Chapter Thirty-Six: Rulan

Pearl and Linglong knelt quietly beside Wei Baofu, their presence a silent comfort as their mistress grieved. Though they felt her sorrow acutely, neither knew how to console her, so they remained at her side in silence.

Wei Baofu, her face shadowed with mourning, fed paper offerings to the flames, lost in memories. She longed to speak to her departed parents, to pour out her heart, but she did not know if her words could reach them. Watching the flickering fire, she drifted into a daze.

In her mind, she saw once more her gentle, indulgent mother, and her father, who seemed almost childlike yet cherished her as a priceless treasure. Standing together, they were a vision of happiness.

Unbidden, tears welled in Wei Baofu’s eyes. She had resolved not to cry—to show them her strength and independence, to let them rest easy. Yet now, all her resolve collapsed; she could not help but yield to her sorrow.

“Are you... the young lady?” Suddenly, a strange female voice sounded from behind. Wei Baofu turned instinctively, her vision blurred by tears, but she recognized the newcomer at once: it was Aunt Rulan, who had always served her mother.

Aunt Rulan wore plain garments, her hair adorned with a single white blossom. Gone was the vibrant elegance Wei Baofu remembered from her childhood. Feigning uncertainty, Wei Baofu asked, “Are you Aunt Rulan?”

Rulan started, tears sliding down her cheeks. With trembling excitement, she hurried forward, knelt, and kowtowed before Wei Baofu. “Young Mistress, you still remember this servant—how wonderful! You’ve grown so much, and you look so much like the Prince. If the Princess could see you, she would be overjoyed.”

Now, Rulan lived like the walking dead, her loyalty to the Princess unwavering. If not for her vow to guard the tombs and witness her young mistress’s wedding, she would surely have followed her mistress in death.

“Young Mistress, are you well these days? I hear nothing here—no news at all. How do you fare? And Their Highnesses, the Fourth Prince, the Empress Dowager, and Lady Shu—are they well?”

Rulan had not expected to see Wei Baofu so suddenly and was at a loss to express her joy. Wei Baofu went to her, helped her up, and said with a choked voice, “Don’t worry, Aunt. I’m very well, and everyone else is too. Come, let’s find a quieter place to talk.”

Wei Baofu had come for this very meeting; now that Rulan had appeared, there was no need to search further. Rulan nodded. “If you don’t mind, Young Mistress, please come sit in the place where I rest. The palace servants didn’t know you were coming, so they haven’t prepared a proper room for you.”

Wei Baofu nodded. Though she liked cleanliness, she was far from delicate; after all, she had endured all sorts of conditions while filming in the past. Besides, someone like Rulan would never let herself live in squalor, even in the imperial tombs.

All the way, Wei Baofu pondered how to begin. Rulan, still overwhelmed by joy, had lived for years without sorrow or delight; such sudden emotion would take time to settle.

Pearl and Linglong knew nothing of their mistress’s intentions. Wei Baofu never spoke of her plans unless she wished to; they would never pry. They believed firmly that whatever their mistress did, she had her reasons.

Inside, Rulan hastened to pour tea, apologizing as she busied herself. “Young Mistress, life is simple here and I have no fine tea to offer. Please forgive me for that.”

Wei Baofu smiled, accepting the cup. “You worry too much, Aunt. I am not a picky person. I can drink the finest teas or the coarsest, as long as it’s drinkable.”

Though Wei Baofu appreciated life’s comforts, she was no stranger to hardship. Rulan beamed with pride; in her young mistress, she saw the echo of the Princess. After a few sips, Wei Baofu said to Pearl and Linglong, “You two wait outside. I want to speak with Aunt Rulan in private.”

The two maids left quietly. Watching them go, Rulan nodded with satisfaction. “Those two, weren’t they chosen by me for you? They’ve turned out so well, and are so well-mannered.”

Wei Baofu nodded with a smile. “All of my maids and nurses are good; there are no unruly ones. You needn’t worry, Aunt.” Suddenly, Rulan understood the Princess’s last words: her young mistress was meant to live brightly and happily, not weighed down by too much.

“Aunt, I came to ask if my mother left any words for me. I’m grown now; I ought to know the truth.” Wei Baofu tried to keep her voice steady.

Rulan had steeled herself for this moment the instant she saw Wei Baofu. She replied calmly, “Young Mistress, all is well with you, the Empress Dowager, Lady Shu, and the Fourth Prince. Why not let things be as they are, as if you know nothing?”

Wei Baofu’s breath caught; she gave a bitter smile. “Aunt, I only want to know—was the Fourth Prince my mother’s child?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

Alarmed, Rulan protested, “Young Mistress, others may misunderstand the Princess— even the Empress Dowager may reproach her— but you mustn’t. She was the finest woman in the world.”

Rulan feared Wei Baofu had been swayed by the Empress Dowager’s view of her mother as a heartless woman enthralled by power.

Wei Baofu gently took her hand, soothing her. “Don’t be upset, Aunt. I know. What I mean is— was the Fourth Prince truly my parents’ child?”

At this, Rulan fell silent, then said with some relief, “So you know. That child did look like the Prince. I only saw him once, just after his birth, before he was taken away.”

Wei Baofu pressed on, “What really happened? Grandmother insists Lady Shu is my mother, but in fact, she is my aunt. The Fourth Prince seems to be my brother, yet this is only my conjecture. Was His Majesty truly unaware?”

Rulan sneered. “Did you think His Majesty truly loved the Princess? He only wanted to seize everything the Prince possessed. He couldn’t even tell the Princess and Second Lady apart. Back then, to protect the Princess’s unborn child, the Second Lady willingly took her place.”

Wei Baofu’s throat felt parched. “I can believe my aunt could impersonate my mother. With her willingness, even Grandmother wouldn’t notice. But how could she fake pregnancy? I don’t understand.”

With a bitter smile, Rulan replied solemnly, “Young Mistress, whatever happens in the future, you and the Fourth Prince must honor the Second Lady well. For the sake of bringing the Fourth Prince into the world openly, she took a medicine that fakes pregnancy but usually results in monstrous offspring. After taking it, she showed all the signs of pregnancy, but most such pregnancies result in deformed infants, and the woman is left barren. The Second Lady gave birth to a formless lump of flesh, without features or limbs. She nearly died from the ordeal, suffering untold pain.”

Rulan could not hold back her sobs, and Wei Baofu’s eyes reddened as well. Her aunt had endured such torment. After a moment, Rulan composed herself and continued, “The Princess’s true death came on the day the Fourth Prince was born. She had long since lost the will to live, enduring only for her unborn child. Once he was born, she could hold on no longer.”

“Before that, the Second Lady had to feign death to take the Princess’s place. Only one of the sisters could appear in public; the Princess hid in a mountain villa to carry her child to term. All of this was the Second Lady’s arrangement. Not even the old lady of the Marquis Yongyi’s household knew; apart from me and Qi Zhen, the Second Lady trusted no one.”

Rulan had held these secrets for so long that finally speaking them aloud felt like a burden lifted. She wiped her tears and went on, “After the Princess died, I secretly buried her beside the Prince, so the two of them could be reunited.”

Wei Baofu could barely imagine what her mother and aunt had endured. Through tears, she asked, “How was my brother brought into the palace?”

Rulan was much calmer now. “Just before the Second Lady was to give birth, Qi Zhen spirited the Fourth Prince away and, with the midwife sent from the household, brought him into the palace. By then, the Second Lady had secured her place there. During pregnancy, His Majesty was not required to visit. With everything arranged, it was risky but possible.”

At last, Wei Baofu understood everything. She was deeply moved. Her aunt, a woman of such intelligence and vision, could have lived a fine life—if only she had not been ensnared in the palace.

“Did my mother or aunt ever instruct you to tell me all this?” Wei Baofu knew Rulan was privy to everything, but loyalty was never certain.

“The Princess forbade me to say a word. She only wished for you to live safely and peacefully. The Second Lady, however, said that if you ever came to ask in person, I could tell you the truth. She always had someone watching over me.”

Wei Baofu understood: her aunt had placed someone at Rulan’s side to ensure her silence. If she kept her mouth shut, she could live; if not, she would be silenced before she could speak. Her aunt was nothing if not thorough.

Though it seemed unfair to Rulan, Wei Baofu couldn’t say it was wrong; it was the safest way.

“Aunt, would you be willing to leave here and serve at my side? There is still a long life ahead, and I can’t bear for you to remain in such solitude.” Rulan’s eyes shone with pride, but she shook her head resolutely.

“This servant has had but one mistress in this life. Remaining here to keep her company brings me peace. Don’t worry for me, Young Mistress—the Second Lady’s people treat me well. Life here is simple, but serene.”

Wei Baofu’s heart ached at the thought of Rulan’s lonely future, but if this was her choice, she would not force it. “If ever you are in trouble, send me word. I will do everything I can for my brother; you need not worry.”

Rulan did not know what kind of person her young mistress had become, but in this short time, she felt inexplicably proud—her mistress was a girl of courage and strength, and that alone was enough to gladden her heart.