Pharmacist Penumbra (Draft)

Chapter 8: Garden Party

Long Fan walked to the gazebo dressed in his full set of armour where Consort Ming would reside for the time being before the Garden Party. "Greeting Consort Ming." he greets, bowing slightly to show respect.

"Greetings to you as well, General Fan," she replied back. They smiled at each other friendly, as he strolls towards the newborn princess.

"How's the little princess going?" asked Long Fan.

As Ying Yue turns around elegantly, her curvy figure on full display. "Greeting General Fan and yes the Princess is doing quite well," answered Ying Yue politely. He blinks his eyes not believing his sight.

"Your chest is a lot larger than last time. Did you put some padding or something? Did you put cosmetics on?" he asked quietly with a slight blush to his face. Ying Yue sighed.

"No, this is my real figure and my freckles are gone because I removed the cosmetics," explained Ying Yue, as he tilted his head in confusion. She was starting to feel annoyed at the dumb General.

"I tattooed the freckles every day, until now and I had wrapped my chest to make it appear flat. Not all cosmetics are made to enhance beauty." she forced out.

"Is there a point to it?" he questioned.

Ying Yue's facial expression darkened significantly. "So I wouldn't been taken to the back alleys," stated Ying Yue. His face showed shock.

Red Light districts were also known for the back alleys. Where men who would starve for women's body were taken by force and many of which had STI's. It was rare for seemly 'unattractive' girls to be taken to the back alleys. So with the help of some of the prostitutes, they helped strap her chest down and tattoo freckles.

"Were you taken?" he asked grimly.

"Attempted, but I was kidnapped instead," replied Ying Yue.

"I'm sorry," he said as if it broke him on the inside.

As Ying Yue nonchalantly shrugged it off, "It's not your fault General. You can't always prevent it. Besides, I stopped caring." reassured Ying Yue.

"I'm terribly sorry for the incident," he said. He moved impossibly close to Ying Yue also touching chest to chest. As a sharp pain grazed her head when he inserted something into her hair. "It's yours," he states, as he walks off with a slight red tinge to his cheekbones. Ming Su, the maids and Consort Ming looked at her with a surprised expression. Taking the object out, it was an intricately designed silver hairpin.

"Why did he give me a hairpin?" asked Ying Yue. The maids were jealous of the symbolic meaning of the hairpin that Ying Yue was not aware of.

Consort Ming chuckled lightly grabbing the ornamental hairpin and gently pushed the hairpin into her hair. "It seems that you are not just my attendant anymore," she said. Ying Yue was confused.

They arrived at the Garden Party. Music filled the air with it's cascading symphonies and dancers moved elegantly like fairies in fairytales. Everyone high official sat in their designated seats, while Ying Yue and the girls huddled together for warmth from the blistering cold winds.

Li Lian and Ying Yue opened a bit of looking space to look at the sort of entertainments. But a young beautiful woman was embracing the Princess lovely. "Hey, Li Lian, whose the woman holding the Princess?" asked Ying Yue.

"Ah, that's the Empress Dowager. She gave birth to the Emperor at the age of -censored-." explained Li Lian. Ying Yue squirmed at the new information. As she noticed an empty set on the right of the Emperor.

"How about the empty seat?" asked Ying Yue.

"Ah, that is seat is reserved for the Emperor's brother who has the same mother as the Emperor. But his is rather sickly and rather comes out of his room." she replied.

Then Li Mei was defending Consort Ming from another concubine's servants, but Ying Yue gave a deathly cold glare which scares off the poor soul.

"Are your heated stones in a need of a change?" asked Ying Yue.

The three maids though that Ying Yue was a stoic, considerate and dedicated girl they met. No wonder Long Fan had some feeling for her. They fawned over Ying Yue's kindness.

They waited awhile for any orders. "Ying Yue, can you put the Princess into her basket before she gets sick?" asked Li Hua, handing her off to Ying Yue. The baby makes an incoherent speech, as she grabs onto thin air.

Placing the baby gingerly into the basket, and giving it to Li Mei to look after. "Hey, Ying Yue. Your wine has been presented to the Emperor," said Li Lian with sparkling eyes.

Ying Yue dash in a panic to check. And her wine is indeed been presented to the Emperor, as he brings the cup to his lips. "Magnificent. Simply divine!" he exclaimed continuing to drink the wine without signs of stopping. Other officials and military officers drink to wine with great delight.

She glances around and sees Ming Su clearly enjoying the beverage and Ling Fan is drinking away without a care in the world. "Was it that good? Now I want to try some." sulked Li Lian.

Li Ju comes with a small bottle of the wine. "Consort Ming has reserved some of Ying Yue's wine for us to enjoy," said Li Ju, gleefully.

She pours delicately into five cups, as they cheer and drink the contents. "It's quite the refreshing and warming wine I've ever tasted," commented Li Hua.

"It just warms up my body from the inside," said Li Lian.

"Truly a spectacular beverage." complimented Li Ju. Ying Yue nods her thanks.