Early in the morning, Gu Jiu arrived at the second gate, ready to board the carriage bound for the imperial palace.
“At the palace, you must be cautious in everything. Remember, speak little, observe more. If someone makes things difficult for you, endure it if you can, and if you can’t, still endure it. The palace is not a place where you can throw your weight around, understand?”
Gu daren’s admonition was endless, fearful that Gu Jiu might cause trouble inside the palace.
Gu Jiu replied respectfully, “Thank you for Father’s guidance. Nü’er will remember. I will be careful with my words and conduct.”
Gu daren grunted, then, rare emotion showing in his voice, added, “You must come back safe. I have already arranged for your dowry to be prepared.”
“Father has worked hard.”
Gu Jiu climbed into the carriage.
The carriage swayed once, then slowly rolled out of the Gu fu toward the palace.
Only Qing Mei accompanied her.
This was palace regulation; one could only bring a single maid.
Qing Mei’s fingers were clenched so tightly they had turned white. “Guniang, we will return safely, won’t we?”
Gu Jiu smiled, taking her maid’s hand. “Don’t be afraid. You have me.”
“Nubi isn’t afraid,” Qing Mei said, forcing herself to be steady.
Gu Jiu reached out and pinched her cheek. “Once we’re inside, listen to me in everything. Nothing will happen to us.”
Qing Mei nodded heavily. “Nubi will follow guniang. It’s just a pity guniang doesn’t know anyone in the palace, you won’t even know how to get information.”
Gu Jiu lifted the curtain and looked outside. The palace rooftops were already in view.
Letting the curtain fall, she murmured, “I wonder if Jiang Yan managed to enter the palace.”
“If Jiang Yan is in the palace, would she come see you?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “Even if she entered smoothly, she wouldn’t have the privilege to move around freely. So don’t count on her. This time, it’s just the two of us.”
“Nubi understands.”
The carriage halted at the palace gates.
When Gu Jiu alighted, she saw Wei san guniang.
The two girls exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Their waist tokens were checked, and then they followed a young eunuch through the gates.
High palace walls loomed on both sides, the covered passage stretching on endlessly.
Walking beneath those walls felt like walking down a fast track to the eighteen levels of hell. It suffocated them, yet they had no choice but to keep moving forward, step after step.
No looking around.
No speaking.
Not even the right to show one’s own emotions, much less one’s own thoughts.
In the end, what remained was only fear and awe of the imperial palace.
At last, they reached the end of the corridor. The eunuch handed them over to other attendants and withdrew.
Gu Jiu and the others followed the inner attendants deeper into the palace.
One girl, too nervous, stumbled, her left foot tangling with her right. She was about to fall when Gu Jiu caught her and steadied her forward a few steps.
The girl gave her a grateful smile and whispered, “Thank you!”
Gu Jiu shook her head lightly and released her arm. “Relax, don’t be so tense.”
The girl nodded.
“Do not speak!” The attendant turned back to glare at them, the warning unmistakable.
Gu Jiu and the other girl quickly separated, lowering their eyes, following meekly with the group.
At last, they arrived at Weiyang Palace. The attendant settled the ten-odd young women into a side hall to wait.
Their maids were not allowed to follow, but were housed elsewhere.
When the attendants left, only the young women of similar status remained.
No one spoke. Not even stray glances were exchanged. The silence was so deep one could hear breathing, even the pounding of hearts.
Gu Jiu began silently counting numbers, marking the slow passage of time.
After half an hour, at last, attendants arrived to summon them to the Empress’s bedchamber.
As Gu Jiu followed the others out of the side hall, she thought to herself: Not the main hall, but the bedchamber? Could it be that the Empress is too ill to rise from bed?
And indeed, when they arrived, she saw it was true, the Empress had not risen.
The Empress looked emaciated, like a dried corpse dragged from the grave.
Standing with the others, Gu Jiu clearly noticed a few girls shudder at the sight of her ghastly appearance.
What in the world had the Empress endured in these few short days to become neither ghost nor human? Gu Jiu’s mind ran wild.
What she didn’t know was that the Empress, in order to prolong her life, had been burning her last drops of blood essence, taking ferocious medicines, enduring agony beyond what life could bear, reducing herself to this terrifying state.
The Empress coughed lightly and said, “Sit down. Standing like this, how can bengong see you clearly?”
Palace maids brought small stools for each of them.
Gu Jiu sat down with the rest.
“Raise your heads.”
Together, they slowly lifted their faces.
The Empress smiled faintly, seeming satisfied. “Each one as beautiful as a flower. Very good.”
“Niangniang flatters us.”
Someone had spoken.
Gu Jiu traced the voice. It came from Cui guniang of Zhen guogong fu, seated beside Wei san guniang.
By blood, Cui guniang should call the Empress “Grand-Aunt.” She certainly had the standing to speak at this moment.
The Empress smiled lightly. “From the day your marriages were decreed, you must begin preparing to be proper wives to the imperial grandsons.
“It is not only a matter of rules and etiquette. More important is your heart. Your hearts must hold the imperial grandsons, must hold the imperial clan. You must think always of the greater picture, act for the imperial house, even for the realm itself.”
“You must understand, you are not like other guniang. It is not only because your future husband will be the imperial grandson. More importantly, other guniang, once married, are confined to the inner chambers. But you, once married, must also pay heed to the court, and carry the world in your heart.”
Gu Jiu’s heart skipped violently a few beats. She stole a glance at the Empress.
The Empress had spoken such rousing, yet so ill-timed words. What exactly did she mean by them?
Could it be that she truly expected that, with just a few words, some young lady might be stirred into marrying the imperial grandson with a mind to shoulder the fate of the realm?
Impossible.
Gu Jiu felt deeply uneasy, unable to fathom the Empress’s intent.
“We heed niangniang’s teaching.”
As always, Cui guniang was the one to speak first.
The Empress smiled in satisfaction and said to the palace maid beside her, “Cui guniang stays. Take the others to wait in the side hall. Bengong will speak to each of them alone.”
The maid obeyed. “Several guniang, please follow me.”
Everyone rose and left the bedchamber with the maid, leaving only Cui guniang behind.
In the side hall, they sat down to wait.
None dared drink the tea or touch the sweets, for fear they might soon need the privy.
Each young lady sat upright, hands folded properly, perfectly composed. Time ticked by; none even shifted their posture.
Gu Jiu secretly sighed with admiration. Truly, everyone’s endurance was formidable.
To sit rigidly like this without moving was, in fact, quite uncomfortable, a severe test of one’s composure. Yet every face remained calm, as though nothing was amiss.
Even Gu Jiu herself maintained the same.
At last, Cui guniang emerged, her eyes red. All turned to look, but she simply sat down in silence, ignoring their stares.
Next was Wei san.
She was destined to be Cui guniang’s zhouli, yet the two exchanged not even a glance throughout.
Wei san stayed inside for a quarter of an hour. When she came out, the young lady betrothed to the Zhao wang fu’s gongzi was summoned.
Gu Jiu looked toward Wei san, but the latter did not return her gaze, only lowered her head, lost in thought.
One by one, the young ladies went in. Soon, it was Gu Jiu’s turn.
She took a deep breath and followed the maid back into the bedchamber.
For some reason, the chamber’s light seemed dimmer than before.
The Empress lay upon her bed, head turned to watch her.
Were it not for the eerie gleam in those eyes, Gu Jiu might have thought it a corpse lying there.
Beside the bed stood a low stool. The maid indicated that Gu Jiu should sit upon it.
Gu Jiu stepped forward and sat properly. “Chennü greets the Empress niangniang.”
“Lift your head. Let bengong have a good look at you. The last time we met, there was no chance to observe you closely. Looking now, truly, a comely girl.”
“Niangniang flatters me.” Gu Jiu lowered her gaze, carefully avoiding the Empress’s eyes.
The Empress smiled soundlessly. “You are as clever as ice and snow. You must already realise, among all the guniang, yours is the lowest birth.”
Gu Jiu answered evenly, “Niangniang speaks true. Chennü’s family background is the poorest.”
The others were all daughters of nobility or of ministers of the highest rank. Not one came from a humble house.
The Empress continued, “Yours is the lowest birth, yet Gongzi Zhao chose you from among them all. Have you ever wondered why?”
Gu Jiu slowly shook her head. “In reply to niangniang, chennü has never wondered.”
“If he marries you, he gains no support from your natal family. Bengong pondered endlessly. Could it be that he cares nothing for his own marriage? Or that he has secretly fallen for you? Or… is there some other scheme? Perhaps marrying you is only to deceive the world’s eyes. Once the storm passes, he might let you wither away quietly, then he would be free to take another wife, and fill his house with concubines.”
Each word from the Empress’s lips dripped with malice, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, chilling to the bone.
At last, Gu Jiu understood why the Empress insisted on speaking with each young lady alone.
She was not merely sowing temptation; she was planting seeds of doubt and discord.
Were she truly an inexperienced maiden raised in seclusion, she would certainly be shaken by such words, living thenceforth in fear, and perhaps, one day, would indeed waste away and die.
Gu Jiu allowed just the right touch of panic to flit across her face. Lowering her head, her voice faltered slightly as she said, “Chennü does not know.”
The Empress arched her brows in a smile and suddenly reached out to pinch Gu Jiu’s jaw.
Gu Jiu’s brows drew together for a moment, but she quickly smoothed them out again.
Her eyes lifted cautiously toward the Empress, her whole demeanour frail and helpless.
Now was not the time to defy her.
Though the Empress was dying, with but a word, she could still claim Gu Jiu’s life. And afterwards, none would ever ask questions.
Dead was dead.
Reality was just that cruel.
Though there was a smile in the Empress’s eyes, Gu Jiu could see nothing but malice within it.
The Empress asked, “Gongzi Zhao deliberately chose you. Could it be that you’ve met him before?”
Gu Jiu hurriedly denied it. “Chennü only returned to the capital with my father a few months ago. Before that, chennü had never met Gongzi Zhao.”
The Empress sneered. “Bengong is not talking about the capital, but the northwest.”
Gu Jiu’s heart skipped violently. Why would the Empress suddenly bring up the northwest?
Steadying herself, Gu Jiu replied carefully, “When chennü was in the northwest, chennü was weak and frail from not acclimating to the climate, and rarely went out. Chennü certainly never met Gongzi Zhao.”
The Empress chuckled. “You’re not being truthful.”
Gu Jiu’s heart thumped again. Did the Empress know something?
“Every word chennü said is true. Chennü would never dare deceive niangniang.”
The Empress’s fingertip brushed Gu Jiu’s cheek, cold and slithering like a snake. The touch made Gu Jiu’s skin crawl and her entire body tense.
“As bengong heard, for a time earlier this year, Gongzi Zhao feigned illness, neither attending court nor entering the palace. If one counts the days, wasn’t your family still in the northwest then?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Earlier this year, my father was indeed still serving as Prefect of Jinzhou in the northwest.”
“Jinzhou is a fine place. I’ve heard it’s only a hundred li or so from Lu hou’s military camp. A half-day’s ride on horseback.”
“Chennü never went to the camp, so I don’t know.”
The Empress suddenly laughed. “You’re not afraid of bengong.”
“Chennü trembles in fear.”
“If it were any other girl, being questioned repeatedly by bengong, she would already be stammering incoherently, unable to answer clearly. Yet you, though you look frightened, your answers leave no gaps. You’re not afraid of bengong.”
“Niangniang, please discern clearly. In truth, chennü is terribly afraid. But before coming here, chennü’s father repeatedly instructed me to answer the Empress properly, no matter what. I’ve kept his words close to heart and dare not let the Gu family lose face.”
Gu Jiu’s tone was rushed and fearful, as though terrified the Empress would not believe her.
The Empress laughed softly. “Very well, bengong will believe you this once. Speak, when you were in the northwest, did you ever meet Gongzi Zhao?”
Gu Jiu shook her head repeatedly. “In the northwest, chennü never once saw Gongzi Zhao. Chennü can swear to Heaven, if a single word of mine is false, may lightning strike me dead the moment I step outside.”
In this era, oaths were held sacred.
But Gu Jiu had no such scruples. She blurted it out with ease and inwardly cried, Heavens above, don’t you dare take my oath seriously. I was only saying it for show.
The Empress regarded her suspiciously.
She had received some half-truth rumours, suspecting that Liu Zhao had secretly gone to the northwest, but she lacked proof.
She had hoped to pry some truth out of Gu Jiu. But now, was it possible she had overthought? Could it be that Liu Zhao had truly remained in the capital, never travelling to the northwest?
The Empress was vexed. In the past, she had only watched the princes and kings, neglecting the doings of the imperial grandsons.
And in that blind spot, people had carried out their schemes right under her nose.
Furious, the Empress shoved Gu Jiu away.
Gu Jiu’s jaw ached, but she sat straight and did not move.
The Empress caught her breath, but time was slipping away.
If only she had enough days left, she would have sent men to investigate the northwest thoroughly. If she could seize evidence against Ning wang and Liu Zhao, this father-son pair, she would strip them to the bone.
The Empress waved her hand. A palace maid stepped forward and said to Gu Jiu, “Gu guniang, please withdraw.”
Gu Jiu quickly rose, bowed, and left that terrifying place.
The Empress took several more gasping breaths. “Go, summon Fang shaojian.”
Her own impending death was not important, but the trail could not be abandoned.
The Empress laughed coldly to herself.
Fang shaojian soon arrived at the chamber. “I greet niangniang. How do you feel today?”
The Empress answered weakly, “The pain grows worse.”
Fang shaojian’s face filled with worry. “Niangniang, perhaps it is better to stop the medicine.”
The Empress shook her head. “Do not concern yourself with bengong’s body. Bengong can still live for a few more days. At once, send men to investigate secretly in the northwest. No matter what means you use, you must discover the truth. Did Liu Zhao secretly leave the capital for the northwest?
“When the truth comes out, bengong will likely already be gone. But if it’s proven that he left the capital without imperial order, and went to the northwest, you know what must be done.”
Fang shaojian bowed low. “Weichen obeys!”
The Empress, panting again, continued, “Also, find a way to bribe a few people close to Liu Zhao. His every move must be watched. This youngster, I once dismissed him as a worthless grandson. But I see now that I was mistaken. The brat hides himself well.”
Fang shaojian lowered his head. “Does niangniang have any further instructions?”
The Empress frowned deeply. “Bengong cannot shake the feeling that girl called Gu Jiu knows something. We must find a way to pry a few truths out of her.”
Fang shaojian thought for a moment. “Niangniang, this can be done through Xie Mao. Xie Mao is Gu furen’s elder brother. Of all people, he would know best about the Gu family’s movements in the northwest.”
The Empress nodded. “You personally go to the Xie family. You must get something out of him.”
“As you command!”
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