Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Zhu Rong's sedan chair slowly descended in front of the palace gate. She lifted the curtain and saw the majestic Daming Palace before her.

The vermilion palace walls soar into the clouds, adorned with lifelike carvings of auspicious beasts, as if guarding this magnificent Tang Dynasty palace.

The golden glazed tiles shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting the magnificent and resplendent scene inside the palace.

"Wow! This is so magnificent!" Zhu Rong exclaimed inwardly. Although she had prepared herself mentally, she was still deeply shocked to witness the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

"You idiot, stop watching the show and mind your manners!" came the reminder from the jade pendant. "You are now Zhu Rong, the most beautiful woman in the Tang Dynasty. Remember your mission!"

Zhu Rong took a deep breath, trying to calm the surging surprise and excitement in her heart. She lowered her head slightly, glancing at her reflection out of the corner of her eye—her jet-black, glossy hair was styled into an exquisite bun, adorned with a few delicate pearl flowers; her face was lightly made up, making her skin appear even more like porcelain, with bright eyes and white teeth; she wore a light pink long dress, with a gold ribbon inlaid with gemstones tied at her waist, which further accentuated her graceful figure.

"This is really...not quite what I'm used to," Zhu Rong muttered to herself. "When did my old pig become so beautiful?"

"Stop overthinking!" Xiaobai started nagging again. "You're Zhu Rong now, not that rude Pigsy anymore. Remember, you need to behave like a well-bred young lady, elegant, proper, and knowledgeable."

Zhu Rong nodded secretly and, supported by a palace maid, slowly stepped down from the palanquin. She imitated the other young ladies-in-waiting, taking small, quick steps and following the procession with her head bowed and eyes downcast.

Passing through layers of palace gates, Zhu Rong arrived at a spacious courtyard. The courtyard was adorned with blooming flowers and filled with fragrance, yet a tense atmosphere permeated the air. Hundreds of beautifully dressed young women, each with a lovely face and outstanding bearing, had gathered there, but none could conceal their inner trepidation and unease.

"So many beautiful women, I'm dazzled!" Zhu Rong muttered to herself. "If I could collect all their tears, my mission would be complete long ago."

"Stop daydreaming, you idiot!" Xiaobai scolded again. "Remember, your target is Yang Guifei; ignore everyone else. Now, all you need to do is quietly observe and learn the rules and relationships here."

Zhu Rong sighed helplessly and began to carefully observe her surroundings and the crowd. She noticed that although all the young women were dressed in their finest attire, there seemed to be a subtle hierarchy among them.

Some of the young ladies were arrogant and disdainful of talking to others; others were cautious and careful, afraid of offending someone.

Just as Zhu Rong was pondering to herself, a young girl dressed in a pink palace gown strode up to her. The girl had a beautiful face, but her eyes held a hint of arrogance and disdain.

"So you're the newcomer, Zhu Rong?" The young woman sized Zhu Rong up, her tone laced with disdain. "I've heard you're the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, but I see you're nothing special!"

Zhu Rong frowned slightly. She disliked the girl's attitude, but she suppressed her displeasure and politely replied, "This humble girl, Zhu Rong, greets this elder sister."

"Hmph, don't try to get close to me!" the girl sneered. "A country bumpkin like you dares to call me 'sister'? Let me tell you, this imperial harem isn't a place for someone like you. If you know what's good for you, you'd better get out of here!"

Zhu Rong was burning with anger. She was about to retort when Xiao Bai stopped her.

"Silly pig, don't be impulsive!" Little White hurriedly reminded him, "Remember, you are Zhu Rong now, a gentle and refined young lady, not the Pigsy who once dominated the Heavenly Court! You must learn to be patient and to assess the situation carefully."

Zhu Rong took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and said with a smile, "Sister is right. I'm new here and don't know the rules. Please guide me."

Seeing Zhu Rong's humility, the young woman became even more smug. She sneered, "Guidance? I don't have time to guide someone like you! You'd better behave yourself and not cause trouble, or you'll be sorry!"

After saying that, the girl swayed her hips and left with an arrogant air.

Zhu Rong watched the girl's departing figure, a cold smile playing on her lips. She knew this was just the tip of the iceberg in the power struggles of the harem; much more challenges lay ahead.

"Xiaobai, who is that woman?" Zhu Rong asked in a low voice.

“Her name is Li Ying, and she’s a senior palace maid,” Xiaobai explained. “She relies on her noble birth to the imperial family to act arrogantly and domineeringly in the harem. Many of the young ladies-in-waiting have been bullied by her. You should be careful of her; she might become a problem for you.”

Zhu Rong nodded, secretly becoming wary. She knew that in this complex harem, she had to learn to protect herself and how to deal with these treacherous people.

Just then, another girl dressed in a light green palace gown walked up to Zhu Rong. This girl was completely different from Li Ying; she had a gentle smile on her face and her eyes were full of kindness.

"Hello, my name is Han Shiya. You must be the new girl, Zhu Rong?" the girl asked softly.

Looking at the gentle and charming young woman before her, Zhu Rong felt a surge of goodwill. She smiled and replied, "Yes, my name is Zhu Rong. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too," Han Shiya said with a smile. "I've heard you're the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, and you truly live up to the reputation. However, the imperial harem isn't a safe place; you must be careful of those with ulterior motives."

Zhu Rong nodded gratefully and said, "Thank you for the reminder, sister. I will be careful."

Han Shiya smiled and said, "No need to thank me. When I first entered the palace, I also encountered many difficulties, so I understand how you feel. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to come to me."

Looking into Han Shiya's sincere eyes, Zhu Rong felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She knew that in this cold palace, she had finally found a friend she could trust.

"Thank you, Shiya," Zhu Rong said gratefully.

Just then, a sharp voice rang out: "What are you two doing? Get back to practicing your etiquette! If you waste time, you'll lose your heads!"

Zhu Rong and Han Shiya looked up and saw a noblewoman dressed in a red palace gown and wearing a phoenix crown standing in front of them. This noblewoman was about forty years old, with thick makeup on her face and sharp eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts.

"Yes, Auntie," Zhu Rong and Han Shiya quickly replied, then followed the other young ladies to the place where they practiced etiquette.