The Emperor wants you dead!
Le Qianxue sighed softly; this affair had become common gossip throughout the city. Many even claimed she had lost her virtue. Now, when she walked outside, people avoided her as if she carried a plague, considering her tainted and unclean. Few dared to associate with her.
But she cared little. The worse her reputation became, the less likely Yu Guhan would harbor any intentions toward her. After all, the royal family prized their dignity. She said, “It’s nothing serious, but thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
Of the four princes, she found Yu Zhiyang the only one worth befriending.
Yu Zhiyang breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, Le Qianxue conceived a plan, and said to Yu Zhiyang, “Since you’ve returned, why not take me into the palace? I’ve finished copying the Buddhist scriptures and wish to present them to His Majesty.”
Yu Zhiyang had initially been assigned to oversee her lessons in penmanship, but official duties had kept him busy. He smiled, “All right, let me take a look at your scriptures first.”
Le Qianxue hurriedly produced the manuscript. Fortunately, she had prepared in advance, having already completed the copying.
Yu Zhiyang opened it with anticipation, but his expression quickly froze. He turned a few pages, and found them much the same.
His voice trembled, “Qianxue...your handwriting...is rather unsightly.”
Le Qianxue laughed, “Does it matter? I copied it diligently, that’s what counts.”
To make her script so ugly was no easy feat—it had taken her several extra hours.
Yu Zhiyang advised, “Why don’t you write another copy?”
“Why?” Le Qianxue replied innocently, “I put real effort into this one. His Majesty will see that. If I write too beautifully, he’ll suspect someone else did it for me.”
Yu Zhiyang saw the logic in her words and nodded.
He then escorted Le Qianxue into the palace.
Le Qianxue already knew Yu Guhan would also enter the palace today, for it was the fifteenth—a day when all princes were required to pay their respects in the Phoenix Hall. Since Yu Zhiyang had returned to the capital, he would certainly attend.
Coincidentally, the emperor was also in the Phoenix Hall, so Le Qianxue went along.
Inside the Phoenix Hall, Consort De was absent, but several high-ranking concubines were present.
“Snow girl, you’ve come to the palace today? I heard you encountered some trouble at the crown prince’s residence recently,” the emperor’s voice was gentle, tinged with concern. “Are you unharmed?”
“No need to worry, Your Majesty. I am quite well now,” replied Le Qianxue. She glanced at Yu Guhan, noting his tension—he clearly feared she might say something in the hall.
She would not be so foolish; lacking evidence, any accusation would only bring trouble upon herself.
She smiled and added, “The crown prince valiantly intervened at the time. Look, Your Majesty, the prince still bears a wound on his face.”
Yu Guhan was never particularly handsome, and now, with a scar added, his appearance held little appeal.
The emperor nodded, seemingly comforted. “The crown prince is a man—he must know how to protect women. I visited the empress dowager this morning; though her mind is somewhat clouded, she keeps mentioning you. You should visit her soon.”
Previously, the empress dowager had favored Le Qianxue, making her comings and goings in the palace easy. Thanks to this, the emperor treated her kindly.
But Empress Yang frowned, “Le Qianxue, I do wonder—who was it that abducted you?”
“I am not entirely sure,” Le Qianxue replied, “but I know who was behind it.”
Her answer startled everyone; Yu Guhan stared at her intently.
The emperor asked, “Who was it, so brazen as to disregard imperial law?”
“It was the famed Ghost Doctor girl,” Le Qianxue answered, “She had me abducted, merely to exchange medical skills with me.”
Yu Zhiyang was intrigued, “That Ghost Doctor girl is odd, why would she do such a thing?”
Le Qianxue shrugged, “It’s not so surprising. She once lived alone in the Drunken Painting Pavilion, ignoring everyone, showing she is eccentric. Her actions today are not unexpected.”
The emperor found sense in her explanation. Though secluded in the inner palace, he had heard of this Ghost Doctor. He once considered inviting her to court, but before he could, she had a falling out with Zhan Lianjing. Zhan searched the city for her, and she vanished without a trace.
“Qianxue, does that mean you’re on good terms with the Ghost Doctor?” Yu Guhan asked, “She didn’t harm you, after all.”
“Yes, she said my medical skills were lacking and promised to teach me someday.”
She approached Yu Guhan, her voice clear and her demeanor lively.
Yu Guhan smiled—now he had a lead on the Ghost Doctor and could soon rid himself of her.
Le Qianxue, however, had other plans; Yu Guhan had fallen right into her trap.
The show was about to begin.
Yu Guhan said, “I quite admire the Ghost Doctor. Qianxue, since you know her, I would like to meet her.”
Le Qianxue gleefully tugged at his sleeve, “Really? The crown prince won’t hold her actions against her?”
“You said she is eccentric—why would I blame her?” Yu Guhan’s words and expression were flawless.
Le Qianxue nodded, “Very well, I’ll bring her to meet you when time permits.”
Yu Zhiyang watched their exchange, noting their closeness, but his gaze lingered on Le Qianxue’s hand.
He smiled quietly, betraying nothing.
This little girl...
“Qianxue, didn’t you copy the Buddhist scriptures for Father to see?” Yu Zhiyang reminded her.
Le Qianxue quickly acknowledged, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and presented the precious manuscript.
Eunuch Chen handed it to the emperor; Empress Yang glanced at it and laughed outright, while the emperor’s face darkened considerably.
He closed the manuscript. “Qianxue, after all this time, this is what you’ve learned? You can’t even write properly?”
Le Qianxue replied, “Your Majesty, ugly handwriting is not a crime. I am sincere in my repentance—is that not enough?”
“But you are far too careless toward His Majesty. Le Qianxue, as the daughter of a noble house, how can you bring shame upon your parents?” Empress Yang sighed.
The emperor’s face grew even darker at her last words. He glared at Empress Yang, who immediately knelt, trembling. “I spoke thoughtlessly—please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
Everyone assumed the emperor was protecting the General’s Mansion; their gazes toward Le Qianxue became tinged with surprise.
Le Qianxue herself found it odd—she had never felt the emperor valued the General’s Mansion.
With a wave of his sleeve, the emperor said, “Let everyone disperse. And Empress, reflect well on your conduct.”
With that, the emperor departed, Eunuch Chen following close behind.
Empress Yang’s face was livid; with princes and concubines present, her dignity was utterly lost.
She rose and fixed Le Qianxue with a hateful glare.
Le Qianxue was bewildered but bowed and withdrew.
Since the emperor had dismissed everyone, she could leave and Empress Yang could not object.
She needed to visit the Empress Dowager in the Hall of Benevolent Peace. Yu Guhan wanted to accompany her, hoping to probe her thoughts.
But Le Qianxue said, “Your Highness, I left a hairpin in the Phoenix Hall. I don’t dare return there. Could you retrieve it for me?”
Yu Guhan saw that her hairpin was indeed missing. Le Qianxue was especially friendly with him today, so he readily agreed.
Le Qianxue watched him leave with his attendants, then smiled to herself in satisfaction.
Soon, good news would spread—now she set off for the Hall of Benevolent Peace.
The Empress Dowager had been ill for years, sustained only by rare medicines.
Three months ago, the imperial physicians had given up hope, but it was then that Le Qianxue arrived. The Empress Dowager’s luck had turned. Le Qianxue felt indebted to the Empress Dowager for her kindness to the original owner, so she secretly saved her life. No one knew of it.
The Empress Dowager was attended by Nurse Yan, who greeted Le Qianxue with joy.
“Miss Le, you’ve finally come to the palace. The Empress Dowager has been thinking of you these past days.” Nurse Yan was elderly but gentle in appearance.
Le Qianxue smiled, “I’ve missed the Empress Dowager as well.”
Nurse Yan led her to the Empress Dowager’s chamber; the Empress Dowager had spent years bedridden, rarely rising.
But since Le Qianxue’s secret treatment three months prior, her spirits had improved, and she was able to move about more.
At that moment, the Empress Dowager was awake; Nurse Yan whispered, “Empress Dowager, Miss Le is here today.”
At the sound of “Le,” the Empress Dowager’s pupils shifted; she instinctively reached out, and Le Qianxue took her hand.
Nurse Yan was gratified—only Le Qianxue could elicit such a response.
The Empress Dowager murmured, “You’ve come?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I am here,” Le Qianxue replied, feeling the Empress Dowager’s pulse. It was steady, but at this rate, she had only a year or two left.
She sighed, but the Empress Dowager struggled to sit up, and both she and Nurse Yan hurried to help.
Yet, inexplicably, the Empress Dowager pushed Nurse Yan away.
Nurse Yan cried, “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”
“It’s all right, Nurse Yan. Let me tend to the Empress Dowager,” Le Qianxue said, but the Empress Dowager leaned close to whisper in her ear.
Le Qianxue tried to help her sit, worried she might tire herself, but the Empress Dowager spoke in a low voice: “Go quickly...Qianqian...you must leave at once.”
The words were so faint, Le Qianxue thought she misheard.
“What did you say, Your Majesty?”
“Qianqian, you must go...the emperor wants to kill you...” The Empress Dowager’s hand trembled; her voice quivered.
Le Qianxue froze, her whole body stiffening as the shock hit her.