Chapter 30: The First Signs Emerge, New Perils Loom

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After my promotion to a court official, I had naively imagined a life of luxury, counting money until my hands cramped. Little did I know that before the coins had even warmed in my purse, trouble would come knocking.

Some malicious soul had actually sent me an anonymous letter!

The note was brief and cryptic, full of pretentious warnings like, "The palace depths are treacherous; tread with care," accompanied by a bizarre, ghost-like doodle. I wondered if some jealous concubine was trying to scare me, resentful that I had flown up the branches to become a phoenix.

Upon returning to the palace, I felt that the atmosphere had shifted. The young eunuchs and maids who used to fawn over me now dodged me as if I were a plague. Stranger still was Minister Zhao; he had previously been quite cordial, but now his words were dripping with sarcasm and veiled barbs.

During a routine greeting, he feigned concern: "Official Lu, you have been quite the center of attention lately. Do be careful; tall trees catch the most wind." I offered a stiff, insincere smile and replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Minister Zhao. I have always been a low-profile person; it is simply that some people cannot bear to see me succeed."

That old fox—he is definitely brewing something sinister! I must get to the bottom of this; I cannot just sit here and wait to be destroyed. Yet, I have discovered that since my promotion, everyone around me seems to have changed. Even the maids I once considered friends now treat me with cold indifference. Even Aunt Lin keeps urging me to stay in my place and mind my own business. I feel so stifled, as if the entire world has isolated me.

No, I must consult with Yun Sheng. Though the lad appears naive, he is remarkably reliable when it counts.

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Just as I reached the Imperial Garden, I saw Yun Sheng laughing and chatting with a gaudily dressed woman. I recognized her—it was Lady Lin, the wife of Minister Zhao. My heart sank, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.

I hid behind a rockery and heard Lady Lin cooing to Yun Sheng, "Little Prince, you must be wary of Lu Wan’er. That woman is deep and calculating; she is no simple soul..." I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

So, Lady Lin, you dare to sow discord in front of Yun Sheng! It seems this trouble is far from minor. I took a deep breath, turned around, and left the garden. I must strike first...

Just as I prepared to search for clues, a cold voice drifted from behind me: "Where is Official Lu heading in such a hurry?" I whipped around to see Minister Zhao standing there, wearing a smile that held far too much meaning.

I drew a sharp breath, forced a few crocodile tears to my eyes, and trembled as I said, "M-Minister Zhao, do you... do you have any instructions for me?" Internally, however, I was cursing: *You old fox, just wait until I finish you off!*

I deliberately acted timid and fearful. Minister Zhao took the bait; he offered a contemptuous laugh, clearly thinking he had cowed me, and walked away with a pompous, bureaucratic air. *Hmph, you are far too green to play games with me!*

At the palace banquet, the atmosphere was thick with the clinking of wine cups and the rustle of fine silk. I sat with an air of composure, while my mind raced with schemes to turn the tide. Then, Lady Lin sashayed toward me, her gaze hungry enough to devour me alive.

She spoke with a biting, shrill tone: "Oh, is this not Official Lu? It has been a few days, and you certainly seem to have grown quite pretentious!" I retorted with a cold, insincere smile: "Not at all, not at all. I cannot compare to you, Lady Lin, with your beauty that outshines all others!"

She sneered and began her verbal assault, every word a needle, every sentence designed to sting. The surrounding concubines and ministers watched with glee, whispering among themselves. While parrying her barbs, I searched for an opening to strike back.

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Just as I was about to be overwhelmed, I caught a flaw in her argument! She had been harping on my humble origins, claiming I was unworthy of my rank, yet was she not the daughter of a merchant herself?

A flash of inspiration struck, and I immediately snapped back: "Lady Lin’s lecture is well-taken. My origins are indeed humble, unlike some, whose ancestors for three generations have been..." I paused deliberately, then raised my voice: "...wealthy merchant families!"

The room fell into stunned silence. Lady Lin’s face turned deathly pale; she looked as if she wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She had not expected me to expose her background in public, and she stood there, speechless and rigid as a wooden post.

The way those around me looked at me changed, shifting from mockery to respect. Seeing his wife humiliated, Minister Zhao was green with rage. He was about to step forward to berate me, but was intercepted by He Yun Sheng.

That lad Yun Sheng is truly reliable in a crisis. Right in front of everyone, he produced evidence of Minister Zhao’s years of embezzlement, bribery, and factionalism. Minister Zhao’s face turned shades of red and white before he slunk away from the banquet in disgrace.

Although I had won this round, I knew full well that Minister Zhao would not let me off so easily. Moreover, I felt a pair of invisible hands pulling the strings behind the scenes. Who was this hidden power? I had to unmask the mastermind to put this trouble to rest once and for all.

I looked at Yun Sheng beside me and whispered, "Yun Sheng, about tonight..." Before I could finish, I felt a sudden, chilling breeze at my back.