Anya Gōngzhǔ turned her head slightly and looked at Ling Jingshu beside her. After thinking for a while, she smiled and said, “I remember you. Your maiden name is Ling Jingshu?”

The girls who came to the banquet today were all outstanding in appearance and talent. However, among them, Ling Jingshu was still dazzling and particularly eye-catching.

Ling Jingshu pursed her lips and smiled: “Your Highness Gōngzhǔ has a really good memory. She remembered my maiden name after only hearing it once.”

“You are so beautiful, how could I not remember you?” Anya Gōngzhǔ blinked, looking quite playful and cute.

Ling Jingshu smiled slightly: “Your Highness, you are too kind. In two years, when Your Highness has grown up, I wonder how beautiful and graceful you will be!”

There was no one who didn’t like to be praised. When the person being praised was a stunning beauty and the words were sincere, it made people feel even more happy.

Anya Gōngzhǔ’s smile was filled with joy and shyness: “You are so likable when you talk.” She paused and smiled again: “Are you really not good at playing the zither, or did you come here specially to accompany me?”

Ling Jingshu replied calmly, “To be honest with you, Your Highness, I have learned the art of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting since I was young, but I am not proficient in all of them. Especially the art of playing the zither, which requires both extraordinary talent and a lot of time to practice every day. I am not interested in it and have neglected to practice, so I simply won’t embarrass myself in front of you all.”

Although Ling Jingshu was not particularly fond of zither playing, she had put in some effort and had no problem playing a piece in front of everyone.

However, when she saw Anya Gōngzhǔ admitting that she was not good at playing the piano and was punished to pick lotus, she somehow blurted out the words.

Anya Gōngzhǔ felt the same way after hearing this and immediately developed a desire to get close to her. She sighed softly, “I also have to learn everything in the palace on weekdays. My schedule is full daily, and I don’t even have time to rest. It’s a pity that I learn everything superficially. Fortunately, my mother is not too strict with me and lets me do whatever I want. Otherwise, my life would be tough.”

Being a gōngzhǔ, life wasn’t as easy and carefree as outsiders thought!

Ling Jingshu was curious about the rumored Wei Fei, and said tentatively: “I heard that Wei Fei is the most beautiful woman in the harem, but it’s a pity that I have no chance to meet her.”

Once you entered the palace, it was like entering a deep sea! As concubines in the harem, only those with high ranks and great favor from the Emperor had the opportunity to see their families during the Chinese New Year every year.

As for leaving the palace and returning home, that was an honor only the Empress could have.

Wei Fei was lucky. Doctor Wei went in and out of the palace every day, and the two siblings often met. So many concubines were secretly jealous.

“My mother has never left the palace, and I don’t know how she got the title of the most beautiful woman in the harem.” Anya Gōngzhǔ was still young, and she spoke modestly, but her eyes flashed with pride. She promised naturally, “If you have the opportunity to enter the palace in the future, I will take you to see my mother.”

Ling Jingshu laughed and said, “With my status, there is no chance for me to enter the palace. I was just joking, Your Highness, don’t take it to heart.”

Yes! Only the wives of the third rank and above could enter the palace to meet the Empress on the first day of the new year. Master Ling was only a fourth-ranking official, and the women in his family were not qualified to enter the palace.

Anya Gōngzhǔ smiled, stopped talking, and turned to look at the lake again.

Ling Jingshu also stopped talking and looked at the lotus flowers in the pond with Anya Gōngzhǔ.

……

The ladies from famous families were indeed all extraordinary.

After Jiang Rongyue played a piece of music called High Mountains and Flowing Water, Su Ying played the bamboo flute.

The flute sounded melodious and cheerful, which drew endless praise from everyone.

Amid the melodious and brisk flute music, Anya Gōngzhǔ finally selected a white lotus flower. The petals of that lotus flower were huge, larger than the mouth of a bowl, and shone brightly in the sun.

Anya Gōngzhǔ and Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ were not close, but she knew Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ’s preferences. Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ did not favor buds, but rather flowers in full bloom.

Anya Gōngzhǔ catered to her taste and chose this one on purpose.

Ling Jingshu followed Anya Gōngzhǔ’s gaze and said with a smile, “Your Highness has a good eye. That lotus flower is indeed very beautiful.”

It happened to be near the cruise ship, so they could pick it up just by reaching out.

Anya Gōngzhǔ said excitedly, “Do you think it’s great too? I spent a long time choosing the one to pick. I’ll pick the lotus when the boat gets closer.”

When the boat got closer, they discovered some technical difficulties.

There was indeed a big difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance. Moreover, Anya Gōngzhǔ had short arms and could not reach them even when sitting on the boat.

Anya Gōngzhǔ stretched out her arms but still couldn’t reach it, and her little face turned red.

Ling Jingshu found it funny and felt pity for him. She whispered, “Your Highness, I’ll pick it for you.”

Anya Gōngzhǔ was stubborn and said, “No need for that. I promised to pick a lotus flower myself, how can I let you do it?”

However, she couldn’t really reach it…

“How about this, do me a favor.” Anya Gōngzhǔ’s eyes rolled, and she came up with an idea and whispered something in Ling Jingshu’s ear.

Ling Jingshu subconsciously frowned and objected: “This is a bit dangerous. Your Highness is a precious girl, you must not do this.”

What if she accidentally fell into the water?

Anya Gōngzhǔ was usually quiet and introverted in the palace, but she is naughty and playful like any little girl of 11 or 12 years old. After coming up with an idea, she insisted on implementing it: “If you are unwilling to help, then I will call someone else.”

Ling Jingshu couldn’t persuade the stubborn Anya Gōngzhǔ and had to agree.

Anya Gōngzhǔ leaned half of her body over the railing and stretched out her right hand to pick the lotus flower. Ling Jingshu tightly grasped her left arm, feeling unusually nervous.

At this time, Su Ying’s bamboo flute was playing to its climax. Almost everyone on the cruise ship was listening to it with fascination. For a moment, no one noticed the actions of Anya Gōngzhǔ and Ling Jingshu.

Jiang Rongyue and Su Ying seemed to be at odds with each other, and she was probably the only one who was listening absent-mindedly.

Jiang Rongyue looked around carelessly, and when she saw Anya Gōngzhǔ leaning over the railing and picking lotus flowers, she was startled and shouted without thinking: “Anya Gōngzhǔ! Danger!”

Everyone was attracted by the exclamation and turned around to look over.

At this moment, Anya Gōngzhǔ’s white and tender little hands had already reached the lotus and were picking them vigorously. Suddenly, she heard a sharp cry and was startled.

She unconsciously used too much force with his right hand and his body slipped off the railing.

Ling Jingshu was not frail, but she was not very strong either, and she was struggling to hold Anya Gōngzhǔ. Now Anya Gōngzhǔ’s whole body was sliding down, and she couldn’t hold on at all.

With a splash, Anya Gōngzhǔ fell into the water.

Everyone was shocked, and Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ’s expression suddenly changed.

(End of this chapter)