Xia Niangniang - Chapter 5

Chapter 5.

The young emperor sits before the table as his eyes sweep over the people kneeling on the ground. "Even this you could not find out?"

The head administrator is terrified, "Your imperial majesty, your servants have been scouring the records of the palace's past years and have found no information on the blind concubine's history; therefore we know not of when he has come to the palace nor how he was banished to the cold palace."

The young emperor's face falls, "How can you run affairs when a live person has been living in the palace all these years, yet you do not even know his name?"

The administrator dares not lift his head and trembling with trepidation, he says, "Please calm your anger your majesty. Even though your servant has not found out the relevant records, there is one thing that can be confirmed. N-no sightless person has ever entered the palace in the past decade, including the lowest of the slaves."

The young emperor wrinkles his brows.

The administrator continues, "so the blind concubine's eyes must have been blinded after entering the palace."

The emperor silently grips the hilt of his fan, the tips of his fingers lightly stroking it. The administrator maintains his posture on the ground, afraid to breathe loudly. The atmosphere seems to have frozen.

The emperor rubs between his brow and leans back against his seat to gather his thoughts.

The image that comes to his mind is the lonely person who has dwelled in the cold palace all this time and those hands that tremble despite their owner's reluctance.

After another moment of silence, he opens his mouth to say, "Spread the order."

Xiao Bao is giving YuLi a bath in the courtyard.

Yu Li struggles violently as he meows shrilly and his four legs tread the water as if his life depended on it, splashing Xiao Bao all over.

In anger, Xiao Bao wants to strike out at Yu Li, "You beast. I am trying to bathe you but you won't stay still!"

The blind concubine comes to YuLi's defense, "Oh no, don't hit YuLi. Here, I'll hold him down for you."

Yu Li's cries become more mournful. The blind concubine can't bear to hurt him and several times, he almost let Yu Li escape from the tub.

An angered Xiao Bao says, "Stay filthy then, you dirty animal. See that no one wants you anymore."

The blind concubine anxiously says, "Who said no one wants Yu Li? I want him!"

Xiao Bao helplessly says, "Your ladyship, I'm just trying to scare him."

The blind concubine is unhappy, "You can't scare him like that. Cats get scared easily."

Xiao Bao rolls his eyes and throws the towel to the ground, "I am done with you two."

"Xiao Bao…" the blind concubine pleads, the expression on his face sadder than Yu Li's.

Footsteps sound by the courtyard entrance and someone announces in a high pitched voice, "Blind concubine, I have come to pass the message from administrator Li."

The blind concubine stands up in surprise, "Huh, what is it?"

The person says, "In ten days, the emperor will hold a feast for his court. A great deal of goods must be bought but the servants are all busy and we cannot spare anyone extra. Administrator Li has some tasks he would like to entrust to your ladyship. If you would leave the palace for a day and return by dusk."

Xiao Bao runs in front of the blind concubine and puts his hands on his waist, "Do you all have no legs yourselves? However you say it, the lady is still a master. You servants dare to give orders to anyone?"

"Wait a minute…" the blind concubine pulls Xiao Bao back, his expression nervous. "What did you just say?"

The person says, "Administrator Li has given this servant a list. If your ladyship could purchase all the items on the list and return to the palace by dusk, this is the money and badge to exit the palace. Please keep it safe and do not lose it."

The blind concubine's lips tremble lightly in disbelief, "This-This is to say, I can leave?"

"Yes," the person says. "It would be best if your ladyship prepares immediately. Although dusk falls later in summertime but these are still orders from the emperor so this task should not be held lightly."

The blind concubine replies hurriedly, "You are right. I will leave right away."

He takes the list in a rush, hands shaking violently. The tips of his fingers become red.

The sunlight of early summer makes everyone dizzy so it takes the blind concubine a moment to come back to his senses, so ecstatic that he nearly cries, "Xiao Bao, we can leave the palace!"

He hands over the paper, "Help me see what is on the paper."

Xiao Bao lowers his head to see a piece of blank paper with nothing written on it and he begins to understand. He says, "There are no few items on this. I'm afraid we'll be out for awhile."

The blind concubine says solemnly, "Good," and grips the list even tighter.

"It has been awhile since master has left the palace. Let me help you change into a new outfit."

The blind concubine quickly nods his head, "Xiao Bao thinks things through. There is an green outfit inlaid with golden thread in the cabinet."

Xiao Bao says, "Wait while I get it."

The blind concubine carefully folds up the piece of paper and touches it again and again, his heart full of joy. Xiao Bao retrieves the outfit and helps him change into it, tying the badge to exit the palace to his waist.

The blind concubine touches the badge. He still feels like this is not real. On the path leading from the cold palace, he keeps asking, "Are we really leaving the palace?"

Xiao Bao turns his head, "Yes, we are."

The blind concubine will lower his head shyly and smile.

As they approach the doors to the palace gates, the blind concubine becomes increasingly nervous, his steps grow short and hurried. "Xiao Bao, we can really leave?"

Xiao Bao says, "Don't worry. It's true."

The blind concubine's face turns pale red and his hands start to sweat.

The two reach the gates. As the guards inspect their badge, footsteps head their way from afar and a voice calls, "What a coincidence to meet you here."

Despite the blind concubine's blindness, he is much familiar with voices and replies, "Oh. It's you."

The voice says, "You are leaving the palace?"

A little embarrassed, the blind concubine makes a noise of agreement.

"How coincidental, I must also leave the palace for an errand."

"Really?" the blind concubine is elated. "Let us go together."

The man folds his paper fan with a swish and amicably agrees.

The three leaves the palace. The blind concubine holds on to Xiao Bao's hand, his steps light and quick, leading Xiao Bao to cry, "Master, don't walk so fast. You'll fall."

The blind concubine is all smiles, "Of course I won't. I'm much familiar with the roads outside the palace."

Xiao Bao lifts an eyebrow, "No matter how familiar, you haven't been here for many years."

The man beside them says, "He won't. You have me."

The blind concubine asks, "What business do you have outside the palace?"

The person says, "Actually, it's nothing."

"But no matter how you say it, you are still an imperial guard. How can you be so free?" the blind concubine asks in surprise.

The emperor waves his fan self satisfyingly, "I'm just a carefree imperial guard. Is that not allowed?"

With a serious face, the blind concubine says, "We are here on the orders of the emperor."

The emperor purposely teases him, "Now that is a different story. What important task were you given?"

The blind concubine carefully takes out the list folded in his sleeve, unfolds it and smooths it out. "To buy all these items before dusk."

The emperor takes the list and says, "I'll come buy them with you."

"Alright. What are the items listed?"

"Mm…" the emperor pretends to seriously sweep his eyes over the list, "You need different civilian delicacies and playthings-lily leaf cakes, plum blossom crisps and such. Let's go take a look at the market."

The blind concubine cannot hold down his curiosity, "Why would the emperor need these for his feast?"

The emperor waves his fan and pretends to think deeply, "It is impossible to know the mind of a ruler."

At the side, Xiao Bao rolls his eyes.

The blind concubine solemnly nods in belief. "Then let us go to the market."

How unusually easy to trick.