PDLP Chapter 402 Sacrifice
Chapter 402 Sacrifice
A few days later, the anniversary celebration for Empress Chunyuan was held.
The atmosphere within the Lotus Sutra Hall was solemn and dignified. Incense curled in the air, and white curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, adding a touch of melancholy. The concubines, all dressed in plain clothing and crowned with white flowers, approached in order of rank. Holding burning incense, they slowly raised it to their foreheads, bent their knees, and performed a profound salutation. Then, they knelt on the cushions, clasped their hands together, closed their eyes, and devoutly chanted sutras.
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang knelt in the front row, An Lingrong, Feng Ruozhao and Qi Yuebin knelt behind them, and behind them were other concubines of lower ranks.
For a moment, the only sound in the hall was the soft and orderly chanting of scriptures.
An Lingrong raised her head slightly, looking past the people in front of her and straight ahead. There, a huge memorial tablet stood tall, with the words "Queen Chunyuan's Memorial Tablet" written in bold and powerful strokes.
A complex and indistinguishable emotion flashed in her eyes.
This Empress Chunyuan, who had never appeared before the public, was like an invisible shadow, deeply imprinted in every corner of the harem. Her existence affected the emperor's moods and also influenced the fate of all the women in the harem.
Her story is an eternal topic in the harem and has become an unspeakable pain in the hearts of every concubine - no matter how they compete for favor, they can never compare to the woman who lives deep in the emperor's memory; it is also an unattainable yearning - if they can be like her and receive the emperor's wholehearted love, even if it is only for a brief moment, it is enough to comfort the lonely soul in this deep palace.
Just as she was daydreaming, she heard a slight noise beside her and subconsciously turned her head to look.
Qi Yuebin slowly stood up with the help of his maid, walked to a chair nearby and sat down.
The maid behind her handed the pipa to her.
Qi Yuebin adjusted her sitting position, straightened her back, took a deep breath, raised her hands, and gently plucked the strings. In an instant, a cold and sad note flowed from her fingertips like a gurgling spring.
That voice, with a hint of sorrow and complaint, and every note was wrapped in endless longing and grief, echoing slowly in this solemn Dharma Flower Hall.
Looking at Qi Yuebin's eyes again, I didn't know when they had already filled with tears, gleaming with a glittering luster in the dim light. The tears gathered more and more, slowly sliding down her cheeks, dripping onto her plain clothes, leaving patches of dark stains.
She bit her lower lip tightly, her body trembling slightly, but she still played the music with great concentration, as if she wanted to use this song to express all her longing for Queen Chunyuan.
An Lingrong rolled her eyes silently: You are really obvious, right? Everyone can do that!
Well, I won’t!
Before she could finish her complaints, Yongzheng appeared at the entrance of the palace.
Yongzheng walked slowly into the hall with heavy steps. His eyes swept around the hall and finally stopped on Qi Yuebin.
Qi Yuebin's fingertips continued to gently pluck the strings, tears silently falling. Her expression was focused and mournful, as if she had completely lost herself in the melody. The concubines in the palace held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound, for fear of disturbing this moment of tranquility.
Even An Lingrong temporarily put aside her disdain, lowered her eyes, and watched Qi Yuebin's performance quietly.
When the song ended, the lingering sound left the room and the hall was filled with silence.
Qi Yuebin slowly put down her pipa and looked up at Yongzheng, tears glistening in her eyes. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum: "Your humble servant...is simply missing Empress Chunyuan. This is Empress Chunyuan's favorite piece of music. Your humble servant wishes to use this piece to express her deep sorrow."
Yongzheng looked at her quietly, with a complex emotion in his eyes, including deep longing for Queen Chunyuan and being moved by Qi Yuebin's actions.
He nodded slightly, took a step forward, stretched out his hand, and gently helped Qi Yuebin up: "You are thoughtful. Among all the concubines in the palace, you are the only one who has seen her. The relationship between you is naturally different from that of others."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuebin smiled with a hint of sadness: "Your Majesty understands my feelings, and it is Queen Chunyuan who understands my feelings. I am very pleased."
Yongzheng's eyes were slightly red, and he gently patted the back of her hand: "Okay, okay, I believe Chunyuan will feel it!"
An Lingrong's gaze penetrated through the layers of figures and locked firmly on Qi Yuebin, a gleam of light flashing in her eyes.
It seems that Qi Yuebin wants to win favor!
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile that was almost sarcastic, but the smile was fleeting.
That's right, now that there is no queen in the harem, there is no one to suppress her anymore, and it's time for her to come to the fore.
This sacrifice of Queen Chunyuan was her best chance to appear before the Emperor.
Zhen Huan obviously saw through this and quickly looked up at An Lingrong.
After talking to Qi Yuebin, Yongzheng slowly walked to the front row. His eyes fell on the tablet of Empress Chunyuan, his expression solemn.
Yongzheng lowered his head in thought for a moment, a barely perceptible sadness flickering in his eyes. He reached for three incense sticks, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner. The smoke curled upward, seemingly transporting his thoughts back to that distant past.
After offering incense, Yongzheng turned around and slowly scanned the crowd, finally landing on Zhen Huan in the front row. His eyes softened instantly, and he asked softly, "Are you tired?"
Zhen Huan raised her head, her eyes clear, "How could I be tired praying for Empress Chunyuan?" She paused and continued, "Although I will never meet Empress Chunyuan in person, I will definitely follow her example and serve the Emperor with all my heart and soul, so as not to disappoint her spirit in heaven."
Yongzheng nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes. He reached out and gently patted Zhen Huan's shoulder, saying in a gentle tone: "It's good that you have this intention!"
He looked around the hall and saw that the concubines all lowered their brows and looked solemn. He felt a sense of relief in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Today is the anniversary of Empress Chunyuan's death. I am deeply pleased that you can pay tribute to her with such sincerity. I hope that you will follow Empress Chunyuan's example in the future, abide by your duties, live in harmony, and do not let her down."
The concubines saluted and responded in unison: "Your Majesty, your servants will follow your Majesty's instructions."
Yongzheng glanced at everyone again and said, "You have all worked hard today. Go back and rest early."
The concubines bowed and said, "I will take my leave."
As everyone was leaving the hall, Yongzheng's voice rang out again: "Noble Consort Hui and Noble Consort Xi, please stay for a moment."
An Lingrong quickly looked up at the two of them, then followed the others out of the Fahua Hall.
As everyone filed out, the footsteps in the hall gradually faded away, leaving only the slight sound of the wind passing through the window lattice, echoing faintly in the hall.