After taking a bath and eating her meal, one of the maids informed Nina which she then told Quirra, that the Noble Consorts and Concubines are already present outside of her courtyard, waiting for her since the sun rose, to greet their Queen.
It was mandatory for the noble consorts and concubines to greet her everyday at sunrise. Seeing how it was close to noon, they have been waiting for almost 5 hours.
"Invite them into the inner receiving room. I shall be there soon." Quirra ordered the head maid.
Quirra looked at herself in the mirror one more time, making sure her appearance looked perfect. After 10 minutes of tinkering with her jewelry, she then head over to the inner room. She felt a bit excited to look at the women her 'husband' had accumulated and see what kind of battle they have brought for her today.
As Quirra walked into the receiving room, everyone, stood up and bowed to greet her. Except one. Quirra snickered at the one woman and instantly knew who she is. She was no other than Chonglin Mei, King Liwei's childhood sweetheart.
Everything about the woman screamed 'lovable'. From her doe eyes, straight nose and pouty lips, to her fine skin like jade, and silk clothes that are obviously the best out of the rest of the Concubines's and the other Noble consort, Ran Mao.
However, compared to Quirra, Chonglin Mei's silk dress held a lesser value.
Quirra walked towards her seat, then turned around once she reached it, however she did not immediately sat down. She waited, while everyone was frozen in their bows. One minute became two, then two became five minutes. No one said a word. Not even when sweat started to drip off of their foreheads.
Usually, when Chonglin didn't stand to greet Iwa, the Queen would just ignore her and let the others off because everyone knows Chonglin was Liwei's favorite.
But of course, starting today things will be different. Quirra is not Iwa. And Quirra would not let Chonglin or anybody else bully her. She has a mission to fulfill, and in order to grant Iwa's 'Last Dying Wish', she would have to survive the scheming and bullying in the back palace.
"Head chamber maid, Nina." Quirra called as she finally broke the silence.
Nina: "Yes, your highness?"
Quirra: "Do you know the rule of the Back Palace, upon greeting with the Queen?"
Nina: "This mere maid knows, your highness."
Quirra: "Then can you tell everyone present, what that rule is? It has seem some of us here have forgotten it."
Nina: "Upon sight of the Queen, who is Mother of the Nation, one must stop what they are doing and bow in respect to her, your highness." she smugly answered while resisting the urge to smirk.
Quirra: "And what is the punishment should one fail to follow this rule?"
This time Nina couldn't help but show a bit of smile as she answered; "Should a servant fail to bow in respect to the Queen, punishment is death. Should a lady fail to bow in respect, punishment would be demotion. Should a concubine fail to bow in respect, punishment would be re-reading and copying the Womanly Virtues fifteen times, also relearning palace rules. and half of the allowed courtyard allowance will be deducted for three months." Nina paused for dramatic effect.
"Should a Noble Consort fail to bow in respect, punishment will be re-reading and copying the Womanly Virtues ten times, relearning the back palace rules. and half of the courtyard allowance will be deducted for two months."
Quirra: "Hmmm, Thank you Nina. I hope everyone is now reminded by that." she sighed before calling; "Noble Consort Chonglin Mei...." without even looking at Chonglin's face
Chonglin Mei only snickered at Iwa and didn't answer her.
Quirra: "Are you ill?"
Chonglin continued to ignore her. She refused to acknowledge Quirra, so her maid stepped in to speak for her.
Maid: "My noble lady is not ill, your highness."
Quirra: "Does she have any kind of injury on her body?"
Maid: "No, your highness. My Noble lady does not have any kind of body injury."
Quirra: "Is she perhaps pregnant?" she continued to patiently ask the maid.
Maid: "My noble lady is not pregnant, your highness."
Quirra: "Is there any other reason as to why Noble consort Chonglin Mei cannot speak for herself?"
The maid looked at Chonglin for a moment before bowing her head, awkwardly answering for her; "No, your highness. My Noble lady does not have any reason as to why she cannot speak for herself."
"So do tell me, Noble consort Chonglin, why is it that you have broken one of the palace laws by refusing to bow to this Queen in respect?" Quirra calmly asked Chonglin, as she turned her head to look at the disrespectful woman.
Chonglin harrumphed and turned her head away, not answering Quirra's question.
"Very well. Seeing how you do not want to speak up in your own defense, I, your Queen, shall punish you accordingly by the palace laws." Quirra told her as she finally sat down.
"You dare punish me?" Chonglin yelled at Quirra as she straightened her back and crossed her arms across her chest, and glared at Quirra.
"There are laws for a reason. If broken, one is subjected to punishment in accordance of that law. Should no one follow those laws, we would all be thieves, bandits and outlaws." Quirra answered, sounding like a true Queen. In that moment, she saw the corner of a golden robe stick out at the entrance door of the receiving room.
"As Queen to this nation, it is my duty to manage the back palace and ensure that the back palace laws are not taken advantage of or broken. It is my right, as Queen, to punish and discipline anyone that has broken the back palace laws." she comtinued.
Chonglin just sneered and huffed at Quirra.
"I dare you to go through with enforcing my punishment! I will tell Liwei that you bullied me and he will make you pay!" she answered arrogantly, afterwards.
Quirra tsked at Chonglin's immaturity. She couldn't help but shake her head at Iwa's naivety. Chonglin didn't grew up in a noble household like Iwa, she was a commoner. With Chonglin's lack of knowledge in Noble Customs and Noble Women rules, Iwa could've easily crushed the ignorant girl. But Iwa was too innocent. And too kind.
However, now that Quirra is Iwa, she can do things Iwa could've done against all her bullying.
"With so many people here as witnesses, what makes you think that King Feng will believe you?" she asked the immature girl. Making sure to formally address Liwei.
"He will believe me!" Chonglin shouted. "He favors and loves only me!! He does everything I say and he will punish you for bullying me!!" she continued, arrogantly.
Having heard enough of her childish antics, Quirra declared; "Noble Consort Chonglin Mei, for failing to greet me, your Queen, in respect, your punishment will be as the back palace law dictates. As for your insolence, your privileges as Noble consort will be revoked and would be replaced by concubine privileges. Not unless I see 10 copies of the Womanly Virtues from you, your privileges as a Noble consort might remain untouch."
"YOU----!" Chonglin began to shout but was cut off by a sudden announcement from the palace's Head Eunuch.
"Announcing your Highness, King Feng Liwei!"