The Serpent's Garden

The next morning, a nervous energy thrummed between Liana and Ling as they prepared for their journey to the palace. Ling, with a practiced air of authority, instructed Liana, "From this moment forward, your name is Meng. Remember it. Respond to it instantly."

As they approached the imposing palace gateway, the air grew thick with tension and the scent of perfumed courtiers. A makeshift table and chair were set up near the entrance, where one of Kieran's men, adorned in the royal colors, sat overseeing the registration of potential maids. A servant diligently fanned him, despite the relatively cool morning air. A long queue of women, their faces a mixture of hope and anxiety, waited their turn.

When they reached the front of the line, Ling stepped forward with an air of casual confidence. "This is my cousin's daughter," she told the guard, gesturing to Liana. "She wishes to register. Her name is Meng." With a subtle movement, Ling placed a small, discreetly wrapped gift on the table.

The guard glanced at the gift, his eyes narrowing slightly before softening. "Meng, you say?" He scribbled the name down on a scroll. "There is a need for extra hands in the kitchens. Go and assist with cleaning the dishes." He waved them through dismissively.

As Liana and Ling began to move past, a commotion erupted behind them. Several women, eager to register, were jostled aside by a haughty young woman who pushed her way to the front. A servant trailed behind her, his face apologetic.

"This is Sheng family's one and only daughter!" the servant announced loudly, drawing the attention of the guard. Liana recognized the name, the Sheng family were powerful merchants, their influence stretching across the kingdom.

The merchant's daughter, adorned in expensive silks and jewels, placed a lavishly decorated gift box on the table. The guard's demeanor instantly shifted, his previous indifference replaced by obsequious politeness. "Of course, Miss Sheng. Please, proceed inside."

Ling's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. Liana, noticing her anger, gently placed a hand on her arm, a silent plea for composure. Ling took a deep breath and nodded, understanding Liana's caution. They continued inside, Liana heading towards the kitchens as instructed.

Later, all the women who had registered gathered in a sprawling palace garden, a riot of colorful blossoms and meticulously manicured hedges. The air was thick with hushed whispers and nervous anticipation.

The merchant's daughter, whose name Liana now knew was likely something ostentatious like Meilin, approached Liana, her eyes narrowed with disdain. "Don't think your pretty face will get you anywhere, commoner," she sneered, her voice laced with venom. "You will not outshine me."

Liana met her gaze calmly. "I have no such aspirations," she replied evenly. "I simply hope your own wishes come true."

Just then, a hush fell over the garden. Kieran entered, walking alongside a man Liana had never seen before. He was tall and imposing, with a stern expression. Meilin, seeing her opportunity, rushed towards a nearby swing, her servant quickly pushing her into motion. She swung high, her laughter deliberately loud, trying to capture Kieran's attention.

Kieran glanced in her direction for a fleeting moment, his expression unreadable, before continuing his conversation with the unknown man and moving deeper into the garden.

Liana noticed a different kind of attention fixed on Meilin. A young woman standing near a rosebush watched Meilin with eyes burning with undisguised jealousy. There was a possessiveness in her gaze, a silent fury that Liana recognized instantly. This woman, whoever she was, saw Meilin as a rival. The intricate web of palace intrigue was already beginning to reveal itself.