21 I, the Empress, demand payment!

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Now, Pan Yulian's entry into the palace was all but certain, yet no official decree had been issued, nor had she been granted a formal title. Outwardly, she bowed to others as a sign of respect for the status bestowed by the emperor, but behind closed doors, such formality was unnecessary.

That evening, the family feast proceeded without any empty seats. Except for Pan Ze, who was still in Hangzhou, and the eldest sister Pan Ruoyun, who was married far away, everyone else was present at the table.

To be honest, having been accustomed to the myriad sophisticated dishes of the modern era—countless technological marvels of cuisine—even though this was a fictional historical setting, and the original author had included many vegetables and fruits that would not have existed in ancient times, the food still inevitably seemed bland compared to modern standards.

Of course, there were top chefs in this era crafting exceptionally delicious and fragrant dishes, but Pan Yulian could hardly enjoy such luxuries in the Pan household, could she?

Pan Yulian favored fresh soups.

But crafting such delicacies at this time required considerable effort. The Pan family was not a noble household overflowing with excess; the kitchen barely spared any attention to Pan Yulian.

At best, Pan Yulian preferred dishes with sweet and sour flavors, but sugar was rationed in every household. Since she was frugal and saving money, she naturally ate very little of such luxuries.

She had muddled through more than a decade on this modest fare, and whether the food was good or not, Pan Yulian had grown accustomed to it.

Yet at this banquet, most of the dishes laid before her—crab meat lion’s head, Osmanthus egg custard, fragrant marrow magnolia slices, and sweet-and-sour Osmanthus fish—were exactly the flavors she loved.

Madam Lin even had a bowl of cucumber and scallop broth specially served for Pan Yulian. “Quick, try it while it’s hot. Let’s see if this soup suits your palate.”

Faced with such “precious and attentive” treatment, Pan Yulian naturally felt a mixture of being cherished and overwhelmed, touched yet awkward, and a little triumphant.

After all, she was but a naïve young girl in her teens—what ill intentions could she possibly harbor?

It was that simple.

No feast was complete without wine, and with some good wine on the table, Pan Yulian, having had two cups, seemed to let the alcohol slowly color her cheeks.

Her figure was tender and supple, yet she truly possessed the slender waist that, in a mature romance novel, could wield both love and hate powerfully.

A soft, moon-white silk shawl embroidered with gardenias draped behind her; the pale yellow half-sleeves veiled her waist faintly. Even sitting upright, she looked like a willow swaying in the breeze, her cheeks flushed, eyes shimmering as if moist with autumn water.

At a glance, Pan Yulian’s radiant and delicate appearance stunned Lord Pan himself.

In the past, when Pan Yulian kept her head lowered, it didn’t seem so obvious, but suddenly having such dazzling beauty spread across her face, Lord Pan was abruptly reminded that their emperor was no longer one to indulge in sensual pleasures; he was careful to protect his reputation. How could he have chosen a daughter with such striking looks to enter the palace?

Thinking this, Lord Pan could no longer restrain himself and asked Pan Yulian about her time in the palace over the past fortnight.

Unexpectedly, Pan Yulian suddenly covered her face and sobbed quietly.

???

This sudden scene left everyone at the table bewildered.

Lord Pan and Madam Lin exchanged glances, both puzzled to no end.

Looking at Concubine Xu anxiously watching Pan Yulian, as if wanting to speak but afraid to open her mouth, it was clear something was amiss.

At the far end, Concubine Zhang slowly put down her chopsticks; Pan Nianyao dabbed her lips with a handkerchief; Concubine Wang remained silent, squeezing Pan Fangyan’s hand under the table, preventing her from speaking.

“Yulian.”

It was Pan Wenjun who first spoke, approaching Pan Yulian with deep concern. “Do you suddenly feel unwell?”

Drunk and distressed, Pan Yulian leaned into Pan Wenjun’s embrace, weeping softly.

Pan Wenjun, caught off guard by the sudden outpouring of affection, was stunned for a few seconds.

On the other side, watching this usually dignified, almost statue-like elder sister, who was usually despised by the younger sisters, now having to comfort Pan Yulian in front of everyone by gently stroking her back, Pan Fangyan’s expression twisted with suppressed laughter.

What on earth was this unprecedented scene???

Soon enough, she could no longer hold back her laughter.

Once Pan Fangyan caught the attention of others with her laugh, she knew trouble was brewing.

Now that Pan Yulian had entered the palace, she herself was still struggling under Madam’s authority!

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Before Concubine Wang could add anything, Pan Fangyan quickly covered her mouth and coughed a few times. “Fourth Sister, are you drunk?”

Meanwhile, Pan Yulian, expecting Pan Wenjun to instinctively push her away so she could fall face-down on the table and smoothly extort money, was disappointed to find that push never came.

Well, miscalculation... How could the heroine lack patience?

Pan Yulian, eager not to miss the opportunity, cried a few more times to regain everyone’s attention. “Wuwu, Father, Mother, wuwu, Second Sister, in the palace—right after I entered, the other ladies in waiting mocked me for being poor and stingy.”

“Wuwu, she was dressed in dazzling silks and adorned with gold and jade, yet she picked apart my clothes, not only being picky but trying to steal the bed where I slept…”

“She openly humiliated me, mockingly laughed at my poverty, ordered the palace servants around in front of me while sneering at my stinginess, all the while pretending to be generous and throwing silver coins to reward the servants.”

To swindle money shamelessly, Pan Yulian spun her tale with remarkable flexibility, all while looking up from Pan Wenjun’s arms, her tear-filled eyes reflecting Pan Wenjun’s concerned face.

“Second Sister, she bullied and mocked me so badly, I really, wuwu, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.”

“Second Sister, you are my sister.”

Pan Yulian grasped the edge of Pan Wenjun’s sleeve. “You are my sister. You, wuwu, she’s bullying me, you can’t let her get away with it…”

Pan Wenjun instinctively supported Pan Yulian’s waist with one hand.

So close, the faint scent of perfume mingled with the subtle aroma of wine.

Lowering her eyes, Pan Wenjun looked at Pan Yulian, who was half-lying in her arms, head tilted back, tearful eyes shaded red, nose flushed, voice trembling.

Since Pan Yulian had collapsed into her arms, Pan Wenjun had said nothing.

After a moment, she took a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from Pan Yulian’s chin.

Not wanting to provoke Pan Wenjun’s disgust in front of others by clinging too hard, Pan Yulian dared not persist.

Thinking it over, given what she knew of Pan Wenjun’s temperament, if her legitimate elder sister’s clothes were stained by the tears and runny nose of a despised concubine, it would surely annoy her.

Money was the priority; Pan Yulian turned headlong to plead with Lord Pan.

She was confident in how to handle Lord Pan.

After all, Lord Pan had spent most of his life scheming and currying favor with the higher-ups, eager to serve them faithfully.

Now was a chance to bask in the emperor’s favor!

Could he possibly refuse such an opportunity?

Regardless of how Pan Yulian planned to fade into obscurity or avoid favor once inside the palace, for now, was there any chance at all?

Others at the banquet, like Pan Nianyao and Pan Fangyan, were treated no differently by Pan Yulian—none were spared.

After all, one brushstroke can’t paint two Pan characters. Whether for marriage prospects or social outings in the future, their reputations would bear her influence.

She was entering the palace to endure hardships; collecting some protection money wasn’t too much to ask.

*

Smiles in this world never vanish; they merely shift.

By the end of the family feast, all the smiles had settled on the face of the “drunk and demanding money” Pan Yulian.

Back in the Ninglan Courtyard, Pan Yulian still teased the worried Concubine Xu with a grin. “Auntie, stop worrying about me. How could I be someone who suffers losses?”

At this moment, Pan Yulian showed no trace of drunkenness.

She lifted her chin proudly, tail wagging with self-satisfaction. “If I didn’t say such things, how could Lord and Madam have given me more silver?”

“Inside and outside the palace, everyone recognizes money. No matter what happens to me inside, having more money gives me confidence. It’s far more effective to ask for help with real silver than with empty words.”

Concubine Xu reached out to wipe tears still clinging to Pan Yulian’s temple.

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She swallowed the bittersweet sting in her heart and smiled as she praised Pan Yulian. “You’re right. This time entering the palace, it’s wise to bring along plenty of silver.”

After washing up and changing into her night clothes, Pan Yulian was about to sleep when Concubine Xu entered with a small box.

“I’ve been saving this for you all these years…”

Concubine Xu didn’t utter the word “dowry,” but pressed the box into Pan Yulian’s hands. “Keep it safe. Take it with you when you enter the palace.”

Pan Yulian pushed back hard, refusing to accept it.

“Auntie, the manor will surely give me enough. You keep this for yourself.”

By the dim candlelight, Concubine Xu’s gaunt figure was reflected in Pan Yulian’s eyes.

Pan Yulian raised her head and studied her mother’s face earnestly. “Though I pride myself on my beauty, there are countless beauties in the palace…”

Moreover, the emperor’s tastes were quite refined.

According to reliable sources and abundant data, he favored only those elegant, graceful beauties like the heroine—those with both character and good looks.

She simply wasn’t the type he liked; he might even be annoyed to see her.

Though she had used her advantage of wealth and influence to enter the palace, Pan Yulian had no intention of fully immersing herself in the palace’s brutal “arena” or its deadly intrigue.

There were no fools in the palace.

No woman from noble families or prominent clans was simple.

She was merely an eye-catching pawn without even a protagonist’s aura; she knew nothing of the palace’s plotlines and might perish at any moment.

Better to lie low and live quietly.

When her second sister Pan Wenjun, blessed with the protagonist’s aura, rose to prominence, and the male lead’s favor had long passed, then she could safely follow behind, cheering her on.

“Auntie, you know me well—I have no great talents.”

“I also know my limits and won’t overreach. I’m unlikely to catch the eye of any noble.”

“If I stay honest and low-key in the palace, I’ll be fine. But you’re still here at the manor.”

“If Lord Pan vents his anger on you because his daughter is out of favor, and you’re powerless, wouldn’t that worry me?”

Hearing this, Concubine Xu hugged Pan Yulian tightly, repeating, “Yulian, just be safe and steady in the palace.”

“We won’t chase after wealth or glory.”

“Over the years, Madam has never neglected me at the manor. I’ve had enough food and clothing in my life.”

“From now on, when you enter the palace, take good care of yourself. Nothing is more important than your safety. If you are troubled because of me, I wouldn’t rest even in death.”

Moved by Concubine Xu’s words, Pan Yulian tightened her grip around her.

This damn world.

With her eyes closed, Pan Yulian couldn’t help but call softly, “...Mother.”

At once, Xu Shuzhi froze in place.

After a long moment, she trembled as she stroked Pan Yulian’s head, softly answering.

“Hmm.”

...