Hurrying into the hall, Lai Fu glanced up and saw Tong Yi kneeling on the floor, leaning lightly against the Emperor’s leg, blinking as she listened to the Emperor and Huifei speak — the very picture of docile obedience.

The Emperor adored her like this. He gently patted her head, then looked up and instructed, “We shall take the midday meal here today.”

Tong Yi tilted her head and asked candidly, “Here?”

Everyone present understood what she meant by that. Huifei naturally had no wish to let Tong Yi take every advantage, and was just about to say something when her son patted her on the back. Thinking over the situation, she had no choice but to swallow her feelings.

The Emperor smiled, ready to indulge her, when he heard his usually tight-lipped Head Eunuch say, “The Second Imperial Prince will likely not be able to remain in this palace much longer. This old servant will have the meal served at once.”

The Emperor paused, then understood immediately. Right — that boy Yanxi would never allow someone under house arrest to swagger about right under his nose for long. Thinking of that wooden tray of items Yanxi had brought before him, the Emperor felt a renewed pang of guilt. Evidence of that sort was never easily obtained; it must have cost untold effort — and yet now…

The warmth that had just begun to stir in the Emperor’s heart cooled somewhat. He patted Tong Yi’s head and said, “We eat here then. Serve the meal.”

“Yes.”

Tong Yi showed no displeasure. She gave a soft sound of acknowledgment and sprawled back across his lap as before, idly curling his fingers in her hand now and then — a sight that drew Gu Chengan’s gaze almost involuntarily.

The side chamber was very quiet. The windows were half open. Gu Yanxi listened for movement; at this moment, only two palace maids remained inside.

Going by what Lai Fu had said, Tong Yi was presently extremely favored. The treatment she received, while perhaps not equal to Huifei’s after years of an official consort title, should not have been this sparse and quiet.

Concealed in the shadows, Gu Yanxi watched a palace maid carry a basin out and leave. He surveyed the surroundings, then slipped inside without a sound. A small pellet, no bigger than a mung bean, was tossed near the foot of the remaining maid. Shortly after, the maid rubbed her eyes, leaned against a pillar, sat down, and fell asleep.

Gu Yanxi stepped forward and wiped away the crumbled remnants of the pellet, leaving not a trace behind. His gaze swept across the room, and without hesitation he entered the inner bedchamber.

From this alone, Tong Yi’s favored status was plain to see. At a glance, precious curios were scattered carelessly everywhere. Several large pink pearls lay strewn about, one having even rolled to the edge of the bed — the room’s mistress clearly paid little mind to such things.

Gu Yanxi cast his eyes around the chamber and went directly to the incense burner. He lifted the lid and inhaled — the fragrance was not strong, one of the common varieties used in the palace. He pinched out a small amount and pocketed it, then shook the burner gently to even out the ash, so that nothing would appear disturbed.

He then thoroughly searched every conceivable spot in the room. Nothing suspicious turned up. Gu Yanxi’s brow furrowed slightly. Could it be that he was simply too suspicious — that this Tong Yi was nothing more than a woman the Tong family had sent to shore up Huifei’s position?

Footsteps came from outside, followed by a soft cry: “Heavens, Xiao Xiang — how did you fall asleep? Wake up, quickly!”

The maid had only been struck by a sleeping drug; a shake from Xiao Xiang roused her at once. She covered her mouth with a yawn and murmured groggily, “Did I fall asleep? I’m so drowsy.”

“If Her Ladyship saw you, you’d be in real trouble.” The maid who had spoken glanced instinctively at the outer hall doors, and only exhaled in relief when she confirmed Her Ladyship would not be returning just yet. She helped the drowsy girl to her feet and said, “Go wash your face and wake yourself up.”

The two of them headed off together toward the back — just the right moment to leave. Gu Yanxi took one last glance back, and as he turned away, the sunlight streaming through the latticed window caught his eyes. He squinted reflexively — but in the next instant, he snapped his eyes open and looked again.

No longer concerned about being seen by the two maids, he went forward and folded together the two half-leaf-shaped decorative strips along the top of the window frame, then looked more carefully at the latticed panes of the window. A flash of clarity struck him. He shut the half-open panel.

“Ah!”

Gu Yanxi turned around. His mask announced who he was.

The two palace maids clung to each other, trembling. The moment they recognized him, they dropped at once to their knees.

Not wishing to alert the prey, Gu Yanxi made a gesture to Chen Qing, who had rushed in. Chen Qing understood — a swift chop to the back of each maid’s neck, and both slumped to the ground without even a whimper. Two men came in from outside and carried them away.

“Post men immediately to watch the Tong family residence and the Second Imperial Prince’s manor — no one leaves. Inside Lanzhidian, maintain a relaxed exterior and a tight interior. The First Division is to cooperate with my operations.” Gu Yanxi looked toward the window. “There is a contact inside the palace working for her. Root them out.”

Following the Shizi’s gaze, Chen Qing understood where to begin. He acknowledged the order in a low voice.

“Are there any reliable people inside Lanzhidian?”

“Qu Qi has men stationed near the Second Imperial Prince.”

“Have him find a way to bring Lai Fu out for a moment. Remember — do not startle the prey.”

“Yes.”

Stepping out of the side chamber, Gu Yanxi felt a chill across his back even standing in sunlight. This was the Imperial Palace — the heart of the Great Qing dynasty. And yet someone had their hands around that heart, and he had known nothing of it. He even began to wonder whether the matter of First Imperial Prince Gu Chengde had been as straightforward as it appeared.

“My lord.” Lai Fu offered his greeting from a distance, looking utterly natural, as though he had simply stepped out and happened to cross paths.

“Has His Majesty finished the midday meal?”

“He is still eating. Does my lord have an errand?”

“Indeed. Would the Chief Eunuch be so good as to inform His Majesty — this official has an urgent matter to report.”

Lai Fu had spent a lifetime in the palace and was as shrewd as they come. He understood at once that reporting to the Emperor was not the true purpose; the real weight lay in the word urgent. His Majesty customarily did not conduct affairs in the rear palace, and matters of genuine urgency would certainly not be discussed in a consort’s chambers.

The Shizi meant to draw the Emperor away!

Lai Fu drew a sharp breath. Surely the Second Imperial Prince was not planning some harm against His Majesty?

He dug his fingers hard into the webbing of his hand between thumb and forefinger. “This old servant will go and inform His Majesty at once.”

Inside the hall, Huifei sat to the Emperor’s left and Tong Yi to his right. Huifei was placing food into the Emperor’s bowl, yet the Emperor had taken a set of chopsticks and was feeding a morsel directly into Tong Yi’s mouth.

The veins on Huifei’s hand clenched around her chopsticks stood out visibly. Only after several deep, steadying breaths did she manage to press down the bitterness rising within her.

Lai Fu’s heart lurched at this sight. He stepped forward hurriedly: “Your Majesty — the Qisu Division has an urgent matter to report.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. He seemed to have developed a fondness for feeding her, and lifted another morsel toward Tong Yi’s lips.

Tong Yi pursed her mouth and, with not entirely willing an air, opened up and bit down, then looked at the Emperor with aggrieved eyes.

The Emperor’s gaze was full of amusement. He knew she disliked this dish — but he enjoyed seeing her unwilling yet obedient expression, every emotion written plainly on her face.

“Whatever it is, have him deal with it himself.”

This had precedent. Afraid of arousing suspicion, Lai Fu dared not disobey and withdrew with a bow, relaying the message to the Shizi faithfully.

“Please inform His Majesty that this matter is beyond this official’s ability to resolve.”

Lai Fu conveyed the message a second time.

The Emperor laughed aloud. “He won’t fool me. Tell him to handle it himself.”

Without waiting for Lai Fu to repeat the words, Gu Yanxi had already heard. At that moment Qu Qi moved quickly to his side and reported in a low voice, “Chief, everything is arranged.”

Gu Yanxi drew his cloak around him, looked up at the sun now veiled behind dark clouds, and strode into Lanzhidian.