Memories of Peony Palace

CHAPTER 1

The Crown Prince of the Jia Kingdom, also called the cruel prince by most people, was known to be almost devoid of most emotions. He had no willing advisor or ones who agreed with him, but his military tactics were fearsome. Only five years after he started leading them the Jia Kingdom also captured parts of the Tong region and completed conquered the small Yu Kingdom.

Beautiful women were brought back from the Crown Prince's expeditions and nearly always put in Peony Palace if he liked them enough. Ones that he did not were in Peony Palace not as concubines but as maidservants, as well as any younger girls. It was his playhouse.

Shui Lian, a beautiful youth, had been selected a long time ago, but it was clear the Prince did not like men. The Prince saw Shui Lian as a sort of painting, just to admire when bored, but he fancied his women. As per his orders, guards and maids gave him less luxurious food and robes, and Shui Lian sat in his empty room, devoid of any pleasures.

Calligraphy, painting, playing on the guzheng all served to bore him, so he sought to escape through death. Shui Lian had planned it several times, a cut to his artery, a jump into the garden pond that he might still live through, and even tying a noose.

The Crown Prince didn't often visit because war and becoming more successful was more important than hearing the saccharine lies of women who all feared him. One courtesan, in fear, once brandished a knife at him, as though instead of making love he'd strangle them.

Due to that incident that didn't end well, the Crown Prince only ever went to the Peony Palace if he was with a party of men who wanted fun.

Tonight the Cruel Prince would be bringing along higher-ranked generals. Girls were already fighting over which general they wanted, none wanting to be chosen by the Cruel Prince.

Shui Lian wandered into the hallways when he heard the female voices rise in excitement once more. It was a flurry of girls and women gathering with their lavish clothing, gold bangles and fragile hair ornaments made with kingfisher bird feathers or jewel inlays.

The image never ceased to make Shui Lian feel like a bystander or even a person watching a moving painting on a scroll. Yes, he felt distant, and indeed was different himself with his grey, or occasionally blue or green robes, and hair simply gathered up.

"I don't want General Lin! You know he's like a pig and always licks your skin—ah, the thought makes me sick!" a girl was complaining, pulling her sheer shawl on tighter.

"Well, General Gong is the only good one of the the batch, but he only ever chooses Xiao Yang." A girl flips out her long hair hanging straight.

"Maybe this time you'll be chosen by the Prince, you know he never sticks to anyone."

"No! Not the Cruel Prince!"

Shui Lian went to close the door, drowning out the loud voices of his neighbors.

At this moment the gears turned.

Another man made his way past the lush green garden despite it being autumn, and lovely scent in Peony Palace, usually the mixture of several incense and flowers in vases. He stepped in, knowing over a few hundreds of girls were there. Tense from the court, a rather rare visitor, the Fifth Prince, wandered in quietly.

There was nothing flashy about his arrival, although it was already causing girls to swoon. Extraordinarily tall and muscular, the Fifth Prince was in in his casual gown, showing his collarbone, black hair gathered up.

"Oh, the Fifth Prince! He's such a looker!"

"He's so pure he only ever drinks tea with who he chooses!"