CHAPTER THIRTY‑THREE — A CIVILISED MAN
At dawn, when the Empress rose from the bed, Tang Ke Xin stirred beneath the covers. The Empress moved with such lightness—almost tiptoeing—that it was clear she wished not to wake her. Tang Ke Xin, recognising this kindness, simply kept her eyes closed and pretended to sleep. After all, she had no idea what one was supposed to do so early in the palace, and a rare moment of idleness was a luxury she was more than willing to enjoy.
Soon, she heard the rustling of silk and the soft murmur of greetings. The concubines of the harem had arrived to pay their respects—Imperial Concubine Ning, Imperial Concubine Ling, Noble Lady Rong, Noble Lady Qing… one after another, their voices drifted through the chamber.
The chorus of "Good morning, Your Majesty" banished any lingering drowsiness. Tang Ke Xin opened her eyes and stared up at the embroidered canopy above her, momentarily dazed. The imperial harem was overflowing with women—yet the Empress, who stood at its centre, bore the weight of it all with grace. What must she feel, surrounded by so many rivals, so many ambitions?
"Mother, where is Tang Ke Xin?"
Ye Lan Chen's voice cut through the air the moment the concubines departed.
"Xin'er is still asleep. Lower your voice," the Empress chided softly. Then, with a faint frown, she added, "And since when do you call her Xin'er? Were you not fond of calling her 'Heart'? What has happened to you today?"
"Hmph. Heart? What heart?" Ye Lan Chen muttered. "Look at her—she sleeps like a demon. It's already so late. Is she a pig?"
Under the covers, Tang Ke Xin's lips twitched.
Ah, so the Fourth Prince truly holds a grudge.
"This son greets Imperial Mother."
A deep, magnetic voice followed—Ye Lan Jue. Tang Ke Xin froze. She had no desire to face him first thing in the morning. She remained perfectly still until she heard his footsteps fade, followed by the Empress's.
Only then did she rise.
A palace maid hurried forward. "Miss Tang, you are awake. Her Majesty has gone to the Buddhist Hall and instructed us to attend to you."
"There is no need. I shall walk alone," Tang Ke Xin replied.
Yesterday, she had passed a pond and noticed a rare medicinal herb—something almost impossible to find in the modern world. With the heat of midday approaching, the palace grounds would be deserted. It was the perfect time to gather it.
The maid hesitated, but one sharp glance from Tang Ke Xin froze her in place.
As she walked through the palace corridors, voices drifted from ahead.
"I heard His Majesty was in an excellent mood last night at Kunning Palace. He laughed so loudly the sound carried outside."
"They say it was because of Tang Ke Xin. The girl recovered from her illness and sang a song. His Majesty was delighted and even granted her a wish."
"Hmph. How could a mere song be so useful? I still do not know what the Empress is plotting," Noble Lady Qing sneered.
"What do you mean?" Noble Lady Rong asked, startled.
"Have you forgotten Ning Cai'er? She was once merely a maid at the Empress's side—now she is Imperial Concubine Ning."
Noble Lady Rong paled. "But Tang Ke Xin is the Emperor's niece…"
"All the better," Noble Lady Qing said coldly. "Blood ties are far more reliable."
Then her eyes lifted. "Speak of the devil—the fool is here."
"She has recovered," Noble Lady Qing added with a mocking smile. "She is no longer stupid."
"Recovered or not, she has been a fool for eighteen years," Noble Lady Rong scoffed. "She knows nothing. She understands nothing. Let us see what she can do."
Without warning, she flicked her wrist and hurled a hairpin toward Tang Ke Xin.
"You blind creature!" she cried. "You broke my hairpin—His Majesty bestowed this upon me!"
The hairpin rolled to a stop at Tang Ke Xin's feet—untouched. She lowered her gaze, the corners of her lips curving faintly.
Such a clumsy trap. And such a cheap one.
Seeing her silent, Noble Lady Rong smirked triumphantly.
"Insolent servant! You dare not admit your fault?"
She raised her hand and swung it toward Tang Ke Xin's face.
Tang Ke Xin's heart sank.
They truly mean to strike me?
They had no real skill—only arrogance. But she was a civilised person, and civilised people handled matters in civilised ways.
Of course… not everyone enjoyed her definition of civilisation.
"Oh my! You must be Noble Lady Rong, are you not?" Tang Ke Xin exclaimed suddenly, stepping back in feigned awe.
Her attacker froze mid‑swing.
"You… know me?" Noble Lady Rong asked, startled.
"Of course! Noble Lady Rong is famed for her beauty. No wonder His Majesty favours you. He said not only are you beautiful, but…"
Tang Ke Xin trailed off deliberately.
"And what? What else did His Majesty say?" Noble Lady Rong demanded, instantly forgetting she had been about to slap her.
This—this was the weakness of every woman in the harem.
"Oh dear, it is terribly hot today," Tang Ke Xin sighed dramatically, lifting her face to the blazing sun. "I have been standing here so long… I feel faint."
"Quickly—shade Miss Tang!" Noble Lady Rong snapped.
A maid rushed forward with a large banana leaf fan, shielding Tang Ke Xin from the sun.
"His Majesty said…" Tang Ke Xin began again, then paused, touching her throat. "Ah—my throat feels so dry…"
"Give her the iced pear soup!" Noble Lady Rong ordered at once.
Tang Ke Xin accepted the chilled bowl with a serene smile. On such a sweltering day, the cold sweetness was heavenly. And as a physician, she could tell at a glance that the soup was harmless.
Noble Lady Rong watched her drink, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.
Recovered or not, she is still a fool, she thought. No caution at all.
Of course, she had no idea that Tang Ke Xin wanted her to think exactly that.
The more they underestimated her, the safer she would be.
After finishing the iced pear soup, Tang Ke Xin let out a small sigh of satisfaction. Only then did she speak, her tone light and unhurried.
"The Emperor also said that Noble Lady Rong's culinary skills are first‑class. It seems His Majesty was not mistaken."
"Truly? His Majesty really said that?"
Noble Lady Rong's face lit up instantly, blooming like a peony in spring.
"Hmph. What are you so pleased about?"
Su Qingling, standing beside her, could no longer conceal the jealousy twisting her features.
Tang Ke Xin, trained in psychology, understood the undercurrents at once. Women in the harem were transparent creatures—envy, insecurity, vanity—each emotion written plainly across their faces. And she recognised Su Qingling's voice; she had been one of the women who greeted the Empress that morning.
"Of course it's true," Tang Ke Xin continued smoothly. "In fact, I heard from the palace servants that last night, a single bowl of Noble Lady Rong's love‑soup nearly made His Majesty change his route and head straight for Pingyi Courtyard."
She paused deliberately, smiling faintly.
In truth, the Emperor had left Kun An Palace early and spent the night in the imperial study. She had overheard the palace maids whispering this to the Empress at dawn.
"You fox‑spirit! You shameless witch!"
Su Qingling exploded at once, her jealousy igniting like dry tinder.
"No—His Majesty did not go to Pingyi Courtyard last night," Li Rong'er snapped back, refusing to fall into the trap so easily.
Su Qingling halted, glaring at Tang Ke Xin.
"Eunuch Liu said His Majesty was on his way there, but an urgent matter arose and he went to the imperial study instead."
Tang Ke Xin nodded serenely, as though confirming a simple fact.
She had anticipated this question and prepared her answer accordingly.
Neither Noble Lady Rong nor Noble Lady Qing could have imagined that the recently "recovered fool" would dare to weave such a bold lie.
"Where did His Majesty rest last night?" Su Qingling demanded suddenly, turning to the eunuchs behind her.
The palace eunuch stiffened, startled by the sudden interrogation.
"I… I heard His Majesty later went to the imperial study," he answered cautiously.
Su Qingling rounded on Li Rong'er at once.
"So? What do you have to say now? I treated you as a sister, yet you dare scheme behind my back!"
"His Majesty favours me—how is that my fault?" Li Rong'er retorted coldly. "Blame yourself for failing to please him."
"You dare!" Su Qingling shrieked, raising her hand and striking her across the face.
"Su Qingling, you hit me? You dare hit me?"
Li Rong'er retaliated immediately.
Within moments, the two noble ladies were clawing, slapping, and shrieking like enraged cats.
Tang Ke Xin stepped back several paces, found a comfortable spot beneath a tree, and leaned lazily against the trunk. She watched the spectacle with the calm detachment of a scholar observing a natural phenomenon.
She was a civilised person, after all.
Civilised people handled matters in civilised ways.
Of course… she could not guarantee that others shared her refinement.
A branch hung low before her face, still glistening from last night's rain. It carried a faint, refreshing fragrance, its leaves shimmering like tiny emeralds. Tang Ke Xin reached up, tugged the branch down, and—quite without shame—bit it lightly between her teeth.
In that moment, she looked like a strange mixture of mischief and allure—twenty percent enchantress, eighty percent rogue, and entirely out of place in the imperial harem.
The summer heat was oppressive, tempers were flaring, and the scene before her was far too entertaining to ignore.
No one was paying her the slightest attention.
Or so she thought.
Her gaze drifted idly—and collided with a pair of eyes.
Eyes dark as the abyss.
Eyes that saw too much.
Eyes that held a faint, unreadable smile.
He was watching her.
Watching her.
Tang Ke Xin's heart lurched violently.
The branch slipped from her mouth and snapped back, striking her forehead with a sharp sting—but even that pain could not drown the sudden wave of dread.
Him?
Why was he here?
When had he arrived?
How long had he been standing there?
And—most terrifying of all—
How much had he seen?