Chapter - 6 (6) (2/2)
The Empress Dowager coldly said, ”I am surprised that he believed your fantasy.”
”At first, my master also did not believe it,” Hai Laogong said, ”Afterwards, your servant conducted an experiment and show it to him. It was not too long after Empress Duan Jing passed away. Within a month, your servant successively cut the Yinwei and Yinjiao, two main channels, of five palace maids. These five palace maids died with the same symptoms and appearance as when Empress Duan Jing was about to die. If it was only one palace maid, we can say it was a coincidence, but all five palace maids displayed the same condition, my master was convinced and did not have any doubt.”
”Hey, it's amazing!” the Empress Dowager said, ”Unexpectedly in our Palace there is a great expert like you.”
”Many thanks for Empress Dowager's compliment,” Hai Laogong said, ”Your servant's technique is different from that of the assailant. However, the principle is the same.”
The two of them faced each other in silence, nobody said anything for long time. Hai Laogong coughed softly several times. After a while, he said, ”My master sent your servant back to the Capital to investigate who murdered Prince Rong and Empress Duan Jing?”
With a cold laugh the Empress Dowager said, ”Do you still need to investigate? In our Palace, other than you, who else has the ability to do such thing?”
”There is someone else,” Hai Laogong said, ”Empress Duan Jing had always treated your servant with kindness; your servant only wish for many good fortune and long life for her; if I had known beforehand that someone was plotting against her, your servant would risk my old life to thoroughly protect her.”
”You are very loyal,” the Empress Dowager said, ”She was very lucky to retain the service of such a good servant.”
Hai Laogong sighed and said, ”It's a pity your servant is so useless that I failed to protect Empress Duan Jing.”
The Empress Dowager icily said, ”He worships Buddha in the morning, recites the scripture in the evening, your Empress Duan Jing will be blessed that she will reincarnate sooner from the eighteenth level of hell, and will rise to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss sooner too; and that's the end of the story.” Her voice was full of 'taking joy in calamity and delight in disaster' tone.
”Worshipping Buddha and reciting scripture are not necessarily useful,” Hai Laogong said, ”However, the saying 'virtue has its reward, evil has its retribution' is always true.” After a short pause, he continued very slowly, ”If the evil is not avenged yet, the time has yet to come.” The Empress Dowager only snorted.
Hai Laogong said, ”Reporting to Empress Dowager: my master instructed your servant to investigate two matters, your servant found out that these two matters are actually one. Who would have imagined that inadvertently I found two more matters?”
”The matters you are investigating are just too many,” the Empress Dowager said, ”What else did you find?”
Hai Laogong said, ”The first one is concerning Consort Zhen.”
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly and said, ”The younger sister of foxy charmer is simply a little foxy charmer. Why do you mention her?”
”When my master left the Palace, he left behind a letter saying that he would never return,” Hai Laogong said, ”Your Majesties, the Emperor's Grandmother and the Empress Dowager, were of the opinion that a country must not be without a ruler even for a day. Thereupon you proclaimed to the world that my master had died. In the present age, the number of persons who know this big secret is only six, namely Your Majesties, my master, Reverend Yulin, who followed my master shaving his head, and two servants who wait upon my masters. One of these two servants is the Imperial Bodyguard Chief Hebacha, who at this moment has also left home and became a monk on Mount Wutai, and the other one is your servant Hai Tianfu.”
Listening to this point, Wei Xiaobao had started to understand; turned out the one the Empress Dowager referred to as 'he' and the one Hai Laogong referred to as 'my master' was precisely Emperor Shunzhi. The world only knew that he had passed away, but actually because his beloved imperial concubine had died, in his extreme grief he had become a Buddhist monk at the Qing Liang Temple on Mount Wutai. As for the reason behind the imperial concubine's death, from what Hai Laogong has said, it seemed to be because of a martial art expert sent by the Empress Dowager to kill her. He could not help but feeling very proud of himself, thinking: ”The old turtle says there are only six people in this world who are privy to this big secret, he would not know that there is another one, Wei Xiaobao. Now there are seven.” But his self-satisfaction was short lived, soon afterwards it turned into dread. At first he was feeling somewhat secure in the knowledge that he had a backing; he thought that if he had to argue with Hai Laogong in the presence of the Empress Dowager, he would not necessarily lose to the old turtle. Yet this moment he knew that things had turned to the worst for him. If those two find out that he was eavesdropping, even if Hai Laogong did not kill him, the Empress Dowager definitely would not let him off. He heard two light 'clack, clack' noise; unexpectedly it was his own teeth chattering, hastily he bit hard to stop the chatter. Luckily right this moment Hai Laogong was coughing, only the sound of his labored breathing and occasional cough was heard in the quiet night.
A moment later, Hai Laogong said, ”At that time Consort Zhen committed suicide to follow her master, everybody in the imperial court commended her to no end. But there were many people who quietly said Consort Zhen was forced by the Empress Dowager to die the sacrificial death; suicide was not her original intention.”
The Empress Dowager said, ”Sooner or later those leaderless, uncontrollable rebellious ministers will have to be dealt with.”
”But what they said is not entirely incorrect,” Hai Laogong said, ”Consort Zhen did not willingly and gladly committed suicide.”
”Are you saying that I forced Consort Zhen to die?” the Empress Dowager said.
”This word 'force' can be omitted altogether,” Hai Laogong said.
”What are you talking about?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Hai Laogong said, ”Consort Zhen was murdered, not forced to commit suicide. Your servant had interrogated in details the undertaker, to find out about Consort Zhen's condition when she was prepared for burial. The bones in her entire body were broken into one cun pieces, even her skull had become fragments. I seem to remember the type of skill to kill people this way is called 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm'. Would Empress Dowager tell me if this is so?”
”How do I know?” the Empress Dowager said.
”Your servant heard that there is such skill 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm' in the world,” Hai Laogong said, ”When someone is hit, there won't be anything unusual on his entire body, but after a year or half a year, the bones in his body would slowly disintegrate. However, the assassin who killed Consort Zhen evidently has not mastered this skill to proficiency yet. At first, when the undertaker was tidying up Consort Zhen's appearance, he did not see anything unusual, but when he put the body into the coffin that night, suddenly the body felt like it did not have any bones at all, the entire body turned soft. He was scared because he had never seen anything like it, he only knew that the corpse had undergone a change, but at that time he did not dare to say anything. Your servant threatened and bribed, I had used I don't know how many types of tortures before he finally revealed the actual facts. After the practitioner of this skill 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm' hit people, two, three days later the victim's bones disintegrate, I am afraid his proficiency cannot be considered completely profound. Empress Dowager, based on your sacred judgment, won't you agree with me?”
The Empress Dowager gloomily said, ”Although it can't be considered profound, somehow it accomplished its purpose.”
”Naturally it is very useful, (cough … cough … ) very useful!” Hai Laogong said, ”After killing Consort Zhen, he also killed Empress Xiao Kang.”
”His granny,” Wei Xiaobao thought, ”This old emperor's empresses are so many; there is another Empress Xiao Kang. Perhaps the number of his empresses is more than our young misses at the Lovely Spring Courtyard.”
The Empress Dowager's voice trembled as she said, ”You … why did you mention Empress Xiao Kang's name?”
Wei Xiaobao did not know that Empress Xiao Kang was Kangxi's birth mother; hearing the huge change in the Empress Dowager's voice, he only felt strange, but could not figure out the reason. He heard Hai Laogong said, ”The undertaker who prepared Empress Xiao Kang for burial was the same one who also prepared Consorts Donggo and Zhen.”
”That undertaker deserves to die,” the Empress Dowager said, ”What other rubbish did he say? He falsely accused people in the Palace's matters; for his crime he ought to be executed along with all his relatives.”
Hai Laogong said, ”If the Empress Dowager wanted to kill him, now it is too late.”
”Have you killed him first?” the Empress Dowager asked.
”It's not that,” Hai Laogong said, ”More than two years ago, your servant sent him to the Qing Liang Temple on Mount Wutai to report everything he knew to my master, and then I told him to go far away into the uncivilized territory and live incognito there, to avoid the disaster of him being murdered.”
With a trembling voice the Empress Dowager said, ”You … you … what a sinister scheme!”
”The one with sinister scheme is someone else,” Hai Laogong said, ”Your servant is ashamed of being inferior to that person.”
The Empress Dowager was silent for half a day before asking, ”You came to see me tonight, what is your intention?”
”Your servant wanted to inquire of the Empress Dowager of one matter, so I can report it back to my master,” Hai Laogong said, ”Empress Duan Jing, Empress Xiao Kang, Consort Zhen, Prince Rong, four people all died an unnatural death; consequently, my master also abandoned his position and left home to become a monk. The person responsible for this evil scheme is a martial art expert within the Palace. Braving death, your servant comes here to inquire of the Empress Dowager: who is this martial art expert? Your servant is getting old, my eyes are blind, plus I am suffering from an incurable disease; I am like a candle in the wind, yet if I cannot investigate and find out the truth, I will not die with eyes closed.”
The Empress Dowager coldly said, ”Since you have been blind early on, it does not matter whether you die with eyes closed or not.”
Hai Laogong said, ”Although your servant is blind, my heart is bright as snow.”
The Empress Dowager said, ”If your heart is bright as snow, why do you need to come here and ask me?”
”It's better if I can understand it clearly,” Hai Laogong replied, ”So that I won't mistreat the innocents. These past several months, your servant has diligently doing some investigation, I want to find out who is this martial art master who is hiding in the Palace? At first it was an extremely difficult investigation, but by lucky coincidence, I found out that His Majesty knows martial art.”
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly and said, ”His Majesty knows martial art, so what? Are you saying that he killed his own mother?”
”Sin, sin!” Hai Laogong said, ”This kind of disobedience to parents must not be even mentioned. If your servant has ever said such thing, when I die I will enter the hell where my tongue will be pulled out; if I have ever had that thought, when I die I will not escape the suffering of my brain being scoured in the underworld.” He coughed several times before continuing, ”Your servant has a little eunuch by my side, his name is Xiao Guizi ...”
Wei Xiaobao's heart turned cold, ”The old turtle is starting to talk about me.” He heard Hai Laogong continued, ” ... he is about a year or two younger than His Majesty. His Majesty is very fond of him, every day they were having martial art and wrestling match, and practicing martial art together. Xiao Guizi learned martial art from your servant. Although it's not much, but for a child his age, it can be considered not easy.” Hearing Hai Laogong complimenting him, Wei Xiaobao could not help by feeling very proud of himself.
The Empress Dowager said, ”A famous teacher trains a fine student, there are no poor soldiers under a good general.”
”Thank you very much for Empress Dowager's compliment [orig. 'golden mouth'],” Hai Laogong said, ”However, when this Xiao Guizi fought His Majesty, nine times out of ten he would lose. No matter what kind of martial art your servant taught him, His Majesty 's martial art skill was always a notch higher than his. It seems that the Shifu who taught His Majesty martial art is a lot better than your servant. Your servant had thought it over, the only martial art master in the Palace is this expert. As long as I can find this expert, then the assassin who killed two empresses, one imperial consort and one prince won't be difficult to trace.”
”I see,” the Empress Dowager said, ”You talk round and round in circle is just so that you can tell me this.”
Hai Laogong said, ”The Empress Dowager said, 'A famous teacher trains a fine student'; the other side of the coin is also true, 'A fine student must come from a famous teacher'. His Majesty is able to use eight by eight, sixty-four styles 'Ba Gua Roaming Dragon Palm', the person who taught him this palm technique will most likely also know the 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm'.”
”Have you found out the martial art master's identity?” the Empress Dowager asked.
”I have,” Hai Laogong replied.
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly, ”You are such a crafty schemer,” she said, ”You taught Xiao Guizi to practice martial art with His Majesty for the last half a year or so, is to find out His Majesty's Shifu.”
Hai Laogong sighed, ”I don't have any choice,” he said, ”Xiao Guizi is a sinister and ruthless little scoundrel. It was he who used poison and blinded your servant's eyes. If I was not considering that I have to investigate this important matter to find the absolute truth, I would have not let this scoundrel to live until today.”
The Empress Dowager laughed aloud and said, ”What a clever child that Xiao Guizi; he poisoned your eyes blind. Very good, just wonderful. Tomorrow I am going to reward him well.”
”Many thanks, Empress Dowager,” Hai Laogong said, ”If Empress Dowager would conduct an elaborate funeral for him, in the underworld Xiao Guizi will be very grateful for Empress Dowager's great kindness.”
”You have already killed him?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Hai Laogong said, ”Your servant has exercised patience toward him for a long, long time; after this, I won't have any other use for him.”
Wei Xiaobao was shocked and angered at the same time, he thought, ”The old turtle has known all along that I am not Xiao Guizi, he also knew early on that I poisoned his eyes blind. Turns out he is only exploiting laozi; this is called striking vicious blow slowly. He taught me martial art was only so that he could see His Majesty's martial art. His granny, if I had known it, I should have not tell him His Majesty's martial art in detail. Your granny, the old turtle thinks I am dead, but laozi is clearly still alive. Later I am going to play ghost and scare you until you piss in your pants.”
Hai Laogong sighed and said, ”My master has always been short-tempered, whatever he wants must be done. It's a pity that although he was the Son of Heaven, his beloved was murdered by others, and he was helpless to save her life. Even after becoming a monk, my master can never forget Consort Donggo. When your servant left the Qing Liang Temple to return to the Palace, my master has written with his own hand an imperial edict and handed it over to your servant. He wanted your servant to investigate and find out who murdered Consort Donggo, no, Empress Duan Jing. He ordered your servant to execute the assailant on the spot.”
”Humph,” the Empress Dowager said, ”He has become a monk, can he write any imperial edict? Those who have left home must not think about killing and harming people, don't you think it's not fit of his calling?”
Hai Laogong said, ”Buddhists also pay particular attention to karma and retribution. Those who harm others will not have a good end. However, your servant has damaged the passage through which my vital energy circulates when training martial art, resulting in incessant coughing and shortage of breath; my entire body is ill, and now I am blind, it's even more hopeless for me.”
”That's right,” the Empress Dowager said, ”You are sick and blind; even if you have this secret imperial edict, how are you going to execute it?”
Hai Laogong sighed and said, ”I can't, I can't! Your servant ask to be excused, I am leaving now.” Finished speaking, he turned around and slowly walked toward the exit.
Wei Xiaobao felt as if a large stone was being lifted up of his heart; he mused, ”When the old turtle has left, I will be alright. He only knows that I have died, he won't come looking for me anymore. Laozi will slip out the Palace gate early tomorrow morning; in case the old turtle is looking for me, laozi will assume your identity, will take your surname, from now on I am Hai Xiaobao.”
”Wait a moment!” the Empress Dowager said, ”Hai Tianfu, where are you going?”
”Your servant has reported everything clearly to the Empress Dowager,” Hai Laogong said, ”I am going back to wait for death.”
”The matter he entrusted to you,” the Empress Dowager said, ”Aren't you going to do it?”
”Your servant has the desire yet lacking the strength to do so,” Hai Laogong said, ”Moreover, I do not have the guts to start a rebellion today.”
”Hey, hey,” the Empress Dowager laughed, ”You are very understanding, your waiting upon us these many years is not in vain.”
”Yes, yes!” Hai Laogong said, ”Many thanks for Empress Dowager's grace. This grievance is as deep as the ocean floor; it has to wait until His Majesty is older before it can be vindicated.” He coughed twice, and then said, ”The way he dealt with the arrest of Oboi is very brilliant. His Majesty's own mother was murdered, before too long, His Majesty will definitely deal with this matter. It's a pity … it's a pity your servant will not live until that time, I cannot wait that long.”
The Empress Dowager took several steps forward and harsly said, ”Hai Tianfu, come back here.”
”Yes,” Hai Laogong said, ”What instruction does the Empress Dowager have for me?”
The Empress Dowager sternly said, ”Just now you speak nonsense to me, this … this utterly absurd talk, have you … have you told His Majesty?” Her voice trembled, she seemed to be extremely agitated.
Hai Laogong said, ”Tomorrow early in the morning I am going to report to His Majesty; it's just that … that I was itching to get on with it tonight that I came to report to the Empress Dowager first.”
”Very good, very good,” the Empress Dowager said.
Suddenly the sound of a strong gust of wind arose, followed by loud 'Bang! Bang!' noise. Wei Xiaobao was startled; he could not restrain himself from craning his neck to look. He saw the Empress Dowager was circling around Hai Laogong with amazingly swift footwork, palm strike by palm strike she attacked Hai Laogong. Surprisingly, Hai Laogong held his ground and counterattacked with his palms. Wei Xiaobao's shock was not mild; ”How can the Empress Dowager fight the old turtle? Turns out the Empress Dowager also know martial art.”
Each one of the Empress Dowager's palm strike generated a strong gust of wind, a sign that her palm carried an extremely violent power. Hai Laogong's two feet were nailed on the ground, he met each palm strike with his own palm, but his palm did not generate any noise. Yet after fighting for a long time, Empress Dowager did not seem to gain any advantage over him. Suddenly she leaped up and delivered a downward strike with both palms from the air. Hai Laogong flipped his left palm over to meet the incoming attack, while delivering a blow with his right palm toward the Empress Dowager's abdomen. 'Clap!' the palms collided with each other. The Empress Dowager flew backward. Hai Laogong staggered, his body swayed and he had to get hold of a stump to steady himself.
In a stern voice the Empress Dowager shouted, ”Good servant, you … you … deceived me; it was Shaolin … Shaolin martial art you taught Xiao Guizi, but you are from Kongtong Pai.”
Gasping for breath, Hai Laogong replied, ”I don't dare, we are even! The Empress Dowager taught Wudang Pai's martial art to His Majesty, with the purpose of fooling your servant. But … but that 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm' is Snake Island's martial art; your servant has known about it for several years.”
Wei Xiaobao had to think hard before he could understand. ”His granny,” he mused, ”The old turtle is very crafty, he taught me some 'Big Grappling Technique' and some 'Great Compassion Great Sorrow Thousand-Leaf Hand', which are Shaolin Pai's martial art, so that the Empress Dowager would think that he is from Shaolin, but actually he is from that hot piece mama Kongtong Pai. Too bad Empress Dowager's fake Wudang Pai's 'Ba Gua Roaming Dragon Palm' could not deceive the old turtle.” He also thought, ”Turns out His Majesty's martial art was taught by the Empress Dowager.”
Suddenly cold sweat appeared on his back, ”Aiyo, not good!” he mused, ”The Empress Dowager knows the 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm', could it be … could it be that those four people were killed by the Empress Dowager? Aiyo! It's alright if it were someone else, but the Emperor's own mother was killed by her. If Hai Laogong told the Emperor, won't it be a terrible disaster? If His Majesty did not kill the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager will definitely kill His Majesty. What … what should I do?” His only thought was to break into a run immediately, to escape this battleground as soon as he can, and then notify the Emperor, telling him to be extremely careful. But he was so scared that his body felt limp and painful; he desperately wanted to run away, but his feet seemed to be nailed fast to the ground that he was unable to move even for half a fen.
He heard the Empress Dowager said, ”Since it has come to this, do you still think you can escape with your life tonight?”
Hai Laogong replied, ”Empress Dowager is free to summon the imperial bodyguards. The more people come the better, then your servant can speak all kinds of things in their ears; at least one of them can convey the truth to His Majesty's ears.”
”Humph,” the Empress Dowager coldly laughed, ”You have calculated everything.” She spoke very slowly, while constantly regulating her breathing.
”Empress Dowager must take care of your sacred body,” Hai Laogong said, ”Do not damage your vital passages.”
”You must take care yourself!” the Empress Dowager said.
Originally, Hai Laogong's martial art skill was higher than the Empress Dowager's, but since he was blind, he was not her match. However, a few years previously he had ascertained from the undertaker that the killer of Consort Donggo and Consort Zhen had used the 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm', a sinister and ruthless technique, which was secretly taught only by the master of the Snake Island off the coast of Liaodong peninsula. It's just that at that time he did not know who the killer was. Thereupon he took the dangerous risk of secretly learned a special technique to counter the 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm'. Although his body suffered major injury, he had actually mastered the technique.
Afterwards, Wei Xiaobao and Emperor Kangxi practiced martial art together. Hai Laogong speculated that the person teaching the Emperor martial art was the assailant who murdered Consort Donggo, Empress Xiao Kang, and the others; therefore, sooner or later he would have to face the great battle. He was fully aware that Wei Xiaobao killed Xiao Guizi and poisoned his eyes blind. Yet he let Wei Xiaobao to accompany him as Xiao Guizi, thinking that this child was very young, plus they were total strangers to each other, so there must be someone else behind him. He tried to lure Wei Xiaobao in every way to reveal who had sent him here, since he believed that that person most likely was the murderer. However, Wei Xiaobao was not sent by anybody to begin with, so he really did not have anything to reveal; otherwise, even if he was ten times smarter, he was indeed very young and his experience very shallow, how could he able to evade Hai Laogong's tactful inquiries?
Although Hai Laogong's inquiry did not bear any fruit, he figured the two of them could play the game, thereupon he taught Wei Xiaobao martial art. But his teachings were ridden with errors and omissions, he deliberately let the opponent to think that he was from Shaolin Pai, and that his martial art skill was average. As he made his move this time, the Empress Dowager indeed had fallen into his scheme.
About six months ago, the Empress Dowager had guessed that Hai Laogong was from Shaolin Pai, yet Hai Laogong already knew that her Wudang Pai martial art was fake. Two people, one had seeing eyes, the other blind, they came from opposite school of thought in term of martial art study. Hai Laogong knew his opponent's situation very well, yet the Empress Dowager had an incorrect assessment of her opponent. It was not because the Empress Dowager had a poor knowledge and experience, it was simply because Hai Laogong had found the facts from the undertaker's mouth, while all along the Empress Dowager was in the dark. Furthermore, in Hai Tianfu's heart, he had already considered the person who taught the Emperor martial art as his mortal enemy, while it was only now that the Empress Dowager realized Hai Tianfu intended to bring her to her doom. Otherwise, she could have issued an imperial edict to the imperial bodyguards to put Hai Tianfu to death; she did not need to personally deal with him.
Hai Laogong thought that since his eyes were blind, he must provoke the opponent to strike first and only then would he be able to wait leisurely for the enemy to exhaust herself, and thus with several moves he could seize the victory. It so happened that after talking for half a day, the Empress Dowager did not reveal anything; in the end, he was unable to ascertain who had killed Consort Donggo, Empress Xiao Kang and the others.
The 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm' was a ruthless, heretical and vicious technique from an unorthodox martial art school; by conventional reasoning, it may be assumed that unless it is trained for approximately twenty years, the practitioner won't reach the proficiency level. Empress Dowager was the daughter of Chief Horqin of Borjigit Clan, her parents were of a royal background, for several generations her family had held high-ranking office in royal court. When she was still a maiden, it was extremely difficult for her to step out of her mansion even for a single step. From her childhood, she was waited upon by countless wet nurses and maidservants; how could she ventured far away to the dangerous Snake Island and learn this kind of heretical martial art? Even if she wanted to learn martial art, she would have learned some 'eight-section brocade', or 'five-animal exercise' and the like, some superficial techniques to strengthen her body; it was inconceivable that she would learn the 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm'. It was more likely that among her trusted aides, the court eunuchs and palace maids, there was a martial art master who received the Empress Dowager's order to make the move on her behalf. Who would have thought that as soon as Hai Laogong mentioned that he was going to report to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager became anxious and without careful consideration she went into action by personally confronting the enemy? This way, not only the Empress Dowager admitted that she was the murderer of those four people, but as the three palms collided, she had received serious internal injury. Hai Laogong painstakingly planned and prepared this mission for several years, once he saw the mission accomplished, he could not help but feeling greatly relieved.
The Empress Dowager's injury was indeed not light; several times she tried to regulate her breathing, but always failed. She slowly said, ”Hai Tianfu, you love to groundlessly fabricate rumors and talk nonsense. Although His Majesty is young, he is very clear-headed. Let's see if he would believe you, or he would believe me.”
”Naturally at first His Majesty will not believe your servant,” Hai Laogong replied, ”Most likely he will issue an imperial edict to have your servant killed immediately. However, after a few years, he may think carefully, the more he thinks, the more likely that he gain a clearer understanding. Empress Dowager, your clan has always enjoy honor and glory for generations, the empresses of the Founding Emperor, as well as my master's, all came from your mansion. It's a pity that this glory, splendor, wealth and rank will be finished under Kangxi's imperial court.”
”Humph,” the Empress Dowager snorted; she coldly said, ”Very good, very good!”
Hai Laogong continued, ”My master ordered your servant, as soon as the murderer is found, no matter who it was, I am to immediately execute him. It's a pity your servant's is lacking, I am not the Empress Dowager's match, without any better option, I must leave this place and submit a report to His Majesty.” Finished speaking, he slowly walked toward the exit.
The Empress Dowager secretly cursed her luck; just when she was about leap and attack, suddenly a gust of wind came by; Hai Laogong abruptly turned around and charged toward her with a fierce palm strike. Hai Laogong had received Emperor Shunzhi's order to execute Consort Donggo's murderer, and he was determined to accomplish this task. He was talking about submitting a report to the Emperor and other things, his main objective was to harass the Empress Dowager's mind, to incite her anxiety and anger, so that she could not regulate her breathing, and thus he could launch the 'ten thousand catties thunderbolt' strike.
Although this strike was noiseless, it carried the entire power he cultivated all his life. Just now, by listening attentively to the Empress Dowager's voice, he was able to locate her position with accuracy within a few cun; once he launched a palm strike, it went straight toward the acupoint on the pit of her stomach. The Empress Dowager did not anticipate he was able to move this swiftly; she moved sideways wanting to evade, as long as she was able to move quickly several times, this wicked traitor was a blind man, he would not be able to pinpoint her exact location, and then the battle would be under her control, for other than parrying the attack with his palm, he would not have the capability to counterattack. Who would have thought that as soon as she moved, Hai Laogong's palm had already arrived? The pressure was so strong that she could not even breathe, and had no choice but sending her strength to her right palm to meet the attack. She had planned to step back immediately after delivering the strike, but Hai Laogong's palm carried an enormous sucking force, which rendered her helpless to pull back. She had no choice but transmitting all her strength to her right palm and thus engaging him in an internal energy battle.
Feeling the opponent's internal strength surging in a steady stream, Hai Laogong was rejoicing secretly; his eyes were blind, if he had to fight a moving battle, he would be in a very disadvantageous situation, however, in internal energy battle, it did not matter whether he could see or was blind. Since the Empress Dowager had been injured, her chi circulation was obstructed, she could not recover even in three quarters of an hour. In this kind of internal energy battle, he must try to drain her strength, so that she would be paralyzed and die. Therefore, he sent out Yin force with left palm and Yang force with his right. After battling for a while, Yin and Yang were gradually reversed; now the left palm was sending Yang force, while the right sending Yin.
To Wei Xiaobao who was watching, it only looked like Empress Dowager 's one palm was balancing Hai Laogong's two palms, there was not the slightest bit of danger. He did not know that Hai Laogong's palm strength was like a stone mill; it slowly turned just like stone mill grinding grain into powder, grinding the Empress Dowager's internal energy bit by bit. Wei Xiaobao was hiding behind the fake rocks, he was afraid Empress Dowager might detect his presence. Occasionally he would stick out his head to see, and would immediately hide again, suddenly he saw a flashing white light, hastily he looked out and saw the three palms of the two people were still locked to each other, however, a short blade had appeared in the Empress Dowager's left hand, the dagger was moving slowly toward Hai Laogong's abdomen. He was ecstatic; ”Wonderful, wonderful!” he cheered in his heart, ”Very soon the old turtle will return to the damn heaven.”
What happened was: realizing the strangeness of the opponent's palm strength, the Empress Dowager's left hand quietly fished a white moth-antennae steel spike and slowly pulled it out, the spike's point gradually moved toward Hai Laogong's lower abdomen. However, when the spike was about a chi away from the opponent's lower abdomen, she was unable to push it farther. In the meantime, the 'Yin Yang Grindstone' force from Hai Laogong's palms was getting stronger and faster, the Empress Dowager's single palm had already unable to resist the enemy, she felt her right palm was gradually losing its strength and became limp and painful, so very soon she would have to use her left palm to help her right.
Originally she wanted to thrust the moth-antennae spike slowly so that it would not generate any wind and thus the enemy would not be able to detect it; however, this moment her right palm was almost devoid of any strength. No longer caring whether Hai Laogong would hear it or not, she sent all her strength to her left hand and thrust hard, with the hope that the moth-antennae spike would pierce its target. Who would have thought that she was unable to move her left hand even for half a cun. In the quiet night, there was a soft 'drip, drip' noise; it was the blood from the severed four fingers on Hai Laogong's left hand, which flowed out continuously and dripped down to the ground. The more Hai Laogong sent the internal energy to his hand, the faster the blood gushed out from his wound.
Under the moonlight, Wei Xiaobao saw the moth-antennae spike was flickering continually, sometimes it flashed on his face, an indication that the Empress Dowager's left hand was trembling incessantly. The white light flickered faster and faster, yet all along the moth-antennae spike was unable to reach Hai Laogong's lower abdomen.
A moment later, Wei Xiaobao noticed that the moth-antennae spike was being slowly pulled back. Wei Xiaobao was shocked. ”Aiyo, not good!” he mused, ”The Empress Dowager is going to lose to the old turtle. If I don't leave now, what am I waiting for?” He slowly turned around and step by step walked toward the exit. With each step he took, he knew that he was one step farther from the danger, so he felt relieved, and thus his steps was getting faster. Finally he reached the gate and was about to reach out the door knocker when suddenly he heard 'Aah!' from behind him, the Empress Dowager let out a long scream. ”It's bad!” Wei Xiaobao mused, ”The Empress Dowager has been killed by the old turtle.”
”Empress Dowager,” he heard Hai Laogong coldly say, ”The oil of your lamp is about to dry out. In the time needed to burn an incense stick, your strength will be depleted and you are going to die. Unless right now someone suddenly appear and attack my back so that I cannot resist, only then would he be able to kill me.”
Wei Xiaobao was about to open the door and dash out, suddenly hearing Hai Laogong's voice, he thought, ”Turns out the Empress Dowager is not dead yet! The old turtle is right, both of his hands are locked with the Empress Dowager's hand, if I stab his back, how can the old turtle take his hand and block? He was the one who said it, don't blame other people.”
Before his eyes was precisely a golden opportunity like beating a dog drowning in the water; if he did not seize this readily available convenience, he would become a human being in vain. Wei Xiaobao was very fond of gambling; even if the chance was fifty-fifty, he would still gamble. If a gambling opportunity arose, where he could cheat by playing tricks so that his chance of winning was 90% or a 100%, even if his life was at stake, definitely he would not let this opportunity pass. If someone wanted him to take chances to save the Empress Dowager, he would not dare to do that no matter what. But as he heard Hai Laogong announcing his own weak point, which was the same as holding out his own hands to be tied, or stretching his own neck to be chopped, it was as if a fat meat was placed in front of his mouth; how could he not swallow?
He reached down and pulled the dagger from his boot; with quick steps he rushed toward Hai Laogong's back, while shouting, ”Old Turtle, stop harming the Empress Dowager!” Raising his dagger, he fiercely stabbed it down on his back.
Hai Laogong let out a long laugh and called out, ”Little demon, you have fallen into my trick!” His left foot kicked backward, 'Bang!' The pit of Wei Xiaobao's stomach was hit and he was sent flying several zhang back.
Turned out when he was having an internal energy battle with the Empress Dowager, Hai Laogong was confident that victory was at hand. Suddenly he heard someone was walking away from behind the rockery, the footsteps sounded very familiar; immediately he recognized it to be Wei Xiaobao. Unexpectedly this little demon did not die after being hit by his palm. Hai Laogong was rather astonished; he was afraid that if Wei Xiaobao summoned the imperial bodyguards to help the Empress Dowager, it would really 'spoil the ship for half a penny worth of tar'. Hit upon an inspiration, he cried out, luring Wei Xiaobao to come and attack his back.
Wei Xiaobao's experience in facing the enemy and adapt himself to changes was really too little, as expected, he fell into his trick. Hai Laogong's kick had hit the pit of Wei Xiaobao's stomach. He flew through the air as if soaring through the clouds or mounting the fog, vomited a mouthful of blood.
When Hai Laogong kicked with his left foot, he had already anticipated that as his strength was reduced, the Empress Dowager would exploit the instant the pressing force went void by sending her left palm to strike his lower abdomen. Therefore, after kicking Wei Xiaobao, without thinking he sent out his right palm forward to protect his lower abdomen. Suddenly there was a cold sensation on the center of his palm, followed by a burst of severe pain on his lower abdomen. The Empress Dowager's platinum-plated moth-antennae steel spike pierced through his palm and entered his lower abdomen. After all, he was greatly disadvantaged by not able to see anything; although he had foreseen that the Empress Dowager would exploit the loophole by launching a counterattack, he could not see that the attack came not in the form of palm strike, but an extremely sharp weapon instead. As his lower abdomen was punctured by the moth-antennae spike, he gathered his strength on his left palm and shook the Empress Dowager several steps back.
The Empress Dowager landed on her left foot, but immediately leaped several more zhang backward. She felt her chi and blood were bubbling up inside her chest that she almost fainted. Afraid that Hai Laogong would seize this chance to attack, she slowly withdrew several more steps and stood against the wall.
Hai Laogong roared in laughter and called out, ”Your luck is good! Your luck is good!” 'Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!' he sent three palm strikes while throwing himself forward at the same time. The Empress Dowager wanted to leap to the right to evade, but her legs were limp and painful, she tumbled down to the ground. She heard a 'splotch!', half of the row of flower rack were pushed down by Hai Laogong's palm strength. The Empress Dowager's muscles were weary and her strength depleted, she was unable to move a single step. In her fright, she saw Hai Laogong's body was sprawled face down on the flower rack, unmoving.
Propping herself up, the Empress Dowager wanted to stand up, but her limbs felt like cotton, her entire body was weak. While she was thinking of calling one of the palace maids, she heard faint noise of people coming near. She thought, ”My dialogue and fight with this wicked thief were not loud, but before his death he was shouting and yelling, and overthrowing the flower rack; it must have alerted the imperial bodyguards on duty. Those guards will be here in no time, seeing me lying in here with two dead eunuchs, one old and one young, what a scandal will it be?” Mustering all her strength, she wanted to circulate her chi thru her body, but all along she failed to do so.
She heard the noise of the guards was getting near; while feeling very anxious, suddenly someone came over and said, ”Empress Dowager, are you, Senior, well? Let me help you up.” It was precisely that little eunuch Xiao Guizi.
The Empress Dowager was pleasantly surprised, she said, ”You ... you ... are not killed ... by that evil man's kick?”
”His kick did not kill me,” Wei Xiaobao replied. When he was kicked by Hai Laogong just now, he landed on a flowering shrub and spurted quite a bit of blood. After calming himself, he made an effort to stand up. Seeing Hai Laogong was lying face down motionless on the flower rack, he hastily hid himself behind a tree. He picked up a rock and threw it toward Hai Laogong, 'smack!' it hit the back of Hai Laogong's head, but Hai Laogong did not stir at all. Wei Xiaobao was ecstatic, ”The old turtle is dead!” he thought. But he was still scared, and thus did not dare to come near. For a moment he was unsure of what to do: shall he run away and escape, or come back and help the Empress Dowager? Suddenly he heard the hubbub as a lot of people rushing near. If he ran out, he would definitely bump into them, therefore, he went toward the Empress Dowager and stretched out his hand to help her up.
”Good child,” the Empress Dowager happily said, ”Quickly help me in to rest.”
”Yes,” Wei Xiaobao replied. Half dragging and half carrying, he stumbled to help her enter her room and helped her laying on the bed. His own legs felt limp and painful, so he dropped himself on the thick carpet, while gasping for breath.
”You may lie down here,” the Empress Dowager said, ”When someone is coming, you must not make any sound.”
”Yes!” Wei Xiaobao said.
A moment later, he heard clatters of footsteps, a lot of people were rushing in from the outside. The flame from lanterns and torches illuminated the room from the window lattice. Someone said, ”Aiyo, there is a dead eunuch in here!” Another man said, ”It's Hai Laogong from the Catering Department.” One of them raised his voice and said, ”Reporting to the Empress Dowager: other than the situation in the garden, wishing the Empress Dowager ten thousand good fortune and peace like gold.” By saying that, he was actually inquiring the safety of the Empress Dowager.”
”Other than what situation?” the Empress Dowager asked.
As soon as she said that, the imperial bodyguards and court eunuchs outside let out a deep breath. As long as the Empress Dowager was safe, although the Palace of Compassion and Peace was in a mess, it would not be too great of an offense for them. The leader of the imperial bodyguards said, ”It seems like there was a fight between the court eunuchs, not a big deal. Empress Dowager please retire for the night, tomorrow your servants will investigate and submit a detailed report.”
”Very well,” the Empress Dowager replied.
They heard the imperial bodyguard chief lowered his voice and quietly ordered his men to take Hai Laogong's body out. Another man also said in a low voice, ”There is a little palace maid's body in here. Ah! This little palace maid is not dead, she is only fainted.”
The imperial bodyguard chief said, ”Take both of them away, we will question her when she regains her consciousness.”
The Empress Dowager said, ”Is there any little palace maid? Take her into my room.” She was afraid when she regained her consciousness, Rui Chu would reveal what had happened that night.
Someone outside complied, a court eunuch carried the little palace maid Rui Chu into the room and gently lay her down on the floor. He kowtowed to the Empress Dowager and then withdrew.
By this time, all palace maids serving the Empress Dowager were already awakened, they all stood waiting outside the room, without the Empress Dowager's summon, nobody dared to enter on their own initiative. The Empress Dowager heard the imperial bodyguards and the court eunuchs gradually left; she said, ”You all may go back to sleep, I don't need your service tonight.” The palace maids complied and immediately left.
The fact that the Empress Dowager knew martial art was a secret, even the palace maid attending her personally did not know. When she trained every morning and evening, without her orders, no court eunuch or palace maid was allowed to enter her room even for one step. Even touching the door curtain was strictly prohibited.
The Empress Dowager regulated her chi for a while. In the meantime, Wei Xiaobao's strength had gradually returned that he was able to sit up. A moment later, he was able to stand up. The Empress Dowager knew that Hai Laogong's kick on the pit of his stomach was very heavy, but this little eunuch unexpectedly was able to move freely, he was even able to help her back to her room. She wondered what kind of martial art he practiced? Thereupon she asked, ”Other than with Hai Tianfu, who else did you learn martial art from?”
Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Your servant only learned martial art from that evil old man for several months. Most of the martial art he taught was probably bogus. This man was very wicked, he often bragged of killing me.”
”Hmm,” the Empress Dowager said, ”His eyes, did you poison him blind?”
”That old fellow day in and day out always cursed the Empress Dowager behind your back,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”He also cursed His Majesty. Your servant was unbearably angry, but has no ability to kill him, so I had to ... I had to ...”
”How did he curse me and His Majesty?” the Empress Dowager asked.
”His words were very undisciplined and out of control,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Your servant did not dare to remember it in my heart, as soon as I hear it, I forget. I have already forgotten everything early on, and did not think about it anymore.”
The Empress Dowager nodded, ”You are a very smart child,” she said, ”Tonight, what brought you here?”
Wei Xiaobao said, ”Your servant was sleeping on my bed, I heard the evil old fellow opened the door and went out. I was afraid he was going to do something to harm me, so I quietly followed behind him, all the way to this place.”
The Empress Dowager slowly said, ”All the nonsense he told me, you have heard everything.”
Wei Xiaobao said, ”Everything that the evil old fellow said, your servant always regard as a fart. Em … Empress Dowager, please don't blame me, your servant was using a bad language, I hate him very much. Every day he cursed me 'little turtle', he cursed my ancestors; I know he had never said anything true.”
The Empress Dowager coldly said, ”I asked you: the things that Hai Tianfu said to me, did you hear it? Don't babble, give me a straight answer.”
”Your servant was hiding far away outside the gate,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”I did not dare to come near. That evil old fellow's ears were often very acute, if I came too near, he would hear me. I only saw he talked to the Empress Dowager; I wanted to eavesdrop, but the distance was too far, I couldn't hear anything. Later, I saw he dared to offend Empress Dowager, he dared to commit treason and heresy, so by risking my life your servant came to help. In the end, whatever he said to Empress Dowager, your servant did not know. He … he must be complaining about your servant, telling the Empress Dowager that I poisoned his eyes blind; although it was the truth, whatever else he said, the Empress Dowager must never believe. I suppose it was because the Empress Dowager did not believe him that that servant dared to offend the Empress Dowager.”
”Humph!” the Empress Dowager said, ”You are very smart, very perceptive. It's good if you really did not hear whatever Hai Tianfu was saying. It's also good if you pretend you did not hear it. If in the future even half a word of baseless rumor ever reaches my ear, you know what will happen to you.”
”Empress Dowager's kindness to your servant is as heavy as the mountain,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”If any brazen scoundrel ever dares to say any unpleasant talk behind the Empress Dowager and His Majesty's back, your servant will stake my life to fight him.”
”I like it if you can be like this,” the Empress Dowager said, ”Previously I haven't treated you that good.”
”Previously His Majesty and your servant wrestled and practiced martial art together,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Your servant did not know it was the Lord of Ten Thousand Years, my talk and actions were random and wild, but Empress Dowager and His Majesty did not hold it against me the least bit, it was truly a kindness as heavy as the mountain. Otherwise, even if your servant had a hundred heads, all of them deserved to be chopped. Every day that evil old fellow wanted to kill your servant, fortunately Empress Dowager has saved my life. Your servant is truly extremely grateful.”
The Empress Dowager slowly said, ”You know gratitude, that's very good. Light that candle on the table.”
”Yes!” Wei Xiaobao replied. He struck the flint and lighted the candle. The candle in the Empress Dowager's room was very thick and unusually bright.
”Come here,” the Empress Dowager said, ”Let me look at you.”
”Yes!” Wei Xiaobao replied. Slowly he walked toward the Empress Dowager's bed. He saw her countenance was snowy white, without the least bit trace of blood. Her eyebrows slightly slanted upward, her eyes were gleaming, Wei Xiaobao's heartbeat quickened; he thought, ”She … is she going to kill me to close my mouth? If I move my legs and dash out, I am sure she won't be able to catch up, but if she managed to catch me, that would be the end of me!”
His heart was telling him to immediately rush outside, but his mind was momentarily undecided. In this slight hesitation, the Empress Dowager had already stretched out her left had to grab Wei Xiaobao's right hand. Wei Xiaobao was shocked, his body shook. ”Ah!” he gasped.
”What are you afraid of?” the Empress Dowager asked.
”I … I am not afraid, it's just that … it's just that …” Wei Xiaobao stammered.
”It's just that what?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”Empress Dowager's kindness to your servant is as heavy as the mountain, your servant have received something and afraid of something?” He had heard people mentioned the expression 'overwhelmed by favor (usually from superior)', but somehow he could only remember two out of four characters[75].
The Empress Dowager did not understand what he was saying, she asked, ”Why are you trembling all over?”
”I ... I am not ... am not ...” Wei Xiaobao replied.
If the Empress Dowager strike him dead with her palm right now, she would not have to worry he would reveal her secret in the future, but however hard she tried, her chi simply refused to rise; in reality, her muscles were weary and her strength depleted, although she succeeded in grabbing Wei Xiaobao's hand, she did not have the least bit of strength in her fingers. If Wei Xiaobao were to struggle a little bit, he would have been able to free himself. Thereupon she smiled and said, ”You have rendered a great service tonight, I will reward you handsomely.”
”It was that evil old fellow who wanted to kill your servant,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Luckily Empress Dowager came to rescue me, your servant did not have the least bit of merit.”
”You know good from bad,” the Empress Dowager said, ”In the future I won't treat you unfairly. You may go!” She gently let his hand go.
Wei Xiaobao was ecstatic; immediately he dropped on his knees and kowtowed several times before retreating. The Empress Dowager saw the front piece of his jacket was drenched with blood, obviously he had vomited a lot of blood, but when he kowtowed, his movement was still quite agile; she could not help but feeling bewildered.
When he was leaving the room, Wei Xiaobao took a glance toward Rui Chu who was lying on the floor. He noticed that her chest was fluctuating slowly, her breathing was even, as if she was in a very deep sleep. Her countenance was rosy, it did not show anything unusual. He said in his heart, ”In a few days I will bring some cake, pastry and fruit for you to eat.”
In quick steps he returned to his own room, bolted the door, and let out a long breath, as if a heavy load had just been released. Recently, staying with Hai Laogong in the same room, he had been very scared and was on the edge all the time. ”Now the old turtle is dead,” he thought, ”I don't have to worry somebody would come to harm me.” Suddenly he recalled the Empress Dowager's countenance under the candle light; his body shivered violently. ”Living in this Imperial Palace, there is no peace and security, but laozi still ... still .. ha ha, still have to get that four hundred fifty thousand taels of silver and then return to Yangzhou to see Mama. It will be wonderful.” Thinking that he was still alive and had four hundred fifty thousand taels of silver lost and won back, he could not help but dancing and gesticulating for joy.
He was having a cheerful mood for a while, gradually he felt weary; he lay down on the bed and fell into a very deep slumber.