"How could this happen..."
The doctor steels his nerves that were pulsating in his palms and still himself in a calm posture, wiping his cold gliding sweat, exhaling his breath out to wear off the anxiety that he was carrying underneath from the gaze of the state's Lord.
"It can't be helped your majesty... She is bound to meet death's door at some point... This has been predicted long ago before us servants had diagnosed your Lord's concubine..." He gulp down his own saliva, lacing his words carefully forward to him, "there was no cure or method of healing her with our current remedies of medical field in the sect."
"... Useless... All of of you are useless! Nothing but worthless gold to waste upon... I thought to believe in the sect of rejuvenation, yet you failed to aid and ensure one of my concubine's life...." The doctor peak above nervously and spotted the Lord's fingers caressing a face before he covers it.
Cold... Is what the Lord thought when he touched her plump cheeks - those plump cheeks of hers that was stuffed with acorns of food and a smile that widens through her lips... Now, her cheeks are hollow sockets and dull lips begin to chip.
"... Leave... I do not want to see you again... Or the sect itself..." His tone holds so many feelings to pour out, but his voice leaks out anger and sorrow instead.
"... Y-Yes... Yes... I leave to your majesty's solitude..." The doctor bowed to a degree and left hurriedly to the atmospheric halls.
The emperor didn't watch him walk out of the chambers and held the person's hand who's laying on the bed, covered in silk sheets of embroidery and red thin incense that smokes away the spirits for them to lay rest in peace.
He presses his lips to the owner's unmoving palms, missing the warmth that was once there to touch his icy appearance, the same warmth as bathing in their radiating glow like the sun that had set itself to the land to shine others, yet the sun have to soon leave to head west and move to another place to shine again. Their bronze skin that no one wants to stare at- wasn't luster jade and moonlight white in the country's beauty standards, however it became one of the most beautiful parts that he holds dear and amongst all his concubines he has, they were more recognizable and distinguishable. What he even holds very dearly and cherished the most; is their autumn leaf eyes that reflects so much life inside those coiling pupils of shimmer, expressing many ways through their actions and words, and inexplicable joy that can't be broken down easily because every corner brings them happiness, even giving them a pebble satisfies them. Thought they were succumbing in the lowest ends wasn't enough to tore their parts inside, even if he had let them be slandered, beaten pulped to the stomach, belittled by his concubines, they showed that they can stand up for themselves and always stay in their ground without retaliating and countering attacks.
"I don't need your attention! All I need is food and clothes! You have so many concubines?! I don't think I'm worth anything but just a decor..."
"You bored? Come on! Let's go make uh... Bamboo tea! Eh! You think it's ridiculous! Just taste it once we make it!"
"Your highness, you're having hard time falling asleep again? Then, let me hold your hand and chant a dream spell... I can make a dream spell, just let me do it and I'll show you! That way your highness can have wonderful dreams and wonderful night!"
"Highness... Fine, Jing Lei... Never forget that you aren't alone in this world and I understand you... You just needed someone who's broken to see your deepest parts of your heart..."
"Jing Lei..."
his face squeezes in heavy heart, his chest heaving as it churns in the hollow depth of his guts, his breath hitches as he kneel to the bedside of his concubine and tightly held the hand he's holding. Not wanting to let go of the hand that was once their to ensure him that she... Is there...
He lifts the covers and slide beside her side, slipping his arms around her waist and lean the body close to his. As he's believing she's still here; asking questions about his day and in return he asks hers...
"... Liezal... I'm back... How was your day?" He carries the corners of his lips and pressed onto the cold forehead with longing, "Liezal... Want to hear what happened today...? Yes? Then tell me about your day first... My love..." He rubs his cheeks on her head and pecks her chipped lips, closing his eyes with a strange grin and fell asleep as he embraces his lover.