Lu Jingning returned to her room with the maid.
“Chun’er, go stand guard outside,” she instructed.
“Yes, Miss.”
Chun’er answered and stood at the door to keep watch for her.
Chun’er had always been loyal to her. In her previous life, she even risked her own life for her. Only with Chun’er guarding could she feel at ease.
Lu Jingning walked quietly to the window. She turned slowly, her sharp gaze fixing on the young maid standing before her.
“You were sent by Madam to watch me, weren’t you?”
Her voice was soft, yet carried an unquestionable force.
The little maid trembled. Her eyes flickered, and she quickly waved her hands in denial. “N-No, Fifth Young Lady, this servant wouldn’t…”
“No need to deny it.” Lu Jingning raised her hand slightly to interrupt, a faint smile touching her lips—gentle, but edged with cold steel. “How could I not understand Madam’s intentions?”
As she spoke, she walked closer, her gaze soft yet penetrating, as if she could see straight into one’s heart.
The little maid lowered her head, hands clenched tightly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
“I know your younger brother is in Madam’s hands.”
The maid’s face turned deathly pale at once. Her lips trembled. “F-Fifth Young Lady, how… how did you know?”
Lu Jingning gave a soft laugh, her eyes deep and unreadable. “You don’t need to ask. But what you do need to know is this: once I fulfill Madam’s wishes, I will surely die. And Madam will not let you or your brother go either. You know this better than I do.”
The maid’s eyes reddened instantly, tears gathering.
Lu Jingning stepped closer and gently patted her shoulder. “So, we’re on the same boat now. As long as you are loyal to me, not only can I reunite you with your brother, I can give you a better future.”
The little maid lifted her head, tear-filled eyes searching Lu Jingning’s face, as if weighing the truth of her words.
Lu Jingning’s gaze was steady and warm. She reached out, helped the maid up, and spoke with quiet authority, “Believe me. This is for you—and for your brother.”
A spark of resolve flashed across the maid’s eyes. She knelt heavily, her voice trembling but firm. “This servant pledges to serve Fifth Young Lady unto death, without betrayal!”
Lu Jingning smiled softly. “Good. From today onward, your name will be Xia’er. I will see to it that you reunite with your brother. Go rest.”
She lightly tapped Xia’er’s shoulder.
“Yes, this servant understands.”
Lu Jingning suddenly remembered something and added, “Whatever Madam asks you to do, agree to it. Discuss it with me afterward.”
“Yes, this servant understands.”
Xia’er left the room.
Watching her departing figure, Lu Jingning wasn’t sure whether her loyalty was genuine.
But those who are suspicious should not be used, and those who are used should not be doubted. Before entering the palace, she had to ensure that the people around her were truly on her side.
Late at night, under the dark moon and rising wind, Lu Jingning moved silently through the corridors with Chun’er following closely behind.
Avoiding the patrolling servants with practiced ease, she reached a secluded courtyard—her concubine mother’s residence.
Pushing open the half-closed window, she slipped inside. Her concubine mother sat alone under a dim oil lamp, stitching a sachet.
“Auntie,” Lu Jingning called softly, tenderness hidden beneath her quiet voice.
Her concubine mother looked up in surprise. The joy quickly faded into worry. “Zhaozhao, why are you here at this hour? I’ve heard about you entering the palace…”
Her eyes reddened as she lowered her head in guilt. “It’s all Auntie’s fault… I couldn’t find you a good husband.”
Lu Jingning shook her head gently. “Auntie, it’s not your fault. This is the path I chose.”
Her tone was soft yet firm.
Hearing this, tears slipped down her concubine mother’s cheeks. She trembled as she took out a small box and removed a crystal-clear pill, placing it carefully into Lu Jingning’s hand.
Lu Jingning accepted it with caution. Under the warm lamp light, the pill shimmered faintly.
“Auntie… what is this?”
Concubine Zhou lowered her voice. “A Taoist gave this to me years ago. He said that after taking it, a girl would become even more beautiful. Zhaozhao, it will be useful for you.”
Lu Jingning hugged her tightly, resting her head on her thin shoulder. “Auntie, you must wait for me. I’ll make sure you live a good life.”
Her concubine mother nodded tearfully and embraced her just as tightly. “Auntie doesn’t need a good life… I only want you to be happy for your entire lifetime.”
From outside the window came Chun’er’s barely audible whisper, reminding them of the time. “Miss, it’s late. We should return.”
Lu Jingning’s heart tightened. Reluctantly, she let go and pulled a small pouch of heavy silver from her sleeve, placing it discreetly into her aunt’s hand.
Her concubine mother’s hand trembled, eyes reddening again as she forced back her tears.
Lu Jingning gently smoothed the loose strands of hair on her aunt’s forehead. “Auntie, take care of yourself. Keep this silver safe—use it only if you must.”
Turning away, she slipped back into the night, her figure fading into the darkness, leaving behind a silhouette both determined and tender.
Back in her room, Lu Jingning swallowed the pill her aunt had given her.
Looking up at the bright full moon, she vowed silently:
“Auntie, wait for me. I will seize every opportunity, win the emperor’s favor, stand at the highest peak, and request a noble title for you so you’ll never again be threatened by Madam.”
“Lu Shiwei, just you wait. In this lifetime, every pain you inflicted on me—I will return to you and your mother. I will personally drag you down from the clouds into the deepest hell.”
After taking the pill, her skin became even more delicate.
The flesh grew exactly where it should. Her figure became exquisite. Every flaw from before had been corrected one by one.
She had always been seductive, but after the pill, she was even more breathtaking than before.
She had once captured a place in the emperor’s heart—she could do it again.
The matter of her entering the palace was submitted to the emperor by her father. The emperor agreed readily.
In ten days, she would enter the palace and be conferred the title Lu Changzai, just as in her previous life.
The palace sent matrons to teach her palace etiquette. After a lifetime of experience, she knew all the rules well.
The matrons praised her endlessly. “Miss Lu, you’ll surely win His Majesty’s favor. Don’t forget us then!”
“You flatter me, Matron. But rest assured—I won’t forget you.”
As she spoke, she removed the bracelet from her wrist and slipped it into the matron’s hand.
The matron accepted it with a smile and taught her even more earnestly.
When the day to enter the palace arrived, the palace sent a small sedan chair to escort her inside.
Before she left, Madam Lu looked at her increasingly beautiful appearance and felt a twinge of regret—yet the imperial edict had already been issued; nothing could be changed.
She repeatedly reminded Lu Jingning to take good care of Lu Shiwei.
Lu Jingning assured Madam Lu that she would take care of her elder sister.
“Lift the sedan. Return to the palace!”
This time, what awaited her was the perilous imperial palace.
But Lu Jingning had never feared.
The palace would one day belong to her.