When Shu Yun had gone, Pei Yue slowly sipped his tea before returning to the imperial study.
The morning memorials had already been reviewed, and now the Directorate of Ceremonies delivered a fresh batch.
Pei Yue adjusted his sleeves, sat behind the desk, and casually unfolded the first memorial. At a glance, his mood lifted—what a pleasure to read. Compared with Shu Yun, that hopeless pupil, the ministers’ memorials seemed eloquent and orderly, flowing with clarity. Even the nitpicking flaws he would normally seize upon, he let pass this time.
Lord He of the Court of Judicial Review, who had never once been praised before, emerged from the Secretariat clutching his memorial marked in red, telling everyone he met: “Today His Majesty praised me—praised my clear and orderly writing…”
Lord He was known as a man whose pen was clumsy but who got things done. If even his memorials were praised, it meant the emperor was in excellent spirits. Word spread quickly, and soon ministers with memorials awaiting imperial comment swarmed toward the study.
As expected, Shu Yun passed her lesson inspection without trouble. More than that, she even earned her teacher’s commendation. This drew the attention of two noble girls seated at the front. Shu Yun’s background had never been worthy of Li Ying or Xie Yun’s notice. No matter how beautiful she might be, she was still a girl whose betrothal had been broken. Thus, even knowing there was a strikingly lovely young woman at the academy, Li Ying and Xie Yun had never cared—until now.
If a woman possessed both beauty and talent, she could not help but stir their jealousy. After all, Pei Yue was accomplished in both civil and martial arts, and he favored women of wit and learning.
Shu Yun remained entirely unaware. To her, the emperor was like a divine being—one to kneel before in reverence, not someone to harbor thoughts of.
News of Shu Yun’s praise reached Xian’an Palace, where Princess Shuyue sat bolt upright on her couch. “How could the little ink in her belly possibly compare with Li Ying and the others?”
A maid replied, “Indeed, today the teacher praised her, as well as Miss Li, Miss Xie, and Miss Cui. The latter three being praised is nothing unusual, but for our young lady to be singled out—that’s rare indeed.”
“Could she have copied someone else’s work?” Princess Shuyue still refused to believe it.
The maid gave a hesitant smile. “That’s what everyone is saying…”
Shuyue fell silent. That night, when Shu Yun returned, the princess pressed her with questions. Shu Yun only laughed it off, claiming she was like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse—pure luck sparing her from disaster. Shuyue did not believe her, convinced Shu Yun was hiding something.
While Shu Yun went to wash up, Shuyue secretly rifled through her study pouch. She found no borrowed books or copied essays. Hearing Shu Yun about to come back, she quickly restored everything and returned to the main room.
After washing, Shu Yun slipped back into her side chamber. When the main room’s lamps were extinguished, she quietly shook out a fur covering. In the faint light filtering from the corridor, she spread it open, fastened the buttons along the edge to form a kind of sleeping sack, and lay inside, pulling the quilt over herself. That night she slept warm and snug.
At dawn she carefully folded the fur away and hid it beneath her bedding. Dressed and prepared, she waited to go to the academy with Princess Shuyue. She waited nearly half an hour before a servant came to say the princess was indisposed and would take leave today. Shu Yun laughed in exasperation—clearly, she was being deliberately left to fend for herself. With no choice, she set off alone for the academy.
Once Shu Yun left, Princess Shuyue climbed down from her bed and led her maids to search Shu Yun’s side chamber. The maids, having received favors from Shu Yun, only went through the motions at first. Dissatisfied, Shuyue took matters into her own hands—and that was when she uncovered the fur hidden beneath Shu Yun’s bedding. A sheen of flowing luster spilled from her hands. What she held was no ordinary pelt, but a dazzling treasure.
The princess stared at the luxurious sable fur, both envious and astonished. Where could Shu Yun have obtained such a fine possession?
Naturally, she reported the matter to Dowager Consort Shu. The Dowager Consort too was struck by the sight. Worldly as she was, she sensed at once that this was no common item. If her niece were secretly entangled with some noble scion, it would disgrace the entire Shu family. If she had stolen it, the shame would fall on them as well. She ordered the matter kept quiet and sent for Shu Yun under a pretext.
When Shu Yun saw the sable laid out on the high table, she was nearly in tears. “Aunt, why did you search my room? I am your own kin—how could you humiliate me so?”
Dowager Consort Shu remained unmoved, her eyes dark and piercing. “Where did this come from?”
Shu Yun’s throat tightened, her heart aflame. No explanation seemed safe, and she dared not implicate Pei Yue. So she insisted, “I found it. In the woods, I stumbled upon a bundle left on the ground. Inside was this fur. I brought it back to use as bedding. Aunt, the princess refused me a thick quilt, and I was freezing…”
She tried to divert the subject, but Dowager Consort Shu cut her off sharply. “Nonsense! Can palace goods be taken so lightly? Speak the truth—are you secretly involved with some imperial grandson who gifted this to you?”
Shu Yun was both regretful and indignant. She would not confess, only claiming she was greedy and unwilling to return a fine thing she had picked up.
Dowager Consort Shu had no proof and dared not conclude. She ordered Shu Yun confined to her side chamber, while her trusted matron wrapped the fur and sent it to the Imperial Household Department.
Every article in the palace was recorded there; at the very least, this would clear the dowager consort and her daughter of blame.
Eunuch Li of the Directorate of Ceremonies oversaw the Imperial Household Department, and all items for the emperor’s use passed through his hands. When he received the cloak, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. “This is His Majesty’s cloak—how did it end up in Xian’an Palace?”
Stealing imperial garments was a grave offense, and as chief of the Household Department, he could not escape blame.
The nanny was terrified, her soul nearly gone, and collapsed to her knees. She dared not tell the truth, only repeated Shu Yun’s excuse: “Our young lady entered the palace to study, and she happened to pick it up by chance…”
Eunuch Li was both furious and alarmed. In past years, a few bold maids or eunuchs had secretly stolen items the emperor seldom used and sold them off. Such incidents had occurred under the former emperor. But since the present sovereign ascended the throne, discipline had been strict, and no one dared to pilfer. Who would have thought such a thing would happen today?
By fortune, the cloak had been recovered. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Eunuch Li softened his tone: “Very well. In this matter, Xian’an Palace has rendered the first merit. Go report back to the lady, and tell her I will remember this kindness.”
The nanny, stunned by the sudden turn, pressed down her pounding heart, kowtowed repeatedly, and returned to Xian’an Palace in delight. Indeed, the emperor’s lost possession had been found thanks to them—was this not a great merit? Perhaps her lady would soon rise again.
After she left, Eunuch Li went to find Liu Kui.
Liu Kui was in the warm chamber behind the Directorate’s duty room, sipping tea while a young eunuch presented the menu for the midday meal. Yesterday’s four dishes had pleased Shu Yun greatly, so today’s list was slightly adjusted for safety.
Liu Kui glanced at it and scoffed: “Change it, change it—never repeat a dish within a month. Only then can we properly serve that little ancestor…”
Just then, the door creaked open. Eunuch Li entered, holding the cloak. Liu Kui needed only one glance before his hand trembled, the teacup slipping from his fingers and rolling to the floor. Tea spilled across the table and onto his robe. Startled, the attendants rushed forward to clean up the mess.
“Go, go, go…” Liu Kui shoved the attendants aside, his gaze fixed on the cloak. Grabbing Eunuch Li’s arm, he demanded, “Where did this come from?”
Eunuch Li gave a terse account of the matter. Liu Kui’s vision went dark—after only one night, it had already been discovered. Clearly, the young lady’s quarters were surrounded by wolves. Without even changing his robe, he rushed straight to the imperial study.
*
Meanwhile, Dowager Consort Shu received the nanny’s report, both startled and delighted. “An imperial article? Then Shuyue and I have earned merit?”
The nanny beamed. “Indeed! I saw Eunuch Li’s face turn from black to white with fright, and he even said he would remember Your Ladyship’s kindness. My lady, you and the princess may soon rise again.”
A single word from the emperor outweighed all else, and even the retired emperor would grant favor in turn.
Dowager Consort Shu was naturally pleased, though puzzled. Since it was the emperor’s possession, how had it ended up in Shu Yun’s hands? She dismissed the attendants and had the girl brought forth. This time, she did not scold but spoke gently, with a probing, scrutinizing air.
“Yun’er, sit…”
Shu Yun’s eyes still held panic, her face pale as she shook her head. “Niece dares not…”
Dowager Consort Shu was in no hurry. Cradling her teacup, she said with kindly composure, “Yun’er, your aunt has inquired carefully. That sable fur is an imperial article. How did it come into your possession? Yun’er, are you hiding something from me?”
At those words, Shu Yun suddenly lifted her head, her face drained of color. “How could that be? How could it possibly be an imperial article?”
Wait—Seventh Master was a close minister of the throne, following the emperor in campaigns north and south. Could it be that this was a gift from His Majesty? But how could he lend her something bestowed by the emperor? Shu Yun broke out in a cold sweat.
Her aunt’s attitude had shifted entirely—she must have misunderstood. Shu Yun steadied herself and tried to dispel the suspicion. “Aunt, you mustn’t mistake me. I have never seen His Majesty, nor do I know him. How could I possibly hold an article of the Son of Heaven? If it truly were, do you think your niece would still be allowed to remain here?”
“That is true enough…” Dowager Consort Shu stroked the gold bracelet on her wrist, pondering slowly. If the emperor truly favored Shu Yun, he would already have issued a decree to summon her. Why would he act in secrecy? Shu Yun had no reason to conceal such a thing.
Yet her niece’s beauty… Dowager Consort Shu raised her eyes. There she stood in a gown of pale moonlight, her raven lashes thick and curling, damp wisps of hair clinging to her brow. Those eyes, shimmering like autumn waters, should have been frightened, yet somehow carried a trace of alluring charm. It was precisely this unconscious allure that could pierce a man’s hardened heart.
The emperor had yet to favor any woman. Who knew if her niece might catch his eye?
Just days ago, the retired emperor had hosted a banquet on Qionghua Island and discreetly inquired about Shu Yun’s marriage. It turned out that the heir of Prince Linchuan had rashly spoken before him, begging for a marriage decree. The retired emperor, mindful that Shu Yun had only just broken her betrothal with the heir of Prince Huaiyang, hesitated. For Dowager Consort Shu, a match with Prince Linchuan’s heir offered little advantage. But if Shu Yun could become the emperor’s first consort, the merit would be hers alone—and the retired emperor would owe her boundless gratitude.
“Yun’er, His Majesty has reigned three years, and the harem remains empty. Your marriage prospects are difficult. Perhaps it would be better if…”
At her aunt’s opening words, Shu Yun instantly grasped the hidden meaning—her aunt wished to offer her to the emperor, currying favor with the retired sovereign. The scattered light in her pupils gathered sharply, and she cut her off at once. “No. Absolutely not.”
Dowager Consort Shu’s face darkened at such firm defiance. Quick-tempered, she could not abide contradiction. Rising from her luohan couch, she was about to lash out when a shrill, drawn-out voice rang from outside: “Dowager Consort Shu, hear the decree…”
She froze. Surely this was an imperial commendation. Her expression brightened, then she shot Shu Yun a vicious glare. “You just wait!”
She hurriedly ordered her daughter from the side hall, and together they opened the central doors, kneeling at the threshold to receive the edict.
Brilliant spring light poured in from outside. The eunuch stood silhouetted against it, his features obscured, but his voice carried long and cold: “By His Majesty’s command: Consort Shu is fined half a year’s stipend; Princess Shuyue’s allowance is suspended for one year.”
Dowager Consort Shu’s joy froze on her face. Dazed, she lifted her eyes. “Impossible. Eunuch, surely you are mistaken?”
Hadn’t she just earned merit? Why would the emperor punish her? What had she done wrong? Her household was already impoverished, surviving only on her stipend. To lose half a year’s pay was nearly a death sentence.
As for Princess Shuyue, she collapsed to the floor, muttering, “A year’s allowance? Does that mean for a whole year I’ll have no jewels, no silks, no fine clothes?” She burst into loud sobs. Fearing charges of disrespect, the nanny rushed forward, clapped a hand over her mouth, and gathered her into her arms.
The eunuch, irritated, turned to leave, but Dowager Consort Shu was unwilling to let go. Rising, she seized his sleeve. “Eunuch, pray give me a clear word—why am I punished?”
The eunuch who bore the decree was Liu Kui’s adopted son, a thin, sharp-featured man whose narrow lids lent him a cutting air. Few dared cross him. He curled his lips coldly, the flesh twisting into a strange arc. “My lady, think yourself carefully—why do you suppose you were punished?”
Dowager Consort Shu could not fathom it. Not until the afternoon, when another eunuch arrived with a decree transferring Shu Yun to Chuxiu Palace, did she finally understand: the emperor was reproaching her for mistreating his niece.
Yet Shu Yun did not go to Chuxiu Palace. A young maid led her instead to the Imperial Library. The moment she stepped inside, she saw Pei Yue standing tall in a dark robe, his figure like jade.
Suddenly, grievance welled up in Shu Yun’s chest, her eyes reddening. “Seventh Master, have I brought trouble upon you?”
Pei Yue looked at her tear-brimmed gaze and felt a pang of guilt. Striding quickly to her side, he said, “It was my fault for not telling you beforehand. That fur was a gift from His Majesty. I never meant for you to be frightened.”
Shu Yun pressed her lips together, lifting her sleeve to wipe her tears. “With such a commotion, did His Majesty punish you?”
After all, her aunt and cousin had been heavily fined. Surely the emperor would not spare Pei Yue.
Pei Yue rubbed his brow, half amused, half helpless, yet steady in his reply. “No. His Majesty punished your aunt because he knew she had treated you poorly. It was not because of the cloak.”
Shu Yun was stunned, her round, watery eyes widening. “Impossible. Could His Majesty truly be so considerate of those below?”
Pei Yue, having lived through the day’s events, had intended to confess the truth. But looking at the dazed little girl before him, he could not bear to frighten her. If she learned his true identity, would she grow distant? So he answered lightly, as though nothing were amiss: “His Majesty is not as harsh as you imagine. He simply rewards and punishes with fairness.”
“Is that so?” Shu Yun blinked, speaking plainly. “If His Majesty truly rewards and punishes fairly, then today my aunt had both merit and fault—merit should be rewarded, fault should be punished.”
Pei Yue rubbed his forehead. The little head was suddenly sharp today.
Outside the door, Liu Kui pressed his lips in a quiet laugh: The emperor only wished to vent your grievance, silly girl.
Pei Yue smoothed his brows, quickly finding a way to cover himself. “Perhaps His Majesty places greater weight on family bonds?”
“No.” Shu Yun’s dark eyes darted about, then she leaned close, whispering each word with solemn mystery: “This is called *joy, anger, without constancy*.”
Pei Yue’s face darkened. This little imp truly does not know her place.