“I know my place is lesser and I shouldn’t argue with elder sister, but what elder sister just said is far too one-sided! If it weren’t for Liuying, would the eldest young master’s career have gone so smoothly?”

Concubine Ren had started off fairly composed, but something Madam Wan said must have struck a nerve, her expression growing agitated as she frowned at her. “We’re all Lord Hua’s children — just because you gave birth to yours first doesn’t make them noble while others are lowly. Fortunes turn like a wheel — one day you’ll be the one begging for favors!”

“How dare you!” Madam Wan was furious.

She sat to Lord Hua’s right, Concubine Ren to his left, not far apart at all — close enough that she could easily grab the bowl in front of her and hurl it straight at her rival’s face for dramatic effect!

But someone caught her hand.

“Mother, why get so worked up?” Hua Chun, having eaten a little and feeling somewhat better, smiled at Madam Wan. “It’s just a family meal — no need to make everyone so tense.”

Lord Hua had been about to snap at Madam Wan, but with Hua Chun stepping in, he redirected his anger toward Concubine Ren instead. “Have you no manners at all?!”

Concubine Ren startled, looking at him with wounded indignation. Both of them had been arguing — why was she the only one being scolded?

“I understand how Mother feels,” Hua Chun sighed. “You’re upset on my behalf, but there’s really no need. Since I’ve already decided to serve the throne, and serving beside a monarch is like living beside a tiger, a small matter like getting flogged isn’t worth dwelling on. As for the courtyard renovation, I’ll think of another way.”

“Mm…” Madam Wan’s posture softened, and she sat back down, pouting slightly as she looked at her. “I don’t want to fight either, but some people insist on giving your mother trouble.”

Hua Chun smiled and glanced at Concubine Ren. “Some of what Concubine Ren said does hold some truth. I really ought to thank the person who pleaded on my behalf.”

Concubine Ren blinked, looking at her with some surprise, her anger fading considerably. Knowing when to back down was wise, after all — better than provoking Madam Wan’s fiery temper further.

Just as she was about to compose herself and offer a polite word in return, she heard what came next:

“My thanks to Grand Tutor Tang, Li Zhongtang, and the other senior officials, who spared nothing to kneel and plead on my behalf while everyone else merely watched the spectacle, thereby persuading His Majesty to spare me. And my thanks as well to my second sister, for reminding me that now is not the time to renovate the Hua family’s back courtyard, and even offering to halt her own Yong’an Hall renovation alongside it.”

Hua Chun looked at Concubine Ren with warm affection. “I hear my second sister still resides in the Yeting Palace. Once I find the opportunity, I’ll petition His Majesty for special permission to have her moved to a larger palace hall.”

It took Concubine Ren a good while to realize Hua Chun was mocking her, and her expression darkened immediately. “Where she resides is none of the Prime Minister’s concern. His Majesty will naturally see to her palace renovation.”

“Of course,” Hua Chun nodded, composing her expression. “Then where the rest of us reside needn’t concern the Concubine either.”

Concubine Ren choked, frowning at her.

Hua Jinghua was never usually this talkative — and today he was even taking her on directly?

“Can we please just eat in peace?” Lord Hua asked with a stern face.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks again. Hua Chun gave Madam Wan’s hand a light squeeze, signaling her to stay calm, then continued filling her stomach.

Honestly, Hua Chun herself had never been much for arguing, never one to fight or compete for things — the type who blended completely into a crowd without standing out at all.

But Hua Chun did have one particular skill: putting on a convincing front. Back at work, her superiors had often brought her along to important meetings for exactly this reason — even if her experience was lacking, her presence carried real weight; a calm expression and confident manner of speaking tended to win people over.

So even though she was terrified inside, being so new to all this, she’d still managed to trade a few rounds with Concubine Ren without folding.

If you’re going to be timid, might as well be timid all the way, so long as you get through it!

While everyone ate, Hua Chun quietly studied each of their faces. Some she recognized from the first episode; others were new faces, but she could guess well enough who they were.

The Hua family’s genes were clearly good — Hua Jinghua’s face carried a striking, delicately handsome, slightly melancholic charm. The two little sisters beside her looked lovely and delicate as well, surely destined for good marriages someday.

But that ten-year-old troublemaker, Hua Xiayu, seemed to be quite at odds with her — already having shot her several sneaky glares.

The rest of the concubines appeared demure and unassuming, revealing nothing unusual for now. Only Concubine Ren stood out, bearing a resemblance to a certain gentle consort from an old TV drama, though without that same warmth — her eyes carried far more arrogance instead.

Living under the same roof as someone like that, it was no wonder Madam Wan had developed such a sharp tongue — anyone less fierce probably couldn’t have held onto the position of lady of the house.

As they left after the meal, Madam Wan pulled her along at a brisk pace.

“Mother, my backside hurts!” Hua Chun couldn’t help but yelp.

Slowing her pace, Madam Wan turned back, looking at her worriedly. “Whatever shall we do? That shameless little vixen is going to walk all over us at this rate!”

Caught between laughter and exasperation, Hua Chun glanced around — only Pin Tan and Madam Wan’s personal maid were nearby — and said quietly, “You’re getting too worked up, and your temper’s too quick. It’s easy to fall right into Concubine Ren’s trap that way.”

“I don’t care how she feels about it!” Madam Wan said indignantly. “I’m happy when she’s unhappy, and if she’s happy, it drives me mad!”

What kind of logic was that? Hua Chun’s mouth twitched. She pulled Madam Wan along and said, “You can’t keep depending on other people being miserable to feel good — you have your own life to live. Just let Concubine Ren be. Given her personality, she’s not likely to end up well in the long run anyway.”

“Oh?” Completely ignoring the first half of what Hua Chun had said, Madam Wan’s eyes lit up. “Why won’t she end up well?”

Hua Chun looked at her helplessly. If only she could show her some proper palace-scheming drama — how had a woman who’d held onto the position of lady of the house for so long remained so oblivious?

“Just wait and see. If this household doesn’t stay a little more peaceful, that mistake Concubine Ren made earlier alone is enough to implicate Hua Liuying.”

“Mistake?” Madam Wan looked utterly baffled. “What mistake could Concubine Ren have possibly made? Wasn’t that just her bickering with me earlier? Your father’s used to that — he won’t do anything about it.”

“All right, that’s enough!” Hua Chun gave up, gently pushing her forward. “No more questions. Let’s go home and rest.”

She’d apparently need to go back into the palace for court affairs in the afternoon too — better to take a nap while there was still time.

Madam Wan blinked, feeling herself being pushed forward by Hua Chun’s two hands, and couldn’t help but glance back at her.

Ever since learning what burden she carried, Jinghua had grown quiet and withdrawn, gradually distant from her as well. What was going on today, that she was suddenly acting so lively again, pushing her along just like she used to as a child?

An inexplicable ache rose in Madam Wan’s chest. She pressed her lips together, her eyes growing a little red. Feeling those small hands against her back, she decided not to ask anything more, simply letting herself be pushed along, bouncing lightly back toward the small courtyard.

Having sorted out the complicated web of family relationships, and after resting properly for a while, Hua Chun felt much more energized. Though her backside still ached, after applying a third dose of the plaster, walking was no longer much of a problem.

Since she’d arrived in this other world, she decided she might as well embrace it fully. The people here were flesh and blood, real — no cameras, no director. She’d simply think of herself as filling in for someone else’s life. Compared to the dull, uneventful days she’d had back in modern times after quitting her job, this life was probably going to be far more thrilling and dangerous.