The Arrangement

Chapter 31

To say the population was shocked was the understatement of the year. The Emperor came out of seclusion with his First Wife after only four days to pay the in-law visit, the Empress Mother was banished to the Cold Palace, and the Imperial Prince was getting married... to a man!

The whole Empire was abuzz with all the juicy gossip and celebrations continued just for the sake of spreading it. The betting had already started as to whether the child of the emperor's new wife would be male or female or ger, thanks to the proclamation during the wedding.

With the favour shown to this First Wife though, no one truly believed it mattered. Old men and maids alike just slyly looked at each other and nodded sagely. If it were a girl or ger, then there would always be next time.

The palace was also an interesting place to live in just then. Du Fen was moody, and seldom could be seen without a honey stick... or a sword in hand. The Imperial Prince was cheerful and bounded about the place helping out and preparing for his own wedding.

The Emperor was as smug as he had ever been and anytime Du Fen saw him smiling... he would throw something at him. Fortunately, the Emperor was able to control himself most of the time and refrained from smiling in public entirely, so only their personal rooms were destroyed.

When Jian Jun had a moment, he would coax his new wife with gentle words, soft kisses and pampering. Du Fen would be satisfied and blushing, until he ran to the bowl to throw up all his delicious food and his mood plummeted once more.

At almost three months, the First Wife had a baby bump and was no longer allowed to swing about his sword in the training area. The sickness had passed, and the Emperor could draw a sigh of relief as the hardest part of any Ger's new pregnancy was finally over.

Du Fen's hormones were levelling out and he was in better spirits most of the time. He spent his days with assisting the Eunuchs to run the palace, making decisions on the food and adjusting the schedules of cleaning staff. He also helped the prince with his upcoming marriage.

There were decorations, clothing, gifts and... the awkward discussion they had in front of his brother about how relations between males went. The Emperor was amused to tears when Du Fen told Ling Min about it all. The serving staff respectfully ignored the bunch.

"Shut up!" He pointed at the mirthful Emperor with a scowl.

"What are you getting mad at me for?" Jian Jun sneered at his brother, whose face was red.

"Don't laugh. I'm having a hard-enough time listening to this... cleaning business without you making me feel shameful about it." He groused without looking at him. Du Fen glared at his husband and shook his head.

"You should be glad that I know about this kind of thing, or you might not find it so enjoyable to be with me. How about next time I forget, ah?" He said with a malicious light in his eyes. Jian Jun looked alarmed.

"Ah Fen.... I was wrong. Forgive me love?" His colours turned very quickly when confronted with that possibility and Du Fen nearly laughed out loud. He rubbed his belly with a superior look on his face.

"We shall see." He said imperiously. Jian Jun shot an annoyed look at his brother, who he blamed for the newest mess.

"Besides, he was the one who insisted on marrying a man. It's not my fault if he has to change his three world views* to do it. Suck it up brother and accept that you agreed to be the wife." He stated calmly, a touch of mischievous amusement in his eyes.

"I know... I just thought it wasn't this complicated. Can't you just..." He made a lewd gesture with his fingers and both the other two cringed.

"Not if you want to walk the next day. You aren't self lubricating, you know?" Du Fen said without mercy. He felt a touch superior when he said that. There were some benefits to being Ger after all, he thought as he looked at his love.

"Ai-ya. Can you not say that out loud? It is disturbing." Prince Ling Min shuddered.

"Should I tell your General about your reluctance then? He might not be so willing to have a lifetime of abstinence." Jian Jun was grinning now, and Ling Min threw an almond cookie at him.

"Shush you." He shot back. Jian Jun pretended to be wounded.

"Attacking the Emperor now? I should have you arrested. Then you don't have to worry about it." He replied teasingly. Ling Min sighed.

"I'm not worried." He said quickly, but then shook his head. "Well, not exactly. What if he doesn't like it? What if he can't... you know? Am I just pushing him into this?" He looked up into the sky with a depressed air.

"You are overthinking. I didn't even have to write a decree. He accepted you. He is willing to marry you. Calm down and let it all happen naturally." Jian Jun finally played the big brother role and gave him a stern look.

"Now, after you have cleaned, you can't eat a whole lot. Try to stick to liquids only for at least a day..." Du Fen continued without mercy and Ling Min buried his face in his arm with red ears.

**

The wedding came and was a small event compared to the Emperor's. This suited the two men involved just fine, since their marriage was technically on the taboo side of affairs to most people. The men in the army didn't seem too fazed about it though.

There was actually talk amongst them at the General's prowess that he could even get a male prince to agree to marry him. A few stupidly speculated if the prince was actually a Ger and pregnant, so they had to marry in a hurry to hide it. Either way, it made for great entertainment.

One thing that no one could deny on the day of the event though, was the looks on the two men's faces as they clasped hands. One was gentler than that soldier had looked before, and the other was so smitten that it nearly seemed foolish.

So, at the end of the day, when Prince Ling Min was entered into the Yu family register and taken out of the palace to be with his new husband, not a single soul would protest. They looked on with a strange sense of right, despite the fact that the bride... was just about as tall as his groom.

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Three world views : ideals which revolve around the three axioms of honour/shame, innocence/guilt and power/fear; the views which shape the way we see the world and live within it (translation : he will have to rethink how he perceives his relationship based on his desires – is being with a man shameful? Does he feel guilty about it? Is he afraid he is losing his power as a man? – to have a smooth relationship with the general, he must find the courage to be gay)