Concubines

"Who are they?" I asked Huifen after I sat on a chair farthest away from them.

"Jieyu Shi and Mei are sitting on the left. Jieyu Mei is the one with white jade hairpin" Huifen whispered to me.

I saw two women, looking between twenty and thirty years. In harem you never know. My aunt was past thirty, but still looked like a fresh flower.

They were both also wearing white like the rest of concubines here.

Jieyu Shi was a plumper woman with accentuated attributes, looking cute in her face, but with foxy body. While Jieyu Mei looked like a willow, quite thin and pale, seemingly looking like she would topple over any minute, and her face features were quite common. I guess her family had some power, otherwise she would be weeded out of harem long time ago.

"The first one on the right is Chongyuan Yan. She is the youngest here, but she has higher rank than all of them because she has a son. He's only three years old, so he had small chances to inherit because there is so many brothers in front of them. That's why she is under your esteemed aunt's rule even though she has a child. Also she is not favored at all."

Yes, I have seen her. She was the one who was glaring the daggers at me.

She was quite pretty and looked young. I don't think she was a day over twenty.

I can't believe she gave birth so young.

Old emperor was a beast.

"The other two are Cairen Hu and Bai. You don't need to give them any attention. They didn't see emperor in years and only managed to survive due to their families."

Those two looked more miserable than the rest, and it was quite obvious they look older as well. I guess depression hit them hard. They looked like they accepted their fate long ago.

I guess they would be sent to imperial tomb. They have no children, and they are still at rank of cairen after all those years they spent in harem.

They had lower rank than me, and I got mine on a first day I entered imperial palace.

Being an unfavored woman in a harem is quite miserable fate.

But I didn't have time to sympathize with them. My life is at stake. So I couldn't afford to care about them.

"What is our pretty meiren talking about? You have been whispering to your maid from the moment you can came in." Chongyuan zeroed at me.

"Ah, nothing. She was just explaining to me about some customs for a funeral. I just came here few days ago and didn't have time to learn palace rules because I was sick" I lied.

"Yes, I suppose you didn't have time to learn. It's so chaotic here with Holy One passing away so suddenly."

I can swear that she rolled her eyes. Ah, pretentious snake.

"You have such a bad luck, you didn't have time to enjoy his majesty favor before he died. With your beauty you would probably rise in ranks quickly, but now you are a widow already. What a shame." Cairen Hu sarcastically said.

I guess she was petty henchman of Chongyuan Yan. Her eyes were full of jealousy when looking at me.

I guess she feels bitter that I have higher rank than her.

Anyway, I don't see the point in arguing with them. Old emperor is dead and our future depends on the new emperor.

Our ranks don't really have any meaning anymore.

I guess they still didn't realize that.

Soon, my aunt finished getting ready and joined us. She looked at the gloomy atmosphere, but she didn't say anything.

All of them stood up and curtsied in greeting when she walked in.

"Let's go everyone, or we will be late" she said.

Well then, that would be your fault.