Butterfly Aubade

第四章 [ Chapter Four ]

*mei mei: In Chinese it means younger sister. But not always literally, it can be used as a term to distinguish hierarchy in age or power. A higher concubine might call a younger one mei mei. Likewise for a younger sister to call an older sister - jie jie.

第四章

A month had passed and I stayed in my room, occasionally coming out to wander the palace. It was strange how often the prince came to my chambers. If it wasn't for small talk, he would allow me to read some of his papers out of my own curiosity. I did my best to advise him even if he dismissed my ideas as thoughtless and impossible. Matters of manipulating the court was a tricky game and success was difficult unless the game was played correctly.

This morning, Chun Hai had announced to me a little tea party the Dowager Empress had decided to hold. This meant the presence of her four favorite girls. It had been awhile since I last saw them. I had to present myself with propriety and I couldn't refuse an invitation from the Empress. My intentions were to observe the occurrences of this little even and control my tongue.

By noontime, I felt myself tire just a bit. I had decided to wash up so that I would be freshened up for the event.

Sitting in the wooden tub, I let my attendants comb my hair. Feeling the soft scrub of soap on my body, I relaxed and enjoyed myself. Lately all I had on mind was a little bee's rumor. Chun Hai had announced that one of the lower ranked concubines was pregnant. If it was to be a son, it would raise her status into great importance. My eyebrows narrowed at the thought. Even though producing a child with the likes of him was a bothersome thought, I must have the willpower to bring forth a child soon. I had to secure myself and children were the most valid methods of doing so.

The faint smell of lavender remained on my body as I got myself dressed. Wearing a deep peach pink dress embellished with white lilies, my hair was adorned in exquisite fashion.

I followed Chun Hai as she whispered advice into my ear. Apparently Dowager Empress favored intellectual girls. She was a woman who had helped the late emperor with battlefield tactics and also solved drought problems for the peasants working on the land. I was informed about the other ladies as well, the crown princess Huan Yue had been spending her time embroidering, Fang Hua spent her time writing letters while Lan Xing had been involving herself in pastry making. I dismissed Chun Hai and murmured a quick thank you. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be informed with the latest information about the harem's activities.

Taking a deep breath, I entered the pavilion.

I was the last to arrive and was beckoned to take a seat by the Empress as I kowtowed before her.

"I've heard that Ming Zheng has taken a liking to visit you during the nights." The Dowager Empress said rather bluntly and boldly while taking a sip of her tea.

"No wonder he doesn't come by me often. Because of the likes of you" Crown princess said with a childish pout. Her behavior was rather unbecoming for a princess.

"Let him be, may his imperial highness may go to whomever he pleases." Fang Hua said without much of a care. Her eyes wandered around at the food before her as she let out a sigh.

Lan Xing was silent as her cheeks were stuffed with delicacies. I couldn't help but stare in awe at the amount she was able to consume.

"He does visit but only on his own accord. I usually learn about ... politics from him..." I said treading water carefully. It wasn't a woman's place to learn about such things after all.

"Oh now does he. No wonder he would take a liking to your company." The dowager empress said with a knowing nod. "He's always taken the state business first. The boy cares little for the idea of love."