chapter 4

Wei Yingluo sneaked a peek at the elegant lady who had spoken, the sight suddenly dazzling her. It were as if a sweet fragrance had floated by from right around the corner. The scent of a white lotus that had just bloomed.

This elegant lady stood in all white. She was more beautiful than the rest of her companions, the most able to inspire pity in the hearts of those who lay sight on her. Her bearing resembled that of Lady Shi of the West in supporting her chest¹.

However, this was the imperial harem. To maintain a calm heart while admiring the beauty of other women was extremely rare². The elegant lady known as Wuya Qingdai did not possess this attribute.

“Lu Wanwan, shut up!” said Wuya Qingdai, whipping her head around. “I didn’t ask you!”

The moment the white-clad Lu Wanwan heard those words, her whole body jerked. She seemed a touch afraid. Another elegant lady by her side tugged at the hem of her dress. She bowed her head, her voice but a whisper. “It’s not worth slighting older sister Wuya for an ignorant slave.”

Lu Wanwan’s mouth trembled, opening and closing a few times, but in the end she swallowed her words.

“If you want to save someone, you can’t be half-hearted about it. Who do you think that Wuya is? Would this kind of effort be enough to oppose her?” Jinxiu muttered.

Wei Yingluo glanced at Lu Wanwan. Although she failed to save Jixiang, she did at least try. Everyone else couldn’t even utter a word to help. How did they have the right to complain?

Just one rebuke from Wuya Qingdai, and Lu Wanwan had already shrunk into herself. Wuya Qingdai felt as though she had won the battle, and her attention once again fell upon Jixiang’s sorry figure. Her eyes took on a cruel shine, a sweet smile blossoming on her lips. She clicked her tongue. “No wonder these palace maids are so unruly. They’ve only just entered the palace! Since you’ve dirtied my dress, I’ll use your hand as compensation!”

Finished speaking, she lifted her leg high. Stomped hard on Jixiang’s hand.

The pain was so excruciating that cold beads of sweat started to drip down Jixiang’s body. Her sight faded into darkness, and unable to withdraw her hand, she was forced to lay on the ground sobbing. “It hurts! It really hurts! Please spare me, master! Please forgive me!”

But the master’s conscience was not stirred the slightest. And she did not cease the torture. In fact, she found the sobs uplifting, a fan of schadenfreude. A gasp of laughter escaped from her lips.

The sound of it brought chills to Jixiang’s heart. She realized for the first time that some people experienced joy from others’ misfortune.

“Father… Mother…” She was really still a child. In such difficult times, she could not help but to call out for help to those who had been kind to her. “Save me. Help me. Aunt³ Zhang, Xier, Jinxiu… Yingluo!”

step foot

The pain in her hand suddenly vanished.

Meanwhile, her ears caught a wave of gasps.

What happened…?

Jixiang glanced up, tears blurring her vision. It took a few moments for her to understand the scene before her. Without realizing it, a gasp left her lips as well.

She did not know when Wei Yingluo had gone to her side to hold up a foot—the foot of Wuya Qingdai.

“Miss Wuya,” Wei Yingluo said, facing the ground. “Please lift your noble foot.”

Looking down at her, Wuya Qingdai let out chilling smile. “You measly palace maid still dare to hope that I’ll show mercy?”

She took a good look at Wei Yingluo. As stated before, she wasn’t one to admire the beauty of others, envy flashing in her eyes. Smiling once more, she said, “It’s not impossible for me to spare her. We’ll just switch to you, okay?”

“If Miss wants the hand of a slave, then naturally this slave will offer it willingly.”

Just when the majority of the crowd felt as though Wei Yingluo would meet misfortune, she said something that might save her. “However, today Miss will be participating in the final round of selection. A joyous occasion. It is not advisable to shed blood, for it can hinder Miss’ fortune and dampen Miss’ mood.”

Wuya Qingdai frowned, observing the crowd through her peripheral vision.

She was the type of person fond of scheming against others among the shadows. In her eyes, everyone did as well.

Breaking the hands of two palace maids with her foot was a small matter, but she was afraid someone would notify the real masters⁴ of the compound, and imply she was a cruel person. And that she carried a bloody aura, one that might trigger a calamity, and bar her from seeing the emperor.

Yet Wuya Qingdai was unwilling to let these two palace maids off so easily. Wearing an impassive expression, she said, “You’re quite the talker. However, my shoes are still dirty. I’m not happy!”

Wei Yingluo shifted her gaze to Jixiang’s hand.

On the back of that pale and chubby hand was a bruise the shape of a lotus flower, oozing blood.

Although her heart was as cold as ice, her face was respectful and meek. Her head faced the ground. “Miss is ingenious to have the shape of a lotus flower carved into the sole of the shoe. Unfortunately, it is still lacking one thing. This slave is daring, and hopes to help Miss in sharing the concern.”

“Oh?” said Wuya Qingdai, arching a brow. “How are you to help me with my concerns?”

Wei Yingluo untied a sachet hanging from her waist, and with her head still bowed, she cried out, “Linglong, give me your sachet.”

Linglong was startled.

“Give it to me.” As she spoke, Wei Yingluo untied the knot securing the mouth of the sachet, pouring to the ground the rose fragrant powder⁵ within.

Although she didn’t want to be pulled into this situation, Linglong had no choice in the matter now that she was under the full gaze of the crowd. She reluctantly approached Wei Yingluo and handed over her sachet. “Take it.”

From the other sachet flowed fragrant powder of the same color, mixing together, gradually forming a small pile. Wei Yingluo scooped up the powder in two hands and presented it to Wuya Qingdai. She said, “Please lift your foot, Miss.”

Overhead escaped a chuckle, and the shoe, its sole dripping red, landed on her hands.

Wei Yingluo held the embroidered shoe. Smeared the sole with the fragrant powder. Although simple, her ministrations carried an aura of importance.

A sound of surprise left Lu Wanwan’s lips. “Older sister Nalan, this palace maid is quite beautiful.”

The one Lu Wanwan addressed was Nalan Chunxue, the elegant lady that had stopped her from interfering with Wuya Qingdai earlier. She fanned herself lightly. “So what? Is she not born from a family under the Ministry of Internal Affairs? As a natural born slave, her fate is to lift older sister Wuya’s shoe.”

“Alright.” Wei Yingluo placed the foot back on the ground. Then she respectfully said, “Please take a few steps, Miss.”

“What are you planning?” Wuya Qingdai walked forward a few steps, face growing stormy. “If you can’t tell me clearly why I should do this, then I’ll make sure you all will regret it.”

“Oh my.” Not caring that she blocked Nalan Chunxue’s view, Lu Wanwan said with her fan covering her lips, “With each step comes a lotus flower. How charming. Turn around and see.”

Sure enough, as Wuya Qingdai glanced behind her, there was a trail of lotus flower imprints left behind on the stone tiles.

At the same time, Wei Yingluo said, “Although this slave seldom reads, this slave has heard from a storyteller that Consort Pan, Marquis of Dong Hun’s most beloved consort, applied a golden stamp of a lotus to the soles of her shoes. With each step it seemed as though lotuses had sprung from the ground. Such beauty was unparalleled, so she was highly favored. Today Yingluo’s insignificant skill is to embed rose fragrant powder into the sole of this shoe. May Miss experience a steady promotion and fulfill your cherished desires!”

Wuya Qingdai sneaked a peek at Wei Yingluo, gently fanning herself. She paced back and forth a few steps.

Upon the green stone tiles appeared lotus flower after lotus flower. The sight fostered the feeling akin to a white lotus blooming upon a viridescent pond.

For the time being, Wuya Qingdai no longer felt like punishing the two palace maids. Instead, she wanted to see the emperor as soon as possible, to show off the lotus prints trailing her every step. If she was late, who knew which vixen would steal her idea.

“Alright, alright.” Wuya Qingdai waved her hand carelessly, peered down at the still-kneeling Wei Yingluo. “Because of your sycophantic manner, I shall spare her life!”

Then she went off on her way, the ground littered with prints of lotus flowers upon her wake.

The show was now over. One by one the other elegant ladies departed. While Lu Wanwan was walking away, she paused, turning her head to smile kindly at Wei Yingluo.

It’s a pity that one girl stood as the other one knelt. Therefore, Wei Yingluo just missed her smile.

The sound of footsteps no longer apparent, Wei Yingluo slowly rose to her feet. She approached Jixiang, who was still kneeling silently on the ground, afraid to make a noise. Wei Yingluo sighed. Reached out to support the trembling girl to her feet. “Jixiang, it’s over.”

“O-okay…” But she was still caught in the terrifying moment from before. Still caught in a daze.

“I’ll help you apply a simple bandage first,” said Wei Yingluo, pulling out a clean handkerchief and carefully wrapping the wounded hand. “Then I’ll bring you to a doctor later…”

At her kind action, Jixiang felt like she was gently floating upon a pond’s surface, slowly reaching land. “Mm.”

“Jixiang, you’re too clumsy!” A jarring voice broke the atmosphere. Jinxiu approached the two girls with her hands on her hips. From her lips spilled unnecessary words⁶. “You almost got us all maimed!”

“You still have the nerve to talk!” pouted Jixiang. “If you hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t have made a mistake!”

“Alright, alright, settle down!” The head palace maid moved in to stop the two.” In order to stay in the palace, palace maids must pass two tests, one each for cleaning and embroidery. Don’t just run your mouths. You need to have real skill. Now hurry up!”

Wei Yingluo and the rest of the girls bowed their heads. “Yes!”

The group of palace maids filed behind the head palace maid to their destination. The image was reminiscent of jade colored fish smoothly swimming in a pond. Halfway there, someone tugged at Wei Yingluo’s sleeve. She turned her head and saw Jixiang sweeping her gaze back and forth at their passing surroundings. Alert like a mouse searching for predators. The previous incident had frightened her to her bones. Now when she spoke, even the volume of her voice dropped tremendously, fearful that others could hear.

“Yingluo!” Jixiang’s demeanor seemed like an innocent child’s, with an adorable way of chastising others. “That Wuya was so mean. Why did you help her pass the selection?”

“Pass? Her?” Wei Yingluo paused her steps.

Jixiang watched her, eyes betraying confusion.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the Orchid Garden courtyard.

Surrounding them were countless orchids, fresh and fragrant. However, Wei Yingluo paid them no mind.

Instead, her attention was focused on a lonely well further off.

Jixiang shuddered. The well was obviously far away, but she felt a chill coming from it, a chill that seeped into the bone, the same chill that loitered among mass graves. Whether it was an illusion or not was anyone’s guess.

“…Only the heavens will know if she passes or fails.” A slight smile slid across Wei Yingluo’s lips and melted the frost in her eyes. She reached for Jixiang’s hand. “That’s right. Previously when you were crying and called out to me, you reminded me of my former self.”

“Really?”

“I used to be like you, always getting into trouble. When I couldn’t handle it alone, I’d go crying off to my elder sister.” She turned to face Jixiang. “And she would come help me every time.”

“You have a very good sister,” came Jixiang’s innocent response. “I’m envious that you have a sister like that.”

“No, it’s you that I’m envious of.” With each word spoken, Wei Yingluo’s voice fell softer and softer. “If you call out for me, I will respond. But my sister… She will never respond to me again.”

Now the back of her figure could be described in three words: bleak and lonely. Like withered shed leaves during the winter, yearning to return to their home among the branches of the trees.

Jixiang studied Wei Yingluo’s back, sorrow creeping upon her. She grabbed the other girl’s hand, locked them together. It felt as cold as winter. She suddenly had the urge to warm that cold hand. To warm that cold heart.

“It’s okay. I will stay by your side,” said Jixiang, her voice faint as well. “I’ll stay with you… older sister Yingluo.”