Lanxin Pavilion.
Bai Wutong handed over a basket, which was completely empty save for a few stray jasmine petals.
Lianxin took it. "Your Ladyship, didn't you go to pick jasmine flowers?"
"I didn't manage to pick any." Bai Wutong walked into the side hall. "Did you bring a bolt of flowered Zhang brocade when you came?"
"Indeed, Your Ladyship. That was specially brought for you to make clothes, but few people in the palace use such material..."
"Go get it. I am going to Tianxiang Courtyard."
Lianxin acknowledged the order and hurried to fetch the fabric.
Bai Wutong washed her hands, brushed away the scent of jasmine from her person, and then rose to her feet. "Chan'er, come with me."
"Your Ladyship, let this maid accompany you."
Bai Wutong ignored her and ordered Chan'er to take the fabric and head to Tianxiang Courtyard together.
The two arrived at the entrance.
Wen Chuyun had already received word and came out to welcome them. "Little Sister Wutong is here."
Her gaze instinctively fell on Bai Wutong's waist, but failing to see the pink sachet there, her expression instantly tightened. "Sister's sachet today is truly lovely."
Bai Wutong feigned incomprehension, picked it up to take a look, and said, "I merely embroidered this in my spare time to match my attire. A pink dress paired with a white sachet is simply the best choice; Sister's own sachet would look better paired with other colors."
Wen Chuyun said no more and ushered her inside.
"Sister Wen, this is the flowered Zhang brocade I brought when I entered the palace. Since I have received no bestowals from the Emperor, this is the only presentable thing I have. That jacquard satin is far too precious, and holding onto it makes me quite uneasy, which is why I specifically came to call on you today."
Wen Chuyun led her into a nearby pavilion. "Sister, you speak too formally. Between the two of us, there is no need for such polite distance."
She glanced sideways at the flowered Zhang brocade with inward contempt, though her face betrayed nothing, and had a palace maid take it away. She would never wear such cheap fabric, as it would needlessly lower her status.
In the very moment it took to turn her head, Bai Wutong lifted the sachet right off Wen Chuyun's waist.
When a sachet is worn on the person every day, losses are bound to happen, and she was certain Wen Chuyun would not take it to heart.
"Sister Wen, how wonderful it would be if we lived together. That Beauty Gao is truly..." Bai Wutong covered her mouth, putting on a look of distress.
Wen Chuyun had long since heard about what happened that day. "Little Sister Wutong need not be upset. Consort Rong did not punish you, which proves you were in the right. Just keep your distance from Beauty Gao in the future."
The two bantered back and forth and chatted for a while.
Only then did Bai Wutong rise to take her leave.
Halfway back, she took out the sachet. "Chan'er, go find me some needle and thread."
Chan'er stared at the sachet with wide eyes.
Was... was that not Beauty Wen's?
When did it end up in Her Ladyship's hands?
"Why aren't you going?"
"Yes!"
Back at Lanxin Pavilion, Bai Wutong rested for a moment before Chan'er returned with needle and thread.
She took them and began altering the pattern on the sachet.
Orchids were Wen Chuyun's favorite motif, and her sachets were almost exclusively pink. As long as the top portion was slightly modified, it would look no different from the one Wen Chuyun had previously given her.
To be safe, Bai Wutong lit a candle and singed it slightly to create the appearance of accidental damage, thereby concealing any trace of altered stitching.
"Chan'er, since we will likely be going to the Noble Imperial Consort's palace tomorrow, help me prepare another set of water-blue robes in advance. Alter them to be slightly loose—ideally so that my figure seems to float inside the garments."
Chan'er was puzzled, but complied nonetheless.
Seeing her come out, Lianxin immediately stepped up to the doorway and lowered her voice. "Chan'er, what did Her Ladyship have you do?"
"Her Ladyship asked me to get that set of water-blue robes."
"Hmph, I'll go get them. Stay out of the way! If you dare hover around Her Ladyship again, don't blame me for being discourteous!" Lianxin shot her a fierce glare and hurried off to the adjoining room.
Chan'er stood frozen in place, at a loss, before eventually going to find Xiao Ningzi, and the two of them set about trimming the flowers and plants in the courtyard together.
Late September.
The weather remained intensely hot.
At sunset, word came from the palace staff that all newly entered beauties were required to present themselves at Yaoguang Palace the following day to discuss matters concerning the Empress Dowager's birthday celebrations.
The Empress was unwell, and the affairs of the inner court were temporarily being overseen by Noble Imperial Consort Rong.
The previous banquet had been hosted by the Empress, resulting in her vomiting blood from exhaustion the very next day. It seemed Noble Imperial Consort Rong would be taking full charge this time around.
Dismissing the servants from Yaoguang Palace, Bai Wutong resumed caring for her health.
The water-blue dress had already been altered. Worn on her body, it concealed her slender curves and made her look all the more delicate and frail.
Her beauty was something for the Emperor alone to see.
As for the other consorts, all they needed to see was her frailty and weakness.
Only when everyone looked down upon her could she seize her opportunity.
The sky grew dark.
Bai Wutong extinguished the lamp, lay down on the bed, and curled herself into a ball.
Even after taking human form, she still preferred this sleeping posture.
*Tap, tap, tap*—
An imperceptible sound of footsteps approached.
Bai Wutong opened her eyes abruptly.
So late at night, who would be in such a hurry?
She cautiously got up, came to the window, and peered out through the crack.
Her nature as a Cat-Spirit allowed her to see clearly in the dark.
She saw a dark figure swiftly slip into the adjoining main hall.
Half an incense stick's time later.
The dark figure emerged, carrying something on its back.
That was... Gao Jingwan!
Bai Wutong's pupils contracted as she stared fixedly at the dark figure.
It was a pity the intruder was dressed entirely in black, wearing both a headscarf and a face veil, revealing only a pair of somewhat aged eyes.
Yet judging by that stout figure, it was undoubtedly a woman.
The dark figure carried Gao Jingwan all the way toward the back courtyard.
Bai Wutong pushed open the window, jumped down barefoot, and light-footedly followed behind.
In the back courtyard lay a pool of water, inside of which grew a few lotus flowers. Because no one tended to them carefully, the pool was not particularly picturesque.
The dark figure pushed Gao Jingwan into the water and pressed down upon her head.
A full incense stick's time passed before the figure finally withdrew, cast a nervous glance around in all directions, and hurried away.
After a long while.
Bai Wutong walked over to the edge of the pond.
Gao Jingwan's upper body rested against a stone while the rest of her was submerged in the water, her breathing already completely stopped.
She couldn't help retreating a step, a flicker of fear rising in her heart.
A person who had been alive and breathing just today had now turned into a corpse!
After a long moment, Bai Wutong finally steadied her mind.
She reached out, pushed the corpse toward the center of the river, and watched her slowly sink, a faint sorrow rising within her heart—not for Gao Jingwan, but for a lost life. "When you float up tomorrow, I will have someone called for you."
Bai Wutong turned around and returned to her room.
She thought quietly to herself: perhaps today's incident could be used to frame the Imperial Consort.
Right!
That Mengdong!
***
Early morning.
A shrill scream shattered the stillness.
"A-a dead body!"
"Beauty Gao is dead!"