First Hand Experience

     Me, and Harmony got moved far away, I was settled at Shattered Jade Court [碎玉轩] and she lived in Daily Celebrate Palace [延禧宫]. When we entered our living quarters, a nanny that teaches the concubines and consorts [妃嫔] rules of the inner court was waiting for us. Along with it I learned that only main family like the Emperess, Emperor, and Emperess Dowager may enter through tbe front doors and others from the side, and that the mistresses are split into an upper and lower level. Upper is the consorts who must be the master of the court they live in with the other wives of the Emperor. To do that they must be at a higher status of all the wives who live in that court. Another is that they must be a concubine [ 嫔 concubine and higher which include 妃 imperial concubine,贵妃 consort,and the highest 皇贵妃imperial consort], and as a bonus they get called niang niang or [娘娘 my lady]. To achieve these standings are incredibly difficult because they are limited. 皇贵妃 imperial consort can only be one, 贵妃 consort two, 妃 imperial Concubine three, and 嫔 concubine four. The lower concubines are from lowest to highest, 答应,常在,and 贵人 being the highest. But there can be lower than 答应, which is 官女子 which have no difference between maids but been summon to the bed of the Emperor very similar to a prostitute. Also that being a concubine we are called young lady or 小主.  My Shattering Jade Court though it was small, it was peaceful, elegant, and quiet. Outside in the courtyard there would be white lilys. After a day of rules, tomorrow was the day to meet the consorts and concubines before us. I wore a quiet light blue dress with elegant white orchirds sewn upon it. The accessories I chose were a simple pearl necklace, a few jade, silver hair clips and a orchird to match my name. I stood at the front because of the rank I had, 贵人*. We greeted the Emperess in a traditional fashion. She was clothed all in gold but dressed simply. She had a wise, and regal air about her.She smiled kindly at all of us and welcomed us heartily. But opposite of her was the flashy and extravangant Consort Li or to be exact 丽妃. She wore clothes of magma, red, gold and wore tons of expensive and some priceless jewelery. Rumors said that she was a favorite of Emperor, and spoiled because her brother was a General who won battles, and gained land left and right for the Emperor with astonishing amount if achievements. She was special because she made it to 妃 with out a child. Consort Li scoured us with her hawk eye, and stopped at me. I was terrified because I thought that she discovered that I was not a women.

  "You, stand up. What's your name?" She ordered.

  I slowly stood up and said quietly "Consort Li, I am [英贵人]the Honored Lady Ying, as I have not been bequeathed a word as a specific title."

  "My, Consort Li is very beautiful." she said taking a curl of my hair.

   "No, Consort Li I am unworthy of such beautiful words which you utter sweetly from your pretty mouth with lips the color of cherries. It is you who is beautiful. You with your shiny black hair like ebony, smooth and pale skin which can't be softer, and bright and intelligent eyes of the same color as your hair. You who's beauty outshines the elegent and ever graceful moon." I said smoothly.

  "Oh, so no praises for the Emperess?"Consort Li countered hautily.

  "I thought it would be stupid to announce the obvious. Her highness's hair like silk, skin like the finest china plates, and eyes which has see everything. If Consort Li is the moon, then her highness's  beauty blinds the sun which looks down upon everything else." I quickly added.

"Now, now Consort Li we are all now a big happy family so no teasing." Said the Emperess.

  After the meeting we went back to our respected places to rest.

  ~A/N~

Hello, I decided to redo the rankings. I made a new chapter for it.

* Gui Ren 贵 人  or The Honored Lady