Chapter 3

Thanks to that extraordinary fabric, the Princess Royal kept me at her side.

Within days, the whole capital knew that an embroiderer named Lin Qiu had joined her household.

There were many embroiderers in the princess’s residence. Standing out among them was no easy task.

Harder still was staying alive there in the first place.

The princess was so proud of her beauty that she could not bear anyone to offend her with their own.

The emperor was the late emperor’s adopted son. Though he and the princess shared no blood, they had grown up together and were inseparable.

Indulged since childhood, she became more arrogant than ever after he ascended the throne. No one in the capital dared cross her.

And yet she was always convinced that someone had.

She enjoyed studying embroidery. But today, pregnancy had put her in a foul mood. She beckoned the maids over and, smiling as she held their hands, pushed embroidery needles one by one beneath their nails toward the ends of their fingers.

“Keep your hands steady. Don’t splash blood on my clothes. Filthy.”

Irritated, she kicked away the maid who cried aloud and summoned another group to torment.

Blood covered the floor of the hall. The princess grew happier by the moment.

Until someone announced the emperor’s arrival. Her expression changed at once.

She had the blood swept away.

Then she hurriedly put on the garment I had offered and nestled tenderly into the emperor’s arms.

“Ah Di, you’ve kept me waiting so long. You have no idea how bored I am without you.”

The emperor glanced at the maids kneeling across the floor and the remnants that had not yet been cleared away.

He sat down and helped the princess into her seat.

“They’re useless, Ah Jie. Don’t be angry. All of you, get out.”

There were whispered rumors in the palace: the emperor and the Princess Royal were unusually close, and seemed to have crossed the bounds between brother and sister long ago.

Everyone was dismissed. I collected myself and was about to close the door for her.

Then, unexpectedly, my eyes met the emperor’s.

The princess looked up from his arms and frowned in displeasure.

“It seems my new embroiderer is beautiful enough to catch your eye, Ah Di,” she said with a cold laugh.

My back stiffened. I knew I had touched her sorest spot.

As cold sweat broke out over me, a maid announced the prince consort’s return.

The princess smiled and beckoned me over.

“I’m occupied. Why don’t you entertain my husband for me?”

My hand trembled against the door. My heart began to race.

“Like me, he’s a gentle man. He has a particular tenderness for beauties like you.”

Still smiling, she urged me on.

“Why aren’t you going?

“Must I have you dragged there?”