Concubine's Greed (Revising)

Twelve

"my lady what happened to your hands?"
Ming said as she pulled my hand, and looked at my palms. I had been sitting on my bed enjoying the view of the trees, that were now bursting with many colors.

"Blisters from practice, nothing to worry about."
I smiled at her but she didn't seem too happy from it. She sighed and let go.

"My lady, you should be more careful, you are still a concubine to the emperor, it's not really your body anymore."
She whispered, as she examined me. I stayed silent taking her point.

"I understand, I'm sorry."
I said as I raised an eyebrow at her sudden strictness.

"Ming is there anything wrong?"
She froze, and turned to me. The edge of her mouth quivered, as if she was struggling to speak.

"Well.. it's nothing important."
She mumbled as she turned away from me and continued cleaning. She quickly changed the subject.

"The other concubines are going out to the garden for tea, you should join them."
She said cheerfully as she walked over to me, I groaned and spread out on my bed.

"I doubt I'll be welcome."
I said with a hint of humor in my voice, but I could feel my own disappointment. Ming gave me a unsatisfied face, but stayed silent.

"I recommend you show up, maybe you should take Lin with you, she would be very pleased to go."
She had stopped cleaning and stood next to the bed, I glanced up at her in curiosity.

"Alright if it's for Lin then I'll go."

***
The air outside of the palace was crisp, small white clouds of air came from our breath. The trees were spotted with many different colors, although the fire lillies that once grew around the garden were gone, small blossoms of winter flowers were already taking its place.

Lin and I walked in silence from my room, I snuck glances at her, but her head was turned upwards towards the trees. Her blank expression made it extremely hard to tell what she was thinking and she rarely ever smiled.

We approached the center of the garden to see all of the concubines gathered around tables. There were so many in the palace that I had only seen once, during my welcome party. As we got nearer I could see Baozhai and Mengyao sitting on their thrones, watching the party. Baozhai's frown was clearly evident, she was not happy, while Mengyao's eyes seemed to wander.

I let out a silent groan, I would stay out of her view as much as I could. The feeling of going back to my room completely took over my curiousity. I turned to Lin, only to see her whole face light up, she wasn't smiling but her eyes were bright. I took her hand and grinned at her, she looked at me in surprise.

"Shall we look around together?"
I asked with a grin, she looked as if she would refuse, but as if her curiousity got the better of her, she nodded slowly.

We walked around together hand hand, no surprise she was more interested in the trees and flowers than the people. After a while we got curious stares from the other concubines. Many of them turned to each other and snickered about what they saw. Lin, who was completely in her own world took little notice to this.

"That's a palace servant for you."
A voice from the crowd announced out loud, there were a couple of snickers. I got up and stared at them, they stopped snickering and a dead silence hung over them, but they began to turn away from us, and continue socializing with each other. I turned back to Lin, who hadn't heard a thing.

Sudden gasp and squeals were coming for the concubines, I looked up to see, Mengyao walking over to us, he had a wide smile, and his place was quick. I turned back to Lin who had already backed away.

"Jia, I didn't know you were here."
He said out of breath. I smiled at him.

"I stayed away from the thrones for a reason."
I said with a wink. He was about to speak but a loud voice erupted from the crowd.

"He has an Empress why would only pay attention to her."
The voice was recognizable, it was Baozhai, throwing a tantrum. Silance hung over the concubines, there eyes agreeing with her. I looked down at Mengyao to see him stiffening, I grabbed his hand and dragged him farther into the garden, away from the jealous rage of greedy concubines.