Shen's mate's view

"Has something happened to Shen?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"He hasn't been here for a few weeks. Look, there is Yimo. Maybe she has word of him. Hey Yimo!"

Yimo walked over to us, smiling, "What is up?"

"We were wondering if you had heard from Shen? Is he ok?"

"Why would I know? I left the dirty bastard eight weeks ago. Don't hassle me about him again."

"That's cold, coming from you. Shen thought the world of you."

"That maybe, but he still did not clean up enough, even when I asked him to. Anyway, if one of you wants to be with me, let me know." She sauntered off with a wink.

"She may look fine, but that one is too much trouble. If Shen could not keep her, she would leave us in a week."

"Here! Here!" the other men agreed.

"Shall we go see what has happened to him? It really is not like him not to come."

"Yeah, let's go!" and so we headed up to the manor on the hill, passing the alligator-infested hole.

"Did you hear some idiot went swimming here and got their arm chewed off? If it were not for Lady Xinye, he would be dead."

"Shen is so lucky to work for that family."

"Here! Here!" the other two agreed.

We finally got to the manor, and the doors were locked, "Shen! SHEN! Shen! Come out and talk with us."

Eventually, we heard footsteps, and Shen opened the door. He looked supremely happy, and he was clean-shaven. We had never seen Shen look so good. "Good grief Shen, what happened to you? You look as handsome as a prince. Anyway, why didn't you come and spend time with us?"

"Sorry, fellas," Shen looked ashamed, "I do not have time to come in with you anymore."

"What do you mean you do not have time? What could be more important than your friends?"

"Shen?" a female musical voice spoke from behind the gate, "Are you coming back to bed?"

Shen looked away to address the voice, "Honey, I will be there as soon as I get rid of my friends."

"Why don't you bring them in? I'll serve tea and cakes," the musical voice said, "Shouldn't we meet if they are your friends?"

"Yes, honey," Shen looked shamefaced, "You heard my lady, come in, and we will serve you tea."

"Alright!"

"Before you come in, make yourselves look a bit more presentable. I don't want my wife thinking you are a bunch of low lives," Shen jokingly warned us.

"Wife? When did you get married?" one of us asked as we tried straightening our clothes up and tidying each other up as best we could. We were not dressed at all for courting - merely to relax with friends.

"Three weeks ago," Shen said with a satisfied smirk.

"But isn't that fast? You really must be a ladies' man to get a wife so soon after breaking up with Yimo. Well done!"

"No, I am blessed to serve Lady Xinye. My wife is her handmaiden," Shen explained.

"Woah! She must be ugly to want a lowly labourer like you."

"No, she is beautiful," a dreamy look fell across Shen's face, "Come in already and sit down." Ushering us inside and over to his hut.

We had been to his hut when Yumi was living with him and had never envied him his house, but this time his home was immaculate. He even had flowers growing around the outdoor patio. It was then we saw a stunningly beautiful lady exit his cottage holding a tray with a teapot and five teacups on it.

We all stood like idiots, entranced by the fairy-like creature.

"Please sit down," She said, taking the tray over to the table, sitting next to Shen, and holding his hand.

We all nodded foolishly, our jaws and tongues scraping the pavements. We do not remember much about that tea party except afterward, Shen showed us to the gate so we could walk home safely.

"I am sorry, fellas, I can't come into town anymore while my wife is home," Shen apologised to us.

"No, No, do not worry," we all blustered, "If we had such a beautiful wife waiting for us at home, we would not come either."

"Goodnight then," Shen bade us and closed the manor door behind us.

"Goodnight, Shen," we said as we started walking back down the hill.

"Lucky bastard," one of us said halfway down into the night silence.

"Yes," the other two agreed.

Shen's view

I shut the gate behind my friends and headed back inside.

"They seemed like lovely men," Sari said smiling at me, "You should invite them more often as you are lucky to have friends."

"You wouldn't mind?" I asked taking her into my arms and kissing her.

"No, I would not mind, you are lucky to have friends, you should keep them. However, if you keep doing things like this, I would mind," she replied kissing me back and wrapping her arms around my neck. "Let's go to bed." So, we retired to bed, blowing out the lamp and enjoyed each other's bodies once again. In the aftermath of our love, Sari burrowed into my side and started tracing the muscles on my body, "Shen."

"Yes, my love," I said as I kissed her forehead.

"We will be leaving to see Xin's family estate after the emperor has arrived here," Sari said.

"I see, why are you telling me this?"

"Because I have to go with my lady," Sari said. I froze. I had not expected to lose her so soon.

"How long will you be gone?" I eventually asked, not sure what to think, though I could feel my heart breaking. Sari had told me from the beginning her Lady came first. I could not help but feel a little put out.

"I do not know," Sari said, tears falling onto my bare chest, "It could be a couple of weeks, it could be forever. I don't want to go, but you know my lady always comes first.

"I know," I felt my own eyes fill up with tears, "I have to trust that you will be back. I have to trust the God of Xinye to bring you back since he brought you to me."

"Let's do that then," Sari said, "Let's ask him to bring us back together."

So, we prayed as a couple that we would be reunited quickly when we were apart, and trusted our prayer was heard and acted upon. I wanted to pray again but Sari would not allow us to pray, "Our prayer will be heard. He is a God who hears the prayers uttered, we just may not like the answer."

A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please take the time to vote by pressing the star. Please let me know if you see any errors, as this is unedited.