The Emperor's Concubine

7: Friends in High Palaces

He splutters with disbelief, causing her to smother another laugh.

"You- how can you not? Good grief woman!" she bows her head slightly, long dark eyelashes fluttering against the expanse of blushing skin. He quickly regains his composure. He clears his throat, looking at her, a queer expression in place.

"Maybe I should remind you...." she pales as he advances on her, his broad shoulders like an impenetrable force as her back collides with a wooden beam supporting the overhead terrace. It's her turn to stuttuer now. But despite his intimidating stature, she remains stubborn. He chuckles, breath hovering in front of her face. She hates to admit it, but he smells good- like the smell of the country side after a long and fitfull rain. His lips brush the dip of her neck, and she shudders in exhiliration, hands clenched into balls. She refuses to give him the satisfaction of a sigh or whimper. He pulls away just as suddenly and only then , does she almost whine at the loss of contact. Her face is flushed, a scarlett red running from her cheeks, and down the long column of skin.

"You are quite the stubborn one" he whispers lowly. "But you will apologise eventually"

She highly doubts that. She couldn't care less if he were a god, if she were not at fault, then she sees no reason to apologise. She's about to retort with a witty comeback, when his lips press quickly onto hers. Her eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat. He pulls away, grinning at her.

"You taste as sweet as you look" he steps back, surveying the the damage caused. Her dishevelled state no doubt would stir a controversy. Her heart is racing, a constant thudding in her chest- so hard, it feels as if the organ would burst out of her. She opens her mouth, only to close it, gaping at him, as he leaves her like that, bidding her a goodnight over his shoulder. Word spread fast in The Palace, his Empress would chuck a fit from jealousy if she knew he were still in the concubine's quarters. He couldn't care less- it wasn't every day that he came by such an amusing female.

She watches him leave, the taste of his lips still lingering on her own. She hadn't wanted to catch his eye, The Palace was a dangerous place for people with a low rank such as herself. If The Empress were to find out about this public indecency, she would surely suffer from her wrath. According to her maid, Jingah, The Empress was originally from The Southern Lands, a small kingdom that was quite poor. The King of The Southern Lands, seemingly unable to provide for his people, had offered The Emperor his daughter, in exchange for an alliance which would benefit the good of his people. The Emperor had agreed, though throughout the land people gossiped that The Emperor never loved the poor woman, she still had a jealousy that burned brighter than any sun for The Emperor. Resigned, she turns back, ready to return to her room.

She sleeps fitfully that night, dreams plagued by a certain handsome man's face, and the touch of his lips.

The morning after, she manages to steal away from the mind numbing boredom of embroidery classes, and chooses to hide from her panicked maid- still searching for her. She had managed to wander all the way out of the concubine's quarters, and into The Main Palace Gardens. She walks freely, flashing her Royal Seal towards the guards. She needs to find something to do before Fang Liu bores her to death with womanly tasks such a rearranging chopsticks. Yao Mei seems to find the lessons enlightening in some sense and partakes all activities with much enthusiasm. Unlike her friend though, Li Hua has always needed to be out and about, preferring to dirty her dresses from trudging in mud, or staining her hands from picking wild berries. A pang of homesickness strikes her suddenly, the image of her family still in the country side, going about their own lives a painful reminder of what she doesn't have here- freedom.

She almost misses it, the beautiful sound of a Guzheng (Chinese Harp), playing in the wind. She listens intently, ear straying to recognise the melody- she does. It's a lullaby her mother used to sing to her, and her sisters as a child, an old folk song passed down from generations before hand. Her feet follow the music, as she hums along to the tune. There is a woman, sitting beneath a a huge cherry blossom tree, Guzheng, being played softly beneath her finger tips. Her eyes are closed in concentration, bright red lips, pressed in a straight line. From the elaborate colours of gold on her dress, and the abundance of maids and guards trailing behind her, Li Hua assumes the woman must be The Empress. However, even from here, she can see that the woman holds no real beauty- no unique allure that would be enough to capture a heart. Li Hua squeals as someone comes up behind her, grabbing her arm. It's Jingah. The maid looks at her frantincally, signalling her to keep quiet, but it's too late. The music stops suddenly. The Empress has heard them.

The guards surround them, silently calculating whether or not to arrest her and face the wrath of touching The Emperor's concubine, or to not arrest her, and face the wrath of The Empress herself. Li Hua hopes she hasn't offended the woman too badly. The Empress stalks towards them, a calm and placent expression on her face, the Guzheng (Chinese Harp) now forgotten.

"What are you doing here?" she asks. Li Hua looks up from her curtsy, studying The Empress' face. She had expected anger, jealousy or fury, but the woman gave no such emotions away, merely a mask of indifference.

"Embroidery is boring"

The Empress' mouth twitches into a smile which soon turns into a laugh. The woman laughs until there are tears that gather in her eyes and she runs short of breath. She leans in close to Li Hua, a genuine smile in place.

"I can relate with that" Li Hua grins up at her as The Empress dismisses the guards. "Come" she says, gesturing over to the stone table and bench she was playing at. Li Hua follows obediently, an weary Jingah trailing behind her. She stares longingly at the Guzheng, lying on the table.

"You play beautifully" she blurts out suddenly. The Empress looks at her surprised and Li Hua mentally curses herself for such innaproprite behaviour. The woman smiles, a warm and welcome smile that makes Li Hua instantly feel at ease.

"Do you play?" she asks. Li Hua shakes her head before remembering her manners,

"I- uh- no, Your Highness"

"I can teach you, if you wish" Li hua's eyes widen, her brain whirring to understand. Was this some sort of trap? The woman laughs,

"Don't look so astonished" she says laughing, before her voice quietens downs, a saddness flitting over her eyes. "It gets awfully lonely in The Palace sometimes" she says softly. Li Hua feels immediately guilty for doubting the woman. Now that she looks properly, The Empress can't be that much older than herself, the responsibilities of being a royal just making her seem that much older. The woman isn't evil- nothing like the gossip mongers had said, she is merely lonely. And who was to blame her?

"Yes please"

The Empress grabs her hands excitedly, "Thankyou......"

"Li Hua" she finishes softly.

A/N: Thankyou to everyone who has been reading. Also, a massive thankyou to the people who commented/voted, i love you guys <3 *throwing hearts at you
This chapter is mainly centred around The Empress because she becomes quite important in the story. Votes and comments make me happy *wink wink nudge nudge