Emperor Shi Hong (pronounced SHEE KHWNG) occupied the region in the northern landmass currently known as China. The emperor, wishing to expand his empire, targeted the numerous self-governing villages occupying the central landscapes. These independent villages had evolved in their thinking to where women enjoyed the same privileges as men. Conflicts erupted as the emperor’s warriors conquered the villages and forced their people to live by imperial rule.
~ooOoo~
Although she drew nearer, her face remained shadowed except for her piercing eyes, irises so dark they blended into her pupils. Yet, like the times before, he found comfort in her gaze. She did not merely look at him but more into him — his very being.
Even in the shadows, he knew she was beautiful. It was his heart, however, not his loins, that awakened by her appearance.
"Kai." She spoke his name for the first time.
What a beautiful voice, he thought. Penetrating, much like her gaze.
He was about to speak to her when bony fingers gripped his shoulders and shook him. He opened his eyes to find Master Wu's wrinkled face frowning as he peeled naked courtesans off the bed.
"Prince Kai, the emperor commands our presence in court," he said while shooing the whores from the bedchamber.
Master Wu's words fell on deaf ears as Kai always struggled to rejoin reality after she had entered his dreams. Like any stirring connection, the vision of her lingered and held his mind captive. How many times had he dreamt of her? Too many to count.
"Prince Kai! Are you ill?" Master Wu stepped back and combed his winter-white goatee with his fingers while addressing Kai with concern.
Kai's eyes finally focused on the older man. "No, I'm not ill… just..."
Master Wu had been his weapons teacher since Kai was barely strong enough to hold up a sword. Unlike his many other instructors, Kai had formed a friendship with him. Confided in him. Trusted him.
Kai’s imposing frame rose from the bed and towered over the much smaller stature of his teacher, thinking he looked ancient that day. No one knew Master Wu's age; he was the only advisor still living from the emperor's father's reign.
"Master, I dreamt of her again." Kai began dressing while unburdening himself. "And this time, I felt her presence stronger than before." He belted his tunic and decided to ask the question that burned in his mind. "Could she be my mother?"
"No."
Kai noticed an abrupt change in his teacher's expression at the mention of his mother. "She's dead, isn't she? Father killed her."
"We must not speak of her."
"But, I feel a strong womanly presence. A closeness."
"Listen to my words, my prince. Those who speak her name find their bodies without a head." He put his hand on Kai's shoulder, and knowing the prince to be stubborn at times, he silently prayed to the gods he would heed his warning. "You have more important things to think of today. Clear your mind of those dreams. I promise they won't serve you well on this day."
Master Wu knew the young woman's identity just as he knew troubles lay ahead for the empire. An emperor who no longer ruled for the good of the people would surely lose favor with the gods. The prince’s loyalties would be tested. His very soul even. Whether the young woman in Kai's dreams would be a help or hindrance, Master Wu could not be certain.
~ooOoo~
Prince Kai decided to stroll around the palace to clear his mind before seeing the emperor. Windmills resembling rotating blades of grass powered the city with the help of the sun. Inside the imperial city, technology lived in harmony with nature.
The sacred banyan tree, known as the oldest in the lands, lorded over the gardens. Its branches sprouted aerial roots that descended to the soil to take root and form new trunks resembling grand pillars. It is said to be immortal because nothing disrupted its growth; not even fire, as its twisted, knotty wood would not flame. Moreover, some thought it symbolized fertility, so couples often chose to make love underneath it — as was the case that day.
Kai, having had his anticipated morning fuck interrupted, enjoyed watching their zealous lovemaking. The young woman lay stretched out face down with the young man lying on top of her. If they were aware of his presence, they didn’t show it.
To the prince's delight, the man’s tunic bunched above his waist, offering a perfect view of his ass muscles hard at work. Kai subconsciously released a moan with each thrust of the man’s hips that ground his cock into her with such force she clawed at the ground. At that moment, he would have gladly traded places with either.
Prince Kai smiled, noticing the other voyeur that morning. The couple’s uninhibited exclamations attracted a nearby crane that twisted its long neck to better view them. Kai’s stiffening cock commanded his attention, so he adjusted himself underneath his tunic. While his thoughts had finally left the woman in his dreams, he couldn’t say the trip to the gardens had cleared his mind.
When he entered the palace, Master Wu stood just inside the door and noticed his smile.
“Something changed your mood, Prince Kai.”
“Yes, I spied some clinging cicadas under the banyan tree,” he smirked, knowing Master would know the sexual reference.
“Yes, well, from what I saw this morning, you had your fill of lovemaking last evening.”
“I did, but had anticipated more in the morning before your early arrival.”
Knowing the prince would have the last word, Master Wu simply shook his head and urged them forward to greet Emperor Shi Hong.
They and the generals bowed when they approached the emperor seated on his golden throne carved with twisted dragons. All stood at attention and silent, waiting for Emperor Shi Hong to address them.
“I want the city of Nanjing under my rule. Their dishonor of traditions threatens our way of life.”
General Tang responded. “Yes, Your Majesty, but they have walled in the city. Our airships cannot maneuver to land within its walls. Our ground troops cannot enter through the gate with the guards posted atop the wall.”
Seeing the emperor’s face twist in disapproval, Prince Kai quickly added, “Your Majesty, we are working on a strategy and will gain control of the city in your name.”
“I want that city in my kingdom!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Prince Kai said, bowing.
“I would like to tour my kingdom today. Prince Kai, I want you by my side. You need to see the lands of what will someday be your kingdom.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty. I’ll prepare the airships, and we’ll unroll the royal silks. The people will enjoy seeing their emperor.”
Once ready, the royal airship, leading a fleet of ten other richly colored airships, sailed the sky over the kingdom in shifting formations — an impressive sight to anyone below.
Closer to the imperial city, the people loudly cheered and waved to their emperor. As they traveled south to newly acquired lands, the people withdrew into their homes or disregarded him completely. They were displeased with having what they considered ancient and unfair rules cast upon them. The emperor raged at the disrespect shown by his people.
"They must learn respect!"
"The women have experienced privileges, Your Majesty, and don't want to follow our ways. They are causing a stir and spreading their ideals. The people have grown discontent and I fear an uprising is near."
Emperor Shi Hong's eyes burned red. "The women will learn their place!"
Prince Kai knew all too well of his father's violent temper and feared for the people should they continue their whispers of discontent.
~ooOoo~
Within one of the villages outside imperial rule, a young woman named Lina — likened to a porcelain doll for her delicate features and flawless complexion — finished attaching the oiled rice paper to the bamboo frame. A tear escaped as she carried the lantern outside the pagoda to witness the sun nearing the horizon.
It’s time.
She spoke to her mother's Spirit. "Honored Mother, thank you for your love and teachings. I promise to continue the work you began for the good of our people. Go now, join our ancestors in peace, and I shall always carry you within my heart."
After bowing her head for a moment of silent remembrance, she ignited the fuel cell and released the lantern. The wind caught it, and Lina smiled as the lantern captured her mother's grace and twirled and danced across the sky. "Goodbye, Mother," she whispered.
Lina fell to her knees and watched the sky until her squinting eyes finally lost sight of the lantern.
She had never felt so alone, but she gathered her strength to do what must be done. Many counted on her, and Emperor Shi Hong drew nearer each passing day.
~ooOoo~
Weeks had passed with the Emperor growing more demanding of his warriors. They still had no reasonable battle plan for conquering Nanjing.
Needing a release from his tension, Prince Kai ordered three courtesans be brought to him, and he entered his bedchamber to find the courtesans already arranged like decorative pillows underneath the gold silk canopy. Two wore red and orange silk robes as see-through as a cicada's wings. The third (and most beautiful of the three) rose from the bed and approached him with her cherry-red painted lips and eyebrows shaped like butterfly wings. Her golden robe opened in the back, so she slowly walked in a tight circle, giving the prince a peek at her well-formed naked ass before stopping to face him.
"What is your name?" He asked, running his thumb across her lower lip.
"Ming, my prince."
Kai was pleased and removed his clothes in front of her watchful gaze. She obediently fell in step behind him as he walked to the intricately detailed bed carved from Northern Chinese Elm. He lay face down on the silk bedspread, and the women started massaging his body. One at his legs and feet while another worked the battle-sore muscles in his neck and shoulders, and Ming straddled his thick thighs, digging her fingers into his ass cheeks and back.
The prince found them beautiful, in the way one admired a beautiful painting. Was it anything beyond that? No. They were simply there for his sexual pleasure. He had yet to fall in love.
He watched Ming reach for the golden crane, one of many sex toys on the bed. It was appropriately named "the crane" because of its long, flexible neck attached to two feet; its sleek design was one of the most pleasurable toys for men. Ming slid the well-oiled neck into his asshole, and once in place, the crane's feet gently thumped his perineum. The combination of external and internal prostate stimulation drove him wild, and he fought hard to delay his orgasm for penetration.
While enjoying the crane's ministrations, he upturned his hands and wiggled his middle fingers. The experienced courtesans each took their place atop his hands, allowing his fingers to penetrate them. Kai watched their tight snow-white bottoms bobbing up and down on his fingers while his ass was thoroughly fucked. Ming straddled his thighs and slid her hands beneath him to stroke his cock. The sounds of sex filled the bedchamber while they pleasured one another.
When the sensations grew too much for Kai, he withdrew his fingers, and Ming withdrew the crane. Kai rolled Ming onto her back, opening her jaded doorway. He crawled between her legs, inching forward until his cock split her lips. She stretched her legs high into the air, and he drove his cock into her pussy. The unattended courtesans coupled alongside arranged for oral sex. For added stimulation, the courtesans selected two butterfly toys, their wings brilliantly painted in blues and greens. The whir of the vibrating butterflies further aroused the women before they even touched their clits. The butterfly's most remarkable feature was that the body pulsed while sending radiating vibrations through the veins in the wings, enabling the clit and its sensitive surrounding flesh to be simultaneously stimulated. The young women's toes curled, and Kai enjoyed the view of not one but three women in the throes of ecstasy.
Only after Ming's spasming walls squeezed his cock with her orgasm did he paint her insides with his emissions; a man showed his strength by withholding his orgasm until the woman had released. He withdrew and guided her raised legs back to the bed.
Wanting to preserve his royal semen, Ming clamped her legs tightly and reached for him. They rearranged themselves on the bed, and the other courtesans joined their entanglement. Damp tendrils hung loosely from formerly neat-knotted hair. Bodies remained stained from red lip paint. The four drifted into a deep sleep only lovers know.
~ooOoo~
The door to his bedchamber opened and woke Kai from his slumber. Curious that Ming’s gentle sucks on his cock had not.
"You!" He abruptly sat up, pushing Ming off his lower body.
Lina's eyes shamelessly drifted to the meaty flesh dripping with saliva from Ming’s mouth. It was her first time seeing a naked man outside of a painting. Brazenly, she walked toward the bed without being summoned.
Spirited by her sudden presence, Kai ordered, "Out!" to his courtesans, two of whom were still sleeping. They scrambled from the bed, tying their robes as they brushed past Lina.
She stood silently by the bed and waited for him to speak.
He rose and cupped her face with his hands. "Are you really here, or is this too a dream?"
His eyes roamed every inch of her, trailing his hands from her cheeks down to her shoulders, then down to hold her hands. It was as if he couldn’t quite believe she was real.
She interlocked her fingers with his. "I am Lina, and we are finally together."
"Lina. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman."
She trembled, his powerful presence overwhelming her. She'd been waiting so long to meet him.
He noticed her quivers and grew concerned. “Are you afraid? Here with me?"
"No."
He took her hand and pressed it against his naked chest, “Feel my heartbeat. It seems I am the one afraid — afraid you will disappear and I will never see you again."
“Nothing will separate us now.” She moved her hand to trace the details of his dragon tattoo spanning his broad chest. "You are bigger than I imagined.”
He covered her hand with his. “Lie with me.”
They crawled atop the embroidered silk and lay facing one another.