The sun sets in the west, casting a glow over the glazed golden roof of Jingyang Palace.
Amidst the dusk, Bai Li kneels on a cushion, the sunset illuminating her slender back, which is straight like a thin bamboo growing on a sheer cliff, making the deep blue Daoist robe appear particularly spacious.
Bai Li has been kneeling here for a long ti, so long that each breath she takes stirs up the dust inside the hall.
The hall is extrely quiet.
Not the usual quietness, but a tranquility that seems cleansed.
Bai Li's lips move slightly as low chanting resounds from the main hall: "To be selfless is to let go of feelings, yet to grasp feelings is a burden; obsession forms shackles, but forgetfulness leads to freedom, enlightennt can reveal the primordial truth. The Dao gives birth to all things, emotion is the root; emotions give rise to myriad appearances, non-attachnt is genuine..."
At this mont, footsteps sound from the rear hall, as Du Miao sits down beside Bai Li, holding a wooden box.
She languidly leans against the leg of the tribute table, then reaches out to pick a slightly shriveled peach from the table and takes a bite: "Commandery Princess, I do miss the ti when you were in charge. Jingyang Palace finally seed lively, writing green words by day, filled with laughter at night, it was certainly better than before."
Bai Li remains unmoved, still with her eyes closed, hands placed on her abdon forming the Three Mountains Technique, softly reciting: "The Supre One says: Fortune and misfortune have no doors, only humans summon them. The recompense of good and evil follows like shadows. Thus, heaven and earth have deities overseeing faults and correct actions, taking asures according to the severity..."
Du Miao glances at her and then looks towards the sunset outside the hall, sighing: "I heard from the little eunuch that Marquis Wu Xiang is causing a bloody aftermath outside the palace, even dragged an Imperial Censor to death, disregarding the promising future of the Chen family, just to rescue you. No wonder you can stay true to your heart, knowing there's soone out there thinking of you. When you have a tether in your heart, it's not so easy to lose your way."
Du Miao shifts positions: "We're different, before we even entered Jingyang Palace, nobody outside cared for us and we had none to care for; so we live like pigs and dogs, alive as long as fate permits. We don't dare to die on our own, fearing the pain, but when that day cos, we just die."
Bai Li continues to recite softly: "Seek celestial immortality by performing thirteen hundred good deeds, seek earthly immortality by performing three hundred good deeds; if actions are unjust and against reason..."
Du Miao chuckles, indifferent to whether Bai Li is listening: "When you ca, everyone was a bit envious. You're so young and kind, like a mirror reflecting how old and ugly we've beco."
Speaking thus far, she looks at Bai Li: "Yet, we aren't all heinous, otherwise Princess Yongchun wouldn't have lived so long, right? Before you ca, we were looking after her, just not as ticulously as you did."
Du Miao faces the sunset, smoothing her tousled hair, tucking it behind her ear: "You should leave. Just the thought of you surviving out there drives us mad with jealousy, if not for being unable to outmatch you, perhaps we'd try to strangle you... who knows?"
She lowers her head and opens the box in front of her, revealing the hairpins accumulated by the nuns of Jingyang Palace, so embellished with Dian Cui, so made of white jade, treasures they cherished daily.
Du Miao picks a white jade pin, reaches out to remove the wooden hairpin from Bai Li's bun, letting her thick azure hair cascade like a waterfall.
Bai Li, like a clay figurine, continues her chanting, eyes closed.
Du Miao stands behind Bai Li, carefully reattaches her hair and inserts the white jade pin: "Take these hairpins with you... not to rember us fondly, nor do we expect you to rescue us once you're out. We used to buy them from the little eunuch with hopes of getting out soday, but now, they're of no use to us here."
She completes the updo and sighs softly: "I know you want revenge for the Empress, longing day and night, to the point you ditate here to stave off insanity. Yes, if soone treated so well, I'd want revenge too... but your enemy isn't one person, it's this cursed world. Since you have a chance to leave, forget palace matters, act as if you've died once and forget about us and the Empress, the good and the bad alike."
Du Miao downtroddenly retreats to the rear hall.
Tranquility returns to the main hall, Bai Li slowly opens her eyes, staring at the statue of the Three Pure Ones Ancestor, silent for a long ti.
The golden statue of the Three Pure Ones Ancestor stands tall on the divine platform, gazing down, appearing both rciless and compassionate.
At this mont, chaotic footsteps echo from outside the hall.
Silhouetted in the doorway, Changxiu leads the Jiefan Guard, holding a roll of bright yellow silk.
He doesn't imdiately enter, pausing a breath outside the threshold, his gaze sweeping over the slender figure kneeling in the hall, laughingly saying: "Already kneeling? Saves so trouble."
He unfurls the silk: "By the command of the Emperor, it is decreed: Princess Jing Bai Li, since you are not of the Heavenly Family bloodline, you are stripped of your surna and sent to the Imperial Music Bureau, sold into servitude. As commanded."
Changxiu folds the decree and hands it to the Jiefan Guard, speaking to Bai Li: "Co, Miss Bai Li, there are people waiting for you outside. Hurry so Marquis Wu Xiang can rescue you. He's stirred such chaos recently that it disturbs the Emperor's practice of Dao."
Bai Li slowly rises, ignoring the box left by Du Miao, and walks out of Jingyang Palace alone without saying a word.
Changxiu walks beside her, amused: "Miss Bai Li doesn't seem happy? Cheer up, in these thirty-two years at Jingyang Palace, three hundred and twelve have entered, only you walk out alive."
Bai Li calmly replies: "Not necessarily alive."
Changxiu looks surprised, examining Bai Li: "A heart dies and the Dao erges, no wonder Miss Bai Li exudes so Dao charm. Yet, Miss Bai Li, the great Dao is compassionate, not heartless."
Bai Li doesn't respond.
At this mont, a Jiefan Guard hurries over, whispering to Changxiu.
Changxiu ponders for a mont, then speaks to Bai Li: "Miss Bai Li, there's a small hiccup, Mr. Chen might not be at the Imperial Music Bureau now but nearing Renshou Palace. Sounds like a big hassle, uncertain when he'll resolve it, so let's walk slower and wait for Mr. Chen."
Bai Li's expression finally livens, she looks at Changxiu: "Are you his friend?"
Changxiu smiles brightly: "Miss Bai Li misunderstands, Mr. Chen and I aren't quite friends."
Bai Li asks: "Then why help ?"
Changxiu treads slowly along the palace path, deliberately slow: "Mr. Chen has an agreent with Lord Pri Minister, he removes two people for the Pri Minister, and the Pri Minister rescues you. Since the 7th year of Jianing, the Pri Minister has never failed a promise to others, and I can't let him turn into soone untrustworthy. The Pri Minister's reputation, the reputation of Jiefan Building, is more important than my life, more important than many lives."
Suddenly Bai Li asks: "May I look at Kunning Palace one more ti?"
Changxiu gently shakes his head: "That won't do, I don't have such authority to act arbitrarily, perhaps when I beco the Chief Eunuch Bingbi of the Ritual Supervision... or maybe Miss Bai Li will wait a few more years at Jingyang Palace? Haha, just kidding."
Bai Li turned around and looked, trying to find the Kunning Palace among the roofs, Changxiu pointed in the direction of Kunning Palace for her, and Bai Li imdiately faced Kunning Palace, kneeling on the ground for a long ti without getting up.
Changxiu stood by her side without urging until Bai Li got up herself.
Changxiu lingered for a long ti, but ultimately could not stay in the Forbidden City.
After leaving the Forbidden City, Bai Li again slled the familiar yet strange scent of smoke and fire, the aroma of scallions and the rich sll of dough frying in oil, suddenly breaking through the thick cocoon around Bai Li.
Seeing her in a daze, Changxiu waved his sleeve and instructed the Jiefan Guard, "Go buy a scallion pancake for Miss Bai Li."
When the Jiefan Guard ca back with the oil-drenched pancake, Bai Li didn't take it, she just shook her head gently. Changxiu smiled, took the pancake himself, and ate it as they walked.
He led the Jiefan Guard, protecting Bai Li in the middle as they passed through the crowd outside the Imperial Music Bureau. The people quietly watched her walk with the Jiefan Guard, neither pleased nor angry.
"So this is Princess Bai Li."
"No wonder Marquis Wu Xiang risked his life for her, she indeed makes one pity her."
Changxiu found it both infuriating and amusing, he walked to the door of the Imperial Music Bureau, turned back to look at the pressing crowd behind him: "The world judges by appearance, only the good-looking are deed worth saving? What about the unattractive, should they not be saved? Foolishness, sadness."
He shook his head helplessly and walked into the Imperial Music Bureau, the Danbi Grand Music Hall inside was empty, though so many people were outside, none dared to co in.
Chen Ji still couldn't make it back in ti; he was still in the Forbidden City.
A clerk from the Imperial Music Bureau ca forward to reprimand: "Why are you only just arriving, the sale of prisoners at 3:45 PM is a rule set by Fengluan, it's almost 5 PM now, if Lord Fengluan blas us..."
Fengluan, an official under the Ministry of Rites in charge of the Imperial Music Bureau, overseeing court rituals and the Imperial Music Bureau.
Changxiu smiled, "What can be done, late is late, your Lord Fengluan can't possibly kill , can he?"
The clerk was taken aback: "What are you saying? Be careful or my lord will report you."
Changxiu sincerely replied, "I think it would be best if your lord does not report , after all, I have no family left, while you still do."
The clerk's face changed dramatically, looking at the delicate-featured little eunuch before him, only feeling a chill down his spine: "You... How can you speak like this?"
Changxiu sincerely replied, "This is how the Eunuch Party speaks."
The clerk was speechless.
Just then, Fengluan rushed into the Danbi Grand Music Hall from outside: "It's past 3:45 PM, imdiately proceed with the sale of the prisoner Bai Li."
Changxiu widened his eyes: "Are you insane?"
Fengluan frowned: "Who are you?"
Changxiu pointed to the Jiefan Guard beside him: "Can you not see, Jiefan Guard Household, Changxiu."
Fengluan hesitated for a mont, but still lowered his face: "This is my jurisdiction, the Imperial Music Bureau, no matter how far your Jiefan Guard's reach, you shouldn't ddle in my affairs here?"
Changxiu let out an 'Oh': "Soone must have promised you great prospects, prospects worth risking your life for, Lord Fengluan. But right now, no one in the Imperial Music Bureau is vying to buy, how will it begin?"
Fengluan said in a deep voice: "People will arrive soon."
Changxiu smiled: "Have you decided who will co to buy? Let guess, is it that Young Master Cui from Qinghe Cui Family?"
Fengluan's expression changed: "Stop being unreasonable."
Changxiu originally planned to leave after delivering Bai Li, but now found a corner to sit: "Let's wait a bit longer, Lord Fengluan, this isn't sothing you can involve yourself in. Pure Stream adeptly keeps safe distance, today you listen to others, but if tomorrow Mr. Chen goes mad, who will save you?"
Fengluan angrily waved his sleeve: "How dare the Eunuch Party threaten a court official? I act according to the rules of the Imperial Music Bureau, what can you do to , does the Ritual Supervision plan to usurp power?"
Changxiu squinted without speaking, the Imperial Capital values rules above all, since the other side complies with them, there truly is little he could do.
But just at this mont, a lazy voice ca from outside the door: "Oh, let see, who is it that's making such grand statents about usurping power from the Ritual Supervision?"
Everyone looked together, seeing Jiao Tu approach with a smile, scrutinizing Fengluan with a half-smile. Yun Yang followed behind her, his gaze like needles piercing Fengluan's face.
Yet the two did not stop upon entering the Imperial Music Bureau, instead, they amicably moved aside to allow the person in white robes behind them to step forward.
Changxiu hurriedly got up, respectfully clasped his hands and bowed: "Lord Bai Long."
Bai Long walked up to Fengluan, his dragon-pattern mask revealed no emotion, staring into Fengluan's eyes: "Can we wait?"
Fengluan's expression changed several tis, finally lowering his head: "Then wait a bit longer. But if by 5 PM, we still cannot proceed, I can only start the sale; the Imperial Music Bureau has its rules... Besides, Marquis Wu Xiang is in a precarious position right now, I'm afraid you won't be able to wait."
...
There will be another update tonight, but it'll be very late, check it in the morning
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