Threads Of Fate.

IMPERIAL MAID.

As the screening process concluded, the chief guard nodded, his expression unreadable. "You, Yíng Yìlán, are selected to serve in the imperial palace. Please, follow me."

Yíng Yìlàn's smile never wavered as she fell into step beside the other chosen candidates. They walked through the castle gates, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The chief guard led them through winding corridors, adorned with intricate frescoes and ornate lanterns.

As they walked, Yíng Yìlàn's gaze darted about, taking in the grandeur of the palace. She marveled at the beautifully landscaped gardens, the tranquil water features, and the imposing architecture.

The group arrived at a large courtyard, where a stern-faced woman, dressed in formal palace attire, awaited them. "Welcome, new recruits. I am Lady Wén, the palace matron. You will be assigned various roles within the palace, according to your skills and aptitudes."

Lady Wén's gaze swept over the group, her eyes lingering on Yíng Yìlán ethereal beauty. "You will be given quarters and attire suitable for your positions. Follow me."

With that, Lady Wén led the group deeper into the palace, the sound of their footsteps and rustling clothes filling the air. Yíng Yìlán trailed behind, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, as she absorbed the sights and sounds of her new surroundings.

Lady Wén's voice was firm as she assigned the various tasks to the new recruits. When she came to Yìlán, her expression was slightly puzzled. "You, Yìlán, will be assigned to kitchen duty. You will assist in transferring the cooked meals into the food palanquin."

Yìlán eyes widened slightly, her gaze drifting from Lady Wén to the bustling kitchen. She nodded, her smile never faltering. "Yes, Lady Wén."

As she made her way to the kitchen, the aromas of roasting meats and steaming vegetables enveloped her. The kitchen staff bustled about, their movements swift and efficient. Yìlán was introduced to the head chef, a stout man with a bushy beard and a commanding presence.

"Ah, new help, eh?" the head chef said, his eyes narrowing as he took in Yìlán delicate features. "Well, you're in charge of transferring the meals into the royal food palanquin. Make sure everything is perfect, or the emperor's advisors will be breathing down our necks."

Yìlán nodded, her hands moving deftly as she carefully lifted the lids off the dishes and transferred the steaming food into the intricately carved wooden carriers. Her movements were precise, and her attention to detail was impeccable.

The head chef noticed her fast and smart adhesion to details, his eyes flicking toward Yìlán with interest.

Two weeks had passed since Yìlàn’s arrival at the imperial palace, and she had settled into her new role with surprising ease. Despite the initial culture shock, she had adapted to the palace's rhythms and routines. Her diligence and attention to detail had earned her the respect of the kitchen staff, particularly the head chef.

Chef wáng, had taken a liking to Yìlàn’s enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. He began teaching her the intricacies of preparing certain dishes, sharing his expertise with a warm smile.

As Yìlán learned the art of cooking, she found solace in the creative process, as if the act of preparing food connected her to a different world.

Outside of the kitchen, Yìlán had formed two close friendships. There was hèng, one of the maids who worked in the palace gardens, and Xiū, a quick-witted maid who attended to the needs of the palace's noble guests. The three would often share stories and laughter during their brief moments of respite.

Heng would regale them with tales of the herbs grown in the palace's gardens and it's usefulness, while Xiū would share gossip about the nobles and their intrigues. Yìlán would listen with a smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

As the days passed, Yìlán found herself growing more comfortable in her new surroundings. The palace, once a place of uncertainty, was slowly becoming a home. And with her friends by her side, she felt a sense of belonging she hadn't expected.

****

On a sunny day, as the sun-drenched courtyard was abuzz with activity as palace staff scurried about, attending to their duties. Yìlán was in the midst of transferring delicate pastries into the royal food carriers when a palace maid arrived, breathless and urgent.

"Yìlán, you're summoned by Imperial Consort Qing Lián," the maid said, her voice low and serious. Everyone in the kitchen gasped, the head chef absent.

Yìlan’s hands hesitated, the pastry hovering above the carrier. She set it down carefully, her mind racing with possibilities. What could Imperial Consort Qing Lián want with her?

As she followed the maid to the consort's palace, Yìlàn’s curiosity grew. Upon arrival, she was ushered into the consort's presence, where she found Qing Lián pacing, her face flushed with anger.

"You!" Qing Lián's voice was venomous. "You're the one responsible for preparing my meal today. How dare you include walnuts in my food? You know I'm severely allergic to it!"

Yìlàn’s eyes widened in alarm as she realized the gravity of the situation for. "I-I apologize, Consort Qing Lián. I'll make sure to double-check in the future."

Imperial Consort Qing Lián's anger seemed to simmer just below the surface, her eyes flashing with displeasure. "Your apology is insufficient. You will kneel outside my palace as punishment for your carelessness."

Yìlàn’s heart sank as she nodded, her hands clasped together in a gesture of contrition. "As you wish, Consort Lián."

As she turned to leave, she caught the mocking smiles of the consort's maids. They seemed to take great pleasure in her misfortune, their eyes gleaming with malice.

One of the maids, a petite woman with a pinched face, stepped forward. "No one can save you, let the scotching sun burn that face of yours."

Yìlán ignored the jab, her focus on making amends. She made her way to the designated spot outside the palace, her knees sinking into the hot stone as she assumed the kneeling position.

The sun beat down on her, as she knelt, Yìlán thoughts turned to the task at hand – uncovering the reason behind the mistake and ensuring it wouldn't happen again. The maids' mocking smiles still lingered in her mind, and she wondered which one of them framed her. Had she unintentionally offended them, or was there more to their malice?

The sun continued to beat down on Yíng Yìlán, her knees began to ache, the discomfort growing with each passing moment. Two incense sticks had burned passed, and she could feel the weight of her punishment. Her thoughts drifted to the unfinished tasks awaiting her in the kitchen, particularly the preparations for the Empress Dowager's visit.

Yìlán was supposed to assist in preparing the ceremonial dishes, and her absence would undoubtedly be noticed. The food palanquins needs to be clean and ready, chef wang would need her help with the refreshments.

She shifted her weight slightly, trying to alleviate the discomfort in her knees. Her mind racing, she wondered if anyone would notice her absence or if she would be able to slip away unnoticed. Because lady wen would find another reason to punish her.

A set of maids passed Yíng Yìlán, they deliberately pushed her, causing her to tumble to the ground. Yíng Yìlàn’s palms scraped against the stone floor, and she felt a stinging sensation as a scratch appeared on her hand.

The palace matron, Lady Wén, happened to be passing by and witnessed the incident. A faint smirk appeared on her lips, showing she wasn't displeased.

However, Lady Wén wasn't the only one who saw the incident. The Emperor and his sister, Princess mei xiāng, were walking nearby, and their eyes fell upon the scene. The Emperor's expression remained aloof, while Princess xiāng eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on the maids who had pushed Yíng Yìlán.

Princess mei xiāng, however, lingered behind, her eyes fixed on Yíng Yìlán with interest. Princess Měi Xiāng's frown deepened as she watched Lady Wén's smirk. She couldn't believe the palace matron's lack of concern for Yíng Yìlàn’s well-being.

The Emperor, on the other hand, seemed uninterested with whatever was going on.

Měi Xiāng's eyes flashed with displeasure as she turned to Lady Wén. "How dare you show such callousness, Lady Wén? That girl was deliberately pushed, and you're downplaying it as a minor incident?"

Lady Wén's smirk faltered, and she bowed hastily, so did the maids and Yìlán when they noticed the emperor and the princess.

"I apologize, Princess Měi Xiāng. I didn't mean to—"

Měi Xiāng cut lady wén off, her voice stern. "See that the maids responsible are punished accordingly. Twenty lashes each should suffice."

The maids who had pushed Yíng Yìlán paled, their eyes wide with fear. They knew the princess's word was law, and they wouldn't dare disobey.

"Forgive us princess." They said. But princess Měi Xiāng ignored them, she was even more repulsed by the emperor's lack of empathy.

As the maids were led away to receive their punishment, Měi Xiāng turned to Yíng Yìlán, her expression softening slightly. "Are you alright? Do you need any medical attention?"

Yíng Yìlàn’s eyes widened, touched by the princess's kindness. "Thank you, Princess Měi Xiāng. I'm fine, just a minor scratch."

Měi Xiāng nodded, her gaze lingering on Yíng Yìlàn’s face. "Rise, what's your name?" Yìlán slowly stood on her feet and faced the princess, eyes to the ground. The princess seemed to notice her extraordinary beauty, so did the emperor.

"Yìng Yìlán." She answered.

Princess Meì Xiāng gasped softly, she turned to see her brother's puzzled expression, his eyes now on her. "Where are you stationed?"

"The kitchen, your highness."

The princess's gaze returned to the maid. "You can return to your duties, i will speak with the imperial consort." Princess Xiāng said, her eyes still on Yìlán.

"Thank you your highness." Yìlán replied and turned around to leave.

"Stop." The cold voice said, making Yìlán and the princess jump in fright. Yìlán turned to the emperor, he slowly walked round her, carefully scrutinizing her.

"Where are you from? Who are your family?"

Yìlàn’s heart skipped, she never expected such a sudden question. Knowing she couldn't lie, she told half the truth.

"I have no family, i grew up alone. I'm from a small town not so far from Tiān Yué Empire."

Emperor Wèi Lóng Shén's gaze lingered on her, surprising princess Mèi Xiāng. Weì Shén scoffed, he just walked away without a word to her. Princess Mei Xiāng waved her hand to dismiss Yìlán, the girl bowed and left.

As the Emperor and Princess Měi Xiāng walked on, she turned to him with a curious expression. "Brother, what do you think of that maid?"

The Emperor's face remained impassive, his eyes fixed ahead. He didn't respond, effectively ignoring her question.

Měi Xiāng's gaze lingered on his profile, trying to gauge his thoughts. "She has a very unique name, Yíng Yìlán. She's quite beautiful, don't you think? Too beautiful to be just a maid."

The Emperor's silence persisted, leaving Měi Xiāng to wonder what was on his mind. She studied his expression, but his face revealed nothing.

Měi Xiāng's eyes sparkled with determination as she continued, "I think I'll suggest to our cousin, Prince Dù, that he make Yíng Yìlán his consort as soon as he arrives at the imperial palace. She would be a perfect addition to his consorts."

The Emperor, Long Wēi Shēn, halted in his tracks, his expression finally breaking from its impassive mask. He turned to his sister, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "And what reaction were you hoping for from me, Měi Xiāng?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

Měi Xiāng's gaze met his, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face before she regained her composure. She seemed to be gauging his interest in Yíng Yìlán, and the Emperor's response would be crucial in determining her next move because she had taken a liking to Yíng Yìlán.