Chapter Text
Chapter 1
A White Lily in the Rear Palace
As the sun's warmth cuts through what remains of winter's chill, spring comes to the Imperial palace in an explosion of sights, smells and colours; flowers long decimated by snow and frost bloom in a variety of shades. With their buds slipped into servants’ tidy hair and their scents carried as readily as perfumes on the breeze, their essence invades every corner of the entire complex, relegating the darkness of winter to the recesses of residents’ minds once more.
Such time has always been a favourite of the Crown Prince, for despite the intensive courses of etiquette and study the young future Emperor was expected to complete, his personal attendant and guard Gaoshun always ensured he had time not just to himself, but to indulge in things he found fulfilling. While this was often simply tea - with honey, to feed his insatiable sweet tooth - and books, it also entails time in the gardens.
With even his attendant parroting the importance of every facial expression or interaction, it became a habit for the boy to seek his own company if he became overwhelmed by expectation. He would utilise pleasant - or inclement, in case of the winter - weather to ground himself, forcing his unwanted emotions aside as Gaoshun watched from a respectable distance.
It worried the attendant, and in lieu of a mother figure in the inner palace, it was eventually agreed that ‘Jinshi’ - an aptly feminine pseudonym for a gentle prince - would spend his downtime in the Rear Palace with his own mother, Concubine Ah-Duo, from the age of three. even before he began study to become an Emperor himself.
It was a controversial decision; with his Grandmother holding power while the former Emperor deteriorated into inept madness, having a Crown Prince spend large portions of time within the Rear Palace - where jealousy and conspiracy ran rife - was seemingly to gamble with the heir's health. Even under the guise of ‘Jinshi’, a visiting noble child with the airs and graces to match, it would only take loose lips a eunuch of the corrupt Emperor’s to seal an early demise for the heir born before the old man died.
As such, it was essential to employ a physician capable of subverting toxins before they can be fatal, and one who studied medicine in the West before he returned had served the former Imperial Emperor once prior. With his extensive knowledge of cleanliness, apothecary remedies and poisons, Kan Loumen had presided over both Inner and Rear palaces as head physician before being exiled for malpractice soon after the Prince was born.
The Emperor's word ensured he never found good work despite his knowledge outside of the palace gates, forcing him to take residence in a shack close to the pleasure district. Upon the Emperor's death however, Jinshi's father ascended the throne and Loumen was reinstated as a physician of the Rear Palace when Jinshi turned two, to attend to his high ranking concubines' medical needs.
Though few babies survive beyond infancy, ‘Jinshi’ has recently crossed the threshold of seven years old; a catalyst for his intense education to commence with haste. While adjusting to this new schedule, feeling the breeze on his face or watching blossoms fall became very precious moments to just be himself rather than a future Emperor, and the Rear Palace a near perfect playground to establish preferences, interact with other members of the court outside of duties that weigh the Prince down, and permit a little discourse with lesser staff, all as building blocks of diplomacy for the future.
During the last year, he has become familiar with physician Loumen through association, rather than choice. The man is kind, and yet the Crown Prince still tends to avoid Loumen, for he has a pervasive smell about him that is often difficult to tolerate in close proximity. He had told the physician as such just one week prior in fact. But whilst the eunuch laughed at such a childish proclamation, Gaoshun had pulled Jinshi outside and reprimanded his thoughtlessness.
Gaoshun had ar least promised not to tell grandmother Suiren - his caretaker within the Inner Palace - to save his backside from far worse than a verbal lashing only if the young Prince tried to consider the ramifications of his words before he shared them in the future, especially when conversing with elders of any rank.
This message still resonates in Jinshi’s mind that chilly spring afternoon as he permits Suiren to slip a lined shawl over his usual attire. The morning has been arduous; endless reading, writing and ceremony etiquette classes stretching before his young eyes like stormy seas, where ocean and sky were impossible to differentiate. His brain too full to think anymore, Jinshi takes the decking steps two at a time as soon as his coat has been fastened in place, wool lined cape flapping in a biting breeze he couldn't feel beneath a need to be free again.
He is sure Gaushun is keen on his trail as he heads for the Garnet Pavillion, to hopefully pilfer a sweet treat - or at least a warming honey and ginger tea - from his mother’s head lady-in-waiting before finding somewhere quiet to relax. At least, that was his intention until an unusual sight outside the doctor's office catches his eye and he almost trips on his own feet trying to slow down so suddenly.
Jinshi doubles back, ducking behind the edge of the building so he might peer at it without being so obvious as to seem rude, gloveless fingers pale as they curl around the wooden panels. For on the edge of the grass bordering the doctors office, where physician Loumen grows common, harmless medicinals, squats what appears to be a Princess.
While he cannot see her face, her build and stature suggest the girl seems to be about the same age as Jinshi, though it is her attire that speaks of a noble birth at odds with her gardening. The delicate silks of a voluminous flowing qun pools about her hunched frame, hems of deep fuchsia seeming to soak into the tender grass in stark rosettes. As it flows up to the chest, the obtrusive colour wanes in a single ombre until it slips beneath the pure white peishi of identical hue at her waist, the bloom and synch of her small silhouette almost mirroring an upturned lily in flower.
Forest green hair is styled simply; most of its weight flows unencumbered down the girl’s back and splays across narrow shoulders, while it seems about an inch of either side and hair at the crown of her head has been pulled into buns on either side of a centre part, held in place by pale pink silks that complement her dress. The buns twitch almost like ears atop her head as she rummages in the dirt, movements accompanied by quiet giggles and small utterances of glee too soft for Jinshi to discern at a distance.
'A noble girl, permitted to garden?' The young Crown Prince shakes his head at the absurd prospect. He cannot imagine how his mother or grandmother would react if he returned from downtime with filth on his silks or satins, or if Gaoshun would be punished for allowing it. Violet eyes search the immediate vicinity for the Princess’ ladies-in-waiting, or at the very least an attendant, but there's not a soul to be seen besides servant girls or eunuchs fulfilling chores. 'No, that is unlikely. Just who is she, anyway? I've not seen her in the Rear Palace before.'
Jinshi has no idea who should even be notified the girl is on her own. It's as he considers what to do next that Gaoshun finally catches up with his charge. With an athletic build and experience within the Palace armed guard, he's able to recover himself swiftly before leaning around the apothecary building above the young Master, to see what stopped him short of the Garnet Pavillion.
“Oh, I see.” Gaoshun says so loudly the boy almost jumps out of his cloak, then laughs as he's shoved back behind the building, before the Princess they spy on can look up. “What a beauty. I didn't realise you have such a refined eye at such a young age, Young Master. Your father will be thrilled to-”
“Shhhh!” It isn't a proper nor polite way to speak to his attendant, yet as a blush creeps onto otherwise chilled cheeks, Jinshi cannot find any appropriate, adult way to convey that both the manner and timing of his interruption was truly awful. He hushes his tone, waving his palms in self defence and whispering harshly, as if he does not want the Princess to hear. “It isn't like that! Not at all!”
The flush fades from pale cheeks as he glances over his shoulder before Jinshi brings a thumb to an immature chin and tilts his head down in thought, a frown marring soft features. “I am concerned, Gaoshun. Isn't it customary for young women to be accompanied by maids in the Rear Palace? This one seems to be both alone and entirely ignorant of her absent ladies.”
When vivid purple irises wavering with worry angle up to meet stormy blues, Gaoshun almost feels guilty for teasing the young Prince, who spends precious little time in the company of either those his own age or not or royal station. His allowance within the Rear Palace was equally orchestrated as permissible, in an attempt to broaden his experiences with the general populace and permit a level of controlled interaction with other children, such as Gaoshun's own son.
Raised as a Royal, the boy is rather unaccustomed to criticism from peers and exhibits petulant tendencies, both traits ill suited for the future Emperor. As such, a smile pulls at the corner of his attendant’s lips at the opportunity fate presents to his charge; a lost noble girl of his own age no less, a potential peer in his inevitable future. ‘This could be an opportunistic lesson in public relations. How fortuitous.’
Gaoshun hums, turning his head away in consideration of the details. The girl is unfamiliar but obviously of noble birth, given her garments. She may be visiting a concubine or another member of staff in the Rear Palace, likely with an older relative. If that is the case, the girl likely had an entourage befitting of her station on arrival. Who she was visiting, where her entourage had gone and why she fell behind are questions Jinshi can coax the answers to out of the girl.
“Well, young Master,” Gaoshun begins in a level tone. “The most effective way to assess an uncertain situation is to simply ask.”
“Yes.” Jinshi trusts his attendant to give good advice. Lavender eyes return to the corner of the building but a moment before he meets Gaoshun’s gaze again, nodding as if to fully convince himself it is a good idea. His hands feel sweaty in spite of the cold as he tries to imagine how to approach the Princess and he wipes them on his cloak before taking a deep breath, then turns on his heel and strides for the building corner, parroting the advice as a mantra. “Just ask. Jus-”
Jinshi steps around the corner, only to pull back with a cry of surprise when he almost walks straight into the Princess, who stands mere inches away with an armful of mixed weeds. Deep blues that fade to pale opalescence beneath her heavy bangs are inquisitive but steady as she tilts her head, the dual buns flopping left in perfect synchronicity with the momentum as she speaks in a low, unexpected monotone. “What were you talking about?”
After regaining his balance, Jinshi takes a moment to straighten his cloak more self consciously than he'd like to admit. At full height, the Princess is half a head shorter than him, forcing the girl to peer up through her bangs to meet his gaze. She does with no modicum of demurity or even decorum, holding his gaze in a way even those not privy to his station as Crown Prince tend avoid; an intense stare, one Jinshi finds as unnerving as it also is intriguing.
“I know you're not mute, you know.”
He has no idea how long it's been since the girl spoke, but her follow-up surely follows a discourteously lengthy silence. A flush touches his cheeks again as he bows first for once, his voluminous cape fluttering with the speed Jinshi raises his arms and bows his head. “Forgive me; I was not pretending to be mute. You simply took me off guard.”
It's after he straightens that she, as if in afterthought, also raises her arms and bows her head in return. The gesture is stiff, but appreciated nonetheless. With a return to normal etiquette, it's easier for Jinshi to recover his graces. “I was only stating to Gaoshun here that you seem to have lost your attendants, my lady.” Lavender eyes trail to the weeds in her arms and a slight frown ages his juvenile face. “Nor should you have to weed the doctor’s botanicals. Many of the plants he grows for tinctures are-”
“Poisonous? Yes, I know.” The girl looks briefly down before she meets his gaze again, an odd sparkle now in the corner of her eye despite her still level tone. “In fact, most of what I have here is used to make common poisons.”
Jinshi can't help it; he grimaces, taking a step back as a slight smile curves the corner of the girl’s mouth, her formerly delicate features seeming transformed by the shows her bangs cast across a freckled nose as she raises her arms a little towards him. “Do not worry; Uncle Luomen is an expert in both poison and medicines. He tasked me with collecting these herbs specifically for a nausea remedy, for a peri-spring sickness that afflicts the servant girls.”
“Uncle-?” The Crown Prince glances at the apothecary beside them as gears visibly turn in his head. The only men permitted in the Rear Palace were all eunuchs - a remnant of his deceased grandfather's decree he recently learnt of - but that did not mean entire families had also been castrated. It just hadn't occurred to Jinshi that the strange old doctor had family to speak of, when he never left the Palace grounds.
He turns back to the girl with a joyous smile. “Well, that explains why you are outside his office!” His smile wanes to a pleasant grin as he regards her again, concern for her wellbeing mitigated. “My name is Zu-” The boy cuts off, suddenly flustered as Gaoshun clears his throat, then covers his mistake by patting his own lightly with a palm. “Excuse me, just a tickle in my throat. My name is Ka Jinshi. It is my pleasure, lady…?”
“Maomao.” The Prince tilts his head at such a simple introduction, and again the girl seems to notice and corrects it as an afterthought. “Kan Maomao.” The same family name as the doctor, which is to be expected, but he's sure it holds more significance beyond that. He's still trying to recall why he knows that name when she continues. “Quite a pleasure, Jinshi.”
It's difficult to tell if she's being sarcastic or condescending, as her tone does not waver at all between statements, yet as soon as the plants she holds are not the focus of their conversation, the spark all but leaves her eyes and her expression is one of indifference. He frowns again, opening his mouth to ask a question yet to fully form - against recent advice from his attendant - when he's interrupted.
“Maomao? Have you found the herbs?”
Both children look towards the pavilion doorway at the call, a voice the Prince knows to be the aforementioned doctor. An old man, his voice thin but firm as he summons his niece. Jinshi will not try to follow Maomao into the apothecary, for the smells within are more potent even than the remnants that stick to Loumen.
She glances down at the foliage in her arms before meeting his gaze and for a moment, she seems to hesitate before offering a curt bow of the head. “I must go.” She spins on a heel and heads into the apothecary without leaving time for Jinshi to offer another word, leaving the young Prince baffled, but also intrigued, by her odd mannerisms.
Have I made a good impression?
It is impossible to tell, but glancing back at Gaoshun’s wide smile, he feels confident enough to call the interaction a success even before the attendant all but ruffles his hair like an older brother. Jinshi wriggles free of the affection and pouts as he tries to smooth his wayward hairs back into place behind his ears or inside his hair covering. “Stop that! You know how hard it was to make it tidy! I don't want Mother fussing over it again.”
“Dont be so dramatic. We both know her ladies in waiting love doting on you and your hair,” Gaoshun chokes out between laughs, sighing almost airily as he calms to walk steadily after a Crown Prince huffing on his way towards the Garnet Pavillion. “But what a turn! The eye of a pretty girl just six months after ‘Jinshi’ joined the Rear Palace, and a Kan too! Your mother will not believe it!”
Jinshi decides to ask the significance of the name from Suiren later, rather than give Gaoshun the satisfaction of getting to explain. Instead he flicks his hair off of his shoulder and smiles at the man in the way that made the maids sneak him sweet treats. Time for his own flavour of payback; using power Father bestowed Jinshi over his attendant. “I’m sure she won't, because I forbid you to tell her.”
“That's an incredibly cruel order, young Master,” Gaoshun grumbles, which only makes Jinshi smile wider before turning to face his destination, chuckling softly when the attendant theatrically adds: “You know court gossip is all I have…”