Jiayi draped a thick duvet over Xiang gui ren's shoulder as her mistress stood in the blustery doorway.

On her other side, Molan presented her with a hand warmer, "Mistress, Sixth Prince is only away at the Imperial Study. Bolin won't let anything happen to him,"

Jiayi nodded, "Yes. You'll get sick if you stand in the wind any longer,"

Xiang gui ren shook her head.

"Mistress, we won't let what happened to Fifth Princess happen to Sixth Prince," said Jiayi.

"You're just girls," Xiang gui ren said, finally stepping back inside, "What can you do that The Empress Dowager couldn't?"

The start of the twelfth month* was rife with misery. When Jiang pin set herself and Susu on fire, everyone assumed it was a petulant suicide—a bratty girl who couldn't stand her imprisonment any longer. Then Fifth Princess wouldn't wake the next morning.

Or the next.

Fifth Princess was barely three. It didn't take long for her to waste away. Only one Imperial Physician was brave enough to speak the truth.

Poison.

The Empress arrested and interrogated the entirety of Cininggong, much to The Empress Dowager's embarrassment. A guilty eunuch admitted the truth after days of harsh interrogation. The day of the fire, Susu gave him a tray of cakes on behalf of Jiang pin. The eunuch thought it was a gesture on behalf of a desperate mother, and the silver Susu gave him softened his heart even more. He snuck the treats into Fifth Princess' rooms.

Jiang pin wanted to make sure that she and Fifth Princess would leave this world together. Unfortunately for her, His Majesty's rage threw a wrench in that plan. Not only was Jiang pin demoted to a commoner, but what was left of her body was cremated. Fifth Princess was buried as the daughter of His Majesty's oldest sister, the identity of her biological mother struck from the Imperial Records.

The news plunged Xiang gui ren into a pit of worry. Never before had Jiayi seen her mistress so shaken. Xiang gui ren spent her nights sitting by Sixth Prince's bed and her mornings by his side. He only ate food she had eaten hours before, and he was banned from accepting food and drink from anyone else. When he was away for lessons, Xiang gui ren counted the minutes until he returned.

"Even if we can't do much," said Jiayi, "Sixth Prince has Prince Han by his side. He won't let anything happen to him,"

"I hope so," Xiang gui ren said with a sigh, "The New Year needs to come soon and wash away all this bad luck,"

"Don't worry, mistress," said Molan, depositing Thunder into Xiang gui ren's lap, "Sixth Prince will come home soon, safe and sound,"

Speaking of Prince Han, Jiayi hadn't seen him in some time. He had weaved himself so deeply into the fabric of her day-to-day life that his absence was blaring and inescapable. Truthfully, Jiayi shouldn't have grown so attached to it. Prince Han was a prince. He couldn't spend his days running around the back palace when he wasn't with Sixth Prince. However, Jiayi would've settled with just looking at him when he delivered Sixth Prince back to Chengqiangong, but she couldn't even have that.

Jiayi busied herself with the chores to take her mind off of things. As much as Xiang gui ren wanted the New Year to come, the closer it came, the more work there was for the servants to do. Jiayi had just started lining the windows when Pie'er came to get her. The Empress Dowager had sent for Jiayi. Her pulse began to race.

"The Empress Dowager? I already finished the portrait,"

"That's what I thought!" Said Pie'er, "Oh! Maybe she wants to reward you,"

Lead butterflies sloshed in Jiayi's stomach as she followed The Empress Dowager's maid back to Cininggong.

"This servant wishes Her Highness The Empress Dowager peace," Jiayi said. She smiled softly at The Empress Dowager.

"Kneel," replied The Empress Dowager.

Jiayi tilted her head and frowned, "Your Highness–"

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the side table, "I said kneel!"

Jiayi obeyed, a crafted look of confusion on her face.

"Wei guniang," said Jerjer gugu, "Has Her Highness wronged you?"

"Of course not! Her Highness is far kinder to me than I deserve. I'm forever grateful," replied Jiayi.

Jerjer gugu glared down at her, "Grateful? You're calling the mess you left in Her Highness' name gratitude? I should rip out your tongue for the audacity!"

Jiayi shrunk down, "Gugu, I don't understand. I didn't do anything to sully Her Highness' name. I wouldn't dare,"

"So you didn't have a private audience with His Majesty?"

"I did, but I only did that for Her Highness," said Jiayi, "But only so I could repay Her Highness for her care faster,"

"Her Highness brought you to her side because you were smart and sensible. Who permitted you to try to seduce His Majesty on your own? What gave you the right to poison the mother-son relationship between His Majesty and Her Highness?"

Jiayi knocked her forehead to the ground, "May Your Highness forgive me! May Your Highness forgive me! That wasn't my intention! I went to His Majesty to–"

"To drag Her Highness' name through the mud!" Snapped Jerjer gugu. She pursed her lips before tilting her chin, "You're defiant and ignorant. Do not come here again,"

Jiayi let out a dismayed cry before kowtowing again, "Forgive me! Forgive me! Your Highness, when I become a concubine, I'll repay you tenfold!"

The Empress Dowager snorted, "A eunuch has a better chance of becoming a father than you have of becoming a concubine after your little performance. If you want anything to do with His Majesty, you must do it on your own,"

Jiayi tried to crawl to The Empress Dowager to grovel more, but her eunuch grabbed Jiayi's arms.

"Your Highness," Jiayi cried, fighting to get through, "Forgive me!"

Jerjer gugu blocked Jiayi's view of The Empress Dowager.

"Take her away," she ordered.

Jiayi struggled the entire way as the eunuchs dragged her outside and tossed her out. She collapsed and pressed her smile into the snow. Tears of relief ran down her face. She lay there until The Empress Dowager's eunuchs chased her from the courtyard. She walked through the flurries, a weight lifted from her shoulder. Fortune was even more in her favor as she came across Prince Han. He was alone.

"My lord," Jiayi said, brightening at the sight of him.

Prince Han nodded at her. It was odd and unfamiliar. He had no witty comments or teasing words of Yiqiang's lessons. Silence stretched between them, thick and cold.

"I thought you finished Royal Mother's painting," Prince Han said.

Stolen story; please report.

Prince Han rarely called The Empress Dowager that.

"I did," replied Jiayi.

There was more silence.

Prince Han sighed deeply and said, "It's not as easy as you think to become a concubine, Wei guniang. His Majesty doesn't just enjoy a girl with a pretty face..."

The ringing in her ears drowned out Prince Han's voice. Why was Prince Han talking about her becoming a concubine?

"...I can help you arrange another meeting. You'll have to be discreet so no one looks down on Xiang gui ren for trying to curry favor with His Majesty with you, but–"

Jiayi dropped to her knees, the snow was no longer comforting, the sting burning her to the bone. The terror in her face that she so eagerly put on for The Empress Dowager was no longer false.

"Please don't, my lord,"

Prince Han stared down at her, his lips pursed.

"I–I don't think less of you for this. It's the greatest honor in the world to become His Majesty's concubine. You're my–Yiqiang cares for you very much. It wouldn't be any trouble to do this favor for you,"

"If you want to do me a favor," Jiayi said, face suddenly hot with anger, "You'll make sure I'll never become a concubine,"

"What are you talking about?" Prince Han said before he lowered his voice, "I saw you. You met with His Majesty in private. That's not something you do if you don't want to be his woman!"

Jiayi shook her head, "I went there to make sure that would never happen,"

Under the delicately powdered face and soft silks and brocade, Jiayi never felt uglier. The idea was stupid, and she called it as such when she mentioned it to her mistress. Instead of agreeing, Xiang gui ren said it was their one good chance before the New Year.

"Help him see The Empress Dowager's true face," Xiang gui ren said as she dusted Jiayi's neck with a sweet-scented perfume.

So Jiayi let Xiang gui ren do her up like a proper gêgê and let a little silver slip into the right hands to get a private audience with The Emperor.

It made her sick, flirting and simpering after him. She fumbled and stuttered, the ripe mix of fury and nausea flooding her body. Her opportunity came when His Majesty offhandedly mentioned how fond The Empress Dowager was of Jiayi.

"Her Highness is too kind to this servant," Jiayi replied, "I'll be sure to serve her well in the future,"

"Royal Mother?" Said The Emperor, "Not The Empress?"

"Of course, I'll serve The Empress! But it would be unfilial not to nurture the bond between Your Majesty and Her Highness,"

The Emperor didn't look up from the book in his hands.

"Is that what she told you to do?"

Jiayi shook her head, "Her Highness never said so, but I know that's what she wants. She feels like you've grown apart and never knows your thoughts and feelings,"

When The Emperor didn't respond, Jiayi bottled up her revulsion, kneeled at his feet, and put her hands on his thigh. The Emperor sighed and stared down at her. She even went so far as to rest her head there.

"Her Highness only wants to be closer to you,"

The Emperor slid her hands away, "Rise,"

"Zhang Wei," he called, "Take her out,"

Prince Han looked at her horrified, "You–"

"I made sure His Majesty knew that the only thing I would do if he made me his woman was spy on him for The Empress Dowager," said Jiayi.

Prince Han pulled Jiayi to her feet, "Have you lost your mind? Do you know what The Empress Dowager or His Majesty could do if they find out? Lying to The Emperor is a crime,"

"But it worked!" Jiayi replied, gripping his arms tightly, "The Empress Dowager never wants to see me again! And His Majesty doesn't want anything to do with me,"

"Why would you cut off your fortune like that?" Asked Prince Han, "Do you know what being a concubine could do for your family? Could do for you?"

"I do know. It could have me killed or poisoned or banished or have my family held hostage or poisoned, or any children that I have could be killed or poisoned. Or maybe I'll be lucky," Jiayi pulled away and whispered, "Look at me. Do you think I'll get lucky?"

"No,"

Jiayi tried not to let that truth sting.

"You wouldn't need luck. His Majesty would favor you. You're smart and kind, and talented. I know if you put your mind to it, there's no telling how high you would rise," Prince Han said. He sighed, "Maybe there's still a chance for you–"

Why was Prince Han being so earnest about this? If Jiayi told him that she had no feelings for The Emperor, he would tell her that they'd grow in time. She wouldn't dare tell him the truth. She wouldn't be able to handle the disgust in his eyes.

"I can't," Jiayi said, a lie trickling out of her mouth, "I couldn't bring my family so close to His Majesty,"

There were letters. Piles and piles of them stuffed in her trunk back in her rooms. Each letter revealed more about the life Wei Jiayi used to live. Her father was a minor official with a legal wife who hated Wei Jiayi, the daughter of a concubine who died years ago. Each letter revolved around the same thing: money.

Wei furen demanded 100% of Wei Jiayi's salary. She counted it meticulously, writing pages of acid when she felt it was too little. Wei furen's sons needed money to study for the Imperial exams, and her daughters needed new silks. Jiayi sent what she could to keep up appearances but began shelling out in full when Wei furen threatened to come to The Forbidden City and accuse her of being unfilial.

"They only want money. If I was concubine, there's nothing they wouldn't ask me to do," said Jiayi, "I sent my mother all of my rewards so far, and she keeps saying it's not enough. I worry about it all the time. At least as a maid, there's only so much money I can make. I don't what she'd do if the Imperial Treasury were open to me,"

Jiayi began to shiver as the snow fell heavier. Prince Han gazed at quietly. Maybe he didn't believe her. Or perhaps this lie was a step too far.

"You were afraid that The Empress Dowager would give you to His Majesty this whole time?"

Jiayi nodded, "From the day you saw me with the bracelet,"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Asked Prince Han.

Jiayi's eyes widened, "What do you mean?"

"Don't you think I could have helped you? If you told me this from the start, you wouldn't have to put yourself in such a dangerous situation,"

"My lord," Jiayi replied, "I'm just a maid,"

"You're not just a maid. You're," Prince Han paused, "You're my friend,"

"You're friend?" Jiayi parroted foolishly.

Prince Han shrank back, his body stiffening, "Have I been too forward?"

"No!" Jiayi yelped, "You–I, my lord, of course, you're my friend. That's why I didn't tell you. This wasn't something to bother my...friends with,"

"That's for me–that's for your friends to decide," Prince Han stepped closer and brushed away the tiny piles of snow that covered her shoulders, "I've been told I'm a good friend by many people. I won't lose my good reputation over you. Do you understand?"

Prince Han smiled at her. It was small and barely there, but to Jiayi, it felt like a warm summer day. She smiled back and nodded her head.

"Yes, my lord,"

✺

Weiwei was such a nervous girl. An pin lay in bed and watched her order around the other servants. The maid would accept nothing less than perfection for her heroic mistress. Yes, An pin had finally been noticed by The Emperor for her valiant attempt to save her dear friend Jiang pin from Xianfugong's burning rubble.

Yes, An pin rushed through the crowd of eunuchs to save her friend only to be overwhelmed by the flames and the smoke. The Emperor was sitting beside her when she awoke, along with an Imperial Physician. He said she was lucky that her beauty remained unmarred from the act. Her left arm wasn't so fortunate. The burn was unsightly and ugly, yet His Majesty cradled it and scolded her softly for her foolish behavior. An pin assured him that it wasn't foolish and that Jiang pin didn't deserve such a horrible fate. The Emperor ordered her never to do such a thing again before pressing a kiss to her bandaged arm and returning to Yanxindian.

The news of her recently acquired favor spread quickly. An pin only expected The Empress to ask after her health personally, but it was rare that she spent an afternoon alone. Shen huang gui fei had slithered by to visit, her poisonous mouth speaking honeyed words and teary regrets for her dear 'meimei'. An pin smiled and sniffled as much as needed before Shen huang gui fei ended her performance and left.

When the "truth" of Huaguang's death was discovered, it took everything in An pin not to burst out laughing. Her jiejie, proud and pompous, died a commoner whose ashes were fed to the pigs. How fitting.

"Your Highness," said Weiwei, "It's time to dress your burn,"

An pin let Weiwei roll up her sleeve and unwrap the old bandage. As Weiwei slathered the flaking, blistered skin in ointment, An pin thought about her next steps. In her current state, An pin could do nothing to Shen huang gui fei. Not only was she personally titled Imperial Noble Consort by His Majesty, but she was still strongly favored by everyone, from the eunuchs who distributed the monthly allowances to The Empress Dowager. Whatever scheme An pin could think up wouldn't so much put a dent in that bitch. No, for anything to work, that woman would need to fall from the heavens she clawed her way to.

"Wang chang zai and Cao taiyi are here," An pin's eunuch announced.

"Wang chang zai?" Asked Weiwei, setting the supplies down, "What is she doing here?"

"Let them in," said An pin.

Weiwei, like most servants, ignored Wang chang zai's very existence the same way The Emperor did. An pin flat out forgot she was there most of the time. When An pin did catch sight of the other woman, it was always so jarring. The soft colored fabrics and simple clothing Wang chang zai always wore looked perverse, despite them being correct for her status. Like she was trying to look like a child again.

Weiwei reluctantly offered Wang chang zai a seat as Cao taiyi inspected her wound.

"Meimei," said An pin, "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to visit Your Highness earlier, but you've had plenty of company these last days. I didn't want to overwhelm,"

An pin smiled, "You could never. Sit and have some tea. We'll chat after Cao taiyi finishes,"

It wouldn't kill her to make a bit of small talk. However, as Cao taiyi droned on about her burn and how it was healing, An pin noticed that Wang chang zai couldn't keep her eyes off him. She wasn't outright staring, but every moment or so, she would glance and look away.

She could've been interested in An pin's burn. She could've been curious about Cao taiyi's treatment regimen. But by the way her eyes followed him when he took his leave, An pin could tell that it was something more.

Something interesting.

–––––

*between December 22–January 21