Qinming Hall was brightly lit on the night in the Palace.

Emperor Jingxiao secretly summoned Duke Min and Lord Shen Wan Zong. Now the three were sitting around the desk and discussing something in detail.

"Is there any news from Lei Huan?"

Behind the dragon desk, Emperor Jingxiao sat upright. His puffy square face sank with disappointment when his drooping eyes reflected candlelight.

Duke Min and Lord Shen were given seats right after they entered the hall. Min Rui bowed with hands folded forward and answered the Emperor's sudden inquiry,

"Your Majesty, Lei Huan's ship was sunken by Ji Yaoguang during the Wei Sea battle. I have been searching for many days without success. His survival is getting likely..."

Then his head lowered along with his voice.

A few months ago, the Dongqing Fleet had received Lei Huan’s report that soon he would personally bring the Kunhuang Island map from overseas to Dayi and present the Tianyan Faction's hereditary treasure to Emperor Jingxiao.

Thanks to his participation in the incident of Baishui Gate, Duke Min knew how important the Kunhuang Island map was to Emperor Jingxiao. On the one hand, he sent an express report to the Emperor in confidentiality; on the other hand, his people went out to the sea to meet Lei Huan. Unexpectedly, the convoy was attacked by the female pirate Ji Yaoguang in the disguise of merchant ships.

After Duke Min replied, Emperor Jingxiao's frown went deeper as his fingers stroked repeatedly on the surface of his dragon-carved teacup. After consideration, he said to himself,

"That map tells the mysterious location of Kunhuang Tomb. Only by entering the tomb can I retrieve the other half block of the jade seal. After so many years, I finally managed to buy Lei Huan off and made him serve for me. He got rid of Tianyan Faction's Hong Zun for me only to be ambushed on the sea! Just one more step... It's fine if he drowned. But what about the map? What if it falls into the hands of others?"

Lord Shen Wan Zong offered his salute and comforted,

"Your Majesty does not have to worry. Ji Yaoguang has suffered great damage in the Wei Sea battle. Lei Huan still has a slim chance of surviving. Yet I'm afraid that he would be attacked again on his way to the capital. Thus, I've fortified defenses along the way. Once we find Lei Huan, we'll immediately escort him here safe and sound and bring the map to Your Majesty."

Emperor Jingxiao nodded silently and then gritted his teeth. His turbid eyes were fixated on the desk with poison,

"An He is sick of doing nothing. She still has to get involved in the royal affairs of Dayi after her marriage into the western tribes. If it hadn't been for her secret assistance these years, how could Tianyan Faction have the strength to oppose me and hide the secret of the jade seal in the Kunhuang Tomb? If she were not the concubine of King Solo of Udan, I would gladly kill her!"

The Emperor slammed his fist on the desk with extreme anger.

"Please calm down, Your Majesty!"

The two important ministers got up at the same time and lifted their robes to kneel. But the emperor waved to stop them and said impatiently,

"That's fine. Rise."

The two seated themselves again. Min Rui's foxy eyes narrowed,

"I heard that a dummy featured like the last Emperor was placed in the Imperial Court before. Is there any progress on that case?"

Wan Zong snorted, "The case has already been handed over to the Master of the Eastern Depot. No results are seen after six months of investigation."

Terrified, Min Rui turned to the Emperor.

"Anyone who could do that in the heavily guarded Palace must have had planted agents in the court."

Emperor Jingxiao's eyes wandered and his sparse brows wrinkled.

"At that time, the Master of the Eastern Depot imprisoned many people. Many of them lost their lives in the Royal Prison. The clue was also lost. I often wonder if the person behind the incident knows about the Kunhuang Island map."

Wan Zong stroked his beard, his shining eyes staring into the void. After a while, he suddenly spoke,

"That would be the best. As long as Lei Huan returns to the capital alive, I have an idea to lure that spy out from the court."

...

Outside Qinming Hall, Eunuch Hu stood under the porch with his hands tucked inside his sleeves. Only one inch from the light-pervious window, he could eavesdrop on the whole conversation.

However, he kept his eyes lowered and his back hunched. No expressions existed on his pale puffy face as if it had been a wood sculpture without thoughts or life.

...

In the silence of the night, several partridges screamed suddenly outside the high wall of Weiyan Chamber.

How could there be partridges in the Palace around this season?

Nonetheless, to Gu Yunjin, there was nothing strange about the bird calls in the middle of the night.

After the partridge repeated a session of three birdcalls three times, Gu Yunjin would put on a white cotton cloak and led her maid Caiyue and the eunuch Mao out of the main hall. Carrying a lantern, they walked all the way to the west wall of the courtyard.

"Godfather..."

Gu Yunjin raised her head and called out softly.

No reply came back from behind the red wall. But with a rustle, a shadow flew on the top of the wall and dropped a hemp rope. At the end of it hung a basket where some delicacies were stored.

After Gu Yunjin was set up by Jinli Lake and hence she was confined by the Emperor, she had been trapped in Weiyan Chamber like a walking dead. All servants were sent away except for Caiyue and Mao. Even her allowances for food and clothing were cut. Only Ming Lan would send her food and money every five days for the old time's sake.

However, now none of them dared to take the lowered basket because the man on the wall was not Zhang as usual, but the Shenle Marquis Wan Li.

What was happening?

Gu Yunjin stared blankly at the top of the wall. In the past, her godfather would send his trusted henchman Zhang. Why was Wan Li still in the Palace late in the night?

Tonight Wan Li was wearing a dark red garment and the silky patterned flowers shone in the cold moonlight. In place of the silver three-pronged crown was a slim cyan silk scarf, which tied his hair into a bun, making him look like a handsome literato.

Looking down from the high wall, Wan Li stared straight at Gu Yunjin's beautiful face. The corners of his mouth slanted, releasing a wicked smile,

"Your Grace, aren't you hungry?"

Tonight he came to the Palace with his father who was having a long conversation with the Emperor and Duke Min. Out of boredom, he walked to the harem.

The gatekeeper knew that he was the Imperial Noble Concubine's brother. No one dared to stop him, thinking that he might be here to see his sister.

It was not long before Wan Li ran into two young eunuchs. After asking, he realized that Ming Lan was sending them to deliver food to Gu Yunjin.

Knowing the beauty had fallen out of favor, Wan Li decided to follow the eunuchs to the west wall of Weiyan Chamber on a malicious whim.

With Gu Yunjin staring at him in surprise and refusing to take the basket, Wan Li pursed his red lips and fixed his eyes on Gu Yunjin with an ambiguous expression. Meanwhile, he quickly pulled up the basket and brought it down the wall with him.

After giving the basket to Caiyue, Wan Li scanned Gu Yunjin's body lustily. Then he spoke with a melodious and joyful voice,

"Your Grace, long time no see. Do you remember me?"

Palpitating, Gu Yunjin bit her lower lip. Looking at him in silence, she could tell Wan Li's plan from his exaggerated tone and vicious eyes.

Taking a step back, Gu Yunjin interlocked her pale fingers closely.

Regardless of the presence of the servants, Wan Li approached her.

"Your Grace is so talented and beautiful, yet so mistreated. My brother-in-law doesn't know how to cherish you at all. Winter is coming. I worry so much about your well-being that I have to visit you myself."

Gu Yunjin lowered her head slightly, daring not to look up and meet Wan Li's burning eyes. She panicked, and her ample bosom rose and fell with her pants.

Wan Li smiled again, "Allow me to lend my advice. Gather your rosebuds while you may..."

She resented her current status, yet she could not bear the loneliness in the court and desired to sink deeper into the valley of despair. Though she knew that the man in front of her had a wife and was giving a false display of affection.

But Gu Yunjin had been lonely for too long, and the sixteen-year-old bud was about to wither before it could bloom. How could she stomach the unfairness?

Silently Gu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, and then her face suddenly changed. Her tender hand stretched out and grabbed Wan Li's big hand.

When she lifted her eyes again, her face flourished like a peach blossom,

"Thank you, Your Highness. I have warm peach blossom wine in my Palace. Would you like to come for a drink in my chamber?"

Wan Li's eyes brightened in ecstasy. He nodded vigorously and went into the main hall, holding Gu Yunjin's hand.

…

It went colder after an autumn rain. Time flew by and soon New Year's Day had arrived. The court was calm and so was the harem.

By convention, the concubines would gather this day to make paper-cuts for window decoration, create red velvet flowers, and draw paintings. They would spend the morning in chats and waves of laughter.

In the previous few years, the concubines would greet the bedridden Empress in Kunning Palace early in the morning. Only after would they go to Yongning Palace for the holiday.

One month ago, the Emperor was annoyed by the Imperial Noble Concubine because of Bai Quan. Losing her temper, the Imperial Noble Concubine had been staying behind closed doors, ignoring everything outside.

Thus, Empress Qian summoned all the concubines to Kunning Palace to celebrate New Year's Day.

Empress Qian was relieved to see the ladies making velvet flowers and hanging up colorful lights in harmony.

Concubine Xu's stood out of the harem for her calligraphy. Now she was waving her wrist and writing couplets on the gold-sprinkled red paper.

This Lunar New Year's Eve would come soon. In half a month, these paper-cuts and couplets would be useful.

By the long desk, Gu Yunyao felt tired after cutting out a pair of magpies. So she put down the scissors and raised her fist to massage her sore shoulder.

The chief maid Song Qin quickly served her a bowl of hot glutinous rice balls.

Smiling, Gu Yunyao scooped up a rice ball and cooled it off by her lips. As soon as she took a bite, she frowned.

After she managed the second bite, her stomach turned. She retched and almost threw out the porcelain bowl.

All women stopped what they were doing to cast a curious look at her.

"Zhaoyi Yu, are you unwell?"

Empress Qian leaned slightly on the phoenix chair and asked concernedly.

"Dear, what's the matter?"

Concubine Xu dropped her writing brush and walked closer, watching Song Qin rubbing Gu Yunyao's back. Gradually, wonderment turned into joy.

"Are you pregnant?"

Her words instantly muted the hall.

Stunned, Gu Yunyao sat in the rose chair. Flashed upon by a sudden recollection, Empress Qian happily shoved Sulian and urged,

"Quickly. Go gather the imperial doctor to take the pulse for Zhaoyi Yu!"

Sulian nodded gladly and trotted out of the hall.

Before long, Imperial Doctor Jiang entered the main hall of Kunning Palace with the medicine box. He cleared up a corner of the long desk and took Gu Yunyao's pulse.

As expected, Gu Yunyao was two months pregnant with a healthy baby. After saying his congratulations to the Empress and Gu Yunyao, Imperial Doctor Jiang wrote out a prescription for miscarriage prevention and went back to the imperial pharmacy to decoct the medicine.

Overjoyed, Empress Qian left the concubines aside and went to the Buddha Hall to offer incense.

The women in the main hall had different countenances. Some expressed their sincere blessings to Gu Yunyao, while others looked on coldly in jealousy.

Standing behind Concubine Xu, Gu Yunxi looked at graceful Gu Yunyao and felt genuinely happy for her.

After two years in the Palace, her sister finally made it through.

Everyone in the court knew her prominent status as the daughter of Duke Min. Once she birthed a royal child, the Emperor would promote her.

She had annoyed the Emperor for not accepting her parents. Now that she was pregnant, the Emperor would change his mind and grace her again.

The Empress did not return after a while. The concubines were in no mood to continue their work, so they left Kunning Palace one by one after telling Sulian.

Before parting in the outer yard, Concubine Xu personally sent Gu Yunyao onto the sedan chair.

Seeing Gu Yunyao was depressed without any joy for the pregnancy, Concubine Xu stepped forward and took her hand. She looked at her affectionately and comforted her,

"Just take care of your baby from now on. Once it's born, serve His Majesty wholeheartedly. Don't think about anything else."

Gu Yunyao nodded with sadness and helplessness, letting the sedan carry her away.