Chapter 44 Careful Suspicion

Night fell, and the eunuch responsible for delivering their meals walked in with delicate and hurried steps, holding a large stack of copied scriptures in his arms.

Seeing this, Wang Qianyang hurriedly stepped forward, took the scriptures from the eunuch's hands, and smiled flatteringly, "Thank you, Eunuch."

Wang Qianyang handed the copied scriptures to Wei Yanqiao, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile as he said, "I wonder how many more such scriptures that palace maid will bring for us to copy next time."

Wei Yanqiao gently shook her head, her tone resolute as she replied, "No matter how many more are sent, we cannot continue copying them."

Wang Qianyang was momentarily stunned, looking at Wei Yanqiao in utter confusion. "Why stop copying?" He looked her up and down. "Do you not have enough silver left on hand?"

"If we are to keep copying, silver is naturally indispensable. But the quantity of forbidden scriptures I have copied over this period is simply too vast, and almost every time I've exceeded the assigned quota. This has long since surpassed what can be accomplished by a single pair of hands. Just think about it, if you were in his shoes, wouldn't Chief Eunuch Bi, who oversees this matter, grow suspicious? If there is a next time we are required to copy scriptures, someone will surely be watching our every move in secret."

Wang Qianyang gave a sudden start. Only at this moment did he wake up as if from a dream, realizing the gravity of the situation.

These past few days, his heart had been solely set on quickly finding someone to finish copying the texts, completely oblivious to the fact that doing so might arouse suspicion.

Wei Yanqiao asked, "Do you know what that palace maid is called?"

Wang Qianyang thought for a moment before replying, "It seems her name is Qingman. I saw her once when I was sent on an errand to deliver items to the Empress's palace."

Wei Yanqiao looked surprised. "She is from the Empress's palace?" Until then, she had mistakenly believed that the palace maid belonged to Xiao Ceyun. She asked urgently, "Do you know anything about her background?"

Hearing this, Wang Qianyang looked Wei Yanqiao up and down and couldn't help asking, "What are you trying to do?"

The corners of Wei Yanqiao's mouth curved slightly into a faint smile as she spoke softly, "If I can successfully leave this place and once again regain His Majesty's favor, restoring my former position as the Noble Imperial Concubine, I will surely promote Eunuch Wang to serve as the Head Eunuch of my palace. What does Eunuch Wang think of this?"

Wang Qianyang was greatly shocked, asking back in disbelief, "Are your words true?"

"Right now, we are in the same boat; our fortunes and misfortunes are bound together. As long as Eunuch Wang is willing to lend me a hand, once the matter succeeds, I will naturally not treat you poorly. Of course, if Eunuch Wang fears that I might cast aside my benefactor after crossing the bridge, you can easily find a way to hold onto some leverage against me. As for whether you are willing to take the risk, it is entirely up to Eunuch Wang to decide."

Wang Qianyang's expression turned grave. Having entered the palace many years ago, he knew all too well that he would likely never escape the confines of these inner imperial quarters and would be bound to end his days here simply as a eunuch. Since that was the case, he might as well risk his life on one final gamble. Even if he ultimately could not escape death, at least he would have known a moment of glory, and his life would not have been lived in vain.

Wang Qianyang gritted his teeth and agreed, "Since Your Ladyship thinks so highly of this servant, this servant will naturally give it his all and spare no effort, even unto death."

Wei Yanqiao tossed another half-pouch of silver to Wang Qianyang and gently reminded him, "Tomorrow, when that Qingman comes to collect the scriptures, you must keep your distance from me and act cold, so as to prevent any hidden spies from noticing anything amiss."

Not daring to show the slightest negligence, Wang Qianyang nodded repeatedly and replied, "Alright, I understand!"

He hurriedly turned and went out, using the silver given by Wei Yanqiao to inquire about Qingman's background. By now, he at least had some connection with the eunuch who delivered their meals every day, and for the moment, he could only rely on that eunuch for help.

Wei Yanqiao gently opened the stack of completed scriptures and carefully scrutinized the handwriting upon them. She concentrated intensely on the stroke trajectory, the weight of the pressure, and the writing style of every single character, striving to replicate them with absolute precision.

Time ticked away second by second, and Wei Yanqiao finally succeeded in practicing the handwriting of all the texts. Without the slightest hesitation, she raised her hand and slammed her wrist fiercely against the table edge.

In an instant, a piercing, agonizing pain struck, spreading rapidly through her entire body like an electric current.

She clenched her teeth tightly, enduring the pain to keep any groans from escaping her lips. Beads of cold sweat broke out on her forehead from the agony, yet her gaze remained unwavering and resolute.

Immediately afterward, Wei Yanqiao propped up her battered body and began searching around the room for something she could use to bandage her wound.

Early the next morning, sunlight streamed through the lattice window onto the desk inside, illuminating the stack of completed scriptures.

As usual, Qingman arrived punctually. When her gaze fell upon the neatly arranged, copied scriptures on the desk, she could not help but look astonished once again.

"Milady, you... you've finished copying them again?"

Wei Yanqiao smiled faintly, nodded slightly in acknowledgement, and said softly, "I must trouble you to take these scriptures back to fulfill the task."

Qingman seemed still immersed in shock, recovering only after a long moment, and quickly replied, "Yes, Milady."

Then, she carefully gathered the thick stack of scriptures into her arms and turned to leave.

That very afternoon, Qingman hurriedly appeared at the doorway of Wei Yanqiao's room once more. Unlike the morning, this time her arms held a massive bundle of paper, so full it was almost spilling from her embrace, looking from afar like a large basket overflowing with goods.

Despite this, Qingman's movements remained extremely respectful and courteous as she gently placed the paper on the table, bowed to Wei Yanqiao, and said, "Milady, this is the paper prepared for you to copy upon. Please accept it."

Wei Yanqiao let out a lingering sigh, her eyes revealing a trace of helplessness and exhaustion as she spoke softly, "My dear girl, I truly am sorry. This pair of mine has suffered terribly; my hands are covered in raw wounds from copying. With such a massive workload, I am afraid I cannot possibly finish it all. I can only do my utmost to copy what I can manage."

Hearing this, Qingman asked hurriedly, "Milady, your hands are injured?"

Wei Yanqiao slowly raised the hand already wrapped in cloth strips, carefully lifting it before Qingman's eyes, and explained with a slightly trembling voice, "Indeed they are. Over this past period, I have been copying frantically day and night, and these hands were already aching and sore beyond endurance. Last night, I accidentally took a fall and happened to bang my hand directly. To make matters worse, the injury has only grown more severe."

Looking at Wei Yanqiao's appalling injury, Qingman hurriedly bowed respectfully and said, "Milady, rest assured. This servant will certainly report the truth of this matter clearly to Chief Eunuch Bi."

With that, she turned and hurried away, her steps appearing somewhat rushed and anxious.

Wei Yanqiao spread out the paper brought by Qingman, waiting for someone to come and take her away, or to watch her in secret.

Qingman returned once more, announcing, "Milady, this servant reported your hand injury to Chief Eunuch Bi. Chief Eunuch Bi said you may take your time copying this time around, and resume your work properly only after your hands have healed. This servant will return in seven days to collect the scriptures you have copied."

This time, Wei Yanqiao truly copied at a sluggish pace, completing a mere page or two a day.

Two days later, Wang Qianyang brought Wei Yanqiao her meal, his gaze casually glancing toward the bottom of the bowl he held.

Wei Yanqiao understood instantly. The moment she reached out to take the bowl, her fingers brushed against a slip of paper hidden at the bottom.

Wang Qianyang deliberately lowered his voice, straining his throat as he whispered, "The eunuch responsible for delivering our meals every day has been successfully won over by me and has become our secret conduit. Once we obtain the relevant token, things can be brought in through him."

Wei Yanqiao nodded slightly upon hearing this, indicating that she understood.

After Wang Qianyang left the room, Wei Yanqiao began to partake of her meal with an unconcerned expression, while secretly taking the opportunity to retrieve the slip of paper from her bosom to read it.

The note detailed information regarding Qingman's family background and history.

Qingman had been sold into the palace in order to earn enough money to treat her seriously ill parents back home.

If she could find a way to obtain a token belonging to Qingman's parents, she would be able to control Qingman.

In her heart, Wei Yanqiao silently called upon the name of Wei Tianze.

"Master, I am here."

Wei Yanqiao hurriedly gave her instructions in a low voice, "Send a message by carrier pigeon to my father without delay, asking him to dispatch people to locate a certain family. For now, it is likely that I am being watched in secret by certain individuals. When they send the token here, remember to look for a eunuch named Little Guizi; he will be able to deliver the token into my hands."

"Understood."