teaser 01

M O N S T E R
Teaser 01
Sehun clenched at the ends of his robe as he listened to Xinyi's screams coming from within his mother's chamber. He couldn't allow himself to watch his friend go through this type of punishment. This punishment he couldn't prevent.

"This is what you, a lowly maid, deserve for pouring hot tea on me. If I were someone else, you might actually lose a hand. You're lucky I'm one of the nicer ones." Consort Wu took a sip of her tea, barely concealing the self-satisfied smirk on her face as she cast a glance at the fallen girl.

Xinyi was kneeling in place, lips pale, forehead embroidered with beads of sweat, fast-paced breathing, and fingers bleeding from the wood pieces that were previously scratching and crushing her fingers. Her hand trembled as she lifted her hand to inspect the damage and bit down on her lower lips to stop the tears from falling. She refuses to give this woman more satisfaction with her pain.

Xinyi wasn't even a servant under Consort Wu but of course, when her Highness saw Xinyi slap Sehun lightly after a poorly told joke, Consort Wu decided to punish the young girl's unlawful actions. So she headed into the little garden where the youngsters were. Sehun and Xinyi wanted to walk away and continue their activities after they had greeted Consort Wu, but she had stopped them before they had the chance to make their escape. She took a seat at the garden table asking Xinyi to fetch her a cup of tea as she admired the flowers in the garden, even urging Sehun to sit down with her and he could only obediently abide. When Xinyi had returned with a tray, holding a setting of tea, Consort Wu kicked Xinyi in the leg, making the poor girl lose her balance. The cup of tea slipped from her hand and landed on Consort Wu's leg.

"But mother-" Sehun had protested.

Consort Wu had shot her youngest son a threatening look, prompting him to shut his mouth immediately. Consort Wu then ushered to her servants who took hold of Xinyi's arms, dragging her into Consort Wu's bedroom to carry out the punishment where the sound of her agony could be heard by few. The King shouldn't need to hear his wife teaching one of the lowly ones a lesson.

"Now, get out unless you want another dose of the zanxing, of course."

Xinyi used the heel of her hands to push herself off the floor, trying not to put weight on her damaged fingers. Before Xinyi stepped out of the chamber, she thanked Consort Wu for her kindness and bowed as the other servants were supposed to. Sehun opened the door for Xinyi but when he attempted to hold her arm to make sure that she was mostly alright, Xinyi took a step back. 

"I must get back to work, Your Highness." Xinyi curtsied to Sehun, and her tears finally fell when she had her back towards them. Sehun didn't do anything to protect her. The palace wasn't a place she should be to begin with and she might have had too much fun with Sehun to realize that. But the beckoning of reality was now attacking her; it's time she leaves.

 Sehun sighed before heading back to his room. If I was King, none of this would happen.
Viv's Notes — So here's teaser one, featuring Xinyi and Sehun! Just wanted to show the darker side of the palace and to show that no one has full immunity because there's always someone more powerful. For anyone who doesn't know, Zanxing is basically the punishment of crushing your fingers slowly through a bunch of bamboo sticks sewn together. Here's a picture. Btw, idk if you guys saw the side note but I've decided that Sehun can also be used as love interest cause I'm a er for drama tbh lmfao.
Fei's Notes — I am a useless potato except for making the writing sound more old-fashioned, lol.
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December28th #1
Chapter 9: Lol, I'm still alive. I'm glad that you at least updated. I thought you were just going to leave us hanging.
jhopeslips
#2
Chapter 9: Still here XD
Lion_Heart36
#3
Chapter 9: Still here!! I'm busy with personal stuff too so I get it, good luck to you really!
naratothesky
#4
Chapter 9: Hi hi I am still here! :) very excited to see an update from you and glad to see you around! As for the new update, I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the strategizing between Suho and Oda Mirai! Its interesting to see suho portrayed as a more manipulative person! Its refreshing and I enjoyed their interactions with each other. I also like the dyanmic youve set up between the doctors and Lay. Thanks for updating and for ur hard work! :)
BanaWarrior
#5
Chapter 9: I realized that I never wrote a comment to the first chapter. Ops. Sorry.
Mingxia seems really obstinate, Zhizui seems kinda dependant of her brother, while Yuria looks like she hides a great force within her. Nahla for sure looks like the more self-assured of the princess and Xinyi is clearly a wild card. xD Haneul and Syeira look like two different sides of the same condition (since both are entertainers and all). Fuhwa must be a hella good of a servant if she's Consort Wu's personal servant (and ashdajsh my heart melted a little with her interaction with Minseok), while I wish the best luck to Xinyuan, because Madam Wu is hella scary ;w;
Ohoho! So it's not only Consort Wu who can be unforgiving! I just wonder how uncomfortable must be a room where Queen Mieun and Consort Wu are together... Fuhwa seems like a good girl, it's just kinda unfortunate that she seems to have fallen right for the oldest of the princes. ;w; (not only the oldest, but also the Queen's firstborn OTL). -shivers- Yixing must have nerves of steel, because as always, Consort Wu is scaryyyy. And I had to laugh at him having TWO doctors and tripping himself lol Seems like he really needs those doctors. Must be hard on the two women (specially Xuelan, since she's the most unwilling of the two. Jaeeun looks just exasperated xD) And hasilhailsdhadiai HOLY MOTHER I'M ALREADY SHIPPING JUNMYEON AND MIRAI SO HARD! ;w; -run- (p.s: yup, Yuria can be very powerful!)
Indubutably
#6
Chapter 9: i am here!! surprisingly--
but honestly i love this story haha and your writing. the battle for power is crazy and scary--especially when it results in servants tongues getting cut off lmao but i'm enjoying it already.
moongkeul
#7
Chapter 9: s creams i'm still here , i'm always here rip
and i'm actually very very excited for this story ! you seem to have it under control and are intelligent enough to write this genre lmao i really like your writing actually and this plot is great and yeeeeeeee keep it up : )
_kellyyyv_ #8
Chapter 9: Bruh im still here^^~
literally i was just thinking about this story yesterday, and today you updated it!!
Yayyy so I'm really happy :))

Anywho, this story just seems really realistic to me, like i can imagine it as an actual
historical drama with all the servants gossiping around the castle and the queen
overhearing it and what not. And the tension between the consorts and the sons are
definitely something, i can feel the inner battle for power, and i love it all so muchhhhh
avidari
#9
Chapter 9: omg viv!
you're back~~!!!!!!
your timing couldn't be more perfect. just when i really missed exo-centric story, you brought this story back with you TT

anyway, i always hate queens and consorts role in dramas. i mean, they always play the most disturbing and annoying part in the story. and it's no different in this story. if one of the princesses decide to kill one of them, the queen or consort wu, i think i wouldn't mind lol
and mirai and junmyun already have a head start to conquer the throne! gaah~! i love the fact that you don't soften mirai's character. she's calculative and cunning. i love it <3
really looking forward to next chapter >.<
Twiillaa
#10
Chapter 9: I am still here. Oh, I would never want to get on Consort Wu's or the Queen's bad side. Those two are fearful and dangerous women. Oh Xuelan, cracks me up on grumbling about being there and what not. I am gald that you are back to writing this story and I can't wait to read more.