Honey are ya lookin' for some trouble tonight

Well alright

You think you're so bad, drive the women folk wild

Shoot 'em all down with the flash of your pearly smile

--Cher, "Just Like Jesse James" (From album "Heart of Stone")

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***Warning: This section contains some sexually suggestive situations and references to S-E-X. Skip this chapter if you must but do not blame me for polluting young impressionable minds. YOU WERE WARNED!!**

They ate lunch quietly.

When Yu Her informed him that "Shan Dong lotus could be planted in Beijing", Qian Long had nearly jumped for joy. He wanted to kiss Yu Her, kiss Ke Sun, kiss Mr.Xia, kiss Madam Xia but he restrained himself. Instead he enveloped Yu Her in a bear hug.

He sensed that Yu Her was reluctant to leave her parents behind. He promised himself that he personally try to facilitate communication between them. He did not want his beloved lotus in the rain wilting in Beijing, even if he had to break some rules.

Yu Her was enjoying a piece of To Fu when she felt something touch her foot but gave it no more thought. To her alarm, something began to rub her foot sensuously and slowly. She felt a shiver travel up her spine and she nearly choked on her To Fu. She surreptitiously peeked down and saw Si Ye’s foot rubbing hers. A new electrifying sensation arose in her and a warmth spread all over her skin; she wanted Si Ye to stop and yet she wanted him to continue.

She glanced at Si Ye who appeared nonchalant about the effect he was having on her, and was thankful they were alone. Dad would probably attack Si Ye. Son of Heaven or not, Dad was extremely protective of her. She remembered him berating a local Ji Nan lad who had wolf whistled at her. Mama would probably faint if she saw this played out before her. Of course, there was some physical contact between them but that was limited to holding hands. Yu Her tried to keep things discreet, knowing how conservative her parents were.

Qian Long very expertly continued his tender ministrations. Yu Her thought she would scream or faint if Si Ye went on any longer. He’s done this before, Yu Her thought, suddenly feeling jealous. Then there was an inkling of fear. She realized that Qian Long with all his powers could have any women he wanted. She wondered how long she could keep his love for she’d learn from history texts that an Emperor’s love is fickle and fleeting as the dew drops on the leaves, whether it was for concubines or for ministers.

Qian Long continued to indulge in his favourite game, one that he only played with Ah Lan. He looked slyly at Yu Her and saw her face had turned an interesting shade of red. Good, I’ve still got it in me. He proceeded to his next stage of attack; he slowly brought his foot up Yu Her’s calf. She gasped loudly.

"Si Ye? Si Ye?"

Qian Long looked up, irritated. He had been so intent on playing footsie with Yu Her that he didn’t hear Ke Sun enter the dining room. Well, Ke Sun is definitely going to get that well-deserved post at the Russian-Qing Empire border. He had read that it was cold and bleak there.

"Si Ye, it’s a letter from Fu Heng and Long Do." Ke Sun presented the letter to Qian Long and looked curiously at Yu Her’s now bright red face. At an audible "hrrrmph" from Qian Long, he hurriedly left.

Embarrassed and humiliated, Yu Her squirmed in her seat. She looked at Qian Long who had stopped his naughty game, and was scanning the contents of the letter. Suddenly he looked up and smiled knowingly.

Yu Her got up abruptly, raced to the kitchen, and began frantically splashing cold water on her burning cheeks.

Back in the dining room, Qian Long heard water splashing and snickered. The way she reacted, she was so innocent, unlike his concubines who often reacted like a sow in heat. He found Yu Her’s naivete refreshing and very arousing. He looked forward to spending nights with her when they returned to Beijing.

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The thunderstorm started early in the morning and was still going on strongly by nightfall. This was a freak weather condition for it was now mid-autumn, when the Shan Dong weather would become chilly and dry. Still the chilly days were interspersed with warm rainy days that resulted in a mist covering much of the inland areas of Shan Dong.

Qian Long, unable to sleep, decided to do some reading in the study room. The frequent cracks of thunder had kept him awake. Ke Sun just slept on; that man would sleep through an earthquake.

He walked past Yu Her’s room when her room door suddenly opened, slamming into his face. Qian Long’s first thought was that he had been kicked in the face by a horse.

"Si Ye! Si Ye! Are you alright?" Yu Her sounded frantic.

"I’m still alive," Qian Long grimaced as he touched a tender spot on his brow.

"Si Ye! You’re bleeding!" Yu Her took out her handkerchief and pressed it against the cut. She led Qian Long into her room, made him sit on her bed, and searched for medication. She found some and began to tend to the cut on his forehead.

perfume and looked into her soft brown eyes that were full of concern. A dormant flame within him came to life and began to burn strongly. Qian Long had not been physically intimate for the last three months. Back at the palace, he used to "fan pai" almost every night as he had so many choices. But out here, he had to be careful even with the abundance of house of pleasures. It would be a scandal if it were known the Emperor had returned with more than reports from the Shan Dong trip.

"There, the bleeding’s stopped, I’ll go and get some water..."

"Yu Her..."Qian Long slipped his hand around her slender waist and pulled her onto bed next to him. "Never mind about the wound…" His voice was low and husky. His desire for her was now a burning inferno.

Yu Her was so shocked that she dropped the medicine pot. Alarmed by the strange, intense look in Qian Long’s eyes, she tried to wriggle out of his grasp. Then she felt him fumbling with her blouse button.

"Si Ye...No, please...don’t..."

"No what? Don’t you like me?"

his greater strength, Qian Long pinned Yu Her’s slender frame beneath him. He expertly undid her blouse buttons, exposing her [dou du], the sight of which aroused him even more. Her perfume was stronger now, and combined with the exciting aroma of innocence, added fuel to the fire burning within him. He had to have her tonight. He needed her now, wanted her now.

"Si Ye, let me go…please…" Tears were brimming in Yu Her’s eyes.

Caught up in the throes of his lust, Qian Long did not hear Yu Her’s pleas. He tore away her [dou du], and began groping for her pants. "Yu Her…I love you…"

Yu Her did not dare call out, lest she woke her parents. She stopped squirming, resigned herself to fate, and let him have his way. After all, who dared to say "No" to the Emperor, the Son of Heaven himself?

Outside the rain began to fall even more heavily. The grey clouds covered the skies, as if they were trying to hide what was happening down below from Heaven’s eyes.

***********

After what seemed a lifetime, Qian Long rolled over, his lust satiated. Yu Her had pleased him immensely, more than any of his concubines ever had, even though she was completely without sophistication and knowledge of matters of the bedchamber. He sighed contentedly and pulled Yu Her closer but she shrank away from him. " Yu Her, what’s wrong?"

"I…I…nothing, Your…Your Majesty." She looked away, pulling the blankets over her body.

"Yu Her, why so formal now?"

When she did not answer, Qian Long gently pulled her to face him. Alarmed at the sight of her tear-streaked face, he hastily began dabbing her eyes. " Yu Her…"then he was unable to continue, only too aware that he had taken away a girl’s most valuable possession, one she would give up only when she was willing. Yu Her had not been too willing...

He enveloped his arms around her trembling body, murmuring, "Yu Her, I love you. You know I would never hurt you."

Yu Her said nothing but the tears continued.

"Yu Her, I promise you, I’ll make you my Gui Ren when we get back to Beijing. And I’ll allow you to visit your parents as often as you wish." By now, Qian Long would say anything to stop those tears falling like raindrops from the petals of a lotus.

"Really?"

" I give you my word, the word of a gentleman. If your parents are willing, they could come to Beijing with you."

"Si Ye…I…"

"Say no more, my love." He stroked her cheeks lovingly and pulled her closer to him.

Yu Her settled her head on Qian Long’s chest. Eventually, she fell asleep, feeling safe and protected in the arms of her love. Outside, the thunderstorm had subsided into a gentle rainfall but the real storm clouds were just only beginning for a lotus in the rain.

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