A/N:  Thank you so much for your patience.  Please enjoy this mass release!  xoxo -ptd

Raine woke up the moment Lui Wei got up for morning court.  She kept her eyes closed as she waited for Lui Wei to leave, however after getting dressed, Lui Wei turned back around and leaned over the bed to kiss her on her temple.  

She could feel his stare looking down on her, while she controlled her breathing.  What seemed like forever, were just mere moments for Lui Wei as he stood back up and left the room.  However before he left, he turned to Ame’s head maid and gave her an order.

“Make sure the Queen is not disturbed.  She needs her rest.” Lui Wei ordered. “When she does wake up, make sure there is a hot bath waiting for her and a hot meal to break her fast.”  

The head maid, Luci, bowed her head even further and answered.  

“Yes, your Highness.”  

“Make sure to take better care of her.”  He reminded everyone who stood outside of the bedroom door.  

Eight maids and six eunchs all bowed and answered agreeingly.  They did not raise their bodies or their heads until the King was long gone.  

“What happened last night that made the King favor our Queen so much?”  One maid whispered to another.

“I don’t know.  However, it is a good thing that the King is showing care towards our Queen.”  

“Hush!”  Luci said sternly.  “You know the rules of the palace.  Speak again and I’ll ensure your punishment is fulfilled.”  

The two gossiping maids shut their mouths and begged for forgiveness.  They thought their whisperings were low enough that Luci and the others did not hear, however they should have known better than to speak in front of Luci and her extreme sense of hearing.  

“Go clean the front steps and the courtyard.”  Luci ordered the two gossiping maids. “That is where you both will be for now on.”  

The two maids wanted to cry at their misfortune.  They worked so hard to become an inner maid for the Queen, but with one mistake, they were quickly demoted.  The two maids bowed their head and left the hall.

“You should be grateful that you still have your lives.”  Luci warned them before turning to the others. “Speak on those that you are not suppose to speak upon and your life will be forfeit.”  

The rest of the servants nodded their head in understanding and waited for the Queen to wake up.  

Raine fell back asleep and finally woke up when in was midmorning.  

“Luci.”  Raine called out lightly as she stretched her back, once she sat up in bed.  

The door opened and several maids and eunuchs entered in an orderly fashion.  Luci came directly to Raine while, two maids came in with tea and snacks. Three maids went straight towards the wardrobe to pick out her dress for the day, while the eunuchs came in and out of the room with hot water to pour into the bathtub.  

“Your Highness.”  Luci said as she bowed once and helped Rain get out of bed.  Luci quickly grabbed a robe that was left on the side of the table and quickly helped Raine wear it.  “The bath should be ready soon. Afterwards, the morning meal will be served.”

Luci then turned around to grab the freshly brew tea that the maid carried in and tested it for poison before giving it to Raine.  

“Drink some tea to clear your throat.  There are also snacks to hold the hunger away.”  

Luci took the tea and drank it as she looked around her room.  It was a large room, filled with expensive items. However, it wasn’t decorated heavily, which made the room feel open and elegant.  

Luci leaned close to Raine’s ear and quickly whispered what happened that morning.  Once she was done, Luci thought she would have seen her Queen smile at the knowledge that King Lui Wei was considerate towards her.  However, she was instead surprised that the Queen didn’t seem happy or sad. Her face didn’t show any emotions.

After taking a bath and eating her meal, she was informed that the Noble Consorts and the Concubines have been waiting outside of her courtyard to greet her since the sun rose.  

“Invite them into the inner receiving room.  I shall be there soon.” Raine ordered.  

It was mandatory for the Noble Consorts and Concubines to greet her everyday at sunrise.  Seeing how it was close to noon, they have been waiting for close to five hours.

Raine looked at herself one more time in the mirror, making sure her appearance looked perfect.  After 10 minutes of tinkering with her jewelry, she left to the inner room to look upon her husband’s women and see what kind of a battle they brought her today.  

Raine walked in the room and everyone stood up, except one.  Raine snickered at the woman and knew exactly who she was. She was Bai Yu, King Lui Wei’s childhood love.  Everything about the woman screamed lovable. From her doe eyes, to her straight nose and pouty lips. Her skin was as fine as jade and her clothes were made from silk that was the best out of the rest of the Concubines and Noble Consort Mei Ran.  However compared to Raine, Bai Yue’s silk dress held a lesser quality.

Raine walked to her chair and turned around, however, she did not sit down.  She waited as everyone was frozen in their bow. One minute became two. Two minutes became five.  No one said a word as sweat dripped off their forehead.

Usually, when Bai Yu did not stand to greet Ame.  Ame would just shrug it off and left the others off, because Bai Yu was Lui Wei’s favorite.  However today was different. Raine was not Ame and Raine could not let Bai Yu or anybody else bully her.  She had to grant Ame’s Last Wish, and to do so, she would have to survive the back palace.

“Headmaid Luci.”  Raine finally said as she broke the silence.  

“Yes, your Highness.”  

“What is the Back Palace rules upon greeting the Queen?”  

“Upon sight of the Queen, Mother to the Nation, one must stop what they are doing and bow in respect to her.”  

“And what is the punishment, should that not happen?”  

“Should a servant fail to bow in respect to the Queen, punishment is death.  Should a Lady fail to bow in respect, punishment is demotion. Should a Concubine fail to bow in respect, punishment is rereading and copying the Four Womanly Virtues fifthteen times, relearning palace rules, and half of the allowed courtyard allowance be deducted for three months.  Should a Noble Consort fail to bow in respect, punishment is rereading and copying the Four Womanly Virtues ten times, relearning back palace rules, half of the allowed courtyard allowance be deducted for two months.”

“Noble Consort Bai Yu.”  Raine said as she called out Bai Yu’s name without looking at her.  

Bai Yu sneered at Ame and did not answer her.  

“Are you ill?”  

Bai Yu refused to acknowledge Ame.  So her maid stepped forward to answer for her.  

“My Noble Lady is not ill.”  

“Does she have any kind of bodily injury?”

“No, my Noble Lady does not have any kind of a bodily injury.”  

“Is she pregnant?”  

“No, your Highness, my Noble Lady is not pregnant.”  

“Is there a reason as to why Noble Consort Bai Yu cannot speak for herself?”

The maid looked at Bai Yu for a moment before answering for her.  

“No, my Noble Lady does not have any reason as to why she cannot speak for herself.”

“So tell me Noble Consort Bai Yu, why is it that you have broken palace laws and have not bow in respect to this Queen?” Raine asked as she turned her head to look at the disrespectful woman.  

Bai Yu humphed and turned her head away, not answering Raine’s question.  

“Very well, seeing how you do not want to speak up in your own defense.  The Queen shall punish you accordingly to palace laws.” Raine said as she finally sat down.  

“You dare!”  Bai Yu shouted as she stood up and glare at Raine.  

“There are laws for a reason.  If broken, one is subject to punishment of that law.  Should no one follows those laws, we would be thieves, lairs and bandits.”  Raine said as she saw the corner of a golden robe stick out at the entrance of the door. “As Queen, it is my duty to manage the back palace and ensure that the back palace laws are not taken advantage of or broken.  It is my right, as Queen, to give out the punishment and to discipline those that have broken the back palace laws.”

Bai Yu sneered at Raine again and began to speak.

“I dare you go through with enforcing my punishment!  I’ll tell Lui Wei that you bullied me and he’ll make you pay!”  

Raine tsked at Bai Yu’s childish rant and shook her head at Ame’s naivete.  Bai Yu did not grow up in a noble household, she was a commoner. With her lack of knowledge of noble woman rules and customs, Ame could have easily crushed the ignorant woman, but Ame was too innocent.  However now that Raine was Ame, she could do it for Ame.

“With so many people here as witnesses.  What makes you think that King Lui Wei will believe you?”  

“He will believe me!  He favors and loves only me!  He does everything I say and he’ll punish you for bullying me!”  

“Noble Consort Bai Yue.  For failing to greet the Queen in respect, your punishment will be as the back palace laws dictates.  And for your insolence, until I see 10 copies of the Four Womanly Virtues, your privileges as Noble Consort will be revoked and be replaced with Concubine privileges.”  

“You--” Bai Yu began to shout but was cut off.

“Announcing Your Highness, King Lui Wei.”  Head Eunuch Sube shouted.