Chapter 6: 5. Tread Carefully

Prince Han introduced Tang Daiyu to his mother. She bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Sixth Concubine Luli."

"Qiao Yue, hmm, I don't know of any Qiao family."

Tang Daiyu repeated the same story she had told Princess Ling. When she was done, she kowtowed once in respect.

"Jin, you may leave first."

He bowed and said, "Yes, Mother. I'll take my leave then."

Once he was gone, Sixth Concubine Luli stood up from her seat and peered at Tang Daiyu closely. She gave an involuntary shiver, fear icing her spine.

"Scared of me, Qiao Yue?"

"No, my Lady. It's just that... I, I'm not sure what you want me to do."

Sixth Concubine Luli looked at her some more before sighing, "You poor child."

Confused, Tang Daiyu asked slowly, "I'm sorry, my Lady, but what do you mean?"

"I heard about your brother. I'm terribly sorry."

She froze and stammered, "I, I'm an only child."

"Are you really, Tang Daiyu?"

Her knees went weak, and she collapsed. Looking up slowly, she murmured, "How did you know?"

"I remember you. Your father brought you here once, back when you were five, I think. So about nine years now."

She nodded in confirmation.

Sixth Concubine Luli continued, "You talked with Jin, but I'm sure you already remember that by now."

Tang Daiyu whispered, "Yes."

"I came over, and we played weiqi. Do you remember?"

Tang Daiyu closed her eyes and thought back to that day. As she was running through her memories, she did in fact recall playing weiqi with Sixth Concubine Luli all those years ago. She opened her eyes and nodded.

"I will never forget a face. I recognized yours as soon as you and Jin walked in."

"His Majesty said that if you found out, he'd kill me," Tang Daiyu breathed.

She looked up, panic evident on her features. Her new mistress knelt down before her, compassion in her eyes.

"I won't let that happen. Don't worry, you're safe with me."

Tang Daiyu let out a sigh of relief, and her shoulders visibly relaxed.

"But you must tread carefully in this palace. I'm more astute than Emperor Jianyuan gives me credit for, but others are as well. Tang Daiyu, you have a difficult road ahead of you. I'd hate to see you fall like the rest of your family."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, child, a warning."

~~~

Over the next few weeks, Tang Daiyu fell into a comfortable routine. She often accompanied Sixth Concubine Luli everywhere. They played weiqi often and read many texts from previous dynasties, including Sun Tzu’s infamous Art of War.

What Tang Daiyu didn't know was that Sixth Concubine Luli was actually grooming her to be empress.

~~~

One day, Tang Daiyu was accompanying Sixth Concubine Luli in the Imperial Garden and Pond. They sat down at a table underneath the centre pavilion.

"Qiao Yue, will you pour the tea?"

"Of course, my Lady."

A maid brought a tea set forward and set it down on the stone table. Tang Daiyu picked up the tea pot and poured a cup for Sixth Concubine Luli. Then, she poured a cup for herself. Tang Daiyu set the tea pot down and picked up the cup with her left and covered it with her right. She raised her cup to her mistress. Sixth Concubine Luli also raised her cup. Then, they drank. After they set their cups back down on the table, Tang Daiyu leaned forward.

"My Lady?"

"Yes?"

"I heard about what's happening at the Southern border. The skirmishes with Heping are growing worse, aren't they?"

The woman across from her sighed, "Yes. It worries me."

"Will soldiers be sent down to the border?"

"Either that or Emperor Jianyuan might contact Emperor Taio of Heping regarding an intermarriage to keep the peace between the two kingdoms."

"An intermarriage?"

"Yes. It's not the most ideal choice, but Chang may not be left with any other choice. We're going to have to wait and see what happens."

Tang Daiyu nodded solemnly. Just then, she heard footsteps and turned her head around. Her eyes widened when she saw Prince Han approaching.

"Mother," he said as he bowed. "Qiao Yue."

"Jin."

"Your Highness."

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"I'm sorry, Mother, but I have to steal Qiao Yue away from you. Royal Father has requested to see her."

Sixth Concubine Luli waved it off. Tang Daiyu stood and bowed before leaving with Prince Han. As they were walking towards the Front Hall, Tang Daiyu turned towards him.

"What does the Emperor want with me?"

"I don't know. He just demanded that you appear."

Fear gripped her. Her palms turned sweaty, and she began to wring her hands nervously. At the doors to the Front Hall, Prince Han excused himself. She went inside and bowed before the Emperor.

"You asked to see me, Your Majesty?"

"Yes."

Tang Daiyu closed her eyes and imagined the worst. She tensed up, waiting to hear the announcement of her up and coming execution.

"Sixth Concubine Luli seems very pleased with you."

Tang Daiyu's body visibly relaxed. She looked up and nodded once.

"Sixth Concubine Luli has been very good to me."

"And she doesn't know?"

Tang Daiyu shook her head. "No, Your Majesty."

"I'm surprised. I surely would have assumed you had failed by now."

I have, she thought unhappily.

"You've underestimated me again, Your Majesty."

"It appears so."

After an awkward moment's silence, Tang Daiyu asked, "Your Majesty, are you actually going to kill me one day?"

He looked down at her, intrigued. "Why? Planning your final moments?"

"No, I just would rather not get too close with anyone here if I'm destined to die soon. Why put others through the exact same pain I've gone through two times now? It'd be cruel to them, and heartless."

Emperor Jianyuan "hmm"ed, scrutinising and trying to read the young woman before him. But he failed. She was too complex for him to quickly read, and she had outsmarted him. Twice, which was two too many.

"We'll see. If you stay in line, you can live. But if you make one wrong move, take one step out of line; essentially, if I get any indication you are planning something treasonous, be rest assured, I will kill you."

Tang Daiyu shivered before bowing once. "I understand, Your Majesty."

"Good. You may leave first."

Tang Daiyu bowed again and turned to leave. As she was walking out, she heard the creaking of a bow's string being pulled. Immediately, her instincts kicked in, and she ducked just as an arrow went soaring over her head. It lodged into a pillar behind her. She whipped around to face the Emperor.

"That is your only warning, Tang Daiyu. Don't cross me or next time, you won't be able to anticipate the arrow until it's too late."

She swallowed and nodded. Then, she fled from the Front Hall. Tang Daiyu returned to the Imperial Gardens and Pond and found Sixth Concubine Luli still at the table underneath the pavilion. Walking over, she bowed before sitting down.

"How did it go?"

Tang Daiyu's eyes flicked to the servants. Sixth Concubine Luli dismissed them with a wave of her hand. Once they were gone, she told her what had happened.

"I surely thought he was going to kill me."

"All that matters is that you're safe."

"For now," Tang Daiyu grumbled. "Who knows about that for much longer?"

Sixth Concubine Luli eyed her before sighing. Changing the subject, she asked, "What do you think of Jin? He's grown up since your day together as children."

"He's very mature now." Quickly, Tang Daiyu added, "Not that he wasn't before!"

Sixth Concubine Luli laughed. "I don't take offense."

"It's just, he almost recognized me. He regarded me as familiar, but he couldn't place who I was."

"It's better that he doesn't know."

"I know that. He almost caught me, but luckily for me, Gao Zhen interfered."

"Yes, I'm sure the Emperor had someone watching you."

"He always has someone watching me. I can feel it."

"Don't worry, Tang Daiyu. I'm sure you'll rise above these challenges soon enough."

"How? If I try anything and Emperor Jianyuan learns of it, I'll be dead in a matter of minutes."

"Because I like you. And so, I'm going to help you. Also, your mother and I were close friends, and I owe it to her to assist you in any way that I can."

"Help me with what?"

Sixth Concubine Luli grinned. "Why, everything. Especially bringing honour and respect back to your family name. Isn’t that what you want?

Curious, Tang Daiyu asked, "What do you suggest?"

"Listen well, child. I have it all planned out."

Tang Daiyu smirked. "When do we start?"

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