The news of Concubine Xi being punished by the Emperor to copy texts quickly spread throughout the harem.
At first, everyone was gloating, thinking Concubine Xi finally met her match! However, the more meticulous ones asked, what exactly was the Emperor punishing her to copy? Was it "Women's Precepts" or "Palace Rules"? The little eunuch who came to relay the message said neither: "The Emperor punished Concubine Xi to copy the 'Analects'."
This left everyone puzzled.
Was the Emperor really angry with her, or was this just another act in the Emperor and Empress's play?
...
"Xue Ya, Gong Mei, stop just standing there, come help me copy a couple of pages."
"Master, that won't do. It's not that I don't want to help, but the Emperor said it must be completed by you personally."
Xue Ya said in distress.
"Once the door is closed, even if we grind tofu in here, he won't know."
Yun Jiao picked up the brush and started copying, finding it especially laborious.
