***REMINDERS BEFORE YOU READ**
-This story is set in a vaguely ancient Chinese setting with an alternative history. I'm not Chinese so I apologize for any mistakes with some of the titles and terms of address. In some cases, I will translate the terms directly into English and in others, I will keep the Pinyin format just for the sake of immersion.
-This universe features three genders : Female, male and ger (men who can give birth). So Mpreg is a thing in this setting. The ger concept was taken with some liberty from the 'Quickly Wear The Face of the Devil' novel. It isn't my original concept. I merely expanded on it.
-Terms like Empress, concubine, consort and Wangfei will be used as gender-neutral titles (applying both to women and ger). Ger will be referred to with the masculine pronoun 'he'.
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It was the eve of February 14th in the Imperial capital of Great Qi. This night was often deemed by the capital's people as the coldest night of the year. Usually, the temperature would plummet so low that one wouldn't even be able to glimpse the shadow of a stray cat in the streets. However this time, something unusual happened.
An abnormal wave of heat oppressively saturated what should have been chilly air. A thin layer of warm fog enshrouded the dark in a dreamy haze. The moon, which shouldn't have been visible that night, hung in bright red amid the velvet sky. The sight looked freakishly unnatural, almost as if someone had dipped a brush in blood and run it over the visage of the moon.
Faced with such an eerie and unprecedented phenomenon, the general populace collectively held their breath. A sense of peculiar disquiet permeated the many households of the capital. Some folk who had speculated that King Yama (A/N : Chinese God of the Underworld) must have decided to open the gates to hell, rushed to tightly shut their doors and windows while they scrambled to stick makeshift talismans all over their walls and halls.
Meanwhile in the Cold Palace, a hunched figure clad in faded, worn robes was humming a little broken tune under their breath.
Their thin, scarred hands held a needle and a piece of old, tattered silk. Every now and then, they would stop humming, frown and then undo the yellow threads which they have already sewn, only to re-sew them all over again.
In a corner within this dilapidated room, a palace maid sat expressionlessly watching this scene. Her gaze was indifferent, as if she had no sentiments towards the individual in front of her.
The figure looked up. A gentle, unfettering smile broke across their pallid, sickly countenance. They lifted the piece of cloth which they had been embroidering and addressed the maid, "Look Zhang Min, do you think my Du'er would like this one? Or do you think it would suit my Feng'er better?"
Despite being called by a name that isn't her own, the maid's stoic expression remained unchanged. In a toneless voice that sharply contracted with her sweet-sounding words, she replied, "It would suit both of them, Your Highness. Whether it is His little Highness the First Prince or his Little Highness the Third Prince, both would surely love it."
The figure's face brightened. They giggled before going back to their embroidery.
Li Jing, the maid, glanced away. Her impassive gaze settled on the pile of unfinished infant-sized Changpao (A/N : A long one-piece robe for males). underneath the sewing figure. Such a scene had become her everyday life since His Highness, Imperial Noble Consort Gui transferred her over to this place.
This giggling, tune-humming figure before her was Empress Jun, the official ger spouse of His Majesty, Emperor Zedong. Two months prior, Empress Jun had miscarried for the second time and since then, he had turned into a fool. Although the loss of his second child had been the straw to the camel's back, Li Jing had heard that Empress Jun hadn't been quite right in the head since His Majesty ordered the nine-kin extermination of his paternal family.
It was common knowledge, even to palace maids, that Empress Jun's actual parents both perished at the westernmost border while battling the wild barbarians of Liang. Back then, this news became so publicly widespread because the Jun family wasn't the only noble household to lose their legitimate heir. The Zheng family didn't lose one but in fact, two of their direct male descendants. The defeat at the hands of the barbarians and the loss of three capable noble heirs enraged the late Emperor so much he developed a high fever and the assembly court had to be dismissed for three consecutive days.
Subsequently, Empress Jun was taken in by his younger paternal uncle who inherited the Jun fu (A/N : fu translates to manor/estate) from his dead Eldest Brother. Normally, the fu should have been passed down to the late Marquis Jun's only son, Empress Jun. But because Empress Jun was born a ger, he could inherit neither title nor fu. Instead, the fu was passed to the head of the second branch, Jun Shoushan who was the late Marquis's only living brother: a shu (A/N : Illegitimate. Born to a concubine, not to the main spouse) brother.
Empress Jun had a lukewarm relationship with his uncle's family despite being raised by them. This came to light when Empress Jun made no effort or whatsoever to advance the careers of his uncle or his two older cousins. Instead, he actively supported and elevated his maternal family, the Fan family.
When whispers of the Jun family colluding with the Fourth Prince started to circulate around six months ago, Empress Jun didn't step in to help. And thus evidence continued to pile up, witnesses came forward and eventually, there was nowhere for the Jun family to retreat. Convicted of the capital offense of treason, the entire Jun family was annihilated, one hundred and twenty-nine members perished in a single day.
Because Empress Jun didn't associate with his paternal family, Emperor Zedong spared him, stating that despite the heinous crime that the Jun family had committed, his Empress was loyal, virtuous and of outstanding character and thus, he must not bear the sin of his kin. While this angered some officials who wanted to depose Empress Jun, it garnered much admiration from the common folk and Great Qi's scholars. People sang praises of Emperor Zedong's magnanimity and mercy, thus improving his public image.
However, things started to change around four months after the Jun family's demise. Noble Consort Gui, Empress Jun's younger maternal cousin who had entered the Chen Wangfu with him as a side concubine, smoothly gave birth to the Second Prince. Emperor Zedong promoted him to Imperial Noble Consort. In contrast to his maternal cousin who had successfully contributed to the Imperial bloodline, Empress Jun had failed to conceive a second time after losing his first child years ago.
Eventually, the pressure of having to produce a di (A/N: Legitimate) son caused Empress Jun's already frail health to worsen. Li Jing remembered the whispers the maids and eunuchs exchanged about Empress Jun in the winding halls of the Imperial Palace. They spoke of him as nothing but an empty vessel with a pretty phoenix crown. His paternal family, which he should have supported, was exterminated. His maternal family, which he had painstakingly elevated, cast aside in the end in favor of their own ger son, Imperial Noble Consort Gui.
Ultimately, Empress Jun became a kinless and childless husk with a lovely sounding title but nothing more. At this point, no one expected him to conceive ever again but surprisingly, two months later, he did. However his health was already ruined due to excessive stress, insomnia and something else no one would dare to mention. In the end, he couldn't keep the child and miscarried too early.
By then Empress Jun, who had started to show signs of mental illness, was of no more use to Emperor Zedong. In an early January afternoon, a peculiar incident took place in the Imperial Gardens. Imperial Noble Consort Gui claimed that, in an irrational fit of madness, Empress Jun had tried to strangle Second Prince and throw him into a pond. At this point, everyone was quite clear on what Imperial Noble Consort Gui was seeking to accomplish. This time Emperor Zedong didn't do anything to protect Empress Jun. And so, Empress Jun was decreed to spend the rest of his remaining years in the Cold Palace for trying to harm an imperial descendant.
Shortly after, Empress Jun's bouts of madness became more and more frequent. Eventually, he turned into an outright foul. Other than his two unborn sons whom he believed to be alive, he remembered nothing and no one.
And yet despite all of this, Emperor Zedong had yet to officially depose him. Li Jing didn't understand why His Majesty still let Jun Yunru cling to his title. The maid could only guess how anxious Imperial Noble Consort Gui must be right now. The moment Empress Jun was deposed, his own ascension to the phoenix seat would be very much confirmed. At this moment, no one in the entire Imperial Palace would profit from Empress Jun's demise more than his own cousin.
Li Jing continued to watch the fool in front of her as he chuckled and giggled while happily clutching the little ugly Changpao to his heart. She wondered if he would still be laughing if she told him that tonight would be the last night of his life. But then, fools were blissful in their ignorance and becoming one might have been fate's greatest mercy to Empress Jun at this point.
Right on cue, the hole-ridden entrance doors were unceremoniously swung open. A lean figure sauntered into the damp and foul-smelling room. There was little to no lighting in the room except for the red-tinted moonlight seeping through the cracked windows. Despite the dim light however, the beauty of the late night guest could not be concealed.
Fine, well-proportionate features set in an oval-shaped face that spoke of a tender temperature to its onlooker. Gentle-looking eyes the color of polished onyx, fair skin and full lips the shade of vermilion. A beautiful and swan-like shape clad in exquisite tea-colored Shu brocade. A golden crown crusted with emeralds, an eight-tailed phoenix hairpin and dangling pearl tassels. Who else could it be but the most powerful person in the Inner Palace at the moment?
From her position in the room's corner, Li Jing instantly plopped to the ground, kowtowing to the Fan family's only ger son, "Nubi (A/N : a self address referring oneself as a female slave) greets His Highness, Imperial Noble Consort Gui."
"You may rise," Consort Gui drawled, voice as smooth as satin.
Only after hearing those words did Li Jing dare to raise her head. Her eyes however remained pinned to the floor. She didn't even entertain the thought of glancing at Consort Gui's feet.
"It has been a while since I last visited my good Eldest Cousin. So I thought to myself, we should have dinner tonight. What does Eldest Cousin think?"
Empress Jun, who had been fiddling with his embroidery, looked up at Consort Gui. His dark eyebrows creased in confusion, "Who are you?"
Consort Gui chuckled. The ring of his laughter wasn't particularly merry. Rather, it sounded dark and bitter. "My good Eldest Cousin doesn't remember Xue'er (A/N : Consort Gui is refering to himself here. His actual name is Fan Xue). How regretful."
He shifted slightly to the side, clapping his hands once. Instantly, a small team of maids and eunuchs rushed into the room. Each held a different pearwood foodbox. "It matters not. Tonight I have decided to dine with eldest cousin. It has been so long since we have last eaten together."
Consort Gui glanced at Li Jing, his gaze carried a meaningful glint. "Set the table."
Li Jing bobbed her head, "Yes, Your Highness."
In a matter of moments, a small low table was placed before Empress Jun and an assortment of all sorts of vegetarian and meat dishes was displayed atop it.
A eunuch carried a sandalwood ottoman chair and positioned it next to the table. Consort Gui sat down on it elegantly and proceeded to fill the white porcelain bowl in front of Empress Jun with bits and pieces from every presented dish. "These are all Eldest Cousin's favorite dishes. Do you remember when you used to come to the Fan fu? Niang (A/N : Mother, informal) would always cook them all for you. Here, have a taste."
As Consort Gui busied himself with serving Empress Jun, he spoke to the servants, "Leave."
All of the present servants including Li Jing bowed to him and shuffled backwards, quietly slipping out of the room. The creak of the entrance doors as they closed shut was for a moment the only sound to be heard.
Consort Gui watched for a while as his eldest cousin chewed enthusiastically on the braised pork in his bowl. The haughty tone left Consort Gui's voice. Instead a hint of something that sounded vaguely of sorrow laced his words, "When Eldest Cousin meets King Yama, you must not blame Xue'er."
Empress Jun, who was about to shove another piece of pork into his mouth, paused. In a child-like sweet voice, he asked, "Who is King Yama?"
Consort Gui's lips curved up. His dark eyes grew hazy for a moment, as if he was recalling some long forgotten memory. "He is a king of a far, faraway land. It is where all those we love go after they fall asleep forever. Eldest cousin will meet him very soon."
Empress Jun's unique ash-colored eyes widened in excitement, "Will my Feng'er and Du'er be there?"
Consort Gui's thin smile wavered. His slender, jade-like hands which were holding his silver chopsticks trembled slightly. In a low voice that sounded as if it was chocked with something unidentifiable, he said, "Yes. They will be there, happily waiting for their daddy."
Empress Jun put his bowl down with a thud. "I don't want to eat anymore. Can I go now? I want to see them."
Consort Gui masked his indecipherable mood with a cheerful-looking smile. "Here, have this cup of wine with Xue'er first, I will then send you off."
"Alright." Empress Jun grinned foolishly, his eyes shone with unabashed, pure happiness at the prospect of meeting his children.
Consort Gui felt like he couldn't quite meet those eyes and instead placed his hands around a white jade bottle of rice wine. He then proceeded to fill his own cup. When he was about to trickle wine into the second cup, he tapped the lid. As he watched the sight of the clear, crystal liquid as it slowly accumulated, he softly spoke, "Eldest Cousin, do you remember when we were young and we couldn't sleep? You would tell me to count until I fell asleep. The one who counted the most would win because they would have the best dream. That is what you used to say."
When Consort Gui handed Empress Jun his cup, a slight shake was visible in his hands. "I was stupid back then. I would force myself to stay awake just so I could count more than you. I thought if I did, my dreams would for sure be sweeter than yours. Eldest Cousin, Can we count together one last time? The one who falls asleep first loses. Just like always."
Jun Yunru laughed, the sound free and lovely. "I like fun games. Let's do it." He took the cup from Fan Xue's hands and threw it to the back of his throat in one gulp.
Together the two cousins started to count, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight…"
It was only that Jun Yunru never got to count further than nine before he fell asleep for eternity that night.
Silent, glistening tears streamed down Fan Xue's face as he continued to count on his own.
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In front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Chief Eunuch Liao was in the process of keeping the night vigil. He tagged at the tight collar of his robes, feeling unusually feverish. It was supposedly February but he could feel sweat trickling down his back. He wondered if he was coming down with something. He casually glanced at the sky and the moment he glimpsed the bright red moon, a sense of unease sank into his old bones.
He was in the middle of contemplating something when he was disturbed by the sight of a huffing, disheveled middle-aged official.
Chief Eunuch Liao squinted his small eyes, trying to discern the official's identity. When he realized who it was, he stepped forwards meeting the man halfway. He first bowed and then in a tone that sounded respectful but not too subservient, he greeted, "Grand Master Astrologer, daren (A/N: Term of address for court/imperial officials). The hour of the horse (A/N : 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM) has yet to pass. What brings you here?"
It had been nearly an hour and a half since His Majesty had retired to his bed. Disturbing his rest at such an hour was both improper and disrespectful.
The Grand Master Astrologer Song Hai, however, didn't seem to care what the eunuch thought. Beard shaking and face red from exertion, he grabbed Chief Eunuch Liao's sleeve and urgently tagged, "Quick Liao gongong (A/N: Term of address for high-ranked court eunuchs) announce me to His Majesty. I must meet him."
The Chief Eunuch knitted his eyebrows. He felt that Song Hai was being too audacious calling for His Majesty at such an hour but at the same time, he didn't want to bear Emperor Zedong's anger if the matter was truly urgent. In a pinched voice, he spoke, "Alright. Please wait here daren. Nucai (A/N: A self address referring oneself as a male slave) will announce you to His Majesty."
In the smolder of an incense stick, Song Hai was already kneeling before Emperor Zedong. The twenty-five years old ruler wore simple yellow robes with a wine-colored cape draped over his shoulders. His silky strands hang loosely behind his back. Despite his minimalistic nightly attire, his dragon aura could be keenly felt in the slight crease of his ink-black eyebrows.
In a steady voice that was neither loud nor low, he addressed the official, "Beloved subject, what is so urgent for you to come to Zhen (A/N : the imperial I/We. Used exclusively by the Emperor) at such an hour?"
A sheen of sweat glistened across the middle-aged official's forehead. "This lowly subject begs Your Majesty to forgive him for daring to disturb your rest. However, the matter cannot wait. This lowly subject has taken it upon himself to inform Your Majesty immediately."
"Speak."
Song Hai clenched his hands tightly around his robes as he dipped his head, a grave tone colored his voice. "The winter moon is drenched in red. The air carries the breath of fire. The sky is clear but not a single star could be glimpsed. Your Majesty, the door between the heavens and the earth is ajar. King Yama sets a foot in between. This is the once in a five-hundred years Blood Moon, a time where the dead turn into vengeful ghosts that demand unpaid debts. No one must perish tonight in the Inner Palace."
Emperor Zedong frowned. Whether he was confused or concerned, it was unclear. "Explain."
Song Hai swiftly complied, "Women and gers naturally carry a greater amount of yin in their souls. With the Blood Moon, It is easier for them to become vengeful ghosts. Your Majesty, if someone of the Inner Palace descends to the Yellow Springs (A/N : Euphemism for the underworld/afterlife) tonight, a great calamity might befall Great Qi's reign. This lowly subject urges His Majesty to tighten the night vigil. None of Your Majesty's concubines must come to harm at this hour."
Just as the official and Emperor Zedong were in the middle of discussing the matter, the cry of a small eunuch rang from the outer hall. "Your Majesty, His Highness the Empress has descended to the Yellow Springs, Your Majesty, His Highness the Empress has departed this world!"
Emperor Zedong, who was in the process of stroking his jade thump ring, froze. His dark eyes, which usually looked patient and benevolent, bore menacingly into Song Hai. The pressure of the ruler's gaze made Song Hai's knees go soft, like limp noodles. The middle-aged man began to shake like a leaf in the face of the fierce northern winds.
Without uttering another word, Song Hai put his head in his trembling hands. A single thought ominously rumbled across his mind like the hoofbeats of thousand horses.
Too late, it is too late!
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As winter bled into spring and one year bled into another in Great Qi, no one noticed the transparent white figure that continued to roam the Imperial Palace for two years to come. The amount of things it had heard and seen could cover endless pages.
However one day, it disappeared in the blink of an eye. It was almost as if it had never existed in the first place.
Where did it go? No one could see it, not even those monks and priests that had frequented the Imperial Palace throughout the years.
And thus, no one could have known where it went.