Gu Moli raised her hand and touched the white jade hairpin.
The tassels brushed past her ear, and the fragrance of osmanthus wafted from her sleeve.
A smile played at the corners of her lips.
"Your Majesty noticed?"
Gu Moran stood at the entrance of the Hanzhang Hall, the Yi Prefecture account book hidden in her sleeve pressed against her chest.
The edges of the paper pressed against my skin, making it hard to sit still.
Gu Moli took half a step forward, her skirt brushing against the palace bricks.
"Brother, who is more handsome, me or him?"
Gu Moran looked at her face.
It's so similar, so incredibly similar.
She lowered her eyebrows, lightened her lip color, and even imitated seven or eight parts of the way she walked with her shoulders hunched.
But the sharpness in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
Why do she and Liu Ruyan look so alike?
Could it be?
Another daring idea flashed into Gu Moran's mind.
He forced back his unease and asked, "Who taught you to dress like this?"
Gu Moli blinked.
"Nobody taught me."
"Then why did you impersonate her?"
"Does Your Majesty not like it?"
The question was asked softly, but the ending tone carried a hint of resentment.
Just as Gu Moran was about to speak, the palace doors behind him opened.
Noble Consort Chen emerged, leaning against the doorframe, and her gaze fell upon Gu Moli's face, her expression instantly changing.
She didn't even bother to steady the wobbly gold hairpin in her hair, and stepped between the two of them in a few strides.
" Ran'er, you should go back to the manor first."
Gu Moran looked at her.
"Mother, my younger sister..."
Noble Consort Chen blocked Gu Moli's path.
"The girl's being silly, she's copied the makeup style from the Flower-Between Pavilion. Don't interfere."
Just as Gu Moran was about to ask another question, Eunuch Zhang came out of the hall and bent down to stand beside him.
"Your Highness, there are too many people here. If you stay any longer, someone with ulterior motives might see you and spread rumors."
Gu Moran looked at him.
What should we send?
Eunuch Zhang lowered his waist even further.
"Gossip is not good for His Highness or the Princess."
Gu Moran pressed his hand down on his sleeve.
He lifted his foot and walked towards Gu Moli.
" Li'er, wash off your makeup."
Gu Moli's lips twitched slightly.
"Brother, do you dislike me?"
"No, Li'er, you look better the way you used to."
Noble Consort Chen spoke up, "Enough!"
Gu Moran turned to look at her.
Noble Consort Chen pressed her palm against her sleeve, causing wrinkles to appear in the embroidery.
" Ran'er, let's go back to the manor."
"Mother."
"Go back."
Her voice lowered.
Don't make me say it a second time.
Gu Moran stood there for a moment.
The calming incense is mixed with osmanthus powder; the flavors clash together, creating a cloyingly sweet taste.
Gu Moli was still looking at him, her expression a mixture of grievance and resentment.
Gu Moran didn't say anything more, only flicked his sleeve.
He turned and descended the steps.
As he walked out of the Hanzhang Hall, three faces were still flashing through his mind.
Liu Ruyan.
Gu Moli.
Noble Consort Chen.
He hadn't realized how similar these three faces were until they were right in front of him.
The doors of the Hanzhang Hall closed.
The sound of the bolt falling had barely faded when Noble Consort Chen raised her hand and slapped Gu Moli.
A crisp sound.
Gu Moli's face was turned to the side by the slap, and the tassels by her ears were in a mess.
She covered her face and didn't turn back for a long time.
"Mother, you hit me again?"
Noble Consort Chen stared at her.
"Who gave you permission to impersonate Liu Ruyan?"
Gu Moli's eyes reddened, but she refused to lower her head.
"I only heard that my elder brother has come to the Hanzhang Hall."
"So what?"
"I've been back in Beijing for a few days, and my brother hasn't come to see me at all."
Noble Consort Chen's chest heaved as she placed her hand on the corner of the table.
Gu Moli pointed to her dress.
"I just want to see if he likes Liu Ruyan or just this face."
Eunuch Zhang stood by the door; only three people remained inside the hall.
Noble Consort Chen walked up to Gu Moli.
"Do you know what would have happened if your father had seen that?"
Gu Moli bit her lip.
"So what if Father sees it? I'm just learning a courtesan's makeup; does that mean we can't even learn makeup in the palace anymore?"
Noble Consort Chen raised her hand, then forcefully pressed it down again.
"Is that just the makeup of a courtesan?"
Gu Moli's tears rolled down to her chin, and her voice became hoarse.
"Mother, you used to love me the most."
Noble Consort Chen turned her face away.
Gu Moli took half a step forward.
"I stayed at Ganye Temple for so long, and when you came back, you didn't ask me if I was cold or if I was suffering."
You hit me, scolded me, and told me not to touch Liu Ruyan or go to see my elder brother.
She pulled out the white jade hairpin, and half of her hair bun came undone.
What did I do wrong?
Noble Consort Chen closed her eyes briefly.
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "Princess, please remove your makeup."
Gu Moli turned to look at him.
Even Eunuch Zhang thinks I'm wrong?
Eunuch Zhang bent over.
"Your face right now is something His Majesty absolutely cannot see."
Gu Moli was stunned.
"Why?"
The hall fell silent.
The calming incense was almost burned out, and the ash fell beside the incense burner, adding a burnt smell to the medicinal aroma.
Noble Consort Chen walked back to the window, her fingertips touching the silver needles in the sewing basket before quickly withdrawing them.
The image of the labor-inducing medicine in the temple flashed through her mind.
Bitterness, blood, the sound of an infant crying.
Gu Moli remained standing in the same spot.
"Mother, please speak."
Noble Consort Chen turned around and took a deep breath.
"You didn't go to the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, did you?"
Gu Moli frowned.
"No."
"Didn't you see anyone from your father's entourage on the palace road?"
"No. I came from the side corridor, intending only to wait for my elder brother Hanzhang Hall."
Noble Consort Chen looked at Eunuch Zhang.
Eunuch Zhang nodded.
"There were only people from the Hanzhang Hall in the outer corridor just now."
Noble Consort Chen's shoulders and back loosened by half an inch.
Gu Moli saw both of their reactions, and the slight grievance in her heart was overtaken by unease.
Are you hiding something from me?
Noble Consort Chen did not answer.
Gu Moli raised her voice.
"Mother, if you don't tell me, I'll go to the Hall of Supreme Ultimate to find Father right now."
"You dare."
"Why wouldn't I dare? You just think I'm only good for causing trouble."
Noble Consort Chen turned around, her skirt sweeping across the light on the ground.
She walked up to Gu Moli and grabbed her wrist.
" Li'er, stop right there! Listen to me clearly!"
Gu Moli struggled, but couldn't break free.
Noble Consort Chen's hands were very cold, and the pressure she was applying made her ache.
"If your father were to see your face now, it would be a disaster."
Gu Moli gritted her teeth.
"I look like my mother, which will only please my father. How could it cause trouble?"
Noble Consort Chen stared at her, hesitating for a long time.
She knew her daughter's temperament all too well.
Stubborn; won't shed a tear until the coffin is in the door.
She spoke softly.
"You and Liu Ruyan already share a 60% resemblance. If you dress up like this, it'll be 90%. Your father is very suspicious now."
Gu Moli stopped moving, but still didn't understand.
Noble Consort Chen stared at her.
"Then he will investigate, investigate Hanzhang Hall, investigate Prince Yi's Residence."
Gu Moli frowned.
Why did the investigation lead to the Emperor's elder brother?
Noble Consort Chen looked at her, the words tumbling over her throat several times.
He vomited it up last.
"Because Liu Ruyan is your older sister."
The hall was so quiet you could hear the wax dripping.
Gu Moli's hands were still held by Noble Consort Chen. She didn't struggle, and although her lips moved several times, she didn't make a sound.
Eunuch Zhang lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound.
Gu Moli looked at Noble Consort Chen, then at Eunuch Zhang.
My sister?
Noble Consort Chen did not avoid her gaze.
"Yes."
"My older sister?"
"Same mother."
Gu Moli's tears hadn't dried yet, but her mind was thrown into disarray by those words.
"My own sister? Why is she staying at the Flower-Between Pavilion?"
Noble Consort Chen tightened her grip, causing Gu Moli to wince in pain before she loosened her grip.
"To save more lives."
Gu Moli stared at her.
Whose life should we save?
Noble Consort Chen did not answer.
Gu Moli, however, had already guessed the most dangerous answer.
"Brother Baohuang?"
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "Princess, please don't ask."
Gu Moli turned to him.
Did I ask the wrong question?
Noble Consort Chen closed her eyes briefly.
"Just remember this: if your father sees you dressed like this today, Liu Ruyan will die first, then Gu Moran, then my mother, and then the entire clan."
Gu Moli stared at her blankly, somewhat at a loss for what to do.
"Mother, you're talking nonsense, aren't you? I only wanted to see my brother today, why are you..."
Noble Consort Chen uttered each word carefully.
"But you almost killed him, and you almost killed everyone."