"Your highness."
A girl, the same age as she, stood waiting at the foot of the royal court, her head low to reveal modestly jeweled pins in her hair. "Yes Ziyi?" The empress knew this servant, she was a personal handmaiden of hers who was gifted in flute and dance but not much else. Ying'e enjoyed her company nonetheless, and it was always pleasant to have a companion when creating music. Ziyi barely raised her head, keeping her gaze lowered as a sign of respect as she shuffled forward. The court itself was massive, and it took some time before her small, quiet steps reached the empress's side. It was only then that Ying'e noticed a brown envelope in her hand, which she then received. Slowly, she maneuvered her fingers to break open the dark wax seal, which may appear difficult with the ornate nail guards attached to each ring and pinky finger, but this was not so. Maneva's gift was not enough, for she had to look the part of a empress to command respect and thus, lavishly decorated her person.
Pulling out the letter, Ying'e unraveled and began to read the text, with a wise Ziyi retreating to a safe distance to avoid disturbing the empress. It was a letter from one of her generals, a report of activity near his camp. He believed the rebel forces were nearly finished with their preparations, and was to attack in the coming month. Ying'e kept her expression unreadable as to not worry the other servants in the court, and to avoid inciting rumours in the palace. She tucked the paper into her inner sleeve pocket before rising from the throne. Immediately, five handmaidens moved toward her, some offering to help her down from the platformed seat while others waited to serve. Ying'e then moved toward her bedroom to prepare for bed.
The nightly routine then began: a warm tea brought into her room, a servant to help her remove her hair decorations, brush her hair, wash her face and change her clothes. She was too used to this attention, and preoccupied herself with thoughts of the imminent war. Some said the rebel forces were too disorganized and weak to defeat the military, but Ying'e was cautious, and dared not underestimate their enemies.
Once everything had been prepared, she dismissed her servants. Seated at her vanity, she glanced into the round mirror before pulling a drawer open, removing a jewelry box to reveal a dagger sheath. Revealing the blade, the empress tucked everything back in before hiding the weapon beside her pillow. Ying'e feared, for she had a horrible feeling that the rebels would win and her chastity be in danger and so, she readied herself for an honourable death if it came to it. Somehow, despite dark and concerning thoughts, the empress fell into a slumber.
There, everything seemed so much lighter, a tranquility that she could not escape. She could see the year in a flash, as though she were under some sort of sorcery, an illusion given to her by the mischievous spirits. The crowning, and her surprise. Her mother's warm embrace, warmer than so many years before, now that she was the Empress Dowager. The scorn of her sisters and male cousins, the latter of which would have become the emperor if it were not for her wish. A court of her generals and officials at her command, her word law, her word power. Then, imaginings, for there was no way the empress could see the results of her labour. The peasants who gained land through the equal-field system. The newly erected Buddhist temples teeming with people and the calming scent of incense in the air. The bright smiles of children as they walked down the streets, with fewer and fewer children unable to go to school. Faintly, she could feel herself smile, but it wasn't until the illusion ended that she felt any part of her body.
She could hear the voice of a child calling to her, mumbling something; she wasn't sure what was being said in her drowsy state. Gracefully, the empress rose from her bed, but before she fully sat up, a haunting revelation came to her mind: the rebels. Immediately, Ying'e reached for where her dagger would be, ready to end herself if need be. Instead, she was stunned to find nothing, and in fact, stunned to feel that these sheets were not hers. She looked around, taking in the sight of strangers in their beds, two of which waked. Naturally, the empress moved to cover her indecency, but found that she was dressed in her usual clothing. That is, if she were still a princess.
Bewildered, she remained seated for some time, too shocked to process what had happened. Eventually, her mind decided that this was all a dream. Quick with decisions, the empress stuck to her explanation and concluded just as much. Sighing with relief, Ying'e gradually slid off her bed to finally address the apparitions of her dream, the young boy and the fire haired woman. Both looked too different from her to be any but the sort, what with the strange hills and valleys of their faces and the colours of their hair. She knew this had to be true, that she was right.
"Dream spirits...why have you brought me here."