Held in the Lonely Castle Chapter 23

 

 Held in the Lonely Castle  

 Chapter 23

Translated by : DANMEI HEAVEN

   Palace Turmoil

In the dead of night, I abruptly awoke, sitting up in alarm, my heart pounding as it had during the day. Wondering if I’d had a nightmare, I was soon overwhelmed by a cacophony of chaotic sounds seeping through the window.

The noise was indistinct, like water about to boil in a copper pot. Listening closely, it was layered—distant clamoring, hurried footsteps outside the walls, and occasionally, the galloping of horses...

Horses? I instantly grew alert. This was the inner palace, where even carriages and palanquins were forbidden, let alone horseback riding.

I quickly dressed, donned my cap, fastened my belt, and rushed out, heading straight for the gate. Peering outside, I saw flickering lights to the east near Funing Hall and heard shouts, though the distance muffled the words. Eunuchs in various uniforms hurried past, armed with knives and clubs, some high-ranking ones on horseback, all heading toward Funing Hall. Snatches of conversation mentioned "the empress summoning the eunuch directors."

Behind me, others in the residence began gathering in the courtyard, including Lady Miao, who emerged holding the drowsy princess, her face pale as she asked me what was happening. I shook my head, unsure. The residence’s chief eunuch, Wang Wuzi, stepped forward to look.

Just then, a servant from Funing Hall raced over, shouting, "By the empress’s decree: All consorts are to remain in their residences with gates barred. Eunuchs are to arm themselves and guard the gates, not opening them without orders!"

Wang Wuzi immediately ordered the eunuchs to arm themselves and guard the courtyard, then instructed me to take two junior eunuchs to Funing Hall: "First, to gather information. Second... if there’s trouble, you must help guard His Majesty’s palace and protect the emperor and empress."

I agreed, leading the eunuchs toward Funing Hall as the residence gates closed tightly behind us.

At Funing Hall, I encountered Zhang Maoze, who had already arrived. Dismounting, he hurried inside. I quickly followed, asking, "Director Zhang, what’s happening?"

His expression grave, he strode forward, answering curtly, "Some personal guards from Chongzheng Hall have crossed Yanhe Hall into the inner palace. They’re now behind Funing Hall."

The personal guards attended to the emperor’s affairs and were forbidden from entering the inner palace, especially at night. This sounded like a rebellion, with the guards plotting treason. Yanhe Hall was north of Funing Hall—meaning the intruders were just a wall away from the emperor and empress.

"How many?" I asked.

"Unknown," he replied.

Inside the hall, the emperor and empress sat on the throne, fully dressed, though the empress wore only a simple bun, impeccably neat despite its plainness. The eunuch directors and deputies who had arrived earlier stood guard inside and outside the hall, unsure of the intruders’ numbers and thus hesitant to act, only securing the rear gates to Yanhe Hall and monitoring closely.

Seeing Zhang Maoze, the empress’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly. She ordered the main gates barred, then seemed about to speak to him when a woman’s piercing scream erupted from behind the hall.

His Majesty started at the sound, which grew increasingly agonized. He turned to his attendant He Chengyong and asked, "Are the rebels harming people?"

He Chengyong stepped outside to look, then returned. "Your Majesty need not worry. It’s just a palace maid nearby disciplining her adopted daughter."

The empress slammed the table in fury. "The rebels are killing people right outside, and you dare lie to His Majesty’s face?"

He Chengyong fell to his knees in terror, begging forgiveness. The empress ignored him, instructing Zhang Maoze instead: "Pingfu, gather buckets and containers, fill them with water—the more, the better."

Without question, Zhang Maoze agreed, signaling me to follow as he directed the eunuchs to collect water and line the walls with filled containers.

I suddenly realized the empress feared the rebels would set fires.

Sure enough, moments later, unable to breach the gates, the rebels ignited the curtains between Yanhe Hall and Funing Hall. Flames spread toward Funing Hall, but the prepared eunuchs doused them swiftly.

Amid the smoke, chaos erupted outside the main gates as another group arrived, pounding and shouting.

The hall’s occupants paled, fearing the rebels had circled around, until a woman’s voice cried, "Your Majesty, your consort is here! Open the gates!"

It was Consort Zhang. His Majesty relaxed, ordering the gates opened.

Consort Zhang entered with a group of eunuchs, rushing to His Majesty’s feet and weeping. "Your servant was delayed in coming to your aid. Forgive me."

His Majesty helped her up, asking gently, "Why have you come? It’s dangerous. Didn’t the empress order everyone to stay in their residences?"

Tears in her eyes, Consort Zhang declared, "How could I stay hidden while Your Majesty is in danger? If Your Majesty suffers, I dare not live. I beg to stay by your side, sharing life or death."

His Majesty, moved, wiped her tears and seated her beside him, effectively placing her on par with the empress.

Consort Zhang cast a smug glance at the empress, then ordered her eunuchs to guard the hall. The empress ignored her, asking Ren Shouzhong, "If the rebels aren’t attacking, their numbers must be few. Can we send eunuchs to engage them?"

Ren hesitated. "But Funing Hall has only a few dozen eunuchs. The rebels are armed guards. If they’re numerous..."

"Your Majesty," Zhang Maoze stepped forward, "I volunteer to go."

The empress didn’t respond, her expression cool as she briefly met his eyes before resuming her composed stance. She took scissors from a maid and addressed the eunuchs: "Those willing to capture the rebels, step forward. I will cut your hair as a token. When the rebels are quelled tomorrow, you will be rewarded based on this mark."

The eunuchs exchanged glances, hesitating. I stepped forward, knelt before the empress, and removed my cap.

After a pause, the empress untied my hair and cut a lock.

The two junior eunuchs followed suit, and soon, nearly all the young eunuchs had offered their hair.

The empress glanced at Zhang Maoze and said, "Follow Zhang Maoze and obey his orders."

They assented. Zhang Maoze bowed to the empress and led the group out, pausing at the door to ask, "Should the rebels be captured alive?"

The empress replied, "If they surrender, spare them. If they resist, show no mercy."

His Majesty flinched at "show no mercy," glancing at her. The empress’s lips were pressed thin, her gaze icy—resolute. Even I felt a chill. Usually gentle and dignified, she now revealed her military lineage, commanding with a general’s calm and ruthlessness.

Zhang Maoze split the group, sending some to guard the rear exits of Chongzheng and Yanhe Halls, then led the rest to a side gate near Yanhe Hall. Hearing no movement, he ordered scouts to check the courtyard before cautiously opening the gate.

The courtyard was empty save for a palace maid with a severed arm, unconscious. Zhang Maoze had her carried away, then eyed Yanhe Hall. "The rebels may be inside."

The hall’s doors and windows were shut, dark and silent, but the air was thick with tension, as if danger lurked within. The group halted, unwilling to advance.

Zhang Maoze pondered, then asked a Funing Hall eunuch, "Are there any fireworks left from last month’s lantern display?"

The eunuch nodded. "I’ll fetch them."

He returned with fireworks, which Zhang Maoze distributed, instructing his men to light them and toss them through the hall’s windows. Soon, curses and coughs echoed from inside.

Zhang Maoze relaxed. "There aren’t many." He kicked the door open.

What followed could hardly be called a fierce battle. Absurdly, there were only four rebels, all reeking of alcohol. Zhang Maoze, entering first, was ambushed and stabbed in the left shoulder. But with our numbers, the skirmish ended quickly—three rebels were killed on the spot, while one escaped.

Zhang Maoze had called for captives, but in the heat of the moment, the eunuchs vented their tension, ignoring his orders and brutally dispatching the rebels. The three corpses were mangled beyond recognition.

Later, the eunuchs identified the dead as Yan Xiu, Guo Kui, and Sun Li, personal guards from Chongzheng Hall, while the escaped rebel was Wang Sheng. Zhang Maoze ordered the rebels’ belongings confiscated and presented to the emperor and empress.

Among the items was an exquisitely embroidered woman’s undergarment, seemingly not of common make, and a hidden letter. The empress, upon reading it, was livid. "Shuangyu!"

The maid Shuangyu, who served the empress closely, turned deathly pale, collapsing to her knees. "Mercy, Your Majesty! I know nothing!"

"This letter is yours, arranging a meeting with the rebel," the empress coldly stated. "How long have you been involved with him?"

Shuangyu shook her head desperately. "I truly didn’t know... I met Yan Xiu by chance at Chongzheng Hall and foolishly yielded to his advances... But I never imagined he’d do this... I’m innocent..."

"You deserve death," the empress said, her tone calm but unyielding. "Even if you knew nothing of Yan Xiu’s treason, consorting with a guard is a capital offense."

Shuangyu kowtowed until her forehead bled, pleading for mercy, but the empress stared ahead, unmoved.

Consort Zhang chuckled. "Shuangyu, the empress isn’t as soft-hearted as His Majesty. Kowtowing won’t help."

Shuangyu turned to the emperor, begging for her life. Moved by her tears, he said to the empress, "Given her years of service, spare her this once."

The empress didn’t reply but rose and left, returning shortly in formal court attire, her hair crowned with the nine-dragon, four-phoenix headdress. She bowed to His Majesty. "The maid Yuan Shuangyu has consorted with a guard, defiling the palace. By law, she must die. I ask Your Majesty to permit her execution."

His Majesty argued, "Laws are made by men and can be flexible. Shuangyu has served diligently for years without fault. A severe flogging should suffice."

The empress refused. "This would fail to purify the palace."

His Majesty, forcing a smile, stood to help her up, attempting to placate her. "Empress, please sit. Let’s discuss this..."

The empress avoided his touch, stepping back and bowing. "Yuan’s crimes are clear. If Your Majesty pardons her, it will set a precedent, making it impossible to manage the palace. For the greater good, I beg you to order her death."

At "death," Shuangyu wailed louder, clutching His Majesty’s robes. "Your Majesty, save me!"

His Majesty sighed, urging the empress to sit and discuss further, but she remained standing, silent.

Angered, His Majesty pointed at Shuangyu and snapped, "She’s served you for years. Even a pet would evoke some affection. How can you be so heartless?"

The empress bowed slightly, enunciating clearly, "Your Majesty, precisely because she served me for years yet did this, I cannot forgive her."

His Majesty fell silent, and the empress said no more. The two remained frozen—one seated, one standing—in silent confrontation. No one dared intervene. Even Shuangyu stopped crying, kneeling numbly before His Majesty. The hall was as still as the lantern puppets after the festival, motionless and silent.

The standoff lasted one or two hours until dawn broke, illuminating the hall. He Chengyong quietly approached His Majesty, whispering, "Your Majesty, it’s time for morning court."

His Majesty slowly stood, finally yielding. "Very well. Shuangyu is yours to punish." With that, he strode out, still in informal attire, heading to court.

The empress bowed as he left, then ordered Ren Shouzhong, "Take Yuan Shuangyu to the eastern garden and execute her."

(To be continued)