“Do you intend to kill Xie Xian?” Gu Jiu asked nervously, lowering her voice.
Liu Zhao still hadn’t spoken. Was this matter truly so troublesome?
He shook his head. “Xie Xian isn’t worth worrying about.”
Gu Jiu frowned, unable to understand why he said that.
But Xie Xian had seen Guard Zhao’s face; could that really be nothing?
Liu Zhao continued, “Whether it’s Xie er laoye or Xie Xian, neither of them has actually seen bengongzi with their own eyes. As long as they haven’t, even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn’t dare step forward to identify bengongzi. The only people who’ve ever seen bengongzi are Lu hou… and you.”
Gu Jiu opened her mouth. “And Pei Yun jiejie.”
Liu Zhao raised a brow. “Since when did you and Pei Yun become so close? Why don’t I know about this?”
Gu Jiu secretly rolled her eyes. “You can’t possibly know everything about me. Besides, Pei jiejie is a very good person.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. There’s nothing between me and Pei Yun.”
Gu Jiu blinked. She hadn’t even thought along those lines before; wasn’t this practically a confession in disguise?
“What’s with that look in your eyes?” Liu Zhao frowned, staring at her.
Gu Jiu asked with a hint of gossip, “So you really don’t like Pei jiejie?”
Thunk!
Her forehead was flicked. Gu Jiu clutched the spot, tears springing up involuntarily.
She frowned, looking pained, gritting her teeth. “Surnamed Liu, I already told you not to lay a hand on me!”
“You used to call me Liu gongzi. Now you just call me ‘Surnamed Liu.’ Gu Jiu, can’t you be a little less heartless?” Liu Zhao finally voiced the complaint he’d been holding back.
Ever since their betrothal, Gu Jiu’s attitude had done a complete 180. Where she had once been polite, now she was dismissive, so much so that she wouldn’t even give him a proper form of address. Truly excessive!
Gu Jiu bared her teeth at him. “Touch me again and I won’t be polite!”
Amused, Liu Zhao asked, “And how exactly do you plan to ‘not be polite’ to bengongzi?”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “Why don’t you guess?”
Liu Zhao couldn’t guess, which frustrated him greatly.
Gu Jiu snorted in satisfaction. Finally, she’d won a round. Not bad at all.
She asked, “So there’s really nothing going on with Pei jiejie?”
“You’d better worry about yourself first. Pei Yun doesn’t need your concern. As the daughter of Lu hou, her very identity is her shield. At least for now, no one dares touch her, not even the Empress.” His words rang with certainty.
Gu Jiu understood.
Liu Zhao went on, “The Empress wants to know whether I truly went to the northwest. You are the key witness. She can’t touch Lu hou, so she’ll target you. If you say you saw me there, niangniang will flay me alive. Can you withstand that?”
Gu Jiu hesitated. “I don’t know if I can. If the Empress uses ruthless methods, I’m not confident.”
She was genuinely afraid of pain. If the Empress ordered torture, Gu Jiu was certain, before the whip even landed, she’d spill everything.
Yes, she was that unsteady. No denying it.
Liu Zhao thought for a moment, then said, “Forget it. I’ll handle this. All you need to remember is: if the Empress questions you, just say you don’t know anything.”
Gu Jiu looked at him. “Will that really be enough?”
The Empress wasn’t that easy to deal with.
Expressionless, Liu Zhao replied, “Of course it won’t be that simple. That’s why I said I’ll find a way to resolve it.”
“You mean to cut off the problem at its root?”
Liu Zhao smiled faintly. “The Empress is racing against time. How many days do you think she has left?”
Gu Jiu’s heart lurched, her chest tightening, mouth suddenly dry. “Don’t you dare act recklessly. This is a matter of life and death.”
“Bengongzi never acts recklessly. Everything I do is planned,” Liu Zhao said solemnly.
Gu Jiu frowned, her expression grave. “Surnamed Liu, let me warn you, if you die, I won’t meet a good end either. So before I die, I’ll curse you ten thousand times, and then I’ll dig up your corpse to flog it.”
Liu Zhao’s face darkened. “Can’t you ever wish bengongzi well? You want to flog bengongzi’s corpse? They say a woman’s heart is the most vicious; turns out it’s true.”
“I only learned from you,” Gu Jiu snorted coldly, silently cursing him a thousand times over in her heart. He was playing with fire, gambling with his life!
Marrying this man, Gu Jiu felt, was going to give her heart disease any day now.
Liu Zhao chuckled softly, his smile faint. He raised a hand to gently caress her cheek. “I haven’t even married you yet, how could I bear to die? You’d better give up hoping for my early death. If you want to be a widow, bengongzi does not agree.”
Gu Jiu secretly rolled her eyes, turned her head, and flung his hand away.
But Liu Zhao caught her hand instead. “Don’t worry. Bengongzi promises nothing will happen to you.”
“In this palace, every day I’m threatened and terrified. Who’s going to settle that debt?”
Her tone was that of someone already planning to collect in the future, which made Liu Zhao almost burst out laughing.
He only allowed himself a hidden smile in his heart; outwardly, he kept his face stern and disdainful.
“Once you’re married, bengongzi will hand over all my private savings to you. Will that satisfy you?”
Gu Jiu’s eyes darted slyly. She asked in a low voice, “You actually have private money?”
Liu Zhao’s face stiffened. “Are you looking down on bengongzi?”
Gu Jiu muttered softly, “I heard imperial grandsons are all rather poor.”
Indeed, the Son of Heaven was notoriously stingy with granting titles. So far, not a single imperial grandson had received a proper noble rank; they held only the title of Imperial Grandson, nothing more.
The title of Imperial Grandson might look noble, but in truth, it was worth little. His yearly allowance of two or three thousand taels wasn’t even enough to support a household, let alone fund any real endeavour.
Even with occasional supplements from their wangye and wangfei, it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
And not just the imperial grandsons, many imperial sons without titles were just as poor, forced to scrounge in the palace every few days.
Liu Zhao said flatly, “However poor bengongzi may be, I can still afford to support you. Stop worrying needlessly.”
Gu Jiu let out a quiet breath. If, after marriage, she had to use up her dowry just to feed herself and Liu Zhao, that would be truly bitter.
As long as Liu Zhao held some industries in his name, she had ways to grow them, to turn profits until she was a little wealthy woman, living comfortably with a smile every day.
Liu Zhao had seen through her by now: this girl was a little money-grubber. Give her anything, it couldn’t compare to simply giving her silver.
He patted himself down. Of all days to come into the palace, he’d brought no money with him. The thought of showing off before Gu Jiu shattered instantly into dust.
Face full of frustration, Liu Zhao simply unfastened the jade pendant from his waist and pressed it into her hand. “Take this. Keep it for an emergency.”
“I don’t want it.” Gu Jiu’s face was cold, her rejection firm.
Spurned, Liu Zhao bristled. “Bengongzi is giving you something, why won’t you take it?”
Gu Jiu’s eyes lingered on the pendant in his hand. “It’s too valuable. I’m afraid I’d lose it.”
Liu Zhao was even more dejected. He asked, almost against his will, “If I gave you silver instead, would you take it?”
Gu Jiu nodded, then asked the most cutting question of all: “Do you even have silver on you?”
Liu Zhao’s expression turned stormy, like the depths of winter, cold enough to freeze. Gu Jiu always knew exactly where to jab the knife.
“Bengongzi didn’t bring any today. Tomorrow, I’ll send some to you.”
Oh.
Gu Jiu’s face remained blank.
What’s the point of talking big when you’ve got no money?
In any case, she refused to take the jade. She remembered all too clearly, her father’s imprisonment had begun with a jade pendant at the centre of a major case.
Carrying Liu Zhao’s personal jade would only invite trouble. In the palace, caution was everything.
Noise stirred outside. Liu Zhao said, “I have to go. You don’t know the palace well, so don’t wander, don’t follow strangers. Be careful with your food and drink.”
Gu Jiu’s heart skipped. “Do you mean someone might actually poison me?”
“Better safe than sorry.”
He gave her hand a tug, then let go, and left without a backwards glance.
Gu Jiu stood at the window, watching him through a narrow gap. He walked away in a rush, as though something urgent had happened.
A ripple of worry stirred in her. Could it be the Empress had already moved against him?
Liu Zhao had already lost the first advantage. Could he still turn the situation to his favour?
Qing Mei entered just then, and Gu Jiu moved away from the window.
“Guniang, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Gu Jiu shook her head. “It’s quiet outside. Is Xiao guniang here?”
“Xiao guniang went to the main hall to accompany Shu fei. Wangye is there too.”
“Has wangye left the palace?”
“Nubi doesn’t know. Should I try to find out?”
“Would you be able to?”
Qing Mei whispered, “Guniang, nubi spent fifty taels to make a connection with a palace maid here. Ordinary news, I can usually get.”
Gu Jiu thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Forget it. Don’t act rashly. This is the palace. Without an order, wandering about would give others an excuse against you. If something happened to you, I might not even hear before you’d already been ruined.”
Qing Mei shivered.
She had been too naïve earlier, thinking silver could open every door. But this was the palace; rules reigned above all. Step out of line without permission, and being beaten to death would be considered your own fault.
Trembling slightly, Qing Mei nodded. “Nubi will do as guniang says.”
The long hours dragged until three-quarters past Shen (around 5:45 p.m.), when it was time for dinner.
Before Shu fei, no one dared to eat comfortably.
Even Xiao guniang sat rigid, observing every rule, not daring to make the slightest mistake.
Shu fei, being older, had little appetite. After only a few bites, she put her chopsticks down.
At once, Gu Jiu and Xiao guniang also set theirs aside.
Leaning back against her chair, Shu fei said, “Bengong is weary. You may all withdraw.”
“Yes!”
Gu Jiu rose to take her leave. Xiao guniang seemed to have more to say and remained behind.
Once outside Changchun Palace, Gu Jiu finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She followed the attendants back to Weiyang Palace. That walk was the freest she had felt all day.
But once they reached Weiyang Palace, it was back to the battlefield, every moment requiring vigilance.
Returning to her small side chamber, she washed up briefly, then collapsed onto the bed.
“Guniang, Wei san guniang has come.”
Gu Jiu sat up from the bed.
“Wei san jiejie, you’re here.”
“Meimei must be tired.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “I can still manage.”
Wei san lowered her voice. “Life in this palace is unbearably stifling. I’ve already sent word to my family to see if there’s any way to leave earlier.”
Gu Jiu asked softly, “Has the Empress niangniang not spoken to you?”
Wei san shook her head. “Niangniang’s health isn’t good. I heard that tomorrow a mama will come to teach us palace rules.”
Gu Jiu was surprised, but after a moment she understood.
For people like them to live idly in the palace every day was not proper. Giving them things to do also gave the palace a chance to observe everyone’s temperament and conduct.
Learning rules, memorising the imperial genealogy – it at least passed the time.
If the next few days were spent this way, Gu Jiu would be content.
Anything was better than facing the Empress directly.
The night passed quietly.
The next morning, indeed, a mama arrived to teach them palace rules.
The mama was very strict, nitpicking at each and every one.
In the mornings, they studied palace etiquette. In the afternoons, they practised embroidery.
Gu Jiu’s embroidery was simply appalling, and so she became the mama’s ‘special project’.
For a time, Gu Jiu’s days could only be described as a living hell.
At night, by candlelight, they had to recite the imperial genealogy.
After a day of toil, Gu Jiu nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
Qing Mei fetched someone to bring hot water, hoping to relieve her fatigue.
Two little eunuchs carried in a tub of hot water. “Please use the water, Gu guniang.”
“Thank you.”
“Gu guniang is too polite.”
As they left, one of the eunuchs dropped a pouch on the ground.
Qing Mei picked it up to return it, but when she stepped out, the person was already gone.
“How could he leave so quickly? He was here just a moment ago,” Qing Mei muttered.
“What did you pick up?” Gu Jiu asked casually, preparing to wash.
“It’s a pouch, and a very fine one at that. Who would have thought even the lowly eunuchs here could use a gold-thread embroidered pouch?”
Just one such pouch cost several taels of silver.
For the lowest-ranking eunuch to own such a thing was strange.
Gu Jiu quickly said, “Bring it to me.”
Qing Mei handed it over.
The moment Gu Jiu saw it, she knew something was off. It was embroidered with twin fish, not something just anyone could use.
Her heart stirred, and she had a bold guess. She opened it hurriedly, and sure enough, inside were banknotes worth a thousand taels and a slip of paper.
On the paper were five bold, forceful characters: “Bengongzi will support you!”
Gu Jiu’s lips twitched.
How childish. She had only made an offhand remark yesterday, yet Liu Zhao had taken it seriously. He even went so far as to write those five words, flaunting his wealth?
Gu Jiu rubbed her forehead. Such a childish man, was this really her fiancé?
If you have the guts, give me ten thousand taels!
One thousand taels to “support her”, did he underestimate her ability to spend?
Making money, she wouldn’t claim to be brilliant.
But spending money, ha! She had never lost to anyone.
The next time she saw Liu Zhao, she was determined to mock him mercilessly.
“Guniang, about this pouch…”
Gu Jiu put away her smile and said to Qing Mei, “It’s from Liu Zhao. Keep it for me.”
She tossed the slip of paper into the candle flame.
She watched it burn into ashes with her own eyes.
Hearing that the pouch was from Liu Zhao, Qing Mei was startled.
She whispered, “I didn’t expect Gongzi Zhao could even bribe people in Weiyang Palace.”
Gu Jiu answered quietly, “It’s only a minor eunuch, hardly someone who can handle anything important.”
With the Empress’s shrewdness, Gu Jiu didn’t believe Liu Zhao could buy off anyone directly at her side.
At most, he could bribe some peripheral figures, like that eunuch.
But with the Empress’s health declining by the day, things that were once impossible might now become possible.
Looking toward the main hall of Weiyang Palace, Gu Jiu pondered: If Liu Zhao wanted to strike at the root, how would he do it?
Bribe the people closest to the Empress? Or bribe the taiyi?
No, bribing the taiyi would leave too many traces. It looked simple, but the risks were endless.
Or perhaps Liu Zhao had another method?
Soaking in the hot water, Gu Jiu drifted into sleep while thinking.
She was awakened by Qing Mei, quickly dressed, and lay down properly on the bed.
The same two eunuchs came in to carry away the water.
The one who had dropped the pouch didn’t even glance at her; his face looked honest and guileless.
Gu Jiu nodded to herself. It was precisely men like that who could fool everyone’s eyes.
When the eunuchs left, night was deep.
Gu Jiu pulled Qing Mei into her bed. The two of them squeezed together under one quilt, keeping warm.
In the following days, Gu Jiu spent her mornings learning palace rules, evenings reciting the imperial genealogy. Time flew quickly.
Before she knew it, it was the tenth day of the first month.
She still hadn’t seen the Empress during this time.
Gu Jiu had been hoping the Empress would forget her completely, but fate always liked to mock people.
A palace maid came with a summons: the Empress wished to see her.
Gu Jiu steadied herself, put down her work, and followed the maid toward the bedchamber.
All along the way, she hardly saw anyone. It was as if everyone in Weiyang Palace had vanished.
The closer they came to the Empress’s bedchamber, the heavier Gu Jiu’s unease grew.
A dreadful feeling rose within her. The Empress must have prepared something today.
But was Liu Zhao ready?
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