Chapter 4

Prince Chen’s consort, Xiao Yuru, was three months pregnant at the time.

Nothing in her figure showed it.

At my voice she turned, graceful as the women praised in ancient verse.

She warmly told me to rise and came to meet me, affectionately calling me “younger sister.”

His Highness, she said, had told her what happened in Pingjiang three years ago and asked her to treat me kindly.

Once we sat, she slipped a pair of creamy white jade bracelets from her wrists and placed them on mine. “This is your elder sister’s greeting gift. The prince’s inner court is empty but for the two of us. From now on, let us be as close as true sisters.”

I had to admit, life among the powerful was much more pleasant.

Even with dangerous currents below, the surface remained perfectly calm.

I liked it very much.

Stroking the jade, warm beneath my fingers, I understood at once.

I lowered my head, looking almost overcome with gratitude. “Thank you for the favor Your Highnesses have shown me. Someone as lowly as this servant should not dare accept such treasure, but refusing would be disrespectful. I ask only to remain at Your Highness’s side and serve you for many years.”

She smiled, and her smile was beautiful.

I smiled too.

Whether she believed me or not, every word was sincere.

The moment Lin Qi sold me into the Zhang residence, I resolved to find another road for myself.

Prince Chen’s favor showed me which road to take: cling fast to the great tree that was his household.

That being so, I would never offend its second most powerful member if I could avoid it.

My very presence might already offend her, but I would still do everything possible to remain friendly.

Even Prince Chen relied upon the influence of her maternal clan.

She might never raise me up, but she could crush me without effort or consequence.

When one lacked strength, lying low was wisdom.

I knew my place.

Even if, the moment I left this courtyard, an enemy she had intentionally—or unintentionally—created for me was waiting outside, I would face her.

Xu Hui made me realize how much I could learn from the princess consort—things I might never encounter in another lifetime.

She was the finest teacher Heaven could have bestowed on me.

Sure enough, three days later, I met Second Miss Xu again at the peony banquet held in the prince’s residence.

She arrived earliest, yet instead of greeting the princess consort she wandered into the rear garden where the banquet was to be held.

Chuntao and I were arranging cups, plates, and refreshments with the other servants.

As Xu Hui passed, she “accidentally” overturned the tea table I had just set.

Scalding tea splashed precisely onto a rare Jade Tower Spring peony, bleaching the color from its petals.

She dusted her spotless fingers and formally declared war. “Would you like to know why?”

I had already considered at length what respectable excuse she might use to conceal her hostility.

In fact, I had devised a magnificent one for her.

“Because you are honest by nature and love Her Highness like a sister. You cannot bear to see me seduce and monopolize the prince while she is pregnant. Even if Her Highness is too magnanimous to mind, you are determined to avenge her.”

From her stunned expression, I had struck the answer in her heart exactly.

She was so angry that she laughed. “At least you have some self-awareness. Just wait. I will make you pay today!”

But what, from being sold to becoming Prince Chen’s concubine, had I actually done wrong?

I had merely been duckweed carried wherever the current wished.

Only now, even duckweed had conceived the ambition to put down roots.

Watching her swagger away, I laughed aloud.

Chuntao stared. “Madam, you are not angry?”

“Of course not.”

If the residence could host a grand flower banquet, one scalded peony would not ruin it.

The greenhouse had plenty of Jade Tower Spring peonies of equal quality. We need only fetch another.

There would be ten or a hundred more if we wanted them.

Xu Hui had neither struck me nor used filthy language. How could she not be my favorite kind of opponent?

I wanted to see what other methods she possessed.

If any proved useful, I would learn them too.