The Second World in Ancient Times

The morning bell echoed slowly above the palace, its powerful, long-lasting sound seeming to speak of the palace's majesty and solemnity. I slowly rose to the sound of the bell, gazing at the golden sunlight streaming through the windowpanes, a flood of emotion filling my heart. Ever since my victory in the talent competition, everything in the palace seemed to have quietly changed, and I stood at the center of this vortex, enjoying the supreme scenery but also acutely aware of the dangers lurking behind it.

Wanqing walked in with a beaming face, holding exquisite clothing and dazzling jewels in her hands. "Your Majesty, which one would you like to wear today? Now that you are the center of attention in this harem, you must dress to your utmost."

I smiled gently, and my fingers gently slid across the gorgeous fabrics: "Wanqing, don't just focus on the gorgeous appearance. Inner calmness and wisdom are the long-term way. However, we must not lose etiquette at today's banquet." I chose a lavender brocade long skirt with exquisite butterfly patterns embroidered on it with gold thread. As the light flows, the butterflies seem to be dancing.

When I walked out of the palace and headed to the garden for the banquet, the palace maids and eunuchs all knelt down and saluted, their eyes full of awe and respect: "Long live the Queen, a thousand years, a thousand years." The voices were in unison and loud, echoing in the corridors of the palace for a long time.

I nodded slightly and said softly, "Everyone, get up and don't delay your respective tasks." My eyes were calm and gentle. Although I enjoyed the admiration of everyone, I did not become arrogant because of it.

The garden was already ablaze with blossoms, and table after table was filled with delicacies. The other concubines, upon seeing me arrive, rose and saluted, "Sister Yu, you're here! You're truly radiant today." Their smiles seemed sincere, but I could detect a subtle tinge of jealousy and helplessness in their eyes.

I responded with a smile: "You are too polite, sisters. The beautiful scenery and delicious food in this palace are the protagonists today. We sisters are just here to join in the fun." I walked to my seat and sat down gracefully, every move revealing calmness and composure.

The banquet began with singing and dancing. Dancers swayed in the center, their graceful steps and elegant movements enchanting. However, I keenly noticed that several concubines were exchanging glances, their expressions seemingly concealing some conspiracy.

At this time, Concubine Hui came up to me gracefully, holding a glass of wine: "Sister Concubine Yu, let me toast you and congratulate you on winning the first place in the talent competition. Now you are the role model of this harem." There was a hint of provocation and unwillingness in her eyes, and although she tried her best to conceal it, I still saw it.

I gently lifted the wine glass and looked her straight in the eye. "Sister Hui, thank you for your kind words. This is a toast from me, may you be happy every day." I was wary. Concubine Hui wouldn't give up easily. Could there be something fishy about this wine? Recalling my experiences attending business banquets in modern society, I knew I had to be cautious when approaching seemingly friendly gestures that harbored hidden secrets. So, I pretended to swirl the glass, observing the flow and residue of the wine, drawing on modern chemical knowledge of liquid density and the phenomenon of sticking in the glass. My initial assessment was that there was nothing unusual in the wine. But I remained cautious. Drawing on the analysis of micro-expressions and body language from modern psychology books, I carefully observed Concubine Hui's subtle expressions and hand movements. I saw a subtle evasive look in her eyes, a subtle one, but I caught it. I hatched a plan. I pretended to drink, but as I brought it to my lips, my hand slipped slightly, tilting the glass and spilling the wine onto the floor.

"Oh, sister, I'm so sorry. I'm not feeling well today and I can't hold the wine steadily." I said apologetically.

Concubine Hui's expression changed, but she then forced herself to remain calm: "What's wrong, sister? Should we call the imperial physician to come and see?"

I smiled and replied, "Thank you for your concern, sister. Maybe I caught a cold last night. It's nothing serious." I knew in my heart that this time, I successfully thwarted her possible conspiracy.

Afterwards, Concubine Zhen also came forward and said, "Sister Concubine Yu, I heard that you are not only an excellent musician, but also a fantastic dancer. Could you show us again at today's banquet?" There was a hint of difficulty in her words, as if she wanted to embarrass me in front of everyone.

I was a little moved, but I said calmly, "Sister Zhenfei, this banquet is a time for everyone to enjoy singing and dancing. If I perform alone, wouldn't I steal the limelight from the dancers? However, you can discuss some new dance ideas with your sisters, maybe add some new colors to this court dance." I have participated in many dance creativity workshops in modern times and I know the importance of teamwork and creative exchange. In this way, I cleverly resolved Zhenfei's difficulties.

Zhenfei didn't expect me to respond in this way. She was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to answer.

At this time, the king also arrived at the banquet. Everyone bowed and said, "Long live the king!"

The king walked up to me and gently held my hand: "My dear, I heard that the banquet today was very lively. Are you enjoying it?" His eyes were full of tenderness and concern, which warmed my heart.

I bent my knees slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I will enjoy myself to the fullest with you here. Everything about this banquet has been arranged in an orderly manner, thanks to the hard work of the Queen and all of you sisters." I cleverly dispersed the credit to avoid causing more jealousy among the other concubines.

The king nodded and smiled: "My beloved concubine is always so understanding."

During the banquet, I had a very pleasant conversation with the King. From time to time, I used modern cultural knowledge and ideas to tell him some novel stories and interesting ideas, which the King listened to with great interest.

"My dear, the stories and opinions you told are so original. I have never heard of them before." The king's eyes were full of admiration.

I smiled and said, "Your Majesty, everything in this world has its own unique features. I am just sharing with Your Majesty what I have seen and heard in my daily life. For example, in my hometown, there is a custom of flying Kongming lanterns on specific festivals. People write their wishes on the lanterns, and they rise into the sky with the lights, implying that the wishes can be known and realized by God. This is just like the people in the palace praying to the gods, which is a yearning for a better life." I used modern folk culture knowledge, combined with the blessing culture in the palace, to skillfully communicate with the king, which made him feel fresh and integrated with the palace culture.

The other concubines were jealous when they saw how close the king was to me, but they didn't dare to show it.

After the banquet, I returned to the palace. Wanqing excitedly said, "Your Majesty, you were truly remarkable at the banquet today! Not only did you skillfully handle the concubines' challenges, but you also earned the king's affection for you even more."

I sighed softly, "Wanqing, this is just superficial glory. In this harem, the more proud you are, the more cautious you must be. Those concubines won't give up their plans against me just because of this failure. We must always be vigilant and take precautions in advance."

Days passed, and invitations to various banquets and events continued to pour in. I traveled through the palace, and wherever I went, the maids and eunuchs were respectful, and the other concubines greeted me with smiles. But I knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

At a flower-viewing party, I was chatting with several concubines about flower care, knowledge I'd acquired from gardening magazines and online forums in modern times. Suddenly, one of them said, "Sister Yu, I hear you've dabbled in many things in modern times. You're truly knowledgeable and accomplished. But the ancient court is very different from the modern one. Please don't bring strange ideas into the palace, lest they disrupt its rules." Her words were clearly accusatory and a warning, an attempt to discredit me in front of everyone.

I sneered in my heart but kept smiling on my face: "Sister, what you said is a bit serious. What I shared are just some little fun and knowledge in life. If there is really any violation of the palace rules, the Queen and the King will teach me. Why do you need to worry so much, sister?" I responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, so that her conspiracy failed.

In these days of stable status and boundless glory, I always keep my situation in mind. With the thoughts and wisdom of a modern person, I move forward cautiously in this harem full of conspiracies and intrigues, striving to maintain my dominant position. At the same time, I am constantly looking for a long-term way to gain a foothold in this palace.

A few days later, another palace banquet took place. I entered the banquet hall, where flickering candlelight cast a shimmering shadow on everyone's faces. The concubines were already seated, and upon seeing me approach, they cast glances at me, each one carrying a different meaning.

Not long after I took my seat, a maid stood up with a sweet smile, holding a scroll in her hand: "Empress Yu, I heard that you are quite knowledgeable about poetry, calligraphy and painting. Today I got an ancient painting, but the poem on the painting is a bit obscure and difficult to understand. I would like to ask Your Majesty to help me clear it up." After that, she unfolded the scroll in front of me.

I took a closer look. The poem captioned on the painting was indeed classically written. However, I had studied ancient poetry in depth in my modern life and was not only familiar with many classics but also understood its historical context, creative style, and various rhetorical techniques. After a moment's reflection, I began to interpret it: "This poem depicts a vibrant spring scene. 'Green shadows sway in the gentle breeze, and a profusion of flowers reflects the azure sky.' The emerald shadows represent the green trees, and the profusion of flowers describes the blossoming of all flowers. The gentle breeze and the azure sky contrast to create a vibrant spring scene. And 'A secluded path winds its way through a fairyland, and idle clouds drift alongside ancient pines.' Through the imagery of secluded paths, idle clouds, and ancient pines, I created a sense of ethereal tranquility, reminiscent of a fairyland." Using modern methods of poetry appreciation, I offered a detailed interpretation of the imagery and artistic conception, with clear logic that drew frequent nods from the audience.

However, the maid did not give up and continued to ask, "Your Majesty's interpretation is very exquisite, but I am still a little confused about the allusions in this poem. Please enlighten me again." There was a hint of cunning in her eyes, trying to make things difficult for me further.

I understood it and said calmly, "The allusion in the poem comes from the travel notes of a famous scholar in the previous dynasty. He had traveled to famous mountains and rivers, and was inspired by the scenery, which was later adapted by the poet here. The use of this allusion not only adds to the cultural heritage of the poem, but also sublimates the artistic conception of the poem. Just like in our lives, drawing on the wisdom and experience of our predecessors can improve our own cultivation and knowledge." I cleverly combined the explanation of the allusion with the modern understanding of knowledge inheritance, which not only answered the question but also showed unique insights.

At this time, another concubine also joined in: "Sister Concubine Yu, you are so proficient in poetry, I believe you must have studied music as well. At today's banquet, can you play a song for us so that we sisters can enjoy it?" Her words seemed to be a compliment, but in fact, she had a hidden meaning. She wanted to see if I was really omnipotent.

I smiled slightly and said, "Sister, you don't know that the way of music requires the heart and the piano to be in harmony, and the emotion and the music to be integrated. The atmosphere of today's banquet is cheerful, and it may not be enjoyable if we play ordinary music. I have an idea. Why don't we have an impromptu music creation." I borrowed the model of improvisation and cooperation in modern music creation to make this suggestion.

Everyone was surprised when they heard this. I continued, "We can each choose an instrument, or sing along, and create a piece of music together. Just like everyone working together to build a palace, each person is an indispensable craftsman."

Under my guidance, the concubines joined in. I picked up the qin and played a light melody to open the recital, setting the pace for everyone. A concubine joined in with the sound of the flute. The melodious flute and qin music intertwined, like two birds playing in the air. Another concubine joined in singing, delivering beautiful verses. Others, each playing their instrument to its full potential, played drums or plucked strings. The entire banquet hall was immersed in a unique and harmonious musical atmosphere.

This impromptu creation not only made everyone look at me with more respect, but also made the concubines who were originally jealous of me temporarily put aside their prejudices. The banquet ended in laughter and joy.