I enter the reception hall of Chenshi Palace wearing a light blue dress embroidered with dark blue roses. Inside the hall, I feel the faint smell of flowers. There is no incense as the Empress prefers natural smells.
Inside the hall there is only Noble Lady Shu and Imperial Concubine An, who seem to be discussing some new type of fashion trend in the capital, beside the cousin of Mao Zongying, First Class Female Attendant Yin. Imperial Concubine An scolds Noble Lady Shu, who is redfaced with embarrassment, for talking of frivolous things before the Empress.
As I greet the woman drapped in yellow sitting on the Phoenix Chair, Imperial Concubine An and Noble Lady Shu greet me.
"What are my younger sisters discussing?" I ask lightheartedly.
Noble Lady Shu pouts and looks at her feet "Ah, you wouldn't like it. I am afraid it is too frivolous for the Inner Palace"
The Empress laughs as Imperial Concubine An rolls her eyes.
I am about to respond as a voice interrupts me "Imperial Concubine Yu and Noble Lady Yi arrive!"
The Empress shifts uncomfortably in her seat as two girls walk in. The taller is wearing light blue, just like me, and gazes across the room with an indiffent look as the shorter halfheartedly kneels to greet the Empress.
The two girls who have walked in are the He Sisters. They are the nieces of the Empress Dowager and by that the most arrogant girls I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. I have known them for years as, in her efforts to recover her families lost glory, the Empress Dowager had them spend hours in their youth with the Emperor. Naturally they are close to him and distant to me.
The older sister, He Wenling (Otherwise known as Imperial Concubine Yu) sits down on her seat just next to me. "This Concubine has not seen Consort Xian for a long time outside and wonders how she is"
I tilt my head to look at her "This Concubine is fine and has merely felt tired lately. How is younger sister?"
"This Concubine is fine" She replies with disinterest. With the pleasantries done, she looks down on her tea to admire it. What follows is a long awkward silence.
"Well" The Empress begins "The others are ill with the cold so they will not join us" She lightly touches her stomach with her hand. Could it be? "This Palace is happy to announce her pregnancy" She says abruptly.
The room becomes drapped in a long silence. It becomes so quiet you can her the birds outside. Noble Lady Shu face is full of shock and worry. Imperial Concubine An is just worried. The He Sisters are pale with worry and I am smiling while hidding my worry. In short a lot of worry.
It takes a few seconds for us all to gather our selves and congratulate the Empress accordingly. She smiles awkwardly against us while simultaneously strocking her flat stomach.
It seems the weeks of ease are no more and that scheming and intrigue will once again take the palace captive.