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]

"Of course. She misses you, too." They have not spoken of it, but she knows it's true nonetheless. She regards Luo Binghe thoughtfully. "She is your friend, I think, without needing to change anything at all."

[protagonisthalo]

"We were friends," Luo Binghe acknowledges, "when we were children. If I have ever had a true friend before this place, I think it must be her."

Marrying her was the only thing he could think to do with how much he loves her. If he thinks on it too deeply, he's going to fall back into brooding over all his failures. "If we've finished with the business between us—would you like to meet Shen Yuan? It would please me to introduce you."

[empressliu]

"Please," says Liu Mingyan, with some relief. It's not that she doesn't value Luo Binghe's advice, but she doesn't know how much he truly might like to hear that his wives find pleasure in her; she will not mention, for example, that some of them call her husband in hushed tones, or admit they prefer the company of women. None of them regret their marriages, of course, but there is a sense of relief, in his absence, living alongside the sorrow of it, sometimes within the same heart. "I am eager to see this beautiful ghost who has so enchanted you."

This is mostly true. She does not relish looking upon Shen Qingqiu, whole; but she would like to see for herself how a physical form can be changed by a new soul alone.

[protagonisthalo]

Of course, Luo Binghe can easily locate Shen Yuan with his blood. He takes Liu Mingyan through the halls, finding Shen Yuan near the entrance to the mansion, in conversation with a shorter man Luo Binghe doesn't recognize.

Or does he? Luo Binghe narrows his eyes. Isn't that the An Ding Peak Lord—Mobei-jun's former spy? He wasn't very good at it, to Luo Binghe's memory, and Mobei-jun killed him without ceremony as soon as he was exposed. But perhaps he comes from Shen Yuan's world, where he might not have outlasted his usefulness yet. If so, his presence may put pressure on Shen Yuan to continue acting like Shen Qingqiu, something that would surely burden him. "My love," Luo Binghe says to Shen Yuan in greeting, keeping a suspicious eye on the spy.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan would school his expression from threatening Airplane to looking at Luo Binghe, but it kind of happens automatically, his scowl melting into a soft smile. If Airplane makes fun of him he'll definitely still claim to have done it deliberately, though. "Hi," he says, and then takes in the figure with Luo Binghe. "Oh--oh my god, hi." He sweeps into a bow that befits an Empress.

[greatmasterairplane]

Shang Qinghua is about to respond to the news that his favorite OC fed his trashy fantasy novel blood parasites to a character from Hamlet, but then he glances up. And freezes.

That's—that's Luo Binghe! Shang Qinghua has seen him before, the miniature disciple version, but he always tried not to get too close, or even know too much about it. He might have written this tragic backstory of child abuse, but it still made him squeamish to actually watch it. But this is the real thing! The stallion Emperor, conquerer of warlords and women, radiating demonic power and vitality!

Shang Qinghua is pretty proud of himself. Luo Binghe is really fucking cool. And handsome—which he notes with an artisan's eye, since Bing-ge is not to his taste—but he crafted him for mass appeal, and the result is undeniable. Next to Liu Mingyan, whose presence is almost as impressive—like a rare flower, cold with the morning frost—it makes for an extremely intimidating tableau.

He's also, it must be said, a little impressed with Cucumber-bro. Not for scoring Binghe—Luo Binghe is unbelievably easy. But for daring to! Even if Shang Qinghua were interested, he'd be scared out of his mind! Like kissing a fire-breathing dragon!¹ Does the beauty really outweigh the danger??

Well, he's not about to stick around to find out. Great to see you, son—time for your old dad to leave before he finds out where in the original Shang Qinghua's lifespan Bing-ge is from!

"We'll talk about this later," Shang Qinghua tells Shen Yuan, and high-tails it out of there.

¹Sorry, Temeraire.

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe will have to check in with Shen Yuan later, and make sure that Mobei-jun's lackey said nothing to offend or upset him. For now, he pulls Shen Yuan up out of the bow with a hand on his elbow, and leans in to kiss him on the cheek. "This is my Empress. Liu Mingyan."

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan gives Shen Yuan the same bow she gives to every wife that Luo Binghe presents her. As she straightens up, she regards him: it is Shen Qingqiu's body, but it takes her a moment to be certain, because both his dress and his mannerisms are so entirely different. He is dressed in the same strange style as Luo Binghe, though his shirt has longer sleeves and a softer, thicker fabric, for comfort rather than fashion. His bow is uncertain, slightly awed, rather than vicious and mocking. His smile--he is smiling at all, and it is aimed at Luo Binghe, and it is genuine, and warm, and everything she needs to be certain that this is, in truth, an entirely new person.

Luo Binghe also touches him differently than he ever has his wives. Casually, but compulsively, as if he cannot help it. There had been no flirtation or purpose to that kiss on his cheek, simply an expression of genuine and unthinking fondness. It makes something in her chest ache, sharply.

Still--she does not know this ghost. It is possible, if not exactly likely, that he might have some sinister motive--possible, even, that it is he who has brought Luo Binghe here, and that his winsome and yielding exterior is the sweetness at the heart of this elegant snare.

This must surely have occurred to Luo Binghe as well, and he has presumably dismissed it; still, she holds herself back from unreserved acceptance as of yet.

"Young master Shen," she greets him. "My husband has explained to me his heart belongs to you, now."

[peaklordshen]

"Um," says Shen Yuan, casting a slightly panicked glance at Luo Binghe. "Yes, I--I promise to be careful with it? And if he--I'm not trying to claim, like, anything--if he wants to date other people--other men--" oh, god, what have they talked about?? Does Liu Mingyan know Binghe is like, gay gay? Is she mad? She doesn't look mad, probably, but the veil makes it pretty hard to tell. She kind of has an aura like she might be mad, but that could also just be general imperiousness. It's Liu Mingyan. And not the young, impressive but shy, overshadowed by her older brother Liu Mingyan that he knows back on Cang Qiong. This is like, the actual Empress!! His favorite wife!! Chaste and graceful and totally badass!!

He remembers with a start that he's supposed to be, like, talking to her. He gives up on his previous sentence like roadkill that's too mangled even for a vulture. "It's--it's an honor, Empress."

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe insinuates his hand into Shen Yuan's grasp, tangling their fingers together. "I don't want to date other men. And Mingyan and I"—he glances back at her—"have decided to be friends."

[peaklordshen]

Binghe's hand in his immediately helps Shen Yuan relax--embarrassing!--and he casts a slightly more settled glance at Luo Mingyan. "You don't--mind, then?"

[empressliu]

Shen Yuan's first rambling mess of an answer had entirely satisfied Liu Mingyan that he was no mastermind. The way he visibly sags when Luo Binghe provides reassurance is sweet, if slightly pathetic for a man of his spiritual power. Liu Mingyan allows herself to soften.

"Luo Binghe and I do not share a bed," she says. "You have taken nothing from me. The other wives may feel differently, but--" she looks at Luo Binghe, confirming what they had already planned. "We will speak to them. Eventually, when the two of you return to our world." She cocks her head, gaze shifting back to Shen Yuan. "You do intend to return with him?"

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe is often proud to have Mingyan as his Empress. Her beauty and strength—both in terms of cultivation, and her strength of will—are unmatched. No other woman could be qualified to stand by his side, as (nearly) his equal. And Shen Yuan is the finest treasure he has ever possessed, his value beyond expression. To watch them observing each other—no doubt noting each other's fine qualities, and assessing each other's suitability for Luo Binghe—is satisfying indeed. He squeezes Shen Yuan's hand, pleased.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan squeezes back. Thank god he and Binghe have already talked about this, so he can answer this part confidently!!

"I do. I mean--assuming we can get back. We'll have to figure that out. I'm guessing you came to rescue Binghe, but I'm sorry, it won't work. No one has figured out how to get out of here, not yet."

[empressliu]

"I have my own way to return," Liu Mingyan reassures him. She can no longer see the stairs back to her audience hall, but she is confident they remain where she left them. It is clear that whatever brought her here is not entirely the same as what brought them here, or at least not for entirely the same purpose. "As for the two of you--"

She removes a qiankun pouch from her belt and opens it, drawing from within a long bundle wrapped in pale, almost moonlit leather, tattooed all over with suppression talismans in ink the color of dried blood. She turns to Luo Binghe. "Junshang. I know you may have more to do here before you are ready to return, and please know I will gladly shoulder the burden of your Empire and your harem until you see fit to return. But when you decide it is time, this may help."

She carefully undoes the ties around the bundle of leather and the folds of it part, revealing the long, shining, crimson-and-onyx blade of Xin Mo, its hilt extended toward Luo Binghe's hand.

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe has thought of Xin Mo often, since arriving—more than he has thought of most of his wives. It's been strange to be without it. It's strange to be without a sword at all, and dangerous, since it limits his power in combat—but it's even stranger to be without Xin Mo, and the comfortingly desolate things it whispers into his mind. It confirms his darkest suspicions, telling him what no one else will: that he will never be loved, that he is all filth and rot inside, and that only violence and carnage will ease the pain of it. These are things that Luo Binghe believes so fundamentally that any denial of them rings false. Thus, Xin Mo often feels like the only source of truth.

But there is a trace of hesitation in him, as he reaches out his hand to take it. He has been happier here, despite his struggles. And while there have been a few times that he's needed a sword, he has already learned—painfully, more than once—that violence is not the useful tool here that it was at home. The biggest challenge he's faced lately was maintaining peace when Galahad provoked him. If he'd had Xin Mo at his side... Who can say what would have happened? It would have been so easy to hurt Galahad with Xin Mo, and the sword would have wanted it more than Luo Binghe did.

But that's ridiculous. He shouldn't fear a sword. It is his spiritual weapon, and responds to his will. And it's not as though there's any chance he would turn it down. It represents too many possibilities.

He takes Xin Mo's hilt, turning the blade side to side to watch it catch the light, and feels its power rush into him. He looks back up at Liu Mingyan, satisfied. "You've done well to bring this to me."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan's go wide the moment he lays eyes on what Liu Mingyan is carrying. That's Xin Mo, the heart devil sword, the number one, most infamous sword in Proud Immortal Demon Way!! The ultimate trump weapon on both heaven and earth!!

If he had seen Bingge wielding it when he'd first arrived, he'd never have given it a second thought. Of course he would wield it; it's his sword, plucked from the depths of the Abyss by his own hand. No other hand could possibly be worthy to wield it. Plus, like, aesthetically speaking—hot damn. With his black and red robes, it would have seemed a natural extension of him, of his overwhelming power, his menace, his overtly phallic dominance.

And yet—seeing his boyfriend wrap a hand around its hilt, still dressed in Shen Yuan's Naruto and Sasuke shirt, he feels a weird surge of dread. Xin Mo was so part and parcel of the Cool Badass Stallion Shen Yuan had read about so lovingly in his first life, but so were his hundreds of wives, who he never loved and who never loved him; so were his pyrrhic victories, so was his brutal combination of the Three Realms where hundreds of unnecessary lives were lost. He doesn't even see 'power,' and 'menace,' when he looks at Luo Binghe these days—or if he does, they're like, fourth or fifth on the list after 'handsome' and 'sweet' and 'silly'.¹

"Binghe..." he shifts closer to him, instinctually, feeling almost like he's in a tug of war with this sword. He brings his other hand up to hold Binghe's arm, as well as his hand.

¹ Phallic dominance is still up there, though. Phallic dominance is probably fourth.

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan watches Shen Yuan shift closer to Luo Binghe. It is an interesting reaction. Usually people draw away when Xin Mo is bared, even his wives. But there is no fear in his face; instead he looks up at Luo Binghe in what looks like concern. For Binghe? For the other residents of this place?

Xin Mo's sheath lies in the protective leathers, as well, but this Liu Mingyan does not fear to touch, with her hands or her spiritual energy. She sends it floating to Luo Binghe's side and folds the leathers themselves, tucking them back into her qiankun bag.

[protagonisthalo]

Shen Yuan's concern is understandable. He must know of Xin Mo from the book. If he truly objects, Luo Binghe won't take it. Giving up his sword is the least of what he would do for Shen Yuan. But...

"I don't have to wield it," he says to Shen Yuan quietly. "I'd like to be able to protect you. This place is not always safe." The undead were easily defeated, but he would not have been able to take down the Heavenly Demon¹ he faced earlier unarmed. And surely no other sword could handle Luo Binghe's power.

¹Hastur.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan glances at Liu Mingyan, and back at Luo Binghe. He'd just said she did well to bring him Xin Mo, and he can't exactly argue with that in front of her, that would be like—like placing himself above the Empress, above the Emperor, even, because he'd be countermanding a direct, like, commendation. And he knows how frustrated Binghe has been without a sword, and they haven't even talked about Aornis,¹ and the potential threat there. Maybe Luo Binghe could use Xin Mo, to protect everyone from her story-policing. But—"We'll talk about it later," he says, and then, a little louder, casting a slightly anxious smile toward Liu Mingyan, "surely we can show your Empress better hospitality than the entrance hallway. Have you seen the kitchens? The bars? I can fetch tea, or something?"

¹Ping?

[empressliu]

The question of where exactly Liu Mingyan has been in this Mansion and what exactly she's done here is slightly muddled in her mind.¹ But their current business seems concluded, so she bows, shallowly; she is amused at the idea of Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe's only truly chosen consort, fetching the tea himself, though it is true this place seems to have no servants, despite its size. "I would be honored," she says, politely, and then she hesitates. "My husband tells me that in your world, my brother yet lives. I—" her throat closes, humiliatingly, and she has to take a moment before she can speak again.

¹ Yeah, that'll happen.

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe sheaths Xin Mo and handily straps it to his side. Its weight seems to be more than physical; it has psychic weight, spiritual weight, pulling part of his focus even when he isn't paying it any mind. But he tries to put it out of his head. They'll speak of it later, and not only this—he has much he wants to say to Shen Yuan.

It pleases Luo Binghe to see the way Shen Yuan naturally falls into the role of housewife, offering hospitality as though Liu Mingyan is visiting their little cottage home. The way he nervously wants to please her. He is being very cute, and Luo Binghe hopes that Liu Mingyan is also seeing this and noticing how cute it is. He's almost glad he didn't have very much information to give Mingyan about her brother. This way she can get it from Shen Yuan, and perhaps they will both like each other more for it. He gives Shen Yuan an encouraging smile.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan's heart trembles at the reserved grief in Liu Mingyan's face and voice. Such elegant sorrow!! "Ah, please, of course. Let's find some tea, and I'll tell you all about Liu-shidi."

He sets off, hand still linked with Luo Binghe's—it's a bit rude, when they're not the ones who are married, but he doesn't want to let go, yet, not while Binghe carries Xin Mo. He's looking for that little Chinese-style anteroom he'd found here on his first day, when he'd had the world's most baffling tea conversation with Crowley the Christian devil weed dealer. The windows had been nice, and the place had just magically generated tea, like the bars do with liquor. It won't be tea up to Liu Mingyan's standards, obviously—she's Empress of the Three Realms!—but it's better than having to lead her and Binghe around like puppies while he fetches everything, like he does with Galahad and Magnus. The vibes are so different. It absolutely would not do. If it were still warm out or if he could have had time to prepare, ask Magnus for a little summer, he'd take her out to the pavilion under the cherry tree—but he guesses it's like all the proverbs say: You can't choose when your boyfriend's Empress wife will drop by to give him a cursed sword and hear all your stories about pranking her dead brother.

By the time they find the room he's feeling a little hysterical again. "Here, um, here we are." He slides the door open and gestures them inside.

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan raises an eyebrow at 'Liu-shidi;' while it is technically true that Shen Qingqiu had been older martial brother to both Liu siblings, he would rather have died than ever address Liu Qingge so familiarly, and it strikes her as rather presumptuous that this ghost in his body still claims such a relationship. She tries to imagine her ge addressing this fey and accommodating man as 'shixiong,' and absolutely cannot.

She enters the room he indicates and waits to sit at the low table until her Emperor has done so first.

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe sits, resuming the posture he took when he sat with Liu Mingyan earlier: casual yet confident, secure in the knowledge of his unquestioned dominance. With Xin Mo at his side, it feels good to reclaim some of his imperial hauteur.

He is also eager to hear about Liu Qingge. Luo Binghe knew him by sight, as the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan—they overlapped at Cang Qiong Mountain Sect for about five years before Shen Qingqiu jealously murdered him. It's embarrassing to recall now, but as a child he'd had a recurring fantasy of being Liu Qingge's disciple, rather than Shen Qingqiu's. Liu Qingge was hardly freer with his praise—he famously worked his disciples brutally hard—but he was fair, and impressing him felt like a game Luo Binghe could win, not the rigged joke that was life at Qing Jing. (With the knowledge he's gained regarding his preferences, it's even more embarrassing to consider certain aspects of these fantasies, and that perhaps his admiration of Liu Qingge was not purely due to martial respect—but he should not mention that in front of Mingyan.)

When Liu Mingyan told him Shen Qingqiu was responsible for the man's death, Luo Binghe was genuinely angry. That fury bound them. So Liu Qingge, though long deceased, has had an established presence in Luo Binghe's life. The only discordant note is the look on Liu Qingge's face in Shen Yuan's memories, when he gently held Shen Yuan's wrists to cleanse his meridians. But it is only natural to yearn for Shen Yuan. Liu Qingge doesn't have him, and Luo Binghe does. He still feels very charitable towards the man.