Meet my other favorite character in the series, Dao. 

I love writing on her. Sadly I only wrote on her once in E&I when she met the emperor in the garden. But now in HS&I I get to explore her character. So so excited!

Get that tea/coffee and read ;)

Chapter 6

Dao
The Lady Queens Manor

The door burst, letting in a frantic mother hen into Dao's childhood bedroom. "Dao, what are you doing here?"

"Mistress Han―"

"Are you not well, my child?"

The only times she was allowed to leave the palace was when she was not well. The palace would grant her leave to go and recuperate at home. Thus her mother was distraught to see her home.

Dao continued to comb her hair. "Everything is well, Mistress Han."

When growing up, everyone around her addressed her mother as Mistress Han so she caught that up too, finding it difficult to call her 'Mother'. Adding on to the fact that she was raised as any other lady queen courtesan, learning poems, dance, art and songs from her mother. So Mistress Han was her mistress, well that was until she abandoned her at the palace.

"Then what are you doing here?"

Dao giggled excitedly, "I heard Luo Meng has been coming here recently."

Everyone at the manor knew she was smitten about Luo Meng.

Mistress Han tsked. "They allowed you to come here based on that reason?"

"I had people who owed me favors help me get a gate pass." Not exactly that. She told the Hougong Senior Court Lady she had some personal issues to deal with and asked to be allowed three days leave. It was the first time she took advantage of her palace mistress's favor.

This was favor she gained in the past when the Senior Court Lady would call in personal favors from the kitchen, like asking them to serve her gourmet food that was exclusive to the royal family or to prepare night snacks when all palace workers were only allowed three meals a day. Because of this, the Senior Court Lady told their kitchen department they were entitled to come to her for anything they needed.

Her kitchen department served Princess Cai Wenjin, the emperor's only child, thus they were able to smuggle meals for the Senior Court Lady. Princess Cai Wenjin was not old enough to be able to monitor her own stock, and the one in charge of that was the culprit herself, the Senior Court Lady. Though after being bullied by the emperor to kill people who were wrongly accused of poisoning Prince Kuan Hui, the woman spent more time being depressed than doing dirty tricks recently.

Hougong Senior Court Lady wrote a gate pass for her, for the fake reason that Dao was not well. Dao had not been out of the palace for a long time, so it wouldn't be suspicious. This was essential because if anyone dug deep enough they would find out, no note from a royal physician was issued recommending Dao to leave the palace.

"What are you getting yourself into Dao?" Her mother's brow creased with worry.

"Don't worry Mistress Han. It is not as complicated as you think. The palace is lenient to us palace maids because we work hard." Lies. Meet the emperor and you would know the place was a place for no games. "So were the rumors true?"

"Rumors, or you received a letter from one of the lady queens? They know better than to share such things with you. Who comes and leaves this place is private," her mother admonished.

"Mistress Han," Dao rose and went to where she stood, rubbing her hands to soften her up. "Why are you so serious? Life is too short for you to be stressing at such an age."

She gave Dao the 'I'm watching you' look.

"Mother," she cooed.

Mistress Han sighed. "Yes, he has been coming here."

Dao squealed excitedly. "That is just magnificent. Can I serve him if he comes tonight?"

"Have you forgotten whose woman you are?"

"I know, I know, Mistress Han. But serving Luo Meng drinks and reciting a few poems for him is no sin."

"Is that so?" One eyebrow of Mistress Han lifted.

"If no one finds out," she winked.

It seemed like her mother needed a little bit of more persuasion.

"This is the only man I have ever liked, Mistress Han. All my life I have had to look at him from afar, can't I just see him up close just this once? For all I know this is the only chance I will get to be near a man. They say we are women who belong to the emperor but to be honest, it's rare that the emperor even cast a glance at us. When he does, it's because you are about to die."

Her mother was silent, probably torn with guilt and sadness. Dao always accused her that she committed her to the palace for a palace lady title so she wouldn't die a mere courtesan, or fall in love with a man who couldn't marry her. The law stated that a courtesan could only be a concubine. Dao didn't care for a title, or love, all she ever wanted was to grow up living with her mother.

"I guess you can serve him."

Dao screamed into her mother's arms. This was the best day ever. She was going to get to speak to her crush, on one on one, just the two of them. "Mistress Han I'm extremely delighted. You have to help me look pretty."

"No one better than me to do that," Mistress Han laughed.

"I want to look like the most wanted courtesan in the Capital."

"And you will. But you have to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Clothes must stay on. No silly stuff."

"You don't have to say it. I am an honorable woman." Dao crossed her heart.

They sat Dao down and pinned her hair with a variety of pins, and added on a headpiece as her hair did not have enough volume. Dao preferred natural makeup, so they coated her eyelids with a beautiful bronze shade, lips nude. She looked gorgeous. The dress they had her in was seductive red, attention grabbing. It had no sleeves so she got a black, gold glittering shawl to cover her shoulders. It helped tone down the red from not being too showy.

"He is here," a lady queen announced to them from the door of their dressing room.

Luck was on her side. This was so meant to be. "I can't believe this." Dao was giddy.

"But he has asked not to be served by a courtesan like the other days." The lady queen looked at Mistress Han for further instructions.

If a customer did not want a courtesan, they would be having the kitchen serve him. Dao changing into kitchen workers clothing was out of the question. Not when she looked so beautiful that any jaw would hit the floor due to one glance at her.

"Can I still go serve him, Mistress Han?" Dao wore an adorable expression to tug on her mother's heart.

"Dressed like that?"

"Why not?"

"Didn't you hear what she just said? You want me to lose a customer based on childish feelings."

"They are not childish, I have become of age." She was twenty summers old, therefore old enough.

"I will be waiting here as you do your walk of shame from his room."

Dao enquired from the kitchen what they had already served Luo Meng. They told her they gave him huang jiu(yellow liquor). This was what he always ordered, they said. Dao noted that in her mind to be his favorite wine. She could put this to use in the future.

Luo Meng chose one of their expensive rooms in the manor. Being the emperor's shadow guard, he could afford it.

'Be calm Dao. You can do this. You can serve him. It's your dream. Be calm.'

Standing before the sliding door, she quietly knocked. Cheaper rooms that were downstairs did not have doors but curtains on the entrance.

No answer.

She knocked again. No answer.

Therefore, she slowly slid the door open and peeked. The room was red and black like most of the manor.

He sat on a velvet zabuton with his hand stroking the winepot. He appeared to be downcast with his head bowed. Quiet as possible, she let herself in, closing the door behind her. She placed the tray she held onto, on a shelf that was by the door, seeing that the small table before him was congested with wineware.

Dao was downhearted to see him despondent. The emperor being sick was affecting many people who were close to him. Even Princess Cai wenjin barely ate and cried for her father half the time. Luo Meg was not married and spent most of his time shadowing the emperor; maybe his only friend was the emperor.

She stretched her hand to cover his other hand that lay on the table. Dao hesitated, thinking better of it but she wanted to be a friend.

He was warm to the touch. His knuckles were bruised, short nails and a few lone hairs on his fingers.

Feeling her palm on her, his head raised.

She smiled sincerely.

Luo Meng was handsome, looking at him more closely than peeping from behind palace walls. Some of his long hair was short at the front, it fell on his forehead. His face was oval shaped, puffy eyes and plush lips. Everything just right.

The black robes he put on suit him.  Black looked stunning on Luo Meng. It made him mysterious and intriguing to her mind.

Her crush was good looking. Butterflies flattered in her stomach. No, they were more like bees swarming. A lot of them

He frowned at her, shoving off her hand like she was a sack of hot potatoes. "Who are you to touch me?"

Author's Note

I am back to having online classes so one chapter a week updates, two being the most. Sorry lovelies. But the main reason being, I have later chapters already written yet the in between chapters (chap 8 till 12) are not written yet. I don't know how to have it written in a way I will love and enjoy it yet. Therefore, I am slowing down for that reason too. Quality sometimes takes time.

Lots of Love, until then.

S.V