Chapter 15
This set of measures of combining kindness and power, combining rigidity with softness, and distinguishing rewards and penalties had really received the effect of executing one as a warning to others. But from now on, I was afraid that in the imperial palace with strict ranking, there would always be a layer of yarn separating many people, and the distance between them and I was getting farther and farther. Every follower had to look up at me, and it was hard for me to find a bosom friend to talk to. This feeling of gain and loss always coexisted. There was always a feeling of discontent in the heart. It was probably true that "Man can ask for nothing only when he is satisfied.”
I listened to Madam Su's official remarks a lot. Although I knew she was trying to butter me up, I listened to her very well.
I sighed and said, "Don't be afraid, everyone. I will never be as vicious as Empress Lu. Besides, I can’t compare with them. I’m only a concubine, and I’m not powerful enough to set off any big storms and waves. As long as you abide by the rules in my house, you will be all right."
"Yes, Concubine," everyone chorused in agreement.
"Well, let's get started. Today's events do not need to be transmitted to the prince's ears. If you- know-who wants to talk too much, then I don't know what will happen," I said, using ambiguous words, and those words gave people unlimited space to imagine.
"Madam Su, please come with me." One more thing came to my mind.
Leaving behind a group of silly maids, I brought Bing and Madam Su to my dormitory. A kind of perfume commonly used in the palace burned in the incense stove. It emitted a kind of inexplicable fragrance which penetrated into the nostrils, and it was very cool and comfortable.
"Madam Su, I have arrived here just now. I want to ask for some advice."
"Thank you for your kindness. I will try my best," said Madam Su.
"These days, I have nothing to do in my spare time. So I have copied several sutras for my father and mother. Recently, I have been enlightened by Shitai. Finally, I have made some progress. My Buddha's compassion refers to hope and helping others get rid of suffering and gain happiness. But at present, there's one thing I can't understand, and my heart is not happy."
"Concubine, what can I do for you?" Under my careful observation, Madam Su's eyes looked left and right. She was thinking to herself.
"Madam Su, where can I hide my mind from you? I’m dull. I don't know much about the things in the palace. Could I ask you to give me some advice?" I knew what I was saying was not difficult for a senior maid in the palace to understand. She must know what I was talking about.
"Concubine, I have little knowledge." Madam Su was an old hand at trickery and deception.
I glanced at her and said, "Please help me."
"How dare I not obey your orders?" Madam Su quickly fell on the ground.
"Bing, help Madam Su up," I said in a hurry, alarmed.
"Madam Su, this is a small gift." As I spoke, I took off my jadeite bracelet and put it on her withered wrist. Presumably she also knew the value of the jadeite bracelet.
"Concubine, it's too expensive. I dare not accept it." Her face changed.
"Don't you like this gift?"
"Concubine, you think highly of me. It is my duty. How dare I receive the gift without merit?"
"It's all right, Madam Su. You brought up the prince, and now you are taking care of all the things in my house. You deserve it for a lifetime of hard work."
Madam Su burst into tears and stretched out her sleeve to wipe them.
"Madam Su, I heard you had a nephew, and now you have a grandson. I’ve prepared a gift and will have Bing send it to you later.
"Oh, Concubine. . . " Madam Su was grateful, but she couldn’t make a sound.
I waited quietly for the following.
Sure enough, there was the result I expected. Her cry was fleeting. She rose, wiped her face, and said, "Concubine, look at my bad memory. I remembered one thing."
"What? Please, Madam Su, say it quickly." Since the old iron tree had blossomed for thousands of years, it must have blossomed bizarrely and mysteriously.
"I remembered that there was a patch of psoriasis under the armpit of the Precious Junior Concubine, and many doctors were helpless. This psoriasis has been there more than ten years. When the weather is hot, she would sweat a lot and it itches. For this reason, she is very distressed. I thought, if Concubine could make her wish come true, what else would you worry about?" Madam Su raised her drooping eyelids as she whispered.
"Madam Su knows so many secrets." I had to admire the old fox.
"I have some friendship with the groom, Pan, in the imperial pharmacy, and I heard about it from him once."
"But, how could I deal with this?" I was just wondering what should I do with this knowledge. I was not a doctor, either.
Before I finished, Madam Su approached my ear and said. "Concubine, you are so clever. Can't you see through that?"
My heart lit up. "You mean opening the gap from the Precious Junior Concubine Ding. . . ?"
"Concubine, you are a fairy reincarnated. Not only are you beautiful, but you also have a smart heart." Madam Su went on to say, "Although the Virtuous Concubine Ruan is the natural mother of our Prince, at present, the Precious Junior Concubine Ding is the natural mother of the Prince. Now there is no Empress. The Precious Junior Concubine Ding is in charge of the whole harem. Even though the Virtuous Concubine Ruan has more complaints, what would you fear if you had the support of the Precious Junior Concubine Ding? Besides, the Virtuous Concubine Ruan has always listened to the Precious Junior Concubine Ding."
It turned out that old ginger is spicier than new, and I benefited a lot from it.
"I appreciate your teaching."
"Concubine, don’t say that. I’m not worthy of it. I’m just talking nonsense." Madam Su lowered her head, but her face looked proud.
"But where is the prescription for psoriasis?" I frowned deeply.
"I'm afraid we need to find someone skilled. . . " Madam Su lowered her head, and her voice was low.
"Amitabha, I have a method." The voice of Shitai came to me like the voice of nature. It was wonderful.
"Shitai, why are you here?" I was delighted.
"Concubine, I have some business to deal with, so I am coming to say goodbye. I overheard you asking for a prescription. My master was good at medicine and left several prescriptions for difficult diseases, and I remembered there was this disease. There was a curtain kind of white snake which was rare, but was included in the medicine’s ingredients. Only in the mountains near Longcui Temple can we find the snake. Wait for me to go back and look for it. If we can cure the old disease of the Precious Junior Concubine Ding, it will be very good!"
I suddenly felt like I could smell news of Spring. No wonder I felt a gust of east wind blowing slowly this morning. My heart was bright.
"Shitai, you are the reincarnation of Guanyin, who came to help all living beings." I excitedly lowered the identity of my rank, and suddenly embraced Shitai.