Behind the screen, the empress was gently pulling out a crimson gold hairpin from her coiffure. She grasped the pin's tail against her palm and closed her eyes, slowly saying: "You are a concubine-born daughter of the Chu family."

  Chu Huasheng's body stiffened for a moment, and then he deeply lowered his head, stuttering out an affirmative response.

  Tai listened to her soft voice and smiled faintly: "What's the difference between being born legitimate or illegitimate? Shu Ji, you shouldn't be humble because of your birth."

  When Chuhua entered the palace, she was reported under the name of a legitimate daughter. This kind of thing is not uncommon. In aristocratic families, before sending their daughters to the palace or getting married, they often registered their concubine-born daughters under the name of the legitimate mother to elevate the girl's status. However, the imperial family also knew this in their hearts. No matter how much a concubine-born daughter was elevated, she was still born from a concubine's belly and would be ridiculed by the legitimate daughters after entering the palace.

  But then again, whether it's Chu Huashang and the like who are born out of wedlock or Lin Yuan and the like who are daughters of small households, there are many people who can fight their way to the top in the harem.

  "Born out of wedlock... The Empress Dowager muttered to herself. Three months ago, Liu the eunuch under the Empress Dowager had already investigated Chu Huashang's identity and the entire Chu family. The Chu family did have daughters, but they were all legitimate, yet they sent a daughter born out of wedlock into the palace... In this place, even sisters from the same womb could turn against each other, so why wouldn't they be afraid that when the time comes, disaster would strike and their plans would be ruined? Or perhaps the Emperor would disdain the identity of a daughter born out of wedlock and refuse to give her a good future?"

  One person's heart is not ruthless enough, and they cannot achieve great things. The Chu family, since they can't bear to let their legitimate daughter suffer, won't have a bright future... If they had the courage of the Shangguan family, sending one of their only two daughters into the palace and the other into the Xianyu Wangfu, the Chu family wouldn't be just an ordinary aristocratic family.

  The Empress Dowager has always been wary of consorts from prominent families, not suppressing them is already being lenient, let alone promoting them. But the matter with the Chu sisters is different... They are not as harmonious as outsiders see, and when the time comes if Chuhua Shuang gives birth to a child, whether this child can be counted under Yunxiu's name is still a problem, and whether Chuhua Shuang, an unloved concubine-born daughter, can wholeheartedly devote herself to the family is also a problem.

  Chu Hua's value is indeed somewhat subtle... If she were forever overshadowed by her sister, she would never be valued or supported by the Chu family for her entire life. Having a good family background is equivalent to having a bad one; in this case, being a tool for childbirth suits her just fine. But if something else were to happen... as a high-ranking concubine, she's clearly more suitable than her sister.

  The empress smiled and nodded, deciding to let it go. Chu Huashang's life was hers to choose for herself.

  The empress's words were something that Chuhua had never heard before since entering the palace, and it was also the first time she had ever heard them in her life. The two words "born out of wedlock" carried with them 16 years of pain and sorrow, and from childhood to adulthood, all her parents and sisters had taught her was to remember her humble status, not one person had told her to stand up straight and be a person. She hastily wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with her sleeve, then kowtowed behind the screen before responding: "Concubine Chuhua is fortunate to have been taken under Your Majesty's wing..."

  "I'm tired, all of you withdraw." The Empress Dowager did not want to hear her words of gratitude.

  Although she wanted to pull Chu Huashang a bit, in the empress dowager's heart, these concubines were just pawns. She didn't want to get close to them.

  Chu Huashang let out a soft sigh, she knew that her path still needed her own efforts to walk, the Empress Dowager wouldn't help her too much.

  Several people made a bow and said: "The concubines have retired."

  The empress dowager cast a final glance at Lin Wan and Wen Pin, saying lightly: "You two should also remember the rules of the palace. Don't overdo things, nor be impatient."

  The two of them nodded hastily, then looked at each other. They were intelligent people and both understood the Empress's implication. "Don't overdo it" was directed at Lin Yuan, warning her not to be too greedy now that she had gained imperial favor; "don't worry" was directed at Wen Pin, consoling her that although she was currently out of favor, she should bide her time and plan carefully, there was no need to be anxious due to the current difficulties.

  Lin Wan, Wen Pin and Chu Huasheng felt that the Empress Dowager's teachings were very precious and rare. When they took their leave, their attitude was even more respectful than usual.

  At this time, the sky outside had already entered the night. In the not-too-distant high and grand palace called Jiaotai Temple, which was often used as a banquet venue, beautiful fireworks were rising one by one. Lin Yu knew that it was the Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet.

  However, the banquet has already begun, and it's too late to go now. Since they came to serve the Empress Dowager, it would be reasonable for them to miss the banquet. Lin Yu decided to return to the palace instead of attending the banquet; of course, Wu Guiren and others would not miss any opportunity to see the Emperor, she and Ye Cairen, Xu Ronghua three people went together.

  Xu Ronghua wanted to pull Wenpin along before leaving, but Wenpin shook her sleeves and ignored her. Xu Ronghua looked at her arrogant appearance with disdain in his eyes, having already lost favor yet still daring not to put the banquet in his eyes, really thinking he had the capital to be proud of himself?

  Several people went their separate ways.

  Chu Huashang rushed to the fastest, her direction was Jiaotai Temple. Because Chu Huaxin had already prepared the piano music to be presented to the emperor at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, while Chu Huashang needed to recite poetry alongside her melody. She didn't expect that Empress Dowager would make them kneel in the Buddhist hall for two hours, and she didn't know if rushing over now was still timely. If she delayed her sister's affairs, she wouldn't be able to bear the consequences...

  She thought of Chu Huaxin's proud face and walked faster and faster.

  ***

  Lin Wan returned to the palace and had dinner as usual, then took out silver from the warehouse to distribute it to the people in the Mirror Moon Pavilion, big and small, as a reward for the festival. Everyone in the palace spent a happy Mid-Autumn Festival with joy and laughter.

  In the dead of night, Xiao Chengzi came in and told Lin Wan that the Emperor had summoned Yun Xiurong to serve him tonight.

  Lin Yan smiled: "I thought the emperor didn't like her that much anymore, but now looking at how many times she's been summoned to serve in bed, it's actually quite a lot."

  "The emperor's favor towards her is not considered doting." Xiaochengzi continued, "In these days, you, young master, have received the most imperial favor. Although Yunxiu Rong can share two or three days, I've heard that originally the emperor would turn over Tian Shu Concubine's token, and Tian Shu Concubine would advise the emperor to go to Yunxiu Rong's quarters..."

  "Is it? Then today is also like this?"

  "It's true. I heard from the side of Jiaotai Temple that the emperor praised Tanshu Ji's literary talent at the banquet, and had no praise for Yunxiu Rong. Empress Xiang also said at the banquet that the emperor was already tired of hearing pipa and guqin music, and told Yunxiu Rong to put her heart into performing for the emperor in the future, so as not to bore him... Later, the emperor went to Xianfu Palace, but it's unknown whether he went to Shu Ji or Xiurong first. Afterwards, some palace staff whispered and spread rumors that Shu Ji had injured her arm and couldn't serve the emperor, so they advised the emperor to go to Yunxiu Rong's place..."

  Lin Yan nodded and sat quietly for a moment, then said to Chu Xue: "Help me change clothes, I want to go out for a while."

  ***

  Near Xianfugong, there was someone who, like Lin Wan, did not sleep for half the night and stood outside the palace blowing wind.

  Chu Huashang sat in the small pavilion by the Taiye Pool, looking through the layers of palace buildings towards the main hall of Xianfu Palace, that luxurious palace which was still brightly lit at midnight due to the emperor's presence.

  She thought that if she didn't have an older sister, all the glorious nights of being favored should be hers to enjoy, and the Emperor should grant her more power and wealth. She even greedily thought that if she were the eldest daughter, she would be able to use the Chu family's money, power, and connections in the palace, and with such support, she would quickly rise to a high position instead of being an insignificant concubine, always following her sister's lead... Why was she born as a concubine?

  As she thought, the autumn night wind blew over, her wound on her arm was blown by the wind, and her brain was blown awake. She suddenly stood up, biting her lip and said in a low voice: "What's the difference between being born legitimate or illegitimate?"

  All these years have passed, she has always envied the legitimate daughters in the mansion, always complaining to heaven about her illegitimate status. She finally understands the mistakes of the past, since she can't choose, why bother lamenting? She admires her elder sister's birth, is her own mother inferior? Although her mother was a concubine, she is the best person in the world to herself, if she despises her own identity, isn't that unfilial...

  Chu Huashang finally glanced away, no longer gazing longingly at her elder sister's bedchamber.

  At this moment, she saw a vague figure on the other side of the Taiye Pond walking slowly towards her.

  Chu Huashang was taken aback for a moment, who would still be strolling around at this late hour? Except for her sisters and the few unloved concubines in Xianfu Palace, they were all ordinary and honest people, and they would not venture out of the palace at midnight to cause trouble. She herself couldn't sleep tonight either...

  The figure became increasingly clear, and finally, Chuhua Xiang was able to see clearly. She bowed her head in greeting, with a hint of vigilance and doubt in her tone: "I don't know why the young master is here so late at night..."

  Lin Yan looked up at the moonlight. She remembered that not long ago, it was also a deep night like this, and she almost lost her life in the icy lake water. The difference is that on that day, the moonlight was dim, and the floating clouds were all over the sky, while today's moon is as bright as a copper mirror under the sunlight, and all the starlight around has been covered up. Mid-Autumn Festival, what a good omen...

  She raised her head and looked for a while before turning her face to look at Chu Huashang.

  She smiled at her with a very sincere smile: "I'm here to admire the moon! You don't have to salute me, we are both princesses, I just happened to occupy the first position."

  Appreciating the moon, why not attend a moon appreciation banquet, but instead come out in the middle of the night... Chu Huashang was silent and thoughtful, but didn't ask any questions. She understood that Lin Yu's intention wasn't about this, so there was no need to ask her about appreciating the moon.