The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

On her way to the palace, Chen Mengyao took the time to send a WeChat message to the Empress. She carefully instructed the Empress to immediately lead the carefully selected, talented palace maids and eunuchs to Changchun Palace and await their arrival. To ensure they could find their destination smoothly, Chen Mengyao also asked the Empress to send her the exact location of Changchun Palace. Upon receiving the message, the Empress quickly replied, confirming that she had received Chen Mengyao's instructions, and immediately arranged for an experienced head eunuch and a meticulous matron to lead everyone to Changchun Palace.

As Chen Mengyao's ornately decorated carriage, following the precise location provided by the Empress herself, slowly approached the majestic and imposing Changchun Palace along the smooth, endless stone-paved road, she gently raised her slender hand and, with an extremely elegant yet dignified gesture, signaled the experienced coachman to bring the carriage to a steady stop at the grand and resplendent palace gate of Changchun Palace.

As the carriage slowly came to a stop, the sound of its wheels rubbing against the ground gradually faded into the air. Chen Mengyao, dressed in gorgeous attire, gracefully and calmly alighted from the carriage. Her maids, dressed in matching uniforms and with delicate features, followed closely behind her.

After completing his farewell mission, the loyal coachman and Zhiling drove the carriage away from the palace. They knew that those who were about to move into the palace would be rehearsing for the Mid-Autumn Festival gala in the coming days. Zhiling, on the other hand, carried another important task entrusted to him by Chen Mengyao—to inspect the shop's renovation. Bearing Chen Mengyao's expectations and trust, he embarked on his journey to the shop, determined to take in every detail of the renovations to ensure everything was perfectly executed according to Chen Mengyao's vision.

At this moment, Changchun Palace was even more lively and festive because of Chen Mengyao's arrival. At the palace gate, the guards stood tall with piercing eyes, escorting this distinguished guest. Chen Mengyao, accompanied by her maids, strode confidently into this mysterious and magnificent palace, beginning her life in the imperial palace.

As Chen Mengyao entered the gates of Changchun Palace, she saw the chosen palace maids and eunuchs already waiting in neat rows inside. Upon seeing Chen Mengyao, they immediately knelt down respectfully to pay their respects. Chen Mengyao smiled and asked them to rise, then directed the others who arrived later to form an orderly line in the spacious courtyard.

Chen Mengyao stood before them and began a brief speech. She explained the purpose of gathering them there: they needed to rehearse intensively for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival gala to ensure a top-notch performance. She emphasized the importance of this training period, encouraging them to take it seriously, rehearse diligently, and strive to deliver a spectacular performance on the day of the gala. She assured them that those who performed exceptionally well would receive appropriate rewards. She also stressed the importance of unity, friendship, and mutual assistance, hoping everyone would work together to contribute to the success of the gala. Everyone expressed their determination to take the rehearsals seriously and give it their all.

Afterwards, in the ancient, tranquil, and elegant courtyard of Changqing Palace, Chen Mengyao began to get to know everyone better. She smiled and had everyone introduce themselves in turn; her warm and friendly smile seemed to instantly bridge the gap between people.

After the self-introductions, Chen Mengyao patiently asked each person to elaborate on the programs they had meticulously prepared for the Mid-Autumn Festival gala at the palace. Some planned to perform graceful dances; as they spoke, they seemed to be transported to the scene of their dances, every movement and every glance brimming with charm. Others planned to offer melodious music; they hummed softly, the tunes like heavenly sounds, captivating the audience and leaving them mesmerized. Still others intended to showcase their skills through exquisite acrobatic performances, vividly describing the thrilling and exciting moves, filling the audience with anticipation for the upcoming gala.

Chen Mengyao and Liu'er diligently took notes on everyone's information and the program content, their pens flying across the paper, afraid of missing any exciting moments. They listened attentively to each person's introduction, nodding occasionally to show approval or doubt, to ensure that no important details were overlooked.

After listening to everyone's self-introductions and talent showcases, Chen Mengyao began to carefully consider her options. Based on each person's strengths, personality traits, and the type of performance, she meticulously grouped them into teams. She understood that a well-structured group, like a meticulously choreographed symphony, could maximize each person's unique strengths, making the entire performance harmonious and captivating, while also ensuring smoother transitions between performances, providing the audience with a feast for the eyes and ears. To this end, she patiently communicated with each person, carefully inquiring about their opinions and ideas, respecting everyone's choices and wishes, striving to ensure that the grouping results would unite the team's strength and gain everyone's unanimous approval and satisfaction.

After successfully completing the group work, Chen Mengyao didn't stop there. She personally threw herself into the demanding task of allocating rehearsal spaces and times for each group. She was extremely thoughtful, carefully selecting rehearsal spaces suitable for each group's characteristics, ensuring each group had a spacious and suitable environment for rehearsals. She also cleverly arranged the schedules to avoid conflicts between different groups, making the entire rehearsal plan well-organized. Furthermore, she thoughtfully arranged rest periods interspersed throughout the busy rehearsal schedule, allowing everyone to relax and recharge, so they could return to their energetic rehearsals with renewed enthusiasm.

As rehearsals officially began, she frequently moved between the various venues, carefully observing everyone's progress and capturing every detail. She would sometimes pause to gaze intently, sometimes nod in approval, and sometimes offer her own insights and suggestions, discussing with everyone how to improve and refine the program. She encouraged everyone to be bold in trying new things and daring to innovate, to incorporate novel and unique elements while inheriting classics and maintaining tradition, so that the program would radiate new vitality and become more diverse, colorful, and captivating.

Under her meticulous guidance and selfless dedication, the palace maids and eunuchs' rehearsals progressed exceptionally smoothly, with the atmosphere growing increasingly rich and enthusiastic. Each person, filled with a love and pursuit of art, brimming with passion and energy, threw themselves wholeheartedly into the rehearsals, eagerly anticipating showcasing their most dazzling talents at the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival gala and bringing the audience an unforgettable audio-visual experience. Chen Mengyao stood aside, quietly watching everyone's busy yet orderly figures, her heart filled with satisfaction and pride, and boundless anticipation and longing for the performance.

Amidst the tense atmosphere of preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, Chen Mengyao not only devoted herself to the planning and choreography of the program but also paid special attention to the palace maids and eunuchs making their stage debut. She knew that for these inexperienced performers, the pressure of facing an audience for the first time was immense. Therefore, she patiently moved through the crowd, answering the questions of each nervous maid and eunuch. From the essentials of movement to facial expression management, she meticulously explained everything, guiding them step by step to overcome their inner barriers. She used her own experience to tell them that nervousness was normal, but the important thing was to learn how to transform it into motivation for performance, allowing them to shine even brighter on stage.

Whenever someone encountered difficulties or doubts, their brow furrowed, Chen Mengyao could always detect their unease immediately. She would approach with a smile, gazing at them with encouraging eyes, as if saying, "You can do it, believe in yourself." Her voice was gentle yet firm, each word like warm sunshine, piercing through the gloom in their hearts and helping them regain their confidence. Encouraged by her, the palace maids and eunuchs gradually let go of their burdens and began to bravely face the challenges, becoming more focused and confident with each practice session than the last.

To elevate the overall quality of the gala, Chen Mengyao frequently organized exchange and learning activities between groups. She deeply understood the immense power of teamwork; only through mutual learning and collaborative progress could the most perfect stage performance be achieved. In these activities, the palace maids and eunuchs not only showcased their talents but also drew inspiration from others' performances, continuously refining their own acts. Chen Mengyao always sat attentively, carefully observing everyone's performance, offering guidance and suggestions from time to time; her presence became everyone's strongest support.

As time went on, the palace maids and eunuchs' performances became increasingly synchronized, and the programs more and more captivating. They began to understand how to cooperate with each other on stage and how to move the audience with their performances. Each rehearsal was like a testament to their growth, from their initial awkwardness to their current proficiency; every step forward was a testament to their hard work and dedication. Chen Mengyao watched everyone's growth and progress, her heart filled with pride and joy. She knew that this Mid-Autumn Festival gala was not just a performance, but also a spiritual cleansing and a testament to their growth. With everyone's joint efforts, this Mid-Autumn Festival gala would surely become even more unforgettable and wonderful, becoming a shining memory that would forever remain in their hearts.

On this warm and bright afternoon, sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating every corner of the palace and adding a touch of warmth and vitality to the busy rehearsals. In this vibrant moment, the palace maids and eunuchs, under Chen Mengyao's meticulous guidance, were rehearsing their performance with focused intensity and order. Every movement they made reflected their hard work, and every glance revealed their dedication and passion for the performance.

Time slipped away silently like sand through fingers, passing through the gaps in their busy schedules. Amidst the intense and fulfilling rehearsals, dinnertime arrived before they knew it. At this moment, Chen Mengyao gently raised her hand, with a graceful yet firm gesture, signaling the palace maids and eunuchs to pause the rehearsals. Her voice, gentle yet resolute, like a spring breeze, touched everyone's hearts: "You've all worked hard. Now go eat and rest, so you can be refreshed for tomorrow's battle."

She spoke with a smile, her eyes sparkling with care and expectation for the team. She knew that only by ensuring everyone had plenty of energy could they achieve better results in the upcoming rehearsals. So, she gently instructed everyone to go back and have a meal and get some rest, so that they could be more enthusiastic about the rehearsals the next day.

Under Chen Mengyao's careful arrangement, the palace maids and eunuchs dispersed and returned to their quarters for meals and rest. Chen Mengyao, however, remained at the rehearsal site, silently reflecting on the rehearsal and considering how to further improve the quality of the performance. She knew that only through countless rehearsals and adjustments could every movement become more fluid and natural, allowing the entire performance to reach its most perfect state.

She planned to hold another mock performance after everyone had rehearsed for several days and felt that the performance was getting better. This mock performance would be a real-world test, allowing them to see if they could perform at their best on a real stage. At that time, she would personally invite the Queen and all the ladies-in-waiting to watch, to see if they would feel stage fright in front of a real audience and whether they could calmly handle any unexpected situations.

Chen Mengyao believes that with everyone's joint efforts, they will definitely be able to overcome all difficulties and present a spectacular performance. This sunny afternoon will also become an indispensable part of their beautiful memories.

For the group Chen Mengyao personally brought, she thoughtfully arranged for them to stay in Changchun Palace, ensuring they had a comfortable environment to rest. Afterwards, she personally called the Empress, requesting that the Empress arrange for palace maids and eunuchs to deliver delicious food to them to alleviate their travel fatigue and the hardships of rehearsals. Furthermore, she meticulously suggested that the Empress assign specific personnel to take care of their three meals a day and their daily needs, including bathing, to ensure they could fully dedicate themselves to rehearsals. The Empress readily agreed and said she would arrange everything as soon as possible.

The Empress not only granted Chen Mengyao's request but also warmly invited her to dine at her Phoenix Palace. Chen Mengyao gladly accepted the invitation, her face beaming with gratitude. Turning to Liu'er and all the members of the art gallery, she kindly instructed them to find their own rooms to rest. Dinner would be delivered to them, so there was no need to worry. If they wished to bathe and relax in the evening, they could ask the palace maids to arrange it. She reminded everyone to rest early that night to be well-rested so they could get up early the next day to continue rehearsals and be fully prepared for the upcoming performance.

As the brilliant and gentle afterglow of the setting sun gradually disappeared into the horizon, Chen Mengyao, dressed in magnificent attire, followed gracefully along a stone staircase paved with a vibrant red carpet, following the dignified personal attendant of the Empress, into the Phoenix Palace, a symbol of supreme glory and status. The palace interior was breathtaking; its golden splendor and exquisite details showcased the nobility and elegance of the imperial family.

At dinner time, a long, ornately carved table was laden with a dazzling array of delicacies, their colors enticing and their aromas irresistible, making one's mouth water. These dishes were not only a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, but also a collection of the finest culinary creations from around the world, showcasing the luxury and sophistication of the imperial court.

The Empress and Chen Mengyao sat side by side, eating and chatting in a harmonious and warm atmosphere. The Empress's words and actions revealed a gentle and dignified grace befitting an empress, while Chen Mengyao appeared intelligent and quick-witted, answering fluently. The Empress inquired about the afternoon's rehearsal with concern, and Chen Mengyao, with a confident smile, replied, "Your Majesty, today's rehearsal went very smoothly. Everyone was very engaged, and the results were excellent."

At this point, Chen Mengyao's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she continued, "In a few days, I would like to invite you and the other ladies to come and watch our rehearsal. It will surely be an eye-opening experience for everyone, allowing them to appreciate the exquisite skills and tireless efforts of our team." Upon hearing this, the Empress nodded in satisfaction, a gratified smile appearing on her face.

After dinner, Chen Mengyao, led by a palace maid, arrived at a lavishly decorated guest room. The room was furnished with a soft bed and an exquisite dressing table, everything arranged meticulously. Following the Empress's instructions, she washed up early, lay on the bed, and, feeling the smooth touch of the silk bedding, filled her with anticipation for tomorrow. She knew that this night would be a new beginning, and their performance would surely shine brightly at the Mid-Autumn Festival gala.