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"Announcing completion of the first trial." A palace eunuch shouted as the box was held sideways as it went up a pair of steps. Bingquing was pushed back as the box was shifted downward and the clock face opened to reveal a door.

Bingquing blinked in the brilliant light before her eyes adjusted and she could see. The box had been placed inside of a bathing chamber where everyone was undressed and waiting for her. She got out slowly and was surprised to see that all of the maids bowed to her. There was a monk dressed normally who did as well.

Bingquing looked around the room and was surprised to see Langhua bathing in a pool of white fluid. She got up when Bingquing made eye contact. The liquid streamed down her body. Even though she was older, her breasts were full and had not lost the luster of youth. But as Bingquing's eyes followed the liquid drip down, she stared at the scarring of a horrible wound on the queen's abdomen. It bisected her stomach and went down her pelvis before veering down one perfect leg. Her black hair was slick against her head and trailed behind her like a train. Langhua's face had the beauty of the full moon, like a goddess come down to live amongst mortals.

Langhua walked towards Bingquing with all the elegance and confidence that her power assured her. She touched Bingquing's chin and pulled it up so she was forced to stare her in the face. "Are you afraid still?"

Bingquing knew any answer would be refuted so she remained silent.

Langhua began to inspect Bingquing's body. Her hands traveled over her chest. Her face was caressed and jerked in odd directions. Bingquing stayed still as the queen moved her limbs to take a look between her legs. She felt like a piece of cattle.

She shivered as the cool air settled on her skin. The white liquid was milk and it was quickly drying all over her body. Just as Bingquing thought she was through, Langhua surprised her again by picking her up in her arms. Even though they were thin, there was surprising strength there.

There was an odd feeling in her stomach as Langhua brought her to the milk bath. It was thick and frothy. Bingquing sat still as Langhua seated herself and pulled her flush against her chest. She put her own hair back into the pool along with Bingquing's.

Langhua began to wash her so her eyes were clogged with milk. Bingquing began to rub her eyes, when Langhua slapped her hands away. Her face and neck were scrubbed with something soft. It was dizzying to feel all of those sensations.

As she squirmed, Langhua trapped Bingquing's hips betweens hers and began to push her hair back against her forehead. Bingquing heard one of the maids bring over a tray and the queen take something heavy off of it. Langhua tilted Bingquing's head back and began to shave her head.

As she realized this, Bingquing tried to bolt. Langhua's legs closed on hers such that she couldn't move. Two maids got in on either side and restrained her as the queen continued.

"No, why?"

No one answered her as the blade cleaned the hair off of her head. The movement of the blade was quick and ruthless. The vice like grip prompted tears to leak out of Bingquing's eyes as she realized she had no escape.

As the task was finished Bingquing reached up and felt the smoothness of her newly shorn head. Langhua dropped the razor with the maids and they bowed as the left.

Langhua's legs loosened and Bingquing turned to face her. As she did this, Langhua put her arms around Bingquing and kissed her forehead. Before Bingquing could open her mouth to protest, Langhua hugged her tightly.

It was strange as Langhua's breasts were level with her face. It was comforting and foreign. Bingquing didn't know how to react. She did not have a mother figure and she had always longed to be comforted like this. Langhua kissed her on the mouth gently, tenderly. "I promise you will not regret when it's all over, my little one."

Bingquing looked up at her and wrapped her body around her. The queen held her for a few more minutes before making eye contact with the monk.

Upon seeing her signal, he came over to the bath and began to dry Bingquing's head. Bingquing looked at Langhua who smiled tenderly.

The monk drew out a needle and ink and began to ink a design into Bingquing's head. The pinpricks began to multiply and burn as the pain caused her eyesight to blur.

"Father," Bingquing cried out as she squirmed, "help me please."

Langhua's voice was harsh as she turned Bingquing's face towards hers, "Your father isn't here anymore. All you have is me."

The pain resumed.

"No," Bingquing shouted, "No . . . I'll go back. I'll find him back so . . ."

"You are no longer Chu Bingquing. If your father comes back, he will be executed. The Chu family book has taken your name out. You are nobody. No one. You have no name."

Bingquing continued to shake and cry as the design spread on her head. The blood from the tattoo dripped down her head into the milk and onto the queen. As a servant bent to clean the blood off of the queen, Langhua held up a hand, "No, let it stay there so she remembers."

All throughout the night, Bingquing cried in Langhua's arms. But as the night progressed, Langhua's arms loosened and Bingquing's tightened. Until when the sun streamed through the windows, Bingquing was sound asleep on Langhua.

"Your highness, you need rest yourself or it will affect your performance in court." A eunuch informed her.

"Inform the court that they have a couple days off while the adoption process and succession changes are finalized."

"Your highness."

"Did you not hear me?"

"Shall we move the child and sent the monk to pray for today."

"We will continue with the ceremonies. Otherwise the auspicious time will pass." Langhua picked up Bingquing tenderly and cradled her on her chest as she walked to the other room. The monk followed her as she set Bingquing on the bed so Bingquing could sleep on her stomach.

"Highness I would like to recommend we wait for the head work to heal before we--"

"No--"

"This is a young child, your majesty. It's a young girl. We should give her a little rest before--"

"If no son of mine gets a rest, neither does the daughter, continue your work. She will be given a sedative so she will sleep through the whole ordeal."

"Highness you think of everything in advance. No wonder your country is the most prosperous."

Langhua let her maids put on her garments as she watched the monk work. Bingquing made some noises of discomfort and pain, but otherwise, her sleep was so deep, her whole back was covered before she awoke.