Bingquing and Langhua would spend every minute together that was possible. Not always to Bingquing's delight as this was quite a change from the routine she was used to with the past existance. The queen's obsession with her was a bit much at times for her to deal with. It was so different than living with her own parents who would leave her to her own devices and spend the day as she liked with Du Ni and the small community who resided inside their manor. Now there was a woman breathing down her neck telling her every which movement and way she preferred a young lady to behave. Often there were times when Bingquing felt short.
Langhua would carry Bingquing with her to court in a cloth sling wrapped around her body. Sometimes Bingquing would whisper an inconsistency or question in the courtiers reasonings that the queen had not noticed into her ear. The queen would smile before smiting the courtier with a witty remark. The
Outside Zaiyuan was seated in the robes of a eunuch behind a curtain where he knew he would neither be noticed or observed. If someone did find him here, he did have a rebuttal which would neutralize the interest as this was something he did from time to time. He bowed low in respect as the courtiers formed into groups to discuss what they had just seen. His face was low as he smiled knowing that he was being completely ignored largely by people whose opinions he sorely wanted. A spider latched in his web of choice above a bountiful source of open prey and to his continued delight, the discussion started immediately.Zaiyuan was also aware that his wife was going to be irritated that he had done this again. She didn't really care much for the opinion of others as she was the daughter of a warlord who had created his own country out of irritation that his people were persecuted. She had never really cared for political games. He, on th
In the throne room, Langhua cradled Bingquing in the cloth body swing that she had fashioned from white fabric of material that had been set aside for undergarments or for servants. both both uses had been forgotten when the queen had burst into the servants quarters to pry it from the hands of the maids who were about to use it to bandage an injured guard. The guard had simply decided to forget medical attention as he had run back to his post. The two maids had just stood confused at what had just happened. But as he was bound to take care of the royal family, he knew that his tongue could not speak of what he had just seen. It was so strange to him that such a child could be the object of such adoration by their fierce queen.Langhua adjusted this aforementioned fabric so Bingquing's body would be more covered like she preferred it. It was such an exciting time to have a child who had not disappointed her as of yet. She really needed to s
Langhua returned to her quarters where she Bingquing bandaged again with a fresh cloth so the ink that seeped through would be less likely to infect the open wounds there. The queen had disrobed again and was in bed when a maid came in to announce the arrival of her true born daughter. Bingquing began to remove herself from the queen's grip, but Langhua held her fast so she tried to make herself as small as possible. From her limited knowledge of princesses, Bingquing was not excited to meet someone she was really not in competition with as the newly adopted sibling to a definitely unwilling sibling.Yan Ming bowed before her mother, "Mother I greet you. I wish your health will continue onto old age""Yan Ming you may stand. What a silly thing for you to say as your power begins when my life is no longer with you. I am the hurdle to your succession. Such a statement does not feel genuine coming from your mouth, my daughter.&nbs
In this way the seasons changed, the warm summer drifted past and a cool winter began to manifest in soft snows that would cover the stately garden. All the flowers were different and the stiff branches were barren except for a sentimental plum tree that had small green fragrant flowers. It was the only thing that bloomed in the entire garden, but Bingquing would see the blossoms placed in little vases in the queen's quarters. None of the servants did this. Of course, no one else but the queen was allowed to touch them. Bingquing wondered if these were the communications of her with her lover. Who could love the queen more than the husband who was a mystery to all? He wasn't even the official king nor did he have much power other than being the prime whisper in the queen's ear on the affairs of state. Zaiyuan spoke so little, that Bingquing often forgot that he was even there.Everyday Bingquing would sit through c
=//=Ning Ren unfurled the message from his father that had arrived via the imperial stream of messengers. It was odd that his father would not just scribble on some parchment and send it as he usually did to maintain that this son was not favored at all. These changes made his stomach drop as he wondered who had made a move to favor him beyond the scenes. The scroll sat untouched instead of opened as he could not calm his nerves enough to face whatever it was that his father now wanted from him. He was sitting in the Jungpi capital slowly peeling the skin off a young pear. The prince didn't eat it, but just kept peeling them in a growing pile by his desk. The task was relaxing to him after reading for long hours.Ning Fan came over, "I thought cook said he had enough pears? Are you planning on having a party or something with more people than we can fit in this house? Are you going to make some type of desert for a young
The royal hall was silent as the Emperor appraised each of his sons who had come to dine with him for their late night meal. The long hall was set with small tables for each prince to sit while their father sat on a seat elevated above him, along with the queen whose false sincerity was balance with her look of irritation when her son was not praised as she would have liked. The emporer was aghast at how each of them had change so much over these last few years. It had been more than ten years since all of his children had all been in the same room together for a meal."Father, did you know that I have blessed you with a pair of twin granddaughters. I am doing my part to make sure that the imperial family is thriving. These are the addition to the grandchildren I have given to you previously. It's a shame that my brothers too cannot share in the bounty of expanding the descendants of yours." Ning Yu raised his wine glass and emp
In the morning, an amber scroll was sent to him along with a visit from the imperial doctor who pronounced him fit to travel. The doctor looked at the prince with a strange expression as he said this. The doctor immediately started to put his pins away and pack them into the case with his medical supplies. He shook his head with a strange look at his patient."You'd think after all this time you would at least take the liberty to disguise where you gotten the poison. It's such a shame that young men must play games of power when they should be playing with their own age. It would be simple for you to step down to where health could be your priority over this useless power struggle . . . and for what purpose?"Ning Ren rolled up his sleeve. "It's not something that outsiders are bound to understand. These games mean little to those who are not involved in it. Even if I left and ran as far as I could . . . an ar
=//=Yan Sha sat on the bed with Langhua who was brushing her hair while Zaiyuan watched from the sill of the open window. It was a colder night where the cool breeze on the face was pleasant rather than a chill to bundle up in. Zaiyuan held a cup of tea in his hand that he poured langourously as he gazed at the moon. He seemed to savor the moment as if he was trying to hide his emotions from his very observant wife.Yan Sha knew his eyes would never give anything away. His body was rigid. But the reflection in the cup of tea was distorted as the man tried to pay his respects to the large luminescent moon. Zaiyuan was human too, but for his family his face was designed so that he could be a rock for his wife to lie on. His face was a rock, but his hands were the tides lapping against it, not truly deprived of his true thoughts.Langhua had calmed down some and regained some of her normal regnal demeanor. She was de