The empress mother had sent over the names of the girls she is satisfied with. I show their portraits to dingbat. He seems to be not interested in it hazardly choosing and pointing.
"So you like this types." I take the remaining portraits he accepted. He look at me with his tea cup in his hand.
"What do you mean?"
"The girls you choose all have large bosomed or heavy buttoms. I don't have those so a change of taste?"
" No! Let me see again."
" Ha! You have make your selections. Have fun in bed with them. I'm sure you can last for hours. I will get the maid to boil more medicines for you to be stronger!"
"I don't need those. I am a naturally healthy strong person. I can prove it to you."
" I don't need you to prove anything. Just make sure you have a son."
"I am sure I can get you pregnant again. I just need to work harder and longer with you. " As he said that, I found myself corner to the wall with the scrolls of painting between us. He kiss me and everything spins out of control.
I don't know what is the magic that holds us together. I enjoy the moment with him. Skin to skin, whispers to whispers, gentle touches that I long to feel. We bicker alot but when we are naked, we are one. The only thing I wish I could tell him is that my name is Su Shung Yun. However in his eyes I can see me, the mirror sister that he married. The sister he sleep with. Did I fall in love with him? I don't know. All I know is that I am used to him in my life.
Three days later I submit the selected portraits to the palace. The empress summons us into the palace.
"I have seen the girls who are selected. They will be selected as the concubines for Wen'er. In the meanwhile my son please try to pregnant Yu'er. I told her if any of the concubine gets who gives birth to a son, she will be remove and that woman will be your principal wife. After that you still have to keep her pregnant at least another three times."
"Empress mother I am not a horse for breeding."
"Consider yourself one today onwards. Your father is not feeling well. Your son have to come out faster than expected."
"I may not have a son what if they are all daughters?"
"Then I have to get Ling'er to start consume his marriage when he is fifteen. That is when there is no choice. "
"His bride will be too old for him by the time ..."
"Doesn't matter. I will arrange another younger girl for him. "
"I will sent an imperial decree for the girls to be marry to Wen'er. As principal wife, you need to ..." She look over dingbat then me and sigh " it's difficult for all of us on the first night but you will check that the girls in their bedroom will be ready to allow to be ..." I twisted my dress and try not to have other expression. I fear what she will say next. " pentrate. The royal eunuch and you will make sure that there is blood on the wedding bed. The royal eunuch will make sure they are breed everyday. This is important as your father wants results. Since the crown Prince is useless at this point. We won't press him on it. I have been pressing him almost everyday since he have a large harem but no result." She sigh and drink her tea.
That evening the crown Prince and crown Princess came to pay respect to empress mother. He congratulate dingbat on having three new wives and the crown Princess bring me to the other side of the hall. We sit side by side and the maids pour tea and leave us alone. "It's not easy for us to share husband with other woman. You have to look at the bright side. Also you have to protect yourself if he had just pentrate other woman. Make sure he is clean before he pentrate you, do you understand "
"Why would he want..."
"All man is the same. They want more woman to sleep with. The crown Prince might be high and lofty. In the end he is still a man. He wants more and wants to have a good time with different woman. When he marry other woman. I have to bare witness . How he does it and how much he enjoys it. I remember the third wife wedding night, he made me join them in bed. It was a terror for both of us but for him it is an enjoyment. I learn to control my fear. I learn to be a principal wife."
"I just want to be an ordinary woman in an ordinary household. I never ask for all these."
"Don't say these thoughts infront of the royal family! We have married into one. There is no escaping. Even when we are dead this body will be buried in the royal grounds beside our husband. Since ancient time till now or maybe a few thousand years later. We the wife's of these princes to come, are bound by the same rules."
"I am not allowing myself to be trap like that. I will free myself."
"Saying is easier than doing it. Shung Yu, this is your fate. Accept it and you will live well. So will your clan and your parents. "
"My husband can only have me. If he has many after me, I will consider that man is just my master. I will work to get myself remove from the slavery contract. "
"You are seeking death. "
As we talk through the night, we hear some commotion outside. Then the sound of swords clinking outside. Both of us got up and walk out of the hall.