That night, in the western side hall of Xiu Yidian, the writing continued without pause—Tao Jia copying palace rules and Gu Yi writing her storybook.

After the third watch, Gu Yi shook her sore, numb arms and looked at her masterpiece with satisfaction. Beside her, Tao Jia was nodding off like a pecking chicken.

Gu Yi woke Tao Jia up. “Don’t sleep here. Go back to your bed. I need to find Concubine Qi early tomorrow morning.”

Tao Jia nodded drowsily.

Just as the Hour of the Dragon arrived, Gu Yi was awakened by several forceful knocks on the door.

“Concubine Wang requests Concubine Gu of Xiu Yidian to come to the main hall!”

Concubine Wang? Looking for me?

Gu Yi sprang up like a carp flipping.

Tao Jia hurriedly went to open the hall door. “What does Concubine Wang want with my lady?”

The palace maid from the main hall looked pale and truly awful. “Please come quickly, Concubine!”

After hastily washing up, Gu Yi still couldn’t figure out what was happening. For Concubine Wang to be calling for her so urgently, it was unlikely to be for breakfast.

Could it be to show off? After all, they hadn’t faced each other since the Emperor had abandoned her for Concubine Wang.

In the main hall of Xiu Yidian, weeping sounds came intermittently.

Gu Yi’s heart sank. What was going on?

Concubine Wang knitted her brows and scolded, “Stop crying. If you cry anymore, you won’t be allowed in the hall.”

Gui Hua, a second-class palace maid, stopped crying. “Please, Concubine, seek justice for Huai Hua! She died so tragically. If the patrolling guards hadn’t found her, who knows how long Huai Hua would have soaked in the well…”

Hearing this, Gu Yi frantically tried to recall who Huai Hua was.

There was no such character in the novel!

Concubine Wang glared at Gu Yi. “Does Concubine Gu have anything to say?”

Gu Yi curtsied and said, “Greetings to the Concubine. But who is Huai Hua?”

Gui Hua, kneeling on the ground, immediately exclaimed, “Concubine Gu, please don’t pretend not to know! The palace maid who went to the western side hall of Xiu Yidian that night to request His Majesty when the Concubine had chest pains was Huai Hua!”

Gu Yi raised an eyebrow. “Oh, her. I never spoke a single word to her, so naturally, I didn’t know she was Huai Hua.”

Concubine Wang coldly rebuked, “You’re still quibbling! I never thought you were such a villain. Huai Hua was merely running an errand for me, yet you held such a grudge against her! To take her life—how venomous!”

Gu Yi exclaimed, “Wait!” I can’t take the blame for this! “When was Huai Hua harmed? Which well did she fall into, which guard discovered her, was it suicide, murder, or an accident? If the Concubine doesn’t investigate all these details clearly but puts the blame on my head, this concubine is being wronged! From the night before last until tonight, I’ve been with Tao Jia. Yesterday morning, after rising, I met with Concubine Qi, then with Chief Accountant Hu from the Department of Imperial Accounting, and afterward, I stayed in the hall supervising Tao Jia’s hand-copying of the palace rules. Where would I find the time to harm a palace maid whose name I didn’t even know?”

Concubine Wang straightened up. “Such a glib tongue. You needn’t act personally; you could hire someone to harm her!”

Gu Yi sighed. “Concubine, but this concubine has no money to hire anyone!”

Tao Jia immediately corroborated, “That’s right! My lady is short of funds—she doesn’t even have money for rewards!”

Gu Yi choked for a moment and glanced at Tao Jia. Although you mean well, could you be a bit more tactful?

Concubine Wang hadn’t expected Concubine Gu to be so shameless. She was silent for a moment, but then heard Gui Hua, kneeling below, say, “Concubine, please don’t easily believe Concubine Gu’s one-sided words. Huai Hua has served the Concubine for many years. She can’t have died in vain!”

Gu Yi’s gaze fell on this palace maid. “And who are you to fan the flames here? Are you truly loyal? Or do you want to see Concubine Wang and me at odds?”

Concubine Wang’s gaze also fell on Gui Hua.

Seeing this, Gui Hua immediately kowtowed. “Concubine, don’t listen to her slander. This servant shared sleeping quarters with Huai Hua and had deep feelings for her. I can’t bear to see her die so mysteriously!”

Gu Yi said, “That’s good. Why not turn this matter over to the Palace Governance Department for a fair investigation? If, in the end, this little palace maid is found to have deliberately slandered me, let the Palace Governance Department handle it.”

Concubine Wang hadn’t expected Concubine Gu to be so spirited. Could she be wronged?

“If that’s the case, then report it to the Palace Governance Department.”

Gui Hua anxiously exclaimed, “Concubine!”

Gu Yi smiled and said, “The Concubine is wise. Perhaps we should also investigate this little palace maid. What the hall abhors most are those who are two-faced, serving two masters, acting on someone else’s instructions to stir up trouble in Xiu Yidian!”

Gui Hua exclaimed in shock, “How vicious you are!”

Concubine Wang angrily shouted, “Shut up!”

What followed was Concubine Wang’s internal affair. Gu Yi bowed and said, “Since it will be handed over to the Palace Governance Department, this concubine will take her leave.”

Back in the western side hall, Tao Jia whispered in her ear, “Concubine, do you think that palace maid was inciting the Concubine against you?”

Gu Yi replied, “Maybe yes, maybe no. Let’s wait for the Palace Governance Department’s investigation. My opinion doesn’t count.”

Tao Jia frowned and said, “Concubine, aren’t you afraid the Palace Governance Department will be biased? A palace maid’s suicide can be a big or small matter in the palace. If it truly was suicide, her entire clan would be implicated. If it wasn’t suicide, and someone with ulterior motives twists the facts, what if they harm you?”

Huai Hua seemed to be highly trusted by Concubine Wang. Logically, the possibility of suicide was low. But accidents and homicides needed evidence. The Palace Governance Department was in charge of investigating and punishing violations in the palace. Major matters could be reported to the Emperor, but the death of a palace maid was a minor issue to them. If someone was deliberately trying to frame her…

Gu Yi didn’t know if the plot was targeting her, with the intent to eliminate her as cannon fodder. She recalled Chief Accountant Hu’s words: ultimately, survival in the imperial harem depended on favor.

The theme of palace struggle was truly persistent…

Gu Yi had to ask, “When is the next selection?”

Tao Jia calculated, “It should be tomorrow. According to custom, His Majesty selects every five days. The last scheduled day was the fifteenth, so the next should be the twentieth. Even if he doesn’t select that day, it would be postponed to the next day.”

Gu Yi silently sighed. For the sake of her future path as a happy, wealthy woman, she’d better protect herself first.

She organized her completed storybook manuscript and went to the eastern side hall to find the quiet, book-loving Concubine Qi.

When Concubine Qi saw Gu Yi enter with a stack of manuscripts, her eyes brightened. “Sister Gu, have you finished it?”

Gu Yi handed her the manuscript. “Yes, I’d like Sister Qi to read it first.”

Concubine Qi read it in one breath and exclaimed, “Truly a remarkable piece!” She looked encouragingly at Gu Yi. “Sister, you must continue writing!”

Gu Yi felt a bit embarrassed. What remarkable piece? It was all formulaic!

She sighed, “Sister Qi praises me too highly!”

Concubine Qi questioned, “Why are you sighing?”

Gu Yi slowly said, “Actually, I came today with a presumptuous request… I hope Sister Qi can offer some advice?”

Concubine Qi nodded, indicating for her to continue.

Gu Yi said, “Due to my financial constraints, I want to sell this manuscript for some extra income, publishing it as a storybook under a pen name. Does Sister Qi have any connections?”

Upon hearing this, Concubine Qi immediately said, “Great idea! I have several close friends from my maiden days who could be entrusted with this! They can have it copied, and no one will know it came from your hand…” As she spoke, she took out a gold leaf from her jewelry box. “If you trust me, this is a down payment.”

Gu Yi knew the Qi family was powerful, and this matter wouldn’t be difficult, but she hadn’t expected Concubine Qi to be so straightforward.

She accepted the gold leaf and thanked her, “I’m deeply grateful, Sister Qi! I’ll share thirty percent of the book’s proceeds with you.”

Concubine Qi shook her head. “I don’t need that. Don’t worry about it.” After a pause, she asked, “What pen name do you want to use?”

Gu Yi replied, “Xiaoxiao Sheng of the Capital.” Since it was a similar type of publication, she should follow the example of her predecessors!

After bidding farewell to Concubine Qi, Gu Yi returned to the western side hall with the gold leaf in her pocket. She cut half a sheet of paper and sketched a rough shape. She instructed Tao Jia, “Go to the Department of Imperial Accounting to get some cotton cloth. It doesn’t need to be fancy; scraps will do. Find a carpenter to make two handles according to this design…”

The gold leaf alone might not be enough to get a spot with Eunuch Gao; she needed to prepare other heartfelt gifts.

Tao Jia took the drawing and looked at it. “Concubine, this is a wooden club?”

What wooden club! Again insulting my drawing skills!

Gu Yi had to explain the design to Tao Jia in detail before letting her go.

Tao Jia returned very quickly.

Gu Yi looked at the two wooden handles, which were not bad. “Did the carpenter make them so quickly?”

Tao Jia smiled and said, “They weren’t made from scratch. After explaining your intention, the carpenter simply detached two legs from an old table. The round wooden balls were also readily available. Following the drawing, they just needed to be assembled. But what is my lady planning to make?”

Gu Yi accepted the fabric, feeling its thickness. “Wrap the fabric in layers around the wood and sew it securely. We’re making two foot-massaging tools. Eunuch Gao stands for long periods, so this tool to massage his legs will help him relax! You can give the other one to Eunuch Lu Chao!”

It was just a simple leg massager.

Upon hearing this, Tao Jia said, “This is a wonderful idea, Concubine! So thoughtful!”

Gu Yi smiled and said, “If they turn out well, we’ll make two more for ourselves later.”

Early the next morning, Tao Jia carried the two completed leg massagers and a gold leaf to give to Lu Chao.

Lu Chao was about to walk toward the Imperial Garden when he saw Tao Jia coming. He paused and was about to turn back.

Tao Jia immediately approached him: “Brother Lu!”

Lu Chao couldn’t retreat anymore. He turned back and bowed, “Oh, it’s Sister Tao Jia. I didn’t recognize you earlier.”

Tao Jia didn’t mind and handed him the two leg massagers and the gold leaf. “I hope Brother Lu will accept these.”

Since His Majesty had abandoned Concubine Gu last time, it was clear he didn’t like her. Lu Chao didn’t accept the gifts but asked, “What are these objects?”

Tao Jia immediately demonstrated how to use the leg massager. These are for massaging legs. Our Concubine said that eunuchs stand all day, and gently tapping with this can help relax the muscles.” She handed it to Lu Chao. “Here, Brother Lu, try it.”

Lu Chao curiously accepted it and lightly tapped his leg with the thickly wrapped cloth end. It seemed to work well…

Tao Jia smiled and said, “The Concubine specially made two, one for Brother Lu and one for Eunuch Gao.”

Hearing this, Lu Chao felt a slight stirring inside, but said, “His Majesty’s thoughts are unfathomable to servants like us. Whether Concubine Gu will be favored is hard to say.”

Tao Jia slipped the gold leaf into his hand. “I hope Brother Lu will put in a good word. Even if it doesn’t work this time, I’ll come again next time!”

Lu Chao nodded. “Alright, for the sake of this massager, you can go now.”

Tao Jia said, “Many thanks, Brother Lu!” She was about to turn and leave when Lu Chao called her back. “Wait.”

Lu Chao lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, “Was Huai Hua’s incident your doing?”

Tao Jia’s expression immediately changed. She took a big step back. “Brother Lu, don’t wrongly accuse me!”

Lu Chao fingered the gold leaf in his hand and smiled. “Fine, fine, you may go…”