Facing the mirror, Wan Zhen’er unconsciously struck a flirtatious pose: slightly raising her chin, pursing her cherry-like lips, eyes sparkling, and provocatively swaying her slender waist – she thought: look at her, how elegant and charming she was.
Immediately after, Wan Zhen’er became discouraged.
She knew that no matter how beautiful she was, how perfect her figure, what did it matter? She was still just an empty vessel, her prime years passing by, alone with her reflection.
She dreamed of a handsome man in white, riding a white horse, presenting 99 roses, kneeling before her and asking deeply: “Wan Zhen’er, will you marry me? Will you live with me through sickness and health, poverty and wealth, beauty and ugliness, success and failure? Will you love, comfort, respect, and protect me, remaining faithful throughout our lives?”
Wan Zhen’er would loudly answer: “I do.”
But upon waking, it was nothing more than a fleeting dream.
If there are choices, Wan Zhen’er would rather not go to the Eastern Palace. Originally, she was doing well in Renhou Palace, and over the years, she had worked hard as a servant, dedicating herself to serving Empress Dowager Sun, all for the sake of gaining her appreciation and hoping to be promoted in the future. Now, not only did she not get promoted, but she was kicked around like a ball, sent by Empress Dowager Sun to another palace.
Wan Zhen’er was unwilling, but she had to obey unconditionally.
While packing her few belongings, wrapping them in a piece of cloth, she thought resentfully: Hmph, if one day she had good luck and became a master, she would take revenge and treat her servants twice as harshly, venting her accumulated grievances.
But, was that possible?
She was just a palace maid, an ordinary, insignificant palace maid.
Wan Zhen’er knew she was just daydreaming.
The Crown Prince, named Zhu Jianshen, was only two years old, a tiny toddler. However, he was very beautiful, perhaps because of his two small dimples, looking almost like a girl, with fair skin, large eyes, and long eyelashes that could serve as fans.
Seeing Wan Zhen’er, he smiled and broke free from the small palace maid’s hand, tottering towards Wan Zhen’er, calling her inarticulately: “Jiejie! Jiejie!”
