I could not meet Wu Zhao after I overheard that awful conversation, and we did not have many chances to talk, even if I had wished to. This was because Wu Zhao had suddenly been appointed to the position of Emperor's secretary.

None of us girls at the Jade Building could believe it. How had Wu Zhao managed to work her way up to such an important position? Lady Lin explained it to me as she taught me my Chinese characters. We were sitting in a corner of the dining room and I was copying out rows of Chinese characters, hoping that my calligraphy would improve. Many girls had shunned Lady Lin after her fall from grace, but I continued to learn from her. She was, after all, very well-learned and knowledgeable.

"Wu Zhao was assigned to change the Emperor's bedsheets," Lady Lin said. "I heard from a friend that she had talked to the Emperor and he was impressed at her knowledge. It is my guess that they've been getting closer."

I said nothing as I wrote out one more word. Wu Zhao was insane. She really was serious about climbing to power. And I knew that she would be able to achieve everything she went after, because this was Wu Zhao we were talking about- intelligent, beautiful and cruel. Still, a part of me felt angry, a tight and hard knot of rage and jealousy rolled into one. She already had looks. She already had impeccable manners. Why did she have to have the Emperor too? Why did she want everything?

Lady Lin nodded as she looked over my words. "Better. You can leave now. I still have to instruct Gao Ling."

"Can I have one scroll of paper?" I asked. "I would like to write to my family."

The woman looked distressed, her usual poise gone. "You can't. Who will send it out for you? I have lost my privileges. You know no one else. It's impossible."

I thought of Wang Kai, my older brother, and how he had sent a letter to us before. It was definitely possible. So I simply picked up a scroll and ink pot with the brush in it, and left to sit in the gardens. The gardens had a nice stone table for me to write in peace.

My letter took a long time and when I finished, the sun was dipping behind the horizon. The sunset was much prettier back home. I was happy with my letter- I read it over one last time before folding it: Dear Mama, I am doing fine here, and I hope you are too at home. It's strange in the palace, because there are lots of scheming people, but I'm getting used to it. I saw Wang Kai the other day. He is doing well, Mama, looking healthy and strong, so don't worry about us. I have met some new friends, Gao Ling and Wu Zhao. Perhaps one day you will hear of them as the beauties of China, because they are really uniquely pretty. To describe them to you- Gao Ling is tall and fair, the fairest lady I have ever laid my eyes on. Wu Zhao has wonderful naturally curled eyelashes, with pink cheeks and bright eyes. The food here is good. They serve us nutritious food mostly, and food that is good for the skin. I'm learning drawing and writing and even music! In a way, I like the palace life. Stay happy, Ma. It's difficult to send out letters from here, so I apologise if I do not manage to send out any more. – Your loving daughter, Wang Min.

I sighed. Hopefully, Ma would think I was happy in the palace. I didn't dare to mention Liang Wen. If I had hinted at our relationship, his reputation back home would be destroyed. He would be accused of taking advantage of me, even though he would never do that. After that, he would not be able to get a match for life.

Once I was done, I rushed to Lady Lin and looked at her entreatingly. "Please, Lady Lin?"

She sighed and smiled all at once. "You remind me so much of myself when I was younger- innocent, loving and generous. Very well, I will try to send it for you."

Lady Lin moved away quickly, brushing a silver tear from her eye. Now, Lady Lin spoke little, except to instruct us, and she wore simple robes like we did, of a single colour. Higher-ranked women could wear a variety of colours, compete with little trinkets and jewellery. The commoners would wear dark clothes, so that the mud and dirt would not sully their clothes easily.

Thus, imagine my surprise when Wu Zhao swept in, cloaked in a vibrant red shawl and white dress. Her dress had gold patterns on it, too, and was fancier than ours, with lace and layering of fabric. Girls stared enviously at her, whispering to each other. Gao Ling and I stared.

Wu Zhao came to us and smiled. "Long time no see."

Bitterness welled up in me. "Yes, you've been too busy for us, haven't you?"

Gao Ling rolled her eyes and took my arm, patting it comfortingly. Wu Zhao laughed. "Of course. But you haven't wanted to speak to me. Have you, Wang Min? Why is that so?"

I was at a loss for words. Somehow, she had turned it around such that the knife was pointing at me, and no longer at her. Wu Zhao shook her head at me. "Don't test me, Wang Min. Remember, my position is higher than yours is now."

Secretly, I wondered what being the secretary of the Emperor was like. This was an unprecedented move. Wu Zhao, a lowly girl, had been transformed into one of the Emperor's aides, and look at her! She was in grand clothes, her face was pretty and flushed, and she looked wealthy and powerful now. Wu Zhao caught my gaze and smiled knowingly. "Want to know stories about the palace?"

"W-what palace? We are in the palace," I said. I didn't want to seem too eager. That would mean admitting that Wu Zhao was above me in position.

Gao Ling clucked. "Wu Zhao, are you getting dimmer with age?"

"Oh, I didn't mean the Jade Building. The two of you are confined to this place all day. No, I meant the real palace," she smirked. "I take it Gao Ling is not interested, though. Wang Min, are you?"

Gao Ling looked at me too. "Surely you aren't, Wang Min!"

"I..." Wu Zhao had manipulated me again, to make me choose between her and Gao Ling. She knew I badly wanted to hear her stories. Wu Zhao told fascinating stories. But Gao Ling was my friend too.

"I think I'll just go to the toilet," I said weakly, and fled. On the way there, Lady Lin called me and told me that I had to change the Empress Zhangsun's bedsheets, as a careless servant had spilled wine on them.

Quickly, I grabbed a big basket which had fluffy gold bedsheets in it, and set off to Empress Zhangsun's quarters. It was better to flee now anyway, than to return and be stuck between Wu Zhao and Gao Ling again. I was a coward for not doing something to ease the conflict between them but I didn't know how to resolve it without offending either side. So I ran.

I stepped into the cool, darkened room of Empress Zhangsun. It was a welcome refuge from the heat and noise of outside. Efficiently and silently, I got to work, rolling up my sleeves and changing the bedsheets. There was no one inside, only a scattering of guards outside, so I worked in peace. Until the Empress herself stepped in.

Obviously, I hadn't learnt anything from my first encounter with her. I startled like a newborn rabbit and took a step back. That also meant that I tripped over the soiled bedsheet and ended up tangled pathetically in it. My face burning hot in embarrassment, I tried to get up, only a foot was still caught deep inside the fabric, so I ended up sprawling to the ground again. And rolled to a stop right at the Empress' feet.

I looked up, red with humiliation. Her servants tittered, covering their mouths gracefully. I knew I was going to be the subject of conversation tonight in the servants' quarters. Then to my surprise, Empress Zhangsun laughed too. "What an amusing, clumsy person," she remarked in a polished accent. "Get up, now. We'll just pretend not to see this. How would you like some tea with me in my garden?"

Her servants' laughter faded and turned to glares. They must have been just as confused as I was, because I couldn't imagine why the Empress was giving me a chance to drink tea with her- it meant that I was, at least temporarily, elevated to the same social status as her, able to sit at the same table as the Empress. That was no common feat.

Well, who was I to decline a direct order from the Empress? I hid a smile. Bowing my head, I said, "Thank you, your majesty. However, please allow this humble servant to finish with my task."

She waved her hand dismissively. "One of my servants can do that. Lei Hua, go."

Lei Hua glared at me as she walked past the Empress to continue my job. The Empress shook her head. "Actually, I feel like having tea indoors. Do you mind that?"

"No, your majesty."

So we sat in an alcove-like area lit by softly glowing oil lamps. The table in the middle of us was low and draped in red and gold lace, with intricate patterns carved into the legs of the table. I was a little on edge, to be honest, because I did not know what to expect. The Empress sighed again and lifted a pale, smooth hand to take a sip, gesturing to me to do the same. I tried the tea- it was delicious. It smelled like roses and tasted like cherry blossoms. A warm feeling bloomed in my stomach as I drank it. I loved it. "Thank you so much, your majesty! It tastes wonderful," I blurted out before I caught myself. I had just spoken out of place.

She smiled, setting down the teacup with a clink. "Glad that you enjoy it. You're the one that broke my vase, correct?"

"Uh..." I broke out into a cold sweat. Deciding I couldn't pin the blame on anyone else since I had no twin here, I nodded.

"Not to worry. It was a fake anyway, I think. Relax, young girl. I just thought you'd like a cup of tea. You're looking rather frazzled."

I decided to just take her advice and continue the conversation. "Yes, because I've been rather busy learning to be a lady and having lessons," I explained.

"Oh! That's interesting. You're not of noble blood, then?"

"No, your majesty."

We carried on talking for a while. I told her about my country life, and she seemed interested by my stories, leaning forward and laughing lots. Then the Empress said suddenly, "I think I will introduce you to the Emperor. He'll probably like you."

One part of me screamed "ew!" and the other half rejoiced- "yes!". Still, I knew this was a valuable chance that I had to grab at. It's like seeing a diamond bobbing on the water, and you have to pull it out before it floats away. I took this opportunity now. Although I wondered- what did the Empress stand to gain from this? Surely if I entered the palace, she would lose some of the Emperor's attention, because there would be one more lady as competition.

"Do not misunderstand this as a trick. My health is failing. I simply want to give the best to my husband. I think you'd be wonderful for him- you are simple and do not ask for much."

I nodded, not really listening to her. I was still rather stunned from this generous offer. The Empress really was as they say- she was kind, beautiful, and selfless. In my later years, long after she passed on, I always thought of her and marvelled how she had stayed so kind in the vicious, cutthroat palace. She was a legend.

"Come by here on the next full moon night. I'll let you meet him. Dress well," were the last words she said to me before I left to go back to the Jade Building, my heart singing in joy. No. It was not joy, exactly. Joy was Liang Wen. But it was a sort of peaceful contentment, a quiet calm, that was the rational part of my brain taking over. I had to charm the Emperor, after all. It was the only way for me to have a fine life here.

It struck me as I entered the Jade Building that it was awfully nice of the Empress to let another woman meet her husband in her own home. 

Sorry for the long wait!