One afternoon, as Méi sat in her posture lessons, her posture mistress, Madame Yi, instructed her in the art of tea service. With a graceful flourish, Madame Yi demonstrated the proper way to prepare and present tea, her movements exuding elegance and poise. Méi watched intently, absorbing every detail, but her mind was elsewhere.

Her thoughts drifted to her brothers, Ruixue and Mingze, their laughter echoing in her memory. She longed to join them in their carefree games, to escape the confines of her lessons and the weight of her royal expectations.

As Méi practiced the tea ceremony, she imagined herself running through the gardens with her brothers, her laughter blending with theirs, her heart filled with unadulterated joy.

Suddenly, a knock on the door startled Méi. Madame Yi excused herself and left the room, returning moments later with a radiant figure in her wake – your presence, Méi's beloved mother.

"Mama!" Méi cried out, her voice filled with unrestrained joy. She abandoned her posture lesson and rushed towards you, her small arms outstretched.