A day after her shopping adventures. An unexpected letter came for Qian Lan. Meanwhile, Qian Lan was enjoying her time in the garden with Yuhan when the head maid comes running out of the main building. Barely able to catch her breath she collapses in front of Qian Lan.
"Woah slow down head maid. Are you alright?"
"Gasp…I…I'm fine! The master wants to see you in his study room."
"Me? Why?"
"I don't know, he just said it was urgent."
"Hmmm…okay, I guess. Yuhan I will be back."
Qian Lan follows the maid as Yuhan stays behind in the garden. After walking for a few minutes, the head maid turns around quickly and stops Qian Lan in her tracks. Making sure to keep her eyes on Qian Lan the head maid places both her hands on her waist and lectures Qian Lan.
"Hey! Don't stop so suddenly."
"What did you do to the duke?!"
"What do you mean?"
"There's no way he would call for you unless you caused him trouble again!"
"I haven't done anything! You saw us come back yesterday from shopping! I went straight to my room!"
"Hmph!"
The head maid glares at Qian Lan before turning around and heading back towards the dukes work room. After ten minutes, the head maid shows Qian Lan into a large room, filled with even more scrolls. Glancing around the room, Qian Lan spots the duke sitting behind a pile of scrolls.
"Ah! Duke! What did you need me for?"
"Head maid you may leave us."
"What? Master it's improper to leave you with this woman of no origin."
"Are you going against my orders?"
"No…no not at all master. I…I will leave. If you need anything, please call for me."
The head maid keeps her head down as she walked out of the room. Qian Lan couldn't help but feel a bit bad for the woman, knowing she liked the duke. Once the head maid was out of sight, the duke motions for Qian Lan to take a seat across from him.
"Take a seat Qian Lan."
"Oh….okay…'
Qian Lan slowly walks towards the duke and seats herself as she was instructed to. Feeling nervous thinking the duke was going to lecture her; about her being rude the day before to the king. The duke could sense the tension in the air and noticed how worried Qian Lan was.
"Relax, I didn't call you here to yell at you. Qian Lan, can you read?"
"Huh? I…I can."
"Then read this. It just came from the royal palace today."
Qian Lan takes the scroll from the dukes' hands and slowly unrolls the scroll. Quickly skimming through the scroll, Qian Lan was at a lost for words. To make sure she was reading it correctly, she reads it over again; this time taking her time. After five minutes she rolls the scroll back up and hands it back to the duke.
"So? What did you think of it?"
"I…. uh…isn't that a royal decree from the king?"
"Oh? So, you can really read. You're not a commoner if you can read. Who are you Qian Lan?"
"I really am a commoner. I just studied hard and learned to read on my own."
"Not just anybody can do that."
Qian Lan knew it was a lie, but there was no way she could tell him she was from the future and reading and writing was a piece of cake for her. The duke could see how uncomfortable Qian Lan was after seeing her unable to keep eye contact. With a heavy sigh he decides to stop pestering her.
"Alright, I believe you. If you read the scroll, you'll know the king wants an audience with you tomorrow."
"But why me? I'm just a commoner and I don't think the king and I are close enough for that."
"It's a royal decree, he knew you would decline if he didn't order it. No one can refuse an invitation like that. I called you here so that you are aware of whats going on tomorrow."
"So, I have no say?"
"You can choose to not go. You might just lose a few limbs for ignoring the king."
"Oh my god, fine! I'll go!"
"Good! Tomorrow morning I'll send over maids to help you get ready. You have to look presentable after all."
"Alright. I understand."
"That is all I have for you. You may go back to your room."
Qian Lan bids the duke farewell and quickly heads for the door. Without even looking back, she slams the door open and dashes out of the room and into the hall. Once she was far enough; Qian Lan felt she could finally breath. The head maid who was waiting around the corner quickly runs to Qian Lan to ask her for details.
"So? What happened in there?"
"Nothing, all he had me do was read a royal decree."
"What? Why?"
"Because it was for me. I have to go to the palace tomorrow and I really don't want to."
"You…you don't think this has to do with how you acted yesterday right?"
"What? I don't know. Don't scare me like that!"
"I mean why else would he order for you to go to the palace?"
"Well, if I don't come back. You'll know what happened to me."
Qian Lan felt even worse now after talking to the head maid. Feeling tired and worn out she walks back to her shared room with Yuhan. The head maid quietly follows Qian Lan to her bedroom before being dismissed by Qian Lan.
"I want to be alone. You can leave."
The head maid leaves to get Yuhan as Qian Lan continues on to her bedroom. After five minutes of walking around, she was now back in her own room. Quickly removing her shoes, Qian Lan squeezes under her blanket and stares into the ceiling.
"I'm so dead…...the king's going to kill me. I just know it."
Just as Qian Lan was about to turn to her side, Yuhan comes barging in after hearing the news from the head maid.
"Qian Lan!"
"Yuhan?"
Qian Lan sits up and keeps her gaze down. Yuhan couldn't help but worry that the king might be summoning Qian Lan to the palace to be punished.
"Qian Lan, I heard from the head maid. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. The duke didn't seem worried so maybe I'm overthinking."
"Qian Lan you're like a sister to me. I don't want to see you like this."
"I'll be okay. I think the head maid might've exaggerated a bit. But like you said yesterday…. if he didn't punish me right on the spot then I should be okay."
Yuhan quickly hugs Qian Lan to comfort her. As the day flew by and the night rolled in, Qian Lan came to terms with her situation and decided she was going do her best to try and not stir up troubles. Qian Lan forces her eyes closed and soon dozes off.
As the sun broke in through their bedroom window, Qian Lan groans at the sight of the sun hitting her face. Soon, the footsteps of maids could be heard coming down the hall. Qian Lan knew it was time to wake up and prepare for her trip to the palace.
"Knock Knock."
"Qian Lan! It's time to wake up!"
"Ugh…. but I'm so tired."
The head maid comes barging in with three other maids who dragged Qian Lan out of her bed and into the bathing room. Qian Lan was half asleep as the maids washed her from head to toe and dragged her back to her bedroom to prepare.
The maids got to work right away and brought in a beautiful hanfu that looked like something out of the drams Qian Lan had always seen in Chinese drama. This time, there was even makeup products and jewelry. After spending thirty minutes on dressing Qian Lan the maids were ready to move onto the makeup. The head maid drags Qian Lan onto a chair and motions for her helpers to work on her hair. Qian Lan was dressed in a white dress with gold embroidery and endless flower prints. Her long hair was braided and pinned up with numerous hair pins and jewelry; the maids left a portion of her hair down to help Qian Lan look more elegant. As time was limited, the head maid had to work quickly. She quickly dashes blush and a red tint to Qian Lan's lips before moving onto drawing a red flower on her forehead. Once Qian Lan was ready, the head maid motioned for her to turn around and check in the mirror.
"You're ready, turn around and look at yourself."
Qian Lan turns around and in the reflection; she could barely recognize herself. With the help of the maids she looked like a real lady from a noble household.
"Wow, I can barely recognize myself. I guess you aren't the head maid for nothing!"
Qian Lan moves on to wake Yuhan who was still sleeping.
"Yuhan, wake up! I'm leaving soon!"
"Hmm? Qian Lan?"
Yuhan was shocked at how different Qian Lan looked with just a little help from the maids.
"Wow, Qian Lan! You look beautiful! Anyone who sees you would think you're a court lady in waiting!"
"Uh…is that a compliment?"
"Of course! The highest compliment!"
"Well, thanks then. I just wanted to make sure I woke you up before I leave for the palace."
"Are you leaving now?"
"Yes, I have to. They're waiting for me outside so I'll be back later! Bye Yuhan!"
"Be safe Qian Lan!"
Qian Lan quickly follows the head maid to the main entrance. Even the duke was surprised to see how different Qian Lan looked.
"Yeah…yeah I know what you're going to say. Am I leaving in this carriage?"
"Ahem. My people will escort you there and make sure you return safely. You will need this tablet to enter the palace."
The duke hands Qian Lan a golden small tablet with the emperor's seal on it.
"Alight! I'll be back!"
Qian Lan bids the duke farewell as the guards helped her into the carriage with her heavy dress. Qian Lan sat silently as the carriage made its way to the palace. After thirty minutes of waiting and traveling. The carriage finally came to a stop. One of the guards that came with Qian Lan helped her out of the carriage and motioned for her to go on from here on out on her own. Unsure of what to do, Qian Lan walks over to the four palace guards and shows them the golden tablet.
"Ah, you're a honored guest of his majesty. You may go on in."
Qian Lan shoves the tablet inside her sash and continues walking forward as a maid was waiting inside the palace entrance for her.
"You must be Ms. Qian Lan. I will be your guide, so if you'll follow me."
Qian Lan drags her heavy dress along as she follows the maid. After twenty minutes, Qian Lan was now getting irritated.
"Where are we going?"
"To the royal garden. His majesty will come to see you in a bit."
Qian Lan couldn't believe he ordered her to come and then make her wait on him. Remembering her talk with Yuhan, Qian Lan knew she needed to calm down. She slowly takes a deep breath and sucks in her pride.
After another ten minutes, she was now in a beautiful garden filled with flowers. Qian Lan was amazed at the scenery. Flowers could be seen in every corner and a beautiful clear pond was in the center of the lgarden with a small little bridge connecting the sides. Soon, the maid points to a large and white pavilion and asks for Qian Lan to relax there as she waits.
"His majesty will be with you shortly. Please, enjoy the scenery and relax in the pavilion."
The maid quickly bids Qian Lan farewell before disappearing. Qian Lan decided she had sat down enough today and wanted to explore other parts of the garden instead. Dragging her heavy dress, Qian Lan walks closer to the pond and squats down; looking for any signs of life. To her surprise, Qian Lan could see little fishes swimming around in the pond. As she continued to enjoy her time, a haughty and loud voice calls out to her.
"Who are you?!"