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What would happen if Akako were a noble concubina who interrupts Kaito and Aoko’s wedding to make Aoko her servant?

I don’t know whether to call this a fanfic, headcanon, or just ideas for my favorite ship set in ancient China? I apologize if it feels a bit messy. Also, I want to clarify that I take many liberties, both with clothing and ancient Chinese history, since I mainly draw inspiration from my favorite manhuas and anime.

Kaito and Aoko are childhood friends who grew up together in the same town. When Kaito was old enough, he traveled to the capital to take the exam to become a Scholar. After passing it, he moved there and also brought his mother with him. Since then, he visits Aoko whenever he can, though they mainly stay in touch through letters

Both Aoko and Kaito love each other, but neither of them knows it. Aoko believes that her marriage was arranged by her parents and that Kaito is against it, when in reality he indirectly offered to marry her though he doesn’t say it outright out of embarrassment. Another reason Aoko doesn’t want to marry Kaito is that, after he left for the capital, she was engaged twice: once from the time she was a baby, and the other two years after the first engagement fell through. The first engagement didn’t happen because her fiancé died in battle just days before the wedding. In the second, her fiancé disappeared during another war, and days later, his body was found. After those two failed engagements, rumors began to spread in the village that Aoko was cursed. The rumor spread so widely that even the young woman came to believe it, and she fears that if Kaito tries to marry her, he might end up the same way as her late fiancés.

Since she was a little girl, Aoko had always felt great affection for Kaito, but she realized it wasn’t just affection after he left for the capital. She remembers that, after his departure, she felt devastated, as if she would never see him again; however, upon receiving his first letter, she felt whole again. She also recalls the excitement and nervousness she felt the first time he visited her after moving to the capital: when she saw him, she didn’t know how to act, until Kaito, with his teasing way of treating her, helped her be herself again. Amid jokes and their usual arguments, she couldn’t help thinking in that moment that she wished those times would last forever. But fate can sometimes be cruel: after Kaito returned to the capital, days later, Aoko learned she was to be engaged again and when she found out she would be married to Kaito, her blood ran cold. She was terrified; she didn’t want anyone else to die, least of all Kaito. Though she begged her parents to break off the engagement, neither of them agreed.

After settling into her new residence, Aoko was unable to communicate with Kaito until the day of the wedding. She recalls that, in the days leading up to it, she was in a panic, fearing that something might happen to Kaito for wanting to marry her. She only felt slight relief when she saw him on the day of the ceremony, arriving with his entourage to pick her up. (This is one of the six essential rites for Kaito to be able to marry Aoko; it is known as Qinying, or the wedding procession. In this act, the groom goes to the bride’s home to escort her to his own, accompanied by a procession that includes the groom, the bride carried in a palanquin, musicians, and people transporting the dowry.)

Concubine Akako, while walking through the city, saw a wedding procession in the distance. Midway, she had her carriage block its path, and with her servants’ assistance, she stepped out. Pointing at the bride’s palanquin from which the curious bride peeked out to see who was disrupting the ceremony she saw a stunning woman declare in a firm voice:

“This Guìfēi demands that commoner girl as her servant.” (Guìfēi refers to a high ranking imperial consort, a title just below the empress in the imperial harem hierarchy.)

Everyone at the wedding immediately knelt down, astonished to witness a concubine outside the palace especially one of such high rank, a favorite of the emperor.

Aoko quickly steps out of the palanquin and kneels, and though she is frightened from her position, I could still notice the beauty of that noblewoman, of whom she had only heard terrifying rumors. But seeing her face to face, she couldn’t help but feel grateful and awestruck by her radiant beauty, which only made her want to say that she wished to serve her for her entire life.

Upon entering the palace, Aoko notices that all of Akako’s ladies in waiting hate her, as their families had sent them against their will; no family, whether from a noble or common clan, wanted their daughters to be her servant, since it was rumored that the concubine had a terrible temper and was capricious. Additionally, due to the constant poisoning attempts against Concubine Akako, it was rare for a lady in waiting to survive.

I like to think that Akako’s ladies in waiting are distant relatives of hers and that they are there completely against their will, which is why they resent her. When they met Aoko, they thought her story was very sad, since Her Highness Guìfēi literally turned her into a servant on the day of her own wedding. However, Aoko told them that she didn’t hate Lady Akako for that on the contrary, she was grateful because she hadn’t wanted to get married. The girls wanted to ask her more about her failed wedding, but Aoko refused out of respect for her ex fiancé and his family. Driven by curiosity, the girls began theorizing about the reasons why Aoko didn’t want to marry her fiancé from him being an old and womanizing man to her being in love with a servant. All these theories spread throughout the harem, turning into rumors that Aoko vehemently denies every time she hears them. Akako can’t help but laugh and wonder how long this little “toy” of hers will last.

To everyone’s surprise, Aoko has survived in the harem for almost half a year, astonishing even the oldest ladies and servants, who think she’s a little crazy. They find it unbelievable that, despite Her Highness Akako’s difficult temperament, the young servant continues to attend to her with devotion and says things like: “She’s as beautiful and elegant as a peony in summer,” “Her Highness Guìfēi looks so beautiful even when she’s angry,” or “Everything looks beautiful on Her Highness.” Sometimes the other servants think the girl probably lost her sanity after being torn from her home so abruptly though when she’s not talking about her lady’s beauty, she seems like a completely normal person.

I also wanted to include a poisoning scene where the main lady in waiting tries to kill her, since, because of her, she will have to remain in the palace for the rest of her life. To make matters worse, she was engaged, but her fiancé broke off the engagement to become a eunuch. The boy, one day, saw the concubine during one of her walks and couldn’t help but fall madly in love with her. Since then, the lady in waiting has hated Akako, and when she entered her service, that hatred only grew. That’s why she tried to poison her and blame Aoko, whom rumors say the high ranking concubine took from her wedding to turn her into a mere servant, just when her family needed the marriage to happen the most.

When the concubine is poisoned, they find among Aoko’s belongings a vial containing poison. After that, the guards try to take her away, but she insists on staying in the pavilion alongside Her Highness Akako.

Aoko, though frightened, says in a desperate voice:

"This maidservant does not fear death, but pleads for justice for Her Highness Guìfēi, who was poisoned."

In this story, I don’t want to give the emperor a face. He exists and is very devoted to Akako, but I prefer for him to act from the shadows. And speaking of shadows, Kaito is the emperor’s right hand. Kaito’s paternal family has secretly served the emperors of that kingdom since forever.

After Aoko is whipped for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s locked in a cell until the imperial concubine Akako wakes and can decide her sentence. Meanwhile, Kaito goes to see her disguised as a guard, and when he opens the cell, he’s startled to see her so battered and nearly unconscious. Acting on impulse, he hugs her and says:

“You fool… Is the idea of marrying me so horrible that you’d rather take a thousand lashes?”

Aoko, half conscious and believing she’s hallucinating Kaito, replies: “Idiot… Of course I want to marry you, but I don’t want to tie you down to someone you don’t even see as a woman.”

Kaito, upon hearing his beloved’s words, breaks down and begins to cry as he holds her, whispering that she’s a fool. At that moment, he regrets being Toichi Kuroba’s son or rather, the son of the former emperor’s brother and thinks that everything would be simpler if he were just an ordinary man and Aoko a normal woman. In that instant, he fears that fate will tear them further apart, though he knows full well he won’t allow that to happen.

By order of the emperor, Kaito must thoroughly investigate who attempted to assassinate the imperial concubine. To do this, he disguises himself as a young woman and pretends to be Akako’s servant, in order to investigate from within who was behind the assassination attempt and, at the same time, protect Aoko.

Akako wakes up and, upon hearing from the servants that Aoko, despite being falsely accused, did not plead for mercy for her own life but instead begged for justice for her mistress, is deeply moved. For it is the first time someone has cared so much for her, to the point of disregarding their own safety in order to protect her even if it meant giving up their life. Upon learning this, the Guìfēi went straight to the Emperor’s palace and demanded the release of her maidservant.

Aoko, upon waking up, is surprised to find herself in the imperial concubine Akako’s room; she panics and tries to get up, but feels a sharp pain from the whipping she received and cannot sit up. At that moment, she hears a voice saying:

“It is better that you do not get up, unless you want both of us to be whipped, because the Guìfēi has ordered that if you leave this room, she will whip to death anyone who let you out.”

Upon seeing who had spoken, he finds a tall young woman sitting as she embroiders; the girl smiles at him shyly, stands up, and introduces herself with a curtsy:

“Let me introduce myself, I am Wan’er, and from today I will be the new lady in waiting of the imperial concubine; as my first order, the Guìfēi has asked me to take care of you, so please focus on resting.”

Although Aoko wants to know why she was released and why her lady allowed her to be in her chambers, the only thing she says is:

“How is Miss Akako? When did she wake up? Is she okay? Can she even walk after being poisoned?”

The young lady replies that the Guìfēi has been well for days now, and that in reality, Aoko was the one who got the worst of it, for due to the severity of her injuries, she was in a coma for almost a week and even developed a fever; Lady Akako was so furious that she demanded the emperor punish those who did this to her, along with compensation for her family due to the misunderstanding.

I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but Akako initially assigned Aoko as her chambermaid. Between mistreatment and veiled remarks, she tried to extract information to find out if Aoko knew the true identity of her former fiancé. Upon realizing Aoko knew nothing, she left her alone. She also found Aoko somewhat odd, as she always looked at her with admiring eyes; over time, Akako grew accustomed to it.

After the poisoning incident was resolved, Akako promoted Aoko to one of her ladies in waiting, though she remains her chambermaid, as she doesn’t trust anyone else to prepare her clothes or baths. (The chief lady in waiting is Kaito in disguise, and this was only due to direct orders from the emperor).

Akako and Aoko’s routine in their room consisted of Aoko telling Akako about her life before entering the palace, while Akako tried not to laugh upon hearing the endless mischief that Kaito and Aoko got into. The imperial concubine also shared part of her life, though not too much, as she did not want to sadden Aoko and because, just remembering it, she realized that neither at home nor in the harem did she have peace. Her extraordinary beauty made everyone turn to look at her, and her sisters and mothers saw her as competition, which led to everyone treating her coldly or trying to harm her. The only time her mother gave her a smile was when she was sent to the palace to serve as a concubine.

Now that I think about it, while they are investigating how Akako’s former chief lady obtained the poison, they trace the whereabouts of the seller. When describing who bought the poison from him, they realize it was a eunuch from one of the high ranking concubines, who convinced him to help Akako’s lady in waiting, as both of them hated her. Because of her existence, neither of them could be with the one they loved. In the case of the high ranking concubine, she is condemned to spend the rest of her life in the harem without receiving the emperor’s favor, and she cannot leave the palace, since she only spent one night with him.

The high ranking concubine who poisoned Akako was sent by a clan that supports the third uncle, who is the only surviving brother of the previous emperor and a current candidate for the throne, as the current emperor has yet to produce an heir.

And what happened to the other uncles? Many died in childhood due to a plague or poisoning. The only ones who reached adulthood were the father of the current emperor, the third uncle, and the fifth uncle, who was very close to the previous emperor. However, he died in the war. It is rumored that the third uncle conspired with some soldiers from the fifth uncle’s own side to have him killed. What they didn’t know was that the fifth uncle managed to survive, though he lost his memory. After wandering for several days, he arrived at a village where he was taken in by a small clan that fed him and treated his wounds.

Over time, he became their servant. Seeing that the man was intelligent and capable, they allowed him to marry their youngest daughter, who had fallen in love with him. After some time, they had a son whom they named Kaito.

And how did Kaito become a spy for the current emperor? When he went to take his test to become a scholar, the emperor was surprised to see the young man’s resemblance to his late fifth uncle, to whom he owed his life. Besides supporting his father, the fifth uncle, Toichi, had saved him when he was five years old from being assassinated by hitmen hired by the third uncle, though they could never prove it.

The emperor also realized that Kaito was wearing a necklace that his uncle Toichi always used. When Kaito spoke about his father’s past, both were able to deduce that, indeed, he was the fifth prince of the previous reign. The emperor also learned that his uncle was murdered by bandits while returning home. Later, while investigating alongside Kaito, both discovered that those bandits were actually assassins sent by the third uncle, who had recently found out that Toichi was still alive and, fearing he might regain his memory, ordered his death.

Although at first Kaito did not want to get involved in royal affairs to protect his loved ones, he understood that it would be impossible to remain on the sidelines with imperial blood running through his veins. Furthermore, he had to admit that he desired to avenge his father’s death. That is why he decided to adopt a double identity: in public, he would be a scholar, but in the shadows, a loyal spy for the emperor.

Although there are many rumors about the imperial concubine, one of the most famous claims that if the Guìfēi wants something, she will have it, no matter how difficult it is to obtain. This became evident when she disrupted a young scholar’s wedding to take his bride and make her a servant. However, what people don’t truly know is that Akako didn’t interrupt Kaito’s wedding out of a mere whim to flaunt her power or to have whomever she wanted as a servant. She did it because she knew Kaito was a distant cousin of the emperor and, although he had no interest in the throne and supported the current emperor, she decided not to take any risks. That’s why she took his fiancée so he couldn’t have children before her. Furthermore, Akako knew that thanks to this commotion, many nobles would refrain from marrying off their daughters for a while, as they understood that if the concubine did something to assert her status, other concubines of similar rank would seek to imitate her.

So, even though he took his fiancée, it will be difficult for Kaito for a while to want to marry another noblewoman, since families will fear that their daughters might end up as servants of the emperor’s most beloved woman or one of his other troublesome concubines.

Rumors have already begun to circulate that, during the war, Campaign General Nakamori (a campaign general is a high ranking military commander responsible for leading troops in specific missions, such as quelling rebellions or expanding territory) was wounded, and his current condition remains uncertain. Aoko, though she wants to continue her duties as a maid calmly, cannot help but feel fear and despair at not knowing how her father is doing. And even though Akako suggests she take the day off, Aoko responds with a smile, saying no that it’s better to keep her mind occupied by serving her lady.

However, as she sweeps the courtyard of the pavilion, a pair of arms wraps around her from behind, and a sweet voice whispers,

“Please, don’t hold anything back, just for this moment, allow yourself to cry.”

And so she does. The young servant nestles in her companion’s embrace as she weeps inconsolably. Amid that hug, she can’t help but think that the warmth of Wan’er’s body reminds her of Kaito.

For days now, a rumor has been spreading among the maids: late at night, the ghost of a woman has been seen dancing on the palace walls. They say that if this woman sees you watching her, she will steal your soul. It is said that she is the spirit of a low ranking concubine who loved the emperor and took her own life when she realized he would never visit her.

One night, while Kaito was keeping watch dressed as a maid, he spotted the figure dancing on the palace walls. Upon looking closer, he realized it was Aoko. He wanted to approach and ask why she was dancing so late at night, but something like a supernatural force kept him from moving. He was entranced, watching her graceful and delicate movements as she danced. Though tears streamed down her face, they did not hinder her; on the contrary, they made the scene he was witnessing even more beautiful and melancholic.

She looked as elegant and strong as a plum blossom (a flower that represents strength in the face of adversity, capable of blooming even when the dangers of winter and snowfall are notable). Though during the day she tries to appear calm, only at night can she cry and still maintain her beauty. Kaito didn’t know how long he had been hidden watching her, but soon he realized his body ached from the strain of staying concealed. Finally, Aoko finished dancing and headed to her room.

The next day, while cleaning the courtyard of concubine Akako’s pavilion, the servant Kaito said to her:

“Yesterday I saw you dancing on top of the wall.”

Aoko, as soon as she could, asked him not to tell Miss Akako and confessed that, in her village, the women from soldiers’ families dance to pray to the gods for their loved ones to return safely. To lighten the mood, she added:

“Hahahaha, I must have looked a little clumsy while dancing, but I just wanted to somehow ask for my father to come home safely.”

Kaito interrupted: “It was beautiful. No, more than beautiful… you looked like a fairy.”

At times like this, he truly wished he could say those words to her as Kaito. But for now, for her safety and his own, it was better not to, even if it frustrated him inside.

In a beautiful garden full of flowers, a young girl’s scream was heard after she tripped on her dress while practicing the dance that the women of her village perform to bid farewell to the soldiers going to war.

At that moment, she heard a boy her age laughing behind her and saying:

“Kekeke, Aoko, you’re so clumsy; even a pig would dance more gracefully than you.”

This comment did not go unpunished. The little Aoko, furious, chased the mischievous Kaito with a stick, while he, still mocking her, tried to escape.

After General Nakamori returned and recovered from his battle wounds, he reported to the emperor that one of his own men had betrayed him during combat and attempted to kill him. When the traitor was captured, he confessed to having allied with the emperor’s third uncle to overthrow him.

However, the traitor committed suicide using poison he had hidden between his teeth. Unfortunately, during the return journey, someone stole the soldier’s body, leaving no evidence to prove the third uncle’s involvement.

By order of the emperor, Kaito, disguised as a maid, attempts to seduce the son of the third uncle to extract information about the latter’s movements. However, Aoko discovers him and believes that the maid, whom she considered a friend, is conspiring with the emperor’s third uncle to overthrow him.

After being exposed, Kaito tries to explain the situation, but in his desperation, his real voice slips out. Aoko, shocked and confused, freezes. Unable to hide it any longer, Kaito confesses that he is a spy for the emperor, that he entered the harem to protect Lady Akako and uncover who poisoned her, and that now, under imperial orders, he must gather information from the third uncle’s son.

Upon hearing this, Aoko doesn’t know how to react. She feels bewildered and furious; she wants to scream at him, but the words won’t come. So she silently retreats to her chambers, lost in thought, unsure whether she should tell her mistress what she just discovered… or if Akako already knew, and she was the only one left in the dark.

After that, in the following days, she tries to avoid Kaito as much as possible, though she finds it impossible, since, in the eyes of others, Kaito is nothing more than Su Wan’er, a mere servant of the pavilion belonging to the emperor’s most beloved Guìfēi.

This is a scene I imagined of how Aoko would react upon discovering that Kaito is the maid Su Wan’er.

“Explain what? That you sneaked into the emperor’s harem as Her Highness Guìfēi’s maid? I knew my lady had beauty fit to start wars, but… enough to make you cross dress?! And why were you seducing the son of the emperor’s third uncle the same one suspected of plotting against Guìfēi’s life?! Kaito, did your brain melt?!” Aoko shouted furiously.

Before she could raise her voice further, Kaito clamped his hand over her mouth.

“Idiot, don’t yell. Can’t you see it’s nighttime and you might wake someone? Besides… who’d be stupid enough to mess with an imperial concubine and think they’d walk away alive?” he hissed.

At that moment, Kaito could clearly see in Aoko’s expression that even with his hand muffling her, her face screamed: “You’re the moron here.”

Seeing her slightly calm down, he loosened his grip and murmured:

“It’s a long story… but the short version is, I’m on the emperor’s side. I can’t give you details, but I’m doing this to protect everyone.”

How did Kaito and Aoko meet? They met at the Lantern Festival. That day, a young Kaito was exploring the neighborhood where he lived, happily running around while holding his rabbit patterned lantern. In the distance, he saw a man kidnap a girl, put her in a carriage, and speak to another man outside it. Hidden among the festival decorations, Kaito managed to overhear them say they would receive a large ransom for the girl’s rescue. Upon hearing this, Kaito devised a plan to distract the kidnappers. While the men remained distracted, he finished untying her, and before even telling the girl his name, the kidnappers returned.

Taking the still frightened girl by the hand, they managed to escape, disappearing into the festival crowd. After calming her down, the two spent a pleasant time together, playing at the festival and eating food from the local stalls.

While they were more relaxed, watching the street performances, Kaito noticed for the first time how fine her clothes were and, though he was young, he clearly understood that they belonged to different social classes. Most likely, this would be the first and only time he would ever see her. The thought brought a strange tightness in his chest, perhaps because the day had been so much fun that he didn’t want it to end.

After that, they walked a little more until they noticed the moon high in the sky and the bustling crowd beginning to thin. It signaled the festival’s final event: making a wish to the gods by releasing lanterns.

Since Aoko didn’t have a lantern, Kaito shared his. After placing the lantern on a high tree branch, they both silently made their wishes. On their way home, each tried to get the other to reveal their wish. Far from their sight, the lantern’s light slowly faded, signifying that their wish would come true: to never be apart.

I DON’T KNOW, IT JUST CAME TO ME SUDDENLY, THIS DIALOGUE

“They’ll kill us if we’re caught. It would be considered treason against the Emperor.”

Kaito, trying to keep his voice from trembling, replied,

“Right now, I don’t care. Let the successor take over after we’re gone, but please, Aoko, don’t reject me again. I just want you to be safe. When the third imperial uncle arrives, no one will be safe, this will all turn into a massacre.”

“But what about Her Highness Akako? I can’t leave her alone. Right now she’s pregnant, and it might be the Emperor’s first child. Kaito, what’s happening to you? You’re scaring me, this isn’t like you,” said Aoko, pulling away from his embrace and looking at him desperately.

Kaito let out a long sigh.

“You’re right. I don’t know what’s come over me. I just wanted to avenge my father and ended up dragging everyone into my mess. Now, because of me, Jii was killed.”

Aoko grabbed his arms, distraught,

“That wasn’t your fault. Jii knew the risks involved, and to protect you, he’d make the same choices again. So, for his sake, don’t give up. We’re so close to victory. Even if everything seems lost, I know we’ll make it.”

Kaito, surprised by her words, fell silent for a few seconds. Then he laughed,

“Hahahaha, you really are insane. You shouldn’t spend so much time with the noble concubine.”

Aoko, hearing his more relaxed response, let go of him,

“I don’t know why you’re blaming Her Highness Akako for my madness, when you’re the one who infected me with it.”

This is the ending I imagined for the story.

As Aoko packed her belongings to leave the pavilion she had long considered her home, a servant informed her that Empress Consort Akako was about to enter. Upon seeing her standing before her, Aoko immediately prepared to bow, but the newly crowned empress stopped her.

“What ironies life holds. I met you when you were about to be married, and now I bid you farewell as you are to be wed again,” she said, a gentle smile forming on her face. She then gestured to one of her maids to bring forth a large box. “Take this gift from your empress, and do not forget to hold your head high from now on. Though you leave this palace, you will always be my lady in waiting… and my dearest friend.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Aoko unexpectedly embraced her. Though the other maids complained, calling it a complete lack of respect, neither of them paid any heed. Through tears, the young servant said:

“In this life and the next, I will always stand by your side, Akako.”

Aoko’s farewell took place in the afternoon, with several people watching as she walked toward the palace’s large gates. When she opened them, she saw Kaito standing there, waiting for her.

As she walked toward him, she wondered how he could remain so calm with so many eyes on them, especially knowing that the only thing he had asked of the emperor was permission to take her as his wife. With every step, she felt nervous, but at the same time, she had an overwhelming urge to run to him and embrace him, forgetting everything else.

When she finally stood before him, they both bowed, then boarded the carriage. Without a word, Kaito pulled her into an embrace, and she could do nothing but return it, relieved to have him in her arms.

Here are the outfits I envisioned for Akako, Aoko, and Kaito when he’s disguised as Su Wan’er.

For Akako, I pictured her wearing these in both the Magic Kaito 2010 and 2014 series.

These are Akako’s outfits when she was a Guìfēi (Imperial Concubine).

I wish you could meet this character. When I met him and saw his outfit and his way of acting, elegant yet wild, I thought of Akako.

This is the wardrobe when Akako is already empress (both the 2010 and 2014 versions of Akako would presumably wear this).

These are the outfits Aoko used to wear when she still lived with her parents. I like to think that once she became aware of her feelings for Kaito, she started wearing more jewelry and accessories so he would tell her she looked cute.