Yuansong left them soon after the introduction, and Madam Fu pointed her long fingers left and right, assigning the maids to chores. Jingrui was assigned to the kitchen along with Xiaobai and the beautiful maid, Shushu.

Shushu groaned the whole time they made baozi⁸. Her mouth spat insults, and her long nails dug marks into the clean pastry. "Tell me, you two, what is your purpose for coming to the palace?"

Xiaobai, who was a good-natured soul, ignored the contempt in Shushu's tone and smiled brightly. "I am from the Water Clan, but my parents are just guards and maids. They believe there's a better chance for me to get promoted by being a maid at the Heavenly Palace. I'm an adventurous soul, and Heaven seems like huge fun."

Shushu snorted. "So, you are just a maid and a guard's daughter." She skimmed over Xiaobai's plain figure with a disdainful glare.

Jingrui dropped the baozi⁸ into the bamboo steamer basket. "Aren't you also a guard's daughter?"

Shushu's head snapped Jingrui's way. "There's a line of difference, dear. My father is the personal guard of the Bird King."

There was no difference between a guard and a personal guard to Jingrui, but she decided to keep quiet. She was not there to riot trouble.

Shushu, on the other hand, didn't want to stop. She threw her deformed bun into the steamer basket, and her eyes pierced into Jingrui's face. "You are quite pretty, very delicate and fair skin." Shushu gritted her teeth. "No doubt about it, you are a seductive witch. You are here for the purpose of seducing the Prince, aren't you? Most maids that have entered the Heavenly Palace, have dreamed of rising in ranks in such a way. But don't you even think about it. I will be the one who enters the inner courtyard first, not any of you, so don't even try!"

Anger sizzled in her eyes, and she could barely swallow it down. Like a child when they couldn't get what they wanted, Shushu stormed out of the kitchen with clenched knuckles and gritted teeth.

Jingrui furrowed her brows, taken aback. She had always thought she was the only spoiled brat around, but meeting Shushu, she had been utterly dethroned from the title.

Jingrui smiled weakly as she lifted the basket to boil. "Isn't Shushu a hypocrite? Calling me a what? A seductive witch? Isn't she the seductive witch?"

Xiaobai dabbed the sweat off her forehead and laughed. "She seems really determined to enter the inner courtyard. Perhaps, she will enter there soon, and she won't throw a tantrum at any of us anymore."

"Highly doubt that. The Prince seems thrifty with his space."

"You're right." Xiaobai fanned herself with her hands and sighed. "It's winter, but working hard really gets you heated up. Let's go get some cool air!"

Jingrui nodded as Xiaobai led her outside.

The courtyard had been devoured by grey clouds. Jingrui sat beside Xiaobai on the veranda, glancing meanderingly at the sight of the gloomy palace. Nothing within the courtyard glistened; there were only fierce clouds, angry sky, and fallen leaves. And Jingrui once thought Heaven was never affected by the seasons.

They said a palace reflected its owner. It was as if the owner of this palace had never seen the sun nor the stars.

It was as if the owner of this palace had only seen a waning moon.

Xiaobai cocked her brows high upon seeing Jingrui's expression turn melancholic. "So, Jingrui, you have never answered Shushu. What is your purpose in coming to the Heavenly Palace?"

Jingrui watched as dried leaves crackled along the cracking pavements and a doleful smile came over her lips. "I am here because it is the only way the moon will be full again."

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8) Baozi (包子): steamed buns with fillings.