【Sun Hao, 孫皓 ; styled Yuanzong, 元宗】 Grandson of Sun Quan. Final Emperor of Wu. Engaged to Sun Lai. Three Kingdoms roleplay blog (FC is Ren Kouen from Magi. No images on this blog belong to me, all credit goes to their respective owners.)
Having life throw one of its unexpected curve balls (jump float serves, in this case?) at you always takes some stepping back and adjusting to the changes. For the time being, I expect my activity to either be quite scarce, or I will only have the energy for a few specific threads on all of my muses. At the moment, I don’t have it in me to make new interactions, though I am still perfectly happy to save anything new anyone wants to tag my muse in for later reply. I apologise for any inconveniences this may cause, and I ask for kindness and understanding in my choices of interaction.
{I know you didn't post this, but.. Youmei and Hao for the kid meme? .u.}
Oh, why the hell not? I’ve been debating reblogging that kid meme for a looooong while anyway. XD
Name: Sun Xié (孫叶), not yet styled.Gender: Male.General Appearance:
Long, straight red hair which he prefers to leave loose due to it’s weight when tied up. Sharp brown eyes and a moderate complexion, his build is on the leaner side. Tall like his parents, the length of his hair and his thinner frame don’t help in that department.Personality: Generally calm and aware of himself at all times, he has an insatiable passion for study; politics, cooking, swordsmanship… he wants to learn everything. He prefers muted clothes in simple colors, at least, as much as he can get away with while still dressing for his station. Believes strongly in hard work winning out over influence, and sometimes disagrees with his Sun father on policy, but more often disagrees with Youmei’s black and grey morality.Special Talents: Knowing when it’s going to rain nearby, 100% accurate over the last decade.Who they like better: Sun Hao.Who they take after more: Again, Yuanzong.Personal Headcanon: He secretly can’t stand that he’s so thin-looking, and so wears thick layers, even in the summer, to try and even out his appearance. He used to do endurance training to try and build up musculature, but once Youmei told him that that kind of physique would be lean as well, he gave up on the difficult regimen and has now begun a more protein rich diet.
[I'll try to keep my answers fandom-related, like with the popular opinion bit. Under a readmore for length, though I realised too late that the small text is difficult to read on Hao's page. Perhaps copy to a blank document...? Sorry! maybeIshouldactuallyfixit]
❤ - Any tumblr senpais?
Oh goodness, I have a few. I think I'm about to gain more in the other fandom I've begun roleplaying in, as well, but I'm still getting my feet wet there, so nothing is concrete. However, right now~
⇢ sonoficeandfire
⇢ eyes-of-deceit
⇢ takaochii (my long-term senpai. Ironically, the only one tumblr won't let me @mention.)
⇢ ....I thought there were more. I swear there were more.
❣x2 - An unpopular opinion I have.
⇢ Dynasty Warriors: As excited as I get with new character releases (many of which I'm still anticipating!), I also kind of wish that Koei would take a step back from that for a bit in order to focus more on the characters we already have. With so many in the roster, it's impossible to really develop anyone anymore, even the main figureheads of the era. While the days of individual Musou Modes are long gone, I'd like to see the heavy majority of available characters have more dimensions to them than "one personality trait, one complementing flaw, and one joke trait" (e.g., Ling Tong's laziness [both his defining trait in recent games and his joke trait, and arguably also his flaw] and his rivalry with Gan Ning; Zhong Hui's self proclamation as the "Chosen One" and his desire to rebel and take things over, with no other reason than, "Well, I'm the Chosen One, so that's why"; Sima Shi's love of baozi and his Sima Family Laughter being one of the most overused gags in the Jin storyline). Each instalment has degraded almost every single character a little more, even those present in only two games. Even if we didn't get more character depth on the level of personality, I'd love to see their relationships with others developed more.
⇢ Three Kingdoms: Against global opinion -- Liu Bei was not a hero, in my eyes. Against fandom/common scholarly opinion -- (Bonus! Muse-related!) Sun Hao was a terrible ruler who did terrible things that cannot be excused, yes, but how much of history remembers him is based firmly in the traditional philosophical mindsets that go along with an emperor who loses their empire. Many of his misdeeds are exaggerated, and his virtues and positive actions, whatever their longevity, are sometimes spoken of as being sub-par or failing entirely, when in fact, he was capable of good things, and did good things. In this, my opinion is that he was not quite as terrible of a ruler as many people prefer to think of him as (though I would still never want him as my emperor).
⋆ - A ship I have with my character.
Just one?! D: Uh. HaoLai. HaoMei/YuanMei.
❧ - A ship I have with your character. (For Youmei)
YouJie !!
✗x2 - A ship I can’t stand !!
⇢ Sima Yi/Jiang Wei.
⇢ Zhou Yu/Sun Quan
☒x2 - A fact about the mun.
⇢ I am a bun. An actual bun. Sniffsniff, hophop, nudgenudge, earwiggle~!
⇢ I am really, really passionate about Three Kingdoms history (as much as it makes me twitch to call it 'Three Kingdoms'), even if my specialities rest in Wu and Jin history, and cultural/philosophical/geographical/etc. aspects of the time. Though I had an upset when trying to get it active again two weeks ago, I run an ask blog over here~.... //shameless self-promotion; many resources still need to be added, as well/
☑x2 - A fact about the character.
⇢ He lets his past define him, as much as he tries to keep it where it should be: in the the past.
⇢ He puts the weight of the problems he's involved with entirely on his shoulders. Often, he'll try to right them in some way, but if the effort blows up horribly or he's too far into his later timeline of being a tyrant, he'll quietly wallow in his guilt while partaking in activities that temporarily help him to forget how far he's fallen or how much he's failed those who had such high expectations of him. Eventually, he can't even retreat in that way, but he continues his escapist and violent patterns out of habit, out of wanting to keep up his unstable and terrifying persona to protect those close to him after accruing so many enemies, and because he doesn't feel there's any way to redeem the person he's become. When he hits his lowest points, he locks himself away from the world entirely, letting the corrupt government run itself until he returns.
✾x2 - Why I chose my character.
It was for a mixture of reasons, really. I wanted to see a darker side to Wu in the roleplay community, even if it began in lighter roots. I had many headcanons about Sun Hao that I wanted to portray, although since some of them directly involved one of my other characters, I had my inhibitions. However, as time went on, I felt more and more trepidatious about him being played by someone else (I'd tried at one point to convince Rae, for example, to take him up), and I discovered that this was due to the muse having been woken up within me. Due to the reason listed above and my insecurities at being able to play such a character (as well as a mention from another member in the community that we "didn't need anymore Wu/Sun muses"), I'd been suppressing and rejecting him quite a bit. Once I realised that, I gave in, other opinions and my self-consciousness be damned, and he became my strongest and most well-developed muse almost immediately.
☄ - My opinion of you (for lotusofwei)
I'm so happy that you joined our community! I enjoyed meeting you on Skype through Magi, and you provide fun and insightful conversation. Your compassionate nature is one of your greatest strengths and not at all a weakness, from those strengths that I have seen, and I hope that it never diminishes. I am glad to call you my friend.
It may seem strange to receive a letter like this from someone you see every day, and even more so because I am handing it to you myself, perfectly capable of speech and yet choosing instead to express myself in a more permanent medium. I am well aware that you have likely had your fill of petitions for the course of a lifetime, however, I feel as though I must add to your workload, at least as much as this small correspondence will inconvenience you.
Doubtless, you’ve grown tired of my constant breaches of court protocol by my refusal to wear those ridiculous hats; I understand that as one of your highest ranked officials, it is my duty to set an example for my juniors, and so my request is simple:
Abolish the practice entirely.
No one likes them; they’re itchy and tug uncomfortably on your hair. Something I’m sure you’re aware of by now is that my scalp is quite sensitive, and I believe the repercussions of my wearing one of those head ornaments will be more of a disturbance than forgoing the thing altogether has been already.
And no, you can’t help me tuck it under correctly, or neither of us will ever make it to another court session.
Zhu Youmei submits his request humbly, and eagerly awaits Your Majesty’s ruling.
The Emperor of Wu’s eyes scrolled through the document he held, his expression shifting quickly as he got deeper into the heart of the issue.
…even more so because I am handing it to you myself, perfectly capable of speech and yet choosing instead to express myself in a more permanent medium…
What is this about…? Features taking on a look of mild confusion and concern, Yuanzong raised his head to ask the man standing before him, but, taking into account that Youmei did hand this to him with the intention of having his lord read it before him, amber hues lowered themselves back to the crisp ink characters. Had he done something to upset the former northern prince? Worse, was the man resigning from the position he had acquired entirely? Reading on…
…my refusal to wear those ridiculous hats…
. . .That is what this is about?
To anyone aware of the contents of the petition, the flat gaze Hao cast upward was a clear indication of where he had reached in his reading. Unamused orbs of citrine stared at the wall behind his advisor before flicking over to the slightly shorter man, every corner of his visage displaying disbelief. Traditional court fashion was not a game, and while he had heard Zhu Zhuo’s complaints in the past and understood his particular issues surrounding hats, there was no way he was going to change the protocol for proper dress.
The younger slowly lowered his eyes once more, making sure to hold eye contact with the other man for as long as comfortable in quiet disapproval.
Abolish the practice entirely.
Ah, yes. This was headed exactly where he had predicted. Otherwise, why submit a (somewhat) formal petition?
Perhaps I can simply help him to put his hair up so that it will not tug? Childish, of course — Youmei is an adult, and older than me, at that, but if it will get him to cease fighting this at every turn—
The next few lines answered that unspoken suggestion quite clearly. With a sigh, Sun Hao rolled up the written request and closed his eyes, then, turning to his right, moved to sit at his large desk. With his right elbow propped upon the wooden surface, his forehead finding a resting place in the palm of his hand, the other extended to set Youmei’s letter as far to the side as he could. Another sigh escaped past his lips, this time in obvious agitation, rather than out of the simple resignation of yes, we are going through this again of before.
"Advisor Zhu," he began after some time had passed in silence, low tones quiet and filled with obvious exhaustion. There was another pause before he continued, the words joined by a look cast up at his companion, tanned, callused fingers pressing into his temple while a thumb supported his cheekbone. "Must we go through this again? And now you ask me to do away with the tradition entirely — to do away with what little propriety is left in this court."
Yuanzong let out another sigh, trying to relieve the tight knot forming in his chest, eyes shutting once more. ”I will not do it. I would rather you not wear it at all. I can allow you to substitute it for something more comfortable, or to replace the hat it with a cord or your hair done back properly, but I will not abolish the practice. Really,” he added, golden irises meeting carmine undertones once more. ”Did you expect me to give in so easily?”
The age of consent in sixteen, not eighteen, under federal US law. Meaning that it’s legal to smut with sixteen and seventeen year olds, because tumblr is a US company that operates under US federal laws.
Also, the law people always quote (“it’s illegal to portray minors having sex” or something to that effect) isn’t regarding the writing of sexual activity with/by a minor. It’s regarding writing about a minor having sex, referring more to faceclaims than anything else. So, if you want to write your sixteen year old character having sex while you are sixteen, that’s not illegal so long as your faceclaim is legal (over 18). Where it becomes shady is when the faceclaim is under 18 because at that point, you are considered to be writing child pornography. This is why other sites that have minor-written smut (ao3, fan fiction) are not shut down and also why it’s legal to depict a minor having sex on television while the actor is legal. So, basically, so long as you’re not using a minor FC (Camila Cabello, Bella Thorne, Jack Griffo ect) you are legally sound.
That being said, do not force an 18+ role player to smut with you if this doesn’t serve to ease their minds.
Actually, the age of consent varies by state. In New York, where tumblr is based, the age of consent is 17; in California, where I live, the age of consent is 18. For me, personally I would rather not take the chance of smutting with a sixteen year old in a state where it’s legal for them, because it would be illegal for me to do so in my state. I’m pretty sure that, regardless of fc, the fact of the matter is that you are writing an explicit scene with a minor; it’s basically sexting, and if I were a lawyer, that’s how I’d present my case. Adults roleplay in the bedroom and through sexting, so why wouldn’t you spin it the same way for a minor?
Those words caressed her mind, numbing it with a burst from the sun. There was a sense of pride in hearing him speak her name, in hearing that husky tone say each and every syllable as surely as the heart would beat. She could feel it now, that drumming upon her chest and a crimson sunburst against her cheek. It was as if being touched by the core warmth of the sun, being enveloped in such warmth that would carry her away to a fabled promise land.
Sun Lai had never felt such emotion before, such pleasure as she did when running her nails across his scalp and neck. Baofu pulled upon the crimson strands that lay silken across her palm, not hard, but as if to test their reality. Her digits wove and intermingled with each and every lock that feathered so gently over her pinkened flesh, bright and expressive emeralds shimmering beneath a heavy drapery of black lashes.
"It could be dangerous," She exhaled, "Are you sure…" Her lips, slightly dry and cracked from the Summer’s sun of many years gone by, brushed against his jawline as she spoke, head at an inclined tilt, "You would want to give so much to me? I am not gentle… and I don’t wanna break it,"
It was true that Sun Lai had been in many previous friendships before. Been courted and left high and dry when she proved unable to change. She would not be some trophy of a wife seated upon her husband’s knee. She would wield what she required beside a companion, for the truth of the matter was obvious; Sun Lai was no ordinary woman. She had proved that on numerous occasions, wielding both wit and blade against her foes.
But she was here now, carrying a child that was soon to be this man’s heir. A young boy that would require mass amounts of attention.. just like him. Inwardly she began to laugh, lowering her gaze only slightly. The amusement was clearly there, a single shrug of her shoulders left unconcealed. She wasn’t sure where to go next with this.
Sun Hao had always been so romantic in comparison to Lai. She would simply say something, or do something to show she was there and be on about her business. This touching and … closeness was completely new for her to give. It wasn’t something she disliked, nor was it something she wished to give out constantly.
Not that there was ever going to be a ‘going back’, now. Of all things that could possibly happen, a forbidden fruit had been grown with a single seed. Fertility had shown upon them and now they were stuck together. Sun Lai idly pondered whether they would have ever grown this close without the child within her womb. Probably not. She would have just gone about her days, teasing him for what had happened, holding that as just another notch over his head.
Sometimes she missed that. Missed not having a responsibility or anyone to worry about or depend on. She missed that freedom of being able to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ without having to ask his opinion. It was tiring, being in a relationship. It was as tiring as going through life without sleep.
But then there were moments like this. Moments where relaxation was granted to her under rough, calloused fingers. Under such a gentle gaze and honeyed words that could slip out so casually against her ears.
Drawing her thoughts away from such things, Lai immediately became embarrassed for the words she’d spoken. How completely unlike her… to spew such emotional nonsense, even in the heat of a moment. She felt silly.
"I’m going to eat more," she said, "This is good. You did good."
His tender gaze was obscured completely when his lashes fell closed in a brief moment of contented pleasure, a soft smile playing on his lips as his head tilted back into her touch. The nearly feather-like kiss to his jawline evoked a quiet sigh from the tiger, followed by a knowing chuckle upon hearing her words. Honey-coloured hues reopened to greet their surroundings, the playful grin he held evident in his tone of voice. "After how long we have known each other, Lai, how could I go into this unprepared for a bit of rough handling? Not that I have much choice in my heart belonging to you -- it went over of its own accord."
The tiger's thoughts began to wander to the future; to his and Lai's own future, as well as that of their child. A son, with very little doubt otherwise, as they were both nearly certain of the unborn heir's gender now. Would the mother of his child teach the boy the ways of the blade? Would she hone his skills from an early age, or perhaps wait until a more socially 'appropriate' year to teach him skills of defense and offense? Baofu was anything but conventional, and if the boy showed any interest in swordplay in his young years, Hao was almost certain that his fiancée would nurture a talent for it within him -- or her, if a girl was what awaited them. Beyond unconventional, however, Sun Lai was also fairly unpredictable, and so all that was left to do would be to wait and see what the future held for them.
Yuanzong himself was determined to cultivate an early interest in the literary arts in whatever children they had, with little uncertainty that he would succeed. His own parents had done a wonderful job piquing his interests at a young age, and so in following their examples, how could he fail? His offspring's formal education would not occur for a number of years, but with a love of written text already fostered within them, they would surely soar.
The somewhat modestly-clothed prince's thoughts were broken by a sudden shift in their conversation, and his attentions were drawn to a warmth in his hand. During their few moments of silence, his digits had drifted down to hold hers, and with a subtle flush of self-consciousness over his actions, the imperial gave the smaller hand a light squeeze before withdrawing both it and himself from the warrioress. His gaze drifted to settle on her bowl as he shifted his weight closer to the wooden container filled with warm food, a hand reopening the lid and retrieving the serving spoon as his other plucked up the small dish. Savoury curry was doled into the bowl, pride welling within him at Lai's compliment. Closing up the larger vessel and covering it with its small blanket, Hao presented the bowl to her with an upturn of the corners of his lips. "Thank you. I strove to make it enjoyable, but... Well," he chuckled. "We see how often I succeed in that."
I never thought that this blog would reach even fifty followers, let alone two-hundred. ι can'т тнanĸ all oғ yoυ enoυgн!
This is about two weeks late, but I worked hard on a little something to show my gratitude. The style is a slightly older one, as I wanted this picture to be on the cute side, and while there were some setbacks and learning experiences had (such as my first use of the Copic blending marker), I'm very pleased with the end result. If you're interested, please take a look at the full-sized version! ♥
I mulled over what to draw once I saw the follower count getting closer and closer to this major milestone, and the original idea was quite different. I'd wanted to draw Hao in all of his different timelines and verses (which will happen eventually), so I wasn't expecting approval from the muse when I sat down to sketch one night and ended up with a family portrait. Family bonds have been the theme of his life, however, and so it makes perfect sense that such an important aspect of his character is shown for an important roleplay event.
Thank you again, everyone, for sticking around. I would be happy with even a small handful of followers, though it boosts my spirits to see so many people interested in my muse (even if I worry that he pops up in that recommended blogs box and is mistaken for a Kouen blog). I hope that you enjoy our company as much as I enjoy yours!
Muses Pictured:
◘ Sun Hao
◘ Sun Lai
◘ Sun Fan
◘ Sun Jin
◘ Sun Luqi
The imperial family dresses for an outing to Guzhang.
Hush little princess, there’s nothing that you heard // Daddy’s just going to have a word // To a boy about the law // And he’s inviting some fires and saws
"My ‘old father’," she huffed, feigning irritation, though the smile on her subtly painted lips never faltered. "You’re not so old yet that I would ever think such a thing, but I’ll continue to worry after your health even after you reach an age deserving of the title. Someone has to, after all…" It didn’t truly seem fair, how cruel people could be; Sun Hao obviously worked himself to exhaustion, but no one ever seemed to offer to help so that he could rest.
Of course, maybe she was misunderstanding, and it was that he didn’t allow anyone to help him with his work, even though he really should be catching up on his sleep. Likely, it was a mixture of the two, if she was gauging the situation correctly; too few people offering the help, and those who did, her father didn’t trust. Perhaps if her half-brothers advanced far enough in their studies, they could help to lighten the load for him, and take on some of the responsibility that the Sun princess couldn’t accept herself. Truly, the likelihood of Fan getting serious about his schooling was virtually nothing at this point, but Jin perhaps…
Realizing that she’d been staring distantly at the lightly swaying reeds in the pond, Qimei turned her attention back to the emperor, only to find him already looking at her. Oh no, she worried, trying to keep her expression light, did he notice my makeup? Is he going to be upset? Amber eyes blinked up at their opposites innocently, the teen hoping that by making direct eye contact, he wouldn’t notice the simple eyeshadow her maid had recommended to her, or the powder rouge she’d begun experimenting with only just this week.
The longer she watched him, however, the more it seemed like he wasn’t truly looking at her anymore, but getting lost in his thoughts. His eyes were only a little unfocused, but it was another look of his she recognized easily. The statement about her health was so sudden and out of seemingly nowhere that the auburn-haired child had to fight to hold down her laughter, not wanting to make him feel awkward or uncomfortable. “I have been, fùqīn, thank you for your concern. I do seem to have inherited your good health, but it’s something I try to be mindful of nonetheless.”
"My studies," she nearly stammered, suddenly nervous. How could she say that she’d been avoiding lessons when he certainly expected better of her? It wasn’t that she didn’t like painting or history, it was more that she would rather be learning other things; like politics, or poetry, or, if she could get away with it, sneaking in a swordsmanship lesson or two. “They’re going well; yes, very well. I admit that I’m not improving as rapidly as I would like, but progress is certainly being made!”
"Ah-- Ahah..." he laughed quietly, the worried creases at his brows smoothing out. 'Someone has to, after all'. . . Even for all of the women around me, my loneliness is so apparent that my young daughter is aware of it, hm...? "Thank you, nǚér. Your sincerity gives me happiness."
Yuanzong watched as she seemed to drift off in her thoughts, curious as to what she could be thinking about. He wouldn't ask, of course, but that wasn't a problem. Peaceful moments like this were hard to come by, whether due to his duties as emperor, or his voluntary extracurricular activities. Time spent with his younger children was often filled with laughter and rambunctious personalities, which was all well and good and perfectly delightful in its own right. A quiet walk in the garden with a child who genuinely seemed to enjoy his company and was able to relax around him, though? It was hard to recall many other instances of such an occurrence. He spent quite a bit of time in his second son's company, and Jin seemed comfortable enough with him, but it was definitely a different sort of comfort than what he was experiencing with Qimei now.
Callused digits reached forward to push back a few locks of hair that the gentle breeze or walk had shifted away from their comrades, hope that the action wouldn't startle her at the forefront of his thoughts. The princess was fifteen now, though, and probably too old to have her father fussing after her appearance.
Looking at her so closely, however, something about her caught his eye. Were her lips painted...? And was that the blush of makeup, or just the heat? Squinting, Hao tried to discern if there were any other highlighted areas on Qimei's face, though she turned and donned what seemed like a nervous expression, obscuring much else, and so for the moment the emperor chose to ignore it. If she had been wearing makeup, was it for the sake of looking like a grown palace lady, or out of curiosity, or was she perhaps trying to catch someone's attention..?
Nonsense. His daughter was far too young for that, and nothing was likely to come of her meeting a man, anyway. After all, who would touch the emperor's daughter when it could mean such.... harsh punishment?
Ah. But that brought him back to one of his earlier worries, didn't it? Did Qimei wish to get married? Even if she did, she was too young for such things. Too young, indeed, no matter what anyone said.
"Good, good. You should remain mindful of it at all times, though I am happy to hear that you are well." What was with her reaction to being asked about her studies, though? The young princess certainly seemed nervous about something. Perhaps she was struggling a bit and didn't want to admit to it more than she already let on? That was all right, of course. He had no doubts against the education that any of his children were receiving, no matter the subject material, so even if she were a little behind now, her tutors would more than likely be able to set her on the right track.
"That is the important part: That progress is being made. I have faith in your abilities, my daughter."
Spotting an attractive flash of colour nearby, Yuanzong silently bade her to wait while he walked a few paces away and bent down. Rising again a moment later, a cheerful smile gracing the Son of Heaven's now-untroubled visage, he made his way back over to the princess and motioned for her to lean forward as his hand displayed a small, simple flower of yellow colouring.
"Ah! Yes, of course," she bowed her head again, turning to follow him at a comfortable pace. Qimei honestly enjoyed hearing about the things that happened in court, but it wasn’t as though she was often allowed much information aside from rumor. But, if whatever it was happened to be the thing causing her father’s distress, then she wouldn’t press the subject. Lacing her fingers in front of her, the young lady kept her hands visible, no sign of strain upon them.
She wanted to ask after the health of the empress, but knowing their relationship, it would only serve to make things worse. She didn’t know the details, but when she’d been too young to remember it, her father and the empress had a falling out. Although Sun Lai still retained her authority, the story was that she hadn’t been seen with her husband except for important state ceremonies. The princess had attempted to ask after the former general many times, but she was always greeted coldly, and so gave up after the lady herself had commanded her to stop coming.
"Have you been well?" She attempted; it had been quite some time since she’d been alone with her father, and she wasn’t completely sure what she should talk about, or what subjects were appropriate. "I worry sometimes, you always seem to be working so hard… it would be awful if you were to get sick."
Of course, there was that rumor too. That the Imperial Counselor, Lord Zhu, had taken the place of his childhood friend in the emperor’s bed. Some of the consorts had been complaining of the lack of gifts lately, but over all, many seemed content to not share in her father’s presence. The empress’s children generally seemed to regard him highly, and if it helped to ease her father’s burden any, then it didn’t really matter to the princess what their relationship was.
As long as her father was smiling, nothing else mattered.
He led them for a few moments in silence, the grip in his hands loosening as he took in the scenery, his daughter's comforting presence at his side. Golden hues slowly drifted over the various flowering plants and manicured paths, refined bridges, and the shallow stream that ran through the garden. A small pond resided nearby, the colourful scales of pretty carp catching and shining in the summer sunlight.
The gentle-voiced princess's question caused Hao to slow to a stop, his eyes wandering to the soft colours of the blooming tree to his right. It was young, though still much taller than the sovereign himself. "I have," he answered quietly, drawing a hand forward to touch the smooth bark of the zǐwēi tree just barely, his fingertips hardly registering any connection at all. Peach-coloured blossoms shook delicately in the light breeze. In truth, Yuanzong hadn't felt emotionally 'well' in years, though he was in good health, as usual. "It is sweet of you to worry after your old father, and the sentiment means....a great deal to me." The heavens only knew how many people likely wished that some illness or another would befall him, after all. Heaven itself, however, seemed to still approve of his reign, somehow, or else he would not be in power at all. "I have always had excellent health. A trait I hope I passed on to all of my children."
Saying that, the topaz-eyed emperor turned a kind gaze upon his daughter, his hand drawing back from the tree trunk to rest once more with its partner behind his back. Looking at her, Qimei truly was growing to be a beautiful young lady. Was it right of him to selfishly keep his children away from the clutches of other families...? His daughters, especially, he would likely never see again once they married out. Sons would move away, though receiving visits from them would be common enough for multiple reasons, so long as they remained in Wu.
Qimei and Luqi were his eldest two daughters, only a few months apart in age, and he couldn't bare the thought of marrying off either one of them. Luqi seemed comfortable enough within the palace near her brothers, but Qimei... While she seemed quite at home, did she perhaps hold hopes of having a family? Running her own household? What if he did allow a union to occur, but her husband turned out to hold disdain for the Sun monarch and either used her to gain a dangerous foothold within the court or military, or mistreated her? Of course, Hao would keep a close eye on any household that one of his progeny went to or who married into the Sun clan, but a watchful eye does nothing for a swift hand or a cold shoulder. The girl before him always seemed to him to be so polite and reserved, and while he could not accurately gauge her character from their interactions alone, she did not seem the type who would purposefully anger a wrathful husband. Not like--
"I hope that you have been well." Hao blurted, ripping that thought away before it could finish forming. Brows knitting in concern, his hands drew forward to tuck themselves back into their sleeves at his waist as he resisted the urge to cross his arms. "You would send for me if you fell ill, of course. How have your studies been coming along?"
Papa wanted to hear her singing more often? A light flush dusted itself across her cheeks as a small flicker of pride swelled in her heart, the girl gaining confidence from the small amount of encouragement. The monarch’s opinion meant a great deal to her, and if it would make him happy, then she’d sing wherever she pleased, regardless of who else might be able to hear. “I will take your words to heart, your majesty, and will endeavor to improve so that others may enjoy it as much as I do.”
It was just as she was finishing her words that she happened to look up, daring herself to maintain eye contact, that his expression shifted, and she almost found herself wishing that she hadn’t. It didn’t remain in place long, but Qimei knew that quiet look of regret, and although he hadn’t said anything, the princess could quite easily guess what had caused it.
She was reminding him of her mother again.
Her smile stayed in place, reflecting his own in an effort to keep the man in a good mood, despite the small sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She hated to see him upset; everyone told her to be careful because she looked so like his departed wife, but… it was natural to want to be near your father, wasn’t it? For a moment, she thought that approaching him might have been a mistake, but with the way his troubles seemed to melt off his shoulders, there was no way that was a bad thing.
Decided, she bowed her head politely in agreement, “it would be my pleasure to accompany you, fùqīn,” she brightened, truly meaning her words, even as her heart beat a little faster at using the familiar title. That was fine, right? As long as she only used it rarely and respectfully, it was okay to say those things when he was alone, without the other ministers who seemed to follow him everywhere. “If it won’t pain you too much to speak of it, would you tell me what was troubling you so?”
Her spirits seemed to lift so visibly that the worn-down emperor's features were cleared almost completely of any lingering fatigue. Some, penetrating deep into what felt like his very soul, could not be erased so easily, but there was an unmistakable shift in his demeanour nevertheless. "As I am certain they will."
Hearing the familiar term float from her lips to his ears, Yuanzong felt his spirit relax into a warm, comfortable place. Despite his doting tendencies, as well as the love he bestowed on all of his children, very few of them addressed him affectionately in private company. In many situations, being addressed by his imperial title was both required and preferred. However, there were times when Hao found himself uncertain as to whether many of them maintained formality out of respect, or if it was more out of fear, disdain, or a feeling of disconnect and unfamiliarity. The patriarch was not proud of what he had become or many of the things he had done, and while there was no shielding his older children from the goings-on of the court, he tried desperately to give each of them comfortable, happy, and loving lives away from his and his minister's atrocities for as long as possible. Even after they came to learn about what sort of a man their father truly was, the head of Wu never ceased in his love and care for his offspring.
Qimei was one of the few who always seemed to look at Hao with the kind of love and respect he had always wanted to see in his children, much like how his eldest few appeared to regard him. Heirs to his bloodline who, having known him at least a little from before he ascended to the throne, perhaps saw him in a different light than many of the others. Regardless, this young girl had more of a reason than many to despise the crimson-haired monarch, and yet he saw no scorn or contempt shining from within her eyes.
Clasping his hands behind his back, thick, embroidered sleeves covering naturally-tanned digits, Sun Hao shifted on one heel to turn himself toward the centre of the garden, a soft expression taking over his countenance, though he shook his head dismissively. "There is no need to trouble you with these issues of the court, and I would rather put them out of my mind completely for now." A feast might be a nice distraction, though the last thing I want right now is to deal with more people, let alone court and noble family politics. 'Aahh, has Your Majesty lined up any marriage prospects for your sons?' 'Your Majesty's eldest daughters are of marriageable age now, aren't they?'
All of them could rot in a dungeon, for what cares he had for their "prospects". If he could find good reason to condemn them, he might have helped a few of the pushier lot on their way.
"Rather, would you care to put the court aside entirely for the duration of our talk?" His smile was untroubled and content, the only indication of his inner thoughts present in the tight grip his hands held on each other, safely hidden beneath his sleeves.
