Small Patience Preserves Great Plans

Chloe Zhu looked solemn. "Don't worry, I promise I won't breathe a word of this to anyone."

"And what about Claire? Does she know too?"

"You can rest easy about her too. I'll talk to her properly."

"From now on, I want you both to forget all about this!" Minister Zhuo said. "No more questions, no more snooping. When it's time for you to know, your father will tell you himself."

"...I'll try my best."

"When I'm not around, make sure to spend more time with your mother."

"You can count on that. Even if you didn't say so, I'd still visit Mom every day," Chloe replied sweetly.

Minister Zhuo nodded. "Also, the Empress Dowager's birthday is coming up. All of you will have to go to the palace to celebrate. You're about to enter the palace as a consort, so you must make a good impression in front of the Empress Dowager, understand?"

"Got it..."

...

Cindy Zhu's suite.

When Grace Wan entered, she could hear Cindy Zhu crying from far down the hall.

She walked in and called, "Cindy."

Cindy Zhu glanced back at her, then buried her face in the bed, sobbing louder. "Why are you here? Go away! Go find your precious Chloe Zhu! I'm not your daughter anymore!"

"Cindy." Grace Wan frowned and sat down next to her. "Stop crying. I've always taught you that no matter how sick Lena is in Jade Hall, or how useless Chloe Zhu might seem, they are still the main wife and the legitimate daughter of this family. Whatever you feel, you can't show it. You have to plot in secret. Otherwise, your father, the Zhu clan, even the whole Blue Moon Kingdom will turn against you."

"I don't want to hear this anymore!" Cindy sobbed into the mattress, soaking it with tears. "You're lying! You're always lying, waaaah!"

"Cindy, I'm your mother. Why would I lie about something like this?"

Cindy Zhu sat up, tears streaming. "Ever since I was little, you always put Chloe Zhu first. Anything good went to her. Whenever I argued with her or my other sister, you always scolded us, saying we're the younger ones, the illegitimate daughters, and shouldn't talk back to our big sister! So tell me, what exactly are you scheming?"

"Silly girl, you just don't understand—"

"No, I don't! Now you're giving Chloe Zhu the chance to enter the palace as Imperial Noble Consort! The Palace Maiden Selection only happens once every five years in Blue Moon Kingdom! I'll never get another chance!" The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, and her tears fell in big, fat drops.

Grace Wan's heart ached for her daughter, and she almost blurted out the truth.

But in the end, she held back.

Small impatience can ruin big plans.

This girl was blunt and impulsive, unable to keep a secret. She couldn't be told the truth.

She sighed and said, "Cindy, once you enter the palace as a consort, over time, the consorts will inevitably fight for the Emperor's favor. I'm worried you and Wendy Zhu won't get along. Wouldn't it be better if you each married a different man and both became main wives?

But Chloe Zhu is different. She's just an ordinary person without a Spirit Root. She won't be a match for Wendy Zhu—"

"But I love the Emperor!" Cindy interrupted her mother. "Both Chloe Zhu and I love him! Why does she get to marry the man she loves, while I have to marry someone I don't care about?"

Grace Wan's expression changed. "You love the Emperor?"

"Yes! I don't want to marry anyone else. I want to marry the Emperor! If I can't have him, I'd rather die!"

Seeing Cindy Zhu's stubbornness, Grace Wan stood up, her face stern. "Forget about entering the palace! It's absolutely impossible!"