After the first frost, the days grew colder by the day. The chill in the palace was an intangible cold, like drifting threads of silk that gnawed into the bones.
As dusk’s last ray of sunlight disappeared, a faint blue remained in the sky. The stone pavilions lining the paths began to light up. Young eunuchs, aged twelve or thirteen, carried oil barrels and paper wicks, taking small, quick steps forward. The wind made the tiny flame at the wick’s tip flicker brightly, forming a continuous, undulating line in the twilight, winding along the base of the walls.
When the side door opened, a rush of damp air hit them, causing a shiver to run through their hearts. A palace maid stepped out to take a look, then retreated to report back. Standing in the shadow by the door was a person wearing a flower crown and a dark red round-collared robe. The sunflower-patterned belt of mutton-fat jade cinched tightly at the waist, and the black velvet collar angled across both cheeks, highlighting the distinct, deep features even in the darkness.
“The robes from the Imperial Garment Bureau have arrived. Please inspect them, my lord.”
A tray lacquered in bright red was presented, with the ceremonial robes neatly folded, their edges sharp and defined. The person in the shadow slowly stepped into the light. She turned her face slightly, her complexion glowing white under the lamp. She raised her hand to examine every corner and seam. The attire for the crown prince had to pass through countless inspections from its completion until it was delivered to the Eastern Palace, and the closer it got to the final stage, the more careful they had to be.
The palace attendants kept their eyes on their toes, the wait being the most torturous part. Unlike before, this inspection was taking longer than usual. They waited and waited, but no approval came, and a vague sense of unease began to settle in. No one dared to lift their eyes. With their hearts pounding, they bent lower, the sound of the iron hooks of the lanterns swaying on the eaves creaking softly in the still night, each noise piercing the silence.
A flowing sleeve of the pipa gently swayed by, and a soft voice floated down from above, “Aunt Wei, have you ever smelled the fragrance of Canaan?”
The steward of the Imperial Garment Bureau hurriedly responded, “Yes, I have smelled it…”
A slender finger pushed over the lacquered tray.
The steward raised her head in a panic, meeting a pair of beautiful eyes. These eyes had not been worn down by hardship; they were alive, containing vast, smoky waves and gentle spring waters. However, the better something is, the more distant it can feel, much like the deities in a shrine—worthy of reverence but not petty disputes.
Aunt Wei, her heart racing and breath short, nervously lifted her sleeve and sniffed the incense on the garments. The scent was faint, not as strong after diffusing, but still sweet enough to be cloying.
“What is going on!” she suddenly exclaimed, turning to harshly reprimand the palace maid, “Who took it upon themselves to change the incense?”
The palace maid holding the lacquered tray was terrified, her fingers gripping the tray’s edge so tightly that her nails turned white.
“Answering Aunt Wei,” she stammered, “during the last inspection, Chief Steward Xia mentioned that the Crown Prince likely doesn’t like the scent of Canaan. He said a string of prayer beads was brought from the south as tribute, but the Crown Prince didn’t want to keep them and immediately sent them to the storeroom as soon as he touched them…”
Aunt Wei gritted her teeth angrily, “Who does this Chief Steward Xia think he is? He’s just a longtime servant! And you all listen to him!”
But anger aside, the damage was already done, and scolding wouldn’t solve the problem. She turned back, lowering her posture respectfully, “I will immediately prepare a fresh set of incense. It’s not yet the fifth watch so it won’t delay the master’s morning audience. Lady Su, please…”
Lady Su, Su Xinghe, was the female Minister of the Eastern Palace. Unlike most of them, due to her background, she entered the palace as an honored servant with the rank equivalent to a fourth-ranked official. Five years later, she was promoted by one rank to serve as the Minister of the Eastern Palace, reviewing documents and other matters on behalf of the Crown Prince. She was part of the Crown Prince’s administrative staff. However, the world was always unfair to women. Despite her high-sounding title, the prefix “female” meant that, in addition to assisting with administrative duties, her primary role was to take care of the Crown Prince’s daily needs.
Dealing with female officials involved with the outer court was sometimes difficult, especially one known for her strictness. Falling into her hands usually meant trouble.
As Su Xinghe chuckled coldly, “The higher-ups have not favored the scent of tuberose. Tomorrow, a special incense burner is supposed to be used, the only one bestowed by the Emperor. Where will you find an identical replacement, Aunt Wei? While I can be accommodating, the concern is whether this will be acceptable to the master. You know the Crown Prince has specific preferences for incense. Strong scents upset his stomach and clash with his constitution.”
Being sensitive to scents was merely a superficial explanation. The Crown Prince sometimes developed rashes from certain smells, in severe cases, he even experienced shortness of breath. What kind of substance could make the Empire’s heir apparent struggle to breathe? Who would dare let that happen? The implications behind this were alarming when examined closely.
Aunt Wei was stunned. Her knees weakened, and she knelt, prostrating herself on the ground, her hands clutching the gaps between the bricks. “I have failed in my duties. Please, Lady Su, punish me.”
Making such a mistake in her position was a serious offense, especially with items used personally by the Crown Prince. There was no minimizing this; any punishment would inevitably affect a large group. Aunt Wei was terrified. She had worked in the Imperial Garment Bureau for over a decade, always smoothly managing her duties. Inevitably, she had grown complacent over time. Now, facing such a mistake, survival itself was in jeopardy. Thoughts of her position and salary were now beyond her reach.
Her inner garments were thoroughly soaked, the cold biting into her skin, making her feel as though a needle had pierced her head, with her very essence leaking away from its point. She was trembling uncontrollably, facing despair. The palace was no place for leniency. She knew what awaited her. She wished she could close her eyes and let it over, but she couldn’t. She had to endure. Amid her terror, she saw the robe embroidered with waves step into her view. The lantern light caught the gold and silver threads, occasionally emitting a blinding glint.
“We’re all familiar with each other; there’s no need for such severity.” The voice from above softened, becoming unexpectedly gentle. “The servants acted indifferently, and Aunt Wei failed to supervise them properly. While this shouldn’t have happened, the fault isn’t severe. Here’s what we’ll do: the servants on duty will each receive thirty lashes from the Imperial Servants Bureau. As for Aunt Wei, she’ll be confined for ten days and have her salary docked for six months. A small punishment to serve as a warning.”
While speaking, she gently extended a hand to help Aunt Wei. She then turned and instructed the attendants to take the garments inside, replace the incense, and re-scent them. Several palace maids responded affirmatively, to the ceremonial attire and related items.
What could have been a capital offense was resolved with a flogging and a six-month salary deduction. The staff of the Imperial Garment Bureau, who had fallen from the brink of despair, came to their senses and knelt in gratitude, repeatedly expressing their thanks. Aunt Wei, in particular, offered her profound gratitude, “Lady Su, you truly have a heart of gold. If not for your mercy today, we would not have survived this.”
The opposite person remained composed, with a hint of gentleness in demeanor. “In the palace, there are always moments when one’s words may stumble. Why should I make it difficult for you when I can easily mend the situation?”
Of course, words are just words, and their meaning depends on the speaker. Aunt Wei felt immensely grateful for this lifeline and repeatedly said, “If there’s ever a way I can be of use to you in the future, I will wholeheartedly repay your kindness.”
The person opposite and nodded before turning away, heading towards the main hall.
The palace was vast, with the central area used for governance and administrative affairs. On either side were two side halls. Behind the gilded, six-panel diamond-patterned door to the east the Crown Prince’s sleeping quarters.
Standing in front of the door, she glanced inside. the inner chamber and the antechamber stood a delicately embroidered silk screen depicting mountains and water. The fabric was light and thin, with oil lamps illuminating the room, casting a hazy light on the palace maid serving tea, her body bowed respectfully. Behind the embroidered silk screen, a hand emerged from the hanging curtain, its knuckles white and slender. With a gesture akin to plucking a flower, the hand gracefully received the tea tray, seemingly effortlessly balancing the weight of the cups and saucers.
In truth, court life was as colorful and vibrant as outsiders imagined. Every task had its steadfast rules and regulations. Stepping back, she stood at the corner of the grand hall, observing the incense burning, the arrangement of bedding, the lowering of curtains—all activities proceeding in an orderly fashion under her watchful gaze. This place emphasized stability and composure, prohibiting haste and clamor. She appreciated this aspect, the graceful movements of the palace maids with admiration. Even the most accomplished performers on stage might struggle to replicate their fluid motions.
A half-sized golden dragon incense burner was brought in, and when it was placed on the ground, it made a low, resonant sound as it touched the golden bricks. Two palace maids rolled up their sleeves and hung the ceremonial attire on a rack. One of them twisted a half-damp towel in a basin, to wipe the sleeves and hems of the garments back and forth.
The previous scent had already permeated the fabric, it needed to be diluted before applying a different one. One of the palace maids asked softly, “Madam, should we still use the Canaan fragrance?”
She shook her head; the scents of Osmanthus and Canaan didn’t blend well together. She said, “Use Frankincense.” While this fragrance wasn’t as precious as Dragon’s Tears or Canaan and lacked a distinct character, it had a gentle tone that harmonized well with others. According to the records, it was said to be “initially not very fragrant, but when blended with other fragrances, it becomes beautiful,” sometimes being moderate was valuable.
The palace maids received the order; one lifted the lid burner, while the other poured the incense into it. Frankincense, being highly flammable, quickly ignited, creating a lively scene visible through the hollows on the top of the burner. The ceremonial attire was spread out, and the curved arc of the incense burner covered the embroidered dragon on the back of the robe. The majestic horns and scales of the dragon gleamed brilliantly against the dark blue satin.
The palace attendant emerged from the inner chamber and gestured for her to follow, saying, “Madam, the master invites you to speak with him.”
Upon hearing this, she stepped over the threshold and entered.
People filed out of the inner chamber in an orderly fashion, leaving the hall quiet except for the occasional drip of water from the hourglass. She walked through the dappled light, past the screen, and stopped at the edge of the carpet to bow respectfully, saying, “I await the master’s instructions.”
Behind the hanging velvet canopy, there was no sign of the Crown Prince, only a portion of his dark robe trailing gracefully over the footstool, shimmering slightly with movement.
After a long wait, a solitary voice finally emerged, devoid of emotion or expression, “Today, during the court session in the Hall of Governmental Affairs, the Left Imperial Consort’s eunuch reported that Her Highness the Consort’s health is not well, and requested His Majesty’s concern.”
Upon hearing this, she understood immediately. It was not the first time such a report had been made. Sometimes, women just enjoyed chasing after meaningless titles.
The Empress Dowager Gong passed away six years ago, leaving the position of Empress vacant. Although the Emperor favored the Left Imperial Consort, he was unwilling to name her as Empress. The Consort was just one step away from the Empress’s position, but that step seemed overwhelming, like crossing mountains and rivers. So how could she assert her identity in front of court officials and princes? It was nothing more than persuading the Emperor to set aside his governmental affairs and visit her Phoenix Nest Palace to show concern. With the Emperor’s favor, such actions would surely bring her great prestige. Over time, she could stand on equal footing with the previous Empresses.
“If the master cannot come, then I will go to the Phoenix Nest Palace tomorrow to inquire about Her Highness’s well-being on behalf of the master.”
The person on the couch uttered a long “hm,” and then continued, “And there’s the matter of the assassination attempt on the Prince Consort. The Princess Consort insists on resolving it, so we can’t delay any longer. Tomorrow, you’ll have to visit the Ministry of War with a reasonable excuse to suspend the case.”
This time, she didn’t respond, her brows furrowed in silence.
The Crown Prince finally noticed and set aside the documents, sitting up.
The palace lamp overhead cast a dim light, illuminating the carved edges of the rosewood bed. He rested his hand on the bedpost, his joints as white as jade, yet cold and stern.
“What’s wrong?”
She clenched her teeth. “In my humble opinion, now is not the time to suspend the case.”
“Why?”
“The Prince Consort Gao Yang died in the palace, and Princess Xiaoling is eager to close the case without investigating the cause of death. The Princess is born of the Left Imperial Consort, and recently, the Left Imperial Consort has been actively campaigning to ascend to the position of Empress…”
Those proud eyes finally smiled, with a hint of indulgence in their tone. “From this perspective, it does seem that this case should not be suspended. Not only should it not be suspended, but it needs to be thoroughly investigated, right?”
She agreed, “Please grant the Prince Consort two more days.”
The person on the couch pondered before sighing, “Very well, anyway, we’ve been dragging this out for long enough, a few more days won’t make a difference.” That hand slowly lifted, and the tone softened, beckoning like calling a cat, ” Su Xinghe, come here.”
