Concubine's Greed (Revising)

Eight

A confused smile spread across Mengyao's face.

"The two of you are getting along rather nicely."
He said as he approached our table, we had moved from the palace and moved to the garden. A servant approached myself and poured me a cup of tea.

"Mengyao where have you been hiding this one, She is unrivalled."
Hwei-ru beamed as she looked over at me.

"Mother you are not offended by her words?"
Mengyao asked cautiously as he cast me a worried glance. Hwei-ru gave out a hearty laughter, that made me smile.

"Heavens no, a title is just a title, everyone treats it so seriously."
She smiled towards me. Mengyao let out a heavy sigh of relief, and walked over to my side.

"Father must have had his hands full with you."
Mengyao chuckled and smiled, Hwei-ru grew unusual quite but gave him a small laughter.

"Well then since you two are on good terms I will walk in the garden with Jiayang."
He announced to his mother as he helped me up from my chair. I gave him a smile grin, and walked away from the table, Mengyao began to follow.

"Mengyao come here for a second."
Hwei-ru called before Mengyao could get to far, he turned around and walked back to her. They quitely exchanged words, I turned away to resist eavesdropping. Mengyao quickly walked back to me, but seemed upset he grabbed my hand and we quickly walked away.

"Mengyao what is the matter, why the sudden haste?"
I asked surprised by his strength to drag me along. He stopped abruptly and turned to me.

"I'm sorry mother said something that upset me. She told me I couldn't focus on only one concubine and I couldn't hold favouritism until i had an Empress."
He explained quickly as he slowly released my hand.

"What is keeping you from doing so?"
I asked softly, as I looked down at him.

"You are, if I chose you to be Empress, you will suffer but I don't want anyone else."
He said with a slight tone of fear in his voice. A feeling of anxiety and excitement surged at the sound of Empress Jiayang, but I kept calm.

"What do you mean I will suffer?"
I asked quitely finding it difficult to contain my excitement.

"Like my mother, you are very blunt, when she was chosen to be Empress everyone conflicted agasint her, making her word meaningless. So I can not choose you."
He said sadly as he looked away from me knowing I wouldn't be pleased. Though disappointed i understood and placed my hand on his head.

"Thank you for thinking of me, I understand your decision."
I said with a brief smile he looked up at me and looked relieved.

"Unfortunately, when I get an Empress my free time will completely vanish, I wouldn't be able to be with you all the time."
He sounded disappointed but I simply chuckled.

"Just visit me when you have the time, I'll have all the free time in the world."
I said humorously he nodded and smiled at me as we moved on through the garden.

***
I could feel my eyebrows scrunch up as I stamped through the palace angrily. The palace guards didn't stand in my way, while other concubines spread rumors of my anger. I made my way to the guards training field, moving quickly and non gracefully. As I approached the field I could see Choi barking orders at the guards while they practiced with the swords. His long black hair was tied in a messy bun, which lightened my mood slightly.

As angry as I was, I held back from interrupting his training with the guards. One of the guards approached him timidly and whispered something to him, he sharply turned in my direction and turned back to the trainees, I could hear his muffled voice before he swiftly made his way towards me.

"Nice man bun."
I joked as he approached me, he grinned as he towered over me.

"My men tell me you've been harassing them, what's wrong with you?"
He asked as we moved back to the palace.

"I haven't seen Mengyao in weeks, Everytime I ask for him, I'm evaded."
I gritted my teeth in anger. I could see out the corner of my eye, concubines whispering to each other as we passed by.

"I can see you've made a name for yourself."
Choi whispered to me as he glared at the concubines, they flinched and moved away. I sighed too annoyed to mess with them anyway.

"You sure are missing the emperor a lot."
Choi mumbled but loud enough for me to hear. I felt my face flush as I turned around and pinched him in the arm.

"I do not, he just keeps me company."
I mumbled quietly. I could see a guard approach us cautiously out the corner of my eye.

"Sir, Emperor Mengyao wishes to speak with you."
The guard said as he kept his head low.

"Fine I'll go immediately, later Jia."
He sighed and waved to me, I nodded and watched him move away to the palace. The guard began to walk away as well.

"Hey you, hold up"
I said, the guard flinched and turned back to me.

"What do you think of me, be honest."
I questioned sternly, it was clear my question had caught him off guard, he began to fumble with his words before he was completely silent.

"Honestly, your one of the most beautiful concubines I have ever seen, but you are almost as scary as the Empress dowager and general Choi."
He mumbled quickly as he shivered after saying it. I sighed and sent him away. He bowed to me before moving away cautiously. I moved through the palace aimlessly, the halls were familiar nothing here surprised me anymore.

I watched from a window, as concubines gathered in the garden, for afternoon tea. I sighed and frowned heavily, I had no friendships with the other concubines, leaving me to myself. One of the concubines turned in my direction and smiled lightly. I stared in surprise, she had pitch black straight long hair, and wore a Jade short Cheongsam. I quickly turned away and continued my walk.

That was the first time a concubine didn't gossip about me, I felt myself grinning just a little bit.