M. Emperor x F. Blind Empress

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The Bai Dynasty was involved in a political struggle so intense that not even the young princes or princesses were spared from it. Most perished in the struggle, the empress dowager - the former emperor's mother - attempting to take over the country for herself. Due to this greed she possessed, her grandchildren were the first sacrificed. Whether it be poison, a blade, or assassins descending upon them, they died in horror, some as young as two years old. Just because a royal was older, it didn't mean they survived longer. Within a year, most of the former emperor's children were murdered in cold blood.

    Yet, when all seemed as though the empress dowager would come out victorious, one young prince survived. He was clever for his age, but that was not the reason he survived. It was all due to the beautiful mind of the fourth daughter of Lord Liang who helped him not just endure but flourish. A master with the bow, she acted as his sword and shield, defending him and acting on his commands. She saved him from poison, taking the cups for herself to prevent him from suffering. She saved him from would-be murderers, fighting them off. She saved him from himself, comforting him in his darkest moments.

    But most of all, when the empress dowager tried to take the prince's life with her own hands, launching a sword to his face, the (h/c) haired girl threw herself in front of him. Her right eye was pierced, allowing her to launch a counterattack and strike the woman down. However, in the process, she lost her left eye as well, collapsing, near death. Due to her heroic actions, the prince rose to the throne as the sole survivor of the political instability in the royal family. Crowned emperor at a young age, he encountered many who sought to use him, but he was clever, and he learned to control the imperial palace quickly.

    He grew into an emperor adored by his people and one the nobles could not touch. When he grew to be of age, countless of them attempted to place concubines by his side, and per (Y/n)'s instruction, he did not refuse. After all, they were his hostages and ways to keep an eye on the nobility without having to go to them. That being said, he was not very fond of the harem in the first place. If not for the (h/c) haired girl, he never would have allowed it. She offered a reward that he did not want to refuse; giving herself up to be his as well.

    Though she was perfectly content being a regular concubine, he was not. In fact, the silver-haired male threatened to abdicate if she accepted such a lowly position. Instead, he proposed her becoming the empress, but even then, she was hesitant. The girl had been blinded and was thus no longer considered a viable option for marriage. She warned him that it would cause an uproar in the nobles, but he stated he didn't care, that they could be executed for all he cared. So, with a concerned heart, she accepted the position, and within a week, she became his official wife and the mother of the empire.

    "(Y/n)," Jian Bai sighed, petting the girl's cheek lovingly, "If you aren't feeling well, you should tell me. This could have been treated before morning."

    The empress turned over, her skin scalding hot to the touch. She didn't speak, simply attempted to bear with the pain, the silver-haired male behind her sighing and exiting the bed. Summoning for the imperial doctor, servants dressed him lightly as he ordered, the young man's hair brushed out to be free from any knots. He looked as regal as always, but a saddened look plagued his features. It was unusual for an emperor to adore their empress so much, but then again, he did personally choose her to have such an esteemed position.

    "Your imperial majesty," the (h/c) haired girl coughed, gathering up the strength she had to kneel on the ground in order to greet the male.

    He frowned, lifting her off of the ground to lay back on the bed. She was loyal to a fault, something that practically no one else in the imperial city had in common. However, despite the year and a half she had been his empress, she still lowered herself to greet him. He wished she would have taken advantage of her position to indulge. After all, she had given up everything to place him safely on the throne. She deserved to be spoiled by him and given back more than she ever sought to give.

    The imperial doctor arrived at the scene, bowing low on the ground and delivering polite greetings. Jian did not respond, only giving a strict order to relieve his empress's pain. He stood up in frustration and stormed out of the abode. A flock of servants followed behind him, remaining quiet and obedient, there to tend to his needs at a moment's notice. However, what they wanted was not something they could bring him, so frustrated he remained, going about his daily life with an intense need to thrive.

    "You should be perfectly fine within the next day, your highness," the physician sighed, packing his bags after checking on the royal wife, "In the meantime, I suggest you take a calming bath, preferably outside. Fresh air will do you wonders."

    (Y/n) gave a blank look, the doctor leaving quickly without another word. Typically, it would have been protocol to remain there with her and directly escort her to bathe. At least, he should have provided herbal tea to remedy her, but that was how it always was. She was faulty goods, her blindness drastically reducing any value she once had. It didn't matter that she was beautiful and intelligent. Since her eyes were destroyed, so, too, was her worth. Her being empress was a stain on the royal family's lineage, and no doubt, most of those with high status resented her for that. It was saddening to see even a physician felt the same.

    That being said, like how there were two sides to a coin, so too were there those that adored her for her sacrifices. Besides the emperor, those that served directly under her found her to be a saint among ignorant pigs. A very young maid who served her, a thirteen-year-old girl by the name of Cheng Xia, helped her out of bed, lending her arm for her to take. The empress wobbled on her own feet, her sickness not assisting her in giving her the motivation to move around. She had barely wanted to wake.

    "Don't worry, your highness," Xia smiled brightly, the other maids helping dress the empress in a light silk gown to not overheat her, "Surely you'll feel as strong as his imperial majesty when you finish bathing!"

    "I appreciate those words," the empress spoke softly, reaching out her hand, "I'd like to wear the lace blindfold. The one his majesty embroidered for me."

    The young maid beamed from ear to ear before she took a key from inside the bedroom cabinet. It was one in which led to the empress's personal safe, protected even from the emperor himself though, at times, he became very paranoid about its contents. A large part of him seemed to believe that she had objects from other men, and often, Xia could find him glaring at it with a passion. Yet, out of respect for his beloved savior, he restrained himself from opening it. Little did he know that his fears were unfounded, the only things she ever placed in there having him in common.

    Taking out a blue lace blindfold, the young maid handled it delicately. It was like a treasure, the only thing the emperor made with his own two hands. The empress had many other blindfolds that he had made for her from professional craftsmen, but that one was her favorite. He had given it to her the day he was crowned emperor to begin thanking her for everything she had done for him. She never had the luxury of being able to see his handiwork, but by the feel of it, she nonetheless could tell the immense love and effort that went into it. So she treasured it beyond anything else.

    It was always a strange sight to see the (h/c) haired girl cover up her eyes with fabric. Most thought it was a punishment that she had been given by the emperor, but that was not the case. He rather abhorred it when she covered her eyes like that. On the contrary, she wore it to both take pride in the things she had sacrificed for the emperor and to acknowledge that she wasn't worthy to stand beside him.

    With the blindfold tied around her head, the empress held her hand up for Xia to take it, placing it on her arm. When the emperor was absent, it was her sole responsibility to guide her towards wherever she wanted to go. Walking slowly to allow the girl peace, her maid glistened in pride, skipping by her side. As per her request, the other servants remained in the palace, waiting for her return, leaving just the two to walk along the courtyard.

    Relatively absent from most individuals, the area was flourishing with flowering trees welcoming the coming of spring. The smell was pleasantly combined with the serene winds, allowing the empress to smile gently. It was a sight that was rare to see, but it was more beautiful than words could express. Xia was fully aware of why the emperor adored her so much. That smile was worth a thousand worlds, and even more.

    "My, is that a leech?" a gasp rang out, the sound of heels clicking against concrete drawing the eye of the girl's maid, "It's absolutely repulsive!"

    "Indeed, Consort Yan. Its mere sight makes my stomach uneasy."

    "We cannot allow our esteemed sister to suffer such an ailment, Noble Consort Hanying! Something must be done or else his imperial majesty's name will be sullied!"

    The three concubines of varying ranks snickered at the sight of the blind empress, mocking her as best as they could. They cared not if she could hear them, and in fact, they rather preferred it. It was likely their fathers who imbued them with the idea to solidify their position in the royal court. And though she held the title of empress, it didn't mean much, her family not as high ranking as most other concubines and her being born as the last daughter. The only thing she had was the emperor, and even then, it was continually tested by the ladies of the court.

    "I can't stand to be in the presence of such a lowly creature. Shen Wuhan," the concubine sighed, batting a fan to her face as she addressed one of her maids, "Drive away that vile creature from my sight."

    The maid bowed and obeyed her mistress's words, stepping forward to roll up her sleeves. Shocked, Xia stood in front of her own mistress, refusing to hear of such abuse done to the only true wife of the emperor. She was still young, so the idea of hierarchy alluded her. (Y/n) however, was far too used to the idea of being ridiculed by women such as those. She simply sighed and waited, attempting to figure out the outcome of the confrontation.

    A scuffle was heard, the snickers of the concubines clear as day. Before she knew it, Xia was knocked to the ground, a resounding slap being imprinted on the skin of the empress. She was thrown to the floor, tears escaping from how sharp the pain felt. However, the tears were mixed with blood, the irritation of her injury prompting it to act up and make her feel as though her tear ducts were being ripped apart. Then there was the matter of her illness, forcing her to kneel and quiver, the girl coughing in pain.

    The sound of footsteps rang through her ears again, the (h/c) haired girl shivering in acceptance. She couldn't escape. She barely had the energy to stand, let alone attempt to navigate her surroundings without the use of her eyes. Yet a harsher pain than what she experienced was stabbed into her heart when the blindfold the emperor had painstakingly made for her was ripped from her head. She reached out, not knowing where the person who had taken it had gone, but the only clue she was given was the sound of a gag made.

    "Is she even human?!"

    "Vulgar! To think his imperial majesty must be subjected to lying down with this beast! His heart must ache more than we know!"

    The concubines were absolutely repulsed at the sight before them, choosing to flee rather than have to be subjected to the sight of eye sockets. (Y/n) attempted to crawl after them in order to take the blindfold back, but it was no use. She was looking for a needle in a haystack, unable to so much as know if they even had it in their hands any longer. Continuing to weep, her illness caught the better of her, sending her to collapse on the hard floor of the courtyard, Xia panicking and shouting for help.

    "Your imperial majesty!" a secret guard exclaimed, bursting through the doors of the emperor's study, the silver-haired man glaring at him, "The empress has collapsed!"

    "Tch. I swear, the moment I take my eyes off of her, she just makes it worse for herself. It's alright. I already knew she was sick. The imperial physician should be able to care for her better than I."

    "I-I'm afraid...the empress was found outside with only a young maid by her side."

Jian Bai slammed his hands on the desk with wide eyes, immediately leaving the area. The guard attempted to follow along, frightened of the emperor's temperament, but he was harshly swatted away. The male gritted his teeth as he stormed through the hallways of the palace, completely livid. It was one thing to give a glare when being instructed to treat the empress. It was another to ignore all royal protocol and leave a sick empress on her own. Unforgivable.

    Flinging open the doors to their shared chambers, the male gave a concerned look to the (h/c) haired girl sleeping on their bed, obscured by translucent silks. He placed his hand worriedly on hers, pressing his lips to her skin while he observed her state of being. He noted the dried blood resting on her cheeks to her skin burning hotter than fire. She had been through so much, and yet people still insisted on pushing her to her limits?

    "Bring the imperial physician! Immediately!" the silver-haired man roared, tears building up in the corners of his eyes in absolute rage, "Who else is responsible for this?!"

    "Your imperial majesty!" Xia trembled, falling on her knees and kowtowing, "Please get justice for the empress! The concubines harassed her!"

    "What?! Who?!"

    "I-I'm uncertain of their names! But if they are pointed out before me, I could tell you! Their voices were shrill and haughty! Your imperial majesty, please punish them! They dared slap the empress and even took the blindfold you made for her personally!"

    Livid, the emperor demanded every concubine be brought before him, screaming out profanities. The servants and guards all cowered in his presence, the man's rage beyond anything they'd seen. He was usually such a composed emperor, knowing that his words carried an intense weight. However, when seeing his savior and sole empress suffering at the hands of ants, he couldn't fathom how he could ever attempt to stifle that rage.

    As he commanded, every concubine was brought to his palace's courtyard, sitting on their knees and pressing their foreheads to the ground. He demanded they and the imperial physician remain until the (h/c) haired girl awoke, sitting by her side with shaking nerves. Nuzzling her hand, he placed a kiss every now and then on her skin, admiring and loathing her scars all the same. They were undeniable proof she would give her life for his, but he wasn't certain whether he enjoyed that part of her or resented it. Perhaps it was a mix of both. The only thing he was certain of was that he loved her regardless. How could he not?

    "Imperial majesty," a guard kneeled, showing respect to the monarch before him, "A concubine has collapsed. It is said the two hours they've been out there have drained her of all energy."

    "Beat her."

The guard nodded, bowing before leaving the room, going off to follow the words of his master. The act was looked upon with horror, but only by the concubines themselves, as they learned they were of no consequence to the emperor. He truly didn't care if they melted away under the hot sun or died from heatstroke. The male had never wanted them in the first place. Since she had pledged her life to him at the young age of six, he never wanted any other female besides (Y/n) in his heart.

    The silver-haired male flinched when she began to wake, her hand moving ever so slightly. With relief, he placed his cheek in the palm of her hand, lovingly gazing at her, eager for him to be the first thing she noticed when she woke. Sitting up, the girl remained silent. She could feel the male's hands on hers and his soft cheek, but she was ashamed. Turning her head away, she felt the emperor kiss her cheek, concern radiating off of his noble form.

    "You must forgive me, my love," he sighed before gritting his teeth, his grip on her tightening just slightly out of anger, "I left you to be torn apart by wolves. I will punish those responsible, but...what can I do to earn your forgiveness?"

    "Please don't lower yourself to me, your imperial majesty," (Y/n) replied apathetically, coughing violently and feeling the male tense in fear, "You are the son of heaven. I am not worthy of these words nor of your time. I don't dare steal you for myself."

    The silver-haired male frowned. He didn't think he would be able to change her mind with his words no matter how much weight they carried. She was humble and resigned, only acting when necessary to protect him and his safety. But it stung deeply to hear her speak in such a way. To think she was unworthy of being by his side was insulting. What had he accomplished without her support?

    Frustrated and filled with hatred for the countless number of individuals who had forced such thoughts into her mind, the male picked the girl up in his arms. She was frightened at first, but the male caressed her shoulder in apology, and still, she attempted to maintain as much distance as she could. That being said, the emperor pressed her head to his chest, instructing her nonverbally to let him support her. The way he held her was as though he wanted to protect every inch of her skin, his desire solely to save her from any harm. That brought him to those that sought to injure her, and with contempt, he stormed outside of the room.

    Xia followed suit, worriedly holding a paper umbrella. At the sight of it, Jian Bai gave a sigh and had the (h/c) haired girl stand on her own two feet, interlocking his fingers with hers. This allowed the young maid to hold the umbrella over her mistress's head, protecting her from the bright and blazing sun. The silver-haired male nonetheless continued to lead her towards the ants in front of him. Most had already begun to shiver as soon as the male had thrown open the sliding door, his footsteps sending them to tremble uncontrollably. However, it wasn't near enough.

    "Your maid had said she could recognize your assailants' voices if given the chance. Would you be able to do the same, (Y/n)?"

    "O-Of course, your imperial majesty. But - "

    "No," the male sighed, pulling the younger girl in for a kiss filled with the utmost of adoration, "No buts, my love. Just tell me if you recognize them."

    The empress nodded slowly, squeezing onto the male's hand for support. He, of course, obliged, caressing the back of her ring finger mindlessly. Though his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of justice for the girl, his body could not ignore her when she asked for affection like that. When he finally recognized the way she held onto him, a smirk formed on his lips, and he presented her with one more kiss on the bridge of her nose. He then regrettably exchanged his hand for

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