The moon was bright and high in the sky that was filled with stars; there wasn't a place where you couldn't look up without seeing stars. The trees were covered in white frost as the cold wind swayed the branches as if they were intertwined with each other, as one. It was early morning, when the light from the sun was peeking through the roofs of the palace. Inside the palace, you could hear her yelling and groaning in the Palace of Seven Seas, where consort Hui-An was bestowed the honor of living in the Palace of Seven Seas.
Inside, a brightly lit bed-chamber was lit up with different pearl lights on the walls of the chambers, the pearls were different shades of ivory white and turquoise blue. Sometimes if you were lucky enough and with the right angle there a little clam spirit animals sleeping and relaxing on their surfaces, other shells were placed strategically along side the plants that grew on the courtyard and the few that were lucky enough to have a pot inside her entrance, which was filled to the brim with the water folks belongings such as the famous shell harp, it was only given to the nobelist woman all across the water realm. Beside the harp sat other various objects glistening with cleaning magic. It was fit for a princess of the water folk. In the inside chamber there was a cowrie shell bed with different etchings of flowers, shells, on the very top of the bed sat a shining white pearl, which was glowing red non stop, behind the cowrie bed was a woman screaming, holding onto ropes that were suspended from the ceiling to keep her afloat while giving birth, the water glistened periwinkle koi fish as if they were drawings painted in the tub, but they were not. They were alive. Alongside the woman was sheets, towels, bloody rags were on the floor along with midwives rushing in and out holding various items such as giant seashells filled with warm water, bundles of water-weaved bloody cloths were in their hands as they dashed in and out of the chambers, Hui-an consort was giving birth to a very special baby girl. The baby's eyes soon were discovered to be two different eye colors. The baby's right eye seemed to be a light blue with a hint of forest green, her left eye was garnet red with a hint of flamingo pink. Everyone in the room was taken aback, even the imperial consort herself. The uneasiness was subsided when the princess had let out a loud cry, screeching cry to let the world know of her existence. Along with the chariot bells' ringing throughout the country to signify her birth. Outside the chamber, the young emperor was anxiously waiting for his newborn daughter to be born, he was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back and his right eyebrow arched whenever he was conflicted with a matter. The young emperor was told of a prophecy by the head priestess.
A few months back, the emperor called upon a meeting with his head priestess to ask about his child that wasn't even born yet. He was seated at his desk surrounded with books, ink, and important papers that he was reviewing when his head priestess decided to visit the emperor. The head priestess was known for being a elderly woman that could dress better than a nine-tailed fox, but when she walked into the emperors study she was a young woman wearing white long wide-sleeved blouse, long green skirt completed with accent scarves around her bust containing the symbol of being the head priest, a full moon to represent power. She was now in front of the emperor bowing with both of her legs bent, both hands over her left hip as her head was looking to the floor, with her eyes closed.
"Your majesty has asked for my presence?" she said with a sweet honey like tone. If it were another man they would've fallen to the floor and begged for her mercy. But the emperor was different.
"I've come to realize I have collected questions, I would like to ask you. He paused. My concubine is from the water folk down south, the birthing process is different and so is our food. So I've come to ask if there's anything I can do about this matter." he said with a cold face.
"Your majesty knows of my knowledge and powers, you would know that I would know what you truly want to ask of me. And I will answer, if your majesty wishes for me to do so".
The emperor pretended to cough, he waved a hand for his personal eunuch to brew some tea for him.
"Of course, your majesty. Your child has been the most powerful in all of our lands since the beginning of time, below her is S'hian, the only person alive to be close to achieving god-like status. With great power comes even greater enemies than one would expect, but nonetheless I can see your child soaring above the clouds on top of her phoenix, laughing and smiling. It has been the best prophecy that I've had to tell in years. But please heed my warning, your majesty, the road for your child is rocky but not destroyed." The head priestess eyes changed from neon-rose color to her natural color, dark brown.
"I understand head priestess. I also request that you have someone get the things my concubine would need for her to give birth comfortably, you may exit" The young emperor said with one breath. His mind still didn't ease up after asking the head priestess. The words enemies, great power no-one has seen before. He couldn't take it anymore and ordered one of his servants to bring him liquor to soothe his head and heart.
The young emperor was deep in thought when his concubine's head servant rushed out to announce the birth of his child. He immediately snapped out of his thoughts and ran inside to his beloved.
"She's born, consort Hui-an did a good job of giving birth, I now bestow my concubine the title imperial consort hui-an." The emperor said while kissing the back of her right hand and placing it over his cheeks. He was shedding tears for the birth of his daughter.
"My newborn daughter is to be named bai li-lian which means she'll be as beautiful as a lotus and also will be as strong as a lotus flower." he laughed heartily.
The emperor looked up to the sky, the snow was now spread across the kingdom. It was glistening like a bunch of rose pearl diamonds scattered all over the ground.
It was not common for it to snow in the middle of February in the water country because it was springtime in the water country. when the emperor started to chuckle to himself thinking of his newborn child which from the start did not like the other children of his brothers and sisters.
"Your majesty, have you noticed the colors of her eyes?" the imperial consort said while gently stroking her baby's cheek with her eyes full of love from looking at her.
"Her eyes are so pretty I could look at them all day. The prophecy was right." The emperor said while looking at the head shaman with a pleased smile.
"Your majesty is too kind, I, imperial consort thank you" imperial consort Hui- An said with a smile. The emperor smiled ear to ear and laughed out loud because he was pleased with what his concubine said.
"The name, I, The Emperor will give our daughter is Bai Li-Lian meaning beautiful lotus and it holds another meaning which is I want her to also grow up strong just like a lotus survives sprouting through the mud and blooming above the surface." The emperor said while everyone received his second daughter's name.
"The name Li-Lian, Bai Li Lian, has a nice ring to it. I thank your majesty on behalf of little Lian and me." Imperial consort hui-an said as she was looking at the emperor with loving eyes.
"Mhm, listen eunuch, I'm making an announcement that bai li-lian is hereby the second greatest child that one of my women have given birth to as if she is in need of anything she will get it." The emperor said while looking smug and pleased with what he had said.
"Yes, your majesty, this eunuch will do as you say."while walking back out after he paid his respects to the emperor and imperial consort hui-an.
The emperor's chair creaked as he sat upon it. He had a thought to himself that soon everyone would know the name of his child Bai Li-Lian and now the newly appointed imperial consort Hui-An. The emperor sighed with a smile on his wrinkled wised face, he was struck with another thought, People would know that bai Li-Lian was the one who made it snow in the Water county, which was never done or known of in the Water country. Later, the emperor was still stuck on his thoughts from earlier. His thoughts were soon interrupted by his imperial concubine's maid calling for the emperor. Meanwhile, The empress Feng-Ming was getting ready for bed and was combing her hair. The empress' maid came running into the Wealthy chamber while panting. Trying to catch her breath, the maid told the empress about the news of making Hui-an the imperial consort, which has not been done for a very long time, it was
'What?! So you're saying that low life wench hui-an is now an imperial consort! That wench just doesn't know her place does she?! Well that will soon end." The Empress said with a cold smile spread across her face.
"I need you to contact that person on my behalf tonight, I have something to do tonight. After I write the letter, you need to deliver it before this candle goes out." Feng-Ming said while walking over to the calligraphy table. Her shoes clanked as each foot hit the bottom of the floor. Her maid followed in suit. Feng-Ming handed her maid an expensive purple silk pouch containing the letter and another set of paper with phrases written on them.
The maid gave the empress a bow, the maid san made her way out the back way of the empress bed chambers to make her way towards the location she was given. The maid was walking with her face concealed with black cloth wrapped around her hat. She made several various turns, on the third turn she bumped into someone which made her hat lift up and showed her lips which revealed a freckle hiding on her lower left bottom lip. The maid was nervous so before anything happened she bowed and went on walking her way. After she bumped into the mysterious person she made sure when she walked around a corner she made sure no-one was coming as she was going through.
It seemed to be almost an hour before the maid made her way to her destination. San made her way into a dimly lit wooden bakery cart. When she walked towards the stand she made eye contact through the black mask, she immediately stopped in her tracks. She still continued her way towards the cart even though she was scared at this point. She motioned to buy a candied hawthorn. When she handed him the payment she handed him the silk pouch. He took a second before grabbing the silk pouch from her tiny hands. As he opened the pouch san took out the paper that said she was sent instead of the empress and to treat her maid with the same respect as she would have gotten if she came. The seller nodded his head in agreeance to the paper. He put the pouch down and started to fiddle with the pouch. Afterwards he crouched down and used wind power to push the silk pouch behind the lady. She turned around and walked away. Before she knew it she had tripped on something. She recognized it. The silk pouch was picked up as quickly as she could, placing the silk pouch in her inner sleeve pocket. While San was making her way back to the empress quarters Feng-Ming was sitting in her vanity chair getting her hair brushed by her other maid Nie. Nie was the younger twin sister of San and was the favorite of her majesty the empress. Feng-Ming adored Nie, she would dress her up in her finest clothing and let her try out her jewelry when no one was around so the empress could keep her noble status. In return, Nie and San also adored the empress for showing them the love that was long forgotten by them when their parents passed away a few years ago.
"Your sister is almost late, I hope she did exactly what I asked her to do." Feng-Ming voiced her concern while rubbing a piece of her long straight black hair with a pout placed upon her lips.
"No need to worry, your majesty. Even though San is mute she listens and is very smart." Nie said while combing the empress's hair to the side and helped her put back on her yellow robe with phoenix's sewed on the bottom accompanied with peony flowers. Feng-Ming was pleased with how her make-up came out. She glanced once more into the mirror as to silently tell her maid that she was pleased with the outcome of her make-up, especially her eyebrows.
As the two were preparing to walk out of the empress's private chambers they could hear loud, heavy footsteps rushing towards the gate of the empress' private chambers. This put the empress on edge thinking it was someone that had come for her. The maid, Nie, was also worried because she knew how the empress treated people. The footsteps stopped when there was a female figure standing at the main gate way. The maid, Nie, had shouted out "sister" and she ran up to her sister and hugged her as a way to thank her for coming back safely.
"Did you get everything I asked for?" The empress said while reaching her hand out for someone to grab and take hold of it. Ni came running to her side and took hold of her hand. The empress motioned for them to come into the chambers. San walked behind them, when San got inside the chambers to meet with a hard, cold hand across her face. She fell down to the ground with the pain of the slap stinging on her cheek. The empress sat down on her daybed with her fingers rubbing her temples, her pinky and ring fingers were pointed out, this showed how noble the empress' noble status was. She glared at San who was now kowtowing on the floor till the point of blood dripping down her forehead, between her eyes and onto the floor.
"I asked you to come back through the secret passageway and not the main gateway. Now, look, you have blood on my floor, which your sister now has to clean up. Do you ever think of others and or how to complete orders exactly? Should I replace you?" The empress voiced through her clenched teeth while glaring at San.
"I am very sorry for ignoring your orders. The emperor and his guards were walking the path leading to the secret passageway, I couldn't get through without the emperor spotting me." San said with magic that she learned from the empress. her head pressed into the wooden floor. She winced in pain from closing her left eye before blood dripped in her eye.
The empress waived her hand to shoo away San with a disgusted look on her face. San lifted her bloody head up and when she got to her feet, she stumbled and regained the balance in her legs. San reached into her inner sleeve pocket and pulled out the silk pouch. She handed it over to her younger twin sister Ni as well as a wink to try to assure her sister that she was fine. San walked out of the chambers and continued towards the chambers the sisters shared together. Her sister Nie watched as her sister stumbled all the way through to their chambers, she felt sad and anger through her body. She was ashamed that her sister had to be treated this way, Nie also felt like it was her sister's fault too for not following the empress orders exactly as she was told. She turned around swiftly as her sister left from her view of sight and sighed.
"What troubles you, little one? Is it your sister?" The empress expressed concern as she stroked Nie's left cheek. Nie snuggled into the empress's lap earning for her motherly love. Nie voiced her opinions on her sister, Nie told her that she wished her sister would listen to the empress whole heartily and give her all to the empress as she had done herself, only then would Nie truly accept San as her sister. Nie also questioned how long she has to pretend to like her sister even though essentially, she's useless to them.
"Soon, little one, everything will be in place, everything and everyone." The empress whispered while she took a puff out of her white jade cigarette holder. The empress always loved her cigarette holder since it was given to her by her beloved. They stayed in the same positions for a long time before the empress asked Nie to hand her the silk pouch her sister had previously left.
"I finally have it, now my plan is set into motion. The only thing I have to do is wait and that won't take long at all." The empress cackled as she stared inside the silk pouch. It didn't take long for her to notice that there was paper with writing labeled with her name. When she opened the letter her eyes went big into shock along with a creepy, wicked smile crept onto her face as her eyes darted back and forth on the letter. It wouldn't be much longer until her plan can be carried out.