Cherry Blossoms

In the world of hushed voices and secret lives of the aristocracy, there were no words for sexual addiction or the real true love that often came unbidden to a husband and a favorite mistress. What Jun felt for Li Ming was never talked of and had never been explained to him when he had sat in front of his father as a youth and had the ways of sex and procreation explained. Pleasure, he knew was supposed to be felt with his mistress, and procreation was necessary with the wife to have sons. Sexual pleasure was not supposed to be felt with the wife, as happened with emotions.

Pleasure with Li Ming was maximized 10 times. As was written once: “Kiss me. Again. Four I’ll return and hotter than fire.” Li Ming brought fire to everything she did, and ruled his mind, heart, and soul with her antics that could charm him from any mood. Jun could not reign in his mind. In simple words: he was whipped.

The morning sun rolled over the China hills and blinded the half-asleep Jun who stood in the window; shirtless and still reeling from the bedroom games Li Ming had brought the night before. He was supposed to meet his father soon. He sighed and closed the blinds of the window. Li Ming’s dark eyes danced at him from the bed. Her hair had that unruly curl, and fell playfully past her shoulders and over her little breasts.

“Er jiang yu lin zhei si lo wo.” ((You’re going to be the death of me)) He said in a husky tone as he walked over and ran his hands through her hair.

“Yu ai nin.” She whispered lightly hoping that he wouldn’t hear her, but he looked up with surprise, then his eyes soften, and he returned the precious words, and meant them.

“Go to sleep onna, you were up far too long last night.” Jun commanded with a gentle tone. Li Ming nodded and lie back against the soft pillows and white sheets. Her eyes closed and she was soon entered into the world of slumber.

When she woke up, a few hours later, Jun was lying beside her looking silently raging. When she saw her dark eyes fall upon him, his expression softened, and he didn’t notice that she had seen his anger. Li Ming placed an opened palm over his chest. She sat up in bed and then leaned her body against his.

“What is wrong?” She asked looking up at him with pleading eyes. Jun sighed and looked away at the open door.

“My father introduced me to my new wife.” He replied unceremoniously. When his eyes met hers again, she wasn’t looking at him.

“No one can replace you li.” ((sweet wine)) He said reaching for her arm. Li Ming looked up and he saw tears in her eyes. Jun took his thumb and wiped them away.

“Zen bai nin lei?” ((Why do you cry)) He asked truly confused. Li Ming fought back the sobs.

“I’m going to lose you again.”

Jun didn’t know why his beautiful mistress cried. She dismissed him from her quarters as the tears fell faster. He felt his heart squeeze painfully in his ribcage, and he felt a sharp pain of guilt in his chest. He stood outside her door and listened to her weeping, but he knew that he had to prepare for the wedding that night. He gave one sad look over his shoulder, and walked away slowly down the hall to his own apartments.

Li Ming held her face against her pillows. She felt the wet spot from her tears growing on her pillow. Li Ming was too weak to care. Li Ming could only remember what the maid had told her about the “love” she would have to end. Li Ming thought she was truly cursed. Xiang was going to be his wife. She felt it in her soul, and fear gripped her heart.

Li Ming turned her head to the side so she could breathe. The breaths came in choked sobs. She thought she had already cried enough. Would she never stop suffering? She heard his footsteps down the hall and realized that he had been listening at her door.

Duty was in those footsteps, and she wished that she could run down the hall after him, and stop the ceremony she knew would take place soon. Li Ming berated her weakness, and gradually got herself out of bed. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and resolved to get dressed.

Li Ming snuck into the hall. She was determined to see who the new wife to be was. She tiptoed down the corridor into the restricted apartments of the wife. Li Ming posed herself as a maid. With the pristine white robes and playing down of the face, she slipped in practically unnoticed. She had almost reached her destination of the bedroom. The door was open a crack, and Li Ming entered the room.

The face that looked back at her was her own. Li Ming let out a loud gasp and clasped her hand over her mouth. It was a younger version of her. Li Ming looked at her with wide eyes and her jaw hanging low. The younger version looked at Li Ming with a sad look in her doe eyes...

~*~*~

Li Ming shot up in her bed. Sweat dripped down from her forehead in dewy droplets, and soaked her thick raven hair. She was heaving with deep breaths trying to calm herself. She lay in the low bed of the Deflowering Chamber, and felt strong arms wrap around her tightly. Li Ming looked up and saw Jun looking down at her with heavy concern.

Qiu and his sister sat at the foot of the bed looking at their mother worriedly. Li Ming let out a harried scream and loosened herself from Jun’s arms.

“You’re supposed to be dead.” She said in a raspy voice, pushing up against the wall and turning deathly white. Jun dismissed the children with a quick wave of his hand and walked over to Li Ming and took her hands.

“You changed it tian. Your journey is over.” Li Ming closed her eyes and let out a long breath. It was done. The suffering was over and she could finally breathe.

~Fin~