Qianqing Palace, Tea Room.
"Such trivial tasks should be left to us lowly servants. Why trouble yourself, Deputy Chief Eunuch?" Little Lizi bent slightly, swiftly taking the freshly brewed teapot with nimble hands, his youthful face wearing a respectful smile. "My master instructed me to be quick—His Majesty is thirsty and must not be kept waiting. I shall take my leave now..."
Liu Qin watched as Little Lizi hurried toward the inner hall, his outstretched hand slowly retracting. His expression darkened abruptly, causing the young eunuch behind him to tremble, not daring to utter a word, his head bowed as low as possible.
Last time, when Consort Ping attempted to gain favor in the imperial garden, the Emperor flew into a rage, ordering Chief Eunuch Liang to severely punish the audacious servant who had accepted bribes from Consort Ping and revealed the Emperor’s whereabouts, in order to rectify the palace’s conduct. Instantly, everyone was on edge, and every maid and eunuch serving in Qianqing Palace was thoroughly investigated by Chief Eunuch Liang.
It was soon discovered that the bold servant, San Yuan, was actually from Liu Qin’s faction.
Liu Qin had once taught San Yuan the rules, promoted him from a lowly cleaning eunuch, and assigned him to the tea room. Their relationship was undeniable—they could even be called master and disciple!
This was a disaster.
Not only was San Yuan beaten thirty times, nearly losing his life, but Liu Qin also suffered the consequences.
Reprimanded, stripped of half a year’s salary, demoted from the imperial study, and no longer allowed to serve the Emperor in person... This series of punishments was too severe. Liu Qin lost the Emperor’s favor, his influence greatly diminished, leaving him unable to compete with Chief Eunuch Liang.
It was entirely an undeserved calamity...
Not only was Liu Qin furious, but his disciples were also stifled with resentment. Their master had been in a foul mood for days, scolding them at the slightest provocation. But what could they do?
They had no choice but to tread carefully, serving him with utmost caution.
The young eunuch was deeply worried, praying silently for his master to regain the Emperor’s favor. But now, his worries only grew.
Today, a rare opportunity arose—the Emperor had requested a pot of Biluochun tea, and it happened to be Liu Qin’s shift in the tea room. An audience with the Emperor was of the utmost importance, so Liu Qin’s expression softened. He didn’t mind lowering himself to perform the duties of a tea-serving eunuch.
He swiftly brewed and inspected the tea, ready to deliver it to the study, when suddenly—Little Lizi, Chief Eunuch Liang’s personal disciple, walked in!
...
Watching Liu Qin seethe with rage, muttering "Liang Jiugong" under his breath, the young eunuch inwardly groaned. He followed Liu Qin out of the tea room like a quail, not daring to make a sound.
Though Liu Qin had lost the privilege of serving the Emperor directly, he was still the deputy chief eunuch of Qianqing Palace. His quarters were far from the shared dormitories, with a screen separating his sleeping area from his desk and chairs.
Returning to his room, Liu Qin slammed his hand on the table, his expression still grim. He gritted his teeth. "...Does he think cozying up to Consort Yi and becoming her lapdog means he can rest easy? That old fool will face his downfall sooner or later!"
The young eunuch faintly sensed that the discord between his master and Chief Eunuch Liang wasn’t just about vying for the Emperor’s favor—it was also entangled with the harem’s power struggles.
Chief Eunuch Liang subtly praised Consort Yi, while Liu Qin leaned toward Consort Hui, secretly passing her information. The young eunuch had long suspected that Liu Qin either received benefits from Yanxi Palace or was connected to the Nara clan...
But suspicion was one thing—seeking confirmation was out of the question.
Snapping back to attention, he cautiously echoed Liu Qin’s words before hearing him ask, "Regarding the matter of Young Master Fulu, did you follow my instructions? Has Consort Hui given any orders?"
At this, the young eunuch perked up slightly, his fear fading. "I relayed everything exactly as you instructed, word for word. As for Yanxi Palace... there’s been no word yet."
Liu Qin exhaled slowly, murmuring, "Good," his eyes narrowing with a sinister glint.
The young eunuch scratched his head, hesitating before finally asking in a small, puzzled voice, "Master, Young Master Fulu never said anything to surpass the Eldest Prince. Why did you...?"
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t fathom the purpose of fabricating such a story. It would only stir conflict between Consort Hui and Consort Yi, pitting the Eldest Prince against the Fifth Prince.
Even if Consort Hui gained the upper hand, Consort Yi still enjoyed the Emperor’s favor. Both sides would suffer heavy losses—who would truly benefit?
Could it be that his master, because of Chief Eunuch Liang, had developed a grudge against Consort Yi?
...That couldn’t be it.
"Enough with your questions! Curb your curiosity, or you’ll lose your head," Liu Qin snapped, his narrowed eyes flashing with warning. He rubbed his hands together, blowing on them for warmth, then waved dismissively. "I have my reasons! Now go—fetch water and prepare my foot bath. If it’s cold, you’ll taste the cane."
Consort Ping remained entirely unaware that Qianqing Palace’s deputy chief eunuch had suffered because of her, nor did she know that the bribed eunuch San Yuan had been beaten thirty times. At this moment, her expression was even darker than Liu Qin’s.
The senior palace maid Zhu Chai trembled as she whispered, "My mother is still in the manor. I thought she had fallen gravely ill, but it turned out the master wished to see me personally... He said, he said that Your Ladyship should follow the lead of Yikun Palace, help pass along messages, and assist the Hesheli clan in overcoming their difficulties. He warned you not to entertain any improper thoughts."
Consort Ping abruptly stood up and slapped Zhu Chai hard across the face, her expression twisted with disbelief, as if she had just heard the most absurd joke. "Join forces with Consort Yi? Follow her lead? My uncle actually warned me over this? Say it again!"
Zhu Chai immediately dropped to her knees, not daring to touch her stinging cheek. She kowtowed repeatedly, her voice choked with tears. "Your Ladyship, please calm your anger! This servant would never dare deceive you!"
She had never expected that a visit home would bring such shocking news...
Consort Ping collapsed onto the couch, taking a long moment to recover. Her heart churned with disgust, as if she had swallowed a fly.
Had her uncle lost his mind?
When had the Hesheli clan’s troubles ever required the help of that wretched woman, Mrs. Guoluoluo?! As long as their clansmen worked diligently and her uncle exerted his influence in court, with the Crown Prince’s backing, reversing the Emperor’s opinion would be effortless—reinstatement was practically guaranteed!
Not to mention, she and Consort Yi were already locked in bitter enmity. There was no simple way to reconcile.
Because of Consort Yi, her once-certain promotion to consort had been downgraded to that of a mere concubine. Afterward, she had been punished with copying sutras, acted impulsively to win favor, and only earned the Emperor’s misunderstanding and disdain. The endless mockery from the other concubines had turned her into a laughingstock of the harem.
Every time she recalled these humiliations, Consort Ping’s eyes burned red with hatred, her heart dripping blood.
The Emperor never spared her a glance, yet he had supported that vile woman countless times.
As a noble daughter of the Hesheli clan and the younger sister of the late empress, being told to follow Yikun Palace’s lead was worse than death!
After a long while of violent emotional turmoil, Consort Ping’s face contorted as she snapped off a fingernail. She muttered under her breath, "A dream..."
"Follow her lead? Hah. Absolutely impossible." Her venomous gaze lingered on Zhu Chai before she spoke slowly, "If any messages come from Yikun Palace, block them. As for my uncle—"
She closed her eyes, a mocking smile twisting her lips as she enunciated each word, "My uncle has grown senile. If he disregards familial bonds, why should I? I’ll agree to his demands, but what messages get passed along will depend entirely on my mood. Now leave! I wish to be alone."
Yikun Palace.
"Did Your Ladyship already anticipate Chuxiu Palace’s reaction?" The sweet fragrance of fruit filled the inner chamber as Ruizhu poured a steaming cup of sweet fruit tea and said quietly, "...Recently, their palace gates have been tightly shut. One could say the atmosphere is tense as a battlefield. Our people have tried to deliver messages but found no way in."
The steam obscured Yunxiu’s breathtakingly beautiful face. She took a sip from her cup and replied indifferently, "The Hesheli woman despises me to the core. How could she possibly walk the path Suo Etu laid out for her? Pretending compliance while secretly defying orders suits her nature far better."
When consumed by bitterness, it was common to fixate on one’s grievances—especially for someone like Consort Ping, who had suffered setback after setback since entering the palace. Her mind was no longer calm or rational.
If she could endure humiliation and bide her time, Yunxiu would have been impressed.
"I’ve done my part—offered help and passed along messages with the utmost sincerity. As for whether it proves effective..." She smiled lightly, her tone serene. "Every grievance has its source. The Hesheli clan can’t blame me for their misfortunes."
An alliance?
If little Hesheli found it repulsive, did she not feel the same?
Yunxiu had never forgotten—not for a single moment—Consort Ping’s scheme to push Yinqi into the water.
Her unfinished words faded into the air: "Since she insists on making a spectacle of herself, let her keep at it. Ruizhu, have the kitchen prepare some snacks and bring me those account books sent by Yongshou Palace..."
Yunxiu chuckled. "I can’t keep neglecting the task Consort Hui entrusted to me."
Seeing her mistress in high spirits, Ruizhu smiled as well and hurriedly assented before turning to leave.
Just then, Nanny Dong lifted the curtain and entered, curtsying with a slightly grave expression. "Your Ladyship, Consort Hui has requested to see several young masters of the Nala clan, claiming they would accompany the Eldest Prince in archery and horsemanship. The Emperor granted permission almost immediately after the Eldest Prince made the appeal."
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Yet no one knew what Consort Hui had schemed. In the blink of an eye, she went to the Empress Dowager and suggested that with so many distinguished young guests in the palace—brave and martial youths—it would be fitting for the Eldest Prince to lead his maternal cousin in a performance before the two Dowagers. Besides providing entertainment, it would also add to the festive spirit of the New Year... The Empress Dowager, being elderly, adored lively scenes and children, so she immediately approved Consort Hui’s proposal."
The young master of the Nara clan—Consort Hui’s nephew.
Yunxiu fell silent for a moment, rubbing her temples before asking, "With such a grand spectacle, is this related to Fulu?"
"Your Highness is correct," Nanny Dong sighed, a flicker of anger in her eyes. "Rumors have spread from somewhere, claiming that in a few years, young master Fulu will surely surpass even the Eldest Prince in martial prowess. Consort Hui added fuel to the fire in Cining Palace, saying that Fulu had trained in martial arts since childhood. Her nephew, upon hearing this, was eager to challenge him!"
"'Trained since childhood, surpassing even the Eldest Prince'?" Yunxiu’s expression darkened, and she nearly laughed in disbelief. "How old is her nephew? How old is Fulu? Has she no shame? Did the Empress Dowager actually agree to this?"
"One is ten, the other eight, and the youngest around six..." Nanny Dong answered softly. "The Empress Dowager did not consent to the duel but mentioned she had yet to meet the Fifth Prince’s study companion."
With Consort Hui’s instigation, the Empress Dowager’s summons to Cining Palace would likely arrive soon.
Yunxiu frowned deeply.
After a long pause, she said, "Send word to my sister-in-law. Have her bring Fulu to the palace at once."
It was Fulu’s first time entering Cining Palace, yet he remained utterly fearless, clutching Yunxiu’s hand tightly as he looked around with wide-eyed curiosity, not a trace of timidity in him.
The Empress Dowager took an instant liking to such a lively, spirited child.
"Fulu, Fulu—what a blessed name for a fortunate child," the Empress Dowager beside her chuckled warmly, beckoning him closer with a smile. "They say that in a few years, Fulu might grow even more formidable in martial arts than Yinti! Is that true?"
The Eldest Prince scoffed quietly to himself, while Consort Hui maintained a composed smile, about to interject—
Fulu lifted his little chin, puffing out his chest proudly. "Of course it’s true!"
