"Announcing completion of the first trial by the candidate." A palace eunuch shouted shrilly as the box was held sideways as it went up a pair of steps. Bingquing was pushed back as the box was shifted downward and the clock face opened to reveal a door.
Bingquing blinked in the brilliant light before her eyes adjusted to a change in scenery where it was indoors and well lit. It was a few moments before she could open her eyes widely and she could see. The box had been placed inside of a bathing chamber where everyone was standing stiffly and waiting for her. She got out slowly and was surprised to see that all of the maids bowed to her. There was a lone monk who did as well, he averted his eyes with a solemn hand as he gestured her in a respectful manner.
Bingquing looked around the room and was surprised to see Langhua bathing in a pool of white fluid. She got up when Bingquing made eye contact. The liquid streamed down
Bingquing woke up in pain. Her back had felt extremely tender to the touch as she tried to get up. There were pins and needles in her head and hands as she tried to sit up properly on the bed. There were bandages wrapped around her whole midsection and head that she disturbed as she tried out of habit to find something to pin her hair with. Now she did not really have any hair at all to really even wrap around herself. She touched the bloodied clothes with a wonder for what her skin would look like underneath the work that she was sure the monks had continued on while she was sleeping but Langhua's hovering form stopped her with an expression that looked like the queen was visibly unsettled by Bingquing's presence there. Her word though were as close to kindness as she was sure the queen could manage."It's probably better if you don't bend your body for a couple days so the healing will be easier. I'd prefer it actually if you did no
Bingquing and Langhua would spend every minute together that was possible. Not always to Bingquing's delight as this was quite a change from the routine she was used to with the past existance. The queen's obsession with her was a bit much at times for her to deal with. It was so different than living with her own parents who would leave her to her own devices and spend the day as she liked with Du Ni and the small community who resided inside their manor. Now there was a woman breathing down her neck telling her every which movement and way she preferred a young lady to behave. Often there were times when Bingquing felt short.Langhua would carry Bingquing with her to court in a cloth sling wrapped around her body. Sometimes Bingquing would whisper an inconsistency or question in the courtiers reasonings that the queen had not noticed into her ear. The queen would smile before smiting the courtier with a witty remark. The
Outside Zaiyuan was seated in the robes of a eunuch behind a curtain where he knew he would neither be noticed or observed. If someone did find him here, he did have a rebuttal which would neutralize the interest as this was something he did from time to time. He bowed low in respect as the courtiers formed into groups to discuss what they had just seen. His face was low as he smiled knowing that he was being completely ignored largely by people whose opinions he sorely wanted. A spider latched in his web of choice above a bountiful source of open prey and to his continued delight, the discussion started immediately.Zaiyuan was also aware that his wife was going to be irritated that he had done this again. She didn't really care much for the opinion of others as she was the daughter of a warlord who had created his own country out of irritation that his people were persecuted. She had never really cared for political games. He, on th
In the throne room, Langhua cradled Bingquing in the cloth body swing that she had fashioned from white fabric of material that had been set aside for undergarments or for servants. both both uses had been forgotten when the queen had burst into the servants quarters to pry it from the hands of the maids who were about to use it to bandage an injured guard. The guard had simply decided to forget medical attention as he had run back to his post. The two maids had just stood confused at what had just happened. But as he was bound to take care of the royal family, he knew that his tongue could not speak of what he had just seen. It was so strange to him that such a child could be the object of such adoration by their fierce queen.Langhua adjusted this aforementioned fabric so Bingquing's body would be more covered like she preferred it. It was such an exciting time to have a child who had not disappointed her as of yet. She really needed to s
Langhua returned to her quarters where she Bingquing bandaged again with a fresh cloth so the ink that seeped through would be less likely to infect the open wounds there. The queen had disrobed again and was in bed when a maid came in to announce the arrival of her true born daughter. Bingquing began to remove herself from the queen's grip, but Langhua held her fast so she tried to make herself as small as possible. From her limited knowledge of princesses, Bingquing was not excited to meet someone she was really not in competition with as the newly adopted sibling to a definitely unwilling sibling.Yan Ming bowed before her mother, "Mother I greet you. I wish your health will continue onto old age""Yan Ming you may stand. What a silly thing for you to say as your power begins when my life is no longer with you. I am the hurdle to your succession. Such a statement does not feel genuine coming from your mouth, my daughter.&nbs
In this way the seasons changed, the warm summer drifted past and a cool winter began to manifest in soft snows that would cover the stately garden. All the flowers were different and the stiff branches were barren except for a sentimental plum tree that had small green fragrant flowers. It was the only thing that bloomed in the entire garden, but Bingquing would see the blossoms placed in little vases in the queen's quarters. None of the servants did this. Of course, no one else but the queen was allowed to touch them. Bingquing wondered if these were the communications of her with her lover. Who could love the queen more than the husband who was a mystery to all? He wasn't even the official king nor did he have much power other than being the prime whisper in the queen's ear on the affairs of state. Zaiyuan spoke so little, that Bingquing often forgot that he was even there.Everyday Bingquing would sit through c
=//=Ning Ren unfurled the message from his father that had arrived via the imperial stream of messengers. It was odd that his father would not just scribble on some parchment and send it as he usually did to maintain that this son was not favored at all. These changes made his stomach drop as he wondered who had made a move to favor him beyond the scenes. The scroll sat untouched instead of opened as he could not calm his nerves enough to face whatever it was that his father now wanted from him. He was sitting in the Jungpi capital slowly peeling the skin off a young pear. The prince didn't eat it, but just kept peeling them in a growing pile by his desk. The task was relaxing to him after reading for long hours.Ning Fan came over, "I thought cook said he had enough pears? Are you planning on having a party or something with more people than we can fit in this house? Are you going to make some type of desert for a young
The royal hall was silent as the Emperor appraised each of his sons who had come to dine with him for their late night meal. The long hall was set with small tables for each prince to sit while their father sat on a seat elevated above him, along with the queen whose false sincerity was balance with her look of irritation when her son was not praised as she would have liked. The emporer was aghast at how each of them had change so much over these last few years. It had been more than ten years since all of his children had all been in the same room together for a meal."Father, did you know that I have blessed you with a pair of twin granddaughters. I am doing my part to make sure that the imperial family is thriving. These are the addition to the grandchildren I have given to you previously. It's a shame that my brothers too cannot share in the bounty of expanding the descendants of yours." Ning Yu raised his wine glass and emp