Sorry. I've run out of ideas for the chapter names, so I'm renaming all my chapters. Sorry abt that. It's better like this, though. Okay let's start. ~aurum autumn

Gao Ling rushes to my side, her face pink and glowing. "His Honoured Majesty has asked for an audience with me," she says.

I smile at her,happy for her. Wu Mei glances up sharply from where she is reading a book. "He asked for you?"

"Just to talk to me, and all," Gao Ling explains hastily. "Nothing else."

I can't read the expression in Wu Mei's eyes. She has grown more quiet recently and I'm worried for her.

"Oh, Wu Mei, you wanted to see the palace right?" I ask her.

She nods. I hold out a basket. It is a pretty lilac coloured basket with pastries, for the 3rd Concubine. Wu Mei takes it and walks away silently. I watch her, unable to shake the feeling that there's something wrong with her. 

Gao Ling leaves for her time with His Majesty and I wish her luck, hoping my best friend can also attract the attention of His Majesty. 

Gao Ling is so pretty, she'll have a very good chance of pleasing His Majesty. Once we're both concubines, we can be allies and visit each other, have tea with each other. 

While Wu Mei and Gao Ling are both gone, I supervise all the other activities in the house. 

----

Wu Mei appears suddenly in the kitchen, and I smile at her. "Wu Mei, there you are."

She doesn't reply. Now I'm quite worried for her. Is she okay? "Wu Mei, are you sick?"

"I'm fine," she says. She turns to leave, but just before that, when I catch her eyes, I see a wild, almost happy look in them. 

Wu Mei, what's wrong?

I have no time to worry about that for now, because I have to fulfill my duties. 

Gao Ling comes in a moment later. But she's crying. "Wang Min," she says.

Other girls are staring. I guide Gao Ling away from the kitchen and into my private room. "Gao Ling, what happened?" I ask once we're in the room with only Wan En.

"The Emperor said that there can only be 8 concubines at any one time. He said that he already found a new woman for the place of the 7th concubine. Not you. Someone else. I don't know who. But- he told me to...to wait. And see."

She cries again. I stay there, horrified. Who is this person who actually took her place? And...7th. Higher than me. The Emperor must like her.

Wan En looks at me timidly. "Uh..."

I smooth Gao Ling's hair. It's almost a motherly gesture. Gao Ling is like a sister in this cold palace. I'd hate her to get hurt in any way. But here she is, distressed and hurt.

"So you...you don't know who it is."

Gao Ling shakes her head. "We'll just have to see."

A small figure blocks the doorway. We look up. A cold voice we know so well says calmly "That would be me."

Wu Mei?