【4: The Selection Day】
[Chapter 4: The Selection Day]
(There will be tons of concubines but the most mentioned will be these few. And are the ones chosen during the Selection.)
Liu Mei Yan is the daughter of the Liu Household. Her family is a successful merchant which deals in the clothing business.
Age: 19
Status: Average/Well off
Position: Noble Lady
Zhan Yu Ning is the daughter of Minister Zhan, the Minister of Justice.
Age: 19
Status: Rich/Powerful
Position: Concubine
Bing Mi Lan is the daughter of Chancellor Bing.
Age: 17
Status: Rich/Powerful
Position: Concubine
Feng Xiao Mian is the daughter of the Feng Household which is the household of scholars.
Age: 18
Status: Average
Position: Talented Lady
Hong Hua Lan is the daughter to her merchant father who runs a successful restaurant. Entered the Selection just to get away from her stepmother who insisted that she put in a good word for her stepsister to have a higher rank when she joined later.
Age: 18
Status: Average
Position: Honoured Lady
Chun Yi Ling is the daughter of the Chun Household, a poor family of farmers, she had decided to enter the Selection in hopes of being able to improve her family's life.
Age: 17
Status: Poor/Weak
Position: Talented Lady
Mian Zhi Shan is the daughter of the Mian household who are a well off family of doctors.
Age: 18
Status: Rich/Average
Position: Noble Lady
Lee Man Wei is the daughter of a family of seamstress and tailors.
Age: 19
Status: Average
Position: Noble Lady
Bai Gu Shen is the daughter of a merchant family who does business with the trading port of Yun.
Age: 19
Status: Rich/Average
Position: Imperial Lady
Nie Huang Lei is the daughter of a family that consist of dancers and musicians.
Age: 19
Status: Average/Poor
Position: Imperial Lady
Zhen Xin Luo is the daughter of the Zhen Household, a poor servant family that helps with odd jobs around them.
Age: 18
Status: Poor/Weak
Position: Talented Lady
[❄️❄️❄️]
It was finally the day when the big gates of the Forbidden City was opened, the day where young girls who have dreamt of living in such a grand palace praying they will be selected. The day where if they're chosen, they will never be able to leave the dream-disguised-nightmare.
Meng Yue was seated on his carriage that was bringing him towards the examination hall where the Selection will be conducted, wearing his hat veil while in his hand he held a jade blue folding fan where the great mountains of Yun was painted upon it.
Just when he reached a building before the hall, he requested for the carriage to be stopped before he swiftly hopped of it. With a gesture from his hand, he swiftly ushered for the carriage to be taken away and out of view.
The reason for him doing so was because he knew the ladies that entered the Selection will just enter right around the corner. Meng Yue nodded to Ying Xin and Yang Xin who nodded back in return before with a tap of his foot, he had leaped onto the roof of the walls, hiding himself out of view of those below yet do not blocked his sight on the event that was about to happen.
Both the maids held a handheld basket each with sewing materials in it, dressed up in the normal uniform of the palace maids instead of the one that shows their status as a personal maid. Both have their heads hung low and was walking in a rushed manner just as the group entered the walkway and walked towards them.
Just as the two of them were walking pass the group, both of the maids suddenly 'tripped' and fell onto their face, dropping the basket and spilling the materials onto the floor, the threads and needles scattered about or rolling away as Ying Xin and Yang Xin let out small cries of horror.
"Oh no! We're done for!"
"Surely we'll be whipped 50 times now!"
Meng Yue continued to watch the scene unfold before him, frowning slightly when he saw how none of the girls did not stop to even help them, not even a single glance. But then, a young girl who was standing at the front when the incident happened, quickly looked back to see what was wrong.
When her eyes saw the fallen maids, she had dashed out of her line without a single hesitation and towards the maids. She reached out her hand to picked up the fallen needles, not wanting anyone to injured themselves.
"Are you alright?" She asked and Yang Xin was quick to nod her head.
"I'm fine, thank you for Young Miss's concern."
As they were conversing, two other ladies who were at the back have also stepped out of their line and walked quickly towards them, one of them was holding a few rolls of threads that have fallen out of the basket while one held a handkerchief.
"You've dropped these."
"Oh dear, you're bleeding!" The girl exclaimed, quickly dabbing her handkerchief over Ying Xin's fingers which had been pricked by the needles when she had hastily picked them up.
Both expressed their gratitude by bowing their heads multiple times. "Thank you thank you! But Young Misses should best be on their way, the Selection is about to start soon."
After making sure that the maids were alright, the three girls walked back to their line and fixed their appearance just before entering the hall. Meng Yue leaped down from the roof and landed beside them.
"Good job," he praised the two of them, earning a bright beam on their face as he gave an ointment to Ying Xin for her injuries. She bowed her head to expressed her thanks before stating out the girls' identities as she applied the ointment.
"The first one was Chun Yi Ling, the one who picked up the threads was Hong Huo Lan while the one who cleaned this servant's wound was Liu Mei Yan."
[❄️❄️❄️]
The hall was larger than any rooms that Chun Yi Ling have ever seen before in her life, her eyes widen in astonishment and awe as she tried her best to discreetly look around but the frequent sneaky glances was enough for the two girls beside her to giggle lightly at her childlike wonder.
"If you were to stare any longer, I think even the walls will feel hurt at the frequent jabs of your stare." Liu Mei Yan commented, her voice soft and tranquil, just like any other sophisticated lady would be. Startled by her voice and getting caught in her act, Yi Ling's face flushed red in embarrassment.
"My apologies, Young Miss."
"No no no," Liu Meiyan quickly waved her hand and explained, "I wasn't scolding you for doing that."
"I'm Liu Meiyan, you?"
"I'm Chun Yiling." Yiling introduces herself before her attention was caught by the other woman who had helped out the maids earlier, "May this little sister know this big sister's name?"
Hong Hualan blinked a few times that someone have actually spoken to her, looking at the two of them who were having gentle smiles on their face, she returned the smile and introduced herself.
"Hong Hualan, 18 years old."
"Really? You looked more mature than that," Meiyan asked in surprise. "I'm 19."
"Ehhh? I'm the youngest here then. I'm 17."
Meiyan seemed delighted to know that as she clapped both her hands together and said in a jovial tone. "Then you will be my meimei*!"
(Mei mei means Younger/Little sister in Chinese. An informal way of calling them as usually used in families or people who are closed with each other. Jie jie means older/big sister.)
"Welcome the Prince Consort and Empress Ying!!" Just as Yiling was about to reply, the loud voice of the eunuch was heard, announcing the arrival of the Prince Consort, the Empress and the starting of the Selection.
Muffled murmurs and gasps filled the hall almost instantly at the announcement. The Prince Consort?! The Emperor really did marry a man! Those were the thoughts running in everyone's head when they quickly stand in a respected manner, awaiting the tests and evaluations.
Chun Yiling dared herself to look up, wanting to sneak a peak at the infamous Prince Consort only to see that his face have been covered by a hat veil. Not wanting to get caught, she quickly dropped her head back to a bow.
[❄️❄️❄️]
The Prince Consort was truly astounded. The hall that was once filled with 500 young girls have now been reduced to 50. The examination and evaluation set by the standards of the Empress was indeed cruel in the eyes of others but reasonable among those who are insightful. Luckily, the three girls that he have his eyes on were among the group of fifty. Gently fanning himself, he smiled a little at Chun Yiling's adaption and perseverance. Even though she really had no qualifications in being a harem woman other than having qualifications of being a mere servant.
He may or may not have gave a little help by passing her when the Empress was about to kick her out. It was obvious to many others of Yiling's lack of talent and capabilities so it was a shocking matter that the Prince Consort still passed her despite knowing such a piteous fact.
Now it was the Prince Consort's turn to give his own evaluation to the girls. He stood up and stepped up front, gazing down at the girls below him. "I will only give one question. And all you have to do is answer honestly. But before that, do all of you know what is right and wrong?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Alright. You see two people have fallen down and their things have scattered. Do you, A: Tell a servant to help them up, or B: Ignore them."
His question was rather straightforward and blunt, thus, confusing all of them at the obvious answer given to them. So in a synchronised manner, they all answered.
"A, Your Highness."
"Your Highness, can I give out an option C?" Chun Yiling dares herself to asked and Meng Yue nodded. "Go ahead."
"I will help them out."
Meng Yue smiled, "A was indeed the answer to the question but it was not the answer that I seek for. Chun Yiling have indeed gave the right answer that I'm looking for."
"Your Highness, why is our answer wrong? Isn't her answer and ours the same?" A girl asked and the Prince Consort let out a sigh.
"Then, let me ask another question. Do you have hands, do you have legs?"
"We do, Your Highness."
"Then why can't you help? Why must you call your servants to help out another human being? Would you not help if there isn't a servant by your side?"
At this, all the girls merely went silent, unable to answer. Seeing such a reaction, Meng Yue shook his head. "What have our people become...."
The Prince Consort gently fanned himself, watching the evaluation progressed itself before finally, 11 girls were chosen to enter the palace to serve the Emperor. He chuckled to himself lightly as he got up from his seat, his robe swishing behind him as he was led to another room to give a small lecture to the new girls.
He once again took a seat, Ying Xin standing at her post beside him while Eunuch Wei stood on his other side. The doors opened and the girls file in a uniform manner, standing side by side from the oldest to the youngest, from the higher ranking to the lowest.
"Greetings to the Prince Consort."
"You may rise." The Prince Consort said and the concubines returned to their standing position. He observed them for a while as he gently placed his hand that was holding the fan to be rested on his lap. Looking sideways a little at where Ying Xin was, she understood the sign and lifted her head.
"I shall assume that some of you might recognised her." He said and the three girls nodded, while others took awhile before nodding along with them. "Let me just cut to the chase. I've actually tested you before the evaluation test with the Empress but only three of you passed my test, which was why Chun Yiling was selected to stay on."
"Other than telling you this. The only other thing I will have say to all of you will be stay true to yourself."
Mian Zhishan seemed confused so she asked, "What does His Highness mean?"
"When you stay true to yourself, it means you're staying loyal to yourself and your principles and on how you distinguished what is right and what is wrong. By staying true to yourself where you are loyal to yourself, you will then be the most loyal to both the Emperor and the Kingdom of Yun."