As Lin Yujia turned around, Qun Qing appeared behind him.

It seemed the Eastern Palace’s nutritional supplements nourished people well. After not seeing her for some time, she was no longer like a pile of bones. At first glance, her figure was graceful and well-proportioned. Her face in the dim light was like a jade goddess.

Lin Yujia’s gaze took on a strange quality because today she was obviously different from usual.

Qun Qing was normally reserved and aloof. Now her clothes were disheveled, her cheeks flushed. Lin Yujia had never seen such an unrestrained expression on this face. For a moment, his heart stirred. Then came hidden anger as countless suspicions flooded his mind. He forced a smile. “After these months apart, Liu Niang, what have you been doing?”

Lin Yujia approached her, grasping her shoulders to scrutinize her expression. “Don’t tell me you’ve already submitted to Chief Clerk Lu?”

Before he could finish, Qun Qing raised her hand and struck him across the face.

She struck with great force. Lin Yujia’s head buzzed, then searing pain made him groan. Seeing blood from the corner of his mouth on his palm, a vicious look appeared in Lin Yujia’s eyes.

She actually hit him.

“Hitting you once is getting off lightly.” Qun Qing’s dark, lightless eyes momentarily stunned Lin Yujia. “You claim to be my fiancé, but when others come, you become a coward. How dare you come see me?”

Lin Yujia’s mind thundered. “Liu Niang, are you really with Lu Huating?”

“If you were even half useful, would I need to be with someone else?” Qun Qing glanced at him dismissively. Her calm words made Lin Yujia’s blood surge in waves, his heart gnawed as if by ants. He felt his dignity had completely scattered away.

It took a long while to squeeze out a sentence. “…You dare admit it so boldly—this is betrayal!”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you report to our master?” Lin Yujia covered his face and laughed coldly. “You’ve colluded with people from Prince Yan’s mansion, destroying the Six Bureaus’ arrangements completely. Liu Niang, you think your words still carry weight with me? You’ve probably long forgotten your father and brother’s revenge!”

“Precisely because I remember my father and brother’s revenge, I’ve placed life and death aside.” Qun Qing’s expression was serene, but something manic seemed to burn in her dark eyes. “He’s so suspicious—if I didn’t submit, how could I gain his trust? You think your petty tricks can deceive Prince Yan’s mansion?”

Lin Yujia froze. Given Qun Qing’s character, if she were to submit to an enemy, she would probably have slit her own throat long ago. So this was burning her bridges, attempting a honey trap. “Are you mad?”

“I’ve long seen clearly—you only care about your own achievements. Princess Bao’an only seeks glory and wealth.” Qun Qing said, “Living holds no interest for me anyway. Rather than that, I’ll take revenge myself.”

Her pupils were dark and resentful. She took a step forward, forcing Lin Yujia to step back. “I called you here to tell you—this operation can only succeed, not fail. I will make them all pay the price.”

Her expression looked like a demon or ghost in the night. Lin Yujia’s face changed several times, cold sweat rolling down his forehead. He only nodded and said “Don’t worry,” then hurried away.

Having sent Lin Yujia off, Qun Qing relaxed. Lu Huating applauded behind her. “I didn’t expect the young lady would hit people.”

He’d agreed to step back but still heard.

Qun Qing’s face burned. She paid no attention to the slight stinging pain in her palm. “For someone who betrayed me, would the Chief Clerk show mercy?”

Lu Huating insisted on walking behind her to examine her reddened ear, his tone slightly cold. “Young lady let him go. You didn’t choose me, yet you want me to help you. It seems you’re toying with me.”

Qun Qing turned around, using her body to block Lu Huating’s path. “The Chief Clerk wants leverage over me—why be hasty about it? I can’t run away anyway. He’s still useful to me. After the Buddha bone ceremony ends, I’ll personally deliver him to you.”

Hearing this, Lu Huating’s expression changed slightly. “If you’re counting on something going wrong with the Buddha bone ceremony…”

“Listen to me—nothing will go wrong. I haven’t finished telling you my good intentions for the Chief Clerk.” Qun Qing interrupted him. “I wonder if the Chief Clerk has noticed—there’s fog around Zhaixing Tower in the morning, but one hour after sunrise, the fog retreats entirely to the northeast.”

Lu Huating listened quietly.

“This is because southwest of Zhaixing Tower is Taize Lake. At sunrise there’s a lake-land breeze, which happens to be channeled by the Three Pure Ones Hall and the scholar’s courtyard side hall, able to blow away the dense fog.”

Seeing he understood, Qun Qing moved to leave. Then she heard Lu Huating say behind her with a smile, “What the young lady said earlier—was it true?”

Qun Qing said, “Which part are you asking about?”

She turned her head slightly, but only received a silence. The instant Qun Qing turned to question him, Lu Huating spoke. “‘Living holds no interest for me anyway. Rather than that, I’ll take revenge myself.'”

“Everything except that was false. The Chief Clerk needn’t worry about it.” Without looking at him again, Qun Qing hurried down the mountain.

Several days later, everyone returned to the palace in grand procession.

The Nan Chu spy who had shot the guest envoy with an arrow ultimately went unresolved. This angered Consort Lü so much she slapped her trusted guard twice, becoming the talk of all the palace quarters after tea and meals, quickly replaced by fresh news.

After returning, Qun Qing continued packing her luggage when no one was paying attention.

She couldn’t take the palace servants’ clothing. She only brought two plain garments. Qun Qing packed all the silver money she’d earned into three boxes and gave them to Lan Yue, who asked, “Do you want to exchange them for night-luminous pearls or gold ingots?”

Qun Qing said, “Gold ingots and silver ingots.”

“How about this—I’ll exchange some for night-luminous pearls, some for gold and silver ingots, some for broken silver, and exchange the rest for standard coins strung on red thread for your convenience.” Lan Yue counted on her fingers. “When traveling, don’t flash your wealth. Try to spend small amounts first.”

She thought so thoroughly that warmth rose in Qun Qing’s heart. Those three large boxes became a small pouch that could fit in a travel pack. Lan Yue suddenly embraced her and choked out, “Are you really leaving?”

Once Lan Yue cried, Qun Qing’s packing slowed. She had developed feelings for everyone at Qingxuan Pavilion. Now that separation was coming, warmth surged in her chest. “After you’re released, I’ll come find you.”

“That won’t be until I die.” Lan Yue said, “I have no relatives outside. I must stay by the Crown Princess’s side…”

At that moment, Zheng Zhiyi entered the hall. Seeing the two embracing, she shifted her gaze away. Lan Yue quickly said, “Crown Princess.”

Zheng Zhiyi nodded slightly, found a book, and walked out of the side hall.

“Don’t you think the Crown Princess has been strange lately?” Lan Yue said.

Qun Qing had noticed too. Since returning from Xianyou Temple, Zheng Zhiyi hadn’t been happy. She was young and couldn’t hide things. When looking at Qun Qing, she didn’t even smile anymore.

Thinking of this, Qun Qing caught up with her. “Does the Crown Princess have something to say to this servant?”

“Nothing to say.” As Zheng Zhiyi spoke, she lifted her skirt and stepped over the threshold.

“Having books in the side hall is somewhat inconvenient. How about this servant makes you a bookshelf?” Qun Qing said again.

Zheng Zhiyi’s fists clenched in her sleeves. She turned back and said sternly, “Qun Qing, kneel down.”

Lan Yue was startled. Qun Qing also froze but obeyed and knelt before Zheng Zhiyi.

A look of grievance flashed across Zheng Zhiyi’s face. “Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Qun Qing’s lashes trembled. “This servant has nothing to hide.”

“Still saying you don’t!” Zheng Zhiyi smashed a vase near the door. Amid the heart-stopping sound of shattering, she said, “When you deliver the lamp at night, you’ve been having secret meetings with Li Xuan—for how long?!”

Lan Yue’s mouth fell open.

The matter should be told from several days ago.

Just after Qun Qing was taken away by Consort Lü’s people, Meng Baoshu took advantage of the night to enter the meditation chamber, claiming she had matters to report.

What she reported was that Qun Qing had private meetings with Li Xuan while Zheng Zhiyi slept. The reason Li Xuan frequently came to Qingxuan Pavilion wasn’t for Zheng Zhiyi at all, but to see Qun Qing.

Zheng Zhiyi naturally thought she was speaking nonsense.

Baoshu said, “If the Crown Princess doesn’t believe me, wake up at night and see for yourself!”

Having said this, she stopped speaking, bowed, and left.

After returning to the palace, Zheng Zhiyi recalled this matter. At night she pretended to sleep but actually kept her eyes open. When she turned over at midnight, she indeed saw through a gap in the bed curtains that Qun Qing and Li Xuan were discussing and reviewing memorials together under the lamplight.

All the previous minor details—the nighttime sounds, Li Xuan’s looks, his gesture of supporting Qun Qing—connected into a line, striking like thunder.

She simply didn’t care that much about Li Xuan, but that didn’t mean she didn’t care at all.

Now, Zheng Zhiyi said coldly, “Miss Qing, do you know what I can least tolerate is betrayal?”

Seeing the situation was bad, Lan Yue hurried to say, “The Crown Princess misunderstands! His Highness asked Miss Qing to help with government affairs.”

Zheng Zhiyi said, “Who told you to speak? I want to hear her say it herself!”

Seeing her expression, Qun Qing’s heart felt as if cut by a knife. “This servant is at fault. I did indeed help His Highness with government affairs and truly didn’t inform the Crown Princess. But this servant swears there are absolutely no improper feelings with His Highness.”

“The Crown Princess must not misunderstand Miss Qing.” Lan Yue said urgently, “She—she’s about to leave the palace, to go see her lover.”

Surprise joined Zheng Zhiyi’s anger, causing her to freeze completely. “You’re leaving the palace? You’re going away?”

Qun Qing had to confess her fault. “The Crown Princess has now become independent. This servant should also pursue her own wishes and only hopes to leave the palace to find relatives. My name is already on the list of palace maids to be released. Since I’m determined to leave, naturally there could be nothing improper with His Highness. If the Crown Princess doesn’t believe me, you can check.”

“I’ll go look.” Zheng Zhiyi took a deep breath. Her skirt swirled as she left. “If it’s not as you say, just you wait!”

Zheng Zhiyi immediately shook off her palace maids, went to the Palace Directorate, forcibly obtained the register, and looked at it. Tears immediately fell.

Qun Qing’s name really was on it.

Zheng Zhiyi hurried back. Seeing Qun Qing still kneeling, she said, “Miss Qing, you taught me independence. You helped me reach this point. What I care about isn’t whether you have feelings for Li Xuan. It’s that I’ve already considered you a sister, yet you told me nothing. Do you think I’m stupid?”

Qun Qing’s heart ached dully. Zheng Zhiyi still didn’t know why she had helped her in this life. She pressed her lips together. “In my heart, I already consider the Crown Princess family. It’s just that this servant has important matters to attend to, so I’m cautious by nature, but I’ve never had any intention to deceive. I humbly wish for Your Ladyship’s future peace and prosperity.”

“Don’t say anything more.” Zheng Zhiyi wiped away her tears and sobbed. “If you want to leave, then leave. Qingxuan Pavilion couldn’t keep you anyway. I also can’t share a husband with you. Listen to me—you absolutely must not let the Crown Prince know.”

Zheng Zhiyi’s character was more decisive than Lan Yue’s. She immediately tearfully helped Qun Qing arrange her luggage and requested a favor from the Emperor to participate in the ceremony with the flower-bearing palace maids.

Qun Qing slowly calmed down. She bowed before the ram’s-head sachet and lit one last stick of incense.

Perhaps this was the best outcome.

On the third day of the tenth month, Liuli Kingdom’s Buddha’s birthday, the faithful citizens of Chang’an bathed and burned incense before dawn, changing into incense-scented new clothes. Women secretly hid incense seals in their sleeves. Young ladies protected the white lotus flowers in their hands. When the heavy Chongxuan Gate opened, they poured into the palace city, shoulder to shoulder.

Those behind could only see the heads of those in front, but to witness the grand spectacle of the Buddha bone ceremony, everyone packed the roads until they were impassable.

The towering Zhaixing Tower was hidden in light white mist. The common people in front saw from afar the flat, imposing date-red plush carpet laid below Zhaixing Tower, extending directly to the South Palace Gate.

Someone lifted a child onto their shoulders. “Look! Soon the Buddha bone will be welcomed into the pagoda from there!”

The cold morning dew dampened clothes. Lin Yujia adjusted his prayer robe, occasionally nodding to acknowledge ritual officials passing by. He was today’s ritual official responsible for burning incense and paper offerings.

Sensing someone lingering nearby, Lin Yujia looked up and jumped in fright. He finally recognized Qun Qing through her strange makeup.

Like the dozens of flower-bearing palace maids, she wore plain clothes with a single hanging bun hairstyle. Her face was painted a light lacquered gold color, with red brows and dark lips—called “Buddha makeup.”

Qun Qing had actually mixed into the flower-bearing palace maids’ group. Now she said, “I’m ready. You know what to do shortly.”

Lin Yujia’s brow twitched as he urged her to leave. “Don’t worry.”

However, watching Qun Qing’s departing figure carrying flowers, Lin Yujia smiled disdainfully.

After returning to the palace that day, he had come to the bamboo grove behind the Six Bureaus. Before long, a shadow embraced him from behind—it was Chu the Wardrobe Official.

The two had long been secretly intimate. This “assassin” Chu was gentle and compliant. Looking at her with deep affection, he cast aside his perpetually cold and hard fiancée Qun Qing for a while.

He told Chu about Qun Qing’s scheme. She said, “Are you going to trust her? During the Six Bureaus examination that day, I saw clearly from the hall—Liu the Wardrobe Official was caught, but she was fine. I pushed Cui Ying into the water, she had the token in hand, yet escaped again. The traps we set, she immediately told Lu Huating about. If you say she has no relationship with Lu Huating, that’s probably impossible.”

Mentioning this matter, Lin Yujia felt a lump in his chest but smiled outwardly. “I’m not a fool. She tells me to act, and I’ll act?”

“Then what do you mean?”

“Since she’s determined to act, we’ll help her along. Watch her these days. If she enters and exits the Bureau of Attire, don’t forget to leave evidence.” Lin Yujia said, “If she doesn’t act, our master naturally won’t spare her. If she succeeds, even better—she did it. From beginning to end, I did nothing.”

After returning, Lin Yujia had removed his prayer robe and instructed his servant to soak it in alum water and dry it. Before long, Chu told him that Qun Qing had entered the Bureau of Attire again to change the plush carpet—this must be the “preparation” she mentioned today. He had Chu sprinkle castor oil on that carpet.

As the moment approached, Lin Yujia felt somewhat reluctant.

But thinking of how Qun Qing wouldn’t even give him a pleasant face yet submitted to Lu Huating, his heart couldn’t get past this obstacle. He felt he needn’t care about that bit of old affection now.

Lin Yujia lit an incense stick. The three-tiered incense platform blazed with candlelight. He noticed the positions of today’s incense platform and bronze basins seemed to have changed. But seeing that other arrangements, including the nobles’ standing positions, had all been shifted, he didn’t think much of it.

When it came to arranging ceremonies, Prince Yan’s mansion was originally an outsider. Lu Huating was even more of a country bumpkin. Insisting on undertaking this ceremony to curry imperial favor—let’s hope nothing goes wrong.

On the second floor of Delin Hall, Lu Huating sat on a high platform drinking wine.

Because the old monk from Liuli Kingdom had recovered and was attending, Lu Huating volunteered to withdraw to avoid irritating him.

This position happened to overlook all four sides of Zhaixing Tower.

He saw Qun Qing circle around Lin Yujia saying a few words. Then Lin Yujia’s clothes appeared shiny. “What is that?”

Juan Su reported, “Miss Qing sprinkled a circle of phosphorescent powder on Director Lin!”

Lu Huating’s hand holding the cup paused. He smiled, his expression actually pleased.

But seeing Qun Qing in Buddha makeup walking into the flower-bearing palace maids’ group, puzzlement rose in his heart.

These palace maids would be released from the palace afterward.

But thinking again, it wasn’t strange. During the ceremony, ordinary palace maids couldn’t follow beside the nobles. Only these flower-bearing palace maids had the opportunity to move freely, convenient for controlling the situation.

This woman was cunning. Dressing like this, she probably had other arrangements. He looked forward to it as well.