Chapter 574: Vermilion Steps Great Music Hall |
The sun sank in the west, shining brightly on the glazed gold roof of the Jingyang Palace.
The main hall was dim. Bai Li was kneeling on a futon, and the setting sun shone on her thin back. Her back was perfectly straight, like a thin bamboo growing on a steep cliff, making the dark blue Daoist robe look exceptionally hollow.
Bai Li had been kneeling here for a long time, so long that every breath churned and faded away together with the floating dust in the hall.
The hall was extremely quiet.
Not an ordinary quiet, but a cleansed purity.
Bai Li's lips moved slightly, and a low chanting voice came from the main hall: "Achieve Supreme Impartiality through Emotionlessness, obtain emotion and forget emotion. Those who obtain emotion are burdened, their obsessions becoming shackles; those who forget emotion become unobstructed, seeing the Great Beginning without hindrance. The Dao births all things, with emotion as the root; emotion births all forms, without obsession it is true..."
At this moment, footsteps came from the back hall. Du Miao sat down beside Bai Li holding a wooden box.
Leaning against the leg of the offering table, she sat lazily, reached out to take a slightly shriveled peach from the offering table, and took a bite, "Commandery Princess, I actually quite miss the time when you were in charge. Jingyang Palace finally had a bit of human vitality. Writing Green Prayer Papers during the day, talking and laughing at night, it was always better than before."
Bai Li remained unmoved, still keeping her eyes closed, placing her hands on her abdomen in the Three Mountains Hand Seal, and softly reciting, "The Supreme Venerable Sovereign said: Fortune and Misfortune Have No Doors, They Are Invited by People Themselves. Retribution Follows Like A Shadow for good and evil. Therefore, heaven and earth have deities in charge of transgressions. Depending on the severity of the offense a person commits, their lifespan is reduced..."
Du Miao changed her posture, "We are different. Even before we arrived at Jingyang Palace, there was already no one outside the palace missing us, and we had no one to miss either. So we live like pigs and dogs, living for however long we can. We don't dare to kill ourselves, afraid of the pain, but if we really die one day, then we die."
Bai Li recited in a low voice, "Those who seek to become Heavenly Immortals should establish one thousand three hundred good deeds; those who seek to become Earthly Immortals should establish three hundred good deeds. If one acts unrighteously and goes against reason..."
Du Miao smiled, not caring whether Bai Li was listening to her or not, "When you came here, everyone felt very jealous in their hearts. You were still so young and so kind, like a mirror reflecting how old and ugly we are."
Speaking to this point, she looked at Bai Li, "But we are not all unforgivably wicked people either, otherwise Princess Yongchun wouldn't have been able to live this long, right? Before you came, we were the ones taking care of her, just not as carefully as you."
Facing the setting sun, Du Miao smoothed her messy hair and tucked it behind her ear, "You should get out. Thinking that you can get out alive makes us mad with jealousy. If we couldn't beat you in a fight, maybe we would have tried to think of a way to strangle you to death... Who knows?"
She looked down and opened the box in front of her. Inside were impressively the hairpins saved up by the female Daoist nuns of Jingyang Palace over the days. Some were of Kingfisher feathers, some of white jade. They were all the treasures they cherished most in their daily lives.
Du Miao picked left and right, picked a white jade one, and reached out to pull out the wooden hairpin from Bai Li's hair bun. In an instant, her thick black hair flowed down like a waterfall.
Bai Li was like a clay statue, still closing her eyes and chanting scriptures.
Du Miao stood up, went behind Bai Li, carefully gathered Bai Li's hair up again, and inserted that white jade hairpin, "Take all these hairpins out with you... I'm not asking you to remember our kindness, nor am I expecting you to save us out after you get out. It's just that in the past, when we bought these from the young eunuchs, we always felt we might have a chance to get out. But now, we don't need these here either."
She tied up Bai Li's hair bun and gave a final soft sigh, "I know you want to take revenge for the Empress, thinking about it day and night, to the point where you have to chant scriptures here to restrain yourself from going mad. Yes, if there was a person treating me this well, I would also want to take revenge for her... But your enemy is not a certain person, but this son of a bitch world. Since you have the chance to get out, don't think about the matters in the palace anymore. Just pretend you died once, and forget us along with the Empress. Forget both the good and the bad."
Du Miao lonely went to the back hall.
The main hall quieted down again. Bai Li gently opened her eyes, looking up at the statues of the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs, speechless for a long time.
The golden statues of the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs sat high on the altar table, looking down with lowered eyes, seemingly emotionless, yet seemingly compassionate.
At this moment, chaotic footsteps came from outside the hall.
The light and shadow at the hall door were blocked by several figures. Chang Xiu, leading the Trouble-Resolving Guards, stood at the doorway, holding a roll of bright yellow silk.
He didn't come in immediately, but stopped outside the threshold for a breath's time. His gaze swept over the thin back kneeling in front of the hall, and he said with a smile, "Already kneeling? That saves some trouble."
He unrolled the silk in his hands, "By the Grace of Heaven, the Emperor Decrees: The daughter of Prince Jing, Bai Li, is not of imperial bloodline. She is hereby stripped of her surname, and is immediately banished to the Imperial Music Bureau to be auctioned into slavery. Respect this."
Chang Xiu rolled up the Imperial Edict, handed it to a Trouble-Resolving Guard, and said to Bai Li, "Let's go, Miss Bai Li. There are still people waiting for you outside, hurry up and let Viscount Wuxiang save you away. Recently he has stirred up a lot of trouble, making a commotion so much that His Majesty can't even peacefully cultivate the Dao."
Bai Li slowly stood up. Ignoring the box Du Miao left behind, she walked alone toward the outside of the Jingyang Palace without saying a single word.
Chang Xiu walked beside her, saying with interest, "Miss Bai Li doesn't seem happy? You should be happier. Over the thirty-two years in this Jingyang Palace, three hundred and twelve people have come in, and you are the only one walking out alive."
Bai Li said calmly, "It might not necessarily count as being alive either."
Chang Xiu was somewhat surprised. He looked Bai Li up and down, "When the heart dies, the Dao is born. No wonder Miss Bai Li has some Daoist charm on you. But Miss Bai Li, the Great Dao is compassionate, not ruthless."
Bai Li didn't speak.
At this moment, a Trouble-Resolving Guard hurriedly walked over and whispered a few words to Chang Xiu.
Chang Xiu pondered for a moment, and then said to Bai Li, "Miss Bai Li, there was a small accident with the matter. Lord Chen should not be at the Imperial Music Bureau right now, but is almost at Renshou Palace. It sounds like Big Trouble, and it's not yet known when he will be able to resolve the matter. So let's walk slower and wait for Lord Chen."
Bai Li's expression finally became somewhat vivid. She looked at Chang Xiu, "Are you his friend?"
Chang Xiu smiled happily, "Miss Bai Li misunderstood. I am not yet a friend of Lord Chen."
Bai Li asked, "Then why are you helping me?"
Chang Xiu walked slowly along the palace paths, walking extremely slowly, "Lord Chen and the Inner Chancellor had an agreement. He helps the Inner Chancellor eliminate two people, and the Inner Chancellor helps him save you and get you out. Since the seventh year of Jianing, the Inner Chancellor has never failed to deliver on a promise to someone else. I cannot let the Inner Chancellor become a person who breaks his promises. The reputation of the Inner Chancellor and the reputation of the Trouble-Resolving Tower are more important than my life, and more important than the lives of many people."
Bai Li suddenly asked, "Can you allow me to go take one more look at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?"
Chang Xiu gently shook his head, "That won't do. I don't have that much power to act with Reckless Abandon yet. Perhaps when I become the Brush-Holding Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, I will dare to do so... How about Miss Bai Li wait for me in Jingyang Palace for a few more years? Ha, I'm joking."
Bai Li turned around to look, attempting to find the Palace of Earthly Tranquility among the many roofs. Chang Xiu helped point out the direction of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for her. Bai Li immediately faced the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and knelt on the ground for a long time.
Chang Xiu stood beside her without urging, waiting until Bai Li got up herself.
Chang Xiu stalled for a long time, but ultimately couldn't loiter in the Forbidden City forever.
Leaving the Forbidden City, Bai Li once again smelled the familiar yet unfamiliar scent of common life. The burnt fragrance of chopped green onions and the rich smell of wheat food deep-fried in boiling oil hit her head-on, as if catching her off guard and piercing through the thick cocoon on Bai Li's body.
Seeing her in a daze, Chang Xiu waved his sleeve and instructed the Trouble-Resolving Guards, "Go buy a scallion pancake for Miss Bai Li."
When the Trouble-Resolving Guard brought the oily pancake, Bai Li didn't take it, only gently shaking her head. Chang Xiu smiled, took the oily pancake himself, and walked while eating.
He led the Trouble-Resolving Guards, protecting Bai Li in the center, passing through the crowd outside the Imperial Music Bureau. The commoners quietly watched her walk among the Trouble-Resolving Guards without joy or anger.
"So this is Commandery Princess Baili."
"No wonder Viscount Wuxiang risked his life for her. Seeing her stirs pity."
Chang Xiu found it both infuriating and amusing. He walked to the door of the Imperial Music Bureau, turned his head and looked at the dense crowd behind him, "The people of the world all judge a book by its cover. So meaning, if someone is good-looking they are worth saving, and if they are ugly they shouldn't be saved? How foolish, how sorrowful."
He shook his head helplessly and walked into the Imperial Music Bureau. The Vermilion Steps Great Music Hall was completely empty. There were clearly so many people outside the door, but unexpectedly no one dared to come in.
Chen Ji also failed to return in time, and was still in the Forbidden City.
A minor official of the Vermilion Steps Great Music Hall welcomed them up, scolding, "Why so late? Auctioning the penal slaves at three quarters of the Hour of Shen is the rule set by the Music Director. Now it is almost the Hour of You (5-7 PM), in case Lord Music Director lays blame down..."
Music Director, an Official Position under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites over the Imperial Music Bureau. The court rituals and music, as well as the Imperial Music Bureau, were all under this person's administration.
Chang Xiu smiled happily, "Then what should we do? Late is late, your Lord Music Director can't possibly kill me, right?"
The minor official was stunned, "What kind of words are you saying? Be careful my Lord doesn't impeach you."
Chang Xiu said sincerely, "I feel your Lord shouldn't go impeach me. After all, I no longer have family, but you guys still do."
The minor official's face drastically changed. Looking at the delicate and pretty young eunuch in front of him, he only felt a chill down his spine, "How... how can you speak like that?"
Chang Xiu said sincerely, "This is how the Eunuch Faction speaks."
The minor official was left speechless.
Right at this moment, the Music Director of the Imperial Music Bureau hurriedly walked into the Vermilion Steps Great Music Hall from outside, "It is already past three quarters of the Hour of Shen, auction penal slave Bai Li immediately."
Chang Xiu's eyes widened, "Do you want to die?"
The Music Director frowned, "Who are you?"
Chang Xiu pointed at the Trouble-Resolving Guards around him, "Can't you tell? Trouble-Resolving Guard Chiliarch, Chang Xiu."
The Music Director hesitated for a moment, but still darkened his face, "This place is the Imperial Music Bureau under my jurisdiction. No matter how long the arms of the Trouble-Resolving Guards are, you shouldn't interfere with the affairs of my Imperial Music Bureau, right?"
Chang Xiu let out an "oh", "I presume someone promised a great future prospect, and this prospect is worth Lord Music Director risking his life to exchange for. It's just that there's no one competing to buy in this Imperial Music Bureau right now, so how to begin?"
The Music Director said in a deep voice, "The person will arrive in a moment."
Chang Xiu smiled, "It's also been arranged who will come to buy? Let me guess, is it that Master Cui from the Qinghe Cui Clan?"
The Music Director's expression changed, "Do not pester unreasonably."
Chang Xiu originally planned to leave after delivering Bai Li, but now he found a corner seat and sat down, "Wait a bit longer. Lord Music Director, this matter is not something you can get involved in. The Pure Stream Faction is best at protecting their own skin. Today you listened to others, but tomorrow when Lord Chen goes mad, who will be able to save you?"
The Music Director angrily waved his sleeve, "How dare the Eunuch Faction threaten this official? I am doing things in accordance with the rules of the Imperial Music Bureau. What can you do to me? Does the Directorate of Ceremonial intend to commit treason and usurp the throne?"
Chang Xiu narrowed his eyes and didn't speak. In the capital city, rules carried the utmost weight. Since the other party was acting according to the rules, he really didn't have any good methods against the other party.
However, right at this moment, a lazy voice came from outside the door, "Yo, quickly let this slave take a look, who is sprouting nonsense here saying my Directorate of Ceremonial intends to commit treason and usurp the throne?"
Everyone looked over together and saw Jiao Tu walking over with a beaming smile, scrutinizing the Music Director with a smile that was not a smile. Yun Yang followed behind her, his gaze stabbing the Music Director's face like needles.
But the two of them didn't stop upon entering the Imperial Music Bureau. Instead, they dodged to the sides to clear a path, revealing a white-clothed figure behind them.
Chang Xiu hurriedly stood up and respectfully cupped his hands in a bow, "Lord Bai Long."
Bai Long arrived in front of the Music Director, using his dragon mask that revealed no joy or anger to stare deeply into the Music Director's eyes, "Can you wait?"
The Music Director's expression flickered multiple times, finally lowering his head, "Then we will wait a bit longer. But if it passes the Hour of You and we still can't wait until he comes, I can only start the auction. The Imperial Music Bureau has the Imperial Music Bureau's rules... Moreover, Viscount Wuxiang is currently Unable to Save Oneself. I'm afraid everyone will not be able to wait until he comes."
...
There will be another chapter tonight but very late, read it tomorrow morning. (End of Chapter)