The argument ended with Gu Liang's tears and the unquestionable authority that followed. Yet the atmosphere within Zhilan Pavilion felt as though a thin layer of ice had formed. Between Gu Liang and Emma, an unprecedented stalemate had taken hold.
Gu Liang no longer sought to share every detail with Emma as she once did. She still relied on Emma's care, yet her words now carried a hint of mistress-like reserve and a trace of... subtle testing. She seemed to be confirming whether this person had truly been kept. Emma, however, remained as silent and obedient as ever, concealing all emotion perfectly beneath her expressionless mask, as if the person who had once resolutely sought to leave had never existed.
Yet, in the deepest stillness of night, when Emma lay alone on her small night bench, listening to Gu Liang's breathing gradually steady in the inner chamber, a cold clarity washed over her like moonlight spilling into her heart. She saw clearly that the bond called "friendship" had been forged by power into a cold, unyielding chain. She gently traced the invisible shackles on her wrists. The old dream within her heart—to leave once he was firmly established—shattered like frost patterns on a window before dawn's light arrived. A new, unyielding resolve took its place—what she needed was no longer permission to leave, but power strong enough to stand anywhere, power no one could ever take away. Dependent favors were like building towers on sand; she must lay her own foundation.
As Emma contemplated all this in the cold of her night watch, the winter of the tenth year of Minghui had grown deep. The biting winds of the imperial capital seemed even more piercing than those of Linzhou.
When the first snow fell, the palace began preparations for a series of New Year celebrations. As the newly returned Imperial Granddaughter, Gu Liang would make her first formal appearance before the imperial relatives and noble families. This was not only an honor but also an invisible test. Every member of Zhilan Pavilion was on edge.
Emma was busier than ever. She had to assist the governess in ensuring Gu Liang's etiquette was flawless at every event; she had to arrange the attire and accessories for Gu Liang's attendance at various banquets, ensuring they were befitting her status yet not overly flashy; and she had to constantly monitor Gu Liang's state of mind. Under the weight of preparations and potential nerves, Gu Liang occasionally revealed the weariness and uncertainty typical of her age.
"Sister Emma, this hairpin is so heavy," Gu Liang murmured softly to her full-length reflection, instinctively seeking familiar reassurance.
Emma, busy adjusting the jade ornaments at her waist, paused not in her work. Her voice remained steady: "Your Highness, today's clan banquet concerns the imperial family's dignity. You must endure." She picked up a warm handkerchief nearby and gently pressed it against Gu Liang's slightly stiff neck. "It will be fine in a moment."
Beneath the cool words lay subtle tenderness. Feeling the fleeting warmth, Gu Liang's restless heart settled slightly. Through the mirror, she watched Emma's serene, unruffled face behind her. The slight resentment born from her rejection at the palace banquet seemed to melt away a little in the routine of their daily reliance. She knew Emma's caution was right.
Attending her first grand palace banquet, Gu Liang couldn't help but feel nervous. From the lofty imperial throne, the emperor's stern gaze swept across the hall; below, countless faces watched—some curious, some scrutinizing, some wearing complex smiles. She followed the matron's teachings, moving with measured grace, bearing dignified composure, and responding with proper decorum. Emma followed with head bowed among the attending palace attendants, treating each such occasion as a silent lesson in court survival. Though outwardly submissive, her peripheral vision took in every expression in the hall and every undercurrent at the banquet tables. She observed the subtle barbs exchanged between two consort princesses of lesser birth, and the pensive glances certain elder imperial relatives cast at Gu Liang.
When someone, seemingly tipsy, broached the subject of Gu Liang's time among commoners with a tone that was both genuine and probing, Gu Liang momentarily lost his words, a flicker of panic crossing his face. At that moment, Emma, stepping forward to pour wine, gave the back of Gu Liang's chair the slightest of nudges. Instantly snapped back to focus, Gu Liang recalled the rehearsed response Emma had drilled into her. She immediately lifted a perfectly measured smile, deftly steering the conversation toward His Majesty the Emperor's benevolence and grace. This maneuver preserved all appearances while effectively silencing any lingering whispers.
Emperor Minghui, Gu Heng, observed it all. His gaze lingered for a moment on Emma, who kept her eyes lowered and her demeanor submissive, his expression deep and inscrutable.
On New Year's Eve, the palace hosted a grand banquet to welcome the new year. Fireworks bloomed brilliantly across the night sky, illuminating the jade-and-marble palaces like a celestial realm. Gu Liang was permitted to sit beside the Emperor and Empress, receiving the congratulations of court officials and noblewomen. It was an unparalleled honor.
Emma, like the other palace attendants, stood guard in the cold corridor outside the hall. She could hear the music and laughter drifting from within, see the dazzling fireworks filling the sky, yet felt not a shred of warmth. The palace revelry was strictly tiered; the boundaries of rank and status were starkly evident at such moments.
Gazing at the swirling snow and dazzling fireworks, her thoughts drifted back to that bitterly cold night at the Su residence when Gu Liang had been rescued. The danger then had been starkly visible, whereas the peril lurking beneath this façade of revelry now seemed far more inscrutable.
Returning to Zhilan Pavilion, Gu Liang shed her heavy headdresses and jewelry, still immersed in the exhilaration of her successful debut and a lingering trace of fear. Watching Emma tidy her garments, she suddenly instructed the head palace maid: "Go fetch that pair of jadeite bracelets newly acquired by the Household Department the other day."
The bracelets arrived, their translucent emerald green immediately revealing them as extraordinary pieces. Gu Liang picked up one and slipped it onto Emma's wrist herself, her tone carrying a mix of gratitude and pride: "Today, it was all thanks to you. This color suits you perfectly. From now on, the finest things should naturally be reserved for you first."
She gazed at the jade adorning Emma's wrist, her eyes brimming with satisfaction. It was as if this precious object served as irrefutable proof—proof of her singular devotion to Emma, and proof that she now possessed the power to bestow the world's finest treasures upon her.
The New Year commenced with an even more intricate array of ceremonies. Sacrifices to Heaven, ancestral rites, court congratulations... Gu Liang persevered with astonishing fortitude, each appearance more composed than the last. Emperor Minghui observed this with evident delight, his resolve to cultivate this granddaughter growing ever stronger. He not only personally oversaw her studies but even confided in her during a private audience:
"Liang'er, do you understand why your imperial grandfather is so eager for you to become familiar with all this?" The emperor's voice carried a hint of imperceptible weariness, yet his gaze remained as sharp as an eagle's. "This empire and its people must eventually be entrusted to someone worthy. I wish for you to mature swiftly. I... will clear the obstacles from your path, but the final journey must be yours alone to walk."
The weight and expectation in these words shook Gu Liang to her core, making her truly realize the burden on her shoulders. She was no longer merely a girl craving protection; she began to actively learn, observe, and think.
Throughout the winter, Emma accompanied Gu Liang through a whirlwind of lavish and solemn occasions. Their words were few, yet a new, more intricate understanding quietly blossomed between them in this unfamiliar environment. Gu Liang needed Emma's gentle reminders and silent support, while Emma, through these repeated "real-world" experiences, gained deeper insight into the palace's operational rules, the flow of power, and... the Emperor. He appeared to be growing frail, yet he still firmly controlled the grand scheme of things and genuinely paved the way for Gu Liang.
Winter's chill receded as spring's first stirrings emerged. This season saw Gu Liang undergo rapid transformation amid identity crises and responsibilities; Emma, meanwhile, quietly nurtured the seeds of her humble aspirations through both detached observation and direct experience, gathering nourishment and fertile ground. Both knew that beneath the calm surface, new waves were brewing. And after this winter's baptism, neither was the person they had been when first entering the palace gates.