Chapter One: The Arrival

Chapter One:  The Arrival

The Yongli mansion was on the Eastern border of Blossom City, in an affluent neighborhood. Its gate was painted bright red, and its gardens were famous among the noble families of the city. Master Yongli Hao was a captain in the Imperial Guard, and his family was very well regarded by both the emperor and the people. Inside the gate, the house was a traditional mansion in all its splendor. Separate houses were built for each family member, a sumptuous display of their financial status and high caste.  The halls were arranged in perfect harmony around the elaborate gardens and the small lotus pond in the center.  Near the pond, under the blossoming trees, there was a stone table where the young masters of the house often gathered to socialize with their friends. The eldest child of Master Yongli was eighteen-year-old Yongli Minerva. She was followed by Lu, who was the son of one of Master Yongli's concubines, and then finally the twins, Chen and Sun, born to his wife, Luen. 

The day was fair, and the blue sky stretched overhead, a perfect backdrop to the delicate pink flowers of the Eternal Blossom, the famous tree which had given the city its name. Minerva, who was always called Minnie by her friends, was wearing a fine white gown, with a dark pink cape. She adored the color pink, as it made her face look fresh and bright, even without any makeup. She was regarded as one of the most beautiful young ladies in the city, and there was no shortage of young men who were considering her for marriage. 

Across the table from her sat her friend, Anna, in a stylish but simple yellow gown, the daughter of the minister who lived in the next compound. The two girls had grown up together and were very close friends. The servants had poured them tea and brought them a tray of sliced fruits to nibble as they gossiped. "Minnie, is it true your cousin is arriving today?" 

Minerva sniffed and picked up the teacup. "Yes, she is expected any time now."

"Aren't you excited?" Anna leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

"What is there to be excited about?"

"Any new person is exciting, in my opinion! What is she like?"

Minerva replaced her teacup on the table and picked up a wedge of sliced melon. "I haven't seen her since we were children," she said, her lips pulling into a pout. "And by then she was weak and sickly. She did not want to play, and she cried a lot, that's all I remember."

"Oooh. Why does she come to Blossom City now? Is she looking for a husband?"

"My cousin is an invalid; I doubt anyone would want to marry her. No, my uncle has been sent on a diplomatic mission, and he will be gone for a long time. He did not want her to stay alone, so he sent her here." She bit into the melon delicately, so as not to drip juice on her dress.

"I see then. So, they are preparing Chen's house for her?" Separate houses had been built for Chen and Sun, but since the boys were still young, they stayed together in Sun's house with their nanny. Anna had observed that the servants had been cleaning the empty house since morning and moving in new furniture. 

"Yes. Imagine that at first Mother proposed that she share a house with me! As if!" Minerva said indignantly.

"Don't you think it would be fun? It could be like having a sister who is close to your age."

"No! I think it would be intrusive," she said harshly, and then she caught herself, softened her expression into a smile, and reached across the stone table to squeeze her friend's hand. "Besides, you are the only sister that I need."

Before Anna could respond, there was a commotion at the gate. "She's arrived!" Anna leaped up excitedly, "Let's go see!"

Minerva could only grunt, yet she hurried to follow her friend to the gate, where a grand carriage was just entering. The carriage was being drawn by a fine black horse. It was followed by a cart loaded with boxes and cases pulled by two more black horses, and an elderly servant riding on a fourth horse. The driver pulled the horse to a halt and hurried to get a stepping stool in place.

Minerva's mother, Yongli Luen, had also come out to welcome her niece. She stood with her hands folded in front of her, elegant and composed in her sky-blue gown, and delicately adorned with pearls at ears, neck and wrists, while she waited for her niece to alight from the conveyance. The curtain opened, and a young woman emerged. She moved slowly, and clumsily, with great difficulty it seemed. When it came to the mounting stool, the driver had to support her as she took slow, painful steps down to the ground, wincing slightly with each move. When her slippered feet finally reached the cobblestone, the servant handed her an ornately carved walking staff. She righted herself then, smoothing her silken green skirts, before standing tall and smiling softly to her servant. 

Luen hurried forward and embraced her eagerly, completely throwing off her niece's hard-won composure. "MeiLan, I'm so happy you have arrived! Look at you, a grown woman now! The last time I saw you, you were just a child!" 

MeiLan's face brightened in a genuine, though tired, smile as she bowed, with her hands clasped in front of her. "Auntie, thank you for welcoming me."

"Rise up! Good, Good! Minnie, come and welcome your cousin!"

Minerva moved forward reluctantly but tried not to show it. She put on her most gracious face, not to be outdone by this new entrant for attention, as she bowed slightly to acknowledge her older cousin. "MeiLan, welcome."

"Cousin! You are as beautiful as they say! Thank you!" 

Minerva warmed slightly at the compliment.

"Come, come inside, MeiLan, you must be tired after such a long journey! We will have lunch and you can tell me all the news from your home." Luen escorted the girl toward the main hall.

"But my horses…"

"Oh, don't worry. Ying will help your servants with everything! Ying is my head manservant!" A middle-aged man, in the house uniform of brown with black trim, stepped out from the gaggle of servants that had gathered curiously to see the new visitor. "Do not worry about anything, Miss, I will personally see to everything."

"Thank you, sir." MeiLan bobbed her head gracefully, and then followed her aunt towards the main house. Luen made a show of presenting the grounds as they walked, in an effort to allay her niece's discomfort at being so slow. 

After a few paces, MeiLan turned to see Minerva hanging back, unable to hide her upset at not being invited by her mother to join in the welcoming tea, and called warmly, "Cousin, please join us!"

Although Anna had not been invited either, Minerva grabbed her hand and dragged her inside the main house too. A table was quickly set in the middle, and the women knelt on the low seats around it. MeiLan had difficulty folding her legs underneath her, and Luen felt worried. She didn't want to embarrass her guest in her first moments in the family mansion.

"Now dear, have some tea, and then tell me everything! How is Brother-in-law Zheng? Is it true he will travel all the way to India?"

While MeiLan spoke, Minerva observed her. MeiLan was really not pretty. Her face was too round, and she had a sort of sickly bloated look to her. Her hair was rather nice, and she had striking blue eyes and a soft smile, but otherwise, she was boring. Minerva calmed herself, knowing that she was quite superior to her cousin.

"I have a wonderful idea!" Anna piped up unexpectedly, "The day after tomorrow is the Peach Festival! Please, MeiLan, come with us to enjoy the festivities in the city center! It will be so much fun! There are delicious foods to taste and performers to watch, and in the evening, there are firework displays!" 

MeiLan smiled, although her eyes belied her exhaustion. "That sounds delightful, Miss Anna. I would love to join you and my cousins for an excursion."