For ten days the Lord Du was trapped inside the office of the Rose Pavilion. No less than ten teachers came to stand over him and drill facts and rules into his poor brain. Each one that the Empress Mother sent would look at him with distain in their eyes.

The Teacher for Consort Etiquette was the worst. He berated the Lord Du Fen for wearing men's robes! He went on about being delicate and feminine for the Emperor. He said that it was required for the Emperor to feel at peace and masculine.

Du Fen had to suppress his desire to roll his eyes. If the Emperor wanted him to wear women's robes, he would have sent him women's robes. If the Emperor needed to feel masculine, then nothing he did or said would help with that. That was the Emperor's business!

The Teacher kept going on and on about how Ger were like women and should act as such. He was compared to at least ten court women and Ger, who the Empress Mother had personally picked out as suitable, and reprimanded to be more like them.

Du Fen was tired. He was annoyed. Most of all, he was sad that the relationship with the Empress was sure to be strained. She was worse than his own mother for pushing the femininity crap his way, and if she wasn't of higher station then he would have done something about it.

Instead he endured the sharp tongues and glaring eyes as best he could. It wore him thin, however, and he found himself not able to feel calm at all. When he was finally taken out of doors, it was 'to observe proper behaviour' in the main courtyard out front.

He was dragged to stand there and watch the courtiers parade about in their fancy gowns and made up faces. It was stupid. He was a man, and there was no way he was going to let anyone dress him up like these women, nor make him act like them.

He was so preoccupied with ignoring his teacher, the women and Ger, and generally daydreaming to avoid the lecture, that he failed to notice the small crowd of Lord Ministers that followed the Emperor across the courtyard from the Court room hall, and came close to where they were standing.

"What are you doing? Kneel before the Emperor." The Teacher pulled his arm down with a strong jerk and Du Fen fell onto his knees with force. He cried out in pain, sure his knees would bruise from the impact.

The Emperor looked over at the sound of what seemed to be Du Fen crying out. He saw the boy on his knees with tears forming in his eyes. His eyes widened fractionally, and he walked away from the man who was speaking to him in order to make sure Du Fen was alright.

"What has happened here?" He asked with a cold voice. The teacher next to Du Fen shivered in fear and began speaking before Du fen had a chance.

"This Humble Servant greatly apologizes for his student's rude behaviour, Your Imperial Majesty. He was not kneeling in your presence, so I have corrected him." He bowed graciously before him with a smarmy smile. He then frowned at Du Fen and barked loudly. "Apologize!"

"My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty. I did not kneel, and then I interrupted with my shout." Du Fen bowed his head obediently with the tears in his eyes, his head was full of his own pain and not even thinking before opening his mouth.

The water made tracks down his face as he felt his pain keenly, wanting to shrink into the ground. This day had just been full of embarrassment and pain for him. He hated all the eyes that were on him now.

"Tsk. Lord Du, have you forgotten everything We told you?" The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the boy. He held out a hand and lifted him to his feet carefully before everyone. Du Fen looked up at him in surprise.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty..." He looked confused at the man then, wracking his brain for what he forgot.

"We told you not to let anyone tell you to kneel for them. If We wanted you to kneel, We would ask you Ourselves." He waved his Head Eunuch over with a finger flick.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" The Eunuch asked with a deferential tone.

"See that my bride-to-be is treated for his pain. If he bruises, break this teacher's legs. Replace him either way." He ordered with a bland face. Du Fen held in his gasp, but saw the fear in the teacher's eyes as he was led away.

"Thanking His Majesty for his attention." Du Fen said softly with a bow. Everyone held their breath as the Emperor gave a small smile and nod.

"Go, take care of your knees." He whispered softly, then turned and walked unhurriedly back to the business he had. Du Fen blushed and let the Head Eunuch lead him away.

"He must care for you very much, Lord Du." The Head Eunuch said with a smile as they left down the corridor. Du Fen smiled then.

"I believe so, Head Eunuch." He agreed quietly. He saw the envious glances of the women he was brought to watch, and shook his head at them internally. If getting his knees banged up was something to be envious of, they were silly indeed.

He was brought to a chamber not far, and sat to await the doctor. The elderly man took a look at Du Fen's knees with no less than seven servants present, as well as the Head Eunuch. He was smeared with some sort of poultice and wrapped carefully.

"You should be fine in a few days. We will check in with Your Lordship tomorrow to change dressings. Stay off of your feet until then." The old man proclaimed. Du Fen blushed a bit at the attention. He thought it was a bit much.

"I am sure I can walk back to my palace." He murmured to the Head Eunuch when he approached. The man shook his head.

"No, no. That won't do. The doctor said to stay off of your feet. We will arrange a seat for your return. Wait a moment." He pressed the youth's shoulder gently. A few moments later a large servant came in the door.

He picked up Du Fen carefully, wrapping a cloth so he did not touch the boy's person, and placed him into a small seat. Then he and another servant carried the boy through the Outer Palace and into the Inner Palace cautiously.

The Head Eunuch kept pace with them until the door and then instructed the servants of the Rose Pavilion to treat him well. Du Fen was so embarrassed! He sat quietly and obediently as the people around him fussed.

"Lord Du Fen? I am your new Teacher, sent by His Imperial Majesty. You may call me Teacher Min. I will teach your Consort Etiquette from now on." He saw an older man with bushy brows and a smiling face there. The old man bowed to him, and Du Fen looked surprised.

"Thank you Teacher Min, for your time and assistance." He said politely. He was a bit worried what the man wished to say to him though.

"It is my pleasure, Lord Du. First we must discuss your obedience. His Majesty will give you a set of his rules, and you must obey them without question. You had forgotten his rule, and were looked down on for it, so he is understandably worried." The man said kindly.

"Ah, it's just... The old Teacher was making me watch court Ger and I got distracted by my own thoughts. I didn't mean to kneel, really just forgot." He replied with a pout. The thoughts of the other man's teachings made him huff.

"Why on earth were you watching court Ger?" Teacher Min asked with shock. Du Fen sighed.

"Teacher Mo said I needed to be more feminine and graceful. He said I was too masculine and awkward for Ger." Du Fen replied with a scowl.

"Tsk. I hope you ignored all that. It is not important to be either of those things to be Ger, unless it is how you wish to be. If the Emperor did not like something, he would tell you directly." He assured the boy. Du Fen nodded. He liked this teacher already.

"Yes Teacher. I will listen well." He assured him.

"Good. Now, go over what the important Emperor's rules are with me. I want to see you haven't forgot any." He looked at him expectantly. Du Fen scrunched his brow and thought to himself.

"Ah, not to let anyone put me to my knees. Uhm, that the Lord Ministers and family must be bowed to, and... have to send message to the General to see the Emperor directly?" He recalled with difficulty.

"Forgot a few. That's okay though. You must wait for a taste tester before eating. You do not drink from the Emperor's cup until after you are married. You do not have coupling before you are married." The old man mentioned, then looked at him expectantly.

"Right, and must not be too close to another man, like sleep in bedding or wearing robes. I can ask the Emperor if not sure about orders... oh, I should have done that with the Teacher." He looked sheepishly at the old man.

"Good. You must see how the rules apply to life about you. I will be another person you may ask if you are unsure about what the rules are for you. Some people here will try to convince you that they are correct when they are not, just to humiliate you." He warned the youth with a frown.

"Those people are too much. Is it any wonder the Emperor must have shadows and eyes everywhere? Tsk. It is so difficult to live with people who wish you ill." He thought of the Empress briefly and shook his head.

"Indeed Lord Du. It is difficult. I will stay with you and help you as much as I can." Teacher Min bowed and the two smiled gently at each other. Yes, this teacher he liked very much.

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