Phoenix

Chapter 1

My heart sank at the list in the marketplace.

The list contained names of girls who were chosen to enter the imperial palace to compete for a lowly role of the harem... concubine. My name was included, written in fine, black strokes.

While many of the other girls around me squealed in delight and practically jumped up with joy, I just stared at the piece of paper in front of me.
I can't enter the palace! I wouldn't be able to survive a day... everyone knew about the dangers of the harem, however it seems like some don't care much for their lives. Not to mention Emperor Huang Fu's reputation... three years ago he took the throne by force, killing millions in the process and earning him the title of the Demon Emperor. Some say he has demon blood coursing through his body, as well as a spirit of a Dragon.

There isn't a high probability that I'll get chosen anyways. For two years, millions of young girls have been summoned to the palace and none but three have been chosen for the harem. Furthermore they were all from high ranking families, unlike me who comes from a lowly, poor household. I'm not too frightened about the possibility of being chosen, seeing these odds, however I do know the dangers don't start within the harem, they start in the selection. I'll have to be wary of everyone and everything there.

Sighing, I look away from the list hesitantly and grab my profits from the market stand, preparing to close shop. Lowering the plaid covering of the front, I turn around to face the dirt road and start to walk home. What would my family think of my situation? Honestly, even I'm still in shock. This Spring I'll turn 20 years of age, which is considered to be pretty old to be married off, making it even more surprising that I was selected. I'm youngest of four, my three older sisters were married off at a young age and I can't even begin to count the amount of nieces and nephews I have. As for the reason of why I haven't been wed... well I'm considered a bastard child. My father had an affair with a woman on a campaign trip to YuQian, and my biological mother didn't want anything to do with me when I was born so my father brought me home. My mother didn't mind as she was very much devoted to her husband and she treated me like her own daughter. However, who would want a bastard child as their wife?

My thoughts are cut off by a shrill squeal, my mothers squeal.
I quickly pick up pace and race to the door... what could've happened? Were we robbed while I was at the marketplace? Or did Father finally come back from his trip? Possibilities were racing through my mind, not even knowing good or bad.
"Mother! What happened!?!" I ask, opening the door.
She replies with a wide grin, dimples blessing both her cheeks. "Xiulan! You've been selected!" she laughs, dancing around the kitchen.
Oh..... right. "Mother, you know what could happen to me if I go." I say, placing down the sack of gold coins on the wooden counter, before dumping them out to count them.

"Of course I know the dangers, but... Xiulan your turning twenty this year! You must get married soon..."

I scowl at her reasoning. "And you really believe the Emperor is going to want a bastard child as his wife?"
As soon as I said it, I regretted it.

Her dimples faded and her joyous expression turned gloomy, like a raincloud suddenly appeared above her head. She hated being reminded that I didn't have any blood relation with her. "Xiulan, how much did we make today?" she asks with her back facing me, referring to the coins.

I look down at the shiny red coins in guilt once more. "100 hongbao"

She turns back around and I'm met with her dark eyes with a small glimmer in them. She smiles understandably, "You know... if you were to become the Emperors concubine we wouldn't have to be living like this" she gestures to the old, torn room and her expression turns into a frown. "We barely make enough money now, with your father away in Caixi, and we're making less every single day." Returning back to stirring the steaming pot filled with soup, she continues. "Xiulan, I know the odds are slim but we have a chance here to improve our lives, so please, please consider taking it."

I know she's right... becoming the Emperors concubine would help us financially, and it definitely would improve our lifestyle. But... I'm afraid I may not be able to stomach the daily dangers of the harem, and besides, there's a very, very slim chance that I'll even get chosen.
"Mother- ... I- I'll go but I can't guarantee that I'll be chosen. Out of the half a million of girls that were sent last year, only two were chosen, and only one the previous year."

"That's all I need. Thank you Xiulan." she replies with a large smile.

That night my thoughts about the palace kept me up, not allowing sleep to take over until the moon was at its fullest peak. To say I was nervous would be a understatement, because butterflies were practically flying out of my stomach. They say the palace is a dangerous place, not suited for someone who hasn't spent their life doing despicable deeds. However to say that I wasn't the least bit curious would also be false. My father brought me up teaching me writing and reading, mathematics, and philosophy, he thought that his daughters should be able to learn the same subjects as men did and apply them to our lives, naturally I became interested in politics. Now, the imperial palace was a place where politics played a major role in life or death, it was most definitely corrupt, however I wanted to uncover the secrets of the palace. Who really has the power of the kingdom? The Emperor? The Prime Minister? Or even the concubines? However, this eagerness is just out of curiosity, nothing more. I wouldn't be able to fix the corruption of this country anyways as woman were never allowed to intervene in politics.

Soon these thoughts drifted out of my mind as sleep took over.

I dreamed about an emerald green dragon with gold specks trailing along its back. His blood red eyes pierced through my soul before completely changing into a chilling black color, as dark as a grave.

It was the most menacing and beautiful creature I've ever laid my eyes on.

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