The Second World in Ancient Times

When news of the palace gathering arrived, my heart raced with nervous excitement. Wanqing, helping me adjust my attire, kept muttering, "Siqing, you'll definitely make it this time. You've prepared so thoroughly, you're sure to shine."

I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror: "Wanqing, I'm really nervous. This opportunity is so rare, I can't mess it up."

"Don't worry, just show what you have practiced. Look at the costumes for your etiquette show, they are so beautiful, and the props for your talent show, there is no problem." Wanqing comforted me.

At this time, Xiao Zhu ran in: "Sister Si Qing, I just heard that a lot of people are paying attention to your performance this time. Those who are jealous of you are waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."

I clenched my fists. "Hmph, I won't let them succeed. I must let everyone know that I'm really capable."

On the day of the gathering, the palace was bustling with activity. I followed the crowd into the venue and immediately saw the king seated at the top. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly lowered my head and stood with the crowd.

After the king's opening speech, the party officially began. First, there were some singing and dancing performances. I watched quietly from the side, silently reviewing the content of my upcoming performance.

Suddenly, the king spoke, "At today's gathering, I would like to test everyone's opinions on palace affairs. Who would like to come first?"

I thought, this is an opportunity. Just as I was about to step forward, a female official next to me took the lead and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to give it a try."

The king nodded and asked a question about the management of palace supplies. The lady-in-waiting's answer was somewhat vague, and the king frowned slightly.

I mustered my courage and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I have a different opinion."

The king looked at me and said, "Oh? Si Qing, tell me."

I took a deep breath and began to answer, "Your Majesty, the management of palace supplies must not only focus on quantity statistics, but also on quality and efficiency. For example, ingredients for the imperial kitchen must be inspected for freshness and quality upon purchase, and stored appropriately based on frequency of use to avoid waste. Furthermore, the distribution of supplies must be fair and reasonable, based on the actual needs of each palace. A regular inventory system must also be established to prevent embezzlement."

The king's eyes flashed with appreciation. "Well, you make sense. So what should we do if we encounter a shortage of supplies?"

I continued, "Your Majesty, if there's a shortage of supplies, the first thing to do is to check inventory to see if there are any alternatives. If not, urgent purchases must be made, but the procurement channels must be reliable, and quality must not be compromised due to urgency. At the same time, you can coordinate with other departments to borrow some supplies and return them later."

The king nodded and smiled: "Si Qing, you really do have your own ideas."

Everyone around me looked at me, some with surprise, others with envy. I retreated to my seat and heard someone whisper, "Huh? This is just the beginning. Let's see how long she can keep her complacency."

Next, it was time to showcase my talents. As planned, I began with the etiquette demonstration. I first demonstrated the proper etiquette for greeting the king, my movements elegant and precise, my gaze humble.

"Your Majesty, this is the daily etiquette of greeting Your Majesty. It emphasizes the dignity of the posture and the lightness of the movements to express our respect for Your Majesty." I explained as I did it.

Then, I changed into the attire worn by visiting foreign envoys and demonstrated the etiquette of reception: "Your Majesty, the etiquette for receiving foreign envoys is even more complex. We must integrate the cultures of both countries, maintain the majesty of our dynasty, and make the envoys feel respected. For example, this gesture represents friendship and peace."

The king looked at my presentation and asked, "What if the envoy's etiquette conflicts with ours?"

I replied, "Your Majesty, our dynasty's etiquette should prevail, but appropriate adjustments can be made. You can communicate with the envoys in advance to find a mutually acceptable solution to avoid embarrassment and conflict."

The king nodded in satisfaction. "You have a profound understanding of etiquette."

After the etiquette presentation, it was time for the talent show. I sat down at the piano, took a deep breath, and calmed myself. I saw everyone around me looking at me, some expectantly, some disdainfully.

I began to play the piece I had carefully prepared, "Qing Ping Yue." The sound flowed from my fingertips like the gurgling of water, echoing throughout the palace. I seemed to see the beauty of the palace and feel its tranquility and peace.

During the performance, I added some of my own unique fingerings to make the sound richer. When the song ended, the audience was silent for a moment, and then applause broke out.

The king asked, "Si Qing, who did you learn this zither art from? It's so beautiful."

I replied, "Your Majesty, I have learned from the palace zither master and practiced diligently on my own, and have made some progress."

Then, I began my dance performance. Dressed in a gorgeous costume and holding a ribbon, I moved gracefully to the music. My body was as lithe as a willow branch, and every movement was filled with power and beauty.

I incorporated palace stories into my dance, using my movements to narrate the palace's history and culture. Everyone around me was captivated, and I even saw a glint in the king's eyes.

The dance ended, and I knelt down and saluted: "Your Majesty, I am honored to present you with my humble service."

The king smiled and said, "Your dance is not merely a show of ugliness; it is truly magnificent. Your dance possesses both the elegance of a court and a unique charm."

At this time, various discussions began to arise among the crowd.

"Si Qing is really amazing. I didn't expect her to be so talented."

"Yes, she will definitely be valued by the king this time."

"Humph, it's just good luck, it's nothing big."

Although those who envied me expressed dissatisfaction, they could not deny my outstanding performance. Wanqing cast an excited and proud look at me in the crowd.

The king stood up, looked at the crowd, and said, "I was pleasantly surprised by Si Qing's performance today. She has unique insights into palace affairs, her etiquette is standard and profound, and her talent show was even more wonderful. I am very happy to have such a talent in the palace."

I knelt down to express my gratitude, "Your Majesty, I am truly grateful. I am simply doing my best to serve the court."

The king came over and asked me to stand. "There is no need to be so modest. I see your talent and wisdom. I hope you will continue to work hard and make more contributions to the court."

I raised my head and looked at the king, tears of excitement flashing in my eyes: "I will definitely live up to your expectations, Your Majesty."

After the party, I was surrounded by people who were jealous of me.

A female official said sarcastically, "Si Qing, you really stole the show this time, but don't get too complacent. You still have a long way to go."

I smiled and replied, "Sister, you're right. I still have a lot to learn and need to continue studying. I simply hope to contribute to the court, and I have no other aspirations."

Another maid said, "Hmph, you performed well this time, but maybe you won't be able to do it next time."

Wanqing said angrily, "Don't go too far. Siqing has achieved what he has today through his own hard work."

I grabbed Wanqing and said, "Wanqing, don't bother with them. Let's go."

After this gathering, my position in the palace became more secure, and the head of the Imperial Household Department became more polite when he saw me.

The chief steward said, "Si Qing, you have truly brought honor to our court this time. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me."

I replied respectfully, "Thank you, Master. I will continue to work hard."

The palace maids and eunuchs who used to treat me with disrespect now treat me with great respect. I know this is the result of my hard work, but I can't be proud of it.

When I returned to my residence, Xiaozhu, Shunzi, Cuiyu, Xiaofuzi, and Ling'er were all waiting for me. They had prepared a simple celebration ceremony.

Xiao Zhu said excitedly, "Sister Siqing, you were amazing today! We are all proud of you."

Sunja also said, "Yes, you performed so well in front of the king that we were all very excited."

I smiled and said, "This is all inseparable from your support. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

We laughed together and enjoyed this rare happy time. I know that this is just a new starting point for me in the palace, and I still have a long way to go.

A few days later, the head steward of the Imperial Household Department came to me and said, "Si Qing, because of your outstanding performance at the party, the king has a new mission for you. The palace is hosting a cultural exchange event with neighboring countries, and you will be responsible for the main preparations. This is an important task, and you must perform well."

My heart tightened. This was a huge challenge, but also my chance. "Master Steward, I will do my best."

I knew that the preparations for this event needed to be even more meticulous and that no mistakes could be made. I immediately began to gather people and prepare to devote myself to the new task.

I found people I used to work with and started discussing plans for cultural exchange activities.

I told the nanny in charge of diplomatic etiquette, "Madam, this event involves multiple countries, so the etiquette is even more complicated. We need to understand the etiquette and customs of each country in advance and develop a detailed reception plan."

The maid replied, "Don't worry, Madam. I'm already collecting information. However, there's very little information on the etiquette of some countries, so it will take more time."

I then said to the head chef, "Master Li, this time the meal needs to take into account the tastes of different countries. We need to have our own specialties, as well as dishes that suit the tastes of foreigners."

Chef Li said: "It's a bit difficult, but we will try our best. We can first understand the dietary preferences of different countries and then design the dishes."

When discussing the performance, I told the official in charge, "This performance should showcase the essence of our country's culture, but it should also incorporate elements of cultures from around the world. It can't just be our own show; we need to allow all countries to participate."

The official responded: "Madam, we can arrange some interactive programs, such as a fusion performance of music and dance from various countries, and cultural knowledge quizzes and other activities."

I nodded. "Okay, this will both add to the fun and promote cultural exchange. We'll also need to prepare translators to ensure smooth communication."

I encountered many difficulties in preparing for the cultural exchange event, but I did not back down. I knew that this was the king's trust in me, and I could not let him down.

I said to myself, "Si Qing, you have come this far, you can't give up. This event must be a success, so that everyone knows your abilities." With this determination, I threw myself into the preparations, looking forward to the success of the event.