Eunuch Deshun, seeing Li Yuanjing about to lose his temper, quickly spoke up with a gentle expression to Liu Ruyan: "Consort Mei, there’s no need to grieve. Tomorrow, this servant will notify the Internal Affairs Office to restore the courtyard of Yuxiu Palace and transplant dozens of the finest plum trees gifted by the Eastern Lin Kingdom. The wind is strong tonight—please take care of your health and step inside for a cup of warm tea."
Liu Ruyan stood on the scorched earth, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, lost in melancholy: "Even if the trees bloom again, the new branches will never be the same as the old ones."
The burnt plum trees were remnants of the past—of the days in Prince Yan’s estate.
Now reduced to ashes, those days were gone forever.
Eunuch Deshun fell silent. Usually quick with words, he found himself at a loss for a response.
Li Yuanjing grew even more impatient, flicking his sleeve as he turned to leave: "Return to Xuanming Hall."
Eunuch Deshun hurried after him, no longer mentioning the visit to Consort Shu’s palace.
Left alone in the charred courtyard, Liu Ruyan watched the emperor’s retreating figure, tears rolling down her cheeks as she whispered, "How heartless..."
The imperial palanquin departed Yuxiu Palace.
Exhausted, Li Yuanjing had no energy to visit any other consorts, to parse their veiled words or scrutinize their insinuations.
He returned to Xuanming Hall, ready to sleep. Eunuch Deshun swiftly replaced his pillow and lit calming incense in the burner.
Drowsy, Li Yuanjing asked, "Where is this incense from?"
It smelled pleasant—herbal, soothing to both body and mind.
Eunuch Deshun replied, "Your Majesty, this is a medicinal incense prepared by Doctor Mo under Noble Consort Chen’s orders. She was concerned about Your Majesty’s restlessness and instructed this servant to light it."
A faint smile touched Li Yuanjing’s lips as he closed his eyes and drifted into slumber.
...
...
The next day, at the break of dawn.
Zhang Miaoyu curled under her blankets for a few more moments of sleep, only for her maid Xiang Yu to pull open the bed curtains: "Mistress, it’s time to rise. You must visit the Internal Affairs Office this morning—the fire in Consort Mei’s palace last night requires an assessment of the losses."
Half-asleep, Zhang Miaoyu mumbled, "That’s not my responsibility. Sister Shen Wei handles such matters."
Xiang Yu’s round face twisted in exasperation: "Mistress, have you forgotten? Noble Consort Chen and the Empress Dowager have gone to Anguo Temple to pray. For now, you oversee the palace affairs."
Zhang Miaoyu groaned, covering her ears.
Heavens, she didn’t want to manage the harem!
She wanted to sleep in!
Despite her reluctance, she dragged herself out of bed. By dawn, Li Nanzhi was already awake, and Zhang Miaoyu invited her to breakfast.
Li Nanzhi stared at the lavish spread in astonishment: "Auntie, you eat this much in the morning?"
Zhang Miaoyu generously pushed a plate of jade-green dumplings toward her: "A full stomach means energy for work. Eat up—you’re as thin as a kitten, and that won’t do."
Li Nanzhi obediently nibbled on a dumpling.
Just as Zhang Miaoyu finished her meal, a maid announced Nanny Rong from Noble Consort Chen’s palace had come to report on palace affairs. Fighting exhaustion, Zhang Miaoyu forced herself to receive her.
Nanny Rong delivered a meticulous report, seeking Zhang Miaoyu’s decisions. Zhang Miaoyu responded with a string of "Very well, very well," brushing it all off.
In the morning, she reviewed the Internal Affairs Office’s ledgers, inspecting expenditures across the palaces.
At noon, she shared lunch with Li Nanzhi.
By afternoon, Zhang Miaoyu was ready for a nap. The moment she collapsed onto her beloved chaise lounge and shut her eyes, Xiang Yu burst in, flustered: "Mistress! Trouble—big trouble!"
Zhang Miaoyu cracked an eye open, looking utterly drained: "What now? Another fire?"
Xiang Yu shook her head. "Mistress, today the eunuchs clearing the scorched earth in Yuxiu Palace found a strange bronze plaque buried under a burnt plum tree."
Zhang Miaoyu yawned. "A bronze plaque isn’t shocking. Wake me if they dig up pastries or wine."
Xiang Yu rushed on: "The plaque bears dragon motifs, with the character 'Qing' at its center—pierced by an iron needle engraved with curses. It’s meant to destroy Qing State’s imperial fortune!"
"Rumors are spreading... that Consort Mei is a demon, an ill omen."
All drowsiness fled Zhang Miaoyu’s mind.
She sat up in despair, clutching her cheeks. "Can’t this palace have a single peaceful day?! The moment Sister Shen Wei leaves, every disaster lands in my lap!"
Yesterday, Liu Ruyan’s courtyard caught fire.
Today, a cursed plaque was dug up there.
Zhang Miaoyu splashed her face with water and asked, "Where’s His Majesty?"
Xiang Yu replied, "He went to the Ministry of War today. Mistress, with the harem buzzing about Consort Mei being a demoness... what should we do?"
Zhang Miaoyu spread her hands helplessly. "What can I do? I’m at my wit’s end! Seal off Yuxiu Palace—no one enters or leaves until His Majesty returns."
Xiang Yu hurried to carry out the order.
Pacing her room, Zhang Miaoyu reflected. She had known Liu Ruyan for years—her melancholic, aloof nature would never drive her to curse Qing State.
Clearly, someone was framing her.
Zhang Miaoyu rubbed her face, mentally listing Liu Ruyan’s enemies. The longer she thought, the more daunting the list grew.
Liu Ruyan’s haughty disdain had earned her countless foes—among consorts, noblewomen, even the palace servants she’d mocked.
"Sister Shen Wei, you little troublemaker, why did you have to leave now?!" Zhang Miaoyu lamented. If Shen Wei were here, she’d have uncovered the culprit in no time.
After much deliberation, Zhang Miaoyu decided to visit Yuxiu Palace first.
...
Yuxiu Palace stood eerily quiet, guarded by two eunuchs. As Zhang Miaoyu arrived, she found Concubine Lan and several other consorts gathered at the gates.
"Sister Jade Consort!" Concubine Lan curtsied gracefully.
Zhang Miaoyu frowned. "Why are you all here?"
Concubine Lan feigned concern. "The palace is abuzz with talk of Consort Mei practicing dark arts to curse Qing State... We wished to see the plaque for ourselves."
Zhang Miaoyu had hoped to question Liu Ruyan privately, but with so many witnesses, she abandoned the idea.
She straightened, adopting a stern tone. "His Majesty will investigate this matter. Return to your quarters and avoid stirring trouble."
The consorts exchanged uneasy glances.
Concubine Lan clutched her handkerchief. "Very well. Once His Majesty returns, he will surely clear Sister Mei’s name."
...
At dusk, the imperial carriage departed the Ministry of War.
Inside the lavish coach, Li Yuanjing studied a military map of the southern borders. His eyes grew weary from the strain.
Eunuch Deshun handed him a cup of soothing tea. "Your Majesty, please rest your eyes. Noble Consort Chen and the Empress Dowager would worry if they knew."
Li Yuanjing set the map aside and sipped the tea. "Has Weiwei written?"
Eunuch Deshun, true to his upbringing in Shen Wei’s palace, spoke with impeccable tact. Instead of answering directly, he replied respectfully, "When praying at the temple, one must set aside worldly attachments for the blessings to be effective. Noble Consort Chen, out of filial devotion to the Empress Dowager, naturally remains by Her Majesty’s side at all times and may find it difficult to divert her attention."
Li Yuanjing sighed.
In Shen Wei’s absence, he felt utterly unsettled, even struggling to sleep peacefully. At night, lying alone on the bed, he instinctively reached to the side of his pillow—only to find it empty.
He decided that upon returning to the palace, he would first visit Leyou and his two sons before retiring early for the night.
The imperial carriage passed through the palace walls, heading toward Cining Palace. Inside, Li Yuanjing rested with his eyes closed, easing the fatigue of the day.
Suddenly, Zhang Miaoyu’s clear voice rang out from beyond the carriage: "Your Majesty! An ominous object has been unearthed in Consort Mei’s palace. This humble one is unfit to pass judgment and must beg Your Majesty to come and inspect it."
