Slowly, the Eighth Bei'Le said, "Your father was afraid that I might command the General to be executed after knowing Ruo Lan's past. He did not want anything bad to happen to the General. In order to protect him, your father sent him to the war. It was tragic that he died."
The news pained me. I tried to remove the bangle but the prince stopped me.
"This bangle is to be given to someone I like. I really like you, Ruo Xi. You are true to yourself. Promise me that you will never remove it." He held my hands as he said. While I didn't react to him, he continued, "Do not worry. I will try my best to persuade Father to bestow you to me."
"I don't want to!" Anger speared up my vein. How could he assume that I wanted to be his wife?
"You want to be Father's concubine then? You had left a good impression during the Mooncake Festival. There is a huge possibility that Father will elect you as his concubine."
His voice was undeniable, shattering my final hope. I kept my head low and said nothing. What else could I say? Could I still navigate my life? Could I say no to everything and leave this place?
The Eighth Bei'Le nodded. "I will not force you. When you enter the palace, try to keep plain, if you do not want to invite attention. Do not ever adorn yourself like how you did on Tenth Brother's birthday." He dismissed me with a crestfallen look.
As I walked back to the South House, I couldn't help but rue over my fate. I don't want to be passed around like a plaything. I want a man who truly loves me and respects me. I don't want to be a woman that's toyed by the men when they're bored.
Ruo Lan was waiting for my return. She was afraid that the Eighth Bei'Le's house couldn't offer me enough necessities to bring into the palace and decided to bring me out to the town for some shopping. We were picking some jewelry when the Gorolos stepped into the shop.
Still pumping up her chest, Gorolo Ming Yu snatched the bracelet that I was holding. "I will purchase whatever she sets her eyes on," she told the shopkeeper.
I didn't want to relent to her, but the Eighth Bei'Le's words rang in my head. When you enter the palace, try to keep plain, if you do not want to invite attention.
Smiling bitterly at Pussycat, I said, "The bracelet suits you very well. You may have it."
Her baffled expression was epic, but I didn't have the mood to feel elated. Holding Ruo Lan's hand, we walked out of the shop. Ruo Lan was so over the moon that she kept complimenting me for my change of behaviour. I could only register a fake smile on my face.
The Maiden Selection took place not long after the Lunar Chinese New Year. Before the herald came to bring me to the palace, Ruo Lan, Qiao Hui, and I sat in the reception chamber.
"Sister," I held Ruo Lan's hands. "About the Eighth Bei'Le, he didn't send--"
"Speak no further, Ruo Xi." She shushed me. A tear leaked from her eyes. "Nothing concerns me now except your happiness and safety. Though there is only a wall between us and the palace, I cannot visit you often. You must take care of yourself--"
The herald came before she could finish her reminder.
Ruo Lan turned her face away, trying to shield me from seeing her tears. Having to leave her and Qiao Hui made me cry. I promised to myself that I would never cry again but I failed. I felt my heart split into two, and I knew the wound would never recover.
There were about two dozen of us that had been pre-screened to enter the palace. All of them were elite women from the noble and well-to-do families, selected out of three hundred maidens during the first stage. We shared the same chambers during the selection. I was informed that the entire process of selection took five years, where the candidates had to go through rounds and rounds of thorough family background checks and obedience tests.
Five years? I couldn't wait to be kicked out of the palace in five days. While I lamented over my fate every night, Fate seemed to be starting to sympathize with me. With all the princes' help, my name was eliminated in the first round. I didn't have to go through all those cumbersome tests and was sent directly to the emperor's side as a tea maiden. I even had a uniform -- a lime green gown with a lavender vest. Unfortunately, when I believed that things couldn't be better, they worsened. I didn't know that this slight twist of fortune indicated the beginning of a series of horrible nightmares. No, I wasn't aware of that.
The Eighth Bei'Le, though relieved to see me becoming the emperor's tea maiden, wasn't happy. He told me that once I became the emperor's direct servant, it would be harder to leave the palace. Nonetheless, in order to motivate me, he gifted me a white silk handkerchief with golden plum flower embroidery and a book that recorded all the techniques of tea making. I did great with his help and was being quickly promoted as the Chief Tea Maiden.
This position almost equaled to being the head of all maidservants.
After a week of my promotion, I was assigned to serve the emperor and the princes in a meeting with two subordinates. The news of the Crowned Prince frequently taking the treasure out of the treasury had spread, and the emperor was asking the other princes for their perspectives in this scenario. The Fourth Prince told the emperor that it was only a rumour, trying to protect the Crowned Prince, but the Tenth Prince interrupted.
"I am afraid that the incident is not as innocent as you think it is, Fourth Brother. A slave will not possess the audacity to spread the rumour if he does not have someone who is high in position in supporting him. I am afraid that there are lots of slaves like that beside Fourth--"
I spilled the tea abruptly on the Tenth Prince's gown, in order to stop him from further causing a rift between the brothership. Did he even have a brain? How could he be such an idiot, directing such blatant words at the future emperor?
The Tenth Prince sprang up from his seat so abrupt that he knocked me over, causing the remnants of the tea to drench the carpet. I quickly knelt to plead for forgiveness. From the corners of my eyes, I saw the emperor studying me inquisitively, but he didn't utter any words.
Did he see through my real intention? My heart skipped a beat.
When the Tenth Prince realized that I was the one who had made the mistake, his expression softened. "Ah, it is Ruo Xi. It is fine now. Rise." He helped me up.
I was later sent back to my chamber. The herald came to me when the meeting was adjourned.
"Ruo Xi, I used to believe that you are an intelligent maiden."
"Please punish me, Herald Lee." I bowed. My eyes seemed to find a scuttling spider interesting.
"You are lucky that you are only being punished with the deduction of your one month's salary." Before he left, he added, "Do not be such a kind-hearted meddler the next time. If it happens again, I am afraid that you will need to offer your head to seek forgiveness."
I thanked him and sent him out. My heart pounded against its ribcage in trepidation, not because of the punishment, but of the scene I saw. The princes were still laughing together on the Tenth Prince's birthday and wedding day. How could they turn vile towards one another so rapidly? How could they turn the spearheads all towards the Fourth Prince in unison? Only Die Hard Thirteen remained silent just now during the meeting.
It was known that the Fourth Prince was very close to the Crowned Prince, often offering guidance to him. The other princes, however, didn't agree with the emperor's decision in electing the Crowned Prince as the future ruler and had been supporting the Eighth Bei'Le. I believed that the emperor intentionally carried out the meeting to test the princes' loyalty. I was wondering who was the one that had spread the rumour when a shadow appeared before me.
I lifted up my face and was surprised to see Ice Face.
He walked into my chamber without seeking my permission. With his left hand held behind his back, he said, "You did not accidentally spill the tea on Tenth Brother."
"I didn't understand what you're trying to imply." Bowing, I faked my politeness.
Ice Face stood rooted to the floor, considering the reluctance in my words. Seconds later, he decided to divert the topic of discussion. "You served me my favourite tea just now. I believed that you retrieved the information from Thirteenth Brother, is it not?"
I remained silent. How dare Die Hard Thirteen betray me!
Ice Face continued, "I am here now. You can ask me whatever you wish to know."
I pondered. Since he offered it himself, why not seize the chance? I need to know all the princes' likes and dislikes in order to have a better life in the palace.
Lifting up my head, I asked, "What are the pets that you like and dread the most?"
"Dog and cat."
"What are the colours that you favour and dislike?"
"Peacock tint and black," he said without a change of expression, wearing the same icy face. He should really take up some acting class.
"What are the foods that you love and hate?"
"I love corn cake but hate chili. I like grapes too."
I scratched my chin. That's an improvement. At least he extended his answer. Trying to shield my jubilance, I asked, "What's your best-loved weather and the one you detest?"
"Mild rainy day and fierce sunny day."
"You like rainy days, huh. It seems that the alias Ice Face really suits you," I mumbled.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing. What did you like to do during your pastime?"
"Practicing on my calligraphic writing."
Urgh, I hate calligraphic writing! Can't he have a more exciting hobby? Throughout my high school lives, I'd used ink brush to complete my calligraphy assignment, instead of the usual brush. Though the end result was obvious and I was always punished to stand in front of the class for my laziness, the time saved was worthwhile. After storing the information I had just gathered in my mental backburner, I continued, "What's the entertainment you like the most?"
"I do not play. I do not smoke. I do not drink."
"What's your favourite song?"
Ice Face paused before saying, "Pass." He moved his index finger from right to left, indicating that he didn't want to answer the question. "I am tired of this game, and I do not have as much time up my sleeves as a tea maiden. Enjoy yourself."
With a swing of his peacock coloured gown, he left, as abruptly as he'd come.
I scratched my chin as I watched him disappear behind the bamboo groves. Hmm, he wasn't as bad as I thought he was, was he? We could even carry out a five-minute long of peaceful conversation. The way he looked as he made that "Pass" gesture was kind of cute. Chortling, I walked to the backyard to retrieve the platter of tea leaves, which I'd dried under the sun since morning. As I fumbled with the green lumps, I couldn't help but pray to the Gods, hoping that they could grant me a smooth sailing life in the palace.
Edited by YvonneKindle