Every day Mr Liu comes by and have a game of go with me. We become friends. Cousin Bo Wu join us sometimes at the game of go. However the cold winter becomes hush we stop the game and he returns. He did not look at me when he retun home. He stay in his studyroom for many days. Finally two weeks later he approach me. He come into the music room while I am practicing. He sit in a distance. Finally he got up and sit next to me. Instop playing it and look at him. There is a long silence his eyes are red and his nose looks reddish. He hold my hand and look at me. "Mother empress wrote me a letter many months ago. I could be a father before the coming lunar new year. The child is gone and I am told to marry another to have a child."
What I hear is the reality. All family men wants a son to continue the line. I look at the music score ahead of me. "Who have you select to be your new wife?" I remove my hand from his grip. "I don't want to marry another just to have a child. However my older brother crown Prince is not able to have a child since he have marry three wives, six concubines and eight years together none of them is pregnant. My little brother Prince Ling is just five now. He can get marry but will take years for him to consume his marriage and produce a child. It all falls on me now. My son will be adopted into the crown Prince linage. He will be the next emperor. " As I already know that, my heart is already prepare for this.
" I understand what you are saying but I am asking you, who are you choosing as your new wife?"
"I don't know..."
"You want me to choose for you? Are you that cruel?"
"Mother empress will choose the next one. I just need to get along... I want you to know. You are my choosen wife. The only one I love this life."
"If it is possible, please sent me away. Or better if you divorce me. That way your household can be peaceful."
"I will never sent you away nor divorce you. Don't think about it. Even if this life we can't have a child. I will still want you. The other woman is just a person to give birth my child. She will never have my favour. My heart, my soul, my bed is share with you only. "
"How are you going to tell the other wife."
"She have to accept the conditions in order for this marriage to happen."
"Is there anyone who an accept this condition?"
"Yes those who want glory for their family. To access to a higher society but I won't let them climb over this boundary. My work for the military is halt now. I am not allow to go any expeditions. My main duty is to impregnate my new wife." As much as I am disappointed with the outcome, this is a reality I have to accept. I can't run away from this madness. I have to find an excuse to leave him, forever.
When mother empress organised a party for selection of wife, I am told to attend. The daughters of most officials are present. They are girls younger than me. Each prettier than another. I can see everyone have an ambition or mission to marry into the royal family.
By late evening,the ladies had left the party. Mother empress are me walk with her along the path in the royal garden.
"What do you think? Which girl will be suitable?"
"The lady that mother empress choose will be good for Prince Xian. I cannot say any more." She stop walking and turn to me.
"I know what you are thinking. Every woman have to go through this. You have marry into this royal family. You have to accept your husband will have to sleep with many other woman. We just have to accept it. In the end, we as the principal wife, will control everything. Including the love and heart of our man." She look at the moon. "In the end, they are just men. They need to do what they need. While we just need to go along. Then they will return to the bed we share."
"My father never take in another woman into Su mansion."
"Your father is an exceptional case. His heart and soul belongs to your mother, she is lucky to marry him. "
She take my hand and look at me tenderly.
"I know my Wen'er loves you. He had a hard time to pursue you after marriage. I know he took a long time to sleep with you. The emperor and I had allowed him to do whatever he wants about marry you. Thus time he had to listen to us."
She patt my cold hands.
"Let him sow his seeds so that our dynasty will last for next hundred or thousand of years to come. These girls are wiling to sleep with him in exchange for the glory of their family. If you disagree then... " She look at me sternly " Try getting pregnant by the next two years. This is the grace I am wiling to give you. Take all the medicine and let him plant all him seeds inside there." She point to my belly. " If not, I am still wiling to take any of those lovely girls to sleep with him till they get pregnant. If the child born to be a boy, she will be the principal wife. While you will be divorce from him. Never to return to his mansion. "Suddenly the air smells sweet. This is what I want to hear.