Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Consort Xian was holding a Huazhao Banquet in the palace and invited me to attend.

The Crown Prince had already come of age. It was time to choose his Crown Princess.

This was my ticket into the palace.

Xiao Tao was my trusted aide and an expert at gathering information. After making a round outside, she came back and reported with utmost loyalty, “The eldest young lady received an invitation too.”

The Shen family had several girls of suitable age. Auntie must have wanted to see all of us before making her decision.

Sister Xue from Eldest Uncle’s branch was a peerless beauty, and she was older than me. By all rights, Auntie ought to choose her.

Xiao Tao hesitated. “Why don’t you go tell the eldest young lady not to attend?”

But the first thing Grandmother taught me was that plans only succeeded when kept secret. Sister Xue and I were close, but I could not tell even her.

So I went to Sister Xue’s room. Not to find her, but to find her personal momo.

“Has Young Miss come to discuss the Huazhao Banquet with Eldest Young Lady?” Momo Chen asked.

I put on a worried expression. “There are so many rules in the palace, and so many nobles. One careless mistake could bring disaster down on your head.”

Momo Chen smiled and comforted me. “Consort Xian will be there. Young Miss needn’t be afraid.”

I sighed. “Momo knows better than I do why Auntie invited us sisters. Once you enter the palace gates, the waters run deeper than the sea. The last time we saw Auntie was ten years ago, wasn’t it?”

Her smile faded as well. “Yes.”

I said casually, “The two maids Auntie brought into the palace with her back then haven’t sent back a single word. Who knows whether they’re alive or dead.”

After saying that, I let out a heartfelt sigh.

Momo Chen’s daughter, Xiao Zhu, was Sister Xue’s personal maid. If Sister Xue entered the palace, Xiao Zhu would definitely have to go with her.

When it involved one’s own daughter, anyone would think twice.

While Momo Chen was still dazed, I changed direction and went to intercept Sister Xue.

She was in the garden, staring blankly at the peonies. Xiao Tao cleverly went forward and pulled Xiao Zhu away from Sister Xue’s side. I affectionately took Sister Xue’s hand, then exaggerated all my fears about entering the palace and told them to her again. She comforted me, “Don’t be afraid.”

But worry had appeared on her own face too.

I pressed on. “I heard the Crown Prince already has several beautiful concubines and beloved mistresses by his side.”

Sister Xue fell silent.

A young girl yearning for love was only natural.

But the man she yearned for would not be one with no male virtue.

Beauties all had their standards of purity.

I, however, did not mind.

I wanted to become the Crown Princess, not the Crown Prince’s royal bedchamber supervisor.