Little trinkets made of cheap materials littered the table. A statue here, an old play thing there. Flowers in a vase had long ago withered, leaving the ashy grey heads. Weathered furniture, once pristine and glossy, had gathered a layer of thick dust. Wei Mudan ran her fingers along the edge of a chair, the corner worn smooth by time and use. This room was where she spent most of her time growing up. Naive and innocent. Each and every one of the trinkets, the vases, the furniture, had a story behind them.
The blue porcelain vase over there, that one had a chip on the edge. When she was seven, she had accidentally dropped a small stone onto it. Luckily for seven year old her, the vase did not break.
She had left all of this behind when she moved.
Other than her four maids, Wei Mudan had bought nothing else with her when she left the Golden Palace. Clothes could be bought, for she had no need for the latest fashion.
She walked over to the dresser and opened her box of jewellery, surprisingly still intact. With all the other servants leaving, Wei Mudan would not have been surprised if one of them took a jade hairpin or two. Agile fingers picked a gold pin, decorated with cheerful silver bells that rang with every step. Placing it against her long, silky hair, she used her other sleeve to wipe away the dust on the mirror. A bittersweet feeling overcame her.
Looking into the mirror was like looking into the past.
A past where she had plumper cheeks and a pout on her lips. Where there was not a faint tinge of sorrow on her lips, and worry on her brow. Where there once stood a young child, now stood a young lady holding a heavy soul.
Hua'er looked at Wei Mudan and sighed. Walking over, she exclaimed lightly, "Miss is more beautiful than ever. I am quite envious of you."
Wei Mudan's lips turned up at the corner, but her eyes still held a tinge of regret.
"It has been a long time," she remarked.
Even her four maids. All had left, except for one. Hua'er, the one who practically raised her since young, her main caretaker. Two maids had found happiness, and Wei Mudan would not be the one to hold them back from a better life.
Time had stopped within this room, and a comfortable silence settled over the two.
Wei Mudan walked towards the window, leaning out and feeling the fresh breeze. Hua'er wiped down the furniture with a heavy hand, muttering about 'lazy servants' under her breath.
A knock caused the peaceful silence to vanish. A eunuch came in, bowing repeatedly. His back was hunched in a position which made him have to crane his neck up to look at whoever he was talking to - but he kept his eyes trained to the floor.
"Second Princess Yimu has invited Third Princess Mudan to have afternoon tea in Qing Shui Pavilion," he announced, hands rubbing together in a way that made him look similar to a rat, if a rat could stand on two feet.
After saying this, he scurried away. The Third Princess had after all offended the Emperor. It was best to stay away from her at the current moment.
For servants in the Imperial Palaces, life was about finding the next big golden thigh to hug. Loyalty was rarely given, and a servant could switch sides at the drop of a hat.
Upon hearing this invitation, Hua'er raised an eyebrow and glanced at Wei Mudan.
"Will Miss go? Second Princess has never been too kind."
Wei Mudan's eyes flickered as she strode back to the dresser. "Years can change a person. For Second Princess to send such a hurried invite, we of course, will have to be courteous and attend."
Hua'er nodded and quickly took out some of the fancier clothes they had brought from the mansion.
Picking up the bell hairpin, Wei Mudan twirled it around her finger. The bells tinkled out a playful melody; shrill sounds that were like a child's laughter. She tied her hair up in a simple hairdo, shaking her head when Hua'er came forth to help.
"How have the investigations been going?" Wei Mudan asked.
Hua'er let out a sigh. "This servant is deeply sorry Miss. I could not find anything."
"That is to be expected. The powers behind these schemes are of course to be untraceable. At least, for now."
"Miss, what will you do about the soldiers?"
Wei Mudan tilted her head as a serious look came over her face. Hua'er slid the rich fabric over Wei Mudan's shoulders, the deep red giving a stark contrast to Wei Mudan's snowy white skin.
"Turn them away, but give them a location to meet in a month's time. Tell the steward to send only the ones who come to the mansion, and to keep it a secret."
With a hard tug, Hua'er tightened a part of the dress, causing Wei Mudan to grumble. "Miss, that is far too dangerous. What about the spies?"
"They underestimate my power. A small matter like this does not mean much for them."
Hua'er nodded and began to make preparations out of the Imperial Palaces. Whilst Wei Mudan could not leave, Hua'er certainly could.
A storm was brewing over the Palaces. Wei Mudan did not consider this a game of chess. At least in chess, you could still see your opponent's pawns.
When the storm struck however, was something that she will control.