Anxiously, I smoothed out the wrinkles. A servant brought me a pan with charcoal, and I pressed it over the shawl now, careful not to burn the fabric.
I was so busy ironing my shawl I didn’t have time to eat the steaming bowl of porridge the servants had brought me. It wasn’t like me to ignore a free meal—Baba always said my stomach ruled my heart—but much as the fragrant smell of breakfast tortured me, I knew I had to finish my shawl.
In the hall, the other tailors were buzzing.
“Did you hear about the banquet last night?” Master Garad asked. “Lady Sarnai refused to drink to the emperor’s health.”
“Well, he refused to drink to hers as well.”
“A match made in heaven. The Tiger’s daughter and the Dragon’s son.”
“She’s the traitor’s daughter. The emperor had better be careful or she’ll claw his eyes out on their wedding night.”
“You’d do well not to speak ill of the shansen’s daughter,” Yindi warned them.
“Afraid his demons are listening, Yindi?” Garad snickered. “We know you think the shansen’s possessed, you superstitious old fool.”
Yindi shrugged. “Just you wait and see.”
They laughed, but I didn’t join in, even though I was glad Yindi was the target, not me. He got up abruptly to iron his shawl, or so I thought until he stopped at my station.
Ignoring him, I lifted my shawl. The silk shimmered like pale gold. It was magnificent, but I didn’t know whether to be proud or worried. Was this my work, or the work of magic?
“You made that in one night?” Norbu said. “Impressive. Very impressive. I’d say yours is the best of the lot. The best by far.”
I couldn’t help beaming. “Thank you, Master Norbu.”
“Impressive indeed,” Yindi allowed. Based on the dark look that flitted across his face, he knew he had underestimated me. My beam brightened, until he said—
“But Lady Sarnai hates yellow.”
Then Master Yindi walked on.
The gibe stung, and my confidence wavered.
“He’s just jealous,” Norbu soothed. “It’s stunning. Sure to win, I’d say.”
I warmed to him a little. “I hope so.” I tumbled onto my stool, thoroughly exhausted. I barely had a minute’s rest before a gong sounded and Lorsa’s voice rang out.
“Her Highness, Lady Sarnai!”
I scrambled to my feet, chanting with the other tailors, “Good morning, Lady Sarnai!”
The shansen’s daughter entered the hall, followed by an entourage of attendants and guards. I hardly recognized her. The girl I’d spied last night was a warrior who despised the Summer Palace’s decadence—its thousands of servants, gilded gates, and rules and etiquette.
Today, she was a princess. Rubies and emeralds sparkled from her wrists and ears, and strings of pearls tinkled from her headdress, a phoenix crown inlaid with gold dragons, jeweled flowers, and blue kingfisher feathers. It seemed the emperor—or Lady Sarnai’s maids—had won the battle over her wardrobe.
“Good morning, tailors,” she said, in a voice that was soft but not gentle. “You are gathered here to show me what A’landi’s finest tailors have to offer. I warn you, I am not easily impressed. I did not grow up wearing silk. I’ve never appreciated a garment for its beauty or elegance. However, I expect the new imperial tailor to prove me wrong.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” we tailors said, our heads bowed. “Thank you for this chance, Your Highness.”
Arriving behind Lady Sarnai, a tall young man slipped between Norbu’s and Yindi’s tables to circle our stations. The other tailors had brought their finest samples with them to display: brocade purses with golden tassels, collars embroidered with peonies and chrysanthemums, sashes embroidered with scenes from the Seven Classics—of women dancing and playing the zither. My station was embarrassingly bare. I’d been in such a rush to leave home, I hadn’t even thought to bring some of my work to show the future empress.
Whoever the tall man was, he didn’t stop at my table. Instead, he returned to Lady Sarnai’s side as she proceeded to judge the first tailor.
“It was not my idea to have a shawl-making contest,” I heard her say to him. “What a waste of a challenge.”
“Emperor Khanujin noticed you had no summer clothing. He is only concerned with your welfare.”
