That would be the challenging part.
“We must act quickly. I will talk to Ke. You must not tell anyone about your discovery.”
Since Taizi had been dishonored; Prince Ke was the most favored. If he proved the Pure Lady’s treachery, no doubt the Emperor would claim him as the heir.
I nodded. “I won’t.”
“It’s for your own safety.”
“I understand.”
“Meanwhile, you must keep an eye on who the Emperor’s uncle contacts and listen to their conversations if possible. You may learn more details about his plan.”
I was not certain I would do better spying this time. “What are you going to do now, my Noble Lady?” I would have liked to hear her thoughts, and if she could lay out her plans with me, that would have been even better.
“We must not waste a single moment,” she said, ignoring my question.
? ? ?
One afternoon, the Duke, who had come to see the Emperor in his bedchamber, ordered me to go to the Emperor’s library to fetch some ink and calligraphy paper. As soon as I turned onto the path near the building, I knew I was being followed. I walked faster. The large figure behind me walked faster too. I stopped and spun around.
The Captain.
My heart jumped to my throat. Had he seen me eavesdropping on the Uncle and the Chancellor? Had they ordered him to arrest me?
“Stop right there.” He stood before me, the purple patch spreading on his cheek like a shadow. He did not look as menacing as I had expected, but his voice was emotionless. “I have a message for you.”
I stiffened. “What message?”
He took out a roll of paper as small as my finger from his pocket. “It’s from your mother.”
“What?” I snatched it and unfurled the roll.
It was Mother’s handwriting. She was well. She had sought shelter in a Buddhist monastery. I covered my mouth, relief washing over me. “She’s safe! She’s in a monastery. A Buddhist monastery.”
I wondered where the monastery was. In China, the nobles studied Confucianism and worshipped Taoism, and Buddhism was a foreign religion that was looked down upon and appealed mostly to women, outcasts, and the lower class. There was no official Buddhist temples or monasteries in Chang’an, and the religion did not receive support from the Emperor or the palace. Relying mostly on themselves, the temples and monasteries were often located in remote places and remained isolated.
“Destroy it. Before anyone else sees it.”
“I will.” I composed myself. Secretary Fang had searched for Mother but found no trace of her. The Captain, the man in charge of the Gold Bird Guards, had nothing to do with the search. “How did you find her? Why are you helping me?”
“Not helping you,” he said, turning to leave. “Your mother found me. I knew your father. We went to war together. He was a good man.”
“Wait!” I followed him. “How can I see her?”
“You can’t,” he replied without looking back. “Leaving the palace without permission is against the Emperor’s law. I’m his captain. Don’t forget.”
But I had to see her, and I could not wait any longer. She was already at the age of Knowing Heaven’s Mission. If I delayed, I might never see her again.
How could I leave the palace? I could not ask the Emperor, who was still unconscious, and even if he were awake, I would not dare to ask him. Who could help me? I gnawed my knuckles.
I went to look for Eunuch Ming. I could not find him. “He died,” one eunuch told me when I inquired. “Stomach ulcer. Died two months ago.”
I passed the bustling servants who delivered hot water to the other ladies, and I paused. Of course. I could ask for their help. The servants who purchased the groceries in the market had the freedom to leave and enter the palace every morning. They used an exclusive entrance near the kitchen on the west side of the court, where neither ladies nor guards would set foot.
36
“I’m not going to the market tomorrow.” The pockmarked eunuch shook his head as he shuffled in front of a stove. “I can’t help you.”
“Perhaps I didn’t make it clear,” I persisted. “I won’t get you into trouble. I’ll wear kitchen staff’s livery when we leave. On our return, you can pile the vegetables on top of me. No one at the gate will know.”
“I’m too busy.”
“I’ll make it worthwhile, I promise.” I took out two silver ingots. He peered at me. I added one more in desperation.
“Come here at the hour of chou tomorrow.” He snatched the silver from me and stuffed a greasy robe into my hands. “Don’t be late. It’s a long drive to the monastery you want to go to, even with my mules.”
? ? ?
We left the palace three hours after midnight. By the time we reached the mountain outside the city wall, the dawn’s pale light shone on the edge of the horizon. I climbed out of the grocery cart.