Competing for Favor and Zhao Xuanjing's Recent Situation

Cultivation knew no passage of years; sixty years flashed by in an instant.

Southwest of the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, near Hundred Sons Peak.

Vast swathes of pavilions and towers had been built against the mountainside, their architectural style lavish yet elegant, resembling a paradise of immortals. Before the mountain, several streams wound around the peaks like jade ribbons, meandering deep into the mountain range.

Halfway up Hundred Sons Peak's main summit stood a palace complex rich with exotic charm.

On this day, the atmosphere inside the central bedchamber of that palace complex was exceptionally oppressive. The maids stood by the jade couch with heads lowered and hands hanging at their sides, scarcely daring to breathe, afraid of disturbing their mistress, who was dozing on the couch.

Over the past few decades, as Master had visited Jade Min Palace less and less often, their mistress had grown increasingly exacting and irritable. Her temper worsened with every passing year.

Sometimes, if the maids made even the slightest mistake, they would be beaten and scolded by their mistress. In severe cases, they would be demoted and expelled from the palace, sent straight to the rough labor court to toil like oxen and horses.

After an unknown amount of time, a set of light footsteps shattered the deathly silence in the palace. A beautiful woman in a white dress hurried in, carrying an exquisite jade box in her hands.

The woman in white quickly reached the jade couch. Her clear gaze fell upon the full, graceful body reclining there, and she slowly bowed. "Your Highness, the Bai Gong Qin Family has sent a gift!"

"Hm!"

At that moment, Kang Min seemed to awaken from a dream. She lazily opened her eyes, then slowly sat up from the couch and said blandly, "The Qin