Seven times nine, eighty-one tribulations.

All afternoon, Pan Yulian stayed with Aunt Xu.

The two of them went over countless plans, turning them over and over until dusk, when someone from the front courtyard came to summon Pan Yulian.

After an afternoon filled with comparing miseries and twisted thoughts, no matter how saddened Aunt Xu felt inside, she no longer tried to stop Pan Yulian from entering the palace for the selection process.

Standing at the doorway, she watched Pan Yulian’s departing figure, her head tilted back as tears streamed down her face.

...

Soon, having entered Ningfeng Hall, Pan Yulian respectfully knelt and greeted her parents.

“Yulian pays respects to Father and Mother.”

Because this selection went surprisingly smoothly, Lady Lin even showed Pan Yulian a somewhat favorable expression. “Rise.”

Obediently rising on command, Pan Yulian’s eyes involuntarily fell upon her father.

To be honest, Master Pan felt somewhat unfamiliar to Pan Yulian.

Over the years, he had been completely focused on climbing the ranks, either entertaining guests outside or running around accumulating merits, leaving little time to linger in the backyard.

Even when he had free moments, he would stay in the main courtyard out of respect for Lady Lin.

With Pan Ze in Hangzhou and away from home, the person he saw most was Pan Wenjun, occasionally accompanied by Pan Nianyao and Pan Fangyan.

On rare occasions when he visited the backyard, it was merely to rest with the concubines—why would he waste precious time confiding with Pan Yulian?

Yet the frustrating truth was that this unfamiliar man held complete control over her fate.

Suppressing all her thoughts, Pan Yulian obediently allowed her father to appraise her.

The flickering candlelight seemed to wrap the silhouette reflected in his eyes—

A pale pink brocade half-sleeved jacket, a bean-green high-waisted skirt—truly embodying the saying, “Only when the palest blossom fades does the flower’s brilliance shine more brightly, jade warm and flowers soft, enchanting and bewitching.”

When had he hidden a daughter with such colors?

After a moment’s astonishment, Pan’s father roughly considered eighteen possible futures for Pan Yulian. If she entered the palace just like this... wouldn’t that be a waste?

“Master.”

Lady Lin noticed Pan’s father lost in thought and smiled, “See, didn’t I say it? Fourth Miss is the most suitable.”

Pan Yulian dared not breathe; she held her breath, listening anxiously as Master Pan nodded in agreement.

This time, however, it was Pan Tongdian who hesitated.

Rubbing his beard, he looked at the modest Pan Yulian before glancing toward Lady Lin, then slowly smiled, “Madam, you know the majesty of the imperial family allows no negligence... this matter must be carefully considered.”

!!!

What careful consideration? Isn’t that just a polite refusal?

Hearing Master Pan’s words, Pan Yulian was stunned—

No one in the household wanted to go for the selection, yet she, willing and obedient, was met with resistance from Master Pan?

Lady Lin instantly clenched her handkerchief.

After all these years of marriage, she understood Pan Tongdian’s subtle hints all too well.

But this time, she had no patience for talk of careful considerations or any nonsense!

She only wished there were ten or eight Pan Yulians in the household to go out and charm the emperor, drawing his favor, so that Pan Wenjun would be ignored entirely.

Now Lady Lin rose with a smile, took Pan Yulian’s hand, glanced around, then looked at Master Pan, “Look at our Yulian... Master, it’s not that I’m a biased mother, but who else in the entire capital could compare to our Yulian in lovability?”

Please, Lady Lin, grant me your favor!

Pan Yulian silently prayed, outwardly cooperating with Lady Lin’s performance, shyly lowering her eyes, “Mother...”

Lady Lin resumed her seat, squeezing Pan Yulian’s hand, “Master, you work tirelessly to repay the emperor’s grace, seldom enjoying the blessings of children. You’re not well-versed in the matters of the daughters in this household, but I know it well.”

“Wenjun is steady-tempered; I have no worries about her going for the selection. But Nianyao and Fangyan, those two girls, quarrel constantly and are too lively.”

“Just today when we spoke of the selection, they bickered so fiercely it gave me a headache. Third Miss even said she feared a misstep would bring disaster to the family.”

“Master, your heart is set on repaying royal favor, and the household must do all it can. Our Yulian is delicate and lively—she couldn’t be more suitable.”

Lady Lin’s words were gentle but her gaze burning as she looked at Master Pan, the meaning unmistakable—

Do you think entering the palace selection is an easy task?

Third and fifth sisters were cunningly dodging it, unwilling to go; forcing an unwilling girl could cause chaos harming the family.

For now, having one willing fool was already a blessing!

At this moment, Pan Yulian had no chance to speak.

She simply pricked up her ears, feverishly collecting information—

Wenjun, her legitimate second sister, was also suddenly going to the selection?

Wasn’t she the heroine?

If she entered the palace, what would happen to the hero?

Pan Yulian’s mind whirled. She recalled that in the original story the heroine’s identity caused prolonged entanglements with the hero, for how could the heroine be like a nameless, status-less plaything like Pan Yulian?

At the beginning of the Great Jin Dynasty, palace women were mostly selected from commoners, and there was a custom of concubines without sons being buried together with the emperor.

Later, as the royal family grew stronger and centralized power increased, daughters of noble clans and powerful families entered the palace more frequently. These women could not all bear children, nor could they all be buried as consorts...

Thus the selection rules changed: the burial custom was abolished, and the royal law stipulated that girls who did not participate in the selection or were not appointed by the emperor—even if they entered the royal or prince’s residence—could at best be servants or concubines, never promoted to secondary consort.

Even if they bore children, their mothers could never be recorded in the royal genealogy.

Officials in the capital above sixth rank must have daughters who have participated in at least one selection, while other daughters could marry freely...

Listening to this, Pan Yulian confirmed that in the original story, no one from the Pan family ever went to the selection!

Also, the heroine did not go to the selection, so she could not marry the hero legitimately. There was a great scandal involving secondary consorts and wives, and when the hero got angry, the original Pan Yulian suffered greatly—an indescribable ordeal lasting two days and nights.

So was this an unknown butterfly effect... or the system’s doing?

“Yulian.”

Hearing her father’s voice, still lost in thoughts of the plot, Pan Yulian immediately snapped back and obediently replied, “Father.”

Though nearly forty and bearded, Master Pan was still handsome, having been good-looking in his youth and remaining so now. His lean figure and upright posture exuded a certain dignity.

At this moment, he looked at Pan Yulian with a serious expression, “Have you truly made up your mind about entering the palace this time?”

“I have, Father. I am willing.”

Pan Yulian nodded repeatedly, her face eager as if she could scarcely wait to enter the palace and achieve wealth and honor, then continuously expressed her loyalty.

Seeing Pan Yulian’s earnestness, with Lady Lin encouraging beside her, Master Pan finally nodded, “...Very well, so it shall be.”

The moment her father agreed, Pan Yulian felt her heart skip a beat.

The first hurdle was passed.

If Master Pan had refused, no matter how much Pan Yulian wanted to enter the selection, she wouldn’t have gotten near the door.

With her father’s approval, Lady Lin breathed a sigh of relief, grabbing Pan Yulian’s hand and advising, “Rest early tonight. Tomorrow morning, come to Ningfeng Hall. Your second sister...”

Master Pan stroked his beard, gazing at Pan Yulian somewhat absentmindedly.

In the end, it was Lady Lin’s words that awakened Master Pan.

This selection was a demonstration of loyalty; if chosen, loyalty would be recognized and all would be well.

If not chosen... no loss either.

Master Pan narrowed his eyes slightly, increasingly pleased as he looked at Pan Yulian’s side profile under the candlelight, which appeared more vivid and enchanting. His thoughts were unreadable, but a faint smile played at the corner of his lips.

...