It was only a few days until the wedding now. The Du parents were staying in a palace courtyard instead of the capitol branches' house under the insistence of the Emperor. His favour for the young Ger had gotten around, and most of the Imperial Palace were treating the boy like he was made of glass.

Du Fen himself was rather exhausted from all the information that had been crammed into his head in the last while. He thought his teachers and studies back home were intense, but they were nothing compared to what he had to endure here!

Even when he did his training in the garden, no less than six guards and servants would accompany him. He was followed everywhere in groups, and other than sleeping he was never alone. Even his trips to the emperor's private area were cut off, since his parents said he couldn't meet him alone anymore.

He shrugged philosophically at that. He had travelled for months with the man, slept in his tent even, but heaven forbid he have dinner with the man in the weeks before the wedding. Insert eye roll here please. He took it as another one of those strange 'rules' that the palace had.

Instead he would sit with his parents for dinner and eat with Teacher Min for luncheon. Even the General and Prince were not allowed. It was not until he happened to run into the Empress Mother that he realised what was amiss. She glared at him and huffed.

"This Empress simply cannot see what is so good about this Ger. Why does my son favour this boy so much? I am beginning to think that it is all pillow talk that causes his current mood swings." Her voice was loud enough as she was walking away for many to hear her and there were a few gasps.

Suddenly the looks that were given to him were sly and thoughtful. He did not like them one bit ah! His brows furrowed and his hands shook in anger at the thought of this Empress saying something bad about him. He called immediately for Teacher Min and his mother.

"Teacher, Mother, I am not sure what the Empress Mother said about me, but it seems like it was not kind at all!" He complained with a bothered look.

"What did she say exactly, Ah Fen?" His mother asked with a careful look.

"She said she cannot see what is good about me. Then she wondered why he favoured me... uh, then something about pillows and moods?" Du Fen struggled to recall the exact words.

"Pardon Madam, may this humble servant speak?" One of the servant girls asked from aside. Du Mother nodded and waited to hear what she had to say. "Empress Mother implied that it was pillow-talk that influenced the Emperor."

Teacher Min and Du Mother sucked in a breath, glancing at each other grimly. They might have guessed something like this would happen, especially with the rumors flying about the place about Du Fen's popularity with the Emperor.

"This is not good. If it is not proven he is pure before they are wedded, he will not be able to take higher position in the court. Even if he had the first child, there may be speculation." Teacher Min cautioned Du Mother. She nodded in agreement.

"Yes, and I do not think our home doctor will be enough. We will have to request a royal doctor's inspection." She added. Teacher Min stroked his chin.

"We should approach the Emperor for this matter. He will have his own thoughts on this I am sure." He looked at the boy with sad eyes.

"I am sorry to put you through this, Du Fen, but it will be necessary for your reputation before you are married." Du Mother said, patting her son's hand.

"Sorry for what?" He asked curiously. They looked at each other and then gently patted his hands comfortingly. It was making him very nervous.

"I'll write a note to the Emperor and have the General deliver it right away." Teacher Min said softly.

*

The Emperor was livid. Internally he had already assumed it would have to be done, but since it was now forced ahead of time he gave vent to his ire. It would mean there would have to be more witnesses now too, and that really ticked him off!

It looked as though the poor, innocent Lord Du Fen had no idea what was going on, and everyone was too embarrassed to tell him. It wasn't until no less than twenty official palace people all crammed into the boy's palace that someone deigned to let him in on it.

"Lord Du, Lady Du, Lord Du Fen... this Imperial Doctor has come to do the official inspection on the bride-to-be." The elderly man bowed low to them and had visible sweat on his forehead. Lord and Lady Du looked resigned but slightly offended.

"I cannot believe that someone would cast doubt upon this Lord's offspring so. Of course I can protect my own son and Ger. I would never presume to offend the Emperor by suggesting he would not protect my son and Ger in my stead." He still fumed angrily.

Lady Du nodded also, both conveniently forgetting for the moment that they might have thought it when the two to be wedded had left their house originally. They would never say it out loud though!

"Indeed, if We must prove that Our bride-to-be has been protected and cherished by Us, so be it." The Emperor was glaring at the Ministers that the Empress Mother had sent to oversee the matter. They were sweating quite profusely and had the inkling that their careers might not be so smooth in the future.

"Dearest, I am very sorry, but this doctor will need to do a physical examination. Please be brave for me, Ah Fen." Du Mother said in a gentle voice, patting her son's head as he paled dramatically.

"Wh-what? I have to do another physical? Why are all these people here?" He glanced at all the gathered guards, doctors, ministers and then the Emperor and his parents with a panicked look.

"Shh, just pretend they are not here. Close your eyes and hold my hands the whole time. Okay?" She coaxed him to a settee and had him lay down while he spluttered.

"But... but I had one before at our house? I don't understand." He whimpered. His mother cast a dark look at the Ministers and doctors.

"Someone believes something may have happened on the road, or beforehand without our knowledge. Once they see you are pure, there will be no question." Lord Du said with an intimidating scowl. His arms crossed and he sneered at the Ministers.

"Before you start, doctor, We must make it very clear to you. This is Our beloved person. If you touch him directly, We will not be lenient. If you damage him, you will die." The Emperor bent forward to whisper the words darkly in the man's ear. The doctor trembled slightly and nodded, putting on cloth gloves.

He brought forth his box of tools and set them on the edge of the settee. Du Fen was turned away, his eyes tightly closed and his knees bent. He flinched when his robes were raised and the under pants dropped. A cold thing was placed against his special place and pushed slowly in.

He hated this part more than anything, and it was when a clicking sound filled the silent chamber and the thing was opened up. He felt pressure, cold air, and damp as the doctor looked inside the open contraption.

"I confirm that the boy is pure." The man said with a sigh of relief. He didn't know what he would have done if the lad wasn't, but he was really worried it would be his head hanging from the walls.

"I don't believe you. He would say anything for the Emperor." Another doctor from the palace strode forward and shoved the man aside. Du Fen yelped as the thing jerked and trembled violently as another man looked at his insides. "Oh. I guess..."

The Emperor snapped his fingers and two guards came forward to drag the doctor out. The man paled and tried to fight free. The first doctor straightened and carefully removed the contraption.

"We trust no one else questions my bride-to-be or the doctor?" the Emperor said in a dark voice. The rest of the room bowed silently to him and left quickly. The Emperor strode to Lord Du and sighed heavily.

"It's not your fault, Your Majesty." Du Father allowed. The Emperor faintly grimaced.

"It is. We should have expected this sort of thing, but it does not mean We like it. Please, take Du Fen to rest and calm down. Make him as comfortable as you can." He glanced over at the boy with sad eyes as he would not look back at him from shame.

"Yes, we will not leave his side until the wedding day now." Du Mother said firmly. The Emperor nodded and looked hesitant to leave, but finally turned and walked out. Du Fen sniffled once he knew most everyone had left.

"Wh-why...?" He whimpered into his mother's embrace. She patted his head and looked up at her husband in pain.

"You are about to marry the Emperor, my son. There will be those who want to stop you, those who want to hurt you, and those who wish to humiliate you. You must be stronger than all of them. For yourself, and for the Emperor." Lord Du said in an even voice, then gently patted his son's head as well.

Du Fen turned and hugged his father's waist, still a bit teary eyed and feeling sorry for himself. Du parents sighed and brought their son out of that place and into his private quarters, his mother going further to the bathing chambers so he might wash away the bitterness.

"Remember Ah Fen... If he did not like you so much, he would not care if you were pure. It means he may give you great honours. Be brave, okay?" She told the boy as she washed his hair. Du Fen nodded sullenly, then really thought about her words.

"Ai-ya... Mother, if he wasn't sooo good looking..." Du Fen said decisively, looking at his mother's shocked face. She saw him crack an unsure smile and giggled suddenly.

"That's my boy." She laughingly said, hugging him even though he was sopping wet and kissing his forehead.

*

"You look like you are in a bad mood. Is this a bad time?" Prince Ling Min stood uncertainly before the Emperor in his office and was wondering if what he was doing was wise.

"Yes... but no. What do you want brother?" Jian Jun sighed in heart deep tiredness. His resisted the urge to rub his eyes and make them possibly swell up this close before the ceremony.

"I was wondering if I could have that reward, if you aren't too busy." He said with an innocent air about him. Jian Jun narrowed his eyes in suspicion. His brother was rather mischievous, and the more innocent he tried to look, the guiltier the Emperor knew he felt.

"Go on." He replied. To his shock, the man slipped around the desk and told him what he wanted in a low voice to his ear. His eyes widened when he heard it, and he realised his brother was aware of the Shadows nearby. He didn't want them catching wind of his request and telling a certain someone.

"Can it be done?" He asked nervously a few minutes later as they stared at each other from across the desk again. The Emperor looked at him with a frown and he looked back with a hopeful face.

"If you do this, you will not be eligible to be my successor in the future. Are you fine with that?" He asked with a serious look. His brother smiled at the words and nodded furiously.

"Yes of course. Besides, I think you will have your own little successor shortly, hmm?" His words did what he hoped they would, and the Emperor's face lightened a bit with a gentle look. Jian Jun nodded then and flicked his hand.

"Alright, go. I will take care of it." He bent his head back to his work after dismissing his brother.

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