After she finished speaking, Brian Parker's brows furrowed ever so slightly.

However, he did not pursue the matter of the name any further, and simply continued to ask in a conversational manner.

"Where do you rank among your siblings at home? Do you have any full siblings?"

When asked this question, a fleeting trace of sorrow flashed across Henry Faulkner's usually calm face, but she quickly regained her composure.

With her eyes lowered, she replied, "I am the second daughter. My mother... my mother passed away early, and I am her only child."

Brian Parker was extremely perceptive; even such a fleeting emotion did not escape his notice. He now had a better understanding of Henry Faulkner's situation in her maternal family.

She hadn't even changed her clothes, which meant this must be her best attire—clearly showing her straitened circumstances. With her birth mother gone early, she must have grown up with difficulty.

She had finally managed to reach marrying age, only to be sent to the Eastern Palace to replace her legitimate elder sister. Truly, her fate was full of misfortune—somewhat pitiable.

Yet, to have developed such a steady character in such an environment showed she was quite capable, at least not foolish.

Brian Parker's gaze swept over her face, and he said calmly,

"The departed are gone; the living must live for themselves."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your comfort."

Henry Faulkner lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the book on the table beside her, and added,

"Reading at night strains the eyes. Your Highness, please take care of your health."

Brian Parker smiled and took her hand.

"In that case, let us retire for the night."

Henry Faulkner, her face flushed, softly responded, then rose to help Brian Parker undress.

The candlelight was extinguished, and the bed curtains fell.

The woman's delicate body lay beneath the brocade quilt. She trembled slightly as she reached up to wrap her arms around Brian Parker's neck, drawing closer and half-burying her face in the hollow of his neck.

"Please, Your Highness, be gentle."

Henry Faulkner's voice quivered softly, gentle and boneless, low and lingering, just like herself—like a bud just opening in the morning light, dewdrops resting on its petals, charming but not seductive.

Although Brian Parker said nothing, his movements became gentler, and Henry Faulkner knew he must have softened.

The night together ended much more smoothly than she had imagined.

To her surprise, after it was over, Brian Parker did not ask her to leave or go sleep in a side room, but let her stay.

It wasn't that the rules required her to leave after serving him, but Henry Faulkner had heard in secret that the Crown Prince rarely kept anyone overnight.

So being allowed to stay was certainly a good thing.

Still, Henry Faulkner could guess it was probably because she had served him well.

Though beauty alone cannot secure favor forever, if you can't even hold on to the present, what else is there to talk about? That was why, from the start, Henry Faulkner had planned to begin by serving with her looks.

For this, she had already made preparations in secret before even entering the Eastern Palace.

First, she would use her beauty to hold Brian Parker's interest, and only then could she slowly show him the soul beneath her appearance.

After returning from the front courtyard, the first round of rewards since entering the Eastern Palace arrived.

One from the Crown Prince, one from the Crown Princess—these were customary.

But to Henry Faulkner's surprise, Consort Baker also sent a gift, and it was clearly more practical than the others given by custom.

Baker sent a box of silver ingots, totaling fifty taels, along with some fashionable fabrics and two pieces of jewelry.

Henry Faulkner was undoubtedly short of money. She had been in the Eastern Palace for less than a month and had not yet received her allowance. The silver she had used to reward her servants these days was all painstakingly saved from her maiden days.

Just yesterday, after serving in the front courtyard, she had rewarded the servants around Brian Parker, and was indeed running short.

But for Baker to show such goodwill—was she seeking an alliance, or trying to win her over?

Chapter Four: Paying Respects

Regardless of Baker's true intentions, Henry Faulkner was in real need of this silver, so she accepted it for now.

She then instructed Alice Green to use the silver ingots to reward the servants of Biluozhai.

Her night of service was a happy event, and this was customary.

After serving the Crown Prince, there was another matter to attend to: she had to go to the main courtyard to pay respects to the Crown Princess.

Before serving him, she was not considered an official concubine and was not qualified to do so.

Henry Faulkner had accompanied the Crown Prince as he rose for court, then returned to Biluozhai. Since there was still some time before she needed to go to the main courtyard, she changed her clothes before heading to Wutong Court.

She arrived neither early nor late, and by the time she got there, Consort Baker was already inside.

This was not surprising, as Baker's residence, Weiyang Pavilion, was the best courtyard in the Eastern Palace after Wutong Court, and it was nearby.

"Greetings to the Side Consort," Henry Faulkner said, bowing.

Baker looked at her and smiled gently. "No need for such formality, please rise."

"Thank you, Side Consort," Henry Faulkner replied with a smile as well.

She then sat down in the seat beside her.

Baker began to chat with her.

"At the family banquet that night, I took a liking to you, little sister—so fair and lovely, like a flower bud. Now that we're sitting together, I truly think you are a beauty."

"Side Consort flatters me. I, on the other hand, envy your bright and open spirit, so different from ordinary women—truly a heroine among women."

Henry Faulkner's eyes curved as she returned the compliment.

Baker laughed heartily at her words.