Chapter 031: Anxious Reunion

When I returned to Cuiwei Palace, I had to temporarily set aside the matter concerning Xueyi. After lunch, as the skies had cleared and the world was bright with the reflection of snow, I set out with Xiao Luzi to the Internal Affairs Bureau, just as Zhang Bitong had instructed us.

But when I went to summon Xiao Luzi, he told me, “I must stay here and keep watch. There can’t be no men in the palace—what if Her Highness needs something? Do you expect Aunt Yunqing or Miss Lanyan to go instead?” His words were filled with excuses, and recalling what Xiao Zhuozi had said earlier, I understood his intentions. My errand to the Internal Affairs Bureau for charcoal was sure to be met with obstacles, and Xiao Luzi had no desire to get involved and risk a rebuff. After all, offending the people at the Bureau was unwise, but offending one’s own mistress was even worse. So he simply refused to go.

I had no patience to argue with him. I wondered if, upon arrival, I would succeed in my task. If not, dragging along Lanyan or Hongxiu would be futile. Better to go alone, and if I managed to secure the charcoal, I could call for help later.

Thus, I made my way alone to the Internal Affairs Bureau. Once inside, I sought out the head eunuch and explained my purpose. As expected, the eunuch looked at me with disdain and said, “We just sent charcoal to Cuiwei Palace not long ago. Why have you used it up already? Both the Empress Dowager and the Empress have ordered the entire harem to economize—why is it that only Cuiwei Palace goes through it so quickly? The Emperor hasn’t visited lately either. Are you burning it for fun?”

He invoked the Empress Dowager and the Empress to pressure me, and openly displayed Zhang Bitong’s loss of favor, making it difficult for me to press my case. Fortunately, I had already considered how to respond on my way over. So I replied, “You’ve worked hard, sir. I’m new and inexperienced, and this small matter should have been handled by myself—I only needed a word from you to note it down. But our mistress is always considerate of the staff and specifically told me to greet you should I see you. She hasn’t had an easy time lately, and it’s only thanks to you all that things haven’t been worse. Who knows what the future holds—mistresses are always mistresses, and no one can say who will regain favor. When that time comes, she surely won’t forget those who helped her in her days of neglect. Don’t you agree, sir?”

The eunuch seemed to take my words to heart, and with a smile replied, “You make a good point. My hands are tied, though—the higher-ups are strict, so I must be strict as well. There aren’t many like your mistress, who understand the hardships of us servants.”

I quickly nodded. “We’re all servants, and I understand perfectly. Her Ladyship has always been close to us and listens to our grievances, so naturally she understands your difficulties too. She also said not to trouble you—just to allocate half a month’s worth of charcoal would be enough.”

“That’s not nearly enough!” I had retreated to advance, but the head eunuch now objected. “The cold has only just begun, and your mistress is delicate—she should have more. But you came alone; how will you carry it all? Look—the cold has driven all the other eunuchs off to keep warm somewhere.”

“That’s no trouble. If I’d known you’d be so generous, I’d have brought someone. How about I take some back now, and then send for someone to help with the rest?”

“That would do as well.”

A voice interrupted, “What’s this, needing a whole group to move things? Do you mean to take everything so the other palaces have nothing left?” The speaker was Cui’er.

My head began to throb; just as I’d managed to settle matters, here she was to stir up trouble.

“So it’s Miss Cui’er. Is your mistress in need of something again?” I asked.

Cui’er shot me a scornful look, then turned to the head eunuch. “My mistress lacks many things. Every time I come, it’s like prying things out of your own pocket—such a challenge. I thought you were good at your job, but clearly you play favorites.”

“You misunderstand, Miss Cui’er. Cuiwei Palace really—”

She cut him off with a sneer, “Open your eyes! Who is favored now, and who’s been sent to cold storage? Sucking up to a mistress fallen from grace—aren’t you worried it’s all for nothing?”

Her words rang out confidently. I couldn’t help but cough softly. Cui’er turned, as if only now noticing me, and with a mocking smile said, “You do know how to speak. But let me tell you, whatever you came to claim, I’ll be taking it first.”

“Miss Cui’er, our mistress is only under house arrest, not banished to the cold palace. You talk as if you were the Emperor himself. Since when is it your place to decide the affairs of the harem?”

“I—”

“Besides, you can come for supplies, but I can’t? There’s such a thing as first come, first served. I’m not trying to argue, but why must you make things difficult for me? Is this the way you were taught to handle matters? Did you not learn properly, or is it your mistress who failed to teach you?”

Cui’er, furious, raised her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist and stared at her. “Is your hand better now? The day you struck your own mistress, did you bruise it?”

“What… what bruise? You’re making things up—” I had only guessed at why Cui’er hadn’t accompanied Lin Tanwei to Kunning Palace, but I’d struck the mark.

Having hit her sore spot, she faltered. I released her and continued, “Our mistress is merciful and doesn’t wish to quibble over these things. She’s using her confinement to cultivate herself, keeping clear of trouble. But if someone forgets their station and stirs up gossip, and our mistress can’t discipline them, it’s only right for her to take it out on a servant or two.”

I glared fiercely, and Cui’er, frightened, stumbled back a step.

“Are you all right, Miss Cui’er?”

“Get away!” she snapped, pointing at me. “Xiao Xiaozi, just you wait. I’ll tell my mistress and have her deal with you. Then you’ll see who the Emperor truly favors!”

With that, she stomped off, no doubt to find Lin Tanwei.

The head eunuch looked at me with concern. “Xiao Xiaozi, we servants should mind our own roles. Was it worth offending her mistress like that?”

“Sir, you know we must do our duty. How could I let her insult my mistress?”

He nodded, then gave me a thumbs-up. “I’ve heard tales among the eunuchs about your clever tongue. Today, I see they’re true. That Cui’er, just because her mistress is favored, acts like she owns the place, treating us like dirt. She’s a servant too, but acts as if she were the mistress herself. You’re better than her.”

I felt a pang of guilt. “It’s one thing for me to offend Lady Tan, but I hope this won’t trouble you.”

He waved it off. “Don’t worry. I serve the entire harem, not just her. She can’t do anything to me. As for you, take some charcoal back now and avoid running into them. When my men return, I’ll have them deliver the rest to Cuiwei Palace.”

“My thanks, sir.”

With my own strength, I could only carry enough for two or three days. I worried the eunuch might just be placating me, and if Cui’er made a scene later, he might be unwilling to offend her and let the matter drop. I resolved that after returning, I would come back for more. But since Xiao Luzi had refused, whom should I ask?

As I pondered this, I saw Lin Tanwei and Cui’er approaching. They moved quickly indeed. Before they could spot me, I thought it best to avoid trouble and take another route. But before I could turn, I saw Lin Tanwei blocking the path of a palace maid.

It was Xiao Ruo.

“Stop!” Lin Tanwei called sharply. “You see me and don’t bow? Has no one taught you the rules here?”

“Forgive me, Your Highness. I was in a hurry to deliver clothes to the mistress of Jiyue Palace and didn’t see—”

“Still making excuses?” Cui’er stepped forward and brushed the clothes from Xiao Ruo’s hands. The snow had just stopped, and the ground was wet with melt; the clothing fell and became half-soaked.

“Oh…” Xiao Ruo gasped, quickly stooping to pick them up. Since these were for Jiyue Palace, soiling them would be a grave offense.

“Your Highness, she seems to blame you,” Cui’er said to Lin Tanwei.

“Is that so?” Lin Tanwei stepped forward, deliberately planting her shoe on Xiao Ruo’s hand.

“Ah…” In the depths of winter, the pain of such a step was like being pierced by a thousand needles. I knew that agony. Xiao Ruo was a young lady, unaccustomed to such suffering, and had already endured much in the laundry bureau these days.

She winced in pain, hurriedly trying to withdraw her hand, but in doing so, caused Lin Tanwei to lose her balance and fall flat on her back.

“Oh no, Your Highness…” This was serious now, and I felt a jolt of alarm.

Lin Tanwei, aided by Cui’er, stood up in a disheveled state, her headdress askew, face twisted with rage as she pointed at Xiao Ruo. “How dare you push me, you wretch? Cui’er, beat her—beat her hard!”

Cui’er forced Xiao Ruo to her knees and began to strike her face savagely. With each blow, Xiao Ruo’s hair became more disheveled. My heart ached to watch, but I knew that even if I intervened, it would be useless. Not until Xiao Ruo’s hair hung loose, her face swollen and blood trickling from her lips, did I finally step forward, unable to bear it any longer. “Stop!”

Xiao Ruo looked up at me in confusion, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief as if she could not trust what she was seeing.