A woman thought she had fallen in love with a "man."

The fever subsided the next day, but after burning all night, my throat was somewhat hoarse. To avoid spreading my illness, Zhang Bitong instructed me to rest in my own quarters and not to go to the front yard. Truth be told, it was already a blessing that she, my mistress, did not reproach me for falling ill.

But how could I possibly stay lying in bed all day? Hongxiu did not come to see me, but Yunqing found time to visit, and soon after, Lanyan and Xiaoluzi also came to check on me.

When Lanyan visited, I seized the chance to inquire about matters in the palace.

“Sister Lanyan, thank you for coming to see me, but please keep your distance so you don’t catch anything from me.”

Lanyan replied, “It’s nothing,” though she did indeed keep her distance.

She said, “The mistress asked after you several times, so I came to check in. Xiaoxiao, you really are something, making the mistress worry so much over you. Oh, and when the Ninth Prince came by at noon, he casually inquired after you as well! I’ve never seen him show such interest in anyone before.”

“Perhaps the Ninth Prince has seen me frequently serving Her Highness these past few days and was simply curious. Sister Lanyan, thank you for covering for me while I’m away.”

She waved a hand. “No need to thank me; we’re all serving the mistress together. Xiaoxiao, next time you have a clever idea, bring me in on it too. If the mistress favors me more, I won’t forget your help.”

“Sister Lanyan, you overpraise me. I’ve only been lucky by accident.”

She smiled.

“Sister Lanyan, is it snowing outside?”

She glanced back. “No, not yet. Why do you ask?”

“I was reminded of the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden. I wonder how they’re blooming now.”

“Don’t mention it. Ever since what happened with Lady Mei, His Majesty ordered the gates to the Plum Garden to be locked. No one is allowed in except the emperor himself.”

“It seems the emperor truly favored Lady Mei. What a pity…”

“It’s not so much about favoring Lady Mei; it’s more that she benefited from the late Empress Dowager Xiaoren’s memory—His Majesty’s own mother.”

“The current Empress Dowager isn’t His Majesty’s birth mother?”

Lanyan shook her head. “Of course not! Haven’t you noticed how distant they are? But then, you haven’t been in the palace long. It’s rumored that the current Empress Dowager harmed the emperor’s birth mother, but who can say for certain? The late emperor didn’t dote on the current Empress Dowager either, yet she became Empress Dowager in the end. There must be some intrigue behind it all!”

“I suppose you’re right. You mentioned Lady Mei was favored because His Majesty’s mother loved plum blossoms?”

Lanyan nodded. “The late Empress Dowager Xiaoren had the character ‘Mei’ in her name and adored plum blossoms. The plum trees in the Plum Garden were mostly planted by the late emperor himself for her. His Majesty, being filial and missing his mother, grew fond of the blossoms she loved.”

I understood then—this emperor truly had a reputation for filial piety.

Lanyan, finding herself in good spirits, continued, “In this palace, new faces come and go in waves. These days, besides our mistress, the most favored is Lady Tan of Xiyu Pavilion. She came to Cuiwei Palace a few days ago, and now she visits Kunning Palace every day. Our mistress is quite unhappy about it.”

“Well, matters of the mistress are not for us servants to comment on. But what of Lady Lan? I hear she’s the prime minister’s daughter, yet there’s been no news about her.”

Lanyan looked as if she had some inside information and quickly shared, “Lady Lan has had terrible luck. Ever since she arrived at the palace, she’s been unwell. The Empress Dowager sent an imperial physician, as did the Empress, and even the emperor visited her, but nothing helped. I heard that Prime Minister Lin was so worried he requested permission from the emperor to visit his daughter himself!”

“Still no improvement?”

“Who knows? Maybe she’s been sickly since before entering the palace.”

Lanyan’s unfiltered way of speaking no longer surprised me; she was a well-known gossip with an endless supply of palace news. I decided to ask, as if casually, “Have the newly arrived ladies received the emperor’s favor yet?”

Lanyan chuckled. “Not so easily! Though His Majesty is generous, the fight for his attention is fierce. Without some skill, you’ll never catch his eye—not with the Empress and our mistress ahead of you!”

“So, the new ladies mostly just stay in their own quarters?”

“That’s right. The lucky ones are still waiting for a chance; the unlucky may never see the emperor at all. But, there’s some fresh gossip…”

“Oh? Tell me, Sister Lanyan, to pass the time.”

“Among the new ladies, one named Ruochang Zai supposedly had some noble lineage, but she offended the Empress Dowager and was demoted to the Laundry Bureau as a servant. She’s the one who became a laughingstock at the newcomers’ banquet when our mistress stole the show.”

She could only be speaking of Xiao Ruo.

I asked, “How did she offend the Empress Dowager?”

“It’s said that Aunt Muyan from the Empress Dowager’s quarters brought a rare medicinal powder from the Imperial Medical Institute—a precious remedy, arduously acquired, to treat the Empress Dowager’s heart condition. But Ruochang Zai happened to bump into it, dropped it, and the powder scattered in the wind. Without waiting for the Empress Dowager’s decree, she went to the Laundry Bureau herself.”

“And that’s all there is to it?”

“That’s all! Lady Tan was present too and pleaded for her, or the Empress Dowager might have punished her more severely!”

Lin Tanwei again? She was known for her jealousy; at the banquet, the empress had spoken for Xiao Ruo, but not for Lin Tanwei. Perhaps she seized the chance to be rid of Xiao Ruo. What was done could not be undone now.

Xiao Ruo had become a servant in the Laundry Bureau; I almost felt relieved. I didn’t want her to meet the same fate as Lady Mei. But would Xiao Ruo willingly remain in the Laundry Bureau? Should I try to help her leave the palace, to escape the schemes and dangers of the inner court?

“I must go now,” Lanyan said, “I need to return to the front yard in case the mistress requires anything. Xiaoxiao, get some air—the sun is shining beautifully outside!”

“Thank you for your concern, Sister Lanyan!”

After she left, I continued to ponder what I should do about Xiao Ruo. I hadn’t sought her out yet because I didn’t know what to do. If she refused to leave, what then? If she stayed and I revealed myself to her, would we both be in danger?

As I was deep in thought, Lanyan hurried back.

“Xiaoxiao, get up quickly! The mistress has an errand for you!”

“Yes!”

I dressed at once and went to Zhang Bitong’s chamber in the front yard.

“What are your orders, mistress?”

Seated in her chair, Zhang Bitong said, “I’ve been giving this some thought. Although Lady Lan has not yet found favor, she is still the prime minister’s daughter, and Prime Minister Lin is the only one at court who can check the power of the Empress’s family. It’s best to win Lady Lan over—should anything happen in the future, his support for Xuan would be invaluable. What do you think?”

I lowered my head. “Your Highness’s foresight is admirable. I am at your service.”

Zhang Bitong’s strategy was sound. Though the issue of changing the heir apparent seemed distant, once the princes gained enough power, a struggle for succession might be inevitable. The prime minister’s stance would sway many officials. Zhang Bitong was sparing no effort for Jiang Xuan’s sake; no doubt Yunqing, her clever adviser, also played a part.

“In that case, Yunqing, make the arrangements and give the gifts to Xiaoxiao. He is shrewd and knows what to say. I can trust him with this errand.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Yunqing handed me some fine ginseng and deer antler to deliver to Lin Lanzhi at Jiyue Palace.

Jiyue Palace—where Lady Rong, accused of killing Lady Mei, also resided—came to mind.

When I arrived, before I could announce myself, I saw two men in official robes approaching, so I stepped aside. A palace maid from Jiyue Palace came out, saying, “Ah, the imperial physicians are here. Please come in!”

Once she’d ushered the physicians inside, she noticed me still waiting at the gate.

She came back and asked, “Who are you, and what business do you have here?”

“I am a servant from Cuiwei Palace, sent by my mistress to visit Lady Lan. Please, would you announce me?”

“Don’t you see my lady is being treated? Guests are not allowed. Return and tell your mistress the truth.”

“But… I’ll have a hard time explaining if I go back empty-handed.”

The maid snatched the gifts from my hands. “These are from your mistress, right? I’ll say my lady received them. Go back and report. I’ll inform my lady as well.”

She was likely a maid brought from Lin Lanzhi’s own household, bold and unafraid, confident in her mistress’s status.

I said nothing more. “Thank you for your trouble.”

“Off you go!” she called, hurrying back inside.

I had no choice but to turn back toward Cuiwei Palace, deciding to report honestly. Forcing my way in would have been inappropriate. As I walked, I suddenly saw Ping’er approaching.

I smiled at her. She had been smiling too, but her expression turned serious as she spoke with concern, “So you really were hurt! I heard you fell and lost a tooth. Does it still hurt?”

“Not at all, sister. I’m all better now. In a few days, a new one will grow in. Did you need something from me?”

At my question, she blushed, quickly shoved something into my hand, and whispered, “This is for you. Don’t lose it.”

Before I could react, she ran off, covering her face.

I looked down and found an embroidered sachet, decorated with a pair of mandarin ducks.

Could it be that Ping’er was falling for me?