The reward for Wen's latest book was absolutely darling. It was a set of fingerpicks, plectrums for when she played the zither. They were made of tortoiseshell, unlike the animal teeth versions Wen had been using up until that point. She spent an hour or so playing her zither with these fingerpicks, while the Emperor relaxed nearby, sipping flowery water and admiring the summer sky. He said he wanted to spend a little more time with her since he'd be gone the next morning.
A religious ceremony outside the Tree Cage, followed by a hunting trip. Even the Emperor needed to have something to break up the routine.
Later that night, beside a lamp, Wen pulled out her Honey Attendant badge and let her fingertips slide around its edges. It was similar to her old badge, bronze with her name, although her new rank was also engraved there. It was still a low rank, but the Emperor was now giving her quite a bit of favor.
Before, when she was the lowest rank, she purposely dressed beneath it, hoping that nobody would assume she had arrogant plans. Seducing the Emperor? In those clothes? There would be no way! But it seemed that, somehow, she'd seduced him anyway ... although Wen couldn't pinpoint the exact way she'd done it.
Maybe ... maybe the reason why he'd become so attracted to her was because she didn't try to seduce him? He might've thought that was refreshing. If she got pregnant and then successfully gave birth, she'd likely be promoted a few ranks ahead. Goodness, she might even be given a palace all on her own, with an abundant amount of servants to look after her!
But Wen told herself not to seek out this fate. If she remained content with what she had, even with less than that, then she wouldn't be disappointed. A man's favor, even a good man's favor, was often capricious.
***
A eunuch sent a message to Wen's apartment the following morning. It was from the Moonbeam Palace. Pollen Lady Hayun wanted her to come over for lunch. Wen didn't know what to think, but she happily went with Moto at her side. She trusted Pollen Lady Kumi to keep her apartment safe, especially since there was a new lock on the door.
Inside the elegant reception room of that Moonbeam Palace, Wen was greeted by the shining Pollen Lady and served a hearty yet carefully portioned meal. Wen expressed her gratitude in the humblest way, but Hayun tapped her shoulder with her hand fan and said, "Don't pretend you don't know why I've invited you. You have the Emperor's favor now, and it's in my best interest to be cordial with you."
That wasn't illogical.
The conversation was light until Wen happened to ask if Seafoam Attendant Bora was doing well.
"Even after all this time," Hayun said as she held a spoonful of vegetables, her golden eyes regretful, "Bora is quite gloomy. Her body's healed but her heart is low."
Wen wanted to give a catty remark, but she knew better. "I'm certain that when her confinement's finished, that Seafoam will become much more animated."
"She's asked if you'd mind visiting her apartment after lunch." Hayun shrugged as her little mouth formed a thin line.
Wen pulled her drink a bit closer as she said, "Madam, this concubine doubts your trust in her."
A dangling silver ornament in Hayun's looped, black hair swung a bit as she looked away. "What little trust I have in her has been stretched thinner than an old man's hair. You should put even less trust in her."
"No matter," Wen said, "this Honey will certainly pay the Seafoam a short visit."
Once lunch was finished, Wen gave her polite goodbye and then she had Moto escort her upstairs to Seafoam Attendant Bora's apartment. In the dining room, Bora was sitting in a chair. Her normally plump face had a bit less fat than Wen had expected. Her hazel eyes were twitching as she stood up, then slowly half-knelt. Her voice had an odd hitch in it as she said, "Good afternoon, Honey Attendant Wen."
"Have you been well, Seafoam?" Wen asked as she took a seat. Bora went back to hers.
Bora reached up to pretend to adjust a comb in her blonde hair. "I don't think that could be honestly answered without offending someone."
Wen saw one of Bora's maids leave towards the kitchen, probably to find light snacks for the guest. On the way, she thought that maid moved a little too close to Moto for her comfort, and Wen did turn her neck to narrow her eyes and follow the maid's path.
Bora suddenly said. "I'm required to apologize to you."
Looking back to Bora, Wen said, "You could've done that a long time ago. Don't bother kneeling. I won't accept such a weak display from you. You're not worth the time." It was one of the rudest things she'd ever said to a concubine, but Wen had the courage. She had a higher rank and the Emperor's favor, and Bora was openly recognized as someone Wen had every right to dislike.
Her almost childlike nose wrinkling, Bora said with more blatant hatred, "You won't accept an apology?" There was a fleshy, thick noise as she slapped the tabletop. The maids around them recoiled a bit. "Your rank might be higher than mine, but my family is higher than yours! You're only the child of a second-rate treasury minister! My father is baron!"
"Your father is a baron," Wen said as she got up from her seat, "but from the beginning you were given the lowest rank. His Majesty must not be very intimidated by such a baron." She too slapped the tabletop, but her palm remained on the wood and her fingernail guards clacked almost clumsily as she stared down at the uneasy Bora. Her nostrils flared so much that Wen almost looked like a pig.
"I'll tell you a little story, Bora." Her voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was sharp and precise. "My legal mother once falsely accused me of a crime. My father sent me off for two years to work in the countryside. But in some months he learned I was innocent and sent men to take me away from that hard life. Pure animosity still fried in my stomach, and I demanded to remain for the remainder of the original punishment just to embarrass him. I. Am. Maliciousness incarnate. Vent no more anger towards me nor my maids." Again, she slapped the table. "Or else you will suffer."
Uncaring of Bora's shocked face and quivering lips, and certainly uncaring of her maid returning with snacks, Wen told Moto they were leaving the apartment. Along the way, Wen made a point of asking Moto if she was alright. Was she pricked? Bruised? Did anything strange happen to her? Moto couldn't recognize anything odd. So, the walk was peaceful.
But ...
Just before Wen and Moto were at the entrance to the Sweet Carrot Palace ...
With some maids and a gang of eunuchs, Pollen Lady Hayun rushed over. "Halt! Halt!" the Pollen Lady said, holding her skirt and rushing over.
Wen and Moto both knelt down on the stone pathway leading to the entrance. Wen said, "Beautiful Pollen, what's the matter?"
One she was standing before the kneeling women, Hayun pointed to Moto and said, "Search her!"
Green eyes confused, mouth shriveling, Moto had to endure a light body search from Hayun's maids. Wen nearly broke her voice as she asked, "Why are you doing this?!"
Behind Wen, the entrance doors were open and shut, and Pollen Lady Kumi's voice nearly echoed, but it still held a loving concern. "What's the meaning of this? How can such viciousness be in the harem?"
With her own maids and eunuchs, Pollen Lady Kumi stood Wen and Moto, and she looked at Hayun with a sad expression. "What reason do you have to search a maid from my palace, Hayun?"
Putting a palm to her bosom, Hayun sighed and told her, "I'm afraid that I must. Someone's reported Honey Attendant Wen's maid as a thief."
"Moto wouldn't steal," Wen said, cringing at the discomfort on Moto's face.
Yet right after Wen had said that, a maid took something out from, of all places, one of Moto's sandy blonde buns. A short and thin hairstick had been hidden in there, apparently. It was made of gold with a single, tiny bead of dark green jade. Moto's eyes widened as she looked at the thing and she said in a panicked tone, "Never! This servant would never steal! Never!" She prostrated herself before Pollen Lady Hayun. "I swear by Heaven! I am not a thief!"
Almost looking nauseated, Hayun said, "Seafoam Attendant Bora reported that her old gold hairstick, a personal item from her childhood home, had gone missing the same time Honey Attendant Wen and her maid paid her apartment a visit today. And here the stolen item is, with Tou Moto."
"Moto was close to me during the entire visit," Wen insisted, "if she'd stolen anything, I'd have witnessed it!"
Hayun turned her head away. "Dear Little Honey, you're known for coddling your maids. If your Tou Moto did steal something, I wouldn't be surprised if you'd lie to protect her. Actually, coddling one's maids can lead to such bold crimes."
In her vulnerable, curled position, Moto was shaking and sniffing.
With a firm shake of her head, Wen nearly yelled this out, "The hairstick was planted on Moto! I saw one of Bora's maids move too close to her at one point! I never thought something as ridiculous as this would happen!" She slammed her hands so hard on the pavement that it hurt, and she too prostrated herself. "Please, Great Pollen Ladies! Investigate this!"
To Wen's shock and horror, she heard Kumi say in an admittedly reluctant tone, "Wen has always protected her maids. A maid treated too softly can grow insolent. One of Wen's maids dared to have an affair with a guard, and Wen asked His Majesty for mercy. Perhaps Tou Moto believed the risk of punishment would be diminished since her mistress is so kind?"
Pity and alarm ran through Wen's extremities. She rushed to offer the best thing she could think of. "Please, Pollen Ladies, please put this matter before the Empress Consort to judge." She assumed that since the Empress Consort was on positive, if a bit distant, terms with her, then she'd be more likely to listen to her pleas.
