The mother and daughter talked for a while longer. Most of it consisted of Mother Si urging Luo Tiantian to be careful everywhere in the palace, while Luo Tiantian comforted her, saying she could handle it.
“Mother, I’ll come back to see you another day. Keep these safe.” She pulled a few pastries she had conveniently taken from the hall out of her sleeve and stuffed them into Mother Si’s hand. “Eat them secretly, and don’t let anyone see.”
Mother Si looked at the exquisite pastries in her hand, then looked up at her daughter’s beautiful face. A thousand words were stuck in her throat, ultimately turning into a single sentence: “Be extremely careful…”
She watched as Luo Tiantian’s slender figure disappeared outside the moon gate. She waited until she could no longer hear the footsteps before slowly turning around and walking back into the room.
The firewood in the brazier was still *crackling*, having been lit by her daughter’s own hands.
On the table sat several delicate pastries her daughter had secretly given her.
This should have been a heartwarming scene.
However, Mother Si’s heart was so heavy she could hardly breathe.
‘Is my daughter doing well?’
To that moody King, a woman from a fallen state offered as tribute was no different from a novel toy.
Today’s favor could become tomorrow’s abandonment. A monarch’s heart was as fickle as a needle at the bottom of the sea; it could flip in an instant.
She hid the pastries in the innermost part of her robe, close to her chest.
Leaning against the wall, she walked tremulously to the center of the courtyard.
In the yard was a long-dried-up abandoned well, its rim covered in withered vines and moss.
Mother Si walked to the edge and peered down. It was a black hole, seemingly bottomless.
‘I should just jump.’
‘What use is my life other than making my daughter worry and causing her to risk her life to visit me secretly again and again?’
A weak, sickly old woman in this man-eating palace was her daughter’s greatest weakness—a blade hanging over her head. Yesterday, King You seemed to show mercy, but in reality, he was using her old bones to keep a firm grip on her daughter.
Rather than living in constant fear and being a burden to her daughter, it would be better to end it all.
If she died, her daughter wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore and might suffer less control.
Mother Si’s hands tightly gripped the rough, cold rim of the well. She closed her eyes, her body leaning slightly forward.
One step forward with her eyes closed, and everything would be over.
But…
‘Is my Si’er truly happy? Is she truly at peace?’
She hadn’t even dared to ask how King You really treated her. She was afraid to hear an answer she didn’t want to hear, and even more afraid that her daughter would lie to comfort her.
“I haven’t seen Si’er truly happy yet…” Mother Si muttered to herself, her hands slowly loosening their grip on the well’s rim.
She couldn’t die yet.
At least, not now.
With trembling hands, she reached deep into her robe and pulled out a faded, old sachet.
She pressed the sachet tightly against her chest.
“Just wait a little longer… a little longer…”
She had to be better to her daughter, even if it was just secretly, from afar.
She had to see her daughter one more time to be sure if she was truly… even just a little bit, living comfortably.
More importantly, she had to find a way to help her daughter.
A way to truly help her, rather than being a drag.
As long as her Si’er could suffer a little less, have a bit more security, and live a slightly easier life in this cold palace…
Then, even if she had to give up her old life right then and there, she could close her eyes in peace.
***
***
Luo Tiantian and Xiao Tao returned to the sleeping quarters.
Mother Si’s living situation had to be improved.
As for King You… it seemed she had to find a way to please him or complete some tasks to see if she could trade for a better arrangement for her mother.
And then there was making money…
There were still six days left in the stabilization period. In six days, her game coins could be exchanged at a 1:100 ratio, which would be 30,100 dollars.
Although it was far from the treatment fees, it was at least a start.
Furthermore, the favor points for both the Bao Si and Daji characters had reached 36, which was also a sum of money she could withdraw.
The sound of footsteps and voices came from outside the hall.
“Has the King returned yet?”
“Reporting to the Chief Manager, the King has left the palace. He said he would return later.”
“I see. And what about Lady Si?”
“She has been in the side hall the entire time and has not come out.”
Luo Tiantian hurriedly lay back on the bed, pretending to have just woken up.
There was a knock on the door, and a voice called out: “Lady Si, the King has ordered that you accompany him for dinner at the Deer Terrace.”
The Deer Terrace was a place used for banquets and entertainment.
“I understand,” Luo Tiantian responded.
The voice receded.
Luo Tiantian sat up.
‘Dinner…’
This time, she had to perform well. For Mother Si, and for the money.
Suddenly, she had a sudden spark of inspiration. She touched her throat and tried humming a gentle Jiangnan tune from her memory.
Her voice was clear and melodious, echoing softly in the empty hall.
‘Maybe I can try this?’
**[System Notification: Player detected attempting to develop the character Bao Si’s potential talent for singing. Relevant attributes are being unlocked…]**
Luo Tiantian’s eyes lit up.
‘It’s working!’
**[Ethereal Melody (Novice): Your singing has a unique resonance. It can slightly influence the listener’s emotions, making it easier to trigger pity, pleasure, or infatuation in specific targets. The higher the proficiency, the stronger the effect. Note: Excessive use or use in inappropriate settings may lead to adverse effects.]**
Being able to farm favor and points just by singing was much more elegant than her previous methods.
Luo Tiantian perked up and began to seriously recall and practice some ancient-style songs and folk tunes she knew.
The game system seemed to automatically adapt her singing to fit the charm and style of the era.
After practicing a few times, she felt her throat open up, and her voice became increasingly pleasant to the ear.
She even felt a little smug, imagining herself performing at the banquet while King You listened in a trance, waving his hand to bestow countless gold, silver, and jewels upon her.
“Hehe…” Luo Tiantian couldn’t help but giggle.
Once she finished practicing, she discovered a large pile of beautiful clothes in the wardrobe.
She picked out a sunset-colored floor-length dress with exquisite patterns embroidered in silver thread on the hem and sleeves. Facing the bronze mirror, she loosely pinned up her long hair with a simple jade hairpin, leaving a few strands hanging by her neck to add a touch of lazy elegance.
“Mhm, this will do.”
Luo Tiantian nodded at the mirror, feeling quite satisfied.
It was time to go.
“Xiao Tao?”
The door was pushed open, and Xiao Tao walked in with her head lowered, carrying tea and snacks.
“My Lady, did you call for me?”
Xiao Tao’s voice was thinner than usual, her head buried low, and her cheeks were flushed.
Luo Tiantian cleared her throat. “Does it still hurt from before?”
Xiao Tao shook her head like a rattle. “It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt at all. I was just stupid and didn’t realize your deeper meaning, making you worry, My Lady.”
‘Deeper meaning? What deeper meaning did I have? Even I don’t know.’
“Take me to the Deer Terrace.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
The Deer Terrace was not far from the sleeping quarters. It was a magnificent palace built on a high platform, with flying eaves and bracket sets. The sound of string and wind instruments could be heard from a distance.
As she drew closer, she realized the Deer Terrace was even more luxurious and extravagant than she had imagined.
The steps were made of white jade, and bright pearls served as lamps. Besides the palace servants standing on both sides, there were officials in their robes and several beautifully dressed concubines and beauties of extraordinary appearance.
Xiao Tao led her to the entrance of the hall, where a designated servant stepped forward to receive her. “Lady Si, please follow me. Your seat is below the King’s.”
As Luo Tiantian appeared, almost all eyes—both open and hidden—focused on her. The gazes of those concubines and beauties were particularly sharp.
“Hmph, the face of a temptress.”
“Lately, the King hasn’t even attended court sessions because of her…”
She could feel the scrutiny and whispers of the several concubines diagonally opposite her.
“Look at how she’s dressed, pretending to be all pure and noble.”
“I heard she comes from the small state of Bao. She reeks of low-class upbringing.”
“The King is just interested in her because she’s something new…”
“We need to find a way to take a shot at her!”
*Pffft!*
Luo Tiantian spat out the wine she had just tried to drink.
‘Wait, sister, what did you just say?!’
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