(Author's Note: I'm adding some conflict in this universe. Ostania borders the country of Westalis- if you know, you know. Just like with France and England throughout history, they've always been rivals and gone to war with each other numerous times. While there is no war right now, rumours are starting to spread that another one is on its way, and while the Emperor of Ostania would never admit it, he's worried because wars are really costly, and money isn't exactly overflowing in his kingdom right now.
For our story's purposes, what matters is that the imperial general, General Lakan, has recently become a Westalis informant. The prince and heir to the throne of Westalis has fallen gravely ill, and the Emperor of Westalis made a deal with the General that if he can get the best apothecary in Ostania across the border to heal his son, he'll give the General asylum and a palace (all the apothecaries in Westalis have tried and failed to heal the prince, and the Emperor's getting desperate). Once Lakan is aware of Maomao's talents, he's going to do everything in his power to keep the Ostanian Emperor from making her one of his concubines (if Maomao joins the royal Harem, she'll never leave the palace again). He plans to do this by having her marry one of his soldiers- thus making it impossible for the Emperor to put her in his Harem- and smuggle her out of the country by saying that she needs to accompany her husband on their trip to protect the border.
Also, Lakan and Maomao are both unaware that he is her biological father. He dropped her off at the Abbey when she was less than a day old and never checked on her since. Also no one knows that Laken plans to defect and betray his emperor.
Enjoy!)
Ok, so maaaaaaaaaybe I made the mistake of falling asleep on the floor in the temple. I would say it's not my fault, that it's the only comforting place in this whole damn palace, but Mother-Abbess would be disappointed of me neglecting my freewill like that. I woke up early the next morning, jolting away like something had happened. My head shot up and I blinked wildly, forgetting where I was momentarily. Then, once I did remember, this wash of panic flooded through me. Oh no! I was gone all night! That nobleman's going to kill me!
The first thing I did was wash up, then the world's fastest prayer, removed and hid my head veil, and ran as fast as I could back to the Inner Court. There was more noise in the air now; people were already awake. I reached the room which was designated for me, only to find- to my utter horror- that the nobleman was already inside. He had a gown tucked over his arm, and he looked ready to strangle me.
"You! Where the hell have you been?!" "I-I was in the temple! I fell asleep in there accidently. I'm sorry, your grace." He groaned unimpressed, throwing the dress down onto the bed. "There. Get changed- fast." It was a red skirt dress with a green long-sleeve top. "It's very…. fine," I was about to say too fine, but thought better of it. He scowled at me directly, furrowing his eyebrows. "Hurry up. We don't have all day." "Yes, sire. Right away," and so, I got changed into my very first unapproved gown. It was the prettiest thing I'd ever wore, which isn't saying much I suppose. I quickly got changed and opened the bedroom door. The nobleman didn't address my attire, but I could tell he was at least a little pleased to see me out of my other clothes. His head lowered a touch, and he turned to face down the hallway. "Follow me."
We walked down the hall and toward the yard. There were a bunch of women out there, some more finely dressed than others. They were out in the sun but the mood was surprisingly tense. One by one, they stepped out of our way, not saying anything and not taking much interest to look at me. No, what positive attention they had was on another figure in the yard, walking in the direction opposite us. We passed each other, and while I kept my head low and eyes down, he froze to spin his head back around, looking at me in a sort of awe which I didn't see. The nobleman did, however, and he sighed to himself and kept walking.
He led me to this large double door, which opened into the most elegant, fancy room I'd ever seen in my life. Inside was a very beautiful woman with long orange hair done up in a bun. She wore exquisite clothes, had on fine jewellery, and kept her hair up with hair pins. She was sitting on the floor beside a crib with a slumbering child on it. On the bed on the other side of the crib laid another beautiful woman- this one with dark hair that was down. She wasn't in a luxurious dress but crisp white robe meant for sleeping. Her breathing was heavy and she looked to be ill. I immediately understood why I was brought here.
"The apothecary, madame," the nobleman quietly introduced me. The orange haired lady's head slowly veered in our direction, revealing a tear-stained face and quivering lip. "A-Apothecary? She's here?" "Yes, madame. She's here to treat your child," the nobleman replied and she leaned a bit closer toward me. "Oh thank goodness….. Thank goodness you're here. Please…. please save my Xiaoling. She's the only daughter I have… Please….. Please," she begged over and over. The nobleman bowed his head in respect before turning to leave. "I'll leave you to it then. Remember apothecary, if you don't want to lose your head, you'll save these two." "Y-Yes, sire!" I said and he made his exit, leaving me there alone with the three. I walked over to take a look in the crib first, then at the woman on the bed.
"Her name is Lihua. She's been sick for some time, and recently lost her infant son," the orange-haired lady explained to me as I stood over Lihua. She was so ill that she could barely open her eyes. After analysing her for a minute, I came to sit down beside the orange-haired lady, cupping my hands on my lap. "If I may, can I ask you some questions please? Any insight you have would be most helpful." She nodded and we spent the next hour talking- or well, she talked to me and I asked question after question. By the end, I had a better idea of what was going on. Rapidly thinking up a plan, I got to my feet and gazed back at the child. The orange-haired lady watched me intently, leaning forward again with more than a hint of desperation.
"What are you going to do?" "I don't know… But I'm going to do everything I can to save your daughter and Lady Lihua." "How are you going to do that?" I hesitated briefly before forcing my lips to pry open. "I'm going to first clean them, then I'll wash the whole, then I'll pray… and start my fast." She blinked perplexed. "Fast? What will that do?" "Fasting is imperative in situations such as this. Not only will it bring me closer to God, but it will clear my mind. I will think more clearly in a fasted state." "Really?" This only seemed to surprise her further. That's when I walked over to the water basin, ready to go pour the water still in it out- everything had to be fresh and purified before I could start. As I did so, the orange-haired lady watched me more curiously now, cocking her head a little.
"Is there anything else you require, apothecary?" "Truthfully, yes. But I will respect the customs of the Harem," I replied and she blinked again. "What do you require?" I didn't answer right away this time, letting my hands linger in the air as I weighed my options. Then I decided to heck with it; they're likely not to execute me now before I at least try to heal these two.
"Well…. Actually, my lady, I would be more at ease to work… if I could work my way." "Your way?" "Yes, madame. In the Abbey, our hair is always covered and we wash before we pray. It would be good…. if I could make this room a sacred place, at least for now." "A sacred place?" "Yes. That means no makeup or personal ornaments. Everything must be clean and I must purify everything."
She gawked at me like I was speaking a different language. She didn't make a peep for a quick minute, then she tilted her head to the side a bit again. "Will this…. help heal my daughter?" "I will do my best to heal her with the strength God gives me. He gives me the strength and it's up to me to use it to the best of my ability and wisdom," I told her and she didn't move again. Nothing happened until she stood up for the first time. Then she looked at her baby for a long while, her hand resting on the crib. When her head spun back in my direction, she was weeping; the tears dripping down her cheeks messed up her mask up.
"Do what you have to, apothecary. I don't care what it is; just save my child." "I'll do my best, madame," and she nodded, though grimly so. With one last look at her baby, she left us alone in the room. As soon as she was gone, I emptied all the water basins in the room, going out to the well myself to fetch clean water. Come back, I shut the door and wrapped a shawl around my hair as a make-shift veil, and to keep my hair out of my way. I gave Lady Lihua a sponge bath, being sure to wipe every bit of makeup off her face. I didn't tell the orange-haired lady or the nobleman, but I already had a hunch why they were so sick… It was the white powder they put on their faces, or the faces of those currently breast-feeding the baby. From what the orange-haired lady told me, and seeing the powder on Lady Lihua myself, I suspected it was lead poisoning. Hence why it was so important to wash it off her face and remove any traces from the room.
Once Lady Lihua and the infant princess were good and clean, I began scrubbing the room down, not missing an inch. I changed their bed sheets and curtains. Then I removed the baby from her crib, laying her on this bed I made from a clean blanket on the middle of the floor; she'd get more clean air down here I figured. Once all that work was done, I washed myself lastly. I walked out in front of the sleeping princess, watching her a moment before getting on my knees and hands, lowering my forehead to the floor and shutting my eyes. "God, please give me the strength….. to think well and save this child and woman, please…." That's when my fast officially started.
Nobody else came to check on us again, at least not until hours later. By then I was laying on floor, fast asleep beside the baby princess; I wanted to be close to her in case she woke up and started crying. The room was pitch black, as I blew out the candles for safety concerns. Lady Lihua hadn't stirred the whole time I was there, but her breathing was steadier now. Even the baby didn't wake up once. As for me, I didn't eat or drink, just lying there exhausted beside the princess. I didn't even visit the temple one last time today….
That's he found us, or rather me, when the door opened some hours later- there, down on the ground fast asleep right next to the child.