Chapter 39: Fasting and Praying

Wei Yanqiao drifted back to consciousness, her head feeling heavy and dull. She struggled to open her eyes, finding herself lying on a clean bed in a dimly lit room.

A maid was keeping watch by her bedside. Seeing that Wei Yanqiao had finally awakened, the maid hurried forward and carefully helped her to a sitting position.

Wei Yanqiao steadied herself, focused her gaze on the maid, and asked in a soft voice, "Who are you?"

The maid lowered her head respectfully and replied, "Answering you, Miss, I am a maid temporarily assigned by Head Steward Bi to attend to you here."

Hearing this, more questions flooded Wei Yanqiao’s mind. She frowned and pressed further, "Why am I here?"

The maid explained gently, "You collapsed suddenly, Miss. Head Steward Bi summoned the Imperial Physician, who diagnosed that you had suffered a great shock, compounded by extreme grief and indignation, which led to your fainting spell."

The maid’s words struck like a thunderbolt, instantly dragging Wei Yanqiao back to the horrific moment that had caused her collapse. Her eyes widened, and she asked with a trembling voice, "Where is Shuiyao? Have you seen the young woman who was always by my side? Her name is Shuiyao; she was my personal attendant."

The maid shook her head slowly, her expression darkening as she replied, "That young lady... has passed away."

At these words, the world went black for Wei Yanqiao. Tears burst forth like a breached dam, unstoppable. This sudden news was like a bolt from the blue; she could not, would not believe that Shuiyao had left her.

"No, I don't believe it! This is impossible!" Wei Yanqiao cried out desperately. She struggled to get off the bed, ignoring her own frailty, driven by the sole thought of finding the vibrant, living Shuiyao.

But having just awakened, her body was incredibly weak. The moment her feet touched the floor, she collapsed forward as if her strength had completely failed her.

The maid reached out to catch her, saying with a face full of concern and sympathy, "Miss, please, do not agitate yourself. I speak the truth; Shuiyao is indeed no longer among the living. Those who were there said that by the time the physicians arrived, she had already ceased to breathe. Furthermore, it is said that her chest was pierced over a dozen times. With such grievous wounds, even if the physicians had arrived sooner, they could not have saved her."

Wei Yanqiao could no longer contain her surging grief. Tears streamed down her face as she wailed, "It is all my fault! If not for me, she would never have met such a fate. She did not have to sacrifice her life to save me, yet she was stabbed repeatedly by that madwoman! This is all because of me... I am the one who killed her..."

***

Hearing these heart-wrenching cries, the maid could only offer soft comfort: "Miss, please restrain your grief. The dead are gone, and the living must go on. I implore you to take care of your health."

But Wei Yanqiao could not hear these words of consolation. Her heart and mind were entirely consumed by the thought of Shuiyao, who had died saving her.

Suddenly, as if remembering something crucial, she looked up abruptly and asked the maid urgently, "What about the Emperor? Has he been here?"

The maid looked troubled and shook her head slightly. "The Emperor has not appeared at all. However, Head Steward Bi did leave instructions: if you woke up, I was to inform you that this will be your residence from now on."

Wei Yanqiao was slightly taken aback and began to survey her surroundings.

The room was furnished with extreme simplicity. There were no extravagant decorations, only a plain bed and a table with a chair. Unlike a traditional cold palace, this place resembled a meditation room used by ascetics for prayer.

Seeing that Wei Yanqiao was observing the room, the maid continued, "Miss, from this day forward, you must observe a vegetarian diet, recite Buddhist prayers, and copy scriptures every day. You must not delay in the slightest."

Wei Yanqiao slowly turned her head toward the table, where stacks of thick scriptures were neatly arranged. She paused for a moment before the corners of her mouth curled into a cold, bitter smile.

The maid continued, "Miss, Head Steward Bi instructed me to convey his words to you upon your awakening and then return to my duties. Having completed my task, I shall take my leave."

With that, the maid walked toward the door and soon vanished from sight.

Wei Yanqiao endured her physical weakness and discomfort, pulling herself up with great effort. She shuffled toward the desk, every step requiring the entirety of her strength, but she persisted until she reached the table.

When she finally saw the dense, cramped characters on the scriptures, a fire was ignited within her—a rage like a surging tide, stronger than she had ever felt before.

She gritted her teeth, her hands clenching into fists until her nails dug deep into her palms. These neatly arranged scriptures were a glaring eyesore. She longed to rush forward, tear them to shreds, and set them ablaze, turning everything to ash.

***

But reason told her she could not.

She could not destroy them; she had to faithfully and meticulously copy these cursed scriptures every single day.

Wei Yanqiao slowly sat at the plain desk, took up a brush with her slender, jade-like hand, bowed her head slightly, and began to copy with total concentration.

Morning came, and the sunlight streamed through the window, draping over her like a golden veil, making her appear saintly and serene.

Wei Yanqiao rose and went before the Buddha statue. She knelt, took up the wooden fish mallet, and began to strike the instrument with a steady rhythm. The crisp sound echoed throughout the hall, and she began to chant the scriptures in a low voice.

In these monotonous, austere days, Wei Yanqiao repeated this life, day after day.

Three days later, the same maid returned to collect the scriptures. "Miss, please hand over the scriptures you have copied."

Wei Yanqiao handed them over and asked, as if in passing, "Where are these being taken?"

"I do not know. I am only following the orders of Head Steward Bi."

With that, the maid took the scriptures and left.