The Second World in Ancient Times

Every moment of my confinement was torture, but a fire burned within me, a desire to prove my innocence. I couldn't let those who framed me succeed. I had to break free from this cage that held me captive. Under the cover of night, I whispered to Wanqing, "Wanqing, I can't wait any longer. I need to go out and look for evidence." Wanqing looked at me worriedly, "Siqing, this is too dangerous. If you're caught, the punishment will be even more severe." I held her hand, "I know, but I have no choice. I can't let my reputation be ruined like this."

Taking advantage of the gap between guard changes, I sneaked out of the room and walked towards the imperial kitchen. The imperial kitchen is the key, and I must find clues from here. I found the imperial chef, Master Li, and when he saw me, he looked panicked: "Madam, why are you here? Shouldn't you be under house arrest now? If we are discovered, we are all finished." I said anxiously: "Master Li, I can't take care of so much now. You must tell me in detail what happened on the day of the banquet, and don't miss any details." Master Li hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said: "Madam, there was really nothing unusual that day. The ingredients were all fresh, and we cooked according to the usual methods. But..." He hesitated to speak. I asked: "But what? Master Li, you must tell me." Master Li looked around, and after making sure there was no one, he said: "A little eunuch came to the imperial kitchen that day, saying that he was here to help deliver the dishes, but I have never seen him before, and it feels a bit strange."

My heart moved: "That little eunuch? Do you know which palace he is from?" Master Li shook his head: "I don't know, he left after delivering the dishes, and I didn't care too much. But, lady-in-waiting, you have to be careful, now everyone in the palace is saying bad things about you, and many people don't want you to find out the truth." I nodded: "I know, Master Li, thank you. I will definitely find out." I left the imperial kitchen and began to look for clues about the mysterious little eunuch. I asked several eunuchs on duty near the imperial kitchen, but they all avoided me, and some even spoke ill of me: "Si Qing, you are like this, why are you still making trouble here? You are guilty, don't try to implicate us." I ignored their ridicule and continued to search.

Next, I went to the warehouse where the banquet decorations were stored. The eunuch in charge saw me and tried to shoo me away: "You can't come in! You're a criminal and can't go near here." I argued, "I just want to examine the materials. Maybe I can find evidence to prove my innocence." The eunuch remained unmoved: "No, this is an order from the Imperial Household Department." Taking advantage of his inattention, I stormed into the warehouse. I began to carefully examine the decorations and noticed that some of the petals showed signs of being rubbed, something not normally seen in decoration. I wondered: these flowers were picked from the imperial gardens. Could they have been tampered with during harvest or transportation?

I went to the Imperial Garden and found the gardener in charge of flower picking. Seeing me, the gardener looked a little frightened. "Madam, you shouldn't be here now. I don't want to cause any trouble." I said sincerely, "Uncle, I just wanted to ask about the flower picking on the day of the banquet. Was there anything unusual? For example, was anyone else near the flowers?" The gardener thought for a moment and said, "That day... there seemed to be a few palace maids nearby, but I didn't pay much attention, thinking they were there to enjoy the flowers." I pressed on, "Do you remember what those palace maids looked like?" The gardener shook his head. "No, I didn't remember. I was busy picking and didn't look closely." I was a little disappointed, but I thanked the gardener anyway.

Just as I was about to investigate further regarding the palace maid's clues, I noticed that the questionable floral decorations I'd seen in the storeroom were gone. I questioned the storeroom eunuch, "Where are those flowers with traces?" The eunuch played dumb, "What flowers? I don't know. Everything here comes in and out normally. There's nothing like what you're describing." I knew someone was deliberately sabotaging the clues, trying to prevent me from finding the truth. I angrily asked, "Have you been bribed? Why would you do this?" The eunuch scurried away in panic. I knew the forces behind the scenes were taking action, trying to stop me.

I continued searching for clues in the palace corridors when I overheard two palace maids whispering. One of them said, "Have you heard? Si Qing is still searching for evidence. She won't actually find anything, will she?" The other replied, "Hmph, she won't find anything. We were so secretive." Startled, I quietly followed them. They entered a secluded palace. I waited a moment, then followed them in. The palace was dimly lit, and I heard a voice from within: "This time, Si Qing must be completely defeated. She can't track us down." I was about to approach when I accidentally bumped into a vase, making a noise. The person inside asked, alarmed, "Who's there?" I quickly found a place to hide. I watched as several palace maids emerged, looked around, and then returned.

I emerged from my hiding place and was about to leave when a group of eunuchs stopped me. The leading eunuch said, "Si Qing, you've violated the house arrest order and are still running around here. Come with us to the Imperial Household Department." I tried to explain, "I'm looking for evidence to prove my innocence. Please let me go." The eunuchs refused to listen and forcibly took me away. On the way, I saw a female official with whom I had previously had a good relationship. I pleaded with her for help, "Sister, please help me. I've really been framed. I'm looking for evidence." The female official turned her head away indifferently, pretending not to see me. I was taken to the Imperial Household Department, where the chief steward sternly reprimanded me, "Si Qing, you're so presumptuous! How dare you disobey the house arrest order?" I cried, "Sir, I'm here to investigate what happened at the banquet. I've been wrongly accused." The chief steward remained unmoved, saying, "No matter what your excuse, violating orders is unacceptable. Keep her under house arrest. Do not let her out without my order."

I was locked back in the room again, feeling extremely desperate. At this time, Wanqing came and whispered to me, "Siqing, I've heard some news. The young eunuch who appeared in the imperial kitchen was seen in contact with a palace maid next to the imperial concubine." My eyes lit up: "Really? Wanqing, you're amazing. It seems that this matter is related to the imperial concubine." Wanqing nodded: "But we have no evidence, and the situation is not favorable to you now. We must proceed with caution." I clenched my fists: "No matter how difficult it is, I will not give up. I must find evidence and punish those who framed me."

As night fell, I decided to take another risk. I knew if I didn't seize this opportunity, I might never be able to prove my innocence. I tied a bed sheet into a rope and climbed out the window. I headed towards the Imperial Concubine's palace, hoping to find any evidence of the young eunuch or the maids he had been in contact with. Carefully avoiding patrolling guards along the way, I finally reached a corner near the Imperial Concubine's palace. There, I hid and observed the palace, hoping to find some clues.

While observing, I saw the young eunuch who had appeared in the imperial kitchen emerge from the Imperial Concubine's palace. I quietly followed him. He walked quickly, frequently looking back, seeming wary. I followed him to a secluded courtyard with a small room. He entered the room. I waited for a moment, then approached and peered through the crack in the window. Inside, I saw some strange powders and bottles, as well as some written papers. I struggled to decipher the contents when I suddenly heard a voice from behind: "What are you doing here?" I turned and saw a guard. My heart leaped into my throat.

The guards grabbed me and shouted, "Hurry, someone, we've caught Si Qing, she's sneaking around here." Soon, more guards and eunuchs surrounded me. I was taken to the Imperial Household Department, and this time the chief steward was even more furious: "Si Qing, you've been repeatedly warned and refused to change your ways. You even dared to leave the restricted area without permission and appear near the Imperial Concubine's palace. Are you plotting something bad?" I quickly explained, "Sir, I'm following a lead. There's something fishy about that young eunuch. He's connected to the banquet." The chief steward sneered, "Hmph, you're still quibbling? What evidence do you have? Now that you've caught them red-handed, what else do you have to say?" I was speechless. I knew I was in a desperate situation. Those who framed me seemed to have blocked all my avenues.

I was imprisoned in an even more secure facility, surrounded by guards. Wanqing came to see me, crying, "Siqing, what should we do now? All the clues are gone, and everyone thinks you're guilty. That little eunuch and those things have been disposed of, and we have no evidence." I looked at Wanqing, my heart filled with bitterness: "Wanqing, don't give up. There must be a way. I don't believe they can do it perfectly." However, I was also very confused. I didn't know where to start looking for evidence again. Those who framed me were too cunning. They erased every possible clue.

In my despair, I suddenly remembered that a few days before the banquet, I had discussed the banquet arrangements with an old maid. The maid was experienced, and perhaps she could spot some details I had overlooked. I asked Wanqing to find the maid and tell her about my situation, hoping she would come to see me. Wanqing nodded. "I'll go right away. Siqing, you must hold on." I waited in the dark cell. This was my last hope. If the maid also had no clues, then I really didn't know what to do.

Days passed, and I anxiously awaited news of Wanqing. Every moment felt like torture. I dreaded hearing bad news, yet also yearned for a glimmer of hope. I replayed every scene from the banquet in my mind: the decorations, the food, the people coming and going, hoping to find a new clue. I knew I was racing against time, and fighting against enemies lurking in the darkness. I couldn't lose. I had to fight for my innocence.