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Son of Wife #26, Luo Bo
Luo Bo was the son of the emperor and his concubine, born with his father's fiery blood pulsing through his veins and his mother's soft eyes of sapphire. He was also not the only son.
His father, to Luo Bo's vague disgust, slept around more than a mayfly on its last day. He sired many sons, and just as many daughters. For each palace he had as emperor, you could be sure to find a dozen half-siblings wandering the halls.
Luo Bo didn't blame his siblings, though some of them turned the blame on each other in turn. They didn't ask to be born. And he didn't blame their mothers, who made their best effort to raise them all despite the hassle of newborns popping up every few months.
No. If Luo Bo blamed anyone, it would be the demonic emperor himself, Luo Binghe. The man who drew women like moths to a flame, who crushed all who opposed him beneath his heel, who refused to smile despite the attention he received from everything that lived.
So, on one morning when the waning moon had fled the sky to make way for blinding dawn, Luo Bo shepherded his younger siblings toward the kitchens and then broke off from the group to make way to his father's throne room. It is a surprise that -when he finally arrives- he finds it empty.
Luo Bo frowns, glancing around with a critical eye. Normally his father loves to sprawl out over his throne, a concubine or two or six hanging off his arms and quivering men kneeling at his feet. And yet today it is empty. Barebones and quiet.
Suspicious.
Eyes narrowing further, Luo Bo pivots on his heels and stalks back through the hallways. His chin held high and shoulders back, he goes through all the places his father could be. If he's entertaining a woman, Luo Bo will hold his tongue, but the emperor could always be in the training yards, or the prisons, or even-
The library.
Luo Bo blinks up at the large doors, as imposing as always and as closed as always. If it were not for the deep voice of his father that's capable of shaking the earth floating through the gaps between the doors and the floor, Luo Bo would never have even thought to look in the library. His father had always hated fans and scholars for a reason he'd never bothered to ask about, after all.
Perhaps even more interesting than that was the voice accompanying his father's. It was not feminine, but it was not all that deep either. It did not shake the walls or inspire fear, nor did it cause something in Luo Bo to tremble. In fact, he felt a piece of him ease at hearing that soft voice, as unrecognizable as it was.
And then, as if to top off a cake with a dollop of fruit, the voice laughed. Against all odds, as Luo Bo rushed away from the library's doors with his face flushed, he found himself thinking in wonder:
Father has found an angel.
Daughter of Wife #67, Luo Yanying
Luo Yanying had been pretty sure her elder brother had lost it. There was no way under the sun or moon that Demonic Emperor Luo Binghe had found an angel of all things. He was too brash and strong jawed, and Luo Yanying was certain a flighty, holy thing like an angel would prefer someone just as wispy as them.
All of this to say, Luo Yanying had been more than ready to prove Luo Bo wrong.
But here and now? Staring into green eyes framed by short hair, adding to the effect of pale skin draped in the finest silks?
Well, Luo Yanying was suddenly inclined to agree with her brother. Somehow, amongst worldly beauties, her father had aimed even higher and had scored an angel.
An angel who adored Luo Yanying.
“Aren't you adorable,” the angel cooed. A fan -clearly made with the finest materials available in all the realm- was quickly sat down so the angel could sweep forward in a flurry of colorful robes. Smooth palms encased Luo Yanying's face, gently pinching her cheeks. “A baby lotus!”
Luo Yanying can see her father stiffen from the corner of her eyes. His crimson eyes flash, a sneer marring his face. It only lasts a second before it is wiped away into soft fondness as the angel swirled to face him.
“Binghe! Your children are the cutest!” The angel gushed, then quickly turned back to Luo Yanying, pressing a bony finger to her nose. “Just look at her; she has your nose!”
“Cuter than me, Shizun?” Her father asks, and if Luo Yanying didn't know any better she'd say he was pouting.
The angel -Shizun- tittered, leaning back onto his heels. Luo Yanying ached at the loss of his attention, almost surprised to find how much she craved more of his praise.
Shizun clicked his tongue, decision made. “That's a close one,” he murmured, tapping a loose fist against his chin. He turned back to her father again, this time with an utterly blinding smile. “Ah, but of course no one could ever compare to Binghe.”
Luo Yanying's father gave a bow -a bow!- and thanked Shizun, expression filled with an emotion she had never seen on him before: joy. And then he turned to Luo Yanying and had the nerve to give a smug smirk.
Luo Yanying clenched her fists tight. It was on.
Son of Wife #90, Luo Chao
“Very good!” Shizun praised with a clap, long sleeves trailing through the motion a beat later. Luo Chao lit up and tilted his head up to happily accept the head pats that quickly followed. “Your calligraphy is so much better already!”
Luo Chao looked back down at the scroll smeared with ink before them both. It definitely was an improvement given before he had trouble with his own name, let alone other characters, but still not perfect.
“Does Shizun promise?” Luo Chao asked with the beginnings of a frown tugging at his lips. He knew he shouldn't be questioning papa's new wife since he was being kind enough to teach Luo Chao things papa and mama didn't have time for, but…
Shizun tapped Luo Chao's cheeks with his fingertips like rain against glass. He leaned down, his eyes partially hidden by the ink smears on his glasses, and whispered gently, “What do I have to lie for? My dear lotus sprout is so smart and quick, one day he'll woo even the immortal scholars.”
Luo Chao stared back with sparkles in his eyes and a warmth in his chest. Without thinking, he threw himself at Shizun and clung to his robes with small, stained fists. Shizun paid no mind to it, and instead drew Luo Chao closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and carding his other hand through shaggy hair.
“Thank you, Shizun!” Luo Chao squeaked out, burying his face in Shizun's chest. It wasn't as soft as mama's, but it was no less protective. Luo Chaos struggled to get closer.
Shizun hummed, running his hand through Luo Chao's hair again to card through some small knots. “Whatever your little heart desires, I will do my best to give,” he said.
Luo Chao lifted his head at the slide of a door, meeting papa's steely gaze. In his hands was a tray of steaming food and strong smelling tea. His already sharp features tightened. Luo Chao stuck his tongue out.
Papa's nose wrinkled. He shifted the tray to one hand to use the other to fluff up his hair, then put in a large smile as he stepped into the room.
“Shizun, it's time for a break,” papa called, coming to kneel beside them. Shizun gave a pleased gasp, settling Luo Chao down to scoot closer to the food tray. Papa very pointedly placed a hand on the small of Shizun's back.
Luo Chao, with puffed cheeks, curled back onto Shizun's lap and opened his mouth. Shizun wordlessly placed some noodles in his mouth.
Papa leaned in to press a kiss to Shizun's cheek.
Luo Chao curled Shizun's free hand around him like a belt.
Shizun suddenly burst out laughing. He was quick to cover it with a sleeve, his fan left forgotten by the scroll. When his laughter dimmed, he gasped out, “Oh, you two… Come on, the food is getting cold.”
Son of Wife #172, Luo Hai
“Shizun…” Luo Hai drawled, having finished a handful of math problems that had been given to him. Shizun hummed from his spot, tip of a fan pressed to his lips and brush swirling ink gracefully. “What's your thought on marriage?”
Luo Hai could see the emperor perk up from where he had been sitting dejected in the corner of the room, unable to have Shizun's full attention. Luo Hai internally rolled his eyes and kept his gaze locked on the graceful being before him.
“Some couples are just so shameless,” came the mumbled answer, evidently said with not much attention paid. Luo Hai nodded nonetheless.
“Have you ever thought about your own marriage to the emperor?” Luo Hai asked, glancing back down at his own scroll. He picked up his brush and quickly dabbed at a number to fix the odd shape of it.
Shizun gave a breathy laugh at that, tapping his fan against his skin twice rapidly. He answered, “Ah, how could I say no to such a man? Binghe has such charm that even someone like me who has no interest in men can't help but let him do as he pleased.”
Luo Hai slow blinked. He refused to look at the emperor, though he could still see the man's wounded expression out of the corner of his eyes, as if the thought that he would take anything he wanted -which he does- including Shizun -which he had- was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
Slower than his incredulous blinking, Luo Hai asked, “In what way?”
Shizun sighed dreamily, finally putting his brush down. Eyes wistful, he snapped his fan open and fanned himself lightly. He said, “Those curls-”
Luo Hai had the emperor's hair. Having never straightened it before, it had less fraying. Surely that counted for something.
“-the fierce look in his eyes-”
Luo Hai had his mother's eyes as he had been told all his life. Gray eyes in place of spilt blood. But if it were not the unnatural color that drew Shizun and instead the look they conveyed… Well, Luo Hai could work with that.
“-the overwhelming power-”
Ah. There's nothing Luo Hai could do there. There was nothing anyone could do there, except maybe a god, or a unified front. Neither of those were very likely.
“-and of course he's so smart-”
Luo Hai was working on that. It's hardly his fault the emperor seemed more inclined to run into a succubus or odd pollen than to teach his own children.
“-and such a sweet talker!”
That was a breeze. Luo Hai had the tongue of a snake, after all, or so he's been told. A few winks and twists of his mouth usually did it, so he was pretty sure that wouldn't be a problem.
Shizun tilted his head to the side, expression clearing, and added, “Binghe is just simply wonderful. But oh, there's so much of him in you!”
Luo Hai wrinkled his nose. The emperor looked just as offended. “How so,” it came out as more of a sharp statement than anything.
“Ah, my blue lotus,” Shizun tsked, pushing himself up. He brushed himself off, stepped around his desk, and kneeled down again before Luo Hai. He smoothed a hand across Luo Hai's bangs. “You have his determination. His strive for power, his chin, his all consuming ideals- they're all mushed in there.” He poked the spot between his ribs. “And it makes you wonderful.”
“...This one thanks Shizun,” Luo Hai croaked, giving a quick bow. Shizun caught his arms and pushed him back up with an endearing little smile. The emperor was not bothering to hide his distaste.
Shizun shook his head, “This one should be thanking you for giving him a chance to practice teaching! This sort of thing is so new…”
“You're a natural, it would be so hard to tell.”
“You flatter me!”
“He does,” the emperor purred, suddenly appearing behind Shizun. He dug his hands into the other's shoulder in a vague mimicry of a massage. “Perhaps you would now let this one do the same?”
“Binghe, Binghe… You can do whatever you want,” Shizun said with a sigh that was a touch too fond to be exasperated. He looked back up at Luo Hai then, “If you see any of your siblings, would you let them know I'd like to meet them whenever they're free? It's been wonderful to meet the few of you I have.”
“Of course, Shizun,” Luo Hai said with a proper bow as he stood up. With a spin of his heels, he was marching out of the room with intent. All the while he continued to ignore the emperor all but purring at being left alone with his prize.
Daughter of Wife #202, Luo Lian
Luo Lian crossed her arms, long hair spilling elegantly over her shoulders at the motion as her eyes narrowed at the scene before her. Her sibling meandered about- far too many of them in a room such as this. Their held breath only broken by the occasional elbowing jeer, they all waited for their emperor and father to address them.
Luo Lian had an idea of what it was all about. For all her siblings would non subtly whisper that she was vain and airheaded, Luo Lian knew how to spread gossip, and was often the one weaving the threads of rumors herself.
So yes, of course she had heard of the divine being their own divine father brought back.
And yes, she heard about her siblings meeting the angel one by one and falling head over heels with how nice he was, how willing he was to explain the biology of beasts to them and read them stories.
And yes, she heard about the weird possessiveness their father had been displaying for the first time since wife six or so.
Sure, she was curious, but at this point she had heard so much about this angel that she hated him on principle.
As if to disprove Luo Lian's words with his Heavenly might as he so often did, the emperor stalked into the room. His black robes were for once tinged with a bit of color. The red wasn't exactly breathtaking, and made it look like he had killed several people on the way in, but at least he wasn't so doom and gloom anymore.
Another once over brought another detail to attention, one that was perhaps more shocking than the last: the emperor's hair was curly. No longer was it straight, falling down to his waist despite being in a high ponytail. Now, soft curls bounced with every step. Luo Lian would almost say it made him look younger, if only he could get rid of that sickening look in his eyes.
Luo Binghe stepped forward through the large doors before coming to a stop. The children too near obediently fell back.
“Children mine,” he said with the same amount of warmth one would upon spotting a spider in their tea. “As some of you are… astutely aware, I have taken another wife.”
The response was mixed, to say the least. Luo Lian heard a few meek congratulations, along with several groans of dismay, a clattering of money being exchanged, and someone's oh-so-tired-of-this-shit wheeze. Luo Binghe pushed on.
“Those of you who have met my wife fawn over him, seeking his attention. And those of you who have not met can not lie to me by claiming disinterest,” Luo Binghe hissed, eyes again sweeping over the crowd.
From where Luo Lian stood, she could see no less than three eye rolls. Apparently the rumors of uncharacteristic possessiveness weren't rumors after all.
“My wife, for reasons unknown even to me, wishes to meet. All of you.” Luo Binghe was clearly in pain saying so, Luo Lian was fairly amused to see. “However, we will lay some ground rules-”
He slams his fist against the wall with nary a blink. The effect is somewhat ruined by very few children flinching. The wall splinters all the way up to the ceiling even so.
“No. Wife. Stealing.” Luo Binghe snaps.
No one raised a voice against him. It was not out of obedience, of course, nor was it out of fear. They had all simply learned to let their emperor father work his feelings out however he pleased.
Despite no one raising their voice, Luo Lian watched Luo Binghe remove his fist from the wall and take a heaving step forward. “No,” thud, “wife,” thunk, “stealing.” At the last repeated word, he brought his feet together, crossed his arms, and released as much Heavenly Demon aura as he pleased.
Dully, with no intention to follow the rule, Luo Lian echoed her siblings’ equally unenthusiastic reply, “Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
The staring contest lasted several long moments more. And then, with a flurry of cloth and clanging jewelry, Luo Binghe turned to leave the room. Luo Lian smiled to herself.
Perhaps she should pay this angel a visit after all…
Transmigrator, Shen Yuan
Shen Yuan had been kidnapped, and that kinda sucked. He could no longer mess around with making the best meta Pokémon team, or chug a two liter of cola, or even call his sister up and ask how her movie date was.
But, all in all, the pros severely outweighed the cons.
Take, for instance, the insanely powerful demon fawning over him, feeding him fresh cut oranges and pears as Shen Yuan lounged on several dozen cushions, with a half dozen baby faced kids watching him paint.
Shen Yuan hummed, leaning back to get a better look at the Gundam he had been stylizing. One of the kids gasped and another cooed. Beside him, his black lotus made a noise of approval and held out another orange slice.
“A wonderful piece as always, Shizun,” Binghe praised. He looked so happy, and really, who wouldn't be? Surrounded by his beautiful children who were all so much like him, having a random artist paint out of the world designs like the Roman emperors- Binghe was living the life! “But… please forgive this one for asking, what is this beast?”
Shen Yuan quickly swallowed the orange and licked his lips. Binghe and a few of the older children watched him intently, and so he was quick to spill the answer, “Ah, no, no, it makes sense you wouldn't know it! See, this is a… Well. It's a Gundum. Basically, it's a moving suit of armor that is giant and shoots weapons out of its arms. See? Right there. Of course, making one here would be an impossible feat…”
“We can make it so,” the eldest of the children -a sharp eyed and short haired boy named Luo Yang, son of Wife #38- declared with shocking seriousness. At his side, a young girl -Luo Zhou, daughter of Wife #345- nodded rapidly.
“Aha, you children don't need to focus on such silly stuff like this. Remember, you all have that book to read yet!” Shen Yuan wiggled a finger in mock threat. The children all blinked back mildly. No respect!
Luo Binghe slid closer, a hand coming up to cup Shen Yuan's neck. Shen Yuan's breath caught in his throat as Binghe leaned in to whisper in his ear, “It is from Shizun's home? Shall I fetch one for you?”
Shen Yuan was quick to shake his head. “No, that's quite alright. See, it's more of an idea there, too. There's plans to build one- in fact, they might have already. It isn't entirely operational, not fully anyway, and it's only the one, so stealing it would-” Binghe blinked ever so slowly. Shen Yuan flushed. “...If you would like to bring me anything from home, I would like some pizza rolls.”
“Whatever Shizun wishes,” Binghe murmured. He pressed a kiss right below Shen Yuan's ear and then pulled back. Shen Yuan watched him go with a fond smile, well aware of another little girl -Luo Shui, daughter of Wife #413- whispering that he could do so much better.
What a wonderful stress dream. He should get kidnapped more often.