Jiayi's heart nestled sharply in her throat as she followed the nameless eunuch to the Interior Household Department. What could Fung gonggong want after all this time? It couldn't be anything good, and it was horrifying to know that Jiayi couldn't do anything about it. Fung gonggong held her life in his hands.

When they arrived at the Internal Affairs Department, Jiayi was so nervous that a light breeze could have knocked her over. The eunuch led her to Fung gonggong's office.

"Wei guniang is here," he announced before shoving the doors open.

Jiayi twisted her hands around the handle of her basket and stepped inside. Instead of Fung gonggong, Jiayi was met with a stranger. He was a eunuch of high standing based on his clothes, but Jiayi couldn't remember seeing him around the palace. Sitting behind the ornate rosewood desk amongst the dusty shelves of records, the eunuch seemed to bend into the scenery of the room. He wasn't elderly like Fung gonggong, but he certainly wasn't a young man.

Jiayi gave the eunuch a short bow, "Pardon me, gonggong, I think I'm in the wrong room. I'll excuse myself,"

"No, no. Xiao-an brought you to the right place," he replied.

"Oh," Jiayi said, "Will Fung gonggong arriving soon?"

"He's far too busy. As his deputy, it's my responsibility to support him in matters such as these,"

"Oh. Thank you..."

"Ah! I've been so rude, I am Bai Lu,"

"Bai gonggong, if this task is so important, I don't think I'm the person for it. Xiang pin has been helping De gui fei with Second Princess's wedding, so everyone in Chengqiangong has their hands full. I have no time for extra chores,"

"Really?"

Jiayi nodded, "We have so much to do. Her Highness Shen huang gui fei and First Princess rightfully takes priority for all the departments, so De gui fei asked my mistress for help. If you would please tell Fung gonggong that I am a poor choice to help with this task I'll–,"

"I don't remember you speaking so much last year, Xi Jiayi,"

Jiayi's tongue turns to lead in her mouth. A sharp blade of fear lodged itself deep in her stomach. Swallowing mainly, Jiayi said, "You must be mistaking me for someone else, gonggong. My name is Wei Jiayi,"

Bai gonggong smiled, his teeth long and sharp, "Is that so?"

Jiayi nodded, fighting to keep a serene look on her face.

Bai gonggong knocked himself lightly on the head, "Of course, of course, I must have been mistaken that day when Fung gonggong so graciously brought Wei Jiayi back from the dead,"

Smile, Jiayi kept telling herself. Keep smiling.

"I don't know what you mean, gonggong,"

Jiayi's thoughts flew as she tried to remember who was in the room when Fung gonggong gave her a new life. She was sure that they had been alone! However, Jaiyi was so desperate that she might not have noticed him if he had stood right behind her.

Bai gonggong wagged a knobbed finger at her, "You're a very good actress, Jiayi. I can see why Fung gonggong let you have that Wei girl's name. You're doing much better than he thought you would. He thought he'd actually have to send the Wei family their compensation when you acted like the sinjeku you are!"

Was there anything left for Jiayi to say? The jig was up.

"Don't stand on my account, guniang, sit, sit,"

Even though Jiayi felt like she had melted into the ornate rug beneath her feet, she managed to find her way to the stool across from Bai gonggong.

"Gonggong, I really must return to Xiang pin,–"

"Yes, yes," he nodded, "But first, let me give you something for your troubles,"

Bai gonggong clapped his hands. The doors behind her opened with a groan before a trio of eunuchs trailed inside. They dropped platters of candied and fresh fruit on the desk, along with a lacquered tray of small, painted cosmetic pots. Bai gonggong gestured to the fruit.

"With Xiang pin lending you out to De gui fei, you must not have much time to sit and eat,"

Jiayi kept her hands to herself, eyeing the gifts before her. Much of it wasn't remarkable or novel. His Majesty gifted Xiang pin much nicer treats quite often and her mistress never minded sharing.

"You don't have to be afraid," Bai gonggong said, his voice pitched low, "No word of this will reach your mistress,"

Hoping that the faster she chose something, the quicker she could leave, Jiayi reached out for a green grape. Before she could make contact, Bai gonggong wrapped a hand around her wrist. The shock of it sent fire lancing up Jiayi's arm, and she snatched her arm away without thinking.

Bai gonggong let out a creaking laugh, "I apologize! I couldn't help but notice how worn your hands are. I suppose it can't be helped. All those hours scrubbing and sewing are hard on the skin, correct? There are some fine-smelling salves for you here that will help,"

"I couldn't take that, gonggong," she replied.

"Nonsense! The odds of His Majesty offering Xiang pin a marriage for you again before you leave the palace are low, so you must protect what beauty you have left!"

Marriage? Why had Bai gonggong suddenly started talking about that?

"Did Xiang pin not tell you?" He asked.

"Gonggong, you must be mistaken,"

He shook his head, "Xiang pin didn't tell you about this? I suppose that's not too surprising. She seems like that sort of mistress. Petty!"

Jiayi's head was spinning. Bai gonggong didn't have a strong accent, nor did he speak quickly, but somehow Jiayi couldn't keep up.

"Why would His Majesty grant me a marriage? I've done nothing to earn it," Jiayi said.

His Majesty granted her a marriage? Jiayi didn't believe it for a second. There was no way that man could or would think of anything but himself for more than a moment. Was this another plan Shen huang gui fei cooked up to get her away from Xiang pin?

"Why wouldn't he? From what I've heard, Xiang pin has been the victim of such poor luck since her arrival! You've been by her side every step of the way. If any of Xiang pin's maids were to be granted a marriage, it could only be you,"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Bai gonggong peered at her, "Xiang pin truly made no mention of it?"

Jiayi shook her head.

"It's such a shame when we're thought of as only slaves with no prospects or wants outside of our masters. To think, you could have married into the Fei clan by now! Xiang pin is really too cruel,"

"Though perhaps it was for the best," He continued, "The Fei clan is so small. They're barely anything. Someone like you, Jiayi, could be so much more,"

A wave of understanding washed over Jiayi, and the vice that had gripped her chest from the moment she set foot in the room sprang open. It was a setup. Even if the marriage reward was real and wasn't one of Shen huang gui fei's machinations, this encounter had to be. Bai gonggong hadn't mentioned the Imperial Concubine's name, but it had her written all over it.

In his next breath, Bai gonggong would probably imply that Xiang pin had unforgivably wronged her even though Jiayi had been so loyal. Ultimately, hw would tell her that he could somehow arrange a marriage into a far more powerful family if Jiayi did something for him.

Spy on Xiang pin?

Poison her?

Poison Sixth Prince?

Suddenly, the vice of fear snapped shut around her chest again.

"She treats you well then? Her Highness Xiang pin?" Asked Bai gonggong.

Jiayi played along. She was fortunate to have a simple face that no one could imagine much thought behind.

"Her Highness treats me the way she feels fit. I am honored by it. I am honored to serve,"

"Is that all you think you could be? A servant?"

"Bai gonggong, you must have heard," Jiayi said in a meek whisper, "His Majesty already rejected me. I have no chances left,"

"What if I could give you another chance?"

"How?!"

Jiayi placed a hand over her mouth, playing the contrite and shamed maid.

Bai gonggong laughed, "Xi Jiayi, you underestimate me! I didn't become Fung gonggong's deputy by accident! I was like you once. Lowly, a nobody! But I rose through the ranks. I can help you. Can you imagine what Xiang pin would say if you married into the Fuca clan or the Ula-Nara after trying so hard to halt your progress?"

"You could do that?" Jiayi asked, pouring as much awe into her voice as she could.

Bai gonggong nodded, "And not just as a concubine either. I could make you a legal wife,"

"Really?"

"Absolutely! All you have to do is help me with a small task," he said, picking up one of the jars, "It won't even take more than a moment of your day,"

He held it out to her, "Here, take it,"

Jiayi squinted at how familiar the jar looked.

"Smart girl," Bai gonggong said with a smile, "It looks just like the rouge Her High the Empress gifted Xiang pin for the Chrysanthemum Festival, doesn't it?"

Jiayi's breath stopped short. Did Shen huang gui fei mean to eliminate Xiang pin by implicating The Empress? Suddenly, Jiayi felt the conversation was spiraling out of control.

"This is going to involve The Empress?" She asked, not needing to act scandalized, "Gonggong, no matter how much Xiang pin has wronged me, isn't this going too far?"

Bai gonggong shook his head, "Jiayi, don't you think you're too trusting? You don't think The Empress had anything to do with your mistress rejecting His Majesty's reward?"

Surely, he was pulling that sentiment out of nowhere. Jiayi didn't know much about The Empress, but she was sure Her Highness rarely involved herself in things so beneath her.

"Her Highness is far above such things," she replied.

"Pah! Her Highness The Empress is intimately aware of all the going ons of His Majesty's concubines. Down in the hard labor camp, you wouldn't have heard about this, but Her Highness has a habit of becoming as close as possible to any woman who catches His Majesty's eye. She's terribly jealous. Why do you think His Majesty rejected you? She wouldn't dare have you and Xiang pin together to gang up on her,"

Bai gonggong had a silver tongue. If Jiayi hadn't been manipulating as much as he was manipulating her, she'd surely would've been pulled in.

"Her Highness chose the lowest match for you," Bai gonggong continued, "And even then, she was probably in Xiang pin's ear about how uppity you might become just from marrying into some tiny clan, "

"Could Her Highness hold a grudge against me for trying to get His Majesty's favor? All I wanted to do was make something of my life!" Jiayi said, trying to bring a tear to her eye.

Bai gonggong latched onto her complaint, whining like a half-starved dog, "This is the life of a woman in the Forbidden City. You'll always be crushed under Her Highness's golden boot. Unless–"

He held out the pot of rouge again. Though it sent sickly shivers down her spine, she took it. She turned the jar over in her hands, marveling at the spot-on replica. All the concubines received a one-of-a-kind gift from The Empress during the Chrysanthemum Festival, delivered straight to their rooms. How had Shen huang gui fei found out what Xiang pin's gift was? How far did her reach go?

"I'll have to chip it," Jiayi said.

"Hmm?"

"One of the little maids, Ping'er, dropped the pot and chipped an edge on the right side. Xiang pin was so furious that she forbid Ping'er from eating for days. I had to sneak her food,"

It was an audacious lie, but what did he know?

"Poor thing," cooed Bai gonggong.

Jiayi popped the lid open and stared at the unblemished surface of the pressed red powder.

"What...what is it?"

"Don't trouble yourself with the details," he said, "But for your own sake, don't touch it,"

Jiayi snapped the lid shut, "How long will it take?"

"It all depends on how rosy your mistress likes to be. However, if nothing seems to be happening, bring the rouge back to me, and I will make it a bit more potent,"

Jiayi felt like flinging the little pot at Bai gonggong's face for giving her such a nothing answer. Instead, she hid the rouge at the bottom of her basket.

"When this is all over, I'll be granted a marriage?" She asked.

"Not just a marriage. A good marriage into a good family as the legal wife. I can promise you that,"

Jiayi nodded, "Okay," she said, her voice trembling, "I'll do it,"

✺

At times like this, Jiayi was reminded that Xiang pin was odd. When Jiayi returned to Chengqiangong and privately relaid her conversation with Bai gonggong, Xiang pin didn't seem to care that her senior maid had been recruited to harm her somehow. She was far more amused by Bai gonggong's tale of Xiang pin rejecting a marriage reward on her behalf.

"That's the best he could come up with?" She said with a snort, tapping the lid of the imitation rouge with her fingernail before tossing it on her bedside table.

Xiang pin had sent some of the servants to fetch her dinner and asked the remaining to do a few chores in the courtyard so, she and Jiayi could speak privately in her bedroom.

"Even if it were true, Your Highness, I would be happy you said no. I'm in no mind for marriage,"

The sentiment would've been true had Jiayi been having this conversation many months ago. These days, however, when it came to marriage, more often than not, her mind went to Prince Han. It was a silly dream, of course. At the moment, Jiayi was greedily gobbling up any scrap of attention she could get from Prince Han before he married someone else. Still, when it came to her fantasies, being Prince Han's difujin was at the top of her list.

"And this Bai gonggong person said you can manage a marriage into the Fuca clan? Pah! Well, at least I was lucky enough for him to try and seduce one of my cleverest maids,"

"Now," she sighed, "What shall we do about this?"

"Should we tell De gui fei? Perhaps she could help us?"

"No," Xiang pin said with a shake of her head, "Jiejie doesn't need any more worries. All of her energy is going into making sure Shen huang gui fei doesn't sabotage Huahuan's wedding. I don't want to burden her,"

"And this Bai gonggong didn't say what the rouge would do?" she asked.

Jiayi shook her head.

Xiang pin tsked, "I can't go any further without knowing what they put in there,"

"Could we send it to the Imperial Hospital in secret?"

"That won't work. We can't guarantee that people won't start asking questions," Xiang pin twisted her lips, "If I pretended to hurt myself, I could ask the physician when he arrives to treat me, "

Xiang paused to rub at her knee. Jiayi gently pushed her hand away and began to massage it.

"Though, at my age, pretending to be hurt and being hurt are starting to feel the same,"

Jiayi made up her mind, "I could do it,"

"Absolutely not," Xiang pin said with a sniff, "What if you were really injured? No, no, I'll think of something else,"

"But it wouldn't cause any suspicion! Bai gonggong already believes that you're cruel to me behind closed doors. If he or Shen huang gui fei suspected that I betrayed them, I can say you punished me for deserting you all afternoon,"

"I don't know–"

"Please, Your Highness," Jiayi insisted, "We don't have time to waste. Shen huang gui fei is going so far to frame The Empress for disfiguring you or poisoning you or worse. We can't wait. Not to mention, His Majesty will come to your side immediately if he hears you've been hurt, we'd miss our chance,"

She didn't know if what she said was considered a half-truth or a half-lie. Jiayi meant what she said about Shen huang gui fei–she was escalating in a worrying way. But more importantly, Jiayi was terrified that Bai gonggong knew that she was an imposter. Did that mean Shen huang gui fei knew? If she did, wouldn't she have gone to The Emperor about it already? Or try to use it against her? Maybe Jiayi still had more time to do something.

Xiang pin stared down at her, her eyes pensive.

"Fine," she said at last, "As long it's nothing drastic. Understand?"

"Yes, Your Highness,"