Chapter 5 Into the Palace
"Little Miss," Ying wakes me. "We need to get ready."
My eyes flutter open to reveal her waiting patiently at my bedside.
Disappointment rushes through me. I had hoped to wake up in my bed at home.
Instead, I'm still here. She helps me out of bed and rushes me to the vanity.
The ensemble Lady Sora's father gifted me last night lay flat on the ornate chairs next to me.
"Which hair oil do you wish to wear today?" She asks me. Just as I'm about to select the one that smells of rice water and jasmine when we hear a thud in the next room. Her eye twitches in annoyance.
"I'll be right back," she huffs.
I stifle a laugh as I hear her scold the servants in the next room.
It's only been a day and I've already learned that Ying is precise and attentive to the smallest details.
It makes me wonder if she's always been that way or if it's something she's had to learn.
Now that I think about it, there isn't much I know about Ying except for the things I've observed.
I don't even remember reading much about her... Interesting.
She returns and quickly finishes my hair before starting on my makeup.
I notice she's reaching for pearls to place on my face and in my hair.
The rouge and lipstick she's selected are much deeper than the ones she'd selected for me last night.
When she's satisfied with her work, she turns me towards the mirror.
"Wow," I hear myself say.
Gone are the dark circles that had brought me much distress yesterday.
I look fresh as if I'm glowing from the inside out.
She's placed pearls around my eyes to emphasize them that match with the pearls that appear brighter thanks to the contrast with my black hair.
For the first time, I look as if I finally belong here.
"Your eyes are one of your best features," she compliments me. "Your Father's informants made it clear that this is the latest style in the Imperial Palace."
"Is this the style the prince likes?" I ask as I tilt my head in the mirror. If this is what dressing is going to be like every day here, then I don't mind it. It's much better than throwing on the same old corporate outfit every single day.
"Of course," Ying scoffs. "You will stand out when you meet the Prince today. Now, let's get you dressed."
Her words hang in the air as she helps me in layers and layers of the silk robes Father prepared for me.
It perfectly matches the pearls on my face and in my hair.
My heart pounds after I've been fully dressed.
I don't know any etiquette and I'm terrified someone will find out I'm not who they think I am.
"The auspicious hour is approaching," a servant calls from the courtyard. "Please escort Lady Sora out."
Ying helps me into my shoes and loops her arm in mine to guide me down the stairs. Father awaits from below and gives me a big smile. He breaks out into laughter, the sound reverberating through the courtyard.
"Thank you, Ying," he dismisses her with a wave of his hand.
As Ying retreats, I catch a flicker of something in her expression that fills me with a sense of unease. She retreats where she comes from and doesn't look back I turn back to Lady Sora's father who gives me a proud look. He guides me towards the front of the estate.
I'm impressed by the grandeur of everything around us. The snow only makes the dark tiled roofs and blooming plum blossoms look even more beautiful. I try to remember the direction we're going in, but give up.
I've never been good at directions anyway.
"Are you ready, daughter?" he asks gently. Not wanting to disappoint him, I shoot him a winning smile.
"Of course," I answer with as much confidence as I can muster. "I am your daughter after all."
He bursts into laughter again as he helps me into the carriage.
"The ride to the Imperial Palace will be short," he informs me. "I hear they will test all the candidates through a talent competition."
I blink in response. Besides analyzing data and directing marketing campaigns, I can't really think of what talents I have. He tilts his head as he observes me.
"I said yours was poetry," he reveals. "Music seemed too fanciful, dancing seemed too provocative, and martial arts felt too competitive."
The sound of faint bells interrupts my thought process.
I glance around, waiting for the voice to interrupt us, but I don't hear anything.
Suddenly, a memory flashes in my head that doesn't quite belong to me.
It's of a younger version of Lady Sora training to fight with a stick.
Her mother, who bears an uncanny resemblance to mine, watches in the distance, cheering her on.
The memory fades when he clears his throat.
"Thank you, Father," I murmur. "I know what I must do."
He gives me an approving look as the carriage rolls to a stop.
"We're here," he announces. Placing his hat on his head, he smooths his robes and steps out of the carriage. I catch a glimpse of the red outer walls of the Imperial Palace. My heart begins to hammer in my chest. I'm one step closer towards going home.
"Lady Sora arrives," a man announces my arrival. Imperial servants rush to the side of the carriage and place a footstool for me to comfortably exit. Sora's father personally helps me out. I realize what he's doing. Showing the unity between Father and daughter.
We're surrounded by other noblewomen and representatives of their family. Father greets a few politely before he turns to me. He ties a delicate sachet of perfume to my waist, its fragrant contents mingling with the air.
"It was your Mother's," he says, his voice almost distant. "Men aren't allowed in the inner court. I will wait to receive your good news."
A pang of sadness hits me as I touch the sachet, feeling the weight of it against my side.
Palace servants dressed in light gray robes emerge from behind the red archways.
I bow politely to Father before one of them motions for me to follow her.
The air is thick with the perfume of the other noble ladies, who walk beside me with heads lowered in respect for the imperial grounds.
I notice a few of them wear their makeup similarly to mine while some have opted for a more natural look. Either way, their beauty is flawless.
How could I, someone not even of this world, stand out in such a crowd?
I catch snippets of whispered gossip as we make our way deeper into the inner court.
Some of the other women laugh softly, exchanging back-handed compliments.
A smile makes its way on my face when I realize this isn't much different than working in corporate.
Everyone has their own hidden objective and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Had the voice meant to send me to a place that resembled my job to see how I'd react?
Beyond this point of the Webtoon, I have no idea what happens next except for the fact that Prince and General are involved.
A chilling thought crosses my mind. When will the author finish the Webtoon?
If the chapters go on and on and on, does that mean I'll also be stuck here for an extended amount of time?
"Lady Sora," a noblewoman's voice distracts me from my own thoughts.
"What pretty makeup. I could never pull off that style yet you do so beautifully.
" Soft laughter echoes down the hall and I know a couple of the other noblewomen are laughing at me.
I don't bother to respond. The last thing I need is to get involved in petty drama.
We are led into an expansive, grand hall.
The rich, dark wood floors are polished in the same reflective way the floors in the study were.
I'm surprised at how clearly I can see my reflection in the ground.
Ornate silk screens decorate the hall, their intricate designs recounting stories of the Empire's past.
All heads in the room bow. There, at the far end of the hall, sit the Empress, Emperor, and the Prince General. My heart beats faster knowing that today I can't fail. I need to find out how to get home.
One by one, the noble ladies around me are called, their names ringing out in the stillness of the hall. I stand in line with the others, my palms sweating inside my sleeves.
This is a custom I've only read about—being presented to a man of such stature is a rite of passage and honor for everyone in here, but for me, it feels like a test I'm not sure I'm prepared for.
I notice that some ladies return much quicker than others. They each hold a piece of silver in their hands. Soon it's my turn.
"Lady Sora," an attendant calls my name. She guides me towards the front of the hall. My heart beats even faster as I step forward, my breath shallow. I bow, my body sinking low to the floor.
"Longevity and good health to the Emperor. Good fortune and many blessings to the Empress. Prosperity and happiness to the Prince General," my voice echoes in the hall.
I don't dare to get up. The silence drags on and I wonder if I'll get sent back in a record amount of time. My stomach churns and I can feel my cheeks begin to burn with embarrassment. I hope my makeup can hide the way I actually feel.
"Rise," the Empress orders. "Come closer so we may see you." As gracefully as I can, I make my way towards them. My eyes remain lowered and I'm grateful I can see their reflection through the polished floors.
"You may lift your eyes," the Empress instructs. My eyes slowly meet hers. She's a vision of imperial grace, dressed in a gown of deep crimson embroidered with gold thread. Her face is framed by a delicate headdress of jade and pearls, giving her an ethereal glow.
To her right sits the Emperor. The age difference between the two of them is stark. He is much older than I expected with a long gray beard and light gray eyes to match. It is clear his time is running out.
To the left of them sits the Prince General. His posture is straight, his presence commanding. Crimson robes bearing the symbol of swirling dragons embroidered in gold signify his authority. He seems like the cold unapproachable type.
I bow my head again, trying not to let my gaze linger too long.
"We hear you are skilled in poetry," the Empress continues. "Write us a poem."
Servants move swiftly, ushering me to a nearby table where a brush, ink, and scroll await.
It's just as Sora's father had said. From where I'm sitting, I can see pipas, guzhengs, and flutes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see swords and dance accessories, clearly the talents of the other noble ladies.
A pang of anxiety grips me. What if my poem isn't good enough? When was the last time I wrote one?
I pick up the calligraphy pen and pray that when I write it looks acceptable. Judging by the way the attendant is looking at me, I know I don't have a lot of time. To my surprise, the words flow from my hand gracefully as if I've been here all along.
I lost my way on a moonless night.
Just when I could not see, the moon appeared.
The words feel right and the ending is hopeful.
As I place the brush down, my heart races.
Servants move quickly to collect the poem, hurrying to present it to the Imperial family.
I observe their faces through the polished floors, trying to read their reactions, but their expressions remain carefully composed.
The Empress's lips curl ever so slightly. The Emperor's eyes are distant. And then there's the Prince General, his gaze fixed on me. It's unsettling. He doesn't speak, but I catch the way his left eyebrow quirks after he's read the poem.
"How original." The Empress is the first to break the silence. Beside her, the Emperor nods in agreement. The room quiets again. I bow low once more unsure of how to interpret her statement. She dismisses me with a wave of her hand, signaling my turn is over.
The same attendant leads me into a separate room away from the rest of the noblewomen that had been sent back. Inside the room sits a single noble lady I don't recognize. She nods as I sit down.
"You may wait here," the attendant informs me. More servants rush towards me to place tea alongside an assortment of delicate snacks in front of me. I take a sip of tea and try not to allow myself to smile. At the very least, I know I'll be staying in the Imperial Palace.
I wait in anticipation to see who else will make the cut. The sounds of the flute and guzheng sound exceptional to me, but no one walks in. When I hear the final lady being presented, I begin to relax. The less of us there are in here, the less competition I'll have.
This noble lady, whoever she is, plays the pipa exceptionally. Quiet settles in the hall. She enters the room and I notice she's the lady who snickered at my makeup earlier. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Of course. There's always that one annoying character you can't seem to get rid of.
We listen as the rest of the noble ladies are dismissed. When they are gone, the attendants guide us back into the hall. They arrange us in the order we've been approved.
"Lady Jia of the Cloud Clan," the attendant announces. "Daughter of the Strategic General of the Dragons and Lady Fuyi, she who comes from the faraway grasslands of the North."
She dips into an elegant bow that doesn't look familiar to me.
It's much different than the way I've been bowing and I wonder if that's a conscious choice to differentiate herself from everyone else.
Now that I'm standing right next to her, I can see the prayer beads in her hands.
She doesn't seem like the vicious daughter of warring parents.
"Lady Sora of the Sea Clan," the attendant announces. "Daughter of the Personal Advisor to the Emperor and the honorable Lady Ami, the princess of the lands across the sea."
I try to conceal the surprise on my face as I lower into a respectful bow. Maybe I shouldn't have skipped the part of the Webtoon with the map and the context about the characters. Now the pearls in my hair and the bingata my mother was in all make sense.
"Lady Ning of the Moon Clan," the attendant announces. "Daughter of the Treasurer of the Empire and the Lady Ruyi."
The three of us remain kneeling in front of them. Each of us are strategic choices. Lady Jia's family can influence the army, Lady Ning's family is wealthy, and my family offers strategic wisdom. Plus, it only Lady Sora is of royal lineage from a rich land across the sea.
"Three remain," the Empress announces after a heavy silence, her voice filling the room. "The Prince General must decide whom he will take as a wife, whom he will take as a consort, and whom he will take as a concubine."
For the first time, the Prince General rises from his seat. I had thought his eyes were dark brown like mine, but now I can see they're a deep midnight blue. Neither the Emperor or Empress share the same eye color. Interesting.
"Do not mistake being chosen for affection," the Prince General's deep voice cuts through the room. "You may rise."
I resist the urge to laugh as attendants help us to stand. What a classic Webtoon line. The harder he is on the outside, the softer he'll be on the inside. A strange relief settles in me. At least he's honest.
"The one who receives the white jade pendant will be my wife," he declares. "The one who receives a golden hairpin will be a consort. The one who receives a silk purse will be a wife."
Imperial servants line up in front of us. In their hands, they hold a tray with a box on top. He gestures for us to open the box. I stall by taking a small step forward. With a deep breath, I open the box.
A white jade pendant gleams inside. Then everything freezes and the voice comes back.
"Congratulations! You've unlocked a special reward," the voice chimes. "The Prince General finds himself drawn to you. A hint for you is that the way home has not yet been revealed."
"What?" I hear myself whine. "Isn't the way home within the Imperial Palace? This is the epitome of being in the Imperial Palace."
"It is in the Imperial Palace, you just haven't found it yet," the voice clarifies.
"Doesn't this feel extremely uncomfortable?
Just think of all those times you ignored yourself to work overtime, then deeply regretted it.
Whenever you feel that way just know you're going completely in the wrong direction. "
"Won't they kill me if I decide to go in the wrong direction?" I can hear the irritation in my voice as I fight the urge to punch the air.
"I suppose it wouldn't kill you if you tried to find out," the voice says as it begins to fade away. "Do with this information what you will."
Everything unfreezes and I'm left standing in a daze, my heart still pounding in my chest. The words "Congratulations! You've unlocked a special reward" echo in my mind, but it's the second part that has me reeling. The way back home has not yet been revealed.
In a blur, each of us is dismissed home to prepare for the wedding.