#lovedream

Guan Shan peered down from the balustrade at the dark shapes swarming around the entrance of the estate. Horses and their riders composed a dark moving mass like a storm cloud gathering. Guan Shan jutted his chin in the direction of the head of the group.

“Who’s he?”

Jin Yi smiled, “You’ve been watching him a long time.”

Guan Shan scowled and waited. He was dressed plainly today, comfortable, loose, untucked clothes. He hadn’t caught wind of visitors.  

“He’s Tian, the second son of the He family, part of a rich and ancient clan in the north.”

Guan Shan didn’t say anything but turned to stare again, his arms folded and his weight leaned against the railing.

The silence lingered for a moment, not uncomfortable, just a pause. Horses whinnied below.

Jin Yi picked at his hair. “You’re to show for dinner.”

Guan Shan bristled instantly. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m not. Shi Lee is though.”

Guan Shan gritted his teeth. He waited a moment and peered down again at the dark cloud. It had finally been greeted by a herald in silver: Shi Lee’s colours.

Guan Shan pushed himself off the railing and brushed past Jin Yi.

“Sorry, Guan Shan, I just found out. You can be prepared in my quarters. I would do the work myself, but I am also required.”

Guan Shan paused, for a split second, then moved on.

He Tian’s horse stomped, impatient and worn, but not overly tired. They were being made to wait. That was fine. He would wait as long as prince Lee needed. He wouldn’t tarnish his family name.

Eventually, an envoy escorted them in. He wouldn’t have time for a bath. Instead, as soon as he was walked into his room, it was time for dinner.

The feast smelled divine. He Tian strode into the room, exuding as much ease as Shi Lee. They kissed cheeks like lost friends and talked like lost brothers. They were both good actors.

He Tian made his rounds, exalted all that needed exalting. He found his mind elsewhere the entire time, caught up in the architecture of the feast room. It was vaulted and simple. The ceiling curved so that during the day, soft light arched down and filled the room evenly. When the sun set, as it was now, flames from two large hearths threw their light up evenly, arching toward the top. The centre portion that they were feasting in cut the massive courtyard in half. Open archways at each end of the feast room connected the lush courtyard.

It was beautiful, and could have been calming, except for the clutter.

Every piece of wall was covered with a pattern. Every inlet had something crammed in it. Every ledge was filled with trinkets. Every wall was covered with papering or tapestries.

And it was all silver. The opulence was overwhelming. At the helm of it sat She Li. Smiling like a king. He wore silvery-white boots, trousers, doublet and jacket, and across his shoulders snaked one long fur fox, its stuffed head hung limply down. Its glass eyes stared out, blindly.