3. Chapter 3

Gu She was only a little nervous being invited to the inner court. It was to be a friendly respite with Noble Consort Jing and a few other consorts and related ladies of the court. These were women he had grown up around, for the most part, and felt comfortable with. Yet something was nagging him about it. Especially since the invitation had explicitly, if politely, been for him alone, which meant leaving Tao Mo behind.

He wasn’t worried, per se, but he was experienced enough to be cautious.

“Gu She, my dear nephew. It is good to see you again,” said Consort Ming, who really was his aunt on his mother’s side.

“Auntie Ming, it is a pleasure,” he said, bowing lightly at her once all the formal introductions were over. They all took their places and talk proceeded from there about, mostly, babies being born and marriage alliances being made. Typical inner court politics, in Gu She’s experience.

“And how is your most worthy husband?” A minor consort he didn’t even remember the name of asked, her expression oddly bright and curious. A few titters went through the room, quelled by a stern look from Noble Consort Jing.

“He is doing well. Adjusting to life at court. It is quite a different pace from what he is used to, as you can imagine.” Gu She smiled, trying not to let on how much he hated being at court again himself. He truly missed their country manor and the simpler life they had there.

“He is a true beauty,” another consort exclaimed, which even Gu She thought was a bit of an exaggeration. Tao Mo was, indeed, a handsome man, but compared to the other men and women of the imperial court hardly ranked any higher than Gu She himself (he knew his limitations). He admired his husband to a hopeless degree but had no expectation that anyone else would.

“Ah. Thank you?” He bowed.

“Hm.” An older consort studied him severely and he instinctively squirmed in his seat like a five year old, to his embarrassment. However the movement only made all the women grin. Like sharks, he thought, disconcerted. The older consort (Chin? Cheng? He needed to work on his memory skills again) nodded. “So it is as rumored, then.” She gave a commiserating smile to Noble Consort Jing, who nodded.

“I see,” she agreed, waving over a handmaid and lowly whispering to her. The consorts closest to her giggled, which was picked up by the others, including his aunt.

He was in a room full of giggling women and it terrified him.

There was more polite conversation for a while until the maidservant returned, carrying a simple lacquered box. The room went quiet. She showed the contents to Noble Consort Jing, who nodded and then waved for her to present it to Gu She. He took it, of course, and bowed his gratitude even though he had no idea what he had been given.

“We all understand what it means to be with a man who possesses such excessive yang energy as Magistrate Tao Mo,” she said, kindly and softly. All the women nodded vigorously. “This is a salve of my own recipe I created for the harem, when we are discomfited. I hope that it helps you, as well.”

“We have all heard of your husband’s great masculinity and yang prowess, it is legendary,” his aunt added, looking very earnest and concerned.

“His what is legendary?” Gu She squeaked.

“Oh, only a man of such powerful yang energies could be so clever and wise, so profound and kind, so masterful in his art! We have all seen the, uh, strong and forceful lines of his calligraphy,” the younger consort from earlier exclaimed, blushing. “We truly understand how, ah, taxing such a lover can be!” She actually winked and there was more nodding from the women.

“The ointment is very soothing,” his aunt added, probably in hopes of putting his mind at ease but only withering the remains of his soul.

As the women around him tittered again in agreement, Gu She looked down at the jar of salve and decided that instant death would be a kindness.

---

He of course went to the only one who might shed insight into that bizarre rumor, but regretted it instantly.

Mu Chun rolled his eyes and sighed. “Apparently his reputation as a lover with massive yang energy is because he has been accidentally seducing half the court.”

“What?” Gu She almost stumbled as they walked down the road.

“Oh yes!” Mu Chun looked mercilessly gleeful. “He keeps talking about flowers and bees and chrysanthemums and—”

Gu She put his hand over his mouth. “We will never speak of this again.”