Kindness

Noble Concubine Shao's abrupt input took everyone by surprise.

Going by hierarchy, the other concubines couldn't do anything to me, but Noble Concubine Shao sure could.

Concubine You leaned over and whispered loudly to Concubine Ran "If she doesn't have any skills, she shouldn't talk big."

Concubine Ran sniggered.

A wave of humiliation washed over me.

I knew I shouldn't let myself be provoked by them, but I found myself walking over to the qin.

My hands hovered over the strings and stopped.

Anything.

I wanted to do anything to prove them wrong. But I couldn't. None of my previous life's skills culminated in qin-playing skills, and the previous Ling Yue didn't have anything of use in her arsenal either.

My mind spun as I desperately tried to think of something to buy time.

Buy time to think of a solution. Why had I sat here? I could have refused to move.

I looked up.

Concubine You, Concubine Ran and Concubine Rong were rallying the other concubines to sneer and whisper about me. I thought putting Concubine Ping, Concubine Mao and Concubine Qing out of commission would get rid of the problem, but it didn't.

It wasn't the people, but rather the system that was to blame. The harem system that turned people against each other and pointed fingers.

Concubine Lay snuck me a look of pity.

Noble Concubine Shao looked down at me with her haughty, discerning gaze like I was a dirty insect ruining her view.

"Sister Ling, its been a long day, hasn't it?" Noble Concubine Ju said.

The haze in my mind cleared a little as I tried to process what she just did. The chatter stopped as well as everyone turned toward her in confusion.

"It must be so tiring. I know you've had your hands full with your many affairs. Manning the ministry and running your business. Why don't we let Noble Concubine Ling show us her talents sometime else." Noble Concubine Ju said.

"Huh?"

Concubine Rong was dismayed. However, Noble Concubine Ju was the host of the tea ceremony and she wasn't able to stand up to her.

Simultaneously, the concubines looked to Noble Concubine Shao.

With this turn of events, Noble Concubine Shao looked away as well, signalling she didn't want to say any more.

"Sister Xing, I recall you won last year's qin competition. I would really love to hear your rendition of "Spring Time Cherry Blossoms" again. It would be so fitting for today's mood. What do you think?" Noble Concubine Ju asked.

Concubine Xing, suddenly thrust into the spotlight, lowered her head bashfully.

"At once, Elder Sister Ju."

Taking the cue, I stood up at once. "Since it's like that, thank you all for understanding. I'll take my leave first. Sister Xing, I look forward to hearing you play sometime." I said.

Not too quickly, I exited the pavilion.

When they saw I had come out earlier than expected, Qiu Ci and Qiu Le too came over.

"Young Miss, are you alright?" Qiu Le asked.

I nodded.

I really wasn't, but since I had been thrust into this world, I had experienced all sorts of hardships. After sleeping it over, I would feel much better.

"Those wretched cows! They don't know their place!" Qiu Ci proclaimed angrily.

Qiu Le and I stared at her in shock. This was the first time we heard Qiu Ci curse.

"Shh! Not so loud, Sister Ci. We're still within their hearing range. We shouldn't get Young Miss in even more trouble." Qiu Le advised.

"Young Miss, let us teach them a lesson! If they can resort to dirty tricks, so can we!" Qiu Ci hissed in a low whisper, so that they couldn't hear us.

Qiu Le looked at her doubtfully. She felt indignant on behalf of her Young Miss too, but she wasn't sure she had the courage to pull any tricks. What if they were caught? What if the concubines got really hurt? How would she answer to her conscience?

"Not to worry. They haven't actually done me any harm. They're just all bark and no bite. Save your anger for when something actually happens to me." I said.

So far, I had only been threatened and humiliated a bit, but not been physically harmed or had my social standing drastically affected. On the other hand, the concubines had suffered bodily injuries and admonishment by the Emperor. I certainly looked like the bully from this angry.

"All bark and... no bite?"

"What is that?"

Eyes wide, the two turned to me in bewilderment.

"Oh, it means that they only know how to open their mouths to threaten and gossip, but don't dare to take any action." I said.

We spent the walk back home learning of what Qiu Ci really wanted to do to them, as well as QIu Le's opinions of why those weren't very feasible. Qiu Le was against burning bridges unless necessary.

I headed straight to my office upon entering the palace. I had been on palace business for so long that I had been neglecting Luna Marche lately. I hoped everything was going alright.

"Young Miss, you can't be thinking of working now?" Qiu Ci asked, horrified.

My hand paused on the door.

"Why not?"

"Young Miss, you need to get up extra early to go to Hua Shan tomorrow. You're visiting the temple to pray for good fortune together with the imperial family. Wouldn't you like to be well rested for that?"

"Hua Shan? Its just a mountain. I can nap on the ride up." I said flippantly, still imagining cable cars and cleared roads where ambling cars and tour buses passed.

"Young Miss, Hua Shan is incredibly dangerous to climb and the journey uphill is long. You'd best get some rest while you can. How about I make you your favourite tea and you can finish that book you were reading in bed?"

Hmm...

I thought of the "book" I was reading, "A List of Medical Uses for Common Herbs". This era didn't have much fiction books as books had to be transcribed by hand. There were many informational books however, and books like these features large drawings and even samples.

"Sure."