"Nothing."  Queen Langhua stood in front of Bingquing as she looked longingly in the direction of her father's retreating carriage.  Tears poured down her face as her arm was jerked by the queen's hand.  Langhua's nails were sharp against her forearm as she turned Bingquing to face her.Bingquing feeling the aforementioned nails claw into her arm turned to face the queen.  Her clothing now was much more simple than before, but the odd bird nest in the center of her hair remained.  Bingquing on the other hand wore a simple set of hydrangea pins that had come as a gift after the letter had been sent to the palace.  She was adamant as she tried to wave to the retreating carriage.  "Why can't I say goodbye?  If this is the last time that I will be allowed to see him, why are the rules changing so quickly?  It's not fair for it to be different when I know no one or nothing about anything.  Who decided that things were going to be l

"Announcing completion of the first trial by the candidate."  A palace eunuch shouted shrilly as the box was held sideways as it went up a pair of steps.  Bingquing was pushed back as the box was shifted downward and the clock face opened to reveal a door.Bingquing blinked in the brilliant light before her eyes adjusted to a change in scenery where it was indoors and well lit.  It was a few moments before she could open her eyes widely and she could see.  The box had been placed inside of a bathing chamber where everyone was standing stiffly and waiting for her.  She got out slowly and was surprised to see that all of the maids bowed to her.  There was a lone monk who did as well, he averted his eyes with a solemn hand as he gestured her in a respectful manner.Bingquing looked around the room and was surprised to see Langhua bathing in a pool of white fluid.  She got up when Bingquing made eye contact.  The liquid streamed down

Bingquing and Langhua would spend every minute together that was possible.  Not always to Bingquing's delight as this was quite a change from the routine she was used to with the past existance.  The queen's obsession with her was a bit much at times for her to deal with.  It was so different than living with her own parents who would leave her to her own devices and spend the day as she liked with Du Ni and the small community who resided inside their manor.  Now there was a woman breathing down her neck telling her every which movement and way she preferred a young lady to behave.  Often there were times when Bingquing felt short.Langhua would carry Bingquing with her to court in a cloth sling wrapped around her body.  Sometimes Bingquing would whisper an inconsistency or question in the courtiers reasonings that the queen had not noticed into her ear.   The queen would smile before smiting the courtier with a witty remark.  The

In the throne room, Langhua cradled Bingquing in the cloth body swing that she had fashioned from white fabric of material that had been set aside for undergarments or for servants. both both uses had been forgotten when the queen had burst into the servants quarters to pry it from the hands of the maids who were about to use it to bandage an injured guard.  The guard had simply decided to forget medical attention as he had run back to his post.  The two maids had just stood confused at what had just happened.  But as he was bound to take care of the royal family, he knew that his tongue could not speak of what he had just seen.  It was so strange to him that such a child could be the object of such adoration by their fierce queen.Langhua adjusted this aforementioned fabric so Bingquing's body would be more covered like she preferred it.  It was such an exciting time to have a child who had not disappointed her as of yet.  She really needed to s

In this way the seasons changed, the warm summer drifted past and a cool winter began to manifest in soft snows that would cover the stately garden.  All the flowers were different and the stiff branches were barren except for a sentimental plum tree that had small green fragrant flowers.  It was the only thing that bloomed in the entire garden, but Bingquing would see the blossoms placed in little vases in the queen's quarters.   None of the servants did this.  Of course, no one else but the queen was allowed to touch them.  Bingquing wondered if these were the communications of her with her lover.  Who could love the queen more than the husband who was a mystery to all?  He wasn't even the official king nor did he have much power other than being the prime whisper in the queen's ear on the affairs of state.  Zaiyuan spoke so little, that Bingquing often forgot that he was even there.Everyday Bingquing would sit through c