Chapter 1552: The Story of Xiao Yanyan

The Eastern Palace, Yuehua Courtyard.

This was a small, cramped compound, with only seven or eight rooms to it. Setting aside the Eastern Palace itself, even many commoner homes in Kaifeng were more spacious.

Traces of renovation could be seen here and there, but signs of age were everywhere. The newest thing, perhaps, was the plaque that had been hung not long ago.

The location was also somewhat remote—at least several dozen walls and gates away from the Crown Prince's bedchamber—and so it was very quiet. Or rather, desolate. Only the red silk and festive flowers, not yet taken down, lent the small courtyard a touch of celebratory atmosphere.

This Yuehua Courtyard was where the Crown Prince's newly taken Lady Xiao resided. To be sure, she had the rank and the title now, but the treatment she received did not appear particularly generous.

Of course, within the Eastern Palace, having an independent courtyard of one's own, with dedicated eunuchs and maidservants to attend her, was already a mark of favor—enough to draw envy, jealousy, and resentment from others. Especially since the mistress of this courtyard was a Khitan.

Throughout Yuehua Courtyard, the best-decorated area was probably the main hall, which had a full set of furniture. Beyond that, there were no gold, jade, or ornaments—but it was clean enough, simple enough, and tidy enough.

The servants had been dismissed outside the hall, while the father and daughter of the Xiao family sat within, speaking in low voices. A faint trace of complex emotion showed on Xiao Siwen's aged face, while Xiao Yanyan personally poured tea for him, her every movement brisk and capable, a confident, radiant smile on her fair countenance.

"The Eastern Palace is vast—is there no better, larger courtyard?" Xiao Siwen took a shallow sip of tea, gestured at the humble quarters, and sighed softly.

Hearing this, the smile at the corners of Xiao Yanyan's lips widened slightly. Her expression was as composed as when she faced Liu Yang, as submissive as when she faced Consort Murong: "This was your daughter's own request. Thanks to Your Highness and the Crown Princess's favor, though I have been granted a title, I must still know my place. Your daughter is merely a maidservant beside Your Highness and the Crown Princess..."

Hearing Xiao Yanyan say these words in such a calm tone, and noticing the placid look on her face, Xiao Siwen's deeply wrinkled features could not help but show a hint of complex emotion.

As an old father, Xiao Siwen knew all too well what a proud, self-reliant person his youngest daughter was. Yet here in the Eastern Palace, even when facing only her own father, she still had to speak these meek, self-effacing words with such caution—as if pledging her loyalty to someone.

Complex emotions surged in his heart. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and in the end, all his words of comfort turned into a sigh: "It's just—this is too great a hardship for you!"

"Father, you speak too gravely. This was also your daughter's own choice—how can it be called a hardship?" Xiao Yanyan remained as placid as ever.

In truth, ever since he had come south to submit to the Great Han, Xiao Siwen had been striving to integrate into the upper echelons of the Great Han court. This was, obviously, extremely difficult.

He was not like those ordinary Khitan tribesmen who had surrendered—men who only needed to submit to Great Han rule, herd horses for the court, and pay tribute.

He, Xiao Siwen, was a Khitan minister, an important minister of the Inner Four Tribes. His status was more honored, and likewise more sensitive. Although Emperor Liu had set him up as an example after he came south, to win over distant peoples, and had granted him treatment that could be called generous...

But Xiao Siwen was unwilling to be merely a symbolic figurehead, holding the empty, nominal title of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. Because if that were the case, in the future the entire Xiao clan might well sink into decline.

This favor from the court was not secure. Should anything go wrong, his current treatment would turn to nothing, and he might even face mortal danger. After all, the Great Han Emperor's wariness toward the Khitan of Mobei was something even he, a newly surrendered minister, could feel. Under such circumstances, his identity benefited him—but it could just as easily drag him down.

At the very least, in the two or three years he had spent in the Great Han, Xiao Siwen could clearly feel the exclusion and contempt directed at him by the ministers and nobles who occupied the top of Great Han power.

Even having weathered much in life, such a blow to his heart was hard for Xiao Siwen to bear. It was as if an invisible chasm lay before him—the true upper structure of the Great Han Empire, its core of power, stood aloof and lofty, tantalizing to behold, and to integrate into it, one had to cross that chasm.

In these years, Xiao Siwen had done his utmost, devoting himself wholeheartedly to serving the Great Han. To Emperor Liu and the various lords of the court, he had spoken of all he knew without reservation, selling off everything he knew about the Khitan's inner workings, and had often taken the initiative to seek opportunities to distinguish himself, doing everything in his power to demonstrate his value.

These efforts had some effect—at least Xiao Siwen could sense that Emperor Liu was quite satisfied with him. But this satisfaction had its limits. At least up to now, he had never held any real power. Even his efforts to win over the Khitan tribes of Mobei were met with pervasive surveillance and wariness from all around.

And to truly integrate into the Great Han, besides exhausting his loyalty and demonstrating his value, the most convenient and effective means was, without question, marriage. Fortunately, Xiao Siwen also had a daughter he was proud of.

Initially, Xiao Siwen had planned to choose one of the prominent and powerful families of the Great Han to marry Xiao Yanyan into, quietly observing and weighing the pros and cons. Of course, the primary consideration was whether the chosen backer was solid enough.

However, this idea was rejected by Xiao Yanyan herself, who firmly proposed that rather than clinging to those powerful families, it would be better to enter the Han palace—and she directly chose the Eastern Palace.

In Xiao Yanyan's view, if the Xiao family sought a guarantee, an invitation to integrate into the upper echelons of the Great Han, there was nothing more effective than establishing a connection with the imperial court.

Those powerful families, however eminent, were ultimately subjects. And for Xiao Yanyan personally, rather than being married off as a political pawn to some scion of an uncertain future, it was better to hold the initiative in her own hands—even if it meant starting as a mere maidservant.

Given Xiao Yanyan's status, marrying the Crown Prince or an imperial prince—or even the legitimate son of some powerful family—would have been extremely difficult. And Xiao Yanyan, unwilling to bury herself, chose the most difficult path.

To enter the palace as a consort was no easy matter—not for Xiao Siwen, and not even for the well-bred ladies of Great Han noble families. But sending Xiao Yanyan into the Han palace as a palace maid, as a servant, was clearly much easier.

And so, through Xiao Siwen's maneuvering, eighteen-year-old Xiao Yanyan successfully entered the Eastern Palace, becoming an ordinary palace maid among many. The only thing that made her stand out at all was probably her identity as a Khitan woman.

As for Xiao Yanyan's experiences in the Eastern Palace, that was naturally another story. She had been fortunate—whether through serendipity or her own qualities, she had been given the opportunity to rise.

The most crucial point was that she won the appreciation of Consort Murong, who promoted her to personal maidservant. This was, without question, a leap forward—being at the Crown Princess's side meant being closer to the Crown Prince himself.

What followed came naturally. With her personality, her beauty, her knowledge, and her bearing, Xiao Yanyan successfully caught Liu Yang's attention.

Of course, throughout this process, Xiao Yanyan had maintained her respect and loyalty toward the Crown Princess. Even the promotion to the rank of Lady was proposed by Consort Murong herself.

It must also be said that since Consort Zhao had given birth to a son, she had grown increasingly favored, bringing immense pressure upon the Crown Princess—and creating an opportunity for Xiao Yanyan.

Now that her title was settled, Xiao Yanyan showed no trace of complacency. She still had a clear understanding of her own position, positioning herself as a maidservant beside the Crown Prince and Consort Murong, without the slightest change.

In these past few days, she had served Consort Murong with even greater reverence. Her loyal, humble demeanor left nothing to be faulted. Even before her own father, she displayed this attitude that had become almost instinctive, with no word or action out of line.

"The world within these palace walls is more complex than the world beyond them. Yanyan, you must be careful!" Looking at his daughter, Xiao Siwen's tone was full of concern, his gaze full of pity.

To this, Xiao Yanyan smiled slightly and nodded lightly: "Your daughter understands!"

Seeing this, Xiao Siwen opened his mouth again, then finally let out a bitter smile. He thought to himself—yes, his own daughter, didn't he know her well enough? What need was there for him to nag, to teach her how to conduct herself, how to survive in the palace?

And so, setting aside his somewhat complicated emotions and thoughts, Xiao Siwen said with feeling: "When you were still young, I declared that you would surely achieve great things. Now it seems my eyes were not dim. The entire future of the Xiao clan rests upon your shoulders alone..."

Hearing Xiao Siwen speak these heartfelt words, Xiao Yanyan's expression finally grew somewhat more serious.