Under the eaves, Wu Qing gazed flatly at a figure: “What is it, Secretary Zhou? Is it a good view?”

Beside the tree, the young man lowered his slightly raised neck and smiled back: “Wu Qing, I also want to ask—why is it that you’re always the first to spot the carrier pigeons? What might be on those pigeons?”

Seeing Leng Xue leap down carrying Suzhen, Little Zhou didn’t remain there any longer and entered the house. Behind him, Wu Qing’s gaze darkened slightly.

Suzhen entered the room, ground ink, and quickly wrote a letter, having Zhuiming deliver it to Huo Chang’an.

Ten days passed quickly. During this time, the Guixiang House outside the palace flourished increasingly, with a constant stream of male visitors—even more prosperous than before. Within the palace, however, there was an ominous, frightening silence.

It was said that when Lian Yu returned to the palace, Xiao’an went to his sleeping quarters. The two had a lengthy heart-to-heart talk, but it ultimately ended in argument.

This was the first time in many years that mother and son had quarreled so intensely. Everyone walking within the palace felt uneasy and was extra careful, fearing this hidden fire might accidentally spill onto their own heads.

On this day, in a palace courtyard, Murong Xi and her visiting friend Wei Wuxia had several sharp words over this matter.

This Wei Wuxia was precisely Chao Huang’s wife and Wei Wuyan’s elder sister. Throughout history, men ruled the world while women managed households—when men fought earth-shattering battles outside, the women’s struggles within were no less fierce.

Both being children of high officials, educated together in palace etiquette from childhood, each had their own connections. Originally, Wei Wuxia and Murong Xi were close friends, and when Murong Xi entered the palace as a consort, Wei Wuxia frequently visited her.

But now, as the struggle between Lian Yu and Quan Feitong intensified daily, with Chao Huang being one of Quan Feitong’s main generals, Murong Xi had heard about events outside the palace. Though she loved the Son of Heaven, she couldn’t help feeling her husband was worthless. Lian Yu, busy with official matters, hadn’t visited her quarters for many days. She was a daughter of the Murong family, of noble birth, spoiled from childhood—her heart was already full of smoldering anger.

But when women conversed, how could they avoid mentioning their husbands? When Wei Wuxia spoke of Chao Huang, her words naturally carried some pride. Murong Xi sneered inwardly, thinking “I’ll settle with you sooner or later,” but with her upbringing, she had cultivated self-control. She merely endured for now, subtly mocking with a few remarks about Chao Huang’s lowly origins.

Wei Wuxia quickly realized this was inappropriate. Though the Son of Heaven might not match the Prime Minister’s power, he wasn’t dead yet. While she might be of higher status, Murong Xi was more noble. She hastily laughed and changed the subject.

However, how could Murong Xi’s anger be quelled so easily? At this moment, looking around, she happened to see Gu Shuangcheng walking by with her maid. She thought to herself that this little harlot had entered the palace only days ago yet was already playing the qin to seduce His Majesty, causing the Emperor to spend a sleepless night accompanying her in the wind until dawn. She’d heard that yesterday she’d even left the palace and returned with His Majesty. Even she herself needed to report to either the Empress Dowager or Lian Yu before leaving the palace—what gave this woman such privileges?

Though she was somewhat wary of Lian Yu’s indulgence toward this woman, she had the Murong family behind her, Empress Dowager Xiao’an was her aunt, and Lian Yu had always been very caring toward her. Moreover, Xiao’an detested Gu Shuangcheng extremely—she’d previously heard Xiao’an hint at having Wei Wuyan eliminate her. What did she have to fear?

She thus beckoned to Gu Shuangcheng, saying flatly: “Miss Gu, where are you going?”

Gu Shuangcheng stiffened but quickly led her maid over, paid respects, and replied: “Reporting to Consort Xi, I’m just returning from paying respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Murong Xi and Wei Wuxia exchanged glances. Speaking of which, Gu Shuangcheng’s temperament was indeed rather strange—knowing Xiao’an disliked her, since entering the palace she nonetheless performed morning and evening duties, visiting Xiao’an’s quarters daily to pay respects.

Murong Xi smiled inscrutably: “Miss is truly devoted. I hear Miss’s qin skills are exceptional. Today I happen to have a sister visiting the palace—might we have the honor of hearing Miss perform?”

Gu Shuangcheng bowed slightly and apologized: “Consort Xi, Shuangcheng currently has no qin. Might Your Ladyship wait a moment? This servant will send her maid to fetch one immediately.”

Murong Xi’s eyes swept toward the direction of the imperial study, thinking that if she sent her maid to fetch it, wouldn’t that also invite His Majesty over?

Wei Wuxia understood Murong Xi’s meaning. She was currently trying to repair her relationship with Murong Xi and was eager to assist her. Knowing that Murong Xi could also play the qin and would have instruments in her quarters, she smiled: “I hear Your Ladyship’s quarters have excellent qins. Perhaps Your Ladyship could send her maid instead.”

This both mocked Shuangcheng’s qin as inferior while rejecting her request. Gu Shuangcheng’s face remained calm without a trace of alarm, only lowering her head to apologize again: “Your Ladyship’s qin is naturally excellent, but Shuangcheng is accustomed to using her own. How about this—Your Ladyship sends a maid to fetch a qin while Shuangcheng also has her servant fetch one. Shuangcheng’s skills are clumsy—if I can manage Your Ladyship’s qin then, that would be wonderful, but if not, I’ll use my own humble instrument to perform for Your Ladyship and Lady Chao. What do you both think?”

Both Murong Xi and Wei Wuxia were somewhat surprised that Gu Shuangcheng’s response was so flawless.

However, Murong Xi was no gentle soul. Having followed Xiao’an for years, she’d developed her own methods. Smiling and nodding, she added: “Excellent. Ping’er, go to the imperial kitchen and see if the ginseng soup is ready—if so, take it to His Majesty. Mo’er, return to my quarters for the qin and have the servants prepare incense burners and hand-washing water.”

Her two palace maids immediately agreed.

This instruction undoubtedly blocked Gu Shuangcheng’s path completely. Sending someone with soup to the imperial study was clearly telling Shuangcheng that her people would be stationed along the route to the imperial study—there was absolutely no way her maid could approach. Her maid could only obediently return to her quarters for the qin and not expect any tricks!

Facing the two women’s vicious smiles and the malice at the corners of their eyes, Gu Shuangcheng raised no objections, nodding slightly. As she turned, she leaned close to her clever little maid Meihua’s ear and whispered: “Go find Consort Wei!”

She’d known from the start that Murong Xi wouldn’t let her maid go to the imperial study…

When Meihua came crying with her report, Wuyan was just placing a letter into an envelope.

She had previously received another letter from Huaisu, brought into the palace by Huo Chang’an. Huaisu, not knowing her identity, had made a request of her. After much hesitation, she had finally decided today to lend assistance.

Xiang’er sneered: “Ridiculous—why should we help her? Letting Consort Xi teach her a lesson would be perfect!”