mikamika06

[mikamika06]

Immortal Flower || Chapter 9

Masterlist here :>

Ao3 Chapter 9

Will include a picture of modern day Xiangyang at the end of this

The sounds of horse hoofs against grass was the only thing that ran through Yizhou’s mind as he led his troops down the pathway that was marked out. The road to Xiangyang was longer than he realized, but he kept his steady stride as he gently patted his horse. They had found his old one from when he had started this whole mess wandering around the ambushed camp when they went back. So he was reunited with his old friend, a comfort that felt good as he was used to her habits and she was used to his weight plus armor.

“General Xia!” One man shouts causing him to tug on her reign and he turns around, eying his men as an arrow shoots near where he originally was at.

Someone was targeting him. It makes sense he wears the colors of a general and if the Mongols were around they probably knew that as well. The man he noted that shout immediately readied his own bow and shot without order which causes Yizhou to grimace but there’s a sound of a pained cry from a horse.

“I shot its leg!” The other shouts excitedly and Yizhou raises his hand so the men all freeze before he motions for them to get off the horses. He glares at the one who yelled, watching as the man cowers before they move to hide in the bushes. His right hand, Han, leans against him as he points.

“There’s only four” Han says quietly, moving the bushes aside and pointing.

“Usually they’re smarter than that”

“Those four look younger, cocky even probably we can kill then now—“

A sick feeling blossomed in Yizhou’s stomach but he nodded, readying his sword before drawing it.

“Spread the word only fifteen of us will go out, just in case there’s an ambush the rest can be hidden I’ll go and you will but pick fifteen fine men, you have several thousand to pick from” Yizhou orders Han, of whom immediately goes to scour through the men that they had and Yizhou slowly moved to the side. But as he waits, there’s a sudden shot of an arrow from one of his men, causing him to turn shocked as it goes and ruptured through the neck of one of the other men. As they panic, Yizhou stands up and readies his bow, shooting the other three and prompting the rest of his men to stand up as he walks up to them. Han quickly runs back to join him as they inspect the fallen enemy soldiers.

Just the two of them. As they were the higher command. But one of them, on that Yizhou had shot, had seemed to only be shot in the shoulder but on a closer look both him and Han could tell that each of the men were already in states of injury even prior to the arrows. Up close, they saw it clearly: bruises, cracked lips, old wounds. These men had already been injured — even before the fight. Han bent, peeling back the ill-fitting Mongol armor. His breath hitched.

“They’re wearing our colors under these!”

Yizhou turns to the man that was still breathing, kneeling down to help slip off your helmet before he gently starts to speak.

“Talk.”

“We didn’t fire first. We didn’t want to. They made us—“

Han turns around, frowning as he joins Yizhou at the side.

“Who, who made you?”

“Mongols! They took our unit last month nabbing us off the tail-end. Made us choose, listen to them or kill us. They said we were just bait. That they’d let us run if you fell for it. But—there’s more.” The man exhaled, groaning as he held where the arrow was still lodged in his shoulder. Yizhou and Han didn’t say anything in response, prompting him to continue. “They said… they said you’d never see it coming. That you’d be so focused on us, you wouldn’t see the ones already inside…” Yizhou looks horrified at his words, looking over with equal amounts of concern towards Han who mirrored his expression.

“What do you mean?” Yizhou asks and the man groans before opening his mouth again.

“People bought over— some spies in—“ The man rasps, his breathing turned more haggard so Yizhou shakes his head and helps him up. Han supports the other side as they walk back to where everyone else is.

“We’ll get you help, you can write a report when we get back to Xiangyang” Yizhou tells him and he nods. Yizhou hesitates for a second—he should’ve ridden with the man himself—but Han was already helping him up. So he lets Han take him so they could share a horse while Yizhou goes back on his own and signals for the rest to follow him. He sees Han adjusting the man so he could sit on the same saddle, murmuring something Yizhou couldn’t hear.

They slowly start traveling again before their pace quickens as the sun goes down. But it felt good, to have the wind blowing in his hair and feel a bit more free then he had before. And even then they see in the horizon the city lines which causes a few men to cheer behind him. Others there waiting seem to light up the fires to welcome them, noticing the approaching empire colors and they throw out the flags onto the walls.

But it wasn’t entirely great, as from Han’s horse the man that they had brought along fell off, causing Han to yell and turn his horse to the side.

“He’s dead, just collapsed now!” Han yells at Yizhou, causing Yizhou to quickly pull his horse to a stop and slide off and over to pick up the man, pulling a glove of his own off to place bare fingers against the neck of the man. And it was correct, as his pulse was completely gone, Han stares from the side with a jaw clenched and eyes unreadable. Yizhou shakes his head, uttering a curse and pulling up the corpse with him. He carries the body over to his horse and sets the corpse onto her before opting to just lead the horse to the gate for the rest of the way.

And when they get to the gates there’s sounds of music that circulate through the air, and he hears lookouts calling and announcing their arrival. It was good, Yizhou felt okay and honestly he was happy to see the city. He’d bring the dead man to an apothecary to see if they could help strip him down and identify wounds and all that. A gate commander runs up, looking Yizhou up and down.

“General?”

“General Xia Yizhou, the third prince, established my rank recently. I was sent here to provide more support”

“Oh General Xia! Xiangyang welcomes you and your men. The city’s walls stand strong—though food and peace are not quite as firm.” The gate commander continued to speak. Yizhou nods as he leads his men into the city and hears cheers from the folk there as the commander recites information about the current happenings to him. He could hear his men behind him though seemed happy.

“Do you know an apothecary?” He asks the commander.

“Yes I do”

“Can you get the body taken to one? I wanna know what the cause of death was. Keep a note that we know the origin of the shoulder wound but not anything else” Yizhou answers and the commander nods, calling to a few men that help get the body off the horse and carried away before another man motions to where they could stable their horses. Once Yizhou is free from all that, he walks through the city.

Alone, but in his armor still. They were allowed to just rest after the long day of traveling. There were paper lanterns hung up through the streets that reflected a red light onto his form. A small girl bowed to him as he passed by but her mother grabbed her and pulled her into their house. A dog ran by too, pausing to sniff him but seemed aware of the dry scent of blood on him as he saw how its hackles raised and backed away. Yizhou did smell of iron, maybe that was the most imposing thing about him, the strong scent of blood. Humans weren’t built to stomach the scent of blood, it always left people uncomfortable if they weren’t used to it.

Like he was. He still thinks of that night and Hao dying, the other men dying, being bathed in blood and seeing the first signs that this war wasn’t gonna end well. But all in all he wanted to see her. It had almost been two years at that point and it hurt him. Letters were written every night all addressed to her, and he knew none could ever send but maybe he’d give them to her when he saw her again. Or maybe he wouldn’t, and he could seem more composed to her.

Yizhou makes his way to a small river bank, sitting at the side of it and he looks down at the water. He looked older than he remembered. Dust on his armor, a bit of blood dried at the collar, and his mouth set too tightly for someone just welcomed into the city. Sitting there for some time and watching the fish in the water swim around.

But he gets up, shutting his eyes and takes a breath in of the air before walking back to the city, and he eventually does see Han who motions for him to come over and the two men walk side by side in silence.

“We’re sharing a room, they’re kind enough cause we’re both high rank we aren’t getting put into barracks” Han tells him, nudging him with his elbow causing Yizhou to laugh.

“I can’t wait to sleep” Yizhou muses, and Han nods.

“Me as well, me as well”

Both of them walk together for a bit more time before the end in front of a building and Han starts to enter so Yizhou follows. They walk through to find their room and enter together. Yizhou and Han are both shocked at the sight.

“Damn” Han curses as he looks around the room. The room surprised them both as there were two beds on the opposing sides in their own spaces, and an area between both that had a curtained partition that when Yizhou walked forward and moved it revealed that there was a stone bath there half filled with steaming waters. There was a herbal scent that came from it as well, circulating around the room which made it seem that someone likely had recently filled it with hot water.

“Can’t let go of this, let’s both get in” Yizhou says and Han nods, both men starting to take off their braces and other bits of armor before dropping that to the side left both in their robes. Being soldiers they weren’t opposed to being nude in front of each other, and Han even leaned over when Yizhou de-clothed himself. Eyeing the contents of what was between his legs. This causes Yizhou’s face to flush as Han snickers.

“Hey! Keep to your own business!”

“I just wanted to say you have a really good tool there—“ Han is interrupted as Yizhou pushes him with a laugh, before he drops his own robes and both men get in and sink into the water. Almost at the same time, both sigh pleasantly. Han crosses his arms and leans back against the rocks.

“I sent the men prepared for night watch near the tower to assist where they could, they seemed in good spirits though” Han tells him.

“Good, hopefully they get a break when the morning watch comes around”

They both go silent again.

Han runs his hand over the water’s surface as he leans forward and his knees bump against Yizhou’s knee.

“When this is all over, what are you going to do?” Han asks him.

“Marry the girl from my childhood” Yizhou answers, and Han’s eyes widen but he just coos. Yizhou just shuts his eyes with a groan and scoots to the side so their knees weren’t touching and he could lean back with his muscular arms propping himself up against the rocks. Han glances at him, his gaze a little sharper as he takes in the curve of Yizhou’s neck, the exposed throat.

“Lucky you, knowing what you want.”

Han exhales and leans back again as well.

Not yet.

[mikamika06]

Wuk Lamat, Erenville, and Koana tower 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ I drew a little sketch too on how they’d get this pose besides that sketch. Also the first time trying to even sketch a being that looks like Wuk Lamat so she looks kinda funny.

[mikamika06]

giving me fic ideas god damn I love the wolgraha ship 🙁

round 2 Ready to get my ass handed to me next tier. (G'raha is ready to be handed one too.)

[mikamika06]

Headcanon/Drabbles Requests Open!

Fandoms:

FFXIV ☆

Love and Deepspace☆

Baldur’s Gate 3 ☆

Feeling open and in the mood to write headcanons or drabbles— so send in requests! Whether you want fluff, angst, emotional moments, or other, I’m here for it 🤓☝️💌 also wanted to do these ignore the former post I shortened to games

💭 What You Can Request:

• Character reactions to specific scenarios

• Romantic or platonic dynamics between vague characters (like reader)

• Slice-of-life, found family, rivals-to-lovers

• Hurt/comfort, emotional reveals, banter, quiet moments, fluff, basically anything

• Canonverse or mild AUs (modern, fantasy-adjacent, etc.)

🧭 Fandoms + Characters:

⚔️ Final Fantasy XIV

• Scions (Thancred, Y’shtola, Urianger, G’raha, Alphinaud, etc etc)

• Any other vaguely important NPC, like they’re voiced atleast I probably know them. I autism’d over this game I know a lot 😭

• Warrior of Light as WoL-neutral headcanons welcome (I honestly think Warrior of light headcannons are FUNNN. I love giving the blank slate a character)

💫 Love and Deepspace

• The Five Love Interests 😋 (and my historical AU if wanted versions)

🐉 Baldur’s Gate 3

• Origin Companions (Astarion, Shadowheart, Gale, Lae’zel, Karlach, Wyll)

• NPCs… but be warned I SPED through the game on accident and am not 100% finished so I don’t know a lot of them still

🚫 Will Not Write:

• hardcore NSFW

• Non-con, incest, or abusive pairings

• OCs

• Anything wildly out-of-character (unless crack and clearly tagged as such)

📬 How to Request:

Send me an ask with:

1. Fandom + character(s)

2. Vibes (romantic, platonic, fluff, angst, etc.)

3. Scenario or concept (as vague or specific as you like!)

I’ll be happy to provide these when I can as I’ll write them between longer fic writings and if I like the concept I may expand upon them 😋

[mikamika06]

finally back for a bit I re-subbed 😋

MY HUSBANNNDDDDD I MISSED YOUUUU ITS BEEN MONTHSSS💔

[mikamika06]

My Love and Deepspace Historical AU Masterlist

Collecting everything here as I wanna yap about this shit and the characters and my thoughts but explanation? This AU takes place during the Song Dynasty’s fall by the Mongols as I thought like you know, a lost war could be an interesting concept to explore for a fic. But now I’ve given each of the men a solid character that I like and I’ll probably further upon 😭

Immortal Flower (Caleb x MC)

Immortal Flower: Chapter 1

Immortal Flower: Chapter 2

Immortal Flower: Chapter 3

Immortal Flower: Chapter 4

Immortal Flower: Chapter 5

Immortal Flower: Chapter 6

Immortal Flower: Chapter 7

Immortal Flower: Chapter 8

Immortal Flower: Chapter 9

TBC

I’ll add other links once I finish immortal flower cause I have plans for exploring the other guys in the historical AU + like things about the guys in the AU

[mikamika06]

I FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO WHERE IM AT ON AO3 CONGRATS TO ME‼️🤤

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 8

The smell of incense was strong enough that it unsettled her senses, and Zhang Su held up different hanfu to her form to see what looked the best against her skin. In the room she wasn’t Xianhua, as that wasn’t the name Zhang Su referred to her as at all. It was either her real name, or a plethora of pet names that left the old woman’s lips.

But she was upset with Zhang Su, so the slightest bit of her wanted to act like a petulant child rather than the woman she was as of the sudden engagement that had happened. And it won. So any time that Zhang Su had tried to talk with her this whole time she had remained silent. The silence was what then accompanied her the whole time, before Zhang Su set down the clothes and grabbed her shoulders.

“Dear I’m sorry—“

“Sorry? For what, suddenly engaging me? I thought you’d wait for me to decide like you said before. You know what Xia Yizhou wanted to do—“ The bracelet he gifted her slid into view when she moved her hands around, and Zhang Su catches a glance at it and grimaces. She had worn the bracelet the whole time since he had left, never taken it off and she had kept the letter too tucked under her pillow.

“Qin Che isn’t a bad man, you know that. And we don’t know if he’s alive—“ At Zhang Su’s words, she stands up and just slaps the older woman. Which causes the room to go silent.

“He’s not dead”

The door opened and there stood Qin Che, and suddenly she was Xianhua again and not herself.

Xianhua just brushed her hair back as she looked up into his scarlet eyes, reminding her of rubies she’d seen adorn some of the women around here. Though those were fake, red colored glass, as they never had enough money to afford anything real— Zhang Su preferring for food or extra amenities as she would hand sew each working girl’s garb herself into the prettiest thing she could. Which made them stand upon the rest as all the girls were happy and healthy in The Red Lantern house.

“You heard her, he’s not dead” Qin Che speaks as he places a hand on her shoulder before tossing a scroll in front of them. It eerily reminds her of her sudden marriage announcement, but Xianhua snatches it to open and look over its contents because of the words he had spoken.

[News has spread of General Xia Yizhou’s troops to travel to Xiangyang and defend our final bastion from the barbarians from the west!]

“I took it off of a bulletin board. It was some low level news thing as you can tell with how shoddy the calligraphy is, but there it is his name written out” Qin Che continued, before looking upon Xianhua. “However, I must say if you want to be safe politically— if this all goes wrong I would recommend marrying me. I have allies all around and I know what these men do to the women left alone and you’re…” Qin Che trails off as he takes her hand.

“I’m what?” Xianhua asks.

“You’re gorgeous. One that I do not think would be spared from conquest. Having you under me legally will save you and if Xia Yizhou comes back I’ll cite what I can do most respectfully— and if he doesn’t come back you can stay by my side till we love each other. But I don’t need you to love me now I just need you to survive all of this”

Xianhua looked down at his hand, warm and steady against his own yet she could feel the calluses of hard work that each told a story of their own against her hand. She thought of Yizhou’s palms, a similar texture then the steady man infront of her yet both led different paths to get where they were today. Yizhou’s palms, whenever he’d grip her hand, held her wrists like it was something sacred. Qin ache’s grip didn’t tremble. It was a sure, steady grasp. And Strong, stronger than she was used to and something she could lean on.

“If I marry you, it’s not because I’ve given up on him” She says softly, intertwining their fingers and lifting their hands. Qin Che’s expression didn’t change and he just quietly nodded. Xianhua pulls her hand away first before pulling off her bracelet and setting it on her counter, before pointing to one of the ceremonial hanfu that Zhang Su had picked and she looks at the older woman.

“I’ll pick that one to be my wedding attire” Xianhua says, lifting it up and holding it to Qin Che before smiling a little at him. “You’ll find a matching one right?” The man’s smirk mirrors her own feelings and he excuses herself before she sits down and Zhang Su walks over to her before looking at the scroll that was left on the table.

“We’ll have to celebrate you leaving” Zhang Su speaks after a bit of silence, and Xianhua nods.

And in the days after the celebration did arise, as the paper lanterns around the place had been changed when Xianhua walked out of her room and she had slowly grown used to the fact that there was preparation for all this. Lanterns that were once pink and gold were now red and white, the sides painted in a varying of different figures from the younger girls there happy to celebrate Xianhua getting bought out and freed in the eyes of all there. It was festive overall, and Xianhua kept up those vibes as she wasn’t as upset anymore with the clarification her marriage would be annulled when Xia Yizhou comes back. So she’d take part in the partaking in the sweet wine steamed in cups, the scent of rice and jasmine circulating around her and mingling with the smoke of incense offerings. Some of the girls were also playing music in the background, a few dancing with other girls or guys as the Red Lantern left the doors open for those in the pleasure district to join in the celebration.

Xianhua had her tied up in a bun and held up with a silver hairpin shaped like a peony, in a nice outfit too made of silks that complimented her form and caused some gazes, male and female. The colors were red though, her second pick from the marriage gowns Zhang Su had provided to her as this was what would be happening soon after. She’d be a married woman…

It was an odd thought to her, that she’d be married to anyone other than Yizhou first, as since the two were young they had daydreamed later of being married to each other. It had started as a joke, yet it never truly was. She yearned for Yizhou, missed him, as he had been gone for a year and that was too long. No message from him, no sign that he was alive until now and the slightest bit of hope was that his known location would be Xiangyang. So in her part, while he fights this war, as many of the men would call it, she’d protect herself.

Zhang Su stood behind her, flattening out Xianhua’s collar as they looked upon the others down in the floor down below.

“You look like a fitting wife for him” Zhang Su lightly teased her, causing Xianhua to roll her eyes at her but turn around.

“Don’t feel like one”

Zhang Su raises her arm out for Xianhua to take, which she does and gently places her hand upon the older woman’s arm as they walk down the stairs together.

“I have to tell you something, Dear” Zhang Su says, causing Xianhua to turn as they walk.

“What is it?”

“Your mother, Yizhou’s mother as well, both of the ladies left our service years ago but left things for you and him. I sent the chest to Qin Che’s so you’ll get it when you go there, but I believe the goods are labeled so you know whose mother left what” Zhang Su’s words cause Xianhua to freeze on the steps, and stare at the older woman with a surprised expression that shifts to a shaky expression.

“Really? They did?”

“Your mother specifically— Despite the fuss of her having a girl spent a lot of free time making you things that we just never got to you. But I hope you have time to sit down and look at it” Zhang Su says, before motioning for Xianhua to walk forward. At the sight of them finally downstairs, a few of the other courtesans gather together all dressed in their finest attire amongst the rows of lanterns, eyes rimmed red in makeup they helped each other with. The older ones clapped and cooed at Xianhua while the younger looked at her in awe as she walked up towards them. Qin Che was already there, standing in the back with a few men around him rowdy and in the festive moods as well but Xianhua caught his eyes. He was dressed in formal dark blue robes, and he stood tall where he was as if this was more of a deal rather than a celebration. But Xianhua doesn’t find herself that disturbed by that, finding it more him, then anything else he could’ve done.

But a hush starts as Zhang Su grabs the ledger book and lifts it up to catch the attention of the rest. But as of tradition, a few girls started to softly sing a song together that was an old folk song, not a proper one known by all but one the girls would sing to each other getting ready or when the young servant girls would struggle sleeping.

Which reminded Xianhua— and she turns to see Xiaoling with a toothy smile on her face as she runs up to her and hands her the bracelet Yizhou had gifted her and a new one.

“You left this in your room and I figured you didn’t want to part with it, as well as I sorta made one for you…” Xiaoling says quietly as she eyes Zhang Su who just motions for her to continue. “I bought some pretty beads and charms with the money granny gave me one time and made it for you” She continues, which Xianhua accepts both bracelets, slipping them around her wrists before ruffling the hair of the younger girl and turning to Zhang Su.

“This ledger book is the one containing all clients that the fabled Xianhua here has taken in her time of service here. Yet it isn’t needed now as her tie won’t be to us anymore and she’ll start a new life under her true name— not Xianhua. Wife of Qin Che the merchant guild head here, and leader of her own path now” Zhang Su says before a servant girl takes the top off a lantern so the flame was exposed and Zhang Su takes it and lights the ledger book up before dropping it into a metal bucket. Yet Xianhua notes that the lantern that was specifically chosen was one she did years ago, her first from a ceremony of parting that one of the woman had in the past, and her eyes widen as Zhang Su drops that into the bucket as well then the flaming candle in which causes the flames to blossom faster. They all watch as the pages curl in on themselves and turn into ash, symbolizing that the house no longer had a hold on Xianhua.

Zhang Su turns to her and places a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving her a tired smile but it looked proud.

“You don’t have to be Xianhua anymore, you’ll be lady Qin now” She says before pushing her over to Qin Che, who takes her hand again and smiles down at her.

“Shall we leave then? I can show you around my estate”

Xianhua didn’t hesitate and took his hand with a smile. And the two leave the Red Lantern house together as the music and songs rise up more under the red silk covered canopies. To her new life, out of the place she had seen as her home into a life she hadn’t thought she’d have.

And when the wedding came, the splendor was one that she expected of an official like Qin Che. Despite war times, she had attendants helping her with makeup and perfecting her appearance for her special day, girls that she had each learned the name of as she had become solely acquainted with them as they were women that worked with Qin Che’s family almost their whole lives and were giddy with such preparations for a marriage.

There was Madam Liu, full name Liu Shuyun. She was the overseer of the female attendants and the ones that rounded them all together to follow under her command.

Then there was Xiao-Lian, Mei, Ruolan, Yingzhi, and Quiju. Each girl was ecstatic and quick to talk so the room was filled with laughter and jokes she knew she’d catch up to. It reminded her of The Red Lantern with the girls she grew up around. Yet these girls didn’t know the life she had known, having their own struggles that were different from hers so she wouldn’t discredit a life of servitude but it looks like the family didn’t treat them badly. But each girl was heavily excited in their own part to be helping so she was almost completely dressed despite the ceremony not happening any time soon. It was close, but still not now.

So she sat there uncomfortable and warm from the layers of silk hanfu, her head feeling heavy from the jewelry in her hair and her hair that was tied up elaborately. Which— when she caught her gaze in a mirror felt so different from the gaze she was used to. They had really worked on the full makeup transformation for her. But the door opened and all the girls including her turned to see Zhang Su standing there. The old woman was breathing a little heavily, obviously from rushing there and she hesitates before speaking to them.

“Can I help? I’m her grandma—“ All the attendants stand up at that and move to the side so Zhang Su could sit behind her which caused her to smile where she was sitting. Zhang Su grabs a comb and starts brushing it through her hair. “Have you opened what your mother left you?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting for Yizhou” She mutters softly in response as Zhang Su pins the veil into her hair and over her face. This obscures her vision but she still feels the older woman’s fingers in her hair as the comb is dropped and she braids two long parts of her hair and wraps it into the bun that the other girls had already made. And with each movement of her fingers Zhang Su whispers soft blessings to her while she sits still, her eyes shining and soft.

“They bathed you yesterday, right for Jing Shen?” Zhang Su asks and she nods. What they were doing now was another part of the marriage ceremony, an older woman helping with her hair and making her seem more of a “wife” then a “maiden” with the style.

Madam Liu moves over and looks over her once she stands up, Zhang Su joining it adjusting bits and pieces of her cloth before she pats her shoulder and Madam Liu smiles at her.

“We don’t have the chair sedan for you so you two because we’re already in the estate, and the lord didn’t request it despite how much I fought for it for you” Madam Liu pinches the bridge of her nose but opens up the door for Zhang Su and her to walk down and the walk through the building with the little entourage until they get outside to the courtyard where the others are waiting and turn to start clapping when they see her. Compliments swirl around her but she focuses more on Qin Che, who grabs her hand and drags her to his side. He rubs a firm hand into her shoulder before turning to the rest with her.

“My wife and I will continue with the ceremonial rites now, then return to our chambers to do the more private ones if that’s alright? You all can continue partying here”

Everyone cheers, no one's gonna say anything against him so they move to be standing side by side. They bow to the heavens, then to the earth, then turn to face each other and bow, then Qin Che turns to where his family’s shrine was and bows there while she bows towards Zhang Su. Before they both go to sit down and there’s two cups bound together with red string, and an older man she learned earlier was Qin Che’s father’s closest confidant pours the wine for both of them which they interlock arms to drink it. And they do sit around for a bit before Qin Che rises and brings her up with him and then the two excuse themselves to go to his personal chambers. And when they’re alone he pulls back her veil and just brushes a thumb over her cheek.

“They caked you in makeup, huh?” Is the first thing he says to her which causes her to choke on her breath and start giggling.

“Thank you, lovely husband”

“I thank you too, lovely wife. For playing along” He says, before uttering her real name. “I don’t expect we’ll be consummating our marriage tonight, but do you mind sharing a bed? I don’t think it’ll be weird if we don’t make it weird” He says and she nods.

“Can I cuddle you?” She snickers lightly and he laughs as well.

“I’m not opposed, Lady Qin”

Yeah that’s right… She’s Lady Qin now.

Not Xianhua anymore. He’d utter her real name too but the others working elevated her to this status of Lady. She’d grow used to it. Day upon days until she could see Yizhou again.

Unknown to her, the hell Yizhou would be entering.

[mikamika06]

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 7

Xinghui and Li Shen had forced Yizhou to rest for a month before he did some physical training to gain back his strength then joined the rest of the generals for planning on what exactly they were to do. Getting an eye on that, probably was the worst thing Yizhou was able to do as he saw how disorganized everyone was. Either people weren’t energized enough to fight or too old, too greedy, too cowardly, and it bugged the living hells out of Yizhou. People were prone to corruption and instability, which broke his original views of the government he was taught to love.

And later he spoke to Li Shen, frustrated.

“They rely on walls— not Will or courage! And they ask me to win a war with shackled hands and a censored tongue because those men are too high on the political ladder that a man like me that doesn’t have that impressive of a background I’m ignored!” Yizhou clenches onto a cloth harder as he dabs medicine at his old wounds. “And they still call them horsemen— as if it’s their horses we should be fearing” He seethes which causes Li Shen to take the cloth out of his hand and move back his bandages and just pats it a little more gently then Yizhou was.

“Yes, you have a meeting tomorrow too, right?” Li Shen asks and Yizhou just grumbles more. “Don’t fuss like a child. You do know they’re bringing in courtesans from the famous house today. Go enjoy the entertainment, they’re performing songs for us” Li Shen continued before fixing his bandages, not missing in how Yizhou seems to suddenly jump at that comment.

“What house?”

“The Red—”

Yizhou doesn’t even let Li Shen properly fix his bandages or finish that sentence as he gets up and runs out of the tent. It’s been a year since he’s seen her, a year, and every bit of him aches. He needs to see her, he needs to see his girl. Yizhou could feel how his heart was beating in his body quickly, the thumping almost audible in his ears as he looked at the few people working to set up instruments. He didn’t recognize them. His eyes continued to dart over the lacquered and gaudy carts, the silk-draped performers, the way the wind tousles their veils. None of the faces are hers. But that’s fine as he knew that the madam would never let any of her top performers carry boxes such as that.

A flutist tunes her pipes and there’s more sounds of ankle bells and laughs of girls as they’re blindy oblivious to the fears of war they were coming to ail. But again, Yizhou continues to search through them for the one he knew. The one he loved.

Though Yizhou knew Zhang Su would never risk a single employee in territory like this.

And when his eyes ran over the delicately painted logo on the side of one of the boxes, he saw that it was not The Red Lantern like he had assumed and hoped it would be, but spider lily flowers he was unfamiliar with. It was a discomforting feeling that blossomed in his chest as he realized that he had jumped the bullet and it was never what he wanted it to be. Perfumed air that wasn’t what he remembered as well, didn’t give him that bit of home he was hoping for. It smelled of jasmine and strong incense, it was all too clean and too different from what he was hoping and which fueled his unsettled emotions more. A girl does approach him, seeing him standing there and he regards her with an air of caution and a false smile. Yizhou had to be polite as he was representing his rank but he felt uncomfortable. Like his skin was prickling.

“Are you here for the performance, General?” She asks him. She was too young and too bright eyed to be out here of all places. He just gave her a nod but it seemed less to be confirming, as her expression fell. “Were you searching for someone? I could help?” She tilts her head.

“I was, but I was mistaken she probably wouldn’t be here. Apologies, I wish your performance well. I was born in a courtesan house so I hold deep value for you guys” Yizhou tells her and she smiles at him, quickly nodding.

“Thank you General!” The girl is called away which leaves him by his thoughts and he just watches her go, before turning to leave and walk back through the tents and other folk that were out and about in the area. Other people nod at him, a few of his own men give him wide smiles that he returns. Yizhou was slowly becoming the voice of the average folk, one that people had trusted to step out of line of the political faux meritocracy most fell to in their government.

Laughter and joy sparked through the crowds of folk but his gaze catches that of a Minister Huang, who motions him close. Huang was higher ranking, one of the emperor’s scholar strategists, carrying the old ideological beliefs of him as well. One that Yizhou learned that Xinghui didn’t believe in.

“We have another meeting” Huang tells Yizhou, who follows him through the throng of people at those words and into the tent again Yizhou grew to hate where several others were. Huang moves to the front of the table and Yizhou takes his place at the end of the lowest ranking of the men there.

There’s a general level of discussion between the folk there before it quiets down and eyes turn to Huang after he clears his throat.

“Starting tomorrow our junk fleet will anchor at the mouth of the river. Infantry will remain within the city walls. If the barbarians attempt to cross, our archers will have the advantage. We’re too close to the city proper now however we have to pull all stops” Huang details to the men there, showing off drawings and maps they had on the table.

No one says anything against the plan, So Yizhou speaks up already a little stiffened. He didn’t want to start a fight in here again but he had his opinions he felt like no one was going to voice.

“And when they bring siege towers? Bombards? Or sail straight past on captured junks they stole from our own harbors?”

“Your concern is noted, General Xia. But we have firm orders from the capital. Defensive posture. Minimal casualties. The Emperor favors caution as you dutifully know as the confidant of the third son” Huang smiles at him.

Xinghui in this case had spoken to Yizhou and had only advised to take an action duty stand. The two elder sons and the emperor himself had men in the court, and Yizhou found himself the one voice of Xinghui in the tent.

“With respect, Minister—this is not caution. It is slow suicide.” Yizhou responds, a little more firmly and his eyes glint in the lantern light of the tent. The room goes uncomfortably still at his proclamation, and one general shifts uncomfortably as Yizhou continues to speak.

“I know what we plan— what we’ve been planning but I have half a mind to complain now about this as there’s a fault in it— We are planning for a siege like it’s still the last war. They don’t wait behind walls. They ride around them. They burn what feeds us and poison what waters us. They make allies of our own—because we leave our people to rot! I know I replaced the last general who turned tides because we abandoned him!”

General Liu puts a firm hand on Yizhou’s shoulder. Liu was one of the older men in the room, more experienced and in similar alignment with Huang.

“Mind your tone. You are barely out of your armor and already questioning those who held the line before you were born?”

Yizhou shifts his shoulder away and looks at Liu.

“I speak for Prince Xinghui, you all have also gotten your positions here out of merit rather than sheer will right? I fought out there in the last conflicts with men, my position climbing as I gained my own experience. I’ve seen what holding the line looks like from different levels of authority, the fault here is that you say you’re defending the people—but you don’t even listen to the scouts who ride among them.”

Huang crosses his arms and scoffs, just nodding. They were to debate war plans so they’d debate all they could.

“And what would you have us do, young general? Charge their cavalry with farming tools? Scatter our forces in the open country like children lost in a field?” Huang’s tone was cold but it didn’t bother Yizhou who just smugly grins.

“No. I’d have us fight like we want to win, not last another week. Deploy skirmishers at the outposts. Arm the riverfolk, don’t herd them behind walls. Set traps on the bridges. Burn the grain before the Mongols get it. Make them bleed for every step they take south. It’s better then to drain our own forces by this game of endurance they will always be better at!” You’ve seen the empires around ours fall because of them—“

Yizhou is interrupted by Huang slamming the table.

“You presume too much, General. War is not won on impulse. It is measured. Managed. The others losing was because they were weak, they’d never measure to our empire”

The others all voice their agreement with him, and Yizhou feels the earlier frustration he felt with Li Shen flooding back in, but he reels back and just more firmly ends his debate with.

“And while we measure and manage, they’re already writing the end of this dynasty because we are too corrupt and unwilling to advance and change our methods”

He then goes silent, just biting his lip as the others speak over him and his advice falls down into the void of unlistened to words. Yizhou knew they wouldn't listen to him anyways but it was just frustrating. To him, he’d hope to have a future and see his loved ones again. Yet to him, he realized this path they were going down was bad. Yizhou is upset about this planning, as he’s seen it kill people. His people, Hao dying in his hands— he’s not seen any survivors from his camp and he knows that there’s many other cases like his own.

In the time from the camp’s destruction Yizhou had been in spat for their side, and it was just taking down a few Mongol spies that they had intercepted that ended up having backup. Yet he saw how people pushed him away from actually acting, as he was the leader and most men defended him rather than saving themselves. Yizhou asked why later and the few men that did answer said it was what the other generals had expected of them.

It was honestly hypocritical. And despite his desire to see his XiaoBuDian again he’d rather give up his life then have one waste it on him. No one should have to give up a life for someone just because they were higher ranking. Yet that’s the fault of their military.

The fault of their government.

They weren’t going to win this war.

“General Xia” Huang starts, causing Yizhou to focus back and he just nods.

“You’ll be supporting Xiangyang. We’ll send you and your troops there to further the cause. Don’t fail or it’s on all of our heads. You wanted this right?”

Huang was taunting him but Yizhou just scoffed.

Xiangyang wouldn’t be hard as it was a fortress city lining the Han river, and was just a secondary line of defense to the Yangtze River which protected the heartland of their empire. Station wise, he would just be sent to again sit and wait there out just like he didn’t want to happen. Yet he wouldn’t let Huang continue to provoke him. Plus, nothing much would happen in Xiangyang and to be away from them would feel way better for him.

“Yes Sir”

Nothing could break Xiangyang’s walls.

[mikamika06]

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 6

Water trickles down the rocks in the hot springs, creating a background noise to disturb the silence for Xianhua, as she takes a breath in of the air and shuts her eyes. Sweat perspires on her skin into droplets that trail down her curves because of the heat from it all, but it was quite a pleasant heat. Nothing that was too much or too little as it helped her make her muscles not feel as tense as they did almost nearly every day and to get a break that she hadn’t gotten as of late. One offered to her after a day of getting good revenue, and she found herself to be the only one in the hot spring.

But the solitude was disrupted by the door opening and another girl shuffling in.

“Sis?” The quiet voice calls out so Xianhua opens her eyes to see Xiaoling standing there. The girl had grown in the few months that Xia Yizhou had been gone and since she had interrupted them that day, and was adorned with bits and bobs and nicer clothes. Zhang Su was clearly favoring the girl, as she did to all the young servants that seemed to be looking a little more pretty as they went through puberty. The quickest ways to poach girls for work in the future. Zhang Su was a money hungry woman despite all the care she held in her heart.

“Yes? LingLing?” Xianhua coos softly to her which gives the girl a bit more confidence to step forward and sit on the edge near where Xianhua’s clothes were. Xiaoling still bites her lip gently before handing her a paper scroll, and utters Xianhua’s real name which causes her to sit up more and focus on Xiaoling.

“Qin Che told me to deliver a message to you” Xiaoling starts, and hands her the scroll. So Xianhua opened it and her eyes gaze over the contents of the scroll.

It was quite a short message and didn’t hold anything of value despite detailing that he had apparently planned a meeting with Zhang Su and her for tomorrow and advised her to not make any meetings with any other clients for it.

And there was nothing else, nothing that she necessarily was waiting for to know from him which causes Xianhua to let out a grumble in frustration but she just nods and throws the scroll across the room and sinks further down into the water.

“If he’s still here LingLing, tell him to scram”

“He left” Xiaoling informs her and that causes Xianhua to pout furthermore like a child and sink lower into the water. The heat prickled at her skin but it was good.

It was hard. It was hard being conflicted with what she wanted to do in her life as she just wanted Yizhou back. She hadn’t heard a single word from him in months, and it just seemed more and more that he was likely in the deceased just as she had heard now. Yet no word came back to the Red Lantern House of his passing, as officially the place that was her prison was in paperwork, his home of abode legally. And sometimes family would be lucky enough to get remains of the sorts of those that had fallen in combat, yet not a single thing had come to them about his passing or being alive. Just gossip of some new general in the war that she hadn’t chanced to hear the name of as no one really knew as it was an impromptu promotion and one done by the emperor in secret.

A bit in her hopes it was him though.

After Xiaoling leaves however, Xianhua takes it as time to get up as she waited long enough as she would rather not scar the child with the nude image of herself, and grabs her hanfu to get dressed. A slight purse of her lips because of her emotions as she ties her sashes together to hold her robes together and walks out into the main hallway and slinks her way back to her room. It was easy to avoid the main hall and the rooms for work as she made her way to her private quarters without much of a word shared with any girl that passed by. Though she gave them respectful nods as she did so.

And she spends the rest of the night once she gets to her room, undisturbed, even sleeping well and when she wakes up in the morning she feels quite good about herself and well rested. Until she did remember the message Qin Che forced Xiaoling to give. That soured her mood just a smidge, not much more. With Xianhua’s job she tended to work well with finding out what was more so the true intentions behind a person. And most men that requested her presence, it was easy to do so as a few words and acting helped spill secrets from their lips quickly. But Qin Che was a closed off one in that book, and the only thing she finds herself dealing with through him is how nice he is. Which pisses her off a little more. But she was finding herself warming up to Qin Che as he kept to his promise of being someone for her to lean on, and she’s found herself spending most of the extra time she usually did with Yizhou with Qin Che now. And he has significantly helped her as he is also working by her side to help her find out the name of the mystery general that has spread the rounds of gossip.

So whatever this meeting was she would reluctantly follow through to see exactly what it was.

But Xianhua did have a bit more time until the place opened, and when she assumed Qin Che would come by as he did work quite hard. Honestly it was impressive for a man of similar age to build as much power as he was hard, yet it was what came with inheritance. Qin Che built his father’s mercantile empire farther however, but it made him a busy man and more often than not his free times on work days were the night.

So Xianhua quickly runs out of the courtesan house and into the streets, worming her way through the countless number of people that were already out in the bright and early morning. In a distance she saw the lanterns marking the end of the pleasure district, which caused a smile to adorn her face and her to work through the throng of people quicker.

She had to find Qi Yu, as the man was one she had befriended through Yizhou, another man who worked in the military. But in more sensitive fields then Yizhou, and she knew that maybe he could have an insight on his status of life.

And soon she crossed the threshold out of the pleasure district and it was much easier to move as the pleasure district at this time of day was full of the people who spent nights at places leaving or those still drunk because of large quantities of alcohol consumption getting escorted off of the premises of many of the establishments. Yet it was technically a war time, Xianhua knew, so everyone was stressed in some way or another. Words of the enemy had reached the non military citizens quite recently so Xianhua knew they were currently facing a tough enemy from the west that has a significant amount of land. The picture of the current state of everything though had not been painted for the people so she doesn’t know who currently is losing or winning. But she guesses she’ll know the day she sees conflict herself up front or come back hearing how the war was won.

Back to finding Qi Yu however, Xianhua worked her way through the streets until she came to the military outpost that Yizhou would take her too and where they would mess around with his friends or Qi Yu. And it looked empty, which Xianhua guessed made sense as most were gone, but with a call of her real name she turns around to be face to face with Qi Yu. He snickers when she yelps at the surprise of him suddenly being there and stumbles back, but he leans forward to catch her before she falls on her ass.

“Yizhou would actually kill me if you got harmed” Qi Yu says as he pulls his hand off her before slipping his hands behind himself and leaning forward.

“What do you need, Missy?” His tone has a teasing lilt. Missy was his nickname for her, he’d never call her Xianhua as he openly expressed how disgusted the title made him quite often then not.

“Do you know how Yizhou is right now?” She asks him, and his frown drops. It was the only question she could think of asking him and fell from her lips without much thinking behind it.

“We have not been sent out to work much on this current spiel, all I know is spies have less than a pleasant ending with these barbarians so they’re even only sending certain people from my unit. I however haven’t had the chance to go out so I don’t know what those that are actually fighting are doing right now”

Qi Yu worked in espionage, it was his best kept secret around everyone else but those he was acquainted with, if you were close enough to him the man would rant and rant about his job.

Yet Xianhua got her answer, he wasn’t aware of if Yizhou was alive or not. So she lost this possible route to try too.

“Thank you then, Yu” She softly exhales out, crossing her arms. Which causes him to nod slightly before his lips quirk up in a smirk and he walks which prompts her to follow.

“Besides that sappy sad stuff, I was wondering if I could try my woman disguise and work a day alongside you and see how many men request me” He jokes, trying to lighten the mood. Xianhua does snort at the thought, prompting the mental image that appears as she stares into his eyes.

“Grandma would be completely okay with that, only if you let her keep the money you make”

“Deal”

The two giggle as Qi Yu leads her to a food vendor as he plans to distract her for as long as he can, grabbing a charcoal cooked squid on a stick and hands it to her as he then buys his own. He always preferred seafood over land animal meat, and let out a happy moan as he took a bite into it. Which she followed after and the taste of the squid and the fire was quite pleasant, and it seemed to be less rubbery than she expected it to be meaning that chef was oddly good at street food of all things.

Xianhua knew she’d have to take Yizhou back there someday.

She continues to talk with Qi Yu though, they walk over to a small river bed and sit on the grass at the side, joking and laughing together as the sun shifts colors. There’s a few folk that eye her with greedy stares but she ignores it, as best as she could and with the help of Qi Yu glaring his hardest at them. The feeling of grass below their hands steadied her and she just leaned back and took a long inhale of the air, her eyes watching as the clouds shift by in the sky.

“I think Yizhou is dead” She says, after a few long beats of silence between the two of them, and a grimace quickly makes it’s way onto Qi Yu’s face.

“Really?”

“There were some rumors going around his whole camp was killed”

A few more beats of silence.

“The Mongols. They’re scary. I don’t think the odds are in our favor with this whole thing” He answers truthfully, twirling his stick from the squid between his fingers as he stares up at the clouds as well. “When I went out of our country I heard whispers of them, they’re smarter than our own military and trained in ways we just… aren’t. Plus Missy, you aren’t missing anything out being involved in government affairs, it’s just riddled with corruption so we aren’t even a stable government right now”

That made her feel worse, but she just nodded. Words around the Red Lantern House clued her in enough on that whole thing. Xianhua sits up when she sees the lanterns over the bridge being turned on as the sky starts to shift hues as the sun sets, and she curses under her breath.

“I got to get back– sorry– duty calls” Xianhua tells him and she moves to stand up so he does as well.

“Let me walk you back”

The two of them just smile at each other before Xianhua nods and as they walk past a fire at another vendor’s place they both toss their sticks into it. The energy of the nightlife truly started arising around them, music, chatting, smells of food, all encompassing what made these streets alive. And when they got to the pleasure district it just got more crowded as compared to the morning this was the beginning of the major work rush. But the Red Lantern House stood tall at the end of the street, getting into both of their views as they crossed the threshold into the district. Xianhua heard more people talking about her as they walked past, and she knew it was because of her fame. Qi Yu knew that too, so he jokingly covered her with his sleeve as they walked the road together. But she didn’t push it away either, and it pained her to say goodbye to her friend but she just gave him a smile when they found themselves at the front of the establishment.

“Well, I’ll see you again” Xianhua says to him and Qi Yu almost gets a response back before he’s pushed to the side by a client trying to get into the house which causes Qi Yu to just shake his head with his own charming smile and wave her off before disappearing into the crowds behind him. And so Xianhua walks back into the building, not realizing that someone was expecting her and a reasonable upset as they had been waiting for awhile.

Zhang Su stood there at the front, quite disgruntled when she saw Xianhua and she quickly ran over to her. “You’re late! Come with me” Zhang Su grabs onto her sleeve and drags her even in front of other clients even making a fuss about it until she brings both of them into a back room where Qin Che was sitting as well, and he just seemed amused seeing Xianhua looking so frazzled.

“What do you two have to say that was so important?” Xianhua asks and Zhang Su just motions for her to sit down, so she does, and then she pulls out a contract. Zhang Su pushes it to Xianhua, and that prompts her to look down and read it. Then quickly look back up and at both of the two.

“You sold me to Qin Che for marriage?”

Xianhua’s bracelet, the one from Yizhou, sat proudly on her wrist and as she raised her hand in shock it caught the reflection from the light and reflected a warm brown light onto the paper in front of them.

It didn’t catch anyone’s attention though, as both opposing pairs of eyes were on Xianhua.

[mikamika06]

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 5

Xia Yizhou sat up from the mat he was laying on with a shaky gasp, looking around in the tent with a start as he pants and sits up. But he’s stopped by a strong hand on his chest, so his gaze turns over there to see a man he didn’t know.

“Before you panic, I’m Li Shen, a doctor for the army you serve” The man, now identified as Li Shen says to Yizhou. And as his gaze turns around he does see the empire’s symbol on a few bits of gear around the place. Before his gaze turns back to Li Shen and he just lets out a slide humph before laying back down on the mat.

“Puncture wound on your stomach, by the depth I am assuming it was an arrow rather than a sword?” Li Shen asks and Yizhou shuts his eyes and tries to think back before responding.

“I think. I don’t remember. But I don’t think I was stabbed”

“Well I’ve covered your wound in herbal mixes after cauterizing it, and wrapped it up. You’re lucky Commander Xia, the arrow was just what you were hit by or you’d end up like some of those poor boys of yours” Li Shen continued after getting confirmation about his hypothesis, before slipping a hand under Yizhou’s back and helping him sit up again before handing him a cup of tea that was brewed. “Drink this” It was followed by little words, his push was all that Li Shen did. So Yizhou sips on the tea, grimacing as the liquid goes down his throat but he does not protest, having a high level of respect for all physicians. Li Shen goes to take the cup away from him when he is finished and sets it to the side, eying him a tad bit worried.

Yizhou however just lays back down, staring up at the ceiling of the tent with a slight frown on his expression. Pain did course through his body, with every breath he took he felt the sting blossom through his lower body.

“The arrow was barbed I assume, you do not want to see the wound area for a bit, you’d probably throw up seeing the wound. You’ll be out for a bit with infection for a bit though” Li Shen answers as he kneels down to sit next to Yizhou, slipping his robes to the side before gently brushing his fingers over the wrapped up wound. ���You’ll have interesting dreams I bet, usually most do after injuries with loss of blood like that” He continued and Yizhou grumbled but nodded, shutting his eyes.

The scent of sandalwood and other dried herbs hung in the air of Li Shen’s tent, which assured a more quick route in falling asleep for Yizhou. His dreams however were more of a sort like Li Shen said, interesting.

Qin Che, the bastard, and his XiaoBuDian, getting married together at an altar. But both were in western attire of some sorts and were called different names— he swore, someone called Qin Che, “Sylus”, and he wondered where he heard such a name. Maybe a book? What was weirder however was the doctor, Li Shen, was officiating the wedding for the two of them and all Yizhou could do was clap— as when he looked down there was a gaping wound and blood seeping from his clothes.

Yizhou stirred awake at the sound of an unfamiliar voice in the tent, one that was measured and smooth, but with an edge of something strained behind its timber. He opened one eye to watch.

“Li Shen” The voice speaks, and Li Shen looked up as the figure stepped in, his expression shifting slightly— wariness softened by familiarity of the new man that Yizhou didn’t know.

“You shouldn’t be here, your highness, you know this is near the battlefield and this weather isn’t good for your health” Li Shen said quietly, but he didn’t rise.

“And you couldn’t pretend you didn’t see me” The new voice replied, dry and amused. “And anyways as well I’ve been in all these tents, I swear I was only out for two hours tops”

When Yizhou turns over, he spots the appearance of the man who entered, of whom was younger than he expected and wore robes finer than anyone else he had seen even in the pleasure district. Deep navy robes that had hand embroidered stars on it that were threaded with silk looked to be a part of the original fabric to his weary eyes. He was handsome, striking even, but there was something ghostlike in the set of his features. The fine lines under his eyes. The faint sheen on his brow. But the short, sharp breath he took through parted lips caught his eyes.

Li Shen murmured, obviously worried. “You’ll start coughing again”

The strange man, which Yizhou’s half-alert mind struggled to piece together the way the medic used Your Highness—only gave him a sideways glance. He knew that this man had to be someone important. Yet in his bloodless delirium the name was not on the tip of his tongue.

“I heard one of our commanders was the only survivor from his camp, but also nearly bled out in the field.” The man of high standing says as he kneels by Yizhou’s side, making clear eye contact with him so it’s obvious his fake rest attempt was up. “It’s only polite to check if he’s still breathing”.

Yizhou blinked at him. “Apologies, who are you?”

The unknown man of assumed high standing met his gaze, then slowly sat down beside the tea table, carefully lowering himself as if familiar with the slow ache of a body that didn’t always cooperate.

“Shen Xinghui” he replied, voice even. Which causes Yizhou to attempt to sit up with a struggle that Xinghui assists. “Just someone who is an occasional inconvenience”

Alarm bells were ringing in his head— this was one of the princes. Specifically the third son of the current reigning emperor, one known for a weakened health that the public weren’t aware of, but a well known military strategist behind the scenes. The one that organized the current formation of all the tents from apparently the comfort of the palace.

Xinghui paused before speaking to inhale again, slower this time and clearly well trained.

“You have a reputation for being hard to kill, Commander Xia. I’m hoping you won’t damage that reputation on my watch.” Xinghui speaks before looking at Li Shen. “How long until he recovers enough to walk?”

“Why?”

“Well, my father wants to make him a general”

[mikamika06]

I’m not explaining anymore💔 nor linking my ao3

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 4

Xianhua sat dutifully on a cushion that was provided for her as her fingers pluck at the strings of the guqin that was on her lap. Her hair was half up and braided back into a bun, with flowers stuck into places to further accent the look and she wore a light red hanfu. Xianhua looked good, and she knew Qin Che was looking at her from where he was sitting, his gaze focused on only her out of the rest of the girls.

It was a party or sorts, rich folk were celebrating and making deals so Xianhua was hired as entertainment. Yet her popularity was known amongst those there and men had looser lips around her. Currently however, she was with a few military men that were of higher ranks so they currently were here rather than where Yizhou was.

“Did you hear about what happened to Commander Xia Yizhou?” One says and Xianhua looks away from Qin Che to focus on the two of them. Who were whispering loudly, because of their state of intoxication. The other tilts his head in confusion, so the one who spoke first continued.

“The barbarians attacked his camp, almost everyone fell. It was bad. Apparently no one knows what happened to Xia Yizhou but he’s probably dead” He snickers, and that rubs Xianhua the wrong way.

She just tilted her head, a little upset and her hands were shaking. Yizhou couldn’t be dead. But if others died he would never be the last man standing because that was just his habit. He wouldn’t let his men die before he would himself.

Xianhua’s hand trembled as she missed a note on the guqin that was loud, it pulled sharper than she had intended and the noise unsettled the rest of the performers who just grumbled at her. But before any of the men listening said anything, as the two she was eavesdropping on had noted her mistake, Qin Che stood up from his seat and walked over to Xianhua.

“Sorry did I startle you?” He places a hand on her shoulder and it drags the attention from her to him. Which was what he wanted. “I didn’t mean to make that gesture at you, I was just pissed about the two men here speaking quite loudly!” Qin Che motions to them, which causes them to snarl at him but he just tuts and looks back at Xianhua. He helps her up and tosses gold at their supervisor before taking her out of the room with him. Qin Che doesn’t say much but Xianhua offers a nod of thanks which he shakes off. They stepped into the corridor, the murmur of the party muffled behind them. The paper lanterns cast golden light over his shoulder, but Xianhua’s gaze was far away—somewhere else, and the weight of the bracelet on her wrist feels even heavier at that moment. She needed time to herself to feel what she wanted to feel or she’d break down.

“You should be more careful,” Qin Che said gently. “Even talent can be replaced in the eyes of men like them, you step too much out of line you’ll lose your value” His quip irked her so she stopped and raised her eyebrows at him.

“Thought you didn’t care” Xianhua interjects.

“I don’t care, yet it’ll make the fight for you more entertaining if you keep your value up”

Xianhua huffs as they continue to walk, turning to look away from him again before she asks in a low voice. “Did you hear much?”

Which Qin Che shakes his head to in response, before hesitating. “Only what they said. That the camp was overrun. That no one knows where Commander Xia is”.

And it was the first bit of care that Xianhua swears he has taken for her as he looks at her gentle and concerned, and maybe then the piercing red eyes didn’t bother her as much before as her gaze is captivated on them before turning away again. But there was a beat of silence. Then Qin Che, ever tactful, softened his voice.

“I know you cared for him,” he said. “But don’t let grief make you forget yourself. You deserve better than to fall apart for a man who may never return.”

That statement makes her bristle. But it also shows his hand, that he wants her. He thinks she could be more if she let go of Yizhou. The internal conflict leaving her at a precipice that she didn’t quite know what to say in response to it. Xianhua’s fingers twitched at her side, remembering how she felt after reading the note as her gaze turned to the floor.

“I’m not falling apart” she finally responded, her voice quieter than before. A slight quiver to it, but not too much or it would betray how she was feeling and she’d rather keep from that. “I’m just… I didn’t expect to hear any news like that, in a party environment. It was unsettling”

“They speak carelessly. About war. About men who bled for them because they don’t have to” Qin Che sighs as he crosses his arms. “I hate them quite dearly as it’s the only thing they talk about whenever I try and make business deals, if only they knew what it was like to be in the fields out around here.”

That surprised her.

She turned to look at him fully this time, as if seeing him properly for the first time. There was something almost human behind the ambition in his face—almost.

“And you don’t?” Xianhua asks him as they walk into a garden space. There’s a few flowers that decorated the area yet it was nothing too big. But it was one of the more well known areas yet with most at the party folk stayed away.

“I speak what they want to hear” Qin Che responds, smugly.

That made Xianhua scoff, “You’re enjoying this?”

“I’m enjoying speaking with you.” The way he said it was deliberate. Not too sweet, not too forward—just enough to test the air between the two of them. Xianhua didn’t respond, just standing in comforting silence with him as she focused on a fish swimming through a small pond. Qin Che didn’t press on either and instead spoke again.

“I gave them enough money for you so you should go home. Rest. I’ll send word if I hear anything about the Commander”

Xianhua’s head sharply turned to him. “Why would you do that?”

Qin Che got his smug grin back on again to continue. “Because if he’s dead you’ll need someone to lean on and if he’s alive I don’t mind the challenge”

And they do talk a little more, yet when Xianhua excuses herself to leave to start her trek home, and when she does get there she just quickly goes to her room and lays down on her bedding. Fiddling with the bracelet as she leans on her side and stares at it while her other hand’s thumb gently rubs over the beads. A tired, silent, prayer leaving her lips that he was one of the few who were unaccounted for.

He hopefully was.

[mikamika06]

I’m tired of crossposting already LMAOOO but yeah…

hello…

I’m into many fandoms and not normal about any

[mikamika06]

Their Chinese names,, yeah

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 3

Little embers of the flames in the center fly out onto the grass around the men that were boisterously laughing together. Yizhou stood at the side near one of the larger tents, looking through the supplies that they had placed aside. He was a commander for this troop of a couple thousand men, which was a pretty force of men for one commander. Which made sense, and Tianxia was fractured yet the dynasty they called home was the biggest piece…

Yet, there was word of an army of men from the west, some barbarians that aimed for conquest. And the northern Jin dynasty had fallen to the barbarians leader, leaving his home, the next target. Suffice to say he was scared. Zhang Su, his grandmother, had recommended that he joined the military as it was the quickest coin for an able bodied man of his stature– yet not a single person expected this.

He had made it his goal to free his XiaoBuDian. And Yizhou meant it in his letter that her name was etched in his blood, souls that were ever entwined to constantly live life together. Stories the two of them read when young used that theme and it always made her swoon to the point of laughter that still echoed in his mind and a smile that haunts his dreams. But this goal to have her was small to that of what he now found his purpose, to be a man to defend his country from a force that could make it crumble.

One of the younger men grabs onto his sleeve and drags him to join their circle, which he doesn’t fight, smiling at them as Zheng Hao, who is the most extroverted boy Yizhou has probably met, was telling a story. He was one of the younger ones but he had the presence of Yizhou and some of the older soldiers that were in their twenties.

“Those barbarians ride the winds with their massive horses” Hao also demonstrates massive with his hands as well. “And, can live for days and nights on the steeds, relieving themselves–” Cue the giggles from a few of the younger men. “— And they drink the blood of their own horses if days go by without food!” Hao was a confident man and it was good to have him on their side as the new men that were younger were a little more nervous with the coming fights.

But what was good was everyone there had someone they were gonna be fighting for.

Yizhou chuckled along with the others, though the sound never quite seems genuine. The fire crackled beside them, but all Yizhou could think about was her.

“Commander Xia!” Hao’s voice cuts through his thoughts. “Tell them the story about how you saved people from the pale night dancer ghost!” He continued over-energetically which caused Yizhou to snort and cross his arms. That story was an interesting one, but it had just turned out to be some lady that was sleep walking. An ailment the common folk still pushed to ghosts and ghouls. He had solved that by advising the woman of that and she took further precautions to lock her doors. It wasn’t that entertaining of a story yet it was sort of spread around as he somehow killed a ghost.

So Yizhou offers a faint smile, shaking his head.

“Another night. You all should get rest— Those that are on night duty should be waking up around now so I don’t want you to expend your energy any longer” He said, and the others groaned, tossing pebbles and curses in defiance like grumpy children before eventually sluggishly walking to their tents moaning and groaning.

Yizhou’s eyes drift to the horizon where smoke from another camp a distance away with his other soldiers curled up in the sky. As it was, they didn’t have everyone at one camp and just spread to keep a certain watch over this side of land. It was his best idea as a precautionary defense but the others seemed to not pick up how scared he was. He couldn’t tell them. That the western barbarians weren’t just warriors—they were disciplined, ruthless, and unlike anything their texts had prepared them for. Briefings that he was allowed to go because of his rank allowed him some information about what entirely happened to the Jin. The scariest thing is that these barbarians were human, not some fable book monsters but they had significantly taken over more land even outside the country. Stamina that was nonstop allowed this for them so they’d have to find someway to limit that if they ever were to win.

He had hypotheses but he wasn’t high enough rank to express them. Having just been made commander recently for this. Most of his experience wasn’t real serious combat like this— just a few ruffians or the Jin trying to push on boundaries. It could be felt in Yizhou’s bones, war was coming. Not glory, not tales for the fireside, but war in the truest, bloodiest sense. But he’d face it. Not just for his homeland, but for her. For the stories they hadn’t lived yet. For the future he still wanted to build with her, even if all they knew around them was gonna burn. Yizhou would face it for her.

Yizhou could feel the ache of tiredness in his bones yet he fought it as he went and welcomed the night watch. His quartermaster was handing out tea to the ones who awoke, as it woke them up. Which Yizhou went to join the rest in line. The brew was as bitter as death. Yizhou took his cup and drained the contents without flinching, though some of the less experienced spat and cursed as they downed theirs. It smelled like boiled roots and desperation, meant to keep their bodies alert even when their minds longed for sleep.

“Drink it” Yizhou tells the rest and his quartermaster seconds it. “Unless you wanna find us all not making it home and you meet your ancestors earlier than planned” He continued and a few just nodded and downed their cups quicker.

They’d halved the watches, some patrolled while others stayed at camp. But even those meant to originally sleep stayed awake, fiddling with the clasps of their armor in their tents, murmuring prayers, eyes flitting toward the black horizon, through the cracks allowed to them from the skins.

Something was coming, they could feel it.

The wind shifted in the camp. It was just a small thing like the trees were speaking to them. It was eerie, and some of the horses seemed unsettled which caused Yizhou’s nerves to cause his adrenaline to start pumping. A gut feeling like they were being watched made him feel like this. But Yizhou paused in his rounds, a lantern he had grasped to do so still gently swaying in his grip as he stared upon the horizon. The sky was clear, too clear— like the smoke from the nearby camp was snuffed out.

That was bad.

He turned towards the perimeter of the camp again and nodded at one of the watchmen who seemed giddy at the sight of him. Yizhou was favored, he knew, and he gave him an awkward smile back. The watchman yawned however, eyes half lidded as he dozed off, the tea clearly working its way out of his system so Yizhou walked over and gripped his shoulders. The watchman was a little startled and tilted his head in confusion.

“Stay awake” Yizhou tells him firmly before slipping his hands off him and walking off. A soft murmur of dice and laughter rose up from near the fire pit again like earlier, different men but same source of entertainment. The few men there sat with their boots off, resting but not asleep.

And he almost spoke— but was cut off by a noise.

A whirring whistle. No, an arrow.

It slammed into the watchman he had just spoken to, a boy that was barely seventeen and silenced before he could even scream as it stuck in his throat. Yizhou felt himself freeze up as he watched the blood gurgle from the boy’s lips before he shook the shock out of him. The second arrow hit a man beside him. By the time Yizhou found his words, the sky was already raining with steel and the tell tale gallops could be heard.

“TO ARMS!” He roared out, his heart beating quickly. “UP!, EVERYONE UP SHIELDS UP NOW IF YOU WANNA KEEP YOUR LIVES!”

The original allusion of quiet and stillness was shattered by chaos. The campfire exploded into embers as a flaming jar struck it dead-center. Horses screamed in their enclosures and Yizhou could hear his own men adding to that. Arrows of fire kept raining and smoke filled the fields which allowed them to not entirely see where the enemies were and left Yizhou’s men stumbling from their tents, half-dressed, gripping weapons in shaking hands. Some never made it out as the tents deflated onto lumps that were clearly bodies.

Figures moved through the darkness mixed in with smoke from fires. They were fast, ruthless, and almost silent. The barbarians, the mongols, didn’t yell. They didn’t taunt. It was almost silent from the opposing forces. For a split second Yizhou realized their intelligence in combat was how these men leveled empires. And it was a scary thought that his life could probably end here.

But he readied his sword out of his sheath, holding it in front of him as he threw himself out into the fray, barking orders through smoke and the thick stench of iron. He ignored how he could feel the stickiness and stench of blood coating him.

“Form a line! Pull back to the east ridge! Protect the wounded!” Yizhou shouted.

He saw Zheng Hao— laughing, brave Hao jumping up onto a chest of supplies they had to get a view above the smoke and he shot his bow. It does hit, knocking one of the barbarians off his horse because of the force. So Hao turns to give Yizhou a big grin, one that clearly showed how proud he was of himself.

The boy was 16.

Too oblivious to the fact he hadn’t killed the barbarian and was too late when a sword dug its way into his stomach. And then he’s pushed forward further onto it as the barbarian runs towards Yizhou, using Hao as a sort of meat shield. Yizhou felt his own stomach drop as he saw that life hadn’t yet left Hao’s eyes yet he knew this other man wanted to attack him.

And to defend himself, Yizhou immediately jumped to the side and pushed the pair down before driving his sword into the Mongol’s head with a sick crunch before he pulled the sword out of Hao and lifted up the body of the boy to bring him before a tree.

“Keep your hands here—“ Yizhou instructed Hao, who had blood dripping from his lips but he ignored it, guiding Hao’s hands to where his injury was. “Keep your hands here” He pushed his bigger palm against the boy’s, feeling how the blood stained his hands.

But he’d ignore it.

“Stay— I’ll— I’ll be back— we’ll win this!” Yizhou utters to him as Hao’s body slumps cold against him, the smaller hand limp against his own. “We’ll win this” Yizhou gets up after he finishes speaking, saying a silent prayer before he runs back. He screams something, something that he couldn’t remember, and just keeps swinging. The taste of ash and the wail of men swallowed him whole.

Yizhou didn’t even remember when he fell. One moment he was fighting— swinging, ducking, and shouting into that male storm that ate up every word— and then next the world was sideways and his face was in a puddle that reeked of iron. The stars blurred above him, maybe that was his ancestors finally getting to him. Maybe he wouldn’t get back to her, and at the moment he found himself cursing that he couldn’t remember her scent. The one he longed for was just covered by how the scent of iron filled his senses. His ears rang, and smoke curled through the camp and caused his lungs to feel like it was aflame.

Voices shouted in every direction around him, ones he could and couldn’t recognize. He swore he even heard his name but as he tried to get up he felt his body collapse again. It was pathetic, he doesn’t even feel any injury, he swears he wasn’t injured yet his body was fighting against him and not letting him get up.

A body fell beside him and he found himself making eye contact with a face he didn’t recognize. The face was mangled, but the armor was that of the imperial armor so he guessed it was one of his men, stuck with their mouth open in permanent shock. Yizhou could almost laugh. Maybe he was losing it, his head did feel more than a little off because of the stench and the smoke.

Somehow he managed to get up onto his feet after a bit of time, and he staggered through the chaos of the camp. His boots squelched in the blood below him and he almost tripped over a body but he just continued staggering aimlessly. Too many dead. Far too many. He couldn’t save any of them like he was supposed to as the commander and he wishes he died. Something in his body hurt more and more as he walked through the camp, maybe from a strike— which he’d feel better about if he was hurt— or from the fall. But he fought that until he continued staggering to the horses. Which all but a few were taken, and Yizhou wonders if those that were were added to the retinue that the Mongols had. He picked a black stallion that he recognized as Hao’s and dragged himself onto it before he rode in a direction he could only see in his mind. But he knew he just had to get away.

The camp faded behind him, glowing in the dark like a dying star. He didn’t look back.

But the next thing he knew he was lying against a tree, and there was rain which allowed the cold to sting at his face. Mud was caked to his skin and Hao’s horse nervously walked around but stayed in the area. Loyal to the very end to them, he could almost find it humorous or maybe the horse recognized Hao’s dying scent on him. His body screamed in pain when he moved so he didn’t even try.

Somewhere in the haze of the morning a few figures that looked like people to him, donning his empire's colors stood in front of him. Another camp, or another unit. Maybe people he knew— maybe he didn’t. He tried to speak but nothing came from his lips as his throat ached.

“We’ve got a survivor!”

Hands lifted him up, gentle but hurried. Yizhou could also hear that someone was trying to calm Hao’s horse.

Alive. Barely. But alive.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64879867/chapters/167904142#workskin

[mikamika06]

Again cross post, using their Chinese names for this yada yada just trying to catch up to what I have posted on Ao3

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 2

“And you lost” Qin Che says as he wins at yet another game of Go to Xianhua. She grumbled as she fiddled with her pieces before looking up at him.

“You have to be cheating—!” She motions with her hands more aggressively to the board. This causes his lips to twitch up into a smirk as he leans back, using a hand to prop himself up. Qin Che had eyes like rubies—deep, brilliant, and dangerous to look at for too long. They flustered her, burned her cheeks with their intensity. He looked at her the way a man might study scripture—unblinking, as if he meant to peel back the skin of her soul and read whatever lay beneath.

It unsettled her and made her feel more bare even when she was unclothed.

She had never liked looking others in the eye. It felt too much like offering something up—too intimate, too exposed. Being on the receiving end of someone else’s stare was worse. Especially his. But Qin Che was nice, nicer than the other men she had interacted with in her field of service as they all cared for a singular thing. Getting her to drop the nickname of Xianhua…

Immortal Flower

She was sure it was a taunt at first. People hated that she didn’t open herself up to sex, that she wasn’t like the courtesans that could be swayed with some extra pay. So she was the immortal flower as she’d never be deflowered. Yet the nickname became her stage name and the one way to protect herself from getting too personal with those she worked with. Keeping a separation between the work she did and the woman she was out of work hours. Though it did help her popularity as there was a high number of people harassing her grandma for her hand in marriage, just to see if they could conquer that title of Xianhua.

Qin Che was one that wanted her hand in marriage surprisingly, despite not being as slimy as the other men. It was a similar reason to that of her Yizhou which was to take her out of the life that would eventually push her to selling her body. Avoiding that was something that she tried her damndest to do but on her end in a world where it was a man’s world she had to wait for them to pull the cards.

Which Xianhua hated with a passion.

But the Go game was Qin Che, of course he had won that day as she won prior. He’d go easy on her, Xianhua knew that as he’d take moves that he did before and fail them so miserably that suddenly she had the upper hand. They’d switch back and forth and he’d be the one controlling the whole game.

Yet Go was never her strong point, so it was odd for her to win and she figured out what he was doing quickly. Never expressing it in words though as to possibly make a client angry was bad to do. But as he just smiled at her and she grumbled, it was how the two of them spent quite a few hours of their time.

“Any bad clients as of late?” Qin Che asks to start the conversation, though you couldn’t trust his intentions— “I promise they’ll be safe if you tell me” and that of course was a lie. So she just hummed, shaking her head back and forth as the Go game was forgotten about and she moved to be sitting next to him. Xianhua starts to use her hands to gently rub her thumbs into his shoulder blades but Qin Che moves away, leaning to the side and smiling at her coyly.

“Don’t put your hands to work like that, I can deal with my own tense muscles” He continued to speak as his eyes looked her up and down but he moved to stand up and walked over to the window. Xianhua’s eyes focus on how he peeks out of the blinds before looking back at her, likely signaling their time was up so she got up as well and walked him out of the room and to the lobby. Lanterns embellished with flowers decorating the ceilings of the building, and a few crushed or aging ones were around the place as well.

And she sees him off, standing there overlooking as he takes the steps down and leaves the building with nothing but a smile on his face and a nod towards him. Something seemed to have been bothering him cause he’d more often than not use this time to talk.

But she turns around, flinching when she sees her grandmother standing there with an eyebrow raised and crossed arms.

“You’re in charge of your future, I care too much about you to give you to a man that wants to use you— but you’d have the best chances with that man” Her grandmother, Zhang Su, unfurled her arms to motion to where Qin Che left. There was an air of her too that Xianhua could tell she didn’t entirely feel happy saying that.

“I don’t know how I’d feel entirely with his life of grandeur and splendor, that’s what it would be setting me up for” Xianhua mused as she walked up to Su.

Zhang Su utters her real name, a rare thing, one reserved for moments of great seriousness, and it sends a shiver down her spine.

“You say that now,” her grandmother says, tone gentle, “but a life of comfort is better than a life of struggle.” Though that seemed hard to come out of her lips like she was hiding something more yet Xianhua focused on the proposal.

Comfort. Splendor. Safety.

It all sounded so suffocating when spoken aloud. A golden cage was still a cage, no matter how gilded its bars were. She thought back to the Go board, the way Qin Che let her win and lose at his whim, a quiet game where he controlled the outcome without ever letting her know.

Was that how it would be if she married him? A life where she was allowed little victories, but never the true freedom to play the game herself? Those thoughts danced in her mind yet the train of thought seemed wrong as he wasn’t mean. Qin Che clearly cared about her, but she just beloved she probably wouldn’t have been able to live in a relationship where she knows the partner doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeves.

Xianhua ran her fingers along the aging flowers on one of the lanterns hanging near the door. Once, it was beautiful at one point in time. Now, it was something fading, forgotten. Her grandma had no more words for her as she just nodded and left her with her thoughts. And that was even more suffocating as she crushed the flower in her hand and looked up at the other working girls with men that were boisterous and drunk. If she didn’t get married soon she’d have to give up her body to the service, as such acts paid more than company. And then she’d be broken in the end— unworthy by society standards to a husband that would love her.

Not beautiful anymore like the flower in her hand.

Her attention was taken away from the girl that interrupted her time with Yizhou— Xiaoling— and she looked like she was as white as a sheet because of nerves. So Xianhua gives her a smile and nods to say she could speak.

“We got a letter addressed to you” Xiaoling tells her which Xianhua takes the parcel from Xiaoling before having the little one rush off so she could read it. Xianhua was one of the few courtesans that could read, so she did some of the paperwork around the place to fill in for Zhang Su or some of the other girls as she didn’t want to force them to do it all alone. But also there was an old friend of her grandma’s who was a Eunuch from the former emperor that came to work in business deals predominantly for the establishment.

But she eyed the name on the letter.

Xia Yizhou.

So she walks to one of the back rooms and takes a seat on a cushion on the floor, pulling a small knife from the inside of her hanfu and she cuts it open. A method of lettering from the west that they had adopted, but one she quite disliked.

But the contents of the parcel fall out onto the table as she tilts it out.

A letter and a bracelet.

Made of smooth wooden beads, rich and warm in color, strung neatly on a thin red cord. Between the wooden beads were stones the color of deep autumn apples, and in the center, a single pale jade bead gleamed softly in the lamplight. It smelled faintly sweet—apple wood. She reached out, hesitating for a breath before picking it up. It was light, but solid, and worn smooth at the edges, as if handled many times before.

And the letter. Its writing looked like it was hastily done or written by a hand that was shaking, with brushstrokes strong and uneven.

‘I can’t say much, or have much time to even say what I want to say but they’re suspecting something to occur soon and want most able bodied soldiers out on the field. I may be gone for longer this time around. I’m sorry. Take this memento though, hopefully it’ll help keep a piece of me in your memory as I’m gone for who knows how long. But know I love you, Xiao Bu Dian— Maybe you were meant to know, but I believe I was born with your name written into my blood. That’s what this feels like’

He didn’t even sign his name but she knew his handwriting since they were toddling children that explored the wonders of their world together. But she reads the words once more as if she was in a trance, then again, her fingers tightening around it. That didn’t sound just like a simple proclamation one friend would give another.

Yizhou had loved her in a way that she couldn’t comprehend one could. Quietly, faithfully, while not asking for anything in return. The bracelet still sat beside her, lying untouched on the table, its red cord catching the lamplight. Her heart was thudding seemingly in her chest as if it was about to leap out at those simple words— a reaction she wasn’t used to having at Yizhou but it created an ache she didn’t face prior like it was trying to tell her something she didn’t dare believe before this moment.

Thinking back it was obvious yet she was oblivious to his changing feelings and stomached it without much thought. His glances that were longer then would’ve been normal, the way that his eyes were warm and inviting when she looked at his. Like he saw her, but wasn’t dissecting her like many do with their gazes.

Xianhua pressed the letter to her chest as she shut her eyes, wishing to stop the sudden rush of heat behind them. She didn’t know why it hurt so badly, she didn’t know why a few words like a man proclaiming to be her destiny would cause this much of an emotional fluctuation but Yizhou wasn’t just a man. But she wouldn’t be able to see him for who knows how long, she couldn’t desperately wait for him when she knew that his troop would be around as the word wouldn’t spread that easily if things were going awry.

All she had was this letter. The weight of it in her hands and the truth of his words.

And the space he had carved into her life when she hadn’t even noticed.

Setting it down with a sigh and a shaky breath she grabs the bracelet and slips it on her wrist, before laying down on her side on the mat. Clutching the hand with the bracelet to her heart.

Xianhua knew she’d need time to think this out.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64879867/chapters/167471170#workskin

[mikamika06]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64879867/chapters/166757890

Finally got a tumblr, gonna cross post my fic here too and include ramblings about my LaDS historical AU. Also I use all their Chinese names for this so!!

Immortal Flower:

Chapter 1

Glimmers of light shimmered through the paper mache door onto the figure as he rested there on the bed, his eyes shut as he lazily lounged on the hard surface, his pointer finger tracing up and down the handcrafted wood and over the engraved flowers. Hazily, he barely acknowledged the tap to his arm and turned to look at the girl kneeled on the floor as he opened his eyes.

“Xia Yizhou” She said, a pout on her face as she pokes more against his arm. But he just leaned over before ruffling her hair with his hand.

“What is it, Xiao Bu Dian?” Yizhou gave her a sly smile, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger.

“Stop calling me that— but how long are you staying today?” She continued to speak after he did, propping her head up by placing her elbow against the surface of the bed and resting her head against her hand.

“A few hours and then I have to go back. They already tease me in my troop about frequenting a brothel but I always make sure to tell them that I’m visiting an old friend. And Xiao Bu Dian I can call you that as I want”

She was in a gorgeous outfit, befitting her place as a popular courtesan within this brothel. She was one that didn’t take clients for nightly visits however, just did parties as a pretty faced entertainer or would dance for a customer in his room and pour drinks or play games. The rise in value and popularity came from her loudly known chastity however, and many men had paid to spend a night with her to see if they could convince her to drop everything and leave with them. But she remained an iron wall and hadn’t fallen to any men, getting money for her madam and herself through years of service now. So far, Yizhou had too been working for as long as when he parted from her as kids he joined the military to be a soldier.

Him and her were born to courtesans within the same brothel, both women had gotten pregnant around the same time by accident from clients and decided together that they’d keep the kids as being sworn sisters; they figured it was a sign from the gods that they both became with child.

Yizhou’s mother was viewed better than her mother for birthing a son. And he was born first between the two so many had hoped the next baby would be a boy but when she came out as a girl they didn’t say much. There wasn’t a celebration and others had viewed they had their luck equaled out when her mother had her. Yizhou knew they both were kids that weren’t desired at first though, yet they didn’t know their mothers anymore and were both raised apart from them. Courtesans couldn’t be mothers in this day and age as they had to keep working, acknowledging that they had kids was bad for business.

So they were raised by the older courtesans that were in their thirties until his Xiao Bu Dian grew old enough to be a working girl at the same place and he joined the military.

“You’re only going to be here for just a short amount of time, huh?” She purses her lips gently and Yizhou moves to sit up so she moves to be sitting beside him. He nods, tilting his head over to look at her. The courtesan appearance she donned was something he couldn’t find himself to like, plus her make up which made her look almost as pale as the clouds. It was unnatural to him and didn’t compliment her features. Yizhou was a simple man, he knew she was a prettier woman bare faced and he couldn’t handle how she coughed after a day too long with that powder on. And even without thinking he pulls a cloth out of his bag on the table and pours the water pitcher they had onto it and wipes it across her face. His Xiao Bu Dian sputters at that, pushing him away but she was laughing. A sound that keeps him going so he keeps doing that until her face was flushed and wet, the scent of rosewater lingering faintly as she looked up at him. And she was staring up at him as he had pushed her back down against the bed as they pushed and pulled at each other. Ever so gently he pushes his weight against her to place his lips against her forehead before he pulls away.

“There, I did a wondrous job, you're even prettier than before. I should always do your makeup” Yizhou declares, sitting back as she sits up.

“Grandma’s gonna kill me” She groaned softly as she just bit her lip and pouted at him.

“Grandma” was the Madam of the house, being the oldest woman there as Yizhou and his Xiao Bu Dian grew up. The one that found milk for them, found clothes for them, the one that got Yizhou his job in the military and her the job in the same brothel they were both born in. But Yizhou doesn’t respond to that, just slips his arms around her form and hugs her close to him and rests his chin against the top of her head.

“Grandma will make you pay too much for spending time with me like this, you know how she is” Her voice rumbled against his chest and he just happily hummed. “Taking customers and all that away from me”

“One day I’ll buy you, then she won’t” He tells her.

And he stands by it, it was his plan since the beginning and when he learned her price had increased and upped he has started piling his savings to the side to completely buy her. It was an odd concept to grasp, buying his childhood friend, but courtesan houses would allow courtesans to leave if a man paid the assumed amount she’d annually bring to the house. It wasn’t impossible to do, but he knew there was a bidding war occuring for her from a few other clients of hers. As their grandma clued him in, just saying that she wouldn’t sell her off to random folk she didn’t like, so Yizhou had to however cough up what the others would’ve given so it’s not a poor decision. Which again too, their grandma did give him a few choice words about how she got him his place in the military but she never did ask him for funds. He wondered if gran knew about the plan to eventually get his Xiao Bu Dian freed.

“You’ll have to compete against Qin Che, he’s in a bidding battle right now against some of the grosser folk. But he’s nice, maybe you two can work together cause you guys both don’t want me for a wife like the others do” She mused as she pulled away from him and smiled up at him.

Qin Che was a man that made Yizhou cautious, one that held an air of more political and martial understanding than most did in the area. And Yizhou had heard the rumors, at this brothel Qin Che was frequently seen with “Xianhua”. Which was what she was known as to the public, a name that meant immortal flower as some men viewed her as a goddess amongst other women– Yizhou’s nickname to her was a little demeaning yet he didn’t want to call her by that public given title as she wasn’t a goddess, she was that girl he grew up alongside– but he did feel threatened by Qin Che. She didn't, which was still good for her, but Yizhou knew she tended to be a little oblivious when men weren’t obviously trying to get into her robes.

“I can talk to him, he’s a merchant right?” Yizhou asks her and she nods, pursing her lips. A habit of hers he noted years ago was that more emotion could be told on her face then the average folk and he loved it– he had to stop that train of thought or he’d seem like a careless yearner so he just shook his head to rattle the thoughts of her lips out before following her words.

“He took his father’s business around our age and practically controls this whole area. People are afraid of him apparently” She tilted her head as she looked out the window of the brothel room. “He’s kind, way kinder than he looks as he looks sorta grumpy a lot of times”

Yizhou snickered at that which she followed in.

Though Yizhou knew he would never reach out to that scoundrel and use his coin to help get her out of this whole business. That felt, despite how much he wanted her out, a waste of his efforts as he did have his own collection of gold on the side just for that purpose. But he’d have to see what point of bidding Qin Che was at. Controlling every path of every stall and the travel of goods through this city was major, but Yizhou knew that the action of dropping a significant amount of funds on her may be something Qin Che logically should hit a barrier at or it would impact his own business. Yizhou however had his paycheck from the emperor, which kept a smile on his face as he knew he could devote everything to her.

Better to be foolish and lose nothing for his everything, then to be foolish and lose his livelihood.

“I bet he is” Yizhou says, which keeps that grin on her face that he adores.

The door opens and both adults turn over to see a younger girl standing there awkwardly, but his Xiao Bu Dian gets up and walks over to kneel in front of her. Which flusters the young girl at the closeness.

“Xianhua!” The younger girl speaks.

“What is it?”

“The madam wanted to see you– she said you could ignore your current client cause she said he isn’t important and an stupidly talented good for nothing man which she then told me not to tell you she said that– “

Yizhou chokes on his spit and laughs while his Xiao Bu Dian sits back and scoffs.

“Tell Grandma I said no”

“She said that if you said that, to tell you she’d cut your salary”

This gets her up quick and she bows to Yizhou before walking out of the room with the little girl. Which Yizhou almost didn’t think of, before he realized he paid for much longer time. So he gets up too and follows them out and watches as the two scurry down the halls before he lets out a soft exhale. Out of that room, his little paradise, he is faced with men that are clinging off of other well dressed women all in similar makeup. The smell of booze and sickness down the corner where he could see one man being escorted out as a servant cleans the sickness off the floor with a cloth tied around his face. He was kneeling down on the ground with his sleeves rolled up and audibly grumbling under his breath while using a sodden rag to mop up what was left with a sharp herbal scent circling around him.

It was what she made her environment everyday, which left a similarly sour taste in Yizhou's mouth.

His steps are quiet as he follows them and as they turn into a room he just stands outside the room. He didn’t want to risk their grandma yelling at him. But he wasn't able to stay as the doors to the courtesan house burst open and there stood a few men that he knew. Those from his troop, and when the one in the front makes eye contact with him he scowls at Yizhou before walking up.

“You’re a high ranking officer we needed you back an hour ago” He says to Yizhou before grabbing onto his hanfu top and dragging him out with him. “You spend too much time with your little whore I could speak to get you demoted, using funds for her” The older man scolds him and Yizhou bristles at those words. But Yizhou just tugs himself out of his grasp and brushes off his clothes before walking with them but he pulls aside a girl.

“Tell her I said bye” He says quietly to her and she nods before walking off to where Yizhou originally was standing as he went out with the other military men. They walk down the street together and Yizhou maintains a sense of leadership as he moves to be standing in front of them. The other men had a slight dislike for him as he was higher ranking then they were despite the fact they were all older then him— and he knew that. So he couldn’t have any weakness in front of them. “Why am I needed back now?” Yizhou says as he turns to the other men as they walk.

“An unplanned briefing, we got yelled at because you weren’t there”

Yizhou just grumbled at that as he pushed his hair out of his face and prepared for a headache of a lifetime.