Daughter: a sort of cross-over with YanXi Palace

"Xiaojie, you must hold on…" JinSuo supported her young mistress as well as she could.

ZiWei nodded slightly, not trusting herself to utter a sound in reply.

JinSuo frowned as she felt the tremors in ZiWei's hand, "Xiaojie…" Looking about them, she felt her despair deepen. The trees offered shade from the blazing sun but also hid any sign of civilization.

In JinSuo's momentary lapse of attention, ZiWei stumbled on the path.

"Xiaojie!" Berating herself, JinSuo caught ZiWei and gently led her to one of the trees by the side of the path. "Hold on, xiaojie." Rushing quickly to the stream next to the path, she gathered some water and dripped some into ZiWei's mouth.

ZiWei looked up at JinSuo, eyes bright with fever, and made to speak.

"No, Xiaojie, save your strength…" JinSuo frowned. They had to find some help soon…

A tear fell down ZiWei's cheek and JinSuo was quick to brush it away.

"You will be well, XiaoJie, we're almost to BeiJing…"

ZiWei only shook her head as her tears increased in frequency.

JinSuo felt ZiWei's forehead…it was even hotter than it had been. Despite her best effort, she felt panic rise. She needed to look for help, but she couldn't just leave her xiaojie…She had known that their journey to BeiJing was a gamble. Her xiaojie's will was strong but her constitution…now, JinSuo's worst fear had come to life. She bit her lip and sent a silent prayer heavenward. Taitai…if you're watching over xiaojie, please…please…

She didn't know how long they rested there, on the side of the road. She was glad that her xiaojie had fallen asleep. Surely she could use the rest. After making sure ZiWei was comfortable, she knelt and kowtow'd. "Whichever deity is listening. Please…please help. JinSuo vows to dedicate her life to your worship if you will just help xiaojie. She has never done any wrong. Please…please…" Wiping away her own tears, tears she had refused to let ZiWei see, she added, "she is the Emperor's daughter…surely, surely that must mean something."

Returning to ZiWei's side, JinSuo wiped at her sweaty forehead.

The sound of wheels were so faint at first that JinSuo thought she had hallucinated it. But the rumble only grew stronger. She didn't believe her eyes at first but as the unmistakable shape of a horse increased in size, hope flared again.

"Please!" she cried, causing the nun driving the cart to stop on the path.

Bowing politely, the nun asked, "Young mistress, are you lost?"

"We're headed to BeiJing."

"BeiJing? Young mistress, you must have made a wrong turn at the last crossroad. This is the path to Gan Lu Si."

"Gan Lu Si…" JinSuo didn't what Gan Lu Si was, but surely, surely there was someone who could help. "Please…please help us. My xiaojie…"

The nun looked over JinSuo's shoulder at ZiWei's figure and hurried over, "E Mi Tuo Fo…time is of the essence!"

Lifting ZiWei with a strength that belied her petite figure, the nun placed ZiWei on her empty cart.

"Thank you, thank you." JinSuo said breathlessly as she cradled ZiWei's head.

The nun merely nodded and urged the horses forward.

The nuns, few in number as they were, worked with a quiet efficiency that brought great relief to JinSuo. When she was brought before the abbess, she could only sink to her knees in thanks.

"My dear child!" The abbess lifted JinSuo to her feet, "please…you look tired and worn. Please, do not stand on ceremony."

"Thank you…thank you for saving my xiaojie."

"Your loyalty to your xiaojie is surely enough to move the heavens. We are sorely lacking in a true physician, but QingHui comes from a medicinal family and is not without talent. I trust she will take good care of your xiaojie."

JInSuo nodded gratefully.

"Now then, you must rest as well. Our quarters are simple but comfortable."

"Don't you wish to know who we are?" JinSuo asked curiously.

"All in good time," the abbess smiled gently.

When JinSuo next woke, her first thought was of her xiaojie. Rushing towards her xiaojie's room, she slowed when she saw another nun changing the towel to ZiWei's forehead.

"Young mistress, the young lady is still feverish, but I have hope that it will break soon."

"Please, call me JinSuo."

The nun inclined her head, "And I am QingHui."

"My xiaojie, she really will be well?"

"I will be more certain once her fever breaks, but I am hopeful."

JinSuo felt some of the tension leave her body, "Thank you."

The nun nodded, "You've slept most of the day and likely traveled far. You must be hungry. I'm afraid we have but vegetables and fish to offer you but…"

"Please," JinSuo interrupted quickly, "we are already in your debt for troubling you so."

The nun nodded again, "then if you will follow me…"

JinSuo looked at ZiWei, hesitating to leave her xiaojie's side…

"Ah." The nun smiled to herself, touched at the girl's show of dedication, "I will bring you a portion of our fare then."

"You have no need to trouble yourself."

"No trouble at all." Gathering her box of medicines, QingHui departed.

ZiWei's fever broke the next day but it took another three days before she regained consciousness.

"JinSuo?"

"Here I am!" JinSuo quickly went to ZIWei's bedside, "xiaojie! Oh thank goodness!"

"Where are we?"

"Gan Lu Si, the nuns saved us."

"We must repay them…"

"I tried to already," JinSuo said, "but they refused to accept any of my offers. One nun actually laughed at me! I think they must have a big benefactor!"

ZiWei looked thoughtful, "still…"

"Don't you worry about it, xiaojie, I've been helping them out with chores where I can…you just focus on regaining your strength."

ZiWei squeezed JinSuo's hand, "I don't know what I'd do without you…"

JinSuo just smiled.

The abbess also came personally to visit ZiWei and, finding the young lady to be well-cultured and well-learned, was a frequent visitor. ZiWei, in turn, found herself pondering on the background of her benefactress. Just as the abbess never asked ZiWei for too many details of her story, however, so ZiWei never pried. That is, until the abbess came to find ZiWei packing her belongings.

"My child, you are getting ready to leave us?"

ZiWei nodded, "I meant to come pay my respects. ZiWei will forever be grateful…but I must complete my journey…my mother, her last wish…"

"Your mother is fortunate to have so filial a child...I hope you find your father."

"If I am able, I will come visit."

The abbess's smile was tinged with sadness, "If I had a daughter…"

"Abbess…"

"There are no meetings without partings. I wish you well, ZiWei."

Her glance fell upon the painting and fan that lay open on the table.

Her voice sounded odd when she asked, "These are…"

"The items my father left my mother."

The abbess raised a hand and traced the words of the poem. "Your father…?"

"Yes. They were my mother's most treasured items, though they were locked up until she showed them to me on her deathbed…"

"Your father…" the abbess suddenly sat down on the chair.

"Abbess?" ZiWei frowned in concern.

"You're certain…your father left these?"

"Yes…"

The abbess looked away from the items them and carefully searched ZiWei's face.

"Abbess?"

"Your father…your father is the emperor himself?"

ZiWei wasn't certain how to answer.

"You have no need to answer. ZiWei, you're an honest child, I can see the truth in your eyes. To think…"

"Abbess…how…"

"How?!" the abbess traced the words on the fan gingerly, "I would recognize his handwriting anywhere."

"You recognize…"

"Remember when I spoke of my son? How, because of certain reasons, I was forced to leave him behind? Under the care of Ling Fei, he could flourish. Had he remained with his mother, an unfavored, weak, and useless concubine...how limited he would have been."

ZiWei found that she could only gape at the abbess.

Snatching her hand back, the abbess looked again at ZiWei, "You are an intelligent child, ZiWei…you cannot fail to understand my meaning."

"You…"

"Once upon a time, I used to be YuFei."

"You…"

"I do not know how you intend to accomplish your mother's last wish…ZiWei...the palace…even should you succeed, it is a dangerous place. I cannot bear to see you become embroiled in the intrigue…ZiWei, you can stay with me here."

"You…"

ZiWei fell silent. The abbess's offer, it was tempting and somehow fitting. She was missing her mother and the abbess was missing her child…days at the abbey was peaceful; bland, yes, but comfortable.

"ZiWei?"

"I…"

"I will be sure to care for you…as though you were my own daughter… Let me…"

"Abbess…I…I appreciate your sincerity…"

"But you won't accept." The abbess interjected sadly.

"I am grateful, I am! Only…"

The abbess shook her head, "You have no need to explain."

"Your father…" the abbess broke the silence again, "your father…he is…ZiWei, you must understand, he is not just your father. Those he favors are in danger; those he doesn't even more so..."

"Still, I must try. For my mother."

"Your mother…she is another woman to be pitied…To be the emperor's woman is a lonely existence."

YuFei almost felt bad for her bluntness, but she could see that ZiWei had placed the emperor on a pedestal. And he probably was all that ZiWei thought he was. Only, she of all people knew that the emperor was flawed as well. Despite his genuine affection for Empress FuCha, still, he was married first to the country. Any concubine could hold his attention for a moment, but will always come second to what he must do to govern. LingFei understood that. She kept enough of herself for herself that she could not only survive but thrive. Looking into ZiWei's bright eyes, YuFei felt her heart clench. Oh such innocence ZiWei possessed. But she must learn.

"ZiWei, think carefully." She could easily see the struggles within ZiWei's thoughts. She suspected that ZiWei would not alter her path. Still, she had to try. "Promise me."

ZiWei reluctantly nodded.

The abbess turned back from the doorway, at ZiWei's pensive expression, and sighed to herself. She had looked for traces of the emperor in his daughter and though she found only a shadow of physical resemblance, saw clearly her resolute nature. Shaking her head, she put brush to paper and sent off a letter she didn't think she would ever write.

LingFei had offered to try to help bring her back to the palace, especially now that she was Ling Gui Fei. YuFei had found herself reluctant. She was tempted, oh sorely tempted… to see her son…her darling boy…who had shown such promise but who shall now never sit upon the throne. How proud she had been to hear of his growth through the years. How devastated she was to hear of his injury. She did not regret leaving him in LingFei's care, nor did she blame LingFei for the subsequent misfortunes that befell her son. She knew that the brighter he shined, the greater the danger. Besides, was it not LingFei who almost sacrificed her own life for Yongqi's? He was the only thing that tugged at her to return; how tempting it was to go and comfort her poor child. She knew that the title of Qin-Wang, though he was the first of his brothers to gain it, was of little comfort.

Who else would notice her return? The emperor certainly wouldn't. YuFei had never been bitter. Frightened, shaken, scared out of her wits, yes. But never bitter. What was the point? She knew the emperor didn't care for her. She didn't want to make the mistake of caring for him.

Sealing the letter, she stared at it on her desk for a long while. She was tired. So very tired. Just thinking of returning to the palace sent shudders down her spine. She couldn't return. Even with Ling Gui Fei at the helm. And though YuFei felt indebted to her, she couldn't go back. Not again. But ZiWei…ZiWei had such hope. It made her want to hope too. Perhaps, perhaps things could be different. Not for herself, but perhaps for a younger generation.

She wasn't surprised that Ling Gui Fei asked for the fan and the painting. The plan outlined, however, made her hesitate. Watching the letter turn to ash, she wondered if ZiWei's fealty would win over her inherently honest nature.

"ZiWei, my child, have you thought about what we discussed?"

ZiWei nodded, "ZiWei is very grateful, only…"

YuFei sighed. As she had suspected. "Very well then. Will you allow me to help?"

"Help?" ZiWei's entire being seem to become alert.

"Yes. I can ensure your entry into the palace."

"How?!"

YuFei's heart twisted a little but she pressed ahead, "I'm afraid it will require some sacrifice on your part."

"Whatever it takes."

YuFei hoped ZiWei's conviction will hold firm in the days ahead, "Those items, I need you to part with them." She hurried on as she saw the frown on ZiWei's face, "Ling Gui Fei will personally ensure that they are brought to the emperor."

She could easily see ZiWei's hesitation.

"Do you trust me, ZiWei?"

ZiWei visibly straightened her shoulders after a long moment of thought, "I do. But I do not know Gui Fei Niang Niang."

YuFei nodded in approval. Such caution will serve ZiWei well. "Do you have a better plan?"

The question was rhetorical and they both knew it.

Two weeks passed before news came from the palace. YuFei could tell that ZiWei was worried but she bore it well. Good.

"ZiWei, HuangShang has sent Fucha Da Ren to JiNan."

"Has he?"

"Fucha da Ren is discrete, you need not worry."

ZiWei nodded.

"ZiWei. Have you thought of the future?"

At ZiWei's questioning look, YuFei continued, "Should the emperor believe your story, your position would still be tenuous. As a child born out of wedlock, even though the emperor is your father, you will always be the subject of ridicule."

"ZiWei is not afraid."

"Then you are a fool." The words came out sharper than she intended, but she could see that she had ZiWei's full attention. "My child. Ling Gui Fei would no doubt protect you as she's able, but even she is not all powerful. Your origin will always cast a shadow on your person. You would still have to face all the other concubines. The women of the palace…" she paused a moment as painful memories came to mind, "they are ruthless. Only the fittest survive, after all. And you…you would be but a little ant to them. Even less than an ant. Easily crushed and destroyed. I am too fond of you to allow such tragedy befall you."

ZiWei was quiet as she digested YuFei's words.

"But…if you were born of a recognized concubine, even a disgraced one, your position could be salvaged. And if you were to be the sister of a favored prince, despite his current disability, you could gain some protection."

"You mean…"

"You can never claim to be Xia Yu He's daughter publicly."

ZiWei was silent.

YuFei reached out to hold the young lady's hand. "ZiWei, do you understand?"

"I…"

ZiWei fell silent again before asking, "What else must I learn?"

YuFei squeezed her hand in silent apology.

YuFei had not expected the emperor himself to visit Gan Lu Si. Xia Yu He, it seemed, meant more to him than she had expected. Had she been younger, she might have mustered some jealousy. As it was, she felt only strangely calm as the emperor stared at ZiWei. The child had been playing the guqin and had been startled when the door suddenly opened to reveal the emperor. YuFei certainly knew who he was, but ZiWei only looked curious.

Father and daughter continued to stare at each other, the emperor's face a mask.

"HuangShang ji xiang." YuFei at last curtsied.

The effect of her words were immediate. ZiWei blinked before she also curtsied as YuFei had taught her.

"You are ZiWei?"

"Yes."

YuFei curtsied again, "HuangShang must have many questions. Chengqie will go fetch some tea."

Closing the door, she turned and saw Fucha Er Kang standing guard.

"YuFei Niang Niang."

She inclined her head, "I trust your parents are well?"

"Yes, Niang Niang. Wu Ah Ge is as well."

YuFei smiled sadly. Well was perhaps the politest way of describing her son's state, "My Yongqi will meet his sister soon; I am hoping she will bring him some comfort if not joy."

"Niang Niang?"

"I have raised my daughter these past years...It is difficult, but the time has come for me to stop being selfish and return her to her proper place."

"Your daughter, Niang Niang?"

"I had little idea I was with child when I left. But my ZiWei has been my source of comfort these lonely years. Just as with Yongqi, however, I know Ling Gui Fei will look after her as well."

A look of understanding flashed across ErKang's face before he hid it under his usual professional demeanor. YuFei just nodded once before going to fetch the tea.

ErKang was clever. YuFei trusted that he had puzzled out enough of ZiWei's true identity.

As YuFei watched the carriage roll away from Gan Lu Si, a capable ErKang providing guard, she gripped the chain of prayer beads in her hand. Despite everything, she could not help but feel as though she was sending ZiWei into the fire. She had done what she could to prepare the child and ZiWei's intelligence and diligence meant that she learned well. Even after that one meeting, YuFei could tell that the emperor was absolutely charmed by this missing daughter. But who could tell what the future truly held? JinSuo, loyal, practical JinSuo, could be trusted upon to look after her xiaojie. So much, though, still depended on ZiWei herself.

ZiWei stamped down the urge to fidget as she felt the many eyes upon her person. Stepping forward, she kept her eyes on her father's smiling face. Sinking down into the proper greetings as YuFei had coached, she lowered her eyes respectfully.

"ZiWei, Ji Shi Fu had thought of the perfect title for you! From today on, you will be zhen's Heshuo gongzhu, HuanZhu."

"ZiWei thanks Huang Ah Ma."

"Do rise."

ZiWei bowed once more before standing. At last, she allowed herself to look upon the woman at her father's side. Ling Gui Fei was not what she had expected. Rather than imposing or stately, she appeared relaxed and … impish?

"To think that YuFei jiejie had hid such a beautiful blossom in the wilderness all these years! Chengqie must congratulate HuangShang on reclaiming such a jewel."

The emperor laughed, "Yes, it truly is a cause for celebration. YuFei has taught our daughter well. ZiWei plays the guqin beautifully."

"Oh?" Another voice spoke up, "Chengqie does not know if we would have the good fortune to hear gongzhu play?"

"ZiWei?"

"It would be ZiWei's honor."

ZiWei could see her father raise his eyebrows at the song that she chose. She could also hear the whispers among the various concubines. Still, Ling Gui Fei showed no reaction. So, she pressed on to the song's completion.

"ZiWei has no talent and could not do the song justice," she murmured as she withdrew her hands from the instrument.

"Nonsense!" she heard a voice say, "Gongzhu is truly talented. Only, Feng Qiu Huang…does Gongzhu truly think this song to be appropriate?"

"Or does Gongzhu have a certain someone in mind?" another voice twittered.

"But how can that be? Gongzhu grew up in a nunnery."

"As Hui Fei says, Gongzhu is a beauty. Surely even the errand boy who brings firewood would admire her?"

The emperor, who thought he understood ZiWei's reason for picking that particular song, cleared his throat. The effect was immediate as the concubines all fell silent.

Ling Gui Fei took the opportunity to speak at last, "Chengqie is uncultured and knows little of music, chengqie only knows that chengqie could certainly not play as well."

"Of course not." The emperor replied, a hint of good humor returning.

LingFei pouted, "HuangShang, chengqie only said so to praise gongzhu. Must HuangShang shame chengqie in front of everyone?"

"As though zhen could ever shame you!"

"HuangShang!"

The emperor laughed out loud and waved a hand carelessly, "Enough. Our daughter has traveled long to return to us. She must rest. Perhaps in the future, Ling Gui Fei, she could give you a lesson or two."

ZiWei spared one curious glance at Ling Gui Fei before following the eunuch to Shu Fang Zhai and a waiting JinSuo.

She tried to be gracious as JinSuo introduced her to the rest of the servants, those that composed her household. How odd it was, to have a household.

"Xiaojie?" JinSuo turned her concerned gaze to ZiWei once the other servants were dismissed.

ZiWei sat down wearily, "We should go pay our respects to Rong Qin Wang soon."

"Of course," JinSuo replied.

ZiWei sighed. She wasn't certain how she felt. Watching the interaction between her father and Ling Gui Fei...there was such familiarity between the two. Could her mother have...or would she have become lost in the gathering of strong personalities? And what of herself? Her father...despite YuFei's warnings, ZiWei could not completely let go of her image of him. How kind he had been in their conversation, how genuine his regret when speaking of her mother. And had he not given her a home?

"Xiaojie?"

ZiWei shook herself and stood, "No time like the present."

JinSuo frowned but knew better than the pry.

As they were preparing to depart, however, ErKang arrived with two guards in tow.

"Gongzhu. Huang Shang asked that I bring Gao Yuan and Gao Da to Shu Fang Zhai. Each gong has its own security detail."

"ZiWei thanks Huang Ah Ma for the consideration. And for your help in choosing them."

"How does gongzhu know that they were chosen by me?"

ZiWei smiled, "I may not have grown up in the palace but Yu...I mean, E Niang...has told me enough about the characters that live and work within it. It is also easy to see, even from my brief observations, Huang Ah Ma's trust in you."

ErKang knew not to comment on ZiWei's near-blunder. At his nod, the two guards bowed once to ZiWei before going to their chosen posts.

"They must be masters," ZiWei commented as they disappeared, "surely no one could discern that Shu Fang Zhai has any guards."

"After recent events, Huang Shang has been vigilant regarding the safety of all in the palace."

"Recent events…" ZiWei murmured, "surely no one has been more affected than my poor brother."

"Gongzhu had been prepared to go to JinYangGong?"

ZiWei nodded, unsurprised that he should have guessed at her intent.

"If gongzhu does not mind, then I shall accompany you and show you the way."

"Mind? I am yet a stranger here. To have someone knowledgeable about the palace guide me is my good fortune."

"Gongzhu is no stranger to foreign paths."

ZiWei looked at him sharply.

"Gongzhu is surely in possession of profound bravery to walk such paths."

"Bravery?" ZiWei shook her head, marveling that there was no judgement in his gaze. Not certain of the reason, she found herself wishing to explain, "I only seek to fulfill a daughter's responsibility."

He merely nodded and led the way out of Shu Fang Zhai.

They traveled in silence, ZiWei struggling to maintain unawarenss at the considering looks he gave her. At last, she thought to ask, "E Niang says your brother was mine's book companion?"

"Yes. ErTai has always complained about such a role."

"Oh?"

ErKang chuckled, "Rong Qin Wang is gifted with superior intellect, causing all others to pale in comparison. He also had a habit of nagging at others."

"Had?"

ErKang's good humor disappeared as quickly as it came, "I fear since the accident…"

"I wonder that he remains at JinYangGong." ZiWei commented, in order to fill the silence.

"HuangShang gave him a residence and though he did send his wives there...he told ErTai that he only wishes for some peace and quiet."

ZiWei frowned.

"ErTai will be glad to have an ally."

"Hmmm?"

"Yongqi is stubborn, but ErTai is also persistent. In spirit, they are as close as brothers. But I fear that ErTai's health only serves as a reminder to Yongqi of what he has lost. Particularly now that ErTai has followed our belated uncle's path into the military."

"You refer to General Fucha Fuheng?"

ErKang nodded. "Of my eight uncles, he is perhaps the most distinguished one. My grandmother has never recovered from the loss."

ZiWei was silently sympathetic.

"Yongqi and ErTai had both hoped to serve under him in battle."

"I wonder that you call him by name." ZiWei made an effort to diffuse the sadness that seemed to befall her companion.

"He was never a prince to put on airs. Besides, ErTai managed to drag them both into enough scrapes that I could not but settle into the role of older brother for both."

Based on those words, ZiWei suspected that ErKang was just as worried as ErTai was. Only, ErKang was more practiced at hiding his feelings.

They walked on in silence once more, though this time a more companionable one.

They found JinYangGong's doors firmly shut. It took a long moment for a eunuch to answer in response to ErKang's knock.

"Please tell Rong Qin Wang that his sister has come to visit."

The servant's gaze darted at ZiWei before nodding.

After another long moment, the doors opened.

"Wang Ye is waiting in the back garden," the eunuch announced.

Rong Qin Wang was thin and pale. Sitting with a blanket over his lap, no doubt to hide his injuries, he nonetheless tried to muster a smile, "Meimei."

Something about the tableau made ZiWei want to cry. "Brother."

"ErKang." The prince nodded at her companion. "Please, both of you, sit."

ZiWei looked at the chessboard on the table, "Is brother playing against himself?"

"Huang Ah Ma does not wish to burden me, and so I have become a man of leisure."

"May I play?"

"Meimei knows the game?"

"A little." Out of the corner of her eye, ZiWei caught JinSuo hiding a grin.

"Gongzhu, you are certain?" ErKang could not help but ask, "even Huang Shang himself has a difficult time battling Rong Qin Wang."

"I would like to try," ZiWei said simply.

A spark of interest lit in Yongqi's eyes as he moved to empty the board, "very well."

"Meimie knows more than a little," Yongqi declared as he conceded defeat.

"I was only lucky."

"Is that so? Then we must play another game, to see if your luck holds."

ZiWei inclined her head, "I am at your disposal."

Three games later, the two found themselves well matched with two wins each.

Yongqi looked at his sister consideringly, "Truly, meimei is too modest."

"Brother is too kind."

Yongqi laughed, "I fear it is meimei who displayed shou xia liu qin."

"E Niang ensured my education was not lacking."

Yongqi laughed again, "Hmm...then meimie must visit again, so that I may acquaint myself with the full extent of your knowledge."

"Of course."

"The hour grows late today though. I am glad ErKang will help return you to Shu Fang Zhai."

ZiWei nodded and stood, "Another day then, brother."

"I do believe," ErKang said as they walked back through the palace, "that it is the first time I've heard him laugh since the accident."

ZiWei hoped that the waning light hid the blush on her cheeks.

"And you…" ZiWei could feel his considering gaze on her, "you never let on…"

"Though she didn't tell me until the end, my mother could never forget whose daughter I am."

He let out a breath, "I cannot imagine…"

She took a risk and looked at him, "It matters not anymore. It's part of another lifetime. Now, I must not forget whose daughter I am."

"Yongqi is fortunate to have you as a sister."

"E Niang saved my life; to bring comfort to her son is the least I can do in repayment."

"What other talents have you hidden, I wonder," he murmured.

She doesn't know what possessed her, the words seemed to have a mind of their own, "Does Fucha shao ye not know enough of my secrets?"

Caught off guard at the playfulness of her tone, he could only stare at her.

She returned his gaze steadily.

JinSuo, watching quietly, hid another smile.

At last, ZiWei thought to say, "I am sorry to have taken so much of your time today."

"It was freely given."

"Nonetheless, thank you. Now that I know the way, I will no longer have to trouble you for directions."

The thought that he wished she would have an excuse to trouble him flitted across his mind. Determinedly setting it aside for examination later, he only nodded, "True friendships are rare enough that I have learned to treasure them."

Mindful of YuFei's warnings, ZiWei strove to keep a low profile. In retrospect, she should have known that it would be next to impossible.

Word of her abilities at weiqi seemed to have spread to the emperor's ear and he insisted on testing her skills. ZiWei had nodded gratefully at ErKang when he helpfully reminded the emperor of certain tasks that needed completion. She didn't know what would have happened had the emperor spend more time at Shu Fang Zhai.

That she had chosen to take 12-Ah-Ge under her wing caused even more whispers. She had found the poor child crying in a rather desolate corner of the Imperial Gardens. On learning who he was, she was moved to pity. Here was someone else who was caught in the aftermath of events beyond his control. Since his mother's banishment, 12-Ah-Ge had been forbidden from visiting her. He had been left in the care of nursemaids, as no concubine felt comfortable caring for the disgraced empress's child.

ZiWei might have imagined it, but she thought Ling Gui Fei looked rather relieved when she saw ZiWei with 12-Ah-Ge. Or maybe it was more the smile on Yongqi's face as he advised 12-Ah-Ge on the younger prince's stance during a martial form. ZiWei knew the court found it odd for these two princes to interact so closely, but in her eyes, it was fitting for two damaged souls to band together and find some measure of solace. This way, Yongqi could feel needed and Yongji could feel wanted. Of course, ever mindful, Yongqi made certain to be fair and offered his tutelage to his other brothers as well. With the various comings and goings, JinYangGong seemed to lose some of its coldness.

Ling Gui Fei herself continued to puzzle her. In a palace where all the women seemed to vie for her father's attention, Ling Gui Fei was a notable exception. She seemed almost nonchalant and seemed to govern the Inner Palace with the principal of live and let live. But perhaps that was why her father favored her so.

From her brother's passing remarks, ZiWei learned that Ling Gui Fei did not raise her own children. The two little princesses had been sent to the empress dowager and 15-Ah Ge was raised by another concubine. From Yongqi's tone of voice, ZiWei wondered who was the elder, her brother or Ling Gui Fei. From JinSuo's reports though, ZiWei knew not to underestimate the concubine. Bless JinSuo, who took YuFei's words to heart. Information was power and JinSuo was determined to be well informed.

Before she knew it, summer passed into fall and the Yellow River flooded its banks. ErKang and his father were among those sent to manage the relief efforts. He had come to bid her brother goodbye the day before his departure when ZiWei had been visiting and she had walked him to the doorway.

"I hope you have a safe journey," ZiWei said sincerely.

"Thank you, gongzhu." He looked like he wanted to say something else but bowed instead, "I am glad Yongqi has you at his side to keep up his spirits."

She just smiled, "Since he came up with the idea of translating the most extinguished of the Manchu texts into Han, he's been too occupied to require my presence."

"You know you speak falsely. The idea stemmed from you after all."

"I enjoy learning." ZiWei said simply.

He nodded. "Still, I am glad to see Yongqi finding a purpose again."

She just smiled and repeated, "safe journey. I know brother will miss you when you are gone."

"Yes." He seemed to hesitate a moment longer before leaving.

Turning to return to her brother, ZiWei missed that he had turned back, just once, to look at her departing figure.

Yongqi found his sister quiet on her return. Not that ZiWei was typically one for idle chatter. It was one of the attributes that most endeared her to him. He had sent his wives away not only because he was determined to wallow in self pity but because their dramatics truly irked him. ZiWei, though, was much more sensible and was of tremendous help to his project. He also wasn't blind. ErKang and he were friends, had grown somewhat closer since ErTai's departure, but surely ErKang's frequent visits to JinYangGong were not merely because of Yongqi. He wondered if his sister knew.

"Meimei, are you well?"

"Of course. Why would I not be?"

"You seem to have something on your mind."

"I...I was merely thinking that it will be the mid-autumn festival soon...as glad as I am to be able to spend it with you, brother, I can't help but think about poor E Niang, all alone at Gan Lu Si."

"Hmm..maybe we can send her some mooncakes. Didn't you say you wished to teach me?"

"Brother knows I said it in jest."

"Did you? Even if you did, I still think it would be a useful thing to learn. And it would no doubt bring E Niang much joy."

When ZiWei looked at him doubtfully, he insisted, "how difficult can it be?"

Very, it turned out. He didn't know how he, who had always received praise for his gracefulness with the pen as well as the sword, could be so uncoordinated in the kitchen. He looked, dismayed, at his mounds of misshapen dough, filling leaking out at awkward angles and compared them against the tray of beautifully formed cakes in front of his sister.

ZiWei looked over at his flour dusted figure and barely suppressed the urge to giggle, "oh dear, I fear I am a poor instructor."

He made a face at her but then also smiled when her laughter got the best of her. It was good to see her lose some of her melancholy.

"I should have started you on the simpler version."

"Another day, I think...or the servants will surely revolt at having to clean up more messes!"

ZiWei just chuckled as she fetched a towel for him, "brother still wishes to learn?"

"Of course!" He said with as much dignity as he could muster while wiping off the smudges on his face, "I refuse to accept defeat!"

She nodded agreeably at his determination, "the mighty Rong Qin Wang could surely not lose to a mound of dough!"

"You're making fun of me," he accused.

"ZiWei doesn't dare." She protested.

He just stared at her balefully.

"Maybe just a little," She at last admitted, causing him to stick out his tongue at her.

As he intended, she broke into a fresh burst of laughter at such uncharacteristic behavior.

He was glad to see her in good spirits when she departed Jin Yang Gong. Turning to the completed cakes she had left behind, he decided that teasing ErKang was well within his prerogative.

"How nice of Rong Qin Wang." FuJin remarked after the eunuch delivered the package.

"What is it?"

ErKang removed the lid and lifted the letter, "mooncakes."

"Oh how thoughtful!" His mother exclaimed. "You and your father will likely miss the mid autumn festival."

"Yes," ErKang nodded, even as he was puzzled at such a gesture from the prince. Opening the letter, his expression changed when he read its contents.

"ErKang?"

He quickly refolded the letter and schooled his features, "very thoughtful of him," he agreed.

His mother just smiled as she took the plate out from the container and placed it on their dinner table, "how intricately made!"

"Yes." ErKang said again as he stared at the treats.

"I'm sure Rong Qin Wang did not mean for them to be mere ornaments," his father remarked practically.

"You just have a sweet tooth," his mother scolded affectionately even as she handed his father one.

"ErKang?"

Still dazed, he looked down to see the cake held in her outstretched hand, "Oh!"

"Are you alright, my son?"

"Oh yes," ErKang made to reassure his parents, "only nervous about the task before us. I have no wish to disappoint the trust HuangShang has shown."

His parents accepted his words easily enough.

"Then you must go rest early today," his mother said.

"May I take a few cakes with me?"

"But of course! Rong Qin Wang did gift them to you after all."

In the privacy of his quarters, ErKang re-read the short note, "made by ZiWei."

He stared at the cakes some more. He was perhaps being a little ridiculous, but to know that she had made them…

Yongqi was too polite to confront him about it directly, but ErKang wasn't surprised that the prince noticed his ulterior motives for visiting Jin Yang Gong.

She had intrigued him even before he ever met her. In discussions with his father, they had speculated on her motivations in coming to BeiJing. It would have been easy to assume that it was purely for riches. After his father's return from JiNan, however, he realized that her journey grew more out of desperation than a conscious desire for material comforts. His father didn't say it in so many words, but ErKang could tell that leaving JiNan was no true loss for her.

After meeting her, he wondered if it could really be so simple as her wishing to fulfill her mother's last wish. Surely she would have known it was a next to impossible task. His words to her had been in earnest, what bravery she must possess.

She had further stunned him with that game of weiqi and continued to amaze him in subsequent conversations. It didn't surprise him in the least that Yongqi had accepted her so easily as his sister; the two were truly well matched in intellect.

He wasn't certain when his curiosity turned into admiration which in turn became something else. He knew he was attracted to her. Beautiful as she was. Surely she would be appalled at the things his mind conjured up at times. Being well past the age that most of his peers married, he wasn't a stranger to such desires. Yet he had never sought a concubine or visited certain places. It had just seemed wrong somehow. Though, he had never been as tested as he was in her presence. There was just something about her that made him want to possess her wholly. It would have been more practical to stay away. Yet he couldn't help but continue to torture himself.

Was that love? The additional desire to protect her, care for her, ensure her happiness? To make her smile, to provide her with companionship, to have her trust him, to give her a home? Young men of his station were taught very little about love. His parents...surely they were affectionate with one another, but it grew out of years of companionship. Everyone says the emperor had loved his aunt, the late empress, but that did not stop the emperor from looking at her maid. He was being unkind, he knew, for Ling Gui Fei surely had her own feelings on the matter. He was not too young to know of the muttering within the family regarding his belated Uncle FuHeng and his deeply unhappy wife.

Wife...he took a mooncake in hand. He wanted ZiWei for his wife. He had never been more certain of anything than that fact. Given the emperor's favor of his family, he likely wouldn't be refused such a request. But he wanted her to be happy with such an arrangement as well. He wanted...he wanted her to want him to be her husband.

It must be love. Why else would he care so much about what she thought and felt? And now that he had decided, what was he to do about it?

When he saw her again, her face was etched with worry.

"I'm fine," her brother managed to choke out before more violent coughing wrecked his body.

She at once rose to hand him her handkerchief. "Don't talk."

He just smiled and shook his head, "I am glad to see that you've safely returned, ErKang."

It took him way too long, with much too many pauses, to utter even that simple sentence.

"I think you should listen to your sister, and not talk so much."

"It's merely a cold."

ZiWei looked like she wanted to protest but held her peace when her brother squeezed her arm.

"The two of you must have a lot to catch up on, I'll go check on your medicine, brother."

Both young men watched her go.

"I worry for her."

ErKang turned back to the prince.

"I've been living on borrowed time…"

"Don't say that."

Yongqi just shook his head, "I know my body. ZiWei has helped ensure that my last days are not lonely ones."

"I am grateful," he continued after more coughing, "that E Niang sent her."

"ErKang," he added after a pause, "promise me...when I am gone…"

He sipped at the water ErKang gave him, "I have few regrets...HuangAhMa will support Ling Mu Fei, I know…"

"I promise."

Yongqi nodded, "tell me about your trip."

As he had many times in the last, ErKang walked with ZiWei back to Shu Fang Zhai.

"Thank you for visiting brother."

"Of course." He added, "Gongzhu, if I may be so bold...now that I've returned...will you accept my help in sharing his care? These daily trips you make to Jin Yang Gong…"

"Only because brother is too stubborn and won't allow me to move there, even temporarily."

"I hardly imagine HuangShang would allow it either. Your own health…"

ZiWei pressed her lips together stubbornly but then sighed, "I wish I could do more."

"More? Gongzhu, surely you jest." Which other princess would do so much with no expectations of receiving anything in return?

ZiWei paused with him on the path and admitted, "I feel so very helpless."

Ah. "You're thinking of your mother."

A tear trickled down her cheek. She reached for her handkerchief, forgetting that she had left it behind with her brother.

Unthinkingly, he reached over and brushed it away. Her startled eyes met his as he let his touch linger.

"You're not alone any more."

"I…"

Suddenly aware that they were in public, he withdrew his hand and took a step away from her. Still, her gaze held his prisoner.

"Gongzhu, I apologize for my breach of conduct."

His words caused her to blink and the moment was lost.

"You have no need to walk with me all the way, I know my way very well now."

"Is gongzhu sending me away?"

"I didn't mean…" she turned back to him and was relieved to see him smiling.

"As long as Gongzhu does not mind, I will remain at your side."

Something flickered in her eyes; he was almost certain she understood. They walked in silence until they reached Shu Fang Zhai.

Before parting, however, he found that he wanted to be sure. "ZiWei…"

Her eyes widened at his use of her given name.

"HuangShang has allowed me to choose my reward."

"I heard. It's justly deserved for your and your father's accomplishments."

"Should I ask him for what I really want?"

"What do you mean?"

"ZiWei." He said her name again, "you know, don't you?"

"I…"

"Then allow me to say it more plainly. I want to ask for your hand in marriage. I want to support you, protect you, take care of you. I want you to know that you are not alone in this world. Because I...because you're important to me. Because you hold the entirety of my attention when I'm with you and haunt my thoughts and dreams when I'm not."

When she remained silent, he found himself apologizing. "I'm sorry, I should not declare myself so suddenly. Particularly when you have other worries on your mind. Pretend I never asked, please."

"Wait."

Her voice made him turn around.

"You're right, it is too sudden. Will you allow me time to think on it?"

He wondered if she saw his relief, "Of course."

JinSuo was positively gleeful, "I told you, xiaojie, didn't I?"

"JinSuo!"

"What? Surely taitai would approve of him too."

ZiWei blushed, "he is a good man."

JinSuo looked at ZiWei incredulously; was that all her xiaojie had to say after so impassioned a confession from Fucha shaoye?

"JinSuo, I'm tired."

JinSuo sighed. Her xiaojie did have a habit of overthinking things. It was better to let her be.

Despite her claims of fatigue, ZiWei found that sleep eluded her. She did not doubt Erikang's sincerity. But how could he be certain that it was not a passing fancy? She wasn't indifferent to him. She could admit it to herself. But having watched her mother wait a whole lifetime, having seen YuFei's sacrifice, she couldn't help but be afraid of her own feelings. She had always been aware of his gaze. Today, the touch of his hand made her feel things she didn't understand but knew distinctly to be improper. But what woman could truly hope to have her husband's attention for a whole lifetime? And as she had said to JinSuo, he was a good man. An honorable one. She wouldn't be mistreated even should his attraction to her fade.

"You look better." She remarked as she saw her brother sitting up in bed with a book in his lap.

He smiled at her, "ErKang must have leant me some of his health."

Taking the bowl of medicine from the maid, she came to sit at his bedside.

"Or Hu Tai Yi's medicine is finally seeing effect."

He pouted at her but knew from copious previous experiences that it was a lost battle. He grimaced at the bitter taste and gratefully took the cup of water she offered.

At a pointed look from him, JinSuo departed with the maid when she came to fetch both cups.

"Meimei."

"Yes brother?"

"You are also glad of his return, are you not?"

ZiWei found that she could not meet his eyes. "Who, brother?"

Yongqi was undaunted at her feeble attempt at avoidance.

"Was I wrong to suggest that he speak to you?"

"You suggested…" she gaped at him.

"Not directly, no. But I did ask that he ensure your well being when I am gone."

"Don't…" she fell silent at his raised eyebrow.

"Meimei, we've spoken of it before. You've heard Hu Tai Yi himself give the prognosis. Some days, like today, will be better than others, but the end result is the same."

She sighed in defeat. Yes, they had spoken of it many times in the past. "You would have me accept him."

"Meimei, look at me."

ZiWei stared stubbornly at her clenched hands.

"Accepting him does not mean I will die tomorrow."

ZiWei looked at him with tear rimmed eyes.

"Meimei…" he tried a different tactic, "the borderlands have not been peaceful."

She frowned at the abrupt change in topic.

"The battles in recent years have led to increased taxes. They have not become exorbitant enough to cause unrest, but it's only a matter of time. At such a time, someone will surely suggest a truce through marriage. Meimei, you're the only princess of proper age who is not yet betrothed...I have my biases for ErKang, I admit it, but I would rather you marry someone you know rather than be at the mercies of some foreign prince."

"You're not supposed to trouble yourself with affairs of state. Hu Tai Hi recommended rest."

"Meimei."

"Huang Ah Ma would not…" even as she said it, however, ZiWei knew it was a falsehood. No matter how much her father doted on her, national security trumped any personal apprehension she might feel. Besides, she had never given the impression that she was anything but obedient as a daughter.

That Yongqi did not dignify her whisper with a response made ZiWei feel foolish for even uttering it.

"He is a good man." She repeated what she had said to JinSuo.

"You need not be afraid. If he hasn't taken a concubine thus far, he's certainly not going to after he marries you."

"Why hasn't he married yet?"

Yongqi sighed, "he was always one of Empress Fucha's favorite nephews; she had always insisted on picking a bride for him. After she passed...Huang Ah Ma avoided most things that reminded him of her. No one has been brave enough to remind Huang Ah Ma of so small a matter."

"Surely it's not a small matter for Fucha Da Fen or FuJin."

"They would be delighted with you as a daughter-in-law."

When she didn't respond, he added, "ErKang does care for you."

"I know."

"Do you?"

At her questioning look, he explained, "in all the years I've known him, I have never seen him pay any young lady the attentions he has paid you. Indeed, some of the other noblemen had made speculations on his preferences."

"His preferences?"

At the embarrassed look from her brother, ZiWei blushed, "oh."

He cleared his throat, "besides, he knows I will haunt him forever if he causes you unhappiness."

His dark attempt at humor did not amuse her, but his considerations for her well-being did touch her heart.

"If it would bring you peace…"

"Oh meimei…" Yongqi sighed, "it would bring me much comfort, if I could see you well settled before I depart, but I will not press you if you truly did not wish for it. Nor, I suspect, would ErKang."

"I…"

He patted her hand, "I know you wish to think on it. Only, do not take too long, Huang Ah Ma is not used to being kept waiting."

Yongqi's health did seem to hold and Hu TaiYi gave him leave to sit in his study rather than remain in bed.

To celebrate, Yongqi insisted on painting his sister's portrait. When she protested, he said stubbornly, "it's in no small part thanks to your care, meimei. I know sitting for me is dull business, why don't you play the guqing for me? This way you can feel productive and I will have the pleasure of hearing you play."

He looked so hopeful that ZiWe found she could not refuse him.

"Ah! I see that while some of us are risking our lives on the battlefield, others are fortunate to while away the hours in the company of beautiful young ladies!"

"ErTai!" Two different voices alerted ZiWei to the identity of the visitor.

"ErTai, mind your manners, that's Huan Zhu Gongzhu."

"ErTai! Is that really you? When did you return? Why did you not send word?"

ErTai looked appropriately chagrined at his brother's admonition. "Gongzhu, I sincerely apologize."

"I am not so easily offended," ZiWei said with a smile. "Even if I were, I would forgive you for my brother's sake. That you feel comfortable speaking with such familiarity is a testament to the depth of your friendship."

"I must addend my earlier observation, Gongzhu is as intelligent as she is beautiful."

"Stop flattering my sister." Yongqi interjected, "She may forgive you but I can still be offended on her behalf."

ErTai bowed deeply, "your humble servant offers his most sincere apologies to Rong Qin Wang and will take any punishment Wang Ye wishes to bestow."

"That's more like it!" Still, Yongqi couldn't hold his mock serious face for long. "My friend, it is so good to see you!"

ErTai smiled, "I told ErKang I wished to surprise you."

"A wonderful surprise."

"You must have a lot to catch up on, I will take my leave."

"Meimei, you have no need to depart."

ZiWei smiled as JinSuo helped tie her cloak, "You will not be able to speak as freely with a lady present."

"Thank you, meimei."

"Just don't forget to take your medicine on time."

She had almost made it across the courtyard when she heard a voice call out to her.

"Gongzhu!"

She turned around to see ErKang hurrying to catch up, "Gongzhu, the weather has grown cold, don't forget your handwarmer."

"Thank you," she accepted the object from him and tried to ignore the way her pulse quickened when his fingers brushed against hers. "You should be careful as well, coming out as you did without a cloak."

"Those of us trained in the martial arts are of sterner constitution," he reassured her.

"Still...you should not linger in the cold,"

"Gongzhu." His voice made her turn back again. However, all he said was, "Walk carefully."

Seeing him standing there, his expression one of genuine concern, ZiWei suddenly felt ready to give him an answer.

"ErKang, don't worry so, JinSuo is most reliable."

"Gongzhu?" There was such hope in his eyes.

"ZiWei." She said simply.

He took a step closer to her. "ZiWei," he breathed out.

She looked up at him, "ErKang," she repeated firmly.

How brilliant was his smile. He reached to straighten her cloak, "walk carefully."

She smiled back, "I will."

They wed on her brother's birthday. Her father was at first reluctant to allow it to happen so soon, but her brother's failing health provided strong argument.

"You make a beautiful bride, meimei."

ZiWei turned around swiftly. "Brother! Hu Tai Yi said you're not to attend!"

"How could I miss it?"

"Brother…" she knelt and leaned her head against his knee, hidden as it was beneath a ridiculous mountain of blankets.

"Don't cry on your happy day." The touch of his hand on her head was so very slight.

She sniffled, "I won't."

"You are happy?"

She raised her head to look at him, "Yes, brother."

"Good."

The sound of hurried footsteps announced ErTai's presence, "I am going to be in soooo much trouble…"

"I thought you said Yongji and An-er were providing distraction!"

"Well, apparently Hu Tai Yi is not so easily distracted! I've got to take you back now."

ZiWei laughed. She should have known.

"ZiWei! My brother is a lucky man!"

ZiWei just laughed again before pressing a kiss to her brother's cheek, "Thank you, brother."

"And thank you to you too, ErTai."

"What? No kiss for me?" ErTai remarked cheekily.

Yongqi snorted, "Your brother would give you more bruises the next time you sparred."

ErTai sighed dramatically, "Who knew my brother was the jealous sort?"

Yongqi raised an eyebrow at his companion, "I thought you said we were in a hurry."

"Right! Right! Brother will truly kill me if I delayed his retrieval of his bride. "

The smile lingered on ZiWei's face even after they departed. ErKang had been right; she and ErTai did make good allies in their efforts to ensure that Yongqi did not slip into depression.

ErKang...ZiWei took a deep breath. She really was getting married. Her brother had been correct in that Fucha Da Ren and FuJin both accepted her readily. She had been worried, knowing that they knew her true identity. When she made effort to thank them, however, Fucha Da Ren just said, "I have ever served the Emperor. Whatever he says is the truth; you are who he says you are. It is our family's honor to be able to count you as one of its members."

"Besides," FuJin had smiled, "you have made our ErKang so very happy."

It truly was amazing, how quickly things fell into place. Their acceptance, ErTai's camaraderie, and...and…

"Xiaojie, you must be thinking on Fucha shouye again."

"JinSuo!"

JinSuo just hung the last string of beads around ZiWei's neck, "You look beautiful, xiaojie."

"Huang Ah Ma surely spared no expenses."

JinSuo shook her head, "Fucha shaoye will surely agree with me that it's not the clothing or ornaments that make you beautiful."

ZiWei's blush rather ensured that the rouge on her cheeks was completely unnecessary.

JinSuo, walking alongside her xiaojie's bridal carriage, noticed the many times that Fucha shaoye glanced back at it, as though to reassure himself that it was real. Xiaojie was prone to worrying but once she made a decision, she rarely looked back. And with Fucha shaoye...JinSuo had never seen xiaojie so carefree. Xiaojie had spent her life caring for others...lao furen, taitai, YuFei Niang Niang, Rong Qin Wang...it was about time someone took care of her. In JinSuo's mind, there was no one more deserving.

The quietness of the bridal chamber was a blessing after the boisterous celebrations as ZiWei exchanged bows with her husband. She couldn't see much, covered as she was with the red cloth, but could hear enough to know that like her Huang Ah Ma, Fucha Da Ren had also spent much gold on the occasion.

The sound of the door opening made her grip the material of her skirt tightly. She felt the bed dip slightly as ErKang sat next to her. More footsteps sounded before the next steps of the rituals were announced. ZiWei could feel the heat of ErKang's gaze but did not yet feel ready to meet it. Even as they drank the shared wine, she couldn't gather enough courage to look at him. Even after all the attendants left, giggling amongst themselves, she found that she could only stare at her own clenched hands.

"ZiWei…" she saw his hands as they reached to hold hers. His tone changed as their hands touched, "your hands, they're shaking!" He gripped them tightly, as though he could transfer some of his strength to her.

"You must be hungry...there must have been very little time to eat...who knew getting married was so complicated? I'll go fetch something for you."

"ErKang," she looked at him at last, "I'm not hungry, really. JinSuo had ensured I wouldn't be."

He sat back down next to her, "you're certain?"

Looking at his concerned expression, she suddenly felt ridiculous. This was ErKang, who had never been anything but caring and understanding towards her.

She smiled, "I'm certain."

He reached for her hands again, this time more tentative, "ZiWei...we do not have to…"

His words trailed off. Distracted by the way his thumb was caressing her knuckles, she took longer than it should have to understand his meaning.

As she was about to reply, however, a knock sounded from the door. When ErKang ignored it, ErTai's voice was heard, "brother!"

Releasing ZiWei's hand, ErKang went to answer.

"Brother, I am sorry...only grandmother is here."

"What? I thought eighth uncle said she was too ill to attend."

"Well apparently eighth uncle said that without consulting her. She was mighty upset with him."

ErKang turned back towards ZiWei apologetically, "I must go greet her."

"But of course." A small part of her was glad of the interruption. She had thought that she was prepared, but a respite was not completely unwelcome.

Another knock made her jump slightly.

"Xiaojie?"

She had never been more thankful to hear JinSuo's voice.

JinSuo entered, a basin of water, steam rising from the surface, held in her hands. Setting it upon the stand near the vanity, she bid ZiWei sit.

"Xiaojie is surely uncomfortable with the thick layer of cosmetics."

ZiWei took the towel gratefully and sat still as JinSuo helped remove the headdress and various pins.

"It seems a waste, does it not? To have spent so long preparing to look presentable only to remove it all after only a few hours."

JinSuo, folding ZiWei's outer garments with care before placing them aside, just smiled, "xiaojie never did like to fuss, but xiaojie is a Gongzhu marrying into one of the most prominent families."

"Yes…" she knew that such grandness was necessary, but she did prefer to think of it as simply ZiWei marrying ErKang.

As though her thoughts had summoned him, ErKang returned. Seeing JinSuo, he turned towards the other side chamber where he also disrobed. Having much fewer ornaments, he returned to see JinSuo combing ZiWei's hair.

ZiWei could feel her heart beat faster as his footsteps drew near.

"Let me."

JinSuo handed him the comb and, with a curtsy, withdrew.

"一梳梳到尾," she heard him saying softly.

"二梳百年好合," she smiled at hearing the familiar sounding words.

"三梳子孙满堂," she heard the slight waver in his voice and flushed. Surely he was thinking of just how those children would come to be.

"四梳白发齐眉." He finished and set down the comb.

She smiled at his reflection, "you had no need to repeat these blessings. Tai Hou had already performed the ritual."

"ZiWei," the weight of his hands on her shoulders provided reassurance, "I meant what I said."

She looked up at him, "I know."

She took a breath for courage, "But ErKang, I want to be your wife."

As thrilled as her words made him, his eyes searched hers for any glimpse of uncertainty. Seeing none, he bent down and gently pressed his lips to hers. ZiWei's eyes fluttered closed as she relished the new sensation. He parted from her but a moment before claiming her lips again, this time more firmly. When she made no protests, he reached and lifted her from the chair. He didn't know how he made it to the bed without tripping and sending them both sprawling onto the ground, but he managed it nonetheless. It seemed that once he started, he couldn't stop. When her hand suddenly gripped his as he reached for a button, however, he pulled away from her.

"I'm sorry…I did not mean to alarm you with my eagerness. It's only… I have never…"

ZiWei took a moment to calm her racing heart, "never? I would have thought...surely there are places where…"

"Just the once," he confessed, not daring to look at her expression.

"Oh."

"But I didn't touch her. ZiWei, believe me, I wouldn't betray you so."

"Then.."

"I wished to learn how I may please you and…"

"Oh." Just like the first time she had felt his touch on her cheek, she felt a rush of longing and...something that she wasn't sure she could name.

She sat up, her movement startling him enough for him to look at her again.

She wasn't sure what to say, but perhaps...she knew what to do. Locking eyes with him, she raised her hands and loosened the buttons of her shirt. She watched as his pupils dilated and his breathing quickened. "Show me."

"What?"

She reached out, surprising even herself with how steady her hands were, and pulled his hand to the open collar of her shirt, "show me."

His fingers curled around the edge of the fabric, his eyes never leaving hers. When he finally moved, it was with an intensity that should have frightened her. Instead, she found the name for the feeling he elicited in her.

Lust.

She cared for him, had realized it in the months since she agreed to the match. But in that moment, she wanted him. Was this how her mother had felt about her father? But her situation was different, the passion she felt would not be her downfall. He had promised and truly could deliver her forever.

"ZiWei…" the way he murmured her name...she knew he did not need to hear her reply. She felt his hands roam her arms, her back, her collarbone..each part of her that was revealed to his gaze as the shirt fluttered down to the bed. All the while, his lips held hers prisoner. A noise sounded in her ears...was that her? Sounding so wanton? ErKang didn't seem to mind though as his hands teased her skin at the edges of her doudou.

"ZiWei…" he pulled away slightly, the necessity of breathing making him pause. Looking at her, her eyes lit with the wonders of discovery, her lips, already a little swollen, parted slightly...she cannot know what she's doing to him. Or maybe she did. In the months preceding that day, he had learned that she saw much more than she would ever remark upon.

He touched his forehead to hers, reveling in the moment. His hand reached first to her back and then to her neck and pulled at the ends of strings. She made a small whimper, causing him to pull away.

"ZiWei, look at me."

Slowly, her eyes opened. Her arms twitched as the doudou fell to join her shirt.

He stopped her from covering herself as his eyes traveled to hitherto uncharted territory.

"ErKang…" despite her earlier reactions to him, she still retained her natural modesty.

He gathered her into his arms and captured her lips again. She allowed him to lower her to the bed, her breath catching as his hands explored her peaks and valleys.

"Oh!" He felt a burst of pride at the exclamation he elicited from her as his lips traveled down her neck and followed the trails his hands had mapped out.

He didn't think he could possibly want her more. But she proved him wrong when he felt her fingers unbuttoning the fastenings of his shirt. He watched her examine him and sucked in a breath when her fingers began exploring his skin. She was going to be the death of him...oh but what a way to go. In all his imaginings, which occurred with much more frequency and intensity since the first time she called him by name, he could not have predicted her responsiveness. As poised as she was, always giving an impression of gentle sweetness, he had expected her to be shy but trusting, hesitant but accommodating. Everything that had occurred thus far exceeded anything he had ever dreamed. It seemed that in this matter, as with so many other things, she would never stop surprising him.

He felt his self control slipping away, particularly when he felt her lips on his skin. She followed her instincts and peppered kisses on his torso, slowly trailing downward. He needed to stop her before...she had asked him to show her how he could bring her pleasure, he was not going to disappoint her.

She stared up at him, wide-eyed as he let his weight settle on her. He knew she could feel the evidence of his want for her. He pushed away the instincts that screamed at him to claim her and resumed his attack on her flesh with his hands and lips. When she made those delightful whimpering sound again, he let his hands glide lower until they reached the waistband of her trousers before pausing.

"ZiWei, do you still want me to show you?"

Her eyes snapped open, caught off guard at this new side of him. His fingers circled her hips, making her shudder.

"ZiWei?"

It took her a moment to gather herself, but the "yes" that she uttered was spoken with clarity, without any sign of hesitation.

He grinned. Since their betrothal had been announced, so many people had remarked on what a well matched pair they were. Surely they had no idea that it would extend even to this matter. But, he thought as a jolt of possessiveness flashed through him, how thrilling it was that only he would know.

He removed the last piece of her clothing slowly, teasing her as the courtesan had suggested he should. When she was finally bare, he took a moment to take in the sight.

"ErKang…" despite everything, she was still his blushing bride.

He let his hands wander, up and down her legs, and then focusing on her upper legs, traveling ever closer but never touching her in the place that he knew would bring the most reaction.

"ErKang…" was that a hint of pleading in her voice?

ZiWei gripped the sheets, her body felt wound as tightly as the spools of thread in her embroidery basket. She breathed his name again, not quite certain for what it was she was asking.

When he allowed just his fingertips to brush against the lips guarding her secret place, he almost lost control again. Even with that slight touch, he could feel her wetness. Gritting his teeth, he focused instead on the expressions flashing across her face as he increased the pressure of his touch. Each moan she made threatened to undo him, but he was determined to fulfill her request.

Her eyes opened again at the intrusion of his finger, but she made no indication that she wished for him to stop. And so he added another one and both felt and saw her body shudder. Her eyes fluttered closed again as she bit her lip unconsciously. She was not very loud, his ZiWei, but he felt certain that he would never tire of watching her and vowed to learn the meaning behind every gasp, moan, and shudder.

"ErKang, I…" how strained her voice sounded.

He laid down next to her and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek even as his fingers relentlessly pressed in and out of her in mock simulation of what he truly wanted to do. "It's alright, ZiWei, I've got you."

As though she had been waiting for such words, her body shuddered, her back arching, before settling into finer tremors. He fought against his own urge to moan as he felt her clamp down and then spasm, around his fingers. He stopped the movement of his hand but did not withdraw his fingers until her eyes opened again.

"That was…" her eyes were so bright as she looked at him, a look of such wonder on her face.

He divested himself of his own trousers, knowing that she was watching.

Her cheeks, already flushed from what had occurred previously, deepened in color when he took her hand and wrapped it around his member.

"Oh my…"

He couldn't help but feel a sense of gratification at her involuntary reaction.

"Show me," she said again.

And so he wrapped his hand around hers and guided her into a steady pace.

ZiWei watched, fascinated, as his expressions and his hold on her hand grew slack. He was always in so much control of himself that this ceding of power reinforced the feeling of trust that had developed between them.

"ZiWei," his suddenly gripped her wrist, "stop."

"Did I do it wrong?"

"No…" how could she even think such a thing? She was perfection personified. "as with most things, you are a fast learner."

He brought her hand to his lips and placed on it a soft kiss.

"There is one more thing I wish to show you. Will you let me?"

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

He rolled so that he was hovering over her again. "My ZiWei...so very beautiful."

It was an odd feeling, to be joined with him. It was like and yet also unlike what she had felt when his fingers invaded her body. He paused and took a deep breath. Heavens, he understood now why some of his peers so often sought pleasures of the flesh. Looking into her eyes, though, he made a silent vow that he would never perform the act with anyone other than her.

"Why have you stopped?"

"I have no wish to hurt you."

"Oh."

It took every ounce of self control he had to hold steady.

Summoning her courage, ZiWei leaned up and pressed her lips against his in a silent show of permission. She looked at him with such trust that he felt his control fracturing. She cannot possibly know how very provocative her natural reactions were.

It hurt. She had been warned that it would.

"I'm sorry, so very sorry." ErKang whispered as he felt her body jolt.

ZiWei took deep breaths. It hurt, but not as much as she had been led to expect. The knowledge that with that one action, she was now forever his and only his proved a comforting thought that helped dull the pain. She opened her eyes to see the look of concern on his face. "ErKang, I am well."

"You're certain?"

Her heart swelled at his care of her, even at such a time. She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Yes."

She winced as she felt him move. But the discomfort soon went away and the pleasure that she had felt earlier returned, this time even stronger.

"Don't stop." She whispered into his ear.

ErKang needed no further encouragement. At some point, he grasped her legs and wrapped them around his waist. ZiWei gasped at the change in sensation.

"ZiWei…"

"I'm here," she managed to breath out before the sensations he wrought in her robbed her of speech.

He was so close, he could feel it, but he needed her to join him at the peak. Reaching down, he brushed against that special button.

"Oh!" Her breath was hot in his ear.

And as he felt the beginnings of her contractions, he stopped fighting his own body's wishes.

"No one warned me," ZiWei commented afterwards, as she cuddled into his embrace, "how messy it would be. I am glad that JinSuo did not take the basin with her."

He chuckled, the rumble a reassuring feeling against her cheek. "What did they tell you?"

"Not much," she admitted, and then added shyly, "certainly not how content I would feel."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head even as she yawned, "Rest now."

She nodded, already too sleepy to respond with words.

He lay awake a little longer, running his hand through her hair. She really was all his now. He had been gloriously happy when she gave her answer. Yet despite the subsequent subtle changes in her mannerisms towards him, a part of him still worried that she had only agreed because of her brother. Tonight though, she had shown him that the decision was truly her own. He pressed another kiss to the top of her head, causing her to snuggle closer even in sleep. She was right, how very content he felt.

He woke sometime during the night with a feeling of inexplicable panic. ZiWei had curled up onto her side, her face turned away from him. He reached out to gather her closer, wishing to reassure himself that she was real. He pushed her hair aside and pressed kisses onto her neck.

"I fear," he whispered as he felt her stirring, "that I shall prove to be a demanding husband."

"ErKang…" her voice was still muffled by sleepiness.

He groaned. How was it just hearing her say his name could affect him so?

Of their own accord, his hands grabbed at her hips and pulled her closer.

"ZiWei...I..."

When she only pressed back against him, the last shred of control left him as he pressed into her waiting wetness. He wasn't gentle this time; he needed too much to know that she was really there, really his.

Distantly, he heard the sounds of her moans, felt the trembling of her body, but he wanted more. The drive to claim her was primal and he felt helpless to fight against it. Her breath hitched as he squeezed a breast with one hand and rubbed against her nub with the other, all the while driving into her with a ferocity that left her lightheaded.

"ZiWei…" he chanted her name, as though it were a prayer.

She could feel that sensation building, could feel the rush of release break upon her. But he didn't stop. She wiggled, attempting to escape from the onslaught, but his arms held her prisoner. Indeed, her movement only seemed to encourage him. Now more awake, her eyes widened as she felt a second wave build. And still he continued. Her eyes closed of their own accord as her body trembled. She had no control over herself as she shuddered and shook.

With a last groan, ErKang felt himself emptying into her. The chamber seemed too quiet, the sound of their panting too loud.

Reality seeped through his awareness slowly. "ZiWei?"

When she didn't answer, he grew worried, "I...did I hurt you?"

She twitched her fingers, testing their strength, before slowly turning to face him.

"ZiWei...I…"

She buried her head into his chest.

"I…" he felt her shake her head. Still, "I should not have…"

She shook her head again, not trusting her voice.

"ZiWei…"

"I am well," she managed to whisper.

"I fear...I have no wish to frighten you."

She looked up at him at those words, "you couldn't."

"But I…"

"Did you find it pleasurable?"

"Yes, but…"

"As did I." Her face flushed at such a bold admission and she hid her face again.

"Oh." He breathed out deeply.

"ZiWei..." he tilted her chin upwards, "ZiWei, look at me."

"It's alright to enjoy it," he murmured when she finally did. "There is no shame in what we do as husband and wife."

Her lips twitched in the semblance of a smile...of course he had guessed correctly at her thoughts.

"But if I ever do anything you do not wish for, please stop me."

She nodded.

"Promise?"

How was it that he knew her so well already?

"I promise."

He smiled down at her and pressed a chaste kiss onto her forehead, "good."

They lay in comfortable silence before he added, "similarly, if there are things you find enjoyable, I would have you tell me as well."

She flushed again but shyly nodded.

Pressing a kiss onto the palm of his hand where it held her cheek, she whispered, "You must as well."

He just gathered her into his arms again.

She wasn't sure when she drifted off to sleep, but woke to the feel of his breath in her ear.

"Good morning, wife."

She smiled even before her eyes fully opened, "good morning, husband."

He sat at the edge of their bed, smiling down at her.

She sat up but then quickly clutched at the comforter to hide her nakedness. It seemed incongruous that he should be dressed, though only in his under clothing, while she remained bare.

He chuckled at her expression. It seemed that in the light of day, his ZiWei was more shy.

"I've always been an early riser. Besides, I thought you might like a bath."

"Oh." A bath did sound like a good idea. She glanced about, no doubt trying to find some sort of covering.

"If you do not mind, I will be your attendant."

"Oh." She said again.

His smile not leaving his face, he gathered her into his arms. She flushed as the bedding slipped away and crossed her arms across her chest.

The water was very much welcomed, the warmth soothing soreness that she had not fully realized until then. ErKang's hands were gentle as he washed her hair, his fingers soothing as they massaged her scalp. She couldn't help but let out a sigh.

He just chuckled again before using a washcloth to wipe at her shoulders which peaked above the water line.

When his hand dipped below the water, however, ZiWei suddenly gripped his wrist.

"ErKang…"

"Let me?" He asked, voice soft.

She looked at him, biting her lip nervously. Last night, she had acted and reacted impulsively, instinctively. It seemed fitting at the time...it was her wedding night after all. Now though, it was the daytime...she couldn't quite explain even to herself the difference, just knew that it was. But maybe it didn't have to be.

Her grip on his wrist gradually loosened. He waited a breath, giving her a chance to change her mind.

She closed her eyes and let her head hang over the rim of the tub.

He was so very gentle with her. The whole experience so very intimate. Afterwards, he meticulously dried her before bringing her back to their bedroom. She noticed, as he set her back on the bed, that the servants must have cleaned the room in their absence. A new set of clothing had been left as well. She blushed at the realization that surely the entire estate would know by now the actions of their young master. To distract herself, she began to dress.

ErKang watched her quietly, fascinated at the deftness with which she navigated the various ties and buttons. It shouldn't have surprised him that she was perfectly capable of dressing herself. After all, before she had been a princess, she had led the life of a commoner. A commoner from a family with servants, to be sure, but JinSuo was surely needed to wait upon both her taitai and her xiaojie.

She must have noticed his attention because she paused in buttoning the outermost layer to look at him. With each layer she had put on, she had lost a little bit of her embarrassment so that she had almost regained the entirety of her equilibrium. She tilted her head in a silent question even as her fingers fastened the last of the buttons.

He just smiled at her, "I am not very familiar with a woman's clothing."

She reached for the second pile of clothing and shook out the shirt that was on top. "Nor am I with a man's."

Walking toward her, he let her slip the shirt onto his frame. With his soft instructions, she dressed him. When she reached up to smooth out the last layer of fabric, he caught her waist in his arms to bring her closer. She looked up at him, a shy smile on her face. What could he do but kiss her?

It was a sweet, lingering kiss. It occurred to ZiWei, as they smiled at each other afterwards, that there was a whole language to different kisses; she was glad to be learning it with him.

After serving tea to her in laws, she changed into her courtly dress to complete the other half of the ritual. Again, ErKang watched her, though this time she required JinSuo's assistance.

"I think," he said to her as they entered their carriage, "that I much prefer you in more casual clothing."

"Only because it's a novelty."

"Hmmm, or that I do not have to share you as you get dressed."

"ErTai was right...who would have thought that Fucha shaoye was the jealous sort?"

"When did he say that?"

"Oh no, I know better than to stand between brothers."

Despite her teasing tone, his response was spoken seriously, "I fear I am rather prone to possessiveness regarding that which is dear to me."

She reached across and held his hand, "I must learn what they are, so as not to run aground of your foul tempers."

"I do not think I could ever be angry with you," he confessed earnestly.

ZiWei smilingly shook her head, "It is the responsibility of a wife to submit to her husband, but I have cared for myself too long not to have ingrained habits, some that will surely cause irritation. Learning to live with another person is not a simple task."

He squeezed her hand, "we must promise each other, then, to be open about those things that may need to be changed."

They stopped by JinYangGong after paying their respects to the emperor, Ling Gui Fei, and Tai Hou Niang Niang who had returned briefly from Yuan Ming Yuan for the occasion ZiWei's wedding. The sound of youthful voices reciting their lessons greeted them.

"ZiWei jiejie!" Yongji and An-er greeted her.

"I hear I have the two of you to thank for distracting a certain Royal Physician?"

"Not that they did a very good job," her brother muttered.

ZiWei pressed a soft kiss to her brother's cheek, "still, I am grateful. Alright you two, name your reward…"

When they opened their mouths to speak, she raised a hand to stop them, "only after Rong Qin Wang deems your recitations acceptable."

The two groaned, causing ErKang to chuckle, "how about I help you?"

The boys traded a look. ErKang ge ge was known for being a model young gentleman. Because of his many responsibilities, he did not often have time to interact with the youngsters of the Inner Palace. Still, they would be fools to turn him down. Besides, ZiWei jiejie had married him, and they trusted their ZiWei jiejie.

ZiWei watched fondly as ErKang instructed her younger brothers.

"He will make a good father." Yongqi commented.

ZiWei blushed but could not hide her smile.

"Unlike me."

"Brother…"

He just shook his head. "My daughter is already 4, my son 2...but I can only recall what they looked like at their births."

"Huang Ah Ma will ensure for MianYi's education. As for ZhuangNan, I've met her mother, she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders."

Yongqi nodded, "of my three wives, she is perhaps the most sensible. Alas, she is the only one of Han birth and her position is the least of the three."

"If MianYi proves to be like you, he will be certain to look after his sister."

"Would you…" he seemed to hesitate.

But ZiWei understood, "I will not be able to interfere directly, of course, but it'll be nice to be able to use my title for something productive."

He nodded his thanks and they resumed their watch of the lesson at the other side of the courtyard.

"I hope they can always be as happy."

ZiWei sighed. She had never sought confirmation directly, but had observed enough to suspect at An-er's true lineage. "Few enough people know. General FuHeng and Huang Ah Ma were said to be as close as you and ErTai are, such favor of the general's son may cause token grumbles but will be overlooked easily enough. Besides, both Yongji and An-er surely benefit from each others' companionship."

"It seems that the Aisin Gioro and Fucha clans were destined to be inseparable."

"Being one of the links that connects the two families, I can make little protest."

They watched as the trio made their return. The two boys waited with bated breath after they recited their lessons and answered Yongqi's inquiries.

"Hmmm…" Yongqi seemed to purposefully draw out the suspense. ErKang kept his face carefully blank while ZiWei hid her smile behind her teacup.

"Hmmm…"

ZiWei coughed slightly.

"Well...I suppose I will allow a pass."

Broad grins spread on the two princes' faces.

"Don't you think you ought to thank a certain someone?"

At his reminder, the two children made their gratitude for their ErKang gege known.

A smile broke through ErKang's serious expression, "I admit, I was also curious to find out what reward you would ask of your ZiWei jiejie."

"Eight treasure cake!" The two announced in unity.

Yongqi snorted, such an answer was not altogether unexpected.

"Didn't you two have enough sweets last night?"

"Not as good as those made by ZiWei jiejie."

She bopped each of them on the nose, "little flatterers….alright, we shall borrow Rong Qin Wang's kitchen, with his permission of course."

"As long as you don't expect me to help."

She chuckled, thinking of past disasters, before turning to her young charges, "alright, let's go."

"You should go with her," Yongqi said to ErKang, "maybe you'll prove to be more handy than I am."

"You're certain?"

"I may be an invalid, but I do not need constant watch...besides, I am trusting you to sneak a piece for me."

ErKang chuckled and went to follow his wife.

The boys crowded around the stove as ZiWei lifted the lid from the steamer.

"Just one piece each for now," she warned them, "and no sneaking extra once the remainder is packed. I will not have your nai-niang complain when neither of you eat your dinner."

The nodded eagerly in agreement as she sliced the cake.

"You'd think," ZiWei commented, "that they don't get fed at all."

ErKang took a piece in hand curiously before tasting it, "mmm, I can little blame them."

ZiWei just chuckled before setting a portion aside on a plate and packing up the rest.

"Who's that for?" ErKang asked.

"My brother of course. The jujubes were added for his sake."

"Ah."

"It's a simple enough cake to make, being just a sticky rice cake base," ZiWei explained as she tied up two separate packages, "and they get to each pick the items that gets added so it's slightly different each time. But jujube is a constant for brother. He likes them and Hu Tai Yi says it's helpful to replenish his blood supply anyways."

"You didn't let me pick."

ZiWei blinked at him, "it was made as Yongji and An-er's reward."

"Which they earned with my help."

"You are their elder, it is your responsibility to mentor them."

"Hmm." He decided not to press her.

They returned to Xue Shi Fu for supper, after which he took her on a tour of her new home. Though every path and corner was familiar to him, each feature seemed to acquire new meaning as he introduced them to her. Her honest admiration for the landscaping was made obvious through the lines of poetry she was moved to recite. Their discourse comparing the poetry of female writers with that of their male counterparts who wrote from a female perspective were interrupted when her gaze fell upon a swing in a more secluded corner of the gardens.

"JinSuo told me that the qiuqian was your favorite part of your home in JiNan," he explained softly.

She looked at him in surprise, "and you had one built?"

He nodded. "I know that your childhood could not have been easy...still, it remains a part of who you are. Though Huang Shang can never acknowledge her, your mother will always be in you heart and thoughts. And...I owe her my thanks, for bringing you into this world despite all the hardships she must have faced. A swing is so little a thing when compared with the gift that she has granted me."

He wiped away her tears, just like he had that day outside Shu Fang Zhai. Unlike that day, however, they did not need to keep their distance from one another. She let him hug her close, her heart overflowing with his thoughtfulness.

"What say you to trying the swing?" He murmured into her ear.

She let him pull her towards the seat and felt him draw the ropes back before she felt the familiar sensation of almost flying. As a little girl, there were times when she had wished she could truly fly away, be free from her mother's expectations, her extended family's ridicule, and her neighbors' malicious whispers. Perhaps, if she wasn't there, her grandmother would cry less and her mother would smile more. Her grandfather, though, when he had still lived, never reprimanded her, despite the shame her existence must have brought. A scholar, he taught his grand-daughter with the same patience and care that he had used with his daughter and only child. She still remembered sitting in his lap as he taught her the proper way to hold the brush. The qiuqian had been his gift for her, the last one he gave before he passed away. Some of the students he had taught had helped her mother and grandmother in his memory, but the numbers who dared to visit in person dwindled. As she grew older, she understood the snide insinuations about her mother's reputation. The qiuqian became a place of refuge, a bittersweet memory of when her grandfather had been alive to shield his family.

She wondered what her grandfather would think of ErKang. She smiled a little...grandfather would surely have been wary of such a suitor for his grand-daughter even while respecting ErKang for his intelligence. Forgive me, grandfather, ZiWei sent a quiet prayer heavenward, forgive me for burying the name of Xia for the sake of a chance to be my father's daughter.

She let her feet drag on the ground to slow the swing. "What else did JinSuo tell you, I wonder."

She heard him chuckle, "that maid of yours, she is ferocious in her defense of you."

"I'm sure she didn't mean to cause offense," she twisted around to look at him.

He just shook his head, "Offense? Not at all! I am glad that you have someone so close to you who is willing to protect you at all cost."

"JinSuo and I may be in name mistress and servant, but I have ever thought of her as a sister."

ErKang smiled, "well your sister is just going to have to get used to sharing you now."

She turned away from him to hide her blush but felt the swing turn as he twisted the ropes and pulled her closer.

Landing a soft kiss onto her lips, he murmured, "I am no less protective of what is mine."

"The servants will talk," she reminded him.

"Let them. I refuse to hide my regard for you." Nonetheless, he let the swing right itself.

Taking his hand to stand, ZiWei asked, "what were you like as a child?"

"Spoiled." ErKang admitted as they resumed their walk. "FuCha HuangHou doted on me, perhaps because I was born the same year that Da Ah Ge passed. She had so much maternal love to give. Uncle FuHeng was always her favorite, of course, but she showed me enough attention that I was quite resentful when ErTai was born."

"You could never tell now."

ErKang smiled in a self deprecating manner, "ErTai knew how to share from day one. He wasn't fussy even as a baby. That helped, I think, to reassure my youthful mind that he wasn't trying to steal the attention from me."

"Do you think you were expected to follow in your uncle's footsteps?"

"I don't know. No one ever laid out a path for me, I just knew that whatever I did, I must do it well."

"With great favor comes great responsibility."

He nodded at her assessment, "that helped settle me too, I think."

She meant to ask another question, but found herself shivering a little. The sun had set and though spring had come, the evenings had not completely lost the memory of winter.

"Forgive me," he put his arm around her, "I should have thought to bring a cloak."

"It's no matter, we're almost back."

Her bedtime ritual changed very little from when she had lived at Shu Fang Zhai, but , as JinSuo once again handed the comb to ErKang, she suspected that it will end very differently.

Unlike the prior night, he was quiet as he combed her hair, speaking only when he set the comb back down on the table.

"Come to bed?"

ZiWei let him pull her up and towards the bed. She couldn't help but feel a tendril of apprehension as she stared at the canopy overhead.

"I remember," ErKang's voice broke the silence, "HuangHou Niang Niang would bribe me with treats as well."

She let out a breath, "I wouldn't call it bribing."

He turned to face her, "Oh, what would you call it?"

She turned as well, "Reward for a job well done."

He nodded thoughtfully, "although one could argue that the knowledge they gain should be reward enough."

"Who said I was rewarding them for the lessons?"

"Oh?" His eyes filled with curiosity at her smile.

"I was always going to make the cake for them, that they also did well with their lessons was a bonus." She then explained what had happened the prior evening.

ErKang laughed, "Ah, no wonder ErTai seemed so out of breath!" He then gave her an appraising look, "I didn't think you could be so devious."

"Devious? What an ugly word."

His lips twitched again at her affronted expression, "what word would you choose?"

"Opportunistic."

He chuckled lightly, "then I have your permission to behave similarly?"

"What do you mean?"

"Someone owes me a reward."

"Oh?"

He nodded with mock seriousness even as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "Unlike 12-Ah-Ge and An-er, I am not so easily appeased by a piece of cake, no matter how delicious."

"And for what do you seek to be rewarded?"

"For a good first day as a husband."

ZiWei smiled at his earnestness, "I can little deny the truth of such a statement."

"So I may claim my reward?" His breath ghosted over her lips.

ZiWei felt anticipation replace her earlier apprehension, "Yes."

He took his time with her, kissing her languidly until she sighed in contentment. His touch on her skin was no less reverent than the prior night, but he seemed more intent on thoroughly finding all the spots that triggered her to gasp or shudder. It crossed her mind, as he got to know her body, that his thoroughness surely was an attribute that made him invaluable to her father. In the current context, she felt a sense of awe at being the sole focus of his attentions.

"ErKang!" She lifted herself up on her arms at a new sensation, "what…"

She trailed off as he looked up at her from between her legs, her speech arrested at the way he stared at her.

"If you wish for me to stop…"

"I...I didn't know…" she didn't know that such a thing was done.

He smiled a little, guessing at what she was too embarrassed to say. And in truth, he had been initially scandalized when the courtesan mentioned it. But, as his lips marked other parts of his wife, he felt curious enough to try.

"If you would rather I stopped…"

She bit her lip. His words from the prior night resounded in her ears. There was no shame in what they did as husband and wife. He had already taken her for his own, what more could he do that would be more intimate? She took a deep breath, "could I watch?"

His heart seemed to skip a beat at her words; how fortunate he was that she was just as curious in these matters. In lieu of replying through words, he lowered his lips to her secret place again, his eyes not leaving hers. He wasn't at all confident in what he was doing, could only judge by her reactions to guide his actions. He must have read her correctly though, for soon he saw her eyes flutter close and felt her thighs begin to shake. He redoubled his efforts, surprised at the sense of accomplishment he felt. The courtesan had only made mention that some women appreciated such an act but had given no hint to any enjoyment he might gain from it. As he drank of ZiWei's wetness and tasted her on his tongue, however, he somehow felt even closer to her than when he had been inside her. Experimentally, he ran his tongue over the nub that he had been taught was the seat of female pleasure. ZiWei's reaction told him that he had definitely done something right. Her arms, already unsteady, finally failed her as she collapsed back onto the bed. Another swipe of his tongue, and her hips jerked towards him involuntarily. Yet another one and her thighs closed around his head, as though desiring to hold him in place.

"ErKang…"

He could barely make out his name in the way she moaned. With greater confidence, he continued to draw out her pleasure until he felt her arch off the bed with a long groan.

He wiped at his mouth as he changed position so that he could hold her through the after tremors that caused her whole body to quiver. Brushing away strands of her hair, he made a note to himself to repeat his actions in the future.

ZiWei was all too aware of his fingertips as they skimmed over her cheek. Indeed, her entire body felt too sensitive. She was wrong, she decided as she opened her eyes to meet his soft gaze, there was plenty he could do that was intimate.

"I thought," she murmured when she felt capable of speech again, "that you wished for a reward."

"Who's to say I haven't received it?"

She leaned into his hand as it stroked her cheek, "then why does it feel as though I am the one rewarded?"

His eyes gleamed as he pressed a kiss to her lips, "to bring you pleasure, to have you trust me enough to let me bring you pleasure, is reward enough."

Her breath hitched, both from his words and from what she suspected was the taste of herself on his lips. Summoning her courage, she readjusted herself so that she looked down upon him.

He glanced up at her, waiting patiently to see what she intended.

Reaching down, she took his member in hand, marveling again at how hard and yet soft it was.

"ZiWei…"

Carefully, she guided him into herself, letting out a breath as she felt herself stretching to accommodate him. Little by little, she sank down until she had taken in all of him.

"ZiWei…"

Her breath caught again at the expression of worship on his face.

The pressure of his hands on her hips helped provide guidance. She was clumsy at first, but the change in ErKang's breathing told her that he did not mind. With his help, she settled into a steady rhythm. Bracing her hands on his chest for leverage, she watched his changing expressions. Did he find her reactions as fascinating? He was by nature a man of sound morals, but a lifetime spent so close to the royal court ensured that he understood the importance of discreteness. How powerful she felt, that she could reduce him to such openness. In the eyes of the world, as his wife, though she was a princess, she belonged to him. But as she heard him moan beneath her and felt his release erupt inside her, she felt an all consuming sense of ownership.

She waited a moment before starting to remove herself, but the feel of his hands stopped her.

"Wait."

His eyes remained closed, but ZiWei still froze.

His hands traveled to her back and pulled her towards him. She landed with her cheek against his chest so that the sound of his heartbeat was loud in her ear. His arms surrounded her and held her close.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you."

She smiled and pressed a kiss to his chest. "The sentiment is entirely mutual."

She woke slightly sometime later and blinked in puzzlement a moment before her circumstances dawned. Thinking that ErKang must be uncomfortable with her sprawled on top of him, she tried to extricate her legs from his. Even in sleep, however, his arms tightened and she fell back against his chest. Given it up for loss, she let the steady sound of his breathing lull her back to slumber.

They spent the next day exploring the city. Despite the months she had lived in BeiJing, she realized that she had no idea what life outside the Forbidden Palace was like. The side of the city he showed her was certainly skewed, as he was no common citizen, but she was glad to explore the city market and watch the various street performers without worrying about being recognized.

They had lunch at Hui Bing Lou, run by a pair of siblings who seemed to recognize ErKang.

"Fu bu kuai, who have you brought with you today?"

ErKang smiled proudly, "My wife."

"Your wife?" The lao ban niang looked up from her abacus with interest, "you never told us you were getting married! Which family's young lady had the good fortune?"

"The luck is on my part," ErKang insisted, making ZiWei blush.

"Well, we are honored that you have brought her here. Your help with that incident we will never forget. Xiao Hu! Show Fu Bu Kuai to his table, one of the better ones, mind you!"

As they settled, ErKang explained, "Though LiuQing made it sound like I helped them out of a spot of trouble, it was in truth an occasion of mutual benefit. Their benefactor lives in Yun Nan, far enough away that they are reliant on themselves for the most part. Not that they're completely helpless, being each able to hold their own in a simple fight. But I had been sent to recapture a criminal who had escaped Xing Bu's prison and happened upon that particular one and lent a hand."

"Ah, hence why they're convinced you're a simple bailiff?"

ErKang chuckled, "LiuQing might accept it at face value but LiuHong is too clever to think I hold such a small post. It's not really important for them to know exactly who I am. They are good people who run an honest business. They also hold some jianhu yi qi and will not pry."

"How is it that their benefactor lives so far away?"

ErKang smiled, "Ah! That is quite the story. You'll notice that there are various children who work here...it would be easy to assume that they're simply Liu Qin and Liu Hong's younger siblings. In truth, they're all orphans who they have taken in and sheltered. Before, they relied on what they earned performing in the streets to feed and clothe their charges, but then one of the orphan's long-lost brother came to find her. Grateful for the care his sister had received, he helped realize LiuQin's lifelong dream. And so Hui Bing Lou came to be."

"What a lovely story! Oh I hope that their business continues to be successful."

"It helps, of course," ErKang stated as various plates made their way to their table, "that they were able to hire cooks who are more than capable at their jobs."

Tasting the simple but hearty dishes, ZiWei found herself agreeing readily.

"I hope fu ren finds the fare acceptable?"

ZiWei smiled at LiuHong, "More than acceptable! I have a mind to go seek your chef to ask for a lesson!"

LiuHong laughed, "Fu ren is much too kind."

"Fu ren is modest, she is a more than passable cook herself."

LiuHong laughed again as ZiWei blushed, "Congratulations are surely in order!" She sat down a plate, "on the house in celebration of your nuptials!"

ZiWei looked curiously at the mossy white mounds of what she suspected to be spun sugar.

"Candied Moss, one of their specialities." ErKang supplied helpfully, "and one of ErTai's favorites."

"Then we must bring some back."

"LiuQing will no doubt have a package ready for us when we go pay."

"Are we not returning home?" ZiWei asked when she saw the city gates approaching.

"Not just yet, there is one more place I've been meaning to show you."

They further they rode, the wilder the terrain. ErKang, though, seemed more than familiar with the route. Even before she dismounted, ZiWei was already charmed by the beauty of her surroundings.

Something about the rushing waters made her lose her inhibitions and she clamored over the rocks to examiner closer the small waterfalls that had formed. ErKang, fearful she would slip, quickly tied the reins of their horse to a nearby tree and followed after her.

"ZiWei, be careful!"

She turned around to laugh at him, "How did you find this place?"

He sat down next to her on the boulder she had chosen, "When ErTai was named as Yongqi's book companion, our parents were of course overjoyed. Even in those early days, Yongqi showed great promise. I was jealous enough at the attention ErTai received to run away from home."

"You didn't!"

ErKang smiled ruefully at her, "of course it wasn't long before I realized that I hadn't packed any provisions. So I snuck back home, only to find that ErTai had saved half of all of his favorite treats for me. I cannot tell you how chagrined I felt."

"So you decided to stay home after all?"

He withstood her teasing, "And vowed to be a better brother."

She smiled at him, "ErTai thinks the world of you."

He smiled in a self-deprecating manner, "I didn't always deserve his admiration."

"But you learned. Your approval will always be important to him."

"You seem to know ErTai very well." He observed.

She quirked an eyebrow, "you're not jealous of your own brother?"

He didn't quite meet her eyes.

ZiWei shook her head, "I've always wanted an older brother. After my grandfather passed, our household was sorely lacking in a male presence…" she paused a moment before shaking herself of upsetting memories, "I have been fortunate to call Rong Qin Wang brother. No one will ever be able to replace him...I know he asked you to care for me, but to me, you are…" she paused again as he turned to look at her softly.

"You are…" she found the courage to continue, "you are my husband. ErTai is an older and younger brother rolled into one. I didn't grow up with siblings, but getting to know 12-Ah- Ge, 15-Ah-Ge, and An-Er...the Palace is not so lonely a place. Now that we are married, I will not be able to see them as often. And though I know ErTai has responsibilities of his own, I do find some comfort that I still have one brother close to me."

ErKang held her hands in his, "I have been foolish."

She chuckled, "your jealousy, as unfounded as it was, is endearing."

"Oh?"

The feeling of safety and steadiness his presence always invoked in her caused her to be more frank than usual, "Growing up...I never dared to wish for much...when my mother fell ill and steadily grew sicker, I thought carefully about my future. I had no hope of a respectable marriage and could not bring myself to consider alternatives...I decided that entering a nunnery, particularly one that would not require me to shear my hair, was acceptable."

His lips quirked a little, to which she added, "You see, I am not without my own vanity."

He just kissed her cheek in response.

"I do recognize the irony, of course," ZiWei continued after a moment, "of ending up at Gan Lu Si."

"Irony? Mayhaps it was only fate."

"Fate...my mother believed in fate, said it must have been her fate to spend a lifetime waiting…"

"And you?"

ZiWei was a quiet a moment as she thought on her answer, "I don't know. Sometimes, I think I must. Other times, I wonder if I dared to test fate by coming to BeiJing."

"Or maybe that was your fate."

"You sound as though you believe in fate."

"I do."

"Oh?"

"I cannot explain our meeting otherwise."

She squeezed his hands that were still holding hers in response. He loosened his hold on her hands to move an arm around her. They sat for a while just enjoying the beauty of their surroundings and each other's company.

"I think that this place will be even more special to me after today."

She pulled away slightly to see him smiling down at her.

"Though I decided to give up the notion of running away, this place has always been my secret place. Whenever I get frustrated, angry, annoyed, or saddened, I come here to replenish my spirits. Here is where I feel most free to be myself."

"This is your qiuqian."

He nodded, "I gave it a name."

"Oh?"

"You You Gu."

"How very poetic."

He released her and stood, "Let me show you my You You Gu."

She reached up and let him pull her to her feet. As they wandered the surrounding trails, his hand never letting go of hers, she felt her appreciation for her husband grow. In the beginning, she had been afraid to love him. When she accepted his suit, she thought she could afford to care for him at least a little. It was only her second day as his wife, but she could already feel herself falling deeper. In the place that was most dear to him, she admitted to herself that the danger of becoming hopelessly lost was all too real.

"ZiWei?" He paused on the upward climbing trail, "are you growing tired?"

"I am not so frail," she replied with a smile.

"Still...we have been out here a long while. In my enthusiasm, I lost track of the hours."

"Surrounded by such beauty...it's easy to forget the rest of the world exists."

"We could go home."

Her heart thrilled at the thought that home was now with him, but she just shook her head, "oh no, you promised me an unforgettable view."

"Alright."

She couldn't help but notice that he did slow his pace. How thoughtful he was.

The view was as grand as ErKang had promised. Certainly enough to take her breath away and leave her speechless.

"Faced with such a view, all my troubles seem insignificant."

ZiWei nodded easily in agreement.

Their trip left her more tired than she had anticipated such that sleep found her easy prey when time came to retire for the night. She murmured a soft apology to ErKang even as her eyes closed of their own accord. Distantly, she felt him kiss her brow before his arms wrapped around her.

He watched over her slumber. His ZiWei was of a sensitive and intuitive nature; he had personally seen her instincts guide her behavior in front of her father. On occasions when even Ling Gui Fei could not right the frown on the emperor's face, ZiWei managed to sooth the wrinkle between his brows. But her very awareness of the unspoken attitudes of those around her surely made for a lonely childhood. He knew some basics from answers he managed to obtain from JinSuo and thought he could fill in enough of the gaps to have a good idea of the unkind words and looks she must have endured. But she made a habit not to speak of any of it. Truly, aside from JinSuo, she had no one with whom to share such experiences. Still, things were different now they were married. He wanted to shoulder her burdens and erase the shadows on her heart.

The day before, her silence on the qiuqian had worried him. That she could pull herself out of her brooding provided much relief. And today...in the two nights they've spent as husband and wife, she had opened herself up to him physically. Today, when she made passing references to her past, he felt as though he was watching a tightly closed bud starting to flower. He was also seized with an overwhelming desire to go to JiNan and hurt all those who had made her feel like she was undeserving of a proper marriage. It should have frightened him, to know he could possess such violent tendencies, but he had long discovered that in matters that concerned her, he had no limits.

It would never occur to her to ask about the few relatives she had. When she left JiNan, she severed ties completely. Becoming YuFei's daughter was not only born of necessity but also, ErKang suspected, from gratitude for a way to reforge familial ties. Even in those early days, ErKang could not deny the sense of vindictive righteousness he felt at her relatives' ruin. The emperor did not ask for their lives, but ErKang's father had learned to be creative in carrying out their liege's commands over the years. ErKang, poised to take over such unpleasant duties from his father, wondered if ZiWei would continue to trust him if she knew of the shadows that the dragon throne cast.

But she was no innocent. Despite her optimism, her belief in the goodness of others, ZiWei had to learn to shed some of her naïveté. YuFei would have prepared her daughter well. And XiaYuHe? She surely prepared her daughter to be as accomplished as any princess who grew up in the Palace. But she also, unintentionally, taught her daughter to protect herself.

But ErKang was patient. And ZiWei...she was too clever, too insightful, not to understand him.

ZiWei woke to the sound of rain. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and quickly became aware of the warmth of ErKang's body next to her. His eyes remained closed and his steady breathing told her he still slept. A sense of rightfulness descended on her. If it was indeed fate that brought her to his side, then she was very blessed. She was grateful that he made room for her in his world; his actions showed her that she belonged. She let her fingertips glide over his features, familiarizing herself with him by sight and touch. Yes, she was very much in danger of loving him utterly and completely.

ErKang woke to the feel of feather light kisses and her name on his lips.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

He opened his eyes to stare into hers, "A preferred manner of wakening."

"I am put in mind of LiBai's poem."

Hearing the rain, he helpfully recited it.

"I hope you had not planned another excursion today."

He smiled, "nothing that could not wait." He pressed a kiss to her brow, "I feel a desire to be lazy today."

She laughed, "that is not an adjective I would have ever thought to associate with you."

"Hmmm…"

Her laughter transitioned to a hitch of breath as his kisses traveled down her face and neck, "ErKang…"

Just then a knock sounded at the door and JinSuo's voice was heard, "Xiaojie?"

ErKang lifted his head briefly to call out, "I'll attend to fu ren today."

There was a pause before ZiWei heard JinSuo's departing footsteps amidst the muffled giggles of the other maids.

"ErKang…" she complained in embarrassment.

He would be be desisted. "I am in no hurry to share you today."

He had not lied, ZiWei thought as his lips continued to mark her skin, he was proving to be a demanding husband. But he was not a selfish one. It was not lost on her that each time, he focused on her pleasure first. Even that one time when he lost control, his first thought had been of her comfort when he regained his reasoning. She wanted...her cheeks flushed both from his attentions and the daring thought that entered her mind.

She reached out hesitantly and felt his hardness.

"ZiWei…" he murmured into her skin.

Taking courage, she pressed her hand more firmly against him. He let out a shuddering breath as he felt her grasp him with her fingers. Even through the silk of his pants, the warmth of her hand threatened to render him incapable of thought. And then, heavens, she squeezed.

"ZiWei, you do not have to…" he managed to breath out.

"Let me," she interrupted.

He pulled away slightly so that he could see her face. She seemed so sweetly determined that he could do nothing but agree.

It was not unlike playing her guqin, she decided, she had only to find the proper rhythm.

"ZiWei...I need…" ErKang bit his lip, not certain if he dared to ask.

She took a guess and reached to untie his trousers. He watched her with half lidded eyes, giving out a moan when he felt the touch of her hand without any barriers.

She held him the way he had shown her, learning through his reactions that the junction between the shaft and bulb of him seemed most sensitive. Each time the sides of her fingers bumped against that ridge, he seemed to gain another shudder. She glanced away from his face to the object in her hand and marveled at the bead of wetness that seeped out. Reaching out with her other hand, she gingerly touched the slit where the droplet exited with a finger. The reaction was immediate.

"ZiWei!" She had not yet heard him groan in that way. Encouraged, she continued to stroke the soft tip of him.

She suddenly felt his hand around hers, "ZiWei...I'm...going to…"

Undaunted, she only increased the speed of her movements.

She felt a sudden stillness settle into his body before his hips snapped forward and a rush of wetness spilled onto her hands.

"Oh!" She let out a startled gasp but did not pull away.

He shuddered against her a few more times before opening his eyes to look at her. Her breath caught again at the look in his eyes and her hands finally stilled.

"Heavens...ZiWei…"

"Is this…" she couldn't bring herself to name it out loud.

"Yes...I fear I have dirtied your hands."

She shook her head, "No...I fear I have ruined your trousers."

He chuckled at her expression of genuine dismay and helped wipe her hands on the fabric.

In answer to her sounds of protests, he commented, "they are ruined anyways."

Her fingers felt distinctly sticky, and so she rose out of bed and made for the the basin on its stand. Finding it empty, she blushed again in remembrance that he had sent away the maids.

ErKang followed her and, after kissing her cheek softly, reached into the cupboard for a fresh pair of pants with the intent to gather water himself. Opening their door, he chuckled at seeing the two buckets that had been left. One held fresh water from the well and the other had a lid to keep the warmth of the heated water. Trust in JinSuo to be thorough in her care of her xiaojie.

He laced his hands through hers, after they had resettled on the bed. "Thank you."

"What for?"

So much, he thought. Out loud, though, he only said, "just thank you."

She turned and pressed a kiss to his lips. Drawing away, she looked at him uncertainly, afraid that she had overstepped some boundary by initiating such contact. When he continued to look at her intently, she kissed him again, this time with more fervor. The feeling of his arms pulling her closer gave her more confidence to lick and nip at his lips has he had to hers.

"ZiWei...if you do not wish to ruin another pair of pants…"

She drew away at his words, startled to find herself straddling his lap, "Oh."

"Not that I mind, " he added quickly, his hands drawing lazy patterns on her bare back beneath the fabric of her shirt.

She bit her lip, summoning her courage, before reaching down to undo the ties.

"ZiWei?"

She did not reply in words but did tug at his clothing. He moved to accommodate her wishes. She undressed her husband until he was bare. Her eyes traveled the length of him, her gaze catching on the few scars that littered his body. He watched her study of him and let her trace her fingers over him.

"I have seen 12-Ah-Ge and An-er spar," ZiWei murmured, "while brother gave them feedback. They always had such voracious appetites afterwards. I did not think that they may collect reminders of their learning on their bodies."

"Not all the scars are from training," ErKang replied. Gesturing to one on his knee, he shared, "this one was gained when one of my cousins challenged me to a race to climb the fake mountain at my grandparents' home. Grandfather had been livid that cousin shoved me when I neared the top rather than admit he was about to lose. I was lucky not to have broken a limb, but the jagged rocks cut deeply enough to scar. It serves as a reminder though, of grandfather's words."

"What did he say?"

"The Fu Cha family is one of honor. We may compete and squabble among ourselves, but those of our clan are ever expected to behave with integrity. Losing is not shameful, as long as we accept an honest loss gracefully. "

"Your grandfather sounds very wise."

"Wise and unbendable in his morals. Ninth uncle was the most like him." It had been a point of contention between his father and his uncle, some of the things that had to be done for the sake of dynastic stability.

He was brought back to reality at the touch of her lips on the scar. Something about the sight of her between his legs made him grow hard again. He shifted, hoping to hide the evidence of his arousal from her, particularly so soon after what she had done. But his movements seemed only to draw her attention to it.

"Oh."

"ZiWei…" he paused when he felt her finger stroke it along its entire length, her expression one of fascination rather than disgust.

He could feel himself straining to push into her touch.

ZiWei was intrigued. She had felt his hardness in her hands and in her body, but had not truly had a chance to look at it until today. To watch it change was truly a unique experience. Thinking on the ways he had brought her pleasure, she wondered if she could…

"ZiWei!" He gasped as he felt her lips somewhere else.

She glanced up at him, "I'm sorry."

He took a moment to collect himself. He had heard about the act, overheard whispers among his peers of which courtesans were particularly gifted at it. But he didn't think he could ever degrade someone so. At her accidental action, however, he could not deny that his body was taking an interest. "Please, do not apologize."

"Was it unpleasant?"

He almost laughed. She had no idea. "Quite the contrary actually."

She frowned at his words before bending down and giving the tip another kiss.

"ZiWei!" He should not have admitted it.

She looked up again, "we promised to tell each other when something is pleasurable."

"Yes but...you have no need to...you are a princess…"

Her cheeks flushed suddenly as she deciphered his meaning.

"ZiWei?"

"Is it truly not something a wife may do for her husband?"

Having never asked after the private lives of his peers, he couldn't answer such a question.

She must have seen his indecision. A look of stubbornness flashed across her expressions. "Just once."

"What?"

"Just once. If you find it truly a miserable experience, we will never speak of it again."

"ZiWei…" how could he deny her when he knew he did want it?

She bent her head again, gingerly kissing his tip. When he made no move to stop her, she bestowed kisses down the length of him. Experimentally, she licked at the ridge that had seemed so sensitive earlier that morning and felt the pressure of his hands on her head. More licks and his fingers clenched in her hair. Thinking on what he has done for her, she drew her lips around the tip and took the bulb of him into her mouth. Swiping her tongue along the slit of him, she gave a startled yelp as she felt herself losing balance.

His lips crashed onto hers and sucked the breath from her lungs. His hands tugged and pulled at her clothing, a guttural sound escaping him to indicate his frustration at the fine dexterity that was required to loosen her buttons. Somehow, he managed and was rewarded with the feel of her skin against his. He pressed himself into her wetness, his lips reclaiming hers and swallowing her moans. As she wrapped her arms around him, he began to move. She did not require his prompting this time and wrapped her legs around him, bringing him even closer. It didn't take him long before shuddering his release.

He looked down at her, her lips were bruised...lips that had been... to distract himself, he reached down to where their bodies were joined and pressed his fingers against her. She was so very slick, both from herself and, he shuddered at the realization, from him. He pressed and swiped until she found her own release.

He should help clean, but he could not bring himself to move. Carefully, he maneuvered them so that he was not crushing her with his weight and drew the comforter over her bare back.

"You are determined to test my control," he murmured into her ear as her head rested on his chest.

"That was not my intention…"

He believed her. "I know."

"But I'm learning."

He chuckled, "you need do nothing for me to desire you."

She was quiet in the face of his frankness.

"Everything you do only serves to enhance my desires," he admitted.

What could she say to that?

"ZiWei, have I been too blunt?"

"No…" she said softly at last, "only…" she wasn't sure if she should say.

"ZiWei?"

"When you say such things…I…"

"You what?"

She murmured something unintelligible.

"ZiWei?"

She cleared her throat, "when you say such things, I...I feel…"

"You feel…" he said encouragingly.

She couldn't bring herself to speak. Instead, she drew herself up and pressed her lips to his.

Soon, he found himself pressing her into the bed again as the kiss deepened. His arms kept his weight from crushing her even as her arms wrapped around his neck. His body was tired from reaching climax twice in such quick succession, but he found that he could not resist the feel of her lips against his. He bit her bottom lip but then immediately soothed it with his tongue when he heard her make a noise of protest. He tried to be gentle with her, but her responses were making it difficult to control his ardor. When they finally parted from one another, he felt her fingers on his lips before his eyes fully opened.

"Your lips are very soft," she remarked, seemingly with no small amount of surprise.

"Should they not be?"

"I admit, I had never given thought to such matters in the past."

"And now?"

She smiled slightly and repeated, "they are very soft."

He used those lips that she so admired to mark the lids of her eyes and her cheeks. At her sigh of contentment, he trailed down her neck again and made his way to her breasts. He suckled at her, using his tongue to tease her soft peaks. He could feel her fingers around his ears and smiled against her skin. He did hope she would become less shy about such things with time.

"ErKang…"

He didn't think he would ever grow tired of the breathy way she uttered his name.

He returned to her lips, brushing a chaste kiss against them before intertwining their hands and raising her hands to kiss her knuckles.

"ZiWei."

"Yes?"

"Nothing we do together can be miserable."

She frowned a little at the seriousness of his tone. He saw the moment realization dawned both because of the blush that appeared in her cheeks and the way she averted her eyes.

"You have no need to apologize for your curiosity."

"You do not think me too forward?" She looked at him shyly through her eyelashes in a way that was unintentionally seductive.

He smiled, "I give you leave to explore my body as you have permitted me to do to yours."

She blinked at him, "I am your wife."

"And I am your husband."

She flushed again but gave him such a sweet smile he couldn't help but hug her close.

They did eventually rise and dress for the day. The rain showed no sign of abatement, but neither minded as they spent the day in quiet pursuits. He showed her to his study, with the intent of fetching a book that had been the focus of their discussions. She glanced about curiously and paused when her gaze fell on the painting hanging within easy eyesight of the table.

"ZiWei?" ErKang's voice alerted her to the fact that she had not noticed his return from the bookshelf.

He followed her gaze. "It was among the wedding gifts Yongqi sent."

"Ah."

"It was a most happy day...and its presence has provided me with much reassurance."

"Reassurance?"

"I thought for certain that our marriage was too good to be true."

She looked away from the painting then, only to see his gaze still trained on it. She remembered quite clearly the way he had smiled at her that day. To know that he continued to value her so...

"I have never played for you, have I?"

"I have heard you play."

"But not just for you."

He met her eyes.

"I'd like to play for you," she said softly.

He followed her to the room that had been set aside as her own sitting room and study and watched as she tested the strings experimentally before starting her songs. He hadn't lied; he had been fortunate to hear her play for the emperor and for her brother. To be the sole audience member, however, was an intimate experience. He was caught off guard at the wave of possessiveness that washed over him. She was his. And as she met his eyes with the last lingering note, he felt certain that he was hers.

Their first week as husband and wife passed blissfully as they learned about each other and grew comfortable living in each others' spaces. ErKang's many duties, however, meant that he could not continue to spend his days at her side.

She helped him dress.

"You have time enough to rest after I depart," he held her hands in his.

She smiled up at him, "I will."

He kissed her gently, "you will be well?"

"Of course. I'll be here, waiting for you."

He nodded but still made no move for the door.

"Don't be late," she murmured, "Huang Ah Ma will not make excuses for you just because you are now his son-in-law."

He chuckled, "I must live up to the title."

A last squeeze of her hands and he departed, through not before looking back at her smiling face as he closed the door.

ZiWei did attempt to return to sleep, but found that the bed felt strangely empty without ErKang. After tossing and turning restlessly, she admitted defeat and called for JinSuo.

"I did not mean to neglect you," she said apologetically.

JinSuo just smiled, "Xiaojie has been preoccupied with more important matters, as you should have been. I cannot begrudge you that."

ZiWei could not hide her blush at JinSuo's teasing.

"Xiaojie is happy."

ZiWei nodded, "Yes."

"Then JinSuo has no complaints."

ZiWei cleared her throat to resettle her mind, "How do you find XueShiFu?"

JinSuo obediently began to describe the details of their new home and the people within it. ZiWei nodded along and asked for clarifications where warranted. She was unsurprised at the thoroughness of JinSuo's report despite the short time that had lapsed.

"Fucha Da Ren's reputation is justly earned," she murmured.

"FuJin also keeps a firm hand over the household. Although, without the presence of other wives and concubines, her authority has little challenge."

"JinSuo!"

JinSuon murmured a token apology at ZiWei's admonishing but added, "Now that we are part of the household, I wonder how she will treat xiaojie."

"FuJin has ever been kind when we met. Besides, she is now also my E Niang."

"Hmmm." JinSuo made a noncommittal sound.

ZiWei meant to pay her respects to her mother in law after breakfast but found that FuJin had similar ideas.

"Gongzhu.."

"Please," ZiWei protested, not for the first time, "FuJin, you need not stand on such ceremony. Not only are you my elder but you are also ErKang's mother. I am already ashamed that I have not come to pay my respects to you."

FuJin smiled. She had been determined to like the princess when the edict of engagement was announced, not only because of the honor that was shown the Fu Cha family but also for the genuine happiness of her son. She had seen ErKang's expression when the painting arrived from Rong Qing Wang and could easily agree that the princess was a beauty. On meeting ZiWei, she felt her heart settle. ZiWei was neither haughty nor spoiled but seemed in possession of both an intelligent mind and a kind soul. "The fault is not yours. ErKang is of a purposeful mind. I am glad that he now has you at home to remind him not to spend all his time in service to the emperor."

Seeing ZiWei's blush, she added, "I do hope that you will not stand on ceremony either, and call me E Niang. I've never had the fortune of having a daughter to spoil."

"Only if E Niang will call me ZiWei."

FuJin's smile widened, "Very well. And how are you settling in, ZiWei? I remember my first days as a new bride, although they were much merrier because of oldest and second sisters. XueShiFu must seem very quiet to you."

"I have ever preferred quietness."

"A vestige of your childhood, no doubt." FuJin remarked, not unkindly.

ZiWei knew FuJin did not mean Gan Lu Si.

"I hope though, that you will not mind my chatter?"

"Of course not," ZiWei was quick to provide reassurance.

"The ladies of the FuCha clan will no doubt descend upon us soon as well. Peace may be a hard sought commodity for a while."

"E Niang is not fond of visitors?" ZiWei chanced a guess.

FuJin's lips twitched, "Not all guests are unwelcome, but ErKang and ErTai are among the most gifted in their generation, such excellence incites admiration as well as envy."

"Ah." Her own status as a favored daughter of the emperor likely only added to the situation. What had ErKang said? The FuCha's were not above competing among themselves. "I will of course present a united front with E Niang."

FuJin nodded; it was nice having a clever daughter-in-law. "I did wish to discuss another matter. Fucha Da ren and I moved away from the family compound quite soon after we wed. It was a sign of Fucha Da ren's abilities but presented a challenge for me to learn to manage a household so soon after my marriage. But I enjoyed the autonomy it provided. Because of your status, you still receive income from the Imperial Household Department. I rather thought that you may like to begin to learn to manage it yourself. I will of course continue to provide the portion that has always been set aside for ErKang and his own family."

ZiWei was touched by the offer. "I will require much assistance to learn."

"It will afford us more opportunities to interact."

"Thank you, E Niang."

"You are now not only ErKang 's wife, but also my daughter."

ZiWei found her days falling into a reassuring pattern. After seeing ErKang off, she took breakfast with FuJin before the two tackled the household accounts. There were secretaries who kept the records neat and organized, but FuJin held firm to her principle of trust but verify. Afternoons were often in the company of visitors who did prove interested in the princess that had become ErKang's bride. During these visits, ZiWei learned that her mother in law was of an observant nature and a no lesser player at the game of feigned stupidity or polite barbs than any Niang Niang in the palace. Of course, some afternoons were spent quietly as the two women embroidered quietly or strolled in the flowering gardens. FuJin shared stories of her sons' youthful misadventures, some of which also involved Rong Qin Wang. Supper was sometimes as a family and sometimes just with ErKang. And the nights...ErKang's ardour did not seem to lessen. But, ZiWei shyly admitted to herself, her own reactions were anything but unwelcoming.

Before she knew it, almost a month had passed before her cocoon of happiness was jolted.

She should have known something was wrong when ErKang returned so early. Seeing the somber expression on his face, the smile that seemed to appear almost automatically whenever she saw him faded.

"ZiWei...no, don't stand."

"What's wrong?"

There was such a look of grief and tenderness in his gaze, "I fear...Yongqi…he slipped away from us this morning."

"Oh."

"ZiWei, breath…"

She could feel his hand on her shoulder, its weight grounding her.

"ZiWei.."

She hadn't realized she was crying until she felt his hand wiping at her cheeks.

"ZiWei?"

She looked down to see him kneeling on the ground next to her stool.

"I had been composing a song to play for him tomorrow…" she whispered helplessly.

"Oh ZiWei…" he rose and wrapped her up in his arms.

"He seemed frail the last time I visited...I should have gone more frequently."

"He would not have wished for you to see him suffer."

She shook her head, "he should not have been alone."

"Yongqi...he never liked to owe anyone anything."

"ErKang…" she stood up suddenly with a gasp, "ErKang! E Niang! Oh, how devastated she will be! ErKang…"

"You need to grieve too."

"And I will. Please, ErKang…"

He looked at her pleading eyes and sighed. He truly could not find it in himself to deny her anything. "I will go arrange for it."

"Thank you."

He kissed her cheek, "It stormed last night and likely will rain some more today, do have JinSuo fetch a cloak?"

They rode to Gan Lu Si in silence, her head on his shoulder and his arm around her. The position was the same as during the last visit they made, a week into their marriage, but the air within the carriage was completely different this time. She clung to his hand but otherwise made no outward sign of her grief. He frowned but knew no other way to show her his support.

They found YuFei in her study, alone.

"E Niang?"

At ZiWei's voice, YuFei looked up, "Yongqi...he…"

ZiWei rushed forward and caught YuFei before she could fall, "E Niang…"

Helping YuFei into the chair, ZiWei murmured, "I'm here, E Niang, I'm still here."

"Yes…" YuFei whispered dazedly, "Yes…"

ErKang wasn't sure what to do with himself and settled on going to fetch some tea.

When he returned, he found ZiWei sitting on a stool that she must have pulled over to the desk.

"He wrote me…" YuFei gestured to the letter on the table, "he knew…that his time was not long…"

"I'm sorry that I was not at his side, in the end…"

"Oh ZiWei…" YuFei patted ZiWei's hand, "Yongqi was only part of the reason for your entry into the palace. Your debt to me is more than paid."

They sat in silence a while longer before YuFei wiped away her tears. "Enough. I still have you, my daughter, do I not? We must rejoice, that Yongqi is no longer in pain."

"E Niang…"

YuFei smiled softly at the note of admiration in ZiWei's voice, "I have made my peace, these many years. Yongqi...he was too good for this world. I never truly aspired to much...I am glad…" she paused a moment, growing aware of ErKang's presence, "the two of you have traveled long, I have been a poor hostess."

"Not at all," ErKang spoke, "it is us who barged in unannounced."

"But not unwelcome. ZiWei, child…" she hesitated a moment, "Ling Gui Fei's loss will not be lesser than mine. More, I daresay, as her interactions with Yongqi were more plentiful...and in her condition...she cannot afford to allow her grief affect the child within her...do look in on her, when you go see your Huang Ah Ma?"

"Of course, E Niang."

"Good."

On their carriage ride home, ErKang once again found ZiWei quiet. He had grown somewhat accustomed to her silences and hazarded a guess that she was more contemplative than sorrowful.

"ZiWei? Ling Gui Fei is of a peculiar temperament, but she did treat Yongqi as her own child."

"More dear than her own son," ZiWei muttered to herself.

"ZiWei?"

"Brother held his Ling Mu Fei in high esteem, despite the way he often scolded her, even in passing reference."

"Ling Gui Fei saved his life, on more than one occasion."

"Oh?"

"It's not often talked of, nowadays...the days when Ling Gui Fei had been merely a maid…"

She listened to his explanation and felt a greater respect for the woman who her father favored over all others.

"I see."

After another silence, he reached to hold her hand, "ZiWei…"

She mustered a smile, "I meant to go comfort E Niang, but she succeeded in reminding me...brother is no longer in pain...perhaps, even now, he is riding his horse again."

"You have no need to be so brave at all times."

She was silent again.

"I have also lost a brother," he added softly.

She slipped her hand into his, "ErTai will be devastated."

ErKang sighed. "Yongqi insisted that he go with the army."

"In retrospect, brother prepared all of us for this day…"

At his questioning look, she said thoughtfully, "He made sure that ErTai could forge his own path, that you would find someone else to worry after, that I would have a purpose."

"Purpose?"

"Brother understood me all too well. I could not truly be happy being idle; asking me to look in on his children was done not only out of fatherly obligation."

"He must have seen the similarity between us."

"Oh?"

"We are both prone to finding meaning in caring for others."

She found it easier to smile, "He did find me a good 依靠."

Knowing to treasure such open statements from her, he squeezed her hand.

ZiWei could tell, in the aftermath of the funeral rites for Rong Qin Wang, that her Huang Ah Ma coped by shifting his hopes to Yongyan. Not that her 15th brother was not worthy of their father's attention. Indeed, ZiWei could already see glimpses of Yongqi in Yongyan's words and behavior. It was only natural, really, given the close relationship the two brothers had despite the large gap in their ages. ZiWei could also tell that Ling Gui Fei was not altogether happy about the development. Thus, ZiWei found the concubine's easy acquiescence to the emperor's cautions against interrupting Yongyan's studies surprising. Two months later, when Ling Gui Fei gave birth to Yonglin, ZiWei finally understood. 17-Ah-Ge would be allowed to have a true childhood.

The arrival of the youngest Ah Ge provided a much needed breath of fresh air and the celebration of the birth chased away the somberness that had settled on the Forbidden Palace. Watching the fireworks with ErKang at her side, ZiWei laughed in delight at the explosion of colors.

"Do you know," she heard ErKang's voice in her ear, "I have not heard you laugh so freely for too long."

She turned towards him, her eyes bright.

"I am glad," he added simply.

Before she could reply, she heard Consort Shu remark, "How lovely to see Gongzhu and EFu so happy together. HuangShang surely must prepare himself to become a grandfather soon in addition to celebrating becoming a father again."

The emperor turned towards them and laughed at the blush on ZiWei's cheeks. ErKang, who had moved closer to his wife so that she could hear him over the sound of the fireworks, stood his ground, causing the emperor to raise an eyebrow. Nonetheless, the emperor just declared, "Any child of ZiWei and ErKang will surely be gifted, 才貌双全."

ZiWei lowered her eyes modestly, causing her father to laugh again.

"Any child of Gongzhu and EFu will surely be well mannered as well," Consort Qing said in her mild way.

"Meimei is saying that I have been too direct?"

"Jiejie is of course entitled to her opinions."

The emperor laughed again, "A new grandchild may not be a bad idea. I fear that Yonglin will grow into a lackadaisical prince if Ling Gui Fei had her way. Any child of yours, ZiWei, will surely be diligent and provide a better influence on 17-AhGe."

"HuangShang is not afraid that 17-AhGe will be a corrupting influence instead?"

Consort Shu's teasing comment caused the emperor to shake his head wryly, "Yonglin is his mother's son, I hope to heavens he won't prove to be as wily."

The celebrations lasted long into the night such that ZiWei found herself dozing on the journey back to XueShiFu. She did wake slightly as ErKang placed her into their bed.

"You could have woken me," she murmured.

"I don't mind carrying you," he replied just as quietly, "besides, you looked so very peaceful. Go back to sleep."

She smiled sleepily but said, "I need to remove this formal attire…"

In response, he helped remove the pins and unwound her hair. "All better?"

He smiled as he realized that she had fallen into a light sleep again. Having grown more adept at navigating her clothing, he helped undress the outer layers of her courtly robes. ZiWei stirred here and there to help remove her arms from sleeves, but did not fully wake until he had also disrobed and slipped into bed next to her.

"ErKang?"

"Yes?"

"Are you not sleepy?"

"I suspect I will be soon, but since Huang Ah Ma declared a brief holiday in celebration, it matters not if I fall asleep later than usual."

She turned to face him, "ErKang…" she bit her lip, uncertain how to begin.

He also turned onto his side, "do not think too much of Consort Shu's or Huang Ah Ma's words. As much as the idea of seeing you with our child is desirable, I am in no rush to share your attentions just yet."

She was no longer surprised at his uncanny way of reading her mind, "You would not be jealous of your own child?"

"Oh but I would be."

She shook her head but smiled fondly, "I have been forewarned and will, when the time comes, endeavor not to neglect you."

He pressed a kiss to her lips, "I will ensure it."

"You are rather difficult to ignore," she commented.

"Oh?"

"You have such a presence about you."

"Or mayhaps you have simply grown too attuned to my presence."

"I have always been aware of your presence," she admitted.

"Always?"

She nodded.

"ZiWei...truly?"

"It frightened me."

"Frightened you?" He repeated but, looking into her eyes, thought he understood, "Ah."

She smiled slightly, "it matters not anymore."

"Oh but it does...to me, it matters very much." At her questioning look, he added, "because it means I was not alone in being so affected."

He pressed another kiss to her lips.

"I thought," ZiWei murmured, "that you were not in a rush to bring a child into this world."

He chuckled lightly, "and yet how can I resist you when you reveal such a secret to me?"

"Surely you noticed."

"I did not dare."

She raised a hand to his cheek in response to his earnestness, "and yet you still declared yourself."

"I blame the mooncakes."

"What?" And so he told her.

"I must remember to make some more this year, just for you."

He smiled back at her, knowing that he probably did sound somewhat foolish, "I hadn't lied, when I spoke to you. I have always wanted you...in more ways than the mere physical."

"Although," he dared to add when he saw the tenderness in her gaze, "I am glad to have you in my bed as well."

"ErKang…" her protest was cut short when he kissed her again, less chastely this time.

"Yes, ZiWei?"

Emboldened by the challenge in his gaze, she shared, "I was right to be frightened."

"Oh?"

She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I so willingly let you possess me... body, heart, and soul."

It was the first time she had ever given voice to the depth of what he had come to mean to her, but she had come to trust in him and, as she drew away to see his reaction, felt no fear that he would betray such trust.

"ZiWei…" his voice was breathless and his gaze so full of wonder as well as open desire.

She stared right back at him and wondered what it was he saw in her gaze. He must have found what he was looking for because his lips descended on hers again. The shedding of their clothing was of course inevitable. Had she been a new bride, ZiWei might have marveled at the alacrity with which it was done. But she wasn't a startled maiden any longer. No, she was very much a willing participant in the physical language of love.

"I wanted you to want me." He murmured breathlessly when the necessity of breathing caused him to part from her briefly.

She reached for his hand and tugged it so that his fingers could feel her wetness, "surely that is not in doubt."

He groaned at the contact but said, "to be your husband in all ways."

She realized in that moment that despite his observant nature, some things still needed to be verbalized, "ErKang, you are my confidant, my support, the solid foundation on which I have built my new life."

She gasped when his fingers pushed into her.

He looked into her eyes as he pumped his fingers, "ZiWei…"

She whimpered and felt her eyes closing when his thumb pressed against the most sensitive part of her.

"ZiWei...open your eyes...I want to see..."

The authoritative nature of his voice compelled her to comply. She felt bereft when he removed his fingers but then moaned when he brought them to his lips and sucked her juices from them. The act was so very illicit and yet she couldn't deny its effect on her.

"ErKang ...please..." she was not above begging.

He didn't make her wait long. She could feel herself stretching to accommodate him and, added to the intentness of his gaze locking with hers, could not keep back another moan when she felt him seat himself.

"ZiWei…"

She did not think she could want him more but the way he breathed her name…she wiggled beneath him in a sign of encouragement.

He chuckled a little at her impatience and thanked the heavens again for allowing him to find her. Grasping her legs, he raised them onto his shoulders so that he could be deeper within her. From the way she whimpered, his action was not unwelcomed.

To hear her say those words...he hadn't thought he needed them. To have her in his life, to have her as his wife, was more than enough. But to know for certain, rather than just infer from her actions, that he was important to her...he felt like he was falling in love with her all over again.

"I promise you, ZiWei, for me there will only ever be you." The words tumbled from his lips.

She nodded agreeably, but he wanted her to know that he was truly in earnest and had not merely spoken in the heat of the moment.

He paused the movements of his hips, "I mean it."

She looked up at him and reached to hold his face in her hands. "I believe you."

He needed to hold her in his arms. Maneuvering carefully, he adjusted them so that he could. She clung to him for balance but not once did she break their gaze.

"Do you?" For all his outward confidence, when it came to her, he had difficulty trusting his own judgement.

ZiWei marveled, not for the first time, that he should seek reassurances from her. "You have never given me reason to doubt you." She kissed him soundly and felt his arms tighten about her. She smiled against his lips and rolled her hips experimentally. In their new position, it seemed that she needed to take some initiative.

"ZiWei…"

The way he uttered her name gave her courage. She looked into his eyes, "All mine."

"Yes."

She smiled again before connecting their lips once more. She was glad of his steadying hold as she clutched his neck for better leverage. She could both hear and feel his breath in her ear. Following her instincts, she turned her head and took his earlobe between her lips.

"ZiWei…"

She didn't think she could be in possession of such daring, but the breathlessness of his voice incited something positively shameless in her. She worried the earlobe with her teeth, enough to give him a shock but not enough to truly harm him. She gasped as she felt herself falling backwards and stared up at him with wide eyes. There was such fierceness in his gaze and a wildness that should have frightened her but only served to excite her.

ErKang gripped her wrists tightly and raised her arms above her head. His ZiWei looked surprised but there was no hint of fear in her expression. Her previous words came to him again, about her willingness...and how willingly was she his captive in that movement. Heavens he wanted to do wicked things to her, he always had. And now...now it seemed, he had her permission. He let go of what little control he had left and drove into her with a desperation that he rarely allowed himself.

ZiWei could sense the change in him; she hadn't realized until then how much self-control he had exercised. She had caught glimpses, certainly, but he always seemed apologetic whenever he lost control. Something had changed between them, she could feel it, but she wasn't sorry. She let herself be overwhelmed with the sensations he wrought in her.

The chamber was quiet in the aftermath as they lay side by side, the silence punctuated only by their panting as they tried to catch their breath.

"ZiWei…" he brought her hand, still clutched in his, to his lips.

She turned towards him and repeated, "I believe you."

He could only kiss her hand again.

"ErKang," she said after a moment, "you have long become like a mountain in my life and my heart, overshadowing all else. I should have told you sooner."

"ZiWei…" he paused before he smiled, "I know so many poems, so many couplets that I could say to you, but I…"

She smiled back, "I know."

"In this world, 知我者, ZiWei 也."

She snuggled close to him and felt him wrap an arm around her.

He kissed the top of her head, "Rest now. It's well deserved."

She chuckled at his playful tone, "Same to you."

ZiWei thought it was just as well that Huang Ah Ma had declared a three day holiday. ErKang seemed to find all opportunities to maintain physical contact with her throughout the day. He brushed his fingertips against hers each time she handed him something, crowded into her personal space as she wrote calligraphy, and even dropped random kisses onto her lips when she least suspected them. His behavior was even worse, she decided, than when they had just married. But she could not find it in herself to mind. At least, not until mid-afternoon when she realized how frustrated he was making her. Although, looking at his self-satisfied smile as he pulled away from another kiss, she suspected that he knew exactly what he was doing. They had been taking a stroll in the gardens when he pulled her into a hidden corner of the rock formations. The stone made for an uneven surface for her back. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she reached up and kissed him more thoroughly. Taking advantage of his distraction, she pulled away suddenly and, ducking beneath his arm, laughingly ran back to the main path.

She smiled at him innocently when he caught up to her. At least he had the grace to smile sheepishly.

"I wonder," she said as they resumed their walk, "if you would be willing to help with a personal challenge."

"What nature of challenge?"

"I wonder if I would be able to compose a tune in real-time to match your martial forms."

"No time like the present," he answered decidedly.

She smiled at him again, "You are very accommodating."

"Anything for you."

She slipped her hand into his, "well then, shall we?"

She spent a moment just watching him, her hands hovering over the strings of her instrument. Her request had been two-fold. She did truly wish to test her skills but she also wished to satisfy her curiosity. He really was very handsome. The way his movements flowed so smoothly, the forms truly showcased his strength and his control. His reputation was justly earned.

She plucked the strings experimentally at first but then gained more confidence as she watched ErKang's every move.

So focused on her husband, she was startled when a second figure joined him.

"Brother! You should have summoned me if you wished to practice."

ErKang laughed and adjusted his movements to accommodate.

ZiWei smiled at their reunion. If he wasn't on some battlefield, ErTai was busy training the troops. Even when he was back in the capital, his days at XueShiFu were few and far between, much to FuJin's disappointment. Putting her hands to the strings again, she did her best to adjust her tune.

With a final strum, the brothers finished their spar.

"ErTai, E Niang will be so happy to see you."

"Is brother saying that you are not happy to see me?"

"Of course your brother doesn't mean that," ZiWei cut in smoothly, "only E Niang is ever praying for your safety and you have given her little reassurances."

"I am justly reprimanded."

ZiWei smiled as she walked to ErKang's side, "We are of course all happy for a visit. No matter what, XueShiFu is still your home."

"A home that's made better with your presence. The way you played…"

ZiWei ducked her head, "Your brother was kind enough to indulge me in this trial."

"Trial? I should hope that it will be more than a trial."

"I do as well," ErKang smiled proudly at his wife.

ErTai shook his head at the two of them. "I will not disrupt your happiness."

"You don't have to…" ZiWei protested.

"I must pay my respects to E Niang anyways. As you say, I have not given her enough reassurances as to my well-being."

After ErTai departed, ErKang drew an arm around his wife's waist, "I say you more than met the challenge you set for yourself."

"Further practice will make me more adept."

"Oh?"

"Are you not skilled at the sword as well?"

He grinned at her and lifted an eyebrow suggestively, "That is a question for which surely you are more than qualified to answer."

"ErKang! You know I meant…"

He just continued to smile at her.

Looking about to make sure no servants were visible, she stood on tiptoes and whispered into his ear, "More than skilled."

He answered by lifting her off the ground.

"ErKang!"

He could tell though, that her protest was token at best.

"But as you say, further practice makes one more adept." He kicked the door shut with his foot and set her not on the bed as she had expected, but on a side table. Her perch made her just about eye level with him.

He pressed his forehead against hers, "What have you done to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"ZiWei...I told you I would be a demanding husband, and I fear…"

"You take no more than what I am willing to give."

"When you say such things…"

ZiWei smiled a little, remembering how she had also uttered those words in the past, "we belong to each other."

"Yes." He melded his lips to hers again.

As his hand moved to unbutton her shirt, however, there was a knock at the door.

"Shaoye, er shaoye has returned. FuRen sends word requesting Gongzhu and shaoye's presence."

ErKang cursed under his breath at the interruption, causing his wife to chuckle.

"We cannot ignore such summons."

"ErTai would understand."

ZiWei laughed at him again, "E Niang does so enjoy seeing both her sons."

He grumbled but stepped away from her.

She hopped down from the table and straightened her clothing while calling out, "tell FuRen we will arrive shortly."

He took a few deep breaths while making himself presentable as well.

ErKang was truly glad of ErTai's presence, though he could have done without the knowing glance ErTai spared him before resuming his tales of faraway places he had seen.

"I wish I had some talent at art; I would have captured some of the scenery on paper."

"Your words paint good enough pictures," ZiWei commented.

"As always, ZiWei, you are much too kind."

"I am glad that you enjoy your travels, my son, but as your mother…"

"E Niang, forgive your son for being unfilial…"

His father spoke up then, "You are following family legacy in service to HuangShang...but enough of such seriousness. Let us speak of other things, your presence is a cause for celebration after all."

Despite the happiness of the family's reunion, ZiWei could sense her husband's relief when they finally returned to their own quarters. She couldn't help but return his teasing.

"How beautiful the stars are tonight," her voice was full of awe as she tilted her head up to the sky.

ErKang glanced up quickly and, though he agreed, tugged on her hand, "ZiWei."

She returned her attention to him and allowed herself to be pulled indoors from the courtyard. Her laughter ended abruptly as he turned suddenly and crowded her against the closed door.

"I did not think I was an impatient man, but…"

She groaned as she felt his lips trail down her neck and his fingers expertly begin to undress her, "ErKang…"

"I want you," he declared plainly, his gaze predatory.

She bit her lip, his words inciting the now familiar feeling of arousal. She lifted her chin defiantly, "Then take me."

Her eyes closed as his lips captured hers again and she felt herself being directed towards their bed. From the rustle of fabric, she suspected that they left a trail of clothing in their wake. Her thoughts soon became fuzzy as her focus shifted to the feel of him inside her. He seemed determined to claim her and she...she could only cling onto him and do her best to keep breathing.

She heard herself moan and make fragmented whispers to urge him on. Had she been in more control of her faculties, she might have asked him the same question. What had he done to her? But what was the point of false modesty? He was too observant not to see through it and she was too honest to be good at playing coy.

"Touch yourself."

His words sifted through the haze.

She opened her eyes to look into his hungry ones.

"ZiWei." The huskiness of his voice did not detract from the tone of command.

Holding his gaze, she reached down and did as she was bid. She could feel the shaft of him as he moved in and out of her, drawing her skin taut and allowing easy access to her pearl. The combined effect of the touch and the act of obeying him was electrifying. She could feel the tips of her toes curl and her legs tremble.

His groan was one of satisfaction as he felt her begin to spasm around him. "ZiWei…" with a last groan, he spilled inside her even as he felt her hips arch towards his as she gave into her own pleasure.

He moved so as not to crush her and she felt an immediate sense of loss.

"I wonder," she spoke to fill the emptiness, "before we married, how you distracted yourself?"

Her question was vague enough but ErKang understood what she truly wanted to know, "I would go on rides, or spar with ErTai or a colleague, or meditate in You You Gu, or take on an extra case...anything to exhaust myself or shift my focus."

"Did it work?"

He smiled wryly, "Sometimes."

"And when it didn't?"

"And when it didn't…I have ever been a self reliant person."

"Ah."

He kissed her forehead, amused at the flush of her cheeks. She allowed him such freedoms and yet still became so embarrassed when speaking about anything related to such acts.

"And when you did...did you think of me?"

"Always."

She was silent a moment before whispering, "and how do I compare with the one in your thoughts?"

"Oh ZiWei…" he caressed her cheek, "my imagination pales in comparison."

She flushed even more but could not hide her relief.

"I hope," he murmured, "that you find me as pleasing?"

"I…"

"Hmm?"

She cleared her throat, though her voice remained quiet, "Yes."

He kissed her tenderly, "Good."

"ErKang…"

"Yes?"

"Could we go to You You Gu tomorrow?"

"Of course."

The next day, ZiWei felt peace embalm her soul as she stared up at the clouds overhead. Both ErKang's presence and the soothing sound of the water lulled her into a feeling of tranquility.

"ZiWei?"

"Hmmm?"

"When did you know?"

She shifted her head in his lap so as to refocus her gaze. She smiled, "the first time you brought me here."

"Oh."

Did he look disappointed? ZiWei smiled at him again, "maybe sooner, maybe always, maybe even at Gan Lu Si."

"Oh?"

"E Niang may have chosen to live in relative seclusion, but her knowledge regarding the people closest to brother was not lacking. I heard about you before I could ever put a face to your name."

"Ah."

"But it was here that I admitted to myself your importance in my life."

He nodded, his expression clearing. "It's fitting that we should return today."

Her smile broadened.

He bent down and kissed her forehead, "I am so very happy."

"As am I."

17-Ah-Ge proved a healthy child, but his birth seemed to drain the strength from his mother. ZiWei, both in her brother's memory and at YuFei's request, made certain to visit with the concubine. It had shocked her to see the paleness of Ling Gui Fei's face, though the concubine did not seem to lose any of her spunk. ZiWei, learning to see beneath the concubine's prickly surface, found herself appreciating Ling Gui Fei's rare honesty. Her visits to Yanxi Gong became less a matter of duty and more a refreshing chance to examine new perspectives.

"You're lucky, ZiWei, to marry the one who holds your heart."

"Niang Niang?" Despite their new closeness, Ling Gui Fei rarely spoke of so personal a topic.

Ling Gui Fei patted her hand, "You wish to know if I love your father."

"I would never presume…"

Ling Gui Fei took a piece of sweet from the bowl and popped it in her mouth, "You are too polite to ask. But I'm certain you wonder."

"It is not my place to…"

Ling Gui Fei lifted an eyebrow, causing ZiWei to fall silent.

She sucked on her sweet thoughtfully a movement before saying, "Your father and I...we have a mutually beneficial relationship. Over the years, we have misunderstood each other, taken advantage of each other, grown old together."

"Niang Niang is saying that love is not necessary for a successful marriage."

Ling Gui Fei smiled a touch wistfully, "Love is so easily used as an excuse for unspeakable acts. There is too fine a line between love and madness."

"Love does not necessitate a happy ending." ZiWei murmured.

Ling Gui Fei smiled again, "Hence you are lucky."

"Niang Niang, if I may be so bold…" ZiWei never had a chance to ask her question, however, as the concubine's head eunuch entered and whispered something into her ear.

Ling Gui Fei blinked once before asking, "you are certain?"

"Yes, Niang Niang."

She sighed in response, "it would of course be the day that HuangShang has gone hunting. Someone has been sent to notify him?"

"Of course. Nu cai do dan and also took care of the…" The eunuch hesitated, glancing in ZiWei's direction.

Ling Gui Fei nodded, "you did well, no use leaving a mess."

The head eunuch departed with a nod, understanding her unspoken commands.

ZiWei watched as the concubine fiddled with the sweets bowl without picking up another piece, "Niang Niang?"

"HuangHou Niang Niang has passed away from illness."

"I had no idea she was ill."

"Few enough knew." She paused a moment, as though wishing to add something but then thought better of it, "I fear I cannot keep you company for longer."

ZiWei knew a dismissal when she heard one and quickly took her departure.

Secrets in the Forbidden Palace never truly stayed secret. ZiWei learned later of the gruesome scene that had greeted the old servant who waited upon the empress. Of the manically laughing eunuch who stood over the empress's bloody figure, knife still held in his hand. At least 12 stab wounds the rumors whispered. The empress's own head eunuch he had been, the gossips emphasized.

ZiWei's soul shuddered at such unpleasantness. No wonder Ling Gui Fei wished to end their visit so soon. It did surprise her, though, that her father did not return immediately from his hunting trip. When the funeral arrangements were completed quietly and without fanfare, little befitting the empress's actual title, ZiWei frowned to herself. What kind of grave mistake had the empress made that Huang Ah Ma would hold a grudge even in death?

She knew better though, than to reproach her father, particularly after she heard about the death of a historian who had begged for a more fair treatment of the empress. Looking at 12-Ah-Ge's drawn expression, she felt the need to do something. ErKang must have sensed her disquiet, but his warning look was really not needed. Nonetheless, she did find a quiet moment to approach her younger brother.

Even before she spoke, he mustered a small smile for her, "ZiWei jiejie...I am told that Huang E Niang passed peacefully...I am glad she no longer has the burden of treason to bear."

ZiWei marveled at his acceptance of the situation. But then, what else could the child do? And he really was no longer a child, was he? She reached out and squeezed his hand, "If I could be of any comfort…"

He squeezed back, "I know."

An-er found her afterwards, "ZiWei jiejie, don't you worry, I'll ensure Yongji's wellness."

ZiWei smiled, touched at the show of brotherhood. "Thank you."

An-er just nodded before returning to 12-Ah-Ge's side.

She asked ErKang, when they were safely home, about 12-Ah-Ge's words. He hesitated, but then told her what little he knew about He Qin Wang's ill fated attempt to usurp the throne.

"I see...no wonder Ling Gui Fei said there was a fine line between love and madness."

"ZiWei?"

ZiWei just shook her head, "I should perhaps amend her words...unrequited love too often leads to madness. Huang Hou Niang Niang is to be pitied."

He drew her into his arms. She leaned into him in response, "we have been fortunate, have we not? Happiness such as ours is a rarity."

He kissed the top of her forehead. "Yes...ZiWei, do not think too much on it. The events have passed and bear little relevance to our lives. Since our happiness is so rare, we must savor it."

She snuggled into his embrace, "Alright, ZiWei obeys."

The empress, it seemed, did not wish to go peacefully. Tales of her ghostly figure as it wandered the palace grounds made their way even to the emperor's ear. He scoffed easily enough at the ridiculousness in public but in private... ZiWei wondered if others also noticed her father's unease. Playing a round of weiqi with him, she could tell that his attention was not on the game.

"I hope," she asked quietly, "that Ling Gui Fei's cough has improved?"

"She is too stubborn to allow a mere cold defeat her."

ZiWei smiled mildly, "Ling Gui Fei is certainly in possession of a strong constitution but Tai hou's prayers must surely contribute as well."

"I did not think you to be superstitious, ZiWei."

"I believe that prayers made in sincerity can only help."

She could feel her father's considering gaze on her, but she continued to look at the board studiously before making her move. Only then did she glance up, "Your turn, Huang Ah Ma."

They spoke no more of the matter for the rest of the game, but a few days later, when the emperor requested her presence for a secret pilgrimage to a nearby monastery, she allowed herself a smile of triumph.

To ensure its secrecy, few knew of the trip. Nonetheless, ErKang had personally chosen the group of guards and, almost at the last minute, asked for ErTai's presence. He could not put his finger on it, but he could not shake a feeling of unease. Thus, he was the first to notice that something was truly amiss. Heedless of the protocol, he instinctively stepped in front of the emperor and intercepted the knife that the previously innocuous looking monk had drawn. A yell from the monk signaled the arrival of a group of masked men whose deadly goal became all too apparent.

In the chaos that followed, ErKang suddenly found his focus shifting from his enemy, who was too skilled to be merely a monk.

"ZiWei!" That was the emperor's voice. Why did he sound so panicked?

ErKang looked and felt his heart stop. ZiWei's figure looked too limp held in her father's arms. A sharp pain on his arm brought his attention back to the monk, whose expression gained more viciousness at the sight of the blood he had drawn. ErKang snarled and renewed his attack. Not even sparing his downed opponent a single glance, he fought to be closer to ZiWei.

"ZiWei!" He couldn't help but gasp at the knife sticking out of his wife's chest.

She looked much to pale, but she remained awake, "ErKang…"

"Don't talk," the emperor stated even as he kicked at an interloper. "ErKang, take control of the guards."

ErKang looked worriedly at ZiWei but could not disobey a direct command. With his usual efficiency, he barked out orders and succeeded in repelling the enemies long enough for the emperor to enter the carriage with the wounded ZiWei.

"ErTai…"

"Go, brother."

ErKang nodded and sprung into the driver's seat. He gritted his teeth with each bump on the road. Surely ZiWei's pain was exacerbated each time. But speed was of the essence.

He remembered little of the journey into the palace itself, did not allow himself a moment of inaction until he heard ZiWei's voice again.

"ErKang…"

"I'm here." how weak she sounded.

"Your arm…"

He shook his head incredulously even as he clutched at her hand. Even at such a time, her concern was for him.

"You will all save gongzhu, or heads will roll!" he heard the emperor say sternly from somewhere behind him.

Hu TaiYi, the most senior of the royal physicians, bowed his head, "HuangShang…"

"Don't waste time!" the emperor interrupted impatiently, "see to gongzhu!"

Hu TaiYi approached and examined his patient, "the knife must come out. But, HuangShang...gongzhu will lose even more blood. Cheng fears…"

ErKang's heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He would not allow himself to think the worst.

"Nothing is going to happen to her." The emperor's words should have reassured him. Why then did they make him worry more?

"Someone will have to hold gongzhu's head steady."

ErKang made to move but hissed as he pulled at his wound.

The emperor sat on the edge of the bed and braced his daughter's head, "ZiWei...you will be fine."

ZiWei smiled weakly, "Of course...Huang Ah Ma is heaven's son."

ErKang felt his eyes prickle. How brave she was.

Hu Tai Yi took hold of the knife's handle and pulled. Neither ErKang nor the emperor cared about the resulting spray of blood.

"ZiWei!" her hand felt much too limp.

"HuangShang, EFu, cheng must have space to stem the bleeding…"

The emperor nodded and stood. ErKang felt like being stubborn but also knew that he was out of his element. Automatically, he followed the emperor out into the sitting room.

He felt numb as one of the other physicians dressed his wound, felt deaf as the emperor gave out more orders. As soon as the bandage was tied, he started pacing. In his mind, he repeated the emperor's words in a mantra. ZiWe will be well. She will be. The more blood soaked rags he saw, however, the more despair he felt.

He paused at Hu Tai Yi's re-appearance.

"Gongzhu's bleeding has stopped."

"That's good, isn't it?" ErKang asked, brow furrowed at the grim look on the physician's face.

"Yes…"

"Well, what is it?" the emperor demanded impatiently.

"I fear the blade was not a simple one."

"You mean…poison."

"Cheng must examine it to be more certain."

ErKang started walking towards his wife's bedroom.

"E Fu…" the physician protested, "gongzhu is still having her wound bandaged."

ErKang turned around, "I need to see her."

Just then, ErTai arrived to make his report, "Huang Shang, we have brought back one of the assassins."

"Just the one?"

"The ones that were not killed had poison hidden on their persons and committed suicide before we realized. Cheng will withstand any punishment for my lack of foresight."

The emperor waved a hand dismissively, "And what did you gather from the prisoner?"

"He has proven difficult to convince to speak…"

"Use whatever means necessary."

"Yes, Huang Shang."

"ErKang, your skills will be needed to look for clues at the scene. Somehow someone got wind of the outing; zhen trust no one else with this task."

ErKang looked towards ZiWei's room and hesitated.

The emperor sighed, "ErKang. Do not let your sentimentality cloud your judgement... You are not the only one who cares deeply for ZiWei. Would you rather not see justice served to those who harmed her?"

ErKang knew he was being manipulated, but he cared not. Setting his jaw, he nodded, "cheng obeys."

Over the next few days, he was as a man possessed. Any moment he did not spent on the case, he was at ZiWei's side. That JinSuo had been summoned to ShuFangZhai to look after her xiaojie gave him a measure of reassurance, but ZiWei's continued state of slumber added to his fear. He was holding her hand when she began to shiver. His excitement at any sort of movement soon turned into alarm when he felt how hot her forehead was.

"It may be good," Hu Tai Yi said thoughtfully.

"May?" He needed certainty.

"Gongzhu's body is reacting and fighting to be rid of the poison. However, if her fever is prolonged…"

"What then?"

"Gongzhu may not be herself if she wakes…"

ErKang did not like what the physician was implying. Wiping away the sweat on ZiWei's face with a cool towel, he vowed to himself. No matter what, she was his ZiWei. Even if...but no. She will be well.

The clues all pointed to the White Lotus Society, but ErKang trusted his instincts when they told him that the matter was not so simple. His triumph was an empty one when he realized that it was He Qin Wang, the emperor's own brother, who was the true culprit. The evidence, though, was circumstantial enough that he knew the prince could not be put to death. Still, the emperor made an edict for his brother to be relocated from his own estate to a much smaller one that offered far more seclusion.

He Qin Wang quietly muttered acceptance as he took the proclamation. ErKang was almost disappointed that the prince did not make any attempts at protest. Just before he crossed over the threshold, however, He Qin Wang spoke.

"He didn't deserve her. Hongli! You didn't deserve her! I place full blame on you for her death."

ErKang made to continue walking, but paused again when the prince continued speaking.

"She was right, you never treasured her. But I saw her worth. And yet still she always stayed loyal to you. She never betrayed you...and even now...you would deny me. Even after death, she cannot be mine. Hongli, you bastard...you know I wish for death, so that I may be reunited with her...instead...What care I for the size of my prison?"

ErKang shook his head at such blatant disrespect.

His movement must have caught the prince's attention, "How like your uncle you are, so full of self righteousness. I wonder, would you also give your life in an effort to save the woman you love?"

ErKang whirled around, "What did you say?"

He QinWang laughed in his face, "Oh he was a clever one, your uncle. He thwarted me, even when he was not physically present. But he also never valued his wife. And she…" he laughed again, "she forced him to wear a green hat...and with his own brother no less! And the best part? My brother has treated that bastard child as his own. She was a clever one! No wonder HuangShang favored him so; they shared the same taste in women, didn't they?"

"You lie!"

He Qin Wang snorted, "maybe I am, maybe I'm not, wouldn't you like to know?"

ErKang stared at him incredulously.

"I've failed to kill Hongli...but when that darling daughter of his dies, I will still have succeeded. How I shall celebrate! Even more so than when the cripple died...her death will hurt not only him but also you."

"You know the cure. Tell me."

He Qin Wang just continued to laugh.

"Tell me!"

He Win Wang looked down at ErKang's hand where it gripped his collar, "kill me, I can see that you want to."

ErKang stared him but then slowly loosened his hold, "No. I believe no words you've uttered today. ZiWei will be well."

He Qin Wang's laughter followed him as he departed. Outside the doors of the estate, ErKang took a moment to gather his thoughts. His first instinct was to go seek ZiWei, but he also found that he needed the truth. And so, he turned his horse in the direction of the old Fucha estate.

His eight uncle had never married but rather stayed at the old estate to care for the Fucha matriarch and An-er. He was praised for such adherence to filial duty, but ErKang wondered now if there was another reason.

He wasn't sure how to broach the topic, particularly as his mild mannered uncle showed such genuine concern as he asked after ZiWei's health.

"Uncle…"

"What is it?"

"If ZiWei…" the world were stuck in his throat, words he had not allowed himself to think, let alone say out loud.

His uncle made a sympathetic sound. "You must have hope."

ErKang nodded, "when nineth aunty passed..."

Something flickered in his uncle's expression, "your nineth uncle...he did not hold the same affection for your aunt as you do for ZiWei Gongzhu…"

"And you, uncle?"

"Me? You've been listening to too much of the ladies' gossip."

"Then An-er is not your son."

His uncle hid it well, but ErKang was too practiced at examining others not to notice the fine trembling of his uncle's hands.

"An-er bears the Fucha name." His uncle said at last.

"Yet ZiWei has been led to think he is her brother."

"Through her marriage to you, is he not her brother?"

"Uncle...ZiWei is not the only one who has been led to believe it."

"What?"

Could it be that his uncle truly did not know?

"Uncle has never wondered at HuangShang's treatment of An-er?"

"I thought merely...the favor shown to your nineth uncle…"

ErKang shook his head.

"Impossible...ErQing would not…" but his uncle did not sound certain at all.

"Uncle."

His uncle held up a hand, "she...she was always so lonely...she did not deserve to be so...nineth brother, he was always otherwise preoccupied. And I...I thought...I didn't marry, I did not wish for such an unfair fate to fall upon someone else."

He paused as a look of understanding dawned, "When I knew she was with child...as guilty as I felt, still, how happy I was. But she...she just wished to punish FuHeng...She never…I've been a fool. I knew I was not as clever as my brothers, but…" he hid his face in his hands.

ErKang did not know how to comfort his uncle. "An-er is a filial child."

"And clever, just like his mother." His uncle muttered.

"Promise me, ErKang." His uncle suddenly lifted his head, "An-er must never know. This secret...An-er's future is bright, nothing must jeopardize it."

"Of course, Uncle."

ErKang held ZiWei's hand tightly as he told her of the day's developments, "I need you, ZiWei, need your calmness, need to hear your words of wisdom. You were right. What madness people can possess, in the name of love...ZiWei, please wake. I need you to remind me that there is still good in this world...there is still a pure love that brings happiness and not sorrow. I have never pleaded with anyone, but I am pleading with you now…"

He wasn't sure when he fell asleep, her hand still grasped in his. He just knew that when he opened his eyes, hers were open as well. He just stared back at her in disbelief.

"ErKang...I heard you…" her voice was weak and rusty from disuse.

"ZiWei…" he couldn't help the tears that streamed down his cheeks.

"ErKang...don't...cry…"

He brought her hand to his cheek, "ZiWei…"

She smiled, "I...heard...you…ErKang...I'm here still."

He nodded, "thank you, thank you for coming back to me."

"Shan wu leng...tian di he...cai gan yu jun jue…"

At her words, brokenly as they were spoken, ErKang found himself smiling. How like her, to know the words that he needed to hear.

Her recovery was gradual but consistent. The emperor insisted that she remain at Shu Fang Zhai until Hu Tai Yi declared her healthy enough to move. ErKang, unable to bear to part from her side, gained the emperor's laughing permission to stay as well. ZiWei found that she rather enjoyed being fussed over, at least in the beginning. As she grew stronger, however, she found herself becoming irked that he continued to treat her as a piece of delicate porcelain.

"ErKang, I'm fine," she protested when he came to fetch her from the kitchens, "Hu Tai Yi gave permission for me to walk about...besides, I promised to make you mooncakes, did I not?"

"Yes, but…"

Out of the corner of her eye, ZiWei could see JinSuo hiding a smile.

"ErKang, really." Seeing his furrowed brows however, she added, "one more batch and then I'll rest."

"Alright," he agreed reluctantly but continued to hover.

As soon as she placed the last completed piece on a plate, he took it from her, "now will you rest."

She sighed but followed his lead back to her rooms. She sat down in a chair and refused to oblige him and return to her bed.

"ErKang...you must stop worrying." She hated to argue with him, but felt that she must remain insistent if ever they were to return to some sort of normalcy.

"Are you certain you didn't over exert yourself?" He felt her forehead and then looked at her colors critically.

"I am certain. Would JinSuo allow such a travesty?"

He ignored her attempt at levity and continued to look at her worriedly.

"I'm fine," she repeated, exasperation creeping into her voice.

His attention shifted only briefly as the servants brought their supper. In lieu of responding verbally, he piled her bowl with food.

ZiWei sighed to herself and obediently ate what she could to afford him some measure of comfort. After the dishes were cleared, however, she spoke up again, "ErKang, walk with me."

"Just a small turn in the courtyard," she amended when it looked like he would protest.

"Just a brief one, the evenings have grown chilly."

She let him fuss with the cloak and allowed him to steer her indoors again after only two turns around the small courtyard.

"ErKang," ZiWei held his hand once he sat across from her, "I wish to go home." Before he even had a chance to protest, she continued, "I've asked Hu Tai Yi. I am out of danger. The trip would also be a short one. Indeed, I've been well enough for at least the past week. For Huang Ah Ma's comfort, I've stayed through the holiday. But ErKang, I want to go home."

"Shu Fang Zhai…"

"Shu Fang Zhai will always be dear to me. But ErKang, it's not home any longer."

Though ErKang remained quiet, ZiWei took heart that he was not outright refusing.

"And another thing…" this part was more difficult for her to say, but she pressed on, "I am no longer an invalid, I wish you would stop treating me as one."

"I have not…"

"ErKang...you haven't touched me beyond a simple kiss since I woke." She couldn't help the blush that suffused her cheeks but she wished him to understand.

His expression changed, "I did not wish to press you during your recovery. My own needs are unimportant in comparison."

"Oh ErKang." She pressed her palm to his cheek.

"I was so afraid that I would lose you...I don't know what I would have done…"

"You would have been strong."

He kissed her palm, "I do not share your certainty…"

"ErKang...I heard you...and I wanted so much to return to you...to sooth your tears." She pulled her hand back and walked towards her guqin. She sang the song that had taking shape in her mind since she woke.

He watched her and listened, feeling so very blessed that she was well again.

She returned to his side and lifted a mooncake from the plate and held it out to him. He let her feed him, savoring the taste just as he had a year ago. No, even more so than a year ago.

She smiled as he finished the cake, "and how does it taste?"

He reached around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Looking down at her, he kissed her gently. "ZiWei…"

"I'm here."

He pressed another kiss to her lips, harder this time.

She smiled against his lips and reached to wrap her arms around his neck.

He paused to look uncertainly at her.

"I am well." She reassured him.

He stood, still holding her in his arms, and made for her bed.

He pressed their foreheads together after a long kiss.

"ErKang…" she reached for a button, hoping such an act would reassure him when her words alone could not.

He let her undress him before reaching to do the same for her. When he saw the scar on her chest, he paused. "I will never forgive myself…"

She shook her head, "No. We would have never been there had I not spoken to Huang Ah Ma. It was in part my words that caused him to think to go at all."

"Still...I promised myself I would always protect you, keep you from harm."

"Oh ErKang…" she pressed her lips to his, "no one could have foreseen it. And you did protect me. Not only me, but also Huang Ah Ma. You brought us back safely. You have not failed."

She reached for his arm to examine the new scar he bore, "you also did not escape unscathed."

"It's a small wound, hardly worth mentioning, particularly compared with yours."

She kissed his scar and said firmly, "It's all behind us now."

He nodded, though ZiWei noticed his eyes remained clouded.

She kissed him again, more insistently, and felt relieved when he began to respond. She sighed contently as his lips traveled over her skin, lingering a few moments on her scar. She had missed such intimacies. He seemed to have reverted to his old habits from the beginning of their marriage, his every touch tentative and gentle, but it was a start. She was grateful he spent time reacquainting himself with her body and preparing her with his fingers, mouth, and tongue. She could feel the hardness of him against her body, but he seemed in no rush and batted away her hand when she reached for him.

"Just enjoy." He whispered.

She laid back, letting him reassure himself of her physical recovery.

He held her through the tremors that wrecked her body and stroked her cheek until her breathing gained a semblance of steadiness.

"ErKang…"

He smiled in response, "my ZiWei…" there was such profound relief and love in his gaze.

She gathered herself and reached to hold his still hard member in hand.

"ZiWei…"

"Let me," she said and then echoed him with a smile, "just enjoy."

She traced the length of him with a finger before slithering down his body and taking the tip into her mouth. In the months of their marriage, she had learned that it was something he enjoyed but felt hesitant to ask of her. Sometimes, he would trace her lips with a certain look on his face, but he did not verbalize his wish. With time, he stopped protesting her actions, for which she was grateful. She had found that the explicit nature of the act only served to stir her own passions. He never lasted long when she used her mouth and tongue on him, and this time was no exception.

"ZiWei…"

She sat up and noticed the whiteness of his knuckles as he clenched his fists tight. He must be worried about hurting her.

She laid down again, facing him, and held his face in her hands, "It is all behind us now."

His movements remained careful, despite the strain she could feel in his body. Gazing up at him, his strong arms bracketing her face, she locked eyes with him as he placed himself at her entrance. Slowly, he began to ease himself inside, his breathing growing heavier as he felt her familiar warmth envelope him. He found it difficult to resist her normally, let alone after so long an absence. But he pushed aside the urgency he felt to savor each sensation.

"My ZiWei," he couldn't help but whisper.

She smiled up at him, "My ErKang."

They simply stared at one another, allowing their bodies to re-acclimate. Words seemed simply inadequate as he made love to her slowly, his world constricting to just her with every movement he made. ZiWei felt the fire growing within her, the flames steadily becoming stronger until suddenly her release was upon her.

"ErKang!" She came with his name on her lips.

He groaned and burned with her. He steadied his arms, reluctant to part from her. "ZiWei…"

"Yes?"

He smiled, feeling foolish, "I simply wish to say your name."

She smiled back, "I like my name best when you say it."

He chuckled, "What a pair we make."

"Utterly besotted with one another?"

He nodded, "thoroughly, completely, ridiculously."

"Happily, endearingly, fulfillingly." she countered.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek before rearranging their positions so as to hold her in his arms. Listening to the reassuring sound of his heartbeat, she murmured, "Let us go home soon."

"Yes."

They lay in silence before he admitted, "I had imagined once, what it would be like, to have you in Shu Fang Zhai."

"Just once?"

She both heard his laughter and felt him lay a kiss onto the top of her head.

"Hmmm, you have caught me."

"My imaginings were far more innocent, I simply wished to enjoy the moon with you."

"Did you?"

"Yes, though only fleetingly. A year ago, I did not yet allow myself to think on you for long."

She felt his arms loosen their hold on her and watched as he gathered their discarded clothing.

"The moon is sure to be beautiful tonight. Huang Ah Ma excused us from the celebrations, but it would be a shame to miss such a sight."

Making sure she was wrapped in a cloak, he took them to the rooftop of ShuFangZhai. His arms provided additional warmth as they sat in companionable silence.

Her whisper of a line of poetry caused him to smile and rejoin in kind.

The sudden burst of fireworks interrupted their game.

"Oh! How very beautiful!"

He glanced down at her. How her eyes shined as they fixated on the multicolored bursts of light! "Yes. The most beautiful."

She blushed but smiled at him with open happiness before laying her head on his shoulder.

He tightened his hold on her, full of thankfulness that she was still with him.

The first snow of the year heralded not only ErKang's birthday but also ErTai's return. Though the focus of the celebration was on her husband, ZiWei had also sent JinSuo to HuiBingLou for some of ErTai's favorite treats.

"It's nice not to be overlooked," ErTai commented, his eyes lighting up when spying the Candied Moss.

"And how long is your stay to be this time?"

"At least through the spring."

"So long?" FuJin asked delightedly.

The men of the family looked at each other.

"What are you not telling us?" ZiWei asked astutely.

"We are to play host a delegation from Tibet in the spring," the patriarch of the family said at last. "one of the Tusi and his daughter."

"Oh." ZiWei understood the implications.

"You mean, our ErTai…"

Fucha Da ren nodded at his wife, "Huang Shang has notified the sons of a few families. Our ErTai is on that list as a potential Fu Ma for Princess SaiYa."

"It is an honor," ErTai added.

Though ErKang nodded in agreement, ZiWei could tell that he had reservations that he did not wish to verbalize in front of his parents.

"Let us linger a moment longer?" She asked when they returned to their own quarters, "the sight of the moonlight on the snow makes me feel especially poetic."

"You are not too cold?"

She shook her head. "The wind has died down."

Nonetheless, he tugged her cloak so that it wrapped about her more tightly before wrapping an arm about her.

They watched the snowy scene in silence, her head on his shoulder, before she said "Huang Ah Ma has already chosen ErTai."

"He is the logical choice."

"Oh?"

"The Tusi is a lesser one. He comes in search of support against the mightier, more ambitious Tusi's the region. ErTai not only has the military background, his surname is also Fucha."

"Is that important?"

"Nineth uncle had led the successful campaign in the past. It was won but not without great cost. Uncle had noted that part of the problem was our army's lack of familiarity with the local terrain and climate."

"Ah. ErTai will surely pay attention to such important details."

"Yes."

"The other Tusi will also be aware of his name."

"Yes."

"It is a heavy responsibility."

"It is an honor," ErKang repeated his brother's earlier words.

"It is natural," ZiWei commented softly, "for you to worry for him."

"I do not doubt his abilities…"

"Then?"

"I worry for his happiness."

She turned so as to examine his expression, "has ErTai indicated…"

ErKang shook his head, "no."

"You cannot be certain that he and the princess would not be suited for one another."

"Can they be truly happy though? Knowing on both ends that their marriage is not without ulterior motives?"

"What marriage is truly without other implications?"

"It just seems so contrived, so...cold, a mere business transaction."

"Oh ErKang." ZiWei shook her head, "the practical bounds of their marriage will not preclude happiness."

"I had never thought of myself as a romantic." ErKang admitted ruefully.

"You must be truly happy then."

"What?"

She just smiled at him.

"If I have given you reason to doubt…"

"You haven't." ZiWei interrupted him firmly.

"And I never will," he vowed.

"A true romantic," she teased.

"Optimist," he answered, his frown beginning to reverse into a smile.

"Fate has been kind to me."

"I did not think you believed in fate."

She chuckled, "but you do. Perhaps it's simply ErTai's fate."

"I wish he had been given a choice."

"You would not have been. Had I never appeared, Huang Ah Ma would have eventually arranged something for you." She reminded him.

He sighed.

"ErTai will have a choice to make though."

"Oh?"

"Fate provides the circumstances, but surely our reactions remain our own."

"Fate or Huang Ah Ma?" He asked after a moment.

Such questions were dangerous, even spoken quietly between the two of them. "In our world, is there often a difference?"

He breathed out, "it is cold."

She nodded agreeably and followed him indoors.

"Have you spoken to ErTai?" she murmured as she lay in his arms.

"I am uncertain how to broach the topic."

"He will appreciate your honesty and concern, I think."

"I will think on it."

"ErTai is of a more practical nature than I am," he shared with her a week later.

"You do not seem surprised," he added after studying her expression.

"He has done remarkably well standing on his own two feet."

"Whereas in the past he lived either in my or Yongqi's shadow." He completed her thought.

"Neither you nor brother are the sort to make him feel lesser in comparison, but...people talk."

"In some ways, he is less naive than I am."

"Less idealistic, yes." ZiWei answered thoughtfully, "both of you are observant, but in addition to what is, you also see what could be."

"I had not fully realized the privilege of philosophy."

"A privilege of birth order."

"I wonder...if eighth uncle resented nineth uncle."

She looked up from the chess board in surprise. "Your uncles' relationship was very different from that of you and ErTai."

"I know. Had they been closer, perhaps…"

ZiWei shook her head, "we are not always rational creatures."

ErKang sighed, "I do not know which is worse, to have thought of An-er as Huang Ah Ma's son or to know that he is eighth uncle's….either way is a scandal."

"Does it matter? In the records, I am E Niang's daughter."

"I'm sorry, I had not thought…"

ZiWei shook her head, "I knew the consequences of my choice...E Niang suggested it to provide me with protection. Eighth uncle...he means only to do the same for An-er. No matter how An-er came to be, eighth uncle's care of him has not and will not waver."

"Ah Ma once said that eighth uncle may not be the most gifted, but he is in possession of a kind heart."

"One could say," ErKang added after he made his move, "that his kindness brought about this mess."

"I trust he had no malicious intent."

"Which we cannot say about…"

"Let us not speak ill of the dead," she interrupted softly.

ZiWei studied the board before concluding their game.

"Someday...I may win against you."

ZiWei shook her head, "you were distracted."

ErKang shook his head, "I admit freely to my deficits."

In lieu of replying, she set about returning the pieces to their containers.

When she stood to return the board to its cupboard, he unexpectedly drew her into his arms.

"What's wrong?" She murmured into his shirt.

"Nothing...I'm just...grateful."

She returned his hug, "fortunately, unrequited love is something we do not understand."

Princess SaiYa proved a strong willed young lady, her inner competitiveness enhanced with her father's indulgence. She had little patience for tea and polite conversation. Heedless of propriety, she was more often found on the hunting grounds or even in the martial training yard.

The ladies of the court murmured amongst themselves, uncertain what to make of the foreign princess. But as the emperor only laughed at reports of the princess's disappointment that no guard truly met her challenges, the ladies could say little to censure the princess.

Ling Gui Fei, ZiWei could tell, found the princess amusing. As did, it seemed, ErTai.

It was an odd sort of courtship, as the two fought more often than not. ErTai took the princess's glares in stride.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're purposefully provoking her," ErKang commented when they had met the princess in the palace and she purposefully turned her nose up at their bows and walked the other way.

ErTai merely shrugged, "maybe I am."

"With seven older brothers, it's unsurprising that the princess should favor more active pursuits."

ErTai chuckled, "if tales are true, all her brothers are terrified of her."

"But you're not?"

ErTai shrugged again, "she may be willful and spoiled, but I find her rather refreshing compared to all the proper ladies."

"Good."

"I know my duty," ErTai reminded his brother.

"ErTai…"

ErTai was not eager to rehash their previous conversation, "She seems irked now, but I am hoping that my refusal to ease my abilities for the sake of her vanity will help me stand out among potential suitors."

"And you?"

"She is beautiful." ErTai allowed.

"Even when she's angry?"

"Especially when she's angry." ErTai said with a carelessness that made ErKang shake his head.

"I don't understand it." He commented to ZiWei later that day.

"Because you are content with a peaceful life." She replied serenely.

"And ErTai would not be?"

ZiWei chuckled, "must I remind you that your brother chooses to stay in closer proximity to his soldiers even when the comforts at XueShiFu are readily available to him?"

"What has that to do with the princess?"

"The princess is no stranger to unrest. She overestimates her own abilities, but only because no one has truly taken the time to show her her limits. ErTai sees it too. It's not so different from how he would treat some of the more troublesome recruits."

"I had thought that he might be showing an interest…"

"He is not obliged to love her." She reminded him.

At his sigh, she reached to hold his hand, "most marriages are meant to be mutually beneficial to the two families involved. That the princess has been allowed any voice in the matter bodes well for ErTai's future in Tibet."

"You would have made a capable politician," her husband observed after a considering silence.

ZiWei laughed, "You think too well of me."

"I mean it," he insisted.

She smiled at him, "I too enjoy a peaceful life."

Later that night, as she lay curled in his embrace and listened to the steadiness of his breathing, she thought again on his words. She was privileged, she knew, to possess such happiness. A small part of her, entrenched in the belief that she was born of genuine affection, agreed with ErKang's hopes for ErTai.

She had thought that her mother must have loved her father. But she was also YuFei's daughter and, in donning the persona, had learned to see with her mind as well as her heart.

Her mother...such price she paid for a fleeting romance. Her love had condemned her but also, ZiWei thought, saved her. Her mother had continued to love out of necessity.

Ling Gui Fei had also loved. The name FuHeng was never actually spoken, but ZiWei was privy to enough women's gossip, both in the palace and among the FuCha family, to guess. Ling Gui Fei loved, but did not let it consume her.

Unlike ErQing, unlike the belated Niohuru HuangHou. No, Ling Gui Fei retained her reasoning. As such, she was well matched for the emperor.

ZiWei had heard others call her father heartless. As a favored daughter, she thought she knew better. But she had learned that as a ruler, her father could not afford to show weakness. He was the closest thing to a god in their world, and such status demanded that he shield the most human part of him.

ErKang stirred slightly but did not wake. His hold on her loosened as he settled into a deeper sleep. She took the opportunity to turn and face him.

She wondered sometimes, if it was wise, for him to show affection for her so openly. Surely he knew that the FuCha family was not without its enemies. She was so obviously his weakness. But then, after the events of the summer, surely only a fool would make such a miscalculation. She had shielded her father from that knife unthinkingly, her body moving before her mind had a chance to comprehend the images before her eyes. The consequences of her actions is such that few would be willing to risk the emperor's wrath if any harm came to her. Her father's favor was the best way she knew to ensure ErKang's peace of mind.

As such, she could not fail to see the implications of the Tusi's obvious indulgence of his daughter. ErTai was surely not ignorant of such effects either. As his friend and sister, ZiWei hoped ErTai could be happy. But as a princess, ZiWei knew that the success of the marriage did not necessitate it. Still...she would make more of an effort to get to know the princess, both to satisfy her own curiosity and to pave the road for a smoother transition when they returned to BeiJing.

She hadn't expected the princess to seek her company. Indeed, she had been surprised that the princess had agreed to attend the event to admire the new blossoms in the Imperial Gardens at all.

"You are Fucha ErTai's sister-in-law."

ZiWei blinked at being addressed in such a manner before straightening from her admiration of a blossom, "Yes."

"Your reputation as a model young woman precedes you."

ZiWei inclined her head, the picture of shy modesty.

"FuCha ErTai holds tremendous respect for you."

"He treats me as a child," the princes continued petulantly.

ZiWei was careful to keep her lips from quirking into a smile, "If ErTai has been impolite to your highness…"

SaiYa waved a hand, "I have had enough of politeness."

"Then…"

"He treats you as an equal," the princess's tone was accusatory.

"He was best friends with my belated brother," ZiWei explained, "I'm sure he is only being courteous in my brother's memory."

"Hmmp." the princess did not seem convinced.

"Has the princess enjoyed your stay in BeiJing?" ZiWei asked to diffuse the princess's ill mood.

"It is very different from home but...exciting in its own way I suppose, though the people are so much more stuffy."

ZiWei made no effort to hide her smile this time.

"People should just say what they mean," the princes declared, "instead of talking in flowery riddles. Especially ErTai. He knows it makes me feel stupid."

ZiWei suspected she wasn't meant to hear the latter two sentences.

"You are probably a master at poetry and verse."

"Huang Ah Ma prizes education, even for his daughters." ZiWei replied simply.

The princess opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again.

"Teach me."

"Princess?" Though SaiYa's tone had been one of command, ZiWei saw uncertainty in the younger lady's gaze.

"I am not a fool and refuse to be treated as one."

"If gongzhu wished to learn, I'm sure lessons with Ji Shi Fu could be arranged for the course of your visit…"

"No. I want you to teach me."

"Gongzhu must be aware that I am not a scholar…"

"I have no use for stuffy old men inflated with a false sense of superiority."

"Ji Shi Fu is not…"

"It has to be you," the princess stated decidedly.

ZiWei acquiesced easily, "As gongzhu wishes."

"Good."

The princess did not stay long after their conversation. After her departure, ZiWei found herself on the receiving end of many curious glances.

"The princess wished to learn more about our culture," ZiWei explained succinctly.

"And being closest in age with her, you are the logical candidate," Ling Gui Fei declared.

"And having been through the process of adjustment yourself, you are best suited to provide her guidance," Consort Qing commented softly.

ZiWei smiled to indicated her agreement.

"Though I urge you, ZiWei," Consort Shu insisted, "not to allow her to treat you with any disrespect. You are a princess of the Qing Dynasty."

"Princess SaiYa is blunt but harbors no ill-will. She is honestly curious."

Consort Shu did not seem convinced but at Ling Gui Fei's look, held her tongue.

ZiWei found the princess an impatient but determined pupil. As the days passed, a friendship also developed and ZiWei came to realize that SaiYa's brashness hid an insightful mind.

"What is it like, being married?"

ZiWei looked up from her own calligraphy to see SaiYa propping her head on a hand, her ink brush abandoned for the moment.

"Has Huang Ah Ma asked for a decision?"

SaiYa looked at her shrewdly, "You and I both know the decision had been made before I ever set foot in this city. All the festivities...they are part of the charade; opportunities for our people to show off and compete in a seemingly friendly manner."

ZiWei dipped her head in acknowledgement.

"I do so hate being told what to do." SaiYa grumbled.

"And yet you came to BeiJing anyways."

"It's my duty," SaiYa shrugged, "just as it's my duty to show that my people are not barbarians."

She scowled at the paper in front of her, "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

ZiWei frowned, "It's not like ErTai to provide insult…"

"Oh, not him." SaiYa said, "he is always polite. It's maddening, that I can't ruffle his cool demeanor."

"Then…"

"Your dynasty is mighty," SaiYa grudgingly admitted, "the arrogance of your ministers is annoying but not without reason."

"Not everyone is so dismissive of other cultures." ZiWei felt obliged to defend her countrymen.

"I know," SaiYa paused before adding, "I think I'll like being sisters."

ZiWei was touched at the sentiment.

"Being married requires more honesty than I ever expected," she offered.

"I do not think you to be capable of lies."

ZiWei chuckled at SaiYa's look of surprise, "I meant merely that I cannot expect ErKang to read my thoughts at all times. He is insightful but...not all powerful."

"I do not think I will have issue sharing my opinions."

"Then you must take care to listen to ErTai's."

"If he will even share them with me."

Ah, ZiWei thought she understood. "You want this marriage to succeed."

SaiYa pulled at one of her braids, "I want this alliance to prove fruitful."

"It's alright to want something for yourself as well." ZiWei kept her voice soft.

"It's a foolish notion." She picked up her brush.

"Not at all." ZiWei's answer made SaiYa look up again, "you and ErTai...your union is one of political bartering, but you are more than your nations."

The announcement of the betrothal between Princess SaiYa and the second young master of the FuCha household surprised no one. That the princess demanded her future husband's accompaniment during one of her habitual rides garnered no attention, commonplace as it had become.

When he returned to XueShiFu, ErTai sought out ZiWei.

"What did you say to her?"

At ZiWei's look, JinSuo withdrew.

Only then did ZiWei turn to her brother-in-law, "what do you mean?"

"She…"

ZiWei put down the needle in her hand and studied him. Was he...blushing?

"You should be used to SaiYa's bluntness by now."

"Her bluntness is one thing…"

ZiWei tilted her head, he was most definitely blushing, "what happened?"

"She…she kissed me!"

ZiWei blinked once before saying, "Well, you seem none the worse for it."

He looked at her incredulously and could only sputter.

She turned back to her embroidery, "Would you rather she kissed someone else?"

"ZiWei! This is no time for teasing!"

"I'm not," she looked up at him again, "the two of you are to be married. Some things you must sort out between you."

"ZiWei!"

She took pity on him, "SaiYa does not expect you suddenly to proclaim your undying affection for her, she only wishes to be treated as an equal."

ErTai finally paused in his pacing, "Huh."

"I admit, her methods are...unorthodox…"

ErTai snorted at her choice of words.

ZiWei continued on as though she had not heard his reaction, "you would have realized eventually."

"It'd be so much simpler if she were a normal princess…"

"But it would be a lot less interesting."

"I'm glad someone is entertained."

She smiled unrepentantly at him even as he grimaced at her in response.

"Brother would have teased you even more."

ErTai winced at the truth of her statement.

"He taught you well."

ZiWei's smile widened.

"You are not to tell ErKang."

"Are you asking me to keep secrets from my husband?"

"ZiWei…"

She laughed at his expression, "I am not so cruel."

He nodded and rose to depart. At the doorway, he turned back, "I mean to do right by her."

"I know you will."

"Though...I may need your words of wisdom along the way."

"She is to become my sister and I have grown fond of her."

He nodded, "thank you."

She watched him go and felt something settle in her heart.

"Xiaojie?"

She smiled at JinSuo, "we shall not have a dull moment, when they make BeiJing their permanent home."

"FuJin will need the intervening year to come to terms with having a daughter-in-law such as Princess SaiYa."

ZiWei chuckled. Her mother-in-law was kind, but SaiYa could be a force of nature onto herself.

"Just as well that Huang Ah Ma means to gift them with their own estate."

"XiaoJie has done much for them."

ZiWei just smiled, "I have meddled enough. They still need to sort things out themselves."

ErKang had told her he would he late in returning to their chambers that night. ZiWei did not begrudge the brothers their time together. After all, ErKang was surely the better one to offer advice about being a husband. She thought again on SaiYa's daring and bit her lip. An idea had formed in her mind but she didn't know if she was brave enough to make it more than a fleeting thought. She turned onto her side, looking at the space ErKang normally occupied. Sitting up suddenly, she decided to set her plan into motion before she lost her nerve.

ErKang found their rooms dark when he returned. He was glad ZiWei had not waited. As quietly as he could, he removed his outer layers and slipped beneath the covers. He reached out to hold her, as he always did, and felt his breath quicken when his fingers met bare skin.

ZiWei heard his intake of breath and rolled so as to straddle him before capturing his lips with her own. She could taste the remnants of wine on his lips and feel his hands roaming across her skin. She had been frightened of her own daring, but now...she just felt greedy.

"ZiWei...what…"

She had released his lips momentarily, the better to attack the fastenings of his clothing.

"It only seems fair," ZiWei murmured, "that we should be in equal states of undress."

"ZiWei…" his voice gave way to a moan when she held him in hand.

He could feel her lips curve into a smile as she rubbed his hardness against her wetness.

He gripped at her hips, trying to reposition them. She grabbed his wrists in response and pinned them by his ears. It would be easy to break free of her hold, but he found himself curious as to her next move. She didn't have him wait long. She paused an additional breath, to ensure his compliance, before reaching down and taking him in hand again.

He moaned as he felt her heat envelope him.

She rocked against him, setting her own pace. He wondered if she was purposefully torturing him with such an agonizingly slow rhythm.

ZiWei closed her eyes, the better to feel him. Her wetness paved the way but she still felt the stretch of her body as it accommodated him within her. Her earlier apprehension at such an impulsive plan faded, replaced by a feeling of completeness. She could feel ErKang trying to hasten her pace, but she was not yet ready to cede control.

"ZiWei...please…"

She allowed herself a smile at the pleading in his voice. It was quite intoxicating, she decided, as she pressed on his chest for better leverage.

ErKang lifted his head ineffectually, at once frustrated and so terribly aroused. He didn't know what had possessed his wife, but, after recovering from his initial shock, found that he had no complaints about her behavior. It was gratifying, really, to be shown that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. His head laid back again as a groan escaped him at the way she twisted her hips slightly.

He had thought that his want for her might become more manageable after almost a year of marriage. He was wrong. His love for her deepened the more familiar they became with each other. His lust for her also did not dim. The mere thought of her still set his pulse racing. She had gradually lost her shyness as he diligently learned her body but today was the first time she had so openly initiated such an encounter. He hoped it would not be the last.

She made little noises in the back of her throat as he slid in and out, sounds that added to his pleasure and impatience.

Finally he couldn't take it anymore.

ZiWei was unsurprised at the alacrity with which ErKang overpowered her and reversed their positions. His touch was authoritative as he lifted her legs onto his shoulders. She shivered at his show of strength. She gripped the sheets and bit her lip, expecting him to claim her fully. Instead, she felt his finger rub against her most sensitive spot.

"ErKang…" she couldn't keep a plaintive tone from her voice.

"I'm only being fair," ErKang remarked even as he slid his finger further down, but not into the place she most wanted it.

He teased her, spreading her slickness without ever penetrating her.

She couldn't see his expression in the darkness but thought that he must have such a look of mischievousness. She ached for him in a way that made her shameless. Reaching down, she grabbed his hand. Before he could react, she had plunged his finger into herself. It was not as filling as she truly wanted, and so she tugged on another finger to join the first. She sighed at the improvement.

So caught up in her own pleasure, she almost missed the changes in her husband's breathing. He turned his face and impulsively kissed one of her ankles where it was still propped on his shoulder. Despite herself, a giggle escaped at the tickling sensation.

"ZiWei...I want to feel you come undone…"

How husky his voice was. She didn't need light to know that he must be looking at her in an almost feral manner.

In answer, she groaned and released his fingers to rub against herself. ErKang made no movements to withdraw his hand but just waited as her movements became more erratic. He could feel the tension in her body build.

"So...close…" she managed to gasp.

"Yes...come on ZiWei…"

"I need...oh!"

He felt her spasm around his fingers, heard as her breathing reached a crescendo before slowly evening out once more. Only then did he remove his fingers from her. Nonetheless, his movements earned a whimper from her sensitized body.

"And now.." he whispered as he changed their position so that he hovered above her. Her legs wrapped around his waist of their own accord.

"ErKang..."

He could feel her shudder, having not yet fully recovered. But she didn't push him away.

He let himself become seated in her, relishing in the feeling, before withdrawing until just the tip remained within her. She tilted her hips towards him with a whimper but he held back as long as he could before plunging back into her. The sound of her moan was lost in his own.

"ZiWei…" he wanted to possess her utterly and told her as much in broken whispers.

The way she clung to him...he couldn't hold back anymore. How was it possible that as well as he had gotten to know her body, he still couldn't seem to get enough? But...she was proving to be just as insatiable. The thought and the feel of her around him drove him to his release.

She curled into his arms afterwards, fitting as perfectly as she has always done, was always meant to do.

"What…"

"I just...wished to." ZiWei knew what he wanted to ask.

"Well, my dear wife, in the future, should you ever simply wish to again, you will find me a willing partner in your desires."

She reached down to where his hands were clasped around her abdomen, holding her securely against him, and laced their fingers together.

"I take great pleasure," ErKang continued, "in ensuring your satisfaction."

She sighed contentedly.

"ZiWei?"

"Hmmm?" She was not too sleepy to be aware of his voice.

"Shan wu leng... tian di he...and I still would not part from you."

She squeezed his hands as he kissed the nape of her neck tenderly.

"In this and every other lifetime, I will always find you."

"ErKang…" words failed her as she turned. She wished it weren't so dark. She released his hands so that she could find his face. Pressing her lips to his gently, she hugged him close.

The festivities surrounding the wedding of Princess SaiYa and Fucha ErTai were many and varied. Despite the sadness of the occasion, however, ZiWei was in part glad of the respite that the departure of the newlyweds imparted. She really was more fond of a quieter life.

Spring passed into summer and on a quiet evening, ErKang found ZiWei with a pensive look on her face as she sat in her qiuqian.

"Would you like me to push you?"

ZiWei shook her head, "I fear it might make me nauseous."

A look of alarm crossed his features. How had he not noticed that she was ill? "Are you unwell? Should I send for a taiyi?"

She shook her head again and made to reassure him, "You've been very busy with the case Huang Ah Ma assigned you. Besides, Hu taiyi already made an assessment."

He grew even more worried, it wasn't like her to summon the royal physician for nothing "ZiWei…"

"JinSuo insisted."

"ZiWei…" the worry in his voice did not lessen. JinSuo also was not someone who would over-react.

She glanced up at him, "I fear you will have to make some accommodations in the months ahead."

"What?"

She grasped his hand and pressed it against her abdomen, "Hu taiyi says any fatigue or nausea is only temporary."

He glanced from his hand to the slight smile on her face, "ZiWei…truly?"

She nodded, "You do have 10 months to learn to share my attentions."

"ZiWei…" a dazzling smile spread across his face, "a child...our child…"

Her smile broadened at his reaction, "Yes…"

He grasped her hands and tenderly dropped kisses upon them, "my wonderful, beautiful ZiWei…"

She laughed at his silliness as she moved to stand, "Do stop kneeling on the ground."

He did as she bid and almost immediately drew her into his arms, "You have made me so very happy."

She hugged him close, "I'm glad."

He lifted her into his arms suddenly.

"ErKang!"

He just grinned at her, "come, we must share the good news with Ah Ma and E Niang!"

"I am perfectly capable of walking."

"But now you are also carrying our child...I will not have you over exert yourself."

"Walking such a short distance barely counts as exertion," she protested.

He shook his head stubbornly.

"Oh you silly man…"

Seeing the softening of her expression, however, he knew she had capitulated.

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, his grip on her tightening, "I really am so very happy."

She wrapped her arms around his neck in response.

"As am I."

He pressed another kiss to her lips.

"Did you not wish to share the news?" She murmured softly.

"Yes…"

The look in his eyes, however, spoke of another intent.

She felt the familiar stirrings of longing within herself, "ErKang…"

"I do not wish to do anything to bring harm to you or our child…"

"It would not," she reassured him.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes," she flushed, "I've been perusing various texts...and Hu taiyi was also very frank in his counsel."

He smiled a little, of course she would do her research. "Then…"

She looked up again, "ErKang…" she bit her lower lip, "I want you…"

"Your wish is my command," he managed to whisper before hurrying as well as he could back to their quarters.

Behind closed doors, however, he laid her gently down on their bed and just took a moment to look at her.

She smiled up at him, "I've read that in the early part of pregnancy, there is a period of time during which my desire for intimacy may be enhanced."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Is it one of the accommodations you spoke of?"

"Perhaps."

He smiled at the sparkle in her eyes.

"Hmmm…" he bent down so that he could see her individual lashes, "I think I will prove a most accommodating husband…"

She was smiling when his lips met hers.

He unwrapped her, feeling giddy just like he had on their wedding night as her skin was revealed to him. Was it his imagination, or had she grown even more beautiful? She was practically glowing. He kissed his way down her neck to the swell of her chest. She sighed at the familiar aching in her breasts. When his tongue laved her nipples, first one, then the other, she couldn't help but hold his head in place. She could feel him chuckle against her skin as he redoubled his attention to them.

"ErKang…"

He raised his head briefly to meet her eyes, "Let me show you just how happy you have made me…"

He lowered his lips to her skin again, slowly trailing down to her abdomen and navel. The thought that their child, the product of his seed within her, was growing beneath his lips sent a thrill through him. He hadn't realized the thought could be so arousing.

"My dear child…" he whispered, in part to distract himself, "you mother is the most amazing and perfect creature in the world. You are so very lucky that she is your E Niang."

"And you will prove a most wonderful Ah Ma," he heard ZiWei's voice.

He smiled up at her before ducking his head again, "you must not give your E Niang much trouble, you hear me? I may love you already with all my heart, but your E Niang will always be first in my world."

ZiWei's breath hitched, both at his words and at the path his lips were taking.

The smell her arousal had become familiar to him, but he still felt amazed every time at her lushness. As her thighs fell apart to allow him better access, he felt so very grateful that she was his. He used his hand to spread her lips, feeling her wetness coat his fingertips. The taste of her on his tongue was one that he had come to crave. And now...she was to be the mother of his child…

He knew, of course, when they married, that she would be. But with the idea becoming reality...he had underestimated just how much it would please him to have a physical way of showing the world that she was very much his.

"ErKang…"

The sound of her voice brought him back to the moment. He wiped at his mouth before raising himself up to press his lips to hers again. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and heard her moan. He kissed her thoroughly before pulling away again.

"Could you taste yourself, ZiWei?" His own voice was breathless. "I can't get enough of you...the feel of your skin, the sound of your moans, the taste of your essence…"

He grasped her hand and placed it on his hardness, "feel how much I want you…"

Her gaze locked with his as she whimpered at his words.

"Please...ErKang…"

He moaned as her grip tightened. "As you wish…"

He was careful as he slid into her, feeling her encompass him little by little.

"How welcoming you are…" he couldn't help but whisper.

"Yes…just for you…"

Her words caused him to shudder. Yes, just for him.

"ZiWei…" he didn't hurry because there was no need. He just wanted to feel her.

ZiWei held on to him, her body seemed more sensitized in her current state.

"ErKang…" her ability to express herself with words was soon lost in the feelings he wrought in her.

"It seems wrong to enjoy such pleasures so much," she murmured to him afterwards.

He chuckled as his arms closed about her abdomen. "I'm glad. And I look forward to being creative as you grow in size."

"You would still desire me?"

"Of course!" How could he make her understand? "It pleases me more than I can say to look at you and see the physical manifestation of our love."

"Oh."

"Is that wrong?"

"It's certainly very possessive."

"Which I am, as you are well aware."

She nestled into his embrace in response.

"This child will have a generous spirit, for he shall have to learn to share from the moment he draws breath."

"And if we should have a daughter?"

"Hmmm?"

"Certain things are better suited as secrets just between mother and daughter."

"I suppose I can allow that, but you shall have to make it up to me."

"Indeed?"

He let his hand wander towards her slickness again, "Yes."

"ErKang…" she couldn't help her shuddering, but also couldn't deny how very good it felt.

"It is just as well," he murmured into her ear, "that your desires may be enhanced, for I know mine already is."

"I did not think that was possible," She barely managed to speak the words.

He moaned at the way her bottom rubbed against him, "my dear ZiWei...let me assure you that it is most definitely possible."

It took a little maneuvering, but he managed to successfully slide into her while still spooning her.

"ErKang…"

He kissed the nape of her neck, still teasing the most sensitive part of her, "Yes?"

"I think I like your creativity."

He chuckled darkly even as he made sure to please her as thoroughly as he could. Her moans and cries added immensely to his own satisfaction.

She made a half hearted attempt to move, but he held her securely, his softening member still sheathed within her.

"I do love you so," he murmured.

She sighed softly, "oh ErKang…"

They lay in comfortable silence before he said, "If we are to have a daughter, she will be impossibly spoiled. For, like with her mother, I will find myself unable to deny her much."

ZiWei shook her head, "and there goes my plans to have you be the source of discipline in our household."

She could feel the rumble in his chest as he chuckled, "hmmm, I suppose we shall have to share such responsibilities."

She smiled, amused at the ease of his compromise.

"Together, we'll manage."

She sighed again in contentment. "Yes, together."