Concubine Ru’s servants put down an assortment of meats and vegetables on the table where Dawa and Concubine Ru was sitting.

The food had a fragrant smell that would normally make Dawa’s mouth water but she was feeling uneasy from the earlier scene.

Imperial Concubine Lan’s serving girl was sent back to her with her memories altered – or so she was told. It was also possible that Concubine Ru was acting kind to gain her favour.

Dawa no longer felt safe in Concubine Ru’s presence but she could not leave. As such, she fixed a pleasant smile on her face as she ate her food.

“Concubine Li,” Concubine Ru’s voice rang out, “The food here was prepared using ingredients from the far western areas of the kingdom. I think that some dishes will taste a little nostalgic.”

It was like she was expecting me to visit today! This woman is frightening…

Dawa continued to smile, “I’m honoured that you were thinking about my tastes.” She picked up some vegetables and ate them.

There was the possibility of being poisoned but Bortu was nearby so Concubine Ru would not try anything that would arise suspicion. Hence, Dawa could eat without worrying about such things.

Mmm! It tastes like the cooking of my tribe. She wasn’t lying indeed.

Dawa must have been making a strange face because she noticed Concubine Ru struggling not to laugh.

“Something the matter?” Dawa asked.

Concubine Ru shook her head, “I-it is nothing…chuckle…please continue to eat.” She picked up her chopsticks once again and continued to eat.

Dawa was a little miffed that she was laughing but didn’t show it.

“Master.” Gao’s voice rang out.

Dawa’s eyes widened, “Gao? How are you able to contact me?”

Concubine Ru looked at Dawa with a confused expression. Dawa groaned inwardly – she forgot that no one but she can hear Gao when they were communicating over distances.

Dawa shook her head, “I’m just so surprised how similar these tastes to my tribe’s cooking. I am impressed. Apologies for the odd expressions.”

“You left the cage door open, so I can utilise my spiritual energy,” Gao spoke.

Dawa pilled her bowl high with meat and vegetables, “Ah…I see. So, what is it? Did you notice something?”

“I sensed a surge of spiritual energy near your location,” Gao replied.

Concubine noticed the large amount of food and giggled, “My, Concubine Li, you must be hungry today.”

Dawa laughed nervously, “Apologies for the unladylike behaviour. Reading all those books made me quite famished.”

Concubine Ru waved it off, “It is of no worry. Please, enjoy!”

Dawa, “Gao, what kind of spiritual energy?”

“A high-class spell. Memory alteration.” Gao replied simply.

Dawa nearly choked on her rice, “Cough, cough.”

Concubine Ru panicked, “Concubine Li, are you alright?!”

Dawa waved it off, “I ate a bit too fast, please don’t mind me.” She smiled to assure Concubine Ru.

So, she was telling the truth when she said that serving girl will have her memories replaced. However, she didn’t tell me the truth about Ningya. She is a cultivator.

“Gao,” She called.

“Yes master,” Gao replied.

“Keep an eye on Concubine Ru’s household. I have a feeling that her handmaiden is not who she says she is.” Dawa instructed.

“As you wish, master,” Gao replied.

Dawa smiled as she continued to eat. Concubine Ru, you pass…for now.

Late in the night, long after Dawa had returned to her palace, she was sitting on the sofa and thinking.

She had asked Bortu as soon as she arrived, “What do you think of Concubine Ru and Ningya?”

Bortu was surprised, Dawa never asked her for her opinion before, “Priestess?”

Dawa looked at Bortu, “She was lying about Ningya, wasn’t she?”

Bortu looked down. She had noticed long before but didn’t know what to make of it. She was a cultivator from Yhur like her master but had to keep her spiritual energy sealed. That didn’t mean she couldn’t tell if someone had studied cultivation.

“I...” Bortu struggled, “know that Ningya has some skills.”

Dawa nodded, “Her skills seemed too advanced for a handmaiden. Even greater than yours.”

Bortu pursed her lips. She knew that too.

Dawa waited for Bortu to undress her before giving a final warning, “There is no doubt you are loyal to me. Watch your back, especially that Ningya.”

Bortu was shocked. She didn’t expect her master to care. She bowed in happiness before leaving the room.

Now, Dawa was wondering why she gave Bortu that warning. Was she worried about her safety?

Sigh…my time in the palace has dulled my compassion. But I’m glad that she will watch herself from now on.

Dawa leaned on the windowsill, “Concubine Ru is one mysterious woman. She seems to be honest but there is something secretive about her that I can’t seem to figure out.”

She made up her mind.

I need to investigate her family. But who can I rely on for that?

Zi Siwei’s face appeared in her mind. His stoic yet gentle expression when he was watching her drift to sleep…

Dawa’s face flushed and she shook the image from her mind.

Wah! Why him? He only saw me sleep once…so why am I so flustered.

She calmed down and thought carefully.

Zi Siwei would be a good choice. He is the most trustworthy person I know here. He is quite busy with the assassination attempt and the weird incidents that have been occurring in the capital but I don’t think he will say no to me. Or will he??

Her face began to flush again.

Argh!!! I don’t know! He may say no but he may also help me, I just don’t know why he would help me? Does he consider me a friend or a comrade? Sigh…

She patted her cheeks to cool them down.

In any case, he is the only one I can trust for the time being. If I want to survive in the harem, I need to use the resources I have.

With her resolve set, she took out Gao and set him on the table. She wrote a letter and fastened it on Gao’s leg.

“Gao,” She spoke to the golden eagle, “You know what to do. Go to General Zi and pass him this message. Do not been seen.”

“Yes, master,” Gao replied and flew out of the palace window.

As she watched Gao disappear out of sight using his unique abilities, she felt her heart race and she wondered why she was feeling so nervous.

She laid on her bed and fell into a restless sleep.

In the Bai family courtyard, Zi Siwei was awake and reading poetry. Bai Haoxia was shirtless and practising his sword forms.

Both men had just returned from their stations and were getting some relaxation before they had to leave once more.

Just then, the sound of slight flapping can be heard in the courtyard and Zi Siwei looked up. Bai Haoxia also stopped and walked towards the golden eagle that was perched on the table.

“Siwei, what is this bird?” Bai Haoxia asked, wiping his sweat on his robes that pooled around his waist.

“Gao.” Zi Siwei simply replied.

“Huh? Gao? Who is tall?” Bai Haoxia was confused.

Zi Siwei, “Concubine Li’s eagle.”

“Ohh! Dawa! I remember now.” Bai Haoxia finally understood. However, his face fell when he realised, “Hold on. Residents in the palace aren’t allowed to send messages by carrier bird. How come she can?”

Zi Siwei, “I also don’t know. This bird has a way of not being seen by the guards and even the cultivation division.”

Bai Haoxia was shocked, “Even the cultivation division?! This bird is amazing! Hey, this means we can communicate with Dawa right? Let me write a letter!”

Zi Siwei felt oddly irritated, “There is something on his leg.” He spoke, changing the subject.

Bai Haoxia noticed, at last, “Oh, you’re right!”

Zi Siwei removed the letter and laid it on the table:

‘General Zi,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I’m afraid I have to ask a favour of you. You are the only person I can trust in this country and I don’t know what to do.

Concubine Ru has a servant named Ningya. I suspect she is a powerful cultivator that is on par with either me or you. I know that Concubine Ru is from the now impoverished Zhao family but I can’t help feeling something is going on with this family. How can they have such a powerful vassal?

Maybe it is connected to the attempted assassination since we have yet to find out the origin of the culprit?

If you have the time, can you see if these things are related?

Yours,

Concubine Li.’

Zi Siwei frowned, “Haoxia, what do you know of the Zhao family?”

Bai Haoxia thought for a while, “They were also humbled like my family after the insurrection but they were dissatisfied. They kept angering the former Emperor so they were brought down to the status of near commoners. They are still a cultivation family but it was decreed that the family was not to cultivate ever again.”

Zi Siwei nodded. He already knew that the Zhao family was purged of all cultivators including the main house. The Zhao family leadership was now incompetent and subservient. The fact that Concubine Ru has a servant who cultivates is concerning indeed.

Bai Haoxia, “So, do we look into them?”

Zi Siwei, “Not us. Minister Hao. We can’t do anything remember?”

Bai Haoxia sighed, “You know as much as I do that the investigation will be faster if we got involved but because we are military, we can’t.” He shrugged.

Zi Siwei, “Who said we were leaving everything to them?”

Bai Haoxia, “Huh?!” He then realised, “Wait, you don’t mean?”

Zi Siwei nodded, “We are going to break into the main Zhao residence.”

Bai Haoxia was shocked, “Wait, wait, wait! What are you suggesting? You, of all people?! Sneak into a house and snoop around?”

Zi Siwei was unfazed, “Concubine Li said it may help in the investigation.”

Bai Haoxia couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “She said it might help but it doesn’t mean it will…”

Zi Siwei, “But the fact that the Zhao cultivator is in the palace is concerning.”

Bai Haoxia scoffed, “Still, there is no need for us to do something illegal…”

Zi Siwei grew quiet and Bai Haoxia hoped that his words got through to him. But then,

“We have to make sure not to get caught.”

Bai Haoxia, “…”

He only prayed that his family will not get in trouble for his friend’s uncharacteristic and rash behaviour.