The Guarded Courtyard.

The sun dipped low in the sky, painting the temple roofs with crimson and gold. Ying Lan stood on the steps of the temple hall, feeling the rough stone beneath her feet. She was like a stone herself, unmoved by the tide of people that flowed around her.

Some entered the hall to kneel before buddha and offer incense; others emerged with bright faces and hopeful smiles — they headed for the gate and left the temple grounds, their prayers done for the day, or lingered in the front courtyard, admiring the lotus pond or resting under the willow trees.

Ying Lan paid no heed to them. She had eyes for only one thing: a gate that stood on the western side of the front courtyard. It was made of iron and wood. It was the entrance to another courtyard, where she had seen the Marquess and his entourage disappear earlier. She would have followed them in, if not for the two men who guarded the gate.

They wore red robes underneath black silver armor. Their hands rested on the hilts of swords that hung from their belts. Their faces were stern and their eyes were sharp. They scrutinized all who approached the gate, and demanded a pass from anyone who wished to enter.

Ying Lan had seen even the Marquess and his party being stopped; she had watched from afar as the marquess extended his hand out of his carriage window, showing a pass to the guards before they allowed his entourage through the gate. Whoever was residing in that courtyard was someone of great importance, higher in rank than the marquess.

Ying Lan had a guess as to who it was, but she wanted to be sure. She looked around for someone who might have some knowledge about this place and her eyes fell on a man who was ascending the stone steps to the temple hall. He wore a simple but neat outfit; he did not have the haughty air of those young masters who would snub her if she spoke to them.

She walked up to him and called out in a sweet voice: "Big brother."

The man turned around and saw her. He smiled and said: "Yes, little brother. What can I do for you?"

Ying Lan put on an innocent expression, pretending to be a naive young boy; she pointed at the two armed men who stood at the gate. "Who are they?" she asked in a curious tone.

The man followed her finger with a curious gaze and saw what she meant. He nodded knowingly. "Oh! Those are the imperial guards,"

"Imperial guards?" Ying Lan repeated. "What are they doing here?" she asked.

"They arrived with the emperor."

"The emperor?"

"Yes. He is here for the annual prayer ceremony. He staying in that courtyard. That why the imperial guards are positioned there,"

Ying Lan nodded slowly. Her guess was right.

She looked at the guarded gate again; several people were still going in and out; among them, young men in purple robes and caps, and women in purple dresses; some carried trays or baskets. They looked like servants.

Ying Lan decided to confirm her suspicion. She turned to the man again. "What about those men and women in purple clothes?" she asked.

The man looked again at where she pointed. "Those are eunuchs and palace maids," he said.

Ying Lan nodded again. She smiled, clasped her hands in front of her chest and saluted the man. "Big brother," she said, "thank you for educating this little brother."

The man waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing, little brother." He continued his ascent to the temple hall.

Ying Lan returned her gaze to the guarded gate. To get close to Miss Ding and get the pendant back, she needed to get past those imperial guards and enter the guarded courtyard.

She was used to dressing like a man, so impersonating a maid would prove uncomfortable.

She focused her attention on the eunuchs.

She would wait for darkness, then she would target a eunuch who had a stature close to hers and she would 'borrow' his robes and gate pass.