In a marriage alliance between two ancient nations, the unloved first daughter of a king becomes the wife of a man who has no intention of loving her. She had become an Empress yet inside the harem which she called the golden cage, she struggles bet...
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The Imperial Harem was silent as the consorts sat glancing at the Empress, who seemed quite happy today. None knew what to say. After all, the Empress was not the woman they wanted to anger.
But the Empress was watching Li Fei with a pleased smirk. She knew the Emperor had denied laying with her gift instead; he decreed her to be married off to his brother. She was also aware Li Fei had served the Emperor. From the shadow guard's report, she had left the palace in tears and shaking.
"Li Fei, Wo have heard that the Emperor chose to lay with you instead of the gift I gifted him" Gao Pin, hearing this narrowed her eyes, it seemed that the little maid had not been killed after all. This Empress would make things difficult for her. Li Fei winced as she remembered the night before.
"Qie is unworthy"
Many in the harem watched the woman in shock, wondering why she would make such a comment, but Sadiki just smiled. She loved how broken Li Fei had become. Some may call her cruel or wicked, but Sadiki was the Empress. She knew better than to be weak and compassionate in this place.
"Now Li Fei, why do you as the Emperor's favourite say such dirty words" The women of the harem felt their hearts shake as the Empress rose to her feet and walked over to the kneeling consort. Standing over Li Fei, she smirked. "Why does this consort kneel?"
Li Fei, who had been the unsuspecting victim of the Emperor's rage in front of the other consorts, began to remove her clothing to the horror of the harem. Li Fei's pale skin bore bruises and markings. Gao Pin's eyes widened in horror as some of the harem rose in horror. Some felt bile rising in their throats while the Empress watched blankly.
"Li Fei can you not handle the Emperor's love" the harem watched the Empress in shock. Did the Huánghòu really deem this love? Li Fei was known for her unblemished pale skin. How could this not be a horrible sight? Would the Emperor also subject them to such horrors?
Sadiki smirked and sat down. "Have an Imperial Physician tend to Li Fei's wounds" She then drank her tea calmly before gazing at the now shaking and horrified women of the harem. "Bengong is still healing, so this palace expects you as women of the harem to serve the emperor well."
The harem was silent as the women gazed at each other, unsure about wanting to serve the man who sat on the dragon throne.
__ ___ __
As night fell, Sadiki had the gates of her palace locked for the night. In her courtyard, Sadiki took the initiative to fill the large pond with water. For most of her stay in the Empress's palace, she had not filled the pond, but now she slowly walked into the pond. Behind her, Amhari and Abisola entered the pond holding the prince and princess carefully and closely as the water touched both children.
Thembeka and Zanele joined the women in the water holding watertight baskets. The women in the water were joined by Thembeka and Zanele, who held watertight baskets. One basket held gold and flowers, while the other basket contained rubies and jade. Sadiki bowed her head and started a soft prayer.
Her words were firmly repeated by her servants as the storm formed and it was raining heavily, but the water in the pond remained undisturbed. The prayer continued till a hand raised Sadiki's face. Oya stood on the water watching the girl beside her. Olokun made their presence known before both moved towards the children, carefully removing them from the arms of the women.
Oya rocked the babbling girl in her arms with a smile "Lo mntwana mhle umphefumlo osikelelweyo ngu-Oshun kungoko intombi yakho iya kubizwa ngokuba nguAdesewa" (This child is beautiful a soul blessed by Oshun hence your daughter shall be called Adesewa)
Sadiki smiled and thanked the goddess for her presence before turning to Olokun the being held her son with interest "Lo mntwana ngumphefumlo wegorha okholisa u-Ogun kungoko unyana wakho uya kubizwa ngokuba nguAdeleye" (This child is a warrior soul who pleases Ogun hence your son shall be called Adeleye).
Sadiki thanked the two beings, bowing low before her head was raised. "You have pleased us," they spoke before the storm ended and all proof of them being there faded. Quickly, Sadiki and her maids got out of the water. The prince and princess were babbling happily, their eyes shining with wisdom infants should not have.
"Dry them quickly," she commanded before she went to dry off. Her children had been given good names. Her son, Adeleye, his name was clear The King's crown is honourable but her daughter Adesewa the name, meant crown of beauty. She would have to inform her brother so he would title them in the family history appropriately.
As she finished drying off and changing, a palace maid who was standing guard outside the gate approached "Huánghòu, Huangshang is here" Sadiki nodded and left to greet the man. To her surprise, Amahari and the others were already dry and bowing to the Emperor as they held the sleeping prince and princess.
"Huángshàng what brings you to my palace?" The man looked up at the woman and frowned. "Li Fei seems to be avoiding Zhen" Sadiki laughed. "Li Fei is unwell" She would not try to petition for any of these women and they would have to learn to fight their own battles.
There was silence as the man watched her and then left silently. It seemed they had gotten away with it. Only when the emperor reached the door did he speak, "My Empress Rubies, Jade, gold and flowers are precious to my people, yet you have them in bulk"
Sadiki smirked. "They are abundant in my homeland" The Emperor gazed at the women and then his children. He knew something had happened, but he could not prove it instead he silently left the palace.
Translation of Sadiki's prayer:
Guardian Oya
Guardian Olokun
Your child Sadiki comes before you
I bring my children to you
Before they are given names by their father's people
