Chapter Nineteen: Numerous Obstacles Beyond the Palace, Wisdom Unravels the Perilous Predicament

Imperial Physician Zhang wore a grave expression as he handed me a letter. "Miss Lu, this is..." My heart tightened as a foreboding feeling washed over me.

Unfolding the letter, I saw it plainly stated that leaving the palace required completing a series of tasks, including gathering ten South Sea pearls, a thousand-year-old Lingzhi mushroom, and three bolts of tribute cloth from the Western Regions...

I thought to myself, "Good heavens!"

This was clearly an attempt to empty the treasury!

"This... this is outright sabotage!" He Yunsheng’s face flushed with anger.

But I remained remarkably calm. After all, having navigated the palace’s intrigues for so long, such petty tricks were mere child’s play to me.

I patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don’t worry, little brother. Sister has a plan."

In the days that followed, our "treasure hunt" began.

South Sea pearls?

I "accidentally" discovered a few in the imperial garden’s pond and "borrowed" several more from Consort Xiao. She had so many treasures; a few pearls wouldn’t matter—consider it an early interest payment.

A thousand-year-old Lingzhi?

I recalled Imperial Physician Zhang might have one. It just depended on whether he was willing to "part with it."

As for the Western Regions tribute cloth...

Ah, I remembered that Eunuch Wang had recently received a batch. It was just a matter of whether he knew how to read the signs.

---

We rushed around everywhere but hit dead ends at every turn. The official in charge of reviewing the paperwork was a seasoned old fox, impervious to persuasion or pressure, making things difficult at every step.

He Yunsheng, young and hot-headed, was ready to explode several times, but I always stopped him.

"What’s the rush, little brother? Let’s take our time," I said with a sly smile, like a cat who had just stolen cream.

With the day to leave the palace drawing near but the paperwork still stuck, I began to feel a little anxious.

Then suddenly, I remembered someone...

"Yunsheng, let’s go find Eunuch Liu."

Eunuch Liu was one of the palace’s oldest eunuchs, known as the "All-Knowing."

He wasn’t skilled in much else, but he knew every bit of palace gossip and secrets.

I had helped him out with a small favor before, and now it came in handy.

When we found him and explained our predicament, the old man rubbed his hands together, eyes spinning with calculation. "Miss Lu, this isn’t a small matter; the risks are high, but so are the rewards..."

I rolled my eyes, cut him off, and slipped a gold ingot into his hand. "Eunuch Liu, does this show my sincerity?"

His eyes lit up instantly, and a broad smile spread across his face. "Enough, enough! Miss Lu, you’re straightforward! Here’s what I can tell you: there’s actually a batch of subpar South Sea pearls in the treasury that can pass as genuine—no problem at all! As for the thousand-year Lingzhi, the Empress Dowager recently gifted one to Imperial Physician Zhang; maybe you can persuade him. Regarding the Western Regions tribute cloth, Eunuch Wang secretly keeps one bolt for himself—you know what to do..."

With Eunuch Liu’s guidance, things moved much more smoothly.

I "accidentally" found the batch of substandard pearls in the treasury and quietly swapped them out. For the Lingzhi, I put on a pitiful act, tears and all, begging Imperial Physician Zhang, who softened and handed it over. As for the tribute cloth, I "happened upon" Eunuch Wang admiring his prized cloth, then "accidentally" spilled tea on it. Seeing how distraught he was, I offered to trade my new fabric for his, and he agreed at once.

With everything in hand, the paperwork was processed swiftly. The old slick official couldn’t find any faults and grudgingly stamped the documents.

---

He Yunsheng and I packed our belongings, ready to leave this place of strife behind.

I cast one last glance at the towering palace walls, my heart heavy with mixed emotions.

"Big sister, we can finally leave!" He Yunsheng exclaimed excitedly, grabbing my hand.

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes.

Everything had gone too smoothly, too easily.

I had the uneasy feeling that something was about to happen...

"Yunsheng," I whispered, "let’s go."

We had barely stepped out of the palace gates when I suddenly stopped.

"What is it, big sister?" He Yunsheng asked, puzzled.

Squinting, I looked toward a shadow not far off. "Yunsheng, look..."