"Big Sister, I want to learn etiquette from Madam Li too," Meng Wenxian said in her soft, delicate voice—pure and innocent, like a flawless white lotus.
Meng Wenyao smiled inwardly, but her expression remained calm. She replied lightly, "Why not let Madam Li return to the palace and ask the Empress Dowager first? Perhaps she'll agree to include you in the lessons."
Wenxian's expression froze. She had banked on her sister's tendency to keep up appearances in front of others. That Meng Wenyao would surely feign kindness and agree—at least for show.
But she hadn't expected such a direct refusal.
Madam Li, meanwhile, calmly sipped her tea, not even bothering to acknowledge the conversation.
Lady Liu, unfazed by the awkward atmosphere, shamelessly interjected, "It's not like teaching one more girl is a burden. Don't you think so, Madam Li?" As she spoke, she slipped off an exquisite jade bracelet and tried to hand it to the older woman.
Ignoring the bribe entirely, Madam Li responded coolly, "So the lady of the house now feels entitled to overrule the Empress Dowager's direct orders? I had no idea Her Majesty now takes instruction from you."
"N-No! Madam Li, you've misunderstood," Lady Liu stammered in panic.
Meng Wenyao stepped in with a pleasant smile and echoed the sentiment, "Exactly, Madam Li. Mother deeply respects the Empress Dowager—she even used to personally transcribe Buddhist scriptures for her. She would never defy her wishes."
Lady Liu quickly nodded in agreement, grateful for the lifeline.
"Oh, I see. Then I must've misunderstood," Madam Li said with a thin smile. "In that case, would Madam kindly transcribe the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra ten more times? I'll take it back to the palace and let the Empress Dowager see your sincerity."
Lady Liu nearly collapsed in horror. Ten full transcriptions? Her hands would fall off.
As Wenxian fumed beside her, Meng Wenyao's mood lifted. She gave them a bright smile. "Mother, Sister—take care on your way back. I won't be seeing you off."
The two quietly took their leave. Meng Wenyao calmly resumed her etiquette lessons, as if the interruption had never occurred.
At the end of the day, Madam Li was clearly impressed. She offered a rare word of praise.
"You performed very well today, Miss Meng. A true matron of a noble house must be decisive and unafraid to enforce rules."
Meng Wenyao was pleased by the compliment, though something about it didn't sit right.
Matron of a noble house? Wasn't she being prepared to enter the palace? Shouldn't she be trained as a consort or even... the Empress?
She hesitated, then carefully probed, "Madam, do you know why the Empress Dowager arranged for you to teach me?"
Madam Li saw no reason to hide it. She smiled. "For Prince An's sake, of course."
Meng Wenyao's expression didn't change, but her heart dropped. She politely saw Madam Li off, then sat down in stunned silence.
Prince An?
He was her nemesis in her past life. There was no way she could marry him.
The Empress Dowager knew about her prophetic dream. How could she arrange such a match? Absolutely not. She had to find a way out of this engagement.
She waved her hand, calling over her maid, Ruyi.
"The Empress Dowager brought Madam Li to teach me so she could marry me to Prince An. I need to know what he likes. Go find out."
After Ruyi left, Wenyao summoned her other maid, Ruxin. "Follow Ruyi. See where she goes."
In her past life, Meng Wenxian had ended up married to Prince An. Clearly, it had been premeditated. Chances were, her mother and sister were already scheming behind the scenes.
Sure enough, Ruyi wandered around aimlessly for a bit, then snuck off to report everything to Wenxian.
Wenxian burst into tears and rushed to find Lady Liu.
"Mother! I'm the only one fit to be Prince An's wife! Who poisoned the Empress Dowager's ear against me? You have to stop this!"
Lady Liu was stunned. She and her daughter had already mapped out everything: Wenyao would be pushed into becoming a concubine to Wei Quan in order to cozy up to Noble Consort Wei. Once that relationship was secure, Wenxian—daughter of General Meng—would naturally become a match for Prince An.
But now? The Empress Dowager had intervened out of nowhere. Not only had the connection to Noble Consort Wei fallen through, but now Prince An was slipping away too. This was a disaster.
Wenxian clung to her mother's arm, weeping dramatically. "He's mine, Mother! No one can take him from me! I'm the future Princess Consort! The future Empress!"
"Enough crying! Let me think," Lady Liu snapped, massaging her temples as a headache bloomed.
Wenxian quieted down, then brightened with a wicked idea. "Mother, what if we send Big Sister to the Wei household tonight while she's asleep?"
"Don't be ridiculous. The Empress Dowager's people are still here. Do you want to die?" Lady Liu scolded her daughter, though deep down, she also felt urgency. They had to get Wenyao out of the picture, and fast.
"Madam," said Nanny Shi in a low voice, "There's a banquet at the Wei household in three days. Why not bring both girls along, and quietly leave the eldest behind? That way, even if the Empress Dowager gets upset, you won't be blamed directly."
Lady Liu's eyes lit up. She and Nanny Shi huddled together to discuss the details in hushed voices.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace...
After a full day of reviewing memorials, the Emperor leaned back, sore and exhausted.
Eunuch De was tidying up nearby. "Your Majesty, you've worked hard all day. Shall I summon a consort to help ease your fatigue?"
Everyone knew the Emperor had no children. For years, he'd gone through the motions of doting on his harem. But in recent times, he'd grown cold, ignoring his consorts completely—he'd clearly given up on producing an heir.
The Empress Dowager was frantic. She kept sending women to his bedchamber, but it was all in vain. She had finally ordered his eunuchs to nudge him constantly.
They still brought it up daily, but more out of habit than hope.
But today…
"Any new additions to the harem lately?" the Emperor asked casually.
That one line made Eunuch De jump.
What? The Emperor… was actually interested?
"N-Not that I've heard, Your Majesty. Shall I go inquire?" De stammered, carefully watching the Emperor's face. Seeing no sign of displeasure, he bolted out of the room.
The chief eunuch of the Palace Registry was just as shocked. "What does His Majesty mean? Is he asking for a new girl? There are plenty he's never seen! I could pick one out and present her as new."
De shook his head furiously. "Absolutely not. Don't lie to His Majesty! Just check with the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort—see if they'd like to submit some candidates."
The Registry eunuch looked at the thick layer of dust on all the untouched name plaques and sighed. "Better to ask what His Majesty really wants. If I send someone and he turns her away, it'll ruin her life."
That annoyed De. "Ruin? They all volunteer to enter the palace! If they can't win His Majesty's favor, that's their own fault—not his."
Still grumbling, he returned to the Emperor's quarters and bowed low.
"Your Majesty, there have been no new additions to the harem. Would you like the Palace Registry to begin selecting candidates?"