It didn't take long for Yin to kick out the maids that were assigned to her. They were buzzing around her like flies around a pile of shit -her own words- and she couldn't take it... For over a year she had kept herself locked up in her room, only coming out for the booze and that's that. Her life had completely changed since she arrived at the palace, from silent and void to bustling and full of people, irritation and annoyances. The cacophony of all those women working on her clothes and make-up, all the while talking excitedly, was just too much for Yin. One early morning she decided to kick them out, thanking them for their services and asking them only to come in when asked for. At first her maids had still tried to talk some 'sense' into her and let them stay to help her dress and and do her hair, but she outright refused to let someone else dress her. Not only because she was perfectly able to do so herself and didn't want to bother the poor women that were worked as slaves even more; but also because she didn't want anyone to see the scars that originated from the war. As for the hair and make-up part, she absolutely didn't care and didn't try to make herself even more appealing for that man. 

All the women were fitted and measured and had to choose multiple fabrics, colors and patterns for their dresses. The Emperor himself had ordered for the best dress-maker in the Empire to make their dresses. The measure-session with Yin didn't take long - a few minutes at most - she simply stated she wanted white and plain when she entered, no special requests. And thus, she wore white, plain dresses. Yin refused to shorten her time of mourning, fully realising -but not caring- that it was a very rude gesture towards the Emperor.

Yin refused to shorten her time of mourning, fully realising -but not caring- that it was a very rude gesture towards the Emperor [https://em.wattpad.com/e63546a6d886d3b354f8269b9fc309f6cdc9aefc/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f72454c676861764341756b5a64413d3d2d3337303337363930372e313461326566393333353030666236353232363638383831303832392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Every once in a while Yin came out for food or drinks, but she remained inside her room most of the day. All the mandatory stuff, like learning etiquette, how to behave like an absolute lady, calligraphy, dancing, embroidery, flower arranging and history classes were the only things Yin attended. A lot of the classes bored her so much, she fell asleep during most of them. At first the teachers tried to reprimand her and demanded her attention... They soon gave up asking for her co-operation. Only history classes kept her somewhat entertained, because of her vast knowledge of the ancient and current wars. Warstrategies and tactics were the things she excelled in; as well as knowledge of landscape of not only her home country, but also the surrounding ones. Quite often she would interrupt and correct the teacher the Emperor had designated to teach them. The Emperor believed a good Empress knows the history of her own empire and the adjacent kingdoms and he most certainly wasn't wrong about that... but it sometimes felt like the teacher didn't have his facts straight. Yin questioned the Emperors own knowledge of what was going on in and around his own palace, because he had appointed such a lousy teacher. Whenever Yin raised her hand to either question or correct him, the concubines-to-be rolled their eyes and huffed in annoyance. As for the teacher, he feared her questions and often tried to avoid her gaze when her hand was raised. His hate for her grew by the minute and he was set on either humiliating or killing her. Yin of course knew of this and was watchful, never let her attention slip during alone-time. 

When she was in the protection of her room, Yin wouldn't sit around, wasting her time. She knew of the rumors of a war approaching. A war with the western kingdoms would be inevitable, Yin knew that. The most frightening factor: the victory of their enemies when a strategie lacked or failed. The last war, the one where the Jade General conquered the Wastes of Pyquan, took a great toll on the military power of the Empire. There were rumors that the clans positioned in the wastes were building an army, an army that would be stronger and more motivaded than any before it. The Jade General had humiliated the clans gravely and they seeked revenge and hungered for blood, his blood. The western clans were known as barbarians and if they conquered the Tékaguó Empire; there would be no escape from the following waves of death and destruction. If the Emperor needed the the Jade General again, he would be there by his side, not to gain his favor, not for his life, but for the lives of the people he cared for so deeply. Yin was certain of that. 

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In order to prepare for the oncoming war, she was training herself, not only mentally, but also physically. More often she would open the doors to her room to order the maids that were waiting for an order to fetch her documents of military expenses; files about the Four Generals and their way of preparing their troops or about new war tactics that she hand't heard of before. At first the maids were reluctant, as they had to report her every move to the Emperor. Yin's odd behaviour had sparked his curiosity and he wanted to keep an eye on her. Now that the Emperor had given permission, curious about her motives, they fetched them without any trouble. The maids would never admit it, but they were happy they got to do something for the grief-struck woman. It turned out, Yin wasn't such a bad Lady to serve under. Whenever she didn't need them, she let them do things other maids couldn't and even allowed them to use the make-up she never wore. Thought Yin was quiet and mysterious, a sisterly bond grew between them.

The documents were not the only thing that occupied her time, she worked her muscles until she was sore and tired and in need of a bath. Day after day, she trained herself, slowly falling into the military routine. She would come out for food more often, eating fruits and vegatables, meat and rice, no pastries or sweets. It was working, she felt it in her entire being: she was getting stronger. It showed in her walk and in her behaviour. Her hollow figure was replaced by a lean and strong one, her curves even coming back. The only thing she could not and would not change was her drinking... It was the only way she knew how to cope. Every night since she had entered the palace, nightmares would plague her in her sleep, they would hide in the shadows of her room and in every corner and turn of the wide halls of the palace. Every night she would wake up bathing in her own sweat, most of the time thinking it was her friends or even her own blood she was soaking in.  Not a single cry would leave her mouth; she wouldn't scream herself awake when she saw her friend being mutilated and slaughtered in front of her time and again, only sob. Even though the pain and exhaustion were unbearable, she never showed anyone. The only thing that could possibly give away her torture would be the dark circles below her eyes that she conceiled with poweder. 

Yet this moring was different, she wasn't as agile and lively as usual and completely forgot about the bags underneath her eyes. When she exits her room, her maids run up to her in worry. 

'Yin, your dress is all wrinkled! You even put it on inside out! What happened?' one of her maids asks her. 

'What? Oh, my dress...' Yin's gaze lingers down her clothes and she sighs. 'Never mind, I'm late, it's not like anything importan will happen when I'm in history class,' she says while swatting away their hands. 

As Yin walks to her destination her head feels light, as if it were floating, the short nights rest had taken its toll on her. The history classes she usually looks forward to so dearly, she now dreads with her entire being. To be exact, she wasn't looking forward to the human contact and the loss of braincells while sitting there. Adding up to that was that her entire body was stiff and ached with every movement she made. 

Usually she was punctual when it came to history classes, but when Yin turns up in the doorstep a few minutes late, arrogant gazes turn her way. When Yin found out why exactly the women were so pleased by her tardiness, she paled even more...

The Emperor was joinging the lesson...