Sisters

Today I shall go to the formal ceremony to greet and show respect to the Empress Dowager. With no empress she is head of the harem and all of the Emperors ladies must attend. So I will finally meet all then other chosen ladies. I need to dress nice today but nothing to make me stand out.

Huiqing knows my taste and helped me dress in a light green dress with a long lavender sheer scarf. My hair done simple with the new almost white jade colored hair pin set my father gave me before I left. I decided no make up was needed today, I don't want to appear gaudy. "Young miss you look very elegant" said Huiqing smiling at me through the mirror.

As we made our way to the Empress Dowager's palace I noticed how many staff we passed. Most of the palace has never been seen by anyone outside of the royal family. So naturally it's a huge mystery other than the story's that you hear. Obviously the palace grounds are extremely extensive, and this is my new home. Amazing. Everything richly colored in bright red and yellow with deep green accents. The stone pathways make it seem endless.

The Empress Dowagers palace is very large with lots of plants and trees. A small koi pond in the large entrance hall where all of us gathered waiting to be received. I could smell sandalwood in the air, a wonderfully calming incense.

Most of the ladies dressed in pink, making them look very young. Except three other ladies. One in an deep purple which was very daring for the season but very expensive, she is Noble lady Xiu and her father is slightly below my father but obviously very wealthy. The second lady dressed in a light pale blue which was very becoming on her, she is Noble lady Ning and her uncle was a very powerful advisor to the last Emperor. The third very timid looking lady was wearing a light lavender dress with a long darker purple scarf, she is First attendant Mingyu.

All very enchanting but everyone was keeping to themselves and their maids.

We were finally called in and preform the traditional kowtow for the Empress Dowager. She looked pleased with us but had a stern face. She asked us to be seated and we were served tea.

"You all are now part of the royal family and must act as such. I expect all of you to treat each other as sisters, I want NO fighting. You all have the same goal. To produce heir for our dynasty. So you should work together, help one another." Said the Empress Dowager with a strength of 10,000 strong women in her women. She was magnificent. "Of course Empress Dowager we shall be as sisters" we all replied together. She seemed very pleased and explained there was a big dinner coming up for the cherry blossom festival. We were told to all dress very fine because we shall have guest, we want to show our royal families beauty. Plus this will be our first real chance to see the Emperor since we've come to the palace. Though as of today he may chose to bed any of us whatever night he wishes, we are officially his women. "You must make me proud ladies" She said and smiled in my direction. Then we were dismissed.

I took my time leaving hoping to speak with one of the other ladies. However they all seemed very ready to leave and quickly made there ways separately back to their palaces. Hmm, so much for sisters. Though to my surprise Noble lady Ning passed from behind giving me a kind smile. I suppose for now that will have to do, considering we have our lives here to get to know each other.