The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

The tyranny of his cold gaze returning, Shui Long tried to hide the depth of the icy stare from his bride as he stood. Glancing at the woman beside the window, just long enough to bask in the angelic glow of her presence once more before departing. Jing Li rose from her seat to bow towards the god that turned from her now. Although she could ask no questions of him, Shui Long felt that her concern within the glacial blue of her eyes warranted some explanation.

"I must see to another matter. Do not let my absence prevent you from enjoying the sweets." he said, reducing what he could of the unrelenting severity of his tone. The god was aware that the feeble excuse for their separation was to fall short of an apology. Regretting that he was unable to provide her with this courtesy due to his position and the pride that he carried. Shui Long proceeded to march from the room before much more of his villainous personality could be exposed to his new bride.

Irritated by the flagrant disregard that Consort Lu Qi had displayed by imparting her disingenuous greetings during a time in which he had planned to ease Jing Li into his company. Shui Long strode purposefully from the tranquil halls of the Lotus Pavilion. His faithful attendant, hopping behind him as the god was made to leave the affable presence of the pavilion's tender Mistress sooner than he had hoped. Shan Yu matched the rhythm of his master's quick pace as they rounded corners and crossed the courtyards of the estate. 

Determination fueling the rapid tempo of his vigorous strides, Shui Long eventually came to reach the impressive facade that was known to make up the Orchid Pavilion. The building's columns and corridors richly embellished with deep violet hues and accents of gold, there was not an inch of the structure that had not been decorated in the lavish tastes of its Mistress. Observing the streams of fabrics draped along the banisters of the stairs, which led up to the lady's chambers, and the gilded statues of herons dotting the large foyer as he entered. Shui Long looked around at the surprised faces of the various employees, whose daily chores he had just interrupted. 

The household, large enough to warrant at least a dozen lady's maids to assist in its upkeep. There were very few maids that possessed the forbearance to remain in the courtesan's services for long. Many of the faces in the Orchid Pavilion unknown to Shui Long, he looked upon them with mild suspicion. However, did not inquire after their identities as they directed him and Shan Yu towards the parlor, where they were informed that their Mistress was currently taking her tea. 

The courtesan of the opulent Orchid Pavilion, most renowned for her vanity and for being the first woman permitted the station of Consort on Shui Long's estate. Lu Qi was a woman of astounding beauty and ferocity from the West Lake Clan. A group of minor warrior deities that surrounded the west bank of Xilian Lake, they had offered the freshly appointed water god the eldest daughter of the clan's leader in order to solidify their relations in future. This proposal, seeming a daring gamble when his ascension amongst the ranks of the Other Realm had not yet been guaranteed. Shui Long would have been remiss to deny the steady backing of his first consort's clan during his campaign. 

The nature of their relationship founded on the mutual benefits that were received from Shui Long's success. Lu Qi's support was motivated by the prestige and attention gained from their union. These aspirations ultimately realized once Shui Long had gained enough power and respect within the realm to remain unchallenged in his domain. Lu Qi was to enjoy the notoriety of her title as sole consort to the god of Xilian Lake for a while. Reaping the benefits of the luxuries that it offered her, the consort would revel in the gifts and attention bestowed on her by Shui Long and dignitaries that would come to pay their respects. 

Feeling secure in her title for a time, Lu Qi was not to be challenged for the assets of affluence and affection that she so coveted until nearly a decade later. Forced to share the title of Consort with the daughter of an official from the East Lake, who joined his estate in a similar arrangement to that of her own. The two daughters of the opposing clans differed so vastly in personality that even night and day seemed closer by comparison. The new knowledgeable and less flamboyant courtesan, taking up a separate residence that was vastly removed from the garish halls of the Orchid Pavilion. Both consorts were only known to tolerate each other's presence during festivals and formal dinners hosted by his estate. Neither having cause to butt-heads or interfere with the private matters of their separate households, their quarrels were few and usually settled between them.

Shui Long, allotting his time between them in an effort to foster his relationships with the two women. His lack of an obvious preference amongst them had stirred rumblings within their clans. The god of Xilian Lake's position and estate settled for some centuries now. There were beginning to be demands from the minor deities he presided over and even those on the Celestial Court for him to select a wife in recent years. However, becoming increasingly aggravated by their insistence that he should make a selection among them and the constant petty exchanges of his courtesans. Shui Long had discovered himself growing less patient towards the trivial foibles of the women's personalities. 

Finally, ushered into the parlor by the maids he had startled in the foyer. Shui Long was led to the pavilion's Mistress, who appeared remarkably unsurprised to observe the god's unexpected presence there. His arrival, not inhibiting her as she lounged upon a plump settee and dressed within a fine purple robe that was embroidered with the dignified figure of a heron fishing amongst the shallows of a pond. Lu Qi glanced in his direction but did not remove herself from her relaxed position in order to receive him. Acknowledging Shui Long instead with the definitive nod of her sharp chin from the emerald colored cushions.

Her red lips cracked faintly with a devious smirk as the courtesan said, "My Lord, I was not expecting you." Not in the mood to entertain the guise of her innocence, Shui Long felt his eyebrow arch in annoyance as he approached. Intent to call Lu Qi out on the overt attempt at hazing that he had witnessed, the god replied, "Did you not intend to provoke me into coming here, when you sent that maid to the Lotus Pavilion?" Feigning a look of pain towards the weight of this accusation. The courtesan placed a hand theatrically over the place on her low neckline where her heart should be as she answered, "I don't know what you mean." 

Her long eyelashes, fluttering as though she was free from the guilt of this allegation, she added, "I only wished to send my regards to the poor creature. It was not my intention to disturb your Lordship." Observing the poor case Lu Qi made for her ignorance in this matter. The god's jaw became rigid and eyebrows knitted from the extent of his vexation as he answered, "She is not from a privileged background like you Lu Qi. We will have to make allowances for her lack of awareness when it comes to etiquette." The god, refusing to sit across from the consort whilst still remaining irked by the blatant manipulation she had employed to lure him there, he continued, "You may be free to exchange greetings with the human bride, once she has fully recovered."

The admonishment of her actions, clearly evident in Shui Long's stern tone. This did not appear to phase the woman, who persisted to drape herself across the settee. Experience making her immune to the god's reprimands, there was the hint of a grin that lingered upon her painted lips as she responded, "I'll be sure to educate her on the proper etiquette, should time allow it." Time not generally something that immortal beings need concern themselves with, the god's gaze became stony. Knowing all too well what was implied by this remark, he asked pointedly, "What makes you think that Jing Li would not be spending enough time here to benefit from your knowledge?" 

Uncrossing her legs from their position on the sofa, the bare skin on Lu Qi's legs were revealed from beneath her robe as she thought. The woman curling a strand of silver hair that had fallen from the clasp of jeweled ornament on her head between her fingers, she said, "It may sound presumptuous of me, my Lord. However, none of the humans that have come before this one, have lasted very long." True that the two humans to arrive prior to Jing Li had fled. They were not the first in a long history of brides to meet their end in the course of a frantic escape or by the will of their own hands. There were also those few brides, who had not forced the icy hands of death, that were often returned to their families after a short time spent in his service.

Shui Long's agreement to provide the villages along the banks of the Xilian with blessings in exchange for a human bride, only occurring a handful of times over the last century. This concession was born from the need for Shui Long to maintain his strength. The god of the Xilian, needing a bride to restore the people's faith in him and to also reinvigorate his powers. The energy Shui Long gained from the ritual alone enough to enable him to grant blessings to the people of the Mortal Realm. Lying with a human woman for merely a few nights was like an elixir, which restored the humanity that was inherently lacking from is person. The temporary arrangement, never becoming permanent due to the Other Realm's apprehension that Shui Long should pose a threat otherwise.

The god, frustrated that he could not dismiss the possibility of his new bride fleeing from him or deny his intentions to send Jing Li back once she had honored the village's promise to him. Shui Long glowered at the astute courtesan before him. However, without providing her a single hint of these thoughts, the god replied coolly, "I have no doubt that she is to remain with us for the foreseeable future." Lu Qi's smile diminishing and eyes narrowing as she assessed the man she had known for many centuries. The courtesan could tell that he believed himself impartial towards the human.

Nonetheless she sensed a slight change in Shui Long that unsettled her. Almost certain that he was not yet aware of the vague movement that the human woman had inspired in him, Lu Qi asked, "Is that the reason you have given her the Lotus House?" The god's pride, provoking him to deny any notion that he displayed favoritism towards his new bride. Shui Long directed the consort's words back at her. "You yourself have said that Jing Li is not to remain within my inner court for very long." He said, seemingly exasperated by the argument, "So, there should be no issue with allowing her to inhabit a much humbler residence than that of the Orchid Pavilion." 

The courtesan evidently appeased by the god's answer, she finally rose from her seat. Gliding towards Shui Long from across the floor, Lu Qi placed a coquettish hand upon his chest as she spoke, "Of course, I should know better than to question your judgment, Lord Shui Long." Her voice, like honey now that she had extracted the answers and attention that she desired from him. Lu Qi brushed up against his arm with her bosom. Not so oblivious to ignore the empty blandishments which she used to stroke his ego and not so kind as to forgive the woman of her petty transgression, the god wished to return to the Lotus Pavilion. 

However, the journey back to his new bride too long and her feeble nerves probably already exhausted from his earlier visit. Shui Long did not resist the temptation to prolong his stay in the Orchid Pavilion. The consort's hands, skillfully coercing Shui Long to settle on the sofa where she had lain before. Shui Long was irked to find that his frustrations could not withstand the simple diversions of Lu Qi's company, once she had nestled in amongst the cushions alongside him.