Xuanwen leisurely strolls through her modest estate, but now she must return to the Liu Mansion at her father's command.
"Xuanwen?" Hualing calls out as she walks through the courtyard, carefully balancing her medical containers. She peers through the open entrance, her voice curious, "Xuanwen,what are you still doing here?"
Gently brushing her fingers over a nearby plant, Xuanwen responds, "Even though we've only been here for two months, this place feels more like home than the Liu Mansion, Hualing."
Aunt Yin, who had been engaged in conversation with a townsfolk, turns her attention to Xuanwen and Hualing, observing their exchange.
Patting Xuanwen reassuringly on the shoulder, Aunt Yin says, "Don't worry too much about them. Ms. Yao has kindly agreed to look after the estate while we're away."
Xuanwen offers a warm smile and nods in appreciation.
Ms. Yao, an elderly neighbor and one of the townspeople, had promised to oversee the residence as a gesture of gratitude for Hualing's assistance in healing her husband. The once desolate and empty estate now thrums with life and color, yet Xuanwen reluctantly prepares to leave for what she considers a trivial reason.
Despite her parents not being the most nurturing, at least they had arranged for someone to collect her.
As Xuanwen climbs into the carriage, Wang Bao, who had been munching on some nuts, quickly straightens up upon their arrival.
"You're enjoying yourself," Hualing remarks, placing a basket of fruits beside her.
Xuanwen grins and encourages, "Eat more; you'll need all the energy you can muster to handle the Liu Mansion."
Wang Bao quickly gulps down a piece of dessert, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you for bringing me along, Xuanwen."
Xuanwen gazes out the window with a smile, teasingly responding, "You might regret saying that once we reach Zhaokou."
As their journey continues, Xuanwen unexpectedly encounters another group.
By what seems to be fate, this group belongs to Su Zian. It appears that Su Zian's carriage had become stuck in the mud, and while some of his men went ahead to fetch another vehicle, Su Zian and a few of his servants remained behind.
Xuanwen was enjoying a moment of rest when the carriage suddenly came to a halt.
"What's going on?" Xuanwen inquires.
A servant replies, "Young Miss, there are some people up ahead whose carriage has broken down. It looks like the mud has caused the issue, so we must proceed with caution."
Xuanwen instructs the carriage to stop.
Deciding to disembark, Xuanwen and her companions allow the carriage to navigate through the muddy patch before reboarding, mindful of the potential excess weight.
Su Zian sits quietly, meditating to calm his nerves when he notices an approaching carriage. The emblem displayed on it unmistakably belongs to the Liu family.
As he watches, a lady emerges from the carriage, dressed in a simple yet elegant light blue outfit.
That lady is none other than Xuanwen, accompanied by Aunt Yin and Hualing. Wang Bao had been advised to remain in the carriage due to his injury, as his weight likely wouldn't be significant.
Xuanwen and Su Zian exchange greetings.
"May I inquire, Miss,you are?" Su Zian asks politely.
Xuanwen replies with a smile, "My name is Liu Xuanwen."
"Miss Liu Xuanwen, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Liu Boyou?" Su Zian responds, a hint of recognition in his voice.
Xuanwen nods with a smile, "Yes, and you must be…?"
"I am Su Zian, the eldest son of General Su Hanghui," he introduces himself.
As the sun begins to set, Xuanwen offers Su Zian the opportunity to join them, acknowledging the unfortunate state of his carriage.
**Liu Mansion**
The sound of clinking glasses fills the air.
"Qing'er! What on earth is happening?" Madame Ye exclaims to the maid.
Xuanqing's room is in utter disarray, with broken vases, scattered jewelry, and items strewn across the floor. Tears stream down Xuanqing's face, falling one by one.
Madame Ye embraces her daughter, attempting to soothe her, "Dear, what is going on here?"
With a glare directed at her reflection in the mirror, Xuanqing responds, "Mother, how is it that I can't outshine Xuanwen even when she's not here? Why must I always live in her shadow? Everywhere I go, people refer to me as Xuanwen's sister, not the Marquis's daughter or by my own name! It's so unfair! What makes her better than me? Why must father summon her back?!"
Madame Ye comforts her, "Dear, please don't speak that way. You are perfect in your own right. Your father had no choice but to summon her back; it was the Empress's words. We cannot afford to offend the Empress. You know well that your father never intended for this to happen."
Xuanqing cries softly in her mother's embrace, "Mother, but… I just don't get it. I hate living in her shadow. I can't remain Xuanwen's sister forever…"
Madame Ye reassures her, "I know, dear. I will ensure that you won't have to endure this humiliation any longer. I promise."
As soon as Xuanwen arrived, she was immediately summoned to the main hall. She could feel the piercing gazes directed at her from all around. The Old Mistress Liu scrutinized Xuanwen's demeanor and appearance, remarking, "You've lost weight over the past two months; have you finally come to regret your mistakes?"
The first question posed to her was about her repentance rather than her well-being. Xuanwen couldn't help but think that this family had little regard for her feelings. "Didn't you hear your grandmother's question?" Liu Boyou, her father, interjected with a hint of irritation.
Xuanwen smiled and replied, "Yes, grandmother, I have repented my mistakes, but a longer stay would have been much better."
"You—"
Before Liu Boyou could continue, the Old Mistress interrupted him, "Enough! (sighs) It must have been difficult in Nankou; I know your father was hard on you. But you must understand, this is all for your own good."
Xuanwen couldn't suppress a laugh inwardly; the notion that this was for her own good felt utterly absurd. No one in this family truly cared about her well-being.
Clearing his throat, Liu Boyou continued, "The Empress will be hosting a tea banquet soon, and your presence is required. I trust that by then, you won't bring shame to our family again."
This must be what Sun Bai was alluding to. The Empress had a penchant for tea, which meant she frequently organized tea banquets. However, for her to specifically request Xuanwen's attendance suggested that 'he' might have had a hand in this.
As Xuanwen made her way back to her chamber, she encountered Xuanqing. Xuanqing scrutinized Xuanwen from head to toe, saying, "Eldest sister, you seem to be doing quite well, considering your past actions."
Xuanwen responded with a smile, "And you appear to be just as unchanged, as ignorant and shameless as ever."
Xuanqing attempted to maintain her smile, saying, "It seems, sister, you've misunderstood my intentions. I was genuinely concerned for you. The Imperial palace is not a place where one can act freely. Only the most noble of individuals are allowed to attend—though I'm not implying that you aren't noble. However, given your past mistakes, you should strive to be more obedient. Perhaps then, you won't tarnish our family's name."
Xuanwen smiled playfully and teased, "You're absolutely right, Xuanqing. But you should keep that advice to yourself. After all, there must be a reason why I'm the one the Empress wants, and not you," and with that, she walked away toward her chamber.
Xuanqing's grip tightened, her eyes filled with anger.
Inside Xuanwen's private chamber.
As soon as Xuanwen stepped into her room, she sensed the presence of another person. A soft sigh escaped her lips, echoing her weariness from the day; she had barely found a moment to breathe, and yet here was yet another visitor. Taking a seat at her desk, she began to unravel her hair, carefully setting aside the delicate hairpins. "It seems about time for you to reveal yourself, wouldn't you agree?" she remarked, her tone laced with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.
From the shadows emerged Fan Ye, cloaked in dark hues of black and grey, his hat and veil obscuring his features.
Xuanwen opted not to turn around, instead choosing to observe his reflection in the mirror. The identity of her visitor was clear; he was one of the two trusted subordinates of the villain—whom the original Xuanwen had referred to as "master." The other, Sun Bai, had made a recent impression on her, characterized by his arrogant and overbearing demeanor. In contrast, Fan Ye seemed to embody a more composed and serene presence.
"Miss Liu Xuanwen," he began, his voice steady and emotionless, "I trust you will not disappoint us this time. The upcoming banquet is a perfect opportunity for you to earn favor with the Empress. You must ensure that you stand out among the many candidates. This is not merely a banquet; it is a pivotal event to select those deemed suitable for the position of crown princess. The master will be observing and looking forward to your every move."
As she brushed her hair, Xuanwen voiced her concern. "There are far too many candidates. How does the master expect me to navigate this competition? I am alone in this endeavor, and you must realize that my family does not support me, especially not my parents."
Fan Ye interjected, "Are you considering withdrawing from this, Miss Xuanwen?"
Setting down her brush, Xuanwen replied earnestly, "Of course not. I am merely seeking guidance. I would never betray the very hand that rescued me from my plight."
"Rest assured," Fan Ye responded reassuringly, "as long as you remain within the empress's line of sight, you will be fine. The master will ensure that you are not eliminated; all you need to do is fulfill your role."
Xuanwen nodded, a smile gracing her lips as she caught Fan Ye's reflection, who was preparing to take his leave.
With that, a serene silence enveloped the bedchamber, leaving Xuanwen alone with her thoughts.