Love In The Forbidden City (Completed)

Chapter V - The Tea Maiden - Part I (Revised)

Slowly, the Eighth Bei'Le said, "Your father was afraid that I might command the General to be executed after knowing Ruo Lan's past. He did not want anything bad to happen to the General. In order to protect him, your father sent him to the war. It was tragic that he died."

The news pained me. I tried to remove the bangle but the prince stopped me.

"This bangle is to be given to someone I like. I really like you, Ruo Xi. You are true to yourself. Promise me that you will never remove it." He held my hands as he said. While I didn't react to him, he continued, "Do not worry. I will try my best to persuade Father to bestow you to me."

"I don't want to!" Anger speared up my vein. How could he assume that I wanted to be his wife?

"You want to be Father's concubine then? You had left a good impression during the Mooncake Festival. There is a huge possibility that Father will elect you as his concubine."

His voice was undeniable, shattering my final hope. I kept my head low and said nothing. What else could I say? Could I still navigate my life? Could I say no to everything and leave this place?

The Eighth Bei'Le nodded. "I will not force you. When you enter the palace, try to keep plain, if you do not want to invite attention. Do not ever adorn yourself like how you did on Tenth Brother's birthday." He dismissed me with a crestfallen look.

As I walked back to the South House, I couldn't help but rue over my fate. I don't want to be passed around like a plaything. I want a man who truly loves me and respects me. I don't want to be a woman that's toyed by the men when they're bored.

Ruo Lan was waiting for my return. She was afraid that the Eighth Bei'Le's house couldn't offer me enough necessities to bring into the palace and decided to bring me out to the town for some shopping. We were picking some jewelry when the Gorolos stepped into the shop.

Still pumping up her chest, Gorolo Ming Yu snatched the bracelet that I was holding. "I will purchase whatever she sets her eyes on," she told the shopkeeper.

I didn't want to relent to her, but the Eighth Bei'Le's words rang in my head. When you enter the palace, try to keep plain, if you do not want to invite attention.

Smiling bitterly at Pussycat, I said, "The bracelet suits you very well. You may have it."

Her baffled expression was epic, but I didn't have the mood to feel elated. Holding Ruo Lan's hand, we walked out of the shop. Ruo Lan was so over the moon that she kept complimenting me for my change of behaviour. I could only register a fake smile on my face.

The Maiden Selection took place not long after the Lunar Chinese New Year. Before the herald came to bring me to the palace, Ruo Lan, Qiao Hui, and I sat in the reception chamber.

"Sister," I held Ruo Lan's hands. "About the Eighth Bei'Le, he didn't send--"

"Speak no further, Ruo Xi." She shushed me. A tear leaked from her eyes. "Nothing concerns me now except your happiness and safety. Though there is only a wall between us and the palace, I cannot visit you often. You must take care of yourself--"

The herald came before she could finish her reminder.

Ruo Lan turned her face away, trying to shield me from seeing her tears. Having to leave her and Qiao Hui made me cry. I promised to myself that I would never cry again but I failed. I felt my heart split into two, and I knew the wound would never recover.

There were about two dozen of us that had been pre-screened to enter the palace. All of them were elite women from the noble and well-to-do families, selected out of three hundred maidens during the first stage. We shared the same chambers during the selection. I was informed that the entire process of selection took five years, where the candidates had to go through rounds and rounds of thorough family background checks and obedience tests.