The Legend of Moonflower

Chapter 16 - Subservience and Authoritarianism

A/N:  Harem Hierarchy reminder...

Harem Hierarchy
Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃; huáng guì fēi)
Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi)
Consort (妃; fēi)
Concubine (嬪; pín)
Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
First Class Attendant (常在; cháng zài)
Second Class Attendant (答應; dā yìng)

"This is ridiculous," Wei Ying complained, staring into the mirror.  Multiple light layers of white silk, overlaid with a heavy blue outer robe with silver swirls embroidered over the shoulders and down the front of his chest were all cinched at his waist with a thick band in the same colour.  The length of the robes was a cause for concern, flowing down onto the ground to the point where he didn't know how he was going to walk without tripping.  He lifted his arms looking at the excessively long sleeves and scrunched his nose at the numerous bracelets on his wrists that tinkled with every small movement that he made.

A-Qing tried not to laugh and continued to fix the long, beaded necklace around his neck.

"How does anyone move around in all this? It's so restrictive," he huffed. "It's just ridiculous!"

"What is ridiculous?"

Wei Ying whipped his head around only to be hit in the face with an exceptionally long dangling hair ornament. "Ouch," he yelped. He reached up to yank the bejewelled hairpin out in frustration, only to be stopped by a large hand covering his.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said with concern, "you'll hurt yourself. Now tell me what's ridiculous."

He pouted and turned back to the mirror. Through the reflection he saw Lan Zhan dismiss A-Qing with a nod. The twinkle in her eye was the only indication of her amusement when she bowed and left the room. Wei Ying sighed. He was sure she would make fun of him later, but even then, he was happy Lan Zhan had her assigned to him. He wasn't sure he could handle being around someone that was stuffy and uptight, which from what he had witnessed, described most of the other servants in the palace.

"This is ridiculous," he said waving a hand over himself. "There are so many layers and the robes are so long. And what's with all this jewellery? I get it now... the emperors from the past were afraid the omegas in their harem would try to escape so they weighed them down with all these jewels and made them wear these robes. Am I right?"

"Wei Ying..."

"You're laughing at me! I can't believe you're laughing at me," he pouted. Deep inside he was happy to see the emperor smiling. He didn't mind one bit that it was at his expense.

"Wei Ying, I'm not laughing at you," Lan Zhan said, reaching for him. He pulled him close and wrapped an arm around his waist. "You're probably right about the escaping omegas."

"You think so?" Wei Ying asked, wide-eyed.

"Mmn," Lan Zhan conferred, "Stronger clans would raid weaker clans and steal their omegas. Of course, that is not the case now. We are much more civilized."

Wei Ying snorted. "Now the clan leaders are pushing their sons and daughters through the doors of the palace in hopes you breed them full of pups and praying that all other pups born by other omegas will not be alphas or meet an untimely death. Meanwhile in the harem, the omegas fight for the emperor's attention using the most unscrupulous methods. All of this so the clan can rise in status and power. Yes, I would say that is much more civilised."

"Unscrupulous methods? And dare I ask what unscrupulous method will you be using to get my attention?" Lan Zhan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Wei Ying rolled his eyes. "Well, it certainly isn't dressing up like a peacock," he scoffed, wiggling out of the emperor's hold. He immediately regretted it when he saw Lan Zhan regarding him with concern.