Jiang Yunshu spent the entire journey imagining what dishes would be served at the palace banquet. The moment she stepped through the palace gates, she couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
Wow—the imperial palace was so grand and magnificent.
Having lived in this era for years since her transmigration, Jiang Yunshu had grown accustomed to single-story houses. Yet here in the palace stood a three-story tower!
Tilting her small head back, she stared in amazement at the towering structure, realizing how much she had changed.
In her past life, she had been used to skyscrapers dozens of stories high, yet now, a mere three floors seemed astonishingly tall… The idiom "a jeweled palace in the jade sky" popped into her mind.
The palace was majestic and beautiful, with only one slight flaw—there were too many buildings, making the grounds feel a bit cramped.
Jiang Yunshu faintly recalled rumors about the emperor—how he was exceedingly amorous… and lustful.
Wave after wave of concubines had entered the inner palace, leading to the construction of additional halls, which now made the space feel crowded.
However, the main hall of the Palace of Eternal Joy, where today’s banquet was held, remained impressively spacious.
Following behind her stepmother, Jiang Yunshu obediently paid her respects to the empress. Since childhood, she had known how to minimize her presence in such settings, never daring to outshine her elder sister.
But this time, despite her usual discretion, the empress unexpectedly called out to her.
"You are the second young lady from the Marquis's Mansion?"
For some reason, the empress’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "You… say something else for me to hear?"
In an instant, all eyes—her stepmother, her elder sister, the empress’s maids—snapped toward Jiang Yunshu.
Her mind blank, Jiang Yunshu could only repeat, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
The empress murmured under her breath, "So similar… truly similar…"
Jiang Yunshu’s voice bore an uncanny resemblance to that of the little girl the empress had heard after giving birth to Lin.
But as the empress regained her composure, she knew it couldn’t be.
Lin’s birth had been twelve years ago, and Jiang Yunshu appeared no older than five. She couldn’t have existed back then.
Still, because of this coincidence, the empress took an instant liking to Jiang Yunshu.
Such a delicate, snow-white little girl was impossible not to adore.
The empress beckoned Jiang Yunshu to her side and held her hand, reluctant to let go.
Even when the banquet began, she refused to send Jiang Yunshu back, insisting she stay seated beside her.
Crown Prince Ji Lin sat on the empress’s other side, directly across from Jiang Yunshu.
Though Jiang Yunshu dared not look at him directly, she stole several glances from the corner of her eye…
The young crown prince was unbelievably handsome!
At twelve years old, Ji Lin stood in stark contrast to the other boys Jiang Yunshu had seen at that age—most of whom were as unruly as monkeys.
The prince, however, was different. His features were exquisitely carved, like a celestial youth descended from the heavens.
Even more striking than his looks was his aura. Though only twelve, Jiang Yunshu—comparing him to her true age—thought of him as just a child.
Yet the moment she saw him, the phrase "bearing the grace of dragons and phoenixes" sprang to her mind.
Seated across from such a prince, Jiang Yunshu resolved to execute her meat-eating strategy with even greater stealth.
She would eat elegantly, discreetly, without drawing attention!
Sneaking another glance around, she seized the moment when no one was watching to reach for a rib on the plate.
Clink! Two pairs of chopsticks collided with a crisp sound.
The young prince had, at the exact same moment, aimed for the very same rib.
Jiang Yunshu quickly withdrew her chopsticks and switched targets, moving toward a plate of braised pork knuckle.
Yet, as if fate were playing tricks, the prince changed direction too—their chopsticks clashed again.
Clink!
This time, Jiang Yunshu was faster, already gripping a piece of the knuckle.
But the collision made her small hands falter, and the meat slipped back into the dish, splattering sauce…
Right onto the prince’s robes.
Instantly, the attending palace maids paled in horror.
Everyone knew the crown prince was fastidious about cleanliness.
Though usually even-tempered, the prince had a fearsome temper when his belongings were dirtied. Despite his youth, his outbursts were… terrifying.
Seeing the maids’ panic-stricken faces, Jiang Yunshu realized the gravity of her mistake.
She hastily stood up, ready to apologize.
Ji Lin watched as Jiang Yunshu’s eyes welled with tears, tiny droplets clinging to her lashes, threatening to spill with every blink.
Whose little sister is this? he wondered.
Her eyes were truly captivating.
For the first time, the prince found himself unbothered by the stains on his robes.
He picked up his chopsticks, plucked a piece of pork knuckle and a rib, and placed them in Jiang Yunshu’s bowl.
"Don’t cry. Eat."
