Chapter 1: The Legend of Zhen Huan, An Lingrong

"Miss!"
A sudden shout startled Li Siqi awake. She called out, "Little Huzi!"

"Master, I'm here!"

"What's the situation?"

"Master is now An Lingrong. The person calling you outside is Aunt Xiao. Today, you have just arrived in the capital and are staying at an inn. In five days, you will participate in the selection."

"This timing isn't bad." Li Enqi got up and asked, "What is An Lingrong's wish?"

"To bear a son, become Empress Dowager, and take good care of her mother."

"What about her father?"

"That is up to you. She doesn't have any particular requests."

"That's reasonable." Li Siqi stood up and instructed, "Give me a few fine embroidered pieces, and prepare some gold and silver as well."

"Yes!"

As soon as Little Huzi finished speaking, a small bundle appeared out of thin air on the table beside Li Siqi.

"Aunt!" Li Siqi opened the door and spoke softly, "Aunt, why haven't you rested?"

"I already dozed for a while." Aunt Xiao, in her thirties, wore a worried expression. "Miss, we don't have enough silver. I plan to go out to buy some fabric and thread. If we do some embroidery in the next couple of days, we can earn a little money to get you a better dress."

Upon arriving in the capital, Aunt Xiao realized that the dress her young lady wore was not only rough but also out of fashion. She had hardly any jewelry either—how was she to attend the selection like this?

"Aunt, I think it would be better if we found a more suitable place to stay." Li Siqi didn't want to remain in such a chaotic inn. Besides, if she were chosen, a governess would come to instruct her in etiquette. She had no intention of moving into the Zhen family and becoming entangled with Zhen Huan.

"Miss, do you mean we should rent a courtyard?" Aunt Xiao hesitated, mentally calculating the silver she had, her face showing some difficulty. "If we rent a courtyard, it will cost quite a bit."

"If possible, let's just buy a small courtyard." Li Siqi picked up the small bundle from the table and opened it right in front of her.

"This..." Aunt Xiao was astonished to see several silver ingots and gold pieces, along with some exquisite embroidery. Altogether, they were worth a thousand taels of silver.

"My mother secretly saved these as my dowry," Li Siqi lied with a straight face. "Please use these to buy us a small courtyard to settle in first, and then hire a few servants from the broker's office. By the way, I need two maids, preferably skilled and not too old."

"Very well, I will go at once." Seeing that it was still early, Aunt Xiao decided to set out immediately. She took the things from the table and left.

Li Siqi sat down. "Little Huzi, give me a Beauty Pill, a Skin Pill, and an All-Purpose Detox Pill."
An Lingrong was merely delicate in appearance—without a striking face, how could she hope to attract the dog Emperor in the harem?

Little Huzi agreed, "Her looks are indeed average; otherwise, she would not have suffered so much."

Three pills appeared out of thin air. Li Siqi took them and swallowed them.

"Her features aren't bad. With five days to improve, even if she can't become a stunning beauty, she'll at least look much better than now."

"Don't worry, Master. An Lingrong has a nice singing voice..."

"Enough, I have no interest in becoming a little songbird." Li Siqi showed her distaste. "I'm here to deal with scoundrels, not to perform on stage."

"Don't forget, Master, An Lingrong's father is a ticking time bomb as well."

"I'll give him a Puppet Pill later and make him behave."

"That works."

...

By evening, Aunt Xiao hurried back, bringing two maids with her. "Miss, I found these two to be suitable, so I bought them. As for the courtyard, it's a bit remote. I plan to look again tomorrow."

"You've worked hard, Aunt." Li Siqi poured her a cup of water. "No rush, as long as it's settled before the selection. The courtyard shouldn't be too far out—my younger brother will need to study in the future, so please try to find a better location."

"Miss, do you mean..." Aunt Xiao was a little excited. Her son was already eight, had started his studies, and showed some talent. With no reputable teacher available, he had only studied under a scholar. If he could study in the capital, it would be an enormous joy for her.

"I'll find a way to bring Mother and my younger brother to the capital," Li Siqi nodded to her.

Her gaze then fell on the two maids. About fourteen or fifteen years old, they stood properly with their heads slightly lowered, looking calm and composed.

"What are your names, your backgrounds, and what can you do?"

"Miss, my name is Lotus. I can do needlework and style hair. I used to serve in the Zhang family."

"Miss, my name is Cassia. I can brew tea and keep accounts. I was formerly a maid in the Ma family."

"Sounds good." Li Siqi looked at the steadier Cassia and asked, "You can read?"

"Yes, Miss. I used to help the young lady of the house with her accounts and can write."

"It seems both of you have served mistresses before." Li Siqi continued, "I won't say too much else. From now on, you belong to me. Lotus, your new name is Green Lotus. Cassia, your new name is Fragrant Lotus."

"Thank you, Miss, for the names."
Green Lotus and Fragrant Lotus both bowed.

With two maids at her service, Li Siqi finally had the air of a true young lady.

The next day, Aunt Xiao went out again to look for a courtyard. Li Siqi had Green Lotus and Fragrant Lotus take the Loyalty Pill. Giving some silver to the cleverer Green Lotus, she instructed, "Go out and buy two sets of good-quality clothes for me."

"Miss, should I buy jewelry as well?" Having become a personal maid, Green Lotus was well aware of her mistress's poverty—apart from some embroidery, she had nothing to her name.

"Yes, if you see suitable pieces, buy a few as well." Li Siqi did have such things, but for now she didn't intend to bring them out. She handed her two gold ingots. "Buy what you think is appropriate—not too expensive, but certainly not cheap goods either."

"Yes, I understand."
Green Lotus took more than two hundred taels of silver and went out shopping.

Leaving Fragrant Lotus to stay, Li Siqi began making sachets with her. After entering the palace, she would need sachets to hold reward money.

On the third day, they moved into the small courtyard. It cost eight hundred taels for a modest residence, enough for seven or eight people to live in. Li Siqi then had Aunt Xiao buy an older married couple— the woman to work in the kitchen, the man to guard the gate.

Time passed quickly.

Once everything was arranged, Li Siqi rode a carriage into the palace. This time, there were no delays. Her attire was not shabby either. She slipped some silver to the stewardess and made her way smoothly to the selection hall.

"Get out of the way!"

A familiar sharp voice rang out. Li Siqi looked over and finally saw the arrogant Sister Four Seasons. She had deliberately avoided everyone to prevent running into her.

She saw her berating an average-looking candidate, "Are you blind? How dare you bump into me?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." The candidate blushed in embarrassment and apologized softly.

"You've soaked my dress!" Sister Four Seasons was nearly fuming. "Kneel down and apologize!"