Chapter 5: 4. Friends?

A couple days later, Tang Daiyu was walking absent- mindedly to the laundry depot with a basket of dirty clothes. She suddenly tripped and nearly fell, but she was caught by a strong arm around her waist.

"We've got to stop meeting like this, Qiao Yue."

Tang Daiyu swallowed in embarrassment and turned to face Prince Han.

"Yes, sorry, I haven't been myself lately."

"Why? What's wrong?"

She shook her head sadly. "I'm just a maid, Your Highness. You shouldn't worry about my problems."

"Maid or not, that doesn't mean I can't care?"

You shouldn't, she thought sadly.

"Qiao Yue, I think we could be friends, couldn't we?"

Her eyes nearly bugged out. "Y‒ Your Highness, I'm honoured, but I don't think your father would approve of this."

"I don't care what my Royal Father thinks."

Before she could stop herself, Tang Daiyu blurted out, "But you're the one most likely to be named Prince Shaanxi!"

His eyes widened. "How would you know that? That's not well known."

She wrung her hands nervously. Quickly, to save herself some face, she said, "I, I overheard Princess Ling saying something about it."

Prince Han inspected her. He grabbed her chin and turned her head slightly to both sides. Sudden fear overtook her.

My father had mentioned it once. He had said that he needed to support Prince Han because he was most likely to succeed the throne. Mother told him not to interfere, begged him not to.

"This information is only known amongst the Emperor, his officials, and my brothers and I. There's no way Ling could know about it."

Tang Daiyu started to panic. She remembered the Emperor's warning: 'No one in the Imperial Palace is to know who you are. For all anyone knows, the Tangs are dead. If they find out the truth, you will be severely punished.'

"So tell me, Qiao Yue, how do you, a palace maid that serves a Princess of Chang, know about this?"

She looked down and shook. Suddenly, Gao Zhen appeared.

He bowed to Prince Han.

"Your Highness, your father would like to see you."

Tang Daiyu let out a silent breath of relief. Prince Han nodded and excused himself. He turned to follow Gao Zhen over towards the Front Hall. The eunuch glanced over at Tang Daiyu and gave her a warning look. She shivered and quickly sped her way over to the laundry depot.

When she returned to Princess Ling's quarters, she saw a snake slithering around in the Princess's bed. Her eyes widened in shock. Princess Ling had just entered the residence and stopped when she saw Tang Daiyu run over to the bed. Tang Daiyu quickly picked up the snake and threw it to the ground. She looked around and found a decorative staff. Using it, she killed the snake before it could leave her sights.

Princess Ling stepped forward and said, "Qiao Yue."

Tang Daiyu spun around, the bloodied staff still in her hands. She quickly bowed.

"My Lady. I'm sorry."

"What for? You saved my life. What if I had sat or laid down on the bed? I would've been bitten by the creature."

"I don't know if it was poisonous or not, my Lady, but I knew I couldn't risk it."

"Yes, thank you, Qiao Yue."

Tang Daiyu bowed to the Fifth Princess.

"It's my honour to serve you, my Lady."

"I will tell my father what you've done here today, Qiao Yue. I'm sure he will reward you greatly."

I doubt that, Tang Daiyu thought.

"Thank you, my Lady. I would be ever grateful to you."

Princess Ling nodded. She turned and motioned for Tang Daiyu to follow her. She padded along behind Princess Ling as they made their way to the Front Hall. Inside, they came up next to Prince Han and bowed.

"Greetings, Royal Father."

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Ling? Qiao Yue?" Prince Han asked in shock. "What's happened that you’re both here?"

Emperor Jianyuan leaned forward, interested. Princess Ling recounted what had happened. When she was done, Prince Han turned to look at Tang Daiyu, an impressed look in his eyes. The Emperor eyed her but finally sighed.

"I request that you reward Qiao Yue for her bravery and quick wits," Princess Ling said as she kowtowed to her father.

Emperor Jianyuan looked at Tang Daiyu. She swallowed and kowtowed.

"I'm honoured that the Fifth Princess is thinking of me, but I need no reward for what's been done. I was just protecting my Lady."

"As a maid should," Emperor Jianyuan said. Daiyu could feel the bite in his words, reminding her of her place. "Ling, what do you suggest as a reward?"

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"Let her serve my mother, Sixth Concubine Luli. I think she will be very pleased with Qiao Yue."

Tang Daiyu could feel the Emperor's gaze upon her. She knew the silver line she was treading.

"Very well. Qiao Yue, from this day forth, you will be a lady’s companion for Sixth Concubine Luli."

She kowtowed three times in succession. "Many thanks, Your Majesty."

"Prince Han, Princess Ling, you may leave first."

"We will take our leave then," Prince Han said.

Once they had left, Emperor Jianyuan cleared his throat. Tang Daiyu looked up.

"What?" she asked coldly. "Did you really think I'd let your daughter die? You may have killed my family, but I'm not you. I don't wish to eliminate your family members."

"So you knew?"

"That you had someone plant the snake there? I guessed."

"How?"

"Princess Ling might be arrogant, but she's not someone that'd be targeted for death. I've worked for her for a year now, and no one dares to challenge her, let alone kill her. So I figured that it was for me. Not to kill me, but a test to see what I'd do with the chance."

"Chance?"

"To kill someone in your family. If you could prove I did it, then you'd have a perfect excuse to kill me. The whole Tang family would truly be dead and your problems, over."

Emperor Jianyuan leaned back on his throne and sighed, "I underestimated you."

"My father taught me what he knew. For a long time, I was an only child. So, my father passed his knowledge and information on to me."

"Is that how you knew about Prince Han?"

Tang Daiyu nodded. "I'm sorry, I slipped up."

"Just be glad Gao Zhen was able to distract him."

"Of course, Your Majesty. Many thanks."

"Sixth Concubine Luli is a kind and gentle woman. She is also highly intelligent, though she may not seem like it. Be warned, Tang Daiyu, if she figures it out one day, you will not live to see the morning after."

Tang Daiyu swallowed nervously and bowed once more.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He waved his hand, and she scurried out of the Front Hall. Outside, she saw Prince Han standing around.

"Your Highness!" she called.

He turned. "Qiao Yue."

"I don't know where Sixth Concubine Luli stays. Could you point me in the right direction?"

"I'll escort you to Mother's residence. She lives in Jinhua Hall with all the other concubines in my father's harem."

"Is Jinhua Hall part of Changxin Hall?"

He nodded. "Yes, it's the furthest away from Chengming Hall where Princess Ling's residence was."

"Oh."

He laughed. "It's not too bad."

As they walked over to Jinhua Hall, Tang Daiyu sighed.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry for being rude to you earlier, Your Highness. If your previous offer is still valid, I'd like to take you up on it. An Mei, a maid for Princess Ling, is the only friend I have in the palace right now."

Prince Han stopped and smiled. "Of course. I'm glad I can call you a friend, Qiao Yue."

"Don't you already have many friends?"

"No, since as you said before, I'm most likely going to be named Prince Shaanxi, that means I'm always clashing with my brothers. Officials' sons are always trying to curry favour with me. Officials are trying to push their daughters at me."

Tang Daiyu's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, I can't even begin to imagine what that's like."

"It's hard. I don't know who I can trust in this palace. There are schemes everywhere, obvious and well-hidden ones."

"Well, Prince Han, you have me."

"Please," he began. "Call me Liu Jin."

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