"I miss you. Out of all of you, I love you. I do not love them. If I could only have one spouse, it would be you. I understand where you are coming from." I say.

  I just wanted to reach in and hug her, let her know I was not going anywhere, wanting to be with just her.

  "It is getting close to dinner, and you should head to the right pace," she informs me. It shocked me she is trying to push me away so fast.

  "I have work to do, now that I have taken over the books for the pace." She reminds me.

  No one told me she was going to be taking over the household books, so that took me by surprise.

  "Before you leave, why would your dad know what is going on at our paces?" she asks

  "It could be multiple reasons. His guards are reporting to him, or he has a spy in each pace." Informing her.

  "If he only knew one side, then what could it be?" she asks.

  "Then it could be someone reporting it to him." I tell her.

  "What if the person is on lockdown? How would they get information to him?" she asks.

  Wondering why she is asking so many questions. "wait, what is going on? Why so many questions?"

  "I was just wondering, that is all." She whispers.

  "Before I go, will you please tell me what is going on?" I ask.

  "When you have over five minutes, not get going, she is waiting." She says.

  As I stepped out, I nodded silently, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the courtyard. Thinking that I really do not want to go anywhere else for the night, but I better see An.

  Dragging my feet in the garden that connects the paces I am seeing for the first time; I really do not want to see anyone else but her and spend most of my time there. The grass is flowing in the light wind, looking around at the flowers, giving off a romantic smell. Hearing the water just flowing making the most rexing sound. I reached An's pace, its décor is of someone that lives a pin life.

  As I entered her pace, it was as humble as her courtyard, not too many decorations, just a few mps and an incense burner the way she was not a show of saying. We moved into the dining room, and I can smell dinner coming in.

  "I hope you do not mind. I made this myself." An said.

  "I do not mind at all. It smells good." I reply.

  As we sat down for dinner, I noticed she was already giving me hints she wanted more from Me. As I gnced over at An's medium build and her soft complexion, I could not help but feel very attracted to her. When she leaned over to serve me, the sweet scent of lotus naturally flew off her was very alluring to me. The next time she leaned over to serve me, I grasped her hand and pulled her down onto my p and for the first time kissed. I knew to be as gentle as possible as.

  I rose from the seat with her in my arms and carefully pcing her on the bed. She gasped for air as if she had the wind knocked the air out of her. Making no sound, she leaned in for another kiss. I gently y her down on her bed, covered by bck silk sheets. I hear little moans escaped her lips as I removed her robes. Feeling her hands removing my robes as if she wants this quickly as I feel her movements towards my dragon.

  Feeling her hand sliding up and down on my dragon is making me crazy. Sliding her legs open so I can slide it in slowly, she moans and whispers "I want it all right now." thinking my consorts all have a dark side. Sliding it all in, she arched her back and moaned slowly. With every stroke she gets louder and grabs the sheets until she lets out one st scream and quivers in delight.

  Her legs quake with anticipation for me to unload inside of her. Slowing it down just a little, she yells out, Faster please as I move her in closer and moving my hips faster until I colpse and unload every ounce of me inside of her.

  The morning sun arises in the early morning. As I wake next to An, look over at her and kiss her on her lips and tell her, "Got to leave for the day. I will see you in four days."

  She bowed as I headed out wonder as I walked down the pathway not paying too much attention to what was going on around me. I can hear Cao in the background working away, making sure everything was in its pce and guarded.

  Cao running between the two buildings, the study, and the main house. Finally reaching her gates as Cao was shutting them.

  "Rex. Where is she now?" I ask.

  "She's in her study." Cao responded.

  "Thank you. Go finish what you need to do." I say.

  As she walked away, she looked concerned about things that were the second person who looked just as concerned for her. I entered the study and stood over her and stood above her. She was sound asleep.

  "Are you comfortable? Why did you not sleep in your chambers?" I say.

  "I must have fallen asleep while reading my book. That is all. May I ask why you are here?" she asks with a disappointment.

  "I wanted to see you before court today." I spoke.

  "Is it my night tonight?" She asks.

  "Yes, I will be with you all night. I will see you ter." As I lean in for a kiss.

  Heading out the door, I see Cao running in with breakfast. I overhear, "your siblings will be here today with the empress."

  As I head to my pace to change and get bathed wondering why is everyone coming to see her today, I will have to have Shuming do some investigation on the why?

  "Shuming, can you go ask around and find out why is Na's family coming and why my mom is visiting today?" I ask.

  "Of course, your highness." He says as he bowed out.

  Arriving at my pace climbing into the bath and a fresh set of clothes waiting for me, Shuming was all set up for my return. Not realizing it was not Shuming that set it all up for me. It was Huì Ying, who ended up getting my belongings together without being asked.

  Wondering to myself, why is she here? I told her I did not want her around anymore. Does she not get the hint?

  "Why are you here I dismissed you already?" I ask.

  "I belong here." She says.

  "I told you not to come back." I tell her.

  "You don't tell me where I can go or stay." She replies.

  "Yes, I can. They assigned you to my house. I can tell you to go." I remind her.

  "No!" she screamed.

  "Well, I am heading to court." I say as I walked out the door.

  Knowing the Shuming is not with me, I headed to court to listen to what they have to say. We have a long day ahead of us; I know my dad is going to get more information out of the officials.

  My mind went to Na's, and I heard the wind through the trees like a romantic song. I was already there. As I walked in, I heard people murmuring. They were walking down the row of columns and his eunuch was waiting to announce my dad's arrival.

  All the officials walk in and suddenly we hear "the emperor has arrived."

  We all bow and say, "Good morning, your majesty."

  The court seemed to drag on and on, nothing too exciting about taxes, more guards, and more this and that. It seems like this never ends. Taxes are too high, and we need to do this and that I almost fell asleep just standing there.

  I finally chimed in and says, "I am looking into the high taxes."

  They finally dropped the useless chatter about it. Some looked very concerned, almost a terrified look came across the ones I suspected in this grand scheme. I can see my father and he got the same idea as me.

  As court was winding down, I could see some officials trying to get out as fast as they can I signaled to my dad to kind of let them squirm a little bit more. They look uncomfortable. A nervous energy was showing on their faces.

  Watching them shift back and forth, my dad says, "anymore open business today."

  Everyone nodded no. My dad ended court for the day as the official's head out. There was a group of them that huddled together on the steps of the throne room whispering, you cannot make out what they are saying.

  I hear footsteps coming up behind me. It was my brother Rong, Bao. He is between us all. I would consider him the middle brother. He is a hopeless romantic, around the same height as me. Not as built, but built the same way. His hair is a little lighter than mine, his eyes people say they are kind eyes. He is not married yet, but he wants to find the love of a lifetime.

  This is where I envy him. He gets to marry for love. He does not need to have the other concubines he can take on one wife if he wants.

  "How was court today?" He asks.

  "Just the same as usual, nothing special." I reply.

  "Mom wants me to get married soon. I do not have a clue about who yet," He says.

  "Well, is there anyone special that you have in mind? She will agree with anyone you choose." I remind him.

  "There is someone just she isn't from a paramount family." Being sad when he said it.

  "I do not think she will mind. How about we talk to her together?" I say.

  "That would be a great idea." Getting excited now.

  "Well, I need to go find Shuming." I tell him.

  "alright we will see each other ter at moms?" he asks.

  "Yes, give me an hour then I will be at moms." I say.

  Walking away with a smile on my face, knowing my brother found his love. Heading to meet Shuming back at my pace. Wondering if he found out anything, I cannot help but wonder why she was meeting with her family and my mom.

  Just off in my thoughts, I finally reach my pace, seeing Shuming in the distance. I headed his way. I can see the concerned look on his face, which is making me worried about what is going on.

  "Shuming, what is going on?" with concern.

  "Well, Na and your mom want to know why Fen hates her so much." He says.

  "Did you hear anything new?" I ask.

  "Just that Fen hasn't liked her for a long time now," he says.

  We walked back to my pace study. My mind was wondering on why Fen hated her so much. Finding out that it is from her childhood, Fen is just a few years older than her, so why would she have such a grudge against a child to say?

  "Shuming. Do you know why Fen hates her so much?" I ask as I settled down in my chair.

  "Sorry, I do not know why. I am close to the family." He says as he sat in front of me.

  "Fen is a genuine mystery, no telling why. I will never understand women because they just hate for no reason." I say.

  "Hell, some women will try to kill or use each other for their own gain." Shuming reminding me of my dad's harem.

  The hour went by quickly as I remembered I had to be at my mom's pace to meet my brother. I rushed over there as fast as I could, seeing Bao standing in front of the gates. My mom's pace demanded respect from the time you walk in. Phoenix statues on both sides of the entry to the gate.

  A row of pnts that towered over the walkway, providing shade with each step. The colors were so rich you could swear the red was blood flowing from the tops of the walls. The white was white as snow in the wintertime. It also had the smell of amber in the wind. Jade dragons were in every corner of the main entrance. Trees lining the walls in spots. We walked forward.

  Hearing the announcement that we have arrived; she comes out as we bow.

  "Your royal mother." We both say.

  "You may rise. Why I am so lucky to have both of my sons visit me today?" she says, shocked.

  We followed her into her sitting room. Her servants served us tea. I can see my brother was getting nervous and afraid to ask her.

  "Well, we came to see you because Bao has found his love." Trying to be reserved.

  "Really." she says excitingly.

  "Yes." He says quietly and softly.

  "When can I meet her?" She was so excited.

  "Mom, she isn't from a paramount family." He shuddered.

  "It is ok you found love, which is all that matters. I told you if you found someone you loved, you can marry her." Still being excited.

  See, my brother is a shy guy, so for him to find this woman is a lucky day. I can rete why my mom is so excited.

  "You can meet her soon. I will talk with her now," with excitement in his voice.

  "Well, mom on that note, I will take my leave as well. Pardon Bao. He is a little excited." As I ughed.

  "I have forgiven everything. I am going to talk with your dad about this now," she says. "I am going to talk with your dad about this now."She says.

  We walked out together. I went my way. She went to hers. Damn it, I forgot to ask her about that meeting today. It is ok. I run into Shuming on my way back to my pace to finish the court documents and look over the evidence we have gotten so far on the taxes case.

  As the day went by, I got hungry. It was close to dinner. I was due at Na's for dinner. Maybe I can find out more. Thinking about it, she would not talk about it. She is the quiet and suffers in silence type.