The plum trees in the courtyard of Dawa's palace are devoid of leaves and covered in a light dusting of snow.

It was Dawa's first winter in Li and she didn't expect it to be so cold. In the Western Plains, winter was chilly but never like this!

She was sprawled on the couch with a censer* near the foot to keep her legs warm. Bortu was nearby, as usual, her face stoic and attentive.

Maybe I should move... I feel I am getting colder just by sitting here. This thing isn't helping me much.

Dawa got up from the couch and instructed her servants to dress her to go outside. Since she intended to only venture to the courtyard just outside her palace, Bortu wouldn't be following her as she can see her from the sliding door.

She wore a white fur cape on top of her robes and held an umbrella. She wandered to the bare plum tree, touched the bark and looked up at the slightly grey sky full of falling snow.

It has been nearly 6 moons since I came here, I wonder how everyone is doing back home... Aunt Bora, Geriel and Gerel... I miss you all.

Concubines are allowed to write to family but Dawa hasn't attempted to do so. Surrounded by those who disliked or are ambivalent towards her, she didn't feel safe writing about her experiences to the tribe.

As for Minister Hao, she had seen him a few times after their chance encounter at the secret training spot. He comes to the palace to report the status of Guxi city and other investigative matters to the Emperor. Whenever they would run into each other, they would exchange pleasantries but nothing more. Some of the concubines found it odd that she and the Minister were 'friendly' but those thoughts were dispelled rather quickly upon finding out that he was the one who received her before the Emperor did.

Every time they met, Dawa could sense the kindness the older man had for her. However, it doesn't change the fact that she is indeed alone in the palace with no allies or confidants.

Speaking of allies or confidants, Zi Siwei sometimes came to mind. He was the one who kept up with her conversations while on the journey to Li and even went after her when she disappeared to enjoy her last day of freedom before entering the palace. Bai Haoxia while generally friendly was not as entertaining as Zi Siwei with his quiet intelligence and well... something that she couldn't seem to identify no matter how long she pondered over it.

She hadn't seen either man in months now. She wondered how they were doing, especially Zi Siwei. She was dying to talk to him again because talking to the people in the palace was tiring! She heeded Minister Hao's warning and kept her honest outbursts to a minimum but she felt so stifled...

Dawa sighed, a puff of hot air coming out from her mouth.

Is this what my life is now? Dealing with women like Imperial Concubine Lan and vying for the Emperor's favour...

The sound of crunching snow shook Dawa from her reverie. She turned to face the direction of the sound.

It was Zi Siwei. She hadn't seen him for nearly half a year.

"General Zi, what brings you to the palace?" Dawa bowed.

Zi Siwei paused for a slightly longer time than normal before answering, "Our family has a winter banquet today and I'm required to attend."

"Our family? By chance are you part of the royal family?" Dawa asked.

"Yes." Zi Siwei replied.

Dawa was quite surprised. It must have shown on her face because Zi Siwei chuckled.

"My surname is Zi which is the name of the royal family of the Xiafeng dynasty." He explained. "Though I'm from the branch side of the royal family so I'm not in the line for succession."

"Ah, I see." Dawa understood and didn't ask any more questions.

Silence passed by the two for a while. Zi Siwei looked a little confused while Dawa looked a little conflicted.

"I, I best be on my way Concubine Li. Please excuse me." Zi Siwei bowed before turning his back to Dawa and heading towards the main hall.

Dawa stared at Zi Siwei's retreating figure, lips pursed as she held back her barrage of questions.

Why didn't you tell me who you were? Are you and the Emperor on good terms? Do you visit him often?

She can only think those questions now. Who knows who could be listening...

Dawa made her way back to her palace where her servants undressed her and set up the censer once again to warm up her chilled body.

"Was that General Zi of the Imperial Army?" Bortu asked as she helped Dawa out of her fur cape and took her umbrella.

"Yes. We exchanged a few greetings." Dawa replied.

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"Come to think of it, the winter banquet is today?" Borth spoke while keeping the garments. "Only direct members of the Imperial Family can attend."

"Hmmm..."

"It's something they kept from their time as members of the Feng Yi Yu Sect before they became the Imperial Family."

"..."

"..."

Seeing that her mistress looked disinterested, Bortu remained silent as she prepared some hot tea for Dawa to warm her up after being outside for a while.

Dawa wasn't disinterested, rather she was pondering over Zi Siwei's admission to being closely related to the Emperor.

Why would a member of the royal family pick the military? They could have nicer, safer jobs...But I guess Zi Siwei liked the military or perhaps he was indebted to someone there and joined?

Bortu put down the cup of tea on the side table before leaning to whisper to her mistress, "Her Royal Highness is here to see you."

"The Empress? Why would she be here?" Dawa looked confused but went to greet her regardless.

Empress Yi stood outside Dawa's palace in her fur cape and umbrella held by a servant.

"Concubine Li greets the Empress." Dawa bowed in greeting.

Empress Yi smiled softly before stepping over the threshold and entering Dawa's living area.

"Bortu please get Her Royal Highness some tea and snacks."

"Shi." Borth scurried away to prepare.

"What brings Her Royal Highness here?" Dawa asked.

Empress Yi smiled softly once again, her eyes showing utmost warmth, "Are you lonely?"

Eh?? What??

"I'm afraid I'm not understanding what Her Royal Highness means by this."

At this moment, Bortu came to their sitting table with tea and shaobing. 

Empress Yi sipped her tea, "Imperial Concubine Lan is an extremely prideful woman because she is from the Ye family." 

Dawa nodded in understanding. The Ye family supported the Feng Yi Yu sect during the insurrection so members of that family were given some preferential treatment after the new dynasty was formed. 

"She believes that anyone from other families, especially the Bai family, are inferior to her." Empress Yi continued.

Bai family? I wonder...

"Yes. General Bai Haoxia is from that family." Empress Yi affirmed.

Before Dawa could ask Empress Yi how she knew what she was thinking, Empress Yi replied with a simple, "It shows on your face."

Again huh...there's more I need to work on regarding this.

Dawa must have looked extremely morose for Empress Yi tried to soothe her, "It's not all bad to have an expressive face, Concubine Li."

Dawa looked up with a start. Empress Yi continued, "I've heard that the Li name you adopted is An'ning. It's a fine name. Although Zhenxin* would suit you better."

She took a bite of shaobing, "I suppose you want to be as calm as the river considering the palace rivalries that happen here. However, there is no need for you to be a stone. If it weren't for my network of servants, I wouldn't know who the real An'ning was."

Dawa noticed she called her by her new personal name. Does the Empress consider her a friend?

"This one is honoured that Her Royal Highness holds me in such high regard." 

Empress Yi smiled but with a tinge of sadness, "Upcoming consorts and concubines know what is in store for them when they are due to enter the palace. The Emperor doesn't belong to them. They are just a political pawn in the web of cultivation politics. Each girl here is a member of a major cultivation sect, including myself."

Dawa finally sipped her tea and relaxed for she knew the Empress was sincere as she spoke.

"Despite that, the harem is full of liars and schemers trying to get the Emperor to favour them and oust me. They should know their place. They are no longer free. If you and I can accept that fact why can't they?" Empress Yi bitterly complained.

Dawa felt a little guilty for she was happy that the Empress expressed how she really felt. It was nice to have someone honest and not talking in circles.

"Your Royal HIghness..."

Empress Yi quickly composed herself, "Ah, forgive me. It has been a while since I spoke to someone who is in the same position as me regarding the harem. An'ning, it would do you well to network in the harem. Whoever told you to hide your true nature was very ill-informed."

Dawa felt something light in her chest. Was it her heart liberating itself from the many months of hiding? Before she could stop herself, she spoke what she had been thinking of the entire conversation, "Are you my ally, Your Royal Highness?"

Empress Yi gave Dawa the most gentle smile she had ever seen, "I should be leaving An'ning, the Emperor is expecting me."

Dishearted that Empress Yi didn't answer her question but didn't press it, Dawa asked instead, "Is the banquet over?"

"Yes." Empress Yi replied, "The members of the royal family will be wandering around the palace. You might meet General Zi again." She began to get up and put her fur cape back on.

Wait? Did she see me and Siwei-- ah I mean General Zi together earlier?

Empress Yi gave a knowing smile before crossing the threshold and disappearing into the snowy courtyard.

Dawa stared at the retreating figure of Empress Yi, "Her Royal Highness is quite odd, isn't she?"

Bortu who was nearby, raised an eyebrow at her mistress' statement, "Priestess?"

"When I go to greet her, she has an air of regality. However, she was almost sisterly just now...calling me by name and expressing how she felt about the behaviour of some concubines." 

Bortu didn't reply but merely furrowed her brows in thought.

"Ah, forget it." Dawa suddenly stood up, "Dress me. I want to head outside."

"Yes, priestess," Bortu replied and left to gather her cape and umbrella.

Dawa glanced at the sliding door which the Empress used to leave her palace.

Perhaps it is time for me to show who I really am...

In the palace courtyard

Empress Yi made her way to the Emperor's quarters with her servants trailing behind her. She had done what His Majesty had asked her to do. Hopefully, the results will please him.

The Emperor had called on her a few days ago and made a strange request to her, 'Visit Concubine Li and have a chat over tea.'

Empress Yi couldn't fathom why so she decided to gather more information on Concubine Li's everyday routine.

Her servants reported to her over the next few days:

Concubine Li is a target of Imperial Concubine Lan -- no surprise there.

Concubine Li stays in her palace most of the day -- not common but nothing to be alarmed of.

Concubine Li stares outside with a forlorn look in her eyes -- hmmm...

Empress Yi concluded that Concubine Li is lonely. It still begs the question why His Majesty decided to send her to chat with Concubine Li. She felt there were women better at this than her. However, the Emperor's order was absolute so on the day of the winter banquet, she made her way to Concubine Li's palace.

Empress Yi stopped in the middle of the palace courtyard when she noticed Concubine Li exchange a few words with Zi Siwei. She noticed how the pair had words to say but not saying them. What was holding them back?

It was only after the chat with Concubine Li then Empress Yi realised that the pair had a sort of connection. Leading them to meet seemed like the best course of action.

When she left Concubine Li's palace, Empress Yi smiled confidently, knowing she would have more conversations with Concub--no, An'ning in the future.