"I can't believe your leaving today!" Ruyi yells, running to me with her arms out.

"I still can't believe it" I gloomily reply, taking her embrace as she practically crushes me.

Squeezing me once more, she pulls away and stares straight into my eyes, with her hands still on my shoulders.

"Listen to me Xiulan, your going to to be fine. You are stronger than you think, and you'll be back before you know it. I believe in you."

Smiling, I nod my head, still staring into her eyes.

Ruyi's family moved to our village when I was five. The other kids stayed away from her due to fright of her unusual eye color, however I took an interest to her because I've never seen someone with such an exotic eye color. The day they moved in, my mother baked a peach pie for our new neighbors and told me to go and bring it to them. When I knocked on their door, I was greeted by a blue eyed girl about my age, she timidly thanked me for the pie and invited me in to help prepare dinner. From that day forward, we were stuck together like glue. The adults of the village gossiped about how Ruyi was a bad omen, and how her bright blue eyes was a danger for the village. But no one dared to say anything to their faces because unlike most families of the village, they were pretty well off.

"Listen, I have a friend in the palace. His name is Liuyang and he can protect you. Just tell him that your friends with me." she whispers lowly, handing me a folded piece of paper.

I hesitantly unfold it, revealing a red stamp of a wolfs head. This stamp... I've seen it before.

I look back up to her, my eyes questioning the purpose of giving me this paper.

"It's General Sun's seal, he's my second uncle. Our other relatives no longer recognize us as family after a fall out except him."

She whispers, so quiet as if her words could create utter chaos.

I had many questions swirling around in my head, General Sun was known to be the Emperor's right hand man during the war, and another cold blooded killer. However I decided not to voice them as I could see this was a tough subject for her. "Thank you, Ruyi."

Her clear blue eyes dart up and focus behind me before looking back at me again and giving me one last hug.

We squeeze each other tightly, not having to say a word as our emotions are shown clear as day. As a tear slides down my cheek, I hear the distant sound of about five horses nearing where we and the ten other girls stood.

Squeezing Ruyi once more, I let go and focus behind her, on my mother.

"My precious little girl" she sobs as I near her.

"Mother you didn't have to get up, I know it's early in the morning."

When I got up this morning, Mother was still sleeping so I didn't want to disturb her. She has enough on her plate already, especially since I'll be gone for a while, she deserved a good nights sleep. So instead, I left a note on the kitchen countertop saying my farewells.

"Nonsense, of course I have to see you off. Did you expect me to sit idly at home not even being able to bid you goodbye?"

I chuckle at my mothers scolding and with arms wide, embrace her in a tight hug.

"Be careful my child, the palace is a dangerous place. Rely on no one but yourself."

I nod my head a hug her tighter. "I love you Mother."

At this point, tears were streaming down my face, and they only increased as time went on.

"I love you too Xiulan, so much."

Just as she says those words, my senses seem to come back. My ears focus on the horse galloping, getting louder and more thunderous before suddenly stopping. Knowing that my ride to the palace has arrived I pull away from Mother and place a kiss her on her cheek before turning to Ruyi and giving her one last hug.

I turn to where the horses seemed to have stopped, noticing the attached carriages in the process. I was surprised nevertheless, we are considered 'lowly peasants', why would the Emperor send such a royal ride? I honestly expected wagons.

Turning back to look at Ruyi and my mother one last time, I smile and wave goodbye to them. My mother has tears streaming down her cheeks and Ruyi has an encouraging smile on her face, they reply to me with their own wave.

Turning back around to face the carriages, I walk towards them. Five horses, five carriages, ten girls... looks like we need to share with someone else. I was fine with that, I mean all that space in the carriage would be too greedy for just me, however I just hope I end up with someone nice. I mean technically these other girls are my "competition" so of course I expect them to treat me harshly.

Only four girls aren't in any carriages yet, including me, which means most of the girls are already in the carriages. Picking the carriage with blue accents, I walk towards the back of it as that is where the entrance is. Pulling the blue curtain to the side, I step in, and I'm met with a petite girl with a lavender bow in her dark hair.

"Hi I'm Xiulan" I say with a warm smile resting on my lips.

She smiles too before replying, "My name is Zhiruo".

I slide in the seat across from her and look around at my surroundings before facing her once more. "So are you excited?" I ask.

She looks out the window and sighs. "My parents were setting up a marriage with someone who was twice as old as I am. When I was selected, I told them that I could become the emperors concubine so I wouldn't have to marry him. So I guess you could say I'm rather excited." She replies, looking back at me.

"So how old are you?" I ask, realizing she did look quite young, the perfect age for marriage.

"Fifteen. I'm turning sixteen this summer. What about you?"

"Nineteen" I reply, my cheeks pink as I was somewhat embarrassed about my age.

She smiles excitedly. "Can I call you Jie?"

I smile and nod. "We can be like sisters from now on."

"Do you have any siblings?" she asks but not before nodding.

I feel the carriage moving as I answer. "Yes, I have three older sisters. I haven't seen them in a while though. What about you?"

"I'm the oldest. I have a younger sister who's ten, and two younger brothers who are both five. Their twins. I've always wanted an older sister though."

"Well now you got one" I say, slightly laughing.

"What about you?" she asks.

Confused to what she's asking, I reply "what do you mean?"

"You don't seem that excited to enter the palace."

"Oh" I say, remembering my earlier question. "Well, everybody knows the maliciousness of the palace, and while some choose to sacrifice who they are to survive there, I prefer to remain the same."

I then see her frown and I smile slightly at her innocence. "But your still young, you shouldn't have to worry about this. Just... no matter how horrible people treat you, never give up who you are to get revenge."

And this is how our trip went... we talked for hours about the most random things before finally running out of things to say as we quietly watched the sun set, it was always the most peaceful time of day when the sun starts setting. The sun is a wondrous planet, it amazes me how something so far from us could provide us with so much life, and when it sets, it does the same for the other side of the country. And then the moon comes out... the moon really is a mystery to me. It also produces light, but it instead creates darkness that falls upon us. And when the moon comes out, the stars also come out. Sometimes I just stare up into the stars, imagining the endless possibilities of space. We call this earth our world, but we are but a small little piece of this vast universe.

"Jie, do you know where the blankets are?"

And suddenly, I am removed from my thoughts. "Blankets? I'll ask the coachman." I say going towards the little opening in the front of the carriage that is currently closed.

"Don't bother. I already tried, he wouldn't answer, I think they are forbidden to talk to us."

Sighing, I look under my seat and I spot a wooden box. Picking it up, I open it and inside I find the most beautiful silk blankets.

"I think these are it" I say, taking out the blue orchid colored one from the top before handing her the box."

There really isn't much space in here, but I make do by resting my head and back against a side of the wall with my legs extended on the seat and the blanket over them.

"Goodnight Jie" I hear Zhirou whisper.

"Goodnight Mei"

*******************************************

10/5

姐

jiě

older sister

妹

mèi

younger sister

秀蘭

Xiùlán

elegant orchid

如意

rúyì

as desired

芷若

Zhǐruò

angelica pollia