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Yuè · 9/23/2026, 5:58 PM

”

The Empress listened to his soliloquy, held in equal parts of suspense and awe. Her eyes were a dancing frenzy watching the match below, but the sight of one man throwing another out of the ring paled in comparison to the images that danced in her mind; of sweet ripe peaches, and the sweet-sugaryness of their blossoms.

“Yes, well, I agree,” she murmured while he spoke, “a peach is worth waiting for.” Any euphemism or allegory was acknowledged indirectly, with a curious lift of her brow, but the woman allowed herself the indulgent thought of just that – a succulent peach, dripping ripe in the midst of summer.

Did Heaven’s Mercy believe her accomplishments to be glossed over? She once might have considered this wedding an affront; but she could not find it within her, as much as the appreciation of stone fruit eventually yielded to another seasonal delicacy.

“I used to have one, ” she commented casually of her favored fruit tree, allowing herself an enigmatic snort as one wrestler was bested and thrown out of the ring, “in the garden of the old palace.” She had an incredible orchard. “It had been a gift.” The entire garden had been conferred upon her as a wedding gift from the Emperor. Within it, many, many fruit trees.

but only one bore peaches.

In truth, the Empress was grateful the public eye turned to Ye Lanyi. The vanity of it did not suit Yuè! She now had other worries that felt far more supreme – the health and safety of her children being paramount. She had borne the heir to the kingdom, and enough princes to fill the roll three times over, and such prolific birthright meant they were at risk.

It was best not to draw more attention to them than necessary.

“In the jungle, she would have failed to thrive. We have other fruits to savor.” she sighed audibly, tossing her gaze dramatically upwards and then over her shoulder at the dusky man beside her. “Does it make me terrible, that I do not miss my peaches and plums? Those that are native to the jungle bloom year-round, and do not require the toil of a dreary winter.”

The thought had occupied her often, and sometimes kept her awake at night. Was this new Tianlong better than its previous iterations? If the answer was no, by what possible means could she turn it into yes?

“One could taste the sunshine, year-round.”

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she of the radiant moon

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she of the radiant moon

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