Before one knew it, half a month had passed, and it was the end of the sixth month.

Over these two weeks, Chang’an had been both busy and unsettled, and in some respects peaceful as well.

The great clan families who had previously stood firm and refused to release grain now relented one after another, transporting tens of thousands of shi at a time to the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue was kept busy day and night collecting grain and managing disaster relief.

The Ministry of Revenue was busy — and so was the Chancellery.

Shen Xiao had only just been promoted into the Chancellery as Supernumerary Official, and his seat was barely warm before his official authority expanded considerably. He was principally charged with reviewing memorials, his eyes as fine as a comb — the slightest error in a memorial and he would catch it and send it back without a shred of mercy. He caused no small number of officials to lose face.

The Chancellery was entirely controlled by the great clans. His colleagues there despised his origins, joined forces to isolate him, and day after day made cutting remarks both openly and obliquely — excluding him from every banquet and poetry gathering in an attempt to make the situation so uncomfortable that Shen Xiao would retreat from the Chancellery on his own.

But Shen Xiao was precisely the kind of lone, unyielding figure who did not care in the slightest. He kept to himself in his scarlet official robe, coming and going alone — and in doing so, appeared all the more defiantly willful.

The great clan families of the court were intermarried in every direction. In the past, when one family found itself accused and impeached, a single memorial submitted and working its way through the Chancellery would be intercepted by any number of kinship and factional ties before it ever reached the Emperor’s eyes.

Now things were quite different — with Shen Xiao at the gate, unswayed by meat or vegetables alike, every impeachment without exception, great or small, was pushed straight through to the Emperor. In this half month alone, not a few officials had been upbraided by the Emperor, and everyone had begun to live in a state of constant anxiety.

And so Shen Xiao had earned the title “Shen the King of Hell” — a name that spoke to his cold face and pitiless heart.

As for the peace in Chang’an — that lay mainly on the side of Princess Pingyang and the Crown Prince. After being reprimanded by the Emperor, the princess had obediently settled herself within her residence. The Crown Prince had likewise been keeping quiet in the Eastern Palace, simply waiting for Cui Jinzhi to wrap up the Yongtong Canal project so he could use it as a political achievement and coax a smile out of the Emperor.

Cui Jinzhi was still occupied with seeing the Yongtong Canal through to completion, busier than before. And it was for this reason that Estate Manager Liu had found no opening to seek an audience with Cui Jinzhi.

Ever since he had been expelled from Princess Pingyang’s residence, more than half a month had now passed.

He had intended to return to the Cui ancestral home — but as it turned out, there was no longer a place for him there. No wonder: he had been seconded away from the Cui household five years ago, and whatever position he had held in the past had long since been filled by someone else.

Beyond that, the Cui family had not flourished as it once had in recent years — many servants had been let go, several estates had been sold — and now that he had come back, the Cui family had no spare estate left for him to manage. He could only serve as an ordinary household servant.

But Estate Manager Liu had grown too accustomed to being a senior manager. He had no stomach for being ranked below others.

For this reason, he had spent the past stretch of time trying to find a way to see Cui Jinzhi, hoping that the Prince Consort, in consideration of his years of service in relieving the princess’s burdens, would find him a position as a manager back at the Cui family.

After half a month of trying, Cui Jinzhi had never had time to see him.

Estate Manager Liu was growing anxious, fearing that the Prince Consort, like the princess, wanted nothing more to do with him either.

In his anxiety, he began looking for connections — to see if anyone could put in a good word for him with those close to the Prince Consort.

And so on this particular midday, Estate Manager Liu came to the Yankang Ward, hoping to seek an audience with Qing Luo.

He had spent all these years with his nose to the grindstone on the estate — only now did he learn that the Prince Consort had long kept an outside woman.

No wonder the princess had made a clean break from the Prince Consort.

The house the Prince Consort had set up for the outside woman was quietly tucked away — white walls revealing the crown of a lush, ancient tree within, carrying a sense of calm far from the world. The black main gate was closed tight.

He knocked. When he explained his purpose, the gatekeeper welcomed him inside, and he was led around the spirit screen, along the central courtyard, and toward the main room.

Standing in the main room, he did not kneel. His two hands hung at his sides.

Before coming, he had thought it all through well enough — in his mind, whoever could speak to the Prince Consort, he simply had to ingratiate himself with. But now that he was actually standing inside this house, Estate Manager Liu found a genuine resentment rising within him, and even the effort of keeping up appearances was more than he could manage.

From what he could remember, he had always been a senior manager of standing. And now he had come to beg favors from a woman who could not even show her face in proper society?

Besides — how capable was Princess Pingyang, and how well-run was her household. How could the Prince Consort wrong her this way — keeping an outside woman?!

A servant in the side chamber went in, and Estate Manager Liu heard him say: “Miss, the former estate manager from the princess’s residence, a man named Liu, is here to see you.”

Estate Manager Liu heard this and thought inwardly: at least this outside woman observed some measure of propriety and decorum — without any official standing, she understood she should be called “Miss.” He had heard that in many households, outside women who had no name or title would still be called “Madam” by their servants behind closed doors.

“Let him come in.” A gentle voice sounded.

At the invitation, Estate Manager Liu entered the side chamber and, with little ceremony, let his eyes sweep around the room.

She could even pass for a mistress? Absolutely not.

A young woman was seated on a daybed, a needlework frame in her hands, bolts of fabric spread on the table — by the look of it, she was in the middle of sewing a garment for the Prince Consort.

When he looked over so carelessly, Qing Luo did not appear offended.

Estate Manager Liu gave a perfunctory cupped-hands salute — hardly a proper bow — and said: “Greetings to Miss Qing Luo.”

Qing Luo set down her needlework frame and instructed: “Bring the manager a stool, and some cool tea.”

“The sun is fierce today. You’ve come all the way from the princess’s residence — take care you don’t overheat.”

A maid immediately brought a stool, and Estate Manager Liu sat down. He was not accustomed to this kind of treatment.

The princess was always cool and unyielding — not being made to kneel while giving a report was already a great favor. The idea of being offered a seat would have been unthinkable.

Qing Luo, after he had sat, began to speak slowly: “I’ve heard as well. The princess recently put the household in order and let go of quite a number of capable, long-serving people — and the manager was among them.”

Estate Manager Liu nodded. “Just so.”

Qing Luo continued: “That must be difficult. You’ve been gone from the ancestral home for so long — it will take time before you find a good position again. But you needn’t worry.”

She paused and pressed her lips together in a soft smile, carrying a certain warmth and understanding. “You have real ability — even I have heard of you. Third Young Master knows people, and he would never let someone of your talent go to waste. He’s simply been occupied of late, and hasn’t had time to attend to servants’ matters — that’s why nothing has been arranged for you yet.”

Estate Manager Liu heard the words “Third Young Master” and suppressed a faint frown.

Such an intimate form of address — it carried the ease of a husband and wife speaking at home.

Back at the princess’s residence, she had always called the Prince Consort directly by his name.

It was only now that Estate Manager Liu belatedly perceived how deep the estrangement between the princess and the Prince Consort had always been.

Qing Luo continued: “Don’t worry. When the Yongtong Canal business wraps up, I’ll mention you to him and make sure he doesn’t forget. Just wait.”

Estate Manager Liu was overjoyed.

He had come without saying much, his manner had not even been particularly gracious — and yet this Miss Qing Luo had somehow already understood what was in his heart and spoken it aloud for him.

Estate Manager Liu quickly rose from the round stool. This time, he bowed from the heart. “Many thanks to Miss Qing Luo!”

Qing Luo pressed her lips together, a faint shyness in her smile. “Don’t thank me. You have ability, and Third Young Master would never neglect someone like you. I’m only here to remind him. That’s all.”

Estate Manager Liu felt a warmth spread through him.

This Miss Qing Luo truly had a way with words — she had helped the man, yet showed not the slightest air of bestowing a favor. And precisely because of that, he would remember her kindness all the more.

Qing Luo then said: “The Yongtong Canal matter should be finished today. It’s possible Third Young Master will come back — why don’t you wait a little longer, and if he returns, you can go and see him directly.”

Estate Manager Liu had been unable to find an opening to see Cui Jinzhi, and at these words he immediately thanked her again.

Qing Luo’s lips curved, bearing a trace of gentle shyness: “No need to thank me. After all, you’ve served in the princess’s household — do have a rest. I’ll have someone call you if he comes.”

Estate Manager Liu went downstairs in contentment.

When he had gone, Qing Luo picked up her needlework frame and began to embroider again. A maid came in carrying a cup of tea, set it on the low table, and said with an air of displeasure: “That Estate Manager Liu was expelled from the princess’s residence — what does Miss need to be so courteous to him for?”

Qing Luo glanced at the maid. The warmth gave way to seriousness. “Estate Manager Liu has real ability. Third Young Master will certainly use him, and one day he may well become a senior manager in the Cui household. Being kind to someone when you can is always the right call.”

“Never mind him — but Miss, why do you have to be so deferential to every servant?” The maid was displeased. She served a mistress who was this accommodating to everyone — which meant she, the servant, was ranked even lower.

The mistress was simply too soft.

The maid urged: “Miss, you are the mistress of this courtyard now. You need to carry yourself with some authority. Just like… just like Princess Pingyang — isn’t she something, the way she is! One look from her and everyone freezes on the spot. Now that is a mistress’s bearing!”

The miss was simply too gentle.

Qing Luo heard this and only gave the maid a glance, shook her head with a small smile, and said nothing — just lowered her head and went on embroidering.

How many women in the world could be like Princess Pingyang?

She was so formidable — able to win for herself whatever she wanted, with what seemed like effortless ease.

And also because she was that formidable, she always seemed too cool and detached. She got things done through sheer ability, never through emotional bonds. There was no warmth to be felt from her.

She had not seen Princess Pingyang many times, but she still remembered: the princess had a pair of sharp and indifferent eyes that could see straight through a person.

No one liked that kind of eyes.

Cui Jinzhi liked to come here — not because she was clever, and not because she had ability. In those things, she could not compare to Princess Pingyang. But there was one thing the princess could not match — she could offer Cui Jinzhi tender care and warmth. The princess could only give Cui Jinzhi the pressure of court affairs.

She only needed to make the most of her own strengths.

Slender fingers, a silver needle weaving between them.

This was a new summer robe she was making for Cui Jinzhi, with a subtle bamboo pattern embroidered along the hem — almost finished. When he was done with the Yongtong Canal, he could come back and change into it.

The princess would never do this sort of thing — and would not stoop to it.

The maid, seeing her keep her head down over the needlework, sighed: “Miss, stop embroidering — you’ve been at it all morning. Go for a walk in the courtyard and rest your eyes.”

Qing Luo did feel her eyes had grown a bit dry and tired. Besides, there was not much left to finish, and she could complete it in the afternoon. So she set down the needlework frame and let the maid help her out through the door.

They walked along the covered walkway, passed through a doorway, and entered a small garden. They had only gone a few steps when, through a stand of bamboo, she heard Estate Manager Liu’s voice.

He was surrounded by a few menial servants.

Qing Luo stopped where she stood.

These servants were all ordinary laborers, and rarely had the chance to meet a senior manager — let alone one who had managed an entire estate for a princess. To them, this was practically the pinnacle of a servant’s existence.

Several of them looked on with admiring expressions, clustered around Estate Manager Liu, taking in his every word as though it were gospel.

Oh, for a chance to become a senior manager themselves one day — what glory that would be!

It was a pity, serving a mistress who was merely an outside woman with no standing. No property, no estate. They would probably be stuck as laborers their whole lives.

One of the servants, hearing all this, asked: “Manager, what exactly did you do wrong to end up expelled by the princess?”

Estate Manager Liu’s expression turned grey at once.

The others around him immediately poked at the one who had asked, urging him to let it go: “Never mind, never mind — even back at the Cui family, he’ll still be a manager one day!”

Estate Manager Liu forced a smile, collected himself, and answered: “In truth, I made no great mistake. It was just that grand officials at court were fighting among themselves, and the fallout landed on me. The Ministry of Revenue went to the princess’s estate to seize grain — led by Minister Shen, with five hundred soldiers storming in. I wanted to stop them, but that day, as bad luck would have it, the princess had transferred most of the estate’s guards away. I only had twenty-odd men under me. Of course I couldn’t stop them, and the grain was taken.”

Estate Manager Liu let out a sigh. “And that’s the whole of it.”

The others quickly chimed in: “That couldn’t be helped. It was absolutely not your fault.”

But Qing Luo, standing outside the bamboo, listened to Estate Manager Liu’s account — and felt that something was not quite right.

That very night the Ministry of Revenue was planning to seize grain — and the princess had transferred away several hundred guards that same day… That was far too convenient a coincidence.

It had been a tense period for grain requisition, and even Cui Jinzhi had dispatched men specially to guard the Cui family estates. Princess Pingyang was always sharp and cautious — how could she have removed the estate’s guards for no reason at all?

In recent days, the princess had also begun putting her household in order, expelling every servant with close ties to the Cui family or to Cui Jinzhi — as though determined to draw a clear line between herself and Cui Jinzhi entirely.

These two things… Qing Luo could not shake the feeling that they were not isolated events — that there was some connection between them. A vague, uneasy sense stirred in her heart, one she lacked the capacity to think through more clearly. All she had was a sharp instinct, and that instinct told her something was not right.

Princess Pingyang was so formidably intelligent — so intelligent that Qing Luo did not even have the right to look up at her. And so she believed, without reservation, that behind every event there lay a deeper layer of the princess’s design.

Qing Luo abruptly tightened her grip on the maid’s hand. “Quickly — prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Yongtong Canal!”