Ch. 32: Palace

Had he forgotten her?

This was the only thought on Zhao Suiyan's mind as she washed her face of the old makeup and reapplied. It was morning, which meant morning greetings for all concubines in the empress' Kunning Palace and the day for Zhao Suiyan to present the empress with tea as she was the emperor's official wife.

The makeup was even thicker on the new cairen's under eyes, which were dark after a night of waiting in anticipation. As Jin Xiu worked hard to make her mistress dazzling on the first day she was to meet all the women in the imperial palace, she was also silent. Working with Zhao Suiyan, as she and the maids in her old courtyard knew, was like walking on eggshells. Sometimes the smallest things could set her off. And after an entire night of being ignored on her first evening in the palace, there was no telling how Zhao Suiyan could react and delay their arrival for morning greetings.

"Your highness, what jewelry would you like?" Jin Xiu asked weakly, presenting Zhao Suiyan's paltry jewelry after she was forced to sell a majority of her pieces off. There were a few simple gold pins and only one nice full set of head jewelry remaining of her own jewelry. However, the emperor had rewarded her with 10 pieces of precious new jewelry.

"What do you think? You want me to wear my old trash?" Zhao Suiyan answered sharply, biting off her syllables in rage. Waiting through the night was like being doused in cold water, quite literally after the bath she had taken the other day. Unlike what Jin Xiu thought, she would not fly off the handle with rage, but she was seething the entire evening.

She was like any other ancient girl and her precious reputation had been ruined by the emperor. Any other man would've married her back to apologize for the slight. But instead, the emperor simply forgot about her. Facing such a fact was as unbearable as swallowing bitter medicine.

Jin Xiu quickly slid on a matching pair of ruby pins, the second most precious of the ones the emperor had given Zhao Suiyan. Dressed in a burnished red jacket and a yellow pleated skirt reminiscent of the sun, Zhao Suiyan felt slightly mollified as she admired her appearance. Taking Jin Xiu and under the guidance of a eunuch sent from Kunning Palace, Zhao Suiyan arrived at Kunning Palace neither first nor last. As the empress hadn't yet drunk her tea, Zhao Suiyan could not enter into the reception hall of Kunning Palace yet.

Before the grand seat of honor carved from rosewood, whose pillows and decorations were only second to those of Empress Dowager Sun she had seen in Yongshou Palace, there were rows of tall, almost black chairs with short tea tables separating them. Along the back of the room on either side, elaborately embroidered screens finer than anything Zhao Suiyan had ever seen or made decorated the interior.

Thus, as she stood outside looking in, Zhao Suiyan was subject to curious, disinterested, and pompous glances from the beauties who strolled in and took their places. And they were beauties indeed. There were willowy beauties who looked like a breeze could carry them away. There were a few seductive ones with faces that could even tempt women. Zhao Suiyan felt a kernel of insecurity in her heart, but her mother's teaching echoed in her heart.

"Beauty will only take one so far in the harem. How a man feels around you is what will bring him back every night."

Zhao Suiyan straightened up and boldly met some eyes. But a familiar voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.

"Oh? A mere cairen who hasn't offered tea is this bold?" Imperial Concubine Zhao lazily uttered. She had been carried on a litter, with far fewer attendants and grandeur than the empress, but a far cry better than Zhao Suiyan who had to walk all the way to Kunning Palace.

Imperial Concubine Zhao stunned in a pink dress that suited her soft features perfectly. Seeing how well-rested and content her sister was, Zhao Suiyan gritted as she saluted her higher-ranked sister.

"Greetings, Imperial Concubine Zhao. It was my fault."

Imperial Concubine Zhao merely sniffed as if she were too dignified to respond, sweeping into the room with the confidence of a well-favored woman.

"Her Highness the Empress is here!" a eunuch from within the reception hall called out. All the seated concubines rose from their chairs with the aid of their personal maids and dropped into a half-kneeling position with their knees bent and heads lowered.

Seeing even the maids outside perform the same greeting, Zhao Suiyan eventually relented to do it as well, although she couldn't help but peek through her lashes to get another look at the empress.

"A thousand greetings of peace to the empress," all the concubines said in unison, a melodious sound.

Slowly escorted in with her eyes surveying the scene, Empress Chu entered the reception hall, her serene presence matched by the light green dress she was wearing. Although her hair jewelry and attire were less elaborate than that of a few high-ranking concubines, at the end of the day, it was she who was sitting in the seat of honor, not them. The simple attire lent further to her virtuous reputation, creating a contrast between herself and the other concubines that had resulted in her being well-favored and respected by the emperor over the years.

"All rise," the empress answered once she had been comfortably seated. In her left hand, she held some prayer beads, which she turned slightly as she spoke.

"It will be the Crown Prince's birthday in a few days. I have been praying for the past few days over his health and wellbeing. I hope my fellow sisters will aid me in copying Buddhist sutras for him."

The empress' speech was even and measured, as she talked over matters with the imperial harem. But something was glaringly obvious to Zhao Suiyan. She hadn't been called in yet to offer tea. And thus, she stood outside of the reception hall like a low-ranked servant, her handkerchief crumpling within her palm as she fought to maintain an even facial expression.

After about ten minutes had passed, a maid came and whispered in the empress' ear before she adopted a surprised expression.

"Ah. Today, we have a new sister joining us," the empress said, smiling at the door of the reception hall where Zhao Suiyan had been forced to stand. Was it an act on the empress' part to humble Zhao Suiyan? Perhaps. But as a mistress who had long held a favorable, kind reputation, such a hat was not easy to force onto Empress Chu's head.

Zhao Suiyan walked to the center of the hall, before lifting her skirts and fully kneeling and paying full respects before the empress.

"This official's daughter, Zhao Suiyan, greets the empress. Peace and happiness to your highness," she uttered in the most pleasing tone she could muster.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, your highness."

Zhao Suiyan stood but kept her head bowed as she could not look the empress in the eye.

"I heard that the emperor decreed for you to enter the palace. Have you been comfortable?" Empress Chu asked, mild concern bringing her brows together.

"Thank you your highness, the empress, for your concern. I have been comfortable in Zhongcui Palace," Zhao Suiyan lied humbly. In her periphery, she could see her older sister smile at her words. Yet, Zhao Suiyan hadn't done it for her sake, but very much for her own in the future.

"Huh? I see a great resemblance between you and Imperial Concubine Zhao. Are you both sisters?" A woman in an elaborate, lake blue outer robe smirked at Zhao Suiyan, the fabric reflection in the morning sun showing the rarity of the silk. Her brows had a mean tilt to them, offset by a red lip that made her look like a sinful beauty.

Her words were sinful too. It could be said to be common knowledge by now in the palace that the two were from the same household. But for her to bring it up as such, there could be no good intent.

Zhao Suiyan could only humbly reply, "Answering your highness, Imperial Concubine Zhao is my di older sister."

"Di? So what are you? Shu-born?" The scorn was evident in Consort Qing's voice, making Zhao Suiyan bristle inwardly.

"Yes." Even in the eyes of those at the palace, she was second best to her sister. Thinking of her filthy side hall she would have to live in from then on, something ugly passed through Zhao Suiyan's eyes.

Consort Qing tsked loudly, bringing her handkerchief to her nose as if something in the room stunk. "No wonder I thought there was a peculiar scent within Kunning Palace today."

The young cairen could only dumbly stand in one place as she was verbally slapped across the face. Zhao Suiyan bit her lip to keep from acting out, but the onslaught was not yet finished as a concubine who sat further back in the reception hall immediately jumped in. Meanwhile, Imperial Concubine Zhao was reclined comfortably in her chair, her eyes glittering as if she were watching a good show.

"Hmph! No wonder she was titled cairen and placed in Zhongcui Palace. I feel bad for my fellow concubine sisters who did not have a high-ranking sister to help them get a higher rank in the harem."

"Li Zhaorong, enough." the empress cut in, conveniently after the insults had been doled out. "Zhao Cairen is our new sister who will hopefully help the emperor open branches and spread leaves. I hope we can all get along amicably."

Zhao Suiyan knelt before the empress with the teacup full of tea outstretched, who took it quickly enough and drank a delicate sip before setting it aside. It was now official. She was now one of the emperor's concubines. The very thing she had given up her life and family for. A wicked smirk tugged at Zhao Suiyan's cheek as she still knelt subserviently before the empress.

In Zhao Suiyan's daze, Empress Chu began to speak again. "As a meeting gift, I will reward you with these bracelets."

She waved a hand and a maid walked in, carrying a tray that displayed two intricate gold bracelets with fine workmanship.

"You can start learning the rules on how to serve the emperor. The Department of Internal Affairs will assign you people soon. You must serve the emperor well," the empress told Zhao Suiyan. Somehow, the younger girl felt she could detect that faintest hint of hostility underneath the empress' soft tone.

"Yes, your highness. Thank you, your highness." The show of servitude was second nature to Zhao Suiyan, as if she were greeting her legal mother or grandmother back in Zhao Manor.

When Zhao Suiyan straightened, a seat had been added to the opposing rows of chairs. It was at the very end, the closest to the door where she had stood minutes before. Jin Xiu stood behind her, carrying the tray of bracelets, as the empress said a few last pleasantries and dismissed all the concubines. A few of the seated beauties cast curious glances at Zhao Suiyan, perhaps to gauge whether she was competition for their limited favor.

The higher-ranking consorts and concubines left first, with Zhao Cairen receiving an indignant sniff from Consort Qing and a sly grin from her dearest older sister. The rest simply ignored her, as if she were air, unworthy of their attention. Somehow, that felt worse than the scorn she had just received. Zhao Suiyan waited, slightly cowed but in no way discouraged as her turn finally arrived to leave.

She teetered out of Kunning Palace, feeling slightly worn out after kneeling again today after the spectacle she had made before Zhongcui Palace the other day. A few days before, she still slept in her familiar bed in her courtyard. But today, she was living and walking within the red halls she dreamt of, her hair in a strange but welcome married woman's hairstyle to signify her new status.

But Zhao Suiyan did not have time to marvel in the newness of her situation as she stepped out of Kunning Palace and saw someone standing there waiting for her. The sunlight splashed on the slightly older girl's face, illuminating her modest features which would've been considered somewhat pretty if she weren't in the imperial harem and surrounded by much fiercer competition. She had the faintest smile on her face, the tilt of her nose and her closed eyes sharply reminding Zhao Suiyan of someone.

"Greeting, your highness," Zhao Suiyan said grudgingly, forced to greet the other party since she must be higher ranked than herself in order to exit Kunning Palace first.

Li Zhaorong snorted insolently from the side as she watched the two women encounter one another for the first time. "Of course the two most unfavored women would come together. I'm leaving."

The loudmouthed concubine sashayed off in the direction Consort Qing's litter had just disappeared, her hips swaying proudly away.

"Don't listen to her. They only say that because they feel scared you will steal His Majesty's favor just like your sister did," the woman calmly told Zhao Suiyan. She waved her litter and servants away, indicating for them to follow behind as she slowly strolled beside Zhao Suiyan.

The woman's face was uniquely clean. The usual longing, jealousy, and deep thoughts that eventually carved themselves into the faces of those in the rear court seemed to have skipped her altogether. But Zhao Suiyan still found any mention of herself and her sister in the same sentence to be infuriating. It made her wish to return to Zhongcui Palace and wring her sister's pretty, pale throat.

"I'm not my sister!" Zhao Suiyan barked out, still smarting from all the veiled suggestions inside the reception hall of how her special treatment was due to her sister's favor.

The seed of doubt had been planted, however. She was but a little cairen, with only two meager ranks below her. To think that she could've possibly entered lower-ranked if the emperor didn't wish to give face to Imperial Concubine Zhao and his biological mother felt like a sharp barb in Zhao Suiyan's heart.

"I know. You're better than her." Zhao Suiyan almost stopped walking in her tracks, only Jin Xiu's steady pace kept her from falling.

"Your highness," Jin Xiu uttered worriedly as she thought Zhao Suiyan had nearly fallen.

But Zhao Suiyan glared fiercely at the imperial concubine beside her, whose temperament and words were unlike what she had expected in the imperial palace.

"I'm Imperial Concubine Sun, Empress Dowager Sun's niece," Imperial Concubine Sun said with a friendly smile.