After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 5

“Huixiang, are you sure you heard it clearly? Or was it just a dream? You mustn’t speak recklessly!” Lady Zhang’s voice was filled with concern.

Talking in the middle of the night wasn’t just about passing messages—it could easily be seen as something much worse, like adultery.

“I wouldn’t dare lie!” Huixiang stammered, her voice shaky.

“The other day, I had an upset stomach and went to the east toilet. On my way back, I passed by Qun Qing’s room and thought of borrowing a candle because mine had burned out. But when I got close to her window, I heard a man and a woman whispering, like they were discussing something. I peeked through a crack in the window. The lamp was off, and no one was on the bed. Maybe they were hiding… hiding in the bamboo grove behind the room! It’s a secluded spot.”

She finished her explanation in one breath. As she paused to catch her breath, her earlier panic seemed to ease.

“There are so many mosquitoes outside, and since I’m not close to her, I didn’t want to meddle. So, I just went back.”

Eunuch Pei’s cold, sharp gaze fell on Qun Qing, focusing on her lowered head.

“Who were you talking to? What were you discussing?”

Qun Qing respectfully kept her head bowed, staying silent for a moment before addressing Huixiang’s claim.

“Huixiang says we’re ‘not close’ because I tend to keep to myself. I’m not very talkative, so most of the other maids don’t interact with me.”

As she spoke, Eunuch Pei didn’t look at her directly but instead watched the expressions of the other maidservants. Seeing their blank stares, he began to believe that what Qun Qing said was true. Then, she added,

“If you’re too afraid to speak during the day, why would you dare disturb me at night to borrow a candle?”

Eunuch Pei’s expression shifted. Indeed, Huixiang’s story had some inconsistencies. Just as Huixiang opened her mouth to defend herself, Qun Qing continued,

“Another thing puzzles me: Eunuch Pei mentioned that palace maids who pass messages should be beaten thirty strokes. But earlier this year, the Emperor showed leniency, reducing the thirty strokes to seven, allowing maids time to recover before resuming their duties. The maximum punishment now is only twenty strokes.”

“You, as the supervisor, know the palace rules better than anyone. This exaggerated punishment is likely just to intimidate us. If the informant had truly seen who it was, they would have taken that person directly. Why bother forcing us to expose each other under the sun? The innocent would stay calm, no matter how many questions they were asked. The one who reacts the most is the one hiding something.”

Huixiang immediately raised her head, her voice shaky as she cried,

“I didn’t do anything! I only joked with the guard at the east gate. I swear I didn’t do anything else! I really heard voices coming from Qun Qing’s room. I wouldn’t dare lie, I truly heard voices…”

“Maybe she did pass by my room that night,” Qun Qing calmly interrupted, “but she definitely wasn’t there to borrow a candle or use the toilet. I guard the northern warehouse and live far away. If she was coming from the east toilet, why take the long way around? With all the mosquitoes, wouldn’t she take the shortcut? What was she doing up north in the middle of the night? If she were telling the truth, she wouldn’t need to risk concocting such a lie.”

Huixiang hadn’t expected Qun Qing to turn the tables on her. For a moment, she froze in shock, panic filling her eyes when she realized what had happened. Eunuch Pei waved his hand, and several inner palace eunuchs stepped forward.

As Huixiang was dragged away, her voice cracked in desperation.

“I was wrong! I just joked with the guard at the east gate, nothing more! I swear I didn’t lie! I really heard voices coming from Qun Qing’s room, I truly did…”

Then came the sickening sound of the rod striking flesh, followed by anguished screams. The cries grew weaker, each one more pained than the last, leaving the other maidservants frozen in fear, silent.

Lady Zhang hadn’t foreseen such an outcome. She sighed, her voice tinged with guilt.

“This is my fault for not guiding her properly. Huixiang is timid; I didn’t expect she’d dare to frame someone like this…”

“Well, timid as she may be, she confessed easily,” Eunuch Pei said slowly, his voice sharp. But then, pointing at Qun Qing with a smile, he added,

“Her courage, though, is remarkable. She even recalls every change in the palace laws. A girl like this is capable of great things!”

Lady Zhang quickly stepped in, her tone soft.

“Eunuch, you’re reading too much into it. She grew up in Yeting Court, so she’s naturally familiar with the palace rules…” She glanced meaningfully at Qun Qing, urging her to remain cautious.

But Qun Qing, seemingly unaware, clasped her hands together, her expression bright as she suddenly bowed deeply to Eunuch Pei. Her unexpected movement startled him into stepping back.

“Thank you, Eunuch Pei, for your recognition! Although I was raised in Yeting Court, I studied in the palace for four years. Not only did I memorize the rules, but I also developed a passion for history and law. When I was younger, I even…”

“Shut up! Who praised you? Can’t you understand human speech? ¹Given an inch, you open a dye shop/mdtooltip]!” Eunuch Pei slammed his dust whisk down in anger, convinced she was just a fool acting calm while lacking true intelligence.

The reason palace maids stayed in the Yeting was well understood by all.

He took a deep breath, still suspicious, and pulled Lady Zhang aside.

“There’s been a crackdown on spies from Southern Chu within the inner palace lately. The atmosphere is tense. Huixiang didn’t break under pressure, so I doubt she’s lying. Let’s just hand both her and Qun Qing over to the Criminal Ministry for interrogation. We can’t let this drag us down.”

Lady Zhang’s lips tightened, her face serious. Qun Qing, sensing the danger, clenched her fingers and abruptly spoke,

“I was indeed outside that night, and I did speak with someone.”

Both Lady Zhang and Eunuch Pei turned to her, startled.

“Who?”

“The palace teaching scholar, Eunuch Jin.”

Lady Zhang frowned. “But he’s an inner palace eunuch. How can he be considered an outsider? Besides, Eunuch Jin is over seventy…”

“Exactly,” Qun Qing replied. “So Huixiang didn’t hear wrong, but I wasn’t passing any messages.”

Eunuch Pei furrowed his brow.

“What were you whispering about with an old, deaf teaching eunuch in the middle of the night?”

Qun Qing calmly explained,

“To answer Eunuch Pei: we will meet the noble masters soon and must present them with gifts. I work in the embroidery bureau, so I prepared an embroidered piece. However, palace maids only receive five candles a month, and it’s not enough for extra work. So, I was embroidering outside by moonlight that night. I also had a selfish reason—I hoped to ask Eunuch Jin for guidance in my needlework as he passed by during his night shift.”

She continued, “The night before last, I finally met him, and seeing my situation, he kindly offered some advice. That’s what Huixiang overheard. If you don’t believe me, you can check my room. In the sewing basket on the table, there’s a wooden box containing the embroidered piece I was preparing to present.”

Not long after, the wooden box and the embroidered piece were in Eunuch Pei’s hands. He opened it and fell silent.

The embroidery was delicate, about the size of a palm, as thin as a cicada’s wing, and cut into irregular shapes meant to be sewn onto skirts—a favored decoration among noblewomen. Qun Qing’s creation had a silk base, featuring orchids and a butterfly in mid-flight. The butterfly’s wings shimmered under the sunlight, mesmerizing anyone who looked at it.

Another piece displayed pink silk mimosa flowers, which Qun Qing had prepared earlier. Though not as dazzling, it was still beautifully crafted.

Eunuch Pei carefully examined the embroidery, running his fingers over it, and finally remarked,

“I can hardly believe someone in the Yeting has this level of skill. Your work rivals that of the Shangfu Bureau; to be stuck here is truly a waste.”

Under the watchful eyes of the other maids, Qun Qing humbly lowered her head.

“It’s all thanks to Eunuch Jin’s guidance.”

Eunuch Pei let out a soft laugh but remained doubtful.

“The embroidery from the Yeting is known to be inferior to the Shangfu Bureau’s. To see a phoenix rise from such a lowly place is rare indeed.”

At his words, Qun Qing looked up. Though her hairstyle was plain and unadorned, it highlighted her natural beauty. Her features weren’t particularly striking, but compared to the other maids, her demeanor set her apart.

Her lightweight skirt swayed gently in the wind, and the way she held her head high with her straight neck and poised shoulders gave her a refined elegance—neither servile nor arrogant.

“I entered the Yeting when I was four years old,” Qun Qing began, her voice steady but filled with emotion.

“For three years, I washed clothes. Then for four years, I cleaned chamber pots. It wasn’t until I was finally given the chance to join the embroidery department that I dedicated myself entirely to the craft. I’ve cherished each day for the past eight years, holding my needle from dawn till dusk, never daring to slack. The Yeting may not hold the prestige of the Shangfu Bureau, but after spending eight years mastering this single skill, can someone like me really do it poorly?”

Her voice, though calm, carried a quiet strength, silencing everyone around her. It was as if to question her now would be to question her entire life’s work.

Just then, a young inner servant stepped forward, saying, “Lord Jin has indeed mentioned something about this matter.”

Eunuch Pei raised his hand dismissively and said, “Since I can see your dedication, I’ll overlook it this time. But don’t break the rules again, or I won’t be so lenient.”

Lady Zhang’s face brightened with relief. Meanwhile, Qun Qing swayed on her feet, and a nearby maid rushed to steady her. As her sleeve slipped down, revealing spots on her arm, the maid cried out in alarm,

“Lady Zhang, she’s developed a rash!”

The rash was a common allergic reaction, one that usually faded after a few days. Some people were sensitive to willow catkins, others to mulberry silk, and in some cases, sudden fear or extreme anxiety could cause red spots to appear and spread quickly.

“What a useless girl!” Eunuch Pei fumed, his frustration boiling over.

“I thought she had some composure! Lady Zhang, get rid of her. It’s too unsightly—we can’t have her scaring the noble ladies.”

Lady Zhang, who had been hopeful just moments earlier, felt her smile freeze at his abrupt dismissal. Eunuch Pei continued,

“I’ll assign someone new to you. She was handpicked from Chang’an, recommended by the Yeting. Sixteen years old, sharp and quick-witted. She’ll replace Qun Qing. Baoshu, come greet Lady Zhang.”

From behind Eunuch Pei, a young maid stepped forward. With her sleek black hair and red lips, she resembled a lark. She knelt gracefully beside Qun Qing, her attire releasing a faint fragrance of freshly prepared orange peel.

The unfamiliar scent wafted through the air, causing a few of the maids to shift hungrily. Qun Qing recognized the aroma instantly—noblewomen in Chang’an often refined orange peels into perfume, and it had recently become a trend for their servants to carry that same fragrance. This was no coincidence; Eunuch Pei was using this moment to introduce someone new into Lady Zhang’s circle.

Lady Zhang’s sharp eyes narrowed as she stared at the ground, her hands clenched in frustration, unable to find words.

Baoshu smiled warmly and said, “I came here in a hurry and didn’t have time to prepare a gift for the noble ladies.”

The young maid was stunning, with a small mole under her eye, and her gaze met Lady Zhang’s with no hint of fear. Lady Zhang, however, was too furious to reply. How could Eunuch Pei expect her to expect gifts from this newcomer?

Amid the tense silence, Qun Qing slowly raised a box and held it above her head.

“The embroidered pieces I prepared can be offered instead.”

Her statement was perfectly timed, aligning with Eunuch Pei’s intentions. His expression softened into a smile.

“You’re clever. I’ll remember this. There may be a chance to promote you in the future.”

Baoshu took the embroidery and examined it closely, her eyes flicking over to Qun Qing. A mix of surprise, displeasure, and unease flashed across her face, like a blade cutting through the air.

Qun Qing lowered her gaze but could feel the sharpness of Baoshu’s stare. It seemed to convey one clear message: how could such a plain maid create something so beautiful? Heaven must be blind.

Baoshu set the embroidery down carefully, avoiding Qun Qing’s rash-covered hands. Picking up another piece with silk flowers, she turned to Eunuch Pei and said,

“Her embroidery is far too exquisite… This one can’t compare, but it feels more like something I would have embroidered myself. Thank you.”

Eunuch Pei, already eager to move things along, urged,

“Just send these nine for selection.”

“But the roster calls for ten,” Lady Zhang hesitated, casting a reluctant glance at Qun Qing. “Shouldn’t we at least call for the physician to check her condition…”

Eunuch Pei cut her off, growing impatient.

“Don’t waste time; go now!”

With no other choice, Lady Zhang led the maids away. Their figures, silhouetted against the towering palace walls, resembled a flock of wild geese heading west as they disappeared into the distance.

Qun Qing, however, walked the opposite way, back toward the rundown and lowly Yeting.

–

Upon returning, she quietly closed the door behind her and let her hair down. Her coarse, heavy hair fell in a cascade. The room was small and cluttered, evidence that Eunuch Pei’s men had rifled through it while taking the embroidery pieces, making sure there were no traces of her late-night activities.

Cloth hung unevenly over a bamboo rack, which Qun Qing quickly grabbed to dry her damp hair. She absentmindedly rearranged jars and baskets, repairing the torn window paper as her thoughts replayed the day’s events:

That night, Huixiang had secretly met with the young guard in the bamboo grove. Knowing that Qun Qing lived nearby, Huixiang had feared being caught. Nervously, she crept up to Qun Qing’s window, only to find that she wasn’t in bed. This had filled Huixiang with suspicion and unease. Today, when she saw Eunuch Pei interrogating the maids, her fear had driven her to accuse Qun Qing first.

Qun Qing stripped off her damp skirt, ignoring the itching rash that had now almost faded. She reached into her collar, pulling out a small piece of cotton cloth, and placed it on the cabinet. The red rashes on her arms were already receding.

The cloth, sewn in two layers with cotton on the front, had been soaked in crushed spring vine sap. Usually sewn into her sleeve, Qun Qing could flip it and rub it against her skin whenever she needed to develop hives quickly.

The noble ladies who were selecting palace maids today were the Crown Prince’s consort, Zheng Zhiyi, and Princess Bao’an. If Qun Qing had gone to the Luan Yi Pavilion with Lady Zhang, she would have likely been chosen by Yang Fu—destined to stay by her side, only to weep and suffer together.

Qun Qing knew she couldn’t see Yang Fu just yet. The sight of her would stir too many emotions, emotions she wasn’t ready to confront. She needed time, time to process the flood of memories and regrets from her previous life. Slowly, she changed into dry clothes, methodically rolling up her sleeves before dipping her hands into the cold water tank. Her fingers brushed the familiar surface of the pitch-black box hidden at the bottom, and she carefully lifted it out.

Inside the box lay an array of bottles and jars—some containing medicine, others poison—items she had salvaged from her empty house. Among them was an embroidered sachet, featuring a delicate ram’s head adorned with four tiny bells hanging from its horns. The sachet had a deep personal significance: Zhu Ying, a figure from her childhood, had sewn it for her to play with. Qun Qing, born in the Year of the Ram, had treasured it ever since.

Holding the sachet in her palm, she shook it gently, allowing the familiar soft jingle of the bells to echo through the room. It grounded her in the present, confirming that she had indeed returned to the first year of Shenglin. The memories of this pivotal year flooded her mind. This was the year when Emperor Chenming Li Feng had usurped the throne, renaming the nation Da Chen. In the south, Prince Zhao of Chu, unable to resist the overwhelming power of the Li family’s forces, had fled to Huai’an. From there, he had rallied his loyal ministers and supporters, taking control of the southern nine provinces and forming the state of “Southern Chu” in defiance of Da Chen.

The events of this year held deep significance for Qun Qing. It was a year filled with political upheaval, and the tensions between Da Chen and Southern Chu were only beginning to brew. The Crown Prince and Prince Yan, Emperor Chenming’s eldest and third sons, were preoccupied with state affairs and had not yet turned on each other. Yang Fu had not yet married the Crown Prince, and at this moment, she was nothing more than a newly recruited spy, still far from becoming the close confidante of Yang Fu that she would later be.

Qun Qing recalled how, during this period, Prince Zhao had mobilized every remaining spy in Chang’an, determined to wreak havoc on Da Chen. His ambition to topple the new regime and reclaim his homeland burned fiercely. It was a time of chaos and plotting, with Chang’an as the battleground for these hidden forces.

As these thoughts coursed through her, Qun Qing’s breath caught in her throat. She opened the sachet, revealing the “Xiangsiyin” poison pill inside. Her fingers trembled slightly as she sealed the pill back into its container. Quickly, she pinned the now-empty sachet to her waist, feeling the weight of her past actions press heavily on her. In her previous life, she had sacrificed everything for Prince Zhao and Princess Bao’an, convinced that their cause was just. But in the end, she had realized how misguided her loyalty had been. She had achieved nothing, and the one thing she had longed for the most—finding her mother—had slipped away from her. Only in the final moments of her life had she understood the depth of her regret and sorrow.

Now, given this second chance, Qun Qing was determined to live differently. She would not let her life be consumed by the ambitions of others. Her quest was no longer for a lost cause or misguided loyalty; it was to find her mother and to live for herself.

At the bottom of the box, a small notebook lay in wait. The moment Qun Qing realized it contained information about Lu Huating, she acted swiftly, tossing it into the fire basin without hesitation. The flames surged, devouring the pages, and the orange glow reflected off her flushed cheeks. The act felt symbolic, as if by burning those records, she could sever ties with the past.

Sitting on the ground, knees hugged to her chest, she felt the phantom pain of an old wound—an invisible scar left by her intense confrontation with Lu Huating. That memory surged back, vivid and sharp, causing beads of sweat to form at her temples. But something had shifted within her. After Princess Bao’an’s betrayal, the deep-rooted hatred she had nurtured for years against Lu Huating began to dissolve. It no longer burned as fiercely, fading into something less consuming.

It was clear to her now that Lu Huating had only been doing his duty. He was a strategist, brilliant and unyielding, but not the true enemy. His role in her downfall, while painful, wasn’t personal. He had been a rare and formidable opponent, but one she no longer needed to face. Now that she had no intention of restoring the country, avoiding Lu Huating seemed like the wisest course. Steering clear of him would spare her a great deal of hardship in this life.

With her mind made up, Qun Qing focused on a more pressing task. She gathered the medicinal herbs she needed and pulled out a key from beneath the rattan frame of her bed. Moving with quiet purpose, she carefully unlocked the door to the northern storeroom and slipped inside.

Qun Qing had always been skilled at keeping track of inventory, memorizing the quantities of silk and satin without needing a single note. Her meticulousness had earned her the trust of Lady Zhang, who had given her responsibility over the storeroom. Living in the supervisor’s old quarters gave her the privacy she needed to carry out her plans.

Moving silently among the towering stacks of fabric, Qun Qing reached a specific spot. She bent down, shifting aside a piece of indigo cloth. With four precise knocks on the ground, she dislodged a dark brick, revealing the hidden space beneath.

There, lying unconscious, was a man dressed in light blue official robes, his collar soaked with blood.