Palace Maids, Destinies Bound to the Imperial Palace (1)

Just as Crown Princess Zhang had anticipated.

Noble Consort Wang had come to snatch Jin Myeong away, and the words she had just spoken were as good as a declaration of war — a demand that he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be handed over gracefully before she wrapped the Yongle Emperor around her finger and made a disgraceful spectacle of them all. Behind the faint smile that accompanied those words lay an iron will: she would not take a single step without getting what she had come for.

The Prince of Han…! The Prince of Zhao…!

The important question was who had put her up to this. No matter how coveted a eunuch Jin Myeong might be, to come calling on a junior — and to a fellow woman's palace, no less — and demand they hand over an inner attendant? And not just anyone: the Crown Princess herself? It was behavior that made no sense unless someone had put her up to it.

Which of the two… most likely the Prince of Han…!

If it was not the second son, Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu, or the third son, Prince of Zhao Zhu Gaosui, there was no one who would orchestrate a thing like this. Crown Princess Zhang's hand, clenched in the fabric of her skirt, trembled.

"This is all rather sudden…"

"Isn't it just? I did come rather abruptly, Crown Princess. But I've been thinking about this for quite some time. I'd had my eye on the Jeonbu, only His Highness the Crown Prince got there first… ah, I was just a step too late, wasn't I?"

Zhang knew Jin Myeong's value as well. How could she not? The Crown Prince had gone so far as to plead with the Grand Director to pull him over — would he really have neglected to explain the attendant they would be living with?

Grand Director Zheng He, first in the eunuch hierarchy. Chief Eunuch with Writing Brush Wang Guitong, second in the eunuch hierarchy and her husband's personal attendant eunuch. The most senior Junior Attendant, Yun Bong. And after them — Jin Myeong, who would go on to bear the fate of the entire eunuch clan.

"However, my husband personally selected him. How could I, as his wife, presume to do such a thing?"

"Oh, what talk is that. I've heard His Highness the Crown Prince regards the Crown Princess's words as second only to His Majesty the Emperor's. Hee-hee!"

Jin Myeong was the man her ailing husband had drawn close in preparation for any unforeseen calamity — so that even if the worst should come to pass, he could pass the succession to his son through Jin Myeong and the power of the Directorate of Ceremonial. At a glance he was nothing more than a lowly castrated boy, a young eunuch. And yet he carried that much value.

Meanwhile, Jin Myeong was startled in his own right — in a different sense from Zhang.

Noble Consort Wang? Why the hell are those words coming out of your mouth? Zhu Gaoxu, you son of a bitch…!

As a Consort she ranked first among the consorts of the Six Palaces of the Inner Court, excluding the Empress, so of course he knew who she was. The problem was that looking at Noble Consort Wang's beautiful face brought a certain fact to mind.

But are you going to die this time too? You will, right? You have absolutely nothing to do with my regression. That's how it is, isn't it?

Namely, the fact that Noble Consort Wang had died suddenly around this time before his regression. The story went that she had collapsed out of nowhere and taken a tour of the Yellow Springs then and there — and it had been autumn, right around now.

A bloody wind's about to blow through this place soon enough.

The reason Jin Myeong remembered that incident was simple. Noble Consort Wang was a favored concubine whom the Yongle Emperor had intended to invest as Empress in his later years — and one day she had suddenly died of an unexplained heart attack. If it had ended there, it would have been fortunate. But of all times, it was while the Yongle Emperor was drowning in grief that an affair between palace maids and eunuchs was discovered.

In truth, palace maids who grew old waiting for an imperial favor that never came, and eunuchs, had long been living together as husband and wife within the palace. They could not leave descendants anyway, and both palace maids and eunuchs were pitiful souls, so the Imperial Palace had always turned a blind eye. The problem was the timing of the discovery. The Yongle Emperor, his heart already tormented by the death of his beloved concubine, flew into an unprecedented rage, and one thing led to another until, in the end, some two thousand eight hundred palace maids were sentenced to lingchi.

A full two thousand eight hundred people. And lingchi — the punishment of slicing the flesh from the entire body before finally beheading and dismembering them. A massacre that would go down in history.

Funny, isn't it. Someone who's about to die herself, worrying about things that will get people killed later.

Jin Myeong could see Noble Consort Wang's situation and her future as clearly as if looking through glass.

But it is tempting… save her and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make her Empress? Then wrapping the Yongle Emperor around our finger would be nothing…

In his mind he began weighing Noble Consort Wang, invested as Empress, against the Crown Prince. One year from now, in winter — the first month of the year after next — the Yongle Emperor was scheduled to relocate the capital to the Forbidden City. That spring, congratulatory envoys from every corner of the realm would come pouring in, and among them would be the Extreme Yin elixir as well.

Of course Zhu Gaochi had an Extreme Yin elixir of his own, but there was one decisive difference between Zhu Gaochi and Noble Consort Wang.

Time.

If Noble Consort Wang did not die, she would be invested as Empress before the capital relocation, and if that happened, Jin Myeong could seize the Grand Director's hat of the Directorate of Ceremonial immediately. That would solve not only the Extreme Yin elixir but even the matter of Shengmu Palace establishing itself in Shuntian Prefecture and founding its sect — all in one stroke. And in the shortest possible time. It was certainly an enticing picture.

Meanwhile, though she put on a show of composure, Noble Consort Wang's inner thoughts were desperate.

Crown Princess, you're going to have to hand him over. For me, this is a matter of life and death.

If she kept Jin Myeong at her side, she would be able to avoid sacrificial burial when the Yongle Emperor died. There were occasional cases of eunuchs being buried as well, but would Zheng He or the Directorate of Ceremonial ever stand by and watch Jin Myeong be buried? Zheng He, who had never once taken anyone Under his Name, personally kept this eunuch close — the entire Directorate of Ceremonial would surely step in to prevent the sacrificial burial. If she poured every last bit of affection, real or feigned, into being with that Jin Myeong, would they not spare her too?

You, together with those eunuchs, have to protect me.

And so Noble Consort Wang was determined to obtain Jin Myeong, no matter what. Separate from Zhu Gaoxu's request.

Just then, Jin Myeong suddenly opened his mouth.

"Your Highness the Crown Princess, might this humble servant ask Her Ladyship the Noble Consort a question?"

"The Jeonbu…? Very well."

Zhang, puzzled by Jin Myeong suddenly stepping forward, consented for the moment. And yet she could not help feeling uneasy. Her side was power that would come later, still unknown; the other side was power already certain. Were eunuchs not, by nature, a tribe that chased after power? She worried that Jin Myeong might have been tempted by Noble Consort Wang's proposal.

"Your Ladyship. Did you, by chance, meet with His Highness the Prince of Han yesterday?"

"…I did. Why do you ask?"

Noble Consort Wang admitted it readily. As if Jin Myeong would not know. He was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a eunuch, of all people. There was no point in trying to get it past him, and if she lied she would only make a fool of herself.

"His Highness the Prince of Han asked a favor of Your Ladyship, didn't he. To pull this humble servant out of Yeongan Palace. Isn't that so?"

"What is this talk? Why would His Highness the Prince of Han make such a request of me? Hmm…!"

As she answered, Noble Consort Wang glanced at Zhang's eyes. Zhang's expression made it clear she was certain this had been instigated by the Prince of Han.

"Is it not custom within the Six Palaces of the Inner Court that inner attendants whose residences have already been assigned are not traded back and forth?"

"Well, that is…"

Jin Myeong sent a telepathic message to Noble Consort Wang, who was stammering her way through an answer. If he listened any further, she would just keep spouting nonsense to save face in front of the Crown Princess. He had no intention of wasting time.

"Hmm…! Crown Princess, might I speak with the Jeonbu privately for a moment? Please, Crown Princess."

The telepathy's effect was outstanding. Inwardly startled, Noble Consort Wang put on an air of composure and cooed. If anyone else had sent a telepathic message saying the same thing, she would have found it insolent and immediately summoned a Grand Director or run to the Yongle Emperor. But she did not, because the one who had sent the telepathy was Jin Myeong. A man of his caliber would not spout nonsense. And besides, she was the Emperor's favored concubine.

"Since Her Ladyship requests it… Jeonbu, attend Her Ladyship."

"Yes, Your Highness. This humble servant shall do so. Your Ladyship, this humble servant will attend you."

Once Crown Princess Zhang's permission was given, Jin Myeong and Noble Consort Wang rose from their seats — and Princess Ju Jeong-won, who had been sitting quietly, sprang up and ran over. She ran over, grabbed Jin Myeong's sleeve, and clung to it.

"Jeonbuuu. Are you trying to leave Mother and me? You can't, nuh-uh!"

She was making a tearful face, worried that Jin Myeong might be leaving for good with Noble Consort Wang. Jin Myeong dropped to one knee and met Ju Jeong-won's eyes.

"This humble servant, leave Her Highness the Princess? Please do not worry, Your Highness."

"Promise me. That you won't leave Mother and me. Here."

With tears welling in her eyes, Ju Jeong-won held out her little finger. The sight was so adorable that Jin Myeong could not help the smile that broke across his face.

"Then this humble servant shall dare to lay a hand upon Your Highness's jade person."

"Mm. There are no empty words in the palace, you know that?"

The two of them hooked their little fingers together and grinned. Color immediately returned to Ju Jeong-won's face.

"How could there be otherwise. This humble servant shall be back shortly, then. Jeong Go, attend Her Highness the Crown Princess and Her Highness the Princess."

"Yes! Jeonbu!"

Leaving the two of them in Jeong Go's care, Jin Myeong followed Noble Consort Wang out of the hall.

A short while later, the two of them went to the garden pavilion where Zhu Gaochi's family had stayed the day before.

"Now speak honestly. You want this humble servant and the Directorate of Ceremonial as insurance for the future, don't you."

"They said you were sharp, and you truly are. That's right."

Noble Consort Wang admitted it readily. The two of them were ghosts of the Imperial Palace, shadows who understood each other better than anyone — so as long as they were alone, there was nothing to hold back. Were they not destinies bound to the Imperial Palace? Fellow sufferers, both of them.

"I'd prefer you called me clever, if you're going to. But if this humble servant goes to Your Ladyship, what can you offer me? This humble servant needs to get something out of it too."

"Greedy, aren't you — as expected of a eunuch. Go on, tell me. I have His Majesty. What couldn't I do for you?"

That was when it happened.

This woman… she knows she's going to die young soon enough…!

Jin Myeong's eyes took on a peculiar gleam as he conversed with Noble Consort Wang.

Wait… this…?

Noble Consort Wang, who had never trained in martial arts, had prominent temples, and the blood vessels there were bulging and pulsing. And one more thing — red spots visible at both corners of the whites of her eyes.

This is poison. This woman… she's been poisoned?

It was unmistakably a symptom of poisoning. The kind of symptom seen in someone who had been taking small amounts of poison over a long period.

No wonder… a woman not even thirty dying of a heart attack? That's absurd. But why didn't the imperial physicians know at the time? Is it a poison that disappears after death?

Jin Myeong finally understood the cause of Noble Consort Wang's sudden death before his regression. At the time it had been closed as a simple heart attack, but looking at it now, it was poison. Poison.

"What's the matter. Do you think this Consort can't grant what you want?"

"Your Ladyship."

Jin Myeong called to Noble Consort Wang in a low voice. Noble Consort Wang was rather flushed, thinking the conversation with Jin Myeong was going well.

"What? I told you to say what you want."

"Has Your Ladyship's jade person been unwell of late? A headache as if your skull were splitting, or perhaps your vision going blurry."

"How do you know that? Directorate of Ceremonial this, Directorate of Ceremonial that — now I see why they say that."

Noble Consort Wang was so startled she clicked her tongue. It was a matter she had been cautioned three times over to keep silent about until she was invested as Empress. She had thought no one knew — and the Directorate of Ceremonial already knew? It was enough to make her faint.

"Your Ladyship is currently poisoned."

"What?"

A short while later, the two of them arrived at Noble Consort Wang's residence.

"Can you truly find it out?"

"This humble servant will have to examine you to know."

Jin Myeong had made up his mind to save Noble Consort Wang. He had hesitated briefly, it was true, but he had made a promise with Ju Jeong-won, and he intended to keep faith with Zhu Gaochi as well. If he accepted Noble Consort Wang's bargain, would not Zheng He's face — Zheng He, who had assigned him to Yeongan Palace — become a laughingstock? That would not do. So he would simply save Noble Consort Wang, maintain a good relationship, and extract his price that way.

Perhaps somewhere in Jin Myeong's unconscious there still lingered the awareness that he was a eunuch. Eunuchs cherished women and children, after all. It might have been compassion born of that.

"I have an important matter to discuss with the Jeonbu of the Directorate of Ceremonial. All of you, withdraw."

Noble Consort Wang dismissed the eunuchs and palace ladies of her residence.

"Is this enough? Jeonbu, save me, won't you?"

"Give this humble servant a moment to think."

"Shouldn't we summon the imperial physicians at once?"

"This humble servant will handle it. If we call them carelessly they will start babbling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about poison this and poison that. And if that happens, a bloody wind will blow through the Imperial Palace. Does Your Ladyship intend to take innocent lives?"

"Ah, I understand. I'll trust only you. Hurry and think, hurry."

Heh. Noble Consort Wang, who had reverted to a pure, almost childlike state at the moment her life hung in the balance, was rather adorable. The way she immediately accepted his words about taking innocent lives made him think that deciding to save her had been the right choice. For someone who had seized the position of Noble Consort at such a young age, she was surprisingly kind and simple, was she not? Among the women who occupied the rank of Consort, how many could act as Noble Consort Wang was acting? When their own life was hanging by a thread, would not most of them fly into a rage?

The symptoms are unmistakably Composite Fragrance Poison, and not from any ordinary vessel either. Two or three or more poisons have been employed…

A question arose in the midst of his thoughts.

Why hasn't anyone else been poisoned?

He had checked upon arriving at the hall. None of the attending palace ladies or eunuchs besides Noble Consort Wang showed symptoms of poisoning. A poison that intoxicated through scent — and only Noble Consort Wang had been poisoned. Was that not strange?

Strange. It's strange… only Noble Consort Wang was poisoned… only her.

Lost in thought, Jin Myeong looked around Noble Consort Wang's residence. Like any other concubine's hall, it was a typical lady's quarters. Books and embroidery frames, folding screens and tea sets, and countless orchids — as befitting someone famous for loving orchids…

Then something flashed through his mind.

"Your Ladyship, please give me your scent sachet."

"Scent sachet? Don't tell me it's the sachet?"

Noble Consort Wang started and unfastened her scent sachet. She thought the sachet itself had poisoned her.

"You love orchids, don't you?"

Jin Myeong took the sachet in his hand and walked toward the displayed flowerpots.

"I do, but the orchids were ones His Majesty and I obtained ourselves. Why the orchids?"

"The poison that has intoxicated Your Ladyship is a poison created when several fragrances combine."

Jin Myeong, holding the sachet, made a circuit of the flowerpots and then went outside. He went out and gazed quietly at Noble Consort Wang's garden, then after a moment walked among the plantings with a grave expression.

A short while later.

"Your Ladyship! Don't come this far — answer me from there."

"Ah, I understand. Have you found it?"

Noble Consort Wang started and stopped in her tracks. By now she had completely entrusted her body and soul to Jin Myeong. In this moment, Jin Myeong was more important than the Yongle Emperor.

Hissss.

Sensing the sudden surge of toxic energy, Jin Myeong immediately drew up his true qi.

Beads of sweat formed on Jin Myeong's forehead.

And then, having completely driven the Composite Fragrance Poison from his body, Jin Myeong opened his mouth. His gaze was sharp.