"Where is this place?" An Ning awoke to find herself in an unfamiliar environment, everything around her making her uneasy.
"Miss Xue Lan, that girl is awake." A shadow flickered past the doorway, and then a woman entered.
The woman was beautiful, dressed in magnificent attire, likely a young lady from a prominent family.
"You're awake?" Xue Lan stepped forward and asked softly.
An Ning nodded, "Thank you, miss, for saving me."
"No need to thank me, but your face..."
An Ning was startled. She reached up to touch her face, which was bandaged.
Disfigured? That was her first thought.
Seeing this, Xue Lan sighed, "I'm sorry, the wound on your face was too deep, the doctor could do nothing."
An Ning shook her head, "I am already grateful that you saved me, how could I ask for more?"
If disfigured, then so be it!
In the past, this face had brought her much hardship. Now, without a beautiful countenance, perhaps the hardships would lessen.
Seeing that the maiden on the bed wasn't as sad as she had imagined, Xue Lan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister Xue Lan, isn't it time to return to the palace? Otherwise, the Empress will not see you!" A young maidservant approached Xue Lan and whispered.
Xue Lan nodded, "I've been out for two days, it's time to go back."
"Sister Xue Lan, what about this young lady?" the maidservant asked.
Xue Lan looked at the maiden on the bed, her eyes gleaming, "Take her with us. We'll say she's my cousin."
The maidservant was startled, "Sister Xue Lan, this might not be appropriate."
"Just do as I say," Xue Lan stated.
The maidservant replied, "Yes."
"Go and prepare for our return to the palace. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."
The maidservant accepted the order and left.
Xue Lan stepped forward, "I haven't asked where you're from, girl, and what your name is?"
An Ning looked at the woman in front of her who seemed kind, "I am from Huang Ze. My name is Ning'er."
Xue Lan sat on the bed, holding her hand and asking, "Do you have any family left?"
An Ning shook her head, "None." With her face ruined, no one would recognize her as Princess An Ning if she returned. She would wait until her face healed.
A hint of joy appeared on Xue Lan's face, "Since that's the case, let me be your sister!"
An Ning was stunned. One could just casually recognize siblings?
"Is that not allowed?" Xue Lan asked.
An Ning quickly shook her head, "No, it's just that your status seems to be noble. How dare I, an orphan, presume to be your sister?"
Xue Lan smiled, "I'm just a servant myself. It's settled then, you are my sister."
"Thank you, sister!" An Ning said.
Xue Lan patted her hand, "Come back with me tomorrow morning. Actually, I work in the palace."
An Ning was surprised, "Sister, you..."
"I am responsible for all matters concerning the Crown Prince. When we return, my sister can also work in the Eastern Palace with me!"
"Sister, may I ask where this place is?"
"Xue Country," Xue Lan replied with a smile.
The Crown Prince of Xue Country, wouldn't that be Xue Jingyun?
An Ning felt a slight headache.
"Rest well, sister. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
An Ning nodded and lay down on the bed. Back in An Country, she felt the Crown Prince of Xue Country seemed to have feelings for her.
However, she knew it was for the soul deep within her body.
But now, with her face ruined, he probably wouldn't recognize her, would he?
The next day.
An Ning and Xue Lan boarded the carriage back to the palace.
Upon arriving at the imperial palace and dismounting, An Ning couldn't help but marvel. Compared to this, the imperial palace of An Country was like heaven and earth.
"You stay here. This is my room. I'll report to the Empress and then come back." Xue Lan instructed.
An Ning nodded, "Sister, you go ahead. I'll wait for you."
Xue Lan left.
An Ning let out a sigh of relief. Xue Lan lived in a courtyard by herself, truly showing the status of someone managing all affairs of the Eastern Palace.
Her living quarters were almost as grand as those of an imperial concubine.
"Xue Lan, you're back..."
A man entered from outside the door.
An Ning looked up and was startled. She felt this person was somewhat familiar.
Xue Feng looked at the maiden before him with wariness and asked coldly, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Who are you? How dare you barge into sister's room?" An Ning retorted.
"Sister?" Xue Feng frowned, scrutinizing the maiden, and then noticed a long scar on her right cheek, stretching from her eye corner to her lip, hideously shocking.
Xue Feng couldn't help but avert his gaze. She was truly unsightly.
"Who are you?" An Ning stepped forward to ask.
"You say Xue Lan is your sister?" Xue Feng asked.
An Ning nodded, "Yes."
He had never heard of Xue Lan having a sister. But being here, she must have been brought in by Xue Lan.
"I am Xue Feng," Xue Feng said.
An Ning was startled. She recognized Xue Feng. He was the bodyguard of the Crown Prince of Xue Country, skilled in martial arts.
"Since Xue Lan is not here, I will come again tomorrow," Xue Feng said and left.
A little later, Xue Lan finally returned. Seeing the maiden still in the room, she walked up and asked, "You didn't go out?"
An Ning shook her head, "Sister asked me to wait here. How could I wander around carelessly?"
Xue Lan smiled, "You are truly obedient."
An Ning noticed some weariness in Xue Lan's brows and couldn't help but ask, "Sister, was the matter the Empress assigned difficult to handle?"
Hearing this, Xue Lan's expression became indescribably desolate, "Next month, the two princesses of An Country and the Empress of Huang Ze will come to Xue Country."
An Ning trembled all over, "Why?"
Xue Lan chuckled softly, "Why else? The Eastern Palace has always been empty. It's time it had a mistress."
An Ning frowned. The Crown Prince of Xue Country, Xue Jingyun, was already nineteen. It was indeed time for him to marry.
But thinking about his marriage, she felt a strange pang of sadness. Why?
Xue Lan looked up, not noticing An Ning's expression, and said, "For so many years, the Eastern Palace has had no mistress. This time, it likely won't be empty."
After saying this, Xue Lan gave a desolate laugh, "Why am I telling you all this? I just need to handle the matters my master assigned. Anything else..."
Anything else was useless to think about. Just as the Empress said, she had been close to the source of favor for so many years, yet she hadn't made the Crown Prince look at her differently. What else could she expect?
After a long silence, Xue Lan added, "I mentioned you to the Empress. From now on, you will be called Xue Ning and will stay in the Eastern Palace with me, taking care of everything in the Eastern Palace, including matters concerning the future Crown Princess."
"Yes, sister," An Ning replied.
"It's this late. You should send the peach blossom cakes to His Highness. You go today!" Xue Lan said.
An Ning trembled all over and quickly refused, "Sister, I just arrived and may not be capable of this."
Xue Lan smiled, "What are you afraid of? Go!"
With that, she pushed An Ning out of the room.
An Ning had no choice but to leave.
Arriving at the small kitchen of the Eastern Palace, the cook was startled to see her and asked, "Where is Miss Xue Lan?"
"Sister asked me to deliver it to His Highness the Crown Prince," An Ning said, mustering her courage.
The cook looked at her, and when she saw the hideous scar on her face, she smiled thoughtfully, "Alright, Miss Xue Ning, take it."