Stuck in a room, with two beds at each end of the wall. With red carpets and a golden bed sheet. Ying Yue is reminded that she is really in the palace now. In a dimly lit room, Ying Yue and Zhi Ruo eats the dinner that was provided by the royal family.
Night soon falls, and Ying Yue was feeling restless. She could not sleep thinking about what's to come and about her mother at home. The girls were broken into pairs. Ying Yue got paired up with duke Dongs daughter; Zhi Ruo. Zhi Ruo was silent, unlike her father. She was a beautiful girl. Long black hair, light brown eyes, rosy cheeks and lips. She was younger than Ying Yue, which made her pity her even more. Since they were going to share a room for a week, Ying Yue decided it didn't hurt to make some friends with other noble ladies. Ying Yue sat up from her bed, and faced Zhi Ruo.
"Zhi Ruo, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, Ying Yue."
"Are you not scared or frighten at all? I noticed you didn't cry at all during the announcement today."
"Heh, Ying Yue there are just some things we can't avoid in life. Of course, I am afraid, and worried about my father. I noticed you didn't cry at all either."
"I just learned crying never solved anything. When the heart is in pain, and the mouth cannot utter a word, only then will the eyes do it."
"Oh, that's a nice saying. I've never heard of it. Who told you that Ying Yue?"
"It was something I wrote to someone I used to care for. Although our love never bloomed and I've forgotten everything, just this one verse I remember well."
Zhi Ruo remained silent, after seeing Ying Yue's pained face. Zhi Ruo walks to Ying Yue, and sits down next to the silent Ying Yue, takes out her hands and places hers on top of Ying Yues to comfort her.
"Everything happens for a reason. Ying Yue, you may not know it, but many of us noble girls envy you."
Unsure of what Zhi Ruo meant, Ying Yue lifted her head. Zhi Ruo, breaks into a small smile. Ying Yue wanted to know more about what Zhi Ruo meant, she asked her for an explanation.
"What do you mean by that Zhi Ruo?"
"Well, you're the imperial general. You know how to defend yourself, you're strong, the emperor and many men respect you, and you get to do what you want. Not stuck at home every day like many of us."
Ying Yue never thought there would be people that envied her life. She always hated how she was never given the chance to choose the path she wanted in life. Everything was set up by her father ever since she was a child.
"That's funny, I've always envied you guys for being able to be noble ladies. You can sew, study proper etiquette, and study only from the finest teachers. Thank you though Zhi Ruo, I feel a burden has been lifted from my heart."
"Think nothing of it, we're friends after all."
Ying Yue breaks into a small smile. She's never had another girl friend other than her mother and Chunhua. It was getting late now, and the girls decided to call it a night. Zhi Ruo walks to her side of the room, and the ladies slept through the night.
Day breaks and Ying Yue wakes up to the sound of people talking. After refreshing up they decided to walk outside and check what was going on. There, Ying Yue spots Zhi Ruo.
"Zhi Ruo, what's going on?"
"Ah, good morning Ying Yue. I'm not sure myself, but the other noble girls are saying there's a celebration happening tonight. The consort, Jia Li is pregnant."
"What?!"
Shocked and unable to utter a word, Ying Yue remained silent. She thought she had gotten over the crown prince and Jia Li, but Ying Yue was fooling herself. No one could get over something traumatizing as that. Zhi Ruo noticed Ying Yues reaction and got worried.
" Ying Yue? Are you alright? You look pale. Jia Li is your sister is she not?"
"I wouldn't call her that. Zhi Ruo, do you have time to listen to my story?"
Ying Yue and Zhi Ruo headed back to their room. Whispering among each other, Ying Yue told Zhi Ruo of what happened between her and Jia Li. Zhi Ruo was lost for words. She paced the room back and forth. She couldn't believe that Jia Li could be such a person. Forming her hands into a fist, she goes and sits down next to Ying Yue. Zhi Ruo grab Ying Yues hands and comforts her.
"I cannot believe that Jia Li! How dare she lie! Lying to the royal family will get you killed! You have to tell the prince Ying Yue!"
"I tried Zhi Ruo, I was too late. He wouldn't believe me anymore. It's too late, Jia Li is now pregnant. I don't want anything to do with him anymore. Let it be."
"No wonder you dislike Jia Li. I've met her a few times in the past since we were the same age. My father forced me to get along with her since she was marquis Zi Wei Yang favored daughter. I knew she was a fake!"
"What? What do you mean you knew she was fake Zhi Ruo."
Zhi Ruo went on to tell Ying Yue of her encounters with Jia Li. Looks like Ying Yue wasn't the only one that didn't like Jia Li. A few other noble ladies also dislike her. Jia Li apparently was notorious for doing things and blaming the other noble ladies for it. Ying Yue was shocked at how many stories there were involving Jia Li.
"Ying Yue did you know, for a while there was a rumor going on that Jia Lis mother was a prostitute?"
"Oh, that's no rumor. It's true,"
"What? No way! Ha Ha and she acted like she was better than us, but her mother was nothing, but a commoner and prostitute."
Ying Yue had never felt like this before. She felt close, and felt that Zhi Ruo was someone she could trust. In the days to come Ying Yue decided she would teach Zhi Ruo some self-defense moves.
"Zhi Ruo, would you like to learn how to defend yourself? I could teach you something, before next week."
"Oh! Will you?! I'd love that. I always wanted to learn martial arts or the sword, but my father was against it."
"I don't blame him, it's unladylike after all. I just want you to be prepared for anything when the time comes. We don't know what to expect when we get to the other world."
"Other world? How do you know that Ying Yue? You sure we aren't just all going to die? I mean we are falling thousands of feet into a bottomless pit."
"Call it intuition Zhi Ruo! Also, according to what happened in the past; everyone, but one girl returned."
"Well, I hope we all return Ying Yue."
Ying Yue would spend the remaining days training Zhi Ruo. The girls were not allowed to see any family members during there stay at the palace. Zhi Ruo was a smart girl and caught on quick to whatever Ying Yue was teaching her.
"You're rather good at this Zhi Ruo, you would've been a good fighter if your father had allowed you to train early."
"Thanks Ying Yue! I just want to be prepared. I want to come back alive after all."
The sun was only a few hours from setting now, just like that, it had been five days already since they all arrived at the palace. Ying Yue washed up and decided that for her last few days on earth she was going to dress and act like a noble lady. At least the palace had maids around to help as Ying Yue knew little of makeup and other things a normal girl would know. The emperor did his best to fulfill the girls chosen's wishes as compensation for possibly losing their life. Ying Yue asked for only clothes and products. For once, Ying Yue was fully dressed as a noble lady. Dressed in a white dress, embraided with a pink flower imprint, with a light pink sash tied onto her thin waist. Ying Yue had her makeup done and hair done as well. Red lips with a dash of pink blush, and her hair up with jewelry. Ying Yue felt like a woman for the first time. Zhi Ruo returns from washing up and was shocked when she saw Ying Yue.
"Oh my, is that really you Ying Yue? You're absolutely gorgeous!"
"Heh, thank you Zhi Ruo. For once in my life I wanted to be normal. I decided to live my last few days being a normal girl."
With a smile on her face, Zhi Ruo walks to the sitting Ying Yue. Placing a hand on Ying Yues shoulders and added a jade bracelet to Ying Yues right wrist.
"There, now you're ready. It's a waste to stay indoor when you're all dolled up. You should go explore the palace grounds at least."
"Oh, you're right. Why don't you come with me Zhi Ruo?"
"That's alright, I've explored enough of this place growing up. You go and enjoy yourself Ying Yue."
Ying Yue took Zhi Ruo's word for it and decided to tour the royal garden at least. Ying Yue watched in amazement as the long dress she wore move with every movement she did. She watched her hair blow in the wind and felt the breeze brush against her skin. Ying Yue saw the beautiful palace grounds from afar, but never this close. Every time she was in the palace it was for work purposes. These were moments Ying Yue always wanted, and now she can finally enjoy it. Ying Yue finally reaches the royal garden, amazed at how beautiful everything was. Ying Yue accidentally let her guard down. In a soft low voice Ying Yue heard someone call out behind her.