Year after year, entangled and inseparable, who will take the lead first?

  "Sister, come, you should sit beside your sister, we are sisters and also consorts of the Emperor." Li Yihua smiled and pulled Yan'er's hand to her own seat.

  "Haha, it's still so nice to see you like this." Yu Canghai was very satisfied with Li Yehua's actions. Tonight's appearance made him recall the feeling he had when he first saw her, that kind of sparkling eyes and heart skipping a beat. However, since then, every time he saw her, she seemed to be in a dejected state.

  "Your Majesty, everyone has arrived." Just as a few people were chatting happily, the little eunuch looked at the time and saw that almost everyone had arrived, so they could prepare to start the banquet.

  "Wait, there's still one person who hasn't arrived yet." Li Yehua stretched her neck and counted the number of people: "Canghai brother, I remember when we entered the palace, I saw a very shy and timid girl, where is she tonight?"

  The little eunuch, upon hearing that someone had not arrived, panicked and hastily took out the name list to check one by one: "Yes, Your Majesty, I should die, there is still a Xia Xuaner who has not come."

  "Go send someone to take a look." Guan Canghai didn't want to ruin today's pleasant mood, and hadn't put too much thought into that Xia Yan'er.

  "Let's begin." As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of music and laughter suddenly filled the air, and a lively scene of singing and dancing unfolded.

  Li Yihua made an effort to get close to Guan Canghai, which made He Meiru uncomfortable. She glared at some of the women who had entered the palace at the same time as her, each with a displeased expression on their face. He Meiru pinched her own fingers hard.

  "Cang Hai Ge, let the sisters present each offer you a cup of wine, okay?" He Mei Ru's watery eyes gazed at Guan Cang Hai, with unspoken tenderness.

  "Haha, wouldn't that make me drunk and unconscious?" Guan Canghai was not a foolish person.

  "Then let Frosty sister represent all sisters to toast Brother Cang Hai!" Li Yihua raised her wine glass.

  "Frosty sister, you are the one who has won the emperor's heart among us sisters. This cup of wine is for you to toast Chang Hai Ge on behalf of all of us sisters, how about it?" Li Yihua had already raised the wine cup in front of Yan Er's face.

  Her face looked at the wine cup, and she couldn't take it or not take it. Li Yihua's unintentional words undoubtedly pushed herself to the forefront of the storm. She looked solemnly at He Meiru on one side, looking at these women who entered the palace together, and smiled cleverly as she took over the wine cup.

  "This wine... I won't toast to the Emperor." Yan'er held up her wine cup, glanced at Guan Hai, and seeing that he wasn't angry, she became bolder: "Today, among those seated, there are Consort Rong and Consort Hui, two noble ladies. Li Bansheng is just like the other sisters here, serving the Emperor. Why not take advantage of the Emperor's fine wine to toast the sisters present? Wouldn't that be nice?"

  Her face had already expressed her thoughts and intentions, seeing some young girls who had put down their guard: "I'll drink first." Yan'er raised her wine cup and drank it dry, then picked up her own wine cup and filled it with fine wine.

  "This cup should be offered to the Emperor by Concubine Yu, it's only proper." Yan'er held a wine cup in one hand and lifted her skirt with the other, and actually knelt down respectfully in front of Concubine Yu, looking at He Meiru with sincerity.

  "Sister Xie loves to lift her love, and sister will borrow flowers to thank Buddha." He Mei Ru took over the wine cup and looked at Guan Canghai sideways: "Your Majesty, this wine is personally poured for you by Yan Mei Ren, I represent all the sisters to toast you." What kind of role is He Mei Ru, with a sentence of borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, and shifting the focus to Yan'er again.

  Her face no longer spoke, but her heart was clear. He Meiru's thoughts were cautious, looking at the woman's gentle and elegant demeanor, her movements were dignified and refined, obviously from a scholarly family. Her words were measured, not flattering or insincere, her emotions were not revealed on her face, truly a noblewoman from an official's household.

  He took the wine cup and drained it in one gulp, feeling utterly disgusted. He had never liked this kind of overt and covert struggle in the palace, but wasn't he still following in the footsteps of his mother and aunt?

  "Your Majesty, something's gone wrong." A eunuch rushed into the Lingxiao Palace in a flurry, almost losing his shoes in the process.

  "What's the hurry?" Guan Canghai put down his wine cup, and it was clear that this eunuch's actions had not caused him any dissatisfaction, but rather allowed the scene of vying for favor to pause for a moment.

  "Today, Xiaoyan, who just entered the palace, fell into the river. The Emperor asks you to go and take a look." The eunuch's expression was extremely flustered.

  "Just call a doctor over and it'll be fine." Guan Canghai didn't recall anything about Xia Yan'er.

  "Your Majesty, Xia Yan'er is the youngest daughter of Xia University Scholar Xia Bing-sheng." The little eunuch beside him hastily reminded.

  "How is she now?" asked Guan Canghai of the eunuch kneeling in the great hall.

  The person is still unconscious at this moment.

  "How could it be that you fell into the water so suddenly?" Guan Canghai was displeased, but he had to get up due to Xia Yang'er's identity. The country of Huo Kun was newly established and lacked talented people, and it was an important moment for self-cultivation and moral integrity. He couldn't afford to offend all his inner courtiers just because of one person he didn't like.

  "Your Majesty, I and Consort Hui will accompany you to take a look at Xia's sister." He Mei Ru's considerate appearance really pleased Guan Canghai.

  "Let's go." Guan Canghai threw down the others and hastily left Ling Xiao Hall with He Mei Ru and Li Yi He.

  He didn't walk far before turning back to look at the remaining group of women: "You all go back to your own palaces and rest."

  Her face rose, and He Mei Ru and Li Yi He left. The lowest rank here was the highest she had: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  Her face and other sisters walked out of Lingxiao Hall: "Tonight the gentle breeze is blowing, it's really a good weather, does anyone like to take a walk?"

  No one around responded, so she had to give up the sedan chair by herself and walk alone on the road, with her palace maids and eunuchs following behind.

  "Your Ladyship." Bi'er reluctantly stepped forward to support Yan'er: "You have the highest status here, and these cheap women actually don't take you seriously, spit."

  "Bixi, don't be unreasonable, they are all your masters." Yan'er continued strolling in the moonlight.

  "Miss, I'm taking offense for you. Which of these women is more beautiful than you?" Bi'er complained, her face burning with indignation at the slight to her mistress.

  "You, they all have a noble family background, no one is better than anyone else, why talk about high and low status? This is just entering the palace, who knows when someone will be favored and trample others under their feet?" Yan'er knew deeply in her heart that status was something that could not be changed, she had some things that they didn't have, but if she tried to force it, she would only end up being abandoned again.

  "Miss, is there something on your mind?" Bi'er looked at Yan's anxious expression with concern.

  "It's nothing, I'm just tired." Yan'er savored the memory of Ouluo Lan and herself. At first, Ouluo Lan had her own illustrious status and powerful backing. Although she didn't fight or compete, it wasn't necessarily a case of "I won't offend you if you don't offend me". It was only a matter of time before the boil would burst forth, just like how a fox would eventually reveal its tail.

  At first, I was too naive, thinking that being self-righteous and having no conflicts with the world would allow me to live a peaceful life. But in the end, it still ended up in chaos, and others could easily use a small mistake to crush me like an ant.

  "Bide one's time and hide one's capabilities." Yan'er muttered to herself.

  "Miss, you're right. I understand what to do now." Bi Er didn't quite understand at first, but she wasn't stupid and quickly grasped the point.

  "Go back to sleep." Yan'er smiled helplessly, thinking that if Bi'er were well-behaved and obedient, she might indeed be able to serve as a trusted confidante in the palace.

  Guanchang Hai arrived at Hong Luan Pavilion with He Mei Ru and Li Yi He, where Xia Yang Er was.

  Xia Yan'er lay on the bed, looking frail and weak, with a semi-transparent white gauze covering most of her body: "Your Majesty?" Xia Yan'er spoke softly.

  "Awake?" Guan Canghai sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Xia Yang'er's pale face. Honestly, this woman gave people a fresh and elegant feeling, clean to the point of not having a speck of worldly dust.

  "Reporting to Your Majesty, the master has just woken up and is extremely weak." The maid beside Xia Yan'er opened her mouth but didn't say a word, and instead went forward to kneel in front of Guan Canghai to respond on behalf of the master.

  "Alright, get up." Guan Canghai didn't go to look at the palace maid, but instead glanced lightly at Xia Yan'er and knew that she was fine now. He also felt a lot more at ease in his heart.

  "How did Xia Mei suddenly fall into the water?" He Meiru stood behind Guan Canghai, reaching out to tuck in Xia Huan'er's quilt.

  "Me..." Xia Yan'er lowered her head and didn't speak, but boldly reached out and grabbed Guan Canghai's hand.

  Gazing at the vast ocean, he had always disliked being touched by others, only those he favored could touch his body. However, towards Xia Yan's actions, he didn't object. It couldn't be said that it was because of her weak moment that attracted him, but also partly due to the family matters behind her.

  Li Yihuo knew the temperament of Guan Canghai, she had been silently watching from the side, enjoying the show, and also secretly despised Xia Xiang'er. Taking advantage of her own fall into the water as an excuse, she actually let Guan Canghai come to Hongluan Pavilion, which was indeed a clever calculation.

  He Mei Ru wasn't a fool either, she glanced at her own arm that was sandwiched between the two of them and awkwardly withdrew it: "Your Majesty, Xia is unwell, let her rest more."

  Tonight is their first night in the palace, although it's said that there's still a long time to come, but who doesn't have a plan for this first crucial night?

  "Your Majesty, it's Meng'er's first time leaving home, I'm so sad." Xia Meng'er said as she began to tear up.

  "Alas." Watching the vast ocean, he disliked women crying and being unreasonable. He knew what Xia Yan wanted: "Concubine Ru and Concubine Hui, you're both tired tonight, go rest early."

  This means it's quite clear, He Mei Ru's face didn't change color as she saluted: "Your Majesty take care of your body, I bid farewell."

  Li Yihua didn't think much of it, and with a sweet smile as usual: "Then Brother Canghai will take good care of Yan'er, I'll be going back now."

  Xia Yan'er bit her lower lip, still looking frail and weak...