Lady Lin turns an angry shade of red, and I know Lady Gao's asked a wrong question. "Bai chi! You really think His Honoured Majesty has time for all of us? There are around 50 girls here! We're just p-prostitutes, really! When His Honoured Majesty feels like it, he picks one of us for the night. If luck is on your side, he may claim you as an official concubine of his."    (bai chi: idiot)

I gasp. "What? I never heard-"

"Hush. I've said too much. Now, you are expected to wash your own clothes, and show up at all the meals. If not, you will just miss that meal. You are not permitted to leave this place. Only go as far as the marbled water fountain. Talk politely, be civil."

Lady Lin said this with a bored voice, as though she'd said this many times before. "And I am head of this house. I am the 8th Concubine, but just call me Lady Lin."

We nodded. Lady Lin nodded and swept away, still carrying those clothes. Lady Gao and I looked at each other and she giggled. "So what's your name?"

"Gao Ling."

"Wang Min."

I smiled at her. Then, she suggested that we clean up this room, so together we went down to the kitchen area to collect some water and cloths.

----

I spent every afternoon, for my first month, with Lady Lin. She appeared to stay at the Yu Lou, or Jade Building, all the time. She taught me and Gao Ling the basic curtsies and the proper things to say if we were at a dinner. 

I've learnt basic reading, too. Something I've almost forgotten. I mean, I can read some things. Easy Chinese characters. Like 你好, which means hello, and pronounced nihao. But others, I just don't recognise them. Luckily Lady Lin helped me. 

In fact, she seems to like me. Weird, but she does. 

Right now, I'm studying a map she gave me, trying to learn a little geography- the provinces of China. There's a knock on the door and it bangs open. Lady Lin glances at the hall anxiously. Then she hurries out of the room and into the corridor, which leads to the main hall and entrance. I look at Gao Ling. Standing up together, we follow her down the corridor. 

The same court lady that brought us looks flustered again as the other women screech "His Honoured Majesty! Where is he?"

She's nudging a young lady forward, I can tell. Probably a new girl. I feel sorry for her already. It's no fun being stuck in this building.

But even as I look at her, I notice something different. This girl has an air of pride, of superiority. She holds her head high and walks forward gracefully, purposefully, to Lady Lin, before bowing. Her voice, loud and clear, rings out. "I am Wu Ze Tian, daughter of Chancellor Wu. I come to join you."

Lady Lin smooths her dress nervously. "Yes, yes. Lady Wu- this way."

She looks over at me. "Come help, Lady Wang. She'll share with you and Lady Gao, okay?"

We nod, and I follow them as Lady Lin gives Wu Ze Tian all the facts about the palace life.

Halfway through, Wu Ze Tian cuts in coolly. "I understand. My father has already told me all this. Thank you."

Lady Lin stops, taken aback. Then she smiles quickly. "Certainly. Here, your room. I'll move in a new bed, ask the servants."

She leaves quickly. Wu Ze Tian gazes around at her surroundings, and then her gaze rests on us. I fidget uncomfortably. Gao Ling then asks, "Why are you here?"

"Excuse me?"

Gao Ling says "I mean, you're the daughter of Chancellor Wu. He's upper class, you could just marry someone else. If you stay here, you just have to wait until His Honoured Majesty notices you, which could be never..."

Wu Ze Tian's gaze doesn't waver. Then she says "I want to be the Empress."