Qian walked out of her room slowly. She had an attendant as her crutch as she walked to the front of the courtyard. Her limp was more pronounced now, but she was doing her best to be with it since the doctor had seen her a second time that morning.
The first meeting she had had with him was shortly after waking. He had come to review her overall wellbeing and had performed a minor inspection on her ankle. It was the second time that he had come back that he had finally unwrapped it and examined it. This was when he had re-wrapped it and declared that it was only swollen and would heal in a few days.
To her own great relief, she is thought that this might have spared her more time alone with Koto. She hadn't even had to attend any sort of lunch, and everyone had been busy packing up to leave.
Koto walked over to her. He was alone while Bao Ma was helping the attendant get the children ready to leave. "How are you feeling?" he asked her.
She looked up at Koto, wondering if it was a trick question. Would he torment her if she told the truth, or would he be more pleased if she under-embellished her injury? "Well rested," she told him, not feigning the tiredness that overtook her features. "It's been hot, and even bathing seems to give little effect. The doctor gave good news, though. I'll be in good health once more in a few days."
She'd spare herself a fight with him this time. She honestly was too tired to give him attitude after what he'd put her through at the docks.
"That is good to know. When we return, I might pay you a visit." He would expect her to be prepared for it in the chance that he did.
The feeling of dread dropped like a lead weight in her stomach at that, but she tried not to let her expression loosen to show him her disdain for him. "Of course," she responded back without a hitch. She even put on a smile for him in an attempt to act pleased by the occurrence. "I hope to see you soon as well." The words felt vile slipping from her tongue, and she had to refrain from making a face at her own words.
Koto was pleased with her. He touched her face gently. "How lovely," he breathed. He would have leaned in to kiss her, but he'd save that for when they were in private.
She shuddered, his touch felt wrong. Fear washed over her quickly as she tried not to pull back further than she instinctively had.
"The carriages are loaded!" A servant called out to the rest, signalling that it was time to leave.
"Let me help you to the carriage." It wasn't a suggestion, he would do it and he hoped she wouldn't protest.
Qian nodded, looking down. She was glad he didn't say anything about her reaction to him. Honestly, she was just growing more weary just having to keep up a front around him. She had never felt so tense and rigid around someone in all her life. "Thank you."
The idea of Vy came to mind and a part of her almost wanted to beg and plead for this all to stop. She wanted to escape this hell and the realization that she didn't want Koto to touch her was becoming more of a realization the more time she spent around him, even if it was brief.
He guided her to the carriage that her and the boys had been in before. "You'll be riding with just the crown prince this time," he informed her.
Qian followed him as she stepped up to the carriage with the emperor's son. She looked inside to see Keelan and his cold gaze fell on her as she stepped inside before sitting down. She turned her head back to Koto, bowing her head lightly to him.
"Rest. We'll be back home soon." He told her sweetly.
"I will." She couldn't bring a smile to her face a second time, though. Qian leaned back in the seat, keeping her hands neatly in her lap. She turned to gaze out the window after that, hoping he'd merely shut the door and leave. Where was Vy?
He closed the door after that and started back to his carriage.
Bao Ma helped Ying into the carriage and arched a brow at Koto. "Don't be getting any ideas."
Koto just laughed and waited for her to get in before following after.
Ying sat down next to her sister, looking at her and then Fai. "Are we going to have to leave the kingdom and marry too someday?" Ying asked, thinking about lunch. Her uncle had said all manners of strange things she'd barely heard. It wasn't often he spoke of concubines and wives and yet so freely he seemed to mention the new woman her father had brought home as if she was supposed to have children too. Was this so? Would they be brother and sister to her like Vy?
Bao Ma interrupted before Koto could answer. "That is not something you need to worry about right now." There was a chance that they could yes, but that would be a long time from now and they had to marry Vy off first.
Ying blinked, as if mystified by her answer. "Why?" She asked, her curiosity never ending.
"You are still young. There is no need for you to concern yourself with marriage or children right now. "
Fai looked at his father and then his mother. "Isn't Vy the only one that needs to be married?"
Koto laughed.
Ying looked at her brother and it definitely perked her interest. "So then we don't have to if Vy does, right?" she asked, looking at her father. "I want to marry who I want."
Bao Ma sighed. "It isn't something to worry about now, Ying." She knew as soon as her daughters were married the likelihood of her seeing them again was low. They would be part of their husbands family and ultimately at their mercy.
Ying felt herself growing irritated with the lack of response. "Why?!" she shouted at her mom. "Why can't I know?!"
Bao Ma raised a brow at her youngest, but as she was about to speak Koto cut in.
"Enough shouting. Enjoy your freedom young one. You won't have it for long."
Zuri looked at her little sister. "You'll have to do whatever your husband wants when you marry."
"I don't want to." she stared at Zuri, tears bubbling up in her eyes. She liked her freedom! Ying drew in a tight breath when the carriage stopped and she was startled by the noise that made her shut up.
The coach jumped down from the driver's box as the soldiers secured the area. He came to the door to open it and check on everyone inside. "One of the wheels splintered on the carriage. We'll have to remove it and replace it with a spare."
Koto looked at the man. "Make it quick," he told him. The longer it took them to get home the worse this trip would be.
"Of course," he bowed quickly before closing the door and ordering the guards to heft one side of the carriage up.
Ying grabbed the edge of the curtain to peek out.
Koto sighed and looked out of the back to the other carriage. He wondered how his other woman was doing. He thought about taking advantage of their stop to go see her.
"Why have we stopped?" Qian asked, sitting forward to peer out the window.
"Let me check." Keelan told her, grabbing the door handle to open it and peer out. "Coachman. Coachman!"
"Yes," he answered, looking down at Keelan from the barely cracked door.
"What's the meaning of the stop?"
"The main carriage wheel has broken. They're replacing it now."
"Alright. Thank you for the clarification." Keelan closed the door to look at her. "It looks like it might be some time. They're doing a wheel exchange on your husband's carriage."
Qian tried not to make a face at that, but she didn't turn away from the window. "I see."
Keelan stared at her for a moment and then looked back out the opposite window. It really wasn't his business to be interested as this was the normal pace of all things. He wouldn't get invested but- "Where was your village?"
"It was in an oasis." she told him dryly, not really paying too much mind to him. "It was full of lush jungle plants and wildlife. I lived in a small village. We didn't have much except exotic fruits and medicines."
Koto sighed and got up.
"Where are you going?" Bao Ma asked.
Koto didn't answer as he stepped out and walked back to his concubine's coach.
"Koto-" Bao Ma started, but bit her tongue and sat back.
"Really? So you're not used to this lifestyle, are you?" Keelan asked her, leaning forward as he tapped his shoe on the floor wondering how else to pass the time.
"I suppose not." Qian laughed. "Vy usually makes it seem like it's not as bad as it sounds."
"What do you mean by-" Keelan looked up when a shadow came over the carriage door.
Qian didn't understand why he stopped talking but she felt like maybe she spoke too soon and should have put her foot in her mouth over divulging that information. She looked over at Keelan to ask why he had gone quiet but the figure outside the door had a familiar shadow that could only make dread replace the calm comfort of being stuck in a carriage with a stranger.
Koto opened the door and looked in, seeing his nephew first. "Keelan, would you mind going to the other carriage so Qian and I can talk?"
Keelan nodded without hesitation. "Naturally, uncle." He climbed out quickly, squeezing between Koto and the door to walk towards the main carriage.
Qian felt worse at how quickly Keelan moved out of the way. She stayed scrunched up in her corner of the carriage away from him. Would he yank her around again? She tried to steel her nerves, looking at him as she felt her heart flutter in her chest nervously but she couldn't draw up the first set of words to greet him.
Koto closed the door after he stepped inside and sat across from her. Without warning he reached and took her injured foot into his lap. "What did the physician say about your foot?"
She relaxed a little, seeing as he wasn't making her do anything. "Just a few days off of it and it should be fine. He said nothing was broken and that I only sprained it."
He lightly messaged it. "That's good," he said, not meeting her eyes.
Unfortunately for Qian, she couldn't tear her gaze away from him. The feeling of his hand over her ankle gave her chills. "He gave me a bit of pain medication as well to manage the pain but it still hurts. I was hoping to put it in some cold water since ice isn't available."
"I'll have some sent to you when we return." There was a small silence before he pressed his thumb a little too firmly into her ankle.
Qian clenched her teeth, wincing as she lowered her head. She gasped painfully, covering her mouth quickly before a sob escaped after, and she clamped her mouth shut. "Koto it hurts." she whispered, staring at her ankle.
He didn't loosen his grip. "Do not embarrass me like this again." He told her. He turned his grey eyes on her, his expression cold.
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Qian gasped, grabbing his hand quickly. "Please! Let go! It hurts!"
He pressed harder when she talked back to him. "Didn't you. You managed to avoid being seen this entire trip. How am I supposed to feel when one of my concubines can't even show up to a simple lunch?"
Qian sobbed, squeezing his hand. She felt like if he squeezed any harder, something might break. "Ah-haa! Koto stop!" she couldn't even think straight anymore. "It hurts! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I shouldn't have done it! I'll be more careful! Let go, please!"
He loosened his grip and continued to message her foot. "I'm glad we're on the same page now."
Qian knocked his hand away and she pulled herself away from him. She wrapped the fabric around herself, sheltering herself up against the wall. He was always this way. Kind but threatening. When would she learn? It was always a false sense of security.
He let her go and cower in the corner. The thought of her acting like a little mouse afraid of the snake had him a bit pleased.
Qian stared at Koto, her lip quivering. "Why are you like this?" she stuttered out.
"Like what?" he asked, watching her. Would she be bold enough to speak exactly what she thought of him?
She felt her chin tremble at his question. It made her feel like she was insane for even getting upset about it. "Cruel." Qian resolved herself, glaring at him.
He laughed lightly. "Oh this isn't cruel, Qian. Don't make me show you the worst of it."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" she gasped, trying to hold her resolve so she didn't cry. "You always threaten to yank away the little bit of security you try to make me believe you're attempting to give but it's all a facade. Isn't it?"
"Is it?" He stood up and grabbed her face. "Count your blessings that I haven't planted my seed in you. Once you bear my children you will be nothing more than a pretty thing in the court."
One tear spilled down over her cheek and onto his fingers as she stared at him. "If I'd have it my way, I'd hope my womb was barren so I wouldn't have to bear witness to the torture you'd bring upon anything I shared flesh with."
He grit his teeth and tightened his grip on her. "You're so naive. A barren concubine is as good as dead. The only thing that would save you is a child."
"Is it really saving me much?" she asked him, wincing as she felt her jaw ache. "You can't have everything, no matter who you are."
He squeezed her face so tightly it would likely bruise in the shape of his fingers. "We'll see." He forced her face to the side like a hard slap and pulled away. He sat back down just as the carriage started to move again. He would ride back with her and he hoped she hated every minute of it.
She grabbed her cheek, curling up as she closed her eyes tightly. As she felt the wheels of the carriage begin to move, she couldn't help the frown over her face that threatened to bring on a new wave of emotions she wasn't willing to share with him. She couldn't help but feel the urge to run away again.
He was right about that. She made a mistake embarrassing herself. She injured the one thing that prevented her from enacting her escape anyway.
Koto watched her the whole way back. When they arrived he quickly got out and acted like nothing happened.
Qian got up, unfurling from her position sorely. She'd ended up sitting the whole ride scrunched up in the corner. Seeing Koto leave the carriage first made her feel like she could finally breathe and she got up slowly, limping to the doorway as she grabbed the edge of the frame to lean out.
A guard extended his hand for her, helping her step out as she got to the ground. It took a moment for her to stand before an overwhelming pain came over her, making her fall to the ground, clutching the ends of her dress painfully.
"Get a doctor!" she heard someone yell from overhead. Qian could only look up in time to see another guard pass over her line of sight before everything faded to black.