When Chu was destroyed, Princess Bao’an, Yang Fu, was captured by the Li family, who had taken control of Daming Palace.
She was the only princess of Chu who remained in Da Chen.
After Emperor Chenming took the throne, he did not mistreat this weak and helpless woman. He silently allowed her to continue living in Luanyi Pavilion and let her keep her title as a former princess of Chu.
Perhaps because of her extraordinary beauty, both the Prince of Yan and the Crown Prince treated her with kindness and respect.
Even so, Yang Fu was still a former princess living under another ruler’s roof. Her position was awkward, and she felt deeply humiliated.
She rarely left Luanyi Pavilion.
Then one day, a spy from Southern Chu secretly brought her a message.
Qunqing was still alive.
She had become a spy and would soon return to the palace.
From that day on, Yang Fu tore a page from the calendar every morning.
She waited for Qunqing as if Qunqing were her only hope.
Finally, the day of the palace maid selection arrived.
Yang Fu had only one goal: choose Qunqing and bring her back to Luanyi Pavilion.
She thought that after all these years, her difficult days were finally about to end.
But instead, she received a devastating blow.
The eyes of everyone around her seemed to turn into cold arrows.
Yang Fu’s face went pale.
Tears quickly filled her eyes, and she could barely remain seated. Her body almost slipped from the chair.
“…What did you say?”
Qunqing did not stop speaking.
She bowed and said calmly,
“This servant only knows that serving Your Highness could determine whether I live or die.”
“Princess Bao’an is a princess of Chu, but Chu has already fallen.”
“How will Your Highness live in the future?”
“If I serve the princess, what will happen if the emperor is in a bad mood one day and decides that you are no longer a princess?”
“This servant fears that my own life could be in danger.”
Everyone knew that her identity was the sore spot of this former princess of a fallen dynasty. The palace maids immediately burst into an uproar.
Lady Zhang dropped the precious book in her hands and hurried over to cover Qunqing’s mouth.
“Crazy! She’s having another fit!”
Madam Zhang quickly said, “Princess, please don’t be offended. She’s still suffering from her illness and is just talking nonsense!”
Damn it! Her usually clever and quick-witted child always seemed to go crazy at the most important moments. What kind of illness was this?
Yang Fu froze like an ice sculpture.
Qunqing’s voice was clearly familiar, but her expression was completely different from before. What hurt Yang Fu most was the strange emptiness in Qunqing’s eyes. The bright loyalty that had once filled them whenever she looked at Yang Fu had somehow disappeared, leaving behind a bottomless darkness.
Yang Fu’s heart sank.
How could she possibly say something like that?
Her face turned deathly pale. The situation had changed so suddenly, completely beyond what she had expected. There could only be one explanation.
It was all an act.
Yes, it had to be an act.
Something must have changed in Southern Chu’s arrangements that she did not know about. Qunqing could not bear the suspicious looks from everyone around her, yet she did not dare to make a move because she was afraid of ruining the plan.
So Yang Fu could only sit there stiffly, like an ice sculpture.
But the fear and suspicion in her heart could not be suppressed so easily. Without realizing it, she tightly twisted the hem of her dress in her hands.
“Who said she’s crazy?”
Zheng Zhiyi’s mocking voice was like a spark falling into oil, instantly setting everything on fire.
“I think she’s perfectly clear-headed.”
Zheng Zhiyi walked back and forth through the large hall. She noticed the flower branches that Li Xuan had cut for Princess Bao’an and placed in a vase by the window.
She pulled the flowers out and said, “She was only saying what everyone here is thinking. It’s pitiful that all these servants look down on you. Why keep deceiving yourself?”
Yang Fu’s eyes suddenly turned cold.
“Who gave you permission to act so freely in my palace, you country bumpkin? Get out!”
Zheng Zhiyi was so shocked that she dropped the flowers in her hands.
Yang Fu had always considered herself a princess. Whenever she looked at Zheng Zhiyi, there was nothing but contempt in her eyes. She had always thought that arguing with someone like Zheng Zhiyi would lower her own status.
But today, something had clearly gone wrong.
Being scolded in front of everyone made Zheng Zhiyi feel humiliated.
“Your palace? Who said this is your palace?”
Zheng Zhiyi swept the vase to the floor.
“This is the palace my father-in-law conquered. It belongs to our family now. You dare tell me to leave? I won’t!”
She stomped on the carpet with her embroidered shoes.
“I’ll step on it whenever I want. If I want to pee or poop on this carpet, I can do that too. What does it have to do with you?”
She stomped down hard again, crushing the flower branches beneath her shoes.
Yang Fu was furious.
A person like this would never even have been qualified to enter the palace before. Yet now she dared to run wild inside Yang Fu’s own bedroom.
Yang Fu pulled an incense ball from her sleeve and threw it at her.
The incense ball flew past Zheng Zhiyi’s cheek.
Her eyes widened.
Then she rolled up her sleeves and suddenly rushed forward.
Madam Zhang quickly grabbed her.
“Consort Zheng, don’t hit her!”
The two women had already hated each other for a long time. Now that they had suddenly started fighting, Princess Bao’an’s maids quickly surrounded them, while Zheng Zhiyi’s two maids grabbed Madam Zhang.
The hall immediately descended into chaos.
“Well, this servant will go and try to stop them…”
Outside the palace, rain fell at an angle.
Shouxi stood beside the window with an umbrella. He and the Crown Prince had been watching the commotion from outside for quite some time.
Li Xuan stood by the window and shook his head.
His face was thin, his eyebrows sharp and slightly raised. His skin and thin lips were pale, but his long, narrow phoenix eyes were exceptionally bright.
“How could the Imperial Household Department choose such a stupid and ignorant person?” Shouxi complained. “She actually dared to argue with Princess Bao’an right to her face!”
Everyone knew that Princess Bao’an was deeply favored by both the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yan.
Inside the hall, everyone was in complete chaos.
But Qunqing simply knelt with her head lowered, as if everything happening around her had nothing to do with her.
A trace of disgust flashed across Li Xuan’s eyes.
Someone who could provoke a conflict and then escape without getting involved was not stupid.
She was clever—and vicious.
Li Xuan coughed twice.
Shouxi quickly tilted the umbrella toward him.
Li Xuan waved his hand.
“Go on.”
Shouxi continued, “Many things have happened in the few days since Your Highness welcomed the envoy from the Kingdom of Liuli to Chang’an.”
“Lu Changshi, the official in charge of the Third Prince’s household, was investigating a case together with officials from the Dali Temple. Somehow, they discovered that Meng Guanlou had a private residence in Chang’an, where he was secretly keeping a mistress.”
“The news reached the Emperor and Empress overnight.”
“Then, during the day, Prime Minister Meng even tried to arrange a marriage between Meng Guanlou and Princess Danyang. The Emperor became so angry that he smashed his teacup.”
“Of course, Meng Guanlou could no longer marry the princess.”
“Besides, officials of fifth rank and above are forbidden from keeping mistresses. So Meng Guanlou’s mistress was confiscated and sent to the Inner Palace according to the law.”
Li Xuan slowly closed his eyes.
“His Highness knows Meng Guanlou’s temperament. He probably couldn’t accept such humiliation, so he went to Lu Huating’s residence and cursed him. He even poured a bucket of black dog blood over the entrance and wrote on the door that Prefect Lu was a cursed lone star who would bring misfortune to his mother.”
Li Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.
A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
“He broke into the Prince of Yan’s residence? What was Lu Huating’s reaction?”
“There was no reaction.”
Shouxi answered carefully.
“I heard that Chief Secretary Lu was resting at his desk when Meng Guanlou’s shouting woke him up. But after waking up, he completely ignored Meng Guanlou.”
“He simply opened the memorials in front of him one by one, read them, and then pushed them all aside without saying a word.”
“And then?”
“Then Chief Secretary Lu went outside to see Meng Guanlou.”
“He simply stood at the door, touched the black dog blood on the door with one finger, looked up at the sun, and then stared at Meng Guanlou as if he had never seen him before.”
These strange actions made Li Xuan frown deeply.
“Meng Guanlou has gone too far this time. He must have touched Lu Huating’s sore spot.”
“You don’t understand. That man holds grudges. If you make him your enemy, he will find a way to kill you sooner or later.”
Shouxi was startled.
“Meng Guanlou used to be quite well-behaved. But ever since he came to Chang’an, he has become arrogant and reckless. Sooner or later, he will cause trouble for Your Highness.”
“Should we remind Prime Minister Meng to warn him?”
Li Xuan shook his head slightly.
Instead, he gestured for Shouxi to look toward Luanyi Pavilion.
Shouxi looked over and was surprised to see Baoshu standing beside Princess Bao’an, trying to break up the fight.
“Baoshu? When did she enter the palace? She didn’t even come to greet this servant.”
Li Xuan smiled.
“This young lady just came from Longyou. Instead of staying comfortably at home in Chang’an, she insisted on becoming a palace maid and serving the unpredictable Princess Bao’an.”
“Shouxi, do you understand?”
“I think this was probably her father’s idea. It seems Grand Tutor Meng is placing his bet on the princess becoming the future Crown Princess.”
The smile on Li Xuan’s face slowly faded, leaving behind a faint expression of disgust.
In the early days of the new dynasty, everyone was rushing to find opportunities.
Even the daughter of Grand Tutor Meng, whose family already held an important position, had been sent to stay beside a powerful person to build a connection with her.
They were moving far too quickly in their pursuit of power.
Li Xuan was naturally suspicious. He could not completely trust even the people closest to him.
“What’s there to see in this palace drama?”
Li Xuan spoke lazily and turned to leave.
His soft voice disappeared into the wind.
“Clean up the mess Meng Guanlou caused during the palace maid selection as soon as possible. Don’t give Lu Huating a chance to use it against him.”
Shouxi’s heart skipped a beat.
Li Xuan’s golden sash fluttered in the wind.
The Crown Prince had just led the guests into Biquan Palace and accompanied them in worshipping Buddha. A faint scent of sandalwood still clung to his clothes.
Inside the palace, Yang Fu sneered.
“I’ve known Brother Xuan for so many years, yet he has never mentioned you, his former wife.”
“You’re as dark and ugly as a mud monkey, and you look completely unpresentable.”
“You’re only a concubine hidden away inside the palace. What right do you have to walk around outside?”
“Do you know that everyone in the palace is laughing at you?”
Madam Zhang silently chanted, “Amitabha Buddha.”
Zheng Zhiyi was already furious to the point of madness. She grabbed Madam Zhang by the collar.
“Do you think I don’t know that you women from the Imperial Household Department are all working together with this slut?”
“You didn’t stop her, so you clearly don’t respect me!”
Madam Zhang hurriedly protested, “This servant did try to stop them!”
Yang Fu’s soft voice came from the side.
“Don’t stop her. Let’s see if she dares to come.”
Zheng Zhiyi shoved Madam Zhang hard.
Poor Madam Zhang was thrown to the side like a kite.
“Since we’re talking about people laughing at others, I’m definitely better than some shameless woman who has no status or title,” Zheng Zhiyi said angrily.
“At least I was Li Xuan’s lawful wife.”
“And what about you?”
“You aren’t even married yet, but you’re already involved with the Prince of Yan…”
Yang Fu grabbed Zheng Zhiyi’s hair.
Zheng Zhiyi immediately lunged toward her.
It looked as if the two were about to start fighting again.
But someone suddenly stopped them.
The man moved incredibly fast.
In an instant, he squeezed between the two women and separated them.
When Yang Fu opened her eyes, she saw the familiar, slender figure standing in front of her.
Her nose suddenly tingled with emotion.
Zheng Zhiyi was furious.
She reached out to push Qunqing away.
As the daughter of a bandit, Zheng Zhiyi was quite strong. But she never expected someone to grab her arm from behind.
No matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free.
The force pulled her backward several steps.
She cried out in disbelief,
“You dare push me?!”
Qunqing quickly knelt down in the empty space she had just cleared.
“Consort Zheng, please calm down.”
“This servant wishes to serve you.”
The curses on Zheng Zhiyi’s lips suddenly stopped.
“Are you the one who had a fit of hysteria just now?”
She stared at Qunqing with her mouth slightly open.
“This servant is not delirious,” Qunqing said calmly.
“What this servant said is the truth.”
“I do not wish to serve in Luanyi Pavilion because I fear that the future is uncertain.”
“You are a concubine personally appointed by His Highness the Crown Prince, and you are also favored by the Emperor.”
“It is this servant’s good fortune that you are willing to accept me.”
“This servant is more than willing to serve you.”
How could someone flatter another person so naturally and confidently?
Zheng Zhiyi forcefully lifted Qunqing’s face.
Qunqing was handsome and had a gentle appearance, especially his eyes.
Whenever he looked up at someone, his eyes were like two still pools of water. They were so clear that it seemed as if one could see straight through them.
There was not even the slightest hint of aggression.
No one had ever praised Zheng Zhiyi so openly in front of so many people.
Her face slowly began to burn.
Her anger faded, replaced by a lingering sense of fear.
The Crown Prince had forbidden everyone in the palace from mentioning Princess Bao’an’s loss of virginity.
If Qunqing had not interrupted her, she might have said something she should not have.
Zheng Zhiyi finally muttered,
“…You’re quite perceptive.”
Lady Zhang quickly stepped forward.
“In that case, let her go with Consort Liang.”
“Consort Liang now has five palace maids, making her a noble lady of the inner court, second only to the Empress.”
Only then did Zheng Zhiyi finally feel completely satisfied.
She grabbed Madam Zhang’s precious book and left with it, taking it away right in front of Yang Fu.
So when Princess Xiao Yunru of Yan returned, she saw the mess scattered across the floor, the chair that had been pushed aside, Yang Fu with tears in her eyes, and Zheng Zhiyi with disheveled hair but a smug expression.
She remained silent for a moment.
She had no idea what had happened during those brief fifteen minutes.
But Xiao Yunru was, after all, the daughter of a military family. She had an unusually calm and steady temperament.
She sat down gracefully, her skirt fluttering around her, then casually took the register and looked through it.
“Very good.”
“The servants whom the two noble ladies did not choose will be assigned by Jingchun to other palaces to do miscellaneous work.”
“Today, all twenty palace maids of the Inner Palace have found their places.”
Xiao Yunru had striking features, a slightly broad jaw, and a deep, steady voice. Although she was not as beautiful as Princess Bao’an, she naturally carried an air of authority as she sat there.
“The Emperor is benevolent. He has changed the rules of the previous dynasty, which forced palace maids in the Inner Palace to remain slaves for life. Now, they have the opportunity to be selected to serve in the palace. This is your good fortune.”
“I hope each of you will perform your duties well by the Empress’s side. Perhaps the best among you will be selected to enter the Six Palaces in the future.”
A chorus of happy thanks filled the hall, drowning out Xiao Yunru’s series of coughs.
Qunqing noticed that Xiao Yunru’s eyes were red. She covered her mouth with her sleeve while a palace maid helped her take a pill.
She must have been feeling unwell, but she was forcing herself to stay awake.
Qunqing’s thoughts drifted away.
Xiao Yunru seemed to have died in the second year of the Shenglin era.
When Qunqing was young, she had often heard the name Xiao Yunru.
She was said to be a famous young lady from a powerful family in Chang’an. She was talented, intelligent, and especially skilled at managing a household.
Now that Qunqing had finally met her, she realized that Xiao Yunru truly was an extraordinary woman.
Unfortunately, her taste in men was not very good.
After the Li family attacked Chang’an, Xiao Yunru had led the Xiao family army to ask for permission to marry the Prince of Yan. The Emperor eventually granted her the title of Princess of Yan.
Qunqing remembered that in her previous life, after Xiao Yunru married Li Huan, she strongly opposed his warlike and bloodthirsty nature.
She often tried to persuade him to rule with kindness and benevolence.
Her efforts had actually been quite effective.
Unfortunately, she died far too young.
If she had still been alive, Li Huan probably would not have attacked Southern Chu so quickly…
Qunqing decided that from now on, whenever she went to burn incense and pray, she would also pray for Xiao Yunru.
Before moving into Qingxuan Pavilion, Qunqing needed to return to Yeting Palace to pack her belongings.
Because she was worried about Su Run, she hurried along the way.
But when she returned to the low, tiled buildings, she saw a group of eunuchs standing outside the entrance of the Imperial Academy’s study. They seemed to be watching something serious.
Qunqing walked closer.
Immediately, she saw several eunuchs carrying a body out of the pavilion.
Supervisor Pei announced in a mournful voice,
“Make way. Su Run, a ninth-rank Imperial Academy Doctor, has died suddenly.”
Qunqing felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
She quickly stepped to the side of the road and watched helplessly as the palanquin carrying the body passed by.
Under the white cloth were a pair of feet covered in dirt.
The calves were covered with hair.
The limbs had already turned bluish and were completely lifeless.
Qunqing stared at the corpse for a long time, wondering if she had made a mistake.
She had changed Su Run’s dressing that very morning.
Was Su Run’s leg hair really that thick?
Then she noticed the fingers hanging beneath the white cloth.
They were curled up and stiff as stone.
No.
Something was wrong.
That body had been dead for more than half a day.
Before Supervisor Pei could notice her, Qunqing quietly slipped away.
She returned to the North Warehouse to check the place.
There were no signs of forced entry.
Perhaps she had simply been worrying too much.
Su Run had even lent her money. He should have gone directly to the Prince of Yan’s residence.
Unless he was an idiot, there was no reason for him to return to that dirty and chaotic place.
Therefore, the corpse being carried out of the residence was not Su Run.
It belonged to someone else.
The moment Qunqing reached this conclusion, cold sweat trickled down her temples.
It was not mealtime, so there was no reason for a corpse to suddenly be carried out.
Unless someone had broken into Doctor Gong’s residence and discovered that he was already dead.
If Meng Guanlou had previously given Qunqing the impression of being violent, then what happened today forced her to take this man who dared to silence her much more seriously.
If she had sent Su Run back to his residence, he would have died there today.
The wind rustled through the leaves.
A cool breeze swept through the room and slipped into Qunqing’s sleeves.
Anyone capable of diverting Supervisor Pei’s attention within just a few hours, avoiding the eyes and ears of everyone nearby, and placing a similar-looking corpse inside the residence without leaving a trace was certainly no ordinary person.
In the first year of the Shenglin era, Lu Huating’s reaction and planning were already this careful and swift.
So careful and swift that, from a distance, he had managed to complete a flawless handover with his enemy, someone he had never even met.
Qunqing packed her belongings into a bundle.
They had been worried that Su Run might not be able to enter the Prince of Yan’s residence.
But they had never expected Lu Huating to be so thorough and dependable.