“Clumsy? No. I was just—”
She pulled up her sleeve to show a bruise on her arm. “Look at what Most Adored did to me. She twisted me so hard. I was only trying to help her with her quilt.”
My body tensed. “What are you talking about?”
“She brought her quilt here. The one with the peony pattern. Very pretty. But she dropped her crown.”
“Crown?”
“Yes. She dropped it, so I handed it back. She looked mad.”
I took a deep breath to calm down. So it was Jewel. She had stolen the crowns and all the hairpins. “You said she dropped a crown. Do you truly believe it was a crown?”
Daisy chewed on her braid. “I told you, Mei. I saw it. It was the late Empress’s coronation crown. Everyone knows it. But Most Adored told me the crown was just a pillow. Well, was it a pillow or a crown? I thought I saw a crown, but why did she want me to say it was a pillow? I don’t know…”
Jewel was clever. She must have wrapped the jewelry inside the quilt. “When did you see her?”
“After I received the apples.” Daisy was of fifth degree, so she had received the apples before me. “Before you arrived. Um…Mei, you are not going to tell Most Adored about this, are you? She said she’d break my head if I told anyone.”
“She won’t break your head, Daisy. I won’t let her, I promise.” I stuffed a pile of garments into the wardrobe. “Can you do me a favor? Would you stay here until I come back?”
“All right.” Daisy chewed on her braid again. “Where are you going?”
I gave her a gentle squeeze on her arm. I could not express how grateful I was for her help. “It’s a secret.”
I went straight to the east side of the Inner Court where the Quarters of the Pure Lotus were located, the residences of the Four Ladies and Most Adored. How long had I fancied to visit there, and even dwell there someday, but now I went ready to fall on my knees.
? ? ?
The five houses, with their blue eaves and red pillars, sat in a discreet circle connected by five corridors walled with elaborate lattice fences. In the center was a vast courtyard, where garden stones were stacked to shape a small mountain as high as a one-story building. Three goblets, bottoms up, were moored in a shallow pool near the mountain. The scene was reminiscent of the ancient custom of the Third Day of the Third Month, when nobles celebrated by drinking ale from goblets and composing poems. Jewel enjoyed entertaining these days. I wished she had choked on the wine.
Standing near the shallow pool, I studied each house. Which one belonged to her? I was about to knock on the door near me when a maid with freckles stepped out of a house facing the south. Jewel’s maid. I walked to that building.
How to greet her, a woman who deceived, cheated, and stole? I did not know. But I had to do it. I had to get all the jewelry back. Inhaling deeply, I stopped in front of the building and raised my hand.
The doors swung open.
Jewel opened her arms. “Finally, you came, Mei. I have been expecting you. Do you like my new chamber?”
“Greetings, Most Adored.” The sight of her angered me. Trying to keep my composure, I folded my hands across my stomach and gave Jewel a bow as custom required.
She looked me up and down. “You’ve changed, Mei. How graceful and elegant you look now. The training has brought out the best in you.”
She was smiling, but I knew what hid underneath her skin. “I thank you, Most Adored. If I have your permission, I would like to ask a favor.”
“Why in such a hurry? I want to show you this.” She twirled to the painted screens near her bed. “Have you heard this used to be the late Empress’s room? Very spacious, isn’t it? Come and look at the murals; everything is newly painted. This one, the picture of ‘The Beauty Wang Zhaojun Leaving Her Home,’ is most exquisite. Do you like it?”
“I did not come here to admire a mural, Most Adored.” I tried to speak calmly.
“Oh, right. Let me show you my new gowns. Would you like to take a look?”
The charade was getting tiresome. “Most Adored, you should know I would not come here if it wasn’t most urgent.”
“Well.” She cupped her chin with her right hand. “Let me see. Why are you here?”
Faint footsteps came from the corridor outside. My back stiffened. Too many ears in the compound. I had to choose my words carefully. “You leave me no choice, Most Adored. Would you prefer me to report it?”
“You won’t do that.” Jewel’s catlike eyes searched mine. “Your eyes tell me you won’t. But let’s be candid, for friendship’s sake. Why do you think I dropped the crown in front of the stupid maid?”
I frowned. She had done it on purpose? “What do you want?”
“A friendly conversation. That’s all. Let’s start with the Pure Lady,” she said. “I assume you have met her?”
“Yes,” I said carefully.
“The truth is, she doesn’t like you.”