- At that time my departure from the palace was untimely and the result of a disagreement with the present Empress. I will not recall any unpleasant details of that time, but I wish to point out that I intend to claim what belongs to me. As you can understand, I would like to not return to the presence of that “rattlesnake”, so I thank you to help me find a solution.
Li’s eyes invariably fell on Zeng, who was not indifferent.
- When I informed Li of the Emperor’s donation, I was convinced that the palace had given notice to all concerned. As you can confirm from the copy I gave to my father, Li’s name is on the list. The Emperor was a very strict and far-sighted person. He took care to indicate in the same document of appointment of the Crown Prince all donations, the respective people and goods donated, as well as to have copies made in the same number as those involved. With this he guaranteed not only the authenticity of the document, but also that all interested individuals would be aware of it.
-In your opinion, what can we do? – Li said, apprehensive.
- By Law it is always possible to claim, at any time, the donation made by the Emperor.
- Yes, but I don’t want to go there!
- It can always be done by a person to whom you have conferred full powers of representation.
- How do you do that?!
- After conferring full powers of representation on your mother, uncle, or anyone else, with the respective certificate and accompanied by the Emperor’s document, that person may withdraw the donation.
- I don’t want to expose my mother to a trip like this; I’d prefer that the person to go was you, uncle, if you’re available.
- You have my support! We’ll handle the necessary documentation with Zeng’s help, if that’s okay.
- I am available, not only for the power of attorney, but also to go to the palace, if you wish, of course!
Her uncle’s and Zeng’s willingness to represent Li in the claim for the donation was a great emotional relief for her - a new meeting with the Empress was out of the question. The words of anger and hatred spoken that morning by Xi were still fresh in her mind - although she still couldn’t find a single reason for it, she would never forget that scene!
Days later...
In the palace, Zeng and Li’s uncle awaited the audience requested from the Empress. The request once again had to be conveyed through Zhu, to whom the Empress delegated much of the matter. When he explained to her the reasons for that request for a hearing, she was left in a very bad mood. She too remembered with intensity the moments experienced on the morning of her marriage. In spite of the long time elapsed, the Empress retained in her memory, still very present, the image of her veil reduced to strips and the anger that she had felt for such ignoble act, for which her reaction was not made to wait.
- I don’t want to receive those people, let alone resolve matters of this “Li”!
- For any particular reason? - Zhu asked, surprised.
- Yes, but that’s none of your business!
- They claim a donation from the Emperor to which they are entitled! - Zhu reminded, still not understanding the Empress’ attitude.
For a moment the Empress wanted to detach herself from the memory of anger and intense bitterness that she still had.
- I didn’t want to tell you this like this, but the memory I keep of the morning of my wedding still brings me a lot of trouble! That wretched girl turned my veil into a bunch of rags! I’ll never forgive her...!
- What do you mean, you will never forgive her? Who told you Li cut your veil into pieces?! - Added Zhu, even more surprised.
- Wasn’t she?! - Said the Empress, outraged.
- Your words reveal that you don’t know what really happened that night. I always thought you knew! You’re always so well informed that I assumed you knew the whole truth about it!
- You want to be more specific?!
- I think you’re aware that you’re envied by a lot of people!
Zhu took a brief break before continuing.
- I never told you about this, because I understood that it was too hard for you what they did at that time, but it’s always the right time to restore the truth!
- What do you mean by that?!
- Simply, everything! - I said Zhu, serenely.
- You’re making me anxious with your half words!
- If you let me continue, I’ll explain! At that time your meteoric rise facilitated the envy and hatred that you built around you to lead your rivals to unite in a true conspiracy. They wanted you to feel a strong humiliation in front of everyone. They knew that you would lose control when you saw the veil destroyed, thus appearing before the Emperor in the worst possible condition!
Zhu paused before continuing.
- Contrary to what you imagine, it was not one, but hundreds of women who cut your veil into a thousand pieces.
- You’re making me more and more angry with that long talk of yours!
- Wait, and you will know everything that really happened. The concubines decided among themselves that, in the dead of night, in small groups, they would go up to your veil and each one would apply a blow of scissors in memory of the anger they had for you. For what I know this ritual lasted all night!
- Do you know who those “bitches” were?! I have to cut them into a thousand...
Zhu, before Xi advanced with her hatred, said:
- Don’t ask me for names or details! I couldn’t learn more than what I just said. One thing I’m sure of - Li wasn’t there, as she had been excluded by all. As far as I could tell, it all happened in the greatest of secrets and under bloody commitments.
- How did you know all that?!
- Pure chance! One of the times I met you during the night, I was surprised by steps in one of the corridors. I had to hide. It was then that I heard a conversation between two women talking about a subject that I only later associated with what happened to you. Even though I did everything, I couldn’t find out more about it than what I just mentioned.
The Empress, after listening to this explanation, referred to a compromising silence. That news came too late. Even today she still had a hatred of death for Li, but she recognized that she had hastened to the conclusion that it was Li who had destroyed her veil. But that no longer mattered! The important thing was to identify who these traitors were, “they would have to pay for everything they did! Those revelations made the Empress even more distressed. She would have preferred to remain in ignorance, so at least she had someone to cast all the anger she felt on. After those brief moments of reflection, she made quick decisions on the matter.
- As soon as you can, you’ll get me a list of the names of all the women who were in the palace that night. As for the hearing requested by the relatives of that one, you’ll handle it yourself. Hand over the donations they’re entitled to. You can leave, I want to be alone!
Zhu had never heard of their meeting on the morning of the wedding, so he did not understand the hatred that the Empress still felt for her rival.
The return to the village of Uncle and Zeng, bearers of the donated goods, allowed Li to have a renewed hope for the school project. The donation came at the right time. Thus, the funds given by the uncle and cousin together represented an excellent guarantee for