*whip crackling*
"By the order sent by the emperor every 18 year old female first born must come and serve the maid houses that the emperor has set for them, anyone refusing to give up your female daughters we will burn this village down by sundown." said the guard
People scatter around getting their first born daughters together and lining them up outside, the imperial guards step off their horses checking all the girls for any marks or blemishes, if there was a blemish on her they would take her but separate her from the more privileged maids.
"Qiaun-An family step forward." said the guard The family stepped forward, it appeared that they all had sons but the daughter had stepped out, her name was Mao-An. "Get her in the chariot now." said the guard They took Mao-An and put her in the front Chariot as the rest of the girls lined up to get into the next chariots arriving.
Mao-An gets inside the Chariot and sits down coming face to face with a handsome man, he was well dressed with expensive jewelry. "I am prince Wei-Yan." he said He reaches his hand to touch Mao-An's and he caresses her hand and kisses it tenderly with a sly smirk. "You are very fine indeed and very rare, I will make you my bride." he said
This was called the harvest, every year a female turned 18 the imperial guards would come and take the eldest daughter of every family, the ones who wouldn't give up their daughters shaved them bald and dressed them as boys. But some families weren't so lucky and were slaughtered due to the order that was given by the emperor.
"No don't take my daughter please!!" begged a mother Another female was dragged out of the home she put up a pretty good fight but was pinned down to the ground in the dirt. "You don't want to be like her do you?" asked Wei-Yan
Mao-An shakes her head no, avoiding eye contact with the prince until his touched her chin as he forced her took look directly into his eyes. "Am I disgusting to you, is that what you think of me child?" asked Wei-Yan
The girl stayed silent as Wei-Yan chuckles and removes his hand from her chin and relaxed. The girl that was being detained was thrown into the chariot the captain of the imperial guards snapped his fingers as the Chariots started rolling and headed for the palace of Xian-BO.
The air began to smell like rain and distant rumbling of thunder could be felt as the Prince looks at Mao-An once more and grins. "The Qiaun family will have no harm done to them, I will contnue to make them the most wealthy family in your village, that way they won't have to mourn for you not being there with them." said Wei-Yan
"Riches cannot mask over sadness or any other emotion, it all dwindles down as being empty and unfulfilling dreams." said Mao-An Wei-Yan chuckles. "You think you know about life, well I'm about to show you what life really is." said Wei-Yan They all arrived at the palace just as it started raining, the girls were rushed into the palace and lined up in the throne room.
Wei-Yan steps out with Mao-An bringing here to the very front and middle section, he later goes and meets his father Xian-Bo...the emperor.
*Doors open*
"Father I have returned from harvest." said Wei-Yan He bows before his father until he's spoken to. "Good, how many are there in total and any blemishes?" asked the Emperor "There's 50 girls total your Majesty, we can start rotating the elder girls to be imperial mothers now." said Wei-Yan "Go get your mother to get round up the elder girls." said the Emperor "Yes sir, I will not fail you." said Wei-Yan
He gets up and heads towards the east section of the palace and knocks on a purple door. "Who knocks at this hour?" said a voice "It's me mother." said Wei-Yan "Come in child." she said Bai-ru was Wei-Yan's mother she was much younger than the emperor, she was collected from the Harvest when she was 16 years old. She happened to look like the 18 year old females so they took her, she is a tough empress and the best the village had to offer.
"I have found my bride, but she must go through trials the rest of the maids face but I want her at my side." said Wei-Yan Bai-ru moves papers to another file in her desk as she gets up and smiles holding her arms out. "My sweet child..come to me." she said Wei-Yan hugs his mother tight as she gently rubs his hair. "Father request that you get the elder girls rounded up to become Imperial mothers for the new girls that'll be serving in the maid house." said Wei-Yan
"Of course I'll get that done right away, follow me if you like or go to your father if he needs any assistance." said Bai-ru "As much as I want to I would like to go on my tea break right now." he said He finally exits his mother's office and heads out into the garden house where his tea was being held at, the other princes from different villages would come by to vist.
"You finally arrive Wei-Yan you've become slow like your maids." chuckled Sun-Ping "Insults hm...I have you know I have an appointment with your mother whom is still in quite good shape." Jokes Wei-Yan
He sits down among the princes and drinks his tea, the boys all grew up here together and trained very well in different districts. "So have you stopped searching for a bride?" asked Huo-Li
~Time Pass~
*Clothe tearing*
"Blemished one here." said one of the maids "Put them to the right side and the perfect girls to the left." said Xian-Bo He watches as the process is being handled, the girls without blemishes receive markings on their forehead signifying the becoming of maids.
They were no ordinary maids but of special use and an aim toward more wealth for the country it's self. The girls with blemishes became ordinary maids to work through out the palace.