The embroidery hall was filled with quiet chatter.
Noble ladies sat in elegant rows, delicate threads weaving through silk as they practiced.
Xueying sat among them.
Silent.
Careful.
Out of place,aware of everyone and everything that went on.
"Your Highness," one of the court ladies said with a polite smile, "today we will be testing your embroidery skills."
A few girls exchanged amused glances.
"Surely the princess learned this while… serving?" one whispered.
Soft laughter followed,mockery stares filled the room.
Xueying lowered her gaze.
"I will try."
"Of course," the lady replied sweetly. "We expect nothing less princess "
—
Time passed slowly.
Needle. Thread. Fabric.
Xueying focused, her movements steady.
She had done this before—
Not as a noble skill.
But as labor.
Still, her fingers moved with quiet precision.
When she finally finished, she placed the cloth down gently.
A simple plum blossom.
Clean.
Elegant.
Unexpected.
"…Not bad," one girl muttered, surprised.
Before anyone could say more—
"Let me see."
Zhao Meilin's voice cut in smoothly.
She stepped forward, picking up Xueying's work.
Her eyes lingered on it for a moment.
Then—
Her expression changed.
"…Is this all?"
She held it up slightly.
"For a princess, this is rather plain, don't you think,, what kind of princess does this and calls it finished?"
The room grew quiet.
"It's neat," someone said carefully.
"But lacking refinement," Meilin added quickly.
She smiled faintly.
"After all, habits from a servant's life are hard to erase,I don't mean disrespect my sister." she mocked
A few girls nodded.
Xueying's fingers tightened slightly in her sleeve.
"I can improve," she said softly.
"Can you?" Meilin tilted her head.
Then—
Without warning—
She let go.
The fabric fell directly into the nearby basin of water.
A soft splash.
Silence.
Xueying froze.
"Oh…" Meilin covered her lips lightly. "How careless of me."
No one spoke,breath
No one moved.
Xueying stepped forward slowly, reaching into the cold water.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the soaked cloth.
The ink had already begun to bleed.
Ruined.
"…I'm sorry," Meilin said lightly, though there was no remorse in her eyes she was smiling mischievously.
Xueying stared at the fabric.
Then—
"…It's alright," she said quietly.
And that—
Was the moment something changed.
Because this time—
She didn't apologize, everyone noticed especially meilin.
—
That evening, word spread.
Not about the ruined embroidery.
But about something else.
"Lord Gu visited the garden again today."
"With her?"
"Yes… the princess."
The whispers moved quickly.
And they reached exactly where they needed to.
—
In her chamber, Zhao Meilin sat before her mirror, her expression cold.
"So…" she murmured.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Perfect.
Untouched.
"And yet…"
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"He looked at her."
The words felt like poison.
Slow.
Burning.
"Fine," she said softly.
"If she wants attention…"
Her lips curved.
"I'll give her something she won't forget."