"Remember: everyone is a public performer. People never exactly know what you think or feel; They judge you on your appearance."
- Robert Greene
It has been 6 lone months that Xiaomao has been without Li Shen and Nazeeh. After she was taken, she was made to work for the palace. There she was made to act as a maid. As well, she was made to attend classes with many other adolescents. Her classes ranged daily, each day was different.
She was given a little dorm and every day at dawn she was woken to start her tasks. A long list of paper was stuck to the door all due at midnight, it contained all of the tasks that she had to do.
Today she woke up as usual bright and early, her list not long today. She tended to the palace garden, such as weeding and watering all the herbs and flowers. She collected some herbs that she was allowed to take. After that, she took care of some laundry and then she walked off to the academic chambers.
The academic chambers was a small place in where classes was held. Students usually stayed in one classroom or chamber as you can say, and the masters and scholars came and taught them there.
Xiaomao sat in the back and watched the other students bicker amongst themselves. All the teens here were here to work in the palace in their future. Either as a maid or a eunuch for the males. They all had a role to play. Some females were even trying out to be the next ladies in waiting or even consorts.
Xiaomao's friend, a sweet little one that was like a little sister to Xiaomao, Matsuri sat next to her with a bored expression.
"Ugh Boriingg! When is the professor coming?" She said with a pout, resting her chin on Xiaomao.
"Soon. Just wait for a bit 'Suri" Xiaomao moving her neck to let Matsuri lean her head fully.
"Awww but I'm soo boreddd. Ren isn't here yet either. " She pouted even more twiddling some of Xiaomao's hair.
Xiaomao turned and looked at Matsuri, "Who?"
Matsuri stopped fiddling with Xiaomao's hair, "You don't know who Ren is???? How??"
"You never talked about him." Xiaomao said lamely.
Honestly she just didn't care.
"Black long hair guy, black eyes and pale face? Ren?" Matsuri said still baffled as why Xiaomao didn't know Ren.
"... oh him. " Xiaomao nodded recalling Ren. He was the boy that sat behind her, he tried talking to her before but Xiaomao never let it come that close.
He was the type that you would call principles pet. Not only was he a teachers pet. He was their star.
Alongside the professor, who was a fairly tall man, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes was Ren, who walked next to the professor.
As soon as they walked in, all bickering stopped. Everyone either stopped to stare at the professor or Ren.
"Let's talk later." Matsuri said, walking to her seat.
"Children, to your seats now shall we." The professor said bringing his hands together once.
Ren took his seat behind Xiaomao after greeting a few people with his warm smile.
"Now children, I know we all have some background on the hierarchy of the Flower Kingdom, but I need to reteach the topic again as some people failed the test." The professor eyes some students as he spoke these words and then continued, "Ren why not you share with the class on what's the system I'm too lazy to teach these imbecile students. Only good one is you and that other girl, whatever her name is. "
Ren stood up giving a faith groan as he walked up to the class, "Alright let's do this. So its known that Flower Nation has no true rank other than emperor or empress as it self. As for powers there are 4 categories as it can go in. Healing, Teaching, Strength, and Beauty. The substats for Healing is quite simple. Physical or Mental."
He took a breath and continued, "For teaching it's quite explanatory, I'm sure I don't have to go over that and if any of you have any questions just figure it yourself. Strength and Beauty are the same as well."
"But the flowers that are considered at the top ranks are the exotic and rare flowers. Them being, Spider Lilies, Black Dahlia, the Julliette Rose, and the Romeo Rose."
"The Flower Nation had gained the protection of Flowers because our ancestors had fought hard in hell to save themselves from the Titans and they seeked help from the stars. Titans however have a even greater story but that's a different lesson and Professor will teach it. " Ren said finally finishing his lecture and sat down in his seat behind Xiaomao.
Xiaomao fiddled with her book, this wasn't the first time she had learned of this hierarchy. Nazeeh had taught her this as her first lesson. He had said something about the importance of learning your nation's origins.
As soon as class was over, she headed over to her first afternoon task. She had to help in the kitchen that made the meals of the consorts. Menial tasks really, it was peeling potatoes and chopping garlic.
They would never let a measly maid touch the food of a consort. Let alone emperor.
Xiaomao had forgotten all about her talk with Matsuri, but it was too late. It was already evening now and Matsuri had linen duty.
Xiaomao had cleaning duty. She had to slightly broom the floors of the the palace corridors. Once she was done she headed over to the storage units and placed all tools inside and she slowly walked back to her dorm.
As she walked to her dorm, she overheard a few eunuchs.
"Hey, did you hear what happened to Consort Suki?"
"Hmm you mean the necklace? Yeah."
"No you idiot that was literally months ago what era are you living in?? The illness. Brian the illness. Consort Suki fell into a deep illness and the palace doctor can't figure out what it is. "
"Really? I hope it's not contagious. "
"Yeah you're right."
As they finished talking Xiaomao walked straight to her dorm. After laying in her bed for what seemed hours and climbed her window up to the balcony. She sat on the rails of her balcony. She let her hair loose and let it sway from the wind.
For a while, she stared at the twinkling little stars. Recalling from earlier, they were the ones that had given the Flower Nation the powers they are now known for.
And yet no one ever questioned this. I mean obviously they had no reason to, but people live for theories and conflict. Surprisingly this was a exception. Or was it? She raised her left hand, staring at her crooked pinky.
The old work of Li Shen. After some thought she sighed. Then she slid down back to her dorm and slept.
The trees swayed as the trees leaned side to side as the wind hit them. It made a alluring and calming scene for the whole palace. Little did they know, they just slept through a hurricane.
Now hurricanes might sound quite deadly and Ooo scary. But I had lived through quite more things than a little hurricane, this wasn't going to hurt anyone.
In the morning just as I had presumed, it felt as if a little cool breeze had accompanied the palace, not a hurricane.