Imperial Secretary Han scrutinised me from head to toe. The Minister from the Gold Court crossed his arms over his chest, pacing as he looked me up and down. I was still sore from all the travelling, hair mussed and wrists bleeding from the ropes.
"The Crown Prince of Yin Shang... Sent you?" The emphasis on 'you' made me want to smack him. But instead of choosing violence, I curtsied and bowed my head. I made sure to curtsy the way Jin Tang women did, with their hands crossed over their belly like they were holding lotus flowers.
"Your servant greets you, Sir."
He didn't speak, watching me. Then he took me by the arm, pulling me up. The Minister seemed to be 40 years of age, only slightly younger than Father. His butler had informed me that this was the Minister's summer home, closer to the lake. It was nearing Autumn, so his family was all back in the capital. Where I would be after being briefed on what I was to do.
Han gave me a nod. "I have found you a place as a servant in the Palace. In the Palace of Careful Contemplation (Shen Li Gong), where the 18th Prince resides."
There was a waver in his voice when he said "18th Prince". "May I know more about him?" I straightened, knowing there was more to this story. Han pressed his lips together.
"Tomorrow. When you have rested. We only have four days before you have to enter the Palace. I will tell you all you need to know."
I wanted to ask why four days, but he summoned his butler, who brought me to a small but clean room. It was once the housekeeper's, but the summer house was abandoned most of the year, so it made more sense to just have some guards patrol when it was not in use. The butler smiled and pointed to the bucket of water and the wash cloth he had left in the corner of the room.
"For you to clean yourself. The Master will call for you tomorrow." He pointed to the set of servant clothes he had left on the bed, which I was to wear for the next four days.
He took his leave. With a deep sigh, I headed to the bucket. Gone were hot baths. Bearing the cold, I cleaned myself and headed to bed.
***
The 18th Prince was not the youngest. The Emperor had a total of 21 sons and 18 daughters who received names and titles. Some had passed away from disease, while others had insulted the Emperor somehow and were thrown out of the Heavenly Palace. There were just 4 Princes and 2 Princesses left in the Palace.
Two of the Princes were less than 10 years of age, so there was nothing to be concerned with regarding them. The 18th Prince would turn 19 in a month. He was the only grown Prince who remained in the Palace aside from the Crown Prince.
"He is... A degenerate." Han stumbled over his words as I questioned him. "He lost use of his legs at a young age. He moves around in a wheelchair." Han let out a sigh. "The imperial family has yet to bestow the Prince a Wife because of this. But..."
I raised my eyebrows, refilling the man's teacup. We were sitting at his desk, discussing plans about my entrance into the Palace. "But that is not the main reason. The 18th Prince is the son of the Emperor's late Consort of Glory. She was favoured greatly, and the 18th Prince was pushed to become the next Crown Prince by half of the Assembly."
He took a gulp of tea. "However, the Crown Prince is the only surviving heir of the 1st Empress. Even though he has 7 older brothers, he was named the heir because of his legitimacy." Something cold spread across my chest. The 18th Prince was a hostage in his own childhood home. Pity was the not right word, but I felt like I understood him.
"Unlike the two younger Princes, the 18th Prince has more chances to meet the Crown Prince. They have tea together often." The way Han said it made it sound daunting. Why would the heir have tea with the "degenerate" Prince so often?
Even the way Han had said it... The Prince sounded perfectly intelligent from how he had described him. It appeared to me that infiltrating his Palace and attempting to interact with the Crown Prince would not be easy. But the opportunities would be there.
In any case, the 18th Prince shouldn't be seen as a threat to the Crown Prince. The Emperor wouldn't allow a Prince without use of his legs to become heir. No matter how popular of a choice he once was. There must be a personal vendetta somewhere.
"Sir, you have said that we have four days - three now, before we must enter the Palace. May I know why?" I asked when Han settled into a quiet, lost in thought. Han nodded.
"The Crown Prince is now in-charge of most things in the Assembly. He made the decision to bring the Emperor to the Summer Palace to nurse him to health. He brought everyone along, aside from some of the Emperor's Concubines. The best time to bring you into the Palace would be before they return. The security is not as strict."
My mind raced with questions. But I settled on one. "Why are you helping Yin Shang?"
Han froze, surprised. "I am not helping your nation." His tone had cooled, his back straight as he leaned away from me. "I do not believe in the Crown Prince's decision to rage war. He will bring pain and destruction upon the empire."
The very real despair in his eyes made it easy to believe him. It would seem that he was one of the Ministers who chose to support the 18th Prince before he had an incident that left him paralysed.
"Your servant thanks you for your wisdom, sir." I bowed my head, understanding his sentiments. He gave me a rueful smile, his earlier coolness gone.
"You don't seem to be a servant," he observed. My cheeks flushed with an emotion I didn't understand. "You are right, sir. I am not. My father is of the the four Great Generals of Yin Shang," I answered truthfully.
"Your Crown Prince was willing to send you even though -" He broke off, probably realising that he was treading on dangerous grounds. "He has my father under a tight watch. So believe me when I say that I will do my best to succeed, sir."
We settled into another bout of silence, the air heavy with something like pity. "Sir, may I ask you for a favour?" Han watched me with suspicion, but I had nothing to hide. Placing my hand into my robes, I fished out my mother's bracelet.
"If you may... This was my late mother's bracelet. Please keep this for me. If I succeed, you could send it into the Palace but if I don't..." I fiddled with the bracelet, trepidation mounting within me. "Please bury this with my body. If there is no body... Gift this to your wife." I understood that it was morbid, but I didn't want Mother's bracelet to be left untouched and growing dust if it wasn't going to be with me.
"This is made of the best jade Yin Shang has to offer. Will you do this for me, please, sir?"
Han caught my eyes. His gaze softened. "I will, child." He took it over, placing it carefully on the table. "I will keep it well and ensure it gets to you when you succeed."
The fact that he said "when" I succeed was not lost on me. Was everyone truly counting on me? The thought did not bode well.
Han pulled a piece of parchment and picked up his brush. He began to draw a map of the Palace from his memory, and I did my best to remember everything.
The next three days were filled with learning information that I needed to remember. What did the Crown Prince like? He enjoyed eating steamed dumplings and drinking rice wine. He took walks in the Imperial Garden every three days, and that was when his consorts and concubines would flock over in order to try and gain his attention.
Every fourth day of the week, the Crown Prince would summon the 18th Prince to the Eastern Palace for lunch and to play chess (qi). The 18th Prince would prepare something from his kitchen to give the Crown Prince on those occasions, so "That would be the best time to impress him."
It was the last night I was staying in Han's summer home. He personally gave me two sets of the Palace servant's uniform, and a normal set of commoner clothes. I thanked him and packed the one satchel I was allowed to bring in.
I only removed the dagger from my arm when I cleaned myself, even sleeping with it for fear of losing it.
"We leave at dawn. You will join the new retinue of servants set to enter the Palace. Give this to them." Han handed me a small pair of jade earrings, the kind that maidens would love to wear, but are not allowed to in the Palace.
"Gift this to the Matron, Matron Wei, and tell her to remember what Secretary Han had said. She will send you straight into the 18th Prince's Palace. There would be no one there, aside from some of the lower servants who were not given the chance to go to the Summer Palace."
I took it over, nodding in understanding. Han took a deep sigh. Out of the blue, he bowed his head. I hurried to bow back, mortified. "Thank you for sacrificing your freedom for the chance of saving our nations. Everyone would benefit greatly from your contributions."
I didn't speak, but I understood his intentions.
Han raised his head. It registered at that point in time that he was risking his life and his clan's to get me into the Palace too. There was no room for failure.
I felt myself turn pale.
"We leave at dawn."