Butterfly Aubade

第三章 [ Chapter Three ]

A/N: 

(WARNING: Some MINOR sexual stuff but nothing major, skip if you feel uncomfortable) 

THE CROWN PRINCESS: 焕曰 - translated to Happiness, Joyful [Pronounced: HUWAN – YU WEH]

SECOND GRAND IMPERIAL MADAM: 芳花 – translated to Aromatic Flower [Pronounced: F-ANN – HWA ]

FOURTH GRAND IMPERIAL MADAM: 蓝星 - translated to Blue Star [Pronounced: LAN – SH – ING ]

第三章

I spent my morning staring blankly at the table, examining the folds and creases of the cloth on top of it as I wallowed quietly in my fate. Chun Hai continually came and checked upon me, she had attempted to feed me some food. But knowing what was to come tonight, I felt an unease sickness heave up inside of my stomach. Chuan Hai decided to entertain me with information about the other two madams and the crown princess which she hoped would relieve my mind from tonight.

The Crown princess that is, the future empress was called Huan Yue. Apparently she had been raised as the only daughter of her father who was a decorated military general. He was famous across the kingdom for his tactical plans and his superior ability to conquer his enemies. But while he basked in his campaign feats, his family life wasn't quite as glorious. Huan Yue grew up with five different mothers. Despite the number of wives her father had. He had only four children. Two children from his second wife. Both whom were sons. One from his third which was yet again another brother and she herself was born from the fifth wife. It was tragic that the general's head head wife had been barren, her youth stolen with nothing left but her title. It was revolting to think that her father's fifth wife was about thirty years younger than him

I listened as Chun Hai continued to speak about her. She was my superior in title only. The fact that I would have to bow to her or even listen seemed like a nuisance. She was only sixteen while I had just turned nineteen. It was difficult to respect a girl who seemed like a child. Plus the rumors that had surfaced around the girl depicted her as childish and naïve. She was a pure little girl who would be eaten alive by the prowling wolves of the palace if she didn't watch her step. The Dowager Empress must have chosen her for her father's achievements, her youth as well as the pliable flexibility in her character. She could be easily manipulated - a puppet that the Empress could dictate upon all her whims.

Then Chun Hai began to speak about Fang Hua. The girl that was only one step away from being the future empress to the crown prince, oh how disappointed she must have been. Gossips had swirled about with that girl for she was raised by her uncle, a medical genius who made radical discoveries over plants and their medicinal properties. She had grown up alongside her cousins. It was said that she had many eligible marriage proposals but none were seemingly good enough for her. Her uncle wanted her to rise in the ranks, to be a part of the elite. Some rumors whispered that she was childhood friends with the crown prince. Though nothing was definite, the girl was a little unconventional. It was surprising that she hadn't been judged for her own choices.

And lastly there was the fourth girl named Lan Xing who I hadn't paid much attention to. From my memory she was petite and slightly round. Adorable and slightly chubby with her cherub red cheeks. Her features were just average and her background wasn't of excellent standing either. But they said she had only succeeded in securing a position through her bloodline who had been loyal to the imperial family for years. Lan Xing was supposedly talented in some sort of way but I wasn't divulged specific information.

"You have nothing to fear Lady Ai Xue, all you must do is manipulate pawns into their rightful places and then you madam, will find security and power," Chuan Hai said with a coy smile.