Jiao Tu was gone.

In the desolate depths of the palace, only Xuan Su’s sobs remained.

Holding her whisk, Xuan Zhen calmly surveyed the room, her gaze finally resting on Bai Li. “I didn’t expect that even confined to Jingyang Palace, someone would still care for the Princess. That’s truly good.”

Bai Li ignored her, struggling to get to her feet and walking towards the rear hall.

Xuan Zhen smiled. “How about you take over Xuan Su’s duties? If you’re willing, I can bestow upon you a Taoist name today: Xuan Ji.”

Bai Li stopped, her back to Xuan Zhen, remaining silent.

Before she could reply, Xuan Su, disregarding the pain in her eye and right hand, got up and crawled to Xuan Zhen’s feet. “True Immortal, I’ve served you for so many years, doing whatever you asked. You can’t just abandon me now!”

Xuan Zhen looked down, gazing compassionately at Xuan Su at her feet. “You have repeatedly disturbed my peace and non-action. I see that your upper ‘corpse’ has devoured your brain, disrupting the Niwan Palace and clouding your consciousness; your middle ‘corpse’ has consumed your heart, obstructing the Jiang Palace and preventing the descent of heart-fire; and your lower ‘corpse’ has eaten your abdomen, blocking the Dantian and dissipating your true qi. The Three Corpses infest you; there is no cure.”

Xuan Su, with her one remaining eye open, turned to look at the Taoist nuns behind her. They stood in the dim hall, their expressions obscured by shadows.

She turned back, pleading urgently, “True Immortal, I still have one good eye, and my arm will heal soon! I can serve you tea and pour water; no one else can attend to you as well as I can! I promise I’ll never disturb your cultivation again. Please, save me! I’ve suppressed them for you for too long in the past. If you abandon me now, they’ll tear me apart! True Immortal!”

Xuan Zhen asked, feigning surprise, “When did I ever ask you to oppress them?”

Xuan Su quickly replied, “No, no, it was all my own doing, this wicked person acting on her own accord.”

Xuan Zhen sighed softly. “Life and death are the principles of the Tao. I suppose this is the calamity you were destined to face.”

With that, she looked up at the nuns. “Take Xuan Su back to the rear hall and let her rest well.”

The nuns swarmed forward, grabbing Xuan Su’s right arm and forcefully dragging her back to the rear hall.

Xuan Su wailed piteously, her voice fading into the distance. “Xuan Zhen, you are the true demon of Jingyang Palace! You evil fiend, may you die a terrible death! The Three Pure Ones will surely punish you!”

Xuan Zhen ignored her, turning back to look at Bai Li’s retreating figure. “Princess, have you considered it? Will you take over Xuan Su’s duties and manage all affairs in Jingyang Palace?”

Bai Li remained silent.

Xuan Zhen said nonchalantly, “You haven’t been here long, so you don’t yet know what needs managing. Besides daily morning prayers, you would be responsible for distributing meals, managing monthly allowances, presiding over ritual ceremonies, compiling the annual ‘Merits and Demerits Register,’ checking everyone’s assignments, and liaising with imperial eunuchs… These are all rules, and within each rule lies immense power.”

She then used her whisk to point at the offerings on the altar, smiling. “Even these offering fruits – apples, bananas, tangerines, grapes, and peaches – there are specific protocols for who gets to eat them and who doesn’t after the offerings are removed. As long as you are willing to obey me, all this power will be yours.”

Bai Li softly said, “I can’t do it.”

Xuan Zhen slowly let her smile fade. “Princess, the palace guards are now under the Imperial Guard, not the Secret Service. Authority within the inner court has been divided; the Imperial Guard answers to Wu Xiu, and the Secret Service to the Inner Chancellor. For now, with the division still fresh, everyone maintains a semblance of propriety. But in time, the Imperial Guard, from top to bottom, will become Wu Xiu’s people, and it will be impossible for Jiao Tu, the Secret Service ‘zodiac,’ to operate freely.”

Xuan Zhen continued unhurriedly, “I have been in Jingyang Palace for over thirty years, and those who have entered and then left are few and far between. Princess, you and I will have to remain here together for decades. Why must we be adversaries?”

Bai Li remained silent for a long time, finally looking up at the imposing statue of the Three Pure Ones before her. “True Immortal, I don’t wish to be anyone’s enemy. It’s just that my father taught me from a young age, ‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire,’ and also ‘Discern right from wrong, understand people and affairs.’ Sometimes I wonder, in a place like this, why bother being a good person? What good comes to good people? But while I no longer wish to be a ‘good’ person, I also don’t want to be a completely evil one. It would be best if we simply kept to ourselves.”

“I’m afraid it’s not for you to tell *me* ‘well water doesn’t interfere with river water’,” Xuan Zhen clenched her whisk. “Princess, perhaps you think you can rely on Jiao Tu as your backing, but you don’t yet understand the ways of this world. Sometimes, killing doesn’t require a knife, and it doesn’t always spill blood… No matter, I’ll wait and see. Perhaps in a few days, you’ll change your mind.”

With that, she turned and walked into the depths of the side hall. The heavy doors of the side hall closed with a thud behind her.

Bai Li returned to the rear hall.

She stood barefoot just outside the threshold, watching inside the hall. Xuan Su was being held by several nuns, her head forcibly pushed into a chamber pot.

No candles were lit in the hall; only moonlight from the sky illuminated the green bricks in front of the door.

The threshold of the rear hall seemed like a wall, or perhaps teeth in a gaping, bloody maw. Inside was gloom, outside was moonlight.

When the nuns saw her return, they merely glanced at her before continuing to viciously torment Xuan Su. “Xuan Su, you’ve finally met your match! Do you remember last winter, when you made me stand in the snow reciting scriptures?”

Another angrily added, “Do you remember when you made me pick up steamed buns from the slop bucket to eat?”

And another, enraged, cried, “Do you remember when you made me wash your feet every day?”

The nuns, accustomed to silence, finally spoke up.

Bai Li stood outside the threshold, silent for a long time, then finally stepped inside. Without a word, she climbed onto the communal bed and sat against the wall.

Zhu Lingyun sidled up to her, excitedly asking, “Sister, isn’t this satisfying?”

Bai Li hugged her knees, watching Xuan Su reap what she had sown, but felt no joy.

She quietly said, “Lingyun, remember this scene, and tell yourself never to become like them.”

Zhu Lingyun softly uttered, “Oh,” and sat side-by-side against the wall, an undeniable glimmer in her eyes.

After the nuns were done tormenting Xuan Su, no one paid attention to her broken right hand. One by one, they sat beside the communal bed and sneered, “Go, fetch us water for foot-washing.”

Xuan Su’s right hand hung limply. She cried, “My right hand is broken! Can’t you wait until I’m healed? When I’m better, I promise I’ll heat water for each of you to wash your feet; I’ll serve you all well.”

The nuns snarled, “No! Go now, or you won’t sleep! Stand by the communal bed and recite scriptures until dawn!”

Xuan Su could only limp away towards the annex room.

Bai Li wearily closed her eyes, but she didn’t sleep; she had to guard against Xuan Su’s retaliation.

Seeing her sister’s tired face, Zhu Lingyun whispered, “Sister, you should get some sleep. I’ll keep watch for you and wake you if anything happens.”

Bai Li considered for a moment, finally nodding, her eyelids heavy with drowsiness.

She didn’t know how long passed before a bulky dark figure, holding a glowing red coal with a fire tongs, silently approached the communal bed, staring viciously at Bai Li.

Bai Li was asleep, leaning against the wall on the communal bed. Zhu Lingyun’s head rested on Bai Li’s shoulder, saliva dribbling from the corner of her mouth.

Xuan Su, holding the glowing coal with the fire tongs, moved to burn Bai Li’s face.

Just then, a hand slapped the fire tongs, and the red coal clunked onto the communal bed.

Xuan Su looked on in shock, seeing Princess Yongchun, with disheveled hair, grinning foolishly. “Don’t play with fire. Mother said playing with fire makes you wet the bed.”

Xuan Su was aghast. “You!”

Princess Yongchun’s commotion startled the sleeping nuns, who slowly sat up and watched as the red coal charred the bedding on the communal bed.

One coldly said, “She still dares to deliberately seek revenge and harm her!”

Bai Li looked at Princess Yongchun.

Princess Yongchun then knocked the red coal to the floor and casually sat beside Bai Li, speaking in a crazed manner, “Bodhisattva, sleep. When you sleep, you can go to another world and see the people you wish to see.”

Bai Li was silent for a long time. “Don’t you sleep?”

Princess Yongchun pushed aside a strand of messy hair and peeked at her through the gap. “I don’t need to. The person I want to see isn’t in my dreams; he’s waiting for me on the other side of the Naihe Bridge.”

Bai Li suddenly asked, “Are you truly mad, or are you feigning madness?”

Princess Yongchun chuckled, answering evasively, “Don’t wish for death. You’re different from them; there’s no one left in their dreams, but there are still people in yours.”

The sound of the bell from the Bell and Drum Tower echoed again in the distance.

Bai Li opened her eyes and turned her head, seeing Princess Yongchun still wide-eyed, having remained awake all night.

Xuan Su knelt before the door. As the nuns passed by her, one kicked her, “Kneel properly!”

Xuan Su fell to the ground, then quickly propped herself up.

As Bai Li passed by Xuan Su, Xuan Su pleaded, “Princess, I had no choice but to gradually become this way, complying with Xuan Zhen’s wishes… Please save me!”

Bai Li casually said, “Why should I save you?”

Xuan Su eagerly replied, “You need me! Xuan Zhen’s methods are too insidious. Without me, she’ll scheme to destroy you.”

Bai Li ignored her, pulling Zhu Lingyun and walking out.

Xuan Su quickly added, “Princess, today is the ritual ceremony. None of them reminded you, but everyone must submit a blue paper prayer to the Imperial Palace Directorate. If you don’t, you’ll be punished. There are countless rules in this deep palace. If newcomers aren’t obedient, they can be tormented to death just by the confusing rules. Jiao Tu can’t help you, but I can.”

Bai Li stopped at the threshold. “I can write a blue paper prayer, but you’re only telling me now; it’s too late.”

Xuan Su knelt forward two steps towards Bai Li. “Though it’s too late for today, you’ll still need me in the future. You haven’t seen the true maliciousness of that fiend. Princess, I am useful to you alive; please don’t let them torment me to death!”

Bai Li stepped over the threshold and continued walking, leaving Xuan Su kneeling inside the doorway, sobbing uncontrollably.

Upon reaching the main hall, they saw an elderly eunuch in red robes standing before it, with Xuan Zhen silently standing beside him.

The red-robed eunuch smiled and said, “His Majesty was very pleased with the blue paper prayers submitted last time and specially ordered me to bring several boxes of snacks made by the Imperial Kitchen this time. Also, I’ve brought all the items you asked me to purchase from outside the palace last time.”

Outside the main hall of Jingyang Palace, two young eunuchs stood attending, carrying a box filled with personal clothing, cosmetics, silver mirrors, bronze mirrors, and other small items.

Xuan Zhen slightly bowed her head. “We cultivate here in peace; we thank His Majesty and Director for their concern.”

The red-robed eunuch chuckled happily. “As long as you write your blue paper prayers well, that’s better than anything else.”

Xuan Zhen waved her whisk, and the nuns one by one presented their completed blue paper prayers. The red-robed eunuch took them, flipping through each one, and couldn’t help but exclaim when he saw the elaborate prose, “Excellent, excellent! These are even better than last time!”

With that, the eunuch looked up at Bai Li and Zhu Lingyun, who were standing before the statues of the Three Pure Ones. “Where are yours?”

Zhu Lingyun hastily explained, “No one told us we had to write blue paper prayers!”

Xuan Zhen smiled faintly. “I told you two days ago. How could you forget?”

The red-robed eunuch slowly let his face harden. “Writing blue paper prayers is a task assigned by His Majesty. In Jingyang Palace, everyone must do it except Yongchun; no one is allowed to be lazy!”

Zhu Lingyun was about to argue further, but Bai Li held her back and bowed to the red-robed eunuch. “Director, we accept our punishment. It won’t happen again.”

The red-robed eunuch sneered, his voice thin and reedy. “Kneel before the Three Pure Ones. Kneel for a day and a night to learn your lesson. If you make this mistake again, it won’t be so simple.”

Xuan Zhen cupped her hands in salute. “Director, you’ve gone to great trouble. It is I who have been lax in discipline; I wish to share in the punishment.”

The red-robed eunuch waved his hand, smiling. “True Immortal, what are you saying? How could we punish you? All right, I’m rushing to deliver the blue paper prayers to His Majesty. You all carry on.”

Xuan Zhen watched the retreating figure of the red-robed eunuch, without turning her head, asked, “Princess, I ask you once more, will you take the position of manager of Jingyang Palace?”

Bai Li did not answer, simply pulling Zhu Lingyun to kneel silently before the statues of the Three Pure Ones.

Xuan Zhen smiled. “No matter. I’ll allow you more time to think.”

With that, she turned and returned to the side hall. “The rest of you may disperse. Morning lessons are excused today. Go collect the items you wished to purchase.”

The nuns excitedly left the main hall and began picking through the wooden box. One picked up a silver mirror, saying, “Look, the silver mirrors from Shuixin Pavilion are indeed the brightest! No other workshop can learn the gilded filigree craftsmanship on the back.”

“What’s the use of looking in a mirror in this palace? To see ourselves looking like neither human nor ghost? Hand balm is the most practical. When the weather gets dry later, it can even be used as lip balm. Don’t ask for mine when your lips crack.”

“Tch, look at you, so smart. If I serve True Immortal well, I can just ask the eunuchs to buy new hand balm next time, can’t I?”

Kneeling on her prayer mat, Zhu Lingyun looked back towards the outside of the hall. She hadn’t expected that the nuns confined to this palace would still rely on eunuchs to purchase such items.

She looked back at her sister. Bai Li was kneeling on her prayer mat, eyes closed, lost in thought.

The sun slowly rose directly above the main hall. The hall became desolate, with only Bai Li and Zhu Lingyun remaining, their legs numb and in excruciating pain from kneeling.

The vermilion-lacquered doors of the side hall opened once more, and Xuan Zhen, holding her whisk, gracefully walked over to the two. “Princess Bai Li, I ask you again, are you willing to take on the manager’s position?”

Bai Li still did not answer.

Xuan Zhen smiled again. “It seems you’re still too comfortable. Then don’t kneel on the prayer mats; kneel on the green bricks.”

She summoned the nuns, who removed the prayer mats from the main hall.

Bai Li and Zhu Lingyun knelt on the hard green bricks. In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they could no longer endure it. Zhu Lingyun squirmed, but no matter what position she tried, the pain was excruciating.

Zhu Lingyun looked at Bai Li, quietly pleading, “Sister, why are you suddenly listening to her again? Don’t you have Jiao Tu supporting you? Let’s defy Xuan Zhen; she surely wouldn’t dare do anything to us.”

Bai Li remained silent with her eyes closed until the sun set and the main hall was devoid of light.

The vermilion-lacquered doors of the side hall opened once more. Xuan Zhen approached the two and calmly asked, “Princess, I ask you for the last time, are you willing to work for me?”

Bai Li shook her head. “I am not.”

Xuan Zhen seemed puzzled. “Why not? Because of your so-called good and evil? For me, there is no good or evil, only order!”

Kneeling before the Three Pure Ones, Bai Li softly said, “I’m only afraid that if I do those things, I’ll never be able to face him again if I get out.”

Xuan Zhen froze, then burst into laughter. “Get out? You still want to get out? Yesterday you were longing for death, and today you want to leave again? What a monumental joke!”

After her fit of wild laughter, she again looked down, scrutinizing the two young women before her. “Fine, very well. Zhu Lingyun, since your sister is unwilling to take the manager’s position, you can take it. If you accept, you won’t have to kneel here and can go back to rest alone.”

Zhu Lingyun scoffed. “Don’t try to sow discord between me and my sister. I’m happy to kneel here!”

Xuan Zhen said meaningfully, “No matter. My offer stands until dawn. You can go back to sleep anytime.”

Late at night, with quiet all around, the cold wind outside poured into the hall. Zhu Lingyun shivered with cold, her knees aching excruciatingly.

She occasionally glanced at the closed doors of the side hall, then turned to look at the lonely palace path outside.

Zhu Lingyun whispered, “Sister, let’s go back and sleep. Everyone’s fast asleep now; no one will know if we sneak back.”

Bai Li looked up at the Three Pure Ones statue, her voice ethereal. “Lingyun, Father said that rules seem benevolent, but they can devour people when applied. Until you have the power to break free from these rules, you can only live within them. Whoever tries to kill you with rules, you kill them with rules. But before you use them, you must have no flaws yourself.”

Zhu Lingyun hesitated for a moment, then suddenly whispered, “Sister, Xuan Zhen must be asleep. I’ll sneak back and get some sleep. I’ll definitely be back before the bell rings. It’s not that I want to take that wretched manager position; it’s just that my knees hurt so much I can’t stand it.”

Bai Li was silent for a long time. “Go.”

Zhu Lingyun propped herself up and stumbled towards the rear courtyard, leaving Bai Li alone.

A deep, faint laugh echoed from the side hall, seemingly mocking Bai Li’s stubbornness. “Princess, you are still young; you don’t understand human nature. When you do, you will be like me. Jingyang Palace has a magical power to turn everyone into the same person.”

Bai Li leaned down, pressing her forehead against the cold green bricks.

She didn’t know how long passed until the drum of the third watch sounded from outside the hall.

She suddenly heard a soft sigh from above her, and immediately looked up. The Lingbao Heavenly Venerable of Shangqing, on the left, seemed to be looking down at her.

Bai Li instinctively closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again to see the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable restored to its usual state, as if she had only imagined it a moment before.

The next moment, a white jade leaf floated down from the sky. It twirled and drifted in the wind, seemingly weightless, passing through the dark night clouds, through the golden roof of Jingyang Palace, and landing on Bai Li’s head.

She slowly closed her eyes until the morning bell from the Bell and Drum Tower echoed once more. Only then did she reopen her eyes, a golden shimmer swirling within their depths.

Bai Li prostrated herself before the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable of Shangqing. “This faithful disciple, Bai Li, having received this opportunity to act as an official, wishes to diligently cultivate and swiftly attain ultimate truth. I pray that the Taoist Qi endures forever and the Taoist court prospers eternally.”

At this point, she hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, asking softly, “But there is one more thing that troubles your disciple. Please, Heavenly Venerable, enlighten me… Did I misunderstand Chen Ji?”

After speaking, Bai Li picked up the wooden divining blocks from the altar and cast them onto the green bricks.

One yin, one yang, signifying the Heavenly Venerable’s revelation: Yes.

She cast the divining blocks onto the green bricks again, three times in a row, each result showing one yin and one yang.

Bai Li took a deep breath and whispered, “Thank you, Heavenly Venerable…”

She prostrated herself, pressing her forehead against the green bricks. Tears she had held back for an unknown duration streamed down her nose, falling onto the bricks.