The next morning, Zi Hua awoke to hushed noises of preparation. She cracked open an eye and was met with inky darkness, but sleep was no longer an option under these circumstances.
She could feel it—the buzz of tense anticipation within Blossom Palace. Even before the crack of dawn, candlelight flickered in each room in the courtyard, the bustling shadows of courtiers and servants alike illuminated by them.
It was the day.
Just as she finished the thought, a few ruffled female voices reached her, their owners radiating nerves.
"Where's my rose hairpin?"
"Here it is, Courtier Luo."
"On second thought, bring me the plum blossom one."
"Yes, Courtier Luo."
"Luo Yin, you didn't wrinkle my dress on purpose, did you?!"
"As if! Who would want to touch your belongings..."
"Courtier Song, what about this dress? It's all the rage right now."
"Absolutely not. I want to stand out."
"Song Chang Ge, have you seen your reflection lately?"
"What do you mean?!"
Zi Hua rubbed her weary eyes and sat up. The slight commotion seemed to alert the abnormal amount of people beyond the canopy of her bed. Five, to be exact.
"You're up?" she heard Luo Yin say. "About time. No other courtier would laze in bed on such an important day."
"What time is it?" she yawned.
"Past time to be snoozing," Luo Yin quipped.
"Answering Courtier Yang, it's currently the Yin hour," came Chun'er's brisk voice. "Shall I assist you in getting ready?"
"Yes, please."
After washing her drowsiness away, Zi Hua regarded the extra, unfamiliar faces in the packed room. "I thought we only had one servant per dorm."
"Since today is the final selection, Madam Xiu has assigned more servants to help each courtier get presentable," Luo Yin explained. She cut a glare at Song Chang Ge. "This service is long overdue, if you ask me."
"Like I enjoy sharing a servant with you," Song Chang Ge rebutted.
"You—"
Before Luo Yin could form a complete retort, her servant suddenly doubled over, clutching her stomach in pain.
"Apologies, Courtier Luo... I need the lavatory...!" she shouted, sprinting outside.
"H-Hey! What about my hair?!" Luo Yin yelled.
But the servant was gone, a gust of wind swinging the door back and forth behind her.
A snigger filled the empty space.
"This must be a sign from the heavens," Song Chang Ge drawled. "You aren't destined for the palace, Luo Yin."
Luo Yin's face reddened in anger. "You did this, didn't you? No wonder you offered the servants a snack earlier!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Song Chang Ge shrugged innocently, but her smirk said otherwise.
"Instead of arguing, why not find a solution?" Zi Hua suggested. "There's still time to prepare."
"Hmph! You're right. Some people aren't as important as they think," Luo Yin huffed, to her pleasant surprise. But the next second, she pointed at Chun'er. "You! Hurry and do my hair!"
Chun'er faltered, and she gestured between herself and Zi Hua. "M-me? But I'm helping—"
"My father is the Minister of Rites!" Luo Yin boasted. "Will you take responsibility for impeding my future as a consort? Isn't it obvious who to prioritise?"
As expected, Chun'er lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Courtier Yang!" She hastily bowed before scurrying to Luo Yin's side, leaving Zi Hua at a loss of words.
'...Serves me right for warning her.'
Chun'er was already weaving a complicated hairstyle under Luo Yin's insistence, and it didn't look like they would be finished any time soon. Song Chang Ge shot her a look that was half-pity, half-ridicule, before going back to picking a "unique" outfit.
Zi Hua shook it off and started readying herself.
The first thing she got rid of was the elaborate dress Chun'er had laid out for her—too many ribbons and not enough hands. Instead, she delved into her luggage and whisked out a simple yellow ensemble with flourish. She would have preferred her lucky red dress, but only the empress could wear that colour in the palace.
With a sigh, Zi Hua gave her old favourite a mournful pat and shut the chest lid.
Next was hairstyle.
One look at Chun'er inserting a myriad of gold, pearl, and jewel pins into Luo Yin's hair caused her to involuntarily shudder.
'Her neck is very strong.' She secretly raised a thumbs up in Luo Yin's direction, then tied her own hair into a high ponytail with practiced ease.
'Left, right, loop... Done!'
After a quick check in the mirror and straightening her accessories, Zi Hua nodded satisfactorily. Then, under Luo Yin, Song Chang Ge, and the servants' gawks, she strode out of the room with a light-hearted skip.
Today was another productive day indeed.
***
"Madam Xiu!" Zi Hua waved at the lone figure a few steps ahead.
"Good morning, Courtier Yang," Madam Xiu smiled warmly, walking towards her. "How may I help you?"
"I was just about to ask if I could help you," Zi Hua laughed, gesturing at the busy courtyard.
At this hour, the courtiers no longer bothered suppressing their voices; nervous, excited, and shrill instructions bounced about the air. Servants flitted in and out of different dorms, arms full and expressions harried.
"How dare I let a courtier carry out brute chores?" Madam Xiu chided, surveying her attire. "You haven't gotten dressed yet, Courtier Yang? Go ahead and leave the rest to the servants—it's our duty."
Zi Hua blinked. "But I am dressed."
"You will attend the final selection in... this?"
She smoothed her horse-face skirt and spun in a full circle, displaying the large sunflower patterns encircling the hem. "Yes. What do you think, madam?"
Madam Xiu pressed her lips together. "It's not unacceptable, but... it's normal to dress to the nines during an audience with the emperor."
"Simplicity isn't against the rules," Zi Hua pointed out.
"That's true," Madam Xiu hummed in agreement—then caught herself. "But you might not catch the emperor's eye this way."
"It's alright. I don't mind!"
The experienced servant appraised her with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.
She had never met a carefree courtier like Yang Zi Hua before, not to mention a consort with no ambition whatsoever. She acted at her own comfort and moved at her own pace, disregarding the noblewomen's consensus and trends. From her attitude, she seemed to genuinely not fret over being selected or not.
It was most unusual... yet refreshing.
Madam Xiu chuckled to herself. "As long as you're happy."
One shichen later, bombarded with the spiteful looks of an army of courtiers, Zi Hua swallowed. She finally understood Madam Xiu's doubts.