The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

Tucked away on the other side of the estate's extensive grounds, far from the Lotus Pavilion or offices of the central quarter. Sat the tranquil and modest residence of the water god's Second Consort. The building's elegant wooden carvings, unobscured by garish decorations. There was only some sparse furniture and a few banners of artful calligraphy that lined the walls between the copious shelves of books. 

The consort's private collection of books and scrolls surpassing any library or store that Jing Li had ever seen, they took up prime place amidst the furnishings of the Lily Pavilion. Thick tomes were found on the tables, chairs, and even on the floor of Lin Jin's household. Columns of texts surrounding Jing Li as she sat in a room at the back of the residence. She barely noticed the piles of books, whilst she remained hunched over the materials lying in front of her at the table. Struggling to concentrate in the heat encountered on this particular afternoon, she endeavored to eke out a few more tentative characters, before replacing her brush onto the little stone block to her right.

The walls of the seating area composed of several sliding screens that had been opened to air out the many volumes contained in the Lily Pavilion. There was a warm breeze that brushed past, rustling the papers spread out on the table and causing the small hairs around Jing Li's face to stick to her forehead. The water god's bride sighed as she reviewed the shaky characters that she had written upon the page. Frowning as she thought that their feeble and imperfect forms an adequate reflection of their pitiful creator, Jing Li slumped over the table. Admitting her defeat in this exercise as she compared her clumsy work to that of the neat symbols that Lin Jin had scrawled across another page as an example. The document waved at her mockingly in the breeze but remained trapped underneath the stone tablet used to hold the ink.

True to her promise to educate Jing Li in the art of writing as well as reading. Lin Jin had invited Shui Long's human bride to pass afternoons at the Lily Pavilion after her return from the Mortal Realm. The two women's time mostly passed in silence at first. There were usually only a few simple instructions or suggestions for improvement provided by Lin Jin during their lessons. However, the consort and bride, seeming to come to appreciate the time spent in each other's company more, had begun to engage in some light conversation as of late. Their topics, normally exclusive to the weather, hobbies, or their daily activities due to Jing Li's limited vocabulary. She knew that it would be presumptuous of her to call them friends, but at least satisfied that her presence here was not merely tolerated by the Second Consort. 

Hoping to impress the water god with her progress, Jing Li had dedicated herself wholly to her studies in his prolonged absence. Occupying her days and nights with the academic exercises that Lin Jin had recommended to her in order to not dwell on the reasons for him taking leave of the estate. Shui Long, calling on her less now since Jing Li's return from her village. He had often seemed distracted from leisurely activities they had once enjoyed together or subdued by the fact that he was soon to depart from her on these few occasions. Anxious that the distance forming between them was an indication of the water god's regret in deciding to keep her as a bride. Jing Li fears of Shui Long becoming bored with someone as meek and dumb as herself were only to grow more severe whilst they were to remain apart. 

Disheartened that her romantic feelings might be spurned by the god. Jing Li had begun to poke at the pages in front of her despondent, by the time Lin Jin had reentered the room. The consort accompanied by a maid from the kitchen that was seen carrying a tray. The courtesan pushed aside some of the study materials on the table to accommodate the two bowls set before them by the maid. The dishes piled high with a mountain of shaved ice and flavored with sweet beans and syrup, Jing Li looked at the treat in wonder. Never having the luxury of such things as ice in summer, the sight of the soft white flakes sparkling in the sunlight was enough to distract Jing Li from her dejection momentarily. 

Lin Jin smiling whilst observing this obvious change in her companion's mood, she said, "I thought you could use a little break, since you've been working so hard." Although feeling herself unworthy of a reward, Jing Li smiled back at her. Hesitating to take up the spoon that was placed in the space beside her brush, when it seemed that all of her efforts had amounted to very little progress. Lin Jin let a spoonful of ice melt upon her tongue before she spoke again.

 "Don't be so hard on yourself." said the consort. Evidently guessing that her pupil had been discouraged by her lessons, Lin Jin added, "You are already reading and writing much better than before. You have the dedication to learn, all you need now is time."

Heartened by Lin Jin's gracious words, Jing Li removed the spoon from the surface of the table. The shaved ice, soothing her throat and helping to alleviate some of the unyielding heat of the day. The two women sat in silence as they enjoyed the cool treat calmly in the room overlooking the private meditation garden outside of the residence. Nothing heard but the cutlery scraping against the sides of the bowls and faint birdsong drifting over to them from the garden. Lin Jin addressed her pupil again from across the table,

"I'm sorry that I cannot really help you with Lu Qi." The consort, sounding more solemn this time as she turned over a couple of the red beans in the bowl with her spoon uneasily. Lin Jin then added, "I learned not to become involved with her games."

The consort's hazel eyes fixed on the contents of the bowl as there seemed to be a story that she wished to omit from her memory. Lin Jin appeared to dismiss this recollection as she looked back up at Jing Li. Understanding her reluctance to admit that past events had made her weary of the First Consort, there was the vague waver of a rueful smile upon her mentor's lips as she continued quietly, "Lu Qi became Shui Long's Consort just after he had gained god status and does not take too kindly to sharing his attention. It's best to just ignore her, whenever possible." This remark, reminding Jing Li that she was not the only woman to potentially have feelings for the water god. She pushed around the melted contents that remained in the bottom of her bowl pensively.

Realizing that she was fortunate to obtain even a fraction of Shui Long's affection despite her numerous flaws, Jing Li resisted the compulsion to be the sole beneficiary of his love. However, still interested to learn more about the relationships within the estate and keen to participate in their conversion, Jing Li took up the brush once more. Scribbling a response on one of the papers between them, she wrote, 'Lu Qi must love the water god very much then.' Lin Jin, turning the page to look at the awkward characters she had drawn. The consort smirked before replying, "Love? No, Lu Qi and I are both political unions to Shui Long. No, it is far more likely that she prizes Shui Long's infamy more than anything else." 

Jing Li's brows furrowed together with confusion at this response. Lin Jin moved their bowls closer to the edge of the table before elaborating on her previous statement, "Shui Long was not always a god. He was just the product of Hu Xian and a giant serpent that the world despised for a time." The dishes removed by the same maid who had brought them out to the sitting area. There was a little nod of thanks issued towards the woman, before the Consort continued, "Shui Long, devoted most of his life conducting valiant actions in order to redeem himself of his bloodline. However, he was to unexpectedly achieve godhood as a result of these accomplishments."

The brief outline of the water god's struggle, shedding some light onto the reason for his cold and distant nature at times. Jing Li found that there was a strange mixture of reverence and pity for him as she contemplated the difficulty found in this struggle to rebel against the existence that fate had already dictated for him. Hoping that Shui Long might have at least had the support of his family during this endeavor. Jing Li's sympathy prompted her to write a simple question upon the paper, 'Family?' Afraid that she might have made a mistake at first, when she observed Lin Jin shaking her head. Jing Li was about to strike the word from the page, when the Consort replied, "His father had already passed on and, as you might have gathered, Hu Xian is not exactly the nurturing type."

Pondering this question of family for a moment longer, Lin Jin eventually added, "I heard that he was once close to his younger brother. However, I don't know much about it since they had some sort of falling out long before I arrived here." Saddened by the solitary existence that Shui Long had once led, Jing Li lowered the brush once more. The corners of her lips curving downward as Jing Li felt that she knew something of this adversity and yet nothing of the courage it took to overcome it. She was again consoled by the kind words of her mentor, "Let's try not to fret too much over the past though. Shui Long has the support of everyone in this estate, which includes you now."

Reassured by each other's presence, Lin Jin and Jing Li both exchanged a smile. Before their conversion was to be interrupted by a voice that emanated from the doorway.

"I thought my ears were burning." remarked a tall figure standing in the entryway. His joking tone reflected in the faint note of contentment that appeared on his thin lips. The Shui Long seemed in good humor as he walked towards the two women at the table. 

"What might you two be conspiring out here alone." the water god asked. Continuing to tease them as he approached, the Mistress of the Lily Pavilion did not appear to be amused as she responded coolly, "Welcome back, my Lord. How was your journey?" 

The water god, plopping himself down on the mat beside Jing Li. He pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly as he replied, "Boring. Gods are certainly beings with an endless amount of time. Yet they seem to devote most of it towards thinking up new ways to aggravate me." Shui Long's elbow placed upon the table and hand beneath his chin to cradle his heavy head as he spoke. The god glanced over the materials spread out on the surface between the two women as he continued, "Please tell me there has been no further cause for worry here during my absence."

"No, my Lord. Jing Li and I have been dedicated to our studies." Lin Jin answered. 

The dark orbs held within Shui Long's eyes halting as they spied something of interest amongst the papers, he mumbled, "I can see that." Plucking the page that Jing Li had written on from the pile with his thumb and index finger. The water god turned to his bride before to ask, "Did you write this?" Jing Li blushing as she identified the shaky characters on the paper as her own. She nodded slowly to confirm the god's suspicions. Shui Long's expression, remaining placid as his irises traveled over the words again. Jing Li was surprised to observe a mild smirk appear on his lips as he had begun to easily surmise the content of their conversation from the sheet.

 "Were you curious about me?" he asked. 

The question as well as the blatant evidence that was held in front of her, provoking a more obvious color to appear on his bride's cheeks. Jing Li averted her gaze, before replying with a meek nod of affirmation. Expecting Shui Long to be displeased with them for speaking behind his back. The water god merely released a fatigued sigh as he said, "The less you know about me, the better." Detecting a hint of sadness in his voice, Jing Li looked back towards him with concern. The earnest worry in her eyes, provoking Shui Long to caress her cheek gently with his hand. The god attempted to soothe the distress he had inspired in her as he added, "However, if you should wish to know; I would prefer that you hear it from me next time."