I awoke to the crinkling sound of pages flipping.

"What are you reading?" I ask Zhirou, rubbing my sleep infected eyes in the process.

It was now dawn and the sun was peaking over the horizon, replacing the moon. The once dark sky filled with bright colors of pinks, yellows, and oranges, and the vast landscape of lush mountains is once again apparent.

"The Practice of Ancient Medicine"

My eyebrows raise in surprise. "I didn't know you were interested in medicine?"

She shrugs in response, still deeply focused in her book. "I come from a family of physicians."

Putting her book down, she starts gathering her belongings.

"Before you woke up, the coachman told me that we'll be reaching the palace very soon. We should probably get ready." She says, picking up a pillow before stuffing it in her bag.

Nodding in response, I gather both our blankets and fold them neatly back into the box below my seat. I didn't bring much, only a small cloth bag so I don't have much personal belongings to clean up.

"Xiulan, what do you think the palace will be like?"

Shrugging, I turn back to tidy up the space one last time. "I'm not sure. The emperor's life is pretty secluded from the world."

She pauses for a moment. "Did you know the Phoenix hasn't been found yet? Perhaps that's the reason why the emperor has such a hard time choosing concubines."

"Zhirou, that is but a myth. Our last emperor had many empresses over the years, they couldn't have all been the phoenix."

The myth of the Dragon and the Phoenix is a simple one. Every generation, a child is born with the embodiment of a dragon, meaning he is the true ruler of the Empire of Huohai. Usually it is the first born of the past emperor, however it is destiny who ultimately decides the chosen child. Rumor has it, that despite the first borns of many emperors not having the embodiment of the dragon, they still became emperors due to the hunger for power. It's also the same for the Phoenix. Every generation, a girl is born with the embodiment of a phoenix and is said to be the true empress of the empire. However, in the past many emperors have taken empresses that are said to not be the Phoenix. Plus, being the Phoenix doesn't mean your immortal, the palace is dangerous and many empresses have died, another woman taking her place as the empress, regardless if she is the Phoenix or not. In my opinion, it sounds more like a burden than a gift. Nevertheless, this is just a myth, no one outside the palace knows if the Dragon and the Phoenix even exists.

"Yes but what if they do exist? Why else would the emperor be having such a hard time choosing a concubine? He might be looking for her."

"Maybe he's just picky?" I reply, uninterested.

"How would they even be able to tell if someone's the Phoenix or not?" Zhirou asks, pursuing the topic.

Suddenly, a third voice is heard. "Perhaps these questions will be answered once we reach the palace."

I look at Zhirou with wide eyes. Although it wasn't said harshly, it was a clear warning to stop talking about this or there will be consequences.

Looking for the source of the voice, I realize it was the coachman.

Nodding, I pull down the flap of the small opening so that the coachman is no longer visible.

I turn back to look at Zhirou. "I thought that he wasn't aloud to talk to us?" I ask in a whisper.

Shrugging, her face lights up as she turns towards the window. Doing the same I realize we've arrived at the entrance of the capital. We cant see the actual capital city yet since there is a huge cement wall surrounding the city however it is easy to tell that the capital really is the heart of the empire. Many wagons, carriages, carts, horseback riders, and people traveling on foot were awaiting entry in a long line, us being one of them.

However instead of stopping to wait in the line, the carriage resumes to continue its journey towards the capital.

I turn to Zhirou, shocked. It wasn't right to cut in front of these people, exhausted from their long journeys, and parched of thirst from the scorching heat of the sun. "Why are we cutting all these people?" I ask Zhirou, although knowing she doesn't know the answer either.

Giving a confused look, she ducks down as we are met with shouts of protest from the persons in line. Uncomfortable with being the center of it all, I duck down as well, and just in time before a piece of dried clay is thrown into the carriage. I wonder how the coachman is taking this with no shelter over him.

Once a couple of eggs are thrown through the window, I decide to grab my sack filled with food that my mother had packed. Grabbing loafs of bread and small fruits from the bag, I appear back at the window and pass out the nourishments to the line as we pass, in hopes of calming their protests.

Zhirou follows and soon enough, my stash of food is gone except for a pear. Luckily, we near the entrance of the city before any more objects can be thrown at us. It hasn't even occurred to me that we may not be able to pass through since we did cut the whole line, however somehow without a glance, a guard motions is through.

The city is truly beautiful.

Father talked about it often when he returned home from a trip from the capital, but I was yet to see it for myself, well until today. The marketplace was lined with colorful stands as we passed by, selling a variety of wonders. And the people of the city were busily about, it was very crowded and it took awhile for our carriage to pass through. However, I didn't mind as I would like to enjoy whatever time I have before we arrive at my prison.

Soon we near the palace.

I couldn't see much since it was surrounded by yet another cement wall, with a gate in the center and guards on both sides. Once the guards let us through, my chest starts pounding with anxiety. I was never good when dealing with these situations, in fact, I avoided situations that made me nervous.

The golden palace comes into view but I don't pay much attention to it, instead, I focus on the hundreds upon hundreds of girls lined up at the entrance, knowing one of the could kill me.

One of them would be my death.