The crowd moved again, and we walked toward the barrels, but I lagged behind to widen our distance from the other Talents.
“One of the Four Garrisons on the western border.” Plum shrugged. “The Emperor said the assassination plot spurred revolts from other peaceful tribes. Even the Eastern Turks are getting restless. But it is just an excuse to send Taizi away.”
“It may not be.” With the war against the Western Turks, the Emperor needed a strong man to boost his army’s morale. Taizi, with his muscles and his history in the military camp, was a good candidate.
“Well, the real reason is,” she said, “the Emperor dislikes Taizi now. He does not trust him, and the Pure Lady thinks this is a good opportunity to further weaken the heir so her son, Prince Yo, can gain the Emperor’s favor.”
“I see.” According to the traditional rule of succession, Prince Yo, the fourth son, could not take precedence over Taizi, whose mother, Empress Wende, was the legitimate wife. But if Taizi lost his right to inherit the throne because of the assassination plot, and if the Pure Lady became the Empress, then everything would change. “But I don’t think Prince Yo has a chance.”
“You don’t think so? The Pure Lady invited some ministers to the court for the Lantern Festival months ago. Even the Chancellor joined. I am telling you she is working hard to gain support and win the Emperor’s trust.”
I glanced at the Noble Lady. Her cheeks shining like two red apples, she was smiling kindly at a Grace. “What about the Noble Lady?”
She had two sons. Her older son, Prince Ke, was only a year younger than Taizi. If Taizi fell into disgrace, Prince Ke, senior of Prince Yo, was more eligible.
Plum sighed. “I would rather she becomes the Empress, Mei. You see, she has been managing the Imperial Silkworm Workshops since Empress Wende’s death, and the silk has been very productive. I also heard she is kind to her maids. One time her maid broke her jade comb. The maid was worried to death, but the lady did not even raise her voice to her…”
Two servants came to stand behind me, eyeing us furtively. I could not tell whose servants they were, perhaps the Pure Lady’s. I tugged Plum’s sleeve, and she shut her mouth.
The eunuch called me, and I bowed to the ladies. Perhaps it was my imagination, but I felt the Pure Lady’s cold gaze on my back. Did she really plan the assassination? Did she want to be the Empress that badly?
In haste, I received the apples and left with Plum. I told her to take my basket to our bedchamber, and I hurried to the wardrobe chamber. There was no laundry delivery scheduled that afternoon. I just wanted to make sure everything was in order before I went to meet Pheasant. I went down the corridor and pushed open the doors.
The sight inside sent a jolt through me. For a while I was unable to process what had happened. Then my knees weakened, and I almost collapsed.
All the wardrobes and the chests were wide open. Piles of robes, capes, bejeweled girdles, and silk slippers were scattered across the floor.
14
Walking through the disarray, I felt as if I were treading on waves of water. I needed to gather them up: the robes, capes, slippers, belts, all of them. I had to smooth out the wrinkles, one by one, fold them, and store them back in the chests or wardrobes, yet I could hardly find the strength.
Who had done it? Why would someone ransack the wardrobe chamber and give me trouble?
I sank down onto a chest, my leg brushing against something hard and sharp. I looked down. I was sitting on a chest with metal clasps. I could not understand. All the Emperor’s chests used leather belts. Only the late Empress’s jewelry chests had metal clasps, which I had hidden in a corner.
I looked again. It was indeed the late Empress’s jewelry chest. Someone had moved it.
A premonition seized me. I opened the lid. It was empty. All the hairpins and crowns were gone.
I gasped. It was my duty to care for the items in the chamber and my fault if anything went missing, and they were the late Empress’s jewelry! I should report the theft to the supervisors of the Inner Court. But they would blame me, perhaps charge me with dereliction.
What should I do?
“What happened here?” Daisy leaned against the door with her usual dazed look.
“I—” I quickly picked up a robe imprinted with a pair of stags and folded it. Then I undid it and folded it again. “I’m looking for something.”
Daisy twirled the end of her braid with her forefinger. “It’s cold in here.”
I wished she would leave. Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I tried to remain calm. “Is the Emperor’s morning audience over?”
“Morning audience?” Daisy glanced at the sky, looking confused. “I’m waiting for my supper.”
I had forgotten the time. “Right. I was so busy.”
“What are you looking for?” Daisy walked toward the jewelry chest.
“No!” I nearly tripped over the piles of garments on the floor. “I’ll put everything back. You should leave.”
“Do you think I’m clumsy too? I only wish to help.”