10 The Ultimate Test at the Edge of the Universe

April 16th, an auspicious day.

Early in the morning, two horse-drawn carriages set off from the Pan residence toward the palace.

“A harmonious household of one wife and concubines, a father obsessed with officialdom, a powerless mother, and a broken self...” At this moment inside the sedan, Pan Yulian, amused by her own absurd joke, felt less nervous.

She shook her head, then gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside—

Today, the Imperial Official Road had been cleared especially for the maidens participating in the selection. Along the way, there were endless young women like Pan Yulian, riding in green sedans or carriages.

In the end, it all came down to the imperial examinations.

After changing worlds once already, who would have thought she still had to compete for the royal “golden rice bowl” position, regardless of how big a pitfall the post was, and the throng of people scrambling for it.

Pan Yulian slowly lowered the curtain, then glanced at the floating screen:

[Gathering Pavilion: Ting Mei (SR) — Identity: Palace Maid.

Character Traits: Calm and perceptive, skillful with hands, gold-medal assistant in palace intrigues.

This character is currently awaiting activation by the young mistress in the Great Ming Palace.]

This was a character card obtained from a ten-draw in the compensation pack.

Since this was only the initial selection, the Pan household would not invest anything in Pan Yulian.

Before entering the palace, Pan Yulian had done everything she could, using all the items available in the system, because if she failed to enter the palace, all would be lost.

...

The carriage jolted and swayed, arriving at the palace gate.

As Pan Yulian stepped out and looked up, she saw the vermilion palace gate ahead—Di’an Gate.

Seeing Pan Wenjun ahead, her expression dignified and composed, Pan Yulian quickened her pace to catch up, exclaiming with excitement, “Second Sister, Second Sister, this palace gate is so tall!”

Pan Wenjun frowned and whispered a reprimand, “Have you forgotten what I told you?”

“Look more, speak less!”

Chastised coldly, Pan Yulian lowered her head sullenly, pretending to be unhappy as she followed behind Pan Wenjun.

Well, that was emphasized again.

Pan Yulian’s persona had long been set.

She must be a big-breasted, brainless beauty, with eyes full of riches—a typical cannon fodder.

Logically, having read so many “literary works,” she should have learned at least a bit. After all, no matter where one mingles, low-key and modest behavior is the way to go, especially in a ‘beast arena’ like the palace.

But!

Pan Yulian had tried.

Firstly, her appearance simply couldn’t fit the gentle and virtuous fairy-like persona.

On the contrary, when she tried to lower her gaze modestly, it felt awkward.

Yes, it was like a scheming, cunning, ambitious, dazzlingly seductive villainess pretending to be demure while treating everyone else as fools.

Low-key?

...

Heh heh heh.

That was like openly wearing a target on your head, blatantly drawing fire and attracting even more attention.

But Pan Yulian was not the sharpest tool in the shed. If those countless cunning palace schemes fell on her, it would be a disaster.

Instead, her naïve and shallow pretense made her a genuine brainless beauty.

Perfectly matching the original setting of a fleshly, sensuous beauty.

Though incredibly beautiful, the effect was... foolish but truly lovely.

Soon, a “scatterbrain” and a “displeased one” followed the other maidens through Shenwu Gate, entering Shunzhen Gate.

Many around were also maidens entering the palace for the first time.

Everyone quietly raised their heads, admiring, revering, and curiously observing everything in the palace.

Honestly, it was different.

Surrounded by the magnificent palace, with lotus and cloud painted stone railings, multicolored glazed tiles, deep vermilion under the corridors, and palace maids bowing silently with lowered brows and eyes, all moving in unison...

Passing through winding corridors, step by step into the inner palace, the soft conversations among the maidens gradually quieted, until utter silence.

It was only upon reaching Yongxiang that the palace maid leading them, slightly lowering her head, turned around and said, “Young ladies, please wait here in this courtyard. In a moment, the housekeeper will come to arrange your accommodations.”

According to longstanding palace selection rules, all maidens must study palace etiquette for half a month first, to avoid misconduct or offending nobility during the competition.

Everyone knew the rules and no one objected. While waiting for the housekeeper, Pan Wenjun didn’t forget to pinch Pan Yulian for another round of whispered admonishments.

“Wenjun.”

As she spoke, Pan Wenjun looked up upon hearing the voice, and her face instantly brightened, “Xiuzhu.”

Xiuzhu?

Pan Yulian, who had been ignoring Pan Wenjun’s scolding, suddenly felt the name was familiar.

But Ruan Xiuzhu didn’t see Pan Yulian, blocked behind Pan Wenjun.

She only looked at Pan Wenjun, walking over with surprise and joy, “I thought I was mistaken... but it really is you.”

However, Ruan Xiuzhu’s expression quickly shifted from joy to nervousness—

The Ruan family had only one daughter. After crying several times, Ruan Xiuzhu had no choice but to accept entering the palace to compete, but Wenjun was different.

Pulling Pan Wenjun into a secluded corner, Ruan Xiuzhu wore a worried look, “This year’s palace selection was brought forward by a month. I hurried all the way from Jizhou but couldn’t find time to see you.”

“I thought if I could leave the palace, I’d visit the Pan residence, but unexpectedly I met you here.”

“Wenjun, why are you also entering the palace selection?”

Ruan Xiuzhu was clearly aware that Pan Yunruo had previously participated in the selection.

Hearing this, Pan Wenjun shook her head, her cheerful expression dimming.

The sight pained Ruan Xiuzhu deeply. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed a small figure following behind Pan Wenjun—

To be honest, Pan Yulian’s current appearance was hard to ignore, regardless of whether one liked her or not.

Seeing Ruan Xiuzhu staring at Pan Yulian in a daze, Pan Wenjun hastened to change the subject, saying, “Xiuzhu, this is my fourth younger sister, Yulian. You’ve met her before.”

Who?

Who did you think it was?

Ruan Xiuzhu stared at Pan Yulian in disbelief.

After all, Ruan Xiuzhu had truly seen the former Pan Yulian, who was plain and unremarkable, not yet on the path to becoming the extreme ‘scandalous star’ portrayed in the forbidden chapters.

As for beauties, none of the maidens here were unattractive; each had her own charm and grace.

But no matter how pretty strangers were, none could match the shock of a familiar face suddenly transformed beyond recognition.

Moreover, Pan Yulian was, well, a beauty intricately crafted by the original author to provoke endless imagination through her shameless allure.

Seeing Ruan Xiuzhu dumbfounded, Pan Yulian wished she could immediately recharge the system for a pure, innocent white-flower outfit, and with a bright, genuine smile, she stepped forward, “It’s Ruan sister.”

“Yulian greets Ruan sister. How have you been these years in Jizhou?”

Ruan Xiuzhu nodded awkwardly at Pan Yulian’s polite words.

Noticing many subtle and overt gazes turning their way in the courtyard, Pan Wenjun patted Ruan Xiuzhu’s hand, “Xiuzhu.”

Coming back to herself, Ruan Xiuzhu exhaled softly, looking at Pan Yulian’s demeanor and recalling the noble lady image admired nowadays, she sighed quietly, “After years apart, to reunite with an old friend brings such joy that I lose my composure.”

“I’ve managed well enough these years in Jizhou.”

“But Yulian, how have you been?”

As Pan Yulian nodded, a team of palace maids entered the courtyard.

Leading them was a lady in her forties, wearing a blue blouse and floral skirt. Smiling, she bowed to all the maidens present.

“I am Zeng, servant of the palace. Greetings to all the maidens.”

The maidens bowed in unison, “Greetings, Lady Zeng.”

Zeng, the housekeeper, wore a constant smile.

“I am the steward of this place. Your daily needs, rituals, and etiquette for the next half month will be my responsibility, along with several other ladies.”

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just clear enough for everyone to hear.

“You have all traveled arduously.”

She took a booklet from a palace maid, “As usual, please rest in your rooms for now. During lunch, palace staff will come to invite you.”

Pan Yulian thought this felt like being assigned a dormitory before starting a job, and having lunch together to get acquainted.

Besides lodging assignments, Lady Zeng briefly described everyone’s daily routine: each room was assigned a palace maid to serve tea, water, and do simple chores like folding bedding.

At the first quarter of the Chen hour each day, the maidens must attend etiquette lessons at Jinghui Hall, where lunch was also served.

After lunch, they could rest, then at the beginning of the Shen hour, they would go to the Chan Hui Courtyard, dining together again in the evening. By the third quarter of the Xu hour, the maidens were expected to rest.

Having finished speaking, Lady Zeng began distributing rooms.

As Pan Wenjun had predicted, even sisters from the same household were not assigned rooms together.

One by one, maidens followed the palace maids out of the courtyard.

Not long after Pan Wenjun left, Pan Yulian followed a palace maid out the gate.

...