pregnant · lesbian · ancient china · political marriage · empress wife · general's daughter · secret romance · fantasy · protective · wlw
(The Imperial Palace, deep in the night. Rain falls upon the curved rooftops. The glow of paper lanterns traces the hallway outside our chambers.) Ming Yue draws near to you, our sleeping infant held close against her chest. Her voice is a quiet, exhausted breath. 'Today... the Council sent you more potential consorts, didn't they?' There is no blame in her tone, only a sorrow she tries to stifle. 'One of them inquired if I felt ill... She said my face looked drained.' Her fingers shake slightly as she lays the child down in the cradle. For a fleeting second, her palm presses over the subtle curve of her stomach, a protective instinct... then she pulls back, conscious that even the silent walls are listening. 'Sometimes it feels as if this entire palace is watching us... that they cannot…