Chapter 40: Vicious, she wants to kill (2/2)

Seeing the group of people leave, Han Yunxi finally lowered her guard to lie listlessly on the grass, her hands clenched into fists. So painful, it felt like her insides were eating her up. Still, she encouraged herself from the bottom of her heart. “Han Yunxi, you have to hold on. Just bear it a bit longer, you’ll be okay very soon.”

……

How could Princess Changping stand waiting around? She shouted and screamed from the guest hall, but Grand Concubine Yi allowed her to do as she pleased without paying any attention.

“What a Han Yunxi! Hmph, this princess will go find imperial mother, then we’ll see if you meet me or not!” Princess Changping left behind these words and angrily stormed out.

Grand Concubine Yi was very puzzled. “Wanru, why do you think Princess Changping came by?”

“I thought it strange too. She’s not holding a grudge from the young general’s incident, right?” Murong Wanru guessed.

“As if she dares! I haven’t even settled accounts with her yet, but she still has the face to see me?” Grand Concubine Yi immediately grew angry.

No matter why Princess Changping came, Murong Wanru wouldn’t give Han Yunxi any chance to leave the woodhouse. She had to show a strong hand first. That night, she’d arranged for hitmen to kill her, but unexpectedly, Princess Changping came at late night with the empress instead. The empress differed from Princess Changping in that she was the mother of the nation and the emperor’s official wife. Grand Concubine Yi still had to be polite on the surface.

“Oh my! What kind of breeze did we have tonight to blow mother and daughter to this one’s house?” Grand Concubine Yi’s face was pleasant and amiable as she summoned the servants to bring out good tea.

The empress sat in a higher position than an imperial concubine, but in terms of filial piety, she still had to pay respects to Grand Concubine Yi. Of course, the grand imperial concubine returned the salutations. Princess Changping was already in a huff and stood to one side, unmoving. Only now did Grand Concubine Yi discover that the princess was wearing a bamboo hat with a white muslin veil all around the perimeter, completely covering her face and head.

“Changping is…” Grand Concubine Yi was curious.

A single question was enough to incite Princess Changping, who cried out, “I’m fine!”

“Changping, don’t be rude,” the empress chided unhappily, though she was helpless at heart.

Princess Changping had no idea what sort of dirty thing had infected her that night at the prisons. After her feet and face had tickled for two days, an unbearable itch had developed that made her claw and scratch. Who knew that she’d grow a tinea[1] rash afterwards?

At first it started on her feet, but by the second day it’d grown on her face. There were chunks after chunks of skin that resembled psoriasis, but all the imperial physicians she’d seen said that wasn’t the case. They could only verify that it wasn’t psoriasis, but no one could diagnose it specifically. A few suspected that it was poison, but none of the poison doctors could figure it out, either. Thanks to Mu Qingwu’s incident, Princess Changping hated Imperial Physician Gu and didn’t look for him. But ever since the day before yesterday, her foot rash began to itch again. There was no way Princess Changping could stand it beyond scratching and scratching until she clawed her skin open. The imperial physicians who saw her could only stammer that she might leave scars.

Princess Changping was desperate enough to set aside her resentment to look for Imperial Physician Gu. He said it should be poison, but it wasn’t something he could treat. Then he suggested she ask Han Yunxi to have a look instead. Princess Changping had lost it right then and there, saying that was impossible.

And yet, starting from yesterday, the rashes on her face began to itch as well. If she scratched, she’d leave scars, but when the rash reacted, she couldn’t help but roll around the ground in suffering, not daring to touch them with her hands.

She didn’t want to ruin her face!

Though she was neither resigned to nor believed in Han Yunxi’s medical skills, there was no other way left. She couldn’t give up her last thread of hope and ended up sullenly looking for Han Yunxi.

Grand Concubine Yi drew her lips up in a satirizing smile. “This girl’s is just this temper, I’m used to it.”

The empress was here for a favor and didn’t dare retort. Instead she laughed. “Grand Concubine Yi, is Qin Wangfei not at home? Changping said she came at night but didn’t see her.”

Grand Concubine Yi asked in reply, “What matter do you have with Yunxi?”

The empress was about to speak when Princess Changping cut her off. She didn’t want Grand Concubine Yi to know her face was ruined. The more people that knew, the more people would laugh at her! If Grand Concubine Yi treated it as a joke, she’d be even more disgraced

“I have some business to find her for. Grand Concubine Yi, hurry and have her come out, I have important matters that will take her into the palace,” Princess Changping said directly.

Grand Concubine Yi exhaled lightly. She didn’t ask any more, but said lightly, “Is it like that? But Yunxi and the Duke of Qin went out for a sightseeing tour.”

“What? Where did they go?” Princess Changping was astonished enough to take a few steps forward, extremely agitated.

“Aiya, Changping. You should know your Imperial Uncle Qin’s disposition. He never tells this mother of his where he’s going,” Grand Concubine Yi wore a helpless look on her face.

Princess Changping was burning with impatience. “Then…then they…”

At this moment, the empress suddenly grabbed Princess Changping’s hands. An empress was still an empress. She knew Grand Concubine Yi was purposely making things difficult. Princess Changping still wanted to talk, but the empress tightened her grip on her hands, rebuking her sternly.

“Changping, I’ve taught you so many times not to be so forward. You’re showing no respect for your elders. Yes, your matter’s very important, but since the Qin Wangfei’s not here, aren’t you just making things awkward for Grand Concubine Yi?”

-o-

[1] tinea (?) – xuan, also called ringworm due to its appearance as a circular rash with a ring-like appearance. A type of common fungal infection of the skin.