Warning: Yaoi Lemons
Chapter Ten: The Year of Magnolia
The Emperor clapped his hands as Ping finished signing. "Wonderful. You do have a golden voice, just as rumored."
Ping bowed his head and moved from the center of the room to sit beside Shang at the table. They had been invited to dine with the Emperor and his family a few days later after they recuperated. Ping was still sore from his injuries but was sick of staying in bed all day long for a couple of days. He smiled at the Emperor and replied, "thank you, your Majesty."
"I would like to see your opera house perform here at the palace soon. I am sure they will be happy to receive you once you get home." The Emperor said, raising his cup to take a drink. He was glad to see Ping recover nicely and asked him to sing for him and was surprised to how well the young man sang. It took talent for anyone to be able to raise his voice up and down and hit different notes. Ping had done so and proved worthy of the rumor labeling him as one of the best opera actors in several providences.
Ping glanced over to Shang, "It would be an honor for the Weizhuang Opera House to perform here for you and your family. I would need to return and practice with them before giving you a show. I have been gone from home for too long. I fear they might have forgotten me."
The Emperor laughed, "I do not think so. You are impossible to forget." He leaned back in his low chair and crossed his arms under his sleeves, "Shang has one request from me, and I agreed as long you accept this." Ping glanced back over to Shang and saw the man smile, curious to what Shang had asked the Emperor, he turned his attention to the golden robed man. "He asked me to exempt you from the military for the rest of your life. In exchange, I asked him to step in and become a general, to fill in his father's position."
"Oh." Ping murmured, "You would have given him the title regardless of that request."
"True." The Emperor chuckled and rose to his feet, walking around the long table and stopped between where Shang and Ping sat. "Do you wish to remain in the Imperial Army?"
Ping tilted his head up to meet the Emperor's kind eyes. "To be honest, no. I would rather go back to the opera house." He looked down, frowning.
"But…" The Emperor suggested, knowing there was something else.
Ping did not wish to say anything and shook his head, he glanced up and smiled, "Thank you, your majesty."
The Emperor nodded at Ping and gave Shang a look and a nod before leaving.
Shang frowned at his lover and reached out, laying his hand on Ping's shoulder, "Ping?"
Ping smiled at him, "ah, nothing. Thank you, Shang."
Later that night, Ping left the room he was staying in favor to walk around the palace garden. There was so much on his mind, and he could not sleep. Shang was already out, snoring lightly.
He walked the path deeper in the garden, admiring the flowers and trees in the moonlight and the palace's golden glow. He paused as he saw the Emperor standing on the small bridge over a creek. "Oh, your majesty." He said as he bowed, surprised to see the elderly man in his nightgown, looking ever like a normal grandfatherly man.
The Emperor smiled and gestured for Ping to join him on the bridge. Ping moved to his side and glanced down to see large fat koi swimming in the water and sucking at the surface. The Emperor tossed some pieces of bread down and handed Ping some for him to feed the fishes. "Earlier, something bothered you, and you did not wish to reveal it."
Ping tossed the breadcrumbs to the fishes, watching them gobbling up the offerings. He nodded softly, "I am afraid of what will happen then after I return home."
"What do you think will happen?"
"I do not know, truthfully. My family will be happy to see me home and safe. The Opera House will welcome me back, and I'll most likely continue as before, performing."
"Yet, there is a but somewhere in there." The Emperor said, tossing the last of the bread and turning to the young man. "It's very clear."
Ping turned to the older man and sighed, "Shang. He told me you know of our relationship." He saw Emperor nods. "Before the camp, we met, and it was all so sudden. Our paths crossed and I have never dreamed that I would love him very much. Ever since then, we were constantly near each other, and now, everything is over, and I do not know if I could ever go back to living the way I lived, without him in my life. His path and my path are so different."
"Yes, they are." The Emperor took Ping's arm and wrapped it around his own, leading him away from the bridge to walk farther into the garden. "No two paths are the same. Sometimes they go side by side, sometimes they cross. Never, anyone would walk the same path you walked. That's the way of life. You fear that your and Shang's paths would part and go farther apart."
"Yes."
"That is understandable. Shang's path is solid, and he has a long path as the Imperial Soldier, it had always been since he was born, will always be until he dies. But," he paused and turned to Ping, "what of yours? Where does your path lead?"
"I do not know. My family did not know where my path would go when I was born, they thought I would follow my father's footstep in becoming a soldier, but that became clear that I was not meant to walk that path at all. But I did briefly, and now, I do not know what's ahead of me. I very much want to stay alongside Shang's path for as long as I can."
"How much will you be willing to give up to stay by his side?" The Emperor asked.
Ping was taken aback by the question and thought. He was surprised by his own answer, "everything."
"I see." The Emperor smiled. "I once loved someone a long time ago. Much like you and Shang. My path was true and set from the moment I was born, and there was no way I could divert it. However, my lover had choices. I wanted him to choose to stay by my side, but he refused. He took the path that led him away from me and to his end. To stay by my side, it would require him to sacrifice everything if he chose to."
"Then why did he not?"
"I'll never know. He made his choice, and I made mine. There are no regrets," The Emperor paused and shrugged, "perhaps, there are some. The choice is yours." He reached up and took the magnolia flower from the tree and brought it to his nose to smell fragrant. "I have considered your future. Shang has accepted to be general, and I know he would want you to stay by his side. He will need to live in the Imperial City to fulfill his duty as the Imperial Army General, training the soldiers and managing the guards here in the palace. I want to offer you a position here after you perform with the Weizhuang Opera House, as the head of the Imperial Opera House here in Imperial City. They recently lost their master in the army, in the Tung Shao Pass under the former General Li." Ping gasped, "your Majesty. That's a high honor, to become a master of the Imperial City Opera House, one has to…" he stopped, his eyes wide as the Emperor held up his hand to silence him and smirked.
"One has to get approved by the Emperor himself. You have been approved."
Ping stammered and swallowed, "but! I only sang once for you and that was it." "You have shown me more than enough that you are worthy of the job. From Shang's report of your actions in the army and your history performing for the Weizhuang Opera House. It is more than enough for me to decide that you should take the job."
Ping bowed, "thank you. I am truly honored, your Majesty."
The Emperor smiled, "good. Now you need to go home and see your family, deliver the news to the Weizhuang Opera House and return here and give me performance. Then, you can stay with Shang in the Imperial City and be the master of the Imperial City Opera house."
Ping rose again and grinned, "and that's what I will do. I am leaving tomorrow."
"I believe it will be the year of magnolia." The Emperor lifted the magnolia flower up to show to Ping, "Take Shang with you, he needs a vacation."
"Yes, your Majesty." They laughed and walked back to the palace and parted once inside.
Ping entered his room and saw Shang sitting up on the bed, reading a scroll. The new General glanced up, "I woke up to find you gone. I figured you went for a walk." "Yes." Ping crawled in bed and settled next to Shang, "I was in the garden, having a nice conversation with the Emperor."
"Oh?"
"He offered me to become the Imperial City Opera Housemaster. I accepted."
Shang looked over to Ping with surprise. "Only one song and he offered that?"
"I know." Ping laughed and took the scroll from Shang's hands to put it aside on the table and snuggled Shang's side and smiled. "We can be close to each other, here in the city."
Shang pulled Ping down and kissed his lips before replying, "no. We'll share an apartment together." He pulled the smaller man close, lying down. "Let's sleep. We will leave tomorrow."
"That sound nice." Ping yawned and wrapped his arm around Shang's midsection.
Ping blinked his eyes open hours later, Shang was muttering and thrashing in his sleep. "Shang?" he asked, sitting up and shaking the other man's shoulder, trying to wake him up. It was apparent he was having a nightmare.
Shang tossed his head, still deep in his nightmare, "No! get him!"
"Shang!" Ping shook Shang harder, and the man shot up, panting and eyes wide. "You were having a nightmare," he told the older man and rubbed his back, trying to soothe him.
The young General did not reply but turned to Ping and grasped him into an embrace. Ping inhaled and held onto the older man, realizing he needed some sort of comfort. "Shang?" He asked as the other man begun to loosen the tie to his robe and push the fabric away. He gasped as Shang roughly palmed him and stroked him until his member was erect. He looked down and saw the glazed look in his eyes and asked again, "Shang, what is it?"
Shang continued his way, grasping at his lover's length and kissing down Ping's chest. He needed this, to forget and get into the feel of his lover's body. He pushed his pants down and brought out his length and stroked himself as he sucked onto Ping's length.
"Ah, Shang!" Ping gasped as he felt the other man's length enter him. He grasped Shang's shoulders and held on, looking into his face. He swallowed and relaxed. It was frantic and fast-paced lovemaking, and he was not sure what had spurred Shang on to do this. It suddenly came to him as he remembered some of the older soldiers saying that often they would drink or seek out the comfort of paid women to forget the painful memories of war. He reached up and caressed Shang's face, and his heart went out to him when he saw the grimace and regret. He wiped the tears that were starting to fall freely from Shang's eyes. "It's okay… keep on going." He told Shang.
Shang closed his eyes, regretting forcing himself onto Ping and grunted as he came and collapsed. "I am so sorry, Ping. I don't know what came over me."
Ping held him and replied softly into his ear, "I understand. You needed that. I am here." He pushed Shang over and straddled him, "at least, this time, let me help. I am not quite finished." He rubbed himself against Shang and smiled, his hands caressing the muscular chest.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?" Shang asked a tear fell out from the corner of his eyes. He gasped as Ping brought him back to erect fully. He pulled his younger lover down and kissed him with pent-up passionate love.
"Everything," Ping replied and pushed himself onto Shang's member and moaned loudly as he felt the sensitive spot being hit deep inside him. He could not get enough of the other man. Shang grasped Ping's hips and thrust up, feeling the tight hotness wrap around his length.
"I don't think I'll ever want anything else." He told Ping, and they continued on for the rest of the night.
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"Sure do feel different now, coming home," Ping said. He remembered clearly the morning he left for the Wu Zhong Camp nearly a year ago and yet it felt like a long time ago. He understood the meaning of when a boy leaves home for war and returns a man now. He had taken his life for granted, a carefree and comfortable living and not knowing how blessed he was.
"The first homecoming is sometimes hard to swallow," Shang told him, they had stood outside the Fa property, gazing at the entrance for a long while. He could see Ping had many emotions churning within and allowed him time to take it in. It was the same for him, even it wasn't his home, yet it felt like it was. In short few weeks of staying with the Fa family, it had come to become a home for him too. He reached out and grasped Ping's hand and held it.
"Grandmother, I told you that young Meijin should be by with the milk."
"Well, she is late! Oh." Grandmother paused as she stepped through the gate, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Grandmother?" Li asked as she stepped around the short woman to see what had gotten into her mother and gasped, "Oh! My dear Ping! You've come home!" She ran to her son and embraced him, "and you have grown taller!"
"He brought home a man." Grandmother grinned, glancing at Shang who rolled his eyes. "Why can't you be the woman?" She jabbed her finger at him teasingly.
Shang took the finger and shook it, grinning, "I believe he's the woman I brought home, eh?" He laughed with his Grandmother.
Li patted Ping's cheek, taking in his new feature. "You look different, like a man now."
Grandmother hobbled over to Ping and peered up at him, "nope. Still pretty as ever. Yep, Shang brought home a woman." She crackled as Ping rolled his eyes and grinned down at her, "welcome home! Come, come on in!" She turned and waved for them to follow.
Zhou stepped out of the house wondering what the commotions were and his eyes widened to see his son. His knees nearly buckled as he gripped tighter on his cane, "Ping? Oh, son, you have come home!"
Ping went up to his father and bowed. He gasped as his father grabbed him into a bear hug and smiled, hugging the older man in return. He had missed his family, it was a bittersweet homecoming.
Zhou finally lets go of his son and smiled, "I prayed to the gods every day for your safety." He turned to Shang, "and you too! Come, come and sit!" He gestured to the table inside the house. Everyone moved to enter the cool house and sit. Grandmother and Li hurried to the kitchen to prepare tea.
Zhou looked at the two men sitting across from him at the table. He was overjoyed to have his son home. "Ping, you have grown."
Ping rubbed his neck and chuckled, "yeah. That's what everyone had been saying."
"I am proud of you, always had been. Please, what brings you home?" Zhou asked.
Ping glanced to Shang. They had not written home, the news of the Huns defeat had not entirely spread throughout China. They had ridden home hard from the Imperial City, wanting to reunite with Ping's family as soon as possible and relax as much they could before returning to the Imperial City in a few weeks.
Shang nodded, and the women returned with a tray of tea, rice balls, and some dumplings. Once the food and drink were passed around, Shang spoke, "we had just come here from the Imperial City. The news might not have reached here yet. The Huns had been defeated..." He glanced down at his tea, his voice had started to crack. Zhou looked on concerned. Ping reached under the table and laid his hand on Shang's thigh. Shang gave a small, grateful squeeze to the hand and swallowed before continuing. "My father's army held them back long enough for my army to come in aid. By the time we got there..." He found himself unable to continue and shakingly put the cup down, it rattled slightly.
Ping took over. "General Li's army and the village in the Tung Shao Pass had been wiped out. There was no survivor."
The cup slipped out of Zhou's hand and shattered on the table. The three eldest Fa members looked on the two young men in shock, not bothered by the smash of the cup and the dripping tea.
Silence hung over their heads for a long while. Finally, Zhou whispered, "your father?"
Shang nodded, meeting with Zhou's sorrowful face. "My army managed to stop the Huns..." He turned to Ping, "actually. With just less than a hundred and fifty men against thousands, it was Ping who stopped them single-handily."
The Fa elders looked to Ping who looked down bashfully. It was Grandmother who asked the question on their minds. "How? You barely could lift the sword growing up."
Ping gave an embarrassed chuckle, "ah, it was a single cannon. I caused the avalanche in the pass, and it buried the majority of the army."
"And you too." Shang supplied, he was still sore about Ping's reckless act that brought him pain he had never thought he would feel. "I seriously thought I lost you for good."
Zhou clutched his hand to his heart. "You tell me that I nearly lost my only surviving son?"
Ping shot up, "only? Minling?"
Zhou shook his head. "We received news a few days ago that your brother had died in a battle with the Huns on the east end. Without any news of you, I have come to believe I have lost you too."
Ping nodded, a tear fell down his face. It was difficult to swallow to know that his brother had died. He had not seen him in nearly two years. He was almost ten years older, and they were raised differently. He had always felt distanced from him, yet he loved him. "What of his wife?" He let the unasked question hanging in the air, and everyone knew it.
Zhou held up his hand and shook his head, "her family is taking care of her and the children. They have not demanded your marriage to her."
Shang felt his heart stop, realizing the position Ping could possibly be placed in. It was a tradition among the families that if the son dies and leave behind a widow and there are brothers, she is to marry the brother to continue the line per to the betrothal contract between both families.
Ping gulped and took a swig of his bitter cold tea, he had not expected this. "I see."
"Let's not worry about that now. Your brother had two sons, and it might not come to that." Li explained and reached out to pat her son's hand in comfort. "Please, continue your tale about the…" She looked to her husband for help.
"The Huns in the pass." Zhou supplied.
Shang saw Ping from the corner of his eyes that the younger man seem unable to continue after learning about his brother. "Ping was actually buried under the avalanche, and we had all assumed he was dead. Well, he shows up in the Imperial City, sneaked in the palace and warned us about the Huns." He went on explaining the adventure they had saving China that night. Ping and Shang ate dinner with the family and was allowed to rest, being tired from the journey.
Ping sat up from his bed carefully, not to wake Shang. He was snoring softly and laid belly down. He admired the muscular toned back of his lover and stood up. He could not sleep and steal into the garden from the window of their room.
Walking along the path in the garden, Ping fingered the late blossom of the cherry trees and the magnolia trees. He reached the shrine and stepped in, kneeling in the center before the tablets that surrounded him. The surface was smooth, and the moonlight gave enough illumination for him to be able to see his own reflection. He remembered the night he came last, wondering who his reflection would show. The face stared back at him was a different face. It was not a young round-faced boy that held beauty like a girl, but a handsome face of a man, angular and somber. He reached up and caressed his cheek, idly wondering if he could still put the makeup on and still pass off as a woman for the Opera House.
Then he saw it. Under his grandfather, Mushu's name was his brother's name. Recently etched in. He choked and reached up to trace the engraving. Tears fell freely from his eyes, and he bowed over, quietly sobbing as he grieved his brother's death. He mourned for General Li's death and all the things he had seen and gone through in the last month since the Tung Shao Pass.
After a long while and his tears dried. He inhaled sharply and rose to his feet and went back through the garden. He paused as he saw his father sitting on the bench under his favorite tree. Ping went and joined his father's side, sitting on the bench, and they sat in silence for a long while.
Finally, the silence was broken when Zhou asked, "Imperial City, hm?" he was referring to Ping and Shang moving to the city to work there. Ping nodded as he caught a falling blossom in the air.
"Yes. Shang has an apartment in the city, and I'll be staying with him." He replied softly not to break the silence of the night.
Zhou looked at his son with a complementing gaze. "Shang. I see." He turned back to observe his garden.
Ping exhaled and dropped the blossom down and turned to his father, "father, I..." He stopped as Zhou held his hand up.
"You two aren't hiding it very well." He gave his son a look and smirked slightly. Ping felt slightly relieved. "Minling died with honor and left behind two sons and a daughter. You brought great honor to the family, and you can do what you wish, granted if his wife family does not demand you to marry her."
Ping clutched his hands on his lap, bowing his head. "Does it upset you and mother, about Shang and me?"
Zhou laughed, "no. We suspected it would be a path you would take a long time ago. When Shang came to visit, we were somewhat surprised it would have been him that you would become close with. I am happy it is him, he is a good man."
Ping nodded. "He is good to me."
"Good. Grandmother knows too, I suspect?"
Ping laughed, "she caught us the first night."
"Ah. Though you should be aware he is the only son of the Li family, and it is expected for him to marry and continue the lineage for his family honor."
"I know. I will not stand in the way of his honor, father."
"Even if you must give him up to his bride?"
"Yes. I step back and be a friend if necessary."
"Very well."
They stood and walked back to the house silently and entered. They reached Ping's door, and he pushed open, Zhou glanced over Ping's shoulder, seeing Shang in his bed. He nodded and patted his son's shoulder, "Good night."
Ping watched his father continue down the hall to his room and turned back to his room, seeing Shang sleepily look up at him. He smiled softly and went in, closing the door behind him and crawl into bed, into Shang's arms.
"All right?" Shang asked sleepily.
"Yeah."
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Shang and Ping had returned to the Imperial City after a month with Ping's family. They had traveled with the Weizhuang Opera House. They were sad to lose Ping to the Imperial City Opera House but was happy for the great Honor that Ping had received and agreed to do one last performance with Ping at the palace. The Emperor thoroughly enjoyed the performance and Ping started to work at the Imperial Opera House, finding it a very different experience as a master from being an actor.
Shang had gone to work in the palace, overlooking the guards and training a new batch of soldiers for the city. He was beginning to gain more respect and understanding for his father, filling in the big shoes. Together, they moved into Shang's apartment that he used to live with his father while in the city. It was a convenience for them, the apartment was located halfway between the palace and the opera house.
Shang slipped into the house, exhausted from a long day of work. It was one of those difficult days where he would be training new recruits, they were often a rowdy and arrogant bunch. It brought him some memories of the first week at the Wu Zhong Camp. Ping had been one of the most challenging soldiers then. He had given him hope and ever since, every young man that seemed to be unable to succeed, he held hope for them and saw them through to succeed and become a soldier.
"Ping?" He asked as he started to peel off his armors and place them on the stand. The apartment was dark, the faint smell of dumplings and noodles were still in the air. He walked through the rooms and found Ping in bed, asleep. He knelt beside the mattress and watched his lover sleep. He reached out and stroked the long hair he loved. The strands were smooth and soft like silk, running through his fingers like water. He smiled softly, enjoying the feel on his fingers. He looked up to see black eyes he loved open.
"Long day?" Ping asked, watching Shang watching him. He sat up and moved to the edge, allowing Shang to settle between his legs. He worked at the sash, pulling it off and pushing the robe off Shang's broad shoulders. His hands played across the taut muscles, tracing every contour as he went along. Over the biceps, own the taut abdomen and to the waistband of his trousers. Shang smirked, enjoying the cool, slender fingers trailing blazing sensations. Ping saw the smile and tugged at the string that held the trouser on, he could see the tent rising underneath the cloth.
"Happy to see me? Or you're hiding your sword in your pants?" Ping teased as he tugged the string harder, but it did not come loose.
"That's your sword right there. Always happy to see you." Shang reached up and pushed back the robe that hung loosely on Ping, letting it drop to his elbow, revealing the slender body. He wrapped his arms around Ping's waist and pulled him close, grinding their lengths together. "I have missed you today. Training reminded me of the camp, especially of you."
Ping laughed and wrapped his legs around Shang's waist and falling back on the bed, bringing Shang to lie onto of him. He fumbled and undid the strings and pushed the pants down. He gasped softly as Shang pushed his robe open and their bodies touched. "Should I be worried that you have found a younger man to replace me?"
Kissing down Ping's abdomen and licking along the contour of the muscles. He paused at the belly button and gave it taste, swiping his tongue around the button and looking up, taking in the lovely feature of his lover's face. "Never." He ducked down and took the length in his mouth and proceed to make his lover moan and cry out in ecstasy.
"Ah! Enough," Ping had undone Shang's topknot and clenched his fingers in the older man's hair. He was beginning to come to his end and did not want to finish. He pulled Shang up and kissed him before saying, "fuck me now."
"You've become very demanding." Shang laughed and prepared himself and slowly slid in, biting back a moan as he felt the heat swallowed him to the hilt. "So spoiled."
"You spoil me." Ping retorted teasingly, wrapping his legs around Shang as he started to thrust. "I want everything…"
"You have everything," Shang grinned as he wrapped his hand around Ping's member and stroked along with his thrust. "What more do you want?"
Ping's head was thrown back in pleasure and grasped onto Shang's shoulders for support. "I want to always be with you."
Shang smiled at the enduring words, "I want that too." He grunted softly, coming to his peak, "no matter what, let's always be together."
"Yes… yes. Yes!" Ping replied and shouted as he came at the same time as Shang spasmed, spilling into him. He softly laughed as Shang collapsed onto him and they laid there, enjoying each other's embraces and soft touch.
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General Li Shang stood with Lieutenant General Fang, overlooking the soldiers as they exercised in unison. It has been a year since he started to work at the palace, training soldiers and handling the palace guards. He had come to learn his job was difficult at its best, being the head of the entire Imperial Army and directing commands from Emperor himself. He had seen to capturing any Huns that escaped alive and maintained peace throughout China.
The Emperor joined their side, "you have done an impressive job."
"Your Majesty." Both Shang and Fang bowed to the royalty.
"In a short year, you have done more than any other general, even your own father in expanding the army and keeping peace throughout my kingdom. Thank you."
Shang bowed again. "I am pleased that you find your Imperial Army to your sanctification."
"Yes. Lieutenant Fang, would you please?" The Emperor asked, gesturing for Fang to leave them alone. Fang bowed and left.
"How is life in the city for you and Ping?"
Shang turned his head to the Emperor. The older man was always curious about their personal lives, checking in once in a while. At one time the Emperor admits he felt that both Shang and Ping were his own sons and care deeply for them. "We are good." Shang replied, "we both are busy and is content with life as it is."
"That is a standard answer." The Emperor turned and gave Shang a look. "I can read between the lines. There is unrest in your eyes."
Shang leaned forward on the railing of the deck. The army below was still practicing the exercises, and he could hear Fang shouting orders and other commanders repeating the orders. "It is an honor to be here, your majesty. Ping is honored to work as the master for the Imperial Opera House. He has a full house for every performance."
"Yes, I hear that. I have seen a few in the past few months and enjoyed every show."
"His new opera is magnificent," Shang smirked, recalling the new opera Ping had written, and it had received a standing ovation every single time.
Emperor nods. "I quite like that one. There are joy and sadness in the story. As I have said, I read between the lines. Ping seems sad, and it shows in his opera."
Shang frowned, he had seen it too, the sadness in his lover. There would be times when he comes home and finds Ping sitting in the window, overlooking the city and sighing. He had asked if Ping was all right and had gotten the same reply every time that everything was fine. It had become to the point where Shang suspected Ping was lying. There was unhappiness underneath the mask.
"Yeah, I suspected the same thing."
"And he does not tell you?" The Emperor asked and saw Shang shake his head. "I see. I want to extend the invitation to you and Ping to dine with me tonight. Perhaps I can find out myself."
Shang nodded, "sure. Thank you, your majesty."
"See you tonight." Emperor patted Shang's shoulder as he walked past.
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The Emperor smiled, clapping his hands as Ping finished his song. "Lovely! I believe you have gotten better since I last heard your song."
Ping bowed, "thank you, your majesty."
"Please." The Emperor rose and gestured for Ping to join him. "Walk with me in the garden." He gave Shang a look, and the other man nodded. Ping went with the Emperor, stepping into the palace's garden and walking the path.
They stopped at the bridge, and the Emperor pulled out some bread from his sleeves and handed some to Ping, who laughed in reply and took the bread. They began to feed the koi fishes. The Emperor dropped the last pieces before turning to Ping, "how is the Opera House?"
Ping smiled, "good. Hard work but good."
"Do you enjoy being the master of the Opera House?"
Ping shrugged his shoulder, "most days."
"Oh, is that so?"
The younger man turned to the Emperor, "there are days I missed just being the nan dan, just to sing and not run the place. It is a lot of work being a master, and sometimes I did not think I am ready."
The Emperor nodded, "you are the youngest Opera Housemaster in the kingdom. Perhaps I was too hasty to make you the master and overlooked the possibility that it would make you unhappy."
"Your majesty," Ping started and sighed, "I am happy with the honor of being the master of the Opera House. It is just that I am homesick for the country where I grew up."
"You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy."
Ping laughed softly, "yes."
The Emperor chuckled with the young man, "I have received a request for an officer to be stationed in Yeuchang city. I believe that is near your hometown."
Ping perked, "I know the city. It's a nice place, not so large like Imperial City. The Weihuang Opera House master came from that city."
The Emperor nodded and smiled, "Tomorrow morning, you and Shang will be getting letters. I hope you two find happiness. It had been a good year of magnolia." He patted Ping's hand and said, "I'll miss you here in the Imperial City." Then, he left, leaving Ping to gawk at the Emperor in surprise.
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"Ping?" Shang asked as he searched his apartment. He had gotten a letter and rushed home. He reached the bedroom and found Ping sitting on the bed, reading a paper and a hand to his mouth. He could see his lover looking shocked. "Ping? I got a letter… I have been transferred."
Ping looked up and nodded, "I had been requested, an offer to be nan dan for another opera house."
Shang took a quick look at his own paper. "Where?" He was almost afraid that his transfer would part him and Ping.
"Yeuchang City," Ping smiled.
Shang laughed and threw his hands up, "the old coot did this, didn't he? I got transferred to Yeuchang city too."
Ping laughed and threw himself at Shang, grasping around his neck, and Shang swung him around and held him close. "He did, yes, he did." He reached up and kissed his lover and tilted his head, asking, "can we get a house in the country outside the city?"
Shang threw back his head laughing and nodded, "yes, my love. We can. I want a garden just like your family's garden."
"That sounds wonderful."
"We'll have to live in an apartment for a bit, but we will get a house eventually."
Ping smiled and drew Shang toward the bed, "let's celebrate." Shang nodded, grinning at his fox-like lover who started to untie his armors.
References/Notes for this chapter:
This is considered a filler chapter, to bridge from the previous chapters to the remaining chapters. It was a bit of a hard chapter to write. I have majority of the rest of the story already written out.
Yeuchang City: Mulan was supposedly from Wiezhaung and Yeuchang is the country where Mulan was from and I used the name to make a city near the hometown make this story work. All fictional.
