A Maid's Rise to Power

Jiang Yun was only fifteen when Noble Consort Zhou assigned her to serve as a maid to Prince Qi. She had served in the palace for three years, finally climbing from the lowest rank of palace maid to become the noble consort's personal attendant. Prince Qi first met Jiang Yun at Yanxi Palace, on a corridor lined with five-colored plum blossoms. She held a plum blossom in her hand and smiled radiantly. Later, when the noble consort offered to assign him a maid, Prince Qi casually chose Jiang Yun. The night Prince Qi first took Jiang Yun, he twined her black hair around his fingers and promised, "I will make you my Liangdi. I will never disgrace you." But Jiang Yun knelt on the bed, head bowed, revealing her pale, slender neck. She replied with utmost deference, "This servant only wishes to remain by Your Highness's side and serve you..." Jiang Yun knew she had not entered Prince Qi's residence just to be a maid. She also knew her status was low, and she could never compare to the principal consort and concubines in the prince's household. So she had to stay by Prince Qi's side, even if it meant serving him as a slave for the time being. No one knew how long Jiang Yun had practiced her smile in front of a bronze mirror, or how long she had held a plum blossom until her body went numb with cold, waiting for that chance encounter in the corridor of Yanxi Palace. P.S. The female lead is no saint. Her temporary compromises are for a better future. Key points: The male lead is not a virgin. This is a proper household-intrigue-to-palace-intrigue story. [Next up: A sweet little story] Theme: Striving for a better life.