Li Xuan said, “Come inside the hall to speak.”

Memorial scrolls were piled high on the Eastern Palace’s desk. Qun Qing stood behind the pearl curtain, watching Bao Shu grind ink for him. Li Xuan sat before the desk in his wide-sleeved robes, truly bearing some semblance of imperial bearing.

He handed a miniature scroll to Shou Xi, who then passed it to Qun Qing.

Qun Qing unrolled the scroll—it was an ink wash painting depicting a woman adorned in magnificent attire, holding a round fan embroidered with a Siamese cat chasing butterflies.

At the sight of this fan, Qun Qing could almost visualize the scene from those days: this depicted Princess Changping from the old Chu dynasty, who had possessed just such a fan, embroidered with the very Persian cat that Seventeenth Princess Yang Fu had raised.

Li Xuan said, “The Queen of Gaochang came to old Chu as a child and has never forgotten the exquisite fan in former Princess Changping’s hands. Thus she had this painting made and circulated. The envoys have come to Great Chen this time wishing to bring back such three-dimensional embroidery for the Queen, to adorn the royal garments. Do you know what kind of embroidery this is? Can the Bureau of Imperial Clothing produce it in time?”

Qun Qing said, “Your Highness, this is kesi embroidery, made by using threads as warp threads to replace embroidery cloth, with weft threads woven through them.”

“What kesi embroidery—I’ve examined embroidery classics extensively and never heard of such a thing recorded in any book. I wonder what school of wild technique this is,” Bao Shu said. “Your Highness, I have observed this painting for some time and feel it looks more like the double-sided embroidery of Zhongzhou. Unworthy as I am, I still come from an aristocratic family and served in the Bureau of Imperial Clothing. How could a slave from the Rear Court know what kind of fan a former princess used?”

Qun Qing said nothing.

That Bao Shu wanted power and would deliberately compete with her for authority was something she had anticipated.

Seeing Bao Shu’s aggressive manner, Li Xuan merely smiled and asked Qun Qing, “What were you about to say?”

When Qun Qing did not answer, he waved his hand dismissing Bao Shu. Only then did he raise his eyes to look at that slender figure behind the pearl curtain.

Qun Qing said, “I returned from Yunzhou and did not expect that the Yunzhou Prefect was secretly colluding with Nan Chu. Prince Yan and the Chief Clerk remained in Yunzhou. I fear…”

The harmonious atmosphere vanished with the mention of Prince Yan. Li Xuan’s expression instantly turned icy: “This is not within your duties. Say no more.”

After a moment of silence in the hall, Qun Qing actually lifted her robes and knelt, continuing, “If circumstances change, there will be war in Yunzhou. The Chief Clerk has already submitted a memorial. Please, Your Highness, allow the staff of Prince Yan’s Mansion to lead men to Yunzhou, or send reinforcements.”

Li Xuan suddenly hurled his ink brush toward her. The pearl curtain rang out crisply, yet that slender figure did not move at all, causing his fury to flare: “You, an inner court female official—who are you worried about that has made you lose your head and speak with partiality toward Prince Yan’s Mansion?”

Qun Qing said coldly, “Your Highness is the Crown Prince. Upon hearing of possible warfare, why do you not first consider the nation’s safety, but instead first consider who I am worried about?”

Li Xuan felt a breath catch in his chest, yet he smiled: “So I have disappointed you.”

Qun Qing was indeed somewhat disappointed. She had long realized that Li Xuan was not the benevolent ruler of the common people’s impression from her previous life, yet she still hoped he would differ somewhat from Prince Yan. She raised her head, her eyes reflecting the bright candlelight with a trace of fragility: “Your Highness, I have experienced national upheaval and understand that beneath iron weapons, whether imperial princes and princesses or official families, all are like dust and sand. I remain in the palace as a female official because I wish to build a sandcastle properly, unwilling to fight and quarrel until it collapses.”

Li Xuan gazed at her for a long time, his expression complex: “I understand your meaning. But you must remember: even if sacrifices must be made, one must first clearly determine ownership of the sandcastle before building it higher. Since ancient times, this has been the way of emperors.”

Receiving such an answer, Qun Qing said no more. Amid thunder and lightning, she performed a bow and quickly left the Eastern Palace.

Li Xuan leaned back in his chair, watching through the window as her departing figure slowly disappeared from view. His face showed no expression as he suddenly swept the paperweight from the desk to the floor.

“Go summon Wang Xiang and have him lead men to Yunzhou,” Li Xuan ordered Shou Xi after a long while in a flat voice.

Shou Xi hurried out. The commotion startled Meng Guangshen outside the door. Hearing Li Xuan’s command, he strode into the hall: “Your Highness, why make such a foolish move?”

In the gloomy wind and rain, Li Xuan reviewed memorials. He had already regained his composure, his face even bearing a trace of relieved smile: “I am the Crown Prince, making decisions as Crown Prince; now that I am regent, I make decisions as the ruler.”

Would any ruler willingly allow the realm to lose territory and the common people to suffer?

Meng Guangshen glanced at him, then said, “Your Highness must not lose your head. You are merely regent—the authority of ruler can be reclaimed by the Sage at any time he wishes. With rebellion in Yunzhou and Prince Yan in peril, both the embezzlement matter and Prince Yan will be resolved together. This loss of one city can be addressed afterward, but if Prince Yan returns, that will be troublesome.”

“So the Grand Tutor knew all along that Nan Chu had people in Yunzhou.”

Meng Guangshen heard the note of reproach and his lips pressed into a tight line: “Your Highness wishes to be a magnanimous and virtuous ruler. Have you forgotten about that matter?”

Li Xuan’s hand trembled violently: “Is the Grand Tutor threatening me?”

“To wish to be a benevolent and virtuous ruler, one must also face one’s own conscience. As long as that matter exists, Your Highness is no longer the flawless prince of former days. Why deceive yourself?”

Meng Guangshen strode out. Bao Shu said uneasily, “Father, did you quarrel with His Highness… Why did His Highness throw things?”

“This matter does not concern you.” Meng Guangshen patted the top of her head. Bao Shu was startled to discover that in just one year’s time, the white hairs proliferating among Father’s black hair, like moss creeping through cracks in a divine statue, had made him appear much more haggard.

Her brother’s death—each and every matter, considered carefully, was a snowflake contributing to the Meng family’s collapse. She felt deep fear: “The Sage has always disliked Prince Yan. Even if the Crown Prince errs, even if we err, years of likes and dislikes are not so easily changed, are they, Father?”

“You speak correctly.” Meng Guangshen smiled. “The human heart is most partial. As long as the Sage’s intent does not change, Prince Yan and Lu Huating will never in their lifetimes lay hands on that position.”

—

Qun Qing searched through the palace bookshelves and finally found the classic texts recording kesi embroidery. Kesi embroidery was a folk invention that, though presented to Princess Changping, had never become widespread and was only recorded in a palace chronicle kept by an inner servant.

However, upon entering Chongjing Hall, the female officials of the Bureau of Imperial Clothing were arranged in two rows before embroidery frames, rushing to produce double-sided embroidery.

“Who told you to embroider double-sided embroidery?”

The female officials said, “His Highness’s decree came down. The matter of the Siamese cat chasing butterflies has been handed over to Consort Meng to supervise. Consort Meng commanded us to rush the double-sided embroidery lest the envoys grow anxious.”

As they spoke, they hurried to continue production. Standing amid the sounds of flying needles and shuttling threads, Qun Qing once again felt that sense of being excluded. She asked Zhu Fuzhen, “Did you tell everyone that the Siamese cat chasing butterflies painting actually depicts kesi embroidery?”

Zhu Fuzhen said, “I mentioned it earlier, but most female officials have never even heard of this embroidery method, so naturally they were difficult to convince.”

Qun Qing opened the palace chronicle to show her the illustrations. That fan with the Siamese cat chasing butterflies was depicted there. Zhu Fuzhen was slightly moved, yet said, “Looking at it, it does indeed seem more like kesi embroidery. But look at the weaving method shown here—the weft threads must be threaded through one by one, and each weft thread’s position varies. One person in one day probably couldn’t thread much; now the female officials and embroiderers of the Bureau of Imperial Clothing working on double-sided embroidery can at least complete one piece per person in two days. The envoys originally only have one painting—how can we ensure accurate reproduction based on just one painting? For the Six Bureaus, what matters most is that the task can be accomplished and accounts settled.”

Seeing she could not persuade her, Qun Qing turned to leave with the classic text.

“Don’t leave just yet. I know Consort Meng is deliberately targeting you, but if you get angry, wouldn’t that be playing right into others’ hands?” Zhu Fuzhen knitted her brows. “You embroider faster than all of them. Stay and instruct them, and I’ll assign three embroiderers to work with you on kesi embroidery. How about that?”

Qun Qing said, “Diplomatic relations are at stake—accuracy is naturally important. I am not angry. I simply cannot bring myself to proceed knowing something is wrong. I do not wish to put the Bureau of Imperial Clothing in a difficult position. Continue production on schedule, and I will think of another solution.”

The female officials watched as her figure disappeared beyond the door.

As a female official, Qun Qing’s temperament was truly too willful. Consort Meng held favor and deliberately suppressed her. Though she mended clothes, she had no real authority. Who knew how long she could remain in the Bureau of Imperial Clothing this time…

The lanterns of Prince Yan’s Mansion cast a hazy yellow glow through the curtain of rain.

Carrying tribute snake fruits to the hall, Juan Su glimpsed the gleaming axes and long knives on the ground, her eyes widening slightly.

Qun Qing knelt amid wooden strips, drawing cutting lines on boards. The Bureau of Imperial Clothing thought kesi embroidery too labor-intensive, not realizing the classic texts recorded the dimensions of kesi looms. They were designed by folk embroiderers of the former dynasty. The palace once had one, which her mother had taken her to touch as a child. She wanted to try reconstructing it according to the diagrams. If she could make them, they would be useful in the future.

Juan Su watched as Qun Qing’s slender hand lifted the long knife. Just as she was about to caution her to be careful, she saw Qun Qing split the board in two or three strokes, then carve it meticulously.

Carving ink lines, splitting boards, hammering iron nails—fine perspiration on Qun Qing’s forehead mixed with the moisture in the air. Her heart remained extremely calm and focused.

Perhaps because she knew that doing such things held more meaning than being an agent and killing people. Even if it was just a loom, it was something she had genuinely wished to do when reading and embroidering as a child.

“Is Lady Qing making a weaving loom?” Juan Su curiously touched the spindle on the crude wooden frame, surprisingly not asking what she was actually doing.

As Qun Qing stretched warp threads one by one across the wooden frame, she acknowledged with a sound: “Did I disturb the Princess Consort?”

Glancing up, she did not expect Juan Su to roll up her sleeves, pick up an axe, and begin helping her split wood: “Is this for work at the Bureau of Imperial Clothing? How many such looms does Lady Qing need to make?”

Qun Qing could not stop her in time and found it somewhat absurd: “It’s not for the Bureau of Imperial Clothing—I want to make them myself. As I said, can you help me make them? I need forty frames.”

Juan Su’s expression stiffened, and indeed she put down the axe.

He said, “Lady Qing, please wait a moment.”

With that, he picked up the classic text and rose to leave. Moments later, Qun Qing only felt flames blazing brightly in the courtyard, with ceaseless footsteps. She hurried to the window to look and saw over thirty mansion guards assembled in formation. Even the mansion’s cook was among them, each holding a stack of lumber, quietly listening to Juan Su’s instructions.

Before long, everyone dispersed. The courtyard filled with the chaotic yet swift sounds of wood being split.

Qun Qing’s head buzzed. She quickly summoned Juan Su inside: “Why make such a commotion and disturb the Princess Consort’s rest?”

Juan Su said, “How long would it take you alone, my lady? This way will be faster.”

Qun Qing smiled: “You don’t even ask what I’m making these for?”

“They must be useful.” Juan Su said, “The Chief Clerk said that my lady is more intelligent than other ordinary people, so there is no need to question what you wish to do.”

Qun Qing’s expression paused. She had not expected that in Lu Huating’s heart, she held such high regard. These words coming from someone else might have been inconsequential, but spoken by a sworn enemy, they carried another feeling entirely.

Juan Su also took out a letter from a carrier pigeon tube to show her. The handwriting on the paper, faintly recognizable as the regular script used for writing flower notepaper, read: “Qun Qing’s orders are to be regarded as my orders. Do not delay.”

Qun Qing looked at it for a long while before asking for the first time, “When will Prince Yan and the Chief Clerk return?”

“The Chief Clerk sent word that Wang Xiang brought reinforcements and the crisis in Yunzhou has been resolved. They are escorting the Yunzhou Prefect Liu back under the Supreme Court’s custody, but heavy rains have blocked the roads. Starting and stopping, it will likely take time.”

After he left, Qun Qing noticed the rosewood vanity placed in the hall. She walked to the vanity’s side. The bright red silk ribbon on the drawer had not yet been removed and swayed gently.

Not knowing what prompted her, she lightly pulled the drawer open and closed it again.

Her fingers paused. The drawer was not empty—inside lay a crimson silk flower, searing to the eyes.

With no one nearby, Qun Qing let down her long hair and sat before the vanity to comb it. She placed the silk flower at her temple. Her reflection in the mirror showed an unfamiliar vividness. Extremely sensitive to danger, she quickly removed it and discreetly returned it to its original place.

Someone knocked at the hall door.

Seeing Physician Li outside with night dew clinging to his white beard and a grave expression, Qun Qing’s heart sank: “Master, is there a problem with the Princess Consort’s pregnancy?”

Physician Li had been secretly entering the palace for several days to treat Prince Yan’s consort. He closed the door before saying with some gravity, “Liu Niang, I said before I would not take the pulse of nobles. Within the palace, open and hidden attacks are ceaseless. You taking on these matters will only invite danger.”

Qun Qing said, “At least Master’s medical skills are superb and can keep Prince Yan’s consort safe. Currently only I am in Prince Yan’s Mansion. If the Princess Consort suffers any mishap, it would be even easier for others to charge me with a crime.”

Physician Li thought about it and realized this was indeed true. The worried expression on his face deepened.

“Master, what exactly is wrong with the Princess Consort?”

“Though her fetal position has been corrected, the mother’s body is extremely weak. That medical officer in the palace only prescribes pregnancy-nourishing formulas and won’t listen to me. If this continues, with the mother lacking strength, it will be one corpse, two lives.”

That medical officer was only of white-sash rank—inadequate skill was possible. A suspicion had just risen in Qun Qing’s heart when Physician Li said, “I saw him speaking with an inner servant from Luanyi Pavilion before coming in for consultation.”

Luanyi Pavilion—that was now Bao Shu’s domain. This medical officer had very likely been bought off. Fortunately, Physician Li said, “When he’s not there, I pour out his medicine and replace it with mine. Should you tell the Princess Consort to replace him?”

Qun Qing’s expression turned cold. After pondering for a moment, she said, “First don’t alert the enemy. Master, just pretend you know nothing and intercept his medicine to replace it.”

Physician Li sighed, then looked at her and said, “This Princess Consort’s pulse is extremely strange. She seems to have previously consumed excessive amounts of blood-activating and stasis-dispersing medicine, which damaged her body. The toxicity has invaded her blood vessels, making this pregnancy extremely perilous.”

Qun Qing could not help but be surprised.

She thought of how Xiao Yunru was always unwell and took medicinal pills—those medicines were indeed harmful to the body. But with the arrow already on the bowstring, investigating these matters was useless now.

Medicinal materials bestowed by the Sage flowed endlessly into Prince Yan’s Mansion, proving that even in illness, Emperor Chenming cared about this grandson. Behind Prince Yan Mansion’s tranquility lurked countless watching eyes.

“Master, first do your best to care for the Princess Consort’s health. I will make some preparations.”