"Ms. Yuna, please come back with me," the young eunuch said, his voice still sounding quite youthful.

He handed me a branch and led the way.

After kneeling for so long, my knees wouldn't straighten, so I could only shuffle slowly along.

The young eunuch was considerate, adjusting his pace to match mine.

"Everyone else is avoiding me; why are you helping me?"

In the palace, everyone was opportunistic and fickle.

Just this morning, they had called me "Ms. Yuna" affectionately, but after the incident with Imperial Consort Jones, they all seemed to shy away from me.

Only this young eunuch was willing to take me back.

"I do what I can, with a clear conscience," he replied.

"That's what my father taught me."

"Oh," I said, feeling a sense of connection.

The summer breeze was cool, easing the heaviness in my chest.

My sister had once told me, "Even if no one else does it, you should still act."

"As long as we can look ourselves in the eye, that's what matters."

We chatted back and forth as we walked.

Before we parted ways, he even pressed a hard biscuit into my hand.

Although it was tough to chew, it would at least fill my stomach.

I reached under the bed and pulled out a small square tin.

Inside was red powder that gave off an intoxicating scent.

But if I inhaled too much, it would turn rancid, like rotting meat.

A little had already been scooped out.

I took two spoonfuls and placed them in a paper bag.

Gripping the branch for support, I headed straight toward the perfume workshop.

The morning should have been quiet, but the perfume workshop was buzzing with activity.

"You're blind, and yet you think your creation can impress the Imperial Consort?"

"Next time, it might not just be her eyesight at stake, but her life!"

"If it weren't for her, would we be ignored by the Imperial Consort?"

Slap!

Suddenly, there was silence.

I casually picked up my cane and set it beside me. "Instead of gossiping, you should focus on those foul-smelling spices of yours."

Since losing my sight, my sense of smell and hearing had sharpened, allowing me to guess what was happening around me.

One person charged at me, seemingly ready to slap me.

"I think you're asking for trouble!"

"What are you doing?"

The palace maid beside Imperial Consort Jones stepped in, pushing the attacker aside and standing protectively in front of me. "How dare you lay a hand on Yuna!"

"Ms. Butler, she started it!"

Ms. Butler defended me, raising her voice, "Yuna is just speaking the truth. You should be grateful to the Consort for not having your hands chopped off for this."

"Why don't you take a whiff of your own trash?"

The gossipers fell silent, too afraid to respond.

Ms. Butler stood tall and announced our purpose, "The Consort is very fond of Yuna's new creation, the Folded Rose Fragrance, and wants her to come receive her reward."

"Yuna, let's go."

"Okay."

I followed closely behind Ms. Butler when a thought struck me, and I asked, "Ms. Butler, have you seen Mark?"

Mark was the eunuch who had escorted me home that night. He had been the one to come and collect the fragrances.

But I hadn't heard his voice in days.

"Him?"

Ms. Butler paused for a moment, then said casually, "Half a month ago, the Consort ordered him to be beaten to death and fed to the dogs."

"Oh."

It felt like the wind had stopped.

I gripped my cane tightly, a heavy stone settling in my heart.

Mark.

He was only twelve years old.

It was already a tragedy for someone so young to be sent to the palace, and now, there was nothing left of him.

The Imperial Consort truly acted as she pleased.

I lowered my head to hide the tears in my eyes and hurried to catch up with Ms. Butler.

Before we even entered the courtyard, I heard cheerful laughter.

Imperial Consort Jones was amused by the bird in its cage.

This bird was precious; only two had been sent as tribute from the Western Regions.

Last night, Consort Jones had spent the night with the Emperor, and this morning, the bird was delivered to the Eternal Joy Palace.

The other one was given as a tribute to the Empress Dowager.

"Yuna, you never disappoint me."

I replied, "The Folded Rose Fragrance is something I specially prepared to apologize to Your Highness, and I hope you can forgive me."

My head hit the ground hard, swelling instantly.

Consort Jones set down the branch she had been using to tease the bird and said with satisfaction, "From now on, you will live in the inner courtyard."

"Serve me well, and I will grant you whatever you desire."

"I understand."

From that moment on, I became the respected "Ms. Yuna" in the Eternal Joy Palace.

The Consort valued me greatly, and I did not let her down.

The Emperor visited every day.

Two months later, a huge piece of good news spread through the Eternal Joy Palace—Consort Jones was pregnant.

The entire palace celebrated, and the sounds of music filled the night.

I sat alone by the banyan tree next to the perfume workshop, rubbing a piece of paper that still held traces of red powder, "Sister, the good show is finally about to begin."