I am Yue Min, a twenty years old girl who is working as a palace maid. My friends and family call me Yue Yue. I entered the palace when I was five years old and was trained to become a lady of the imperial palace.

I come from a poor family, with seven little brothers, the oldest one having the same age as me. He is going to attend the exam next month for becoming a court official. I am very proud of my brother because he is a wise young man. I am sure that Cai Min will successfully take the exam and will become a court official. The actual Emperor is a benevolent ruler and created this ocassion for the young talents of our country, regardless their background or social status. Everyone could attend the exam, from sons of ministers to poor farmers or even beggars. What he cares about is their intelligence and not their looks or clothes. "A random gift can't conquer the Emperor's heart, only one came from the heart can do it", this is what the officials from the court are saying about their Emperor. Actually the new Emperor isn't quite old. He succeeded the throne two years ago when his father died. In the present, he's....

Let's see! Twenty five years old! Hahahaha...this is funny! Five years older than me but I never had the chance to meet him until today. I believe that I saw him once playing with a sword in the west gardens (after entering the palace), back when we were still kids.

It is a long time since then, too long!

I was just a little girl, eating my plum cookies at that time. The image in front of my eyes was undescribable. A young boy dressed up in greenish yellow clothes that were shining under the sun's rays, holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. It's as if I saw a small dragon trying to fly for the first time. Such a beautiful scenery! I wonder if the little dragon managed to fly in the end! I think so!

He has become the new Emperor at a young age. I heard that he's a very wise and skilled man, despite his age. I will be more than relieved if my brother will work for such a good man in the future.

Well..., enough about my Cai Min for now, otherwise he is going to steal all the glory.

My sixth brother wants to become a general and tries to enroll into the army but the next military examination takes place next year. He's two years younger than me and Cai Min. The other brothers are smaller and can't gain their own bread yet (only if they register to become eunuchs in the palace but that would be too painful for everyone).

My father and mother are both farmers and they fairly gain their living from farming and commercializing the harvest.

I can't believe that they have accepted someone with a low background as me into the palace. That's why I am still a senior maid even though I am twenty years old. Some girls from my generations are already Junior Attendants or Senior Attendants. Maybe they need ordinary people too, I mean to do the dirty works and others.

Well, I never considered myself too beautiful or wise. I can live like this too, who needs more?

Having a high status, makes you the other's target and that would be a big problem. We are going to prepare for the gold chrysanthemum (the imperial family's symbol) festival soon and our matron is very agitated lately. This is a very important moment for the imperial family and our people.

We will decorate the entire palace with chrysanthemums and different types of festive decorations. Many dances will be prepared, good music and culinary delicacies.

I hope that everyone will enjoy this moment.

I look forward to the big day!

..... (Yue Min)

Early in the morning, the girls are gathering in front of their dormitories to receive their new tasks. Twelve girls from the older generations and other junior maids.

From Yue Min's generation, five girls were promoted as junior attendants last year during this festival and three senior attendants and send to serve the royal consorts.

Unfortunately our Yue Min didn't have the chance to get a promotion yet or to be remarked by the high ranked officials or ladies at the court.

At the age of twenty, all the palace maids are send to serve a lady with a higher rank or send to work in different departments from the imperial palace.

When everyone was gathered, the matron (the lady who took care of their education untill that day) came in front of the crowd followed by two other attendants of her age and started to speak.

Matron: Everyone, silence! Be silent!

Today is the day when we are going to discuss about the chrysanthemum festival.

I hope that you are prepared to work day and night for accomplishing this new task and create the most enjoyable environment for the festive days. This is also a great occasion for the palace maids to be promoted and sent to a department, so put all your efforts into it.

Group of palace maids: Yes Madam! We will work hard and get a promotion soon!

Matron: You silly girls, the promotion is all you think about! Just focus on the festival! Be diligent and hard working! Tomorrow we are going to start the work. Our group will decorate the halls with flowers and other fecorations. Our colleagues from the other departments will do their tasks too.

Every department is required to give a performance in front of the Emperor during the festivities. Our "Decoration department" is going to present "the golden Chrysanthemum dance" to the imperial family.

Tomorrow I am going to select the ones who will give this performance and the person who will represent the golden Chrysanthemum. Now you are dismissed!

Go back to your work!

Group of palace maids: Yes Madam!!!

The girls went back to their daily tasks after their matron's departure.

Everyone was looking forward to the next day.

They were all gossips about the Chrysanthemum dance and who is going to be the this year's "golden Chrysanthemum".

Yue Min never participated in the selection before but this time she was determined to take part in it. Even if they did not take part in it in the previous years, all the senior maids have learned this dance when they turned eighteen years old. It was an old tradition for the palace maids to learn this dance when they turn eighteen years. It was the sign of their maturity! These twelve senior maids had to catch the matron's attention so that they can be selected for the dance group. The chrysanthemum formation was consisted only by seven girls and only the best dancers could give the best performance at such a special occasion. Fortunately, Yue Min was a rare talent undiscovered by the world's eyes.