Chapter 57

Imperial Concubine Wei
Wei Li Lian
Hougong

“My Lady, this servant is worried. If Dao did not get any permission from the Senior Court Lady, then what does it mean? A palace maid cannot pass the gate without a tag that represents the permission to leave. And it seems like the last person that saw Dao is the Senior Court Lady. She saw Dao walking with Grand Palace Guard Wu." Ai stopped as if thinking of something else. "It does not make sense why they would be together… unless… unless… It can not be…”

“Calm down. No use in making assumptions.”

“My Lady! What if the emperor sent Luo Meng to take care of Dao?”

Li Lian took the garments out of the metal silver dish and rinsed it with clean water to see if the dye she applied worked. The river whirled as the waters cascaded downhill. Waves upon waves of water burbled and rippled against the rocks in their path.

Li Lian loved to escape to the back of the palace, where the river passed by, and use the water for her garments as she dyed. She loved the quietness of the place, the fresh breeze under the sunlight, and the chirping of the birds while surrounded by the green of the forest beyond the river.

Ai nervously paced around from behind her. She was shaky after coming back from enquiring the Senior Court Lady about Dao. It was on the fourth day and Dao was still unseen.

“Be calm, Ai. Why would Yuwen Hong kill her silently? He seems to be still agitated with me for not telling him the name of the maid I beat.”

“But he could have killed her. What if… what if she is dead?”

“That is unlike Yuwen Hong’s personality to do such things quietly. He would love to make a show of it to prove to me who is still in charge.” Yu’er carried his emotions on his sleeves. When he was angry, he was angry, and when he was happy, he was happy.

Anything that happened to Dao couldn't be related to him. And when Dao disappeared, it was on his birthday, the same day he was particular to not kill anyone and make the day inauspicious.

Li Lian squeezed the dress of Cai Wenjin, and threw away the yellowy water she used for rinsing away the  remnants of the dye.

“But His Majesty would kill―”

“His Majesty would kill who?” Someone interrupted Ai that had her maid drop to the ground.

She squealed and kowtowed on the ground vigorously. “This servant deserves to die, she deserves to die!”

Li Lian stifled a laugh as she bent to collect fresh water from the flowing river. Ai had never sounded so scared in her life until this moment.

“Looks like you and your mistress like talking about me. Should I be pleased that I don’t stray from her mind or agitated that you dare talk about the royal liege.” Yuwen Hong asked Ai from behind her.

Li Lian did not want to greet him, the stub of her frustrations and anger rising.

“This servant had no right and shouldn’t have dared.”

“Rise.” Yuwen Hong excused Ai. “What is your name?”

Some shuffling as Ai rose. “Your servant is named Ai.”

“Your mistress must love you a lot to give you a name that connotes affection.”

“If His Majesty says so, so shall it be.”

Poor Ai, she was still distraught. It was so cute to listen to them and all the more adorable how he teased her.

“Your mistress forgot her manners. She doesn't know her duty of addressing the emperor whenever he is around.” Yuwen Hong ridiculed Li Lian for ignoring him. She could feel his daggers on her back.

“Eh… eh… eh… Please forgive this servant’s mistress on my behalf.”

“On your behalf?” he chuckled. “Why on your behalf? You mean nothing to me.”

“Your Majesty...” Ai was back on her knees to beg. Yuwen Hong was really giving her a hard time.

“I am pulling your leg. Don’t be so hasty, stand.”

Li Lian lay the garment on the rock and started pounding it with the wooden beater. This way, all the materials she used to dye would not cling to the garment and make it unevenly colored.

“How long have you been serving Imperial Concubine Wei?”

“Almost a decade, Your Majesty.”

“Hao. That is pleasing. Serve her for another decade and I will title you with a good name, then decree a marriage for you to one of my prominent officials.”

Ai did not want to get married but she wouldn’t dare say so to him. “His Majesty is benevolent.” She gave her praises as she bowed.

“Hao, hao. You may leave and wait from a distance with the rest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ai rushed from them to join the rest of the entourage.

Li Lian stood from her pounding and gave an eye to Yuwen Hong. He always stood so majestically. One hand resting behind and the other curled in front, proving that he had the air of nobility, as they liked to say. He put on dark purple robes with the gold insignia of the dragon on the chest area.

“Ai does not wish to get married.” She told him.

“What woman does not want to get married?”

His ignorance was baffling.

“Good question to ask someone who will forever be a concubine.”

“I can still marry you. You will be my second empress in due time.”

“That will be nice," she sarcastically said. "Leftovers.”

He ignored that.

Rather, he asked, “Why are you doing that for yourself? You have many servants.” He pointed to her unfinished work.

“Even I am wondering about the same thing. Why are you talking to me? You could have simply sent your servants to do the talking for you.”

He completely did not say anything this time. His teeth grazed his lips, puppy eyes staring at her, seeming unsure of how to go around her and what to really say specifically.

“I prefer to do the whole process of making clothes by myself. It is more of a hobby than work, so I wouldn’t dare have other people do it for me.” She finally answered.

He nodded, taking her hand and examining it. “Look at these beautiful hands. They deserve to do no work except when touching me.” He massaged her fingers gently and softly caressed her skin before writing, “I am sorry,” in the palm of her hand.

His eyes then captured her face to see her reaction. She was still as she could be, caught off guard. The first one to apologize valued the relationship the most, or was it because he was earnestly regretting?

"I am sorry." His lips formed those specific words, no sound coming from his mouth.

She smiled sadly, turning from him and beginning to swirl the garment in her collected clean water. Her mind however, was in a far away place.

Yuwen Hong followed suit by squatting next to her and taking the other dyed garments.

“What should I do with these?”

“I'm done pounding those. They need to be washed by hand.”

“That is easy.” He pulled back his sleeves. “I’m sure I can do that.” He took out a fabric and rambled it in his hands, stretching it and slamming it back.

It made no sense to her.

Again, it was deeped into the water, lifted, ruffled around, slammed, stretched and dipped.

“What are you doing?”

“Washing, what else can it be?”

Li Lian covered her mouth, tears of laughter about to come out as her stomach held back from cackling. This was what it looked like when a child copied an adult to wash clothes, to fumble around nonsensically, failing dismally to copy. In all his life, being raised privileged, had he ever washed?

She pulled him to stand and started pushing him away. “You are wasting your energy. Go, go, go, go.”

“But… I am trying to help you wash,” he said innocently.

“I am sure Wen’er would do a better job than you.”

"Wen'er, better than me?" He laughed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“That, leave this place. You don't know how to wash.”

She spun to continue with her job, but he stopped her by taking her wrist.

His hands then rounded her waist, stilling her. She could feel his breath fan her neck while his warmth swamped her small body.

“I am really sorry, Li Lian. Really, I am. I know I should have gone around this in a better way.” A peck on her cheek. “Please do not keep pushing me away anymore. I know. I have been wrong.”

She sighed.

“You are the person I treasure most alongside Muqin. Fighting with you hurts me and I am troubled when we are not at peace. Wǒ zhīdào. Wǒ cuòle.” (I know, I am wrong)

She turned and he took a step back, giving her space. Unexpectedly, she took his hand and stared at him as she bit him hard.

Regret and remorse flared in his eyes while sadness was in hers. He should not have apologised, not him, she was the one who was the biggest traitor and criminal in their relationship. He should not seek her forgiveness, it is her death he should seek.

Her teeth grit on his skin until she could taste blood, and a tear trickled on her cheek.

He was not wrong, she was the person in the wrong.

“Does it feel better?” He asked as she let his hand go. It had the mark of simmering blood by his knuckles.

But nevertheless, he cared more about wiping off the tear that wet her cheek. “Do you forgive me now?”

She shook her head. “There is nothing to forgive. You were not the only person in the wrong.”

He beamed, his lips lifting upward. And that blew her away. The way his hidden dimple smiled. The way his teeth were perfectly aligned.

How the warm glow kissed his face just by hearing her say those words was beyond her.

Every emotion was fleeting, every moment disappearing with a glimpse, every day swift to pass. Life waited for no one.

Happy was what she felt when Yuwen Hong was around. Peace was what comforted her in his arms. And affection was what shone in her heart when she saw him smile.

When with him, nothing she did seemed enough. Every smile of hers seemed to fail compared to the magnitude of his jokes.

Her love, like the smoke of a failed fire, always made her wonder if it even did any good. Love was supposed to be the fire that warmed him, but she was only the smoke in the fire that made him cough and poisoned his airways.

And that was why it would be two moons.

Two moons, she would give him and her a chance.

Two moons, she would love.

Two moons, she would care.

Two moons, and it would be goodbye.

A lotus seeking freedom, she would escape and seek her home.

S.V