The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Nie Qinglin asked softly, “How is he… now?”
Qiao’er, with tears streaming down her face, replied, “I saw him at the Ministry of Justice. He’s barely alive, unconscious. If we don’t get him out for treatment soon, he’ll… he’ll be a cripple.”
Through her blurred, tear-filled vision, she saw the young master’s expression turn solemn.
After a long silence, Nie Qinglin sighed faintly, “He never should have been dragged into this… Wei Lenghou was never a broad-minded man…”
With that thought, she turned to Qiao’er and asked, “Qiao’er, are you still in contact with that guard Wu Kui?”
Qiao’er’s face paled, and she whispered, “What contact could there be? It’s long over…”
“Truly over? If your heart is set on him, just say the word. I’ll beg the Grand Tutor to release you from the palace. It would be a good match.”
At these words, Qiao’er’s tears, which had just stopped, surged again.
“It was my foolishness. In this palace, my heart had nowhere to belong, and I thought he was a good man. But later, I learned that his late wife hadn’t even been dead for half a month before he married an eighteen-year-old replacement. And then he used his wife’s death to trick me into secret meetings with him… Master, at my age, I’ll never meet a good man…”
Nie Qinglin recalled the Admonitions for Women she had studied earlier that day.
The world was vast, yet it offered so little tolerance for frail women.
A bitter smile touched her lips as she took Qiao’er’s hand.
“Qiao’er, right now, you’re the only one who can save the physician. If I were to speak even a single word on his behalf, the Grand Tutor would have Zhang Shiyu torn limb from limb.”
Qiao’er looked up, seeming to understand her master’s meaning.
Her face flushed slightly with hesitation, but in the next moment, she nodded firmly.
“Whatever the method, I’m willing to try!”
Nie Qinglin sighed inwardly.
How had she never noticed before that Qiao’er also had feelings for Brother Zhang? Though Qiao’er was six years older, her delicate features made her appear youthful, and they would make a fine match.
She had initially worried Qiao’er might refuse for fear of tarnishing her reputation, but now it struck her—what woman wouldn’t love such a gentle and considerate man?
Moreover, this was the only way to save Brother Zhang.
For now, survival was paramount.
As for marriage in the future… that would depend on fate.
With that thought, the faint stirrings of ambiguous affection in her heart were ruthlessly severed.
In this lifetime, her destined love would remain nothing more than flowers in a mirror, the moon reflected in water…
That night, after the Grand Tutor joined the Emperor for dinner, Qiao’er suddenly knelt, tears in her eyes, and timidly begged the Grand Tutor to show mercy and spare her beloved, Physician Zhang.
The Grand Tutor, sipping tea, set down his cup and half-lidded his eyes.
“I thought you were a loyal servant, though somewhat lacking in judgment. Since His Majesty values you, I allowed your return. Yet now, instead of focusing on your master, you’re dreaming of flying off with your lover!”
These words, laced with veiled criticism, left Qiao’er uncertain of his true meaning.
Nie Qinglin waved her hand dismissively.
“How thoughtless! The Grand Tutor has just finished his meal, and you rush in like this. Didn’t We say We would plead for you? Leave us.”
Once Qiao’er had withdrawn, the Grand Tutor fixed Nie Qinglin with a piercing gaze.
“Your Majesty, the script you gave that maid was far too flimsy to fool this marquis.”
Nie Qinglin, popping a digestive hawthorn ball into her mouth, mumbled with puffed cheeks, “The Grand Tutor’s heart is so small, always nitpicking! We only just learned of Qiao’er’s feelings for Physician Zhang. Otherwise, why would We have dragged him into fleeing, playing the villain who parts lovers? But since she begged Me, even at the risk of angering you, We had to try. If they can live peacefully outside the palace, as husband and wife with children, it would be a worthy end to their service to Me.”
The Grand Tutor snorted, not believing a word.
The scene in the courtyard that day remained vivid in his memory—the tender affection in the dragon pearl’s eyes was unmistakable, and it wasn’t directed at a mere servant.
That Zhang Shiyu was decent-looking and young; it was entirely possible the inexperienced little emperor had misdirected her budding affections.
Furious yet unwilling to punish the dragon pearl harshly, he directed all his wrath at that presumptuous physician.
But now, upon reflection, killing the man would only immortalize him in the little emperor’s heart as an unforgettable love.
Better to let him marry, have children, and be burdened with family.
That way, even the deepest affection would fade…
With that in mind, he pulled Nie Qinglin into his arms.
“If that’s the case, let them leave the palace and marry…”
Then, nibbling at her slender neck, his large hand slipped into her collar as he murmured, “Your husband has had a long day. Don’t trouble me with such vexing matters. Come, let me see if my Lin’er has grown any more…”
Pressed onto the couch, Nie Qinglin relaxed her body, feeling the scorching heat of the handsome man above her.
Yet her heart felt hollow, as if the evening meal had left her unsatisfied…
After some dalliance, the Grand Tutor, constrained by Physician Wei’s warnings, couldn’t indulge fully.
The frustration only stoked his flames.
When urgent documents arrived from the Ministry of War, he had no choice but to down a cup of cold tea, steal a few more kisses from the emperor’s delicate cheeks, and leave to attend to official matters.
Nie Qinglin lay on the couch for a while before summoning Qiao’er to relay the Grand Tutor’s decision.
Overjoyed, Qiao’er’s eyes sparkled.
With a faint smile, Nie Qinglin had Qiao’er fetch her private savings box and withdrew some silver notes.
“This isn’t much, but fortunately, the Grand Tutor didn’t confiscate it. It should be enough to open a small pharmacy and buy a house. Once you leave the palace with Physician Zhang, don’t settle in the capital. If you find a place to live, remember—this plan was to save his life. If you two are truly compatible, that’s wonderful. But if not… don’t force anything…”
Qiao’er had always harbored affection for young Physician Zhang, partly because of his father’s kindness.
But as a palace maid serving a precarious master, she had never dared entertain such hopes.
Moreover, the age gap between them was significant, so she had buried her feelings deep.
Who could have predicted fate would play such a trick? The Grand Tutor had actually approved her marriage to Zhang Shiyu! Overjoyed, she suddenly remembered this meant leaving her master, and sorrow welled up anew.
“Your Majesty, if we both leave… what will become of you?”
Nie Qinglin smiled lightly.
“At worst, the biggest secret is already known to the Grand Tutor. Right now, he’s still fascinated and willing to protect me. With the most powerful backer in Wei, what is there to fear?”
But these words did little to reassure Qiao’er.
The Grand Tutor was infamous for his ruthlessness—harsh to political enemies, indifferent to women.
His mansion was filled with concubines, yet none, whether from humble or noble backgrounds, held any formal status.
Now that he knew her master was a woman, what did it matter? If the courtiers discovered the truth—that the emperor they bowed to daily was female—they would surely submit petitions demanding the Grand Tutor execute her to uphold righteousness!
By then, the Grand Tutor’s infatuation might have waned.
Who would protect her master?
The joy of moments ago evaporated, replaced by regret.
In her eagerness to save Zhang Shiyu, she had neglected her master’s safety.
Overcome with remorse, she wanted to strike herself.
Nie Qinglin, perceiving her loyal servant’s thoughts, gently held her scarred hands—injured from the torture devices—and said, “If you refuse to leave with Physician Zhang now, you’ll truly harm me. The Grand Tutor’s jealousy demands blood to be sated. Don’t overthink it. Just go. I have my own plans…”
The next day, An Qiao’er left the palace.
As she stepped out of the inner chambers, she turned for a final look at her master.
The frail figure stood in thin robes under the fading palace lanterns, leaning against the gate with a serene smile…
Tears streamed down Qiao’er’s face…
The day after Qiao’er’s departure, Nie Qinglin caught a chill and fell gravely ill.
Upon hearing the news, Wei Lenghou canceled court for the day and rushed to the palace.
Entering the inner chamber, he found the small figure on the bed burning with fever, her large eyes listlessly closed, unresponsive even to his calls.
When his hand touched her forehead to check her temperature, her body trembled slightly.
“Nanny, I’ll be good… don’t press down on me…”
This delirious murmur instantly darkened the Grand Tutor’s expression.
After a pause, he summoned Nanny Shan.
Upon confirming that Physician Wei had already prescribed medicine and administered fever-reducing acupuncture, he abruptly changed the subject.
“General Shan, do you resent this marquis’s transfer order?”
Even under the Grand Tutor’s stern gaze, Nanny Shan remained expressionless.
“This subordinate would never dare question the Grand Tutor’s orders. I only strive to fulfill my duties flawlessly.”
“General Shan, you are the first female general of this dynasty. On the battlefield, you’ve never been outdone by any man. If you suspect this marquis assigned you to the palace as a nanny to punish you, then I must first apologize!”
Nanny Shan immediately dropped to her knees.
“This subordinate wouldn’t dare! I was merely a rough-handed camp attendant, managing fires and bandaging wounds. Later, when enemies raided the camp, I happened to be chopping vegetables with a cleaver and performed some minor deeds. It was only through the Grand Tutor’s promotion that I became a general.
“Even if you ordered me back to the countryside to shovel manure or feed pigs, I wouldn’t dare complain.”
Wei Lenghou nodded.
He knew Shan Tiehua was no flatterer.
Her blunt honesty was precisely why he trusted her to safeguard the dragon pearl in the palace.
“Good. Though you’ve shed blood and sweat for Wei, don’t let your achievements breed arrogance. The noble you serve is of the highest status, raised in utmost luxury—nothing like the rough men in camp. When tending to her, don’t just bind wounds carelessly. You must cater to her temperament and avoid causing her distress.”
These words finally cracked Shan Tiehua’s stoic facade.
“Grand Tutor, please clarify your orders. I’ve always followed your commands, but now… should I obey you or His Majesty? If I follow His Majesty, it contradicts your instructions at every turn. The Emperor snacks more than she eats proper meals, and she never endures the hot baths or breast massages without complaint. I’m… at a loss.”
The Grand Tutor glared at this blockhead, wishing he could drill some sense into her thick skull.
“In trivial matters that don’t endanger the emperor, indulge her… Shan Tiehua! If you understood flexibility, you’d be the first woman to command three armies!”
Their conversation took place in the outer chamber, but the dragon pearl, though feverish, had overheard.
Her illness had struck so severely because Qiao’er’s departure and Zhang Shiyu’s uncertain fate weighed heavily on her heart.
A careless chill had left her bedridden.
But the delirious words she’d uttered when the Grand Tutor visited were deliberate—a ploy to have the overbearing Nanny Shan dismissed.
Never had she imagined this plain-faced, middle-aged woman was the legendary General Shan Tiehua!
Shan Tiehua was a celebrated figure in Wei, a woman of remarkable deeds.
Her husband, once convicted of a crime, had been conscripted into the army.
She followed as a camp attendant.
After his death in battle, childless and alone, she remained in the military.
Though born a farmer, she hailed from a martial arts family in Qilu and was highly skilled.
In the camp, where women were scarce, many men tried to take advantage of the lone widow.
Shan Tiehua crippled every pair that dared approach, earning the fearsome title “Iron-Armed Hellion.”
As for the “minor deeds” she’d mentioned—they were anything but.
During a surprise attack by the Xiongnu on Wei’s rear camp, most troops were away on campaign, leaving only the weak and wounded.
Amid the chaos, Shan Tiehua, armed with two cleavers, had been chopping radishes.
Spotting the enemy, she’d charged forth like a fury unleashed, severing heads as effortlessly as slicing radishes, blood spraying in all directions.
Her ferocity rallied the remaining soldiers, and against all odds, they repelled the attack, preserving three months’ worth of rations.
So this was the famed General Shan Tiehua… Truly, an honor!
Once Nie Qinglin’s fever subsided slightly, Shan Tiehua knelt before her and confessed, “This servant knows nothing of palace decorum. If I’ve displeased Your Majesty, punish me as you see fit.”
Nie Qinglin smiled.
“It was We who acted childishly. Why such words?”
She thought the matter closed, but Shan Tiehua fetched a bundle of thorny branches and had a servant flog her outside the hall.
The sound of the lashes striking flesh pierced the thick walls, each strike wrenching the heart.
Nie Qingluo’s bitter smile was genuine.
She had once assumed the nanny was being spiteful, using punishments to humiliate her.
Now she understood—this was military discipline.
Mistakes demanded consequences, without exception.
Gone was the gentle Qiao’er, replaced by this unyielding hellion.
Ah, palace life was growing ever more… colorful.
With great effort, Nie Qingluo managed to stop the final lashes and bestowed medicine upon Nanny Shan, finally settling the matter.
She resolved never to cross this nanny again.
Before a battle-hardened general who had bled for Wei, a pampered noble like herself would only deserve a thrashing if she kept acting spoiled.
Submitting to the confiscation of her snacks, enduring the scalding baths, and bearing the painful massages, Nie Qinglin suddenly realized the Grand Tutor’s earlier words might have been meant for her ears…
As the weather grew hotter, Nie Qinglin often had the windows opened at night for air.
Now, in her chambers, she wore women’s attire, no longer swaddled in layers.
This summer promised to be more bearable than the last.
Nanny Shan brought a pattern book for her to choose a birthday cake design.
In a few days, Nie Qinglin would turn sixteen.
By Wei customs, this marked adulthood, and the Grand Tutor insisted on a grand celebration.
The palace eunuchs and Ministry of Rites were busy preparing.
“A birthday cake? Isn’t it too early?”
Nie Qinglin recalled her father only having one at thirty.
At sixteen, wasn’t this overly solemn?
Nanny Shan relayed the Grand Tutor’s words verbatim: “The Grand Tutor says the cake symbolizes longevity. Moreover, the chef is a renowned master from Jiangnan. The giant peach-shaped cake contains fourteen fruit fillings, allowing Your Majesty’s dulled palate some indulgence.”
Nie Qinglin couldn’t help laughing.
Nanny Shan’s blunt, inflexible nature had its charms.
If that were the case, she might as well order a large one.
After this treat, her meals would likely return to blandness.
The imperial kitchen had thoughtfully provided not only the pattern book but also samples of five-colored pastry skins infused with floral scents for her to taste before deciding.
The delicate layers, infused with flower pollen, carried both floral and fruity notes—truly a taste to prolong life!
Arranging the samples on a small table by the couch, Nie Qinglin nibbled at them lazily.
After a few bites, drowsiness crept in.
As she reclined, ready to close her eyes, a flicker at the window caught her attention.
A white snake, its pale golden eyes cold and unblinking, stared at her.
No—not just one.
More slithered in through the window, until half a dozen surrounded her…
Frozen, Nie Qinglin dared not move.
Summoning her voice, she cried out, “Nanny Shan!”
