Two days later, the final day of the palace etiquette classes arrived, marking the end of an arduous journey for the rest of maidens who had stayed in the competition. Despite the lingering anxiety among them, Qin Yufei felt no excitement. She had no desire to stay in the palace, no interest in becoming the crown princess or even a concubine. All she wanted was to return home and retreat into the quiet solace of her room.

However, her wishes held no weight here. It was her duty to see this through, and so she reluctantly let Xiao Tong dress her in a simple white silk dress. Plain but elegant, it contrasted sharply with the bright, jewel-toned gowns of the other maidens. Her long black hair was styled neatly, adorned with just some pins and a white jade hairpin.

The maidens were summoned to the garden, where Nanny Pei waited to escort them to the grand banquet hall. Qin Yufei moved among the group, her gaze lowered as she avoided catching anyone's attention.

The grand banquet hall was magnificent, its high ceilings adorned with golden carvings and its floors gleaming with polished wood. At the head of the hall sat the emperor, flanked by the queen dowager and the crown prince. The queen dowager's gaze was sharp. The crown prince, seated silently beside her, was as unreadable as ever.

The maidens entered in a single line, their heads bowed in deference. Qin Yufei kept her eyes fixed on the ground, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She dared not look at the royal family.

Nanny Pei stood at the center of the hall and began to address the gathering.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Grace," she said, bowing deeply. "After careful observation of the maidens' performance during the classes, the Queen Dowager has made her final decision."

The hall grew silent, save for the sound of Nanny Pei unrolling a scroll. Qin Yufei's heart remained steady, her detachment contrasted with the anticipation that gripped the others.

"The position of crown princess shall be bestowed upon Lady Jiang Mu, the eldest daughter of Jiang Zijing, Prime Minister."

A murmur rippled through the maidens, but Qin Yufei didn't lift her gaze. She had expected her to claim one of the spots. Lady Jiang Mu was the Prime Minister's daughter, she was elegant, accomplished, and ambitious—everything the palace would seek in a future royal consort.

"And the position of royal concubine shall be bestowed upon..."

"...Lady Qin Yufei, second daughter of General Qin Peiheng."

Her breath caught, her body froze. Qin Yuli almost stood up as she thought Nanny Pei was calling her name.

Royal concubine? Her? Of all people?

Yufei slowly rose, her mind blank as her surroundings blurred. It took every ounce of self-control to accept the royal edict. She could feel the weight of stares on her, everything she hated.

The queen dowager's gaze landed on her, but Yufei dared not meet it. Instead, she lowered her head once more, her thoughts racing. What did this mean? Why her? Her sister, Qin Yuli, should have been the one chosen. She was better.

As the Emperor congratulated the Crown Prince, the decision was finalized. Lady Jiang Mu and Lady Qin Yufei were to remain in the palace, their fates now bound to the royal family.

The rest of the maidens were dismissed, instructed to leave the palace before curfew. Qin Yufei stood in a daze, her body moving on autopilot as she followed the others out of the hall. Xiao Tong was waiting for her outside, her face a mixture of concern and confusion.

"My Lady, what happened?" she whispered, hurrying to Yufei's side.

Yufei's lips pressed into a thin line. "I... was chosen as the royal concubine," she said quietly, the words feeling foreign on her tongue.

Xiao Tong's eyes widened in disbelief, but she said nothing, simply staying close to her mistress as they returned to her quarters.

Qin Yufei's mind was a storm of emotions—fear, confusion, and a deep unease. How would her sister react? Would Qin Yuli's wrath finally unleash itself now? What would this mean for her life, her freedom, and her future?

She sat silently in her room, the reality of her situation sinking in. For all her efforts to stay invisible, to avoid confrontation, fate had thrust her into the very spotlight she had tried so hard to escape.

Gripping the royal edict tightly in her hands, Qin Yufei sat in her room, her breaths shallow as the weight of her situation bore down on her. She stared at the finely crafted scroll, its golden characters glowing faintly in the dim candlelight. It was supposed to be an honor, a privilege granted to few, but to her, it felt like a shackle.

She wanted to cry.

All her plans—to leave the palace quietly, to watch her sister take the crown princess spot and fulfill her ambitions—had unraveled. None of them had gotten what they wanted. Worse, this new title, royal concubine, was terrifying.

Entering the royal harem was not an opportunity to rise; it was a gamble with her life. The harem was a battlefield veiled in silk and powdered smiles, where whispers killed faster than blades. Peace would remain an illusion, just as it had been in her family's home.

It felt like she had only traded one cage for another.

The hours dragged on as her mind swirled with thoughts. Xiao Tong finally left her alone, laying in her bed on the other side of the curtain.

How would she navigate the treacherous waters of palace life? Would her sister finally snap and take drastic measures against her? How did the queen dowager even notice her existence?

As the night deepened, the suffocating silence of her room became unbearable. Quietly, Qin Yufei slipped on a light robe and picked up a lantern. Without waking Xiao Tong, she stepped out into the cool night air again.

The courtyard was serene, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Yufei walked slowly, her steps light on the stone path, until she reached the small table in the center. She set the lantern down and seated herself, her gaze lifting to the sky.

The stars were clear and countless, shining as if mocking the storm within her. Her slender fingers traced the edge of the table absentmindedly, the royal edict lying unopened beside the lantern. She closed her eyes, hoping the chill in the air would numb her thoughts.

Then she heard her name.

"Lady Qin."

The voice, low and steady, startled her. Her eyes snapped open, and she turned toward the source. Emerging from the shadows was a figure she recognized immediately. The man from the pond.

Her breath hitched as their eyes met, his dark and unreadable, but this time, something about him was different. He was no longer dressed like an ordinary passerby. His robes were finer, dark and meticulously embroidered with golden patterns.

Yufei stood up quickly as the man entered the courtyard, her heart skipping a beat in her chest. She hastily motioned for him to leave, her voice filled with nervous urgency.

"You must leave. If anyone finds us here at this hour, there will be trouble."

The man stepped closer, his movements measured and deliberate, yet his expression betrayed no intention of harm.

"I just saw the light again," he said simply, his tone calm but firm.

Her grip on the table tightened.

"You... shouldn't be here. It's improper," she said, though her words sounded weak even to herself.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering.

"Improper? But it would be more improper for me to leave without ensuring you are well after today's event, Lady Qin."

The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn't mocking her, nor was he overly familiar. It was as if he spoke to her with a quiet certainty, as though he already knew her far better than she knew him.

"I..." she faltered, unsure how to respond.

Her mind raced with questions. Who was he? Why did he keep appearing at moments like this? And why, despite the fear and unease his presence should evoke, did she feel oddly comforted?

The man took another step forward, his gaze dropping briefly to the royal edict on the table before returning to her.

"What do you think of your new title," he asked.

Her lips parted in shock. "You... know?"

To her surprise, the man only chuckled softly, an amused glint in his dark eyes.

"Do you truly not pay attention, Lady Qin?"

His tone was light, almost teasing, and Yufei, momentarily stunned, furrowed her brows.

"What do you mean?" she asked, still uneasy.

With a lazy grin, he stepped closer, his voice low. "The banquet. You didn't notice me there?"

Yufei blinked, feeling a flush of confusion spread across her face. "The banquet?" she repeated.

He saw her there?

The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving hers.

"I wish you had looked at me then," he said, his words making her heart race in a way she didn't understand.

A moment passed before realization began to dawn on her. "You were at the banquet?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

He didn't respond immediately, instead locking eyes with her. The intensity in his gaze made her feel exposed, as though he could see straight through her. Finally, he spoke again, his voice soft.

"Ask me for my name," he said, his tone shifting from light to more serious. "We've met four times now."

Four times? Yufei's mind scrambled to keep up, trying to recall every encounter. "Four times?" she repeated, her brow furrowing. "But... this is... the third time."

The man stood still, observing her reaction with quiet amusement. "Is it?"

"Then, can I dare ask for your name, my Lord?" she asked finally.

"Bai Shengli."

Yufei took a step back, her heart skipping a beat. The name sent a shock through her, and her hand instinctively grasped the edge of the table.

The words hung in the air for a moment, and it felt as though the entire world had stilled. She quickly looked at him again, her mind racing. Bai Shengli? Wasn't that the name of the crown prince?

Her eyes widened in realization, and she instinctively took two steps back, her breath catching in her throat.

"Your Highness" she then bowed, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Bai Shengli smiled. He nodded slowly.

"Indeed," he said, his tone as cool and detached as ever. "That is why I dared visit you, Lady Qin."

Yufei stood frozen, her mind reeling. She had been speaking to the crown prince this whole time, the very same prince who had seen her completely drenched and sullied.

Bai Shengli, his eyes still watching her, extended his hand.

"Have you taken care of your hands since the last incident?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of concern in his words. "It would sadden me if you could not play the zither again."

Yufei instinctively held her bandaged hands close to her chest, a quiet response to his question. She didn't trust herself to speak just yet, her emotions a mix of confusion, fear, and something else she couldn't quite place. His attention, so gentle yet imposing, made her feel exposed, and she was not sure how to react.

For a moment, Bai Shengli stood still, watching her, but then he slowly withdrew his hand. His posture shifted, and he placed his hand behind his back.

"Did I not give you a cloak?" he said, his tone firm yet not unkind. "The night is cold, and you should not go out dressed so lightly."

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he took his off and began walking closer.

Yufei's mind raced as she processed his words. She hadn't even realized that the night air had grown chillier, nor had she noticed how thin her dress felt against the cool breeze.

The heavy silence between them stretched on, filled only by the distant sounds of the palace at night. Yufei wrapped the red cloak tightly around her shoulders, her thoughts scattered once more, unsure of what exactly was happening between them. It felt strange, this sudden interaction with Bai Shengli was different than the ones she had before.

With the cloak now draped over her shoulders, she looked up, meeting his gaze once again, but this time her eyes held a new question. Why was he here? Why had he chosen to speak with her at all?

Yet, Bai Shengli said nothing more, his presence as unyielding as before, as if he were waiting for her to say something, to act in some way. The tension between them remained thick in the air, and Yufei wasn't sure how to bridge the gap.

"Please remind yourself to wear it for now. I do not wish to see you again without it, standing there in the cold."

His eyes did not leave her, until he decided to walk back after a while, leaving her there in the courtyard. She had never felt as lost as that moment.