The Second World in Ancient Times

The morning light shines through the thin clouds and falls on the glazed tiles of the palace, reflecting a colorful halo. It should have been a beautiful morning, but I know very well that in this harem, the tranquility is only an appearance.

I took Wanqing to the Imperial Gardens for a flower viewing. Along the way, the maids and eunuchs saluted, but I keenly caught a flicker of unease in their eyes. I sighed inwardly, fearing that the jealousy in the harem was only growing stronger. I thought, within this seemingly vibrant palace, the complexity of human nature far surpassed the sheer variety of flowers. Every step felt like treading on thin ice; a single misstep could lead to irretrievable doom. But I couldn't retreat. Since fate had placed me here, I would use my wisdom and tenacity to meet every challenge, safeguarding my friendship with the King and my small world within the harem.

As soon as I stepped into the Imperial Garden, the beautiful sight of a profusion of flowers came into view, all competing for beauty and fragrance. However, I had no time to appreciate them, because I could clearly feel the gazes shooting at me like sharp arrows.

"Hey, isn't that Concubine Yu? How did you find time to come to this flower viewing party today?" A gentle yet clearly mocking voice called out. I turned and saw Concubine Hui approaching gracefully with several concubines. She was dressed in a gorgeous pink palace gown, the hem of her skirt swaying gently with her steps. The pearls and jade on her hair shimmered brightly in the sunlight, but the half-smile on her face was particularly glaring.

I knelt slightly and saluted: "How are you, Sister Hui Fei? This flower viewing party is an occasion for sisters in the harem to get together, so of course I have to come." I appeared to be very polite, but in my heart I was secretly complaining that every time Concubine Hui saw me, she had bad intentions. She was like a greedy cat always staring at the delicious food on other people's plates. Unfortunately, I was not a soft persimmon that she could manipulate.

Concubine Hui covered her mouth lightly and smiled: "My sister is right, but my sister is in the emperor's favor now, I'm afraid this flower viewing party will not catch my eye." Her eyes were full of jealousy and provocation, and she was thinking in her heart, why is Concubine Yu the only one who is favored by the king, what is so special about her?

I sneered in my heart but kept smiling on my face: "Sister, you are joking. The beautiful scenery of the imperial garden is the common wealth of the palace. How could I have such an idea? Just like the stars in the sky, each one is brilliant in its own way. Sister is also unique in her grace and beauty in this harem. The flower viewing party naturally needs someone like you to add color and flair." I blinked and responded playfully. Although there was a compliment in my words, there was also a hidden needle in my cotton wool, hinting that she should not take herself too seriously.

At that moment, the king arrived at the flower viewing party. He was dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, embroidered with lifelike golden dragons that seemed to dart through the clouds. His presence brightened the entire imperial garden. The king, already somewhat distracted by his official duties, couldn't help but picture me. Worried that I'd been wronged at the flower viewing party, he hurried over. Upon entering the imperial garden, his eyes searched eagerly for me. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw I was safe, yet at the same time, he felt a tinge of annoyance at the eager concubines. He wondered when peace would finally return to the harem, and stopped constantly embroiled in these unnecessary disputes.

When the king saw me, a trace of tenderness and concern flashed in his eyes. He walked straight towards me: "My beloved, I am late. Are you happy here?" He was full of guilt, thinking that he had not come to accompany me earlier, leaving me to face those difficulties alone.

I bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I am naturally happy to see the flowers in this garden. Now that Your Majesty has come again, it is icing on the cake. However, although these flowers are beautiful, they are not even one-tenth as beautiful as you, Your Majesty. When you come, the air around here becomes sweet." I said playfully, my eyes full of love and dependence, trying to ease his worries with this relaxed atmosphere.

The king gently held my hand. His hand was broad and warm, as if it could dispel all the uneasiness in my heart: "My beloved, if you feel unwell in any way, you must tell me. I will not let you suffer any grievances." When he said this, he looked at me firmly and secretly swore in his heart that he must protect me and not let the disputes in the harem hurt me.

I nodded slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. With Your Majesty around, I have nothing to fear. Just like the brave little beast, as long as it has Your Majesty as a big tree to lean on, it is not afraid of any storm." I responded with a smile, using a playful metaphor to express my trust in him.

However, the king's arrival did not deter the concubines. One of them stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Concubine Yu has been behaving rather peculiarly in the palace lately, often discussing novel and bizarre matters with the maids and eunuchs. I am concerned that this may affect the atmosphere at court." She glared at the king with a flickering gaze, attempting to sow discord, believing that if the king even harbored the slightest suspicion of Concubine Yu, she would have the opportunity to replace her.

The king frowned and turned to look at me with a questioning look in his eyes: "My beloved concubine, is this true?" Although he believed that I would not do anything out of line, he also wanted to hear my explanation so that those concubines would shut up.

I looked at the king calmly, tilted my head, blinked my eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I am just sharing some little wisdom in life with the palace maids and eunuchs, such as how to grow flowers to make them more beautiful, and how to take care of clothes to make them last longer. This is like a bird teaching its companions to build a nest, which are all common things. I think this can enhance the friendship between me and the servants, and also contribute to the harmony of the court. Could it be that in their eyes, this harem must be a stagnant pool, and everyone should not communicate with each other?" I knew in my heart that this was their conspiracy. I had to explain it clearly to the king and not let him be misled. At the same time, I also used witty words to dissolve the serious atmosphere.

The king listened to what I said, nodded slightly, and a smile appeared on his face: "My beloved concubine cares about the palace and is so attentive even to these small matters. I am very pleased." His favor for me increased a little bit. He felt that I was not only smart, but also very considerate, which was completely different from those concubines who were only jealous.

Seeing that her first plan failed, Concubine Hui came up with another one: "Your Majesty, it seems that Concubine Yu was a little unhappy with me and others at the flower viewing party today. I am worried and wonder if we have offended her in any way." She looked at the king with pretended grievance, but there was a hint of pride in her eyes, thinking that this would make the king think that I am a jealous person.

I was about to speak when the king spoke first: "I trust the character of my beloved concubine. If there is any unhappiness, it must be a misunderstanding. I hope that the harem can live in harmony and not ruin the harmony because of trivial matters." He looked at Concubine Hui with a hint of warning in his eyes. He knew the minds of these concubines very well and would not be easily swayed by them.

I watched the king come to my rescue, and my heart was filled with emotion: "Your Majesty is wise. I also hope to get along well with my sisters. But this little boat of friendship must not be overturned by some people who deliberately do bad things." I said with a smile, and glanced at Concubine Hui and others playfully, expressing my attitude. I don't want to be their enemy, but I won't allow myself to be bullied.

The flower viewing continued, and the king was always by my side, admiring the flowers with me and chatting with me from time to time.

"My beloved, look at this peony. It has bright colors and full petals. It is truly a treasure among flowers." The king said, pointing to a blooming peony.

I looked in the direction of his finger and said, "Your Majesty, although this peony is beautiful, it also needs careful care to bloom so brilliantly. Just like this harem, if everyone can tolerate each other, it will surely be as prosperous as this imperial garden. However, although this peony is delicate, I feel that I am more like the small wild flowers on the roadside. They have strong vitality and are not afraid of wind and rain. As long as I can bring a touch of freshness to Your Majesty, I will be satisfied." I used flowers to illustrate things, expressing my hope for harmony in the harem, and hoping that the king could better understand my situation. At the same time, I used playful self-comparisons to make the atmosphere of the conversation more relaxed and pleasant.

After hearing what I said, the king seemed to be thinking about something: "My beloved concubine is absolutely right. I will work hard to create a harmonious harem." He looked at me with eyes full of admiration, thinking that I was not only beautiful, but also had a kind and tolerant heart.

With the King's company and support, I successfully dealt with the concubines' challenges during the flower viewing party. But I knew this was only temporary; the harem struggles would never cease. I must remain vigilant and use my wisdom and courage to protect my relationship with the King and my position within the harem.