My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 2 : The Sixth Prince 

　Yun Ling’s eyelashes fluttered, but she didn’t say anything.

　“Ming Gu-gu¹ is going to pick someone to serve in the Cold Palace in the next couple of days!”

　“The Sixth Prince is ruthless and merciless. He has killed countless palace maids and eunuchs, and even dared to whip the son of a minister. Anyone who serves him never knows when they might lose their life.”

　“Besides serving a deposed prince in the Cold Palace, what future is there? Even if we don’t die, our lives will be ruined,” a young palace maid said with worry.

　“What are you worried about? I heard that everyone is reluctant to go. They’ll send those who have made serious mistakes. They definitely won’t send us; we haven’t done anything wrong.”

　As they talked, they began to wash up and go to bed, gradually falling silent.

　In the spring of the seventeenth year of Chengping, the Sixth Prince, Xie Jue, whipped the son of the Minister of War, Gao Ying, in the street. The Emperor was furious and confined the Sixth Prince to Jingxiang Palace. In the same year, Gao Yan, the former Minister of War, was promoted to Minister of War.

　It was exactly as in Yun Ling's dream.

　Realizing that her dream had come true, Yun Ling closed her eyes tightly in fear.

　　……

　It was a bright and sunny day.

　Yun Ling followed a group of palace maids diligently pruning flower branches, cutting off withered leaves. Suddenly, her hand trembled, and she accidentally cut off a beautiful blooming flower, the kind that Yu Fei², loved most.

　Palace flowers were all prized varieties, worth a fortune. Even though it was just one flower, for a small palace maid like Yun Ling, it was a serious mistake. Her life was worth less than a weed.

　Lü Bao, seeing the flower fall on the ground, gleefully said, “What a fool! You can't even cut a flower properly. Just wait to be punished.”

　“How can there be such a stupid thing?” another palace maid sneered in contempt.

　As the words fell, the Head Palace Maid, Ming Gu-gu, walked over.

　Yun Ling was so afraid that she immediately knelt down on the ground, unable to speak.

　　……

　Inside the room, Ming Shang-gong looked at the small palace maid kneeling on the ground, shivering in fear after making a serious mistake. “Look up,” she commanded.

　When Yun Ling raised her head, Ming Shang-gong picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip. “So it’s you,” she said. “Do you want to go to the Cold Palace to serve the Sixth Prince?”

　Indeed, she was worthy of being the Head Palace Maid. She saw through Yun Ling’s thoughts with just a glance.

　Yun Ling knelt on the ground, respectfully saying, “It is this servant’s foolishness that ruined the flower branch. It is only right that I be punished and sent to the Cold Palace.”

　“If I were to send you, Wang Dade wouldn’t let it go.” Ming Jin knew about Yun Ling’s predicament with Wang Dade, but he was a favorite of the Empress, so she could only turn a blind eye. “It’s impossible to offend Wang Dade for your sake.”

　She lowered her head and glanced at Yun Ling. Although she was young, her figure was hidden beneath coarse cloth, but her hair was black as ink, her skin was as white as snow, and her face was beautiful. She was even more beautiful than the concubines in the palace. No wonder that old eunuch had his eye on her.

　“This servant knows that my life is worthless and not worth your concern, Gu-gu.” Yun Ling raised her head, her eyes misty, and choked out, “But you, as the Head Palace Maid, are efficient and capable. You manage us little palace maids with such authority that we are all deeply impressed and respect you. Although Wang Dade relies on the Empress, he shouldn’t overstep your authority and humiliate your people. He even said disrespectful things about you in front of me. I am lowborn, but I would rather die than be manipulated by Wang Dade. Besides, Gu-gu, you know that once you enter his door, there is no end to the trouble.”

　The sight of the palace maid earlier, with her bloody lower body, had been seen by many.

　“Gu-gu is kind-hearted and has always been very good to us little palace maids. Please have mercy on me. I would rather go to the Cold Palace than be forced upon Wang Dade.” Yun Ling paused for a moment and then said softly, “Besides, it was Yun Ling who made a mistake. Being punished is only right. No one can fault you.”

　“To escape Wang Dade, I would never betray you, Gu-gu.”

　Serving in the Cold Palace wasn’t a good job. Usually, palace maids who had made mistakes or were clumsy and incompetent were sent there. Ming Shang-gong’s niece, who had just entered the palace not long ago, had coincidentally made a serious mistake and was punished.

　Although she was the Head Palace Maid, the palace was divided into two factions: the Empress’s faction and Zhang Guifei’s faction. The Empress’s people were watching closely. If Ming Shang-gong made a mistake and the Empress’s people found a handle, her position as Head Palace Maid would be in jeopardy.

　Therefore, she couldn’t blatantly protect her niece.

　At this moment, if Yun Ling made an even bigger mistake, Ming Shang-gong could naturally remove her niece’s name from the list of those to be punished. Then, the Empress’s people wouldn’t be able to find fault with her.

　This was also why Yun Ling dared to deliberately ruin the flower branch.

　The relationships in the palace were complex. Ming Shang-gong wouldn’t offend Wang Dade for the sake of a lowly palace maid like her, which is why she allowed Yun Ling to be bullied. However, Yun Ling knew that Ming Shang-gong had recently been worried about who to find as a replacement for her niece.

　Besides, Wang Dade was arrogant and didn't take Ming Shang-gong seriously. This had already made her unhappy. Yun Ling had stirred up her discontent with Wang Dade, and she wouldn’t betray her. In this way, she could save her niece and avoid being found out. With these words, there was a 90% chance that she would agree.

　“I can agree to your request,” Ming Shang-gong pondered for a moment and stood up. “But I must also tell you that the Cold Palace is not a good place. The Sixth Prince is cruel. The few palace maids who were sent there before…”

　She said coolly, “They all died.”

　“If you go there, you may not survive either.”

　Yun Ling's shoulders trembled, and she kowtowed heavily. “This servant thanks Gu-gu for reminding me.”

　“Once you are in the Cold Palace, if the Sixth Prince does anything, find a way to tell me.” Ming Jin whispered in Yun Ling's ear.

　Yun Ling buried her face in the back of her hand, her pupils trembling. “This servant understands.”

　　……

　The selection for those who would go to the Cold Palace to serve the Sixth Prince was finalized. Besides Yun Ling, there was another unlucky soul named Chi Shao. She had served in Zhang Guifei’s palace for a while before being transferred to Yu Fei’s palace. It was said that she had offended a noble and was punished.

　Several palace maids surrounded Chi Shao, comforting her and expressing their concern. But Chi Shao didn’t seem to be upset at all.

　After everyone left, a little girl named Ru Dong secretly ran to Yun Ling’s side. Her clear eyes were filled with tears, and she sobbed uncontrollably. “I heard that the Sixth Prince is furious about being imprisoned and has already killed two palace maids who went to serve him! He is such a cruel person. How can my sister have a chance of survival if she goes there?”

　Yun Ling held her hand and comforted her, “Don’t cry, Dongdong. Don’t worry about me. I will take care of myself. I will be careful and serve him well. I won’t offend the Sixth Prince.”

　The Cold Palace was indeed a terrible place, no less than the den of a tiger or a wolf. She didn’t know if she could survive.

　But she had nowhere else to go.

　If she didn’t go to the Cold Palace, she would be tortured to death by Wang Dade.

　She had only two choices.

　Die now, or go to the Cold Palace and fight for a chance to live.

　Ru Dong sobbed and wiped her tears. “It’s all that damned Wang Dade—”

　Before she could finish, Yun Ling stopped her. “Don’t say that anymore. In this palace, anyone who is higher in rank than us can crush us. Words can bring trouble. Be careful with your words. Keep any thoughts to yourself. Never say them out loud, understand?”

　Ru Dong was still young and innocent, with her feelings written all over her face. Yun Ling taught her to be calm and composed, reminding her not to leave any opportunities for others to find fault.

　Ru Dong closed her mouth and obediently nodded.

　Since entering the palace, Yun Ling had taught her a lot. A few times, when she made mistakes and almost faced severe punishment from Liu Meiren, it was Yun Ling who protected her and saved her.

　In this palace, they warmed each other’s hearts, and Ru Dong had long regarded Yun Ling as her dear sister.

 　Now that her sister was going to the Cold Palace, Ru Dong couldn't help but think about the kind of abuse Yun Ling might suffer, and tears welled up in her eyes. 

     Yun Ling gently wiped away her tears. “We can’t offend the noble ladies in this palace, Dongdong. You and I were both sold into the palace. We have no support and no way out, so we can only rely on ourselves. You must remember this well.”

　　……

　Yun Ling didn’t have much—just two sets of clothes and some savings she had accumulated over the years. Carrying a small bundle, she was escorted to the Cold Palace along with Chi Shao.

　On the way, Chi Shao, taking advantage of the fact that the eunuch leading them was not paying attention, quietly approached Yun Ling and said, “Serving in the Cold Palace isn’t a good job. How could you, Yun Ling, be so careless and cut the wrong flower?”

　She sighed, feeling sorry for Yun Ling. “If you ask me, it was just a flower. The Head Palace Maid was too harsh with her punishment. You’re a poor girl.”

　Yun Ling shook her head. “It’s not Gu-gu’s fault. It’s my own stupidity.”

　Chi Shao’s eyes flickered.

　After a while, she curved her lips and said, “Yun Ling, you don’t seem to hold any resentment. Could it be that you received some instructions?” She was sent by the Empress. This Yun Ling must be Zhang Guifei’s person.

　Yun Ling looked innocent and confused. “What are you talking about, Chi Shao? I have no idea what you’re saying.”

　The eunuch in front signaled them to hurry up. Chi Shao rolled her eyes and said nothing, quickly walking ahead.

　Yun Ling followed closely behind.

　The place where the Sixth Prince was confined was Jingxiang Palace. It was located in the secluded southwest corner, deep and silent. The dry branches sticking out from the dilapidated red walls made a desolate ‘rustling’ sound when blown by the wind, making one’s hair stand on end and sending shivers down their spine.

　It was said that this was the palace of a prince from the previous dynasty, who was killed for rebellion and had been left abandoned until now. The current Emperor was kind. Even if a concubine committed a crime, he never sent her to the Cold Palace.

　It was unexpected that he would confine the Sixth Prince here, which showed how furious the Emperor was about his cruelty and lack of virtue.

　The eunuch led them there and didn’t even pause, his face pale as he hurried away.

　The desolate and eerie scene before them made Chi Shao swallow hard. She glanced at Yun Ling behind her, who looked scared and timid, and suddenly pushed her hard. “Go in first.”

　Yun Ling lowered her head and silently stepped over the threshold.

　Inside the gate, there were towering rocks and overgrown weeds. The pavilion next to it looked like it had been hastily cleaned, but it still appeared dilapidated. The scene inside the courtyard was even more desolate and terrifying than the outside.

　Chi Shao’s face finally turned pale as she realized what kind of place this was.

　Walking further in, they approached the courtyard where the Sixth Prince was imprisoned.

　Chi Shao pushed Yun Ling forward, forcing her to step in front of her. With no choice, Yun Ling paused for a moment before slowly entering.

　In the silence, a harsh, grating ‘creak’ sound came from the door. The loosely shut door was blown open by the wind, revealing the interior of the room. It was sparsely furnished and had a musty smell.

　Only one lamp was lit, casting a dim, yellowish light. The room felt gloomy and lifeless, devoid of any warmth.

　Cautiously taking a few steps forward, Yun Ling finally saw a black figure lying on the couch. His long black hair cascaded over his shoulders like a waterfall, and his pale, bloodless profile was hidden in the dim candlelight, flickering in and out of view. An oppressive and cold aura surrounded him, as if he came from an abyss of despair.

　It was said that the son of the Minister of War was whipped to the point of being skin and bones just for accidentally bumping into his horse on the road. The cruelty was terrifying, which explained why even the eunuch who led them didn’t dare to linger for a moment.

　Just one glance, and Yun Ling immediately knelt down respectfully, saying, “Your Highness, this servant is Yun Ling.”

　Chi Shao quickly followed suit. “This servant is Chi Shao.”

　The room was silent, and time passed slowly.

　The two of them knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

　Chi Shao was sweating profusely. Beads of sweat dripped from her temples onto the ground, making a soft ‘clap’ sound.

　It was as if a sharp sword was hanging over their heads, making it unbearable.

　“Get out.”

　A low, cold voice with a hint of rage came from the couch.

　Chi Shao, relieved, hurriedly got up and left.

　As she reached the doorway, she heard a violent coughing and spitting of blood from inside the room, as well as the sound of furniture being overturned. She stopped in her tracks, seemingly trying to eavesdrop.

　Yun Ling, however, didn’t even raise her head. She quickly left without looking back.

 　　……

　They returned to the room they were assigned.

　Even though two palace maids had briefly stayed here before, there were still many areas that hadn’t been cleaned properly.

　Chi Shao plopped down on the bed, surveyed the room, and tossed a rag at Yun Ling, commanding her, “Go get me some bathwater.”

　Yun Ling didn’t catch the rag. “Chi Shao, shouldn’t we do this together?”

　Chi Shao smirked. “You, a lowly palace maid who sweeps the floors, dare to order me around?”

　She was incredibly strong and pushed Yun Ling back repeatedly with one hand. Yun Ling felt like she was being pushed by someone trained in martial arts.

　Then, Chi Shao grabbed her blanket and lay down on the bed, relaxing.

　Yun Ling said nothing more and took the rag to start cleaning. Then, she went to fetch bathwater for Chi Shao. Chi Shao leisurely washed up and then lay down on the bed comfortably, ready to sleep.

　Yun Ling, exhausted from the long night, finally boiled some water to bathe herself.

　The room was small, and a flimsy curtain separated the sleeping area from the bathing space. It was old and tattered and didn’t even close properly. Chi Shao heard the sound of water splashing and casually turned her head to glance over.

　The dimly lit room was filled with steam from the hot water. Yun Ling’s silky black hair, soaked with water, cascaded down her slender, snow-white arms, creating a hazy image of soft jade and warm water.

　Chi Shao felt a surge of annoyance and turned her head away.

　For three days, Yun Ling hadn’t seen the Sixth Prince again, except for that brief, blurry glimpse of his profile on the first day. Chi Shao made Yun Ling do all the heavy cleaning and always rushed to deliver food to the Sixth Prince.

　Yun Ling didn’t want to argue with her. She diligently did her own work, carefully gathering and stacking all the dry branches in the front yard. After three days of continuous cleaning, she finally managed to tidy up the entire front yard.

　At night, when returning to sleep, Yun Ling was once again directed by Chi Shao to do chores and even had to fetch water for her to wash her face. After tidying everything up, the room fell silent, and Yun Ling closed her eyes to sleep.

　The small quarters were enveloped in darkness, with only the sound of steady breathing filling the air. After a while, a faint rustling came from the adjacent bed, and then the door creaked open and shut. Chi Shao had quietly slipped out.

　Yun Ling listened as the footsteps outside gradually faded away but didn’t get up, choosing to close her eyes again and pretend she was unaware.

　When she woke up the next morning, Chi Shao was already back.

　After a few more days, Yun Ling managed to clean the entire courtyard, washing all the clothes and bedding. Although the courtyard still looked dilapidated, at least it was now clean.

　Having spent a month in the Cold Palace, despite the pile of chores she handled alone, it was still relatively stable without Wang Dade’s constant pressure.

　That evening, Chi Shao brought in their meal. Being confined in the Cold Palace, the food and supplies were naturally subpar. Coincidentally, the Sixth Prince’s clothes had just been washed and dried, and Chi Shao ordered Yun Ling to help deliver them. Reluctantly, Yun Ling followed behind, carrying the clothes.

　This was Yun Ling’s second time entering the room. She carefully lowered her head, placing the garments down before retreating to the side, not daring to make a sound.

　Chi Shao placed the meal on the table and, standing behind the curtain, respectfully called out, “Your Highness, it’s time for dinner.”

　After her words fell, there was no response from behind the curtain, only a dark shadow cast upon it.

　Chi Shao called out again, and when there was still no answer, she feigned concern, saying, “Sixth Prince, you can’t skip your meal.”

　After a brief pause, her eyes shifted slightly. It seemed the Sixth Prince’s health had deteriorated further with his daily coughing up blood. Once he passed away, she could return to Kun Ning Palace to report to the Empress.

　With this thought in mind, Chi Shao’s lips curved into a smile as she reached out to lift the curtain and step inside.

　The figure behind the curtain shifted slightly, but Chi Shao ignored it and walked into the inner room. Seeing the figure lying on the couch, a sudden thought struck her. She slowly drew a silver hairpin from her sleeve. “Sixth Prince, your health…”

　Xie Jue was leaning against the couch, his inky black hair loose on his shoulders, his long, crow-like eyelashes closed. He seemed lifeless.

　Seeing this, Chi Shao’s heart filled with even more joy. She raised the hairpin and moved closer.

　In the next second, Xie Jue suddenly opened his eyes, his narrow eyes dark and deep. He kicked Chi Shao in the stomach with a swift movement. With a pained cry, Chi Shao fell to the ground, clutching her abdomen.

    Xie Jue got off the couch and walked toward her step by step. He knelt down and slowly pulled the hairpin from her hand.

　Seeing his expression, Chi Shao trembled with fear and crawled backward, pleading, “Your Highness, forgive me, I didn’t mean to, I truly didn’t mean to, please spare me…”

　Looking at the palace maid begging for mercy on the ground, the murderous intent in Xie Jue’s eyes intensified. “Spare you?”

　“How familiar those words sound.”

　The silver hairpin in his hand plunged straight into her neck.

　A piercing scream erupted, followed by a gush of blood spraying out, splattering a few drops onto Xie Jue's face. On his pale skin, the bright red blood trickled down, making him look like a demon.

　Chi Shao lay motionless on the ground. Xie Jue, with a look of disgust, tossed the hairpin away.

　Outside, the sky was dark, and the shadows of the trees swayed in the wind.  

    Xie Jue, his body reeking of blood, rose and flung open the curtain. The silken fabric fluttered.

   “Who’s there?” 

　Xie Jue sneered, his expression cruel, his hand tightening around a slender neck.

　The soft gauze curtain slid away from her face, revealing a timid yet beautiful countenance.

   Her eyes were wide with shock and fear, the pupils trembling and the corners reddening.

________________

Glossary:

¹Gu-gu (姑姑): is a term of address in Chinese, similar to "aunt" in English. It's a respectful way to refer to an older woman, usually a relative like an aunt or a family friend. 

In this context, "Ming Gu-gu" likely refers to an older woman who is a high-ranking lady in the palace, possibly a maid or a trusted advisor. 

It's important to note that "gu-gu" can also be used as a term of endearment for a young girl, similar to "little sister" or "dear." However, in this specific context, given the palace setting and the mention of the Cold Palace, it's more likely that "Ming Gu-gu" refers to an older, respected figure within the palace hierarchy.

²Fei (妃): A concubine or secondary wife of the emperor in ancient Chinese palaces.  

While the emperor's main wife held the title of "Empress" (皇后), "Fei" represented a lower rank within the imperial hierarchy. There were different levels of "Fei," each with its own specific title and corresponding privileges:

- 贵妃 (Guìfēi): Noble Consort, the highest ranking concubine.

- 妃 (Fēi): Consort, a lower rank than Noble Consort.

- 嫔 (Pín): Lady, a lower rank than Consort.

- 昭仪 (Zhāoyí): Light Consort, an even lower rank.

- 婕妤 (Jièyú): Elegant Lady.

- 美人 (Měirén): Beauty, the lowest ranking concubine.

The "Fei" system was a complex and hierarchical structure within the imperial court, reflecting the emperor's power and the social order of the time.

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