At dawn, Qun Qing received a message from Lin Yujia: “Plan postponed. Reduce contact for now.”

She burned the note clean, pulled the quilt over herself and continued sleeping, her heart utterly tranquil.

Having to work night shifts helping Li Xuan review memorials, she could only sleep more in the mornings to rest.

It seemed Lu Huating had already made his move. She didn’t know what method he’d used to suppress Lin Yujia, but now that the mission was cancelled, she no longer needed to worry about that plan.

There was also new progress on Lan Yue’s end. Once when Qun Qing went out, she actually saw Lan Yue arm-in-arm with Registrar Xu who managed palace registry records, talking and laughing together. She was so shocked she hid behind a tree trunk, only daring to emerge after the two had walked far away.

Soon Lan Yue brought back news: “Registrar Xu showed me her drawer. Your registry record really isn’t in the Bureau of Palace Attendants. Strange—where could it be?”

“We can only go back to the Lateral Courts to search.” Qun Qing said.

Only the Lateral Courts were currently under strict supervision, being searched for Nan Chu spies. If she went back, she’d have to take risks.

Lu Huating was gravely ill and bedridden—this was precisely an opportunity. If he had no mind to monitor her, she could quietly go find Lady Zhang.

The next day happened to be a rest day. Qun Qing walked to the Lateral Courts and observed that most of the guards outside the gate had been withdrawn, leaving only a scattered few who all looked exhausted. Only then did she slip inside.

Little did she know, her figure disappeared like a fish at the end of the alley, and those guards immediately changed their expressions, straightening up one after another.

A group approached. The two leaders—one was Xiao Jingxing, his sword-like brows tightly furrowed: “Slouching about—is this how you stand watch? The Court of Judicial Review is here to find someone. Let us through.”

The other person’s face was deathly pale. He took the guards’ records and glanced at them, then suddenly stopped Xiao Jingxing, the corner of his mouth lifting: “Give me your fish tally. I’ll go.”

—

Lady Zhang’s dwelling was kept neat and orderly. After looking around, Qun Qing couldn’t help but wonder: “Lady, where is the person who was living with you?”

Qun Qing vaguely remembered she’d once sent a bullied beautiful palace maid here, but now there was only one bedroll with no trace of a second person living here.

“You mean that living ancestor you sent? I don’t even want to mention you—even if you wish for my early death, you can’t use this method! I, Zhang Si Niang, have never seen such an incompetent servant—even eating and sleeping require others to serve her.”

Lady Zhang busily tidied up again, using a feather duster to wipe dust from the cabinet. “Yesterday evening, she was taken away by Supervisor Pei—don’t blame me for not stopping it. Supervisor Pei said the Court of Judicial Review summoned her. How would I dare question that?”

Qun Qing felt some lingering fear. She hadn’t expected that lady to be involved in a case. No wonder her behavior that day was strange. Fortunately she hadn’t interfered too much.

She helped Lady Zhang clean the chamber while mentioning Registrar Xu’s matter. Halfway through hearing it, Lady Zhang couldn’t help but slam the wet cloth on the desk: “That shameless old thing actually privately withheld your registry record!”

“You also think Supervisor Pei detained my registry record?” Qun Qing asked.

Lady Zhang said: “Ever since you showed him your embroidery sample that time, he’s wanted to keep you in the Lateral Courts. You should have noticed, right? He’s probably hoping in his heart you’d get punished and be driven back here.”

“Moreover, if your registry record hasn’t reached the Bureau of Palace Attendants, you still count as part of the Lateral Courts’ headcount. When applying for monthly silver for the whole palace, he still gets to pocket your share. This unconscionable act—it’s not the first time he’s done it.” Lady Zhang spat. “Come, I’ll figure out a way for you.”

Lady Zhang pulled Qun Qing to Supervisor Pei’s residence. Seeing no one around, Lady Zhang lifted her skirt: “Valuable items—I’ve seen that old thing puts them all in the treasure cabinet on the right side. He went out this morning and isn’t here. You watch for people. I’ll climb through the window and steal it out for you!”

Qun Qing choked. She never expected this would be Lady Zhang’s method. Lady Zhang said: “Why are you looking at me like that? Time is tight. Quickly come help me pry this window open wider.”

Having a nearly fifty-year-old teaching lady climb through windows to steal—this scene was far too dangerous. Qun Qing stopped her, saying in a low voice: “Lady—you watch for people here. I’ll retrieve it.”

With that, she bent down, gathered her cloud-like skirt hem, and quickly tied a knot at her leg. Lady Zhang only saw Qun Qing measure the distance below the window with her hand, then with a light push, her entire body nimbly flipped into the room like a cat without making a sound. She couldn’t help but stand stunned: “This child!”

Lady Zhang’s gratified smile quickly froze: Supervisor Pei, who should have been out on duty, suddenly hurried over from the end of the palace path. His expression was strange—as he walked, he observed the surroundings, as if concealing some unspeakable matter.

Lady Zhang was startled.

Old thing, how did he come back!

—

The instant Qun Qing landed inside the chamber, she also froze.

Lady Zhang said no one was in the chamber, but clearly there was a living person.

That lady was curled up tied to a chair, her hair disheveled, her mouth sealed, her face covered in tear tracks.

Their eyes met. Her eyes revealed earnest pleading for rescue as she struggled and twisted: “Mm-mm!”

Qun Qing’s lashes moved slightly. From the other’s pale face and the way she made those sounds, she determined this was the one who’d been beaten in the courtyard that day… Li Yu.

A dancing girl from Siye Building in Pingkang Ward, some fifth-rank official’s concubine, and possibly involved in a case.

Li Yu’s tearful eyes gradually widened, filled with disbelief, as if unable to imagine that seeing her in this state, a lady would remain unmoved, instead pulling down the window, then turning her chair around to face the wall…

Supervisor Pei’s desk lay before Qun Qing.

Supervisor Pei held an official rank. His status was higher than other internal supervisors. The chamber’s furnishings were more lavish than some officials’ homes. This desk was made of ebony, wide and imposing, with exquisite carvings. Papers and writing implements were scattered across it.

Lady Zhang had said Supervisor Pei kept important items in the treasure cabinet on the right side. Below the desk was a nanmu wood treasure cabinet inlaid with gold. Qun Qing opened the topmost drawer and took out an old wooden box for storing sweets. Pushing open the lid, inside was actually a stack of registry records!

The topmost one had already yellowed—an old registry record. Clearly Supervisor Pei had been secretly hoarding palace servants’ records for quite some time.

Qun Qing flipped through several. She relaxed somewhat. Those records did have portraits, but they weren’t realistic—all the palace servants looked about the same.

She flipped through these records twice. Cold sweat seeped from her palms. Her registry record wasn’t among them.

Behind her, that lady’s cries changed from urgent to desperate. Her struggles made the chair clang loudly. The noise was like a chisel, striking into her heart one blow at a time.

Qun Qing returned the wooden box to its place. The lower level of the treasure cabinet had another drawer, locked with a delicate golden lock. She looked at it for a moment, then removed the silver hairpin from her left temple. The tip of the hairpin had been sharpened to extreme keenness, flashing a line of cold light.

The cold light reflected on that bound lady’s frightened face. Because her back was to the light, Qun Qing’s eyes looked somewhat frighteningly black: “If you make another sound, I won’t save you in a moment.”

—

Outside, Supervisor Pei strode back.

He looked up and saw Lady Zhang, quite surprised: “What are you doing here?”

“This servant has a matter to report…”

Supervisor Pei’s expression was unpredictable, his gaze more agitated and sinister than usual as he waved his whisk: “Whatever it is, speak another day. This official can’t spare the time right now.”

“It’s important.” Lady Zhang grabbed his sleeve and wouldn’t let go. “Supervisor, let’s go to that pavilion over there to talk.”

Supervisor Pei looked at his sleeve with slight shock, then raised his eyes to scrutinize Lady Zhang. This tigress usually showed him superficial respect while secretly disrespecting him, disdaining his urine smell, keeping far away—as if he didn’t know! Today being so attentive actually made things seem wrong.

At this moment, there was movement inside the chamber. Supervisor Pei suddenly shook off Lady Zhang, but a pleasant voice came from behind: “Supervisor Pei, please wait.”

Supervisor Pei had no choice but to turn around.

That young civil official already stood behind him, his shoulders and back straight, his face like frost and snow, wearing plain clothes with an ethereal quality.

Lu Huating’s eyes lifted slightly at the corners. When looking at people, it was like a cool breeze, except the smile in his eyes was very cold: “To extract one person, you’ve delayed in every possible way. I had no choice but to personally seek you out.”

Supervisor Pei was wary, switching his whisk to the other hand. Just as he was about to bow, he was blocked by the fish tally of the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review that Lu Huating produced: “No need for empty formalities. I’m in a hurry.”

Lady Zhang silently thought “serves you right,” only hoping the lord would quickly lead this Supervisor Pei away: “What this servant wanted to report was that the lord from the Court of Judicial Review has arrived. Supervisor, see what you’ll do!”

Lu Huating smiled and glanced at Lady Zhang. This person was the teaching lady of the Lateral Courts—all the palace maids knew her well. But he hadn’t told anyone he was coming. How could anyone have announced him?

Both of these people seemed to have secrets.

“The people below don’t know how to serve properly! Announcing so late—apologize to the Chief Clerk.” Supervisor Pei suppressed his expression, raising his hand to gesture. “Lady Zhang, go fetch fresh Yangxian Snow Bud tea! Lord Lu, follow this official to the pavilion over there.”

But Lu Huating didn’t move, raising his eyes to glance at the plaque overhead: “Isn’t this the Lateral Courts main hall? Weren’t you just about to enter? Why seek far when near is at hand? Let’s go inside to talk.”

Supervisor Pei suddenly bent over clutching his stomach, his mouth crying out in pain. Lu Huating couldn’t help but turn his head: “What’s wrong?”

“Forgive me for the embarrassment before Lord Lu.” Supervisor Pei showed a difficult expression. “This official has had a cold with diarrhea these past two days. Inside the main hall, the smell is truly unpleasant—I fear it would slight the Chief Clerk. This official was rushing in wanting to… to relieve himself… If the Chief Clerk wishes to discuss matters in the main hall, that’s also possible. Please wait a moment, Chief Clerk, allow this official to first enter and… that…”

Before finishing his words, another “aiyou.” Lady Zhang covered her nose as if already smelling the odor.

Lu Huating listened, but his gaze wandered around the main hall. The window wasn’t tightly closed, leaving a crack. In the dust beneath that window, there were clearly four thin, narrow fingerprints.

“If that’s the case, let’s go to the side hall.” Lu Huating’s light gaze fell on Supervisor Pei’s gauze cap as he smiled warmly. “My matter is urgent. As for the Supervisor, you must endure.”

This side hall connected to the main hall, but at least had a door as separation. Supervisor Pei inhaled, clutching his stomach: “…Lady Zhang, serve tea!”

—

Qun Qing knelt on the ground, expending tremendous effort to break and remove that lock.

Opening the drawer, inside was a full stack of letters, all opened, except for an unopened one lying on top.

Qun Qing tore open the topmost envelope. Glancing inside, she unexpectedly saw the blood-red complex palace registry seal.

She pulled out the folded registry record. The two characters “Qun Qing” and a few brief strokes of a palace maid portrait came into view. She felt the suspended weight in her heart like an icicle falling into warm lake water, slowly melting. She tucked the registry record along with its envelope inside her inner garment and hung the lock back.

After finishing this, she had time to attend to that lady.

Perhaps from being bound too long and having cried, that lady’s complexion was flushed, her diamond-shaped eyes especially red as if drunk. She weakly drooped her lashes. Teardrops hung on her long lashes, about to fall yet not falling, truly like peach blossoms weeping dew. If seen by someone with ill intentions, it would probably arouse wicked thoughts.

Li Yu looked quite young from the front, probably only about eighteen, with some childishness not yet faded from her face. Qun Qing looked at her for a while, her fingers tightening on the hairpin.

To risk saving someone, she had to move quickly.

Qun Qing was anxious to cut through the ropes. Leaning over, the two were very close. With each breath, she inhaled the warm orchid and musk fragrance from the other’s body—very choking.

The instant the ropes loosened, that lady’s fingers suddenly flashed with a line of cold light, striking toward Qun Qing’s neck.

Her moves were familiar. Fortunately she lacked strength, so Qun Qing instinctively dodged. That lady immediately changed techniques. Qun Qing blocked her arm. She twisted her wrist, clawing toward Qun Qing. Qun Qing seized her wrist and twisted, causing the blade hidden between her fingers to fly and bounce on the floor.

The red-clad lady’s wrist was twisted painfully. After seeming about to cry, she instead showed delight, her voice sweet and mellow as an oriole: “You, you know Chun Niang…”

What Chun Niang? Qun Qing didn’t know her at all. But her heart also surged with waves. These three moves—weren’t they the close-combat assassination techniques An Lin had taught her? Could this lady before her also be a spy? But her movements were superficial, her hands lacked strength. She didn’t seem to know martial arts—not qualified to be a spy.

Qun Qing’s eyes flashed. She pretended to go along: “That’s right, I know Chun Niang. And what is Chun Niang to you?”

Unexpectedly, hearing this, the other hooked an arm around her neck in an embracing posture. This lady’s arms were flexible as vines—arms that supported leaps and danced on drums, possessing some strength, wrapping around like twisted candy.

Her hands didn’t stop, pulling open the ties at Qun Qing’s front. Then Qun Qing only felt herself being pressed against a soft, warm body, rubbing back and forth. Whether because events exceeded expectations or because she saw the other’s face clearly, Qun Qing’s mind went blank for an instant.

That lady seemed even more frightened than her, panting softly and warmly in her ear: “I beg you to save me, Lady—I’ll die! Supervisor Pei fed me Harmony Powder…”

So that orchid and musk scent was the smell of Harmony Powder! Qun Qing was immediately terrified. Then she’d just breathed in several mouthfuls—would she be alright?

She didn’t know if it was psychological, but she already felt her hands and feet going limp, unable to exert strength. She barely reached the armrest, gripping it forcefully.

That lady perceived Qun Qing’s struggle and actually extended both legs to tightly wrap around her waist. Having grown this big, Qun Qing had never been molested like this. Half fearful, half furious, she struggled forcefully. Suddenly losing balance, the chair toppled over with a loud thud! The two rolled onto the floor together.

Then chaotic footsteps approached from far to near. The sound of the door being suddenly kicked open, Supervisor Pei’s pleas for mercy, and Lady Zhang’s shocked cries wove together.

It’s over.

This was Qun Qing’s only thought as she fell on the cold floor.