chapter 10

Madam fell ill, and Emperor Yan allowed her to stop washing clothes and recuperate in Huai Ci Palace.

She was very happy to have me visit her. We would bask in the sun in the courtyard, and she would teach me things, like how to plant hydrangeas.

Yan Ci never interfered with Madam’s lessons, except for one time, when Madam wanted to teach me to read.

“Imperial Consort,” Yan Ci suddenly spoke from under the tree, “Your Son thinks that Guanqi being like this is perfectly fine; she doesn’t need to learn to read.”

Madam frowned, “If she can’t speak or write, how will she make others understand her?”

“Your Son understands,” Yan Ci replied gently, “It doesn’t matter if others don’t understand her, as long as Your Son does.”

Madam asked if I wanted to learn, and I shook my head. Splattering pig’s blood was much more exciting than studying.

When winter came, I would go to Huai Ci Palace to burn medicine dregs for Madam. One day, Yan Ci suddenly stared at my hand holding the fan.

“Little Mute has chilblains,” he said, “When the Internal Affairs Office distributes coal, I’ll give you two braziers as well.”

Soon, the coal arrived. Yan Ci lit the coal in the bedroom and called me over, helping me rub shiny Clam Oil on the backs of my hands.

The fire tongs Yan Ci used to pry open people’s skulls were left in the brazier, glowing red from the heat.

Outside, the wind and snow raged, but inside, it was warm and cozy. The coal crackled as it burned, sounding like my mother singing, making me drowsy.

This made me feel a little guilty. Yan Ci said it wasn’t my fault, it was the coal’s fault for being so intoxicating. People are good. Coal is bad.