Dreaming of Catalpa and Mulberry

The garden was a sight to behold.

Plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums, and jasmines filled the flowerbeds, framing a small grassy field. Ivy draped itself like curtains over the high walls studded with ornate spikes and curled around the overhanging willow tree tucked away in the corner, juxtaposing a looming guard tower. In the centre stood a white marble table holding a tea set and various cakes and two matching chairs.

“Do you like it?” Lord Desiderius asked them, their hands clasped by their sides in his.

Shi Wenru’s mouth went dry, itching for said hands to be released. It didn’t help that the Emperor of Caedia was right behind them, his breaths hitting the back of their neck.

“It’s beautiful,” they croaked out, eyes tearing from the garden back to the spikes on the wall.

“I’m glad you think so. I know you’ve been quite homesick these past months,” Desiderius beamed with what could be described as a gentle countenance, but Shi Wenru knew better. After all, they wouldn’t have been here if not for Caedia’s particular habit of “collecting” princes and princesses of their vassal states. King Huimin, unwilling to give up any of his children, had given Shi Wenru, a palace official’s ward, instead. Coming into the imperial court, Shi Wenru relied on their experience working in the palace to build rapport with the nobility, hoping to gain at least some kind of boon, only to find the empire housing many, many structural and financial issues. Push came to shove a couple times, but they were proud to say they had stuck to their guns. Word then got around of the fair Prince of Yuan’s alleged industriousness; of which had attracted Lord Desiderius’ attention and apparently much more.

Shi Wenru was snapped out of their musings when he tucked a white chrysanthemum behind their ear.

“Come, let’s sit. You’ve been so busy lately that we’ve rarely a chance to talk.”

Shi Wenru knew better than to refuse him as he pulled out their chair for them. Of course they were busy, he’d just initiated another incursion on some poor principality on the coast right after they had to fend off a barrage of court rumours. The logistics for his impromptu project alone was a whole nightmare to deal with without mentioning the problems Shi Wenru had to deal with within the capitol. They stare tiredly at the various steamed cakes and dessert soups. Desiderius took it as invitation to reach for a cake, biting into it with a pleasured hum. Feeling his gaze on them, they sipped hesitantly at the sweet potato soup in front of them, cringing at the broth’s tastelessness.

“My apologies, your Majesty. Your military expansion into Orciom has been eating into what’s left of my free time.” They folded their hands upon their lap, peering into the teacup. He hadn’t yet a reason to poison them, not for now at least.

Desiderius bowed his head and rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling. “Well, I apologize for the extra work. But I hope you know it would be worth it, for the good of the empire.”

A deep breath and a moment to gather one’s thoughts. “It is to my presumption that Caedia already has dominion over the Orcioman principality for its rich minerals in the Inmas mountain ranges. Am I mistaken or does this concern something else?”

Desiderius’ smile drops, and Shi Wenru’s hands ball into a fist, rumpling their ruqun. He huffs and puts two gloved fingers to his temple. His smile returns, small and resembling more a snarl, as he stares back at the door to the castle halls hard enough to burn a hole into it.

“Let’s just say a lesson needed to be taught, and leave it at that.” He turns to Shi Wenru, his smile reverting to its gentle gleam. He reaches out for their face, stroking their cheek with his finger. They instinctively backed away, quickly adding, “Your Majesty, we just managed to put out the rumours of favouritism. Maybe we shouldn’t—"

“Let them talk.” His voice rang out in the silence. Shi Wenru clamped their mouth shut and leaned back towards him, fighting to keep still as he traced their chin with his thumb and knuckle, gazing fondly into their eyes. They returned no such expression, forcing their face to stay blank. Ever so slightly, Shi Wenru’s gaze shifts to the tree behind him as a yellow bird lands on its branches. It pipes out a sweet melody, and Shi Wenru found they couldn’t turn their eyes away.

Wasn’t there a bird like this back home? What was it called again?

An image came unbidden to their mind; the Rear Palace’s gardens.

Little Shi Wenru had once wondered if any other garden could ever compare, despite never having been outside the palace since birth. A sprawling stretch of land lined by a queue of mountain-shaped boulders, artfully smattered with bushes, bamboo groves, and trees of all kinds, framing the many bridges and buildings the stone roadways led to. Cutting through it was an artificial river, wide and deep enough to house various species of carp, leading to a large lake in its centre.

“Wenwen,” Lu shifu called, gesturing to the scrolls beside her. The two had sat on the wooden benches of a small pavilion, shielded from the bright sun by its sloped ceramic roofs.

“Sorry— yes, shifu?” They turned to her, and she replied, her brows furrowing in exasperation, “I didn’t bring you here just to sightsee. Could you please continue your verses before the ink in your brush dries out?”

“Ah, sorry, shifu.” They sheepishly grinned at her, turning their attention back to the scroll. Lu shifu’s annoyance waned, giving way to a more tender cadence.

“Mastering poetry is the mark of an educated person,” she remarked, turning her attention back to her own poem. “Keep this up and you’ll find yourself quite far ahead in life.”

“Far ahead? How far are you talking?” Their eyes sparkled in excitement. “Having an estate all to myself doesn’t sound so bad, maybe with its own beautiful garden too…”

“Cheeky brat,” Lu shifu chided playfully, “it’d still be a long way before you could achieve that.”

“Or the opportunity could land right on our heads,” Shi Wenru smirked at their scroll, “if such a chance ever arises, I’ll be sure to grab it by the horns!”

“Wenru…”

Shifu? Why does she—

They look back to only find Desiderius.

Their face felt uncomfortably warm and wet as it crumbled. Turning away from him, the emperor resorted to looking around for anything that might have caused their reaction. He zeroes in on the bird, gaze narrowing as an uncomfortably familiar glare settles into his eyes.

“Wait, wait, wait—” Their hand grabbed at his sleeve before he could draw his sword.

“I’m sorry—” they heaved out, mind scrambling for any possible reason they were crying. “I was… I was just so tired.” Not entirely untrue, considering the unending barrage of issues they had to handle ever since they got to this godforsaken place. Desiderius softens, face taking on a tinge of pity. He manoeuvres Shi Wenru’s head onto his shoulder, caging them within his arms. They only sob harder.

“Shhh, shhh, just let it out,” he stroked their hair as their tears soak into his jacket. “My poor prince, you’ve run yourself ragged.” The stroking stopped as he mused, “Perhaps a month-long leave is in order,” they froze at his words, struggling to breathe as his grip tightened, “and we could do this more often in the meanwhile.”