The courtyard was a potpourri of rainbow silks, feathered fans, and hairdos that threatened to topple over with the weight of adornments. Perfumes clashed in the air, overpowering the sense of smell, not to mention the nerves fluttering about like butterflies that did nothing to sweeten moods.
But that was to be expected, with over a hundred courtiers gathered in a large, garden-adjacent courtyard, anticipating the audience that would change their lives.
The sun hung in the air, beating down mercilessly on the courtiers who failed to find respite under shades. From a distance, Zi Hua saw a group consisting of several courtiers cloistering around one dressed in lively fuchsia and a garden's worth of floral accessories. They carved out a path for her towards a pair of courtiers fanning themselves under a relatively large tree.
The two courtiers looked nervous at their arrival and moved to give up their spot, but surprisingly, the newcomers' leader waved an irritated hand, and the two groups stood side by side.
Zi Hua squinted—it was Luo Yin. It seemed she had gathered quite a few followers and learnt to share. Still, it was none of her business.
"When will it be my turn..."
She peered through the canopy of the tree above, as though she could see and question time itself for trudging along, but what it mainly did was avoid the sneers and scorn which had been following her all morning, their intensity unaffected by the fans raised for some semblance of subtlety.
Even now, against her will, their hushed jibes reached her keen ears.
"What is she wearing?"
"Look at how plain her clothes are!"
"I heard she's from Xiping—no wonder she has no sense of style."
"Probably trying to stand out."
"Does she think dressing frugally will earn points with His Majesty?"
"I absolutely cannot stand women like her."
"How dare she look so relaxed! It's sweltering here."
Zi Hua nearly snickered aloud at the last comment. Her simple and lightweight outfit not only allowed for more mobility, but also made her the only courtier not sweating her makeup off, or constantly fluffing up her hair.
However, it didn't make her feel better. At first, they were ignorable nuisances, but the longer and more blatant the stares became, the more they started to manifest as metaphorical ants crawling all over her skin. She almost scratched herself to relief the imaginary itch, but recalling Ding Meng Meng's terrifying rashes were deterrent enough.
'Get away get away get away,' her inner voice droned. 'Anywhere but here!'
But she couldn't go far. She was, after all, still awaiting her turn to enter the Hall of Clarity, where an audience with the imperial family loomed.
It was at this moment she wished her family had a higher rank, so she could be prioritised and get this over with—but the thought only lasted a second. She wouldn't trade them for the world, long wait or not.
A willowy courtier in an elegant green dress with bamboo motifs passed by, and Zi Hua's taut facial muscles subconsciously relaxed. A shield at last!
"Courtier Dan," she greeted, stopping the young lady.
"Courtier Yang..." Dan Shu bit her lips, glancing nervously at the unabashed observers of this interaction. "You look... good."
"Really? It's hard to tell with all the contemptuous glares I've been receiving," Zi Hua said lightly.
"Don't say that..." Dan Shu winced. "They're probably... admiring... your individuality?"
Her palpable discomfort and forced compliment made Zi Hua swallow.
'No, don't be disappointed.'
After nearly a month here, she was used to this reaction. It just... stung. She'd thought Courtier Dan was one of the nicer ones.
"I understand." She dipped her head. "I'll get going, then. Good luck later, Courtier Dan."
Dan Shu's eyes darted around. "Yes, you too."
In her periphery, a eunuch exited from the Hall of Clarity.
"Upper Fourth-Rank Deputy Minister of Ceremonies Dan's eldest legitimate daughter, Dan Shu; Lower Fourth-Rank Deputy Minister Herald Le's youngest legitimate daughter, Le Ling; Lower Fourth-Rank..." he started rattling off a list of names. "You may now enter and present yourselves!"
"That's my cue!" Dan Shu said all-too-brightly, flitting towards the other named courtiers.
Zi Hua swore she heard her heave a sigh of relief.
The long wait commenced.
***
One shichen later....
"Entering—eldest legitimate daughter of Upper Fifth-Rank Imperial College Tutor Ji, Ji Bing Bing; second legitimate daughter of Upper Fifth-Rank Imperial College Tutor Shen, Shen Qiu; eldest legitimate daughter of Upper Fifth-Rank Deputy General Yang, Yang Zi Hua..."
Step. Step. Step.
The dark green veins on the jade tiles seemed to stretch endlessly, marking the long distance between the courtiers and the royals. Once in a while, Zi Hua covertly raised her head to observe the regal interior of the Hall of Clarity, but she would quickly tuck her chin in before the eunuch leading the way noticed and reprimanded her again.
Suddenly, the eunuch stopped walking and stepped to the side. Imperial authority weighed the air, stifling yet undeniably admirable.
They had arrived.
Five courtiers curtseyed in practiced synchronisation, baring the backs of their fair necks to the people seated above.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor, Her Highness the Empress Dowager, and Her Highness the Empress!"
Five voices, varying in timbre but euphonious in their harmony, echoed throughout the audience hall.
The emperor spoke first.
"Arise."
His voice was low, yet not gravelly so. It resembled a deep lake, calming in the dependability it radiated, while suggesting an intriguing story.
'And it's... strangely familiar?'
Zi Hua banished the ridiculous thought. She'd never been to the capital her entire life, and this was the emperor—it must be a coincidence, conjured up by her yearning for another.
During this momentary lapse, the first courtier had started presenting herself.
"J-Ji Bing Bing, eldest legitimate daughter of... of... Upper Fifth-Rank Imperial College Tutor Ji, g-greets Your Majesty the Emperor, Y-Your Highness the Empress Dowager, and... and—"
Thud!
Empress Dowager Qiu knocked on her mahogany armrest. The light sound drained all colour from Courtier Ji's face.
"Do we bite, Courtier Ji?" the empress dowager drawled. "Because if it isn't the servants' fault for passing a courtier who stutters, then there must be someone here who frightens you so."
Courtier Ji fell to her knees. "N-no! I apologise, Your Highness, I did not mean to offend! Please give me another chance!" she pleaded, panic dispersing her stammer.
But the empress dowager did not spare her a second glance.
"Such timidity is unbefitting of an imperial consort." She waved a hand in dismissal. "Bestow Courtier Ji a flower."
Blinking back tears, Ji Bing Bing took the organza flower symbolising disqualification from a eunuch. She was escorted away, leaving a discouraging silence in her wake.
Throughout her elimination, neither the emperor nor empress spoke up, as if the empress dowager's words were absolute.
Next, a courtier in a buttercup yellow dress stepped forward, introducing herself in a melodious voice which matched her bubbly appearance. She did well to mask her bravado, but Zi Hua could see her legs wobbling slightly.
"The second legitimate daughter of Upper Fifth-Rank Imperial College Tutor Shen, Shen Qiu, greet Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Highnesses the Empress Dowager and Empress."
"Rise, Courtier Shen," the empress said, her voice commanding, yet significantly gentler than her mother-in-law's. "Are you proficient in literature?"
"Answering Your Highness, I have read educational texts such as 'Lessons for Women', 'Four Books for Women', and 'Biographies of Exemplary Women'. However, my strengths lay not in composition," Shen Qiu replied bashfully.
"Oh? Then what are you adept at?" the empress asked, interested.
"I enjoy singing and playing the pipa, Your Highness."
The empress nodded. "What do you think, Your Majesty and Imperial Mother?"
The emperor nodded perfunctorily; the empress dowager beckoned at a eunuch. "Fetch a pipa for Courtier Shen," she ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Very quickly, a gleaming pipa was in Shen Qiu's hands, and she began to sing.
"High mountains and long rivers,
Fields lush and vibrant red.
When the mulberry trees bloom
And youthful words are said,
Berries clutched in small fingers,
Pure laughter at the time,
That was the spring of me and you,
O childhood self of mine..."
.
.
.
When the song ended, Zi Hua could feel remnants of musical notes twirling around the golden pillars. Then and there, she wasn't a courtier at the consort selection, but a little girl running freely through the fields of Xiping and picking wild fruits once more.
The empress sighed wistfully. "Your Majesty, Courtier Shen's song is lovely, is it not? It reminds me of my childhood in Suzhou, how nostalgic."
"Since the empress is entertained, the daughter of Imperial College Tutor Shen shall pass," the emperor announced flatly.
Oblivious to his disinterest, Shen Qiu quivered with relief and excitement, instantly bowing low. "I, Shen Qiu, thank Your Majesty the Emperor, and Your Highnesses the Empress Dowager and Empress for this indescribable grace! I swear to serve and fulfil my duties as a consort so as to not disgrace the imperial name!"
After Shen Qiu left the hall with barely suppressed joy, Zi Hua's heart skipped an ominous beat. Sure enough, all eyes in the hall landed on her expectantly... and the empress dowager narrowed in.
"Courtier Yang, what is the meaning of this disrespect?!"