I answered the call. My body immediately changed from the centaur to the human female. I looked around and saw Wang Jing sitting on a chair next to his bed. His regal looking mother was standing behind him. They asked me to report what was happening. I told them about the 3 warriors from the town and the great advancements of the army into enemy territory. "Did you have fun?" he asked. I shrugged. "War is something I am used to. I left some of the weapons with them so that they could win the war easily and become heroes. Things should work out right now." I told them. They nodded. "I think things are at a point where I can return." "You don't want to continue on the battlefield?" Wang Wuying probed. I looked at her. "I would much rather staying here. But that is just my desire. I told Analim to return when I sensed you calling me. He'll be here in the capitol soon." I said. "Will you go back if I asked you?" Wang Jing asked. With a deep sigh, I said "I'll do any reasonable task you request of me. I do think being in the capitol will be more useful." They shared a glance and nodded.
My residence was the same. I was able to rejoin the other girls and get some information about the other members of the harem. Analim returned to us the next day. My children were not there in the house anymore. I asked the girls what happened. Both Zhizhu and Hong were now living with Wang Wuying in her palace. She knew about their monstrous appearance and had been keeping them very cloistered. We had to keep that a big secret. There were obviously a large section of the capitol- and the empire at large- that would not accept them. Now that I was back, I was going to have to bring them back. Wang Wuying was a bit suspicious, but she did not want to get into an argument with me. I brought them back to my residence and made sure to look after them. The new concubines had been keeping Wang Jing busy. He needed to shower them with time and affection. The consorts were a bit miffed, but the specter of the assassin still at large was enough to keep them in line. There was no way to displace the current roster of high ranking concubines without making a huge fuss.
Nothing could be done to tip our hands until we had full control of the capitol. Funnily enough, several of the traitorous clans had dispatched new assassins of their own to find the killer. They also fought amongst themselves as time went on and it got desperate. Even I did not see this going so well for us when I proposed it. The finishing touches to the scheme was to announce betrothals to the royal children. I had been away so long that some of the other concubines had gotten pregnant as well. This had its challenges. Mao Gengxin and Chuan Min were of great concern. Mao Gengxin was pitied after the duel. His sister was kept from the banquet by her Chuan clan husband. There was also Bao and Beauty Lai Chang. Lai Chang tricked Wang Jing into spending time with her as she saw him walking around the Forbidden City. They gave birth to Princess An, Princess Li, Prince Huo and the youngest, Prince Min, respectively. With the other children, that brought the total to 7 surviving princes and princesses. They were promised off to the Feng, Lai, Zi, Cui, Shi and Kong clans.
Only ranked attendants, Huo, Zhizhu and Hong all lived with us in the increasingly cramped house. Each of the princes had milk maids that came by to feed them. There needed to be a blind maid for Zhizhu and Hong. We were not required to breast feed as we were concubines that needed to retain the height of beauty. The possibility of bite marks would diminish that. In order to not draw the anger or scheming ways of the noble concubines, I made sure that Wang Jing not show favoritism to Bao and I. I was firm with him. He was to only bring us to court when the other mothers of his children were there. Wang Jing could dote one the children, but only as the full group. It was essential to their safety and I made sure it was communicated to him. He nodded and did as I asked. That way it would not be so obvious that we had his favor. To most of the self centered and not clever women, we were just lucky upstarts that got pregnant by accident. It also served to keep gossips away as they did not want any risk getting disfavored by proxy. Things were going well. We were waiting on the war.
