Category: General

Rated: T (may go up)

Warnings: Yaoi and character death, I'll be killing off the minors first, requests accepted... maybe even Sakuno...

Summary[AU Historical fiction of high officials in the Tang dynasty vying for the throne

Pairings: Atoji, Dirty, MaruHara, SanaYuki, FujiTez, Golden, Silver, implied Data, Platinum… others haven't been decided yet. Requests accepted.

Note: this is a work of Historical Fiction, all events are fake and made-up, also most OC characters are completely made up save for a few which I will specify. Also, please don't try to guess the year I'll pull my hair out in frustration if you do. I myself do not know, it can be any time from 650 AD to 860 AD, although it is probably before "the Golden Age"

Also, I'm trying to make this as historically accurate as possible, therefore some things are accurate down to the very last detail, for example, some girls playing football under a tree at the side of the road beside the provincial transmission offices actually did happen.

Disclaimer: PoT is not mine


The soft fragrance of aloeswood wafted through the halls to his nose. Ostensibly seeping from the gentle walls of the hall. A single candle flickered in the dark, illuminating the table with a saffron dance. Sighing Atobe looked up at the waxing moon, the silver light illuminating his surroundings, providing light more beautiful than the sparkling candle. His mouth curled into a faint smile, Atobe turned back to the Weiqi(1) board in front of him and picked up a white piece. His companion, Shishido, studied him with quiet impatience, waiting for him to make up his mind. Atobe glanced at Shishido, is it the second moon(2) already? He thought to himself as he placed the piece on the board. Yawning, he shifted the jade belt and watched Shishido's expression carefully.

As a first rank aristocratic court official, born from the emperor's aunt and an aristocratic clan, Atobe adopted the last name "Li"(8) in hopes of one day being in line for the throne. Already he had achieved one of the highest official rankings in the empire and inherited vast amounts of riches. The Atobe clan considered themselves far above the parvenu Lis and had long before the Tang dynasty monopolized high government positions. His father only took a princess to marry because he eyed the throne which he was never able to attain.

As he sipped tea, he remembered the court gossip he heard as he was going to lunch with Oshitari Yuushi, an aristocrat who was distantly related to the Atobe clan but not to Atobe himself.

"The young emperor is in sick health!" One of the maids had whispered, "He probably won't survive the year."

"But he has no children!" Another whispered, "Who will succeed?"

"Perhaps it is Sanada Genichirou," The first maid said, "After all, he is the son of the emperor's cousin and has one of the highest positions in the military!"

Another maid shook her head, "No, it is definitely going to be Tezuka Kunimitsu, the emperor's cousin, he is so regal and handsome."

"Not him, he is related to the emperor on his mother's side, his claim is not strong enough."

A third maid giggled, "If we're talking about handsomeness, Atobe Keigo certainly comes first."

"Yes, he surely will succeed, being the emperor's aunt's son or the emperor's cousin, from his father's side too!" The first maid quipped, "Can you think of anyone more royal?"

"However, Sanada acts more the emperor don't you think?"

At that point, Atobe had walked away to catch up with the impatient Oshitari, sinuous fingers gently tapping his gold belt, sometimes playing with the gold dagger that hung there. (4) Atobe smiled with poise at his companion, showing his flawlessly white teeth and gently hinted at what he heard. Oshitari just rolled his eyes at his friend, sometimes Atobe was way too aristocratic for his own good, especially in an age where aristocracy was declining to be replaced by scholars. Nonetheless, Oshitari had to admit to Atobe's imperial air, natural political control and brilliant mind, although a bit conservative at times.

Oshitari was of the fourth rank, a reasonably high rank considering there were nine ranks in all, he was a staunch supporter of the Atobe clan, perhaps because he was related to them but only at a distance, the distance being so great that not even he could trace it. However he had a considerable grant of 3000 a year from the emperor and the clan. Atobe enjoyed his intelligent company and his artistic talent thoroughly, he was a scholar and was on a constant quest for knowledge.

Atobe's mind trailed back to the present with the entrance of his assistant Kabaji Munehiro carrying a letter from Akutagawa Jirou, an aspiring happy-go-lucky poet recently brought into the Palace because of Atobe, Oshitari and Shishido's favour. Atobe gently accepted the letter and smiled at the messy seal of Jirou's name. (5) With deft fingers, he opened the letter and began scanning a verse Jirou had written on the scenery of the Palace and of Atobe's figure standing amongst that landscape. The wording was perfect and the style graceful, four lines of seven words described so much that even learned Atobe could not believe Jirou's skill.

"What did that boy write about?" Shishido asked, placing his black piece on the table.

Shishido is probably the most learned of the three officials, having taken the imperial examinations that raised him from the family of a well-to-do silk merchant in YangZhou to a sixth rank official. He escaped the ridicule of being considered one of material gains and low birth to one who is now famous in the palace for his accomplishments in the arts and considered a particular favourite of the emperor and empress.

"The palace," Atobe answered shortly, tucking the letter into his long sleeve, he motioned Kabaji towards him and pressed three silver taels(6) in Kabaji's hand. "For Jirou."

"Usu," The faithful servant walked out of the room, putting the tael in his sleeve.

"You indulge that boy too much," Shishido said as Atobe put down his white yunzi(7) piece.

"He's had a hard life," Atobe replied, shrugging then added, "What about you and Ohtori?"

"The emperor has taken favour to him, I cannot go near him anymore." Shishido replied.

"You must be patient then," Atobe counselled.

Shishido put down his piece making a loud tak on the board, "Well then, what about you? I hear you are waiting for the emperor too."

"The whole country waits for the emperor," Atobe replied evenly and seemed to want to leave it at that, Shishido, being of lesser rank than Atobe, pressed no further.

After about half and hour later, Shishido got up to leave, saying how there was court the next morning and they needed their rest. Atobe tried to keep him, as courtesy demanded, but Shishido was adamant. As Shishido left, Atobe took off his heavy head ornaments and retired.

The next morning, Atobe woke up early to get to court on time as was his schedule. First he rubbed his teeth with a stick gilded with gold, then he chewed some olives dipped in honey to freshen his breath. After that, he washed his face and hands in water containing bath beans that was laid out for him by one of his maids. His hair was then carefully brushed with a thin comb for lice and arranged by his maid, this was followed by the long ceremony of breakfast. He donned his felt hat and rubbed cologne on the base of his neck and collarbone. Then the maids put on his elaborate purple silk court robes, folding the right lapel over the left and carefully arranging it so the lapels and sleeves of the inner robe could be seen. A jade belt was placed carefully around his slender waist and his sleeves were straightened, falling to his knees, his skirt dropped to the floor and covered his feet, exposing only the tips of carefully embroidered slippers. Atobe reached down and tucked his report into his sleeve, at last he was ready to leave for court. (9)

Court was the same tedious court, after making his speech about his particular office, he had to wait and listen to the other officials drone on and on about some matter or the other. Atobe stifled a yawn and gently turned his head to see the other officials of the same station.

There was Tachibana Kippei, a scholar who had climbed as high as Atobe due to the influence and favour of others. He saw Tezuka Kunimitsu discreetly tap the floor with his feet in impatience and fought not to smile, he was one of the possible candidates for the throne and possibly eyed it seeing as he adopted the last name "Li".

Then he saw Sanada Genichirou, the rock, as they all nicknamed him, he held no emotion on his face except mild obedience to the emperor. He didn't even look bored, it was rumoured that he was having secret trysts with a renowned artist named Yukimura but Atobe found it hard to believe.

After the normal court, Atobe went home to change into more comfortable garments, a purple silk tunic and his jade belt. He commenced to do the work he was assigned all afternoon, stopping only to rest his eyes or fingers.


(1)Weiqi is the Chinese/original name for "Go"

(2)Around March, most likely early March.

(3)A Jade belt symbolized his high status as an official, probably above the third rank. In my story, Atobe is the first rank.

(4)Symbolizes Oshitari's rank, the gold belt symbolizes the fourth/fifth rank and the gold dagger symbolizes that he is below the first rank.

(5)I'm sure everyone knows this, in China, seals (like stamps) were used for a person's signature.

(6) Taels are the currency of Ancient China, also the amount in silver that Atobe gives Jirou signifies his wealth as one silver tael is equivalent to 1000 copper taels.

(7)Yunzi is a type of stone common in games of Go

(8)Li: The last name of the Tang emperors (sorry the order is messed up…)

(9)Actually, this was all summarized, I didn't want to make it boring but this shows Atobe's wealth and high status because only third rank and above could wear purple robes and jade belts, also shows how careful dress was back then, everything would've been made from silk


A/N: I kinda went crazy with description, I hope it didn't make it boring, the historical aspects of it can just be ignored. I'm striving for accuracy so if I made mistakes about Tang styles and stuff, please correct me. Also I need a beta…