Langhua returned to her quarters where Bingquing fed again. The queen had disrobed again and was in bed when a maid came in to announce the arrival of her other daughter. Bingquing began to dislodge, but Langhua held her fast so she continued.

Yan Ming bowed before her mother, "Mother I greet you."

"Yan Ming you may stand."

Yan Ming's eyes flashed down to the tattooed head that was held in her mother's hand and followed the tattooing down the back. There was a challenge in her mother's eyes as if she wanted her elder daughter to react.

"Would you like to inspect my bandages mother?" Yan Ming said indifferently. "I have been through an ordeal as well."

Langhua nodded at the maids to leave them. "Bring me the hair oil and the bronze mirror."

Yan Ming looked alarmed as they retreated. But she did the task herself before she began to disrobe. Bingquing licked her lips and turned to look as she saw that Yan Ming too had her back bandaged.

Bingquing turned to Langhua, "Mother is she too marked with a lion?"

Langhua moved towards Yan Ming leaving Bingquing on the bed to watch as the bandages were slowly removed to reveal a soaring phoenix in brilliant colors. The bird itself looked like it was in flight. Its tail disappeared around her hip to reemerge around one leg. It was a breathtaking painting.

"What do you think little one?"

"It's more colorful than mine."

"Yan Ming is a crown princess so she is needed one that gives more pain to remind her of her duty. You are a little princess so less pain is alright."

Yan Ming turned to Bingquing and touched her back. Bingquing went still as Yan Ming traced the whole lion. Then she turned to the queen, "Mother why a lion and on her head the symbols for warfare and Jungpi?"

Langhua drew both of her daughters into the circle of her arms as she took Yan Ming's hair down. She had brought a comb with her which she ran through Yan Ming's hair. "Your father picked the symbols, my daughter. I have little ideas of his plans. I know there was a girl named Bingquing Chu who gave him these ideas, but I heard she died which is why her daughter went back to Caiwong."

Bingquing grew pale at this assertion but made no sound as the queen groomed Yan Ming.

Langhua opened the bottle of oil and applied it slowly to Yan Ming's hair. Yan Ming relaxed, but as she did this Langhua pushed Bingquing in front of her so her head was directly in front of her face.

"Mother, she doesn't have a name. She's from outside. What if she--" Yan Ming pushed her body backwards into Langhua's hands.

Langhua put some oil into her hands. "Just her head. She is going to be your sister soon. I didn't think you'd have this kind of hesistation."

Yan Ming immediately rubbed the oil into Bingquing's head.

"Don't get it into her ears."

Yan Ming began to circulate the motion of her hands. "I thought you and father bought her to serve me."

Langhua snapped, "YAN MING! You have just recently come within your crown, has your pride forgotten your manners?"

"No mother no! That's not what I meant!" Yan Ming began to cry as Langhua stood and opened a box. "Mother, I am still healing, you cannot cut open my back."

Langhua looked at her with a strained expression as she closed the box and returned to the bed. Bingquing wondered what was inside of the box as Yan Ming began to shake. Bingquing noticed that even though Yan Ming and Langhua were the spitting image of each other, her softer temper was a characteristic of her father.

Bingquing could see Yan Ming lean forward onto Langhua's chest so the space between her legs was visible. There was something white that was there often peaking out. She assumed it was liquid but upon closer inspection as she touched it, she realized it was something solid. Yan Ming made a jerking motion as both she and Langhua noticed what she had seen.

Yan Ming closed her legs indignantly. "Mother look she is a--"

"--a sibling of yours interested in our ways. She is still without a moon cycle."

Bingquing moved backwards, but Langhua grabbed her arm and kissed her all over face. "Curious like a little cat. I promise you will know. Yan Ming did the same when she was your age." Langhua opened her legs and revealed the same texture.

"What is it?" Bingquing asked.

Yan Ming made a face as she moved to be a part of the little huddle, "I would never do something so silly mother."

"I had never hoped that I would get to be a mother again. I want to enjoy the trial as she is our precious second daughter. You have always spoken of wanting a sister instead of Yan Tian."

"Mother, if I am to tell others of my sister, she must first have a name."

Langhua nodded, then pulled Bingquing towards her. Bingquing reluctantly opened her mouth, but as she did, she felt another head next to hers, Yan Ming pulling and drinking the same milk. It was an odd experience to think over a month ago she would have been sitting with her father laughing at the scenery in the garden. Now she was here, surrounded by big people, who were using her to further their ambitions. She felt like a tool, but was helpless to be free from the bounds on her.