injury was more severe than that morning. After a day’s healing, it should have improved, but Wen Zehan’s earlier madness of squeezing and knocking her wound left her no chance to avoid the pain. She endured it silently.

Later that evening, when resting, she noticed the gauze on her arm had begun to seep small spots of blood.

“If it pleases the lady, I shall bring warm water for you,” came a knock on the door. It was the two maids from before.

After days of scheming and palace intrigues, and being new to the palace, Wen Qiao was exhausted. Even if she did not sleep at night, she wanted to lie down early to rest.

Though unused to having attendants, the sudden pang in her arm seemed to remind her of something.

Wen Qi wished for the Empress Dowager’s favor. If the Empress Dowager were to detest her from now on, it would be a heavy blow.

Wen Qiao smiled faintly, softening her voice as she called, “Please come in.”

The two maids entered, one carrying warm water, the other holding a towel, ready to assist Wen Qiao with washing.

Naturally, when she changed clothes, they saw the wound on her arm.

“Miss, this…” they hesitated.

To make it easier for them to see, Wen Qiao had pressed hard on the wound before they came in, causing more blood to seep onto the gauze, enough to alarm anyone.

“Just a small injury. Don’t tell the Empress Dowager; she would only worry,” Wen Qiao said with a gentle and filial manner.

These two maids belonged to the Empress Dowager. How could they not report this? Wen Qiao’s words served only to hint that she was mistreated in the Marquis’s household but dared not speak of it.

The maids dared not touch the wound; Wen Qiao also refused to send for a court physician.

The wound must not get wet, so the two carefully avoided her arm.

“No need to worry. I have medicine with me; I’ll change it myself later. It’s late; you should rest. I don’t need anyone to keep watch. I’m just a recently retrieved girl from the Marquis’s household—no one would want to harm me.”

The two maids insisted on helping her change the dressing. After some trouble, they finally left.

Lying on the bed with eyes closed, Wen Qiao smiled faintly.

Wen Qi, this gift is for you. I wonder if you like it?

At the Marquis Yongning’s mansion:

“Third Brother, I’m truly happy for Sixth Sister. She returned and so quickly gained the Empress Dowager’s favor. Unlike me, who prepared so long but was never noticed by the emperor or Empress Dowager. Boohoo... But it doesn't matter; as long as Sixth Sister is happy, it’s all the same who is close to the Empress Dowager,” Wen Qi said, head bowed, eyes red, looking pitiful and endearing.

Wen Zehan’s face remained stern.

Seventh Sister was kind and didn’t stoop to Wen Qiao’s level. She didn’t complain about losing the chance and was even glad for her.

If it had been that wretched Wen Qiao, who knew what vile schemes she would use to slander Seventh Sister.

“Hmph, she’s just a rustic girl brought back from the countryside. How could she possibly command the Empress Dowager’s favor? Unlike our Qi Qi, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Rest assured, Third Brother will find a way to get Wen Qiao replaced at the Empress Dowager’s side and have you take her place. Only when you are well can Third Brother be happy.”

Wen Qi threw herself into Wen Zehan’s arms, tears streaming with emotion. “Third Brother, you’re the one who truly cares for me.”

Yet a flash of cruelty flickered in her eyes, unseen by anyone.

The next morning, upon arriving at the Empress Dowager’s chamber, Wen Qiao saw the Empress Dowager’s face darkened, flanked by two palace maids standing with heads bowed, too afraid to speak. They visibly relaxed upon seeing Wen Qiao.

Those two were the same maids who had tended to her the night before.

Though recently returned from the Marquis’s household, Wen Qiao possessed a certain charm that made people want to believe her.

“Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager. Why are you so angry this early?” Wen Qiao asked.

“You child, yesterday I told you to come to me if anything happened. Why hide the injury on your arm from me?” Though reproachful, the Empress Dowager’s tone was laced with concern.

In her past life, due to Wen Zehan and Wen Qi’s scheming, Wen Qiao had never entered the palace for the birthday feast. When she finally came, her heart was focused solely on the Marquis’s household. She never tried to approach the emperor or Empress Dowager. Moreover, Wen Qi was close to the Empress Dowager, and whatever Wen Qi said held more weight.

After prolonged and relentless defamation, the Empress Dowager had become disappointed in Wen Qiao, so this situation never arose.

“Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. I was afraid to trouble you, so I did not speak earlier. This injury happened when I fell in the Marquis’s household. Seventh Sister gave Chen Maid some medicine, but for some reason, perhaps she used the wrong one, it burned fiercely whenever applied. I then wiped it off with a wet cloth and applied my own medicine,” Wen Qiao explained quietly.

She did not mention the two palace maids.

First, because if she said that, it would embarrass the Empress Dowager, as if the maids were placed to watch her.

Second, the two maids would be punished.

This was also Wen Qiao’s subtle way of winning hearts.

She cast a discreet glance at the two maids.

If they truly belonged to the Empress Dowager, they would never act on their own like this. But for now, as a newcomer with no connections, she had to make do.

Besides, she would spend less time in the palace than in the Marquis’s household. She needed these maids to mention her to the Empress Dowager occasionally, lest she be forgotten again.