Chapter 33 The Summon from the Palace
The warm glow of dawn touched the top of Li An's newly built clinic, a pristine two-story building standing out in the slums. Crafted from smooth, lacquered wood and trimmed with elegant carvings, it was a beautiful sight—a gift from the grateful merchant, Yang Eigou, whose life she'd saved. To have such a space, a place to practice her arts of healing openly, had filled her with unexpected warmth and pride.
Li An was excited to visit it that morning, and she waited until the guards relaxed. It was early, and she planned to slip out of the Cold Palace discreetly. Yet as she jumped down and landed on the ground from the tall walls, she stopped short. Several soldiers in imperial uniforms suddenly appeared and stood in her path, their expressions stern but respectful. Li An's eyes darted around, instinctively measuring the situation, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled with unease.
From their actions and quick movement, she knew that these people were not regular soldiers. They are all experts from the palace.
One of the soldiers stepped forward and bowed. "Young Miss, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace."
Li An's heart skipped a beat. His majesty? The Emperor? Her mind raced. How did he even know where she resided?
Li An lowered her head while thinking whether to escape or to go back to the Cold Palace and tell Concubine Su what was happening.
After a while, she decided to tell Concubine Su of the summon from the palace.
Opening the gate, she saw that Misha, Alu, and Concubine Su were in the front yard while enjoying the cool and calm breeze while staying on a veranda that Li An had constructed.
Li An entered and exchanged a glance with Misha, her maidservant and loyal companion, who looked equally alarmed. Her foster mother, Concubine Su, was quickly at her side, her brows creased in concern.
"An'er, what is happening? Why are the imperial soldiers with you?" Concubine Su asked with a hint of concern in her tone.
Li An explained that the emperor was calling her to the palace for some matter. Concubine Su suddenly felt a bit afraid. Though she expected that someday the presence of Li An would be known by the emperor, she did not expect it to happen this early.
Concubine Su expresses her wish to come with Li An, she wanted to accompany her, but a eunuch blocked her path.
"Concubine Su, please remain here," he said with a stiff smile. "The emperor's orders were only for the young miss."
The eunuch's words hung heavily in the air, silencing any protests from Concubine Su. Though her face was calm, Li An could feel her mother's quiet worry and reluctance. Concubine Su quickly retrieved a fine palace robe she had been making and helped Li An into it, arranging the fabric around her shoulders and straightening the collar. She held Li An's hands tightly, her gaze fierce and unwavering.
"Li An, remember your poise," she whispered, her tone conveying a silent warning. "Remember who you are, and tread carefully."
Li An nodded, giving her mother a small, confident smile before stepping forward with Misha by her side. The eunuch approved of Misha following Li An to the palace.
After traveling for a few hours, they soon reached the large majestic gates of the palace. Li An alighted the carriage carrying her and Misha and they entered the palace grounds on foot.
Together, they followed the soldiers through the vast, echoing palace corridors, Li An's mind a flurry of thoughts and questions. What could the Emperor want with her?
Misha walks with familiarity of the place as she had been here a few years ago.
As they neared the palace chambers, a eunuch wearing intricate silk robes appeared before them, his demeanor polished and sharp-eyed. He scrutinized Li An and Misha briefly before stepping into their path.
"This way, Young Miss," he said, his voice smooth and measured, yet with a note of authority that left no room for refusal. He gestured toward a narrow passage, leading them away from the main hall.
Li An frowned. This route did not lead to the Emperor's chamber. She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the eunuch. "I was summoned to meet the Emperor," she said, her tone polite but firm.
The eunuch bowed slightly, his face expressionless. "Yes, indeed. His Majesty sent instructions for this route." He turned, motioning for her to follow.
Uncertain, Li An exchanged a glance with Misha, who hesitated before giving a slight nod. Together, they followed the eunuch down the corridor, which seemed to grow dimmer with each step, the lavish decorations giving way to sparse stone walls. The air felt cooler here, and a strange sense of unease settled in her stomach.
They reached an intricately carved door that the eunuch opened with surprising ease. "Please, step inside. His Majesty will arrive shortly," he said, bowing low.
Li An stepped in, her senses on alert. The chamber beyond was small and dimly lit by a single, narrow window. Unlike the grand throne room, this space felt confining, the walls devoid of any adornment or sign of the emperor's presence. The eunuch closed the door behind her and Misha, leaving them alone in silence.
Misha looked around, eyes darting to every shadow. "Miss Li An," she whispered, her tone laced with worry, "I don't like this. This does not look like a place where the Emperor would greet a guest."
Li An's mind whirred as she took in their surroundings. There was a chill in the air and the faint scent of incense that masked something unfamiliar, something unpleasant. She moved to the door and pressed her ear against it, hearing muffled footsteps moving away.
"A trap," she murmured, the realization washing over her like cold water.
The eunuch had intentionally led them away from the Emperor. This was not a summons but a ploy to separate her from the main palace. Her chest tightened. The only person who could manipulate palace staff in such a way was someone with influence, and a name surfaced in her mind almost immediately: Empress Su Mu Fang.
Li An clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing. She could imagine the empress's motivations. The Empress's insecurity and jealousy of Concubine Su had been palpable, yet Li An knew her foster mother had never competed for power or attention in the palace.
It seems that the empress has discovered her presence and thinks that she is the weakness of Concubine Su. The empress is to use her to strike a blow to Concubine Su.
Her thoughts shifted as she met Misha's worried gaze.
"Don't worry, Misha. We're not staying here," Li An said, her voice steady. "We'll find another way out."
She scanned the room again, her gaze sharp and calculating. There was only one door, and it was locked, but the narrow window at the back caught her attention. It was high, but small enough to deter any adult from using it as an escape. For a child, though, it might just be feasible.
"Misha," she whispered, pointing to the window. "We're leaving through there."
Misha nodded, her worry turning to determination. Li An's body moved like a monkey as she jumped up and quickly moved out through the window. She was quick and once outside, she walked back and opened the locked door from outside with ease.
The two saw an open courtyard, bordered by tall hedges. She could hear faint voices in the distance, suggesting they were near one of the lesser-used sections of the palace grounds.
Together, they crouched low, making their way along the side of the building, careful to stay hidden from any guards or eunuchs who might be lurking nearby. Li An's heart raced as they reached the edge of the courtyard, and she quickly surveyed their surroundings.
"We need to get back to the main palace and find a way to speak with the Emperor directly," she whispered. "That eunuch wanted to delay or prevent our meeting with him, but we can't let him succeed."
They moved swiftly, slipping through the shadows and keeping out of sight. The palace grounds were vast, but Li An's keen memory allowed her to navigate the twists and turns of the corridors as they drew closer to the main chambers.
Finally, they reached the hallway leading to the Emperor's audience chamber. Guards stood along the entrance, but they paid little attention to Li An and Misha, perhaps assuming they were just two more servants hurrying about their duties. With a boldness she'd only dared use in the Cold Palace, Li An straightened her robe, lifted her chin, and walked past them with an air of quiet authority.
Inside, the grand hall was silent, its vast emptiness imposing. The Emperor, seated on a raised platform, looked as if he'd been waiting. His gaze, sharp and discerning, fell on Li An, and for a moment, his expression softened with curiosity.
Li An, on the other hand, has a strange inkling of desire to meet the emperor. This is because she knows who he is and what their relationship is. Though she grew up in the Cold Palace and Concubine Su seems reluctant to tell her about her real mother, she already knew.
She knew that her mother was a Concubine of the emperor. Hence, if she is an emperor's Concubine, then she would be an emperor's daughter.
Father… What a foreign words for her. She wanted to know the meaning by meeting the emperor today. Her emotion was calm, her gait was steady, she showed innocence but with bold confidence.
Li An stepped forward and dropped into a low bow. "Greetings, Your Majesty."