Warning: swearing and fighting violence

Chapter Nine: Golden Flower of Imperial City

The crowd in the Imperial City was packed, and Ping found it challenging to maneuver through with his large horse. The crowd was pushing on, trying to get to the palace, the celebration was in full swing. He could see the dragon float disappearing beyond the great doors of the palace.

Khan let out a loud whinny and nickered as he stomped the ground and backed up as people started to crowd past him. Ping patted his horse to comfort him, "All right, I'll have to get you to a stable, so you don't have to deal with this." He scanned the area and found one nearby. He exhaled in relief and got off his horse and led him through the crowd to the stable. "Can you take my horse in for tonight?"

The stableman turned, just about to lock up. "Uh," He glanced at the large horse hovering over a tiny, yet beautiful man. "I am about to close up, didn't you hear? We've been saved from the Huns, and we're celebrating tonight!"

Ping rolled his eyes and bit out. "Yes, yes, I know. I was there when the Huns were defeated. Please, I need a place for my horse tonight. The crowd is too much for him."

The man gawked at Ping, "You're a soldier!? You don't look like it." He gave him a look over, "alright, luckily for you, I have one stall left." He pushed his doors open and led Ping and Khan in. Ping thanked the man and tossed him a small coin bag and left with shouting over his shoulder, "thanks a lot! I expect Khan to be given good care! I'll pay you more if I am satisfied with your service." And he was gone.

Ping pushed his way through the crowd and saw that he would not make it through the main gate. He spotted a smaller gate in the distance and changed his direction. He panted as he reached the smaller gate and saw two burly sentry standing guards. "Hey," He waved at them and went up to them. "Soldier Fa Ping, from Captain Li Shang army. I need to get in. I need to speak to Captain Li."

The sentry glanced down at him and gave him a look over. "If you're a soldier of Captain Li Shang's camp, you should've already been inside. Sorry. I can't let you pass. Besides, where is your armor?"

Ping looked down to his tunic and pants and cursed under his breath. He was wearing civilian clothes. His uniform had been bloodied and left behind in the last village at the bottom of the Tung Shao Pass when he changed out of them favoring clean clothes to wear into the Imperial City. His armors were buried in the mountain under the snow.

"Get out of here." the other sentry told him and waved his hand to shoo him away.

Ping turned and walked down the street and paced, trying to think of another way to get in the palace. He has to warn Shang, the Huns were already in the city. Most likely in the palace.

"Come on! We need to get back! The Emperor is going to start the ceremony soon, and we have to be present!" Ping heard women giggle and looked up to see a group of four finely dressed concubines rushing out of a building. An idea came to him, and he went over to the women.

"Hey!"

The women paused and giggled as they got a look at him. One whispered, "my, my. He's really handsome!"

"So handsome that he could be beautiful." Another whispered back and giggled.

One stepped forward and coyly ran his finger on Ping's shirt, "yes? What do you want?" She batted her eyes and giggled.

Ping smirked, "I need your help." He then told the women of his dilemma and what he needed to do.

The sentry nudged the other one and gestured to the group of women approaching them. "They've come back."

"If the Emperor knew his wives go out to drink nearly every night, he'd lose his head." The other sentry laughed. He bowed his head to the women approaching, "Ladies."

Ping held the fan to his face and smiled as he went past. The concubines had agreed to help him and got him a gown and dressed him up and painted his face with make-up. They had learned that he was a nan dan and no one could tell if he was a man once they were finished. The sentry that had denied him passage earlier eyed him, ogling his slender form as he floated by. He reached out and caressed the man's cheek and gave it a sharp slap and laughed as the man squawked and ogled some more. It was too easy.

"They fell for it." One of the concubines squealed as they hurried to the palace, stealing through the back garden.

Ping laughed and bowed as they entered the palace, "thank you for your help. I'm going to find Captain Li."

The concubines waved and left, going to their rooms. Ping walked down the hallway, searching and keeping a watch out for any guards. He did not want to run into one of them unless they were from Captain Li's army. He stopped as he heard voices beyond the paper walls and listened. He grinned, recognizing few voices chattering in the room. He hurried around the corner to find the way in the room. He found the door and entered to see about half of the men from camp in the room, eating a grand meal.

"Oh! Hey, a concubine!" one of the men shouted.

"Come on in! We haven't seen a woman in a long time!" another leered.

Ping gave a glare and searched the room for someone and spotted Captain Li sitting at the far end. He looked bored and poking at his dish. His heart melted at sight, Shang had not wanted to leave him behind in the mountain. Chi Fu had been a pain in the ass. He smirked and held up the fan to his face, fluttering it. He quickly moved through the room, sidestepping the ogling men with grace and nimble feet. He made it to the Captain's side and floated down to his knees.

"I am not interested." the Captain told him without a glance and took a drink from his cup. "I have already told the Emperor that I do not wish for any concubines."

Ping bit his lips to keep from laughing and picked up the wine bottle to fill his cup. "Oh," he replied in his stage voice, sounding like a woman, "he did not send concubines."

Shang frowned at the familiar voice and turned his head to see 'her' and his eyes widened, recognizing the laughing eyes of his lover over the fan that hid his face. "Ping!"

Several men turned their heads and shouted. Fang got up and pulled Ping up in a bear hug and laughed, "Ping! You're here and alive!"

Ping winced and laughed, "yes… ouch!"

Shang glared and stood up, grabbing Ping out of Fang's arms, "hands off!" Fang laughed and held his hands up in defeat. He turned to Ping and asked, "how? How did you get here and why are you dressed like a concubine? Are you all right?"

Ping shook his head and held his side, "I think I have broken ribs, but I am fine." He pushed his hands on Shang's chest to put some space between them. "The Huns! They're in the city! They didn't get killed in the pass!"

Shang stared as the men around him murmured. "The avalanche. No one could survive that." He then paused before replying, "I saw you get buried too… you shouldn't be alive either."

"I know." Ping shook his head, recalling how he had struggling to get out of the freezing snow. "I got lucky. That's beside the point, I saw them coming out of the snow too. They're here somewhere."

"Shit." Shang looked to his men and frowned. "The ceremony is going to begin soon." He turned back to Ping and grasped him by the arms, "are you absolutely sure they're in the city? Have you seen them?"

Ping shook his head, his long hair swaying violently behind him. "No. I just know they are here."

"I can't take that," Shang said.

"We should proceed with the ceremony and keep a lookout," Fang suggested. He gestured to Ping. "He can check around the palace during the ceremony to make sure they're not here."

Shang nodded, "yes. He can pass off as a concubine. Is that how you got in?" He asked.

Ping nodded, and said, "I couldn't get in the gate. It was crowded out there. I took the side gate with a group of concubines. It was easy enough."

"Too easy… shit."

Ping's eyes widened, remembering the sentries at the small gate. They had looked a bit odd and behaved unusual for sentries. "The sentries! I smacked one of them as I got in, his face was rugged, and he was ogling me. They were huge."

Shang clenched his fists, "They're not the sentries…" He looked up to see the palace guard and an officer come in.

"If you would please come with me, the ceremony is about to begin." the officer announced.

Shang held up his hand to single for the officer to hold on a moment and turned to the men, "keep alert."

The men rose to their feet and saluted, saying together, "yes, sir!"

Shang nodded to Fang to go with the others. "I'll be along soon."

Fang frowned in concerns, "alright, don't take too long."

Once they were alone, Shang turned to Ping and held him close, whispering in his ear, "I am glad to see you all right." He drew back and cupped Ping's face, "be careful."

Ping nodded and stood on his toes, kissing Shang on the lips and replied, "you too." They shared a brief, passionate kiss before breaking away. They left the room and parted in the hallway. Ping hurried along the maze-like hallways of the palace, checking each room as he passes them by. The Huns were nowhere to be found, and he cursed under his breath, wondering where they would hide.

"You! What are you doing here?" Ping's eyes widened and turned to see a guard approaching him. He swallowed and tried to think of an excuse, but the guard gestured to the front entrance to their side, "go on out there and stand by the Emperor."

He blinked, and it dawned on him that he had managed to make it to the front of the palace. He nodded and stepped outside and saw the other concubines lined up at the top of the stairs on the left, the Empress was to the right with her three daughters. The guard stepped out and took his post by the door, he gave Ping a look and gestured to the concubines. "Go on."

Ping nodded and quickly made his way to take his place beside the other concubines. One of them nudged him, and he recognized her as one who helped him earlier. She whispered under her breath, "did you find your Captain?"

"Yeah."

"Good." She winked and looked on.

Ping turned his head. Shang was at the bottom of the steps, waiting with his lieutenants, and the rest of the men were in the front of the crowd. The parade dancers were going on in the middle of the courtyard, and the city people have crowded around, watching the show. The dragon bobbed and moved with the music and weaved through the crowd.

Shang turned his head and saw Ping standing with the concubines, he shot a questioning look and Ping replied with a tiny shake of the head. He clenched his teeth and turned back, whispering to Fang. The gong rang, and they all turned to see the Emperor in a yellow robe, regal and wise, stepping out of his palace. He was tall and lean, with handsome, aging face and long thin beard from his chin. He almost seemed as if he floated as he moved down the steps. The crowd cheered, and the dragon weaved up the stairs and settled behind the Emperor.

Ping frowned slightly, wondering why the dragon had taken up the top steps of the stairs. He turned his head to observe, noticing that the dragon had clearly blocked the other guards and almost seemed to crowd around the Emperor.

"My children!" The Emperor held up his hand to silence the crowd and continued, his strong voice carrying over the large courtyard, reaching thousands of ears. "Heaven smiles down upon the Middle Kingdom! China will sleep safely tonight, thanks to our brave warriors!"

Shang took the jagged sword from Fang and stepped up to the Emperor, bowing and holding out the sword in an offer, "your Majesty, I present to you the sword of Shan-Yu."

The regal Emperor replied, "I know what this means to you, Captain Li." He reached to take the sword, "Your father would have been very proud."

Shang inhaled sharply, from the corner of his eye, he saw Ping moving and realized Ping had found the Huns. In an instant, the hawk screeched and swooped down, taking the sword from their hands. They turned to see the hawk carry the sword to the rooftop of the palace and Shan-Yu emerged from the shadow, grinning like a demon. He turned and shouted, "Emperor!"

Ping leaped down the stairs and landed beside the Emperor, surprising him as the dragon tore apart, revealing several Huns. He grabbed the Emperor by the arm and shouted, "Shang, watch out!"

Shang turned as he drew his sword. A large man came down at him, and they fought.

"What?" Emperor gasped.

"Come on, we got to get you to safety!"

"Who are you? You're not one of my concubines!" He noticed Ping and gasped as two of the Huns grabbed him and Ping and dragged them away into the palace.

Fang joined Shang, and they fought back to back. "The Emperor! And Ping!"

Shang looked up, "damn it!" He pushed the Hun off him and swept his sword, effectively killing the Hun with a slice across the neck. He ran up the stairs just in time as the great doors of the palace slammed shut. He had seen Ping shouting and kicking before the doors closed. He pounded his fist.

"Sir! We need to break down the doors!" Fang ran up to him and waved his arms for the men to join them. They took down a giant stone statue and started to use it as a battering ram.

Ping gasped as the Hun threw him down. He sat up and glared. The Emperor righted himself and faced the Huns. They had been taken to the balcony off the side of the throne room, overlooking the courtyard. Ping stood up and moved to the Emperor's side, "I'll protect you," he told him softly under his breath, watching the Huns glaring down at them.

The Emperor's eyes shifted to Ping and replied in the same fashion, "who are you?"

Not breaking his gaze from the Huns, Ping replied, "I'm one of Captain Li's men." He heard the Emperor take a sharp breath. But before he could say anything more, Shan-Yu came appeared from the rooftop and came down like a panther and stalked around them. He waved his hand to the other Huns to guard the doors.

"Your walls and armies have fallen. and now it's your turn." He growled to the Emperor and gave Ping a quick look before returning to the Emperor, "Bow to me!"

The Emperor held his ground and kept his head high, refusing to reply. Shan-Yu narrowed his yellow gaze and growled. He turned to Ping and grinned, "an extra prize." He reached out and drew a rough finger along Ping's painted face, "beautiful. I have seen your concubines," He glanced over to the Emperor and grasped Ping close, "this one is far more beautiful than the others."

Ping glared and turned his head away from his finger and pushed against Shan-Yu. The large Hun leader laughed and pulled Ping against him harshly. "Feisty, I like that. Women who fight back are the best."

Outside the palace door, the men worked hard to break down the door. Shang shook his head, "this is taking too long."

Fang asked, "then what would you suggest, Captain? There is no other way in."

Shang glanced around and murmured, "what would Ping do?" he spied the tall columns leading up to the balconies. "There. Fang, stay here with the men and keep breaking the door down. Chein-Po, Yao, and Ling come with me."

They ran to the columns and started to shimmy their way up and slipping over the edge onto the balconies. They moved silently, slipping inside the palace and making their way down the hallway. Shang held his hand up as they stopped, pausing. He looked around the corner and saw two large Huns guarding the doors. So, that's where Shan-Yu was holding the Emperor and Ping. He needed to get past them.

He moved back and whispered, "two men guarding, we need to distract them."

Ling gestured to a room across from where they stood, "in there." They hurried and closed the door. They had ended up in the concubines' room, and Yao held up silks, inspecting them. Ling took the silks from him and handed them to Shang, "concubine dresses. We can distract the Huns, dressed like concubines."

Shang looked bemused as he fingered the silk, "I don't think you will pass off as one as easily."

"Excuse me if I am not as pretty as Ping." Ling sarcastically replied and turned his nose up. Shang shook his head and gestured for them to go ahead. The three men hurriedly took their armors off and pulled on silks and presented themselves.

Groaning at how horrible the men looked, "If Ping were here, he might make you all look slightly better."

"Does this dress look fat on me?" Yao asked and got slapped in return.

They slipped out of the room and made their way across the hall. Shang held back and watched as the three men giggled and swayed down the hallway, hiding their face behind fans. He heard the Huns commenting how ugly the concubines were. He winced as Ping's apple fell down from under his dress.

Ling, Yao, and Chein-Po then attacked the men, using the fruits they had used to give them bosoms. The Huns were immediately knocked out. Shang stepped out and nodded his thanks to the men and gestured for them to stay and keep watch. He opened the door and glanced up the stairs to see Shan-Yu holding Ping close. Ping was grimacing and trying to push him away.

"I tire of your arrogance, old man. Bow to me!" Shan-Yu growled as he turned back to the Emperor, still holding onto squirming Ping. He thrust his sword toward the ruler and growled.

"No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it." Emperor calmly replied, standing his ground.

As he had been turned in Shan-Yu's arm, Ping was given a view of the stairs and saw Shang looking up and holding a finger to his mouth. He swallowed and stopped squirming. He heard Shan-Yu snarl, "then you will kneel in pieces!"

Shan-Yu quickly glanced down to the stairs, but Ping grabbed his face and pulled him into a kiss. He froze for a moment and gave a lustful growl, returning the kiss.

Shang froze as he saw Shan-Yu was about to turn to find him creeping up the stairs. He gasped as he saw Ping pull the man's face down to kiss him and he shuddered. He ran up and jumped, knocking Shan-Yu down, causing him to release Ping. The Emperor moved away quickly.

"Emperor! Down here!" The Chinese royalty saw the three men from Captain Li's army and hurried down the steps, leaving Shang to fight with Shan-Yu. He glanced up as he got to the bottom. He could see Ping getting up on his feet. "A woman in the army?"

Yao chuckled ruefully, "nope. He's one of ours. Pretty, isn't he?"

"I see." The Emperor replied and watched the battle.

Shang's sword clashed with Shan-Yu's sword. Shan-Yu knocked him down, and Shang returned with a kick to the abdomen and moved to strike, but Shan-Yu was fast, grabbing the Captain's wrist and throwing him over the balcony. However, Shang was equally swift and swung around the wooden pole and delivered a roundhouse kick to the head, knocking the bigger man down. They fought, beating each other in hand to hand combats.

Ping turned to the stairs and shouted, "Go! Take the Emperor away!" Chein-Po bowed and lifted the Emperor, apologizing, and they disappeared.

Shan-Yu had heard him and growled, "No!" He lifted Shang up and bashed his head against Shang's head, knocking him out. Ping gasped and stepped back as Shan-Yu threw Shang aside and stalked after him.

"You. You're more trouble than you are worth." He growled, "I think I'll have my way with you and kill you!" He reached to grab Ping, but Shang pushed him aside. He hissed and turned to Shang, "you! You took away my victory!"

Shang stepped back, holding his ground. He had no weapon, and Shan-Yu still had his sword. He blinked as Ping shouted, "No!" drawing their attention to the smaller man.

Ping lifted his face up and pulled his hair back. "I did."

Shan-Yu's eyes widened, recognizing him, "the soldier from the mountains." He then kicked Shang away and turned to go after Ping who ran down the stairs.

Ping slammed the doors shut behind him and winced as Shan-Yu's heavy body thudded against the door and started to pound the door apart.

He ran and skidded down the hall and gasped as he ran right into Shang who had gone over the next balcony and came around to another room. "Shang!"

"What's the plan?" Shang asked as he held Ping and they both turned to run. They could hear Shan-Yu yelling, and running, his heavy feet pounding in the next hallway.

"I am making this up as we go," Ping replied and grabbed Shang's arm to stop, gesturing to the open window. "There!"

Shang looked to find the tower full of fireworks for the celebration and nodded, "go, I'll lead him away."

"No." Ping grabbed Shang's face and kissed him quickly. "He is after me, I'll lead him. You get over there and set it up." Shang wanted to protest, but Ping kissed his lips again and ran.

Cursing for the umpteenth time in one night alone, Shang jumped out of the window and onto the roof, making his way to the tower where Ping had pointed out. He hoped there was something there that would work in the tower.

Ping ran and glanced over his shoulder to see Shan-Yu coming closer. He hitched the gown and turned sharply onto the balcony and jumped off, grabbing the roof across the building and swung onto the rooftop. He heard Shan-Yu growl and glanced down to see the hulking man disappear. He hurried across the roof and saw Shang in the tower, scrambling around to find something useful.

He looked down to his feet and quickly did the math, trying to gauge the best distance from the tower. He jumped back as Shan-Yu broke through the roof in front of him and leaped up. Ping stepped back and held his hands up to defend himself. Using his balance and grace, he moved backward on the narrow strip of wood. He tried to think if he had anything on him that he could use as a weapon.

"You!" Shan-Yu snarled and crept forward, raising his sword.

Ping stepped back, moving his hand to the back of his gown and slipped out a fan. He held it up, and the other man laughed darkly. He narrowed his eyes and spat, "you really believe that I am a woman?"

This threw Shan-Yu off. "What?"

"I am not." Ping spat, and grinned, snapping his fan open.

Shan-Yu chuckled, "look like you are out of ideas. You are most troublesome. I don't even want you anymore. You would be more pleasing to look at dead!" He jumped and thrust his sword toward Ping.

"Not quite! And get it into your head, I am not a woman!" The sword pierced his fan, and he quickly shut it close, twisting it out of Shan-Yu's grip and flipping it in the air, grabbing it. He held it up and glared down at Shan-Yu, having turned the table. He rushed toward the larger man and jumped, giving a roundhouse kick to the jaw, knocking him over. He stabbed the sword down, pinning Shan-Yu's tunic to the roof.

"Ping!" Shang yelled as he lit the rocket from the roof across. He had seen the whole face off and felt pride in his chest with how skillful Ping had handled Shan-Yu.

Ping gasped as he saw the rocket shot toward them and jumped out of the way. Shan-Yu looked up, and his eyes went wide as the rocket sped toward him face on. He yelled, and the rocket exploded, blowing a chunk of the roof away with him.

As soon as the smoke cleared, Shang searched the rooftop and gasped. Ping was nowhere to be seen. He leaned over the ledge and looked down on the ground in the front of the palace, Ping was lying on the ground, unmoving. He jumped off the roof and pulled his cape to sling over the rope that leads down to the ground from the roof and glided down. He hurried as he landed to Ping's side and knelt beside his lover, "Ping?" He reached out and touched Ping's shoulder.

Ping groaned softly. He had been blown off the roof from the impact and rolled down the slope of the roof to the ground at the base of the stairways roughly. He felt Shang turn him over and lift him up into the other man's lap. He opened his eyes and smiled. "Shang…" he winced, "that hurts."

Shang chuckled and pulled Ping into a tight embrace. "I'm glad you're alive. First the mountains and now this. I don't think I can handle having you in the army."

"You are right, I am not suited for war," Ping replied and held onto Shang for support.

They heard someone clearing his throat and looked up to see the Emperor looking down at them. They scrambled to their feet and bowed. "Your Majesty!" Shang started.

"That was a deliberate attempt on my life!" Chi Fu yelled as he came down the stairs. "He did it!" He gestured to Ping and Shang stepped to shield Ping. "That creature is not worth protecting! He deserves to answer for the troubles he caused!"

"Ping is a hero. He saved your sorry ass." Shang spat.

"He's a dishonorable man, look at him! In a dress!"

Shang grabbed Chi Fu by the collar and snarled, "Listen, you pompous…"

"Enough!" They turned to the Emperor who looked annoyed. Shang dropped Chi Fu and bowed his head, and the Emperor stepped up to them. He gestured for Shang to move aside and Ping bowed before the Emperor, biting his lips in nervousness.

"I have heard a great deal about you. Fa Ping." The Emperor said as he looked down at Ping who remained on the ground in a bow. "Stories of your time in the army camp and how you were supposed to leave but stayed and proved your abilities. Chi Fu had spun an interesting tale about you, and I am sure," He glanced over to the governor who looked elated at the thought of Ping being punished and continued, "half of what he reports aren't true." Chi Fu sputtered in surprise, and the Emperor ignored him, "with sneaking into my palace as a concubine, destroying my palace and putting yourself and Captain Li in danger." Ping winced, "You have saved us all. Both of you." He then bowed.

Chi Fu gasped and bowed. The army behind them fell to their knees. Shang and Ping looked over their shoulders to see the entire population of the city in the courtyard dropping to their knees, bowing to them in honor.

Ping grasped onto Shang's side and smiled up at him. He blinked, feeling tired and dizzy all the sudden and the pain was becoming overwhelming. He murmured softly, "Shang..." Everything went black, and he fell.

"Ping!" Shang cried as he grasped his lover in his arms, seeing that Ping had passed out.

The Emperor looked up concerned, "is he all right?"

Shang shook his head, "I hope so. Shan-Yu had cut him in the pass, and he was buried under the avalanche and now with all that fighting the Huns."

"I see. Come on in, my doctor will see to him and your men." The Emperor turned and went up the stairs. Shang followed, carrying Ping.

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Shang fell back on the soft mattress of the bed, causing Ping to roll into his side, "I am exhausted that I could sleep for a week."

Ping rested his head on Shang's shoulder. "Me too." He winced and groaned.

"Ping?" Shang asked as he sat up and pulled the sheet down to inspect Ping's wrapped-up chest. Ping had to see the doctor after he had collapsed in front of the Emperor and passing out. The ruler had commanded them to stay as guests and rest, to recover from their wounds and give them places to stay for the night.

Shang was amazed that Ping had managed to hold out until the very end and understood why Ping would pass out. He had been hiding the pain the entire time. Ping had gotten cut by Shan-Yu in the mountain and suffered broken ribs from the crushing blow of the avalanche. He also suffered bruises and injuries from fighting with Shan-Yu. It did not help any that he fell from the roof.

Ping smiled and pulled Shang down and repositioned himself to rest on Shang. "I am fine. Just let sleep."

Shang exhaled in defeat and pulled the smaller man close and studied the ceiling above them. He could hear Ping's breathing slow down, showing signs that he was in a deep sleep. The Emperor had pulled him aside while Ping was being treated by the doctor.

"Explain to me about Fa Ping. I have come to believe Chi Fu's reports are inaccurate as I have mentioned earlier."

Shang had to bite back a rude comment about the governor and said, "you are right to believe they are inaccurate. Fa Ping is an honorable soldier and excelled under my training in the camp. He did struggle at first because he is the smallest of the men and his lifestyle was not suited for the military."

"Oh, what is his lifestyle then," The Emperor asked, glancing over to Ping and lifted up the discarded silks that had been sullied, bloodied and torn, 'that seems to involve silks?"

Shang laughed softly, taking the silk and fingering them, feeling the softness of it. "He is Fa Zhou's youngest, and in his hometown, he is a well-known opera actor, a nan dan. He did indeed sneak into the palace pretending to be a concubine, trying to inform me about the Huns."

"Opera actor, I see." The Emperor turned to the bed where Ping laid. The doctor was sewing the sword cut up. Ping was blissfully out and not feeling anything. "I enjoyed operas and had heard reports of the popular Weizhuang Opera House and their actors. I had considered requesting them to give a performance for me here in the Imperial City, but the whole situation of the Huns had put that on hold."

Shang dropped the silk down on the bed and reached out to grasp Ping's hand as he saw the smaller man begin to wince and toss his head. The doctor had started to wrap him up, and Ping was coming to. "Ping is the main nan dan from Weizhuang Opera House." He lifted Ping's head to allow the doctor to give Ping bitter medicine tea. Ping grimaced and opened his eyes, meeting Shang's eyes. "Ping, rest. The doctor had just fixed you up."

The Emperor touched Shang's shoulder and gestured for them to talk in privacy for a moment. Shang let Ping down and patted his hand before following the Emperor.

They went into the next room, and the Emperor turned, "there are more to the eyes between you and Ping, isn't there?" Shang looked away, and the older man nodded. "I see. There is no shame in loving someone. There is something very true about you two and anyone would have been blind not to see it. It reminds me of my youth, I once loved another man. But alas, as the crown prince of China, I had to marry my bride and make her the Empress and continue the lineage of the royal family."

Shang looked up, daring to ask, "What of that man, the one you loved?"

The Emperor shook his head, "he went on to become a general and died in the war. I believe he was the one who trained your father a long time ago. I still think of him to this day. There are times that I regret how tradition and honor are valued above love. Traditions and honor are taught, it comes and goes like the land, always changing and forming. But love is always constant, never changing, like the water. It flows wide or narrow, hard like a churning river or steady and vast like the ocean, yet it is the same." The Emperor smiled and held up a finger, "do not regret. Never lose sight of what holds your heart truly. That man in that room," he gestured to the wall where the next room was, "is special and I can see how you two look at each other." He turned to leave but passed at Shang's shoulder, "please stay for a while, I would like you, and Ping recover. Your army will be given stations and rest they deserved in the city."

"Thank you, your majesty." Shang bowed his head. Something occurred to him, and he called to the Emperor just before he left, "Sir?"

The Emperor paused and turned back at the door, "yes?"

"May I request one thing?"

The older man laughed and replied, "within reasons, you may request anything, however much you want."

Shang smiled, "just one thing. Please exempt Ping from the army, with honor. I do not want him ever to have to be conscripted into the military for as long he lives. One war was enough for him."

The Emperor nodded his head in consideration. "Granted if Ping agrees, for a price."

Shang paled, "Sir?"

"I want you to take your father's place as a General. I believe that is what your father wanted, and you too."

Shang smiled in relief, nodding. "Thank you, your majesty."

"Good. I expect to see you two tomorrow. I'd like to get to know Ping a little bit more." He turned and paused, looking over his shoulder, "As for Chi Fu, that man had been removed from his position. I also could not stand his incessant whining. He is like a cockroach, he keeps coming back." Shang laughed, having said the same thing and the Emperor left.

Shang turned over and stroked his hand down Ping's peaceful face and kissed his forehead. He inhaled the sweet scent of magnolia blossom and closed his eyes. Sleep finally came to him, and for the first time in a long time, he was able to relax completely.


Reference/notes in this chapter:

Emperor having a male lover: it's possible. Remember in earlier chapter I mentioned that homosexuality was common during the time. Emperor and Empress are known to have concubines, possibly of both sexes. Whatever floats their boat. I did consider having General Li to be the one but nah.

The story is not quiet over yet. This is a 14 chapters long story. Like it? Let me know. ^_^