Jin qing woke up early to get ready for the visit to the court.

Her maids had chosen her outfit the night before, choosing something that would suit their miss' quiet reputation and satisfy the court dress code for upper-class ladies at the same time. 

The outer robe they had chosen had the color as blue as the sky, highlighted by the simple jewelry shining like clear pools of water that made soft twinkling noises when Jin qing moved around. Beautiful silver embroidery looked like clouds that dotted the fabric as intricate laces peeked through from the folds, giving the entire outfit the desired light and delicate look. 

Ye bing added the final touches to her makeup and stepped back, admiring how beautiful their miss looked.

"Do you like it?" Bai yan asked, excited as Jin qing stared at herself in the mirror.

"You've really outdone yourselves this time" Jin qing smiled, spinning in a circle to admire the embroidery.

"Too bad you can't wear anything nicer" Ye bing mourned. "There were so many bolts of silk for us to choose from- but because you cant catch any attention, we couldn't use it."

Jin qing gently held onto her maid's hands to comfort them. They weren't the only ones who admired the pretty silks she could have worn. "One day, perhaps I will."

"And when will that be?"

"When the time comes." Jin qing answered, and looked up at the door. "Someone's coming."

Sure enough, the youngest daughter of the second wife came skipping in. Wearing a peony pink dress with stitched-on flowers and butterflies, Xi yan hadn't been yet burdened by the heavy robes a young lady should wear as she was only a teen. Even though everyone thought little of her because of how childish she is,  Jin qing knew she was smarter than she looked-- after all, everyone had their own hidden talents. 

"Second sister, second sister! Did you hear?" She called out, swinging her hands around. 

Jin qing stood up. "Xi yan, don't swing your hands around like that."

Xi yan completely ignored her. "Father's taking us to the palace! I thought you didn't hear about it when he told us two days ago when he found a solution to the fires. We're going to the palace to present it to the emperor!"

Jin qing smiled, even though she knows of this already.

"Isn't this great!" Xi yan laughed, clapping her hands gleefully. "I hope the highness Fu Chen notices me. His favorite flowers are lilies, so I had it stitched on my dress--" 

Jin qing began zoning out as soon as Xi yan started to chatter, paying enough attention only to walk through the halls. 

Oh, why does she keep on talking! Jin qing thought. Cant, she just be quiet for two seconds?

Who could have known the sight of Huan le walking into view would be such a relief for her? But at least that meant Xi yan would be a little quieter. 

Huan le was looking flawless as usual, wearing robes with the colors of the rising sun. Jewelry that looked like blooming flowers complimented the colors of the dress and somehow highlighted her eyes so it looked like pools of honey. Even Jin qing had to admit that she looked as if goddess from the fairy-tales had descended down to the mortal realm. 

Compared to her, Jin qing looked like nothing. She was just something in the background to enhance the beauty of whatever was in front of her-- almost like the blue sky behind the shining sun.

Xue Hua was right behind her, looking down at her feet. Clearly, she was told to dress plainly as well lest she steals the eldest sister's spotlight, but she still looked amazing in her own jade-colored robes. 

"Jin qing, why so plain? If you told me that you lacked jewelry or dresses, sister would have lent you some!" Huan le said, faking concern. "We can't have you looking like that as we go to the palace!"

"Thank you for the concern, but I don't need any-- what I have is enough." She answered politely.

Xue Hua brushed her hand across the flowers they were walking by and paused on top of a patch of blue and purple hydrangeas. Swiftly, she nipped a smaller bud and walked over to Jin qing, tucking the flower in her hair with a satisfied smile. 

"There. Now she looks perfect! No need for the heavy items!" Xue hua said proudly. 

"Sister, I want one too!" Xi yan exclaimed, hurrying to her sister's side. 

Xue hua took another and did the same. 

Huan le said no more.

"The carriages should be here soon." Jin qing said softly. "We should get ready and prepare to leave."

"Second sister is right," Xi yan turned around, flashing a flamboyant smile to show off the flower in her hair. "Where are the carriages?"

"Are the sisters enjoying themselves?" A voice said behind them.

For just a second, Jin qing thought the sunflowers spoke.

Kai Feng, the oldest child, walked through the flowers, looking regal in his purple-blue robes decorated with silver waves that accentuated his build. He was handsome, in a very delinquent way. 

"Brother." Huan le smiled, standing next to him. "Where is Yi ping?"

Yi ping was the only son of the third wife, though he is older than both Xi yan and Xue Hua, who were the daughters of the second wife. 

"He's with father" Kai Feng answered. "We are leaving very soon, let us start boarding the carriages." He gestured for his younger siblings to follow him, and they did so without a question. 

Jin qing sat with Xue hua the whole way.

"What are you going to do in the palace? We usually never get to go there. Huan Le would know her way around, as she goes there quite often."

Jin qing's mind immediately thought of the yummy sweets they serve there, but answered "The imperial library"

"Do you have a crush on the books?" Xue hua teased.

Jin qing smiled and poked Xue hua on the cheek. "Maybe."

<><><>

Jin qing took a deep breath when she wandered into the garden.
This garden was full of trees, and a small lotus pond was right underneath the arched stone bridge she was standing on. This was one of her favorite spot in the entire palace. The library was first, then the kitchens.

"Jin qing," someone said sweetly.

Jin qing turned around. She had to pay more attention to her surroundings or people would continue to take her by surprise.  "Greetings to the princess."

Jian an ru was the eldest daughter of the royal family. Talented in the arts, she was the star of every gathering, her work treasured and favored like gold and precious stones. She was small, dainty, and lovely in every way.

"Rise! Oh, there's no need to be so formal," An ru said, hurrying to Jin qing's side. "We are friends, are we not?"

"Thanks to the princess." 

"The flowers this time of year is beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes they are."

An ru let out a cheerful laugh. "I hear that your father thought of an idea, and now the imperial father will fine-tune it and set it into action."

Jin qing nodded and didn't say anything else.

In response, An ru picked up a bit of Jin qin's robes. "Slightly bolder than what you usually have on, huh?"

"Yes"

"Light blue, matches your pale skin- Ooh, you are so pretty and so pleasing to look at!"

"Thank you for the compliment." Jin qing replied with a smile. "Princess looks lovely as usual."

There was no need to lie on that, for princess An ru was heavenly in her royal robes in a color of mature magenta and pearly white. Her many layers and color of her robes symbolized wealth, and the precious ornaments on her head showed status. Soft features and a soft voice only made her prettier.

Ugh, she needs to stop getting prettier. Jin qing thought to herself. Before people start worshipping you as the goddess of beauty!

Standing next to her already made Jin qing feel inadequate, and there was no doubt that the more she stayed next to the princess the more attention they would draw. Making a slight curtsy, Jin qing said "Excuse me, I'll take my leave now. I have something to do."

"Where are you going?"

"I promised my sister that I would accompany her so she wouldn't be lonely." Jin qing lied. "I won't bother your highness any longer."

"But--"

Jin qing curtsied again, and quickly walked away. 

An ru sighed, and leaned against the railing, staring at the flower petals on the pond.

An ru's older brother, Min yin walked up to her.
He had been watching from behind, mainly because he was minding his younger sister. He was the 3rd oldest among the male in the family, and he felt responsible for the two little sisters.

Placing his hand on her shoulder, and leaned over the railing. "What's wrong? Is that girl, Jin qing, still refusing to talk to you?"

"She seems like a nice person, but she is always in the shadows." An ru mourned. "I wanted to be friends with her."

"Why her? Her older sister, Huan le is much more outgoing. Give her a try instead of wasting your time in Jin qing"

An ru sighed. "I dislike Huan le. You're a man and can't see past her act, but she's very full of herself. It's not impossible to become friends with her, but it'll be very uneasy. I still think Jin qing would be a better friend."

Min yin didn't understand why An ru was so interested in Jin qing. Jin qing seemed to be the arrogant one, not even talking to a princess of the beloved emperor, something everyone else would love to do.
What kind of person is she? She's clearly not normal. 

"Where did she say she'll go?" Min yin asked.

"I don't know." An ru sighed. "She just said she had to accompany her sister."

"We can always ask about her whereabouts when we see her sisters. Come on, An ru. We have better company to be with." 

Jin qing was completely aware that An ru wanted to be friends, but she really just didn't care. there was better things to do in the palace than try and make friends with people that would probably try to take advantage of her in the future no matter how pure their intentions are at first. 

For now, all she wanted to do is sit in the library with a good book and a hot cup of tea-- which her maids promptly provided for her as soon as she sat down on the cushion.

Bai yan opened her mouth to speak, but Jin qing gave her a warning look. They were in the palace, and their every move would be watched. 

Breathing in the sweet smell of roses from her tea, she sipped on it, careful not to burn her mouth. Her eyes were on the book, but her senses spread to the entire room.

Jin qing was aware that Ye bing was fidgeting from the silence and the steady breathing of Bai yan. The secret observer was nowhere in sight, but she knew they were somewhere in the back, pretending to be making sure the books are clean and in top shape. 

What the person wanted was beyond her, but if it didn't affect her and her reading, she wouldn't care. After all-- if the person was watching her, they would be disappointed to find that there was nothing to learn about her. She was just a little lady, reading and sipping tea. Nothing out of the ordinary.

She reached for a sweet-tart and ate it heartily.

"Miss, would you like anything to eat?" Bai yan asked, "I can get you some more snacks."

Jin qing shook her head despite being quite hungry.

Bai yan understood what her mistress meant, and refilled the empty cup of tea. "I wonder if the decree is going well" she wondered out loud.

"If there are any mistakes, the great emperor will fix it using his incredible wisdom" Jin qing replied, the longest sentence she has spoken in a while. "We can put our faith in him."

"You are right. There is nothing to worry about" Bai yan said.

They all understood the secret meaning underneath their words. It would sound like a normal conversation to the observer's ears, but they knew what each other was trying to say. 

"If everything goes well, there will be the usual celebratory banquet tonight." Ye bing said with a little sigh. "Another big celebration we have to attend-- all the while the Song army continues to invade and capture Liang Yin city."

Jin qing had heard about that advancement from the enemy country from the reports and in more detail. "What can we do about it?" she asked, "We shouldn't stop ourselves from celebrating good news even if there is bad news incoming."

"I'm sure the leader of our great empire will be able to handle the situation, right?" Ye bing asked, staring directly into Jin qing's eyes-- which she answered with a smile. 

"Of course."