Concubine Xia's Interest

The journey went without a hitch, the children's cries having long subsided, as they followed the example of the grey eyed girl who appear calm despite the situation at hand. Once arrived, they left the large man behind, ushered away by the maids of the household and made to look presentable.

The whole situation seemed quite odd from the standpoint of the small slave girl, yet chose to take the treatment like a grain of salt, mainly focusing on the open wounds that still roamed all over her body.

Soon, dressed in a simple garment of clothing the child was then lead to a room that had the remainder of the slave children crouching down and facing an empty chair that was decorated and finely presented.

Slowly following the other children's lead, she crouched and bowed. A youthful lady elegantly decorated, appeared through the opening of a door followed by an entourage of people. Carefully as if the chair would strike her if she was to rough with it, she sat with her powdered face gazing upon each crouching child.

Beginning, each child was then called upon and instructed to stand in the center of the room as several servants picked and probed with a satirizing gaze followed with information of the child slave. All throughout the young concubine wore a displeased mask on her extravagant features, shaking her head and dissatisfied by the gifts her new husband had given her.

Finally the gray eyed child was brought to the front then motioned to look up, and as she did Concubine Xia let out a soft gasp as she gracefully rose from her pedestal gazing at her eyes with great intrigue. Nearing the child she spoke to a man that blended well in the background

"Details?"

The man fumbled with his small booklet clearing his throat " N-Names: Shu Venya, she was found clinging to the dead body of an unidentified man four years ago. She is of mixed race and estimated to be in her ninth year. That is all to be concluded."

The concubine blinked not liking the report drawn up with its lacking detail, but stood tall after that as she gazed at the child. Finding that the only satisfaction she would get would be from the source herself, she addressed the girl.

"Do you speak, Shu? If so please elaborate on the report they had drawn up on you." Concubine Xia demanded waiting for the young girl to elaborate on herself.

Silence filled the room and with a swish of her dress the concubine turned and retreated back to her seat. " She will work out in the fields and once COMPLETELY healed bring her to my attention for further evaluation."

The soft flick of dismissal her white pampered hands drew resulted in the session to be dragged to a close and Shu led to her assigned role.

Exiting the area to what Shu could only guess being the Concubines courthouse, She was led to the barracks that contained the laborers of the Xia's. She was then informed of the long and tedious hours that she would have to labor under the sun, however if by luck a position opened in the kitchens there would be a selection held to fill those slots immediately.

As that was said, Shu worked just as anyone else, no genuine emotion within her to make her look forward to tomorrow. She was treated as an outcast not just of her mixed blood, but more of the dull expression that resided on her features.

The days that followed after were quite bland in Shu's opinion, and although she felt the scorn that came for the field slaves towards her lack of association. She completed her duties with great success and with little emotion that her features could restrict.

Though her living situation had greatly improved from what it once was, Shu restricted herself from experiencing any real joy and instead chose to find peace in a situation rather than working to convert it into a more favorable outcome.