Her redolent eyes brushed their scrutiny over you as you stood before her, all of a sudden worried to sit down for fear of violating the social etiquette following ranks and hierarchy – she was an Imperial concubine and mother to a Prince, not a simple member of the harem and even then, you were just pretending to me a maid. Nonetheless, she patted the empty space next to her, picking up the new parcel that her son had brought to make more room.

“Don’t think you’re in trouble,” she inanely contended, “I’m always bored here and thought you might make good company.” She continued her vacuous inspection as you obeyed and planted yourself down next to her, instinct kicking in to pour tea for her from the tray now on your lap. You filled the cup and held it up to her without meeting her gaze, knowing it would be rude to do so all the whilst trying to balance the rest of the tea-set on the top of your thighs.

She took it idly and sipped the liquid with a heavy sigh. “But obviously I thought wrong…” she flicked her eyes to you, “Don’t talk much? You know that’s not what ‘good company’ involves.”

At her prying, the words that had been trapped under your tongue floated buoyantly to the surface. “I talk.” You almost scoffed, “I make great company and I can entertain.” It was like you were advertising yourself all over again and her eyes widened benevolently at your response.

“Oh?” she put her cup down. “Tell me then, what do you think would amuse me?” she tested.

Her challenge brought out the competitive side in you and you gained enough confidence to look at her squarely in the face. Her eyes were inquisitive but glazed over as if all the hardships in her life had caused them to be immune to all the frivolities each day had to offer. She was a woman that had everything yet also nothing and you imagined that it’d be the same for the other Imperial Concubines. Thinking back to the handsome princes, they would also be incredible beauties too; they’d have to get their good looks from somewhere.  You stared back at her and in all honesty you spoke boldly, “nothing.”

She tilted her head languidly to the side. “Nothing would interest you now, you’ve seen the world and more.” You murmured, searching for some sort of indication in her face as a fake psychic would in the faces of their ignorant believers.

A smile slipped its way onto her lips and her wrinkles became more profound in the crinkling of her eyes. It was a melancholic, defeated smile and she rested her tired face against a palm, propped on her knee. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that, but I guess it’s correct either way.”  

You mentally sighed in relief as you felt her being won over by your honest answer and relaxed automatically. Your tentative voice spoke up again, “You live a life of flamboyant luxury yet none of it is dear to you. If you told a stranger like me your story and shared the burden, then maybe your heart would feel a little less heavy.”

She looked to you, surprise in her features for a change and she pondered the suggestion for a moment or two. “I’ve been here for nearly 50 years and no one’s ever asked me that,” she caught your eyes again, “it couldn’t hurt to splurge.”

You returned her regard in assurance. “I can take the load.”

She inhaled deeply and began. “I was born to a very loving father and mother, Emperor and Empress of the Distant Fields. I miss them very, very much…”

The entire time, you lost yourself in her past as if you were living it with her. She laughed in disdain at some parts and warmed up in others and you watched her clear, bright eyes light up fondly throughout. Even though her childhood and story were important, you didn’t want focus too much on that, preferring to pay particular attention to her interactions with the Emperor. Up until the point, you knew little about the man Crimson Lotus had been assigned to protect through tradition. There could be nothing more authentic and heartfelt than the account of his first lover and wife.

“He was so striking the first time we met,” she breathed, looking into the distance as if recounting the memory fresh before her. “He bore this regal expression that was just so alluring, I simply couldn’t resist.”

Apparently the Emperor was also handsome in his youth, emanating a majestic charisma wherever he was present. He was noble not only birth but also that nobility translated to his manner, perfecting an arrogance that no other could mirror. You guessed that was where Kris inherited his cockiness and she laughed genuinely for once at the thought. But, she continued, that he also held this tenderness and unconditional devotion when he was no longer in role as Emperor but as husband and lover.

She had been offered to him in a marriage of alliance by her parents and although she despised the thought of an arranged marriage at first, upon meeting him, she was swayed. Her love was not unrequited and the couple were with child no later than a year. But he also had a very ardent appetite and a couple of years later, took on another woman.

“He was never anything like the gossip I hear around the palace though…” she trailed, shifting in her seat. “Well, maybe a stern workaholic and strict ruler… but out of that responsibility, he was very sweet to all of us; always caring and considerate.”

You thought ‘us’ referred to the other concubines and you were suddenly struck with admiration for this woman, that she suffered no jealousy over the other wives he had. He sounded very amorous which explained all the 4 remaining mistresses he had, that bore him no children and thus could not be called concubines. You wondered though, how he could love so whole-heartedly and dearly like that when he had so many paramours. One of them being the lady you had met at the presentation night and also the other women who judged you in the harem trials. It was just a given in the custom for an Emperor to be polygamous but she made it very clear that he treated them all equally, infinitely multiplying his love to satisfy all his concubines. She mentioned that as a result, the sons got along so well.

“He made sure all the brothers were like siblings of blood, refusing to refer to them as half or step siblings. He loved his sons very much.”

“So this news of him relinquishing his throne and going to a monastery would have been shocking?” you asked intently.

She turned her gaze back to you and sighed again. She just seemed so exhausted but nodded, “Yes, it was so out of character for him,” she contemplated. “He would never do something like that. We were all stunned.”

You paused at her comment. It didn’t sound like she was lying and anyway, she had no reason to be dishonest. If the Emperor’s actions were so strange, then there must be something behind it all. You continued to listen to the rest of her story half-heartedly though, but she seemed contented to get it off her mind.

“I’m glad you overheard the conversation.” She smiled finally, softening her expression for once. It no longer looked empty but still contained unmovable sadness. “I do feel a little lighter now that it’s off my chest…”

You got up to take your leave, excusing yourself saying that your presence was long overdue in the server’s lodgings, retrieving the empty cup, rice cakes still untouched as she dismissed you.

“I’m glad too that I got to listen to you, M’lady.” You curtsied.

“Next time though, bring rose tea… I’m not quite fond of jasmine.” She bowed her head a little, uncrossing her legs as she once again stared off into the greenery of the courtyard.

You had to supress a grin as you nodded and left. Pity though you wouldn’t remain here long enough to see her again. There was work to be done.

Kris put down his brush onto the table in surrender to the thoughts corrupting his head. He had been to Luhan’s room and seen the way he laboured over his emotions, trying to tie them down with logic and rational rejection but the fever burning in his chest was not induced by his physical health. It was one thing to see Tao feel despondent for a while since he was always the sulky type, but another to see Luhan so depressed. Unlike the youngest, Luhan’s feelings weren’t so erratic but magnified so that they took up the most part of him. He loved with all his heart and hated with the same capacity; there was never an in between; he would always sacrifice all of himself, either that or none – something Kris could never do. A romance with Luhan was always passionate and maybe that was why he oversaw the arts because they required such intensity.

Nevertheless, his frustration didn’t stem from the way Luhan loved, but the way he took the fall-back. This girl, whatever she was, whoever she thought she was – how dare she just prance into their lives and leave such a trail of destruction behind her like that. She was so mysterious and alluring like those fox-demons that the souls of travellers dry through sinful seduction.  He was thankful that Xiumin wasn’t affected. He was always the stable one, the one others could lean on for support like the wooden beams of the palace that held everyone up in the shadows. Chen was another brother that wasn’t easily side-tracked. He was busy now with the civil service exams commencing in a few weeks that he barely left his room except for meals.

Rubbing his temples and leaning back in his chair, the Prince stretched and looked out the open window, the exact one she had jumped through, into his life. He stood up, walked over to it and pulled in the shutters, closing it tight. This would be it, maybe he’d go and visit Luhan again, the papers could wait. Usually he’d go find Tao but today he was out again with the army. It was odd why the Lords had asked for the militia to accompany them to establish the foreign routes but no one bothered to ask – it would be impolite to question their reasoning. He stepped out of the musty, stagnant air of his room to venture to Luhan’s. He must still be moping. He hadn’t been eating properly but there still endured a strain of determination in him – to get her back or something, Kris thought.

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t interested in the girl. But what kind of interest that meant was debatable. He stepped slow and solemnly; just hoping that things would go alright for a change, wanting to see her and craving her face. But at the same time, he wished she had never existed.

It was nearing dusk and lanterns were being brought out to light the courtyard paths. In a few hours they’d call nightfall and no one would be allowed to still roam – it’d just be suspicious then and the guards would entice a chase.

You had wandered the alien depths of the palace, further to sides that were unfamiliar to where you usually journeyed near the harem quarters. It was very much far from home and you went deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of royalty. After directionless drifting, you finally came across a small monastery hidden in the dense coverage of some trees. Like the gazebo you had fought Tao in that night, the structure seemed purposefully designed to blend in with nature, almost camouflaging its presence as a place ethereal to this realm. It was a wooden pagoda with pointed roof edges and a statue of Buddha, sitting on a lotus securing the bottom of the stairs. Next to the building was a similarly sized temple bell that you guessed would be struck at meditation times, but oddly you had never heard any sort of ringing throughout the palace even if it was used. You stepped through the small stone-paved path to climb the stairs and reach the wooden doors. You looked around and it all seemed empty. Pressing your ear to the wood, you tried to hear for any noise before testing the door but it wouldn’t budge. It was locked from the inside, maybe blocked by a beam like with the official Imperial gates but that would mean someone had to be inside.

However, before you could investigate any further, horse hooves and voices rose to your ears from the bottom of the building at the base of the stairs.  Reflexively, you thought it best to hide – jumping effortlessly into the trees and perching yourself on a branch strategically hidden behind the trunk, eavesdropping without being seen.

“Have you prepared the base?” It was two men, one a Lord and the other a guard of some sort. They got off their steeds and the guard tied the reins to a nearby tree. ‘Who needed to ride into these parts anyway?’ you thought. It wasn’t uncommon that men would ride around the palace on horses but here, the path was so narrow and so isolated that you thought they would’ve just travelled by foot to reach here, like you did. You could tell however, that the guard was of high ranking because of his armour and the said man finally nodded.

“Good. I want the operation in action by tomorrow.” The two walked up the stairs, the guard always one step behind. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, the bearded official knocked sharply on the wooden doors in a sequenced rhythm and after a few seconds where he glanced suspiciously to the side, the door pulled open to reveal another guard.

You tried to swallow your breathing, worried that it was too loud and continued watching the scene.

The old man nodded to the guard and then they all turned their heads to look inside. In a clamouring moment, a man dressed in plain white robes was brought out with two other men clinging tightly onto his arms, gripping under his shoulders.  His feet trailed along the floor as his head lolled flaccidly onto his chest. He was slung unconscious like a puppet, but what else shocked you was the eerie gut feeling that he was someone important – someone royally important.

To your left, a crow cawed and all the men turned to look in your direction. You stifled a gasp as they looked through you, tension cutting the air.

“Quick, just get him out.” The Lord said again, pushing the men on in uncontrolled irritation and all four of them now shuffled down the stairs. The only one remaining was the man at the door who closed it again and locked it with a resounding clump of wood on wood.  

The men slung the pallid man onto the back of one of the two horses and covered him with hessian fabric, trying the loose ends of the cover to stop anything from exposing the hostage.

“Lord Sun-ye, do you think the Italians will comply with the plan?” the guard hushed and you just managed to catch his words.

The elder looked at the guard with derision. “Their army will come and flood the city, why else do you think we asked the removal of our militia? If they want part of this empire like we promised, then they will follow the plan.” He scoffed.

Confusion racked your brain at the proceedings and every cell in your body was screaming inadequacy and a hazy mirage of inferences flooded into your mind.

That’s why Tao’s army was getting so involved and the trade booming. They were making routes for the foreigners to come in and destroy the city whilst the army was out, leaving the place vulnerable and unprotected. And all this would happen where the real Emperor was nowhere to be seen. His hallucinations and strange orders then were all fake to begin with; the Emperor never had anything to do with it at all. He must’ve been set up and particularly with someone as close as the Lord leading the mutiny – of course he would have all the information. The devious man was also the one who originally called for the harem in the first place which must’ve been a distraction to his real doings.

It was beginning to click but it wasn’t until the sly comment of the Lord that finally cemented in your thudding chest their true intentions.

“This nation will be a better place…

…once I am Emperor.”  

~

A/N: BOOM SHAKALAKA!!! I hope that wasn't too cliche or predictable... I didn't want it to be predictable... I had it in my head from the beginning, ever since I introduced the character of Lord Sun-ye. Anyway, the interesting stuff comes up here. Readers! Beware!!! this is going to end soon! I'll update again in a few hours or so. Enjoy!!! Like I always say, you can check out my other stories while you're waiting! After this is done, I plan on working on the others I have so you can always jump from here to there.

This one's about Luhan and Chen, inspired from the Little Mermaid meaning behind the lyrics of 'Baby Don't Cry'. It's also set in a different environement so check that out if you have time:

http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/290559/underwater-tears-romance-mermaid-luhan-chen-babydontcry

This one's about the maknae line in EXO-K - Kai and Sehun. Inspired by Jolin Tsai's new MV, the Great Artist.

http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/277777/love-will-be-your-muse-romance-you-exo-kai-sehun

Finally, this one's not an EXO fic... sorry about that. I find though, there's a real influx of EXO fics and it's getting too much to handle sometimes. Anyway, the fic is also about rookies - it's BAP!!! It's a noonafic with Zelo~

http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/288824/like-an-animal-romance-yongguk-zelo-bap-noonafic

And, like always, you can check out my oneshot collection of all the EXO members... (except for Tao, I'm still working on that) to get your daily dose of fluff... 

http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/260075/they-whisper-to-me-sweet-melodies-fluff-oneshot-romance-you-exo-love

Sorry if this seemed like shameless advertising to you... which I admit, it pretty much was. But I just hope you readers enjoy yourself as much as I enjoy writing them! Have a great day/afternoon/night!!!! <3 :D