The Emperor's Concubine

11: Terms of Endearment

THE EMPEROR'S POV

Is it possible for someone to sleep prettily?

He watches her toss and turn fitfully in her sleep, sweat plastering her hair to her forehead. He swears he sees a hint of gleaming saliva in the corners of her mouth, but she tosses once again, back now facing him, murmuring something about pork buns.

Apparently not.

Her once smooth and bright red dress is now creased into oblivion and he chuckles in amusement at her daring choice of wardrobe. Surely, she should know that such a colour was considered to be quite scandalous. The light that peaks through the thin material of the tent bathes her body in a warm hue, her cheeks flushed almost as bright as her dress.The physician walks in, his small body worn with age. Doctor Hui Zhong was a well respected man within The Palace, his service and loyalty, a huge contributor to the greatness of The Kingdom. He had a pleasantly rounded face, plump and worn with time. The man bows lowly, and he immediately rushes to his side.

"You should not be exerting yourself at this age" he scolds lightly. The old man chuckles, the tip of his long white beard brushing the floor.

"Age does not matter. One should always bow before The Emperor," Zhu Yuan smiles at the absurdity. After the death of his parents, Doctor Hui Zhong was the closest thing he had to a father-figure, if anyone were to be bowing, it should be him.

"How is she?" he enquires, eyeing the vial of green liquid in the physician's wrinkled hands. The doctor coughs, clearing his throat before handing The Emperor the little bottle and making his way towards the still-unconscious body. Zhu Yuan watches in facination as the man takes her pulse, his aged eyes filled with infinite wisdom.

"She should be fine. Her body was just overheated. However, with all the clothes she was wearing, I'm surprised that she did not faint earlier on in the day." He sighs in relief. "Give her the herbal medicine to drink when she awakes" the old man advises softly, his back creaking in protest as he gets up. He bows one last time, much to the protests of The Emperor.

"Where am I?"

He turns around, mesmerised at the sight that beholds him. Her hair, once neatly pinned to her head, was now cast astray, the long black mane flowing freely down her shoulders in cascades of onyx. The fabric that once covered her shoulders is now long forgotten, leaving her proclein arms bare. She blinks around sleepily, still half awake when she notices him. He gulps.

"Your highness!" she exclaims, tumbling clumsily out of the makeshift bed to greet him. He rushes towards her as she begins to topple backwards.

"Careful," he murmurs, the scent of lotus flowers invading his nose. The both tumble onto the bed, her small frame tucked beneath his larger one.

"You apparently overheated," he informs, and she hums in acknowlegdment. "Maybe I could help you with that?" he adds slyly. She sighs, apparently not hearing him. Her breath tickes the nape of his neck, and he freezes, his body beginning to heat up. He pulls back and Li Hua blinks at him, eyes still hazy with nausea as he watches her, eyes swimming with lust. He doesn't remember the last time a woman had managed to stir up these feelings in him.

"Tell me, Bènzhuō (Clumsy) Liánhuā (Lotus)...................are you trying to seduce me?"

Her hands clasps tightly on the front of his robe as the words pass through her mind. He watches amused as she takes her time processing his words. Confusion spreads across her features before she looks at him icredoulously.

"I-what? NO!" she stutters, pushing at him. He laughs at her weak attempts of 'punching' when she stops suddenly, look of horror evident on her pretty little face. She stares disbelieving at her hands and he quickly notices the problem.

She just punched The Emperor.

The complication causes his to laugh even harder. He buries his face into her neck, arms on either side of her body as he chortles, body shaking with delirium. She complains beneath him, grumlbing loudly about "stupid palce laws". Never in his life, has he met someone more intriguing than her. From the very first moment they had met, she had snared a part of him. When his laughter finally dies down, he lifts his head again, staring charmingly into her unimpressed gaze.

"You're making my head hurt" she says, a small pout forming on her bright red lips, and he aches to kiss them. He gets up, quickly retrieving the small vial.

"Here, drink this," she looks at him skeptically, taking the bottle and swishing its contents about. Upon opening the container, she wrinkles her nose, and he immediately immitates her. The stench is terrible, the sour and bitter smell reminding him of vomit. He grins sheepishly at her, an encouraging smile on his face.

"With all due respect, Your highness.........I do not wish to die yet" she replies, waving the vial around near him. He dodges, the smell, terribly offensive to his nostrils. He grabs at it, plucking it from her hands.

"Fine, fine," he relents, putting the lid back on the vial and stowing it away in his pockets. "But if you die......."

She snorts softly, "I highly doubt that. I may be from the country, but I am not stupid" That, he had to unfortunately agree with. He tucks a stray strand of hair tenderly behind her ears as he clears his throat,

"Despite fainting during your turn, did you know came in second place?" She looks up, eyes wide.

"Really?" He nods and she beams at him. "Who came first?" His smile slowly fades.

"The Empress" he mumbles as a guard bursts through the tent entrance.

"Your highness!" the guard pauses midway, eyes darting to her dissheveled state and she nods as he stands up regretfully.

"What is the matter?" he asks.

"We have just recieved word that our southern base has been attacked." his eyes widen. The southern base was the most sturdiest of all bases. The place contained the most soldiers, more so than The Palace itself. It was situated between the borders of the lower kingdom and The Empress' own home land- Tǔdì huāngmò (Land of Desert).

"By whom?" he asks, voice filled with fury. The guard scurries towards him, whispering frightfully in his ear before bowing lowly and rushing out of the tent. Zhu Yuan turns around, eyes softening as Li Hua watches him. He walks back towards her, and she looks away. His mouth twitches into a smile as he leans forward, not missing the way her eyelids flutter close, her long black eyelshes fanning across her flawless skin. It takes all his will power to not stay here with her. Instead, he presses a soft kiss to her forehead, before turning to grab his sword and leave. Before he exits the tent though, he pauses,

"By the way, I like your choice of clothes"

A/N: I'm sorry for not updating in a while!! Exams are coming up soon, so don't be surprised if my updates become more scarce! Tell me what you think of this chapter....The Emperor isn't so bad is he? Just.....misunderstood ;) (like most fictional men)

Thankyou to everyone to read/commented/voted!! (You know who you are! <3) COMMENTS/VOTES make me happy!

Also a welcome to the following readers (in no particular order):

stardom88

cerealboxlabels

ShinRyui

hyanying

czianityy_

CloverKingston

glittergirl2001

kbritt

belladonna19

Thanks for giving my story a chance and or voting or commenting!! (sorry if i missed anyone :( )

And for bubblyangelz and DeadNightmares; The play of schemes and ranks are all incorporated into the upcoming chapters. So....you shall see *wink wink*