The Pink House
As the crowd glance up upon the Empress, holding their breaths and awaiting the next announcement, a pair of sharp hazel eyes scanned the girls before and behind her. She caught sight of her cousin and could only show a haughty smirk. As if seemingly saying, "Watch, I'm about to be picked next."
Xi Gong Gong grunted as he took the scroll from the maid. It was almost midday, and given how much time has been wasted before, he was slightly behind schedule... His annoyance grew as he realized he could be missing lunch. "Let us welcome the third noble lady, who shall from today onwards, occupy the Pink House. From the Liu Fu family, Liu Shan Yu. Come forth and accept this decree. You have been selected and blessed by the heavens. From today onwards, you will be known as Noble lady Shan Yu. Now bow three times, once to the Emperor, once to the Empress, and once to swear your allegiance to the royal court."
Shan Yu's smirk widens but she quickly morphed her beautiful features into one that was childlike and innocent. She let out a delighted gasp and made her way to the front with such elegance that no other girl in the crowd could fault her for being picked. Everyone was brooding as they kept their eyes on Shan Yu. Shan Yu with her dark luscious hair that cascades down her back, to her teeny tiny waist, smiled with such a dazzling brilliance as she bowed low before the Empress and thanked her.
The Empress could only smile warmly as Shan Yu was whisked away to change. Once again uncoiling her fan as she hid behind it, the Empress rolled her eyes, her disapproval and hatred for Shan Yu shown only behind the fan to her most trusted advisor, Ra-On. Her first attendant in waiting could only smile and bow to her.
"Patience, My Empress, is it not for the security of the kingdom?" Ra-On chided her friend gently.
The Empress resisted the urge to roll her eyes again as she recalled how the court of ladies had faced their first argument with divided opinions when it came to the decision for the girl before them.
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Xi Gong Gong: "My Empress, just think about it, monopolizing Liu Fu's personal army is so powerful. It would be an advantage to the royal family.."
Advisor Baek: "I agree My Empress, for the longest time, the only personal army that could do sustainable damage to the royal army is the Liu Fu family's personal army.. I think it would be wise to have Liu Fu's eldest daughter as part of the court, it would solidify their alliance."
Ra-On: "Advisor Baek, are you seriously suggesting that Liu Fu is not already loyal to the royal court? Are they showing contempt now? As far as the court knows, the rebels had been wiped out and annihilated. Surely there is no need to pick Liu Shan Yu as a concubine for the Emperor as this is not a political marriage?"
Advisor Baek: "I am not suggesting anything. I am just speaking from a general's point of view. If the country were to go into war at any time, at least we can count on the Liu Fu's for support."
Crown Prince Yu Wang: "Advisor Baek, Ra-On, your prince understands where you both are coming from. However, this is a choice that should be left to my mother, Her Empress. While picking Liu Shan Yu may seem like an obvious choice for political reasons, there are both sides to the same coin. Would it not be wrong for me to suggest that given her father's immerse and powerful backing that she would wreak chaos if given the chance? Would the court not be tiptoeing around her in order not to offend her? While it is important indeed that we have her family's support, it is also important for her to know her place. By choosing her based on her family's personal army, would only allow her to think she is invincible."
There was a period of pregnant silence before the chatter and bicker begun again. Mixed opinions and strategies were voiced as the room started to resemble more and more like a market.
The Empress could only sigh as she listened in half-heartedly to the mixed opinions. She could only smile lazily at her son's remarks. It was true, bringing Shan Yu into the court could go very well or very badly. One careless move and she might lose power and footing in the lotus palace. Shan Yu had to be brought into the harem on account of her father's army. At the same time, she had to believe she got in on her own effort.
This Shan Yu was proving to be a handful to handle even before she was officially inducted into the inner courts. The Empress rolled her eyes and slammed her fan onto the oak table before her. Her actions causing an immediate silence as the individuals who had been aggressively discussing let their sentences trailed off, wary of offending the Empress.
"Liu Fu's daughter... not the brightest girl within the candidates. She is pretty but is there anything more she can offer past her beauty? Nothing much... currently, she relies only on her family. I have heard, that she is a master at embroidery. So let it be shown that she managed to get into the harem by her own efforts. On the third day, we will test them on their abilities to sew a single phoenix within two hours. They will only be given white silver and gold threads, the hardest threads to sew with. She will be given an opportunity to be chosen if she showcases outstanding talent amongst the rest. If not, we can send her packing back home. Her father's personal army may be an added advantage but compared to the army I can send for from my father, she is nothing." The Empress concluded, her eyes scanning every single one of her ladies and advisors, as if daring them to challenge her.
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As the third day came, every single girl was issued a roll of white silver thread and a roll of gold thread.
Within two hours, there were only 4 completed pieces of work.
The Empress had Ra-On collected them and presented them to the council of advisors. Without knowing the owner of the work, they had to pick the one they thought was well done.
It was a straightforward win for a single portrait of the phoenix, which shone with such ferocity that even the Empress was impressed. Delicately sewn onto the cloth was a majestic red bird, with silver beaks and eyes, with the threads looping in and out, it gave the eyes an orange gleam that seemed different from that of its red feathers. Everyone had gathered around it for ages, trying to figure out where the embroidery started and ended.
It was of no surprise to the Empress on who the piece belonged to. Her fingers traced the piece up and down. She recognise this line work, the pattern it was sewn in, the way two threads could come together to create a third color, even though it was great, it still paled in comparison to that of the method's original creator, Master Ning. She could only let out a frustrated sigh, Master Ning had not taken up another disciple for years before rumors started buzzing of her teaching at Liu Fu's mansion. This piece before her belonged to Liu Shan Yu. The one girl she didn't want in her court.
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Liu Shan Yu emerged from the second landing of the stairs, not even bothering to hide her smile as she bowed to the Empress and took her spot beside Zheng Mei Xi. Her eyes combed through the crowd of girls once again, tried to locate her cousin. With a victory smile on her excited face, she could only taunt her cousin.
It screamed "Look, look at me, I've made it to the top, didn't I tell you? I would make it to the top, I'm going to be picked. This place is rightfully mine, and you, stand rightfully below and before me. I won and you lost."
Liu Ji Chun held her fiery gaze from within the crowds. She lifted her head and gave Liu Shan Yu a smirk of her own as Ra-On lifted the paddle and Xi Gong Gong shuffled to the front to announce the next lady.