The four young women in the same place but different rooms felt happy actually. They could talk to each other and play around. That Liu Mei was chosen to go to that ghost place was enough for them to talk about it.
''I am happy we all are together. We can go for a walk and see more of the palace.'' She was heard by the momo that just came on the door.
Momo rolled her eyes and snorted. ''Do you think this is the backyard of your house?''
The girls looked at the woman that approached them with elegant steps startled. They bowed deeply towards her. ''Greetings to Wang Momo.''
Wang Momo was actually an old woman that overlived most of the servants. She was about to retire but until new Empress is not chosen she planned to stay and teach lessons to those that have no idea what palace really is.
Her standing is really high in the eyes of people. Even ministers didn't dare to look down on her.
Wang Momo sat down with help f her servants and looked at the four demure looking women with scrutinized eyes. ''Pretending, just keep pretending.''
She hated most those that were like this. All those that passed the palace she met. And among them, only a handful was appreciated by Wang Momo. The most she hated is insincerity.
She turned her eyes towards Rong Hou and smiled. ''At least you show your true and unruly nature. Maybe these walls will not be so quiet in the future. But child, some things are not like you think they are.''
Rong Hou was maybe troublemaker but only because she was fiery and easily lead on. Foolish as it seems, but if she doesn't change to better, she won't have any chance of entering the Emperor's eyes no matter how much her family wanted to give her. She clearly refused all those riches from them and told them straightforwardly.
''If she learns well and doesn't jump out of line, our Emperor might even take her in. He hates most are those wenches that try to make others do dirty things that they have in their minds.'' That warning was clear enough.
Unfortunately, Rong Hou was raised spoiled and it was not certain if she would fare well inside place walls. No matter how much the Elders spoke to her she ignored their kind advice and they gave up after a while. Even her mother multiple times advised her not to make trouble in the palace, but she was so spiled that even she gave up. It was after all one of her children. How can she raise her voice at her?
''My child, in the palace you need to be careful and careful again. Even those your grandfather is someone important, there is still someone more important than him and that is the Emperor. You can't ever make him annoyed or our whole family will be doomed.'' She tried to talk to her.
Rong Hou was actually spoiled brat that used her cutely ways to soften her heart. ''Mother, grandfather and grandmother already spoke so much that my ears are buzzing. What is the point? If he doesn't like me you can all make pressure on him It wouldn't be the first time.''
Suddenly her mother became pale and wave her hand to send servants out. With a strict voice, she pushed Rong Hou away from her and ordered. ''Kneel!''
I was the first time in her life to be punished so she was unwilling. ''But mother, what I said is true. Lat Emperor...'' Suddenly her mother stood up and slapped her face and then with a strict voice once more said. ''Kneel!''
How can such a spoiled person like Rong Hou leave it as it is? She started crying out loud making a ruckus in the room. Trowing vases, tea set, flipping the tables...
Her mother looked at her with big eyes not understanding what actually happened. Is this really her child? She sat down on the chair and sighed. It seems all those years of pampering meant nothing.
Her eyes rose and she coldly stared at the rampaging young woman. ''I guess I pampered you too much. From today on do not call me a mother. You are forbidden to enter my rooms from now on. You will leave my rooms and go back to live the rest of the time you have with your own mother until you leave for the palace. Third miss, there is the door. Servants!''
Servants suddenly rushed inside room and with surprise could see the broken room and huffing Rong Hou. They turned their astonished eyes towards their mistress that looked pale and didn't know how to react.
''Miss Rong Hou is from today on forbidden to enter here. If I see her here inside I will sell you all off. Understood?! Thrid miss, go back where you came from. Your mother will be delighted to see you again.'' Her cold words just made Rong Hou realized that she made a mistake, but she will not admit it.
With head high, she just huffed and left the rooms not understanding that with her actions she broke so many bridges behind. But later, much later she will know. The rest of the time she spends with her mother that had soft nature and calm bearing. But she looked down on her. What is good to be just a small concubine?
She had no idea that being concubine in her father's home was something special. Not all men are like her father. He had only one wife and two concubines. One is her mother and the other is the woman that he saved once. Both women were respectful to the main wife and lived comfortably as father had respect for all of them.
That is the reason she was accepted by the main wife to be rased after she was eight. To be taught elegant manners and speech. Good behavior. And many more. But unfortunately, all those years that the main wife spends on her pampering her and giving her good advice she threw away in a moment of rage.
''Mother, she is after all, not my blood. When I become Empress I will make your name higher than hers so she can't look down on you ever again.'' Rong Hou righteously promised her mother but this one just shook her head.
''Third miss, main wife s quite good to me. Look at my clothes and my food. She never slighted me with a monthly allowance and whenever there is something new she got she would share with us. Do not speak nonsense.'' She was actually grateful to the main wife by adopting her daughter as her own child. Like that she could visit parties as a child from official miss and not as concubine born.
In the future, she would have the main position in some household, but from where did this child inherit this kind of bad attitude? None in her family was like this and she knew that the Rong family was the same.
After Rong Hou left for the palace she went to the main wife and asked her for forgiveness, but she just shook her head and smiled. ''Mei Mei, I know. We lived so long together and I know your bearing. I am not sure how did this child turn this way, but I fear something bad will happen to her and to us as well in the future. Please be ready for it.''
She just sighed. ''I know that most main wives hate concubines but only us two know how good you treat us. No matter what happens in the future I will stand by your side. We can work together in the future as well. Do not worry. I am not an ungrateful person.''
The two women held hands knowing that storm is brewing, but how big the storm will be, not even they expected it.