Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Song Weiwei wanted to become the most exalted woman in all the world.

I never had ambitions that grand. I only wanted to live a safe, steady life.

But sadly, that year my parents, determined to scrape together enough money for my two older brothers’ schooling, resolutely sold me into the palace.

I watched the eunuch count out ten taels of silver from a larger pile and hand it to my beaming parents. There wasn’t even a hint of sorrow at our parting on their faces.

All they felt was joy that my two brothers were about to begin their studies.

I couldn’t understand it.

Why were girls born lesser than boys?

Why were my brothers’ lives so important, while mine was worth so little?

Fortunately, I still had Song Weiwei with me.

Only, unlike me with my face full of gloom, she looked utterly energized as she listened to her family’s instructions, like a fighting rooster about to charge into battle.

Right before we stepped through the palace gates, she told me, brimming with confidence, that with a face like hers, the Emperor would definitely take a liking to her the moment she entered the palace.

Song Weiwei really was beautiful, with fair, tender skin and striking features.

I wasn’t nearly as optimistic as she was. Looking at the palace walls of red and yellow tile, all I felt was fear.

The deep palace was a man-eating monster.

The lead eunuch noticed my hesitation and slapped me across the face.

“Once you’re in the palace, you’re slaves! All of you had better be quick-witted!”

I clutched my cheek, stars bursting in my vision.

Instinctively, I looked toward my parents, only to find that they had already left in high spirits with the money.

The eunuch stood there, arrogant and sneering. “Especially lowly women like you.”

Tears streamed down my face. Up ahead, Song Weiwei quietly reached back and hooked a finger around mine, whispering to comfort me.

“Zeyi, don’t be scared. Once I become Empress, I’ll have that dog of a slave beaten to death.”

As I sniffled, I understood for the first time why Song Weiwei was so obsessed with becoming Empress.

But there was already an Empress in the harem.

And the imperial palace was so vast, its walls so high. The Emperor managed countless affairs of state every day. How could low-ranking palace servants like us ever hope to see him?

Yet heaven chose to give us that chance.

Something went wrong with the food Song Weiwei and I delivered to one of the Emperor’s favored consorts. The entire palace thoroughly investigated whether the food was safe, and even little palace maids like us were brought before the Emperor for questioning.

That was the first time we saw the Emperor.

Just as the rumors said, he was incomparably handsome, but the oppressive majesty of the Son of Heaven weighed down on us so heavily it was hard to breathe.

He said nothing. Instead, a palace maid at his side who looked like a lady official spoke up and asked us who had the food presented. I was so frightened that I couldn’t speak, but thankfully Song Weiwei wasn’t afraid at all. She answered smoothly and clearly.

But the moment she finished, the Emperor above us hurled a teacup.

“Insolence!”

The tremendous crash of shattering porcelain rang through the silent hall. A gorgeously dressed woman nearby instantly dropped to her knees and begged for mercy. Then crying broke out, and someone said,

“Your Majesty, you must stand up for me.”

Then another voice said,

“I am innocent!”

Panic and clamor swept through the entire hall. I had no idea what was happening and could only press myself lower, praying this disaster wouldn’t reach me.

In the palace, the slightest mistake could cost you your life. But after that brief chaos, the entire hall fell miraculously silent again. Only the crisp, delicate sound of prayer beads turning could be heard. The Emperor’s expression was dark and unreadable. After a long while, he finally gave the order, his voice flat:

“All those connected to this case are to be put to death.”

Instantly, the hall erupted with pleas and cries again, and guards rushed in from outside to drag people away.

My whole body went cold.

What did that mean? Did it mean Song Weiwei and I had to die too?

Panic and helplessness spread across my face.

I didn’t know anything. I didn’t want to die.

Beside me, Song Weiwei panicked too. She shouted:

“Spare us, Your Majesty! This servant knows nothing! We servants were only carrying out orders!”

But the Emperor paid no attention to her cries. He rose to his feet as if about to leave.

“Your Majesty!”

A woman’s voice rang out from above the steps, and the Emperor stopped.

I lifted my head. It was the female official who had questioned us earlier.

Her gaze fell on me and Song Weiwei as well.

“These two little palace maids truly know nothing. They were only delivering something under orders. If someone with ulterior motives seizes on this, those court historians will only trouble Your Majesty again.”

The Emperor looked at her in silence, as if weighing something in his mind.

A guard had already come to drag me away. Cold light flashed from his sword, and I knew that once I was hauled off, that blade would end my life.

I didn’t want to die.

But how could the Son of Heaven possibly listen to a mere female official?

“As you wish.”

The Emperor actually agreed!

After tossing out those words, he turned and left.

As he passed by, the sweep of his robes stirred the ambergris incense on his body and carried it into my nose. At once, all strength seemed to leave me, and I trembled all over.

Now that we had been spared, the guards naturally paid us no more mind and instead turned to drag the others away.

Song Weiwei had already thrown herself at that female official’s feet.

“Thank you for saving our lives, Aunt Qidai!”

I also forced up my limp body and solemnly gave Aunt Qidai a deep bow.

“No need to thank me. It was the Emperor who spared you.”

She glanced at me once, then walked away without looking back.

It was the first time Song Weiwei and I had ever come so close to death.

Things had not gone as Song Weiwei had imagined. The Emperor had not taken a liking to her after seeing her. Instead, he had wanted to have her executed.

That dealt her quite a blow. She didn’t say a word on the way back, but the next morning she came to me bright and energetic again.

“Zeyi, come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

I had no idea what she meant.

She leaned in and lowered her voice. “Do you know who was the one who saved us with a single sentence last night?”

Before I could answer, she continued:

“It was Aunt Qidai!”

Aunt Qidai?

I seemed to have heard that name before, but I had never liked prying into palace affairs. So when it came to that name, I only had a vague impression of it.

Maybe seeing the blank look on my face, Song Weiwei clicked her tongue at me and poked my forehead in exasperation. “That’s the most honored female official in the entire Great Duan Dynasty! She was already by the Emperor’s side back when he was still a prince. After the Emperor ascended the throne, she carried out orders to supervise many cases. She may look like she doesn’t hold any formal post, but in truth, she’s the one the Emperor values most! These past years, no matter where he goes, he always brings her along. She’s someone truly precious!”

I nodded again and again. That did seem to match what little I remembered.

“She saved us yesterday, so of course we have to repay the kindness. Neither of us is on duty today. Luckily, I made some pastries, so hurry and come with me to thank her!”

“Weiwei…” Hearing her say that, my eyes couldn’t help reddening.

“What are you doing?” Song Weiwei was startled by my expression. “Why are you crying?”

I threw myself into her arms, and the emotions of having survived disaster finally broke loose. “Weiwei, thank you. You always think of me too, boohoohoo.”

If she hadn’t reminded me, how would I ever have thought to bring a gift when visiting Aunt Qidai? Not to mention, the pastries weren’t for me to begin with, yet she still saved me a share.

Song Weiwei didn’t seem used to me acting like this. She shoved me away in disgust.

“All right, all right. Just don’t wipe your snot on me.”

I knew when to stop while I was ahead. Wiping away my tears, I happily went with her to deliver the gift.