Warning: swearing, hetero lemon, and yaoi lemon.

Chapter Twelve: The Wilted Flower

Shang pushed the door open to his house and entered, it was late evening, and he was exhausted from a full day of training the soldiers and meeting with officers and hours in his office drafting letters and going over numbers and plans. Rubbing his forehead, all he wanted to do was to go to his room and sleep. He would have preferred to go to his apartment in the city, crawl in the bed and with Ping. But Ping was out of town with his opera house providing performances in different cities and would be gone for a week.

Quinmei had been a perfect wife, keeping the house clean, cooking dinner and managing the property. She was sweet, patient and understanding to Shang's busy schedules. She had provided intelligent conversation and amused him with her stories and light gossips. He supposed he could put up with her company tonight with dinner and hit the sack.

He entered the dining area and stopped in his track, seeing his aunt and his wife's mother sitting at the table. He shot a look at his wife coming out of the kitchen, giving her a questioning look. She came to him with a sweet smile, "Shang, you're home. They came to visit, to check to see if everything is all right."

"I suppose you told them that things are fine, love?" Shang asked, and she nodded with a broad smile, he couldn't help but soften at her expression. She was too innocent, and it all made him feel guilty even more.

"I kept dinner for you, would you like some?" She asked, and he gave her a nod before she disappeared back into the kitchen.

He came to the table and sat down, eyeing the two women. "Welcome to our home, what brings you two here?"

Shang's aunt gave a tight smile. "We came to check on you and Quinmei to see if everything is going smoothly."

Quinmei's mother bopped her head and added, "and to see if you have been honorable to my daughter."

Shang bowed his head, "Quinmei is a wonderful wife, and I believe she is happy."

"She is happy, she tells me herself." The mother quipped with a tight smile that matched his aunt's.

"Then, what is the trouble?" He asked.

The two women looked at each other before steeling themselves. Meili placed her hands on the table and replied with a tight firm voice, "Quinmei is not showing any signs of pregnancy. Have you been dutiful to her?"

Shang frowned, "what?"

Quinmei's mother pointed the finger at him, "she is not pregnant. We know she is fertile, we had her checked before the wedding. But I have to ask, are you?"

Shang took a quick, confusing glance down to his lap and replied, "Uh, I am sure I am."

"Then why is she not pregnant?" Meili asked.

"Maybe we should have you checked with a doctor." The other woman interceded.

Feeling the pressure return in between his eyes, he fought back the groan of frustration. He had only been with Quinmei once since they had married. It had only been a month. "It has only been a month, don't these kinds of thing take time?"

The two women laughed and stood up. Meili shook her head and replied, "you two are newly wed, and she is a very lovely young woman," She hemmed and glanced over to the other woman, "getting to know each other intimately every night, she would have been seeded already."

Shang felt his face go hot. He was not comfortable with the two women telling him what to do in bed with his wife. He stood up and bowed, "yes. I am sure. She is in good hands." He walked them to the door and bid them good night. Meili hung back as Quinmei's mother got into the sedan. She turned to Shang and whispered, holding one finger up, "she tells us that you two had only done it once. Just once." She saw his eyes go wide. "I know you're busy. But it takes more than once to put the seed in her. You have a year from the wedding night for a son to be born."

"Yes, Aunt Meili." Shang bit out and watched as his aunt join the other woman in the sedan. He banged his head on the door once they were gone and turned to find Quinmei looking pale and her eyes splotchy. She had been crying, and his heart clenched at sight. He drew her into a hug and stroked her back, whispering, "it is alright love."

"I am sorry for dishonoring you." She sobbed. "They wanted to know, and I told them."

Shang held her back to look into her face, "it is my fault. I have been busy and distracted. We can try again." She bopped her head and wiped her face. "Now, I am tired and hungry. Please give me a company for dinner." He led her back into the dining area, and she served him his dinner and regaled her day and new gossips.

Shang gave her a kiss on the head before heading down the hallway to his room. She tugged on his sleeve and shyly asked in her quiet voice, "do you think, maybe tonight?" He stared at her for a minute before her words processed in his mind. She was beginning to feel flustered and shook her head, "I am sorry. Good night."

"Wait." He held onto her and smiled at her, "I am sorry. I didn't realize what you mean. Well… I guess we could." He allowed her to lead into her room and she stopped before her bed, nervously wringing her hands.

He reached out to her and rubbed her arms, "we don't have to do this if you are not ready."

Quinmei looked up to him and bit her lips before replying, "Shang. I really want to give you a son. If we have to do this every night until I become pregnant, I want to do this."

"You're right. Let's do this." He reached down and undid the sash to his tunic and pulled it off. He turned back to her to find her looking down to her feet, she had only managed to take her slippers off. "Quinmei?" He stepped up to her and tilted her head up and smiled at her. "I'll be gentle… did I hurt you the last time?" She shook her head.

He reached for the sash around her waist and slowly removed it, and her outer robe fell from her shoulders. She reached up and held onto the inner robe shyly and stepped backward until she got to the bed and sat down. He approached her and knelt down in front of her with his hands on her knees. He gazed into her honey eyes and smiled, she was sweet and fragile like a butterfly. He took the edge of the robe and spread it back, exposing her pale legs and ran his hands up her thighs. She gasped and leaned back as he came up to her and kissed her soft lips. He lifted her up and placed her farther back on the bed and crawled to hover above her, he had long abandoned his pants. His hands traced her curves and teased her breasts all while kissing her neck and chest. He reached down and slipped his fingers into her wet fold and thrust them in several times until she was writhing and begging.

"Shang, please…" She grasped his hand to stop his ministrations.

He moved his hand and stroked himself, he had not been able to become fully hard. He frowned after a few strokes, realizing he wasn't coming up as expected and moved away from her, muttering his apologies as he sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his own member hanging limply between his legs.

She moved to kneel behind him and hug him from behind, asking, "Shang, what is it?"

"I am sorry, I can't do it tonight."

Quinmei moved around him and kneeled between his legs, blushing as she got her first full view of his member. She stared at it for a moment before asking, "is it supposed to look like that?"

He frowned at her before laughing. "Quinmei, what does your mother teach you?"

She covered her face in embarrassment and horror before stammering, "my mother? Oh! Eggplant?"

"Eggplant?" He asked and roared in laughers. "Eggplants! No. Cucumber would be more appropriate." He pulled her up and hugged her, laughing. "Little butterfly, this is how it should look. But when we do things together, it's supposed to get hard and bigger. It's just not happening tonight."

"Like cucumber?" She asked, sitting in his lap. He laughed again and pulled up the under-robe and wrapped it around her shoulder. "Shang?"

"We'll try other time again. I am tired. Thank you for a laugh." He kissed her forehead and set her down as he stood up. He gathered his clothes and went to the door, muttering to himself about choices of vegetables before chuckling under his breath.

Quinmei watched as he left and smiled to herself as she settled in bed. Maybe things will look up for them both. He has not touched her since the night of the wedding, and she was worried that he did not like her. He had been nothing but kind and sweet to her. She had heard stories of how husbands would be insatiable and wear their wives out for weeks with lovemaking. With a father that was in the military, she understood Shang was busy being a General and had a full schedule, managing the Imperial Army for the Emperor of China.

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Ping watched as Shang pace back and forth in the room, the man looked about to pull his hair out. "Shang?"

"That's just it. I tried nearly every night this week alone, and I just could not do it."

"What about the wedding night?" Ping asked.

Shang stopped and turned to his lover, "that? I was thinking about you the whole day long, I was hard for you. I…" He clenched his hands and banged his head on the wall next to him. "I was half hard by then and managed a short… what?" He turned back to Ping, "A short fuck? She had no idea."

Ping pulled Shang away from the wall to prevent him from banging his head anymore. "Shang, I'm flattered, the wedding night, that is."

"Did you know that my Aunt and her mother actually brought the doctor to the house to have me checked?" Shang asked as Ping led him toward the bedroom. "It was bad enough that the doctor had to take a close look and poke at it and all that."

Ping was stifling his laughers, "poke? Oh, Shang, I am sorry." He turned to his lover and started to undress him, "let me help you feel better…" He reached down Shang's trouser and grinned, "you really don't have a problem there."

Shang rolled his eyes and allowed his head to tilt back as the slender hand stroked him. "Quinmei was really… ah… she tried everything she could to bring me up. She did what you would've done. Ah… Ping, yes."

"And nothing?" Ping asked as he got down to his knees and started to lick the head. He closed his eyes as Shang's strong fingers threaded through his hair and massage his scalp. He loved it when he does it, clench and pull gently at his hair. He knew Shang loved his hair, having played with it. He took the length into his mouth and relaxed his throat, letting it slide down as far as it could. He had managed to take the whole length fully into his mouth, not like when he had done the first time. Shang groaned when he started to suck and bob his head.

"Ping, ah, yes… that's it. She has nothing on you. Your hands, your mouth… oh, your tight little pink chrysanthemum." Ping smirked and kept going, running his hands up and down Shang's thigh gently. "Ping, ah… I'm coming…" He grasped onto Ping's head, tightening his grip as Ping went faster and he gasped, nearly buckling as he came hard.

Ping drew back and wiped his mouth. He smiled up to Shang and asked, "feel better now?"

Shang pulled the smaller man up and kissed him, tasting himself. His hands went to undo the sash of the robe and pull the silk off Ping's slender body and grasped him close. "I have been pent up for a long while now…"

"I've only been gone a week."

"A week is too long." Shang pushed Ping down on the bed and straddled him. He grabbed the bottle of oil and uncorked it. He took a whiff and smiled, "Magnolia." He poured some onto his hand and slicked his member, "far too long."

Ping gasped as fingers started to probe him and he wiggled to push against it. Shang smirked, pulling back, teasing as his lover whined. "Shang? Please… I missed you." He clenched the sheets as Shang dove in, pushing into him and they started to buck against each other, gasping. "Yes, Shang! More!"

Shang pushed deeper and groaned as Ping tightened around him. "You're so tight, hot…" He kept on thrusting and felt his balls tightening up almost immediately. "I'm coming…"

"Me too." Ping panted as his legs wrapped around Shang's waist and gasped as Shang increased his thrusting speed. He threw his head back, gasping as his sensitive spot was being hammered. The orgasm came, rolling through his body in waves and his seed spurted, spilling across his and Shang's chests. "Ahh, Shang!" He cried as a second one rolled through.

Shang felt Ping pulse and tightened around his member like never before, and he stiffened, spilling deep into his lover's body as the climax hit him. He folded over and rode it out, clutching Ping to his body. "Ping!"

As they started to come down from their orgasm high, Shang withdrew and collapsed next to Ping on the bed. He turned to him, and their hands grasped. "I missed that." "Me too." Ping laughed and turned onto his side, facing Shang. "I think we spoiled each other."

"Oh yeah." Shang rolled onto his back and stared up, "I think Quinmei is starting to suspect something is wrong. She seemed upset."

"Sh, let's sleep, and we'll think about it tomorrow. I just got back in town today and came home to find you pacing a hole in the floor."

Shang chuckled and grasped Ping to his body. "You're right. Let's sleep."

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Quinmei bowed to the merchant and smiled as she took the basket. "Thank you." She turned and continued on with her shopping trip at the marketplace. It had been two years since she married Shang. She was happy, as she could be as the Imperial Army's General's wife. He was kind to her, gave her plenty affections and doted on her. They hardly ever argued. When she was upset or angry, he would listen to her and appease her until she was calm. She knew he occasionally not come home at night a few nights a week and learned the pattern of when he would be home or not.

She hummed softly to herself as she shopped. It was a nice summer day, and she had thought to go out shopping in the city and get some things. She smiled at the merchants and kept on her way. "Hello Xiao," she said as she stopped at her favorite shop where they sold silks. She was considering commissioning for another gown, Shang had given her enough money to spend on whatever she wanted. The only thing she ever wanted was a child, and it made her feel sad when she thinks about it.

"We have new silk come in recently. It's a lovely shade of purple. Would you like to see?" Xiao asked as she ushered Quinmei into the shop to show the silk.

"Oh, this is very lovely." Quinmei gushed as she fingered the lovely lavender silk. "I was thinking of a new gown, and this is perfect."

"Wonderful, it would look good on you with your eyes," Xiao said as she took the silk. "How is everything with you and your husband?"

"Good."

"No baby yet?"

Quinmei shook her head. "Not yet. We have been trying." She sighed, suddenly feeling the pang of sadness creep in. "I am sorry, it's not something I want to talk about."

Xiao frowned and took Quinmei's hand and patted her hand, "you have tried everything?" Quinmei nodded. "I am sure you will have a son soon. You both are very lovely together. So, a gown, yes?"

Quinmei smiled and dug into her purse and pulled out some coins and gave it to Xiao. They walked to the door, and Quinmei paused, looking out into the street. Xiao looked over her shoulder and saw what she was looking at. Shang and Ping were across the street together, apparently shopping. They were laughing at something. "That Ping… handsome man. It's a shame he does not marry. He would make any woman happy."

Quinmei made a small laugh, "Ping? He has no interest in marriage. He is not required to, being the second son. He and Shang are close, they go way back."

"Close, you say?" Xiao asked, "my cousin from Weizhuang, the one who visited me last week, remember?" Quinmei nodded, "She remembered Ping. He was a nan dan in their town too, charming and successful." She tapped her chin, trying to remember something, "Ah, that's right. She said Ping had a lover… could not remember his name."

"His?" Quinmei asked.

"Yes. He was a Captain of an army. It was the gossip of the whole town then, lasted a few weeks and that was it. The Captain left, and I think Ping joined the army. It was a while ago."

"A Captain?" Quinmei turned to Xiao. "Does your cousin mention his name?"

"She never said. Came to town one day with his father, the General, stayed with Ping's family for a few weeks and then they had to go when the Huns were coming in."

Quinmei looked over to where Ping and Shang were walking down the street. They were close to each other and Shang was teasing Ping. She tilted her head, observing and wondering. "Thank you. When do you think the gown will be done?"

"Oh, in three days. Have a wonderful day!"

Bowing, Quinmei thanked the woman and left. She kept her distance and followed her husband and his friend. She knew Ping, he had come over to their house sometimes to dine with them. He was a kind and sweet man, always bearing small gifts for Quinmei. She had loved his company when he was around and knew Shang was very close to Ping due to their military background. Shang had told her that Ping saved his life twice against the Huns.

Shang laughed as Ping placed the mask down after making a silly remark. "Maybe you should write a comedy opera."

"Maybe," Ping fingered the blue silk next to the mask and picked it up, wrapping it around his neck and smiled at Shang.

"The color suits you," Shang observed, feeling the silk under Ping's chin. "It's like the one I got you. Feels like a long time ago."

Ping stroked the smooth silk, "I still have it." He replaced the silk on the table, and they moved on to the next stall where flowers were being sold. He inspected the flowers and grinned like a fox, finding the one he wanted. He turned to him, "you never give me flowers."

Shang frowned at this, "what? Why do I need to? You're already a flower yourself."

Ping smirked and picked up the single flower and brought it up to his nose to smell its earthy scent. He watched with hooded eyes as Shang looked down to the flower and chuckled. He had picked up a pink chrysanthemum.

"Is that a hint?" Shang whispered as he pulled out a coin from his pocket and handed it to the seller. They continued on.

Ping replied as he twirled the pink blossom in his fingers, "maybe."

"You are a tease," Shang muttered. He glanced around and gestured to the wood beyond the city and Ping nodded. They turned and disappeared into the wood.

Quinmei frowned as she had lost them at the flower-stand. They had turned, and she was almost caught by her own husband and ducked into a shop nearby and waited. She could hear their conversation, but it did not make any sense to her. Their conversations were normal, teasing each other which she had often heard from them when they were together at their house. However, the comment where Shang had said he bought Ping a scarf before. It was unusual for a soldier to buy another soldier a scarf, it was something a man would do for a woman.

She stepped out of the shop and found them gone. Frowning, she had lost them and turned back to head home. She needed to check to see if dinner was being made and prepare for the evening.

Several days later, Quinmei gushed over the gown that had been made. "It's so lovely. I love that you used blue and white here." She hugged Xiao and folded the robe.

"I am glad you like it. Oh, yes. I asked my cousin who came by yesterday again the name of Ping's lover." Xiao smiled.

"Really? What was his name?"

"She could not remember his name, but his family name was Li. Like yours." Xiao replied and folded silk and putting them away.

"Li? As in Captain Li?" Quinmei asked, and Xiao nodded. "Thank you." She swallowed hard and clutched the silk to her chest. "I love the gown. I might come back for another one next month. Perhaps yellow or pink."

"Maybe both. You have a good day." Xiao saw Quinmei to the door.

Quinmei walked back to her house, lost in thought. It couldn't be. She knew Shang's father was a General and died in the battle against the Huns several years ago. She gasped as she blindly stepped into a small mud puddle and looked down to see her shoe soaked. "Oh. That's going to be hard to wash out." She then hurried home, her emotions in turmoil.

She got home and found her mother and Shang's aunt waiting for them on the porch. "Oh, mother! Auntie." She bowed and hurried to let them in the house.

"What happened to your shoes?" her mother asked, gesturing to her muddied slippers. "Did you step into mud?"

Quinmei shook her head, "I accidentally stepped into a puddle. I was not paying attention. Please, make yourself comfortable. I am going to put my gown away and get other slippers on." She hurried away.

"Where is your husband?" her mother called after her.

Quinmei replied as she came back, "he should be coming home soon."

"Good. We need to talk to him."

"Mother! You are not going to pester him?"

Shang's Aunt snapped, "we will discuss this when Shang gets home."

Quinmei's lips quivered, and she bowed. "Yes, Auntie. Let me go and see if the servant had started dinner." She turned and rushed into the kitchen. She gasped as she nearly ran into the servant and held her hand to her chest. "Yi, is dinner nearly ready?"

Yi, the servant, bowed, "yes, madame."

"Thank you. Where are the rice wine?" Quinmei started to search the kitchen, the servant frowned and went to take a bottle and handed it to her mistress. "Oh, thank you." She poured herself a generous amount and drank it up. "My mother and auntie are in there. I don't know if it's going to be any good."

Yi's eyes widened and glanced to the entrance, she could see the two older women sitting at the table and talking to each other quietly. They did not look happy. "Oh, maybe a second cup will help."

"Quinmei?" They heard Shang ask as he entered the front entrance. Quinmei gasped and flew out of the kitchen and across the dining area to land into Shang's arms in the hallway.

Shang was surprised to find Quinmei into his arms and asked, "what is it?"

"Mother and Auntie. They are here." She told him.

Shang looked to the dining area and softly cursed. "All right, little butterfly." he sniffed and turned to his wife, "have you been drinking the rice wine?" she held up a finger and nodded, looking frightful. He grinned and kissed her forehead. "That might be a good idea. I think I will need one with dinner tonight. Let's go and face them."

"Shang." She whimpered, "I am afraid they will be angry with you."

Shang patted her hand that held onto his arm. "I have faced the Huns. But yes, you are right, they are scarier than the Huns. Probably take down Shan-Yu easily." She giggled at this.

They came to the table and sat down, facing older women. Yi came in and started to serve them their dinner. They started off with small talk, asking how they were and the weather. How the climates were going to affect the crops for the winter.

When dinner was cleared away, Shang had a bottle of rice wine and was already into his third cup. The women had tea; however, Yi had slipped some wine into Quinmei's tea for her sake.

Quinmei's mother started, "No son?"

Shang nearly choked on his wine and Quinmei placed her hand on his knee. He grasped her hand and squeezed it affectionately. He had no words and pursued his lips, trying to figure out what to say.

But his aunt beat him to it. "Two years. We have been lenient with you. Is there something wrong in your bed, or your pants for that matter?"

He nearly lost it and placed his cup down. "Auntie, there is nothing wrong. Perhaps it was not the right timing for a son. It might have been the gods' intention."

Quinmei observed her husband. She knew it was not true. There had been a problem in the bedroom. For two years, they had countlessly tried, and he could never achieve hardness to put seed in her. He had made her feel good, but he could not finish. She turned to her tea and sipped quietly.

"Maybe we need to watch you two in the bedroom to ensure you are doing it properly." Quinmei's mother said with determination.

The wine was spewed all over the table, and Shang coughed. He waved his hand, "no, no! That will not help at all."

"You are a terrible husband, not providing a son at all. Perhaps my daughter needs a new husband."

Quinmei slammed her hand down on the table, surprising everyone. "Enough, Mother! He is not a terrible husband! He is wonderful and very kind and loving to me. I love him. He may be right, the gods might have deemed us not ready for a son! Be patient, and a son will come." The two older women looked pinched and clasped their hands. Shang stared at his wife with his jaw hanging down. Quinmei was furious, "Mother, Auntie. Perhaps it is best for you two to leave. We will discuss this matter at another time. I am sure Shang is tired from a long day, and I would like to go to bed soon." She stood up and gestured for her mother and aunt to leave and bowing at the same time. "No disrespects intended."

The women rose and walked stiffly to the front doors. Quinmei followed them and said good-byes. She returned to the table and knelt beside Shang who were taking another swig of the rice wine. She reached out and took the cup from his hand and placed it down. "Shang. I am so sorry."

He shook his head, "no, I am sorry. It is my fault. I have not been able to give you a son." He stood up and walked away from the table, entering the hallway to head to his room. A headache was forming, and all he wanted to do was to sleep.

"Shang." Quinmei went after him and grasped his arm. "Can we try again?" She asked, gesturing to her door. "I…" She looked down and shuffled her feet, "I have bought some medicine that might help. The herbologist at the market says it is the best."

He closed his eyes and smiled. She was genuinely trying her hardest. No matter how she tries, he just could not feel excited for her. He loved her but not in the way he loved Ping. He could not deny her. Nodding, he followed her into the room. She pulled out her tea set and started to make tea. He took his tunic and trousers off and set them aside and sat on her bed, watching as she made the tea with the medicine she had gotten from the marketplace. She turned and came over to him and handed him the cup. She stepped back and undressed and climbed into the bed while Shang drank the tea.

She moved to sit behind him and rub his back. She could feel the tense muscles, and he groaned under her ministration. He was beginning to relax under her soft but firm hands, and he could feel the tea starting to work, simulating his nerves. Or maybe that was the wine?

She moved around and got down on her knees between his legs. She had questioned some of her friends on how to please her husband and collected some tips over the past two years. She licked her lips and took his half hardened member and stroke it, her small hands barely wrapped around the girth. She glanced up to meet his eyes. She gave him a smile and leaned down, taking him into her mouth and started to lick and suck. He groaned, allowing her to suck on him. She was doing a good job, and he could feel himself becoming hard. He gripped her head as he felt himself coming to his end. "Quinmei, stop."

She smiled, seeing the large member erect before her, standing proud. Happy the tea might be working and climbed into the bed, and he rolled over on top of her and started to push into her wet sheath. She gasped, feeling full and gripped onto his shoulders, hanging on as he rocked his hips, thrusting in and out of her. He had his eyes closed as he allowed the sensation wash over him, it was good. Then he looked down to her, and she was moaning. All the sudden, he lost the sensation and his member wilted. He groaned and withdrew, cursing under his breath and sat at the end of the bed with his head in his hands. A headache came back tenfold.

"Shang?" Quinmei asked once she felt the cool air hit her. He was going at it, and then all the sudden stopped and left from inside her, leaving her feeling hollowed. She found him at the end of the bed, looking dispassionate. "What happened?" She looked over to see his member had shrunk and hanging down limp. "Oh." She rested her head on his shoulder and held his arm. "No?"

"No. I am so sorry, little butterfly." He said and got up and took his clothes and left.

She flipped back on the bed and kicked her legs in frustration. She felt unsatisfied and reached down to start pleasuring herself to bring herself to height. She had learned the method from her friend after complaining of feeling unfinished and strung up. Every single time she and Shang had tried, he wound up leaving, and she restored to finishing herself off.

Gasping as she felt her toes curl and her legs shaking from the orgasm. She breathed through her mouth and glanced over to the side of the bed. What could have caused Shang not to be able to do it with her? She frowned as she saw the shadow pass her window, recognizing it to be Shang. She stood and grabbed her gown and slipped it on. She slipped her muddied shoe on and hurried to find Shang disappearing into the city. She followed him from a distance and keeping to the shadow of the building on the way. Where was Shang going? She saw him make a turn onto the next street and realized the direction was familiar. Was he heading to Ping's apartment? She peered around the corner of a shop and watched as Shang stepped up into an apartment and pushed the door open. He went in, and the door closed. She turned away, her back to the shop. It was Ping's apartment. What was he doing there? Was this where he goes to when he does not come home?

The possibility that Shang was Ping's lover was real. Tears started to fall down her face, and she cried. She fell down to her knees and sobbed quietly. After a few minutes, she stood up and started to walk back to her house. She passed several shops and stopped as she looked at the flower on the ground in front of the flower shop. She stared at the wilted flower, a pink chrysanthemum. She had seen Shang paid for a flower for Ping the other day. The look on Shang and Ping's faces were so clear as she recalled, it was a look of true love between them. She bent down and picked it up and fingered the many curled petals. It was a lovely shade of pink.

All the moments of Ping came to her mind as she recalled them. Shang had always looked happier to see Ping every time. When he came around to their house for company and dinner, Shang and Ping had eyes for each other, laughing and teasing. Wait. Those teasing, they were flirting with each other. Oh, how could she had not seen it. Shang never treated her like he treated Ping. He was so gentle and kind to her, like handling a butterfly, afraid to hurt her. His love for her was real, but it was not the same as it was for Ping.

She dropped the flower and turned back. She made her way to the apartment and peered into the darkness, trying to determine where she could peek in. The bedroom was in the back, she had been to the apartment several times with Shang to see Ping and have lunch there and knew the layout. She pulled up her gown and went around to the back of the apartment and found the screen to the bedroom and crept across the deck, careful to not let the floorboard creak. She quietly gasped as she heard their voices. She ducked and laid flat on the deck and held her breath.

"That just it, I can't do it." Shang's soft distressed voice carried easily through the screen. The bed must have been near the wall. She scooted over to the wall and laid there, resting her head on her hands and listened.

Another voice replied, and Quinmei's eyes widened, it was Ping, "Shang, you have to try. Once it's done with, you won't have to worry about it anymore. Your and her honor demands it. They won't bother you both anymore."

Qingmei frowned, what are they on about? Could 'her' be about herself?

Shang clasped his hand over Ping's hand and smiled softly. He looked up to meet the soft black eyes he loved for a long time. He remembered the first time he saw Ping years ago; young, delicate, and beautiful like a golden goddess. Now, years later and as a famous nan dan, Ping had grown taller and even more beautiful with mature grace and wisdom in his eyes. He knew his love for the other man had deepened over time. He often felt guilty sneaking behind his wife's back but damn it, Ping was first in his heart and will always be the one in his heart until he died. It wasn't fair to Quinmei, she was a sweet young wife who tried her best to please him. He was pleased with her in every aspect but not in bed, and she can never be Ping. The guilt often vanished when he was around Ping.

"I tried many times in the past two years. It just won't go up for her as it does for you." Shang softly told him and turned to the other man. He caresses the pale skin, soft like a magnolia blossom that he smelled of.

Ping turned his head in his hand and kissed his palm. "Perhaps, you should try to think of me when you are in bed with her, just to get things done with."

Shang pulled Ping closer and kissed his lips. "And betray her? What if I slip your name out? She'll find out." He sighed as Ping started to kiss down his neck, nibbling as he went, pulling away the robe to expose more of his skin. "Oh, Ping..."

Quinmei blushed and turned her head away from the wall. They were talking about her! She felt the pang of betrayal, but it was so temporarily as she realized she was blind to it all along. Shang's tendency to hang with Ping, how he seemed to light up every time he sees Ping. How he appeared at ease and relaxed every time, he comes home after spending time with Ping. She knew they knew each other for a long time before she came into Shang's life as his wife. She recalled their wedding day, Shang had looked sad. He would meet Ping's eyes throughout the ceremony. She knew now that it was Ping that he had married in his mind. She can't deny the love between the two men.

When she had met Ping for the first time, she had mistaken him for a beautiful woman and was very jealous that Shang knew her. But when she learned Ping was actually a man, and she remembers how flustered she felt and wondered in awe how it was possible that Ping was far beautiful than most women. She had come to like Ping because he was kind and sweet. He was always considerate and gentle and often humorous like a fox. She understood why Shang would be in love with him. She looked up and silently got onto her knees and reached up to crack the screen open to peek in. She winced, hoping it would not creaks but to her luck, it slid smoothly and soundlessly. She stopped after an inch and peered in. She was curious because they had gone silent in the room.

Gasping under her breath as she saw Ping kissing Shang's chest in the most intimate ways, his long ebony hair spread out like a cape behind him, and Shang's eyes were closed in passion and his hand on Ping's head, stroking the long silky hair. He whispered, "ah, Ping, your lips are wonderful."

Ping looked up with hooded eyes and smirked, "further down?"

Shang looked down and smiled, "what do you think?"

Ping chuckled, and with a quick move of his slender hands, Shang's sash was untied, and his robe spread, freeing his member. Ping licked his lips and lowered his head. Shang moaned and clenched onto Ping's head.

Quinmei withdrew and silently closed the screen. She cannot deny that her husband was having an affair, especially with another man. However, she can't find herself to be upset or sad about it. Shang had honestly tried with her to uphold his duty as a husband. She moved to leave but froze as she heard his voice again.

"Ping... Oh, Ping. You're lucky that you do not have to marry. You're free to be what you want to be, a nan dan and use your beauty to bring your family honor." He groaned as he felt himself come into Ping's mouth with a shudder. "On the other hand, I have to be the soldier, the man with honors that demands him things that his heart does not want. I think it is me that the gods are playing a joke on, not you."

Ping rose and wiped his mouth with his sleeves and pushed against Shang to make him lie back. He shifted his robes open to reveal his slender form and straddled the other man. "Remember once you asked if I wish I were a woman?"

Shang nodded as he rocked against Ping, becoming hard again. "That was a long time ago, love."

"Yes..." Ping murmured and shifted himself to a position over Shang's member and allowed himself to drop down, moaning as Shang entered his chrysanthemum gate. They stilled, and he looked down to his lover, "I once said I accepted for who I am. It wasn't until your wedding day I started to wish I was a woman, the one you were marrying. I wanted to be her, sitting where she sat as you both exchanged vows to uphold your family honors and bring fidelity to both of your families. I wanted to be your Mulan."

Shang looked up at the beautiful face of his lover and grasped the hand that was on his chest. "You are my Mulan to me. Since that night we shared our love, I married you in my heart, and that will remain true until we die."

Ping smiled, a tear fell from his eye, and he started to rock gently, causing the man below him to gasp in pleasure.

Quinmei felt tears falling from her eyes. She had enough, feeling like the one who was interluding their marriage rather than the other way around. She knew she never had Shang and will never have him. He belonged to Ping, and she knew that in her heart and they were the yin and yang, a perfect balance together.

Quinmei quickly made her way off the deck and quietly stole away in the darkness, hurrying home.

Back in the room, robes were shed, soft pants and gasps filled the air as the two lovers became one, whispering undying devotional and everlasting love to each other. In the intimate moment, honors did not exist, gender boundary blurred and did not matter, and love held true to the heart's desire.


References/notes for this chapter:

Family Demand for Child: It's known to happen in arranged marriage, especially in China a long time ago. Children, especially sons are very valuable, to ensure the continuance of the family line. It had always stuck to me when I watched the Joy Luck Club about this. The parents and aunts could get very demanding if the new wife is not pregnant. In this case, Shang's aunt could have demanded another wife for Shang and Quinmei would have been shamed and become a second wife. Only she could earn the title of the first wife if she gives Shang a son. But Shang had been resisting to gain a wife, his Aunt suspect he is the cause and put more pressure on him rather than Quinmei.

This is the longest chapter and I enjoyed writing it. I have already written half of it way back when I started with chapter 1. The story is coming to its end and true to the drama genre, I will give you fair warning to look for emotions worthy of a chick-flick.

Like it, feedbacks? Let me know! Thank you for reading.