open post: Empress Liu Mingyan

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan has a lot on her mind.

In the three months since Luo Binghe vanished into thin air, Xin Mo abandoned at the foot of his throne, his Empire—her Empire—has... changed. The throne remains empty, of course—to have anyone else claim it, even temporarily, would be conceding that his absence is unintentional, either accidental or, more likely, a malicious coup. Whoever did the claiming would be the prime suspect for mal intent, including Mingyan herself. So it sits, empty, at the center of his great hall, Mobei-Jun standing sentinel beside it, never to be looked at directly by any visiting dignitary or sniveling demonic petitioner.

She's been redirecting all audiences to her wing of the palace instead. Her hall is not quite so grand, but it is nearly as imposing, and her own throne no less terrible and beautiful. When Luo Binghe is in residence, she primarily uses this hall for meetings with her network of all-female spies—not because Luo Binghe doesn't know about them, in his vague and uninterested way, but because Liu Mingyan has learned from experience that if they encounter him they turn very quickly from useful and competent agents to fawning and lovestruck young maidens, and then it's only a matter of time before they join the ranks of the harem. Liu Mingyan does not resent this; there would be no point. But she prefers to conduct her business in private nonetheless.

Now, of course, even from her own throne many of her edicts must be delivered as if they're orders that Luo Binghe left for her to give. Ning Yingying has been surprisingly useful on this front; despite Liu Mingyan's disdain for what she believed a naive and trusting heart who had given up her sect loyalty to marry for love, Ning Yinging does know Luo Binghe, perhaps better even than Liu Mingyan does, offering insight into what Luo Binghe would have said, if he had in fact instructed Mingyan on how to handle this matter. Liu Mingyan does not always take this advice—she does not always want to do what Luo Binghe would have done, especially as his absence stretches from days into weeks into months, but she does not resent it, either.

In truth, what Liu Mingyan resents is the idea that Luo Binghe will return, and she will be expected to relinquish rule back to him, and everything she has built—the tenuous and confusing peace between herself and Sha Hualing, and thus the quelling of the constant threat of southern rebellion; the ease with which she receives the other wives and soothes their fears, rather than holding herself above them;¹ the shifted tenor of court itself, with fewer public displays of violence²—all of it will go back to normal, and Liu Mingyan finds she has less taste for normal every day. It's not that she doesn't want Luo Binghe to return—of course she does—but she wishes that somehow he might return different. It's a futile thought, and a disloyal one to think about a man who created this life for her, a man she cares deeply about, but she cannot deny that she thinks it.

So when she steps down a secret stairway into a corridor that should lead to her chambers and ends up in an unfamiliar hallway instead—the light entirely wrong, the architecture unfamiliar—her first thoughts are uncharitable. It seems obvious that this is the same trap that ensnared Luo Binghe. It also seems unfair to make her the one to bring him home, and be the agent of her own undoing. She'll do it—he is her husband, and while that doesn't mean the same thing to her as it does many of his wives, it does mean something significant, as undeniable as it is ill-defined—and her Emperor. But—

She sets her jaw behind her veil and wraps her fingers around Cheng Luan's hilt, proceeding silently down the hallway.

[NSFW: Susan's thread, Janet's thread]

¹ Well, sometimes she's still above them. If you know what I mean.
² Not that there has been no violence—it's just generally conducted elsewhere. Her floors are harder to clean than Luo Binghe's.

Comments

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan stares at her. "You consider Luo Binghe a friend," she repeats, and then realizes her confusion may sound hostile without clarification. "Forgive me—he is my husband, and when he disappeared three months ago I doubt I could have found a soul in our world who considered him a friend." Possibly discounting herself. Mobei-jun—well, Mobei-jun wishes. Mobei-jun wishes many things.

[ravkanwitch]

"Well, he makes really delicious congee for one," Nina says lightly. Then she grows more solemn. "He's mentioned his wives before. He said that in a different world, he would have loved for me to have been one. Did he treat you well?"

[empressliu]

"Of course," says Liu Mingyan, a little defensively. She makes herself relax. The fact that she has never discussed Luo Binghe in this fashion with anyone in the world is putting her a little on edge, but Nina is extraordinarily beautiful, and speaks with such fondness and cheer; there is no reason to be sharp with her. "I--apologize. I am his Empress. He has honored me above all other wives; we are partners in all things. To say he has treated me well would be like claiming the moon is an unwashed pearl."

[ravkanwitch]

"No, I apologize as well. I shouldn't have put you on the spot. He's been nothing but kind to me as a friend. It's just the way he speaks sometimes-- but he's trying." Nina shakes her head, then smiles at Liu Mingyan. "However, if you had said he was anything less than kind to you, I would've had very stern words with him."

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan looks at Nina with new respect. Anyone who can have stern words with Luo Binghe must be formidable indeed. "It's a shame Luo Binghe is not collecting wives in this world," she says, raising a slow eyebrow. "A woman like you would be a welcome addition to the harem indeed."

[ravkanwitch]

"Just matching the caliber of the existing wives, I suppose," Nina says, brightly.

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan allows her eyes to crinkle above her veil; it would not be hard to. Nina has an undeniable and easy charm. "I'm afraid I lack my husband's skill in the kitchen," she admits, "but I have heard that here, food simply--appears, as if by magic. I find it stretches the imagination."

[ravkanwitch]

"I thought it was some sort of dark magic at first as well," Nina admits. "Do you want to go see?"

[empressliu]

"Please," says Liu Mingyan. She offers her arm.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina happily takes it, leading her through the hallways while pointing out her favorite sitting room, before arriving at one of the kitchens. "What do you usually like to eat?"

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan hesitates, but there's no one to judge her here. It's not like Sha Hualing can hear her. "I prefer heavily spiced dishes," she admits. "The southern deserts of the demon realm produce little, agriculturally, but their cuisine is delicious. The intensity of the flavor appeals. Sweets, too, and sourness--anything but bland."

[ravkanwitch]

"I have a sweet tooth as well," Nina agrees. "So... I'm a terrible cook but there's one thing I can make here. It's also sometimes spicy."

She rifles through the cabinets, pulls out a pack of ramen, and holds it out quite dramatically. "Have you ever tried this?"

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan examines the package curiously. She cannot tell what foodstuffs it contains, but the picture on it appears to be noodles, though the noodles are very thin. "Never," she admits. "But I..." this with an eyebrow cocked, "enjoy new experiences."

[ravkanwitch]

“My cooking is definitely a new experience,” Nina says innocently. She starts the water for the ramen and it’s unclear if she catches Liu Mingyan’s full meaning — but then she gives her a little smile. “There are better new experiences, though.”

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan smiles wide behind her veil. "Indeed there are." She takes a seat at the table, propping her chin on her hand and enjoying the sight of Nina moving about the kitchen. "This is unlike any kitchen I've ever experienced," she remarks. "The fire you conjure is so small—how can it possibly burn hot enough to cook?"

[ravkanwitch]

"I'm actually not sure," Nina admits. "Where I'm from, we usually cook by wood fire - sometimes started or controlled by the Inferni to burn hotter. I've never seen anything like this before."

While she says this, she's focusing on opening two packets of ramen. "But there many things here I've never seen the likes of before," she says sweetly, looking up at Liu Mingyan once she's done.

[empressliu]

"Yes," says Liu Mingyan. "Many that I have not seen, either, and I have walked the length and breadth of the human and demon realms twice over." She's boasting, she realizes, as she says it; she has not bothered to boast in a long time, but something about Nina's sweetness, her enthusiasm, makes her want it to be directed her way. "What is an Inferni?"

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh, Inferni are Grisha, people with abilities. They can control fire, specifically." Nina drops the ramen into the boiling water and gives it a stir. "I used to be able to control people's hearts. As a Grisha and through my natural charm, of course," Nina gives her a cheeky smile. It's been a while, she's rusty, and there is still a patched empty hole in her heart -- but there is something healing about turning on her charm to test the waters with a beautiful woman.

[empressliu]

"Your abilities may have changed, but your charm is undiminished," Liu Mingyan replies easily. She continues to watch her actions with interest, her estimation of Nina rising. Power over hearts is power indeed.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina widens her eyes slightly, jokingly. "You think I'm charming?"

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan widens her own eyes, playing along. "Oh, my, did I say that aloud? How forward, you must forgive me."

[ravkanwitch]

"I suppose I could forgive you," Nina muses. "But it might take a little convincing."

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan stands up, prowling over to her where Nina is standing by the strange, magical stove. They are of a height, which is novel; she comes to a stop just a half-step inside her personal space, head cocked. "What might I give you, to earn back your favor?" she asks, voice low.

[ravkanwitch]

There's something about Liu Mingyan that's a little dangerous and comforting at the same time -- and it's thrilling. "I do have a sweet tooth," Nina suggests, innocently.

[empressliu]

There is no one else in the kitchen, and Liu Mingyan will feel anyone approach before they enter. They are alone, here. She unties her veil, tucking it into her sleeve with a practiced motion. She lets her gaze run over Nina's face—her lovely eyes, the line of her nose—then drop to her full mouth. She leans in, slow, closing the distance between them—and reaches past Nina, to take a spoonful of what she is cooking. "We must find some dessert, then, once we have finished this." She sips from the spoon.

It's—water. Entirely unflavored, hot water. Not even salted. She endeavors to keep up her smooth, flirtatious expression, but without her veil she is—less than perfectly successful.