The sunlight poured through Li's eyes as she slowly opened them. She gently stretched her arms as she looked around, smiling. She still couldn't believe that she was now a lady of Sun Jian's court. It was hard adjusting to the fact that she no longer had to bow to those passing by or address everyone as 'Sir' or 'Ma'am'. It was going to take time. But Li had no trouble at all adjusting to the new luxuries that her new title gave her. She was not complaining about sleeping in silk sheets or wearing fine robes or waking up in the most beautiful room she had ever seen. Excited about what she would discover today, she threw off the covers and jumped out of bed.
After bathing and dressing, Li Tai opened her door and ventured out into the hallway. It was almost completely empty of people, and those that were there were busy running from room to room, carrying baskets of linens and trays of food. Many of the servants gave her a slight bow as she passed, which made Li feel slightly uncomfortable since she knew quite a few of them. But she smiled and nodded to them in response. This was going to take some getting used to.
She reached the end of the hall and stopped. One servant had caught her eye as she hurried around the corner with a basket of laundry. The woman looked up and also stopped, looking Li up and down for a moment. Hua Ling just stared at her, jealousy slowly forming in her large, blue eyes. Had it been anyone else, Hua might have been reprimanded for looking anyone of higher class in the eye. But Li had no voice for such scolding. She knew how Hua felt. She just hoped she wouldn't do anything about it.
"So, how is the good life treating you?" Hua asked smugly. Li knew she was trying to get her in trouble, so she remained calm and poised, refusing to look down at the large woman.
"Fine," she replied. She turned to go, but Hua Ling wasn't finished yet.
"Oh, so now you're all high and mighty, and can't talk to people of lower status. I see how it is. I guess your old friends aren't good enough for you anymore."
Li turned around, trying to keep her emotions in check. "First of all, no, I'm not supposed to talk to people of lower class than me. It's a rule, and not one I made up. Second, you were never my friend. All you did was spread gossip and rumors about others, including myself, to make yourself look and feel better. Last time I checked, friends didn't do things like that." She straightened herself again, and turned to go. "Now, If you'll excuse me, I have other things to do."
Hua Ling just stared as Li Tai turned the corner and walked away. The nerve of that woman! But no matter. Li was right about one thing. Hua knew how to spread just the right rumor to ring a person down to their knees. All she had to do now was think of a good one. The game was on.
Li rounded the corner of the next hallway to find Lady Sun talking to her brother, Sun Quan. She gave a slight bow as she approached, which Sun Shang returned. Sun Quan smiled.
"Ah, its good to see you, Lady Tai." He turned to his sister. "I will run the plan by you again after Zhou Yu and Lu Xun have picked it over." He bowed to them. "Good day, ladies."
Sun Shang smiled, and the two headed towards the main hall. "So, how was your first morning as a Lady of the court?" she asked.
"Well, it's yet another thing that I'll have to learn to live with," Li said. Lady Sun laughed.
"I can't say much about that. I've been doing it my whole life." She turned to her new friend. "What was it like, being a servant? You must have been a hard worker, because normally I see most of the servants that run around the palace, but I don't ever recall seeing you."
Li's smile faded a bit at this question as memories of her encounter with Hua resurfaced. "I worked mostly in the kitchen and the stables. I grew up in those places, so that's where I'm usually stationed." They walked a few steps in silence before Sun Shang noticed Li's distressed face.
"Are you alright, Li?" she asked, concerned. Li faltered for a moment before deciding to tell her about Hua Ling. She felt like she could trust Lady Sun.
"I ran into one of the women I worked with earlier. She wasn't too happy about my new situation. Of all the servants, she is the only one that concerns me. He's a very good liar, and she loves to spread rumors about others. I guess I'm just nervous that she's going to say something about me."
Lady Sun let out a laugh at this. Li Tai gave her a confused look, and Sun Shang put a hand on her shoulder. "Li, you are Zhou Tai's sister. He is one of the most loyal and honest officers that we have, despite his shaky upbringings. He would never believe any rumors spread about you. Besides, you have caught the attention of several of our male officers, all of whom are good friends with Zhou Tai. I can't see any of them believing what the servants say about you."
Li's face lightened as her mood became better again. It was good to finally have a friend that she could rely on. She couldn't recall ever having one before. This would be one of the few easy things to get used to.
Hua Ling stood in the corner of the dining hall with some of the other servants, watching Sun Jian, his family, and other high class members eat, talk, and laugh. She had never had a problem with it before. Having been a servant al of her life, she had been taught that this was the way things were. But then again, she had never seen a low class member rise to a higher class overnight. And it was sickening.
She watched the other side of the room, where Li Tai was seated next to her brother, with Lords Lu Meng, Taishi Ci, and Sun Quan talking with her. At that moment, Hua hated everything about Li, from her smile to her laugh, from her robes to her hair. At that moment, Li had everything, and Hua had nothing. Li Tai even had men vying for her attention, something that Hua herself had never had. The jealousy that had overwhelmed her earlier had now been consumed by anger and rage. She wanted Li Tai to suffer like she was doing now. She would give anything to see that woman fall.
One of the younger servants stopped next to Hua and pointed to Li. "Isn't it wonderful, Hua? Li finally found her family. And who knew that they were right here, all this time?'
She scowled as the naive woman headed back into the kitchen. Nothing about this situation was wonderful. She had spent her entire life trying to get out of this hellhole known as servitude, and Li Tai is the one that rises to it? Not happening. Hua would have to seduce one of those officers beyond belief in order for her to move up.
Then it hit her.
Hua Ling tried to hide her smile as the wheels turned inside her head, he plan slowly beginning to form. She knew exactly how she was going to bring Li Tai down, even if it required her to fall as well. She smirked. At least she didn't have much farther to fall.
It was late when Li finally decided to call it a night. Stifling a yawn, she began her trek back to her room. She was really beginning to enjoy her new life. Never before had she been able to wander wherever she wanted, eat whatever she wanted, or talk to whomever she wanted. She could help but feel excited and contented at the same time. She just wished that her dreams had pointed her in this direction sooner.
"Li, hold on." She turned around to see Zhou Tai walking towards her. Well, striding was probably a better term. One step for him was equal to about three for her. She smiled as he finally reached her and gestured towards the end of the hall. "Come on. I'll walk you back to your room." She nodded as they ventured back to the other end of the palace.
They walked down a few halls in silence, before Li couldn't stand it anymore. "By the way, thank you for introducing me to everyone, Zhou. I was worried that I wouldn't have anyone to talk to besides you."
He smiled. "Well, they seem to be glad, too. Many of them have taken a liking to you, I've noticed." Li could feel herself blushing. Thankfully, the darkness helped to hide it as they continued their walk. They passed a little more conversation, mostly about how Li was adjusting and whether she was getting along with everyone or not. Both were paying too much attention to each other to notice the figure that was following them down the halls, listening to every word. When they reached Li Tai's room, it stopped, hiding behind a pole as Zhou Tai bid his sister goodnight and shut the door. It made no motion at all as Zhou Tai passed it and continued down the hall.
Zhou Tai stopped after a few strides. He had that feeling again. The feeling that someone else was there. The hairs began to stand up on his neck as he reached for his Katana. He took a breath and whipped around in time to see a dark figure bolt from his hiding place in the other direction. Without thought, Zhou Tai bolted after it, his sword in hand. But when he rounded the corner, it was gone. There was no sign of it at all. He slowly sheathed his blade and turned around. As he passed by his sister's room, two of the night guards came around the opposite way. They stopped and bowed to him.
"I want you two to keep a look out for anything unusual in this hallway." They nodded to him
"Of course, Lord Tai. Is there any reason, if you don't mind my asking?"
He shrugged. "Gut feeling," was all he said. He turned and disappeared in the direction that the soldiers had come, and they continued with their rounds.
The figure waited until everyone was gone before emerging from behind another pole. A small smile could be see from underneath the long, black hood of the cape. Zhou Tai was even more formidable than he had thought. He knew that he had gotten lucky before, taking advantage of him when he was just seven. But he was a warrior now, and it wouldn't been easy. The figure smiled. He had a mission, but not tonight. Tonight, he was the spy, the scout. He still needed to gather information before he could make his move. The smile grew as the figure grabbed the railing and jumped to the ground, pausing to make sure no one had seen him. He jumped on the horse waiting for him and rode off into the night with only one thought. Zhou Tai had been reunited with his sister, who had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. If anything, he knew that a woman could ruin an man, or an entire kingdom. And he planned to use this new discovery to every advantage possible.