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]

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.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan waits for Liu Mingyan to take her own place; she sits across from Luo Binghe, which--okay!!! sure!!! They're friends now or whatever!! He kneels next to Binghe and pours them all tea--thankfully the muscle memory takes over for this part, or he'd be spilling it all over the table.

"So," he says. "Okay. Well--um, obviously the first part is that I, um, got in here," he gestures at himself, "before the other guy could kill him. So I just--didn't do it. I met him in the Lingxi Caves, and he was halfway through a qi deviation, so I helped him out." He feels a little embarrassed about taking credit for that like it had been a big heroism moment when it was just, like, not being as big of a dick as Shen Qingqiu of all people. He stares down at his teacup and thinks about Liu-shidi. "That was five years ago, now. He's still Peak Lord, obviously, the Bai Zhan War God. He still spends basically no time training his disciples and basically all of his time off hunting cool monsters, except when--" he clears his throat, even more embarrassed about this part. "I was poisoned--Without-A-Cure. He visited me, monthly, before I came here, feeding me qi and helping me stave it off."

[empressliu]

Five years. Five years of life for some version of her brother, five years of training together, meeting for tea, visiting their parents, that some other version of her got to have that she did not. Some other version of her who has no idea that somewhere, she exists, a Liu Mingyan who would kill for five more years. For one more year. For a day, just to say goodbye.

She picks up her tea, mirroring Shen Yuan's pose but neither sipping nor truly seeing it. She wonders what that other her thinks of this false Shen Qingqiu, what she thinks of the monthly visits her ge makes. Is his poison common knowledge? She can't imagine it is. And even before Shen Qingqiu had killed him, Liu Qingge had had no love for the Peak Lord of Qing Jing. Needlessly cruel, he'd told her once, and she knows he could not understand Yue Qingyuan's tolerance for the man. It was the only mark against his respect for the sect leader, that he allowed Shen Qingqiu's blatant abuse and took no action against him.

She does not know how to ask about any of this. It feels so far away, a time in her life she has not thought on in years. And yet--the man sitting across from her had stepped directly from it into her Emperor's life, and changed everything. Perhaps it was the same for her ge. And now Shen Yuan was gone from his life, as Binghe had been gone from hers.

"When last you saw him," she asks, because it seems an easy thing, a place to start, "what was he doing?"

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan had started to take a sip of his tea while she processed, and he has to fight not to do an actual spit-take. "Um," he says. "Technically. I threw him into a cold pond." He holds up a hand, quickly--please, terrifying impassive Empress, give me time to explain!! "We had--gone to rescue a local lord's son from Madame Meiyin. It was a weird mission, honestly--she gave this whole prophecy about my, like, love life, which made no sense for Shen Qingqiu at all, and for some reason it made Liu-shidi really mad. He and Madame Meiyin fought about it. We eventually succeeded in our rescue, but Liu-shidi was... affected." He knows both Binghe and Liu Mingyan know who Madame Meiyin is, so he is blessedly saved from having to explain that meant he had a raging boner and I was the only one around so obviously he didn't want me to do anything about it. "The cold pond seemed, uh, the best available solution."

[protagonisthalo]

There is a lot to read between the lines of this short tale. Firstly, Madam Meiyin's prophecies are always accurate to the last detail. Luo Binghe is desperate to know what she foresaw for Shen Yuan—especially if it really was for him, and not Shen Qingqiu—and it sounds like Liu Qingge was too.

Luo Binghe has experienced succubus poisoning many times. It is potent. Undoubtedly, Liu Qingge propositioned Shen Yuan, and throwing him into the pond was meant as a clear rejection. Shen Yuan is likely too polite to say so in front of Liu Qingge's devoted sister. He sits back on his heels, satisfied—as expected, his Shen Yuan is desired by all, but discerning. Naturally, he desires only the best, and even the fabled War God cannot match up. Luo Binghe likes this story quite a bit—but what Liu Mingyan will think, he cannot guess.

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan blinks. This is... not what she had expected. Except—on another level, perhaps it is.

It is clear that her brother holds Shen Yuan in high regard indeed. The fact that they undertook this mission together at all suggest that; the fact that he grew angry when he heard Madame Meiyin's prophecy about Shen Yuan's fated lover proves it. The silvery thread of fate connecting Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe she has woven in her mind's eye shivers at the touch of this information, spreading out and revealing itself to be a spider-web of interconnecting lines, instead, one leading to Liu Qingge, and others, stretching off into the darkness, connecting to who knew how many others Shen Yuan had shifted and changed in this alternate world.

She knows her brother. He was a ruthlessly fair man; if Shen Yuan had saved his life, he would return the favor—once, in brusque and dramatic fashion, not repeatedly, slowly, tenderly over a series of months or even years. Mu Qingfang could have administered Shen Yuan's treatment for poison, if Liu Qingge had allowed it. And if the prophecy Madame Meiyin had given to Shen Yuan had not described Liu Qingge at all, he would have gone on administering the poison treatments, gone on accompanying Shen Yuan on night hunts and heroic quests, and said nothing.

It is fate he dislikes, not rejection. Nothing makes him so angry as being told what to do.

She realizes she is thinking of him again in the present tense, and it shocks her from her thoughts and back into the conversation. "You—often journeyed together?"

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan shrugs, a little. "I guess. Recently, anyway, since—" his gaze flickers toward Binghe and away again. "Sometimes with him, sometimes with Airplane—that's, uh, the guy who was just here. I know he looks like Shang Qinghua, but he's not. He's a ghost, like me."

[protagonisthalo]

This sparks Luo Binghe's interest. So it's not Mobei-jun's spy at all—it's someone who knows Shen Yuan as Shen Yuan. That means there's a high chance he's in love with him, too. If he is to be trapped here with them from now on, Luo Binghe will keep a close eye on him indeed. It's obvious that Liu Qingge is entranced—the famous solitary War God would not "often" journey with a sect sibling for any other reason. Luo Binghe is glad Shen Yuan denied him, and selfishly glad that Shen Yuan is here and Liu Qingge isn't, even though it would mean a lot to Mingyan.

[empressliu]

"I see," says Liu Mingyan. She does not care about this Airplane person, aside from slight interest in hearing that there is more than one wandering ghost in the version of her world Shen Yuan has left behind. But Shen Yuan bringing him up does imply that there is no difference between his journeys with him and those with her brother—from his perspective, anyway.

Shen Yuan does not return her ge's affections, then. This is good, because it means Luo Binghe will not hunt him down when he decides to cut his way free of this place with Xin Mo. But—her heart aches for him nonetheless. What must it be like, to have someone you believed your fated love—even if you chafed against that fate—disappear into thin air? He must be walking the world in search of him. The silvery web of romantic entanglement in her mind shimmers with dew.

"It would be good," she says slowly, "if there is a way, to send him a message. Let him know you live."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan blinks. Send Airplane a message? But he's here. "Oh," he says, realizing. "Sure. He did spend a bunch of spiritual energy keeping me un-poisoned, so I guess he cares about that. I'd probably send it to Yingying, though, if I only get one. She's the one who's really been, like, most worried about me, her and the other disciples." He sips his tea. "Wait, do you want me to tell him something? Like, hello from his other sister...? If we find a way, I mean, I don't really know if we can."

[protagonisthalo]

"Has your fellow ghost just arrived today?" Luo Binghe says, addressing Shen Yuan. "Mingyan does not expect to stay long. I have seen many other new arrivals in the halls—it seems likely that not all are permanent residents. If he is from your version of our reality, it's possible he will return there, and could bring Mingyan's message with him. And yours to Yingying, perhaps, as well."

[peaklordshen]

"Oh," says Shen Yuan. "I—hadn't thought of that. I did meet some other visitors today, but—" but he'd assumed Airplane was here for good. Because why wouldn't he be? Shen Yuan was, and—and Janet was, and Susan and Magnus—this seemed like a likely place for transmigrators and other, like, portal fantasy people to wash up. He'd kind of assumed, once Airplane showed up, it was the place transmigrators and other portal fantasy people washed up, along with all sorts of other people, too, of course.

He doesn't know how he feels about the idea that Airplane might go back. It's not jealousy, really; he'd made his peace with never returning to that version of PIDW. But—but they're not going to be able to figure out how to outwit Aornis¹ together. He can't show Airplane his Pokedex, or watch him eat pizza for the first time in, like, 50 years or whatever the fuck. Airplane slept with Sagramore, and he's not even going to stick around long enough to find out he's the best dude ever and not just a handsome Arthurian slut! His mouth thins.

¹ Ping!

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan sets her teacup down, untouched. She'd known upon entering this place it was a temporary visit; perhaps this Airplane will, as well. "Send for him," she suggests. "We will ask."

[protagonisthalo]

"There's no staff here," Luo Binghe says with a roll of his eyes. The obvious next question is whether he would ask Liu Mingyan or Shen Yuan to go fetch someone for him, inevitably elevating one of them and insulting the other. Rather than do so, he stands. "I'll find him myself."

[greatmasterairplane]

Shang Qinghua is having a great time. Drinking with hot men and making fun of Cucumber-bro—what more could he ask for! If he's really trapped here, like the welcome sign says, he won't object at all. (Well, it does worry him to think how Mobei-jun will get by without him—he's useless on his own—but maybe it'll teach him to appreciate Shang Qinghua more, anyway.)

He is entirely unprepared for the sight of his terrifying stallion protagonist approaching him. And looking right at him, like he's actually looking for Shang Qinghua! He checks behind him, just in case, but no, it's definitely Shang Qinghua he's looking at. Shang Qinghua wishes he were, like, 30% less drunk. Not sober, though. Definitely not sober.

"Aaahaha, Junshang," he gets out. "What—What can I do to serve you?"

[protagonisthalo]

It takes Luo Binghe a moment to remember his name (or rather, the name he goes by, since he is not who he appears to be). If he only knew him as Mobei-jun's lackey, he wouldn't remember at all, but this man was a Peak Lord of Cang Qiong Mountain when Luo Binghe was a disciple there. "Shang Qinghua. Come. My wife and boyfriend would like to speak with you.'

[greatmasterairplane]

The and boyfriend is nearly enough to crack Shang Qinghua's composure—he wants to tell Qi Qingqi about this soooo bad!—but he manages to keep it together. He bows deeply with a muttered "At my Emperor's service" and hurries after Luo Binghe.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan looks up from awkwardly sipping his tea as Binghe ushers Airplane into the room. "Dude," he says, reproachfully. "Are you leaving??"

[empressliu]

Liu Mingyan regards this newcomer as well. She does not recall if she had ever exchanged words with Shang Qinghua; he'd been her martial uncle, once, but was always closeted away in his Peak--handling logistics, and then, of course, passing information to Mobei-Jun. Primarily she remembers him skulking around the edges of her wedding, and then he was dead by the time she took her place as Empress. This ghost in his body changes it less obviously than Shen Yuan does Shen Qingqiu's.

"I am returning to my world, once this day is over," she says, coolly. "If you are as well, we would like you to bear a message."

[greatmasterairplane]

"Um." Shang Qinghua's eyes dart nervously from Shen Yuan to Liu Mingyan to Luo Binghe. How he wishes he could say Whatever you want, Your Majesties and Cucumber-bro! "I don't, ah, know? No one told me that? But I can definitely, um, take a message just in case—but write it down, please!" He has had far too much alcohol to guarantee he'll remember whatever they tell him, and something in Liu Mingyan's expression tells him he's dead if he misrepresents a word.

[protagonisthalo]

Satisfied with this answer, Luo Binghe kneels again, taking his place across from his Empress and next to his lover. He reaches for Shen Yuan's hand again under the table. There is a look of concern on his face that causes an echo of pain in Luo Binghe's heart.