In my previous life, my sister and I entered the palace together. She considered herself above it all and forbade me from competing for the emperor's favor, insisting that we preserve our chastity. I listened. When I was summoned to attend the emperor, I deliberately displeased him and lost his favor completely.
When she was on the verge of starvation, I was forced to sneak into the imperial kitchen for food. I was caught and beaten so badly that one of my legs was broken, but I protected the food and took it to her.
After eating her fill, she accused me of stealing like a common thief and disgracing our family. Word reached the emperor, and I was banished to the Cold Palace.
In the end, she, who had always held herself above it all, won the emperor's favor with a drum dance. Only then did I understand.
She wasn't aloof. She had lost the emperor's favor, and he didn't want me to surpass her, so he made me deliberately anger him and forbade me from attending him.
