Chapter 6

Worried about Xie Heng’s health after the poisoning, I packed my things and moved into his palace for the next few days.

Consort Tong visited once during that time.

I thought she had come to demand an explanation, but the moment she entered, she asked, “Are you going to the chancellor’s residence with His Majesty?”

I nodded. She took a clumsily embroidered sachet from inside her robe. “Then give this to your brother for me.”

“…Qi Yuchen?”

Holding the sachet, I looked at her hesitantly. She raised an eyebrow. “Say it.”

“Would this count as… as…”

“An improper secret exchange?” She snorted and lifted her chin. “Don’t worry. Tell His Majesty if you like. I have a clear conscience.”

So I told Xie Heng about it in the carriage on our way out.

He was perfectly calm. “I see. Is Sangsang curious about their history?”

I nodded vigorously.

He smiled and drew me close.

He seemed particularly fond of holding me, whether we were sitting or lying down.

“Before Consort Tong entered the palace, she was betrothed to Qi Yuchen. But Qi Yuxian disliked her and was always provoking and slandering her. Qi Yuchen sided with his sister, believed the rumors, and even sent a matchmaker to break off the engagement. Her reputation was ruined, so she could not marry again. I could only bring her into the palace as a consort. But there has never been anything between us.”

I blinked. “Xie Heng, are you explaining yourself to me?”

He nodded frankly. “Yes. I wouldn’t want you to misunderstand.”

A strange sweetness rose from my heart and wrapped itself tightly around me.

With a hand against my chest, I could clearly feel my heartbeat.

Beat after beat, quick and fervent.

The carriage stopped outside the chancellor’s residence. Xie Heng had sent word yesterday, so the entire household waited at the entrance and bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty, Lady Sang.”

Brilliant sunlight poured down from the sky.

For a moment, I felt dazed.

I had stood before these gates three times.

The first was when Mother brought me here and sold me for fifty taels.

The second was ten days ago, when I rode out of the palace in a carriage.

The last was today.

During that month here, I had to bow to everyone. Even Qi Yuxian’s maid could withhold my food at will and mock my worthless life.

Qi Yuchen had also sent people to convince me that if his household had not bought me, Mother would have sold me into a brothel.

Now I had not been sold into one, nor was I being trampled underfoot.

Every person in the chancellor’s household had to bow to me.

I tightened my hold on Xie Heng’s hand. Looking up, I saw Qi Yuchen watching our joined hands with displeasure.

I did not understand what upset him.

So I looked at Qi Yuxian instead.

She was dressed to the nines in gauzy silk and a golden hair ornament. Her eyes almost shone with tears as she looked at Xie Heng.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Her voice was so sweet it almost dripped. Xie Heng did not so much as lower his eyelids. He lifted his chin and looked down at Qi Yuchen. “Minister Qi. It has been a while.”

My hand still rested in the crook of his arm, enveloped in the warmth of his fox-fur cloak.

Yet the Xie Heng who always seemed so languid and harmless before me had suddenly become a drawn blade, sharp and imposing.

He seemed… not to like Qi Yuchen very much.

Inside, Xie Heng casually said he would like to see my former rooms.

The expression on the old chancellor’s face froze. After a moment, he turned to Qi Yuchen. “Yuchen, you arranged all your sister’s needs after she returned to us. Show His Majesty.”

I suddenly wanted to laugh.

For that month, I had slept in a little room in the western side courtyard. Qi Yuxian had thrown away or cut up most of my few dresses and two hairpins.

Qi Yuchen knew, but had always allowed it. He even lectured me: “Xiaocao, your bond of sale belongs to this household. Yuxian is your mistress.”

Now he led us into that mistress’s bedchamber. “This is where my sister lived before entering the palace.”

Xie Heng surveyed the furnishings with interest. His gaze settled on several overflowing jewelry cases, and he turned to me. “Why didn’t Lady Sang bring these with her? You dress so simply that I thought you disliked cosmetics.”

Suddenly I understood.

That was why he had refused to let me wear a single hairpin or ornament this morning.

He had come to help himself to the chancellor’s possessions.

I opened my mouth. “…I left in a hurry. There wasn’t time.”

“I see.”

He nodded and gave an offhand order. “Fu Ningquan, come in. Pack Lady Sang’s things to take back to the palace.”

Qi Yuxian stood nearby, her eyes almost bulging, as though she wanted to cut me to pieces with her stare.

The chancellor’s wife held her arm in a death grip to keep her from rushing forward.

Xie Heng had clearly noticed out of the corner of his eye, but pretended otherwise and scratched my palm lightly.

I turned and caught the little curve of his lips: a mischievous, almost childish smile.

Belatedly, I remembered that he was only nineteen himself.

His position had thrust him into this role. More than one person wanted him dead, and he had no choice but to watch every step.

Those before him were his subjects—and schemers bent on his death.

That was when I made my decision.

I would protect Xie Heng.

Qi Yuxian’s three beloved jewelry cases were emptied. As Xie Heng’s eyes turned toward the clothing chests, Qi Yuchen hurried to speak. “Your Majesty, may I speak privately with Lady Sang?”

“Oh?” Xie Heng looked at him thoughtfully. “I had no idea Minister Qi and Lady Sang shared such close sibling affection.”

Holding my hand, he asked quietly, “Sangsang, do you wish to?”

I wanted to know what nonsense Qi Yuchen would try next, so I nodded.

In his room, he regarded me coldly. “I never knew you could win so much imperial favor.”

“There are plenty of things you don’t know.”

Annoyance flashed in his eyes. “Xiaocao, don’t forget your place.”

After a silence, I asked, “Where are my parents and brother?”

He paused, then smiled as though victory was already his. “I’ve sent them home. Don’t worry. As long as you obey, I won’t do anything to them…”

“You know they aren’t good to me.”

“What of it?” he said carelessly. “Your body comes from your parents. Whatever else they are, they are your parents.”

I fell silent.

Xie Heng said I was not wrong even if I hated them and wanted to kill them.

Qi Yuchen said that, whatever happened, they were still my parents.

He had sometimes been kind to me during that month. When Qi Yuxian was absent, he had given me a lake-blue dress and a gilded silver hairpin.

He had even told the servants to keep me fed and warm.

I had been grateful. But after meeting Xie Heng, I finally understood.

A reward was not the same as a gift.

After a long silence, I took out the sachet and handed it to him. “Consort Tong asked me to give you this.”