Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Luo Binghe’s attention was stuck on a fly hovering above Mobie-jun’s head. He wondered if he could catch that fly with his sword, Xin Mo, without causing a political incident - one that might require him to do more work and have more meetings with his advisors. It might be worth it. That damh fly had been bugging him for the last 30 minutes as Mobei-jun gave him the report from his region. He wondered where the fly had come from; where the fly was going. He also wondered if it was as bored as he was right now. Maybe he should just kill it to put it out of its misery. He could fucking relate to that.
“Junshang? Is there something amiss?”
Luo Binghe’s attention was diverted back to Mobei-jun. The ice demon had apparently stopped his recitation, and was now waiting for some response from the emperor.
Lou Binghe scowled. “Continue.”
Mobei-jun’s expression barely changed from glacial cold as he continued on with the report. From the sides of his vison he saw some of his advisors, and some of his wives, look at him with concern. There was no delusion on his part that they were concerned about his well-being. He could qui deviate, bleeding from all seven orifices right here and now. Absolutely no one would blink as long as he died quickly and left the throne seat warn for the next emperor. No, their concern was that his in-attention was the start of a killing spree where they would be at the wrong end of Xin Mo - or for his wives more cold nights then they would have otherwise wanted. Their worry amused him. Not only because he liked them all on the edge – he liked them scared – but also because there was some truth to their worry. He might not be filled with killing intent – yet - but it was still there bubbling below the surface like a pot ready to boil over.
Luo Binghe was feeling out of sorts lately. He had never felt completely comfortable in his skin, or at peace, since he learned his true nature all those years ago, but he had felt even more unsettled than usual. He tried to blame various things on it, but nothing in his world could be laid at its feet. Business in the empire he created still continued on. There had been a few skirmishes over the last few months, mostly in the northern desert areas where a few demon clans decided they wanted a larger footprint than what Luo Binghe had gave then. It was an inconsequential issue in the end. Whatever Mobei-jun couldn’t take care of himself, Luo Binghe had put down within a few hours. Luo Binghe hadn’t hated the skirmishes as it took his mind off of things. No, the unsettled feeling was like that damh fly that was buzzed around Mobei-jun’s head, a constant irritant that had no reason to be there in the perfect world he had created for himself.
He had even started feeling off about his wives of all things, and there was even less cause for that. There had been a few assassination attempts on Sha Hualing and Liu Mingyan, but those were as normal as the sun rising. Both of his wives were more than capable of taking care of themselves so he had no worries or fears for their safety. When the body of another one of his wives was discovered later, he was neither surprised nor upset. He barely recalled the girl. She had been one of his recent additions, only brought in about a year ago. He believes she might have been the daughter of a farmer or something. Either way, YingYing would remember and tell the appropriate parties of the girl’s demise. He expected no retaliation, because no one would dare. Not to him.
There had also been some seduction attempts by other wives. He tried to visit them all, but inevitably some wanted more of his time, wanted to be the favored over others. If they couldn’t achieve that by assassination then they would try to do it through whatever allure that they had, trying to draw his attention to what initiated his affection in the first place.
He couldn’t deny it worked for some, at least for the night, others not as well. But he had to acknowledge that his enthusiasm for perfumed thighs and swaying breasts was lower than it had been before. He used to be able to spend days drowning in the soft, fleshy curves of his wives delicate bodies. Hours of sweaty sex and high pitched moans were as common to him as the sound of his own heartbeat. None of it seemed worth the effort anymore. All the things he used to do to sweeten his wives disposition or placate the ones who felt neglected, seemed just not worth it for the reception he got. They were still sweet, but he was deathly bored. He just kept wondered if he would have to be coaxed to be under the right man. If he did what would get him to open his own thighs, or even better bend over.
The thought of it should have been appalling. He had never looked at men that way before, but now – well - he still didn’t look at men that way. He had tried a few times once he came back from that strange other world. There were a few pretty men around, and he had used his skills to make them succumb as easily as the women before. There had been pleasure there, surprising for him who had never thought in that direction before, but something had been missing. It just wasn’t the same as when he had kissed him. It made him wonder if anything would be.
“The Hongse tribe are still demanding more territory in the south. They say they will raid and take it by force if they need to.”
Luo Binghe looked up from where he had been slumped on his throne, Xin Mo, twirling in his hand. Sha Hualing, who had been lounging against the large golden throne, looked at Mobei-jun with a scowl on her face.
“Then we will go, tear their heads off their necks, and shove them into the desert sands they want so much,” Sha Hualing replied. “Let the sun bleach their bones for a few decades. We’ll see what they say then.”
Mobei-jun remained as cold as the ice he created. He also never wavered his attention from Luo Binghe. “Are those your orders?”
Luo Binghe waved his hand toward Sha Hualing. “She can handle this.”
Sha Hualing grinned, and soon both parties were heading out of the large throne room. Liu Mingyan, who had been sitting at the base of the throne, watched them go with a slight worried frown on his face. “Husband, are you sure it is wise to let her handle this? I know those tribes have been giving you issues, but Sha Hualing is especially viscous lately. I’m not sure she can be trusted to handle things diplomatically. She is unsettled.”
Luo Binghe twirled his blade again before looking over at Liu Mingyan. She was as rigid as Mobei-jun, but there was still that softness that ran through her that came out at unexpected times, especially so when she was alone with him. She still kept the veil over half her face. There was a time - not so long ago - that there was a possessive thrill out of the knowledge that he was only person besides herself who saw what was underneath. Now it was just another thing that he possessed that meant nothing beyond a shadow of gold and the barest smell of silver.
“It will be good to allow her to let off some steam,” he replied absently. “Once she unleashes on them maybe they’ll learn to stop testing me.”
Liu Mingyan nodded. “Maybe, but is that the real reason you sent her? You also seem unsettled lately.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I don’t think that is the case.”
He frowned. “It’s nothing you need to be concerned about.”
“Husband, I have known you a long time, and you know I would never overstep my place,” Liu Mingyan replied. Her words were steady, but obviously carefully thought out before she spoke. Of all his wives Liu Mingyan was definitely the most thoughtful in her approach. It was one of the reasons she was still in his personal favor even as more wives were added. “But there has been something on your mind for a while now, we all sense it. You seem here, but not here. We worry about you.”
Luo snorted at this. “We? Have all my wives banded together now? Do I need to worry you’ll take over my empire next.”
“All we want is your happiness, Husband. We might not agree with much but we all can agree on that.”
Luo Binghe held back a sigh as he looked at Liu Mingyan. As he looked at her she suddenly felt so far away, further away than she had ever been. For years he had focused on anger and conquest. Rage ran through his mind and body like a drug. It flowed through him, moving his hands and leaving a swath of blood and gore in its wake. When he tore the limbs off of Shen Qingqiu he had loved all of it. The blood had given him life, his screams had been music, and once his tongue was gone as well, the obscene blood drenched moans had been just as good. He had conquered kingdoms, created an empire, and killed so many with a smile on his face as he watched the blood drench Xin Mo.
“We’ve been together a long time, Liu Mingyan.”
She nodded. “Yes, husband.”
“Then you should know me well enough, to know I will tell you if I want you to know what is on my mind.”
His words were sharp - as he meant them to be. She flinched - as he meant her to, and as she meant him to see. There was power in both the seeing and the doing. It exchanged between them in an unspoken communication. Power was everything in his life. It bleed from the walls and foundations of his palace. It’s what built his palace, and was the glue that sealed his harem. The conquest of each woman had also been like a drug. He never forced any - there was no satisfaction in that - but instead he seduced and beguiled. Each one was a small kingdom taken, a new trophy for his palace – not to mention more ammunition to keep Xin Mo under control.
Luo Binghe scowled deeper as he looked down at the sword in question. It was the fault of him - that other Shen Qingqiu, that things felt like things were shifting. He might have been as far away from the Shen Qingqiu that Luo Binghe knew as gold from shit, but he was still trying to destroy him all the same. His hunger felt endless ever since he came back. Killing felt empty, his wives felt just as empty, and lately even Xin Mo was harder to contain. If he had never went to that world, had never seen that other Shen Qingqiu, then none of this would have happened. He should have just taken that Shen Qingqiu when he had the chance and gotten this whole thing out of his system. That Shen Qingqiu definitely hadn’t been saying no, at least not until the other him showed up.
“Does this have to do with the strange version of you who showed up six months ago?”
Luo Binghe twirled his sword his sword again, watching how the light glinted from the sharp edge. There was a slight intimidation in the action. He knew it, and Liu Mingyan knew it as well. It wasn’t enough for her to stop talking, but enough to know she needed to tread carefully from this point. “Why do you say that?” He asked.
“Again pardon me if I have over stepped, Husband,” she continued. “This wife is just concerned for your welfare. I am only, after all, a woman that can in no way measure to you.”
Binghe snorted at the overt verbal kow-towing. She knew he heard it just as well, but he reacted with amusement rather than anger, as she knew would happen. Again here was the power exchange – given, received and then tossed back. This was why Liu Mingyan still remained one of his favorite wives after the spark of lust had passed away. Her mind had always been as interesting as her face.
“Speak your mind,” Luo Binghe replied. “We’ll see if your thoughts measure up or not.”
Liu Mingyan paused as she gathered her thoughts before she proceeded. “The other you was strange. He was not as impressive as you, my lord, no one could be, but he was even stranger in that he took no interest in any of your wives. He almost seemed apprehensive when they approached him. Also he kept screaming for his Shizun, and I have only ever known you call one person that.”
She paused again as she gauged his response. Her whole body tensed as if preparing to flee if he should act unfavorably to this turn of this subject. If this had been a year ago it would have been a wise move. The very name of Shen Qingqiu was like a hot poker to his skin – not enough to kill him, but enough to make him want to kill the person wielding it. Now though, the name brought two images with two very different responses. Until he found a new name for the second, he would continue to be confused.
After a few moments had passed and the killing rage didn’t come, Liu Mingyan relaxed. “I notice that you haven’t been visiting the other wives as much as before after you came back,” she continued. “That means Xin Mo is more erratic then it was before. Also,” she hesitated, glancing at him briefly before she continued on. This time a little more cautious. “Also I have heard that you are visiting some of the men of the palace. Don’t misunderstand me, Husband, what you do is your affair. I don’t wish to interfere with who you lay with and why, I just know you never had such an inclination before. It is notable for that reason only.”
“It doesn’t bother you if I lay with men?” He didn’t really care for or have a need of her approval, but he was curious just the same.
“No, Husband, whatever you do is for you to decide.”
She said that, but he noticed a certain light in her eyes. It hadn’t been there since the early days in their relationship when hours flowed by in sweaty bliss underneath the sheets or any other surface of the room he had gifted to her. Passion always yielded to the day to day minutia of life, so it had been some time since that light shined that way, and considering the subject they were discussing it was an interesting look.
“But,” she continued. “If there was someone specifically who caught your eye then you needn’t worry. Some people might be unhappy, or confused but no one would go against you if you would add a man to our group.”
This was another reason that he had been very unhappy since coming back from the other world. He didn’t know the whole story, because that Shen Qingqiu’s, mind was as disordered as a magpie’s nest, but what he did know was that was not the original Shen Qingqiu. There was a place in his mind that was strange - filled with loud noises, strange lights, and odd words. He hadn’t seen a place like it in any of the realms he had been in, but that was the place that version of Shen Qingqiu was from. He still wasn’t completely sure what happened to the original Shen Qingqiu’s consciousness in that world, but it had no longer been in Shen Qingqiu’s body. It ended up being a futile task to go looking for another one, though. It took him maybe a day before he went searching, because if that Luo Binghe got one then why couldn’t he? Unfortunately he couldn’t find the world, or another world where Shen Qingqiu had been invaded by another consciousness. He had also tried going back to that other world where the other Luo Binghe guarded his Shen Qingqiu like a wild demon hound, but that Luo Binghe had somehow sealed it. Right now he saw no way to get to another Shen Qingqiu -not- Shen Qingqiu, and that put him out of sorts as well.
“And you think that will fix me?”
Liu Mingyan shook her head. “I never said you were broken, husband.”
But he was. Luo Binghe something snapped inside him when he had kissed Shen Qingqiu -not- Shen Qingqiu, and he had the sneaking suspicion, the uncanny and terrifying realization, that he wouldn’t be able to piece himself together again until he felt those lips again.
He looked up. The fly had moved, hovering in front of the throne as it buzzed back and forth. He scowled. Then with a flick of his hand he reached out caught it, and crushed it in his hand.