Gyokuyou sat next to her husband on the bench of a charming pavilion that overlooked a pond dotted with a few early blooms of lotus. She watched the scene before her with barely disguised amusement - an expression shared by the Emperor himself as he observed the players in front of them.

In the center of the pavilion was a Go board. On one side of it was Gyokuyou 's own father, Gyokuen. Go was a traditional accomplishment and Gyokuyou herself had learned to play under her father 's tutelage. Those were, in fact, some of her favorite early childhood memories, her father 's undivided attention a rare enough occurrence that she had treasured those games and the time spent with him far above any gifts he bestowed upon her.

On the other side sat the strategist Lakan, somehow managing to lounge on the hard, stone stool. His narrow eyes appeared sleepy, but he immediately snapped a black stone onto the board in response to Gyokuen 's play. 'Final score will be a lead of fifteen points favoring black in the next three moves. '

Gyokuen looked over the board and shook his head. 'I concede defeat, ' he said with a wry smile and upraised palm. 'You were going easy on me. '

'One must encourage competent players, otherwise I will have no one to play with. Although I think you might find my book interesting, Master Gyokuen. I will have to send you a copy. ' There was a certain sardonic quality to Lakan 's backhanded praise.

Gyokuen nodded his head, his pleasant smile never slipping. 'I believe I do have a copy - I see I will have to pull it out before our next game. '

'Excellent. ' Lakan smiled, pouring himself another cup of juice. 'Perhaps next time we should raise the stakes with a small wager. '

Gyokuen raised his brows. 'Did you have something in mind? '

Lakan laughed. 'Nothing too onerous, I assure you. There was a certain variety of grape juice that I enjoyed very much during my more recent time spent in your homeland. Your dear, departed eldest was so kind as to introduce me to it, even with food as scarce as it was in the aftermath of the insect plague. '

'And if you win our next game, would you like me to procure you a supply? ' Gyokuen managed to keep his smile in place, even at the reference to Gyoku-ou 's death - his murder, really. Gyokuyou watched her father, fascinated at the way he rolled with Lakan 's barbs.

'It would certainly be appreciated. ' Lakan grinned.

Gyokuen nodded his head in acceptance of the strategist 's wager. 'I will have to give some thought as to what I would like for a forfeit, should I win. '

'Indeed. Give it some thought. ' Lakan was so good as not to burst out laughing at the thought that Gyokuen might win against him in a game of Go - their recently concluded game had been played with no komi, giving Gyokuen an advantage of five points - and he had still lost by fifteen. With Lakan having all but confessed to going easy on him. 'You know, now that the Moon Prince is back, I should corner him into a game. He 's a competent player - still uncertain in the middle game at times, but creative! '

'Indeed. ' Lady Ah-Duo, the final member of their party, smiled having observed the game from a perpendicular stone bench from the Emperor and Empress, framed by open water. 'Although I suspect you might find yourself with more paperwork than you came in with at the end of the game. '

Gyokuen laughed politely while Lakan shrugged with resignation. 'True enough. In any case, keep our deal in mind, Master Gyokuen. After all, the best games usually have a wager attached - and a bet is a bet. '

Gyokuyou only caught the subtle flinch from His Majesty because she was sitting next to him. Something about Lakan 's barbed chit-chat had struck a nerve, but whatever the context, whatever the hidden message, unfortunately she was not so in her husband 's confidence that she understood it.

But that was the nature of politics. Often you had to make decisions with incomplete information and trust that either your allies would support you or that you could adapt to the situation.

Gyokuyou was nothing if not adaptable. And she had always chosen her allies with care.

Still, as she watched the Grand Commandant and Lady Ah-Duo together run rings around her father, she wondered what she might have thought to herself that afternoon four years ago when the palace manager led a mere laundry maid into her pavilion to receive her gratitude and a reward, had she known what was to come.

Her gaze flitted to Lady Ah-Duo. The Moon Prince 's birth mother, revealed at last. Had she and the Empress Dowager confessed the truth upon the succession, then by all rights she, not Gyokuyou, would be seated by the Emperor 's side as mother of the nation. No doubt, as her husband himself would have preferred, if only his love were taken into consideration. Instead, he had raised Gyokuyou to his side as his Empress. And if he had not done so from love, then she was certain that there was genuine affection and favor from her husband that had led him to choose her, rather than a different Western consort.

It would have to be enough. If she was never to be blessed with the kind of love that would make her the center of her husband 's world, she had other loves in her life.

Her children. Her ladies-in-waiting. Her family. Her friends. Her homeland. She would find joy in cherishing and protecting the gifts she had been given. And if she felt a pang of jealousy for women who knew what it was to be truly loved by their husbands, she quashed it every time she looked at the faces of her children or read a letter from the Western capital detailing how trade was flourishing under the central authority 's attention.

She was especially grateful for the collection of allies she had carefully cultivated since she was transplanted into the Imperial flower garden. The Moon Prince had been one of her first allies ever since he was Master Jinshi of the Rear Palace, the one who had championed her to her husband and helped elevate her to the position of Precious Consort.

Gyokuyou shook her head ever so slightly. Most people would never look past his beautiful face to see the misery in his eyes. She was not one of them. Rule one in making long-term allies? They needed to be happy with the alliance. The Moon Prince was absolutely loyal - and utterly heartbroken.

That heartbreak was a fatal flaw that revealed where the true danger to her son lay.

She was not so cold that she did not, genuinely, wish to see the Moon Prince and Maomao happy. Indeed, she had watched this entertaining game of theirs for so long, she was rather eager for it to come to its best, most natural conclusion. But it was also true that those who were happy with their lots in life could better gauge the risks of ambition - and the Moon Prince would cling even more tightly to his happiness, as well as the loyalty that had assisted him in gaining it, with the knowledge that aspirations to the throne on his behalf could threaten his long-fought for felicity.

Besides, the Moon Prince was not her only ally.

Gyokuyou had been shocked after the Shi Clan 's rebellion to realize that Maomao was not just of noble birth, but that her birth father was an extremely powerful military secretary as well as the head of a named clan - one feared by enough of the court that he could blow a hole in the wall of the Rear Palace in an attempt to find his daughter and not only escape punishment, but be entrusted as the Moon Prince 's chief commander to put down the rebellion with almost no casualties to the Forbidden Army. Indeed, she had still not quite realized what a sleeping giant Lakan was, even after her husband had refused to allow Maomao to re enter her service as a lady-in-waiting.

Over the last six months, however, Maomao had proven that the Moon Prince had brought her a young woman who had turned out to be a much more valuable ally than she could ever have imagined all those years ago in the Jade Palace.

Lakan was, in the normal course of things, perfectly content to be left alone to his family and his hobbies, uninterested in the greater politics of the court. But Maomao had secured her blood father 's support for the Crown Prince. And, as Lakan himself might have put it, that changed the entire board.

Gyokuen, the Moon Prince and Lakan. With the three of them as her son 's backers, she was confident that her boy would ascend the throne safely should anything happen to the Emperor. And, to be honest, with three backers, her father 's support was no longer so critical that she had to be concerned with maintaining her value to him.

Indeed, the real question was how valuable Gyokuen was to her and her son?

Which was why she noted the book Lady Ah-Duo held on her lap nonchalantly. Her father 's reactions were well controlled, as a rule, but his gaze had continued to return to that book over and over again during this meeting.

He was nervous.

'Well, this has certainly been an edifying afternoon, ' the Emperor spoke, his voice lighthearted enough as he rose to his feet and offered Gyokuyou his hand. 'However, we have another engagement this evening and it is time to prepare. Lakan, I will take your suggestions under advisement, especially considering your recent experience with the Western capital 's military needs. '

'A fight with Hokuaren or Shaoh could be interesting, but I suspect that the west has seen quite enough excitement over the last few years. Wouldn 't you agree, Master Gyokuen? ' Lakan smiled at Gyokuen with a gleam in his narrow eyes.

Her father 's eyelids fluttered ever so slightly. 'Indeed. '

'Especially since the harvests have not quite recovered, even with the Moon Prince 's hard work. The West will be importing supplemental food and other critical supplies for a few years yet, ' Lady Ah-Duo added. 'It is important that such a nexus of trade thrive in order to benefit the entire empire. '

Gyokuyou took her husband 's hand and stood as well. 'I would like to attend to the children before the banquet tonight. If you have time, perhaps you could join us for a few minutes? ' she asked her husband.

'Of course. ' The Emperor smiled at her. 'Although there was just one more thing I wanted to speak with Lakan about and I know your father has been eager to spend time with his daughter. Perhaps he could accompany you to the palace and I 'll join you there shortly? '

Gyokuyou nodded and offered her father her usual bright smile. 'I always appreciate a chance to see my father, as long as you have time? ' she asked Gyokuen.

'For you, my dear, always. ' Gyokuen bustled over and offered Gyokuyou his arm, which she took.

'Grand Commandant Kan, Lady Ah-Duo, a pleasure as always. ' She offered them both a nod and received their bows before letting her father escort her back to her palace.

They walked together in silence, about halfway to the Inner Court, before her father spoke. 'Be cautious around the Grand Commandant, my dear. I know you are fond of his daughter, but the fox is not our ally. ' Gyokuen 's voice was at odds with his calm, benevolent expression as they walked.

Gyokuyou didn 't pause her step or drop her gracious smile. 'Oh? What makes you say that? '

Her father paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. 'Lakan is, in some ways, a simple man. He cares about his games and only a few people. Neither you nor I are a part of that inner circle, which means that he will support the west only so long as it amuses him to do so. '

There was a certain amount of truth to her father 's words - she was familiar with Lakan 's reputation. 'I understand he was a great help to both my honored older brother and the Moon Prince during his second stint in the western capital, ' she observed with studied neutrality.

'He 's quite useful, when he can be bothered. But I do not trust his commitment to anything long term. His daughter has decided she wants the Moon Prince. Once they are married, though, and have children of their own, what happens to you and my grandson if she or the Moon Prince change their minds about wanting either him or their child on the throne? '

She could have burst out laughing at the very thought, except that it would be insulting to her father 's very rational concern. 'Then what do you make of the Moon Prince 's service in the Rear Palace as a eunuch? If he were likely to change his mind, you would think he would have done so earlier. '

Gyokuen sighed. 'Do not mistake me. I believe the Moon Prince to be absolutely sincere when he says he does not want the throne. He has certainly done well by the Western Capital. '

'My nephew, Hulan, seems particularly attached to him, ' Gyokuyou murmured.

'Indeed. ' Her father bristled slightly. 'The boy is so enamored of him that I believe he would prefer to see the Moon Prince on the throne over his own family. '

Gyokuyou paused. Perhaps she could push a little. 'He does admire competence a great deal. Perhaps it is a reflection of my honored elder brother 's education? '

'Perhaps, although Ou never really trained the boy in governance the way he did Shikyou. ' A complicated expression crossed her father 's face, even as Gyokuyou noted that her father had dropped her eldest brother 's 'gyoku ' prefix.

She let the pause hang in the air a moment, waiting to see if her father had anything else to add.

Gyokuen sighed and squeezed her hand. 'The Emperor 's desire for harmony within his family is admirable, as is the Moon Prince 's fidelity. But families can be complicated and sometimes life can create surprising circumstances that change everything we thought we knew about people. '

Something you know from experience, given that your own son destroyed the Yi Clan

, she thought with rather less charity than she usually gave her father.

And then you didn 't have the courage to execute him yourself, so you let Rikuson do it seventeen years later. But only after Ou deliberately sabotaged the West 's harvests to drive support for his invasion, ran through the emergency coal supply and left a mess for the Moon Prince to clean up even after he saved our home from insect plague.

Lady Ah-Duo 's pointed comments about everything the Moon Prince had done for the West had been rather well targeted, she thought.

'Just remember that Lakan and the Moon Prince are not our allies, my dear. No matter their intentions. ' Gyokuen gave her that fond, pleased smile.

'I will remember your words, Father, ' she murmured. Whether her father was correct or not, he was still her ally and deliberately antagonizing him would be a foolish choice, no matter how much she wanted to ask him why he was rattled enough to try to warn her of the Moon Prince 's potential ambition - or worse, Maomao 's ambition on his behalf.

Her father truly didn 't know either of them.

He hadn 't been there when Master Jinshi had visited the Jade Palace on his rounds, solicitous not only of her wellbeing, but asking after her two poison tasters after they had protected her during her pregnancy with Lingli. Ladies in waiting who were never replaced, her father having left that matter of personnel in her brother 's malicious hands.

He hadn 't been there when Maomao had saved first Lingli, then her life multiple times, not to mention ensuring that her father 's precious grandson had been born safely, working tirelessly on her behalf.

He was present, but Maomao stubbornly sabotaging the Moon Prince 's courtship of her over and over again was beneath his notice. Gyokuyou, however, had watched the Moon Prince finally brand himself with her crest to prove to not only Gyokuyou, but Maomao, that he would not be her enemy as a result of Maomao 's obstinance on the matter. Because the flip side of that stubbornness was that Maomao 's loyalty, once given, was set in stone. As was the Moon Prince 's, the two of them utterly alike in this regard.

She knew who her allies were.

But that left her to wonder, as her father dropped her off at the entrance of the Inner Palace, did he actually know her? She had been his youngest child, the daughter of his lowest concubine, sent to the Rear Palace at a tender fourteen years old. Educated as befitted an Empress, yes, but ultimately left to survive in that poisonous garden of women or not, with her oldest brother 's malice still felt even across the empire.

And if he didn 't truly know her, his daughter, would he ever truly know his grandchildren? Or were they simply returns on his investment?

'Mama! Mama! ' Her children raced toward her, nearly bowling her over as she smiled for them, listening to them babble about their day and the things they saw and did. Hongniang came up behind them, looking exhausted.

'Welcome home, Your Majesty. Everything is prepared for you to begin dressing in your room. '

Gyokuyou nodded. 'Thank you. His Majesty will be joining us for a few minutes to say goodnight to the children. '

Hongniang bowed. 'Understood. ' She turned toward the children. 'Come on - let 's get you cleaned up. Your father is coming! '

'Daddy! ' yelled Lingli in excitement, and ran over to take Hongniang 's hand. Her little brother followed slower, toddling as fast as he could go on fat little legs to be swept up in the crook of her head lady in waiting 's arm as she bustled them both off to be made ready to see their honored father.

Meanwhile, she headed to her bedroom to begin dressing. Haku-u and Seki-u were waiting for her, carefully stripping her daytime dress off of her and exchanging it for the new garment that featured a sash made of the near- purple shot silk that she was debuting tonight. Unfortunately, there hadn 't been enough time to have a dress finished with the red and gold shot silk, but that was due entirely to the amount of ornamentation the finished garment would require.

'Seki-u, would you be willing to check and see if the new earrings I ordered are ready yet? ' she asked, turning a soft, radiant smile on the youngest of the siblings.

Seki-u bowed and left the room on the errand, leaving her alone with Haku-u. She sighed and let her posture slump slightly.

'What 's wrong, my lady? ' her friend asked.

Gyokuyou considered her words. Haku-u was far from objective on the subject of either her father or her brother, but perhaps there was merit to her resentment. 'Would you trust my father 's judgment? '

Haku 'u 's eyelids flickered. 'In what sphere? '

She took a deep breath. 'People. Specifically, who my allies and enemies are. '

Her friend 's smile had an edge to it. 'He does not care for Grand Commandant Kan, I take it? '

'No. ' Gyokuyou sighed.

Haku-u carefully slid a pin into Gyokuyou 's hair. 'Of course he doesn 't. They 're too similar. '

'What do you mean? ' She held still to avoid being poked by the hairpin.

'Master Gyokuen amassed influence in the western capital by having an eye for talent. He gathered wives like assets, in order to breed children he found useful, then slotted them into roles that built his power. From the ports to the foundries and even to the Imperial Palace, he has carefully tended his garden of children and now intends to reap the fruit of his labor. From what I understand, Master Lakan is much the same, only his eye for talent is mainly focused in the military. The one area where Master Gyokuen has no influence himself. And while Master Lakan has just removed his greatest enemy in General Lo, as the quiet leader of the Empress Dowager faction, I 'm quite sure that Master Gyokuen is wondering if he 's exchanged the frying pan for the fire. General Lo was a known threat, but Master Lakan is creative and has no compunction about upending the rules by which Master Gyokuen has played the game. '

'I 'm surprised. You also wanted me to be wary of the Moon Prince and his allies. ' Gyokuyou commented, idly adjusting the hairpin after Haku-u set it.

Her lady in waiting helped adjust the pin. 'And you reminded me that you do not turn your fangs on your friends, my lady. Lady Maomao, whether she serves you directly or not, is one of your people. And if the Moon Prince wanted the throne, all he would have to do is reach out and take it. He has not. '

'His last visit certainly made an impression, didn 't it? ' She tested her hair by tilting her head to the side, making sure nothing pulled as they began to change her dress.

Haku-u bit her lip. 'His anger was impressive, I will grant, although at no point did I worry you were unsafe in the face of it. His rejection of the consort selection, though - '

Gyokuyou deliberately blew air through her lips, ignoring propriety. 'He would do it, too. It 's quite amusing to watch the courtiers and ministers try to figure out his tastes by trying to sway him through seduction. '

Haku-u would never do something so uncouth as to snort, but she certainly managed a more refined noise of derision. 'I don 't think I 've ever seen such desolation in a man 's eyes. Or such resolve. '

Gyokuyou nodded. 'Had I pushed the issue, I have no doubt that the Moon Prince would have put on his most charming facade while also driving away any potential bride, utterly determined to end his line. '

'Did Zui say that? ' came a low, rumbling voice from the doorway.

Gyokuyou immediately stood, bowing before the Son of Heaven as Haku-u stepped away from the imperial couple, offering her own genuflection. Gyokuyou offered a small nod and Haku-u excused herself, leaving her alone with her husband. 'Your Majesty, ' she murmured. 'Yes, he did. '

The Emperor sighed and rubbed a finger against his brow - an almost identical gesture that the Moon Prince sometimes used when utterly frustrated or exasperated. 'That boy. '

'I 'm not sure the Moon Prince could reasonably be called a boy anymore, ' Gyokuyou pointed out with a wry smile.

'You think so? ' Her husband offered her a wry smile of his own in return. 'I look at him and he still seems so young to me. And then I wonder when I got old. '

'You were quite young yourself when he was born, ' she observed.

He huffed. 'Honestly, I think I was too young. But I was pushed to secure the succession early in the face of being my father 's only heir. It 's part of why I agreed to Zui 's bet. Not that I thought I 'd lose. Served me right. '

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Her husband was not the type to punish her for asking a question in any case. 'Is that the bet Master Lakan poked you about? '

The Emperor 's wry smile finally reached his eyes. 'You caught that? '

She nodded, watching him, waiting to see if he would confide in her or shut her out.

He closed his eyes for a moment. 'You remember that evening a couple of months before Zui left for the western capital? '

'That evening was what I would call unforgettable, ' she drawled.

Her husband sighed softly. 'That it was. You may also remember that he reminded me I had promised to grant him a name. '

'Yes. ' She had never seen the Emperor angry before, but his temper had genuinely frightened her. It wasn 't until afterwards, when she saw the look of shocked horror on his face, staring at that fresh brand on the Moon Prince 's side, that she had begun to parse the pain behind his anger. Of course, over the last six months, the cause of his pain had been much clearer. Whether the Moon Prince had meant the blow or not, it was a clear rejection of his father and the legacy he had obviously wished to trust his firstborn with.

'I told the court that I had allowed him to masquerade as the eunuch Jinshi because I wanted to sniff out corruption. As it turned out, discovering the Shi Clan 's treachery made a truth out of a political fiction. What actually happened is that he challenged me to a game of Go and made a bet with me - that if he won, he could be introduced to the court by his chosen alias. In exchange for managing the Rear Palace to secure the line of succession, he would be allowed to leave it. ' Her husband sighed, his eyes looking into the middle distance, clearly not seeing her for a moment before he refocused on his wife standing in front of him.

'And the grand commandant took the fact that the bet was made over a game of Go quite personally, I take it? '

He chuckled with a slight bitter edge. 'I can see Ah-Duo 's hand in that. Driving her point home, despite the fact that I promised her I 'd set him free. '

'Are you unhappy that he knows the truth? ' Gyokuyou asked softly.

The Emperor startled at the question, thinking for a moment. 'Not unhappy that he knows, no. I wanted to tell him years ago, but after he became 'Jinshi ', it just seemed 'easier, the longer it went on. '

Gyokuyou nodded. 'I can see that. Especially since it took so long for any sons to be born. '

He looked away for a moment. 'Before Lingli survived, sometimes I wondered if Zui would be my only child, like I was my father 's. I look at her and our son and Lihua 's boy and sometimes it doesn 't quite feel real that they 're all here. '

She reached out to press her husband 's hand with her own, offering him silent support. There was a heartbeat, then two, before his hand squeezed hers in return and he took a deep breath, forcing back the suspicious shine in his eyes. 'So, did your father have anything interesting to say? '

'He distrusts the grand commandant 's support, it would seem. ' She kept her tone light, even as she revealed some of her father 's private thoughts to her husband for the first time.

He snorted. 'He wouldn 't be the first. Lakan is a sly fox, but he adores his daughter and is having a great deal of fun reshaping the balance of the court to secure her happiness. '

The pang of jealousy toward Maomao 's luck in life wasn 't new, but the target was. Imagine having a father - two, really, if you took her adoptive father with both his quiet regard and even quieter pride - who adored you unconditionally. Not as an investment for future glory of the western capital but simply as a daughter?

She pressed her lips together. 'He also distrusts the Moon Prince 's intentions. He thinks there 's a possibility that either he or Maomao or both might change their minds about wanting power in the future. '

Her husband gaped at her. 'Has he ever

met

Maomao? '

'I know what you mean, but honestly? No. He 's only started paying attention since she debuted at court during the garden party, it seems. He has no experience with Maomao 's particular brand of loyalty or competence or anything else about her. ' It startled her to realize that, as perceptive and cunning as her father was, he could have so badly misunderstood Maomao 's character.

'It would be a perfectly rational concern for him to have - if it involved anyone but the particular parties in question. '

She paused for a beat and decided to take a risk. 'He seems determined to convince me that family is the only trustworthy backing our son would have, should anything happen to you. '

'I do wish people would stop putting me in the grave just yet, ' he muttered.

'I would certainly prefer you to live and see our children grow up. Although I tremble to think how you 'll manage to secure a marriage for Lingli. '

Her husband actually growled a little bit, causing her to giggle! 'Any potential suitors can damn well wait. '

'Well, we easily have another ten or so years, if you want to delay her marriage until she 's sixteen. Which might be wise, in any case. ' Gyokuyou smiled at the idea that she might not lose her daughter to another family until Lingli was old enough to understand what being a wife and mother would mean.

'Indeed. But in any case, I don 't think you need to worry about what your father thinks. ' Her husband smiled at her and reached up to adjust one of her hairpins.

'Oh? Why is that? ' she asked, curious about the shift in tone.

He finished adjusting the pin to his liking and brushed his fingers down the side of her face. 'Our son already has the most powerful backer he could ever have. His mother. '

Gyokuyou 's eyes widened, lips parting in shock.

Her husband smiled at the expression on her face. 'My education was what I would call fraught, but I learned to rule at my grandmother 's knee, not my father 's. My mother 's brand of power is quieter, but that does not mean she never exercises it. Ah-Duo, I 'm quite certain, could rule this country as a truly great emperor in her own right, if anyone ever gave her the chance. ' He tilted Gyokuyou 's chin up as she had automatically lowered her gaze in response to his praise. 'You also have the mettle to rule the court and the morals to raise our son to be a good man. Your own father should be a source of support and comfort to you and our son - but as long as he has

you

, I am utterly confident in your judgment to use whoever you can to secure our children 's future. '

She had always thought that her husband had chosen her to be his Empress because of her Western blood or the beauty and other accomplishments that made her a graceful and valuable figure on his arm. But something in Gyokuyou 's inner world shifted as she realized that her husband saw her as a potential power in her own right. 'I am honored by your faith in me, ' she whispered, desperately blinking back tears.

The Emperor smiled. 'When everything is resolved with Zui and his apothecary and we see them properly married and settled, perhaps we should try for another child? '

Another son would further secure her position - but she knew that her husband would cherish a second daughter just as much. 'I would like that, ' she smiled through damp eyes.

The Emperor 's heart had been given a long time ago. But to have the respect, trust and affection of this man? Perhaps there was more than one way to love. If so, she would grab this tiny flame of joy with both hands and nurture it carefully, blowing until there was a fire steady enough to warm them all.

'Well then. Let 's say goodnight to the children and go attend what had better be a very boring banquet. ' The Emperor offered her his arm.

Gyokuyou laughed and took it. 'I hope the rash of fashionable poisonings stops - Maomao was getting quite put out over having to treat them, all because she saved that one man 's life at the garden party. '

'Oh, I informed the court that the next idiot who gave himself food poisoning in the hope that the La Princess would treat them would instead be treated by her colleague, Doctor Li, instead. That young doctor has his flaws, but I have no doubt he would tend to them properly. ' He smirked. 'Or I could let Zui deal with them. '

'Please do! That would be a most amusing way to handle it! ' She grinned at the thought - the Moon Prince 's reactions to anything having to do with Maomao were always a prime source of entertainment in the Rear Palace and she could only imagine how he might start chasing off all of Maomao 's new conquests. She suspected it might have some similarities to how her husband would begin chasing off Lingli 's suitors in a few more years.

They swept out of her bedroom together to say goodnight to their children - and for the first time, Gyokuyou truly felt like the mother of the nation, rather than a daughter of the West.