Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

For Du Shiniang, acquiring the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Painting" was actually an accident. Years ago, one of her courtesan friends had fallen in love with an official in the Imperial Observatory. This official, wanting to redeem her friend, stole the painting and intended to sell it. Du Shiniang feared that selling this palace treasure would endanger the lives of her friend and the official.

Du Shiniang generously bought the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Picture" for three thousand taels of gold. Her sister and the Imperial Astronomical Supervisor, who were lovers, eventually became husband and wife, and later the two fled to the south together. Du Shiniang had no idea that the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Picture" would one day be worth thirty thousand taels of gold. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile.

No matter how much gold it cost, Du Shiniang wanted to save Lin Chong more than her beloved brother Lin Chong. So she decided to go to the palace to meet the emperor and personally use the "Nine Heavens Star Picking Picture" to win back her lover Lin Chong.

The news that Du Shiniang was going to the palace to present a treasure quickly reached Gao Can's ears. Gao Can rushed to Zixiang Pavilion at noon. The imperial guards outside Zixiang Pavilion had long since withdrawn, and inside, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and the place was bustling with activity, brightly lit and filled with wine.

Because of Gao Can's relationship with Zou Xiaoyan, the guards at Zixiang Pavilion dared not stop him. Gao Can then led Lu Minggu and several of his men straight into Du Shiniang's room. Du Shiniang didn't know why Gao Can had suddenly come to Zixiang Pavilion with a dark expression, but she wasn't as afraid of him as she had been in the Ministry of Justice prison, because Zhou Chengquan had sent two secret guards to protect her in her courtyard day and night.

"Lord Gao, what brings you to our Zixiang Pavilion today? Madam Zou is at Tingyu Pavilion, have you come to the wrong place?" Du Shiniang said as she sat down at the table to brew tea. The tea leaves were fresh pre-rain Longjing tea, and the aroma filled the air as the boiling water was poured in. Du Shiniang calmly picked up a broom and began stirring the tea. The tea foam was stirred up, revealing wisps of milky white, with a few wisps of steam rising into the air.

"Shi Niang, you must have heard about Chen Jinhuan entering the palace and being named Consort Luo, right? However, her destiny is flawed, and His Majesty is offering a reward for finding the 'Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map' to change her fate. As Consort Luo's good sister, don't you want to help her?" Gao Can sat opposite Du Shiniang and said bluntly. Because he had revealed his feelings for Du Shiniang when they were in the Ministry of Justice, he didn't need to pretend to be a philanthropist in front of her now.

“Lord Gao, are you testing Shi Niang? I wonder if you want to steal my ‘Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map’ to curry favor with the Emperor, or if you want to persuade me not to present this map to the Emperor?” Du Shi Niang politely handed a cup of tea to Gao Can, staring into his eyes as she spoke.

“Shi Niang is a smart woman, and I don’t intend to beat around the bush with you. The purpose of my visit today is to advise you not to present the ‘Nine Heavens Star-Picking Chart’ to the Emperor. As for the reason, you don’t need to ask. Asking will not do you any good.” The Advisor took the teacup, gently set it down, and advised Du Shiniang.

“Lord Gao, please forgive me for not being able to comply! This painting can not only save Madam Chen, but it is also an important bargaining chip for me to save Brother Lin Chong.” Du Shiniang said to Gao Can with a firm tone.

Gao Can initially thought that Du Shiniang's intention in presenting the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map" to the Emperor was merely to help Chen Jinhuan escape her ill-fated destiny. He never imagined that this woman's primary goal was actually to rescue Lin Chong from prison. His face immediately turned ashen.

"Du Shiniang, if you insist on presenting this map to the Emperor, don't blame me for being ruthless towards Lin Chong. Do you think I can't kill Lin Chong just because Ning Weizhi transferred him to the Dali Temple prison? My adoptive father and I have influence throughout the court and the country; killing Lin Chong in secret is not difficult at all!" Gao Can said to Du Shiniang in a threatening tone, and then glared at her angrily.

"You can't kill Brother Lin! Let me think about the matter of presenting the map to the palace." Du Shiniang knew that Gao Can's methods were insidious and ruthless, so she didn't dare to confront him directly. She softened her tone and coaxed Gao Can.

Gao Jian saw Du Shiniang hesitate, then softened his expression, took her hand and said gently, "Shiniang, you know how I feel about you. I don't want to force you. To be honest, I arranged for Chen Jinhuan to enter the palace. She is now an important pawn in my game. I will not harm her; on the contrary, I will help her gain a foothold in the palace."

Du Shiniang quickly withdrew her hand, glancing at Gao Can. Seeing his unwavering gaze, she wondered if he had been telling the truth earlier, and if Chen Jinhuan was truly his pawn. Du Shiniang lowered her eyes in deep thought. Why would Chen Jinhuan willingly become Gao Can's pawn? Was Ning Zhanyan captured by Gao Can, forcing her to risk her life to enter the palace for Ning Zhanyan's sake? No! Ning Zhanyan wouldn't be that weak. Then, could it be because Chen Jinhuan wanted to enter the palace for revenge?

If Du Shiniang were to use this "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Painting" to present to the Emperor, she was seventy percent confident she could exchange Lin Chong for him. She missed him terribly and worried he might be suffering in prison or being secretly killed by Gao Can. However, judging from Gao Can's tone, presenting the painting to the Emperor might affect his schemes in the palace. Although she couldn't fathom the implications, she hesitated for Chen Jinhuan's safety. Du Shiniang remembered her promise to help Chen Jinhuan avenge her, which was why Chen Jinhuan had agreed to return to Zixiang Pavilion with her. Was she going to break her promise now?

Du Shiniang was torn between sisterly love and romantic love. She glanced cautiously at Gao Can, seeing his confident expression. He assumed she would listen to him, betting he would choose Chen Jinhuan over Lin Chong. Du Shiniang felt a pang of guilt, but having spent years in the pleasure quarters, she knew the treacherous nature of court politics. She quickly devised a solution that would satisfy both sides.

After Du Shiniang understood the matter of presenting the Star-Picking Map, she coaxed Gao Can with a few words and sent him away. Gao Can, overjoyed, went to see Zou Xiaoyan. Having not seen Zou Xiaoyan for many days, Gao Can immediately felt she had become even more beautiful. He couldn't wait to immerse himself in her tender embrace and didn't leave until dark.

As the sun set, Du Shiniang seized the opportunity to sneak away from Zixiang Pavilion and, as arranged by Zhou Chengquan, went to the palace to meet the emperor in a carriage. Zhou Chengquan was already waiting at the palace gate. He saw Du Shiniang dressed in a green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a red outer robe, looking dignified and proper. Zhou Chengquan's eyes lit up at the sight of her. Without any hesitation, he carried Du Shiniang directly from the carriage, then had her take his arm, and the two went to the emperor's study.

When Du Shiniang respectfully presented the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Picture," Emperor Huizong of Song beamed with joy. He immediately offered seats to Du Shiniang and Zhou Chengquan, and sent someone to invite Chen Jinhuan to meet Du Shiniang. He also dispatched eunuchs to summon Ning Weizhi and Mo Miaoming, the head of the Imperial Observatory, to discuss matters.

Chen Jinhuan wore a gorgeous peony-patterned imperial concubine dress, with pink peonies blooming on her chest. Paired with a pink peony-shaped hairpin in her hair, she looked lively and charming, alluring yet not seductive, a far cry from her former cold and aloof demeanor.

"This humble woman, Du Shiniang, greets Consort Luo!" Du Shiniang attempted to kneel before Chen Jinhuan. Chen Jinhuan quickly reached out and supported her shoulder to stop her, then said gently to Du Shiniang, "Sister, we are as close as blood sisters. Back in the Zixiang Pavilion, you took great care of Jin'er. There's no need for such formalities!"

Seeing this, Emperor Huizong quickly spoke up to Du Shiniang, saying, "Yes! Du Shiniang, you don't need to stand on ceremony. Quickly sit down and explain the wonderful uses of this 'Nine Heavens Star Picking' painting to me and the head of the Imperial Observatory, Mr. Mo. Minister Ning, you should also give me some advice."