Chapter 5 The Carving
In the first few years, Uncle-in-Law acted as if he had no interest in court affairs.
I knew he had never stopped investigating Aunt’s death in secret.
One day, Empress summoned him. They stayed inside discussing for most of the day.
No one knew what they spoke of. I waited in the side hall, watching the sky change from bright sun to dusk before he finally stepped out.
His expression was frighteningly dark.
“Uncle-in-Law?” I had grown familiar with him by then, yet the sight still made me uneasy.
“It is nothing.” He glanced at me and smoothed his face.
Empress, who came out with him, seemed about to speak but stopped when he shook his head.
“Leave it to me, Your Majesty.” He nodded to her, took my hand, and led me away from the palace.
Back at the Princess Manor Empress had arranged for me, he sent for wood and a carving knife.
His hands moved quickly. In less than an hour, a small rabbit sat finished in his palm.
“Uncle-in-Law, that is amazing…” I stared at the rabbit, fear forgotten.
“Do you want it?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.” I tried to sound calm, though I liked it very much. “Is it for me? Then I will take it.”
I thought he would say yes.
Instead he looked at me and suddenly smiled.
“Uncle-in-Law?” It was the first time I had seen him smile. I felt both curious and surprised.
“Your aunt used to say the same thing when she was little.” He kept smiling as he spoke.
It was the first time he had mentioned her with a smile.
I asked, “Uncle-in-Law, what kind of person was Aunt?”
“She was spoiled from childhood and had a willful temper.” His eyes brightened when he spoke of Song Jinshu. “We knew each other since we were young. I never saw her suffer a loss. She was very good at acting spoiled and throwing tantrums.”
From him, the words sounded like praise to me.
“She was also very petty,” he continued, voice turning quiet. “Petty enough that she never once appeared in my dreams.”
A faint ache rose in my chest.
I looked at the man whose face had gone still.
“Uncle-in-Law, do you miss Aunt?”
He did not answer.
After a moment he spoke again. “Song Lin, if Uncle-in-Law asks you to do something for him now, and in return he and Empress will help you take the throne, would you agree?”
He raised his head. The moment our eyes met, I understood why Empress had looked at me as if she wanted to speak.
I knew the next words would change everything.
I took a deep breath.
“I agree. I will help you and Empress.”
Of course I would help him, the way he had once helped me.
“Uncle-in-Law, what do I need to do?”
“You do not need to do anything.” He let out a breath, his eyes gentler when he looked at me. “Song Lin, Uncle-in-Law and Empress will clear every path for you.”
“All you have to do is wait and take the throne.”
He did not lie.
Everything he promised, he later fulfilled.