The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 40 | The Fragrance Washing Pavilion | Novela.app

“Yang Deyi, go and summon all the occultists from the Seeking Immortals Pavilion to the Xuanshi Hall.” Liu Che glanced at the small child sprawled in the carriage, wailing at the top of her lungs. Her racket only made his headache worse. “Understood,” Yang Deyi replied from outside the carriage. Although everyone insisted this child merely happened to resemble Chen Ajiao, Liu Che felt certain the person before him was Ajiao herself—even though she had been dead for nearly six years. Liu Che felt a deep unease; he had to get to the bottom of this. Ajiao had cried until she ran out of tears, leaving her with nothing but dry sobs. She peeked through the gaps of her fingers at Liu Che, seeing him leaning his head against the carriage wall with a deep furrow in his brow. “Waaaah…” “Stop that caterwauling!” Liu Che was irritated to death. Even as a child, Ajiao’s crying had never been aesthetic; she just wailed without any regard for how she looked. Compare that to the ladies of his harem, whose tears fell like rain on pear blossoms, evoking nothing but pity and tenderness. Ajiao sobbed and hiccuped. She truly didn't want to cry anymore; her throat was parched and her face felt stiff. “Waaaah, I want to go home! I want Mommy and Daddy! Waaaah!” A performance had to be seen through to the end. Seeing that Liu Che remained unresponsive, Ajiao was at a loss for what to do next. She didn't know if the occultists Liu Che kept were reliable. From what she had heard, they were mostly frauds, but she feared the off-chance that one of them might actually possess true skill. Moreover, it would be even worse if those frauds decided to make things up just to claim credit! “Grandpa, can you let Jiaojiao go home? Jiaojiao is scared!” Ajiao whimpered, covering her face. …Liu Che said nothing, merely handing her a cup of water. *Sigh! This is miserable!* Ajiao shuffled over, took the cup, and began to sip from it. The news that the Emperor had returned from the Wei residence so quickly had already reached the palace. Inside the Xuanshi Hall, the servants were hurriedly preparing the midday meal. They had assumed His Majesty would dine at the Wei residence. When the eunuchs and palace maids saw a young girl being carried out of the Emperor’s carriage, they were utterly astonished, though they could only exchange silent glances. Had the Emperor brought back a young, beautiful woman, they wouldn't have blinked an eye. With her leg still bound in a splint, Ajiao looked piteously at Yang Deyi. Moved by a sudden thought, Yang Deyi instructed Guo Dun to pick Ajiao up and follow behind the Emperor. Upon entering the Xuanshi Hall, Liu Che ordered Guo Dun to take Ajiao to wash up while he went to change his robes. Back at the Wei residence, in her attempt to avoid being brought to the palace, Ajiao had deliberately thrown a tantrum and smeared herself with ink. Guo Dun ordered two palace maids to fetch water and led Ajiao to a side pavilion. The decor here was quite lavish. The doors were painted with golden patterns and adorned with precious jade. A plaque hung above, bearing the inscription "Huanxiang Pavilion." Upon entering, two white ceramic vases, half the height of a man and filled with peacock feathers, stood on either side. A few steps further stood a cinnabar-lacquered screen, and the floor was covered in plush carpets. In the center of the room was an "Eight Treasures" bed draped with rose-colored gauze curtains embroidered with crabapple blossoms. Guo Dun placed Ajiao on the bed, and a round-faced palace maid stepped forward as Guo Dun withdrew. The maid undressed Ajiao and carefully carried her into a small alcove where hot water had already been prepared. Ajiao looked down and noticed a strange pattern on the table beside the washbasin. When she looked closer, her face suddenly flushed crimson. *Liu Che, you old lecher! You actually had erotic "fire-warding" illustrations painted on the furniture!* Thinking back on the decor of this side pavilion, she realized this must be the place where Liu Che usually favored his concubines. *And I just sat on that bed!* Her one mobile, chubby leg clung tightly to the round-faced maid. She refused to go down. Who knew who had used this basin? It was filthy! “Young lady, do not be afraid. I am holding you,” the maid coaxed patiently. Though she didn't know the child's exact identity, anyone brought back by the Emperor had to be served with the utmost care. “No…” Ajiao’s eyes darted around. “Auntie said I can’t use other people’s basins. They’re dirty.” The palace maids were somewhat surprised. The round-faced maid took the opportunity to ask, “Young lady, who is your auntie?” “Auntie is just Auntie!” Ajiao took the chance to cling even tighter. The maid had no choice but to lift her back up. “What is your auntie’s name?” “Auntie is called Auntie. Auntie’s daddy is the Grand General… Waaaah, I don’t want to use this!” The maid froze. Remembering that the Emperor had gone to the Grand General’s residence today, she quickly sent a junior maid to ask Guo Dun if they should change the basin. Guo Dun was a bit confused and uncertain. Although this was just a small child, she was a child the Emperor had personally brought back from the Grand General’s house. “Change the basin for her.” “Understood, Your Majesty!” Guo Dun looked at Liu Che in surprise. Seeing the Emperor’s brow furrow slightly, he hurriedly opened the door for him. Liu Che walked to the bed and sat down, asking Yang Deyi why the occultists had not yet arrived. “I sent someone to urge them again just now. Perhaps I should go and check personally?” “Go then,” Liu Che waved him off. “Serve the meal.” Yang Deyi withdrew to arrange matters on both ends. Only after a new lacquered basin was brought in did Ajiao finally enter the water. The service in the palace was indeed superior. When Chunlan or Xiazhu bathed her, no matter how careful they were, they often scrubbed her until she was itchy or sore. After a comfortable bath, the maids wrapped her in fresh cloth. Ajiao clung to a maid’s neck, feeling immensely cozy. However, that sense of comfort vanished the moment she saw Liu Che dining outside. She wondered if that pack of occultists had arrived yet. “Your Majesty.” The maid placed her in a seat below Liu Che. Then, Liu Che looked at her again with that helpless, hesitant gaze! In truth, Liu Che hadn't intended to bring Ajiao here, but there were no other side pavilions in the Xuanshi Hall suitable for her. “Eat,” Liu Che said, setting down his jade chopsticks and gesturing toward Ajiao. There was plenty of food on the table, but Ajiao had no appetite. “Grandpa! I’m not hungry.” “Young lady, you must address him as 'Your Majesty',” Guo Dun reminded her quickly, assuming the Emperor’s strange expression was due to displeasure at the title. *...You think I actually want to call him Grandpa? Ptooey!* Liu Che picked up a piece of winter melon with his chopsticks and held it directly to Ajiao’s mouth. He remembered that Ajiao never ate winter melon. “Emperor Grandpa, I don’t eat this,” Ajiao said with forced innocence. “I also remember that you don’t eat it,” Liu Che said, setting his hand down and placing a bowl of untouched steamed egg custard in front of her. In truth, seeing Ajiao again today had been a complete surprise, and bringing her into the palace had been an impulsive act. When Ajiao had first passed away, she had appeared in his dreams, which had moved him deeply and even filled him with regret for the past. But now, if Ajiao had truly returned, he felt a sense of profound dread. He needed the occultists to examine her thoroughly. If Ajiao had returned to rekindle their past flame… he would be truly conflicted. Ajiao hesitated for a moment before picking up the spoon and beginning to eat. Liu Che watched her again with that same conflicted gaze. *** Wei Zifu was dining in her palace when a servant arrived to report that the Emperor had returned. “Why so soon? Didn't His Majesty go to the Grand General’s residence? Did something happen?” “Reporting to Your Highness, we do not know. We only heard that His Majesty brought back a young girl from the Grand General’s residence and had her settled in the Huanxiang Pavilion immediately upon arrival.” *A young girl?* Wei Zifu was stunned, but a moment later, she felt a surge of joy. She knew her brother had always been concerned about the Chen clan; when the Emperor had ordered him to marry Princess Pingyang, her brother had looked anything but happy. She had feared his temper might lead him to offend the Emperor. She hadn't expected Wei Qing to not only avoid offending the Emperor but to have finally "seen the light." Since she became Empress, the Emperor’s favor had dwindled, and he now treated her with little more than superficial respect. Over the years, she had actively courted the other concubines to consolidate her position. However, seeing other women entering the palace with their sisters made her anxious. Her brother, being outside the palace, hadn't been able to help her, forcing her to select suitable girls from the new palace recruits to use as her own—but they were never as reliable as someone from one of her own family's households. It seemed her brother had finally wised up and knew to send someone into the palace to support her. Wei Zifu said with a beaming smile, “Ah, this brother of mine has finally stopped being so stubborn. Jinyu, go and wrap up those fabrics the Internal Office sent over a few days ago. We shall go to the Xuanshi Hall shortly to congratulate the new Lady.” She wondered what kind of beauty her brother had selected, to be sent straight to the Huanxiang Pavilion the moment she entered the palace! | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 宣室殿 | Xuanshi Hall | The main hall of the Weiyang Palace where the Emperor resides and works. | | 寻仙阁 | Seeking Immortals Pavilion | A pavilion likely housing occultists or alchemists. | | 方士 | Occultist | Fangshi; practitioners of alchemy, divination, and magic. | | 浣香阁 | Huanxiang Pavilion | Literally "Fragrance Washing Pavilion"; a side pavilion for concubines. | | 郭旽 | Guo Dun | A palace attendant or eunuch. | | 避火图 | Fire-warding illustrations | Erotic paintings believed to ward off fire spirits. | | 冬瓜 | Winter melon | A type of gourd/vegetable. | | 卫子夫 | Wei Zifu | The Empress, sister of Wei Qing. | | 金玉 | Jinyu | A maid serving Wei Zifu. | | 新夫人 | New Lady | A title for a high-ranking concubine. |