The royal gardens were filled with velvet tents catered to the bachelorettes. Mei popped her head out of her tent a few times just to hear what the guards were saying.
A tall one grunted as he squashed a fly with his boot. The iron class in his shoes blocking out the fly's final sounds. "These tents really spoil the garden."
An even taller one next to him nodded. "I agree. I remember when we used to mess around after training?"
"Those were the good old days. Now we have to eat sour slugs and bitter tea every day."
"I know it sounds cruel, but I hope he kicks the bucket one day."
"Me too!"
Mei shrieked and marched across the soldiers with her arms folded. Everyone knew it was illegal to say anything negative about the king, even an ounce of honest critique would send you to the scaffold. "HOW DARE YOU!"
The tall guard took her by the arm. "Now, now, you should be in your tent."
"One rule for one and another for the higher-ups."
The guards laughed, pretending to be innocent. Waving their arms in the air as other ladies hopped out of their tents. "We never said a thing."
"I heard what you said. So did everyone else." Mei steered her head hoping someone would agree.
"Take no notice of them!" Prince Inbu appeared from the shadows with his purple cloak flapping all around him. "Dick and Dom are simply stressed." The other ladies tilted their heads back, holding the hems of their dresses as Prince Inbu addressed them all. "Eat well," he said. "For you shall be dancing with pigs, kissing cows and cuddling crocodiles."
Screams emerged from the left corner of the garden. One by one she could hear her rivals mutter to themselves in fear and disgust. As some of the others became hysterical with some even climbing over the garden walls, Mei chose to stand firm.
Prince Inbu glared at Mei as if she had done something wrong, something terrible as if she committed the worst crime in the world. "Why are you not scared?"
Mei folded her arms and smiled. "I'm a farmer's daughter. I'll sail through this."
It was a promise Mei kept. Not only did Mei dance with the pigs, but she also performed ballet. There was not one closed mouth in the audience when Mei taught the pigs how to Rumba. The elders shook their head in disdain at her muddy shores but it was by far her favourite task. Of course, Mei got through with ease, but who would be joining her?