"Your Highness...you didn't have to bring her to Western Palace, every maid makes mistakes and it's normal for their mistress to reprimand them," Wanying nagged, the pain in her voice palpable.
It was clear that Wanying disliked the idea of her mistress bringing in another maid, which was understandable, as maids cared for their Mistress's well-being like they shared the same life. Not after Jia Xin, the last maid Consort Yang took in, had seduced the emperor, climbing the social ladder to become a Concubine, a rank below Consort Yang and even bore the Emperor's first daughter.
"Your Highness...why not send her to the embroidery department," Wanying nagged persistently, but all these while Consort Yang remained silent and unbothered. Taking a step back, Wanying helplessly gave up. But suddenly, her eyes widened as if remembering an important detail.
"Huh...Your Highness, what if she becomes another Concubine Jia? You must do someth-" Consort Yang quickly raised her hand, shunning Wanying.
"This matter is concluded....and I don't want to hear anyone talking about it again," Consort Yang added, Wanying's expression betraying her disappointment.
"I am tired and will like to rest, Consort Yang said as she sunk in her seat, rubbing her temples like she suddenly developed a headache, "You are dismissed," She threw her hand in the air, gesturing for Wanying to leave.
Left with no choice, Wanying bowed and exited the inner chamber.
******
In the Court hall, adorned with intricate tapestries depicting the luxurious history of the empire, the atmosphere crackled with tension. The ministers, arrayed in their finest court robes, stood in rows and columns according to their respective ranks, their expressions grave as they grappled with the weighty matters at hand. At the head of the hall, facing the ministers, seated upon a throne of carved jade, His Majesty, Emperor Liang presided over the assembly with a regal poise that carried the gravity of the situation.
Minister Cheng, a venerable statesman known for his keen intellect and unwavering loyalty to the crown, stepped out forward with a solemn dignity befitting his station.
"Your Majesty," he began, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of tradition, "the tranquility of our Nation is threatened by the belligerence of our neighboring state. Their armies' mass at our borders, their intentions clear as the morning sun." A hushed murmur rippled through the hall, the ministers exchanging anxious glances at each other as they contemplated the implications of Minister Cheng's words. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, Minister Wei, a man of rare insight and political acumen, stepped forward joining Minister Cheng, his expression thoughtful as he addressed the assembly.
"Your Majesty," he intoned, his voice resonating with quiet authority, "we must consider all avenues for peace, no matter how unconventional they may seem."
The courtroom fell silent, with half of the ministers wondering what the word 'peace' had to offer considering the severity of damages, but yet, everyone waited for Minister Wei to conclude.
All eyes turned to Minister Wei as he continued, his words measured and deliberate. "I propose that we send a delegation to our neighboring state, bearing an offer of peace and reconciliation," he declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "And among this delegation, let us send one of our most cherished treasures," He paused. "A Princess, to be offered as a queen consort to the ruler of our neighboring state."
A collective gasp echoed through the chamber, the ministers stunned by the audacity of Minister Wei's proposal. Yet, as the murmurs of dissent began to rise, Minister Cheng added, his expression grave but resolute. "Your Majesty," he implored, his voice steady despite the weight of his words, "we must consider the greater good of the Nation above all else. If offering a princess as a queen consort will bring an end to this feud and ensure the safety of our people, then it is a sacrifice worth making."
The courtroom fell into a tense silence, the ministers weighing the implications of Minister Cheng's words. For in the heart of the empire, amidst the opulence and grandeur of the royal court, the fate of a princess and the future of Wu dynasty hung in the balance. And as His Majesty Emperor Wu Liang gazed upon his council with a solemn resolve, it was clear that the path to peace would be fought with peril, yet illuminated by the flickering flame of hope.
It is not new that the royal concubines will do their very best to make sure that their daughters are not sent to a strange Land, but what can anyone do that hasn't been done before, just as the saying goes. Nothing is new under the sun.
The matters of court were concluded with the final decision only known by the attendees, but words travel faster than light in the Forbidden City and soon the concubines will learn of what was discussed in the Royal Court, even the phoenix of them all, the Empress will not be left out in this turbulence.
***********
As Lingyi walked back to her quarters in Western Palace, she couldn't help but notice the way the other servants were whispering and looking at her. You know how fast gossip spreads, right? Well, it seemed everyone already knew Consort Yang had taken an interest in her. Lingyi figured it was just a matter of time before all the other ladies in the palace...even the Empress would hear about what had happened that day.
The palace was a hive of intrigue and gossip. Every action, every word spoken, was analyzed and dissected by those who sought to gain an advantage. Lingyi was acutely aware of the need to tread carefully. The alliances and rivalries among the concubines were complex, and she would need to navigate these treacherous waters with caution.
She made haste back to Western palace to avoid being reprimanded by Wanying who clearly detested her.
Upon her arrival at Western gate, she quietly entered the courtyard, her footsteps almost in the air as she carefully made her way into the maids' quarters without notice. She had nothing to herself and only depended now on the favor of her new mistress Consort Yang, more reason to tread cautiously until she completely grasps the intricacy of this new realm.
Immediately she was within the confines of her quarters, Lingyi fell on her bed faced up, she stared helplessly at the ceiling, her thoughts drifted to why all these were happening, and whether it was real or was she still in a dream. She bit her fingers as she tried replaying everything that has happened. But all she could remember was being in the office archive and then appearing here all of a sudden. "Something is missing, something is off," Lingyi sat up abruptly. "What was I doing at the office archive that day?" She said, squinting her eyes as she tried recollecting her reason for entering the office archive on that day. And then, her eyes widened suddenly, "the stone...yes it must be stone," Lingyi said, her tone bearing a renewed purpose. "where is the stone?" Her eyes rolled about, an attempt to recall where she first appeared upon her in this unknown world. All she could remember was being dragged along a tiled passage and then finally being tossed before Concubine Qin.
Lingyi let out a breath as she sighed in frustration, "If the stone came with me, then it must have fallen off at where I made contact with this strange world." She fell back to her bed helplessly, devising how to get the information of her offence from Concubine Qin's maid. Because that was the only shot at finding this mysterious stone and returning back to her normal life...or so she thought.