A’jiao had just finished listening to Wei Yuan’s account of the farce at the Pepperwood Pavilion when an unexpected guest arrived at the Cooling Hall that afternoon.
“Second Uncle!” A’jiao looked at Chen Chuo in surprise as he appeared in the hall.
“What ‘Second Uncle’?” Wei Yuan was inside playing *shefu* with Xiazhu and Yuli. Hearing A’jiao’s voice, she poked her head out.
“Ahhh!” Wei Yuan ran out, nearly tripping on her skirt. Chen Chuo quickly stepped forward to steady her.
“Careful now!”
Wei Yuan buried her face in Chen Chuo’s chest, nuzzling him. “Husband, I missed you so much!” From the time she had moved back to the Wei estate until she entered the palace, she hadn’t seen Chen Chuo for nearly ten days.
Hearing Wei Yuan’s voice, which was so sweet it practically dripped with honey, A’jiao couldn’t help but shudder.
Ignoring the crowd, Chen Chuo held Wei Yuan’s head and kissed her forehead.
*Ugh.* A’jiao turned away and took a sip of water. They were even more clingy than she had been with Liu Che back in the day.
“Husband, why are you here? I thought I wouldn’t see you for a long time.” Wei Yuan clung to Chen Chuo’s arm and pulled him down to sit.
Chen Chuo looked at A’jiao. Seeing her dressed quite differently than she was at home, he smiled. “A’jiao is Lady Huikang now. After all this time, do you still recognize your Second Uncle?”
A’jiao smiled brightly. “Of course. I recognized you the moment you walked in.”
“Good girl.” Chen Chuo patted his niece’s head.
“Husband, you still haven’t said how you got into the palace.” Wei Yuan leaned close to his face.
Chen Chuo smiled slightly. “Isn’t Yan’er’s full-moon ceremony coming up in a few days? I came with my father-in-law specifically to ask for the grace to let you two leave the palace for a reunion.”
Chen Yan—the name chosen for the eldest grandson of the Chen family’s main branch, Chen Yang’s son, and A’jiao’s brother in this life.
“Then… did His Majesty agree?” A’jiao’s eyes widened.
“I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t!” Chen Chuo’s smile was like a spring breeze.
Wei Yuan was already rolling around happily in Chen Chuo’s arms. He patted her and helped her sit upright. “Now, don’t be rowdy. His Majesty said you are permitted to leave the palace the day before the ceremony. I will come to fetch you on the twelfth day of the fourth month.”
“Ah? Why can’t we leave now?” Wei Yuan’s excitement instantly wilted.
“Auntie, you just said the palace was interesting and you wanted to stay a few more days,” A’jiao teased.
Wei Yuan replied righteously, “But now that your Second Uncle is here, I naturally want to follow him.”
A’jiao smiled as she watched Chen Chuo. The way he smiled was exactly how Liu Che used to look. She sighed inwardly.
After delivering the family’s messages, Chen Chuo prepared to take his leave. Wei Yuan was loath to part with him, holding his hand all the way to the palace gates before running back in tears.
A’jiao knew that until the matter of the *wugu* sorcery was resolved, she likely wouldn’t be able to leave. However, Liu Che hadn’t come to see her for several days, and she didn’t know what he had discovered.
The following afternoon, the Weaving Chamber sent an official to deliver clothes to A’jiao. There were eight sets in total: one formal *shenyi* ceremonial robe, and the rest were everyday attire. A’jiao felt she probably wouldn’t have a use for the formal robe.
There weren’t many pieces of jewelry—seven or eight beaded flowers of various colors and two filigree hairpins inlaid with agate. Since she currently had little hair, she didn’t need many ornaments; A’jiao felt these could have been omitted as well.
A’jiao nodded, and Guo Dun nimbly stepped forward to distribute gold fruits to the attendants.
The official from the Weaving Chamber offered polite thanks before accepting the tips.
Three days later, Liu Che finally summoned her to the Hall of Proclamation. Wei Qing, Du Zhou, the Crown Prince, and several people she didn’t recognize were all seated formally within the hall. Oh, and Chu Haiguang was there too.
“A’jiao, come here.” Guo Dun carried A’jiao to Liu Che’s side.
Looking at Chu Haiguang sitting bolt upright in the hall, A’jiao was somewhat surprised. Hearing Liu Che call her, she turned her gaze toward him.
Two large eyeballs were placed on the desk in front of Liu Che. A silver needle was stuck into one of them.
A’jiao: “…” *Don’t you find that gruesome?*
Liu Che patted A’jiao’s head and smiled. “Fortunately, this child discovered the anomaly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how long I was being deceived by this thing.” He looked at the people in the hall. “Since Lady Huikang has performed a great service, I intend to grant her another reward. What do you all think?”
A’jiao sat up, feeling quite pleased with herself.
No one dared to voice an objection.
Liu Che then smiled and said, “Since you gentlemen have no objections, I shall grant Lady Huikang the fief of Changping.” Seeing A’jiao’s eyes already curving into crescents with an involuntary smile, Liu Che felt his own mood improve. “Eight hundred households.”
Eight hundred? A’jiao’s smile froze on her chubby face. She whipped her head around to look at Liu Che: *What happened to the promised minimum of a thousand?*
Liu Che acted as if he didn’t see her. “I also grant thirty thousand coins, sixty maidservants, a hundred laborers, and a manor. Zhongqing, what do you think?”
A’jiao desperately tugged at Liu Che’s sleeve. Liu Che pressed her two hands together and held them both in one of his.
Wei Qing bowed. “I believe Your Majesty’s rewards are most generous.” It was better not to highlight A’jiao’s uniqueness too much. After all, there were still rumors about her having the “destiny of an Empress,” which made Wei Qing feel uneasy.
“It is no matter. Sorcery has always been a grave affair. Since she discovered it by chance, it shows she is destined for such fortune.” Liu Che held A’jiao’s hands without effort.
A’jiao felt discouraged.
Wei Qing had no choice but to drop the subject. Liu Che gave a few more instructions and dismissed the group.
“Liu Che, how can you not keep your word?” As soon as everyone left, A’jiao angrily tried to break free, but she lacked the strength.
“Not keep my word? When did I ever break my word?”
“What about the thousand households we agreed on? Why are there only eight hundred?”
Liu Che chuckled. “When did I ever agree to a thousand? I only said I would grant you Changping. A thousand households was just your own talk; I never promised that.”
“You…” A’jiao lunged and bit Liu Che’s hand.
Liu Che hissed in pain and reflexively tossed her aside. A’jiao clutched her head as tears instantly welled up.
“Chen A’jiao, what are you doing!” Liu Che looked down to see two neat rows of tiny tooth marks on his hand. This crazy girl had really put some strength into it.
“You tricked me again! You trick me every time!” A’jiao lay on the floor crying. “Tell me, why is that Chu Haiguang still perfectly fine?”
“Him? I had Du Zhou investigate. You must have guessed wrong. The sorcery doll and the leaves weren’t Chu Haiguang’s doing. They were done by another man in the Pavilion of Seeking Immortals named Ying Si. Chu Haiguang only showed his face before me a few days ago, which led to him being framed. I have already ordered the Commandant of Justice to imprison Ying Si; he is to be executed by waist-chopping on an appointed day.”
“Ying Si? Was he there when the curse on the golden statue was broken?” A’jiao wiped her tears.
“He was!” Liu Che leaned over, pulled A’jiao up, and sat her down.
“Then you definitely have the wrong person.” A’jiao didn’t believe it. Based on her observations that day, aside from Fu Qingye and Huan Jiujun, no one else knew any actual magic. “Investigate again. Don’t wrong an innocent man!”
Liu Che was displeased. “This is the result of the Commandant’s careful interrogation, and the stolen goods were found in Ying Si’s room. Stop making a scene; this matter is concluded. As for the golden statue,” Liu Che tapped the desk, “the evidence is here, but the person responsible cannot be found. After all, so many years have passed. We can only let it go for now.”
“Besides, you still haven’t explained that ‘treasure’ of yours to me clearly.”
“I explained it clearly last time!” A’jiao grumbled.
“Last time? I didn’t care to listen to a pile of lies.” Liu Che waved his hand.
“What lies? Who’s telling lies? Don’t go accusing people.” A’jiao looked up at him.
A’jiao tried to persuade him further, but Liu Che was tired of listening. He simply had Guo Dun carry A’jiao away to collect her rewards and take her back to the Cooling Hall.
*Liu Che, you bastard! Why won’t you ever listen to what people say!*
***
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