I quite like you.

When I returned to Cuiwei Palace with Zhang Bitong, I spotted again the imperial physician surnamed Liu; he seemed to be heading toward Jiyue Palace.

“Yunqing, is the dress I asked the Wardrobe Bureau to make ready yet?” Zhang Bitong asked cheerfully as we walked, her mood evidently excellent.

Yunqing replied, “Not yet, Your Highness. I shall go to the Wardrobe Bureau and check.”

“Let Xiao Xiao go. You come back to the palace with me.”

“Yes.” Yunqing turned to me and said, “Xiao Xiao, please go to the Wardrobe Bureau and ask the matron there if the dress Her Highness ordered is ready.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Just as I was about to leave, I saw a woman approaching us with graceful steps. She was slender and delicate, her face smooth as goose fat, lips like cherries, brows as if painted with ink, and her gaze was as soft and luminous as autumn water. Her beauty was gentle and refined beyond words. She wore a verdant green dress that stood out strikingly against the snow-laden palace, a splash of vibrant green amid the white.

I had not seen this lady before, but noting the ancient zither in her arms, I guessed she must be the favored Lady Meng, Meng Pingjun. The zither she held was likely the famous Green Jade, harmonizing with her green attire—a deliberate and thoughtful match.

Meng Pingjun raised her eyes and saw Zhang Bitong, stepping forward to curtsy. “I greet you, Sister Tong.”

“Which sister are you? I don't believe we've met,” Zhang Bitong replied lazily, as if on purpose.

“I am Meng Pingjun from Nanxun Hall. I have yet to pay my respects at Cuiwei Palace, and that is my fault.”

“If you have not paid your respects, how did you recognize me?”

“At the last palace banquet, I saw your dance, Sister. It was breathtaking, and I remember it vividly to this day.”

Zhang Bitong smiled. “Though I haven’t met you, I’ve heard your name. Lately, you’ve received much imperial favor, and the whole harem surely knows Lady Meng Pingjun by now.”

“You flatter me, Sister. It’s but a fleeting favor from His Majesty, nothing compared to your decade-long bond as husband and wife with His Majesty.”

Meng Pingjun’s words left Zhang Bitong nothing to criticize.

Zhang Bitong inquired, “Where are you headed, Sister? Is that Green Jade you’re holding?”

Meng Pingjun nodded. “You recognize it, Sister? I will visit Cuiwei Palace another day to pay my respects. Today, His Majesty is in a poor mood and has summoned me to play the zither in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I dare not keep him waiting. Please forgive me, Sister.”

The smile on Zhang Bitong’s face faded instantly. She turned to me. “Why are you still standing there? If you delay my affairs, I won’t spare you. Yunqing, let’s return to the palace.”

I hurried to the Wardrobe Bureau and explained my errand to the matron, who told me the dress would be ready tomorrow and would be delivered.

I thanked her and turned to leave, only to see Xiao Ruo.

She saw me too, and joy welled up inside me—she had truly become a maid in the Wardrobe Bureau.

Xiao Ruo signaled to me and walked off to the side. I followed her, stopping at a secluded corner.

“Elder Sister, how are things for you here in the Wardrobe Bureau?”

She replied, “It’s a hundred times better than the Labor Bureau.”

As she spoke, she hid her hands inside her sleeves.

“Elder Sister, let me see your hands.”

“My hands are fine. Why are you here today?”

“Show me first, please.”

With no other option, she took her hands out. I saw white gauze wrapped around them, with red blood seeping through in many places.

“What happened to your hands?”

She tucked them back into her sleeves, unconcerned. “It’s nothing. I didn’t want to do menial tasks, so I tried to learn sewing. I’m clumsy, so my hands got pricked. It’s nothing, don’t worry. I never did such work before, but I’ll improve with time.”

I nodded, lips pressed together.

“Azhi, I want to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“I know there’s a palace banquet on New Year’s Eve. The Wardrobe Bureau is busy making new dresses for the ladies. I heard many unfavored consorts want to seize this chance to stand out and regain His Majesty’s favor. The Emperor will be in good spirits that night and grant many rewards. Is this true?”

I nodded. “Indeed, it’s a chance for the consorts to compete for favor.”

Xiao Ruo grabbed my hand excitedly. “Do you think I have a chance?”

She still hadn’t given up on climbing higher.

“Elder Sister, I don't think now is the right time.”

She looked disappointed. “Azhi, can you help me think of a way? You always have ideas. I don’t want to stay here.”

“Elder Sister, I truly have no way.”

“All right, all right. I have another question.”

“Go ahead.”

“How is the Crown Prince?”

I was surprised she mentioned Jiang Yun at this moment—did she too...

“The Crown Prince is still the heir; even if His Majesty is angry, he won’t punish him harshly. Don’t worry, he’s just been ordered to reflect in the palace. He’ll likely be released on New Year’s Eve.”

“That’s good. Azhi, can’t you take me to see the Crown Prince? I worry about him.”

“Elder Sister...” The more she worried about Jiang Yun, the more I worried about her.

“Elder Sister, you shouldn’t visit the Crown Prince now. He’s being punished in the Eastern Palace, and any disturbance could harm him. Better to wait until he’s free to move before making any plans.”

“If I can’t see him, can you? I know the Ninth Prince is close to the Crown Prince, and you’re with the Ninth Prince—”

“Elder Sister, remember, I am a servant. We cannot use our masters for our own purposes. Forgetting our place leads to disaster sooner or later.”

Perhaps I spoke too sternly, for Xiao Ruo fell silent before nodding. “All right, I won’t go. But Azhi, you seem different from how you were at home.”

Different? I never changed; perhaps none of you ever truly knew what kind of person I am.

After parting with Xiao Ruo and returning to Cuiwei Palace, I passed by the lakeside and saw Han Feiyue sitting on a large rock, tossing small stones into the water—clearly troubled.

I glanced at her, then withdrew my gaze, intending to slip quietly past. Unexpectedly, Han Feiyue turned and saw me.

“Xiao Xiao!”

Her call made me stop, bowing as I asked, “Miss Feiyue, do you need something from me?”

“Come here!”

I walked over and stood before her, waiting for instructions.

Han Feiyue raised her eyebrow and sized me up, then asked, “Have you seen Long Zhan these days?”

I answered truthfully, “I have not.”

“Help me find him. I want to see him.”

I was taken aback.

Han Feiyue said directly, “You must wonder why I don’t go myself, right? I’m afraid he won’t come to see me, and I feel I don’t have the status to seek him out. So you’re the best person to find him for me.”

“Master Long serves at the Emperor’s side; even if I go, I may not be able to bring him.”

“You just don’t want to go, do you?” Han Feiyue suddenly glared at me, her eyes full of vigor.

This girl—I always thought well of her.

“If you wish for honesty, then I am unwilling to go.”

“You’re bold. Why not?”

“I saw what happened today, Miss. You said yourself you’d only vent your feelings in harmless ways. If so, why seek out Master Long? Seeing him would only hurt both of you.”

Han Feiyue fell silent, still holding two stones.

“My words were meant to comfort, nothing more,” she said quietly, looking at the stones in her hand.

“If they comfort you, then take them to heart. Miss, the matter is settled—don’t dwell on it. What you must do is the kind of thing that moves the entire palace. Surely you see that His Majesty gave you every honor today. He pleaded for half the day to no avail, all to build your prestige as Crown Princess. Isn’t that so?”

Han Feiyue turned, rose swiftly, and took two steps toward me. I hurriedly lowered my head and stepped back.

“Don’t move!”

I dared not.

Han Feiyue’s eyes were bright as she scrutinized me, then asked, “Xiao Xiao, how old are you?”

“Miss, I am fourteen. After the new year, I’ll be fifteen.”

“Fourteen? Ha, you don’t sound like a fourteen-year-old. Your tone is just like Aunt Yunqing’s.”

“Perhaps I have seen much, so I act older. And I’ve been learning from Aunt Yunqing in the palace, so my manner may resemble hers. Please don’t mind, Miss.”

Han Feiyue’s eyes shone as she pressed her lips together and said, “You’re right. It’s my own choice to marry the Crown Prince, nothing to do with others. What’s wrong with marrying him? Many women dream of it. Didn’t Gong Wue break her head to get it? Like this, Grand Empress Dowager is happy, His Majesty is happy, and I can stay in the palace by their side.”

Her voice faded toward the end.

Yes, so many hope she becomes Crown Princess, so many hope she does not. Yet no one cares whether this makes her happy. Not a single person—not even Luning, I fear.

She must preserve the Emperor’s realm, and whether she chooses Han Feiyue or Gong Wue, she knows what she must do.

“Miss—”

Han Feiyue tossed the stones, spun, and hurled them into the lake. “Though your words are useless, I feel a bit better now. Also, Xiao Xiao, I didn’t like you much before, but today, I think you’re not bad. I’m off!”

With that, she strode away with her characteristic vigor.

Why can’t such a forthright, radiant girl gain the happiness she desires?

I didn’t linger on it, but returned to Cuiwei Palace, only to find the musicians absent.

Puzzled, I saw Yunqing emerge from the rooms and asked, “Has Her Highness rested?”

Yunqing nodded, motioning for me to keep my distance, then said quietly, “Her Highness is tired and has gone to rest. The musicians didn’t show, so she ordered they not come today—tomorrow instead.”

I nodded, unconcerned.

Yunqing then asked, “Xiao Xiao, did you go to the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace with the Ninth Prince yesterday?”

I was startled but nodded.

“So you and the Ninth Prince both knew about the Crown Prince drinking yesterday?”

I nodded again.

“Did the Crown Prince say those words?”

I knew what Yunqing meant and lowered my voice, “Both I and the Ninth Prince heard them.”

“Who else besides you two?”

“The Fourth and Sixth Princes were there too.”

Yunqing’s expression grew grave, then she murmured as if to herself, “That makes sense—they’re always close. But only you four know these words. Who spread them, and to what end?”

Yunqing’s doubts were something for me to consider privately. No matter what others asked, I could not express my own opinions.

“Never mind. You may go, but remember—do not speak of this to anyone.”

“Yes, I understand.”