Fiasco at Lotus Gardens

Although Lu Qing Yu had said I didn't need to push back my expansion plans, it was always better to err on the side of caution. Moreover, it was almost the new year and the whole capital was gearing up for the Spring Festival.

There were many palace duties I had to do fulfill as a Noble Concubine, such that my schedule was almost completely packed. They were mostly along the lines of visiting temples, fraternizing with the harem, visiting family, or attending banquets and galas. Politics and cattiness weren't exactly my strong point. I wasn't looking forward to them.

"Young Miss, are you ready?" Qiu Ci called from outside the door. I gave myself a quick look-over in the bronze mirror. I wasn't able to see much, but I was presentable as far as I could tell. Today was the day all the concubines in the harem got our portraits painted to commemorate the New Year. I wasn't too keen on it, since I wasn't going to look at my portrait, but I couldn't get out of it.

"Yes, I'm ready." I responded. The door slid open. "Noble Concubine, you look amazing. I'm sure the portrait will turn out well!" with Qiu Ci and Qiu Le flanking me on both sides, the entourage of maids and I made our way out of the palace. "Hold on... do we need another hairpin?" Qiu Le said, worried. The entire entourage stopped.

"Why? My hair looks alright to me." I said, unconsciously touching the side of my head. Did I bend down too much earlier? Maybe the heavy headpiece fell to the side. Qiu Ci stopped as well, surveying my hair. "

What about the jade and pink diamond hairpiece?" "No, the sapphire one really brought out Noble Concubine's eyes." "Perhaps we should attach some pearls?" "Should we change the whole outfit?"

All of a sudden, the entourage disassembled, and all the maids were crowded around me like a flock of hens, each throwing in their 2 cents as to which accessory I should use. I was baffled. Was a hairpin really that important? In that case, I should say something too.

"I think a hairpin with no dangling bits looks best. It would be really practical." I said loudly.

The maids were taken aback, horrified expressions on their faces. "No, Noble Concubine! We can't forgo that!" "That's right, you have to look really beautiful!" the chatter began again. Hopelessly, I stayed still, wondering when we would get moving.

"Why is it important what hair accessory I use?" I asked finally.

"Noble Concubine, all the other concubines will be there. We have to show them how prosperous the Lunar Palace is and how favoured you are, so that they won't be able to look down on you!" "Yes, all the other concubines will be dressed to the nines!" "Not only that, it's a painting! How you look today will be immortalised forever!"

"Alright, alright... is that why you all er... dressed up today?" I asked sheepishly. Now that I looked closely, all of their robes looked brand new and exquisite, and whenever they turned, their heads jingled with elaborate, gleaming hairpieces. And was that rouge? All of them had made themselves presentable for today, huh. Maybe I was being too complacent. Was it really that bad?

In the end, I had to let them redo my hair before they were satisfied.

Packed together like a gaggle of swans making their way to battle, we finally reached the site of the painting. No lesser than 12 groups of women were already perched or hovering beside multiple small ponds, bridges, flora and fauna in the newly refurbished Lotus Gardens, a spot just outside the harem that had been cordoned off for the rest of the week to protect the dignity of the harem getting their portraits painting. Getting our portraits painted, I meant.

Upon arrival, an eunuch immediately came to greet us, leading us to a picturesque spot filled with the background of colourful spring flowers. An old man was already waiting, his paint stand set up. "Noble Concubine Ling, its a pleasure to paint your portrait. This old man is Lin Hong, and I've been commissioned by the palace to paint your portrait." the old man bowed.

"No worries. Just tell me what I should do." "Very well, Noble Concubine, please sit over there and look here." he gestured to a clean stone bench. The maids lifted up my skirt before I sat, then tied it, arranging the long train around so that it pooled near my legs. A few maids also immediately produced large fans, gently getting a breeze going.

"Do I just... look here?" I asked doubtfully, posing as if I was looking at a random spot. "Yes, that's it. Please hold still, Noble Concubine."

Hold still? Bzzz....

Bzzz....

Reflexively, I moved to swat the fly.

No? It was gone? I knew I saw it in this direction...

"Noble Concubine! Please hold still." the old man pleaded.

"Right, sorry." I went back to my previous position.

"A little more to the left please."

"This way?" I turned my body.

"No, just turn your cheek please."

"This way."

"Yes, that's good."

After finally managing to revert back to the previous position, I tried my best to look tranquil and calm and... happy... but I kept feeling distracted.

In my peripheral vision, the maids were discreetly shooing the fly away.

Oh, I could see the other concubines from here. Indeed, just as the girls said, everyone was dressed to the nines. Some were posing in front of the pond, some on the bridge, some below a tree, some in this and that spot.

"Noble Concubine is doing great. Please maintain this expression."

Feeling encouraged, I continued to let my thoughts wander. Hmm? I seemed to hear something. Very quietly, it seemed like some people were talking near here. But where? This area should have been blocked off. How irritating... I couldn't turn my head to see.

"... and showing up late? You think you're so important?"

"Why can't our Noble Concubine show up last? Did you need to wait for her to arrive to begin painting?"

"And what about you? You call those rags robes? Does your mistress not pay you enough?"

Pfft. I couldn't help but snort through my nose at this conversation.

"Noble Concubine!" the old man cried.

Ignoring him, I pretended to adjust my hair but looked to find the source of the noise. Currently, only Qiu Ci remained at my side. Qiu Le and the rest of my maids were some distance away resting under a tree, and were engaged in a heated argument with... the maids of another concubine getting her portraits painted nearby.

Having identified a source of entertainment for myself, I reverted back to my original position. "Sorry, Lin Hong." I quipped. "That's all right, Noble Concubine."

The voices of young maidens, high pitched and getting increasingly shrill floated over once again.

".....Sister Hua, you better keep your mouth shut. One has to have the ability first to talk!"

"Hmph, what did you say? Don't you have any respect for your elders?"

"Elder? So Sister Hua is admitting you're an old lady?"

"Why, if your mistress wasn't a Noble Concubine, I ought to..."

"Stop!" an exasperated voice came from elsewhere.

The sound of someone moving through the garden came from behind. "Lady Lay! The maids of Noble Concubine Ling were slandering you!" the voice of Sister Hua said wrongfully. "Us? Since when?" Oops. I recognised this voice as Qiu Le's.

Feeling like I should step in, I promptly got up, only to find myself face to face with a tall, lavishly dressed lady and a hoard of disgruntled maids. Somehow, while I was obediently~ sitting for my portrait, they had all made their way over here.

I sighed. "Old man, take a break." I said.

"Of course, Noble Concubine Ling." Gratefully, Lin Hong, a supervising eunuch and his 2 assistants all ran off.

I turned back to the crowd.