03. Dalan Empire

Two days later she felt good enough to walk even tho one of her legs felt bit weak so she slightly limped. Her face was still quite filled with bruises and one of her eyes was almost closed from the hit she got form the vicious Wang Fei.

It seems she was not as lucky as other characters in those novels or dramas. She was neither reborn pretty or in the famous family. Her background could be still said quite good, or not.

The little boy that called himself Heng Ming told her story about her background, or at least how much he knew. The stories that he gathered were not complete so he was not completely sure what was true and what were lies.

Lan Lian, a third daughter of Lan side branch, was sent to serve as a servant after her family was sentenced for cooperation with an enemy.

Usually, that kind of accusations would or be treated as high treason but many things didn't add up. Especially after he started explaining that they had to serve five years and will be free again after that.

Lan Lian sighed. Her grandfather was a lower official in one of smaller towns and his sons were no achievers as well.

She had five uncles that were either lower officials, poor scholars, low soldiers or in her case, not even that. Her own father chose to be a farmer and lived a simple but comfortable life. Their life was neither bad nor good.

One day her family was suddenly pointed at as traitors of family and quickly sentenced without any large trial. It was weird in peoples eyes but who were they to look into it if the official proclamation passed through the country.

"So. How much more do my family and myself need work?" She blinked at him curiously.

"I heard you worked first with your mother in Duke of Leng Tai's estate last four years. It seems you have left just a couple of months more. But they found out your mom got sick and got rid of both of you."

Heng Ming carefully looked at her face but found no trace of any emotion.

She could see his expression and sigh.

"To me, all of them are now even bigger strangers than you. But do you know what happened to my mother and the rest of the family?"

"Your mother... unfortunately didn't make it. They buried her in her maternal family grave until your father doesn't become free. But I fear..."

Lan Lian furrowed her eyebrows. Her face became pale as she realized that her situation might be grave. Heng Ming on the other hand though she was just trying to control her emotions so he pressed his lips.

"What about him?"

"Unfortunately he was sent to Wang Ye's stables to take care of horses. Something happened and he ended badly hurt."

Lan Lian jumped from her bed.

"Can you show me the way to the stables."

"I can't.' "

" Why?"

Looking at her dark eyes filled with questions he sighed. "We are third-grade servants. You can't just walk here and there like this is your home."

"So I can be only in one enclosed place?"

Heng Ming nodded. "Only if our masters give you special permission you can leave your place."

This time period is really strict. Lan Lian sat back and rubbed her head.

"I wish I knew more. Tell me. As I don't know where I am, explain to me who our master is, what country we live and who our current emperor is."

Hen Ming saw some colour coming back to her face so he started explaining.

"We live in Dalan Empire. Our current emperor is Emperor Chang Hui the Great. He is seventeenth Emperor since his ancestor Dalan Fa united thirty seven countries."

Listening to his words Lan Lian realized she was not even in the same country. Does that mean she reincarnated in a parallel universe? She once heard someone talking on the bus about parallel universes. Does that mean she went back in time and transferred to the parallel universe? Whoah.

Heng Ming carefully looked at her face and stopped talking as she looked deep in thought.

"Is everything OK with you?''

" Its fine continue, I'm just trying to remember the information you are giving me."

"Then I will continue. Our Emperor has Empress, five imperial noble consorts, seventeen noble consorts, fifty four concubines and rests of his personal servants he uses from time to time as his tonfangs."

Lan Lian opened her mouth and stared at him in surprise but remembered the history of her own country where was even Emperor with a couple of thousand concubines in his household, not including female servants.

"He, unfortunately, has only five sons and not even one daughter. Many of his children didn't make it through the fights in the inner courtyard. There is Chang Wang, Ning Wang, Bai Wang, Lei Wang and our Wang Ye is the youngest son, Min Wang. You must be careful around Wen Guifei. Is there a job that you would prefer doing? I can ask our steward to help you get it."

Lan Lian was in rooms all her life, she wanted to be outside, even if its in enclosed space. "Even as a third-grade servant is it for me possible to be in her garden? I want to work outside."

Heng Ming sighed in relief and nodded.

"That job is possible. I feared you would ask something like working by her side."

Lan Lian shook her head.

"Didn't we say I got sick and will be mute for a while. And I have no idea about regulations in her inner chambers. Yes, regulations. Teach me something."

He then realized she forgot it all and sighed again. "Just bow deeply to anyone else than Guifei, for her, you go on your knees. She likes respectful servants. On everything else act dumb. Be careful. Really careful. I will try to find out about your father and the rest of the family. You just need to survive this one year and can reconnect with your family."

Lan Lian nodded and looked at him with her big eyes.

"Heng Ming, why are you actually helping me? I am no one, just small ugly servant."

He patted her hand with a smile.

"You are. But, Lan Lian you look just like my big sister. I hope if I do this I might gather good luck for her as well. Maybe one day someone will help her, just like I helped you." He was thinking about his big sister that was a servant as well and hoped she would live a good life. Soon he will be able to see her again...

Looking at his sad smile she patted his head. ''Then tonight I will pray for your sister. In future, I hope she has a good life and long happy and healthy life.'' In these times, such wishes would be most meaningful...