Xiang showed me my quarters - the smallest room at the back, out of sight from everyone. The bed was dusty, but I took it in stride, beating out the dust. Xiang watched me at the entrance of the small room. There was a window to the right side of the bed, to which I promptly opened.
It was evening. I had cooked a small meal for Xiang and I, to which she seemed extremely grateful for. She didn't even bother to get food from the Imperial Kitchen, choosing to cook simple meals for herself using whatever they grew out at the small vegetable patch to the left of the kitchen, a little aways from my room. "Other palaces grow flowers on this extra piece of land. We grow what we can eat," Xiang had said when she harvested some vegetable leaves for our meal.
There was enough grain for us, though it was running very low. Xiang had said that the idiots in the Inner Bureau would send the grain to the Palace the moment the Prince returned. They watched the Masters' and Mistress' every move and expression.
"This room is small, but it's the only vacancy. This palace is small." Xiang gestured to the room. I liked it. There was quiet, and it was out of sight. It made thinking and hiding my items much easier. "It's good, jiejie. Thank you." I began to clean the place up, wiping and dusting with the tools that Xiang had handed to me.
"If you need to clean up, you will have to get water from the well. It's near the West side entrance. Our buckets are all in the kitchen. If you need help, let me know. I'm going to turn in earlier. Need to wake up early for His Highness to return." Xiang gave me a tired smile. I nodded in thanks and she left.
There was a small drawer for me to keep my items next to the bed, which worked as a vanity as well. It was functional enough. Closing the door, I begun untying my robes and unravelling the knife on my arm. It was already bruised and swollen, which made moving it painful. But it was worth it. I placed it in the drawer, shoving my satchel on top of it.
The night had sunk, but it was yet to be curfew. I headed out to the kitchen, grabbed a bucket, and exited Shen Li Gong. There were several soldiers patrolling, holding fiery torches as they walked up and down the palaces. I walked quickly, holding my bucket to my side.
Han had told me that there was a way for him to give me more information, if need be, by the very well that Xiang had informed me about. There might even be news from home. There was a loose brick somewhere on the well, and it would be easy to wedge pieces of paper there. Not only that, the West entrance is rarely used, aside from welcoming new servants to the Palace. Security tends to be lax there.
I reached the well, about 30 steps to the right of the West side-entrance. Several soldiers walked past, glancing my way as I tied my bucket to the rope. Seeing nothing suspicious, they left me alone. The night sky made it hard to see anything, since there was no light, but I took the chance to press my hand against the well walls. At one tug, a brick came loose. There was nothing within the spaces yet, but I clung to the knowledge with hope.
I lugged the bucket back and cleaned myself. I would meet my new Master tomorrow, when he returns from the Summer Palace. I laid down on the bed, falling into a fitful sleep.
***
"The 18th Prince returns!" an Eunuch announced. Xiang and I hurried to the gates of Shen Li Gong, grabbing the handles and tugging hard to open the doors. An eunuch dressed in grey robes and black boots stepped in, turning to give Xiang a smile. His black hat hid half of his greying hair.
"It's been hard on you, child!" he commented to Xiang. Following behind him was a Matron, who was also dressed in grey. She had a jade hairpin in her hair, unlike the steel one that the Matron who gave me my assignment had. That was a sign of her ranking.
The sound of the wheelchair's wheels clacking against the uneven floors got to me first. Then a man in a wheelchair came rolling down the ramp, the chair guided carefully by a soldier in a black and grey uniform.
I stepped back, getting down onto my knees and kowtowing - the way to greet one's new Master. "Your servant, Lan Ying, greets the 18th Prince," I said, keeping my head down.
There was a quiet moment, but I didn't move. "Who's this?" A cool voice asked. There was a husk in his voice, as though he doesn't speak much. He didn't need to raise his voice, and there was clarity in the way he spoke.
"A new servant, sire. Her name is Lan Ying. Your servant placed her in the kitchen. She cooked for us yesterday, and she did well." Xiang explained my presence. There was another bout of quiet. My heart began to pound. I could feel his gaze upon me. What Wen Ling had told me about Shen Li Gong echoed in my head. If he had any suspicions about me, he would throw me out. I couldn't afford that!
"Get up and carry out your work then." The 18th Prince didn't waste another moment, the squeaking of his wheels telling me he had gone. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding.
Questions rushed through my mind. Wasn't he going to check my background? It seemed that many maidens had tried their luck to gain favour from the Crown Prince by being in his Palace. Would he not assume that I was one of those girls? This was unlike whatever Wen Ling had said.
"Get up, Lan Ying. You are free to do your work," Xiang called out to me. I got up, a little off-balance as my knees had turned a little weak. Both the Head Eunuch and Head Matron were looking at me, curious but solemn.
"Lan Ying?" the Eunuch asked. I bowed my head and curtsied, greeting them both respectfully. The two elders gave me a nod in response. "You must have been sent here against your will," the Eunuch said dryly.
The Matron nudged him on the arm, glaring. "Don't be so rude, Eunuch Cui." Eunuch Cui let out a grumble. "Well then what, Matron Ji? Are we to assume that she's here just to get to the Crown Prince?"
Their conversation was enough to make my chest go cold. However unlikely it may seem due to my "wifely" face, it was true that I was here simply to try and get into the Crown Prince's bed. But it was obvious that Shen Li Gong is highly sensitive to this. I had to make sure that they didn't doubt my story of being here just to pass my 5 years of servanthood before being released.
Aside from the three people who stood before me, whose uniforms indicated their higher status with silver flowers embroidered on their collars, cuffs and sleeves, three other girls had spread themselves out within Shen Li Gong. They were all dressed in the same uniform as me.
One headed into the backyard, picking up a broom and sweeping the dead leaves up. Another stood by the entrance - she appeared to be on duty to watch the gates. The last girl entered the third building within Shen Li Gong, aside from the Prince's main hall and the kitchen, which I presumed was his study.
A Prince with a retinue that only consisted of a number of people that he could count on his fingers. Another twinge of sympathy made me frown.
"Off you go, Lan Ying. Sire must be hungry from all that travelling. Make him some pastries and serve it to him when they are ready." Matron Ji gestured for me to go, and the three of them made their way up the few steps to the main hall. The Prince had been wheeled in by one final staff member. From the way he acted, he seemed to be the Prince's personal guard.
Hurrying to the kitchen, I took stock of what the Inner Bureau had sent to us this morning before the Prince arrived. They had given us fresh Osmanthus, and I set about making the pastry. It took over the hour, but I plated half of the Osmanthus cakes and exited the kitchen when I was done.
Matron Ji, Eunuch Cui and Xiang were all away from the main hall, and the Prince didn't seem to be inside. I made my way over, crossing paths with the girl who was sweeping the floor. She looked annoyed, whacking the leaves every few sweeps.
"Is Sire still here?" I asked, trying to peek around her and figure out where the Prince may be. The girl let out a huff, rolling her eyes as she continued to sweep her leaves. "He's in the backyard, sitting by the garden." I pursed my lips, not wanting to leave on a bad note despite her rudeness.
"I'm Lan Ying, the new girl. Thanks for letting me know." With a nod of my head, I walked around her and headed for the backyard. I barely had time to wonder why he would choose to sit there in the garden where only one tree lived when something hooked itself on my ankle.
My feet found air. The plate of pastries went flying as I tripped, landing hard on my chest. A visible "oof!" escaped me, and all the air had been knocked out of my lungs. I shut my eyes after I watched the plate shatter before me, terrified that the ceramic pieces may blind me.
"What's going on?" A man's voice grew louder as its owner came up to me. Still breathless and worried about my eyes, I sat up slowly. There was something wet on my cheek. I reached up, opening my eyes slowly as my fingers came into contact with the warm substance on my face. Pulling back, I found my fingertips red with blood.
"Maiden Lan Ying," the voice said from above me. A shadow loomed over me, his feet stepping over the broken pieces of plate and dirty Osmanthus cakes. He reached out his hand. It was the Prince's personal guard in his grey and black robes.
A little stunned by the fall, I didn't think before taking his hand. He pulled me up, righting me.
My heart stopped as I registered what I was seeing. The personal guard... Looked just like Yun. The same kind eyes, sloping upwards and shaped by a thick set of eyebrows. His nose was sharp, and his thin lips fell open as though to speak.
"Y-Yun?" I stammered before I could help myself. The man frowned, letting go of my hand. "I am Yi Liang, guard to the 18th Prince. Maiden Lan Ying, you are bleeding."
That was enough to snap me out of it. The shock had faded. My cheek stung and I winced, which made it hurt more. It helped to clear my head. Yun was dead. Prince Lang had told me that himself, and even gave me handkerchief.
"Yi Liang?" The 18th Prince's voice floated over to us. I took a step back without thinking, wary. I had ruined his pastries and broke an expensive plate of his. Would he kick me out of Shen Li Gong? Yi Liang returned to his Master, who was rolling himself towards the scene of the mess.
My eyes took in my very first sight of him in spite of myself. The 18th Prince's big dark eyes wandered over the broken plate pieces. His robes pulled taut with each roll he made on the wheelchair, showing the strength of his arms. He didn't acknowledge my presence, his full lips curling into a mocking smile. He might have looked charming if I wasn't reminded of a wolf's snarl - something I had seen once when I had pestered to join Father on his annual hunt. I never went again.
"Xu Rui," he said, his tone colder than ever. It took me a moment to understand he was talking to the servant who had tripped me with her broom. "Was the first punishment not enough?"
Xu Rui dropped to her knees, a terrified expression on her face. "N-no, sire, it was her! She offended your servant first - She said that being here was a waste of time -" Her finger was pointed at me, false accusations pouring out of her.
"Oh? Lan Ying?" I jolted when the Prince called for me. "Y-yes, sire?" I asked, lowering my eyes so that I looked at his robes instead of his face. He wore silk, like one would expect any Prince of an Emperor. But he was in a pale blue and white, unfitting for a Prince who was nearing 19. Only children or un-ranked royals were to be dressed in off-colours. Another indication of how horribly the Crown Prince was treating his brother.
"Did you say all that?" My skin crawled as I felt his eyes on me. I clasped my hands tight together, shaking my head. "No, sire."
"I hear lies, Xu Rui." The Prince returned his attention to the servant on the floor. She threw herself at his feet, grovelling and sobbing now. "Forgive your servant, please-"
"Yi Liang!" The Prince made his voice heard above all the grovelling, rolling himself away from the sobbing mess. "40 cane strikes and sent out of the Palace. Shen Li Gong has no place for liars."
Yi Liang grabbed Xu Rui by the arms, making me jump as he bodily dragged her across the frontyard. Matron Ji and Xiang stepped up to the job, grabbing thin and springy canes from the kitchen.
I turned away, unable to watch the gruesome show. They had opened the gates, and every cry of pain echoed through the West side of the Palace. If other servants passed by, it would be clear what Shen Li Gong's Master had to say about useless servants.
"Lan Ying?" I jumped again, before forcing myself to remain calm as I stepped up to the man in the wheelchair. "Bend forward," he instructed. I did, avoiding his gaze as I leaned in, staring at the blue cloth across his chest instead. The 18th Prince took hold of my chin. His touch was surprisingly warm.
"The Bureau of Medicine would not treat this seriously. Shen Li Gong has never been their priority, let alone my servants. Be sure to clean it, if not it will scar."
He released my chin and rolled away, Eunuch Cui following closely behind him. I curtsied before backing away. I ran back to my room, arms trembling.
As I cleaned the wound on my cheek, Xu Rui's cries still bouncing off Shen Li Gong's walls, I understood something. Xu Rui was being made an example of, but not simply for the other servants in the big Heavenly Palace.
It was a warning for me. For the wrath I might face if I ever got found out.