Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Not Very Skilled, But Very Pretty

Although Aunt Chang was only a palace maid, she had served beside Grand Empress Dowager Jing’an and helped three emperors. Her standing in the palace was high, and the emperor had granted her the right to enter the palace at will. Even so, Aunt Chang knew her place. She was still just a maid, so unless it was a matter of life and death, she almost never came in on her own. This was the first time in years.

The emperor went to greet her at once, saying: “Great-Aunt, what brings you here?”

Aunt Chang was of the same generation as Grand Empress Dowager Jing’an, so the emperor addressed her as Great-Aunt. She had a kind-looking face. Though her hair was all white and her skin lined, she looked rosy and well-off, a sign of good fortune. But now her eyes were sharp with anger as she asked: “I hear Your Majesty has learned where the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp is?”

The emperor was surprised, saying: “Great-Aunt heard about it?”

Aunt Chang replied: “I came in today to pay respects to the empress dowager, and I happened to hear someone wanted to consult the Catalogue of Palace Rarities. I asked more and learned it might be about the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp, so I guessed as much.”

The emperor glanced at Eunuch Hu. Eunuch Hu’s heart sank. [I never told anyone.] He could not say that out loud yet. Besides, he could already guess: only one or two people had the reach to meddle here. Among those, only one held a grudge against Official Yu. So there were some things he definitely could not say.

Aunt Chang studied Yu Zhi Yi with a hard-to-read face, saying: “So this is the Official Yu whom Your Majesty personally appointed. As for looks, quite good indeed.” Her tone and expression were not friendly.

The emperor explained: “Great-Aunt, do not be fooled because Official Yu is a woman. Her skills are strong, and her face-reading is unmatched under heaven. She is the one who calculated where the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp is.”

“Calculated?” Aunt Chang gave a cold laugh, saying: “Do not blame this maid for warning Your Majesty. Over the years, many have used the name of the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp to trick and cheat. In the past, Your Majesty was too kind, which is why those charlatans still have not learned their lesson. If Official Yu is like them and only says vague, half-true things, Your Majesty must not be soft-hearted again. Otherwise, who knows how many bold liars will come knocking later.”

She was one step from pointing at Yu Zhi Yi’s nose and calling her a fraud. It was hard to blame her for reacting so strongly. Until the day she died, Grand Empress Dowager Jing’an kept thinking of the lamp. It was too beautiful and dreamlike, and it calmed the mind. The grand empress dowager loved it at first sight. Before she passed, she said most often: “Aunt Chang, my heart feels panicked and in pain. If only the lamp were still here, I could die without suffering.” For that reason, neither the late emperor nor the current emperor ever gave up searching for the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp. That also gave many people room to scheme. But it always turned into foolish, baseless drama and ended in regret and anger.

Yu Zhi Yi’s face stayed calm as she said, neither humble nor proud: “Please be at ease, Aunt Chang. I only know a little of my sect’s skills, but I am not a liar, and I do not make promises I cannot keep. If I say I can find it, you will see the real thing.”

Hearing how sure she sounded, Aunt Chang frowned. She still did not quite believe, but her longing was stronger. [What if? What if this young lady really finds it? Then the grand empress dowager’s spirit in heaven could rest.]

At the Crystal Palace, Consort Yu learned Aunt Chang had entered the palace and happily admired her bright red nails. She said: “Aunt Chang is kind, but she cannot stand sand in her eyes. She cannot stand anyone using Grand Empress Dowager Jing’an’s name to cheat.”

Xiu Zhu grew worried, saying: “But Your Highness, they say that fake has some real skills. What if she actually figures it out? What then?”

Consort Yu waved it off, saying: “If she figures it out, so what? As long as we destroy the lamp first, won’t she be wrong?”

Xiu Zhu’s eyes lit up, saying: “Brilliant, Your Highness!”

In this matter, Her Highness had never shown her face. The one who invited Aunt Chang was sent by a beauty from another quarter. As for how that beauty “knew” about the lamp, she had “overheard it by accident.” If they succeeded, the emperor and Aunt Chang would be furious. The emperor might still show some restraint for Chancellor Du’s sake, but Aunt Chang would not. That imposter would be doomed.

Master and maid were in good spirits, waiting for their spy to report back so they could move first and steal the lamp, when a palace attendant rushed in, saying: “Your Highness, His Majesty is coming toward the Crystal Palace with Aunt Chang and Official Yu.”

Consort Yu frowned, saying: “To the Crystal Palace?” They were not going to search for the lamp? Why come here? [Where is that spy? Why no message after all this time?]

The emperor and his party arrived quickly. Before Consort Yu could do anything, they reached the palace gate. She had no choice but to come out and greet them. She offered a formal bow, saying: “Your Majesty, Aunt Chang.” She did not even look at Yu Zhi Yi as she asked: “Your Majesty, why come at this hour? Aunt Chang is here too. Is something the matter?”

The emperor’s expression was odd as he said: “You should ask Official Yu.”

A quarter of an hour earlier, after Yu Zhi Yi had given Aunt Chang her firm promise, Aunt Chang had asked half-believing: “Where is the lamp?” Yu Zhi Yi did not answer at once. Instead she said: “If I say it out loud, the thing will fly away. It is better if Your Majesty and Aunt Chang go in person. Only the noble aura on your bodies can suppress the lamp’s mysterious power.” The words sounded superstitious. Aunt Chang did not believe, but the emperor did, and he had Yu Zhi Yi lead the way. Step by step, they arrived here.

Facing the emperor’s curious gaze, Yu Zhi Yi did not flinch. She stepped forward and said to Consort Yu: “Reporting to Your Highness, we came today to look for a treasure that has been missing for thirty years: the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp.”

Consort Yu certainly knew they were searching for the lamp. The key question was why they had come to her palace. She asked exactly that.

Yu Zhi Yi gave her a strange look, saying: “Your Highness, do you know why this palace is called the Crystal Palace?”

Thirty years ago, this hall was not called the Crystal Palace. It was the Sunset Glow Palace. Later, a favored consort of the late emperor moved in. She thought “sunset glow” sounded unlucky and begged the late emperor to change the name. From then on, Sunset Glow Palace became the Crystal Palace.

“Ridiculous,” Consort Yu snapped, saying: “Do you mean the late emperor hid the Ban Ruo Glass Lamp?” It was not only Consort Yu who disliked that idea; the emperor and Aunt Chang also frowned.

Yu Zhi Yi shook her head, saying: “Of course not.”