Compared with herself in the imperial dressing, Imperial Concubine Jing in normal clothing, who remained elegant and gentle, was no less gorgeous. Instead, today’s plain outfit highlighted her delicacy and temperament.
Noticing Infanta Shuhua’s anger on her face, Imperial Concubine Jing covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled. Her voice was as clear as the sound of pearls that dropped on the jade plate, “Look at our Infanta Shuhua. What has upset you early in the morning?”
Infanta Shuhua glared at Qin Yunuan mercilessly and softened her voice, “Never mind. I just came across a mad dog.”
She meant that Qin Yunuan was just a mad dog.
Qin Yunuan also smiled at Imperial Concubine Jing, “Good morning, Your Highness.”
Imperial Concubine Jing nodded with a smile and said, “It’s time to go. They already have everything prepared in the Great Buddhist’s Hall. Now that everyone has bathed and incensed, we have to go there to transcribe sutras and fast for blessing.”
This meant in the following 49 days, Qin Yunuan had to spend almost all daytime staying with Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Jing after about 7 in the morning. One of them hated her in a direct way while the other stealthily, so she needed to watch out for both of them.
On the way to the Great Buddhist’s Hall, Infanta Shuhua held Imperial Concubine Jing’s hands and talked to her all the time. Finally in an interval, the latter apologized to Qin Yunuan, “Shuhua is still young so inevitably reckless. Please don’t be mad at her, Third Miss.”
Qin Yunuan curtsied and smiled, “Infanta Shuhua is outgoing and lively while I’m dull. She’s much more eye-catching.” She didn’t blame Infanta Shuhua or complain, leaving no opportunity for Imperial Concubine Jing to take advantage of her.
Imperial Concubine Jing just smiled and noticed that Qin Yunuan only had two servant girls, Maner and Tong. She asked, “Are two servant girls enough for you? If not, you can order about mine. We both come here to pray for Queen Mother. We must be destined to be close.”
Looking back at silent Maner and Tong who lowered their heads, Qin Yunuan said, “They two have attended on me for a long time and I’m used to their care. Your Highness, your servant girls are so skilled that I’d rather save them for you.”
Imperial Concubine Jing nodded and put on a smile, “Third Miss, you really have a silver tongue. Servants and maids should be loyal to their masters. Otherwise, they might easily betray their masters one day. Am I right, Third Miss?”
Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and had a look at Imperial Concubine Jing. She replied with a smile, “I can guarantee these two are loyal to me.” Noticing one of her servant girls was shaking, she kept her chin up and said with confidence, “I’m sincere to them and I believe they will treat me sincerely in return.”
Imperial Concubine Jing said, “That’s great.”
Conical incenses in the Great Buddhist’s Hall were burning. Monks who got up so early had already cleaned the Hall up. Before the Shakyamuni Buddha were three rush cushions. After sorting out everything for their mistresses, servant girls were ready to leave.
Tong had put in order the writing brush, ink stick, paper and inkstone Qin Yunuan needed while Maner carried Qin Yunuan to sit down on the rush cushion. Suddenly, Qin Yunuan tripped and seemed to fall down. Maner caught her in time. When leaning on Maner, Qin Yunuan said in a lower voice suddenly, “Keep an eye on her.”
Then she had a glance at Tong as if she had been unintentional. Maner got shocked, but she knew what Qin Yunuan meant at once. She nodded.
“Are you alright, Third Miss?” Imperial Concubine Jing saw that Qin Yunuan tripped and asked with concern.
“I’m fine. I don’t know why, but these days, I’m weak and dizzy sometimes.” Qin Yunuan stroked her chest and her quick pant sounded like she lost all strength.
“Maybe it’s because the weather is getting hotter.” Imperial Concubine Jing wore a tender smile, “After we go back, I send you some mint leaves and broadleaf holly leaves that are grown up in West Xia. They smell good and can effectively cool you down.”
Hearing this, Infanta Shuhua was unhappy, “Your Highness, I have no such good items, either. Why do you give them to an insignificant person?”
She referred to Qin Yunuan as an insignificant person.
Imperial Concubine Jing wasn’t annoyed and teased her, “Look at you, Shuhua. What a jealous girl! Alright. If you like those leaves, just come to my palace to get some. I have stored so many. I’m sure you can fully enjoy yourself.”
Shuhua smiled back, “The emperor loves you so much. Every time he gets something wonderful, he shares with you first.”
Imperial Concubine Jing just smiled, saying nothing. She lowered her head and peeked at Qin Yunuan who precisely caught the cruelness in her eyes.
Frankly speaking, Qin Yunuan only met Imperial Concubine Jing, the original Imperial Concubine Lu, twice. Although she hid her feeling well, Qin Yunuan still managed to find her hatred which shocked her greatly. Qin Yunuan met so many people in her two lives and she knew Imperial Concubine Jing’s hatred must come from the strong dissatisfaction inside. But Imperial Concubine Jing and she….
What connection did they have?
The three quietly transcribed sutras in the hall. Perhaps, they really hoped that Queen Mother could recover soon. The usually noisy Infanta Shuhua quieted down for the first time, and wholeheartedly transcribed every sutra. Also, Imperial Concubine Jing focused on transcribing. Time flew and it was at dusk. After having some plain vegetarian food, they came back to their own room to rest.
Right after Qin Yunuan came into her room, she called Maner and tied up her long hair. She said to Maner, “Pull it out.”
A several-centimeter-long silver needle as thin as the cowhair was stuck in a nape acupoint which Leng Wu told her yesterday. By doing so, Qin Yunuan’s nose could become much more sensitive. However, the needle shouldn’t stay in her body for more than 12 hours. Otherwise, it would do harm to her smell. Originally, Qin Yunuan had a more sensitive nose than others and the reason why she took risks doing so was to check one thing.
The incense used in the Great Buddhist’s Hall seemed to have a much stronger fragrance than any other incenses. Under such circumstances, Qin Yunuan could not smell anything different simply through her nose.
With the fragrance and unnatural expression of Imperial Concubine Jing yesterday and what she found out after having a more sensitive nose, Qin Yunuan figured out one thing.
Maner quickly pulled out the silver needle on Qin Yunuan’s neck and wrapped it to throw away.
“What have you found out, Third Miss?”
“Imperial Concubine Jing wears a mask made of human skin.” Qin Yunuan was completely sure about this, “The assassin in the hunting field also wore a mask of the same kind. Leng Changxi once told me that the facial masks made by people in West Xia looked extremely like real faces. But people cannot wear it for a long time unless they match it with a spice, which prevents the wearers’ skin from rotting and discoloring because of the blockage. I once smelled the fragrance of such spice and it was exactly the same as the fragrance on Imperial Concubine Jing. She had made some changes to the fragrance which therefore became lighter. But I knew it was the same fragrance.”
“So Imperial Concubine Jing’s beautiful face was…” Maner covered her mouth and stopped saying.
“No,” Qin Yunuan concluded calmly, “Her face is real; otherwise, a great transformation in the appearance of an imperial concubine would have drawn much attention. Leng Changxi has said that once stopping using the spice, people will face a faster skin aging process for lack of the spice nourishment, even though they take off masks. Thus, it is possible that a 20-year-old person looks like 80 overnight. Imperial Concubine Jing may not change her face. There is only one explanation. She was disfigured. Simply on her own power, she could not reach the human-skin mask and the spice. It can be inferred that someone has controlled her with these two things.”
“Who did this?”
Qin Yunuan frowned and said nothing. There were diverse factions in the palace so she couldn’t casually jump into a conclusion. What she was sure about was that someone had already plotted against her and this person was in a high position. In addition to taking precautions and starting investigation meticulously, she had nothing else to do.
“What did she do today?” Qin Yunuan changed a topic and asked Maner.
Seeing Maner’s pale face, Qin Yunuan roughly knew what happened.
“Third Miss, Tong…” Maner didn’t finish her sentence and they heard the voice of that cute young monk who came here yesterday. Holding a white porcelain bottle, he was led by Tong to wait outside. He bowed to Qin Yunuan, “Benefactress, my master asks me to send you some tranquilizing incenses he made. The incense can calm your mind and we hope it can help you sleep well.”
The young monk called Qin Yunuan loudly and he sounded really cute.
It was Xuan Zhi again. Qin Yunuan took the incenses over and expressed her thanks. She knew Leng Changxi must have entrusted Xuan Zhi to take good care of her. They two must be very close so that an unworldly eminent monk willingly spent a lot of effort caring a humble girl whose mother was just a concubine.
“Xuan Zhi is so considerate, but I think he must want to fawn on us given that Third Miss and General Leng are engaged.” Tong commented as if Xuan Zhi really wanted to flatter Qin Yunuan.
“Why are you long-tongued?” Maner scolded her in a low voice.
Qin Yunuan said in a cold voice, “Xuan Zhi is the most respectful monk in Qi and he needs no backer. Moreover, Tong, have you ever thought of the consequences if other people hear what you say? Or, do you say it on purpose?”
