A woman of striking elegance, perhaps in her early thirties, sat poised before a bronze mirror. Her beauty was serene yet commanding, every movement deliberate. Four maids attended her: one dabbed rouge across her cheeks, another smoothed her long, glossy hair, a third brushed the outer robe resting on a wooden rack, while the fourth stood silently nearby, bowing slightly with folded hands.
The chamber doors opened with a soft creak. A maid stepped in. She stopped behind the screen and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty," she said, her voice gentle yet carrying a trace of nervousness.
Empress Xu Yulan's perfectly arched brows lifted. Her gaze- sharp, calm, and unreadable, fell upon the kneeling girl. A-Jin, the maid attending closest to her, spoke in a clipped tone.
"What is it?"
"The ladies have all arrived at the pavilion," the maid replied, bowing lower. "The officials and the head maid superintendent await Your Majesty's presence."
Empress Yulan waved a hand dismissively. The maid straightened and backed toward the door.
"A-jin."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the maid replied, pausing at the command.
"Send Concubine Zhi. Let her handle it," Yulan said, her tone tired but unwavering.
A-jin hesitated for a heartbeat, then muttered, "Yes, Empress!" as her eyes met the piercing gaze of her mistress. She bowed again and quickly left the room.
As she retreated, Yulan rose with measured grace. Two maids lifted the exquisite purple robe embroidered with gold, and draped it carefully over her shoulders. Another maid brought forward a delicate tray bearing the jeweled waist belt-but tripped on the hem of her skirt. The platter tilted; the belt nearly fell before another maid caught it in time. The clumsy girl stumbled to the floor, her face pale as she scrambled up to bow repeatedly, her heart hammering in her chest.
The belt was retrieved in silence. The Empress did not speak. Her gaze flicked briefly over the trembling maid before she stepped past her attendants.
At the doorway, she paused addressing a bowed guard. "Clean this place," she said coolly.
The two maids trailing her exchanged a look of quiet pity.
A sharp scream pierced the silence moments later. Those in the corridor froze mid-step, glancing toward the inner chambers- but none dared move.
---
Concubine Zhi sat elegantly at the head of a low table, her maids fussing over the folds of her crimson gauze robe. On her right stood the Minister of Personnel, his long beard meticulously combed, and on her left, the frail but strict head maid superintendent.
Servants moved along the line of young noble ladies, placing a small plate and a full cup of water into each girl's hands.
Chen Xiuzhen snatched hers eagerly, muttering a rushed "thank you" before gulping it down in one go.
"Ahh! I was dying of thirst," she sighed, wiping her mouth with her sleeve.
A few girls stifled laughter.
The head maid's stern voice sliced through the chatter. "We are gathered here today, under the presence of Noble Lady Zhi. You will now be tested on your etiquette."
The girls exchanged puzzled looks. Only Ruyan seemed mildly entertained.
She tilted her head, studying Concubine Zhi. She really is beautiful… though… Her eyes squinted slightly. Hm? Is her makeup cracking near her temple? A soft snort escaped her before she could stop it.
All heads turned.
Ruyan froze, cheeks flushing red. "Ehem- yes, etiquette…" she muttered under her breath.
The head maid cleared her throat. "You will walk from that entrance", she pointed "to this table, and back. The plate and cup must remain balanced on your head. Not a single drop may spill. If it does, you fail."
Gasps fluttered across the room.
"What? Why must we do this?"
"Is this how royal brides are chosen?"
Ruyan pressed her lips together to hide a laugh. What is this, a circus? Didn't they say this was for marriage candidates? Are they picking wives or… clowns?
She leaned toward Chen Xiuzhen and whispered, "You already drank your water...what now?"
Chen Xiuzhen flustered her cheeks burning red. "I- I'll think of something!"
A sharp *snap!* silenced the room.
Concubine Zhi lowered her fan, her gaze sweeping across the line of girls.
"Although you were invited," she emphasized, "this selection is under my supervision," she said coldly.
Her lips curved into a faint smirk. Did you truly think beauty alone would grant you favor? How naive.
Murmurs died instantly.
One by one, the girls attempted the task- failing spectacularly.
Plates wobbled, cups shattered, skirts were drenched. The once-polished corridor soon resembled a battlefield of porcelain and spilled water.
Chen Xiuzhen shuffled forward, cheeks puffed, managing five precarious steps before her plate slid off. "Ah! So close!" she squeaked.
At last came Ruyan's turn. She straightened her back, placed the plate and cup atop her head, and narrowed her eyes in fierce focus.
Don't wobble. Don't wobble…
Silence.
She'd forgotten to move her feet.
A polite cough broke the tension. She jolted-and took a big step.
*Crash!*
Water splashed. Ruyan stared at the mess, wide-eyed. "Ah… walking was part of it?"
Laughter trembled in the air until Concubine Zhi snapped her fan again.
"Enough!" she hissed. Her gaze cut straight to Ruyan. "I fail to see what Her Majesty saw in you uncultured girls." She snapped looking straight at Ruyan as if to swallow her with her glare alone.
Ruyan blinked innocently.
"Tomorrow will be your second test. Dismissed."
Ruyan's face brightened. Tomorrow? Oh, don't worry. I won't be here by then. I must escape tonight.
Little did she know, Concubine Zhi had already marked her as an enemy- her beauty alone a silent threat.
---
Under the soft shade of cherry blossoms, Empress Xu Yulan sat upon a carved sandalwood chair. Her posture was impeccable- calm as still water. The breeze stirred her silk sleeves.
Concubine Zhi glided forward, hips swaying, her crimson gauze fluttering. Behind her, Head Maid Cao kept her steps small, her gaze lowered.
"Your Majesty," they greeted in unison, bowing low.
Concubine Zhi rose. With a smile, she lifted the teapot and poured the fragrant tea into the cup and offered it with both palms. "Your Majesty, please."
Yulan did not move. The silence stretched long enough for Zhi's arms to tremble beneath the weight of the cup. Finally, with a look of faint distaste, the Empress accepted the cup, like accepting a rag.
Your Majesty…" Zhi began, voice laced with honey.
*Click!*
Yulan set the cup down upon the stone table, the sound sharp and deliberate. Zhi flinched.
"Maid Cao," she said coolly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cao replied, bowing deeply.
"How did the selection go?"
Before Cao could answer, Concubine Zhi leapt in, snapping open her fan and fanning herself with exaggerated fatigue.
"Your Majesty will hardly believe! In my eyes, only Xu Mengzhi will suit your beloved son. Those ladies...hmf!" she scoffed. She rolled her eyes dramatically, "better suit to be maids for His Highness." She muttered under her breath.
Yulan's gaze cut toward her, sharp as a blade. Concubine Zhi's words died in her throat.
Head Maid Cao cleared her throat and spoke nervously, "Concubine Zhi is not entirely wrong. Young Miss Xu is indeed the best. Those ladies didn't seem suited...for palace. " she looked down, her voice soft as a whisper.
The Empress's lips curved faintly, though her tone remained cold. "They are all daughters of noble families. Since when does a concubine or a maid decide who is 'unprepared'?"
Both Zhi and Cao bent low.
Hmf...is being empress that great? Isn't she still unfavoured by His Majesty?
Concubine zhi fought hard to hide the scowl on her face.
Yulan rose gracefully. "Also…" her eyes lingered on Zhi, "…you don't have to worry about my son's marriage." she looked sharply at Concubine Zhi.
Zhi blinked. "Y-yes your majesty" she deflated like a balloon.
"Tomorrow, you need not appear."
"B-but…"
"I will personally oversee the test."
The words fell like an imperial decree, impossible to oppose.
Concubine Zhi's painted smile froze on her lips, but she bowed nonetheless. "Yes… Your Majesty."
---
The four young ladies were escorted to private quarters specially arranged for the guests.
There were two adjoining rooms, and for reasons unknown, Ruyan found herself sharing one with the young miss of the Chen family.
Before long, two palace maids entered, carrying trays of food. They laid out a simple yet inviting dinner- bowls of rice, a light chicken broth glistening with droplets of oil, sautéed greens, and tender slices of steamed fish drizzled in ginger sauce.
The aroma quickly filled the room, until their stomachs let out quiet grumbles.
They sat together at the small lacquered table, wasting no time before digging in. Chen Xiuzhen, focused and silent, ate with surprising seriousness- as though afraid someone might snatch her meal away.
Ruyan, however, seemed restless. Her chopsticks toyed idly with the rice as her eyes roamed the room. It was spacious and well-lit, with tall candle stands flickering softly in every corner. Two canopy beds stood opposite each other, draped with flowing light-blue curtains that shimmered faintly in the candlelight.
Opposite the entrance stretched a large open window overlooking the moonlit gardens. The full moon bathed the courtyard in silver, the branches of plum trees swaying gently in the cool night breeze.
Ruyan took one more mouthful of rice, then set her chopsticks down with a soft clink.
Xiuzhen looked up, her voice soft and hesitant. "You're not eating?"
Ruyan didn't answer.
Not because she hadn't heard- but because her thoughts had drifted elsewhere. Her mind was busy sketching an elaborate escape plan, one too daring for common sense.
Faint footsteps passed outside their door. Ruyan's lips curved slightly. Hmm… seems I'll have to wait until everyone's asleep first.
A glint flickered in her eyes as she muttered under her breath,
"Hehe…"
Xiuzhen blinked at her, puzzled by the sudden smirk. What in the world is she thinking? she wondered, then quietly returned to her food, deciding it was safer not to ask.