Tao er - affectionate way to call Tao

Gu Niang- Lady

Wu A Ge- Fifth Prince

A planned scenario had been played out extremely well. I had not known of the reason I was here yet, but I had found

something unexpected: love. I was in it for the money and what I got out of it was love. I was doing the forbidden. I

was committing the crime of lying, loving someone of the same gender, and pretending to be something I’m not. I

was willing to take a risk though, because for him, I would do anything.

I had been working on embroidering the lotus I had left untouched so many nights before. My fingers delicately

poking the needle through the fabric. Tonight would be the fifth night without him. He was off hunting with the

King and being one of the princes, he could not deny an order from his father. I had never set foot outside of my

chambers so my knowledge was limited on the princes of the kingdom. I knew there were many of them as the king

had over three thousand concubines to attend him. Of course, some of them would never be able to see his face

ever in their entire life. They had the status, but were sadly throwing their life away. I found myself to be lucky. I

was able to meet a highly and powerful prince. Any of the girls back home would love to be in my position. I quite

miss hanging out with some of them, chit chatting about possible husband candidates and such. Of course, they didn’t

know I was not a female. Nonetheless, I was content with having them as lady friends. I learned quite a lot from

them. I was able to study natural behaviors of those ladies and find out secrets to help me play a better role.

I was working into the late hours of the night and my eyes were starting to get tired. The maids were sleep standing

up at their usual posts. I quickly woke them up and dismissed them all. I returned to my bed chamber and placed the

unfinished embroidery back into the basket along with the needle. The summer night was cooling as I sat on the edge

of my bed, my hand running across the blanket that we shared those seven nights together. My heart ached for him

to come back to me. I didn’t know when he was coming back. The maids were told not to give me any details. So

I’m left to wait. I suddenly feel a pair of arms wrap around me. I must be dreaming, but it feels so real. His familiar

warmth embraces me and I’m having doubts to whether I’m going crazy because I miss him too much. A soft peck on

my cheeks confirms to me that he is real and here. I turn slowly and found myself face to face with Wu A Ge. He had

finally returned. My hands automatically lift to touch his face. I gaze up at his eyes as my fingers trace over his

cheeks, chin, nose, forehead, and lastly, his lips. His hands are placed at the either side of my hips, closing the space

between our bodies. My chest is flushed against his as I continue to be mesmerized by his handsome features. My

eyes take in every centimeter of his face. My hands are wrapped around his neck and I continued to stare at him. Our

lips meet seconds later, moving together with grace. I deepen the kiss even more, wanting to stay like this forever.

However we must breathe air to survive so I slowly pulled away. He stood up to blow out all the candles and returned

back to my side afterwards. There was this familiar feeling as he loomed over me. As my clothes came off one by

one, he began kissing every newly exposed skin of mine that surfaced from under the clothes. I gasped and moaned

as he on my neck, leaving red marks of indication. A string of moans escaped my mouth as he began kissing

downwards. He was here. He was home. He was with me.

After a few hours of reunion, which ended with a hot and endless screams (in a girly voice of course) of his

name, I laid in between his arms with Wu A Ge propped on one elbow, one hand holding up his head and the other

caressing my skin. The moon was out tonight and under the moonlight, his features shined. I used one of my hands to

caress his cheek. He was beautiful and he was mine.

“How was your trip?” I asked. I wanted to know what he was doing there. Did he have fun? Did he miss me?

“It was like any other hunting excursion. My father caught the most of course. There was drinking and eating. But I

guess the only big difference was we had women there. Female dancers and entertainers. My father seemed to enjoy

that the most. They were beautiful though,” he elegantly said. So there were women. Of course, he was attracted

to them. Only the best would be selected to be presented in front of the king and his royal subjects. Surely, some of

them had caught Wu A Ge’s eyes. He was a young man, of course. A powerful and handsome looking one.

My silence must have worried him because he soon mutters, “But I’d choose you over them any day.” I closed my

eyes as he planted a soft kiss onto my forehead.

“I don’t mind if you choose them over me. I’m content with you having loved me once,” I whispered. I was

overwhelmed by the thought of Wu A Ge leaving me for someone else. Just the thought was hard to bare with.

Wu A Ge’s sudden pull on my waist left me surprised. Our chests were flushed against each other. His hand had a

tight grip on my waist, preventing me from squirming away. “Don’t ever utter those words again. I will never choose

them over you. I love you too much.”

“Tao ah…”This was the first time I uttered his real name ever since he told me that night. “I love you.”

“I love you too, my princess.” He whispers the last few words, “My Xiumin.”

It was on a sunny summer day when I met Xiao Lu. I was finally allowed to leave the inner chambers and explore the

outer courtyards. It came off as surprising at first, but I was glad to be able to soak in the sunshine. The maids had set

up a chair next to a table filled with fruits under the awning. I was enjoying the view of the plants and trees when

suddenly, a little boy about the age of two ran through the large doors of the courtyard. He stopped and our eyes

meet. He gasped and headed straight towards me.

“Mama!” He cried out. His little arms wrapped around one of my legs. I leaned down and took a careful look at the

boy. He must have been lost. His mama must be worried sick.

“Where is your mama? Are you lost?” I asked. He looked up at me with large doe eyes. He was so cute and lovable.

“Mama!” He cried again. I did not know who he was or how he got here, but for now, I would keep him here until

we find his mother. He asked to be picked up and so I carry him up to sit on my lap.

“Inform the guards and bring out more fruit for….What is your name?” I looked at the maid before questioning the

boy.

“Xiao Lu!” He yelps and I chuckle. How can such a little boy be so cute? It makes me wish I can have children of my

own.

“Bring some out for Xiao Lu.” I gracefully said.

“Yes, Min Hua Gu Niang,” she replies before ordering the other maids to bring out the fruit and to inform the guards.

I began to feed Xiao Lu the fruit that was on the table. He took it eagerly and slowly chewed on it. He soon fell

asleep in my arms. I hold him dearly and allowed his head to rest on my chest. I was startled to find guards storming

into the courtyard. They were searching for someone. Wu A Ge appeared shortly after. He was also frantically

searching. As soon as his eyes found me, he let out a sigh of relief.

“You are dismissed. I have found little prince.” He ordered. The guards retreated and I was left alone with Wu A Ge.

“How did he get here?”

“I don’t know. He ran into the courtyard, and since he was lost, I told the maids to report it to the guards.”

“I’m glad he came to you. He really misses his mother. I’m such a bad father,” His words surprised me. This little boy

was his child.

“He’s yours?” I was speechless. Was this the secret he was hiding? Could Xiao Lu be the reason why he needed me?

“We’ll talk inside.” He ushered me out of the chair and into the chambers. There, I carefully placed Xiao Lu onto the

bed. He stirred around at bit before falling back into sleep.

“I know what you are thinking right now. I didn’t want to keep it a secret anymore. I was going to tell you later, but

today happened. I…I met Xiao Lu’s mother in Nanjing. She was beautiful, everything I ever wanted. Our relationship

wasn’t steady though. I had kept my identity hidden and at that time, I was to return to the capital. We….we shared

our love that night. I had left, but a letter from her had arrived to my office one day. She was pregnant. I of course

headed back to Nanjing to forsee her labor and to bring the child home along with her. She didn’t make it though.

I’ve kept him hidden long enough. I want him to have a mother and to be welcomed officially. That’s why I need

you. I thought that after you played on the role of Xiao Lu’s mother, you would return home and I would move on

with my life. But I fell in love. I love you. I want you to be a part of my family. With me forever.”

I stayed silent as Wu A Ge poured out his heart. I finally knew my destiny. I was to stay here. I would be able to raise

a child with Wu A Ge, even if the child wasn’t my own. I was to fulfill my role. I didn’t need the money anymore. I

needed Wu A Ge. “I’ll stay.”

He embraced me tightly in his arms, my head resting at the crook of his neck. I knew this was where I wanted to be.

This was where I was going to stay.

Today was the day I was to be officially presented as the mother of Xiao Lu. I was dressed in the finest silk robe. My

hair adorned with many decorations. Xiao Lu had been running around the chamber. His little feet too fast for the

palace maids. I chuckled and called out to him. To which he squealed and happily ran into my arms. I carried him and

we soon made our way to the central palace. Our footsteps were heavy. One part of me was determined to follow

through with my words and the other wanted to desperately flee. I was not a woman, but here I am, presenting

myself as one. I was not Xiao Lu’s mother, but here I am, presenting myself as her.

All eyes were feasted on me as I paid my respects to the King, the Queen, and the Great Dowager Queen. The

princes were lined up to one side. They were very handsome and gave off a powerful presence. I could see the way

their smiles teased Wu A Ge. To them, he was probably just a little mischievous brother who, out of nowhere,

matured and had a family.

“It is great to finally meet the wonderful Min Hua our Tao er has mentioned all this time. It is always wonderful to

have a new addition to our family. Our Tao er has grown up so much.”

“It is my utmost pleasure to be able to be here today.”

This was the start of a brand new life. I was living in uncertainty but with Wu A Ge and Xiao Lu,

 I’ll live day to day with happiness.

I'm finally finished with it. :D