The number one sycophant of the Ming Dynasty

Then there were those two pieces of moon-white plain satin.

"These two pieces of satin are moon white."

He was too embarrassed to mention that he had seen the neckline of the bra, as that would seem inappropriate.

"A three-foot square piece was laid out on the desk as a mat for writing."

"It's just the right size, enough to cover the area in front of you. You can see it as soon as you look down."

"The other piece is also three feet square, just right for making a cover for a futon."

"When I last came here, I saw that the edges of Manager Shen's prayer mat were worn smooth. It must have been used for many years and was uncomfortable to sit on because it was so hard."

"You sit there reviewing documents for hours every day; you can't keep putting yourself through that."

"This satin cover is soft, cool but not icy, making it more comfortable to sit on."

Shen Zhiyu's gaze was fixed on the two pieces of moon-white plain satin, unable to look away.

The flame of the oil lamp flickered, casting her face in shifting light and shadow.

She spent eight years in the inner court, and no one ever asked her whether the cushion she sat on was hard, whether the strokes of her pen were easy to use, or whether the cup she drank from was uncomfortable to the touch.

She herself had almost forgotten what she liked, forgotten that she also wanted to be comfortable, and wanted something exquisite that belonged only to herself.

But Chen Han remembers.

He understood her better than she understood herself.

Finally, there was that packet of agarwood.

"This is a bag of crushed agarwood. It's not expensive or flashy, but the fragrance is the same."

"The fragrance of agarwood is calm and subtle, not ostentatious or strong. When lit in an incense burner, it can dispel the smell of stale ink in the room and also calm the mind."

"When Master Shen bows his head to write, you can smell it, and it calms your mind."

Chen Han carefully placed the items one by one on the table, then stepped back and bowed slightly.

"These things are not valuable; they are just a small token of my appreciation. I have no other intention than to say that I think Manager Shen works very hard on his duties, and I hope these things can make things a little easier for you."

The duty room was extremely quiet.

The flame of the oil lamp flickered gently, casting Shen Zhiyu's shadow on the wall, which swayed slightly.

Her face remained calm and composed, her eyes and brows cold and unreadable, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

But her fingers were clenched tightly inside her sleeve, and her knuckles had turned white.

The few items on the table sat there quietly.

Pen, ink, paper, cup, satin, incense.

Nothing was valuable, nothing was out of order, and nothing was flawless.

But each one of them precisely and fiercely struck the softest spot in her heart.

She quietly picked up the pen and twirled it between her fingers.

The stalks of Xiangfei bamboo are as smooth and warm as jade, and their thickness is just right to fill her palm. They are neither too thick nor too thin, and they feel incredibly comfortable to hold.

She reviews dozens of documents every day, and the pens she uses are either too hard or too soft, too thick or too thin. She has never encountered such a suitable pen before.

He said he picked the thinnest one—how did he know her hands weren't big? How did he know she'd get tired holding a thick pen?

She brought the ink stick closer and smelled it. The cool fragrance of borneol mixed with the distant scent of musk, and the rustic aroma of pine soot settled at the bottom. There was not a trace of mustiness; it was clear and gentle.

She sat in this duty room for eight years, smelling Chen Mo's musty odor for eight years, and no one ever thought of making her feel more comfortable.

She held the cup in her palm.

The celadon glaze gleamed warmly under the light, the cup walls were so thin they were translucent, and the crackle pattern was so fine it looked like a small flower blooming inside the porcelain body.

When she picked up that Ding kiln cup at the Prince Yu's residence, she did pause for a moment longer.

In that instant, she was only envious of the porcelain's smooth texture, and didn't even think about it herself.

He saw it, remembered it, and found her a unique, unassuming, and warm cup that belonged only to her.

These two pieces of satin are moon white.

She slowly picked up a piece, her fingers tracing the satin surface.

One piece was used as a tablecloth, and the other as a cover for a futon.

He said that the head of the department, Mr. Shen, would sit on a futon to review documents every day for several hours at a time, and it was uncomfortable to sit on the hard cushion.

She spent eight years in the inner court, and no one ever asked her that question.

there has never been.

She slowly and gently placed the piece of satin back on the table, her movements as light as if she were handling a fragile treasure.

She looked up at Chen Han, her tone still indifferent.

But if you listen closely, you can hear a very subtle tremor in his voice: "Supervisor Chen, you didn't come here today just to deliver these things, did you?"

Chen Han bowed slightly, his tone frank and without any concealment: "Master Shen has discerning eyes. This humble official does indeed have a request to make."

"explain."

"His Highness Prince Yu sent someone to see me today, saying that His Majesty has issued an imperial decree that five days from now, Consort Lu, along with Princess Zhou of Jing, and Consort Zhao, along with Consort Li of Yu, will go to the Sanqing Temple for a three-day vegetarian feast to pray for blessings."

"His Highness has entrusted all matters related to this religious ceremony to me, and I will ensure that Consort Zhao and Consort Li have a smooth and successful trip, without any grievances or loss of dignity."

Shen Zhiyu's eyes flickered slightly. Having spent eight years in the inner court, she knew immediately how big a trap this was.

"This humble official would like to ask Master Shen for a favor." Chen Han raised his head, looked into her eyes, and said solemnly, "This humble official knows nothing about Consort Zhao and Consort Lu."

"I know nothing about his temperament, likes, dislikes, or anything else. I haven't been able to enter the palace in five days, nor can I find anyone else to inquire with. I have no choice but to come to Master Shen for help."

"Shen Zhangyin served in the inner court for eight years and was also the head of the Siyan Si (Director of the Imperial Secretariat). He must know more about the affairs of the inner palace than I do, and he knows them more truthfully."

"This humble official would like to ask Master Shen to help me inquire about the preferences of the two empresses."

He paused, then added, "And there's the Sanqing Temple. I've never been to the Sanqing Temple, so I don't know its layout, the rituals for fasting and offering, the regulations for the living quarters, or the background of Master Qingyun."

"Master Shen is in the Department of Relations, and all documents between the Ministry of Rites and the Sanqing Temple pass through your hands. I would like to ask Master Shen for some guidance."

Shen Zhiyu remained silent for a long time.

The flame of the oil lamp flickered again, stretching her shadow to varying lengths.

Finally, she spoke, her voice still calm but without a hint of refusal: "I know some things about Consort Zhao and Consort Lu, but not enough details."

"I also know some things about the Sanqing Temple; all the official documents passed through my hands."

"Give me two days to find out. Once I've found out, I'll have someone pass on the message to you."

The weight that had been hanging over Chen Han's heart finally lifted, and he quickly bowed and said, "Thank you very much, Chief Inspector Shen. I will remember your great kindness."

"You're welcome." Shen Zhiyu's gaze returned to the items on the table, her tone still indifferent, carrying a deliberate distance. "I'll take these things. I've done your job. We're even."

Chen Han understood the meaning behind those words.

She didn't really think "no one owes anyone anything." She was afraid—afraid of owing this favor, afraid of having inappropriate thoughts, and afraid of being seen as someone who could be bought off with a few small things.

Having spent eight years in the inner court, she had witnessed the coldness of human relationships and the exchange of interests. What she feared most was owing favors and exposing her weaknesses.

So she wants to describe this as an "exchange"—you give me something, I do you a favor, and we're even.

But she knew better than anyone else that these items together cost less than three taels of silver.

However, the things she wanted to inquire about required her to utilize all the connections she had built up over eight years in the inner court, and she had to take considerable risks.

She had calculated this matter perfectly clearly.

She just didn't want him to know how moved, surprised, and grateful she was.

Chen Han didn't say anything more, but respectfully bowed again: "Chief Minister Shen, you've gone to a lot of trouble. I won't disturb you any longer, I'll take my leave now. I'll come back in a couple of days to hear from you."

Shen Zhiyu nodded, without getting up or looking at him again.

Chen Han turned and walked out of the duty room, gently closing the door behind him.

The moment the door closed behind him, the duty room returned to a deathly silence.

Shen Zhiyu sat behind the desk, staring motionless toward the door, for a very long time.

After a long while, she slowly lowered her head, her gaze returning to the items on the table...