The howling rain couldn't drown out the deafening thump of Jiayi's heart. Standing in the corridor waiting for Prince Han, the wailing of the storm echoed across the concrete walls and straight into Jiayi's brain. Thick, black clouds had blotted out the sun for days, dousing what little warmth the newly budding spring had brought. The chill had sucked the life from Xiang pin's bones and tethered her to the bed.

Jiayi told herself it was only the weather as Xiang pin became more listless and gray. That Xiang pin wasn't getting worse. That taking away her medicine was the right thing to do. Xiang pin wasn't dying.

She wasn't.

The rain pelted Jiayi's umbrella.

Xiang pin wasn't dying.

She wasn't.

A heavy hand gripped her shoulder and startled Jiayi out of her thoughts. Her clumsy fingers flinched, and the paper umbrella fell to the ground, letting the rain pierce Jiayi's skin.

"Sorry," Prince Han said, using his own umbrella to shield her from the rain, "I didn't mean to startle you,"

"Do you have news?" She asked, the shock of the rain frittering through her skin.

Prince Han nodded. He pulled out a tightly rolled piece of parchment, "This arrived today,"

Jiayi tore it open but adrenaline made her vision shake. She shoved it at Prince Han, "Read it. Tell me what it says,"

Prince Han's curled his fingers around her own to steady the paper, "It says that the doctor identified the herbs as safe. Xiang pin's prescription wasn't poison,"

Jiayi's lips quivered, "There was nothing wrong with it? At all?"

Her heart began to pound. Was she really the reason Xiang pin was so sick? Was she the one putting the final nail in Xiang pin's coffin by taking away the medicine?

"How can that be? There has to be something wrong with it. Read it again!"

"Jiayi–"

"Read it again! There has to be something wrong with it! If Xiang pin dies because of me–"

Prince Han held her hand tighter, "Xiang pin isn't going to die because of you. You could never do something like that,"

His voice traveled through the thrum of the rain and into Jiayi's chest. It calmed her, but only a bit.

"The doctor wrote more," Prince Han continued, "I sent the herbs out with a note describing Xiang pin's illness. He says that while the herbs would encourage vitality in a healthy person, someone afflicted with dampness, like Xiang pin should never take it. It causes festering and Qi blockage. It would take some time, years even, but Xiang pin's health wouldn't survive the blow if she continued taking it. Jiayi. You were right to take this away,"

"Then why isn't she getting better?" Jiayi asked, her voice trembling.

Prince Han wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "I suspect her Qi is already blocked. The doctor wrote another prescription–one that Xiang pin needs. I'll send it to The Imperial Hospital in my name and find some way to send it to you,"

Jiayi swallowed, "And Xiang pin will get better, right?"

"Of course,"

"What if we're too late?" Jiayi whispered.

"Jiayi–"

"Xiang pin was so sick she could barely get out of bed,"

"Jiayi–"

"How will I face–"

"Jiayi, stop!" said Prince Han, halting her fevered rambles.

"Look at me," Prince Han said, pressing a hand to her face, "It's going to be okay. We'll figure it out together. I promise,"

Jiayi threw her hands around Prince Han's shoulders and buried her face in his chest. Even if everything he said turned out to be a lie, she would believe it.

Just for a little while.

✺

Jiayi wanted to be angry. To be filled with fury. To be so incensed with rage that nothing would stop her from getting her hands around Shen huang gui fei's throat and squeezing–but all she had swirling in her belly was fear. Shen huang gui fei was too slippery, too quick, too favored. She hid her dirty hands behind miles of flesh. How could Jiayi even attempt to touch her? Jiang pin was easy–a nothing in comparison.

Shen huang gui fei was a different beast entirely. Her reach was far, poisonous, and most likely right in Chengqiangong. The only place the medicine could be tampered with was Chengqiangong. Once a week, at the Imperial Hospital, Hwang taiyi measured the prescription and sealed it shut under Shiyi gugu's watchful eyes. A random Yikungong servant then delivered the sealed medicine to Chengqiangong. The medicine packets that Jiayi opened and tossed were clearly sealed. There was no other chance for it to be tampered with until it arrived. It all came down to who put hands on the package first. It had to be one of the newer servants granted to Xiang pin after her promotion. Jiayi didn't pay much attention to them; there was never any point. Now, she was kicking herself for it.

Because of her foolishness, she had to do something equally as terrifying as unraveling Shen huang gui fei's treacherous ropes.

Corner Shiyi gugu.

Jiayi had to find out which maid accepted the medicine, and only Shiyi gugu could round up the people who delivered it. As The Empress's close maid, Shiyi gugu rarely left her mistress's side, but these days, she had a standing appointment at the A Ge Sou. She and a few servants delivered an evening meal, made by The Empress, to Third Prince and Seventh Prince.

That's where Jiayi made her move. She watched as Shiyi gugu turned the corner to the A Ge Sou and ran to intercept her.

"Gugu, please, I need to speak with you,"

Shiyi gugu sniffed, barely pausing her stride, "I'm here on the orders of Her Highness The Empress, not to chit chat in the street. Remove yourself," she said, stepping into the courtyard.

Jiayi tried to follow, but the guards refused to allow her entry. Undeterred, she waited for Shiyi gugu's return, pins and needles running through her body.

Shiyi gugu didn't spend long inside and lead the servants away with her head held high, not sparing Jiayi a look. Desperate, Jiayi did the unthinkable and grabbed the older woman's arm.

Her glare nearly burnt a hole in Jiayi's skull. Snatching her arm away, Shiyi gugu hissed, "How dare you–"

Jiayi leaned close and said lowly, "The Empress is in danger,"

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"What?"

"The Empress," Jiayi said, her mouth dry, "Is in danger,"

"Speak quickly!" Shiyi gugu snapped.

"Someone's tampering with Xiang pin's medicine,"

"Ridiculous! I watch Hwang taiyi's every move and paste it shut myself!"

"And yet the medicine isn't the same! I...I sent the dregs to a doctor in the capital–"

Shiyi gugu puffed up in insult, "You impudent thing–"

"And they said that what Xiang pin's drinking encourages dampness and harms her health,"

"Those doctors don't know their head from the hole they came out of," Shiyi gugu said, "I don't have to believe you just because a charlatan spoke sweetly,"

"But what if he's right, gugu?" said Jiayi, "If my mistress dies, the first thing they'll do is check the prescription. When Hwang taiyi realizes that someone switched the prescription, all eyes will be on Yikungong,"

A wrinkle appeared on Shiyi gugu's brow.

"You're sure the medicine is being tampered with?"

Jiayi nodded, "By someone in Chengqiangong. I have a plan to catch the culprit, but there's something I need your help with, gugu,"

Letting out a heavy breath, Shiyi gugu nodded sharply, "Fine,"

The relief nearly knocked Jiayi off her feet, "Thank you, gugu,"

✺

Lihua used to be more afraid.

A pit of dread would open in her belly each week as she took Xiang pin's herbs and cheerfully told the others that she was stepping inside to put it away. Instead, she would detour to De gui fei's little kitchen and lift open a loose floorboard in the back corner. Back then, her hands would slip and shake, the sweat on her palms greasing the way. She would reach under and scramble to grab one of the packages stored there. They were identical to the ones sent by the Imperial Hospital. Shen huang gui fei made sure of that. Lihua would stuff the real medicine in her jacket before racing back to Xiang pin's rooms to drop off the fake.

It always left her heart seizing in her chest, every creak or whisper in the wind was a sign that she had been found out. But as the weeks passed, nothing happened. No one caught on, just as Shen huang gui fei said.

Switching the medicine was as normal as standing in front of Xiang pin's rooms. Why did she need to fear? Xiang pin was none the wiser about it all. She still let Yongnian live, and that bean pole of a eunuch was the one who pushed her into the lake in the first place!

Lihua didn't regret what she was doing. She would amount to nothing as Xiang pin's maid. Lihua was to walk behind her mistress, her head bowed for the next ten years before being thrown back to her family, elderly and unmarried. Shen huang gui fei promised that if Lihua could just do this one thing, she would be guaranteed a good husband. 10th and 11th Prince's nursemaids came from good families–it wouldn't be hard for Shen huang gui fei to find a place for her.

It wasn't a betrayal. Not really. Who was truly loyal to who in this place? Lihua was only thinking of her future.

She glanced at the sky. Xiang pin's medicine would arrive soon. It wouldn't be long before Lihua got to leave this dusty doorstep for something greater. A'Fang told her during the last handoff that the newest batch of medicine was more potent than what Xiang pin had been drinking these previous months. This chapter of Lihua's life would be over sooner than later.

Lihua perked up as a straight-backed eunuch walked through the courtyard. She never recognized whoever The Empress sent to deliver the medicine; they kept changing.

"Her Highness Xiang pin's medicine," the eunuch said softly.

"Thank you," Lihua replied, taking the package.

The other maids didn't bother trying to accept it after Lihua declared herself the keeper of the medicine. She didn't have to tell them she was off to put them away. It was just the routine now.

The medicine delivery always came around the same time Xiang pin napped. The entire palace knew not to disturb her, so truly, there had never been anything standing between Lihua and her task. As she lifted the floorboard to switch the packets, she thought of how long it would take Shen huang gui fei to find someone for her. She wondered how her parents would react. Her? Returning home with an engagement to a lofty clan? Her mother would never believe it.

"Spring really is the season for snakes, isn't it?"

Lihua froze.

Her hand went limp, the medicine falling back into the hole with a thunk.

Xiang pin?

How did she?

How–

After all this time–

"To be fair, its my fault," Xiang pin continued, "When you leave the door open, all sorts of pests just slither in,"

Lihua forced herself to look up at Xiang pin's eerily smiling face. Her mistress had grown lean, her teeth viciously poking out of her pointed cheeks.

"Your Highness. I...I–"

Xiang pin tilted her head and let out a cheery laugh, "Shh, shh, shh! Don't spoil it! Her Highness The Empress and jiejie need to hear it, too!"

✺

The Empress trailed her eyes from the counterfeit medicine packet in her hands to the maid kneeling before her, bound in coarse rope.

"Your name,"

The maid flinched, her bowed head dripping sweat, but her mouth stayed shut.

"Your Highness," her eunuch Xiaosi said, "Why don't we just cut out this slave's tongue, seeing as she has no use for it?"

"Now, now, gonggong," said Xiang pin, "I'm sure Lihua has some lovely things to share with us,"

"Lihua?" Asked The Empress.

Xiang pin nodded, "If I remember, she's a Gorolo clanswoman,"

It didn't matter that Lihua wasn't in the mood to talk. The Empress knew how to loosen her lips.

"Shiyi, take my decree. Arrest every Gorolo maid and execute them. Let it be known that no Gorolo girl may enter the palace as long as I live. Hopefully, after hearing what poison this clan breeds, I can convince His Majesty to expel any Gorolo clansman from court,"

"Your Highness!" Lihua said, suddenly finding her voice, "Have mercy! Wouldn't it be enough to kill me? My clan had nothing to do with this!"

Smiling, The Empress shook her head, "Kill you? I don't plan on doing anything like that. I will be sending you back to your family with the destruction of your clan on your head. Death would be too good for a black-hearted slave who's done everything in her power to kill her master. It wasn't enough for you to drown her, but poison her as well?"

Xiaosi tsked, "Your Highness, don't you have too much kindness for this slave? You've seen what she's capable of. Before we send her away, wouldn't it be best to cut off her hands?"

"Fine then," The Empress said with a nod, "Cut them off,"

Lihua's eyes stretched wide, "Your Highness, wait! Wait! Please, it wasn't me! I didn't push Xiang pin!"

The Empress scoffed, "Who else could be so devious?"

"It was Yongnian! It was him! Shen huang gui fei paid him two taels of gold to push Xiang pin into the water! It wasn't me!"

"This girl really is a little devil," said Xiang pin, covering her mouth in faux disgust, "Accusing Shen huang gui fei and an innocent eunuch for her deeds? It's too much,"

"No! He did it! He did!" Said Lihua, her voice teetering on hysterical, "He was the one who took me to her! If you search his rooms, you'll find the gold!"

Xiang pin sighed before turning to De gui fei, "What do you think, jiejie? Should we bother?"

De gui fei nodded, "No one involved in this should escape punishment,"

Xiang pin waved a lazy hand in the air, "Bolin, go fetch him,"

Lihua did a wormlike twist and crawled as close to The Empress's feet before the guards dragged her back, "Your Highness, please, please, it wasn't my fault. Shen huang gui fei told me that Xiang pin wasn't going to live very long in the first place! She told me I was doing her a favor by not letting her suffer. It was Yongnian who truly harmed her, not me!"

The Empress ignored Lihua's babbling. She was busy smothering the urge to have Shen huang gui fei strung up and bled out like the pig she was. The Empress knew that people were lusting after her downfall, but involving Yian and Yihe? Shen huang gui fei had gone too far now. No one in this damned place had the right to be by The Emperor's side but her sons. His legitimate children. His heirs. His future. The future of the Great Qing!

"Right this way," a voice outside the door said before Yongnian entered.

The Empress watched as the jovial smile slipped from Yongnian's face. His eyes flitted from The Empress to Lihua before his skin went gray in terror. Bolin shoved him inside before he could think of running and closed the door behind him.

Two guards rushed to hold him to the ground.

"Yongnian," Xiang pin said, "Lihua was telling us something exciting about you. Can you tell us if it's true?"

"She's lying!" Yongnian gasped out, "It's all lies!"

Xiang pin rolled her eyes, "You don't even know what she's told us,"

"Did she tell you that Shen huang gui fei isn't even paying her? She's doing this so Shen huang gui fei could find her a good husband!"

"You're no better than me!" Screeched Lihua, "You're planning on wasting that gold on prostitutes and opium the second you have the chance!"

The simmering pot of anger in The Empress's chest finally boiled over, "Enough," she said, the coldness of her voice cutting through their voices.

"Execute them both. Stuff their mouths so they don't cause a scene,"

"Is that it?" Asked De gui fei, "What about Shen huang gui fei?"

"I'll deal with her," replied The Empress.

"You always say that," De gui fei hissed.

Xiang pin put a gentle hand on De gui fei's elbow, "Jiejie–"

"She almost killed Xiang pin and ruined Yian and Yihe! And you still won't speak to His Majesty about this?"

The Empress clenched her fist before rising, "How and when I punish the concubines in my back palace is no concern of yours, De gui fei,"

✺

Zhang Wei came to The Emperor's side, "Your Majesty, The Empress has sent something for you,"

The Emperor glanced up from the work on his desk, "Read it to me,"

"Of course, Your Majesty," said Zhang Wei, "Ah, Her Highness is asking for your approval on her choices for First Princess and Second Princess,"

"Is that so? I was beginning to think she'd never decide," The Emperor said, "Who did she choose for them?"

"For First Princess, Hu Shi of the Fuca clan and for Second Princess, Pan Weimin of the Hoifa Nara,"

The Emperor paused, setting his brush down, "The Empress has thought clearly. Prepare the decrees,"