《A Forbidden Happiness》 Chapter 1 Chaoxiang Emperor* Princes (Generational character Òå/Yi-Justice/Righteousness) Prince Taio of the first rank (deceased at 1 year)¡ªEmpress Prince Ren of the third rank (deceased at 2 months)¡ªShen huang gui fei 3rd prince, Yian, age 13¡ª Empress 4th prince, Yifu, age 10¡ªJin pin Prince Bao of the third rank (stillborn)¡ªAn gui ren 6th Prince, Yiqiang¨C, age 9, Shu pin 7th prince, Yihe, age 9¡ªEmpress 8th prince, Yijian, age 8¡ªTong pin Prince Lingyun of the third rank (stillborn)¡ªShen huang gui fei Princesses (Generational character »¨/Hua- flower/blossom) 1st princess, Huabao, age 15¡ªShen huang gui fei 2nd princess, Huahuan, age 14¡ªDe gui fei Princess Anhe of the first rank (deceased age 5)¡ªEmpress Princess Bao of the third rank (deceased at 1 month)¨C Shen huang gui fei 5th princess, Huaguang, age 2¡ªJiang gui ren Qing Dynasty Harem Class System Empress (»Êºó; hu¨¢ng h¨°u) Imperial Noble Consort (»ÊÙFåú; hu¨¢ng gu¨¬ f¨¥i; Imperial Noble Consort) Noble Consorts (ÙFåú; gu¨¬ f¨¥i; Noble Consort) Consorts (åú; f¨¥i; Consort) Imperial Concubines (‹å; p¨ªn) Noble Lady (ÙFÈË; gu¨¬ r¨¦n, literally "precious person") First-Class Female Attendant (³£ÔÚ; ch¨¢ng z¨¤i, literally "often present lady")Second-Class Female Attendant (´ð‘ª; d¨¡ y¨¬ng, literally "serving lady") *Expecting fortune ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C The fifth month of the 19th year of the Chaoxiang Emperor, 17xx It was the dead of summer in the Forbidden City but, 18 year old Xi Jiayi still felt cold sweat running down her neck. The sun had set and she could smell and hear the rest of the bondslaves eating the nightly meal. Jiayi was starving, but Su gonggong* was at the door of the mess hall. Since her arrival five years ago, Jiayi lived her life as a slave quietly. She went where she was told and did what she was told from dusk til dawn. She would''ve been content to do so until the day she died, if not for one thing: Su gonggong. In the last few months, the overseeing eunuch had been approaching her. At first Jiayi didn''t understand it. Her bunkmates weren''t shy in letting her know that her looks came nowhere close to something that could be called beautiful. So when Su gonggong began to appear near her at all times, Jiayi assumed someone thought she was stealing and he was forced to keep watch. Then, one night before they were all sent to bed, Su gonggong told Jiayi to follow him. Even if she suspected something, she couldn''t disobey him. Su gonggong has pushed her up against a wall and began to grope her. Stunned, Jiayi tossed him to the ground and ran back to her rooms. The small bit of violence did nothing to deter the middle-aged eunuch. Any chance he got, he would try to touch her. It drove her mad. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Lately, Su gonggong has been bragging about the reward he was allowed after serving in the Forbidden City after so many years. For his 50th year, he was going to ask to be rewarded with a wife. Jiayi didn''t have to look at him know where his eyes were when he said it. If Jiayi ended up tied to that man as a reward, she had no shame in killing herself. Death would be better than Su gonggong, gaunt, sallow face for the rest of her life. Stomach grumbling, Jiayi went back to women''s barracks. She''d have to satisfy herself with sleep for dinner. "Yi''er," Jiayi froze as the slimly voice called out from behind her. Su gonggong had spotted her from across the courtyard. "Yi''er," he said again as she turned around, "I have wonderful news," "Oh," Jiayi blurted out, her tongue thick in her mouth. Su gonggong put a gnarled hand on her shoulder and grinned widely, showing off his blackened gums, "Thanks to the grace of His Majesty, we can finally be married. The Astronomy Department is searching for an auspicious date for us," "No," Jiayi said as she curled away from him, "Su gonggong, a lowly sinjeku? has no right," Su gonggong laughed and grasped her hands, "Don''t worry, don''t worry! When we marry, I''ll give you a new name and make a true Manchu clanswoman," Seeing the lack of joy on her face, Su gonggong tightened his grip around her hands, "You have a chance to change your fate Jiayi. Don''t waste it," Jiayi went to bed, belly full to the brim with fear. ? The next morning Jiayi and a dozen other slaves were taken out to weed the cobblestone roads. Jiayi dug into the ground the sun beat down on her. She imagined that it Su gonggong''s neck she was squeezing instead of the green weeds in the ground. "Did you hear, The Empress is actually letting a prostitute inside the back palace???" "Really?" The servants began to chatter excitedly. "I heard that she''s so beautiful that she caused a cart accident by just sticking her hand out of the window," said a eunuch. "I heard that His Majesty asked her to enter the palace as soon as he saw her. Love at first sight!" The chatter grew in intensity. "Apparently she''s going to be given the rank of gui ren," said a maid. "And an honorary name! No woman has ever gotten one without a great merit to the Imperial Family!" "If I were one of His Majesty''s wives I wouldn''t take kindly to that. To be the same rank or lower than a woman who''s been ridden by more men than a cart-horse? It''s shameful!" At that point, Jiayi went back to fantasy of wringing Su gonggong''s neck. Why should she care that The Emperor was getting a new woman? He owned the world. "I hear the Imperial Household Department is having trouble finding maids to serve her," "You''re surprised? Those uppity maids won''t stand having to walk behind such a famous lean horse¡ì," "I''ve been here for 40 years and its never happened before! I hear they''ve had to cover up a lot of suicides because of this," "How many? I heard 10 maids have gone off these last few months," "10?! The girls at the hothouse said it was close to 20! I heard one was the daughter of junior deputy. They had to lie and say she died from a snake bite," "And they don''t dare send the bodies out. They burn them, right away!" A dizzyingly daring thought popped in Jiayi''s head. If she served The Emperor''s favored woman, Su gonggong wouldn''t disrespect her by approaching her for marriage. Yes, she was a slave. Yes, the entirety of her clan was executed for distributing slanderous materials. Yes, she only fit to clean the shit buckets that were brought in every night. It didn''t matter. Su gonggong was right. Jiayi wasn''t going to waste the one chance she had to change her fate. __________________________ * eunuch ? State slave. Of a lower status than bond slaves or bond servants. Usually a status of punishment ?? Lit. translation of harem ¡ì Slang, prostitute Chapter 2 Wasting no time, she branched off from the pack as they returned to their quarters for the midday meal. She found a junior eunuch standing at the doors of the Imperial Household department. He stepped in front of her as she tried to pass. "Fung gonggong is not to be disturbed," he said. "But¨C" "Go!" Jiayi pursed her lips. She wouldn''t give up. The minute she turned back, she would be walking to her death. Jiayi fell to her knees. "Fung gonggong! Fung gonggong!" She yelled, "Fung gonggong! Please see this lowly slave!" In all her years in the Forbidden City, Jiayi had never raised her voice like this. Even shouting for just a moment maid her throat burn. "Be quiet!" The eunuch hissed, glancing back at the door. "Fung gonggong! Fung gonggong! Have mercy on this slave!" The eunuch at the door had enough, "Men! Throw her out! Quickly!" Jiayi struggled to keep her feet on the ground as she was being dragged away. She shouted louder, tears beginning to run down her face. She couldn''t go back, she wouldn''t go back! "Enough!" Jiayi was thrown to the ground as the eunuchs around her bowed. Fung gonggong, like many eunuchs in their elder age, was rotund man with long graying beard. Other than the personal eunuchs of the The Emperor and The Empress, he was one of the most powerful people in the Forbidden City. He walked down into the courtyard and kicked Jiayi in the chest. "A gutter slave like you has the nerve to dirty up my courtyard? I should have you beaten to death!" Through her tears, Jiayi kowtowed to him properly, "Fung gonggong, this lowly slave would like to serve the new mistress coming into the palace," Fung gonggong sneered down at her, "Thousands of girls from good families come into the palace every three years to serve our Highnesses. You think you could compare?" "No," Jiayi said as she shook her head, "But I don''t think you have a choice," Cheeks puffing in rage, Fung gonggong kicked her down again, "You!¨C" "Even the slaves in the hard labor camp know this. Your good girls would rather die than serve a prostitute," Never in her life did Jiayi think she would have the courage to speak so rudely to such a powerful person. "That is a lie!" Said Fung gonggong, as he began to stutter, "I''ll¨CI''ll slap the mouths of anyone who says otherwise!" "The sky in the West corner of the outer palace has been stained black for months now. I''ve never known so many bodies to burned like this," This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "What could you know!" He wiped the sweat that began to bead on his brow. He kicked at her again, "Get off the floor and stop making that ugly face. Go inside!" Jiayi scrambled after Fung gonggong. She wiped the tears off her face and tried to calm her gleeful heart. It was working! She was going to escape! "Here it is," he muttered, slapping a thick tome down at his desk. "Name," he barked. "Uh, Xi Jiayi," Flipping through the yellowing pages, he declared "There is no Xi Jiayi booi aha* here," "This slave is a sinjeku," "Sinjeku? Pah! A dog like you truly has some nerve," he said, getting up to fetch a different tome, "Well, at least you come from some banner family. It wouldn''t do to have a hanjun? serve in the inner palace," Fung gonggong wet a brush, "What characters make up your name?" "''Jia'' (¼Î) as lucky and yi (Ò») as in ''one''" "Lucky one?" Fung gonggong said with a snort, "Indeed," "There''s girl in here," said Fung gonggong, tapping the records of the booi aha servants, "Died as soon as she came here, only recorded as Wei of the Bai clan. She''d be the same age you now, you can just take her place," Wei Jiayi? Jiayi rolled the name around in her head. It unsettled her stomach. Not only was she stealing a ghost''s identity but she was throwing away her family name. If Jiayi wasn''t so desperate she would''ve been disgusted with herself. Jiayi kowtowed to him again, "This slave thanks you for your grace and will think of you always," Fung gonggong walked over and stared down at her. "If you think you''ve just entered heaven, let me be clear. Entering in the inner palace is as close to hell as you can get. You could''ve lived a simple life out there but now, you''re nothing more than a warm body. Xiang gui ren could put you to death for looking the wrong way," he nodded his head toward the door, "Leave. Don''t come looking for me again," Jiayi didn''t care. This was heaven. She didn''t care if this Xiang gui ren beat her everyday for the rest of her life. It was Jiayi''s choice. That was all that mattered. When she stepped outside a eunuch was waiting for her. Jiayi didn''t have much in terms of personal items, but there were a few things she needed from the barracks. "You''re coming with me?" She asked the eunuch as he began to follow her. Annoyed, the eunuch replied, "Fung gonggong will send someone to inform Wang gugu of your arrival. If you''re late because someone wants to quarrel, it''s my head. Hurry," ? It was early evening when Jiayi returned to her rooms. The courtyard and barracks were empty as the workday for slaves didn''t end until well into the night. The eunuch who escorted her was standing in the doorway as she stuffed her meager belongings in a sack. She folded her clothes tightly lest her prize possession, a calligrapher''s brush, came loose. Not just any brush, but one that belonged to The Emperor. The brush was old and in too poor of a condition for anyone of the Imperial family to use, but still far above her station. After years and years of digging charcoal sticks from the trash heaps, a real brush was a gift. Happiness was a hard thing to come by in the Forbidden City, so when Jiayi first found an opportunity to continue the hobby that she loved as a child, she jumped on it. She usually had to resort to using toilet paper as a canvas, but it was all the same. Whether she was drawing what little she could remember of her father''s face or mouse she watched scurry across her rooms, it was her little piece of happiness. "Finally," the little eunuch muttered as she stepped outside, "Let''s hurry," It would''ve been lucky to get in and out without seeing Su gonggong but as life has demonstrated to Jiayi she didn''t have much luck to go around. They crossed the courtyard only to see Su gonggong standing at the gates. "Stop," he ordered, holding out his fly tail whisk. The eunuch batted it away, "Who are you to give orders? I''ll take you to see Fung gonggong if you like!" Su gonggong cowered back, "I apologize but, where are you taking this girl? If punishment is needed, I can oversee it," Jiayi didn''t miss the twinkle in his eye as he mentioned punishment for her. "Xianfugong??. To serve Xiang gui ren. Let''s go," "Wait, wait, wait! A state slave serving one of her highnesses? It must be a mistake," Su gonggong said. He clutched Jiayi''s shoulder tightly, "You must be looking for someone else. I''ll be glad to assist you," The eunuch snatched Su gonggong''s hand away and shoved Jiayi outside, "Enough! Bother me again and see where you end up!" "Jiayi!" Su gonggong called at her back as she left her old life behind, "Jiayi!" _____________________________ * bond slave ? Han Chinese state slave ?? Palace of Universal Happiness Chapter 3 On such a warm summer''s day, the thing to do was gather in Shen huang gui fei''s palace and take advantage of the cool air tossed around by her ice boxes. Jiang gui ren had been in a foul mood for some months after hearing that a prostitute would be sharing Xianfugong with her. Since Mu pin''s death Jiang gui ren had enjoyed being the palace''s unofficial master, but now she would have to walk through the same gates as a woman who would sully everything she touched. Jiang gui ren had expected that a new woman had caught His Majesty''s eye, but she never expected something like this. Jiang gui ren entered the palace eight years ago but it was only the last three that truly mattered. It took most of year for the Emperor to even remember she existed but thanks to the grace of huang gui fei, she not only managed to capture his attentions, but fall pregnant from them. No matter what anyone said, she could tell that His Majesty truly loved her. The only reason she hadn''t been promoted was because of politics. He gave her too many liberties for it not to be so. She was sure if The Emperor had his way, everyone would be calling her Jiang fei. It was one thing for The Empress to not hear her pleas, but The Emperor even scolded her for trying to get her father to beg on her behalf. Only Shen jiejie* understood her plight. It was nice to be surrounded by her lavish decor and look at her sweet smiling face. The other wives said her face was too thin and bird-like but Jiang gui ren found it to be elegant. "What an awful situation you''ve been thrown into meimei?" she said, "I tried to talk to His Majesty about this but, it seems there''s no changing his mind," Jiang gui ren huffed, "I don''t know why His Majesty is treating me like this. How can he expect my father to hold his head up in court when his daughter is living with a prostitute? I can''t stand it!" "The Emperor probably knows you''ll be able to keep that girl line. I can''t imagine what sort of filthy personality she''ll have," "Girl? What girl?" Jiang gui ren spat, "She''s almost 40!" A nearby maid, startled by Jiang gui ren''s sudden screech, flinched and let the platter of mandarins she was holding tip over onto the floor. At once, she fell to the ground. "This servant is stupid! Please forgive me!" She said, pressing her head to the carpet. With a sneer, Jiang gui ren said, "Forgive you? After you''ve dirtied Her Highness'' food? Now it''s only fit to be fed to the pigs!" "Please forgive me! Please forgive me!" The maid repeated. "Hmph. I suppose Shen huang gui fei would forgive you if forfeit one year''s salary to replace it," "But it surely couldn''t cost so much!" Said the maid. Jiang gui ren walked over and ground the edge of her silk embroidered flower pot shoe into the maid''s palm. "What right do you have to reason with me?" said Jiang gui ren over the pained cries of the maid. Giving her foot a sharp twist, Jiang gui ren sat back down. "Jiejie, I think you should get rid of this maid. She''s obviously no good," she lifted up her now bloody shoe, "Look how she dirtied my things," Shen huang gui fei, who had watched the entire scene in silence, called her senior eunuch. "Take her to the Office of Careful Punishment for 10 strikes. Then send her to work in the ice house," "Mistress!" The maid called as Shen huang gui fei''s other eunuch''s snatched her up, "Please, I''ve served you for three years and never made a mistake! Please forgive this servant!" Squinting her eyes, Shen huang gui fei took a good look at the maid before shaking her head, "I can''t seem to place your face. You''ve offended my meimei, I''d rather you not stay," The eunuchs dragged the sobbing maid away as the other servants who lined Shen huang gui fei''s room looked on in mute horror. "My day is just getting worse and worse!" Said Jiang gui ren, "This prostitute must be a bad omen," Shen huang gui fei sighed, "No bad omen could seduce His Majesty well enough to be called a Noble Lady. Your poor father toiled so hard for you and it still wasn''t enough. Only little Huaguang brought about your promotion. Thinking about your labor even now," she pressed a hand to her chest, "I''m chilled," Jiang gui ren nodded, her labor had indeed been disastrous. At 23 years old giving birth should''ve been easy but for some reason it had taken two days for Huaguang to be born. Her bed had been so wet with blood that a new frame had to be brought in. The imperial physicians said that she had recovered completely since then but she hadn''t become pregnant again. "Moving forward it would best if we played nice with her. We shouldn''t give His Majesty a reason to find error with us," "Your Highness," a maid interrupted, "Lian pin, An gui ren, and, Cha chang zai are here," "What a party," Shen huang gui fei said, "Bring them in," Lian pin headed up the pack so unfortunately Jiang gui ren had to stand and greet her. "Wishing huang gui fei peace," "Rise. Sit, sit. The three of you don''t usually keep company, why are you so suddenly joining forces?" "Shen jiejie, I''m very sorry to intrude on you like this but Cha ch¨¢ng z¨¤i and An gui ren have some very important news to tell you," The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. "Oh? Meimei, what is it?" Cha ch¨¢ng z¨¤i wiped at her brow with her handkerchief before twisting it in her hands, "Well, I received a letter from my mother and, well-" "Her mother was begging her to get the Emperor''s favor so he doesn''t do something disgraceful like house her with a prostitute or some other lowly kind of woman," Lian pin said, with a great smile on her face. "In fact, a lot of the clans have been sending messages like these, right An meimei?" An gui ren looked pained at having to step on Jiang gui ren in this moment, "Yes, but my mother just worries a lot!" Jiang gui ren was burning with anger. The entire world was laughing at her because of this. She wouldn''t stand for it any longer! "I won''t take this any more! That-that bitch is dragging my name through the mud! His Majesty can''t treat me like this, I''m the mother of his most auspicious child. I''m going back to beg him," "Jiang meimei, you are so eager to be scolded again. You should know that Huaguang won''t protect you forever. Why waste your time?" said Lian pin. "Yes, jiejie, think of fifth princess. She''s only two. What will do if His Majesty thinks you''re too inappropriate to raise her?" "That''s enough," said Shen huang gui fei, "You all may go," Lian pin looked like she had more to say but didn''t dare disobey. Cha chang zai and An gui ren followed after her. Jiang gui ren deflated and slumped back into her seat. There was truly nothing she could do. "Do you remember how furious The Empress Dowager was when the rumors about His Majesty''s affair with a prostitute began?" Asked Shen huang gui fei. "Of course," said Jiang gui ren, "She was on a rampage. Then His Majesty admitted to it and she became so sick that the Imperial Hospital had to watch over her day and night," "His Majesty and The Empress Dowager haven''t been able to see eye-to-eye for some time. I think if you lend yourself to her, she can help you get rid of this woman," Jiang gui ren bit her lip, "Would she help me? She doesn''t remember me often," It was true. The only time Jiang gui ren and The Empress Dowager interacted outside of events and ceremonies was when she visited Huaguang. They were no where near close. "Come, we''ll greet her together," said Shen huang gui fei as she stood, "Take this chance to make yourself memorable," ? "This concubine wishes The Empress Dowager peace," The Empress Dowager was sitting in her divan at the head of the receiving hall. The former Mongolian princess cut an imposing figure. Almost 70, The Empress Dowager had gotten fat in her later years of luxury. Bolts of gleaming golden embroidered fabric covered her body, not at all overshadowing the massive liangbatou?? covered in fresh flowers atop her head. The Empress Dowager peered down at them from her divan. Her ears sagged from the weight of gold and pearl earrings and when she shifted, her golden bangles crashed together. Truly, only she was worthy of residing in Cininggong¡ì. "Rise," she said. Shen huang gui fei took a seat, but Jiang gui ren continued to kneel. "So you came here to ignore me instead of greet me?" The Empress Dowager said. "I would not dare!" Jiang gui ren eyes flicked to Shen huang gui fei and then back to The Empress Dowager. "I''ve come here to pledge myself to you, Your Highness," "Is that so?" "I-I know that these years, I''ve been neglecting you and I want to make up for it going forward. I will die to protect you!" "Protect me or yourself?" Replied The Empress Dowager, "Jiang gui ren, His Majesty may enjoy this cute act you put on but I can barely tolerate it. Say what you mean to say. Quickly," Jiang gui ren bit her lip, "Your Highness I know that you are rightfully upset that a prostitute is being brought here to walk the same steps as you and so am I! The Emperor is disregarding me and Huaguang by putting her in my palace. He''s become muddled from her seduction. Because of this my clan is a laughing stock in and out of these walls. I beg you to speak to the Emperor on my behalf and ask him not to make such abusive decisions because of an uncouth vixen!" Shen huang gui fei let out a quiet sigh. "Jiang gui ren, you''re too bold," snapped Jerjer, "What same steps? You''re not even worthy to hold the soles of The Empress Dowager''s feet. You claim to know His Majesty''s thoughts, ah? But you''re kneeling here, throwing a tantrum and fouling up Cininggong?" The Empress Dowager held up a hand and Jerjer quieted. "Do you know why His Majesty placed that woman with you?" Jiang gui ren shook her head. "Above you are women with powerful families. Below you, women who know their place and serve him well. You speak so often about your auspicious child. Two years ago you bore Huaguang and stopped the floods in the South. What have you done since then, huh? The other wives here would''ve taken that bit of fate and been called ''fei'' already and yet here you still are, a gui ren. Why would I help you? What could you possibly do for me?" "I...I," tears rolled down Jiang gui ren''s face as she struggled to come up with a response. "Jiang gui ren is tired. She will rest at her palace," ordered Jerjer. Susu, Jiang gui ren''s dowry maid, rushed to help her mistress off the floor. "I''ll take my leave," she whispered before backing away. Shen huang gui fei pursed her lips. She had given Jiang gui ren one task and the stupid girl couldn''t even do that well. The Empress Dowager didn''t look pleased either. Shen huang gui fei stood and began to massage the older woman''s shoulders, hoping to appease her anger somewhat. The Empress Dowager shifted away. "Your highness-" "It''s obvious that I''ve displeased you huang gui fei," said The Empress Dowager. With a smile, Shen huang gui fei moved to restart her massage, "Empress Dowager must be joking. When you move the world moves with you. If there are any mistakes, they are this concubine''s fault and she will take punishment for it," "So, I would be correct to remind you of your recent failures then?" It was clear that The Empress Dowager was in no mood to coddled. Shen huang gui fei kowtowed to her. "This concubine is stupid. She deserves to die!" "Aren''t you too old for all that whining? Get up, get up," The Empress Dowager took the cup of tea Jerjer served and sipped. "The Empress continues to run wild and oppose me. The ministers come to greet me less and less. His Majesty hasn''t taken a single Mongolian concubine in the last two selections. Not one single woman here can relay my worries to His Majesty and the ones outside the palace have shown no promise," she pursed her lips and threw the teacup aside, "I might as well roll over and let her kill me now!" The mention of The Empress infuriated Shen huang gui fei. During their days together in the Old Manor, she believed that The Empress was everything the royal edict claimed she was. Diligent, gentle, virtuous. It was only after The Emperor''s coronation that the veneer was wiped away. All the pain and suffering Shen huang gui fei endured, The Empress orchestrated it all and only The Empress Dowager saw the truth. The Empress strove to eliminate any source of competition in The Forbidden City but The Empress Dowager refused to go down without a fight. "Empress Dowager, you can''t! The Empress isn''t worthy to even gaze at you," said Shen huang gui fei. "Yes," begged Jerjer, "Please calm down," Shen huang gui fei finally voiced the topic that had been fluttering in her head since the announcement of The Emperor''s newest woman. "What if...what if we made use of His Majesty''s prostitute?" The Empress Dowager''s face contorted into a look of pure rage. "Get out!" "Empress Dowager-" "Huang gui fei, it''s very rare that you need to hear orders twice," said Jerjer. Pressing her lips together, she bowed and backed out of the room. ______ *Older sister. Doesn''t always mean blood relation, could also mean a close female friend or someone who is close to you but of higher status or older ?Little sister. Doesn''t always mean blood relation, could also mean a close female friend or someone who is close to you but of lower status or younger ??Manchu headdress/hairstyle that features two handfuls of hair, parted to each side of the head, sometimes with the addition of wire frames, extensions and ornamentation ¡ìPalace of Compassion and Longevity Chapter 4 Walking through the gates of Xianfugong was like stepping into another world. The sun bounced off the bright gold roof and lacquered red walls. Jiayi took a deep breath. Even the air was fresher here. The courtyard was bustling. Stacks of luxurious fabrics and stately decor were piled around the door of one of the side halls. Eunuchs and palace maids were scurrying in and out. The eunuch, sick of her already, grabbed her shouldered and steered her inside. "Wang gugu, here''s another maid," he pushed her forward and ran off. Jiayi bowed. You couldn''t not bow to The Emperor''s chief maid, Wang Langhua. Jiayi had heard of her but never seen her in the flesh. Fairly often, Jiayi gained a bunkmate thanks to Wang gugu. She had no mercy for maids who tried to crawl into the bed of The Emperor or did their mistress'' unsightly biddings. The only maid in the palace with more power was Jerjer, The Empress Dowager''s chief maid. Wang gugu barely glanced at her, busy watching the servants scuttle to and fro. "Rise," she said, "Do you have your uniform?" Jiayi shook her head. "Molan!" Barked Wang gugu, "Take this one and have her change into an extra uniform," "Yes!" Jiayi was dragged into what she assumed was the maid''s rooms by a short, round faced girl. "What''s your name?" The girl asked as she rummaged through a chest. "Wei, er, Wei Jiayi," "I''m Shang Molan. Nice to meet you. Catch!" A bundle of cloth hit Jiayi in the face. Molan didn''t mind that Jiayi was stripping down to her underclothes and proceeded to talk Jiayi''s ears off about anything and everything. Jiayi learned that Molan was 15 and a bond servant from the bordered blue banner clan, Cui. She learned that there were two other maids here, Li Ming and Ping''er. She learned that even though Xiang gui ren was going to live in a side hall, His Majesty was decorating her room with things far above her station. The Emperor had even inspected the rooms personally. "I''m ready," said Jiayi, smoothing down her silken waistcoat. She couldn''t keep her hands off of it, it was the nicest thing she''d ever owned. "Really?" Asked Molan, "You don''t have anything for your hair?" Jiayi reached and patted her plain liangbatou, "I like a simpler look," she lied. "Simple won''t do!" Molan walked over to the foot of her bed and dug around in a small chest. She pulled out a velvet flower hair pin and placed it on Jiayi''s hairpiece, "Much better. If I wasn''t so sure that Wang gugu wasn''t going to come in here and drag us out, I''d do your makeup, too!" The only response they got from Wang gugu when they returned as a strong glare. "Who are you?" A skinny girl asked, stepping in front of her. "Wei Jiayi," "Well, Wei Jiayi, make yourself useful and go wipe the walls," the maid shoved a bucket into her chest and stomped away. Molan huffed and glared at her back, "That''s Li Ming. She''s miserable here and taking it out on everyone else," "Really?" Jiayi took the bucket and began scrubbing. Molan kept herself busy dusting the decorations dotted along the walls. "Of course! She comes from one of the upper three banners. I heard she was planning to kill herself when she learned who she was serving, but Wang gugu told us that The Emperor would start telling their families that they were punished for adultery," "What''s all this?" A sweet voice asked. Wang gugu and the other servants bowed so Jiayi followed suit. "Greetings to Jiang gui ren, An gui ren," said Wang gugu. Jiang gui ren waved away the formality with a gold tipped hand. "Things are coming along quite nicely, Wang gugu. You don''t mind if I look around?" Wang gugu stepped to the side and bowed her head. Like all the Emperor''s women, Jiang gui ren and An gui ren were beautiful. The beauty of An gui ren''s small, gentle face was overshadowed by the look of plain hunger she wore, eyes always looking to the nearest coattail to ride. Jiang gui ren had an elegant face and sweet lips. A bright smile could have you staring for quite some time. Said beauty was overshadowed by the sheer amount of adornment that she liked to wear. The sun streamed through the windows and bounced off of the numerous gold hair accessories that decorated her liangbatou. Jiang gui ren''s changfu* was a deep green with gold and silver lotus embroidery. She was certainly not afraid of rings and wore two or three on each hand. All three pairs of earrings glistened in the sun. It was the sort of decoration you would expect of woman who slept in the main hall?. "His Majesty is truly pampering Xiang meimei," said Jiang gui ren as she stepped into the bedroom, "I''m sure that fur is from the Western tributes. Not even Shen jiejie has something so nice," Jiang gui ren turned to the servants who had tucked themselves against the walls. "It looks like these new slaves aren''t so bad," "This lowly servant thanks you for your grace!" Replied Li Ming. Grimacing, Jiang gui ren pressed her handkerchief to her nose, "But these rooms smell...odd," "Perhaps it''s the incense, my lady," said her eunuch, Haoyu. "Yes," she replied with a sigh, "I''m used to a different quality," "Let''s go back to your rooms so you don''t damage your health," said An gui ren. Jiang gui ren and her entourage swanned away and the servants bid her farewell. "It''s getting late. Go to the kitchens and eat. Don''t take more than 15 minutes," said Wang gugu. Molan stuck to her like glue as they walked through the streets of the Forbidden City. "You know I don''t think I''ve seen you before. How old are you?" "18," "Oh, so you''re Jiayi jiejie! Where did the send you during the last draft? Or did you come from the one before?" Jiayi swallowed. She knew that she would have to make up a lie about her background but she didn''t think she would have to do it so soon. "Does it matter where she came from? She ended up here so she couldn''t be that good," Li Ming walked by, knocking her shoulder into Molan''s. "Li Ming meimei, don''t forget, you''re here, too! Why do you suddenly care about being good or bad? I saw how much time you spend staring at the guards who pass by, its obvious you want to show them how good you can be," Furious, Li Ming''s face turned a splotchy red all over, "Shut your mouth," she snapped grabbing at Molan''s collar. "What''s wrong with you?" Jiayi hissed, throwing Li Ming''s hand away, "If you keep acting like this Wang gugu will have us all sent to the hard labor camps and as sinjeku as well. You wouldn''t last a day in there," "Mind your own business," Replied Li Ming as she yanked her hand back. She glared at them before walking ahead. Jiayi just walked along with a shake of her head. It was just her luck that she was serving alongside such a petty girl. If The Empress or the Imperial Noble Consort had passed by and saw their little display, they would be as good as dead. While it would still be a step above from being sent back to Su gonggong, Jiayi wasn''t going to let childish fight and churlish behavior stand in the way of her new, simple life. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Jiayi walked through the courtyard of the Imperial Kitchen and felt her stomach grumble. At the hard labor camp, breakfast was thin congee and steamed wilted vegetables that were one step above pig feed. It was late in the day now and she was feeling drained from all the excitement. The servants entered a side door to collect their meals and could sit and eat in the back courtyard or return to their palace. When the kitchen servant handed her a bowl of brilliantly bright fried rice, Jiayi thought she had ascended. It had been so long since she''d eaten food with color, spice and flavor! There were even bits of pork hiding in the rice. Pork! "Fried rice again?" Muttered Molan as they sat down to eat, "It''s always the same stuff," Jiayi didn''t bother to respond to her griping and gulped down her food. She tried to savor it, but one mouthful became ten very quickly. Molan gaped at Jiayi''s empty bowl. Not a single grain of rice was left behind, "Finished already?" "I was hungry," Jiayi replied. That wasn''t a lie, at least. If she wasn''t so sure she''d get slapped, she''d go back inside and ask for another bowl. "Ah, it''s Shiyi gugu, tidy up," said Molan. She put bowl to the side and stood. Like Wang gugu, Shiyi gugu, The Empress'' chief maid, was a figure of legends. The rumors that trickled to the outer place told of the countless plots the Shiyi foiled in the name of her master. "Shiyi gugu," Jiayi bowed her head as the older woman stood in front of them. "What palace do you belong to?" Shiyi gugu asked, her voice clear and crisp. "This servant belongs to Xianfugong," replied Jiayi. "Whatever troubles the Household department may have doesn''t excuse this sloppy behavior," Sloppy? Yes, she was wearing a maid''s uniform but Jiayi still thought they were beautiful! She looked down at her chest, did some rice fall? Did her greasy fingers leave a stain? Shiyi gugu picked up her arm, "Your clothes don''t fit, girl," "Oh," Jiayi held out her hands and realized that the sleeves were halfway up her forearms. Her ankles felt a bit breezy too, so she could tell without looking that her pants were also a bit short. Molan bowed her head, "It''s this servant''s fault. It was the only spare uniform in Xiang gui ren''s rooms," Shiyi gugu sighed, "Before your mistress arrives you should do your best to appear as modest and clean as possible. Go to the Clothing House and find clothes that fit. If you I see you like this again, I''ll have you flogged," "Yes!" Jiayi replied, her heart racing. Fung gonggong hadn''t been joking. All Jiayi did was wear clothes that were a bit short and now she was being threatened by The Empress'' chief maid! With a final sniff, Shiyi gugu went on her way. Molan put a hand on her shoulder, "Do you want me to come with you?" Jiayi shook her head, "No, it''s alright. I''ll grab a new uniform and head back. But, can you remind me how to get to the Clothing House from here?" There were a few twists and turns and a scolding from the momo?? in charge but Jiayi returned Xianfugong with a new uniform that hopefully fit. Jiang gui ren''s side of palace was empty and the other servants had returned from lunch. "Miserable bitch..." Jiayi paused and looked around. She walked deeper into Xiang gui ren''s apartments. "Smug, know-it-all bitch..." The furious muttering was coming from the maids'' rooms. Jiayi crept closer to the door and peeked inside. Li Ming was crouched under Molan''s bed, fiddling with something. There was a jangle of metal and the scrape of old wood. Jiayi walked backwards silently and let her feet hit the ground as she walked to the doors once more. Li Ming had scurried over to her own bed and was pretending to fold something. "What are you doing here?" She spat. "Shiyi gugu told me I was looked sloppy so I came back here to change," Jiayi replied. "I''m not surprised," said Li Ming looking Jiayi up and down, "Just look at you. No lipstick, no rouge, and you can barely dress yourself. You''re barely a woman," "I''m a maid, not a g¨ºg¨º,¡ì" Jiayi replied, stepping close to the bed next Li Ming. "Stop there! I won''t have you anywhere close to me. There''s an empty bed over there by that idiot," "Fine!" Jiayi stomped over to the furthest bed. It was obvious why no one slept there, it was directly underneath the window. Rain, snow; she''d be pelted by it all when the time came. Sighing she dropped the new uniform and began to undress. "You''re certainly some kind of woman," said Li Ming, "Taking off your clothes with no shame. Shiyi gugu was right to house you here," "You''re the one staying to look," Li Ming huffed and left the room. Jiayi redressed in the new uniform and was pleased to see that it fit much better than before. However her happiness was short-lived. She knew Li Ming was being petty, but her words poked at her like an annoying splinter. As a child, Jiayi loved to dress in pretty silks and decorate herself with her mother and little mother''s jewelry. However, as she got older, she began to grow. And grow. And grow. She began to feel awkward dolling herself up so much when she was so much taller than girls her age. All it did was draw attention to how different she was. It''s why she picked up drawing. She could draw the beautiful hair and red lips of an imaginary beauty and pretend that it was her. When it came for her family to be punished for her father''s crimes, they initially wanted to give her away as a concubine before confirming her age. Thankfully, she stopped growing a few years ago, but her aversion to beautiful things remained. She found it too unfair. Li Ming was beautiful but didn''t deserve it at all. All she did was spew ugly words from a pretty mouth. Not to mention whatever she was doing to Molan''s bed. What was Li Ming doing under Molan''s bed? Jiayi strained to hear the sounds of anyone in the pavilion or in the courtyard. When she confirmed that she was truly alone, Jiayi crouched down near Molan''s bed to see underneath. There was nothing there. But that couldn''t be. Jiayi heard something when she saw Li Ming down here. A memory of an old bunkmate hiding food under the floorboards until it spoiled came to her. Jiayi began to press against the floorboards before finding a shaky one. She pried it open and stuck her hand inside to feel cool metal. She pulled it out and gasped. It was a gold buyao?. An imperial green piece of jade carved like a rose sat on top while the tassels were made from hundreds of tiny pearls and diamonds. Jiayi distinctly remembered admiring this buyao on the vanity in Xiang gui ren''s bedroom. Jiayi walked over to Li Ming''s bed and stuck the hair pin in between the mattress and the frame. Jiayi had to think of her future. With Li Ming''s attitude, Jiayi would be doing Xiang gui ren a disservice if she allowed the miserable maid to stay. It would be better for everyone. ? "Jiejie is so talented," gushed Molan as she shuffled through Jiayi''s collection of drawings as the maids readied themselves for bed. It was well into the night when Shiyi gugu was satisfied with their work. "This frog is so cute," said Ping''er, "It''s fishing!" Ping''er had crawled over to Molan''s bed to take a look. At 13 years old, Ping''er was full of giggles and smiles. She''d only been in the palace for a few months. "Shut up over there," Li Ming snapped as she turned down her bed spread, "If you still have the energy to chat bullshit so late at night, Shiyi gugu obviously isn''t working you hard enough," Molan rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Jiejie, do you do portraits? You should draw me," "And me!" Said Ping''er. Jiayi took the papers and tossed them under her bed, "We can talk about it in the morning. I''m exhausted!" Ping''er doused the lamp and they all crawled into bed. Jiayi closed her eyes and settled into her bed. No longer did she sleep on a hay filled mattress with a coarse cloth that masqueraded as a blanket. It far an above then anything she could''ve dreamed of after being forced to serve in the palace. Jiayi vowed to live a good life as a palace maid. She would let nothing snatch this comfort from her for the second time in her life. Jiayi closed her eyes and fell into a deep, dark sleep. Only to jolt out of bed hours later as stinging licks walloped her legs and chest. Screams and shouts rang through the room. "Shut up!" Jiayi cradled her body and knelt on the ground. In the darkness she couldn''t see a thing. What was going on? Who would have the gall to cause such a ruckus like this? Were they being punished? "Get up! Up!" A hand yanked at her nightclothes and dragged her outside. Jiayi tripped over the ledge to the receiving room and fell to the ground. She heard her roommates being thrown into the room with her. The lamps were lit and Jiayi looked up in terror at Wang gugu''s cold face. Standing next to her were a few momos, each holding a thin stick of bamboo. "Gugu," Ping''er cried, "What''s going on?" Ping''er screamed as a momo whipped her across the back. "Shut up!" "Confess," ordered Wang gugu. "We..we are ignorant and dimwitted," whispered Molan, "Please guide us!" A momo raised her stick to whip Molan but Wang gugu held out her hand. "There is a thief in Xianfugong. Men!" A troop of eunuchs trailed inside, "Your servant is here," they chorused. "Search their rooms," Wang gugu told the eunuchs before turning to the momos, "Whip them until it''s found. If its not found, take them to the Department of Careful Punishment and whip them to death," Jiayi hissed as the first hit lashed across her back. She tried to flinch away but the momo wrenched back upright. The red hot pain blistered across her back. Jiayi was sure she bit her lip bloody holding in her screams. The world around deafened to a buzz as cold sweat dripped down her face. A eunuch returned to report to Wang gugu, "We''ve found it," Wang gugu looked at momos who stopped their whippings at once. "Show me," she ordered. The eunuch led Wang gugu to the back room. Jiayi fought keep upright. Every flinch or twist made her back erupt with pain. Ping''er, Molan, and Li Ming were no better. Ping''er wouldn''t stop screaming so the momos stuffed her mouth with a rag. It looked like every drop of blood had drained from Molan''s face. Wang gugu came back, holding the gold buyao in her hands. Smirking, she said, "You''re all very lucky," "This lowly one thanks you for your grace," Jiayi nodded her head and hoped that sufficed as a bow. Wang gugu pointed at Li Ming, "Take her away!" Li Ming jolted in shock, "Impossible! Impossible! Wang gugu, you''ve made a mistake!" She cried as the eunuchs grabbed her. "Oh?" Said Wang gugu, "Says who?" "Those worthless dogs don''t know a thing!" Li Ming said, sagging in between her captors, "They don''t know who''s bed is who''s!" "Sun Li Ming," Wang gugu said, "When did I say this was found in a bed?" Li Ming''s eyes widened, her mouth quivering, "Wang gugu¨C" "Chen momo," Wang gugu began, addressing one of the heavier set women, "Take special care of her when she comes to you," Chen momo bowed, "This servant understands," She nodded to the eunuchs holding Li Ming, "Go!" "Wang gugu!!" Sucking her teeth, Chen momo pulled the wet rag from Ping''er''s mouth and shoved it in Li Ming''s. "You''ll wake the entire city with your stupidness," Chen momo said as she shook her head. "We''ll take our leave," Li Ming was dragged away and the servants followed after. Jiayi stared at the open door way, dazed. Ping''er was quietly sobbing and Molan slumped over to the floor. Wang gugu stepped over her and into Xiang gui ren''s bedroom. She delicately lifted the lacquered jewelry box lid and softly placed the hair pin inside. "You understand your mistake?" "This lowly one understands," Jiayi replied. "Good," Wang gugu said with a smile. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *A type of everyday informal robe with 1 side slit and 5 buttons. ?Concubines of the ranks noble lady and below lived in side halls or side rooms in palaces. Imperial concubines and above slept in the main halls of palaces, which were the largest and most opulent. Imperial concubines and above could call themselves the ''master'' of a palace ??Title given to elder maids ¡ìTitle given to young, upper class Manchu, unmarried women ?Hair stick with hanging tassel Chapter 5 After Wang gugu left, Jiayi laid on the ground crying bitterly. She wished she had never left the hard labor camp. Even if Su gonggong thought about being cruel, she was sure she could muster up the strength to fight him off. Not to mention the man was near 70 years old! Her suffering would''ve only lasted five years or so. Shorter, if she became impatient. Here, being unfair to a palace maid was like treading the ground beneath you. It was nature. As much she wanted to curl into the carpet and cry, Jiayi knew that Wang gugu would expect all three of them to up and ready to work in a few short hours. There was no point in crying any longer. Biting back a scream, Jiayi sat up. She tipped her head back, closed her eyes and remembered. She remembered bathing in the rivers with her nanny as a child. She remembered how she felt like water cleansed her of all her worries. Jiayi clutched that memory in her sweaty hands and stood. "I''ll boil some water for a wash," she said before limping away. She didn''t bother to pick up a lantern and walked into the pitch blackness of the courtyard. She walked until her knees hit the edge of the well and pulled up a bucket of fresh water. When she stepped back inside, an older maid was there to meet her. "Good," the stranger said, "Is the water clean?" "Um...I have to heat it," "Hurry up then!" She said before delving deeper in the rooms. Jiayi didn''t have the energy to question the sudden appearance. She carried the warmed water to the maids'' room. Two other elder maids were in the room, leaning over Ping''er and Molan who face down on their beds, stripped to only their underpants. Several medicinal bowls were boiling away over small braziers. "Finally," The older maid said. She took the warmed water and nodded to the medicines, "Fan the fire, but don''t let it boil over," Jiayi picked up the fan lying by the medicines and got to work. It looked like Wang gugu sent a few gugus from the Imperial Hospital to check on them. Wang gugu knew that it was more work than it was worth to find an entirely new set of maids to keep readying Xiang gui ren''s rooms. "Idiot," the gugu said, pulling her upright, "Why didn''t you say anything? Strip down, lie on the bed. Quickly!" Stripping out of her clothes was monumental task. The dried blood had glued her clothes to her back. By the time she was topless, she was bleeding all over again. "Not as bad as the others," the gugu tutted, "It''s good that you''re not so delicate," The gugu wiped her back down in warm water and layered a foul smelling paste on the wounds before wrapping them in gauze. Nasty as it smelled, the paste numbed her pain enough so she could change into her nightclothes. The gugu gave them each a bowl of bitter medicine to drink. "Wang gugu was very merciful to you three," One of them said as the packed up, "Make sure to behave yourselves in the future," Jiayi, Ping''er and Molan struggled to their feet. "This servant understands," they chorused. Ping''er crawled back into bed, weeping miserably, "I want to go home," she cried with big gasping sobs, "I want my mother!" Jiayi was painfully reminded that Ping''er was only slightly more than a child. Both she and Molan had been in the Forbidden City for years and understood the suffering that came from being a servant. Less than a year ago, Ping''er was probably still hiding behind her mother''s skirts. "It''s alright," Jiayi found herself saying. She crawled over to Ping''er''s bed and clutched her hand, "It''s going to be alright," Ping''er shook her head, "I want to go home," she said again. "Don''t worry," Molan said, stroking Ping''er''s hair, "The worst is over now," Jiayi nodded, "Things will get better, I promise," To Ping''er it seemed like being in The Forbidden City made you a hopeful woman but truly, it just made you into a better liar. ? They were no where close to healed but Wang gugu put them to work right away. When there was nothing left to do in Xiang gui ren''s rooms, the three of them, plus a quiet mousy maid named Pie''er were loaned to Jiang gui ren for the time being. "I''ll make sure these slaves don''t slack off," Jiang gui ren told Wang gugu. Jiang gui ren made good on that promise. Her rooms were cleaner than they had ever been, as they were forced to scrub and wash every surface, every day. Jiayi''s wrists had never been more sore as Jiang gui ren needed to be fanned at all moments. Susu enjoyed doling out slaps for fanning too fast or not fast enough. Each morning, she decided that each one of her many changfu needed to presented in front of her before she chose. When any of Xiang gui ren''s servants presented something to her, they had to drop to their knees. Each night Jiayi went to bed sore and aching. However, going to bed was now a luxury. In case Susu needed a light to get up to serve Jiang gui ren, Jiayi was ordered to kneel outside the bedroom, holding a candle above her head. Not once did Susu wake to serve her mistress. During the day, Jiang gui ren strolled through the streets of Forbidden City showing off her trumped up troop of servants. A Noble Lady was entitled to four maids and four eunuchs. To have eight each instead, even just for a little while was a physical reminder of The Emperor''s favor for her. Jiang gui ren decided to thank him in person a few days after receiving this honor. At that time in the afternoon, The Emperor was at Yangxindian*, working on state affairs. Stepping through the gates, Jiang gui ren saw the familiar figure of Lian pin. Lian pin had been a constant thorn in her side since their arrival to the palace eight years ago. They both arrived as first-class attendants but there she was, an Imperial Concubine with an honorary name personally given by His Majesty, while all Jiang gui ren had was a small promotion even after the birth of her auspicious daughter. Everyone knew that Lian pin was nothing but window dressing that was lucky enough to have three brothers who had successful military feats. The heavens kept score by making her barren, at the very least. "Lian jiejie," Jiang gui ren greeted, walking up the stone steps, "Enjoying the weather?" Jiang gui ren could tell that Lian pin had been waiting outside for some time. Despite how hard her maid was fanning her, beads of sweat were welling up on her forehead. "His Majesty has been too busy with state affairs to visit us so I thought bring him a bowl of cooling plum soup," said Lian pin. "You haven''t seen him?" Jiang gui ren said, feigning confusion, "How strange! I''ve seen His Majesty several times. If you''d like jiejie, I''ll ask if he has time to spare for you," "Meimei is so kind," Lian pin replied with a smirk, "We can tell him together when he calls for us. Zhang Wei said that His Majesty isn''t to be disturbed," Jiang gui ren smiled in response before walking to the doors. Instead of stopping her, the eunuchs stepped to the side and bowed. Jiang gui ren turned back and smiled wider at Lian pin''s outraged face. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "I''ll take my leave, jiejie," she said with a bow. Only Susu walked inside, Jiayi and the rest of of her servants waited in the courtyard. Lian pin stormed off, her servants trailing behind her. Jiang gui ren servants spent the afternoon baking in the heat. Ping''er looked close to fainting when Jiang gui ren emerged again. On their return to Xianfugong, Jiang gui ren was in a tizzy. The Emperor would be coming to dine in her rooms that night. "Send for milk for my bath, I''ll be serving his Majesty tonight," she said. "Are you sure that His Majesty is flipping your tag??" Susu asked. "Who cares what tag he flips?" Jiang gui ren replied, sitting at her vanity, "A night with me is a night with me. No one else matters," "Of course," Susu replied. She turned at barked at Ping''er, "Hurry and present Jiang gui ren''s clothes!" One by one, Ping''er gently unfolded Jiang gui ren''s silken robes and presented them to her. Jiang gui ren had close to 100 outfits. It wasn''t long before Ping''er began to flag. She pulled up a pure white changfu. As she began to present it to Jiang gui ren, she stepped on the hem and crashed to the floor. "Please forgive this servant!" Cried Ping''er, crawling to her knees. "Idiot!" Susu snatched up the changfu and presented the damage to Jiang gui ren, "Mistress, this is your favorite dress," Jiang gui ren ran her hand over the tattered and wrinkled hem. "Cheap bitch! His Majesty personally granted this to me for my birthday!" Ping''er collapsed deeper into the floor, "This servant is useless, please forgive me! Please forgive me!" Jiayi looked on, conflicted. She didn''t want to get involved but she couldn''t stand to see Ping''er treated this way. It had been days since Ping''er had the energy to crack a smile. Susu was too much of a coward to bully Jiayi and Molan too much, so Ping''er took the brunt of her abuse. Jiang gui ren grabbed at Ping''er''s hair and jerked it back and forth, "You couldn''t pay for this dress with 50 of your lives! I should drag you outside and let them beat you with rods!" Ping''er looked to be too exhausted to beg for her life. Thinking quickly, Jiayi dropped to her knees. "Congratulations, mistress!" She said. "You dare have a smile on your face when Jiang gui ren is suffering like this?" Susu said, "Do you want to go to the gates of hell with this useless thing?" "Congratulations, mistress," Jiayi repeated, "This is an amazing opportunity!" Jiang gui ren booted Ping''er away and walked over to Jiayi, "The next words out of your mouth better be straight from Buddha himself. If not, I''ll cut your tongue out," Jiayi swallowed but kept the wide smile on her face, "Days ago, the tribute from the South arrived. It contained a small amount of shu brocade. The rumor is that this brocade is like nothing anyone has seen before. Its made from such delicate silk that one bolt took ten years to craft! They say that this shu brocade is so far above all others that it was immediately sent to His Majesty when it was completed," "So?" "Of course His Majesty will have something crafted for Her Highness The Empress and The Empress Dowager. There should still be enough left to create one more outfit. Jiang gui ren, this accident gives you a reason to ask His Majesty for the shu brocade. Imagine, not only will be served by eight maids and and eight eunuchs, but you''ll be wearing a garment personally granted by His Majesty that only The Empress was worthy of. Only you would be fit to wear it," Jiayi clamped her mouth shut after her little speech. Jiang gui ren was quiet for so long that Jiayi thought her and her tongue would be soon parted. Instead, Jiang gui ren sat back down. "Ah, I suppose it''s only right that the brocade is granted to me. I''ve suffered for much in my service to His Majesty," Susu nodded, "Yes, no one is as sincere towards His Majesty as you," she held out a cup of tea to Jiang gui ren, "Why don''t you have an outfit and a pair of shoes made from the brocade? That way no one can pick through the scraps," Jiang gui ren nodded and sipped her tea, "Mmm, yes. That would very smart," She continued sipping her tea before glaring at Ping''er, "Get out my sight already, you ugly thing," Ping''er bowed her head again, "Yes," Jiayi couldn''t search for Ping''er until Jiang gui ren went for her bath and found her in the back courtyard crying again. "Ping''er," Jiayi said, as she walked over, "You have to stop crying. You''ll upset Jiang gui ren," "I can''t help it," Ping''er replied, "I''m so tired!" Jiayi wiped at Ping''er''s red face, "It''s only for today, remember? Xiang gui ren arrives tomorrow. It''s only for a little longer," Ping''er wrapped her arms around Jiayi. "Only for a little while longer," Jiayi said again, holding Ping''er tight. "I knew I would find you two slacking off back here," Jiayi and Ping''er sprang apart. Susu walked over to them, holding Jiang gui ren''s damaged changfu. "Susu jiejie, we were only taking a small break," said Jiayi. "Break? Aren''t you two living in the lap of luxury?" Susu replied with a snort, "I suppose you have done well enough serving Jiang gui ren, but this thing¨C" Susu dragged Ping''er by the ear, "Has done no such thing," "Go kneel in the front courtyard. Stay there until His Majesty leaves," "What if His Majesty spends the night?" Jiayi asked. "Then she will spent the night kneeling," replied Susu. She slapped Ping''er on the back of the head, "Go!" "And get rid of this!" Susu said, tossing the robes at Jiayi before stomping away. Jiayi looked down at the fabric in her arms. She pulled at the frayed edge. The fabric was so strong but in a dim light, you could barely see it. Such great fabric could be repurposed in many ways. ? Jiang gui ren had the servants kneel in the courtyard to await The Emperor''s arrival. When Jiayi first arrived to the palace, she had a deep burning hatred towards him. Over time, the hatred transformed into numbness, but seeing him step through the gates of Xianfugong for the first time, the flames ignited once more. How dare this man, who ruined her life, her family, her clan, look so calm and well rested. Did he not feel shame? Guilt? Were people like her even human? Jiayi had to drop her head, knowing the look on her face was less than welcoming. "This concubine wishes His Majesty holy peace," Jiang gui ren said, kneeling before him. The Emperor offered her his arm and pulled her upright, "Your courtyard is crowded these days," he said. Jiang gui ren shook her head, "Crowded? Your Majesty, I think these are just the amount I need. You should leave them with me for good," The Emperor laughed and stroked her cheek, "You''ll have plenty of servants like this soon. For now, you''ll give them back to Xiang gui ren," Pouting, Jiang gui ren took The Emperor''s hand and led him inside, "You Majesty should''ve come earlier. Huaguang is already sleeping," Jiayi and the rest of the servants trickled back into Jiang gui ren''s rooms. Jiayi had complained of hunger to Susu so the other maid forced her to kneel right outside the dining room so she could drool over the scents of the food. Head pointed to the ground, she fiddled with the thin silken rope in her hands. In the romantic lighting of Jiang gui ren''s rooms, it look like Jiayi was simply fidgeting. The other end was tied to a side table a few feet across from her. A heavy jadeite Buddha sat on top. "I see Huaguang often enough," The Emperor replied. He looked over at the table covered in delicious food, "Some of these look new," "My father told me of this dish he had on his travels so I had the kitchens learn the recipe. Would Your Majesty try some," Jiang gui ren brought her chopsticks to her mouth and lost a piece of food. "Mistress, take care," a maid said, patting at the stain. "It''s just like my luck to have two changfu ruined in one day," "Two?" asked the Emperor. Jiang gui ren shook her head, "Your Majesty is tired from working all day. I won''t tire you with my little problems as well," "Speak," "Earlier today one of the little maids damaged the changfu you gifted me for my birthday," "The white one?" "Yes. I didn''t have it in my heart to punish her too much even though I loved it," The Emperor nodded, "It was only one set. I''ll send for a new one," Jiang gui ren smiled, "Your Majesty is too kind," she stood and refilled his cup of wine. As he drank, she stood behind him and massaged his shoulders, "I''ve heard that Your Majesty received a few bolts of shu brocade. Could some be spared to make me a new outfit?" "If there''s any left over, I''ll send it over to you," Smiling, Jiang gui ren bowed, "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for his grace," "Rise," Jiayi looked up from her place on the floor as the savory smell of mutton wafted through the room. Susu had just entered holding The Emperor''s favorite dish, spicy hotpot. She walked to the dining room, head held high, the heavy tray blocking her feet. Jiayi waited until Susu stepped right in front of her, wound the silk rope around her fingers and pulled. Susu crashed to the ground, the brass pot of bubbling broth sailing through the air. It smashed into the dinner table, sending the plates flying and splashing every which way. Jiang gui ren screeched as her clothes was splattered with dinner. "Your Majesty are you alright?!" The Emperor''s servants darted into the room, terrified that their master was a casualty of the commotion. Zhang Wei, The Emperor''s senior eunuch, headed the pack. He looked down at Susu was cowering on the floor. "Men, take this servant to the courtyard and beat her to death," "Zhang gonggong, wait a moment please!" Jiang gui ren said. She kneeled before The Emperor, "Your Majesty, Susu is my dowry maid. She only made a small mistake. Please forgive her!" "Small mistake?" Echoed Zhang Wei, "This was an attempted assassination! His Majesty''s royal body was harmed!" He cradled The Emperor''s hand that was now covered in small red splotches where the broth had splattered on him. The Emperor sighed. Zhang Wei used a towel and began wiping The Emperor''s clothing and checking for any other wounds. "No harm done," he said, "Susu has served Jiang gui ren for many years. Just send her to the Department of Careful Punishment for a few floggings," "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for his grace," Jiang gui ren whimpered, "Your Majesty let me help you¨C" The Emperor stood up and strode out of the room. "Men," Zhang Wei said again, "Drag her down," Susu whimpered as a pair of eunuchs grabbed her. As The Emperor walked passed, Jiayi said with a clear, steady voice, "Sending Your Majesty off with respect," ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Hall of Mental Cultivation ?The Emperor is given a tray with the names of his concubines written on a tag. If he flipped a certain tag, that woman would spend the night with him Chapter 6 Jiayi was sorry that Wang gugu removed them Jiang gui ren''s rooms. It would''ve been nice to see the screaming, thrashing temper tantrum that they heard across the courtyard, in person. Over the sound of plates breaking Jiayi reapplied medicinal paste on Ping''er''s back. "She''s gone crazy," Ping''er whispered, "It''s been almost two hours now," Gone was her sullen, tear streaked face. Ping''er had taken plenty of joy watching Susu being dragged away for punishment. "Of course she''s crazy," replied Molan, "Susu completely embarrassed her in front of His Majesty. I wouldn''t be shocked if it''s all anyone talks about tomorrow," "How did Susu trip like that?" Pie''er asked as she peered out of window hoping to catch sight of something. Jiayi shrugged, "Bad luck. Or the weight of her head made her tip over," Even Pie''er joined in the laughter at that. As they crawled into bed, Ping''er piped up. "What do you think Xiang gui ren will be like?" "Whatever she''s like, hopefully she''s no worse than Jiang gui ren," replied Molan. ? Xiang gui ren''s arrival turned out to be more nerve wracking than Jiayi imagined. The Emperor had come to Xianfugong to welcome his newest concubine. He sat in the courtyard, surrounded by his servants and Jiang gui ren. Eager to make up for Susu''s mistake, she was fluttering around The Emperor like a bee. "Are you too warm, Your Majesty?" "Have you eaten today, Your Majesty?" "Your Majesty, please have some tea," The Emperor took the cup, barely giving her a nod. With a strained smile, Jiang gui ren began to fan The Emperor. "Seeing Your Majesty so excited for my newest meimei is making me excited as well. What''s Xiang meimei like?" "She''s like nothing the Forbidden City has seen before," Jiang gui ren was so startled by the answer that she nearly dropped her fan. Jiayi could see the strain in the corners of her smile. Susu stood off to the side, sweating with pain, looking worried for her mistress. It was cruel to say but it made Jiayi feel better that she wasn''t the most miserable person in the courtyard. "Xiang gui ren arrives!" The Emperor stood at attention. A lifted chair was lowered outside Xianfugong''s gates, Wang gugu and Zhang Wei helping the occupant step out. Xiang gui ren stepped through and Jiayi was...confused. Xiang gui ren was obviously a beautiful woman with her soft white face and full lips but, she was unadorned, which was strange in a place like the Forbidden City. Her makeup was so light it almost as if she wasn''t wearing any at all. Her hair piece was modest in size and decorated with small silk flowers. The chenyi* she wore was the latest fashion but it just a pale pink and embroidered with delicate plum blossoms. The only jewelry she wore was a purple jade bracelet and three pearl earrings in each ear. At the sight of The Emperor, a dazzling smile lit up Xiang gui ren''s face. With quick dainty steps, she brought herself in front of The Emperor before kneeling. "This concubine wishes The Emperor golden peace. May you reign for 10,000 years," If The Emperor''s presence was like a dark cloud, then Xiang gui ren was the bright sun. Jiayi couldn''t take her eyes off of her. The Emperor helped Xiang gui ren to her feet, keeping a tight grip on her hand. He stared into her eyes, and smiled. "Huifen, you''ve returned. Have you been well?" Huifen. Even her mistress'' name was pretty. Xiang gui ren nodded, "This concubine thanks His Majesty for his care," Eager to interrupt their moment, Jiang gui ren greeted Xiang gui ren. "Xiang meimei," "Ah," The Emperor said with a sigh, "This is Jiang gui ren. She also shares Xianfugong. I expect her to guide you well," Xiang gui ren nodded. She looked up at Xianfugong. Breathlessly, she said, "Your Majesty, I''ve never seen anything like it," "I''ve personally picked out all the furnishings of your room. Come, I''ll show you," The Emperor took Xiang gui ren by the hand and tugged her towards her new apartments. Their exit was interrupted by the cry of a child. "Mommy! Royal father!" A little voice cried. Fifth princess ran outside and clung to Jiang gui ren''s leg, her nursemaid, Chun momo in hot pursuit. "Jiang gui ren, forgive this servant," The nursemaid said, falling to her knees, "Fifth princess slipped away for a moment. I''ll take her back now," Jiang gui ren glared at the servant, "You¨C" Xiang gui ren kneeled down, "Who is this pretty girl?" She asked. "This is my auspicious daughter, Huaguang," The Emperor said he picked up the toddler, "Come to Royal father," "Fifth princess? This can''t be Fifth princess," Xiang gui ren replied with a smile. She tugged at Fifth''s princess'' robes, "She''s such a big girl, I thought Fifth princess was a baby," "I''m not a baby!" Fifth princess said before hiding her face in The Emperor''s shoulder. "Huaguang, speak properly to mother Xiang," The Emperor chastised. Fifth princess pouted, "Hmph!" "Huaguang, behave properly before your Royal father," said Jiang gui ren. "No harm done," Xiang gui ren said, "Fifth princess, do you want to see my rooms? Your Royal father decorated it himself. He said it was very pretty," "Pretty?" "Of course! Lots of pretty jewelry and clothes and a brand new bed! Do you want to see it?" "Yes!" Fifth princess wriggled around and pulled The Emperor''s cheeks, "Let''s go, I want to see, I want to see!" "Very well," The Emperor said with a smile. As Wang gugu passed by Jiayi and the other servants she ordered them to follow inside. The servants steamed into the apartments while Jiang gui ren stood frozen as both The Emperor and her daughter were spirited away. Xianfugong''s other tenant was no where to be found when Xiang gui ren and The Emperor reentered the courtyard. The affectionate pair had roamed the rooms, pointing out beautiful things to Fifth princess. It was the perfect family scene. Jiayi had never even seen her father be that affectionate to her mother. Jiayi had planned to stand to the side silently like a good maid, only for Wang gugu to drag her by the arm to Xiang gui ren''s side. "This is your maid, Jiayi," The bow Jiayi gave Xiang gui ren was involuntary. She was startled by being given the honor. Wouldn''t it have looked better if Ping''er or Molan were close to Xiang gui ren''s side? When Xiang gui ren held her hand as they walked to the courtyard to bid The Emperor farewell, Jiayi was sure it was the closest thing to being blessed. Her mistress'' hands were elegant, soft and pale. It shouldn''t have been shocking that all parts of Xiang gui ren were beautiful. After Jiayi helped Xiang gui ren back to her feet as The Emperors raised chair was carried away, her mistress turned to her, a gentle smile on her face. "What''s your name again?" "Wei Jiayi, mistress, Shang Molan, Tsu Ping, and Wu Pie are here to serve you as well," "Aiya," Xiang gui ren said with a sigh, "I had to spend so many months memorizing the names of every concubine''s and their second uncle''s second uncle. I don''t have any space for maids names. No matter!" She turned to Ping''er. "You''ll be Big Cutie for now," She then pointed to Pie''er, "You''ll be Little Cutie," For Molan she said, "I''ll just call you Pretty for now," "And you," Xiang gui ren said turning to Jiayi, "Well, I supposed I''ll just remember your name," "Meimei!" Jiayi watched as Jiang gui ren walked across the courtyard. The other concubine had changed outfits. She wore a light pink chenyi with a watercolor scene of the mountains, three pearl earrings in every ear, gold, sliver, and jade dotted her hairpiece and each hand had at least three or four gold rings. Her nails guards glistened in the sun. They must have weighed 5lbs each, so studded with gems as they were. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "Jiang jiejie," said Xiang gui ren. With a bright smile, Jiang gui ren clasped Xiang gui ren''s hands, "Now that His Majesty has welcomed you properly, I can take a good look at my new meimei. His Majesty was correct, you''re certainly nothing the Forbidden City has ever seen before," "Jiejie will make me blush. His Majesty calls me beautiful but how could I compare to you?" Preening, Jiang gui ren touched at a few of gold accessories in her hairpiece before saying, "Have you greeted The Empress yet?" Xiang gui ren shook her head. Jiang gui ren''s face fell, "You should go quickly," she urged, "You shouldn''t keep her waiting!" "Jiejie, what''s the rush?" "The Empress is..." Jiang gui ren shook her head, "I shouldn''t dare say it," "No, you must tell me," said Xiang gui ren. Jiang gui ren stepped close and dropped her voice to a whisper, "The Empress was furious when His Majesty revealed his intentions to bring you to the palace. She found it a great insult. My advice would be to walk carefully around her," Xiang gui ren pressed a hand to her chest, "Jiejie is kind to look out for me," "Go quickly then," Jiayi kept her mouth shut as she helped Xiang gui ren into the raised chair. Jiang gui ren was lying through her teeth, but Jiayi was just a maid. It was a crime to slander someone so above her. As they walked to Yikungong?, Jiayi heard a snort from above her. "Mistress?" "I must look even dumber than usual," she said, "If Jiang gui ren thought I believed her act. Did she really think I didn''t hear how she behaved when she learned about me? Please," "Mistress is wise," Jiayi said. At least her new mistress was sensible. ? It would seem Jiayi spoke too soon. Jiayi informed the maid at the door that Xiang gui ren was there to greet the Empress. Instead of waiting for Shiyi gugu to fetch them, Xian gui ren took off after the white peacock that roamed the front garden. "Is it sick?" She said, staring at it. "Mistress, let''s go back," Jiayi said, tugging on her arm. The woman who saw through Jiang gui ren''s performance and the woman who had to stopped from poking The Empress'' pet were like two completely different people. The maids at the door pulled the hanging cloth door and two women stepped out. Jin pin and Tong pin. Jin pin was one The Emperor''s most distinct women. Short, wide and plain, it was a wonder to many people how she became a concubine at all. The answer was simple, in the Old Manor, Jin pin was one of The Empress'' dowry maids. The Emperor had no particular liking to her, but her eldest brother was low-ranking official who managed to successfully relocate over 5,0000 refugees after a landslide in the South. As reward, her brother was promoted and she was given the privilege of becoming part of the Imperial Family. After years of sincere service and the birth of the Fourth prince, Yifu, she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine. Tong pin''s place in the Forbidden City was a bit more scandalous. Even if measures were taken to try and stifle the truth, everyone knew about it. Shu pin, mother of the Sixth prince, Yiqiang, offended The Empress so gravely that her execution was considered. However, her family consistently made merits for the country and The Emperor was sentimental towards her. So, Shu pin had been locked away in one of the far halls for quite some time. Tong pin, her half sister, was sent to the palace in her stead. "Greetings to Your Highness''," said Xiang gui ren. The pair of concubines didn''t stay to chat, only nodding at Xiang gui ren''s greeting before departing. "Greetings to Xiang gui ren," Shyi gugu said with a bow, "The Empress is eager to meet you, this way," They followed Shiyi gugu into the receiving hall. The Empress was sitting in the phoenix seat, poised and sharp. Looking at her, you could tell her lineage even without her beautiful clothes. A true Manchurian, the Empress had a strong bearing and sharp eyes. Her changfu was bright blue and embroidered in silver clouds and storks. Everything, from her hairpiece to her shoes contained kingfisher feathers, gold, and silver. On someone else, so much luxury would leave a sour taste in your mouth, but on The Empress? It looked as natural as can be. Jiayi was terrified. She had never come close to even breathing the air that the Empress left behind in the streets of the Forbidden City, and suddenly she was right in front of her. They dropped to their knees. "This concubine wishes Her Highness the Empress peace," said Xiang gui ren, "May you reign for 10,000 years," "Rise," "Yes, Your Highness," Without waiting for The Empress to offer her a seat, Xiang gui ren scampered over and sat down. "Your Highness, I wanted to come here and thank you for your grace and allowing me to enter the palace," said Xiang gui ren. "Xiang gui ren, there''s no need. It was God''s will for you and the Emperor to meet. Obviously you''re a very blessed woman," The Empress said, a tight smile on her face. "It''s your blessing that matters the most, though!" Xiang gui ren stood up and raised three fingers, "I swear to always have you in my heart to repay you for your kindness for allowing me to enter the palace and serve His Majesty. If I don''t, let my womb remain empty!" Shiyi gugu gasped, "Xiang gui ren, that''s not something to joke about," "Who''s joking?" "Xiang gui ren, it''s good that you understand that I am your master here, but there''s no reason to go to extremes," said The Empress, "Sit back down, have you had melon seed tea before?" "Not at all," said Xiang gui ren as Jiayi handed her the cup that was resting at the side table. She sniffed the cup heartily, "It smells very fresh and pretty," she said before taking a sip. Xiang gui ren''s hands, pale and white raised the cup to her lips. Her thick dark lashes gently kissed her rosy cheeks as she savored the flavor. Her bright black eyes then sprung open in pleasure. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, it was all Jiayi could think. "Oh!" Xiang gui ren said dropping the tea to the side carelessly, "I have a gift for you, Your Highness," She slid a book from her sleeve. Jiayi could tell she was going to try and hand it to the Empress personally. Not wanting to make the meeting any worse, Jiayi passed the book to Shiyi gugu who presented it to The Empress. "I can read and write but I know little about great works of poetry. My gugu made me study great works of our ancestors and many of them made me think of you and my devotion. I transcribed them and bound them into this book," The Empress flipped through the pages, "The Evergreen Stands over the Peonies," she read, "I''ve never seen this poem before," "I''ve also written some of the poems myself," Xiang gui ren said, going back to her tea. "Are they any good?" The Empress asked. The proper thing for Xiang gui ren to do would be to tell The Empress that her writings could never compare to the great masters who attribute their writing to the nurturing of the mother of nation. Xiang gui ren instead said, "I think so," The Empress smiled gently and handed the book back to Shiyi gugu. "Your Highness, I have a favor to ask you," Xiang gui ren said. The Empress tilted her head, "Speak then," Xiang gui ren pursed her lips before glancing at the servants that lined the walls. The Empress followed her line of sight. "Leave us," she said. The servants bowed and filed out of the room. This made Jiayi nervous. Xiang gui ren wasn''t ready to have a private audience with The Empress. One wrong move and it would the servant''s heads rolling first! When Xiang gui ren stepped outside, not a hair was out of place. For all they knew, she and the Empress had a nice friendly chat. On their return to Xianfugong, she gifted all the servants 1 tael of silver. Jiayi joined in the admiration of the large sum, she also never held so much money at once before! Xiang gui ren clasped her long fingers across her knees, "I''ve given you these gifts to let you know that I''ll strive to be a magnanimous and fair master. I''d like to live here simply. If I die a gui ren, that''s perfectly fine with me. As you see, I reward freely. Hopefully you don''t have to see how freely I punish," "This servant understands," they chorused. Xiang gui ren walked into her bedroom and sat on her bed. She ran a hand over the opulent embroidery before calling them all over. She nodded and pointed to a heavyset eunuch named Bolin, "Bring me that chest," The rest of the afternoon was spent unpacking and putting things in order. It probably took twice as long as usual because Xiang gui ren had to stop and ''ooh'' and ''aah'' over everything. Once she saw her jifu?? she of course wanted to wear it right that second. It felt like Jiayi was serving a woman closer to 20 than 40. Xiang gui ren was so absorbed in it all, she seemed shocked that Molan was asking her if she wanted lunch. "Oh, it''s so late in the day already? Yes, I''d like lunch now," "Of course, mistress," Molan said, "I will return soon," Not even gone for five minutes, Molan returned. "Mistress, the Emperor sent over lunch from his personal kitchens, should I send them in?" "Really?! Of course, send them in, send them in," Molan helped Xiang gui ren to the dining room where a gaggle of eunuchs were placing dish after dish on the table. It was more food than Jiayi had ever seen at once. Glistening roast duck and roast pork, a bubbling hot pot of thick duck soup, beautifully bright vegetables, steamed fish, fried fish, and smooth white noodles. Xiang gui ren picked up a small plate. All of the dish ware sent by His Majesty were bright red and covered in the character for double happiness. "This looks just like wedding porcelain," said Molan. Xiang gui ren smiled brightly. A eunuch bowed to Xiang gui ren before handing her a stick of silver and then taking his leave. "What''s this for?" "It''s to test for poison," said Molan, "If you stick it into your food and it becomes discolored, you shouldn''t eat it," "Poison?" Xiang gui ren asked, "Who would poison me? I just arrived," "It''s best to get into this habit now,'''' said Jiayi. The stick came away clean for each dish. Molan and Jiayi picked up a pair of chopsticks, ready to serve. "Mistress, what do you want to eat first?" Jiayi asked, poised to dish out the food. Xiang gui ren looked at the full table and paused, "There''s a brown crock on the nightstand next to my bed, bring it to me," Molan darted into the bedroom and brought back the small crock. Xiang gui ren lifted the lid and Jiayi felt like someone had blown fire up her nose. She turned away and hacked into her fist. Ping''er, Molan, and Pie''er were no better. "Is it...is it poison?" Molan asked between coughs. "Poison! Do you think I''m dumb enough to bring poison into the Forbidden City? No, stupid girl, it''s chili sauce!" Jiayi wiped her eyes, "You eat this?" "Of course. This how everyone eats in the South," Xiang gui ren replied. Soon the fresh, fragrant plate of food in front of Xiang gui ren looked like it had been dipped in the waters of Hell. Even the poor white rice wasn''t spared. Xiang gui ren slurped loudly on her outrageously red bowl of broth and let out a gusty sigh. "I had to smuggle some in. I knew I wouldn''t be able to find these sort of flavors in a place like this," Thank goodness for that. Watching her eat, Jiayi once again understood why The Emperor was so taken with her. In Xiang gui ren''s hands, eating, one of the most vulgar acts for a woman became a delicate dance. Xiang gui ren didn''t cover her mouth so all could see her bright white teeth with every bite of food. She chewed in delicate small bites, her pink lips perpetually smiling. How could any man look away? "I''m going to lie down for a while," Xiang gui ren as she laid her chopsticks on the table, "You can stay and finish the food if you like," she said. "All of it?" Jiayi asked, "Mistress you''re allowed to tell us to throw it away," Xiang gui ren hadn''t eaten much. There would still be waste even between the eight servants. "And I''m allowed to tell you to eat it. Even dogs get table scraps," she said, "Someone come take down my hair!" With their new mistress tucked away in bed, the servants descended on the leftovers like the dogs Xiang gui ren likened them to. The eunuchs ate as fast as they could, needing to head back to their posts. The maids had the privilege to linger. "So," Molan said, "What do you think?" "About what, jiejie?" Asked Ping''er, her cheeks stuffed with food. "Don''t talk with your mouth full," whispered Pie''er. Molan''s voice dropped to a whisper, "About mistress? What do you think of her? She''s more beautiful than I imagined," "She''s nice," declared Pie''er, "She gave us this nice food," "Jiejie, what do you think?" "Huh?" It was rude, but Jiayi hadn''t been paying attention the other girls at all. Even as a child, she didn''t eat food as luxurious as what Xiang gui ren tossed at their feet. The roast duck was her favorite. If she were a meaner girl, she''d eat the whole platter herself. "Of Xiang gui ren," Molan said again. "You girls can keep chatting. I''m going to eat every scrap and you all can go hungry," Like angry mice, the maids squeaked in protest, doing their best not to wake their new mistress. With something more important to occupy their mouths, the conversation was over. It didn''t matter what Jiayi thought of Xiang gui ren. Good or bad, she would serve. It was all she could do. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *A type of everyday robe with 1 side slit and 5 buttons ?Palace of Earthly Honor ??Most formal court robe for women ranked Noble Lady and below. Worn for special occasions like promotions, festivals, religious ceremonies, etc Chapter 7 Xiang gui ren''s rooms were buzzing with energy early the next morning. She would be officially welcomed into the back palace. Everything had to be perfect. One wrong misstep and like sharks in the water, someone would strike. Jiayi was sure that Jiang gui ren would take any chance to fan the flames. "Jiayi, there''s a purple changfu with white peonies and black and gold trim in my closet. I''ll wear that," Ordered Xiang gui ren as Molan twisted her hair up. "Mistress, you shouldn''t wear that one today," said Molan. "Why not? His Majesty personally picked out all of my clothes," "It may be a bit arrogant," said Jiayi. She went to the closet and pulled out a pale green robe patterned with bamboo shoots, "At your status, something like this would be more appropriate. If you were an Imperial Concubine, purple would be appropriate. You should such save beautiful things for special occasions or...bed service," "Mistress, what about this one?" Asked Ping''er, holding up a light pink changyi. It was simple, with bright white lilies only embodied on the hem, cuffs, and across the bodice, but it was incredibly delicate. "So plain," groused Xiang gui ren. "Mistress, why does it matter if your clothes are plain or not? When you''re that beautiful, a rice sack becomes elegant," replied Ping''er. A peal of laughter tumbled out of Xiang gui ren''s mouth. "Yo, Big Cutie stuffed her mouth full of candy this morning I see to say such sweet words, fine then, I''ll wear that one," Xiang gui ren hummed and ran her hands over her jewelry box. She picked up the gold buyao that Wang gugu whipped them over. "And this?" "Silver only," said Molan turning away from the sight of it, "Maybe a golden chai* would be okay. A small one" suggested Jiayi, equally as uncomfortable. Xiang gui ren turned to Pie''er, "What do you think?" Pie''er, who was content to stand silently in the corner, looked startled. Blushing, she said, "Mistress, you''d look beautiful in anything," "Don''t give me that! Choose something! Quickly, quickly!" Pie''er scurried over and looked at the array of beautiful accessories. Her eyes were particularly drawn to a pink velvet peony hairpin. The bright yellow stems in the center made the petals look even brighter. "Is this okay?" She asked. Xiang gui ren nodded, "Put it on then," Gulping, Pie''er stood behind her mistress and tucked the pin right where her liangbatou and scalp met. Xiang gui ren admired herself in the mirror before nodding, "Not bad," Xiang gui ren added a few more velvet flowers and some silver and jade chai. Jiayi stood by and watched Xiang gui ren powder her skin and draw on her eyebrows with the skill of an artist. No single movement was wasted. "What''s wrong?" Xiang gui ren said as they locked eyes in her bronze mirror, "Am I very silly for putting so much makeup on at my old age?" Jiayi bowed her head, "I wouldn''t dare!" She glanced up at her, "You''re just very good at makeup," Xiang gui ren laughed and turned away, "Really? Or is it that you''re just a big fan of my face? You spent all night drawing me and still want to look? You''re a strange girl," A hot blush covered Jiayi''s cheeks and she bowed her head further. It got boring waiting on a sleeping woman! She had to do something to keep herself awake. "This lowly one apologizes for ruining your rest," "That depends. How did you draw me? No one''s told me I sleep like a beast, but how can I tell? Let me see," Jiayi pursed her lips and went to fetch the paintings she had stashed under her bed. Showing those sleep-deprived sketches was the last thing she wanted to do. But an order was an order. She just hoped Xiang gui ren would have mercy on her. Xiang gui ren had finished dressing and was eagerly waiting on her. Jiayi presented the drawings, eyes to the ground. "Hmph!" Xiang gui ren crowed, "I''m just as beautiful sleeping! Even if I''m not, Jiayi painted me at my best. What a good girl. I think I''ll gift this to His Majesty," "You can''t!" Jiayi replied, "I drew these half asleep, they''re so messy! I¨Cthese will dirty his eyes!" "Jiejie is too humble!" Said Ping''er, "Mistress, she''s really good at drawing animals, too! I''ll show you her fishing frog!" Jiayi blushed, "Pie''er, tell mistress that Ping''er is being silly," Instead of being the level-headed girl Jiayi had come to know, Pie''er shook her head and said "Jiejie draws beautiful flowers, too. I feel like I can smell them," "Oh? Go get them for me," said Xiang gui ren. Helpless, Jiayi watched as Pie''er and Ping''er ran off to fetch her drawings. As soon as she opened her mouth to protest, Xiang gui ren shook her head, "How dare you," she said, a smile on her face, "Arguing with you master?" "This servant would not dare," said Jiayi, "This servant is too untalented! You don''t want to see my nonsense," "Enough, enough. Go fetch my breakfast now. Your whining is making my head hurt," Dismissed, Jiayi slunk away. She hated the idea of Xiang gui ren looking at her drawings. They were just for fun! However, it was far better than her showing them to The Emperor. She would prefer that he continue to consider her invisible. The other servants gave her a wide berth as she made her way down the streets. She paid no mind to their whispering or their stares. Even before Xiang gui ren''s arrival, rumors about her ran rampant throughout the Forbidden City. Now that she had arrived, it was all anyone could bother to talk about. She stood in the courtyard and waited for one of the junior eunuchs from the kitchen to deliver the food to her. Jiayi stumbled as a maid shoved passed her. "Did you hear? Prince Han is coming back to the capital today!" She announced. The news caused a ripple effect. Every maid nearby rushed over to hear the gossip. Jiayi only knew bits and pieces about the late Emperor''s Prince Han. He was the Emperor''s youngest brother and was raised by the Emperor and the Empress after his mother was disgraced. He was famous around the capital for his skills on the battlefield and in court. But it looked like the most famous thing about him was his face. "What time is he arriving? Maybe I can walk past him!" "Li gugu says he''s grown too, he''s even taller!" "Ah, maybe he''s grown a beard, he''ll be so handsome!" The crowd squealed at this news. "He''s only 19 and is already a prince of the 3rd rank. I hear His Majesty is going to give him a manor in the capital, too." A gasp, "That means he''s going to get a wife!" The mention of matrimony sent shivers down Jiayi''s spine. It wasn''t too long ago that Jiayi herself was close to having the "good luck" of becoming a wife. She rounded a corner and stopped. Like the devil himself, there was Su gonggong smack dab in the middle of the street, his bulbous eyes boring into her own. Jiayi gulped and clutched the stacked lunchbox close to her. "Yi''er," he said with a gleam in his eyes, "I''ve found my Yi''er," "I''m not your Yi''er!" Jiayi snapped. "Ungrateful bitch!" Su gonggong grabbed her arm tightly and yanked her close, "I gave you all my care and you used it to climb up! What''s next huh? His Majesty''s bed?" Jiayi wrenched herself away, heart rabbiting in her chest, "I didn''t ask for your care," she hissed, "Leave me alone," "Ask? Don''t pretend you weren''t throwing yourself at me this whole time. Do you think I''ll get another chance to ask for a reward for the Emperor? Do you know what you''ve stolen from me?!" Su gonggong raged, spittle flying. He yanked into an alcove hidden by a drooping tree and enthusiastic summer bush. Jiayi froze. This Su gonggong was a different man. Back in the hard labor camp, Su gonggong favored a sly hand or a crass remark. He''d never put a hand on her before. Jiayi''s throat locked up in fear. "I''ll go to His Majesty about you and tell him you''ve thrown yourself at me like a bitch in heat. You''ll wish he''d taken your head when they send me back to you!" "Who''s back there?" A voice called. Even though she couldn''t make her voice work, shivers of fear propelled her to dash under Su gonggong''s arm and into the street. Jiayi fell to the ground in front of an Imperial guard. "He¨Che-!" Tears of frustration blurred her vision. Why couldn''t she just open her stupid mouth? Su gonggong sprung from the thicket and ran down the street. "Men," the guard called, "Follow him!" A trio of guards followed the trail. Jiayi wiped her face and bowed, "Thank you, daren?," The guard shook his head and helped her up, "Are you alright, guniang??" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Shaking, Jiayi shook her head, "My mistress'' breakfast is ruined. How can I face her?" The guard scoffed, "You were almost beaten by that scoundrel and all you can think of is that?" "What else should I think of?" Snapped Jiayi. The guard sighed before calling over another guard, "Go back to the kitchens and say you knocked over a maid and need a new meal for¨C"He turned to Jiayi, "Who is your mistress?" "Xiang gui ren," she replied, bracing for the guard to change his tune. "Bring a new meal for Xiang gui ren," The guard ordered his closest companion. The guard nodded and ran off. Jiayi was so relieved that she almost started to cry again. "Xiang gui ren," the guard said again, scratching his beard, "Do you know Molan? My mother told me she''s also serving Xiang gui ren," Jiayi wiped her face again and nodded. "Are you her cousin?" "No, our mothers are just close. That girl''s never mentioned a Chang Lingxiu?" The guard asked. The adrenaline was leeching out of her bones, so her brain was slow to respond. Jiayi sifted through all the information Molan volunteered about herself. They had only known each for a short time, but Molan was never short of words. Eventually, the name rang a bell. "Little fish?" Little fish was the nickname of the boy Molan had dragged out a river as a child. The heroic act had given her family a set of masters that were close to the Imperial family. Molan mentioned that he also served in the palace. At once, a ruddy blush crept onto Lingxiu''s face, "She has some nerve to still tell that story! You should start calling her ''sit-down'' and see how she likes it!" Jiayi must have looked confused because Lingxiu told her the tale of Molan running around during the wedding of a relative despite being told to sit down several times. She continued to run and eventually fell butt-first into a bed of hot coals set aside to roast a duck. Molan was more startled than hurt but was called ''sit-down'' for many years. Lingxiu was a good storyteller and by the time the other guard returned with a fresh meal, Jiayi had calmed down a bit. "Here," Lingxiu said, passing her the stacked box. "Thank you, Chang daren," "You''re welcome...er," "We-Wei Jiayi," "Wei Jiayi? From the picture?" He asked. Seeing the confusion on Jiayi''s face, he continued, "You drew a portrait for Molan, right? She sent it to her mother and wrote about you in her letter and now my mother wants me to get one done since I don''t have much time to visit. How much do you charge?" Jiayi shook her head, "Charge? Chang daren, you misunderstand. I draw when I have free time. I''d be a scoundrel to charge money for it," In Jiayi''s opinion, the fewer people who knew about her hobby, the better. It had already attracted too much attention. "Let me walk you back to Xianfugong, see how Molan is doing for Shang furen''s¡ì sake," The entire walk back, Lingxiu switched from trying to convince her to draw a portrait he could send home to regaling her with tales of his and Molan''s shared childhood. When they arrived at Xianfugong, Molan was waiting near the gates. She looked shocked at the sight of them both. "Little fish? What are you doing bothering my jiejie?" Molan cried. Lingxiu snorted, "Not everything is about you Sit down. Your jiejie and I were just going the same way," Molan''s face burned bright red, "You! You''re supposed to be protecting the Forbidden City but you''re running around telling stories!" She grabbed Jiayi''s arms, "Let''s go!" "Hold on, hold on!" Lingxiu grabbed Jiayi''s and placed a few copper coins inside, "My mother has been asking that I send home a portrait with my next letter. I''ll come fetch you when I have time to sit," Molan shook her head and pulled her inside the courtyard, "What a stingy old man! How could he think your portraits only cost a few pieces of copper?" Jiayi pinched Molan''s cheeks, "Is ''sit-down'' getting jealous?" "I can''t believe he told you that!" Molan screeched as they ran inside. Xiang gui ren ate only a bit of her breakfast before pushing it away and saying the servants could have it. She was all smiles but they could tell she was nervous. Jiayi and the other servants ate quickly, piling the dirty dishes in the little kitchen. Molan fanned Xiang gui ren while Jiayi kneeled to massage her knees. "You don''t have to worry, mistress, His Majesty favors you and you have time to become close to Her Highness. When that happens, no one can offend you," Bolin walked in and bowed, "Mistress, Jiang gui ren is here," Xiang gui ren smoothed down her sleeves, "Let her in," she said. "Xiang meimei, are you ready?" said Jiang gui ren. She stared at Xiang gui ren and frowned. "Why are you dressed so plainly? Look at your hair, didn''t I tell you what to do?" She huffed and glared at Jiayi and Molan. "I can see these cheap slaves are already poor at their jobs!" "Jiejie," Xiang gui ren said with a sickly sweet smile, "Clothes mean nothing where real beauty is concerned. Am I so ugly that I need to adorn myself to be considered presentable?" "Of-of course not," said Jiang gui ren, "I just don''t want people to bully you. If you show people your favor, no one would dare to touch you," Ping''er interrupted them, "Mistress, Zhang Wei gonggong is here," Zhang Wei walked inside two other eunuchs trailing behind him. The eunuchs were toting silk gift boxes on lacquered trays. "Wei gonggong," Jiang gui ren said, "What brings you here?" "The Jewelry House created a few trinkets by His Majesty''s order for the two of you. Please take a look," The eunuchs presented the trays and Jiayi and Susu handed them to their respective mistresses. Inside Xiang gui ren''s box was a pair of nail guards. They were silver, with lotus flowers carved down the middle. In the center of each flower was either a shining piece of white jade or rose quartz. Jiang gui ren received a pair as well, but she wasn''t as excited. Her nail guards were smooth, polished silver. Stamped on the base in copper was the phrase, ''The flower of the heart in full bloom''. The two of them dropped to their knees to thank The Emperor. "This concubine thanks His Majesty for his grace," Zhang Wei helped Xiang gui ren to her feet, "His Majesty will be glad to hear how happy you are. I''ll take my leave," Xiang gui ren exchanged the nail guards she was wearing for the ones Zhang Wei just delivered. "Jiejie, look! Aren''t they pretty?" She asked. Jiang gui ren gave a tight smile, "It''s a bit flashy for me. His Majesty knows that sometimes I like simple things," Jiayi felt the need to step back just in case Jiang gui ren was struck by lightning. That was the most incredible lie she''d ever heard. "Why aren''t you wearing yours?" Asked Xiang gui ren, "Don''t you want to show off His Majesty''s gift?" Smiling dimly again, Jiang gui ren replaced her dazzling pair of gold and topaz nail guards. Arm in arm, Jiang gui ren led them to Yikungong. Jiayi couldn''t keep her eyes from roaming as Jiang gui ren led them into Yikungong''s main hall. They had been there just yesterday but it was different when the room was filled with glamorous concubines. "Meimei, allow me the honor of introducing you to your new sisters," Jiang gui ren started with the highest-ranking women first. Shen huang gui fei, De gui fei, Jin pin, Tong pin, Lian pin, Jiang gui ren, An gui ren, Jiao gui ren, Wang chang zai, Cha chang zai, Jin chang zai, and Zhen chang zai. The handful of His Majesty''s second-class female attendants weren''t given the honor of staying after paying respects to The Empress. Usually, Shiyi would accept the respects on The Empress'' behalf before sending them away. As Jiayi helped Xiang gui ren to her seat, she snuck a glance at the famous Shen huang gui fei. With only one child, a daughter no less, she managed to become second to The Empress. The only merit her family ever made was her mother having the luck of being The Emperor''s beloved nursemaid. There was a rumor that at one point The Emperor asked for Shen huang gui fei to be his di fujin?. The Empress Dowager had convinced the late Emperor to refuse him, suggesting a young g¨ºg¨º from her own prominent Borjigit clan. Shen huang gui fei hadn''t even been granted the title of ce fujin**. She faithfully served The Empress in the Old Manor and was rewarded handsomely for her service as the years went on. "Xiang gui ren has just arrived, I hope you all will chat with her and treat her well," said The Empress. "Yes, Your Highness," the women chorused. "Has Xiang meimei settled in well?" Asked Lian pin, "Xianfugong must be so different from your old home," "It must be miles above the stable she used to rest in," Jiao gui ren whispered to Jin chang zai. They fought to smother their laughter. "It''s more beautiful than His Majesty described to me in his letters," replied Xiang gui ren, "And seeing him again after so long has made my heart happier than I could''ve imagined," "That''s good then. You''re welcome to come by my Jingrengona?? and visit me and An gui ren when you''re free," Xiang gui ren nodded. "Xiang meimei, I admit that I was shocked when I learned that you''d be joining our family, but looking at you now, I''m not surprised that His Majesty couldn''t bear to leave you behind," "I don''t deserve huang gui fei''s compliments," replied Xiang gui ren. "Meimei is just so beautiful. Don''t you dance and play the guzheng??, too? Honestly, will His Majesty have eyes for anyone ever again?" Instantly, the temperature in the room dropped. Jealous black eyes glared at Xiang gui ren from all sides. "I suppose the rest of us are just old news," Shen huang gui fei finished. "Jiejie, how could any of us be old when Wang nainai¡ì¡ì is here?" Said Jin chang zai. The women broke out into giggles as 38-year-old Wang ch¨¢ng z¨¤i sunk into her chair. She''d been at that status for over 20 years and was the most forgotten of all the Emperor''s women. The Emperor cared for her so little that she couldn''t even get a pity promotion. For a moment she had been favored enough to be promoted from a bed maid in the Old Manor but it had been brief. "What disgusting behavior," snapped De gui fei. The laughing stopped at once. De gui fei had a reputation herself. It wasn''t unusual for her to be called the ''venerable De gui fei'' behind her back for her pious nature and stringent adherence to the rules. How a sweet and playful girl like the Second Princess had De gui fei for a mother was a mystery to many. Eager for any opportunity to pile on, Lian pin said "You dare dirty The Empress'' ears with such talk. You''ve been here for quite some time yourself Jin meimei and only served His Majesty once. Wouldn''t you call that old news?" Jin chang zai clamped her lips shut. "Lian meimei, don''t let a few careless words ruin the mood. We''re here to welcome our newest sister today," said Shen huang gui fei. "True," said Lian pin, "Ah, Xiang meimei, I heard that Zhang Wei delivered a gift from His Majesty to you this morning," Xiang gui ren smiled, "Jiejie''s ears are sharp. His Majesty sent over these nail guards," she said, showing them off, "His Majesty had a pair made for Jiang jiejie as well," Called out, Jiang gui ren was forced to present what she considered her second-class gift to the room. Lian pin hid a smile behind her handkerchief, "Yes. If I could describe Jiang meimei, surely it would be about her love of simple beauty," Jiang gui ren smiled, "Jiejie is correct. His Majesty knows this too, sending these to me. When His Majesty decides to learn jiejie''s preferences, surely he won''t forget to pamper you," Whatever Lian pin wanted to say was interrupted by Zhang Wei running into the room. "Your Highness! Your Highness!" Zhang Wei called as he ran inside. "Zhang Wei, what''s the meaning of all this excitement?" Asked Shiyu gugu. "Prince Han is at the main gates. His Majesty asks that you come to Qianqinggong?? to wait for his arrival," "Prince Han is back? Are you sure?" "I wouldn''t dare lie," "Tell His Majesty that I will be there shortly," Zhang Wei bowed and backed out of the room. "Don''t let me keep you here on such a nice day, I''ll go first," said The Empress. The concubines rose and knelt, "Sending Your Highness The Empress off with respect," Shen huang gui fei walked over to Xiang gui ren and took her hands, "Meimei, I''ve only looked upon you for a moment, but I almost don''t want to let you go. Come by my Zhongcuigong*** for tea," "Huang gui fei, you said you were going to have the Hall of Pleasing Sounds put on a performance for me today," said Jiao gui ren. "Oh!" Said Shen huang gui fei, "That completely slipped my mind with the excitement of meimei''s arrival. You wouldn''t mind rescheduling, right?" "But¨C" "Huang gui fei, don''t trouble yourself on my account. I feel a little tired. I think I''ll head back to Yikungong and rest," said Xiang gui ren, "I''ll take my leave," On the walk back to Yikungong, Jiayi took the risk to ask Xiang gui ren a question. "Mistress, why didn''t you go with huang gui fei? Wouldn''t it be best if you became close to her?" "Her and Jiang gui ren are quite close, aren''t they? There''s no way Jiang gui ren hasn''t shown jiejie her true face. There''s no point. Now, De gui fei on the other hand," Xiang gui ren said with a smile, "That is a woman worth being close to," "De gui fei?" Parroted Molan, "She''s not unfavored but I wouldn''t call her one of The Emperor''s favorite women. His Majesty flips huang gui fei''s tag far more often. Even Lian pin''s as well," "It''s just nature, Pretty," Molan furrowed her brows, "Nature? Mistress, I don''t understand," Xiang gui ren bopped Molan on the head, "Listen closely. Which is better? The butterfly or the rock? The butterfly is beautiful but goes from flower to flower. When the garden is spent, it flies away. The rock, however, stays set in the garden, enduring all of the seasons," "Is the rock jade?" Asked Ping''er, "Or gold?" "Maybe it''s a big diamond," said Pie''er. With a sigh, Xiang gui ren shook her head, "I keep forgetting that all of you were born a few minutes ago. No matter, you''ll understand soon," Jiayi spent the trip back to Xianfugong marinating on her mistress'' words. Wouldn''t it make sense to be a butterfly and go where opportunity was? Why stay stuck somewhere even when there was no benefit to it? What a silly riddle. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Chai: Hair stick with dual prongs ?Sir or Lord. Respectful title to a male official of higher rank ?Miss ¡ìA title given to a man''s legal/primary wife ?First legitimate wife **Second legitimate wife ??Palace of Great Benevolence ??Chinese zither ¡ì¡ìGranny ??Palace of Heavenly Purity ***Palace of Accumulated Purity Chapter 8 In the warming room of Qianqinggong, The Emperor and The Empress were impatiently awaiting Prince Han''s arrival. The Empress sighed and sipped her tea. "Zhang Wei," "Your servant is here," the eunuch replied. "I rushed over here because you said Prince Han entered the palace. It''s almost been an hour since," "The report came directly from the gates Your Highness," said Zhang Wei, "I would not dare deceive you," Just then another of The Emperor''s eunuchs stepped into the room, a harried look on his face. "What is it?" The Emperor asked. "Your Majesty," He twisted his lips, "Prince Han, he''s¨C" Prince Han limped into the receiving room, sallow and pale, his personal eunuch, Sang''er, holding tightly to his arm. Prince Han of the 4th rank slowly and painfully dropped to his knees. "This lowly one wishes The Emperor and Empress peace," he said, voice reedy. "Rise, quickly, quickly!" The Empress said, fighting the urge to physically haul him upright. Prince Han sat down with a wince. It was apparent that he couldn''t bend his right leg completely or use his right side without pain. The Emperor looked at Sang''er, "What is the meaning of this? Why did you not send word on this injury at once? " Sang''er dropped to his knees, "This servant was ignorant, I deserve to die!" he said as he prostrated himself. Prince Han sighed and took the tea the Empress was aggressively shoving into his hands, "This isn''t Sang''er''s fault. His Majesty was eager for the first-hand reports of the subdued rebellion in the North. I don''t dare disappoint him," "Reports aren''t worth your health, Zhishi," said The Empress. "Bring Hwang taiyi* here," ordered The Emperor, "You hid this from Marquis Fu, as well. Foolish. You should have sent a trusted page or general to report to me instead of endangering your health for this," Prince Han bowed as best as he could, "I know my wrongs," "The suppression was successful then?" The Empress asked. The Emperor nodded, "The rebels weren''t many but they were well-fed and well-armed. It''s obvious someone was funding them," "Who would dare?" Asked the Empress. "The leader escaped but we brought a few rebels back for interrogation. We''ll be heading back to Fenzhou next month at His Majesty''s order," said Prince Han. "So soon?" Asked The Empress, her mouth trembling with worry. The Emperor settled into his chair, "Don''t fret, Empress. Marquis Fu will be heading to Fenzhou in a month, not Zhishi," "Your Majesty¨C" Holding up a hand to stop Prince Han''s protests, The Emperor said "I won''t hear it. I don''t need Hwang taiyi here to tell me you''ve injured yourself badly. How will I face Royal Father in heaven if you become crippled or worse, die? No, you''ll be staying here to recover," "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I''m young and fit, my injuries will only take one or two weeks to heal. It''s unfair to force Marquis Fu to investigate the rebels alone," "Enough," said The Empress, "Sang''er, put Prince Han in one of the side rooms to rest until Hwang taiyi arrives," "Yes, Your Highness," he said. Sang''er held out his arm to help his master stand up. Prince Han stubbornly stayed in his chair. "Go, Zhishi," said The Emperor. Finally, Prince Han let Sang''er haul him up and away. Everything The Empress wanted to say would to The Emperor be unwelcome at the moment. Why can''t you speak to him nicely? Why can''t Zhishi go a year without injury like this? Isn''t it time for Zhishi to marry and support you in court? She asked all of these questions once, and only once. Hwang taiyi entered the hall, with two assistants behind him. They kneeled in greeting. "This lowly one wishes The Emperor peace. This lowly one wishes The Empress peace," "Rise," said The Emperor, "Prince Han is injured. Attend to him," Hwang taiyi stood and followed Zhang Wei to the side room. The Emperor wiped at his face with a cloth. "Ah," said The Empress, "Your Majesty, the astrology office predicted that this would be the hottest summer in years. I asked the kitchens to make you some plum shaved ice," A maid presented him with the cold treat. The Emperor nodded and ate a spoonful, "Very fine tasting. Send some to Xianfugong for Xiang gui ren," "Yes," The Empress gripped her fan tightly. She didn''t want to sit here listening to The Emperor create more trouble in the harem with his favor towards Xiang gui ren. She wanted to be in the side room, watching over Zhishi. Instead, she had to sit here and wait for news because His Majesty was very clear that the moment Zhishi turned 13 that he was no longer her child. "You''re sending Zhishi to Duke Shoushan to finish his education? The Duke''s manor is in Jingzhou," "I know. The Duke is worthy of his title. Sending him there for a few years is for the best. He''ll return a good servant for me to have in court," "Your Majesty, Jingzhou is too far away. Why not send for the Duke or grant him a manor in the capital? So¨C" "Zhishi is no longer a child Empress. Your coddling has stunted him. You haven''t even given a thought to his marriage, as old as he is. He needs to go," Zhishi had poked his head out of the carriage window then, as he began his journey to Jingzhou. The night before his departure was the last time he ever called her Royal Mother. A few months after she and The Emperor had married, they received news that Zhishi''s mother had been keeping company with an Imperial Guard. After Zhishi''s birth she was demoted to a commoner and expelled from the palace. The guard was executed. A blood test had proven that Zhishi was indeed a child of the Aisin-Gioro clan but it was too late. The Late Emperor wanted nothing to do with the child of a sinner and The Empress Dowager felt no pity for the child. Raising Zhishi was the first and last time The Empress openly defied her husband. The Emperor had told her to understand that the situation had nothing to do with her. The next day The Empress prostrated herself in front of The Empress Dowager and asked to raise Zhishi in their manor to restore harmony in the palace. She didn''t care about how cross The Emperor was with her. She didn''t even care about the gifts he granted her after the ministers rallied around him to be titled crown prince after ''his'' immense act of kindness. She had a child to love. It was all that mattered. The Emperor''s personal physician returned to them again. "Hwang taiyi, what''s wrong?" she asked. "Replying to Your Highness, Prince Han was slashed by a sword and most likely had no time to clean the wound properly before departing. There is an infection," "Infection? Will he be very sick?" "If Prince Han stays off his feet and follows my directions, the wound will close. He will be healed completely in a few months," The Emperor clenched his fist, "He''s injured so badly?" "His body is weary from travel and old injury, Your Majesty," "You may go," said the Empress. She could tell by the look on The Emperor''s face that he was furious at the turn of events. Zhishi was loyal, intelligent and put nothing above The Emperor, not even himself. To have such a vital servant out of commission for so long was a blow he wasn''t happy to take. However terrible it might have been, The Empress was elated. It had been so long since Zhishi had spent such a long interrupted stretch of time in the Forbidden City. She would care for him like wanted as long he was here. ? Later that evening in the bathing room of Zhongcuigong, Shen huang gui fei soaked in a five-twig? bath. Her dowry maid, Jingse kneeled behind her, combing sweet-smelling oils through her hair. Her other maid, A''Fang, ladled the fragrant water across her shoulders and arms. "Your Highness, did you hear that Lian pin and Jiang gui ren went at it again today?" Asked A''Fang. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Shen huang gui fei raised an eyebrow, "They didn''t have enough fun during the morning greetings?" "Apparently, after Jiang gui ren''s maid damaged His Majesty''s body, Lian pin went and begged him for the Sichuan brocade he refused to give Jiang gui ren. Lian pin wore the outfit to visit Jiang gui ren and gifted her the leftover scraps," "Lian pin is always so vulgar," said Jingse said with a roll of her eyes. "Then Jiang gui ren made fun of her for being unfavored and Lian pin said she lived in a whorehouse. Everyone said they were close to coming to blows!" "Those two are so ill-mannered. The Empress will be too busy to lecture them when His Majesty hears of this so Her Highness will have to do it," groused Jingse. A''Fang rolled her eyes and began to wipe at Shen huang gui ren''s skin with a soft cloth, "The Empress always praises De gui fei for her conduct but never makes her do any grunt work. It''s like she wants to work Her Highness to death!" "A''Fang! Watch how you talk about The Empress," said Jingse. The other maid pressed her lips shut, "Yes, jiejie," Shen huang gui fei closed her eyes and leaned back against the edge of the tub. A''Fang was right. The Empress'' fat little eunuch, Huiqing, would scurry over bright and early tomorrow morning and suggest she have a conversation with the pair of loudmouths. The Empress wouldn''t dare waste her precious time with such lowly tasks. Sighing, she pushed the thought from her mind. It was too special of a night to have The Empress'' nonsense taint it. It was her and The Emperor''s 19th wedding anniversary. At 36 years old, the idea that she had been married for almost 20 years made her head spin. But it was the truth. 19 years ago, the wedding palanquin arrived at the Old Manor. Xue Lijuan had stepped through the side door, becoming a concubine of the crown prince. Shen huang gui fei remembered crying buckets upon buckets of bitter tears on the way to the Old Manor. Yes, it was her dream to marry the man she walked step by step with her entire life. But it was her dream to be his wife. It was The Emperor''s dream as well. How could it not, when he had sent the most auspicious red fabric to her family home? Everyone in the capital knew of them and their love story. The late Emperor had watched her grow up and loved her like his own. So when it was her turn to stand before him and The Empress Dowager during the wife selection, she couldn''t believe her ears when she was given a consolation gift and sent away. The humiliation still stung so many years later. As a eunuch lead her and the other rejects out of the room, a new stream of girls passed by. Heading up the pack was Mongolian g¨ºg¨º with her head held high. Shen huang gui fei couldn''t have known that the girl would soon become her enemy. "Your Highness, we should dress you now. His Majesty will be here soon," said Jingse, breaking her out of her reverie. Shen huang gui fei let her maids dress her in the chenyi that she had crafted in the Sichuan brocade that The Emperor had given her. Her palace was decked out with red ribbons and lanterns. There was a wedding feast for two, set at the table. It looked exactly like her pavilion in the Old Manor the day she was married. "G¨ºg¨º," Jingse whispered as she lead Lijuan''s veiled figure to her new home, "His Lordship decorated your pavilion so beautifully. So much red!" Lijuan nodded mournfully, knowing that even the most beautiful wedding decorations wouldn''t dry her tears. Her rooms were decorated in red, while her wedding clothes were a pale pink??. "G¨ºg¨º, don''t cry. What will His Lordship say when he lifts your veil and your face is all puffy?" Taking a deep breath, Lijuan let Jingse sit her down on her wedding bed. "He won''t be coming tonight, Jingse" replied Lijuan, "His Lordship and Fujin took 15th prince to pay respects to His Majesty and Her Highness. They''ll probably spend the night," "Hmph, Fujin is so black-hearted. She took His Lordship away even knowing it was your wedding night," said A''Fang. "Be quiet, A''Fang," Lijuan said, "No more talk about this. Help me undress so I can lie down," Lijuan didn''t care that she was removing her veil on her own. Why would His Lordship do so? Lijuan wasn''t even the first concubine accepted into his household. He hadn''t even spoken to her since his wedding to Fujin two years ago. There was a knock at the door. Lijuan glared at the door and jerked her head at it, "A''Fang go send them away. I don''t want any food or drink. Tell them to leave alone," "Am I unwelcome, too?" A voice asked, stepping inside the room. Jingse and A''Fang bowed to His Lordship as he stood in the center of the room, the silk of his red jacket glistening by the candlelight. "Zhengshi," Lijuan whispered, struck almost speechless at the sight of him. Marriage had been good to Zhengshi. He had filled out, finally grown into his too-big ears. Lijuan suddenly felt small and immature. "My lord," Lijuan greeted, finally coming to her senses. She could help but flinch when Zhengshi grasped her hand and helped her stand. He helped her sit at the dining table and sent the servants away. They sat in a stifled silence. Zhengshi cleared his throat. "Is the food not to your liking?" "No, my lord," Silence again. "You look well," he said. Lijuan nodded. The words that she wanted to say to Zhengshi just moments ago had turned to ash in her mouth. Zhengshi looked around. "Fujin spent some time decorating your rooms today. Do you like them?" "Yes, my lord," "Lijuan, aren''t you happy?" "I''m not your fujin," She found herself whispering, "I''m not even your ce fujin. Zhengshi, how could I be happy?" "Lijuan...my marriage was never about me, you know that," "I do know that. My family may not be the most prominent in court, but my mother and father served you and His Majesty sincerely for their entire lives. My father wanted to marry me off quickly to save face but no one would dare," "Lijuan¨C" "You didn''t acknowledge my family for two years. This feels...this feels like a punishment," Zhengshi sighed and reached across the table to grasp Lijuan''s hand. She tried to pull away but he held firm. "You deserved to marry a man who could love you earnestly. After marrying Fujin, do you think I would''ve had time to see or speak to you at all? I¨CI admit that I was too ashamed to face you after Royal Father sent you away, so I vowed that I would marry you when I could bring you to a home I was proud of. It was my incompetence that it took two years," Zhengshi sighed and bowed his head, "I''m sorry," Lijuan pursed her lips and stared down at their hands. Zhengshi stood up and found the wedding veil that Lijuan had thrown on the floor. Holding the embroidered cloth aloft, he dropped to his knees in front of her. "What are you doing? Get up!" Lijuan cried. He refused, twisting away from her hands. "Lijuan, let me do this properly. Please," "I¨C" "Give me one last chance to love you properly," Shen huang gui fei decided to believe him and all these years later, she was his Imperial Noble Consort. The red candles began to burn lower and lower as she sat at the dinner table, awaiting The Emperor''s arrival. "What hour is it now? Where''s His Majesty?" She asked. "His Majesty most likely was held up with state affairs, Your Highness," His Majesty had never been late to their anniversary dinners. Even when he suspected he would be late for any meeting between them, he would send Zhang Wei to inform her. "Your Highness!" A familiar voice cried out in her courtyard, "Your Highness!" Shen huang gui fei sighed. She wasn''t in the mood to listen to Lian pin''s bellyaching. "Send her away," she ordered. "Lian pin, huang gui fei can''t be disturbed at this time. Please return to your palace," the eunuch outside the door spoke clearly. "I''m not disturbing her, I''m informing her! Huang gui fei has been kind to me all these years, it''s only right that I tell her this," "Your Highness Lian pin¨C" "Xiang gui ren seduced His Majesty into her bed on this night of all nights! Don''t you want justice for your mistress?!" Loud gasps bounced around the room. "How could His Majesty do this to you?" Said A''Fang, "Your late mother''s flesh and blood runs through his veins and he abandons you on this night to entertain some chit he found on the side of the road?" "Shut your mouth," hissed Jingse, "Your Highness," she said to her mistress, "Are you okay?" Shen huang gui fei smiled through the sharp lance of pain that struck her heart, "Lian meimei," she called, "Come in and speak properly," Lian pin rushed in and clutched Shen huang gui fei''s hands. "Your Highness, I''m sorry for disturbing you but I had to let you know. Xiang gui ren put on such an innocent face this morning but she showed her true colors tonight," "His Majesty is over enjoyed that his love was delivered to the palace. How could I complain," Shen huang gui fei, "I''ve been with His Majesty since I was a child. One day makes little difference. We''ll all have to get used to this new way of life with Xiang gui ren here," "Hmph, Your Highness is too kind. It''s even worse that The Empress is condoning this. She sent eunuchs to Xiang gui ren''s apartments with a fresh bowl of fertility medication. It would''ve taken all day to brew to have it ready right then. How can The Empress encourage such classless behavior?" "Lian pin, Her Highness is tired," said Jingse. "Ah, of course," Lian pin said, covering her mouth, "I''ve taken too much of your time this late at night. I''ll take my leave," Shen huang gui fei surveyed her joyous room. "Clean up in here," she said, "Jingse, I''m going to bed," Jingse walked her into the bedroom and closed the door behind them. She helped Shen huang gui fei out her layer of clothing before standing behind her to remove the accessories from her hair. "Your Highness¨C" "In the morning," she said. Shen huang gui fei dreamt of the past that night. It stunk. Trapped in the bed by her weak body, the smell of stale blood and medicinal smoke made Shen gui fei''s eyes water. With what little strength she had, she dragged a limp hand over her stomach. Distended and stretched, but empty. Tears rolled down her face. Would she be cursed to only bear a daughter in this lifetime? She felt foolish mourning the loss of the Second prince after he died of fever at only two years old. It was clear she wouldn''t be lucky enough to have a child live that long again. Each pregnancy was less successful than the last. When the physician confirmed that she was pregnant all those months ago, Shen gui fei had done everything right. And yet here she was, in more pain than she had ever been before. "You''re awake then," She turned her head to see The Empress Dowager taking a seat by her bedside. Neither Jingse nor A''Fang were nearby so Shen gui fei tried to pay respects on her own. The Empress Dowager held up a hand, "No need," She took a deep sigh, "Your family has served the clan for many years, Shen gui fei. Your mother bore five children. Both your younger and elder sisters have three children each. Isn''t it strange that you could barely have two?" Shen gui fei closed her and laid back on the bed, "It is this concubine''s incompetence," "Yes it is," said The Empress Dowager, "Shen gui fei, what is this?" In Jerjer''s hands was a box full of folded medicine powders. Shen gui fei knew it was kept in the little kitchen, ready to be served to her with all her meals. "Fetus stability medication," "Really? Who told you that?" Shen gui fei stared at The Empress Dowager, her mouth slack. The two of them had never been close, even after she gave birth to His Majesty''s first daughter. "The Imperial Hospital," A small smile jumped onto The Empress Dowager''s face before she covered it with her handkerchief, "When His Majesty conferred you as gui fei I had no objections because I thought you were a smart one. Seeing this, perhaps it''s good you only have a daughter," Jerjer bowed her head, "Shen gui fei, this medicine does indeed contain fertility herbs, but also contains a large amount of crushed guang fang ji¡ì. No pregnancy would survive this medication," Shen gui fei dragged herself upright and took the box from Jerjer. How many packets had she watched Jingse put in her food? How many times had she poisoned herself and her children, over and over and over again? "Impossible," she said with a shake of her head, "No one would dare," "Impossible?" The Empress Dowager echoed back at her, "Look around you. Look at your empty belly. Tell me again that it''s so impossible," With strength she knew she didn''t have, Shen gui fei pelted the box across the room. "Think closely. Who has the most to lose if you give birth to a prince?" She woke up in a cold sweat but didn''t bother to call for a maid. Her hand pressed against her belly. Six years ago, The Empress Dowager revealed The Empress'' true face. Six years ago, she was conferred as His Majesty''s Imperial Noble Consort. Her rise to power had started The Empress so badly that the other woman didn''t hesitate to find someone to steal The Emperor''s favor from her. Shu pin. Mu pin. And now, Xiang gui ren. His Majesty was kind. When The Empress'' generals crashed and burned, he gave her face and treated her no differently but after so many years Shen huang gui fei could tell that little by little The Emperor was beginning to get sick of these little games. Defeating those two were child play. Xiang gui ren would be no different. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Imperial physician ?Cassia twig, pagoda twig, peach twig, willow twig and ephedra. Herbs that good for the body ??A pure red wedding outfit was reserved for the legal wife only ¡ìAristolochia Root, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Very dangerous to give to pregnant/breastfeeding women Chapter 9 Xiang gui ren was despondent. Perhaps that was a bit too dramatic. Xiang gui ren was annoyed. A few days ago she had to end the morning greetings by kowtowing in apology to Shen huang gui fei. Even though it was no fault of her own, she had apparently committed a great crime by serving The Emperor on the anniversary of his and Shen huang gui fei''s wedding. The Emperor was too hasty sometimes. Of course, she was eager to be with him again, but that could''ve waited one day! Now Shen huang gui fei thought of her as some sort of calculating minx. As if her spending time with His Majesty is anything other than spending time with His Majesty. She had no connections in the capital and wasn''t from any prominent family in court. What plan could she have? What scheme could she plot? Even if she gave birth to a million princes, her status would never come close to Shen huang gui fei''s. To make matters worse, De gui fei was avoiding her like she had the pox. She managed to be the one person in the Forbidden City who wasn''t inclined to talk to Xiang gui ren. The few conversations they did have ended with De gui fei excusing herself to go pray. However, it wasn''t as if Xiang gui ren was spending her days here alone. Jiang gui ren was stuck at her side like a leech. She was sure if His Majesty ordered her in bed with them, she''d do that without batting an eye. Side by side, step by step, Jiang gui ren dogged her. And where Jiang gui ren went, An gui ren followed all for the chance to see His Majesty. Not to mention the first-class attendants who aimed to climb up by being friends with her. At first, Xiang gui ren thought it was a little strange that Her Highness didn''t allow any second-class attendants to pay their respects. Only to come back to a crowd of beautiful young girls clogging up the courtyard of Xianfugong one afternoon. They were His Majesty''s second-class attendants, all 15 of them. They wouldn''t leave until well after the sun had set. To avoid that again, Xiang gui ren decided to stroll through the Imperial Garden. Maybe the fresh air and beautiful flowers would help her think of something to get close to De gui fei. "Mistress look, do you like that flower?" Asked Jiayi. "It''s nice," "I''ll draw it for you when we finish your walk then," "Jiejie, you should draw the fish in the pond there, too," said Molan. "Fish are boring," said Ping''er, "Jiejie should draw the birds there. Don''t you think so, Pie''er?" And they were off. Ping''er and Molan began to argue quietly with each other, while Pie''er looked on, a soft smile on her face. Her little group of maids wasn''t bad. Maids in any household were a tricky thing. Back in the brothel, all the maids reported to Big Auntie so they could never be trusted, no matter how nice they pretended to be. Xiang gui ren assumed that maids at her new home would be the same. There was also the added pressure of sussing out whether or not they would try to climb into The Emperor''s bed under her nose. After a month of being served by her girls, she was glad to say she had nothing to worry about. Xiang gui ren would say and do outlandish things in the privacy of her rooms and not one peep made it to the outside. They didn''t even make it across the courtyard to Jiang gui ren. The three younger girls felt nothing more than the typical reverence that every citizen felt in the presence of The Emperor. They were quick on their feet and silent. They rarely lifted their heads to even glance at the man. Now Jiayi... Jiayi hated The Emperor. There was no mistaking it. Jiayi''s docile face contorted into something hard and angry when The Emperor came near. When the girl thought no one was looking, the coldness of her gaze sent chills down Xiang gui ren''s spine. At first, it horrified her. How could anyone hate The Emperor? The Emperor wrote her letters every day? The Emperor who had a bad habit of kissing each of her fingertips before they went to sleep? The Emperor with his fondest for puppies? How could Jiayi hate him? She considered tossing Jiayi out and being done with it but the girl was so good at her job and nice to be around. Xiang gui ren''s soft heart couldn''t chase her away, seeing her as something of a little sister after such a short time. As she paid more attention, she found that Jiayi was a bit strange all around. She was a well-made girl, but easy to startle. A broken vase in the courtyard sent Jiayi flying to the ceiling once. If Jiayi dosed off during the night, Xiang gui ren would often wake to her, twitching and sweating in her sleep, a pained grimace on her face. It reminded Xiang gui ren of the girls at the brothel who didn''t have the luxury to pick their clients. Fanning herself, Xiang gui ren turned a corner and below a set of steps, sitting under a shady pagoda, were a group of three and their servants. Two girls and a boy, all nobles based on their clothes and hair. The table was covered in paints and parchment, while their servants stood holding plates of snacks and drinks. "Who''s that over there?" She asked. "That''s First and Second princess," said Molan. "And that boy?" Jiayi shook her head, "I don''t know. I''ve never seen him before and none of the imperial heirs are that old," "First princess is huang gui fei''s," said Xiang gui ren after thinking about it, "Who does Second princess belong to?" "De gui fei, mistress," There were piles of used parchment on the table in front of the princesses. Their paint sticks were beaten up and brushes used haphazardly. If Xiang gui ren had to guess, those girls weren''t very good at painting and didn''t give a damn about it. Xiang gui ren had an idea. "I''m falling," she said before pitching herself into a nearby bush. "Mistress!" She tangled herself up in the foliage, kicking and yelping until Jiayi and Bolin hauled her upright. "Mistress, are you alright?" "How did you fall? Did you hurt yourself?" "Mistress, you''ve got dirt all over!" "I need to sit down," Xiang gui ren wailed, "I''ll faint before I get back to my rooms!" "Okay, we''ll go and share the pagoda with the princesses, I''m sure they won''t mind," said Molan. Xiang gui ren nodded her head and wiped at the crocodile tears on her cheeks. She felt a tiny bit guilty seeing the worry on everyone''s faces but she had to do what she had to do. De gui fei would not escape her again! ? Jiayi felt like an idiot. She was so busy enjoying the beautiful garden that Xiang gui ren slipped and fell! "Slowly, slowly," Jiayi murmured as they made their way down the stone steps. Under the pagoda, First princess and Second princess were watching them come closer. First princess looked very much like her mother with a thin face and sharp features for a 15-year-old girl. However, she was softened by the light pink and white chengyi and the silver and white waistcoat that she wore. Second princess was a year younger and resembled His Majesty with her prominent nose and full lips. Still, her baby blue changfu and pink and green waistcoat were quite cute. "First princess, Second princess," Jiayi greeted, "May my mistress rest in your company? She took a fall behind that hill there," "Of course Xiang niangniang is welcome," said First Princess. "I apologize for dropping in on your fun," said Xiang gui ren, "I hope I haven''t offended your guest," Second princess let out a little huff, "15th uncle has seen much worse on the battlefield. Don''t worry about him," "My lord," Jiayi greeted with a nod as she lowered Xiang gui ren into her seat. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "I would greet you properly Xiang gui ren but Her Highness is sure that if I stand for more than a moment, I''ll turn to dust," said Prince Han. If Jiayi had to guess she would''ve assumed that Prince Han had never seen a day of battle in his life. Prince Han had cool, white skin and a sharp noble nose. His phoenix eyes were framed by long lashes and his lips were full and pink. Even sitting he was tall but she couldn''t imagine very much muscle under his clothes. "Royal mother should''ve locked you in your rooms. Hasn''t poor Sang''er been running after you all day?" Asked First princess. "Sang''er has served me my entire life and followed me to every battlefield. He''s had to contend with far worse! Isn''t that right?" Sang''er bowed his head, "This servant thanks you for your concern, but His lordship is right. I spend most of my time keeping him alive," At the glare Prince Han sent him, "Ah! This servant is mouthy, I deserve to die," Sang''er said, hiding a smile. He lightly slapped his mouth. "Hmph!" Prince Han crossed his arms, "Huabao is so cunning. She invited me out here claiming we''d paint and drink cold plum juice, instead, she bullies me with the help of my eunuch! Xiang gui ren, can you believe it?" "First princess, a bully? Impossible! Huang gui fei would never raise such a child," said Xiang gui ren as she hid a smile behind her handkerchief. "Hey¨C" "Behave Huabao, Xiang niangniang is right here," said Second princess. "But Huahuan, 15th uncle started it!" "True, said Second princess, "But when you''ve been knocked in the head as many times as 15th uncle has, you act a little silly," Jiayi and the other servants tried to stifle their giggles. "Yes, yes, your old uncle has been beaten up many times. I may have a soft melon for a head but at least I can paint thing more than a scribble," said Prince Han, "Xiang gui ren take a look at these paintings," Xiang gui ren leaned over to look, "Prince Han I''m sure they''re not bad," Jiayi snuck a peek as well and frankly, they were worse than Prince Han described. One had absolutely no control of the pigment so the colors were wet, muddy, and running all over. The other had a solid grasp on the pigment but a legible line was nowhere in sight. "Well, everyone has to start somewhere," said Xiang gui ren. Prince Han laughed, "They''ve been trained in the arts the moment they could hold a brush!" Second princess flopped into her chair, "I''m already so good at embroidery and poetry. Painting is so extra," First princess nodded, sliding the painting and brushes to the side. A maid placed a cup of tea and a few small cakes in front of her. "Meimei is right. We''re already good at so many things. If we want a pretty picture, we''ll have someone make it for us," "Like my Jiayi?" Asked Xiang gui ren. Jiayi felt her neck pinch as she snapped her head around to gape at Xiang gui ren. Why on earth was her mistress mentioning her out of the blue? "Who?" Asked First princess. "Jiayi, my maid," said Xiang gui ren as she tugged Jiayi closer to the table, "She has quite a bit of talent in painting," All eyes at the table peered at Jiayi. "Really?" Asked Second princess. "Second Princess, my mistress is teasing. I''m no better than the average student," said Jiayi. "Aiyo, my Jiayi is too modest, ask her to paint anything!" Said Xiang gui ren. Jiayi kept a face as straight as she could manage. What an awful thing to say! She was pretty bad at backgrounds and mountains! What if they asked for a nature scene or something? Xiang gui ren would lose face in front of The Emperor''s precious daughters. First princess pointed to a bush of purple peonies, "Draw that then," "Ah, alright," Jiayi took an already-used piece of parchment and flipped it over. She smothered a gasp as she prepared her inks. The princesses had carelessly pushed their ink stinks and brushes to the side like they weren''t the most beautiful things Jiayi had ever seen. Jiayi had heard of ink sticks in colors other than black, but she had never seen them in person. Each stick¨Cred, purple, yellow, green, blue¨Chad a rabbit pressed in gold foil on the side. There was a matching iron ink stone with a rabbit''s head atop. She took a good long look at the peonies as she readied her ink. The summer heat had caused the peonies to droop but their petals were wide open to the sky. Each petal was vibrantly purple in the center before fading away to a nearly white color. The deep green of the leaves nearby made for an arresting composition. The brush the princesses allowed her to use was beyond luxurious, she could feel it in the way the bristles glided over the parchment and in the way it soaked up the ink. Once she had finished the one flower, Jiayi thought the page looked lonely, so she drew a few more. The purple of the petals was too bright, so Jiayi drew a tree trunk in the background to soften the glare. Before she knew it, she had begun to draw a lake as well. "Wow!" Said Second princess as she ducked under Jiayi''s arm to get closer to the painting, "It''s so beautiful!" First princess squeezed in close to get a better look, too. "Xiang niangniang, your maid is something! I can never get my colors to look like that," Jiayi dropped the brush and returned to Xiang gui ren''s side, "First princess and Second princess are too kind to this servant," she said. "15th uncle, look!" "Truly better than anything you''ve done," he said. Second princess stuck her tongue out at him. "Who was your master?" Asked First princess, "I''ll ask Royal Father to send for him to teach us," "I had no master, First princess. I practiced this on my own," replied Jiayi. "That''s so amazing," said Second princess. "I have an idea!" Said First princess, "Xiang niangniang, would you let your maid be our painting teacher?" Jiayi couldn''t believe it, First princess and Second princess were just as crazy as Xiang gui ren. Second princess nodded, "That''s sounds great! Our current teacher is so mean and uptight! All she makes us paint are mountains and rocks!" "Jiejie can draw animals, too," said Molan. "And portraits!" Said Ping''er. Second princess'' nursemaid frowned, "Princess, it wouldn''t be proper to have a maid teach you. We don''t know she''s from. The Empress personally chose each master in the Imperial Study for you and First princess. It can''t be done," Jiayi could''ve kissed the older woman. Finally, someone with sense. "Mother believes people should be judged on merits and not titles," said Second princess, "All we have to do is show her how nice Xiang gui ren''s maid paints and she''ll have no problem with it," First princess nodded, "Mother won''t have any problems with it either. I''m sure she would rather have a woman who wasn''t from the outside teach us, too," "Yes," said Xiang gui ren, "If you''d like, I can bring Jiayi to the A Ge Suo* every day for your lessons. De gui fei can supervise!" First princess and Second princess nodded, bright smiles on their faces. ? "Look! Look!" An gui ren pretended to eat the half-eaten banana in Huaguang''s pudgy little hand. She bit back a sigh. If her little prince had survived his birth he would''ve been a year old by now. An gui ren liked spending time with the littlest princess in the A Ge Suo. She liked seeing Huaguang''s little outfits and shoes. She liked hearing the sounds of the children returning after their days in the Imperial Study. She liked watching Huaguang fall to sleep in her little bed. She hated the fact that she had to be with Jiang gui ren to do those things. An gui ren wasn''t an idiot. She knew that Jiang gui ren looked down on her, almost everyone did. She had felt the taste of favor for the entirety of pregnancy and had been chasing it ever since so she paired up with Jiang gui ren at once. The higher concubines wouldn''t spare her a moment. Jiang gui ren almost didn''t until An gui ren served her like a maid. "Shen jiejie is still so furious you know," said Jiang gui ren, "That bitch Xiang gui ren, sliding into His Majesty''s bed on their anniversary? How could she stoop so low?" Jiang gui ren was lounging on Huaguang''s bed, snacking on walnuts. She hadn''t bothered to say more than a few words to her daughter, spending most of the time ranting and pouting about Xiang gui ren. "Shen huang gui fei didn''t seem to mind," An gui ren replied. Huaguang had finished her banana, so An gui ren took a wet cloth and began wiping her face and hands. Rolling her eyes, Jian gui ren said, "You really don''t know anything Shen jiejie. She won''t let this stand. How could she? She wouldn''t be His Majesty''s Imperial Noble Consort if she did," An gui ren fought not to roll her eyes right back. Everyone knew that the only reason His Majesty promoted her to Imperial Noble Consort was that the imperial hospital told him that she was going to die from blood loss after her last miscarriage. When she pulled through after all, His Majesty furiously expelled the entirety of them. He was too embarrassed to revoke the promotion. "Mistress! Mistress!" Haoyu said as he poked his head inside, "His Majesty is having lunch in Xianfugong''s courtyard," Jiang gui ren sprung up from the bed. An gui ren stood up as well but the other woman held out a hand. "No, you stay here, His Majesty hates a crowd. Look after Huaguang for me. Consider it practice," An gui ren stared as Jiang gui ren''s maids filed out of the room. "Xu niang,?" An gui ren called Huaguang''s nursemaid. When the older woman tried to take the girl, An gui ren stopped her. "You''ve worked hard today. I''ll be okay to watch Huaguang if you want to take a moment," Xu niang''s shoulder''s slumped in relief, "If it''s really not too much trouble¨C" "None at all!" "Ah, alright. Thank you, An gui ren," Xu niang nodded and backed away. "Close the doors behind you," said An gui ren, "I''ll try to put Huaguang down for a nap," With a nod and a smile, Xu niang did as she was asked. An gui ren rocked Huaguang''s sleepy body for a moment before jerking her head towards the door. Her maid, Weiwei, opened the doors and checked the windows. She nodded at her mistress when she confirmed that they were alone. "Huaguang," An gui ren whispered, waiting for the child to open her eyes, "Do you remember what I''ve been telling you about Xiang niangniang?" Huaguang''s eyes snapped open, her body going rigid. The child shook her head frantically. "You don''t? You don''t remember that if Xiang niangniang catches you she''ll drink your blood and kill your mother? You don''t remember? Haven''t I told you? Xiang niangniang is a witch! She''ll come into your bedroom at night and slit your throat," "No! No!" Huaguang burst into tears, twisting in An gui ren''s arms. An gui ren grabbed Huaguang by the jaw and forced her still. "Yes!" An gui ren hissed, "If Xiang niangniang catches you, she''ll tear you to pieces and your Royal Father will let her do it," Huaguang cried louder, her face alarmingly red. "Oh, don''t cry, don''t cry," An gui ren said, her voice gentle, "Don''t cry," "An gui ren, is everything alright?" Xu niang rushed back into the room, "I could hear Fifth princess crying from the courtyard," "I don''t know," said An gui ren, "I told her that she was going to have a nap and she started crying," Xu niang took Huaguang in her arms and tsked, "She''s been having so much trouble sleeping lately. I don''t understand why," "Everything''s alright, don''t cry," the nursemaid soothed. An gui ren stood up, a perfectly maternal look on her face, "Xu niang, I''ll leave you to it," "Shall we go and see if His Majesty is still at Xianfugong?" Asked Weiwei. "No," An gui ren said, "I can only be ignored so much in one day. Let''s see how long huang gui fei will pretend to bother with me," ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *The palace where the princes and princesses lived until they were married was titled this ?Nursemaids could add "niang" to their names. Could also be called momo Chapter 10 Xiang gui ren was getting on Shen huang gui fei''s last nerve. What little joy she could''ve gotten from His Majesty''s favorite whore kowtowing to her was stolen by Her Highness, displaying a trove of gifts that The Emperor had nothing to do with. The look in The Empress'' said it all. Look, my newest pawn has won so successfully. Can you believe that His Majesty forgot about you already? Doesn''t it sting? It did sting, but Shen huang gui fei didn''t dare give her the satisfaction. She comforted herself with the fact that Xiang gui ren only managed a small win. All of The Empress'' women had a few small wins, a few good years before Shen huang gui fei got rid of them. She assumed Xiang gui ren would be the same until His Majesty said something that made her heart grow cold. While she dressed him one morning that he mention he would visit Xiang gui ren at the A Ge Suo after court. As sweetly as she could, Shen huang gui fei asked what Xiang gui ren was doing there. His Majesty then informed her of the disgusting news of Xiang gui ren supervising her maid as she taught her daughter and Second Princess. When Shen huang gui fei suggested that she supervise the lessons as well, The Emperor waved her away, stating that The Empress and De gui fei already had it handled. It made Shen huang gui fei mad enough to spit. Jiang gui ren didn''t take the news any better and came crying to Zhongcuigong about the injustice of it all. "How is she able to be in A Ge Suo and see First and Second Princess every day?," asked Jiang gui ren, "Jiejie, even The Empress is bending the rules for her now!" "Must you harp on it?" Shen huang gui fei snapped. She turned to A''Fang, "Can''t you fan faster?" Jingse attempted to pat her mistress'' sticky skin with a cool cloth but Shen huang gui fei snatched it away and did it herself. It was well into the seventh month* and the air in her palace was thick with heat, no matter how many boxes of ice were delivered. Her anger at The Empress and Xiang gui ren''s favor made her run even hotter. The palace rules stated that concubines had to request and be approved by The Empress to visit their children at the A Ge Suo. Special occasions needed no request but there were only a set amount of visiting days allowed for all, including The Empress. Not even a sick child could guarantee a visit. But somehow, because Xiang gui ren''s maid had a bit of talent for painting, Xiang gui ren was able to spend more time with her daughter than she ever did. And The Empress was right behind her, claiming some nonsense about supervising the lessons. "I can''t even see my Huaguang," said Jiang gui ren, "Xu-niang said she hasn''t been sleeping," "Don''t worry so much about it. Children are like that at that age," said Shen huang gui fei. Her words were terse and sharp, but Jiang gui ren paid no mind to it. "I would never leave my Huaguang in that bitch''s care. I''ve seen her maids flirt with His Majesty. Who knows what kind of nonsense that maid is teaching First Princess and Second Princess? It can''t be anything good!" Shen huang gui fei sighed and massaged her temple. Jiang gui ren had a particularly annoying voice. "Someone like her," Jiang gui ren continued, "Probably only teaches her maid how far back on the bed to lay to get the best benefits from her master. She probably brought a bunch of nasty things from her old place of business. Disgusting!" Shen huang gui fei paused. There was a nugget of gold in all the rubbish Jiang gui ren was spewing. "Yes," Shen huang gui fei said with a smile, "It certainly wouldn''t be anything tame. I think the horses where she''s from were particularly well trained," Jiang gui ren shook her head in disgust. "Imagine if The Empress Dowager found out what sort of nasty things her maid showed the princesses? Not even His Majesty could save her," Shen huang gui fei always considered Jiang gui ren to be a little slow when it came to things like this but she could pinpoint the exact moment an idea formed in that empty melon Jiang gui ren called a head. She hoped Xiang gui ren savored her victory. It would be her last. ? Jiayi guided Second princess'' arm across the parchment, helping her complete the curve of a crane. Smooth lines were still a bit of a problem for her. Jiayi quickly went to First Princess'' table to see her progress on her painting of a magnolia. She was having a bit of trouble with blending her colors. All in all, Jiayi didn''t mind spending her afternoons with the princesses. The Empress was alright. She stayed and chatted with Xiang gui ren for a few moments before visiting Third Prince and Seventh Prince who would be at the A Ge Suo for the midday meal. It was De gui fei who was a bit of a problem. The noble consort was so...severe. She sat in a corner of the room watching the princesses paint, doing her best not to take her eyes off for a second. She also didn''t hesitate to peer over Jiayi''s shoulder at any given moment. The first time that Xiang gui ren brought Jiayi over to the princesses'' rooms, De gui fei had given her a 20-minute speech on all of the things the girls were prohibited to draw. She then spent another 15 minutes reminding Jiayi of proper conduct between a servant and a master. Xiang gui ren, however, found De gui fei interesting and was an expert at making the other woman let down her hair somewhat. Xiang gui ren was skilled at drawing De gui fei into light conversation. Jiayi was sure that De gui fei even laughed once! Besides the princesses, the only other person that could make De gui fei behave like something other than a statue was Prince Han. Prince Han often joined Xiang gui ren in teasing De gui fei and wouldn''t hesitate to steal a piece of parchment to write a poem lauding her beauty, intelligence, or expertise in helping The Empress raise him back in the Old Manor. The only time he didn''t have a smile on his face was when his injuries flared up but those moments came less and less. Prince Han had been in the Forbidden City for nearly a month and a half now. His legion of fans lamented the day that His Majesty sent Prince Han back out of the palace. Today, Prince Han was lounging in the courtyard, right outside First Princess'' rooms. The doors were wide open so every time Jiayi lifted her head, she caught sight of him, flipping through a book or teasing his eunuch. "This is a very handsome painting," said De gui fei, "The maid drew this?" The painting that De gui fei praised so gently was one that Jiayi was quietly proud of. Xiang gui ren had wanted the painting to dazzle De gui fei so she gifted Jiayi a lacquered box of colored ink sticks and handcrafted brushes. Jiayi had never seen anything so beautiful and surprised herself by bursting into tears. She tried to hide it by kowtowing to Xiang gui ren but ended up being teased mercilessly for it. To get the picture as perfect as possible, Xiang gui ren spent any time that wasn''t in the A Ge Suo or with His Majesty, in Dafuge?, so Jiayi could study each and every portrait of Guanyin bodhisattva?? housed within. Jiayi drew and drew until her hands ached until the final painting was finished. Guanyin bodhisattva stood in the middle of a calm lake, the strokes so vivid that De gui fei could hear the sound of the waves babbling. The white robes that flowed around Guanyin glowed. At her feet, thousands of lotuses bloomed. The rich dark hair that Jiayi had fussed over, glistened in the sun. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "If you like it, you can keep it. I can have Jiayi draw more," said Xiang gui ren. De gui fei shook her head, "I don''t know. Something like this should be kept by Her Highness or His Majesty. The Empress Dowager even," she gently ran her fingers across the painting before shaking her again, "No, no. I can''t take this. Deliver this to The Empress Dowager instead," Hupo, De gui fei''s maid, nodded and left to drop it off. Xiang gui ren sighed and said, "Aiya, the momos who taught me really weren''t joking when they told me about you," "Told you about me?" "You didn''t know?" Asked Xiang gui ren, "All I heard back there was ''De gui fei would never'' or ''This is how De gui fei behaves''. They were your number one fans!" De gui fei''s neck turned red, "Nonsense, how could they say that?" "Xiang gui ren!" Prince Han called, "Are you bothering De gui fei?" "Yes! Are you coming to save her?" Xiang gui ren. Prince Han scoffed, "No! Let me come closer so I can join you!" Xiang gui ren burst into laughter, while De gui fei shook her head. "That boy," she said, "Always so cheeky!" Sang''er tried his best to give Prince Han a hand, but the prince was stubborn. He no longer walked with a limp, but still fatigued easily. Prince Han stepped inside, clearing the high sill easily, only to stumble on the raised edge of the carpet. Before he could bash his head open on the edge of the table Second Princess was using, Jiayi grabbed him around the shoulders and set him upright. "Uncle, are you alright?" Second princess said, pushing Jiayi out of the way. "You''re always running around!" First princess griped, a frown on her face. De gui fei rushed over and led Prince Han to a chair chastising him all the while. From the courtyard, A''Fang turned and high-tailed it back to Zhongcuigong. ? As much as Jiayi loved painting, it became a tad tedious after doing it for hours at a time. After the princess'' lessons, Xiang gui ren came back to Xianfugong to rest before lunch. Jiayi took the time to paint a few more portraits of Guanyin bodhisattva for De gui fei and the princesses. They certainly weren''t as good as the original but they were worthy of being hung. Jiayi also picked a few flower paintings that she drew in the Imperial Garden to be delivered as well. Each bunch of paintings were put in a handsome silk box. Before Jiayi could send Bolin or any of the other eunuchs to deliver them, Xiang gui ren woke from her nap, needing to be dressed. Soon after that, Gaung da ying, Fan da ying, and Zhang da ying arrived at Xiang gui ren''s doors. They were three of Xiang gui ren''s most persistent admirers. Fan da ying had the luck of serving The Emperor in bed thanks to her habit of inviting herself into Xiang gui ren''s space whenever she pleased. The first thing she did after asking Xiang gui ren to play of few songs on her guzheng¡ì, was thumb through the paintings Jiayi set out. Jiayi knew that Xiang gui ren wouldn''t deny them. In her eyes, Xiang gui ren didn''t take much seriously, but when it came to playing the guzheng, it was like she was another woman. There were no coy looks and playful chatter when Xiang gui ren played the instrument. Only an artist. It only took a few moments to set up the guzheng in the courtyard that was delivered to Xiang gui ren''s rooms while they were out. It was a beautiful bleached wood, with glistening jade swirls and silk strings. Jiayi had never seen anything like it. Bolin and the other eunuchs set up a table and some chairs for the first-class attendants to spectate. Xiang gui ren slipped on her gold-tipped guzheng nails and began to tune her newest instrument. "Fan jiejie," said Zhang da ying, "Doesn''t Xiang jiejie look like a famous master like this?" "Yes! I heard that no one in the Changyinge?can even compare to Xiang jiejie," said Guang da ying. They burst into giggles. "Goodness! What''s all this commotion in my courtyard?" Jiang gui ren stepped through the gates, an arrogant smile on her face. Fan da ying greeted the older woman as disrespectfully as she could before sitting back down. "Xiang jiejie is going to play us a tune on her new guzheng," she said. "New guzheng?" Asked Jiang gui ren. Fan da ying giggled and covered her mouth, "Oh, you haven''t seen His Majesty in some days. Of course, you haven''t heard about it. His Majesty just had the Changyinge gift this beautiful guzheng to Xiang jiejie," Jiang gui ren made a point to inspect the coral and gold ring around her finger, a gift from The Emperor, "Yes, I didn''t hear about that. I also haven''t heard anything about your promotion. Did I miss that, too?" Fan da ying slammed her hand on the table, "You¨C!" "Aiya! This is Xianfugong! Xiang-fu-gong! How can this be the palace of universal happiness if you both start fighting?" Said Xiang gui ren. "Fine, I suppose I''ll sit and join in on the fun, too," said Jiang gui ren. Jiayi offered snacks and tea to the concubines before standing aside and basking in Xiang gui ren''s music. Today, her mistress was playing a warm tune, a perfect companion to the summer evening. "Ah," Jiayi said softly. She called Ping''er and Pie''er over, "Take Bolin and deliver the paintings I finished today. The tray with the lily painting is for De gui fei, the one with the roses is for First Princess and the one with the plum blossoms is for Second princess," The younger girls nodded and went to fetch the trays but before they could get very far, Jiang gui ren stopped them. "I haven''t had dinner yet, so let me borrow you two to bring my meal back from the Imperial Kitchen. My maids will clear the table and follow you," Pie''er and Ping''er glanced at Jiayi. "Is she your mistress now?" Jiang gui ren snapped, "Go!" Jiayi sighed as they jumped to do Jiang gui ren''s bidding. She would have to leave Molan here on her own and deliver the paintings herself. "Stop," Jiang gui ren covered her mouth with a handkerchief and glanced at Fan da ying, "There are too many bugs flying about. Go bring some incense from my room to keep them away. Haoyu will show you," "Jiang gui ren I¨C" "It will only take a moment," the concubine said, turning away. There was no point in arguing. Jiang gui ren was obviously in a mood because of her chat with Fan da ying. Jiayi followed the eunuch into Jiang gui ren''s rooms. Finding the bug-repelling incense took far too long. Haoyu dragged her from room to room and made her unpack and pack so many drawers that she swore that when she found the incense she was going to beat him over the head with it. It pissed her off even more when the incense turned up in Jiang gui ren''s bedroom, under the vanity. "Ah, so sorry Wei guniang, I''m so foolish for not seeing it there," Jiayi didn''t bother to respond, doing her best to prepare the incense as quickly as possible. She walked back outside and placed the burner on the table in front of Jiang gui ren with a bow. Jiang gui ren began to fan the thick smoke in Fan da ying''s face. "Can you quiet down, meimei?" she said over Fan da ying''s coughing, "I can hardly hear the beautiful music," Before the two got into it again, dinner arrived. Jiang gui ren made a show of taking a big sniff as the servants placed the food on the table, "My little sisters should stay and eat with me and Xiang meimei. I know you don''t have much as a second-class attendant," Jiayi helped Xiang gui ren remove her guzheng nails and take a seat at the table. Fan da ying smiled, "That''s true, us second-class attendants aren''t as well-fed as you, Jiang gui ren. If I remember, you became a big fan of braised pork trotters, during your pregnancy with Fifth princess, right?" She looked Jiang gui ren up and down. "I see you still enjoy them!" Xiang gui ren covered her laugh with a heavy cough. "Have some shrimp, meimei," said Zhang da ying, terrified of the glare that Jiang gui ren was sending their way, "Try this bok choy, too!" The glare turned into a sickly sweet smile as Jiang gui ren said, "Meimei, you''re so..." Jiayi sighed. She''d tell Bolin and the other eunuchs to take the paintings over later whenever Fan da ying and Jiang gui ren finished their little battle. ? For no paticular reason, Xiang gui ren was allotted for fabric for the summer weather. Jiayi and Molan fetched early the next morning from Imperial Household Department. "These silks are so pretty," said Molan, lifting the tray in her hands closer to her face, "Mistress looks good in these colors but I hope she''ll be able to wear more purple soon," Jiayi knocked her shoulder into Molan''s, her own arms were full with fabric as well, "She''s hasn''t even been here for two months and you''re expecting a promotion to Imperial Concubine? Is she a goddess?" "His Majesty loves her so much! Mark my words, once she get''s pregnant, Jiang gui ren will have to bow down to our Xiang pin," said Molan. "Be quiet," said Jiayi, fighting a smile. She had heard Jiang gui ren''s tantrums, but had never seen one in real life. The face Jiang gui ren would make if Zhang Wei came to promote someone at Xianfugong and it wasn''t her... An image of plucked chicken popped into her head. Jiayi ducked her head to hide her laughter. Molan smiled, "You did think about it! I bet¨C" "Wei Jiayi," a thin lipped guard said, stopping in front of her. Jiayi froze as a stream of red coated Imperial guards surrounded her and Molan. "You''re under arrest by order of The Emperor," Jiayi gasped as the tray of fabrics was knocked to the ground and her arms wrenched behind her back. "But I-I¨C" Jiayi was trying to say she didn''t do anything wrong. She wanted to say that this had to be a mistake. She wanted to say that she was innocent. She wanted to say anything at all, but the lies wouldn''t make it past her lips. Jiayi knew why she was being taken away. "Wait, wait! Why are you arresting her?" She heard Molan ask, "Jiejie didn''t do anything wrong!" It was over. They realized that a corpse had been walking in the Forbidden City. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *July 23 ¨C August 23 ?Great pavilion for Buddha Adoration ??The goddess of mercy and considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion ¡ìChinese plucked zither ? Hall of Pleasing Sounds Chapter 11 In the Forbidden City, many preferred to be sent to the grave rather than to The Office of Careful Punishment. If you came back at all, you didn''t come back whole. His Majesty liked to pretend that the guards and momos in the Office of Careful Punishment were upstanding people, only striving for truth but everyone knew that a few pieces of silver or a promotion for a close relative could have a witness turned into a corpse. The guards that stole her away from Molan were none too gentle as they pulled her down the winding streets. The frozen fear wrapped around her body transformed into an inferno as the gates of The Office of Careful Punishment came into view. Jiayi wondered if she would ever see the sun again as she was pulled deeper into the bowels of the building until they came upon the jail cells. The smell of piss and blood churned her stomach. Jiayi glimpsed the sight of a limp hand for only a moment before she snapped her eyes shut. She couldn''t dampen the sounds of the screams and grunts of pain but she could close her eyes to the gruesome truth. The guards pushed her to the ground of the cell and slammed the door behind her. The cell was completely bare save for a moldy hay-filled bed and a commode. If Jiayi stretched herself out flat, she would be able to touch both walls. The guards tugged at the lock of the cell before striding away. Jiayi snatched her hand off the floor as a mouse scurried by and into the hall. She couldn''t smother her gasp at the sight of a crew of eunuchs towing away a body covered in a bloodied sheet. Walking leisurely behind them were a pair of momos. The taller of the two was wiping her wet hands with a rag while the other glanced into Jiayi''s cell. "Yo! Yi momo, isn''t that one of the girls we whipped some time ago?" Yi momo, peered between the bars of Jiayi''s cell before smiling, showing off her missing teeth. "It looks like you''re right, Qi momo. Some of these girls never learn," she said with a shake of her head. With a sigh, Qi momo crossed her arms, "I hope she didn''t piss off His Majesty too much. We worked all morning on that one," she said, nodding her head to the hallway where the body was carried out. "Let''s have lunch before they come find us," said Yi momo. The pair left, leaving Jiayi alone again, with only the sounds of the other poor souls in the jail to keep her company. The metallic tang of blood overwhelmed her at last. She crawled over to the commode and wretched before pushing the bucket away. Curling up on the pile of hay masquerading as a bed, Jiayi tucked her face into her knees. Her journey to the Forbidden City so many years ago started very like this. Dragged away and put behind a cage, only this time Jiayi wasn''t sure if she was going to come back out. Had Fung gonggong given her up? Did they already know she was guilty? Would they execute her? Jiayi''s crime wasn''t so grave. She had been a good maid to Xiang gui ren all this time and hadn''t caused trouble. Being beaten to death was terrifying but it was a far better outcome than being sent back to Su gonggong. Thinking of the man again, Jiayi was surprised to feel a hot rush of anger slice through her body. The sheer force of it brought tears to her eyes. Why couldn''t he just leave her alone? Was she the only woman in the Forbidden City he could torment? This was the closest she had ever been to happiness and that disgusting man was doing his best to snatch it away from her. "Jiayi," a slimy whisper called. Fighting the urge to scream, Jiayi picked up her head and looked at Su gonggong. The man was pressing his gaunt, gray face between the bars, gnarled hands gripping the metal tight. "You''re in a bad way, aren''t you, my dear," he cooed, "I have a few connections here, if you promise to be a good girl I can¨C" Sick of hearing the shit that Su gonggong was spewing, Jiayi picked up the commode bucket and lashed the contents into his face. The man retched and sputtered, wiping the acrid liquid from his eyes. "You stupid bitch! I should slit your fucking throat! And they''ll let me when they''re done with you!" "Shut up back there!" A scowling guard stopped in front of Jiayi''s cell. He covered his nose at the sight of Su gonggong. "Daren," Su gonggong said, bowing low, "It''s really nothing," "You fucking stink. Get out of here," the guard snapped. "But daren, you promised me a bit more time, didn''t you?" The guard kicked Su gonggong to the ground, "I don''t make deals with dogs. If you stay here any longer I''ll throw you back in here," "Of course, daren, of course," Su gonggong replied before he crawled away. The guard glared down at the ground where Su gonggong used to be and then at Jiayi. "Disgusting," he muttered as he returned to his post. Jiayi sank to the floor and curled herself up again. It was like her head was stuffed with cotton. She couldn''t even try to think straight. First, she was afraid, then angry, and now? Jiayi was exhausted. She didn''t realize that the woes of the day had dragged her down to sleep until the sounds of someone calling her name jostled her awake. "Jiayi!" She opened her eyes and saw a man with a sword. A guard? Jiayi rubbed her eyes clear and felt awash with relief when she realized who it was. It was Chang daren! Hauling up her sleep-heavy body, Jiayi faced the bars, deliriously happy to see this familiar face. "Chang daren," she said, "What are you doing here?" "Molan told me," he replied. Chang daren looked over his shoulder, "I can only stay for a moment. For your sake, I hope this is all a misunderstanding," Jiayi tightened her hands around the prison bars and shook her head, "If you let me explain¨C" "What were you thinking?! The Empress Dowager doesn''t take that sort of thing lightly!" "The Empress Dowager?" Said Jiayi, her confusion mounting, "Why would Her Highness care?" Chang daren curled his lip in disgust, "You sent her granddaughter''s pornography! Why wouldn''t she care?" ? Her royal daughter-in-law would not look into her eyes. Good. It had been two days since Xiang gui ren''s vulgar crime was revealed and His Majesty finally stopped dragging his feet on the interrogation. It was infuriating! Her precious granddaughters came so close to seeing such repulsive things but because that Xiang gui ren was in the thick of it, he found other things more important. The Empress Dowager was glad Shen huang gui fei was available to urge him. De gui fei didn''t dare bother His Majesty, despite the chastity of her only daughter being on the line. Pathetic. Yet she still had the nerve to sit in Yangxindian alongside The Empress as if she was wronged. The Empress Dowager glared at her son, "The moment that woman set foot in the Forbidden City, a gust of wind doused every candle on my altar. I knew how much you wanted this woman here so I never mentioned this bad omen but look now! Look at what she and her filthy maid had the chance to do! Your Majesty, you must not let her get away with this crime," Shen huang gui fei, sat at her side, rose to pat The Empress Dowager''s back, "Your Highness, please calm down," It was like everything she said went in The Emperor''s ear and out the other. The Emperor didn''t bother to reply, choosing to sip leisurely on his tea, a petulant set to his brow. "Royal mother, we don''t know yet if Xiang gui ren had anything to do with this. It could just be the wicked trick of a lowly slave," said The Empress. "Yes," said The Emperor, "I won''t stand to hear Xiang gui ren''s name slandered over assumptions," The Empress Dowager waved Shen huang gui fei away and tried to hide her anger behind her handkerchief as she dabbed her forehead . Assumptions are what got her into this mess. The day that her son was granted the title of crown prince was both the happiest and most terrifying day of her life. She had just been imperial concubine then, favored for many years but still not good enough to promote. The decree made her sacrifices worth it but, she knew that having a crown prince son was only the beginning. Having a crown prince son meant that suddenly her three daughters were more of a boon than ever. Marriage to them meant close connections to the crown prince and close connections to her Borjigit clan, which had been failing to do so the last few years. As a daughter of the Borjigit, The Empress Dowager decided that her son''s reign would be the era of Mongols. It was more than amusing to rub that little fact in the former Empress'' face as stuck up as she was. The Empress Dowager was glad once more the woman died before she could see what the back palace had become. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.So of course Zhengshi''s primary wife had to be a Mongolian g¨ºg¨º. The moment she put the word out that the crown prince was looking for a di fujin, her palace was never empty. Jerjer''s hand ached from all of the portraits of potential matches she had to unroll. It all seemed fruitless until she came across one girl. Altanchimeg, a distant cousin of hers. The name sent shivers down her spine. Golden Ornament. Yes, Altanchimeg was to be the crown jewel of her reign as The Empress Dowager. Looking back, The Empress Dowager couldn''t believe what a fool she had been. Altanchimeg was no more than a thorn in her side. The girl was docile but only to her son. She refused to do her rights as a daughter-in-law and bent to The Emperor''s every whim saying some nonsense that Zhengshi was her first master. As if The Empress Dowager wasn''t the master of him! She was completely useless and couldn''t even keep Zhengshi''s first son alive. She was boring, unappetizing, and hard-headed. The only reason The Emperor still favored her was because she never said no. At the very least, Shen huang gui fei had been useful to her these recent days. "Jiejie has to be right," said Shen huang gui fei, "I couldn''t imagine having such a woman around my daughter day in and day out. So it must be the maid, it must!" The Emperor turned to De gui fei, "What do you think?" She raised her head and declared, "I don''t believe she did this," The Empress Dowager was prepared for a lot of things to come out of the noble consort''s mouth, but that was not one of them. A glance at Shen huang gui fei showed that she was just as surprised. "I don''t believe Xiang gui ren would compel Jiayi to do this and don''t believe Jiayi would ever do something like this," "De meimei," said Shen huang gui fei, "You''ve only known Xiang gui ren and her household for maybe two months. How could you know what sort of face she''s hiding?" The Empress Dowager didn''t miss the frosty stare De gui fei aimed at Shen huang gui fei. "Your Majesty, Your Highnesses," said a junior eunuch, as he entered the room "The maid has arrived," ? "Your slave Wei Jiayi greets Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Highnesses," Jiayi went to her knees and pressed her forehead to the ground. The air inside the room felt heavy. Jiayi had been inside these rooms many times with her mistress. His Majesty aside, the twinkling gold fabrics and rich wood were a perfect accompaniment to Xiang gui ren''s brilliant laughter and cheerful voice. Now? The edges in the room were sharper, the wood black as night. The paintings of fierce animals threatened to jump from the wall and tear her to pieces. She didn''t know why Xiang gui ren wasn''t there. She hated that Xiang gui ren wasn''t here. There was no one here to defend Jiayi but herself. She was all that she had. The walk from The Office of Careful Punishment had been long and silent. All Jiayi had to ground her were her thoughts and the pain in her arms. There was no point in doing anything but defend herself. If there wasn''t a chance that she could save herself, she would already be dead, wouldn''t she? Jiayi was determined to try. "You know why you''re here then?" The Emperor asked. "Yes, Your Majesty," Jiayi replied, "I do know. But didn''t do anything of the sort. I would not dare," Jiayi tried to raise her voice, to speak with determination but it felt like someone was pulling a rope tighter and tighter around her neck. She could only whisper. "You''ve never seen these before?" Jiayi raised her head as Zhang Wei loomed over her with a small stack of papers held out in front of him. With shaking fingers, she took them. The first thing she noticed was how smooth and fair the paper was. Jiayi had never felt paper that fine, not even in De gui fei''s palace. The second thing she noticed was how depraved the drawings were. It made her face burn red just glancing at them. The first parchment had a group of men, nude, bodies writhing together in decadent ecstasy. The next had a woman subjugating herself behind a completely naked man. The last parchment was the worst. A man using a woman''s bare feet* to rub his member up against. It slipped from her hands in shock. "Your Majesty," she said, finding her voice, "I''ve never seen anything like this before," The Emperor stared down at her, "I''ve never seen those before either. No one in the Pavilion of Beguiling Sights would dare create these. I''ve heard talk that you''re very talented with a brush and something like this would come naturally to you," "I would not dare!" "You wouldn''t dare? Yet somehow these disgusting things were delivered directly from Xianfugong," The Emperor replied. "Jiayi," said Shen huang gui said with a warm smile, "The only way forward is, to tell the truth now. You must be honest if someone instructed you to do this. His Majesty will investigate thoroughly and treat you accordingly," "Your Highness, no one instructed me," Jiayi paused to take a deep breath, "I couldn''t have drawn in the first place. I''ve never held such fine paper in my life," She held the paper back out, "Such good parchment is commonplace to you, Your Majesty but I''ve never come across it," Shiyi took the paper from Jiayi and gave it to The Empress who ran a gentle hand across it. "Your Majesty, isn''t this the bamboo paper from the Northern Tribute?" She asked, "Didn''t you only grant this to royal mother and the master in Dafuge?" The Empress Dowager''s mouth popped open for a moment, before she gathered herself, "Xiang gui ren and her maid spent plenty of time there, didn''t they, De gui fei?" De gui fei could only nod. "Who''s to say she didn''t steal it?" Said The Empress Dowager. The Emperor let out a breath and began massaging his temple. Wang gugu then came to The Emperor''s side, "Prince Han is here," Prince Han walked inside and came to a stop next to Jiayi and greeted His Majesty. Jiayi knew that Wang gugu said that Prince Han had arrived and the person next to her looked just like him, but Jiayi could barely recognize the man beside her. The wide mouth and erupted in laughter with ease were gone. The eyes that curved with each smile were gone. The body that lounged on beds and tickled the First Princess was gone. Next to her was a man who had seen things she couldn''t imagine. This was the famous Prince Han of the Third Rank. "What brings you here?" Asked The Empress. "The servants are saying that Your Highness and Your Majesty are investigating a matter of injury to First and Second Princess. Your Highness would not dare let something like that happen to her children so I came here to learn the truth at once," replied Prince Han. "Prince Han, jiejie, of course, loves First Princess and Second Princess like her own daughters" said Shen huang gui fei, "But she can''t help it if someone took advantage of her grace. We all make mistakes," Prince Han tossed his flinty eyes to her, "And what mistake was made?" Shen huang gui fei ducked her head, "I don''t dare say it," Jingse raised her chin, "Xiang gui ren''s maid, drew this disgusting work and delivered it to De gui fei, First Princess and Second Princess. The evidence is right there," Jiayi flinched when Prince Han''s open hand dropped in front of her face. It took her a moment to realize he was asking for the paintings. Prince Han looked at the drawings for a moment before carelessly tossing them to the ground. "This maid did nothing of the sort," "You''re so sure?" Asked The Empress Dowager. "Of course. Wei Jiayi is an ignorant servant from a small family that served a small clan. How would she know what anything during that Tang Dynasty looked like?" The Emperor took the drawing from The Empress'' hands and held it close to his face. Jiayi felt her stomach flutter as his shoulders lowered in relief. "Prince Han is very diligent. The hair and decor, they''re all Tang. Even I couldn''t recognize it at first," Shen huang gui fei bowed her head, "But Your Majesty, even if this maid didn''t draw these, how in the world did they end up being delivered straight from Xianfugong? I won''t be able to rest if we don''t get to the bottom of this," What little hope Jiayi had of getting out of this alive was dashed against the rocks. Another of The Emperor''s eunuchs came into the room and announced that Fan da ying had arrived as well. "Tell her to come back another time," said The Emperor. The eunuch paused before saying, "Fan da ying says she has information about the lewd drawings," "Let her in," Fan da ying''s slight figure kneeled next to Jiayi and greeted the room. "Rise," said The Empress, "Fan da ying, who informed you about what was happening here today?" "Your Highness wouldn''t know because no servants would dare spoil your ears with gossip, but this is all over the palace. First Princess'' nursemaid stirred up such a fuss that even I heard about it at Jingrengong," "Loose-mouthed layabouts," said The Empress Dowager, "Jerjer, spread my decree. The matter today regards the chastity of the royal heirs of the Imperial Family. Anyone speaking of it will be put to death," Jerjer nodded and left to do as told. "Fan meimei, you''ve only just become His Majesty''s woman yourself. What do you know about what''s happening today?" Asked Shen huang gui fei. "Your Highness, I can vouch that those drawings never came from Xianfugong at all. That day, I asked Xiang jiejie to play her guzheng for me and looked at the drawings that were laid out. None of them had anything like that in them. Xiang jiejie bothered with me for hours, even having dinner with me. Her servants didn''t have a moment to step inside to do something nefarious," said Fan da ying. "You don''t think a servant could have added these things during the trip over to the A Ge Suo?" Shen huang gui fei asked. "Your Majesty, Your Highness The Empress, this is where I confess my crimes. I was curious about the A Ge Suo so I followed Xiang jiejie''s servants there to see if I could go inside and see the children and perhaps be blessed by their energy. But the momo wouldn''t let me or the servants take more than a half step in. I watched the servants hand the momo those trays with nothing dirty inside. It could''ve only been added in the A Ge Suo itself," "Fan da ying, to steal into the A Ge Suo without permission is a heavy crime," said The Empress, her voice grave but soft. "I know my wrongs," said Fan da ying. "However, seeing that you''ve cleared Xiang gui ren from being associated with an even heavier crime, I can only punish you lightly. Return to Jingrengong and reflect on your actions," She turned to The Emperor, "Is a week long enough for Fan da ying to reflect?" The Emperor nodded, "Yes, I believe Fan chang zai will have reflected well in that time," The newly titled first-class attendant gasped, a bright smile on her face, "Thank you for your grace Your Majesty, thank you for your grace, Your Highness!" "Jiayi," said The Empress. Jiayi turned back to The Empress, "Your servant is here," she replied. "Go back to Xiang gui ren and tell her all is well," Jiayi couldn''t stop the few tears that rolled down her face, "Thank you, Your Highness. I''ll take my leave now," She scrambled to her feet, desperate to be at the end of this oppressive journey only to forget that kneeling rigidly for so long left your legs numb and clumsy. Her knees gave way and she stumbled into Prince Han''s side. Jiayi steadied herself immediately, refusing Sang''er''s helping hand. She just wanted to go home. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Even though the Manchurian Qing dynasty didn''t believe in foot binding, they still carried the idea that a woman''s feet were her most private place, even more private than her vagina or breasts. You''ll find that when erotic works from ancient and feudal China have completely nude women, the feet are always covered Chapter 12 Jiayi felt tears well up in her eyes when she stepped through the gates of Xianfugong. The dizzying mixture of happiness, relief, and fear made her hands shake, and knees wobble. Pie''er was standing at the doors, head pointed to the ground. "Little Cutie!" She called. Pie''er wasn''t prone to raising her voice or making sudden movements, so when the young girl screamed Jiayi''s name and barreled her way into her arms, Pie''er nearly knocked her to the ground. She buried her face in Jiayi''s chest and burst into tears. "Don''t cry, don''t cry! I was only gone for two days!" Said Jiayi, hugging her tight. Through her tears, Pie''er said, "Susu said that you weren''t going to return! She said they would hang your body outside the divine gate to teach the other maids a lesson!" "She was just trying to scare you," said Jiayi, "I''m already back," "Mistress! It''s Jiayi! She''s back!" Two more pairs of arms crushed Jiayi before she could raise her head. "Jiejie, you''re back! You''re back!" Ping''er added to Pie''er tears while Molan''s mouth was running a mile a minute. Try as she might, Jiayi ended up with tears running down her face as well. She couldn''t help it. It was overwhelming to know that these girls loved her as much as she loved them in such a short time. "Jiejie, you''re not allowed to leave again," Pie''er said, a wobbly glare on her red face. Jiayi nodded. "You wild girl, where did you run off to?" said a familiar voice. Jiayi wiped her face and gently extracted herself from the sobbing pile of girls. She kowtowed to her mistress. "Xiang gui ren, I''ve returned," Xiang gui ren helped Jiayi to her feet and then tweaked her nose, "So unruly. You kept those girls up worried for you day and night," Her mistress'' lips wobbled as she spoke, and an errant tear welled up in her eye before she dashed it away. "I''m sorry for worrying them," replied Jiayi. "Xiang meimei, His Majesty will scold you again if you make a stir about leaving. Hurry back inside before someone notices!" When Jiang gui ren caught sight of Jiayi, her face when slack with shock; a second later, she smiled. "Meimei! Your maid is back! What good news," said Jiang gui ren. Jiayi greeted Jiang gui ren properly and did her best not to slap her. How dare she behave like she wasn''t almost the reason for Jiayi''s death? Jiang gui ren went as far to pet Jiayi''s face to play the role of a concerned friend. It made Jiayi''s skin crawl. "Xiang meimei was so scared for you! Thank goodness you''ve returned," "This servant isn''t worthy of your concern," replied Jiayi. "Nonsense! In fact," Jiang gui ren slipped a jade and copper ring off her finger and pressed it into Jiayi''s hands, "For you, to celebrate your return, Jiayi quietly thanked her. Being touched by Jiang gui ren made her feel even dirtier than she already was after spending two days in The Office of Careful Punishment. Susu cleared her throat, "Mistress, you have to change. His Majesty is waiting," "Right. Congratulations, Xiang meimei, His Majesty has learned the truth. I''ll come back and celebrate with you later, okay?" Jiayi glared at Jiang gui ren''s back before Molan tugged at her, "Jiejie, is that...blood on your sleeve?" It probably was. "Oh," Jiayi said, inspecting her dirtied clothes, "I''ll go wash up," "You''re lucky. Pretty just finished setting up my bath," said Xiang gui ren. Jiayi shook her head, "Mistress, I couldn''t use your bath. All I need is some water. I can bring it myself," "Aiya, all the trouble you''ve caused, and you still have the nerve to talk back?" Said Xiang gui ren. Molan and Ping''er dragged Jiayi inside before she could protest, "Jiejie, you''ll love it! There''s pearl powder and rose petals. It''s so fancy," There wasn''t much Jiayi could do but undress and step into the bath. Molan was right; she did love it. However, the delicious warmth from the fragrant water couldn''t melt away the ice that had settled in her heart. Jiang gui ren was more dangerous than she thought and Xiang gui ren needed to know. "What''s that face for?" Asked Xiang gui ren as she sat near the tub, "Sick of us already?" Jiayi shook her head, "Mistress, did His Majesty tell you why I was arrested?" "No!" Ping''er butted in, "When Mistress went to ask, he wouldn''t tell her and then locked her in her rooms!" Ping''er quieted down at Xiang gui ren''s glare, "Jiang gui ren was happy to let me know what everyone was saying," Jiayi took a deep breath and began to talk. The bath water had long grown cold when Jiayi finished her tale. ? As the Phoenix-Luan Spring Favor Carriage ambled towards Yangxindian, Xiang gui ren fumed. She wanted to say that Jiang gui ren was the target of her fury, but she was indeed the most furious at herself. She had been a fool, thinking that Jiang gui ren was a jealous child with nothing more on her mind outside of stealing His Majesty''s favor. Women had been killed at the brothel for things like a better room or a few silks. So why had Xiang gui ren thought Jiang gui ren wouldn''t kill to have The Emperor''s favor? The gentle rocking of the carriage was at odds with her whirling mind. Jiayi had identified Jiang gui ren as the mastermind of entire debacle, but Xiang gui ren couldn''t wrap her head around that. Where did Jiang gui ren get those lewd pictures? Or that paper? Did The Empress Dowager help her? Did The Empress? Frankly, it could''ve been anyone. Even if it wasn''t said out loud, she knew she wasn''t the most popular person in the back palace. When she lifted the carriage door after it stopped, Zhang Wei was waiting to escort her inside. "His Majesty is eager to see you," he said, leading her up the steps, "He instructed the kitchens to make those pea-flour cakes that you''re so fond of," In fact, everything in The Emperor''s rooms that night looked to be catered to her preferences. Her favorite incense, her favorite tea; His Majesty was even wearing an outfit in orange, her favorite color. His Majesty was doing his best to please her. Xiang gui ren could use this to her advantage. "This concubine greets His Majesty," she said. She had only touched the ground before The Emperor was pulling her upright. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "You can do away with the formalities, dear," he said. "Can I?" Replied Xiang gui ren, "How can I believe that with how you treated me these few days?" "It was for your protection. It showed that you weren''t swaying the investigation," "How could I sway an investigation that I didn''t know existed? You arrested Jiayi and locked me up. I was¨C" Xiang gui ren stopped and bowed her head, pretending to be contrite, "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I''ve been too wordy," The Emperor raised Xiang gui ren''s chin, "Speak," he said. Xiang gui ren threw herself into his arms and squeezed out a few tears. "I was so scared. I thought...I thought that you lied to me. That everything you told me in Nanjing meant nothing," The Emperor tightened his arms around her, "Never. We will leave peacefully and grow old together. I knew from the start you would never do something like this. But I am The Emperor before I am your husband, so the law must be upheld. Had I not investigated, I wouldn''t have known a few disloyal servants tried to harm you," Running her hand across the silken fabric of his back, Xiang gui ren replied, "You''ve found the culprits, then?" "The Empress is investigating," he said, "Enough of this talk, come," The Emperor led Xiang gui ren into his bedroom. He sat her at the vanity and began to pick the accessories out of her hair. Xiang gui ren fought to keep the downtrodden look on her face. "Jiayi told me that Jiang jiejie''s servants did this. I always knew she was too nice," The Emperor paused, "What do you mean?" "Jiejie has a good heart, but she''s really still so young. She treats her servants like family, and they take advantage. Hopefully, Her Highness gets to the bottom of this, or I fear something like this will happen again," Xiang gui ren sighed as The Emperor finally pulled her hairpiece free. Next, she removed her jewelry and rubbed her neck. "When did Your Majesty get so good and undoing hair like this?" she asked With a quiet laugh, he bent down and kissed her neck, the soft bristles of his mustache tickling. "Her Highness'' hands tend to swell when she''s pregnant. Lucky for you, I helped her first, so we don''t have to call for help when I tangle your hair," He stepped away so his servants could undress him. Xiang gui ren did the same. When their jobs were finished, the servants left, and the couple crawled under the covers. Xiang gui ren laid her head on The Emperor''s chest. "I wonder what I''ll look like when if I get pregnant," she said before peering up at him, "Would you still love me if I become all swollen and awful?" "Of course," "Even if my hair fell out?" "Of course," "Even if teeth went brown?" "Of course," "Even¨C" The Emperor cut her off with a sweet kiss, "Huifen, we can worry about this when you get pregnant," "When?" She said against his lips, "Your Majesty, at my age, you know that might not happen," "I''m The Emperor. If I want it to happen, it will," He rubbed a warm hand across her cheek, "And I want this very, very much," ? Jiang gui ren pressed a peeled grape to The Emperor''s lips before returning her attention to the stage before her. Since the investigation, she had been sitting on pins and needles, waiting for the other shoe to drop. For two weeks Wang gugu and Shiyi gugu trawled through the Forbidden City, sniffing for clues. In the end, only two people were punished, some no-name maids from the A Ge Suo. She was annoyed that things didn''t turn out even with Shen huang gui fei''s help, but there wasn''t much she could do about it now. At the very least, His Majesty was spending more time with her. Of course, she would''ve preferred that he flipped her tag, but watching an opera together was fine, too. "Your Majesty, aren''t you bored seeing the same opera over and over again?" She asked. The Butterfly Lovers was her favorite opera. In her eyes, nothing could compare. His Majesty had put the play on at her request so often that Jiang gui ren recited the words in her sleep. "I''ll put it on 1,000 times more to see you smile," The Emperor replied. Jiang gui ren hid her face behind her fan, embarrassed by his bold words, "Your Majesty is too gracious," "Oh? So you don''t want the gift I have for you?" A gift? Perhaps it was a promotion? That little thing, Fan gui ren was tossed one for sticking her nose where it didn''t belong. There was no reason she couldn''t get one, too! Jiang gui ren glanced at Susu, who looked just as eager to see the gift as she was. "Your Majesty, don''t tease," said Jiang gui ren with a pout. The Emperor laughed before nodding his head. Wang gugu clapped her hands, and a stream of servants filed into the courtyard. They were older, with bowed backs and grayed hair. "These folks used to serve The Late Emperor. They did their jobs so well that each of their families was given good land and a stipend to retire on" "This servant doesn''t deserve Your Majesty''s grace," the servants replied. The Emperor smiled, "Cui momo and Yao gonggong were some of the Late Emperor''s closest servants. I saw them as much as I saw him. Seeing them now brings back many fond memories," Jiang gui ren nodded along, confused. "What do you think of them?" The Emperor asked. "If Your Majesty speaks warmly of them, they can only be good," said Jiang gui ren. "Good! They''re yours," The Emperor declared. Jiang gui ren smiled. She would have eight servants again! And this time, they wouldn''t be on loan. That would put Xiang gui ren and that rat Fan gui ren in their place. She bowed to him. "This concubine thanks you for your grace," "Rise," Susu helped Jiang gui ren back into her chair. "Guards!" Called Zhang Wei gonggong, "Seize them," Jiang gui ren watched in shock as the guards rounded up her servants. "Wait!" She said as she jumped out of her chair, "What are you doing?! Wei gonggong, you can''t do this!" Zhang Wei bowed his head with a soft smile, "Jiang gui ren, these lowly slaves are rebellious and unruly. They dared to frame Xiang gui ren. His Majesty has granted them death," Jiang gui ren flinched a Susu''s loud whimpers. A heavy hand dropped onto Jiang gui ren''s shoulder. She turned to The Emperor and grabbed his arm. "Your Majesty, what''s happening?" She cried. Wang gugu came to stand in front of Jiang gui ren. "The Empress investigated the incident involving Xiang gui ren and the princesses and found that Haoyu gonggong paid a cleaning maid to slip the paintings into the gifts Xiang gui ren sent over." The Emperor squeezed Jiang gui ren''s shoulder softly, "It won''t do to have someone of your standing served by such people. So I asked The Late Emperor''s former servants to travel back to the Forbidden City to serve you," "Susu and Haoyu would never do something like that, Your Majesty," said Jiang gui ren, her voice shaking, "They''re innocent. Your Majesty¨C" The sound of the opera reached a screeching crescendo that blighted Jiang gui ren''s ears. The Emperor slid his hand away and stared down at her. "Her Highness was merciful for not finding fault in you for having such treacherous servants. Was she wrong?" Jiang gui ren swallowed. There was nothing she could do. "Of course not, Your Majesty," said Jiang gui ren. A maid that Jiang gui ren didn''t remember the name of cried out, "Have mercy, Your Majesty!" The dam burst, and then all the servants began begging and lamenting for mercy as they were dragged away. Jiang gui ren clenched her fists and smiled blankly at the stage through tears. ? When Jiang gui ren arrived that night to serve His Majesty, Wang gugu almost couldn''t believe her eyes. The woman who stepped out of the carriage was wearing a plain white chenyi, dotted with pink flowers. Her hairpiece was modest in size and there wasn''t a single bit of gold to be found. This wasn''t unusual attire for a Noble Lady, but for Jiang gui ren? It was practically a joke. Clearly, her new servants dressed her based on her status and not her ego. It almost made Wang gugu smile. There was a sullen pout on the concubine''s face and her neck was pink with embarrassment. Wang gugu led Jiang gui ren into The Emperor''s bedroom and closed the door behind them. She nodded to Zhang Wei, who was standing just outside the doors. Standing a few feet away, Wang gugu thought of her tasks for the next day. The Empress Dowager''s birthday was in two months, so the time to source gifts was now. The Empress Dowager was a very particular woman regarding gifts, especially from The Emperor. At 68 years old, very few things dazzled her anymore. So perhaps Wang gugu would suggest the Emperor see if a few Western trinkets would interest in her or maybe an addition to Cininggong would be better. "Zhang Wei!" The Emperor''s voice rang out into the night, startling Wang gugu from her musings. Zhang Wei jumped to attention and darted inside the bedroom. Wang gugu crept closer, wondering if she had imagined the panic in The Emperor''s voice. Zhang Wei stumbled back outside and waved her over, "Gugu, come inside, please," "What''s wrong?" She asked. "It''s Jiang gui ren," She followed after him. The Emperor stood by his bed, looking down at Jiang gui ren. "Your Majesty," Wang gugu greeted. The Emperor ran a hand down his face and nodded towards Jiang gui ren, "Attend to her," He held out his hand, and Zhang Wei led him outside. Wang gugu stepped closer to the bed where Jiang gui ren was writhing under the covers. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the concubine was writhing but itching. Wang gugu brought a lantern close to the bed, dragged down the sheets, and fought back a gasp. The blush that Jiang gui ren was sporting earlier wasn''t a blush, but a rash. The bright pink splotches covered her skin and was accompanied by small weeping pustules. Jiang gui ren''s face fared no better. Her lips and eyes were swollen with irritation. Biting back a sigh, Wang gugu called for the servants. Whatever was happening to Jiang gui ren couldn''t occur in the presence of His Majesty. Yangxindian would have to be scrubbed top to bottom because of this. "Jiang gui ren is ill," said Wang gugu to the junior eunuchs that filed inside the bedroom, "Take her back to Xianfugong. Burn your clothes and wash yourself well when you return," The eunuchs rolled Jiang gui ren up in the blanket and hoisted her away. Wang gugu called for the maids and told them to burn the sheets and pillows and open all the windows. It was going to be a long night. Chapter 13 "His Majesty gave us the honor of caring for Jiang gui ren, and we failed so soon," cried Yao gonggong, "I deserve to die!" He wailed in misery, and his compatriots followed suit, slapping their faces and pounding their chests. Jiang gui ren''s maids congregated at Xiang gui ren''s feet, wailing in miserable unison. Partly because of their guilt and partly because of pain in their hands, which were covered in brilliant red rashes. Their mistress was sequestered in the bedroom, asleep as the doctors from the Imperial Hospital worked on her throughout the night. Hours ago, The Emperor''s eunuchs returned Jiang gui ren to her rooms. Xiang gui ren wouldn''t have known a thing about it if she hadn''t heard the other woman moaning and bellowing in pain. The moment that dawn broke, Xiang gui ren rushed over. Xiang gui ren clicked her tongue, "Aish. It''s not your fault the slaves here are slackers. They should''ve known better than to use buckets that held poison ivy for the milk in jiejie''s bath. Dry your tears, Yao gonggong and get up. Listen to the Imperial doctors and take care of those hands or you''ll be of no use to your mistress," Old as they were, Jiayi and Molan had to help them to their feet. "Xiang gui ren is too kind," said a squat woman called Huan momo. Jiayi watched as the elder servants trickle into Jiang gui ren''s bedroom, buzzing with anticipation. Now that other servants were gone, she could tell her mistress about the gift she gave Jiang gui ren. Yesterday evening, Yao gonggong and Cui momo had asked if Xiang gui ren could spare one or two servants to haul a few buckets of goat milk for Jiang gui ren''s bathwater. Jiayi volunteered, a seed of a plan taking root in her brain. The hard labor camp and the barn weren''t far apart. On the road between the two were stubborn patches of poison ivy. Digging out the climbing vines with your bare hands was a common punishment in the hard labor camp. The blistering, burning rash would last weeks if you weren''t allowed to go to the Imperial Hospital for treatment. Jiayi ripped bunches of leaves with a cloth-covered hand and tied them into a cheesecloth pouch. When all the buckets had been brought to Jiang gui ren''s room, she again volunteered to empty the buckets into the tub while the momos warmed the water for the bath. Jiayi dunked the cheesecloth of poison ivy into each bucket before pouring them out. Afraid it wouldn''t do much, she let the pouch soak in the tub until Cui momo returned with the hot water, which again she offered to empty. When all was said and done, Jiayi fished out the floating pouch and brought all the buckets and the evidence back to the farm and disposed of the evidence. It was a foolish thing to do, but Jaiyi couldn''t help herself. His Majesty had obviously learned the truth about Jiang gui ren and what she''d done, and the only thing he did to punish her was take away her maids. Jiayi knew her life was cheap, but what of Xiang gui ren? Of First and Second Princess? Of The Empress? How could he let Jiang gui ren get away with it? Even if Jiayi risked her life, it was worth it. It was worth it to grasp vengeance¨Csomething a maid like her never had the right to touch. The thought of how happy Xiang gui ren would be comforted her rabbiting heart as she did the deed. Unfortunately, Xiang gui ren looked far from happy. The sight of Jiang gui ren had caused her to almost faint. She staggered into the receiving room, with Jiayi and Molan as the only things keeping her upright. She called out the servants and asked them shakily what had happened to their mistress. Now, Xiang gui ren was slumped over in a chair; her head cradled in her hand. "My goodness," she muttered, "My goodness..." "Mistress, are you alright?" Jiayi asked, her tongue numb and heavy in her mouth. "How can I be alright?" Xiang gui ren replied, "Didn''t you see her?" "I think her outsides match her insides now. You shouldn''t waste your time feeling sorry for her, mistress," said Molan. Jiayi agreed. A poisonous woman like Jiang gui ren suited a body swollen with sickness and riddled with itching blemishes. "I''m feeling sorry for myself," snapped Xiang gui ren, "Do you know how this looks?" Jiayi froze and licked her lips, "How what looks?" "Jiang gui ren suddenly comes down with this strange affliction after I was framed for such a large crime? Not only does it look like I''ve taken revenge, but it looks like I''ve done so in the face of His Majesty! If she becomes dead or worse, it would only take one smart mouth to make me the culprit," Molan gasped, "Do you think Jiang gui ren did this to herself?" Xiang gui ren angrily flapped her fan, "Of course not. She would never let His Majesty see her in such a state even if it meant spiting me. No, this was just bad luck," Jiayi''s stomach roiled with worry. She hadn''t thought about that. All she wanted to was get justice for herself after being wronged. She didn''t know it would go so far. "Don''t worry, mistress," said Jiayi, her voice quiet, "It''ll be alright," "Cui momo," Xiang gui ren called. The maid presented herself. "Look after Jiang gui ren well. If there are any changes, inform Her Highness at once," Cui momo nodded, "I''ll run and fetch His Majesty himself if need be!" Xiang gui ren gave a strained smile, "Very good," The day was bright and sunny. If Jiayi''s mood was slightly dampened by Xiang gui ren''s worries, then it darkened entirely by the sight of Susu entering the courtyard. The maid''s clothes were filthy, while her face was crusted with rust colored splotches of old blood. Her greasy hair was tied in a messy braid and by the way she limped across the courtyard, her time in The Office of Careful Punishment was obviously not easy. Everyone had heard that all of Jiang gui ren''s former servants were granted death, so how could her partner in crime be back already? Xiang gui ren didn''t look happy at the sight of the treacherous maid either. "Is that Susu?" Asked Molan, "I thought His Majesty burned her coffin already. Should we be calling a shaman?" "This lowly servant wishes Xiang gui ren peace," said Susu, lowering her battered body to the ground. "Back already?" Asked Xiang gui ren. Susu nodded, "His Majesty said that without me Jiang gui ren may not recover from the shock of her sickness so he allowed me to return," Xiang gui ren smiled, "Poor thing. You came all the way here for nothing. Cui momo and Huan momo are taking good care of jiejie. There''s no need for you. Bolin can take you back to The Office of Careful Punishment," Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Susu gaped up at Xiang gui ren before clinging to the concubine''s skirts. "Xiang gui ren, have mercy on me please!" she said as Bolin tried to tear her hands away, "It was Haoyu and the others who plotted against you! My mistress and I were ignorant of it all!" "Ping''er," Xiang gui ren said, "What do you think?" It almost made Jiayi laugh at the way Susu''s face fell. Cleary, Susu hadn''t forgotten the way she had treated Ping''er many months before. "Mistress, His Majesty did his very best to rid your palace of this sort of vermin," said Ping''er, "Why invite one back to stay?" Laughing, Xiang gui ren wrenched her skirts away from Susu, "I didn''t know you could be so mean, Little Cutie. No matter. If His Majesty is fond of rats, how could I dare question him?" ? Jiayi couldn''t sleep. Actually, that wasn''t true. Jiayi wouldn''t sleep. When her eyes finally closed, and she began to drift away, there was no blissful silence, no comforting darkness. There were only terrible fantasies of what Su gonggong would do when he got his hands on her for good. As a maid, sleepless nights were second nature to her but Jiayi hadn''t slept soundly for weeks. Pie''er had mentioned that her skin had transformed into a sickly yellowish gray. There was a constant buzzing in the back of Jiayi''s head, and her feet and hands tended to go numb. She would doze off if she sat down too long or stood still in one place. Shadows constantly crept at the corners of her eyes. Even the princesses had noticed, claiming she was slow and her lines shaky. Xiang gui ren became more irritable the longer Jiang gui ren was bed bound. The rash had cleared somewhat, but The Emperor had banned her from serving in bed for three months so she could recover fully. More rumors began to swirl concerning Jiang gui ren''s fate and Xiang gui ren''s hand in it all. Her mistress had gone to bed miffed that Jiayi misplaced her favorite trinket. If Jiayi ruined her sleep because of her night terrors, Xiang gui ren might punish her for the first time. When Jiayi felt the heavy hand of sleep dragging her down, while she was curled up at the foot of Xiang gui ren''s bed, she stumbled to her feet. A walk would help. It usually did. The closer Jiayi was to exhaustion, the quieter her sleep would be. If she took longer than usual, it would be fine. Molan was curled up on the floor next to Xiang gui ren''s bed. Jiayi grabbed a lantern and stepped outside. At this time of night, The Forbidden City was silent. There was no moonlight or wind to rustle the bushes and trees. Only stillness and peace. It made Jiayi jealous. She wanted nothing more than to grab the night and drown it in. She didn''t know how much longer she could continue like this. So when a hand darted out of the shadows and grabbed her, Jiayi blamed the fatigue for how she reacted. Static crackling in her ears, Jiayi wrenched herself away and sliced her fist through the air, gritting her teeth when the pain of hitting the meat of a human head raced up her arm. A man groaned and stumbled to the ground. It was Su gonggong, of course it was Su gonggong. It was the first time she had hit him. He wasn''t so tough. He was just a man. Hit any man in the right place enough times, and there''s no longer a man, just a corpse. The static in her head grew louder. Jiayi would just kill him. Nobody would miss him. Nobody would look for him. It wouldn''t be hard. Neither of them was where they were supposed to be. She would need to bring her fist down again. And again. And again. Things would be okay then. Everything would be okay. "Have you lost your mind?" That. That wasn''t Su gonggong. Jiayi hurried to pick up the lantern that had fallen to the ground and shone it over the body sprawled before her. It was Prince Han! "You¨CI¨Cum," a million thoughts raced through her head, but the only thing that came out, at last, was, "Where''s Sang''er?" Prince Han stared up at her in disbelief. "You attack me, and the first thing out of your mouth is about my eunuch? Once again, have you lost your mind?" "Please forgive me, my lord," Jiayi said, falling to her knees, "I was startled and behaved poorly," Prince Han said nothing. He picked up his lantern that fell to the wayside and stood up before spitting a mouthful of blood at his feet. "It''s nearly dawn. What are you doing out here?" "A walk," "A walk? A palace maid came for a walk in the dead of night just a stone''s throw away from the military barracks to go on a walk?" Prince Han let out a mean laugh, "Do you take me for a fool?" It took some time, but Jiayi eventually shook the cobwebs out of her head and realized what Prince Han was accusing her of¡ªan affair. Her. An affair? Sometimes The Emperor sounded grave like this, but Xiang gui ren laughed and laughed. Maybe Prince Han was joking. "Are you joking?" When the words slipped out, Jiayi wanted to snatch them back. "I just...I would never do something like that. I''ve¨CI haven''t been able to sleep since my arrest, so I sometimes take walks. I''d never been to the barracks, so I didn''t know to avoid it. Please forgive me," Prince pursed his lips before shaking his head, "Fine. Rise. Go back to Xiang gui ren," "Thank you, my lord," Jiayi stood and backed around Prince Han, intending to obey his orders. She stopped, a thought popping into her head. Jiayi had thanked De gui fei for coming to her aide during her interrogation; it would only be fair to do the same to Prince Han. "My lord!" Prince Han turned to her. "Thank you for speaking on my behalf in front of Her Highness and His Majesty," "I didn''t do it for you," "Oh," said Jiayi, "Then I thank you on Xiang gui ren''s behalf," "Her Highness is the example for women around the world," said Prince Han, "How would it look if rumors ran rampant that she couldn''t govern His Majesty''s concubines and let such lewd conduct run wild? What would it look like if the concubine His Majesty dragged from a brothel caused such a scandal right under his nose? Wei guniang, you can consider this a favor if you''d like. But understand that it is the first and last I will do for you," ? "Your Majesty, you''ve been working all day; take a break, only for a moment," Shen huang gui fei gently pried the calligraphy brush from his hands. The Emperor sat down heavily in his chair, mouth pinched with pain. He rubbed at his temple for a moment. Shen huang gui fei quickly continued the massage with both hands. The last few weeks for Shen huang gui fei had been ever so peaceful. With Jiang gui ren bed bound and The Empress busy preparing for The Empress Dowager''s birthday, barely anyone could rival her for The Emperor''s attention. Xiang gui ren was there, of course, but since rumors began to run about her poisoning her housemate, His Majesty flipped her tag less and less. He usually called for her on days like this to hear the soothing sounds of her zither, but today he only asked for Shen huang gui fei. "Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?" "Duchess Zian came to greet The Empress today. She told me that Yigue passed away," he said. So that was the cause of The Emperor''s melancholy. The death of his nephew, born to his favorite older brother. "Wasn''t Yigue only 16?" Asked Shen huang gui fei. The Emperor nodded, "16 and unmarried. Duke Zian is nearly 60 and his only son is gone. I''ve told him again and again that a man of his status should take more concubines and let his house flourish but he refuses to listen. The Duchess and his concubines are passed middle aged now. There''s no chance he''ll have another son now," "Your Majesty, please calm down. You''ll make yourself sick worrying for him," "I want to worry for him. Duke Zian''s treated is the only one who never treated me like I was an enemy in fight for The Late Emperor''s favor. When I became crown prince, he supported me fully. He deserves to have good life and afterlife but that''s impossible to do without a son," There. There was Shen huang gui fei''s chance. The one thing Shen huang gui fei lacked was backing. Her clan was small and her father a middling court official and none of her many brothers managed to gain any footholds in places that mattered. The only reason her mother managed to become a wet nurse in the palace was through her friendship with The Late Empress'' sister. While her brothers had little talent, Shen huang gui fei did have plenty of unmarried sisters at home. A marriage into Duke Zian''s household was a powerful match that could spell a promotion for her father or maybe something more. "What if you just gift him a few young women?" Asked Shen huang gui fei. "There''s no point," said The Emperor, "He''d just refuse," "The Duke may refuse, but would The Duchess? She must know how her household has failed by not being able to nurture more than one son for The Duke. She wouldn''t dare refuse the honor of accepting women of Your Majesty''s choice for The Duke''s sake," The Emperor hummed in consideration, "I would need two good girls. There''s no point in upending things to wind up with no children. I''ll chat with The Empress. She has an eye for these things. She chose a g¨ºg¨º from the Fuca clan for my 17th brother, and the girl birthed four children for him," Shen huang gui fei transitioned to massaging The Emperor''s shoulders, "We don''t have to trouble Her Highness with something like this right now, Your Majesty. She''s so busy caring for the back palace and The Empress Dowager. Let me assist you in her stead," The Emperor ran a hand across his mustache, "Will it be your considerations or yours and Royal Mother?" "Your Majesty is my number one priority," said Shen huang gui fei, "If The Empress Dowager is displeased by my choices, I will gladly take the brunt of her anger as long as your worries are eased," It was the truth. Even if The Empress Dowager disagreed, Shen huang gui fei wasn''t going to miss this chance. One day The Empress Dowager will be laid to rest beside The Late Emperor and Shen huang gui fei would only have herself to depend on. If she could make her family more valuable to The Emperor and more connected in court, even The Empress would have to kneel to her. "Fine then," said The Emperor, "Choose wisely," "I always do, Your Majesty," Chapter 14 The Empress was used to her sister-in-law almost glowing with youth, barely looking a day older than 30. Duchess Zian was famous for the meticulous care she took of her body. Many women in the capital followed her, spending hours oiling their hair and skin. The Duke was also fond of gifting The Duchess jewels, gems, and other accessories. She never wore the same thing twice. Ministers and nobility alike crowded inside Dafuge. It twisted The Empress¡¯ heart to watch those who barely remembered Yigue cry and wail, hoping their noise would catch The Emperor¡¯s eye. She expected a performance from His Majesty''s concubines, but seeing middle-aged men use a funeral as a stage for their opera turned her stomach. Yikungong with Duchess Zian. ¡°Duchess Zian,¡± said Shiyi, ¡°The funeral was long and exhausting. Please, replenish your body with this red date and ginseng soup. Her Highness made this with the ten-thousand-year ginseng she received on her wedding day. It will revitalize you,¡± The Empress locked eyes with Shiyi and gestured for her to leave the soup nearby and withdraw. The senior maid did so, taking the surrounding servants with her. ¡°His Majesty would¡¯ve preferred if Yigue were able to earn this title many more years down the line,¡± replied The Empress. ¡°Have you been taking care of yourself, jiejie?¡± Asked The Empress. The Empress grabbed The Duchess¡¯ hand, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I remember how you suffered during your pregnancy and his birth. But I also remember that he gained vitality year after year and had no trouble charming Royal Father and His Majesty. Yigue lived well because of you, not despite you,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Asked The Empress. ¡°At the end of the eleventh month, two girls will be marrying into the household, as decreed by His Majesty,¡± Taking a deep breath, The Duchess raised her chin high and spoke in a strong, steady voice, ¡°I accepted the concubines,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± snapped The Duchess, ¡°I am the wife of Duke Zian and the Aisin-Gioro clan. I exist to give the Aisin-Gioro clan sons. If I cannot do so, I must find someone who can. All His Majesty did was search for me,¡± ¡°I only know what His Majesty allows me to know,¡± The Empress said, surprising herself by the even tone in her voice, ¡°These two girls, where are they from?¡± ¡°Which Xue family?¡± Asked The Empress. huang gui fei¡¯s Xue family. Her youngest sister, Xue Chungrong, and her niece, Xue Suyin,¡± The pieces fell into place for The Empress quickly. These last few years, huang gui fei had made it evident that she believed that The Empress had The Emperor¡¯s favor because of her powerful clan. However, the idea that Duke Zian would be swayed into giving His Majesty lip service to promote her father was laughable. The Duke hated politics. While His Majesty held him in high regard, The Duke was The Late Emperor¡¯s least favorite son. The Duke rejected learning to manage the state and avoided court as often as possible. He¡¯d never been to war and only socialized with his family. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°I can only hope. I knew I could govern concubines Sun, Fai, and Kang easily. Their mothers were concubines, and their clans are small,¡± Duchess Zian sighed, ¡°An Imperial Noble Consort is a great backer,¡± Jiejie, don¡¯t fret. You¡¯re no fool. I know you¡¯ll rise above if they cause any trouble,¡± Duchess Zian nodded her head. ? The somber tone that blanketed The Forbidden City after Yigue¡¯s funeral made it all the better for The Empress to spend her evenings at Dafuge, praying for Prince Taio¡¯s and Princess Anhe¡¯s reincarnations. She would¡¯ve preferred to be alone, but she couldn¡¯t find in her heart to chase De gui fei away when the other woman was already deep into prayer by the time she walked inside. It was comforting. De gui fei was honest and felt the loss of each child like it were her own. Her soft chanting was a balm on The Empress¡¯ heart. A light touch to her elbow roused her from her thoughts. The Empress nodded but kept her face forward and eyes closed. It was surprising to hear De gui fei wait until the last moment to greet Shen huang gui fei. The Empress waived away the formality. She tried to focus as Shen huang gui fei settled on a cushion slightly behind her. huang gui fei after she had finished settling in. ¡°Huang gui fei is by His Majesty¡¯s side day and night,¡± said De gui fei, ¡°His mourning shouldn¡¯t come as a surprise,¡± gui fei¡¯s response gave The Empress pause. Had some conflict occurred between the two? ¡°Of course, De meimei. When His Majesty aches, I ache. When he cries, I cry. That¡¯s why I came here today. I came to pray for His Majesty¡¯s happiness,¡± said Shen huang gui fei. Huang gui fei is so tender and true. It¡¯s no wonder His Majesty holds you so in his heart,¡± replied De gui fei. The Empress quickly glanced at De gui fei. There was no mistaking the venom in her tone. huang gui fei continued, ¡°His Majesty tossed and turned all night. He kept..he kept calling out to Yiqi,¡± The Empress¡¯ eyes shot back open at Shen huang gui fei¡¯s audacious use of Prince Taio¡¯s birth name. Huang gui fei has mourned in His Majesty¡¯s stead for so long that she¡¯s forgotten her manners. May Your Highness forgive her,¡± said De gui fei. The room turned silent. At one point in their lives, De gui fei was a higher rank than Shen huang gui fei, and even then, De gui fei never scolded her like this. huang gui fei, ¡°De meimei is correct. I misspoke. I was startled when His Majesty called for Prince Taio. I saw him in my dreams that night as well. I asked for forgiveness for any mistakes we made, and I promised I would pray for him,¡± The Empress closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. Shen huang gui fei was in a good mood today. Prince Taio died well before His Majesty was crowned. Only The Empress cared for him. If any mistakes were made, only The Empress could have made them. It was strange to hear from the mouth of a woman who could barely keep a plant alive. Huang gui fei is a good servant,¡± said The Empress. She held out a hand and let Shiyi help her stand, ¡°She¡¯s lost too many children to count and still remembers that the son of her master is her priority. She is truly a model for His Majesty''s concubines. Please, spend the day praying for Prince Taio¡¯s reincarnation,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk with you, Your Highness,¡± said De gui fei. huang gui fei struggle through respectfully bidding her farewell. Never let it be said that The Empress wasn¡¯t a merciful master. Shen huang gui fei begged for a reaction. The Empress complied with aplomb. As they stepped through the gates of Dafuge, The Empress turned to De gui fei, ¡°You don¡¯t have to walk with me. It¡¯s alright if you just wanted to escape,¡± gui fei shook her head, ¡°I need to speak with Your Highness. Privately,¡± ? Dafuge. The Empress should¡¯ve known that the excitement was only getting started. Then she wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised when De gui fei dropped to her knees the moment she settled into her chair. She was even more surprised when De gui fei went further and pressed her forehead to the ground. ¡°Your Highness,¡± she said, ¡°I have something to confess,¡± gui fei, don¡¯t fret. Sit and chat with me. I¡¯m sure we can resolve whatever small problem you¡¯re having,¡± Shaking her head, De gui fei stayed planted on the floor, ¡°Your Highness, I have a crime to confess,¡± gui fei commit a crime? Just the idea of it was preposterous. It looked like the servants standing by thought the same. Shiyi caught her look. ¡°If one word of this is heard outside, you¡¯ll be absent a tongue. Do you understand?¡± Shiyi asked. ¡°Yes, Shiyi gugu,¡± ¡°De gui fei,¡± The Empress said as she sat back down, ¡°You should know better than to speak like that in public. Rise,¡± gui fei finally took a seat. ¡°Now, what is this crime?¡± Asked The Empress. haung gui fei,¡± Chapter 15 De gui fei''s confession sucked the air out of the room. The Empress''s breath quickened. "That is a heavy crime," said The Empress, "Have you told anyone about this?" "No," replied De gui fei, "No one," That was good, then. If anyone else heard, they would assume De gui fei was showing signs of possession. De gui fei could be stern and overbearing, but murderous? That was unthinkable. Shen huang gui fei had been vying for more power year after year, but even then, The Empress hadn''t gone far enough to think like this. "De gui fei, if Shen huang gui fei was troubling you, you should''ve come to me instead of letting your feelings fester like this. Having these thoughts can harm your body," said The Empress. "I know this. I''ve prayed. I''ve fasted. I''ve transcribed scriptures. My mother even sent me five blessed amulets, but the thought won''t leave my mind," said De gui fei, "After what she did to Huabao and Huahuan, how can I live peacefully with that sort of woman?" "What are you talking about?" Asked The Empress. "The lewd paintings," De gui fei said, her eyes clouding with rage, "She helped Jiang gui ren with the plot to frame Xiang gui ren and damage you," At The Empress'' confused face, De gui fei continued. "The bamboo paper, Your Highness. It was huang gui fei''s," "How could that be? Royal Mother ran out of those papers months before. Did she lend some to Shen huang gui fei?" "She stole it from Dafuge. A few weeks ago, I went to pray in the early morning and bumped into Shen huang gui fei''s A''Fang. The girl was so nervous and clumsy. She tried to cover the papers with scriptures, but I saw them. I assumed His Majesty told Shen huang gui fei to take from Dafuge and not make a scene. If I had known she took the papers to scheme with the reputation of Huabao and Huahuan on the line...I would''ve chopped her into pieces right there!" "De gui fei!" The Empress scolded, "This behavior is unbecoming. The event is over. Huabao and Huahuan are safe and sound. Why are you still riled up like this?" "Your Highness, these last years, I thought Shen huang gui fei was too proud and too arrogant but harmless. But knowing that she put our daughters'' virtue in harm''s way to suppress Xiang gui ren made it clear how far she''ll go. I couldn''t stop thinking, wasn''t it strange how every woman that His Majesty favored is gone now?" "His Majesty is monogamous. He favors all the women here at one point or another, you included. You''re still here aren''t you?" said The Empress. "I''m not dead because I''m not a threat," said De gui fei, "Mu pin and Shu pin were different, they were your friends. The more His Majesty loved them, the more he loved you." The Empress fiddled with the pearl and jade prayer beads in her hand. It was true. De gui fei and The Empress weren''t friends. The Empress wasn''t friends with anyone. She had no equals, no companions, only servants. "I care for you just as much, De gui fei," replied The Empress. She sighed. "Mu pin''s death was tragic, but she had always been frail. Shu pin forgot her place and dealt with accordingly. If His Majesty didn''t still favor her, she would be dead now," "His Majesty only spared her for Yiqiang''s sake," replied De gui fei. Shu pin dug the knife deeper into her heart as she described the lurid affair between The Empress and Imperial Physician, Lou Ru. The same doctor whose marriage she arranged as a reward for diligently treating The Empress Dowager and The Emperor. Swallowing the bitterness on her tongue, The Empress said,"Shu pin, you''re by side day and night like a good servant. You know Lou taiyi and I speak infrequently. How can you have the nerve to dirty His Majesty''s ears with his nonsense?" Shu pin glared up at her, the warmth gone from her eyes, "It''s because I serve you diligently that I dare bring this to His Majesty''s attention," The Empress had taken Shu pin under her wing when the girl stepped into the back palace. Being from Mongolian clans, the bond was instant. The Empress gladly let Shu pin call her ''jiejie''. Who would''ve known a few years later that the girl she whispered and giggled with would have no difficulty splashing dirty water *on her? The Emperor sat beside her, eyes closed, and head pillowed on his fist. To the untrained eye, he was relaxed, maybe even bored. But The Empress could see the anger roil through his body. On his other side was Shen huang gui fei, watching Shu pin''s confession with wide eyes. A woman, who identified herself as Lou Ru''s maid, claimed that he had commissioned countless love tokens for The Empress over the years. Each one was smuggled into the house in the dead of night before going missing the next day when Lou Ru went to work at the Imperial Hospital. "I unpacked master''s work bag one night and found a gold and red jade ring. When he saw me with it, he threatened to sell me if I spoke of it," said the maid. Shu pin squared her shoulders, "Hasn''t Her Highness worn a ring like that lately?" The Emperor sighed, "Is that all? A ring that looks alike? You''re willing to bet your life on that?" "Your Majesty, why don''t we call Lou taiyi and Lou furen here and see what they say?" Suggested Shen huang gui fei, "If they don''t feel much like talking, we can send them both to the Office of Careful Punishment," "Huang gui fei is wise," said Shu pin, "I''ve already called them both here to speak before Your Majesty and Your Highnesses," "Your Majesty, Lou furen is pregnant now," whispered Zhang Wei, "Will this interrogation be too harsh?" "If Lou Ru committed such a grave crime while his wife is in a delicate way, then he is only to blame," said Shen huang gui fei. "Bring a chair for Lou furen," ordered The Emperor. Before her marriage, Lou furen was a hot house maid in the palace. When Lou Ru needed fresh herbs, she often attended to him. Her status wasn''t lofty enough that marrying a physician was a step-down, so The Empress granted the marriage when Lou Ru asked this of her. The husband and wife duo kneeled to greet them, their bodies stiff and tense. Lou Ru helped Lou furen to her feet and helped lower her into the chair. Lou furen cradled her hands around the modest bump of her belly. "Lou Ru, I''ve troubled you to ask you a simple question. Are you having an affair with The Empress?" Asked The Emperor. "I would not dare!" Replied Lou Ru, dropping back down to his knees. Shu pin scoffed, "Is that so? What of this embroidery that was found in your workbag?" A eunuch presented the cloth to The Emperor. Shen huang gui fei hid her mouth behind her fan, "That..style of embroidery does seem familiar," It was more than familiar. It was an exact copy of an embroidered handkerchief that The Empress had finished years before. It had been missing for some time but The Empress assumed that had been thrown away. Lou furen rubbed her belly nervously, "Replying to Your Highness," she said "That''s mine," "Lying to The Emperor is a crime that warrants death," said Shu pin. Lou furen shook her head, "I''m not lying. Her Highness The Empress is the mother of the world and model to all women, so when I still worked in the palace...I took it. Only so I could copy it! Because Her Highness'' work was so good. It took me many years to copy it well, so I gave it to my husband," Lou furen struggled down to her knees, "May Your Majesty forgive me," "Such a neat little story. I''m curious how you two will explain what your maid found under a floorboard in Lou Rou''s study," said Shu pin. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A maid entered the room and presented a pure white dudou?. Pale white peonies blanketed the edges while a flaming Phoenix curled elegantly throughout the middle. Beautiful as it was, it was small. The Empress had been pregnant many times, and some of the weight was hard to shake. She was lucky that her face rarely gained weight and the flowing gowns she was so fond of, camouflaged any changes. "Phoenix and peonies?" Asked Shen huang gui fei, "Lou furen, are you saying this belongs to you?" Lou furen nodded. The Emperor sat straight up and curled his lip in disgust. Shu pin''s face brightened. "Zhang Wei," he called, "Send my word. Shu pin is devious, black-hearted, and committed the crime of slandering her master. Have her whipped 50 times and thrown into the cold palace," Shu pin paled and dropped to the ground. "Your Majesty¨CI don''t¨C" Shu pin struggled to get the words out as she was wrenched upright by a pair of eunuchs. "Stuff her mouth. I won''t hear any more of her nonsense," The Empress watched The Emperor''s face as Shu pin was dragged away. He didn''t bat an eye and quietly munched on the salted walnuts on the side table. Only days ago, he was discussing Shu pin''s promotion. A strange heaviness settled in The Empress''s stomach. The maid Shu pin called as a witness, cowered when The Emperor turned to her. "Lou furen, this maid''s been your property for some time, so I''ll send her back to you to deal with," Lou furen shook her head"Some time? I only bought her six months ago," With a nod, Lou Ru said, "Your Majesty, I think it would be better to send her to The Office of Careful Punishment to see if anyone else is behind this," "You''ve always been prudent," said The Emperor, "Fine. Take her," In the end, Lou Rou was fined two months'' salary for using symbols of the imperial family. When Lou Rou sent a message about needing a private audience, The Empress almost turned it down. A gut feeling made her order Shiyi to play sick so she could send for him. "Your Highness, I''ve got to speak the truth to you today," he said. Lou Rou admitted to paying closer attention to The Empress if only to bring copies back home to his wife. However, he''d never be so blatant or disrespectful to have something like that dudou made. Lou furen had lied on the spot about it. "It was all the work of that maid on behalf of Shu pin, then," The Empress concluded, "Where on earth did you find such a person?" Lou Yanched sighed, "It''s my incompetence. I knew furen would need help with the baby coming soon. A nearby family was moving out of the capital and selling some cheaply, so I took advantage. It was foolish," The bombshell comes shortly after The Empress sends a few people to investigate. The family that fled fell into a sudden fortune and often kept company with Shen huang gui fei''s father. "Didn''t Shen huang gui fei order the interrogation to be so fierce that the maid died before they could even ask questions?" Asked De gui fei, "You didn''t think that was strange?" "The matter is over and done with," The Empress replied. "And Mu pin? She¨C" "That''s enough! What''s done is done!" De gui fei pursed her lips and tucked her chin into her chest. "I understand that you''re afraid but, you can''t think like this. Even if you managed to do this, could your spirit handle it?" "I would learn to handle it," said De gui fei, her voice shaky. "Go back and rest. If anyone asks, say I scolded you for the way you spoke to Shen huang gui fei during our prayers," said The Empress De gui fei nodded weakly before excusing herself. The Empress leaned back in her chair and rested her chin in her hand. Truthfully, she didn''t need anyone to point out the connection between Shen huang gui fei and Shu Pin and Mu pin''s misfortunes. It had been some years since The Empress had kneeled before The Emperor like this. He had at least given her the dignity of clearing the rooms of servants before scolding her. "We''ll say Mu gui ren died of a blood deficiency. That way, no one can connect it back to you," The Emperor looked haggard and much older than his years. The Empress knew he had held Mu gui ren during her final moments last night, weeping quietly. "I thank you for Your Majesty''s grace," she replied, "I''ll never make this sort of mistake again," He stared down at her. "So it was a mistake, then?" The Empress didn''t expect very much from The Emperor. They were more partners than lovers. Affection during the years could be counted on one hand, but at the very least, they trusted each other. "Of course, it was a mistake, Your Majesty. I was ignorant about the herbs Mu gui ren was taking. I should''ve consulted with the Imperial Hospital before suggesting she take something else. I added the herb to my morning herbs and felt the benefits, so I tried to share it. I never meant for this to happen," "You''re The Empress, not a doctor," he snapped, "Don''t play pretend again," Later, but still too late, The Empress realized something. She hadn''t been aware of the herbs Mu gui ren had been taking, but Shen huang gui fei was. She managed the prescription records, marking the costs and reporting it to The Empress. The conversation replayed in her head repeatedly that night until she realized something. Wasn''t Shen huang gui fei the one who suggested that Mu gui ren would benefit from those herbs? ? Prince Han didn''t like The Empress Dowager. Call him petty, but he never felt the need to warm up to the woman who famously declared that it would be better to drown him in a well than let him tarnish the Imperial family''s reputation. However, The Empress was sharing a meal with her, so Prince Han came so she could have someone on her side. The Empress Dowager''s beady eyes stared at him, "That bruise on your face is still ugly as ever. It''s been a week now. Didn''t you use the ointment I sent you?" Of course not. "Replying to Your Highness, My Lord has been applying it diligently day and night," said Sang''er. Prince Han reached for a plate of osmanthus cake, but The Empress Dowager snatched it away. "Enough of that already. You aren''t a child," Prince Han locked eyes with The Empress across the table. By the quirk of her eyebrows, he knew that several plates of cakes would be sent to his rooms tonight. "Royal mother, a few of your birthday gifts have already arrived," said The Empress, "Would you like to see them?" "The light is better in the receiving room, come," said The Empress Dowager. Prince Han frowned as The Empress placed her chopsticks back on her plate. The Empress Dowager had enough time to eat two plates of food. The Empress was so busy filling her cup dishing up morsels that she barely ate one. Prince Han stuffed two osmanthus cakes into his mouth when he was sure The Empress Dowager was out of eyesight. Only to wince in pain as the bruise on his cheek smarted. Sang''er poured a cup of tea, "My Lord, if you won''t use the ointment The Empress Dowager sent, could you please try not to aggravate your bruise any more?" Prince Han washed down his treats and poked at the sort inside his mouth with his tongue. It had been some time since he''d taken a punch to the face. It was the first time that he''d ever taken a punch from a girl and a maid, no less. He never thought much of the maids in the Forbidden City. They were The Emperor''s property, so there was no point in Prince Han looking at what didn''t have a chance of belonging to him. They were interchangeable, faceless things in assorted matching costumes. Before their late-night encounter, Prince Han had only begun to recently consider Wei Jiayi as a person rather than a thing, due to his nieces'' reverence of her. Now that he was recovered, he saw them less, but each time was the same. Wei shifu painted them something beautiful. Wei shifu helped them bind books. Wei shifu is so good at kicking the shuttlecock. Wei shifu could throw a punch. Prince Han dusted off his hands and followed The Empress into the receiving room. The Empress Dowager was inspecting a pile of gifts with a critical eye. She tsked at a jade sculpture of a peony, turning it to and fro. "Such low quality," she said, tossing it back at Jerjer, "It''s like they want to insult me," "Please don''t fret, Royal Mother. A letter from my mother arrived today. Twelve fat-tailed sheep should be arriving for your birthday banquet. Cousin Omida said that a fleet of chefs is coming to prepare them for you," said The Empress. "You''ve told the kitchens to ready themselves for hot pot?" The Empress Dowager asked. "Of course," The Empress Dowager returned to her gift, not bothering to give The Empress a thank you. Prince Han frowned. With her health, The Empress Dowager hadn''t been able to travel to Mongolia and taste the cooking of her natal clan in quite some time. The Empress toiled to have 12 of those ugly sheep brought to The Empress Dowager''s doorstep and she couldn''t spare an ounce of gratitude. An unfilial thought crossed Prince Han''s mind but snuffed it out. "Empress Dowager, Empress, Xiang gui ren''s maid is here," a eunuch announced. "Xiang gui ren? Why is she sending people to darken my doorstep?" Asked The Empress Dowager. "Replying to Your Highness, Xiang gui ren has a gift for you," Prince Han watched as The Empress Dowager struggled to respond. The woman was a magpie; if there were something shiny and expensive, she wanted it. Unfortunately, that shiny new thing may be coming from a prostitute. "Fine, bring her," What a coincidence the woman of the hour was the maid that Xiang gui ren sent to deliver The Empress'' gift. "This servant wishes Her Highness The Empress Dowager and Her Highness The Empress peace. This servant greets Prince Han," said Wei Jiayi Prince Han didn''t miss the way Jiayi''s eyes widened at the sight of him. "Rise," said The Empress Dowager, "What little thing has your mistress brought for me today?" Jiayi bowed and held out the tray in her arms. Jerjer took presented it to The Empress Dowager, who didn''t look impressed. "Full Branches?" The Empress read the title of the book aloud before flipping the page open. The Empress Dowager''s eyes widened. "Fetch my spectacles. Quickly!" The Empress went to The Empress Dowager''s side. She gasped at the sight of the book. A maid returned with The Empress Dowager''s spectacles, and she wasted no time peering closely at each page. "Prince Han, come look," beckoned The Empress. With one look, Prince Han understood why The Empress and The Empress Dowager were so stunned. Each page had a perfect rendition of his nieces and nephews. There was Huabao, sitting daintily with a pipa in her lap, Yijian pulling a bow tight, and even Yiqiang, sitting in a study surrounded by books and scrolls. Each child had signed their portrait, except Huaguang. The Empress looked at Jiayi, "You painted these, correct? I remember you had some talent for this," "Yes, Your Highness. Xiang gui ren knows that Your Highness is learned and your knowledge is vast. The only thing she could hope to give you to bring you joy for your birthday is portraits of the prince and princesses," "It''s not too bad after all," replied The Empress Dowager with a nod, "Not a bad idea," "The Empress often speaks about your love for each prince and princess. My mistress felt like only this gift would be appropriate," replied Jiayi. The Empress Dowager set her spectacles asides and closed the book, running her hand across the cover. She nodded to Jerjer, who stood before Jiayi and held out a tael of silver. Prince Han expected her to accept it immediately and thank The Empress Dowager for her grace. Instead, Jiayi shook her head. "I don''t dare accept this. Your Highness'' happiness is more than enough," she replied. "These new servants have a way with words, don''t they?" The Empress Dowager said to Jerjer, "Return to Xiang gui ren, then," Jiayi backed away and left. Prince Han swore the girl made a point not to look at him on the way out. Wei Jiayi was really strange. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Spreading rumors ?A traditional Chinese form of the bodice, originally worn as an undershirt Chapter 16 Jiang gui ren ran her hands over the silken collar of her brand-new Imperial Concubine''s chaofu*. All the little pieces were dazzling. The embroidered jacket, the precious necklaces, the golden chaoguan!? She had toiled so many years for this, and it was finally happening. Was it bittersweet that His Majesty didn''t personally promote her? Sure. But being part of a group promotion for The Empress Dowager''s birthday celebration was better than no promotion at all. The notice of her promotion and her chaofu was delivered last week. However, she was still recovering and couldn''t venture outside. Now, for the first time in a month and a half, she was leaving her rooms as the soon-to-be mistress of Xianfugong. "Mistress," said Susu, "You''re going to look so dashing when you wear this for your promotion ceremony. Not even Lian pin will be able to match you," Another bittersweet mouthful to swallow. Lian pin would soon become Lian fei. She bore no children and made no merits, yet she somehow was going to be a Consort. "His Majesty is set on respecting her family," replied Jiang gui ren, "At the very least, Xiang gui ren got nothing," "It''s so embarrassing. Even Wang chang zai is getting a promotion!" Said Susu. "The Empress Dowager is just showing her pity. His Majesty wouldn''t dare to clean away the cobwebs between the legs of that old fish," said Jiang gui ren. Their giggling was interrupted by a delivery of purple fabric. As a Noble Lady, purple was a color far above her station. Now, she would wear it as often as she could. "Did Huan momo unpack all of my jewelry yet? And my good clothes?" Jiang gui ren asked, digging through the stacks of silks. "Yes, I even convinced them to leave a few gold pieces. I tried to tell momo that you could wear kingfisher feathers, but Haun momo wouldn''t listen," replied Susu. "No matter," replied Jiang gui ren, "Once I have a son, I can send them all back home with some money. I asked Lou taiyi about my odds of having a child, and he said nothing should stop me from getting pregnant. I only have to suffer them for a bit longer," "You don''t...." Susu dropped her voice, "You don''t want to get rid of them sooner?" Tsking, Jiang gui ren rolled her eyes, "Idiot, don''t be so impatient," "Mistress," Yao gonggong said, coming into the bedroom, "His Majesty and Her Highness have invited you to share a meal with them and a few of the other mistresses to celebrate your promotion," "Shall I call Huan momo and Cui momo to help you dress?" He asked. "Yes, quickly, quickly!" ? In all, The Empress Dowager had chosen 12 women to promote. The majority were first and second-class attendants. Beside Lian pin and Wang chang zai, there was Jiao gui ren and Cha chang zai. Jiang gui ren smiled as Zhang Wei led her to the chair on the other side of The Emperor. It should''ve been Lian pin''s seat, as she was the most senior concubine at the table. The Emperor was gracious enough to let Huaguang come to the celebration. While it demonstrated how far above she was of the other women, it was so annoying. Huaguang was squirmy and fussy, crawling into His Majesty''s lap and back to hers again. Whenever she tried to converse with His Majesty, Huaguang was pulled at her collar or made a mess at the table. Luckily, His Majesty appreciated Huaguang''s vigor instead of finding it unkempt. To make matters worse, Xiang gui ren arrived. An gui ren had done her duty and kept Jiang gui ren company, but Xiang gui ren still needed to visit her daily. It was awful to watch that whore gloat about how The Empress Dowager loved her gift and how happy it made His Majesty. Just looking at her was making her sicker. At least in a few days, Xiang gui ren would never be able to look down on her again. The Empress ordered that Cha chang zai move one seat down so Jiang gui ren and Xiang gui ren could sit together. "I''d like to propose a toast," said Xiang gui ren, "To my jiejie. No one is more deserving of becoming mistress of Xianfugong than you," It took everything in Jiang gui ren to keep her lips from curling in disgust. She raised her cup and sipped her wine. "Xiang gui ren, I can''t help but feel sorry for you," said Lian pin, "You and Jiang gui ren are two peas in a pod. You both should be called Your Highness by now," Lian pin covered her mirth with a polite cough. Jiang gui ren fumed. Lian pin had a lot of never comparing her to a prostitute like Xiang gui ren. Xiang gui ren bowed her head, "Jiang jiejie is of noble blood and has given His Majesty a daughter. I can''t compare," "Yes, jiejie," said Jiang gui ren, "I hear a few doctors have come by your Jingrengong. Is there good news on the way?" Lian pin shifted in her seat, "...No. It was just a bit of sickness from the heat," Jiang gui ren frowned softly, "That''s too bad. Jiejie is young and healthy. I"m sure you''ll be able to give His Majesty a child soon. You can come to me for advice if it ever happens," Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "Enough," The Empress said, "If fate allows, a child will come. There''s no use in talking like this," When Huaguang began to cry loudly in His Majesty''s arms, Jiang gui ren pulled her over,only for her to squirm and cry even louder. "What''s gotten into you?" Jiang gui ren muttered. Xiang gui ren leaned in close, "Oh, is she sleepy? Should her nursemaid take her back?" "Not at all," said Jiang gui ren, "She''s just being fussy," "You should let Xiang gui ren hold her for a moment then," said His Majesty, "The Empress says Huaguang behaves with her at the A Ge Sou," It rankled Jiang gui ren to be reminded that Xiang gui ren could spend more time with her daughter than she did, but she passed Huaguang over anyways. Amazingly, Huaguang did quiet down in Xiang gui ren''s arms. "Maybe I''ll go to Xiang gui ren for advice when I get pregnant," said Lian pin. Jiang gui ren glared at Huaguang lying quietly in Xiang gui ren''s arms. It was obvious that the momos were turning her daughter into a brat. "Are you tired? You can sleep in my arms," Xiang gui ren whispered to Huaguang. With a roll of her eyes Jiang gui ren let Susu refill her wine. If that bitch wanted to play nursemaid, Jiang gui ren wouldn''t stop her. She lifted her cup and leaned into The Emperor''s side. "A toast to Your Majesty," The Emperor locked eyes with her and smiled. Just as they touched the rims together, a chorus of gasps erupted around the table. "Huifen!" The Emperor sprang to his feet and nearly knocked Jiang gui ren over in his haste. Xiang gui ren moaning in pain, clutching her head. Her forehead was split open, and rivulets of blood were dripping through her fingers. Huaguang was screaming in Xu niang''s arms, face red and blotchy. Xu niang looked frantic, bashing her head to the ground, begging for forgiveness. His Majesty grabbed a handkerchief and pressed it to Xiang gui ren''s face, "What happened?!" He asked. "I don''t know!" Said Lian pin, "Xiang gui ren was holding Fifth Princess when she suddenly grabbed a plate and...hit her!" It was as if the blood was draining from Jiang gui ren now. How could a two-year-old child do so much damage? Was it a trick? She and her daughter were favored, but there wasn''t enough favor to return from something like this. Jiang gui ren flinched as The Emperor kicked Xu niang to the ground, not caring that Huaguang was in her arms. "You worthless thing! How have you been raising Fifth Princess?" Xu niang cried, "I deserve to die, I deserve to die!" Jiang gui ren threw herself at The Emperor''s feet, "Your Majesty! Forgive Huaguang. She''s just a child! She didn''t mean it!" That was a mistake. The Emperor turned his rage to her." What sort of devious child have you raised, Jiang gui ren?" He hissed, "How could you birth this beast?" "Your Majesty, please dissipate your anger," said The Empress, stepping between them, "Take Xiang gui ren into the side hall. I''ll call for Hwang taiyi to stop the bleeding," The Emperor nodded before turning to Xu niang again, "Get that child out of my sight!" Xu niang scooped up Huaguang and ran off. The Emperor followed as Xiang gui ren''s limp form was dragged away. Jiang gui ren stayed collapsed on the ground. "You can all withdraw," The Empress said, "The mood''s been spoiled," Susu helped Jiang gui ren to her feet as the other women exited the courtyard. "Jiang gui ren," said The Empress, "Make yourself scarce," ? An gui ren''s spirits soared as Weiwei recounted the events at His Majesty''s promotion meal. "What about Jiang gui ren?" An gui ren asked. "She''s locked in her rooms," Weiwei replied, "There''s no word if His Majesty will take back her promotion," An gui ren sighed. Jiang gui ren really did have all the luck. Her child damn near bludgeoned Xiang gui ren, and she was still becoming an Imperial Concubine. An gui ren didn''t have much of an idea when she started to fuss with Huaguang. At best, the girl would embarrass Jiang gui ren and have her lose a bit of face. It seemed the scare tactics made Huaguang go above and beyond. It all meant nothing in end. Jiang gui ren was going to be a mistress, and An gui ren was not. As she continued her stroll, An gui ren spotted a large group of servants clustered together, giggling and whispering. "Has there been any good gossip lately, Weiwei?" She asked. "Not that I''ve heard. We''re still talking about Fifth Princess going crazy," replied Weiwei. An gui ren hurried over to the group, watching their backs shift with laughter. "How absurd!" Weiwei said. The servants jumped and at the sight of An gui ren, dropped to their knees. "An gui ren is here and you won''t even acknowledge her! She should report you to The Emperor right now!" said Weiwei. "We beg your forgiveness! Please have mercy on us!" A eunuch cried. "I don''t know," said An gui ren, "Is it really worth it to spare such useless things like you?" The servants began to beg for lives with renewed fervor. "Alright, alright. I''ll forget about this if you tell me what''s so interesting these days. What were you chatting about just now?" The servants fell silent and glanced at one another. It was something juicy then. "I recognize every one of your uniforms. One word and you''ll lose your heads," Said An gui ren. A brave maid spoke up, "It was...A''Fen from the ice house just came from visiting her new baby sister and told us about the rumors in the capital about First Princess," "First Princess?" Said An gui ren, "What about her?" "I don''t want to dirty your ears with this sort of talk," said the maid. An gui ren rolled her eyes, "Spit it out already," "They''re saying First Princess is...keeping company with the eunuchs here," said the maid. "What?" Asked An gui ren, "How can anyone believe that?" "Some palace eunuch from the palace was bragging about it in a brothel. Apparently First Princess'' underwear and love tokens are hidden in a eunuch''s room," "Which eunuch?" The maid shook her head, "Nobody knows," An gui ren shook her head, "And this is all over the capital?" "Even the g¨ºg¨ºs are talking about it," "You''re all dismissed," said An gui ren, "Don''t you dare speak more of this," She tugged Weiwei down the road, "Hurry! We have to see His Majesty," Finding The Emperor was a struggle, and when she did, An gui ren waited outside his doors for almost an hour. "An gui ren, His Majesty has no time to see you. Please, return to your palace," said Zhang Wei. "Wei gonggong, this is important. Announce me, please," she begged. When it looked like he wouldn''t budge, she added, "It''s about First Princess," An gui ren said. Zhang Wei stared at her for a moment longer before sighing, "Fine then," The Emperor was sitting behind his desk, missives nearly covering the entire surface. An gui ren''s heart began to race. It had been some time since she and His Majesty were alone like this. He hadn''t flipped her tag in almost a year. "This concubine wishes¨C" "Speak quickly and withdraw. I don''t have time for nonsense today," The Emperor said.An gui ren paused before quietly finishing her greeting. The Emperor was still in a bad mood because of Xiang gui ren''s injury. "Your Majesty, I have something to report," ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *chaofu: Court attire for women of Imperial Concubine status and above ?chaoguan: Hats worn by consorts have two tiers of dongzhu pearls and phoenixes topped by a cat eye stone Chapter 17 Fortune does not come twice. Misfortune does not come alone.* As Jiayi mixed the medical paste for Xiang gui ren''s wound, the phrase wouldn''t leave her head. His Majesty doted on Xiang gui ren. How could Jiayi have known that her mistress'' reward of silks and furs for the upcoming seasons was that first fortune? Instead, misfortune had sunk its claws into Xiang gui ren''s household and refused to let go. First, The Empress Dowager gave Jiang gui ren a promotion. Her mistress kept up a happy face anyways, claiming it was too soon for her to think of something like that. Then, Fifth Princess attacked. Fifth Princess had left a massive gash on Xiang gui ren''s face, starting over her left eye and running down her cheek. Hwang taiyi did his best to sew up the wound and cautioned them about infection. If luck wasn''t on their side, Xiang gui ren could go blind. If that were the end of it, Jiayi would''ve been grateful. Instead, out came the news about First Princess'' "affairs." The Emperor and Empress Dowager were furious, sending an all-out search in every eunuch''s quarters in the Forbidden City. His Majesty''s guards left no stone unturned, and when they found First Princess'' things in Su gonggong''s quarters, they arrested him immediately. There was no chance he was coming out alive. Being free of Su gonggong for good was Jiayi''s goal. That was the whole point of stealing such scandalous things from First Princess'' rooms and planting them in the eunuch''s rooms. Jiayi didn''t think so much trouble would come from it. Now there were rumors about First Princess being a whore all over the capital. Despite being The Emperor''s beloved firstborn, these rumors jeopardized her chances of finding a suitable husband. The Emperor banned her from The Empress Dowager''s birthday banquet because the rumors would spoil the party. The Empress Dowager promised to have a special dinner with First Princess to make up for it, but the message was clear. First Princess, for the time being, was damaged goods. It made Jiayi stomach turn. First Princess was such a beautiful girl, inside and out and had never said an unkind word to her. Now, Jiayi was responsible for ruining her. "Jiejie?" Jiayi jumped at the sound of Molan''s voice. "I think the paste is finished now," said Molan. "Oh," Jiayi looked down at the bowl in her hands, "You''re right. Bring the hot water so we can redress mistress'' wound," said Jiayi. Pie''er and Ping''er, who couldn''t stand to be from Xiang gui ren''s bedside, brought a small table and laid out all the tools. Xiang gui ren was covered in a thin sheet, dozing in bed. "Mistress," said Ping''er, "Jiejie''s here to dress your wound," Jiayi washed and dried her hands before peeling back the rusty colored gauze that covered Xiang gui ren''s face. The sight of the thick black stitches crisscrossing along her mistress'' purpled and pummeled skin made Jiayi''s skin prickle. She swallowed back the tears that welled up in her eyes. Jiayi wiped the area around the stitches as softly as possible with a shaking hand before picking up the paste. The first brush against Xiang gui ren''s skin made her flinch with pain. Jiayi sat up and burst into tears. Before she knew it, Molan had joined in. Ping''er and Pie''er weren''t far behind. Xiang gui ren smiled softly, "You four have been crying day and night, night and day. If it takes as long as Hwang taiyi said it would for me to recover, you''ll end up like a bunch of dried dates," Jiayi hiccuped through her tears and spread the medicine before wrapping the stitches with a fresh bandage. "Aiyo," said Xiang gui ren, "Am I so ugly?" When the sounds of the crying went up in pitch, Xiang gui ren laughed, "It was just a joke! Stop crying. You''re making my head hurt," Xiang gui ren let the four of them cry until there was nothing left but sniffles. "How''s Fifth Princess?" Xiang gui ren asked then, "Is she alright?" "Mistress, how can you ask after that cruel girl after what she did to you?" Asked Molan. Xiang gui ren''s good eye snapped open, "Watch your mouth. Fifth Princess is still Fifth Princess," Molan wiped the tears off her face and nodded. "What are they saying about Fifth Princess? What''s happened?" Xiang gui ren asked. "Xu niang was flogged 40 times and expelled from the palace along with all Fifth Princess'' servants," replied Jiayi. "I heard Fifth Princess has been crying and screaming all day locked up in her rooms," said Ping''er. "Jiang pin is still Jiang pin, even though she raised such a child," said Molan, "His Majesty favors you more than her, but still, she wasn''t punished," "His Majesty''s love will never come before his duties to The Empress Dowager. There''s no point in being upset," replied Xiang gui ren, "And Fifth Princess is just a child. It was a mistake," She then pressed a hand to her head and gasped in pain. Molan leaped up, "I''ll brew your pain medicine right now, mistress," Xiang gui ren settled herself in bed again, "I bet the promotion ceremony was beautiful," Jiayi dabbed the sweat off Xiang gui ren''s forehead, "Your time will come soon, mistress," "How about First Princess? Is she okay?" The question made guilt bubble up in Jiayi''s chest all over again. "She won''t leave her rooms," said Ping''er, "Shen huang gui fei has to threaten to break the doors down to see her," "Poor things," murmured Xiang gui ren. "Shen huang gui fei asked that His Majesty use severe torture on that Su gonggong before getting rid of him," said Ping''er. "It''s only right," said Molan, returning with pain-relieving broth, "He did such an atrocious thing," They all looked up at the commotion in the front hall. Bolin''s frantic voice carried into the bedroom. "Your Highness, our mistress is resting; you can''t enter. Your Highness¨C" The newly promoted Jiang pin strutted into Xiang gui ren''s bedroom, her Imperial Concubine chaofu silks glittering in the afternoon sun. ? When Jiang pin was eight months pregnant with Huaguang, she became ill. The illness lasted until her labor began. In between her screams, Jiang pin begged and begged the Gods to save her only chance for glory and for the child to be born safe. Now, Jiang pin wished that the Gods ignored her cries. That child was an utter waste of time, a bad omen even! Jiang pin could blame the momos for their shoddy work until she was blue in the face, but Huaguang was her daughter. Huaguang''s foolish act could never just be her own. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "And Her Highness The Empress said I''ll be moving to Chuxiugong? before they set off for the Mulan autumn hunt," said An pin, "She says that I can count on an honorary name if I give birth. Prince or princess," An pin. What a joke. It was one thing for someone like Lian fei to rise through the ranks on the backs of her family but someone like An pin becoming an Imperial Concubine? She was more than lowly, and had no favor. All she had was the good luck to be the first person who alerted His Majesty of the rumors about First Princess. An pin didn''t even wear her chaofu well. The strap under her chaoguan dug into the fat of her chin, and her embroidered jacket looked heavy and ill-fitting. She was obviously a last-minute addition to the promotions. "How nice for you," groused Jiang pin, "You get to be the mistress of your palace, but I''m still stuck with that thing in mine," "I wish I could help you more, jiejie. I know your life will be even harder now that Xiang gui ren can whine about what an unruly child Fifth Princess is," replied An pin. "An unruly child is better than no child at all," said Jiang pin, snatching her arm away from An pin, "Huaguang only needs to behave herself, and His Majesty will love her again," An pin nodded, "But jiejie, will you let her run all over you in the meantime? You''re an Imperial Concubine now, a mistress. If you don''t teach her properly, people will continue to think of her as Xianfugong''s true the mistress. For once, An pin said something sensible. Jiang pin was the mistress of Xianfugong, and it was her right to educate all those who lived in her palace. She sent An pin on her way and stepped through the gates of Xianfugong, determined to teach Xiang gui ren a lesson. Xiang gui ren''s fat eunuch tried to stop her, saying some nonsense about the bitch needing rest. Hah! A tap on the head from a child, and Xiang gui ren was back in her natural habitat, on her back in a bed. It incensed Jiang pin more when Xiang gui ren didn''t attempt to greet her properly but continued to play cripple in her sick bed. "Kneel," said Jiang pin. "Your Highness, our mistress is still injured. Please forgive her," a stupid-looking maid said when Xiang gui ren didn''t move. "Her head''s cracked, not her legs," said Susu, "Jiang pin is an Imperial Concubine and the master of this palace. How dare a Noble Lady be so disrespectful? Kneel, now! " Jiang pin didn''t bother hiding her glee as Xiang gui ren struggled to her feet. The fantastic beauty that seduced The Emperor was gone. Xiang gui ren would recover, but there would still be a disgusting scar. If Jiang pin was lucky, the weeping gash on Xiang gui ren''s face would never heal, and an infection would eat her alive. Jiang pin wouldn''t mind helping her with that. She rolled her eyes as Xiang gui ren''s maids helped her to her feet. "She a grown woman. She can stand and kneel alone," said Jiang pin. When Xiang gui ren was on the floor where she belonged, Jiang pin took a seat. "You can all withdraw," she said. "Are you all deaf?" Said Jiang pin when Xiang gui ren''s maids continued to stand around, "I told you to get out! Drag them out!" Xiang gui ren''s maids kicked and screamed as they were hauled away. "Congratulations, Your Highness," said Xiang gui ren after the doors slammed shut. "Keep your congratulations. It''s no better than the dirt beneath my feet," said Jiang pin, "I won''t ask you to sit. I know how much you like being on your knees," Xiang gui ren nodded. Jiang pin rolled her eyes, "Don''t bother being cute with me. I already know what a bitch like you is capable of. Her Highness and His Majesty may be fooled, but I know your true face," Xiang gui ren nodded again. "Now that I''m the mistress of Xianfugong, it''s only right that I teach you how to be decent. You''re my property now," said Jiang pin. Xiang gui ren nodded for a third time. Jiang pin couldn''t stand the sight of the woman''s stupid face. Jiang pin smiled, grabbed hold of the vixen''s ear and twisted as hard as possible. On the uninjured side, of course¨CJiang pin wasn''t a monster. "First lesson! When I give an order, you should reply ''Yes, Your Highness'' or ''No, Your Highness.'' Do you understand?" Xiang gui ren nodded, tears slipping down her face. Again, she said nothing. This woman really was a hardheaded bitch! Jiang pin pinched hard enough to bend Xiang gui ren''s neck. "Do you understand?!" "Yes, Your Highness!" Jiang pin let Xiang gui ren drop to the floor. "Sit up properly and stop those crocodile tears," said Jiang pin. Xiang gui ren rose to her knees, her face pointed to the ground. Jiang pin pressed a hand to Xiang gui ren''s bandaged cheek and raised her head. "Meimei, I hope you realize that your life is in my hands now," A razor-sharp smile crept onto Xiang gui ren''s face as she seized Jiang pin''s hand. Jiang pin jerked her hand back, but Xiang gui ren held fast. The grip transferred to her fingers, where Jiang pin''s brand new nail guards pressed into the meat of Xiang gui ren''s face. "This lowly one does understand," Xiang gui ren whispered, "But jiejie, won''t it be hard to hold me with these claws?" Jiang pin''s mouth filled with ash, "What are you¨C" ? Be quick, Bolin, be quick! Jiayi sent the eunuch running when Jiang pin''s servants tossed them outside. The Empress was too busy preparing for The Empress Dowager''s birthday to be of any help. State affairs kept The Emperor so busy that Bolin wouldn''t get one step through the gates of Yanxindian before being turned away. De gui fei was their only hope. With all the bad luck, she spent her days at Dafuge or Kunninggong??, praying fiercely. Jiayi hoped she chose Kunninggong today. "Yao gonggong," Jiayi said, "Please let us back in. My mistress isn''t well," "It''s not as bad as you''re thinking," said Yao gonggong, "Jiang pin''s promotion is fresh. She won''t do anything harsh to Xiang gui ren," "But¨C" Yao gonggong sighed, "If you really want to make things easier for Xiang gui ren, keep quiet," Jiayi pled with all the elderly eunuchs and momos, but they rejected her repeatedly. Jiang pin was the mistress of this palace. They wouldn''t dare disobey. Molan tugged to where Ping''er and Pie''er stood, "Kunninggong is so close. Why isn''t Bolin back yet?" "Don''t panic," said Jiayi. She didn''t know if she was comforting Molan or herself, "Yao gonggong is right. Jiang pin wouldn''t be stupid enough to start trouble the day of her promotion," A guttural scream echoed through the courtyard. "What was that?" Said Molan. "It''s Xiang gui ren," whispered Jiayi before breaking into a run. Jiang pin''s servants blocked the door, Susu front and center. "Let us in!" Said Jiayi. "Her Highness didn''t call for anyone," said Susu as she shoved Jiayi, "Stay out here," There was more screaming and the sound of a struggle. Jiayi shoved Susu back, sending her to the ground, and rushed to the doors. "You dare!" cried Susu, "Xiao Fu, Xiao Ye, hold that bitch down so I can slap her," Jiayi was strong but not strong enough to fight off two fully grown men, even if they were eunuchs. They forced Jiayi to her knees. "His Majesty arrives! De gui fei arrives!" Susu''s raised hand stilled at the sound of the arrivals. Jiayi broke out of the eunuch''s hold and burst through the doors. Jiang pin was frantically rubbing her hands with a blood-stained cloth. "What did you do?" Jiayi asked. "How¨Chow dare you speak to me like that," Jiang pin said, crumpling the cloth in her hand. Jiayi darted into the bedroom and fell to her feet. Xiang gui ren was sprawled on the floor, her face and clothes drenched in blood. "Mistress," Jiayi whispered, voice caught in her throat. She crawled over and lifted Xiang gui ren''s head into her lap. Two fresh gashes were on the side of her face, and the stitches the Imperial physicians had so carefully put in were torn out. There was so much blood. "Mistress, say something," Jiayi begged as Xiang gui ren''s head lay limp. Xiang gui ren lifted a trembling hand and tried to touch her face. "Don''t, you''ll hurt yourself," said Jiayi, grasping her mistress'' hand. Xiang gui ren was badly hurt, but Jiayi couldn''t leave her alone. Where was Molan and Ping''er? Where was Bolin? She couldn''t take care of this alone! Jiang pin''s awful voice wrenched Jiayi out of her head. "This concubine wishes His Majesty peace. This concubine wishes Her Highness De gui fei peace," "You Highness," Jiayi cried when De gui fei came over, "We need to do something," "Call for Hwang taiyi," ordered De gui fei. "I can''t," said Jiayi, "What if¨C" A body ran past, and Jaiyi realized the room was packed with servants. How had she not noticed them all? "Just put her on the bed," said De gui fei. When De gui fei''s servants lifted Xiang gui ren out of Jiayi''s arms, she almost snatched her mistress back. She crawled over to Xiang gui ren''s bedside. "She''s still bleeding," Jiayi whispered, "Where''s Hwang taiyi?" De gui fei pulled Jaiyi to her feet, "He''s coming. Don''t worry," "Your Majesty, you''re hurting me!" Jiayi wiped her eyes and watched The Emperor yank Jiang pin to her feet. He held her bloodied hand in front of his face. "You devious woman," The Emperor spat. "Your Majesty, please dissipate your anger. My mistress had nothing to do with this," said Susu, "It''s a misunderstanding," "You call this dirty hand a misunderstanding?" He asked. The Emperor flung Jiang pin''s hand away. Jiang pin dropped to her knees, "Your Majesty, I¨CI didn''t mean to¨C" "Zhang Wei, take my decree. Jiang pin is under house arrest until I say so otherwise. If she takes one step outside, demote her to a first-class attendant," "Yes, Your Majesty," said Zhang Wei. Jiang pin kowtowed to The Emperor before crawling and grabbing at the hem of his robes , "Have mercy, Your Majesty, have mercy! I''ll apologize to Xiang gui ren; I''ll pray for her. You can''t keep me locked up. Who¨Cwho will care for Huaguang?" The Emperor closed his eyes and pursed his lips, "Get her out of my sight," ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Chinese proverb: F¨² w¨² zh¨°ng zh¨¬, hu¨°b¨´d¨¡nx¨ªng. Closest English equivalent would be: Bad luck always comes in threes ? Palace of Gathered Elegance ?? Palace of Earthly Tranquility Chapter 18 The Empress Dowager looked closely at the report The Office of Careful Punishment''s report. "Prisoner Mo Qiao beat Su Enlai to death before the interrogation could finish. Before his death, Su Enlai refused to confess to his crimes under harsh interrogation," Sighing, she handed the report to Jerjer, "Would you consider that justice?" She asked. "Your Highness, that eunuch died a miserable death. The guards said that what was left didn''t even look human. His Majesty said that what was left would be cut to pieces and fed to wild dogs. If it''s not justice, then it''s at least karma," said Jerjer. Were the calamities in the back palace The Empress Dowager''s karma? "The master from Tanzhe temple will be coming here to bless the palace soon?" Asked The Empress Dowager. "Yes, he''ll be here to bless you and Cininggong personally tomorrow. Then he''ll lead a prayer at Dafuge for your prosperity, peace, and blessings," said Jejer. "Perhaps, a priest isn''t all we need," said The Empress Dowager, "His Majesty should send for a shaman," Jerjer paused, "You think this is the work of witchery?" "That woman," hissed The Empress Dowager, "Dragged a curse in here with her. How else could you explain these events happening one right after the other?" A darkness crept into the Forbidden City the moment The Emperor announced Xiang gui ren''s arrival. The twilight years of peace and power that The Empress Dowager was promised were dashed to pieces. Had there been a few scuffles here and there since His Majesty''s crowning? Of course! But nothing so unsightly. The Empress Dowager turned her nose at the plate of fresh cantaloupe Jerjer presented to her. "Get rid of it. I''m so full of anger it''ll turn to ash in my stomach," "Even so, this cantaloupe would have an honorable end," replied Jerjer. "His Majesty is here, Your Highness," a eunuch announced. "Come to bring me more bad news?" The Empress Dowager asked after he sat down. "On the contrary," said The Emperor, "The Empress told me that Fan gui ren is pregnant," "You call that good? Your Majesty, it''s been two years since the last Imperial Heir was born. There are so many fresh young flowers in your garden. Why must you stay on the same old path?" The Emperor bowed his head, "The path is familiar, and if I walk long enough, it bears fruit," "When was the last time one of your familiars bore fruit?" Asked The Empress Dowager. She shook her head before The Emperor could answer, "Forget it. You''re The Emperor. Don''t bother listening to this old hag," "Royal mother''s counsel is more precious than gold. Your son will always listen," The Empress Dowager fiddled with her nail guards, "You look at ease today. Xiang gui ren is fine then?" She didn''t care, but it felt polite to ask. "Recovering," replied The Emperor with a curled fist, "De gui fei is watching over her in Chengqiangong," "You''ve made up your mind on what to do with Jiang pin, then?" She asked, "Certainly not a demotion so soon. Small-minded people will call you unfilial," "I know. She''ll be on house arrest until after the new year, and then I plan to demote her to a commoner," The Emperor''s declaration startled The Empress Dowager, "You don''t think that''s too harsh?" She asked, "Xiang gui ren is only a commoner herself!" "If it weren''t for Xiang gui ren, I would''ve delivered her a silk rope on New Year''s night," he snapped, "Wang Rong is more beast than woman," If The Emperor was referring to Jiang pin by her maiden name, he had already made up his mind. "That''s how you feel even after she''s birthed your auspicious child?" The Emperor scoffed, "You mean ominous. I spoke to the Royal Astrologer Jiang pin will ruin Huaguang if they stay together any longer. Their birth pillars clash*. They''re nothing but bad luck," "You want to send Huaguang away?" "Yes. It would be best if she could get away from the bustle of The Forbidden City. I was thinking Grand Princess Huian could raise in Mongolia," "Well¨C" "Your Majesty," a eunuch whispered, "Shen huang gui fei will be arriving soon," The Emperor grimaced and stood, "I''ll take my leave now," he said. "Ridiculous," muttered The Empress Dowager, "Now Shen huang gui fei is quarreling with His Majesty. Do you really think there isn''t a curse?" ? "Let me out! Let me out!" Jiang pin barely felt the sting in her palms as she beat the doors. She was innocent! She was framed! Jiang pin slid to the floor, shutting her swollen eyes tight. She had no tears left to cry. Why couldn''t anyone see through that whore''s act? One moment, Jiang pin was touching Xiang gui ren''s face and the next¨Cthe bitch had sliced her own face open using Jiang pin''s nail guards. Jiang pin could still see the bloodied smile Xiang gui ren flashed before she started screaming like a madwoman. "Let me out..." she whispered. And now...now Jiang pin was trapped. Could she even still call herself an Imperial Concubine? Wang gugu came bright early the next morning to confiscate her chaofu and take away her servants with the exception of Susu. At first, Jiang pin tried to bribe the guards with silver, jewels, even Susu at one point, but nothing could turn their heads. They wouldn''t open the doors or send out a message. Jiang pin settled for trying to beat the door down. "Your Highness," Susu said, cradling Jiang pin''s pummeled hands, "Please stop this. You must think of your health. His Majesty will figure out you''re innocent. You must wait," Jiang pin snatched her hands away, "I''m going to be trapped here forever all because of that bitch!" she hissed. She crawled to her feet and tossed her dinner table aside, sending the gruel and mush the Imperial Kitchen called food, to the floor. "Your Highness! Please stop! They won''t bring any more food for the day!" Said Susu. "What does it matter? I lost! I''ll be stuck in here until the day I die!" No, that wasn''t true. Jiang pin knew that The Emperor wouldn''t let her languish in the luxury of Xianfugong for that long. If Xiang gui ren recovered, Jiang pin would carted off to some hut in the outer palace and left to die. If Xiang gui ren didn''t...it would be better for Jiang pin to find a well and drown herself in it. A rage like no other festered inside Jiang pin. She was so close! So close! All her work was for nothing! This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. One by one, Jiang pin demolished the decor and gifts she that decorated her rooms. She destroyed every statue, vase, wall hanging, plate¨Call of it. Breaths heaving, Jiang pin stood in the aftermath and looked down at her throbbing hands. They were bleeding. Susu scrambled to staunch the wounds with a cloth. "Get away from me!" Jiang pin screamed, knocking her away, "Just go! Like the rest of them!" "I''ll never leave you, Your Highness," said Susu, tears rolling down her cheeks. Idiot. Susu was named perfectly.? Jiang pin walked through the debris and slumped onto a clear spot on the floor. She curled herself into a ball. She needed to think things through. She still had Shen huang gui fei didn''t she? And An pin? They would speak on her behalf. She would only have to spend a few months like this and then His Majesty would release her. Huaguang still needed a mother didn''t she? Yes, it wasn''t all bad. Her head snapped up at the sound of the locks on her door being undone. Jiang pin smiled. She knew His Majesty wouldn''t forget her, all he needed to do was gather his thoughts. The Emperor had come for her! "The Empress Dowager arrives," A guard announced. Disappointment pulsed through Jiang pin''s veins as Jerjer gugu led The Empress Dowager to the seats at the front of the room. "This concubine wishes The Empress Dowager peace," greeted Jiang pin. The Empress Dowager sighed, looking around the room, "You didn''t waste any time, did you, Wang Rong?" It had been so long since Jiang pin had been addressed by her maiden name that she almost glanced at the door to see if someone else was coming. Wang Rong? Why was The Empress Dowager addressing her like this? "Oh," The Empress Dowager said with a smile, "You didn''t hear? Usually, this sort of news travels fast, doesn''t it Jerjer?" Jerjer gugu nodded, "Fifth Princess is already packed. All The Empress has to do is choose the servants that will travel along," "Is...is His Majesty taking Huaguang along for the Mulan Autumn hunt? If so, isn''t it a bit early to pack?" asked Jiang pin. "Let me explain to you, my lady¨C," said Jerjer gugu. "Your Highness!" snapped Jiang pin, "The Empress Dowager promoted me personally, and you will address me as such!" "And what a waste of time that was!" Said The Empress Dowager, "You will be recorded as the woman with the shortest tenure as an Imperial Concubine in the history of the Great Qing," Jiang pin crumpled to the ground again, the air sucked from her lungs, "I''m a Noble Lady again?" "You would be so lucky," said The Empress Dowager, "After the new year, there will be no Jiang pin, only Wang Rong," Jiang pin''s stomach lurched. His Majesty was going to demote her to a commoner over a cheap whore. Susu caught her as she listed to the side. "Your Highness, won''t people talk if His Majesty demotes the mother of his most auspicious child to a commoner?" Asked Susu. Jerjer gugu smiled, "Of course not. Grand Princess Huian will have the honor of raising Fifth Princess and Fifth Princess will have the honor of being raised in the motherland of the Great Qing. It couldn''t be more perfect," "No," Jiang pin said, "They can''t take Huaguang from me. They can''t take her!" It''s falling apart. Everything''s falling apart. Jerjer gugu sighed, "The Royal Astrologer is adamant that keeping Fifth Princess in the palace will bring about bad luck," Frantic, Jiang pin pressed her head to The Empress Dowager''s feet, "Your Highness, you have to let me beg for Huaguang. Please, take me out of here so I can get her back!" Jiang pin wasn''t sure where these tears came from, but she couldn''t stop once she started. Her breath came out in harsh, punched gasps, spit, and snot running down her face. Huaguang was her only chance to redeem herself. Without that child, there was nothing, nothing, she could do. Jerjer gugu frowned at her, firmly pushing her head away and wiping the damp spots on the hem of The Empress Dowager''s skirts. "Xiang gui ren is still bedbound," said The Empress Dowager, "If I let you out, you wouldn''t get one step into the courtyard, much less see him in person," "What about Shen huang gui fei," gasped out Jiang pin, "Can she speak to His Majesty on my behalf? Can she?" Jiang pin''s head was pounding and the floor was starting sway under her. "My lady, Shen huang gui fei and His Majesty are at odds at the moment. Even if there were on good terms, Shen huang gui fei is too busy with First Princess to spare time for you," said Jerjer gugu. "There''s nothing I can do?" Asked Jiang pin. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Your Highness, but what if you took in Fifth Princess? No ominous events could take place with your blessing and protection," said Jerjer gugu. Jiang pin grabbed onto the lifeline that Jejer gugu tossed out. "Empress Dowager, please, please, take Huaguang in," "What good will that do? That girl has already been tainted badly. How could I raise her?" Asked The Empress Dowager. "The Empress Dowager could turn water into wine," said Jiang pin, "There''s nothing that you can''t do. You can''t let His Majesty send my daughter away," "As mother who''s children married far away, I do ache for you, Wang Rong. But how can I risk my bond with His Majesty for you?" Said The Empress Dowager, "What can you do to make this worthwhile?" Jiang pin paused. The Empress Dowager had unimaginable power and wealth. At this point, Jiang pin was a disgraced soon-to-be commoner with a deviant for a daughter. "My life," Jiang pin said at last, "I''ll give you my life. My breath, my blood, my children¨Cthey''ll be yours!" "I already have Shen haung gui fei for that," said The Empress Dowager. "I can be better than her," said Jiang pin, "I can, I know I can. If you help me this one time, Your Highness, I''ll repay with my life," The Empress Dowager smiled. "You swear?" ? Through the heavy haze of a medicinal sleep, Xiang gui ren opened awoke. It took her a moment to realize that it wasn''t just the pain medication. Things were different. The silk sheets that covered her body were different. The curtains that enclosed her bed were different. This bed...where was she? Had she made a mistake? Did her trick not work? "Jiayi?" The curtains around her bed parted, and instead of Jiayi''s warm face, it was De gui fei''s. Xiang gui ren opened her mouth to speak again, but hot pain lanced through her face. All she could do was groan. De gui fei shook her head and helped Xiang gui ren sit up before pressing a warm bowl of medicine into her hands. "You didn''t have to press so hard," said De gui fei. Xiang gui ren froze. De gui fei couldn''t mean? She did her best to make her patchwork of a face resemble something of a smile, "What do you mean, Your Highness?" De gui fei wiped a dribble of soup off Xiang gui ren''s chin, "A small scratch would''ve sent His Majesty into a rage. You didn''t have to be so rough with yourself. What if it leaves a scar?" Xiang gui ren closed her good eye, "Was I so obvious? Does everyone know? Is that why His Majesty moved me to a different room?" "Drink your soup," ordered De gui fei, "Nobody suspects anything. I know that Jiang pin is about as strong as a light breeze. She wouldn''t be able to do that to you. And His Majesty moved you to Chengqiangong''s east wing because I asked him to," Xiang gui ren let De gui fei take away the empty bowl. All this time, she thought she had De gui fei figured out. That De gui fei was a simple woman with simple joys who assumed that everyone was as straightforward as she was. "You didn''t tell His Majesty?" Asked Xiang gui ren. "No," "If you knew I did this to myself, why did you ask that I be moved here? Why would you want to share your palace with such a devious woman?" asked Xiang gui ren. "Your hair is a mess," said De gui fei, "I''ll comb it," Xiang gui ren watched De gui fei put set a bowl of fragrant oil and a jade comb on the bedside table. "Turn," said De gui fei. Xiang gui ren''s new roommate started to undo the tangled braid that hung down her back. "Do you know why I live alone?" De gui fei asked. Xiang gui ren didn''t know what to do with that question. Should she fawn and simper? Should she joke and laugh? In the end, she shook her head. "It''s because no one can stand me. Many other women have lived here over the years, and they asked to live somewhere else the first chance they got. I''m mean. I''m rigid. I''m more stone than woman. No one can stand me," "But The Empress,¨C" "The Empress is my master, not my friend," said De gui fei, "Not even His Majesty likes me. I''m a Noble Consort, and he loves my daughter, so why should I complain?" De gui fei parted Xiang gui ren''s hair, threw some of it over her shoulder, and began attacking what was left. "Everyone here is good at pretending. They pretend to be friends, they pretend to be grateful, they pretend to be sad, happy, it''s all just pretend. But not one single person could pretend to want me," said De gui fei, "My parents are long gone, and my family stopped speaking to me when it became clear that I wouldn''t beg for promotions and favors on their behalf," Gentle fingers picked apart Xiang gui ren''s sweat-tangled hair and ran a comb from scalp to tip. Section by section, her hair once again became smooth and fragrant. "But so far, you are the best actress. You put up with me and laugh with me and treat me like a friend, even after all this time," De gui fei laughed, "Sometimes I feel like you really like me," Xiang gui ren swallowed back her tears. "I can be good to you, too, don''t worry. I''ll ask His Majesty for favors on your behalf, and if you have a son, I''ll make sure he''s raised here with us until he''s three or four. If you have a daughter, she can always stay. She''ll never live in the A Ge Sou," "All I ask," said De gui fei as she finished the fresh plait, "Is that you keep pretending. Could you...would you mind?" By this point, Xiang gui ren couldn''t contain her tears, and the bandage covering her face was growing damp. "Of course, jiejie," ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *4 Pillars of Destiny: The Four Pillars of Destiny, as known as "Ba-Zi", which means "eight characters" or "eight words" in Chinese, is a Chinese astrological concept that a person''s destiny or fate can be divined by the two sexagenary cycle characters assigned to their birth year, month, day, and hour ?Gender neutral name that means simple Chapter 19 Everyone knew that the food at The Empress Dowager¡¯s banquet would be more than luxurious. The Empress wanted the meal to be something people talked about for years. To even lay eyes on it was something most people would die to do. Not wanting Xiang gui ren to miss out, The Emperor delivered each dish to her. The servants needed to push three tables together to lay out the entire banquet. Molan and Bolin ¡®ooh-ed¡¯ and ¡®ahh-ed¡¯ over The Emperor¡¯s care for their mistress. Jiayi cursed him. The Emperor had been by Xiang gui ren¡¯s side since she was bedbound and knew she couldn¡¯t open her mouth very much or chew tough foods. He was right there when Hwang taiyi and Lou taiyi described the strict rejuvenating diet Xiang gui ren would have to follow if she wanted to heal with no deep scars. At best, Xiang gui ren could have fingernails'' worth of each dish. Wasn''t it cruel to send her all the food she could''t have? ¡°Everything looks so exciting,¡± said Xiang gui ren, ¡°It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t eat it. Ah, I hope His Majesty doesn¡¯t behave like this every day," ¡°Mistress, we won¡¯t eat if you can¡¯t. We¡¯ll send it back!¡± Said Ping¡¯er. Xiang gui ren waived away the idea, ¡°No, I¡¯ll just seem ungrateful. Eat, eat! It¡¯ll give you all something to do other than wait for me to drop dead,¡± ¡°Mistress!¡± Jiayi gasped at the implication. ¡°It was a joke!¡± Said Xiang gui ren. Jiayi huffed and walked around the tables, looking for something soft and light for Xiang gui ren. If she cut the pieces fine enough, her mistress could have a treat. ¡°What¡¯s that over there on the 2nd table near the hot pot?¡± Asked Xiang gui ren. ¡°Shark fin soup, mistress,¡± replied Molan. ¡°Didn¡¯t First Princess talk about how much she liked that? It''s awful that she has to miss it. Poor thing,¡± said Xiang gui ren. The mention of First Princess made Jiayi¡¯s stomach turn. Molan nodded, ¡°Mmm, she liked the pork trotters and steamed cakes here, too. Mistress, why don¡¯t we send some over to her? I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s been so sad, locked in her rooms,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± said Jiayi. It was a small gesture, but it would make Jiayi feel better if First Princess felt better. ¡°Good. Oh! Since you¡¯ll be over there anyways, take that green brocade and white fox fur and drop it off in Sixth Princes¡¯ rooms. The Internal Affairs department sent over a few things to make my winter clothes, but green isn¡¯t really my color, and I think brown and red furs are more dashing,¡± said Xiang gui ren. Molan placed the dishes in a lunchbox and neatly folded the green brocade and furs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, jiejie; I¡¯ll save the pork belly for you,¡± The Empress Dowager¡¯s banquet was large enough that many servants, no matter what department they worked in, were pulled in to help. Seeing the streets empty of the usual servants sweeping, washing, and trimming was strange. A cooler-than-usual breeze made Jiayi shiver. She looked down at the brocade and fur, wondering if an odd boy like the Sixth Prince would appreciate it. The Sixth Prince looked nothing like The Emperor. At this point, Jiayi had painted all of the princes and princesses and could match the features of His Majesty in all of them. With Sixth Prince? There was none. When Xiang gui ren entered Sixth Prince¡¯s rooms, his nursemaids asked if they could relieve themselves and tidy up when Xiang gui ren was around to watch Sixth Prince. They didn¡¯t bother asking their master but instead shuffled out. She placed her paintbox on the table and frowned at the dust and food stains that littered the tablecloth. Jiayi would have to clean it before putting down the parchment. ¡°The Empress Dowager is going to love this portrait of you,¡± said Xiang gui ren, ¡°Did you pick out your clothes?¡± Sixth Prince didn¡¯t look up from the scroll he was reading, ¡°What does it matter? Can¡¯t your maid paint me in anything?¡± ¡°Even so. Do you have a favorite color?¡± She asked. ¡°Green,¡± Xiang gui ren nodded. ¡°Sixth Prince,¡± said Jiayi, ¡°Where would you like to be painted?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to paint me here. I¡¯m not leaving my room,¡± said Sixth Prince. Jiayi bowed her head, ¡°I apologize. I mean, what would you like to be doing in your portrait? First Princess was embroidering, and Third Prince was on horseback. What would you like?¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± Asked Sixth Prince, ¡°Can we just get this over with?¡± Jiayi looked around at Sixth Prince¡¯s desk. Piles of scrolls and books littered the surface, with more of the same spilling out of the bookshelf behind him. ¡°Sixth Prince looks like a dashing scholar at work at his desk. Would you like to be painted like that?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Sixth Prince sighed and griped when Jiayi gently posed him and ordered Molan and Bolin to tidy up around. It couldn¡¯t have been more than an hour before Sixth Prince claimed to be tired and all but chased them away. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Mistress,¡± said Molan, once they were well away from the A Ge Sou, ¡°That was weird, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What was?¡± ¡°Sixth Prince. His nannies were gone the entire time, and his room? Dusty all over? I tried to find a green yifu for jiejie to paint, and all his clothes were old and thin. That¡¯s not how an Imperial heir should live,¡± It had taken several sessions to finish Sixth Prince¡¯s portrait. In that time, the child rarely had visitors. When Jiayi painted Third Prince¡¯s portrait, Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince weren¡¯t far from his side. First Princess and Second Princess dropped by as well. But Sixth Prince was alone. On one occasion, Tong pin dropped by and spent time fussing about Sixth Prince¡¯s dirty fingers and sullen face, but she mostly chatted with Xiang gui ren before leaving. Sixth Prince kicked them out soon after. A young lady and a maid strolled passed her, ¡°G¨ºg¨º, let¡¯s go back. The fireworks will start soon,¡± Jiayi felt a sharp burning burst of jealousy at the g¨ºg¨º¡¯s effortless beauty. But like the sting of a mosquito, it was there for only a moment. Jiayi was dragged out of her thoughts when someone hissed her name. ¡°Psst! Wei guniang! Over here!" It took her a few turns before realizing that someone was waving at her from behind a corner. ¡°Sang¡¯er?¡± she asked. ¡°Lower your voice,¡± he said, ¡°Wei guniang, may I ask a favor of you?¡± Jiayi looked down at the lunchbox in one hand and the fabric in the other, "I''m a little busy. I can come back later," Sang''er shook his head, "It can''t wait! Please, Wei guniang, it won''t take long," "Sang''er¨C" The eunuch dropped to his knees, pleading in earnest. "Don''t do that!" Jiayi said, walking over to him, "Fine. If it''s quick, I''ll help you," "Thank you, thank you!" said Sang''er, "Come with me, quickly!" Sang''er brought her around the corner, where Prince Han, in Jiayi''s opinion, appeared out of thin air. She yelped at the sight of him. Sang''er and Prince Han frantically shushed her. "I''m sorry," she whispered, "My lord, what''s going on?" Prince Han cleared his throat, "I need a small favor," Jiayi was familiar with this kind of conversation. Every servant was. It was always a ''small favor.'' Just drop this off. Just switch these plates. Just deliver this message. Those small things usually landed them in a coffin. The thoughts must have shown on her face because Prince Han quickly reassured her. "It''s nothing so grave," he said, "I need you to talk to someone for me," ¡°Did you pass by a g¨ºg¨º on your way here?¡± Sang''er asked, ¡°Very pretty and walking with her maid?¡± ¡°I did,¡± she replied. ¡°My lord would like you to ask her to return to the banquet. If she asks after him, tell her he''s drunk and already retired for the night," "At 5 in the evening?" asked Jiayi. "You can say anything within reason," said Prince Han, "Just stop her from walking up and down the corridors so I can escape," Jaiyi''s arms were beginning to get sore. "My lord, if this g¨ºg¨º is bothering you, I''m sure Her Highness could help," Prince Han''s face went through a series of convulsions before he collected himself. He nudged Sang''er. "Oh! Here," Sang''er held out a tael of silver to her. Seeing that her hands were occupied, Sang''er relieved her of her burdens before pressing the money into her hands. "On your way now to deal with Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º. I''ll keep these safe for you," Jiayi had no choice. She pocketed the silver and stepped back onto the road. The g¨ºg¨º that Prince Han was so weary of made an about-face and walked straight toward her. ¡°My lady,¡± Jiayi called, ¡°Do you need some help?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± said Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º, ¡°Yes. Have you seen Prince Han? I have something I want to give him,¡± "I passed by Prince Han on my way back. He was red-faced and leaning on his eunuch. Perhaps my lady should wait to give Prince Han this gift. He may displace it,¡± Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º deflated and let out a small sigh, "You''re right. I suppose I''d be bothering him," ¡°Don¡¯t worry, g¨ºg¨º,¡± said her maid, ¡°The Empress invites you here so often, you¡¯ll see Prince Han again,¡± It made Jiayi''s heart ache to see the young woman so sad. How much could it hurt that she wanted to spend some time with Prince Han? Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º nodded, ¡°Fine then, let¡¯s go back to the banquet,¡± "Wait," said Jiayi, "May I ask your name?" ¡°My lady is Xiurong of the Yele-Nara clan,¡± said the maid. "Being the daughter of such a powerful clan, your father must be invited to the Mulan Autumn Hunt*," said Jaiyi. ¡°Master is a decorated general of His Majesty¡¯s army,¡± said the maid, ¡°He¡¯s invited every year,¡± ¡°Do you go with him?¡± Asked Jiayi. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m not very fond of horse racing and such,¡± replied Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º. Jiayi leaned in close and dropped her voice to a whisper, ¡°Prince Han is going. I¡¯ve heard that men and women don¡¯t live as separately in Mongolia as in the capital. If you went with your father, you could spend even more time with him," Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º smiled at her maid in excitement before turning back to Jiayi, ¡°You¡¯re a very smart maid,¡± ¡°Thank you, my lady,¡± Jiayi waited until Yele-Nara g¨ºg¨º was out of sight before returning to Prince Han and Sang''er. "She''s gone," Prince Han and Sang''er exchanged a look of relief. "Wei guniang, you don''t know how much you''ve helped us," said Sang''er. Jiayi went on her way as quickly as possible. First Princess'' food could only stay warm for so long. ? The fireworks died, and the guests were traveling back home. Shen huang gui fei could finally drop the false smile that covered her face. How could her smile be anything but false? The Emperor was shunning her and Huabao, and The Empress Dowager was furious with her for marrying her cousins into Duke Zian''s household. It was unfair. How long would The Empress Dowager be by her side? Why was it such a crime for Shen huang gui fei to think of her future? Until she had another son, it was all she could do! But still, depriving The Empress Dowager of an opportunity to douse the Imperial Family with more Mongolian blood was a heavy crime. "Let The Empress and De gui fei eat you alive, you ungrateful wretch!" So De gui fei finally made a move. Shen huang gui fei would admit that as the years went on, De gui fei became less and less of a threat. Their daughters may have been born right after the other, but His Majesty stopped frequenting De gui fei''s bed years ago. With no son and no favor, De gui fei faded into the background like an old, ugly painting. The Empress must have promised a great something for De gui fei to step off her moral high horse and attack Huabao. And with Xiang gui ren moving to Chengqiangong, the picture became clearer and clearer. If De gui fei wanted to make the mistake of going against Shen huang gui fei, it was her funeral. It was too early to take action so soon after Jiang pin''s foolishness so she would wait until their return from the hunt. Then, she would show De gui fei the error of her ways. In the dead of night, Jingse informed her of an interesting tidbit regarding Xiang gui ren''s little maid and Prince Han. How fun. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *The imperial hunt of the Qing dynasty was an annual rite of the of during the (1636¨C1912). It was first organized in 1681 by the at the imperial hunting grounds at Mulan (modern-day Weichang Manchu and Mongol Autonomous County), near what would become the of the Qing emperors at Starting in 1683 the event was held annually at Mulan during the autumn, lasting up to a month. The Qing dynasty hunt was a synthesis of earlier Chinese and hunting traditions, particularly those of the and . The emperor himself participated in the hunt, along with thousands of soldiers, imperial family members, and government officials. Chapter 20 The Empress Dowager''s birthday celebration lasted throughout the week. With that over, The Empress was organizing the back palace and the children for the hunt. Prince hadn''t seen her in anything more than passing, so when he heard that The Emperor was staying the night in Yikungong, he stopped by for dinner. Prince Han did his best to keep the smile when he saw The Empress eating dinner alone. It was mid-month, so The Emperor was supposed to spend the night in Yikungong. Instead, he was probably convalescing at Xiang gui ren''s bedside. It was a bit much. She wasn''t dying. She had a scratch on her face. The Empress piled his plate full the moment he sat down. "Is His Majesty spending the night at Chengqiangong?" "No, more missives were delivered, so His Majesty is spending the night at Yanxindian to work on them. You know he likes to do as much as possible before we''re set to leave. In fact¨C" Laying her chopsticks down, The Empress grabbed Prince Han''s hands with an alarmingly familiar look on her face. Prince Han felt like running. "¨CThis year''s hunt is going to be very special," "Really?" Prince Han tried to tug his hand away, "Are the game reports good? Shall I hunt a leopard for you?" "Who cares about all that? The stars have finally aligned. All the families are bringing along a daughter of marriageable age. Even General Batu! Zhishi, Xiurong will be there!" Prince Han hoped the smile on his face didn''t look as painful as it felt, "Oh...is she?" "Yes! It was a shame you couldn''t speak to her at Royal Grandmother''s banquet, but you did see her, right? She''s grown even more beautiful," Of course, Prince Han had seen her. How could he not? The Empress ensured Xiurong sat directly across from him the entire evening. Prince Han had appreciated her whole visage while hiding from her later that night. Had Jiayi not saved him, he would''ve spent the night in the streets. From the moment The Empress forced them to meet five years ago, Prince Han did his best to avoid her. It wasn''t anything against Xiurong. In the few moments they''ve spent together, Prince Han could be assured that Xiurong was a kind, beautiful, well-bred woman that wouldn''t be anything other than a perfect wife. That was the problem. Prince Han didn''t want a wife. Well, he did eventually want a wife, just not now. It was a ridiculous thought and an unfilial one as well. What 19-year-old man didn''t marry? By the time His Majesty was 19, he and The Empress had been together for years. There was just so much he hadn''t done yet. So many places he hadn''t been. So much glory left to be wrought in the name of the Great Qing. How could he be by His Majesty''s side at a moment''s notice with a wife and child at home? It just wouldn''t do. It would be best to avoid it and Xiurong altogether. General Batu would get the message and marry Xiurong to another well connected man. Prince Han could make it to 25 as a single man if he were lucky. He knew he was being ungrateful. So many people would kill to see their wife before their wedding day. Prince Han had the chance to pick her and didn''t want it. "You can marry sometime after the new year," said The Empress, bringing plates of sweet cakes closer to him, "And during the draft, His Majesty can find a few cefujin and concubines for you. Once you''re engaged, we can start building your house in the capital. There are some nice plots of land¨C" "Mother, please," said Prince Han, his head spinning. "Mother?" Echoed The Empress, "It''s been some time since you''ve called me that. Shall I go back to calling you Shishi?" Prince Han felt his cheeks redden, "Please don''t. I''m just thinking, Yian will be ready to marry in a few years, too. I don''t want to steal this sort of thing away from him when I have Royal Mother to find a wife for me," It was a little mean to bring up The Empress Dowager like this. She had never taken one ounce of interest in him. The idea that she was thinking about his marriage was laughable. If The Empress Dowager had her way, he''d be unmarried until the day he died, and The Empress knew that. "I''m...sure Royal Mother could do that, but as she gets older, this sort of thing can stress her out. I don''t mind taking over. Speaking of Yian, it would be a crime if he married before you. I won''t have it," "Fine, fine, if I have any spare time between hunting bears and foxes for you, I''ll spend some time with Xiurong," The Empress smiled, "That''s all I ask," Prince Han wondered how long The Empress would continue to ask. These conversations made him miss The Emperor even more. His Majesty never pestered him over marriage. Whenever The Empress brought these sorts of things up, His Majesty would happily take his side, saying that there was no harm in Prince Han being unmarried for a bit longer. The rest of the dinner was uneventful but comfortable. The Empress happily regaled him with the going-ons of the back palace. She was animated in a way that he rarely saw in front of the concubines. It was like he was sitting with his mother instead of The Empress. "Your Highness," interrupted Jerjer gugu, "A eunuch from the Imperial Hospital is here. Sixth Prince is ill," "Send him in," said The Empress. "Your Highness The Empress, Sixth Prince has a cough and a fever. The doctor is asking you to approve his treatment," "The Imperial Hospital doesn''t usually need my approval for little colds like this," said The Empress. "Sixth Prince nursemaids reported that he''s been ill for days, unable to sleep and eat from the coughs and has a fever and night chills," said the eunuch. "Days?! Why didn''t anyone report this to Her Highness sooner?" Asked Prince Han. The eunuch cowered, "I¨CI don''t know. I was only told to report to Her Highness. Please forgive me!" If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "My lord, please calm down," said Jerjer gugu, "If Sixth Prince''s nursemaids waited so long to report, his illness must have suddenly taken a turn for the worst," "Fetch my raised chair," The Empress said before turning to Prince Han, "You don''t have to wait for me to return. You can go back and rest," Prince Han shook his head, "I''ll meet you there," Sang''er borrowed a lantern, and the two stepped out into the night. "My lord," said Sang''er, "Are you alright?" Prince Han shook his head, "Walk faster," he ordered. Sang''er wouldn''t understand Prince Han''s urgency. Prince Han was beginning to see himself in Yiqiang these last few months and hated it. During his previous visits, Prince Han convinced himself that what happened to him would never happen to Yiqiang. The Emperor was too good, and The Empress too thorough. But he could already tell it wasn''t true. Yiqiang was at the age where The Emperor should be asking for his assistance and eagerly scrutinizing his coursework. Prince Han couldn''t recall The Emperor mentioning Yiqiang by name once since his arrival. To be an unfavored son was the same as dissolving into dust. People walked through you day in and day out. Being close to him meant courting The Late Emperor''s ire, so everyone stayed away. When The Empress took him to the palace, his brothers and sisters were polite to him but nothing more. His cousins ignored him. Most of The Emperor''s concubines ignored him or played nice to get his attention. It wasn''t until The Emperor sent him away with his 10th brother, Duke Shoushan, did he become close to any sibling other than The Emperor. The A Ge Sou was silent when Prince Han arrived. Yiqiang was a miserable sight to behold. He curled up at the head of his bed, his little body shaking with the force of his coughs. His face was red, and his eyes were wet and swollen. His nursemaids stood by his side, offering a cloth for Yiqiang to spit his phlegm. They offered no comfort or a kind hand. Useless. Prince Han didn''t acknowledge their greetings and went straight to Yiqiang. Yiqiang crawled into his arms, limp and exhausted. The poor child couldn''t even cry properly, instead letting out a mix of rasping gasps and hiccups. The sight of Prince Han, favored by The Emperor, compelled Yiqiang''s nursemaids to suddenly behave like proper servants and have a cup of fresh tea for him in moments. Prince Han tossed it to the ground. "Useless! Is this how you serve your master?!" The nursemaids dropped to their knees, "Sixth Prince catches small colds now and then like every child, and they clear up on their own. We just assumed¨C" "Damn your assumptions," said Prince Han, "Guards! Take these slaves to The Office of Careful Punishment and cane them 30 times," The nursemaids'' cries of mercy stopped when The Empress arrived. Gone was the mother who pinched his cheeks moments ago. She had put on the costume of The Empress. "Your Highness The Empress, please save us!" They cried, "We did nothing wrong!" Prince Han snarled, "How dare you lie to The Empress! Look at Yiqiang! What have you done right?" The Empress surveyed the room before calling for the doctor, who scrambled to his knees before her. "Speak," The doctor swallowed, "Replying to Your Highness, after investigating, I can conclude that Sixth Prince''s liver fire is attacking his lung. This can be the result of inner turmoil and anger," "Is this something that can happen overnight?" Asked The Empress. Shaking his head, the doctor replied, "This attack can only come from a repeated build-up of anger and resentment¡ªat least a month''s worth. Your Highness, needn''t worry. We caught it before¨C" Suddenly, the doctor went silent. Prince Han''s blood ran cold, "Speak? Before what?" "Before...before the fire spread and caused an internal bleed," Jerjer gugu glared down at the nursemaids before jerking her head towards the door, "Drag them out," "Be quiet!" She barked when the nursemaids began to beg, "For every heir you disturb, your beatings will double," Prince Han looked down at Yiqiang when the boy''s clammy hand clutched his own, "Am I going to die?" "Of course not," said Prince Han, "Right?" "Very right," said the doctor, "Liver fire is a common ailment. Sixth Prince''s medicine will be ready in the morning. I''ll take my leave," The Empress ordered her servants to bathe Yiqiang and put him to sleep. Prince Han watched him be carried away. "Zhishi," said The Empress, "Could you do me a favor?" ? "Royal father didn''t come say goodbye," Yiqiang said as tears dribbled down his cheeks. On the order of Xu taiyi, Yiqiang had spent the last week in bed. Other than doing his breathing exercises, he was to rest. Prince Han leaned over and wiped them away, "There was just too much to do. That''s why he left me here to watch over you so something like this doesn''t happen again," So deep into his illness, Yiqiang could never make the trip to Mulan. The Empress asked that Prince Han be the one to deliver the news. Yiqiang was devastated. It was a rite of passage to hunt by The Emperor''s side for the first time. It was when you truly became a man. Now, Yiqiang would be the first prince to miss it. When The Empress wondered how Yiqiang would deal with the disappointment while everyone was away, Prince Han jumped at the chance to stay behind. Not just because he could avoid any matchmaking but because he feared that Yiqiang would become even sicker alone. The doctor''s words had etched themselves into his brain. ''This sort of attack can only come about from a repeated build-up of anger and resentment,'' There was no way that Yiqiang wouldn''t succumb to the liver fire and bleed to death if he were left alone. He had no mother and a man who was the Son of God before he was a father. The odds were against him. Prince Han rubbed Yiqiang''s back as he hunched over from another bout of coughs. "Next year, the two of us will catch a tiger and a great black bear," said Prince Han. "Could I give the pelts to mother?" asked Yiqiang. "We''ll see," Prince Han had no kind thoughts about Yiqiang''s mother. The woman accused The Empress of a monumental crime and was given the grace of house arrest rather than execution for Yiqiang''s sake. His current state made it clear that the choice was pointless. In Prince Han''s opinion, the sooner Yiqiang forgot Shu pin, the better. "My lord," said Sang''er, "Xiang gui ren sent over a few gifts for Sixth Prince," Yiqiang sat up and wiped his face clean of any wayward tears, "Send them in," Prince Han hadn''t seen Jiayi since the night of the banquet, so he was disappointed when a chubby eunuch and a round-faced girl stepped inside. "Xiang gui ren asked us to make a few things in the little kitchen to soothe Sixth Prince''s throat," said the maid, "Tangerine skin tea, ginseng chicken soup, and fish soup," Yiqiang turned his nose up at it, "The other maid brought shark fin soup. I want that. Take everything else back," "Even the toys?" The maid asked. "Toys? What toys?" Yiqiang crawled over Prince Han''s lap to look closer at the tray in the eunuch''s arms. The maid smiled and handed Yiqiang a few tops, "Jiejie heard you were feeling poorly, so she painted these for you. Look at this one. When you spin it, the warrior charges!" Prince Han carried Yiqiang over to the table. The bright white top had several figures of an armored Bannerman on all sides. When the maid ripped the string back, and the top began to spin, the Bannerman took his spear and sprinted. Yiqiang''s eyes widened in wonder. He turned to the maid when the top finished its dance. Yiqiang eagerly snatched up the others. "Uncle, look! This one''s a tiger! And this one''s a bear!" Prince Han smiled, "We didn''t even have to take the trip to Mulan to get them," "I want a dragon," Yiqiang told the maid, "And dancing girl! Tell her to paint it right now and bring it to me," "Yiqiang," Prince Han said, "Thank Xiang gui ren and let them go back," "But¨C" "Now," "Fine," huffed Yiqiang, "I thank Xiang niangniang for her gifts," "Our mistress will be glad you liked them," said the eunuch. Despite his protests, Yiqiang gobbled down the soup and tea that Xiang gui ren sent before spending the evening with his tops. They were amazing. The Bannerman''s uniform and spear were a perfect recreation. The tiger''s fur seemed to glisten. The bear''s gaping maw was terrifying. How did that girl get all that onto a piece of wood? He thought back to the first time he saw Jiayi in the gardens. The curve of her brow, her skin''s warmth, and her very steady hands. Tomorrow he would visit Xiang gui ren and thank her personally. It was only polite. The following day, however, was filled with chaos. Yiqiang was gone. Chapter 21 For the first time in weeks, Jiayi felt relaxed. The Emperor was off in the countryside, Su gonggong was dead and gone, and Jiang pin was dealt with. Jiayi''s nights still weren''t quiet, and if someone moved too fast, she still flinched, but if things kept going the way they were, she could see herself spending the rest of her days like this happily. Even Xiang gui ren was chipper. Freshly risen from bed, she stared at herself in the mirror, "My bruises look better already. And my face isn''t the size of the moon! That Hwang taiyi sure isn''t a slacker," "Mistress, even with those bruises, you''re still the most beautiful woman here," said Molan. Xiang gui ren snorted, "Goodness, let''s go for a walk after breakfast. Pretty''s been locked here with me so long that she''s gone crazy!" They dissolved into laughter only to erupt in a cacophony of screams when a raspy voice said, "I want shark fin soup for breakfast," Jiayi''s heart leaped to her throat as she twisted around to see Sixth Prince standing behind her. "Yiqiang?" Asked Xiang gui ren, "What are you doing here?" This time, they, including Sixth Prince, screamed when Bolin, Pi''er, and Ping''er rushed into the room, hoisting weapons above their heads. Ping''er had chosen a modestly-sized vase, Pie''r, a rug beater, and Bolin had an entire chair. Sixth Prince scrambled behind Jiayi. "Aren''t you all late?" Asked Xiang gui ren, "If there were a real assassin, I''d be dead two times over!" The three looked sufficiently cowed. "Speaking of, how did Yiqiang sneak passed you all?" Bolin pouted, "Mistress, I''ve been outside all morning. No one''s come in or out," "Is Yiqiang a ghost now?" Asked Xiang gui ren. Jiayi took a long look at Yiqiang. What she thought was a pink tinge of sickness on his face was the flush of sleep. He was in his bedclothes, and his braid was a mess. She crouched down. "Sixth Prince, did you spend the night here?" "Yeah. Did the other maid tell you about what to paint on my top? Have you started them?" Oh no. "I apologize, I haven''t, but I''ll start later today," said Jiayi, "Why did Prince send you here so late at night? It''s so dangerous for you to walk that far on your own," Sixth Prince huffed, "Uncle didn''t send me here. I came by myself. Everyone was asleep, so I slept in one of De niangniang''s rooms. It wasn''t scary at all," Jiayi''s eyes widened. "Sixth Prince," Molan said, her voice thin, "Are you saying you snuck out in the middle of the night without telling anyone?" So somewhere across the Forbidden City, the A Ge Suo was in complete panic. Prince Han was probably losing it, and everyone in the room realized it. "Well!" said Xiang gui ren, "Bolin will get your breakfast. In the meantime, Jiayi, why don''t you get a change of clothes from Yiqiang''s room?" And please tell Prince Han that Yiqiang wasn''t stolen away in the middle of the night. Jiaiyi rushed across the Forbidden City, hoping things hadn''t gone too far already. However, instead of the chaos she expected, everything was still. No rushing servants, no shouting. The guards at the gates didn''t look stressed either. The guards directed her to Sixth Prince''s room when she asked after Prince Han. Jiayi began to relax again. Perhaps they''d all just overreacted, and Prince Han hadn''t noticed that Sixth Prince was missing yet. That was good. All Jiayi had to do was let Prince Han know where Sixth Prince ran off to, and it would be fine. When she tried the doors to Sixth Prince''s bedroom, they didn''t open. She jiggled the door. "Anyone?" she called, "I have a message for Prince Han. Hello?" Jiayi knocked again and pressed her ear to the wood. She heard shuffling and the hushed sound of voices, but still, no one replied or came to the door. Just as she went to knock again, the door opened, and out stepped Sang''er. "Ah! Wei guniang, it''s you," Sang''er smiled at her and closed the doors behind him. "Good morning. Is Prince Han awake? Xiang gui ren has a message for him," "Don''t trouble yourself, Wei guniang. Tell me, and I''ll pass it along," "I think Xiang gui ren would rather I tell Prince Han in person," "Wei guniang," Sang''er said as his shoulders slumped, "Right now isn''t a good time. Please come back lat¨C" "It''s about Sixth Prince," she said. Sang''er froze before he flashed her a weary smile, "Sixth Prince? Have you finished the new toys already?" Based on Sang''er caginess, Prince Han probably ordered that the news of Sixth Prince''s disappearance not leave the room. Whispering, Jiayi said, "Sixth Prince spent the night in Chengqiangong," Sang''er''s eyes widened, "What?" "Sixth Prince¨C" Sang''er shushed her before clearing his throat, "Right this way," He opened the door just enough so they could slip through. Inside, the floor was packed tightly with kneeling servants. Prince Han sat above them, face livid. "My lord," said Jiayi, "Xiang gui ren asked that I bring some day clothes for Sixth Prince to change into after breakfast," Prince Han''s sprung to his feet. "My lord," said a servant, "Sixth Prince is alive and well! Please spare us, we¨C" "Shut up!" Prince Han said, "Get out of my sight. Don''t speak of your incompetence to anyone or I''ll have your heads," Prince Han sagged back into his chair when the final servant trickled out. Sang''er darted over to his side. Massaging his temple, he asked, "How is Yiqiang?" "Unhurt, my lord. He said he walked over and spent the night," Prince Han shook his head and said, "I''ve burdened Xiang gui ren by not keeping an eye on him. Come Sang''er, let''s retrieve this crazy child," Sang''er frowned, "My lord, at least use the sedan. You''ve been up all morning and haven''t eaten a thing. Chengqiangong is a far walk," Prince Han nodded and let Sang''er lead him outside. Jiayi went to Sixth Prince''s wardrobe and picked out his clothes for the day. She tried to, at least. Everything looked old and a tad too small. The most decent yifu* she could find was something only a servant would wear. When she stepped back outside, the rain clouds smothered the beautiful sunshine she had admired early this morning. Thick sheets of rain covered the courtyard. Jiayi could wait for the storm to end, but who knew when that would be? The A Ge Suo storage room had a few umbrellas. It would have to do. Jiayi folded up the clothes as tightly as possible and stepped outside. The blast of chilled rain startled her. It was only the start of the ninth month!? Why was the rain so cold? The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Tucking her neck in, Jiayi made her way through the courtyard. Over the rush of the rain, Jiayi heard someone call her name. It was Sang''er again, who eagerly ducked under her umbrella. "You''re soaked!" Said Jiayi, "Here, take this umbrella. I''ll get another, " Sang''er shook his head, "You''re very kind! But I''ve come to fetch you," Fetch who? Oh, fetch Sixth Prince''s things. Jiayi handed the clothes to him. As she went to give him the umbrella, Sang''er grabbed her hand and began to drag her away. "Hurry up! The faster we move, the faster we get out of this rain!" Not if they broke their necks first! "Slow down!" said Jiayi, her feet sliding, "You don''t need to rush me! Just give those to Prince Han. I can walk back on my own," "What?!" "What?!" The pounding rain drowned out their voices. Sang''er let her go when they came upon Prince Han''s sedan. The eunuch stuck his head in the window and passed over Sixth Prince''s clothes. She thought Sang''er would thank her, but instead, he leaned close and yelled. "Get in!" "Get in where?!" "In the sedan!" said Sang''er. "Are you insane? Why are you letting a maid ride next to your master?" "My master asked!" "Your master is overtired and not thinking straight!" Prince Han poked his head out the window, "The master can hear you!" Jiayi ducked her head. Prince Han rolled his eyes, "Just get in," Sang''er shrugged and lifted the door to the sedan so she could duck inside. Jiayi had seen many sedans carried through the Forbidden City, and they always looked so big. What an illusion! As far as she squeezed herself into the other side of the sedan, there was only a hand''s width of space between her and Prince Han. Maybe the rain made the bars slippery, or the eunuchs were unused to the weight of two people. Either way, when Sang''er gave the order to raise the sedan, it tilted so far to the left that Prince Han tumbled right on top of her. Startled, Jiayi shoved Prince Han to the other side of the sedan. The sudden weight caused the eunuchs below to buckle again, and Jiayi slid right into Prince Han''s lap. "Lower the sedan! Lower it!" Sang''er cried. The sedan door rustled, and Jiayi scrambled away. "My lord, are you alright?" Sang''er asked. "Fine! I''m fine!" Prince Han, "What are they doing out there? Why are they tossing us around?" "It''s the rain, My lord, but it''s not so heavy anymore," said Sang''er, "Things will go smoothly now," Jiayi didn''t want things to go smoothly; she wanted them to go quickly. If she stayed in the sedan for too long, she would burst into flames from embarrassment. Well, if she did, the rain was there to douse her. One uncomfortably silent ride later, Sang''er alerted them of their arrival at Chengqiangong. "I''ll tell Xiang gui ren you''re here," said Jiayi. She barely waited for the sedan to stop before jumping out. Unfairly, the skies had transformed into a beautiful clear blue. When Jiayi dragged her sodden self inside, Sixth Prince was finishing his breakfast. "Jiayi," Xiang gui ren said at the sodden sight of her, "Did you run back here in the rain?" "Yes! Um, Yes, I was already out when the rain started. Mistress Prince Han is here. I''ll go change," Huffing, Jiayi dug through her chest for a dry change of clothes. Wasn''t it a little unfair that she only had a few hours of relaxing before the day went to hell? As Jiayi dried her hair, Molan poked her head inside, "Jiejie, you aren''t finished yet? Mistress is calling for you," Jiayi could hear the muffled sound of raised voices from the open gap in the door, "What''s going on out there?" Molan picked up a comb and ran it through Jiayi''s hair, "Sixth Prince and Prince Han are having a shouting match. Sixth Prince wants to stay here and play for the rest of the day, but Prince Han says he has to leave," "Really? I didn''t think he liked us all that much," said Jiayi. "Me neither! But Prince Han is furious," Molan sighed, "I don''t know how, but he''s even handsome when he''s mad," Jiayi raised an eyebrow, "Don''t mention that to Lingxiu on your walk back from the Imperial Kitchen tonight," The sharp tug at her scalp was worth the look on Molan''s cherry-red face. Molan clutched the comb and sputtered. "It''s not a walk! He just likes to bother me. I don''t have anything to do with that monkey," "Alright. I''ll tell Bolin to get tonight''s dinner," Jiayi replied. Molan''s face reddened again, and her mouth dropped into a fantastic frown. Laughter bubbled up in Jiayi''s stomach, "I''m joking!" She took Molan''s hand, "It''s good that you''ll already have a husband when you leave. I''m sure you''ll be very happy as Little-fish furen," "I can''t believe you''re bullying me like this! You were never this mean to me before!" Cried Molan. Jiayi''s laughter was interrupted by Sixth Prince bursting into the room. He slammed the door shut and locked it. "You can''t make leave!" He shouted before collapsing into a fit of coughs. Jiayi ran over to pat his back through the worst of it. "Sixth Prince," said Molan, "You shouldn''t be running around like that. You''re still sick," "Sixth Prince," Sang''er voice floated through the door, "Please come out. Prince Han wants to speak with you," "No! Go away!" "You don''t have to go away forever," said Molan, "You can come visit Xiang gui ren whenever you want," Rolling his eyes, Sixth Prince threw himself face down in Molan''s bed. Molan tugged at Jiayi''s sleeve, "What do we do now?" She whispered. Xiang gui ren chose for them. "Open the door," she ordered. "Don''t!" Barked Sixth Prince but Molan had already obeyed. Xiang gui ren, Prince Han, and Sang''er filed inside the shabby rooms. Jiayi cringed when Prince Han''s stare lingered on her for a moment too long. She knew she probably looked a mess with her damp hair loose and all over the place. She quickly braided it out of the way. Kneeling by the bed, Xiang gui ren stroked Sixth Prince''s shoulder, "Yiqiang, why don''t you want to return to the A Ge Suo? Isn''t it nice to have all the space to yourself?" "I hate it there. I''m the only one there, and those stupid servants still don''t pay attention to me. There are toys here, and these maids know how to listen," Xiang gui ren said with a shrug, "Jiejie wouldn''t mind if we cleaned up the room in the east wing for you," "Wait a moment," said Prince Han, "Xiang gui ren, if you let Yiqiang stay here, you''re rewarding him for acting so childish," "Yiqiang is a child," "Yiqiang is a prince," replied Prince Han, "It''s my responsibility to teach him to act like one," "How about this? I have a study I''m not using. You can teach Yiqiang his responsibilities there," Xiang gui ren tugged Sixth Prince to his feet, "Now, would you like pearl powder or sandalwood in your bath?" She asked as they walked out the door. Prince Han looked stunned before walking off after them, "Xiang gui ren, what I meant was..." Jiayi sighed. Poor Prince Han. He would learn that Xiang gui ren wasn''t a woman you won an argument with. ? The Emperor felt decades younger. There was no stifling pomp and pretentiousness like back in the capital. His kingdom''s vast, open plains were miles above the dark halls and gray streets of the Forbidden City. The food was fresher, the air was fresher, even the women were fresher. On his return from a successful deer hunt, his tent was occupied by a troupe of young dancing girls and musicians. After a day of hunting, it was just what he needed to relax. He reclined and let Zhang Wei pour him a cup of wine. Yes, even the wine was fresher. The dancing girls enticed him with their bare skin and half-covered faces. Instead of the dainty, sweeping moves popular in the capital, the girls in the plains weren''t afraid to roll their hips and use their bodies. It was primal. It was natural. The tallest dancing girl in the front dared stare into his eyes, but her moves were clumsy. He wondered how Huifen would''ve looked in the costume, how she would''ve danced for him had she been here. The thought of his love tossed him into a melancholy he''d often felt since passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Again he cursed Wang Rong, the little snake. If there was one thing The Emperor looked forward to after the Mulan hunt finished, it was putting that bitch in her rightful place and being done for her once and for all. "Your Majesty," said Zhang Wei as he refilled The Emperor''s cup, "Is the dancing disturbing you?" The Emperor nodded. The more he thought of Huifen, the less he cared for these girls. Zhang Wei clapped his hands, and the performance came to a stop. "Leave," The Emperor pointed at the tallest dancing girl, "Except you, you stay," Zhang Wei, ever observant, withdrew and took the rest of the servants with him. In an hour or two, his eunuch would return with a bowl of contraception medication. The various chiefs gifted him several women. He could add this one to the group. "Remove your scarf," he ordered. Whatever anticipation he had to view the beauty''s face finally was doused when a familiar one stared up at him. Shen huang gui fei. How many people had seen her display herself like this? A lowly girl making money with her body was one thing, but his Imperial Noble Consort? It was disgusting! "What do you think you''re doing? Have you lost your mind?" Tears dripped down Shen huang gui fei''s face, "Your Majesty, please listen to me. I had no other options. When you behave like this, I feel like you''ve turned your back on me and Huabao," "What turn? Aren''t you still the Imperial Noble Consort? Isn''t Huabao still a princess? Aren''t you both here instead of back in the capital? How could you be this foolish?" Shen huang gui fei began to cry in earnest. The Emperor bit back a sigh. "If you were desperate, why didn''t you go to The Empress?" "You and Her Highness are of one body and mind. If you despise me, how could she not?" The Empress really did know right from wrong. She certainly wouldn''t have kicked up a fuss crying like this. If he was avoiding her, he was right too. He killed the eunuch who slandered Huabao and squashed any more rumors roaming the capital. What more did Shen huang gui fei want? Would his life have been simpler if The Empress didn''t convince him to take Shen huang gui fei as a concubine all those years ago? "Your Majesty, let me continue to serve you," she said, grasping his hand, "We''ve been together for so long, and I''ll continue to devote myself to you," That much was true. Outside of The Empress, there wasn''t a better servant in the Forbidden City, and she birthed his first daughter. Not to mention, come the new year, Shen huang gui fei would be why his older brother had a son again. After all, it didn''t cost much to make Shen huang gui fei happy. "Enough," he said, "Get off the floor," "I won''t. Not until you promise me that I can stay by your side forever," "Lijuan, I promise," When Shen huang gui fei has the sense to obey him once more, he tells Zhang Wei to prepare a bath for the two. Through the night, one thought stayed lodged in The Emperor''s head. If only this were Huifen. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Informal dayclothes ?Between September 23- October 23 Chapter 22 Jerjer placed the hand warmer by The Empress Dowager''s side, "Jiang pin sent another message, asking about the state of her imprisonment," "Only that? She didn''t ask after Huaguang?" A eunuch came forward with a folded note. Inside, Jiang pin lamented her treatment as a prisoner. She questioned how an Imperial Concubine could be treated like a criminal and dressed in rags. She even urged The Empress Dowager to do away with Xiang gui ren as quickly as possible now that The Emperor was away. The Empress Dowager threw the note in a nearby brazier. "I regret ever promising that girl anything. Every word out of her mouth is more stupid than the last. Let her rot there for a little longer," "A report from Mulan came last night, Your Highness," said Jerjer, refilling her mistress'' gold and jade hand warmer with hot coals, "No progress. When His Majesty isn''t meeting with ministers or hunting, he keeps company with either The Empress or Shen huang gui fei," "Huang gui fei? She''s slithered back into his bed? How?" Jerjer nodded, "No one knows how. If he''s not with either, he''s inspecting gifts for Xiang gui ren. He''s gathered so many they say he''ll need a separate wagon for all of them alone," The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes, "I sent letters to all the clans to showcase their best to His Majesty. It was all for nothing," Jerjer sighed, "There''s more bad news. His Majesty sent back Jiao gui ren," "What for?" "His Majesty, the Mongolian concubines, and a few g¨ºg¨º went on a rabbit hunting trip. Jiao gui ren felt that His Majesty was paying too much attention to one girl and shot an arrow at her. Because she was unharmed, His Majesty sent her back," "Idiot," muttered The Empress Dowager. "Speaking of bad news, Sixth Prince has been in Xiang gui ren''s care for a month now. How shall we treat this?" The Empress Dowager loved all her grandchildren, but it was stupid not to pretend like some were more worthy than others. With a prisoner for a mother and The Empress with two legitimate sons of her own, Yiqiang wasn''t worth paying much attention to. Reports said he was quick-witted but easily pushed around and left out. The Emperor hardly paid him much attention, so The Empress Dowager followed suit, just like everyone else in the Forbidden City. Even if The Empress Dowager were to use Yiqiang against Xiang gui ren, everyone thought so little of him that punishment would be light, if there were any at all. "There''s no harm in letting her keep him. She''ll get sick of him like the rest," She picked up her teacup and paused. The set was brand new, a birthday gift. Ah. "Xiang gui ren''s gift, wasn''t her maid behind it?" "Yes, Your Highness," "Her looks aren''t terrible, are they?" Jerjer paused, "Your Highness, are you thinking of making that girl a concubine?" "Perhaps," The Empress Dowager replied, "If not her, one of Xiang gui ren''s other maids. Nothing twists at a woman''s heart like her dear maid slipping into her husband''s bed. Look at Jin pin. If His Majesty still bothered with her, The Empress would lace her with just as much contraception as she did before," "All the maids here would jump at the chance to enter the back palace," said Jerjer, "But what if Xiang gui ren has no reaction?" "Then at least I''ve found someone new for when Jiang pin finally pushes her luck too far," ? Xiang gui ren had taken to calling Sixth Prince a little tiger, but in Jiayi''s opinion, he was more of a feral cat than anything. Xiang gui ren was his benevolent master, feeding him the best foods and giving him nice clothes for Sixth Prince to hiss and twist away. Like the mean little cat he was, Sixth Prince didn''t hesitate to wrap himself around Xiang gui ren or anyone else when he saw fit. Like now. "I don''t like it," Yiqiang stared at the pug nestled in Xiang gui ren''s arms from Jiayi''s lap. "When you said Royal Father was sending a dog, I thought it was going to be a mastiff or a shar pei or a bear!" he groused, "Not this ugly thing," "She''s not ugly at all!" Said Xiang gui ren, "She''s charming!" The longer The Emperor was away at Mulan, the more gifts were delivered. Pelts, fabrics, necklaces, The Emperor sent it all. Along with stacks and stacks of letters, with one that mentioned that a canine companion would be sent along as well. Yiqiang had been particularly excited about. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "How can this even be a guard dog," he said, poking a finger at it, "It''s just one fat roll," The dog surged to her feet and let out a round of deafening screech-barks. Yiqiang scrambled back into Jiayi''s arms. Xiang gui ren ran a hand through the dog''s silky black fur, "How fierce. I think I''ll name her Thunder," Yiqiang stuck his tongue out at the dog, "I can''t stay in here with that mangy dog. Jiayi, get my tiger kite and fish kite. We''ll go to the Imperial Garden. It''s windy today," "Didn''t Prince Han tell you to be ready to spend the afternoon meditating in Dafuge after lunch?" Asked Jiayi. Since Sixth Prince recovered, he hadn''t enjoyed his studies like he used to. Without the scorn of the inhabitants of the Forbidden City, he detested staying inside. Sixth Prince rolled his eyes, "Bolin!" When the eunuch appeared, Sixth Prince asked, "Is Uncle here yet?" Bolin shook his head. "Time and tide wait for no man*," said Sixth Prince, "If he wanted to meditate with me so bad, he would''ve been on time," Xiang gui ren, who found the entire thing amusing, shooed them out, a roly-poly Thunder barking enthusiastically in agreement. ? Prince Han could Yiqiang''s laughter ringing through the Imperial Garden. "Little brat," he whispered under his breath. What happened to the studious young man he used to encounter during his visits home? The one who quietly and diligently kept his head in a book and listened eagerly? Prince Han couldn''t let this continue. Yiqiang didn''t have the luxury of regaining favor as easily as Prince Han did. Yiqiang would need to prove that he could be an earnest and loyal servant to His Majesty if he wanted to get anywhere in this life. The odds of Xiang gui ren bothering with Yiqiang long term were low. When the inevitable happened, Yiqiang could only depend on himself. "Do you see them?" He asked Sang''er. "I think I see Sixth Prince''s cape over there by that pond," said Sang''er. Prince Han also saw a flash of red in the distance. "My lord," said Sang''er, "Don''t be so upset. Sixth Prince is a child," "He''s not a child. He''s a prince," Prince Han found himself repeating the exact words he said to Xiang gui ren weeks before. Redundant as it was, it was the truth. "That one! That one!" Prince Han watched as Yiqiang pointed to clusters of rocks and shrubs at the end of the pond. Jiayi was crouched at the edge of the pond as well, her warm skin of arms on display as she cupped her hands above the water. Before he could blink, Jiayi reached her hands inside and pulled out a fat, angry toad. "This is so awful! Why did you want this ugly thing?" "You''re such a girl! Give it here!" Yiqiang snatched the toad from Jiayi. The toad, furious from the manhandling, lobbed its sticky tongue right between his eyes. Screaming, Yiqiang would''ve flailed straight into the pond if Jiayi didn''t get a good grip on him. "Sixth Prince," she said between laughs, "Are you alright?" "Stop laughing at me," he whined, "It''s not funny," Watching the scene, Prince Han wondered why odes to great beauties only ever mentioned pale skin and delicate bodies. Was it because talking about skin kissed by the sun would make women feel like they fell from the heavens? Would talking about solid shoulders and a firm body scare away the men who were never strong themselves? How could anyone look at Jiayi and not feel compelled? "Sixth Prince!" Prince Han snapped out of his trance as Sang''er called over to Yiqiang. At the sight of him, Jiayi''s face dropped. She rolled down her sleeves, ducking her head. Yiqiang didn''t look particularly happy to see Prince Han either. "You," said Prince Han. He stalked over to Yiqiang, only to be met with the top of Jiayi''s head. "Forgive me, my lord. I knew about your plans with Sixth Prince, but I took him out to play instead," A plain lie. Even if Jiayi had a perfect poker face, Yiqiang''s look of complete surprise would''ve spoiled it. "Really?" "Yes, my lord," Prince Han waited for Yiqiang to surge forward, tell the truth, and beg for Jiayi to be free. Instead, Yiqiang stood aside quietly. "Fine then. Go back to Xiang gui ren. I''ll ask her to withhold a month of your salary as punishment," The threat didn''t seem to faze Jiayi at all. She bowed lower, "I thank you for your grace, my lord. I''ll take my leave," Yiqiang stomped over to Prince Han when Jiayi left. "You can''t punish her. She didn''t do anything!" "Be grateful," replied Prince Han, "If she did this again while His Majesty was here, she would''ve been sent to the Office of Careful Punishment for her influence," "But she didn''t¨CI didn''t¨Cnothing happened," Yiqiang said, "It''s her birthday next week! How can you do this to her?" "If you cared about Jiayi, you wouldn''t behave like this. You''re old enough to understand how your actions can affect people. Learn from this," "But,¨C" "My lord," said Sang''er, "Shall we head to Dafuge?" Yiqiang''s eyes glittered with tears, "Whatever. Let''s go," He skulked away. "I wasn''t too harsh with him," Prince Han said when Sang''er turned pitying eyes to him, "He needs to learn," Prince Han then spent a tense two hours at Dafuge praying for patience while Yiqiang glared at the back of his head. He was exhausted he returned Yiqiang back to Xiang gui ren. All he wanted to do was unwind in his room with a warm meal and a hot bath. So it was incredibly curious that he ended up in the Treasure Pavilion instead. ''It''s her birthday next week!'' In an effort to teach Yiqiang a lesson, Prince Han was a bit harsh on Jiayi. It would only be right to compensate her with a worthy birthday gift. Staring down at the trays of jewelry and hairpins the Treasure Pavilion servants pulled out, Prince Han realized he knew nothing about what kind of jewelry Jiayi would like. Day to day, Jiayi wasn''t much of an adorned woman. Like most maids, she wore an assortment of velvet flowers in her hair, but she never bothered with things like earrings and bracelets. But did that mean she didn''t like them? "When maids come here, what sort of jewelry do they buy?" Asked Prince Han. "The maids?" Echoed the eunuch, "One moment," The trays of glittering gold and jade were whisked away and replaced with a simpler, common fare of painted glass, copper, and clay. Prince Han hated it. Each piece was plainer than the last and incredibly cheap looking. He almost told the eunuch to take it back when a set of earrings caught his eye. Teardrop-shaped pieces of stormy blue glass dangled from a pair of copper hooks. They were striking. Imagining how they would look caressing the side of Jiayi''s face made Prince Han pick them up. The eunuch frowned, "These dew-drop earrings barely cost a few pieces of copper, my lord. Shall I bring back the other tray?" A pair of dew drop earrings for a woman born in the dew month?. It almost fit too well. Prince Han shook his head, "Put these in a decent box," "Would you like me to deliver this to Wei guniang, my lord?" Asked Sang''er as they made their way back to their palace. Prince Han curled his hand tighter around the box. "No. I''ll do it myself," ------------ *Chinese proverb, shi bu dai wo ?The phonetic name for the tenth month (between October 23¨C November 22) Chapter 23 The first thought in Jiayi''s mind on her 19th birthday is panic. The night before, she settled on the floor by Xiang gui ren''s bed. Usually, Jiayi would wake up when she felt her mistress shift in bed. Today, she woke up to sunlight bearing down on her, which was strange because Xiang gui ren''s bedroom window only had so much sunlight during midmorning. Jiayi stumbled to her feet, wiped the sleep from her eyes, and searched for Xiang gui ren. Hopefully, she wasn''t too upset. In the receiving room, Xiang gui ren was sewing while Molan, Ping''er, and Pi''er were untangling spools of thread quietly. Thunder was snuffling at Xiang gui ren''s feet. Xiang gui ren put down her work when she caught sight of Jiayi, "Aiyo, the birthday girl decided to join us. How does it feel to be 19?" "Good?" Jiayi didn''t feel all that different now that she was a year older. "Is that a question? What I wouldn''t do to be 19 again," said Xiang gui ren, "Back then, my knees didn''t sound like a bag of marbles every time I stood up," Jiayi sat down and reached for some thread, "I''m sorry I woke up late," "We did that on purpose," said Molan as she tugged the thread away, "It''s your birthday, and mistress is kind enough to let you relax," "I don''t need to relax," said Jiayi, "It''s just a day like any other," Xiang gui ren shook her head, "Wei Jiayi, I didn''t know you could be so ungrateful. I order you to sit there and relax," "What if you need something?" Asked Jiayi. "I''m sure the girls can handle fetching me tea and walking in the garden and other fantastic activities, Jiayi," said Xiang gui ren, "Just sit there and be good," Be good? What did that mean? Jiayi jumped as a pair of hands covered her eyes. Judging by giggling in her ear, it was Molan. "Surprise!" When Jiayi was finally allowed to see, the table was filled with food. Braised fish, pork belly, dumplings, and longevity noodles! "Mistress, is this for me?" Asked Jiayi. "Who else could it be for?" Replied Xiang gui ren, "Those three over there cooked all morning in jiejie''s little kitchen to make this," All Jaiyi could only stand and give Molan, Pie''er, and Ping''er long, hard hugs. Sinjeku didn''t get longevity noodles. It had been so long since she''d had a bowl. Jiayi sat down and pulled the bowl close, "This is so much food. You guys should eat with me. It''s more fun that way," They all refused until Jiayi began to plate up their food for them. Thunder got a small plate as well. It was only fair. Jiayi still couldn''t return to her usual duties when their bellies were full. It was time for gifts. From Xiang gui ren, Jiayi received five bolts of fabric that were too fine for everyday wear and one piece of Lajian paper*. Molan, Pie''er, and Ping''er each hand-sewed a fragrance pouch. Each one was unique and one of a kind. "These must have taken forever," said Jiayi, "I didn''t see you make a single stitch!" She immediately replaced the ones on her hips with her new gifts. Jiayi didn''t think the day could get any better, but then Xiang gui ren gifted her a tael of silver. "Thank you for your grace, mistress, I''ll go put it away," "Ah! Absolutely not! This is for fun," said Xiang gui ren, "I don''t care where you go but you are not to save this money," "Mistress, that''s so wasteful. I have all I need here," Xiang gui ren rolled her eyes, "Really now? Bolin!" She pointed at Jiayi when the eunuch stepped inside, "Take Jiayi out. Don''t let her back in unless she comes in with something she bought for herself," Jiayi looked at Xiang gui ren, aghast, as Bolin led her outside. "Mistress¨C" "Get something expensive!" Ping''er called out after her. "This is so silly," said Jiayi. "An order is an order," Bolin replied, not even trying to hide the smile on his face. Jiayi had no choice but to do as Xiang gui ren said. The silver was heavy and warm in her palm. Jiayi had a savings stash like all the Forbidden City servants. It was mostly made of copper coins, silver bits, and the taels received as a reward. Jiayi had never thought of using that money for anything other than a rainy day. Now that she had an entire tael of silver to spend on frivolous things, she was frozen. Jiayi ate very well. What Xiang gui ren considered to be scraps was always a small feast. Jiayi enjoyed drawing the beautiful embroidery and shimmering fabric of Xiang gui ren''s dresses, but a maid could never be permitted to own something like that. Would it be silly for her to buy a bit of rouge or perfume? Or maybe something new for her hair? Perhaps a new ring... No. Jiayi would look silly with such things. Spending it on something useful like a new brush or inkstick would be better. However, it wouldn''t hurt to take a look. The momo in charge of the cosmetics didn''t look thrilled at Jiayi''s window shopping but didn''t shoo her away. Jiayi pressed her hands close to her stomach as she passed the beautiful pots of powder and perfumes on the shelves. Before her fingers got too itchy, Jiayi made her way to the Treasure Pavilion. If the one thing she wanted wasn''t there, she would leave, go to the Imperial Warehouse, and find a few furs to edge her blankets and robes with. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. She asked the eunuch about the earrings she''d coveted for a few months. Dreamy blue pieces of glass in the shape of water drops. She tried not to feel crushed when he told her they were sold last week. It was just as well. She didn''t need them anyway. Jiayi didn''t spend too much time at the warehouse, picking out a few furs that were good enough. Xiang gui ren wouldn''t think much of them, but they were miles ahead of anything Jiayi ever owned. It was her own business if she was still left with a few pieces of silver afterward. It was the best birthday she ever had in the Forbidden City. It would''ve been the best even if the day were no different than it had been for the last few months. When Jiayi begged Fung gonggong to be a palace maid all those months ago, she only wanted to be away from Su gonggong. Now, she lived a life she couldn''t have dreamed of. She had a kind mistress, friends, and warm food to fill her belly. It was the sort of life people died every day to have. By the time Jiayi was finished with her shopping, the sun was beginning to slip away. With nothing left to do, Jiayi started the trek back to Chengqiangong. She turned a corner and found Prince Han leaning against a wall, alone. Jiayi hadn''t seen much of him since their meeting in the Imperial Garden. After he sent her away, Jiayi waited for her punishment to begin, only to discover that Prince Han hadn''t said anything to Xiang gui ren about it. "Good evening, my lord," said Jiayi. "Jiayi," he replied with a nod. He looked at the furs in her hand, "Birthday shopping?" "Yes. How''d you know?" "Yiqiang made sure to let me know. He''s been worked up for all week trying to find a good present for you," Jiayi hid a smile in her pile of furs, "I apologize, my lord. I didn''t mean to be a distraction," "No, it''s good that Yiqiang is so fond of everyone in Chengqiangong. It means that you all care for him earnestly," They lapsed into silence. "Um," Jiayi said, "I''ll take my leave then," "Wait. Yiqiang painted something for your birthday but was too shy to give it to you," Prince Han said, handing her a piece of parchment. "Oh! It''s Thunder!" Said Jiayi. Sixth Prince was so sweet. Since Thunder''s arrival, Jiayi had become very fond of the little dog and spent as much time holding, brushing, and playing with her for as much she could get away with. It was good to see that Jiayi''s painting lessons weren''t going to waste either. Thunder''s visage wasn''t the most accurate, but Sixth Prince''s grasp on brush strokes and shading was excellent. "Do you like it?" Prince Han asked. Jiayi nodded, "Thank you for delivering this on behalf of Sixth Prince. I''ll treasure it," Prince Han laughed, "That''s good. I asked Yiqiang how he would feel if you didn''t like it. He almost cried," A laugh slipped out of Jiayi before she could smother it, "Even if it were hideous, it was enough that Sixth Prince thought of a lowly servant like me," "There''s...there''s another gift," said Prince Han, "Here," Jiayi took the small lacquered box from his hand and opened it. She gasped softly. The earrings! "Do you like it?" Prince Han asked. Jiayi ran her fingers across the carved glass, "I love them," "That''s good," Prince Han cleared his throat, "Goodnight," Jiayi rushed to send him off, as he all but dashed away. Odd. Later that night, as Jiayi helped Sixth Prince get ready for bed, she thanked him for his gifts. "Thunder looks very beautiful in your painting," she said, "I''m going to hang it up in my bedroom," Sixth Prince blushed, "Good. Her ugly face will scare away any ghosts,""And the earrings are so beautiful. It must have been fate. I wanted those them for months now!" Sixth Prince frowned, "What earrings?" Jiayi gestured to the ones dangling from her ears already, "These,"Scoffing, Sixth Prince let Jiayi do up his clothes, "Those are so boring and small. If I gave you earrings, there would be way more gold! I didn''t give you that," If Sixth Prince didn''t buy them, then Prince Han...? ? "Your Highness, Shen huang gui fei is back again. Are you still tired?" Asked Jerjer. The Empress Dowager had been too "exhausted" to see anyone but The Emperor and The Empress since they returned from Mulan. Secret messages revealed that Shen huang gui fei was less than useless. The Empress Dowager sent her to the hunt with specific instructions to place certain girls in front of The Emperor, but instead, she spent the time rolling around in his bed. Shen huang gui fei had forgotten who had allowed her to become an Imperial Noble Consort in the first place. The Empress Dowager needed to remind her. The Emperor was her son, and she knew he was a coward. Most likely, Shen huang gui fei hadn''t been informed that First Princess was left behind in Mongolia until they were steps from the capital. In the letter The Empress Dowager wrote to The Emperor, she suggested that the First Princess be left behind to get in touch with her ancestors and to release some of the burdens Shen huang gui fei had for caring for a still disgraced daughter. She queried whether the stress was affecting Shen huang gui fei''s womb. The Empress Dowager didn''t think the letter worked until Shen huang gui fei kept frantically asking for an audience since her return. "Hmm," said The Empress Dowager, "How did she look?" Jerjer smiled, "Very well put together, Your Highness. But I heard she almost collapsed in public when The Empress told her about First Princess," The Empress Dowager stroked the bear pelt tucked over her lap that was personally brought down by His Majesty. What luck that The Empress was the bearer of bad news. "How do I look?" Asked The Empress Dowager. Jerjer smirked, "Now that the eleventh month? is finally here, Your Highness is afraid of cold and wind. If Shen huang gui fei were to spread bad air here, Your Highness could fall sick. Perhaps it would be better for her to come back next week? Or after the new year?" "What a devious mouth you have!" The Empress Dowager said with a laugh, "No, bring her in," As Jerjer said, Shen huang gui fei was immaculately put together in her purple fur-trimmed chenyi. But by the harrowed look in her eyes, Shen huang gui fei certainly wasn''t well. The Empress Dowager offered her a seat. "You''ve been very eager to see me, huang gui fei," "I''ve been away from you for many months, Your Highness. I only wished to ask if you''ve been well," "Did you? It didn''t matter much to you in Mulan," said The Empress Dowager, "You were far too busy taking care of yourself to even think about taking care of me, and perhaps it should stay that way." Shen huang gui fei dropped to her knees, "Your Highness, I know my wrongs. I''m dimwitted and foolish," The Empress Dowager curled her fingers around her hand warmer and stared silently at Shen huang gui fei. "Your Highness, if His Majesty''s heart is closed to me, how can I serve you in earnest? Not for a single moment have I forgotten what you''ve done for me and...Huabao," Tears began to slide down Shen huang gui fei''s face at the sound of her daughter''s name."This time¨Cthis time, The Empress has gone too far. She''s never forgiven that my daughter is hale and whole while hers rests with the Gods. She forced His Majesty to abandon Huaboa in Mongolia," Shen huang gui fei pressed her forehead to the ground, "Your Highness, grant me this mercy and bring Huabao back. I don''t know if I can live without her. Please, Your Highness!" Even if The Empress Dowager was unaware of it all, the odds of Huabao returning to the capital for good were zero. The princess was 16 already. His Majesty would most likely marry Huabao to whichever tribe made the most merits or needed the most placation. Would Shen huang gui fei be permitted to attend the wedding? Probably not. "What can I do?" The Empress Dowager sighed, "The Empress may bend her knee to me, but she''s still The Empress. If His Majesty doesn''t oppose her, what can I do?" "Your Highness¨C" "Perhaps you could have avoided this if you had spent less time trying to raise your family''s status and more time paying attention to The Empress'' hand. If you want Huabao back, you must do it yourself," Before Shen huang gui fei could continue begging, The Empress Dowager held out her hand to Jerjer, "I''m tired. You can find your way out," ¨C¨C¨C¨C *A very famous traditional handmade paper used primarily for imperial edicts, scripture, calligraphy, and painting ?Between November 22 ¨C December 22 Chapter 24 When The Emperor returned to the Forbidden City, Jiayi assumed her mood would sour considerably. On the contrary, Jiayi barely noticed him. Before, the idea of having to wait in the cold courtyard so Xiang gui ren and His Majesty could chat privately would''ve made her hot with anger, now another thought was making her blush. She was probably overthinking it. Prince Han was a nobleman raised by Her Highness The Empress. His manners were impeccable. He probably gave all of his servants gifts. And they were just earrings. It was a perfectly reasonable gift to give a maid. It wasn''t like a hairpin or something drastic like that. But... What if he liked her? "Are your ears cold, jiejie?" Asked Ping''er. "Your ears," she said at Jiayi''s confused face, "You keep touching them," Jiayi snatched her hands away and nodded, "Yes, I''m a bit chilly," She hadn''t been touching her ears. She had been touching her earrings. How embarrassing! Jiayi stood up, "I''ll make some tea to warm us up," "I''m not cold," said Molan. Bolin, Pie''er and Ping''er echoed the sentiment. Jiayi pretended not to hear them. Alone in the little kitchen, Jiayi''s thoughts wandered back to Prince Han. They weren''t as happy as before. Every maid in the Forbidden City was the property of The Emperor, but it wasn''t unusual for His Majesty to give them away as gifts or rewards. If Prince Han wanted to marry her, some questions needed to be asked. Questions that she had no hope of answering. Jiayi was Jiayi, but she wasn''t Wei Jiayi. If there were a wedding, her "family" would need to be informed, and everything would fall apart. Jiayi wouldn''t be able to marry a butcher, let alone The Emperor''s favored brother. Jiayi jumped as a tear tickled its way under her chin. She wiped it away and prepared the tea. What a silly thing to cry about. Wasn''t she just thinking about the good life she had, serving Xiang gui ren? It wasn''t like her marriage prospects were vast before she entered The Forbidden City. No, she wouldn''t waste tears over this. If Prince Han wanted anything to do with her, it would fizzle away once Yehe-Nara g¨ºg¨º returned to the Forbidden City. "I thought you got lost," Molan said when she returned to the courtyard with the tea. "I was looking for a certain kind of tea," Jiayi replied. "Meimei, are you excited to go home for your birthday?" Jiayi asked Ping''er, desperate for a distraction. Ping''er nodded and regained the table with what she planned to do when she returned home, her mouth going a mile a minute. The tale of her mother''s famous dumplings was engaging, but Jiayi''s thoughts circled back to Prince Han. "Wei guniang," Jerjer gugu was standing near the gates. "The Empress Dowager wishes to speak to you," All thoughts of Prince Han flew from her mind. ? It was her second trip to Cininggong, but Jiayi felt far more nervous this time. Before, she was only there to deliver Xiang gui ren''s birthday gift. Now, The Empress Dowager wanted to speak to her directly. The Empress Dowager hadn''t even spoken to Xiang gui ren directly. They hadn''t even crossed paths for as long as Xiang gui ren had been in The Forbidden City. There was no way Jiayi could''ve offended The Empress Dowager, so what did she want? "How have you been, Wei guniang?" Jerjer gugu asked, pulling Jiayi out of her head. "I''ve been well gugu," "That''s good. The Empress Dowager doesn''t go a day without looking at your paintings. You''re very talented," "This servant doesn''t deserve such compliments. We all live here to make The Empress Dowager''s life at ease," They paused to let a group of young women and their maids pass by. Jiayi stared after them. She had never seen them before. "Those are the girls that His Majesty brought back from Mongolia," said Jerjer, "They''re right about your age. You just turned 19, didn''t you, Wei guniang?" "I did," "Fate is a strange thing. Those girls weren''t in much higher standing than you a short time ago, and now they''re wearing gold jewelry," Jerjer gugu looked back at her with a smile, "Quickly now. We mustn''t keep Her Highness waiting," The Empress Dowager was famous for treating servants like servants. Besides Jerjer gugu, she didn''t bother to know anyone''s name. So it was strange when she not only called Jiayi''s name but offered her a seat. "How is Xiang gui ren?" She asked. "Replying to Your Highness, Xiang gui ren is well. She''s thrilled that His Majesty and Her Highness have returned," "His Majesty treats your mistress well?" Jiayi didn''t have a high opinion of The Emperor, but she couldn''t deny his treatment of Xiang gui ren went above and beyond. But it wouldn''t do well to brag about it. "Yes. His Majesty thinks of Xiang gui ren often," The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "That''s good then," said The Empress Dowager, "It won''t be long before His Majesty''s little exotic bird becomes a Phoenix," Dread made her heart thrum. Was The Empress Dowager implying that Xiang gui ren wanted to usurp The Empress? That sort of thinking could get everyone in Chengqiangong killed. Jiayi fell to her knees. "Your Highness, Xiang gui ren is a loyal and unwavering servant of Her Highness The Empress. She only aspires to love His Majesty, nothing more," "Rise," said The Empress Dowager, "You''re a very sensible girl, Wei Jiayi," She nodded at Jerjer gugu, who clapped her hands twice. Servants piled into the room, each holding heavy trays of golden rings, necklaces, hair pins, bracelets, and earrings. Everything was studded with pearls, jade, and other precious gems. The Empress Dowager leaned forward in her seat, "Jerjer told me you just turned 19. Here, pick something from my collection as a gift," Ah. That was why everything was so...much. Jiayi wouldn''t dare say anything before her was horrid, but wearing any of these things would never cross her mind, even if her status was high and lofty. "This servant doesn''t dare accept such a thing. To know that Your Highness remembered my birthday at all is a greater gift than I can imagine," Laughing, The Empress Dowager rose to her feet, "Now, now. No need to flatter me. Here, I''ll pick something for you," The Empress Dowager''s heavily jeweled hands on top of the decadent accessories made for a somewhat vulgar picture. Jiayi was so confused. What was the point? What did The Empress Dowager want? "Here," The Empress Dowager said, plucking a red jade bangle studded with pearls, "This is perfect," Perfectly ugly. Jiayi ducked her chin, "Your Highness, I couldn''t possibly¨C" Protests ignored, The Empress Dowager took Jiayi''s hand while Jerjer gugu draped a handkerchief over it so The Empress Dowager could slip the bangle on. It clashed miserably with Jiayi''s skin and was terribly heavy. "Doesn''t it look nice?" The Empress Dowager asked the servants. "Yes, Your Highness," they chorused. Jerjer gugu waived them away and helped The Empress Dowager back to her seat. "The Late Emperor gave that to me when I was just a Noble Lady," she said, "He had never given something so precious to someone of such a low status before," "His Majesty could tell you were destined to be great, Your Highness," Jiayi replied. "I can tell you''re not used to these luxurious things. If you really don''t like it, it will sell for an excellent price," "I would never¨C" "You have three little brothers studying for the Imperial Exams, don''t you? And your little sister will need a finished dowry soon, correct?" Jiayi''s mouth ran dry, and sweat pebbled on her forehead. Brothers? Sister? Why was The Empress Dowager talking about Wei Jiayi''s family? "I¨C" Jiayi''s mouth was tacky, "I send my wages home already, Your Highness," "Your Highness, when you became favored by The Late Emperor, didn''t he allow your brothers to study at The Imperial Academy?" Asked Jerjer. "He did. My sisters also married well with very full dowries," The Empress Dowager said with a nod. The force of Jiayi''s pounding heartbeat made her vision shake. "Your Highness, I should return to Xiang gui ren," The Empress Dowager gave Jiayi a long, steady stare that made knees tremble. Then, she smiled, "You may go," It took everything in Jiayi to keep herself sure and steady as she backed away from the room and out of Cininggong. She could only hold it together for so long before the fear that festered in her belly flew out. She hunched over and vomited right there. She''d been found out, for real, this time. The Empress Dowager knew. Jiayi stood up and wiped her mouth. What was she going to do now? Talk to Fung gonggong? What would that do? If The Empress Dowager already knew, it would just make things worse. Wait for The Empress Dowager to make her move? What if she wanted Jiayi to harm Xiang gui ren? Jiayi scrubbed a hand across her face and paused when the stupid bangle bumped against her nose. She pursed her lips. Jiayi wrapped her fingers around the cold, ugly gems and tried to rip it off her wrist. Why was this happening to her? All Jiayi wanted was to make the best of her situation in this prison that was called The Forbidden City. Was wanting a warm place to lay her head for the rest of her life too lofty of a wish for a sinjeku in the eyes of the Gods? Jiayi''s eyes burned with tears. People like The Emperor could take millions of lives and still live soundly, but people like Jiayi only existed to be ground to dust. Jiayi pulled harder, desperate to escape the gilded shackle around her wrist. A familiar hand wrapped around her own and stilled her hands. She wiped the tears from her eyes as Prince Han''s gentle fingers removed the bangle. "Thank you, my lord," Jiayi said. When she went to take the bangle back, Prince Han held it away from her. "No," He looked at her wrist, "Look what it did to you," Jiayi winced at the sight of the raw red skin she scratched open a moment before. She covered the carnage with her sleeve. "It''s nothing, my lord. I''ve never worn something so precious and was unused to it. It''s my great fortune that Her Highness The Empress Dowager would give this to me," Prince Han stared at her, "You hate it," "I would not dare," Jiayi said, shaking her head. He turned the bangle over in his hand before tucking it behind his back, "If anyone asks, I took it from you. I don''t think it''s proper for maids to wear something so high above them," "Here," Prince Held out a plain blue handkerchief, "Wipe your face. Yiqiang will be upset if he sees you crying," Then, he was gone before Jiayi could open her mouth to thank him. Bolin was frantically pacing around the courtyard when Jiayi returned to Chengqiangong. "Bolin, what''s wrong?" Bolin''s head shot up. Running over to her, he said, "What''s wrong? What''s wrong? You''ve been gone for two hours. Mistress thought you were gone for good!" He grabbed Jiayi''s arm. "Ouch!" Jiayi snatched her arm away. "What''s wrong with your arm?" "Nothing," Jiayi said. "Let me see," "There''s nothing to see. Didn''t you say mistress was worried? Let''s go inside," Jiayi made it to the palace''s steps when Bolin whirled her around and lifted her sleeve. "What happened to your arm?" "There''s something wrong with her arm?" Jiayi turned to see Xiang gui ren and De gui fei walking towards her. "Mistress," Bolin said, dragging her over, "Look, look!" "It''s torn open," said Xiang gui ren. "I have bandages in my room," said De gui fei. "Mistress, Your Highness, there''s no need to make a fuss. It doesn''t hurt very much at all," said Jiayi. "How did this happen?" Xiang gui ren asked, bringing her inside. "I fell," Silence blanketed the room as everyone stared down at her in disbelief. "Fell? What sort of fall could do this to your arm?" Asked Molan. It was a stupid explanation, but Jiayi couldn''t find a better excuse. She couldn''t tell Xiang gui ren about the bracelet. Xiang gui ren may be kind to her now, but what would she do when she discovered that Jiayi was a miserable fraud? How would Molan, Pi''er, Ping''er, and Bolin look at her after finding out she was lying to their faces the entire time? No. She didn''t care if the lie was silly. It was the best she could do. Xiang gui ren squared her shoulders, "You can all withdraw," "Quickly," De gui fei said when the servants stayed rooted to their floor. A maid dropped off the ointment and other supplies while Xiang gui ren pushed her into a chair. "What did The Empress Dowager want with you?" Asked Xiang gui ren as she wiped Jiayi''s arm with a warm, damp cloth. "She asked me about how you were doing. She said that it wouldn''t be a surprise if you were an Imperial Concubine soon," "Is that all?" Asked De gui fei. Jiayi nodded. "And you...fell after speaking with her?" Jiayi nodded again. Xiang gui ren clasped Jiayi''s uninjured hand between her own and gazed into her eyes, "You know you can tell me if The Empress Dowager did anything to do you, right? I won''t let her get away with it if she did!" De gui fei looked aghast at Xiang gui ren''s declaration. As she witnessed her mistress'' righteous anger, warmth bloomed in Jiayi''s stomach. That warmth became cool soon enough. Would Xiang gui ren even want anything to do with her if the truth came out? Would their master-servant bond be worth the trouble? Jiayi couldn''t know. So Jiayi gave Xiang gui ren''s hand a tight squeeze, looked into her eyes¨C And lied. Chapter 25 "Why is Jiayi spending so much time with Royal Grandmother?" Asked Yiqiang. "Aiyo, what''s that face for?" Asked Xiang gui ren, wiggling their clasped hands, "You''re always complaining about Jiayi and ordering her around. Now that she''s someone else''s problem, you''re jealous?" "I''m not jealous! But Pi''er and Molan are too short and can''t get kites into the air like Jiayi. And Bolin can''t climb trees or catch frogs like Jiayi. I''m bored," Huahuan tugged on Xiang gui ren''s other hand, "Xiang niangniang, wouldn''t it be nice to see something at the Hall of Pleasant Sounds?" Xiang gui ren glanced at her. It was like Yiqiang''s voice went in one ear and out the other. "It would be nice," she said before turning to back Yiqiang, "The Empress Dowager is giving Jiayi the honor to paint her portrait," Yiqiang''s eyes furrowed, "But it only took Jiayi a few days for each of our portraits," "I''ve heard that the troupe just learned Peony Pavilion," said Huahuan, "We should ask if Royal Father wants to see it with us," "Huahuan, Xiang niangniang is talking to Yiqiang. Behave yourself," said De gui fei. "Oh," Huahuan craned her head to the side and finally noticed her little brother. De gui fei gave Xiang gui ren a worried smile. She couldn''t ignore how Huahuan treated Yiqiang either. Xiang gui ren didn''t know if it was better or worse that Huahuan wasn''t malicious in her behavior. It was like Yiqiang was a painting or a servant. It never crossed Huahuan''s mind that Yiqiang was a person, let alone her brother. "Her Highness wants the sort of portrait you hang in the halls of the ancestors. It''ll take some time," said Xiang gui ren. "Oh," Yiqiang said as his shoulders slumped. "Don''t worry," said Molan, squeezing Yiqiang''s shoulder, "Jiejie will be done in no time," "Meimei," De gui fei began after Huahuan and Yiqiang had gone to their lessons for the day, "I¨C" "Don''t apologize, jiejie," "No, I have to. Seeing Yiqiang, I''m filled with guilt. Even if I never said a word against him when Shu pin, I''m not better than those maids who let him get so sick. That''s why Huahuan is treating him like this," "Jiejie," said Xiang gui ren, grabbing De gui fei''s hand, "How much could you do? I heard His Majesty was so furious about that Shu pin person. You couldn''t read minds. Who could''ve imagined how bold Yiqiang''s old servants could be?" De gui fei didn''t look reassured by her words. Poor jiejie. There was always too much going on in that head of hers. "Ow!" Xiang gui ren feigned pain and clutched the smooth ridges of the scar on her face. De gui fei crowded close, "What''s wrong? Are you hurt? I thought the doctors said you were in perfect health?" Xiang gui ren tweaked De gui fei''s nose and laughed at her outraged gasp. "I said not to worry, and all you do is worry! Aiyo, where is the gracious, virtuous goddess the gugu described so long ago?" De gui fei''s ears blushed, and she hurried away. "Jiejie! I was joking!" Xiang gui ren said, running after her. De gui fei wouldn''t look at her but didn''t shake her off when Xiang gui ren held her hand again. Molan picked up Thunder as a mass of servants with carts of construction materials bowed to them. "What''s all that for?" Asked Xiang gui ren. "It''s that time of year for Shoukanggong* repairs," replied De gui fei. "Shoukanggong?" Echoed Xiang gui ren, "Won''t that disturb the other dowagers?" "There aren''t any other dowagers in the Forbidden City," "Didn''t the late Emperor continue the selections until his death? All those girls couldn''t have possibly died, " "No," said De gui fei, "They exist, just not here. After the late Emperor''s death, The Empress Dowager was...kind and let the other dowagers leave the forbidden city and live with their sons and daughters," "What if they had no children?" "They live in the summer palace, or they were sent to temples," "That''s allowed?" "It wasn''t, but The Empress Dowager has enough connections in court that it became allowed," Xiang gui ren snorted, "What? Does she think they''d form an army against her?" De gui fei leaned in, "The Empress Dowager didn''t make many friends on her journey to where she is today. Peace would not come easy with the other dowagers here," Serves the old bat right. What right did that old bitch have to be peaceful with how she was tormenting Jiayi? Jiayi returned from The Empress Dowager''s palace stiff and drawn tight with tension each day. She refused to say anything about what The Empress Dowager was doing to her, only mumbling about the honor she was given. "The Empress Dowager is The Empress Dowager," said Xiang gui ren, mouth sour, "What could anyone do to her?" "Someone like Dowager Noble Consort Ling? It¨C" De gui fei covered her mouth, "It''s not good to speak about that," Dowager Noble Consort Ling? The Empress Dowager feared her so much that she cast her out of the Forbidden City? That was interesting. De gui fei''s face turned grave, "Meimei, there''s something I need to talk to you about, privately," ? The surge of emotion that swirled through Xiang gui ren was hard to decipher. Did she want to laugh or cry? Maybe both? "Jiejie, you''re mistaken," she said in the privacy of De gui fei''s rooms, "Jiayi could never be His Majesty''s concubine," The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "It''s no mistake. Ever since that first night, I''ve had people watching her. The Empress Dowager is telling her how she''ll support Jiayi''s family when she becomes a concubine and how quickly she can rise through the ranks with her talents. The Empress Dowager is plying her with gifts and silks," Xiang gui ren threw up her hands, "So what if she''s doing all these things? Jiayi would never become His Majesty''s woman. She can barely stand the sight of him," De gui fei pursed her lips, "Meimei, you''re lucky. You fell in love with His Majesty, and he brought you here to live our the rest of your days. The rest of us? We''re our family''s greatest hope. Each maid and eunuch here is living for their parents and for their brothers and sisters. Even if Jiayi wants no part of The Emperor, how can she say no when she has the chance to do so much for her family?" "Even if Jiayi wanted to do this, why would His Majesty bother with her?" "The Empress Dowager has timed His Majesty''s visits during her painting sessions. His Majesty isn''t a fool. He knows what The Empress Dowager is doing," Xiang gui ren bit her lip. This was bad. How would Jiayi live as His Majesty''s concubine? What would she do when he flipped her tag? Jiayi would spend the rest of her days suffering for her family, crushed under a man who made her skin crawl. It was barbaric. It was the sort of thing she thought she left behind at the brothel. Xiang gui ren couldn''t let it happen. However... Maybe Jiayi only hated His Majesty because she didn''t know him the way Xiang gui ren knew him. It wouldn''t be so bad then, would it? She wouldn''t have such a hard time. If Jiayi made the right moves then His Majesty would treat her well. Jiayi would be a good mother, too. It wouldn''t be all bad. They could still be close. Xiang gui ren put Thunder in her lap and pet the dog''s wrinkly little face, "Let''s say¨Clet''s say Jiayi has become a concubine. If it made her happy, would it be that bad?" "Have you lost your mind?" De gui fei whispered, "Of course, it would be bad. The Empress Dowager is Shen huang gui fei''s most powerful backer. She''ll steal Jiayi away from you in a second," "What does Shen huang gui fei have to do with any of this?" Xiang gui ren felt dread pool in her stomach as De gui fei revealed Shen huang gui fei''s true face. Xiang gui ren knew that the other woman wasn''t honest with her intentions but, she could never have imagined what a murderous snake she was. "The Empress knows about this and says I shouldn''t involve myself, but what good will that do?" said De gui fei, "His Majesty left Huabao in Mongolia. Of course, Shen huang gui fei will feel slighted. There''s no telling how soon Jiayi will turn into another Wang Rong, if we let things go too far," Shen huang gui fei was going to turn Jiayi into another Jiang pin? Jiayi didn''t have a jealous bone in her body. Besides her paints, Jiayi readily gave away almost everything. Jiayi made Thunder several little jackets out of the silks she was given on her birthday. If Pie''er even glanced at a piece of food, Jiayi would relinquish the whole plate. But what would happen if Jiayi was pushed too far? If her family was threatened? Would she decide that eliminating her former mistress was an end to her means? ? While it felt like Jiayi had spent an eternity in The Empress Dowager''s presence, each day felt as hard as the first. The Empress never stopped mentioning and updating her on Wei Jiayi''s family. She''d even threatened to send Jiayi home to visit them for the new year. It was only through sheer force of will that her hands kept steady for The Empress Dowager''s portrait. Jiayi spent every second in that palace waiting for the other shoe to drop. The ink sticks that Jiayi was using were like nothing she''d ever seen before. It was too bad she was never in the mood to appreciate them. Jiayi''s mood blackened further when The Emperor stopped by which was happening more often than not. Jerjer gugu or The Empress Dowager were always finding something fascinating in the painting that His Majesty just had to see up close. Jiayi''s shoulders ached with how hard she forced herself not to lean away when the man hovered over her shoulder. When The Empress Dowager concluded the sessions, she would give Jiayi an incredibly decadent piece of jewelry. A ring, another bangle, earrings, what have it. Each day, The Empress Dowager personally pressed them into Jiayi''s hands. Today, it was a gold ring with a piece of imperial jade the size of a quail''s egg. The ring band was so covered in kingfisher feather''s it almost looked completely blue. Jiayi slipped the ring off her finger. She walked to the same alcove Prince Han caught her with The Empress Dowager''s first gift many weeks ago. These days, Prince Han was usually there, waiting for her. Each time, Prince Han would look at The Empress Dowager''s gift and say it was inappropriate for a maid of such low standing to have and relieve her of it. Jiayi didn''t know when it happened, but she found herself looking forward to it the most. At the start, all Jiayi could do was thank him and return to Xiang gui ren as quickly as possible. As the days went on, her and Prince Han''s conversations became longer and longer. Prince Han asked after Xiang gui ren and Yiqiang and Jiayi asked after Prince Han''s health. Soon, the conversations became less stilted, less polite, and more filled with quiet smiles. Jiayi knew men and women weren''t supposed to be alone like this, but Sang''er was there, so they weren''t doing anything wrong. Prince Han was her friend. She stared down at the ring and smiled. Jiayi wondered what Prince Han would say about it. "Uglier than usual," "Matches the original owner perfectly, don''t you think?" A shadow stretched over the corner. Jaiyi''s heart began to race. "Jiayi!" Sixth Prince shot around the corner and barreled into Jiayi''s legs, Prince Han behind him. Sang''er struggled to hold an excited Thunder in his hands, who eventually squirmed away and began to paw at Jiayi''s skirts. "Sixth Prince, what are you doing here?" Sang''er tightened his grip on the kites and toys in his hands, "Sixth Prince missed you so much that Xiang gui ren asked that Prince Han bring him to you to fly kites in the Imperial Garden," "I didn''t miss her!" Sixth Prince said, glaring at Sang''er, "Only Jiayi knows how to get the kites out from the trees. And I wanted to show you all the tricks that Thunder learned," "Sixth Prince I¨C" "Xiang niangniang already said you could!" Sixth Prince interrupted. Jiayi smiled and fixed the collar of his cape, "Alright," Sixth Prince yelped as Thunder nipped at his ankles before running off. "Little rat!" He said, scampering after her. "Sixth Prince!" Sang''er yelled, running behind him, "Be careful! Slow down!" Prince Han didn''t spare her a glance and walked past her. Any manner of servant could see them, so it was only proper that Prince Han walk in front of her and that Jiayi trail after him, head bowed. It did sting a bit. "No reward today?" Jiayi caught Prince Han''s eye as he snuck a glance at her. "A ring," she whispered, "Heavy enough to break your finger," "Let me see," Jiayi smothered her smile and pressed the ring in the open hand behind Prince Han''s back when the coast was clear. Her cheeks tingled as their fingers touched. ? Jiayi''s cheeks were still sore from smiling late into the night. Prince Han was in fine form that afternoon, wrestling and running after Sixth Prince, who was tucked away in bed. Jiayi''s mood was even more brightened by the fact that it was mid-month, so she was free of The Emperor''s presence for the night. As the nights grew colder, Xiang gui ren spent evenings in De gui fei''s rooms. The Emperor favored Xiang gui ren but found it too far to give her the same long burning coals that higher-ranked mistresses were granted. Jiayi set down a fresh cup of tea by De gui fei and then Xiang gui ren''s elbow. "Your Highness, mistress, won''t you have some tea to warm your hands?" De gui fei glanced up at her, a peculiar look in her eye. Xiang gui ren sighed and slapped her cards on the table, "I might as well. Jiejie is too good at this game. Lucky for me, we were playing for fun. One wrong move, and I''d have to wear your clothes back to my room!" She took a big gulp and hummed, "That reminds me! Hupo," Xiang gui ren said, calling for De gui fei''s maid, "Bring the list jiejie and I were working on today," "Withdraw," ordered De gui fei after taking the papers. "Now," said Xiang gui ren, leaning over De gui fei''s shoulder, "What do you think of Ying as in clever, as a name?" Jiayi blinked when she realized Xiang gui ren was talking to her, "Ying? It''s very pretty," "Qiao would fit her better, in my opinion," De gui fei said, her voice brittle. Xiang gui ren scrunched her nose up, "No, no, no! Aspiring? I don''t like it. I want something prettier for Jiayi," "For me?" Said Jiayi. Did one of The Emperor''s new women share a name with her? Jiayi would''ve preferred to be called A''Yi, instead of being called something completely new, but she hadn''t much choice. "Of course for you! His Majesty will probably have the Department of Internal Affairs pick a name for you, but they have no taste. Jiejie and I will pick something lovely and tell His Majesty for you," Jiayi was becoming increasingly confused with each sentence that came out of her mistress'' mouth. Why would The Emperor or the Department of Internal Affairs have anything to do with her new name? De gui fei picked up her tea, "I told meimei that first-class attendants aren''t given honorary titles, but she was just so happy for you," "I don''t understand what you mean, Your Highness," said Jiayi. Xiang gui ren laughed, "Look at her still playing dumb! Jiayi, we already know. His Majesty is planning to make you his woman," ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C * Palace of Longevity and Good Health Chapter 26 The cold hand of fright wrapped tightly around Jiayi''s neck, making spots dance in the corner of her eyes. His woman? The Emperor was going to make Jiayi his woman? The thought of it stole the air from her lungs. The acrid taste of bile lingered in the back of her throat. "A servant like¨C" Jiayi''s tongue was limp and heavy, "A servant like me could never be worthy," "So modest," said De gui fei, "I suppose that''s why The Empress Dowager is so eager to have you be by His Majesty''s side," Jiayi''s chest tightened as the pieces fell into place. The fawning, the gifts, all the mentions of Wei Jiayi''s family. It was so clear. "This servant is not worthy," The ferocious bubbling in her stomach reached a fever pitch. Jiayi felt the world tilt before she retched on the floor. Jiayi stumbled away from the puddle of sick onto her knees. She couldn''t pinpoint when she''d started crying, but her face was slick with tears. "Mistress, I know I don''t have the right to ask you for anything more than I already have, but if¨Cif you can do this one thing for me, I''ll do whatever you ask for the rest of my life. Please, please don''t do this to me. I don''t want to be his, I don''t," Through the haze of her tears, Jiayi waited for Xiang gui ren to say anything. As the moment stretched on, Jiayi remembered an important fact. She was just a maid. Who cared what she wanted? Who cared how she felt? Xiang gui ren treated her well because an abused servant was easily stolen away. Xiang gui ren wasn''t her friend. She was Jiayi''s master. How could she be so tactless and make such an awkward scene for her mistress in front of De gui fei? Jiayi wiped her face and took a deep breath, "This servant is too wordy. Please forgive me for the mess. I''ll clean it up at once," Xiang gui ren didn''t stop her. The room is empty when she returns with a pail of warm water to clean up the mess. A quick splash of water and a few deep breaths was all it took to convince Molan that nothing was amiss. They waited on Xiang gui ren during dinner and then dressed her for bed. The reality of it all settled on Jiayi''s shoulders like a lead cape. If The Emperor decided to make her a concubine, she could do nothing. If The Emperor wanted to shackle her to these walls, she could do nothing. Jiayi would be married to the man who killed her entire family, and she could do nothing. Maybe a better person would take this opportunity and run with it. Slither into The Emperor''s bed and spend what was left of her life poisoning the world around her and using misery and chaos to avenge the anger that had sunk into the marrow of her bones. But Jiayi didn''t want that. She just wanted to be happy. Was even something like that set aside for heaven''s favorites? If that was the truth, why did the Gods continue to taunt her? She was happy enough with her family, and that was snatched away. She was happy enough in the Hard Labor camp, ignored and alone until Su gonggong noticed her. And now, when she was the happiest she''d been in years, it was going up in flames. That night, Jiayi slipped away from her place at Xiang gui ren''s side. Through the darkness, she walked to the empty western courtyard. There was a pond there that Sixth Prince had almost fallen into. De gui fei warned him that the pond was deeper than it looked and not very well looked after. If he fell in, it would take some time to find him. With the new year coming soon, the odds of someone finding her in the pond were low. By the time any of her bits rose to the surface, Xiang gui ren would''ve moved on, maybe would''ve already been promoted to an Imperial Concubine. She, Molan, and everyone else would be gone, and Jiayi would become one of the many bodies that The Forbidden City had eaten alive. It felt both like an eternity and not when her foot finally hit the rocks edging the pond. There was no babbling water or croaking frogs or tittering dragonflies. Only nothingness. She crouched down and stuck her hand in the water. It wouldn''t hurt. It would be like a deep sleep. "Jiayi!" Jaiyi twisted around at the sound of her name. The slick rocks gave way under her feet, and she tumbled into the pond. The frigid water wrenched her mouth open, and the mucky waters gushed in. Her chest tightened as hell''s jaws pulled her deeper into the abyss. Panic lanced through her. How long was this going to take? Would she be awake the entire time? Would her last thoughts be about how bad it hurt? As the thoughts in her head quieted to a murmur, Jiayi saw a warm light glowing in the black water above her before Xiang gui ren''s face appeared. Once again, Jiayi felt lucky to have met Xiang gui ren. Now, the dark wasn''t so scary. Xiang gui ren''s visage drifted closer and closer until her face was only a breath apart. Xiang gui ren''s face was swallowed up by the water, and suddenly Jiayi felt herself floating up rather than down, the light becoming brighter and brighter. Was this it? Was she dead? The white-hot burn of vomiting pond water told her that, no, she wasn''t dead. Jiayi gulped the winter air and lifted her head. It hadn''t been her imagination at all. It was really Xiang gui ren! "Mistress?" Xiang gui ren turned to her, face illuminated by the light of a paper lantern. Water-logged as she was, she was still beautiful. "You''re okay then?" She spat, "Then find some sense and pick up the pace!" As her head became less fuzzy, Jiayi realized what was happening. Xiang gui ren had dove in after her and pulled her out of the water, and now she was dragging them back to dry land. Jiayi did her best to cosplay with Xiang gui ren''s orders, but her limbs were heavy. Fortunately, it only took a few more strokes through the water until Xiang gui ren threw her on the bank. Xiang gui ren crawled out after her, chest heaving. Jiayi struggled to get a hold of herself. "Mistress, are you alright?" She gasped. "How could I be alright?" Xiang gui ren replied, crawling to her knees, "Jiejie ended up being right after all," "What?" "I told her that it wouldn''t be so bad. That you weren''t like these other maids, dying to climb to heaven in a single step. But I was wrong. You''re just like everyone else," Jiayi''s throat closed. Xiang gui ren had never used that tone of voice with her. It was as if speaking to Jiayi turned her stomach. It chilled Jiayi far more than her soaked clothes ever could. Jiayi wanted to defend herself and say it wasn''t true, but the fire in Xiang gui ren''s eyes sealed her mouth shut. Xiang gui ren''s words chilled her far worse than the water soaking her. "It''s not a bad plan. I''d believe that a former whore would get jealous enough of her maid to drown her. What did she promise you, huh? Money? A promotion for your father? Ah, I know! She just promised to get rid of me?" She said, rising to her feet, "Maybe you couldn''t stand the shame of kneeling before a whore? "That''s not true! I did it for you!" Jiayi sobbed, "I did it because if she found out the truth, there was I could do to stop her," Xiang gui ren barked out a laugh, "Are you hiding some big secret then?" After all these months of running, Jiayi finally hit a dead end. She told Xiang gui ren everything. When all was said and done, Jiayi closed her eyes. She didn''t want Xiang gui ren to become even more disgusted with her. Jiayi flinched when a frozen knuckle rapped her forehead. "Stupid," Xiang gui ren braced herself on Jiayi''s shoulder and dropped to the ground next to her, "I thought it was something serious," "Whuh?" Was there water frozen in Jiayi''s ears? Was Xiang gui ren not fazed at all? "Bring the lantern," Jiayi did as she was told. Xiang gui ren held the lantern to her face. She stroked the faint scar on her cheek. "Remember this?" She asked. How could Jiayi forget? The sight of Jiang pin''s bloody fingers was seared into her brain. Xiang gui ren smiled, "I did it to myself," "What?" "Do you need me to knock you in the head again? I did it to myself," "Why would you do that?" "Why would you do such a thing to First Princess?" Replied Xiang gui ren. "Because..." Because Jiayi had been boxed in. Because she needed something Su gonggong couldn''t talk his way out of. Because she thought it wouldn''t go so far. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Because no matter how sick it made her, the end justified the means. Xiang gui ren grabbed her hand, "Because you needed to survive, right?" "It was evil," Jiayi whispered, "It ruined her life," "Rather be evil and survive than in a coffin with a good conscience," said Xiang gui ren, "There is no good and evil here, Jiayi. You must take what little opportunity you have to keep yourself alive, or it will be taken from you," It was the painful, bitter truth, but it was tiring. "What if I don''t want to keep doing that? What if I just want to be?" Asked Jiayi. "Then you have to let me help you," said Xiang gui ren, squeezing Jiayi''s fingers, "No more secrets between us, okay?" Jiayi nodded, a warmth spreading through her chest. She then shivered, her wet clothes growing even icier. "Mistress, how are we going to explain ourselves?" "Just follow my lead," ? Prince Han sighed as the ministers filed out of Yanxindian. The Emperor stood without a word and stalked away to change his court attire, Zhang Wei following him. Alone, he turned to Sang''er. "How is she?" He asked. "Fine. The eunuchs at the Imperial Hospital say Wei guniang is recovering in bed," Prince Han nodded. Just last night, Xiang gui ren''s dog ran off into the night and fell into a nearby pond. Xiang gui ren dived in after, and Jiayi jumped in to rescue her mistress. Prince Han heard that The Emperor had rushed to Chengqiangong in only his sleeping clothes. Prince Han was eager to visit Jiayi and confirm her health in person. "Zhishi!" The Emperor''s voice echoed out into the hall. "His Majesty seems angry today, my lord," said Sang''er. "Hwang taiyi said Xiang gui ren could pass along her sickness to His Majesty so he can''t visit her as often as he likes," "Zhishi!" Prince Han followed The Emperor''s voice. Zhang Wei was kneeling in the warming room, massaging The Emperor''s legs. "What did you think of court today?" He asked when Prince Han sat. "Marquis Fu''s report was alarming. To be funding so many rebels so secretly would take more money than the average nobleman has on hand," "Do you agree with Minister Tsun''s investigation?" Prince Han shook his head, "If the rebels are as well connected as we think, the ringleader would have no trouble going into hiding if we investigate aggressively," The Emperor nodded, "Perhaps if we¨C" "Your Majesty," a servant announced, "Huang gui fei is here," "Send her in," said The Emperor. He turned to Prince Han, "We''ll continue later," Many years ago, Prince Han conspired to kill Shen huang gui fei. He wasn''t stupid. He saw the way her eyes glinted meanly when she saw The Empress, no matter how soft the smile on her face was. After Mu pin had been buried, the tension between The Empress and The Emperor was more than apparent. He couldn''t stand to be in the same room as them and took long walks across The Forbidden City to get away. "My lord, let''s go back. Her Highness will worry for you," pleaded Sang''er, holding a small lantern. Prince Han shook his head. He couldn''t go back there. Seeing how His Majesty spoke to The Empress made him think unfilial thoughts. Prince Han paused at the sounds of whispers. "Wha¨C" Covering Sang''er''s mouth, Prince Han crept closer. It was too dark to see, but he could hear well enough. "You haven''t done it yet?" A woman hissed. "I''m sorry," said a man, "The imperial hospital''s been locked down since Mu pin''s death. I can''t get in there to top off the herbs. Listen, jiejie, can''t we go without? His Majesty already blames Her Highness," There was a slap and a hoarse cry. "Idiot! The only reason Mu pin is dead is because you tripled her medications for the last three months. It won''t just be your head if they check and notice how much is missing. Get it done quickly for the sake of your family," Prince Han spent an entire night tossing and turning, desperate to find the couple''s identities. The next evening, he, The Emperor, and The Empress were having a stilted dinner. His Majesty invited Shen huang gui fei, only for her dowry maid, Jingse, to announce in a very familiar voice that her mistress was too exhausted from grieving to leave her bed. What little planning he did was foiled by The Empress, who made Prince Han swear to abandon the idea, claiming The Emperor would never forgive him if things went too far. It was the first and last time The Empress had slapped him. Prince Han was so deep in thought that by the time he snapped out of it, Shen huang gui fei had already settled herself next to The Emperor. "...You delivered the ginseng to Huifen?" The Emperor finished asking. "Yes, Your Majesty, poor Yiqiang looks so worried for Xiang meimei," replied Shen huang gui fei. The Emperor nodded, "De gui fei will look after him well in Huifen''s stead," "Speaking of that, Your Majesty, I have something to report, but I worry it''ll upset you," "Speak," said The Emperor. "Recently, I''ve had to punish some servants for gossiping about Xiang meimei raising Yiqiang," Prince Han didn''t like what Shen huang gui fei implied, "Did you inform The Empress?" "The Empress is so busy preparing the palace for The New Year, so I didn''t wish to burden her with something I could help her with. But unfortunately, rumors have left the city," "What rumors?" Asked The Emperor. Shen huang gui fei sighed, "It''s about Xiang meimei raising Yiqiang. People are starting to say that she''ll teach him immoral things and that the only reason she was allowed to take care of him is because she bewitched His Majesty," "They dare...!" The Emperor hissed. "I punished as many of the servants as possible and told them there would be dire consequences for spreading such rumors, but the damage is done. If only meimei came from a more noble background or was a higher rank. Then things would be different," Shen huang gui fei put on a good face. But Prince Han could tell from the curl of her lip and the flare of her nose that she was enjoying this. "Maybe," she said, putting a hand on The Emperor''s arm, "It would be best if Yiqiang returned to the A Ge Sou. Just until the rumors were put to rest," "Your Majesty, wouldn''t promoting Xiang gui ren solve this problem?" said Prince Han. Shen huang gui fei''s gentle and warm facade cracked at the suggestion, her eyes narrowing in rage before her mask returned. She smiled, "Little brother-in-law Xiang meimei has only been a Noble Lady for seven months. She hasn''t given birth, and her family won''t be able to make any great merits for His Majesty. A promotion like that would be very unorthodox," "Xiang gui ren sacrificed her health to nurse Yiqiang back to full form when His Majesty and Her Highness were in Mulan. Is saving the life of an imperial heir not merit enough?" Replied Prince Han. Shen huang gui fei clenched her fists, "You¨C" Wang gugu stepped inside the room, sweat beading her brow, "Your Majesty, a report. Chengqiangong''s medication was poisoned," "What?!" The Emperor exploded to his feet, "Why are you standing here then?" Prince Han''s heart skipped a beat. What did Wang gugu mean by that? Surely Xiang gui ren and Jiayi weren''t given the same brew? But Xiang gui ren was kind. Jiayi mentioned that her mistress liberally shared food and treats with her. Why wouldn''t she share such good medicine? Wang gugu bowed her head, "Hwang taiyi was informed at once, Your Majesty''s seated chair is ready to leave at any moment," Shen huang gui fei tied The Emperor''s furred cape around his shoulders, "Don''t rush, Your Majesty. The roads are slick from this morning''s snow," Prince Han followed The Emperor and waited for his eunuchs to lift him away. "C''mon," he said, tugging at Sang''er''s arm, "We can run there faster," "My lord, you¨C" "Hurry up!" Prince Han ran through the streets, dodging and pushing through the servants in his way, his mind racing as fast as his legs. Perhaps the medication hadn''t been brewed yet? Maybe the maids were clumsy and brewed it wrong. Maybe Hwang taiyi already arrived, and everything was fine. The servants bowed to him, but he paid them no mind and burst into Xiang gui ren''s side of the palace. Molan startled at the sight of him. "Did the Imperial Hospital deliver Xiang gui ren''s medication yet?" He asked. "Ye-yes. It was delivered after breakfast," "Has she drank any?" "Um-I¨C" she stuttered, her eyes wide. "Answer me!" He barked. "Zhishi," De gui fei said, emerging from Xiang gui ren''s bedroom, "What is the meaning of this?" "De niangniang," Prince Han said, "Did Xiang gui ren take any medicine today?" De gui fei cradled his sweaty face, "What? No. Hwang taiyi said she should only drink on a full stomach and hasn''t eaten. We gave her breakfast and the medicine to her maid," "When?" Prince Han asked, heart stuttering. "Only a moment ago," Prince Han tore away and rushed to the maids'' room. He ran through the doors in enough time to snatch the still-steaming bowl out of Jiayi''s hands. "My lord," Jiayi said, "What are you doing here?" Prince Han grasped her shoulders, "How much did you drink?" "I didn''t drink any of it," she replied, "Prince Han, what''s wrong?" Before he could explain, Sang''er pulled him away just in time for De gui fei and the servants to rush in. "Prince Han," said De gui fei, her voice stern, "What is the meaning of this?" Sang''er bowed his head, "Replying to Your Highness, Wang gugu informed His Majesty that the medicine sent over by the Imperial Hospital was poisoned, so my lord rushed here to make sure no one was hurt," The Emperor''s arrival drowned out whatever De gui fei wanted to say. Prince Han and Jiayi locked eyes again before Sang''er led him back to the warming room. ? "A maid?" Xiang gui ren said, lying in The Emperor''s arms, "A maid tried to poison me?" The Emperor nodded, "Wang gugu caught her stealing and sent her to the Hard Labor camp before you arrived. She seduced a junior eunuch to slip something into your prescription. You were blessed not to have drunk it," "What do you mean?" "Wang gugu sent Hwang taiyi to you, but Fan gui ren complained of stomach pain and bleeding. He attended to her first. By the time he finished, it would''ve been too late," Xiang gui ren flinched, "Was she alright?" "The child is safe for now. She''ll be confined to her rooms until the birth," "Where''s that maid now?" She asked. "Dead," replied The Emperor, "Yiqiang was clear that she couldn''t live another day with how close she came to killing you. The Empress Dowager agreed wholeheartedly," The Empress Dowager? This had her written all over it. Had Yiqiang not ordered the maids'' execution, the girl would probably still be dead but under more mysterious circumstances. If anyone thought too hard, they''d question how a maid from the Hard Labor could even come close to having something lethal enough to poison with. The Emperor stroked her cheek, "You''re disappointed," She covered his hand with her own, "I''m grateful for Yiqiang, but for him to order an execution at such a young age on my behalf is troubling," "When it comes to mother and son, his flesh and your flesh are one and the same. A slight against you is a slight against him. It''s only right," "Mother?" Said Xiang gui ren, ignoring how her heart fluttered at the word, "I''m his nanny at best. How could a Noble Lady raise the son of an Imperial Concubine? I''ve been waiting for Her Highness to tell me to return Yiqiang since she returned from Mulan," The Emperor gathered her close so he could whisper in her ear, "You won''t be a Noble Lady for much longer," Xiang gui ren''s mouth parted in surprise, "You''re crazy," she whispered back, "That''s against the rules," "I''m the Son of God," he replied, "I make the rules," Xiang gui ren drew her sheet between them and kissed him, mindful of her cold. The Emperor tugged the sheet down and tried to kiss her, but she wiggled away. They wrestled playfully for a few moments before Xiang gui ren was the victor, sitting happily in his lap. "Jiejie will be so excited!" She said. Just then, an idea formed in her head. She frowned, making sure The Emperor couldn''t miss it. "What?" Said The Emperor, thumbing her jutting lower lip, "You can stay in Chengqiangong as long as you like, even as an Imperial Concubine," "The Empress Dowager has been so kind to my maid, so I''ve been thinking of her lately. Don''t you think she''s lonely? There aren''t any other dowagers here," "Royal Mother said she was too busy serving the Late Emperor and raising children to make close friends," Xiang gui ren feigned that she was deep in thought, "The Empress mentioned someone named Dowager Noble Consort Ling?" The Emperor nodded, "Dowager Noble Consort Ling was well favored by The Late Emperor and treated me well all those years ago. She lives in the Summer Palace," "Can I meet her?" "Court is more time-consuming than usual, and the roads are treacherous during the winter," said The Emperor. "Well, couldn''t she come here? I''m sure she would love to spend the New Year with you. The more the merrier, right?" Chapter 27 The heavy weight on Jaiyi¡¯s chest had little to do with her cold. A few days ago, Molan slipped into her bedroom and told her the news. The Emperor was releasing Jiang pin. The maid who poisoned Xiang gui ren made a decent effort to escape, hiding in a commode cart exiting the city. An eagle-eyed visitor noticed the eunuch¡¯s strange behavior and implored a nearby guard to investigate. The Emperor was so grateful that he offered the visitor a reward. The visitor just happened to be Jiang pin¡¯s cousin. He asked that she be rewarded in his stead. The cousin had asked for this reward publicly, so The Emperor couldn¡¯t deny it, lest he look fickle. Jiayi clenched the blankets around her shoulders. It was too convenient. But what could Jiayi say about it? Everyone would assume that Jiang pin was blessed. Everything Xiang gui ren did to lock Jiang pin away was going down the drain. And after her arrest, Jiang pin probably wouldn''t waste any time getting revenge. Luckily, they would be on an even playing ground again after the new year thanks to Xiang gui ren¡¯s promotion. As happy as she was for her mistress, the promotion ceremony tied Jiayi¡¯s stomach in knots. The Emperor cared very much about blessings and never promoted one person at a time, be it a minister or a concubine, which meant that Xiang gui ren wouldn¡¯t be alone. Jiayi didn¡¯t have to be a scholar to know that The Empress Dowager would try to tack her onto the list. She mentioned it to Xiang gui ren, but her mistress wasn¡¯t worried at all. ¡°We¡¯ll have to work together,¡± said Xiang gui ren, ¡°I¡¯ll gently persuade His Majesty away from the idea, but it won¡¯t do much if he doesn¡¯t think about you. You must make him hate you as much as you hate him,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¨C¡± Xiang gui ren held up a hand, ¡°As much as I love His Majesty, I would be as stupid as everyone thinks I am to ask you to love him as well,¡± Xiang gui ren¡¯s advice was sound, but Jiayi was at a loss on how to hold up her end. If she went too far, The Emperor would simply execute her; if she didn¡¯t go far enough, she¡¯d get a royal edict very soon. What could she do to ruin herself in The Emperor¡¯s eyes? ¡°Jiayi,¡± Jiayi sat up on the bed and looked around the empty room. ¡°Jaiyi!¡± The voice hissed again, ¡°Over here,¡± The voice was coming from the window by her bed. Jiayi picked up the pole they used to prop the windows open and crept closer. Who was it? No one could be foolish enough to try to attack Xiang gui ren so soon after the first attempt, right? She cracked the window and peered down. ¡°Who is it?¡± She asked. ¡°After all this time, you still can¡¯t tell?¡± Jiayi lowered the stick, ¡°Prince Han?¡± She pushed the window open in full. ¡°Take this,¡± He pressed a bucket of deep black charcoal into her hander before climbing through. Prince Han dusted the snow off of his shoulders. ¡°My lord, what are you doing here? What if someone sees you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he replied, taking the coal from her, ¡°I seemed to have lost my jinbu* around here during the commotion. Sang¡¯er is outside in the hall looking for it,¡± Prince Han opened the softly smoldering brazier near Jiayi¡¯s bed. As he grabbed the tongs to top it off with the charcoal he brought, Jiayi stopped him. ¡°Is that hong lou tan?? My lord, you can¡¯t! His Majesty wouldn¡¯t even bend the rules for Xiang gui ren. If someone finds out¨C¡° Prince Han smiled, ¡°Finds out what? That I rewarded Yiqiang¡¯s favorite maid with coals to keep her warm?" he snorted, "I''d like to see what they''d do. Why are you standing around in your state? Get back in bed," Jiayi sat back down and curled her blankets over her shoulders. The afternoon light slanted into the room and warmed Prince Han¡¯s skin in a way that should only be reserved for a God. His eyebrows furrowed delicately as he fussed with the coals. Looking at him now, Jiayi realized that the delicate dip in Prince Han¡¯s upper lip matched The Emperor¡¯s exactly. Thoughts of The Empress Dowager¡¯s intentions returned to her and chilled her more than the breeze coming from the opened window. A hand on her shoulder startled her. Prince Han¡¯s face was closer to hers than it had ever been as he leaned down to look at her. ¡°Are you cold?¡± He pulled the window closed, ¡°Better?¡± Before Jiayi could make herself answer him, Prince Han grabbed her hands. His calloused fingers caressed her skin. ¡°You¡¯re still freezing,¡± He said. Jiayi reluctantly pulled her fingers away and hid them under her blanket. She shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s just my cold,¡± Prince Han tucked his hands behind his back, ¡°Right. Did the Imperial Hospital send new medication for you?¡± ¡°Yes. Xiang gui ren is getting better every day,¡± ¡°What about you? How good is the medicine if you¡¯re still so sick? Was His Majesty not clear enough to send Chengqiangong the best medicine? How are they still so neglectful?¡± To see Prince Han become so passionate on her behalf did something to Jiayi that she didn¡¯t dare dwell on. ¡°Rest assured, my lord, I feel much better than before,¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°That¡¯s good. Hurry up and get well, then. If Yiqiang complains about not playing with you any louder, my ears will bleed,¡± Jiayi smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, my lord,¡± ¡°This servant wishes Her Highness De gui fei peace!¡± Jiayi¡¯s head snapped to the door where Sang¡¯er¡¯s voice boomed through. De gui fei was right outside. Prince Han shot an equally panicked look at Jiayi before wrenching the window open. Jiayi held his waist as he lifted a leg over the windowsill. As his legs hit the ground, the bedroom door opened. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jaiyi turned and greeted De gui fei, ¡°It was a little warm, Your Highness,¡± Jiayi shut the window and crawled back into bed. De gui fei¡¯s maid brought a chair to Jiayi¡¯s bedside, and she took a seat. The black silks of her clothes made her look especially severe. The silver and gold butterfly embroidery and white fur didn¡¯t do a thing to soften her. ¡°The Empress Dowager sent this to you,¡± De gui fei¡¯s maid placed a gold and kingfisher phoenix hairpin on the bedside table. Jiayi''s mouth dried at the sight of it. A phoenix? For her? If The Empress found out about this... ¡°What,¡± De gui fei said, ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°The Empress Dowager is very generous. A lowly person like me¨C¡± ¡°Enough. Meimei might believe this little act you¡¯ve put on, but like I said, I¡¯ve tired of it,¡± ¡°Your Highness, I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± De gui fei rose, ¡°I¡¯ve been in this place longer than you¡¯ve been alive. Don¡¯t think having The Empress Dowager at your back will give you a leg up. Meimei may tolerate a maid that crawls into The Emperor¡¯s bed, but I won¡¯t.¡± ? Prince Han was becoming a problem. Shen huang gui fei never really paid attention to him when she married His Majesty all those years ago. He was a bastard child that The Empress forced His Majesty to take in. She was polite to him because His Majesty favored him as a firstborn son. Now, she was kicking herself for not cajoling him to her side all those years ago. Now, he was The Empress¡¯ perfect little soldier. When he spoke on behalf of Xiang gui ren¡¯s maid, Shen huang gui fei thought him an annoyance. Now, he needed to be put down. The Empress Dowager was more than receptive to her suggestion after she¡¯d finished berating Shen huang gui fei for allowing Xiang gui ren to be promoted at all. The Empress Dowager was right; Shen huang gui fei had been sloppy, but she couldn¡¯t help it. The Empress had twisted the knife this time. Her life was emptier than it had ever been without Huabao. She spent her days thinking about Huabao and her nights shaking at the thought of never seeing her only child in the flesh again. How was she faring the Mongolian winter? Was she treated like a princess of the Great Qing? Could her delicate stomach tolerate their barbaric food? Shen huang gui fei was unmoored and at sea without her daughter. It had taken her so long to be a mother, and Shen huang gui fei wasn¡¯t sure she would become one again at her age. And yet, that whore plucked a child out of the gutter and became an Imperial Concubine from it. It made her want to rip off her skin when The Emperor praised and bragged about what a good mother Xiang gui ren was. And how deep the mother-son bond was between her and Yiqiang. It was unfair. Shen huang gui fei bled and cried for each and every child just to have her only one abounded in the wilderness. But Xiang gui ren is handed one, a son no less, by flashing a smile. Shen haung gui fei wanted to wrap her hands around that woman¡¯s neck and squeeze. The Emperor was so enamored with her that he just brushed off the rumors Shen huang gui fei had sprinkled throughout the Forbidden City. It was madness. She couldn¡¯t think of it any longer. ¡°Jingse, bring my cape. I want to stroll in the Imperial garden,¡± Jingse looked up from the brazier she was tending, ¡°Your Highness, there was heavy snow last night. It wouldn¡¯t be safe for the eunuchs to carry you there,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk,¡± ¡°Your Highness¨C¡± Shen huang fei glared at her to stop her prattling. Jingse returned with her heaviest fur-lined cape while A¡¯Fang pressed a hand warmer into her palms. The streets were deserted of even the servants when Shen huang gui fei stepped out. It was for the best. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to make small talk. When the only sound for quite some time was the crunching of the snow beneath their feet, Jingse looked up at her. ¡°Your Highness, is something wrong?¡± ¡°The garden and my palace have so much in common these days. Both are empty,¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to bring First Princess back, Your Highness,¡± said Jingse. ¡°The Empress can¡¯t keep her away from you forever now that you have Jiang pin to assist you again,¡± said A¡¯Fang, ¡°And An pin,¡± Jingse snorted, ¡°An pin. What good is that thing? Her Highness only keeps her around to make amends,¡± ¡°What amends?¡± Said A¡¯Fang, ¡°An pin shouldn¡¯t have been so greedy during her pregnancy. That¡¯s what she gets for eating the food Her Highness prepared for Mu pin,¡± ¡°Enough,¡± said Shen huang gui fei, ¡°Speak like that again, and I¡¯ll have you flogged,¡± ? An pin held her breath as Shen huang gui fei walked away. She pressed her hand to her stomach. Perhaps she had gone crazy. Perhaps she was hearing things. It couldn¡¯t be true. ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± An chang zai said, rubbing her swollen belly, ¡°He¡¯s not moving as much as he used to,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, meimei, ¡°Mu pin said, placing a few pieces of shrimp and pork on her plate, ¡°He¡¯s just running out of space,¡± ¡°Have some tea, meimei,¡± said Jiang gui ren. An pin remembered the flavor of Mu pin¡¯s food all these years later. It was unique, and no matter how much silver she gave the chefs, no one could replicate it. ¡°It hurts!¡± An chang zai screamed as another contraction tore through her. She was so, so tired. Why wasn¡¯t the baby coming? Why was it taking so long? ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I can¡¯t,¡± Shen huang gui fei wiped her sweat, ¡°You can meimei, just a little more! Momo, how much longer?¡± ¡°A few more pushes, Your Highness,¡± A miserable tear slid down An pin¡¯s face. With one final push that burned more than hell ever would, An chang zai knew it was over. Her baby was born. She laughed happily. ¡°Let me see him,¡± She then noticed the silence in the room. She grabbed Shen huang gui fei¡¯s hand, ¡°He¡¯s so quiet. Why isn¡¯t he crying?¡± ¡°¡­Meimei¡­he,¡± An chang zai pursed her lips and sat up. ¡°Let me see him,¡± she whispered. The momo frowned, her eyes sad, ¡°My lady. You are young. You¡¯ll have many more children. Don¡¯t fret and worsen your health,¡± The momo could¡¯ve sliced her stomach open. It would¡¯ve been kinder than those words. An chang zai opened her shaking arms. Her son was wrapped in a dark blue blanket, making his bloodless body even more stark. He had her lips and His Majesty¡¯s stern brow. He was small, smaller than a newborn baby ought to be. And still. She turned to Shen huang gui fei, tears in her eyes, ¡°Isn¡¯t he handsome, Your Highness?¡± Weiwei wiped the tears from An pin¡¯s eyes, ¡°Your Highness¡­¡± An pin didn¡¯t know how to categorize the feelings screeching in her head. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to scream. She wanted to slit Shen huang gui fei¡¯s throat. Instead, she slid to the ground and sobbed. When the tears finished, An pin felt like the dead branches above her, empty and dry. She wobbled to her feet. ¡°Your Highness, are you alright?¡± Weiwei rubbed An pin¡¯s arms through her cape and blew warm air on her frigid fingers. ¡°Yes,¡± said An pin, her mind whirling, ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± ¡°Really?¡± An pin nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± Weiwei still looked worried but helped her mistress back onto the main roads. Shen huang gui fei thought no more of An pin than she would think of a stray dog on the street. Something to make loyal with a few scraps and toss in the river when you finish. Poor Shen huang gui forgot a cardinal rule. When a loyal dog goes mad, it bites. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Hanging waist accessory made of jade ?Luxury charcoal allocated to women titled imperial concubine and above. Technically could be granted to anyone of high favor or owned by anyone who could afford it Chapter 28 An arrow, just missing the tip of his shoes, lanced Prince Han from his thoughts. He looked up from the hard-packed dirt of the archery grounds to glare at Yiqiang. Yiqiang glared back. "You''re not watching," Prince Han rolled his eyes, "I''m tired. Do it again, I''ll watch this time," Yiqiang threw his bow to the ground. "Tired from what? Hanging around Third brother and the rest of them? Fine! Piss off! I don''t need you. I''ll go back, and Mother will find a new tutor who''s better than you!" Sang''er picked the bow back up, "Sixth Prince, my lord, has been assisting His Majesty with court affairs for long hours every day. Even so, he comes to see you every day to assess your progress," Yiqiang said nothing. He grabbed the bow and turned back to the targets. "Your drawing arm is too low," Prince Han called, "Straighten up," Sang''er returned to Prince Han''s side, casting worried glances at him, "My lord, are you alright?" "I''m fine," "You¨C" "I said I''m fine," Prince Han hissed, "Drop it," "Yes, my lord," Prince Han focused on Yiqiang. When that was finished, he focused on the memorials that The Emperor had sent to his rooms. He then focused on clearing his mind and chasing the sleep that eluded him. "My lord," Sang''er said after hours of silence and no sleep, "You must contain yourself. There''s nothing you can do," Prince Han rolled over and drew the covers. He didn''t need Sang''er to remind him of this. "...Meimei may tolerate a maid that crawls into The Emperor''s bed, but I won''t," De gui fei''s words sliced at his chest like a burning knife like they did days before. Jiayi was trying to become His Majesty''s concubine. When he heard De gui fei leave the room, Prince Han wanted to pry the window open and crawl back in. He wanted to shake Jiayi and tell her she was making a mistake. He wanted to spew all his pent-up resentment for His Majesty at her. That His Majesty was fickle and paid no mind to anyone''s feelings, even his difujin''s. If Jiayi displeased him at all, he would happily let her waste away in misery or be cruel enough that she would end it all herself. But he didn''t do that. He picked himself up and avoided Sang''er''s eyes. Truthfully, that would never happen to Jiayi. Once His Majesty had the chance to know her, there was no way he wouldn''t favor her. The arts always entertained His Majesty. The fact that Jiayi could draw anything you could imagine in moments would always be fascinating. The Emperor would be refreshed by Jiayi''s unadorned beauty and captivated by her in rouge and silks. But the idea of Jiayi becoming The Emperor''s concubine made his stomach clench. However, he had no right to it. His Majesty did like he did every unmarried woman in The Forbidden City. It was only natural, anyway. The Emperor was the Son of God. Who wouldn''t want that over the almost-bastard child of the Late Emperor? No matter how much His Majesty favored Prince Han, he could never compare. What could he do for her family that His Majesty couldn''t do ten times over? Not to mention, Jiayi had never promised him anything. He had not spoken a word of his feelings to her. Sly glances and blushing smiles were nothing when you added them all up. They were just friends. Sleep eventually dragged Prince Han down into the darkness. He doesn''t go to court that morning and sends Sang''er to tell The Emperor the cold is making his old wounds ache. He ate his lunch until he was full despite the food tasting like ash in his mouth. However, he couldn''t hide and lick the wounds he truly didn''t have. He was a 4th rank Prince, personally titled by His Majesty. He had been wounded more fiercely than this before and would again. Fate was not in his favor. He would make peace with it. "I''ll go see His Majesty," Prince Han said after Sang''er fastened his cape. "You haven''t greeted Her Highness The Empress in some days. Shall we visit her instead?" Said Sang''er. Prince Han sighed, "Do you want me to avoid His Majesty forever?" "I would not dare. It''s just¨Cabout Wei guniang¨C," "I''m not a child. This isn''t heartbreak or a broken promise. I haven''t been betrayed. There''s no point in throwing a tantrum. Come," The walk to Yanxindian was quiet and solitary. The bitter winter winds had forced the forbidden city into hibernation. Prince Han was grateful. He wasn''t in the mood to make small talk with a wayward minister or nosy noblewoman. However, he would have preferred that to the torture of seeing Jiayi walk down the stairs of Yanxindian. It was like seeing her in another life. Not a maid, but a g¨ºg¨º. Instead of her plain cotton maid''s uniform, Jiayi wore a warm yellow changfu that glowed like the sun. Her pink and blue waistcoat was trimmed with white fur matching the muff she tucked her hands into. Instead of the dew drop earrings she so happily wore, simple gold earrings dangled by her ears. Gold and silver dotted her hair. Her face was softly powdered and rouged. Prince Han froze as Jiayi raised her head and looked in his direction. But there''s no recognition there, no bright smile that Prince Han had begun to think was only reserved for him. She looked right through him. It happened. Prince Han stared as she turned a corner and disappeared. ? Jiang pin waved her freezing hands over the brazier. His Majesty had already announced that she would be released, and she was still treated like a criminal! Why hadn''t the Imperial Department sent over more coal and returned her servants? What was taking so long? Were they going to keep her locked up like this until the new year? She paused and looked up. Where was Susu? The eunuch took her to get more charcoal almost an hour ago. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Useless dogs. Jiang pin looked up at the sound of the lock jostling open. "Jiejie?" Oh, it was only An gui ren¨Cer¨CAn pin. "So you''ve finally remembered me?" asked Jiang pin. "Jiejie, it''s not my fault," said An pin, shutting the door behind her, "His Majesty was so upset after you attacked Xiang gui ren¨C" "I did nothing!" Jiang pin snapped, "That bitch scratched herself!" "Of course, of course," An pin said, simpering as usual. "That whore better count her days. When I get out of here, The Empress Dowager is going to help me put that bitch in her place," An pin''s lip quivered, "I don''t think it''ll be so easy jiejie, His Majesty is promoting her for the New Year," "What? What for?" Jiang pin''s anger rose to levels that she''d never known before in her life. That whore was going to become an Imperial Concubine? That bitch was given Yiqiang and would be his official foster mother? How could that bitch rise that far above her in just a few months? "His Majesty has lost his mind!" She said, "How can The Empress Dowager allow this to happen? How could Shen huang gui fei?" An pin handed her a cup of tea, "The Empress forced Shen huang gui fei to leave Huabao in Mongolia, and The Empress Dowager is trying to find someone new to put at His Majesty''s side. There''s no time to deal with her," Jiang pin gulped down the tea before huffing, "I have to get out of here. I can''t let her win," She would have to send Susu out with some of the silver she saved to bribe a few people. Maybe she could get the eunuchs at her door to set her free to speak to The Empress Dowager in person at night. "Jiejie," An pin began, pulling Jiang pin from her thoughts, "Can I ask you something?" "What is it?" Jiang pin motioned for An pin to refill her cup. The least that woman could do is make herself useful. "Do you remember what Her Highness did to deal with Mu pin? I''d like to see if we can deal with Xiang gui ren before her promotion," Jiang pin was impressed. An pin didn''t usually show this sort of initiative. She probably had a hard time without Jiang pin to lead her all these months. "Do you have anyone in the Imperial Hospital?" An pin shook her head. "Well, you''ll have to get her records and throw a little silver around to alter them. Mu pin had ''weak blood,'' so no one was shocked by her prescription. Then, all you have to do is add a few extra herbs here and there. That''s not very hard, is it?" "That''s it?" Jiang pin rolled her eyes, "It''s not that complicated. But I won''t save you if you''re stupid and pick the wrong person. If he turns tail when you tell him to add an abortifacient, it''s your problem," "Did Mu pin need that?" "Of course!" Jiang pin replied with a scoff, "As uppity as she was, had she been pregnant, Shen huang gui fei would''ve never been able to get rid of her. You should triple Xiang gui ren''s dose. If she got pregnant, she''d have a litter like the bitch she is," Jiang pin drained her cup again and held it out. An pin, suddenly deaf, ignored her. Rolling her eyes, Jiang pin grabbed the pot, but An pin held steady. "What''s wrong with you?" She snapped, "Can you stop sitting there like an idiot and serve me?" The faraway look on An pin''s face disappeared and was replace with a dumb smile, "Ah! Of course, jiejie," A strong gust of wind shook the walls. Jiang pin shivered. "You''ll have to bring me some coal. That dog Fang gonggong will get what''s coming to him when¨C" "You watched me," It took a moment for Jiang pin to make sense of An pin''s words. Watched her? Jiang pin massaged her temple. An pin had barely been there for an hour and had already annoyed her into a headache. "What are you talking about?" Jiang pin''s mouth was dry and tacky. She drained her teacup before tossing it on the nearby side table. "You and Shen huang gui fei didn''t tell me anything. You told me to make nice with Mu pin. To not behave like anything was different," An pin rose to her feet, "We had lunch with her so often. If I remember, you never ate much," Jiang pin rubbed her eyes. It was suddenly hard to keep them open. "Why are you harping on this? I didn''t like her food. Was that a crime?" "But you piled food on my plate. That food was meant to kill Mu pin and any children that lingered. What about my child? Did you ever think about him?" Jiang pin''s head slumped forward. She twitched. Why couldn''t she move? An pin''s skirt drifted into her eye line before her head was jerked up. "Did you like the tea?" An pin''s soft voice asked, "I put something special in there just for you," Jiang pin strained to do something, anything at all! "Urk...erk!" An pin laughed and leaned forward, "Did you say something, jiejie?" Jiang pin felt something dribble down the side of her lips. Was it drool? Was it blood? A sharp, stinging pain stabbed her stomach. It came in bursts and waves, each one more painful than the last. She couldn''t even open her mouth to groan. An pin stroked Jiang pin''s sweaty face, "Does it hurt? Weiwei told me that His Majesty only reserves this poison for the worst criminals. I feel like it suits you so well," Even though white hot pain was lancing through her body, Jiang pin''s eyes still widened when An pin''s hands closed around her throat. "Your Highness! Your Highness!" An pin whirled around at the sound of Susu''s voice. Hope bubbled in Jiang pin''s chest. Susu would find her and help her. When Jiang pin recovered, she would slit An pin''s throat! As if she could read Jiang pin''s thoughts, An pin turned around and smiled darkly at her. She unwrapped Jiang pin''s longhua* and backed away into a darkened alcove near the door. "Your Highness!" Susu cried, running into the room, "5th Princess¨C Your Highness, what''s wrong?" Susu! Turn around! Jiang pin watched in horror as An pin crept up behind and wrapped the white scarf around Susu''s neck. Susu frantically scratched and fought, only for An pin to pull tighter, a toothy smile on her face. Susu''s face blushed red, her eyes white and wide. The whites of her eyes began to dot with red splotches, the veins in her back bulging grotesquely. An pin yanked Susu''s head back, forcing a wet, croaking cough out of her mouth. The terrifying flush of blood on Susu''s face soon gave way to a ghostly pale, and like a puppet cut from its strings, she fell limp. An pin wrenched the scarf tighter still, holding it taut until she was satisfied. Jiang pin desperately wished she could shut her eyes from the sight of Susu''s body collapsing on the floor. The pain was nearly unbearable now. It was like her blood was replaced with the fire from hell itself. She felt something trickle down the side of her face. Was it blood? Was it tears? "Weiwei!" An pin called. The maid scurried through the door, uncorked a jar, and then splashed a foul-smelling liquid in Jiang pin''s face atop Susu''s body, and on every surface of her rooms. Through her dizziness, Jiang pin recognized the smell. It was oil. An pin picked up a burning candle on a nearby table. Dear God. An pin was going to burn her alive. Jiang pin prayed that the poison would take her before the fire did. Jiang pin knew she was a sinner, but even the worst criminals weren''t burnt alive. Her body would be in ashes! An pin couldn''t be so cruel! "Don''t look so scared, jiejie," An pin said, backing away to the door, "You won''t be alone. I gave Huaguang something to guarantee she''ll be by your side," When the black smoke began to her and the flames brought her palace down around her, did she understand An pin''s parting words. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *The hanging white scarf worn by women. Longhua first serves the purpose of keeping the neck warm and also covering women''s neck for modesty. Chapter 29 Jiayi draped a thick duvet over Xiang gui ren''s shoulder as her mistress stood in the blustery doorway. On her other side, Molan presented her with a hand warmer, "Mistress, Sixth Prince is only away at the Imperial Study. Bolin won''t let anything happen to him," Jiayi nodded, "Yes. You''ll get sick if you stand in the wind any longer," Xiang gui ren shook her head. "Mistress, we won''t let what happened to Fifth Princess happen to Sixth Prince," said Jiayi. "You''re just girls," Xiang gui ren said, finally stepping back inside, "What can you do that The Empress Dowager couldn''t?" The start of the twelfth month* was rife with misery. When Jiang pin set herself and Susu on fire, everyone assumed it was a petulant suicide¡ªa bratty girl who couldn''t stand her imprisonment any longer. Then Fifth Princess wouldn''t wake the next morning. Or the next. Fifth Princess was barely three. It didn''t take long for her to waste away. Only one Imperial Physician was brave enough to speak the truth. Poison. The Empress arrested and interrogated the entirety of Cininggong, much to The Empress Dowager''s embarrassment. A guilty eunuch admitted the truth after days of harsh interrogation. The day of the fire, Susu gave him a tray of cakes on behalf of Jiang pin. The eunuch thought it was a gesture on behalf of a desperate mother, and the silver Susu gave him softened his heart even more. He snuck the treats into Fifth Princess'' rooms. Jiang pin wanted to make sure that she and Fifth Princess would leave this world together. Unfortunately for her, His Majesty''s rage threw a wrench in that plan. Not only was Jiang pin demoted to a commoner, but what was left of her body was cremated. Fifth Princess was buried as the daughter of His Majesty''s oldest sister, the identity of her biological mother struck from the Imperial Records. The news plunged Xiang gui ren into a pit of worry. Never before had Jiayi seen her mistress so shaken. Xiang gui ren spent her nights sitting by Sixth Prince''s bed and her mornings by his side. He only ate food she had eaten hours before, and he was banned from accepting food and drink from anyone else. When he was away for lessons, Xiang gui ren counted the minutes until he returned. "Even if we can''t do much," said Jiayi, "Sixth Prince has Prince Han by his side. He won''t let anything happen to him," "I hope so," Xiang gui ren said with a sigh, "The New Year needs to come soon and wash away all this bad luck," "Don''t worry, mistress," said Molan, depositing Thunder into Xiang gui ren''s lap, "Sixth Prince will come home soon, safe and sound," Speaking of Prince Han, Jiayi hadn''t seen him in some time. He had weaved himself so deeply into the fabric of her day-to-day life that his absence was blaring and inescapable. Truthfully, Jiayi shouldn''t have grown so attached to it. Prince Han was a prince. He couldn''t spend his days running around the back palace when he wasn''t with Sixth Prince. However, Jiayi would''ve settled with just looking at him when he delivered Sixth Prince back to Chengqiangong, but she couldn''t even have that. Jiayi busied herself with the chores to take her mind off of things. As much as Xiang gui ren wanted the New Year to come, the closer it came, the more work there was for the servants to do. Jiayi had just started lining the windows when Pie''er came to get her. The Empress Dowager had sent for Jiayi. Her pulse began to race. "The Empress Dowager? I already finished the portrait," "That''s what I thought!" Said Pie''er, "Oh! Maybe she wants to reward you," Lead butterflies sloshed in Jiayi''s stomach as she followed The Empress Dowager''s maid back to Cininggong. "This servant wishes Her Highness The Empress Dowager peace," Jiayi said. She smiled softly at The Empress Dowager. "Kneel," replied The Empress Dowager. Jiayi tilted her head and frowned, "Your Highness¨C" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the side table, "I said kneel!" Jiayi obeyed, a crafted look of confusion on her face. "Wei guniang," said Jerjer gugu, "Has Her Highness wronged you?" "Of course not! Her Highness is far kinder to me than I deserve. I''m forever grateful," replied Jiayi. Jerjer gugu glared down at her, "Grateful? You''re calling the mess you left in Her Highness'' name gratitude? I should rip out your tongue for the audacity!" Jiayi shrunk down, "Gugu, I don''t understand. I didn''t do anything to sully Her Highness'' name. I wouldn''t dare," "So you didn''t have a private audience with His Majesty?" "I did, but I only did that for Her Highness," said Jiayi, "But only so I could repay Her Highness for her care faster," "Her Highness brought you to her side because you were smart and sensible. Who permitted you to try to seduce His Majesty on your own? What gave you the right to poison the mother-son relationship between His Majesty and Her Highness?" Jiayi knocked her forehead to the ground, "May Your Highness forgive me! May Your Highness forgive me! That wasn''t my intention! I went to His Majesty to¨C" "To drag Her Highness'' name through the mud!" Snapped Jerjer gugu. She pursed her lips before tilting her chin, "You''re defiant and ignorant. Do not come here again," Jiayi let out a dismayed cry before kowtowing again, "Forgive me! Forgive me! Your Highness, when I become a concubine, I''ll repay you tenfold!" The Empress Dowager snorted, "A eunuch has a better chance of becoming a father than you have of becoming a concubine after your little performance. If you want anything to do with His Majesty, you must do it on your own," Jiayi tried to crawl to The Empress Dowager to grovel more, but her eunuch grabbed Jiayi''s arms. "Your Highness," Jiayi cried, fighting to get through, "Forgive me!" Jerjer gugu blocked Jiayi''s view of The Empress Dowager. "Take her away," she ordered. Jiayi struggled the entire way as the eunuchs dragged her outside and tossed her out. She collapsed and pressed her smile into the snow. Tears of relief ran down her face. She lay there until The Empress Dowager''s eunuchs chased her from the courtyard. She walked through the flurries, a weight lifted from her shoulder. Fortune was even more in her favor as she came across Prince Han. He was alone. "My lord," Jiayi said, brightening at the sight of him. Prince Han nodded at her. It was odd and unfamiliar. He had no witty comments or teasing words of Yiqiang''s lessons. Silence stretched between them, thick and cold. "I thought you finished Royal Mother''s painting," Prince Han said. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Prince Han rarely called The Empress Dowager that. "I did," replied Jiayi. There was more silence. Prince Han sighed deeply and said, "It''s not as easy as you think to become a concubine, Wei guniang. His Majesty doesn''t just enjoy a girl with a pretty face..." The ringing in her ears drowned out Prince Han''s voice. Why was Prince Han talking about her becoming a concubine? "...I can help you arrange another meeting. You''ll have to be discreet so no one looks down on Xiang gui ren for trying to curry favor with His Majesty with you, but¨C" Jiayi dropped to her knees, the snow was no longer comforting, the sting burning her to the bone. The terror in her face that she so eagerly put on for The Empress Dowager was no longer false. "Please don''t, my lord," Prince Han stared down at her, his lips pursed. "I¨CI don''t think less of you for this. It''s the greatest honor in the world to become His Majesty''s concubine. You''re my¨CYiqiang cares for you very much. It wouldn''t be any trouble to do this favor for you," "If you want to do me a favor," Jiayi said, face suddenly hot with anger, "You''ll make sure I''ll never become a concubine," "What are you talking about?" Prince Han said before he lowered his voice, "I saw you. You met with His Majesty in private. That''s not something you do if you don''t want to be his woman!" Jiayi shook her head, "I went there to make sure that would never happen," Under the delicately powdered face and soft silks and brocade, Jiayi never felt uglier. The idea was stupid, and she called it as such when she mentioned it to her mistress. Instead of agreeing, Xiang gui ren said it was their one good chance before the New Year. "Help him see The Empress Dowager''s true face," Xiang gui ren said as she dusted Jiayi''s neck with a sweet-scented perfume. So Jiayi let Xiang gui ren do her up like a proper g¨ºg¨º and let a little silver slip into the right hands to get a private audience with The Emperor. It made her sick, flirting and simpering after him. She fumbled and stuttered, the ripe mix of fury and nausea flooding her body. Her opportunity came when His Majesty offhandedly mentioned how fond The Empress Dowager was of Jiayi. "Her Highness is too kind to this servant," Jiayi replied, "I''ll be sure to serve her well in the future," "Royal Mother?" Said The Emperor, "Not The Empress?" "Of course, I''ll serve The Empress! But it would be unfilial not to nurture the bond between Your Majesty and Her Highness," The Emperor didn''t look up from the book in his hands. "Is that what she told you to do?" Jiayi shook her head, "Her Highness never said so, but I know that''s what she wants. She feels like you''ve grown apart and never knows your thoughts and feelings," When The Emperor didn''t respond, Jiayi bottled up her revulsion, kneeled at his feet, and put her hands on his thigh. The Emperor sighed and stared down at her. She even went so far as to rest her head there. "Her Highness only wants to be closer to you," The Emperor slid her hands away, "Rise," "Zhang Wei," he called, "Take her out," Prince Han looked at her horrified, "You¨C" "I made sure His Majesty knew that the only thing I would do if he made me his woman was spy on him for The Empress Dowager," said Jiayi. Prince Han pulled Jiayi to her feet, "Have you lost your mind? Do you know what The Empress Dowager or His Majesty could do if they find out? Lying to The Emperor is a crime," "But it worked!" Jiayi replied, gripping his arms tightly, "The Empress Dowager never wants to see me again! And His Majesty doesn''t want anything to do with me," "Why would you cut off your fortune like that?" Asked Prince Han, "Do you know what being a concubine could do for your family? Could do for you?" "I do know. It could have me killed or poisoned or banished or have my family held hostage or poisoned, or any children that I have could be killed or poisoned. Or maybe I''ll be lucky," Jiayi pulled away and whispered, "Look at me. Do you think I''ll get lucky?" "No," Jiayi tried not to let that truth sting. "You wouldn''t need luck. His Majesty would favor you. You''re smart and kind, and talented. I know if you put your mind to it, there''s no telling how high you would rise," Prince Han said. He sighed, "Maybe there''s still a chance for you¨C" Why was Prince Han being so earnest about this? If Jiayi told him that she had no feelings for The Emperor, he would tell her that they''d grow in time. She wouldn''t dare tell him the truth. She wouldn''t be able to handle the disgust in his eyes. "I can''t," Jiayi said, a lie trickling out of her mouth, "I couldn''t bring my family so close to His Majesty," There were letters. Piles and piles of them stuffed in her trunk back in her rooms. Each letter revealed more about the life Wei Jiayi used to live. Her father was a minor official with a legal wife who hated Wei Jiayi, the daughter of a concubine who died years ago. Each letter revolved around the same thing: money. Wei furen demanded 100% of Wei Jiayi''s salary. She counted it meticulously, writing pages of acid when she felt it was too little. Wei furen''s sons needed money to study for the Imperial exams, and her daughters needed new silks. Jiayi sent what she could to keep up appearances but began shelling out in full when Wei furen threatened to come to The Forbidden City and accuse her of being unfilial. "They only want money. If I was concubine, there''s nothing they wouldn''t ask me to do," said Jiayi, "I sent my mother all of my rewards so far, and she keeps saying it''s not enough. I worry about it all the time. At least as a maid, there''s only so much money I can make. I don''t what she''d do if the Imperial Treasury were open to me," Jiayi began to shiver as the snow fell heavier. Prince Han gazed at quietly. Maybe he didn''t believe her. Or perhaps this lie was a step too far. "You were afraid that The Empress Dowager would give you to His Majesty this whole time?" Jiayi nodded, "From the day you saw me with the bracelet," "Why didn''t you tell me?" Asked Prince Han. Jiayi''s eyes widened, "What do you mean?" "Don''t you think I could have helped you? If you told me this from the start, you wouldn''t have to put yourself in such a dangerous situation," "My lord," Jiayi replied, "I''m just a maid," "You''re not just a maid. You''re," Prince Han paused, "You''re my friend," "You''re friend?" Jiayi parroted foolishly. Prince Han shrank back, his body stiffening, "Have I been too forward?" "No!" Jiayi yelped, "You¨CI, my lord, of course, you''re my friend. That''s why I didn''t tell you. This wasn''t something to bother my...friends with," "That''s for me¨Cthat''s for your friends to decide," Prince Han stepped closer and brushed away the tiny piles of snow that covered her shoulders, "I''ve been told I''m a good friend by many people. I won''t lose my good reputation over you. Do you understand?" Prince Han smiled at her. It was small and barely there, but to Jiayi, it felt like a warm summer day. She smiled back and nodded her head. "Yes, my lord," ? Weiwei was such a nervous girl. An pin lay in bed and watched her order around the other servants. The maid would accept nothing less than perfection for her heroic mistress. Yes, An pin had finally been noticed by The Emperor for her valiant attempt to save her dear friend Jiang pin from Xianfugong''s burning rubble. Yes, An pin rushed through the crowd of eunuchs to save her friend only to be overwhelmed by the flames and the smoke. The Emperor was sitting beside her when she awoke, along with an Imperial Physician. He said she was lucky that her beauty remained unmarred from the act. Her left arm wasn''t so fortunate. The burn was unsightly and ugly, yet His Majesty cradled it and scolded her softly for her foolish behavior. An pin assured him that it wasn''t foolish and that Jiang pin didn''t deserve such a horrible fate. The Emperor ordered her never to do such a thing again before pressing a kiss to her bandaged arm and returning to Yanxindian. The news of her recently acquired favor spread quickly. An pin only expected The Empress to ask after her health personally, but it was rare that she spent an afternoon alone. Shen huang gui fei had slithered by to visit, her poisonous mouth speaking honeyed words and teary regrets for her dear ''meimei''. An pin smiled and sniffled as much as needed before Shen huang gui fei ended her performance and left. When the "truth" of Huaguang''s death was discovered, it took everything in An pin not to burst out laughing. Her jiejie, proud and pompous, died a commoner whose ashes were fed to the pigs. How fitting. "Your Highness," said Weiwei, "It''s time to dress your burn," An pin let Weiwei roll up her sleeve and unwrap the old bandage. As Weiwei slathered the flaking, blistered skin in ointment, An pin thought about her next steps. In her current state, An pin could do nothing to Shen huang gui fei. Not only was she personally titled Imperial Noble Consort by His Majesty, but she was still strongly favored by everyone, from the eunuchs who distributed the monthly allowances to The Empress Dowager. Whatever scheme An pin could think up wouldn''t so much put a dent in that bitch. No, for anything to work, that woman would need to fall from the heavens she clawed her way to. "Wang chang zai and Cao taiyi are here," An pin''s eunuch announced. "Wang chang zai?" Asked Weiwei, setting the supplies down, "What is she doing here?" "Let them in," said An pin. Weiwei, like most servants, ignored Wang chang zai''s very existence the same way The Emperor did. An pin flat out forgot she was there most of the time. When An pin did catch sight of the other woman, it was always so jarring. The soft colored fabrics and simple clothing Wang chang zai always wore looked perverse, despite them being correct for her status. Like she was trying to look like a child again. Weiwei reluctantly offered Wang chang zai a seat as Cao taiyi inspected her wound. "Meimei," said An pin, "What brings you here?" "I wanted to visit Your Highness earlier, but you''ve had plenty of company these last days. I didn''t want to overwhelm," An pin smiled, "You could never. Sit and have some tea. We''ll chat after Cao taiyi finishes," It wouldn''t kill her to make a bit of small talk. However, as Cao taiyi droned on about her burn and how it was healing, An pin noticed that Wang chang zai couldn''t keep her eyes off him. She wasn''t outright staring, but every moment or so, she would glance and look away. She could''ve been interested in An pin''s burn. She could''ve been curious about Cao taiyi''s treatment regimen. But by the way her eyes followed him when he took his leave, An pin could tell that it was something more. Something interesting. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *between December 22¨CJanuary 21 Chapter 30 Xiang gui ren couldn''t feel anything close to merriment as The New Year grew closer. It was hard to understand how anyone could. With the days growing more impossibly cold, she had more time alone with her thoughts, even with De gui fei and Yiqiang nearby. In the dark nights, she wondered how a place of such glamor and fortune was so littered with death. "Mistress, look how handsome Sixth Prince''s New Year clothes are," Jiayi said. They were particularly darling, but Xiang gui ren could sniff out what Jiayi and everyone else were trying to do. But she just wasn''t in the mood to cheer up. It didn''t help that The Emperor had been too busy at court to flip anyone''s tag since Huaguang''s death. "They''re very nice," Xiang gui ren replied, "What about everyone else''s clothes? Will they be ready in time for the New Year banquet?" "Of course!" Said Molan, "It''ll even be ready for your promotion ceremony!" The mention of the ceremony once again sent the girls into a tizzy. It was like they were all being promoted! "I can''t stop looking at your chaofu, mistress," said Ping''er, "It''s so pretty!" "It''s so soft, too!" Said Pie''er. They squealed as Bolin pushed the door open and let the winter air burst through the room. Molan slammed the door shut. "Brr!" Bolin said, shaking off the snow, "It''s coming down out there!" Jiayi took the buckets of charcoal from the eunuch, and Pie''er poured him a hot cup of tea. "Don''t forget to take some for your rooms," said Xiang gui ren as Jiayi put the charcoal away. "Mistress, I heard some bad news while I was out," said Bolin. "From the A Ge Sou?" Asked Pie''er. Xiang gui ren hoped not. Her heart couldn''t take another tragedy so soon. Bolin shook his head, "No, no sicknesses so far. It''s Fan gui ren. They say she''s not getting any better," Molan wrung her hands together, "Isn''t she going to give birth soon? If she doesn''t get better, what about The Imperial heir?" Bolin clutched the cup closer to him and shook his head, "We''ll just have to wait and see," The Empress had forbidden them from gossiping about it, but even De gui fei couldn''t resist. It was just too unusual. Fan gui ren was such a healthy young woman, but she grew weaker and weaker as the months went on. It was like the child was sapping the life from her. Besides The Emperor and The Empress, she was too weak to see anyone. "She''s wasting away," De gui fei whispered one night, "The Imperial Hospital was told that if it came down to her or the Imperial heir, to save the heir first," De gui fei didn''t need to specify who gave the order. Xiang gui ren knew the logic behind it, but it was still jarring. The Forbidden City lacked for nothing, yet the people here were still bested by fate each time. Thunder rumbled and barked at her feet, begging for attention. "Yes, yes," Xiang gui ren said, petting the chubby little thing, "Your little master will be home soon," Thunder ended up just as attached to Yiqiang as she was. It was ridiculous, really. Yiqiang wasn''t her son; she''d only known him for a few months but couldn''t help it. She loved him already. It was nice to have something honest to do in this godforsaken city. Something without whispers or sly hands. Just love. However, after Huaguang''s death, she cursed herself for it. What would she do if something happened to Yiqiang? How could she possibly fill the hole in her heart? Having these thoughts swirl in her head made Xiang gui ren feel ungrateful. Jiayi''s little plan worked, and she was free from The Empress Dowager for good! The victory wasn''t as filling as it could''ve been. One of the reasons Jiayi managed to enrage The Empress Dowager so much was because of Huaguang''s death. It was incredibly embarrassing for her to have all her servants arrested and imprisoned. It shouldn''t have been possible at her status, and yet, The Empress did it without pause! The old woman was so furious that besides Jerjer gugu, she had all of them executed. Xiang gui ren was pulled from her thoughts when Yiqiang bulldozed into the room, Prince Han and Sang''er trailing in after "Guess what!" He said, breathless with excitement. "Aiyo! You''re covered in snow!" Xiang gui ren said, brushing the flakes off his hair and cape, "What happened to your cap? And your hands! They''re freezing!" Yiqiang pulled them away, "Niang! You''re not listening!" "I''ll listen later. Here, warm yourself up," Yiqiang huffed but took the hot cup of tea from Jiayi. Prince Han laughed, "What he''s trying to say is that His Majesty came to the Imperial Study during the lessons and invited you and Yiqiang to watch the ice dancers in the Imperial Garden," Yiqiang glared, "I wanted to tell her!" "Ice dancers?" Gasped Molan, "I''ve never seen them before!" Prince Han smiled, "They only perform a few times a year. Xiang gui ren is lucky to have a private showing with Yiqang," "What''s the fun in that? Bolin, go to the other palaces and tell them they''re welcome to join in the fun today," ? "I''m grown hideous, haven''t I, jiejie?" Fan gui ren asked, "That''s why no one''s come to see me," Fan gui ren wasn''t ugly. She was hideous. Shen huang gui fei stroked Fan gui ren''s frail hand, "Of course not, meimei. Your maid left some broth for you. Try to drink," Turning her face away, Shen huang gui fei swallowed a grimace at the sight of Fan gui ren''s white, bloodless tongue. The younger woman''s lips were cracked, white, and sunken into her face. Her skin was yellowish and pressed tight against her skull, with stark blue veins spiderwebbing throughout. What was left of her hair was in patches, and her eyes were rubbled purple and weighed with bags. It was like Fan gui ren aged 30 years in the last months. Still, the Imperial heir in her belly was as strong and fighting fit as ever. Shen huang gui fei''s connections at the Imperial Hospital said the Imperial physicians couldn''t figure out the problem. There was no sign of poison or tampering in her prescriptions or day-to-day food. It just happened to be an unfortunate case of horrible luck. Fan gui ren ate very little since she became sick, but what little she could keep down was always sour and pungent. Everyone knew spicy was for a girl and sour for a boy. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Fan gui ren was going to give birth to a prince. The wheels in Shen huang gui fei''s head turned as if 3,000 horses pulled it along. Despite her status as the Imperial Noble Consort, she only had one child, who had been banished to Mongolia. The odds of her getting pregnant at her age were slim, but if she were to become the foster mother of a prince, it would be the first step in bringing The Empress to heel. When the Imperial Hospital confirmed the gender of Fan gui ren''s child, Shen huang gui fei quietly ordered that anyone other than The Emperor, The Empress, and herself not be allowed to visit to preserve Fan gui ren''s health . Fan gui ren pushed the bowl away. She rubbed her heavy belly. "Yihui*," she whispered. "What?" Asked Shen huang gui fei. "My prince. I will name him Yihui because he''s been the only brightness in my life these last months. Without him, I know I would''ve been dead already," Shen huang gui fei grabbed Fan gui ren''s hand, "Meimei, don''t talk like that. You''ll get stronger in time for his birth and recover quickly," A tear rolled down Fan gui ren''s face as she shook her head, "I won''t. I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker each day. I don''t...I don''t know if I''ll be able to give birth to him," "Don''t bother," she said with a sad smile when Shen huang gui fei opened her mouth, "I know I don''t have very long left," "Mistress..." Fan gui ren''s maids all began quietly crying. Shen huang gui fei dabbed at Fan gui ren''s tears, fighting back a shiver at the feel of her loose, crepey skin. "Jiejie. Can you promise me one thing?" "Anything," "When it''s all over, and my Yihui is here, will you take care of him? I can''t leave him at the mercy of strangers. My spirit won''t rest," "Do you really want that?" Shen huang gui fei glanced around, ensuring the servants were paying attention, "Me raising your prince?" "It''s can''t be anyone but you, jiejie," Shen huang gui fei smiled, "I won''t let you down," ? One thing that constantly surprised newcomers when they arrived in The Forbidden City was how the streets echoed in the winter. The cold wind had a terrible habit of blowing your words towards the most unsuspecting ears. That afternoon, after a visit to Fan gui ren, the wind carried a conversation straight to The Empress. "Shiyi gugu turned me away again," A voice griped. The Empress paused as she stepped out into the street. Shiyi furrowed her brows, craning her head to and fro for the offenders, but only found empty corridors. "You''re surprised?" A different voice piped in, "Her Highness barely spends time with Shen huang gui fei and De gui fei, and they married in around the same time! Why would she lower herself to spend time with us?" "We''re both from the plains! I thought she would at least welcome me. But I''m not allowed to be in the same room as her until my promotion," "Consider it a blessing. You know what happened to the last women who got close to her," A gasp, "What? What happened?" "I''ll tell you later, hurry up!" The Empress stopped Shiyi before she could order the guards to run after the offenders. "Your Highness," Shiyi pled, "You can''t let them get away with such disrespect," "Enough," The Empress replied, "Our business is finished here," Inside Yikungong, Shiyi fluttered about, doing her best to drive the incident away. "Your Highness has been working so hard," she said, leading The Empress to the table, "I''ve prepared some treats to cheer you up," The Empress gasped at the spread before her. Raw marinated crabs, stinky tofu, sweet and sour pork, pork fried rice, pickled cucumbers¨Cshe could hardly believe it. She hadn''t eaten some of these things in years. Her stomach grumbled as she took a seat. The crab called her name. Shiyi laughed and spooned a large portion onto The Empress'' plate. The Empress picked up her chopsticks, "Where did you even get this? I thought His Majesty¨C" "His Majesty has arrived!" The chopsticks clattered on the table as The Empress greeted The Emperor. "Rise," The Emperor said before sniffing. He looked at the table and frowned. "Is Yikungong experiencing financial troubles?" He asked. "No, Your Majesty," replied Shiyi. "You''re serving Her Highness rotten food for fun, then?" Zhang Wei clicked his tongue, "Get rid of it," he ordered the servants. The Empress smiled serenely as The Emperor once again destroyed something she wanted. After all these years, it was as familiar as the face she saw in the mirror each day. It didn''t hurt anymore. "Your Majesty," said The Empress, ignoring Shiyi''s pursed lips, "You didn''t send word," The Emperor took a seat on the upholstered chairs at the front of the room. "Do I need to send word to see you?" He asked. "Of course not," The Empress presented him with a cup of tea, "But I would''ve prepared for Your Majesty''s arrival," He took a sip and frowned, "It''s bitter," he said before handing the cup back to her. "Did you enjoy the ice dancers?" The Empress asked, signaling Shiyi to remove the tea. Had The Empress known he was coming, she would''ve brewed something other than her favorite. The Emperor nodded, "It was more crowded than I liked, but Huifen and the children enjoyed it. Speaking of, I stopped by the Imperial study today. Yifu is falling behind. He''s nowhere near what she should be," "I apologize," The Empress replied, bowing her head, "I''ll ask Yian to help with his studies," "I''ll ask him to help Yiqiang as well. It''s his duty as Crown Prince," The mention of Yiqiang, a son he disliked the sight of for many years, softened the terse lines across The Emperor''s forehead. The Empress didn''t like to think too hard about why Yiqiang was favored again. It was better to be grateful for it. The Empress stepped closer and began to massage The Emperor''s shoulders, "Have you eaten? I''ll call for dinner," And so, The Empress swallowed down the over-salted, meat-forward dinner The Emperor preferred and washed it down with his favorite, floral, too-sweet tea. They went to bed later than usual, for His Majesty loathed to sleep alone, and Shiyi burned a heavily spiced incense that made The Empress'' eyes itch but helped The Emperor sleep more peacefully. She, of course, loved this as well. She was The Empress. The Empress loved what The Emperor loved, as was her duty. It didn''t matter what Altanchimeg wanted. It hadn''t mattered in nearly 20 years. The moment she stepped into the capital, The Empress Dowager made it clear that her true purpose was to serve The Emperor. The reputation of the Borigjit clan rested squarely on her shoulders. There was no room for childish things like her opinions or feelings. The Emperor was more than her husband. He was her master, and The Empress was to behave accordingly. Foolishly, The Empress disobeyed. Master and servant? They were to be husband and wife! Her mother and father lived nothing like that. Her father was free-spirited and wild but never coerced his soft-spoken wife to do anything. Her father was an anomaly and hated salted milk tea but poured a fresh cup at any moment for his wife. Who wouldn''t want that? Her husband. Raised in the pampered arms of The Forbidden City, The Emperor was nothing like her father. Even as the Eighth Prince, The Emperor believed his way was the only way. The Empress'' opinions and wants caused more confusion than anger. It became more work that it was worth disagreeing. As the years went on, The Empress learned she would be happier if she didn''t. True happiness only existed in solitude. When His Majesty was busy with state affairs or a captivating new concubine, it was like a weight being lifted from her shoulders. She could wear the orange and pink clothes she was so fond of (His Majesty preferred blues and purples; it made her look more regal), take in the sun on horseback (His Majesty thought it unsightly for her to be near such beasts) and play her morin khur? (His Majesty detested the sound. She learned the pipa for him). The Empress'' mask was carefully tucked away so Altanchimeg could exist until it was time to return to her duties again or until His Majesty arrived. That was the way it had always been. Shiyi quietly combed through The Empress'' hair the next morning after The Emperor left. "May Your Highness forgive me. I was unprepared last night," she said. "You can''t read His Majesty''s mind any more than I can," The Empress replied. "I heard that one of the girls His Majesty brought back from Mongolia finally caught his eye. Hopefully, he''ll come around less," The Empress stared in the mirror and pasted on the perfect smile. She wouldn''t hold her breath. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C * Hui: brightness, splendor ? Mongolian horse-head fiddle. One of the oldest traditional Mongolian musical instruments Chapter 31 She was weighed down in silks, precious jewels, and furs, but Xiang gui ren¨C Ah. Xiang pin had never felt lighter. ¡°Lai Huifen,¡± The female official cried out, ¡°Has served His Majesty as an earnest and virtuous wife. On account of Her Highness The Empress¡¯ grace and Her Highness De gui fei¡¯s care, she is to be promoted to Imperial Concubine Xiang,¡± Xiang pin accepted the Imperial rites from the official and smiled up at De gui fei. Her jiejie woke at the crack of dawn to help her into her very own Imperial Concubine chaofu. Now, she sat at The Empress'' elbow, beaming right back at her. For the happy occasion, De gui fei wore a fuchsia outfit embroidered with golden chrysanthemums. The Empress sat at the head of the room in a bright red changyi peppered with yellow and white peonies, the white fox fur edging her waistcoat shining brilliantly. The only one dressed more festively than they were was Yikungong itself. Swaths of red and green fabric draped the pillars and windows. Fat bows of red silk dotted the room. The gold and yellow tables glowed. Lai Huifen, an orphaned prostitute, had somehow become an Imperial Concubine. She could hardly believe it. As horrible as these last few months had been, Xiang pin chose to see this as an auspicious sign. The New Year would be different as an Imperial Concubine. Fewer people could look down on her and would think twice before trying to start trouble. With this promotion, everyone could see what a risk they were taking trying to attack her. His Majesty loved her enough to risk wagging tongues and promoted her anyway. She was no longer an easy target. The ceremony came to an end with the deep bang of a gong. She and De gui fei took their leave and, arm in arm, began to walk back home. ¡°I had the Imperial Kitchen make us our own New Year''s feast to celebrate,¡± said De gui fei. Xiang pin smiled, ¡°Hmm, jiejie is so eager to fatten me up. Trying a new technique to steal His Majesty away from me?¡± ¡°Fatten?¡± Said De gui fei, ¡°If this breeze blew any stronger, you¡¯d fly away!¡± ¡°Aiyo! Jiejie is such a smooth talker, but I know the truth! Ah, but who can blame her when His Majesty speaks of her beautiful neck and elegant hands that copy scripture so delicately?¡± The servants tried to stifle their laughter. Molan was doing a particularly terrible job of it. Xiang pin pretended to swoon into Jiayi¡¯s arms, ¡°How could she want to be away from His Majesty when he always speaks of her soft, clear voice that soothes even the King of Hell himself? How¨C¡° De gui fei¡¯s ears and neck were as red as Yikungong¡¯s auspicious decorations. ¡°Stop¨Cstop this nonsense at once! How dare you speak like this in public!¡± ¡°Eh? Nonsense? I would never! Hupo, don¡¯t you think His Majesty would say something like that about your mistress?¡± Hupo nodded, her cheeks pink from mirth, ¡°Of course! Her Highness is all that and more!¡± ¡°You! You! All of you are ungrateful!¡± De gui fei said. She pulled her arm away and walked ahead, ¡°I¡¯ll have the servants throw the food away,¡± Xiang pin tugged her back, laughing, ¡°Jiejie, don¡¯t be mean!¡± Their laughter stopped abruptly when a raised chair approached them from a distance. It was Shen huang gui fei. ¡°Wishing Your Highness peace,¡± they greeted. ¡°Rise,¡± ¡°Xiang meimei,¡± Shen huang gui fei said from her perch, ¡°I hope my congratulations aren¡¯t too late," Xiang pin smiled, ¡°A kind word from you is always right on time, Your Highness,¡± Shen huang gui fei laughed, ¡°You really have the bearing of an Imperial Concubine now. We should all be scared of you. Before we know it, we¡¯ll have to call you Xiang fei,¡± her eyes cut to De gui fei, ¡°Maybe even Xiang gui fei,¡± Sly bitch. Xiang pin laughed, "I¡¯m not worthy. If someone like me stood next to De jiejie, wouldn¡¯t it cheapen the title?¡± ¡°Hmm, De meimei looks different today. I haven¡¯t seen you in that sort of thing for years. Did Huahuan have a hand in it?¡± ¡°It is fashionable, isn¡¯t it, jiejie?¡± Said Xiang pin, ¡°De jiejie had it made for my promotion ceremony. It¡¯s the latest fashion in the capital,¡± ¡°It has been lively in Chengqiangong, hasn¡¯t it? I should thank you, Xiang meimei. I don¡¯t think De meimei has had a single friend since marrying in. Though, things will quiet down when you move into your own palace,¡± Own palace? As excited as Xiang pin was for her promotion, she never thought about the fact that as an Imperial Concubine, she was entitled to that. The thought of living away from De gui fei made a pit open in her stomach. "I¨C" ¡°I thank Shen jiejie for her concern," De gui fei said, stopping Xiang pin''s words, "I admit, I¡¯ve grown used to meimei''s company and will find myself out of sorts when she leaves,¡± Then a smile that Xiang pin had never seen appeared on De gui fei¡¯s face, ¡°Huabao was left in Mongolia all those months ago, and Shen jiejie is always so rosy and chipper. If you could instruct me on the best way to fill an empty palace, I would be grateful,¡± The temperature cooled further as De gui fei and Shen huang gui fei locked eyes. Shen huang gui fei eventually dipped her head. ¡°De meimei is too kind. When it comes to loneliness, wouldn¡¯t someone with a tag as pristine as yours be the expert? Well, the cold is getting to me. I¡¯ll be on my way,¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Sending Your Highness of with respect,¡± ¡°Jiejie¡­¡± Xiang pin said, reaching out to touch De gui fei¡¯s arm, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I don¡¯t care about those silly rules, I¨C¡° De gui fei shook her head, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry back before the food gets cold,¡± The rest of the walk back was somber, but at the sight of The Emperor¡¯s raised chair parked outside of Chengqiangong''s corridor, raised her spirit. ¡°His Majesty is here!¡± Said Xiang pin, tugging De gui fei along. The eunuch at the gates announced their arrival, and Zhang Wei came to meet them. ¡°Your Highnesses, His Majesty is waiting inside for you,¡± De gui fei pulled her arm away, "I''ll¨C" "Let¡¯s go jiejie. We shouldn¡¯t keep His Majesty waiting,¡± Xiang pin said, taking custody of De gui fei''s arm again. ¡°Er¨Cmeimei, I think His Majesty only means to have a meal with you,¡± said De gui fei. ¡°Aiya, how can I kick you out of your palace?¡± Said Xiang pin, ignoring De gui fei¡¯s whispered protests and walking inside, ¡°His Majesty won¡¯t complain! He¡¯s having dinner with two beautiful women instead of just one!¡± As eager as she was to greet The Emperor, Xiang pin was struck dumb when she walked inside. It looked better than Yikungong. Frankly, Yikungong couldn''t hold a candle to the decorations in here! Every surface was bursting with red, green, and gold sashes, curtains, and flags. Auspicious poems and scrolls dotted the room. Lao z¨ª* of all kinds hung from the ceiling. And right in the center was the largest portrait of herself that she¡¯d ever seen! She sat in the center, donned in her chaofu, Yiqiang by her side and Thunder by her feet. Xiang pin turned to Jiayi. ¡°You! You! Are you a witch? When did this happen?¡± Jiayi blushed, ¡°De gui fei asked the moment you told her of your promotion, Your Highness. I¡¯ve had plenty of time,¡± ¡°And look at all these knots," said Xiang pin, ¡°there have to be hundreds! Jiejie, you didn¡¯t do this all by yourself, right? You only have two hands!¡± ¡°She did,¡± His Majesty strolled towards them with a soft smile on his face. Xiang pin¡¯s knees didn¡¯t have the chance to hit the ground before His Majesty waived away the formalities and helped her upright again. He walked over to one of the knots and ran his thumb over one of the thick red cords. ¡°When it comes to lao z¨ª, no one can rise above De gui fei,¡± he said. ¡°Your Majesty exaggerates,¡± De gui fei replied, ¡°Anyone could do this with a bit of work,¡± The Emperor shook his head and lifted up the golden knot hanging below the scent pouch tied to his waist. ¡°A dragon?¡± Xiang pin gasped, "Jiejie, made a dragon knot?¡± ¡°Almost 20 years ago,¡± ¡°It looks brand new,¡± Xiang pin said, running her fingers over the pristine thread, ¡°Jiejie¨C¡° De gui fei couldn¡¯t stand any more of their praise because she quickly ushered them to the table filled with their small banquet. De gui fei stepped back to take the seat across from The Emperor but Xiang pin suddenly had an idea. She plopped herself down, leaving De gui fei to sit next to His Majesty. Shen huang gui fei was right, His Majesty rarely flipped De gui fei¡¯s tag. But she planned on changing that. All the two needed was a push in the right direction. After Jiayi filled her cup, Xiang pin raised it. ¡°I¡¯d like to make a toast,¡± De gui fei filled her and The Emperor¡¯s cups. ¡°I toast to His Majesty for giving me the honor of becoming an Imperial Concubine. I toast to jiejie; a woman so perfect she only comes second to The Empress. May your New Year be filled with health, longevity, and peace,¡± The Emperor laughed, ¡°Of course!¡± He said and drank. De gui fei gaped at her for a moment before sipping her wine. Xiang pin kept polite conversation with The Emperor as they began their meal. She didn¡¯t personally place food on his plate or feed him from her own hand. What questions he asked, she managed to steer them back to De gui fei. When the meal was over, De gui fei looked flustered. By the way she was wringing her hands, Xiang pin knew De gui fei was going to try to make an escape. "Your Majesty, jiejie has beaten me soundly in every weiqi? game we''ve played. Will you avenge me?" she asked with a pout. "Always," He replied, "Prince Han isn''t much of a challenge these days," "Lovely! I''ll even play for you both," When her guzheng arrived, Xiang pin plucked out a sweet tune, glancing up occasionally. His Majesty and De gui fei moved the stone pieces across the board, gently grazing fingers. The sharp tang of betrayal curled Xiang pin''s lips as she watched The Emperor give De gui fei a look that she''d privately claimed as her own. Taking a deep breath, she continued her song. The pain surprised her. She wasn¡¯t ignorant of the fact that His Majesty spent his days and nights with women other than her. She was more than well aware that she occupied only the smallest piece of his heart. She just hadn''t expected it to hurt so much to see him look that way at someone else. When the final note fled from her strings, Xiang pin stood. ¡°I won''t take any more of jiejie''s time. I''ll take my leave,¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day,¡± The Emperor said, ¡°Rest well,¡± She walked away carefully, ignoring the tickle in the back of her throat when His Majesty didn¡¯t walk away with her. ? Shen huang gui fei let the icy wind whip across her face as she stared at the eunuch scurrying out of the courtyard. His Majesty would be spending the night with De gui fei, he informed, so she need not wait on his arrival. She curled her lips into an ugly smile. ¡°De gui fei, De gui fei,¡± she said, ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed in the background where you belonged,¡± ? The Empress Dowager scrutinized the ring on her finger. A diamond the size of a quail¡¯s egg was nice, but not nice enough. She handed it to a maid. ¡°Bring me the pearl ring, the one with the jade band,¡± she said. Jerjer tucked another golden chai into her dianzi**, adding to the dazzling array, of jade, coral, amber, and pearls. It was the one time of year when the other dowagers still in the capital would see her again and she was determined to remind them of their place. Every year they had to suffer and bow their heads to the woman they used to think was nothing. So no, she couldn¡¯t just look good, she had to look amazing. ¡°Your Highness, the banquet will start soon,¡± a eunuch said. ¡°The banquet starts when Her Highness arrives,¡± replied Jerjer. The Empress Dowager admired herself in the mirror for a few moments longer before sighing, ¡°Let¡¯s not deprive them of my presence any longer,¡± She stood and allowed Jerjer to wrap her in a golden cloak edged with black mink before walking to her raised chair. The cool air cleared her mind. So what if she took a chance on a maid who was too stupid to do what she was told? There would be many more before her and after her. That Xiang woman may have become an Imperial Concubine but it seemed that luck was still on The Empress Dowager¡¯s side. Xiang pin was barren. All that time in His Majesty¡¯s bed and not a single sign of a child. Early that morning, the shamans came and danced to wash away the bad luck. Jerjer hand picked each maid and eunuch who set foot in Cininggong, ensuring that what happened to Huaguang would never happen again. The Empress Dowager could feel it in her bones. This year would be her year. Jerjer helped The Empress Dowager descend from the chair and the eunuchs announced her. ¡°Her Highness The Empress Dowager has arrived!¡± The banquet hall doors opened and every single person dropped to their knees. They chorused their greetings to her, eager to curry favor with the most powerful woman in the world. She slowed her strut to her place at the head of the hall when she noticed a woman standing defiantly in the crowd. The woman raised her head and a flash of fear sliced at The Empress Dowager so powerfully that it jellied her knees. It only took one weak step for The Empress Dowager to plummet to the ground. Pain lanced through her body, hot and white. The room devolved into hysterics. Through the commotion, only one thought ran through The Empress Dowager¡¯s head. Dowager Noble Consort Ling had come back to finish the job. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *The art of Chinese knotting ? Strategy board game that originated in China **In the manchu language is literally translated as a ¡°hat ring¡±. this ¡°hat ring¡± referred to the kind of hat supported by a circular iron wire in its rim. The base of a dianzi is usually made of thin rattan strips or wires wrapped with black silk, and woven into check or coin patterns, or other auspicious designs. gemstones and pearls are fixed onto the hat base in various auspicious patterns. dianzi is usually worn by noble women for special occasions, like weddings and birthday ceremonies, and traditional festivals. Chapter 32 Jiayi flinched as flames erupted from the fire breather¡¯s mouth. The New Year¡¯s banquet was well underway, the courses flowing in and out like water, and each performer was more talented than the last. Xiang pin laughed happily, clapping and cheering. The other guests were just as entertained, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. It looked like everyone had forgotten about The Empress Dowager¡¯s fall just as quickly as it happened. Jiayi couldn¡¯t imagine that a woman like The Empress Dowager made many friends. Jiayi was sure that everyone had stood up, not out of care, but just to see how badly she was hurt with their own eyes. Xiang pin put on a crafted face of concern but had to hide her smile behind a handkerchief all throughout the first course. After The Empress Dowager had been carted out, the merry energy didn¡¯t take long to return. Even her seat at the head of the hall wasn¡¯t empty for long. Dowager Noble Consort Ling looked out of place up there next to The Emperor. The Empress Dowager was fundamentally flashy, forcing every eye to gaze upon her jewels, gold, and silk, while Dowager Noble Consort Ling existed in a state of gentle regality. Of course, she wore rings and gold and jade, but it wasn¡¯t an assault on the eyes to look at her. There was one strange thing about her, though. Her feet. They were lotus feet. At first, Jiayi had thought that perhaps Dowager Consort Ling was fragile in her old age when she needed two servants and a staff to help her up to the elevated platform, but when her skirts lifted, a pair of pointed childlike feet poked out. Jiayi hadn¡¯t known that the late Emperor had a Han clanswoman as one of his women, let alone one that reached such a high status. Jiayi¡¯s eyes danced away from Dowager Noble Consort Ling and settled on Prince Han. He sat stiffly between his brothers, sipping quietly at his wine as they talked over him. He glanced over at her, and Jiayi smiled softly at it. He smiled back, hiding the curve of his lips behind his cup. The fire breathers left the hall, and a beautiful group of dancers swanned in, decorated in soft, flowing silks. The tempo of the music changed, preceding the crashing symbols and transforming into a sweet, gentle tune. The dancers swirled about, twisting and stretching their lean bodies, their skin glistening under the candlelight. Jiayi couldn¡¯t watch the end of the performance as another course began, and she busied herself serving Xiang pin. When she looked across for Prince Han again, his chair was empty. Jiayi thought nothing of it. She waited for him to return, but his chair remained vacant after two more dances and another course. Unfortunately, Prince Han had already tired of the festivities and excused himself. With the clash of the gong, the acrobats flew into the air, sending Thunder into a fit of hysterical barking in Xiang pin¡¯s lap. An pin sighed loudly, ¡°Xiang meimei, can¡¯t you do something about that dog? It¡¯s giving me a headache,¡± It was the first thing An pin had said to Xiang pin all night. Xiang pin fed Thunder a bit of food from her plate, ¡°She¡¯s just being a fine patron of the arts and showing her appreciation, jiejie,¡± An pin rolled her eyes, ¡°It can¡¯t show it¡¯s appreciation somewhere else?¡± ¡°Well, Thunder should stretch her legs. Here, Jiayi, take her back to Chengqiangong,¡± Jiayi tucked Thunder under her arm and left the hall. She took a hearty lungful of the night air before beginning her trek. When they were barely past the courtyard, Thunder began to squirm and huff. Jiayi wrapped a cord around the dog¡¯s neck and let her sniff around. She led Thunder to a patch of grass. Thunder sniffed and sniffed but made no moves to go to the bathroom. Thunder pulled at her leash, straining to go back in the direction of the banquet. ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Jiayi said. She pulled Thunder back into her arms, and the pug released an unholy screech. The sound must have been alarming because before Jiayi knew it, she was surrounded by a charge of red-coated Imperial guards. She dropped Thunder to the ground, who snuffled and went quiet. The fierce look on their face morphed from fury to confusion in a flash when they realized the source of the horrific noise was a fat, little dog. ¡°Keep that thing quiet,¡± A guard ordered before they made their retreat. ¡°I¡¯ll go with her, sir,¡± a voice from the back of the crowd said. Jiayi stiffened. She didn''t want an escort of any kind with her. Her mouth opened to protest but turned into a smile when Lingxiu stood before her. ¡°Lingxiu,¡± she said, ¡°Molan didn¡¯t tell me you were here. I hope you know she¡¯ll be very mad you didn''t tell her your shift changed,¡± A rosy blush appeared on his cheeks, ¡°Just-just don¡¯t tell her. Worry more about this beast,¡± He leaned down to pet Thunder, but she had none of it and viciously snarled at him. The dog huffed before tugging on the leash again. Jiayi sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with her. She bothered An pin, so I had to take her away,¡± ¡°Let her sniff around. She¡¯s so fat she¡¯ll tire herself out,¡± replied Lingxiu. Personally affronted, Thunder nipped at his boots. Jiayi let Thunder lead them around the side halls while Lingxiu waxed poetic, in his own way, about Molan, their mothers, and how much his feet hurt standing around. ¡°They sound worn out,¡± she said with a sly smile, ¡°You should ask Molan to sew a new pair for you,¡± While Lingxiu sputtered, Jiayi realized that Thunder had led them to a storage shed in the furthest corner of the courtyard. Thunder scratched at the door, whining. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Stop that,¡± said Jiayi, trying to pull Thunder away. Thunder strained against the leash, grunting and snorting. Jiayi sighed. She would just have to pick up Thunder and suffer through the squealing. Maybe she could sprint out before the guards scolded her again. She braced against the door to grab Thunder, and for a moment, it sunk inwards before snapping taught. As if someone was pushing it from the inside. Jiayi stood up and pushed against the door. It creaked open for a second and then snapped closed. ¡°Someone¡¯s in there,¡± Lingxiu said. He knocked on the door, ¡°Open up,¡± There was no response. ¡°Open up,¡± he said again, ¡°Either deal with one Imperial guard or 20. Your choice,¡± There was more silence before the quiet night was interrupted by a harsh sob. It was a woman. ¡°Guniang,¡± Jiayi called out, ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I¡¯m a maid from Chengqiangong. Do you need help?¡± The sobbing stopped before the door was wrenched open. ¡°Hupo?¡± Was the only thing she could utter before Hupo threw herself into Jiayi¡¯s arms. ¡°You have to help me!¡± She wept in Jiayi¡¯s chest. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiayi asked. Hupo tearfully recounted stepping away from the banquet to use the bathroom and being grabbed by a group of eunuchs. They tossed a bag over her head before she could see who they were. They dragged her to the shed, stuffed her inside, and barred the door. She didn¡¯t know how long she was stuck inside the dark room before the door was wrenched open, and a man was shoved inside. ¡°A man is in there?¡± Asked Jiayi, "With you?" Hupo peered up at her, her eyes wild, ¡°It¡¯s the truth. I¡¯m not lying¨CI swear, I swear,¡± She stopped her babbling to sink to the ground. ¡°You have to believe me,¡± she begged, ¡°Please,¡± Jiayi helped Hupo to her feet. She understood the desperation. If word got out about this, not only would Hupo be put to death for adultery* but it would be a heavy stain on De gui fei¡¯s reputation as well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you,¡± said Jiayi. She looked at Lingxiu, ¡°Could you look inside?¡± He nodded and walked into the shed, his lamp held high. There was a muffled curse. ¡°It¡¯s Prince Han,¡± Jiayi gasped. Prince Han hadn¡¯t left the banquet at all. Someone had taken him! ¡°Is he alright?¡± As much as Jiayi wanted to rush in and see for herself, Hupo was barely keeping herself upright. ¡°He¡¯s breathing,¡± Lingxiu replied, ¡°But there¡¯s something wrong. It¡¯s like he¡¯s drunk, but I can¡¯t smell any wine on his breath,¡± "Was he beaten?" Jiayi asked, lips trembling. Lingxiu came back outside. "No, not that I could see," He paused, "Prince Han looks...drugged," Drugged? The dots connected in Jiayi¡¯s head so quickly that it made her head spin. ¡°You have to get him out of here,¡± she said. "What?¡± said Lingxiu. ¡°You have to get him out of here!¡± ? Shen huang gui fei fought to keep the smile from her face as she trailed leisurely behind The Empress. When the time came, she would run to The Empress¡¯s side, aghast at the shocking sight of De gui fei¡¯s maid and Prince Han caught in the act. What a scandal! The only thing that would make it better was if De gui fei were also here to see it in person. Well, she would soon see the haughty look wiped off her little sister¡¯s face. She wondered what the most appropriate punishment should be for harboring a whore for a maid. Flogging? Should she have Jingse slap De gui fei across the face in front of the entire back palace? Demotion? Taking away her honorary name? The possibilities were endless and The Empress wouldn¡¯t be able to do a thing to stop her. Not when her precious ¡°son¡± was in the center of it. While His Majesty was fond of Prince Han, the moment the already circulating tales of his whoremongering hit the ministry, she was sure he would be demoted and exiled from the palace. Two birds with one stone. Nice and tidy. However, things became significantly messier when they arrived at the shed, the doors splayed open to see¡­ Nothing. Shilan, the maid who informed Zhang Wei of the suspicious sounds, gaped at the empty shed before turning around and dropping to her knees. ¡°You¨CYour Majesty¨C¡° ¡°You dragged us out here for nothing?¡± The Emperor asked. Shen huang gui fei glanced at Jingse and A¡¯Fang. Where the hell did they go? Shilan shook her head, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. They¨Cthey must have escaped!¡± ¡°They certainly couldn¡¯t have gone far,¡± Shen huang gui fei said, taking her place at The Emperor¡¯s side, ¡°Guards. Look for anyone running about where they should be and bring them back here. Quickly!¡± Of course, things were going too well. Shen huang gui fei glared down at Shilan. Now, she would have one more thing to dispose of. ¡°Your Highness, look,¡± said Jingse, ¡°The guards found someone,¡± Shen huang gui fei peered into the night, hope welling in her. Running away from the crime scene was even better, wasn¡¯t it? Said hope was dashed when it became clear that guards had only found two girls. De gui fei¡¯s maid and¨C Xiang pin¡¯s maid? Shen huang gui fei prickled with rage. How had that bitch managed to foil her plans? ¡°It was her!¡± Shilan said, pointing at De gui fei¡¯s maid, ¡°She-I saw her go into the shed with a man!¡± ¡°Hupo?¡± Asked The Empress, ¡°Where did you come from?¡± ¡°Replying to Your Highness, I felt sick and was in the washroom. I tried to make my way back to De gui fei, but I felt too weak. Jiayi found me and was helping me back to Chengqiangong to rest,¡± ¡°Your clothes look so rumpled, Hupo meimei,¡± said A¡¯Fang, ¡°And you¡¯re so flushed. As if you¡¯re in a hurry,¡± ¡°A¡¯Fang jiejie is correct,¡± said Xiang pin¡¯s maid, ¡°The cold weather and the excitement of the New Year have made Hupo''s¡­time of the month more difficult. She wanted to hurry and change as quickly as possible,¡± The Emperor shut his eyes in disgust at the mention of the maid¡¯s period. Shen huang gui fei despaired as she watched his shoulders relax. It was over. Xiang pin had bested her. ¡°Deceiving the Emperor is a crime,¡± Wang gugu said, looking down at the loose-lipped maid, ¡°Guards, arrest her,¡± As the guards grabbed Shilan by the arms, she pleaded her innocence and looked beseechingly at Shen huang gui fei. Before any nonsense could come out of her mouth, Jingse spoke. ¡°How dare you dirty His Majesty¡¯s ears with such disgusting lies. Who knows what other stupid lies her tongue could spit out,¡± Wang gugu nodded, ¡°Quite,¡± she turned back to the guards, ¡°Cut out her tongue,¡± Shilan went white in shock, continuing to plead and scream as she was dragged away. Shen huang gui fei swallowed her anger and put on a pleasant face for His Majesty. That bitch may have ruined her plan, but she could at least salvage the night by bringing His Majesty back to Zhongcuigong. As she brushed her hand against his golden cape, The Empress spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve been standing out in the cold for some time, Your Majesty. Would you like to return to the banquet?¡± The Emperor sighed, ¡°The night¡¯s already ended. To Yikungong,¡± Shen huang gui fei kneeled in respect as The Empress managed to steal His Majesty away again. She must¡¯ve stood there for some time because Jingse gently squeezed her hand. ¡°Your Highness, if you¡¯ll hurt yourself if you kneel for so long,¡± Taking a deep breath, Shen huang gui fei straightened. She turned around and looked at Xiang pin¡¯s maid. She smiled. ¡°Thank goodness Hupo had the luck to run into you. Who knows what could¡¯ve happened if that maid tricked The Emperor? You¡¯re Xiang meimei¡¯s Jiayi, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen huang gui fei said, ¡°Lucky indeed,¡± ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *A palace maid was technically the lowest unofficial harem class (guan nu zi). So they still belonged to The Emperor (even if he never slept with them and they got to leave the palace after their 10 years of service). If they were caught having a relationship, it was considered cheating on The Emperor and that was a heavy crime. Chapter 33 The Emperor paused in his work as Zhang Wei came to his side. "Wang gugu has returned," The Emperor returned to the memorandum on his desk while Langhua kneeled to greet him. "Rise," he said, "News?" "De gui fei''s was indeed inside the shed with a man but by force. Eunuchs confessed to kidnapping her and locking her inside with Prince Han," The Emperor''s eyes snapped up, "Prince Han?" Langhua nodded, "Yes. A maid said she was ordered to put a strong aphrodisiac into Prince Han''s wine. Luckily for him, they misjudged the dose, and he lost consciousness instead," "Where was his eunuch?" "Arrested," said Wang gugu, "He walked in front of Prince Han to call for the raised chair and was wrongfully arrested by a guard for stealing. The guard claims it was a case of mistaken identity and released him this morning," The Emperor sighed, "Have him flogged 20 times for abandoning his master," Langhua nodded her head. "Huifen''s maid helped him escape?" He asked. "She explained the situation to me clearly. A nearby guard carried him back to his quarters while she thought up a lie to save the situation," "Who was the guard?" "Chang Lingxiu, Your Majesty," "Reassign him. He is to stay at Prince Han''s side day and night," Langhua nodded, "Your servant understands," "Huifen''s maid. Slap her 40 times across the mouth," Langhua bowed deeper, "Your Majesty is merciful," The Emperor stood and began to pace, "Who''s the mastermind of this?" "All hands point to Jiao gui ren," The Emperor paused. Jiao gui ren? It was far-fetched even for her. Like most young girls, she was silly and arrogant, but she wasn''t stupid enough to try to offend The Empress and De gui fei. A puppet master was pulling the strings, but they''d hid their hands well. "Take my decree," he said, "Jiao gui ren infected with disease. Remove her servants and bar the doors to her room so she may recover in peace," "Yes, Your Majesty," Langhua dashed out, quick to follow orders. The Emperor returned to his desk and called for Zhang Wei. "Have someone watching Jiao gui ren during her recovery. Make note of every servant that goes in or out. Inform The Empress of anything unusual," The Emperor put the incident to the back of his mind and returned to his work. The Empress was smart and made fewer mistakes as the years went on. She would understand what to do. "Your Majesty," a eunuch said, "Dowager Noble Consort Ling is here," The sound of his little mother''s arrival took the weight from his shoulders. Of all his father''s women, Dowager Noble Consort Ling was the one he was closest to as a child. By the time he was born, her only child, Prince Xianliang of the 2nd rank, had been dead for some time. Looking back, Dowager Noble Consort Ling was an ambition-less concubine. Perhaps she just realistic. Even if Prince Xianliang lived, no minister would agree to a Han prince on the Qing throne. The Emperor was sure that a bit of the affection Dowager Noble Consort Ling showed him so often was an effort to rile up The Empress Dowager, but it was still always welcome. Because of her feet, she spent much time in her palace, collecting precious things and reading. Royal father kept her entertained with personal Operas and performers. She wouldn''t say a word if he snuck around to her courtyard to watch. Soon after his coronation, it became apparent that The Empress Dowager wanted to be the only elder in the back palace. Each day, they would come to him begging for something to be done. The Emperor sent them all away. Dowager Noble Consort Ling didn''t beg. In fact, she personally requested that living out her days in The Summer Palace would be good for her health. Embarrassingly, he denied it. He even accused her of abounding him during the most stressful time of his life. Dowager Noble Consort Ling didn''t bat an eye. She went back to her palace and packed. She left for the Summer Palace, leaving a farewell letter that took the Emperor far too long to read. The Dowager Consort was in fine form that afternoon, wearing a black outfit embroidered with silver and gold wan z¨ª.* The Emperor caught her before she could bow to him. "I have no right to receive your bow," he said, helping her straighten. Dowager Noble Consort Ling smiled at him, a twinkle in her eye, "I see your sweet mouth hasn''t changed," she said, leaning on him as they walked over to take a seat. "Have you settled in well?" He asked. "Of course," she replied, "How could I not with The Empress taking care of me? All the little sisters are very comfortable in Shokanggong.? Your Majesty is too kind," The Emperor shook his head, "You served Royal Father well. Your comfort will be spared no expense," You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Dowager Noble Consort Ling fanned her hands in the air, "Enough, enough! Too much honey will attract flies, even in this weather," "The Summer Palace has been good to you," said The Emperor, "You look just the same," "Yes. It was very good to me. It makes me wonder if your Forbidden City will be up to the challenge," "The Empress isn''t young anymore, but you''re the elder still. To have so many of the older generation leading her, will make her feel secure," "Oh?" Dowager Noble Consort Ling said, tilting her head, "The Empress Dowager isn''t enough?" The Emperor sighed, "The Empress Dowager is in the twilight of her life. I want her to live with peace and honor. But she worries for The Empress and for the back palace as a whole. To have her sisters here to ease the strain would be for the best. Ling niangniang, I''ve come to burden you," Dowager Noble Consort Ling raised her hand and let her maids lift her to her feet, "I''m leaving now. His Majesty is making my teeth ache. How impudent. I only have a few left," The Emperor beckoned a eunuch over as Dowager Noble Consort Ling hobbled away, "Make sure she takes a raised chair. If she takes one step in the streets, beat her servants to death," It would be good to have Dowager Noble Consort Ling as the mistress of Shokanggong. She was shrewd and levelheaded. It would give his mother something to do besides sticking her nose into his court matters. ? Say something, Xiang pin wanted to scream. She did no such thing. Instead, she sat silently in Yikungong''s warming room with De gui fei as The Empress digested the news of Shen huang gui fei''s treachery. She was far calmer than Xiang pin was when Jiayi told her what happened that night at the banquet. "I already know," The Empress said at last. "You know?" Said De gui fei, "What are you going to do about it, Your Highness?" They were all speaking freely here with no one but Shiyi gugu to listen to their frustrations. "Nothing," Xiang pin surged in her seat, "Your Highness¨C" The Empress stopped her protests with a raised hand, "His Majesty had Wang gugu investigate the situation and found Jiao gui ren to be the culprit," How could anyone believe that? That girl was such a non-factor! There was no way she could coordinate so many people to corral such a plan. Not to mention, she would gain nothing from this scheme succeeding. De gui fei shook her head, "That doesn''t make any sense," she said echoing Xiang pin''s thoughts. The Empress pursed her lips, "It doesn''t. But it doesn''t matter. For me to punish Shen huang gui fei out of the blue after His Majesty''s investigation would be unjust," Xiang pin scoffed, "Unjust? What about Hupo? The things that would have happened to that poor girl all because of Shen huang gui fei would be more than unjust! Jiejie''s reputation would''ve been tarnished as well! Even if you don''t care about those things, what about Prince Han? Bolin said he heard some kitchen girls whispering about a nobleman getting caught having sex with one of a loose during the banquet. You and I both know that that was supposed to be about Prince Han and Hupo," "Your Highness," said De gui fei, "You¨C" "The Empress Dowager has arrived!" The Empress Dowager limped into the room, her beady eyes staring down at them as they kneeled before her. "Rise," she said. Xiang pin kept her eyes pointed at the ground as The Empress Dowager walked past to take The Empress'' recently vacated seat at the head of room. Xiang pin knew the moment she caught a glimpse of the sling on The Empress Dowager''s arm, she would burst into laughter. She needed as much time as she could snatch to compose herself. "I didn''t think you would be up and walking about so soon, Royal mother," said The Empress. "Well, my royal daughter-in-law hadn''t greeted me in some days so, I to see what had kept you so occupied," replied The Empress Dowager. Xiang pin pinched herself to stop from rolling her eyes. The Empress Dowager had made herself very clear that she wanted no visitors while she recovered from her fall. "Your daughter apologizes," The Empress replied, pouring a cup of tea for The Empress Dowager, "The Imperial physician advised that peace and quiet would be best," The Empress Dowager pointedly looked away from the cup The Empress offered her, "That won''t be happening anytime soon now, will it? My meimei are making the most of their time here," A bubble of joy tickled Xiang pin''s lips at the sight of The Empress Dowager''s misery. It was outrageous. How could that woman go around stepping on anyone and everything and still believe that there would be no consequences? To become an Empress Dowager was a blessing, but this Empress Dowager certainly wasn''t a blessed woman. Before Xiang pin could stop herself, honeyed words passed through her lips. "Your Highness, our lovely elders don''t have to do that. They have all the time in the world," The Empress Dowager turned towards her, "What exactly do you mean, Xiang pin?" Xiang pin continued, her voice light and dopey, "Your Highness, you must know His Majesty loves you above all others. He felt very sad that you had no bosom buddies or good servants like The Empress to ease your burdens. So he brought them here to stay! I hear Shokanggong has been fixed up so nicely for this Dowager Noble Consort Ling and the other dowagers. Your Highness, His Majesty said you''ve been close to Dowager Consort Ling for many years. What''s she like?" A lesser person, or maybe a smarter person, would''ve dropped to her knees and begged for forgiveness for the way that her words made the room thick with tension. But alas, Xiang pin was a silly whore. How could she possibly know what she said was offensive? A lowly person like her wouldn''t know those sorts of things. Nose flaring, The Empress Dowager sprang to her feet, "The cold air is making my arm ache," she said before stomping out of the room. "Sending Your Highness off with respect," Xiang pin simpered at her back. Xiang pin straightened and turned to find The Empress staring at stonily. Xiang pin didn''t think anything she did warranted such a look. The Empress should be laughing too, for goodness'' sake! Everyone knew the old bat treated The Empress like a servant. "Kneel," Xiang pin blinked in confusion. The Empress peered at her, eyes cold, "What? You found the gall to behave atrociously in front of The Empress Dowager, so now you don''t have to obey me? Kneel," De gui fei came to Xiang pin''s side, "Your Highness, meimei didn''t mean to behave like that. She¨C" "Don''t trouble yourself, jiejie," Xiang pin said, following The Empress'' order, "I''ll accept whatever punishment Her Highness gives to me," If The Empress wanted to pretend that The Empress Dowager didn''t deserve every single word from Xiang pin''s mouth, then so be it. "So you admit your fault?" The Empress asked. "If Your Highness finds fault in me," replied Xiang pin, "Then there is fault in me," "You''re very flippant for someone so stupid," The Empress said, taking her seat, "Do you think you''ve done some great thing? That you''ve put The Empress Dowager in her place? Let me be very clear. All you''ve done is paint an even larger target on your back. At best, you were an annoyance, a mosquito in her ear. Now¨C" "I don''t care," Xiang pin interrupted, her head held high, "Why shouldn''t she have at least one thorn in her side for what''s she done? To me? To you? To us all?" The Empress reared her head back, "You''ve lost your mind. You''ve been in the back palace for the less than a year. What do you know of The Empress Dowager?" "I''ve seen her kind before. Give or take a few strings of pearls and Her Highness would fit right in at any brothel," "Xiang pin, that''s enough," De gui fei hissed in a tone so cold that Xiang pin clamped her lips shut. The Empress glanced between the two of them before shaking her head, "Take her and go, De gui fei," De gui fei bowed her head, "Your Highness¨C" "Go," _______ *Chinese name for the …d symbol which is widely used in Buddhism and other cultures ?Palace of Longevity and Good Health Chapter 34 De gui fei was walking in front of her. Xiang pin couldn¡¯t remember the last time she did that. She didn¡¯t understand. Why was De gui fei so mad? She hated The Empress Dowager just as much as she did. Well, she wouldn¡¯t be finding out the truth out her on the streets. She¡¯d have to wait until they were in private again. So, Xiang pin kept her mouth shut and trudged behind De gui fei, ignoring the Jiayi and Molan¡¯s worried faces. When they arrived at Chengqiangong, Wang gugu and a group of servants were standing in the courtyard. ¡°Wang gugu,¡± said De gui fei, ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Replying to Your Highness, I¡¯ve come to carry out His Majesty¡¯s order to punish Xiang pin¡¯s maid, Wei Jiayi,¡± ¡°Gugu,¡± said Xiang pin as she clutched Jiayi¡¯s hand tight, ¡°This must be a mistake. Jiayi has never offended His Majesty. She wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Wang gugu frowned, ¡°Lying to His Majesty is more than an offense, Your Highness. It¡¯s a crime worthy of death,¡± An icy wind blew through the courtyard and chilled Xiang pin¡¯s bones. ¡°This must be some sort of mistake. Jiayi¨C¡° ¡°Lied to His Majesty the night of the banquet,¡± interrupted Wang gugu, ¡°However, His Majesty is merciful and decreed that her only punishment would be 40 slaps across the mouth. Tsu momo will carry it out,¡± A heavyset woman with what looked like paws of steel stepped forward and bowed her head. That beast would knock Jiayi¡¯s head clean off! This wasn''t fair! Jiayi lied and saved The Empress¡¯ reputation. Shouldn¡¯t that matter more than some stupid rule? ¡°How kind of His Majesty,¡± said De gui fei, ¡°Jiayi, thank His Majesty for his grace,¡± De gui fei yanked Xiang pin away from Jiayi. Before she could wiggle away, De gui fei whispered, ¡°Would you rather Jiayi be here or be headless?¡± Xiang pin pasted on a serene look and watched as Jiayi kowtowed in thanks. De gui fei glanced at her, ¡°Come along then,¡± Xiang pin dug in her feet. She wasn¡¯t going to leave Jiayi here to be beaten. ¡°Leave the girl some dignity,¡± said De gui fei. Xiang pin felt tears well up in her eyes, ¡°Fine,¡± she snapped. She turned away, ignoring the way Jiayi¡¯s eyes bored into her back. She would have to stick cotton in her ears. She didn''t want to hear the sound of Jiayi¡¯s punishment. Her heart couldn¡¯t take it. The entire day was making her head hurt. She wasn¡¯t going to stew in confusion about De gui fei. She stomped after De gui fei and shooed away the servants. De gui fei paid her no mind, silently pouring herself a cup of tea and warming herself by the brazier. ¡°So you¡¯re not going to talk to me?¡± Xiang pin asked. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about,¡± ¡°I¡¯m on your side! We both know what Shen huang gui fei did. We both know that The Empress Dowager is a horrible woman!¡± ¡°I didn''t think this would happen so fast,¡± she said. "What are you talking about?¡± Xiang pin asked, flustered by the change in subject. ¡°I suppose I should¡¯ve expected this. You were only a Noble Lady then with a bit of fresh favor. You needed someone with good backing to keep the wolves away. I didn¡¯t mind. You know I just wanted a bit of company. Now, you¡¯re an Imperial Concubine with more favor than I could ever dream to have,¡± De gui fei smiled. ¡°You don''t need me anymore,¡± De gui fei¡¯s hollow words struck Xiang pin like poison-tipped arrows. She knelt down and grabbed De gui fei''s hand, and mustered up a wobbly smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, jiejie, you know you¡¯re stuck with me! Look, I¡¯ll go back and apologize to The Empress and The Empress Dowager first thing tomorrow," De gui fei shook her head, ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend any longer. Haven¡¯t you got what you wanted? You¡¯ll even be moving into your own palace soon. Please. Let¡¯s just end on good terms and go our separate ways before things get worse,¡± ¡°But things won¡¯t get worse! I don¡¯t understand,¡± Xiang pin said. ¡°They won''t?¡± Said De gui fei, the smile never leaving her face, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re still in the brothel fighting for scraps?¡± Xiang pin let De gui fei¡¯s hand fall from from her own. ¡°His Majesty may love you with all of his heart now but what happens when The Empress Dowager has her sights set on you? Of course, he¡¯ll save you the first time and the second time. But what happens the third of the fourth? What happens when she turns him against you for good?¡± ¡°Jiejie, this¨C¡± ¡°He¡¯ll forget you,¡± De gui fei continued, ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t. I¡¯d be there. Begging for you. Claiming your innocence. And for nothing. I¡¯d be there, watching them tear you away from me. And no matter how hard I try, I¡¯ll be alone again. So, please. Make this easy on me and leave now,¡± Even though De gui fei didn¡¯t raise her voice once, Xiang pin felt scolded. No, that wasn¡¯t enough. She felt like she had been given Jiayi¡¯s punishment 10 times over. Her cheeks were burning in shame. She had become one of those big headed brothel bitches that she always despised. They relied on the favor of their rich patrons to lord over the others. They always ended up worse than when they started because when their patron lost interest all they¡¯d made was a little bit more money and a lot more enemies. Xiang pin knew in her heart that His Majesty would do everything to stand by her side, but if the evidence were compelling enough, he would be a fool to believe her. But De gui fei would. De gui fei would take the word of a nobody prostitute who tricked her way into her palace and remember her death for the rest of her days. What kind of luck did Xiang pin have to have a woman like De gui fei give a damn about her? Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Before Xiang pin knew it, she was crying. Instead of the apologies she was desperate to give, big blubbering, heaving sobs came out of her mouth instead. She must¡¯ve made a horribly pathetic picture because De gui fei wrapped her up in a warm hug. It just made her even more ashamed. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t cry,¡± said De gui fei, ¡°I take it back, don¡¯t listen to me,¡± ¡°No!¡± Said Xiang pin pulling away, ¡°You¡¯re right. What I did to The Empress Dowager was so foolish. But you have to know, jiejie, I didn¡¯t do that because I thought I was better than you. I did it for you! I thought it would be funny to talk down to The Empress Dowager for all she¡¯s done to let Shen huang gui fei torment you. You have to know I would never hurt you like that. I¡¯ll never leave you. You¡¯ll be buried next to me if I have anything to say about it!¡± De gui fei laughed, a real smile on her face, ¡°You don¡¯t want to be buried next to His Majesty?¡± ¡°I have to share him with Her Highness and all everyone else. I don¡¯t have to share you with anyone,¡± ¡°Fine then. We¡¯ll make it so. Come, wash your face. You don¡¯t want to make Jiayi worry about you when that momo is done with her,¡± ? Shen huang gui fei didn¡¯t care how plain her clothes were or how many white sashes lined the streets. It was a momentous occasion. Fan gui ren didn¡¯t give birth to just one son, but two in one go! By the time Shen huang gui fei arrived, 10th Prince had already been born and Fan gui ren was barely hanging on by a thread. Even if she had survived, what little time she had left would be spent in suffering. It was only right that Shen huang gui fei gave the momo in charge the right to let nature take its course. With one final push, 11th Prince was born and Fan gui ren slipped away. When The Emperor and Empress arrived, Shen huang gui fei wept an appropriate amount and didn¡¯t so much as twitch as the nursemaids began to walk off with the babies. Fan gui ren¡¯s servants, pleaded with The Emperor to let Shen huang gui fei raise the boys as it was their mistress¡¯ dying wish. Shen huang gui fei feigned refusal, claiming that Fan gui ren was confused by her sickness and didn¡¯t know what she was saying. The servants insisted, one even going as far as to say that Shen huang gui fei would be betraying Fan gui ren if she didn¡¯t take them. The Empress looked like she sucked on a fermented pickle as she asked The Emperor what to do. Of course, His Majesty allowed Shen huang gui fei to be their new mother. It was all falling into place. Fresh as they were, Shen huang gui fei was the one with two princes and a princess. All The Empress had was the princes. And 3rd Prince was the only one who really mattered. The playing field wasn¡¯t quite so level yet, with the princes being so fragile, but all she needed was a few good years to train them up right. And then The Empress would really see what Shen huang gui fei was capable of. To keep up the facade of a mourning friend, Shen huang gui fei took the reigns for Fan gui ren¡¯s funeral. She even requested that Fan gui ren be given the honorary name of Guang* and a posthumous promotion to Imperial Concubine. It was a tidy ending for a woman who couldn¡¯t have dreamed of getting so far in her little life. However, all the crying and caterwauling did take a toll on her body, and by the time she returned to Zhongcuigong, she was exhausted. Thankfully, Fan gui ren was just a Noble Lady, so her funeral and mourning wouldn¡¯t last very long, and things could get back to normal. The moment she stepped inside, she asked that 10th and 11th Prince be brought to her. ¡°How were they?¡± She asked, pulling back their blankets to gaze at their pink faces. ¡°10 and 11th Prince both drank heartily several times today,¡± Yan momo replied. Yan momo may have only been the difujin of a middle-grade official; she was a branch member of the ?umuru clan. The other five nursemaids were of the same stock. When the time came for 10th and 11th Prince to marry well, the noble clans would be open to her. Shen huang gui fei nodded, ¡°No signs of a cold or cough?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve kept the doors and windows shut tightly to prevent a chill,¡± Yan momo replied. ¡°You can leave them in their cribs and take a rest,¡± 10th and 11th Prince were laid gently in their cribs, and the momos left. A¡¯Fang went over, cooing and smiling at them. ¡°Wipe that smile off your face,¡± Jingse ordered, ¡°The palace is in mourning,¡± A¡¯Fang ducked her head, ¡°Sorry jiejie, but I think 10th Prince just smiled at me!¡± ¡°You idiot, he¡¯s a newborn, they don¡¯t smile. Get away from there and brew some fresh tea for Her Highness,¡± Jingse began to massage Shen huang gui fei''s knees. Jingse was right. For this to succeed, they all had to behave like the loss of Fan gui was devastating to them all. ¡°His Majesty has arrived!¡± Another benefit to being the mother of the twins was that The Emperor visited often. Before her knees could touch the ground, The Emperor grabbed her hands, ¡°Don¡¯t kneel, don¡¯t kneel. You¡¯ve been working all day,¡± Shen huang gui fei blushed, ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty,¡± She took his cape and hat and handed them to Zhang Wei before following him to 10th and 11th Prince¡¯s cribs. He gazed at them wistfully and stroked their whispy hairs. ¡°Have they been too much trouble?¡± ¡°Of course not. Yan momo and Yin momo say they eat well and cry little,¡± The Emperor sighed, ¡°Good. I feared their unlucky birth would follow them,¡± ¡°Even if they were unlucky, they¡¯re your Imperial Heirs. Their blessings are natural. Your sons will grow up and do great things,¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I ask,¡± Shen huang gui fei led The Emperor to her chair and curled in next to him. ¡°Guang meimei is surely resting easy, seeing how much you cared for her,¡± said Shen huang gui fei. ¡°Two sons is more than some concubines will give in their lifetimes. Her service to The Great Qing must be remembered,¡± replied The Emperor, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re handling the funeral. The Empress is still busy settling the other dowagers,¡± Shen huang gui fei made sure to keep her face soft at the mention of The Empress. Busy? How much work could it be to set up house with all those servants? Even if Shen huang gui fei hadn¡¯t chosen to head up the funeral, The Empress would¡¯ve foisted the work on her anyway. Thinking of The Empress soured Shen huang gui fei¡¯s jolly mood. The night of the banquet made it very clear that Xiang pin was solidly in The Empress¡¯ camp. De gui fei had some sort of nerve as well. All these years, she¡¯d been frigid and limp as her bedsheets, but she suddenly had the nerve to talk back! As if Xiang pin was some great mind! Without that hulking maid of hers, it would take absolutely nothing to be rid of hers for good! Well. Wasn¡¯t that an idea? Shen huang fei wrapped her arms around The Emperor. ¡°I heard Xiang meimei¡¯s little maid was taught a lesson by Wang gugu on your orders,¡± she said, ¡°Her face was still so horrible that I had to ban her from the public for fear of startling Guang meimei¡¯s family,¡± The Emperor shrugged, eating the dates plated on the side table, ¡°Hopefully, she takes the lesson to heart,¡± ¡°How can she not when it was a lesson from you, Your Majesty? However, I¡¯m afraid that Xiang meimei might not,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Xiang meimei is new here and may not understand your intentions. She might feel a little sore that you¡¯ve punished her maid. She doesn¡¯t know yet to not be so close to them and treats them like little girls,¡± ¡°Huifen can be sensitive,¡± The Emperor replied. ¡°I have an idea. Why don¡¯t you allow the maid to go back to her family home for a week or so, just until she isn¡¯t so unsightly as a gift to Xiang meimei?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think a week is too long over a few slaps?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the maid, really, Your Majesty,¡± replied Shen huang gui fei, ¡°It''s a gesture of how much you care for all of Xiang meimei¡¯s things,¡± She playfully huffed and poked him in the chest, ¡°All these concubines you have, how do you still not understand women?¡± The Emperor smiled and pinched her cheek, ¡°Brat! Who do you think you¡¯re talking to? Do you even see me as your master?¡± Shen huang gui fei pressed a finger to The Emperor¡¯s smiling mouth, ¡°Not so loud. You¡¯ll wake the children,¡± They gazed over at the quiet cribs. ¡°So, what do you think? Shall you do something nice for my Xiang meimei?¡± The Emperor let out a theatric sigh, ¡°Fine. She can go,¡± ¡°Don''t worry, Your Majesty. Xiang meimei will never forget this,¡± ________ *Light, glory Chapter 35 Prince Han clenched his teeth together to stop sticking his head out the carriage window and asking ¡®how long¡¯ for what seemed like the 30th time. He longed to ground himself by squeezing the handle of his sword, but that was packed away and hidden. Ordinary noblemen didn¡¯t carry weapons out in the open. ¡°Rest assured, my lord, we¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Prince Han glanced at the bearded man across from him. Imperial guard turned personal bodyguard Chang Lingxiu. Rubbish. The idea that he, a prince personally elevated to the Fourth Rank by The Emperor himself, would need a bodyguard was laughable. It was unnecessary. That night was a fluke, an example of him letting his guard down. He understood that without Chang Lingxiu, Jiayi¡¯s plan wouldn¡¯t have worked, but it didn¡¯t make it sting any less. He tried to explain as much to The Emperor, but he didn¡¯t make a convincing picture, sick in bed from an overdose. The gift of a personal bodyguard became a decree, and Prince Han had no choice but to obey. As he was lying in bed in a tonic-induced fever to sweat out the rest of the aphrodisiac, Prince Han replayed the moments leading up to the attack. Family events like the New Year banquet were never his favorite. His elder brothers were only polite to him because of his favor with The Emperor, and making connections and drinking himself senseless was never appealing. A year ago, Prince Han would¡¯ve only waited for a course or two before thinking up an excuse to leave. But each time he thought of a suitable lie, his eyes strayed across the hall. As it was one of the most auspicious days of the year, the servants were allowed to dress up for the festive occasion. Many maids dolled themselves up in sweet pink or red outfits, peppering their hair with red bows and ribbons. Jiayi was the odd one out. Instead, she wore a dark green chenyi and a simple red waistcoat lined with white fur. She had fresh pink and red chrysanthemums tucked into the crown of her head. Outside of a simple copper bangle, she only wore the earrings he gifted her for her birthday. He didn¡¯t think she ever took them off, and the thought warmed his cheeks and belly. She was fascinated with the entertainers. Each performance made her eyes glitter with wonder. If something were particularly enticing, her mouth would open wide in shock. Watching Jiayi was so captivating that he never paid much attention to who was refilling his cup with wine. The next thing he knew, it was daylight, and he was lying in bed, Sang¡¯er sobbing over him. Holed up in his room for days, one thought swirled around his head. Jiayi had rescued him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my lord,¡± Chang Lingxiu said, breaking him out of his memories, ¡°Jiayi will be fine,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to remind me,¡± Prince Han replied. Prince Han knew he was being snappish and short-tempered, but he couldn¡¯t help it. He¡¯d been on the edge from the moment Jiayi agreed to this ridiculous plan. ¡°His Majesty is sending Jiayi back to her family?¡± asked Prince Han. Chang Lingxiu looked taken aback by the intensity of the question but nodded, ¡°Yes. One of Xiang pin¡¯s other maids told me. She was a little worried. She says Jiayi¡¯s family is always begging her for money,¡± Prince Han turned away, watched Yiqiang notch his arrow, and let it fly. That was an understatement. Jiayi wouldn''t survive if she set foot into the Wei estate. When Jiayi told him about the cruelty of her legal mother, he believed her. But after seeing the letters she received from home, he was sure the woman would sell Jiayi off in a heartbeat. Going back there was practically suicide. ¡°Jiayi!¡± Jiayi walked through the training yard, carrying Yiqiang¡¯s lunch. Yiqiang tossed his bow to Sang¡¯er and ran over to her. She smiled down at Yiqiang, but Prince Han could tell it was forced. Prince Han glanced at Sang¡¯er, and the eunuch led Yiqiang away to eat. ¡°You go eat, too,¡± Prince Han told Chang Lingxiu. Chang Lingxiu glanced between Prince Han and Jiayi before nodding and obeying. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Prince Han asked when they were alone. Jiayi looked startled by his concern, ¡°I¡¯m¨CI¡¯m fine, my lord. Are you alright? Should you be out in the cold like this so soon?¡± He ignored her concerns, ¡°How can you be alright when His Majesty is sending you back to that woman?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just have to figure something out,¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Jiayi fiddled with her hands, ¡°Well¡­I thought about pretending to be sick, but the Imperial Physicians would figure me out in a second. So I was thinking that¨Cwell if I broke¨C¡° Prince Han grabbed Jiayi¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Are you insane? A broken bone isn¡¯t a laughing matter,¡± ¡°I know, but I know I broke something small like my arm¨C¡° It was even worse than he imagined. Jiayi was so desperate she was going hurt herself on purpose, knowing full well that the bone may never heal properly or, worse, kill her. ¡°You could stay with me,¡± Jiayi stopped, ¡°My lord, what do you mean?¡± ¡°I have a small villa just outside the capital, you could stay there,¡± ¡°Stay in your villa?¡± Jiayi shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s too much, my lord. You shouldn¡¯t trouble yourself like this for a maid,¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just a maid, Jiayi,¡± Prince Han said, squeezing her shoulders, ¡°You¡¯re my friend,¡± He tilted her head and let the sun hit her face, shining on the fading bruises and split lip from His Majesty¡¯s punishment. ¡°You put yourself in the line of fire for me and saved my reputation and that of The Empress. Giving you somewhere safe to go is the least I could do,¡± Jiayi slowly pulled her face away, ¡°If it doesn¡¯t put you out¨C¡° ¡°It won¡¯t,¡± After Jiayi returned to Xiang pin, Prince Han realized he had more to consider. He decided to leave the Forbidden City a few days after Jiayi. The Emperor and The Empress accepted his excuse of needing some time away after his poisoning. He gave Jiayi some money and instructed her to rent a room at a nearby inn. They would meet there and then continue to the villa. After a long day of traveling, the carriage finally stopped. Chang Lingxiu hopped out first and opened the door. Prince Han stepped down the stairs and into the street. He tucked his chin into the furred collar of his cape. It was still somehow cold, even though it was the middle of the second month.* ¡°Bring the bags, Chang Lingxiu,¡± he ordered before walking towards the inn. At least the guard would be good for something. They stepped inside, and a servant rushed to greet them. ¡°Welcome, gongzi**,¡± the man said, ¡°I apologize. Our inn is full up,¡± ¡°My master has been here many times. You¡¯ve never been sold out,¡± said Sang¡¯er. The servant nodded and blotted his sweaty forehead with a rag, ¡°I apologize again. A large party rented out most of the rooms for a wedding. But not to worry, there¡¯s an inn down the road¨C¡° ¡°No matter,¡± Chang Lingxiu interrupted, ¡°My master will stay with his wife, of course,¡± ¡°His wife?¡± Echoed the servant. His what? ¡°Didn¡¯t a woman named Wei rent a room here?¡± Asked Chang Lingxiu. ¡°Oh! Pardon this foolish old man. You¡¯re right! Your mistress checked in a few days ago. Please follow me,¡± Prince Han grabbed Chang Lingxiu¡¯s collar when the servant turned away, ignoring how his chest tingled at the concept of Jiayi being his wife. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± He hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t we only need to stay for the night? Isn¡¯t this better than running around looking for an inn in the middle of the night?¡± Prince Han pursed his lips and shoved him away, ¡°From now on, keep your mouth shut,¡± The servant led them to a room at the end of the hall, ¡°Please let us know if you and your wife need anything, gongzi,¡± before leaving. Sang¡¯er knocked on the door, and Prince Han took a deep breath¡ªhis wife. Wife! Prince Han didn¡¯t know if he could sleep in the same room as Jiayi without bursting into flames now. Damn, Chang Lingxiu, for putting these thoughts in his head! It didn¡¯t even mean anything. They would spend one night at this inn, pack their things, and be on their way with Jiayi none the wiser about Chang Lingxiu¡¯s loose lips. ¡°My lord,¡± Jiayi said, her face beaming as she opened the door, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived,¡± Prince Han stepped inside the modest room and let Sang¡¯er remove his cloak. He did his best not to look at the neatly made bed in the corner lest he begin to imagine himself sleeping next to Jiayi. He took a seat at the table tucked under the window. It was clear that Jiayi had spent her time here drawing. The table was scattered with small sketches of the city outside the inn. They were, of course, perfect to Prince Han¡¯s untrained eye. ¡°How was your trip?¡± Jiayi asked, pouring him a cup of tea. ¡°Boring,¡± he replied, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Not so bad. I haven¡¯t been on a carriage in a long time, I¨C¡° There was a knock on the door. Chang Lingxiu answered. ¡°Pardon me,¡± a servant girl said, a tray in her hands, ¡°I¡¯ve brought some small snacks, complimentary from the owner,¡± She placed the tray on the table and smiled at Jiayi, ¡°The owner noticed that you were fond of these buns, Wei furen, so he made sure to ask the cook to make them fresh for you!¡± Prince Han clenched his eyes shut and let out a sigh. ¡°Oh,¡± replied Jiayi, her brow furrowed, ¡°Thank you,¡± ¡°Please let the owner know if you or your husband have any other preferences,¡± the girl said, taking the tray and leaving. Jiayi stared at him, ¡°My lord, what was that girl talking about?¡± ? Jiayi wished she never asked. Husband? Prince Han? Her husband? Suddenly, Jiayi cursed herself for pushing the inn¡¯s little table under the window. She wouldn''t be able to jump out from sheer embarrassment before someone stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Chang daren said, ¡°I just said it so Prince Han could get a room,¡± ¡°Are there¡­¡± a terrible feeling arose as she began to ask, ¡°Are there no other rooms left in the inn?¡± If Prince Han was here, didn¡¯t that mean he would be spending the night? In the room? With her? Sang''er nodded his head, "Yes, all the other rooms have were rented," Jiayi let out a breath. She needed to get a hold of herself. How was this different from spending the night serving Xiang pin or Yiqiang? And it was only for the night. They¡¯d be off first thing in the morning and could put this whole¡­situation behind them. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem,¡± she said before standing, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask the girl for some bedrolls,¡± Prince Han grabbed her wrist, ¡°Wait. You¡¯re my¡­wife now. You can¡¯t be seen doing servant work. I¡¯ll look like a beast. Sang¡¯er will fetch it,¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jiayi said, pulling her hand away. She sat back down, searched the room for a distraction, and saw Chang daren standing near the door. ¡°Chang daren, would you like something to eat or drink? These buns are delicious,¡± She held out the plate, hoping Chang daren would chat with her. He took a few steps towards her before freezing. ¡°Actually,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go help Sang¡¯er find the bedding,¡± He fled, leaving her alone with Prince Han. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Between February 20 ¨C March 21 **Young master, sir (but for people who are upper class) Chapter 36 The bastard. Prince Han felt guilt wrap around his throat. He and Jiayi were¡­friends, but she was still an unmarried girl who would be forced to sleep in the same room as him. If word got out about this, it would ruin her prospects for a good marriage. pin sent some things for you,¡± Jiayi looked at him, ¡°She did? Isn¡¯t that too much? She already had these clothes made for me so quickly,¡± Prince Han wasn¡¯t surprised that Xiang pin was so accepting of the idea of him spiriting Jiayi away to his villa. She looked like she would burst into tears of joy. It was clear that Xiang pin was unusual in treating her servants like friends and family, rather than the slaves they were. ¡°What is it?¡± Prince Han asked, coming to her side. She wasn¡¯t kidding. The chest was bursting with skirts and jackets in fine colors and fabrics. There were furred muffs, cloaks, and two whole boxes of jewelry. No wonder Chang Lingxiu huffed so much if that¡¯s what he was carrying. pin confused your care package with a dowry,¡± He saw Jiayi¡¯s shoulders stiffen and dropped the bangle like it burned him. He cleared his throat and looked back at the jewelry boxes. The majority of them were silver, copper, and colored glass, but there in one of the piles was a flash of gold. The silver buyao had a simple silver stem and flared gold leaves cradling a small bud of frosted blue glass. Hanging from the end of the bud were strands of tiny bits of glass carved to look like diamonds. ¡°It goes well with your earrings,¡± said Prince Han. Prince Han reached across to tuck the buyao into her hair before stopping, ¡°Uh, do you want me to..¡± Jiayi bent her head. Prince Han stepped close and slid the buyao into her hair. As Jiayi lifted her face, Prince Han realized they were nearly nose to nose. If she blinked, would he feel it brush against his cheek? Prince Han coughed and turned around, hoping his face didn¡¯t match. Prince Han could already feel a headache brewing from all of Chang Lingxiu¡¯s yapping. He sat back down and asked Sang¡¯er to brew him a fresh pot of tea. Chang Lingxiu sighed, ¡°I told Molan that I was passing through the capital on the way to the villa. She nearly beat me to death when I told her I wouldn¡¯t have time to get her something from one of the shops. Let¡¯s go look around,¡± meimei is half your size," Jiayi said with a laugh, "Surely the beating she gave you wasn¡¯t so bad. Prince Han just arrived after being stuffed in a carriage all day. Why don¡¯t you go by yourself?¡± ¡°No, no, no, you have to come! I don¡¯t know what sort of things Molan likes,¡± ¡°Is a fourth-rank prince,¡± replied Chang Lingxiu, ¡°He¡¯s been to battle for weeks without a servant or a piece of silk! A few hours in a nobleman¡¯s carriage are nothing to such a specimen of man,¡± Jiayi replied before he could even open his mouth, ¡°Chang daren, you shouldn¡¯t speak to Prince Han that way,¡± There. Now, he and Jiayi weren¡¯t the only ones who turned red as an apple today. ? As they walked back up the stairs to their¨C Prince Han¡¯s room, Jiayi smothered a sigh. The tense air between her and Prince Han had faded out in the streets. But she knew as soon as the door closed behind them, their easy mood would probably return with a vengeance. Things between them changed like whiplash. One moment, they¡¯re master and servant. The next, they¡¯re friends and then back again. It made her head hurt. It made her nervous. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Jiayi pinched herself in the privacy of her cloak at the thought. Prince Han giving her a single kind word was more than she deserved. He had sacrificed himself time and time again just for Xiang pin¡¯s safety. There was no need to be ungrateful just because her head was all messed up. This pretend-wife business certainly didn¡¯t help. Gongzi! Wouldn¡¯t your lovely wife like some¡­¡¯ Like a knock to the head, Jiayi realized something. She would have to sleep in the same room as Prince Han. No-no, even more awful, she would have to change her clothes with him there! ¡°Well,¡± Prince Han, letting Sang¡¯er remove his cloak and cap, ¡°We need to get an early start tomorrow. I¡¯ll go downstairs and have a drink. You stay here and get ready for bed,¡± Oh. Jiayi sat at the vanity and began removing the decorations from her hair. She laid them gently on the table. It wouldn¡¯t do if she damaged them before she could return them to Xiang pin. Her mistress never called anything she gave Jiayi a loan, but it was ridiculous to think that Jiayi could do anything with such luxury. Quiet tinkling made her realize that the silver and gold lotus buyao Prince Han had chosen for her was still in her hair. She stared at herself in the mirror and stroked the warm metal. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his breath brushing against her face¡­ ¡°Jiayi, I''ve brought some water for you to wash up,¡± She pulled out the buyao and dropped it on vanity before opening the door. She hoped she didn''t look like she had imagined being breathed on by Prince Han. How ridiculous! Sang¡¯er placed the basin of water on the nightstand. Instead of returning to Prince Han¡¯s side, he stood in the middle of the room. ¡°Just waiting for you to hold out your arms,¡± Sang¡¯er rolled his eyes, ¡°How else am I supposed to help you get ready for bed if I can¡¯t take off your clothes? Hold out your arms,¡± ¡°But Prince Han said to¨C¡° The cheeky grin fell off Sang¡¯er¡¯s face. Sang¡¯er nodded and stepped out. gonggong¡¯s clutches. Sang''er was lovely, but the thought of being touched by him in such a way made her want to scream. A fool. She was a fool. She changed into her sleeping clothes and washed her face. She tidied the vanity and put away her jewelry. When it came to the lotus buyao, she stuffed it in the bottom of the chest Xiang pin sent her. She didn¡¯t want to see it anymore, lest she conjure up silly dreams again. The two of them were only separated by a few feet and a flimsy privacy screen, but to Jiayi, it felt like he was sunk into the pit of a valley and on a mountain Jiayi would never reach. The gentle roaring of the rain outside dragged Jiayi from her sleep. It was disorienting, as Jiayi didn¡¯t remember falling asleep at all. It was comforting to know that her little episode with Sang¡¯er hadn¡¯t robbed her of the easy sleep she had grown into these last few months. She rolled to her side and shut her eyes for a few moments longer, knowing she¡¯d be curled up in a carriage for who knows how long. She stiffened as a figure slipped past the privacy screen. She watched as Sang¡¯er crept around her and refilled a brazier that Jiayi didn¡¯t remember dragging over before she went to sleep. He jumped, turning around to face her. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Jiayi drew the covers tight around her neck, ¡°Is it time to leave?¡± Jiayi nodded, not planning to listen to him at all, but found herself waking up a second time. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and peeked around the privacy screen into the empty room. She quickly dressed and tidied up the room, packing away her things so she would be ready to go the moment Prince Han said. A tray of still-warm food was on the table, so she ate and opened the window, not minding the whipping winds and rain. Her meal was long finished when Prince Han, Sang¡¯er, and Chang daren returned, all soaked to the bone. Prince Han looked exhausted. Sang¡¯er removed Prince Han¡¯s sopping cape and sighed. A pit opened up in Jiayi¡¯s stomach. -------- *Jiayi is wearing a two piece Han Chinese outfit consisting of a jacket (ru) and a skirt (qun). Unlike Han Chinese men, Han Chinese women weren¡¯t forced to adopt Manchu clothing or hair styles. Han Chinese citizens outnumbered Manchu citizens during the Qing dynasty, so outside of the palace, the Han Chinese style of clothing would be more common. Chapter 37 The Empress was a right bitch, wasn¡¯t she? Shen huang gui fei glared at the eunuch as she backed away and practically ran away. Had she not wanted to give The Empress the satisfaction she would¡¯ve had him beaten to death right then and there! ¡°Worthless dog,¡± muttered A¡¯Fang, ¡°How could The Empress be so cruel? You¡¯re raising 10th and 11th Prince; you should get double the rewards! It¡¯s not like Guang pin can use any of it,¡± Jingse glared at her and A¡¯Fang snapped her mouth shut. Shen huang gui fei remembered the rewards she received after Huabao was born. There were so many stacks of silks, jewelry, pottery, and money that none of her servants could walk until they were all put away. Now, she had not one but two sons, and The Empress was determined to snatch all the joy from it. A maid arrived with the account book for the back palace. Shen huang gui fei yawned loudly, ¡°Send it back to Her Highness. I¡¯m just too tired from looking after my princes,¡± She huang gui fei smiled as the maid retreated. At least she finally relieved herself of all the low-class tasks The Empress liked to pawn off on her. Jingse leaned close and whispered, ¡°Prince Han never arrived at his villa,¡± The bit of mirth disappeared into dust. Jingse shooed the other servants out of the room. ¡°What do you mean he never arrived?¡± Shen huang gui fei asked. ¡°The boy sent word that his carriage never arrived. Should we send someone up there?¡± Shen huang gui fei shook her head. There was no point in that. There was nothing worse than missing the perfect opportunity. And Prince Han being away from The Empress¡¯s teat was the perfect opportunity. Shen huang gui fei had planted a boy in the villa and promised him a low-paying job in the ministry if he succeeded in getting rid of Prince Han. Shen huang gui fei didn¡¯t really care how he planned to do it; it just needed to be done. Now, it had all just been a waste. ¡°What should we do with the boy then?¡± Asked Jingse. 11th Prince began to cry. She huang gui fei picked him up and rocked from side to side. With a shrug, she said, ¡°Get rid of him,¡± ? An pin was so angry that she could spit venom. Two sons. Shen huang gui fei had snatched up two sons in one go. How could that black-hearted bitch be rewarded in such a way while her son wasn¡¯t even allowed to take his first breath? It was disgusting. It was unfair! An pin wanted to wash her mouth out with soap after spending all morning at Zhongcuigong. All that fawning and twittering about Shen huang gui fei''s good luck¨Cpah! What luck? Shen huang gui fei had probably killed Fan gui ren herself! ¡°Shen huang gui fei will ruin 10th and 11th prince, anyways,¡± said Weiwei, ¡°She¡¯s never kept a prince alive. Why would they be any different?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sick of talking about her,¡± replied An pin. She lowered her voice, ¡°Have you kept tabs on Cao taiyi?¡± Weiwei nodded, her eyes bright, ¡°Wang chang zai called for him the day after the banquet, saying something about feeling sick about how worried she was about The Empress Dowager. He¡¯s gone back every day since alone, with no assistants or eunuchs,¡± An pin rolled her eyes, ¡°An old woman needing the doctor often. Who cares about that?¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve seen Wang chang zai¡¯s medical records. There¡¯s only one visit from Cao taiyi recorded this year, and the eunuchs at the Imperial Hospital say that he spends his time in the hothouse when he¡¯s not working. I asked the maids at the hothouse. Cao taiyi only checks up on the medicinal herbs once a week,¡± No. Wang chang zai wouldn¡¯t¡­ ¡°Around what time does Cao taiyi leave the Imperial Hospital to go to the hothouse?¡± She asked. ¡°Early afternoon,¡± replied Weiwei, ¡°And then he returns to the Imperial Hospital early evening," An pin glanced up at the sun. Wang chang zai¡¯s palace was quite a walk from Zhongcuigong. Calling it a palace was a stretch, though. The Emperor stuck Wang chang zai in one of the North Five Halls, where the female officials lived. The story is that he claimed that once the excitement from his coronation died down, he''d put her in a proper palace. The day had never come. With the female officials out doing work all day, Wang chang zai was all alone. Well, maybe not so lonely anymore. If she walked quickly, she could drop in on Wang chang zai and any¡­guests of hers. An pin sent her servants away and continued the journey with just Weiwei. The trip was long and seemed to be never ending. The roads became more and more deserted and less pristine the farther she went. The courtyards for most of the halls were empty. The only reason An pin could tell which hall was Wang chang zai''s was from the silver New Year''s decorations that were peeling away from the doors and windows. The Imperial Household department would never grant such things to a female official. Wang chang zai¡¯s maid was sweeping the courtyard quietly when they arrived. She paled and rushed to meet them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness, my mistress is feeling very ill and can¡¯t see you,¡± An pin smiled, ¡°Really? I¡¯ll check on her,¡± She tried to walk pass but, the maid stuck herself in An pin¡¯s path again and bowed her head, ¡°The sickness is very contagious. I can¡¯t let you go inside in case you harm your health, Your Highness,¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Weiwei darted from An pin''s side and wrestled the maid to the ground, stuffing a rag in her mouth to shut her up. An pin continued to Wang chang zai¡¯s door and gave it a little push. It opened with a slight creak. Incredible. Not only was Wang chang zai brazen, but she was stupid, too! The front room was empty, curtains drawn and candles burning. A place like this didn¡¯t get much light in the first place. A modest meal was on the table, with two place settings; half eaten. Wang chang zai¡¯s bedroom was only a few feet away behind a set of doors, also unlocked. An pin pushed the door open and wrinkled her nose at the smell of sex, wine, and incense. The gauzy lace curtains were drawn, but the lantern light made the figures of two people lounging on the bed unmistakable. ¡°Xiaofan, didn¡¯t I tell you not to bother us?¡± Wang chang zai called. Silently, An pin stepped closer to the bed. She wrenched the curtains apart. Wang chang zai and Cao taiyi gaped up at her in horror, completely nude. They scrambled to cover themselves with the sheets. ¡°What?¡± Said An pin after the two cowered under the covers, ¡°Nothing to say for yourselves?¡± Neither of them dared to open their mouths. An pin smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside,¡± she said before letting the curtains drop closed. She settled herself at the table and called for Weiwei. Xiaofan ran inside and into the bedroom. There was the sound of a slap before she slunk back out. Wang chang zai had a lot of nerve to be so heavy-handed with her maids. As if she were any better than them, giving it up to the first man who looked at her. ¡°Is there any tea in this place?¡± Asked Weiwei. The red-face Xiaofan nodded. By the time Wang chang zai and Cao taiyi had made themselves presentable, there was a cup of subpar tea cooling by An pin¡¯s side. The two love birds kneeled in front of her. An pin looked around and spotted an iron poker propped up against Wang chang zai''s singular brazier. ¡°Bring me the poker,¡± she ordered Weiwei. Cao taiyi looked up at her in shock. Wang chang zai didn¡¯t have the courage to lift her head. An pin stood up and held the hefty iron rod in her hand. ¡°You¡¯ve dirtied my eyes with the things you showed me today, Wang chang zai. For what you¡¯ve done, you deserve death. However, I¡¯m a merciful mistress. I¡¯ll only teach you a lesson,¡± An pin cracked the rod against Wang chang zai¡¯s back. The older woman let out a shriek of pain. The sound of it gave An pin a thrill. It made her blood pump to know that no matter how much she suffered, there always someone else to grind under her shoe. She doled out one hit after the other, relishing in the sound of Wang chang zai¡¯s screams that grew sharper and more shrill with each strike. ¡°What¡¯s going on in there?¡± An pin whirled around to see a female official poking her head inside the door. ¡°Your Highness, An pin,¡± the female official greeted her at the sight of her, ¡°I apologize. I didn¡¯t realize it was you in here,¡± ¡°Rise,¡± An pin said with a sweet smile, ¡°Wang chang zai offended me the other day, and I brought along Cao taiyi to tend to her after her punishment. If the noise is too much, I¡¯ll stop now,¡± The female official shook her head, ¡°Your Highness is too kind to stop on my behalf. Please continue. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re not disturbed. I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± She backed out and shut the door behind her. An pin turned back to Wang chang zai, who had slid face down on the ground, blood pouring from her mouth and nose. An pin lifted the iron poker to continue playing but Cao taiyi threw himself over Wang chang zai. ¡°Your Highness, please! Please stop! She can¡¯t take anymore!¡± An pin sighed and let Weiwei take the poker away. She sat down and let the maid massage her aching hand and shoulder, ¡°Wow, simple gratitude is really out of fashion these days. I kept your nasty little secret from that official who would¡¯ve reported you at once, and I don''t hear a single word of thanks,¡± Cao taiyi held Wang chang zai in his arms and bent until his head touched the ground, ¡°This slave is grateful for Your Highness¡¯ mercy,¡± ¡°What? Is Wang meimei not grateful?¡± Asked An pin. She pulled her hand back and flicked it at Wang chang zai¡¯s limp body, ¡°Weiwei, Xiaofan, go help her,¡± ¡°Your Highness¨C¡° An pin went on speaking as if she didn¡¯t hear Cao taiyi at all, ¡°Quickly now. Any longer, and I¡¯ll stop feeling so generous,¡± Cao taiyi let Weiwei shove him to the side so she could pull one side of Wang chang zai upright. ¡°Hurry up!¡± She snapped at Xiaofan. Xiaofan did as she was told and helped lift her mistress upright before Weiwei gripped her hair and bashed Wang chang zai''s forehead to the ground. An pin nodded, ¡°Take care of her, Cao taiyi. I have big plans for Wang meimei,¡± She stepped over Wang chang zai. As Weiwei opened the door, An pin looked over her shoulder and locked eyes with Cao taiyi. ¡°And don¡¯t go anywhere, Cao taiyi. I caught you once. Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t catch you again,¡± ? Xiang pin made her way around her table for what felt like the hundredth time. There were four plates of teacakes, stacked just so, ready to make the trek to Cininggong. It was obvious that The Empress Dowager had something up her sleeve to finally invite Xiang pin to her palace. The Empress Dowager had only given her two days'' notice about the tea party and her task to bring something along. The Empress Dowager would find more joy in kissing Dowager Noble Consort Ling¡¯s bare feet than being in the room with Xiang pin, so she knew that she was walking into some kind of trap. Something was bound to go wrong and be her fault. So Xiang pin supervised every step that went into the teacakes. Each grain of flour and sugar was hand picked and each cake was assembled and cooked by her own hands. The molds were boiled to be rid of any residue and they set with her watching over them like a hawk. No one besides herself and De gui fei was allowed to handle them. No one would be able to accuse her of tainted food, but she couldn''t predict what they would accuse her. As she rearranged the plates for the umpteenth time, Xiang pin wished that Jiayi was again by her side. She knew in her heart that Jiayi was safe with Prince Han, but she was smart and sensible She saw things that others couldn''t. Molan, Pie¡¯er, and Ping¡¯er were lovely girls, but they were just that- girls. Lucky little things that life hadn¡¯t beaten into shrewdness. Xiang pin had played her role of green country bumpkin well enough that everyone assumed that Jiayi was the only thing keeping her head away from the chopping block. Now that she was gone, they were swarming around her like vultures. She sighed, ¡°These silver plates look like I¡¯m trying too hard. Bring the painted porcelain bowls, the ones on feet,¡± ¡°Cakes!¡± Yiqiang darted into the room, a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. ¡°Stop right there,¡± said Xiang pin, ¡°These are for your Royal Grandmother. And you¡¯ve just woken up! You can¡¯t have cakes for breakfast, you silly thing,¡± Ah, at least Yiqiang was here to ease her troubles. Raising a child, even a Royal one, was easy. His world was filled with the harsh reality of princedom from morning to night. When he came back to her, all it took was a kiss, a cuddle, and a soft word to calm him. ¡°She won¡¯t be able to eat them all,¡± replied Yiqiang as he sat down in front of his breakfast. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s an honor for Her Highness to even gaze upon them,¡± said Xiang pin, coming to his side and adding more food to his plate. ¡°What about the honor of feeding and Imperial heir?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± said Xiang pin, plopping the red bean-filled cake on his plate, ¡°Just this,¡± Yiqiang pouted up at her, ¡°What if I get hungry later?¡± ¡°Aiya! You¡¯ve turned into a taotie!*¡± Despite her grumbling, Xiang pin wrapped up a few more cakes for Yiqiang to take to his lessons. With Prince Han off taking care of Jiayi, Yiqiang was in the Imperial Study with the other princes. The cake stacks were now uneven, and Xiang pin would have to rearrange them again. Hopefully this would be the last of the troubles the cakes gave her. Yiqiang finished his breakfast and with a kiss on his forehead, left for his studies, Bolin trailing behind him. Xiang pin looked back at the cakes on the table. She sighed. ¡°I changed my mind. The Empress Dowager will definitely think those plates are tacky. Bring the porcelain plates with the purple flowers,¡± ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *A demonic beast in Chinese mythology, famous for its never-ending appetite. Chapter 38 The Empress Dowager smiled as Jerjer unearthed a jewelry box reserved for special occasions. The red lacquered box was nearly 100 years old, passed down from her mother¡¯s mother to her. There were no gold, pearl, or jade inlays, auspicious paintings, or intricate carvings- just a plain red box in the shape of a plum blossom. She had only just brushed her fingers against the latch when Jerjer spoke. ¡°Your Highness, are you sure? It¡¯s been some time since you¡¯ve done this. What if¨C¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t get stronger over time, Jerjer,¡± The Empress Dowager replied, opening the lid. The Empress Dowager swept the jewelry to one side, feeling around the button camouflaged by the dark cotton lining. With a push, a drawer on the side of the box popped open. A dark green glass bottle was nestled inside, carved like a leaping fish, no bigger than her hand. The Empress Dowager picked it up and removed the stopped to smell the liquid sloshing around. It smelled no different than the first time she used it decades ago. ¡°Bring the tea,¡± Jerjer placed a cup of the sweetest tea that The Empress Dowager had stocked in her little kitchen. She poured two drops from the little bottle, watching the light orange tea swirl into a deep, blood-red. The Empress Dowager gulped it down in one go before putting the bottle back in its hiding place. ¡°This late in the evening, my Royal daughter-in-law should still be awake. I think I¡¯ll visit her,¡± Jerjer nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll bring the seated chair, Your Highness,¡± Riding through the streets of The Forbidden City, The Empress Dowager couldn¡¯t keep the smile off her face. In just a few days¨Ca few hours even¨Cshe would be rid of that whore, Xiang pin. It was frustrating that it had taken this long in the first place. Jiang pin couldn''t do it, Jiao gui ren couldn''t do it, even Shen huang gui fei managed to be bested by her! Now, The Empress Dowager had to do the dirty work as if she wasn''t the mistress of Cininggong. Was it shameful? Yes. However, it needed to be done. Xiang pin was a far too persuasive pawn of The Empress to be allowed to stay by His Majesty''s side. To think that Xiang pin had crawled into The Emperor¡¯s bed and convinced him to bring those horrid women back to The Forbidden City and bragged to her face about it. Just thinking about the havoc she would wreak if she ever became pregnant sent shivers down The Empress Dowager¡¯s back. It was time to put an end to this once and for all. ? ¡°Have mercy on me, Your Majesty, have mercy on me!¡± Shen huang gui fei stepped back as the Emperor''s guards herded a stream of hysterical servants out of Cininggong. Were the Empress Dowager''s servants being punished again? What for? When The Emperor called her over, she didn¡¯t expect anything like this. Jerjer gugu came to greet her, worry written on her face, ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re finally here,¡± ¡°Gugu, what¡¯s happened?¡± Shen huang gui fei asked. ¡°It¡¯s terrible. The Empress was poisoned!¡± Shen huang gui fei slapped a hand to her mouth. Poisoned? Who would have the gall? A¡¯Fang did a poor job covering her gasp, ¡°Is Her Highness alright?¡± Jerjer gugu only shook her head, ¡°Please come inside. His Majesty and Her Highness The Empress are waiting for you,¡± Poisoned. The thought rattled around her head as she followed Jerjer gugu inside. Based on Jerjer gugu¡¯s face, the situation was dire. His Majesty was probably distraught but wouldn''t be able to show it. It wouldn''t do if Shen huang gui fei didn''t look upset. She pinched her arm and bit her tongue. By the time she knelt in front of His Majesty and The Empress, tears were slipping down her cheeks. When she looked up, His Majesty¡¯s face was grim, and his eyes red. Zhang Wei came to her side and helped her to a chair. Shen huang gui fei dabbed her eyes and glanced at The Empress¡¯s stoic face. What a useless thing she was. His Majesty¡¯s heart was breaking, and she wouldn¡¯t shed a tear in his stead? Or shed a tear at all for her mother-in-law? ¡°Your Highness,¡± Shen huang gui fei said, making sure her voice was weak with sorrow, ¡°What¡¯s happened? What''s happened to The Empress Dowager?¡± The Empress let out a breath, ¡°Royal Mother came to visit me for a chat. She felt dizzy and looked pale but told me not to worry and said she was exhausted from hosting us all day. She returned to Cininggong and collapsed. Hwang taiyi examined her and confirmed that she was showing signs of poisoning," Poisoned after chatting with The Empress? ¡°Perhaps The Empress Dowager ate or drank something at Yikungong that didn¡¯t agree with her,¡± said Shen huang gui fei, ¡°We can''t jump to conclusions,¡± ¡°The Empress Dowager did not eat or drink at Yikungong, Your Highness,¡± replied Shiyi gugu. ¡°What did she eat today?¡± The Emperor asked Jerjer gugu. ¡°Replying to Your Majesty, Her Highness didn¡¯t take breakfast as she wanted to appreciate the snacks that were brought for the tea party and skipped lunch from indulging there,¡± replied Jerjer gugu. Shen huang gui fei thought back to earlier that day. Xiang pin had the gall to be the last to show up with those low-class pastries. Yet, The Empress Dowager ate one after the other as they watched several dull musical performances of The Empress Dowager¡¯s choice. Could it be? ¡°Jerjer gugu, did Her Highness perhaps just eat too many snacks today?¡± She asked. Jerjer gugu shook her head, ¡°Her Highness had Xiang pin¡¯s pastries and nothing else,¡± The Emperor¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Call Xiang pin here,¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Shen huang gui fei hid her face in her handkerchief, blotting tears of joy. Wasn¡¯t this just too perfect? It had only taken Xiang pin''s maid being gone for a moment for her to make the stupidest mistake! The only thing that could make this better was if The Empress Dowager didn¡¯t pull through. Shen huang gui fei wasn''t an ungrateful woman, but these days she was strong enough to stand on her own two feet without The Empress Dowager at her back. The Empress Dowager deserved her respect, but Shen huang gui fei needed to think of her future instead of the future of the Borjigit clan. Plus, Shen huang gui fei already had a few plans to bring Dowager Noble Consort Ling over to her side. Hwang taiyi emerged from The Empress Dowager''s bedroom, announcing that she was stable for now. ¡°We¡¯ve removed as much poison as we could. Now, we must wait,¡± The Emperor¡¯s face turned grim at the news. ¡°Xiang pin is here, Your Majesty,¡± a eunuch announced. As much as Shen huang gui fei didn¡¯t like her, she could admit that if Xiang pin knew nothing else, she knew how to seduce a man. Xiang pin¡¯s hair was tied in a loose braid, free of makeup or decoration. The fur-lined cape she wore was a gift from His Majesty, and when she kneeled to greet them, they could see she was only wearing her sleeping clothes. Shen huang gui fei saw The Emperor shift just at the sight of it. ¡°Xiang pin,¡± said Wang gugu from her place at The Emperor¡¯s side, ¡°Did you personally make the pastries you brought to The Empress Dowager''s tea party?¡± ¡°Yes, gugu," ¡°You truly made them on your own? None of your servants had a hand in them?¡± The Emperor asked. Xiang pin shook her head, ¡°Your Majesty, I don''t understand. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I think this all might be a mistake,¡± said Shen huang gui fei, ¡°Xiang meimei couldn¡¯t have poisoned Her Highness. We should investigate first before accusing her. Surely the real criminal could''ve left something behind?¡± Searching Xiang pin''s rooms would likely unearth the poison she was too foolish to hide. Even if there wasn''t, Shen huang gui fei was sure she could twist someone''s arm to say there was. ¡°Poison?" said Xiang pin "The pastries poisoned The Empress Dowager?¡± She turned to her eunuch, ¡°How could that be? I just put Yiqiang to bed. He was fine, wasn''t he? Not even a bit warm?" "Yes, Your Highness," her eunuch replied. ¡°Yiqiang ate these?¡± Asked The Emperor. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Jerjer gugu frowned, ¡°Hwang taiyi, could not eating enough weaken the poison? Could that be why 6th Prince wasn''t affected?¡± Hwang taiyi furrowed his brows, ¡°It¡¯s possible. 6th Prince is also young and fit,¡± Well then, it looked like Xiang pin had no way out now. Xiang pin suddenly gasped and covered her mouth, ¡°Oh no! Dowager Noble Consort Ling! And the other dowagers! Hwang taiyi, you need to go to Shoukanggong right now!¡± ¡°Hwang taiyi is serving Her Highness!¡± Jerjer gugu protested. ¡°But I gave Dowager Noble Consort Ling an entire tray of pastries! She said she would share them with the other dowagers!¡± The Empress straightened in her seat, ¡°When?¡± Xiang pin wrung her hands, ¡°This morning before the tea party. I ran into Dowager Noble Consort Ling on the way over. I didn¡¯t know this would happen!¡± The Empress turned her servants, ¡°Go to Shoukanggong right now and ask after Dowager Noble Consort Ling¡¯s health,¡± As the servant rushed out, Zhang Wei said, ¡°Your Majesty, Your Highness, if Dowager Noble Consort Ling and the other dowagers had eaten the pastries so many hours ago, wouldn¡¯t they have called for the physicians by this time at night?¡± Shen huang gui fei turned her head so she wouldn¡¯t shoot daggers at the mouthy eunuch. Dowager Noble Consort Ling and The Empress Dowager were only a few years apart. If Dowager Noble Consort Ling showed up healthy and hale, then Xiang pin would wiggle away from this after all. Shoukanggong and Cininggong weren¡¯t very far apart, so it wasn¡¯t very long until Dowager Noble Consort Ling was shuffling through the door with the other dowagers stepping in behind her. They chorused their greeting, and The Emperor invited Dowager Noble Consort Ling to take a seat. ¡°Your Majesty, you look poorly,¡± said Dowager Noble Consort Ling, ¡°Is everything alright?¡± The Emperor sighed, ¡°Royal mother has been poisoned, and the only thing she ate today were Xiang pin¡¯s pastries. Are you alright?¡± ¡°I feel quite fine, Your Majesty. Meimei,¡± she said, turning to the other dowagers, ¡°Do any of you feel ill?¡± ¡°No, Your Highness,¡± they replied. The Emperor closed his eyes and shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s good then,¡± he said before rising from his seat, ¡°I apologize for interrupting your night. Don¡¯t let this keep you here any longer,¡± The dowagers took their leave. Dowager Noble Consort Ling stayed behind, excusing herself to visit The Empress Dowager. Shen huang gui fei¡¯s heart clenched in anger as she watched The Emperor pull Xiang pin to her feet. ¡°Zhang Wei,¡± he said, ¡°If there¡¯s no confession from Royal Mother''s servants, execute them all,¡± Xiang pin left on The Emperor¡¯s arm, a smug look on her face. Shen huang gui fei returned to her palace, disappointed and alone. The children were there, asleep in the cradles, and it gave her some comfort. That and the thought of The Empress Dowager passing away in the night. A girl could dream. ? The Empress Dowager woke from her fitful sleep, her clothes soaked with sweat, yet she felt nothing but chilled. Her head ached, and her eyes were swollen from crying. Her mouth was numb, and her throat was raw from vomiting. She didn''t know what happened. The drops had never affected her like this before. The pain was worth it, though. The sicker she was, the more damned Xiang pin was. With shaking arms, she pulled herself upright. ¡°Water,¡± She whimpered. Jerjer pressed a cup into her hands. ¡°After all this time, you¡¯re still doing the same old things, meimei,¡± The Empress Dowager froze, the cup pressed to her lips. She turned her head. There was no Jerjer at her bedside. Dowager Noble Consort Ling. Was this a night terror? A hallucination brought on by the drops? ¡°You¡­you¨C¡± she stammered. ¡°Me?¡± Dowager Noble Consort Ling replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything. You¡¯re the one that still has that old bottle in your little jewelry box,¡± The Empress Dowager swallowed, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Dowager Noble Consort Ling tilted her head. ¡°Of course you don''t, meimei. You''ve been here in bed, sick. When His Majesty called me over and told me that Xiang pin had poisoned you, I was terrified. I couldn¡¯t believe someone had poisoned you again. I thought you had left that in the past. Isn¡¯t this the ninth or tenth time? What luck!¡± The Empress Dowager¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Ah, but I guess you and Xiang pin are two of a kind! She¡¯s just as unlucky as you. The real culprit almost got away with such a crime! But don''t worry. Jiejie was there to set the records straight. I told His Majesty everyone in my palace ate Xiang pin''s pastries and felt fine,¡± "You''ve ruined it," The Empress Dowager hissed, "You bitch!" She tossed her cup with all her might. It landed on her bed with a thump. The Empress had probably taken years off her life with this little act and Dowager Noble Consort Ling waltzed in anr ruined it. The Empress Dowager didn''t know why she was shocked. Didn''t Dowager Noble Consort Ling bring a cloud of misery wherever she went? "Ruined? Careful now, meimei. You sound like you''re confessing to something," "Don''t call me that! I am The Empress Dowager! The Empress Dowager!" she screamed thrashing in bed, "I''ll never be your little sister. Call me that again and I''ll slit your throat," "Promises, promises, my dear, oh! I apologize. Your Highness. If your make it through the night, I''ll bring the knife for you," replied Dowager Noble Consort Ling with a smile. "How dare you laugh at me¨C" "You know that I''m not the only one laughing right? My entire palace is marvelling at how typical you are," Like a flash, the geniality left Dowager Noble Consort Ling''s face. Her eyes burned as she leaned in to glare at The Empress Dowager, "Hear this, Your Highness. What little grace I had for you in the old days has expired. I won''t waste my energy bothering with you, but understand that the moment one of these girls is ready to finish you off, I won''t be far behind," Dowager Noble Consort Ling stood and loomed over the side of the bed. The Empress Dowager''s heart raced as the burning red lamplight illuminated her devilish gaze. Dowager Noble Consort Ling called for her maid slunk away. Jerjer came to her side. "Your Highness, are you alright? You''re so pale!" The Empress Dowager leaned over the side of her bed and retched. Chapter 39 Xiang pin wished De gui fei wasn¡¯t such a perfect concubine. Now that Shen huang gui fei had 10th and 11th Prince to raise, she washed her hands off all her duties as an Imperial Noble Concubine, claiming that looking after the two babies left little time for anything else. With De gui fei being the highest rank after Shen huang gui fei, she was left to pick up the slack. On one hand, De gui fei filling the shoes of the Imperial Noble Concubine, even for a little while, would get His Majesty to notice how much De gui fei deserved the title and how much Shen huang gui fei didn¡¯t. On the other hand, De gui fei being by The Empress¡¯ side stopped her from being by Xiang pin¡¯s side and scaring away His Majesty¡¯s more ambitious first and second-class attendants. Not that there was anything wrong with them, they were just¡­so young. It made Xiang pin feel like a walking pile of dust. Earlier, Xiang pin had sent Ping¡¯er out to get some good fabric so she could sew some nice spring jackets for Yiqiang. Someone, somewhere, heard about this, and the girls nearly tore the hinges off the door with their baskets of embroidery and other little projects. De gui fei¡¯s stern attitude tended to keep the girls away, but with her gone these days, it was a free-for-all. It wasn¡¯t so terrible. After all her time here, most of His Majesty¡¯s women either ignored her or hated the sight of her. It was nice to have an easy conversation with other concubines, even if she was old enough to be some of their mothers. ¡°Eh, jiejie,¡± a squat first-class attendant whispered, ¡°Did you hear? A maid finally confessed to poisoning The Empress Dowager!¡± ¡°How could a maid be so bold?¡± Her overly-rouged companion asked. ¡°Apparently, the maid¡¯s sister was expelled after 5th Princess¡¯ death, and the maid had been vengeful ever since,¡± The mention of a sister had one girl pipe up about her family, and the incident was quickly forgotten. Just according to The Empress Dowager¡¯s plan. No one would ever know that she damn near put 1 foot in the coffin to try and fail to get rid of a concubine she wasn¡¯t too fond of. It had been a touch disappointing that The Empress Dowager didn¡¯t succumb to her own idiocy, but Xiang pin supposed that¡¯s why she was The Empress Dowager. She was just that blessed. Xiang pin had just resigned herself to being swallowed up by the girlish laughter before her when a eunuch announced himself. ¡°Your Highness, Dowager Noble Consort Ling would personally like to thank you for your pastries,¡± Xiang pin felt her heart stop for a moment, just a moment. In all the mess and machinations, she had forgotten that she had turned Dowager Noble Consort Ling into a very convenient shield without her knowledge. ¡°Her Highness honors me,¡± Xiang pin said, putting her sewing to the side. She turned to her young guests, ¡°Eat all the snacks, you like meimei and feel free to leave if you become too bored,¡± The walk over to Shoukanggong did horrible things to Xiang pin¡¯s head. She went from twisting herself in knots, thinking Dowager Noble Consort Ling was going to flay her alive for involving her, to convincing herself that Dowager Noble Consort Ling really just wanted to simply thank her. By the time she was led through Shoukanggong¡¯s gates, her heart was near rabbiting out of her chest. Dowager Noble Consort Ling¡¯s placid face made it all the worse. ¡°This concubine wishes Her Highness Dowager Noble Consort Ling peace,¡± said Xiang pin her voice clear, steady and hopefully, a little dopey. ¡°Rise,¡± said Dowager Noble Consort Ling, ¡°Sit, sit,¡± Xiang pin stood and gratefully let Molan untie the heavy cape on her shoulders. It felt like Dowager Noble Consort Ling had turned this warming room into one big brazier. Probably thanks to all the silver, gold, and porcelain braziers scattered around the room. Even with all that, Dowager Noble Consort Ling¡¯s legs were covered by fur pelt, and she was wearing a white fur jacket buttoned up so not even a sliver of her neck was exposed. Dowager Noble Consort Ling propped her head on her hand and smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve got some talent,¡± Xiang pin bowed her head, covering up a too-big grin with her hand, ¡°Her Highness is too kind! The recipe isn¡¯t hard to make at all! It¡¯s a very fun one, too! I wish I could¡¯ve used some molds with more fun shapes, but the Imperial Kitchen looked at me like I was a madwoman when I asked for some! All they had were flowers¨C¡± ¡°Be quiet,¡± A simpler woman might¡¯ve missed the threat in Dowager Noble Consort Ling¡¯s comment. But Xiang pin wasn¡¯t a simple woman. She recognized the sharp blade buried in the cotton of Dowager Noble Consort Ling''s words. So, she did as she was told and shut up. ¡°Betting is such a nasty thing but I would wager a good sum of money that you¡¯re the reason His Majesty dragged me back to the Forbidden City,¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± Xiang pin replied, desperate to regain her footing in the conversation, ¡°How could that be? I didn¡¯t have the privilege of knowing of you until you were set to arrive. You must know that that sort of thing would never be left to someone like me!¡± Dowager Noble Consort Ling leaned back as a long-haired black cat jumped into her lap. ¡°Hmm. You¡¯re just a pretty little thing with nothing rattling about in that big head of yours, aren¡¯t you?¡± she said, ¡°Your running into me was just plum good luck and nothing more,¡± Xiang pin was flustered. Was it even worth keeping up the act? ¡°I was having a perfectly fine time at the summer palace,¡± Dowager Noble Consort Ling continued, ¡°But if my presence is such a thorn in The Empress Dowager¡¯s side, then I suppose I¡¯ll suffer here. But please my dear, remember this. Your luck with me has run out. At my old age, I feel no need to be your backer or accomplice. Your battles will be yours alone,¡± ¡°But, you¨CYour Highness, don¡¯t you hate The Empress Dowager?¡± Xiang pin asked, letting the burning question free. ¡°Hate her? Hah! Nothing would make me happier if that old broad dropped dead tonight. But you don''t get to my age by sticking your neck out for every person who walks the same road as you,¡± The little cat in her lap let out a warbly yowl as Dowager Noble Consort Ling scratched underneath its chin, ¡°Who are you to me, huh? Based on your fun with me, I know you¡¯re not remedial, but what else? I¡¯m no sage. I can¡¯t tell what lurks in your heart with just a look. For all I know, this all ends with you slitting His Majesty¡¯s throat,¡± Xiang pin surged out of her chair to deny the accusation, ¡°I would never!¡± She spat. At Dowager Noble Consort Ling¡¯s wide eyes, Xiang pin reined herself in and sat down, ¡°Your Highness. His Majesty and I love each other very much. He would never do anything to hurt me, and I would never hurt him,¡± The look in Dowager Noble Consort Ling''s eyes transformed into something familiar but confusing. Pity. The old woman took a deep breath, the expensive fur and precious beads around her neck seeming to weigh on her like an anchor. ¡°Lucky you,¡± said Dowager Noble Consort Ling, "I¡¯ve tuckered myself out talking like this. See yourself out,¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ? For a man who had been to battles and back, it took Prince Han an embarrassingly long time to realize something was wrong. The thrill of being alone with Jiayi this way, the idea that whatever was between them could grow into something more, had pressed a palm over his eyes. However, as more days passed, the hand loosened and fell away, allowing him to finally see the truth. Jiayi was terrified of him. With his eyes wide open, he could see the fragile blossoms of affection that had once danced between him and Jiayi wither away to nothingness. Their hands no longer brushed and their gazes rarely met. Her smiles were small and brittle. A great maw of guilt churned in his stomach. As a prince, he had unwittingly ensnared Jiayi in a web of obligation and expectation. Though he had vowed to protect her, he had, in truth, confined her to a situation from which she could not easily escape. In Jiayi¡¯s eyes, was he any different than the men who took women as spoils of war? Did she lie awake at night in fear of him? Did she make sure their hands no longer touched so he couldn¡¯t claim she gave consent? Each thought was like a knife to the chest. Foolishly still, Prince Han held on to the thought he could fix whatever it was between them. It wasn¡¯t until he startled Jiayi so severely that she scalded herself and flinched away from his help that Prince Han realized it was all for naught. It was then Prince Han made up his mind. He would leave. Jiayi was smart and resourceful. Staying at the inn alone would be no trouble for her. Prince Han wanted to be a coward. He wanted to pack his things in the dead of night and find a way to his villa to lick his wounds in peace. But he couldn¡¯t. He wouldn¡¯t. Even if he tried, he knew he would return to Jiayi as the tide returned to the sea, begging her to soothe his selfish heart. On the day of his departure, Prince Han spent his morning in the streets, watching the city wake up with the sun. He could feel Chang Lingxiu and Sang¡¯er¡¯s worried stares as he tried his best to delay his goodbyes with Jiayi. When it became too cold for him to stomach, he slunk back to the inn. When his ever-present shadows tried to follow him back upstairs, he shook his head. He walked up the stairs and stood outside their¨C No. ¨CJiayi¡¯s door for what felt like an eternity before he built the courage to step inside. ? The painting had been dry for some time but Jiayi hadn¡¯t set it aside. She stared down at Prince Han¡¯s inky visage both amazed and ashamed at how well she could draw him. She knew that if she stopped, eventually, her hands would forget the curve of his cheek or the shadow of his nose, but Jiayi was selfish enough to refuse to let it happen. When the door creaked open, she assumed Sang¡¯er was dropping off a treat that he¡¯d bought while out with Prince Han. Instead, it was Prince Han himself. Flustered, Jiayi rushed to cover the painting before greeting him. ¡°Rise,¡± he said. It was the first time they had seen each other today. Despite it only being early afternoon, Prince Han looked exhausted and worn. ¡°You look tired, my lord. I¡¯ll brew some tea,¡± Jiayi stood and held out her hands for Prince Han¡¯s cape. He shook his head, ¡°I won¡¯t be staying long,¡± Prince Han dropped a hefty bag of silver on the table, ¡°Here. It should be enough for the rest of your stay,¡± ¡°You¡¯re very kind my lord,¡± said Jiayi as she picked it up, ¡°But I have enough money. Xiang pin sent some with me,¡± Jiayi made to give the money back but Prince Han stepped away, ¡°Keep it. You never know what might happen,¡± What did that mean? Jiayi clutched the coins to her chest¡ªthe silence stretched on, tense and uncomfortable. ¡°They¡¯ve repaired the bridge,¡± Prince Han said, ¡°I¡¯ve left some money with the owner and told him it¡¯s his responsibility to find a horse and carriage for you when the time comes. If anything seems amiss, send word to the villa. Chang Lingxiu will return as fast as possible,¡± The more Prince Han talked, the more Jiayi wished she couldn¡¯t hear. He was leaving. Prince Han was leaving her. Their time together flashed in front of her eyes. What had she done to offend Prince Han? Things had been okay just yesterday but now he was speaking to her like a stranger. Like she was nothing. Did he know? But how? She smiled smaller, stepped back farther, and refused to catch his eye. ¡°You¡¯re leaving,¡± Jiayi said in a voice so open and wanting that she wished she could sink beneath the floorboards. Prince Han nodded. ¡°When?¡± ¡°As soon as Sang¡¯er can finish packing,¡± At the news, Jiayi¡¯s stupid fingers grew limp, and the bag hit the ground with a clang, spilling silver pieces and copper coins about the floor. ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± she mumbles, dropping to sweep up the expensive debris. She snatched up the money as quickly as possible, hoping they could finish the conversation before she burst into tears. Jiayi was holding it together as best as she could but she only had so long before the dam burst. Prince Han, for some miserable, noble, beautiful reason, kneeled and tried to help. When their fingers brushed, Jiayi jerked her fingers back the lump in her throat swelling. She got ahold of herself and picked up the money, keeping her eyes glued to the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll help pack you things,¡± she said as she stood back up, ¡°Do¨C¡± Jiayi paused. Prince Han was still on the ground with his head bowed. The sight of it made her dizzy and unmoored. What was a person like her doing above him? ¡°Are you alright, my lord?¡± Prince Han lifted his head, a strange look in his eyes. He dragged the cap off his head and tossed his cape to the side. Then, he bowed. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± said Jiayi, panic welling in her chest, ¡°Me? Why are you doing this to yourself?¡± Jiayi gripped his shoulders and tried to wrench Prince Han upright, but he pushed her away. ¡°This is where I belong,¡± he said softly, ¡°For what I''ve done to you,¡± Did Jiayi look so pitiful after Prince Han told her she was leaving that she drove him to do something like this? Jiayi pasted a smile on her face, ¡°My lord, I was stupid¨C¡± ¡°Be quiet,¡± Prince Han ordered so fiercely that her lips snapped shut, ¡°You don¡¯t need to debase yourself to make me feel better for what I¡¯ve done to you,¡± Jiayi froze as Prince Han continued. ¡°My arrogance has ruined you. I thought¡­I was muddled. In my delusion, I¡¯ve caged you here like some beast. You¡¯re suffering here because of me so it¡¯s only right that I leave and free you from this,¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not¨Cyou haven¡¯t made me suffer,¡± Jiayi replied. ¡°You hate me,¡± Prince Han hissed, ¡°Anyone in your shoes would. I took advantage of our¡­of us and saw things that weren¡¯t there. Why would should I inflict myself on you any longer?¡± ¡°I know you can''t stand to be around me for any longer than you have to, but please accept my bow and my apologies. When we both return to the Forbidden City, you have my word you will be free of me,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that!¡± Jiayi protested, ¡°I don¡¯t hate you!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide it anymore,¡± Prince Han said, staring at the ground, ¡°You pull away from me, and you won¡¯t even look at me. When we get back, I won¡¯t say a word to anyone. We can pretend it never happened,¡± At that moment, Jiayi did hate Prince Han. She had planned to go through life content with their friendship as master and slave. She would live her life with the comfort that even if she wanted him, Prince Han was never hers to have. But now? Prince Han had set that plan aflame. Now Jiayi knew. She knew there was a chance. For something. For them. Wasn¡¯t this too unfair? Why would fate poison the touch of man in her eyes forever and then drop the perfect one in her lap? Why couldn¡¯t Prince Han be as horrible as The Emperor? Why did Prince Han have to make her feel like this? A wretched sniffle dragged her away from her thoughts. Jiayi slapped a hand to her face. She was crying like some sort of idiot. Jiayi tried to rein it in, but once she started, she devolved into horrible, chest-heaving, impossible sobs. Embarrassed, she buried her face in her hands. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you,¡± she whimpered out, ¡°I don¡¯t. I like you. I like you so much and it¡¯s not fair because I can¡¯t like you! Why couldn¡¯t you treat me like everyone else? Why did you have to look at me the way you do? Now everything¡¯s ruined!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you like me?¡± Prince Han asked. Jiayi shook her head. Hadn¡¯t she shamed herself enough? Gentle but firm hands gripped her wrists and pulled them away from her face. Prince Han stared up at her. ¡°Jiayi,¡± he said, ¡°Why can¡¯t you like me?¡± Goodness. There were so many reasons. ¡°I¡¯m broken. I¡¯m¨Cit¡¯s¡­I can¡¯t be with you the way a woman can be with a man. There was someone before, and¨Che¨CI¡¯m afraid now. Of everything,¡± Jiayi could barely finish the confession before dissolving into tears again. She tried to hide her face again, but Prince Han held tight. ¡°Of me?¡± Jiayi nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be. You¡¯ve been so good to me, but it¡¯s all mixed up in my head. I''m sorry,¡± Prince Han would let go now. He would realize that Jiayi wasn¡¯t worth the trouble. He would speak to her softly and politely and perhaps thank her for telling the truth. Then he would call Sang¡¯er, pack his things, and leave. Life would go on and Jiayi would have to go with it whether she liked it or not. Prince Han didn¡¯t let go. ¡°I can wait,¡± he said. ¡°What?¡± Jiayi blinked through her tears, trying to process Prince Han''s words. Did she hear him correctly? "I can wait," Prince Han repeated, his voice steady and sure. "I understand if you need time. If you need space. If you need to figure things out. But Jiayi, I won''t leave you alone in this. I won''t force you to feel anything you''re not ready for. But I''ll be here. Waiting. For as long as it takes." Jiayi stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to nod and start anew with him but couldn¡¯t help but voice her fears. ¡°What if I¡¯m never ready? What if you wait and wait and it¡¯s all for nothing?¡± ¡°You will never be nothing to me Jiayi. However long I choose to be by your side will never be a waste," The sincerity leaching through words made her head spin. Jiayi felt like she was going to burst into flames. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± she whispered. "You don''t have to say anything right now. Just know that I''ll be here, whenever you''re ready. And until then, I''ll do everything in my power to make things right, to earn your trust, and to show you that you''re not alone." With those words, Prince Han pressed the softest of kisses to her shaking hand. ¡°Will you hold me?¡± Jiayi shamelessly begged. Prince Han surged to his feet and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Always," Chapter 40 It was like nothing, and everything had changed at the same time. But now, their smiles were sweeter, and their hands closer. Jiayi and Prince Han laughed and talked and ignored how their time together was dwindling day by day. Jiayi was beside herself. Prince Han liked her. Prince Han, who had traveled far and wide and met all sorts of beauties, still chose her. And he said he would wait for her to be better. Perhaps Jiayi¡¯s name wasn¡¯t some sort of joke. Maybe she was allowed to be lucky. Maybe she was allowed to be happy. At least for a little while. Jiayi wasn¡¯t stupid. What she and Prince Han had wouldn¡¯t be forever. How could it? When His Majesty decided it was time, Prince Han would marry a nice g¨ºg¨º from a good clan and move into a Prince¡¯s manor in the capital. Jiayi couldn¡¯t possibly go with him. But the more she thought of it, the more she didn¡¯t care. From the moment she was born, her life was not her own. She went from being someone¡¯s daughter to His Majesty¡¯s slave to Xiang pin¡¯s maid. The leash around her neck was passed from master to master. Why couldn¡¯t she hand that leash to someone of her choosing? Even when it ended, and Prince Han forgot about her or she was given away to some stranger, she would have something that sometimes noblewomen never got. Memories of a lover. Even if she and Prince Han did nothing more than hold hands, Jiayi would hold on to the memory like the sky held the sun. ¡°Furen, are you ready to go?¡± Jiayi blinked. She was so deep in her thoughts that she had been digging through her chest mindlessly for some time. ¡°Sang''er," she scolded, ¡°I told you to stop calling me that,¡± Sang¡¯er slipped inside, a wide smile on his face, ¡°How can I call you by your name now? His lordship will have my head, furen. Now, are you ready? Prince Han is waiting,¡± Neither Sang¡¯er nor Chang daren seemed very surprised by the development between her and Prince Han. Chang daren sheepishly admitted that he assumed there was something between them from the start, which was mildly embarrassing. Jiayi returned to unearthing the hairpin Prince Han slid into her hair when he first arrived at the inn. She tucked the jewelry into her hair and tied on her cape. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Prince Han was in the inn¡¯s waiting area, looking ever more like the prince he was, even in his nobleman costume. He was steadfastly ignoring Chang daren, who was making conversation with the inn owner¡¯s wife. As he saw her, his face changed very little, but his eyes twinkled with the sort of warmth that made Jiayi¡¯s face burn red. ¡°Thank goodness,¡± he murmured, ¡°Any longer, and my ear would¡¯ve fallen off,¡± Jiayi smiled, ¡°He¡¯s just friendly,¡± she replied. As they stepped out into the bustling streets, Jiayi couldn''t help but feel a sense of surrealism wash over her. She and Prince Han were walking side by side, like equals, like lovers. It made her ecstatic. It made her nervous. ¡°What¡¯s your favorite color?¡± She blurted out. ¡°Oh,¡± he said, tilting his head from side to side as he thought, ¡°Black,¡± Chang daren snorted from a few paces behind them. ¡°Really?¡± Jiayi asked. Prince Han glared at Chang daren before turning back to her, ¡°It¡¯s elegant. You can make it flashy with a good hand, and it doesn¡¯t show blood,¡± ¡°You¡¯re very practical, my lord,¡± Jiayi replied. Prince Han rolled his eyes and gently nudged her with his shoulder, ¡°And you?¡± Jiayi thought long and hard and came up empty. It had been a very long time since anyone had cared about anything she wanted or liked. Jiayi had been wearing what was given to her since she was a child. ¡°I think they¡¯re all quite nice,¡± she said at last. ¡°You¡¯re very diplomatic, my lady,¡± he replied with a chuckle that resonated in the crisp air, ¡°No, really. If you had to choose," Jiayi shrugged lightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "If I had to choose... maybe yellow. Like the sun on a new day,¡± "Yellow," Prince Han mused, his eyes drifting to the sky. "It suits you." With her blushing cheeks, Jiayi felt like red suited her better. As they continued their leisurely stroll through the bustling streets, Jiayi was drawn to Prince Han''s side, their steps falling into a comfortable rhythm. Prince Han, who had seen far more of the world than she could ever, happily pointed out all the ins and outs of the hustling, bustling streets before them. It was incredible. Jiayi was sure the Forbidden City had more people, but the roads here felt packed with far more energy. People were running and yelling and smiling! They laughed loud and proud with no overseer to cuff them in the head for disturbing the peace. Their fingers brushed against each other now and then, sending a flutter of excitement through her. She wanted to grab his hand so badly now that she had the right, but she was sure her palms were horrifically slick with sweat. They paused their tour as Chang daren voiced his hunger. Prince Han rolled his eyes, ¡°A man of your profession should be able to go a few hours without food,¡± ¡°Furen,¡± Chang daren said, pulling at her cape like a child, ¡°Take pity on this lowly one. I''m wasting away. Anything will do,¡± Jiayi nodded, ¡°Yes, yes. It wouldn¡¯t do if we returned you to Molan all thin. Meimei hates skinny boys,¡± As Chang daren sputtered, Jiayi found a steamed bun stand, ¡°Ah! Those look good,¡± The fluffy white dough balls stared up at them from the steamed bamboo basket. Decadently, Jiayi ordered one of each flavor for herself and a few for Prince Han, Sang''er, and Chang daren. Jiayi searched her purse while the vendor eagerly dropped the buns into a wrapped banana leaf. She had bought a few trinkets here and there since her arrival in the capital, but they hadn¡¯t made much of a dent. But before she could pull the money out, Sang¡¯er darted in front of her, coins in hand to pay. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Put your money away. Do you want me to look like a cad?¡± Prince Han whispered, leaning in close. Jiayi scampered to collect their snacks, refusing to acknowledge the way Prince Han¡¯s breath felt on her ear. The group of them sat on a nearby cluster of barrels and chairs. Sang¡¯er and Chang daren dug into their buns with vigor. Jiayi picked up a steaming bun and tore it in half, belly rumbling at the sight of the glistening beef filling. The first bite was incredible, greasy, spiced, and offensively fragrant. She gobbled it up in no time. She wondered if she would look too greedy if she tried a pork bun when she noticed Prince Han had barely started eating. Prince Han cursed and mumbled as he tossed the bun from hand to hand, struggling to tear off a piece without burning his elegant fingers. "Here, let me," she offered, reaching out to help him. Their hands met briefly, and electricity shot through her at the contact. Prince Han glanced up at her, a soft smile curving his lips, and Jiayi felt her cheeks flush. She broke the bun open and gave him a piece of banana leaf to hold it with. Prince Han took a hearty bite and sighed, ¡°Paint beautifully, repel fire¨Cis there anything your hands can¡¯t do?¡± Jiayi shoved another bun in her mouth to prevent herself from saying something stupid. Like the steamed bun, her feelings were invigorating and boiling hot. She could get used to this. ? De gui fei hovered the magnifying glass over the figures in the book on the table before her. The records of the back palace¡¯s costs were meticulously written but quite small. She scrutinized the excess of Zhongcuigong. It was only slightly less than The Empress¡¯s. ¡°Your Highness,¡± De gui fei said, ¡°Zhongcuigong''s food costs are astronomical. And the amount of silk and brocade are outrageous,¡± The Empress barely glanced up from the finance book on her desk, ¡°Shen huang gui fei has young children to look after now. Of course, the figures are high,¡± ¡°10th Prince and 11th Prince are newborns still, Your Highness, this¨C,¡± ¡°Is something His Majesty takes no umbrage with," The Empress interrupted, "Leave it be,¡± De gui fei gripped the magnifying glass handle in frustration but nodded her head, ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± De gui fei grew increasingly sick of The Empress¡¯s apathy towards Shen huang gui fei¡¯s misdeeds. De gui fei knew, as The Empress, the squabbles of concubines were nothing but trivial and petty to her. But The Empress had to know that Shen huang gui fei was wicked to her core! She wouldn¡¯t stop until she had The Empress¡¯s head on a platter. And she was one step closer now, with the acquisition of two sons. ¡°I¡¯ve meaning to talk to you about something,¡± The stark sentence made De gui fei pause, ¡°Yes, Your Highness?¡± The Empress let her maids clear the books from her table. ¡°Huahuan will be 16 soon. His Majesty has decreed that I find her a good match,¡± It was only muscle memory that had De gui fei thanking The Empress and The Emperor for their grace. She couldn¡¯t believe it. Her daughter, married? The thought of it made a pit open up in her stomach. Huahuan was a child still. She still snuck into De gui fei¡¯s bed and spent her day running after Xiang pin''s fat little dog and flying kites. How could that little girl be someone¡¯s wife? Someone¡¯s mother? It made De gui fei want to bundle Huahuan up, run into the wilderness, and never return. ¡°Meimei,¡± De gui fei raised her head and flinched. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn¡¯t noticed that The Empress had walked over and stood right before her. The Empress held out her hand. ¡°Get up,¡± De gui fei gripped The Empress¡¯ hand, feeling awkward and ashamed. Ridiculous. A girl must marry. It was as natural as the sun rising! De gui fei¡¯s hesitance would only ruin Huahuan. De gui fei let The Empress pull her to her feet. ¡°This is the sort of decision that can only be made by Huahuan¡¯s mother,¡± ¡°You are¨C,¡± De gui fei began to protest. The Empress shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve watched Huahuan take her first steps, say her first words, and sing her first song, all thanks to you. You raised her into a wonderful young woman. Only you can make this decision," The heartfelt words brought a tear to De gui fei¡¯s eyes, ¡°Your Highness is too kind,¡± The Empress laughed, ¡°It¡¯s barely a kindness, meimei. Come, His Majesty¡¯s ministers have sent a few recommendations for Huahuan,¡± De gui fei took a seat next to The Empress behind her desk. ¡°Those ministers¡­They¡¯ve chosen these men for the strength of their clans and the silver in the coffers. That¡¯s not all there is to a good man, let alone husband,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± said The Empress, ¡°Shiyi has investigated each candidate thoroughly,¡± That did give De gui fei some comfort. Shiyi gugu rarely left a stone unturned when it came to an order from The Empress. ¡°What about Huabao?¡± De gui fei asked, suddenly remembering her daughter¡¯s shadow. De gui fei was ashamed to say that she rarely thought about the girl. The poor thing was living proof of chickens coming home to roost. Would Huabao be where she is today if her mother hadn¡¯t invited evil into her life with her actions? Even so, it wouldn¡¯t do for Huahuan to get married before Huabao. Exiled as she was, Huabao was still the first princess. ¡°His Majesty thought of her as well. I sent someone to call Shen huang gui fei here to discuss this, but that was nearly an hour ago,¡± replied The Empress. Just then, a maid scurried inside, a letter in her hands. ¡°From Shen huang gui fei, Your Highness,¡± De gui fei watched as The Empress¡¯s brows furrowed as she read the message. She let out a sigh and handed the letter to Shiyi gugu. ¡°Apparently, 10th prince and 11th prince have both fallen ill. Shen huang gui fei can¡¯t bear to leave their sides,¡± How convenient. Shen huang gui fei was growing bolder and bolder. Shirking her duties, blowing off The Empress¨Cshe had the nerve to only attend the morning greetings once a week! ¡°No matter. Shiyi?¡± Shiyi gugu nodded, ¡°As Her Highnesses ordered, I sent people out of the palace to inquiry about the candidates here. Of the options His Majesty sent, Eje of the Tunggiya clan and Pan Weimin of the Hoifa Nara are quite appropriate,¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t His Majesty send anyone from the Fuca or Niohuru?¡± Asked De gui fei. ¡°Yes, Your Highness, Hu Shi of the Fuca and Laimbu of the Niohuru. But they are no good. Hu Shi is the second legitimate son of Hu Fa. He is educated and upright, but his household is already in disarray. He has two ce fujin, and one is as cruel as can be. The servants were tight lipped about which one, but they couldn¡¯t hide how many maids were being buried during their time there. Neither first or second Princess should set foot in such a place,¡± The Empress nodded, ¡°What about Laimbu?¡± Shiyi gugu tsked and shook her head, ¡°A glutton. He¡¯s the first legitimate son of the vice-secretary minister of revenue and was born to a powerful clan. He passed the Imperial exams but only barely. His manor is bursting with concubines, and not a ce fujin in sight! He doesn¡¯t lack children, of course, but people talk of the ones that live in and out of his manor,¡± ¡°Disgusting,¡± said De gui fei, ¡°Why would His Majesty agree to this kind of person?¡± ¡°The vice-secretary is very good at his job,¡± replied The Empress, ¡°He was the one who unveiled the embezzlement of the treasury all those years ago. Pity that his son didn¡¯t grow from the same garden,¡± A pity indeed. ¡°Tell me about Eje and Pan Weimin ,¡± said De gui fei. According to Shiyi, both men were of good stock. His Majesty valued their fathers greatly, and they themselves were righteous and moral. Eje was 22 and had one concubine and a bedmaid. Pan Weimin was 20 and had only one ce fujin. They lived near enough to the Forbidden City that neither Huabao nor Huahuan would need to travel far to visit. ¡°Eje,¡± De gui fei said, rolling the name around in her mouth, ¡°As in bull*? Is he very much like his namesake?¡± Shiyi gugu smiled, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say so. Quite slim and fair,¡± De gui fei pulled the portraits of Eje and Pan Weimin closer, ¡°Neither Huabao¡¯s or Huahuan¡¯s birthdays conflict with either,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush,¡± said The Empress, ¡°You¡¯re welcome to as much time as you need,¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness,¡± ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± A eunuch zipped into the room. ¡°Impudent! How dare you disturb The Empress!¡± Said Shiyi gugu. ¡°It¡¯s bad, gugu! They just pulled Her Highness Xiang pin out of a lake!¡± ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Eje=bull in the Manchu language. Chapter 41 A powerful ache was taking up residence at the base of The Empress''s head. It had sprung into action the moment the eunuch told them the news of Xiang pin''s accident, and as the days went on, it only got worse. Thanks to the combination of her heavy clothes and jewels, Xiang pin had sunk like a stone before her servants could drag her out. Hwang taiyi had the momos nearly beat Xiang pin''s back black and blue to force the water from her lungs, and even then, she was still delirious and sick in bed. Dealing with His Majesty''s mood made it even worse. In all honesty, The Empress couldn''t tell if Xiang pin''s accident was really the source of his ire or if he was using it as an excuse to vent his frustrations from court. Either way, the entire situation was just tiring. She had never seen The Emperor so furious because of one of his women. Not even Mu pin inspired this sort of fury in him. Would it be better or worse if Xiang pin didn''t make it? No. There was no point in thinking about that when she had so much to do. The Emperor had ordered her to interrogate each and every one of Xiang pin''s servants about what happened. So far, they all told the same story. The temperate weather inspired Xiang pin to picnic by the lake near the Imperial Garden. They were so busy with their tasks that they overlooked how close Xiang pin got to the water until she slipped in. The Empress knew that The Emperor wouldn''t be satisfied with just that. Someone needed to be punished. "Your Highness," Shiyi said, her soft voice cutting through The Empress'' thoughts, "His Majesty has called for you," Immediately, the throbbing in her head worsened. Still, she grabbed Shiyi''s hand and made her way to her raised chair. Before they departed, she sent a maid to fetch one of the newer girls. Hopefully, they would drop by and distract His Majesty so she could have a chance to slip away and return to her palace. As she stepped through Yanxindian''s courtyard, she was accosted by the sound of miserable sobbing. Irritation flared in The Empress''s chest. Has she been called here to referee a childish spat with the hundreds of nursemaids that ran the streets here? Or had a pair of concubines behaved so childishly in front of The Emperor that she had to be dragged here? The Empress took a deep breath and walked inside. Her composed and gentile smile evaporated at the sight of Yihe and Yian kneeling before The Emperor, their faces swollen and red from crying. She barely kept enough composure to greet The Emperor properly. "Rise," he said, his eyes cold with anger. He gestured to the seat next to him with a lazy wave of his arm, "Sit," She did as she was told, "Thank you, Your Majesty," The Empress ignored her sons, even though their cries clawed at her heart like wild dogs. "How may I serve you, Your Majesty?" She asked. The Emperor closed his eyes and shook his head, "You see those wretches you bore me and still ask me that question?" A cavernous pit hollowed out The Empress''s stomach. The Emperor had never taken that tone with her children. He had never sounded so vengeful. Smiling brightly, she stroked The Emperor''s arm, "Your Majesty, Yian and Yihe are young still. Whatever they did to displease you, surely¨C" "Displease me?" The Emperor said, jerking his arm away, "They contempt me!" So, soft words and empty eyes wouldn''t smooth things over this time. She turned to the kneeling boys, her voice steady. "What have you done?" Yihe cried heartily, back bowed like a centennial tree, "We didn''t mean to! We were only playing!" Yian was in no better state, screaming his innocence as well. "Quiet!" The Emperor roared, pelting his teacup at the princes. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The cup shattered, spraying them with glass shards and tea. The Empress jumped to her feet and then dropped to her knees. The casual violence towards Yian and Yihe made her heart race. "Please dissipate your anger, Your Majesty," she begged, "Think of your health," The Emperor called for Wang gugu, "Inform Her Highness of what her good children have done," Wang gugu dipped her head, "Last week, 3rd Prince and 7th Prince left the A Ge Sou to play at the Imperial garden," Oh no. "They tasked their eunuchs with overturning the earth for worms to feed the carp. With the weather so mild, the dirt had no chance to harden, so when Xiang pin went to the edge, the ground gave way," No. Swallowing, The Empress bowed even lower, "Your Majesty, I apologize. My carelessness¨C," Her words died off as The Emperor stood and walked past her as if she hadn''t opened her mouth in the first place. He ignored Yian and Yihe''s groveling, ripping his body away as they clutched his feet for forgiveness. His servants filed out after him, leaving only Wang gugu. "Your Highness. His Majesty has ordered 3rd Prince and 7th Prince''s servants to be flogged 50 times. 3rd Prince and 7th Prince are to stay in their rooms to copy sutras until Xiang pin recovers," The decree sent Yian and Yihe into a new round of sobbing. The Empress closed her eyes. "I thank His Majesty for his grace," Wang gugu bowed low before turning around. The Empress stumbled to her feet, and Yihe threw himself into her arms, "Royal Mother, make Royal Father forgive us! We didn''t mean to!" "Please," Yian begged, "Please!" Even though Yanxindian was empty, The Empress knew that any show of kindness would stoke the flames of His Majesty''s anger. Taking a deep breath, she pried Yihe''s arms away from her. "Men!" She called, "Take them away!" Yian looked up at her, disbelief in his eyes, as the eunuchs dragged him to his feet. The Empress gazed down at her hands but could still feel his gaze''s burn. A tear landed on her fingers, but she quickly wiped it away. Shiyi came to her side, "Your Highness, are you alright?" The Empress held back her tears, "Double the guards around Chengqiangong. Send my decree. If Xiang pin dies, every doctor and servant will go with her, " ? The night before her return to the palace, Jiayi realized, with incredible clarity, that she had gone insane. For some reason, the idea of going back to the Palace, back to the way things were, made Jiayi ravenous. Not for food, either. For Prince Han. Jiayi had never thought of herself as someone starved for affection¡ªthe fewer people who paid attention to her back at the palace, the better. Prince Han had made her realize that the affection at the palace was stale and poisoned. Even if she had been starving, she knew better than to do that to herself. Prince Han''s affection made her mouth water and her hair stand on the back of her neck. Prince Han made her realize that people could die of a broken heart. She never wanted to look at or, speak to or be near anyone else for the rest of her life. She wanted to crack open his chest and live there for the rest of her life. And she hadn''t even kissed him. So yes. Jiayi had gone insane. And it had only taken a few days. And she certainly wouldn''t get any less insane back at the Palace. "I can hear you thinking," Jiayi startled, turning around in her borrowed sheets to squint down at the floor where she assumed Prince Han was lying. The arrangement of her on the bed and him on the floor was fresh, and each brush of the Prince Han-scented sheets on her skin sent lightning flittering up and down her back. "Why aren''t you asleep?" She asked. "Why aren''t you?" "I''m nervous," she said, "When we get back to the palace, things will be different," Jiayi felt the tickle of Prince Han''s fingers against her own and held tight in the darkness between them. "We''ll be there together," he said, "That''s all that matters," "We''ll be together," Jiayi echoed, "But not like this. I''ll miss you," Prince Han sighed, "I''ll miss you, too. I don''t want to go back there and watch people treat you like a slave. I don''t know if my heart can handle it," "I don''t know if my heart can handle you treating me like just a slave," she said, the confession flowing like water. A silence of uncertainty stretched between them. "By God," Prince Han said at last, "We''re a mess. What about this? We''ll use Xiang pin''s dog to pass messages between us," "Thunder?" Jiayi said with a quiet snort, "She''d sooner eat the letters than deliver them anywhere," "True. Ah! What about Chang Lingxiu? I can put him to work as my errand boy. Make him earn his keep," Jiayi was forced to stifle her giggles lest she wake up the entire inn. "My lord, Chang daren has done nothing but protect you sincerely. Why are you so against him?" The silence blanketed them again, but it was far heavier this time. Prince Han gripped her fingers tighter. "He reminds me that The Forbidden City is one big game. No matter how noble or blessed you are, in the end, we''re all disposable," Thinking of the way Shen huang gui fei tried to use Prince Han infuriated Jiayi. "I won''t let that happen again. I''ll protect you," "Protect me?" Prince Han said with a smile in his voice, "Shouldn''t it be the other way around? I''m still a prince. Leave me with some pride," "How about this? We''ll protect each other," "Deal," he replied, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, "Good night," Jiayi wrapped herself ever tighter in the duvet, bringing her just-kissed hand to her face. She brushed her lips against the still-tingling skin. There. They had kissed. Now, it made sense for her to have lost her mind. Chapter 42 The girl next to her probably thought Jiayi was a lunatic. For the entirety of the time she sat at the back of the swaying carriage (she was a maid once again; it would be presumptuous to sit inside), she had been staring down at the painting in her lap¡ªa plain, unadorned painting of a hand holding a bundle of yellow and white asters. That was it. To an outsider, it was nothing. To Jiayi? It was everything. Jiayi put down the brush and lightly waved her fan across the wet paint. Finished. She turned the painting around and slid it across the table. "What do you think?" She asked. Prince Han peered closer at the painting. His fingers hovered over the flower petals. He let out a breath and looked at her, "Asters. For patience?" "Devotion," she blurted out, quite shamelessly, "And long-lasting, uh, oh," Jiayi was shameless but not shameless enough to finish her sentence. Prince Han pinked delicately before smiling. He stared back down at the painting before saying, "It''s perfect," Prince Han put the painting to dry before setting a fresh sheet of parchment on the table and pulling the bowls of mixed ink closer. Jiayi pinched a chopstick¨Ca stand-in for the flowers they didn''t have¨Cbetween her pointer finger and thumb. She pressed the hand against her chest. "Is this good?" She asked. Jiayi felt awkward and unmoored. She had painted plenty of portraits but had never been the subject of one. Prince Han tilted his head this way and that and said, "It''s fine, but I could use a closer look," Prince Han held out his hand. They had held hands for what felt like millions of times to Jiayi, but it still made her heart jump when they touched like this. Jiayi bit back a smile as Prince Han gazed deeply at their entwined fingers, his sword-calloused palms making her hair stand on end. All too soon, it came to an end, and Prince Han picked up the brush and began painting. She and Prince Han chirped at one another every once in a while but mostly sat in a silence that surrounded Jiayi like spiced honey. As comfortable as she was, Jiayi remained alert, burning every facet of Prince Han into her brain. It would be some time before she had a chance like this again. Most likely, it would be her last chance. She didn''t want to miss a thing. Jiayi selfishly hoped that Prince Han''s talent didn''t extend to the arts. She wanted this moment to last as long as possible. Unfortunately, Prince Han was finished before she had had her fill. Prince Han set down his brush. "Just in time," he said, glancing at the window, "I almost ran out of light," Jiayi started at the deep orange of the setting sun that shone through the paper window. It had been hours since Prince Han started? How could that be? "How is it?" He asked. Prince Han slid the painting across the table. Jiayi looked down and felt her breath stop short. There, clenched gently in her fingers, was a pink jasmine. She looked up at Prince Han, eyes wide. At the sight of her face, his fell. "It''s too much, isn''t it?" He reached over to take the painting away, "I just¨C," "No!" Jiayi near screeched, snatching the portrait away, "It''s just, um, I was surprised," "So, it''s not too much?" "No," she replied, her face so warm she was sure her ears were blushing, "Never," Enduring love. And Jiayi had thought the asters were too forward. Before she could start kicking her feet over the memory, she folded the portrait neatly and tucked it into her blouse. The edges poked at her skin, but she was glad for it. After a rough welcome from the guards at the front gate, Jiayi walked as quickly as she could to Chengqiangong. This time in the afternoon, there usually weren''t so many of The Emperor''s women strolling around, so Jiayi thought she would be back to visit her mistress in no time at all, only to see An pin and Wang chang zai walking towards her. Jiayi shifted herself to the side and kneeled so their retinue could pass by. It was a surprising sight, only because Jiayi rarely saw Wang chang zai outside of the morning greetings. Frankly, Jiayi barely remembered she existed most of the time. Like all of His Majesty''s women, Wang chang zai was beautiful even though she looked a bit awkward in her first-class attendant garb. She trailed behind An pin hunched over, shoulders brushing against her ears. "You there, aren''t you Xiang meimei''s girl?" "Yes, Your Highness," replied Jiayi, glancing up. "Oh thank goodness you''re here!" An pin said, "Stand up, quickly!" "Is something wrong, Your Highness?" Asked Jiayi, confused by the urgency in An pin''s voice. "Meimei''s been so listless since her accident! I tried to get De gui fei to send for you, but meimei didn''t want to bother you," "Your Highness¨CWhat accident?" Jiayi asked, interrupting An pin''s babbling. An pin covered her mouth with her handkerchief, "Ah, it was so horrible...I''m not sure if I could speak on it again. Weiwei," she called, staring at the short-faced maid by her side. The blood in Jiayi''s veins turned to ice as Weiwei recounted Xiang pin''s brush with death and the unlikely culprits. "Xiang meimei still isn''t back to herself yet, but I''m sure it won''t take long. His Majesty practically chained Hwang taiyi to her bedside, and I pray for her, often," "Thank you, your Highness," Jiayi said, fighting back the tears in her eyes. "Thankfully, it wasn''t worse! Shen jiejie told me she sent A''Fang down there to pick a few plum blossom branches right before this all happened. And A''Fang is so clumsy, it''s a shock she didn''t fall in as well!" The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Shen huang gui fei. Of course. ? "Your Majesty," The Emperor looked up from his papers and down at the eunuch kneeling by his side. He bit back a sigh at the sight of the tray of tablets held before him. He was in no mood for any simpering. He waved the eunuch away before going back to his work. A quiet sigh came from behind him. "Something to say, Zhang Wei," "This slave would not dare," his eunuch replied. "You''ve already come this far," The Emperor replied, "Speak," "Your Majesty, I worry for you. You serve the country day and night and take little food or tea. And now...well, you haven''t flipped a tag in days. How will your body survive this?" "You''re very dramatic this evening, Zhang Wei," "Your Majesty, the sun set hours ago, and you still haven''t called for dinner. Please don''t continue like this, I beg of you," While The Emperor would''ve liked to write Zhang Wei''s concern off as whining, there was a tightness between his shoulder blades and right between his eyes that kept getting sharper and sharper as time passed by. A trip to the back palace wouldn''t be remiss, but he would fall asleep the moment he folded into anyone''s bed, and he wanted to see Huifen the day was through. "Fine," he said, placing his brush on the holder, "Call for dinner," Zhang Wei nearly fell over in relief as he bowed, "Right away, Your Majesty," Before Zhang Wei could do so, a eunuch arrived, announcing that An pin had prepared dinner for him. The Emperor shrugged and nodded his head. Zhang Wei peered mulishly as An pin''s maids decorated the table with an array of modestly painted plates. "Your Majesty, wouldn''t something from the Imperial Kitchen suit your appetite more? This food looks very...common," Zhang Wei wasn''t wrong. An pin clearly didn''t have a great hand in the culinary arts. Slices of meat were cut awkwardly and seasoned vegetables were laid sloppily on the plate. Sauces looked to be too thin or too thick for their desired dish and The Emperor could tell with one glance that a plate of shrimp was overcooked. "I''ve eaten rougher than this many a time," The Emperor replied, allowing his eunuchs to poke around in the dishes with silver needles, "It won''t kill me," If Zhang Wei had feathers, they''d be flying, "Your Majesty! This servant is too delicate for such jokes! Just the thought makes my heart stop!" When each dish was confirmed to be cleaned, The Emperor picked up his chopsticks. The first bite was underwhelming, but that couldn''t be helped. An pin hadn''t come from any great place. Food like this was as luxurious as it could get for her. She was young. She would learn. Musing about An pin, however, made The Emperor think about her newest shadow. "What of Wang chang zai?" He asked, chewing a rubbery, too-salty slice of beef. "There''s nothing much to her, Your Majesty. Perhaps Jiang''s pin death left An pin lonely, and she''s found comfort in Wang chang zai," The Emperor found that hard to believe. While he wasn''t mired in the muck of the day-to-day lives of his concubines, he was neither deaf nor dumb. Wang chang zai perfectly invisible to the others in the back palace. The chances of her randomly coming across An pin were low. "Has she paid respects to Royal Mother, lately?" Asked The Emperor. Zhang Wei shook his head, "The Empress Dowager hasn''t gone back on her word to cut ties with her," The Emperor washed down a dry bite of fish with a mouthful of wine. The situation was odd. Could Wang chang zai truly be trying to slither her way back into his good graces after so many years? Was it possible that she had decided to try her luck again after he discovered that she was sent into his bed to spy on him on behalf of his Royal Mother? No, An pin was lonely and foolish, and Wang chang zai latched on like a leech. He found it unsightly, but there was no point in interfering. "How is Huifen?" He asked, changing the subject to something that wasn''t so annoying. "Hwang taiyi says she''ll recover but it will be slow. The water has stagnated Xiang pin''s qi. It will take time for it flow freely again," The Emperor grunted, the food in his mouth tasting more and more like ash. He hadn''t released Yian or Yihe as of yet. "Ah! But her maid recently returned and they say Xiang pin is in much better spirits now," The Emperor laid down his chopsticks and beckoned over a maid so he could rinse the taste from his mouth. "I''ll visit her," he said. "Of course, Your Majesty," replied Zhang Wei, "Will you be spending the night?" The Emperor would''ve preferred to, but knowing Huifen, she would work herself sick trying to cater to him. No, it was better if he didn''t. "We''ll return here," As Zhang Wei brought his cap and cape, The Emperor stared down at the half-eaten food that was being cleared away. "Find something appropriate from the recent tributes to give to An pin as a thanks for her efforts," "Of course, Your Majesty," The trip to Chengqiangong was long and boring. These days, boredom stuck to him like a shadow when he wasn''t attending to state affairs. Besides visiting Huifen, he went through the motions with his other women, going as far as to confuse them with one another if they were too fresh. Huifen needed to get better soon. A trip to the Summer Palace was well overdue. Fearing an announcement would startle Huifen, The Emperor silenced his eunuch and entered the courtyard. As he entered the side hall, he heard the soft timbre of her voice through the door. "This medicine is so bitter," she complained,"Death would taste better than this," Turning the corner, he caught one of Huifen''s maid scolding her, "Your Highness, please don''t joke about that! It''s too ominous!" "I agree," The Emperor said, walking into the room. Huifen''s pallid face lit up at the sight of him, while her servants dropped to their knees. Before she could attempt to stand, The Emperor sat next to her in bed and pressed a hand to her shoulder. "Don''t strain yourself," he said. "Thank you, Your Majesty," said Huifen, gathering her dog close, "It''s so late in the evening. What brings you here?" "I heard that you were in a cheerful mood today, so I came to visit," Huifen pouted, "I was until I had to drink this awful thing. Your Majesty, can''t you order your doctors to make it taste better?" Even so sick, his Huifen was still as playful as ever, "How about this," he said, wrapping his arm around her, "I''ll have my kitchen make you some candied fruit to chase away the bitterness," Huifen dipped her head, her cheeks flushed with health, "I thank Your Majesty for his grace," ? Having had his fill go Huifen, The Emperor eagerly returned to Yangxindian to retire for the night only to find An pin in his warming room. "It''s late," he said as he passed her on the way to his bedroom. "I just wanted to thank you for your gift," she replied, following after him. "It couldn''t wait until the morning?" He asked, allowing her to unravel the silk ties around his neck. She slipped the cape off his shoulders and when he sat down on his bed, kneeled down to remove his boots, "I was just too grateful, Your Majesty. I''ve never had anything so fine in my life," The Emperor watched as An pin took great care in making sure the milky nephrite bangle on her wrist didn''t scrape across the wooden platform of his bed. Fine? That thing was no more than a bauble. The Emperor had never noticed that An pin was a bit of a country bumpkin. She was quite a simple girl. "And I thought," she continued, "That perhaps, I could ask¨C," Fighting back the urge to roll over and ignore her, day clothes and all, The Emperor stroked her forehead, "I''m too worn out for that. Zhang Wei will bring you back to your palace," An pin gasped, her cheeks pinking before she shook her head, "Oh! I wasn''t asking for that, Your Majesty! I wanted to ask if it would be alright for Wang chang zai to move into Chuxiugong," "This is the sort of thing The Empress should decide," he replied. "I know, but Her Highness has been very busy and so has Shen huang gui fei. I don''t want to disrespect The Empress by just moving Mingxia in," The Emperor stared down at her, confused. Mingxia? An pin continued her chatter, "I understand that it''s silly to bother you with this, but we''ve grown very close. She''s the only one i''ve been able to talk to since jiejie''s accident and even though there are a couple of second class attendants in my palace, it doesn''t compare to what we have," Ah, right. Mingxia was Wang chang zai''s name. He hadn''t heard it in some time. That woman had become close enough that An pin was using her name? Honestly, The Emperor was far too tired to care at the moment. "Why not," he said, pulling An pin to her feet, "If it would comfort you," "Thank you, Your Majesty," An pin, throwing her arms around his shoulder, "You don''t know what this means to me," To the Emperor it meant finally getting some peace and quiet after a long day. An pin gleefully let one of his eunuchs escort her out, and The Emperor could, at last, get ready for bed. His servants surrounded him, pulling the heavy silks and brocades from his body. "Do you think Wang chang zai is trying to start trouble using An pin''s kindness?" Zhang Wei asked, buttoning The Emperor''s sleeping clothes. The Emperor didn''t bother responding to such a foolish question. If Wang chang zai wanted to strike flint during a storm, she was welcome to do so. In the end, the mess would be The Empress'' duty to clean up, not his. Chapter 43 Xiang pin''s medicine bowl was stunning. Carved from rhinoceros horn and engraved with auspicious characters, Jiayi had never been in the presence of something so fine. Jiayi wanted to grind it into dust. It was the physical manifestation of Xiang pin''s sickness. It was a constant companion at her bedside. "Aiya, you''re depressing me, Jiayi," said Xiang pin as she chewed daintily on a piece of candied ginger. Jiayi fidgeted with the blanket tucked around her mistress'' legs. "I''m sorry," Jiayi replied, "I just...shouldn''t you be better by now? Doesn''t Hwang taiyi think this is taking too long?" "Goodness! You''re worse than De gui fei! I know fate''s spared me a wrinkle or two, but I''m still nearly 40. These old bones will take some time to recover, my dear," Jiayi didn''t buy it, but there was no point in arguing. She didn''t have the heart. The second that Xiang pin could get Jiayi alone after she returned, her mistress asked her about her time in Prince Han''s villa, a worried frown on her already tired face. Xiang pin had truly thought that Jiayi had been suffering, stranded alone in a strange man''s house. Seeing it tossed a thick layer of guilt over her new bond with Prince Han. She didn''t dare mention it. A sharp pinch brought Jiayi out of her thoughts. Xiang pin pulled back her hand and sighed, "Instead of keeping vigil over me like I''m about to take my last breath, why don''t you work on Yiqiang''s birthday portrait?" Before Jiayi could protest, Xiang pin held up her hand, "I promise I''ll do my very best to keep both my feet out of the grave while you paint. Molan will keep me company," "Of course, Your Highness!" Molan nodded vigorously, the new porcelain and silver hairpin swaying around her cheeks. Its appearance coincided with the exact day Prince Han returned to the Forbidden City. Jiayi was glad Chang Lingxiu didn''t drag his feet with the gift. "Go, go, go!" Xiang pin shooed Jiayi away and ordered Molan to gather up some books for her to read. Jiayi had been too distracted by Xiang pin''s health to sit and work on the portrait seriously. "Your Highness," Bolin said, stepping inside, "Shen hung gui fei sent something for you," His voice was steady, but his brows were wrinkled in confusion. He stepped to the side to let A''Fang inside. She carried monstrous purple ginseng root on a lacquered tray. Xiang pin put on her most false smile, "What''s this?" She asked as A''Fang knelt to greet her. "Her Highness Shen huang gui fei heard you''re still under the weather. She would''ve visited, but 10th and 11th Prince take up all her attention. To chase away your sickness, she wanted to gift you this 100-year-old ginseng," A''Fang handed the tray to Molan, "It was a gift from The Empress Dowager, but luckily, Shen huang gui fei has been blessed with perfect health and never found any use for it," What a surprise; Shen huang gui fei''s servants were just as arrogant as she was. Pretending not to hear the slight, Xiang pin moved to rise from her bed. Jiayi helped her to her feet. Molan presented the tray, and Xiang pin ran her fingers reverently over the gnarled roots. "I can''t believe Her Highness would dare give someone like me something so precious. I thank Her Highness for her grace," Xiang pin''s bow was shallow because she was still sick, of course. A''Fang stood up, a permanently smarmy curl to her nose, "Her Highness will be so happy to hear that. I''ll take my leave," Bolin directed her to the door. "Put me back in bed," said Xiang pin, "Pretending to care about that has evaporated all of my energy," Jiayi pulled back the covers so Xiang pin could slip inside. "What should I do with this?" Asked Molan. "Put it away for now. If anyone asks, Hwang taiyi said so much ginseng interferes with my medication," "She didn''t come to see you at all after your accident?" Asked Jiayi. Xiang pin shook her head, "Guess she couldn''t face the fact that she wasn''t blessed enough to see me die," she finished with a laugh. She settled into bed and closed her eyes, "Go finish your painting. Molan will be back any moment to stare at me while I sleep," Jiayi did as she was told. Her mind drifted as she ground her inks. Shen huang gui fei''s gall incensed her. It wasn''t enough that she tried to drown Xiang pin, she had to eagerly monitor her health, just in case it declined. She even went to morning greetings again to ask if Xiang pin was feeling well. Shen huang gui fei''s eyes would shrewdly stare at Xiang pin, looking for a tired pallor or weak breath. Like a vulture waiting to feed. Jiayi wished she could tell Xiang pin what An pin said to her, but she was afraid her mistress would do something foolish that would make her even sicker than before. Jiayi needed Xiang pin to regain her health and dig the knife further into Shen huang gui fei. She hoped Shen huang gui fei was miserable each time she caught sight of Xiang pin. Had Xiang pin died, Shen huang gui fei would''ve knocked down a tower with a feather. Not only would The Empress be blamed for Xiang pin''s death, but Third Prince and Seventh Prince would most likely never regain The Emperor''s favor, ousting the greatest competition to 10th Prince or 11th Prince''s accession to Crown Prince. The thought of it depressed Jiayi. These days, Sixth Prince had reverted into the surly, angry child he was before becoming close to Xiang pin. Molan said that after Xiang pin''s accident, Sixth Prince was inconsolable. He refused to move from her side, even for The Emperor. Sixth Prince had also nearly commanded that Xiang pin''s servants be put to death before De gui fei calmed him. Xiang pin was better now, but Sixth Prince spent his days with a dark cloud over his head, short and snappy with the servants. Xiang pin was hoping that his birthday celebration would lift his spirits. There would be no grand birthday banquet, only a small dinner that The Emperor and Prince Han promised to attend. While Xiang pin couldn''t sway The Emperor into giving Sixth Prince anything close to something Third Prince of Seventh Prince would receive, she did manage to secure a stallion for him selected by The Emperor. It was almost unheard of for a concubine''s child to receive something like that. A vicious smell pulled her out of her thoughts. She put her work aside and walked into the warming room to see Ping''er boiling a brown crock over a fire. Ping''er looked close to tears as she pressed a handkerchief to her nose to ward off the stench. "Time for another dose?" Asked Jiayi. Ping''er nodded, slipping the handkerchief off her face, "Poor Xiang pin. I hate boiling this stuff, but it must be even worse to drink! It always makes my clothes stink!" She gagged and quickly covered her nose back up again. She shuddered, "If I didn''t know better, this is making Xiang pin sicker," Jiayi froze. There was no way Shen huang gui fei could''ve gotten her hands on Xiang pin''s prescription. Hwang taiyi was The Emperor''s personal physician who gathered these herbs by hand. The bowl she drank from would discolor if there were poison of any kind. It wasn''t possible. It shouldn''t be possible. But Xiang pin wasn''t getting any better. She wasn''t getting any worse, but it was still a far cry from what she used to be. Her skin still hadn''t regained her healthy white glow, and if she had to walk for more than 10 minutes, she would have to take her raised chair. Jiayi stared at the acrid cloud of smoke that bubbled over the pot before opening a window. "You go change, I''ll finish watching it," "Thank you, jiejie!" Ping''er hugged her before hurrying away. Jiayi pulled the medicine off the fire and stared into the murky water. Her pulse quickened. What if the medicine was the only thing keeping Xiang pin going? What if¨C "Jiejie?" Jiayi spun around. Molan had returned. "Is Her Highness'' medicine ready?" "Just about," replied Jiayi, "You go wait on Xiang pin. I''ll bring it when it''s finished," Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Molan nodded. Jiayi waited until Xiang pin''s bedroom door swung shut before making her move. She pulled out the boiled herbs and put them aside before pouring nearly all the medicine into a nearby plant. Xiang pin''s least favorite tea was the same color as this, so Jiayi poured a terrible cup of tea into the medicine bowl. It looked nearly identical. Gulping, Jiayi wrapped the medicine dredges in her handkerchief and stuffed them in her jacket. Jiayi waited as long as she could before taking the bowl to Xiang pin''s bedroom. Xiang pin was sitting in bed, weariness written all over her face. At the sight of the medicine, she huffed. "Give it here already. Best to get it over with," "It''s still a little hot, Your Highness," Jiayi warned, handing over the bowl. Jiayi clasped her hands together to hide their shakiness as Xiang pin tipped her head back and swallowed the contents of the bowl. When she finished, Xiang pin pushed it away and gagged. "You would think drinking this three times a day would make taking these easier. Ugh! Bring me the candied plums," Xiang pin shoved the bowl into Jiayi''s hands while Molan got the treats. The tight vice on Jiayi''s chest sprung open. It was fine. Everything was fine. Jiayi walked back to the warming room to tidy up. She wouldn''t do this forever. She just had to ensure medicine did what it claimed to do. "Ping''er!" She called. Ping''er slipped back inside from her place minding the door, "Yes, jiejie?" "You don''t have to fuss with Her Highness''s medication anymore. I''ll take care of it," "Really?!" Jiayi smiled, "Don''t worry about it. Here, take some candied ginger. Share some with Pi''er and the others," Handkerchief stuffed with sweets, Ping''er skipped back outside. Jiayi snagged a piece for herself, knowing that what she had to do later that night would not be so sweet. ? The meeting spot she and Prince Han settled on wasn''t perfect, but it was good enough. With Sang''er and Chang Lingxiu guarding each end of the corridor, it was plenty secluded. "How''s Xiang pin?" He asked. "Still the same," Jiayi replied. She pulled the herbs from her jacket, "I have a favor to ask you. Could you take these herbs to a doctor in the capital and see what they do? Xiang pin takes them, but she''s not getting any better," Prince Han took the herbs, "Do you think it''s poison?" "No. It''s not making her sicker. I think maybe the point is to make sure nothing''s working. Eventually, she''ll waste away, won''t she?" Jiayi shivered, the thought opening up a cold pit in her stomach. Prince Han crowded close to her, the smell of his sandalwood incense chasing away the chill, "Don''t worry. The Empress is keeping a close eye on Xiang pin. I''ll have Sang''er send this out when the gates open in the morning," "I heard The Empress still hasn''t said anything to The Emperor about releasing Third Prince and Seventh Prince," "She knows it''ll only make things worse," Prince Han said with a sigh, "Going back on a decree so soon may make His Majesty look fickle. It''s a shame. It was just an accident," Jiayi shook her head, "It wasn''t an accident," "What do you mean?" "An pin mentioned that right before Third Prince and Seventh Prince spent the day in the imperial garden, A''Fang had been there. Shen huang gui fei''s A''Fang," Prince Han''s pursed his lips, "An pin said this?" "It wasn''t an accusation. She and Shen huang gui fei are bosom buddies. She just wanted to tell someone new about Xiang pin''s accident," "I''ll have someone look into this," Jiayi frowned. Look into it? Shen huang gui fei tried to murder Xiang pin, and all Prince Han wanted to do was look into it? "Don''t look at me like that," he said, "I would love nothing more for Shen huang gui fei to get what she deserves. But if we make this accusation and it turns out that somehow, she''s innocent, there''s no way she''ll be punished for the crimes she truly committed. The more evidence we have, the less likely Shen huang gui fei will be able to talk her way out of this," It wasn''t what Jiayi wanted to hear, but she would have to live with it, "You''re right. I wish there were something I could do. It feels like she''s getting away with it," Prince Han wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Right now, the best punishment for her would be seeing His Majesty''s care for Xiang pin as she gets better and seeing Yian and Yihe regain His Majesty''s favor," Jiayi leaned into Prince Han''s side. When The Emperor wasn''t by Xiang pin''s side, he was usually at Shen huang gui fei''s. He was very taken by 10th and 11th Prince and liked to dote on them. If Xiang pin could take up more of his time, it would make her more miserable than she already was. "Oh!" Jiayi said, a thought coming to her, "I heard you had lunch with The Empress Dowager today," The Empress Dowager had recovered but had holed up in her palace, claiming she was still ill after her fall. Everyone knew it was only an extended tantrum aimed at forcing The Emperor to kick the other dowagers out of the Forbidden City. Slumping, Prince Han sighed, "Horrible. All she wanted to hear was what Dowager Noble Consort Ling was doing and then what The Emperor was doing. It was miserable. If she asks again, I''ll say I''m breaking in Yiqiang''s horse," "How has Sixth Prince been?" Jiayi asked, "Still¨C?" Prince Han nodded. He had noticed Sixth Prince''s mood as well. "Nothing cheered him up? Not even kite flying?" "Nothing," "I wish I could do something, but I don''t know what''s wrong," "He can''t help it," Prince Han said, "He was motherless for so long before he met Xiang pin. Just as he was given a second chance at a mother, she was almost taken away from him. He can''t help but feel angry at his poor fate. I would, too," That was a sad thought. To not even be ten and have lost two mothers. Jiayi gripped Prince Han''s hand, "You''ll send the herbs out in the morning?" He nodded, "As soon as the sun rises," ? Well, it was official. Xiang pin''s little maid was as dim as she was. She had to be! Only a fool wouldn''t have understood what she had said. Clear as day, she had declared Shen huang gui fei as the mastermind behind Xiang pin''s accident, and Shen huang gui fei was still sitting pretty in Zhongcuigong, entertaining guests and showing off the princes. She had even managed to twist Jin pin over to her side. Jin pin had spent so many years hiding behind The Empress''s skirts that it was shocking to see her sitting with Shen huang gui fei, discussing child-rearing tips in her warming room. The flip-flopping bitch then had the nerve to look offended when An pin arrived. An pin wouldn''t let it bother her when Shen huang gui fei was being so obvious about her new friendship. "I''m glad the boys have someone like Yifu to look up to," said Shen huang gui fei, "He''ll have to keep them close as His Majesty looks to Yifu now," The idea that Yifu was suddenly the top choice for Crown Prince was ridiculous. He was as timid and mute as his mother. And like his mother, The Emperor only remembered him once every fortnight. It wouldn''t be long until Jin pin was doing Shen huang gui fei''s dirty work. "Your Highness," Wang chang zai said, slumping into the room, "I''ve finished," "Give it here, then," An pin took a good long look at the flower pot shoes she had ordered Wang chang zai to embroider. The pink silk was glittering with silver butterflies and white lotuses. It was fine work and one of a kind. No one else would be able to match this. It was good that An pin could get something out of having this woman stink up her side hall. "At least you''re good for something," An pin said, kicking off her shoes to try them on. "Thank you, Your Highness," Wang chang zai grumbled. Wang chang zai was a strange one. As forgotten and looked down upon as she was, she still had the nerve to be haughty. She treated the few servants she had like she was above them and even dared to order Weiwei around! There were days when An pin really regretted not beating her death. After admiring her new shoes, An pin went to her jewelry box and picked out the most common, plain, gold ring she owned¨Ca simple slim band with a knobby piece of jade on top. It was near trash but better than anything Wang chang zai had ever owned. "Here," she said, returning to her seat at the head of the room, "A reward for a job well done," It warmed An pin''s heart to watch Wang chang zai begrudgingly thank her for the dinky little ring. "You''re not putting it on?" An pin asked as Wang chang zai tried to tuck the ring away, "What? You don''t like it?" Wang chang zai flashed a brittle smile, "Of course not, Your Highness," She slipped the ring on and held it out for An pin''s inspection. It looked awful. "It looks beautiful," An pin declared. "Your Highness," a eunuch said as he stepped into the room, "Cao taiyi is here," Wang chang zai''s head snapped to the door. An pin snorted, "Bring him in," Wang chang zai was practically leering at Cao taiyi as he kneeled to greet them. Yes, An pin had forbidden her from seeing him, but that didn''t mean the woman shouldn''t maintain what little dignity she had left. "Rise," An pin said before looking at Wang chang zai, "You can withdraw," Wang chang zai quivered, "But, Your Highness¨C" An pin rolled her eyes, "Surely you don''t want Cao taiyi to watch you get dragged out of here. Run along," Wang chang zai frowned petulantly before bowing and excusing herself, not before casting a cow-eyed look at Cao taiyi, of course. "Don''t keep me in suspense now," said An pin after Wang chang zai made her exit. Cao taiyi cleared his throat, "I''ve made some discoveries regarding Guang pin''s death," The first thing An pin demanded of Cao taiyi from the moment she had his life in her hands was to investigate Guang pin''s death. It didn''t sit right that Shen huang gui fei ended up with 10th and 11th Prince. Guang pin hadn''t been sick the entire time An pin had known her, but she was suddenly so unlucky that her pregnancy killed her but not the children? It was all too convenient. "And?" "Guang pin was near death after giving birth, but with some extra attention, she could''ve lived. Shen huang gui fei convinced the midwives that it was kinder to let Guang pin die than let her live in pain for the rest of her days," While that news was alarming, it was damning. The Emperor didn''t care enough about Guang pin for the revolution to inspire anything but annoyance. Furthermore, she wouldn''t be shocked if every midwife that attended that night had moved out of the capital thanks to a large influx of cash. "What else?" Asked An pin, "How''d she die? It couldn''t have just been the pregnancy! What was it? Poison?" Cao taiyi shifted uncomfortably, "In a sense," "What does that mean?" "I looked at Guang pin''s medical records; she was on normal prenatal prescriptions. Nothing was out of the ordinary. So, I asked one of her former maids if they could remember the herbs she prepared for her mistress. Everything she chose matched the records, except for one," Cao taiyi held out a small dried ball in his palm, "This," An pin reared back, "What is it? Is it poisonous?" "Not at all. This is Bu Gu Zhi. It''s a fine herb. Good for diarrhea, bone pain, and poor skin. But pregnant women should never take it. I asked her maid where she got it. She said that Wang Rong had given Guang pin an entire jar, instructing her to grind one or two pods and drink every morning to keep her skin clear," Wang Rong? Jiang pin? Incredible. Even from the grave, she was acting like a brat. An pin scoffed, "So Shen huang gui fei wasn''t involved at all?" Cao taiyi shook his head. An pin plucked the herb from his hand and leaned back in her chair with a sigh. She couldn''t believe it. Guang pin wasted away from swallowing a few of these stupid dried-up balls of leaves at the wrong time? "So anyone could take these, and they''d be fine?" She asked. Cao taiyi nodded, "A few of the other mistresses have been taking them regularly for years," A thought popped into An pin''s head. A smile crawled onto her face. "Cao taiyi, how easy is it to alter medicinal records?" Chapter 44 The howling rain couldn''t drown out the deafening thump of Jiayi''s heart. Standing in the corridor waiting for Prince Han, the wailing of the storm echoed across the concrete walls and straight into Jiayi''s brain. Thick, black clouds had blotted out the sun for days, dousing what little warmth the newly budding spring had brought. The chill had sucked the life from Xiang pin''s bones and tethered her to the bed. Jiayi told herself it was only the weather as Xiang pin became more listless and gray. That Xiang pin wasn''t getting worse. That taking away her medicine was the right thing to do. Xiang pin wasn''t dying. She wasn''t. The rain pelted Jiayi''s umbrella. Xiang pin wasn''t dying. She wasn''t. A heavy hand gripped her shoulder and startled Jiayi out of her thoughts. Her clumsy fingers flinched, and the paper umbrella fell to the ground, letting the rain pierce Jiayi''s skin. "Sorry," Prince Han said, using his own umbrella to shield her from the rain, "I didn''t mean to startle you," "Do you have news?" She asked, the shock of the rain frittering through her skin. Prince Han nodded. He pulled out a tightly rolled piece of parchment, "This arrived today," Jiayi tore it open but adrenaline made her vision shake. She shoved it at Prince Han, "Read it. Tell me what it says," Prince Han''s curled his fingers around her own to steady the paper, "It says that the doctor identified the herbs as safe. Xiang pin''s prescription wasn''t poison," Jiayi''s lips quivered, "There was nothing wrong with it? At all?" Her heart began to pound. Was she really the reason Xiang pin was so sick? Was she the one putting the final nail in Xiang pin''s coffin by taking away the medicine? "How can that be? There has to be something wrong with it. Read it again!" "Jiayi¨C" "Read it again! There has to be something wrong with it! If Xiang pin dies because of me¨C" Prince Han held her hand tighter, "Xiang pin isn''t going to die because of you. You could never do something like that," His voice traveled through the thrum of the rain and into Jiayi''s chest. It calmed her, but only a bit. "The doctor wrote more," Prince Han continued, "I sent the herbs out with a note describing Xiang pin''s illness. He says that while the herbs would encourage vitality in a healthy person, someone afflicted with dampness, like Xiang pin should never take it. It causes festering and Qi blockage. It would take some time, years even, but Xiang pin''s health wouldn''t survive the blow if she continued taking it. Jiayi. You were right to take this away," "Then why isn''t she getting better?" Jiayi asked, her voice trembling. Prince Han wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "I suspect her Qi is already blocked. The doctor wrote another prescription¨Cone that Xiang pin needs. I''ll send it to The Imperial Hospital in my name and find some way to send it to you," Jiayi swallowed, "And Xiang pin will get better, right?" "Of course," "What if we''re too late?" Jiayi whispered. "Jiayi¨C" "Xiang pin was so sick she could barely get out of bed," "Jiayi¨C" "How will I face¨C" "Jiayi, stop!" said Prince Han, halting her fevered rambles. "Look at me," Prince Han said, pressing a hand to her face, "It''s going to be okay. We''ll figure it out together. I promise," Jiayi threw her hands around Prince Han''s shoulders and buried her face in his chest. Even if everything he said turned out to be a lie, she would believe it. Just for a little while. ? Jiayi wanted to be angry. To be filled with fury. To be so incensed with rage that nothing would stop her from getting her hands around Shen huang gui fei''s throat and squeezing¨Cbut all she had swirling in her belly was fear. Shen huang gui fei was too slippery, too quick, too favored. She hid her dirty hands behind miles of flesh. How could Jiayi even attempt to touch her? Jiang pin was easy¨Ca nothing in comparison. Shen huang gui fei was a different beast entirely. Her reach was far, poisonous, and most likely right in Chengqiangong. The only place the medicine could be tampered with was Chengqiangong. Once a week, at the Imperial Hospital, Hwang taiyi measured the prescription and sealed it shut under Shiyi gugu''s watchful eyes. A random Yikungong servant then delivered the sealed medicine to Chengqiangong. The medicine packets that Jiayi opened and tossed were clearly sealed. There was no other chance for it to be tampered with until it arrived. It all came down to who put hands on the package first. It had to be one of the newer servants granted to Xiang pin after her promotion. Jiayi didn''t pay much attention to them; there was never any point. Now, she was kicking herself for it. Because of her foolishness, she had to do something equally as terrifying as unraveling Shen huang gui fei''s treacherous ropes. Corner Shiyi gugu. Jiayi had to find out which maid accepted the medicine, and only Shiyi gugu could round up the people who delivered it. As The Empress''s close maid, Shiyi gugu rarely left her mistress''s side, but these days, she had a standing appointment at the A Ge Sou. She and a few servants delivered an evening meal, made by The Empress, to Third Prince and Seventh Prince. That''s where Jiayi made her move. She watched as Shiyi gugu turned the corner to the A Ge Sou and ran to intercept her. "Gugu, please, I need to speak with you," Shiyi gugu sniffed, barely pausing her stride, "I''m here on the orders of Her Highness The Empress, not to chit chat in the street. Remove yourself," she said, stepping into the courtyard. Jiayi tried to follow, but the guards refused to allow her entry. Undeterred, she waited for Shiyi gugu''s return, pins and needles running through her body. Shiyi gugu didn''t spend long inside and lead the servants away with her head held high, not sparing Jiayi a look. Desperate, Jiayi did the unthinkable and grabbed the older woman''s arm. Her glare nearly burnt a hole in Jiayi''s skull. Snatching her arm away, Shiyi gugu hissed, "How dare you¨C" Jiayi leaned close and said lowly, "The Empress is in danger," This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "What?" "The Empress," Jiayi said, her mouth dry, "Is in danger," "Speak quickly!" Shiyi gugu snapped. "Someone''s tampering with Xiang pin''s medicine," "Ridiculous! I watch Hwang taiyi''s every move and paste it shut myself!" "And yet the medicine isn''t the same! I...I sent the dregs to a doctor in the capital¨C" Shiyi gugu puffed up in insult, "You impudent thing¨C" "And they said that what Xiang pin''s drinking encourages dampness and harms her health," "Those doctors don''t know their head from the hole they came out of," Shiyi gugu said, "I don''t have to believe you just because a charlatan spoke sweetly," "But what if he''s right, gugu?" said Jiayi, "If my mistress dies, the first thing they''ll do is check the prescription. When Hwang taiyi realizes that someone switched the prescription, all eyes will be on Yikungong," A wrinkle appeared on Shiyi gugu''s brow. "You''re sure the medicine is being tampered with?" Jiayi nodded, "By someone in Chengqiangong. I have a plan to catch the culprit, but there''s something I need your help with, gugu," Letting out a heavy breath, Shiyi gugu nodded sharply, "Fine," The relief nearly knocked Jiayi off her feet, "Thank you, gugu," ? Lihua used to be more afraid. A pit of dread would open in her belly each week as she took Xiang pin''s herbs and cheerfully told the others that she was stepping inside to put it away. Instead, she would detour to De gui fei''s little kitchen and lift open a loose floorboard in the back corner. Back then, her hands would slip and shake, the sweat on her palms greasing the way. She would reach under and scramble to grab one of the packages stored there. They were identical to the ones sent by the Imperial Hospital. Shen huang gui fei made sure of that. Lihua would stuff the real medicine in her jacket before racing back to Xiang pin''s rooms to drop off the fake. It always left her heart seizing in her chest, every creak or whisper in the wind was a sign that she had been found out. But as the weeks passed, nothing happened. No one caught on, just as Shen huang gui fei said. Switching the medicine was as normal as standing in front of Xiang pin''s rooms. Why did she need to fear? Xiang pin was none the wiser about it all. She still let Yongnian live, and that bean pole of a eunuch was the one who pushed her into the lake in the first place! Lihua didn''t regret what she was doing. She would amount to nothing as Xiang pin''s maid. Lihua was to walk behind her mistress, her head bowed for the next ten years before being thrown back to her family, elderly and unmarried. Shen huang gui fei promised that if Lihua could just do this one thing, she would be guaranteed a good husband. 10th and 11th Prince''s nursemaids came from good families¨Cit wouldn''t be hard for Shen huang gui fei to find a place for her. It wasn''t a betrayal. Not really. Who was truly loyal to who in this place? Lihua was only thinking of her future. She glanced at the sky. Xiang pin''s medicine would arrive soon. It wouldn''t be long before Lihua got to leave this dusty doorstep for something greater. A''Fang told her during the last handoff that the newest batch of medicine was more potent than what Xiang pin had been drinking these previous months. This chapter of Lihua''s life would be over sooner than later. Lihua perked up as a straight-backed eunuch walked through the courtyard. She never recognized whoever The Empress sent to deliver the medicine; they kept changing. "Her Highness Xiang pin''s medicine," the eunuch said softly. "Thank you," Lihua replied, taking the package. The other maids didn''t bother trying to accept it after Lihua declared herself the keeper of the medicine. She didn''t have to tell them she was off to put them away. It was just the routine now. The medicine delivery always came around the same time Xiang pin napped. The entire palace knew not to disturb her, so truly, there had never been anything standing between Lihua and her task. As she lifted the floorboard to switch the packets, she thought of how long it would take Shen huang gui fei to find someone for her. She wondered how her parents would react. Her? Returning home with an engagement to a lofty clan? Her mother would never believe it. "Spring really is the season for snakes, isn''t it?" Lihua froze. Her hand went limp, the medicine falling back into the hole with a thunk. Xiang pin? How did she? How¨C After all this time¨C "To be fair, its my fault," Xiang pin continued, "When you leave the door open, all sorts of pests just slither in," Lihua forced herself to look up at Xiang pin''s eerily smiling face. Her mistress had grown lean, her teeth viciously poking out of her pointed cheeks. "Your Highness. I...I¨C" Xiang pin tilted her head and let out a cheery laugh, "Shh, shh, shh! Don''t spoil it! Her Highness The Empress and jiejie need to hear it, too!" ? The Empress trailed her eyes from the counterfeit medicine packet in her hands to the maid kneeling before her, bound in coarse rope. "Your name," The maid flinched, her bowed head dripping sweat, but her mouth stayed shut. "Your Highness," her eunuch Xiaosi said, "Why don''t we just cut out this slave''s tongue, seeing as she has no use for it?" "Now, now, gonggong," said Xiang pin, "I''m sure Lihua has some lovely things to share with us," "Lihua?" Asked The Empress. Xiang pin nodded, "If I remember, she''s a Gorolo clanswoman," It didn''t matter that Lihua wasn''t in the mood to talk. The Empress knew how to loosen her lips. "Shiyi, take my decree. Arrest every Gorolo maid and execute them. Let it be known that no Gorolo girl may enter the palace as long as I live. Hopefully, after hearing what poison this clan breeds, I can convince His Majesty to expel any Gorolo clansman from court," "Your Highness!" Lihua said, suddenly finding her voice, "Have mercy! Wouldn''t it be enough to kill me? My clan had nothing to do with this!" Smiling, The Empress shook her head, "Kill you? I don''t plan on doing anything like that. I will be sending you back to your family with the destruction of your clan on your head. Death would be too good for a black-hearted slave who''s done everything in her power to kill her master. It wasn''t enough for you to drown her, but poison her as well?" Xiaosi tsked, "Your Highness, don''t you have too much kindness for this slave? You''ve seen what she''s capable of. Before we send her away, wouldn''t it be best to cut off her hands?" "Fine then," The Empress said with a nod, "Cut them off," Lihua''s eyes stretched wide, "Your Highness, wait! Wait! Please, it wasn''t me! I didn''t push Xiang pin!" The Empress scoffed, "Who else could be so devious?" "It was Yongnian! It was him! Shen huang gui fei paid him two taels of gold to push Xiang pin into the water! It wasn''t me!" "This girl really is a little devil," said Xiang pin, covering her mouth in faux disgust, "Accusing Shen huang gui fei and an innocent eunuch for her deeds? It''s too much," "No! He did it! He did!" Said Lihua, her voice teetering on hysterical, "He was the one who took me to her! If you search his rooms, you''ll find the gold!" Xiang pin sighed before turning to De gui fei, "What do you think, jiejie? Should we bother?" De gui fei nodded, "No one involved in this should escape punishment," Xiang pin waved a lazy hand in the air, "Bolin, go fetch him," Lihua did a wormlike twist and crawled as close to The Empress''s feet before the guards dragged her back, "Your Highness, please, please, it wasn''t my fault. Shen huang gui fei told me that Xiang pin wasn''t going to live very long in the first place! She told me I was doing her a favor by not letting her suffer. It was Yongnian who truly harmed her, not me!" The Empress ignored Lihua''s babbling. She was busy smothering the urge to have Shen huang gui fei strung up and bled out like the pig she was. The Empress knew that people were lusting after her downfall, but involving Yian and Yihe? Shen huang gui fei had gone too far now. No one in this damned place had the right to be by The Emperor''s side but her sons. His legitimate children. His heirs. His future. The future of the Great Qing! "Right this way," a voice outside the door said before Yongnian entered. The Empress watched as the jovial smile slipped from Yongnian''s face. His eyes flitted from The Empress to Lihua before his skin went gray in terror. Bolin shoved him inside before he could think of running and closed the door behind him. Two guards rushed to hold him to the ground. "Yongnian," Xiang pin said, "Lihua was telling us something exciting about you. Can you tell us if it''s true?" "She''s lying!" Yongnian gasped out, "It''s all lies!" Xiang pin rolled her eyes, "You don''t even know what she''s told us," "Did she tell you that Shen huang gui fei isn''t even paying her? She''s doing this so Shen huang gui fei could find her a good husband!" "You''re no better than me!" Screeched Lihua, "You''re planning on wasting that gold on prostitutes and opium the second you have the chance!" The simmering pot of anger in The Empress''s chest finally boiled over, "Enough," she said, the coldness of her voice cutting through their voices. "Execute them both. Stuff their mouths so they don''t cause a scene," "Is that it?" Asked De gui fei, "What about Shen huang gui fei?" "I''ll deal with her," replied The Empress. "You always say that," De gui fei hissed. Xiang pin put a gentle hand on De gui fei''s elbow, "Jiejie¨C" "She almost killed Xiang pin and ruined Yian and Yihe! And you still won''t speak to His Majesty about this?" The Empress clenched her fist before rising, "How and when I punish the concubines in my back palace is no concern of yours, De gui fei," ? Zhang Wei came to The Emperor''s side, "Your Majesty, The Empress has sent something for you," The Emperor glanced up from the work on his desk, "Read it to me," "Of course, Your Majesty," said Zhang Wei, "Ah, Her Highness is asking for your approval on her choices for First Princess and Second Princess," "Is that so? I was beginning to think she''d never decide," The Emperor said, "Who did she choose for them?" "For First Princess, Hu Shi of the Fuca clan and for Second Princess, Pan Weimin of the Hoifa Nara," The Emperor paused, setting his brush down, "The Empress has thought clearly. Prepare the decrees," Chapter 45 On a day like this, it was fitting for the sun to shine so brightly because no one was truly as blessed as Shen huang gui fei was right now. Huabao was marrying into the Fuca clan. The Fuca clan! Not only was Shen huang gui fei forging a connection with one of The Great Qing''s noblest backers, but Huabao was returning from Mongolia! By summer, her daughter would finally be back in her arms. When Zhang Wei came to her palace with the decree, Shen huang gui fei nearly fainted. All of her hard work was coming to fruition. The Empress finding a way to free her little brats couldn''t put a damper damper her happiness. Shen huang gui fei had to admit that The Empress put in the work of finding a legion of zokors* to tear up the gardens all around the palace; freeing Yian and Yihe from His Majesty''s suspicion. Pity to the poor gardeners who were flogged and exiled for their "negligence." A visit to The Empress Dowager made no difference, either. The old woman had decided that her declaration never to set foot outside again had never happened and continued with her usual nonsense. She was practically emptying The Forbidden City''s coffers with how many new outfits, jewelry, and cosmetics she bought. It was as if she was determined to make sure the other dowagers remembered that they were below her. It had been incredibly peaceful with The Empress Dowager shut away. It was such a pain to keep placating her. The woman spent the entirety of the morning demanding that Huabao''s first act as Lady Fuca should be to add a few Borjigit concubines to the household¨Call her recommendations, of course. Please. Huabao would be a fool to add more women into her manor to try and sweeten up her husband. The first thing that girl had to do was have a son and a daughter to cement herself as the difujin of the manor. It wouldn''t be hard at all. Huabao was young and healthy, and if she had kept a keen eye, she''d have Hu Chi eating out of the palm of her hands. "You look positively radiant, Your Highness," A''Fang said as she walked beside Shen huang gui fei''s raised chair, "You entertain so many well-wishers these days but, you don''t look tired at all," "Stop grinning like that," said Jingse, "You look like a fool," Shen huang gui fei shrugged, "I''ll have to start turning them away. All that excitement might disturb the children," Thoughts of red silks and juicy oranges ran through her mind as she was carried back to Zhongcuigong. Shen huang gui fei wondered how many embroidery maids she could get to work on Huabao''s wedding clothes. Perhaps she shouldn''t even bother and commission a shop in the capital for something even more one of a kind. Shen huang gui fei''s courtyard was surprisingly quiet. She had only been joking about turning guests away. There was usually an attendant or two waiting to greet her. She fanned herself lightly as she stepped inside, hoping the hothouse had the decency to send over some fresh fruit to sweeten her mouth. However, what Shen huang gui fei saw instantly turned her mouth bitter. The Empress was in her palace, sitting in her seat as if she owned the place. The nursemaids were fawning by her side, eagerly showing off the princes like a group of idiots. "Your Highness," said Shen huang gui fei, bowing lightly, "No one informed me you were visiting," The Empress smiled, "Rise. I realized that I hadn''t seen Yizhong and Yiru since their namings, and I thought I would drop by and see them," Shen huang gui fei wanted to spit hearing the names The Empress had forced on her sons. As their 100 days came and went, Shen huang gui fei was eager to tell His Majesty what she wanted to name her sons. Her 10th Prince would be Hong, for the greatness he would surely bring to her, and the 11th Prince would be Chao. For the way he would surpass all who stood in his way. Yihong and Yichao. They were the perfect names. But when the day came, before she could even start her suggestions, The Emperor informed her that he had been delighted with The Empress''s choices for children''s names. Zhong and Ru. Loyalty and Scholar. Servants names. Slave names, even! The Empress wanted 10th Prince to be loyal to her sons and aspire to be nothing but a faithful dog. She wanted 11th Prince to never dare rise above Yian and Yihe and know his place as a lowly scholar. The Empress wanted to clip their wings before they could even fly. "Yan momo told me that Yiru can sit up by himself now. He''s living up to his name quite well, isn''t he?" Did The Empress never tire of twisting the knife? "I only hope they can attempt to catch up to Yian and Yihe in their strength," The Empress said nothing and bounced Yizhong in her arms. Shen huang gui fei scanned the crowd of nursemaids. What had they told The Empress? Did they accept food for the children? Or a toy that could be tainted? These country bumpkins probably believed that any gift from The Empress was some great honor. Had she convinced them to work for her? To tell her secrets? "Don''t stand on my account," said The Empress, "Sit," "Thank you, Your Highness," "Yan momo, shouldn''t they be hungry by now?" Shen huang gui fei asked as she sat, "Withdraw and feed them," Whatever Yan momo wanted to say was rightfully stifled when she caught sight of Shen huang gui fei''s face. "Of course, Your Highness. We''ll take our leave," The nursemaids carried the children off and left Shen huang gui fei to entertain The Empress. She was wearing an underwhelming blue and silver shafu. Basic and boring gold and kingfisher jewelry adorned her hair and ears, and her nail guards were, of course, nothing special. The Empress was her usual boring, bland self. "Truthfully, huang gui fei, I came here to tell you something. Early this morning, His Majesty received word that Huabao and her litter have begun their journey out of Mongolia," Warmth shot through Shen huang gui fei''s chest, "Really?" The Empress nodded, "200 of their strongest soldiers are escorting her. His Majesty took no chances," "I thank His Majesty for his grace," "I wonder what Huabao looks like now," The Empress said with a sigh, "I know she was barely gone for a year, but things change so quickly," Shen huang gui fei''s warmth turned to ice. "Especially for a girl of her age. I''m so eager for my little Mongolian princess to step foot in the Forbidden City again. Aren''t you huang gui fei?" "I''ve never been happier," Shen huang gui fei said, giving The Empress a razor-toothed smile, "I can admit, Huabao''s absence hurt my heart in a way I could never imagine, but seeing you so strong after Princess Anhe''s death, well, I could only attempt to take after you," The Empress fiddled with her nail guards for a moment and said, "Living without her never gets easier, but in some way, she''ll always be mine. She won''t ever marry far away to some manor. I won''t have to worry if the man His Majesty chose for her is a beast or to stay up late wondering if she stepped into a pit of vipers masquerading as concubines," Shaking her head, The Empress continued, "Look at me, saying such a foolish thing. No concubine would be so foolish as to try and harm her husband''s difujin. Especially one that could wipe their entire clan out in just a moment, right huang gui fei?" Shen huang gui fei stared at The Empress''s flinty gaze, a cold sweat beading on her neck, "Of course not, Your Highness. Who would sign their own death warrant?" The look on The Empress''s face was strange. Shen huang gui fei had never seen it before. It wasn''t the bland, limp stare she usually had or the slight, sour scowl that appeared when she didn''t get her way. It was piercing. Cruel. Trembling for blood. It was as if The Empress could see every single one of Shen huang gui fei''s deeds right on her face. "Ah, the day is getting late," The Empress said, getting to her feet, the violence in her stare disappearing, "I won''t take any more of your time," "Sending Your Highness off with respect," Shen huang gui fei uttered at her back. Shen huang gui fei stumbled to her seat, catching herself on the nearby side table and sending a porcelain plate of walnuts crashing to the ground. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Your Highness!" Jingse cried, coming to her side. The nerve of that woman to look down at Shen huang gui fei that way. What right did she have to vengeance after all she had done? Her brats were locked up for minutes compared to how long Huabao was gone. How many children had that woman ruined? How dare she act like she was wronged! Yan momo and the other nursemaids filed into the room at the sound of the noise. "Your Highness, are you alright?" Of course those brown nosing bitches would run out at the sound of her misery. Shen huang gui fei surged to her feet and slapped Yan momo across the face. "The next time I see any one of you bitches cozying up to The Empress, you''ll all be flogged 50 times!" "Yes, Your Highness," they replied. "Get out of my sight," ? In the darkness of the night, Xiang pin had nowhere to hide. Here, cocooned in this bed, there was no finery. No jewels or silks or brocades. There was no Imperial Concubine¡ªjust a mortal woman who had been snatched away from the jaws of death. The thought chilled her to the bone and made her mouth turn to ash. She had nearly died. Died. And she had been none the wiser. She had sat here in her palace of decadent trinkets, glutting herself on the thought that her life was secured. She hadn''t noticed a thing. Shen huang gui fei had nearly dragged her into a coffin, and Xiang pin sat there and let herself be pulled along like the idiot she pretended to be. Like a damned fool. The only reason she was even able to lie in this bed and lament about her brush with death was because of Jiayi. A girl of 19 who had barely lived managed to think clearer than Xiang pin. Too many feelings were jumbled up in Xiang pin''s head when Jiayi told her what she had done. Switching the medicines, getting an outside opinion, catching the snake in her midst... And once again, Xiang pin didn''t notice a thing. She wanted to say that it was the sickness, that her being ill made her delirious, but the truth was that Xiang pin had grown complacent and arrogant. She truly believed that she had become untouchable. The Emperor favored her. The Empress protected her. She had a son. Who would dare touch her? She didn''t have a clue. When had she transformed into such a pampered idiot? How had she grown so blind? How had she become everything she found so pathetic? In the brothel, she pitied such women. She wondered how they could be so silly, so unaware. And yet, here she was. Shaking like a leaf in her royal bed remembering how she happily drank poison day after day. It was disturbing how easily she fell into it. It was appalling how easily she fell into it. It made Xiang pin want to tear her skin off. How hard had Shen huang gui fei laughed when she heard that Xiang pin had ''fallen'' into the pond? Was she incredibly giddy when Lihua told her that her mistress didn''t suspect a thing? The embarrassment made her face burn. She wanted to hole away in her bed and wallow in her shame. But the arrogance that kept her swallowing that rancid brew was the flame that burned in her belly for revenge. Shaken as she was, Xiang pin realized with astounding clarity that Shen huang gui fei was terrified of her. Xiang pin, stripped down and naked, was nothing. She had no clan or lineage or heavy coffers of silver and gold. All she had was a piece of The Emperor''s heart. A piece that Xiang pin never strived to make bigger. She hadn''t even planned to hold onto it for very long. But that wasn''t good enough for Shen huang gui fei. She wanted His Majesty all to herself. Well. Hopefully, Shen huang gui fei would get used to being disappointed. ? Xiang pin was quiet. It was rare. There was nothing Jiayi''s mistress liked more than a breezy chat. But yet here she was, staring silently in the mirror as Jiayi combed rose-scented oil through her hair. Jiayi nibbled on the corner of her lip. Was Xiang pin still mad at her? Jiayi only explained the bare details before they caught Lihua in the act, and the event began. When the excitement was over, and the criminals were dragged away, Xiang pin and De gui fei demanded to know every detail about how Jiayi discovered the plot. De gui fei was furious after Jiayi finished, calling her deceitful and reckless. That what she did could have gone horribly wrong, and if it did, Xiang pin''s blood would''ve been on her hands. Despite De gui fei''s insistence that Jiayi should punished in some way, Xiang pin, still exhausted, only shook her head and retired to her bedroom. They hadn''t spoken about it again. Xiang pin had returned to her bubbly self, nearly finished with the new medicine Prince Han acquired. But this morning, she had barely said a word. "Your Highness," Jiayi said, letting the glossy black locks slip through her fingers, "Are you alright?" Xiang pin blinked, catching Jiayi''s eyes in their twin reflections. "I''m fine," Jiayi dropped to her knees, clutching the comb tightly, the smooth teeth digging into her palms, "Your Highness, if my actions still displease you, please punish me to soothe your anger," "Do you regret your actions?" "No," Jiayi said, squeezing the comb tighter, "I...I only regret keeping it a secret for so long. I would do it again to keep you safe," Xiang pin held out her hand, "Get up," Jiayi let Xiang pin pull her to her feet. "I''m not cross with you. I''m cross with myself for being a blind idiot. You saved my life. I couldn''t be more grateful," The praise made Jiayi flush with happiness, but the happiness quickly turned to pain when Xiang pin flicked her on the forehead. "But didn''t we say no secrets? You could''ve told me something was wrong with the medicine," "I wanted to make sure first," Jiayi said, rubbing her forehead, "Then things kept happening so quickly¨C" "Fine, fine, fine," Xiang pin said with a wave of her hand, "It''s all water on the bridge now. The clouds are gone and the day is clear. Finish up back there," Jiayi returned to work, neatly twisting and wrapping her mistress''s hair. As she went through the familiar motions, a thought popped into Jiayi''s head. What was to be done about Shen huang gui fei? "Your Highness...about Shen huang gui fei..." Xiang pin''s face dropped before she began to pick through her box of hair accessories. "It''s too early. She''ll know that I''m behind it. Jiejie said its best to be vigilant and wait until after Huabao''s wedding," Staring at Xiang pin''s drooped shoulders, Jiayi asked, "Aren''t you happy that First Princess is returning to the palace?" "I should be. But unfortunately, Huabao is her mother''s daughter," Jiayi plucked the gold chai from Xiang pin''s hand, "I don''t understand," Xiang pin blinked, shaking her head as if rousing herself from a daze, "It doesn''t matter. Hurry now. I want to wake Yiqiang myself for his birthday," Jiayi forgot the harrowed look in Xiang pin''s eyes and did as she was told. For the occasion, Xiang pin had chosen a festively green chenyi with pink lotuses and plump frogs embroidered at the skirt. Once her hair and clothes were done to her standards, Xiang pin went to rouse Sixth Prince. Hopefully his birthday gave him something to smile about. According to Molan and Bolin, Xiang pin''s accident sent Sixth Prince into a frenzy. When he was kept away so the doctors could treat her, he threatened to have anyone who stopped him from going to her bedside executed. He wouldn''t even give up his spot next to her bed for The Emperor. Throughout Xiang pin''s recovery, Sixth Prince had reverted into the surly, suspicious boy that Jiayi had found, ignored, and tucked away in the A Ge Sou. Xiang pin had recovered, but Sixth Prince had not. No amount of coaxing and merrymaking had any effect on him either. "Yiqiang," Xiang pin cooed at the squirming lump on the bed, "It''s time to get up!" Thunder grumbled from somewhere beneath the sheets. "Didn''t you say I could sleep in for my birthday?" the hoarse voice groaned. "But if you sleep any longer, His Majesty will think you''re impudent for making him wait to eat," Silence. "What?" "It''s your birthday. Of course His Majesty invited you to eat breakfast with him," Yiqiang tossed off the sheets and nearly fell to the floor in his haste to get up. "Where''s the water?" He grumbled, "I need to wash my face. Quickly!" Xiang pin giggled as Sixth Prince scrambled to the steaming bowl of water on his vanity. Thunder crawled out from the cocoon of sheets, waddled into her master''s lap, and fell asleep again with a throaty snore. While Ping''er and Molan brushed and braided Sixth Prince''s hair, Jiayi sorted through his clothes and dug out the outfit that Xiang pin had ordered for his birthday. The changfu was a deep, rich brown with black sleeves and glistening gold cuffs. The waistcoat was a lighter brown, with the characters for longevity stamped all over in gold foil. Xiang pin even had brand-new scent pouches in deep red with hanging green tassels made for the occasion. It was a very charming outfit. "Come, come," Xiang pin waving Sixth Prince over to Jiayi, "Let me dress you," Sixth Prince stared at the clothes. "There''s gold," Xiang pin huffed, "Of course it''s gold! Imagine a prince never wearing even a bit of gold on his birthday! Outrageous! Molan, take off his clothes. I need to see if this all still fits. You better not have had a growth spurt since this was finished," Sixth Prince was pushed, pulled, and buttoned up before Xiang pin stood straight with a happy sigh. "What do you think? Is Yiqiang handsome?" She asked. Jiayi glanced at the other girls, "So handsome, Your Highness!" Molan nodded eagerly, "There''s no one in all of the Forbidden City who is as dashing as Sixth Prince!" "Not even Prince Han!" Said Pie''er. Another maid said salaciously, "Not even His Majesty!" They all dissolved into laughter and Sixth Prince''s face grew redder and redder. "Aiyo!" Said Xiang pin, "Enough! If you make anymore noise, you''ll disturb De gui fei," "It''s a bit late for that," said De gui fei as she walked through the open door. Jiayi clamped her mouth shut and greeted her. De gui fei hadn''t become her biggest fan after the near concubine fiasco, and after everything that happened with Xiang pin''s poisoning, Jiayi was sure that De gui fei would like nothing more to see expelled from the palace. De gui fei looked at Sixth Prince and smiled, "Happy birthday, Yiqiang. You look very handsome," "Thank you, De niangniang," "Jiejie, you''d usually be on your way to greet The Empress at this time in the morning," said Xiang pin. "I would, but I don''t mind being a little late," said De gui fei, "It was my only chance to see Yiqiang. After the morning greetings, The Empress is going to help me choose the betrothal gifts for the Pan family. It''ll probably take all day," Xiang pin twisted her lips, "Ah. Another day without my busy jiejie. What a pity. But! This is good! After you get the experience of planning Huahuan''s wedding, you can help me with Yiqiang''s!" Sixth Prince tugged at Xiang pin''s arm, "We''ll be late! Why are you asking De niangniang for help with my wedding? I''m never getting married," "Silly child," De gui fei scolded softly, "How can you say that? It''s your duty to marry and expand the Aisin-gioro clan," Frowning, Sixth Prince said, "My duty is to serve my mother. How can I do that if I get married and live in some faraway manor? I''ll stay here and protect her. Royal father has so many sons, anyways they can do it," Blasphemous as that was, Jiayi could see the small smiles on Xiang pin''s and De gui fei''s faces. Xiang pin let out a trembling breath, "It''s too early in the day for me to cry. Let''s go," She turned to De gui fei, "I''ll come see you this afternoon, alright?" Sixth Prince tugged at Xiang pin again, "Mother," "Alright, alright, I''ll have to take my leave now, jiejie or Yiqiang may rip my arm clean off," A quick bow and Sixth Prince all but pulled Xiang pin out of the room, giving Jiayi a chance to escape De gui fei''s heavy gaze. Chapter 46 Jiayi tried not to be bitter about the fact that The Emperor brought Sixth Prince out of his poor mood. It was logical, of course. For any child born from a concubine, attention from their father could be sparse. When that father was The Emperor, it was next to nothing. While His Majesty spent plenty of time with Xiang pin, Sixth Prince was rarely involved. He was either away studying or already asleep. Jiayi could see in Sixth Prince''s glittering eyes how much this exclusive one-on-one time meant to him. He looked at The Emperor like he hung the stars and spat out the moon. It was a shame that His Majesty couldn''t even pretend to feel the same. He couldn''t even remember Sixth Prince''s age without Zhang Wei gonggong''s help. Xiang pin made a good effort to chat with His Majesty about Sixth Prince, but somehow, he pivoted the conversation to talk about himself or her Even now, as they walked to the training grounds, The Emperor was regaling Xiang pin with tales of the Summer Palace. When Sixth Prince asked if he could go, His Majesty brushed him off with a diplomatic ''We''ll see''. Jiayi would bet her life that Sixth Prince would be spending his summer here in the Forbidden City. They entered the training grounds, and Jiayi helped Xiang pin climb the steps to the raised dias constructed in the center. There was a long table filled with plates of snacks and cold drinks along with a sturdy shade. Sixth Prince tugged at Xiang pin''s arm as he settled into his seat, "What are we doing here?" "Just wait a moment," she whispered back. A sharp whinny echoed through the stable before hooves could be heard on the other side of the arena. Prince Han burst into the stables, perched valiantly on top of a rich brown stallion. It looked nothing like the horses Jiayi had seen in the capital. Its sleek, muscular body gleamed under the sun, and its long, arched neck flowed gracefully into broad, powerful shoulders. It was as if the horse was made for Prince Han. His rich blue riding outfit barely creased as he brought the horse to a standstill. Hiking a long leg over the horse''s flank, Prince Han dismounted before dropping to his knees to greet The Emperor. "Rise," His Majesty replied. "15th Uncle is here!" Said Sixth Prince. The Emperor nodded, "Indeed, he is. And he''s brought my gift for you." "My gift?" Sixth Prince gasped. Sixth Prince''s eyes widened with excitement as he looked back at Prince Han, who had risen and was now holding the reins of the magnificent stallion. The boy''s mouth fell open in awe as the horse was led forward, its mane and tail rippling like dark silk in the breeze. "This horse," The Emperor announced, carrying across the training yard, "Was bred from the finest stock in the northern plains. A fitting companion for a prince." "A horse? Not even 4th brother has a horse yet," Sixth Prince replied, staring up at The Emperor in awe. "Yifu lacks the discipline for such a thing," Sixth Prince smiled at The Emperor wider than Jiayi had ever seen before he knelt down. "Thank you, Royal Father!" He jumped to his feet, not bothering to wait for The Emperor''s response, and ran down to meet Prince Han. "Slow down!" Xiang pin called after him, "Jiayi, make sure¨C" "No," said The Emperor, stopping Jiayi before she could take a step, "Yiqiang is a young man now. He doesn''t need a maid running after him at all hours of the day. Send your eunuch," "Yes, Your Majesty," said Xiang pin as she nodded at Bolin. Jiayi resumed her task of fanning Xiang pin and, The Emperor resumed ignoring Sixth Prince. "What do you think, Huifen," said The Emperor, leaning close to whisper in Xiang pin''s ear, "Is my gift up to your standards?" "Of course! I''ve never seen a horse so beautiful!" The Emperor wrapped an arm around Xiang pin''s shoulder, the other hand grasping her hand, "It''s as much of a gift for you as it is for Yiqiang. How could I give him anything but the best when you''ve toiled to raise him?" Xiang pin bowed her head modestly. "Raising Yiqiang is a gift, Your Majesty," Again, Sixth Prince was forgotten. With a sigh, Jiayi fixed her gaze on Prince Han as he guided Sixth Prince onto the horse, his hands steady and sure. The boy''s initial hesitation melted away under Prince Han''s guidance, and soon enough, Sixth Prince was sitting tall in the saddle, a broad smile on his face. "There you go," Prince Han said, his voice warm with encouragement, "Just like that. Keep your back straight and your hands light on the reins. Don''t let him scare you," Sixth Prince nodded eagerly, his earlier anxiety replaced by a newfound confidence. He glanced back at The Emperor, who watched the scene with an approving nod. "He''s a natural," Prince Han said, looking up at The Emperor, "He''ll make a fine rider with a bit of practice," The Emperor chuckled, "Perhaps he''ll even join us for a hunt one day," "Perhaps not so soon, Your Majesty," replied Xiang pin as she pressed a grape to his mouth, "At least wait until the poor boy''s lost the rest of his milk teeth!" Sixth Prince''s horse gave a full body shake so fierce that it nearly knocked him askew before Prince Han had the chance to steady him. Prince Han''s eyes almost vanished into crescent moons as he and Sixth Prince broke out into giggles. "I''m going to name him Lightning!" Sixth Prince declared. Prince Han snorted, "Lightning? Are you trying to pair this horse up with that little dog?" "Why not? Thunder and Lightning sound good together!" "This is one of the finest horses in all of the world!" Said Prince Han, "And you want to name it after that fat monster?" "If you say that again, I''ll make her bite you!" As they bickered, Jiayi fought back a smile. "Strange," His Majesty said, "I was very clear that the little dog was meant to be your companion, Huifen," Xiang pin smiled, "It would be less work keeping the sun from rising than keeping Thunder away from Yiqiang. For such a small thing, she can make such a racket!" The Emperor leaned close to Xiang pin and whispered something Jiayi couldn''t hear. Based on the blush on Xiang pin''s face, Jiayi was glad for it. "I suppose Prince Han''s scent pouch is your work as well?" He asked. "Scent pouch?" Xiang pin echoed, leaning forward to peer at Prince Han, "Oh. That is new, I think. But not my work," Jiayi''s heart skipped a beat, the silk fan almost flying from her fingers. She tightened her grip, the memory of secreting away pockets of time to carefully stitch the white aster decorating the black pouch on Prince Han''s waist flooding her mind. She had even committed a petty theft to stuff it with the highest quality herbs. She had smuggled it out of Chengqiangong a few days ago into Chang daren''s hands and eagerly awaited the sight of it on Prince Han. Jiayi thought that he would keep it private like their portraits, but seeing him wear it so brazenly in front of The Emperor made her stomach flutter. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Look a-niang! Royal father, look!" Sixth Prince cried, dragging Jiayi out of her musings. Lightning pranced around the yard in a soft gallop, Prince Han holding tight to the lead. "You look so dashing!" Xiang pin called back, "Hold tightly!" Even the joy on Sixth Prince''s face couldn''t distract Jiayi from Prince Han for too long. He hadn''t been without a smile from the second he sat Sixth Prince on Lightening. Suddenly, as if feeling the weight of her gaze, Prince Han locked eyes with her, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them. Jiayi''s heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. The emotions she had carefully hidden away surged to the surface in that fleeting moment¡ªadmiration, longing, and something deeper, something she dared not name. Prince Han''s gaze softened, his eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her cheeks flush. It was as if he was speaking to her without words, acknowledging the bond that they shared in secret. Jiayi quickly looked away, focusing once again on fanning Xiang pin. But the image of Prince Han''s warm, knowing gaze stayed with her, sending a rush of warmth through her body. No matter how distant he might seem or how impossible their situation, in that brief exchange, there was a connection that couldn''t be ignored. ? An pin was an Imperial Concubine. A status that thousands of hopeful women never even came close to achieving, no matter how long they fought to claw themselves out of the mud. And yet here she was, walking to the Imperial Household Department to personally pick up her monthly stipend. Weiwei held tight to her hand, a worried wrinkle in her brow, "Your Highness, you don''t have to debase yourself to the dogs in the Imperial Household Department. I''ll go back and demand your stipend. I''ll make such a fuss that they won''t dare turn me away," "No," replied An pin, "I''ll do it myself," It was insulting, but it got her out of Chuxiugong. It was embarrassing to admit, but technically, Wang chang zai had run her out of there. The older woman was just such a wet blanket. She was still dull, morose, and mean. To her annoyance, the Imperial Household Department didn''t look very busy at all. Nothing was on fire, no one was dead, hell, the courtyard was practically deserted. "Hello!" Cried Weiwei, "Anyone there?" Her voice echoed in the wind, the only response being the rustling of the trees. An pin huffed, "Did a real man come by and scare all the eunuchs away? What is going on?" "Anyone?!" Weiwei shouted again. "Coming! Coming!" A eunuch wrenched open the doors and scampered to kneel before An pin. "Wishing Your Highness peace," "Is there some sort of half-man holiday I wasn''t informed of? My maid came here to get my stipend, and you wouldn''t open the doors! Explain yourself," said An pin. "Begging your forgiveness, Your Highness!" Said the eunuch, hunching his back, "It''s just...the preparation for First Princess''s wedding is running the department thin," "There are thousands of you! How can one wedding need this much attention?" "Begging your pardon!" The eunuch said again, "Please come, Your Highness. I''ll fetch your stipend," As they went inside, Weiwei whispered in An pin''s ear, "Your Highness, please calm yourself. Shen huang gui fei might hear," "Whatever," An pin muttered as she followed him inside. Patting the sweat from her brow, An pin watched the eunuch pile her stipend on a silk tray. It made quite an attractive picture. The summer wasn''t so far away, so now was the time to request some new summer outfits from the Clothing House. Perhaps she could send an extra bit back home this month for her mother''s birthday. There were a few sweets in the capital that she hadn''t been able to get her hands on for some time. Maybe she''d use a tael or two to hire a chef. "Stop, right there," Weiwei hissed, "Are you trying to cheat my mistress? That is clearly not the monthly stipend of an Imperial Concubine! What kind of game are you playing?" Weiwei was right, her stipend was missing an entire row of taels! The eunuch slammed the chest of silver shut before falling to his knees. "Forgive this slave, Your Highness, but this is the decree of Her Highness Shen huang gui fei. To be able to give First Princess the wedding her status deserves and to ease the strain on the royal treasury, Her Highness is temporarily lowering the stipends of all Imperial Concubines and below," "Why wasn''t Her Highness An pin informed of this?" Asked Weiwei. "The decree is supposed to go out tomorrow," The eunuch replied. Before she let out the tirade that was bubbling in her chest, An pin felt Weiwei squeeze her arm and shake her head subtly. "This concubine is foolish for not understanding Shen huang gui fei''s sincerity," An pin said as one of her maids took the money, "I''ll personally express my gratitude to her Highness when I get the chance," An pin ignored whatever response the eunuch had and concentrated on not stomping away. "Your Highness," said Weiwei, "You don''t actually have to thank Shen huang gui fei. How will that eunuch even know? Let''s go back to Chuxiugong. We can finish His Majesty''s sleeping clothes and deliver them to Yangxindian," "I want to go to the Clothing House and see if there''s anything good in stock. I''ll only be able to get a few things now but it''s better than nothing," "Cheer up, Your Highness, Cao taiyi said he''s making good progress on his task," Some progress was better than no progress, but Cao taiyi was a bit useless. Of course, Wang chang zai had to bend over for an Imperial Physician that was near dirt on the food chain in the Imperial Hospital. He was no spring chicken himself but somehow was only just above a junior physician! An pin was nearly at the Clothing House when a pocket of faint whispers reached her ears. She paused, signaling for the rest of her servants to stay behind, and followed the murmuring until she was perched outside an archway. "Apparently, Hu Shi is so dim that he doesn''t know what happens in his own manor. My sister said that his first cefujin, Cai g¨ºg¨º buys prostitutes and passes them off as maids so when she''s done with them, nobody bothers to ask any questions," a woman said. Hu Shi? Wasn''t that Huabao''s soon-to-be husband? "Your sister didn''t tell you about Giru g¨ºg¨º? The poor thing''s tried to join her late mother three times! But Cai g¨ºg¨º won''t let her because she thinks Hu Shi will blame her!" A deeper voice added. "Hah!" A nasal voice chimed in, "Shouldn''t she take the blame? I heard that when Cai g¨ºg¨º can''t stop Hu Shi from visiting Giru g¨ºg¨º''s chambers, she forces her to drink a contraceptive right in front of her the next morning," "Aiya," the first woman said with a sigh, "How will First Princess survive in that hellhole? Cai g¨ºg¨º is crazy enough to offend His Majesty to ensure First Princess doesn''t win!" "If First Princess is marrying into a kennel, why is Shen huang gui fei so proud? Fuca or no, no connection is worth your child!" "Hmph! With the way she''s behaving lately, it wouldn''t shock me if she''d throw 10th Prince to an alligator to be able to tie her rope to a good family," "But isn''t this alligator too fierce? Didn''t you hear about his concubine? She was married into the manor for a year before she "suddenly" died while he was on a surveying trip with his father. She was four months pregnant at the time!" It took all of An pin''s willpower to not explode into laughter. Karma hadn''t skipped Shen huang gui fei, it was just waiting to make a statement! And what a statement it was! Shen huang gui fei''s precious pearl, who would tie her to one of the noblest families of the Great Qing, was being sent to her death! Huabao was as soft as a cotton bud, unlike her sword of a mother. There''s no way she would survive. "Just talking about this makes me want to get a blessed amulet! Ah, poor First Princess...should we do something about it?" Any glee that An pin built up quickly drained away. Damn, these bleeding hearts! She turned to Weiwei and whispered, "Bring the maid with the stipend over. As quietly as possible," "Pah! And do what? Shen huang gui fei has turned into a beast since The Empress visited to see 10th Prince and 11th Prince. She''d sooner kill us than believe the truth about Hu Shi. She''d say we''re trying to sabotage her good fortune to gain favor with The Empress. And then our heads will roll for it!" "It''s not all about Shen huang gui fei! What kind of woman deserves to marry into a place like that? What if we spoke to His Majesty? Or The Empress?" Weiwei dragged one of An pin''s maids to her side, the tray of silver wobbling slightly. "Your Highness," the girl greeted as quietly as possible. An pin shoved her into the archway, and the silver taels crashed against the ground. "You useless thing!" An pin shouted, ensuring her voice echoed through the corridor, "How dare you dirty my things! Pick it up before I wring your neck!" The corridor the mysterious gossipers were in had two exits on either end. An pin took up one exit, so the group had no choice but to be flushed out of the other. "Moxin, you idiot!" Weiwei added, catching on quickly, "Pick up the stipend quickly! Or are you trying to curse Her Highness?" As the maid scrambled to snatch up the taels, a group of women trailed out of the other end of the corridor, just as An pin predicted. She recognized them. They were Shen huang gui fei''s nursemaids. Well, half of them. Chen momo, Li momo, and Tan momo. The three women could barely control their fright as they kneeled to greet her. "Rise," said An pin, "Pardon me, I forgot that voices carry far around here. I hope I didn''t disturb you?" "N-no," Chen momo said, "Not at all," "It''s us who hope we didn''t disturb you, Your Highness," said Tan momo. "I didn''t hear a thing," "Oh! Good! We could never forgive ourselves if we bothered Your Highness with our nonsense," said Chen momo. By now, the maid had finished collecting An pin stipend and was standing at her elbow with the tray in her hands. "You''re lucky that it was me. Even if it was just nonsense, in a place like this, nonsense and treason can sound very alike, right Li momo?" The momos glanced at each other and nervously wrung their hands. A pin collected three silver taels and gave one to each momo. Li momo turned the money around in her fingers, "Your Highness, this is..." "A gift," An pin responded, "Raising an Imperial heir is no small job, especially two small princes. Maybe one day when I have a child, you''d be willing to share your wisdom with me," "Thank you, Your Highness," the nursemaids said. "We won''t forget your kindness," Chen momo added. "See that you don''t," Chapter 47 Prince Han ran his finger across the delicate stitches of his scent pouch as he stared out into the night through the open window. The peaceful sound of the chirping crickets did nothing to soothe his nerves. Truthfully, being idle in the Forbidden City always set his teeth on edge. Usually, it was because Prince Han longed to prove his usefulness to His Majesty. The more battles won and the more criminals caught, the closer His Majesty kept him and The Empress in his heart. Tonight, however, he was restless for a different reason. "Please relax, my lord," Sang''er said as he fanned his master, "Lingxiu gege is returning as fast as he can," "Gege?" Prince Han said with a snort, "Are you best friends now?" "My lord, Lingxiu gege has been serving you for some time now, and you still don''t like him? I feel like he''s done his job well," Prince Han rolled his eyes and turned his gaze to the scent pouch. Chang Lingxiu was a good enough guard, but he was too friendly. It would only take one word for things to become troublesome. A eunuch stepped inside to announce Chang Lingxiu''s return. "Speak of Cao Cao*..." Prince Han muttered as the guard stepped inside. "The books you''ve asked for, My Lord," Chang Lingxiu said, presenting the neatly wrapped stack. "Finally," Prince Han said before standing up, "I was near falling asleep waiting for you," "Apologies, my lord," Chang Lingxiu replied, "Next time, I''ll be sure to commandeer a horse," "No need. Just spend less time chatting with Molan on your way back next time," Chang Lingxiu''s cheek grew ruddy red under his beard before he quickly excused himself. Chuckling, Sang''er said to Prince Han, "Heading to bed, my lord?" Prince Han nodded and withdrew into the bedroom. He untied the scent pouch from his waist and placed it under his pillow before letting Sang''er undress him for bed. "Shall I call for something light, my lord? It''s still early in the evening," said Sang''er as he pulled back the bedsheets. "No," Prince Han replied, carrying the books to the mattress and sitting down, "You can withdraw," Sang''er nodded and did as he was told. Prince Han loosened the ropes binding the aging books together. One by one, he flipped through each one in search of a folded piece of parchment stuck between the pages. Jiayi wasn''t particularly fond of this method of communication, but Prince Han was fraying at the seams waiting for a moment to see her in person. Their luck seemed to have run out, and their pockets of snatched time behind corridors and empty courtyards had come to an end. Prince Han couldn''t sustain himself with the glances he stole when Jiayi was with Yiqiang. He had, unfortunately, become quite spoiled. The books were a mixed collection of topics. If someone came across Jiayi holding them, it would look like she was bringing Xiang pin something to read. In the hands of Chang Lingxiu or Sang''er, a stack of military literature for their lord. The books were arranged for the proper attendant when the stack was picked up from its hiding place and ferried away. Today, there were four crisply folded pieces of parchment. Prince Han unfolded them all and settled into bed to read. ''Thunder destroyed Sixth Prince''s tiger kite. They''re no longer on speaking terms,'' ''I asked the hothouse to prepare a bouquet of asters for Xiang pin. She thought they were so beautiful she wants a fresh vase delivered every day,'' Below was a simple, but still beautiful sketch of the flowers. He wouldn''t admit it, but he was blushing fiercely at the thought of Jiayi filling Chengqiangong with a symbol of their lo¨C Affection. He went back to reading. ''My lord, have you heard of a Li daren? He patrols near the ice house. He''s got all the maids nearby very flustered...'' Prince Han sunk into his pillow, letting himself be pulled into the petty squabbles that never seemed to cease in the back palace. Most of Jiayi''s letters were like this. Filled with small observations or interesting happenings. The sort of silly things you would chat about before crawling into bed. He slammed his eyes shut. What was the point of letting his mind wander into such dangerous territory? He tried to reign himself in, but it was too late. Prince Han opened his eyes and a gossamer thin vision of Jiayi was sat at the vanity, running a comb through her hair. No, that wasn''t right. If they married, she''d have a maid. The vision corrected itself. A faceless maid appeared at Jiayi''s back and took over the task as she turned her head to look at him. ''...so now they''re taking shifts to see if they can catch his eye. It''s very civilized,'' Jiayi''s specter hummed softly as the maid braided her hair and pinned it away. She dipped a cloth into the copper basin by her side and patted her neck and face. It would be rose water and ginger. Jiayi mentioned how much she loved making it for Xiang pin once. ''Did you know that Chang Lingxiu sent Molan another gift? She''s been doing nothing but powdering herself with the perfume since it was delivered! When Xiang pin helps De gui fei with Second Princess''s wedding planning, Molan gets so distracted by the wedding gifts. How long do you think Chang Lingxiu will wait before asking his parents about her?'' The bowl and the maid vanished before Jiayi''s visage padded over to the vacant space at his bedside. She stared down at him, and Prince Han waited for her to continue before realizing that there was nothing left to read. He put the page to the side before unfolding the second. ''I miss you,'' In a blink, Jiayi was lying on her side, head pillowed on her hands, peering up at him. Jiayi''s vision put a hand on his arm. ''I miss your voice. I thought the letters would help but they''ve only made things worse,'' Prince Han stared at the words, his breath catching as Jiayi''s specter came into sharper focus beside him. Her soft, phantom touch on his arm felt almost real, nearly overwhelming the room''s lonely quiet. "I miss you, too," he whispered as if she could truly hear him. The vision of Jiayi smiled softly, and there was a sorrowful warmth in her eyes as if she understood his longing. Knowing their newfound distance wasn''t any easier on Jiayi was a bittersweet comfort. Jiayi''s figure leaned in closer, resting her head on the pillow beside his. Prince Han closed his eyes, allowing himself to indulge in the fantasy for a moment longer. If they were still in the capital, this could be real. Jiayi could be next to him, rosy and sweet with sleep. They would drift away and wake in each other''s arms. He opened his eyes, and the vision shimmered, fading as the reality of the empty room pressed in on him once again. The warmth of her hand vanished, replaced by the cool, crisp silks beneath his fingers. He folded the letter with care, placing it atop the others. Prince Han sighed and leaned back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. He had planned to write back immediately, not wanting to forget a word, but now he was in no mood for it. ? A step behind. Shen huang gui fei always had to be a step behind the Empress in all things, even waiting at the Meridian Gate for Huabao''s return. This was her daughter¨Cher triumph, finally returning to her rightful place in her mother and father''s arms, and Shen huang gui fei couldn''t even stand next to The Emperor to do it. Honestly, it didn''t matter. The Empress could have this small win. Shen huang gui fei had proved victorious in the end. The entirety of the Forbidden City was put on hold to welcome Huabao. The concubines and servants wore their best clothes and stood in the blazing hot sun to give Hubao the reception that a princess of the Great Qing deserved. And not just any princess. A first-rank princess. When Shen huang gui fei wasn''t caring for Yizhong and Yiru or preparing for Huabao''s wedding, she was campaigning for Huabao''s newest title. It was only right. The girl was to be married soon. How could she enter her husband''s manor and hold her head high without a title? It was absurd. Under the guise of chatting and congratulations, Shen huang gui fei had gathered the wives of chief ministers in court. With a generous gift, she suggested that their husbands bring up the topic of Huabao''s title to the Emperor. Shen huang gui fei would have done it herself, but His Majesty was unavailable to her these days. Shen huang gui fei, glanced behind her at the crowd of concubines as they fanned themselves. Xiang pin stood in her rightful place behind the Noble Consorts, surrounded by her gaggle of first and second-class attendants. When she and Xiang pin locked eyes, the harlot''s pink lips curled into a smile. Shen huang gui fei huffed and turned back around. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Xiang pin had practically tethered His Majesty to her bed. It was disgusting. Even worse, when she wasn''t seducing him, a giggling fool was always willing to entertain him on her behalf. Shen huang gui fei didn''t know why she was so shocked. It could only be natural that Xiang pin treated the Forbidden City like a brothel. It was all she knew. "Your Highness!'' A''Fang said, pointing into the distance, "I see her! I see First Princess''s carriage!" Shen huang gui fei heard Jingse scolding A''Fang for shouting but barely paid attention. A''Fang was right; Shen huang gui fei could see Huabao''s litter coming closer and closer! When Huabao''s carriage stopped in front of The Emperor and The Empress, Shen huang gui fei was vibrating out of her skin. The carriage door opened and Shen huang gui fei froze. The girl, no, the woman who emerged, looked like she was wearing Huabao''s face. Her face was sharp-cheeked and tan, the tilt of her brow weighed down by her heavy Mongolian garb. She was taller than Huabao ever was, as well. Shen huang gui fei was startled by the knowledge that her daughter had become almost unrecognizable after nearly a year apart. "Your Highness, are you alright?" Jingse whispered as Huabao and the litter who transported her kneeled to greet The Emperor and The Empress. Shen huang gui fei said nothing, continuing to stare as anger filled her belly. The Empress had taken so much from her. "Royal father," Huabao said, rising to her feet, "I''ve returned," Shen huang gui fei looked at The Emperor. There were tears in his eyes. Shen huang gui fei suddenly realized how selfish she had been. When The Empress forced her daughter to stay behind in Mongolia, she was also stolen from His Majesty. He only had two living princesses left, and only Huabao was as precious to him as this. Huahuan was fine but could never compare. "Let me look at you," he said, cradling Huabao''s shoulders in his hands, "You''ve grown," "Yes," said The Empress as she placed a hand on Huabao''s arm, "Our little pearl has blossomed into a fine flower," "Huabao," Shen huang gui fei burst out at last, her skin crawling at the sight of The Empress touching her daughter. "A-niang!" Huabao cried, running towards her, "A-niang!" Shen huang gui fei let her daughter nearly bowl her over from the force of her hug. "Huabao! Huabao!" She kept saying, "You''re back!" "I''m back!" "My goodness, you''re taller now!" said Shen huang gui fei, holding Huabao''s face close to hers, "What have they been feeding you?!" "I almost couldn''t recognize her. Huabao looks like such a proper woman now!" said Lian fei. Lian fei''s compliment opened the floodgates, and soon Huabao was surrounded by well-wishers and branch climbers, all clamoring to make sure their voice was heard in front of The Emperor. They buzzed around Huabao like annoying little gnats. "Huabao''s had a long journey," The Empress said, "Let''s not keep her standing out here in the hot sun. I''m sure she wants to meet Yizhong and Yiru," "Yes, Your Highness," the women chorused. Shen huang gui fei stopped The Empress before she turned away. "Your Highness, I know that it''s the 15th and His Majesty is meant to spend the night with you, but as Huabao''s just come home, would it be possible for him to visit Zhongcuigong instead?" The Empress smiled, "His Majesty has a prior arrangement with Xiang meimei this evening. Perhaps she''ll be willing to reschedule for you," The Empress truly never let up, did she? She was desperate never to let Shen huang gui fei have even a moment of happiness that she was willing to sacrifice her rightful night with The Emperor just so Shen huang gui fei had to lower herself and beg Xiang pin to share. Shen huang gui fei lobbed a winning smile right back at the Empress, "It''s no matter; Huabao should rest this evening anyways," "Rest well then," ? Jiayi got off the ground, twisting her sore waist from side to side. No matter how long she looked, once again, the stack of books didn''t appear. Jiayi tried not to feel upset. It had only been a week since their last letters. He was a prince; of course, he was busy. Jiayi glanced around the hiding spot one more time before shrugging. She''d come back and check tomorrow. She picked up her decoy embroidery basket and began her trek back to Chengqiangong. A tall eunuch turned the corner, startling her, his chin tucked deep into his chest. "Are you alright, guniang?" "Just fine," "If you''re looking for something, I can help you," "No, thank you," Jiayi said, inching away, clutching the basket close to her chest. The back of her neck was beginning to itch with unease. She was a palace maid now; surely there wouldn''t be a repeat of Su gonggong? Right. "Jiayi," the eunuch said, "It''s me!" The eunuch raised his head, and suddenly, it was no longer a eunuch. It was Prince Han. Jiayi grimaced. "Ew," she said, the words spilling out before she could stop herself. Prince Han huffed, "Ew? I go through all this trouble to talk to you, and all you can say is ''ew''?" Blushing, Jiayi grimaced, "I''m sorry, my lord, it''s just...this outfit..." "What about it?" Said Prince Han, looking down at himself, "I think Sang''er got the proper size," "You are a Prince of the Great Qing, my lord," Jiayi said, "This look doesn''t suit you," The sight of Prince Han in the eunuch''s clothes made Jiayi''s skin crawl. It was just...Jiayi wasn''t particularly prejudiced towards eunuchs because of Su gonggong, but the sight of her Prince Han in the getup looked too wrong. "You really don''t like it?" He asked. Jiayi shook her head. "Fine, then," he said before calling for Chang daren. Chang daren popped out from around the corner, "Your servant is here," "Give me your clothes," "W-what?" Chang daren asked, mouth agape. Jiayi felt his reaction was perfectly appropriate. What in the world? Prince Han clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the guard, "Are you suddenly hard of hearing? Give me your clothes," Chang daren''s lips flapped like a fish, his cheeks pinking, "My lord, I cannot. We''re out in the open. Jiayi is right there!" "Jiayi says these clothes don''t suit me, so I don''t want to wear them anymore. Stop whining, go over there and change," "My lord, Jiayi is muddled and blinded by your great beauty. Every bolt of fabric that touches your body is blessed beyond belief. Nothing would dare be unsuitable for you! Right, Jiayi?" Perhaps Jiayi had grown cruel and unfeeling because the sight of Chang daren''s fretful plea had her pressing her lips to stifle her laughter. "Why are you crying?" Prince Han asked with a roll of his eyes, "You can wear these eunuch''s clothes. Don''t tell me you''ve never been naked in public before. Haven''t you been on a campaign or two at your age? Hurry up!" "B-but-!" "What? You want me to strip you?" Chang daren locked eyes with her, his eyes pleading once more for help. She''d have to help him. Prince Han looked serious enough to strip the poor man bare! Jiayi stepped before Chang daren, who happily cowered at her back, "I misspoke, my lord. This outfit looks very dashing on you," "You''re sure?" Prince Han asked, "It''s no matter to me to wear Chang Lingxiu''s clothes," "Perhaps," Jiayi began, stepping closer to him, "Lose the hat?" She reached up, slid it off, and pressed it into his hands. "I''ll take my leave, my lord," Chang daren announced, "Coward," Prince Han said with a shake of his head. He sat down under a shady tree and beckoned her to his side. "Do you need to go back quickly?" He asked. Jiayi shook her head, "It''s her afternoon rest, right now, and I told Molan I was dropping by the storage department to pick up some things to embroider," "So I have you all to myself?" "Only for an hour more," she replied, fighting a blush, "What about you? Sixth Prince has been complaining that you''ve abandoned him and Lightning," "It''s not my fault," he replied, his voice sounding suspiciously close to a whine, "Now that Huabao''s returned..." Jiayi tried to focus on the words coming out of Prince Han''s mouth, but her guilt muffled in her ears. As the months passed, Jiayi shamelessly put what she did to First Princess to the back of her mind. Now that she was back, Jiayi tried to comfort herself. No one was talking about the rumors anymore, and First Princess would have a grand wedding to a man of great standing. Not only that, but Second Princess said that First Princess had nothing but good things to say about her time in Mongolia. It had all turned out alright in the end, but Jiayi couldn''t shake the sadness that overcame her at the mention of First Princess. A gentle touch to her hand brought her out of her thoughts. "Jiayi. Is something wrong?" "No," Jiayi said, "I just¨Cah, even Xiang pin is getting caught up with the wedding plans. It''s why she''s been taking so many naps lately! She and De gui fei are so busy now," "I still can''t believe Huabao and Huahuan are getting married. I feel like it was just yesterday that I got to light the firecrackers at their 100th-day celebration. Ah. I''m getting old," "You''re only 19!" "Not for long. I''ll be turning 20 soon. Officially an old man," he said with a sigh, "I can already feel my bones aching," "Perhaps you should ask Her Highness The Empress for a personal physician to help with your old bones for your birthday," Jiayi said with a laugh. "Perhaps," Prince Han agreed, "What about you? What do you plan on getting me for my birthday?" Jiayi began to fiddle with the smooth glass hanging from her ears. She knew Prince Han''s birthday was on the horizon, but the thought of giving him a gift hadn''t crossed her mind. Even if it did, what would''ve been the conclusion? Prince Han was, well, a prince. If there was anything he wanted, he could get it. If he couldn''t, The Empress or The Emperor could. Besides a painting or another scent pouch, pathetically, Jiayi had nothing much to offer. Other than, maybe, a kiss. "I don''t know," she burst out, furiously trying to escape the thought, "Is there anything you would like, my lord?" Prince Han shrugged. He picked up his scent pouch and grabbed the coordinating one by Jiayi''s waist, "Maybe another matching set? Or maybe a pair of boots? Or, you could paint me something with this," He reached into his jacket, pulled out a slim velvet box, and held it out to her. Jiayi''s stomach fluttered as she opened the gift. A paintbrush with a gleaming white handle and a mottled tapered tip was nestled in the silk lining. "It''s a Hubi,**" Prince Han said. Jiayi gasped, "I never thought I would see one in real life," "The craftsmanship is grand. The bristles are goat and weasel hair, and the handle''s ivory. What do you think?" She turned to reply and was struck dumb by how close Prince Han suddenly was to her. He had moved in so close that Jiayi could feel his breath tickling her face. She gazed into his dark brown eyes as her heart began to race. Her eyes fell to his lips, and her pulse rushed through her ears. "It''s lovely," she whispered. If she leaned in just a bit closer... "My lord," Jiayi pulled her head back, Sang''er''s soft voice bringing her back to her senses. Prince Han''s face grew ruddy before he cleared his throat and turned to Sang''er, "What is it?" Sang''er grimaced, looking as if he wished to be anybody but himself at the moment, "Her Highness The Empress will be taking lunch soon and¨C" "And I agreed to join her," Prince Han finished. "Yes, my lord," Sang''er quietly agreed. "I won''t keep you," said Jiayi, tucking the paintbrush into the embroidery basket she had forgotten she had. "Of course," he said. He stood and dusted himself off, before offering Jiayi his hand, which she gladly took. His touch no longer threw her into a tizzy that made her want to run. Now, an incredible warmth drew her to him like a moth to a flame when they touched. She never wanted to let go. "Thank you for the brush, my lord," Prince Han nodded his head and smiled, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, "I look forward to seeing what you do with it," Jiayi pulled her hand away and bowed. "Sending you off with respect," When she was alone again, Jiayi let out a gusty sigh. If Sang''er hadn''t barged in, they would have¨C They could have¨C No! She couldn''t keep thinking about that. The day was getting late. Jiayi didn''t have to look in the mirror to know her face was burning red. Hopefully, the walk back to Chengqiangong would cool her down. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Full proverb: Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao will come. Essentially the Chinese version of Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Cao Cao was a warlord and the great chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty who rose to great power during the time. He often portrayed as a cruel and merciless tyrant, and he also has been praised as a brilliant ruler and military genius character in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. **A type of famous ink brush that''s been made in Huzhou, China since the Qin dynasty. Chapter 48 The food spread over Shen huang gui fei''s dining table was rank. There were plates of fatty, slimy meat, a bowl of strange fried noodles, greasy barbecue, and stinky mutton and camel dishes. The servants had to open every window and door so the sour smells didn''t linger in her palace. "Huabao," Shen huang gui fei said, cringing as her daughter slurped down a cup of sour yak milk, "Wouldn''t you like something else to eat? His Majesty and I had lunch yesterday, and the food was so lovely. Should I send for some?" Shaking her head, Huabao said, "Maybe later. This is all I''ve wanted since I returned! Ah! Thankfully, Royal Grandmother let me borrow her chef. A-niang, you don''t want to try?" Huabao placed a piece of slimy mystery meat on Shen huang gui fei''s plate, a bright smile on her face. Shen huang gui fei turned away from the sight with a strained laugh, "What about birds nest''s soup? Jingse will make a fresh batch for you," Huabao wrinkled her nose before turning to the handmaid she''d dragged back to the palace, Tuya. Tuya was short, squat, and dark. In any other circumstance, Shen huang gui fei would have never let her set foot in Zhongcuigong. "Are there any more of the sweet milk curds?" "No, First Princess," replied Tuya. "I''ll just have Royal Grandmother''s chef make more," said Huabao, returning to her meal. Who was this girl sitting across from her? This wild thing? This stranger who nodded her head quietly as The Empress Dowager promised her a crop of maids to bring with her into her new household? As the days passed, the distance between Shen huang gui fei and her child grew. Gone was the daughter who clutched her skirts and hung on her every word. Now, there was a woman who often stank of the stables and didn''t care to even look at the portrait of her future husband. Huabao barely cared a lick about her marriage at all. Whenever Shen huang gui fei tried to guide Huabao about running her new household, the girl found an excuse to run away. Not to mention that her attitude during any of the pre-marriage ceremonies bordered on apathy. Huabao turned her nose up at the embroidery and calligraphy they had so much fun with, instead opting to run off, race horses, and shoot arrows with her brothers. With each wall Huabao was determined to put up between them, Shen huang gui fei grew angrier. Her daughter would have never ended up like this if it wasn''t for The Empress. Her daughter would still be her little girl and His Majesty''s precious pearl if The Empress hadn''t sunk her claws into her. Shen huang gui fei was sure that the bitch had something up her sleeve for Huabao''s wedding. Why wouldn''t she? Her maternal cousins were married to His Majesty''s favored brother, she had two sons, and soon, she would have a direct connection to the Fuca clan. If The Empress struck now, everything Shen huang gui fei had worked so hard for would go up in flames. Shen huang gui fei wasn''t going to wait around and let that happen. ? Shen huang gui fei had never paid much attention to to Bai gonggong. He had been Fung gonggong''s deputy eunuch for as long as she had been in the Forbidden City. Fung gonggong had always been the bigger fish, but he was, unfortunately, unswayable. As old as he was, he had no family to support or possibly hold hostage. He was an eunuch in all senses of the word, so a beautiful woman was as good as dirt to him, and he worshipped no one but the man under whom he rose to power: The Late Emperor. His Majesty was a close second, but the eunuch did everything in his old master''s name. No concubine could push him to one side or the other, as he would defer to The Empress or The Empress Dowager as the rules permitted. Trying to bother with him was a waste of time and energy. Bai gonggong, however, from what Jingse could gather, was nothing of the sort. He was easy to ignore and, for the right price, could get a servant where they needed to go. None of the concubines paid him notice, but he managed to collect a tidy sum from the other eunuchs and maids to switch departments or to keep secrets secret. It was rumored that the only reason he became Fung gonggong''s deputy was because he was the cause of the front runner''s violent end with a wild horse. "Your Highness," he said, gesturing to the painted porcelain pots that his eunuchs held behind him, "I scoured the Storage House to find the finest gift for First Princess''s wedding," The pots were fine. Certainly, nothing that Shen huang gui fei found to be up to her standards, but that wasn''t the real reason she called him here anyway. If her intuition was correct then Bai gonggong wouldn''t be opposed to helping Shen huang gui fei with her little problem. "That one there," she said, pointing to a yellow and blue gourd-shaped pot, "Bring it closer," Before the eunuch holding her choice could even lift his head, Bai gonggong snatched it away and brought it to Shen huang gui fei. Obedient. Good. "Did you pick this one yourself, gonggong?" She asked, pretending to inspect the craftsmanship. "Of course, Your Highness," A liar as well. Very good. "You have a very good eye, gonggong," "This slave doesn''t deserve your praise, Your Highness," "I''ll take this one," Shen huang gui fei said, handing the pot to A''Fang, before nodding at Jingse, "Give Bai gonggong his reward," Bai gonggong''s eyes glittered at the sight of the silver tael in Jingse''s hand. "Your Highness is too kind," he said, not hesitating to take the money. He bowed low, "We''ll take our leave," "Stay a moment, gonggong. There''s a task I''d like you to help me with," said Shen huang gui fei. "I''m only a lowly deputy, Your Highness," Bai gonggong replied, "Perhaps Fung gonggong would be better suited to serve you?" As deferential as the words were, there was no mistaking the way his grip tightened on the reward in his hands. "No, you''ll do just fine," Bai gonggong eagerly shooed the other eunuchs away. "How may I serve you, Your Highness?" ? As the candles burned high and bright, a trickle of sweat slid down An pin''s temple and nestled itself in the fabric of her collar. It was the height of summer now and she usually wouldn''t subject herself to being steamed like a piece of fish, but she hunkered down in Dafuge for a reason. Cao taiyi had finally become worth An pin''s while. "Your Highness," Weiwei hissed as she hurried back from the courtyard facing windows, "Limei is here," Immediately, An pin began to poke at her thighs with a sharp pin to help the tears fall from her eyes. By the time Limei walked through the doors, An pin would have worked herself up into a respectable crying fit. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. From what Weiwei could gather, Limei had been Guang pin''s dowry maid and her closest confidant. Since Guang pin''s death, the girl haunted the Forbidden City like a pale ghost, skulking from her new post at the Ice House to the Dafuge to pray for Guang pin''s soul and back again. The door creaked open. "Meimei," An pin blubbered, "Meimei, I''m so sorry," "Your Highness?" An pin pretended to be startled and whirled around. "Your Highness An pin!" Limei said, dropping to her knees to bow. An pin sniffled and rubbed the tears from her cheeks, "Rise," Limei glanced at Guang pin''s memorial tablet, "Are you here to speak with my mistress?" An pin nodded before gazing at the shrine, "Do you come here very often, Limei?" Limei''s eyes opened wide, as if she couldn''t believe that An pin knew her name at all before nodding her head, "Yes, Your Highness. We never went a day without seeing each other...before, so it''s become a habit," An pin sighed, "I came here because my heart is heavy. I was hoping meimei could ease my sorrows," "I didn''t know that you and Guang pin were close, Your Highness," replied Limei. Shaking her head, An pin pressed a hand to her heart, "We weren''t. But I wish I could back and change things," Her voice dropped to a low whisper, "Maybe then I could have protected her," Limei reared back as if she had been struck, her pale face somehow going even whiter. "What?" She croaked out? An pin shook her head and scrambled to her feet, making a point to stumble even as Weiwei buoyed her. "Nothing," An pin whispered, "I won''t keep you from your conversation," An pin began ambling to the door. "Your Highness, wait!" Limei said, running in front of her, "What did you say just then? What did you mean?" Limei clawed at An pin''s sleeve desperately. An pin snatched her arm away. Weiwei pushed Limei to the side, "How dare you put your hands on An pin?! Get out of the way!" An pin squeezed out more tears and brought her handkerchief to her mouth to muffle her sobs. It was a good performance but unfortunately, Limei looked defeated. She stood there quietly, not bothering to come after An pin again. What a waste! However, just as An pin thought the whole endeavor wasn''t worth her while, Limei sprung back to life. She planted herself in front of the door and kneeled. "Your Highness, I beg you! I beg you! Please tell me! Please tell me so I can honor my mistress!" Each cry was punctuated with a dull ''clunk'' as Limei bashed her head into the ground. Ah! Finally! "Weiwei, help her up," said An pin. Weiwei did as she was told. Limei lifted her head as a thin stream of blood dribbled down her face. An pin pressed her handkerchief to it. "You shouldn''t hurt yourself like this, Limei," Limei shook her head, "This body is nothing. I''m only here to honor Guang pin''s name," An pin released a theatric sigh, "If I tell you what I meant, do you promise to act sensibly?" The girl nodded frantically, obviously lying. Putting on a nervous tick and fiddling with her nail guards, An pin began, "When Wang Rong was alive, she was my dearest friend after we entered the palace together. We grew close for a time, but as His Majesty acquired more and more women and her favor wasn''t so everlasting, she grew bitter and angry. Especially at your mistress," An pin paused for dramatic effect. "One night, I thought to drop in and have dinner with Wang Rong. I didn''t bother to announce myself because it was so late. She was talking to her maids and I heard her say... I...I didn''t do anything about it because I couldn''t imagine she would do something so drastic. And I couldn''t imagine that Shen huang gui fei would help her," Limei''s lips wobbled but no sound emerged. "I didn''t think of it again. After meimei''s death, so many things happened. But a few months ago, she came to me in a dream and begged me to find the truth. She wanted me to know that it wasn''t just the childbed that...that the labor didn''t take her," "I began asking around," An pin continued, "I even sent a physician around to ask Guang pin''s servants about her food and drink," "That was you? You sent that doctor?" Limei said before biting her lip, "What...what did he find?" An pin blinked away a new set of tears, "Do you remember when a gift from Wang Rong came for your mistress? Herbs to keep her beauty?" Limei, thankfully, caught on quickly to what An pin was implying. "But, we sent it to the Imperial Hospital," Limei said, her voice shaking, "They said it was safe," "Do you know if they tested the entire jar or just the top?" An pin said, pulling a lie out of thin air. Limei shook her head and pursed her lips, "I-I don''t know," "That night, Wang Rong told her maids that she knew you sent the medicine for inspection and was glad she listened to Shen huang gui fei about filling the top of herbs with something harmless," "It was poison? She poisoned Guang pin?" "In a way. Guang pin was taking bu gu zhi. If you and I were to take it, even for years at a time, it wouldn''t harm us. But for a pregnant woman, it''s fatal," Limei crumpled to the ground and stared at An pin, in a dazed silence. For an uncomfortable stretch of time, the girl sat there, slumped at An pin''s feet without a single blink. An pin fought the scowl that was desperate to be on her face. This wasn''t the response she expected. She was hoping for righteous anger or woeful tears! Not this corpse. Instead of slapping her, An pin said softly, "Limei? Are you alright?" "Why," An pin paused. "Why?" Limei spoke again, "Why would Shen huang gui fei do this?" An pin knelt on the ground before grabbing Limei''s hand, "The back palace is a glittering slate of beauty that masks the evil of the mind. I thought we were close but after finding out the truth. I don''t know what to think," "Do you think she did it so she could finally have a prince?" Weiwei asked, skillfully inserting herself into the conversation. "I," An pin said, her lips quivering, "I can''t believe that. Shen huang gui fei couldn''t have know that meimei would even give birth to sons," "Your Highness, didn''t you think it was strange that out of the blue, everyone was banned from visiting Guang pin, except for Shen huang gui fei? Could it be that she wanted Guang pin to think that no one but her cared for her?" An pin shook her head, "I don''t know what to think, Weiwei. I don''t want to keep thinking of these things in such a holy place," She swayed to the side to make a point. "Your Highness, you''ve gone pale. I''ll take you back to Chuxiugong," An pin nodded, but before she let Weiwei lead her away, she kneeled to grab Limei''s hands again. "Don''t lose your head over this Limei. Wang Rong and Shen huang gui fei may have wronged your mistress, but she was only the bottom rung in the ladder of this cruel place. If you truly want to honor Guang pin, you''ll live a good, long life with her memory in your heart," Limei sagged to the ground as if her shoulders weighed a thousand pounds. "I will, Your Highness. Thank you for your grace," "Your Highness," Weiwei said as they began their trek back to Chuxiugong, "Do you think she''ll be able to do anything without your help? What if this was a waste?" An pin shrugged, "I have faith in her. Though, if it amounts to nothing, I still have plenty of things in store for Shen huang gui fei," ? Jiayi was broke. Absolutely emptied out. She would probably have to sell one of the gifts Xiang pin gave her to be able to send something back to Wei Jiayi''s family. As perilous as the situation was, Jiayi didn''t feel anything but the outrageous amount of butterflies in her stomach. Before Xiang pin had laid down for her afternoon nap, Jiayi asked permission to drop by the clothing house and pick up some fabric for a dress. It was only half a lie. She did pick out some fabric¨Ca few bundles of rich black silk¨Cbut it wasn''t for a dress. It was for Prince Han''s gift. Jiayi had thought long and hard about what she could possibly give to someone like him and the idea finally came to her as she watched Xiang pin ''ooh'' and ''ahh'' over a brocade pajama set that The Emperor had sent her before declaring that she would sew a set for him as a gift in return. The thought nailed itself to the flesh of Jiayi''s brain. She and Prince Han were together. Those were the sort of gifts people gave to one another, right? Before she could lose her courage, Jiayi had spent the money and bought the fabric. The sight of it folded innocently in the basket on her arm made her heart race. She wouldn''t just give Prince Han the pajamas, obviously. That would be too much! She would paint him something with her Hubi. Maybe when she asked Sang''er to give her Prince Han''s measurements, she''d ask if Prince Han had any favorite poems or sutras so she could paint something to hang on his wall. Jiayi was so lost in her thoughts that she almost missed the sight of Shen huang gui fei''s and First Princess''s raised chairs. She moved herself to the side and kneeled as the entourage passed by. Since First Princess''s return, Shen huang gui fei''s time revolved entirely around the wedding. While things had been quiet, they all knew better than to count Shen huang gui fei out. They were as vigilant as they could be. Jiayi rose to her feet as the servants passed her by. She paused as a familiar yet unfamiliar face brought up the rear of Shen huang gui fei''s line of maids. She had seen the maid''s face before, somewhere, but never as a servant of Zhongcuigong. Before she could bring a face to the name, a eunuch stopped in front of her. "Wei guniang?" Jiayi clutched her basket tightly. She had never seen this eunuch before, "Yes?" "Fung gonggong has asked for you," Jiayi''s throat dried up in an instant. She croaked out a laugh, "I''m sorry gonggong, but I have to return to my mistress¨C," "Her Highness Xiang pin has already been informed," he replied, "This way. Quickly," Chapter 49 Jiayi''s heart nestled sharply in her throat as she followed the nameless eunuch to the Interior Household Department. What could Fung gonggong want after all this time? It couldn''t be anything good, and it was horrifying to know that Jiayi couldn''t do anything about it. Fung gonggong held her life in his hands. When they arrived at the Internal Affairs Department, Jiayi was so nervous that a light breeze could have knocked her over. The eunuch led her to Fung gonggong''s office. "Wei guniang is here," he announced before shoving the doors open. Jiayi twisted her hands around the handle of her basket and stepped inside. Instead of Fung gonggong, Jiayi was met with a stranger. He was a eunuch of high standing based on his clothes, but Jiayi couldn''t remember seeing him around the palace. Sitting behind the ornate rosewood desk amongst the dusty shelves of records, the eunuch seemed to bend into the scenery of the room. He wasn''t elderly like Fung gonggong, but he certainly wasn''t a young man. Jiayi gave the eunuch a short bow, "Pardon me, gonggong, I think I''m in the wrong room. I''ll excuse myself," "No, no. Xiao-an brought you to the right place," he replied. "Oh," Jiayi said, "Will Fung gonggong arriving soon?" "He''s far too busy. As his deputy, it''s my responsibility to support him in matters such as these," "Oh. Thank you..." "Ah! I''ve been so rude, I am Bai Lu," "Bai gonggong, if this task is so important, I don''t think I''m the person for it. Xiang pin has been helping De gui fei with Second Princess''s wedding, so everyone in Chengqiangong has their hands full. I have no time for extra chores," "Really?" Jiayi nodded, "We have so much to do. Her Highness Shen huang gui fei and First Princess rightfully takes priority for all the departments, so De gui fei asked my mistress for help. If you would please tell Fung gonggong that I am a poor choice to help with this task I''ll¨C," "I don''t remember you speaking so much last year, Xi Jiayi," Jiayi''s tongue turns to lead in her mouth. A sharp blade of fear lodged itself deep in her stomach. Swallowing mainly, Jiayi said, "You must be mistaking me for someone else, gonggong. My name is Wei Jiayi," Bai gonggong smiled, his teeth long and sharp, "Is that so?" Jiayi nodded, fighting to keep a serene look on her face. Bai gonggong knocked himself lightly on the head, "Of course, of course, I must have been mistaken that day when Fung gonggong so graciously brought Wei Jiayi back from the dead," Smile, Jiayi kept telling herself. Keep smiling. "I don''t know what you mean, gonggong," Jiayi''s thoughts flew as she tried to remember who was in the room when Fung gonggong gave her a new life. She was sure that they had been alone! However, Jaiyi was so desperate that she might not have noticed him if he had stood right behind her. Bai gonggong wagged a knobbed finger at her, "You''re a very good actress, Jiayi. I can see why Fung gonggong let you have that Wei girl''s name. You''re doing much better than he thought you would. He thought he''d actually have to send the Wei family their compensation when you acted like the sinjeku you are!" Was there anything left for Jiayi to say? The jig was up. "Don''t stand on my account, guniang, sit, sit," Even though Jiayi felt like she had melted into the ornate rug beneath her feet, she managed to find her way to the stool across from Bai gonggong. "Gonggong, I really must return to Xiang pin,¨C" "Yes, yes," he nodded, "But first, let me give you something for your troubles," Bai gonggong clapped his hands. The doors behind her opened with a groan before a trio of eunuchs trailed inside. They dropped platters of candied and fresh fruit on the desk, along with a lacquered tray of small, painted cosmetic pots. Bai gonggong gestured to the fruit. "With Xiang pin lending you out to De gui fei, you must not have much time to sit and eat," Jiayi kept her hands to herself, eyeing the gifts before her. Much of it wasn''t remarkable or novel. His Majesty gifted Xiang pin much nicer treats quite often and her mistress never minded sharing. "You don''t have to be afraid," Bai gonggong said, his voice pitched low, "No word of this will reach your mistress," Hoping that the faster she chose something, the quicker she could leave, Jiayi reached out for a green grape. Before she could make contact, Bai gonggong wrapped a hand around her wrist. The shock of it sent fire lancing up Jiayi''s arm, and she snatched her arm away without thinking. Bai gonggong let out a creaking laugh, "I apologize! I couldn''t help but notice how worn your hands are. I suppose it can''t be helped. All those hours scrubbing and sewing are hard on the skin, correct? There are some fine-smelling salves for you here that will help," "I couldn''t take that, gonggong," she replied. "Nonsense! The odds of His Majesty offering Xiang pin a marriage for you again before you leave the palace are low, so you must protect what beauty you have left!" Marriage? Why had Bai gonggong suddenly started talking about that? "Did Xiang pin not tell you?" He asked. "Gonggong, you must be mistaken," He shook his head, "Xiang pin didn''t tell you about this? I suppose that''s not too surprising. She seems like that sort of mistress. Petty!" Jiayi''s head was spinning. Bai gonggong didn''t have a strong accent, nor did he speak quickly, but somehow Jiayi couldn''t keep up. "Why would His Majesty grant me a marriage? I''ve done nothing to earn it," Jiayi said. His Majesty granted her a marriage? Jiayi didn''t believe it for a second. There was no way that man could or would think of anything but himself for more than a moment. Was this another plan Shen huang gui fei cooked up to get her away from Xiang pin? "Why wouldn''t he? From what I''ve heard, Xiang pin has been the victim of such poor luck since her arrival! You''ve been by her side every step of the way. If any of Xiang pin''s maids were to be granted a marriage, it could only be you,"This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Bai gonggong peered at her, "Xiang pin truly made no mention of it?" Jiayi shook her head. "It''s such a shame when we''re thought of as only slaves with no prospects or wants outside of our masters. To think, you could have married into the Fei clan by now! Xiang pin is really too cruel," "Though perhaps it was for the best," He continued, "The Fei clan is so small. They''re barely anything. Someone like you, Jiayi, could be so much more," A wave of understanding washed over Jiayi, and the vice that had gripped her chest from the moment she set foot in the room sprang open. It was a setup. Even if the marriage reward was real and wasn''t one of Shen huang gui fei''s machinations, this encounter had to be. Bai gonggong hadn''t mentioned the Imperial Concubine''s name, but it had her written all over it. In his next breath, Bai gonggong would probably imply that Xiang pin had unforgivably wronged her even though Jiayi had been so loyal. Ultimately, hw would tell her that he could somehow arrange a marriage into a far more powerful family if Jiayi did something for him. Spy on Xiang pin? Poison her? Poison Sixth Prince? Suddenly, the vice of fear snapped shut around her chest again. "She treats you well then? Her Highness Xiang pin?" Asked Bai gonggong. Jiayi played along. She was fortunate to have a simple face that no one could imagine much thought behind. "Her Highness treats me the way she feels fit. I am honored by it. I am honored to serve," "Is that all you think you could be? A servant?" "Bai gonggong, you must have heard," Jiayi said in a meek whisper, "His Majesty already rejected me. I have no chances left," "What if I could give you another chance?" "How?!" Jiayi placed a hand over her mouth, playing the contrite and shamed maid. Bai gonggong laughed, "Xi Jiayi, you underestimate me! I didn''t become Fung gonggong''s deputy by accident! I was like you once. Lowly, a nobody! But I rose through the ranks. I can help you. Can you imagine what Xiang pin would say if you married into the Fuca clan or the Ula-Nara after trying so hard to halt your progress?" "You could do that?" Jiayi asked, pouring as much awe into her voice as she could. Bai gonggong nodded, "And not just as a concubine either. I could make you a legal wife," "Really?" "Absolutely! All you have to do is help me with a small task," he said, picking up one of the jars, "It won''t even take more than a moment of your day," He held it out to her, "Here, take it," Jiayi squinted at how familiar the jar looked. "Smart girl," Bai gonggong said with a smile, "It looks just like the rouge Her High the Empress gifted Xiang pin for the Chrysanthemum Festival, doesn''t it?" Jiayi''s breath stopped short. Did Shen huang gui fei mean to eliminate Xiang pin by implicating The Empress? Suddenly, Jiayi felt the conversation was spiraling out of control. "This is going to involve The Empress?" She asked, not needing to act scandalized, "Gonggong, no matter how much Xiang pin has wronged me, isn''t this going too far?" Bai gonggong shook his head, "Jiayi, don''t you think you''re too trusting? You don''t think The Empress had anything to do with your mistress rejecting His Majesty''s reward?" Surely, he was pulling that sentiment out of nowhere. Jiayi didn''t know much about The Empress, but she was sure Her Highness rarely involved herself in things so beneath her. "Her Highness is far above such things," she replied. "Pah! Her Highness The Empress is intimately aware of all the going ons of His Majesty''s concubines. Down in the hard labor camp, you wouldn''t have heard about this, but Her Highness has a habit of becoming as close as possible to any woman who catches His Majesty''s eye. She''s terribly jealous. Why do you think His Majesty rejected you? She wouldn''t dare have you and Xiang pin together to gang up on her," Bai gonggong had a silver tongue. If Jiayi hadn''t been manipulating as much as he was manipulating her, she''d surely would''ve been pulled in. "Her Highness chose the lowest match for you," Bai gonggong continued, "And even then, she was probably in Xiang pin''s ear about how uppity you might become just from marrying into some tiny clan, " "Could Her Highness hold a grudge against me for trying to get His Majesty''s favor? All I wanted to do was make something of my life!" Jiayi said, trying to bring a tear to her eye. Bai gonggong latched onto her complaint, whining like a half-starved dog, "This is the life of a woman in the Forbidden City. You''ll always be crushed under Her Highness''s golden boot. Unless¨C" He held out the pot of rouge again. Though it sent sickly shivers down her spine, she took it. She turned the jar over in her hands, marveling at the spot-on replica. All the concubines received a one-of-a-kind gift from The Empress during the Chrysanthemum Festival, delivered straight to their rooms. How had Shen huang gui fei found out what Xiang pin''s gift was? How far did her reach go? "I''ll have to chip it," Jiayi said. "Hmm?" "One of the little maids, Ping''er, dropped the pot and chipped an edge on the right side. Xiang pin was so furious that she forbid Ping''er from eating for days. I had to sneak her food," It was an audacious lie, but what did he know? "Poor thing," cooed Bai gonggong. Jiayi popped the lid open and stared at the unblemished surface of the pressed red powder. "What...what is it?" "Don''t trouble yourself with the details," he said, "But for your own sake, don''t touch it," Jiayi snapped the lid shut, "How long will it take?" "It all depends on how rosy your mistress likes to be. However, if nothing seems to be happening, bring the rouge back to me, and I will make it a bit more potent," Jiayi felt like flinging the little pot at Bai gonggong''s face for giving her such a nothing answer. Instead, she hid the rouge at the bottom of her basket. "When this is all over, I''ll be granted a marriage?" She asked. "Not just a marriage. A good marriage into a good family as the legal wife. I can promise you that," Jiayi nodded, "Okay," she said, her voice trembling, "I''ll do it," ? At times like this, Jiayi was reminded that Xiang pin was odd. When Jiayi returned to Chengqiangong and privately relaid her conversation with Bai gonggong, Xiang pin didn''t seem to care that her senior maid had been recruited to harm her somehow. She was far more amused by Bai gonggong''s tale of Xiang pin rejecting a marriage reward on her behalf. "That''s the best he could come up with?" She said with a snort, tapping the lid of the imitation rouge with her fingernail before tossing it on her bedside table. Xiang pin had sent some of the servants to fetch her dinner and asked the remaining to do a few chores in the courtyard so, she and Jiayi could speak privately in her bedroom. "Even if it were true, Your Highness, I would be happy you said no. I''m in no mind for marriage," The sentiment would''ve been true had Jiayi been having this conversation many months ago. These days, however, when it came to marriage, more often than not, her mind went to Prince Han. It was a silly dream, of course. At the moment, Jiayi was greedily gobbling up any scrap of attention she could get from Prince Han before he married someone else. Still, when it came to her fantasies, being Prince Han''s difujin was at the top of her list. "And this Bai gonggong person said you can manage a marriage into the Fuca clan? Pah! Well, at least I was lucky enough for him to try and seduce one of my cleverest maids," "Now," she sighed, "What shall we do about this?" "Should we tell De gui fei? Perhaps she could help us?" "No," Xiang pin said with a shake of her head, "Jiejie doesn''t need any more worries. All of her energy is going into making sure Shen huang gui fei doesn''t sabotage Huahuan''s wedding. I don''t want to burden her," "And this Bai gonggong didn''t say what the rouge would do?" she asked. Jiayi shook her head. Xiang pin tsked, "I can''t go any further without knowing what they put in there," "Could we send it to the Imperial Hospital in secret?" "That won''t work. We can''t guarantee that people won''t start asking questions," Xiang pin twisted her lips, "If I pretended to hurt myself, I could ask the physician when he arrives to treat me, " Xiang paused to rub at her knee. Jiayi gently pushed her hand away and began to massage it. "Though, at my age, pretending to be hurt and being hurt are starting to feel the same," Jiayi made up her mind, "I could do it," "Absolutely not," Xiang pin said with a sniff, "What if you were really injured? No, no, I''ll think of something else," "But it wouldn''t cause any suspicion! Bai gonggong already believes that you''re cruel to me behind closed doors. If he or Shen huang gui fei suspected that I betrayed them, I can say you punished me for deserting you all afternoon," "I don''t know¨C" "Please, Your Highness," Jiayi insisted, "We don''t have time to waste. Shen huang gui fei is going so far to frame The Empress for disfiguring you or poisoning you or worse. We can''t wait. Not to mention, His Majesty will come to your side immediately if he hears you''ve been hurt, we''d miss our chance," She didn''t know if what she said was considered a half-truth or a half-lie. Jiayi meant what she said about Shen huang gui fei¨Cshe was escalating in a worrying way. But more importantly, Jiayi was terrified that Bai gonggong knew that she was an imposter. Did that mean Shen huang gui fei knew? If she did, wouldn''t she have gone to The Emperor about it already? Or try to use it against her? Maybe Jiayi still had more time to do something. Xiang pin stared down at her, her eyes pensive. "Fine," she said at last, "As long it''s nothing drastic. Understand?" "Yes, Your Highness," Chapter 50 Jiayi had felt pain before during her life in the Forbidden City, quite a bit of it. But somehow, the stinging nettle of pain in her feet felt brand new. "Jiejie, are you alright?" Molan whispered as she pressed a cloth to Jiayi''s forehead. "I''m fine," Jiayi bit out. The entire production of Jiayi''s "punishment" was far more dramatic than she thought it would be. At first, Jiayi couldn''t get Xiang pin to agree to any punishment that she suggested. No flogging, no face slapping, no food withholding, and certainly nothing that could possibly injure Jiayi''s ''precious hands.'' It was frustrating. Jiayi understood that Xiang pin, at her heart, was incredibly kind in a way that most of the women in the back palace would never be, but if there were too light a hand for Jiayi''s punishment, there wouldn''t be a need to call for a doctor. Ultimately, her mistress begrudgingly agreed to Jiayi''s plan of feet whipping. It was a very common punishment for maids as no unsightly marks were left for anyone to see. "Why is Xiang pin being so cruel to you all of a sudden, jiejie? You weren''t even gone for the entire afternoon!" Said Molan. "Hush, Molan. You can''t speak that way about Her Highness. I got off light. Can you imagine what someone like Shen huang gui fei would have done to me?" Molan sighed and nodded, "That''s true. Lift your feet. Let me see if the bleeding stopped," After tearful begging by Molan and Ping''er, Xiang pin allowed the two girls to whip up a bowl of warm water and ginger for Jiayi to soak her feet in. Jiayi knew that Xiang pin had planned to let them do that from the get-go, but they had to keep up appearances. Molan dried her foot and peered at the split and blistered skin. The gugu who administered the punishment hadn''t gone easy on her. It would be days before she was up and walking and even more before she was walking without pain. When Molan pressed the cloth to her feet, Jiayi hissed. "Sorry, jiejie. Just hold on a little longer. The doctor should be here soon. Just rest. Hopefully, Xiang pin takes it easy on you until you''re better," Jiayi grabbed Molan''s hand, "Meimei, you know I deserved this, right? I was disobedient. You can''t be mad at Xiang pin for doing the right thing and punishing me," Molan frowned and squeezed Jiayi''s hand, "But she''s never been this mean before," "It''s my fault. Xiang pin is only being my rightful master. I''ll get better faster than you think. I promise," Ping''er opened the door to the maid''s room and stuck her head inside, "Jiejie, Su taiyi is here," Jiayi gave Molan''s hand one final squeeze and then shooed her away, "You don''t have to wait here with me. I''ll be fine," "Okay, jiejie," Molan said, picking up the basin of lukewarm water and following after Ping''er, leaving the door open behind her. Su taiyi was a tall, willowy man with a sparse beard and big ears. He smelled strongly of dried herbs, and his hands were dry and rough as he dressed Jiayi''s feet. "I''ll tell your mistress you''ll have to stay off your feet," he said, pressing a stinging powder into the cut, "Behave yourself and don''t aggravate Her Highness into undoing all my hard work," "Yes, taiyi," Jiayi reached under the covers rumpled across her legs, and groped for Bai gonggong''s gift. She had scraped out the rouge and pressed it into a cheap, chintzy jar. She sat silently, gripping the jar tightly in her hands as Su taiyi quietly continued his work. He tied off the bandage and packed away his things before getting to his feet. "Change the bandages every few hours or so," he said, placing a few folded piles of white cotton on the low table beside her. "Thank you, taiyi. Could I bother you about something else?" Su taiyi sighed and then shrugged, "Go on," Jiayi pulled out the rouge and unscrewed it, "My brother sent me this rouge. He said he bought it from a traveling merchant. I think it''s nice, but each time I use it, it makes my face itch. Do you mind taking a look at it?" Su taiyi looks less than thrilled to be bothered with such a useless task, just as Jiayi thought he would. She reaches under her pillow and pulls out a few lumps of silver. "Please, taiyi," she begs. He most likely had better things to do, but money had a way of changing priorities. "Fine," he said, "I''ll send it back with my findings in a few days," "Thank you, taiyi," The doctor grunted and went out the door. Jiayi wasn''t alone for long before Pie''er shuffled inside, her arms full. She dumped everything on the bed next to Jiayi. It was piles of fabric, shoes, and jackets. "Sorry, jiejie. Her Highness told me that these were your responsibility until you''re back on your feet and can wait on her again," Jiayi rustled through the work and sighed. It reminded her that she still hadn''t started on Prince Han''s gift. The way things were going, she might never get the chance. ? The longer Su taiyi took to return to Jiayi with answers, the more nervous she became. In the dead of night, Xiang pin had come to visit her, near tears. She hadn''t enjoyed watching Jiayi get beaten and was tied in knots about how much pain she was in. Jiayi had comforted Xiang pin, knowing that her pain would be getting them answers and one step closer to figuring out what Shen huang gui fei was up to. In theory, at least. It had been days since Jiayi had given Su taiyi the silver, and still, there was no word from him or anyone at the Imperial Hospital. Jiayi stared at the slipper in her hands, half covered in white roses. Xiang pin had done an excellent job at "adding" to her punishment and giving her a chance to rest with her feet up, but there was only so much embroidery and mending you could do before your eyes crossed. Being sequestered in her bed was good for her feet but bad for her mind. Did Bai gonggong have someone spying on Xiang pin? Did Shen huang gui fei start showing back up to the morning greetings? Was she surprised to see Xiang pin look so healthy if she did? It was like Jiayi was stuck in the dark. The door swung open, and Jiayi fumbled to look busy. The others wouldn''t take Xiang pin''s punishment seriously if Jiayi looked like she was enjoying herself. It was strange, though. She hadn''t heard the usual rucus Xiang pin and the others made when she returned to her rooms. She hadn''t heard anyone come to the door at all. For a moment, Jiayi thought it was Xiao-Fan, one of Xiang pin''s newer eunuchs, but when the eunuch lifted his head, she saw a welcome face. Prince Han! "My lord!" Jiayi tossed the slipper aside. Muscle memory had her standing to greet him, only for her to be hiss in pain. "Sit down, sit, please. Don''t stand on formality," Prince Han said, coming to her side to help her back down. Jiayi was giddy. As pathetic as it sounded, Prince Han was a wonderful balm to her jumpy nerves. She couldn''t believe he dressed up as a eunuch again and snuck in to see her! However, the look on Prince Han''s face dampened her joy. "My lord, are you alright?" Prince Han stared at her, his mouth softly parted in confusion, "Am I alright? Jiayi, the gugu whipped your feet into ribbons," Jiayi wiggled her toes, "It''s not as bad as it sounds. The physician Xiang pin called for me didn''t sound worried at all," "How benevolent of your mistress," Prince Han said with a sneer.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Jiayi was taken aback by the venom in his tone, "My lord¨C" "How could she do this to you? After all you''ve done for her, after all the times you''ve put yourself in harm''s way for her sake¨Cshe still has the gall to treat you this way because you wander off for a few hours? That''s ridiculous!" Jiayi was shocked by this sudden spark of anger. Prince Han was, well, a prince! And not one who was granted the title; he was of noble blood! Xiang pin was well within her right to do anything she wanted with Jiayi''s body, punishment or no. Something like this shouldn''t have been surprising. "Xiang pin had to¨C" "She had to?" Prince Han interrupted, "Is that what she told you? Jiayi, Xiang pin is so favored that she could kill me and get away with it. No one would dare put up a fuss about something as silly as not being by her side night and day," "My lord, listen to me¨C" "You should leave," A mix of a laugh and a cough squawked from Jiayi''s throat, "What?" Prince Han didn''t look amused, "I don''t think you should serve Xiang pin any longer," "My lord, please," Jiayi pleaded, trying to reel the conversation back in, "I can''t just abandon my mistress," "Jiayi, you must. I can already see what''s happening to Xiang pin. I thought I was imagining it, but I can''t ignore it any longer now. Xiang pin has changed. His Majesty''s favor has gone to her head. It won''t be long until she dreams of besting De gui fei or Shen huang gui fei. She''ll be foolish enough to attack the Empress when that isn''t enough for her. When she fails, where will that leave you? Do you honestly think she''ll protect you?" Prince Han''s face was pale and pinched, his eyes wet around the edges. It disarmed her and stole away any of the words on her lips. Guilt ate away at her. She wished she could have told him about her and Xiang pin''s plan, but there just wasn''t enough time. It had been so long since they last spoke to each other. Had Prince Han been worrying himself sick the whole time? "I¨C" "Please," he said, dropping to the ground. He pressed his forehead to Jiayi''s knee, "I can find you another post somewhere far from here, where you''ll be safe. Please," "My lord, it''s okay," Prince Han lifted his head to peer up at her, "Jiayi¨C" Jiayi clasped her hands over his mouth, "Please. Let me explain," Taking a deep breath, Jiayi told Prince Han a version of the events that transpired with Bai gonggong. It included an added detail that the eunuch threatened to sabotage the Imperial exam results of Wei Jiayi''s brother. "I know my brother isn''t the kindest, but I couldn''t let Bai gonggong do that to him. I just couldn''t," Prince Han still looked skeptical. "This was the only way to get a physician to test the rouge without anyone knowing?" He asked, "Really?" "It was the fastest way. We needed to know what was in the rouge to figure out what to do next. It wasn''t such a big sacrifice, either. Before I served Xiang pin, a girl I worked with stole something, and my back was whipped even worse than this! At least this time, it''s just my feet," Prince Han''s face slowly morphed from anger to cheek-reddening embarrassment. He fell back onto his haunches and took a deep breath, "As your lord, it''s my right to say that this plan was foolish," Jiayi felt her own face blush, "Well, what else could we have done? I''m sure Bai gonggong has spies all over. He would know if I went to anyone for help, and then I¨Cmy brother would be ruined," "Why didn''t you come to me?" He asked, "I could''ve sent the rouge out to get it tested or brought a physician here in disguise! Anything would be better than hurting yourself like this," Truthfully, Jiayi really didn''t want Prince Han involved at all. Had he not barged in, she would have kept him in the dark as much as possible. It was one thing to go to Prince Han when Wei Jiayi''s life was in danger, but when Xi Jiayi¨Cthe girl wearing a corpse''s name like a jacket¨C was in trouble? She needed him to be far, far away. Jiayi knew in her heart that there was a high chance that one day Prince Han would learn the truth about her and would be, rightfully, disgusted. But until that day came, Jiayi was happy to keep playing pretend. "I''m sorry," Jiayi said, reaching out to grab his hand, "There wasn''t any time to waste. I know that if I needed you, you''d be there for me," Prince Han squeezed her hand, "I would," Jiayi smiled, staring at the sight of their intertwined hands. She would have continued staring if a shard of sun hadn''t passed over their hands. It was late afternoon at this point. Jiayi had to change her bandages. She regretfully pulled her hand away. "Thank you for coming, my lord. I''m sorry that I worried you," Prince Han shook his head, "If you''re in trouble, I want to worry about you. I won''t ever stop," Those words did something to her insides that she didn''t feel comfortable thinking about until Prince Han left the room. "I promise that Xiang pin is as kind as ever to me," she said, "So please don''t let me keep you," He nodded and rose to his feet. "I should leave before your mistress comes back," Jiayi bowed her head, "Ah! Before you leave, could you put that basin on my side table for me?" "Thank you," Jiayi said, filling it with water from the jug on the same table, "It must have slipped Molan''s mind that changing my bandages is much easier when I have a basin nearby to wash in," "Are you still bleeding?" Prince Han asked. Jiayi wiggled her feet and flinched, "Yes, unfortunately. Su taiyi sent his junior here to deliver new bandages. When I asked when it would stop, he couldn''t give me an answer," "He said something about movement of the skin," she continued, "Most importantly, I should keep it clean and freshly dressed," "Do you need help?" Jiayi stilled, "Help with what, my lord?" "Dressing," He paused, "Your feet." As an unmarried girl keeping company with her lover in the Forbidden City, few things should scandalize Jiayi at this point. And yet, Prince Han''s offering to wash and dress her feet nearly sent her flying. They hadn''t even kissed, and he wanted to wash her bare feet? Jiayi might as well strip down naked and lie on the floor. But it wasn''t really that inappropriate, was it? Jiayi was injured. And trying to wash her feet on her own without breaking open the fresh scabs was hard work with all the twisting she had to do. It would be for the best if she had a bit of help. She would heal faster. And if Prince Han was kind enough to do so...then, well¨C Why not? ? Prince Han was an unspeakable cad. A brute. A pervert. An all-around scoundrel. He had snuck into Jiayi''s rooms to rant and rave about something he knew nothing about and now he was all but asking for her to disrobe in front of him. He wanted desperately to snatch the words out of the air and stuff them back behind his stupid lips. Instead of the offended screech that he deserved, Jiayi said, soft and sweet, "I would appreciate your help, my lord," Prince Han swallowed around the tongue that flopped like a dead fish in his mouth. He brought the basin of cool water down to the floor, where he kneeled before Jiayi. He took a quiet breath and picked up her foot, feeling the rough weave of the cotton wrapped around it. He undid the knot and unwound the bandages, careful not to pull away too quickly and upset her wounds. He gently rested her foot in the water before doing the same to it''s partner. There was a cloth folded on the edge of the basin. Prince Han rolled up his sleeves and dipped it in the water with surprisingly steady hands. "Could you," he cleared his throat and brushed his fingers against the edge of her pants, "I don''t want your pants to get wet," Inch by inch, the demure pale green fabric slid upwards, revealing a pair of milky white calves dotted with darling short black hairs. Prince Han wanted to sink his teeth into the meat of it. He wrapped his hand around one of her ankles as delicately as he could and lifted it from the water. The bottom of Jiayi''s foot made him fight a wince. The skin was a crisscross of raised welts, all in the throes of healing, with some still bleeding sluggishly. He wiped the raw skin lightly, dipping the cloth back into the water as needed. He wanted to stay focused on his task; he earnestly did, but he couldn''t stop looking. Jiayi''s feet were warm in his hands as he watched the water slip down her skin. "Is there, um," he cleared his throat, "Salve? For your wounds?" When Jiayi didn''t reply he found her staring down at him, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes glossy. "Jiayi," he said with a light shake to her foot, "Salve?" "Oh! Yes," She handed him a small jar and spatula. He patted her feet dry and began to spread the paste. He would buy Jiayi a pair of slippers. She wouldn''t be able to wear flower pot shoes in this place, but he could get her a fine pair of slippers. Something soft to cradle her healing feet. In red. Wedding red. Prince Han blinked out of his fantasy as he finished tying off the end of the bandage. He needed to get himself together. He quickly washed and dressed Jiayi''s other foot and decided not to acknowledge the way he couldn''t bring himself to stop touching her at any given point. "The bandages aren''t too tight?" Prince Han let his hands go slack as Jiayi flexed her feet. "It feels wonderful, thank you, my lord," Prince Han''s hands tingled. He wanted to put his hands on her again. "Jiejie?" Jiayi''s eyes snapped to his, alarmed. Prince Han was no better. How had they not heard Xiang pin return? The voice was muffled and far off. It wasn''t so close that they''d barge in at any moment, but not far enough for Prince Han to scurry out the window. "The bed," Jiayi said, "Get under the bed!" She lifted the bed skirts and Prince Han crawled under, not giving it a second thought. The fabric dropped, blotting him from the world. The door creaked open. "Jiejie?" Someone called again, "Su taiyi is here," The floorboards groaned as someone else stepped into the room. "You said your face itched when you used this?" An old voice asked. "Yes, taiyi," It was Su taiyi then. "That''s because it was eating the skin off your face," Dead silence. "What do you mean, taiyi?" Jiayi asked. "I would suggest you mend any rifts between yourself and your brother guniang," said Su taiyi, "This gift is not only full of cheap dyes but packed to the brim with bai zhu, thunder god vine, and fu zi," Prince Han''s breath caught in his throat. He was no doctor, but her recognized the herbs that Su tiayi listed. They were are poisons. "Oh no, jiejie," a voice softly muttered. "Mixed with some nasty compounds," Su tiayi continued, "I couldn''t tell what it was but I can tell you that it ate a chicken down to the bones in just a few days," "That was going to happen to my face?" asked Jiayi. There was fear in her voice and Prince Han knew she wasn''t putting on an act. "Worse, more likely. You girls like to be made up. It''s good you didn''t use it for too long. Even Hwang taiyi might not be able to save you. If he did, it wouldn''t do much good. You''d be disfigured at best, deformed at worst," "Thank you, taiyi," Su taiyi sniffed, "More bandages?" "No, taiyi," whispered Jiayi. A hum and then the sound of the floorboards as Su taiyi left. "Molan," said Jiayi, her voice tired, "Do you mind bringing me some tea?" "I''ll be quick, jiejie!" As soon as the door shut, Jiayi yanked up the covers, "Go quickly, my lord. She''ll be back any moment," Prince Han, like the fool he was, took his time climbing through the window, choosing to grasp Jiayi''s hand tightly. "If you have any trouble, tell me. It doesn''t matter what it is. Find Sang''er or Chang Lingxiu, just tell me," Jiayi nervously glanced between their hands and the door. His heart was pounding just as fast, he needed to leave but first he needed to know that if Jiayi was truly in trouble, she''d find. "Promise me," He urged. She gripped his hand tight, "I promise," Chapter 51 Even with all her teachings, Shen huang gui fei was still coming up short. The dates she chose for Huabao''s wedding were horrific! The Empress Dowager couldn''t believe that anyone in the ministry would dare choose these days. She would have to urge His Majesty to investigate the Astrology department if these were the sort of things they come up with. The Empress Dowager tossed the list onto her side table with a huff. "Your Highness," said Jerjer, "The other dowagers have arrived," Hopefully, the morning greetings would take her mind off of Shen huang gui fei''s foolishness. Since it became apparent that the other dowagers were here to stay, The Empress Dowager decided to put them to use and do something she could never do during The Late Emperor''s time: be the one who was greeted in the morning. At her highest, The Empress Dowager had only been a paltry Consort when The Late Emperor died. She had always been the one bending and bowing to someone else. Now, she was The Empress Dowager. She had no master. She took another look in the mirror, making sure the fresh flowers and pearls in her liangbatou were still in place. It was the start of the eighth month* now, and it was hot enough that the paint was nearly melting off the walls. "Anything interesting?" The Empress Dowager asked as Jerjer led her out to the main hall. "Doesn''t look like it, Your Highness," Jerjer replied, "The other dowagers do nothing but follow after Dowager Noble Consort Ling," The Empress Dowager fought off a huff at the thought of the Han clanswoman. It was as if Dowager Noble Consort Ling was some sort of benevolent goddess. As old as the other dowagers were, how hadn''t they realized that so much of their poor luck was because of that woman''s scheming? When she stepped into the hall, the quiet chatter came to a halt. The dowagers hefted themselves out of their seats and bowed to the best of their ability to pay their respects to her. The Empress Dowager would have preferred them all on their knees kowtowing properly, but even His Majesty would take the time to scold her if she went that far. Especially if she endangered his precious Dowager Noble Consort Ling. "Wishing Her Highness The Empress Dowager peace," they chorused. The Empress Dowager took her time getting situated in her seat. Making sure her skirts flared out just so and that her sleeves hadn''t ridden up too far but were far up enough that no one could miss the Imperial green of her jade bracelets. "Rise," she said when she took as much time as she could, "Take a seat, meimei," She knew it rankled most of the other dowagers when she called them family of any kind. The Empress Dowager didn''t find it palatable herself, but the bitter taste wasn''t so strong, knowing how much it pained the others. "Thank you, Your Highness," The dowagers moved their old bodies off the floor and into their chairs. The Empress Dowager laid a critical eye on their clothes and decoration. Now that they had returned to the Forbidden City, The Empress Dowager''s personal budget hadn''t been as robust as usual. It would obviously reflect poorly on His Majesty if the dowagers ran around looking shabby, but why was it her responsibility that they didn''t? As much as she wanted to argue, The Emperor had already decided. The only thing she could do was "graciously" allow her dear sisters a small piece of her allowance so they could live out their days "comfortably." "I could hear you chatting all the way in my bedroom," The Empress Dowager said, "Did something exciting happen? Another grandchild, perhaps?" They glanced at each other before Dowager Noble Lady Yu spoke up, "It''s about Xiang pin," The Empress Dowager very much wanted to roll her eyes¡ªanother living example of Shen huang gui fei''s lack of gumption. Xiang pin, after all this time, was still under The Emperor and Empress''s skirts like a bloodthirsty tic. The Empress Dowager was old and somewhat out of touch. Could anyone blame her that Xiang pin kept slipping out of her grasp? Shen huang gui fei was young and constantly in the know of the back palace¨Cthe fact that she couldn''t do something as simple as get rid of Xiang pin was a sorry sight. "Yes," Dowager Noble Lady Mei continued, "She''s had it with one her maids," "Which one?" Asked The Empress Dowager. "You haven''t heard, jiejie?" Asked Dowager Noble Consort Ling, a smug smile on her wrinkled lips, "Are your people not keeping good enough watch?" The Empress Dowager flashed Dowager Noble Consort Ling something close enough to a smile, "My people? My dear meimei, no one in my palace would go so low as to spy. In the back palace, if my royal daughter-in-law does not inform me, then I don''t have to know. She knows how important my duties are," She enjoyed the frowns and poorly concealed eye rolls her little speech brought about. It was only the truth. Her duties were very important. She was The Empress Dowager, and they were simple peons living on the generosity of her blessed son. While they had time to peck at the world around them like the old hens they were, The Empress Dowager had more meaningful things to do. "Her senior maid. The one she whipped," cut in Dowager Imperial Concubine Da, "Now, she''s starving and beating the poor thing day after day. I was just telling Hua jiejie that Xiang pin won''t even let the girl see a doctor," "And I was saying that it was strange. All I''ve heard about this Xiang pin is that she was such a kind mistress to her servants. Treating them like a little family and all," said Dowager Noble Lady Li. "Hmph," said Dowager Consort Hua, "Didn''t His Majesty bring her back to the Forbidden City a year ago by now? She probably just learned how these servants really are. You give an inch, and they take a mile," Dowager Noble Lady Mei nodded, "Its true! I heard that this maid actually tried to slip into His Majesty''s bed," "Oh, well, that makes sense, then!" Said Dowager Consort Hua, "You can expect her to live with that sort of vermin," "Why waste the time doing all of that?" Asked Dowager Noble Lady Li, "Just send her to the hard labor camp and get on with it," Dowager Noble Consort Ling glanced at The Empress Dowager, "Some people just like a more hands-on touch. Right, jiejie?" If she thought she could rile up The Empress Dowager by bringing up the maid of two she got rid of decades ago for doing the same thing, Dowager Noble Consort Ling would be sorely disappointed. The idea of Xiang pin being driven to madness by her servants tickled The Empress Dowager immensely. "Some servants are hard headed and need to be made an example of," said The Empress Dowager, "It wasn''t so long that Xiang pin was even lower than the lowest slave¨Cit''s no wonder they don''t respect her," "Now," she continued, "In a few weeks, His Majesty will depart for the mid autumn hunt. We need to send word if there needs to be an extra yurt if any of you would like to go. I know that many of you were never granted the opportunity, so I''d be happy to give you this once in a lifetime experience," Dowager Noble Consort Ling laughed, "I think once in a lifetime is a bit of a strong description, jiejie. The Mongolian grasslands are beautiful, yes, but it is, in its essence, just a grassland," It was incredible. The Empress Dowager''s little sister always had something to say. How had the late emperor every put up with her? "You wouldn''t know much about the riches of the grassland, would you meimei?" Replied The Empress Dowager, "But how can I blame you? You''re a Han clanswoman. We don''t share the same ancestors. You can truly never understand what those grasslands did to nurture the Great Qing. It''s a shame you never learned this after being here for so many years," Dowager Noble Consort Ling''s eyes narrowed, "Jiejie, are you saying that Empress Xiaodechengshun** was lax in educating me about the Great Qing and its accomplishments?" The Empress Dowager froze at the mention of her late mistress. "Jiejie, you couldn''t possibly mean that about Empress Xiaodechengshun," said Dowager Consort Hua.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "I didn''t mean anything because I didn''t say anything about Empress Xiaodechengshun," said The Empress Dowager, "If Ling meimei wants to make up reasons to become outraged, it''s hardly my job to stop her," Dowager Noble Lady Mei cleared her throat, "Your Highness, perhaps you shouldn''t mention something like that again. We''re sisters here. We know you wouldn''t dare speak of Empress Xiaodechengshun''s memory like that, but if someone looking to cause trouble heard that, it would be a different story," The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, fighting the urge to screech that she said nothing of the sort! She hadn''t even mentioned that old bitch Xiaodechengshun and suddenly, with one tap of Dowager Noble Consort Ling''s crippled feet, The Empress Dowager looked like some sort of unfilial villain! Taking a deep breath, The Empress Dowager nodded, "True. I wouldn''t want anyone to think I do anything but honor and worship Empress Xiaodechengshun''s memory daily," "Really?" Dowager Noble Consort Ling said, "Would you like to join us in making prayer flags for Empress Xiaodechengshun, then? We''re trying to make as many as possible before the anniversary of her passing. We could always use an extra pair of hands," The Empress Dowager would have liked nothing more than to step down from her chair, throw Dowager Noble Consort Ling to the ground, and wrap her hands around her sagging neck. That woman knew very well that The Empress Dowager would sooner spit on Empress Xiaodechengshun''s tomb before making a prayer flag for her. "What a lovely idea, meimei. I''ll be sure to make as many as I can and send them to dafuge," she said instead. "We actually make them together every day after a late lunch. Shall we save you a seat, jiejie?" said Dowager Noble Consort Ling. "Very well," snapped The Empress Dowager, already fed up by the sight of Dowager Noble Consort Ling, "I''m off to see my royal daughter-in-law. You can all leave first," The dowagers rose to their feet and bid their farewell. When the hall was blessedly empty, the Empress Dowager huffed and stomped back to her bedroom. She didn''t need to see The Empress today. It was an excuse to get those old bitches out of her palace. She kicked off her shoes and laid in her bed, stewing. What she wouldn''t do to get rid of Dowager Noble Consort Ling again. Damn her foolish son for even granting that bitch the title of a dowager in the first place! For granting all those bitches the title of dowager! "Please calm down, your Highness," said Jerjer, "Don''t let Dowager Noble Consort Ling''s small-mindedness frustrate you. It could make you ill," Jerjer gestured to a nearby maid who came to The Empress Dowager''s bedside with a cup of tea. The Empress Dowager took the cup and flung it across the room. "Get out! Everyone out!" She screeched. As her useless servants shuffled out, The Empress Dowager fumed. One day, she''d be rid of Dowager Noble consort Ling and the rest of those bitches. She just had to wait for the right moment to strike. ? The purpose of a palace maid was to be invisible. Walk quietly, speak sparsely, and take your place in the shadows gratefully. So when all eyes began to swing to Jiayi anytime she left Chengqiangong''s gates, it felt like a thousand tiny needles were repeatedly piercing her body. Jiayi couldn''t blame them; if she were on the other end, she''d stare, too. She was a dead man walking. To covet your mistress''s husband was one of the greatest sins a maid could commit, and the entirety of the Forbidden City now knew what Jiayi had tried to do so many months ago. Now, when they heard about Xiang pin beating and starving her, her mistress came out the victor. They''d do the same to Jiayi if they were in Xiang pin''s place. From the whispers Jiayi heard, there was a countdown to when Jiayi met her untimely end or simply disappeared. Not ''if'', but ''when''. As lowly as palace maids were, they were still from banner families. The average concubine wouldn''t be able to get away with putting one in the grave, but everyone was sure that with His Majesty''s favor, even if Xiang pin were given a demotion, it would be reversed in as little as a year. Maybe even 6 months. Jiayi kept her nose pointed to the ground and her arms strong as she ferried a batch of candied nuts back to Xiang pin. Her nose tickled, but she couldn''t risk rubbing it against her shoulder. It would smudge the makeup. The second act of her performance was a group effort. Molan had nearly wept when she found out that Xiang pin wasn''t really out to get Jiayi, and Bolin had heaved a heavy-bellied sigh of relief. There had been real fear at the thought that Xiang pin had transformed into the archetype of the cruel concubine overnight. The tales of Xiang pin beating Jiayi? The work of Bolin, who fearfully recounted his mistress'' tantrums to anyone nearby. The starvation? Ping''er and Molan let the seams out of her clothes and helped her smudge bruises under her eyes.The choice to publicize her "failure" of becoming The Emperor''s woman had been Jiayi. They needed to create a reason that she hadn''t been able to get Xiang pin to use the poisoned rouge. They needed the illusion to draw Bai gonggong back to Jiayi. Jiayi had been sure that as soon as it became apparent that Xiang pin wasn''t using the rouge, Bai gonggong would corner her again. But it didn''t happen. She had been sure, again, that after the rumors of Xiang pin''s cruelty became well-known, he''d finally resurface¡ªstill nothing. Jiayi wasn''t foolish enough to think that Bai gonggong would forget about her or let her go. He had chosen her as his sword to cut down both Xiang pin and The Empress, but he knew that the blade could turn on him at any time. If he changed his mind, he could not leave Jiayi alive. After so much waiting, Jiayi decided to find him first. She crept through the Department of Internal Affairs'' courtyard and asked the first eunuch she came across if Bai gonggong was inside. "Come back later," he said, "He''s having lunch with Fung gonggong soon," "I''ll be quick," Jiayi begged. The eunuch huffed before shrugging, "Fine. Piss him off if you like," Jiayi followed him, clutching the tray of snacks tightly. The eunuch stopped before a door and said, "He''s in there," He didn''t bother to stick around to see what Jiayi did and walked off. Jiayi pushed the doors open and peered around the empty room. She followed the muffled sounds of shuffling and clanging dishes to the back of the hall and found Bai gonggong fussing with a table set with food. "Bai gonggong!" She cried, dropping the candied nuts on a nearby table before running to him. "Gonggong, you have to help me," she pleaded. Bai gonggong tsked and said, "Why should I? I gave you one task, and you couldn''t even do that. I''ve seen Xiang pin¨Cshe looks no different," "I tried my best, gonggong," Jiayi said, her voice miserable and whiney, "She used it for one day before I made her angry, and she tossed it against the wall. Gonggong, can''t you give me something else?" "Do you think that sort of thing grows on trees?" He snapped. Bai gonggong let out a breath and shook his head, "Perhaps we should just part ways here. No harm done. We''ll pretend this never happened," Of course. Bai gonggong would pretend so well it would send Jiayi to an early grave. "Gonggong, please," she said, reaching up to grab his arm, "You must have heard. Xiang pin has gone crazy! She''s whipped me and starved me, and look at my face! I can''t spend another day with her. Please gonggong, please help me," Bai gonggong sighed and shook her off to sit down at the table. "What did you bring?" The sudden question brought Jiayi to a halt, "I don''t..." "You had a tray when you came in, didn''t you?" He said, moving the plates and cutlery on the table bit by bit, "Bring it here," Jiayi crawled up off the floor and brought the candies to him. Her stomach roiled with nervousness as his spindly fingers slowly picked through the pile of honeyed treats. He chewed loudly and leisurely, pausing to gulp down a cup of tea. "Why should I bother with you again? Xiang pin doesn''t trust you anymore¨Cshe doesn''t even care for the sight of you. She''ll see right through you in a second. You''re wasting my time," "I''m not gonggong, I promise. She still lets me bring her food! Couldn''t we just poison her that way?" Bai gonggong sighed again, "You really are stupid!" He said, slamming his hand on the table, "Wouldn''t she figure that out immediately since you''re the only one who could have tampered with her food? Are there even brains in your head?" He wagged his finger in her face. Jiayi had the urge to bite down until she tasted bone. "Sorry," she said instead. "Well, there''s nothing you can do about your nature. We can only hope your future husband is endeared by it," "Does that mean you''ll still help me?" Jiayi asked, pouring as much glee into her voice as she could. Bai gonggong smiled widely, "I''ll have to think of something, but yes, I will help you. From one servant to another, if anyone deserves to escape from these palace walls, it''s you," "Thank you! Thank you!" She said, bowing low, "What should we do now?" Whatever Bai gonggong meant to say was interrupted by Fung gonggong opening and slamming the door shut behind him. Jiayi had only glanced at him from the corner of her eye, and before she knew it, she was flat against the ground, her left temple throbbing. Bai gonggong had struck her. "Ah, master, you''re here!" Fung gonggong grunted and walked around Jiayi''s sprawled body to take a seat at the table. "I''m here at the same time everyday, A''wen," he said. He looked around at the food around the table before freezing at the sight of the candied walnuts. He snatched up a silk napkin and pressed it to his face. "What is that?" He hissed. "Forgive me, master," said Bai gonggong, "This foolish girl brought them in. I only just caught her!" Fung gonggong glared down at her. Did he recognize her? Bai gonggong said something about Fung gonggong thinking she wouldn''t last but Bai gonggong was a liar. What if he did recognize her? Would¨C "Get out!" Fung gonggong said, shooing her away, "And get that away from here. Now!" Not wanting to take any chances, Jiayi scooped up the tray of walnuts and sped out of the room. The doors shut softly behind her, muffling Fung gonggong and Bai gonggong''s voices, but only slightly. "You didn''t let her come close to the tea, did you?" Asked Fung gonggong. "Absolutely not, master. I would never let anyone else prepare your tea, you know that," replied Bai gonggong. "I know that? You let enough walnuts in this room to kill me 10 times over," Fung gonggong said with a huff, "Aiming for my job again, I see," "Master, I would never..." Bai gonggong''s voice faded away as Jiayi trudged out of the courtyard. Her skull was still buzzing from the knock to her head, but it wasn''t the only thing that was making her head spin. Fung gonggong was allergic to walnuts. Badly allergic, judging by the way he acted. And from what it sounded like, Bai gonggong was one of the last people to put their hands on his lunchtime meals. If something were to go wrong, only Bai gonggong could take the blame. Jiayi decided to be that something. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Between August 23 ¨C September 23 **The filial, moral, capable, and prosperous Empress This is a temple name. Which are posthumous titles given to members of the monarchy to aid in ancestor worship. I made it up and it''s most likely incoherent because I''m not Chinese and the logistics of temple names are so intricate and even if I researched this for 10 years, I''d still wouldn''t know much so nobody''s allowed to be mad at me! Chapter 52 To be able to personally raise a prince in your palace instead of letting them fend for themselves with their momos in the A Ge Sou was a privilege that many concubines would never have, but currently, Shen huang gui fei wished Yizhong and Yiru were far, far, far away from here. Crying, crying, crying. They were always crying. Shen huang gui fei didn''t remember Huabao crying so much at this age. All day and all night, all they did was cry. Sending the momos to the other side of the palace did nothing to dampen their noise. Even though Shen huang gui fei had frequently ordered the momos to take Yizhong and Yiru away when they worked themselves up like this¨Cthey insisted that Shen huang gui fei could soothe them. A mother''s touch, Su momo said. Please. The momos were as lazy as the day was long. Shen huang gui fei decided to hide away in her bedroom. She hadn''t had a moment to relax since Huabao''s engagement. She didn''t understand why things were so difficult. Everything was falling into place! If there were ever a time for her to feel at ease, it would be now! But she was nowhere near that. Usually, when things got this way, the one thing that would calm her down was spending time with His Majesty. When they were together, it was like they were in their own world. It was as if they were husband and wife, like it was truly meant to be. His Majesty wouldn''t hesitate to fit her into his schedule, no matter how busy he was. Yes, at times, they quarreled, but what pair didn''t? They always found their way back to each other. They used to, at least. In truth, it had been months since Shen huang gui fei had said more than two words to His Majesty that weren''t in passing. You would think he would take so much more interest in his firstborn daughter''s wedding, but he had claimed¨Cin a message from Zhang Wei¨Cthat she and The Empress were more than equipped to handle it. He hadn''t flipped her tag or visited Zhongcuigong to see the children either. Whenever Shen huang gui fei found the free time to see him, he was either occupied by Xiang pin, one of her little trollops, or state affairs. "Ouch!" She snapped, yanking her foot from a maid''s hand. Jingse slapped the maid on the back of the head and shooed her outside. A''Fang picked Shen huang gui''s foot back up, inspecting it for marks. "Sorry, Your Highness," said Jingse, "I thought Limei could handle a simple task like a massage," "Limei? When did a Limei come into my palace?" "She came in with the other girls to help with the wedding, Your Highness," Jingse replied. Shen huang gui fei huffed, "Don''t let her attend to me again," "Yes, Your Highness," Shen huang gui fei resumed her brooding, motioning the eunuch at her head to pick up the pace with his fan. To make matters worse, Bai gonggong was making zero progress. It was making her regret approaching him at all. She hadn''t thought to give explicit instruction because she assumed Bai gonggong was a veteran at this sort of thing. Seeing as there hadn''t been any change in Xiang pin at all, that was wrong. Now, she had to go through the entire process of finding a way to get rid of him. She would have to figure out if he used anyone else in his scheme and then try and find a way to dispose of them all in one fell swoop. Shen huang gui fei let out a miserable sigh. As if she didn''t have enough to do! Being with His Majesty would do wonders for her mood at a time like this. There was no point in trying to reach him, though. The eunuchs at Yangxidian sent a message saying that Xiang pin and Lian fei had been inside all day. She wasn''t surprised that Lian fei had magically forgotten her ire towards Xiang pin for the chance of His Majesty''s favor. As old as she was, the window to have anything resembling a healthy child was closing fast. Shen huang gui fei could only imagine how insufferable Lian fei would become if she did manage a pregnancy. Just thinking about it made her head hurt more than it already did. She was about to have Jingse take down her hair for a nap when she heard a commotion outside. Shen huang gui fei nudged A''Fang with her foot, "Go see who''s making all that racket," Before A''Fang could get to her feet, Chen momo burst inside. "Your Highness," she said, stumbling down to her knees, "Its¨CIt''s 11th prince!" Shen huang gui fei shot to her feet, "What? What''s wrong with him? What have you done?!" She didn''t bother to wait for Chen momo''s explanation and ran outside. Yizhong was whimpering pitifully in Li momo''s arms while Yiru was lying limply in Tan momo''s arms, letting out hoarse and hiccuping croaks. His eyes bulged, and his face turned a furious red as he coughed and coughed. "What have you done!" Shen huang gui fei asked again, snatching him into her arms. "Your Highness, he¨C" "Have you called for the doctors?" Shen huang gui fei said, turning Yiru over and smacking his back. Was he choking? Why was he making that noise? "We did, Your Highness; we told Xiao-Ling to say it was an emergency," said Su momo. Shen huang gui fei turned Yiru back around and stared at his mottled face. This couldn''t be happening, not now! If Yiru died under her care, it wouldn''t matter if Shen huang gui fei blamed each momo, maid, and eunuch in Zhongcuigong¨Cit would still be her fault. She would be the one responsible for killing one-half of His Majesty''s most auspicious children. At Shen huang gui fei''s age, there was no chance she could redeem herself with another child. Even worse, The Empress would find a way to accuse her of doing it on purpose, and Yizhong would be taken from her as well. A doctor who wasn''t Hwang taiyi stormed into the room. He greeted her shortly before taking Yiru from her arms. "What happened?" He asked. "We don''t know," said Chen momo, "He woke up from his nap and was fussy and a bit warm. 11th prince has two new teeth, so I didn''t think much of it. He''s been like this off and on for weeks. He had a small cough, but never this bad!" The physician squinted before his face turned grave, "10th prince cannot stay here," he said. "What do you mean?" Asked Shen huang gui fei, her heart stuttering. The physician sighed and returned Yiru to her before opening his medicine case and rifling through the bottles. "11th Prince is suffering from the cough of 100 days*," Shen huang gui fei would have fallen to the ground had Jingse not been by her side. The last time the cough afflicted Forbidden City, two princes and three princesses died. It had been nearly 30 years since the last sickness. Why was it back now? And why with her son? Su momo''s eyes widened, "But Cao taiyi, it''s the middle of the summer. This cough only comes in the winter!" Cao taiyi shook his head, "Sickness comes in all seasons. Quickly, we need to get this decoction made. Momo, is 11th Prince still drinking?" A''Fang took the herbs and raced to start a fire. Chen momo nodded, "He nursed this morning," "Good, good. 11th prince''s cough is still at stage one. Stage two is more severe, but we can stop the progression if we can clear the heat from his lungs and release the pestilence in his qi. While the decoction brews, we should give him a steam bath to break up the abundance of phlegm," Yiru had been wheezing noisily in Shen huang gui fei''s arms as Cao taiyi worked when his body tensed, going ramrod straight before he began to cough again. Pinkish spittle ran down the corners of his graying lips as he desperately sucked in air that he couldn''t find. Shen huang gui fei''s feet were rooted to the rough carpet beneath her feet as Yiru trembled and twitched. Yiru was going to die. She knew that children as young as Yiru could survive the cough, but the odds weren''t in his favor. Would he truly recover from this if he suffered too long? Would it be worth it to have an invalid son for a prince? It was better than dead, wasn''t it?This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Wasn''t it? Shen huang gui fei thanked her blessings that she was given two sons instead of one. Yizhong was still healthy and she needed to keep it that way. "What did you say about Yizhong? If he can''t stay here, where can he go?" She asked Cao taiyi. As Tan momo carried Yizhong over to the steam bath, Cao taiyi said, "Fortunately, most His Majesty''s Imperial heirs are old enough that if the cough spread, it wouldn''t be fatal. However, it could still strain the lungs badly. We can''t send 10th Prince to stay anywhere in case he infects the other children, but he can''t stay here lest he be infected by 11th Prince," A''Fang wrung her hands, "Your Highness, what are we going to do?" Shen huang gui fei didn''t know. There were so many choices, and just one misstep could result in not just Yiru''s death but the death of Shen huang gui fei''s favor. No. She decided she wouldn''t be making any decisions at all. She was only Yiru and Yizhong''s foster mother. Technically, she had no say in their lives at all. That was their Royal Mother''s job. ? "The Emperor arrives! The Empress arrives!" When the servants announced His Majesty''s arrival, Cao taiyi had just finished forcing the decoction down Yiru''s throat. Shen huang gui fei nearly dropped the child in surprise. She hadn''t thought he would accompany The Empress. The sight of The Emperor brought Shen huang gui fei to her knees. "Your Majesty!" She cried, "It''s terrible!" She tugged at the smooth orange silk of his clothes and sobbed. She wanted to make sure he saw her distress. It was real, obviously, but she wanted every stranger who set foot in Zhongcuigong to know that her heart as a mother was hurting. Zhang Wei helped her to her feet as His Majesty told them all to rise. "Jingse, help your mistress to a chair and bring something cool and simple to drink," said The Empress. "Yes, Your Highness," As His Majesty and The Empress were led into the main hall, Shen huang gui fei could feel the familiar twang of bitterness coat her mouth. Gangs of foreign envoys and ambassadors had been traipsing in and out of the Forbidden City, and everyone knew that along with the proclamations of continued loyalty to His Majesty, came tributes from all corners of the world. Pearls, gems, perfumes, fabrics, and furs of all kinds had been laid at His Majesty''s feet. Of course, The Empress Dowager had first rites to pick through and snatch up anything her magpie''d eyes wanted. And then the dowagers and then The Empress. Shen huang gui fei hadn''t thought much of it. His Majesty knew of her affinity for furs and pearls. There was seldom a tribute where she didn''t personally receive something far above her station and sometimes even above The Empress'' station. How often did His Majesty whisper that the ring he slipped onto her finger, the fur wrapped around her shoulders, or the interesting bangle he pressed into her hands had caught The Empress'' eye, but he had saved it just for her? When Zhang Wei came to her doors to deliver the gifts instead of His Majesty, it hadn''t worried her. When she opened the lacquered box and saw a smooth silver clock with diamonds on the hands, she had been struck dumb. Where were her rings? Her furs? She had rattled out her thanks to get the eunuch out of her palace so she could have her tantrum in private. A''Fang had wondered if perhaps The Empress Dowager and her lot had taken all the goods, and this was what was left. It had been a sound theory until she had seen The Empress during the morning greetings dripping foreign jewelry. There were silver earrings with pearls the size of quail eggs hanging from her ears and an array of diamond rings dotting her fingers. Had it been winter, Shen huang gui fei was sure that The Empress would be sporting an exotic new fur cape. The luxury bordered on obscene. The same earrings glittered as she took a seat next to The Emperor. Cao taiyi bowed and informed The Emperor and The Empress of the predicament. "I don''t know what to do," Shen huang gui fei said, "I don''t want to send Yizhong away!" "What do you think, Empress?" Asked The Emperor. The Empress tapped a finger on her thigh, "Perhaps it would be better for Yiru and his momos to move closer to the Imperial Hospital for treatment. Yizhong can stay here, and Shen meimei can keep a close eye to make sure he hasn''t caught the cough as well," Shen huang gui fei had to admit that The Empress'' choice was sound enough. If anything were to go wrong, the blame would fall on the Imperial hospital, the momos, or The Empress. The Emperor nodded and turned to Wang gugu, "Take Yiru and his momos and prepare a side hall," The Empress stood, "I''ll accompany you," Once The Empress and her retinue had filed out of the room, Shen huang gui fei was dismayed to see that The Emperor looked like he was planning to leave as well. He''d only just arrived! "Your Majesty¨C" "Your Highness," A''Fang interrupted, "10th prince is fussy. Li momo couldn''t settle him," By the look on Li momo''s face, that was a complete lie, but Shen huang gui fei took Yizhong into her arms anyway. If there was one thing that could hold His Majesty''s attention for a little while, it was an Imperial Heir. "It''s probably just another tooth," she said. "Another one?" His Majesty asked, "Let me see," Shen huang gui fei eagerly passed Yizhong along. She parked herself at The Emperor''s side as he gazed down at his child. "He''s growing well," The Emperor said, gently bouncing the baby in his arms. Shen huang gui fei rested her head on his shoulder, taking a deep breath of his smell. "Yes. He and Yiru look more and more like Guang meimei every day," "Really?" he paused and peered closer at Yizhong, "I can''t tell," "You calm him so easily," said Shen huang gui fei, "He loves being in his royal father''s arms," Laughing, The Emperor stroked Yizhong''s bouncy cheeks, "I remember when Yian was this age, he''d already started walking," "Perhaps he''ll start soon," she replied as The Emperor began to pace around the room, soothing Yizhong. What a perfect sight. It was late in the day and Shen huang gui fei was sure the excitement had taken a toll on His Majesty. Wouldn''t it be lovely if he stayed for dinner? "Your Majesty¨C" "Don''t wait so long to inform me about this sort of thing again," he said. Shen huang gui fei reeled from the sudden scolding. "Yiru and Yizhong are young and vulnerable. Wasting time quibbling instead of consulting The Empress was foolish," "This concubine apologizes," said Shen huang gui fei said as she knelt on the ground, "It won''t happen again," "See that it doesn''t," he said. The Emperor handed a sleeping Yizhong to Chen momo before finally letting Shen huang gui fei rise to her feet. And then, as swiftly as he came, The Emperor was gone again. Shen huang gui fei watched Chen momo softly lay Yizhong in his crib. She peered down at his ruddy cheeks and softly rising chest as a realization bared down on her skull. If Yiru didn''t survive, neither would she. ? Jiayi thought it would have been harder. She had spent so much of her time in the Forbidden City with a clench in her teeth that she had forgotten that so many of the servants here just...existed. They didn''t scheme or spy or creep¨Cthey just swept and folded and ferried things from one end of the city to the other. They had no reason to wonder why an eunuch would carry a package to the Imperial Affairs Department. They received packages all the time. There was no reason to think it strange for a eunuch not to raise his head or stop to chat. A lower eunuch was always busy. There also wasn''t any reason to question whether or not they''d ever seen a certain eunuch before. The Forbidden City was huge. Of course, you''d come across servants you''d never seen before. So, no one stopped Jiayi in her borrowed eunuch''s clothes. No one asked to see what she was carrying or questioned what she was doing. It wasn''t hard at all. She managed to return the borrowed clothes and return to Xiang pin''s side without anyone being the wiser. And yet, her heart couldn''t stop racing. What if someone had thought she looked suspicious? What if it didn''t work? The thought of it had Jiayi startling herself awake all night. When it came time to wait on Xiang pin the next morning, she could barely keep herself awake. After nearly stabbing herself in the hand with buyao, Xiang pin took notice. "Are you alright, Jiayi?" "Just a little tired, Your Highness. I had trouble sleeping," "Are your feet still bothering you?" Asked Molan. Jiayi shook her head, "Just a bad night," Xiang pin dusted her face with whitening powder and caught Jiayi''s eyes in the mirror, "Don''t force yourself, dear. If it''s too much, you can stay back from the morning greetings," "I couldn''t do that!" As she pulled out Xiang pin''s clothes for the day, Jiayi said, "What if you need me?" Xiang pin rolled her eyes, "I''m sure Molan can handle helping me walk, stand up and sit down if push truly comes to shove," "I''ll be fine," Jiayi insisted. The trek to Yikungong shook the cobwebs out of Jiayi''s head. Jiayi tried to comfort herself as she stood behind Xiang pin''s chair and watched The Empress take her seat. Maybe her plan had worked, but she just wasn''t privy to the outcome? There really was no reason for news from the Internal Affairs department to reach someone like Jiayi. Maybe no news was good news. "Your Highness," said Shen huang gui fei, "You look troubled. Is everything alright?" The Empress twisted the jade ring on her finger and shook her head, "It seems the Forbidden City is having a bout of bad luck," The statement had all eyes snapped to Shen huang gui fei. Everyone heard what happened to 11th prince. The Empress huffed, "Yiru is fine. There was an incident at the Internal Affairs department," Jiayi''s stomach seized. "The Late Emperor''s beloved Fung gonggong was murdered yesterday," A white hot flash of shock ran through Jiayi. That wasn''t...how could that be? "What happened?" Asked Lian fei. "He was poisoned by his deputy, Bai Wen," "Poison? How awful!" Said Tong pin, "To think something that dangerous could be in the Forbidden City!" "It''s even more insidious than you think, meimei," said The Empress, "Fung gonggong was very allergic to walnuts. During the investigation, they found crushed walnuts in the dregs of the teapot," It was walnut. One walnut. Jiayi purposefully put only one ground walnut in the tea. It was just one! How much could it hurt? It was supposed to make Fung gonggong sick enough that he could point the finger at Bai gonggong, and Jiayi could wash her hands of him. Fung gonggong wasn''t supposed to die! "How devilish," murmured Jin pin. "Hopefully, he''s being dealt with properly," said Shen huang gui fei. Jiayi wasn''t surprised that Shen huang gui fei asked that question. Bai gonggong may not have succeeded in his scheming on her behalf but his punishment could be an easy way to tie up lose ends. "An execution," replied The Empress, "His Majesty wouldn''t settle for anything less," Jiayi swallowed around the knot lodged in her throat. "His Majesty is wise," the concubines chorused. "With the hunt on the horizon, I''d hate for this to continue. We should all do our best to ward off this bad luck," Jerjer gugu clapped her hands and a stream of servants filed into the room. They stopped in front of each concubine and presented a book. "I''ve chosen some blessed sutras for each of you to transcribe to help ward off any evil that''s managed to afflict us," said The Empress. "Transcribe them well," "Yes, Your Highness," the concubines chorused again, the delicate sound echoing like a thunderclap in Jiayi''s head. What had she done? ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *In 600 CE, a physician named Chao Yuanfang described a sickness that affected young children that he called the cough of 100 days. It could (researchers are divided) have been an early description of pertussis or whooping cough. Regardless, it was pretty fatal. Chapter 53 The pajamas were finished. Jiayi had haggled with gugu at the clothing house to get a nice piece of black brocade to edge the pants and the sleeves. It was easier than she thought to sew them in place. The fabric was a bit thicker and fiddly, but she got it together. It was a very handsome set, in her opinion. Prince Han would be more than happy with it. There was nothing more to it. Fung gonggong was buried and Bai gonggong had been executed. The sun rose and set. The birds sang. The Forbidden City moved on, and Jiayi moved with it. Like a New Year''s firecracker, the feelings that had exploded with the news of Fung gonggong''s death had turned to dust and ash. In the end, there was no guilt, sadness, or even relief. There was nothing. Around her, the world was unchanged. Behind the double doors, Xiang pin was taking her afternoon nap. She could hear the murmur of a few other servants out in the courtyard, sweeping and chatting. Molan and Pie''er were embroidering quietly on the other side of the table, and Ping''er was dozing quietly on the ground by the bedroom doors, Thunder snuffling in her lap. Smoothing the silky clothes, Jiayi folded the pajamas and tucked them into the basket on her lap. The reality of it slithered around in Jiayi''s mind. How much blood had she spilled to live this simple life? How much more would it take to keep it? And why did the idea of it not horrify her more? Before she could answer the question, Thunder erupted into furious barks. He leaped from Ping''er''s lap and trotted to the front door. "Ah! Sixth Prince is back for lunch," said Molan. Jiayi rushed to pick up Thunder, hoping she would quiet down and not disturb Xiang pin. "Hush, you!" Jiayi said. In all her defiance, Thunder continued to bark, only settling down when Sixth Prince stepped through the door. "I''m starving," he whined, "I want hotpot for lunch," Jiayi guided him to the recently vacated table where Molan had already left a basin of water and a cloth for Sixth Prince to wash up. "I apologize, Sixth Prince. Xiang pin said you''ve had hotpot too many times this week. Would you like some fish instead? Or dumplings? I can call for a nice spread," Sixth Prince huffed and scrubbed his face and hands. He leaned back to peer at Xiang pin''s closed bedroom door. "Just go get it for me," he whispered, "A-niang is napping. She wouldn''t even know!" "I absolutely would," Xiang pin''s slightly sleepy voice cut through the room. Ping''er hurried to slide the doors open for their mistress. Sixth Prince froze as his cheeks blushed red, "A-niang! You''re awake!" Xiang pin took a seat next to Sixth Prince and shared the basin and cloth to freshen up, "The only way I could sleep through Thunder''s barking is if I was dead," Always happy to be included, Thunder shrieked and wiggled her way out of Jiayi''s arms to paw at Xiang pin''s feet. Xiang pin clicked her tongue, "Who do you think you are trying to turn my girls against me? You''ve eaten so much hotpot this week there''s bone broth coming out of your ears!" Sixth Prince moaned in annoyance, nearly toppling off his chair with how far he leaned back. "Little brat," Xiang pin hissed as she pinched his cheeks, "All you eat is lamb hotpot anyways! You''ll become just as fat as Thunder with the way you''re going," Sixth Prince shrugged, "I think I''d look good fat. And if lamb''s the problem, let''s do shrimp hotpot!" When Thunder barked enthusiastically, Sixth Prince hoisted her into his arms, "See? Thunder wants hotpot, too," "Thunder would eat her tail if she could," Xiang pin groused, "She''s just one big roll!" The room erupted into laughter. "Your Highness," Jiayi said once she had conquered her giggles, "How about braised chicken and vegetables? And then we can save the hotpot for a special occasion," "Like Prince Han''s birthday!" Said Ping''er. Xiang pin clapped her hands, "Yes! Be a good boy and wait for Prince Han''s banquet," "That''s so far away!" He protested. "It gives you more time to think of a present," Xiang pin said with a shrug. She nodded at Bolin, "Go fetch lunch. Braised chicken and vegetables," Sixth Prince groaned, "I''ll starve!" "I''d hope so! Aiyo, every time I turn my head, you''re sprouting another inch. If I send for another set of clothes for you, the embroidery maids will riot. No! Eat your chicken and starve," As Sixth Prince began to quibble with Xiang pin, the room came back to life with noise and color. The floors squeaked as the servants went to and fro to finish their tasks and chatter flowed around them like water. This is why Fung gonggong''s end bothered her so little. How could it not be worth it when this is what it got her? All the strife and worry faded to nothingness as she watched their little lives play out before her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to live out the rest of her days like this. After doing so much to have it, why wouldn''t she fight to keep it? ? The characters on the document on the desk were beginning to blur in front of The Emperor''s eyes. "Your Majesty," The Emperor blinked to clear the fuzziness from his sight. Zhang Wei was standing opposite the desk, holding a covered tray. "From Shen huang gui fei," the eunuch continued. The Emperor fought back a sigh. He was in no mood but gave a nod. Zhang Wei placed the tray on a nearby table, lifted the cover and presented the golden plate to The Emperor. "Bai tang gao*, Your Majesty," The Emperor stared at the glistening white, diamond shaped cakes topped with pale pink camellia buds. "Shen huang gui fei is also asking if you plan to visit Zhongcuigong tonight," He then understood the motive behind her gift. The Emperor shook his head, "Faithfulness and longevity," he said with a laugh. Taking a bite of a cake, he shook his head again. Too sweet. There was always a misstep with Shen huang gui fei these days. The flower was a poor choice as well. Bai gonggong''s investigation was thorough¨Cher actions made it clear who she was faithful to. Not to his legal wife and, therefore, not to him. How could she claim such a thing after her small-mindedness ended with the murder of his father''s most beloved eunuch?A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He knew that as a concubine, there would always be bitterness in Shen huang gui fei''s heart, but she was becoming unruly. The Emperor had spent many years pampering her and promoted her to a status that someone from her family background rarely had. She had privileges and a lifestyle that women worldwide would kill to have. And this is how she decided to behave. He washed the cloying taste of sugar from his mouth with a mouthful of tea. There wouldn''t be a point in scolding her. Shen huang gui fei would deny, argue, and find someone else to blame. There was no chance for punishment either. The news of it would be a blight on Huabao and her marriage. It would sour his relationship with the Fuca clan if they thought they were given the daughter of a criminal. In any case, the Gods had taken care of her retribution in his stead. As much good fate as The Emperor had, it didn''t always trickle down to his children. If Shen huang gui fei were smart, she would take Yiru contracting the cough right before Bai gonggong''s crime as a sign to stop her nonsense. Unfortunately, The Emperor wasn''t sure Shen huang gui fei was up to the task. He pushed the plate to the side and returned to his work. "I''ll stay here," he said. There was nothing but the sound of flipping pages and the song of the crickets outside until Zhang Wei interrupted him, again. "Another gift for you, Your Majesty," The Emperor didn''t look up from his work, "Put it on the side table," "I''m not sure she''ll fit, Your Majesty," "Send her away. She can come back in the morning," "Are you sure you don''t want to see me now, Your Majesty?" The voice that came through the door quenched a thirst that The Emperor didn''t know he had. It was familiar. He yearned for it daily. "Your Majesty," the voice sang sweetly again, "Don''t you want to see me?" The Emperor heard the doors swing open, and the soft hush of dainty footsteps grow louder. It was like a Tang dynasty goddess glided into the room wrapped in yellow and gold silks. Even with her face covered with a round fan, The Emperor knew who she was. "This concubine wishes The Emperor peace," "Lower your fan," he said. "Why should I?" The Goddess said, shaking her gilded mountain hair**, "You wanted to send me away," The Emperor laughed and went to help Huifen off the ground. As she came to her feet, she tilted the fan, revealing the face of a bygone beauty that he had only ever seen in a 9th-century scroll. A glittering, lotus shaped huadian? brought out the charming red she had powdered her face and lips with. "I''ve never seen this costume before," he said. Huifen giggled and spun around, and the stamped shawl around her arms fluttered in the wind, "I thought after seeing so many Qing dynasty beauties that a Tang dynasty darling would be more exciting," Yes, watching Huifen''s milky breasts dance under her blouse and skirt was far more exciting than ruminating over Shen huang gui fei''s blunders. The Emperor tugged her into his arms, inhaling the soft scent of the rose powder Huifen tended to dust her neck with. "You like this sort of dress? I''ll have an entire wardrobe made up for you and just you," The Emperor would strip every other woman in the palace naked and clothe Huifen in pearls and jade if she only asked. But she would never ask. Whenever he went to play outside the palace walls and found himself in a brothel, there was a game he liked to play. He''d dress like a wealthy nobleman, giving out silver taels like they grew on trees. Each time, a cunning girl would latch onto him, declaring her love and devotion, aiming to be his kept woman or, better yet, his concubine. When he was sure the girl had already planned how to decorate her courtyard, he would tearfully confess the "truth" of the money being stolen or borrowed or some rubbish. The look on their faces...so typical. The truth he rustled up for Huifen, had been, in his opinion, the best lie yet. He was a disgraced merchant who lost most of his money on bad investments. He came to spend what little he had left at the brothel and when his pockets were empty, he was going to kill himself. Instead of the screaming, crying tantrums his confessions usually incited, Huifen had laughed! Not only did she laugh, but she also asked him how he planned to die. Wrong footed, he blurted out that he aimed to poison himself. Huifen then said that if he gave her what was left of his money and let her sell his fine clothes, she''d have them use the best wine for his last drink and play a lovely song on the guzheng for him to leave to. A soft, sweet-scented hand pulled him from his memories. Huifen stared up at him, her painted eyebrows furrowed. "You look so tired, Your Majesty," she said as she stroked his beard, "Shall Zhang Wei and I ready you for bed?" The Emperor sighed, "If I only I could be so lucky to slip into bed with you, but there is always work to be done," Huifen pouted, the strangely dark stain on her lips glistening, "I suppose I''ll have to spend my night with the thought of you, Your Majesty. I shouldn''t keep you from your work," The Emperor tightened his hands around her slender waist, "You are the strangest concubine. I lament over the hard work I have left and you don''t even offer to keep me company. Huifen, do you even love me?" Huifen rolled her eyes, "Aiya, I love you very much, but all the love in the world can''t make watching you read military strategy or whatever it is interesting. I''m a woman, Your Majesty, not a God," "You''re a brat!" he replied. Huifen gasped, "Your Majesty! How could you?!" She dramatically pulled herself from his arms. "I came all this way to dazzle you with this costume, and you treat me so poorly. Ah! I''m going back to Chengqiangong to cry in my jiejie''s arms," The Emperor laughed at the dramatics of it all. Huifen joined in, coming back to press a quick kiss to his lips. "Maybe we''ll get more use out of this outfit when I serve you tomorrow night, Your Majesty," "You''re so sure I''ll flip your tag?" Huifen looked up at him from beneath her full and feathered lashes, "Just a guess, Your Majesty. I''ll take my leave," One of his life''s ultimate cruelties was watching Huifen leave. At least he could comfort himself with the thought of spending the night with her soon. Returning to his desk, The Emperor caught sight of Shen huang gui fei''s bai tang go. It almost made him laugh. Had his Noble Imperial Concubine had the opportunity to distract him, she would''ve jumped at the chance. Nothing was ever enough for her. He pointed his chin at the cakes, "The little eunuchs can have those," "Your Majesty is too kind," Zhang Wei replied, handing them off to another servant. Yes. He was. ? Morning greetings were so dull. Nothing The Empress had to say had anything to do with An pin at all. Very few things kept her interested these days. Her work on Shen huang gui fei was slow going and without an earnest bosom buddy, she mostly spent her days wandering around from garden to garden with her shadow, Wang chang zai. An pin was so bored that she almost contemplated letting her be alone with Cao taiyi. Only almost. The explosion of glee that she felt when Yiru had fallen sick had already faded away. Shen huang gui fei didn''t much worse for wear so An pin couldn''t even take much joy from that. Yiru was holding on from what Cao taiyi was saying, and the other one was still perfectly fine. What was Limei doing in that palace? An pin had given her everything she needed to encourage her to act, and there was still nothing. How had Shen huang gui fei been able to do this? With just a few perfectly put words, she could convince anyone that what she wanted was what they wanted to do all their life. Her hands never had to get dirty. An pin swallowed a sigh. She hoped that The Empress would run out of things to say soon so she could back to her palace and wallow. An pin had just sat, up, waiting for the signal to leave when Lian fei spoke, "Your Highness, I have something to announce. I''m two months pregnant," How nice. "What wonderful news, meimei!" The Empress replied, "The Imperial Hospital confirmed?" Lian fei nodded. "It''s a shame you won''t be able to come to Mulan, but it''s lovely to see you finally be blessed with pregnancy. The Empress Dowager will be pleased," "Yes," said Shen huang gui fei, "Now that His Majesty''s daughters are starting married life, another princess would go perfectly," Everyone knew that was as good as cursing the pregnancy but all Lian fei could do was thank her for the well wishes. Judging by the tightness in Shen huang gui fei''s jaw, her jiejie wasn''t pleased with the news. Not many in the room were. The main hall was stuffed to the brim with the new young girls that Xiang pin had been pawning off to The Emperor, and they were viciously jealous that an old hat had gotten pregnant before any of them. "Congratulations, meimei," De gui fei said. That set off an avalanche of well wishes, sincere or not. "His Majesty will be overjoyed by this," said The Empress, "Prince or Princess, another child so soon after Yiru and Yizhong is a cause for celebration," "May I tell him, Your Highness?" Lian fei asked. Before The Empress could reply, Shen huang gui fei said, "You should bring Xiang meimei with you to make sure His Majesty doesn''t miss out on this joyous occasion," An pin had to hide her snicker behind her fan. Goodness, Shen huang gui fei had to be fuming to be so blunt. Usually an insult like that would''ve been wrapped in silk. Ever the diplomat, The Empress jumped in, "I''m sure Xiang meimei has her plans for the day. Lian fei, why don''t we wait at Yianxindian for His Majesty to return from court? You can tell him then," "Thank you, Your Highness," Lian fei beamed. Again, An pin was readying herself to leave when The Empress said, "Shen huang gui fei, it''s very kind of you to think of Lian fei, but I think it''s best you spent your energy on making sure that Yizhong doesn''t follow in his brother''s footsteps," The air in the room vanished. An pin was baffled. Since when did The Empress speak like that to anyone, let alone Shen huang gui you fei? An pin looked around the room. More than a few mouths were ajar in the face of the callous remark, while many others were eagerly waiting for Shen huang gui fei''s response. She stared at The Empress, her face stony and impassive, before giving a brittle smile. "Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness," "You''re so welcome, meimei," said The Empress. The Empress stood, "Let''s hurry along, Lian fei," An pin and her fellow concubines kneeled to send her away with respect. When An pin glanced at Shen huang gui fei during the chorus, her lips were shut tight. _________ * A type of Chinese pastry made from rice flour and white sugar. ** Tang dynasty noblewoman hairstyle, E Ji ? Traditional ornamental forehead makeup Chapter 54 There was a strange feeling running through Zhongcuigong. An pin followed after Shen huang gui fei when the morning greetings ended. She wanted to see how her jiejie would rearrange herself to brush off The Empress'' jab. The amusement was lost as soon as she got to the courtyard. All the servants wore cloth masks on the bottom half of their faces. The maids at the door were holding steaming copper bowls of water. An pin watched as Shen huang gui fei scrubbed her hands until they were pink before stepping inside. An pin tried to do the same, but the maids blocked her. "Apologies, Your Highness. Please wash your hands before coming inside," An pin was baffled by the demand. Shen huang gui fei turned around, "Just a precaution, meimei, for Yizhong''s sake," An pin nodded, stuck her hands in the water, and nearly screamed. The water was nearly boiling! Did Shen huang gui fei''s maids have leather hands? How were they holding the bowls?! Regardless, she scrubbed her hands until they stung before stepping inside, where things became stranger. All the windows were shut tight despite the heat of the day. Even though she encountered the masked maids at the door, seeing them kneeling en mass before Shen huang gui fei was startling. She walked through the servants and sat at the head of the room. "Come sit, meimei," An pin did as she was told. She mindlessly reached for a piece of fruit or plate of treats that Shen huang gui fei usually had dotted on all the side tables but found it empty. "Ah, leaving food out in the open can make the air poor. If you''d like something, I can send someone to the hothouse," "Don''t trouble yourself, jiejie," An pin replied. She looked around the room again. Had Shen huang gui fei cracked? "How are you, jiejie?" She asked. Shen huang gui fei sighed, "Taking it day by day. Seeing you reminds me of how carefree and fresh I was before I had children. Raising as many children as I have makes you show your age, meimei. Lucky you don''t have to worry about that," An pin wondered how she hadn''t noticed Shen huang gui fei''s forked tongue all these years. "How is Yiru?" She asked, "From what The Empress said just now, he might be getting worse?" Shen huang gui fei huffed, "With all my worries, I couldn''t help but be confused. Now that Yihan and Yihe are back in His Majesty''s good graces, she has plenty of time to guide me to the right path," "Yiru is fine. The Imperial Hospital reports to me every evening about his condition. He''s on his way to recovery," "And Yizhong''s in no danger?" Shen huang gui fei lifted her chin, "My household listened very closely when Hwang taiyi informed me about what I had to do to keep Yizhong healthy. There''s no safer place than here. I''m sure when I return from the hunt with His Majesty, he''ll be perfect. " "I''m glad to hear that, jiejie," Annoyed by the wooden smile on her face, An pin began to fan herself. She had barely flicked her wrist twice before Shen huang gui fei grabbed it. "No fans," She said, "Hwang taiyi''s orders," An pin nodded and tugged her hand away. What a lunatic! "Can you believe Lian fei is pregnant after all these years?" An pin asked. Shen huang gui fei rolled her eyes, "She was very proud of herself, wasn''t she? Like she did any work at all. Her madam, Xiang pin, was the only reason this happened. I''m sure His Majesty forgets she exists some days," "You were right, though, jiejie; it would be best for her to have a princess. I don''t think she has what it takes to raise a prince," "Very few do," Shen huang gui fei replied, "But there''s no need to drag her down. These first few months can be precarious. We should keep her in our thoughts," "Your Highness is so kind," "You should spend time with her meimei. Perhaps His Majesty will find her more tolerable now that she''s pregnant. Maybe he''ll spend a bit of time with you as well," "Maybe," An pin echoed. As if Shen huang gui fei had any room to talk. When was the last time The Emperor found himself between her legs? And she had the nerve to talk down on An pin? On anyone? "I''ll have to have the Imperial Hospital send her a few gifts on my behalf," Shen huang gui fei said, "That Cao taiyi could pick out some nice things. And I''m sure I have some black ginseng around here somewhere," "You''re so thoughtful, Your Highness," An pin replied, real joy in her voice, "Your gift will make Lian jiejie so happy," Having Cao taiyi by her side was once again an incredible boon. His Majesty may not care so much about Lian fei, but the Imperial heir in her belly was priceless. If something were to go wrong, the culprit wouldn''t be able to escape his rage. An pin''s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a soft coo. She craned her head around, "Is that Yizhong?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Shen huang gui fei nodded, "He usually sleeps longer than this after feeding in the morning," A eunuch came to her side, "Your Highness, Mao chang zai and Zhang gui ren are here," "Let them in," Shen hung gui fei dabbed at her damp brow with her handkerchief, "Zhongcuigong has been so busy lately. I hope you don''t mind the company meimei. I know these days you only like to stroll quietly with Wang chang zai," She really had a thick face to call An pin lonely. Did she even have one true friend in all the Forbidden City? Had she ever? Like most young girls, Mao chang zai and Zhang gui ren were all smiles and big heads as they greeted Shen huang gui fei. Just looking at the two made something deep in An pin very jealous. She wasn''t much older than them, but they had the sort of lightness in their bodies that signaled that the hardships of life hadn''t broken them down. They were simple, stupid girls. "Rise," said Shen huang gui fei, "What brings you two here today? We just saw one another," Mao chang zai smiled, "Jiejie and I only see Your Highness during morning greetings. We wanted to stop by and chat," Su momo came into the room, Yizhong sitting up in her arms. "How cute!" Zhang gui ren said, stroking his little hand and fat cheeks. Yes, Yizhong was vexingly cute and flushed with health. Before An pin could think much of it, Shen huang gui fei leapt from her chair and struck Zhang gui ren across the face. Zhang gui ren crashed to the floor, dragging down a side table and sending a tea cup flying. Yizhong, frightened by the noise, began to cry. Whirling around, Shen huang gui fei screamed at Su momo ,"Take him away and clean him! Now! Why are you just standing there?!" Su momo bowed and stumbled away with Yizhong. Shen huang gui fei stared down at Zhang gui ren, her eyes wide, "You..you! How dare you put your filthy hands on my son!" Zhang gui ren scrambled to her knees, "Your Highness! I wouldn''t dare! I washed my hands before I came in!" "Be quiet! You want to harm His Majesty''s child! That''s a crime deserving of death!" "Your Highness, please, Zhang gui ren meant no harm," Mao chang zai begged as she fell to the floor, "It was only a small touch! Yizhong is blessed as your son! It won''t do any harm," "Shut up!" Shen huang gui fei said, "Men! Take them out and flog them 30 times! Drag them back to their palace where they can repent for their actions. They are not to set one foot outside for 3 months! Get rid of them! Now! Now!" Zhang gui ren and Mao chang zai''s begging rose to a fever pitch as a swarm of eunuchs scraped them off the ground and hauled them into the courtyard for punishment. An pin was struck dumb by it all. She didn''t know what to do. If she stoked the flames of Shen huang gui fei''s rage, wouldn''t she end up like Zhang gui ren and Mao chang zai? "Your Highness," she began with a nervous laugh, "Are you alright?" "Get out!" Shen huang gui fei roared. "Yes, Your Highness," An pin replied, sliding out of her chair. She didn''t need to be told twice. An pin''s heart didn''t stop racing until she was stepping into Chuxiugong''s courtyard. "She''s gone crazy," An pin said, "Flogging those girls 30 times?" Weiwei shivered, "Your Highness, you can''t go back to her. What if you get hurt?" "I think I''m fine for now. I''ll make myself scarce when things get worse," Weiwei tilted her head, "When?" "I''ll explain later. First, we need Cao taiyi," ? Shen huang gui fei stared down at the message in her hands. No change. How was this possible? At least seven Imperial physicians were at Yiru''s side day and night. How had he not even become somewhat healthier? It had been three weeks since he fell ill. Why hadn''t he made a step towards recovery? Had someone gotten inside and tampered with his medicine? Or did they pay off a eunuch to keep the windows wide open and let in sickness? But who would dare? Truthfully, the question was, who wouldn''t? Who wasn''t terrified or envious of how quickly Shen huang gui fei was rising in power and status? They were all against her, waiting to see her stumble. When she was little better than nothing, they had no problem treating her correctly, but now? Even The Empress was becoming bold. She probably sent those dirty girls to infect Yizhong. They couldn''t stand to see her enjoy the fruit of her labor¨Cto see her finally get what she deserved. Shen huang gui fei thought back to the morning greetings, the way those vipers in that pit of snakes had unhinged their jaws¨Cwaiting to consume her at the first sign of weakness. She wouldn''t let it happen. "Your Highness?" Jingse''s soft voice pulled her from her thoughts, "Xiao-fu is here," Shen huang gui fei pressed the paper into Jingse''s hand, "Get rid of this," Xiao-fu was a long-time eunuch of His Majesty''s. He was permanently unimportant, but he tended to be in the room where things happened. He may not know much about His Majesty''s thoughts, but he could relay his actions, and Shen huang gui fei needed that more than ever. Except for the scolding she received after Yiru fell ill, His Majesty hadn''t spoken to her since. "Don''t bother," she said as Xiao-fu began to kneel, "Speak. Quickly!" Xiao-fu ducked his head, "His Majesty received the report from Bai gonggong''s investigation some time ago. I saw some of it. The report mentioned your name," Shen huang gui fei''s hands began to shake. She clenched them shut, "In what way?" Xiao-fu shook his head, "I didn''t have time to see all of it, but it did say..." "It said what?" "On the order of Shen huang gui fei," he said. Shen huang gui fei closed her eyes before letting out a breath, "Get out," Xiao-fu said something, but Shen huang gui fei paid it no mind. She said nothing even as the doors shut. She pressed her head into her hand. It was a mistake to let Bai gonggong live for so long. She should''ve killed him the second he failed to eliminate Xiang pin. Her mind raced. She could fix this. She could spread rumors that Bai gonggong was a deluded drunkard who spoke nothing but nonsense. Or maybe she could find a maid, kidnap their family, and force them to confess that Bai gonggong had never spoken to Shen huang gui fei in his life. She could... She would... Something. She would do something. There had to be something she could do. If Yiru didn''t survive, Huabao marrying into the Fuca clan could only protect her for so long. She needed a shield that not even a cannon couldn''t burst through. Suddenly, the thought of Lian fei''s soon-to-be big belly popped into her mind. She stared down at her trim waist. An Imperial heir was a blessing, even if it were in the belly of a beast. Pregnancy was so fragile. His Majesty couldn''t hate her so fiercely that he would risk the life of his unborn child. He couldn''t. Shen huang gui fei rushed to the chest at the end of her bed and took out a few lumps of silver. She thrust them at A''Fang. "Go to the Imperial Hospital, and have someone weigh out 3 months'' worth of a fertility decoction prescription and bring it back here. If anyone has anything to say, give them the silver. And ask for a list of foods that encourage pregnancy," A''Fang stared at the money in her hands like the fool she was, her feet stuck in place. "What are you waiting for?" Shen huang gui fei said, pushing at her shoulder, "Go! And tell them to keep their mouths shut!" A''Fang bobbed her head in a clumsy bow and scurried out. Jingse came in after her. "Your Highness, what''s going on?" Shen huang gui fei didn''t reply. She pushed past her maid and walked to the wardrobe at the end of the room. Reaching around the back, she felt around the smooth wood before finding the hidden key hanging by a nail. The key opened the bottom drawer of her nightstand. She pulled it open and stared inside, the thoughts in her head buzzing like a hive of angry bees. "Your Highness?" Jingse asked, kneeling by her side. "Have you started packing for Mulan?" Shen huang gui fei asked. Jingse shook her head. "Start," Shen huang gui fei replied, pulling out the silver bottle "Put this somewhere safe," Jingse clutched the prize in her hand tightly, "Yes, Your Highness," Chapter 55 ¡°Jiayi jiejie,¡± a voice whispered, ¡°Over here!¡± Jiayi followed the familiar voice and the lantern glow down the corridor, and just as she hoped, Sang¡¯er was there. ¡°Were you waiting long?¡± She asked. Sang¡¯er shook his head, ¡°I¡¯d rather be out here for days than with His Lordship right now. He¡¯s climbing the walls, waiting for you!¡± Jiayi was glad the cover of night was hiding her blush. Sang¡¯er lifted his lantern to look at Jiayi closer, ¡°Where¡¯d you get a uniform from the ice house?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Jiayi said, lifting her lantern to illuminate the street, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t keep Prince Han waiting,¡± ¡°Right, right,¡± Sang¡¯er led the way. Late at night as it was, Jiayi was wide awake. She had feigned a miserable bout of menstrual cramps, and Xiang pin let her sleep the day away. While everyone was asleep, she donned her¡­borrowed uniform and snuck away. She was taller than most maids, including the ones at the ice house, but she was good at making herself small. The road Sang¡¯er led her on wasn¡¯t the most popular. She was in the clear. Jiayi hadn¡¯t seen Prince Han, even in passing, since the excitement with Bai gonggong. There were too many words in her heart to put down on paper, so she snuck a note to Lingxiu to put her plan in motion. As they entered the gates of Yuqingdian*, Jiayi kept the lantern low to her feet and let the shadows obscure her face. The guards at the gate would see someone, but it wouldn¡¯t be her. As they approached the steps to the doors, they found Lingxiu lingering outside, a frown on his face. He lit up at the sight of them. ¡°You¡¯re finally here,¡± He said, helping her up, ¡°Get inside quickly,¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Asked Jiayi. Lingxiu raised a hand, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time talking, please. Get inside and save me from my misery,¡± ¡°My lord, she¡¯s here,¡± He announced as he opened the door. Jiayi stepped inside and was almost pushed forward by the force of Lingxiu shutting the door behind her. Prince Han came around the corner, clad in a charming dark brown outfit. Jiayi couldn¡¯t hide the smile on her face. She kneeled to greet him, but he grabbed her shoulders, ¡°We can spare formalities between us,¡± he said, "Thank you, my lord," she said, savoring the feel of his hands on her body. ¡°Come, the meal just arrived,¡± said Prince Han. ¡°A meal?¡± Prince Han led her deeper into the warming room, where a small table was packed edge to edge with steaming plates of food. ¡°My banquet is tomorrow,¡± he said as he helped her sit, ¡°And I didn''t even get to pick the food! So, I thought I could have a small dinner with you, first,¡± Jiayi suddenly felt self-conscious in her borrowed clothes, ¡°I¡¯m not really dressed for the occasion,¡± Prince Han tilted his head with a smile ¡°I think it looks quite cute. You usually don¡¯t wear those sorts of colors,¡± Jiayi looked down at her pale yellow clothes and blushed. ¡°If that¡¯s the case then I¡¯m honored you want to spend your small birthday dinner with me,¡± She poured them each a glass of wine and raised it for a toast. ¡°I wish you health, happiness, and prosperity on your 20th birthday. May you be blessed with many more,¡± They touched the rims of the glasses together before each taking a sip. Well, Jiayi took a sip. It was one thing to try and sneak back into Chengqiangong in the wee hours of the morning, it was another to do it after a glass or two of wine. Plus, she rarely drank it. Who knows what more than one glass would do to her? It burned a bit but was sweet. She¡¯d keep to just this glass, though. Prince Han let out a pleased sigh after he drained his glass, ¡°Sang¡¯er said the cooks nearly wrung his neck when he ordered this food, so let¡¯s not waste it,¡± Jiayi was spoiled with choice. While she had been eating far above her station since serving Xiang pin, it looked like Prince Han had very different tastes from her mistress. Xiang pin favored chicken, pork and rice with very mild or sweet flavors. The majority of the dishes in front of her were some sort of seafood or noodle, nearly glowing with spice. As she was trying to decide a luridly red piece of shrimp landed on her plate, already peeled. Prince Han was already working on the second. ¡°My lord, I can¨C¡° He shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can manage. Plus, it tastes sweeter this way,¡± Jiayi quickly placed the shrimp in her mouth to stop herself from screaming. While it was far spicier than anything she¡¯d eaten before, all the heat in the world couldn¡¯t smother the sweet flavor of knowing Prince Han would do something as common as peel shrimp for her. In fact, each piece of food that Prince Han carefully placed on her plate tasted sweeter than the last. Even though she only had that one glass of wine, her head was spinning. In between bites, Jiayi regaled Prince Han about Sixth Prince¡¯s latest shenanigans, and in return, Prince Han delighted her with tales of gossip and nonsense within the Imperial Academy and the court. Here in this room, it was like the world outside didn¡¯t exist. Before Jiayi knew it, the plates around the table were picked clean. ¡°I couldn¡¯t eat another bite,¡± she said, letting out a sigh. Prince Han laughed, ¡°I suppose I ordered a bit too much,¡± ¡°Well, it was all delicious,¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad. Making you happy is a great way to start my birthday,¡± Jiayi blushed again and reached for the basket by her feet, ¡°Speaking of that, I think it''s time for gifts,¡± ¡°Gifts? Really?¡± ¡°Of course! It would be shameless to come here tonight without a gift for you,¡± Jiayi paused and realized what she said. ¡°Well..more shameless,¡± she finished with a laugh. She pulled out a roll of parchment tied with a red ribbon. ¡°For you, my lord,¡± Jiayi watched, her heart skipping, as Prince Han slipped the ribbon off and rolled the painting flat. She hoped he liked it. It was a last-minute addition to the pajamas. Prince Han said nothing for a long stretch of time, staring down at the painting of their hands floating side by side, connected by a thin piece of red string tied around their pinkies. She followed his gaze as he ran his fingers over her hand, which she took some artistic liberties with. She had lengthened the nails on her middle and pinkie finger. ¡°I know the nails are too long,¡± she said, ¡°But it''s just in case. If anyone came across it, they would assume¨C¡° If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Jiayi trailed off into silence as Prince Han stood and ventured back into his apartments. The sweet wine in her stomach turned sour. She¡¯d overstepped. As soon as he returned, Jiayi would tell him she¡¯d made a mistake, gather her things, and return to Chengqiangong to lick her wounds. She had just figured out the least painful way to excuse herself when Prince Han returned. He dragged his chair from across the table to squeeze next to her. ¡°Look,¡± he said, pressing something into her hand. Jiayi stared down at the pieces of a jade pendant. She pressed the sides together. There was a pine tree carved into the precious stone. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Jiayi said with a shake of her head. Prince Han leaned closer to wrap his hands around the jade as well, ¡°I¡¯ve had this pendant for years. No matter how bad my luck was, it''s never broken. Just before Bai gonggong was arrested, it snapped clean in half,¡± The wine in her stomach was practically rotting now. She gripped the jade tighter. ¡°I don¡¯t know how,¡± He continued, ¡°But my pendant must have taken your bad luck. It protected you,¡± Jiayi didn¡¯t know what to say. If Prince Han had told her this in any other circumstance, her heart would be bursting. But to hear Prince Han speak so earnestly about the ¡°bad luck¡± the pendant had absorbed on her behalf when it had just been Jiayi saving her own skin¨Cit made her feel slimy. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± she replied. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? Something like this couldn¡¯t have happened unless your painting was true. There is a string of fate connecting us,¡± Jiayi had to wonder about Prince Han. How had he become this otherworldly man? He was a prince raised by The Emperor and Empress. All his life, he wanted for nothing. If a peasant family were to sell a single item from this room, it would feed them for a year. Like so many noblemen, there was every chance for him to be just like The Emperor. How was he so good? And how did he end up with Jiayi? As the questions bounced around her head, Prince Han placed a warm hand on her back. He leaned in close, a worried wrinkle to his brow. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Prince Han had touched her many times before but for some reason, his palm sent sparks shooting through her body. She swore she could feel it in the tips of her eyelashes. She pressed her lips to his. Jiayi felt Prince Han tense and wondered if she¡¯d made a mistake. But just as quickly, he melted into her, sliding both his hands to the dip of her waist. The kiss was soft and simple until it wasn¡¯t. Prince Han gripped her waist so tight that Jiayi had no choice but to wrap her arms around the breadth of his strong shoulders. He pressed his lips so close that Jiayi worried they¡¯d suddenly melt into one slippery, tender mass. Jiayi¡¯s clothes suddenly felt far too hot and far too tight. However, a cold flash of surprise washed over her when Prince Han licked the inside of her mouth! Jiayi pulled her head back with a yelp. ¡°Sorry!¡± He said, snatching his hands away. ¡°My lord,¡± she said, holding a hand to her pulsing lips, ¡°Why did you¡­you licked me!¡± Prince Han¡¯s face was red all over, ¡°It¡¯s kissing,¡± ¡°That¡¯s kissing?¡± Prince Han nodded. ¡°And you¡¯ve done that with someone..before?¡± He nodded again. ¡°How many? A lot? And they liked it? All of them?¡± Prince Han threw his hands into the air, ¡°Jiayi, I¡¯m not some scoundrel. Yes, I have kissed a few ladies, but I haven¡¯t been gallivanting through the capital throwing myself at any woman who will have me,¡± Jiayi giggled and felt herself relax. Prince Han had a strange power to always know what to say. ¡°My lord¨C¡° ¡°Zhishi,¡± Jiayi blinked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°My name is Zhishi. You should call me that now,¡± Somehow, this felt as shocking as Prince Han¡¯s tongue in her mouth. Calling him by his given name? Her? She wrung her hands together, ¡°My lord, don¡¯t you think that¡¯s going too far?¡± ¡°Look at where we are, Jiayi, and what we¡¯ve just done. I think we moved past too far long ago,¡± Prince Han reached for her hand, ¡°Please. I don¡¯t like this feeling of space between us when you use my title,¡± Jiayi tightened her fingers around his. The space between them wasn¡¯t a feeling. It was the truth. The moment Jiayi stepped outside these rooms, she would return to being a maid, someone utterly unworthy of his affections. She bit her lip. But honestly, did it matter? Ultimately, all she would have were memories like this¨Csecret sequestered meetings and stolen kisses. And she would only have them for a little while longer. He was right. They¡¯d already crossed so many lines. What was one more? ¡°Fine then,¡± she said, ¡°Zhishi,¡± Prince Ha¨CZhishi¡¯s eyes widened, and his cheeks flushed. Jiayi smiled slyly, ¡°Is something wrong, Zhishi?¡± Zhishi turned away, ¡°I¡¯m..I¡¯m not used to you saying my name yet,¡± She threw her arms around his shoulders once more, "I''ll do my best to change that," ? ¡°That red looks beautiful on you, Your Highness,¡± said A¡¯Fang. Shen huang gui fei looked down from her raised chair with a smile. She stroked the white and purple plum blossoms on her sleeve. Yiru''s weeks-long fever had broken, and reports from the Imperial Hospital declared that he was finally on the road to recovery. While he would always be sickly, he at least wouldn¡¯t be dead. It was cause for celebration. The wind blew gently, making the visage of the two playful mandarin ducks on the lower half of skirts flutter in the wind. ¡°His Majesty granted the palace mistresses new silk and wool to make clothes for the upcoming season. He remembered I loved plum blossoms and ensured my portion had these decorations. It would only be right to wear it to see him after all this time,¡± ¡°That makes even more special, Your Highness,¡± replied A¡¯Fang. As she changed clothes after the morning greetings, Shen huang gui fei sent someone ahead to Yangxindian to announce that she would visit His Majesty, and to her delight, His Majesty didn¡¯t send word that she couldn¡¯t go. The four fertility decoctions she drank every morning left her mouth bitter for hours, but today, it was as if sugar was on her tongue. She stepped through the courtyard, her heart fluttering. Perhaps they would have lunch together, and she could convince him to flip her tag. She approached the steps leading up to the door, and a eunuch came to meet her. ¡°Pardon me, Your Highness, His Majesty, and Her Highness are speaking with De gui fei and asked not to be disturbed,¡± Shen huang gui fei swallowed down a sigh. ¡°Her Highness sent word that she would be coming,¡± said Jingse, ¡°Announce her,¡± The eunuch bowed lower, ¡°I apologize again. His Majesty said that while discussing the mistress¡¯s lodgings for the hunt, he must not be disturbed,¡± ¡°Discussing lodgings for the hunt?¡± Echoed Jingse, ¡°Her Highness has helped plan that for many years; why wasn¡¯t she informed?¡± The eunuch shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± ¡°Step aside,¡± ordered Shen huang gui fei. It had to be a joke. De gui fei, with her small mind and sleepy visage, knew nothing about these things. Ever since her promotion to Noble Consort, His Majesty relied on her to ensure The Empress''s decisions were sound. How could De gui fei even be included? She was nothing! No sons, no connections¨Conly her Mongolian blood afforded her such a high status. Yet she wanted to take Shen huang gui fei¡¯s place by His Majesty¡¯s side? It was a revolting idea and somewhat laughable. As if De gui fei had the gall to attempt such a thing. The eunuch looked up, his eyes wide, ¡°Your Highness¨C¡° ¡°You heard Shen huang gui fei, move!¡± Her own eunuch said, pushing him from her path. Jingse and A¡¯Fang pushed the doors open. The Empress and De gui fei looked surprised to see her, The Emperor didn¡¯t look at her at all. ¡°This concubine wishes His Majesty and Her Highness The Empress peace,¡± She heard The Emperor sigh from over her bowed head before he let her rise to her feet. ¡°What brings you here, Shen huang gui fei?¡± He asked. Shen huang gui fei smiled, ¡°At first, it was only to keep you company, Your Majesty, but hearing that you¡¯re planning for the hunt, I''m here to lend a hand,¡± ¡°No need. De gui fei is suitable enough,¡± he replied before glancing back down at the papers on the desk. Was she? In Shen huang gui fei¡¯s opinion, the only thing De gui fei was suitable for was sucking the life out of the room. Just looking at the woman¡¯s dull black and beige chengyi put Shen huang gui fei in the mood for a nap. ¡°I don¡¯t imply that De meimei isn¡¯t, just that it¡¯s her first time assisting Her Highness with this task. I can be here to pick up anything that happens to fall through the cracks,¡± The Empress shifted in her seat, her obnoxiously pink lips pursing, ¡°Shen huang gui fei, do you find me so lacking that you can¡¯t believe I can educate De gui fei on something so simple? If that¡¯s how you feel in your heart, speak your truth to His Majesty and let him correct me promptly,¡± Shen huang gui fei¡¯s face twitched. How dare The Empress try to put words in her mouth and such blasphemous ones! The Empress could sit and play the good woman, but only a two-faced bitch would be able to twist a simple sentence into something like that. Anyone could see through it. ¡°Shen huang gui fei would never be so foolish,¡± Catching the gasp behind her teeth, Shen huang gui fei stared at The Emperor in disbelief. ¡°Her speech is muddled these days. She spends all hours caring for Yizhong and Yiru and preparing for Huabao¡¯s wedding. She¡¯s bound to be confused. Empress, it''s your duty to be magnanimous and understanding. You can¡¯t hold grudges for a moment of stupidity,¡± Each word was like a dagger to the chest. His Majesty had never spoken to Shen huang gui fei like this. Cold and detached, as if she weren¡¯t standing right before him. ¡°Your Majesty is wise,¡± The Empress replied with a nod before turning back to Shen huang gui fei, ¡°Now that I look at you, I can see in your face that you¡¯ve been tired for some time, meimei. Return to Zhongcuigong and rest well. I won¡¯t hold what you¡¯ve just said or the tantrum you threw with Zhang gui ren and Mao chang zai against you,¡± Shen huang gui fei peered at The Emperor, hoping he could feel the weight of her stare, but it was useless. He refused to look at her. Only muscle memory had her thanking him and The Empress for their grace. She walked back to her raised chair in a daze, ignoring A¡¯Fang and Jingse¡¯s nervous glances. Just as her eunuchs lifted her in the air, a eunuch from Yangxindian ran up to her. ¡°A message from His Majesty,¡± He said. Had His Majesty realized how abrupt he¡¯d been? Did he send this eunuch with a promise to visit her tonight or to tell her to come back tomorrow? ¡°Speak,¡± she said. The eunuch cleared his throat, ¡°His Majesty asks...that you not wear that garment anymore as it disrupts the harmony of the back palace with its garishness,¡± Shen huang gui fei stared at him for a long while, biting back the acid she wanted to spit. ¡°This concubine understands,¡± she replied at last, ¡°I will burn it at once,¡± ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C *Hall of Jade Clarity (not real!)