Let's see who seizes the initiative first.

“Sister, come, you should sit beside your younger sister. We are family, and both consorts to the Emperor.” Li Yihe smiled brightly as she took Yan’er’s hand, leading her toward her own seat.

“Hahaha, Yihe is still so endearing to Us.” Guancanghai was very pleased with Li Yihe’s gesture. Tonight, Yan’er reminded him of how he felt the first time he had met her—that sudden spark, the flutter in his heart. Yet after that first encounter, it seemed every time he saw Yan’er, she appeared downcast and forlorn.

“Your Majesty, everyone has arrived.” As they chatted happily, a young eunuch glanced at the gathering. Most people were here; it was nearly time to begin the feast.

“Wait, there’s still someone missing.” Li Yihe craned her neck, counting heads. “Brother Canghai, I remember seeing a very shy, timid girl when I entered the palace. Why hasn’t she come tonight?”

The eunuch panicked upon hearing there was someone absent, quickly taking out the roster and checking each name. “Yes, Your Majesty, your servant is at fault. Xia Man'er has not arrived.”

“Send someone to check.” Guancanghai, not wanting to spoil the evening’s mood, didn’t pay much attention to Xia Man'er.

“Let’s begin.” At his words, music and dance filled the hall, creating an atmosphere of celebration.

Li Yihe eagerly pushed Yan’er closer to Guancanghai, provoking He Meiru’s displeasure. She glared at the other women who had entered the palace together, each displaying a look of discontent. He Meiru dug her nails into her own fingers.

“Brother Canghai, would it please you if each sister here offered you a cup of wine?” He Meiru gazed at Guancanghai with gentle, watery eyes, her voice overflowing with softness.

“Haha, then wouldn’t I be drunk beyond reason?” Guancanghai was no fool.

“Then let Sister Shuang offer a toast on behalf of all the sisters!” Li Yihe picked up her wine cup.

“Sister Shuang, you are the one most favored by the Emperor among us. Let this cup be offered to Brother Canghai on our behalf, shall we?” Li Yihe held the cup before Yan’er.

Yan’er looked at the wine cup, unsure whether to accept. Li Yihe’s casual words had unwittingly placed her in the spotlight. She cast a serious glance at He Meiru, then at the other women present, and with a graceful smile took the cup.

“This wine... I will not toast the Emperor.” Yan’er held the cup, glanced at Guancanghai, and seeing he wasn’t angered, grew bolder. “Tonight, we have Lady Yu and Lady Hui present. I, Li Banshuang, am no different from any of the other sisters here, all serving the Emperor. Rather than toasting His Majesty, why not use this fine wine to toast my sisters?”

Yan’er had clearly stated her intentions. Some of the younger girls seemed to relax a little. “I’ll drink first as a sign of respect.” She raised her cup and drained it, then refilled her own glass.

“This next cup should be offered to the Emperor by Lady Yu herself.” Yan’er, holding the cup in one hand and lifting her skirt with the other, respectfully knelt before He Meiru, her gaze full of sincerity.

“Thank you, Sister, for your kindness. I shall borrow the flower to thank the Buddha.” He Meiru accepted the cup and turned to Guancanghai. “Your Majesty, this wine was poured for you by Beauty Yan herself. I offer it on behalf of all the sisters.” He Meiru was shrewd; with her words, she drew the focus back to Yan’er.

Yan’er said nothing more, knowing well He Meiru’s cautious mind. The woman’s gentle manner and dignified bearing spoke of a scholarly upbringing; her words were measured and never revealed emotion, never moved by praise or flattery, never showing joy or anger on her face—a true daughter of an official’s household.

Guancanghai took the cup and drank it in one gulp, finding little pleasure in the palace intrigue. Yet was he not following in the footsteps of his mother and aunt?

“Your Majesty, bad news!” A eunuch rushed into the Lingxiao Palace, nearly losing his shoes in his haste.

“What has happened to cause such alarm?” Guancanghai set down his cup, unmoved by the eunuch’s entrance—it provided a welcome pause to the bickering.

“Today, the newly entered Xia Man’er accidentally fell into the river. Your Majesty, please come see her.” The eunuch’s face was pale with panic.

“Just send a physician.” Guancanghai did not recall this Xia Man’er.

“Your Majesty, Xia Man’er is the youngest daughter of Academic Xia Bing Sheng.” The attending eunuch hurried forward to remind him.

“How is she now?” Guancanghai asked the kneeling eunuch on the floor.

“She is still unconscious.”

“How did she manage to fall into the water?” Though displeased, Guancanghai could not ignore Xia Man’er’s status. Hao Kun was newly established, and he needed talented and virtuous people; he could not afford to offend the few loyal ministers around him simply out of personal dislike.

“Your Majesty, Lady Hui and I will accompany you to see Sister Xia.” He Meiru’s considerate demeanor pleased Guancanghai.

“Let’s go.” Guancanghai left the others behind, departing Lingxiao Hall with He Meiru and Li Yihe.

He walked a little, then turned to look at the remaining women. “All of you return to your own chambers and rest.”

Yan’er stood, now the highest ranking among those left once He Meiru and Li Yihe departed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Yan’er and the other sisters exited Lingxiao Hall together. “The breeze is gentle tonight, such fine weather. Does anyone wish to stroll?” she asked.

No one replied, so Yan’er abandoned the sedan and walked alone, followed by her own maids and eunuchs.

“Madam.” Bi’er, dissatisfied, stepped forward to support Yan’er. “You have the highest rank here, yet those wretches refuse to acknowledge it. Shameful.”

“Bi’er, don’t be rude; they are your mistresses too.” Yan’er continued her moonlit walk.

“I only speak for you, Mistress. None of these women can compare to your beauty.” Bi’er complained, angered at her mistress being slighted.

“You see, their families are all powerful and influential; none is lesser than the other. Who can say whose rank is truly higher? We’ve just entered the palace—who knows who will be favored and who will be trampled underfoot?” Yan’er understood deeply that status could not be changed; she lacked what others possessed, and fighting would only lead to her own downfall.

“Madam, do you have something on your mind?” Bi’er looked anxiously at Yan’er’s worried face.

“Nothing, just tired.” Yan’er thought of Eurylan and herself. Eurylan had an illustrious background and strong support, while Yan’er herself never sought conflict, but ‘if others do not harm me, I will not harm them,’ as the saying goes: sooner or later, the boil bursts; sooner or later, the fox reveals its tail.

She had been too naïve then, thinking she could remain pure and untouched by the world, but in the end, chaos ensued. Others could end her with a trivial accusation, as easily as crushing an ant.

“Hide one’s strength and bide one’s time.” Yan’er murmured to herself.

“You are right, Mistress; your servant understands what to do now,” Bi’er, though not fully grasping the meaning, quickly caught on.

“Go back to sleep.” Yan’er smiled helplessly. If Bi’er was properly guided, she might truly become her confidante within the palace.

Guancanghai, with He Meiru and Li Yihe, arrived in grand procession at the Hongluan Pavilion where Xia Man’er was recovering.

Xia Man’er lay on the bed, fragile and weak, her body mostly covered by a semi-transparent white gauze. “Your Majesty?” she asked softly.

“You’re awake?” Guancanghai sat at the bedside, gazing at Xia Man’er’s pale face. This woman indeed exuded a fresh, elegant air, untouched by the dust of the world.

“Your Majesty, Mistress has just awakened and is very weak.” The maid, seeing Xia Man’er open her mouth but unable to speak, knelt before Guancanghai to answer for her mistress.

“Rise.” Guancanghai didn’t look at the maid, but regarded Xia Man’er calmly, relieved to see she was not seriously harmed.

“Sister Xia, how did you fall into the water?” He Meiru, standing behind Guancanghai, reached out to tuck in Xia Man’er’s quilt.

“I…” Xia Man’er lowered her head, saying nothing, but boldly reached out to grasp Guancanghai’s hand.

Guancanghai generally disliked being touched—only those he favored could touch him. Yet he did not object to Xia Man’er, drawn by her delicate vulnerability and, perhaps more so, her family background.

Li Yihe, knowing Guancanghai’s temperament, watched in silence, enjoying the spectacle. She resented Xia Man’er for using her accident as a pretext to bring Guancanghai to Hongluan Pavilion—truly calculating.

He Meiru was no fool either. She glanced at her own arm caught between the two and awkwardly withdrew it. “Your Majesty, Sister Xia is unwell; she should rest more.”

Tonight was their first in the palace. Although there would be many nights to come, everyone understood the significance of this first evening.

“Your Majesty, Man’er is so sad to leave home for the first time.” Xia Man’er spoke, tears streaming down her face.

“Ah.” Guancanghai disliked women’s tears, but could not lose his temper. He knew what Xia Man’er wanted. “Lady Yu, Lady Hui, you are tired as well; go rest early tonight.”

The meaning was clear. He Meiru maintained her composure and bowed. “Your Majesty, take care; your servant withdraws.”

Li Yihe was unaffected, her sweet smile unwavering. “Then Brother Canghai, take good care of Man’er. Yihe will go now.”

Xia Man’er bit her lip, still appearing frail and delicate…