When the door of Baolian Xuan opened, I saw scattered guests entering. I walked out of the ready-to-wear store in a luxurious outfit.

Both my second sister and I are regulars here, so the maids and servants of Baolian Xuan naturally recognized me.

"Miss Liu, why did you come so early today? Do you still want your usual spot?" The servant hurriedly approached me.

I nodded and instructed him, "My wrist is hurting today. Have a maid serve tea in the private room."

"Understood, I'll make sure everything is arranged properly for you." The servant quickly retreated.

I entered the private room, and soon a maid came.

I carefully observed the tea the maid handed over. Suddenly, I stood up, and the teacup spilled onto my skirt, soaking a large area.

"Ah—what's wrong with you?" I exclaimed, quickly stepping back and using a handkerchief to wipe my clothes. "This is a new skirt I had specially made to meet my second sister today."

The maid was frightened and immediately knelt down, repeatedly bowing and apologizing.

"Forget it." I waved my hand. "Do you have any other clothes here? Let me change first."

The maid quickly stood up and led me to the back hall.

The back hall was usually off-limits, but today it was still early and there weren't many customers. Combined with the maid's mistake, I easily walked in.

There weren't many people in the back hall, far fewer than the number of staff serving in the teahouse on regular days. I calmly glanced inside and secretly made a plan.

The maid took me into a bedroom in the back hall and found a clean set of clothes for me.

"Miss Liu, would you like the servant to assist you in changing?"

"No need." I maintained my composure and waved my hand irritably. "You can go."

"Yes." The maid took a few steps back and left.

Suddenly, her body went limp and she fell backward.

I retracted my hidden blade, caught her, and gently placed her on the ground. I reached out to touch her clothes.

Fifteen minutes later, dressed as a maid, I lowered my head, half covering my face, and walked out of the room.

I carefully avoided people and walked toward the back hall.

The back hall was a somewhat narrow passage, and I cautiously moved forward.

A carved wooden door appeared before my eyes. I boldly approached and was about to push it open when a voice sounded behind me.

"What are you doing there?"

My hand jerked, and I felt a sense of unease.

The person walked step by step until they stood in front of me.

I struggled to suppress my panic, slowly turned around, lowered my head, and covered my face with my hand.

"What's your name? Look up," they demanded.

I cleared my throat and forced a sob in my voice, "I am Mei Xiang, a servant."

"You accidentally offended an esteemed guest just now, and the guest chased me out," I said, putting down my hand and slightly turning my head to the side.

The corridor was dimly lit, and my face was partially hidden in the shadows.

Several clear palm prints were prominently visible on my face, heavily reddening my entire face.

"Where is your tag?" The person remained unfazed by my ordeal.

"Here, here it is." I quickly took out the wooden tag from my waist and presented it with both hands.

It only had five words written on it: "Baolian Xuan, Mei Xiang," the name of that maid.

"Alright." The person returned the tag to me, somewhat impatient. "Stay in the back hall like this. No need to go out."

"Wasn't I told not to enter the memorial hall? How come? Wasn't it explained to you?"

Memorial hall? I had never heard of such a place in Baolian Xuan.

I felt uneasy, worried that they would continue questioning, so I dared not say more, just kept my head down and replied, "Yes."

The person seemed to want to say something.

"Squeak—" The wooden door behind me opened.

A light shone behind me, followed by the sound of children crying, but the voices seemed mto be coming from far away.

The person's attention shifted, and they turned to look inside the room. I took the opportunity and quickly slipped away.

I walked briskly through the back hall, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed to find my second sister quickly.

I reached the main hall and saw her sitting elegantly at a table, sipping tea. She was engrossed in conversation with a man dressed in luxurious robes.

I approached cautiously, keeping my eyes downcast.

My second sister noticed my presence and glanced at me.

"Mei Xiang, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with annoyance.

I stumbled forward, bowing low. "Second Miss, I apologize for the intrusion. I have urgent news to report."

The man sitting with my second sister raised an eyebrow. "What news?"

I hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a hushed voice, "There is a secret room in the back hall. I overheard them talking about a memorial hall. I think it's worth investigating."

My second sister's eyes widened, and she exchanged a quick glance with the man. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Mei Xiang. You may leave now."

I bowed and hurriedly retreated, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Several days later, my second sister and the man she was meeting that day discovered the hidden memorial hall in the back hall of Baolian Xuan. It turned out to be a secret meeting place for a group of conspirators plotting against the emperor.

The discovery led to the arrest of the conspirators and the prevention of a major rebellion.

For my role in uncovering the plot, my second sister rewarded me generously and praised my quick thinking. From that day forward, I became her trusted confidante and played a crucial role in our family's rise to power.

The events at Baolian Xuan marked a turning point in my life, and I learned that sometimes, even the most mundane tasks can lead to unexpected opportunities.