Chapter 10: The Training Begins

The following morning, Lin Zhao and the other new servants were awakened before dawn by the harsh clanging of a bell. The sound jolted him from sleep, and for a moment, he forgot where he was. But as soon as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, the reality of his situation hit him like a wave. He was in the Forbidden City, and his training was about to begin.

Outside, the other servants were already gathering, forming lines as they were instructed by a strict, sharp-voiced overseer. Lin Zhao hurried to join them, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never been in such an organized environment before, and the formality of it all made him nervous. Every movement had to be precise, every word carefully measured. Mistakes were not tolerated.

As the new servants assembled, an older servant, a stern-looking woman called Momo Zhang, stepped forward to address them. She was tall and thin, with a permanent frown etched on her face. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the group before she spoke.

“You are now servants of the Imperial Palace,” Momo Zhang began, her voice cold and authoritative. “Your duties will be numerous, and your mistakes will not be forgiven. You must obey the rules of etiquette at all times, and you must always show respect to your superiors. This is not a place for laziness or disobedience. Do I make myself clear?”

The new servants, including Lin Zhao, nodded nervously.

“Good,” Momo Zhang continued. “Today, we will begin your training. You will learn how to serve the nobles of the palace, how to conduct yourselves with grace and dignity, and how to navigate the complex etiquette that governs life here. Pay close attention. A single mistake can cost you dearly.”

Lin Zhao swallowed hard, his anxiety growing. He had heard stories of how strict the palace could be, but now, standing in front of Momo Zhang, he felt the weight of those stories settle on his shoulders. He had no choice but to succeed.

The first part of their training involved learning how to walk and carry themselves properly. It seemed like a simple task, but the Momo made it clear that there was an exact way in which everything had to be done. They had to walk with their heads held high, their eyes downcast in deference, and their steps measured and silent.

For hours, they practiced walking in the palace courtyards, moving in precise lines under the watchful eyes of the overseers. Lin Zhao struggled at first, his movements awkward and uncertain, but he quickly realized that the key was to remain calm and focused. He forced himself to relax, and slowly, his steps became smoother, more fluid.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they moved on to other aspects of their training. They were taught how to serve tea without spilling a drop, how to present food to the nobles, and how to arrange their hands and bodies in ways that showed proper respect. Every detail was scrutinized, every movement dissected. It was exhausting work, both mentally and physically, but Lin Zhao pushed through, determined not to fall behind.

During a short break, Lin Zhao found himself sitting next to a girl from his village, Wen Lan. She was the same age as him, and they had known each other in passing before being selected for the palace. Unlike Lin Zhao, she seemed excited about the prospect of serving in the Forbidden City.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” Wen Lan whispered, her eyes wide with awe as she glanced around the courtyard. “I always dreamed of coming to the palace, but I never thought it would actually happen.”

Lin Zhao nodded, though he couldn’t share her enthusiasm. “It’s not what I expected,” he admitted. “It’s... overwhelming.”

Wen Lan smiled. “It’s just the first day. I’m sure we’ll get used to it.”

Lin Zhao wasn’t so sure. The weight of the rules, the constant pressure to be perfect, it all felt stifling to him. But he didn’t want to dampen Wen Lan’s spirits, so he kept his worries to himself.

As the day went on, Lin Zhao became increasingly aware of the hierarchy that existed even among the servants. The older servants, those who had been in the palace for years, treated the new ones with a mixture of disdain and superiority. They barked orders, corrected mistakes harshly, and made it clear that they were at the top of the pecking order. Lin Zhao kept his head down, avoiding their attention as much as possible.

Despite the difficulties, there was one bright spot in Lin Zhao’s day. As they were practicing their serving techniques in one of the smaller courtyards, he caught a glimpse of the Emperor.

The Emperor was walking along a path on the other side of the courtyard, surrounded by his personal eunuchs and guards. He moved with an air of authority, his robes flowing behind him like the wings of a bird. Lin Zhao’s heart skipped a beat as he saw him. It was the first time he had ever been so close to the ruler of the land, and the sight filled him with awe and fear.

The Emperor, however, seemed distracted, his attention focused elsewhere. As he passed by, his gaze briefly swept over the group of new servants, but he didn’t stop or acknowledge them. Lin Zhao let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He had heard so much about the Emperor—his power, his influence—but seeing him in person made it all feel real in a way it hadn’t before.

What Lin Zhao didn’t know was that the Emperor’s brief glance at the group had not been random. Hidden beneath his composed exterior, the Emperor was carefully observing Lin Zhao from a distance. His heart quickened as he recognized the young ger who had once meant so much to him. He wanted nothing more than to rush over, to speak with him, but he knew he had to be cautious. No one else could know his secret.

As the training continued, Lin Zhao remained oblivious to the Emperor’s interest. His focus was solely on getting through each day, mastering the skills he needed to survive in the palace. But even as he worked, a strange feeling began to stir in him—a sense that something significant was about to happen, something that would change his life forever.

As the afternoon sun began to lower, casting long shadows across the training courtyard, the newly selected servants were herded back inside the training halls. Lin Zhao walked with the others, his feet dragging after the exhausting day of learning palace etiquette. But as they entered the dimly lit chamber, a wave of unease settled over him. Something felt off.

Inside the hall, several older palace maids and eunuchs stood waiting, their expressions stern. There was a different air today—harsher, more foreboding. The lead eunuch, a tall, grim-faced man named Eunuch Cao, stepped forward. He had been supervising their training all day, and now his voice cut through the hushed silence like a cold wind.

“Line up,” Eunuch Cao ordered, his eyes scanning the new servants like a predator surveying its prey. “Tonight, each of you will be re-examined. This is a standard procedure for all new palace servants.”

Lin Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He had heard whispers of this test, but in the back of his mind, he had hoped it wouldn’t apply to him. His mind raced as he recalled stories of what could happen if anything went wrong during these tests. The palace was not forgiving, and any hint of impurity could result in severe punishment. He had never felt so out of place, so vulnerable, as he did now.

Wen Lan, standing beside him, noticed his unease. “Don’t worry, Lin Zhao,” she whispered, trying to sound reassuring. “We’ll get through this.”

Lin Zhao offered a weak nod, but Wen Lan's words did little to ease the anxiety bubbling inside him.

One by one, the young servants were called into the side chambers for their examinations. Each servant was required to prove that they were still untouched—pure, as demanded by the palace’s unforgiving standards. Lin Zhao’s hands clenched into fists as he watched his fellow servants disappear through the doors. The air felt thick with fear.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from one of the side rooms. A terrified scream cut through the silence, followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. Everyone froze, their eyes wide with terror. Lin Zhao’s heart pounded in his chest as the door to the side room was flung open, and two eunuchs dragged out the limp, bloodied body of a girl. Her face was pale, her clothes torn, and her eyes lifeless. Lin Zhao could barely breathe as he realized what had happened.

“She wasn’t pure,” one of the eunuchs declared coldly, not even sparing the girl a second glance. “She lied during her selection. She has been punished accordingly.”

Lin Zhao’s stomach churned. The girl had been beaten to death for not being a virgin, her body discarded like trash. The sight made him feel sick. He had never imagined that the palace could be so ruthless, so quick to judge and destroy.

Wen Lan gasped beside him, her face drained of color. “This is… this is madness.”

But there was no time to process the horror. The examinations continued, and the atmosphere grew even tenser. Each servant’s name was called in turn, and Lin Zhao knew that soon, it would be his.

When his name was finally called, his legs felt like lead as he walked forward. His entire body trembled with fear, and his mouth was dry. Inside the examination room, an elderly female physician stood waiting. Her eyes, though tired and indifferent, held no malice, but that did little to calm Lin Zhao’s nerves.

“Undress,” the physician instructed, her tone flat.

Lin Zhao’s fingers fumbled with his clothing, his hands shaking uncontrollably. The fear of what might happen if anything went wrong consumed him. He had never felt so exposed, so small.

The examination was quick but humiliating. The physician worked with an emotionless efficiency, performing the examination without any regard for his discomfort. When it was over, Lin Zhao hurriedly dressed, his heart racing. His mind was still reeling from the girl’s death earlier. Was this truly what life in the palace would be like? A constant test of survival, where a single misstep could cost him his life?

“You are clear,” the physician finally said, her tone devoid of warmth. “You may go.”

Lin Zhao’s relief was immediate, but it was short-lived. He walked out of the examination room, his steps shaky, his breath shallow. His body was intact, but his spirit felt fractured. The palace, with all its grandeur and beauty, had shown its darker side. It was a place where lives could be destroyed without a second thought, where innocence offered no protection.

As Lin Zhao rejoined the others, Wen Lan rushed to his side, her face etched with concern. “Are you alright?” she asked softly.

Lin Zhao nodded, but the words felt hollow. “I’m fine,” he lied, though inside, he wasn’t sure how he could ever feel fine again. The image of the girl’s lifeless body haunted him. He had never imagined that the palace, which so many had dreamed of entering, could be so dangerous.

That night, as the servants were allowed to rest, Lin Zhao lay awake on his mat, staring at the ceiling. His mind churned with fear and uncertainty. He had left his village, his family, behind for this—a life where nothing was certain, where every day was a gamble. His family had adored him, protected him, and showered him with love, and now, here he was, in a place where love seemed irrelevant, where survival was all that mattered.

He had no idea what the future held for him, but one thing was clear: the Forbidden City was far more perilous than he had ever imagined.