chapter 6

“She doesn’t want that.”

The Empress’s gentle voice followed. “Ah Fu is still a child.

“Her whole heart is occupied by paintings and antiques—where one is creased, where another has lost a piece…

“She is only in her teens. She is still young enough to love sweets.”

After a pause, she sighed softly. “I used to love sweets too.”

Lizhi tried again. “Your Majesty…”

“This matter is not to be mentioned again,” the Empress interrupted.

Outside the door, I clapped both hands over my mouth. Tears still spilled from my eyes.

I curled into a corner and remained there for I knew not how long. When Lizhi finally came out, she spotted me.

“Ah Fu?”

She gave me a meaningful look. “Her Majesty was taking her midday rest and has only just awakened.

“I’m going to fetch water. No one is inside. Go and attend her.”

I entered the inner chamber.

Through the gauze bed curtains, I dropped to my knees and struck my forehead hard against the floor.

“I can never repay Your Majesty’s great kindness…”

“Be at ease,” the Empress said from behind the curtains. “His Majesty noticed nothing.

“And last night was not your fault.”

I knelt there blankly, unable to think of anything to say.

The Empress sighed. “Get up.

“Why do you throw yourself down so carelessly? Don’t your knees hurt?”

My nose stung.

I tried to hold back my tears. The harder I fought them, the faster they fell.

I felt like an abandoned child, stumbling alone through an unfamiliar age. But now, someone had willingly taken me beneath her wing.

She had even asked whether I was in pain.

My quiet sobs became helpless weeping.

When I had finally cried myself dry, I asked between hiccupping breaths, “Then… may I still stay in Kunning Palace?”

“Of course,” the Empress replied with a smile.

“I still have many paintings waiting for you to restore.

“His Majesty bestowed another piece of calligraphy from the previous dynasty this morning. Take it back to your room later.”

…

I continued serving in Kunning Palace as usual, repairing paintings and artifacts whenever I had time. My days flowed past as calmly as water, until that night felt like nothing more than a nightmare.

Then, one morning, the Empress covered her mouth and retched during breakfast.

Lizhi understood almost instantly.

“An imperial physician!” she cried in delight. “Call an imperial physician at once!”

The Empress was pregnant.

The bastard Emperor nearly lost his mind with joy. He rushed into Kunning Palace, lifted the Empress, and spun her around several times. Then he showered the entire harem with rewards.

Kunning Palace brimmed with celebration. Everyone glowed with happiness. I alone felt equal measures of joy and dread.

The Empress had always longed for a child of her own, but her health was poor. Giving birth would mean walking to the gates of death and back.

I racked my brain and listed every pregnancy precaution I could remember. Playing the harmless fool, I often supported her on walks and found indirect ways to make her spend time in the sun and manage her weight.

I had been an atheist in both my lives.

But when the Empress went into labor, I prayed from the Jade Emperor all the way to Jesus Christ. I did not care which deity answered, so long as one of them kept mother and child safe.

“Waaah—”

When a baby’s cry rang out, I finally relaxed outside the delivery chamber.

Then came a second cry.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Her Majesty has delivered twins—a prince and a princess!”

At the midwife’s ecstatic announcement, I broke into a smile from the bottom of my heart.

The year was drawing to a close. The Empress had borne boy-and-girl twins, and the overjoyed Emperor granted a general amnesty.

Kunning Palace was steeped in celebration.

The bastard Emperor stood outside the Empress’s chamber, laughing freely as he personally handed rewards to the midwives and servants.

The palace maids formed a line. When it was my turn, he arched one brow but, unusually, did not pick a quarrel.

“Lin Fu, you served the Empress well.”

He placed a thick red envelope in my palm. As he leaned closer, he seemed to catch some familiar scent and sniffed.

His brow furrowed. “What fragrance do you use…?”

Clutching my reward, I sank into a deep curtsy and loudly interrupted him. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!”

At that moment, someone called from inside, “Her Majesty is awake!”

The Emperor thrust the remaining rewards into Eunuch Li’s hands, turned, and hurried into the chamber.

I released a long breath.