Chapter Twenty-Seven: Autumn Moon, Yue Liuxi

The hibiscus screen cast its shadow, and the imperial concubine’s silk couch lay draped in luxury. The woman upon it possessed a beauty that could topple cities, her every movement as graceful as a painting, her charm as delicate as the autumn moon. She was a woman like the moon itself, radiating a nobility tinged with just the right amount of arrogance—a feast for the eyes, breathtakingly exquisite. She leaned back languidly, the only flaw in this picture-perfect scene being the heavy, murderous malice lurking within her eyes.

When Yue Liuxi’s personal maid entered with a bowl of bird’s nest soup and saw her mistress in this state, she immediately understood the cause of her distress.

Yue Liuxi had always told her everything. It was less a matter of being close and more a necessity; after wearing a mask for so long in the outside world, she needed someone to vent her frustrations to and reveal her true self.

Her maid, Cuihua, naturally knew that the newly appointed top scholar and current sensation of the Ministry of War, Luo Yao, was a woman in disguise. Furthermore, she knew this woman was entangled with General Qin, the man her mistress had pined for since childhood.

There was no doubt about it: her mistress was fretting over this. Though Cuihua felt that love was a matter of mutual consent—or, to put it bluntly, that a twisted melon is never sweet—she knew her mistress was far too clever to be unaware of this truth. Yet, once love had taken root, Yue Liuxi could not simply pull it out. Since that was the case, she could only attempt to snatch it back.

How would one describe her mistress? Cuihua pondered and could only conclude: extremely intelligent, or perhaps, deeply calculating.

Or perhaps, Yue Liuxi was simply devious. She was a girl of supreme intelligence, yet she wasted her brilliant, orchid-like heart entirely on love—or, more specifically, on Qin Jinghao. She was a woman like the moon, as fickle as its phases. Beneath a facade of innocent, romanticized devotion—constantly prattling about "Brother Qin" like a naive white lotus—lay a heart of deep, hidden stratagems.

Perhaps it was true that excessive brilliance invites misfortune; the method this girl chose to pursue Qin Jinghao was the very one he detested most.

In Cuihua’s words, her mistress was blinded by passion.

Cuihua handed the bird’s nest to Yue Liuxi and, after a moment’s thought, echoed her mistress’s sentiments: "Since the Minister of War is a woman, isn’t it quite simple to deal with her for stealing General Qin?"

Yue Liuxi cast a lazy glance at Cuihua, signaling her to continue.

Cuihua gathered her courage. "Her disguising herself as a man to deceive the Emperor is a capital offense. A person who commits such deceit..." Cuihua stole a cautious look at Yue Liuxi and whispered, "Is she really worth your worry, my Lady?"

Yue Liuxi gave her a look that was half-smile, half-sneer, her tone unexpectedly gentle. "Silly girl." She teased her, elegantly stirring the bird’s nest with a spoon, and whispered, "You know as well as I do that Luo Yunyao is currently at the height of her prestige. Legends of her deeds are everywhere. Furthermore, His Majesty has yet to bestow any rewards for her achievements. If I were to expose her disguise now..." Yue Liuxi raised her eyes, a glance as beautiful as a painting, yet so sharp that Cuihua felt her very breath hitch. The malice in Yue Liuxi’s eyes deepened as she continued, "I would only be giving her an excuse to reveal the truth. And if that cheap wench were to go on to request a marriage decree from the Emperor..." She arched a brow, glancing at Cuihua with indifference. "Would you have me play the role of the noble benefactor who facilitates their union?" She let out a scornful laugh, turning her head with elegant disdain, her voice light yet chillingly lethal. "Hmph. Playing the part of a weaver for someone else’s wedding gown is not something I am capable of."

The name "Luo Yunyao" was a guess Yue Liuxi had made after eavesdropping on a conversation between Qin Jinghao and Luo Yunyao. If Luo Yunyao dared to deceive the Emperor, how much of the name "Luo Yao" could be trusted? Yue Liuxi had seen through this deception as well.

Cuihua was so terrified that she fell to her knees, kowtowing frantically. "This servant is dull-witted and lacks your brilliance and foresight, my Lady. I was truly foolish and muddled..."

Yue Liuxi did not speak for a long time. Cold sweat drenched Cuihua’s back; she dared not move, waiting for her mistress’s verdict.

Yue Liuxi sipped her bird’s nest slowly. Only after a long while did she glance at the kneeling maid with an expression of sudden realization, though she spoke of something entirely unrelated: "I remember that a few days ago, I ordered an old nursemaid to be beaten to death."

Hearing this, Cuihua realized her previous blunder was forgiven. She hurriedly chimed in, flattering her mistress: "That old woman was truly ungrateful. To dare gossip about you, my Lady—she didn’t even consider her own station! Is that something a lowly servant is entitled to do? If you ask me, you showed the heart of a Bodhisattva by only having her beaten to death. It was far too easy on her."

The flattery flowed smoothly, but Cuihua had no idea that this was not the point Yue Liuxi was making. In fact, she had just walked straight into a trap.

Yue Liuxi maintained her languid, half-smiling expression and let out a soft laugh. It was a beautiful, gentle sight, like the autumn moon, but her words were chilling: "Oh? So, you mean to say that as long as it isn’t a 'lowly person' doing the gossiping, it is acceptable to talk about me?"

The breath Cuihua had just let out caught in her throat again. Not daring to breathe, she kowtowed frantically. "Oh, look at my clumsy mouth, I deserve to be punished!" She slapped herself without hesitation. "How could any human dare to gossip about you, my Lady?" She continued to strike her own face, desperately searching for a way out, until she realized: "Oh, I am such a fool! You are a person of perfection, my Lady; there is nothing to gossip about at all."

Yue Liuxi squinted in satisfaction as she listened to the flattery. She didn't believe the sycophancy—she knew her own worth all too well. Her eyes drifted, lost in thought, before she spoke again in a playful, deceptively intimate tone: "You have been with me for many years. You are only allowed to be this foolish in front of me. If you were to make such a mistake outside... you know full well what happened to that old nursemaid. In fact, her death was quite merciful."

Cuihua stammered, "Yes," not daring to take a full breath.

Yue Liuxi, still wearing that satisfied, lazy expression, resumed the topic Cuihua had interrupted: "I vaguely remember that the old nursemaid had a daughter." She wore a look of distant recollection as she continued, "After the nursemaid died, didn't that servant sell herself to bury her mother? It was near the Minister of War's residence, wasn't it?" Yue Liuxi’s gaze fell outside the window, as beautiful as a withered branch but filled with a murderous chill. "She was bought by that cheap wench Luo Yunyao, wasn't she?"

Having already blundered twice, Cuihua was extremely cautious. She listened patiently until Yue Liuxi finished, then carefully ventured: "Your memory is, as always, first-class, my Lady. Not a single detail is wrong." She tried to flesh out the scheme: "Are you saying we should use that girl as a mole in the Ministry of War? But..." She struggled with the logistics. "Since she sold herself into that household, it might be difficult to control her." Especially since we had her mother killed.

Yue Liuxi seemed to ignore her, continuing in a tone of casual gossip, tinged with a mischievous edge: "Oh, this is truly a marvelous tale. If it got out, the entire capital would laugh at my manor. The girl’s parents were both servants of my household. Do these things born in my manor have the freedom to sell themselves?" Her tone was light and amused, but her words were steeped in malice.

Cuihua was still thinking that Yue Liuxi wanted to bring the girl back to make Luo Yunyao a laughingstock. But as she listened, she began to understand. She looked up and saw Yue Liuxi watching her with an expectant, approving look. Wanting to prove her worth, Cuihua stopped hesitating and blurted out: "That girl naturally has no right to sell herself to bury her mother; that is a grave taboo. She would not have the money to redeem herself, and she certainly cannot tell anyone that she is a servant of our manor with ties to us. She cannot seek help from the Minister of War... that is the first reason she must obey us. Furthermore... her father is still in our hands. A filial child who would sell herself to bury her mother is the easiest person to control."

The more she spoke, the more excited Cuihua became, feeling her intelligence had finally caught up. She grew bold: "In this way, no matter what, that girl will never escape our grasp. The Minister of War, Luo Yunyao, trying to steal the General from you, my Lady, will surely meet a disastrous end." She finished with a flourish of flattery: "You are truly the most brilliant person, my Lady. I am in awe, prostrate before your wisdom."

Yue Liuxi nodded in approval. After a moment, she added a final instruction: "Being a mole in the Ministry of War is meaningless if it’s small-scale. If you’re going to do it, do it big."

Cuihua understood immediately and bowed.

Whether the Minister of War was as upright as the rumors claimed or not, since a pawn had been planted, it was not enough to merely report on Luo Yunyao’s daily activities. They would have to take action themselves, planting evidence and framing her from within.

Yue Liuxi elegantly handed the remains of the bird’s nest to Cuihua, her jade-like finger tapping the silk handkerchief. "Go now. The matter is in your hands. Handle it well. Once it is a settled matter, the rewards will be plentiful. Take whatever you like from the accounts."

Cuihua accepted joyfully. As she retreated, she heard Yue Liuxi, gazing at the rising moon, speak in a voice as beautiful and ethereal as the autumn light itself.

"Luo Yunyao, let us see. Let us see how many brains—no, heads—you have to compete with me for what is mine." Yue Liuxi stood up alone, her steps as graceful as lotus blossoms, and drifted back into her room.