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In the fourteenth year of the Longji era, gray clouds hung threateningly over the imperial palace, a joyous change from the previous months’ suffocating heat and drought. In the inner palace, concubines and consorts both emerged from their courtyards and pavilions to enjoy a summer afternoon free from the oppressive sunshine in the many imperial gardens.
Not far from the imperial gardens, stood the gates of the three great palaces given to the three Virtuous Consorts. Xile Palace, the joyful palace, stood at the end of the lane shaded by ancient trees planted by consorts long past. Home to the virtuous Imperial Pure Consort, the palace was secluded and serene, a beautifully isolated paradise full of lush flower bushes and overgrown plum trees heavily laden with fruit.
Sitting beneath one such shady tree, Shen Jiu, the Pure Consort, lifted his head to stare at the clouds disrupting the natural light he was using to paint. Sighing, he stood from behind his easel and swirled his brush in the water dish. The cinnabar ink turned the cloudy water blood red. Moving indoors, Shen Jiu directed his servants to bring the painted canvas inside to dry as he left to change out of his painting smock.
In the center of his chambers, he stood and spread his arms to let his servants dress him in his handpicked wide-sleeved silk dress. It was made of the highest quality of blue cloud brocade embroidered with shimmering silver and white blossoms.
The dress was cinched at the waist with a wide green sash. A spice bag embroidered with two blossoming lotus flowers on a single stem was tied over the belt along with a jade beaded ornament. The long soft hair was coiled high up into a bun with several jade and gold hairpins. Eyes like peach blossoms, lips as red as cherries, just a glimpse was enough to be unspeakably bewitching.
As the final dangling hairpin was placed, Shen Jiu heard the sound of pounding footsteps in the courtyard and the slam of his door. In his floor-length mirror, an imperial tribute gifted by the emperor, the clear reflection of Ming Fan, his head eunuch, rushed into the room.
“Your highness, your highness! Big trouble!” He wheezed out, falling to his knees to salute.
Shen Jiu turned his body to stare at his attendant, who had never been so out of breath in his life. Waving his hand for him to rise. “What is it?” He picked up a mutton fat jade bangle from a jewelry box selection held carefully in front of him and placed it on his pale wrist.
Rising up, Ming Fan hurriedly said, “Court Attendant Liu had been intercepted walking through the garden on his way over here! It was stated that he disrespected the honorable Consort Song and she will be conducting his punishment personally!”
“What?” Shen Jiu growled out. Grabbing his fan, his silk robes billowed as he made for the door, the silver embroidered flowers dancing in the breeze. “Which Consort Song?” He demanded imperiously, his pearl drop earrings swaying with his stride. Ming Fan, right on his heels, assembled the rest of his consort’s entourage.
“Consort Song Yaling, former princess of the Song Kingdom. Had been a fourth rank Imperial Concubine until only just recently.” Ming Fan explained, struggling to keep pace and support his consort’s arm on the stone steps. “After successfully giving birth to her second child, the eighteenth Imperial son, she became a titled Consort Mother.”
“Just a little fourth rank Consort,” Shen Jiu sneered. “And she wants to mess with what’s mine?”
The group swept out of the Xile Palace gates and onto the long road towards the gardens.
“What faction does she belong to?” He asked, trying to remember the little nobody’s face from among the hundreds of concubines in this harem.
“The Imperial Moral Consort’s.” Ming Fan stated, after a moment to think. “Several years ago, when she was a sixth rank Graceful Concubine, she had given birth to her first son, the thirteenth prince, who was then taken to be fostered by the Imperial Moral Consort.”
“And was used as a knife in order to still see her son, no doubt.” Shen Jiu sniffed, disdainfully. Glaring in the direction of the Moral Consort’s palace. “The thirteenth prince, hmmm.” Shen Jiu thought quickly. “Was he not the one that broke the Minister of War’s grandson’s leg in that cuju game recently?”
“Yes, your Highness.” Ming Fan affirmed.
“Excellent.” Shen Jiu’s smirk turned blood thirsty as they passed the carved stone arches that symbolized the entrance to the Imperial Gardens.
***
In the center of the inner palace, the Imperial Gardens connected to different sections of the palace via three large stone gateways with the empress and highest ranking consorts’ palaces within the closest distance to it. Created by the founding emperor, the wall-sheltered gardens extended far beyond the many courtyards and palaces into the wild hinterland terrain behind the palace.
Three lakes rested within, one main lake and two subsidiary ponds, each with colorful fish and domesticated rare birds to perch nearby. All were linked by a winding stream that traveled throughout the landscape. Tiny bridges, exquisite pavilions, and piers dotted around the ponds, while zig-zag galleries connected to meandering paths overlooked the lovely lotus blossoms, rock works, trees, and small islands.
Separated by the stream, rare flowers of every type flourished within their own grottos formed by fake decorative mountains or lattices of wood intertwined with lush vines. Forests of bamboo and orchards of peach and plum provided shade and privacy to an assortment of halls and pavilions hidden from the casual passerby within the garden.
However, all these carefully ornamental gardens made it difficult to find someone wandering within.
Plans and schemes were crafted then discarded in Shen Jiu’s head as he and his entourage rushed along the paved-stone paths. It didn’t surprise him that Liu Qingge found it difficult to hold his temper. But usually, he can manage to escape before anything physical can happen.
Something must have happened before he was caught. Shen Jiu wondered grimly.
Crossing a moon bridge over a small section of the koi filled pond, Shen Jiu saw a small growing crowd of onlookers. Imperial concubines and beauties dressed in the soft pastel colors of their rank watched with giggling interest from across the pond what Shen Jiu feared just might be who he was looking for.
The sound of a whip heralded him nearing the water pavilion. Angry yelling pierced the air as Shen Jiu stepped closer with a swift but still dignified pace.
Dressed in consort-ranked pink silk dress and jeweled hairpins, a consort of delicate stature stood enraged in front of Liu Qingge, forced to his knees and held down by two burly servants. Another servant with a whip stood behind him, arm raised to strike.
“You filthy Bai Zhan barbarian!” Crack, down goes the whip. “You thought you were so high and invincible, but oh how the mighty have fallen.” Consort Song mocked, her dainty face twisted into an ugly sneer. “Did you ever think you would end at my mercy when you killed my brothers?”
Stunned by the hits. Liu Qingge still raised his eyes defiantly to her face. “Who are you again?” Liu Qingge’s rough voice cut through her tirade.
Her scream of rage followed by her grabbing the whip and striking him herself echoed through the garden drawing more curious witnesses over for a look at the excitement.
Shen Jiu had enough of this farce.
“Just what do you think you are doing, Consort Song?”
At Shen Jiu’s entrance, all the nearby concubines and beauties turned to him, bowing and said in unison, “Greetings to your Highness, the Imperial Pure Consort.” Even Consort Song had to stop and bend her knees in a ceremonial salute.
Shen Jiu glanced at Liu Qingge’s bent figure held down on his knees by two burly eunuchs with some cultivation talent. His thin pastel concubine robes split at the back along with his skin in large bloody welts.
Shen Jiu frowned. Most of those hits were not from a whip.
He stared down at Consort Song, still stuck in her salute until he exempted her. “This palace has asked Consort Song a question.”
Consort Song huffed. “Answering the Imperial Pure Consort, this lowly consort was merely handling a matter of grievance this slave committed against this consort. This lowly consort was teaching this slave a lesson in respecting their betters.”
Shen Jiu hummed, tapping his fan against his other hand. “Several months ago, this palace had claimed this Court Attendant,” he emphasized Liu Qingge’s title, low as it was, “As this palace’s own. It was made precisely clear that they were not meant for others to touch. No exceptions.”
“But!” Consort Song glared up at him in anger.
“Was it not clear, Consort Song?” Shen Jiu asked slowly.
“Yes, your Highness.” She bowed her head unwillingly.
Nodding in satisfaction, Shen Jiu flicked his fan open and waved for everyone to rise. “It is good for you to recognize your mistake. This palace will allow you to kneel here in penance one hour for every strike given.” Turning to Ming Fan who had gone over to where Liu Qingge was still kneeling between the two now frightened eunuchs. “How many strikes did she give?”
“Answering your Highness, Consort Song gave Court Attendant Liu five strikes.”
“Five strikes.” Shen Jiu repeated, his eyes dark, walking closer to where Consort Song knelt. “Truly you have worked hard this time, Consort Song. Be sure to take the time to meditate on your doings here today.” His cloud silk dress fluttered behind him in the wind, brushing against the plain silk of the kneeling Consort Song’s dress. Silently showing off his rank as he moved around her to where Liu Qingge kneeled. “You dishonor your new title of Consort Mother as well as bring shame to both your sons with your impulsive actions.”
Gesturing to Ming Fan he waved his fan at Liu Qingge. “Pick him up and bring him back to Xile palace.”
“Yes, your Highness!”
However, right when they could make good their escape, an enchanting voice stopped them.
“My, my. What is all this excitement?”
Walking up the small stone path opposite the bridge with her full entourage of maids and attendants, a high ranked consort dressed in full consort regalia, complete with the twin dangling gold pins, held the arm of her attendant as she stepped gracefully up the stairs into the pavilion. She had the similar agelessness of most of the higher consorts who have maintained their beauty. Though not as stunning as some other consorts, her demeanor and charming grace made up for it greatly.
All of the witnessing concubines and beauties who stayed to watch, including the still kneeling Consort Song who brightened at her appearance, immediately gave a bow and saluted. “Greetings to your Highness, the Imperial Moral Consort!”
Shen Jiu, of equal rank to her as a Virtuous Imperial Consort, merely inclined his head at her. “Consort Fu.”
Consort Fu inclined her head as well. “Consort Shen.”
“To answer Consort Fu’s question,” Shen Jiu stated, hiding his annoyance that they couldn’t escape this consort’s interference. Her spy network still one of the strongest. “This matter has been handled already and the appropriate parties punished. There is no need for any interventions.”
With a beautic smile on her face, the Moral Consort raised her hand for them to rise and stepped over towards Liu Qingge who was weakly leaning against Ming Fan. “Is this the Bai Zhan prize then?” She walked closer to inspect him, stretching out a manicured finger to touch his face, but he leaned away. "Truly he does seem to get in trouble a lot.” She turned back to Shen Jiu, face in a false pitying smile. “This must be troubling for Consort Shen.”
Shen Jiu smiled just as falsely, waving his fan slowly back and forth. “Not at all.” He answered. “His service has been very thorough. Consort Fu has no need for concern.”
The Moral Consort laughed, lightly, hiding her smile behind painted nails. “Consort Shen is too modest. This consort has heard many interesting tales from the thirteenth prince about what their Imperial Highnesses and Court Attendant Liu get up to.”
“How fascinating. This consort had no idea.” Shen Jiu faked his surprise, while he gripped his fan tighter. “This consort had thought cuju was the only interest in the mind of the thirteenth prince.” He shot back. You know, the game he offended the Minister of War in. “This consort simply must ask his Majesty about these extra excursions of their Highnesses.” Do you dare let the emperor know that your son is involved in a gambling and fighting ring?
The Moral Consort’s eye twitched as she continued to smile and throw needles. “This consort had never realized Consort Shen was so aware of things happening in court.” A foreign consort involving themselves in politics. Naughty, naughty.
“Not at all. Only when certain personages invite a member of their palace over at all times of day and night. It makes this consort concerned to say the least.” He shot back. The thirteenth prince is inviting a concubine of His Majesty’s over night and day. How inappropriate.
“Consort Shen has much affection for a barbarian slave prize.” She countered. “This consort wonders if his Majesty is at all aware of such things?” Do you dare to let the emperor know about your affections for a prisoner of war?
“This consort cares just enough, it seems. After all, is it not shameful for just anyone to call on a concubine. This consort could hardly stand the embarrassment.”
She laughed, “Consort Shen sure is quick in his condemnations and so harsh.” Projecting your own desires on my son, please.
Shen Jiu peers over his fan at her knowing look and glances at the growing audience. He needs to end this soon.
“Consort Fu’s attentiveness in my personal taste of attendants is very flattering.” He smiles at her over his open fan, eyes glittering like a snake. “While this consort will not share attendants, this one would be gratified to recommend another Bai Zhan slave attendant of your own to handle all of your needs. Alas, this one is kept busy by serving his Majesty and has no time for other such pursuits.” I don’t need a ‘personal’ bed attendant. I sleep regularly with the emperor. When was the last time your card was flipped, bitch.
“Though maybe the interest is not for yourself,” He continued, still smiling with teeth, and went for the kill shot. “But for your eldest, the sixth Imperial Highness?” Not only did you raise a bad adopted son who wants his father’s concubine, you also badly raised your own whoremonger son who has utterly offended his official princess consort’s family.
Consort Fu blushed bright red in her growing wrath. “How dare you.” She hissed.
Got you. Shen Jiu smirked.
“The only one here wanting to bed a Bai Zhan brute is you!” She shouted, before collecting herself, and glaring balefully at him.
Shen Jiu raised his eyebrows. “This consort.” He waved at himself with a fan in fake astonishment. “Sleep with a brute?” He laughed brightly, a malicious grin on his face.
“Brute!” He called, turning to Liu Qingge who was watching the byplay with detached interest. “Come here.”
Straightening up from Ming Fan’s hold, Liu Qingge stumbled over towards the two fighting consorts.
“Kneel.” Consort Shen commanded.
He fell painfully to his knees at the demand. His eyes lowered to the ground.
Shen Jiu grabbed him roughly by the chin, digging his long nails into his skin and tilted his face up. “The Song Dynasty was not the only kingdom attacked by Bai Zhan.” He spoke staring into clear gray eyes. “Consort Song is not alone enjoying the sight of a proud general fallen so far.”
“However,” Shen Jiu let his chin fall from his hand. “Anything more is a sight for this palace’s eyes alone.’’ Shen Jiu turns and waves his hand at Ming Fan. “Take him back to my palace. If he goes wandering again let it fall on your heads.”
Not convinced, the Moral Consort was about to speak again except this time she was interrupted by a high voice.
“All hear me!” A eunuch from the emperor’s side stood in the garden, walking towards the crowd of them.
“Your Highnesses, the Imperial Pure Consort and the Imperial Moral Consort have been summoned to the Imperial Study.”
Both Shen Jiu and Consort Fu immediately turned and bowed, saying in unison, “We hear and obey the decree.”
The Moral Consort glares at Shen Jiu but turns and begins walking towards the imperial study. Many other concubines have started leaving, not wanting to be punished for interfering with the wrong situation.
Shen Jiu waved a hand at his servants to take Liu Qingge back, but when Consort Song’s servants tried to help her stand, Shen Jiu kindly reminded her that she still had five hours left of kneeling to complete before she could leave.
Taking Ming Fan’s arm in support, Pure Consort Shen began walking towards the emperor’s palace. The clouds over the gardens turned a dark gray as a hint of thunder rolled in the distance.
***
The rain poured down in heavy sheets, the flowers and trees bending and shaking in the fierce gale. Dark shapes made of shadows danced and moved with every flash of lighting and rumble of thunder. Hours had passed since the confrontation in the gardens.
Safe and dry within the main chambers of Xile palace, Liu Qingge sat vigil on a stool by the window watching the rain run off in streams from the roof and form puddles in the paved courtyard. The soft scraping of a small dagger against a whetstone filled the quiet room as he waited for Shen Jiu’s return.
It's been three years since he had been imprisoned here in this harem. Three years since his foolish scheming older brother had betrayed him to their enemies and left him here to rot.
It was days like today that he missed the freedoms of his old life. How he could outrun the wind and rain on his sword and race through the long grass of the Northern Plains.
He missed his sword and his men. He always wondered what had happened to the men under his command after his defeat. If they were killed or separated by his brother.
He missed having the energy to fight for fun and not life and death struggles day after day.
Though he never got that far anymore.
Not since he had his lovely Pure Consort.
Liu Qingge remembered the day Shen Jiu arrived in the harem. How all the low ranking concubines fluttered and gossiped about, hearing rumors of the honored Jewel of the Qiu Dynasty; the ninth imperial prince offered in marriage to bring peace to the nations.
The higher consorts called him a calamitous beauty in dismay. And they were not wrong.
Like a rock into a pool of still water, his entrance into the harem’s political games upended the original factions and are still causing ripples a year later.
Alluring enough to draw the emperor’s eye. Talented enough to keep his attention. Clever enough to use it all to his advantage.
Truly, no one was more suited to scheming than the Pure Consort Shen.
And yet no one seemed to hate it more than him. Liu Qingge chuckled, drawing his knife up the whetstone again.
Petty people and their petty goals, the consort would say.
Even when Shen Jiu first saved and changed his life forever a year ago, it had been done originally to spite the person who ordered his beating.
Just like today of all things. Liu Qingge huffed to himself.
He hated being a burden. And he knew he was.
Shen Jiu’s fierce protection of him was a weak point in his iron defense that he had formed in his time spent here. But he couldn’t deny that without that fussy, irritating, mesmerizing beauty, his life here would be so much worse.
Without him, days like today when he played at being the entertainment of princes, fighting and fucking whatever or whoever they threw at him, would never end.
Liu Qingge wished he could take his lovely consort with him to see the beauty of his home, the sea of grass, the herds of creatures, the blue sea. The fierce wind storms that left destruction in its wake.
Liu Qingge wished for much. Perhaps too much.
Hearing noise at the gate, Liu Qingge watched through the window as the heavy red doors opened and the palanquin set down. The misty figure of Consort Shen hidden in the falling rain swiftly moved underneath the gate archway, before the broad-chested figure of Ming Fan opened and held an umbrella and the two rushed through the courtyard and into the main palace.
Setting his dagger and whetstone on a side table, Liu Qingge stood and walked to the door, the scabs on his back tightening with every slight motion.
In the entrance hall, Pure Consort Shen stood drenched and dripping rainwater as Ming Fan closed the large umbrella and began issuing orders to the surrounding servants. Shen Jiu’s once voluptuous flowing silks and brocades lay flat and translucent against his body. His hair falling out of its neat arrangement.
Despite this wardrobe malfunction, at Liu Qingge’s appearance, Shen Jiu immediately focused on him. “Any serious injuries?” he barked out, trying to look stern while being as threatening as a wet kitten.
Liu Qingge shook his head, smiling at his care. “All minor. If my cultivation was not sealed, she would have broken her whip against my back.”
Shen Jiu’s eyes narrowed. “And from earlier?”
He shrugged. “They mostly threw wild animals at me this time.” He huffed a laugh. “It's not like I haven’t fought stronger beasts than those in my free time.”
“Yes, yes, General Liu was so strong.” Shen Jiu waved his hand irritatedly at him as he began moving towards a sideroom where a large steamy tub waited for him. “He’s so strong that he gets caught by a little fourth rank consort and forced to kneel.”
Liu Qingge did feel slightly abashed at this blunder.
Usually, he rarely leaves the Xile Palace, but today he had been summoned again by the thirteenth imperial prince and his noble companions to insult and play around with him. He could reasonably ignore an imperial son’s command with the power of the Pure Consort, but not an imperial prince. High from victory over the host of creatures they threw at him, he had cut through the garden as a shortcut, but ran into Consort Song and didn’t bow in time.
How was he to know she was someone who he had already offended years earlier?
He watched as multiple servants danced around their master, taking the wet robes layer by layer until he stood bare and alluring before him and stepped into the large tub.
Liu Qingge watched silently as his consort leaned back, allowing Ming Fan to step forward and begin taking down the intricate braids and jeweled pins that held his hair aloft.
The sound of a beauty in the water with the clink of falling pins and a spill of black silk hair was hypnotic.
Looking up at him through dark lashes, Shen Jiu smirked and raised his hand from the water. “Attend me, Court Attendant Liu.” A quick flick of his hand had the other servants leaving the room.
Liu Qingge inhaled deeply, before moving closer.
The droplets of water rolled down plains of milk pale skin blushing pink from the heat. Dusty rose peaks dipped tantalizing in and out of the water with every rippling wave of the water. Green eyes like shimmering jewels bewitched him as the former general sat beside and slowly, carefully dragged a soft cloth over supple porcelain skin.
Breathing heavy at his actions, Shen Jiu unwound as the stress of the day faded away.
“You won’t have to worry about the thirteenth prince and his companions bothering you anymore.” Shen Jiu relaxed at the soothing motions of the cloth. “When the prince heard that I was causing trouble with both his adoptive mother and birth mother, he sought an -gasp- audience with the emperor.” Liu Qingge rubbed gently the nipple he just flicked before moving on.
“The emperor waited for us to arrive, but he didn’t give the others-,” He groaned quietly as the wandering hand moved lower under the water. “Any face at all.” Looking up into Liu Qingge’s stern but gently smiling face, the consort smirked. “The emperor had just found out about the Minister of War’s grandson’s accident involving the prince. He punished the Moral Consort with house arrest for six months and two years salary. And the prince and his companions who were caught gambling and cock fighting of course were thrown to the military camp to learn underneath the Zhenbei Marquis. Who just so happened to be the boyhood reading companion of the Minister of War’s late son.”
Liu Qingge rewarded him with a long stroke. “You seem to have everything in hand.”
Shen Jiu grinned at him and rutted into his hand. “My dear general, I do believe that is you-ahh!” He moaned as the grip tightened and kept moving until he released.
Limp and satisfied, Liu Qingge fished his consort out of the tub and into his arms. Carrying him to the adjoining bedchamber, he placed him on the bed and lightly ran a towel over his skin.
High on Shen Jiu’s neck, Liu Qingge noticed fresh red marks and traces left behind from the emperor. Annoyed, he placed his own lips on top of the emperor’s marks as if to erase them.
Tired, Shen Jiu raised his hands around Liu Qingge’s neck, took out his hairpin, and ran his finger through the falling hair. “Did you remember where the Consort Song was from yet?” He asked with a laugh.
Tossing the blanket over the other’s smirking face, “I don’t remember countries we defeat in one battle.” He answered, nonchalant.
Blowing out the candles, Liu Qingge stripped out of his robes, letting them pool on the floor, and then joined his giggling consort under the covers.
In the dark, the sound of rain filled the silence.
“I wish I didn’t have to hurt and insult you in the garden today.” A whispered confession.
“I know why you had to.” Absolution.
The rain continued to beat against the roof.
A scarred but gentle hand grasped a smaller hand tightly.
“My seal has almost finished deteriorating.” A breath, then a whisper. “Will you join me when I leave?”
Liu Qingge felt the hand holding his tighten.
“Yes.”
In the dark, two pairs of lips press together as the promise is sealed with a kiss.