~~~***~~~
As Xuělián got ready the next morning, she couldn't help thinking that her performance at the lunch went better than expected. She had managed to avoid being scolded by the empress due to the event being held in front of important guests. Although, she was sure the next time she visited the palace the topic would come up when she made her mandatory visit to the Holy Mother.
"Oh well," she sighed while sitting in front of her vanity mirror with her pewter pentacle resting over her heart. She then parted her hair down the middle and braided the front two locks to wrap around to the back of her head like a circlet. "She can try to trip me up all she likes, but she can't strip me of my titles that easily."
Careful hands then moved to pick out her favorite hair stick made of silver
