Kayla wandered down the corridors of the Grand Duke’s household until she reached the Inner Garden, one of Wenyuan’s favorite spots. It was an elegantly crafted and luxurious garden, large enough to be a small park and lush with rare plants and flowers. The Grand Duke’s household was separated into the Outer Quarters and the Inner Quarters. The Outer Quarters was where the Grand Duke carried out his business and met guests, while the Inner Quarters was the residence of the Grand Duke, Wenyuan, and the late Imperial Princess. Kayla had mostly stayed in Wenyuan’s room and study since her arrival, but now she instinctively sought out the gazebo that had brought Wenyuan peace of mind in the previous timeline.

The gazebo overlooked a small pond with colorful koi and lotus flowers, surrounded by delicate leaves that swayed in the wind.

You have good taste, Wenyuan, Kayla complimented him as she basked in the relaxing atmosphere.

Of course I do, this gazebo was commissioned by my mother herself.

Kayla glanced up as Chujiao quietly approached the gazebo.

“What is it?” Kayla asked. Chujiao bowed slightly.

“Young lord, please forgive my rudeness in interrupting you. I came to remind you that you were to drink with the Secretariat Director tonight,” she said politely.

“Liu Hongyu? What’s the occasion?” Kayla asked. In Wenyuan’s memories, the drinking sessions had been annoying occurrences in which the young man had continuously toasted the Secretariat Director to get them both drunk and end the meeting faster. The sessions didn’t seem to serve any particular purpose except maybe to cement the alliance between Liu and the Grand Duke.

An uncomfortable look flashed over Chujiao’s face. “This servant wouldn’t dare to ask about the affairs of the lords.”

Kayla sighed sharply, a sharp pang of annoyance that belonged more to Wenyuan than herself in her chest.

“Wasn’t he the guy I was drinking with the night I got poisoned?” Kayla asked. Chujiao bowed her head in affirmation. Kayla sighed again.

I’m guessing I’m not allowed to refuse?

Not unless you want to incur Grandfather’s wrath.

Yeah, nope. Let’s go then.

“Alright, when do I head out?” Kayla asked.

“In three hours,” Chujiao replied. Kayla nodded and thanked her, but Chujiao didn’t immediately leave.

“Is there anything else?” Kayla asked. Chujiao looked at Kayla with a complicated expression.

“Young lord, are you feeling alright?” Chujiao asked.

She must be worried since I only come here when I’m troubled, Wenyuan said fondly.

“I’m alright, thank you for your concern,” Kayla replied. She was slowly overwhelmed by the affection welling up from Wenyuan.

“Jiao’er, stay here awhile longer,” Kayla called out fondly before she could quash the feeling. Chujiao’s face lit up.

Wenyuan, seriously, are you two a thing?!

No, we’ve known each other for ten years, it’s hardly strange for there to be a bond between us!

“Young lord,” Chujiao said with barely-contained joy, “May this servant play the flute for you?”

Wenyuan’s memories of sitting in the gazebo with Chujiao playing the flute across the years flashed through Kayla’s mind.

“I’d love that,” she said. Wenyuan’s happiness bubbled comfortably inside her chest as Chujiao entered the gazebo and began playing a piece. Strangely, Kayla was just as pleased. Likely due to the effect of their souls merging, Wenyuan’s memories evoked an emotional response in her as well. Kayla leaned back, enjoying the short respite that seemed to recharge her from the events of the last few days.

Hallelujah for the power of childhood friends, Kayla silently cheered, ignoring the ripples of exasperation from Wenyuan.

///////////

Kayla got onto the carriage again, nodding for the horseman to depart. As the young lord of the Zhao family and a relative of the Emperor, Wenyuan’s carriage was always accompanied by several armored guards on horseback. They also served to keep an eye on Wenyuan for the Grand Duke, which made the whole arrangement a little less appealing.

We need to start working on our magic, Kayla thought. Any ideas?

Chujiao is skilled and efficient. She can’t perform advanced spells, but she could easily cast simple spells for us.

Okay, I also really like her, but I feel like things will get a lot messier once people know we have nullification magic. Is there any way we can practice secretly?

We could use magic talismans to practice, they’re activated as soon as you rip them.

Would they be easy to get though? We have to be discreet.

They’re just paper, you could get books of household spells off the street, and it would hardly be strange for me to get one.

Kayla shook her head in disbelief and immediately saw a street vendor selling books of household talismans with a giant sign advertising his low prices.

Damn, alright. Kayla knocked on the window and opened it, a guard coming over to inquire about Wenyuan’s orders.

“Could you go buy a few books from that vendor? It looks interesting,” Kayla said, pointing towards the vendor they were passing by. The guard immediately went and did so.

That was easier than I thought, guess we can just spend some time ripping up books every day.

As I said, the capital is full of magic, Wenyuan sounded rather pleased with himself.

The carriage stopped at the household of the Secretariat Director, which was just as extravagant and large as the Grand Duke’s household. It was hardly strange since Liu was also the father-in-law of the Emperor through his daughter, the Virtuous Consort, and the maternal grandfather of the Twelfth Princess. If his daughter had borne a son, Liu would surely have become even more powerful.

Kayla followed a pretty serving-maid into the room where Liu was waiting, which was in the Inner Quarters rather than the Outer Quarters where one normally entertained guests. As soon as he saw Wenyuan’s figure enter the door, Liu raised a glass in greeting. He was a man in his sixties, with crafty eyebrows and a hooked nose. Compared to Wenyuan, who had changed into semi-formal robes, Liu was in an extremely casual outfit with only two layers. It was pretty clear that Wenyuan was not a respected guest.

“There you are, Wenyuan, it’s been a while! Are you recovered now?”

Wenyuan literally got poisoned drinking with him but he’s acting like it has nothing to do with him. Kayla was echoed by intense distaste from Wenyuan.

“Uncle Liu,” Kayla greeted him, faking a warm smile as she took her cue from Wenyuan. “I’m all better now, thanks to your concern.”

“Come and sit with me,” Liu Hongyu beckoned. Kayla sat down and was immediately handed a cup of wine. Liu began to ramble about the ongoings of the court, Kayla barely paying attention as she slowly sipped her wine. Recognizing Wenyuan’s signal to start toasting nonstop, Kayla reached out for the wine jar and poured it into Liu’s emptied cup.

“Let’s not talk business here, Uncle Liu. Let me toast you,” Kayla said, filling up her own cup as well. Liu obliged willingly, watching as Kayla immediately filled up their cups again. The older man’s gaze evoked a strange feeling of discomfort in Kayla. It was strangely similar to how frat boys in her college had watched pretty girls on the beach, a sticky gaze that seemed to be fixed on a piece of meat rather than a person. When Kayla toasted him again, Liu watched with a satisfied smirk as she drank the wine.

This guy gives bad vibes.

A few more glasses in, Liu was steadily becoming drunk, while Wenyuan’s body seemed to have a slightly higher alcohol tolerance.

“You really take after your mom,” Liu said, his words slurring together a bit. Kayla stiffened at the informal tone Liu took while speaking about the late princess.

“She was really such a beauty,” Liu continued. Kayla barely avoided freezing up.

Oh wow, oh shit, wait is that what this is? He’s so much older than her though?!

This old lecher doesn’t have any scruples.

“If I was born twenty years later, I’d have taken her for my wife!” Liu laughed. “Too bad, she went to that little pasty brat.”

Oh my god please just stop talking.

“You look just like her,” Liu continued, with no intention of stopping. Kayla hurriedly filled his glass again, suddenly understanding why Wenyuan always speedran the drinking session.

“Is that so? I’ll drink to that,” Kayla said, keeping her voice pleasant with immense effort.

Liu emptied his cup without waiting for Kayla, turning his unpleasant gaze on her again.

“She had a lovely figure too, such a small waist, and she kept it even after having you. Most women become so thick after childbirth, their waists become hard and uncomely, but she stayed just as trim, you could tell even with all the layers,” Liu said. “And the loveliest bosom of any woman I’d seen.”

Dude right in front of her son?! Can’t you talk like a fuckboy somewhere else?

Liu peered at her, squinting as he ran his eyes over Wenyuan’s body.

“Terrible shame you were born a boy, if you were a girl, you’d be identical. Too bad you don’t have an illegitimate sister, huh?” Liu burst into laughter at that. Kayla mechanically continued to refill their cups, trying to hold back her intense disgust.

“Let me know if you do find one though, I’d snatch her right up!”

Jesus fucking Christ. Wenyuan, how the fuck do you deal with this?

I drink.

You’ve got some incredible patience.

We’re almost there, he should be passing out after a few more cups.

Kayla hurriedly toasted Liu nonstop, blocking out his words as the old man continued to make lecherous remarks about Wenyuan’s mother before starting in on how soft and smooth Wenyuan’s skin was. Thankfully, he did end up passing out after what seemed to drag on forever. Kayla got to her feet with some difficulty, having gotten rather drunk herself. She waved off the hand of the servant and made her way back to the carriage.

It suddenly occurred to her that the Grand Duke was subjecting Wenyuan to all this on a regular basis to please his ally without any consideration for his grandson. She was instantly filled with disgust.

Are you alright?

I should be the one asking that.

I can deal with it. He can’t touch me without invoking the consequences, so all he can do is ramble on pathetically like this.

Kayla swallowed hard as she peered out the carriage window at the city streets, which were much more empty now that it was night. Even if Wenyuan was supposedly under the protection of the Grand Duke, he was nothing but a tool to his grandfather. If Liu had actually done something to Wenyuan, Kayla highly doubted the Grand Duke would retaliate if it would affect their alliance. Nothing was more important to the Grand Duke than power, and Wenyuan had to know that as well, but all the man could do was drown Liu in alcohol as fast as possible to avoid getting harassed any more than necessary. It made her feel hurt, for both Wenyuan’s sake and herself who now had to go through this as well.

I seem like a coward to you, don’t I?

Kayla physically shook her head, swallowing past a lump in her throat.

No, not at all.

It’s fine if you do, since it is true.

Dude, I really don’t, okay?

Wenyuan seemed to be comforted by that. Kayla let out a deep sigh, feeling well and truly exhausted by the day’s events.

“Young lord,” someone knocked on the carriage window. Kayla leaned forward and opened it, recognizing the guard she’d spoken to earlier.

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Yes, my lord. Here are the books you asked for, I didn’t know which specific ones you wanted so I grabbed the three best-selling ones,” the guard said, respectfully holding out the books.

“Well done.” Kayla took them and reached into her robes to retrieve a gold coin, handing it to the guard.

“Thank you, young lord!”

“What is your name?” Kayla asked. The guard was better-looking than the others, and in the novel, most good-looking people tended to become important or at least play a part in the plot.

“My name is Qu Boyong,” he replied. Kayla nodded.

“That’s a good name. Keep up the good work then.”

Kayla didn’t recognize the name, but then again there had been over 300 named characters in the novel. She shook her head and turned her head to the books, a welcome distraction from the shitty drinking session earlier.

Oh wow, you meant it when you said these are easy to find, Kayla looked at them in wonder.

"Three Hundred Talismans for the Busy Housewife", "Household Talismans for Daily Use", and "Magic for Fun! One Hundred Spells for Parties and Get-togethers", the books were made with cheap paper, but each had hundreds of spell talismans, the circles and symbols swirling over the pages.

I told you, didn’t I?

Kayla smiled at the smug feeling Wenyuan was emitting. It was time to get working on Plan B.

---

Cultural Notes:

府/Household: Most officials had a household that usually took the form of a building complex, similar to the Manor of a Lord in the European context. This was often but not always separated into the 内院/Inner Quarters and 外院/Outer Quarters. Wives and concubines usually resided in the Inner Quarters.

Imperial Consorts: Usually a high-ranking concubine of the Emperor, usually given a title that combines a character with Consort, such as 贤妃/Wise Consort, 庄妃/Elegant Consort, or 贵妃/Noble Consort. Liu's daughter is the Virtuous Consort or 德妃. While officials can become fathers-in-law to the emperor, only the Empress' father is really honored as such, though the fathers of concubines also often derived benefit from their daughters' positions in the harem. 

母以子贵/The mother becomes honored through the son: Members of the Emperor's harem who give birth to sons were often rewarded for extending the Imperial line.

Imperial Princess/公主: Sisters of the Emperor are considered Princesses along with the daughters of the Emperor, so Wenyuan's mother is also called a Princess, while his father would be called a 驸马, a title used for the husbands of Princesses. 

娘/Mom vs 母亲/Mother vs 令堂/Your Mother (Respectful): The term 娘/mom was used colloquially and informally, while 母亲/Mother is a more formal way to address one's mother. However, the polite way to speak of someone else's mother is to call her 令堂. Liu called the late princess 你娘/your mom instead, which would have been considered very disrespectful, especially given her position.

曲伯庸/Qu Boyong: The name Boyong, using these specific characters, means this guard was named after the father of Qu Yuan, one of China's most famous and well-celebrated poets from the pre-unification era. The Dragon Boat Festival was created in Qu Yuan's honor. Qu Yuan uses his father's name in the first two lines of his masterpiece Li Sao/Off the Beaten Path, "帝高阳之苗裔兮，朕皇考曰伯庸," where Qu Yuan describes his illustrious ancestry. Having such a name suggests that he is of noble if not royal ancestry, as Qu Yuan was descended from the royal family of the Chu Kingdom, or that his parents just really liked the poem but didn't necessarily understand its meaning.