Pink? Blue

"Are you all packed?" "Mm, I got everything I need for a week's worth." Guang He lowers his voice to warn, "Be careful there. He may have backed off for now, but we are still thorns to his eyes." Lan nods, "I know."

"Miyu, Chiu, let's head out." Miyu holds Lan's hand to help her get into the carriage, then she and Chiu stood by each side of it. Lan pulls her window curtain to one side and waves, "Bye Grandfather, Uncle." They waved back, and off she went.

The ride to the palace took less than half a day. As her carriage passed by, everyone takes a second take. Guang He thought if he made her entrance grand, other kids would be too intimidated to bully Lan…not that Lan is easy to be bullied, but she can't slice their necks in the palace...

Lan thought her Grandfather had outdone himself again: six guards in front and six back, her carriage is bigger than one person's worth, with a flag atop that has their tiger emblem in gold. She sighs.

Arriving in front of the palace gates, Miyu helps Lan out. Hats are forbidden in the palace, so Lan was stuck wearing her veil. She didn't wear a dress as extravagant as the one she had worn to the party, but the new dresses were surely more intricate than the one she's used to. Then, a eunuch there announces, "Miss Wei Lan of Wei Clan has arrived for the Selection."

"Miss Zhao Li Shan of Zhao Clan, Miss Hong Fan Ying of Hong Clan have arrived for the Selection." Li Shan pushes her way to be the first. When she got to Lan's pace, she uses her shoulder to push Lan. Lan could withhold her weak push, but going along with her act, she falls. "Miss!" "Hmph! What's an orphan doing business with the Royal Family", and walks ahead. 'So she did her homework I see.'

Fan Ying who was behind hurries to help Lan up. "Are you alright? You don't have to mind her. She's always been like that whenever she thinks someone is better than her." Lan chuckles, "Her hatred is my compliment." Fan Ying winks. "I'm Hong Fan Ying, daughter of General Hong Bu. You?" "Wei Lan, granddaughter of retired Commander Wei."

"You're Wei Lan? I've heard so many stories of you." "Bad ones I'm assuming.." "No, no, what you did was amazing. Dancing with a blade? We, women, aren't expected to carry weapons, so for you to show them otherwise..wow." Lan chuckles with embarrassment. It was weird hearing compliments from a lady nonetheless someone she just met. "Thank you."

They head into the Selection Hall and line themselves up. In front, a grand jade chair of a phoenix, empty. They stood there until an older lady in a grand red dress and accessories suited for an empress comes in. Every girl there including Lan curtsied and said in unison, "We greet you Majesty. May your Majesty live and reign for the thousands of years to come."

The Empress raises a hand, "Mm, you guys may rise", and sat down. Her court lady comes forward, "Misses of noble blood, you are invited here for the trial and selection to be young Fourth Princess Chun Mei's companion. Succeed, and you and your family will be awarded. Fail, and you will be sent home."

The Empress looks down at the crowd of girls in pink. Only one stands out in blue—Lan. She focuses on the girl, trying to remember her familiar features. 'The girl in the veil...Granddaughter of Wei.'

"Mistress of Wei", she calls out. Li Shan looks down smirks at the thought of Lan getting scolded. Lan curtsies waiting for her demands. "I have noticed these young ladies here are wearing pink, but you, you're the only one in blue. Why? Surely you've heard how much the princess loves pink, are you making fun of her?"

Lan goes down to her knee, "This one doesn't dare. It's because I know the princess loves pink that I wore a different color." "And why's that?" "I put myself in her shoes, believing that if I am a child of the dragon and the phoenix, I wouldn't want those around me sharing the same colors. Thus, I am wearing blue, so the princess can be the sole person in her favorite color—pink."

"You dare! You are not someone qualified to be in the same shoes as the Princess!" The court Lady yelled. The Empress puts a hand up, "Silence."

"Wise. Your logic makes sense. All of you in pink, you are expected to be in some other colors the next time I see you. The status of my daughter is above you, she needn't be seen next to someone in the same color as her who's lower than her."

"Yes, your Majesty", they said in unison. "Tch", Li Shan starts to hate Lan more and more. Lan has already created enemies of half the girls. Especially those who only brought pink, and now have to order new fabric and dresses.

"There will be a welcoming banquet tonight hosted by Her Majesty. Your families will be there, and so the Royal Family. Prepare yourselves by dusk," the court lady announces. The girls curtsies once again and said in unison, "Yes, we will oblige."

Chiu and Miyu rush to their Miss's side. "No light without darkness…So that's what you meant. In a field of pink, your blue dress will give you the spotlight." Lan nods.

"If it's easier, remember only a flower can be seen in a field of weed," Miyu winks, "Right Miss?" The three giggles.

"Hmph! Do you have no shame embarrassing us like that!?" Hearing this voice again, Lan walks ahead and ignores it. "You-You dare ignore me?! I am the main daughter of the Prime Minister!" Lan turns around, "If Miss Li Shan wishes to share your status, you can say it to someone who cares. Now if you excuse me." "You-" Li Shans throws a fit as Lan heads to her assigned room.

"You guys can rest, we won't have to get ready for until long." "Yes, Miss."

Once the girls went out to go to the maid's residence, Lan changes to her simpler dress and heads out too to explore her courtyard.

One courtyard of the palace is almost as big as Wei's manor. The middle is a large garden and stone seats. On each side is a girl's room. Though there's four of them, the courtyard is so mass that it doesn't feel like there are other residences.

Lan sits in the garden and closes her eyes. Images of her mother, father, grandfather, and Liling flashes behind her eyelids. 'I'm finally closer to an enemy's territory.'