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Qin Fenghua, dressed in a light smoky blue robe with a plain white jade pendant hanging at her waist, walked gracefully through the embroidery workshop.
As spring began to warm, the willows outside the palace walls turned a fresh green.
She carefully observed the actions and conversations of the female officials and servants, subtly noting their seemingly casual little gestures.
“Lan Xiang, how is your hand feeling today?” Qin Fenghua paused in front of a loom and asked gently.
“Thank you, Lord Qin, for your concern. It is much better now,” replied the young female official Lan Xiang, bowing slightly, gratitude flickering in her eyes.
Qin Fenghua nodded slightly and softly instructed her attendant behind her, “Go to the kitchen and bring back some lotus heart paste. Lan Xiang is skilled; it would be a pity if she missed her work.”
An older female official nearby observed this exchange, glancing between Qin Fenghua and Lan Xiang with an ambiguous smile before nodding in agreement.
Qin Fenghua offered kindness in subtle ways, neither overshadowing others nor overtly seeking to win hearts, yet quietly gathering their affections.
She strolled to the spice room, inhaling a hint of fragrant sandalwood. Noticing Lin Mama, the head of the spice room, directing the servants in sorting spices, she smiled and said, “Lin Mama’s skill in blending fragrances is known throughout the palace. I wonder how this new batch of agarwood from Yuezhou compares to last year’s?”
Lin Mama clasped her hands in return and replied, “Lord Qin flatters me. Agarwood from Yuezhou has become rare in recent years. This year we have obtained a few pieces of fine quality; its aroma is rich and mellow, perfect for crafting new scents for the Dragon Boat Festival.”
“With the festival approaching, I appreciate your efforts, Mama. The other day I came across some new lotus from Nanyang and specially made these lotus leaf sachets as a small token of my appreciation.” Qin Fenghua took out a jade-green sachet and handed it over with a gentle smile.
Lin Mama’s face lit up with joy as she repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
The sachet was fresh and elegant, its lotus fragrance mingling with the essence of spring like a subtle hidden scent that quietly enveloped everyone’s hearts.
In the afternoon, Qin Fenghua specially invited several experienced matrons and heads of various workshops to the inner treasury's backyard.
The courtyard was gently brushed by the willows, and a stone table was set with freshly prepared seasonal dishes and fragrant tea.
As everyone exchanged pleasantries, she casually took out a poem she had written and smiled, saying, “Spring days are long, and the grass is fresh. You have all worked hard; I have no way to express my gratitude but to share a few lines of poetry with you over tea.”
She softly recited, “Willows sway in the clear breeze, their green shadows slanting. In the depths of the palace walls, I listen to the warblers sing. The years in this world flow like water; let us together indulge in the beauty of spring and the falling blossoms.”
Everyone praised her talent, especially the matrons who admired her greatly. “Lord Qin truly possesses extraordinary talent; no wonder the inner treasury has been so orderly lately.”
Qin Fenghua humbly smiled and shifted the conversation, saying, “The affairs of the inner treasury are numerous. Without your dedication, how could I manage alone? Please continue to guide me.”
The older matrons were touched by her heartfelt words and gradually lowered their guard, revealing more insider information during their conversation.
Some spoke of the difficulties in procuring supplies for the storerooms, while others privately mentioned the disputes between the kitchen and outside merchants.
Qin Fenghua listened quietly, occasionally nodding. Her expression remained calm, but she mentally noted every useful detail.
As dusk fell, she returned alone to the accounts room and began flipping through stacks of ledgers.
Her delicate fingers moved swiftly as her gaze flowed over each entry of purchases and stock releases.
Suddenly, she noticed that a batch of agarwood recorded in the spice accounts had repeatedly overlapped with a certain Shanghao outside the palace, yet the amounts did not match what had actually been received. A glint of cold light flashed in Qin Fenghua's eyes as her lips curled into a slight smile.
She picked up her brush and quietly noted down a few names and numbers in her ledger, already formulating a plan in her mind.
"If I can take advantage of the purchasing opportunity to secretly establish my own connections, it will not only ensure my safety but also lay the groundwork for future retaliation," she pondered, her fingertips lightly tapping on the account book.
The next day, Qin Fenghua encountered the chief eunuch Wang Shen in the backyard of the Internal Affairs Bureau. Wang Shen appeared respectful and spoke gently, but there was an inscrutable sharpness in his eyes.
Holding a feather duster, he stood beside the drooping willow at the eaves. Upon seeing Qin Fenghua, he smiled slightly. "Lord Qin, you have been working hard lately."
"Eunuch Wang's kindness is too much; Qin Fenghua does not dare to accept such praise," she replied with a slight nod and a gentle smile.
Wang Shen slowly said, "The internal treasury is busy with affairs—purchasing, weaving, antiques, spices... all are interconnected. A small misstep can affect many parties.
The palace has strict rules; some are apparent while others circulate in the shadows. May I ask, young Lord Qin, have you grasped any of the intricacies within?"
"Your Excellency flatters me," Qin Fenghua lowered her gaze, speaking humbly. "As I am new here, I am still exploring. However, I deeply feel that the court is like a chess game; even with utmost caution, one cannot guarantee there are no hidden currents."
Wang Shen's expression shifted slightly as he chuckled softly. "If one can understand when to advance and retreat and be good at strategizing, it is certainly a good thing. But in the palace's situation, there are often 'Vanilla Beauties' as bait and 'Night Walks in Brocade' as shields. Lord Qin, please take care."
Qin Fenghua found his words profound; she did not show it on her face but felt an increased sense of vigilance within.
She performed a slight bow. "I appreciate your guidance. If I have any shortcomings, I hope you will enlighten me."
Wang Shen lightly shook his feather duster and turned to disappear into the shadows of the willow tree, leaving behind a remark: "In time, you will come to understand that day."
Returning to her chamber, Qin Fenghua removed her outer robe and donned a simple, light garment, lighting a Bronze Palace Lantern.
On the table lay the bamboo slips, letters, and an old jade pendant left by her father. The flickering candlelight illuminated her as she quietly unrolled the slips, her fingertips tracing the characters on the letter.
Her father's handwriting was strong and vigorous, his tone earnest—"In the officialdom, one must discern both the overt and covert, weigh power carefully, and never lose oneself."
She then took out the account book that was said to have been personally recorded by her father before his incident. Combining it with snippets of information she had gathered recently from the storeroom and purchasing office, she compared each entry meticulously.
Suddenly, a certain high-ranking official's name appeared repeatedly in both the letter and the account book, coinciding with the flow of agarwood. A jolt ran through Qin Fenghua, a chill creeping into her heart as she tightened her grip on the letter.
As night deepened and she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard someone outside the storeroom announcing—"Noble Lady has arrived!"
She changed into dignified palace attire, arranged her hair neatly, and walked steadily to greet at the storeroom door.
The visitor was Duan Hua, daughter of the Minister of Rites. She was graceful in appearance, with an air of pride in her eyes.
The Noble Lady entered with two attendant maidens, scanning the room coolly before smiling and saying, "I have heard that Lord Qin has taken charge of the inner treasury; I came to inspect it."
"Noble Lady's presence is an honor; Qin Fenghua is overwhelmed," Qin Fenghua replied, bowing respectfully while maintaining a calm demeanor.
Duan Hua casually flipped through the account books before suddenly looking up with a faint smile. "This Palace enjoys poetry; I have heard that Lord Qin is quite talented. Might there be a fitting verse you could share?"
Qin Fenghua smiled slightly, picked up a piece of plain paper from her desk, and recited clearly: "In spring's breeze, apricot blossoms bloom for miles; warm scents enter the palace through jade steps. Your grace has yet to be granted in passing time; let us entrust this fleeting life to our wine cups."
The Noble Lady's eyes sparkled with appreciation as she slightly raised the corners of her mouth. "What a wonderful line, 'The fragrance of jade steps warms the palace.' Indeed, Lord Qin's talent is extraordinary."
She shifted the topic and asked, "With so many affairs in the inner treasury, has there ever been a time when you felt overwhelmed?"
Qin Fenghua lowered her gaze, her tone humble yet sharp. "You are right, Noble Lady. As a newcomer, I have faced challenges, but fortunately, I have received support from many seniors, allowing me to manage."
The Noble Lady studied her intently for a moment, as if weighing something. After a brief pause, she smiled and said, "Let us see how Lord Qin manages the inner treasury from today onwards. If there are matters to discuss, do not hesitate to inform me."
Qin Fenghua respectfully acknowledged her words but felt a sense of caution in her heart. The Noble Lady's actions were clearly both a reward and a test, an encouragement mixed with scrutiny.
Wrapping herself in a black cloak, Qin Fenghua slowly made her way to the corner of the wall.
The young palace maid A Xiang had been waiting and trembled slightly as she handed over an oil paper package upon seeing Qin Fenghua's arrival.
"Lord Qin, I overheard two officials from the Internal Affairs Bureau speaking in the kitchen and found this letter. It seems related to your father's old case..." A Xiang's voice was faint, and her expression was anxious.
Qin Fenghua took the letter and lowered her voice. "Thank you for your hard work. Remember, not a word about today’s matter should be leaked."
A Xiang nodded and quietly withdrew.
Qin Fenghua opened the oil paper package and saw that the letter vaguely mentioned a large sum of money circulating at the same time as her father's case years ago, involving a certain high-ranking official's name.
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