“Yes. You have much to explain.”
I could not hold up my head. She would report my crime to the Emperor, who could throw me in prison, exile me, behead me, or execute my family. Destroying the kingdom’s silkworms was a felony, after all. I wished I had not been so foolish. “It’s Most Adored, my Noble Lady! And the Pure Lady. They stole the late Empress’s crowns and blackmailed me! I did not want to extinguish the fire. I would never harm a silkworm. Please believe me, my Noble Lady! Please forgive me!”
She sighed. “I forgot my handkerchief. That was why I came back. I did not expect to see you here. All of you”—she waved at the workers—“make sure the silkworms are not harmed. Mei, you come with me.” She went to the corridor and sank onto the stool before her spindle wheel. “Sit down. Look at me, and tell me. Tell me everything.”
I perched on the edge of the stool, mortified. Slowly, I told her everything. How Jewel had stolen the jewelry from the chamber and how she had asked me to destroy the silkworm eggs.
The Noble Lady seemed to have a difficult time understanding me. Then she stood and paced in the corridor, breathing hard. “She is Most Adored. Why does she resent me so?”
“She befriends the Pure Lady.” I stood too, not knowing what else to do.
“The Pure Lady! She’s always planning something. Last year, she roasted a dozen mother silkworms. Mother silkworms! I didn’t tell the Emperor. Fortunately, the harvest of eggs was good, and the silk production was not affected. Now she wishes to extinguish the fire and freeze the eggs. This is unacceptable. We would suffer a great loss.”
I glanced at the nursery. The fires shone through the window, and the swishing was heavy and steady again. I breathed out. I hoped she had caught me in time. “I am so sorry, my Noble Lady. I was stupid to do as she asked.”
A worker whispered in the Noble Lady’s ear, and she nodded, looking relieved. It seemed the damage to the silkworms was minimal, and the workers went back to the nursery.
“It’s because of the upcoming polo game, isn’t it?” She began to spin the wheel.
“What polo game?”
“You haven’t heard? It’s a competition between the Imperial Team and the Tibetans, a major event of the year. The whole court has been preparing for it.”
Was that why the polo field was crowded and Pheasant had been busy? “Why the Tibetans?” Those haughty mountain horsemen were not known as our kingdom’s allies.
“You’ve heard of the wars on the border, haven’t you?”
I nodded.
“Well, the Emperor’s garrisons lost the last five battles and are retreating to a fort near the Jade Gate in the north. But the Western Turks are not stopping. They have allied with Qu Wentai, King of Gaochang, a powerful tribe in the northwest. Once they attack, they will kill thousands. The Tibetan king, Srongtsan Gampo, grows restless too. The Emperor is worried he will join the Western Turks and Qu Wentai.”
If the three powerful tribes joined forces, the map of our kingdom’s western border would never be the same. The neighboring towns near Lake Kokonor, and even the towns near Dunhuang, would fall into our enemies’ hands.
“I thought the trouble of the comet was over,” I said.
“Over?” She shook her head. “The comet has given permission for everyone to doubt the Emperor. This is simply the beginning.”
“So the Emperor invited the Tibetans for a friendly game?” The Tibetans were superior players of polo, I had learned, who had introduced the Persian game to our kingdom.
“He proposes a marriage to seal the alliance.” She nodded. “The competition is to show the goodwill between us. All the important lords and vassals will attend, and”—she stopped in front of the spindle wheel—“by protocol, the Empress needs to be present. Because of Wende’s death, the Emperor has requested I attend the reception where the vassals swear their fealty to the One Above All.”
And Jewel and the Pure Lady had plotted to disgrace her so they could take the honored seat next to the Emperor.
“I—” I dropped my head in shame. “I am so sorry, my Noble Lady. I did not wish to dishonor you in any way.”
“I understand, Mei.” She sighed. “Fortunately, Silkworm Goddess bless us, nothing has happened to our babies. It’s late. Go to your chamber, and go to sleep. Forget about what happened tonight.”
I felt like crying in gratitude. “Why, my Noble Lady? I don’t deserve your kindness.”
She waved her hand, looking sad. “I grew up in the palace, Mei. I understand how life is, and all these years living under the Emperor…” Something in her voice tugged at my heart, and I remembered the story Father had told me. The Emperor, who was a duke then, had killed the Sui Emperor, the Noble Lady’s father. “You are a courageous girl. You are different from them, better than them. I can see that. I would like to give you another chance.”