"I shouldn't be here," Mei said as the realization that she was currently in Consort Bai's body hit her, but she was startled as Leonora's voice, sharp and cynical, replied, "And I shouldn't be dead."
They were occupying the same body, and they turned quiet, each one pondering over what to do.
Neither asked how it happened or why.
Mei was the first to give in. She really didn't want to share a body with the other lady, but instead of being a helpless ghost, she would rather share if it could protect the baby.
So, she decided to tell Leonara a bit about her background. "My husband poisoned me with the help of his concubine, and I died in the last month of my pregnancy with my baby," Mei broke the silence with a flat voice.
Leonora took the branch that was extended to her, and she muttered, "My husband gave me plague so that he could rule with his whore," she said finally. "So I spit on them and died."
They didn't need to explain further, but they understood they were both betrayed by the one they loved.
They felt a kick.
"He's innocent," Mei said. "He deserves a chance."
Leonora nodded once. "Then we fight. Although this world is not mine, I have prayed for a child for six years, and I am going to do whatever it takes to save him."
And with that, both women came to an agreement to share the body for the baby's sake.
The Eastern Palace, the morning after the Eclipse
The women of the harem gathered, dressed in the finest silk and gold.
They conversed in low voices as painted fans fluttered and whispers followed behind them.
"I heard she resurrected," one murmured.
"Maybe she was spared by heaven for the child," said another.
"I heard the Emperor spent the whole night tending to her," another chimed in.
As the eunuchs and maids moved through the halls, heads bowed.
The imperial physician called it a miracle.
Although it looked like the women were just talking, it was far beyond that. They were planting seeds of doubts in each other's minds, instigating each other to take the first action.
After talking for a while they dispersed each with their maids and eunuch into.
On the other hand, in the birth chambers yesterday, Consort Bai had lain cold and breathless at death's doorstep, but today, she was sitting upright, calm, the child in her belly alive and kicking inside her.
Behind the serenity of Consort Bai's face, as she sat on the bed, two minds stirred, one Eastern and the other Western strangers slowly learning to breathe as one.
"So," Leonora said, "we're alive. Or something like it."
"I still wonder how you are here," Mei replied.
"Take it up with whoever yanked me from the dead.
Isn't it ironic? I died a queen, killed by the man who swore to love me. You died a duchess, betrayed by the one you trusted most. Seems like someone up is bored and wanted an entertainment."
Silence followed; the only sound was of a heartbeat that didn't belong to either of them but now beat strongly through them both, giving them a second chance in life.
From the outside, Consort Bai looked lost in thought, her hand was on her swollen belly as she lightly stroked it.
A maid entered and bowed. "Your Grace the Emperor requests an audience."
Inside, the minds of the two women exchanged a brief conversation.
"Who will interact with him?" Mei asked.
"He speaks your language," Leonora said. "You speak with him."
Mei, for the short time she had been with this woman, learnt that she loved to counter others' questions and curses, so she gave in.
"Then I'll speak, although you have no issues communicating with me. I don't know how I am the one who suddenly speaks his language," Mei answered.
She looked at the maid and instructed her to let the Emperor in. The maid nodded and left.
The Emperor has arrived a eunuch's loud voice boomed outside the chambers as a tall, handsome figure entered through the door.
"How do you feel?" he asked, voice low.
"Tired," Mei said. "But steady." She looked at the man in front of her. Although yesterday was chaotic he looked totally different from the broken man she had seen yesterday. He went back to the regal ruler who she had seen at parties, the man she had almost married, and her step-sister's husband.
"And the child?"
She placed his hand on her belly. The baby kicked. "He is okay kicking well she replied".
"The physician said my son has a strong heartbeat." The Emperor smiled he looked really proud. "He's already fighting."
He looked relived as a small sense of hope flickered in his heart maybe he would finally have an heir
Consort Bai nodded agreeing. "Yes, he is a fighter, remembered the fight he had put on yesterday despite all odds and survived.
Within the Mind
Leonora was shouting, distracting Mei. "He's handsome," Leonora said. "Dangerously so."
"Stop shouting you are distracting my focus," Mei replied.
"I am just noting, that's all. Plus, I was married to an ugly man for six years. This is a feast for the eyes," she replied.
Mei rolled her eyes at how dramatic Leonora was. "This is important."
"Yes, yes, as if you're also not ogling at him," Leonora replied.
Mei didn't answer, not wanting to argue.
The Emperor stayed until late that evening and left after having dinner with Consort Bai.
And as night fell, the palace stirred like something half-asleep and uneasy. Wood creaked. Lamps flickered.
Within the Mind
"The dead are moving," Leonora said.
"They sense us," Mei answered.
"Good."
"You're not afraid?"
"I've already been murdered once what should I be afraid of Leonora answered.
They fell quiet.
It looked like the only thing that strung the two ladies with different backgrounds was the fact that they were wronged women betrayed and their love for an unborn baby that wasn't there.
One lost a baby of her own, while the other never had one.