Chapter 2: On the Shore, Trouble Falls from the Sky!

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The seventh year of Chengqian, the third day of the third lunar month, the Festival of Daughters.

Early in the morning, when there was still a hint of chill in the air, more than a dozen exquisitely decorated carriages had already lined up outside the palace gates.

Twenty-four young ladies from the noble families of sixteen high-ranking officials were successively escorted into the inner palace by palanquins. They waited at the gate of the inner court until everyone had arrived. Then, under the guidance of a palace stewardess, they proceeded towards the Imperial Garden, making their way to Huayang Palace.

These girls, the youngest just over ten, the oldest no more than fourteen or fifteen—were all at the age of budding blossoms. It was a day of imperial favor, granting them the rare privilege of entering the palace, so each was dressed more beautifully than ever.

Accompanied by their personal maids, the grand procession winding through the gardens was like a vibrant, moving painting.

“The Rite of Womanhood for Princess Lin’an is being held in the residence of Lady Xianfei, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I hear the Empress herself decreed it. All the imperial consorts will attend. The ceremony is to be exceptionally grand.”

“Princess Lin’an is the eldest surviving child of His Majesty. Naturally, her coming-of-age ceremony is of great importance. If not, how else would we have been granted the privilege to enter the palace for the occasion?”

...

The stewardess leading the way was solemn, eyes fixed forward.

The group of girls followed, deliberately keeping a respectful distance, whispering among themselves as they walked.

Last year, Emperor Chengqian reached the age of forty, yet most of his offspring died young. The Crown Prince is his fifth son and the eldest surviving male heir, while the third princess, Lin’an, is his eldest daughter—hence, she is much favored.

Consort Zhao’s residence was in the southwest corner of the Imperial Garden. The group entered from the Xihua Gate, so the journey wasn’t far. After about half an hour, the gates of Huayang Palace could be glimpsed beyond a large lake.

The stewardess led them onto a covered walkway over the water.

The walkway was neither too wide nor too narrow, just enough for two people to walk side by side.

Wu Tan walked in the middle of the group, silent throughout.

In truth, the Duke of Dingyuan’s household had been ordered to send both her and her half-sister, Wu Qingqiong. But the two had been at odds since childhood, so as soon as they disembarked, Wu Qingqiong joined another girl, demonstratively clinging to her arm and chattering away behind Wu Tan.

Wu Tan, unwilling to bicker, turned her gaze to the scenery instead.

Ahead and to the right, a side path led to a waterside pavilion—elegantly built. Amidst the grand splendor of the palace complex, it was a sight that refreshed the spirit.

Wu Tan was savoring the view when, quite suddenly, a figure wavered before her, accompanied by a sharp, startled cry.

She snapped back to attention just in time to see the girl in front of her lurch sideways...

And then—

With a splash, a great spray of water erupted as the girl fell into the lake.

The whole procession was thrown into chaos. People halted, craning their necks to see what had happened, asking in confusion, “What was that sound? What happened?”

The fall was so abrupt that Wu Tan was still stunned when her maid wailed loudly and threw herself to the walkway’s edge, crying, “Miss! Young Miss...!”

Having witnessed it up close, Wu Tan was left utterly dumbfounded—

Heavens! Which family’s daughter would choose such a day to end her life in the palace? If she wanted to die, couldn’t she have done it elsewhere? Did she not know that taking one’s life in the palace would be considered sacrilege and bring disaster upon her entire family?

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Wu Tan had always been easygoing and untroubled. The incident happened so abruptly, and she was right at the front—she hadn’t even thought to call for help, simply staring wide-eyed at the spectacle unfolding.

It was the girl ahead of the two maids who reacted first, turning to shout toward the head of the group, “Someone’s fallen into the water! Help! Quick, help!”

With that cry, the others snapped back to reality, erupting into panicked screams, “Help! Someone, save her! Someone’s in the water!”

“Move aside! All of you, move!” The stewardess, having heard the commotion, rushed back, calling out to the shore, “Is there anyone here who can swim? Quickly!”

But these were pampered daughters of nobility, unaccustomed to emergencies. Their faces had all gone pale with fright.

At the stewardess’s call, Wu Qingqiong’s chief maid, Mulan, instinctively moved forward, only to be yanked back by Wu Qingqiong, who shot her a glare.

Mulan immediately shrank back behind her mistress.

Wu Tan saw this but felt no particular compulsion to act—she wasn’t one for selfless heroics, and besides, she’d seen clearly that the girl had jumped in deliberately...

Since the girl was determined to die, why interfere?

As panic broke out on the walkway, Wu Tan’s maid, Chengcheng, worried they might be jostled, stepped in front of her to shield her.

In the water, the girl was struggling desperately, but perhaps she’d swallowed water—her efforts were growing weaker.

Fortunately, Huayang Palace was near. There were many people at Consort Zhao’s residence that day. Soon, two swimming palace maids and an old nursemaid leapt into the lake. The would-be suicide was slender and light, and was quickly hauled to shore.

Once she was dragged up, the same girl who had called for help rushed over, asking anxiously, “Are you alright?”

Wu Tan now recognized her—

The one who’d jumped was Huo Yunhua, daughter of Grand Tutor Huo. No wonder Huo Yunhao, her schoolmate, was so distressed.

The nursemaid, clearly experienced, rolled the girl over and pressed on her back to force out the water.

Huo Yunhua coughed and spat up water, gradually recovering.

Huo Yunhao hurried to wrap her in a borrowed cloak.

As the commotion subsided, Consort Zhao, surrounded by attendants, arrived.

It was her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony, yet such ill fortune had befallen them—her face was visibly grim. Still, as the mistress of the palace, she maintained her composure. After a quick glance at Huo Yunhua, she ordered her maid, “Fetch some clothes from Lin’an’s wardrobe. Take her to the side hall to change.”

The early March weather meant the lake water was still cold. Huo Yunhua, wrapped in a cloak, was pale and shivering.

Huo Yunhao dared not trouble Consort Zhao's maids and quickly had her own help Huo Yunhua up, giving thanks on her sister’s behalf, “Thank you, Your Grace!”

Consort Zhao, seeing no major harm done, turned and left.

Huo Yunhua, supported by two maids, moved forward weakly.

The other girls, shaken and intimidated by Consort Zhao’s presence, fell silent and followed obediently.

Descending from the walkway, they unexpectedly met the Empress Jiang’s procession coming from the right.

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With her was the young crown prince, Xiao Yun, resplendent in his finery.

“Your humble servant greets the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince!” Consort Zhao, unable to proceed further, paused with the group to pay their respects outside Huayang Palace.

“Rise, sister Zhao!” The Empress smiled as she descended from her palanquin, glancing over the group. “You may all rise.”

“Preparations are nearly complete inside, Your Majesty. Why not enjoy some tea in the main hall while we await the auspicious hour?” Consort Zhao rose and personally escorted the empress and her son into the courtyard.

The girls fell silent, stepping back to make way, but the crown prince, Xiao Yun, caught sight at once of Huo Yunhua, still trembling and drenched.

“Yunhua?” he asked, pausing, his brow furrowing. “What happened to you?”

“Your Highness!” Huo Yunhua, in her sorry state, knelt and curtseyed. Her eyes reddened at once, the very image of delicate misery.

Well! The young crown prince seems quite familiar with Miss Huo.

Could it be that her fall was not a suicide after all, but a ploy to draw the prince’s attention? Yet, to do so before the Empress herself... was that truly wise?

Wu Tan, still a child at heart and always eager for drama, couldn’t help but steal a glance at Empress Jiang, who indeed wore a dark expression.

Just as she was enjoying the spectacle, Miss Huo suddenly burst into tears, sobbing brokenly, “Just now, on the walkway, someone pushed me from behind...”

The walkway was only so wide, and everyone was walking close together. The one who pushed her...

They were all veterans of the inner court, and all at once, as if struck by the same thought, turned to look at Huo Yunhao.

Huo Yunhao turned pale, instinctively stepping back. Her maid immediately knelt to protest, “Your Highness, my lady was walking ahead of the young miss!”

Hardly had the words left her mouth when the nursemaid who had rescued Huo Yunhua suddenly turned to look at Wu Tan.

That glance was loaded with meaning.

The others reacted swiftly—over a hundred pairs of eyes fixed on Wu Tan in an instant.

Wu Tan froze, wishing she could explode on the spot, taking with her this scheming white lotus!

—End of chapter interlude—

[And now, the anti-awkwardness skit:]

Our heroine: [stunned] How did blame fall from the sky while I was standing on dry land? Author, could you just hit me with a stick?

Lanbao: [equally stunned] Are you an idiot?

Our heroine: [dead serious] Maybe I just opened my eyes wrong when I woke up this morning. Knock me out, I want to try waking up again...

Lanbao: ...

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