Volume One, Chapter 5: First Entry into the Xuan Room

The sheer reversal of fortune left Matron Zhang momentarily bewildered.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Zhiqiu was both startled and overjoyed. Though she did not understand the circumstances, she was happy for Lou Hongling; at the very least, she would no longer have to suffer in this wretched place.

Lou Hongling packed her belongings with measured calm. Under the complex gazes of others—a mixture of envy and jealousy—she walked out of the Eternal Lane with Zhang Zhiqiu in stride.

Seeing this, Matron Zhang hurried over with short, quick steps, her face instantly plastered with a fawning smile, all traces of her usual arrogance vanished. "Oh, my dear Lady Lou, pray forgive my poor, dim eyes! I never realized you were destined for such good fortune. Everything that happened in the Eternal Lane was merely a misunderstanding. You are a person of great magnanimity; I beg you, do not take it to heart."

Lou Hongling acted as if she had not heard a word. As she passed the matron, she suddenly stopped, casting a cold, sweeping glance at her. Recalling the suffering she and Zhiqiu had endured at the woman’s hands in both this life and the last, she curled her lips into a mocking smirk. "A misunderstanding? Matron Zhang, you surely did not hold back in making things difficult for Zhiqiu and me, did you? What is this? Have you finally realized the meaning of fear? Do you truly know your errors now?"

Zhang Zhiqiu, looking equally displeased, could not be bothered to entertain the woman’s posturing.

Matron Zhang’s smile froze on her face. She stammered in defense, "Lady, how can you say such things? I was only..."

Lou Hongling cut her off. "I see you only for what you are—a dog emboldened by its master’s power! You relied on that sliver of authority to bully others at will. Now that I am an attendant before the Emperor, are you afraid that I might say a few words about your conduct in His Majesty's presence and bring ruin upon you?"

The surrounding maids, who had often suffered under the matron’s fickle cruelty, gathered around quietly upon hearing this. They stretched their necks, their eyes glinting with excitement, and low whispers rippled through the crowd:

"Oh my, what a show this is."
"Matron Zhang is always so arrogant; she has finally met her match."

Matron Zhang’s face flushed red and turned pale by turns, like a chameleon. She was filled with rage and resentment but dared not lash out. Gritting her teeth, she spoke in a low, submissive tone: "You jest, my lady. This old servant will certainly change her ways. I beg you to spare me this once. I shall move Lady Zhiqiu to a more comfortable room presently."

Zhang Zhiqiu let out a disdainful huff, and the two walked away without looking back, leaving the matron standing there, trembling with fury yet utterly helpless.

Zhang Zhiqiu accompanied Lou Hongling to the gate of the Eternal Lane. From there, the path had to be walked alone. Lou Hongling took her hand. "Zhiqiu, take care of yourself. If Matron Zhang bullies you again, come and tell me."

Lou Hongling knew that her assignment to the Xuanshi Palace would surely plunge her into an even greater vortex, and she held no real power to restrain the matron. Yet, the status of an imperial attendant, combined with a few well-placed favors, would be enough to ensure Zhang Zhiqiu remained safe from further harassment.

***

Zhang Zhiqiu waved her hand dismissively, laughing. "Don't worry, I will take care of myself. You must be careful, too!"

"I will."

After presenting her pass to the guards at the gate, she entered the palace grounds. As she stepped through the familiar doors of the Xuanshi Palace, Lou Hongling took a deep breath. It was here that she had once shared her life with Xu Qing, building a trust that she eventually shattered with her own hands... but fortunately, none of that had happened yet.

The eunuchs and maids on duty were not in the outer courtyard. She was not surprised; those in Xu Qing's palace, dismissing him as powerless and destitute, had never served him with any sincerity, save for her.

With no one to announce her arrival, she made her way toward the inner sleeping quarters.

Hearing the soft footsteps, Wei Xuanming was the first to alert. He looked up instantly. As Lou Hongling turned into the study, she found herself face-to-face with the vigilant Wei Xuanming and froze.

Wei Xuanming was the second son of the current Left Chancellor, Wei Shulin. He had entered the palace under his father's orders to serve as the commander of the imperial guards and protect Xu Qing. In her previous life, he and Zhiqiu had been deeply in love, but after Xu Qing’s death, Wei Xuanming was pierced by arrows in a trap set by Empress Dowager Deng. Upon learning that she herself was the mastermind behind it all, Zhiqiu had jumped to her death from the city walls in despair before Lou Hongling’s eyes.

Thinking of this, she felt a strange, lingering guilt toward him, and thus, she did not show any outward sign of hostility.

However, the moment Xu Qing’s eyes fell upon Lou Hongling’s face, his expression shifted sharply. His brows knit together, and a flicker of unmistakable wariness crossed his eyes.

The scroll in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand catties; it slipped from his grasp and hit the floor with a sharp "thwack." His body instinctively recoiled, his shoulders tensing.

Seeing this, Lou Hongling hurriedly knelt, performing a standard, formal bow. Her voice was as steady and gentle as she could manage: "This servant pays respects to Your Majesty and Commander Wei."

Xu Qing’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked, "You... why have you come?"

Lou Hongling lowered her head, her demeanor respectful and humble. "It is the Empress Dowager’s decree. She has commanded me to come and serve Your Majesty."

Xu Qing had clearly already briefed Wei Xuanming on the incident in the Imperial Garden. He and the commander exchanged a swift, complex look—a silent understanding passed between them.

Wei Xuanming had official business to attend to and could not stay long. Seeing that Lou Hongling remained unfazed by his obvious hostility, he grew increasingly suspicious. Was this woman truly as simple as she seemed? Could this all be a plot orchestrated by Empress Dowager Deng?

As he passed Lou Hongling, he paused for a few moments, casting a sidelong glance at her. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword—a gesture that felt like both a threat and a warning. Lou Hongling kept her eyes lowered, her expression calm and detached.

Xu Qing took a deep breath. He dared not reject someone sent by the Empress Dowager. Struggling to calm the turmoil within, he feigned composure and said, "Rise. Since you are here, you may stay. You shall reside here."

He hesitated, then added, "What is your name?"

Lou Hongling looked up slightly. "This servant is Lou Hongling."

"Lou Hongling..."

Xu Qing whispered her name to himself. He wanted to ask more but could not find the words. He paced back and forth, visibly uneasy, looking at her with a complex expression, as if the woman before him were something immensely dangerous.

Lou Hongling sighed inwardly. It was impossible to make him trust her now; everything was far too coincidental. Anything she said at this moment would be in vain, so she remained silent.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Xu Qing finally spoke. "You may leave for now."

Lou Hongling took her leave and stepped out of the sleeping chambers. The atmosphere within the Xuanshi Palace was heavy and stifling.

No sooner had she set down her simple bag than she felt several unfriendly gazes fixed upon her back.

"Well, well, is this the girl from the Eternal Lane?"

A maid dressed in pink, her face heavily made up, stepped forward. This was Linlang, who relied on her seniority in the Xuanshi Palace to bully the newcomers.

"Do you not know your own station? Do you truly believe that because you’ve managed to ingratiate your way in here, you can soar to the heavens? Is this a place for the likes of you?"