Chapter 21:

“Gege, my days on the Eighth’s estate were the happiest I’ve ever had. Operas, fighting, quarrelling with Tenth Prince, being teased and teasing Fourteenth Prince, playing with the servants, running around with Thirteenth Prince… I miss those days so much. I was happy.”

“Are you not happy now?” Mi asked solemnly.

“The Emperor treats me very well.” Kyu admitted but he pulled a face as he didn’t have anything else to say.

“You have served so many years now. Do you have any plans for the future? Do you love anyone?”

“A few years ago gege told me not to love anyone.” Kyuhyun pointed out to the other.

“That was because when you entered the palace, I didn’t know whether the Emperor would choose you or not. If you had been in love and he had chosen you or had married you off to someone else…” Mi thought about his own unhappy marriage where he had become a shell. “But now you are grown up and also well-liked by the Emperor. You can have your own opinion. You can’t be a palace maiden for the rest of your life,” Mi grasped Kyuhyun’s hand as he asked heavy questions that the younger had been avoiding. “You’re still wearing this.” The elder smiled as he felt the jade bangle that had never left Kyuhyun’s wrist since the day Hangeng had placed it there. “If you truly like the Thirteenth Prince, then you should ask the Emperor to allow you to marry him.” Kyuhyun remembered that his brother had assumed the trinket was from his friend.

“You misunderstood. Thirteenth Prince and I are just good friends.”

“What about Tenth Prince? He still thinks well of you. But his wife is a bit…” Mi trailed off as he was reminded of the fights that had often occurred between Donghae and Kyuhyun when they were younger.

“Fighting with another person my entire life over a man, that’s not what I want at all!” Kyuhyun stated firmly. He knew he never wanted to be trapped in a marriage were he had the other wives constantly trying to bullying one another. He had witnessed his brother’s marriage as well as several others since he had come to this time. Plus he hoped that he would marry someone that he loved. He would rather die or stay in the palace forever than be trapped in a loveless marriage.

“What about Fourteenth Prince?”

“Gege!” Kyuhyun finally exclaimed from frustration though he had a smile on his face. “If and when I get married it will be because I love them and they only love me.” Kyuhyun knew that his brother was only concerned with his future so he couldn’t bring himself to get mad at the others prying. Mi’s face became pained and Kyuhyun knew that the older was remembering his past.

“You still remember him don’t you?”

“I have tried to forget but I can’t.”

“Do you hate the Eighth Prince?” Kyuhyun asked gently, he had wanted to know the answer for a while.

“I do not hate him,” Mi smiled weakly at the nervousness of his brother’s tone. “But I cannot forgive him. Just as I cannot forgive myself.”

Kyuhyun looked at the guilt in Mi’s eyes and wished he could convince the elder to let go but he knew that Mi could be the only one to scale the wall that he had built around himself. No one else could breach it.

“Gege, how have you been doing the past few years?”

“I have been as I was before.”

Kyuhyun’s heart clenched at the thought of his brothers depression and felt guilty that he had been unable to see or contact him more. Being trapped in the palace just like Mi had been trapped on the Eighth’s estate – neither had any freedom.

A servant of Sooyeon asked them if the paintings had been finished.

“These painting are really beautiful,” Sooyeon gushed. “I have never seen any like them.”

Kyuhyun smiled as he thought of his painting style. It wasn’t technically the way he was supposed to draw. He took elements of what he had learnt in art class when he was at school, so these looked slightly different to how classical Chinese artists painted. He didn’t go way out like he used to – he remembered drawing a manga strip once and Sunny’s shocked and confused face.

“Thank you My Lady,” Kyuhyun politely replied.

Sooyeon looked up at the standing boy as she sat in her chair examining the paintings and her eyes widened as she noticed the bangle. Kyuhyun seemed to sense the woman zoning in on it and shifted it behind his back hoping that she had not recognised it. Had Hangeng shown it to his mother? What would she do if she did recognise it? She wouldn’t tell anyone would she? No she wouldn’t Kyuhyun decided; she would have learnt discretion after so many years in the palace and as one of Kangin’s consorts. She would never gossip or enquire about her sons business. Kyuhyun worried what she would think about him though. He was wearing a bangle of his brother-in-laws, practically branded as Hangengs, yet not married nor promised to him.

“I am tired now, I shall rest,” Sooyeon said. “You may go Kyuhyun.” The woman dismissed the boy and let her son-in-law attended her. Kyuhyun left the room as Mi asked his “mother” if she was alright.

*****

Kyuhyun walked quickly back to his quarters, his mind crowded with thoughts about Hangeng and his eventual fate. Siwon would never forgive Hangeng for his scheming and would eventually kill him. Kyuhyun knew this and he didn’t know how to forget Hangeng, he didn’t want to love someone he knew would die tragically and cruelly. Just as he didn’t want to be attracted to Siwon who he knew would be capable of cruelty in the future, even if it didn’t seem like he could be at the present time. How could he forget Hangeng? How could he ignore Siwon? He was trying but it was impossible.

He yelled out in frustration as he slammed his door open.

“I take it this was a bad time?” Changmin asked, his eyes widened at the sight of the red faced Kyuhyun. He was sat at the table inside of Kyuhyun’s personal quarters, something that would be incredibly impolite if it had been anyone else.

“A very bad time. Yet you can distract me from my thoughts,” Kyuhyun told his friend.

“You want a distraction?” Changmin mused, before grinning. “How about a present? It is your birthday! No bad thoughts on birthdays!”

“What did you get me?” Kyuhyun felt lighter and happier already in the presence of his closest friend. The heaviness of his thoughts were already drifting off and he relaxed into the familiar presence. He sat down opposite the other at the round table.

“Wine of course!” Changmin looked half offended that Kyuhyun would’ve expected anything different.

“Of course,” Kyuhyun agreed as he was past a glass that had been sitting on the table.

“To few thoughts and an easy mind!” Changmin drank heavily and thus began an evening of laughter and easy talk between two friends who felt most at ease when they were together. Kyuhyun didn’t think once that night of the troublesome thoughts or nightmares that bothered him every other night.

*****

Kyuhyun came back from his duties serving the Emperor to discover Sungmin pacing in front of his door the day after his birthday.

“Where have you been?” The prince moaned, his face forming a pout that made Kyuhyun question whether they were indeed the same age. Sungmin however asked the exact same question whenever he came across a pouting Kyuhyun so the point was moot.

“I was with the Emperor,” Kyuhyun told his friend. “As I am every day. Why are you here?”

Sungmin narrowed his eyes at the teasing tone of his friend. “I went to see my mother but Fourth Brother and Thirteenth Brother were there so I left.”

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Kyuhyun asked, shaking his head at the still slightly sulking Sungmin. The prince had yet to forgive his elder brother for not defending him when he was punished by their father for arguing for Hangeng. Kyuhyun knew that Sungmin held on to things and would not easily forget his brothers supposed slight.

“It’s bitter,” Sungmin complained when he was handed a cup.

Kyuhyun rolled his eyes, “This is Dahongpao. You usually drink a green tea which isn’t very strong.” He became serious as he asked, “Are you still angry at Fourth Prince for not helping Eighth Prince?”

“I am not angry, just disappointed,” Sungmin replied with a sigh. “Fifth Brother was the one to plead for me when Imperial Father was upset. Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother have the same mother yet he doesn’t mix with us much. But when I was in trouble he jumped to defend me. It should have been Fourth Brother that was first to speak for me and protect me.”

“I heard he also knelt and begged forgiveness for you.” Kyuhyun told the other.

“Everyone was kneeling and begging by the end. But he should’ve been the first! He is from the same mother as me.” Sungmin stubbornly continued. “I was raised with Eighth Brother and I know I am not close to Fourth Brother.” His voice turned bitter as he talked, “Now he is a Prince of the First Rank when he used to be a Bei’le alongside Eighth Brother. He always seems to avoid harm and reap the benefits.”

“You two brothers are so different,” Kyuhyun was thoughtful when he thought of them. “One is cool headed and calm, the other unpredictable and moody. I suppose it’s understandable since you weren’t raised together.”

Sungmin glared at his personality description though he didn’t deny it.

“I saw Gege yesterday.” Kyuhyun decided to change the subject because he didn’t want the man in front of him to become more agitated. “I sincerely thank you, both you and the Eighth Prince.”

“Did you know that Eighth Brother asked me to request my mother to remove your name from the concubine selection?” Sungmin asked after a moment of quiet. The question surprised the other, though he was interested since he never did understand how he came to be a personal tea maiden of the Emperors.

“Really? I was never told.”

“I can’t take full credit since Fourth Brother asked the same on behalf of Thirteenth Brother.”

Kyuhyun’s eyes widened at the information.

“My mother also asked for you to come and serve her but it Lady Yoona requested for you as well. Hence you were sent to the Emperor to prevent are arguments.”

“But why would Lady Yoona ask for me?” Kyuhyun was bemused.

“It seems that Eighth Brother’s Di’fujin asked her to. Eighth brother was livid when he found out you were send to his father, he refused to see Heechul for 6 months. Only when he knew that Imperial Father had no interest in you in that way did he relax.” Sungmin eyed the other whose face was still confused. “You do know of Eighth Brother’s family history?”

Kyuhyun tilted his head, “No. Would you tell me if I asked?”

Sungmin bit his lip as if weighing the pros and cons in his head. “Since I trust you and I know you wouldn’t gossip, I will. But you cannot tell Eighth Brother that I told you. Most of this is common knowledge though most people have the good grace to not mention it.”

Kyuhyun nodded and wondered what could be bad enough to embarrass Hangeng, who always seemed unperturbed and always had a plan.

“Lady Sooyeon wasn’t selected as a concubine. She wasn’t of a high noble family. In fact she was the first of her family to even be sent to the palace. Her mother was a tradesman’s daughter. Her father was a general who had risen through the ranks. Lady Sooyeon became a tea maiden for Imperial Father.” Sungmin sent a knowing look at Kyuhyun, who now understood Hangeng’s anxiousness. “She was beautiful, and even though Imperial Father had plenty of wives he was drawn to her. He took her, unofficially.” Sungmin scrunched his face, “After a while, she became pregnant. Imperial Father made her a concubine, but everyone knew that it was only because of the child; Eighth Brother. She was unimportant and had no family or connections.” Sungmin sighed and looked away. “Lady Sooyeon is now ignored by everybody. She gets little respect from the other wives. Gege was always looked down upon when we were growing up; some of the other princes would call him names, the servants and officials and courtiers would ignore him or whisper about his common birth. They didn’t think he would achieve anything, especially since he hadn’t got the family outside the palace that every other prince has.”

Sungmin looked back at a stunned Kyuhyun with a fierce expression, “Everything he has worked for; getting made Bei’le when he was 17, marrying the most sought after person in Beijing, gaining the support of the court and the other princes. No one else could have done that and it wasn’t easy. You need to know and remember this.”

The prince scrutinised Kyuhyun, “Do you love him? Eighth Brother?”

Kyuhyun avoided the searching gaze, whispering, “I don’t know.”

“How can you not know?!”  Sungmin stood in anger, “Eighth Brother has been in love with you for years. He has worked behind the scenes to ensure everyone treats you kindly. Do you really think palace life is as easy as you have had it?” His voice quietened but the words were still laced with venom as he continued. “He only has his Di’fujin and your brother as his wives. What other prince has only 2 wives? People gossip, they say that he is too afraid of his wife to marry another. You think that is normal? Do you think Eighth Brother is scared of his wife? How can people follow and respect a man that is afraid to marry another and quakes in front of his wife? He’s allowed his pride to take hit after hit for years. Kyuhyun, what exactly are you thinking?!”

Close to tears at the attack from Sungmin, he let his eyes sweep towards the main entrance to his courtyard. Gasping out “Fourth Prince, Thirteenth Prince,” he stopped Sungmin from trying to pry an answer from him.

“No wonder you don’t know.” Sungmin spit out as he saw his two brothers look concerned as they walked towards him. The Fourteenth Prince didn’t say another word as he span around and marched out of the courtyard swerving around and ignoring the others. Siwon and Changmin looked worried as they saw Kyuhyun rise up as if to follow their younger sibling.

The maid stopped and instead came to greet them, bowing with a furrowed brow, remembering his ingrained palace manners even though he was clearly uncomfortable.

“We just came for a cup of tea. And to see how your hangover is,” Changmin smiled, trying to ease the tension as he plopped down where Sungmin had been sitting not two minutes before.

“It’s fine. How’s yours? I do believe you drunk more than me.”

“When have I ever had a hangover?” Changmin scoffed at the idea. Siwon had placed himself at his side and Kyuhyun poured out some drinks, seating himself opposite his friend.

“Did you bring me a proper present then?” Kyuhyun passed a cup to each of the princes before taking one for himself.

“I gave you one last night!” He took a sip of his tea. “No wonder Fourteenth Brother comes to you for tea. Imperial Father treats you very well to let his tea maiden drink the most prestigious tea with his friends.”

“That was hardly a proper gift and besides, you drank most of it.” Kyuhyun pointed out.

“My company is a gift,” Changmin grumbled.

Kyuhyun paused as he thought of how to say what he wanted to say but decided the direct approach was best – this was Changmin after all. “I have to thank you though, for what you did to get my name off the concubine list.”

“It wasn’t all me though; it was Fourth Brother who asked Consort Sooyoung to remove your name.”  Changmin pointed at the silently watching Siwon. 

“Thank you, Fourth Prince,” Kyuhyun rised in his seat and bowed to the older prince. Siwon said nothing but he held Kyuhyun within his powerful gaze that was so unreadable. Kyuhyun broke the connection when he felt feelings that he didn’t fully understand start to swim to the surface in his chest. He hurriedly turned back to the younger prince. “But Fourth Prince would not have asked if you hadn’t of told him to.”

“You’re right. All credit should be mine!” Changmin spoke lightly. “I was imagining you getting to serious trouble if you got stuck as a concubine; you who would rather die than lose your dignity.”

“What a good friend you are!” Kyuhyun laughed. The topic may have been serious but the two friends often laughed at the most solemn of subjects.

Ryeowook entered the courtyard and his eyes widened to see Kyuhyun casually sitting and laughing with 2 princes. He bowed deeply and scurried away with Changmin looking behind him.

“Stop checking out my maids,” Kyuhyun lightly scolded the other.

“Checking out?”

“Ogling.”

“Where’s the fun in not being able to appreciate a nice figure?” Changmin teased.

“You have plenty to flirt with. My people are out of bounds.” Kyuhyun half seriously warned the other. Kyuhyun knew that Changmin would never break a heart or seriously flirt with anyone. He may have a reputation as a player but Changmin earnt that by all his time consorting with the entertainers in the various brothels around the city, most of whom he was friends with.

“We have finished our drinks. We should go.” Changmin declared as he drained the rest of him cup and rose in his seat. “If you want a proper present I shall place my name alongside Fourth Brother’s on this.” The stoical Fourth Prince lay down a rosewood box with an intricate dragon design on the lid. “Fourth Brother had it picked up by one of his men that were on a business trip in the Northwest. I have never seen quality like this so… enjoy, while I stew in envy that Ge didn’t get any for me.”

The two princes then walked out of the courtyard, Kyuhyun looking back at them, wondering why he was so disappointed that Siwon hadn’t said a word.

*****

Later that night Kyuhyun and Ryeowook ate a special dinner that had been sent by Leeteuk. Ryeowook keep murmuring about how the taste was too much. “Gege, why did Leeteuk send us this food? Why were the princes here today?”

Kyuhyun smiled at the younger, “It’s my birthday.”

“We must be fated,” Ryeowook whispered, after his mouth dropped open briefly, showing Kyuhyun the mushed food before hurriedly swallowed. “We have the same birthdays.” His face twisted and turned sad, “Though Gege is luckier than me.”  

“Wait here, don’t move,” Kyuhyun ordered before darting off into his chamber adjoining the main seating area of the modest set of rooms. He hurried to his personal chest and examined the contents before pulling out something and hurrying back to his Didi.

“A late present,” Kyuhyun held out his hands to the other boy and presented him with some green jade earrings. The boy gasped and pushed it back, “It’s too much for me!”

“You call me Gege and yet you won’t accept a gift from me,” Kyuhyun reproved gently. “This is just a show of my appreciation of everything you do for me.”

Ryeowook picked up the delicately designed jade with trembling fingers. Kyuhyun knew that the other boy didn’t have anything of this value in his possession. The younger boy was sold to the palace as a child and was not of a noble family like Kyuhyun was. The noble maidens had all been sent with plenty of clothes, jewellery and hairpieces into the palace; Ryeowook had entered in rags. Ryeowook never spoke about his family or his life before entering the palace but Kyuhyun hoped that the other didn’t resent them for placing him here, trapped in this gilded but deadly cage.

“I haven’t gotten you anything in return,” the trembling boy spoke weakly, his eyes teary as he looked up at his friend.

“You can embroider me a new handkerchief from one of my designs, you know I am a poor needleworker.”

Ryeowook sniffled as his eyes seemed to show heartbreakingly despair and guilt before those emotions became buried.

“Happy Birthday Wook,” Kyuhyun spoke softly as he pulled the silently crying boy into his arms.

“Thank you Gege,” The boy whispered into the elder’s shoulder.

Later as they cuddled together under the blankets in Kyuhyun’s bed, Ryeowook said, “I miss my Mother, my brothers and my sisters.”

“How old are they?” Kyuhyun asked, curious to hear more about Ryeowook’s life.

“They are all younger; didis and meimeis.”

“Not wonder you are so mature; you are more efficient and careful compared to the others. You were the eldest growing up,” Kyuhyun said after he thought for a while. “You don’t gossip and chatter like the other maids.”

Ryeowook hummed against the others chest as he snuggled in.

“That’s the reason I keep you closer to me than the others. It’s why I keep you by my side and let you share my rooms with me. I trust you.” Ryeowook had stilled at the mention of trust but quickly started to bury his face further into his human pillow.

“You treat me too kindly Gege.”

“I miss my parents and my siblings as well,” Kyuhyun admitted. He thought not just of Mi but of his mother, father and sister that he had left in the 21^st century.

“Everyone struggles to see their families when they enter the palace, though you have it easier because the Eighth Prince is your brother-in-law. All the princes know you and respect you. You have friendships with them.” Kyuhyun felt Ryeowook tense, “They remember your birthday and bring you presents.”

“I will remember your birthday from now on. I shall never forget you.” Kyuhyun promised quietly  as he started to drift to sleep, even though it was a sleepy promise he was determined to keep it.

“Thank you,” the younger boy whispered as he too fell into sleep, feeling protected and cared for in the arms of his friend and older brother.

*****

A/N: This is shorter than I planned but I am actually focusing on some other stuff and this was sitting unfinished - has been for a few days. So I thought I’d give you a slightly shorter chapter now rather than have you wait until next week for a chapter that would only be 500ish words/ couple of paragraphs longer.

Hope everyone is well btw. The UK has been really hot, though it is now thunderstorms. (As a typical Brit the weather is the number 1 topic of conversation at all times lol)

Love you all <3