This was the death of the Crown Prince. The ceremonial rites were only one rank lower than those for an emperor.

First, the spirit would be laid in state in the Eastern Palace for seven days. After court opened on the fifteenth, the princes and ministers would conduct a minor funeral procession to send him to the catalpa coffin, where he would lie in state for half a year. Once the underground palace was completed, a grand funeral procession would send him to the imperial mausoleum.

After the horns finished blowing, ghost money was scattered down from the high platform of Chengtian Gate in bundles.

The spring sun was warm and mild. The snow had melted at some unknown time. But these papers filling the sky dyed heaven and earth in plain colors once more, as if the cold winter had not yet passed.

Within two days, court officials began returning to court one after another. Probably having heard that a great incident had occurred in the palace, they either hid far away like Qian San’er, or returned early to observe from the sidelines.

Early on the morning of the tenth day, after Su Jin woke, her eyelids kept twitching. She had thought it through carefully—Zhu Zhaowei’s false accusation that Zhu Nanxian murdered the Crown Prince could ultimately not stand. If he wanted to seize power early without being constrained by his status as neither legitimate nor eldest, he would certainly find a way to eliminate Zhu Nanxian before court opened.

Her heart was uneasy. But because Zhu Nanxian was confined to the Eastern Palace, with Yingyang Guards stationed inside and out, she was temporarily at a loss for what to do.

Thinking it over, she could only go find Zhao Yan and drag him to ask Manager Hu from the Imperial Clan Court for assistance.

When Manager Hu heard Su Jin’s purpose, although he was willing to help, he said, “Palace regulations distinguish between inner and outer. The Eastern Palace belongs to the inner palace. During these days when the coffin lies in state in the Eastern Palace, only imperial descendants, relatives, consorts, and court ladies may come to pay condolences. Although Minister Su and Thirteenth Prince are close friends, you are after all an outer minister. Condolences must wait until after the minor funeral procession. Right now, never mind going to the inner hall to see Thirteenth Prince—even if you showed your face in the outer hall, it would be inappropriate.”

Su Jin asked, “What about a letter? Or some other token—is there a way to deliver it to Thirteenth Prince’s hands?”

“No.” Manager Hu said, “Minister Su, you don’t know—there are several Yingyang Guards in the inner hall who take turns watching twelve hours a day. Even when someone goes in to deliver food, they are searched inside and out. This subordinate once went there and saw how those Yingyang Guards behaved. It didn’t seem like they wanted to harm Thirteenth Prince. Rather, they tested every item sent in with silver needles and medicinal powders. I imagine they are following Twelfth Prince’s instructions, secretly protecting Thirteenth Prince.”

Hearing him say this, Su Jin still felt uneasy.

Zhu Qiyue’s willingness to protect Zhu Nanxian was ultimately because of their past friendship. But he was still Zhu Zhaowei’s man. For Zhu Zhaowei to manipulate him and exploit loopholes through him would be all too easy.

Seeing Su Jin still frowning, Manager Hu said, “How about this—this subordinate will order several trustworthy palace servants to watch at the Eastern Palace. If there is any unusual movement, they will immediately go to the Censorate to report to Minister. Although outer ministers generally cannot enter the inner palace, the Eastern Palace is the heir apparent’s palace and is ultimately different. If something happens, Minister can rush in to inquire. At most you will be questioned for overstepping propriety.” At this point, he felt somewhat apologetic. “It’s just that it will trouble Minister Su to remain on watch at the Censorate day and night.”

“That is no trouble.” Hearing Manager Hu say this, although Su Jin felt slightly more at ease, thinking it over, if something truly happened, by the time she rushed to the Eastern Palace, would it still be in time? Taking precautions was always better than locking the stable after the horse was stolen.

Just as she was about to think of another method, from outside the Imperial Clan Court came the soft, fragmented whispers of women. A young fire-tender led dozens of female relatives to the main hall, reporting, “Manager Hu, the court ladies coming to pay condolences at the Eastern Palace today are here to register their names.”

Only then did Su Jin remember that today was the day when the vassal princes’ consorts and court ladies would collectively pay condolences to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

She and Zhao Yan withdrew into the shadows at the back of the hall. After Manager Hu prepared brush and ink, the fire-tender led two women inside. Su Jin actually recognized one of them—it was the Qi family’s fourth young lady, Qiling.

Their gazes met. Qiling curtsied slightly. After registering her name and exiting, Su Jin heard the woman in the rouge-colored skirt beside her ask softly, “Sister Qi, is that cold-faced minister in the back of the hall the legendary Minister Su?” She added, “He’s so handsome. It would be nice if he could smile.”

She was young. Though she had lowered her voice to ask this, unfortunately the surroundings were really too quiet, and her words still reached Su Jin’s ears.

Su Jin’s brow furrowed slightly, but she sighed inwardly. So this was how she appeared in others’ eyes. She had thought she treated people with moderation and propriety.

In less than half a moment, all the women had registered their names and were led by palace servants toward the Eastern Palace. Su Jin thought it over but could not find a good method, so she also took leave of Manager Hu, planning to go to the Ministry of Rites to inquire further.

Just as she reached the entrance of the Imperial Clan Court, someone was already waiting for her outside. Qiling lowered her garment and bowed. “Minister Zhao, Minister Su.”

Seeing this, Zhao Yan did not linger. He bowed to Su Jin in farewell. After he had walked far away, Qiling said, “May I ask Minister Su, did you come to the Imperial Clan Court today for Thirteenth Prince?”

Su Jin said nothing.

Qiling said, “This court lady knows that Thirteenth Prince and Minister Su are close friends. With such an incident occurring, it is reasonable for Minister Su to rush about for His Highness. This court lady only wants to ask Minister—is there any message, any token you wish to pass to His Highness? This court lady can help.”

Su Jin was surprised inwardly but showed nothing on her face. “His Highness is in the inner hall. When you go to pay condolences, can you see His Highness?”

“To be honest with Minister Su, early this morning this court lady went to plead with my brother-in-law.” Qiling said, “That is, my elder sister Qi Huan’s husband, Twelfth Prince. He has permitted me to take advantage of today’s condolence ceremony to go to the inner hall to visit Thirteenth Prince.” As she spoke, as if afraid Su Jin would not believe her, she took something from her embroidered pouch and showed it to her.

It was actually the token that Zhu Qiyue carried with him.

Seeing this token, Su Jin no longer hesitated and said, “I have nothing good to bring His Highness. I fear that after he uses something, if he sets it aside, someone with ulterior motives might tamper with it. I only have a few words—you must remember them clearly.”

“Please speak, Minister.”

“Tell him this: what has been used cannot be used again; whom you have trusted cannot be trusted again; what you see with your own eyes may not be the truth; what you hear with your own ears may not be fact.”

Since the Eastern Palace had Zhu Qiyue’s Yingyang Guards protecting it, if Zhu Zhaowei wanted to harm Zhu Nanxian, assassination would not be very feasible. The most likely method would be poison.

But the items delivered to Zhu Nanxian were all tested beforehand by the Yingyang Guards, and Zhu Nanxian himself would not fail to be on guard. Under these circumstances, the only method that could make someone overlook something was to first create a false appearance that seemed real.

Qiling said, “Yes, this court lady has remembered.” She turned to leave, then stopped. “Could Minister Su write these words as a note for me?” Her cheeks were slightly flushed. “During the condolence ceremony, I must kneel in the main hall and recite Buddhist scriptures for two hours. This court lady fears that after finishing the scriptures, I will forget Minister’s instructions.”

Su Jin nodded. “Very well, wait a moment.”

Qiling watched Su Jin’s figure turn back into the Imperial Clan Court, a trace of dejection flashing through her eyes.

This was actually her unspoken selfish desire—from the New Year banquet to the winter hunt, Thirteenth Prince had directly rejected her twice. But now that he had suffered this great calamity, hearing from Zhu Qiyue’s Yingyang Guards that His Highness would wake at the slightest sound at night and often sit in the corridor until dawn, she could not help but want to see him. Yet she feared he would look down on her, which was why she thought to seek out Su Jin.

Qiling knew that Zhu Nanxian treated Su Jin differently. She thought that if she could obtain a token from Su Jin, even just a note, before going to see Thirteenth Prince, perhaps he would not mind her lowliness and might even be willing to speak a few more words with her.

Su Jin handed the written note to Qiling and asked, “Have you brought a silver needle?”

Qiling said, “Yes, I have. How did Minister Su know?”

Su Jin said, “Good. When you give him the silver needle, remember to tell him that if something seems suspicious, the silver needle cannot be trusted either. Also, after he reads this note, he should burn it.”

Qiling bowed to Su Jin again. “This court lady will certainly convey this to His Highness.”

The condolence ceremony was in the main hall of the Eastern Palace. At the head, Consort Qi, Consort Yu, and Consort Qi led the recitation of Buddhist scriptures, with the other consorts and female relatives behind them. Qiling arrived late. She first kowtowed to Consort Qi at the front of the hall, softly calling, “Aunt.” Only after she nodded did she return to her position.

These were the rules of the inner palace. Condolences lasted from the hour of Chen to the hour of Wu. First, Buddhist scriptures were recited for two hours. At noon, after the vegetarian meal, from the hour of Wei to the hour of You, they would kneel silently for another two hours.

At the hour of Wu, a nanny came to distribute vegetarian meals. Qiling deliberately waited to be the last to collect hers. That nanny glanced at her and secretly placed the vegetarian meal and a waist token on her tray, saying, “Go on.”

This was what Zhu Qiyue had arranged beforehand. This waist token would allow her to proceed to the side gate outside Donghua Hall.

It was noon in early spring. The sunlight was intense and tranquil. Across the hanging flower gate, Qiling looked and saw Zhu Nanxian sitting on the steps outside the hall. He seemed to be fiddling with something in his hands, with many sword tassels scattered beside him.

Qiling had seen these sword tassels before. They were ones that Third Miss Shen had woven and given to him.

Zhu Nanxian was pulling out red silk cords one by one from the sword tassels, winding them around the object in his hand. He seemed to want to tie a knot so he could hang it around his neck in the future, keeping it inside his garments close to his body. But he was truly clumsy with his hands and could not manage to wind it properly no matter how he tried.

The vermilion silk cord slowly wound around his slender fingers. Sunlight poured down, refracting a beam of light from the object in his hand.

It was that jade pendant carved with the character for “rain.”

Seeing this, Qiling set down the tray in her hands on a nearby stone table and walked over gently, calling out, “Your Highness.”

Zhu Nanxian was startled. He raised his head and saw it was her. His gaze dimmed. He lowered his head and acknowledged with a sound.

Qiling thought for a moment and said, “Let this court lady help Your Highness wind this silk cord.”

Zhu Nanxian’s hand movements paused. He put both the silk cord and jade pendant back into his bosom and replied, “No need.”