Summer of the eleventh year of Minghui. Cicadas screeched incessantly, and the sweltering heat seemed to warp even the upturned eaves of the palace halls. Yet more oppressive than the weather was the increasingly tense atmosphere within the imperial court and harem.
The struggle over the crown prince had evolved from an undercurrent into an almost open contest. The two sons born to concubines and their supporters were making frequent moves. Though they dared not openly challenge Gu Liang's position, subtle snubs and petty obstacles were constantly being thrown her way. Simple memorials she reviewed were deliberately delayed, and when she studied governance, certain officials spoke with veiled barbs, setting limits at every turn. Though Emperor Minghui repeatedly admonished them, the entrenched corruption ran deep and could not be resolved overnight.
One day, in a side hall, Gu Liang listened as several Ministry of Revenue officials reported on this year's grain transport accounts. The ledgers they presented were filled with complex data, deliberately written in obscure terms and peppered with technical jargon—a clear attempt to test the young imperial granddaughter. Gu Liang's brow furrowed as she listened, striving to maintain composure though her fingertips dug faintly into her palms.
Emma stood behind the screen as usual, hearing every detail of the officials' seemingly respectful yet condescending attitudes, along with the deliberately convoluted data. She sneered inwardly—she had seen such tricks before when helping the matron manage the accounts at the Su estate.
Seizing a pause in the officials' report as they paused to drink tea, Emma silently moved to Gu Liang's side. Under the guise of pouring her tea, she swiftly slipped a small, folded note into Gu Liang's hand, murmuring in a barely audible whisper, "Your Highness, the key points are in the third and seventh items. The figures deviate from previous years' norms, with discrepancies amounting to roughly fifteen percent."
Gu Liang's heart stirred, though her expression remained impassive. She unfolded the note and scanned it rapidly. Emma had written several critical data comparisons and points of suspicion in extremely fine handwriting. Taking a deep breath, she no longer passively listened when the officials returned. Instead, she pointed directly to those crucial points, her tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable sharpness: "Minister Wang, I recall that during the same period last year, this category of losses remained within half a percent. Why has it suddenly surged to over ten percent this year? Is there a detailed explanation? Furthermore, this figure appears to be inconsistent with the inventory reports submitted by the three southern provinces. I request clarification."
The officials hadn't anticipated Gu Liang's ability to spot the critical issues at a glance, nor the directness of her questions. They immediately grew flustered, stammering incoherently, their answers contradicting each other. Gu Liang did not press further, merely stating calmly, "Since you gentlemen still need to verify these matters, please present clear accounts and explanations tomorrow. You may withdraw."
The officials withdrew, drenched in sweat, and the chamber fell silent once more. Leaning back in her chair, Gu Liang exhaled a long breath, a thin sheen of cold sweat forming on her back. She turned to Emma, who stood at attention as if nothing had occurred, her eyes brimming with relief and gratitude. "Emma, if not for you..."
"Your Highness is perceptive and quick to grasp things," Emma interrupted softly, deflecting credit to Gu Liang's sharpness. She knew that at this moment, upholding Gu Liang's authority was more crucial than showcasing her own abilities.
Yet the matter did not end there. The next day, rumors began to circulate quietly throughout the palace. They claimed that Emma, the palace maid attending the Imperial Granddaughter, had not only overstepped her authority but dared to secretly pass notes during the Princess's audience with officials. Such audacity, they said, violated palace regulations.
These rumors were precise and vicious, directly accusing Emma of the grave taboo of "interfering in state affairs from the harem." Soon, even the Empress was alarmed and summoned Gu Liang specifically to inquire about the matter. Even Emperor Minghui, who had always held Emma's abilities in high regard, furrowed his brow slightly. He could tolerate his granddaughter having a capable assistant, but he absolutely could not tolerate a lowly palace maid meddling in matters of state.
The pressure instantly fell upon Gu Liang and Emma.
Facing such direct accusations against her confidante for the first time, Gu Liang grew both anxious and furious. Before the Empress, she vehemently defended Emma, insisting she had merely assigned her to assist with document organization and that the note incident was pure fabrication. Yet her feeble protestations proved powerless against the "concrete" rumors.
Emma, however, remained remarkably composed. When summoned for questioning by the head matron, she neither panicked nor flatly denied the accusations. Kneeling on the ground, she stated clearly and calmly: "This servant dares not overstep her bounds. Recently, Your Highness commanded me to organize records of grain transport regulations from the past five years. I merely submitted a summary of the compiled data for Your Highness's review. When questioned that day, I responded according to protocol, reminding Your Highness of the chapter containing previously reviewed data. I absolutely did not pass notes or engage in reckless discussion of court affairs. All organized documents are archived and verifiable in the library of Zhilan Pavilion."
She framed all her actions within the confines of her duties—"organizing old records" and "responding to inquiries"—thus absolving herself of any suspicion of "interfering with new policies." Simultaneously, she implied that it was the other party who had tampered with the data, revealing their true ulterior motives.
Gu Liang immediately understood and ordered all grain transport records organized by Emma to be presented. The thick stack of documents, meticulously categorized and clearly contrasted, served as the most compelling evidence that Emma's work was purely clerical organization, not political scheming.
Emperor Minghui scrutinized the documents and listened to the Empress's report, then pondered for a long while. His gaze fell upon Emma, kneeling below with her back straight and expression open, his eyes deepening. This girl possessed not only competence but also quick wit and steadiness.
"If it was merely organizing old records, where did the notion of meddling in state affairs come from?" the emperor finally declared with finality. "In future, such document organization must be handled with greater care. Clearly mark the source and reason to avoid misunderstandings." These words served as a warning to Emma, yet in a way, they also constituted tacit approval and a delineation of boundaries—organizing historical precedents was acceptable, but interfering in current affairs was not.
The storm seemed to have passed, but Emma felt a deeper chill. She realized that the competence she displayed, while aiding Gu Liang, had also made her a target for others. Merely burying herself in work was insufficient. She needed a more formal position and clearer authority to better assist Gu Liang in the future and protect herself.
Throughout the turmoil, Su Wan remained quietly in her place. Unlike Emma, she couldn't offer Gu Liang direct practical assistance. She could only offer gentle comfort afterward, accompanying him as he copied sutras to calm his mind. Watching Emma once again defuse the crisis with her wisdom and composure, the complex emotions within Su Wan grew increasingly clear. Her bond with Gu Liang remained steadfast, yet she understood that in the treacherous power struggles ahead, the kind of capability Emma possessed was what Gu Liang needed most urgently.
That night, as Emma stood watch, gazing out at the deepening darkness beyond the window, she spoke softly to Gu Liang: "Your Highness, it was my fault for acting carelessly and bringing trouble upon you."
Gu Liang shook his head, clasping her hand firmly. "No, you helped me. Emma, I know what you desire... Give me a little more time." His gaze burned with intensity. "I won't let you remain like this—without status, enduring this alongside me."
Emma saw the unwavering resolve in Gu Liang's eyes, and her heart stirred. She knew that after this incident, his desire to grant her a formal status was likely even more urgent than her own.
The summer night was stifling. Though the storm had temporarily subsided, the undercurrents within the palace walls never ceased. Emma knew she must grow faster to protect herself in this vortex—and to protect the one she had promised to stand by. The path to advancement for a woman seemed far more treacherous than she had imagined, yet this crisis had revealed its contours with brutal clarity.