Chapter 2: Entering the Eastern Palace

As dawn slowly broke, the courtyard had already gathered a thick layer of pine-frosted snow. Servants before the gate were sweeping it away with brooms, while a small blue sedan with four corners stood at the side entrance of the Wang residence, surrounded by a ring of maidservants and matrons.

Stepping onto the damp stone steps tinged with a faint green, Shen Quanyi turned to look blankly at Grandma Cui. Grandma Cui subtly avoided her gaze, the hand hidden in her sleeve gripping Shen Quanyi’s arm tightly, applying a little more force. Only when the pain reached her did Shen Quanyi finally come to herself.

She lifted her eyes to the blue sedan and seemed to glimpse a corner of her future life: narrow, deep, and without a path.

“All right. Tell Mother not to worry. I will never fail her expectations,” Shen Quanyi said with a faint smile, the warmth gone entirely from her eyes.

Since she had taken this step, there could be no retreat. She had to live, even if only for her brother and grandmother.

The two maidservants waiting before the sedan were extremely proper. From the moment they arrived at the Wang gate, they stood with lowered heads and said nothing. Only after Shen Quanyi and Grandma Cui had finished speaking did they step forward with a bow and lift the curtain for her.

Shen Quanyi looked back once more at the residence fading into the gray. Her eyes narrowed slightly. For an instant, she caught a flash of blue cloth by the archway, then immediately withdrew her gaze and stepped into the sedan.

After seeing her off, Grandma Cui watched until even the shadow of the sedan was gone before inexplicably letting out a breath. Yet she could not help thinking that this departure meant life and death unknown, and an uncertain road ahead.

The bearers were skilled men, and the journey was smooth, without the slightest jolt. Shen Quanyi merely sat there and never once lifted the curtain, and it was hard to tell whether she was afraid in her heart.

About half an hour later, she heard a sharp call from outside for the sedan to stop. It came to a steady halt. The two maidservants outside lifted the curtain, reached in, and helped Shen Quanyi out.

By then the sun was high. The light was glaring. Looking up at the vermilion gate, Shen Quanyi gradually felt the unease in her heart rising, and she too began to tense.

A glance was enough to tell her this was the rear entrance. Already parked by the gate were two more sedans, carrying the young ladies selected from the various households.

All were of humble birth. As for the imperial selection in the palace, women of their station were not fit to take part. Otherwise, why would they have been sent here? To put it politely, they were concubines; in truth, they were merely a little better off than lowly servants.

Arriving in an unfamiliar place, especially the Eastern Palace, the girls exchanged glances. They smiled with restraint, but none spoke to one another.

Everyone stood according to rule, waiting only for a summons from within. It was winter, and before long snow began to drift again. As the bitter wind swept in, they could not help but pull their clothes tighter around themselves.

Fortunately, after a short while someone came out from within: a young married woman with a faint smile on her face, looking like a kindly person. She lifted a hand slightly and invited them to follow her inside.

The imperial courtyard was already delicate enough in its design; now covered with a silver-white mantle of snow, it became even more picturesque. Ordinary people rarely had the chance to see such a sight. The young girls wanted to crane their necks for a better look, but knowing it would be improper, they only dared cast careful glances.

The woman in the lead turned back. There was no trace of anger on her face, only a soft reminder: “Misses, please watch your step.”

That single sentence made several of the girls blush with embarrassment, and they instantly fell silent.

They passed through a winding covered corridor, went through a side gate, and entered the large western courtyard. The woman signaled for them to stop, then turned and left.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps approached from outside. Shen Quanyi and the others turned back, but before anyone below had even reported in, the surrounding area was already filled with kneeling figures. The identity of the newcomer needed no explanation. Shen Quanyi did not dare raise her head. In such a display, anyone would know that the person before them was the future mistress of the inner palace, the Crown Princess.

Soon after, they were summoned inside, and the girls hastily gathered their clothing and followed her into the hall.

At the center of the hall stood a carved rosewood screen inlaid with begonias. A celadon incense burner with scrolling floral patterns sent up wisps of fragrance. As the group entered, they found the floor soft beneath their feet; the room had been covered with a red velvet carpet. Once everyone was inside, the maids removed the screen.

With the obstruction gone, someone sneaked a glance. The Crown Princess, Zuo Li, had a refined and elegant face, with gentle brows and eyes. She wore no ornaments at all, only a string of Buddhist beads wrapped around one wrist, and a plain dress of Shu brocade.

Though she wore no splendid garments, her bearing alone made her impossible to underestimate. She ascended the raised seat in a few steps, looked down with cool detachment, and let her gaze lightly pass over the girls kneeling below in formal reverence. Then she raised a hand, and only then did they stand and take their seats in gratitude.

After the exchange of bows, Zuo Li distributed gifts in accordance with custom, and the girls accepted them with thanks.

Among the two girls seated with Shen Quanyi, one came from the Yang family of Liuzhou. Her family had long been scholars by tradition, though by now their descendants had failed to enter official life and instead made their living by farming.

The other came from the Wang family under Chang’an Prefecture. Though they held no office, they engaged in trade and lived comfortably.

“Just look at them. That is youth for you, every little face so tender it could squeeze out water.”

At the bright female voice, Shen Quanyi quickly lifted her head and glanced over. The seat on Zuo Li’s left was empty, and below that was the speaker. She must therefore be Consort Su.

It was said that the Su family of Chang’an had produced two gifted daughters, both of whom later entered the Eastern Palace, creating a much-admired tale. Unfortunately, not long after arriving, one of the women perished.

Consort Su Jin’s beauty was not stunning, but she was delicate and graceful, especially with those slender brows lightly knit, like a veil of mist in Jiangnan rain, soft and pitiable.

“Now that there are more of you, we are pleased as well. The courtyard will be livelier from now on. I have nothing of great value here, but you may each choose something for yourselves.”

As Su Jin spoke, the maid beside her had already brought forward a wooden tray. The red cloth covering the tray was removed. Shen Quanyi made no move, waiting for the two beside her to choose first, and only then did she take the remaining gold-inlaid jade bracelet.

Just after sitting down, Shen Quanyi felt the torment begin. Yesterday, her knees had already been sore and swollen from kneeling as punishment, and she had knelt for a long time just now as well. At this moment, through the fabric, a faint stabbing pain crept up. She clenched her teeth and tightened her fingers. No matter how painful it was, she could not lose her composure.

Su Jin’s gaze swept across Shen Quanyi. Her lips moved slightly, and the maid at her side withdrew.

The brazier in the room burned fiercely, and the cold carried in on their clothes gradually faded. As they spoke, the atmosphere also eased somewhat.

Zuo Li leaned softly against the back of her chair, absently rubbing the Buddhist beads in her hand. Her gaze drifted across the faces of the girls, and when it came to Shen Quanyi’s pair of apricot eyes filled with water, it paused slightly, as if she had momentarily lost herself. But only for an instant. She immediately recovered, and a smile bloomed at the corners of her bright red lips.

Just then Shen Quanyi happened to raise her eyes and saw that Zuo Li’s expression as she looked at her was complicated, even bearing a trace of irony and a trace of pity.

Afraid to linger, Shen Quanyi lowered her head humbly. Her expression revealed nothing, but her heart jolted as she silently wondered whether that look from Zuo Li had been one of favor or anger.

“All right. Since you have already entered the residence, you are now one family. In the days to come, you must work together in serving His Highness the Crown Prince.”

As she spoke, Zuo Li lowered her head and coughed twice. When she looked up again, her face already held a weary pallor.

Su Jin’s face showed concern. She rose and stood behind Zuo Li, gently rubbing her back and helping her breathe more easily.

No one spoke, but in their hearts they were making their own judgments. Rumor outside said the Crown Princess had long kept company with the Buddhist hall and was frail of health; even after ten years in the Eastern Palace, she had borne no child. Now, seeing how weak she appeared, the rumors seemed to be true.

Zuo Li pressed her temples as though forcing herself to continue. “It is getting late. Yu Lan, take them first to pay their respects to Consort Gu.”

The one addressed was the very woman who had just led Shen Quanyi and the others here. Yu Lan curtsied lightly and went ahead to wait at the doorway for the girls.

The group withdrew in an orderly manner, giving thanks as they left.