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When Si Mianmian received the invitation to the tea banquet at the Eastern Palace, it was afternoon. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled patterns on the blue brick floor. The invitation was in the handwriting of Crown Prince Si Jingjin, the characters bold and powerful, penetrating the paper, containing only the simple phrase, "I have just acquired Wuyi rock tea, and I cordially invite my Ninth Imperial Sister to enjoy it together." At the end was a small seal of the Eastern Palace.
Survival Handbook Rule 17: The most skillful approach is to create a seemingly natural and irresistible reason. Tea tasting and philosophical discussions, while elegant pursuits, are also an excellent stage for discerning people's hearts and conveying signals.
Consort Wen held the gilded invitation card, her hand trembling slightly, filled with both joy and worry: "Mianmian, His Highness the Crown Prince... could this be because of what happened in front of your father last time?" Ever since the day Mianmian, the palace attendant, received praise from the emperor for "presenting cakes" at the palace banquet, Zhuixia Pavilion had become more glamorous on the surface, but the gazes of those behind her had become much more complicated.
Si Mianmian gently held her mother's hand, a serene smile playing on her lips. "Mother, you're overthinking it. My brother, the Crown Prince, is currently in a position of great importance and is very busy. Inviting me for tea is simply a gesture of brotherly affection for his younger sister. I will certainly be careful in my words and actions, and will not disgrace Zhuixia Pavilion." She knew perfectly well that this Crown Prince was a man of deep thoughts; his actions were far from a simple tea invitation. Perhaps it was her "performance" at the palace banquet that piqued his interest, perhaps he wanted to personally test the depths of his suddenly "enlightened" younger sister, or perhaps… he had already received and understood the message she had conveyed through the Sixth Prince that day, and now he wanted to confirm it personally.
In any case, this is a rare opportunity, a chance to get close to the future crown prince, and perhaps even to materialize this delicate "brother-sister alliance".
Survival Handbook Postscript: Crisis and opportunity are often two sides of the same coin. Only by daring to step into the opponent's game can you have the opportunity to steer the game in your own favor.
On the day of the banquet, Si Mianmian did not dress up excessively. She wore a moon-white silk dress with cloud patterns, a simple white jade hairpin in her hair, and lightly painted eyebrows. She was fresh and elegant, like a newly blooming daffodil, not dazzling, but with a charming and endearing grace. She deliberately arrived a quarter of an hour earlier than the agreed time, to show respect without being too hasty.
Unlike the opulent palaces of the imperial concubines, the Eastern Palace exuded a more solemn and dignified air. The pine and cypress trees in the courtyard were ancient and vigorous, and the palace servants moved silently under the eaves, all conveying the majesty of the Crown Prince. A eunuch led her to a waterside pavilion, where Crown Prince Si Jingjin was already seated, his eyes lowered as he boiled water. His movements were fluid and graceful, radiating a calm and collected aura. He was not wearing his court robes today, only a dark-colored casual robe with subtle patterns, which further accentuated his stern face and refined demeanor.
"Mianmian greets Crown Prince Brother." Si Mianmian curtsied, her voice soft and her posture respectful.
Si Jingjin raised his eyes, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, and said calmly, "Ninth Princess, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Si Mianmian sat down at the lower seat as instructed, her posture dignified, but her eyes revealed just the right amount of curiosity and restraint. She quietly glanced at the simple yet tasteful furnishings in the pavilion, like a timid younger sister entering a new environment for the first time.
The palace maids silently served tea and snacks, then quietly withdrew. Si Jingjin picked up a small red clay teapot, poured boiling water into a white porcelain gaiwan, and instantly the aroma of tea filled the air, carrying a unique rocky and floral fragrance. "This tea is called 'Never Seen the Sky,' because it grows on the back of the steep cliffs of Wuyi Mountain, where the sunlight is extremely short, hence the name. The tea soup is mellow and the aroma is long-lasting. Please try it." He personally pushed a cup of bright orange-yellow tea soup in front of Si Mianmian.
Si Mianmian took the tea with both hands, first observing its color, then gently smelling its aroma, before taking a small sip. She closed her eyes to savor it, and after a moment, she opened her eyes, revealing sincere admiration: "It is slightly bitter at first, but it quickly transforms into a mellow sweetness, with a lingering aftertaste. Moreover, there is a kind of... cool fragrance, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley, that lingers for a long time. Your Highness, this tea is indeed extraordinary."
Her evaluation was thorough and insightful, far from being a mere affectation. A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed across Si Jingjin's eyes. He had expected his younger sister to at most simply say "it tastes good," but she had revealed a surprising depth of knowledge. "Oh? Ninth Princess is quite knowledgeable about this?"
Si Mianmian lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her fair neck, her tone tinged with shyness: "Mianmian is dull-witted, how could I dare to claim to be well-versed? It's just that in the past... in the past, when there was nothing to do in the palace, I often went to the library to browse through miscellaneous books, and occasionally came across Lu Yu's 'The Classic of Tea' and some tea ceremony notes. I was filled with longing, so I secretly learned to decipher them. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Crown Prince." She attributed her knowledge of tea ceremony to "boredom while browsing through miscellaneous books," explaining the source of her knowledge and hinting at her past neglected situation, adopting an extremely humble posture.
Si Jingjin stroked the rim of his teacup, remaining noncommittal: "The miscellaneous books in the library aren't necessarily useless." He then changed the subject, asking seemingly casually, "I heard the other day that the Seventh Princess had another disagreement with you in the Imperial Garden?"
Here it comes. Si Mianmian's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the main event was about to begin. She raised her eyes, a thin layer of mist instantly welling up in them, but she forced herself not to let it fall, and tried to force a sweet smile: "Thank you for your concern, Crown Prince. It was just playful banter between sisters, nothing serious. Mianmian has already forgotten about it." This appearance made her seem more aggrieved and sensible than if she had simply cried.
Si Jingjin looked at her with a deep gaze: "Playing around? I... I heard that she mentioned the late Imperial Noble Consort Duanhui in her words?" Imperial Noble Consort Duanhui was Si Jingjin's birth mother, who died young. This was a hidden pain that few people in the palace dared to mention.
Si Mianmian's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't expected him to know even this. She had indeed subtly hinted at the Seventh Princess, suggesting she shouldn't be arrogant, since the Crown Prince's early death wasn't a fault. She hadn't expected Si Jingjin to be so well-informed. She immediately rose, knelt on the ground, and said with a voice filled with fear and determination, "Crown Prince, please understand! Mianmian had absolutely no intention of spreading rumors! Seventh Sister spoke impulsively that day, and Mianmian only… only feared she might say something disrespectful, so I had no choice but to offer a word of caution. Mianmian is of lowly status, but I know that Crown Prince is benevolent and filial, and will not tolerate any disrespect on this matter! If there is even the slightest falsehood, may Mianmian…"
"Get up." Si Jingjin interrupted her, his voice still calm, but less distant than before. "I don't blame you."
Si Mianmian then timidly got up and sat back down, her fingertips turning slightly white from nervousness.
A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the bubbling of boiling water. Si Jingjin poured her another cup of tea, then suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question: "What does Ninth Princess think is the meaning of 'governing a large country is like cooking a small fish'?"
Si Mianmian's mind raced; she knew this was both a test and a heart-to-heart talk. She hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "In my humble opinion, this statement may not only refer to the need for gentle methods. Cooking a small fish requires precise control of heat, seasonings, and timing; a slight error can lead to disastrous consequences. Governing a country is similar; one must be perceptive, know people well, and exercise discretion. One cannot be too hasty, like boiling oil over a raging fire; nor can one be too lenient, like still water with gentle ripples. More importantly…" She paused, looking up at Si Jingjin with clear eyes, "one must know where the 'freshness' lies, understand what the foundation of the nation is, and what the people depend on."
She didn't quote any classical texts, but spoke simply, yet she precisely captured the essence of "propriety" and "fundamentals," which are undoubtedly the qualities that Si Jingjin needs and values most right now.
Si Jingjin listened quietly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, only tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. He suddenly changed the subject, his tone much gentler: "The other day, my sixth brother sent me an ancient book, saying that when you helped transcribe and proofread it, you discovered several errors that previous scholars had overlooked. You did a very good job, thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Si Mianmian's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the message she had "borrowed" from the Sixth Prince to deliver that day had indeed worked. A blush rose appropriately on her face, and she said softly, "Mianmian just happened to flip through a few extra pages of the book. It's Mianmian's good fortune to be able to help the Crown Prince in a small way." She didn't take credit or boast, attributing everything to coincidence and her duty.
A reminder from the survival manual: Show your value when appropriate, but subtly. Let others take the credit, keep the wisdom for yourself, and goodwill will naturally follow.
After several rounds of tea, the atmosphere had become less tense than before. Although Si Jingjin remained taciturn, the oppressive coldness emanating from him seemed to have dissipated somewhat. Si Mianmian was no longer timid; occasionally, she would join in the Crown Prince's conversation, discussing anecdotes from books and local customs, her words revealing the liveliness and curiosity expected of a girl her age, yet always maintaining a proper distance and remaining respectful.
As he was leaving, Si Jingjin suddenly said, "If you have some free time in the future, you can come and visit the East Palace often. I have some good tea here."
Si Mianmian was overjoyed, knowing that she had taken this first step steadily. She bowed respectfully to express her gratitude: "Mianmian thanks Crown Prince for his kindness. I will definitely come to bother you often and ask for your advice."
Stepping out of the East Palace, the setting sun cast a golden glow upon the palace. Si Mianmian slowly exhaled, a light sweat breaking out on her back. Playing chess with her elder brother, the Crown Prince, was like walking a tightrope; every word had to be carefully chosen, every expression controlled.
However, she touched something slightly cool in her sleeve—a white jade pendant that Si Jingjin had casually given her before his departure. It was warm to the touch and had a tiny "Jing" character engraved on it. This was no ordinary gift; it was more like a tacit token of approval.
Survival Manual Final Chapter: The road to success is long and treacherous. The seeds sown today may not bear immediate fruit. But as long as the direction is right, every step counts. Si Mianmian has truly stepped into the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
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