The great hall of Princess Mei Xiao shimmered with wonderful elegance.Silken banners embroidered with gold thread cascaded from the ceiling like waterfalls. Petals of rare plum blossoms floated in crystal bowls, filling the air with a soft, heady scent. Rows of jade lanterns cast warm, flickering glows, painting shadows across the marble floor like a dream spun from moonlight.
Everywhere, princesses from foreign lands sat gracefully, cloaked in robes of flowing silk, their eyes lined with kohl, their lips painted in shades of peach and cherry. Laughter and the tinkling of wine cups echoed gently across the lavish space. The air was light with festivity—on the surface.
But in one corner of the hall, eyes gleamed not with joy, but malice.
Princess Mei Xiao's gaze lit up the moment Hua Lian entered.
Ah, her prey had arrived.
Dressed in a simple sky-blue robe with silver embroidery, Hua Lian glowed like a pearl amidst gemstones. There was a calm humility to her steps, a quiet grace that unsettled the arrogant hearts in the room.
Mei Xiao's lips curled ever so slightly. Let the game begin.
She raised her wine cup to her lips but did not drink. Her heart thumped with delicious anticipation. Hua Lian had walked straight into her trap—and now, no one would be able to save her from disgrace.
No one.
As she stood, the hall quieted with a reverent hush. All heads turned toward the poised and breathtaking princess.
Her voice rang out like silver bells. "Everyone," she said with a soft, pleasant smile that masked her venom, "our honored guest today—Hua Lian—has offered to perform a special piece for us on the guqin and pipa. A ... great piece."
Gasps echoed lightly through the room. Some murmured with surprise. Others chuckled with intrigue. A maid performing before royalty?
Hua Lian's brows furrowed. She never said such a thing.
Her heart thudded. So this was her plan.
She glanced at the guqin already set in place on the stage—its polished wood gleamed under the lanterns, but something felt off. Still, with dozens of elegant eyes upon her, she had no choice. Backing down now would only prove the rumor Mei Xiao wanted: that the maid had dared to overstep and failed miserably.
Slowly, she walked toward the stage, every step echoing like thunder in her chest.
"She doesn't look confident," someone whispered.
"She's about to embarrass herself," another giggled.
Mei Xiao thought smugly, Just give up already, little girl. Let them laugh at your tears.
Hua Lian sat on the low stool before the guqin. Her fingers brushed the strings lightly—and she noticed some were cut, frayed deliberately. Her heart clenched.
So it was sabotage too…
The pipa beside the guqin had a loosened peg as well. The instrument had clearly been tampered with.
Still, she closed her eyes.
And then... she began.
The moment her slender fingers caressed the strings, it was as if another thing had stepped into her body. Her posture straightened, her brows relaxed, and her aura transformed entirely. A hush swept over the audience.
A single haunting note rang through the hall.
The melody rose like a sigh from the past, delicate and ethereal. Each vibration struck not just ears but hearts. Then she began to sing.
Her voice, soft as a breeze through bamboo, carried words laced with ancient sorrow and deep yearning. The notes threaded through the air like silk threads—sweet, aching, and alive.
The crowd stopped breathing.
Even Mei Xiao froze.
Hua Lian sang of peach blossoms in spring. Of a child dancing beneath a peach tree, her mother's laughter mingling with music. Of loss and love and memories so vivid they hurt.
Her mind was no longer in the grand palace.
It was back in the hills of her childhood. Her mother's fingers guided hers gently across the guqin as birds chirped around them. Laughter. Sunlight. The scent of plum wine. Then darkness. Screams. Blood.
A crystal tear slipped down Hua Lian's jade-like cheek. Her fingers never faltered.
Beyond the doors of the banquet hall, passersby paused. Servants stood still, enchanted. Even the palace guards dropped their spears, transfixed by the mournful, mesmerizing sound.
And then—the five princes arrived.
Drawn by the music like bees to nectar, they stood at the edge of the hall, stunned. Not a word left their lips as they stared at the figure playing with such divine grace.
When Hua Lian struck the final note, it echoed like the tolling of a memory long buried.
Silence.
And then—chaos.
Applause erupted like thunder. Some stood. Some shouted. Some wept openly.
"Beautiful!"
"She's an angel sent to enchant us!"
Even the princesses were on their feet, stunned into admiration.
Mei Xiao clapped—slowly, expression unreadable. But her fingers were trembling. Her chest burned. Her mouth tasted of acid and shame.
No. No! This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
She had ordered the strings cut. She had baited a trap. But the maid had soared above it—turned the blade into a flute and played it like an angel.
She glanced quickly at the princes. Li Mingzhao's eyes glowed with fierce admiration. Fenglin was smiling without restraint. Wenjin stared as if he'd seen a ghost. Renshu muttered something under his breath, his hand over his heart.
Even Li Yuyan, standing silently at the rear, remained still as stone—but his gaze did not waver from Hua Lian.
Why are they all looking at her like that? Mei Xiao's heart cracked.
Her nails dug into her palm.
Who are you really, Hua Lian? You… you're just a maid. You don't belong here!
But the answer was clear in the shimmering applause and the glittering eyes around the hall.
Hua Lian wasn't just a maid anymore.
She had become a star.
And stars… cannot be hidden.
With a hollow laugh, Mei Xiao put on her most dazzling smile and approached the girl she now hated with every thread of her being.
"Well done," she said sweetly, her voice like poisoned honey. "That was… beyond anything we expected."
She bowed slightly. Pretending. Smiling.
But inside, she was already planning her next strike.
This was far from over.