Chapter 5: Trials of the Heart

The sun had barely risen when Li Xiao arrived at the counselor’s chambers, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor. Today marked two months since she first set foot in the eastern wing of the palace—two months of tireless work, whispered rumors, and the steady forging of an unlikely bond with Counselor Jin Tao. She paused at the carved doors, smoothing her tunic and gathering her courage.

Inside, Jin Tao stood by the window, reviewing reports by the light of a single lantern. His white hair was tied back neatly, and the crimson embroidery of his robes caught the glow of the lantern’s flame. He did not look up as she entered.

“Good morning, Counselor,” Li Xiao said, kneeling to set down her bucket and cloths.

He nodded once. “Morning. Today, we catalog the collection of rare seals in the imperial vault. Gather the keys.”

Li Xiao retrieved the set of brass keys from the small cabinet beside his desk and placed them on a lacquered tray. She noticed a subtle tension in his shoulders—as if he braced himself for an impending storm.

Before they could depart, a harsh voice echoed down the corridor.

“Counselor, a word.”

Two of the consorts’ maids—Xiao Lan and Mei Feng—stepped into the doorway, their expressions smug. Xiao Lan’s ornate hairpin gleamed like a dagger in the dim light. Mei Feng leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.

“We wish to speak with you regarding your… choice of servant,” Xiao Lan said. “Is it wise to entrust palace duties to a common girl with no family connections?”

Jin Tao’s red eyes flicked to Li Xiao, then back to the two maids. His voice was calm, but each word carried a chill. “Li Xiao has proven herself capable and trustworthy. Her background is of no concern.”

Mei Feng let out a condescending laugh. “Her background, yes. But her place—surely you know the protocols. The consorts’ maids are of noble birth, educated in etiquette. A village girl lacks such refinement.”

Li Xiao’s cheeks burned, but she held her posture steady. She dared not speak out of turn. Instead, she waited, her dark eyes fixed on the counselor’s unmoving face.

He inclined his head. “If there is no further business, you may go.”

The two maids exchanged glances. Mei Feng scoffed, “Very well, Counselor.” They swept past Li Xiao, their silken skirts rustling like snakes, and disappeared down the corridor.

As the doors closed, Li Xiao exhaled in relief. Jin Tao regarded her quietly.

“Come,” he said. “We must not be delayed.”

The vault lay beneath the palace’s eastern wing, accessible only by a narrow stone staircase that spiraled downward. Torches flickered along the walls, illuminating ancient murals of dragons and phoenixes. At the bottom, a massive bronze door stood engraved with protective runes. Jin Tao produced a small key and unlocked the door, the heavy metal swinging open with a low groan.

Inside, rows of glass cases held imperial seals—each carved from jade, ivory, or rare metals. The seals were tools of authority, granting the bearer the emperor’s power to command armies or issue decrees. Their significance weighed on Li Xiao’s mind as she knelt before a case, dusting the glass with meticulous care.

Jin Tao moved from one case to another, unsealing each with precision and listing its details on parchment. Li Xiao recorded the information, her brush gliding across the paper. The vault’s air was cool and still, save for the soft scrape of brush against paper and the occasional click of a seal’s lock.

Suddenly, a soft crack echoed through the vault. Li Xiao froze. She turned to see that one of the glass cases had developed a fine hairline fracture. A jade seal—the imperial family’s dragon seal—lay inside.

Her heart pounded. The dragon seal was priceless and irreplaceable. If it shattered, the consequences would be dire.

“Counselor,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “The case—”

Jin Tao was already moving, but he did not speak. He knelt beside the case, his gloved hands steady as he examined the fracture. “Stay back,” he ordered softly.

Li Xiao retreated a step, clutching her brush. She watched as Jin Tao reached for a thin strip of protective cloth and carefully applied it over the crack’s outer edge, reinforcing the glass. His movements were precise and calm, belying the gravity of the situation.

Within moments, he rose. “We must transport this seal to the main archives for a proper restoration. Assist me in moving it.”

Together, they lifted the case onto a wheeled cart, securing it with padded straps. Li Xiao’s hands shook as she fastened the last strap. The weight of the case felt heavier than any she had carried before.

As they wheeled the cart toward the staircase, Li Xiao glanced at Jin Tao. His face was calm, but she could see the tension in his jaw. She swallowed, determined to be of use.

Back in the main archives, the head conservator awaited them. He was an elderly man with a gentle demeanor and nimble fingers. Li Xiao helped position the case on a low table, then stepped back as the conservator and Jin Tao worked to transfer the jade seal into a temporary protective box.

Throughout the process, Li Xiao held her breath, praying silently that the seal would emerge unscathed. After what felt like an eternity, the conservator lifted the jade piece, examined it, and gave a relieved nod.

“It’s intact,” he said, his voice soft with awe. “No damage to the jade itself.”

Li Xiao exhaled, relief washing over her. She met Jin Tao’s gaze, and for a moment, his red eyes held something almost like gratitude.

“Thank you,” he said quietly to both her and the conservator.

Li Xiao bowed deeply. “I am glad it is safe.”

That evening, Li Xiao returned to her quarters, her legs weary from the day’s exertions. She sank onto her cotton bedding, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. As she did, she noticed a faint thread of jade-green silk tangled in her hair—likely from the temporary box. She closed her eyes, recalling the moment the counselor had removed a cotton fiber from her hair weeks ago.

A soft knock at the door startled her. She rose and opened it to find Sister Wu standing there, holding a small parcel wrapped in cloth.

“For you,” Sister Wu said. “The counselor sent it.”

Li Xiao accepted the parcel with trembling fingers and unwrapped it. Inside lay a slender hairpin carved from jade, its surface polished to a gentle sheen. The design mirrored the imperial dragon seal they had just protected.

She looked up at Sister Wu, eyes shining. “He… he gave me this?”

Sister Wu nodded. “He said it suits you.”

Li Xiao pressed the hairpin to her heart, overcome with emotion. “Thank you,” she whispered.

That night, as she lay beneath her cotton quilt, Li Xiao pinned the jade hairpin into her hair. She closed her eyes, feeling its cool weight and the warmth of the counselor’s trust. Outside, the palace walls were bathed in moonlight, silent witnesses to the trials and triumphs of a humble maid whose courage had saved an empire’s symbol—and whose steadfast heart had begun to soften the man with the crimson gaze.