Jin qing had dismissed all the servants Tian Xiang had given her. She wanted to interact with as little people as possible. Besides, she didn't trust any of the servants here.

She changed out of the rags and went over to the trunk of clothes.

There were many options for her to choose from. Silk from all shades of colors and patterns, jewelry in all shapes and sizes.
Jin qing laughed to herself when she found a simpler jade green dress, made in a fashion that she would often wear before her identity was revealed. She lifted the light dress up and closed her eyes for a second, almost imagining that she was back in the Wei in her old room, a time when her life was still peaceful.

A washbasin had been put in her room, and Jin qing quickly washed herself and her hair to rid of the dirt, blood, and grime that has been on it for a while. She almost felt spoiled, being treated like this in enemy territory, but something inside told her to accept it. After all, if she wants to stay in Tian Xiang's favor, she needs to pretend that she's accepting it all.

Turning her back away from the mirror, Jin qing quickly slipped on the dress and tied the white sash around her waist.

Once finished, she turned back around to the mirror, all of her injuries hidden by the cloth.

Why does this all feel so familiar? The atmosphere here is designed to be simple, calming, but why do I feel so tense?

I spent a few weeks wondering how badly I was going to be beaten the next day, but here I am.

I wonder how Huan Le will react once she sees me? Furious, I imagine.

She can try all she wants, but there will never be a situation where she gains the upper hand against me.

Jin qing plastered a confident smile on her face, staring at the perfect reflection in the mirror.

I promise. Huan le, I will be the cause of your death... directly or not.

<><><>

Jin qing was curious. The first time she was captured and brought to that fort with Xue hua, she had noticed on how undisciplined the Song soldiers seem to be.

Was that the truth behind the Song's seemingly unstoppable army?

Later that same afternoon, Jin qing left her room.

She was positive no one knew what the Xue Xian looks like, and Jin Qing knew how to act like a servant.

But first, she needed to find Yu Qi.

Despite Jin Qing's "freedom," Yu Qi will still be able to move around with more relative ease and get her clothes Jin Qing will need to snoop around.

Well, this isn't much different than when I was a kid in the Liang. All I had to do back then was to smear something on my face, change into some new clothes, and I was unrecognizable for an afternoon. Ah! Good times I had back then.

Jin qing already had an idea of how she was going to figure out if a rebellion was brewing underneath Tian Xiang's nose.
But her plan wasn't to help him crush it.

Hah Nope.

She wanted to make it look like she was crushing it, but in reality, she wanted to exploit the weaknesses in the Song so when she does leave, the kingdom will fall inwards.

This is amusing. This is exactly how the Liang fell during the short year I was in rule. I swore never to make the same mistake ever again, but here I am...

But first, Jin qing needed information. She needed to figure out how this place works and all it's strengths and weaknesses.

She carried a basket covered in a cloth and walked up to a guard. "Excuse me..." she said timidly.

The guard turned to look at her, looking down at her basket. He nodded, telling her to continue with whatever she wants to say.

"Do you... do you know where a guard named Yu Qi is right now?" She asked, keeping her voice low, sweet and gentle. She held out her basket and lifted the cloth, revealing another box filled with food "the cooks have made some food for her and asked me to deliver it to her."

"Are you new here?" The guard asked, "The Head guard Yu Qi should be in her room, as usual."

"Yes... I am. I usually stay and help in the kitchen, and I'm unfamiliar with my way around..." Jin qing looked up through her lashes "can you help me find her room?"

"Oh- of course. Follow me."

"Thank you."

There was some truth to this conversation. Jin qing has no idea where Yu Qi might be this time of day and is using this guard as an excuse to look around with a believable excuse.  She had already slipped into the servants quarters before this and put on a servant girl's outfit, even doing her hair in a certain way that most of the maids seemed to be wearing.

As they walked, Jin Qing noted the fine stone paths and the much more elaborately decorated buildings in the Song palace. Before the war, the Song was known for its skill in the arts and architecture. It wasn't until the Song and a few other Kingdoms including the Wei declared war against the Liang twenty years back did it change it's focus to the military.

Jin Qing has only been one when war broke out, and her childhood was filled with the constant reminder of survival and warfare.

"How has your first week here been so far?" The guard gruffly, clearing his throat. "This place is beautiful, I remember the first time I came here."

Jin qing looked down at her feet with a shy smile. "I... I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I'm doing wonderfully well, sending back my first week's wages back to my family..."

"Oh? Is your family poor?"

How refreshing it is to be acting once more!

"My father is old and quite sick, and my mother asked me if I can seek work here to try and buy medicine for him." Jin qing let out a heavy sigh "Though I'm not too sure..."

"I hope your father gets better soon."

My father is dead. But thank you for the concern.

Jin qing nodded. "Thank you. Does Head guard Yu Qi usually spend her days in her room?"

"Occasionally, yes, if she's not going around checking rounds or following the royal family." The guard answered.

"I see..."

Jin qing was happy to know that at least there is a place she can consistently find Yu Qi in.

Yu Qi's building isn't as well-decorated as the rest of the palace, which is nothing of the unexpected. It was built in a similar fashion of Jin Qing's square building, but it was most definitely a lot cleaner.

"Would you like me to walk you back?" The guard offered "So you don't get lost."

Jin qing smiled shyly "I'll be alright, thank you for the offer."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Besides, I'll have to wait and clear the dishes."

And with that, Jin qing turned around and walked into Yu Qi's building, and shut the large wooden door behind her.

Oh look. Doors. So many doors. Do I really have to go through each and every one of them until I find Yu Qi? I could just call out her name, but I want to give her a surprise~

Jin qing quietly opened one door, peeked in, and shut the door in disappointment.
There were only four doors, but the screens made it look like there were so much more...

When she reached the third door, she can hear a bit of humming coming from the inside. Jin qing slowly opened the door and was more than happy to see that Yu Qi had her back to the door on the left side.

The crackling of the fire Yu Qi was sitting in front of masked the already soft sounds of Jin Qing's entrance.

Setting the basket down on a table in the room, Jin qing quietly snuck behind Yu Qi. "Hello~"

Yu Qi stopped and immediately swung her hand to possibly pin down whoever was skilled enough to sneak up on her quietly.

Jin qing reacted as she should have and caught Yu Qi's hand and twisted it outwards so her arm couldn't bend and attack her. "I just wanted to say hello! Don't attack me!"

Yu Qi registered who she just tried to attack and sighed, sitting back down. "Wu Xin- Really? You had to sneak up on me like that? What are you even- how are you-"

"So many questions!" Jin qing's mood seemed to have instantly improved, being next to her best friend and being as free as she has been in a few weeks. "Long story short, I made a deal with Tian Xiang."

"The emperor?!" Yu Qi narrowed her eyes "I'm sure you have heard how crafty he can be. He must be plotting something against you. Have you thought this through?"

"Yes. I have." Jin qing assured her as a sly smile spread across her face "You underestimate me, Yu Qi. Do you really think I don't have a plan?"

Yu Qi sighed "I'm not underestimating you, but I'm worried about your... plans."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, most of the time, your plans are just what you assume will happen," Yu Qi took Jin qing's hand and sat her down in front of her across the table. "As soon as something doesn't go your way, that plan of yours falls apart."

"And so? I can't expect everything to go my way, can I?"

"But that's the problem. Most of the times your plans work because they go exactly how you want it to. But when It doesn't...' Yu Qi trailed off, her voice getting softer until she became silent altogether.

Jin qing knew exactly what she was talking about.
The fall of the Liang was exactly because of this reason.
She took in a deep breath "That's why I need your help. I need to expand my options so if one doesn't work, the other will."

"What exactly are you planning?"

"I want to repeat what I didn't intend to do in the Liang."

"You want the Song to fall."

"Yes, in simplest terms."

Yu Qi leaned forward, now interested "Well, the Liang was already in an unstable state when you exiled Gui Fei and Shen Feng. In case you can't tell, the Song is rather strong right now."

"Thats why I need you."

"What do you need me to do?" Yu Qi asked, "My loyalty is with you."

Jin qing smiled. She knew she could count on her. "Eventually, I'll need you to provide me with clothes and makeup so I can sneak around the palace."

"Consider that done. What else?"

The sides of Jin qing's lips tugged in a smile "I want this place to fall after I leave, and I need to know this place's weaknesses. You've been here longer than I have, so you should know this place better."

Yu Qi folded her arms across her chest "I'll see what I can do for you. Since you're out now, I can practically see you anytime I want. I'll report back to you as soon as possible. What would you be doing in the meantime while you wait for me?"

"Why," Jin qing's eyes twinkled with amusement "I'd thought you'd be able to figure already."

"Two things are coming to mind, but one is impossible since you don't have the clothes to sneak around yet." Yu Qi sighed, but it was more in disbelief. "Are you really going to try and infiltrate the court?" Yu Qi didn't need a verbal answer, as Jin qing's smile told her everything. "Alright, just be careful. Gui Fei will keep an eye on you and will ruin whatever you try to do."

"Nothing I'm not aware of, don't worry."

Happy early Christmas!

Also- I might be only updating once every two weeks until I feel comfortable enough publishing once a week again.
Sorry!