"Chun'er, why did you gather all of us here today? I still have a hundred rice cakes to make..."
"Yes, Chun'er, what's the matter?" voiced another servant, concern etched on her face.
A third, more observant, noticed the object Chun'er had been cradling since earlier. "Do you have something new to sell again?" she asked.
Chun'er stood at the center of a small circle of servants in matching, light pink uniforms, holding the silver compact like it was a gift from heaven.
"Spot on, Mian'er," she winked. "Today I present to you all a compact containing rouge."
Before their disappointed moans could form, she hastily continued, "It's not just any rouge—" she leaned in and whispered conspirationally. "This is just between us, but this rouge was made with the same formula as the previous Noble Consort Ju's rouges!"
"Ssh!" an older servant hissed. "Are you out of your mind, mentioning her?"
"Be careful her ghost curses you!" another girl nodded fearfully. "The last person who claimed they saw her... Never spoke again."
"They said she was as beautiful as a moon fairy, but... What use is beauty for a ghost?"
"Anyway, get rid of this rouge right away! Before it brings you bad luck!"
"Come back when you have a normal item for sale!"
The servants scattered after warning her, tittering about taboos and overdue chores.
Chun'er clutched the compact tightly and huffed at their panicked figures scurrying away. "Superstitious fools. It's all in the past, what's there to be afraid of?"
Even if the previous Noble Consort Ju had died a mysterious death in a fire, her title was retained posthumously, and her son, Grand Prince Hong, was still alive and well. There was nothing inauspicious about a mere cosmetic item connected to her.
Not to mention, it wasn't actually related to her.
Chun'er frowned. 'If I didn't make that up, would they have bought it?'
"How much?"
She jumped. "Who's there?!"
A sharp-faced eunuch emerged from behind the trees—how long had he eavesdropping?—and grinned widely, revealing rows of yellowish teeth in an attempt at friendliness. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, miss...?"
"Chun'er," Chun'er said, taking a step back uneasily.
"Miss Chun'er, I assure you I'm not a superstitious idiot with no eye for quality," the eunuch sniggered. "In fact, I am very interested in the cosmetic you're selling. Made with the same formula as the previous Noble Consort Ju's rouge, you said?"
Chun'er swallowed. Something about this eunuch felt... off.
'Who cares?' the little voice in her head whispered. 'He's stupid enough to buy this. That's enough.'
She cleared her throat. "Yes, I did. My friend's godmother's sister used to work in the Imperial Craft Bureau, and she often handled the previous Noble Consort Ju's accessories and cosmetics. That's how she got her hands on the secret formula of her unique, especially beautifying rouge."
The eunuch narrowed his eyes, an act that squeezed them into ugly slits. "And how did that 'secret' formula end up in your hands?"
Once the first lie slipped out, the rest were a piece of cake.
"They needed my help procuring the ingredients to recreate it," she replied effortlessly. "Naturally, I asked why and got involved, too."
"Alright." The eunuch was satisfied. "How much?"
"Three silvers. But for you, my first customer—only two." Chun'er stuck out two fingers and smiled.
The eunuch, pleased by the discount, handed her a small pouch without bargaining.
Clink! Clink!
After checking the pouch, Chun'er's smile widened with sincerity. She gave the eunuch the compact and waved. "It was nice doing business with you. Come find me if you require more cosmetics in the future!"
Left alone, the eunuch admired the dainty compact for awhile. A slow smile crawled up his thin lips.
***
In a secluded room where sunlight couldn't reach, a lone figure sat by the window, gazing off into the distance. A horrifying blankness rested on her delicate features, while her dark hair was secured with a plain white ribbon, its ends curling around her waist like an ebony belt.
No wind blew, no bird chirped. She didn't seem to even breathe.
She resembled a porcelain doll—uncanny in its beauty, yet so easily broken.
Tak. Tak. Tak.
A few tentative knocks sounded.
Jiang Ya'er blinked, light returning to her hooded eyes.
"Come in," she said softly.
A eunuch with protruding cheekbones and too-small eyes stepped into the room, his servile flattery preceding his presence:
"Courtier Jiang, today this servant is blinded by your beauty as well! Truly the most stunning of all the courtiers—no, even in the whole palace!"
Her expression remained neutral, as it had every time he showered her with praise. "What news have you brought today?"
The eunuch shuffled forward, hands outstretched while maintaining a respectful distance. "It's not news, but I come bearing a rare cosmetic—rouge made from the same formula as that of the previous Noble Consort Ju's."
Jiang Ya'er beheld the silver compact curiously. "Noble Consort Ju?"
"Courtier Jiang may not know, but Noble Consort Ju was Former Emperor Yong's favourite consort..." the eunuch lowered his voice. "And the mother of Grand Prince Hong, His Majesty's only remaining older brother."
"I see..." Jiang Ya'er mused. "What is so special about her rouge?"
"It is said the previous Noble Consort Ju had a beauty that could topple nations, and she was best known for her enchanting smile, made even more beguiling by the secret scarlet rouge that glistened like dewy rose on her supple lips. But of course, Courtier Jiang's beauty is the moon to Noble Consort Ju's sun—both are radiant in every way," the eunuch hastily added. "No doubt if Courtier Jiang uses this rogue, all eyes will be on you at the final selection."
Jiang Ya'er accepted the compact at last. "I appreciate the gesture. Thank you..."
"Xiao Jian," the eunuch hurriedly filled in the blank.
Jiang Ya'er smiled, and suddenly the sun shone, the birds chirped, and the wind sent floral notes in admiration.
Xiao Jian didn't dare to blink.
"You did well, Xiao Jian," she said, instantly validating weeks of ingratiation. "As you know, I don't have much now, but if I ever achieve greatness... It will be because you stood by my side when no one else did. And I, Jiang Ya'er, never forget my benefactors."
Xiao Jian clenched his fists and bowed. "Yes, Courtier Jiang! Xiao Jian hereby pledges lifelong loyalty to you!"
"You may leave now. Let's keep contact to a minimum, until..."
Jiang Ya'er shot him a knowing look, and he suppressed his excitement. "Yes, Courtier Jiang! This servant will not cause trouble for you. I shall take my leave."
His footsteps receded, and she was left alone again.
Jiang Ya'er crept back to her bed and took out a box hidden beneath it, feeling around its wooden base until...
Click.
A secret compartment popped open. Within it was a tin full of glossy green leaves, each containing three leaflets.
Jiang Ya'er wrapped her hands in cloth and sprinkled the leaves into a small mortar. Then, she scraped the rouge Xiao Jian had brought into the mixture and started grinding it. Bit by bit, until both were inextricably one, just like the grievances she had suffered since entering this palace; just like the whispers that cloaked her like shame.
Just a magistrate's daughter, not even legitimate.
Lowly.
Pitiable.
Undeserving.
Was she wrong for trying to do better? Trying to earn what she was not born with?!
The noblewomen of the capital would never understand, yet they dared to denounce her for it. They were all the same as Meng Fan, the high and mighty Upper First-Rank Grand General's daughter. The difference was she wore her distaste on her face and flaunted it with actions, while they snickered and gossiped behind her back.
'Cowards.'
Yet, the hidden malice she could handle—it was the blatant, public humiliation that enraged her.
Forcing her to kneel.
To apologise.
To crawl and beg.
Fine. She could endure all that.
She took out a new compact—silver like the first, but with a subtle flower carving underneath it—and methodically filled it with the enhanced rouge.
The hollow stare returned, and this time, something dark lurked behind it.
'But there is a price for everything.'
"Meng Fan..." she mumbled. "You asked for this."