After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

"The New Year's Eve banquet will be led inside by your elders, and the ladies-in-waiting will guide you through all the etiquette and rules. What I want to talk about today are some important rules of the palace..." Granny Yang spoke slowly, but her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the horizon outside the window.

"The first rule is that you cannot wander off at will." She paused briefly, tapping her knuckles lightly on the table. "These palaces are vast and complex; if you accidentally take the wrong path..."

The old woman's voice suddenly lowered, and sunlight streamed in through the window, shimmering in her eyes: "Remember, never go west."

“That’s the Cold Palace, but you don’t need to worry too much.” She adjusted her sleeves, revealing a string of sandalwood prayer beads on her wrist. “The Western Six Palaces are locked after 3 PM, and the palace banquet starts at 5 PM, so you shouldn’t accidentally wander in…”

He Wan frowned and asked softly, "Granny, if we really are lost..."

“Remember,” the old woman interrupted, drawing a line on the table with her fingertip dipped in tea, “just head north. Kunning Palace is over there. Her Majesty the Empress is very kind; she will send someone to escort you out once you explain the situation.”

Xiao Ran's eyes were still clouded with doubt: "What the old nanny said makes sense, but since the Cold Palace is already locked, why did you have to remind her specifically?"

The old woman's eyes darkened, and she twirled the prayer beads in her hand rapidly. "It's because..." she lowered her voice, "that the plum grove path on the west side, seemingly leading to the Imperial Garden, actually winds its way around the outer wall of the Cold Palace. Last year, when the Ministry of Works renovated the garden, they specially opened a hidden door in the palace wall to transplant those few century-old plum trees..."

Xiao Ran nodded, but the scene of seeing that foreign prince in Merlin in her previous life floated into her mind. Fortunately, she ran to the right place and did not go to the Cold Palace... But thinking about it carefully, why would that foreign prince appear in Merlin?

“This second rule,” Granny Yang paused as she twirled her prayer beads, “is that anyone wearing a light green palace dress, whether master or servant, must give way.”

She glanced at the two young ladies and, seeing He Wan's puzzled expression, continued, "That's Consort Ma's favorite color, and even the servants in her palace wear it."

A hint of curiosity flashed in He Wan's eyes: "May I ask, Granny, why is that? I've heard that the Fourth Prince Ruixuan is the son of Consort Ma. He is straightforward and generous, and his personality seems to be quite compatible with yours, Sister."

He Wan looked at Xiao Ran, who returned a smile, but inwardly cursed him. Having lived through her past life, how could she not know what kind of person Rui Xuan was?

To say he is straightforward and open-minded is an understatement; he is more reckless and careless. He acts on impulse without considering the consequences, often causing trouble and requiring others to clean up the mess, adding to his endless worries.

That's why she had many arguments with Ruixuan and was repeatedly sabotaged by Consort Ma.

Xiao Ran smiled knowingly and said softly, "I don't think so. It's your gentle and refined personality that's able to keep the Fourth Prince in check."

"Enough! How dare you interfere in matters of the Imperial Palace?" Granny Yang's expression hardened, her gaze sweeping over the two women. "This third rule is also the most important..."

She paused slightly, then emphasized, "At the palace banquet, the Emperor will inevitably ask questions of everyone. If he asks you, remember, when answering before the Emperor, you must avoid using vague words like 'approximately' or 'perhaps.' If you're unsure, don't force an answer, otherwise..."

"This is a crime of deceiving the emperor, and you cannot bear the consequences!"