48.The concubines story

"Now, can you tell me finally the story of this place. Somehow I have a feeling that this place was cared about just the way I want it to be cared about it as well." The previous owner must be someone who liked plants or was bored.

"Here lived one of the concubines of one of the old Emperors. No one knew where she came from. In the eyes of the people, she was a mere commoner." Chun Momo's eyes became distant as she remembered. "As you know, to become a servant in the palace, they use actually certain people. Not anyone can enter."

Liu Mei knew that there were strict rules about palace servants. But still, not many nobles would send their own children inside. Only those that were close to starvation or had no other option would do that. But considering that even in olden times here lived millions of people, there should be enough of them finding their way to the palace.

"She came under the recommendation of one lower noble as his adoptive daughter. Her face was very striking. Everyone all had white skin, but her skin was from beginning to the end on the darker side. She never even tried to make it whiter, or prettier. At that time Emperor saw her and just took her as a concubine. There was absolutely no one that took her in their eyes. Not even Empress or other concubines."

Of course not. At that time pale complexion was a sign of beauty as dark complexion could be considered ugly.

'' No one knew why he liked her in the first place. But no one bothered her as well. She was a smart woman that learned fast and kept quiet. She worse simple bit elegant clothes never tried to stand out, but her presence was obvious." Chin Momo sipped on the tea and was still in deep thoughts when she heard Liu Mei's voice.

"How did it happen then? I mean that she put her own palace. Didn't lower concubines live together?" Liu Mei was seriously curious.

Chun Momo nodded

''Yes. At that time all lower concubines were living in the same place, but something happened. The Emperor was attacked by assassins in mid of his birthday celebration. She jumped in front of him and got stabbed a few times. After that Empress and Dowager felt that she deserved for her doing some present. When they asked her what she wants she asked for her adoptive father to live in his town and for herself a small corner of her own. "

"The modesty of her words made Emperor grant her adoptive father higher position and sent him to his desired place and she got her own palace. This place was then abandoned so no concubine ever wanted to be here inside. Even then many stories were cursing around this place. So under the persuasion of his favorite consort, she got this place and was even more scorned about. She was afraid that early or later her life would become even harder so she asked her adoptive father for seeds before he left."

Liu Mei and Hua Roulan were deep in the story and listened further. "So, her life became harder?"

Chin Momo nodded with a slight smile. "Servants would not bring her food or money she supposed to get, other concubines would scorn her, but she was quiet. She didn't complain at all. One day she went to pay respect to the Empress and she made her knee as she always wore the same clothes. But even then she didn't voice a complaint and fainted. After the doctor came, they found out she was malnourished what made Empress ashamed. How can the Emperor's woman be malnourished? And what is going in with clothes? Then under pressure, her close servant explained her situation. Empress was furious. She punished everyone except the main culprit. The favorite concubine."

Liu Mei loved those old time stories so she looked at Chun Momo with big eyes as she spoke. "These things really are happening in real life? I thought only in stories things like that would happen."

Chun Momo blinked at her as she had no idea what is Liu Mei talking about and continued. ''As it seemed, Royal Consort was quite annoyed by the fact that such a person was even considered as a concubine and as no one paid attention, she just made her life harder. The Empress asked the Emperor to punish her but he didn't do anything so Empress and all concubines went on hunger strike out the protest. After a couple days many fainted and even Empress fainted a few times. On the end, he asked her why, she said if he already took all the women as his own, he has to take responsibility. If not he should release them, let them have a good life at home and have only one woman. She had no wish to be next to have a hard time. "

Liu Mei smiled. "Then he punished the Royal Consort?"

Chun Momo shook her head. "Unfortunately, no."

Liu Mei and Hua Roulan looked at each other in surprise. "What happened afterward?"

"He went all crazy. He let all the concubines go home, the Empress lost her position and was sent home as well and Royal Consort became a new Empress. Unfortunately, no one told the concubine his decision and she was still inside this place. But Empress didn't forget her. She locked the palace completely and let her starve. Five years passed, then ten years. In those years the Empire was under constant attack from inside and outside. The Empress died from childbirth. One day there was a big fire that burned almost the whole palace, but strangely only one place was left untouched. This palace. What do you think about what happened next?"

Liu Mei had a few versions of the possible end. "Well, she lived until the fire and died from the smoke. Or she lived because she used the water to trow over the roof of the house. The Emperor found her got in lived with her and a happy end."

That should be it, right?

Chun Momo smiled at her but with sadness behind. "The Emperor was a superstitious person. He loved that woman so much that he thought she did some wicked magic in her palace against himself and his beloved and killed her and everyone who served her in the most vicious way. A couple of days later he reinstated old Empress and died from a heart attack. Some said he was poisoned and some made up a beautiful story of the everlasting love of an Emperor and a concubine with all those wicked characters trying to separate them. And about his dying of broken heart on death bed."

Hua Roulan chuckled. "I think my sister loves that book."

"Actually, the Empress was always good to the concubines. After his death, she buried the concubine with all honors in the royal tomb as she felt sorry not taking her out on time and since then this place was just tended."

Chun Momo touched one of the nearby plants. "That woman was like you. She loved plants and thought only about ways how to survive. Who would have thought that her simple thinking would be seen as sorcery? This place is more sanctuary. Miss, many people will look down on you for being sent here. But doing so, Emperor himself is trying to protect you. After what happened, Empress herself choose to live in this place until her death. This place is more than it looks."

Liu Mei stood up and when she came closer she took her hand between her own, making old woman flustered. "Chun Momo, I am maybe simple, but not everything is as it seems as well. I am grateful that you shared this story with me. I will be now even more careful than I planned. Xiao Ran..." She looked at the girl that stood by her side. "... you know all the things that are needed, so I do not need to worry. While I learn what I have to, you and Chun Momo will train servants. Those with rotten minds send back home. Add a few more to help out here. I am sure you can handle that. You are my first class maid after all. Right?"

Xiao Ran knew that her position was now safe and smiled brightly. She made the right choice. To bad Xiao Mei had her own ideas...