“Your humble servant, Lady Ling née Sun, greets Her Majesty the Empress. May Her Majesty enjoy good health and boundless blessings.” Sun Shi knelt respectfully to pay her respects.

Ling Jingyan and Ling Jingshu knelt down along with Sun Shi.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the three of them conducted themselves quite properly.

Seated upright at the head of the hall, Empress Xu’s eyes flickered, and she said with a slow smile, “Rise, there’s no need for such formality.”

The three of them thanked her for her grace together, then rose to their feet.

Empress Xu cast a casual glance over Sun Shi and her daughters, remarking offhandedly with a smile, “There are quite a lot of people seeking an audience today. I’m afraid I’ve kept you waiting.”

Sun Shi quickly replied respectfully, “Your humble servant is already deeply honored today simply to enter the palace and behold Her Majesty’s true countenance — that alone is Her Majesty’s grace. A brief wait is truly nothing at all.”

The answer wasn’t particularly brilliant, but it was proper and correct, with no fault to be found in it.

Empress Xu then turned her gaze to Ling Jingyan. “What is your given name? How old are you this year?”

The moment Empress Xu asked this, nearly every eye in the hall snapped toward Ling Jingyan. Her mind instantly went blank, her lips moving without knowing what to say.

For a young girl who had never before entered the palace, such flustered, anxious confusion was only to be expected.

Among the gazes fixed upon her, there was sympathy and understanding, but of course no shortage of those eager to watch the show as well.

Ling Jingyan knew this wasn’t right, and forced herself to speak. “T-this humble girl’s given name is Jingyan. I’m f-fifteen this year.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a few stifled laughs reached her ears.

Ling Jingyan didn’t dare lift her head to look around, but her face and the back of her ears burned hot with embarrassment.

How could she humiliate herself like this on such an occasion?

Back then, Ling Jingshu had entered the palace alone, facing Empress Xu and all the consorts, and hadn’t she handled it perfectly well? In the end, it was all because she herself was useless…

Thinking that after today, word of her loss of composure in Jiaofang Hall would spread and become a joke on everyone’s lips, dragging the Ling family’s reputation down with it, Ling Jingyan nearly felt like crying.

Empress Xu clearly saw Ling Jingyan’s discomfort, yet refused to let her off the hook. “Ling Jingyan, why are you so ill at ease? Have I frightened you?”

Seated nearby, Wei Jieyu’s heart sank slightly.

Such a tricky question would be difficult even for shrewd, worldly consorts to answer, let alone an unmarried young girl. Answering “yes” would amount to accusing Empress Xu; answering “no” would require a suitable explanation for her earlier nervousness.

This poor girl was already nervous enough — pressed further like this by Empress Xu, she would have no choice but to lose her composure no matter how she answered…

Just as Wei Jieyu was about to open her mouth to smooth things over, Ling Jingshu stepped forward and said, “Her Majesty the Empress’s phoenix grace governs all under heaven, her dignity born of nature itself. This is my elder cousin Jingyan’s first time in the palace, and she was so overwhelmed by Her Majesty’s heavenly beauty and bearing that she lost her composure for a moment. Her Majesty’s heart is broad and merciful, and surely she won’t take offense. This humble girl thanks Her Majesty on my cousin’s behalf in advance.”

So saying, she smoothed her skirts and performed a bow.

By this point Ling Jingyan had also come to her senses, and she stepped forward as well to bow. “This humble girl lost her composure before Her Majesty. I beg Her Majesty’s forgiveness.”

The two of them played off each other with perfect deference. If Empress Xu were to press the matter further now, she herself would appear overbearing.

Wei Jieyu silently breathed a sigh of relief. That hurdle had been cleared.

Sure enough, Empress Xu broke into a smile. “Very well, it’s a trifling matter. Surely I wouldn’t quarrel with a young girl over something so small.”

With Empress Xu’s smile, the slightly tense atmosphere in the main hall eased as well.

Wei Jieyu spoke up with a smile. “Even we consorts, who see Her Majesty’s heavenly beauty often, can’t help but be awestruck by her countenance and bearing. It’s only natural that Miss Ling would react this way on her very first visit to the palace.”

Coming from Wei Jieyu’s mouth, these flattering, ingratiating words sounded especially pleasing to the ear.

The other consorts likewise chimed in one after another, each one more obsequious than the last, praising Empress Xu as peerless and incomparable. For a moment, the main hall grew quite lively.

Empress Xu laughed, her face brightening. “The lot of you, that’s enough. When we’re alone behind closed doors and you flatter me to keep me happy, I’ll shamelessly accept it. But with so many titled ladies here today, if you all keep heaping praise on me like this, no one will be able to object — you’d just be subjecting their ears to needless suffering.”

At this, the Duchess of Yingguo immediately chimed in with a smile. “What the consorts just said is exactly what was in your humble servant’s heart as well. It’s only a pity I was a step too slow to react and didn’t get the chance to speak up — and now Her Majesty has gotten the wrong impression.”

“Indeed! Your humble servant is also clumsy with words, no match for the consorts’ eloquent tongues,” the Duchess of Pingguo added with a smile.

After that, the titled ladies all took turns offering flattering words. Since they had come to Jiaofang Hall, keeping Empress Xu pleased was the most important thing of all. No one was in any position to judge anyone else for it!

…

Having been showered with praise by everyone, Empress Xu was in quite a good mood.

However, she had no intention of letting Ling Jingshu off the hook just yet.

Empress Xu’s phoenix eyes swept the room and landed once again on Ling Jingshu. “Speaking of which, when Ninth Miss Ling first had an audience with me, her conduct was so proper and composed, without the slightest disorder — it truly left a deep impression on me.”

Everyone’s eyes followed Empress Xu’s gaze.

With so many people staring at her, every movement exposed to everyone’s view, it was impossible not to feel nervous.

Ling Jingshu, having already prepared herself mentally, smiled faintly and answered with composure, “Thank you for Her Majesty’s favor. In truth, this humble girl was very nervous at the time too. I simply concealed it a little better, enough to fool Her Majesty.”

Empress Xu’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as the corners of her lips lifted. “This girl of yours, so quick-witted and eloquent — no wonder Wei Jieyu is fond of you. Even I find myself quite taken with you upon seeing you.”

Ling Jingshu replied with a smile, “To earn Her Majesty’s favor must surely be a blessing this humble girl has cultivated over several lifetimes.”

Empress Xu, smiling broadly, gave Ling Jingshu a deep, meaningful look. “Once the new year passes, you’ll be fifteen too, won’t you!”

“Yes, Her Majesty truly has an excellent memory, to remember this humble girl’s age,” Ling Jingshu replied, her smile brimming. “After the new year, this humble girl will be exactly fifteen.”

“Fifteen — just the age when a girl is like a blossom everyone adores.” Empress Xu smiled meaningfully. “If you find a husband you fancy in the future, I will certainly act as matchmaker on your behalf.”

Ling Jingshu, right on cue, let a touch of maidenly bashfulness show through. “Her Majesty’s kind intentions overwhelm this humble girl with gratitude. It’s only that I have no wish to marry early, and I’m afraid I must disappoint Her Majesty’s good intentions.”

Empress Xu smiled meaningfully. “A young lady, once grown, must marry sooner or later. There’s no need for you to feel embarrassed about it.”

For the Empress herself, of all people, to publicly concern herself with a young girl’s lifelong marriage prospects, and even offer to act as matchmaker —

What could this possibly mean?

Could it be that Empress Xu had taken a fancy to Ling Jingshu, and wanted her to marry Prince Yan as a secondary consort?

The looks everyone gave Ling Jingshu grew increasingly subtle and charged with meaning.