The Second World in Ancient Times

One day, I was checking the tableware the maids had prepared for a banquet when a young eunuch hurried over and said, "Lady of the Imperial Court, congratulations! The Emperor has decreed a promotion!"

I was stunned, a wave of surprise welling up in my heart. The surrounding palace maids also gathered around and said, "Sister Siqing, you are really amazing!"

I smiled and said to them, "This is the result of everyone's hard work. We all need to keep working hard."

When we got back to our place, Wanqing hugged me excitedly and said, "Siqing, I knew you could do it! With this promotion, your future will be even more different."

I looked at her: "Wanqing, I know this means more responsibility, I can't take it lightly."

The next day, I was summoned to the Imperial Household Department. The head steward smiled and said to me, "Si Qing, your promotion is a testament to the Emperor's confidence in you. From now on, you will not only be managing daily palace affairs, but also participating in the planning and organization of major events. This is a significant undertaking, and you must perform well."

I replied respectfully, "Master General, I will do my best to live up to the expectations of the Emperor and you."

The chief steward nodded. "Yes, there will be an event to receive foreign envoys soon. You need to prepare with other officials. This is related to the reputation of our country, and there can be no mistakes."

My heart tightened, knowing this was a huge challenge, but I still said firmly, "Yes, I understand."

Coming out of the Imperial Household Department, I ran into the female officials I used to work with. One of them said sourly, "Si Qing, you've really gotten ahead this time. Don't forget us old friends."

I smiled and responded, "Sister, you're joking. I'm where I am today thanks to everyone's help. I'll still rely on your support in the future."

Another female officer said sincerely, "Si Qing, you are capable and you deserve this promotion. However, this new responsibility is not easy. If you have any questions, you can ask us."

I looked at her gratefully and said, "Thank you, sister. If I encounter any difficulties, I will definitely ask you for help."

I began to prepare for the reception of foreign envoys. I convened a meeting with those responsible for protocol, meals, accommodation, and other aspects.

I said to the matron in charge of etiquette, "Madam, when we receive foreign envoys, we must ensure perfect etiquette. We must understand the etiquette and customs of their countries and not make any mistakes."

The nanny nodded. "Don't worry, Madam. I'm already collecting information. However, the etiquette of some countries is very complicated, so we need to study it carefully."

I then said to the head chef, "Master Li, we must also pay attention to the food. We need to prepare dishes that suit the tastes of foreigners, while also including our own local specialties."

Master Li replied, "Madam, this is a bit difficult, but we will try our best."

During the discussion of accommodation arrangements, the eunuch in charge of palace construction said, "Madam, we can arrange for the envoys to stay in the east palace. The environment there is good and the facilities are complete."

I thought about it and said: "Okay, but we need to decorate it in the style of their country so that they feel at home."

Then I said to the officials in charge of the entertainment programs, "The performances should be diverse, including our traditional dances and music, as well as some novel programs to showcase the style of our court."

The official responded: "Madam, we will make careful preparations."

In order to better understand the culture of foreign envoys, I found foreign culture experts in the palace.

I asked him, "Sir, you are quite familiar with the cultures of the countries you visited this time. Could you tell me about their special taboos in terms of etiquette, food, and entertainment?"

The expert replied, "Lady of the Court of Emotions, one of the countries we visited this time is very particular about the order of etiquette and cannot afford to allow any deviation. They also abstain from certain types of meat and dislike overly greasy food. Regarding entertainment, they have certain strict standards for dance form and dislike overly lively performances."

I listened carefully and wrote down: "Thank you, sir. This information is very important for our preparations."

During the planning process, I felt jealousy from some people. One day, I discovered that the reception plan I had prepared had been altered, with some important details deleted.

I called the maid who was in charge of organizing the documents and asked, "What's going on? Why has the plan been changed?"

The maid said in panic: "Sister, I don't know. I have kept it here and never moved it."

I knew someone did this on purpose, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I reorganized the plan and strengthened the storage of documents.

Another time, when I was inspecting the palace where the envoys were staying, I found that some decorative items were damaged.

I asked the eunuch in charge of the arrangement, "How did this happen? These items were still in good condition yesterday."

The eunuch said aggrievedly: "Madam, we don't know either. This is what happened today."

I frowned. "Someone must be sabotaging us. We have to be careful. We can't let these little tricks affect our reception work."

I realized that I still had many shortcomings in organizing large-scale events, so I asked an experienced court official for advice.

I said to him, "Sir, I'm worried something might go wrong with this reception of foreign envoys. You've organized similar events before. Do you have any experience you can share with me?"

The official smiled and said, "Si Qing, you have to remember that details determine success or failure. Every step must be double-checked, and emergency plans must be prepared. When assigning personnel, choose reliable people and don't let anyone with bad intentions infiltrate."

I nodded: "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I will pay attention to it."

As the reception date approached, I began to frequently check the progress of the preparations.

I said to the palace maids in charge of etiquette training, "Sisters, your etiquette movements must be standard, and your eyes and expressions must be on point. Let's practice it."

The maids began to practice, and I pointed out the problems: "This gesture is wrong, it should be a little higher. Also, the smile should be natural, not stiff."

While checking the meal preparation, I said to the imperial chefs, "Master Li, we need to try these new dishes first to see how they taste and texture."

Chef Li brought out the dishes and I tasted them. "This dish is a bit bland. You could add a bit more salt. The dessert could be more refined."

While inspecting the preparations for the envoys' palace, I told the maid in charge of cleaning, "The beds must be made flat and the quilts neatly folded. Also, the water in the bathroom must be at the right temperature—not hot or cold."

The maid replied: "Madam, we have checked it and there is no problem."

I then said to the guard in charge of security, "Brother Guard, patrols around the palace must be stepped up. No suspicious individuals can approach."

The guard nodded: "Don't worry, Madam, we will guard it well."

During the preparations, conflicts arose between different departments. The officials in charge of entertainment and the nanny in charge of etiquette disagreed on the timing of the performances.

The official said, "Madam, the performance cannot be shortened. We have prepared many wonderful programs."

Mammy retorted, "But the etiquette aspect is also important and cannot be rushed just for the sake of performance."

I quickly mediated: "You two, we can make some adjustments and insert some short performances into the etiquette. This will ensure the integrity of the etiquette and make the performance more rich."

I discussed possible emergencies and response measures with other planners.

I told everyone, "If an envoy suddenly falls ill, we must immediately arrange for a doctor to treat him and adjust the reception schedule. In case of inclement weather, outdoor activities must be moved indoors as soon as possible."

Someone asked, “What if something unexpected happens during the performance?”

I replied, "Then there must be a backup program, and the actors must be prepared to deal with changes at any time."

In the last few days before the reception, I hardly rested, and I made a final check and confirmation of every detail.

I told the palace maids and eunuchs in charge of the reception, "Everyone, please be alert. This is our most important mission. We represent the palace and the country, and we cannot afford to make any mistakes."

The maids answered in unison: "Yes, lady-in-waiting!"

After everything was ready, I stood at the palace gate, looking at the venue where I would receive the envoys, my heart filled with nervousness and anticipation. I knew that this was my first major challenge after my promotion, and I had to succeed.

I said to myself, "Si Qing, you can do this. No matter how many difficulties there are, no matter how many jealous people are trying to sabotage you, you must persevere and not let anyone down."