Chapter 5: A Favourite’s Reward

It is still well before dawn when Angelina and I are taken to a small room in another part of the Lotus Garden. There we endure an hour long series of mental and physical tests to assess our abilities in a wide range of skills. Daoshi Shi and two other red-uniformed daoshis, Daoshi Bao and Daoshi Lim, take turns to assess us. Daoshi Bao is a couple of decades older than Daoshi Shi, whereas Daoshi Lim is several years younger, probably in her mid-twenties.

Our initial fear that the Lotus Garden is a fancy brothel were quickly dispelled when we arrived. The Lotus Garden is a training establishment for girls and young women. Most of the adolescent girls arrive from orphanages, or are sold into slavery by impoverished families unable to support them. Only rarely does anyone arrive from a slave market. Angelina’s and my acquisition seem to be one of those rare exceptions, probably because we are English and therefore provide something different.

The girls and young women here are divided into three groups during training. This assessment determines the most appropriate group for each new arrival. The assessment isn’t unduly onerous but I’m glad when its finished. Angelina is told the result of the assessment almost immediately, before we return to the others. I’m not so lucky. I am told that I need to undergo one further assessment test this afternoon before a decision is made.

Unsurprisingly, Angelina is placed in the group to be trained as a concubine. Her outgoing personality and bubbly nature shine through despite our recent ordeals. As does her volatile moods and fiery temper, but that doesn’t seem to affect the decision. She will be given the title ‘furen’, or Lady, on completion of her training. She doesn’t seem fazed by the knowledge that she is going to be trained as a sex toy for a wealthy person.

As for me, my placement is less clear. Even I can tell that I don’t meet the criteria for training as a concubine. Whereas Angelina takes after our mother in both appearance and personality, I take after our studious and quiet father. The Lotus Garden trains those suitable for administrative or supervisory roles separately from those destined to be cooks or housemaids. So far I cannot determine which of those two groups I will be assigned.

The others in the harem are stirring from their sleep by the time we return. The day feels half over and yet it has barely begun.

Yina and Luli are assigned to the task of collecting our breakfast from the kitchens. We have all finished our breakfast and packed our bedding away by the time the early morning sun is brightening the room through the high windows. Daoshi Shi arrives with Daoshi Lim and we all line up against the right-hand wall. Our sleeping area is inspected and a couple of the odalisques are told to make a better job of cleaning their space.