re surprised in my life when I heard her speak
so sharply to us. I don't know whether I was spoken to or not, but I
thought it well to be wise, and I answered I would. We were all ready to
go and Her Majesty stood there watching us. When we were about five or
six feet away we heard her scolding Chun Shou (the girl who was neither
a Court lady nor a servant). Her Majesty said she was pretending she was
all right, and Her Majesty ordered her to go also. When we were walking
towards our own place, some of them laughed at Chun Shou, which made
her angry. When Her Majesty was angry with anyone, she would say that we
were all doing something on purpose to make her angry. I must say that
everyone of us was scared, and wondered who would have dared to do that.
On the contrary, we tried our best to please her in every way.

But that day she was furious all day and I tried to stay away from her.
I noticed some of the eunuchs went to her to ask questions concerning
important matters, but she would not look at them, but kept on reading
her book. To tell the truth, I felt miserable that day. At the beginning
I thought all the eunuchs were faithful servants, but seeing them every
day, I got to know them. It did not do them any harm to be punished once
in a while.

The Young Empress told me to go in and wait on Her Majesty as usual. She
said that probably if I would suggest playing dice with her, she might
forget her troubles. At first I did not want to go, for I was afraid
that she might say something to me, but seeing that the poor Young
Empress spoke to me so nicely, I told her I would try. When I entered
Her Majesty's sitting room I found her reading a book. She looked at me
and said: "Come over here, I would like to tell you something. You know
these people at the Palace are no good and I don't like them at all.
I don't want them to poison your ears by telling you how wicked I am.
Don't talk to them. You must not fix your hair too low down at the back
of your head. I was not angry with you this morning. I know you are
different. Don't let them influence you. I want you to be on my side,
and do as I tell you." Her Majesty spoke very kindly to me, and her face
changed also--not at all the same face she had that morning. Of course I
promised her that I would be only too happy to do all I could to please
her. She spoke to me just like a good mother would speak to a dear
child. I changed my opinion and thought that perhaps after all s