Thread by @bingjiuwus

Historical AU #bingjiu where warlord Bingge is able to conquer the empire of Cang Qiong because Emperor Yue's advisors betrayed him and sold him out.

After entering the palace and making himself home, Binghe inquires after the Cold Palace, since rumour has it it still has a sole inhabitant; unlike other rulers, Emperor Yue only had a single consort, his Empress, who was locked up there when the man was deposed.

The once-traitorous advisors warn Binghe to be careful and to simply execute the former Empress once he sees him, since he was a duplicitious and untrustworthy snake with a shady background, one who always despised them.

Well, no wonder, Binghe thinks dryly. You betrayed his husband and locked him up.

Nevertheless, he has some housecleaning to do, and curious about just how cruel this Empress is, heads into the Cold Palace disguised as a lowly eunuch carrying a food box.

He enters the miserable and abandoned palace on his own... and when he enters the run-down temple where the former Empress is now staying, he's greeted by the image of a thin, short-haired man in dull grey robes playing on an old guqin...

And the first thing Shen Jiu does when he spots Binghe is sneer dismissively and drawl, "Oh? Has the tyrant decided to greet me at last, or is that cinnabar waiting for me in that food box?"

Binghe's mouth waters, and he has to defend himself even from this hopeless prisoner. "His Majesty sent you this food as a welcome gift. He wants you to be well."

"And I want him to die," SJ counters, "alongside all those worthless curs who betrayed my husband and condemned us to a fate worse than death. Tell your dog emperor _that_, and be gone with you."

Binghe hasn't been spoken to like this since he became a ruler, as if he as dirt beneath the Empress' shoe, even as the man is practically emaciated and wearing little more than rags.

What right does he have to speak to his Emperor like this? What dignity does he have left to cling to, to think he can act like this?

And so, even as his new council advises him just to execute the Empress and have his body thrown into the river,

Binghe thinks of a much better idea, one that'll show off the elegant lines of the Empress' bare neck and his delicately maintained musician's fingers... and in a position much more suited to his haughty nature.

After all, Emperor Yue still lives, if imprisoned.

And if SJ is as devoted to his husband as everyone believes, even his enemies, then surely there's nothing he won't do to save his life... even if it's to kneel at the feet of the dog Emperor he so sorely despises.

Binghe lowers the food box to the ground and straightens up to his full height, no longer in a stooping posture. "You should eat and get some rest," he says. "His Majesty will see you tomorrow."

"He can try," SJ says coolly, already turning back to his guqin where he plays a song and ignores Binghe as if he's already been dismissed.

Binghe leaves without saying goodbye, leaving behind the cold Empress and a foodbox containing a bowl of still-warm congee, the perfect food for a waning invalid.

And he's not a cruel man by default. If the Empress had been regretful, atoning, Binghe would have gladly sent him off to live in a temple and be in comfort for the rest of his life.

But no, even though the man is all but a prisoner to a deposed emperor, he still holds his head high and speaks arrogantly, as if he still wielded power, as if he was still someone to be yielded to.

Well.

He's going to be unpleasantly surprised when tomorrow comes, Binghe thinks, as is everyone else in his council.

After all, just like Emperor Yue before he wed for the first and last time, Binghe had yet to take an Empress, a consort, a wife. He'd never found the right person before.

But as far as he's concerned, SJ will be _perfect_ for thee role of first wife.

He just can't _wait_.

END

(fun little AU concept, don't you think? 🤭 Binghe just wants to bring this haughty bitch to heel, and SJ won't be fooled by the dog Emperor's charms. Unless... 😳)