When people think of concubines, they often picture a woman, often a slave, in a sexual relationship with a man. At least that’s how the vast majority of concubinages work. Usually the man is already married, and has high status, so his concubine is more or less just a sex slave who lives with him. Concubines can have their own internal status structure, like the ones indentured to royalty are held in higher regard to those serving low ranking military officers, at least that’s how it is in my culture. Prove your worth as a concubine and you stand a chance to get traded up, earn a higher place on the social ladder. Being one of the Emperor’s concubines is the highest honor. You are one of the chosen ones, and treated less like a slave, and more like a precious flower that will wilt if not under constant meticulous care.

When I was a child, my parents sold me to the Imperial Palace to pay off gambling debts. From the age of 10, I’ve lived a life of servitude in the Palace, doing everything from washing clothes, to catching rats, to cleaning chamber pots. By 14, I was assigned as a handmaiden to the Imperial house of concubines. It was more glamorous than I’d expected. The women were so beautiful, elegant, and confident, and we pampered them like mad. Many would think I’m crazy, but I dreamed of being in their shoes, of having the Emperor’s attention, and receiving the same royal treatment from the handmaidens. Little did I know what those women were actually doing with the Emperor. Having grown up with parents so poor they had to sell me, and spending the rest of my short life so far as a slave, I had no education to tell me what went on when the Emperor called one of his concubines to his bedchamber.

When I was 16, I asked the Mistress of the house about how I could become a concubine too. She told me I had to wait 2 more years, but that she would have some of the lower ranked concubines teach me a few things. It was then that I learned their true purpose was. I was shocked, but intrigued, still not quite understanding the gravity of what I was striving to become. I began to work my way into the personal entourage of Lady Mi Cha, so I could accompany her into the Palace, thinking the Emperor might see me and take a liking to me.

But alas, he didn’t even notice me. Who was I to think that he would pay any mind to a handmaiden of his favorite concubine? I was a silly, naive little girl. But there was one person in the Palace who noticed me. The Empress saw my eagerness while attending to Lady Mi Cha and began to talk with me whenever we waited outside the Emperor’s bedchamber for Lady Mi Cha to come out. She was kind, and seemed like a gentle soul. Probably a very good mother to the Emperor’s heir and other children. The more we talked, the more she seemed to genuinely care about me. As odd as it seemed, I felt like I was developing a friendship with the Empress.

I had it in my mind that the moment I turned 18 I would ask the Mistress to consider giving me an assignment as a concubine. I didn’t care how lowly my assignment would be, because I knew I would work my way up the ranks and show her I was worthy of serving the Emperor. I didn’t have to ask though.

The morning of my 18th birthday I was awoken and summoned to the Mistress’s chambers. I dress quickly and made my way there right away. My heart raced as I wondered who I would be assigned to. There was a cute army lieutenant I had seen around lately, recently returned from a campaign to the north. I was sure he needed a concubine.

I paused in front of the Mistress’s door, took a deep breathe to calm my thundering heart, and knocked confidently.

“Enter…” came the older woman’s voice from inside.

I opened the door and stepped inside to see the gray haired, aging Mistress behind her desk, looking concerned, and next to her stood…

“Empress Eun Ae!” I said in surprise, bowing low immediately. “What are you doing here?!”

“Kwan, I have a very special assignment for you,” Mistress Hea said in a serious tone.

I looked up at my Mistress in confusion. Shouldn’t my assigned Master be there waiting to receive me? I looked over at the Empress, and back to the Mistress, and back to the Empress…

Oh no… this has to be a mistake… this can’t be happening… I thought, eyes widening in shock.

“The Empress Eun Ae has asked specifically for you to be her concubine,” Mistress Hea continued.

I had trained in how to please men for the last 2 years, not women. I’d never thought about other women that way. Hell, I didn’t even know 2 women could even do… that… What was I supposed to do? One doesn’t simply refuse the Empress when she wants something. And she wanted me. Me!

“If my husband can have concubines, why can’t I?” the Empress said with elegance.

“B-but why not…” I started to ask but couldn’t find the words to finish, nervously wringing my hands.

“You mean why a woman and not a man?” She finished my question for me.

There were a handful of male concubines at the Palace grounds for the rare occasion that a woman of royal status went unwed, or when a royal woman’s husband allowed her to have one. But it seemed the Empress was not interested in them.

“I attended my husband’s bedchamber for the sole purpose of providing an heir,” Empress Eun Ae explained. “I have given him three. I have done my duty as Empress. He has no need for me anymore and I have no interest in what he brings to the bedchamber. I never have. Men simply do not have what I crave.”

“But I… I haven’t trained…” I started to say softly, looking down at the floor.

“I know,” the Empress cut me off. “None of you concubines have because two women are not supposed to share a bed with each other. Which is why I chose you. You have not yet shared a bed with man, so you are as close to a blank slate as I am likely to find.“

“You must be discreet, Kwan,” Mistress Hea piped in. “This arrangement must be kept secret, especially from the Emperor and his staff.”

“But don’t you worry, you will act as one of my handmaidens from now on to conceal your true purpose for being in the Palace,” Empress Eun Ae explained warmly. “No one will be the wiser except for my entourage, and they hold secrets very well.”

An awkward silence fell on the room as I couldn’t find my words.

“Go pack your things and see the Empress’s head handmaiden for your new lodging,” Mistress Hea said. “You’re to be there before lunch.”

“Thank you dear Hea,” the Empress said as she made her way to the door. “I look forward to sharing my bed with you tonight, Kwan.”

With that, she left. And that’s how I became the Empress’s concubine.

To be continued…