Volume One, Chapter 8: Cultivating with Unshorn Hair
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Shi Zhao wept aloud, beginning to pour out all the grievances she had suffered ever since the legitimate second daughter of the Marquis of Wen’an, Yu Xuanyao, had entered the household. Her words were earnest, her voice mournful, and for a moment, the atmosphere in Cining Palace grew heavy with sorrow.
The Empress Dowager furrowed her brow in quiet perplexity, uncertain of Shi Zhao’s intentions. She took a deep breath, suppressing her impatience, and gently patted Shi Zhao’s shoulder.
“My dear child, I know you have been wronged. Now, about the Hundred Longevity Scroll…”
At the mention of the Hundred Longevity Scroll, Shi Zhao’s sobs grew louder, and she began recounting the various affections she had experienced in the Marquis of Wen’an’s residence.
Toward the end, genuine sorrow flickered in Shi Zhao’s eyes. She looked at the Empress Dowager with a mournful expression and said, “I am an orphan; having a family was once a blessing from heaven, but it turned out to be but a mirage. I am grateful for the Marquis’s household’s care, yet I dare not crave even a shred more. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to grant me an honorable title.”
Receiving such a title meant Shi Zhao would have to renounce the world and become a nun.
The Empress Dowager did not expect such resolute words from Shi Zhao. She gazed into her eyes and saw profound pain and confusion, as if she were a child lost on a bewildering path.
Her words were heartfelt.
The Empress Dowager sighed softly. “You would renounce the world to protect the Marquis of Wen’an’s household?”
To protect the household, you would even deceive the emperor?
Her voice was gentle, yet laced with hidden menace.
Shi Zhao suppressed her sorrow, respectfully kneeling on the cold floor. “Loyalty and filial piety have rarely been reconciled. His Majesty the Emperor protects his subjects and ushers in a peaceful era, yet the Marquis of Wen’an’s household has shown me kindness. I am deeply distressed and willing to spend my life in serene devotion, chanting sutras and praying for the Empress Dowager’s blessings.”
The Empress Dowager fell silent.
Shi Zhao pressed her forehead against the cold floor, the wounds on her body aching intolerably, yet she dared not relax for even a moment.
The silence in Cining Palace was so profound that one could hear a pin drop. Outside, the rustling of tree leaves stirred by the wind drifted faintly in.
Keeping her head bowed, Shi Zhao waited quietly for the royal verdict.
After some time, perhaps prompted by a man’s cough, the Empress Dowager finally spoke.
“You are still so young—why renounce your hair and seek a title? You may continue your cultivation with your hair intact. From now on, come to the palace each month to chant sutras with me.”
She made no further mention of the Hundred Longevity Scroll.
Shi Zhao felt her chest loosen; the royal family was sparing her.
She respectfully rose from the floor and said solemnly, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness.”
The Empress Dowager, wishing not to prolong the matter, waved her hand, signaling Shi Zhao to withdraw.
Once Shi Zhao stepped out of the hall, inside Cining Palace, a man dressed in bright yellow brocade emerged from behind a screen and stood before the Empress Dowager.
He lightly cupped his hands and remarked with admiration, “I didn’t expect the Marquis of Wen’an’s household to have such a clever young lady. Her eloquence even softened Your Majesty’s heart.”
The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples wearily. “Your Majesty, you have matters of state to attend to; why involve a mere girl?”
The Emperor Jingxuan snorted coldly. “I hope the Marquis of Wen’an’s household will restrain themselves after this incident. To have dared reach out to my imperial son—it’s truly audacious.”
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He had been far too lenient with the great clans, so lenient that they had lost all sense of hierarchy and propriety.
He cared little about who had erred; as long as the Marquis of Wen’an’s maid admitted she was wronged, he could use it as a pretext to deal with the household once more.
But this young lady from the Marquis of Wen’an’s household spoke of loyalty and filial piety being irreconcilable…
Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze darkened. Shi Zhao’s words reminded him of the Xue family.
The Xue family had conspired with the fifth imperial prince to depose him but failed, resulting in the entire clan being executed.
He had spared those not involved in the rebellion, even his trusted brother Xue Lüfeng who had warned him in secret. Yet, Xue Lüfeng ultimately followed his father in suicide.
His last words had been: “Loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled.”
Now, this innocent young girl was caught up in court intrigues, even contemplating becoming a nun.
Suddenly, he felt a pang of pity.
Emperor Jingxuan sighed softly. So be it.
Shi Zhao stepped out of Cining Palace, the cold wind causing her to shiver. Only then did she realize she was drenched in cold sweat.
Lan Nanny, waiting outside the hall, approached anxiously. Shi Zhao nodded reassuringly.
Lan Nanny exhaled in relief.
Shi Zhao turned her gaze toward Cining Palace—the magnificent golden halls loomed tall and imposing, as if capable of swallowing everything whole.
She pressed her lips tightly, filled with regret that this time her grievances could not be cleared.
She could not even deny her involvement.
She could only endure and use self-inflicted suffering to elicit sympathy from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Raising her head, the warm sunlight dazzled her eyes but filled her with a sense of safety.
She recalled when she was young, her great-grandfather holding her in his arms after finishing a painting titled “A Parent’s Deep Affection,” murmuring,
“Xue Lüfeng was truly foolishly filial. If one chooses loyalty to the sovereign, what need is there for filial piety? Great wealth and honor were within reach, yet all was lost. Foolish! Foolish!”
As she matured, she heard rumors of the Xue family.
The Xue family had rebelled, yet Xue Lüfeng’s only son, Xue Ming, was raised within the palace, accompanying imperial princes and deeply trusted by the Emperor.
Everyone marveled, some saying Xue Ming was the Emperor’s own son, others speculating when he might rebel.
But Shi Zhao knew Emperor Jingxuan felt guilt toward Xue Lüfeng.
Thus, she pondered repeatedly and boldly uttered that phrase.
Now, it seemed to have worked well.
Lan Nanny curiously asked, “Miss, why did the Empress Dowager summon you to the palace?”
“The Empress Dowager permitted me to cultivate with my hair intact and to come to the palace monthly to chant sutras with her.”
“What!”
Lan Nanny was shocked, forgetting she was in the imperial palace and cried out.
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Then she quickly covered her mouth, tears streaming from her hoarse voice. “Miss…”
Cultivating with hair intact is almost like becoming a nun. You are so young and unmarried. With such an edict from the Empress Dowager, how could you possibly marry?
Your fate is so bitter!
Shi Zhao shook her head. “This is a grace I begged for myself. Lan Nanny, please say no more…”
Miss, how can you do such a thing? Will you be alone and lonely all your life?
Lan Nanny was filled with worry, wanting Shi Zhao to understand the gravity of the situation. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed the baby fat still on Shi Zhao’s face and realized the young lady was only sixteen.
In other households, she would still be considered a child.
Seeing Shi Zhao’s frail condition, no amount of brocade could conceal her exhaustion, Lan Nanny swallowed her concerns and forced a smile.
“That’s wonderful, Miss. This way, your great-grandfather cannot send you away to the side residence.”
Lan Nanny bowed slightly. “You have accompanied the mistress daily in prayer, and over these past six months, you have practically lived in the small Buddhist shrine. Your devotion surpasses that of many monks!”
As she spoke, her thoughts drifted to those noble ladies who had lost hope and resigned themselves to life in nunneries, and her mood darkened.
“May the spirit of the mistress in heaven always protect you, Miss.”
Shi Zhao nodded. Her grandmother would surely protect her for a lifetime.
As they walked out of the palace, the young eunuch leading the way suddenly said, “Young Master Zhang sends his regards.”
Shi Zhao frowned and looked ahead, seeing Zhang Huaijin hurrying toward them.
What was he doing here?
Zhang Huaijin wiped the sweat from his brow, gently helped the young eunuch up, and spoke loudly.
“I am here to pay respects to Consort De. I happened to encounter the second young lady of the Marquis of Wen’an’s household. May I have a moment to speak with her, sir?”
Consort De Zhang was Zhang Huaijin’s aunt. Naturally, the young eunuch dared not offend him and nodded obediently, retreating to a distance.
As the eunuch disappeared, the smile on Zhang Huaijin’s face faded.
He looked at Shi Zhao solemnly. “What did you tell His Majesty? Did he ask you about the Hundred Longevity Scroll?”
Shi Zhao felt troubled and responded impatiently, “If Young Master Zhang wishes to know, why not ask His Majesty himself? I cannot linger in the palace; please allow me to pass.”
Seeing Shi Zhao’s attitude, Zhang Huaijin became urgent.
“Do you realize that if you reveal all this, the Marquis of Wen’an’s household will be guilty of betraying the sovereign! If the household suffers, do you think you can remain unscathed?”
His words exploded like cannon fire. “Siwen was forbidden from entering the palace. He told me you intended to confess everything to His Majesty. How could you be so foolish? The matter has already been settled by His Majesty. If you keep insisting, do you think His Majesty will truly believe you? Did you say anything at all?”