Bao Ji (Lia)
Sitting across from Bao Si, sipping this awful tea as if we were the most loving cousins in the world, made me want to puke.
But I held my composure.
"Lately, I've noticed His Majesty has been very busy," Bao Si said as she set her cup down.
"Of course he is," I replied calmly, resting my cup on the table. "He is the Emperor, after all."
"How could I forget?" Bao Si continued softly. "I'm just worried he might exhaust himself."
God.
Concern? No. Jealousy.
Seeing the Emperor's attention drift away from her must be driving her insane.
"The Emperor is intelligent," I said, looking straight into her eyes. "I'm sure he knows when to rest."
Bao Si said nothing.
She just stared at me, almost as if she were studying me.
Suddenly, her maid rushed in. "His Majesty is scolding a servant."
"Why?" I asked instinctively.
"I'm not sure," the maid replied.
Bao Si and I stood at the same time.
Before I could speak, Bao Si said, "I'll go check what's wrong."
Did she just low-key push me aside?
Is she serious? She really thinks she can calm him down?
Pff.
This will be interesting to watch.
I followed her, careful not to make my presence known. I wanted to give her the spotlight. I wanted to see what would happen.
Before, Bao Si had been the Emperor's happiness.
Or maybe just his obsession because she was beautiful.
I hid behind a thick pillar, my maid standing quietly behind me.
In front of his chamber, the emperor stood rigidly while a servant knelt at his feet.
"I'm truly sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to," the servant pleaded.
"How could you make such a mistake?" the Emperor shouted. "You know very well I didn't ask for pork. I asked for chicken!"
Seriously? Over something so small?
"Your Majesty," Bao Si said as she stepped beside him. "Why are you upset?"
The Emperor looked at her, anger blazing in his eyes. Then he turned back to the servant.
"Thirty strokes. Then sell her," he said coldly.
That was excessive.
"Your Majesty, please don't get angry over such a trivial matter," Bao Si said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "She didn't mean it."
The emperor shoved her hand away.
"Trivial?" he snapped. "If she makes mistakes this small now, what about later?"
Bao Si was making it worse. She was pouring fuel on the fire.
"But thirty strokes is too much," Bao Si insisted. "At least reduce it to ten."
"Are you telling me how to do my job?" the Emperor roared.
That was it.
Without thinking, I stepped forward.
I stopped beside the kneeling servant.
"Your Majesty!" I called, raising my voice slightly.
The moment he heard me, the moment he saw me—
his shoulders relaxed.
The anger drained from his face.
"Concubine Ji," he said softly.
"I'm truly sorry, Your Majesty," the servant cried. "Please don't punish me."
The Emperor looked annoyed.
"Punishment?" I asked calmly. "For what?"
Silence fell.
Bao Si tried to speak. "She made a sm—"
"I asked His Majesty," I cut her off sharply. "Not you."
Then I turned back to him.
"So, Your Majesty," I said, stepping closer, "what happened? Punishment for what?"
He cleared his throat. "She brought the wrong dish."
I stepped even closer, close enough to feel his breathing.
My heart spiked—but I was too irritated to care.
"Because of a small mistake like this, you intend to punish her?" I asked.
He nodded, looking away.
With two fingers, I turned his face back toward me so I could meet his eyes.
"Nobody is perfect," I said firmly. "Everyone makes mistakes. You can scold her—but give her a chance. If she repeats it, then punish her."
He tried to speak.
"But—"
"But what?" I interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
I stepped back.
"You're right," he finally said.
He turned to the servant. "If you make another mistake, you will be punished and sold."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, concubine Ji," the servant said tearfully.
"Go bring the dish His Majesty asked for," I told her.
I turned to my maid. "Go with her and make sure no mistakes happen."
"Yes, my lady," my maid replied.
Bao Si stood frozen, speechless.
"Concubine Si, you may return," the Emperor said.
She was furious.
And humiliated.
After she left, the emperor looked at me like a scolded child.
I gestured for him to return inside.
He obeyed.
When we sat down, the servant returned with the food. She tried to remove the pork dish.
"Leave it," I said. "You may go."
I nodded to my maid to leave as well.
The emperor looked confused.
"Eat," I said, picking up my chopsticks.
"What?" he asked.
"If His Majesty wishes to eat alone, I can leave," I continued. "But then you'll have to eat everything as punishment. Especially the pork."
"Punishment?" he asked, stunned. "You dare punish me?"
"Why wouldn't I?" I replied.
He chuckled. "Very well. I deserve it."
He started eating.
I laughed. "I can't believe you accepted it."
"When it's you, concubine Ji," he said quietly, "I always accept my defeat."
My heart skipped.
No.
No.
This isn't okay.
The fact that he listens to me—
that's what terrifies me.
What if one day I make the wrong judgement?
What if he listens then too?
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes," I lied. "I just want to see you finish the food."
"Isn't it too much?" he asked, trying to look cute.
Is he even an emperor?
"I'm not completely heartless," I said.
He smiled and continued eating.
When I noticed he was struggling, I stopped him myself and called the servants to clear the table. I wasn't about to summon the physician because he overate.
Then I asked him to walk me back to my chamber.
His face lit up instantly.
We walked in silence, enjoying the peaceful moment.
Once we arrived, I made sure he left.
Only after I was certain he was gone did I head for the Queen.
But her maid stopped me. "Her Majesty is with her father."
"I won't disturb her," I said, turning away.
Now I'm back in my chamber, drowning in my thoughts.
Seeing how easily he listens terrifies me.
Why did it have to become like this?
What if something major happens and I can't calm him down?
Or worse—what if I can, and I make the wrong choice?
My chest tightened.
This is too much.
But I know I can't run away.
I must endure.
I can do this.
I'm strong.
Even so, the tightness in my chest remained—
along with the headache that followed.