in2ebook Episode 35: Suicide by hanging.
Episode 35: Suicide by hanging.
Time flies by like a white horse galloping past a crack, and in the blink of an eye, we welcome the scorching sun and sweltering heat of July.
Today happens to be the first day of the lunar month, which, according to palace custom, is an important day for all the concubines in the harem to go to Anning Palace to pay homage to the Empress.
At this moment, Anning Palace was bustling with activity! The numerous concubines were all dressed up in their finest attire, each vying for attention with their beauty. The Empress, seated at the head of the table, sat dignifiedly on her exquisite phoenix throne. She wore a smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes; she simply gazed calmly at the group of magnificently dressed concubines below.
The crowd chattered amongst themselves, but the Empress remained silent, simply listening to their conversation.
Just then, Consort Zhuang, Su Nuannuan, finally could no longer suppress her annoyance. The noisy and chaotic atmosphere was unbearable for her, so after estimating the time, she slowly stood up, bowed gracefully to the Empress, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I see that it is getting late, and I hope Your Majesty will allow me to take my leave first."
As soon as Su Nuannuan finished speaking, the other concubines, who had been chatting animatedly, immediately fell silent and all turned their gazes to her. For a moment, the entire Anning Palace became deathly quiet, everyone watching Su Nuannuan and the Empress, awaiting the Empress's response.
The Empress smiled slightly and said softly to Su Nuannuan, "Consort Zhuang, please don't be impatient. I still have important matters to announce." Hearing this, Su Nuannuan could only respectfully nod and reply, "In that case, I will say no more and wait for Your Majesty's instructions." After saying this, she sat back down in her seat, secretly wondering what the Empress had to announce.
The Empress sat regally on her phoenix throne, her dignified and noble gaze sweeping over the concubines below. A slight smile appeared on her lips as she spoke slowly: "My dear sisters, we have now entered the seventh month. Looking back, at this time of year, His Majesty would always go to the summer palace to escape the heat, and this year is no exception."
After speaking, the Empress paused briefly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the various expressions of the concubines below. After a moment, she continued, "However, this year is slightly different from previous years. In the past, only ten of the sisters were able to accompany His Majesty to the summer palace. This year, I have decided to let all the sisters present go to the summer palace to escape the heat."
Upon hearing this, the concubines who were originally worried and fearful that they would not be able to obtain the right to accompany the emperor instantly became excited. Like a stone thrown into a calm lake, the crowd whispered among themselves and discussed the matter, creating a noisy commotion.
"Ladies, please be quiet for now!" The Empress said loudly, still smiling.
Once the palace was quiet again, the Empress spoke slowly, "I know how happy my sisters are to hear this news, so I will not delay you any longer. I hope you will all return to your respective palaces to pack your belongings and depart promptly at dawn on the third day of the month."
If any of the younger sisters is delayed due to their own reasons and misses the journey, then they will have to stay in the palace alone.
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing this, the concubines hurriedly rose and bowed to the Empress in gratitude. In an instant, the hall was filled with the swaying of magnificent robes and the tinkling of jade pendants.
Afterwards, everyone got up and left Anning Palace in an orderly manner, each returning to their own palace to pack their belongings.
Just as Su Nuannuan took a step and was about to leave, she suddenly heard a call from behind.
"Consort Zhuang, Consort Qin, please wait a moment." The Empress's gentle yet dignified voice reached Su Nuannuan and Consort Qin's ears.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan and Consort Qin stopped in their tracks and quickly turned around to face the Empress, bowing gracefully and asking in unison, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
The other concubines, seeing that Consort Zhuang and Consort Qin had been left behind by the Empress, were slightly curious but said nothing. They simply continued walking silently, filing out of Anning Palace one after another.
"My two sisters, please don't stand on ceremony. Please have a seat." The Empress smiled and gracefully stepped down from the phoenix chair, which symbolized supreme authority, while extending her jade hand in a gesture of invitation, and said softly.
Su Nuannuan and Consort Qin exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly. After bowing to the Empress again, they carefully took their seats.
The Empress walked gracefully to the two women and found a chair to sit down. Yingchun, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped forward to serve fragrant tea to Su Nuannuan and Consort Qin.
Su Nuannuan picked up her teacup and took a small sip, but her gaze remained fixed on the Empress. The Empress was dignified and gentle, but there seemed to be a hidden meaning in her eyes.
Su Nuannuan thought to herself: Judging from this situation, the Empress is probably going to have a long talk with the two of us.
The dignified and elegant Empress parted her lips slightly and said in a slow voice, "My two sisters must have heard that Consort Li has been demoted to commoner status by imperial decree for committing the heinous crime of harming the imperial heir, and has been sent to guard the imperial mausoleum. Not only that, but her family has also been implicated and suffered this undeserved calamity."
It turns out that Consort Li knew that both of her children were severely allergic to peanuts, but she maliciously instructed the palace maids in the Empress Dowager's palace to feed the two young princes peanut brittle.
Unfortunately, shortly after consuming the medicine, both princes developed persistent high fevers and their bodies were covered in red rashes. The second prince's condition was particularly critical, and he even experienced uncontrollable convulsions.
The incident the Empress mentioned, in which Consort Li attempted to harm the imperial heirs, was precisely this matter. Fortunately, Heaven had eyes, and in the end, no great disaster occurred; the two princes were spared their lives. However, the nature of this incident was extremely heinous, truly an attempted murder.
Therefore, the emperor was furious and immediately issued an edict to demote Consort Li to a commoner and exile her to the imperial mausoleum, ordering her to guard it for the rest of her life.
To be fair, such punishment would be less appropriate than simply banishing him to the cold palace. After all, even in the cold palace, he would still retain some status, and he wouldn't have to work as hard as he did in the imperial mausoleum, nor would he have to serve others.
“Yesterday, a shocking message came from the imperial mausoleum—that commoner Li could no longer endure the heavy labor in the mausoleum and chose to hang himself.”
"He hanged himself?" Consort Qin's eyes widened instantly upon hearing the Empress's words, and she asked incredulously.
"It's better to live a miserable life than to die. Why couldn't she think of that?" Consort Qin couldn't help but shake her head and sigh, a hint of regret in her eyes.
Su Nuannuan, sitting to the side, appeared unusually calm, as if she had expected this.
She gazed silently ahead, pondering Li Shuren's plight. For Li Shuren, who had lived a life of luxury and privilege his entire life, the sudden change to serving others and being constantly bullied and insulted was an unbearable blow.
She, who used to bully others with her power, is now reduced to a target of oppression; her psychological breakdown is unimaginable. Thinking of this, Su Nuannuan sighed softly and said, "Your Majesty, I can understand Consort Li's feelings. Such a dramatic fall from grace is unbearable for anyone. Death may only be a matter of time for her; she will either choose to end it all or slowly die in endless torment."
Hearing Su Nuannuan's words, the Empress, who had been watching her, smiled slightly and asked with interest, "Sister Zhuangfei, you are not surprised at all?"