“Lady of Yan!” Lady Nuan gave a salute to Song Yixiao and Nie Wuying, speaking gently, “Two days ago, the Empress sent many things to me, and a few of my favorites were said to be from you. I can’t thank you enough!”

She spoke Great Rui dialect. Her voice was as clear and sweet as herself, gladdening the heart and refreshing the mind, but there was a foreign accent between the words.

Although Song Yixiao never regarded herself as the most beautiful woman ...