# 104: The Forest Dweller (V)

◎The Cunning Rabbit◎

Early the next morning, a messenger from the palace arrived to summon Qu You to the imperial grounds.

At that time, she was listening to Zhou Tan play the guqin. Though he rarely played, he was not out of practice. After breakfast, he had been inspired and played her a piece called Short and Clear .

After hearing the messenger’s words, Zhou Tan took her hand and stood up, lowering his eyes as he said, “Since Her Highness has summoned you, go.”

A few days earlier, Luo Jiangting had been elevated from Beauty to Consort Ting, and she was at the height of her favor in the harem. With few women in the palace, even the Empress couldn’t compare to her influence.

When Song Shixuan first took in Luo, a woman of humble origins, the court ministers paid it no mind—after all, she was just a common girl, and the emperor would eventually have three palaces and six courtyards. Why fuss over such minor details?

Only Zhou Tan disregarded the young emperor’s dignity, repeatedly opposing the decision during morning court sessions.

Now, seeing Luo grow increasingly favored while the emperor showed no intention of taking others, the ministers grew anxious. Memorials flooded into Xuande Hall like snowflakes. At a time when someone needed to take the lead, Zhou Tan remained silent, refusing to bring up the matter again.

Thus, people often whispered behind his back, saying he had stepped back on this issue to mend relations with the emperor. Otherwise, he should have raised his voice by now—even though he’d been dismissed as chancellor, he was still an official with the right to speak.

A censor who remains silent is seen as fawning upon those above.

Qu You had heard such unreasonable remarks many times, but now she didn’t even bother to feel angry.

Upon hearing that Consort Ting had summoned her, Qu You wasn’t surprised. She rose, supported by Zhou Tan’s hand, and simply said, “Then I’ll go.”

Zhou Tan spoke gently, “I’ll wait for you to return.”

They exchanged few words, merely clasping hands briefly, yet the eunuch sent to deliver the summons blushed slightly and couldn’t help teasing, “It seems the rumors are true—Master and Lady are truly affectionate.”

Qu You didn’t look at him, only staring into Zhou Tan’s eyes. “Naturally.”

Zhou Tan’s gaze flickered. He reached out and brushed her shoulder, his tone heavy and ambiguous as he murmured, “Take care.”

Qu You smiled. “Alright.”

She frequently visited the palace, usually going to see the Empress, but everyone recognized her and treated her with great respect.

Qu You was led into Consort Ting’s palace garden, where she saw a delicate beauty through the gauze curtains.

Slightly bending her knees, she addressed her, “Your Highness.”

For an external noblewoman to refuse kneeling before a consort was considered highly disrespectful. A nearby palace maid hesitated, glancing toward the inner chambers, unsure whether to remind her.

But Luo Jiangting knew that Qu You rarely bowed even to the Emperor or Empress when entering the palace, so she refrained from making an issue of it. Instead, she shook her head slightly and said politely, “Lady Zhou, there’s no need for formalities.”

Qu You sat to one side and watched as two attendants lifted the curtain. Consort Ting, clad in crimson robes, cradling a tabby cat, slowly approached her.

For a moment, Qu You felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

In her past life, Luo Jiangting also loved raising cats. She had spent a long time by Luo’s side and knew that her current politeness was merely a facade for outsiders. In reality, Luo had a terrible temper, often beating palace maids and obsessing over the emperor’s favor, prone to sudden outbursts of anger.

If Song Shixuan glanced twice at a maid beside her, Luo would panic and immediately punish the person by forcing them to kneel in the snow. Without the crane-lined cloak, it might have cost a life.

In the past, she hadn’t understood Luo Jiangting.

But now, looking back, things that once puzzled her began to make sense.

“Madam, do you know why I summoned you to the palace today?”

“I do not, Your Highness.”

Luo Jiangting set the cat aside, her hand painted with red dye suddenly gripping tightly, plucking a pale orchid from a vase nearby. “His Majesty told me he doesn’t know what Chancellor Zhou is thinking.”

The palace attendants had already been dismissed. The doors were closed, and no lamps were lit, casting the hall in dim shadows. Qu You curved her lips into a faint smile but didn’t respond, instead asking, “Does Your Highness know what His Majesty is thinking?”

Before Luo Jiangting could reply, Qu You suddenly added, “Your Highness is a few years younger than me. My husband has mentioned your background. During Minister Jiang’s time... why did I never see you at any of the flower banquets or gatherings?”

Luo Jiangting hesitated briefly, quickly responding, “What Lady Zhou says makes no sense to me. Today, I’ve merely conveyed a message from His Majesty. Now that you’ve heard it, you may leave early.”

To her surprise, Qu You didn’t say anything further. Instead, she gave a respectful bow and turned to leave.

As light seeped through the cracks of the palace door, Luo Jiangting hurried a few steps and called after her, “Lady, don’t you have anything else to say?”

Qu You didn’t turn around, only letting out a cold laugh. “Once the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dogs are cooked. Such a simple truth I understand. What more does a fish on the chopping block have to say, Your Highness?”

At these words, the palace attendants near the door stiffened and immediately knelt down, pleading, “Within the imperial palace, Lady, please choose your words carefully!”

Luo Jiangting’s heart pounded. If she had previously thought that Zhou Tan and Song Shixuan’s conflict was merely verbal, Qu You’s words now confirmed her suspicions.

Though her thoughts churned, her expression remained calm as she scolded, “How dare you!”

Qu You disdainfully flicked her sleeve, showing no respect. “I take my leave, Your Highness.”

Without waiting for Luo Jiangting’s response, she left Yunqing Palace. As she departed, she thought she heard a maid whisper, “Your Highness… shall we go see His Majesty?”

Luo Jiangting replied softly, “Not yet. Go…”

Qu You wandered through the Imperial Garden for a while, then visited the Empress, delaying her departure by an hour before leaving the palace.

The little eunuch who guided her seemed frightened by her earlier words, not daring to raise his head as he escorted her to the East Gate. “Safe travels, Lady.”

Outside the East Gate, a carriage bearing the Zhou family plaque awaited. Just as she caught sight of the scarlet palace walls, a familiar voice called out beside her, “Lady Zhou!”

Surprised, she turned her head and saw Bai Ying, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. “Doctor Bai, what brings you here? I heard you weren’t at the Imperial Hospital when His Majesty fell ill recently…”

“I went out of the city to procure medicinal herbs,” Bai Ying explained, running a few steps toward her with his medicine box in hand. “I only returned to the capital last night and learned about His Majesty’s illness this morning. I came to the palace, but His Majesty had already taken his medicine and was resting, so I’ll have to come back tomorrow. I’m exhausted from traveling. Would you mind giving me a ride?”

Before Qu You could respond, he lightly slapped his own mouth and added with a laugh, “I’ll just sit on the edge. If the overly cautious Lord Zhou finds out I shared a carriage with Lady, he’ll surely come looking for trouble with his usual sarcasm.”

Qu You hadn’t seen him in a while and wanted to chat more. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “I don’t mind, but it’s still early. I planned to visit Bian River Street. Perhaps I should send you home first—or maybe you’d prefer to visit Zhiling and Dingxiang?”

“No need, no need,” Bai Ying grinned, hopping onto her carriage and sitting at the front. “What’s the harm? I’ll tag along. Coincidentally, I need to buy some stationery… And don’t mention Dingxiang and Zhiling. Now that Boss Ai and Miss Gao have taken over my shop, they’re working hard. Finally having a responsible boss, they’re counting money with smiles every day. When they see me, they roll their eyes.”

The carriage moved slowly, the wooden plaque and bells tinkling melodiously. Bored, Qu You leaned closer to the door and struck up a conversation with Bai Ying outside.

They had always found common ground to talk about. Likely because Bai Ying had left the Bai family early to wander the world, mingling with people from all walks of life, his speech wasn’t as rigid as the aristocratic youths and officials she usually encountered—even Bai Shating, despite his outward humility, still carried the pride of a noble upbringing, lacking Bai Ying’s casual, relaxed demeanor.

In earlier years, she had even suspected Bai Ying might be another time traveler, enthusiastically testing him twice before realizing he was simply someone content with his lot in life.

“You wouldn’t believe it,” he continued, “if it weren’t for the generous payments from Mr. Su and Boss Ai, I’d have run off in a few days. Though caring for His Majesty alone seemed leisurely, every day was fraught with anxiety, living on tenterhooks, fearing sudden death. In Lin’an, His Majesty lobbied the aristocracy and fell ill several times… But fortune favors the bold! Now I’ve made it! I have wealth, leisure, and an official position. All I lack is a beautiful wife. Even Bai Shisan managed to marry Chun Niang. Lady, remember to keep an eye out for me…”

His chatter unexpectedly lightened Qu You’s mood. Together, they strolled through Bian River Street for a while, with her footing the bill while Bai Ying happily indulged in buying more.

By midday, Bai Ying suggested dining at Fanlou before departing. However, to their surprise, the private rooms were fully booked. Upon inquiry, they remembered—it was the day Bianjing’s newly crowned courtesan was performing at Fanlou.

Qu You lingered at the entrance for a moment, watching the red-clad courtesan—a face as delicate as a lotus flower—teasingly pluck her pipa strings with a plectrum.

Though Ye Liuchun had married, Chunhua Huayu Pavilion had reopened. This new courtesan hailed from there, younger and less renowned than Ye Liuchun, but her charm still drew thunderous applause.

Such lively spectacles were never in short supply in this world.

Bai Ying accompanied her for a while before they returned to the carriage.

After entering the Imperial Hospital, Bai Ying had been granted a residence conveniently located on the same street as the Zhou residence, making their routes align. Although the distance from Bian River Street to the Zhou residence wasn’t far, one of the twelve bridges had recently collapsed, forcing the carriage to take a detour through a distant arch.

This detour lengthened the journey significantly, and the noise from outside gradually faded. Leaning against the carriage frame, Qu You began to drift off. Noticing Bai Ying hadn’t spoken for a while outside the curtain, she called out in surprise, “Doctor Bai?”

Only the driver’s resigned voice responded, “Lady, Doctor Bai has fallen asleep hugging the carriage wheel.”

Her lips curved slightly upward, but a moment later, something felt amiss.

—The voice of the driver speaking now wasn’t the same man who had accompanied her out of the Zhou residence!

He seemed to have deliberately mimicked the original driver’s tone, keeping his voice low.

Startled for a moment, Qu You laughed softly.

Then she caught a faint floral scent.

As soon as she smelled it, she closed her eyes and slumped heavily to one side of the carriage, creating a loud thud. The carriage jolted momentarily before abruptly speeding up.

Qu You struggled to maintain her last bit of consciousness, reaching under the carriage seat to retrieve a dagger. She slashed it across her arm through the wide sleeve of her robe.

Blood soaked through her white undershirt, staining a large patch. She stuffed the dagger back, grabbed a handkerchief to hastily bind the wound, then concealed her arm as if nothing had happened, sinking into unconsciousness.