Chapter 4

Eunuch Hong teased that I was about to crawl right into my books.

I very nearly did—and almost set my clothes on fire in the process.

He rushed in from outside, snatched the book from me, and stuffed it into his sleeve.

From his expression, I knew something terrible had happened.

“Eunuch Hong, what is it?”

He lowered his head close to mine and whispered, “His Majesty has ordered every book in the Empress’s palace burned. Not one may remain. He has also forbidden all palace servants and consorts from reading anything but the official codes. Anyone who disobeys will be beheaded.”

I was not worried about the books. I was worried about the Empress. Would she be terribly sad?

I used delivering the menu as an excuse to visit her. Before I even reached her bedchamber, however, her maid stopped me.

“Sister Yulin, what is happening inside?” I asked, peering toward the room.

“His Majesty is here.”

She pulled me down to kneel beside the door. The air was so tense that neither of us dared breathe loudly.

I heard the Empress arguing with the Emperor. She told him to kill her. He smashed a vase, and then a long silence followed.

While we knelt there in dread, Xiaochun unexpectedly arrived. I had not seen her for several months. Rather than glowing with happiness, she had grown thinner.

When she saw me, she gave me a faint, weary smile.

She stopped at the door and curtsied. “Your Majesty, Xiaochun requests an audience.”

A moment later, the Emperor emerged from the bedchamber. The anger on his face receded when he saw her. He lifted her into his arms and asked anxiously, “Why have you come?”

“This concubine was worried…” She bit her lip and lowered her head before finishing.

The Emperor kissed her forehead and smiled. “Silly girl, I am fine. Do not be afraid.”

Xiaochun murmured her assent.

Holding her, he glanced back toward the bedchamber and frowned.

After he left, we hurried inside to clear the wreckage scattered across the floor.

The Empress saw me and asked curiously, “What are you doing here?”

“This servant came to deliver the menu.”

I handed it to her. She opened it, rubbed her temples, and said irritably, “Tell Eunuch Hong I will not eat today.”

I looked toward her bookshelves. They stood bare and empty.

Noticing my gaze, she sighed. “It is fortunate I gave one to you. It would have been a pity if every last one had burned.”

I was no good at comforting people and feared that saying too much might upset her, so I remained silent.

She passed the menu back. “When you return, tell Eunuch Hong that Consort Liang is with child. Have the kitchens prepare nourishing dishes and send them to Hanyue Palace.”

Xiaochun was pregnant. I stared at the Empress in surprise, then nodded joyfully. “Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

She knew Xiaochun and I came from the same village. Seeing my delight, she merely smiled and shook her head. “Go on.”