The usual copyrights applies. I only own the new characters I created.

The Matchmaker of Saiunkoku Monogatari

In the days of Emperor Senka's rule, this one man had an empress and seven official consorts. The empress turned out to be barren so her sole purpose was as a symbol of the country stability. With every consort, Emperor Senka had a child with them. He is well known for not having to visit any of his consort once he had a child with them, well except for one.

She was his last wife for he vowed to never marry another after her. The ministers and elders pressured him to take in more wives but Shi Senka wanted to honor his vow to her that he threatened to abdicate the throne. She was his one and only true love in his entire lifetime. She has her own beauty but is not anything special on her own. Unlike his other wives who were either famous daughters of nobles or charming and beautiful courtesan, she was an outcast among the Kou clan. Her lineage wasn't something to be proud of. Her mother was one of the Kou's clan daughters but she was chased out of the family for running away to get married with a poor artist which translates to a nobody.

If that's the case, how then did the high and powerful Emperor Senka got acquainted with her. Fate was the answer.

It happened many years ago.

Shi Senka was doing his quarterly inspection of his kingdom with a group of his trusted officials undercover. Walking through a town in Sa province, he was accidentally separated from his friends when a large worship parade pass through town. Lost and alone, he wandered around in circles until night came and a thunderstorm was approaching. He needed to look for shelter. But the storm came much too soon and everyone had already bolted their doors. He had no choice but to take shelter from the violet storm under a tree, which wasn't the wisest thing to do seeing that lightning was flashing now and then.

As he was shivering under the tree, he saw a young girl with an umbrella running back to her home and she too saw him. As the young girl was unlocking her house door, she had a flashback to her own past of needing help. She turned around and headed back to the man she saw under the tree and offered shelter to him. He gratefully accepted her kindness and offered her all the money he had with him. She politely declined saying I am just being a good samaritan.

She welcomed him into her home and offered dry clothing, warm food and a cozy makeshift bed for him. The next morning she was awake earlier than him and prepared breakfast so that he could fill his stomach before leaving. He had his fill and offered his sincerest gratitude and also asked for her name so that he can send a note of thanks. She wondered how he could find her with just her name but thinking that no harm can come from this, she told him her name is Li Sayuri.

Years passed after that fateful encounter. Sayuri was kicked out from her home and with no money and shelter, she had no choice but to enter the palace as a servant. Luckily for her, the palace was desperately in need of maids as there were lots of banquets, weddings and celebration happening. For two long years, she work hard serving the officials and occupants of the emperor's harem. Sayuri kept to herself and remained insignificant to survive the harsh realities of the palace. On the night of a banquet to honor the only three examinees who passed the imperial examination with flying colors, she was cleaning one of the hallways of the palace when she was suddenly recruited to serve the banquet in the main hall. Her job was to refill the food servings.

The head maid told everyone to keep their heads down and not to speak and just do their job. As she headed towards the main hall, a storm was brewing and she rubbed her palms for some heat. When she got her tray of food, it was warm broth and she eyed it hungrily for a moment before snapping back to reality. She head towards the main hall and placed her tray on an official's table. The official who was well known for being unreasonable and obnoxious took a spoonful and immediately spat it out. He called out to Sayuri, asking her why the broth tasted funny. When Sayuri didn't answer for she remembered the head maid advice, the official accused her of contaminating the broth in some way. A ruckus was immediately forming and the official got up and started beating Sayuri. She was defenseless and prayed the beatings to stop when it suddenly did after a voice spoke. When she looked up to where the voice was coming from, she saw someone dressed in a lavish and exquisite purple garment saying that this maid should be punished by him since she was his maid. And as he looked down at her, their eyes locked. The thunderstorm and the smell of the broth brought them back to the night two years ago.

Sayuri remembered the man she saved and recognized him as the emperor. She quickly bowed down low apologizing for any fault and state that she would report this matter to the head maid and await punishment. After saying that she reversed her steps and left the main hall hurriedly. The emperor was left speechless but he carefully hid his expression and emotion. His advisers then signaled for the banquet to continue.

The next day Sayuri did her chores wondering what her punishment would be when she was approached by one of the emperor's adviser. She knew then that he had remembered her and quickly planned her actions and words. A moment later she was in a dark room and a voice she remembered clearly spoke. "Sayuri, I am sorry for what happened yesterday. If there is anything I can do to make it up to you, please let me know." Sayuri replied, "Your Majesty, the fault was mine and I deserve to be punished." A sigh was heard. "I guess you are one of those very humble and 'trying to remain insignificant' girls. Nevertheless, since you insist on being punished, here you go. Tomorrow you will start working as a servant in my living quarters. You will dress up as a boy so that your identity can remain a secret. Now that I know you are my savior during that incident two years ago, it wouldn't be right and honorable to let you suffer. To ease your task, you will only take orders from me. Is that understood?" Sayuri wanted to protest but she knew nothing can change the emperor's mind once he has made it up.

From then on her life was easier than before. She didn't need to do menial labors any more and her daily chores were all centered on the emperor, his living quarters and its surrounding. Her task ranges from fetching and sending documents, organizing them, light cleaning and maintenance, passing messages to the emperor and also taking care of the emperor's meals. She was like his personal assistant. In the beginning she treated the emperor like a master and never communicated with him. But as time pass by, she saw through his majestic exterior only to discover he is actually a very lonely man. Even though he has six wives he doesn't spend the night with them after they bore his children because he loved none of them and only got them pregnant to fulfill his duty as the emperor which is to provide the next heir.

Time flies and Sayuri found herself warming up to him as a friend and Shi Senka also enjoyed her company as she was sincere in her words and actions. He would discuss issues with her and seek her counsel. They would sometimes laugh together or share sad moments and also discuss their dreams and hopes for the future. They were becoming best friends. Sayuri would sometimes also bump into two of his sons who have been abandoned by their mothers who care nothing except about their beauty and favoritism with the emperor. And since Sayuri was disguised as a man, she had no problem approaching his two sons, Seien and Ryuuki. Ryuuki warmed up to Sayuri instantly because he was desperate for love while Seien was suspicious at first, trying to expose Sayuri's identity as a spy sent by the other emperor children and consorts. But her sincere heart melted away all his apprehension. They began to spend lots of time together, playing and sharing knowledge.

A year passed by. On one beautiful night of spring, Shi Senka's mind was troubled. He never encountered such a difficult problem before. As he was drafting out his plan, a knock sounded on the door. It was Sayuri. Senka quickly hid his plan and allowed her to enter. As Sayuri lay his meal on the table, Senka decided to scrap his plan and that now is the best time to discuss it with Sayuri. He approached Sayuri and when they faced each other, he did something he had never done before, not even to his mother. He knelt down in front of Sayuri, a common girl. Sayuri was shocked beyond believe and quickly beckoned the emperor to rise for she did not deserve this honor. Feeling intimidated she too got down on her knees.

"Sayuri, I am not sure what is wrong with me. I have been feeling rather weird these last few months. Whenever you are by my side, my heart races and I don't want you to leave but time seem to flies and then you are gone. When you talk to me, my mind absorbs your every word. When we are apart my heart misses you and I ached for your company but time seems to crawl so very slowly. When I can't hear your voice I feel lost and mindless. Even now, I feel like my heart is about to burst out of my chest. I can't live without you and I so desperately want you by my side and not under me. I know what these symptoms are. I am truly madly deeply in love with you. Will you marry me?" said Shi Senka.

Sayuri was speechless and she didn't know how to react. She processed all his words and came to the conclusion he was describing symptoms that she had as well. She knew she had fallen for him before he confessed his love for her but she always pushed those feelings back into her heart as she realize she has no right to invest her feelings in the emperor. She snapped back to reality. "Your Majesty, please don't kneel anymore. It's not right for an emperor. I beg of you, Senka, please get up." said Sayuri. But Shi Senka knew he mustn't fall to her cries and so he said, "I will rise once you say yes". Sayuri was stunned to hear that. She was amazed with the determination this man have in getting what he wanted. Senka then took her right hand in his palms and kissed it lightly on the knuckles. Deep buried feelings rush back into her heart, mind and soul and without delay she said yes and kept repeating it. Shi Senka was overjoyed to hear this and rise, carrying Sayuri and twirling her around and around until they were both dizzy.

Then Sayuri spoke, "But how am I, a common girl, is to enter the harem." Senka then said, "Don't you worry about this. I'll handle everything. Oh and this is for you." He took out a ring and a necklace. On the ring lay a purple stone carved into a heart shape while the necklace was laced with purple jewels. He hung the ring on the necklace and wore it around her neck. "The ring symbolizes the hold you have on my heart as well as my whole and complete love for you and the necklace keeps my love for you close to your heart. I also have a locket on a necklace close to my heart and only this ring can open this locket. Inside it is a miniature picture of you and me," said Senka. Sayuri was touched by those words and shed warm tears that Senka wiped dry.

After that night, Shi Senka planned properly on how Sayuri is to enter the harem. He scheduled another undercover inspection of his kingdom and this time he brought along Sayuri disguised as a boy. He arranged for himself to be in an accident where the servant died and he was saved by a young lady. Spending the night at the young lady's house on a cold stormy night, he went overboard and had sexual intercourse with her. The next day he offered to bring the young lady into his harem. He reasoned with his elders that without her, the emperor would have died and therefore she should not be ignored. Besides he has already claimed her as his own and if she is with child, the child she bore is of direct line from the emperor and should live in the palace.

The elders were satisfied with the reasoning and Sayuri was brought into the harem. There is a law in the harem that states that every new concubine admitted into the harem must be properly prepared for her first night with the emperor. So Sayuri had her hair washed and conditioned until it was silky soft and her skin scrubbed, cleansed and perfumed to perfection and then wrapped in a blanket to be delivered to the emperor's chambers. Exactly one month after Senka proposed to Sayuri, she is now lying in his bed, nervous and naked under the silk covers. When it was time, Shi Senka entered his chambers and went straight to his bed to find his beloved Sayuri looking like an angel sent from the heavens.

"Can you please stop staring at me? I know of the story you told to the elders to reason my admittance into the harem and though you claimed to 'own' me, I still have not done this and I am terribly nervous, my hands are shaking... Don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't want to do it with you. It's just that I don't know how" said Sayuri, with the last sentence almost a whisper. Senka chuckled and smiled warmingly and softly said, "It's ok. There's a first time for everything and it will all come naturally. It's instinct. Now let me de-robe and I'll come and calm those trembling hands." Senka lay down beside her and as he was about to unfold the silk covers he noticed Sayuri was wearing the necklace he gave her. He kissed the ring, and moved up to her chest then her collar bone and side of her neck and finally on her lips. The rest flowed naturally. That night of the full moon, Shi Senka and Li Sayuri made passionate love with all their heart and soul.

In no time at all, Sayuri who is now known as Consort Li, was pronounced pregnant. Overjoyed at this news, the emperor awarded her the title of Noble Consort Li. As it had always been for any pregnant concubine, Noble Consort Li was properly taken care of and protected not because of her title which was still very low in the ranks of consorts but because of the child she was carrying. And even though it is widely known that the emperor doesn't visit his concubine after she gets pregnant, it was different for Noble Consort Li for the emperor loves her. So while her stomach bulge can still be concealed she would disguise herself as a man and spend the nights at the emperor's chambers, on request from the emperor. She stopped this practice when she was five months pregnant.

After another five months, Noble Consort Li went into labor on a fine spring morning. By evening she delivered a healthy baby girl. The emperor was informed of this and that the mother and child are resting and doing fine. When the elders and officials heard this news, their expression changed from excitement to frowns. However, the other consorts were quietly rejoicing for they know that Noble Consort Li's existence will now be insignificant. Shi Senka understood very well the behavior of his elders, officials and consorts but it didn't matter to him because he would secretly treasure his daughter for it was the result of his union with his beloved one.

When Noble Consort Li and the little princess was ready to meet the emperor, Shi Senka presented an uninterested facial expression to fool the maids and elders. Noble Consort Li understood very well his reasons for a stolid expression. Then he asked to be left alone with mother and child. After everyone left, he rushed to Sayuri's side and kissed her forehead, to her cheek and then fully on her lips thanking her for all her hardship and suffering in bringing this child into the world. Sayuri was touched by his actions that she blushed crimson. Seeing her blush at his loving actions even after what they had done, Senka chuckled. Then he cradled his baby princess, which startled her making her cry. Senka started swaying side to side to calm her down and she immediately stop crying. He even swore he saw her smiling.

Sayuri asked, "What shall we name her?" Senka gave a thought and look at Sayuri and then at his baby daughter. He smiled and said, "She shall be named Shi Hanako and will be known as Hanako-hime. Since her mother is the emperor's flower, and she is our child, Hanako is the only name suitable for her, which means flower child.

Dear readers

If I have mistakes on grammar, spelling or the tenses, please forgive me because I am writing based on how the words sounds and not by following exactly the laws of the English language. So far I have only planned out my story until the point of Hanako-hime starting her role as matchmaker. I am sorry for this even though I called my story "The Matchmaker of Saiunkoku Monogatari". I will of course be match making Ryuuki with Shuurei and Seiran with Jyuusan-hime. If you would like to share your ideas on who else I should match make, please do not hesitate to drop me a review. Of course I would appreciate if you gave some pointers on how I should matchmake your couple but if you don't then it's also ok cause I will come up with something from my own imagination. Thanks for all your support. I greatly appreciate it. The more ideas you give, the more interesting the story gets. Otherwise it will be a short and sweet one.