Chapter 6: The Assistant Minister of the Treasury, A Secret Aid
A eunuch official in a blue robe hurriedly approached, accompanied by four men carrying a sedan chair.
A low voice came from inside the sheep-drawn carriage: “Remember, do not say you are a daughter of the Bai family.”
Bai Huan was momentarily dazed as the eunuch stopped before her. “Your servant greets the Prefecture Minister.”
A feather fan lifted the white gauze curtain, wafting a faint orchid scent. “Take this perfumer to the Chao Hua Hall at once to prepare incense for the Noble Consort.”
“At once.”
The eunuch turned to Bai Huan and made a respectful gesture. “Miss, please step onto the sedan.”
So, it was all arranged. Dong Yi had proven reliable after all.
Bai Huan was overjoyed, but she composed herself and returned the salute properly. “Thank you.”
As long as she could meet the Noble Consort, she was confident she could craft a fragrance to help her sleep.
Most importantly, if she could smell the incense her father had made, she might identify the problem. If she could clear her father’s name, the Emperor’s wrath could be averted.
She might even find a chance to uncover the fabricated evidence that had wronged the Bai family for producing fake military incense. Perhaps there was still hope for her family.
The bearers moved swiftly and steadily.
The eunuch kept pace with the sedan and, without losing his breath, spoke to her. “The Danfeng Gate is closest to the Noble Consort’s Chao Hua Hall. We’ll be there in a quarter of an hour.”
Bai Huan’s curiosity got the better of her. “May I ask if the Prefecture Minister sent you to fetch me?”
“Yes. A quarter-hour ago, the minister’s guard came to the palace and instructed me to prepare the sedan for you, saying you are a skilled perfumer. The Noble Consort’s matter cannot be delayed.”
Bai Huan took a deep breath and steadied herself. Before long, she saw a towering palace ahead.
That was the Chao Hua Hall, built by the Emperor especially for Consort Cui.
The majestic palace seemed to float among the clouds, its eaves hung with gilded lanterns that bathed the golden halls in brilliance.
The eunuch led Bai Huan to the entrance, whispered a few words to the gatekeeping maidservant, who glanced skeptically at the plainly-dressed girl in civilian attire.
“Can she really do it? She looks like a servant.”
“She’s from a family of perfumers. The Incense Master brought her personally—could it be a mistake?”
Bai Huan hurried forward and bowed to the maidservant. “Sister, I am most skilled at preparing sleep-inducing incense.”
She offered her satchel with both hands. “These are my ingredients.”
The maids of Chao Hua Hall, long accustomed to the finest fragrances, immediately recognized the rare quality of the contents.
The eunuch urged, “Hurry now, lest the Noble Consort must suffer another sleepless night. Wouldn’t you all suffer with her?”
The maid’s expression softened. “Come with me, then.”
Bai Huan followed the maid inside, up the stairs to the inner hall, passing through layer upon layer of gauzy curtains, until she saw, deep within, a pair of radiant, multicolored glass doors.
The maid gestured for her to wait outside, then went in herself.
Bai Huan’s palms were slick with sweat.
Though she had lived two lives, it was her first time entering the palace, treading on thin ice, unable to quell her anxiety and nerves.
A cold-faced maid in her twenties emerged. The maid who had accompanied Bai Huan pointed at her. “Aunt Jing, this is the one.”
Aunt Jing’s sharp brows arched. She shot a scathing glance at Bai Huan, then turned to scold the maid. “Tired of living? You dare bring anyone into Chao Hua Hall! Get her out, now!” With that, she turned to leave.
The maid paled in fright and tugged at Bai Huan. “You’ll be the death of me.”
Bai Huan panicked. She shook off the maid’s hand, forgetting Dong Yi’s warning not to reveal her family name—she only wanted to prove herself.
She knelt before the woman. “Aunt Jing, I am the legitimate daughter of the Bai family, a line of perfumers. Since childhood, I learned the craft from my father, skilled especially in sleep-inducing incense, and have even prepared the palace incense used by the Noble Consort.”
Aunt Jing looked down at the girl at her feet, her expression unreadable. “You are the Bai family’s legitimate daughter?”
Bai Huan straightened her posture. “Yes. My mother often suffered from poor sleep, so I adapted an ancient recipe to create ‘Pear and Goose Down Incense.’ If I may observe Her Grace’s countenance, I am certain I can adjust the formula so she may rest easy.”
She spoke the incense’s name deliberately, knowing if the Xue family brought forth the same tomorrow, a comparison would reveal the plagiarism.
But instead of pleasure, Aunt Jing’s face showed only shock and coldness.
Bai Huan’s heart sank.
Could it be Aunt Jing already knew of the ‘Pear and Goose Down Incense’?
Aunt Jing sneered. “Even the Imperial Medical Bureau can’t help, yet you dare claim to diagnose by sight? Your father deceived His Majesty and poisoned the Noble Consort, just suffered fifty strokes, and now you come to trick us again? Will the Bai family not rest until Her Grace is dead?”
Bai Huan was dumbfounded. “Aunt, what do you mean? My father has always been cautious—”
Aunt Jing’s face was icy. “A Bai family girl seeking to harm the Noble Consort—drag her out, fifty strokes, then throw her from the palace!”
Two burly matrons appeared from the shadows, seizing Bai Huan by the arms.
Now she understood why Dong Yi told her not to claim her family name!
She struggled desperately, but could not break free, clutching at the doorframe with all her strength.
She shouted at the top of her lungs, “My mother suffered chronic insomnia—illness, night sweats, palpitations, coarse skin, dark spots, her beauty destroyed!”
Aunt Jing’s eyes flickered.
Bai Huan spoke faster. “Fortunately, we met the Sage Physician, who said: ‘Heaven and earth have night and day—so the body must obey yin and yang. At rest, the spirit returns home, the body recuperates, thus healing daytime fatigue.’”
“If a woman suffers long-term insomnia, her cycles are disrupted, and she will have great difficulty conceiving!”
“I learned from the Sage Physician, combining medicine and tradition to craft a sleep-inducing incense. After my mother recovered, she bore my younger brother.”
Her voice grew louder with each sentence, every phrase striking home.
Bai Huan wagered her life that these were the very problems plaguing the Noble Consort.
When Consort Cui entered the palace, she enjoyed the Emperor’s exclusive favor, but after bearing the Third Princess in her first year, she had not conceived again in three years.
In this world, a woman’s greatest misfortune was to be childless, especially a consort. No matter how favored, when beauty faded and no heir was born, how long could affection last?
Aunt Jing’s face darkened, her eyes darting nervously toward the inner chambers. “How dare you curse Her Grace!”
Bai Huan refused to back down. “Does Aunt not wish for Her Grace to be healthy? If I fail, you may take my head.”
Aunt Jing snapped at the matrons. “Drag her away! If you disturb Her Grace, you’ll lose your lives!”
The matrons, terrified, pried at Bai Huan’s fingers with all their might. Her fingers were nearly broken, tears streaming down her face, but in the end, they dragged her out of Chao Hua Hall.
At that moment, the midnight watch drum sounded.
Elsewhere, the Gu family was being subjected to a perfunctory search.
When midnight struck, it would be the Bai family’s turn. If the planted evidence of fraud was found, her family would be finished.
Rage and despair gripped Bai Huan’s throat, the feeling of death pressing in as it had in her former life.
She was about to break.
In desperation, she bit down fiercely on one matron’s hand. The woman screamed and let go.
Taking advantage of the other’s surprise, Bai Huan broke free and ran back into the building, crying out, “I beg Her Grace to let me serve you! I would give my life, be your most loyal servant! Your Grace—!”
The two burly matrons, furious, tackled Bai Huan to the ground.
Aunt Jing bellowed from the balcony, “Do you want to disturb Her Grace? Beat her to death!”
The matrons obeyed, raising their fists to strike.
Suddenly, a gentle voice called, “Stop.”
Her face pressed to the stone floor, Bai Huan struggled to lift her gaze. Beside Aunt Jing stood a maid about her own age.
Aunt Jing frowned. “This girl is a fraud.”
The maid’s tone was calm. “Her Grace has summoned her.”
“Her father couldn’t make a proper incense, yet she can?”
The maid remained patient. “Sister Jing, those are Her Grace’s orders.”
She turned to the stairs. “Release her—let her come up.”
The matrons hurriedly let go. Bai Huan scrambled to her feet, straightening her attire as she hastened inside.
On the second floor, the maid waited for her at the landing, noting her disheveled hair and torn sash, her entire appearance a mess.
“Qing’er, tidy her up and bring her in when she’s ready.”
The younger maid nodded, motioning for Bai Huan to follow.
Bai Huan, still on edge, followed Qing’er warily, alert to every movement as the palace maids helped her change and redress.
Qing’er asked if she knew the palace etiquette.
Bai Huan admitted honestly she’d never entered the palace, but had learned the rites from a retired palace governess at home and knew the formal kowtow.
Qing’er had her demonstrate; seeing it was proper, she was satisfied and led her toward the inner chamber.
Once more, Bai Huan stood before the dazzling glass doors, feeling as if a lifetime had passed, still shaken.
So close—she had nearly died again.
In this world, without power, one was but an ant.
Qing’er went inside to announce her arrival, then returned to whisper, “Do not look directly at Her Grace’s face without permission.”
Bai Huan bowed her head. “Yes.”
Inside, she kept her gaze fixed on Qing’er’s hem, following in small steps, her nose constantly alert, tasting the air for any trace of fragrance.
Bai Huan’s sense of smell was several times keener than most; her father often teased her for having a hound’s nose.
In the outer chamber, she detected nothing unusual.
But the deeper she went, the more she caught, beneath the heavy incense, a strange and intriguing scent.
Bai Huan’s heart pounded, but she betrayed nothing.
So that was it!