Hua Lian had never flaunted her beauty. She had always hidden it beneath scars, plain robes, and silence. She wanted to be seen for her skills, her spirit—not her face.
But now, her beauty was becoming dangerous.
Princess Mei Xiao of the Xiaoyang Kingdom had heard tales of the five princes. She had set her sights on Prince Mingzhao. He was charming, handsome, and desirable.
But ever since Mingzhao saw Hua Lian's real face, his attention had shifted entirely.
Mei Xiao was furious. And jealous.
She smiled sweetly as she handed Hua Lian an invitation.
"Please, Hua Lian," she cooed. "You must attend our party tomorrow. It would be an honor."
Hua Lian was stunned. It was rare for a maid to be summoned by royalty for such a gathering. Whispers swept through the palace. Some maids were envious. Others congratulated her.
But in her heart, Hua Lian knew—this was no honor.
It was a trap.
Anyway, she tried to convince herself that she had been favoured by the princess amongst other maids but doubt still stuck to her mind. The princess looked too sweet and compassionate to have an evil intent but she had learnt not to trust people easily.
She just had to attend the party because she had no choice as a maid. Somehow, her heart was overwhelmed with joy at the thought of it. Everything would unfold soon.