The palace shimmered like a jeweled lantern against the night, corridors awash with molten gold where hundreds of lights flickered against polished floors. Silk banners cascaded down marble pillars, shadows dancing across painted ceilings as if the gods themselves had joined the festivities. The faint scent of jasmine and sandalwood clung to the air, sweet and dizzying, threading through the laughter and distant music already spilling from the grand hall.
It was breathtaking, majestic—utterly designed to intimidate.
And Li Mei wanted to throw up.
Her system chimed the moment her slippers crossed the threshold.
[Ding! Warning: High-level court event detected.]
[NPC threats identified: Lady Yun, Lord Wei, Lady Huan.]
[Objective: Survive banquet without scandal.]
[Reward: +500 XP, system upgrade possible.]
[Probability of success: 42%.]
Li Mei's stomach plummeted. Forty-two percent? That's not a survival rate—that's a polite way of saying: good luck, you're screwed.
She muttered under her breath, "That's basically a death sentence with fancy food."
As if in response, another ping lit up in front of her eyes.
[Ding! New Skill Activated: Accidental Diplomat – Level 3.]
[Passive Bonus: +15 Influence in high-stakes events.]
"Oh good," Li Mei whispered bitterly. "A skill I never wanted, for a situation I don't want to be in. Fantastic."
The gown she wore didn't help. It was a blush-colored creation that Celestia herself had "subtly approved"—translation: forced her into. The silk swirled around her in delicate layers, making her feel like a frosted cake on display. Silver-thread embroidery caught the lantern light with every hesitant step, and jeweled hairpins tugged uncomfortably at her scalp. Great. If scandal doesn't kill me, tripping in this gown will.
Her palms dampened against the smooth fabric as she scanned the hall. Everywhere she looked were nobles in glittering attire, their gazes sharp, calculating. Smiles shimmered like lacquered porcelain, brittle beneath the weight of politics. Conversations fluttered in the air, filled with subtle barbs and careful laughter.
This isn't a banquet, Li Mei thought grimly. It's a battlefield disguised with silk and wine.
And like clockwork, her first danger appeared.
Lady Yun swept into view, draped in emerald silk and dripping with jewels that sparkled like weaponry. Two allies trailed her—both women with spines straight as swords, eyes narrowing as soon as they landed on Li Mei. The trio looked less like banquet guests and more like an execution squad dressed for the occasion.
Lady Yun's lips curled in a venomous smile. Her voice slithered low as she passed, sharp enough to slice through the jasmine-laden air.
"You… are still alive," she hissed, eyes flicking over Li Mei with disdain, "and somehow… dazzling."
Li Mei froze. Dazzling? Is that… a compliment? An insult? A prelude to assassination? Her brain scrambled for an appropriate response and came up with… nothing.
Before she could humiliate herself with awkward stammering, a shadow stretched beside her, tall and unhurried. Crown Prince Jianyu leaned lazily against a pillar, dressed in black embroidered robes that caught the lantern light like constellations stitched into night. His expression was all effortless amusement, dark eyes glinting as they lingered on Lady Yun and her entourage.
"Don't worry," Jianyu murmured, his voice pitched low enough for only Li Mei to hear. "If she tries anything, I'll intervene."
The way he said intervene carried an edge that made Li Mei's stomach knot tighter.
She groaned softly. "I don't need intervention… I need invisibility cloaks. Preferably seven."
The faintest smile tugged at Jianyu's mouth, and Lady Yun's glare only sharpened as she swept past.
The banquet was officially beginning. And Li Mei hadn't even had her first scandal yet.
The banquet hall pulsed with life. Musicians in the corner plucked at zithers and flutes, their melodies weaving through the golden air. Servers glided like swans, balancing trays of jade cups and porcelain dishes that shimmered under lantern light. A hundred conversations fluttered like wings, layered with laughter that was too bright, too sharp.
To Li Mei, every step felt like navigating a minefield disguised in silk.
Her system pinged again.
[Hint: Avoid stepping on noble toes or spilling tea. Failure will escalate gossip.]
[Ding! Side Quest Activated: Blend into Banquet Elegance.]
[Objective: Maintain composure.]
[Reward: +100 XP, +5 Charm.]
"Blend in?" Li Mei muttered. "I stick out like a noodle in a jewelry box."
She tried to walk with composure, placing her steps carefully on the polished floor, keeping her shoulders back like she'd seen palace attendants do. But her nerves crackled, her palms sweated, and she was acutely aware that if she blinked too hard, something expensive would probably shatter nearby.
The first trap struck with elegant subtlety.
Lady Yun, perched near a cluster of dignitaries, leaned close to a noble with a voice pitched just loud enough for the nearby crowd. "Did you hear? The maid speaks out of turn in court. They say she is favored by the Empress…"
Whispers rippled instantly. Heads tilted. Brows arched. A dozen sharp eyes turned to Li Mei like arrows seeking a target.
Her system shrieked in alarm.
[Warning: Gossip detected. Recommended action: Humor or diversion.]
Li Mei's brain short-circuited. Her choices? Deny it, confirm it, or… improvise. And when Li Mei improvised, chaos followed.
She plastered on her sweetest smile, leaned toward the nearest servant carrying tea, and stage-whispered just loud enough for several nobles to overhear. "Oh yes, the Empress adores my cooking disasters. Last week I put sugar instead of salt in the soup, and she laughed for an entire hour."
A stunned silence hit the cluster like a dropped cup. Then, incredulous gasps. A few nobles stifled laughter, some blinked in shock, and one elderly minister choked on his wine. Lady Yun froze mid-sentence, her venom curdling in her throat.
[Ding! Skill Activated: Charm by Chaos – Level 3.]
[Passive Bonus: +10 Reputation among neutral NPCs.]
Li Mei blinked. "Wait… that worked?"
"Yes," the system intoned smugly. "Truth flavored with chaos is most effective in high-stakes events."
Jianyu had sidled closer, his presence a steady shadow at her side. His lips curved in quiet amusement as he murmured, "You really do turn every disaster into… art."
"Art?!" Li Mei hissed back, face burning. "I'm panicking silently inside!"
His dark eyes glinted, clearly entertained.
Across the hall, from her raised dais, Empress Celestia watched with her signature unreadable calm. But Li Mei caught the faintest glimmer in those silver eyes, a subtle spark of approval. Celestia's lips curved ever so slightly. "Effective improvisation," she murmured to no one in particular. "Remember this feeling, little maid. You are learning fast."
Li Mei's stomach knotted tighter. Learning fast? I'm one joke away from being executed, Your Majesty.
And the night was far from over.
The nobles escalated.
One lady "accidentally" tilted her goblet toward Li Mei's sleeve, the dark wine arching dangerously. By sheer panic-fueled reflex, Li Mei stumbled sideways—right into a servant carrying fruit. The tray teetered, the nobles gasped, and Li Mei's elbow shot out just in time to knock a melon into the goblet, deflecting the spill entirely. Wine splashed harmlessly onto the floor instead of her dress or the visiting dignitary beside her.
Everyone froze.
Li Mei blinked at the fruit wobbling on the floor. "...I meant to do that."
A few nobles chuckled nervously, unsure whether to be horrified or impressed. Jianyu covered his mouth with one sleeve, shoulders shaking from laughter he barely contained.
Her system pinged like a proud parent.
[Ding! Micro-Quest Completed: Disaster Averted.]
[Reward: +50 XP, +2 Improvisation.]
Lady Yun's jaw tightened. The noble conspirators muttered to each other, frustrated that their ambushes kept unraveling into spectacle.
And Li Mei? She was running on pure adrenaline, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might drown out the zithers. Every breath tasted of jasmine and nerves. Every glance felt like a dagger testing her defenses.
If I survive this without knocking over the Emperor's table, I'm writing a survival guide: "Chaos Saves Lives."
Jianyu leaned close again, voice low, teasing, dangerous. "At this rate, I'm tempted to test how far your improvisations go."
Li Mei's eyes widened. "Don't you dare—"
"Relax," he murmured, gaze glinting. "I'll only watch."
Her face flamed. "Only watch? I'm not a circus act!"
"Could've fooled me," he said softly, amusement rich in his tone.
Before she could sputter more, Celestia's gaze swept the hall like a blade of moonlight. The murmurs quieted. Her silver eyes locked briefly on Li Mei, appraising, cool, but faintly approving. Li Mei bowed her head quickly, pulse racing.
Oh no. She's noticed everything. Every stumble, every near-disaster. And she's filing it away, I just know it.
As the banquet swirled on—wine pouring, laughter echoing, schemes layering themselves like silk—Li Mei stumbled, deflected, dodged, and somehow, miraculously, survived.
[Ding! Achievement Unlocked: Banquet Survival Expert.]
[Reward: +500 XP. New Skill Gained: Controlled Chaos.]
By the time the moonlight streamed high through the lattice windows, Li Mei's dress was intact, her dignity only mildly singed, and most importantly—she was still alive.
The banquet's music softened, a lingering note of zither echoing like a sigh across the gilded hall. Lantern light flickered lower, shadows pooling where the golden glow no longer reached. Nobles were beginning to retreat into smaller circles, their laughter thinning into murmurs as wine cooled and appetites dulled.
Li Mei stood very still near the edge of the hall, her palms pressed discreetly against the silk of her gown to hide their trembling. Her heart was still racing, each thump reminding her: I survived. I actually survived.
[Ding! Daily Log Updated: Survived Major Banquet.]
[XP Gained: +600.]
[System Hint: Intrigue Level Escalating. Attention Level: High.]
She swallowed hard. Attention level high? That sounds like the opposite of survival.
A warm shadow fell across her. Jianyu had stepped closer, his tall frame angled protectively between her and the shifting currents of nobles nearby. His dark eyes, still glinting with amusement from her earlier disasters-turned-miracles, softened just slightly.
"You made it," he murmured, voice pitched low enough for only her. "Not everyone does."
Li Mei blinked up at him. "Made it? I tripped over fruit, weaponized soup disasters, and nearly destroyed the carpet. That's… making it?"
His lips quirked, a half-smile that was both infuriating and magnetic. "It's survival. And survival," he said, leaning in just a fraction, "is far more dangerous than perfection. People fear what they cannot predict."
Her cheeks flushed hot. Her pulse, already wild, jumped at his words. His hand brushed lightly against hers as if by accident—or not at all. She couldn't decide.
[Warning: Emotional entanglement escalating. Probability of romantic tension: 92%.]
Li Mei bit back a groan. Why is this always happening? Why does surviving death traps equal… whatever this is?
Before she could untangle her own thoughts, the crowd shifted.
Celestia descended from her dais, every movement smooth as flowing water, silver eyes reflecting lanternlight. The entire room instinctively quieted, parting to clear her path. She approached Li Mei and Jianyu with the poise of someone who owned not just the hall but the very air within it.
Li Mei's spine straightened so fast she nearly cracked something. Her knees wobbled, but she forced herself into a deep bow. "Y-Your Majesty."
Celestia's gaze lingered, assessing, calm but edged with something Li Mei couldn't decipher. "Well done, little maid."
Li Mei blinked. "…What?"
"You maintained composure," Celestia continued, her voice smooth as silk and sharp as steel. "Neutralized attempts meant to discredit you. Even earned amusement." Her silver eyes flicked briefly to Jianyu, then back. "But remember this—" her tone dipped colder, "the palace is a river. Tonight it was calm, but rivers flood. They drown the careless. Flow carefully, or be swept away."
Li Mei's throat went dry. She bowed her head again, words tumbling. "Yes, Your Majesty. I'll… flow very carefully. Super carefully. Like… like a professional log."
Jianyu choked on a laugh. Celestia's lips curved faintly—not warmth, but a blade-thin acknowledgment of Li Mei's absurdity.
Behind them, at the far end of the hall, Lady Yun lingered. Her jeweled hands were clenched around her fan so tightly the lacquer threatened to crack. Her smile, though poised, was brittle glass, her eyes fixed on Li Mei with seething venom. Every subtle scheme tonight had unraveled into humiliation. And Lady Yun was not a woman to forget humiliation.
Li Mei caught that stare and felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Oh great. She's not just angry—she's plotting murder-angry. Wonderful. I'll be poisoned before dessert, won't I?
Her system pulsed ominously.
[Warning: Rival Hostility Intensifying.]
[Probability of direct confrontation soon: 78%.]
Li Mei bit the inside of her cheek. Of course. Because why stop at surviving one banquet when you can sign up for the deluxe package of "ongoing assassination attempts"?
Celestia turned, her silken gown trailing like moonlight as she returned toward her dais. But before she drifted out of earshot, she said, "Remember, Li Mei. Do not let chaos master you. Harness it—or it will consume you."
Her words lingered like smoke in the air, both threat and lesson.
Jianyu's gaze flicked to Li Mei again, lips tilting in that unreadable smirk of his. "Harness chaos. Seems she's giving you lessons now. Perhaps you'll master it before it masters you."
Li Mei groaned softly. "Or it'll kill me before I figure out how."
He tilted his head, his dark eyes glimmering with a dangerous kind of amusement. "Then I'll be watching. Closely."
Her heartbeat spiked. Why does that sound romantic and terrifying at the same time?
[Ding! Emotional Confusion Critical. Survival Instinct vs. Hormonal Instinct: Conflict Imminent.]
By the time the banquet finally dissolved and the nobles drifted into the cool night, Li Mei's legs felt like lead. She slipped back to her small quarters, collapsed onto her bed, and buried her face into the pillow.
"System," she mumbled into the fabric, "log me out. Please."
[Ding! End of Event Report: Survived the Moonlight Banquet.]
[XP +600. New Skill: Controlled Chaos.]
[Hint: Prepare for Lady Yun's retaliation. Intrigue level: escalating.]
[Warning: Boss-level confrontation approaching soon.]
Li Mei groaned, rolling onto her back, staring at the pale square of moonlight on the ceiling. "Boss-level confrontation? Already? Can't I get, like, a noodle break? Or a nap? Or ten years of peace and quiet?"
The system chimed mercilessly.
[Hint: No.]
Li Mei dragged her blanket over her head. "I'm doomed. Definitely doomed. And… maybe kind of excited about it?"
Outside, moonlight silvered the palace roofs. Somewhere in the shadows, Lady Yun was already sharpening her next scheme. Somewhere else, Celestia watched with her quiet, calculating gaze. And Jianyu? He was likely smiling to himself, amused and intrigued, waiting for the next disaster Li Mei would spin into survival.
Her last thought before drifting into uneasy sleep was simple.
Survive first. Noodles later.