Under the slender candlelight, Lu Huating finished reading the last memorial.

Chi Su bent over in the hall to add water. The grey falcon she usually fed flew down and landed on her shoulder, fluttering its wings.

“If you’re carrying unopened injury ointment, give me another box.”

Chi Su suddenly straightened, realizing Lu Huating was speaking to her. She fumbled at her waist and produced a thumb-sized box of scar removal ointment, but didn’t immediately place it on the desk.

She hesitated, then said in a slightly hoarse voice, “This subordinate would like to know—the box given to the Chief Administrator last time, was it for Wen Su or Lady Qing?”

Chi Su usually spoke very little. Lu Huating’s eyes lifted from the memorial and fixed on her face. His eye shape was beautifully upturned, and in the candlelight, his pupils appeared even more deeply black. “Does that last box have anything to do with what I’m asking for now?”

Being scrutinized so sharply, Chi Su’s expression became flustered for a moment. She immediately lowered her eyes, placed the scar removal ointment on the desk, and hurriedly withdrew. “This subordinate has overstepped.”

Lu Huating watched her retreating figure, picking up the box of scar removal ointment. He felt something wasn’t quite right.

The hidden guards on duty outside heard the commotion through the window. Kuang Su grew anxious. “Chief Administrator, if you need ointment, I have some! Lots!” He frantically searched himself and produced four or five boxes of medicinal salves of various sizes. Juan Su glanced at them. “What he wants isn’t our kind.”

Zhu Su was also curious. “Why only borrow injury medicine from Chi Su and not from us?”

“It must be to give to a lady.” Juan Su said quietly. “What Chi Su and Wen Su use is different from ours.”

“What’s different about it?” they all asked.

“You don’t know this?” Juan Su crossed his arms. “They’re women. His Highness purchases different injury medicine for female guards—it doesn’t contain that, what’s it called, that fragrance.”

“Musk!” Zhu Su realized. “I’ve heard it harms women’s bodies.”

The group was chatting animatedly when suddenly the door was pushed open. Lu Huating tossed the scar removal ointment he’d just obtained from Chi Su into Juan Su’s arms. “Go test this—see if there’s anything wrong with this ointment.”

Zhu Su and Juan Su’s smiles faded as their expressions turned serious.

—

The first Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe test eliminated nearly half the applicants. With Cui Ying’s incident frightening many noble ladies into withdrawing, only sixteen ladies remained to be recalled to Chongjing Hall to continue the third test.

Han Wanyi sat behind the screen, fanning herself as she watched those who remained.

Qun Qing split the gold thread into fine strands. When the needle passed through the thin, translucent Snow-Dissolving Gauze again, she tilted the angle slightly, becoming extremely careful.

Like suturing a wound, the tears disappeared bit by bit. Having not torn the embroidery fabric again, Qun Qing relaxed somewhat and carefully wiped the sweat from her hands.

Behind her, Bao Shu secretly observed. She discovered that Qun Qing’s embroidery speed had slowed, but she worked without pause. All the auspicious clouds on the embroidery fabric were completed, and the dragon’s body had taken preliminary form. Her heart panicked.

Hadn’t she been unable to embroider earlier? How did she learn so quickly? As soon as anxiety arose in her heart, her hand tore open a split with a sharp sound. Bao Shu frowned and hurriedly steadied the needle and thread.

Due to tension, the sounds of fabric tearing and applicants gasping for breath rose in succession. When the incense stick burned out and the bronze gong sounded, Qun Qing finished her final stitch.

On the embroidery fabric, a coiled dragon stood on auspicious clouds. Though the design appeared simple at first glance, the form was vivid and the colors rich. Even the dragon’s eyes were lifelike.

Qun Qing lowered her eyes. Han Wanyi, accompanied by Liu Siyi, examined her embroidery fabric, then looked at her hands. Qun Qing’s hands were hidden in her sleeves—from holding the needle too much today, her fingertips trembled slightly. Quite impressive. Han Wanyi walked past her. “Excellent.”

“Qingxuan Pavilion’s Lady Qing—third test excellent—”

Immediately after, a young inner servant announced the list of those who passed the third test.

Envious gazes fell upon her. Hearing her name among them, Qun Qing felt somewhat excited. She would soon have the opportunity to speak with Xiao Yunru.

She just didn’t know what questions Xiao Yunru had personally set, and whether she could still stand out.

This time eight were selected and divided into two groups. Qun Qing was led by a young inner servant to a side hall. From the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Yunru wearing court dress, sitting solemnly before a gold-leaf screen.

On the left and right sides of the hall stood two embroidery frames, each holding identical cloud-patterned belts.

Xiao Yunru said, “Imperial heir clothing follows specific regulations, made by the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe. Every needle and thread must strictly adhere to palace standards to prevent outside embroiderers from replicating them. Please distinguish which of these two belts was made by the palace’s Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe.”

What kind of question was this?

The four ladies showed difficulty. Qun Qing also hesitated—looking at the two belts, they appeared completely identical.

They had never served in the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe. How would they know what characteristics distinguished Bureau-made belts?

“May we approach for a closer look?” Qun Qing asked.

“You may.” Xiao Yunru said. “You may go one by one to touch and examine them.”

The first lady in line leaned close for a long while before admitting defeat. “This… this servant… this servant cannot distinguish them.”

Of the other two, one said the right one was from the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe, another said both were Bureau-made. Xiao Yunru only smiled without telling them whether they were correct.

Qun Qing had to step forward. Looking closely, both belts had circular family crests embroidered in the center. The needle work differed slightly, but both had neat forms and exquisite embroidery—difficult to judge.

Behind the screen, Lu Huating watched Qun Qing’s back as she bent to examine the belts. He had set this test question for her. Qun Qing’s sky-blue shawl dragged limply on the ground, as if filled with uncertainty. He suppressed his laughter and made no sound.

The incense continued burning. Qun Qing looked at the circular family crests on both belts, suddenly finding them very familiar. She seemed to have seen them somewhere before.

Water-patterned chilong dragons. Chi dragons were the symbol the Emperor bestowed upon Prince Yan’s residence…

In an instant, several black-clad warriors surrounding a nobleman’s carriage flashed through her mind. Their belts bore this symbol. Later, these people had surrounded Lu Huating and Kuang Su.

During the brawl at the Eastern Market, she had seen this belt.

With this thought, Qun Qing used her body to block Xiao Yunru’s line of sight and quietly removed the silver needle to flip over both belts. Sure enough, on the edge of the left belt, she discovered several splattered bloodstains.

This belt was probably torn from those warriors by Lu Huating that time.

She didn’t know who had set this question…

Qun Qing quickly pinned the belt back and turned to bow to the Princess Consort of Yan. Her gaze swept past the screen—behind it was only curling smoke. “This servant believes the right one is from the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe, while the left is a counterfeit.”

Xiao Yunru still smiled. “Why?”

“The embroidery of the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe’s female officials represents Da Chen’s highest standards—outside embroiderers cannot compare. The left one has coarse needle work and sweat stains. Though subtle, this servant discovered them.”

The above was fabricated by Qun Qing.

Prince Yan’s residence servants’ clothing followed specific regulations. So many fake府兵 couldn’t borrow that many sets of real clothing, so the belts were probably counterfeit.

Xiao Yunru showed no pleasure, asking indifferently, “Did you truly see the difference, or is this the lady’s guess?”

Qun Qing lowered her eyes in thought.

Lu Huating always acted with purpose. Placing this belt that only the two of them knew about before her, he must want to obtain some information from her in exchange for her fourth test.

“Reporting to the Princess Consort, these two on the frames are belts from Prince Yan’s residence. It’s not easy for outsiders to counterfeit Prince Yan residence belts because the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe has strict standards for making clothes. For instance, this chi dragon embroidery pattern—the dimensions, curvature, and coloring cannot be grasped by outside embroiderers, making it easy to detect flaws.”

Qun Qing took down both belts. “But if one can obtain a real belt, there’s a way to counterfeit it identically.”

She demonstrated as she spoke. “Place the real belt underneath, cover it with a sheet of processed rice paper, use a colored pencil made from red bean powder, and rub forcefully on the rice paper to ‘transfer print’ the complete sleeve pattern shape—dimensions and curvature all correct. Then trace this sleeve pattern clearly with a brush, cut it out and paste it as a base, find a skilled embroiderer, and embroider over it.”

This was a method passed down among old embroiderers that her mother had taught Qun Qing. As a child, she often used this method to trace and learn embroidery patterns from garments in clothing shops.

As Qun Qing spoke, she had Cui Yu bring a basin of clear water. She spread the belt with both hands, laid it flat in the water, and shook it several times. After a while, a thin layer of bean powder indeed floated to the water’s surface.

Cui Yu and the other three ladies looked down and saw it. Their eyes widened in admiration and amazement, acknowledging their inferiority.

“Among you, only Lady Qing answered correctly. Lady Qing, please stay. The rest may leave—I wish to speak with Lady Qing alone.” Xiao Yunru looked at the water basin, appreciation flashing in her eyes.

With everyone else dismissed, only Qun Qing remained standing in the hall. Xiao Yunru turned her head to look at her and smiled. “This palace lady and you have met several times now. Why be so formal? Come closer to speak.”

Qun Qing walked before Xiao Yunru and suddenly bowed gracefully. “This servant dares not claim credit. Reaching this point was to meet the Princess Consort and request one matter.”

Xiao Yunru was somewhat surprised, but out of appreciation, she said patiently, “Speak.”

Qun Qing glanced toward behind the screen, her heart suddenly beating fast. This was a good opportunity, but Lu Huating was also present. If he learned she wanted to leave the palace, he would likely interfere. Therefore, she couldn’t let him know.

“This servant deeply understands the Princess Consort’s difficulty in managing the inner palace. There’s a rumor among palace maids that has everyone distracted from work. This servant still wanted to ask the Princess Consort directly.”

“What matter?” Xiao Yunru couldn’t help asking.

“This servant’s benefactor, Lady Zhang from the Bureau of Concubines, has been in the bureau since childhood, never sharing family happiness with relatives outside the palace. She had hoped to take the opportunity of welcoming the Buddha’s relics, when the palace releases servants, to leave the palace.”

Here Qun Qing paused, a thin layer of moisture rising in her dark eyes, though her voice remained steady. “Palace rumors say the Princess Consort doesn’t plan to release anyone. This servant dares not let Lady Zhang know. If this is true, many palace servants’ hopes will be lost.”

Xiao Yunru watched her, momentarily at a loss. She hadn’t expected that after being selected, Qun Qing wasn’t joyful but instead came before her to speak of this matter.

She had her considerations as someone in authority for not releasing palace servants. But when these considerations became a living person standing before her, looking at her with tears—Xiao Yunru’s heart also stirred with waves.

Lu Huating had originally been looking at the basin of water Cui Yu brought. Hearing this, he withdrew his hand. Water dripped back into the basin. He stared at his knuckles, made bright by sunlight.

Not strange at all.

This woman liked helping others.

In the previous life, the way she defended Princess Bao’an had also confused him for a time.

Working as a spy meant walking in darkness at night, like a clay Buddha crossing a river, yet she had feelings and gratitude.

“This palace lady is considering this matter…” Xiao Yunru said slowly.

“Princess Consort, releasing no one at all truly doesn’t conform to Da Chen law.” A pleasant voice emerged from behind the gold-leaf screen.

Not expecting Lu Huating to be so conscientious, Qun Qing immediately looked up at Xiao Yunru. Xiao Yunru, about to set down her teacup, paused. “Don’t be alarmed—this palace lady’s advisor is waiting outside the door.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Qun Qing said.

That lord made no further sound.

“This palace lady promises you—this year we’ll change it to releasing twenty palace servants. Lady Zhang has been in the palace for many years and should be among them. Return and tell her to set her mind at ease.” Xiao Yunru said.

Qun Qing quickly bowed in gratitude.

—

With Xiao Yunru’s promise, she was one step closer to leaving the palace. That day’s embroidery work felt especially light. When she finished the final stitch, it was already deep into the night.

She looked at herself in the mirror—her appearance was still fairly fresh, but a very faint scar remained on her face.

Qun Qing stood and found from the shelf that thumb-sized box of ointment, placing it alongside the jade face cream Li Xuan had bestowed.

This ointment was what Lu Huating had placed in the paired fish sachet along with the note that day. For some reason, she had kept it without opening it.

Originally she didn’t want to use it, but she was going to Four Nights Tower the next day. If her face bore injuries, it might affect the mission.

Qun Qing opened both boxes of medicine, dabbed a bit, and applied them to her face while looking in the mirror. The fragrance of secluded orchids flowed out—her face felt cool and fragrant.

Perhaps because her mood was light tonight, she couldn’t sleep. Sitting on the bed, she took out that package of osmanthus candies and ate one.

In the Eastern Palace, Shouxi brought back the prayer robe on a gold tray for Li Xuan. “Your Highness, Lady Qing has returned this prayer robe.”

Li Xuan glanced at it and casually shook it out, wanting to see how Qun Qing had ruined the prayer robe. Unexpectedly, the moment he shook it out, his gaze froze slightly.

On the snow-white prayer robe’s shoulders and front hem, sutras were embroidered in silver thread. The sutras embroidered on the garment flowed like wind and returning snow, graceful and elegant.

“Lady Qing said she has now mastered how to use needles on Snow-Dissolving Gauze. Where it was punctured, she filled it with sutras. Your Highness can try it to see if the previously ill-fitting areas are now much flatter.”

Li Xuan’s hand tightened bit by bit. After a long while, he moved his gaze aside. “This palace has important duties—where is there time to fuss back and forth over a garment? Since it’s been used, just put it away.”

“Yes.” Shouxi glanced at him and withdrew carrying the gold tray.

In Prince Yan’s residence, the lamps blazed brightly.

Lu Huating presided, watching as maids took the belts submitted by military leaders and hidden guards, immersing them in water one by one, kneading the embroidery patterns.

“Since Meng Guanlou could find people to impersonate Prince Yan’s residence subordinates and counterfeit Prince Yan residence belts, I’m very curious from whose hands Meng Guanlou obtained the real belt.” Lu Huating said.

Juan Su seemed to think of something. “And that day when we went to the Healing Ward to obtain medicine for His Highness, the Chief Administrator specifically had us go in plain clothes. Only our own people knew the information. Why could Meng Guanlou’s people appear on the street and surround us for assassination?”

Lu Huating had suspected an insider then but had never found proof.

He should thank Qun Qing for her help. Bean powder was fine—when transfer printing embroidery patterns, some powder would adhere to that belt’s embroidery.

“Chief Administrator, this belt released bean powder!” a maid said.

It was the one Juan Su had submitted.

Juan Su nearly went mad. “How could it be mine?”

Zhu Su said, “Chief Administrator, our plain clothes and belts are all collected and distributed by Chi Su.”

The Prince Yan residence physician opened that thumb-sized ointment box and examined it repeatedly. “Reporting to the Chief Administrator, besides the particularly strong orchid fragrance, this box of ointment seems to have no problems.”

“What about the one Chi Su gave last time?” Juan Su said.

“This old physician cannot make baseless conjectures. I’d need to test it to know.” The physician said.

Lu Huating said, “Forget it.”

In the stone cave, he had seen the scrape on Qun Qing’s palm. If she had used it, it would have healed long ago.

Qun Qing didn’t trust him. Even if he gave it to her, she wouldn’t use it—she had probably already thrown it away.

With this thought, he picked up the ointment, indifferently closed the lid tight, and had someone remove all the water basins.

Outside the hall, the night was pitch black.

Aside from several trusted confidants who had survived life and death together, the remaining hidden guards and residence soldiers all stood assembled in the courtyard in full gear. Chi Su wore short fighting garb and stood at the front. The eyes of the grey falcon on her shoulder glowed in the night.

Lu Huating walked before Chi Su and returned the ointment to her. Then, under her flustered gaze, he ordered, “Chi Su, remain here. Everyone else, follow me to Four Nights Tower. Do not disturb the civilians.”