The Second World in Ancient Times

In the busy life of the palace, Xiaozhu was like a fresh breeze that blew into my heart. That day, I was worrying about the etiquette of a palace banquet, and she came to my side skipping and jumping.

"Sister Siqing, why do you look so sad?" Xiaozhu asked me with her head tilted.

"Xiao Zhu, I always feel that the etiquette details of this banquet are not perfect enough. Some foreign envoys are coming, and we have to show our best side." I said helplessly.

Xiao Zhu's eyes lit up: "Sister, I recently learned some new etiquette postures from the old lady, maybe they can help you."

As she spoke, she began to demonstrate, performing each move with extreme care. I looked at her, my heart filled with surprise: "Xiao Zhu, you are amazing! This gesture is really exquisite. We can add it to the reception process."

From then on, we often studied etiquette together and corrected each other's postures. We could always be seen practicing in the corners of the palace.

Material management is always challenging, and that shortage nearly drove me crazy. I was in the warehouse, checking the ledger over and over again, my brow furrowed.

Shunzi came in, saw my expression, and asked, "Madam, what's wrong with you? You're like an ant on a hot pan."

"Shunzi, we don't have enough spices and silk for this banquet. What should we do? It will be troublesome if the banquet is delayed." I said anxiously.

Shunzi pondered for a moment, then said, "Sister, I know a place that might have extra silk. A batch of supplies was previously stored in the western side hall. Maybe we can find some there. As for spices, there are some flowers in the imperial garden that can be used to make some simple spice substitutes. They taste pretty good."

I seemed to see my savior: "Shunzi, is that true? Then let's go and take a look." With Shunzi's help, we successfully solved the problem of supply shortages, and I was full of gratitude to him.

Wanqing is my closest friend in the palace. Every stressful night, we would talk to each other. Once, after completing a large palace event, I returned to my residence exhausted.

Wanqing saw me and said distressedly, "Siqing, you must be exhausted. This activity was really not easy."

I slumped in my chair. "Yeah, Wanqing. This event was so difficult for everyone. I felt like I was walking a tightrope, ready to fall if I wasn't careful. Also, I could sense some people's jealousy of me growing deeper and deeper. The little tricks they were pulling in the dark were impossible to guard against."

Wanqing sat next to me and held my hand. "Sister, I know you've worked hard. But look, haven't we always made it through? Those who envy you don't understand your kindness, so we don't need to pay attention to them. You have to believe that everything you do is worth it. The emperor and those who truly appreciate you see it all."

I looked at Wanqing's determined eyes, and the fatigue in my heart seemed to be relieved a lot: "Wanqing, I'm lucky to have you by my side. If I didn't have you, I really don't know what I would do."

Cuiyu is a straightforward palace maid. While supervising meal preparation in the imperial kitchen, we ran into trouble. A female official close to the imperial concubine came to complain.

The court lady pointed at a dish and said, "Why is this dish so pale? The imperial concubine likes brightly colored dishes. How do you cook it?"

I was about to explain when Cui Yu stepped forward and said, "Sister, this dish is prepared according to traditional palace methods, and we've tried it many times and it tastes excellent. The Imperial Concubine pays attention to healthy eating, and the ingredients used in this dish are carefully selected without excessive coloring. This is the best arrangement for the Imperial Concubine."

Cuiyu left the female official speechless for a moment, so I continued, "Also, we will make appropriate adjustments based on the Imperial Concubine's taste. You can add some colorful side dishes to embellish this dish when serving it. This will ensure it is healthy while also satisfying the Imperial Concubine's preference for color."

The lady-in-waiting snorted and turned away. Cuiyu and I smiled at each other. It was wonderful to have such supportive friends in the palace.

Xiao Fuzi was a young eunuch who was punished for accidentally spilling the Empress's tea. He came to me crying.

"Sister Si Qing, I really didn't mean it. The Queen Mother has punished me by grounding me to house arrest for a month and also deducted my monthly salary. What should I do?" Xiao Fuzi cried until her eyes were red.

I comforted him, "Don't worry, Xiao Fuzi. We can find a way to make up for this mistake. First, sincerely apologize to the Empress, and then I'll help you find an opportunity to perform well in front of the Empress. You can learn some new skills during your confinement, such as making exquisite tea and snacks. When the confinement is lifted, you can present them to the Empress. Maybe the Empress will forgive you."

After hearing what I said, Xiao Fuzi wiped her tears and said, "Sister, is that true? I will definitely study hard." With my help, Xiao Fuzi successfully gained the Queen's forgiveness, and our friendship became even deeper.

Ling'er was the maid in charge of the palace flower arrangements, and we shared a love for beautiful things. When the Emperor praised me for successfully organizing a palace banquet, she was the first person I wanted to tell.

I ran to the garden where Ling'er was arranging flowers. "Ling'er, I have good news for you! This banquet was a great success, and the Emperor even praised me!"

Ling'er put down the flowers in her hand and jumped up excitedly: "Sister Siqing, I knew you could do it! You work so hard, this is what you deserve. You don't know, when I was arranging the flowers here, I heard many palace maids and eunuchs praising you, saying that this banquet is the most wonderful they have ever seen."

I took Ling'er's hand and said, "This is also thanks to you. If you hadn't decorated the banquet venue so beautifully, how could we have such an effect? ​​Our efforts were not in vain." We laughed among the flowers. That was our happy time.

While preparing for an important palace sacrificial ceremony, the pressure was enormous and everyone was a little exhausted.

I told everyone, "This sacrificial ceremony is of great importance. We cannot afford to make even the slightest mistake. Although it will be arduous, we must persevere."

Xiao Zhu said, "Sister Siqing, don't worry, we are all here. We have prepared for so many activities together, so we will be able to do it this time too."

Shunzi also said: "Yes, if we cooperate with each other, there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome."

Wanqing continued, "Yes, we are a team, and every one of us is important. Our friendship is our greatest strength, and we will definitely make this sacrificial ceremony a complete success."

With the encouragement of our friends, we picked ourselves up and gave our all for the sacrificial activities.

Once, Xiao Zhu was caught up in a palace rumor. Someone said that she deliberately made things difficult for other palace maids during etiquette training. Xiao Zhu was so upset that she burst into tears.

I held her hand and said, "Xiao Zhu, don't be afraid. We're going to find the source of the rumors and clear your name."

We began investigating and discovered that a jealous palace maid had been spreading rumors about Xiaozhu. I took Xiaozhu to the maid and told her, "Why would you fabricate such rumors? Xiaozhu has always been hardworking and kind. By doing this, you are destroying the harmony of the palace. You must apologize to Xiaozhu and stop spreading these rumors."

Under my pressure, the palace maid had to apologize, Xiaozhu's crisis was resolved, and our friendship became stronger through this test.

On my birthday, I had forgotten about this special day because of the trivial matters in the palace. When I returned to my residence, I found Wanqing, Xiaozhu, Shunzi, Cuiyu, Xiaofuzi and Ling'er were all there. They had prepared a simple but warm celebration.

Wanqing smiled and said, "Siqing, happy birthday! We know you've been busy at the palace and might have forgotten your birthday, so we took the initiative to prepare this little surprise for you."

I was so moved that tears welled up in my eyes. "You... Thank you! I really didn't expect that in this palace, there are still people like you who care about me so much."

Xiao Zhu took out a small ornament she made herself: "Sister, I made this for you, I hope you like it."

Shunzi also handed over the gift he had prepared: "Lady Siqing, I have been looking for this for a long time. I hope it will bring you good luck."

Looking at my friends' sincere smiles and the gifts they prepared, I felt like the happiest person in the world. This friendship shone with an incomparably precious light in the darkness of the palace.

The struggles within the palace grew increasingly intense, and we, the friends, were inevitably affected. Once, we discovered that someone had secretly placed something detrimental to the master among the items we had prepared for the palace, attempting to frame us.

I told everyone, "We can't let them succeed. We must find out who's behind this."

We began to carefully examine every link and recall every person who had come into contact with these items. During the investigation, we supported each other and were not shaken by those malicious threats and rumors.

Xiao Fuzi said: "No matter who is behind this, we are not afraid. We must protect ourselves and the peace of the palace."

In the end, we succeeded in finding the mastermind behind the incident and foiled their plot, and our friendship became even more indestructible in this struggle.

During a palace flood, our lives and work were severely affected. The palace was flooded, a lot of supplies were washed away, and everyone was in chaos.

I organized my friends to help with the disaster relief: "Don't panic, let's move the important supplies to higher ground first, and then go help the trapped palace maids and eunuchs."

Wanqing, Xiaozhu, Shunzi, Cuiyu, Xiaofuzi, and Ling'er all joined me without hesitation. We struggled through the flood, carrying supplies and rescuing others, regardless of our own safety.

Throughout this process, we supported each other. If someone fell, the others would immediately pull them up. If someone was injured, everyone would come together to help. Our friendship withstood the test of this disaster and became even stronger, like a dam that stands firm in the face of a flood.

Although palace life was hard, there were also many interesting episodes among our friends. Once, during a break, we played a game of guessing riddles.

Shunzi came up with a riddle: "Curved vines climb up the trellis, strings of pearls hang from it. (Guess a fruit)"

Xiao Fuzi scratched his head: "What is this? I can't guess it."

Xiao Zhu smiled and said, "I know, it's grapes!"

We all laughed, and Ling'er said, "This is fun. I'll give you one too. A red fruit with pockmarks. Take a bite and it's sweet. (Guess a fruit)"

Everyone speculated, and laughter echoed in every corner of the palace. They temporarily forgot the troubles and pressures in the palace and enjoyed this rare happy time.

Cuiyu has always dreamed of showing off her dancing talent in a grand performance at the palace. When I learned that the palace was hosting a dance extravaganza, I tried to find a way to help her.

I found the official in charge of the dance performance and said, "Sir, I know a palace maid who dances very well. Could you give her a chance to perform at this dance feast?"

The official was a little skeptical: "Really? Then let her try jumping."

I brought Cuiyu here. She performed a beautiful dance, and the officials praised her endlessly: "Excellent! This palace maid dances so well. She's the one to choose."

Cuiyu hugged me excitedly: "Sister Siqing, thank you! This has always been my dream. Without you, I would never have this opportunity." Seeing Cuiyu's happy look, I was also happy for her.

For a while, negative rumors about me were circulating in the palace, saying that I was ambitious and wanted to cling to the powerful. These rumors also affected my friends, and some people began to point fingers at them.

Xiao Zhu came to me with a determined light in her eyes: "Sister Si Qing, I don't care about those rumors. I know what kind of person you are. We are friends, and I will always believe in you."

Wanqing also said: "That's right, those rumors are nonsense. We can't let them affect us. Our friendship is stronger than these rumors."

With the support of my friends, I was not defeated by the rumors. We faced those malicious eyes together, sticking to our friendship, and making those rumors self-defeating.

In this complex palace, every day is full of challenges and uncertainties, but I know that no matter what happens, I have these precious friends by my side. Our friendship is my most precious treasure in the palace, like a beacon in the darkness, guiding me forward.

I told my friends, "We must cherish our friendship. No matter how many difficulties the future holds, we must face them together and never give up."

We all nodded, with determination and warmth in our eyes, and we clasped our hands tightly together, ready to face the next challenge of palace life.