Double Queens GL - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Then I shall head back.” Liu Hening felt as though she had barely warmed her seat before being shooed away. She continued to look at Ye Guichen pleadingly, hoping she might be asked to stay a while longer, though she knew the possibility was slim.

“Hening, you’re afraid of the cold, aren’t you?” Ye Guichen asked as she noticed Liu Hening lingering, reluctant to rise from her seat.

Liu Hening nodded; she was indeed quite sensitive to the cold.

“Ameng, go and fetch my hand-warmer and give it to Hening,” Ye Guichen instructed.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hening was instantly delighted. She felt that Huachao didn’t hate her all that much; she was so thoughtful, knowing she was cold and even giving her a hand-warmer. Huachao was truly wonderful!

Liu Yan, observing this, thought to herself that the Lady of the Eastern Palace was truly a woman raised in the palace—meticulous in every action, leaving no room for criticism. To be able to keep her personal feelings out of it showed an extraordinary temperament. Liu Yan admired Ye Guichen greatly, thinking it was a blessing the Emperor hadn’t fully deposed her; otherwise, it would have been a massive loss. With Ye Guichen in the harem, everything would surely be kept in perfect order.

Ye Meng soon returned with the hand-warmer and handed it to Ye Guichen. She thought of how difficult it was for her mistress—having to force herself to perform such insincere gestures for someone she clearly disliked.

“On your way back, put the hand-warmer in your cloak pocket along with your hands; that way, they won’t get cold,” Ye Guichen said with a gentle and considerate tone, placing the exquisite, small hand-warmer into Liu Hening’s palms.

“Huachao, you are so kind!” Liu Hening accepted it joyfully. She thought that if Huachao could be this thoughtful even while she didn’t yet like her, she must be the most tender and considerate woman alive once she truly cared for someone.

“We are both the Emperor’s wives. Living in harmony is the only way to share the Emperor’s burdens. It is only what I should do,” Ye Guichen said, avoiding Liu Hening’s gaze. She spoke the most formal and hollow words, disliking eye contact during such moments.

“Huachao is right; we must be harmonious and loving. This requires us to spend more time together. I’ll come find you to cultivate our bond whenever you’re free. But tell me, when will you be free?” Liu Hening immediately seized the opportunity to push for more.

Ye Guichen had felt that the best state for them was to mind their own business—she wouldn’t provoke Liu Hening, and Liu Hening would stay away, maintaining a surface-level harmony. But for some reason, Liu Hening seemed to love hovering around her.

“My talents are mediocre, so I have endless palace affairs to handle. I’m busy from morning till night without a moment’s rest. I truly envy how much leisure you have, Hening.” The subtext of Ye Guichen’s words was: I’m busy, don’t look for me!

Liu Hening thought to herself: Huachao has blocked me off completely. She realized Huachao really didn’t want her around. It made her a little sad—”I offered my heart to the moon, but the moon shines only on the drainage ditch.”

“It’s alright. Sometimes I just want to see you; I won’t stay long,” Liu Hening persisted, using her “thick skin” to pry open a tiny crack in the door, her attitude almost humble.

Seeing her act so humbly, Ye Guichen found it hard to refuse again without appearing cold-hearted. She suddenly began to resent her own reputation for virtue—hard to build, but so easily destroyed.

“Well, I am usually a bit more free on the 8th and 23rd of each month. You may come find me then to drink tea and chat.” Ye Guichen disliked Liu Hening’s unscheduled disruptions and preferred to set a specific time so she could be mentally prepared.

“That’s wonderful! I’ll come find you on those days then,” Liu Hening said excitedly, already looking forward to the next visit.

Seeing how happy Liu Hening was, Ye Guichen merely managed a polite smile.

“Miss, let’s go. It’s about to snow heavily outside,” Liu Yan reminded her mistress, having reached her limit watching Liu Hening linger for so long.

“Huachao, I’m heading back now,” Liu Hening said again, her tone much more cheerful than before, clearly due to the gift of the hand-warmer.

Ye Guichen nodded with a faint smile.

Holding the hand-warmer, Liu Hening felt the warmth spread through her palms. She believed that deep down, Huachao must have a very warm heart—it was just buried very deep. She squeezed the hand-warmer slightly before finally leaving Changle Hall.

…

“Does that woman have something wrong with her head?” Ye Meng finally burst out after Liu Hening’s group had left.

Ye Guichen didn’t answer. In her eyes, Liu Hening was indeed an eccentric person, but she didn’t sense any genuine malice. Perhaps, as Ameng said, she was simply a bit touched in the head.

“Miss, what should we do with this painting?” Ye Meng asked. She could feel her mistress’s dislike for it, though to be fair, the painting was quite good and depicted her mistress beautifully.

“Burn it!” Ye Guichen spat out two cold words.

“I’ll do it right now.” Ye Meng went to get a fire starter.

“Forget it. Keep it for now. Find a corner to store it where no one else will see it.” Just as the painting was about to be lit, Ye Guichen changed her mind.

Ye Meng rolled the painting up and put it away.

“And take down that eyesore of a Guanyin portrait,” Ye Guichen ordered, her eyes landing on the painting in the center of the hall.

“But didn’t you want the Emperor to see it?” Ameng asked, puzzled. If the Emperor hadn’t seen it yet, hanging it in the first place would have been for nothing.

“If the Emperor sees it, we’ll never be able to take it down. It would have to hang in Changle Hall every single day. It’s not worth tormenting myself just to please him.” Ye Guichen felt that hanging it had been a mistake; it had only served to let Liu Hening have a laugh at her expense.

“You’re right, Miss. It’s better to make yourself happy,” Ye Meng agreed. In the past, her mistress had always put the Emperor’s preferences first, yet he never seemed particularly grateful. It was better for her to suit her own mind.

“I’ll put these two paintings together and lock them at the bottom of a chest.” With that, Ye Meng prepared to let the two scrolls remain in darkness forever.

“Mm.” Seeing that the “disturbing” portrait by Liu Hening was gone, Ye Guichen felt much more at ease.

…

On the way back, Liu Hening was still pondering why Huachao disliked the painting so much. She thought she had painted it well—why didn’t she like it? She couldn’t figure it out, and she felt she wouldn’t even enjoy her dinner until she understood.

“Tell me, why doesn’t she like it? Did I not paint it well?” Liu Hening couldn’t help asking Liu Yan and Yu Zheng.

“It’s a good painting. As for why she doesn’t like it, I truly can’t guess. I’m not a mind-reader,” Liu Yan replied, unable to help her mistress with this particular dilemma.

“Perhaps…” Yu Zheng hesitated.

“Speak up,” Liu Hening urged, seeing that Yu Zheng might know something.

“That plum tree was planted for Her Highness by the Emperor years ago, back when he still deeply favored her,” Yu Zheng explained.

“Ah!” Liu Hening realized the truth instantly. She had painted the very scene of someone’s resentment and lost favor. How could a woman like Huachao be happy to have such a thing known? Liu Hening felt as though she had tried to flatter someone but ended up stepping on their toes instead.

“Sigh!” Her mood deflated.

“If I had known, I would have just suggested another Guanyin portrait,” Liu Yan said with the benefit of hindsight. She felt she shouldn’t have stopped her mistress from painting another one.

“It’s my fault for not reminding you sooner. I thought it wasn’t my place to speculate on the Emperor’s or Empress’s intentions,” Yu Zheng said apologetically.

“I don’t blame you. Huachao is usually so upright that everyone thinks she has no emotions of her own. In truth, she’s just an ordinary woman. Seeing her like this actually makes me quite happy for her. As they say, ‘a long road tests a horse’s strength, and time reveals a person’s heart.’ There’s no need to worry about a temporary setback,” Liu Hening comforted Yu Zheng with a magnanimous air.