Unnamed

Jin Yue strode into the inner courtyard of the manor, her gaze sweeping over the familiar scene before her. It was almost comical how little things changed, despite everything else in her life being turned upside down. As soon as she arrived, the sight that greeted her was the Madam, Wang, fussing over her eldest son, Lin Hao, as though he were a precious treasure. Her tone was honeyed and soft as she asked, "Hao'er, have you eaten yet? You mustn't skip meals. Let Mother prepare something for you."

Her two sisters, who Jin Yue hadn't seen in quite some time, hovered around Lin Hao like bees buzzing around a flower. They chimed in with praises and sycophantic smiles, while their attention on him was almost sickeningly sweet.

Meanwhile, the second son, Lin Yi, who stood a little ways off, was entirely ignored by the group. His eyes flickered toward the scene briefly, though he kept his expression calm, as though he were used to being overlooked. He smiled faintly when he noticed Jin Yue's arrival, but it was a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. The subtle cracks in his facade were obvious to Jin Yue, her eyes scanned the place but she couldn't see the father,what could be more important?.

She exhaled silently, her lukewarm attitude firmly in place as she approached the group. She wasn't exactly excited about this encounter.

"Big brother, second brother," Jin Yue greeted, her voice pleasant yet deliberately neutral. Her eyes flitted over to her sisters, but she didn't bother acknowledging them. She had no interest in exchanging empty pleasantries with them. Lin Hao, the eldest, barely spared her a glance before curling his lip in disdain. His eyes conveyed nothing but contempt for her as he muttered under his breath, "You have the audacity to come here after your recent disgrace?"

Jin Yue raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. Disgrace? If he only knew the half of what happened to his sister. But she wasn't here to be drawn into his petty insults just yet so she wouldn't tell him. Instead, she turned her attention to Lin Yi, the second brother, who smiled warmly, his tone polite.

"Ah, Yue'er, you've returned," Lin Yi said, his voice smooth like silk, though Jin Yue could practically feel the falseness seeping through. "It's good to see you again."

She chuckled internally. His act of being the 'kind brother' was as transparent as a glass of water. However, she played along for now, a smile tugging at her lips. "It's good to see you too, second brother. I trust you've been well."

Lin Yi's eyes gleamed, his act still firmly in place. "Quite well, thank you for asking." His words were kind,His outward gentleness made her want to yawn.

Turning back toward Lin Hao, who was still lounging in his seat with an air of superiority, she noticed the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to be waiting for an opportunity to berate her further.

With a small sigh, Jin Yue clasped her hands together, she have grown bored of the entire charade. "Well, this has been lovely, but I really must be going. I have other places to be."

Before she could take more than a few steps, Lin Hao's voice rang out, his tone accusatory. "Running off already? I shouldn't be surprised. You always run away when things get difficult. You're just trying to avoid responsibility, aren't you?"

Jin Yue stopped in her tracks, her back still turned to him as she tilted her head slightly. Avoid responsibility?what responsibility?The nerve. She smirked, the words forming effortlessly as she spun back around to face him, her expression innocent.

"I wouldn't want to keep the Empress waiting. I do have an audience at the palace after all," she said sweetly, letting her words hang in the air for a beat before continuing. "Unless, of course, you wish to delay me? I'm sure Her Majesty would love to hear about how I was detained... brother...you meant to disrespect the Empress?"

Lin Hao's face twitched, his arrogance faltering for a split second. The color drained from his face as he realized the weight of her words. The others in the courtyard went silent as well. Even Madam Wang, who had been fawning over Lin Hao just moments before, suddenly looked uneasy.

"You—" Lin Hao began, but he clearly had no comeback ready. Jin Yue watched with a hint of amusement as he struggled to form a response, his initial smugness vanishing in an instant.

Jin Yue's eyes sparkled mischievously. She didn't need to say anything more. The silence that followed was enough to let her words sink in and ensure her departure was graceful. With a small nod, she turned on her heel and walked away without so much as a backward glance, leaving Lin Hao fuming and Lin Yi watching with that ever-fake smile.

_____

Jin Yue stood before the gates of the palace, she sighed. It wasn't her first time here, but the sight of the palace never failed to impress. The glittering rooftops, the imposing columns, and the meticulously tended gardens all seemed to scream wealth and power.

As she was led through the halls by one of the palace servants, Jin Yue allowed herself to take in her surroundings. Eventually, they arrived at an elegant chamber where an elderly woman in a formal gown waited for her with a stern expression. This time it isn't the empress quarters.

The woman's cold gaze fixed on Jin Yue the moment she entered, and Jin Yue could feel the heavy disapproval. nanny mei, as they had called her, wasted no time getting to business.

"You," the nanny said sharply, her eyes narrowing, "are here to learn palace etiquette. The way you carry yourself in the presence of the Empress is a reflection of the Emperor's favor upon your family. Do not embarrass yourself... or your family."

Jin Yue nodded, holding back a smirk. She wasn't interested in her family's reputation, but the sooner she completed this lesson, the sooner she could get back to her own plans. The nanny's instructions were precise, as she began teaching Jin Yue the delicate art of bowing, walking, and gesturing,all designed to display elegance, grace, and subservience to the imperial family.

At first, the endless repetition was tedious. Jin Yue had been used to moving her body with strength and agility as an acrobat in the modern world, not stiff, calculated movements meant for display. She stumbled slightly as she attempted to hold a curtsy for too long, and the nanny clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Sloppy," the nanny muttered. "Again."

Jin Yue exhaled through her nose and forced herself to repeat the movements with greater care. The stiffness of the bow, the overly slow walking pace...it all felt so artificial to her. But then they moved on to the balancing portion, where she was required to walk with a tray on her head, and suddenly, everything changed.

The nanny, looking irritated, placed the tray on Jin Yue's head. "If you cannot balance this properly while walking, your time here will be wasted," she said.

Jin Yue had to stop herself from laughing. Balance? She had spent years walking tightropes, tumbling through the air, and performing acrobatic feats that would terrify most people. Balancing a simple tray on her head? This was child's play.

She walked across the room with perfect grace, her posture flawless as the tray remained steady on her head. nanny mei's sharp gaze flickered with a hint of surprise.

"Good," the nanny finally muttered, begrudgingly acknowledging Jin Yue's skill.

They moved on to more complex balancing exercises, each one designed to test her poise, but Jin Yue handled them all with ease. Walking up steps while balancing, turning corners without letting anything fall...sigh ,it was almost too easy. The nanny, who had been frowning darkly at the beginning of the lesson, gradually eased her expression as the training continued.

"Hmm," the nanny finally said, eyeing Jin Yue with reluctant approval. "Perhaps you're not as hopeless as I thought. You may yet make a proper lady of the court."

Jin Yue resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the nanny mei's backhanded compliment. Still, it seemed that Jin Yue had earned a bit of the nanny mei's favor, which would make her time in the palace slightly more tolerable.

After what felt like hours of etiquette lessons, a small servant girl appeared to guide Jin Yue to another part of the palace. As they walked through the corridors, Jin Yue's eyes caught sight of someone standing at the far end of the hallway...a young woman dressed in ornate silk robes, her dark hair pinned up elegantly. She had a bright and curious expression on her face as she spotted Jin Yue.

The servant girl whispered, "That is the Fourth Princess, Your Highness."of course she knew the fourth princess.

The Fourth Princess approached, her steps quick and graceful, and her face lit up with a smile when she finally reached Jin Yue.

Lady Jin Yue! I've not had the chance to say thank you yesterday!" the princess said, her voice full of excitement. Jin Yue blinked in surprise. The Fourth Princess, royal and privileged as she was, had the wide-eyed look of someone who had just met their idol.

"Your Highness, you don't need to thank me, i just couldn't stand people being treated unjust" Jin Yue said, bowing politely, though she couldn't help but feel a bit amused by the princess's enthusiasm.

"There's no need to be so formal with me," the princess said, waving a hand dismissively. "I've wanted to meet you sooner but i couldn't,..how beautiful you are!"

Jin Yue raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback. It was unusual to hear such direct compliments in a place as rigid as the palace. Most people spoke in layers of veiled flattery, but the Fourth Princess seemed refreshingly straightforward.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Jin Yue said with a small smile. "You are too kind."

"No, no, I'm just being honest! You're beautiful and graceful. I saw some of your etiquette lessons from earlier," the princess said, her eyes twinkling. "The way you moved with that tray on your head? It was amazing! You didn't even wobble once. I'd probably drop everything in two steps." She laughed at her own imagined clumsiness.

Jin Yue couldn't help but chuckle. The princess's energy was infectious, and her friendliness was disarming in a place filled with tension and hidden motives.

"I've always wanted to learn to be as poised as you," the Fourth Princess added, her admiration shining through. "You must teach me sometime."

Jin Yue smiled and gave a light nod. "Perhaps one day I could show you a trick or two."

The princess clasped her hands together, her excitement bubbling over. "Really? I would love that! You're just as wonderful as I imagined." She beamed, her gaze warm and full of admiration, as if Jin Yue had suddenly become her role model.

Jin Yue found herself strangely charmed by the Fourth Princess. There was something so genuine about her, a little sincerity was refreshing.