After Zhirou finished her greetings with the Empress Dowager, we begin to follow the other girls towards a long row of stands, getting into yet another line.

"What was that?" Zhirou asks me once we stop.

"What was what?" I reply.

"Your greeting with the Empress Dowager! From what I saw, she didn't talk more than five words to anyone else but you," she whisper yells.

I shrug. "I'm not sure. Let's not worry about it now; I'm just glad it's over with."

She sighs but nods. "What are we in line for now?" she asks, standing on the tips of her toes to get a better view of the front of the line."

I look around, to both of my sides, there were another twenty-five lines lined up with hundreds of girls. "I'm not sure, " I reply.

The girl in front of us swivels around to face us and replies to Zhirou's question, "They are lining us up to get our blood tested. I'm pretty sure they are searching for the Phoenix. Exciting, isn't it?"

Seeing the confused expression on our faces, she shakes her head and giggles, "Oh silly me, I've skipped introductions. I'm Biyu, this is Cuifen, " she says, referring to the girl next to her who turns around to face us when she hears her name."

The two girls in front of us are very pretty. You can tell from their appearance that they come from a wealthy family. Their faces are coated with more makeup than most of the other girls, with a little more color and detail; however, it wasn't too extravagant as it still had a natural element. Their dresses are gorgeous, with gold embroidered designs over a colorful silk material. Splashes of pink, yellow, and green, create extravagant designs on the cloth.

I was unsure of her intentions as it was well known that the palace was a dangerous place, especially since it was full of thousands of girls competing for one goal: to become the Emperor's concubine. However, the large smile on her face seemed genuine, and her bubbly personality honestly reminded me of my older sister Xixi. When I was younger, she was my best friend, and we did everything together, however she got married off seven years ago, and I haven't seen her since.

I smile at Biyu and introduce myself, "I'm Xiulan, and this is Zhirou. Nice to meet you."

Her smile widens, and before I realize, her arms wrap around me, giving me a tight hug.

Surprised, at first, I don't react; however, once the action registers in my brain, I quickly return her hug. After a few seconds, she let's go of me, only to hug Zhirou.

I look at the girl next to Biyu, the girl named Ciufan. Unlike Biyu, she has a rather calm expression, not serious nor overly cheerful, but her smile was one of warmth.

She looks at me, giving a polite smile. "You must excuse her. My sister can get overly excited at times."

Returning her smile, I reply, "Not at all. It's quite refreshing, actually. The girls here are all somewhat similar in terms of ignorance, mindlessly walking and following after one another, ignoring everyone else, knowing it's a battlefield in disguise. It's nice to see such a bubbly personality here."

"Yes, even as an infant, Biyu was quite the "wild child". She's matured some through the years, however, I do worry about her from time to time." she says, looking towards her younger sister chatting about with Zhirou.

I look at her as well. She does look quite young, younger than Zhirou as well.

"May I ask, how old is Biyu?"

She sighs, "Far too young to take part in this selection. She just turned 13 last week. In my opinion, the age range should be higher. She is just but a child. She shouldn't even have to worry about marriage yet."

"I can only imagine what it is like for her"

She nods and sighs, "Sadly, her best option is to be selected, if she goes back, my family will disgrace her, and she will suffer worse than if she remains here. I... can only hope that the emperor isn't a fifty-some pedophile." She says the latter in a whisper, afraid that her words would result in a punishment.

Not knowing what to say, I simply nod. Although I'm the one clothed in rags, I realized that it is not me who has to endure the harsher hardships but the rich. These girls represent an influential family, and to marry into the royal family is both an honor and a political move. It gives the respected family more power, making them more influential and momentous. The daughters of these families face the daily pressures from their family, who shape them to be the perfect wife and the most favorable lady. These girls adorned in the most vibrant silk and most precious gold are only pawns for their family, from their birth, they were to be prepared for this day. And to not make it, it would indeed be a disgrace. They... would most likely be disowned. For me, I have a home to return to and a mother who would love me nevertheless. I would simply return to my normal life. For this, I am truly grateful.

"Next!!" the lady at our stand yells.

Ciufan goes first, followed by Biyu, then Zhirou, and finally I step up to the stand.

"Arm"

Placing my arm on the table, I leave my forearm exposed. In no time, she finds a vein and sticks a needle in, drawing blood as she pulls it out. She lets the blood on the needle drip onto a boxed up fraction of a piece of paper before handing it to me.

"Go over there and fill this out, if you need help writing, ask one of the men in the blue hanfu." she says, ready for the next girl in line."

"Thank you," I reply as I take my paper before heading to the left where tables are set out with girls filling out their own papers, most with the help of men in the blue hanfu.

I find Zhirou, Biyu, and Ciufan at a table. "Mei-mei men, did you guys fill out your papers yet?"

"We were hoping that you could fill it out for us, we do not know how to write," Ciufan says slightly sheepishly.

"The men in the blue hanfu are all busy with everyone else," Zhirou adds.

I smile at them. "Of Course!"

I pick up the bamboo brush and dip in the already prepped ink before carefully writing Ciufan's name on her paper.

"Ciufan...?"

"Zhong"

Nodding my head I dip the brush back in the ink before writing her last name. Stroke after stroke, nine in total.

"How old are you?" I ask her.

"eighteen" she replies.

After a few more stokes and two characters, her paper was done.

I fill out Biyu's information and then Zhirou's.

"I've never seen my name written out before." Zhirou says in amazement.

I smile. "It is quite beautiful" I reply, handing her her paper.

They wait for me as I fill out mine.

"Alright I'm finished. Who do we give these to?"

"The lady taking my blood said the lady in a black dress with a large pink bow on her back. She should be pretty distinct." Zhirou says.

"There she is!" Biyu exclaims, pointing to a rather petite but lean girl. Her hair is adorned in assortments of gold ornaments, signifying her high status. She is crowded by dozens of other girls giving their papers.

"Biyu, put your arm down. It is rude to point" Ciufan scolds her younger sister who is looking down at her toes sheepishly.

"I can take our papers" I tell them, and they hand me their forms.

As I weave through the crowd, I am shoved by a girl pushing to get past me, and something in my bag falls out.

General Sun's seal

I quickly reach down to pick it up however, another hand reaches it before me.

I look up. It's the girl in the black dress.

She stands back up with the seal still in her grasp. Her eyes seem to register who's seal it is and she looks up at me with surprise in her eyes.

"Where did you get this?" she asks, almost accusingly.

"Nubi received this seal from a friend," I reply, referring to myself as a servant as her status was clearly higher than mine.

"And whom might this be?"

I wasn't sure how to answer. I did not want to get Ruyi in trouble for giving me this seal. If this girl is exceptionally high in status, Ruyi could get in real difficulties.

Seeing my apprehension, she smiles. "Don't worry I will not do anything. If your friend gave this to you she must be trustworthy, godfather does not give these out just anybody. Which means that your friend is godfathers ally and... so are you, making you my ally. I just want to know who you are, that's all."

Her expression held one of honesty, and I somehow just knew that she was speaking the truth.

"Ruyi" I whisper.

Her eyes widen and she laughs. " Godfather's niece? How is she doing, oh, I haven't seen her since forever! We used to be the best of friends." she says excitedly, somehow managing to keep her voice low.

I smile. "She is doing well. She told me to find a man named Liuyang and give him this seal. Do you know him?"

Her eyebrow raises and she chuckles. "Know him? Oh Ruyi," she shakes her head in amusement. She writes something on a slip of paper and folds it, handing it to me. "Open it when your alone" she whispers.

I nod and hand her our forms before leaving the crowded area and back to where my friends are. Friends? I think they're my friends, I mean they trusted me with their papers and they have been nothing but kind. And it is nice to have some allies in the palace.

"You were there for quite some time," Ciufan says as I near them.

"I saw an old friend and we chatted for a while," I reply.

She nods and sighs. "I suppose we should find our rooms now. I think they are posted on the board over there."

As we near the boards, I realize that there are no room assignments but sign up sheets for every room.

"Roommates?" Biyu asks, smiling wide.

"Yes."

"Definitely."

"Of course."

"Then it is settled," I say, writing our names on the four empty slots.

-

"Are you coming to dinner?" Zhirou asks as the three of them get up to leave. They were all in their best dresses and finest jewelry. During dinner, the competition will all be in the same room, which means each girl had to look their best, of course.

"I'll be in a bit," I reply.

She nods and they all leave the room, leaving me alone.

I take the note given to me by the girl in the black dress out from my bag and unfold it.

'My name is Linghua, and also Liuyang.'

-------------------------------------------------------

Just for fun, here are their names in Chinese :)

Zhao Xiulan

趙秀蘭

Zhong Ciufan

鐘翠蕃

Zhong Biyu

鐘碧玉

Li Zhirou

李芷若

Oh, I also realized that I messed up when I was writing the form scene where Xiulan writes out Ciufan's name. I forgot that the last name comes before the middle and first, probably because I live in America, and I don't hear my Chinese name often. When I do, it's only my nickname, in other words, without my last name. Whereas I write and hear my full English name daily. And because the ordering of both languages is different, it just slipped my mind. Sorry about that.