The Crown Prince of the Jia Kingdom, also called the cruel prince by most people, was known to be almost devoid of most emotions. He had no willing advisor or ones who agreed with him, but his military tactics were fearsome. Only five years after he started leading them the Jia Kingdom also captured parts of the Tong region and completed conquered the small Yu Kingdom.

Beautiful women were brought back from the Crown Prince's expeditions and nearly always put in Peony Palace if he liked them enough. Ones that he did not were in Peony Palace not as concubines but as maidservants, as well as any younger girls. It was his playhouse.

Shui Lian, a beautiful youth, had been selected a long time ago, but it was clear the Prince did not like men. The Prince saw Shui Lian as a sort of painting, just to admire when bored, but he fancied his women. As per his orders, guards and maids gave him less luxurious food and robes, and Shui Lian sat in his empty room, devoid of any pleasures.

Calligraphy, painting, playing on the guzheng all served to bore him, so he sought to escape through death. Shui Lian had planned it several times, a cut to his artery, a jump into the garden pond that he might still live through, and even tying a noose.

The Crown Prince didn't often visit because war and becoming more successful was more important than hearing the saccharine lies of women who all feared him. One courtesan, in fear, once brandished a knife at him, as though instead of making love he'd strangle them.

Due to that incident that didn't end well, the Crown Prince only ever went to the Peony Palace if he was with a party of men who wanted fun.

Tonight the Cruel Prince would be bringing along higher-ranked generals. Girls were already fighting over which general they wanted, none wanting to be chosen by the Cruel Prince.

Shui Lian wandered into the hallways when he heard the female voices rise in excitement once more. It was a flurry of girls and women gathering with their lavish clothing, gold bangles and fragile hair ornaments made with kingfisher bird feathers or jewel inlays.

The image never ceased to make Shui Lian feel like a bystander or even a person watching a moving painting on a scroll. Yes, he felt distant, and indeed was different himself with his grey, or occasionally blue or green robes, and hair simply gathered up.

"I don't want General Lin! You know he's like a pig and always licks your skin—ah, the thought makes me sick!" a girl was complaining, pulling her sheer shawl on tighter.

"Well, General Gong is the only good one of the the batch, but he only ever chooses Xiao Yang." A girl flips out her long hair hanging straight.

"Maybe this time you'll be chosen by the Prince, you know he never sticks to anyone."

"No! Not the Cruel Prince!"

Shui Lian went to close the door, drowning out the loud voices of his neighbors.

At this moment the gears turned.

Another man made his way past the lush green garden despite it being autumn, and lovely scent in Peony Palace, usually the mixture of several incense and flowers in vases. He stepped in, knowing over a few hundreds of girls were there. Tense from the court, a rather rare visitor, the Fifth Prince, wandered in quietly.

There was nothing flashy about his arrival, although it was already causing girls to swoon. Extraordinarily tall and muscular, the Fifth Prince was in in his casual gown, showing his collarbone, black hair gathered up.

"Oh, the Fifth Prince! He's such a looker!"

"He's so pure he only ever drinks tea with who he chooses!"

"No way!"

The Madame of the so called court ran out and greeted him loudly, making a fuss.

"Fifth Prince! You must tell us if you are coming, Your Excellency, we have not prepared for both you and the Crown Prince and his generals to come. It is the fault of me, the Madame of Peony Palace." Lady Ran quickly bowed, so deeply her head was below Fifth Prince's waist.

Laughing, the Fifth prince only waved it away. "It's of no concern to me. Do call me Prince Kai Yin, it's troubling to be called Your Highness or such titles when I'm not in line for the throne."

As most distant princes who weren't going to succeed the Emperor, he would become only become nobility, only the princes with more power would become legitimate uncles.

"Well, Prince Kai Yin, I find it difficult to accommodate any requests you may have..." Lady Ran's voice trailed away as she murmured to herself.

"Who does my first brother not visit?" he asked.

"Well, it would be them, right?" a girl said and the rest, following, laughed.

"Who's them?"

"Oh no, they are a man," Lady Ran said quickly. "An eunuch. First Prince keeps him out of kindness, truly admirable."

Kai Yin scratched his head and decided it would be fine, anyway. He came for a change of mood and to talk to someone casually, if it was a man why would it matter?

He smiled. "If he's not going to be visited why don't I see him?"

"It's a man, Fifth Prince! I meant, Prince Kai Yin." The ladies' eyes were curious.

"And what's the issue?" Kai Yin smiled, and like the quiet man he was, turned to get directed. Without any more protests, Lady Ran directed him to the very end of the corridor, where his room was.

"Shui Lian!" She stepped in and loudly spoke in a half-whisper, "You have a visitor, it's the Fifth Prince, only you ought to address him as Prince Kai Yin. Will you do as he says?"

"It's not my first time, Lady Ran," Shui Lian muttered. "And yes, I will do whatever he wants."

Back in her normal voice, Lady Ran spoke. "He's ready! Prince Kai Yin, we will prepare tea and alcohol, as well as snacks right now." Lady Ran hurried away with the maidservants.

Kai Yin stood there idly, the door not opening. Perhaps he was being rejected? He counted to ten, and then decided today was not his day. As he was about to leave, the door swiftly opened.

Kai Yin's eyes opened. It was so sudden it caused the beautiful image he saw to be embedded in his mind.

A beautiful person stood there, ink black hair blowing around his face from the soft wind. His robes were loosely tied and without speaking, his eyes met Kai Yin's.

Kai Yin looked at Shui Lian and suddenly noticed his window behind him was wide open, causing the cold autumn wind to blow in. Most of all, Shui Lian was so frail he seemed like another gust of wind would blow him away like a goddess.

"I'm Prince Kai Yin, you must be Shui Lian?" The prince spoke, trying to start the conversation.

"Yes." Shiu Lian paused, and Kai Yin followed his eyes to see two maidservants carrying drinks and snacks into the room before leaving, eyes down the whole time. They closed the door behind Kai Yon.

"Aren't they quiet? This place is more like a jail than house of concubines." Kai Yin asked innocently.

"It's a brothel. Of course it should be like this, my lord."

Shui Lian showed him to the table Kai Yin sat down, eyes flickering to the beautiful man next to him.

"Isn't this room cold? It's also rather dim," he noted.

"You speak a lot, my lord," Shui Lian said. Kai Yin raised an eyebrow.

"How old are you?" He expected him to be an adolescent based on his figure and attitude.

"Twenty as of this year, my lord."

Kai Yin was in disbelief. "I can hardly believe it."

Shui Lian lit a candle with another one and the room was brighter, then he walked to the candle.

"Are you not going to ask about my age?" Kai Yin asked, feeling rather awkward in a silent room with Shui Lian.

"No, shall I?"

Kai Yin watched him turn around and meet his gaze without any feelings of servitude.

"Your name is Shui Lian, meaning water lily, isn't it? You seem to be the opposite of a gentle lily," Kai Yin murmured.

"I was named by the Cruel Prince—pardon me, the Crown Prince. I don't particularly like my name," Shui Lian replied curtly.

"I think it's humorous considering your attitude," Kai Yin chuckled as he took two two small cups and poured them each a cup of alcohol.

Usually it would calm his nerves to be drinking with a pretty lady in a dim room, candles lighting up their face. Although Shui Lian didn't lose in terms of beauty, being with him somehow made Kai Yin even more nervous.

"Do you speak like this to the 'Cruel Prince' too? No wonder he stopped visiting you," Kai Yin said.

"A pity he hasn't beheaded me as he did to the other girl, my lord," Shui Lian said. "I would have preferred to be executed a lot more to this boring life."

"Boring?" Kai Yin's eyes darkened with his frown. "Be grateful, young man. You have no need to deal with court issues and conduct battles."

"Battles?" Shui Lian said the word carefully.

"What?" Kai Yin challenged.

"Nothing, it's just I was spared from death while my family and villagers were killed five years ago."

There was a heavy silence, the guilt in Kai Yin increasing. He tilted his head down in shame.

"Oh, I apologize for what I say. It wasn't my intent to say that. Might I inquire which village?" Kai Yin asked softly, wanting to take back his words.

"The Long Tribe. We had a small village and wore different clothing from those of the Jia Kingdom." Shui Lian smiled bitterly. "I only wish I wasn't spared."

"You should not think that."

"I'm a disgrace. I'd rather die than stay locked up here."

"You fool!" Kai Yin stood up. "You have to treasure life! What was done was foolish, but princes merely carry out plans made by our father and his advisors!" Kai Yin sighed heavily and angrily, biting back harsh words. "So appreciate life as you have it, I beg of you."

"Do you really think you could enjoy life if you were forced to bed men at fifteen?"

Shui Lian's eyes were ablaze with hatred he couldn't take out on the real perpetrators, the Emperor and Crown Prince. Fifth Prince was enough to be an outlet.

"Talk about making it more depressing! I didn't come here for this, I only wanted a chat and to enjoy the night!" Kai Yin glared at the man before him.

He heard crickets and silence outside, then the wind blowing gently, rustling the leaves of trees.

Shui Lian's looked down but his back was straight. His robes were so wrongly tied that it showed a plunge into his chest. He drank the alcohol quickly and without sound.

Kai Yin was immersed in his face, the most beautiful face he had seen, truly perfect symmetry. Shui Lian seemed like a fox spirit, that was how hauntingly delicate his beauty was. Kai Yin had read of such spirits in novels, how they seduced Emperors until they manipulated them and their kingdom fell.

"Then let's do what you came here for." Shui Lian's sudden words made Kai Yin tear his eyes from him and to his cup of alcohol.

"No, you have it wrong. I won't sleep with you," Kai Yin said quickly.

"Why, my lord?" For some reason, it sounded like sarcasm from Shui Lian. He stood up.

"Lady Ran told me you were the only one who wouldn't be visited, I'm attracted to women," Kai Yin sputtered hurriedly.

"You'll never know until you try. I can please you in bed, my lord." Shui Lian let his whisper linger as he touched Kai Yin's broad shoulders, then his hands were on his chest.

"Stop—" Kai Yin halted.

Kai Yin watched as Shui Lian gave a quick tug of his own green robes and they fell.

"Cover yourself at once!" Kai Yin caught the robe and upon looking up, it became dark.

A candle was blown out and Kai Yin was drawn to him, bewitched, and watched Shui Lian stand before him, trousers still on, but he saw his bare chest.

"Don't be shy," Shui Lian murmured.

Kai Yin looked at his slender shoulder, arms, and skin that could only be described as like a water lily indeed. There was the smell of incense he might burned beforehand, like sandalwood and something sweet, like peaches.

Shui Lian put a hand on Kai Yin's cheek, cold fingers trailing to his jawline and then neck.

It made Kai Yin open his eyes, this touch that aroused him in a way he didn't want.

He swatted the hand away.

"I said stop!"

Without another word the Fifth Prince ran to the door and opened it. He slammed it behind him, heart thudding heavily as he leaned against it, his body hot.

Such a beauty— it was wasted on such a personality. In fact, that's why he might've been named after the innocent looking water lily that grew out of mud.

But similarly, both men despised their lives.

Kai Yin breathed heavily until he made his prompt exit, just as he heard his brother and his generals coming at the entrance.

I have to stay away, Kai Yin thought to himself, from the Cruel Prince—and most of all, that poisonous water lily.

A/N: Hello! Jia Kingdom is based off the Tang Dynasty in China, and it's important to note in Mandarin Chinese both he (他) and she (她) are pronounced "tā" so when talking about a person it's hard to infer their gender as shown. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and comment