Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Xiao Tao was grinning when she came back. I asked her what she had said to Xiao Zhu, and she answered lightly, “Just told her a few stories about human swine.”

I saw the girl in a whole new light. After spending so long at my side, she had finally been trained up too.

Once Xiao Zhu went back and discussed it with Momo Chen, they would probably whisper a few words in Sister Xue’s ear.

Eldest Aunt had only one daughter, Sister Xue, and treasured her like the apple of her eye. Now it all depended on whether Sister Xue could persuade her.

I sent over a jar of drunken shrimp, hoping it would serve as a reminder to Xiao Zhu.

Sure enough, the day before the Huazhao Banquet, Sister Xue fell ill.

Grandmother had someone take a calling card and invite an imperial physician over. The diagnosis was a mild chill.

That imperial physician had not been summoned for Sister Xue. He had been summoned for the people in the palace to see.

I entered the palace with my other sisters. Auntie recognized me at first glance. “Xiao Tang’er has grown so much. Come here and let me have a look at you.”

Seeing me perform my salute with perfect propriety, Auntie smiled in satisfaction. “You really are a young lady now.”

After a few polite exchanges, everyone dispersed, and Auntie kept me by her side to speak with her alone.

“I heard Xue’er fell ill. What did you do?”

I was shocked. Auntie, however, wore a teasing expression. “Go on.”

With my great fox of an aunt looking down at me, I could only honestly confess everything about how I had frightened Sister Xue.

She laughed. “You have methods, but they’re still far too immature.”

Seeing my unconvinced look, she guided me patiently. “You should have let your sister come. Momo and her maid had already rattled her nerves, so naturally she would not have performed well. That would have set off your own excellence. Then, if you defended her at every turn and showed how deep your sisterly affection was, it would have made you appear all the more generous, gentle, and kind. Only after that entire sequence would you have truly cast out a brick to draw in jade.”

Enlightenment dawned on me. “Brilliant!”

So a true scheme ought to have three layers: say one thing, do another, and aim for the third.

I really had thought too little.

I absolutely could not make such a mistake again.

Auntie smiled. “Do you want to marry into the palace that badly?”

I asked in return, “Has Auntie been happy all these years?”

Her eyes turned languid and alluring. “At the very least, no less happy than other women.”

I understood perfectly. In the end, marriage meant attaching oneself to a husband. At least by marrying into the imperial family, one could have wealth, glory, and power at one’s back.

In truth, everyone under heaven was selling their lives to the imperial family. Men studied letters and martial arts; women learned to manage the inner household. When all was said and done, we were all goods to be offered to the emperor’s house. Rank and status made no difference.

Auntie saw it clearly, which was why she had entered the palace and lived very well there.

She looked at me with satisfaction, as if looking at the person she had once been.

“Xiao Tang’er, you were born to belong in this palace.”

Exactly. I thought so too.