Chapter 6

Spring Awakening and White Dew had just stepped into the Linfeng Hall when the two frightened young maidens finally began to wail loudly.

Taking advantage of their scuffle with Mistress Yuan, Jiang Luan entrusted Diandian to Xia Zhi’s care and stepped into the courtyard.

After only a few steps, she halted.

She stopped, frowning as she surveyed the scene.

Not far from the main gate, a young eunuch of seventeen or eighteen, named Lu Jixiang, bent over with a rag in hand, wiping the courtyard while tears streamed down his face—a pitiful, woeful figure from behind.

Jiang Luan watched the eunuch scrubbing the ground. “Who is being punished here? What did he do?”

“Princess, do you not remember?” came a slightly surprised reply from Qiushuang, who stood behind her attending. “He is the newly transferred eunuch, Lu Jixiang. Mistress Yuan saw he was clever and originally assigned him to tend the inner hall’s candles, and you agreed at the time. But during those hazy days when the Princess fell ill, one midnight you suddenly called his name and sent him to the outer hall, ordering him to kneel and wipe every courtyard of Linfeng Hall daily.”

Qiushuang pointed at the buttocks sticking up in the courtyard. “See? He hasn’t finished today’s chores yet.”

“Lu Jixiang?” Jiang Luan smiled at the name. “Wiping the courtyard? Ah, I remember now.”

On the day the capital’s guards successfully repelled the rebels and the loyalist army entered the city, she had fallen ill without warning, bedridden and delirious for half a month.

During those weeks, her mind was a fog, memories flashing like revolving lanterns—fragmented recollections of a past life forced painfully into her head, as if an invisible force had pried open her skull to cram it all inside. Even a slight deep thought triggered excruciating headaches.

Some names sounded familiar, faces somewhat known—it turned out they were from her previous life.

Lu Jixiang... the inner court’s chief eunuch last time. Sharp and shrewd, he had clung tightly to the Pei family’s favor.

In her former life, she was often bedridden for five or six months of the year. When severely ill, she was disheveled and unfit to meet outsiders. Lu Jixiang would report every detail of her palace life. Had the spy not been herself, she would have called him clever and useful.

She stopped and beckoned him over with a curl of her finger.

Lu Jixiang immediately noticed, dropped his rag, and hurried over in small steps.

The eighteen or nineteen-year-old young eunuch moved swiftly, replying at just the right moment, his fairly delicate face marked with just the right touch of grievance and charm—a clever, likable youth through and through.

He wiped his tears and sobbed as he knelt.

“Princess, forgive me. It’s not laziness. I had finished wiping the courtyard early this morning, but then that lady attendant sent by the Princess Consort of Jin barged in and caused a mess, trampling all over the freshly cleaned grounds. I’m on my second round now and almost done...”

Mid-sentence, he noticed a small mud spot on the side of Jiang Luan’s sheepskin boots. He immediately knelt forward two steps, cupping the sole of her boot with both hands, and earnestly offered, “Princess, your boot is soiled. I have a clean towel here. Let me wipe it for you.”

Jiang Luan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Her gaze finally settled on his face, scrutinizing him seriously. “You were quite handsome when young. Sharp, adaptable—a talent. No wonder you climbed the ranks quickly.”

Lu Jixiang knelt, half understanding but brightening at the words “climbed the ranks quickly,” immediately thanking her, “Thank you for your praise, Princess!”

“Who praised you?” Jiang Luan adjusted her warm cloak. “If the ground is dirty, just wipe it again.”

With that, she strode through the courtyard, leaving a fresh trail of footprints without a shred of pity.

...

Spring Awakening and White Dew recounted their encounter at the Two-Poles Hall that day, leaving Mistress Yuan deeply shaken.

During the month the capital was besieged by rebels, the situation was dire. The Princess often accompanied Prince Jin on patrols at the city walls. Given their royal status, their presence steadied the troops, Mistress Yuan knew that well.

The Princess was young, pampered since childhood in the inner palace. The commanders at every city gate feared more for Princess Hanyang’s safety than even for Prince Jin. Whenever she appeared on the ramparts, dozens of personal guards with heavy shields surrounded her like an impregnable fortress.

Mistress Yuan had cried and pleaded, but to no avail. Sometimes Jiang Luan would return from the walls stained with blood. After changing clothes and soaking in the bath for over half an hour, the bloodstains still refused to wash away. Mistress Yuan would wipe tears while scolding and scrubbing.

She thought that was as bad as it could get for her Princess.

Mistress Yuan’s lips trembled. “What kind of punishment is prescribed by the clan laws the Empress Dowager mentioned? Like flogging? Beating with boards?”

Jiang Luan remained calm, sitting cross-legged on the wooden Luohan bed, slowly eating a piece of jujube cake. “When I returned, my second brother said the clan values its dignity. They don’t do visible punishments like beating with boards.”

She considered the consolation Prince Jin had given her. “Punishment for royal women mostly involves seclusion in the ancestral temple, fasting, chanting sutras, and praying for blessings, right?”

Mistress Yuan breathed out in relief, murmuring prayers. “That’s good, that’s good.”

Jiang Luan’s lips curled. “What’s good about that? I don’t think so.”

She tossed the jujube cake aside, brushing crumbs off her hands. “The ancestral temple is fifty miles outside the city. The guards there are southern capital palace troops, elite royal household forces unlike the new northern garrison troops in the palace now—no chance to find loopholes. If they lock me up there, I might be kept for life.”

Not only Mistress Yuan but several senior palace maids present turned pale at her words.

“Surely not,” Mistress Yuan insisted weakly. “The Princess is already fifteen. Spending a few months fasting and praying in the ancestral temple is long enough. This year the Sovereign will surely release the Princess to hold her coming-of-age ceremony. After that, there will be the selection of a consort, the opening of the Princess’s residence—there’s much to be done...”

...

Jiang Luan laughed. “Mistress Yuan, you’re still thinking about the consort and the Princess’s residence?”

Like Prince Jin, she lost her birth mother early. But her status as a princess differed from that of a prince. The Empress Consort at the time—the current Dowager Empress Pei—did not raise her, only assigned two governesses.

Those two governesses never ceased reminding her that as a royal princess, she must behave gracefully and uphold royal dignity in every move.

Jiang Luan was the youngest princess in the palace, doted upon by the late Emperor as a treasured pearl, and paid little heed to their nagging.

In her own Linfeng Hall, she acted freely, entirely unrestrained by decorum, her every gesture and smile laced with a mischievous charm.

She did not argue further with her governess. “Let’s get through this first. By the way.”

She gestured toward the window. “Have Spring Awakening and White Dew finished crying? When they do, call them over—I have instructions for them.”

“Go to the southern garrison’s training grounds and ask if General Ding Jian has returned. If he’s back on duty, tell him directly that the capital is in chaos, palace guards are disorderly, and Linfeng Hall was just breached this morning. I was frightened. Request he dispatch two hundred guards to protect Linfeng Hall.”

She handed over a jade pendant from her waist—a token for passing the message.

“Once General Ding sends troops, have him show my jade pendant to Commander Pei as proof that it’s my order, not an unauthorized troop movement. We don’t want him locked up again right after being released.”

Spring Awakening and White Dew accepted the token and hurried out.

Jiang Luan watched their slender backs with a thoughtful expression. “All my capable aides are girls. Having them run messages to the military camp occasionally is fine, but for long-term work, I need some reliable external administrators.”

Mistress Yuan counted on her fingers. “Once the Princess opens her residence, per protocol, there will be a chief secretary, two military aides, four clerks, and several scribes...”

Jiang Luan interrupted with amusement. “The Sovereign is thoroughly annoyed with me now. Opening my residence might have to wait until the year of the monkey or horse. Mistress Yuan, instead of thinking about that, better plan how we’ll respond if the Empress Dowager’s people come to drag me off to the ancestral temple.”

Mistress Yuan’s spirit flared with a cold sneer. “Linfeng Hall has at least a hundred people. Whoever dares to disrespect the Princess will have to trample over our dead bodies first.”

Jiang Luan paused in eating her jujube cake.

She set it down, rose, and hugged her governess. Her illness had sharpened her delicate chin as she rested it on Mistress Yuan’s broad shoulder.

“Don’t say that, Nursemaid.”

Her eyes glistened faintly red. “I won’t get into trouble that easily. Don’t risk your life for me.”

Mistress Yuan sensed her mood shift and took her by the hand toward the inner chamber to rest.

“The Princess is tired. Take a break. Given your status, even if the Empress Dowager wants to apply clan laws, it won’t be immediate. They must prepare everything properly first.”

Jiang Luan nodded. “Indeed.”

To punish a princess under clan law, the Clan Minister must be summoned to personally take charge, enter the palace, and escort the accused away, questioning and reviewing statements, compiling records.

Then the Clan Minister, with other officials, determines the punishment, drafts documents, and petitions the Sovereign’s decree.

No matter how rushed, this process takes at least an hour or two.

Passing through the diamond lattice door of the inner chamber, everyone else stayed outside. Only Qiushuang followed her into the bedchamber to help her change out of her outer garments into a fine silk robe for a nap, pulling down the translucent gauze canopy.

Jiang Luan habitually touched the thin blade hidden beneath her porcelain pillow. The soft snake-skin scabbard felt reassuring.

She called after Qiushuang, who was about to leave. “Last month General Ding gave me a narrow hand crossbow for protection. Where did I put it? Find it for me.”

Qiushuang was surprised. “Princess, you’re napping well. Why think of the crossbow now? That thing has seen battle and bloodshed—a dangerous weapon. I put it under a chest in the eastern annex.”

Jiang Luan yawned. “I’ve been sleeping poorly lately. I’ll keep the crossbow under my pillow—it wards off evil.”

...

She took out the small, heavy crossbow and placed it under the porcelain pillow, yet sleep remained restless.

Since falling ill at the end of March, perhaps weakened in spirit, fragments of her past life appeared in her dreams.

She awoke with a strange taste of bloody foam in her mouth, the stench of blood lingering.

Suppressing a cough, she pulled back the curtains and ordered, “Open the window.”

Qiushuang, startled, asked, “Princess, your body isn’t fully healed. Too much cold air might cause a fever again...”

“Open the window,” Jiang Luan repeated more firmly.

Qiushuang ceased arguing and rose to open the window.

A gust swept through the chamber, dissipating the warmth of the charcoal fires in the corners.

Jiang Luan breathed deeply of the fresh, drizzle-cooled air, feeling better.

“Has General Ding’s men arrived?” She slid on her shoes and stretched as she got out of bed.

When opening the window, she had glimpsed many palace guards crowded under the front hall’s corridor.

“They’re here. As you ordered, two hundred southern garrison guards came,” Qiushuang reported hesitantly. “But it’s not just General Ding’s men... Earlier, General Xue Duo also arrived outside the Two-Poles Hall. He said Commander Pei ordered a troop rotation, removing General Wen Xiao and assigning General Xue to guard Linfeng Hall.”

She whispered, “The two sides are tense, facing off outside.”

—

When Jiang Luan stepped out holding Diandian, the two groups were indeed poised for conflict.

Both palace guards from different commands, neither drew their swords, but they stood five paces apart, coldly appraising each other.

Seeing her, Ding Jian sheathed his blade and strode over to salute.

Ding Jian was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, a prominent scar above his left eyebrow. He was one of the few commanders in the capital from a humble background, having clawed his way up through merit to a fifth-rank general.

Jiang Luan carefully examined the fresh wounds on his hand and cheek. “Were you recently tortured? General Ding has suffered.”

Ding Jian was unconcerned, wiping his face. “Just some scrapes. Commander Pei was still polite.”

Her eyes shifted to Xue Duo across from them.

Xue Duo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, only approaching to salute after listening for a while.

“Princess, General Ding is assigned to defend the west city gate and normally wouldn’t be posted inside the palace at Linfeng Hall. You should advise him—unauthorized troop movements are severely punished.”

Jiang Luan casually rebuffed him. “He acts on orders, and I’ve already informed Commander Pei. If the Commander orders Ding Jian away, I won’t stop it. He hasn’t said anything yet, so you, a mid-ranking general, are being overly talkative.”

At that, wielding her royal status blatantly, Xue Duo was nearly left speechless.

The two distinct palace guard units—the northern and southern garrisons—divided their territories silently, patrolling separately without interference.

The Empress Dowager’s moves were swifter than expected.

By evening, one of her most trusted eunuchs, Zhong Yongliang from the Jiao Fang Palace, strode into Linfeng Hall.

“Princess Hanyang, please,” Zhong said with a forced smile. “The Clan Minister has finalized your punishment. You must enter the ancestral temple to repent, sincerely fast and pray daily, copying Buddhist scriptures to atone for the grievous offense of injuring the Sovereign. The carriage is ready; please leave the palace for the temple.”

Jiang Luan, weakened from illness and growing drowsy in the afternoon, wrapped in a warm cloak, leaned against the red wooden Luohan bed. Hearing the fuss, she suddenly cleared her eyes and glanced at Zhong.

“Who can take me from Linfeng Hall?” She yawned. “You think you’re up to it?”

Zhong’s face changed. “Princess Hanyang, you must not disobey! The Clan Minister submitted the petition personally, placed before the Sovereign’s desk. The Empress Dowager issued the decree, and the Sovereign approved it. Consider the consequences of defiance carefully.”

He motioned to several burly maids who stepped forward, ropes in hand, threatening, “Princess, behave. We don’t want to bind you, but if you resist, it will be embarrassing when you’re taken out.”

Jiang Luan coughed low and laughed.

“Open your eyes and see. The capital is in upheaval, yet your Empress Dowager still clings to old rules and outdated customs.”

She signaled Spring Awakening to open the window wider, then shouted to the guards in the courtyard.

“This eunuch wants to find an excuse to drag me out of the palace and confine me for life. If I leave with them, today will be the last time I see General Ding.”

Ding Jian’s expression instantly changed.

He stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt, radiating undisguised lethal intent.

“Princess, if you order, I will act. In half an hour, no one will be left alive.”

Zhong Yongliang turned pale, trembling. “Bold! You... you dare!”

Jiang Luan ignored him, signaling Spring Awakening to open the window further and shouting to the other side.

“Where is General Xue? Someone is impersonating the Empress Dowager’s authority to take me out of the palace, without regard for my life or death. Linfeng Hall has suffered such an incident—are you not going to intervene?”

Zhong hurriedly presented the Empress’s decree, protesting loudly through the window, “I am but a servant; how dare I offend the Princess? I only carry out the Empress’s orders to ask the Princess to go pray at the ancestral temple. Here is the Empress’s signed edict!”

Jiang Luan flipped through the document and tossed it back.

“The Empress is meticulous. If she truly wrote a personal letter ordering me to pray at the temple, why would she forget the date to receive me back? It’s clearly forged. They want to trick me out of the palace, to be at the mercy of whoever pulls the strings behind this!”

Ding Jian’s voice turned cold. “The capital is in chaos, and there are indeed those stirring trouble to harm the royal bloodline. I request permission to enter and execute this traitor!”

“You... you’re mad!” Zhong shouted, trembling. “General Xue! Help, save me...”

Xue Duo jumped up from below the window, cursing as he strode outside.

“Throw that eunuch and his maids out! Keep a close watch on General Ding’s southern guards—no killings inside the hall! Guard this place well; no one is allowed in. Go report this to the Empress Dowager immediately and await her command!”