"Very well, go make it. If you fail, you can kiss your nose and hands goodbye."
"As you wish, Your Highness." I hurried to obey.
Three hours later, the newly blended incense was delivered to the inner palace.
Imperial Consort Jones bent to inspect it, her delicate brows relaxing into a satisfied expression.
I knelt anxiously in the center of the room as she approached.
"What's your name?" she asked.
I prostrated myself in a deep bow. "I am called Yuna, your humble servant, paying respects to the Imperial Consort."
"Not bad, you have some brains." She nodded approvingly.
"From now on, you will be in charge of making my incense."
"I am honored by your trust, Your Highness." I bowed again, heart pounding.
In a good mood, Imperial Consort Jones swept out to the Imperial Garden.
The other maids let out relieved sighs; some rushed to flatter me, while others gossiped behind my back.
But I didn't care.
I only had eyes for the spot where Imperial Consort Jones had stood.
She had no idea that a maid who had barely been in the palace five months was there to make her pay.
My name is Luna, and my sister's name is Yuna.
Six years ago, heavy rains flooded the south, submerging many homes and crops. My parents lost their lives in that disaster.
Left to fend for ourselves, my sister and I followed the villagers to the capital city.
I had always been frail and sickly.
My sister had to care for me while working to earn money.
At that time, the Emperor issued a decree stating that all girls aged ten in the capital must enter the Moon Pavilion to pray for Imperial Consort Jones.
The first group that entered never returned.
People soon realized that the prayers were merely a cover for the palace to hide something sinister.
As the palace struggled to find enough girls, they began rounding up refugees using lists of names.
When it was my turn, I was still ill.
She assumed my identity and entered the Moon Pavilion.
On the 15th of August, I sneaked into the Moon Pavilion to bring my sister some mooncakes, filled with excitement.
But instead, I witnessed the horrifying scene of my sister being cut open, her heart's blood extracted and rushed to the Eternal Joy Palace for Imperial Consort Jones' medicine.
A nervous eunuch wiped the blood off his hands and said, "Master, when will this terrible act end?"