16 A Manufactured Affair
“Pan Yulian, did you just stretch your leg or did you mess up your head?”
“Such an early morning scream is terrifying. I didn’t want to argue with you, but it’s already this late, and you’re still wandering around without washing up?”
Looking at He Yushan’s face, full of disdain and suspicion, then glancing at Zhong Miaozhen sitting at the table picking at her plain food without even looking up—
Pan Yulian: ...
I’m beginning to suspect I’ve been deceived.
Honestly, every time the host feels like they’re being tricked into spending money, system, don’t you think it’s time to reflect?
Once radiant and proud, Pan Yulian now drooped dejectedly.
With doubts swirling in her mind, she slouched toward the dressing table.
After a few steps, she heard He Yushan call from behind, “Pan Yulian.”
Pan Yulian turned around, tilting her head slightly in confusion.
???
He Yushan, who had been strangely compelled to call out after seeing Pan Yulian suddenly lose spirit and look so downcast, found her mind momentarily blank when their eyes met.
She pinched the chopsticks in her hand, blinked rapidly, and quickly said, “... I thought your legs were fine. You didn’t mean to play tricks on me by pretending to be hurt early this morning, did you?”
Completely out of energy, Pan Yulian wrinkled her nose at He Yushan and made a rude face, “Eat your own food.”
“Fine, I knew you were up to no good.” He Yushan threw down her chopsticks and came toward Pan Yulian.
Seeing He Yushan’s furious expression, Pan Yulian dashed away. She circled around the screen, with He Yushan relentlessly chasing after her.
They ended up back at the table, running around it while bickering.
“Pan Yulian, I knew you were lying through your teeth about your leg. Hmph, you ran so fast!”
“Hey, how could I run if you weren’t chasing me?”
“Pan Yulian, stop!”
“Nope! Catch me if you can!”
Surrounded by roommates playing the childish game of “You chase me, and if you catch me, I’ll let you have your way,”
Ahead stood Ting Mei, who had hurried over to mediate. Zhong Miaozhen calmly set down her chopsticks at the table. Another bright and beautiful day began with the usual noisy quarrels among roommates. Amitabha.
...
At Jinghui Hall,
He Yushan, playing the “You glare at me, I glare at you” game with Pan Yulian in front of outsiders, stormed in and sat down indignantly.
Pan Yulian, sitting across from Zhong Miaozhen, secretly wiped sweat from her brow.
Phew. Usually, their bickering was mild, but this morning He Yushan’s temper was unusually fierce.
Soon, Aunt Sun appeared before everyone.
She began, as always, tirelessly repeating the rules for the selection day to meet the emperor: “On the day of the selection, the chief attendant will read the imperial decree.”
“At the audience with His Majesty, the girls will be grouped in sixes. Those called will follow palace attendants to the Ti Yuan Hall.”
“Upon arrival, all must lower their heads and wait quietly. The eunuchs will call the names, mentioning not only hometowns but also the official titles of their fathers or brothers. Listen carefully; there’s no need to be nervous.”
“When performing the grand kowtow, do not look directly at the emperor or empress dowager—that is a grave disrespect.”
...
Pan Yulian, who could almost recite the rules backwards, drifted off, starting to ponder the mysterious artifact she had in her possession—the compass.
Palace rules were strict, but the candidates were not palace maids bought and sold.
Even during these days of waiting and rehearsing the rules, they were not locked up or forbidden to go anywhere.
...
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The palace gardens and clear pools were generally open for the candidates to visit.
If by chance a noble was enjoying the scenery, palace guards would stop the candidates at the gate to avoid collisions.
Pan Yulian had kept to herself these days, not venturing out—after all, who knew whom she might run into?
But now, with this magical compass, her mind became lively.
The novels focused mainly on the male lead; Pan Yulian could barely recall any description of the emperor. Now with the compass, her first thought was to catch a glimpse of the emperor, maybe even engineer a brief, dazzling romance.
There was no need for coyness—after all, she was about to enter the palace as a consort, and whether good or bad, she would be tied to the emperor for life.
Just as Pan Yulian’s imagination wandered, the morning lesson ended early. Chief Attendant Zeng arrived with several teaching aunts at Jinghui Hall.
“Ladies, the palace has issued a decree,” said Chief Attendant Zeng solemnly, “From today on, you need not come to Jinghui Hall. The imperial selection will take place on the first day of the fifth month. Please rest well these next few days.”
Her tone softened as she bowed with the aunts behind her: “If we have any oversights or offenses during these days, please forgive us.”
Though palace attendants were still maids, they held official ranks.
Unlike before, none of the girls entering the palace for selection had any remarkable background; all were commoners.
Everyone bowed in return, thanking the aunts for their hard work.
After further polite exchanges, Chief Attendant Zeng left.
Since lunch was to be served at Jinghui Hall today, the candidates waited for the meal time.
“Yulian,”
Pan Yulian looked up to see Ruan Xiuzhu and Pan Wenjun approaching.
Ruan Xiuzhu smiled and spoke first, “I was just telling your second sister that these days we must learn the rules and dare not wander about. Now that we have some free time, I heard the Runzhi Garden in the palace is beautiful this season. Shall we go take a look together?”
Not only Pan Wenjun and Ruan Xiuzhu, but many of the girls were animatedly discussing which garden to visit later.
After all, the royal gardens might only be seen once in a lifetime.
Pan Yulian shook her head at the invitation.
The selection was imminent, and she needed to focus on executing her ‘romance’ plan in the afternoon—she didn’t want the female lead to meddle and cause complications.
Pan Wenjun frowned slightly but hadn’t spoken before Pan Yulian grasped her hand and gently shook it.
Pan Yulian had no mortal enemies among the Pan family girls.
Besides her birth mother, she treated the others as indifferent colleagues and petty, small-minded bosses.
A few days ago, she had dared to clash with Pan Wenjun only because she was about to leave and had no desire to grovel for the ‘little boss’s’ favor.
But since the female lead was gracious, Pan Yulian wouldn’t trample on that favor. After all, she still needed to return to the Pan household to ‘raise funds.’
So she took Pan Wenjun’s hand first and softly said, “Good sister, you and Sister Ruan should go.”
Then, somewhat embarrassed, she bit her lip and lowered her eyes, looking meekly upward with fluttering lashes and flushed cheeks, softly whispering, “The aunts have been strict these days, and I’m afraid I’ll make a fool of myself. I’ve been holding myself tight and am truly exhausted.”
Pan Wenjun remained silent, but Ruan Xiuzhu couldn’t help but smile.
Used to looking down on Pan Yulian’s gaudy beauty and frivolous nature, Ruan Xiuzhu’s ‘unusual’ aesthetic sense made her find Pan Yulian breathtaking.
She even felt the air around Pan Yulian smelled sweet.
The first time they met, Ruan Xiuzhu dreamed that night of Pan Yulian’s smiling face, eyes curved gently as she spoke.
She was truly unforgettable.
Thus, Ruan Xiuzhu was not angry at being declined.
From the moment she approached until now, her smile never faded as she nodded repeatedly and said, “Indeed, these days are hard to endure. There’s no reason to be tired and still go sightseeing. Yulian, you rest well first.”
While Ruan Xiuzhu spoke, Pan Wenjun was dazed.
...
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So soft.
Pan Wenjun instinctively lowered her head—
Beneath the pink-blue cloud-patterned sleeve was a wrist as pale and smooth as frost and jade.
Only a thin bamboo-joint silver ring adorned it.
The plain silver ring, hidden within the translucent skin, seemed dull and lacking luster.
The fingers holding hers were white, soft, and slender, with nails lightly tinted pink but unpainted with the fashionable rouge, rounded and glossy as if glazed with a thin layer of clear enamel.
Suddenly, the hand released hers. Pan Wenjun immediately looked up to find Ruan Xiuzhu and Pan Yulian both watching her.
The fingers hidden in the sleeve curled slightly, but Pan Wenjun nodded as usual: “Xiuzhu is right. Yulian, you should go back and rest.”
...
Eager to carefully prepare the ‘romance,’ Pan Yulian hurried back to Jinrun Pavilion after a quick lunch.
Once home, she rummaged through her clothes.
The candidates had only three outfits, but the colors were nice—pale green, sky blue, and bluish green half-sleeved tops and shawls that could be mixed and matched with skirts.
As Pan Yulian selected her clothes, He Yushan returned.
She slowed her steps upon seeing Pan Yulian’s careful choice of garments—since entering the palace, she had never seen Pan Yulian so attentive.
Watching closely, He Yushan’s gaze settled on Pan Yulian herself.
He Yushan knew that among the candidates, she and Pan Yulian had the most notorious reputations.
Of course, none were good.
But it didn’t matter; neither wanted to be selected into the palace. Pan Yulian likely felt the same.
Yet, when people talked about her, they only mentioned her temper.
When it came to Pan Yulian, there was no shortage of harsh words, often likening her to a begonia—rich, seductive, dazzling, and overdone with rouge, but scentless.
Pan Yulian stole a glance at He Yushan, who had been silently watching her all along.
What trouble was she thinking up now?
He Yushan cleared her throat lightly and then said, “Are you going to the garden this afternoon?”
Pan Yulian casually replied, “Ah.”
“Where to?”
Hearing this, Pan Yulian turned and appraised He Yushan from head to toe.
He Yushan straightened her back instinctively.
Pan Yulian’s eyes sparkled with a teasing, maddening smile, “Oh? You actually care where I’m going? Or is it that Miss He has no one to accompany her and can only watch me leave with longing?”
Hmph, Pan Yulian truly was the most annoying!
“Who cares!”
Seeing He Yushan storm off with a huff, Pan Yulian raised an eyebrow, unfazed, turning back to continue tidying her things.
No one could stop her from having a memorable ‘romance’ with her ‘beloved Emperor.’
Isn’t that how novels always portray it? The protagonist relies on her ‘mother’s favor,’ while she depends on her own money and skill.
...