Foxglove and Forget Me Nots

by KatherineOfArrogant

Summary:

It’s hard to believe in love when you grow up in the pleasure district. Maomao grew up knowing love as something transactional, and when someone forgot that all they got was ruin. The dead woman living in the Verdigris annex was proof of that, so forgive her if she didn’t want to be part of the life of the man who carelessly ruined her.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t even gotten back from her first party as a courtesan when her birth father had already bought out her contract. “I’m taking you home”, like she was supposed to be happy about that. Worse than having to protect her body, she has to protect her heart. Maomao refused to end up like her foolish mother.

Aka: Maomao heals her daddy issues and everyone is better off for it: the fic.

Chapter 1: Winter I

As soon as Maomao walked into the Verdigris House, she knew something was wrong. The other girls and her sisters were still giddy, bathing in the afterglow of a party, and didn’t notice the shift in mood. The lower ranked courtesans were all looking at her. A chill ran down her spine.

“That poor girl, she’s so young.”

“That didn’t take long, who told him?”

“I hate creeps like that. I heard the Madam won’t let him spend the night with one of us because he’s diseased.”

“I believe it. Just look at him.”

“Maomao.” The Madam said, Maomao hadn’t even walked two steps in the Verdigris House. The old woman let out a long puff of smoke from her pipe, and seemed to choke on her next words: “In my office.”

On some level Maomao knew what was happening. It wasn’t a surprise, more grim realization, when she saw that Monocled Freak in the office, dozing off and drooling on an expensive wood desk. The Madam closed the door behind her with a bang loud enough the man startled. 

Blearily blinking sleep out of his eyes, his face split in a grin when he saw Maomao. Standing, he opened his arms for a hug, “My darling girl! Papa’s come to take you home.” He was so large, he blotted out the rest of the world as he took his hug. Of course he didn’t ask. The incense of the Verdigris House clung to his clothes noxiously, and she wondered how long he was sitting in this room. 

Maomao tolerated the hug for a few seconds before her survival instincts overrode her better judgement and she shoved him away. He stared at her dumbly for a few seconds, his arms still open, before he let them fall to his side. Still, he smiled tearfully, “Pack your bags, I’ll take you home tonight. You won’t have to spend another night here.”

She looked at the Madam, who couldn’t even do her the decency to look at the pair. Maomao shouldn’t be surprised, that greedy old woman never made it a secret it was money first and human decency last. How many times has her father, her real father, and Maomao herself given her girls medical attention pro-bono? No, it was always about debt first and foremost, that was why she was here in the first place. A little girl in her mother’s clothes. 

That’s just the way the world worked. Goodness, love, decency- all paper tigers. Pets people trotted out when they wanted to seem better than they were. Numb, Maomao nodded and left to pack for the gallows. 

~~~

“You could stand to look a little happier.” Meimei said as she helped Maomao pack. Lord knew if she was left to it, all she’d pack was plain linens and medicinal books. Nothing befit a young lady of the La clan. “Most people never get this opportunity, much less so soon after debuting”

“I can ask Lakan to buy you out instead.” 

“Maomao”, Meimei sighed, pulling her into a hug and burying the girl's face in her chest, “Why won’t you give Lakan a chance? I believe he’s a good man, and he loves you.”

Maomao scoffed slightly but didn’t move, “I’m sure he does. But Lakan is worse than malicious, he’s thoughtless. He doesn’t care about me, he’s just trying to assuage his guilt for ruining that woman. I’d rather not get caught up in it, and end up as some ancient bureaucrat’s wife when he gets bored of me.” 

Meimei sighed, how did this girl become so jaded? She shouldn’t be surprised, as beautiful as the pleasure district could be, it also revealed the worst, most selfish side of human nature. So maybe Meimei was the fool for putting her faith in Lakan, but what she saw of him the past 17 years she didn’t think could be faked. 

The Madam always said Meimei’s heart was too big to be a courtesan. Maybe she was right, because she gave Lakan her time free of charge to talk about their strange, serious little girl and play Go. 

It was too tragic, and Meimei feared their story would continue to be marred in tragedy if they still refused to communicate with each other. When Big Sis Fengxian didn’t tell Lakan about her plan for them to be together, out of pride or fear, and went insane when it didn’t work out was just the beginning. Lakan still can’t seem to bridge the gap between them as father and daughter. Meimei’s own father had passed before she could apologize for running away from home and joining the Verdigris House. She couldn’t even remember his face. 

Of course Meimei wrote to Lakan when she saw an opportunity to turn this tragic story around.

“That’s not true. You’re his own flesh and blood, and look at you! You’re so adorable, everybody loves you.” She pinched Maomao’s round cheeks, and smiled when the girl came alive enough to bat her away. 

“Sorry if I don’t put much stock in something as superficial and random as blood relation. As far as I’m concerned, I already have a father.”

Meimei sighed. 

~~~

It was well past midnight when Maomao got to the La clan compound, even if it was only a half hour ride by carriage. 

As Lakan was showing her where to put her bags, the door next to her opened. A boy a little older than she was rubbed his eyes, his hair was a sleep tousled mess so he’d clearly been woken up. Meanwhile Maomao is still in her finery and makeup from the party. 

He blinked at her before looking to Lakan, clearly unamused, “Dad? What’s happening?” So, she had a brother. Wonderful. 

Lakan grinned, “Lahan, meet your little sister Maomao! Now, be a good big-”

“How much did she cost?” Maomao didn’t even like Lakan but she still bristled at the sudden hostility in Lahan’s tone. That certainly didn’t bode well for their relationship.

As did Lakan: “Cost doesn’t matter for family.” He said firmly.

Lahan rolled his eyes, “In other words: too much,” and slammed his door shut. Lakan sighed and opened the door to her room, quickly lighting a candle on the wall. 

It was…interestingly decorated. Maomao raised an eyebrow at the brightly colored flowers and butterflies painted on the walls. Even her bedframe was painted an obnoxious pink. 

A too short desk sat under the window. Lakan’s gaze seemed to find it as soon as hers did, and he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, “Um, you can redecorate, of course. I had this room furnished…awhile ago.” He smiled at her and reached out, “Well, all that matters is that you're here now.”

Maomao moved before he could actually touch her, throwing her bag in the bed, “I’m tired.”

“Ah! Of course, I’ll collect you in the morning for a tour of the place.”

When she blew out the candle, she kept the window open to allow moonlight in. When she laid down she saw the ceiling was painted with glittering stars. Most likely with a paint made from crushed up glass or crystals so it shimmered when exposed to half light but would blend in with the white ceiling normally. A neat trick. They looked crude, like a child did them. 

She didn’t sleep well. 

~~~

She was dragged from sleep by Lakan knocking on her door, an equally disgruntled Lahan trailing behind him. She was mildly surprised he hadn’t sent a maid to collect her, or even that all their bedrooms were so close together. 

“Am I really needed for this?” He grumbled, “You’re already making me take time off.”

“Time off?” Maomao echoed with mounting dread.

Lakan smiled and clapped his hands together eagerly, “That’s right. Papa requested a month off from work so you don’t feel lonely for a second while settling in! I took the liberty of doing the same for Lahan.” The idea sent shivers of dread down Maomao’s spine. 

“I wish you let me know before I was getting ready to leave…”

Lakan threw one arm around each of them, “Don’t think you’ll get to spend all that time locked in your room, either of you, this is so we can grow as a family . “ Almost simultaneously, his kids shrugged him off with twin huffs. Lakan sighed dramatically. 

They made their way through the house, stopping at the dining room for breakfast, Lakan showing off the rooms of any interest. Mainly many, many academic libraries organized by subject. As they passed closed doors Lakan didn’t bother narrating, Maomao assumed they were more bedrooms for clan members. Slowly, a strange feeling about this place began to overtake her. They’d only seen a few housekeepers and one cook, but that was just the main house. 

It wasn’t until they got outside Maomao realized what she felt off about this place. When she worked in the rear palace, or even the Verdigris House, there was always noise. People bustling around: Servants starting their day, nobles getting ready for work, just the sounds of life. 

The La clan compound didn’t have that. From the central position of the main house, Maomao could see only one or two buildings were in use from the dozen that surrounded them. Any branching paths were overgrown with split flagstones. In a way it was beautiful: flowers and wild grass overtook any patch of dirt available. Especially towering foxglove flowers; as tall as she was and of every imaginable color, they seemed to hide the unused structures. It was too early in the season, but Maomao was sure in the height of spring it was a sight to behold. 

Lakan and Lahan looked at her strangely when they realized she stopped to stare, “What’s wrong, Kitten?” Lakan asked.

“Don’t call me that.” Maomao snapped in annoyance before her gaze returned to the scene around her, "Where is everyone?”

“Who?” Lahan asked. Maomao gestured lamely, and suddenly the two men were looking around like they were seeing it for the first time, “Oh…”

“Just us, and some necessary staff.” Lakan smiled, “The La Clan main branch was never very big or wealthy, honestly we were on the decline far before that scandal around my uncle Luomen even if my late father claims otherwise.” Absentmindedly, he took his monocle off to wipe a bit of imaginary dirt off it, not looking at her, “After I returned from the border, well, I had a few disagreements with the old man and decided to take matters into my own hands! Now it’s just me and Lahan, and you too now!” He finished with a grin. Maomao looked away, unsettled. 

“You couldn’t even hire enough staff to keep the place clean?”

This time, Lahan tsked at her, “It’s a waste of money to keep up houses nobody is using. One year's salary of a groundskeeper could buy 20 books!” Maomao sighed, that’s a family of eccentrics for you. 

Lakan cleared his throat, “Actually, that’s a perfect segue! Maomao, I know how much you love medicines~” With a beckoning hand, he led them through the overgrowth, stepping down larger weeds as he went. Eventually they came to a squat building on the edge of the property, especially overgrown with plants Maomao recognized. Gasping, she rushed in to categorize what they had with a pleased smile. 

Water was quickly dumped on her mood when she remembered her audience. Lakan looked far too pleased with himself. Withdrawing a key ring, he began to try them on the old lock, muttering quietly. Lahan leaned over to “help” by pointing out what keys were not to the building, but also couldn’t find the right one. 

After several more moments of jostling, they managed to pry the sliding door free from the overgrowth. 

“There we are!” Lakan cheered.

Lahan peered into the dusty depths with Maomao, “What is it? How have I never noticed this building before?”

“This was my uncle’s old apothecary, back when we were big enough to warrant one.” He pointed to a small table in the corner, “I’d sit right there and bother him while he worked.” Maomao believed it, “Welp, here you are!” He cheered, taking the hard won key off the ring and giving it to her, “I know it’s not much, but at least it’ll be yours!” She blinked down at it in wonder.

Maomao wanted to deny it, just to deny Lakan the satisfaction of thinking he won against her. She’d never had her own space before, though, with complete freedom to choose where her herbs went or how to store them. Her sperm donor looked impossibly smug to see her icy attitude thawing, but she took the key anyway. At least she’d have a place to hide now. 

“How do I order any ingredients I need?”

“You go through me.” Lahan said plainly, “I’m in charge of the finances.”

That sounded like a pain. Maomao listlessly looked past them through the door to the abandoned compound. She could flee, it’d be easy, but where could she go? Back to the pleasure district? No, The Madam would never allow it. Besides, she belonged to Lakan now even if he hadn’t updated the family tree yet, and when that happened he’d only have more power over her. That man’s pride could probably even eclipse Master Jinshi’s vanity. No doubt he’d have the army after her to save face. Maybe if she was able to quietly slip away, be free from court life, he’d let her. Unfortunately, it took money to run away if she didn’t want to sell her body and she was flat broke. Why was it as soon as she got rid of one annoying man another had to take his place?

Maomao tucked the key into her jacket pocket, “Alright. Can we end the tour here? I’d like to get started taking inventory.” Lakan looked disappointed, but allowed it. As they left, Lahan sent her one last glare before slamming the door shut. Maomao rolled her eyes and got to work.

Notes:

I read in other fanfics there was some succession crisis in the La clan that left Lakan and Lahan the only members left. I have no clue if this is based on the light novel, or conjecture because Jinshi says only Lahan and Lakan are left in court, and do I care? No. Does the idea of a largely abandoned, overgrown compound sound really poignant? Yes. Do I not want to deal with a bunch of La family OC’s and chinese court politics I know absolutely nothing about? Also yes.

Chapter 2: Winter II

Notes:

Wow! Thank you guys so much, writing for an active fandom is definitely a novel experience, lol.

There was a time, many, many years ago, Lahan loved Maomao. It’s a strange concept, since he never actually met her, but Lakan talked enough about her that it felt like he did. His precious little cousin that liked to make medicines and was so clever. That’s the beauty of children: they give out love so easily. 

It helped that Lahan never felt like part of the La clan to begin with. As the antisocial child that liked numbers more than the usual political maneuverings that was the bread and butter of the La clan, he was naturally lumped together with his uncle. Neither of them could stand social events for more than an hour before the effort of simply trying to be normal exhausted them. 

His birth parents were always too busy to bother with Lahan, and while they bothered even less with his older brother, he was his true tormentor. He would tell Lahan to just stay out of his way and stick to numbers: “At least you can’t ruin math.” Lahan actually thought he was complimenting him until one of his cousins informed him otherwise.

While he’d rather die than admit it now, there was a time he’d fantasized about having Maomao around. “Do you think she’d like me?” He asked Lakan between breaths of the latest story about her. 

Lakan had paused and smiled at him warmly, more sincere than anyone else in his life was, “I think you’d be great friends.” Lahan had beamed back at him. Lakan then leaned in conspiratorially, “And once I’m head of the La clan, I’ll bring her here. Then nobody will ever tell any of us how we should live.” It was a wonderful dream. 

And in the aftermath of the succession crisis, after all the cussing and cursing and threats, they were alone. That first night was awful, suddenly quiet and none of the staff would look at them for too long. They were terrified of the sudden change in dynamics. Honestly, so was a 9 year old Lahan. 

He remembered his new father holding his hand as he looked down at his rice, too sick with dread to eat, “How about you spend the night with me, okay?” Lahan had liked to share a bed with his brother, but the older boy always got annoyed and made him leave. Lahan nodded and fell into his arms immediately, letting Lakan carry him to bed. 

Typically family members' bedrooms were more spread out, neighboring bedrooms were more for personal attendants than family. Lakan was happy to do away with that tradition, Lahan got the sense for a man who couldn’t see faces he valued the few people he bothered to remember more than what was strictly proper. He valued a lot of things more than was strictly proper, that’s why Lahan loved him.

“We’ll redecorate your new room tomorrow. Anything you want goes, you’re the La clan heir now.” 

Lahan nodded in his chest. His mother liked to paint, it was a skill that had earned her his father’s respect during courtship. They were very popular amongst the court ladies in the palace. Sometimes she’d tolerate Lahan sitting at her feet while she worked as long as he was quiet with his abacus. She’d use paint made from crushed crystals to simulate the night sky; that was his favorite.

It wasn’t like she was here to use it, anymore, “I want to paint stars on the ceiling. With the special paint mother used.” He looked at Lakan very seriously, “With real constellations.” 

His father laughed, “Alright, we’ll do that together once I get home from work. Choose a star chart to copy down.”

“And Maomao’s room?” Lahan prompted, for some reason Lakan looked surprised at that, “Can she get stars too?” 

Lahan could barely see tears glint in his eyes in the dim light, “Of course. And we’ll pick out furniture and decorations for her too, so she’ll feel right at home when she gets here.”

10 years have passed since then. Lahan grew up, and slowly started to resent how her mere existence had so much power over his father. How she only seemed to hurt him, and how, despite that, Lahan still wasn’t enough for him. 

Besides, Lahan had grown very used to being an only child. He wasn’t keen on sharing his father’s attention or his budget or space with anyone . Much less a surly girl who looked like being around them was the worst thing in the world that could have happened to her. 

~~~

Lakan was inescapable, Maomao quickly discovered. Even when she was working on cleaning up the herb garden, he’d come out and make painful small talk. Or even just watch her work silently with a creepy look on his face. 

Lakan pressed her for a few rounds of Go. She was only passable at the game, but she figured the most peaceful way of getting out of it was pretending to be horrible at it until he got bored. 

He didn’t mind, though. He talked about the dead woman while he coached her through moves. About how much she looked like her, about how proud she’d be of her. Maomao ran her thumb over her too-short pinky. Even when she stopped playing in the middle of their game he kept talking: “Fengxian would have been a wonderful mother. I don’t suppose you remember anything about her, do you? DId they even keep anything of hers for you to remember her by? I’d doubt it.”

So, now he decided to acknowledge she was there outside of his captive audience. Maomao stood and left, he didn't call after her. That didn’t stop him from asking for a game whenever he saw her, so she avoided it as much as possible in her little run down apothecary.

On her third day of cleaning, she found them. Stored in a box were books upon books of notes her father wrote when he was here. Medical textbooks. When she inhaled deep enough, they even still had his scent. Or maybe that was just her imagination. 

They were her one comfort in this place, and she would spend hours locked in the apothecary reading them in peace. Some desperate part of her didn’t want Lakan to know about this, to give him any way to hurt her. He had a track record of being careless with people’s hearts. 

~~~

Breakfast and dinner were family affairs, Lakan insisted. He always loaded her plate up with more food than necessary (you need to eat more!), and would cajole her into eating more when she was done.

“Well, I suppose I can just feed you myself. I never got a chance to when you were little!” Lakan hummed aloud, his eyes fox-like as Maomao was suddenly eager to finish her meal. 

At breakfast, he’d ask how the apothecary was coming, if she needed anything (anything at all!), if she needed help. She mostly replied with one word answers until he gave up. Then Lahan would fill the rest of the conversation with whatever math thing he was working on Maomao couldn’t care less about. They’d do it all over again at dinner, but it was a little harder to not participate then.

“What did you do today, Kitten?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Aww, but it’s cute.”

“I don’t care. I didn’t do much.”

Lahan had smiled a little, like he knew what was coming next when in a sing-song voice Lakan responded: “Hmm, not good enough. What did you do first?”

Maomao sighed in mounting aggravation, “I took inventory.”

“Then what?”

She grit her teeth, “I made a list of all the herbs already in the garden.”

“Then what?”

Maomao had slammed her plate on the table and stormed off. After that he had Lahan or himself go before her so she had enough time to get some food in her stomach before running off to bed. She wished that old bastard could take a hint. 

~~~

“So, my darling daughter, what do you think?” Lakan grinned as Maomao looked down at the opulent set of jewelry and hairpins fit for a high courtesan he slid to her across the breakfast table, “Only the best for you! We’ll get a tailor in soon to make you some proper robes befitting a La clan heiress. Until then, Papa got you a catalog to look through.”

Well, at least she could sell them if she ever had to run away, “They’re nice.” She responded instead diplomatically. All the dresses looked stuffy and uncomfortable like what most noble ladies wore, “Honestly, I’d rather have clothes more like what I have now, just with higher quality fabrics if anything.”

Lakan actually pouted , like a child, and Maomao felt another wave of disgust towards him not unlike what Master Jinshi often got out of her, “That’s no fun, Papa has 17 years of spoiling to make up for! Seriously, pick whatever you like!” 

She just said what she wanted! Lahan was no help as he resolutely looked into his food instead of at her, she at least thought they could agree this was a ridiculous waste of money, “I’m serious.” She snapped. 

Lakan huffed, “Fine, fine. How’d I get stuck with two children that are impossible to get gifts for?”

“You get me stuff all the time. Just last week the article came in that claimed to prove Euclid's 5th postulate." Lahan pointed out, slightly petulantly.

“Oh yeah, did you take a look at it yet?”

“I’ve drafted a rough response for why he’s wrong, I’m just finishing it up.” Why was Maomao unsurprised that Lahan's hobby was systematically destroying the egos of other mathematicians? 

Lakan grinned, “That’s my boy!”, then waved a dismissive hand, “Anyway, that’s education- it’s a necessity! That doesn’t count. Maomao, you do have to pick at least a few out for formal dinners.” He turned his attention to Lahan, and Maomao noted with some satisfaction her brother flinched, “You too, Lahan. None of your old formal robes fit anymore.”

“I just did it!”

“Two years ago!”

At least when the tailor finally did come, Lakan ordered her a new wardrobe of work clothes in simple, finer textiles in addition to horrible formal dresses. It was also funny to listen to Lahan complain about feeling violated by the seamstress groping at him, although Maomao suspected he was just in a bad mood because she called his shoulder width “unusually slim for a man.”

~~~

Maomao’s quest for other volunteer medicinal plants in the veritable jungle of the La compound brought her to the family shrine. It was one of the buildings other than the servants quarters that was well maintained and the path was rid of weeds. Barely budding foxglove still surrounded the place, along with other shrubs Maomao didn’t recognize without their blooms so they probably didn’t have any pharmaceutical benefits. 

Curiously, she noticed flowers under one of the plaques: balsam and woodsorrel. They were slightly wilted. 

“Fengxian.” It read. Why? They were never even married, why would Lakan want to memorialize her? The prostitute he used up and threw away, not like that foolish woman didn’t invite it herself. Maomao grit her teeth, and noted it looked less than 17 years old. What did that mean?

“Ah, Maomao.” Great, the last person she wanted to talk to. Lakan smiled at her faintly, although his usual loud personality was subdued. He had fresh flowers in his hand, “Did you come to pay respects to your mother?”

Maomao was surprised this was more annoying, “Why is she here?”

“What do you mean? She was the love of my life.” Lakan responded lightly, coming to stand beside her to replace the bouquet with the fresh one. Idly, he traced the characters of her name with the tips of his fingers, “I understand, she was never officially part of the La clan, but in my heart she was. She was brilliant, she would have fit in perfectly . Just like you.” He smiled up at her, and stood to gaze at the plaque alongside her, “This was the first big fight I had with my father. I never thought it was worth it to try to fight him on anything, even when he told me to leave Fengxian. I told her it would only be three months, but it ended up being three years. 

“I thought, at least, after killing her, he could let her in the family shrine. He disagreed. He didn’t even want to acknowledge you as my daughter- the things he said about her-!” Lakan stopped himself, took a deep breath, “Well, I couldn’t abide it.”

Was that how he slept at night? He pretended it wasn’t his own carelessness that caused that, and blamed the La clan head instead? The Madam was right to keep her away from him, people like that are dangerous.

She’d already been here for more than a week. That woman’s pain medicine was no doubt running out. Rationally, she knew her father would take care of it, but some part of her still saw that mess as her responsibility. Besides, there were preserved herbs from when Luomen worked there she could use that were expensive. 

Unfortunately, she needed permission, “I’d like to go back to the Verdigris house to deliver some medication. Tomorrow, if possible”

Lakan gawked at her, “You want to go back ?”

“Yes, it’s important.”

“What could possibly be so important to go to that-that seedy whore house!?”

Maomao was momentarily gobsmacked, before heat rose to her cheeks in rage, “Seedy whore house!? The women there raised me! Is that how you saw my mother? No wonder you left her.”

“That wasn’t my choice! And I may have left her but it was that greedy BITCH running the place who ruined her! Fengxian didn’t have to lower herself like that if she gave her more grace!” He was so mad he was spitting as he screamed. Maomao took an involuntary step back.

Whatever. This argument was beneath her. Maomao crossed her arms and looked away. 

Eventually Lakan gained his breath back and sighed, “Fine, I’ll come with you.”

Maomao stiffened, “Why!?”

“Like hell I’m letting you back there alone, after everything I did to get you back. I may have tolerated my uncle taking you in to keep you away from court politics for a time, but I won’t let you turn out like your mother.”

Neither would Maomao, “Fine.” she spat, “Step one is staying away from you .” She stormed away, leaving the look of devastation on Lakan’s face behind her.

Notes:

Meimei needs to come in with the common sense stick and beat Lakan over the head fast.

Many, many years ago I had an idea for an immortal demon lord with a passion for knowledge having a long standing feud with Euclid’s 5th postulate. Literally across centuries. I’m happy I can use that with Lahan. Lahan *will* invent non-Euclidian geometry by the end of this and troll the whole world. In ancient Greece there was a cult called: The Pythagorean cult. Basically they believed that math and geometry would lead to a more perfect understanding of the universe and true enlightenment. That’s Lahan. I made his mother a painter because beauty and art actually has a lot of math in it, like the golden ratio, and I can see him viewing the world like that. Like, he’d see Jinshi and break out the calipers to measure the distance between his eyes vs height of his cheekbones and just marvel. He was definitely restraining himself that episode.

Chapter 3: Winter III

Lakan wasn’t naive enough to think he’d bring Maomao home and everything would be fine. Not when his Uncle let her around so many people who’d poison her against him. It had been a mutually beneficial arrangement, Lakan had too much of a volatile situation at home to bring her there in good conscience. By the time that had been sorted, Luomen had already taken her on as an apprentice and asked to keep her. Court is not a place for children, and nobody was quite sure if the new emperor would have his father’s “proclivities”. Lakan valued his opinion greatly, so he acquiesced however much he hated it. 

Fine, but he’d told Luomen the second he wasn’t able to keep her safe she was coming home. Nothing quite said “not safe” like a letter from Meimei saying Maomao collected a large debt with the heartless Madam of the Verdigris house. 

It was embarrassing that he lost his temper like that, though. That was what he always hated about his father, he’d get so mad and yell until he got his way. He supposed it was true what they said about turning into your parents. Ugh.

The carriage ride to the pleasure district was a long, quiet one. 

Maomao immediately headed to the back, calling that she’d probably be at least a few hours, but Lakan was intercepted by the Madam when he tried to follow. Before he got into a screaming match with the old crone someone had grabbed onto his arm. Meimei smiled up at him and batted her eyes, “I don’t have a client right now, Lakan. How about we play a match of Go?”

Lakan really, really wanted to start a fight with someone . But before he could Meimei was already leading him away. 

“You got lucky!” The Madam called after them. 

“How d-!” Meimei practically shoved him in the closest bedroom and slammed the door behind her. She sighed heavily. “You didn’t have to step in.” Lakan muttered. 

“Yes I did. I don’t think Maomao would be very happy to drag your unconscious body home.” That woman did wield a broom like a spearman. He had a few gold teeth courtesy of her.  Meimei brushed past him to find a Go set in the cupboards, “Besides, I want to hear all about Maomao’s first week with you and you’d be difficult to understand without teeth! I assume you’d like the usual sweet herbal tea?” She smiled sweetly. Lakan’s eye twitched but he nodded. 

Actually, Meimei was probably the best person to talk to about this. He did find himself missing their encounters now that he didn’t have Maomao to talk to her about on some level. Although he was still annoyed she didn’t tell him Maomao was missing until they knew she was safe in the rear palace (“You just would have done something you regretted!”). Not for the first time he wished Fengxian was still with them so she could give him some advice. It seemed like he just made things worse whenever he spoke. 

Meimei laid out the board as the tea brewed, “So?”

Lakan sighed, “We had a huge fight yesterday. Not that she usually gets along well with me, but I lost my temper.”

“What about?” 

He probably shouldn’t tell Meimei he implied she was a seedy whore, he decided in a rare moment of introspection: “I didn’t like the idea of her coming back here. I worry about her ending up like Fengxian.”

Meimei giggled, “Well, Maomao is very independent and stubborn. I don’t imagine she likes you coming into her life and telling her what she can and can’t do. Remember:” She made her first move, “She has a Dad already, Luomen.”

“It shouldn’t be like that.” He said a little petulantly. But as he made his counter move and fell into the familiar motions of Go he felt the tension leaving his body. 

Meimei was unsympathetic, “But it is.” She put down her next move. Lakan had to pause to think about it, “Didn’t you tell me to focus on what's in front of me when you were teaching me how to play better?”

Damn it, she had him there. He clicked another tile down, “Fine. So she’ll just hate me forever then?”

“You tell me, master strategist. When you hit a brick wall do you waste energy tearing it down or go around it?” Lakan was still somehow surprised by her cheek with such a sweet personality. Still, he thought about it as he analyzed her latest move. 

Decided, he put a piece down and sat back, “Around, obviously. So?”

“So stop trying to be her Dad.” Meimei continued, “Try being her friend first. Find a place in her life.”

“Ahh, that’s making a bold assumption, Meimei.” She raised an eyebrow, “...I have no friends.”

She blinked, “Wait, how? You’re the Grand Commandant!”

“I have coworkers and subordinates, that’s different.”

Laughing, she waved away the thought, “Alright. I’ll tell you what to do…”

~~~

Maomao replaced the medicine in the dead woman’s dresser. It was strong stuff and better off away from the communal medicine cabinet. She checked everything else while he was there: the medicine stores, if there were clean linens, if she needed a sponge bath. Maomao ran her thumb over her pinky as she took a moment to look at the woman. Caught in an endless loop of playing Go against nobody, stuck in a time long past. 

Sighing, she eased herself on the bed. The woman ignored her, of course. Maomao suddenly spent a lot more time looking at a Go board recently than she strictly wanted and could see the shape of the board in the stones the woman laid out. 

The dead woman moved a white piece. Maomao moved a black one. Some part of the woman must be alive because she froze. When Maomao looked back at her, she felt a chill down her spine as she looked into hollow red eyes. Her brows furrowed gently and slowly, the woman cocked her head, “..mhm…”

This was foolish, what was Maomao hoping to accomplish? Besides, she wanted enough time to visit her Dad before Lakan got impatient. Hurriedly, she left out the back.

The road to her father’s house was just as she remembered, and she couldn’t help but smile as she walked the familiar route. She didn’t have the chance to properly say goodbye before, again. When he opened the apothecary doors, she fell into his arms. 

“Maomao, welcome back.” He smiled as he hugged her. Not welcome home, her throat constricted painfully. Always the good host, Luomen started a pot of tea as Maomao sat down at the table, “How have you been?” He asked.

“It’s been awful. I hate it there.” She couldn’t help but catch his sleeve as he poured her tea, “Please come with me. I can convince Lakan.” Or try, at least. 

Luomen looked at her sadly, and gently grasped her hand clenched in his sleeve. He squeezed briefly before letting go to sit across from her, “Oh Maomao, you know I can’t. It would take me too far from my patients, I don’t think anyone could walk all the way to the La compound for medicine.” He chuckled. 

“But-” Maomao stopped herself. She wasn’t a child, and she did know that. She wouldn’t say she needed him. Somehow, Luomen seemed to understand anyway. 

“Maomao.” He sighed, “I knew this day would come eventually. I wanted to shield you from court life as long as possible, but in the end nobody can escape that place. I was lucky I was able to leave with only a limp.” Right, it would be selfish to drag her Dad back into that. Luomen sighed, “That was the deal I made with Lakan. The moment I couldn’t protect you, you’d be returned to the La clan.”

“That’s why?” She’d thought he hadn’t cared about her, at least until she became of marrying age. 

Luomen smiled, “Of course. While I respected your wishes to stay away, that doesn’t change the fact he loves you. I was shocked that such a lazy boy was able to oust my brother!” And all because he disrespected some prostitute, if Lakan was to be believed. Maomao huffed and looked away, but Luomen cupped her cheek to make her look at him: "Whatever happens next, I want you to know this: I’m honored I was able to play a small part in the wonderful, kind, brilliant woman you’ll become.”  

Maomao couldn’t help it. Tears began to flow down her cheeks. 

“And Maomao?” Luomen hummed, smiling gently.

“Y-yes?”

“Am I going to have to warn Lakan about your propensity for trying to poison yourself,” Maomao flinched, “or will you behave?” 

That Monocled Freak would probably have the apothecary torn down if he heard about that. She nodded. Maybe she’d actually keep this promise, since Luomen wouldn’t be there to save her if she went overboard. She cried harder. 

~~~

“Maomao?” Lakan started as they began their journey back to the compound, “Would you like to play Go when we get back?”

Maomao raised an eyebrow, that was a tone change, “If you insist.”

“...You don’t even like Go, do you?” 

“Not really.”

He sighed, “Well, don’t worry.” Reaching over, he patted her knee, “We’ll find something to be our thing.” He blanched, “Hopefully something a little more interesting than predicting market prices. Although, it has made me more aware of current events.”

Notes:

One of the symptoms of late stage syphilis is dementia. While I’m not sure how that looks in a syphilis patient, my Great Grandmother died of dementia when I was 13. She was a very bright woman, she worked for IBM in WW2 as one of only a few female mathematicians. They wanted to keep her as a computer programmer after the war, but she declined because she’d rather be with her family. Anyway, when she was slipping I’d do math games with her and it always made her more aware of her surroundings. I imagine that’s how Fengxian is with Go.

Chapter 4: Winter IV

Maomao wasn’t particularly happy to be knocking on her brother’s door, but she had a request. Lahan could be found in one of three places here: in the mathematics and cartography library, Lakan’s office, or his room. She wanted to avoid having this conversation where Lakan could hear, so she naturally waited to visit him after dinner where she could be sure he wouldn’t be with Lakan. Although even that wasn’t a guarantee, because sometimes she could hear them chatting late into the night when she went to get water or use the restroom. Sometimes they acted more like schoolgirls gossiping over boys than father and son, she thought with a huff. So far, Lahan had regarded her in ambivalence or annoyance. Maomao had a limited understanding of siblings, but this seemed standard. 

“Come in.”

Lahan was hunched over his desk in candle light, already in his night clothes. He frowned at her, “Oh, it’s you.” He observed lightly, propping his head on one hand, “What do you want?”

“I wanted to ask about ordering something.” She glanced around his room. It looked a lot like hers as far as size and layout. Simple black ink paintings made from thick cloth stretched tightly over wooden frames covered the walls. Interesting subjects for a young man: flowers, sea shells, and butterflies. She approached one of the closer ones and analyzed the style, usually plain, top down views focusing on radial patterns. How familiar. She picked it off the wall to examine it closer and could see the faint charcoal sketch lines of simple geometric shapes.

“Out with it then!” Lahan snapped, storming over to her to take the painting back with a slight flush. Maomao saw on his desk another painting in progress along with rulers, protractors and a compass. Maybe this wasn’t so out of character. She let him take it, resisting from asking about it. It was really none of her business. 

“I need paper.”

“Paper? Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Well, since I’m in charge of the budget, then you have to convenience me why you need it.” Crap, she shouldn’t have poked around. Oh well.

“I want to write to my Dad.” While she could use wooden tabs to write, to get enough of them to write anything substantial would be difficult to mail. 

“ Our Dad is across the hall.” He huffed, “ You mean Granduncle Luomen.”

Maomao grit her teeth, “Yes.” Unfortunately he seemed to catch on and smirked.

Lazily tapping the frame of the painting in his hand to his chin in mock thought, he replied: “Dad said to buy you stuff you need for that apothecary. How does writing letters do that?”

“Luomen is a well known apothecary, it’s important to keep in touch with him.”

“We have books. Besides, paper is expensive, and I assume you’d want enough for him to send a response?” 

Lahan had an extremely punchable face, Maomao suddenly realized as her fists clenched at her side. Knowing this was going nowhere fast, she spun on her heel, “Gonna tell on me, Kitten?”

The tops of Maomao’s ears burned as she slammed her door shut behind her. She fell on her bed dramatically, she hated this family! Still, she turned her head to look at her wall: painted with top down, geometric flowers and butterflies that looked at home in a textbook. 

She sighed and buried her face in her pillow. 

~~~

There was a knock on the apothecary door she kept locked now, “Sweetie?” Lakan called, “Can I come in? I know you’re in there.”

Maomao sighed, usually she dealt with this by pretending not to be there. But she’d already blown him off an hour ago, any more he’d probably start mobilizing the army, emperor's ire be damned. Quickly, she put away her Dad’s work in a nondescript box and got the door. 

This was the first time she’d been alone with him since the ride back from the Verdigris house. He had calmed down that day, but she still thought of how mad he got during their fight and she wasn’t eager to get in another. 

“What is it?”

Lakan shrugged, “I just wanted to see what you did with the place, it’s been awhile since it’s been taken care of.” Maomao stepped aside and let him in. He smiled wistfully around the space, “This brings me back. When my Father got in a bad mood I’d hide out here with uncle…ah.” He winced, “I’m sorry I raised my voice at you, I won’t do it again.”

“I find that hard to believe.” Even her Dad said Lakan had a temper, and he usually sung his praises. 

Lakan opened his mouth to say something, probably an excuse, before zipping it shut. He sighed, “You’re probably right. How about this, next time I get mad just tell me to shove it, huh?” Despite herself, the response was unexpected enough her lip twitched. 

“Alright.”

Lakan smiled and reached for her again, freezing when Maomao backed away. He turned to her work laid out on the table, “What are you working on?” 

“Growing bacteria.”

“What on earth for?”

She probably shouldn’t tell him about her parting promise to stop experimenting on herself. It wasn’t as bitter a pill to swallow as she thought it would be. While not as accepted by others, Luomen had taught her diseases like sepsis aren’t caused by bad winds or whatever, but by microscopic organisms invading the body. He had even wistfully told her of a science exposition he attended years ago where a man from the western continent had been able to see these “bacteria” with a device called a microscope. One powerful enough would be inordinately expensive, and as much as Luomen had tried he couldn’t get an imperial sponsor for it.  

Luckily, Maomao saw his notes mentioned that bacteria could also be seen with the naked eye if colonies could form. The pink scum in bathhouses, for example, were bacterial colonies. There were several diseases Luomen had marked as caused by bacteria that this could benefit. He was never able to pursue that line of thinking seriously, but Maomao could. 

“Because then I can see what kills them best. A lot of diseases are caused by bacteria.” She couldn’t help but recall those haunting red eyes that, however briefly, seemed to actually see her instead of look through her, “…syphilis, for example.” 

Lakan’s expression of confusion softened, “I see, well, Papa will help in whatever way I can!”

Maomao’s eye twitched, but she could use someone with a little more muscle, “Fine.” She sighed, collecting several uninteresting looking sticks off the table and putting them in the hand mill, “Here. The sorghum is a pain to get the juice from. Once it’s a fine paste, I’ll have you squeeze the juice out with a cheese cloth. Then I can boil it for a syrup. This is the base for all the media I’m making, so do as much as you can.”

She raided the storage sheds previously for a bunch of salts that may have beneficial minerals for the bacteria. As well as collected plants with properties to stimulate energy and growth. She got started on her own mortar and pestle, following ratios she already laid out in a notebook. 

“Why sorghum?” Lakan asked as he got started.

“Sugar is the basis for all life. Take raising bread for example, the yeast needs sugar to be able to grow. Same with brewing alcohol. There are other sources, but sorghum is cheap and plentiful while also being rich in sugar.” When she heard the sound of the grinder stop, she looked up to see Lakan staring at her. She shivered.

“You’re so smart.” He gave her a closed-eye smile, before returning to grinding, “So, what else are you adding?”

~~~

Maomao was actually able to stay through all of dinner that night, because Lakan did most of the talking for her: “-I remember uncle mentioning bacteria before when he got back from the convention with the men from the far west. Most I remember was that he thought their jackets with all those fiddly buttons looked terribly uncomfortable. When I finally met a delegate from that part of the world I had to agree.” Lakan laughed, “Maybe that’s why he was chased from court! Anyway, being able to grow something so small to run tests on is truly ingenious! They’ll be writing books about you, I’m sure!”

How embarrassing. For both of them. For whatever reason Lakan felt compelled to lay it on a bit thick, like she was a child taking her first steps than a real apothecary. Maomao glared into her cup as she sipped, resembling a cat that had water poured over it. 

She felt a chill down her spine and saw Lahan staring at her intently. Was that his deal, that he’s jealous? It wasn’t like she asked for this! Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t get a lot of praise and attention himself! For years when Maomao had hardly been here more than a week!

Maomao still hasn’t given up on getting her paper from him, but there was no way in hell she was going to ask Lakan to make him. Putting aside how humiliating that was, it wouldn’t help her long term survival in this place. 

While Lakan was taking the rest of the month off from court, he still got frequent enough visits from whom Maomao could only assume was his personal head of spies. It was during this meeting Maomao found Lahan again, this time in his favorite library staring between a map of Li as tall as he was and a ledger of some kind. 

“Lahan.” She said, getting his attention. 

“Sorry, was that difficult for you to say?” He cooed, barely sparing her a glance as he put a pin on the map.

“What?”

“Oh, I just noticed in the more than a week you’ve been here you have yet to use my name. Or Dad’s name for that matter, much less calling him Dad.”

How annoying, “It’s not like I wanted to be here. Maybe he didn’t tell you, but I was fine on my own.”

“Didn’t sound like it.” Lahan shrugged. He slapped the ledger down on the table and crossed his arms while he leaned against it, seemingly settling in for a long conversation, “Poor, poor Maomao. It must be so hard having a birth father who loves and supports you. It must really suck how he doesn’t ask you to do anything in return for it.”

Maomao was dumbstruck for a moment, “Nothing in return? Well, we’ll see about that when it’s time to find a husband.”

“Dad wouldn’t do that to you, to either of us. Do you even know why we’re here? In this- this mausoleum?” Maomao shook her head, “Because Dad wants to protect us. He spent his youth having no control over his life and he didn’t want that for us. Because he knows that time is something he could never get back. So it seems like the least you can do is not make it look like such a fucking chore to be around us.” She flinched.

Suddenly, she felt a headache coming on and she pinched the bridge of her nose to stave it off, “...It’s not that. It’s not like I hate you guys or anything, I just don’t want to get caught up in all this.”

“So your, what, throwing a tantrum instead?”

Maybe. But how else was she supposed to keep a safe distance when she was, essentially, alone with the two most dangerous people to her? Maomao didn’t want a life here, she didn’t want to think Lakan’s gushing was in some way endearing rather than sickeningly saccharine, didn’t want to think Lahan’s curmudgeonly attitude could be fun to mess with. Not when it could get ripped away out of a worse sin than malice: carelessness. 

She was about to respond when: “Lahan!” They both flinched hard when the library door was torn open. Lakan didn’t look mad, even seemed shocked Maomao was there in the first place, “Oh, wonderful! I’m glad you two are getting along. Kitten, would you like to join us?” He grabbed a chair from the large central table Lahan was leaning on and plopped down. 

“Did the master of spies actually have something interesting?” Lahan asked lightly, like he hadn’t looked ready to murder Maomao a moment ago. He made his way to a blackboard on the far wall and cleared away some complex formulas he must have been working on before. What was going on?

Lakan seemed thrilled he asked: “Oh yes, another murder.”

Notes:

My Dad has a nasty temper he inherited from his Dad. Except, he’s very doting so he only got really spitting mad when I did something dangerous- like almost walked into traffic or had dangling sleeves when cooking dangerous. It’s very confusing because he’s screaming at you, which is scary, but he’s screaming about how much he loves you and would be devastated if anything happened to you, which is sweet. He does the same to his apprentices at work, so we get to commiserate over it, lol.

Anyway, that’s part of Maomao and Lakan’s dynamic (I draw a lot of their dynamic from my relationship with my Dad, both of them being self made men. Although my Dad got on the city council by getting drunk with some buddies and writing himself on the ballot). Maomao isn’t necessarily scared of Lakan, but she’s wary of his temper.

So yeah, this chapter also starts us on the main plot of this fic. I imagine this will be somewhat divisive, but wild speculation is always welcome, lol. Any history nerds out there can probably tell!

Chapter 5: Winter V

“You seem happy.” Maomao drawled, but what else could she expect from a man who saw people as nothing but pawns. Still, she took a seat down the table from him- Lakan got grabby when he was excited. 

Lakan at least looked a little shamefaced, “Well, it’s awful someone died, but it’s a great opportunity to flex our deduction skills. Lahan, write this down: Our victim was a middle aged man, not particularly of interest except he was the general foreman for the palace construction crew. Worked with us for 30 years. Found dead not far outside the palace gates this morning. No visible wounds.”

“What makes you so sure it was murder then?” Lahan asked as he wrote, “He was old and worked a hard job. Could have been a heart attack.”

“45 is hardly old!” Said the 44 year old, Maomao hid a snicker. So did Lahan the way he pointedly turned back to the board, “One day you’re going to wake up and pull your back getting out of bed, and when that happens I’m going to remember this conversation!”

Lahan’s shoulders shook, and he sounded a little strained as he spoke, “Sure, Dad. The murder?”

“Kids these days, if I spoke that way to my Dad he would have beat me.” But he was smiling as he continued, “Cause of death was choking on his own vomit. Nothing particularly interesting was found with the body, but his clothes were filthy with sweat and grime.”

Lahan stepped back to look at what he wrote down. Maomao tucked her chin in her hand as she thought. Choking on vomit is usually caused by a seizure. From the condition of his clothes, he was probably leaving the palace the night before when he was struck.

“The day before.” Maomao asked, “What was he doing?”

Lakan grinned, “He was working on a new storehouse with his crew.” So, physical labor. That lines up with his clothes being in a bad state. 

“Did his crew have any symptoms of poisoning?” Lahan asked.

“Curiously, while they had plenty of water to drink all day they still felt dehydrated and tired. However, when they investigated the water they used it was completely unremarkable.” Lakan had that fox-like look in his eye again. Maomao sighed. 

Well, that made the idea he simply got drunk before going home less likely. Completely unremarkable. They could have been poisoned in their lunches instead. She focused on the information Lahan added to the board. Any neurotoxin strong enough to do that would be very difficult to hide, and why did only the foreman get a lethal amount? 

Wait.

“The rest of the crew, how old were they?”

“All young men, about you and Lahan’s age.”

Lahan smirked, “I got it. Sister?” 

Crap. Maomao didn’t know why she was suddenly so invested in showing off, “Without actually being able to investigate myself, it would all be conjecture.”

“You sound like Uncle.” Lakan laughed, “It’s just a thought experiment, take your best shot!”

While she didn’t appreciate his laissez-faire attitude, she continued, “The foreman died on his way home after a long day of work. While it wasn’t especially hot yesterday, it was sunny, so it would have been a taxing day. Especially given his advanced age,” Lakan pouted, “so he was sure to drink plenty of water. More than the rest of his crew. Except, the water was poison.”

Lahan trapped his chin in obnoxious feigned thought, “But there was nothing wrong with the water?”

“Exactly.” Maomao smirked, “It was pure, completely pure. In order to absorb water properly into our bodies, certain minerals need to be dissolved in it. This allows us to urinate out any excess water. Without that, the water simply stays in our bodies, causing our tissues to swell. Eventually, the brain tissue will swell as well, resulting in seizures and death. Someone switched out the well water provided with distilled water.”

Lakan clapped, “That’s my girl! Excellent job!”

Lahan huffed, “I got it too…”

“Well, I knew you’d get it right away.”

Maomao couldn’t help but be a little offended, “And why’s that?” she prompted. Lahan flinched and Lakan started to laugh. 

“Lahan gave himself hyponatremia on his first day of physical training! It’s mandatory for everyone, even though he was entering as an officer. He threw up all his breakfast after the warm up and tried to chug several jugs of water. I got a message from his overseer that they had to send him home early because of the cramps and vomiting.”

Lahan cleared his throat loudly, “Yes, well, now I only have to pass a yearly physical exam so it was ridiculous to make me do it in the first place.” He shuddered, “I still have nightmares about the communal baths, what brutes.” Maomao snickered behind her sleeve. 

“This reminds me of the bureaucrat who was murdered with too much salt. Two extremely clever murders disguised almost perfectly as natural causes.”

“Master Kounen.” Lakan agreed.

“The only common point between the victims would be their intimate knowledge of the palace. Maybe someone is silencing something, Master Kounen with knowledge of bureaucracy and the Foreman for the physical upkeep of the palace.” Lahan added.

“You must agree.” Maomao accused, “Considering you felt the need to mention the death of a laborer you don’t even know the name of.” Lakan just gave her a fox-like look, and she sighed, “Whatever, I guess it’s up to Master Jinshi to decide if they’re connected.”

“Why Master Jinshi?” Lakan asked, looking genuinely bewildered. 

“Oh, I just assumed he dealt with this kind of thing since he was investigating the death of Master Kounen.”

“Ah. Actually, I’m not sure he knows about this, since it was technically outside the palace. I just tell my spies to tell me anything that sounds interesting, they know my tastes.”

Maomao really shouldn’t be surprised by his laziness by now, “ Lakan . Go write a report for Master Jinshi to let him know.”

He gasped, “D-did you just use my name?”

“Don’t make me regret it!” Maomao snapped, and Lakan laughed as he went back to his office, pressing a kiss on the top of her head as he did. She wrinkled her nose.

“Sure, sure. Anything for my kitten!” 

With him gone, Lahan immediately started to erase the case notes, “Are we done as well?” He asked, at least he seemed in a better mood. So was she, strangely.

Maomao should go check on how her cultures were doing anyway.

~~~

It wasn’t until she was looking at the green tinted, murky solutions she remembered she visited Lahan for a reason. Well, hopefully he warmed up to her a little anyway. 

Maomao had used a fecal sample to introduce the bacteria, and while there was definitely substantial growth in some of the mediums, she noticed they didn’t all look the same. An effect of the medium, or were there various kinds of bacteria in feces? 

Maybe if she used a solid media she could isolate them easier. How did Meimei make that grass jelly dessert she liked? The almost black color could provide good contrast to the cloudy colonies as well. She’d need to ask the cook here. 

There was a knock at the door and Maomao went to unlock it, still deep in thought, and was unsurprised to see Lakan there, “Did you write to Master Jinshi?”

“Yes, yes. It’ll go out with the mail tomorrow. How are our cultures looking?” Maomao wanted to correct him that they were her cultures, but he did help so let it be. 

“Difficult to distinguish. I think I’ll try mixing the broth with something to solidify it more. We got growth though.” Without warning, she shoved the cup under Lakan’s nose. He recoiled and coughed at the foul smell. Smiling to herself, she put that cup down to analyze the next one. It looks like the ones with the ammonium salt and a paste of cooked meat had the best growth…

“Oh, you found these!” Lakan said suddenly, startling her. With dread she realized she forgot to put her Dad’s notes away before letting Lakan in. She’d gotten careless- “Good! There are some of his medical textbooks buried in the natural science library if you’re interested.” He held his chin in his hand as he thought, “Actually, Luomen never came back after I invited him because he wanted to keep you out of all the politics. Maybe now that you’re here I should try again, wouldn’t that be fun?” 

Maomao gaped, “Er…I’m not sure. Dad’s very dedicated to his patients…”

If Lakan was offended at her calling him Dad, he didn’t show it, “Hm, figures. Well, maybe he’d finally be open to visiting now, at least. I’ll send over a note tomorrow as well, let him know he still has an open invitation. I’ll send over a carriage if he wants too.” Honestly she couldn’t see her Dad wanting to use something so opulent for a simple day visit, but once she has something more to show for her research she’d write to him. 

Besides, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to see that knowing, sad look when she says she’s looking for a cure for syphilis just yet. 

Chapter 6: Winter VI

Notes:

You know when you start a story and it's just this one scene you're really excited to write and everything else comes to fill it in? Well, this is the second of those scenes- the first one will be in a few chapters. Anyway I was way too excited to wait to post it XD

Another week came and went in the La compound without much fanfare. She managed to get anything she needed, such as more ceramic cups or alcohol to distill into disinfectant, ordered through Lahan. He was insufferable about her proving why she needed each one, but as long as she got her tools and ingredients at the end that didn’t matter.

Lakan continued to help when needed, and otherwise asked her questions about what she was doing. It was annoying, at first, but she already had a tendency to narrate her actions. Usually that annoyed her unwitting audience, but Lakan seemed happy to just hear her voice. 

“I’ll need to take another trip to the Verdigris house next week.” Maomao announced, the dead woman would need her next refill of pain meds and vitality supplements. She already sent a short message to her father that she’d still take care of her primarily for her maintenance medication, at least. She was an expensive case and Luomen did it for free. 

Lakan nodded, although she noticed he cringed slightly, “Alright. Meimei wanted updates about you so I’ve kept in touch, just so you know.”

“Meimei?” Maomao echoed, they were friends? Since when? Oh ew, was he a customer? 

“Don’t give me that look! We met through your mother and she was the only one willing to give me updates about you. I taught her Go and Chess for her courtesan exam. Thank the Gods she wrote to me when she did, who knows what could have happened if I didn’t get there in time.”

“That’s how you knew!?” That traitor! Maomao sighed, well, she shouldn’t be that surprised- Meimei loved sappy father-daughter books even more than romances. It’s not like she could stay mad at her big sis either, she didn’t have a malicious bone in her body. 

“She didn’t tell you?” 

“No.” Maomao opened the drawers with the necessary herbs and sighed, they were out of powdered poppy milk. The best stuff grew in the west, so much so that the Emperor criminalized sales over a certain amount, but it was more expensive than locally grown. She let her forehead fall on the cabinet, great. 

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’ll just need to visit Lahan.” It’d probably be easier to get in contact with Lady Gyokuyo herself and ask for a shipment. 

“Ah.” Then he scratched his cheek sheepishly, “When exactly did you want to go to the Verdigris house?”

“Why?”

“Well, we have that dinner with the Emperor next week.”

“Since when!?” 

Lakan put his hands up placatingly, “Look, I just wanted it to be a quick ten minute ceremony to bless your formal addition to the La clan but he insisted!” It wasn’t lost on Maomao they still needed a new Pure Consort, and she took comfort that her chest was far too flat. That didn’t mean Lakan wouldn’t try, no matter what Lahan said. 

She tore her apron off and slammed it on the counter as she stormed out. Right now, Lahan was somehow the least infuriating option.

~~~

“The Poppy Milk from the western province is…” Lahan clicked away on his abacus,  “270% more expensive than the locally grown strain.” He turned to her, unamused. 

“I understand, but it is absolutely necessary .” 

“360% more expensive if we take into account taxes.”

“As I said, it’s necessary.”

“Yeah, sorry but you can’t convince me it’s that necessary when there’s a much cheaper alternative.” 

Maomao barely held back punching him. Deep breaths, “Ok. Let’s bring this matter up with the clan head.”

Lahan stood, “Gladly.”

They found Lakan back in his office, looking over reports. When he saw them he smiled, “Ah, there’s my two favorite-” Then he saw their expressions, “Oh no- er- what can Papa do for you~?”

They bowed in perfect, passive aggressive synchronicity. Lakan gulped. 

“We’ve come to the honorable clan head to settle a dispute.” Lahan started.

“I am in need of an ingredient from the west to properly treat a patient at a brothel.”

“Even though there is a perfectly fine local substitute for a more affordable price.”

“Perfectly fine?” Maomao snorted, “Oh sorry, I didn’t realize you knew so much about medicine. Maybe I should have trained for 15 years under you instead!”

“No, but I do know thieves! The only way you can stand us is as a bank account!”

“Lahan! What has gotten into you!?” Said boy flinched and reassumed his bow. Lakan pinched the bridge of his nose, “Ok, Maomao, why do you need this specific ingredient?”

She hid her face behind her sleeve deferentially as she spoke, “It’s much more potent than the locally grown one for less, so it more than makes up for the cost. This patient has an advanced case of syphilis, so it’s necessary to ensure her comfort.”

“And I take it this patient will not be paying us?” Lahan mumbled. Maomao’s eye twitched, but her silence said enough. 

“Dad would otherwise be treating her for free, so it would be helping him out as well.” Lahan scoffed next to her. 

That seemed to decide the matter for Lakan, “Uncle always dodges cashing the checks I send to him, so this seems like a good way to pay him back. Lahan, order Maomao whatever she needs, and I don’t want to settle another dispute over this again. I trust her judgement, and so should you.”

Lahan’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally just threw his arms up and stormed out, “Of course! Gods forbid Maomao doesn’t get what she wants! It’s not like I know what I’m talking about or anything!”

For his part, Lakan looked baffled. He sighed as he stood, “And here I thought I escaped the teenage angst phase, spoke too soon.” And, to her shock, he went after him. 

When he never went after her. 

~~~

It really was none of her business, but she still couldn’t help but trail after Lakan and stand outside the cracked door of the mathematics and cartography library. Through it, she could see him put a hand on a sulking Lahan’s shoulder and take the seat next to him. 

“Can you tell me what all that was about? I thought you were excited about Maomao coming home? I remember you begged me to let you paint her room!” He chuckled. 

Lahan groaned, “Yeah, when I was 10!”

Maomao bit her lip. 

“Then what changed?”

“It's just- it’s frustrating, okay? I always thought…well, it’s stupid now. I just wished she acted a little more grateful, she doesn’t even call you Dad!”

“Oh Lahan.” He said, in the same tone of voice her Dad always used that Maomao thought Lakan just didn’t have , “I’m sorry. Maomao’s attitude is between me and her, I shouldn’t have let you get caught up in the middle of that. You never did anything wrong.”

Why was he able to take some responsibility when he wasn’t with her? 

Lahan fell into his side when Lakan brought him in for a hug, “It’s okay. I guess I didn’t exactly make her feel welcome.”

“Oh, I don’t think-”

“No, you just weren’t there for it.” 

“Ah. Well, I guess we both could do better. I’d really appreciate it if you could make an effort to just get along with her, I am. And what do I always say?”

Lahan laughed, “There’s nothing 2 La clan geniuses can’t do.”

“And just think, with 3 we’ll be unstoppable.” Lakan whispered conspiratorily, making Lahan laugh again.

If that was the case, then why did she feel like such an outsider?

Why…why did Maomao feel jealous? 

~~~

That night, there was a knock on Maomao’s door. She opened it to Lahan, who refused to look at her. Instead, he shoved a stack of blank paper in her hands, “Here. I found this in storage. Let me know if you need more a week in advance.”

He was gone before she could think of a response. She should be happy, and on some level she was. She’d finally be able to hear from her Dad more frequently. 

Mainly, Maomao felt empty.

Chapter 7: Winter VII

 

The head housekeeper had her job cut out for her, getting this clan of antisocial eccentrics ready for dinner with the Emperor. 

“At least there’s finally a woman in the family to whip you boys into shape.” She said to Lakan. Maomao was taken aback by how brazen she was, but Lakan didn’t seem to mind and laughed her off. 

Little did she know.

Maomao went full limp doll, a survival mechanism she developed with her sisters, as her hair was teased and put into an elaborate updo with silver and amethyst hair jewelry from Lakan’s mother’s set. Finally a hairpin with a blue enamel rose was placed in her hair- the crest of the La clan. While many clans used mythical beings to represent them, of the fantastical options the La clan chose the humble blue rose that symbolized achieving the impossible. They had her in an elaborate and heavy periwinkle and royal blue hanfu- also from Lakan’s mother, although they hemmed the bottom. While Maomao had the La bean-pole look, she didn’t have their height. The look was finished with watermelon pink lipstick.

Meanwhile Lahan stood stiff as bored with his arms spread like a wood mannequin while the folds on his navy blue and dark purple robes were fussed over, an expression of pure misery on his face. He shivered violently in disgust when a man servant pulled his bangs back and secured them with a silver hairpin containing a gem to match the color of Maomao’s lipstick. He truly resembled a fox caught in a hunter’s cage, already resigned to its fate. 

 Lakan was the only one at ease with the situation, having a much more traditional noble upbringing, and dressed in similar colors to them. In a dinner to announce her as family, it was important they looked cohesive. 

Lahan spent the ride there rubbing goose pimples off his arms while Lakan told him to get over it: “You’ll never find a wife if you hate being touched by everyone."

“Maybe “everyone” should learn to keep their hands to themselves like civilized people!” Honestly, Maomao was inclined to agree. 

It was a half hour ride there even by carriage, which Maomao spent watching the landscape. She wondered if the Emperor would remember her from helping the Wise Consort Lihua and Precious Consort Gyokuyo. It may cause trouble if he did and accused her of trying to deceive them. He was very serious but seemed kind enough, although maybe a little rude, but there were worse things a leader could be. 

She was not expecting this, however.

They were led into the Emperor's dining room first, as usual, and set at a long wooden table side by side with Lakan in the center. The door on the opposite side of the room they entered from opened and the Emperor with Consort Gyokuyo entered, the La’s did their standard bows, and dinner was served after they sat. 

“Thank you for having us, your imperial highness, you bless us.” Lakan said deferentially. 

“Of course!” The Emperor laughed, “I had to meet the newest member of the La clan that had you so rudely rushing out of work to pick up.” Lakan flinched, “Although, now that I’m the father of a young daughter myself I understand. And to think, I may not be if Maomao didn’t recognize the danger of the white face powder. Honestly, I think we should have a grand party for your reunion!”

“And I had to join as well, when I saw Maomao’s name. I had no idea you were descended from such a noble clan!” It was Maomao’s turn to flinch. 

“I was separated from Lakan at birth, so I was not officially at the time of serving you, Lady Gyokuyo.” There, hopefully that avoided a treason charge. 

“Truely, we shouldn’t be surprised that she is descended from the La clan. It seems they’re always saving Li from one disaster or another!” 

Lakan scratched his cheek sheepishly, “You’re too kind.” This was certainly a new side to the Emperor than she knew, he seemed much less formal and more humble. He wasn’t wrong, though, it served him to make sure he stayed on the La clan’s good side no matter the reduced numbers. “Although, I would like to know more about this white powder incident.”

Lady Gyokuyo took joy in recounting how they met, when Maomao left that cryptic message wrapped around a rhododendron. 

Lakan looked at her with brimming pride, “Very clever indeed.”

“Maomao.” Gyokuyo said in a tone bordering too close to pouting for a formal dinner, but Maomao got the sense it was quickly devolving anyway, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell him! I guess I’ll just have to brag for you.” She huffed. 

Next the Emperor turned his attention to her brother, “And Lahan, how are your studies coming?”

Lahan pushed his spectacles up with a happy smile, “Father ordered me a truly interesting book from the far west. Apparently a mathematician devised a way to measure dynamic systems instantaneously! I don’t want to spoil anything in case anyone wants to read it next, but I heard he does square the circle! This could even lead to solving Euclid’s 5th postulate! They call it:” He paused for dramatic effect: “Calculus!”

Silence. 

The Emperor hummed, “I don’t know how you do it, Lahan, but every time I ask you always make me feel like a fool.” Lakan laughed first, a horrible faux pas but the Emperor didn’t seem to mind as he joined him. Were they friends? 

Lakan placed a hand on Lahan’s head and ruffled gently, letting a few fly-away hairs land to frame his face, “Don’t worry, I feel the same way. Except it’s every day for me!”

“I always say a good leader surrounds himself with people who make him look foolish! Better than a cabinet full of incompetent yes-men as my father had.”

Lahan batted him away and cleared his throat, face flushed, “Well, anyway the practical implications for Li are numerous. From calculating market rates to a more perfect understanding of weapons trajectories. It opens up a whole world of possibilities for physics alone.”

For some reason, Maomao found this display very annoying: “Forgive me for my impertinence-”

The Emperor waved a hand, “Lakan is a trusted confidant of mine, I’ll extend the same respect to his family.” 

“Thank you, your imperial highness. How is the Wise Consort Lihua fairing? Have there been any long term effects from the lead poisoning? Some symptoms can be difficult to notice right away.” Maomao didn’t like the way Gyokuyo’s eyes sharpened on her, was she out of turn asking about another consort? No, Lady Gyokuyo has never been a jealous person. 

“From what the physician says at the rear palace, she seems in good health.” Maomao’s face must have said it all because he amended, “Well, if you’d be willing to give a second opinion we would all be more at ease.”

“Tell me, Sir Lakan, did you know Maomao saved consort Lihua’s life as well?” Gyokuyo cut in in a way that could be considered rude.

“I did not!” Lakan reached over and squeezed her shoulder, “Tell me everything!”

“Gladly!” She really didn’t spare a detail and said everything she knew, from saving Lihua to Lishu, to helping uncover Fengming’s plot. 

“I have to say, I’m not thrilled to hear you were a poison taster instead of a normal lady in waiting.”

“I was way more qualified than any of the others, I knew what I was doing.” Maomao responded primly. 

“I don’t doubt it.” Lakan smiled, and patted her head. A concerning warmth flooded her chest at the action she tried to ignore. “Maomao, how about you tell everyone about your latest project? Between Lahan’s math and Maomao’s medicine, they’ll save the world, I’m sure of it!”

Like Lahan, her explanation of bacterial colonies and trying to find an antibiotic that can work alongside the immune system instead of traditional medicine that focused on boosting the immune system was met with silence by the imperials. 

“Well, if there was any doubt you were lying about being a La, it’s certainly gone now.” the Emperor eventually settled on, making everyone except Maomao laugh as she blushed like Lahan had. 

What was supposed to be a short dinner ended up lasting late into the night. It was sweet to see the Emperor act like a doting father as attention turned to Princess Lingli’s development. 

“Maomao, would you be willing to tutor Princess Lingli in medicines? If that is alright with his imperial highness?”

“Ah yes, unfortunately court life holds many dangers. And Little Lingli will have to be married off eventually as well.”

“I would be honored to.”

“What about you, Lakan?” The Emperor asked, his eyes sparking in mischief that filled Maomao with dread, “Are you looking for a husband for Maomao?”

Lakan seemed horrified he'd even ask, “Of course not! She only just came home! Honestly I’d feel better if she never married and just stayed with us forever.”

“How come you’re always asking when I’ll get married, then?” Lahan shot back.

“That’s different, you’ll bring a wife home, I don’t want Maomao to leave us!” 

For some reason, as the father and son bickered, the Imperials shared a devious look, “Too bad.” Gyokuyu muttered to him, making the Emperor laugh. 

“He won’t like that.” He snicked back, and Maomao felt a chill. 

Before they left, the Emperor mentioned: “By the way, Lakan, will you join us for the party welcoming the new Pure Consort in a few days?”

“Hm, I wasn’t aware you already chose one.” Lakan said in what Maomao was sure was feigned ignorance, considering his spy network.

The Emperor looked a little put out, “Yes, Shisho’s daughter Loulan. I know parties aren't exactly your thing, but at least stay for dinner. Your children are invited as well of course.”

“Ah, I’ll have to-”

“I’d be honored to.” Maomao answered before she could think otherwise. She wasn’t even sure why, “If Lakan would be kind enough to escort me.”

Lakan gaped at her in shock and Lahan glared at her, this time Maomao knew it was because he didn’t want to get dragged into going to a party by proxy. Lakan grinned and grabbed her hand, kissing it, “Well, if my Little Girl wants to, then I’ll have to!”

Lahan gave a much more strained smile, “Yes, that sounds wonderful.”

Unsurprisingly, once they were back in the carriage Lahan suddenly dramatically fainted onto Maomao, “Oh no! I think I’m coming down with something!” He coughed loudly, “I think I’ll be sick for at least a few days, but you should go to the party without me.” Maomao harshly shoved him off while Lakan sighed fondly. 

~~~

For any of his brother’s flaws as an emperor, missing an opportunity to party was never one of them. Sometimes Jinshi wondered if ascending the throne just made him more immature than before. At least it was good for morale, and the new Pure Consort being the daughter of Prime Minister Shisho made a large party a necessity for her arrival. 

Jinshi thought it was lucky Lakan, at least, would still be on leave by the time the party had already passed. He didn’t get much luck, nowadays. Troublesome things keep cropping up, and he didn’t even have his favorite Apothecary to trouble with it. 

Well, it wasn’t about to turn around now. Considering the infuriating monocled man in his office. It’s already been a few weeks since she left him. Gaoshun, and honestly he himself, was surprised how glum he still is. It made Lakan’s sudden good mood even more annoying.

“I think that’s possible.” Jinshi smiled at the slip of paper Lakan gave him with the name of a rare alcohol for the banquet, for some reason the handwriting looked familiar, “I didn’t know you were such a savant when it comes to alcohol.” In fact, didn’t he only drink juice or tea?

The man waved a hand, “I’m not. But this will be the first party my Kitten joins me for, and she had a special request! I’m so happy she’s shown an interest in my work! Lahan couldn’t care less about courtly duties.” Like Lakan cared much himself outside of what entertained him, Jinshi had to think. “She’ll make a fine matriarch one day, it makes me so excited. The La clan hasn’t had a matriarch since my mother!”

Right, the courtesan, Jinshi tried not to cringe. Rumor had it Lakan recently bought a young girl from the red light district and he’s transformed into a completely different man since then. It was disturbing, Lakan was known for having no interest in matters of sex and women. Was it some maneuver, like most things that man did? Somehow this was even more insufferable than usual, and that’s not just because Jinshi is miserable! 

“I’ll make sure it’s stocked.” Lord knows whatever poor girl got stuck as Lakan’s plaything deserved it.

It was only later that Jinshi got a chance to look over the guest list: “Kan Maomao!?” 

Gaoshun jumped when he slammed his hands the on the table, “S-Sir?”

But Jinshi had already retreated into himself, as fast as it came he deflated, his forehead rattling the table, “H-How is that possible? It had to be as soon as she left…they must have been married right away if her name’s already been changed…”

Naturally, as one to jump to conclusions, Jinshi never thought to check Maomao’s relation to the La clan. And as a man who served the former emperor and disliking Lakan already, neither did Gaoshun.

Notes:

So, my understanding of the whole "Kan Lakan"/ "Kan Lahan" thing is that even though they're the La clan their last name is actually Kan? I'm not sure, but that's what we're going with on this one if you found Maomao's name confusing.

Chapter 8: Winter VIII

Maomao didn’t know why she agreed to this, she thought as the head house keeper sat her down to pick out her and Lakan’s outfit for tomorrow night. 

“It’s the lady of the house's responsibility!” She had crowed when Maomao complained, “I sorted this out last time so you knew what to do, but you have responsibilities.” The old woman had worked for the La clan in its heyday, she probably wanted to return to that as soon as possible. She picked out a green and brown color scheme with blue as an accent color, and that was as much the woman got out of her. 

Honestly the whole thing has her surprisingly nervous, she hadn’t thought about having to spend the evening with Lakan. She was getting too comfortable with him, and her brother, she’d have to pull back. 

Then Lakan knocked on the door, “Sorry Hua, can I steal my daughter for the rest of the night?” Maomao was already up and running to him to escape the boring job of coordinating dress styles before she could think better of it. He led her to his room, guiding her with an arm wrapped around her shoulder that Maomao didn’t bother to spend the effort shoving away, “I want to give you a rundown of everyone we’ll see tomorrow. Of course, I still want your analysis of them at the party! This is going to be so much fun!” He laughed. Maomao wiped the smile off her face as soon as she noticed it and felt her insides twist uncomfortably. 

~~~

Maomao couldn’t remember being this anxious for anything. Lakan certainly wasn’t making it any easier, being all- Lakan . And that was not a good thing, no matter how absurdly happy it made her traitorous heart. She just wasn’t used to so much praise, as much as she loved her Dad he wasn’t one for showy affection. It was messing with her brain chemistry! He was like a brain eating amoeba! She wasn’t sure how’d she make it through dinner with the somersaults her stomach was doing. 

When they got to the palace and got out of the carriage, Lakan held out his arm for her to take. Repressing a light scoff, she accepted. 

~~~

Jinshi still wasn’t prepared to actually see Maomao on Lakan’s arm. Well, that was a little generous because as soon as the pair was seated she shrugged him off. When Lakan tried to drape an arm around her shoulder she slapped his hand away, with that same “your-a-worm” look Jinshi thought was their thing.

He wished he could hear what they were saying, but he was seated far away in the banquet hall. Maybe after dinner was over and mingling started he could try to get a word in. Ask if she was okay, see if he could buy her back, maybe? There was no way Lakan of all people appreciated her half as much as he did, or his pockets went half as deep. 

If that monocled creep laid one hand on her- Gah! Jinshi had to look away and pretend to appear interested in what his brother was talking about. Only to see the Emperor looking at him in amusement. 

“Admiring the new Lady of the La clan?” 

Jinshi suddenly remembered any additions to noble clans had to be approved by the Emperor, and he had a target for his anger, “You did this!” He hissed in a whisper, “How could you!?”

His brother looked at him like he had a second head, “Why wouldn’t I? Lakan is my trusted Grand Commandant, I’m happy for him. Or could it be?!” He gasped in mock surprise, “Did you want to swoop in and save her from a life of servitude? Oh my Jinshi, that’s so unlike you!” 

“Yang!” 

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell Lakan. I’d hate for you to become a eunuch for real…”

Jinshi crossed his arms and turned away, resolving to spend the rest of the night sulking. Damn it! Lakan was smiling at her all dreamy and leaning in.

~~~

“So! What do you think?” Lakan smiled at Maomao, making her sigh. Her eyes roamed over all the guests, looking for anything that jumped out at her besides the normal fake smiles.

“Anything I say would merely be conjecture.” She responded primly behind a cup of tea.

Like a schoolgirl, he leaned his chin on both palms and looked at her with unabashed adoration, “So you do have something! First impressions are okay, I just want to know what you're thinking.” He motioned excitedly with one hand,  “Go on, tell Papa!” Maomao made a show of rolling her eyes, didn’t he realize everyone else at their table was looking at him like a lunatic? She did everything to fight the warm feeling blooming in her chest. This was nice now, but it wouldn’t last. Love was the most fickle force in the universe. 

She glanced again at the non-quite-man that had been staring at her since she walked in. What was his deal? Maomao thought they left on civil terms, if anything she should be annoyed. She was the one who wanted to stay, it seemed like Master Jinshi got everything he wanted. 

“It’s strange Master Jinshi is here at all, much less at the Emperor’s table. It’s mostly state officials here, and the highest ranked concubines.”

“Hmm, that so?”

“Yes…come to think of it, it seems Master Jinshi has always had more power than just an ordinary eunuch from the rear palace, so maybe it’s not that strange.” He knew about military operations in the far border and the mystery around them, then was able to get word of her deduction there in time. What exactly was his title in the rear palace? He seemed to handle whatever, “Then again, maybe that just makes it more strange…”

Lakan laughed, and before she could duck away he pressed a kiss on her temple. He squeezed her hand, “Good, good! Anything else?”

Maomao glanced at the woman of the hour, Concubine Loulan. She was certainly striking, with heavy makeup and bright, distracting clothes. Maomao overheard earlier she had brought in an ostentatious amount of ladies in waiting with her, and her disinterested expression added to the popular perception she was a spoiled princess. 

All that was possible, of course, but Maomao was reminded more of a girl who didn’t want to be there. Her father was prime minister, head of bureaucracy, and no doubt pulled strings to assure she was chosen. Looking at her chest, it didn’t look like the emperor’s usual tastes, or at the very least she didn't flaunt them like the other concubines. She couldn’t help but feel a kinship with her, as she sat tucked in the Grand Commandant’s side.

Maomao distantly wondered if that would be her one day, when Lakan got bored of her like he did that woman. Was all that makeup like Maomao’s freckles, a diversion? 

“Concubine Loulan doesn’t seem particularly fond of her new position.” She leaned in close to whisper, having to angle her head up so he could hear her. He ducked down to listen.

Lakan nodded, following her gaze and lowering his voice to match hers, “I imagine not. I never liked that damned tanuki, but I can’t fathom why he’d give up his daughter. I’m sure she’s under a lot of pressure to birth an heir, but I doubt the emperor would be quick to set that powder keg off.”

Maomao was suddenly reminded that Lakan had fought tooth and nail to get where he was so nobody could tell him that. She watched his disgusted expression carefully, wondering if he meant it. Hoping he truly meant it. When that became too maddening, she forced it from her mind.

~~~

Lakan had kissed her! His Maomao! And now they were whispering to each other like- like lovers! What were they talking about? Why were they still holding hands!? Maomao must feel too trapped to do anything about it. Sure, they were chaste now but if it got worse he’d have to step in.

Jinshi had to sit through a whole dinner like that. He was so upset he could hardly eat, and neither could Maomao from the looks of things. At one point Lakan had looked like he was about to feed her before she slapped the chopsticks away. 

“Come on, let Papa feed you! You need to eat.” He could barely hear over the crowd. He felt just as disgusted as everyone else at their table looked. Was that really what that sick freak got off on?

It was only because of the horrified hush Jinshi heard Maomao: “I’m not 2, you can’t just keep calling yourself “Papa” and expect me to start as well, Lakan.”

“I can try, say ahh~” That was when Maomao slapped the food away, making Lakan laugh- somehow never erasing that shit eating grin. Jinshi silently cheered her on when she stubbornly made a point of adding more food to her own plate. That small victory was stolen when Lakan cupped the far side of her face and kissed the top of her head again, “That’s my girl!”, making her bat him away like a fly. Her face scrunched up like she stepped in something rancid, slightly flushed (in rage!)

The end couldn’t come soon enough. Finally, they stood to move into the ball room, where alcohol would be served. If Gaoshun could distract Lakan while Maomao got her drink, Jinshi could talk to her! He quickly relayed this plan. 

As he expected, she immediately zeroed in on the table serving drinks, “I’m getting something.” She moved away from him.

“Oh, good idea, they should have what you asked for. I’ll come too!”

“Don’t you dare!” She snapped back.

Lakan waved merrily at her retreating form, “Come back soon, Sweetie!”

“I told you not to call me that! Or Kitten or Little Girl or whatever!”

“Hm? But I just can’t help it, all your expressions are more beautiful than the last!” Once Maomao was far out of range, he rubbed his chin in thought as he watched her go, “I wonder what made her so upset, we even spent last night together…teenage angst?” Jinshi shuddered in disgust, but he couldn’t get distracted! Maomao needed him!

Jinshi nodded to Gaoshun, who bowed in return, before moving out himself. By the time he caught up she already had her drink and found a quiet corner to stand in while she people-watched. Jinshi put on his best smile. 

He hadn’t even said hi before she was rounding on him, “I said leave-! Oh, Master Jinshi.” Her face immediately fell into the usual neutrally polite mask, “Funny, you have the same aura as that monocled freak.”

Jinshi tried not to show how offended he was, but he didn’t think he was succeeding. Like that perverted old fox, really? He shouldn’t be surprised, Maomao always found a way to knock him off balance. She’s already been through so much, she didn’t need him getting all upset even if it is on her behalf. First and foremost, he needed to show her he'd be there for her, always, but to do that he needed to gauge the severity of the situation: “Yes, so, Lakan.” He started ungracefully, “He must have met you as soon as you left the rear palace…”

Maomao shook her head and huffed angrily, “No, I’ve known him since I was a child. He was always buzzing around the Verdigris House since I can remember.”

Jinshi froze, “R-really?”

She nodded, “When I first met him, he tried to grab me, but Granny beat him for it.” She seemed lost in the horrible memory, “Even with blood running down his face he was still reaching for me. And smiling.” She shook it away, “After a few more times he’d run if he saw Granny, but he was always asking after me and trying to buy me…No matter how many times I told him to screw off he never did…I hadn’t even gotten back from my first party as a courtesan when he already bought me out.” Her voice wavered then, and Jinshi’s heart broke.

Jinshi’s fists clenched in his sleeves, “I’m sorry, if I knew that was waiting for you I wouldn’t have even given you the option to leave the rear palace. I hope you can forgive me.”

Maomao blinked up at him, in that nonjudgmental way she had, “What are you apologising for? It’s not your responsibility.”

“Still. Do you think I could convince Lakan to sell you to me? You’d be my servant, you could even become a court lady. I’d pay you, of course. I’d never make you do anything you didn’t want…”

She got a strained look, “I highly doubt it…”

“Oh…” It wasn’t fair. None of it was, just because Maomao caught the eye of some pervert. He was reminded of the late emperor, and it made his blood boil. Well, if Lakan thought he could get away with this he had another thing coming: “Maomao-!”

~~~

Gaoshun wasn’t a violent man at heart, that’s why he had been tasked as an attendant for the young imperial brother. Lakan, however, put that to the test.

“Master Lakan.” He greeted with a bow as the man watched Xiaomao leave. He looked entirely distracted, and startled when Gaoshun spoke. 

“Hey.” He greeted plainly, obviously disinterested. 

“I wanted to offer my congratulations, she’s beautiful.”

Immediately, the great strategist was invested again, “Isn’t she? Just like her mother.” He gushed.

“Her…mother?”

Lakan nodded enthusiastically, “Oh, yes! I almost can’t believe my beautiful Kitten is really here, I’ve waited for this day for…” He scratched at his stubble absent mindedly, “…15 years? Time really flies.”

Gaoshun really, really hated he had to keep this conversation going, “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you. I’ve only really experienced love at first sight twice, once with Fengxian and then with Maomao. She was only this tall when I first met her!” He motioned at his shins, “I knew immediately I’d do anything to get that little girl!”

Gaoshun couldn’t even pretend anymore, and stood silently in front of him. It was such a shame they outlawed the castration surgery. Maybe Master Jinshi could ask the Emperor for an exception just this once. 

“Do you have any daughters?”

Gaoshun immediately bristled, “What does that have to do with anything!?” He snapped. 

If Lakan noticed the attitude change, he didn’t remark on it. He held his chin like in deep thought, holding his elbow in his opposite hand, “I just think it’s different with daughters, you know? Maybe it’s because Lahan was already 9 when I adopted him, but it’s a little different. Of course he’ll always be my Pup, but…I can’t explain it.”

Several facts fell into place at once:

Papa

Kitten

Pup

looks like her mother

I’ve waited for this day for 15 years

The La clan is known for eccentric geniuses with special interests. 

Suddenly, Gaoshun realized Lakan had the same way of holding his chin as Xiaomao. And also the same amount of social awareness. 

“Come on.” He should go find Master Jinshi before he makes a fool of himself, “Introduce me to her.”

~~~

Before Master Jinshi could finish whatever he was about to say, an annoying voice cut him off: “There you are, Kitten! Don’t drink too much, haha, it’s unsightly for a young lady.”

Maomao froze. Where the hell did he get off policing her drinking? When he wasn’t even there for 17 years? What did all this care do for her now, all these sappy and annoying displays, when she needed them 17 years ago!? Every time she was left alone in that back room while her sisters entertained perverted men!? When she was with her Dad and her heart skipped a beat every time he stumbled because she was too small to help him if the worst happened!?

Master Jinshi stepped forward, “Listen here you monocled fre-”

What happened next baffled even her. Not once had she been one to give into anger or irrational emotions, even as a child. She knew crying and throwing a tantrum wouldn’t change anything. Maybe it was because she was lost in memories, or that it had been genuinely fun to talk with her Father these last few days and she had the sudden realization she had been robbed .

That's why it was a shock when she was suddenly throwing her ceramic cup on the ground: “I said not to call me that!” 

“Maomao-?”

In an explosion of childish rage she beat her fists against Lakan’s chest, “Shut up, shut up, shut up! Why can’t you just listen!? You’re so embarrassing! I hate you! I hate being related to you! You’re the worst Papa on the planet!” She finished shrilly, and suddenly realized everyone was looking at them in shock. When her mind caught up with her, she chanced a look at Lakan’s face. Well, now she’d finally see that stupid fake mask of adoration crack. 

For some reason, he was beaming, “D-did you just call me Papa?” He looked heartbreakingly hopeful. 

Tears sprang to Maomao’s eyes and she ran.

“Maomao!?” Lakan called after her.

“Just leave me alone! You’ve been really good at that for the past 17 years!”

Notes:

I firmly believe true family are the people that bring out the most immature impulses in you, lol.

Chapter 9: Winter IX

As soon as she was outside and her head cleared, Maomao was so embarrassed she could scream. What was that? She was acting like a two year old.

Still, she couldn’t go back now. Maybe she could camp out in the palace gardens for the rest of her life. She kicked a stone petulantly, at least the weather was nice out. It was dark, but the moon was bright enough she could still see well, casting the world in a silver glow. 

When she spied a foxglove bush in the forest, she stopped to admire it although her usual enthusiasm for plants was gone. Digitalis purpurea, in large doses it could cause the heart to stop altogether, but when handled carefully it can be used to treat a broken heart. 

A twig broke near her, and Maomao was slightly disappointed she didn’t look over to see Lakan. Instead, she looked into the surprised golden eyes of concubine Loulan, a few paces behind her a lady in waiting. Something was cupped in her hands: a green, softly glowing lightning bug. 

“A pet?” Maomao asked. 

Lolan blinked and glanced down at the insect, “No, I think that would be too cruel. We don’t have this kind in my village, they only have an orange hue there. I was…excited to see them.”

“So excited you left your own party?” Maomao drawled wryly. 

Lolan knelt and let the insect crawl on a blade of grass, “It’s not my party, it’s for my Father. I recognize you, Master Lakan’s bastard daughter. Father was worried he would try to get you to take my place as pure consort. He found the timing too suspicious.” 

Maomao had to snort at that, “Don’t worry. That would involve not being able to see me for more than a full day.”

“Yes. His manner towards you is very uncouth. I suppose our fathers are similar, both men driven by their own self interest.” Lolan knelt down, uncaring for her pretty robes, and picked out another brightly colored beetle. It opened its wings and flew away, she watched it leave in vast disappointment, “It’s amazing how different that looks for them.”

“Like lightning bugs.” Maomao wondered.

Lolan smiled wryly, “Yes.”

“Did you know lightning bugs produce a toxin that, when consumed, can damage heart muscles?”

Maomao half expected Lolan to be creeped out, like all the other ladies of the rear palace, but she listened intently instead, “Is that so?”

“Yeah, it’s similar to the toxin in foxglove plants.” To punctuate, Maomao pinched the delicate petals between two fingers. It never ceased to amaze her that something so beautiful could be so dangerous: like the courtesans at the Verdigris House, like her mother. Maybe that was why she liked them, “However, when administered with care, it can heal a broken heart. They grow all over the La compound.”

“Bugs and poisons are easier to understand than people.” Loulan eventually said, and Maomao couldn’t agree more. 

…Did she just make a friend? 

Before she could ponder this more, there was a knock on a tree like a door. She turned and saw Lakan smiling at her hesitantly, “Hello Ladies, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’d like to speak to my daughter.”

Concubine Loulan raised an eyebrow at his candor towards the new Pure Consort, but before her lady in waiting could sputter any indignities she raised a hand to silence her, “Of course. Come.” She paused, and looked behind her shoulder to Maomao, “Kan Maomao, it was a pleasure to meet you. May our paths cross again.”

“Oh, ah, you too.” Maomao responded lamely, taken off guard. As she left, she heard Lolan mutter something about like father like daughter. Lakan came to join her, and grunted about his old knees as he looked at the foxglove. Maomao sighed. 

“So, this one’s a medicine too, right?” 

“That, or a poison."

“Fascinating. I’ve never looked at them twice growing up…of course, I suppose there’s a lot of things I should have taken a closer look at.”

Maomao felt her shoulders creep up to her ears, she hoped the moonlight hid her blush, “Yeah. Sorry for making a scene.”

She flinched when she felt Lakan put a heavy hand on her head, “Don’t worry about it, those nobles have short memories anyway. What’s more important is I got to see another new side to you- I’m happy.”

His hand fell to her shoulder, and Maomao didn’t pull away when he brought her into his side, his long sleeves and chest seemed to block out the dangers of the world. She shouldn’t get comfortable, it would only hurt her later. She didn’t push him away. 

“I’m so sorry, Maomao.” While this was the most explosive this argument has gotten, it wasn’t the first time they had it. She waited for the slew of excuses to come, “I’m sorry I ever put you in a position where you could have been separated from me. From all of us. I shouldn’t have waited until I became clan head to find you again. I thought- I thought I needed to make it safer for you first. Children need family more than safety, though, I suppose. Funny how I knew that with Lahan and somehow forgot it with you. I was a fool.” His voice cracked then, and the thin dam Maomao managed to build to hold back her tears came crashing down.  

“You could have also made a better first impression.” Maomao laughed wetly.

Lakan joined her in snotty laughter, gently rocking her back and forth like a child, “That too.”

Wiping away her tears, a sisyphean task, she muttered, “It’s just a shitty situation all around. I guess everyone is somewhat to blame…”

He pulled away slightly to cup her face, frowning, “Maomao, you know none of this is your fault, right?” When she didn’t answer right away, he pressed again: “Right?”

Of course Maomao knew. It wasn’t like she asked to be born and ruin her mother’s life. She didn’t ask Lakan to waste 17 years still trying to love her when she wanted nothing to do with him. Somehow, hearing him say it was different. She crashed into his chest and nodded, holding the fabric tightly. He took the pins and ornaments out of her hair so he could brush through it with his fingers; it was surprisingly soothing.

After several moments of holding each other, Lakan added: “By the way, who was that man who you were talking with earlier? I didn’t get a long enough look.”

Maomao sniffed, “Oh, that was Master Jinshi.”

“Ah, well, he fainted after you ran off with a big smile on his face.” He laughed, “I knew he wasn’t normal, but what was that about?”

“Don’t worry, he does that a lot.” She would call it a side effect of castration, but Luomen was in his 60s and had a stronger constitution, “Cut him some slack, I don’t think he can read the room very well. He’s a little dim witted.”

“No kidding!”

~~

Both of them were exhausted and decided to go home after that, Maomao’s make-up and hair was ruined anyway. Lakan kept her tucked in his sleeve like a mama bird as they walked. Just as they were approaching their coach a voice called out to them: “Master Lakan. Lady Maomao.”

The pair turned, “Ah, Master Gaoshun.” Maomao started to bow, but Gaoshun held a hand up to stop her.

“You’re not a servant anymore, just Gaoshun is alright.”

“Oh, yeah.” She turned to Lakan, “Gaoshun is Master Jinshi’s aid. We worked together in the rear palace.” She looked apologetically at him, “I’m sorry I ruined the party.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Gaoshun sighed, “Master Jinshi made a much bigger scene afterwards. He should be in the infirmary now.”

Maomao smiled, “That’s what Papa said.” Lakan kissed the top of her head.

Gaoshun smiled softly at them, “I’m glad to see you made up. Lady Maomao, I was wondering if you’d consider working at the palace again? We’ve missed your skills greatly.”

“Really?” Maomao asked, skeptical.

She looked up to her Papa, who shrugged casually but Maomao could easily see through it, “I could use an assistant, if you think your bacteria can wait for you. It wouldn’t need to be full time.” Maomao smiled and nodded to Gaoshun.

The man heaved a sigh of relief, “Oh good, part time might be better, actually. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Lady Maomao, Master Lakan.” He then turned to leave; Maomao could hear him muttering: “Maybe Master Jinshi can start being productive again…” What was that supposed to mean?

~~~

Lahan was still in the library, happily pouring over his book from the west when they got home. He took one look at Maomao’s ruined state and frowned, “What happened?”

“Get ready for bed, Lahan!” Lakan cheered instead, “Sleepover in my room! It’s a special occasion.”

“We’re not kids!” They said at the same time. 

“Aww, but you’ll both always be my little Pups~”

Lahan blushed, “I said not to call me that!” Oh? Maomao grinned, did Lahan have an embarrassing nickname from their Dad as well? She filed that away for future use. 

Lakan laughed, “Come on, one night won’t kill you.”

Lahan looked after his father’s retreating form in confusion, “What happened? What did I miss?”

Instead of explaining, Maomao grabbed his sleeve, “Come on, “big brother”, Papa’s waiting.” She couldn’t help but feel both elated and devastated at Lahan’s smile. Was this the first time he looked at her this warmly?

Maybe these idiots were worth putting her heart on the line for, just this once. 

That night, both of them took one of Lakan’s hands. Before falling asleep, Maomao tugged on his hand, “Papa?” She tried the word out again on her tongue, testing its weight. Luomen would always be Dad, but Lakan could be Papa. 

“Yeah, Maomao?”

“Tomarrow,” And maybe if she could trust them with her heart, she can trust them with someone else's, “Can you come to the Verdigris house with me? There’s someone I want you to meet again.”

“Hm? Of course, Kitten.”

“And Lahan too.”

Lahan grunted, “Whatever, just go to sleep. Now I remember why we stopped doing this…”

Chapter 10: Spring I

“What was so important we all had to come here?” Lahan asked as he glanced around at the red light district from their carriage, disapproval clear on his features at the chaos. Knowing him, he was probably more disgusted at the disorganized mass of people than any moral qualms. 

“Probably something you’ll hate.” Maomao responded. 

Lahan huffed, “Well, I’m not happy now.” He shied away from the edge when a merry drunk man got a little too close. 

“Just wait.” She smiled sweetly. Lakan sighed at the two. Any attempts to get her to elaborate were met with a stone wall, explaining she’d like a peaceful ride there. All she’d say was: “A withered rose still retains its beauty.” 

Lakan couldn’t think of a single thing the red light district had for him that would make him so eager to get there. As his thoughts spun- something that was going to be expensive, something that he’d like, a withered rose- they all orbited one thing. One thing that was too painful to even hope for. 

“Er-Kitten-”

“Still can’t call me that.”

“Right, you wouldn’t be plotting my murder would you? Are you still mad?”

Maomao laughed, “Well, The Madam certainly won’t be happy!” Didn’t she usually call that horrible old crone “Granny”? 

Like most brothels, the Verdigris House was closed in the early morning hours. Maomao still threw open the doors like she owned the place. The servant girls jumped and the Madam looked at her unamused. Lakan had seen less fierce expressions on men going to war as Maomao pointed at the Madam. 

“We’ve come to buy out a courtesan!”

The old woman blew out a trail of smoke, “Alright, who do you have in mind?” She held a light, casual tone that Lakan was too familiar with. The men of the La clan shared a baffled look, and Lakan was very proud that Lahan was able to keep the obvious complaints written across his face to himself. 

“I want her . The woman in the annex.” 

“She’s sick.” The Madam bit out, glaring primarily at Lakan, “I don’t sell damaged goods.”

Momentarily, the earth stopped spinning. He saw the 3 princesses staring down at them from the balcony. Why was Meimei smiling so sadly?

“She’s family , and she belongs with family .” 

Meimei pointed to a side door and mouthed one word: “ hurry! ” 

The Madam growled, “What nonsense-”

So, Lakan ran.

“-STOP HIM!” Distantly, he saw Maomao intercept the old woman with an outstretched hand and a hard look so much like Fengxian. He burst out the door and ran for the annex, stumbling over the rail and pulling something. It didn’t matter, not when he could hear a familiar voice singing so softly.

She looked different now, but that didn’t matter. He’d always be able to recognize his Fengxian. She was still his dream come true. 

~~~

The Madam glowered at Maomao as she blocked the way, “Why?” she spit. Maomao didn’t respond and regarded her coldly. The woman who put money over people. 

“Dad!” Lahan called after their possessed father from the balcony, “Gods, he’s gonna give himself a heart attack! Sis! what’s happening?” 

The Madam watched Lakan go, “...Why?” She asked again, voice cracking. Maomao’s eyes widened when she was suddenly collapsing to her knees, and the young girl reflexively reached out to cushion her fall, “You know what that man’s like. How could you?” She was crying now; Maomao had never seen her cry before. Any animosity towards her vanished. Granny was just trying to do her best all these years too.

“Granny, you know I’d never prescribe a treatment I wouldn’t take myself.” She buried her face in the old woman’s shoulder in a hug, “I choose to trust Papa.” Her stubborn, tough as nails pseudo grandmother shook like a leaf against her. 

A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. Meimei was smiling down at her, “Let’s go see for ourselves.” Maomao let the Madam use her arm to support herself as they left.

Lahan was already at the door of the annex, arms crossed and smiling at the scene. Lakan held Fengxian’s hand gently, careful of the sores there. He gingerly swept a lock of hair out of her face, revealing the damage syphilis had done to her: It had taken her nose and her face was awash in scaly scars and rashes. The same look she gave Maomao of slow realization dawned on her features, but Lakan didn’t run like she had. 

“La…kan…?”

Fat tears ran down her Papa’s face in ruddy tracks, “Yes. I’m sorry I’m late, my love.”

“Hey, old hag.” Lahan poked at Granny, “How much?”

Maomao looked at him in surprise, “Really?”

Lahan just shrugged nonchalantly, “I’ve never seen Dad that happy before. I guess it’s worth it.”

“A thousand silver.”

Lahan looked visibly pained, “Cost doesn’t matter for family…”

Maomao patted his shoulder mockingly, “Good job.”

“...two thousand silver.”

“Not on your life, old hag!”

~~~

Maomao knew Lakan would buy Fengxian, but she didn’t expect a wedding. She should have, her Papa had a tendency to get caught up in sentimentality. Still, he respected Fengxian’s new needs, and didn't need to be told to have a quiet ceremony- even if there was a grand party at the Verdigris House. 

Only close family were allowed. Fengxian spent the time fascinated with Lakan’s hand in hers as a monk read the declaration signed by the Emperor of her formal inauguration in the La clan. She only seemed interested as Maomao and Meimei performed their dances for her, and Pairin and Joka played fine music. 

“Isn’t our daughter beautiful?” Lakan cooed. Fengxian leaned her head on his shoulder, eyes tracking them and if Maomao didn’t know any better she’d say she was smiling. 

After the three princesses went home, the La clan spent the rest of the night together. Lakan easily gave up the master bedroom to Fengxain while he moved into a neighboring bedroom, although they spent their wedding night playing Go until Fengxian couldn’t keep her eyes open. At that point, he joined his children and uncle in the kitchen while they caught up.

Luomen smiled at him warmly, “How do you feel?”

“Like at any second, I’m going to wake up to reality again. I’ve never been more terrified.” He threw his arm around Maomao’s shoulder and kissed her temple, “Thank you.”

She expected the other shoe to drop eventually, after the whirl of wedding planning and logistics of actually getting Fengxian home. Lakan had every right to be mad at her for keeping this secret, when they had been together for three weeks before. Or even to take out his anger on her for the Madam and Luomen misleading him, “What for?”

“For trusting me.” Maomao’s eyes grew hot and she buried her face in his shoulder. 

Luomen smiled tenderly at the scene, raising his glass, "Congratulations, Lakan. I’m happy for you.”

~~~

Luomen had to leave the next day, before he did Maomao showed him the progress she made in his apothecary. How she’d been spending her time there.

He looked approvingly at the bacteria cultures on the thick, black gel. Now they had a defined shape and variety, but they completely overtook the plate in a day. 

“How intriguing. Each colony is created from a single bacterium, if you could devise a way to dilute the sample you could culture a single homogenous species.”

Currently, Maomao introduced them from drops of a solution of sorghum juice and feces. She thought for a moment, “I can use a sterilized ceramic stick to create streaks to spread it out more.”

Luomen hummed, “Very good, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you. Although, I doubt you brought me here just to talk about bacteria.”

Maomao jerked her head in a nod, once, gritting her teeth, “Is it possible?”

“If you managed to find a miracle compound in only a few months and found a way to make enough as well, it’d only stop the progression of the disease. It won’t restore her nose or porcelain skin. It won’t make her remember you.” Maomao tsked and looked away.

“So, it’d take a miracle.”

“Or a lot of tenacity,” Luomen smirked and ruffled her hair, “I can’t think of a better apothecary for the job.”

That was that then, the chances of it working were astronomically low and even then recovery was a whole other issue. Still, Maomao didn’t have it in her to be a bystander when anyone could be saved, much less a family member. Fengxian may not be any mother to her, but Papa loved her, and that had to count for something. She had to at least try.

Chapter 11: Spring II

“How could you!?”

“Now, my love-” Lakan barely dodged a sandal aimed at his head, he wisely shut up. 

“You have a daughter!? What about me and Maomao!?”

“That IS Maomao!” And there was the other sandal. Maomao sighed at the scene as Fengxian tried to find something else to throw at her husband. 

It happened something like this: Maomao came in to do her usual morning routine of getting Fengxian’s medication, and when Lakan came in she had naively greeted him as “Papa.” Lakan had kissed her temple and asked how his "favorite girls were doing” and Fengxian’s muddled mind filled in the blanks. 

The resulting tantrum had caused everyone in the house to come running. 

“What is happening?” Lahan asked Maomao at the sideline. 

Fengxian’s ears were still extremely sharp, it seems, because she rounded on him, “And you! Why didn’t you tell me, Daiyu?! I thought you were different.” Lahan quickly shut his mouth, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.

“Daiyu?” Maomao asked. 

“My mother’s name.” He whispered back from the corner of his mouth. Maomao snickered. 

“You do have very girlish features.”

“I hate you.” 

“Fengxian, my love.” Lakan tried again, “I assure you, you are the only woman I love, have ever loved.” This time, when he tried to calm her she let him. Gently, mindful of the rashes on her face, he cupped her cheeks. She blushed and looked away, covering his hands with her own. She nodded slightly and mumbled something. Lakan kissed her forehead and guided her to the bed; the outburst had absolutely exhausted the sick woman and she let him. 

Maomao quickly left to her apothecary to continue her work. That was how Lakan found her not long later. He tried the door first but she locked it.

“Sweetie? Can I come in?” 

Looking over the sketch of the original dish before treatment and now, she called back: “I’m busy!”

“Maomao.” Lakan sighed, “You can’t just lock yourself up in the apothecary all day, just like training you’d get diminishing returns.” He was using a serious “Dad” voice that she’d never heard before, and as much as she still wanted to dig her heels in he was right. 

Maomao sighed and went to unlock the door, “It’s not my fault there’s a million possibilities I have to test, this is completely new territory in science.” So far some common ingredients of poultices for open wounds, like honey, were yielding good results to inhibit the growth of bacteria, but she needed something that could kill it while not harming humans.

“I’m more worried about you burning out.” Lakan responded plainly, and Maomao had the uncharitable thought that he wouldn’t know much about that, being so lazy. Instead of letting that spill from her mouth, she huffed and looked away, but he gently cupped her face like he had for his wife, “I want to find a cure for Fengxian as much as you do, but I won’t sacrifice my daughter for it.”

“That’s not why I’m doing this. There’s lot of people affected by STD’s- that woman isn’t special. Not at all.”

Instead of admonishing her, her father just sighed deeply and brought her in for a long hug. He kissed the top of her head, “I’m sorry that happened.”

“It’s not anyone’s fault. Not even her’s.”

“Still. You know I love you very much, no matter what, right?”

“Yeah, I know. I’ll be more careful around Fengxian next time.”

She felt him nod against her, and they remained there for a few more moments. Then, he breathed in deeply before he abruptly let go with a wide grin: “More importantly, I have to go back to work soon and I’ll miss my kitten! I already bought all the books necessary for the court lady exam, they should be here today!”

There was no way Lakan was going to get another month of vacation, but he at least brokered a deal where he’d come back to the compound every night with Lahan and Maomao to spend the evenings with his bride. Of course, Fengxian would be kept company by a full time nurse and Meimei already asked to spend the mornings the Verdigris house was closed with them. Lakan was happy to pay for a carriage and guards for her passage to see her big sister, even if Lahan wasn’t. 

Maomao didn’t want to spend all day with that woman, even if it was just existing in the same space as her. She nodded. 

~~~

Later that day, the three stared at the pile of books the merchant dropped off. Lahan picked one up slowly, “The 100 rules of ladylike calligraphy.”

Lakan picked up another and opened it, “Workplace etiquette, chapter 1: how to not tempt male coworkers. Lahan, am I old or were the materials for us different?”

“Both.” He looked at the pile contemptuously, “What a waste of good paper. Can we return them?”

Maomao, for her part, was unsurprised, “Don’t I need them?”

“This is ridiculous,” Lakan slapped the book down, “I’ll just make up a position for you myself. How about…Technical Consultant?”

“What would I do?”

“I would consult you on technical things.” Lakan answered simply, “Find something to do with these. I’ll write to payroll.”

Lahan sighed, “I’ll try to get our money back.”

~~~

As much as Maomao fretted over her bacteria, a small part of her was at least intrigued to go back to the palace. At least she wasn’t trapped in the rear palace this time, and that sparkly leech wouldn’t bother her anymore. 

Meimei waved them off, Lakan already saying his own goodbye to Fengxian to not aggravate her again. She hugged Maomao, “Good luck!”

“Have a good day, Meimei.” Lakan waved, “Help yourself to whatever, I already told the staff to treat you like a member of the family.”

“You too, Big Brother!” Lakan laughed as the carriage pulled away. 

The first thing Maomao noticed about the military branch was the medicinal herbs planted around there. Lakan was content to watch her fangirl and dance from plant to plant with a happy smile and flush, Lahan less so. He grabbed her by the scruff of her collar like a cat and dragged her with them to their offices, heartlessly ignoring her tearful farewells with her plants.

Lahan was some high ranking officer, officially, enough so he had his own office not far from their father. In reality he handled the bureaucracy matters Grand Commandant Lakan couldn’t care less about because it didn’t involve his two interests in life: petty court rumors and strategy. 

Since Maomao’s position didn’t exist until a few days ago, she didn’t have her own office and she had to share with her brother. After a quick tour Lakan left them to fight it out, with a very clear: “I don’t want to hear any petty squabbles about this!”

They can squabble quietly, though. Maomao assessed the situation with a keen eye as she always did. Lahan’s office had no furniture in it except a desk and bookshelves, nowhere to receive visitors or host meetings. No decorations except a map on Li on one wall like the one in his favorite library at home, a blackboard on another, and a window on the far wall that could be good for potted plants. Maybe they just did things differently in the military branch.

“I’ll get someone to haul in another desk, where’s storage?” Maomao decided on, instead of voicing this. 

“At the end of the hall, I think. There was a bunch of garbage in here I inherited that I put in there- I think there was a desk too.” Lahan waved dismissively, nose already buried in a clipboard and in a hurry to make up for lost time. Maomao sighed and left. 

On her way she enlisted the help of some muscular, dashing young soldiers to help her. Lakan had told everyone his adorable daughter was joining him, and even if not she was dressed the part of a La clan princess. She wore a nice but utilitarian royal blue hanfu secured by a sage green sash wrapped with pale pink foxglove flowers to match her lipstick, and bodice embroidered with white starbursts of deadly water hemlock- a personal request of hers. It was perhaps scandalously short for a woman of her stature, only going down to her ankles, and the sleeves didn’t trail in her wake. What truly identified her was the enamel pin of a blue rose in her hair, the crest of the La clan. 

Maomao had to cough the dust out of her face as she opened the door, and was immediately struck by how cluttered the space was. A bunch of garbage, Lahan had said, there’s a whole office set in here! A fine couch, table, tea set, everything a respectable office needs. She ordered the men to bring that as well. 

Lahan did a double take when he saw the small army of men she directed in the office, “Hey! What are you doing bringing all that junk back here?”

“Junk? Maomao asked, “This is basic office furniture, how do you expect to host guests?”

“That’s the point!”

Maomao sighed, “Well, I want a private place where I can talk to people if needed. Even if you’d scare them away.”

“That’s not an insult. Besides, you're way worse!”

“How so?” Maomao hummed, stepping closer to the window to assess the dimensions for potted plants. Maybe she could grow some real water hemlock, the neurotoxin makes you all tingly from the inside out and so tired! She drooled a little at the thought.

“You’re muttering like a lunatic.” Lahan pointed out oh so helpfully. 

Maomao pushed the tantalizing thought out of her head and straightened, “We still need a receiving area. I know I didn’t necessarily want this- whatever this is- but I’m going to do a good job.”

They held each other's glare, “Fine, we’ll compromise then, Kitten .”

“Fine by me, Pup .”

~~~

Never before in Jinshi’s life had he enjoyed going to the military branch. He found Lakan infuriating at the best of times, downright creepy at the worst. It was hard to believe he managed to sire someone as selfless and kind as Maomao (even if she wouldn’t agree with that sentiment), she must have gotten it from her mom. Trying to imagine a woman who would tolerate Lakan wasn’t a track he wanted to go down, though. 

Now, though, he had a blue rose to visit. He was so happy women swooned at his aura as he walked past, making Gaoshun sigh. Jinshi was about to walk past a woman kneeling in the dirt until he recognized that pine green hair and blue rose hairpin. He was less happy to see another man knelt next to her. 

“I want this one too, it’s woodsorrel.” Maomao said as she was handed another soil filled pot from a cart to transplant a shrub with a yellow flower. 

“What’s that one for?” The man asked, a little too casual for the princess of a noble clan. 

“It’s not for anything, I just think Papa’s office could use more life in it. Maybe if it’s nicer he’ll do his work.” Straightening, she wiped her hands on an apron she threw over her expensive hanfu. She truly was beautiful in the simple makeup and royal blue suited her perfectly- like a water nymph considering the water hemlock embroidery. 

“Lady Maomao.” Jinshi smiled, she blinked up at him. While nothing about her was overtly different- she still carried a disinterested air- something about her seemed more at ease. Warmer. Jinshi supposed it had to do with finding her family again, and he truly was happy even if he somewhat envied her. A normal family was never in the cards for him. 

“Ah, Gaoshun, Master Jinshi. Do I still call you that?”

“Hm, well, I certainly wouldn't mind it!” He laughed, and there was that worm look. Jinshi felt a terrible weight lift from his shoulders, all was right with the world.

“Fine. What do I owe this pleasure?” She drawled, unamused. 

“Do you have a moment to talk?”

“Actually, we were going to my office now anyway. I’ll make you tea .” For some reason, she looked really eager at the prospect, which Jinshi was of course more than happy with. As they walked she untied the apron and tossed it in the cart with the other potted plants, the soldier following after them. 

“What exactly do you do here?” It must be important if she has her own office. 

“A Technical Consultant. I was recently promoted to Senior Technical Consultant for getting Papa some juice from the kitchen- I’m glad I have a job with upward mobility.”

“I’ve never heard of that.” And he knew every position in the palace, for better or worse. 

“That’s because Papa made it up a few days ago.”

“Ah.” That sounded right. Maomao stopped at Lakan’s door, almost giving Jinshi a heart attack. She grabbed the woodsorrel, if Jinshi remembered correctly, and entered while he opted to hover near the door. Hoping, perhaps fruitlessly, Lakan wouldn’t realize he was there. 

He got lucky, because the man only had eyes for his daughter. He quickly rose to greet her.

“Papa, I got this for you.”

“Woodsorrel?” He grinned, misty eyed, and hugged Maomao tightly, careful of the potted plant, “It’s perfect, thank you.”

“I hope you’ll spend more time in your office working if you have this to look at.”

Lakan laughed wetly and kissed the top of her head, “Yes, yes. You and Lahan make me sound like some lazy oaf.”

“You are a lazy oaf.” 

He laughed again, “And here I was thinking of promoting you to Executive Technical Consultant.” A cold feeling Jinshi was intimately familiar with settled on his chest: jealousy. He cleared his throat to distract from it, making Maomao glance at him. She quickly said goodbye to her father and led him out.

“Sorry,” Jinshi felt compelled to mention, “To interrupt you and your father.”

“Oh,” Maomao hummed, “That’s okay, he’s not going anywhere.” Her lips quirked in a small, pleased smile, making Jinshi flush.

Chapter 12: Spring III

Maomao opened the door to her new office to let her small party in. Lahan looked up from his desk and his expression soured, “Keep them on your side.”

Currently, down the middle of the office was marked with a white string that would eventually be replaced with privacy shades. Her side already had a small seating area and desk set up with a tea set waiting to be used and a bucket of fresh water. Lahan’s side was empty of everything but his desk. Lakan would be proud of them.

“I will.” She directed the soldiers to put the potted plants on the windowsill before leading Gaoshun and Master Jinshi into her office. Although the giddy way the not-quite-a-man reacted to being called that, she had the sneaking suspicion that wasn’t right. Whatever, “Is there a particular kind of tea you would prefer, Master Jinshi.”

He grinned in that creepy way that made Maomao’s skin crawl, and he only shone brighter at her shudder. She was out of practice dealing with him, she forgot that only encouraged him, “Nothing in particular!” 

Maomao started to set up the teapot with her choice of leaves, Jinshi’s eyes never looking away, “....Are you going to tell me why you’re here or…?”

Jinshi startled, “Oh, yes! Both Consort Lihua and Consort Gyokuyo requested you visit the rear palace to teach a class.” To prove his point, he pulled out two wooden tickets with the consort’s signature. 

“On poisons?” Maomao asked before actually reading what was written. She raised an eyebrow, she supposed she had made a reputation for herself. Whatever that meant. 

“Uh, no, on…entertainment.” he glanced behind her shoulder, “Er, can I help you?”

She turned and saw Lahan watching the interaction intently, “Sister,” She raised an eyebrow at the term, since when did he call her that except to be a prick? “Who is this?”

“Oh, this is Master Jinshi. He was my superior when I worked at the rear palace.”

“Ah.” Lahan turned and grabbed a ruler off his desk, holding it up and closing one eye to analyze Jinshi’s features from his seat, “Fascinating. Such a symmetrical face is statistically impossible. You’re quite beautiful…”

Jinshi looked extremely concerned, suddenly, “Why thank-”

“Perfect for my collection.”

Maomao thought of Lahan’s small gallery of textbook beauty and nodded, “I suppose he would.”

All sparkle vanished and Jinshi blanched, “Yes, well, I really must get going. I’ll have the details of the course sent over soon!” And he was gone, a long suffering Gaoshun trailed after him. 

At the sudden silence, Maomao sighed, “You did that on purpose.” It was a statement, not a question, although the unspoken why still hung in the air. 

“I just don’t like how he talks to you, and don’t call him master. You’re heiress of the La clan, he’s just some official.” He rubbed his chin, “He really is beautiful, though. If only he was a woman, a member of the La clan with that appearance would be unstoppable. Maomao, you may have to take one for the team anyway.”

“He’s a eunuch, unfortunately.” Honestly she’s thought the same thing. 

“That’s not a eunuch build.”

“What?”

“Yeah.” Lahan spaced his arms to demonstrate, “The robes make it hard to tell, but he has a V-shaped build. As well as developed biceps and trapezius muscles. I’m sure Mother would have demanded he strip then and there for a painting, she was fascinated with perfection.” He ended with a hint of resentment, “So, he’s posing as a eunuch, I wonder why? Only those with imperial blood can enter the rear palace intact- ah. So that’s it then.”

Maomao was caught between asking what Lahan had just thought of and dreading the answer. In the end, she settled on neither, “You’re such a creep.”

“Hm? I just have an artist's fascination with the human form. When I was a child, I’d take measurements of my nannies by hand.” In other words, he would grope unsuspecting maids, “Although Mother didn’t appreciate explaining that one. It all seemed strange to me; she called me a changeling when I didn’t understand.” That was an unsurprising revelation, unfortunately. 

“Fengxian cut the tip of my pinky finger off when I was a baby. See, one’s shorter than the other.”

“Did she have a reason, or did she just…feel like it?” 

“She did it at the same time she cut off her own finger, to get back at Papa for abandoning us.” Which was categorically true, no matter how well intentioned he was.

Lahan stopped to think, “Isn’t it strange that woman knows my mother’s name and face to get me confused with her?”

It was, now that Maomao thought about it. Did she try to go to the La clan after Maomao was born herself? From the stories about the former clan head she’s gathered from Lakan’s concerning tidbits of information and Dad’s recounting, she doubted the codger would have reacted well. Could he have lied about Lakan abandoning them, or even made sure he was away for longer? Perhaps at that point Daiyu may have offered some comfort- the Bad Mom’s Club™, Maomao snorted. Of course, that was all just conjecture. 

They really were a family cursed with misunderstandings and poor communications, “Maybe we can ask her ourselves.”

~~~

The military branch had just as many herbs as the rear palace, Moamao realized how strange that was after the rush of seeing all of them started to wear off.  Lakan had them take lunch in his office, where Maomao asked if Luomen ever worked here too.

“Uncle? No, no, he doesn’t like military stuff. All bureaucracy and red tape. He was a creature of the apothecary since he was a child, just like you. Why?”

“There’s just a lot of medicinal plants here.”

“Probably the corpsman.” Lakan reasoned, “The Emperor treats us well, but they’re always trying to stockpile more medicine for the next campaign. If you see any poppies or psilocybin, tear them up.”

It was as good an excuse as any to categorize the herbs there. To her mild disappointment she didn’t find any contraband there, although many had the potential to be deadly like most things. Maomao frowned as she knelt to take a double look at one of the shrubs, suspecting it was actually a rare poison from the north even if the different climate affected its growth. What in the world would it be doing here, though?

“Why are you poking around?” Someone suddenly said behind her, Maomao turned and saw an abnormally tall but beautiful woman standing behind her. Her sapphire eyes darted to Maomao’s hair pin, marking her as Lakan’s princess, “Playing in the dirt isn’t befitting a lady.” 

Maomao’s own gaze quickly took her in as well. Her cloth shoes and the hem of her skirt was dirty, like she had been in the mud herself. Her outfit made her look like a court lady, but what was she doing in an out-of-the-way place like this? The breeze carried a faintly medicinal smell on her. 

Now, Maomao could give her the benefit of the doubt of being a simple hobbyist like herself. Who knows, she could even be friends with one of the corpsmen Lakan suspected. Practicing any form of medicine as a woman was prohibited, so her attitude wasn’t out of the ordinary. Maomao had to remember she was no longer a servant girl, and couldn’t enjoy the benefits of putting the people around her at ease. 

“I’m an apothecary, my specialties are with herbs and medicinal plants. Father requested I check for any contraband growing here.”

“I see. Did you find anything?”

“No, although there is a wide range of plants here. I’d love to pick the brain of whoever planted them, they must really know what they’re doing. Father suspects one of the corpsmen, but it’d be a shame if they weren’t recognized properly. It’s always so tragic when talent is wasted.” The woman remained stoic at the flattery, but that didn’t surprise Maomao. It would have been too easy otherwise. 

“Perhaps check with the doctor here, he may know.”

Maomao primly folded her hands in her sleeves, “I believe I will. What was your name, again?”

“Suirei.”

“And I am Kan Maomao. If you hear any rumors about this, please find me. I’ll make it worth your while.” Although she expected the offer to be ignored, she at least hoped it was threatening enough Suirei will hide any more possibly illegal ventures into medicine better. She saw no reason to mention this to her Papa or Brother. 

~~~

Lahan didn’t exactly make it a secret he was creeped out by Fengxian. Maomao couldn’t necessarily blame him, it wasn’t like he’d spent a lot of time around those disfigured by disease and her insanity didn’t help matters. 

Living with a 24/7 aid to interact with and Lakan spending every possible moment playing Go with her made her more lively than Maomao ever remembered. She wondered how much of her insanity was syphilis ravaging her mind or depression at being separated from her true love. 

Still, she hardly acknowledged Maomao’s existence as she and Lahan sat across from the woman over some tea. Fengxian plucked away at a pipa beautifully despite the scaring in her hands. 

“See, Daiyu?” She hummed, “I’m sure Lian-wei would come to visit you more if you learned how to play. Men are more agreeable when they are reminded of who the fairer sex is.”

Lahan kicked Maomao under the table when she was about to burst out laughing, “I suppose you’d know best about attracting men- given your background.” He made sure to lilt his voice up, in what Maomao could guess was an accurate impression of his mother. 

Fengxian stopped to laugh, a sound Maomao had never heard before, “Yes, well, it didn’t seem to work very well with Lakan.” She said bitterly. This was more on par with the Fengxian Maomao remembered, soon she’d start on how her life had been ruined- “Well, I suppose I’ll forgive him. Better late than never, and he’ll be a good father.” She patted her flat stomach like a loving mother 9 months pregnant, “I’m happy Maomao won’t have to grow up without him.”

Oh. A lump formed in the back of Maomao’s throat with the sour taste of a lemon. History had already rewritten itself for this doomed woman, it was like all that pain had never happened. But what did that leave Maomao with? Bitter memories only she could cling on to, because the rest of the world moved on?

This was why Maomao could never call herself a selfless person. A selfless person wouldn’t want Fengxian to suffer in this horrible reality she created just so they could be miserable together. 

Abruptly, she stood. Lahan tripped over himself to follow and not be left alone with a walking corpse, “What was that all about!?” He hissed, “I thought we were trying to figure out how she knew my Mother?”

Maomao had to take a moment to steady her breath and make sure her voice wouldn’t tremble when she spoke, “Why does it matter? It doesn’t to her, she doesn’t even remember.”

“Don’t you want to know if they hurt her?”

“What’s the point? You and Papa already got all the revenge she could ever need, I was just being stupid. I thought…” Maybe there was a part of her that still desperately wanted to know more about the woman who gave birth to her, more than the vague platitudes Meimei or Lakan had to offer. More of the woman who coyly traded innuendos and insults with her sister in law. It didn’t matter, she’d always be an outsider to Fengxian even when she was talking about her. 

Lahan hovered awkwardly for a moment before he spoke: “The reason I started painting was because of my Mother. I never really cared about it as a kid, but with her gone…I don’t know. I was just drawn to her studio, to the chair she’d always sit in and her tools.” He held his hand out, fingers curled around an imaginary brush, “Her fingerprints were worn in the brushes. It’s strange, considering she never cared much about me, how much I suddenly cared about her.”

Notes:

Hey all! So yeah, any semblance of an upload schedule is going out the window now that school has started again. So I'll be back...eventually, lol