Rumors spread quickly.
By morning, everyone in the Lotus Pavilion was talking.
"They say the emperor looked at her."
"I heard she faked it."
"She begged a eunuch for that silk gift."
Chun'er rushed into the room, breathless. "They're talking about you, miss. Some think you're lucky and others think you're lying."
I smiled and folded the handkerchief neatly on the table.
"Good," I said.
Chun'er frowned. "Good?"
"If they're whispering," I said, "they're watching. That means I matter to them"
At lunch, the girls avoided my eyes. A few made jokes just loud enough for me to hear.
I smiled gently and said nothing.
But I will remember those who laughed. Especially Bao Lian.
That afternoon, the court seamstresses arrived.
They came to take measurements for the spring hunting festival. All the low-ranked girls lined up in the garden, waiting to be fitted.
I stood quietly at the back of the line.
When it was my turn, one of the assistants wrapped the measuring cord too tightly around my waist.
"Don't move," she said.
Another girl held up two rolls of silk—one blue, one golden. But before she could pick, Bao Lian stepped forward.
"I saw another one," she said sweetly. "Very modest."
She pulled a wrinkled, torn piece of silk from the bottom of the basket.
Frayed at the edges, and the colour fading. The assistant smirked. "How fitting."
She draped it across my shoulder like it was a joke.
I looked down at the cloth and touched it softly. Then I smiled—just a little—and bowed my head.
"Thank you," I said walking back in line.
They blinked, unsure what to do.
There was no anger. No tears.
But I will remember everything.
~~~~~~~
Later that day, something strange happened.
"Fire! The embroidery hall is burning!" Someone had shouted. I could smell burning in the air.
There were girls screaming and running in every direction. Chun'er looked at me, panic in her eyes.
"Stay here," I told her.
Then I walked towards the fire.
The fire wasn't big yet—but it was spreading. Inside the seamstress hall, thread and silk had already began burning.
One roll of silk leaned near the edge of the fire.
Bright red.
Gold phoenix embroidery.
Its the Imperial silk.
I grabbed it, and ran straight back out—smoke behind me, fire crackling at my heels.
Those waiting outside gasped.
And just across the garden, sitting in a fancy carriage, was Lady Bai—a powerful noblewoman from the outer court. She saw the silk in my arms. She saw my calm face. She saw me bow, quiet and graceful.
She said nothing.
But she saw everything.
That evening, whispers started again.
"Lady Bai mentioned a concubine who saved the red silk…"
"She didn't say her name, but…"
"Could it have been the girl from the banquet?"
Consort Ning's smile grew thinner.
I kept my head low, hands folded in my lap.
"I just did what anyone would do," I said quietly when asked. I said nothing else.
But I knew this had worked, these whispers will reach someone's ears.
That night, I sat in my room and began to sew.
The torn fabric Bao Lian had given me lay across my lap.
I threaded the needle, slowly and carefully, and began to stitch the edges clean.
For each stitch, I keep whispering the same names. A reminder of my revenge.
"Grand Chancellor Wei."
"Lady Qiao."
"Consort Ning."
"Zhao Yunxie."
Each one held so much hate.
This robe will be complete again.
And so would I.