Chapter Text
(Author’s Note: I’m changing the location and time of this setting to be in some imaginary medieval country. Why? Because I don’t know much about Chinese history and I want to be respectful. This story can be wherever you want it to be, but it is basically some exotic, half-European, half-Asian country with some Middle Eastern aesthetics thrown in. And yes, I did steal the country name from another anime- bonus points if you get the reference. It’s perfectly fine in my mind if you take this as its history from 2000 years ago.
Also this country has a national religion. It can be Christian, Islam, Buddhist, or whatever you want it to be; I won’t name any specific religions. The reason I’m doing this is some of the most famous female apothecaries in early medieval Europe were nuns. I’ll use the word “Abbey” and “brothers and sisters”, not “nuns”, but this can be any religion in your mind, including spirituality. This is purely for plot convenience.
One last thing. Instead of Maomao being raised at the Verdigris House in the red-light district, she was left by her parents at the doorstep of an abbey by the seaside. The Three Princesses are Sisters in the Abbey, with the Madame being the Abbess, and Loumen is the Abbot.
Told from Maomao’s P.O.V. Enjoy!)
A small town miles away from Berlint, the capital of Ostania and home of the Emporer and his Imperial Harem:
I was out back in the garden picking herbs when one of the Sisters approached me. She was running, struggling to hold up her long, flowing skirt as she did so. “Sister Maomao! Sister Maomao!” She cried, wiping the sweat from her brow once she reached me. I blinked to her, straightening my back my lowering my arms. “Yes, Sister?” “C-Come…… Come quickly! Father-Abbot a-and Mother-Abbess want you!” She gasped trying to catch her breath. My jaw dropped a little; it was rare that both of them wanted to speak to me at once. That never happened, in fact.
I quickly put on my veil as Sister Joka led me to the Abbot’s chambers. On the way I noticed Sister Pairin and Meimei watching us, not uttering a word. The mood felt……. off. It was almost impossible to describe. My Sister led me straight to the Abbot’s door, only stepping aside once we reached it. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she had a nervous look on her face. Unsure what to expect, I didn’t have time to flash her a reassuring grin; I just opened the heavy, wooden door and popped my head inside.
Our Mother-Abbess, sometimes crudely referred to as the “Madame” by the lay-people, and Father-Abbot, Abbot Loumen, were both already inside waiting for me. That did not surprise me. What DID surprise me were the three guards standing off to one side of the room also waiting, seemingly somewhat impatiently. The wore suits made of silver polished metal with emblems I’d never seen before. Their moustaches and beards were well-trimmed and they were very tall. All of them wore sour expressions, suddenly eying me with distain and reservation. Taken aback by their presence, I remained by the door, close to its handle; my hands were clasped firmly behind back as I kept my voice monotone and low.
“A-Abbot Loumen?” “Ah, there you are! Gentlemen, this is the Sister I was telling you about,” the Madame chimed with forced enthusiasm. One of the guards, the one with red markings on his metal suit, turned to me, still scowling. “This her?” “Yes, your grace; this is Sister Maomao, the Abbey’s most skilled apothecary,” Abbot Loumen quietly, almost reluctantly, replied. “Her talents are well-renowned, sire,” the Madame added. The guard, for his part, scanned me once over still seemingly unimpressed.
“Has she taken holy orders?” “U-Uh, no; n-not yet, sire,” the Abbot struggled to get out. “And is she promised to anyone?” “Certainly not, my lord! Sister Maomao is a chaste woman. She has dedicated her life to the study of medicine and God…… until now,” the Madame also quickly tacked on. It’s only then that I blinked to her in mild alarm. “Mother-Abbess, what’s going on?”
Completely ignoring my question and not giving the Madame time to answer, the red guard turned to his men. “Alright, she’ll do. Grab her and we’ll be off.” This…… This alarmed me more than anything as my foot instinctively slid backward, away from the strangers. My arms lifted a bit in front of me defensively. “G-Go?! What does he mean, Father-Abbot?” Abbot Loumen stood up, staring at me with pity and sorrow. “W-Well, you see, child…….”
“You’ve been sold,” the Madame cut him off, causing all our heads to turn toward her. “W-Wha-……. Sold?” My lips hung open in shock and dismay. She nodded resolutely. “These men are from the Imperial City. You’ve been bought his majesty, the Emperor. He’s searching for an apothecary, a maidan of God…….” “Rumour has it that she’s the best of the best. No one in Ostania is more talented with medicine or healing than she is, right? She can heal anyone, right?” The red guard demanded. “U-Uh, yes, your grace. Maomao is the most talented of my children, blessed by God with great intellect and wisdom,” Abbot Loumen sputtered anxiously. He nodded in a detached sort of way before giving his gloved hand a wave.
“She’ll do. Take hold of her and we’ll be off.” That’s when Loumen really started to panic, planting his hands on his dark wood desk. “U-Uh just a minute! She’s a Sister of this Abbey, one of God’s children. No man can touch her!” The red guard snorted unimpressed. “Your pedantic, religious ways mean nothing to us, old man. As soon as she leaves those doors, she’ll belong to the Emperor, body and soul. He can do as he likes with her.” “But she’s devoted her life to the Abbey for seventeen years; it’s all she knows. Can’t she be granted one last night with her Sisters here at least? She’ll be fasting tomorrow anyway, then she can leave in reverence. Please……. Please let my child stay and eat one last meal with us? We’ll feed you and your men too! You’ll provide you with food, drink, and shelter. Only please……. Let her stay, just one last night,” the abbot begged, now clasping his hands together.
The guards looked unmoved initially, but I doubt it was my wellbeing which changed their minds. The red guard rubbed his moustache and beard thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow up. “Mmmmmm, food and drink, you say? Very well. We’ll spend ONE night here. But have her ready to go all the early the next morning. Remember, she’s to bring nothing with her; not even a spare set of clothes. And for god’s sake, uncover her hair. The Emperor has no need for a black ball.” “Erm, y-yes, sire; of course.”
As Abbot Loumen led the three imperial guards out of the room, I stayed behind a moment with the Madame. I waited until they were out of hear shot before I looked to her from over my shoulder, keeping my voice low.
“You sold me?” “We had no choice. These men showed up, demanding our acclaimed apothecary. The Emperor’s been searching for a woman-doctor in specific; someone to tend to his harem.” Harem?! Did she just say “harem”? The mild bout of shock on my face must have said it all since the Madame sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and stepping toward me.
“Some of the royal children and concubines have been gravely ill lately. He needs someone who can enter the Inner Court of the Forbidden City, and that means a female.” “I understand that……. But does it have to be a Sister? A woman of God?” I protested and she sadly shook her head, lowering it slightly. “It means you’re chaste, and chastity is a trait the Emperor values greatly in his ladies of the court.” “But it also means I have other spiritual duties like praying, studying, fasting, works of charity. How can I fulfil my heavenly duties if I’m stuck somewhere like the great palace in Berlint?”
The Madame looked at me a moment before shaking her head one last time. Then her voice became graver and sullener. “Listen to me, Maomao. None of us have a choice in the matter. If the Emperor wishes you to come live in his Harem, that is what you must do. But do not look at this situation too unkindly yet, my child. After all, God works in mysterious ways; it is your job to trust in his Will and always be an obedient daughter.” “Yes, Mother-Abbess,” I sighed, slumping my shoulders. “I know this will be hard for you, but God will give you the strength to do the right thing. Just always remember to be practical and virtuous. And don’t forget, these women in the Harem, through no fault of their own, are NOT like you. You must never allow a man who is not your husband or of the Abbey to touch you; let no man desire you and desire no man.” “Yes, Mother-Abbess.” “When the time comes, should it ever come, God will bring you a husband- a good man who will look after you and love you deeply. But until that time, you must keep your virtue. You are NOT a concubine.” “Of course not, nor shall I ever be,” I responded and she pursed her lips tight together, staying silent for a second.
“God desires that your equally chaste husband should lust after you and only you. The Emperor is not a chaste man. Remember that, Maomao.”