ã€ŠEntrepreneur Fifth Young Miss Wants to Stay Singleã€‹


 -1 Characters Guide

    List of Characters introduced so far (or to be introduced soon). It''ll be updated as the story goes on and circumstances change.

    1) Jiang Family:

    Jiang Wang Shu: or simply Master Shu. It''s the Family''s head and uncle to the Main character.

    Jiang Qing Shan: the family''s third young miss.

    Jiang Ying Yue/Sam: Jiang family''s fifth young miss ¨C that is also Samanta after she transmigrated.

    Jiang Fei Hong: fourth young master and the rightful Jiang Family''s heir.

    Jiang Hao Chen: father of Ying Yue, Fei Hong and Qing Shan. Is already dead at the beginning of this story.

    Jiang Bo: brother of Hao Chen and Wang Shu, son of a concubine.

    Madam Jiang and Master Jiang: main characters grandparents.

    1.1) Servants:

    A Bi: an inside maid.

    Zi Zhu: Third Young Miss''s personal maid with the highest status.

    Ye Qi: Jiang Fei Hong''s aidee.

    Xiao Si: Master Shu''s aidee.

    Da Tao: old Master Jiang aidee.

    An''er: young maid at Deep Serenity Pavilion (Sam''s place).

    Li Mei: maid servant with higher rank on Deep Serenity Pavilion.

    2) He Family (Zao Empire''s Royal Family during Guang Dynasty):

    GuoZhi: the name of the Reign, not the real name of the Emperor (I will follow the idea that to say his name out loud without permission or without being at a particular rank is to curse him).

    General He: I''m keeping his real name a secret, sorry kkkk. Kidding, it''s just to keep the mystery going. He is our fourth prince. Suggestive? Maybe.

    He Geng Xin: aka, the Crown Prince, just baked from this mind of mine.

    3) Soul-Gathering Flames Sect:

    Madam Ling: considered the third Master in seniority on Heavenly City, the place where this sect resides now.

    4) Side Characters:

    Doctor Li: physician that usually takes care of Jiang Family.

    David: Sam''s ex boyfriend who stole her secret formula and planned to sell it to a big brand.

    Amelia: Sam''s best friend on our time and reality.

 1 Joining the Lonely Hearts Club

    Samanta had just locked her car''s door when the rain started. Cold, fat drops running trough her neck and dampening her messy ponytail. The thin jacket she was wearing was definitely not enough to prevent the chilling sensation that ran down her spine, making her body slightly tremble.

    "Fine" she mumbled to herself, breathing deeply before running the few steps towards the large stone building where she lived "what else can go wrong today?".

    Closing her eyes tightly in an attempt to rein in her frustration, she remembered those last two hours with painful clarity, cursing herself all the way up the stairs until her apartment on the fifth floor.

    Looking back at the last two days, of course she should have seen it coming. All those late nights working, the secret phone calls, the growing detachment... Well, it was all there for her to see. As her best friend normally pointed out, Sam seemed to simply not know how to live on her own ¨C which resulted in chronicle selective blindness.

    Since her parents death, four years earlier, she had been in and out of disastrous relationships, some more problematic than others. There was Cain, a colleague on her first job that just wanted her to do everything for him while he dated his OTHER girlfriend. Then there was Richard. Pretty boy next door. She had just received her inheritance when the two of them started dating. It lasted just as long as the limit of her credit card. After that came Charles, and then Ross...

    And now David.

    The lowest, most insufferable type of human being she had ever had the misfortune to meet. A tall, dark-haired leech that had been feeding on her dreams for the past eight months. And that probably would have still be attached to her, if not for that moment of inspiration that made she answer his phone while he was in the shower ¨C something she never did.

    She needed two words to know something was wrong, and then a quick search through his computer ¨C also something she never did ¨C to understand that everything was over. That the scumbag had stolen and patented her family formula, so he could now sell it to the highest bidder.

    Sam actually felt sick to her stomach.

    She didn''t need to revise her sad love life history to know what the problem was. Deep down, Sam always knew she just didn''t like feeling alone. After the fire that had taken the lives of her parents, and being an only child with no close relatives, she presumed it was understandable for her to seek companionship.

    Right?

    Well, no matter. It was over now. Just like her dream of opening her own business.

    Sighing deeply, she fumbled a bit until finding her keys on her bag and opened the front door just in time to hear her phone ringing.

    That person, whoever she was, indeed had a perfect timing.

    Scrunching her lips in a sour look, she locked her door once more and kicked the high heeled shoes carelessly before falling on the soft cushion of her sofa and stretching one arm to catch to phone.

    "Samanta..."

    "So, how was it?" a familiar voice said before she could complete her name "Did you beat him?"

    Sam closed her eyes again, feeling a all too well known headache creeping closer and closer.

    "You mean, if I beat my cheating Boyfriend that not only lied to me but also stole the family formula I was planing to use to start my own business?"

    On the other side of the line, Amelia snorted.

    "Well, when you put it like that..."

    "I know."

    "So... You did beat that piece of sh*t, right?"

    Sam couldn''t help laughing at her friend, her light tone betrayed by the wicked glee she could imagine on her blue eyes.

    "Yes, I did beat him. And, I''ve got to say, it was surprisingly satisfying" she admitted, pushing her knees up and crossing her legs so to be on a more comfortable position.

    "Better late than never, girl!" Amelia chanted approvingly "That a*s didn''t deserve you".

    "So you said about the last four."

    "And I was right about each and every one".

    Sam bit her lower lip, taking her time in assessing her friend''s words. She had always been one to think long and deep before doing anything, and wasn''t one to do anything halfheartedly. Whenever she decided to do something, she would put her heart and soul into it until the very end.

    Even if the results weren''t all that satisfying. Just like all those guys she had been with. It hadn''t mattered how much effort she exerted to make things work with them. It had always been one sided.

    And she had always felt lonely. Even when she lied to herself, repeating time and again that those guys were just one phone call away. That if she didn''t show up at work the next day they''d notice, even if no-one else did. But it was all like the pretty paint on a wood box: thin, breakable. The type that, with any scratch, would show you the darkness underneath.

    And really, how could they care for her when she wasn''t sure she cared for herself?

    Oh, her head hurt. A lot.

    "Sam" Amelia called suddenly, bringing her back to that cold, rainy night "You still there? Look, I''m sorry if..."

    "Mel" she interrupted, feeling a bit detached from herself when that one truth finally downed upon her "I think you are right".

    "Well, sure. I usually am" the other girl agreed goodheartedly "But... What exactly am I right about this time?"

    She couldn''t contain the faint giggle that passed through her lips ¨C even if she herself was one who rolled her eyes at giggling girls.

    "I think that''s it for me. I''m done with guys".

    The deafening silence between the two girls was only cut off by the sour of the rain hitting the glass windows and pooling on the small balcony outside the dining room.

    "Don''t get me wrong now Sam" Mel started carefully, her voice uncertain "I''m all for gender equality and sexuality freedom, but I never got you for a...".

    "WHAT?" Sam felt her eyes widening and jaw dropping "NO! I''m not lesbian! Oh my, Amelia, where did that come from?!".

    "Well, you just said you were done with guys" her friend defended herself, sniffing "what was I supposed to think?".

    "I don''t know, maybe that I would adopt celibacy?"

    "Girl, I never knew you gave it up to begin with." she singsonged wickedly.

    Sam felt her cheeks heating.

    "This is really not the point! Can we please be serious here? I''m coming to a life altering decision!" she complained, mildly annoyed at Amelia''s laughter.

    "Ok, ok, sorry. But really Sam. Aren''t we being a bit extreme here? To sworn off all man population? I mean, I know you''ve stumbled on some bad ones but...".

    "No, I''m sure" Sam decided, feeling her resolution grow stronger "No more boyfriends. Nada. From now on, it''ll be only you and me!".

    "Hum... Are you sure?"

    "A hundred per cent".

    "Well, that''s something I supposed" Amelia conceded " it seams you will finally join Miss Amelia''s Lonely Hearts Club, hein?!".

    Sam laughed.

    "I thought it was St. Pepper''s Lonely Hearts Club".

    Amelia feigned affront.

    "Well, it is not. And you are not a Beatle, so shut up and go along".

    "Yes ma''am".

    To two of them laughed, the air suddenly much lighter as their conversation wavered to other topics.

    It was already past midnight when Amelia remembered her friend had a big day coming tomorrow and decided to hang up the phone.

    When she woke up the next morning, in spite of a headache that refused to leave and an uneasy feeling she couldn''t shake off, Samanta felt well enough to brave the day and discorde what else her future held in store for her.

    "Well, let''s see how things go from now on!" she said to herself, smiling at the dissolved image on the mirror "It simply can''t go worst than yesterday".

    As if the havens had taken it as a challenge, a thunder tore trough the sky.

    In the years to come, Sam would constantly remind herself that keeping your mouth shut was an underestimated virtue!

 2 A very bad dream.

    The first thing Sam noticed when she woke up was the sky. It was ominously dark, with heavy clouds and the smell of rain still clinging to the cold air. The second, and probably more important, was that she was already late!

    She had been postponing going to University for the last three years, trying to decide what she really wanted to do with her life.

    Her parents, even though she had loved them deeply, never hid their desire for their daughter to be successful and follow on their footsteps. But the truth was, Law school had never been her thing.

    When they were alive, she simply changed subjects or didn''t compromise when they tried to talk about her future, a technique mastered and improved along the years. But when they were gone, she simply didn''t have the hart to do anything.

    Sam still remembered those dark days... The endless pain, the self recrimination, the tears, the feeling of being powerless to do anything. When the time to du her Entrance Exam passed, she actually felt relieved for the excuse not to dwell on that any longer.

    It took her three years of bad choices to get back on her feet, decide to start her own business and subscribe to a Business Management course at University. She had had it all: the idea, the funds (painstakingly saved from her inheritance) and, soon enough, the degree to wrap everything up.

    And then she decided that David, The Bastard, was a good choice.

    "Not dwelling on this right now!" she reminded herself, putting on her everyday clothes and jumping into a par of all-stars. One last look at the time on her phone was enough to decide there was no time for breakfast either.

    Running trough the kitchen as if the devil was on her heels, she stopped long enough just to gobble a yogurt and pick a granola bar. "This will have to do!".

    Samanta decided to do a mental checklist on the most important topics she had studied while driving, which would guarantee that her mind wouldn''t wander to unwanted places. So, as usual, she put Queen to play on the radio just loud enough to be a background sound, connected her phone to the car system and started hading to the city center, where the exam would be held.

    The rain started on the ending of the second music.

    "Perfect! Just. Perfect!" Samanta complained, looking angrily at the sty though the windshield. On the ONE day she forgot to pick up her umbrella, water had to start falling from the sky like it was the da*m Deluge all over again!

    Just then, the music was replaced by the sound of her ringtone, screaming though the car speakers like there was no tomorrow.

    "Dammit!" she mumbled, looking quickly at the still green traffic lights before extending her hand to pick up the phone from the passenger seat and see the name on the screen.

    Sam felt her blood boil like hot lava.

    "What do you want?" she almost yelled after punching the speaker button.

    David''s voice was a bit subdued, almost pleading when he answered.

    "Sam! Thank God you answered! I called you nonstop last night! I..."

    "My not picking up should''ve Benn answer enough David!" she retorted, her hands tightening around the wheel "Now stop bothering me!".

    "Sam, Sam please! Listen sweetheart" she closed her eyes for a second, trying to breath trough the hatred pilling on her throat "We need to talk. Please. it''s not what you''re thinking!"

    Oh-oh! She wanted to laugh, and punch a hole through his had. And laugh a bit more. On the back of her mind, Sam pondered whether she was finally becoming hysterical.

    "I didn''t understand, hun? You must think I''m really stupid to believe Avery sh*t you throw at me!"

    "Of course not! Sam, I love you! All I did was..."

    "If you really loved me, you would have helped me! Would have respected all my efforts to make a name for myself! My God David, I told you everything! I told how hard it was, how I was putting all my cards on that stupid formula!" she screamed, angry tears running down her cheeks as her eyes were completely blinded by rage "And if you think, just for one second, that this pathetic attempt of apologizing will stop me from suing your a*s, so wake up! We''ll see each other on court!".

    With another burst of anger, she punched the calling button and cursed herself for not turning her cellphone completely off before leaving her apartment. It was not like she was expecting an important call or anything. Amelia knew she would not pick up until before the test was over, and all her other contacts were just acquaintances she could go without.

    Of course David would try to talk to her! After she cursed and threatened him with a law suit, Sam KNEW he would try to get on her good graces again. Why she even picked up the call was another mystery.

    Maybe she was a bit of a masochist, who knows?

    "Oh my head hurts" she mumbled to herself, closing her tired eyesfor a split second.

    A split second that changed everything.

    Suddenly, she heard the sound of car brakes and tires burning of the asphalt floor. her eyes opened wide and she tried to turn the wheel, but there was no time. She could she the petrified look on the young driver''s face before her head bumped agains the steering wheel. Her ears seemed to burst with the deafening sound of the steel tearing itself apart while the vehicle flipped over and the glass exploded, sending shards of glass everywhere.

    There was the smell of gasoline and the faint sound of screams that wouldn''t stop. Pain engulfed her body as the lethargy crept nearer by the second. There was the feeling of the rain still falling somewhere far aways, and the burning sensation on her throat and limbs.

    Her eyes closed, her body trembling with cold... And then, only the darkness was left.

    With some misguided attempt at humor, her last though before everything went black was that, on this life, the last person to talk to her would be her treacherous ex-boyfriend.

    The heavens had a terribly distorted sense of humor.

    "At least someone will get out of this happy" she thought tiredly "It seams I won''t be suing him anymore".

    Oh my, this all simply had to be a dream.

    A very bad dream!

 3 Arrival

    People don''t usually think about how they''re going to die. Let''s be honest, not only it is a terribly indelicate subject, there is also the fact that no one likes to ramble over their own demise.

    Sam was one of these people that preferred to simply not broach the subject ¨C not even to herself, as she always felt that debating such a ominous topic could only attract bad luck. Of course, her family tragedy left her well aware of her own mortality, but this didn''t mean she would willingly talk about it.

    So, at that moment, with all that darkness around her, the ringing on her ears and the pain in her head, Sam didn''t stop to ponder about how her body felt really, well, alive. She simply arrived at the one possible explanation:

    <i>"Oh God, I must be dead!"</i>

    Barely 22 years old, and dead. This was so not happening to her!

    "This is bad!" she heard what seemed like a male voice coming from somewhere far away.

    "Doctor Li, please save my sister!" a feminine, very young voice followed in a heartbreaking voice.

    Sam though she could hear some arguing and another man shouting orders, but everything was a mess and her head still hurt too much.

    <i>"I always thought death should be painless" </i> she pondered, feeling dizzy and tired <i>"And why is it so loud...? Where are my parents? What is going on?"</i>

    Sam was never one to pray or believe that forces bigger than herself were at work somewhere on the universe, but at that moment, just before everything disappeared once again, she started to silently pray, for anything that could hear her.

    Someone had to help her. Someone had to tell her what was happening. But the silence was suffocating, and even though she prayed, no-one answered.

    ---------------//--------------

    "Zi Zhu?" that young female voice was back, seeming closer this time "Is my uncle back already?".

    "Third Young Miss, Master Jiang is still at the palace" another young voice answered in a subdued tone.

    "I see" the Third Young Miss murmured to herself "Then you can go back first. I will stay with Yue''er a while longer."

    Sam felt like frowning at the weird conversation. Even though she could understand every word they were saying, it still felt wrong, as if the cadency and the sound should feel foreign to her ears ¨C and for some unknown reason, weren''t.

    "Young Miss, you have been here for almost two days! You didn''t rest or eat properly since Fifth Young Miss was found!" the girl seemed to be holding back tears at that point "Please, Young Miss! Fifth Young Miss knows your devotion in her heart! She wouldn''t want you to harm yourself like this!"

    The girl that was supposed to be the Third Young Miss sighed deeply, sounding completely drenched of energy.

    "Forget it" the girl she said softly " Zi Zhu, ask A Bi to come and take my place... I don''t want to let Yue''er alone".

    "Your servant will do it immediately". the young girl, Zi Zhu, answered quickly, her voice losing the tension from before and sounding almost childlike.

    It was all very weird, Sam thought to herself, trying to organize all those names, words and informations with some kind of logical order on her head. Before she could do it, though, she felt a delicate hand grasping her own, tight enough so she could feel the slight tremble of the other''s body.

    "Yue''er, you have to wake up" Third Young Miss whispered in a clumsy voice "Qing Shan is begging you! Please, wake up".

    Sam felt the girl leaving her side with growing distress. Along those small moments of consciousness, she had started to doubt her first assessment of her present situation. Even though the events following her conversation with Amelia weren''t all that clear yet, she had that nagging feeling that something bad had happened on that fateful morning. Maybe something involving David.

    Well, one figures...

    So, after some time of brooding, she decided that, all things considered, she probably wasn''t dead. Not that it was any better, with all those voices, and strange names around her. It was all so confusing! She desperately needed answers, but her body felt too heavy to do anything besides laying still.

    <i> "This can''t go on forever"</I> she reminded herself, hating how exhausted she felt after, literally, doing nothing.

    ---------------------//-------------------

    Five days later (even though it felt closer to five years), Sam felt the pressure on her chest begin to lift, her limbs started to feel lighter and even her head didn''t seem to want to kill her anymore.

    With a clearer head, she now had successfully catalogued all the people that seemed to stop by her room on the hospital (cause, she decided, there wasn''t another plausible explanation to where she was). She had never credit much those theories about comatose patients still being able to hear people around then, but right now she felt grateful that all those people stopping by didn''t share her ceticism. Only thinking how boring days would''ve been to stay there alone in the silence already made her skin crawl.

    Ying Yue, she concluded, should be the girl sharing the hospital room with her, and whose relatives were always coming and going ¨C sometimes taking the time to talk to Sam herself, or even hold her hand. This girl definitely had a nice family.

    Then there was that weird Doctor with the nosy voice, a girl named A Bi (probably a nurse that had been charged with taking care of both her and Ying Yue) and Jiang Qing Shan. This girl stayed in the room for at least one hour everyday, always reading something, talking about gossips and people she didn''t know, or simply talking about their life in... Well, she supposed was the mansion of the family.

    Once, she even brought a instrument to play and sing for then. The light tones and her sweet voice made Sam''s heart ache and her still closed eyes burn with unshed tears.

    It was all very weird... As if she was stuck in some kind of in-between moment, even though she wasn''t certain what exactly would be waiting her "after" all that.

    All things considered, however, her only complain was Amelia. That treacherous friend of hers didn''t bother to show up even once in all that time!

    <i>"You just wait! When I''m able to stand again we will have a long talk about loyalty!"</i>

    -------------------//---------------------

    The light was so bright that she couldn''t keep her eyes open. Her whole body ache, and she felt stiff and sore all over, as if she had been ran over by a truck.

    With still tearing eyes, she tried to raise her hand to cover her face.

    "Ouch!" she grumbled, feeling her throat burn as if she had eaten sand.

    She wanted to ask someone to please close the blinds and turn out the light, but her voice seemed to have deserted her. In fact, Sam was about to try and call for help when the sound of porcelain crashing on the wooded floor broke the silence on the room, small droplets of water landing on her still immobile hands.

    "Oh, thanks the Heavens!" someone cried ¨C a bit too loudly ¨C and than apparently dashed through the door, still screaming " Third Miss! Master! Third Miss! Fifth Miss has woken up! She is awake! Third Miss!".

    Sam groaned, squinting a bit while trying to find a more comfortable position for her aching body. It felt as if she didn''t move a single muscle for ages! And than all that shouting still ringing on her years... What was the problem with these people!?

    She tried once again opening her eyes, just to have to close them again some four or five times before being able to see anything beyond that blinding light. Still, it wasn''t enough to have any real clear image of the surrounding area. Everything seemed big, intricately decorated, and a mess of blues and whites that her eyes couldn''t still understand. And then there was the smell... The room smelled just like Amelia''s living room ¨C of strong incense and medicinal herbs.

    Sam frowned. Maybe Amelia hadn''t actually forgotten her existence. Maybe....

    A door slammed open suddenly, making her heart jump.

    "Yue''er!" the Third Young Miss almost screamed, covering her mouth with her hands "Yue''er!".

    Sam couldn''t really make up the girl''s features, as she was too faraway and her eyes still too weak, but even all this couldn''t mask the beauty of the girl''s long black hair that flowed like a midnight river, or even the delicate cut of her clothes, of light green and white brocade. Sam was about to try and turn her head to the other side, so she could finally see who exactly was Ying Yue, when all of a sudden the Third Miss fell to the ground beside her bed, took her hand in hers and lowered her forehead to their joined fingers.

    "Oh God!" the girl cried, still clinging to her for dear life "Oh God! I though we had lost you!"

    Sam felt her body going completely cold, a weird, foreboding feeling starting to creep over her like cold water down her spine.

    "Yue''er!" The girl looked right at her stunned, wide eyes, tears still running down her beautiful, very white, very asiatic, face "Yue''er you came back to us! You are really here!"

    Desperately, Sam tried to sneak a glance to her left side... There had to be another girl there. It simply had to be!

    But it didn''t matter how much she looked or tried to turn her head, she could only see more furniture and some kneaded clothes on a corner.

    There was only the two of them.

    In a room that didn''t look anything like a hospital facility.

    "Oh my God!" she whispered, her voice a rasping sound barely high enough for her own ears.

    "Yue''er" Third Miss called, drying her tears with a prettily embroidered handkerchief, her dark eyes locking in on Sam with such strength that she could barely breathe "Jiejie wasn''t good for you... I didn''t protect you enough. Yue''er do you trust me? Jiejie won''t let anyone bully you anymore. I will protect you from now on".

    Sam could barely acknowledge her words, her head still spinning nonstop trying to understand what was happening there. That girl couldn''t mean... She didn''t actually think Sam was...

    No, no. It was impossible. Totally inconceivable.

    Madness.

    Right?

    "Who... Who are you?" she finally managed to whisper though parched lips "Where am I?"

    Jiang Qing Shan dropped her hands suddenly, as if they were on fire. Her big, black eyes growing round as saucers.

    "Yue''er..." she starter in a clumsy voice, not wanting to believe on her own ears.

    "Not... Yue''er..." Sam insisted, trying to ignore her aching throat and head "Who... Where... am... I?".

    "Wu Xiaojie" a very young girl cried softly from her place near the door "What are you talking? Don''t play games like this! San XiaoJie will be very worried if you do it!".

    What are they talking about? Why can''t they understand? Sam asked herself desperately, her thoughts spinning like the wheels of her car before...

    Before the accident.

    "Oh my God..." she repeated, tears threatening to flow as image after image of the car crash assaulted her senses.

    "Zi Zhu! Call Doctor Li! Fast!" she though she heard Third Miss shout, but Sam wasn''t sure of anything anymore.

    It was all too much. All too weird.

    Maybe she had really died after all.

 4 Master Shu of the Jiang Family

    As far as he could remember, Jiang Wang Shu knew that his star wasn''t one destined to fly high in the sky and shine bright amongst the others. That had always been his elder brother''s place and purpose in life.

    Since very young, there wasn''t anyone in the Jiang family who could compare with Hao Chen''s martial arts talent, his upright posture or his calm demeanor. He was apt in the arts of war, calligraphy, and could even discuss a poem for hours and hours with the country''s brightest scholars.

    At five he was able to recite some of the eldest manuscripts of their people.

    At ten he could outwit some of the highest war ministers when planing strategies to defeat the enemy in battle.

    At thirteen he was considered the youngest between the noble families to reach the status of Commander, being charged with the 3rd Division''s Northwest Regiment.

    Before twenty, Jiang Hao Chen was already a reputed General, the head of the country''s special force''s unit.

    To the ordinary people, he was a God of War. Between the nobles, he was an esteemed master and role model, a large vessel opening a way to smaller ones to follow.

    Of course, to most of then, trying to follow on Young Master Jiang''s footsteps was like forcing a hen to catch chicken.

    In the Jiang Household, everyone could see how the Master doted on his eldest son, and how Madam Jiang barely had eyes for anything else.

    Wang Shu never begrudged his elder brother, nor did he lose his time and effort trying to emulate him. Bookish, introverted and always more comfortable on the background, young Shu learned that his nature wasn''t one for battles and glories, but to silent contemplation.

    In such a vast world, he was satisfied with his situation in life, knowing that each of them had its own task.

    It was a cold winter''s night, on the 21st year of Guozhi Emperor, when everything changed.

    Wang Shu had always been a a frail child, with a sickly constitution and lung problems. This, together with his introverted manner made him an isolated kid among the other Jiang children. Even being the son of the First Madam didn''t spare him from his bullying half brothers. The only one that could actually stand up for him was the Eldest Young Master, Jiang Hao Chen.

    On that morning, however,Hao Chen was at the Baracks, inspecting a new archery coach that had been named by the emperor himself. So, when Jiang Bo, eldest son of his father''s concubine, pushed him from the small wooden bridge and right into the frosty cold pond on the main garden, there was no-one there to rescue the Second Young Master.

    His aidee would tell him later that First Madam lost all strength when they couldn''t find him, and that even Eldest Young Master had run back home as soon as word reached him. Wang Shu himself estimated that he had stayed some two or three hours in the water, his upper body laying on some patch of the high ornamental grass, almost completely hidden. When one of the house servants finally found him, he was pale as death, with blue lips and completely unresponsive for three days, after which he burnt with a high fever for two nights.

    The city''s most prominent physicians seemed to be at a loss about what to do. Even the Imperial Doctor, that his brother succeeded in bringing out of the palace to see him, felt there wasn''t much more to do. The trauma was simply too great for a barely twelve years old frail body to recover from. Madam Jiang threatened to kill herself if they couldn''t bring her son back, but even with all their efforts, the situation looked gloomy.

    It all changed on that fateful night. He remembered feeling too hot all over, as if there were shards of smoking coal on his skin. The room was completely dark and muffled, with the strong stench of medicine permeating the air.

    Somehow, he was suddenly outside, his bare feet strong against the freezing stone floor of the porch. The cold, sweet breeze cooled down his neck, wiping the sweat from his forehead and cleaning his feverish thoughts. His father found him like that two hours later, after being warned by one of the patrolling guards that Second Young Master was awake.

    Behind Master Jiang, still on their sleeping garments, with their hair down and stumbling onto each other, there were also Madam Jiang, third concubine, Hao Chen, and his younger sister, along with all their personal servants. It was really a sight.

    "Shu''er" his father had called with wide eyes and trembling voice "Shu''er, you are awake". At his side, Madam Jiang was already in tears, crying so hard that the sound filled the night, wakening the rest of the household that rushed to the Bamboo Courtyard, where the two sons of the First Wife lived.

    "Da Tao" he called fiercely, emotion clogging his throat "Call the physitian!".

    "Your Servant will go immediately!" the old aidee answered equally stunned, almost stumbling on all those noble figures pressed together on the narrow passageway.

    "Brother!" Hao Chen exclaimed, trying to reach him. He was almost at his father''s side when Wang Shu turned to look at them.

    His eyes dark, empty, his face as pale as the moon hanging among the stars.

    Silence descended upon the family. So strong, so oppressive, that even Madam Jiang couldn''t find it in herself to cry anymore.

    "Shu''er..."

    "Tell his majesty" the young men interrupted his father, his eyes seemingly looking beyond them all, to memories still to come "Tell his majesty not to retreat. There is danger on his decision. He was right before. There are traitors on the border".

    Even the air seemed still. Hao Chen exchanged a terrified look with his father, that had visibly palled. Some two or three months before, the Emperor had started to repel seemingly random attacks to bordering cities, just to learn later that it was the begging of an invading venture from one of the enemy kingdoms.

    He had just now decided on a warpath, but changed the routes after receiving a urgent message from the main border city.

    That, however, was state secret. No-one was supposed to know anything.

    "Shu''er..." Master Jiang, Minister of Revenue, tried again, almost shaking in fear "What are you talking about child?".

    Wang Shu smiled slightly, turning his face once more to the sky.

    "There is truth on the stars" he said in a soft voice "You have to hurry, it''ll soon be too late".

    The chaos that followed was such that even the nearby cities talked about it. It would take almost a year for everyone to stop commenting on the night when Jiang Household went crazy.

    It took almost the same amount of time for Wang Shu to recover and then be tested by the Minister of Rites and the Chief of the Astrology Bureau. It was then discovered that not only the Jiang family had an outstanding God of War, but that he Second Young Master had been born with the Sight, the ability to read the stars and the Empire''s fortune.

    From the house of Scholars, Jiang Wang Shu was then transferred to the Astrology Bureau as the Chief''s apprentice and future head of the office.

    The fortune of the Jiang family was then sang to the four winds, their ancestors were praised and even the most unfavored wife felt like she could die happily after being so distinguished. Looking, back, Wang Shu could see that it was at that moment that the tides changed.

    Being thus favored at court was a dangerous thing, even in such conflictuous times. As the saying goes, a fly before his own eye is bigger than an elephant in the next field.

    While everyone was busy watching for foreign enemies, they didn''t see the hatred and jealousy burning in the eyes of their comrades.

    Specially one particularly nasty figure.

    After everything that followed, there was only him left as head of the family, along with three of his brother''s children and two concubines, that committed suicide before he could exit the palace to start taking care of things.

    The suspicion of treason that still hanged over his eldest brother was even harder to bear, as if those sick people couldn''t let him be even in death. He always prayed for Hao Chen''s spirit to rest peacefully, but at the same time he highly doubted that possibility.

    That was why, even now, he still couldn''t see himself as Master Jiang. That had been his father and then his brother rightful place. To everyone, he was still Master Shu of the Jiang Family, one so ashamed for his kin that couldn''t even use their name.

    Ashamed... Jiang Wang Shu was ashamed, but of himself.

    He had been weak, careless, and then too afraid to fight and clean Hao Chen''s name. It was his fault that things now sanded like this. That the same people that once praised and looked up to him now slandered his name and bullied his niece to the point of almost killing her.

    "Master!" his aidee, Xiao Si, cried out, bringing him back to the large garden on his courtyard.

    "Master!" the younger man called again, sweat dripping from his face even though the sun was just lukewarm and white, soft clouds covered the sky.

    "Xiao Si" he greeted, sounding tired to his own ears "Has something happened to the children?"

    "Master" he breathed hard, almost colliding with the stone table where Wang Shu was drinking tea and playing chess with himself "Master, there are bad news! It is Fifth Young Miss!".

    His blood turning to ice, Wang Shu felt fear rolling down his back like cold water, his heart beating painfully fast.

    "Yue''er? Has she...?".

    "Master, she is awake! Miss woke up just this morning!"

    Wang Shu release the breath he didn''t know he was holding. Thank the Heavens, he thought.

    His niece was well. She would survive this. All of them would.

    "That is wonderful news!" he exclaimed, getting up so fast that half the pieces on his chess board went to the floor "I''ll go see her right now!".

    "Well, that...".

    Wang Shu stopped midstep, looking at the his servant''s worried face.

    "Xiao Si" he started slowly, trying to ignore his growing sense of foreboding "What happened to my niece?".

    "Well, that is..." the cleared his throat, stalling for time and trying to find the right words.

    "You can speak freely" the older man exclaimed, feeling annoyed and impatient with the other one.

    "Yes" he accepted, lowering his head for a second "If I may be so bold... Master, Fifth young miss woke up well, but then she... She started to say some weird things, and ask where she was... Third miss tried to call the physician but...". he stopped once more.

    At this point, with his brows furrowed, Wang Shu was trying to control the need to shake Xiang Si until the men spilled every single word he was holding in his mouth.

    "And then what? What exactly happened to Yue''er?" he urged.

    Xiao Si swallowed loudly, finally looking at his master.

    "She ran away".

 5 An Ominous Sight side chapter

    HEAVENLY CITY:

    "It is time" the words echoed through the great hall, filling the old golden columns and the marble floors with a rushed energy that seemed to fizzle in the fresh air, ascending to the high ceilings, decorated with clouds, gods and scenes of times long forgotten.

    In the center of the long, empty room, an old man stayed with a pensive expression on his rugged and yet timeless face, his long-sleeved white clothes and deep silver eyes giving an almost god-like aura. All along, his gaze stayed fixed at the floating copper basin in the middle of the room.

    Inside it, a watery, silky liquid undulated slowly. Its crystal surface, just like a mirror, reflected ghostly images on the air above.

    "Shifu, are you sure it is her?" a young man, with pearly dark eyes and raven hair asked, his back straight and dignified air creating a mesmerizing aura around his otherwise ordinary features.

    "Nothing in life is ever right or wrong. Just like the smooth surface of a lake: It doesn''t matter how unruffled it is, it still carries inside the capacity for waves and blurriness. All it needs is a single touch".

    The youth managed a small nod, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, just enough to outline the deep darkness of his irises. His shifu had always been a complicated men. Few words, long faces and phrases that meant everything and nothing at the same time. He was used to it, as were all others disciples that lived on Heavenly City.

    In the last few weeks, however, things had become... Different, somehow. There seemed to be some restless shadow following his master, as if his thoughts were in a turmoil at all times. Even if his figure stayed as still as a tree, the winds on its branches were harder to conceal.

    Something big was going to happen. Something that he couldn''t yet determine if was good or bad. With the <i> Soul-gathering Flames Sect </i>, it was never as simple as right or wrong anyway.

    "Senior Brother" both of them turned to see a willowy woman entering the hall, her hair as white as a moon stone flowing down her light pink and white gown like a water fall.

    "Madam Ling".

    "Junior Sister" his master acknowledged with a minimal move of his head, after which she roused from her courtesy and approached then both where they stood, near the copper basin.

    "Is it confirmed, then?" Madam Ling asked, her voice as soft as the first rays of sun after the rain "Is it really her?".

    "There''s still one test that needs to be accomplished" the old man agreed with a small nod. Madam Ling acquiesced silently, slowly walking nearer the basin, her dark eyes as sharp as a knife.

    "Two weeks ago, the Luan Birdwas sighted near the South Mountains." she said in an ominous tone "Now, just days later, the seven mansions of the Zhu Que constellation have aligned on the sky..."

    "So you see" the old master commented a bit offhandedly "It is finally here".

    The young men felt a chill go down his spine like ice-cold water rolling over his skin.

    In Heavenly City, there wasn''t anyone that didn''t know what that could mean. Even though that had happened almost a thousand years earlier, the story was still too vivid, too terrifying for any of them to forget. As the years went by, the reality lost itself among the legends and songs of gods and heroes from another time, but the manuscripts still existed, and the elders would always remember.

    There was glory, and blood and loss and fear. Above all, there was the uncertainty in the hearts of those that, after waiting for hundreds of years, didn''t know what to expect when finally seeing their hopes come to fruition. Didn''t know what to do with the times that were to come.

    "We will have turbulent times ahead of us" his Shifu said, finally looking at his direction "No war is meant to last forever, just as peace is not always as peaceful as it seams." he sighed deeply, an old sadness creeping closer and closer to his eyes. "We''ve been fighting for so long, resisting in the shadows... Now, it is finally time".

    The young man felt his throat go dry like sand paper.

    "Shifu means..."

    "A war is coming" Madam Ling answered in his stead "One that our <i> Soul-gathering Flames Sect </i> can''t afford to lose".

    The first disciple of the Eldest Master of Heavenly City felt fear like never before, a terrifying foreboding that chilled him to the bones.

    Once again, he looked at the scenes playing out over the basin, his eyes trailing the young and delicate features of the girl running through the crowded market, her long sleeved blue robes swaying with the speed as she tried to put more space between her and the servants on her heels.

    There was no mistaking the mischievous, determined look on her beautiful foreign eyes.

    He sighed deeply, pursing his lips while remembering his master''s words.

    It was an ominous sight indeed.

    --------------------------//----------------------

    Luan Bird: usually portrayed as a blue bird, similar to the Phoenix. It''s sad to serve as mounts to the gods or be their messengers. Some believe they represent the Yang energy, symboling positive values such as life and peace. On the other hand, there are those that say it is a sign of return to the Yin, times of chaos, which explains its association as a "solar simple of death".

    Zhu Que: the Vermillion Bird, one of the Divine Beast of the Chinese Mythology. There is not much written about it, aside from it representing the South, Fire and Summer. Ot is sometimes depicted as a red bird made of flames, but it can''t be confused with the Phoenix. The seven mansions are actually the seven stars that constitute its constellation.

 6 Her Great Escape

    When she was young, Sam remembered that going out alone with her mom was always an adventure. Anyone with eyes could see that she was an amazing lawyer ¨C even better than her father.

    The woman was inspiring.

    The same couldn''t be said about her driving skills ¨C as she seemed inherently incapable of telling left from right or arriving from point A to point B without making a detour through all the other letters on the alphabet.

    As a result, it didn''t matter where or when they were going, the two of them would always end up somewhere else: a small square full of trees and greenery, a residential road where all the houses seemed to have come out of a garden magazine, an old and dry fountain they had never heard about...

    And every time, when Sam was almost despairing from them ever finding their way home again, her mom would look at her and smile her beautiful smile, her deep green eyes shining before she said ''Don''t worry Sammy, no-one will be lost forever. We just need to find another way''.

    ''Well, mom, I might just prove you wrong today'', she though, feeling completely out of breath while skidding to the left on another courtyard and ignoring the dumbstruck expression of the servants she passed on her way. The da*n place was like a labyrinth!

    There were arcs and doors and entryways and yards and everything seamed to fit together in a most annoying senseless way!

    "Exit... Exit... Why isn''t there any king of direction signs around here?" she mumbled to herself, dashing through the house without paying much attention where exactly she was going.

    It all had been a bit of a mess. She didn''t pay much attention when the girl with flawless white skin and a beautiful smile asked for the physician to be called. At first, there were simply too many informations running wild on her head, making her dizzy, so confrontations of any sort would have to wait.

    Just then she though she had seen a dark shadow passing outside her window, its outlines barely visible through the light colored curtains. Blinking fast to clear her head, she turned to the other side and decided to stare at the beautifully carved desk on the room, equipped with an ink pot, brush and some flimsy paper she couldn''t name.

    That place was too weird. Her whole body ached. It all felt out of place, like the room was closing down over her head, crashing her under its weight until nothing was left... Just as she was about to panic, a wave washed over her body. Soothing, fresh, like the cooling waters of a river on the peak of summer.

    It took her an entire minute to understand that, whatever it was, it was helping to clear her thoughts and filling her empty body with energy, till the rusty uncooperative muscles felt ready for a marathon.

    She didn''t even bother with trying to understand what had just happened as it finally downed on her: They were calling a doctor. They were saying she was some Ying Yue girl... Maybe she was still lost in some comma-induced fantasy land. Maybe she was crazy.

    ''Or maybe they just want you to think you are crazy'' a small, ominous voice said on her head.

    Sam felt cold all over, fear as she had never experienced gripping her insides in a tight fist. Defenseless, confused... None of it was good. She had watched enough movies for her imagination to run wild. There was always someone trying to interdict the heiress to steal all her money, or locking her up on an asylum so they could run the family business.

    She didn''t have much money, but she had her family''s secret. And David had stolen it.

    Disbelief, pain, and then blinding rage burned inside her stomach, turning her hands into fists. If that stupid weasel thought he''d simply lock her up somewhere and she''d go down without a fight... Oh-oh, someone was in for a very rude awakening!

    With her head spinning quickly, trying to convey as much information as she could from the surroundings, she glanced cautiously at the girl. Jiang Qing Shan. She still sat at the edge of her bed, hands tightly clasped and eyes roaming the room with a nervous energy, never staying in a single place for more than two seconds.

    Noticing the patient''s attention on herself, the girl forced a small small, her beautiful features still marred with worry.

    "Yue''er, everything will be alright" she assured her, even if the words felt more to herself "you had a huge fright and was in a comma for some time... I''m sure it is normal to feel a bit unsettled".

    Sam had to force herself not to frown. David, that lazy backstabber, had finally outdone himself. The girl was good. If Sam didn''t know any better, there was a real danger of her believing every word Qing Shan said. If that was even her name.

    As far as she knew, it could be a secret code that meant "nock her down" or something.

    "The Doctor will be here soon" the girl added after a brief pause, glancing once again at the door "I''m sure they are on their way...".

    The painful thump of her heart at those words just increased Sam''s sense of urgency. There was noway she would sit calmly like a good girl and wait for the crazy doctor from La La Land to show up. Never in a million years.

    She had to get out of there. And fast. Before someone else arrived.

    Having a sudden, wonderful insight, she blinked slowly and turned her gaze down, trying to look meek as a withering flower.

    "Cough, cough", she tried a labored breath, hugging her middle as if she couldn''t breath.

    Qing Shan''s panic stricken face felt a bit more real than she expected, almost resulting in a pang of guilt. ''Forget it'' she reminded sternly, taking a hold of herself. It was all an act. A good one, yes, but it didn''t make it any less fake.

    "Yue''er... Yue... A Bi" she called, desperately trying to put Sam on a sitting position "Quick! Bring some hot water! Go!".

    The other young girl, looking terrified to the bones, barely managed a shaky courtesy before running off of the room. ''One down, one to go''. Without much thought about what she was about to do, or the state her clothes possibly were in, Sam faked another fit of cough, wiggling a bit on the other girl''s hold till her feet were both on the ground.

    Just as Qing Shan was about to push her down again, Sam pretended to trip over her feet and fell down on her side, taking the other girl with her.

    ''Now!''

    Without even thinking about the pain on her hip ¨C or the fact that she wasn''t wearing any shoes ¨C Sam dashed from the room, ignoring Jiang Qing Shan''s desperate calls for her to go back.

    "No way" she said to herself with a raspy voice.

    With all her energy focused on finding a way out of that place, she barely noticed the stunned servants or shocked maids on the way, just shrinking slightly every time a sharp stone bit on the sole of her feet.

    "Out, out... Where are you... Where does it end... AH!" she exclaimed, almost crying in joy at the sight of the high, arched stone entrance of the Manor, guarded by two guards that seemed not the wiser about the commotion going on inside the place.

    Breathing deeply the warm, earthly air, she chanced one last look at her back before going straight for the exit, leaving the two guards so confused that, when they understood what was happening, there was already no sign of the girl lost between the hundreds of people that crowded the streets.

 7 BREAKING NEWS: Crazy Fifth Young Miss is Possessed!

    She didn''t dare stop or slow down for the first five minutes, fearing that some of those people could still be hot on her heels.

    As a result, just after finally making a brake near some old-fashioned, unstable food stands, did she really get the chance to look around and try to gauge where exactly she was ¨C and how she could get to her apartment.

    If there was a public phone-buff anywhere near, even better!

    Gasping for air, Sam rested against a light-colored wall and supported her hands on her knees, feeling so tired that, given the chance, she probably would drop right there and sleep for an entire week. Just then, she heard some talk and weird whisperings around her, followed by the same feeling of eyes glued to her skin that had accompanied her since she left the "Loonies Summer Camp".

    Putting aside her growing annoyance, Sam breathed deeply and lifted her head high, ready to pretend nothing was happening...

    All blood left her face, flowing down her frozen body and disappearinginto the street. A very sandy, very non city-like street.

    All around, people with thin eyes and disapproving frowns studied her, commenting on her sleeping garments and bare feet. Somewhere to her left, she could hear the fain neigh of a horse... The sounds of wooden wheels rolling over the irregular floor... Someone far away shouting for people to make way to Lord something...

    Her head spun dangerously, all those buildings with light, yellow walls, red pillars and gable roofs gracefully curved, creating a beautiful leveled effect on two or three stories constructions. The stone steps for some places where still covered in a fine dust, while others were beings thoroughly swept by tired looking servants in old, brownish clothes.

    Hairs stiled on complicate plaids, richly decorated clothes, bright jewels and white faces seemed to be everywhere, just like the peasants sitting alongside the streets or going from a food stand to another rummaging the garbage cans.

    Sam felt disoriented, almost blind before all those judgmental eyes.

    ''I have to get out of here'' she though desperately, trying to rationalize all that her eyes were telling her that was truth, but that her very logical mind insisted was impossible. I mean, not even David would go as far as send her all the way to the other side of the globe in order to avoid the courts. It was ridiculous. It was...

    "There! She is right there!"

    "Fifth Young Miss!!"

    Caught off guard, Sam looked over her shoulder, just to see the two maid that were with her running her way, along with three other servants and the two guards that she had seen on the Manor''s entrance.

    "Oh, no, you won''t!" she said determinedly, instantly forgetting her most recent revelation and taking off once more, navigating the streets as fast as she could without bumping and pushing all those fancy-dressed ladies and long-haired man on her way.

    "Think later, run now! One problem at a time" she repeated her old moto while turning left and wright blindly, feeling like the invited character on a Scooby-Dooh episode.

    It took more than fifteen minutes to loose her persecutors, and almost the same about of time for her heart to slow down again... Just for everything to start all over again.

    To everyone on the city, it was clear that there was something very wrong with the Fifth young miss from the Jiang family. She had never been exactly a bright child, of course, but to play cat and mouse like that in the middle of the streets with her servants... And dressed like that...!

    "No shame, no manners at all!"

    "That kid has finally lost her mind!"

    "Didn''t I always tell you? Those Jiangs, all uptight and superior... Humpf! A bunch of rotter apples, its what they are!"

    "Her poor uncle... I heard he left the palace in a hurry just to care for her!"

    "Ungrateful child!"

    "... Has gone completely crazy!"

    In less than half an hour, there wasn''t a single soul in the whole Imperial City that wasn''t talking about the Crazy Fifth Young Miss and how Master Shu was unfortunate indeed to have such a family.

    To Sam, of course, that still though of herself as Samanta Courtenay, all that pointing and talking about some Jiang Ying Yue was all gibberish that didn''t deserve her attention. So she kept going.

    It should be past the midday when she finally found a shadowy place to rest near some tall trees, her forehead glistening with beads of sweat while her body shook with unsteady, painful gasps of air. Her erratic breathing just wasn''t worst than her heart kicking at her ribcage. Legs, arms, everything hurt, her feet bled profusely, till she ripped part of her garments and wrapped it over the damaged soles.

    Going much further wasn''t an option anymore, but staying wasn''t possible either.

    Feeling dismayed, she held her face on her hands and tried to think of a way out of that nightmare, of something to do besides running like a demented dog for the entire day.

    Sounds of running and loud voices filled the otherwise empty, residential road.

    Her body reacted before she could process what she had heard, and suddenly Sam was on her feet again, running through a narrow passage and almost tripping over a skinny dog beforefalling into the bustling street market one more, using the crowd of spectators as a shield.

    "Wu XiaoJie!"

    "Miss!"

    Skidding slightly, she stopped in the middle of the road for a single second, her heard whipping up and down the street to see where the calls where coming from. Her brows furrowed slightly, understanding downing on her in an instant.

    They were trying to ambush her!

    A bit desperate, she turned on her heels and prepared to go back from where she came... Just to knock her head on something strong and hard, the impact pushing her body back with such strength that, had not it been for a pair of fast arms encircling her midsection, she would have crashed on the ground full force.

    Blinking rapidly, she tried to steady her heartbeat, eyes still wide open fixed on the pair of arms keeping her still. On the distance, the calls of the Jiang staff were getting nearer by the second.

    ''Forget it!'' she decided, chancing a glance at the dark, worried eyes of the man that still held her ''Better a total stranger than possible kidnappers!''.

    Before the older man had a chance to speak, she righted herself and took the loose sleeves of his vests in a tight, desperate grip.

    "Sir! Sir, you have to help me!" she pleaded, not needing to pretend the tired, almost crazy gleam to her eyes "There are people following me! I don''t know what they want, but you have to help me, please!".

    At this point, the road was so quiet that even a single needle dropping would sound as loud as the booming of a thunder. Everyone seemed to be holding their breaths, watching enraptured the scene before their eyes.

    "It is better than the opera!" a merchant whispered to his apprentice, giving a small smile that was clearly mocking those noble people that always walked before then with their noses up in the air.

    Gently, with a soft smile and eyes that seemed liquid chocolate, the man freed Samanta''s hands and took both of them on a caring grip, every move quite and slow, as if he was afraid of scarring off a frightened animal.

    "Yue''er, everything is going to be alright" he assured her, his deep voice so gentle that almost brought tears to her eyes "Uncle will take care of everything... I won''t let anything happen to you again".

    Sam smiled despite herself, relief flooding her aching muscles so suddenly that she almost feel to her knees. It was over. It was finally over... Her eyes closed, shoulders falling like a heavy weight had been lifted.

    The man couldn''t help the smile that graced his delicate, almost feminine, face.

    "Let''s go home" he said softly, reaching forward to take her on his arms.

    Sam froze.

    Her eyes opening wide with a panicked gleam. She studied the man in front of her, unconsciously retreating a few steps to put some distance between then.

    "What did you just say?" she asked slowly, every word postulated by a fast glance to the other sides of the street.

    She had been careless. Stupid. Now, where could she run to?!

    "Yue''er" Jiang Wang Shu frowned slightly, his arms falling to his sides in a defeated gesture "Uncle will not let anything happen to you" he repeated, and his words sounded so sincere that Sam almost wanted to believe them.

    There was just one small problem.

    "I don''t know what you are talking about" she answered, eyeing him warily "I''m not Yue''er. I''m Sam... Samanta Courtenay... I don''t even know you!".

    More whispers could be heard, like the breeze singing through the grass after a rainy day.

    "Yue''er... Uncle understands that it is still a bit confusing... You had a great shock and has barely recovered...".

    "I''m not this girl" she screamed "I''m not her! I''m not from here... I...".

    <i>"MeiMei!"</i> The voice sounded out of breath and muffled, as if the person had been crying for a long time.

    As one, every person on the marked street turned to look at the girl in light expensive robes running down the street, the pins on her head shakings as strands of her dark raven hair fell free around her beautiful, tear stricken face.

    It was such a ethereal sight that all those present felt their hearts ache for the girl, the beauty of her penetrating eyes, the refined air that surrounded her... It was too much after all the commotion!

    "Mei Mei!" Qing Shan repeated, trying to get to Yue''er, but stopping at her uncle''s side when she saw the other girl retreating with every step she took. She couldn''t mask the hurt on her voice when she said "Yue''er, please don''t blame Uncle Shu... It was my fault, I didn''t take care of you as I should! It was all my fault!".

    With such deep feelings, no-one could help but feel moved. Some even agreed that, whatever had happened, it definitely wasn''t that Young Miss''s fault.

    "I''m not, Yue''er, dam*mit!" Sam finally lost her mind, gaining a sereis of dark looks with such strong, unladylike vocabulary.

    Why was that tomboy making things so hard for her poor sister? Aya... It was always the beautiful, innocent ones that suffered! Such an unfair life...

    "I don''t know who you are, and I really don''t care. Just please leave me alone! I don''t care how much David paid you, but I promised to paid double if you''ll just let me go home!".

    Deep silence, like a heavy blanked fell over that piece of the street, leaving everyone rooted to heir places. From affair, the sounds of a crowd still could be heard, merchants selling their products, people talking and street artists performing with drums, flutes and even the faint, whispered notes of the sheng[1].

    Someone dropped a bowl of noodles on the ground, ripping the tension the filled the air apart like a knife slicing a piece of butter. Suddenly, everyone was talking at the same time, shimmering, pointing and even chanting protection mantras.

    "She is possesed!"

    "A trickster!"

    "A fox demom!"

    "The poor family... It would''ve been better if she had simply died!"

    Qing Shan gasped in horror, looking at all those familiar faces defaming her sister and pointing fingers at her family.

    "Uncle..." she whispered, eyes bright with tears "What are we going to do?"

    Jiang Wang Shu gave her hand a small squeeze, his eyes never leaving Ying Yue for a single second. There was something wrong, something he couldn''t pinpoint.

    And then she looked straight at her eyes.

    Dark, phoenix eyes that had always looked at him with peach black irises.

    Eyes that, now, looked at him with a beautiful, hazel color, almost green under the sun light.

    ------------------------------------//---------------------------

    [1] It is a mouth blown instrument made of bamboo. It consists of multiple vertical pipes.

    Wu Xiao Jie: fifth young miss

    MeiMei: younger siste

 8 A Most un Welcome History Lesson

    <i> Many centuries ago, the southern lands were divided between three of the most powerful clans of that time.

    <i> On the flat lands, where the wether was always sunny and the grass grew high among the dark soil, the Chen kingdom made its strength and name by breeding cattle and producing some of the most powerful and rare war horses on all five regions.

    <i> Some hundred miles north, extending their branches all over the unforgivable Huan Ghun desert, the Mu tribes became famous for selling rare spices, concocting powerful medicines and for creating some of the most dangerous and lethal poisons ever known. Their political system was loosely centralized, basing itself mainly of mutual goodwill and respect for the chosen King. Even though this kind of organization avoided unnecessary power struggles, it also meant unpredictability on number and on military power.

    <i> Compared to the strong, almost ragged fighters of the Chu kingdom, their position was clearly weaker.

    <i> Finally, perched on the mountainous terrain and near the biggest river on Nam [south] Region, the growing Zao Kingdom put completely aside its nomadic roots and started to dedicate its resources on farming, exploring the land and excavating precious ore and jewels.

    <i> Inside it''s great walls, Northern poetry was not only read, but discussed and eventually surpassed by the some of the most important scholars and philosophers on the history of the Five Regions. At the same time, blacksmiths slowly developed new weapons and refined their methods in order to accommodate the crescent number of martial artists and the kingdom''s growing military power.

    <i> For many generations, this three kingdoms built a peaceful, mutually advantageous partnership.

    <i> That is, until the Nam Region became to small for the ambition of a single person.

    <i> Their relationship became strained. Trade rotes were closed or changed. Spies infiltrated every single center of power.

    <i> And then the war begun.

    <i> Many years would go by before the earth lost its reddish shade and the air didn''t carry the strong, metallic stench of blood.

    <i> At the end, under the power and leadership of the He family, the southern lands witnessed the rise of the Zao Empire and the begin of theGuang Dynasty, a period that would latter be know for its instability and internal struggle.

    <i> Between blood-thusrty descendants of the remaining defeated kingdoms and the greed of the powerful noble families aligned with different princes, there always seemed to be a new reason to deploy troops, train new soldiers or improve military strategy.

    <i> Near the largest river of the South lands on one side and protected by tall, unforgiving scarped mountains on the other, the Imperial City was considered the brightest jewel on the whole of the Zao Empire: not only was it the home for the Royal and Noble families, but also an important stop for many trade routes coming from all around the Five Regions and Four Seas. </i>

    The young girl looked at her expectantly, with big, nervous almond-shaped eyes. Her simple dress seemingly swallowing her under multiple layers of fabric, which only made her look even younger with her small, delicate frame.

    From her place seated on the bad, with arms folded across her middle and head covered by a large scarf (consciously avoiding any reflecting surface), Sam blinked slowly, still stunned by all she had heard and mulling over all the possibilities in front of her.

    It all had felt quite innocent earlier.

    After the running away fiasco ¨C and having shooed all her supposed relations and the nosy Doctor, this one living behind a trail of shattered porcelain and broken glass ¨C she had locked herself up for an entire day on her new "room", also know as the Deep Serenity Pavilion, refusing to see or talk to anyone till she had understood some things.

    For her own despair, instead of using those hours to think, she had actually fallen dead asleep just as soon as her head landed on the weird, cylindric-shaped pillow on her bed.

    The next things she knew, she was waking up to a young, unknown girl entering the room silently, her head bent low as if afraid to make her presence known. Sam was probably a big groggy yet from sleep, so instead of keeping quite, she turned on her side, supporting her head on one hand and called the girl.

    "Hey...!"

    The poor creature jumped so high her head almost hit the roof, her entire frame seemingly starting to shake before she put down a basin of warn water and knelt before Sam.

    "Wu Xiaojie" she greeted on a small voice "This servant is sorry for waking you. This servant didn''t want to disturb your rest".

    Sleepily, Sam frowned. ''Ah!! Too many strange words... And why is she talking about herself in third person? These people...''.

    "What are you talking about ''Wu XiaoJie''? I''ve already said I''m not..." deep sigh "You know what, just forget it" she grumbled tiredly.

    Just then, the look of fear on the girl transform into a terrified, glaze-eyed mask.

    "I already said it''s okay, all right?!" she lashed out, unnerved at the disproportional reaction of the girl "It''s not like I''m going to hit you!"

    Those words felt like fanning the flames to put up the fire. If before the girl seemed shaken, know she looked in the brink of tears, lowering her body even more and striking her head against the wooden floor over and over again.

    "This servant is guilty! This servant knows her wrongs! This servant is guilty!" she kept repeating, tears mixing with the blood beginning to flowfrom her forehead.

    Sam was so completely shocked by what she was seeing that for ten or fifteen seconds she just stayed there, eyes wide as saucers and jaw hanging open, watching the crazy, suicide girl in front of her.

    ''Oh God, if anyone happens to tell me that elephants can fly or that I came here through a magical wardrobe, I might just believe it''.

    It was just when she heard another gasp, coming from the slightly opened sliding doors of the room that she was able to snap out f it and fumble out of bed.

    "Hey! You!" she cried out, looking accusingly at the new girl standing at the door frame "What are you still doing there? Do something! Make her stop!". Her words sounded jumbled and desperate even to her own ears, but what was she to do? There was a pre-teen on the floor knocking herself hard enough to draw blood.

    This simply wasn''t normal.

    ''What if I try to help and make it worse? What if I touch her and she jumps out of the window?! What am I supposed to do?! No-one teaches this kind of thing in high school!!''

    Fortunately, the new-coming seemed to have a bit more spirit and, with an ease and calmthat irked Sam a bit given the circumstances, she went to the still sobbing girl with quick steps, knelling beside her and taking hold of her arms.

    "An''er"she whispered in a nervous, urgent voice "An''er! Stop this now. You are scaring the Young Miss".

    As if those words were magical, the girl''s body went completely still, her head raising slowly, her watery eyes looking completely disheartened when they met Sam''s.

    "This servant is sorry. This servant didn''t want to worry Wu XiaoJie. This servant can''t afford Wu Xiaojie''s kindness".

    ...

    "Ahn?!" Sam blinked, trying to decide between laughing hysterically or crying her heart out. She looked at the young girl with pity, confirming once more her seemingly normal appearance.

    ''Who could imagine...'' she though, with a condescending shake of her head ''Crazier than old aunt Margaret... One really can never judge a book by its cover''.

    "An''er" the elder girl called again anxiously, almost picking the other one up as they stood once again "Be good and stop crying now".

    "Yes, JieJie" she mumbled, giving Sam a side glance "This servant is sorry for startling Young Miss" she repeated "This Servant won''t do it again".

    And here we go with the "third person" phrases. Weird. All too weird.

    "Hum... Never mind. It was just a misunderstanding..." she frowned, trying not to stare at the blood still dripping slightly over her fair face, pooling inside the white colar of her dress "Eh... Maybe you should go and see a doctor about your head... It''s still bleeding" she added, fidgeting under the shocked stares of the two girls.

    ''Really, this people... And why are they still here like that!?''

    "So... You should probably go now", she mumbled, sitting on the bed once more and closing her eyes. There was no mistaking that ponding on her temples, the first sign of a nasty headache coming her way.

    "This servant takes her leave".

    ''Finally!'' she internally cried out in relief, didn''t even bother to open her eyes and show the direction of the door. "How did it turn out like this...?" she asked herself in a thoughtful voice, going over the few words she had said to An''er before all went downhill.

    Before she had time to complete that thought, a small, nervous voice sounded from somewhere in from of her.

    "Wu XiaoJie, just earlier, Third Young Miss instructed all the Deep Serenity Pavilion servants to be very careful and let you sleep to heal yourself. Eldest Young Master specifically told us not to disturbe you".

    "Ah... Okay" Sam said, just to fill the silence. She didn''t know this Eldest Young Master, but if eyes could speak, the expression on the maid''s face would talk about a very fierce person.

    ''So it wasn''t me she was afraid after all...'' She looked herself over once more, with loose, long dark hair and messed up white pajamas. Not her definition of scary. ''Yeah, this actually makes more sense''.

    "Is there anything else Young Miss wants?" the girl asked in a submissive voice, her hands tightly clasped in front of her.

    Sam sighed, noticing that she didn''t even manage to ask An''er what she had planned to ask in the first place.

    "I just wanted to know where the hell am I" she mumbled, fulminating the dark wood floor as if doing so she could open a tunnel back to her apartment.

    The servant didn''t even blink to answer, apparently relieved by a question that she actually could answer easily.

    "Wu Xiaojie, you are on the Jiang Household on the Imperial City of Zao Kingdom".

    Her head lifted so fast that it felt like her neck would snap in two.

    "I am WHERE?!"

    The girl repeated the same words again, her respectful town tinged with curiosity.

    "Oh... Zao Kingdom..." Sam said skeptically "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?".

    And just like that, the girl started on a very long, very boring, and very FICTIONAL tale of the "south lands" and the unification war and mythical martial artists that sounded all to good to be true.

    "My gosh, you talk" she breathed when it seemed to have come to an end. "And here I thought I''d left history classes behind after graduating high school".

    "This servant talked too much. May Wu XiaoJie please forgive me". the maid shoot the words quickly, falling to her knees once again as if in fear of her reaction.

    Sam rolled her eyes.

    "All right, all right, I understand. You are sorry. Got it. Now can you please stop with all the apologizing?" she asked, massaging her temples "Just get up now... The floor is cold".

    The servant girl kept quite, feeling more and more anxious as she stood up again. She should apologize for apologizing to much, but at the same time, doing it would be against the Miss words! Aya, why couldn''t her life be easier?! At the end, she opted to mumble something like "This servant will obey"before rushing to take her leave.

    Sam barely acknowledged her words, clearly busy mulling over something on her head.

    The girl breathed deeply trying to calm her heart. This young miss was not simple...

    Before she had crossed the trash hold, however, a voice stopped her on her tracks.

    "Ah... Hey, excuse me!" Sam called, crossing her legs over the bed covers "I just wanted to ask... How did you learn all this stuff about kingdoms and wars and all?".

    The servant looked back, blinking her eyes slowly in a completely emotionless expression.

    "Hum..." she didn''t know what to answer. To be fair, she wasn''t even sure she had heard right "Young Miss... You mean, the Nam Region history?".

    "Yes, yes, just what you said" she agreed quickly "So?".

    "Answering Wu Xiaojie... Some is common knowledge between the commoners, and some my mother told me when I was still very young".

    "Oh... I see" she nodded with a thoughtful expression, before continuing "Are there any books about it around here?".

    The servant blinked. Then nodded with her head.

    "Thank God!" she breathed in relief "Could you bring it to me?"

    The dumbstruck girl tittered an agreement before tripping out of the door with a haunted look.

    ''Could it be that Fifth Young Miss has really gone crazy?'' she asked herself. In all those years as a inside maid that Deep Serenity Pavilion, she had never seen the young miss reading anything denser than chip romances and ocasional poetry.

    Also, she would never let herself be seen in such a disheveled state. If it had been ten days earlier, An''er would probably be still banging her head on the floor pleading for forgiveness. Li Mei herself wouldn''t have escaped punishment for for showing her face at the door...

    It was all very weird indeed.

    ''Maybe she is not crazy'' she though, remembering their weird conversation ''But this girl, whoever she is, is not the same Wu XiaoJie of barely a week before''.

 9 Literally Illiterate

    The room was large, with light-colored yellow walls and a high, slightly curved ceiling. The intricate beams, carved bed posts and even the large dressing table were done in dark, smooth, polished wood that shone beautifully with the first rays of sunshine every morning.

    Over the wood floor, hanging from the poster bed and covering the round windows, draperies, rugs and curtains coordinated beautiful engravings of natural sceneries, with blues and greens and oranges of different hues delineated by thin, carefully embroidered gold threads.

    Just like the fabrics, the furniture on the room gave off a refined, noble aura, even if the signs of the passing of time where already visible on slightly marred edges and carefully patched rips.

    After the second maid had left, Sam saw herself curiously considering her surroundings, finally taking some time to understand where she was now. The idea of books was a relief, and if later she could get out of the room and get to know the Jiang Manor better, maybe she could find a way to get out.

    If that was still a possibility that is.

    Felling deflated, if a bit marveled by the careful decoration of her room, she sat once again on the rectangle stool in front of the tall dressing table and left the scarf fall from her head, floating to the ground like a cloud-like brume.

    There, reflected on the circular, bronze mirror, a unknown face stared back at her. With fair skin, black hair that fell all the way till her waist and up-curved, narrowed eyes, the girl she saw (even if a bit distorted) was so different from the western face that she had known all her life that Sam couldn''t help feeling a bit lightheaded.

    When she tried to hold up her hand, the girl instantly emulated her movement. The tightness of her lips, the slight shake of the shoulders... It was all her, and yet it wasn''t.

    The only thing she recognized, the only trace that Sam had existed, were her eyes. Her hazel, worm eyes.

    Touching the skin on her arms and cheeks, she kept her eyes straight on the mirror.

    "I can''t be imagining this" she said to herself "I''m not that creative a person...I...", Sam turned again to stare the room, standing slowly on her sore feet before starting to explore the place "But the alternative is too fantastical, right?" her fingertips slid over the tea-table surface, playing with what looked like a chess board without distinguishing between two colors. At the side, two small pots contained flat, circular pieces in back and white.

    "Jiang Ying Yue" she said lightly to herself, observing how her long, slender fingers played with the pieces, the movements with a swiftness she didn''t remember to possess "Who exactly are you?" her eyes strayed to the bad, remembering the girl crying by her side and the doctor''s worried words "What exactly happened to you?"

    Did she really die on that car accident and, somehow, ended up on this girl''s body? Was it some sort of reincarnation?

    But if it was so... Where had the real Ying Yue gone?

    Once she started facing those dreadful hypotheses, more and more questions started popping on her head, almost at the same pace as the chilling sensation running down her spine like cold water.

    She still remembered overhearing, some many years before, a particular heated discussion between her parents about a case. At some point, her dad had gotten up from his favorite armchair, gone to a particular shelf on the living room wall and taking back an old notebook. He than had opened and given it to her mom saying ''Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth''.

    For some reason, the famous quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had stuck with her, being a direction whenever a problem seemed unsolvable.

    "I can''t deny that this body is not mine" she pondered out loud "And those houses and buildings outside..." There was no way anyone could pull something like that up without any flaw.

    Sam sighed, her hands resting on the table top as her head fell forward, still thinking.

    ''Maybe I just need more time'' she pondered ''eventually I''ll get the answers for what is happening... Or at least some answers''.

    Just as she was about to turn back to her bed and lay down for a moment, there was a soft, unsure nock on her door.

    "Wu XiaoJie" a voice she vaguely recognized called from outside "This servant has brought the books".

    Sam drones, then breathed heavily, rolling her eyes upwards. She could go with the different name (considering she wasn''t using her body anymore), but at some point she''d take some time to make those people use the first person!

    "Hum... You can come in" she invited, trying to decide if she should have gone and opened the door or just wait where she was.

    Well, guess it''d be the later.

    "Wu XiaoJie" the young maid greeted again, making a deep courtesy at her before going to the desk at the side, under a particularly large window, and putting what looked like wood and fabric scrolls over the wood surface.

    With a slight limp, Sam started following after her, quick gesturing she was fine on her own when the girl made to offer help. When she was finally at her side, Sam looked questioningly at the contents that had been brought, her brows furrowing on the middle.

    Misinterpreting the difficult look on the miss''s face, Li Mei immediately blurted an explanation.

    "Miss, this are just a few of the books about the Nam Region history from Master Shu''s collection" her words were fast, almost tripping over one another "If miss is not satisfied, this servant can bring more at any time!"

    Sam blinked, trying to conceal the flabbergasted look on her face.

    "Eh... I''m sorry, what did you say was your name?" she asked, forcing a small giggle before adding "You probably already know, but my memory is not at its best this days...".

    The poor maid looked terrified enough to simply drop dead on the floor at any second now. Cold sweat dripped over her face and her frame shook visibly.

    What did Fifth Miss mean by that? Did she want her name to get her killed?! Maybe she meant to punish her family as well...?! Was it all because she didn''t bring enough books? But there were so many...!

    "Wu XiaoJie" she mumble in a tremble voice, falling to her knees "This servant is sorry! This servant is crude and doesn''t know better!..."

    It felt just as shocking as the first time that happened, Sam decided, trying to close her gaping mouth and blink the round, wide opened eyes.

    "Ah!" she cried suddenly, cutting the young girls words and grasping her arm to push her up "Look, I didn''t know it was a delicate subject. You don''t need to tell me anything, all right?" she tried, mildly annoyed at the growing confusing and panic of the maid "Pretend I didn''t ask" she insisted, forcing a small "Just... Just don''t do this kind of stuff anymore".

    The maid gaped at Sam as if there was a third arm growing out of her forehead.

    Self-conscious, Sam fidgeted a bit, her eyes going from the floor to the scrolls to the windows and to the floor again. ''Such uncomfortable silence...''.

    "Li Mei" the two syllables sounded like a screech.

    Sam looked up.

    "I''m sorry... What did you say?".

    "Answering Wu XIaoJie" the girl said again, in a more even voice "This servant''s name is Li Mei: family name Li, given name Mei".

    "Li Mei..." Sam repeated, as if tasting the sound on her mouth, before turning again tu the girl and smiling more warmly "Okay, so... Should I call you just Mei, then?" she asked, sounding a bit confused "How do your friends usually call you?".

    ''Ah, Young Miss, can you please stop scaring me? This servant has a wick heart, right?'' Li Mei thought to herself, feeling like spiting blood.

    "XiaoJie, people usually call me Ah Mei" she answered slowly "But XiaoJie can call this servant as Miss sees fit".

    Sam simply smiled, turning back again to the scrolls and taking her sit in front of the desk.

    "All right, then! I''ll just call you Ah Mei" she decided, smiling to the maid over her shoulder while picking up one of the manuscripts and shaking it a bit "So, thank you for all this Ah Mei. I really appreciate it", and then, before the girl collapsed on the floor or really had some shock induced heart problem, Sam turned back again to what she was examining "These are the books then..." she said to herself, picking one particularly large, made of light, clean wood, and put the rest aside on a pile.

    "It seems quite old..." she mumbled, turning it on her hands "It also doesn''t seem all that convenient to write like this. Ah Mei, there aren''t any paper books here yet?" Sam addressed the girl again, turning her head back just for a second, before trying to understand how to open the thing.

    "XiaoJie" Li Mei answered, feeling happy to be able to give some sort of coherent, normal answer "Our household''s library do have books made of paper, as well as wood and fabric scrolls. Eldest Young Master said the first stories about the Nam Region are too old, and thus still weren''t transcribed to paper volumes. Young Master said Miss might like these ones.".

    And here it comes this Eldest Young Master again, Sam thought with amusement. Apparently, his relationship with the other Ying Yue was quite good.

    "Oh!" she said "He was the one to chose this particular volumes, th... Hein?" Sam stopped, looking in puzzlement at the wood scroll opened in front of her "What... What exactly are these?"

    She simply couldn''t believe it! There was not a single word on that thing, only symbols. How was she supposed to understand anything? Was this a code? Some sort of drawing like primitive communication? ''Just like those weird Animes Amelia made me watch back on the time''.

    Hold on a second...

    "Don''t tell me" she said slowly, turning to face Ah Mei with such a disheartened expression that the maid feared her miss would start crying at any moment "Don''t tell me that this are actually... Words".

    Please don''t. Please God, Buddha, or whoever is out there, please don''t let me be stuck in some Chinese-like reality! PLEASE!

    "This Servant won''t say it" Ah Mei acquiesced easily, sounding quite satisfied with herself.

    Sam, for once, felt like spitting blood. And crying. And maybe running away again.

    Instead, of course, she contented herself with closing her eyes and knocking her head repeatedly on the table, as if trying to clear her thoughts.

    Till that moment, she had never stopped to consider the language barrier and how, on those first moments before awakening, the words and voices had sounded foreign to her years. Ah, such an oversight... She had really been a bit stupid about this.

    Still.

    "Why isn''t this a Germanic Inspired dream? Hein?!" she whimpered "Why does it have to be like this?!".

    Illiterate. She had spent half of her life on a desk, looking at a blackboard and copying obediently the most nonsensical phrases on the world, just to know find herself, once again, completely incapable of reading!

    Illiterare.

    It was like pre-school all over again. A nightmare.

    Back home, she had chosen Italian as her second language, and then tried a bit of Portuguese on the last years on high school, but it didn''t seem any of those could provide any sort of help.

    ''Illiterate...'' the word echoed on her thoughts like a mantra ''What am I to do then? Even if I get out of here, how am I supposed to survive, or understand what is happening?! So much relies on written words... Aya!''

    "Eh, Ah Mei" it was as if a sudden wave of inspiration had hit her. Stopping her movements, she pushed the scroll in the direction of the girl before turning once more to look at her. "Can you read these?" Sam asked, patting the document. ''And, if you can, please teach me!'' she wanted to add.

    Ah Mei frowned.

    "XiaoJie, this servant is of humble background. My mom only knew how to teach me to right my name. XiaoJie''s family is good and lets servants learn a bit to better serve Miss, but still this servant can''s compare with XiaoJie''s noble status and education".

    Sam was just opening her mouth to repeat her request when it hit her.

    <i>''Now I''m doomed.''</i>

    "My education, eh..." she laughed a bit hysterically, foreseeing all the possible bad outcomes that problem could have "Yes, about that... Hehe... Ah Mei, do you know if the other Ying... Eh, cof, cof, I mean, if before I lost my memories I could read. Well?". The words "at all" had almost slipped her mouth at that last moment.

    "This servant doesn''t know" the girl declared.A bit to quickly for Sam''s taste.

    She sighed. What exactly was this girl like in the past? And what had happened to her for all to get to this point? Ah, too many questions, too many questions...

    "Ah Mei, just speak freely" she insisted, trying to sound less outlandish "You know, it''s not like I can remember... Because of the shock and all... So it''s not really like you are talking about me" Sam pondered, trying to sound convincing "Really, it''s like talking about another person entirely!"

    For a few moments, Li Mei seemed to be digesting and considering every word on her head, the thin eyebrows on her forehead scrunched together in a sign of deep rumination. When she finally decided to answer, Sam could almost see the marks of her head''s gears printed on the words.

    "XiaoJie... Before the accident, miss had always had a very lively and outgoing disposition. Miss would always go for a walk or visit the shops on the market street, or even go play on Eldest Young Master''s courtyard. The house was always very lively and busy."

    Sam frowned.

    "What about my studies...? Was I good?" let''s please just go to the important part little girl, I''m asking you kindly here!!

    "XiaoJie was really hardworking when you were home" which, Sam suspected, was hardly never "The masters always praised XiaoJie''s creativity and resilience. Very dedicated.".

    Sam blinked, looking at Ah Mei without a single expression on her face.

    ''Was it really that bad?!'' she cried inside, swallowing the hysterical laugh that threatened to burst through her lips at any moment.

    ''Oh, what a joke'' Sam taught to herself later, while laying sideways on her bad.

    ''Illiterate. Alone in an unknown world. And stuck with the face of a spoiled brat.''

    "What am I supposed to do now?".

 10 First Things Firs

    The knocking on her door came just past nine, like every other morning so far.

    Also, like every other morning, a slightly familiar voice called from the outside of her bedroom, asking if she was feeling well enough to have breakfast with her elder sister and brother today.

    As usual, Sam pretended not to listen a single word, barely moving from her place by the desk and simply waving a hand dismissively in Ah Mei''s direction. The message was clear.

    ''Just say I can''t and make them go away''.

    Ah Mei was not a Lady''s Maid. She had never been trained, nor did she know the codes and behavior protocols that were expected. However, since Wu Xiaojie had been, eh, dragged back to the Jiang Manor and decided not to meet anyone, she had been slowly assuming the tasks of her personal maid.

    The poor girl wasn''t familiar enough with her mistress "new personality", nor did she have the guts yet to try and change her mind, like other might do. So, instead of reminding Sam that she couldn''t keep her family away for much longer and that postponing their meeting would just feed all the talking and gossiping going around, she simply curtseyed, walked out of the room to the large visiting area and explained ¨C once again ¨C to a very uneasy Third Young Miss that her sister wasn''t feeling well enough that morning to entertain.

    She could almost see the indignation burning on Zi Zhu''s eyes as she knocked the food tray on a nearby table and crossed her arms. The maid seemed about to vent some anger when Qing Shan stopped her.

    "Zi Zhu, that''s enough" she asked in a gentle tone "I understand this is all very difficult to Yue''er right now. Remember what Doctor Li said, she might need some time to adapt".

    "Bu Miss, she is clearly looking down on you! Look how much miss already did for Wu Xiaojie... How can she be so ungrateful?"

    Qing Shan sighed, closing her beautiful, dark eyes for a few seconds, as if trying to recollect herself. Just after the Doctor had confirmed Yue''er''s amnesia, she and her uncle had sat down and talked for a long time, trying to decide what to do to ease the girls life and help her remember who she was.

    On the first days, as she seemed adamant about not meeting anyone, they decided the best approach was giving her the most space they could, and then slowly start interacting again. Maybe doing things she used to like together, eating her favorite food...

    It had been five days ago. Now, they understood that the idea that seemed so good on theory was met with unforeseen problema: Ying Yue''s unwillingness to meet them.

    ''Forget it'' she told herself yet again, trying not to feel completely disheartened ''I just have to come back tomorrow. Maybe she will want to see me then''. Out loud she said:

    "Zi Zhu, we are living".

    "But, Xiaojie...".

    "Go back first" she interrupted her, giving Zi Zhu a stern look "tell my brother I''ll meet him soon". She waited until her unwilling maid be some distance away before turning once again to a very fidgety Li Mei.

    "You are Li Mei, right?" Qing Shan asked "the girl that used to kelp with the knitting?"

    Li Mei lowered her head, answering in such a small voice she herself could barely hear it.

    "Actually, I''m happy there''s someone beside Yue''er" the third miss continued to a bewildered Ah Mei.

    ''Ah?! She is not going to send me back to be a knitting maid?!'' she thought in amazement ''This miss is really kind''.

    "Since she woke up we''re all so worried for her... She seems to not want any of us close, so we can''t do much to help her".

    "San Xiaojie, Wu Xiaojie is just a little confused" Ah Mei said quickly, trying to comfort the sweet looking girl "Miss has been a bit down this last few days, but she is definitely recovering. Xiaojie, just bear with it for a bit longer, Wu Xiaojie will certainly come around".

    Qing Shan breathed deeply in sign of relief, her smile brightening a bit while looking at the young maid.

    "I know nothing will happen to her, and still I worry" she said in a self deprecating way "Ah Mei, if anything happens to my sister, if she need anything... Just ask Zi Zhu directly, so that I can help you".

    Ah Mei bowed again.

    "This servant understands. This servant will not disappoint you".

    Qing Shan nodded lightly, giving one last look at the closed door before finally turning to leave.

    ''Yue''er, please don''t have me anymore... Your sister is sorry''.

    Once back inside the room, Ah Mei walked straight to Sam''s side, looking at her with an annoyed expression.

    "Did they leave already?" Sam asked in a matter-of-factly voice.

    "San Xiaojie just left" she confirmed, adding "She seemed very sad".

    Sam lifted her head. "Sad?" she asked, a deep frown marring her white skin. "Why would she be sad?"

    "Xiaojie, third miss loves you very much!" she said, a bit exasperated "She was worried for your health".

    "Well... I''m completely fine" she retorted, still a bit confused "Was she really that bad because of me?".

    It was never her intention to hurt anyone. Sam actually felt a bit of sympathy for Qing Shan. She remember from those days she stayed in a coma that the girl used to talk and even play to her. At the same time, Sam simply didn''t know how to face those people!

    She still remembered with painful clarity the look on Ah Mei''s face the first time she saw her eating. It seemed like her eyes could fall out at any moment. And then, when she asked for a fork and knife instead of those hellish hashis...

    Ah, disastrous!

    If she couldn''t even manage a meal, imagine being expected to interact and talk with her supposed family?! They might end up committing her!

    So she decided to stall. It was just a temporary fix, just till she could put her head in order and learn a bit about that place she had landed without parachutes.

    "If it is like this... Maybe I should eat with them tomorrow" she decided, going back to what she had been doing all morning.

    Ah Mei followed her moves with curiosity.

    "Eh?!" she exclaimed, coming closer to the desk "Xiaojie... What exactly are those?" the maid asked, her eyes examining the careful, if a bit blotched, lines of words Sam had written on a piece of thin paper.

    It had actually taken her the best part of three days to be able to learn how to use ink and brush to write without ending up with a single black blot.

    Smiling, she put the brush down and turned to the younger girl.

    "Ah Mei, if I told you this is one of the most spoken languages in another world, one that is very different from this one, would you believe me?"

    Ah Mei blinked slowly, seemingly frozen in place.

    Sam sighed, laughing at herself. ''The girl seem freaked enough to run for the hills now''.

    "I''m just joking" she assure, laughing harder at the relief that suddenly flooded Ah Mei''s eyes "This is simply a code I came up with this days... it helps me register some important things while I can''t remember how to read and write".

    The maid nodded thoughtfully.

    "Xiaojie is very intelligent... It seems very weird and difficult to understand".

    "Really?" she laughed "it''s actually quite simple... I''m just making a list. It helps me think, I suppose...".

    Sam watched as the girl just kept staring for a bit longer, as if deep in thoughts herself, before announcing she was going to the kitchen to bring some tea and pastries.

    Once she heard the doors closing, the smile left Sam''s face and she turned back to study her writings. It had been an oversight to do it in front of someone from that world (was it really a different world, or a different dimension? She still couldn''t tell). Ah Mei could easily brush it off as one of her oddities, but Sam was quite sure that others might not look at it that way.

    Codes...

    She remembered once doing a schoolwork about spies during war times. It had been one of this activities teachers think are cool and interesting and will suddenly make kids fall in love with History or whatever.

    Obviously, it didn''t happen. However, Sam still remembered some of what she read about the way they communicated and exchanged information while infiltrated in enemy ground. They used codes.

    She looked once more at her work, pulling closer one of the scrolls still on the desk and comparing both languages. They were as different as oil and water. Different enough that it indeed could be seen as a code.

    She was already in a difficult situation, not knowing anything, the lat thing she needed was someone with bad intentions finding those pages. ''Also, something DID happen to this body''s last owner, or else why would I wake up from a coma here...?''.

    Sam looked once again at the points on her list, just a few phrases stating everything she knew and everything she needed to find out before any other thing.

    It was a moment to prioritize. So, first, she would find out who exactly were the Jiang''s, what was this family history and, more importantly, who Jiang Ying Yue had been and wha had happened to her on the fateful day Sam crashed her car.

    Then she could start planning ahead. If these people were really as kind as they seemed, maybe she could lower her guard a bit and try to be closer to them. They could be the support she needed while she tried to figure out how she ended up on this place and how she could go back.

    If they turned out not to be what they seemed, however...

    Sam frowned, folding her papers and and looking around for a while before deciding on the perfect hiding place: a tall, willowy vase with a thin mouth that sanded on a stool close to the door.

    Some time later, when Ah Mei came back with a huge place of delicacies (no chocolate yet, unfortunately) and some warm, fragrant tea, she asked the girl to seat with her so that they could eat and talk a bit.

    As usual, Ah Mei fidgeted and looked uncomfortable for a good minute before finally giving up and sitting besides her Miss. She would not, however, touch the food she had brought. This was a line Sam was still unable to cross with the girl.

    They had been talking for a while about Ah Mei''s previous life and habits on the Jiang Manor and, when Sam felt her companion was sufficiently at ease, she decided to broach the topic.

    "Ah... I wish I could remember how all this was like" she said in a sad voice "Everything is still so confusing, Ah Mei... What if I can never remember my family?"

    "Xiaojie, you can''t think like this!" the girl affirmed with feeling "You are doing better every day! I''m sure with time everything will come back!".

    Another sigh. Looking down with a defeated expression. Playing with a piece of lotus cake.

    "I don''t know... I can''t even read now! Maybe if someone could tell me about them, it might help trigger some memories, but..." she breathed heavily "Forget it." she said, forcing a smile "I''m just being a bother now, right? I don''t know where all this gloominess came from, sorry Ah Mei... I promise it''s gone away already!". The cheerfulness on her voice was so false she almost cringed inside.

    ''You are being inconspicuous'' she reminded herself ''Getting information without alerting the other team that you are collecting it''. She rolled her eyes internally. ''Maybe I''ve watched too many movies back home... I don''t remember being so paranoid before''.

    But, then again, she HAD been robed by her own boyfriend.

    Maybe paranoia was a good thing after all.

    "Xiaojie, do you really think it could help regaining your memories?" Ah Mei asked in a animated voice.

    "It probably could help" she conceded "Thats why I asked the books before. But you know what happened...".

    Ah Mei acquiesced, the pieces finally being put together on her mind. ''So it was like this'' she thought to herself.

    "Miss, this servant doesn''t know much about Miss''s family, as I''ve not been here for long. It would probably be better to ask an older servant...".

    "But you know something?" she insisted. It would not do to go asking questions to another stranger. Before she confirmed she was safe and secure where she was, Sam would do everything in her power to restrict her interactions to the smallest number of people possible.

    Ah Mei agreed slowly, seemingly thinking about something.

    When she finally started talking, Sam conceded that indeed a servant girl, and of such young age, wouldn''t be able to know much. Still, an incomplete story was better than knowing nothing at all.

    With every new tale, Sam felt her fears easing a bit. The Jiang''s seemed a very ordinary, very loyal and small family. They treated their servants better than most nobles, and were even considered liberals when it came to the rights and liberty assured to the girls and woman on the household.

    "Wait" she asked suddenly, looking at Ah Mei with a confused expression "What do you mean, my father was accused of treason?".

    Sam felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

    Instantly she knew. No matter the answer to that question, Sam had a really bad feeling that things would only get more complicated from then on.

 11 Family Secrets 1

    The next morning, Deep Serenity Pavilion:

    <I>"Cause you make me feeeeeel like, I''ve been locked out of Heaven... For too lo-u-o-u-ong! For to lo-u-o-u-o-ong!"</i>

    Passing quickly through the large hallway in front of the main room''s door, two cleaning maids stopped on their tracks.

    <I>"Yeah you make me feel like, I''ve been locked out of Heaveeen... For too long! For to loooooong! Oh, oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!"</i>

    As one, they slowly turned their heads on the direction of Fifth Young Miss''s quarters. The apparent source of the music.

    IF that could be called music.

    "Eh!"one of them whispered "Do you think it''s true? Is Fifth Miss really possessed?"

    "Shh!" the other one hissed, looking around nervously "Are you sick of living? Don''t say this kind of thing here!"

    "Well, but is true, isn''t it?" she whispered back, with a tone of righteous indignation "See... Maybe she is putting an enchantment on all of us right now!"

    <i>"Can I ''not'' stay here? Spend the rest of my days heeeeere!!"</i>

    "Oh!" the two exchanged a worried glance, staring the room''s entrance with the same stunned expressions.

    "It is really strange" the second one finally conceded, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Still...".

    "Aya, I''m telling you! This..."

    "Eh! You two!"

    Both of them stopped talking at once, turning instantly towards the Pavilion entrance just to see a small, fast approaching girl, her furrowed eyebrows showing signs of annoyance.

    "Why are you gossiping here?" she asked in a stern voice "Don''t you have enough things to do already?!"

    "Jie Jie!" the first girl whined, walking to her side and pulling on Li Mei''s sleeve "We are just saying the truth! Look" she pointed to Fifth Young Miss''s room "Isn''t she jinxing us all?! Soon, no-one will want to get close to any of us from Jiang Manor!"

    The second maid paled visibly, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

    "Aya, that''s nonsense!" Ah Mei disagreed "Wu Xiaojie just had a big trauma, she is still recovering."

    "But, Jie Jie, it''s all really too strange" the second one commented, sounding a bit unsure "This doesn''t look like Fifth Young Miss at all! First, it''s been more then five days and she hasn''t cursed or punished anyone! Before, she was always very picky about her food, now she keeps asking for sweet cakes and something called... Pi-zha?" she made a pause, frowning at the word "Just yesterday, a kitchen maid said that even her eyes are different! And now..." the girl mumbled, looked at the tall building "Ayshh, I don''t even know what Miss is doing!"

    "Jie Jie, it is true!" the first maid agreed "You see, on the village where I was bourn, there was once a girl that drowned after knocking her head. She was rescued in time by a local fisherman, but after waking up, she was really like a completely different person! She would say strange things, about places and people that didn''t exist... They even said she had the eyes of a daemon."

    Li Mei frowned, trying to process everything she was hearing ¨C and cover up her growing disquiet.

    "Suddenly, everyone on the village started to get sick... It begun with the fisherman that saved her, then her brothers and sisters got bedridden and died after a few days. It was so bad that the elders decided to call a Taoist Priest for help..." she paused for a more dramatic effect, making sure all the attention was on herself.

    "The Priest said our entire village had been cursed because of a trickster spirit hiding there. Everyone knows that this things only bring bad luck. That''s why my family left and came to the big city...".

    "Eh? And what about the girl? What happened to her?" the other maid asked, visibly shaken.

    "Well, they..."

    "Aya, that''s enough!" Ah Mei stepped in "Go to your chores. Now! Before Miss sees you two lazing around!"

    "Hum, look at her... Just because she thinks she is a lady''s maid now..." she herd one of them muttering, just before the two girls turned on a corner and disappeared on the path to the kitchen.

    When they couldn''t be seen anymore, Li Mei breathed a sigh o relief. She really didn''t want to think ill of Fifth Young Miss. Since that first day, she had been nothing but considerate to her, even if her words or mannerisms felt a bit strange at times... Ah Mei knew in her heart she had nothing to complain for ¨C that she should first be thankful for the opportunity to have a better position.

    But she was human, after all. And that story about the Fox Spirit had hit a bit too close for comfort.

    "Ah, forget it, forget it!" she told herself, turning on her heels and hading to her mistress''s room.

    ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C

    Inside the room, walking aimlessly over her duvet and holding two chopsticks like they were a microphone, Sam threw her head back once more, spreading one arm and singing at the top of her longs.

    <i>"I want to break free! I want to braaaake freee! I want to brake free from your lies your so self-satisfying I don''t need you, I want to break </i>... Ah!" she exclaimed suddenly, just as the sound of the front door could be heard.

    "Ah Mei!" Sam smiled, jumping from the bed and almost slipping on the smooth floor till she stopped in front of the (still) flabbergasted maid "That was quick!" she praised "So, did you talk to Qing Shan? What did she say?" it was too soon to try and call her sister.

    I took Ah Mei some time to recover from the shock, and even more for the words to finally penetrate the fog around her thoughts and unite in a sentence that made sense.

    "Xiaojie, Third Miss was very happy" she finally said "She said she and Young Master will be waiting Miss in the main garden".

    It was, of course, the year''s euphemism. After hearing her sister finally wanted to have a meal with her siblings, Third Miss was so shocked she looked in the brim of braking up in tears besides the plate of snacks.

    As for Ah Mei, she herself felt it was all a bit fantastical.

    That morning, Wu XiaoJie had woken up a bit earlier than usual, refused the tea she usually drank before breakfast, and simply sat stone-still for the better part of an hour, looking outside the open windows with a glassed eyes.

    Ah Mei had already come and gone from the room some four or five times, trying to decide what to do, when suddenly Fifth Miss told her to ask Qing Shan if she could join her for breakfast.

    If you asked Sam, of course, it wasn''t sudden at all. Her talk the day before with Ah Mei was still making rounds and rounds on her head, trying to make some sense of itself.

    Jiang Hao Chen, Ying Yue''s father, had been a very important man on his time, one of the most praised Generals and the Emperor''s closest confident. Ah Mei didn''t know much, and Sam knew that even if she had heard enough to know, she wouldn''t have been able to put everything together. She only knew that, on that morning, they had woken up for the whole city in an uproar, shouting and swearing at the baster Jiang, the traitor.

    It had been a terrible moment, and even though there was no conclusive evidence that pointed to Hao Chen as a traitor, the Emperor''s lenience had come too late. By the time the case was closed, he and almost all his kids, including his wife, parents and siblings, had already been killed. When the news came out, the wives that still lived took their own lives from despair. Now, apparently there were only Uncle Shu, Ying Yue, Qing Shan and Fei Hong ¨C the next heir to the manor.

    The Jiang Family Tragedy, as it was called, was well-known throughout all the Empire, even inspiring war poems and operas.

    Sam didn''t want to poke in such a terrible subject, but part of her simply couldn''t put it down. She HAD to know the reason for Ying Yue''s father being accused of treason, and what exactly that meant for her, as part of that family.

    So, once it was made clear Ah Mei couldn''t tell her anything more, she decided to try with the second best source: Jiang Qing Shan.

    Of course, she wouldn''t be able to broach the topic all of a sudden. They would need some time together, being close ''again''... And what better way to begin than with a breakfast?

    "All right!" she said, joining her hand in front of her with a satisfied smile "So, we better hurry then!"

    "Ah! Xiaojie!" Ah Mei cried out, jumping infant of her miss "You can''t go like that!"

    "What?" Sam frowned "Why?"

    "Xiaojie!" the girl seemed in the brink of tears "You can''t get out like this!" she repeated "What will Third Miss say?!"

    "Ah Mei, there is nothing wrong with my clothes!" she insisted. Other than they being enough fabric to cover three people, that is.

    "But... Miss! You can''t go out in your nightwear!" Ah Mei insisted.

    Sam stoped mid step, looking at herself again ¨C more carefully this time. ''So... All this things were pijamas? All of it?'' She just had been using half to sleep and the other half when she woke up.

    ''Maybe that''s why all those maids were looking at her like she had gone mad...''.

    "Oh!" she said out loud, forcing a laugh "Right! I was just teasing you!" she looking at Ah Mei "So... Where is the wardrobe?".

    Fifteen minutes later, sam wobbled out of the room, barely able to stay up over the uncomfortable shoes and the heave ¨C VERY HEAVY ¨C clothes. Gosh, if she thought her nightwear was stuffy, that THING Ah Mei had forced on her (with the help of another meek, seemingly scared maid) were monstrosities brought from person version of hell.

    ''Hanfu'' she reminded herself ''that''s what all this layers of fabric are called''. And, apparently, this was her morning, informal clothes! As if in a ''lighter'' version.

    ''It better be worthwhile'' she grumbled at herself, flickering her sleeves while following Ah Mei through the manor hallways, trying to ignore the servants on her way that stopped to bow and compliment her, as well as the whispers that followed behind.

    The Manor, she noticed, was much like her own room: beautifully arranged, tidied, but with that edge of oldness on the much walked wood paths, the smooth stones structures or even the trees and bushes on the gardens.

    "Xiaojie" Ah Mei called "We are here".

    "Ah? Oh..." she murmured, looking from the house to the ornamental garden to her right, in the middle of which stranded an elevated platform, surrounded by a beautiful, wooden railing. Inside, sitting by a stone table, Qing Shan had her eyes fixed on Sam. It was such a strong, still look that Sam felt herself fidgeted self-consciously.

    "Xiaojie..."

    "Oh? Ah. Right!" Sam murmured, following her maid slowly, all the while studying the girl waiting for her.

    And then, all of a sudden, after more than a week, she was finally standing in front of her sister, separated only by the small, square table.

    Seemingly unaffected by the awkward silence and the clear discomfort of the younger girl, Qing Shan got up and took her sister''s hands on hers, a very sweet, very watery smile illuminating her beautiful face.

    "Yue''er" she said "I''m so glad you decided to join us for breakfast!"

    "Ah... Eh, it... It was nothing" Sam blabbed, fidgeting uncomfortably.

    "Still... Thank you for coming" she insisted "I know it has been hard on you".

    Sam just forced a smile, deciding to stay quiet and only nodding to accept the girl''s offer to sit beside her.

    "You can leave us" Qing Shan said to the maids around them "If we need anything, we will call for you".

    Sam observed as all the maids ¨C Ah Mei included ¨C jut bowed respectfully and left the garden, leaving behind only a very deep, very embarrassing silence.

    "So... It looks delicious" Sam blurted suddenly, looking at the many plates of food in front of her.

    "They are your favorites" Qing Shan smiled "I hope you enjoy it".

    ''My favorite food!?'' She forced a smile, pushing at her clothes trying to lessen the growing warmth that was turning her body in a sweaty mess. ''God, this is too hot!''.

    "I''m sure it''s very good" Sam replied, looking back at Qing Shan for the first time. Even at that moment, she could still appreciate the girl''s consideration and care for her sister. There was no disguise on her black eyes, only a nervous expectation, as if she was waiting, fearing really, that Sam would bolt at any time and desapear on her rooms again.

    ''Ah, Sam, Sam...It will be more difficult than you thought!'' she chided herself.

    "Qing Shan" she said out loud "Thank you... For thinking about me. I really appreciate it."

    Instead of answering, the girl surprised Sam by extending her hand and gripping Sam''s in a strong, comforting grip.

    "Yue''er, we are family" she whispered "The Jiangs take care of one another... Never leave, never forsake".

    Sam blinked, trying to pass any word through the sudden tightness on her throat.

    "Eh..."

    "Ah Ying!".

    The sudden scream startled the two girls, that turned to look at a very young man, standing completely still just a few steps from them.

    Sam frowned. In a moment, he was looking at her. The next, he had crossed the space between then, took hold of her shoulder and brought her up and into his arms.

    ''Ah... What is this about now?!'' she thought desperately, trying to understand what was happening.

    "Ah Ying" he whispered "Your brother is sorry! I''ll never let anything happen to you again!"

    ''Oh God... So... This must be Jiang Fei Hong, then.''

 12 Family Secrets 2

    In the entire Jiang Manor, there was only one person Fei Hong would ever give his life for without a moment''s hesitation.

    When he was younger, being the unfavored, lowly son a concubine meant there was hardly any expectation about his future or place as a noble man. No-one could care less about his education or the amount of effort he put on it.

    His brothers would go out of their way just to bother him, and servants tended not to respect someone whose only talent was stirring up trouble. Although it wasn''t the life he wished, he knew in his heart it was still better than being completely forsaken by his family, or being shipped off to some shady relatives.

    So he told himself to deal. To suck it up and keep going. He learnt to be invisible, learnt to lower his head and endure every injustice that came his way. Because he knew he should be grateful, he knew the First Wife could do worst then degrade and look down on him.

    He never in a million years would''ve thought that the same reason that made him the lowliest son of that household would end up being the reason he was still alive while his brothers were gone.

    Even in his darkest moments, Fei Hong never even considered taking down his brothers and becoming the Jaing Family heir. He had only ever wanted a calm, happy life. One he could share with the single, most important person for him. His small ray of sunshine.

    So, when the messenger had reached him on the Military Camp with news of what had happened to Ying Yue, Fei Hong understood for the first time what was to feel an anger so strong, a fear so overwhelming, that he felt he could burn the entire city down with him.

    But now she was there. She was finally awake and in front of him again. For the first time in days, Fei Hong felt things would be okay once more.

    "Ah Ying, your brother is sorry" he whispered furiously, the words barely discernible"Fei Hong was wrong! I''ll not leave you behind again! I Promise."

    Sam was completely still, her eyes widening in disbelief as his arms surrounded her, tightening around her until the sweet smell of morning dew and grass was enveloping her like a warm blanket. For some unknown reason, she felt herself sighing, part of the tension leaving her shoulders and being replaced by trust and relief.

    She felt safe.

    For the first time, Sam felt she had found home on that weird place.

    Even if she couldn''t rationally explain why, it was like that body remembered him. Like it trusted and loved him back.

    Before she had time to make anything of her jumbled thoughts, Sam felt her arms hugging him just as tightly as he was doing, silent tears slowly rolling through her face and into his neat clothes as her hands held tightly to the fabric over his shoulders.

    "Ah Ying" he whispered, caressing her plaited hair "Ah Ying, Ah Ying, don''t scare your brother like this again".

    Sam tried to answer, to move away, anything, but her body seemed to be completely out of control. Not the knot on her throat, nor the tears that were still falling.

    And then it happened. The imagens inundated her mind like a lighting bolt striking her head, in a confusion of voices, colors and sensations.

    ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C

    "Why didn''t you hit him?" she hopped from a stone to another her attention fixated on the young boy sat on the low, wooden bridge, his shoulders slumped and head bent down.

    Fei Hong looked up just in time to see a small, dark-eyed girl wobbling her way across the darkened garden, his bare feet brushing just minimally on the calm surface of the lake.

    He frowned. Wasn''t that the youngest child of his father''s second wife? What was she doing there? And at such a late hour? Where were her maids? He really didn''t need any more trouble coming his way!

    "You should not be here" he said in a lifeless voice, trying to look as stern and unimpressed as any nine years old could be.

    To his chagrim, the girl simply sat by his side, her laugh twinkling like wind bells on the silent night.

    "He told a lie, it wasn''t you that ruined papa''s letters. I saw it" she she argued in a thoughtful way "Nanny always said that lying is bad, so I suppose it would be okay to hit him this once".

    "Hitting people is also bad" he retorted with a frown, seemingly annoyed "Just as listening on other people''s business. It''s not polite".

    She shrugged.

    "I''m just a child" she looked at him with a mischievous glint her eyes, like someone that did not have a care in the world "And Nanny will never tell on me, she is too scared of that woman"her eyes widened a bit, referring to the first wife "She is really scary".

    "She is a proper lady. Something that you should <i> try </i> to emulate" he retorted begrudgingly.

    "But I don''t want to be a lady! That is too boring!"she protested, crossing her arms over her chest "How could I beat First Brother for you if I was a proper lady?".

    Fei Hong felt almost like spitting blood.

    "You are not beating anyone!" he cried out, maybe a bit too loudly "Didn''t anyone teach you anything? Where are your maids? You should be in bed by now, and not here looking for trouble!"

    Ying Yue just just ignored him, her eyes lost in the water that moved slowly, dislodging some noisy dragonflies and shiny fireflies. Theirs reflexes fluttered on the dark surface of the lake, a full, silver moon hung low on the sky. A frog croaked somewhere, his low tones being answered with lighter ones. It was peaceful. One of those moments when someone could forget all its problems, if only for a few seconds.

    Finally, the young girl looked at him again, her face calm and friendly.

    "What are you doing here? Are you hiding from papa?"

    "None of your business" Fei Hong muttered, kicking the water with his feet and dissolving their images still reflected by the moonlight and breaking the moment''s enchantment.

    Ying Yue''s gasped, finally noticing his bare feet on the water.

    "Hey! I want to try it too!"

    He didn''t answer.

    "Do you think I could reach the water?"

    "No".

    She laughed.

    "You are funny" Ying Yue said brightly, resting her head on his shoulder as if it was nothing special "Fei Hong GeGe, I really like you"

    And even though she was only an annoying six year old girl with prospects almost as bad as his own, Fei Hong couldn''t help the small smile that warmed his eyes. Suddenly, the night didn''t feel so cold anymore.

    _________________________

    Sam gasped, backing away from her brother with trembling hands and wide eyes.

    "You... You were on that bridge" she whispered, completely out of it "You were hiding from father... They said you had destroyed the letters" she mumbled "but... But it wasn''t you. You didn''t even pass the threshold".

    She herd the sound of chinaware breaking, just as Qing Shan gasped, before rising from her place and walking till she was side by side with Few Hong.

    "Yue''er... Did you finally remember?" she asked, help shining in her face.

    Sam frowned, feeling like there was a stone crusher trying to cut through her brain all the way to China. The pain just wasn''t as big as her confusion. What had happened exactly? What were those images...?

    Was it a memory from the real Ying Yue? But if it was, how could she access it now? Was it possible that the girl was still inside that body, hid somewhere so deep she couldn''t reach to the surface?

    "Yes... No... I don''t know what happened" she answered honestly, to affected to try and plan her words "I think I need to sit...".

    Her words had barely left her mouth when a wave of nausea and dizziness took her. Sam would probably had ended up on a hip on the stone ground if it wasn''t for Fei Hong quick reaction.

    With the swiftness of someone very comfortable on his own skin, he took hold of her arm, supporting her back with the other and then guided the shaking, cold-sweating girl to a chair.

    "Ah Ying, don''t overthink this too much" he said eventually, when some color had come back to her face.

    "Yue''er, It is all right to be scared" Qing Shan said in a reassuring tone, extending her hand to hold Sam''s in a tight squeeze "Doctor Li explained that this could happen... He said your memories could be triggered by different paces or circumstances." Qing Shan added, hope lighting her beautiful dark eyes "Was this the first time it happened?".

    "Hum... Y-yes" she stuttered, looking from one to another, till finally resting her eyes on Fei Hong, a slightly wary "So... Was it really you, then? The boy on the bridge?". The one that looked so sad and lost?

    Fei Hong smiled kindly, looking a bit disconcerted himself.

    "Yes, it was me..." he agreed with a wistful look, his gaze moving automatically to the direction where the lake stood, on the other side of the house."It was a beautiful night... We were very close after that.", he looked back at her, eyes lit with affection and care built through years of trust and friendship.

    Sam sighed, massaging her temples in a vain effort to stop the mayhem on her head.

    "I''m sorry" she mumbled "I really don''t remember anything else". The last thing she wanted right now was to deal with Fei Hong''s devotion for his sister. It didn''t feel right to simply drop on their lives and take their sister''s place like some usurper.

    Whatever they felt, it wasn''t for her. She was just an imposer on the real Ying Yue''s body.

    Even thought she knew, on her head, that it was true, the thought still left a stab of pain on its wake. Seeing how they looked and cared for her just reminded Sam of her old life, her lifeless apartment, her empty nights... The sadness that sat deep on her bones for years...

    At that one moment, Sam really felt like she could envy Jiang Ying Yue''s life. Even with the lack of plumped water.

    After that, the three of them settled in a light, uncommitted conversation. Sam asked about their lives and how things worked on the household, being gifted with some very amusing stories of their younger years.

    The awkwardness resisted for some good thirty minutes, till Sam decided to try a small, translucent, yellowish cake. She picked it up looking a bit mistrustful, looking the dessert up and down and giving it a quick sniff. From the corner of her eyes, she could she Qing Shan seemingly trying to hold on a laugh, just as Fei Hong looked slightly amused.

    Finally, ignoring the curious looks of the maids serving the tea and changing some plates, she bit it.

    ...

    "OH MY GOD!" Sam exclaimed, still chewing "WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS THING?!".

    "Water Chestnut Cake" Qing Shan answered easily, her brows furrowed in a concerned expression "Why? You don''t like it?".

    "LIKE IT?!" Sam repeated, putting the rest of the cake on her mouth and picking another piece in each hand "I Love it!! Gosh, it is too good!" she kept saying, didn''t even bother to finish chewing while stuffing her mouth.

    "I knew you''d like it" her... Well, sister, said with a bright smile "It used to be your favorite dish when we were young".

    "Oh?!" Sam grumbled thought the cake, looking surprised at the girl.

    "Aya!" Fei Hong sighed, knocking her lightly on the forehead with two fingers "Look how she eats! Just like a little kid!".

    "Hey!" Sam looked with narrowed eyes at him, trying to control her impulse to just slap him on the head "That was not nice! And who are you calling kid, hein?! I''m older than I look!".

    Qing Shan laughed at her younger siblings bickering with affection. It was good to finally be together with them once more. Even before the accident, Fei Hong had been away for months already.

    "Oh, right, right... I forgot! Our old Ying Yue is already fifteen! Almost an ancient dame!" Fei Hong teased, sipping his tea with a humorous look.

    Sam choked, spiting pieces of cake and tea all around her as one of the maids rushed to help petting her back.

    "Yue''er!" Qing Shan cried "Are you alright?!".

    The girl simply kept coughing, holding a hand up in sign that she''d need a minute.

    "What... What did you say?" she finally yelped in a rough voice, her eyes watering a bit "I''m... I''m FIFTEEN?!".

    Sam looked herself over, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. Of course, she knew Ying Yue could not be too old, but she had always thought it''d be an age closer to her own, maybe nineteen, twenty.

    But... Fifteen, really?! It was like going back to those awkward years of her youth she was soooo glad to leave behind!

    Qing Shan nodded slowly with her head, watching Sam closely for her reaction.

    "We just celebrated your birthday."

    "When?".

    "The day of the Summer Solstice".

    Sam breathed deeply, feeling her throat burn because of the cough fit and taking her time to drink a bit of tea. ''Summer Solstice... When was it exactly?!".

    Before she could say anything, a young guy with dark, washed clothes and half of his hair tied in a bum, walked towards them with a sober expression.

    "San Xiaojie, Wu Xiaojie, Master" he he bowed respectfully.

    "Ye Qi" Fei Hong asked, a worried look crossing his eyes "Is something wrong?".

    The eidee bowed slightly once again, glancing warily at Sam and Qing Shan before answering.

    "Master, the General is here".

    Fei Hong''s expression clouded instantly, his eyes hardening as he exchanged a meaningful look with Qing Shan before getting up.

    "I''m afraid I have to go" he said apologetically "You girls just finish your breakfast.".

    "Hum... What?!" Sam asked, unable to control her curiosity "Is something wrong".

    Her brother''s eyes averted just briefly on the direction of the servants before he forced a carefree smile.

    "Nothing, it is probably just the monthly report... General mus also want to discuss my return to the barracks"

    Sam frowned. She was about to insist when she cough Qing Shan''s minimal nod in the contrary, in warning. Whatever it was, there would be another place and time to dig it up. ''Better drop it for now'' she decided.

    "Ok" she answered "I guess I''ll see you, then".

    "Of course!" and this time, the smile was genuine "I''m not living you alone again, kiddo".

    Sam slapped his hand away when he tried to mess up her hair, which left her with a laughing QingShan and a frustrated smile.

    When they had finally calmed down, Qing Shan asked for the tea to be replaced, looking completely calm and collected once again.

    "You all may step down" she told the two other girls that were still serving them.

    Sam accompanied them with her eyes, waiting until they were nowhere to be seen before turning once again to Qing Shan, her expression sober.

    "What happened?" she asked, looking directly at her sister''s eyes.

    Instead of answering, she looked down at her cup, mixing the tea slowly with a thoughtful expression.

    "Yue''er" she asked eventually, her dark eyes as sharp as a blade when she looked up "Do you remember anything about the Mu Tribes?".

 13 Heirs and Nightmares

    TEN DAYS LATTER

    <i>"Yue''er, do you remember anything about the Mu Tribes?"</i>

    The question had hung in the air between them like a too tight string ready to snap. Even now, more than a week later, Sam couldn''t forget the tension rising between then, so thick that it could be sliced with a knife.

    Sighing, Sam looked at the uneven lines disappearing on the water surface, the small twig between her fingers now turning in small circles.

    Just like on that day, the sun was still shining bright, the light breeze shaking the tree tops and small birds chirping and singing all around the garden. The warmth that penetrated the multiple layers of her outfit, however, couldn''t erase the chilly feeling that particular conversation still evoked.

    ''Some things are meant to be heard, and never be said again'', Qing Shan had said, her eyes brimming with uneasiness just as her movements became edgy. The message was clear enough, and Sam knew that if her "sister" wasn''t such a trusting soul there was no way she would go on with what she told her next.

    Even Fei Hong, she supposed, would have changed subjects and waited till asserting how trustworthy she was before sharing anything with her.

    Maybe because of this, Qing Shan''s words kept repeating on her mind over and over again...

    <i>"After the war, after the first Zao Emperor prevailed over the Nam Region, there was too much destruction and chaos everywhere." she had said, putting her tea aside and holding her hands together on a nervous gesture "The Chen people were strong enough to be made slaves and help rebuilt the Empire, but even if we had manpower, we still needed funds and building material." she sighed "With the war, our mines and forests were made almost bare, all in an effort to make sure there were enough weapons to last till the end..." she paused, as if considering her words "I don''t know if Ah Mei mentioned it, but the Mu people were always known for their talent and knowledge on poison and medicine."

    "She said something about it" Sam had agreed thoughtfully "I bet they had some valuable prescriptions".

    "They did" Qing Shan gave a half smile "Everyone on the Five Regions and Four Seas knew that, if a Mu doctor couldn''t cure a poison or remedy a disease, not even the Gods would be able to help."

    Sam didn''t ned more words. The Emperor didn''t need more slaves. He had needed money. Lots of it.

    And apparently, the Mu''s knowledge was the fastest way to refurbish the coffers and rebuilt everything that was destroyed during the war. Besides, as Qing Shan had pointed out, the tribes had to pay tributes with some precious tea herbs that only grew in the desert, as well as send most of their capable men to reinforce the Zao''s army.

    Sam breathed hard, trowing the twig on the water and getting up once again, ignoring the tingle all over her legs and feet. She had though the deal was good. That being alive and "free" was better than the option...

    But, apparently, she forgot this was not her home.

    She didn''t know how this place worked. How cruel it could really be.

    "Yes, on the surface, it really looked like the Emperor was good to them" Qing Shan had murmured after Sam shared her observations "But you have to remember, Yue''er... To conquer another people is not only about possessing their lands, owning their bodies or ruling their lives. It is about shattering their souls, killing their way of life and replacing it with the one that best suits your purpose. To really conquer is to destroy what was once the enemy, even if it''s just an idea".

    The Mu Tribes had been one of the last nomadic groups of the entire Five Regions and Four Seas... To pay tributes they had to plant. They had to grow and harvest. To send their best fighters to the empire they lost those that would learn with the elders and pass on their knowledge and traditions to the next generations.

    Even though the emperor kept an image of benevolence, the violence he committed against this people was indeed unimaginable...

    Despite the warmth of the day, Sam felt all the hair in her arms rising, a cold chill running down her spine.

    <i>"If you asked any of them, I suppose they would''ve wished to die with dignity back then rather than live like this".</i>

    To completely sever the ties that made that people the Mu Tribes, to destroy their identity until there was nothing strong enough left to unite them under a common purpose.

    This... This was beyond cruel.

    "Yue''er?" Qing Shan asked, her smooth, delicate hand covering Sam''s smaller one on a tight, conforming grip "Are you alright?".

    "Hum...?" Sam startled, finally snapping back to the present. With some effort, she trie to push down all those images of blood and chaos still rolling around her head on a dizzying mess, plastering a smile on her face and giving her sister a reassuring look "Yes... Yes, I... I''m just a bit tired, I guess".

    As every other day since their first breakfast together, the two of them were taking a stroll together around the gardens, enjoying the morning sun and the sweet, flowery smell that would eventually be replaced by the reddish autumn tones.

    Qing Shan smiled, crossing her arm with Sam''s while they retreated back to the main rote, one that would eventually take them to some blooming bushes and still dew-covered grass.

    "We have been walking a lot, lately" she agreed "maybe you would like to go back to your room to rest?".

    ''And be left to drown on all this thoughts and bloody tales... Not happening''.

    "Ah, no, no! I''m totally recovered already!!" she answered quickly, making circles with her arms and jumping in place as if to show how fit her muscles were "See? Totally fine!".

    Qing Shan only laughed, looking at her younger sister with affection.

    "You are really different from before" she commented offhandedly, a delicate smile still on her face.

    Sam froze, a dozen different alarms going off on her head.

    "I... I am?"

    "You are" Qing Shan nodded, completely unfazed by the younger''s reaction "You seem happier... It is good to see".

    Sam released he breath she didn''t even realize she''d been holding, telling her frantic heart to calm down once again and stop doing some sort of Zumba choreography on her chest.

    "Ah, well... I still don''t remember much" she commented, turning around on the garden as if trying to take on everything "But this is all so beautiful... It would be a shame not to enjoy it, right?" she laughed at herself, her greenish eyes sparkling under the sun light "This place feels unexpectedly warm today".

    ''And you seem unexpectedly pure'' Qing Shan thought, looking at the girl in front of her and trying to understand the mess that were her feelings. Of course she didn''t believe her sister was possessed, but on moments like this, when she would act so out of ordinary... It was hard not to suspect something was off.

    Even more if she considered her eyes. Her strange, hazel eyes.

    "I heard you''ve been spending some time with Fei Hong this last couple of days".

    "Ah, yes" Sam agreed absentmindedly "He has been busy with some military stuff, though" she shrugged "so we didn''t have much time... But he has been teaching me to play Go".

    ''Or, at least, has been trying to'', she completed to herself.

    Since that first encounter, the two of them seemed to have fallen in a friendly routine.

    Ina particular morning, Sam scalded her tongue on a hot tea she had asked a young maid to prepare ¨C seeing that Ah Mei was already busy elsewhere. Sam had just spit everything out and started to curse her lousy manners when the girl fell to her knees and started crying and apologizing ¨C all the while hitting her head on the floor.

    Again.

    She simply couldn''t take anymore the way every servant and maid seemed to freeze or shake in fear every time she showed up somewhere, so, instead of screaming at the sobbing girl, she forgot the tea and marched out of her rooms, decided to go somewhere quiet and vent some pent up frustration alone!

    That was how, unintentionally, she had ended up on few Hong''s door steps. She had just taken a peek inside his tidy, clean and impersonal room and was about to turn on her heels and go back when he called her, his smiling face showing up beside a particularly tall bookcase.

    Every evening since then, she would pass by his rooms and they would seat ant talk for a while. More times than not, however, Fei Hong would simply put aside everything he was doing, pick up the game board,and say something like.

    "I never got to really teach you how to play Go before". Or even "I thing you are actually beginning to understand it" or "This was better...".

    Of course, it was a good-intentioned, big, fat, lie. That game was something Sam couldn''t even begin to understand! Dames, chess, she could grasp the idea behind it all... But that Go thing...? She''d probably end giving it up eventually.

    This or making her very patient teacher go crazy.

    "I see... And how has it been going?" Qing Shan asked, sounding genuinely curious.

    Sam only turned a scowl at her, deciding not to say anything.

    Despite herself, Qing Shan laughed, the sound so light and beautiful that caught the attention of both her maids that were waiting some steps back.

    "You never really had much patient to learn it before".

    "I didn''t?" Sam repeated, looking a bit happier with the news "Well, it seems I still don''t!".

    And for some time later, the servants could still hear the happy, silky laugh of their eldest miss, as well as the quirky comments and ocasional weird words Sam would spout in spite of herself. It was a beautiful day indeed.

    Many hours later, when Sam was back on her rooms getting ready for bed, she couldn''t seem to shake some of Qing Shang''s words on that morning. The two of them had been talking about their family''s history and some other things she had forgotten when Sam unconsciously diverted the subject to something that had been nagging at her for the last five days.

    "Qing... JieJie" she corrected quickly, remembering that here she was supposed to dress her as her older sister "You said before that the Mu People were under the Empire''s rule, that the Emperor always made sure they didn''t have a common go in order to revolt" she summarized, the frown on her forehead deepening with every word "But, if that''s so... What do the Mu tribes have to do with Fei Hong''s General and all this things he''s been doing lately?"

    She simply couldn''t understand how they had started an unrest big enough to catch the Emperor''s attention! It didn''t feel right when considering everything they had talked about. Also, there was that sensation... Something that was but the echo of fear, a sixth sense she couldn''t shake off. Like that body remembered something she couldn''t yet grasp, but that left her fidgety and unable to shake that feeling of urgency.

    And then Qing Shan had finally said.

    "There is a rumor... That the real Heir to the MuKingdom is still alive. That he has been hiding among the Emperor''s court while preparing to fight and take back the throne".

    Sam had been completely dumbstruck. Things just got better and better around here, didn''t they?!

    "And... Is it true?" she asked tentatively, studying the other''s expressions.

    "Of course, it is just a rumor" Qing Shan assured her, still not quite meeting her eyes "There was so much death on those days... It is difficult to imagine anyone surviving something like that".

    "But it is not impossible either..." Sam murmured to herself, before shrugging off those thoughts and trying to ignore the foreboding feeling that had settled on her bones.

    Instead, she focussed on getting rid of all those layers and layers of clothes so she could change into something more comfortable and try getting some sleep.

    "Miss" Ah Mei said, entering her room before two other girls carrying full buckets of water "Your bath is ready!".

    ''Finally!'' It was good not to have to think about anything for the next thirty minutes at the least.

    _______________________________

    The place was small and dark and so tight she could barely feel the air entering her lungs.

    "Shh!" someone behind her said, holding her body even tighter while pressing a hand in front of her mouth "It will all be alright" the person, no more than a kid, said near her ears, his voice sounding just as out of breath as she felt.

    From outside, the smell of burning wood grew stronger, just as thick, dark smoke started sneaking in through the cracks and spaces between the tightly closed doors.

    She coughed, her lungs hurting.

    "Shhh!" the child asked again "Just a bit more... Just take it a bit more...".

    Outside they could hear the sound of people screaming, furniture being torne apart, metal rubbing against metal, things falling and clothes tearing carelessly. Someone cried loudly, just before the sizzle of a blade...

    A loud, dry thump. More screams.

    She started crying, pain and fear mingling together till she could barely breath.

    "Ah Ying... Shh, shh, please don''t cry!" the youth died to calm her down, the stifle her sobs, but it just made things worst.

    The heat grew and grew, just as the shadow of the flames licked at the crack on the doors. They would die that night.

    She cried louder.

    And then everything seemed to stop. All noise, all moment, everything stuck in that single second.

    Behind her, the kid tried to wield a small dagger, his hands shaking like falling leafs.

    And then the cabinet''s doors were pushed open.

    "AHH!" Sam screamed, sitting up straight on the bed while her wide eyes scanned desperately the darkness around her.

    She could still smell the smoke, the sweaty, bitter smell of fear all around her...

    "Ah! Ah..." she tried to calm down, slowly coming back to her senses when a thin streak of moonlight invaded the room through her half opened windows.

    There was no fire. No screams. No blades or death.

    It was only her. On a dark, empty room.

    "It was just a dream... Just a dream..." she kept repeating over and over, trying to convince her frozen body that there was no danger around. That she was safe there... But it all had felt so real!!

    "You are safe. There is no fire here. It was all a dream" she said once more, trowing her shaking legs to the side and trying to stand up.

    Her hair felt slick, clinging to her neck and forehead in a sweaty mess that only ade her feel even more trapped. Rationally she new it was an exaggeration, but her body seemed completely unable to rationalize anything at that moment.

    She just needed to get out of that place. Find some air. Breathe.

    She needed to breath.

    Ignoring the pair of shoes Ah Me had carefully organized besides her bed, Sam just dashed through the door, leaving two stunned night guards on the entrance of her pavilion. She ignored everything but the urge to keep running. Just like on that first day she had woken up on this place.

    Sam didn''t know where she was going, or for how long she ran, she just knew that, suddenly, somehow, she had reached that small bridge over the lake. The same one where Ying Yue had talked with Few Hong for the first time.

    Feeling exhausted, Sam collapsed on the wooden surface, letting her feet fall from the edge and into the cold, healing water.

    <i>"Do you think I could reach the water?"</i>

    <i>"No".</i>

    The voices sounded distante, just like ghosts from too many years on the past.

    Sam sighed, finally feeling the fear and nervousness leave her body.

    "I don''t want to stay here" she whispered "I want to go back".

    This place was too scary, too complicated. The only time she had braved the word outside the mansion she had come back being called a demon, a trickster spirit!

    And now this thing with the Mu Tribes... She could still smell the blood from her dreams. Thick. Metallic.

    "I just want to go back" she pleaded, her eyes rising to the round, white moon hanging on the dark, cloudless sky "Please, let me go back" she whispered, feeling the tears slowly falling through her face.

    But there was no answer that night. Only the low chirp of the crickets.

    And the dark, lonely figure that watched everything from afar, sat on the roof tiles of the Jiang Manor.

 14 One Too Many Royals 1 : The Sneaky General

    "Xiaojie..."

    "Shh!" Sam shushed, quickly looking over her shoulder at the very distraught, very fidgety maid following on her footsteps.

    "Bu-But XiaoJie..." Ah Mei tried again, her entire body glued to the Southern Hall''s outer wall "Is this really all right...?".

    Sam crossed her arms, turning back just enough so that Ah Mei could see her crocked eyebrow and mischievous smile.

    "Right or wrong, this was YOUR idea, hum?" she challenged in a whispered voice, trying to hide a grin "Anyway, it''ll be just for a few hours... We will be in and out before anyone notices", she added reassuringly, seeing all the blood drain from the younger girl''s face.

    "Xiaojie... This is not right!" she whined "Let''s go back and talk to Third Young Miss! She will definitely grant you permission to go out".

    "Yeah, tailed by at least two thugs!" she mumbled at herself, her eyes focusing once more on the pair of guards on duty passing by the always-deserted Southern Entrance. The best way to get out unnoticed.

    The thing is... Sam was bored out of her mind!!

    For the past five days,after running off from her room in the middle of the night, she had been having more and more trouble finding sleep. The nights were too dark, the hours too long, even the shadows that danced on the floor would suddenly shape-shift into those terrible images she seemed unable to forget.

    The smell of blood and sweat hung in the air, just waiting for her eyes to close...

    She didn''t know whether it was only her overstimulated imagination working an extra shift or Ying Yue''s old memories finding a way out, but truth be told, she was getting to a point where it didn''t matter anymore! Her body ached, her eyes stung and the dark shadows marring her face were becoming hard to pass as nothing of importance.

    At first, as word got out that she had been waking up screaming and sweating, Qing Shan had wanted to call for the doctor, but Sam simply wouldn''t hear of it.

    She didn''t need an old quack messing with her head! She just needed time to adjust ¨C and maybe some cold medicine, as it always seemed to nock her right out.

    Fei Hong hadn''t been all too keen either about her decision, but to her utter surprise, he just pursed his lips, sighed deeply... And took a strong stand by her side, letting everyone know she had his entire support.

    It seemed that, whatever bond he and the real Ying Yue had in the past, it was indeed a strong one. Strong enough that Sam couldn''t help being curious... And maybe just a tiny bit jealous.

    The thing is, even though she didn''t want doctors involved, to simply stay on her bed, turning over and over around the mattress, wasn''t all that charming an idea either.

    If it were back on her own time, she would have tried reading a book, watching some old Grey''s Anatomy''s episodes... Even playing Candy Crush on her cellphone...!

    But here?

    She couldn''tread. She didn''t have electricity. And the only game available at the moment would just end up giving her a headache.

    So, she did the only thing she could: redecorate.

    It was a bad habit she had her mom to thank for. Whenever she felt restless, her mother would start moving the furniture, washing the silverware, organizing wardrobes... Even hitting the rugs!

    So, on a particularly long night, Sam had taken out every single thing the last Fifth Young Miss owned and put it elsewhere. It was a dirty, dusty work, but kept her hands occupied.

    Books, clothes, jewelry, scrolls, furniture, she had scattered everything on the floor all around her.

    She had been in the middle of organizing a particularly stuffy shelf, with some embossed jade carvings, when she started missing a particularly beautiful engraved box she had been toying with just a moment ago.

    Her head had told her it was only a stupid box.

    But her obsessive heart made her nervous. It would fit perfectly there! And Sam knew, she simply KNEW if she didn''t find the blasted box, she''d be thinking about it for the rest of her days!

    "Where is that thing...!" she mumbled, looking around "I''m sure I put them right here, somewhere..."

    It was then that it happened. Sam had tried wobbling through the room, her eyes scanning the ground trying to look for a missing jewelry box.

    "Where... Where... AHH!" she screamed, feeling her foot slip under her and trying desperately to grab at anything, really anything she could find.

    For the briefest of seconds, her fingers grasped at the smooth surface of a particular jade emblem connected to the wall...Just before the thing gave way, making her hand slip and she land painfully on a hip on the ground.

    "Outch!" Sam complained, looking resentfully at the wall "Stupid carv..." she stopped mid sentence, her eyes widening as she saw what looked like a secret compartment etched to the wall opening.

    "What... The hell" she mumbled, ignoring the pain on her hip and getting up once more, her eyes unmoving, etched to the hidden drawer. When she was close enough to touch, Sam finally understood what she was seeing.

    Curious, she took everything out, her hands touching the blue covers only lightly.

    "But... These are all... Books?" she whispered with a frown, flipping through the pages and studying the symbols, written with a slight inclination to the right "Why would anyone want to hide books in a safe?".

    It didn''t make sense to her! Jewels, treasure maps, family secrets maybe... But books? Of course, she couldn''t read them for her life, but they didn''t look anything out of the ordinary. Those volumes were just like any other volume she had seen around that place.

    Weighting the three tomes in her hands, Sam left her eyes to roam around, her thoughts scattering.

    "Ying Yue, Ying Yue... What is it that you were truly hiding?" she whispered "What exactly happened to you on the day I came here?".

    She didn''t have answers yet, and whenever she tried to breach the topic with her sister, Qing Shan looked so uncomfortable she couldn''t bring herself to keep probing.

    Since she had started interacting with the Jiang family, Sam felt like she was trying to play a game without being told the rules. She was always just observing, just going with the flow. Stuck on her rooms, having breakfast, having half-answered questions... It was fine when she thought she could go back home at anytime.

    But now it was almost a month. Twenty eight days since she had landed on that place, and there was no indication her current situation was going to change anytime soon.

    Sam was tired of just waiting, of knowing nothing, of not doing anything! So, instead of keep sulking everyday on her stuffy quarters, she decided to take matters on her own hands!

    And Ah Mei had given her just the way to start...

    "Xiaojie, you are already up!" the maid had greeted her enthusiastically just that morning, instructing the other girls to put the hot water and hygiene items aside as per usual.

    "Leave, leave, leave!" Sam singsonged, putting a single hand out of the covers and in the air, motioning for the two girls to get out. She didn''t feel particularly happy that morning, and having scared maids all around her would definitely not improve her mood. "Ah Mei, get rid of them!" she asked in a muffled voice "I''m not getting up today!"

    Trying to control the urge to roll her eyes in face of her mistress''s overly dramatic antics, Ah Mei simply gestured for the servants to leave before closing the door and start preparing Sam''s matinal routine.

    "You can stop. I''m not going. Really" Sam insisted, listening her maid going over her stuff "You can have the day free. Like paid vacations. What do you think?" she tried sounding more persuasive.

    "Xiaojie, Third Young Miss will be waiting for you in the gardens" she reminded her dutifully "It is a particularly beautiful day outside".

    "Urgh! I know, I know!" she complained. Why couldn''t anyone respect her desire to feel grumpy and gloomy for once?

    She didn''t want sunny skies! She wanted dark, heavy clouds and rain and thunders and a weather that matched her sour mood. Why didn''t anything go right for her recently?

    "Ah! What is this?" she herd Ah Mai whisper to herself, over the sound of scratching paper.

    Frowning slightly, Sam lowered a bit of the covers, just enough so she could peek at what the girl was doing.

    "Oh, it''s nothing" she said, realizing Ah Mei was studying some of her very unfruitful tries at writing "I was just copying some lines, nothing much. You can just trow it out" she continued, looking resentfully at all the papers crowding her desk.

    "Ah! it''s beautiful, isn''t it?" Ah Mei retorted, looking at her with sparkles in her eyes "Miss, have you finally remembered how to write?"

    "Ah... Well, not exactly" she mumbled, turning her back to the younger girl "Just trow it out".

    If it was possible, Sam''s mood had gone from cold to frizzing in a matter of seconds.

    "Ah... I wish I could read like this..." she heard her maid sighing between the sound of crunching paper "It is just like those younger master''s works at school..." she mumbled to herself "So beautiful..."

    "AHH!" Sam sat up straight, her movements so suddenly that poor Ah Mei jumped at least three meters high on the air, scattering paper all over the floor.

    "That''s it!" She exclaimed, remembering one of the first conversations the two of them''d had "The School!".

    And, just like that, a new plan had started forming on her mind.

    Some time latter, when she met her siblings for their usual breakfast near the gardens, Sam decided to carefully taste the waters, just asking about wether she could go out and take a look at the city.

    "Of course you can!" Qing Shan assured her with a warm, happy smile "We will just assign some of the guards to accompany you and...".

    And Sam had stopped her right there. She was a grown woman. Gosh, she was older then the two of them (at least on her world she was)! But now she had to bow to being followed up and down by some creepy guards?!

    No. Way. In. Hell.

    Besides, if Ah Mei''s intel was correct, the school accepted male students only. Even if she could persuade the teacher to take her in (as a mare expectator at least), she was sure her family wouldn''t be particularly pleased about it.

    If for anything else, even Fei Hong didn''t back down this time.

    "If you are uncomfortable, I can ask Ye Qi to go with you" he had offered, his eyes hard as steel when meeting hers.

    She had felt frustrated. She had felt wronged.

    So she decided to act the most petulant she could.

    And sneaking out did it in her dictionary! Even if she wouldn''t be able to flaunter it at her over-protective siblings. It was a victory she needed to feel a bit more like herself.

    " Ah Mei!" she had called, just as her bedroom doors closed behind her.

    "Miss?"

    " Get ready. We are going out!".

    "AH?!".

    "Just make sure there''s no-one around, ok?"she continued, completely ignoring her servant''s desperate look as she put back on her outer boots "There is probably a back door or something in this place, right?"

    "But... But Xiaojie...".

    "Ah Mei, it is just a walk! You will be with me the whole time, right? What could possibly go wrong?"

    And so, here they were. Hiding behind the most secluded building of their Manor, waiting for the path to clear so that they could get out of the house. The warm, intense morning sun beat down on their heads like a stuffy duvet, making Sam slightly uncomfortable under all those layers of clothes.

    She wondered whether she would get used to it someday!

    "They are gone" she whispered suddenly, noticing the small path between the trees and high grass was once again clear "Let''s go!".

    She had just moved get out of the wall''s protection when a small stone landed in front of her feet, making her jump back in a fright.

    "What the..."

    But just as the words started leaving her mouth, she heard the distinct sound of steps coming from the building''s other side, seconds before a tall, impotent frame appeared on her line of sight.

    Eyes wide as saucers, she backed away desperately, crouching low and gripping Ah Mei''s hand tightly in an indication that she should stay down and quite as well. Fear and anticipation coiled on her stomach, making the hot day suddenly colder.

    The man just a few matters from her was tall, with his jet black hair half tied in a high bun, with the rest cascading down his pristine whitish clothes, only tainted by the light yellow of his outerwear. At first sight, he seemed nothing out of the ordinary, just like so many other middle classed people on that world... But then something caught his attention, and he turned his face towards her.

    Sam gasped, putting a hand in front of her mouth to try and muffle the sound.

    She was stunned. She was completely still. She was completely, and utterly mesmerized.

    His face was like a drawing, with willowy, soft lines that seemed to flow just like the ocean waves in a windless day. His skin as pearly white, contrasting with the small fringe of hair brushing one side of his forehead.

    And then there was his eyes... Even from that distance, she could tell they were like a deep, bottomless abyss ready to devour anyone bold enough to try and uncover its secrets.

    "Oh my, I think I have a crush!" she sighed dreamingly at herself.

    Just then, she heard the sound of leaves brushing and twigs breaking. Probably what had caught the man''s attention in first place.

    "You are here" he said, and his words, as soft as silk, contained a layer of affection he wasn''t able to hide, in spite of his stone-cold face.

    Sam frowned. Just who was he talking t...

    Her figure moved slowly out of the shadows, the strong, warm rays of light bathing her lithe body like a halo.

    "Qing Shan... Greets your Highness, General He".

    Sam gasped.

    What exactly had she walked herself into?

 15 One Too Many Royals 2 : The Sneaky General

    <i>"Qing Shan... Greets your Highness, General He". </i>

    Qing Shan bowed on shaky legs, her head bent, her hands clasped so tightly in front of her she could see her knuckles turning white. All the while, it felts like her heart would finally succeed at opening a way out through her chest.

    She breathed deeply, fighting the urge to lift her head. To look, just for one last time, at those deep, black eyes.

    He wasn''t supposed to be there. Fei Hong assured her he had already left!

    Qing Shan hadn''t expected the sudden knot on her throat, the weight of his gaze piercing her face, studying her expression.

    And yet... Yet she knew, deep inside, it could never have been any different.

    She wanted to laugh, and scream, and cry her pain to the heavens!

    Instead, Qing Shan just breathed. Deep and controlled, cementing the mask of serenity and indifference she had been working so hard for over her face.

    Fate felt particularly cruel that morning.

    "It''s been a long time" he eventually said, his words so soft, so gentle, that even the light summer breeze playing between the tree branches became still.

    Qing Shan finally allowed herself to rise, her eyes closing for the briefest of seconds, feeling the light caress of his voice brushing over her.

    "Qing Shan has been busy with household affairs... May General He, please, forgive your servant''s oversight". she answered politely, her voice low and steady, devoid of any emotion.

    The air turned thicker, the tension so strong it could be cut with a knife.

    From his position, General He just nodded, his lips curving in a sad smile.

    "It was always warm when we used to meet... Even through the darkest of winters, it was always warm." he said, his eyes lost in images long gone, one arm lifting slowly as he watched the bright rays of light play over the pale skin "This morning, the sun is still high in the sky... I wonder why I suddenly feel so cold".

    Qing Shan stammered a step, going completely still once more as his words reached her like a slap.

    <i> "Knowing that I am the first in your heart... Qing Shan is already satisfied". </i>

    She blinked, the sweet memory fading like polen scattered on the wind. They had so been young... Still clueless to the darkness of the world. For a fleeting moment, Qing Shan caught herself wishing she could somehow turn back the time, to go back to those hidden encounters, the smiles, the sweet words...

    ''Forget it'' she chided herself, swallowing the sudden knot on her throat ''It is best this way''.

    Breathing deeply, Qing Shan raised her eyes at him, her expression impassive despite the mess her thoughts had become. With her usual serene countenance in place, she walked slowly to a particularly beautiful bush to the side, full of small, colorful and bright blooms.

    "This flower is called Morning-Bless..." she said eventually "My brother brought it as a present the first time he went to battle... It is very beautiful, isn''t it? Every bloom opening with different, vibrant colors such as this one..." Qing Shan picked one on her hand, her smile fading a little "But did you know...? A Morning-Bless lives only for twelve hours... She is born with the first rays of light, and perishes just as the sun falls on the horizon."

    She turned to him, the small, beautiful flower still on her hand.

    "Everyday, so much life begins... It''s presence not longer than a fleeting breath to the world around them. Sometimes I wonder if, maybe, its short life doesn''t make it even more alluring, as if desperately trying to leave a mark... Not to pass unnoticed".

    She finally let the small bloom fall, hooded eyes following its slow descent, till it hit the grass, all its colors faded into an old, dusty brownish gray.

    "The most beautiful things... They are not ment to last for long".

    He didn''t answer, only keeping his eyes on her face, as if trying to commit every line, every single crevice and curve to his memory. A man drowning on dry land.

    "You should move on, Your Highness" she continued eventually "Don''t think anymore of things that can''t be changed". She gave a last, deep bow "If your Highness does not object, Qing Shan will take her leave now".

    Just as she was turning to leave, though, his words made her stop once more.

    "Fei Hong told me what happened to your sister" he said, watching her shoulders tense "I''m sorry you had to go through that kind of pain again".

    Qing Shan clasped her hands tightly, trying to control her sudden shaking.

    "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern." she said, barely above a whisper "but she is fine now... We are all fine".

    He sighed, sounding defeated.

    "It was my fault. I promised you I would keep you all safe, but I couldn''t..."

    "Don''t." Qing Shan cut desperately, very aware of the slight quiver to her voice "Please, Your Highness, we can''t afford your concern." she swallowed hard "From now on, please stay away from us... Or else, don''t blame me for not considering our past affection."

    "Past..." his voice sounded detached, as if he was tasting, trying an outlandish word on his tongue.

    Qing Shan closed her eyes, the shaking becoming stronger.

    "It''s getting late. Your highness should go now, before anyone sees you".

    She left.

    Besides the large, southern building''s large walls, still crouched low near the ground, Sam felt herself going slightly out of breath from shock.

    ''Goodness... What exactly did I just see?'' she kept asking herself over and over, eyes still glued to the beautiful, lonely figure still standing under the shades of a large tree, the sunlight creating through the tree branches, shining over the grass and small flowers littering the ground only making his image even more ethereal.

    Even now, her mind couldn''t seem to wrap itself around their very disturbing conversation (too full of metaphors and ambiguous words for her taste) and everything it implied. She only knew to pray and thank whatever force had helped her and kept her presence unseen.

    Sam didn''t want to even start considering the consequences of being caught eavesdropping on a general. And her sister.

    ''Well... That was close!'' she breathed in relief, waiting to hear the man''s footsteps departing.

    Still hidden behind her, Ah Mei felt weak all over. The girl''s face was as white as paper, and she looked frighteningly close to trowing up. A simple maid like her wasn''t supposed to hear that kind of thing! She wasn''t supposed to overhear a conversation between her employer and someone as powerful as a general of His Majesty''s army!

    If she was caught, death would be a merciful punishment. The worst... Aish! She didn''t even want to think!

    Grasping the young girl''s a bit tighter in a reassuring way, Sam breathed deeply, trying to control her still too fast heart.

    It had been a close call. But now the General was going... They''d be alright.

    Everything would be alright.

    "You can come out now" his voice suddenly cut through her thoughts. Strong, cold, with a slight sign of laughter.

    Sam froze, just like every single leaf and bird on the small clearing. He couldn''t be talking to her... Right?

    "I know you are there Ying Yue." he said again "Don''t insult me by pretending I didn''t notice you".

    ''I''m done!'' Sam though, debating whether to run or get up and face the angry, just-jilted General.

    _______________________________________________________________________________________

    From between the shadows of the threes, farther away from Sam''s pace than the small opening General He still occupied, he watched everything unfold with a thoughtful expression.

    "Master" one of his men asked at his side, bent down on one knee, with a fisted hand touching the ground in sign of respect "It is ready.".

    He frowned, contemplating the possibilities in front of him. Finally, after giving the young girl hidden behind the wall a last, lingering glance, he nodded slowly, turning to his subordinate.

    "Let''s go".

 16 The Famous General is a Flower Boy?

    During the weeks she had been on the Jiang Family Manor, Sam developed a somewhat easy going routine. She would wake up early every day to have breakfast with her siblings, after which Qing Shan would usually ask her on a stroll through the gardens or even going back to their quarters for a more informal conversation.

    The mornings were fairly easy to deal with, as everyone seemed so ready to help and talk to her (that is, everyone except the house servants, which seemed to always vanish on thin air whenever they saw her alone). The afternoons were another matter entirely.

    Despite what its placid exterior seemed to impart, Sam soon found out the Jiang Household needed quite a lot of work - and just how much work her sister had to do everyday only for the roof not to collapse over their heads.

    To have such a smooth and healthy environment...? Sam trembled only remembering everything her sister would do, being called back and forth to solve every single trifling matter. It wouldn''t be uncommon for her to lay back at night, fighting sleep, while thinking about the life she was being presented to.

    It was hard not to question whether all those chores were the rule at every noble manor, or if the Jiang''s were having a particularly trying life.

    "It doesn''t matter how much time has passed, a scandal is always a scandal" she concluded, and her new family seemed to still be elbows deep on the shady matter with their father.

    With all things considered, Sam decided she had to make something out of herself instead of only going around and being in Qing Shan''s way all the time (she could swear Zi Zhou had given her an annoyed glare more than once when she thought Sam was distracted).

    As laying down, relaxing and reading a good book was NOT an option, she decided to try writing about this new experience, registering some thoughts and amusing memories of her past with Amelia and her parents. Soon, though, the activity turned gloomy, and Sam decided that, if she didn''t find something to coccus rather than diving head first in the past, she would end up a puddle of wallowing and self-pity.

    "Ah Mei" she had asked her maid eventually "What is it that young girls do in this place to amuse themselves?".

    If the girl''s shocked, round eyes were anything to go with, Sam was quite sure she had said the wrong thing. Again.

    "I mean" she added fast "What did Ying... Ahem... eh... I. What did I usually do to pass the time?".

    Ah Mei frowned, still looking suspiciously at Sam, that tried keeping her best, brilliant smile.

    "Xiaojie, you would usually sing, or play the Guqin with San Xiaojie" she answered slowly, as if choosing her words "Miss would also embroider some handkerchiefs and paint".

    Sam blinked. A small trail of sweat laid down her neck.

    "Hum... What else?". Because, surely, there HAD to be something else!

    "This servant heard Miss also enjoyed riding horses" the girl answered thoughtfully, a smile lighting her eyes "Young Master used to praise Miss, saying you were one of the finest horsewoman''s of his acquaintance".

    "Ah... He did, right?" sam laughed, crying inside her heart.

    How come there was absolutely NOTHING to do that she actually knew how to?! Was that a curse??

    "Walk" she had said briskly "Let''s walk".

    Rumbling the courtyards and large corridors was quite fascinating at the beginning, as everything looked different and so foreign in stile and coloring from what she was used to. But even that became boring after the third day.

    That was how, on a very inconspicuous evening, when she was fanning herself under the shadow of a tree besides a very winded Ah Mei, she saw them. A group of large men, all of them wearing simple-coloring clothes, with leather protections and knifes and swords sheathed all over their bodies. In fact, the only thing missing from their rough appearances and tall frames were the metal plaques and war helmet.

    "Ah... Ah Mei, who are those guys?".

    "Hum?" Ah Mei had grumbled, still a bit breathless, her eyes rising "Ah... Xiaojie, those are high ranking war officials... They usually come by to speak with young master.".

    "Indeed?" Sam thought to herself, curiosity spiking up "What could they probably have to talk so much about with him? Ah Mei, aren''t you curious?".

    Ah Mei gasped.

    "Xiaojie, you can''t!" she grasped desperately at the elder girls robes, trying to stop her, but at that point, Sam was already halfway down, a spring on her steps as she followed those people through that maze of a house.

    After arriving at her brother''s courtyard, however, the only thing they were able to see, from a corner near the open windows, were hushed words and a small piece of paper changing hands, before the strange men bowed and took their leave.

    That was how Fei Hong had found her the first time, being almost unable to hold in his smile at seeing the mischievous streak that had always been present on his sister return.

    "Ah Ying!" he had called, startling the two girls almost to the point of making them fall face first on the ground "It''s good you''re here! I was just about to begin a chess match. Would you like to join me?".

    And, just like that, Sam''s afternoons became filled with conversations and encounters with her brother. Every now and them, while on her way to his place, she would still spot some military people, arising her curiosity once more, but whenever she asked her brother about it he would only sigh deeply, his left hand playing distractedly with the black pieces he was using.

    "We are in a very delicate situation" he said once "General He is still at the borders, trying to pacify the rebel leaders and find a solution that doesn''t bring the entire Zao kingdom to war again...".

    "It doesn''t look good, though, does it?" she asked tentatively.

    "No" he agreed, grief coloring his voice "It really doesn''t.".

    And so the subject was dropped. She still saw the movement and couldn''t shake the bad feeling it was giving her. But doesn''t matter how much time passed, or how frustrated her brother looked, whenever they talked about General He, there was always a particularly type of light on his eyes. If she was not wrong, it was that kind of loyalty and almost idol-like warmth a younger brother had for an older one.

    From everything she had heard about him, Sam decided, on her head, General He had indeed a very distinguish, very heroic persona. Probably middle-aged, with a few whites on his temple and a long scar crossing his right eyebrow. He would be tall, and stern, and have the kind of aura that commanded people around him. A war calloused men with rough personality and straight, direct manners.

    So, when she saw the REAL men, the one supposed to be on the BORDERS being amazing and all that, she felt it all was a bit... Well... Anticlimactic.

    ''So... Fei Hong''s famous General He... The kingdom''s brightest star... Is actually a lovestruck flower boy?'' she mused, sighing dramatically to herself. ''Too disappointing... Really disappointing''.

    But then Qing Shan had gone back inside... And it was with a very cold, very painful shiver running down her spine that Sam watched, in growing panic, as the General''s eyes turned cold, his lips thinned and an almost murderous, powerful aura enveloped him. It was almost as if she could feel it... Touch that energy with the tip of her fingers just by extending her hand.

    "I know you are there Ying Yue." he said, his voice resonating through her bones like the executioner''s drums "Don''t insult me by pretending I didn''t notice you".

    Paralyzed, terrified, and strongly considering fleeing for dear life, the only thing Sam was able to do was close her eyes, her head repeatedly knocking at the wall behind her. <i>''Ah! I''m done! I''m really done for this time! Heavens, why, why me?! Is this karma or retribution?!''</i>.

    "Xiaojie...!" Ah Mei whispered urgently, her hands tugging at the girl''s sleeves repeatedly "Xiaojie!!"

    But Sam just couldn''t bring herself to move. Frozen, her mind racing at a hundred miles per hour, she tried to rationalize the best course of action.

    ''Did he know I was here all along? But if he did, then... Then, why didn''t he say anything earlier? He wouldn''t want to vent all his unsuccessful romantic life frustrations upon me, would he? But surely he was not the kind of person to want THAT type of conversation being overheard...!''

    "Not good" she whined, looking at Ah Mei with her heart on her mouth "this is SO not good...!".

    "Xiaojie!! The General!!" Ah Mei hissed desperately, her eyes darting from the man to her mistress.

    Sam stopped, looking indignantly at her.

    "And what the hell do you want me to do?! Hein?!" she hissed back "Just willingly present myself for sacrifice?!".

    Ah Mei blinked, looking expectantly at her.

    Before she could muster enough indignation, the noise of something hitting the ground, hard, behind them had the both girls jumping up in fright, completely forgetting their current situation in between their fast-pounding hearts.

    "Aya!" Sam exclaimed, looking around with a hand on her chest "What the hell was tha..." she stopped mid-sentence, her eyes finally glancing by General He.

    A perfect statue. If not for a few stones he was still carelessly trowing up and down on his right hand.

    Sam gulped, all the color draining from her face.

    ''So that''s what happened'' she commiserated, feeling wronged.

    Meanwhile, he just stared at her, his look so intense, his aura so powerful, that Sam simply couldn''t help feeling fidgety.

    The General hadn''t said anything else, as if knowing she needed a few moments to collect her bearings. His strategically careless stance, though, didn''t fool Sam for a second. She knew, without even trying, that scape was not an option anymore.

    General He would be over her before she could say ''Darn it''.

    With a single glance at Ah Mei''s paper-white face, Sam turned on her heals and plastered her most empty, most fake and dumb smile on her face.

    "Oh! General! You are here!" she laughed, walking forward and away from the bushes with a careless, easy stride "What a coincidence! I was just there, looking at some flowers! They are blooming quite beautifully, don''t you think?".

    The man didn''t say anything, only letting his eyes wander up and down her frame... Sliding slowly once again to the beautiful Morning Blesses Qing Shan had talked about.

    Right before ripping his heart out and dancing the Conga over it.

    ''Ok. Wrong approach''.

    "So!" she exclaimed loudly, her arms swinging by her sides "Fei Hong told me about the situation at the borders! He has been quite worried about you."

    "Highness!" Ah Mei whispered frantically at her ear "Miss, ''your highness''!".

    "Your... Highness! Right!" Sam exclaimed, laughing again "Because... You are a prince! I mean, of course Your Highness is a prince! And at our house. Right now." she blabbed, feeling his eyes narrowing by the second like scissor slowly cutting her lifeline "Your Highness probably wants to talk to my brother, right? Don''t worry, don''t worry! Stay right there and I''ll fetch him real quick! Just let Ah Mei know if you need anything!". ''And, please, let me get out of here In one piece!'' she mentally added.

    Behind her, Ah Mei stifled a cry, almost trying to infuse herself onto Sam''s body.

    ''Xiaojie'' she thought ''why do you hate this servant so much, ah?! Don''t you want me to live anymore??''.

    Before anyone could say or do anything else, though, the General''s voice, cold and distance, cut the sweet smelling air.

    "I heard you lost your memory".

    Sam blinked, her mind completely blank.

    "I... Eh... Yes. I forgot everything. Your Highness" she stuttered, not quite knowing what to expect.

    He frowned.

    "In the end, we really did miscalculate" he said to himself, suddenly looking quite worried "This was a variable no-one could have foreseen." he looked at her "Still, I''m surprised you didn''t make provisions in case the worst happened. But then, maybe you did. You have always been quite a fascinating little thing.".

    Sam stammered a step back, her body going completely cold as the two of them stared at each other. She didn''t know why, or what exactly she had seen on his scrutinizing gaze, but there was suddenly a though echoing on her mind, claiming for her attention like her longs asked for air.

    ''He knows''. Sam didn''t know how she knew it, but there was no doubt on her mind at that point.

    Whatever it was that had happened to the old Ying Yue, General He knew about it. And probably was involved as well.

    The though made her shiver. There was no telling HOW exactly he was involved.

    Instead of saying anything, she only forced a laugh.

    "General, you are praising this servant too much! I really don''t understand what you are talking about!".

    He gave another step on her direction. Ah Mei shirked even more on her back.

    "I just wanted to ask you, and I will be able to tell if you are lying" he warned "you really don''t remember anything from what happened that day?".

    Sam closed her hands in a tight grip, holding her stand as best as she could.

    "I really don''t remember anything" she answered unwavering, blood rushing on her ears.

    He still studied her face for a few seconds before nodding absentmindedly, seeming to conclude there was nothing there.

    "I see" he said eventually

    "I told you the truth, even though I don''t really know you" Sam stated slowly, trying to gather her courage "In return... I would like to ask your Highness to treat me with the same courtesy and answer... What is it exactly that I have to remember? What do you know about what happened to me?".

    Right at that moment, Ah Mei felt like dying from a heart attack. What was her miss THINKING? Did she get tired of living?!?! And why, why did Miss have to bring Ah Mei down with her???

    Instead of answering, General He only studied her for a few more seconds, a slow, barely perceptible movement curving the tip of his lips upward.

    He seemed almost... Amused.

    "Don''t bother calling your brother. I''ve already overspent my stay." he said eventually, already turning his back to leave "And girl... For all of ours sakes... I hope you find the answers you are looking for. We will talk again soon enough".

    Sam wanted to call him back and demand an explanation, but before she could say a single word, he had already left.

    There was only the two girls on the empty yard, the wind blowing slowly through the tree branches, its voice singing and summer and blooms.

    Suddenly, Sam felt her body shifting as her knees gave out below her. Whatever the surge of adrenaline that had pumped her through the audacious act of questioning the general, it had definitely waned out.

    "Oh God!" she whispered, barely aware of Ah Mei fussing around her, her face just as white as Sam''s "I''m so scr*wed!".

    "Miss!" Ah Mei insisted "We should really go back! You are not looking well!".

    "Back?" Sam frowned, glancing at her maid "No... No! Let''s go!" she decided, taking the younger girl''s hands as an aid in getting back on her shaking legs "We decided to go out this morning, and it is exactly what we are doing!".

    "But Miss, you..."

    "It''s alright" Sam assured her, with a tentative smile "I need some fresh air... And besides, we never know when such a good opportunity will present itself again".

    Ah Mei frowned, but seeing the almost desperate edge to her master''s speech, she decided to only nod and company her on sneaking out.

    Meanwhile, Sam tried to calm the chaos going on on her head. ''Provisions...'' She couldn''t shake the feeling that General He knew the old Ying Yue better than anyone thought. If she had gone back to her room, she''d get herself sick by trying to find the key to put all those peaces together.

    But right now she knew she didn''t have the strength. There was still her illiteracy to be taken care of.

    And those books... They probably had something to do with all this - or else, why would anyone store it on a safe?

    ''Ying Yue, Ying Yue... You were not that simple, were you?'' she mused at herself, barely noticing as the two of them crossed the Jiang Manor gates, finally living the house behind and entering the bustling and lively Imperial City.

 17 A Fighting on the Stree

    ''It is even bigger than I remembered'' thought Sam as she and Ah Mei left the Jiang Manor and started navigating the crowded streets of the Imperial City.

    Everywhere she looked there were colors, sounds and smells to discover. Salespeople called out for possible customers from small stands and shop entrances, while the rich kids laughed and walked around, covering their faces with small fans and pointing excitedly at a few street performers blowing and swallowing balls of fire.

    It was weirdly realistic, but as someone used to modern world wonders, such as ''Roudini''s'' stunts, Sam though it was only a case of very good technique and visual illusionism.

    All around, beautifully adorned hairs, delicate gowns heavy jewelry stood out among barefoot street wanderers, plain, brown clothes and tired-looking slaves with tussled, uncared hair. The contrast was so strong, uncomfortably so, that Sam couldn''t help looking down at her clothes and then at Ah Mei''s, noticing the haggard looking seams, washed cloth and simple braided hair.

    The stab of guilt that hit her was even harder to ignore.

    "Hum... Ah Mei?" she called tentatively, while avoiding bumping in a group of chattering ladies, all of whom seemed to suddenly stop talking as they noticed her presence.

    "XiaoJie?" Ah Mei turned, frowning slightly "Is something the matter?"

    "Ah! No, no, I''m fine, I just..." she stopped, trying to find the right words to say what she wanted without making her uncomfortable "I... Well... Is there anything you want? Or need... Is there anything you need?".

    Ah Mei blinked, seeming to have been taken off guard.

    "Miss, this servant wants for nothing. I''m very glad for everything the Jiang family has provided me" she assured her, still looking a bit uncomfortable.

    Sam wanted to shout in frustration. Why is it that everyone seemed to talk in circles around her! Starting with that General of theirs... But she wasn''t going to start thinking about him right now! It would only sour her mood and make her forget what she had gone out for!

    "I know, I know" she assured her in an annoyed tone "You are grateful... But, well, I noticed how well Qing Shan''s maid dresses... I was just wondering, why don''t you have better clothes?".

    "XIaoJie" the younger girl blushed a little "This servant was just a simple maid on miss''s yard... It is my luck to be serving you as a personal maid for now... I don''t dare to be greedy".

    Sam blinked, beginning to understand.

    "So... You are not considered my personal maid?" she exclaimed in a surprised tone "But you go everywhere with me! What else they want, an official nomination?".

    The silence she received, along with the girl''s lowered head was enough answer.

    ''Ah!!! Why is it that nothing is easy around here?'' she cried to herself, before sighing, waving absentmindedly.

    "Forget it... it''s just good that I know." she brushed the matter away, already thinking about talking with her sister after going back "Let''s just get going... We still have work to do!".

    Ah Mei simply smiled at her, taking the lead once more as they started walking again, trying to avoid all the hostiles and curious stares turned her way.

    Sam had just begun feeling a bit annoyed by it all when her attention Wass caught by a what looked like a crowd gathering at the side, the voices and cheers beaming animated while bets and curses became stronger.

    Curious, Sam stopped and turned to study what looked like a semi-circle of people, a small frown marring her forehead.

    "Wei... Ah Mei, do you know what is happening there?"

    Ah Mei frowned, following her mistresses''sgaze to find two man standing in the middle of a crowd, looking straight at each other while what felt like a wave of pure energy started to weave and turn itself around them.

    ''Heavens, they are at it again'' she though, feeling the excitement building inside at the prospect of the fight ready to begin.

    "Xiaojie!! What great luck! The Great Daoist Master has come back from the mountains!! It is really our fortune to see him conceding to a challenge like this!!" Ah Mei babbled delightedly, almost jumping in excitement.

    Sam frowned.

    "Ah Mei,what do you mean ''challenge''? And why the hell are you so excited??" she could barely keep the annoyed stick out of her voice. It seemed that, for every question she asked, she got another five or six of them.

    ''It is really exhausting at times'' she sighed miserably at herself.

    "Miss, this is such a good opportunity!! Miss really can''t miss it!! Let''s go!" completely ignoring her scowl, Ah Mei grabbed her hand and almost dragged her forward, in time to hear the guy up in the air declaring what sounded like a challenge.

    "I, He Geng Xin, hereby issue this challenge to the Great Daoist Master, promising to be fair and not shame the gifts bestowed to me by the heavens". asked the tall men with a hard expression, his hands turned into fists at the sides of his dark, expensive clothes.

    At the other side, with his legs crossed and floating just a few feet off the ground, what looked like a very young men, with long, straight dark hair and an impeccably white robe floating in the wind smiled slightly, his long, delicate fingers playing with what looked like a bambu flute on his lap.

    ''Oh My God!'' Sam thought to herself, amazed at what she was seeing ''He is flying!''

    "Ah Mei" she whispered, trying not to catch the attention of the crowd surrounding them "I didn''t know you had such good CGI here".

    "Hein?" the girl turned a curious, a bit confused eyes at her "XiaoJie, this servant didn''t understand... What is CGI?".

    Before Sam could say anything else, though, the second men, the one that had been standing quietly all that time, made a move with his hand, turning everything suddenly dead silent.

    "As it is your right and your choice, I hereby accept your challenge, promising not to stray frown natural laws and be fair and honor the gifts bestowed me by the Heavens." the young man said, his voice soft, as if hiding a smile "So be it." he finished, his eyes still closed, head bent a little, as if feeling the environment at her sides.

    Sam started to feel excitement bubbling inside her, even though she didn''t know quite what to expect! Maybe it was like those plays at the theatre, where they used light effects to hide the cables and other equipment.

    At her side, Ah Mei suddenly stiffened.

    "Oh, this is bad news!!" she whispered, coming even closer to Sam and trying to push her away "XiaoJie... XiaoJie we really should get going...! Right now, we really should go!!".

    Sam frowned, looking back at her.

    "Shhh!! Ah Mei, I want to see it!" she shushed her, not noticing the sudden nervousness that made the girl''s voice quiver.

    "XiaoJie... We really should go!!" she insisted. But just as Sam was about to slap her hand away and ask her for patience, the complete stillness was broken by a loud cry.

    And then the two of them lounged themselves at each other. It was all so fast Sam could do nothing but fast in astonishment.

    Their movements where flawless, with the more nervous and ruthless one brandishing his sword in perfect arcs, attacking his opponent at a speed that should be impossible. But it wasn''t him that got Sam enthralled. No, it was the Priest. At first, she thought he was just standing there, still as a willowy tree, a small, gracious smile still on his face.

    It wasn''t until someone commented at her side at such grate skill and years of cultivation from the Daoist master that she noticed. It wasn''t that he was still, but that his movements were so swift, so effortless, that human eye could barely register it.

    Sam felt like watching a dance. A beautiful, deadly dance. She was mesmerized. It was almost possible to feel the buzz of energy all around them, the gathering of force and the excitement humming over the crowd.

    And then suddenly something changed, the movements got more aggressive, even though the still flowed as a calm river. Both seemed to speed up, bringing things to a deadlock. It was then that the Daoist Master started using his flute with one hand to avert the sharp, double sided blade, the other one pointed upwards with two fingers.

    It almost looked like he was chanting something.

    "Ah-ah! Do you think he will do it??" someone asked excitedly from somewhere around her.

    "Quite! You don''t want to make him loose concentration!".

    "Aya! As if it was possible! Master is such a grate martial artists! Just look, he will definitely use the Cloud Shattering technique!".

    Sam frowned, trying to get a little closer to the talking couple, but at precisely that moment she was shoved from behind by the squirming mass, losing sight of Ah Mei as she was shoved to the front row.

    "Xiaojie!"she still heard the girl calling, right before a sizzling sound caught her attention. Her head whipped at the front, eyes wide with wonder and horror as she saw what looked like small, shimmeringthreads of energy gathering themselves around the Master''s lifted hand, bundling onto one another till there was only a cloud-like mass of thunder and lightning suspended over both fighters.

    Seeing that, the challengers bared his teeth, stopping his movements and burning his swords deep on the ground with a single shove. The crowd hurrayed, seemingly even more excited as he aso started to concentrate, his hand forming a fighting stance while yellow light blinked in and out of sight around him.

    ''Ahn...?'' Sam gasped, her hands flying at her mouth ''This doesn''t look like CGI in the least... could it be it''s all real?? No it''s impossible! It really couldn''t!! Still...''

    The energy became stronger, so that she could almost smell it. It overwhelmed her, made her head muddled and her breath haggard.

    "I have to get out of here" she whispered to herself, desperately trying to find a way out by bumping and pushing the sea of people aside. "Please, please! let me out! I need to get out!!"

    She hit into something and then was pushed back. Hard.

    And then she was falling. Right in the middle of the fighting duo.

    Everyone around held their breaths, horrified at the girl lying on the ground between such powerful attacks on the making. There was no doubt on their minds that the girl was crazy. She must definitely be seeking death to put out such stunt.

    Far behind, still trying to make her way at the front, Ah Mei continued to shout desperately for the girl.

    "Miss!!! Miss! Get up!! Miss, please, Ah Mei is coming!!! Miss Yue!!!" she kept trying, almost calling her name on her efforts to catch her miss''s attention and get her to move away.

    ''I should have made us go!'' she berated herself. When she saw WHO was fighting, she should have tried harder, pushed them to leave... But her curiosity at the fight got the better off her. And now Ying Yue was sprawled in the middle of the fight, completely lost!

    The challenger opened his eyes, suddenly turning his head as the sounds and voices finally filtered at him. Frowning, he followed the mindless shouts and screams till a small servant girl trying to fight the crowd, her face a mask of terror... His gaze travelled on, trying to understand why everyone looked so agitated, talking, whispering and pointing.

    Finally, his eyes stopped at the figure fallen on the middle of the circle, apparently massaging an aching head.

    He gasped, all the energy he was gathering disappearing. It could not be possible. I could not be her... Could it?

    "Outch!" the girl mumbled, still not getting up the floor "I hope this doesn''t mean another visit from that stinky doctor... Ah, my head hurts!".

    He was not wrong. Heavens.

    It was her. It really was her.

    "The rumors were right" he whispered at himself "she is alive".

    Without regard of anything, he left his stance, running to the girl and, before she could say anything, pushing her up and into his arms.

    "Yue''er... Yue''er... I though I had lost you!" he repeated nonstop, his arms tightening around her.

    Sam stilled, her body stiff as a wood. She could think straight. She didn''t understand what was happening.

    On the other side, the Daoist Master stopped, his hand lowering itself until he was once more on his two feet, a curious look on his beautiful, bluish eyes.

    ''Ah Mei, you have to save me!!'' Sam thought as she tried fighting the stranger by pushing him away from her. But it seemed that he was somewhere else, content with just keeping whispering noises and calling her name.

    ''Oh God, Ying Yue! Why is it that you seem to have left such a mess behind?!?!''

 18 The Tea-Brewing Competition

    (This is part 2 of my DOUBLE-UPDATE, so, sorry about any spieling mistakes or repeated words. I''m still working on editing! Hope you guys enjoy!)

    ''Oh God, Ying Yue! Why is it that you seem to have left such a mess behind?!?!'' she cried internally, finally being able to shove him away and take a good look at the guy.

    It almost looked like he was hurt.

    "Is it your habit to go around hugging unsuspecting girls on the street?" she exclaimed annoyedly, giving the guy a dirty look.

    All around them, everything seemed to quite, not even a fly could be heard.

    "Yue''er" he frowned, suddenly just inches from her once more, his voice barely more than a whisper, just enough for her to hear "I know you are mad... I know I didn''t protect you! But you have to trust me! If I had know Tong..." he gulped "what <i> she </i> was planing, I swear, I would''ve done anything to stop it!".

    Sam wanted to massage her nose, almost feeling the curious, almost judging glares at her back.

    "Listen kid" she started, not caring to control the tone of her voice "I really don''t know who you are or what the hell you are talking about... Besides, this is not the place to have this conversation". Finally, she spotted Ah Mei at the sides, looking deathly pale "I should really get going know...".

    "Jiang Ying Yue!" he whispered fervently, grabbing her by the arms so she could not get away, his voice still low, as if not wanting anyone else to hear them "Is it everything I deserve? After all we''ve been through... Is this all that you''ll give me? Your indifference?".

    ''Oh God!'' Sam closed her eyes tightly, wishing to be anywhere else but there. AH-ah! Why couldn''t things go well just for ONCE?

    All around her, she finally became aware of the whispers.

    "Why is the Crown Prince talking to her?"

    "Wha is the meaning of this?"

    "Could it be he wants the crazy Jiang girl to be the new Queen?"

    Sam gasped, turning to him once more.

    His eyes still felt hard, his posture defiant. The Crown Prince.

    She felt like spitting blood. ''Heavens... This must be bad karma accumulated from hundreds of lifetimes... Why, WHY can''t it go well a single time?''.

    Just before she could say anything, the sound of roofs and running feet interrupted them, making everyone turn their faces.

    "The Royal Guards are Here!!" someone on the crowd shouted.

    What follows was a real pandemonium, with everyone trying to get away as fast as possible. Using the confusion to her advantage, Sam was able to free herself, stumbling backwards and almost falling before she was able to regain her balance and run away, catching Ah Mei''s cold hand on the way and dashing forward.

    She was still able to hear a voice calling out to her, but didn''t dare to look back. It was not the time. Something inside her said nothing good would come out of that meeting, and for some reason, she believed it.

    "XiaoJie...!" Ah Mei gasped, looking over her shoulders at the guards picking up people and shoving them down while arresting others "Miss! There!" she pointed at a large tea house at the corner of the street.

    They could probably hide there and wait for things to calm a bit... Just for a few minutes.

    Understanding her line of thoughts, Sam started slowing down, until they resumed a seemingly carefree walk at the establishment''s door, trying to hide their labored breaths with a refined smile as an old merchant offered to show them an empty table.

    "You will have to excuse this servant, miss, for as you can see, we are quite crowded this afternoon!" he beamed, pointing with a hand a small table ahead, just below a beautiful window. It was a bit hidden, and too close to the kitchen door''s for anyone to want it, but for Sam it was perfect. What better way to go unnoticed?

    "Sir, we thank you very much, this is perfect!" she assured him, looking curiously at the front of the shop, where a large stage was set, with what looked like four empty seats and two young ladies brewing tea "Hum... What is happening here today? It seems quite popular!".

    "Ah, Miss is right! You have very good eyes!" he assured her "We are having our annual tea-brewing competition! People all over the Kingdom, and I was told, even beyond it, come here to watch and participate! Quite popular, it''s quite popular indeed!".

    And just like that, he left them to themselves, assuring Sam someone would come to take her order and bring some snacks. Once they were completely alone, she sighed on relief.

    "God! I though we were truly lost this time!" she confessed, looking at Ah Mei "That guy... Ah Mei, tell me, was he really the Crown Prince?" she finished her question in a whisper, trying no to be overheard by the suddenly clapping audience.

    "Good!"

    "Very Good!"

    "Miss... This servant deserves death!" Ah Mei sniffed miserably, her head hung low "This servant knew of what happened... This servant should have insisted we go when I noticed it was the Crown Prince!".

    Sam frowned.

    "What do you mean by ''what happened''?" Sam mumbled, having a really bad feeling about all that "And what..." she stopped talking suddenly, gasping at the stabbing pain she felt suddenly at her side.

    Her hand flew to her ribs, as if expecting to find a knife buried there, but there was only smooth fabric under her fingertips.

    "Miss" Ah Mei called, worriedly "Miss, are you all right?".

    Before she could answer, Sam looked back feeling like there was a gaze burning wholes on her head. Instantly, her eyes meeting the cold, snidely smiling face of one of the competitors. The girl''s lips quivered a little, showing an almost venomous satisfaction at Sam.

    "Ah Mei" she whispered soberly, not daring to look away "Who is that girl?".

    The servant stiffened, her face looking positively terrified.

    "Ah Mei!" Sam ordered, a bit harsher than she intended "WHO is that girl?".

    "That... That girl" Ah Mei swallowed hard, trying to still her stuttering "She is the nominated Crown Princes... Future wife of prince He Geng Xin... Miss Tong Zhi Ruo".

    Sam blinked, not knowing exactly what to do with that information. As if understanding what was happening, Tng Zhi Ruo''s smile became even wider, a almost taunting glint shining in her eyes.

    ''This girl is dangerous'' a small voice whispered in Sam''s mind, and just like before, she didn''t even considered mistrusting it.

    Turning back to Ah Mei, she said "We have to get out of here".

    Just than, they were swallowed by another round of applause.

    "And it seams, ladies and gentlemen, that this years winner is our nominated Crown Princess!! Miss Tong Zhi Ruo!" more applause and cheers could be herd, and Sam decided to use that opportunity to get away from there, as fast as she could "Let''s go!" she hissed to Ah Mei, dragging the girl with her on the direction of the door.

    "... Such a blessing to our country!" the judge kept talking "Now, as it is tradition, the winner has the right to select someone from the crowd to make her a cup of tea, as sign of respect and admiration!" he kept talking "Your Highness, please, take your time" he bowed at her, clearly kissing up, Sam thought.

    Tang Zhi Ruo smiled a bright, seemingly graceful smile, but didn''t bother correcting the man that she was not yet the crown princess, as the wedding was yet to take place. instead, she walked to the front of the small stage, her face the sight of a beautiful, considerate maiden.

    "I thank you so much! Everyone of my competitors was worth and had such astonishing abilities... Zhi Ruo is really humbled by everything I learned this afternoon and it is my great pleasure to receive this prize!" everyone applauded again, cementing about how such a great figure could be so kind and respectful "I know you have been hearing rumors... And it pains me dearly to learn about the harsh treatment someone has been receiving because of it. So, I want to use this opportunity to show everyone that there is nothing left to forgive between us!"

    Her honeyed words only served to make Sam feel like vomiting, the sense of urgency building up on her stomach with a vengeance.

    Almost at the door, she chanted at her self, she was almost at the door...!

    "Jiang mei mei!" Tong Zhi Ruo suddenly called, making everyone turn her way and Sam stand dead still "Jiang Mei Mei... It would be Zhi Ruo''s honor to have you make me a cup of tea... So we can show everyone that no harm has been done, and that we forgave each other for any past mishaps!".

    Sam closed her eyes slowly, trying to contain her desire to roll her eyes and scream.

    Couldn''t anyone see how false all that sounded? Or that viper''s smiling with such smug satisfaction?

    But everyone was already commending her about such noble spirit and being able to forgive that terrible Jiang kid.

    Sam looked at Ah Mei for help, but the girl seemed ready to faint.

    There was really no way out this time.

    ''Forget it'' she sighed ''It''s just a cup of tea... Let''s just get done with it!''

    Forcing a smile, she slowly turned to the front stage, ordering her limbs to work as she slowly bowed at her competition.

    "Zhi ruo, jie jie!" she crooned, deciding that, if she would go down, so she would annoy the hell out of that creature on her way "You know I have terrible skills, not in the least compared to Jie Jie''s talent! You had so many more years than me to cultivate your talent! Jie Jie, I don''t dare to offend your taste with my meek tries!".

    Sam lowered her head in what looked like submission, but was in fact a way to cover her desperate desire to laugh. She could sear a vein was jumping on that girl''s forehead at the allusion of her age!

    Ah-ah, so amusing! And everyone around seemed not to have noticed anything! They were even complimenting her about her change of manners, and that she seemed to know her place now.

    "Mei Mei-a, what are you saying? We are just a few months apart!" Zhi Ruo exclaimed, with round, naive eyes "Whatever you do, it will be fine for me. Jie Jie won''t judge you!".

    Sam almost sighed. Well, she had tried.

    Still trying to sound meek and polite, she made her way to the front and onto the stage, waiting while two servants cleaned everything and started arranging some very weird, very foreign stuff in front of her.

    "Hum... Excuse me" she asked one of them in a low voice "I though I was supposed to make tea...?"

    The men blinked, seemingly flabbergasted.

    "You are, miss.".

    "Right..." she said slowly "So... We are all the tea stuff... And what should I do with all of this?".

    If it was possible, the poor servant seemed to be having a stroke from disbelief.

    "Miss... This are the things used to brew tea".he whispered nervously before making himself scarce as fast as possible.

    Sam just felt her jaw dropping, looking at everything laid In front of her with utter defeat.

    Slowly, her eyes traveled to the triumphant smile on the Viper''s face.

    She slowly closed her eyes, trying to thing.

    ''Just making some tea, hum?'' she berated herself internally ''what could go wrong, hum?!?!''

    Now, what was she to do...?

    "Tong Mei Mei, if you don''t mind, I would like to offer to make tea on Yue''er stead... To represent the good will of our entire Jiang family".

    Sam gasped, her head whipping to the entrance door, not believing in what she was seeing. Deep inside, however, a small, flimsy thread of relief, respect and even... Even love quivered slightly, as if she had played the string of a guitar.

    And right at that moment, Samantha couldn''t differentiate anymore which were this body''s responses and which were her own.

    Her family had arrived.

 19 The Crown Prince Small Chapter

    THAT NIGHT

    IMPERIAL PALACE - CROWN PRINCE''S QUARTERS.

    Crown Prince He paced furiously around his room, his eyes wild with fury and disbelief as he went over everything that happened that day on his head.

    Jiang Ying Yue was alive. She was alive. He would still not dare completely believe it, if for anything other than his own hands having hold her. The feeling of her thin arms, the weight of her beautiful eyes looking at him, eyes that were so different from those on his memory, and yet could not be anyone else''s.

    It was her. It really was.

    "Dammit!" he screamed, brushing his arms over a nightstand and throwing everything on the grown, ceramic, glass, chinaware, everything broke down on pieces at his feet, only increasing the fire burning behind his dark, dangerous eyes.

    He had asked.

    When his father sent him to the camp, with the pitiful excuse of making him bond with his army and enhance the Empire''s strength, Geng Xin had wanted to laugh. Anyone would be able to tell the Emperor''s reasoning. His engagement had just been made official, but the Imperial City''s gossip mill was stillhot with whispers and tales about his secret meetings with the Jiang girl.

    His goal was to keep them two apart. And he almost succeeded, in a most definite way.

    At first, he had laughed. To think the old man thought he could keep them apart was such a ridiculous idea that he brushed it aside with ease and conceded to travel most graciously.

    Apparently, he had underestimated the situation.

    ''The only thing more dangerous than a greedy men, is a greedy woman'', his maternal uncle used to say, with a faraway look in his old, yellowish eyes.

    But the man had got it wrong. All of them had. There was something worst than greed. Even more dangerous and unpredictable.

    A variable that hid itself in plain sight, so that when anyone noticed, it would be far too lat to act.

    He never saw the jealousy on Tong Zhi Ruo''s eyes. He saw her greed, her envy at his time, her need for power and callous treatment of anyone beneath her.

    Now he understood, he saw only what she had wanted him to see, nothing else. She showed him a reflex of his own needs, desires and flaws. That''s why the prince never cared to look deeper.

    That one oversight almost cost Ying Yue''s life.

    When the news of her ''death'' reached him, he had wanted to rush back, too see her at any cost, to prove everyone else wrong...!

    But it would mean disobeying a royal decree. It would mean exposing himself far too soon, and jeopardizing everything he had been working for his entire life.

    Geng Xin could not, would not, risk his position now. Not after everything he had to endure just to be nominated the Crown Prince. He knew Ying Yue would understand him, she always did.

    She saw the darkness on his soul and matched it. She was his partner, the one he turned to talk to whenever the weight of his choices tried to burry him. There was never kindness on the young girl''s eyes. But there was acceptance and, even more important, there was loyalty.

    So he mourned in silence. He let his heart die slowly, turning colder and colder as the days went by.

    Every few days, though, Geng Xin would succumb to his grief and ask his Fourth brother about the Jiang family. But the answer was always the same.

    "There were no words from the Capital. I''m sorry, brother".

    And then, one day, he too had disappeared, living behind only the notice that General He had received a secret decree urging him back to the Imperial City.

    The Crown Prince had feared the worst then. His blood turned cold as images of the Emperor finding out everything and making arrangements to have him arrested as soon as he stepped foot on the capital flooded his mind.

    Geng Xin had tried contacting all his allies on the court, his spies and even some long-time friends for information, but it seemed that everything was as it used to be. No-one knew of any strange movements or suspicious actions being taken on the Capital.

    As far as everyone knew, General He himself was still back on the war camp.

    That particular information gave him pause. But it was what he read next that made him finally reach a decision.

    ''You wouldn''t know, of course, but the most amusing thing happened while you are away'' one of his friends had written ''it seem''s that the youngest Jiang girl has finally lost her wits. There has been talk all around the city about her crazy antics. I...''.

    He hadn''t bothered reading anything else.

    As far as reasoning was concerned, Geng Xin had the motive, he had the perfect excuse to go back: see what moves was his brother taking.

    But deep inside, burrowed under tons of brick walls and frosted ice, his heart was beating a bit faster.

    ''Could it be true?'' the question hung in the air around him throughout the journey back ''Could it be she really is alive?''.

    He didn''t care what anyone else thought. If she really was crazy, if she was hurt. Nothing mattered anymore, not at that point. She was alive. And, for some reason he didn''t want to look too close into, it was enough for him.

    The Crown Prince sighed, closing his eyes and falling against a wall in a defeated position. There was no point in relieving all the hell he''d bee through those last two months. Now that he was back, that the first move had been made, it was once again time to plan.

    It would put things into motion sooner than was his wish... But there was no helping it now. At least, not right now. It would all depend on the conversation he was sure his father would want to have with him.

    After all, coming back to the Capital City uninvited was still a crime.

    There was a knock on the door.

    "I said I want to be alone!" he screamed, his eyes burning at the direction of the intruder.

    Completely disregarding his words, General He walks slowly through the door, his eyes hard as the metal of his sword as the men took his time apprising the destruction on the room before turning to look at his older brother.

    A disgusted frown etched itself on his face, turning the tip of his lips slightly down.

    "Still so fast to take your anger on everything around you" he said with an annoyed undertone to his voice "Imperial Father is not happy. You should have stayed on the camp, brother."

    The anger boiling inside Geng Xin seemed to reach a new high as he watched his Fourth Bother, his eyes seeing read as he slowly got up.

    "Impudent!" he seethed venomously "General He, are you trying to rebel? Don''t you consider me anymore the Crown Prince?"

    The General raised a singe brow, seemingly imune to the hidden threat on the other man''s words.

    "Your Highness, Crown Prince" he bowed his head slightly, completely unfazed.

    "Won''t you bow?" Geng Xin sneered, nearing him slowly, like a snake rounding his pray.

    General He only blinked at him, his eyes shining a bit darker than before the only sign that his patience, even though running under a tight leach, was coming to an end.

    "Do you still consider yourself the Crown Prince?" he accused in a low, steady, almost detached voice "What where you thinking? Fighting on the street? Clinging to a noble woman like she was a street harl..."

    "Don''t you dare talk about her!" he cut on a forceful tone, clutching his brother''s clothes near the neck on a tight grip, bringing his face at a hair distance from his "This is my business! Stay out of it" he warned on a dangerous voice.

    The temperature on the room seemed to drop even more, making even the air stand still.

    "Your business?" the General repeated in a condescending tone "When you decide to act like a stupid street urchin and put the Family''s honor at stake, it is not only your business anymore, <i> brother </i>!" the Crown Prince only lifted a bored eyebrow at his words, the General''s eyes becoming harder with the taunting.

    "Did you think, for even a second, about all the people that witnessed your little <i> stunt </i>? Don''t you care they had to lose their lives in exchange for their silence? For <i> your </i> honor?"

    The fist came fast, so fast that the General was not fast enough to avoid it before his chin exploded in pain and his back hit the hard, shards-covered floor.

    "I won''t warn you again, little brother, so listen carefully" the Crown Prince warned in a very low voice "Stay out of my business. Or else, next time, I won''t be so considerate of our brotherly ties".

    The General slowly got up, his eyes bright with a feverish anger he was fighting to contain.

    The sudden shatter on his brother''s otherwise impenetrable armor brought a smug smile to Geng Xin''s lips.

    "The Jiang girl... If you still want to keep this title, you''ll leave her alone"

    "She is mine" the older cut, his jaw clenched, teeth grinding "It''s not up to you to decide what I do".

    Before any of them could say anything else, there was another nock on the door, just before Geng Xin''s aide entered, his trained, hawk like eyes scanning the place as if in search of any hidden dangers before walking fast to his employer.

    "Master, it''s time" he whispered at his ear, sanding a murderous glance at the General''s direction now and them "The Emperor''s Eunuch has come. Your Majesty wants to talk to you on his study now".

    The Crown Prince only nodded, turning a now-bored glance at his brother.

    "It seems father finally decided to see me" he explained, indicating for his aide to leave before him "it seems I won''t be able to keep entertaining you anymore, Fourth Brother" he pointed at the the door with mocking solicitude "After you".

    General He just stood still for a few seconds, studying the other men''s face as if trying to find something there.

    Finally, he sighed.

    "You should not mention her" he warned, turning his back and leaving "Father is not happy right now."

    Geng Xin scoffed.

    "I know how to deal with him" he murmured, not missing the fact that his brother didn''t bow before leaving, as it was expected from every other Prince on the Imperial Family when facing the Heir to the throne.

    His eyes turned cold once more.

    He would make him bow¡­ He would put the world at his feet. And then stand aside and watch while it burned.

 20 INTERLUDE an extra

    *Meanwhile on Author''s Universe*

    On a small room, uncomfortably hopped over a small chair, with half-closed eyes gazing stubbornly at a very whitish, very empty computer scream...

    AUTHOR: stop doing that.

    SAM: think she is finally talking to us?

    YING YUE (Roling her eyes with irritation): of course she is talking with us! Do you see anyone else here?!

    SAM: well, of course not! But still...

    YY (making holes with her eyes of the authors back): oh why...! WHY did YOU have to get me stuck with this Mary Sue?!

    SAM (offended): I''m not a Mary Sue!

    YY: oh no? Sorry, my apologies then...

    SAM: stop being mean! Aren''t you, like, just 15?! It doesn''t feel right!

    YY: aren''t you, like, living inside my body?! Why should I care how old I am?

    SAM: I...

    AUTHOR: I said stop! Please I can''t concentrate either the two of you nagging on my ears, so just STOP!

    Author closed her eyes, massaging her temples as if praying for patience - and some sort of inspiration, so she could finally finish that next chapter and get rid of the two quarreling characters.

    SAM: just so you know... I kinda need her memories back.

    YY: gosh, I don''t even believe I''m agreeing with Mary Sue over there, but she is right. She really need her memories back.

    SAM: for the tenth time, I''m not a...

    YY: oh, yeah yeah, everyone heard you the first time, don''t worry...

    SAM: URGH! I though she was supposed to be dead?!?! (Looking pointedly at the author, arms crossed over her middle)

    YY: oh... no. Who shared this precious peace of news with you?

    SAM: well... it''s what everyone is thinking!

    YY: well you, there is nothing definitive about it yet, so stop cursing me!

    SAM: I''m not...

    AUTHOR: AHHHH ENOUGH! If you two don''t stop it right now, I swear to HEAVENS, next chapter I''ll make it that...

    Before she could finish, a sizzling sound cut through the stuffed bedroom, making the three of them turn to look as a orangish, sparkly circle started forming out of thin air, spinning crazily until there was an growing hole opening in the middle.

    The author''s eyes shone.

    AUTHOR: oh... my.... gosh...!

    Just then, a man with tight clothes and a red, self-entitled red cape jumped out, his black wavy hair swaying slightly.

    He looked around for a second, while his portal closed. Then he noticed the Author''s round eyes. He froze.

    AUTHOR (mumbling): Oh... Oh... My...

    MAN: oh no.

    AUTHOR: oh yes!

    MAN (closing his eyes): Not again...!

    AUTHOR: You... You are...

    MAN (already turning): I really should have taken the left curve...

    AUTHOR (jumping from her seat): OH MY GOD! YOU ARE DOCTOR STRANGE!

    MAN: It seams so... Now, I really should be...

    AUTHOR (running to crush his hand in a tight grip): but... But how? Why? I mean... How come you are here?

    YY (sounding bored out of herself): yeah... How come?

    5 minutes later...

    AUTHOR: Just a photo! Please!

    D.STRANGE: I really don''t have the time for this silliness...

    AUTHOR: Just one! One little photo...! PLEEEEEASE?

    D.STRANGE (sighing): Ok, fine. But it is one photo. And then I''ll have to be going on my...

    AUTHOR (running to shove her self phone at a brooding Sam and Ying Que pair): THANK YOU!!!! No no will never believe that I have a real pic with Benedict Cumberbatch!

    D.STRANGE: Oh, for the last time! I am NOT this Cucumber guy, whoever he is?

    AUTHOR: No? You surely look like him.

    D.STRANGE: This is irrelevant. There are many people around the world that look quite alike each other.

    AUTHOR: ok then... Can you at least smile to the photo?

    D.STRANGE: aren''t you being a bit too much?

    AUTHOR: No! Now just smile... Anyway you want it girls!

    YY: Than, will you FINALLY get over yourself and finish the darn chapter!

    AUTHOR: Of course! And don''t curse, it doesn''t suit a girl your age!

    YY (muttering): I really, REALLY hate this Cucumber guy right now!

    AUTHOR (still trying to talk through a frozen smile): Any chance you could use that nice portal of your and take me to meet Scarlet Johansen?

    Steven wanted to facepalm.

    But then again, the crazy girl might just make him pose again for the darn photograph!

    YY (sounding offended while lowering the cellphone): HE is cursing? Why isn''t anyone saying anything when HE is cursing?!

    SAM (with a smug smile): Who is whinny Mary Sue now?

 21 What happened to Ying Yue 1

    On the quiet, spacious study room, sat with his back straight and a concentrated look, Fei Hong went completely still, his wet brush frozen mere inches away from the half finished scroll.

    Slowly, his gaze locked in the doorframe, a sharp glint shining through very intelligent, very dark eyes. All the while, he didn''t move a single muscle, as if afraid that any movement would shatter the tension filling the air. Breathing deeply, Fei Hong let his vital points align, liberating just a small amount of energy, enough only to help enhance his senses and cover the entire courtyard.

    He could feel the life force of all his servants, the slow breeze playing with the tree branches, even a malnourished cat lurking around the kitchen...

    But no threat. No malice or evil intentions tarnished the air.

    In fact, he couldn''t feel even the smallest sign of anything that shouldn''t be there.

    And yet, the sound of light foot steps closing in around his study was still clear, their pace irregular as if the person was going back and forth with a nervous streak.

    What could only mean...

    Relaxing his stiff muscles, Fei Hong put aside his writing material, failing to suppress the small smile already curving his lips as the sound became closer and closer to the main entrance.

    ''Ah Ying must be bored again'' he though to himself, looking thoughtfully at the piling amount of documents he still had to deal with, before brushing everything aside to be felt with on another opportunity.

    It was almost time for their game of Go, anyway...

    Trying not to laugh at his own juvenile antics, Fei Hong stretched his arms and sighed, glancing sideways at the entrance.

    "Aya! No-one ever taught you it is bad manners to spy on your elders?" he joked "You can stop with the pacing now, Ah''Ying" he chuckled, waiting for Ying Yue''s bashful figure to show up near the entrance, arms crossed around her middle and a defiant glint on her eyes.

    Ever since her recovery, Fei Hong found hard conciliating the confused, laughing girl sneaking into his office with his more serious, cold sister. In many ways, it felt like going back in time, to those younger years, when their father was still alive and everything was easier.

    And yet, even though in his heart Fei Hong wanted nothing more than to let her be, to let this happier version of his sister grow without worries, he knew it could never be.

    Not when they''re the last offsprings of the Jiang Family. Not when they were so close to...

    "Young Master?"

    Surprised, Fei Hong looked back at the entrance, his brows furrowing as Ye Qi''s worried face came into view.

    He was supposed to be watching the house today, to make sure no prying eyes would come upon the General coming and going from the Manor.

    "Ye Qi? What is it? What has happened?" he asked in a tight voice, a hand already resting on the handle of his sword.

    If the wrong people had found out somehow General He had been there...

    A cold feeling seeped through his bones, making him shiver.

    "Sir, it is fifth young Miss" Ye Qi hurried to explain at his master''s reaction, his heart sowing down as Fei Hong''s grip on his sword relaxed "You were right, sir. She has indeed gone out on her own".

    Without intending to, Fei Hong felt his body leaning back on the chair, releasing the breath he didn''t even know he had been holding.

    So, the Heavens hadn''t left them alone, after all...

    "I understand" he mumbled, closing his eyes and massaging his temples "Just make sure we have eyes on her at every moment... But tell them not to get too close... Ah Ying never liked being told what to do".

    And Fei Hong was well aware of the fact that his stubborn sister tented to do exactly the opposite of whatever anyone expected her too.

    He frowned, noticing that Ye Qi was still in front of him, fidgeting uncomfortably.

    A bad feeling started to brew inside his stomach.

    "Is there something else? Ye Qi... What is it that you are not telling me?".

    "Da Xiao Ye..." he gulped, avoiding his eyes "I might be wrong but, just now, I think I saw Crown Prince on the street... Fighting with Great Daoist Master".

    All color left the young man''s face, his heart losing a beat.

    "And sir... there is more" Ye Qi mumbled "The future Crown Princess is also on the city... I heard a few maids talking about a tea brewing competition being held...".

    Before the aide could finish, his master had already jumped out of his chair and all but ran out of the courtyard without a single look back.

    Fei Hong had a very bad feeling about whatever was happening ...

    ''And just at such a moment, he is finally back'' a small voice whispered on his ears as the cold, expressionless face of the Daoist Master slowly took form in front of his eyes.

    ''Stop it'' he told himself sternly ''You have to think about Ah''Ying! She is your priority now!''.

    "Tell me where your Eldest Miss is" he darted at Ye Qi, whose only reaction was to give a small nod, he himself trying to shut the voice in his head saying their household would meet trouble quite soon.

    ________________________________________________

    Sam had known Amelia for almost her entire life.

    That, of course, didn''t imply the two of them had been on friendly terms throughout most of them.

    In fact, the first time they actually talked to each other besides niceties had been on the first year after her parents death.

    Those earlier months, Sam had been going on as if lost in a daze, and only when the bills started pilling up and the energy company threatened to cut out her electricity did she really understood what it was to depend only on her own. So she had sucked it up, taken a long shower and begged for a position with one of her mom''s old friend''s law office.

    Donald Morgan, her recently associated boss, was one of the most arrogant, selfish, narcissistic persons she had ever had the misfortune to meet. He was always too friendly, too intimate, and leant closer than necessary when asking for whatever he needed. Every time she would tell herself to deal with it and remember she really needed the money. Until that one time when he waited till the office was empty to try and make a move on her.

    After that, when she ran away as if devil himself was hot on her heals (leaving behind a mumbling Donald with his most sensitive parts throbbing), Sam''s life had turned into a living hell. He would scream at her, trow her work at the garbage bin, humiliate her in front of everyone on their floor, and even go as far as knock on her arm to make her spill coffee on one of their most important clients.

    On that particular day, Donald had been screaming his veins off at her again, pointing a couple files she had rewritten the night before (for the tenth time) on her face while spit flew out of his mouth. Sam''s policy usually included taking a breath and nodding before scurrying away. Even though the salary wasn''t high, she still desperately needed the income.

    But that day was different.

    It was her parents death anniversary and, for some reason, she felt herself tearing up.

    "How come you seem unable to do anything right?" Donald had accused, trowing the archives on a close-by desk "Is it really that difficult to write a damn case review? Are you daft?! I don''t care who the fuck you think you are! It is one word from me and you are out, got it?!"

    She gulped, trying to stifle a sob. How come her life had turned to be like this?! When did she become such a pathetic, fearful creature?

    Just as she was about to raise her head, a very familiar voice interrupted her.

    "There you are, Sam! I''m sorry I didn''t call you earlier today... I understand it is a delicate moment for you. Coffee still up, though?".

    Sam just blinked, her eyes wide in recognition. Even without the colorful make-up and the green and blue hair strands, there was no mistaking Amelia, the girl she barely talked to at school. A girl that, for some reason, was defending her.

    "Amelia" Donald had almost hissed "What do you think you are doing here?".

    "Dr.Morgan" she just smiled, adding sweetly "Just waking by, admiring the view."

    "You''d better go back to work, then. You''re not paid for sight-seeing"

    "Oh, I will. But you see, now I actually have a question for you... Of the juridical type" she assured him, smiling brightly "As a lawyer, I would suppose you understand the term ''moral harassment'' quite well, don''t you, Dr. Morgan?"

    The lawyer''s face went completely pale.

    "You have no ideia what you are talking about" he seethed in a lower voice, trying not to be overheard by their growing public "One more word and I''ll get your asses fired before you know it".

    "Oh... You are probably right... But do''t worry." Amelia had retorted, putting an arm around Sam''s shoulders "We quit." she sing-songged "By the way, don''t trust so much on fawning underlings... The new haircut? It looks terrible".

    Once, long after this incident, while they were watching a sugary chit-flick on the TV, Sam had asked her friend why exactly she had done what she did on that fateful day, considering they were barely acquainted at the time.

    "Your mother once helped my family..." she confessed, her usual cheerful self toned down a bit "You probably don''t even know, but... Well, mom and I, we wanted to get rid of my dad and his drinking-beating habits, as I''ve told you before" her lips curved on a self-deprecating smile, before a soft expression crossed her eyes "She never asked for anything... your mom, I mean. No money, nothing. She saved our lives, you know? I was very sorry when I heard of what happened to them.".

    Sam had only blinked, tears already stinging on her eyes.

    "Still, you didn''t have to" she insisted "She would never have wanted you to quit because of me" Sam laughed "Damn, she would probably have accused us both of not thinking and letting Donald go to easily". Both of them had laughed.

    "Well, it doesn''t matter anymore, right? I think we can both say we''re better for it" Amelia blinked mischievously, finally going back to her usual smiling, carefree self "Besides, the guy was totally asking for a beating. He is lucky we didn''t become physical!"

    Until Sam arrived at this place, Amelia had been her support, her friend, her family... She had helped her heal and find her way more than any fancy psychiatrist.

    But now, just as everything was finally going right, her world had been turned upside down again. She was stranded in a weird, unknown place. A place where she had a family. A place where people cared.

    For most of the time she felt completely out of balance, unable to blend in and understand the life she was now a part of. Others it was like being a lab rat, with her language and mannerisms being watched closely.

    But now, right at that moment, when she had heard Qing Shan''s voice at the shop''s entrance, Sam was suddenly unable to understand where Ying Yue''s feelings ended and where her own emotions begun.

    The turmoil on her head just not surpass the relief at seeing the elder girl''s face through the entrance, her searching eyes finally smiling as her gaze locked with Sam''s.

    "Tong Mei Mei" Qing Shan turned once again to the Crown Princess to be "if you don''t mind, I would like to offer to make tea on Yue''er stead... To represent the good will of our entire Jiang family" Qing Shan had said with a kind smile, her beautiful black hair framing her face like a painting "It would be Qing Shan''s honor".

    For a brief moment, as Sam watched, the smile on Tong Zhi Ruo''s face seemed to freeze, her beautiful eyes turning as cold as ice and becoming so hard they seemed to be able to cut through flesh and bone.

    "Xiaojie!" Ah Mei suddenly whispered, making Sam notice she had been shrinking back from the girl''s gaze instinctively.

    "Sorry" she mumbled, fidgeting uncomfortably.

    "Qing Shan Jie Jie, you are here!" Zhi Ruo greeted warmly "It is such a pity I didn''t notice you before! With skills as yours, our competition would have been so much more lively!" she exclaimed on a friendly tone, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she watched the older Jiang sister walk up to the small stage.

    ''This is too scary'' Sam thought to herself ''She is like a chameleon, changing faces so easily...''

    "Tong Mei Mei, you overpraise me. Compared to your skills, mine are barely tolerable, I''m sure!" Qing Shan demurred, making a few heads turn at her direction with unhidden admiration. Sam could only concur. Qing Shan was always so kind, it was difficult to have any reservation about her.

    ''But still'' she reminded herself ''there was that conversation with General He to consider...'' And even the man himself had to be taken into consideration. And then there was that fight on the street... Sam frowned, feeling a headache on the way. If she wanted to survive on that place, she really needed to find a way and get some answers fast.

    "Zhi Ruo appreciates Jie Jie''s offer, but I''ve already asked Ying Yue Mei Mei! I would not want her to feel offended for my changing now" she answered sweetly, the look of concern so real on her face that even Sam almost believed her.

    Sam frowned, looking once again at the tea brewing equipment as if trying to make sense of an alien language. There was no telling where she could even start with those things... And with all the people watching, so eager for her to commit a mistake...

    Her mind suddenly went on overdrive. She could just imagine how bad all the stares and whispers on the street would get if she made a fool of herself on that stage.

    Or worse... What if she managed to offend their beloved Crown Princess to be along the way...?!

    As much as she wanted to dissociate herself from this Ying Yue girl, there was no denying the need to consider her acts carefully if she ever wanted to be able to walk the streets again.

    As she was almost despairing from finding a solution and started to consider feigning a fainting span, Sam felt Qing Shan''s warm, soft hands closing around her own shake ones.

    Surprised, she raised her wide eyes at her, reading the reassurance and care on the girl''s face.

    It still felt weird how much they really cared. Especially considering she was but a stranger on their sister''s body.

    "Tong Mei Mei" Qing Shan said, turning to Zhi Ruo with a concerned little frown "as I know you are aware, my sister has not yet recovered from a severe injure. I''m afraid she won''t be able to make justice of your kindness to our family.".

    Zhi Ruo barely moved, her intelligent eyes seeming to access all her options and weighting her words carefully before saying anything. As the seconds passed, Sam started feeling restless, like there was something nagging at the back of her thoughts, something she could not seem to understand.

    She could almost feel the heat from Zhi Ruo''s gaze, the hatred and disgust turning on themselves until there were only shapeless flames left, spreading through her veins until her hands started shaking...

    And yet... Both her and Qing Shan knew she didn''t have much of a choice now. Not if she didn''t want to be labeled unyielding or mean.

    "Oh, of course!" she suddenly said, with a worried look turned to Sam''s direction "we all know about such an unfortunate affair! Mei Mei, I hope you are feeing better?" she asked.

    "Oh, yeah, I-I''m better... But I fear I''m not quite myself yet" Sam mumbled, trying not to sound like there was a tight rope squeezing the air out of her lungs "The nosy" Qing Shan squeezed her hand "aham, I mean, Physician Li said, if all goes well, I''ll be as good as new in just a couple weeks".

    As she kept talking, Zhi Ruo''s eyes shone with barely hidden curiosity at her peculiar way of speech... It was completely at odds with the Ying Yue she used to know.

    The cold intelligence, the detached air... There was nothing of the arrogant, selfish girl she had met before.

    It was like seeing a completely different person.

    ''Is it possible, then, that the rumors are true?'' Zhi Ruo considered to herself ''Does this girl have really gone mad?''

    No, no! It was impossible! She was probably trying to deceive her! It was a strategy to get her to let her guard down... Anyway, she would figure it out eventually. One way or another.

    "If it is like this, I suppose a change is for the best!" Zhi Ruo agreed suddenly, receiving general nods of approval from the audience "Qing Shan Jie Jie, if you may..." she gesture on the direction of the table "I won''t worry then, as I know you have quite the experience on the area" the last part sounded barely above a whisper, accompanied by a wry, venomous smile.

    Before Sam could ask Ah Mei what was that all about, she felt Qing Shan''s body grow stiff by her side, her pale face going white as chalk dust as she turned to face Zhi Ruo with a haunted look on her eyes.

    Sam gulped, feeling a burning knot form on her stomach.

    Was it... Was it anger? ''But why am I angry?'' she asked herself, trying to get past her gritting teeth.

    "Jie Jie" she started to whisper, walking forward to touch Qing Shan''s hand without even noticing. Just as her fingers grazed the cold skin, though, her vision turned completely black.

    Sam gasped, trying to breath between the waves of panic surrounding her.

    Just for a second, an image seemed to begin to form on her head. A flash of something like an old, forgotten memory slipping away, out of reach.

    ''Jie jie!'' a young voice called loudly on her years ''No! Please! Jie Jie!''

    ''Ah Ying! Don''t!''

    ''Let go! Jie Jie!''.

    Her ears where whistling, loud and uneven voices swimming on her head amidst whispers and sounds she couldn''t differentiate... Everything was coming at the same time, like a painting where all the colors and forms had fallen from the frame, until there was only a mass of color and sound left behind.

    And then it all stopped.

    With a throbbing headache, Sam tried to grab at something as her body grew slightly out of balance, colorful dots still dancing in front of her blinded eyes.

    "XiaoJie!" Ah Mei exclaimed loudly while grabbing at Sam''s hand, effectively giving Qing Shan time to regain her composure "XiaoJie, are you all right?! Second Miss!! She is cold as ice"

    "Ah Mei, stop it! You are making a scene" Sam mumbled under her breath, barely noticing her sister''s growing color, worry replacing the emptiness that filled her eyes. For some reason, she felt relief wash over her, making her breathe easier and her legs not quite as shaky.

    "Yue''er! Yue''er, are you all right?" Qing Shan exclaimed, rushing to catch her other arm and help steady the smaller girl.

    "Aya!! Miss Jiang, what is it that you''re feeling! Maybe we should call for the physician...". the sho''s owner exclaimed, looking as flustered as the younger clerks running around trying to calm the situation. Having a noble - even a lesser one - fall ill on his business would only mean bad luck!!

    "No, no, no!" Sam rushed to assure him "There''s really no need... It''s just a small headache." she forced a smile through her pale lips, directing a pointed gaze at her sister''s direction "I''m truly fine. It''s nothing you should worry about. I just... Just need to sit down for a bit".

    "You should not tire yourself like this!" Qing Shan scolded in a low voice, guiding her to a small stool near the edge of the stage "Here, just bear with it for a while longer... Jie Jie will finish this quickly" the last part sounded barely like a whisper, her face turning ever so slightly to look over her shoulders at Tong Zhi Ruo''s worried face "It was an unfortunate encounter, indeed" she mumbled, straightening her back again and going to the table, looking over everything before starting to prepare tea with such an ease expertise that half the audience looked on, enthralled.

    "She should control herself" a voice whispered somewhere behind her "This will cost us all".

    Sam frowned, turning back just in time to see Fei Hong''s stony face glued on the two of them, a displeased look on his eyes as he locked gazes with Sam, silently motioning that he would be waiting for them outside.

    Without alternative, she just nodded quietly.

    The loud sound of clapping brought her attention back to her sister, who had finally stopped bitting the foam and was now holding up the cup and showing the audience, inclining it until the mouth was turned to the public.

    No foam fell from the tea, being as still as if it was some sort of bubbly concrete.

    The cheers that followed caught even Sam by surprise. Apparently, it wasn''t an easy accomplishment.

    When Qing Shan went back to her tea brewing, Sam felt a figure nearing her side. She was about to turn and scold Fei Hong for being sneaky when a strong, exotic smell of jasmine surrounded her.

    She almost gasped in surprise as Zhi Ruo''s composed figure sat herself on a stool by her side, staying completely quiet.

    It seemed like an eternity before the tea was finally served and the curious audience started to disperse.

    "Tong Mei Mei, it was a pleasure" Jiang Qing Shan eventually said with a curtesy, motioning for Sam and Ah Mei to stay by her side "Our family will always remember your kindness today ".

    "It is what I should do" she answered just as sweetly, before turning to Sam and taking her hands on her own, on a tight, cold grip "It was such a terrible thing what happened to you, Jiang Mei Mei! Seeing that you are recovering, Zhi Ruo feels relieved on her heart." Tong Zhi Ruo almost sneered, her contempt barely hidden under a compassionate smile.

    Sam gulped, desperately trying to tug her hands free... But there where too many people still around to make a scene. She had to thing about her family now... About all the consequences a crossed word could cause.

    "Yes..." she finally stuttered "Fortunately, everything turned out for the best, ha ha ha" she tried sounding nonchalant, but there was no mistaking the sudden cold gripping at her heart, sipping through her bones and making her breathing painful was telling every cell on her body to run. As fast and far as she could.

    "It was indeed fortunate, wasn''t it?" she answered, her eyes shining with malice as she went closer, as if to hug her goodbye, her mouth going close to her ear as she said "Stay away from the Crown Prince... Or next time, I''ll make sure you won''t be so fortunate as to see another day¡­"

    __________________________________

    N/A: there were actually tea-brewing competitions on ancient China. I''ve watched a video where it explained how they''d beat the tea until there was a heavy foam, and then see how consistent it was compared to others. As it was said, the original method was lost, but there are still a few traces about the general idea. If you''ve watched The Story of Ming Lan, then you''ve probably seen the "Tea Ceremony" I''ve been referring to this last chapters.

 22 A Storm Is Coming

    At the early hours of the day, the streets of Zao Kingdom''s Imperial City were already filled with noise and life. There was the strong smell of fresh buns being boiled on a small stand at the side of the street, the loud voices os merchants all around trying to attract unsuspecting costumers walking around the street... A man promising accurate divination and good fortune from shaking and choosing a couple os wood sticks...Even the sweet and warm taste of caramel coming from the corner of the street, where an old man slowly designed beautiful animals with melted sugar, seemed to twirl on the air.

    There were various ladies from different families talking in small groups or wandering around on the company of a high ranked made, all of them walking side by side with beggars, servants and peasants trying to sell their fruits and vegetables to some of the better known restaurants in town.

    Zao Wang Guo''s (N/T: Kingdom) Capital City was the kind of place where a malnourished, hungry child could stand side by side with another one, wearing golden threaded clothes, and no-one would give it a second thought.

    "There is much riches to be found on the Lands of man... Where hundreds walk over thousands that make''m able to stand".

    "I still remember when I taught you this verse" a familiar voice said, cool and silky like a night breeze over his skin "I also remember warning you not to repeat it lightly."

    Eyes slowly opening to the bustling street market, Fei Hong kept his back rested against one of the large, radish columns of the Tea House.

    "So, you are really back" Foi Hong said in a low voice, watching the other man with eyes still a bit unfocussed "It''s been a long time."

    "So it has" the newcomer agreed, keeping a distance of a few steps between them "I''ve been meaning to talk to you."

    Fei Hong studied him with a guarded expression, his mind, turning furiously in an attempt to guess the reason that brought him back to the city just a couple days after General He returned in secret. The possibilities, none of them were good ¨C even more considering the lack of money to try and control the situation on the borders.

    Besides, he was finding hard to concentrate on anything beyond the sudden tightness around his ribs, and the deep ache pulsing on the middle of his chest at the sight of those exotic bluish eyes.

    "Da Shao Ye?"

    The young master blinked, releasing the breath he didn''t even know he had been holding as he turned to his aide in relief.

    "Did you find anything?" he asked Ye Qi with a slightly anxious edge to his voice, careful not to be overheard by the bystanders chatting close to the building.

    "Sir, this... " the young man stuttered, looking uncomfortably to the side where the second man stood, watching their interactions with calm amusement.

    Looking back for the briefest of moments, Fei Hong dismissed Ye Qi''s worries.

    "Just say it. Don''t need to care about Great Daoist Master."

    "Sir!" Ye Qi agreed reluctantly, giving another side glance at Daoist Master, as If trying to choose the right words "Sir... A-hem... there was indeed a fighting on the street." he stopped again, fidgeting "People are saying a girl put herself between the Crown Prince and Great Daoist Master... Just as he was about to use the Cloud Shattering technique...".

    "I understand." Fei Hong mumbled, shivering internally at the image of his sister facing that kind of power "And about the girl... Are they saying any names?" he asked, fingering the handle of his sword.

    There was no saying the magnitude something like that could take once on the gossip mill, but as long as his sister''s name was not being thrown around alongside Gueng Xi''s, he would not intervene.

    From his place near the front entrance of the Tea House, two steps bellow the two Masters, Ye Qi gulped nervously, his face going a few shades whiter as he considered his next words carefully.

    "Hum... You see, Xiao Ye..." Before he was able to finish, however, that same velvety voice spoke once more, his tone slow, almost lazy as he approached Fei Hong, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

    "There is gossip every day, but if no one listens anymore, the gossip will die. Fei Hong" Great Daoist Master called, his eyes burning directly into the Jiang''s young master''s dark orbs "sometimes, letting the river flow, is the best way to deal with the flood"

    Fei Hong felt his entire body tense at the contact, before slowly relaxing once again, his bright eyes slowly cooling down once more... He shivered, stepping back and out of reach as his gaze hardened, turning into the glazed, icy surface of a mirror.

    ''I had almost forgotten'' he whispered to himself in a resigned tone ''Fei Hong, Fei Hong, didn''t you already learn from last time?!''

    "Ye Qi" he called suddenly, his voice faltering almost in perceptively "you can leave now. Just make sure to keep an eye on the situation. If there''s anything... Anything at all, you come to me. Do you understand?".

    "Sir!". Ye Qi acknowledge, a worried expression crossing his face as he watched both men measure one another, an uneasy feeling beginning to his stomach as he turned to leave.

    As his aide finally left, Fei Hong rested his strained shoulders once more against the red pillars.

    "You shouldn''t have done that", he commented on a detached tone.

    "The kid has improved" Master agreed, unfazed "There was no harm on indulging him".

    "It was reckless" Fei Hong retorted "Do you even know what could happen if the Crown Prince had been hurt?".

    Instead of looking offended, however, the Great Daoist Master just smiled softly.

    "I suppose this''s what was missing" he mused, his fingers playing with the slender, jade flute always attached to the belt around his waist.

    "Don''t play games with me Ah Ren" Fei Hong said, his voice sounding strained to his own ears "Why are you really here?"

    Suddenly, just like the curtains falling at the ending of a play, all joy had vanished from Daoist Master''s face, his angular cheeks and pointed eyes suddenly looking much older and wiser without that naive glint of happiness smoothing his sharp edges.

    "The change that is coming... You need to prepare yourself."

    Fei Hong nodded slowly, barely conscious of his action as a debilitating cold started spreading through his body like venom.

    "We still have time" he whispered back "You said it yourself more than once. Things will happen when they are supposed to."

    Daoist Master just looked at him, an old sadness sipping for the briefest of seconds onto his eyes, disappearing almost as quick as it had shown up. Before he could manage to say anything back, though, the loud sound of applause coming from inside the Tea House brought both men''s attention back to the Tea Brewing Competition, just as Jiang Qing Shan''s tea was finished and served for Tong Zhi Ruo and a few selected nobles under unabashed praising.

    Fei Hong breathed deeply.

    "A wolf raised between dogs will still be a wolf, just as a phoenix raised between chicken, will always be a phoenix." he muttered to no one in particular, his eyes still set on his sister with a deepening frown.

    "You can change the appearance, but inside, the essence will always be the same." Daoist Master agreed in a thoughtful tone, watching closely for Fei Hong''s reaction "Don''t be too hard on your sister. Some things... We are just not able to understand in this life"

    The words echoed through Fei Hong''s thoughts for a few seconds like noises on a tunnel, without sense or meaning whatsoever. The frustration and tiredness of everything that had been happening to his family was coming to the surface with a vengeance, finally taking his toll on him.

    "Fei Hong" Ah Ren called again "Let it go".

    Slowly, as Daoist Master''s meaning seeped through the haze on his mind, Fei Hong felt like being plashed with cold water, the cool feeling washing all the annoyance and frustration away. Turning to glance at his friend, he released a deep sigh.

    "I just wished she could be more cautious" he said in a defeated tone "I thought that after everything that happened on the Manor she would understand... She would learn to retreat".

    He had thought Qing Shan would finally be able understand the crushing need to let someone else take the spotlight in order to survive.

    "Love and understanding, even though they can walk side by side, are not always the same" Yi Ren said with a sad expression "No-one questions your devotion to your family, Fei Hong... But if you want to survive what is to come, you have to try and learn to accept. To understand your sisters are flawed."

    "I know" he agreed easily. Still, it was hard not to resent what could be so easily seen as selfishness...

    Just at that moment, they heard Ying Yue''s animated voice complimenting her sister, a large smile glued to her face.

    Yi Ren blinked, accompanying the girl''s actions from where her small frame sat, on a stool at the edge of the stage, with a curious look.

    "I''ve heard rumors about how your sister''s changed since the accident, but I didn''t quite believe it... Until I saw her earlier today" he commented eventually "She is not the same anymore."

    Fei Hong tensed, his heart beat rising furiously.

    "She is confused." he answered shortly, hands closed in tight fists "The trauma took most of her memories. She... She just needs some time to adjust."

    "This is not quite right, though, is it?" the other retorted with a knowing glint on his eyes, finally turning back to Fei Hong "You know... There was a rumor I heard when I was on the mountains... They say the Luan Bird was sighted a few weeks ago near the South Mountains".

    Fei Hong felt his body go completely cold, all blood running from his face as Yi Ren''s words registered into his numb mind and a slow, burning fear started spreading through his veins, gripping his heart like a tourniquet.

    "Impossible". He mumbled "It''s been over a thousand years... You can''t..." his feverish eyes locked with Daoist Master''s "Surely you cannot mean...".

    "Death". he agreed cryptically, a worried expression crossing over his face "There is a storm coming, Fei Hong... One that is much grater than the Zao Kingdom. One that we have to pray we will be able to survive".

    Fei Hong''s mind started spinning out of control, his thoughts racing each other as he tried to make sense of what he had heard. The Luan Bird, an omen of death ¨C but, first and foremost, a sign of great change ¨C had been sighted over the South Mountains... One of the biggest symbols of the Nam Region, bordering the Zao Kingdom''s farthest side. If the legends were true, if these signs really did mark the moment of the Vermillion Bird''s rising, then...

    He froze, his mind finally connecting the dots.

    "You told him" he said, his voice hardening as he stared at Yi Ren "You told General He about this, didn''t you? That is why he came back" Fei Hong whispered desperately, crossing the few steps between them until there was barely a hair strand left between their faces "You... What exactly did you say? What is it that he expects to find here, Yi Ren?"

    The atmosphere between them tensed, the air sparkling with electricity as their eyes locked in a battle of wills. Fe Hong''s breath became faster, until he was almost gasping from air in front of Yi Ren. They were fire and ice. Two elements made not to be mixed together. And yet... How powerful could it really be if they finally collided? How much...

    "Ah! L-Look at the time! We-We really need to get going!" Ying Yue''s exclamation sounded like the crash of a thunder, instantly shattering the tension on the air and releasing her brother, who retreated a few stumbling steps as quickly as he could manage.

    "Qing Shan... Eh, I mean, Jie Jie! Let''s go, let''s go! Look! Fei Hong is already waiting for us! Fei Hong!" She called, waving at his direction with one hand while, with the other, she dragged her stunned elder sister from inside the Tea House ¨C without even acknowledging the confused shop-owner.

    "Fei Hong!" she called again, forcing a smile "Fei Hong! We are here!".

    Caught off guard by the alien behavior of his sister, Fei Hong could just watch as both of them exited the shop on a fast pace, stopping a few steps away from him slightly out of breath.

    Ying Yue, in particular, seemed in the verge of a nervous meltdown.

    "Ah Ying, what is it?" he asked worriedly, rushing to her side as he grabbed her by the shoulders "Did something happen to you...?" his eyes hardened "Did anyone..."

    "Ah... Ehm... N-no, we are fine" she mumbled, a bit too fast for his taste. His eyes thinned into a slit "I''m fine... I''m really fine" she tried assuring him, forcing a colorless smile on her faec "Just Oh-So-Ready to go home, you know?!" the girl laughed, a shivering, nervous sound.

    Fei Hong frowned, trying to make sense of her deathly-white face and weird behavior. It was like something had scared her half to death, but... He looked once more at the Tea House. It was difficult imagining something that could have this kind of effect on her coming from there. His eyes slowly rested on Tong Zhi Ruo''s furious eyes.

    Unless...

    "Ah Ying..." he begun seriously "Are you sure nothing happened to you?" looking up, his eyes met Qing Shan''s slightly confused ones "to both of you?"

    "Sure! One hundred percent! Just..." she breathed deeply, trying to control the shaking on her hands "Just... Please, let''s go home" all the while, Sam was trying her best not to look back at the Tea House, where she could still feel Zhi Ruo''s eyes burning holes on her back.

    Fei Hong still studied her for a few seconds before nodding silently, turning to call for their carriage to be brought around. As he was busying himself, Sam felt a new wave of panic beginning to built, the implicit threat on Zhi Ruo''s words echoing on her head like a mantra, until there was no strength left on her limbs...

    "By the way" she said suddenly, trying to distract her mind"Who was that guy talking to you just know? I seem to remember him from somewhere..."

    "Who...?" Fei Hong turned once more, finally remembering Yi Ren''s presence, but as usual, he was already nowhere to be seen, just like vanishing on thin air "Ah, he was just an old friend of mine... No need to worry yourself about it."

    Sam just nodded, sighing deeply as she slowly walking to the side, stopping besides a very fidgety Ah Mei as she considered everything that had happened on that day: from her weird meeting with General He, to the scene on the street with Crown Prince, and now this facade on the Tea House...It didn''t matter the way she looked at it, or how she tried justifying what happened with her complete ignorance about most things on this place, the picture was still not good.

    "This time... I really screwed up, didn''t I?" she mumbled to the girl, watching as her siblings discussed in hushed tones.

    "Miss! Please watch your language! You can''t say things like that!!" the younger one screeched, looking on the verge of collapsing "What if anyone hears you, then what can we do?!"

    "They would probably end up agreeing with me, anyway" she tried joking, just to sigh deeply at Ah Mei furrowed brows "Forget it... it was a bad joke. I''m sorry."

    "Miss" Ah Mei begun slowly, looking at her with a tentative smile "Eldest miss and young master love you very much... Everything will end up well, miss, you will see."

    Sam smiled back at the girl, giving her a small, tight squeeze. At that point, she could really only hope for the best...

    Finally, the carriage was brought to the front of the shop ¨C just before Zhi Ruo managed to extricate herself from what was left of the "best-whishers and congratulators" crowd. Ying Yue could barely contain a sigh of relief as she grabbed at Fei Hong''s helping hand and embarked on the wooden, uncomfortable carriage.

    Through most of the way, no-one said anything, just letting the slow roll of the wheels and the feeling of the shaking, irregular road bumping the three of them against each other. On the outside, Ah Mei and Ye Qi, sat at the edge of the carriage''s front, exchanged a nervous, worried look. Even the horses looked to be somewhat unease with the silence.

    Eventually, when they had finally managed to navigate the crowded streets and get out of the market zone, Sam sighed, her eyes opening for the first time to look at her siblings.

    "It was her, wasn''t it?" She whispered in the silence of the carriage "Tong Zhi Ruo? She was behind what happened to me¡­ That''s why you didn''t want me to go out alone."

    The other two exchanged a heavy look, as if none of them had enough energy to breach the subject at that moment. Finally, Qing Shan leant forward, her hands extending to hold Sam''s smaller ones on a reassuring grip.

    "Yue''er, Tong Zhi Ruo is Prime Minister''s daughter and Royal Concubine Gao''s niece" she answered with an uneasy tone "Please, don''t say this kind of things lightly again."

    Sam frowned, looking from one to the other.

    "But¡­ But she said clearly that..."

    "Just let it go" Qing Shan continued, giving her hands a squeeze "Some things... It is better to just forget about them."

    "Besides" Fei Hong added suddenly from his pace at her side, jaw setting in a hard line "We are yet to find any clue concerning the accident. Even though it was no secret you two had a difficult relationship, from that to her doing anything against you..." he sighed, looking older than his years as he gazed without seeing out of the window.

    "About what really happened to you on that day... I suppose we can only guess."

    ___________________

    The second part of "What Happened to Ying Yue" continues on the next chapter!

    N/A: The Luan Bird and Vermillion Bird were first mentioned on Chapter 5.

 23 Consequences

    For the next couple of days, the Jiang Manor felt like it was surrounded by a thick, overwhelming cloud of tension. The interactions felt strained, voices sounded lower than usual, even the wild animals that usually made an appearance near the fruit trees were nowhere to be seen.

    It was like the entire household had held its breath, just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

    As if in a tacit agreement, the incidents of that day were never mentioned again ¨C not even whispered between boiling chickens or cleaning equipments.

    Once their carriage had arrived at the house''s front door, Sam had jumped down and locked herself on her room, barely talking or seeing anyone besides Ah Mei, that kept updating and coaxing her even when not asked.

    Qing Shan, for her time, seemed to be in a daze. Different from what Sam had expected, her sister didn''t try and talk or reprimand her for her carelessness. She still kept up with the house''s chores, but, as Sam and Ah Mei had seen, apart from what was strictly necessary, Qing Shan would usually be found wandering aimlessly through the gardens, her gaze lost as her mind travelled to places unknown.

    After a particularly bad morning, when Qing Shan had answered the same thing for three different questions, Sam had decided to go looking for her wayward brother. Until that moment, she had been avoiding going even near his courtyard, fearing his response at seeing her after everything.

    Her worries, however, turned out to be necessary. As a very worried Ye Qi had informed her when she tried sneaking into his quarters, Fei Hong had locked himself up on his study and refused to go out or meet anyone.

    Not even her.

    It was also the first time in a while no-one from General He''s camp had come into the manor with instructions or paperwork for him to deal with.

    "History repeats itself: first as tragedy, second as farce" she mused once, as she sat on her writing desk, eyes locked on a particularly blurred page of one of the books she had found on the volt, as if trying to will the words to make sense.

    "Miss?" Ah Mei had asked, looking up from preparing her night routine "Did you say something?".

    Instead of answering right away, Sam had only sighed, letting her fingers hover over an ink blotch on the yellow page.

    ''Stay away from the Crown Prince... Or next time, I''ll make sure you won''t be so fortunate as to see another day¡­'' Tong Zhi Ruo''s words sounded as clear as if the girl was standing right at her side.

    If she considered Crown Prince''s behavior when she had bumped onto him on the street... Well, the picture was very easily drawn.

    "Ah, Ah Mei...?" she called, sending the girl a tired look "Am I destined to relive her mistakes? Is history really fated to repeat itself?". Sam thought it would be almost funny... If that didn''t mean a crazy girl had attached a target on her forehead.

    "Her?" Ah Mei mumbled, before brushing the weird word choices to the side "Miss... My mother used to say Heavens will do good for good people. It is our karma when it will happen, but is our choice if they ever will" she said slowly, sending her a reassuring smile "Miss... You are also a good person. The heavens will not forget it."

    Sam didn''t say anything ¨C she didn''t feel like she was able too. Instead, she did the only thing she could: got up and walked straight to the young girl, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Before Ah Mei had time to say anything else, Sam had already pushed her up and enveloped her small frame on a tight embrace.

    "Thank you" she whispered, hoping the younger woman would be able to understand, on those two words, everything she wasn''t able to say out loud.

    ______________________________________

    On that night, as Ah Mei was helping her get ready for bed ¨C a practice Sam was not yet entirely comfortable with ¨C she was reading once again over what was becoming her journal, where she would register everything she knew, everything she thought was important and, most of all, everything she still needed to figure out.

    One thing in particular, had been nagging at the back of her head for a time now: the situation with the Jiang servants. had another entirely different thing occupying her mind.

    Apart from Ah Mei, Zi Zhu, Ye Qi, and a few higher graded members of the staff, it seemed like all the others where afraid of her. Even now, they would still whisper, avoid her path or even apologize in an almost desperate way every time something didn''t go precisely as it should''ve.

    What was more, Sam had overheard some of them talking about poor Li Qi''s fate, and how unfortunate was for the girls that had been assigned to her courtyard to still be there.

    It was easy, once she had a target, to discover that Li Qi ha been her previous Personal Maid. But about what happened to her, Sam didn''t have a clue.

    "Miss, are you all right?" Ah Mei asked in a worried voice as she delicately brushed Sam''s long, damp hair "You look troubled."

    "Hum... Actually, Ah Mei, I''ve been meaning to ask you this for a while now..." Sam begun tentatively, deciding to try her luck on the opportunity that had shown itself.

    Just as she knew would happened, Ah Mei answered promptly.

    "Miss, whatever it is miss wants to ask, you know this servant will answer truthfully".

    "Oh, it is nothing that serious, really!" she assured her "It is just... Well, you said before that you were not my personal maid, and that you were just kind of filling in... Right?" Sam waited for the girl to contradict her, but as she just nodded slowly, seeming a bit confused with her choice of words, she went on "I''ve also noticed that Zi Zhu seems to be with Qing, eh, my sister since they were very young."

    "That is right, miss" Ah Mei agreed "After the tragedy with Master Hao Chen back then, I hear she was one of the few Young Master Fei Hong was able to buy back when everything was explained".

    "Hum... I see" Sam reached for a small essence bowl, beginning to rub it on her hair slowly "And, what about Li Qi, then...? Was she also lost on that occasion?"

    Ah Mei''s movements suddenly stopped, her face freezing completely.

    "Ah Mei, what is it? Did I say something wrong?" Sam asked confusedly, turning to stare at her deathly-pale face "Hey... Ah Mei, why are you suddenly like this?".

    "Xiaojie... This servant... This servant can''t..." she gulped, working her fingers nervously around Sam''s jade comb.

    "Ah Mei... What is it that really happened to my maid? Please, just tell me!" she demanded with a hardened voice, barely able to listen over her heartbeat ringing on her ears "Ah Mei!".

    "XiaoJie... She... She is dead."

    "What...?" Sam repeated, suddenly feeling out of balance "But... But what...? Why...?" her head spun painfully, a thousand different scenarios rolling around her mind as she turned to look at Ah Mei, grabbing her hand in a tight grip "Please tell me what happened" she almost begged, not quite able to make sense of the sense of urgency she was feeling.

    Ah Mei was silent for a few seconds, a battle clear on her dark, round eyes.

    "Miss" she finally said, pain etched on her face "At that time... No one knows exactly what happened. They say the Nanny that had been raising you died on the fire, when Master Hao Chen was accused of treason... Since then, you had been with Li Qi, one of the new girls added to the staff. Things seemed good between you two until... U-until one night..."

    "Yes? Until what happened that night?"

    "That night... The maids say they heard noise of something breaking on miss''s room... Everyone thought it was an assassin when Miss started to scream, but... But when the guards and the rest of the staff arrived" she stopped once more, taking a deep breath "Miss said the girl had broken a very important jade peace... The last from your mother''s dowry. Miss sentenced her to be stricken fifty times".

    All blood left Sam''s body, draining through the floor like water running between her fingers. The whistle on her ears became louder.

    "What else?" she asked on a barely audible whisper "What else did I do?"

    "Miss..." Ah Mei fidgeted "When her family came to pick the body... Miss overheard they saying something bad about the family" Sam closed her eyes, tears pooling under her lashes.

    "Did... Did I kill them all?" her voice was crocked, choking in a sob.

    When Ah Mei kept silent, with her head bent low, Sam already knew the answer.

    "All right, I understand" she said, eyes still closed "You may step down now".

    "Miss..."

    "Please, Ah Mei... Just go" she insisted, rising slowly and walking to her bed, never once looking back at the younger girl "I want to be alone."

    It was just when she heard Ah Mei''s steps disappearing outside, when she was sure none of her sibling''s servants were anywhere near, that she finally let the tears fall, choking her breath on full-on sobs that rocketed her body painfully.

    It was the first time she understood how brutal that world could truly be. And how unforgiving was the girl whose life she was now living.

    _____________________________________________

    The morning begun quiet. Maybe a bit too quiet to her taste.

    As she woke up, Sam begun to call for Ah Mei, expecting the girl to be right at the other side of the door with a soul of warm water, but as the doors opened, her face scrunched in a confused frown.

    "Hum... Who are you?" she asked the young, tremulous girl with a slightly cracked voice "Where is Ah Mei? Why didn''t she attend to me as usual?"

    Without answering, the girl rushed to her dressing table, placing the bowl over the wooden surface and rushing back out as if Devil himself was hot on her hills.

    "Hey!" Sam called "Hey, come back! I didn''t..." she stopped, seeing as there was only a closed door to talk with her. Sighing, Sam got up and started her morning routine "Forget it" she mumbled to herself "The girl is probably busy being nosy somewhere else".

    But, at the time another two different servant girls came in to help with her clothes and then bring her food inside, Sam couldn''t pretend everything was normal anymore.

    A very bad feeling was starting to bloom inside her stomach, making her movements nervous and her hands a bit shaky. Her suspicions were only confirmed when she tried going out and Ye Qi showed up in the middle of her yard''s arch entrance, efficiently preventing her from going outside.

    "Ye Qi, what is it?" she demanded "What is happening here?!"

    "Miss, I have orders to not let you get out of the Yard for today" he explained in a low, emotionless voice "Miss, if you could please not make things hard on this servant... Please, just go back inside."

    Sam frowned. What was it now? Was she a prisoner on that house?!

    "Who told you this? Was... Was it Fei Hong?" she asked, trying not to sound betrayed as she though about the man she was starting to view as an elder brother "Right. Let me talk to him! I''m sure there is some kind of misunderstanding..."

    "Miss" he repeated, putting himself once more on her way as she tried to walk around him. "Please, I can''t let you leave today. I can''t defy Master Shu''s orders!"

    That name finally gave her pause. Master Shu... Jiang Wan Shu... Wasn''t he...?

    "Since when has uncle returned from the palace?" she asked Ye Qi.

    "He is just arrived miss, not even an half hour ago" the aide explained with unease "Now, please miss... If you could..."

    "All right, all right! I will go back" she assured him, already out of patience "But first tell me where Ah Mei is... I need her help with some things".

    Instead of answering, or assuring her he would call for the girl in a second, Ye Qi just averted his gaze, hands clenching and unclenching nervously.

    The bad feeling Sam had been experiencing only grew, a new suspicion forming on her head.

    "Ye Qi... Why is my uncle back from the Palace?" she demanded "What does he want?"

    When the young man didn''t answer once again, Sam''s head finally went on overload. Thinking quickly as not to let him oversee her intentions, she walked closer to the entrance, an worried expression etched on her face. Just as he was about to ask her again to go back, Sam kneeled him between his legs.

    Stunned, Ye Qi had just enough force to hold to the walls not to Fallon his need and call for help as the young miss rushed out of the CourtYard, running through the household''s corridors like a crazed horse.

    ''It is even worse than that first day'' Sam thought to herself, feeling slightly out of breath as she finally overheard a commotion coming from what she remembered being the main hall.

    Without even thinking, she rushed on that direction, storming inside with her hair in disarray and completely out of breath, but the scene she encountered felt so surreal to her disbelieving eyes she almost fell to her knees in shock.

    In the middle of the room, sprawled on what looked like a wooden table, Ah Mei Had been strapped down, blood tainting her face, arms and clothes as two strong soldiers held what looked like wood canes, ready to beat her down.

    "No" she whispered, stumbling a step forward as her mind fought to understand what she was seeing "No... No! Get away from her... Get away from her!" she shouted suddenly, running on the direction of Ah Mai, tears already flowing freely down her cheeks.

    Out of nowhere, two strong arms circled her middle, effectively hindering any way she had to go forward.

    "Stop it! Let me go!" she kept screaming "Let go of me! Ah Mei! Ah Mei!" she called, desperation clear on her chocked voice "Why are you doing it? Let her go!" Sam screamed, her blurry eyes turning to her Uncle''s figure, calmly sat at the farthest side of the room, behind a beautifully carved small table with gold and jade carvings.

    "Ah Ying, stop this" Fei Hong''s voice sounded close to her ears "Ah Ying, stop! You are only making it worse! STOP!" he said forcefully, turning her to look at him, his eyes sparkling with emotions she couldn''t hear "Stop" he repeated.

    Instead of obeying, though, she only shook her head, not caring for the low sobs still escaping her lips.

    "Why are you doing this?" she repeated in a small voice "Please, this... This is monstrous! You can''t do it to a human being... Please Hong''er! Please let her go!"

    Completely stunned by her words, by how familiar they sounded to his ears, Fei Hong''s grip faltered, his balance loosening as he tried to control the sudden urge to hug her close to him and promise to do anything she asked for.

    Noticing his change of demeanor, Sam dashed once more, running for Ah Mei. She had almost reached the first man with the stick when her uncle''s voice, one she had herd only a few times, resonated trough the large walls.

    "Go back to your room, Ying Yue" he said in a calm tone "You should not be here".

    Sam turned to face him, hands trembling.

    "Uncle... Uncle... Please" she begged "Please don''t do this..."

    Instead of answering, he raised his eyes to hers, the deep black on Wang She''s irises looking as cold as the icy surface of a river on the middle of the winter.

    "The roads now are bustling with gossip" he begun slowly, both hands crossed over the table "Everyone is talking about the Jiang girl who wants to be Queen."

    Sam froze, all rational thoughts vanishing from her mind at the possible implications of that phrase.

    "This... This... I, I didn''t know..." she mumbled, stumbling a few steps in the direction of her uncle without noticing "I didn''t know... It was not my intention, I...".

    "I doesn''t matter the truths that lie in our hearts" Wang Shu cut her, with an old, bitter edge to his voice "This words have reached the Palace... Our Jiang Family can hardly answer for them."

    "But... But I don''t want to be Queen!" Sam insisted "I don''t even remember him! It was an accident!" she stopped, her mind spinning trying to find a way out "If... If you only let me go and speak to the K..."

    "Preposterous!" a man that kept to the side exclaimed, his clothes denouncing him to be a palace eunuch "Does this child even know her place, Head Astronomer Shu?" he sneered to Wang Shu, snake-like eyes shining dangerously on Sam''s direction.

    Fei Hong suddenly put himself in front on her, as if shielding her frightened figure from the venom of the old, curved man.

    "Head Eunuch Guang, my sister is just a bit sensitive, please forgive her" he said, the hardened tone of his voice contradicting he humble request on his words.

    "Fei Hong, that''s enough" his uncle said with a tired tone "I''m sorry if my nephews words offended you Eunuch Guang.".

    The man just humphed, shaking his sleeves as he turned to leave "I''m sure you will consider Your Majesty''s expectation''s concerning this case" he provoked "I will take my leave and inform His Majesty you are already... Cleaning up the trash.".

    Once he had disappeared from view, Wang Shu''s tight face turned once more to the two man caring on the punishment "You may continue."

    "No!" Sam screamed, trying to free herself from her brother''s hands again "It was not her fault! it was mine! I was the one to force her to go, she didn''t want to! Uncle!"

    "You''re right." Wang Shu suddenly agreed, catching her off guard "It was your fault..." he continued, asking the imperial guards to wait with a sign of his hand, eyes completely serious as they burrowed on Sam''s ones "But every time you do a wrong, it is her to take the guilt... Do you know why?"

    "Uncle, please, maybe we..."

    "You" he interrupted Qing Shan "Don''t have the right to intervene. As the Eldest Miss of this Household, you should''ve known better than to offend the Prime Minister''s daughter."

    The older girl frowned at those words, walking closer to him with frustrating written all over her face.

    "But, uncle, it was our Jiang''s honor! Surely you didn''t expect me to..."

    "Jiang''s honor?" he echoed, laughing bitterly at the words "What is the Jiang''s honor compared to the Tong family? Don''t you know your place yet?!"

    Qing Shan only stared at him, completely unable to say anything as the words sunk deeply on her mind, taking all the blood from her veins.

    "Miss!" Zi Zhu called, supporting her by the arm as Qing Shan looked about to collapse.

    "Beat her" Uncle Shu said sternly, ignoring his nieces "Twenty strokes".

    "Uncle" Sam implored, finally freeing herself from Fei Hong''s grasp and running to him, falling at his knees while tugging at his robes desperately "Uncle, please! it was me! It was really all me! she didn''t know better! Please!"

    "What are you waiting for?" he ignored her, looking sternly at two of their guards "Begin!"

    "Uncle, please!" Sam insisted "It was me! It should be me!"

    All the while, as the two man went on, Sam''s cries and pleading voice mingled with Ah Mei''s screams of pain, that slowly turning into soft moans until she completely lost couscousness from the pain.

    "Uncle" Fei Hong begun hesitantly "Please... The girl is already unconscious... She can''t take much more".

    Sam looked up suddenly, her words stopping as she looked back at her maid, lying motionless atop the wood table.

    "Ah Mei... " she called, her voice raspy from all the talk and crying "Ah Mei" she stumbled, fighting to get up on her two feet.

    Watching her closely as she run to the maid''s side, falling to her knees as she took her hand on hers, Wang Shu slowly held up a hand, indicating for the man to stop and retreat back to the outside.

    "Uncle" Fei Hong said as he got up, worry lacing his voice "Ah Ying, she... She didn''t..."

    The uncle only held up a hand, instantly silencing him as he walked ahead with silent steps, only stopping she he was beside his niece, close enough to feel the strong stench of blood permeating the air.

    "You know why it''ll always be her?" he asked her prostrated figure, his voice sounding detached of any emotion "Because she is Li Mei, a servant girl, and you are Jiang Ying Yue, the Jiang''s youngest miss. Because even if she didn''t know better, you should have. Because it was not her duty to know. It was yours. And when someone higher makes a mistake, it is always those below that pay the price".

    And, with those words, Jiang Wang Shu turned his back and slowly made his way to the carriage waiting outside of the house and back to the palace.

    _________________________

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    Sam didn''t know what happened after Uncle Shu had left. Her mind had completely shut down at his words, guilt and sadness revolving around each other as the strong smell of blood and tears turned her stomach into a not.

    It didn''t matter how much she cried, how much she called. Ah Mei was not waking up. Why was she not waking? She didn''t know anymore what was happening.

    "I think she is in shock" Sam though she heard Fei Hong''s worried voice, but at that point, it didn''t really matter, did it?

    She had never in her life harmed anyone. Not even on pointless fights at school. She never beat or verbally abuse anyone. And now... Now, that girl, a girl that had been nothing but kind to her since the beginning, the one always following her around, was barely breathing. And it was because of her.

    Her fault. Not Ying Yue''s. Not the circumstances. It had been her ¨C Sam. Her fault.

    "It is my fault" she whispered "My fault... Ah Mei... it was my fault" she kept repeating desperately, until suddenly everything was too much.

    The people watching, the smell, the servants calling for a doctor... She couldn''t stand it anymore. That was not the place for her. Without even thinking where she was going, Sam simple got up and run.

    "Yue''er!" Qing Shan called, but Fei Hong''s hand stopped her before she could go after their sister.

    "Let her be" he said, his voice tight with emotion "Let her absorb what happened. Let her understand". With a deep sigh, he motioned with his head for Ye Qi to keep an eye on her from afar, at the same time as he instructed no-one to obstruct her way.

    "Let her go where she needs to go"

 24 What Happened to Ying Yue 2

    Sam didn''t know for how long she had been running or where exactly her feet where taking her. Through her hazy mind, she barely remembered opening a back gate and leaving to a wide grassed hill, running up and on as the grass turned higher and than smaller once again...

    At one point, the ground made a curve, slowly forming what would eventually become a cliff, surrounded by space trees and small bushes.

    Eventually, as her hands and feet became numb, she started slowing down, her blank mind trying to take in the darkening sky as the evening approached from the east, painting the sky in tones of blue, red, orange and pink.

    Walking on a sedated pace, she went on with barely conscious steps, her eyes lost on the departing sub and the few clouds drawing castles on the sky.

    Suddenly, the soft strokes on a GuQin strings reached her ears, the song mingling with the scenery on a mesmerizing way, guiding her steps farther away from the word of the cliff and up the hill without her noticing.

    At some point, a beautiful, almost ethereal voice joined the instrument.

    "A cup of wine, under the flowering trees;

    I drink alone, for no friend is near.

    Raising my cup I beckon the bright moon,

    For he, with my shadow, will make three men.

    The moon, alas, is no drinker of wine;

    Listless, my shadow creeps about at my side.

    Yet with the moon as friend and the shadow as slave

    I must make merry before the Spring is spent."

    Sam sighed, breathing deeply as the sweet smell of flowers mixed with the strong perfume of night dew, a light breeze brushing at her clothes as the lone figura of a tall, beautiful man finally came into view.

    He was sat under a large tree, his legs crossed under a GuQin as he played, the last rays of light coronating his dark hair, making him look like a man form the fairy people.

    "To the songs I sing the moon flickers her beams;

    In the dance I weave my shadow tangles and breaks.

    While we were sober, three shared the fun;

    Now we are drunk, each goes his way.

    May we long share our odd, inanimate feast,

    And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky."

    With that last word, he pulled a single string of the instrument, letting those last fragments of sound slowly merge with the cool air, its echo rising onto the night sky, whispering over the tree leafs and whistling on the wind, until the only thing left was the memory of a beautiful moment that ended too soon.

    Just like a dream.

    "Why did you stop?" Sam asked mesmerized, wiping away the last trace of tears as she came closer to him with unintentional steps, her eyes moving at their own volition to watch his long fingers still resting over the strings "It was very beautiful."

    Just then, the last rays of the evening sun shone over then, making his pearly white clothes shine in different hues of red, purple and yellow. Sam felt like she had just stepped into a painting, the bucolic scenary making her heartrate slow and her confused feelings subside.

    The peace, the parnasian poetry of that moment, sipped inside her bones, until she sighed deeply, letting all that nervous energy flow off of her with that single breath.

    "Jiang Ying Yue" he finally said, looking up at her with his kind, bluish eyes "Our fate is indeed strong in this life... It is good seeing you again"

    "Hum?" Sam frowned, blinking away the haziness from the song as she tried to remember where on Earth could she have seen someone like him and forget.

    She could only blame it on the stress of everything that had happened on that morning... But Sam was definitely not going there if not strictly necessary. And definitely not after such a beautiful song and that calmness she had somehow achieved with his presence. Calm was a rare thing on her life, and she would not give that up if not entirely necessary.

    "Oh, right!" she exclaimed all of a sudden "You were the one fighting with the Crown Prince on the street yesterday, wasn''t you?"

    "Yes" he agreed, his laugh twinkling like wind-bells as he put the Gu Qin aside and rose to his feet "That was me. But I am also an old friend to your brother. You''ve changed a lot on these couple of years, Ying Yue"

    "Oh." She exclaimed, another piece finally coming in place. So he had been the person she saw talking to Fei Hong on the day of the Tea House incident - the one her brother had so easily brushed off as her imagination. Interesting.

    ''So, that was also him, then.''

    The Great Daoist Master.

    And, apparently, an old family friend. Suddenly, all that peace and calm and "yoga like" atmospheare around her shattered like fine glass, her head working faster and faster trying to find a way to deal with yet another person she was supposed to know.

    "Oh! Right! Right, right, I remember now¡­" Sam forced a smile, trying to look ashamed "You see, eh, my memory is not as it used to be anymore. I''m really sorry."

    The silence that met her statement, and his apparent refusal to say anything back, made her fidgety. It was strangely unnerving to be near someone that seemed to be contented with only watching you with amused eyes. The slow turn of his beautifully sculptured lips also didn''t help her in the least.

    "Ah¡­" she cleaned her throat, finally unable to stand that atmosphere anymore "This is a very beautiful place... I don''t remember seeing anything so peaceful before" she babbled, turning to the gently falling slopes and the line of grass a few feet away that dropped on a precipice.

    "It is" he agreed, serenely walking closer to the edge of the cliff "And it is quite appropriate for us to meet right on this hill, don''t you think?"

    "Eh... Is it?" she laughed uncomfortably, watching as he seemed to be looking for something on the grass before scrunching down, his hands touching tentatively the greenish blades and the dark brown soil.

    "Hum... Did you find something?" Sam asked, walking forward to join him just as the Great Daoist Master got up once more, turning to show her what looked like a small pendant hanging between his fingers.

    "Oh..." she mumbled, her eyes suddenly unable to leave the necklace.

    "Did you like it?" his voice sounded mater-of-factly as he walked closer to her "This was a present Ying Yue''s mother gave her when she was very small... I don''t remember ever seeing her without it."

    "Ah?" Sam said, suddenly curious at that piece of news "It is beautiful... No-one never speaks about her mother, though..." her words came to a halt, the Daoist Master''s meaning finally filtering into her mind...

    The way he had talked about her as if they were referring to another person.

    ''A present Ying Yue''s mother gave her...''.

    "What-what did you say?" she stuttered, stumbling a few steps back as her wide, panic filled eyes closed in into the man''s, as if looking for something inside his deep, mysterious irises "I... I think I should go...T-thank you for finding m-my necklace..." Sam extended a hand, ready to grab the jewelry and run back.

    But before her fingers could even graze the metallic surface, though, he had already turned once more, his gaze lost on the cliff and the dark, night sky beyond.

    "This place¡­" he eventually said, his voice lost "It was here that Tong Zhi Ruo''s people pushed the real Jiang Ying Yue down."

    Sam froze, caught completely off guard by his words as her eyes involuntarily followed the direction of the cliff, her feet taking her closer and closer to the edge, until Sam was looking down at the long, dangerous precipice.

    There was no way anyone could survive that kind of fall.

    "This was the place where my best friend''s sister died" he continued on a voice barely above a whisper, finally turning his mysterious eyes to Sam, a thousand secrets shinning like stars on his bluish irises "And it was also here that your soul reincarnated onto her body."

    "I¡­ I-I don''t know what you''re talking about... I..." she repeated over and over, as though, if she repeated it enough, it would suddenly become true.

    Admitting the truth, saying those words out loud... Sam felt like it would make everything real. More real then she had been willing to acknowledge.

    "I have to go back now... They are probably wondering where I am¡­"

    "Did you know¡­" he begun, making her stop on her tracks "That every soul in this world has it own energy trace?" he laughed "Now, it is very hard to identify, and even harder to distinguish one from the other. Unless you''ve spent a lot of time together and have the necessary abilities, it''s almost impossible¡­ In this case, though, it is almost like reading a book. You just need to look at it."

    ''That''s it'' Sam though, feeling numb. There was no reason to try and deny. Not after what he had just saying. It was clear he didn''t need any confirmation whatsoever.

    He already knew what had happened.

    "So... You have known all along?" she questioned, waiting for him to nod in agreement before continuing "But then... Why didn''t you tell anyone? Why tell me all this now?" She mumbled, her eyes widening as another thought came to her mind "Please¡­ You have to understand, I didn''t mean for this to happen¡­! I never wanted to hurt anyone¡­ Ying Yue... It was not my fault, I swear!"

    "I know you didn''t hurt anyone" he assured, stopping her uncontrolled rush of words "I know you are not an evil spirit, nor a trickster or a ghost¡­"

    He knew? She frowned, her rational part divided between happiness and skepticism. Because, how could he know? How could he be so sure she wasn''t there to start the apocalipse or brake havoc on the lives of everyone he cared about?

    Great Daoist Master just smiled at her surprised face, walking around her in order to put the necklace around her neck. The gesture, more than anything, confirmed to Sam he was telling the truth.

    For some reason, he trusted her. Her. Not Ying Yue. Not Fei Hong''s little sister. Her.

    Sam.

    "Don''t ever take it out" he instructed once it was pending over her clothes "It is very important that this pendant stand with you".

    "Ah... All right" Sam agreed turning to smile tentatively at him. As her fingers brushed over the smooth, cool surface, however, another thought popped back into her mind. One that had been haunting her for the last couple of days.

    "So... It was really Tong Zhi Ruo, then?" she didn''t say anything else, knowing he would understand her meaning.

    Yi Ren nodded.

    "It was on the day after the engagement between Tong Zhi Ruo and Crown Prince was announced" he said gravely. "That day, the Prime Minister''s daughter and Ying Yue had a very loud argument on the street, even louder than it used to be." he stopped, a vein jumping on his tight jaw "Afterwards, when people on the Jiang Manor finally noticed Ying Yue''s disappearance, it was already too late. They found you at the foot of the hill, barely breathing."

    Sam closed her eyes, her heart aching at the image. ''Reckless, reckless girl'' she wanted to scream. So ready to create problems to herself! And for what? For that Crown Prince?!?! It was such a waste... Sam thought she would never be able to understand that kind of feeling.

    "Such a patty reason to lose her life..." she said aloud, nodding sadly "And she was so young... Fifteen years old".

    Sam breathed, turning to Great Daoist Master once again with a tentative smile, trying to alleviate to sudden gloominess that had enveloped them.

    "Since you already know everything, I think it''s only fair we have a proper introduction." she said with a playful smile, bringing a chuckle out of him "My name is Sam."

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    "Sam..." he repeated, tasting the unusual sound on his mouth "You are not from this world."

    "No, I''m not" she agreed easily, feeling like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders to finally be able to talk with someone about everything "I don''t know what happened or even why I''m here... I just..." she let the rest of the phrase hanging on the air, motioning around with a hand as if to indicate her current situation.

    "You are exactly where you need to be, Sam."

    "But I don''t want to be here" she retorted, becoming a bit flustered once more "I want to go back¡­ I want my old life back! It sucked all right, but at least it was mine, you know? People didn''t go around threatening or beating each other without consequences!" her face turned sour "Don''t get me wrong, it could be really unforgiving as well, but it was a place I knew I belonged. Where I understood the rules and where I could actually do something besides sitting at the side lines and watch as everything played out around me!"

    Sam felt almost breathless after the outburst, looking at her tightly closed hands as if wishing they would disappear. That, suddenly, she would wake up and be good, old, slightly tanned Samanta from before.

    Slender, white fingers, even whiter than her own, enveloped hers, easing the strength straining her knuckles and the nails mercilessly bitting on her skin.

    "Everything has its own time and purpose, Sam¡­" he soothed "Trust me on this... Everything will make sense when it is supposed too..." Daoist Master stopped, his eyes turning to the dark night sky "It is better that you go back now. Soon Fei Hong will come looking for you." Despite Ye Qi''s close presence, he mused, glancing quickly at a small shadow hiding between a few smaller trees.

    Thankfully, it was far enough that, with just a touch of energy, he could protect both their words so that nothing would be overheard. Still, it was likely Fei Hong would pay him a visit on the near future.

    "But... But I don''t want too!" She insisted, bringing his attention back to her "I don''t like this place! I don''t like how things work here! That house... They... What they did to Ah Mei, I..."

    "Did you ever consider" he cut her gently, but with a firm tone "that your uncle may have a reason to do what he did?"

    Sam didn''t answer ¨C didn''t even consider how on Earth could he already know about the incident on her house ¨C just keeping a stubborn set to her jaw that made Yi Ren want to laugh.

    "Your family loves you very much¡­ They would never do anything to harm you intentionally. Not physically or emotionally."

    "It''s not me that they love" she sighed, looking back at him with a defeated posture "I''m not her, I''m not Ying Yue! I''m an impostor... I''m taking her place, taking her life! It makes me feel like a parasite! It''s not right!".

    "Sam, both Qing Shan and Fei Hong can see you are different, you yourself must have noticed." she nodded reluctantly "And still, they care. They respect and look out for you. This you, without ever asking you to be anything else." he stopped, as if carefully considering his next words.

    "In this life... You were given a second chance, a new opportunity to live. I can''t possibly know how was your life before, and I understand that most things happening on this world right now are out of our control..." he breathed deeply, his eyes getting lost on the distance "This is a time for great change, which means there will be much turbulence coming... But it is up to you what you will do with it." Yi Ren turned to her once more "Sam, if you really want to honor Ying Yue, if you really don''t want to waste this life, the life she was not able to maintain, you should live well. You should care for her family and do everything she would want you to".

    "But... But how come you are not mad¡­ ?" she insisted "That I am deceiving your friends like this?They have the right to know their sister died, right? They couldn''t even mourn her!"

    "This world... Things are not always just right or wrong" he conceded reluctantly "But this is beside the point... You should really go back now. Soon, it will be too dark for you to walk back."

    "Right" she acknowledge, stopping on her tracks just as she had turned to go "Can I¡­ Can I see you again? Just to talk. It felt good.".

    "Of course you can" he agreed, reaching on his robes and handing her his white-jaded flute "Whenever you want to see me, just play it. I will come"

    She frowned, looking curiously at the instrument.

    "But¡­"

    "Dont worry. I will always come."

    And that night, at least for those few moments, Sam finally felt everything would turn out well in the end.

    _________________

    N/A: The Poem Daoist Master is "Drinking Alone by Moonlight", by the Chinese Poet Li Bai. This is the version as translated by Sr. Arthur Waley, in 1919.

 25 The Painting on the Wall

    The night was dark.

    It always stroke her as odd how dim the nights could be on that place. There were no car lanterns, no city lights, not even a single cloud marring the peach-black sky. Only the moon, round and large, hanging precariously on a never-ending blanket of silvery stars.

    Walking slowly between the shadows of trees swaing over the limits of the open fields, it felt surprisingly comforting to see the Jiang Manor''s back gates finally appearing on the distance, it''s tall walls looking so very small against the city''s silhouette beyond.

    Even there, she could already see, on the other side of the wooden doors, the flickering of torches and the moving shadows of a few guards on patrol duty, their steps light and unworried with the full moon shining her brilliant, milky glow at even the darkest of corners.

    Sam slowed down, finally halting her steps on the top of the hill, right outside the house.

    A slow, dew-filled breeze brushed against her long, black hair, the dampness making her shiver uncounsciously.

    From that distance, watching as the Imperial City slept, it was almost like looking at a thousand fireflies, flickering their bright, neon lights between pieces of tall grass.

    Inoffensive. Beautiful.

    Deceivingly peaceful on the quiet hours preceding dawn.

    Right there, with everything looking so far away, it occurred to Sam that was probably the best opportunity she''d ever get to run. To try and find a way to go back to her old life. Whatever was left of it, anyway.

    The flute Great Daoist Master had given her was still attached to her belt, its weight against her leg reassuring smehow.

    "I could get out of this mess before something blows up on my face" she murmured to the cool, night breeze "There would be no more Crown Prince, no more General, no more court drama whatsoever..." she sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose.

    If nothing else, it was tempting.

    Her gaze lifted upwards, at the round, silent moon, her dark eyes searching with a nervous energy, as if seeking an answer from the celestial body.

    If it knew anything, though, it never told her.

    She blinked, eyebrows scrunched with uncertainty. There was no sign on the night surrounding her. No direction, no sudden inspiration.

    Whatever her choice, whatever the path she took, the decision would be hers, and hers alone. There would be no fate to blame this time around.

    Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, Daoist Master''s words came back to her, whispering on her ears as a slight, reassuring caress.

    "In this life... You were given a second chance, a new opportunity to live"

    Sam closed her eyes, hands turning into tight fists.

    "If you really want to honor Ying Yue, if you really don''t want to waste this life, the life she was not able to maintain, you should live well. You should care for her family and do everything she would want you to do."

    Not take revenge. Not choosing to be a replacement. Just live well.

    Sam breathed deeply, blinking aay the sting of tears on her eyes as Yi Ren''s kindness hit her once more.

    He was giving Sam leave to just... Be. To try and find her place on that strange land. Knowing everything that he knew, he had still assured Sam it was okay to take her time and find out who she was on the Jiang family.

    Sam laughed, her head falling back as a few, stray tears slid silently down her cheeks, disappearing inside her high collar.

    She had finally lost it. Everything that had happened on the last couple of days catching up to her, living her mind on overload.

    That was the only explanation for her to be turned into that weeping mess.

    Even if it shouldn''t matter what he said, even if a stranger''s opinion shouldn''t weight so much, having someone - anyone at that point - knowing what had happened and telling her it would be okay, that she was not a terrible person to be living the life someone else was denied... It mattered.

    It was like taking a huge weight out of her shoulders, one she hadn''t realized she was carrying.

    "Thank You" she whispered to the night, knowing that, somehow, he would hear. He would understand her.

    "Oh God, I''ve truly gone mad" she whispered at herself, brushing away the wetness on her face with the long, large tip of her sleeves. "What will be next? Hug each other and sing You''ve Got a Friend near the fire!? Samanta Courtnay, get a grip!"

    Forcing a laugh at her apparent sillyness, she started making her way once more to the Jiang Manor.

    "What is a name, really?" she mumbled at herself "Sam, Ying Yue... Whatever they call me, I''m still me..." the girl smiled slightly "Now... I just have to learn who exactly this girl is...".

    Sam knew, deep down, that taking the next step would mean no turning back again. There was just as much uncertainty anyone could take, and she felt quite full of it already.

    "This time, there won''t be anymore sitting on the side lines and watching life go on around me... If I''m gonna do this... Then I better do it right".

    And, for the first time since that madness had started, Sam felt it was okay to wonder... And to hope.

    ____

    Of course they were waiting for her.

    Knowing how protective Fei Hong was of his little sister, it shouldn''t have come as a surprise that almost every single soul on the household had been on alert at her arrival.

    Still, the thick tension hanging on the air when she crossed the treshold, just like a sharp knife waiting to drop, wasn''t any less unnerving.

    As she closed the gates behind her, the entire house seemed to release the breath it had been holding since she ran away. Even the tall trees appeared to relax, their long, svelt branches flowing with more ease on the night air.

    From her left, she could hear distinctively as a couple of guards closer to the entrance dispersed, whispering between themselves as word that the Fifth Young Miss had finally - and safely - returned home spread around the manor like fire on the drought season.

    The disturbance was like a bucket of cold water to her newfound confidence, bringing back all the doubts that had driven her away earlier on the day.

    Ah Mei''s beating, her uncle unwavering posture, Ying Yue''s untimely death, the mistery of her relationship with the Crown Prince...

    It was like waking from a beautiful dream where she was stronger, more assured of herself. A best, edited version, from the girl waiting near the wooden gates, a hand still clutching the handle as she bit her lips nervously.

    Closing her eyes for a moment, trying to order her shoulders to relax, she finally let go of the door, her fingers falling instinctively to caress over the smooth surface of the jade flute.

    "You made your choice, remember?" she whispered "Live welll... Try to make the best of it... No more standing back."

    She had done it before, after her parents accident, and then again after quitting the law firm...

    Bracing herself, Sam breathed deeply... And then started making her way inside the manor, on the direction that would take her to her quarters. She was but a few courtyards away from the entrance to the Inner court when a warm, orangish light coming from a room to her right suddenly caught her attention.

    Curious, she turned, finding the open doors to what looked like an antiquate office, its bamboo walls a stark contrast from the other, more refined rooms of the household. From that distance, she thought she could see what seemed to be shelves covering the back walls, full of scrolls and old books. On the other side, directly opposite to the door left ajar, the diaphanous draperies floated with the breeze, flickering the flames that illuminated the place.

    She crooked her head to the side. It all felt... Strangely familiar somehow.

    Startling, Sam felt her hands touching the cold doorframe, her feet taking her forward without she ever noticing she had started moving.

    Without thinking, she breathed in the smell of tanned leather, parchment and ink, feeling her muscles relax with the warmth of the place.

    Peeking around to make sure there was no-one inside, she crossed the threshold, her steps light and unsure as she took everything in.

    Sam had never seen that place before - not even in her time there - she was quite sure to have noticed a place like that. And still, the weird sense of familiarity still lingered...

    Suddenly, her eyes reposed over a large painting. The lines delicate, the hues variating between yellow and brown... Dark, expressive eyes on a severe, almost god-like face. She frowned, walking closer to the portrait as she studied the large shoulders, the thunderous aura, the strength of the jaw line... It was hard not to thing that was much more the artist''s fancy than the men''s real stature.

    Even his deep brown, almost dark robes seemed to shine under the fire light, exposing the fine lines of gold hidden on the canvas.

    Entranced, her hand lifted slowly, fingers trembling as if afraid to touch the paint and discover it was nothing but a dream...

    "That is Jiang Hao Chen."

    She spun on her heels so fast she almost fell, her hand going to rest over her bitting heart.

    A few feels from her, resting his tall frame against the large desk, Fei Hong stared at her, his soft eyes shining with barely hidden amusement... And maybe even a tinge of relief.

    "Our father" he went on, walking slowly to her side, pointedly ignoring her shocked expression or the venomous curve of her lips "Or, at least, how the artists saw the famous God of War... I myself admit not to remember his shoulders been so large... But then again, it was all a long time ago..." he sighed, his eyes burrowing on the portrait.

    Sam breathe deeply, trying to control her still racing heart as the bolt of fright slowly ebbed from her blood system.

    "When...When did you get here?" she mumbled, observing him from the side of her eyes.

    "I''m just arrived" her brother assured "I usually ask Ye Qi too air this place once or twice a week... I had forgotten it was supposed to be today."

    Seeing her confused frown, he explained.

    "This was our father study... And his father''s before him... It is here that the Head of the Jiang family has always made the most important decisions."

    Sam started to agree, until something stroke her as odd.

    "But you don''t work here" she mused "I''ve been to your study... you are always on your courtyard."

    Instead of answering, Fei Hong just sent her a sad smile, deciding to turn around and look over the old room.

    "It''s been a long time since anyone has been here" he said out-loud, his fingers brushing slightly over the smooth surface of the desk "We kids were not allowed to get closer than ten feet" he smiles sourly "Not that it ever stopped us... I sometimes wonder what would have become of us all if only we had learned our place and stood away"

    He laughed, a sound so empty and haunted that made Ying Yue shiver as she watched his eyes becoming lost, glazing over with the weight of memories from another time...

    Her heart seemed to squeeze on her chest, making her eyes moist for Fei Hong''s suffering.

    Without thinking, she blurted the first thing that came to her mind.

    "Fei Hong I... I''m sorry I ran away like that" she gulped, cringing at the high-pitched tone of her own words "I wasn''t thinking." she completed, this time making sure it sounded more like talking and less like screaming.

    Fei Hong startled, his eyes widening as he turned his gaze back at her, as if he had forgotten she was even there. Squirming with the sudden attention, she waited as the meaning behind her words finally registered on his head, softening his eyes and lifting his lips on a small, affectionate smile.

    "It was not your fault, Ah Ying" he reassured her "I''m just sorry you had t watch everything... It must have been shocking."

    "I... I felt sick" she agreed, hugging her body tight against the cold slowly sipping inside her bones, making her shiver "It wasn''t right... Ah Mei didn''t do anything wrong."

    "No, she didn''t" he agreed "I''m afraid it is her fate to be a maid on this household..." he turned back to look at his father''s portrait "It doesn''t cease to amaze me how the fall of one can bring misfortune for so many others around him".

    Sam frowned, studying the fire burning on his black eyes as he stared, almost daring the old God of War to walk out of the painting and face the consequences his actions had wrought over his children. Just then, she recollected the Daoist master''s words from earlier, whispering that not everything was always as simples as it seemed.

    Finally, she understood.

    "Uncle didn''t really have a choice today, did he?" she whispered in a tight voice, turning her eyes to the painting as well "We are still paying for whatever happened in the past."

    Fei Hong just nodded, his voice sounding empty and flat.

    "There is no going back from being proclaimed a traitor. His Majesty can go back and say he was mistaken... But the streets will always remember. And the other nobles will never let us forget" he laughed at himself "As they say, there would be no false accusation if with had done nothing worth accusing."

    Sam looked back at him, stunned.

    "So it doesn''t really matter what we do, does it? It wasn''t just about what happened with Tong Zhi Ruo..." she finally understood "Then today... Today was..."

    "Today was the imperial family''s way to remember us that a chicken may learn to fly, but it can never be a phoenix" he looked back at her, his expression pained "They were remembering our uncle in which hands all our lives hung... And how little they thought of it."

    "This is wrong..." she whispered, her mind spinning "This is so wrong... Did her... Did I even like that Crown Prince before?" she asked, turning to look back at the moon peeking through the drapery "Was all this even worth it?".

    Fei Hong didn''t answer, he just stood by her side, silently waiting as their emotions flew high and started receding once again, just as the torch flames with the swipe of the night wind. All along, he could feel his father''s gaze over him, his overbearing, restricting figure staring at his son with barely hidden antagonism.

    ''It was not supposed to be you'' the words hung around him, repeated in every surface, eery corner and piece of paper on that room ''It was never meant to be you''.

    Fei Hong closed his eyes tightly, feeling his sister''s presence at his side and holding desperately at the peace of mind her returning safely to the manor brought him.

    He knew, deep down he knew it wasn''t supposed to be him. That he was wrong in every sense of the way, he was unworthy... But he was all that was left, and his family needed him.

    Fei Hong let go of the breath he didn''t even notice he had been holding, turning his eyes to watch Ying Yue once more.

    For his little sister, for the name of his family... He would make sure that even he was enough.

    ___

    Sam looked over everything she had gathered around the bed with a tired sigh.

    Under the dim light of the two candles she had managed to lit, the paper looked older, the ink darker and the splotches around her messy handwrite even harder to ignore.

    On the darkened room, with only her as their witness, the English phrases seemed almost out of place, the foreign symbols on the old History scrolls almost cry their indignation with being paired with such a heresy.

    It was all very weird... And her tired brain seemed unable to think much beyond how comfortable it would be to lay her head on that weird, cube-shaped pillow.

    Blinking slowly, her head turned of its own volition to her open window, gaze straying to the direction she knew stood the old study.

    Earlier, when Fei Hong had finally managed to close the door behind them, all its lights out once again, Sam had though it looked no different that any other forgotten, inoffensive place on the manor. It hit her as funny how so much pain and history could be hidden if one just closed the door and blew out the fire.

    "Just like all these books..." she mumbled sadly, turning once more to her bed. Being told about the country''s history was fine if you were just sight-seeing, but to live there...? There were probably thousands of details people would forget, things that may matter more than anyone ever noticed...

    The devil lives on the details, as her mother used to say.

    Still, she wasn''t any closer to being able to read the thing than she had been the day Ah Mei brought it all to her rooms.

    Ah Mei...

    She closed her eyes, the girl''s image invading her thoughts once more.

    Ah Mei had been sleeping when Sam visited the servants quarters. A drugged sleep, if the strong stench of herbs and healing flesh was anything to go by.

    Still, even at that momento, Sam could see the pained lines on the girl''s face, the whitish, sweaty quality of her skin the telltale of the abuse she had endured for her... Still, she hadn''t had the heart to wake her to feel even more pain, doesn''t matter how much she wanted to apologize. Instead, she instructed another two maids to take care of Ah Mei, leaving instructions to be awaken if anything was amiss.

    Going back to her courtyard after that had been surprisingly difficult. When she had arrived, the lack of light, along with the completely absence of any human activity had left the hairs on her arms standing and her body shivering. Instead of the warm light coming from inside, as well as the two lantern Ah Mei usually left on the porch, Sam was greeted by a deep, inscrutable darkness, broken only by a solitary lantern hanging precariously on her empty porch.

    Inside the room, she had even managed to knock her toes on what probably was the foot of a chair, before almost knocking a very old, very important vase down with her searching arms. It shamed her to just then understand how much she had come to rely on Ah Mei''s attentive and dutiful care.

    When Fei Hong assured her she had been cared by a physician, she could see in his eyes he had done it solely thinking of her peace of mind and of what would make her happy. It wasn''t out of respect and sympathy for another human being, as Sam had hoped, but it was something... And so late at night, she wouldn''t begrudge a kindness such as that from a brother that clearly seemed to care for her so much.

    "About the reasons behind Uncle''s actions today..." Fei Hong had said with a tired, small smile "If you still want, we can talk about everything tomorrow... Just make sure you stop by our sister''s rooms before you retire... She has been waiting for you all night".

    And so, Sam had just nodded slowly, bidding him goodnight before making her way towards her elder sister''s rooms. For a few minutes, she could still feel his gaze accompanying her, the weight of some hidden family secret haunting him as his eyes turned numb and his hands closed on a white-nuckeled grip.

    Even if she truly wanted to embrace that life, there was so much she still didn''t understand... Of course, it was better than before, and now she really wanted to get a grip of the situation, but it wasn''t ideal.

    So, she was actually quite relieved when her sister''s personal maid attended her and explained that Qing Chang had fallen asleep while waiting for her to return. With such gloomy thoughts hanging over her head like a cloud of doom, the last thing she would be able to do was reassure the girl or even try and appear repentant.

    Sam sighed, getting up once more and, with a few side looks to make sure she wasn''t being watched, threaded carefully to the small, hidden drawer. With some difficulty considering the low illumination, she was finally able to reach the books. Books that the real Ying Yue had considered important enough to hide even from her closest relations.

    If the fact that no-one ever said anything or came looking for it was anything to go by.

    Weighing the volumes on her heads, Sam let her eyes roam, once more turning to the direction of Jiang Hao Chen''s study.

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    "What exactly did you do?" she whispered "What is it that made the King suspect your family? What could it be so that it still hangs over our heads years later...?"

    Turning once more to the secret books, she put then again on the drawer, making sure it was entirely hidden from any eye beyond hers.

    Something was telling her the answers lay inside those books...

    That maybe the words it held where hiding even bigger, more terrible secrets than she had ever bargained to find out.

    __________________ 2 MONTHS LATTER ___________________________

    ...

    PREVIEW

    "Ah Ying gongzi!"

    "Young Master Ying, good morning!"

    "Gongzi, hao*!"

    Sam waved back, smiling to herself as she walked through the streets inconspicuously, meeting new people and talking lightly with a few merchants. It had been easier than she expected to keep her disguise.

    Now, she could start planing ahead.

    Hao: hello, hi

    Gongzi: young master.

 26 Not Quite As It Used To Be 1

    It was a particularly hot morning.

    The sun, round and of a bright yellow, was burning mercilessly on the summer sky, the light blues dotted with silky, white clouds that looked like cotton candy.

    At the side of the streets, a few vendors greeted her with expectant smiles, bowing respectfully in an anxious attempt not to offend the only ever known disciple of the most famous marcial artist ever known to walk the Zao Kingdom.

    Sam sighed.

    While she would usually fell amused by the deferent behavior, that day she barely noticed the busting of vendors and the crush of the market streets, crowded almost to the brim with colors, smells and tastes from all around the kingdom.

    Despite the sun beating down upon the unending layers of her clothes, the girl felt a shiver run down her spine, making her bones shake with a cold, ominous anticipation.

    "The situation is getting out of hands at the boarders" Fei Hong put aside the carefully folded letter with a deep, worried from, his voice tight as looked up to his sisters.

    They had been playing another unsuccessful ¨C for her ¨C match of Go when Ye Qi brought the latter sent by Express rider from General He, its arrival as silent and unnoticed as a brown, dried leaf floating to the surface of a river.

    Still, as her brother broke the seal and started silently reading, Sam could almost see the waves and thunders raging just under the surface, the dangerous glint to his dark eyes the only crack in his usually amicable mask.

    She needn''t have to ask. Before the first word left her lips, Fei Hong was already up, asking Ye Qi to bring Qing Shan and make sure no-one was close enough to listen.

    She had never seen him that way, so... Disturbed. Almost lost. Not even on those first days of her arrival.

    "The rebels have broken the siege on Yuan City two days ago." he eventually started speaking again "The Imperial troops were scattered on the fire. There were no numbers mentioned, but it is clear we lost food and ammunition, maybe more than we can afford at this point...".

    "What about the soldiers?" Qing Shan asked, her voice small and retained, looking much older than her few years.

    Fei Hong sighed deeply. "The ones left are young and untrained, mainly farmers forcefully recruited along the way. We are left with injured, experienced soldiers that could die from their wounds if they were made to fight, and soldiers that will definitely die fighting... Be it from our own numbers, be it from theirs" he sighed "The situation is not good".

    Latter, she would know there was actually a code of "No Retreat" on the Zao Kingdom''s army. Whoever dared run back... The archers were taught to always stay alert, ready to shoot both foes and deserters alike.

    "But... Why is it so important that they have taken Yuan City?" she asked, shaking her head to try and dispel the dreary images dancing before her eyes.

    Actually, On those last two months, it was not uncommon for Fei Hong to receive news about many border cities being caught up in the crossfire. Most of them were evacuated in time, leaving thousands of peasants and refugees without anyplace to go, running for the bigger cities trying to look for food and shelter they would not be able to afford.

    Others, though... Others were simply too far gone already.

    "A war is like a chess game" Fei Hong said, his voice heavier than she had ever heard "It is not uncommon to lose a few stances in order to acquire better ones. Gains and losses are equally expected" he stopped, licking his lips nervously "However, Yuan City is different. In more than tree years of open conflict, the rebels had never gotten so close to the Capital''s walls before.... Nor had we lost so much with a single strike." Fei Hong got up, walking blindly until a large, open window "The Emperor is anxious and the troops are scattered. Their morals are now very low and we barely have any fire power left, which means any attempt at retaliating might be too much for General He to handle. Besides..." he glanced briefly back at Sam, before turning back to face the outside once more "Yuan is also the Zao Kingdom''s main commerce rote with the West kingdoms... Considering we are nearing the draught season and most of our fields are bare, it will turn out to be a loss we might not be able to afford."

    Sam blinked, completely stunned by the news.

    Her heart shook, making it almost painful to breathe.

    That meant... So that meant...

    "The rebels may actually have a chance this time" Qing Shan mumbled numbly, her eyes desperately searching for reassurance on their brother''s eyes.

    Fe Hong didn''t say anything. He just turned his back to them once more, shoulders looking slightly bent forward in defeat.

    "It seams I can''t delay my returning any longer."

    Sam gasped, her hands flying to her trembling lips. It was just like she had been punched on the chest.

    No.... No, he couldn''t. If the situation was as dire as they were making it look, he couldn''t... He couldn''t go back! Not when she was starting to build a true bond with him...

    "When do you leave?", Qing Shan asked silently, avoiding Sam''s widened eyes.

    Fei Hong Looked up, his gaze landing straight onto Sam''s.

    "If this missive is anything to go by, as soon as possible..."

    Sam sighed to herself, trying to shake the foreboding feeling making her gut twist and her stomach burn hot. Unconsciously, she raised a hand and rubbed at her pounding chest, sighing heavily as her stubborn heart just kept punching against her restricting ribs.

    "However I look at it, there is no way out" she mumbled at herself, walking blindly through the crowded streets. "Anyway, we''re doomed..."

    Going would probably mean death, but not going might also turn out to be considered treason... And if her recent experiences had taught her anything, it was that the farthest away from the Imperial Family''s eyes one was, the happier his life would be. The incident with the Crown Prince had definitely driven that particular message home!

    It was indeed a tricky matter! Maybe if...

    "So... Why exactly are we doomed?"

    "AH?!" Sam gasped, jumping almost two feet high as a heavy arm landed on top of her shoulders with a silent thud, bringing her close enough to bump into someone''s tall, lean body.

    Her heart, that wasn''t already on cooperative terms, seemed to jump out of her mouth, the blood pumping adrenaline into her ears from the fright.

    "Crap!" she cursed, ignoring the few frowning eyes that turned her way as she stumbled on her feet, trying to make her breathing even and her steps contained once again.

    At her side, the creature responsible for almost giving her a heart attack laughed loudly, his head almost falling back as his eyes moistened from amusement.

    "Oh! Oh my! I didn''t know someone so small could jump so high!" he snickered.

    Sam grounded her teeth, turning him a stinky eye as she elbowed the self-centered creature right on the ribs.

    As she knew would happen, Gu Qi''s excellent skills brought him out of the way easy enough, living him with the soft smile of a proud, mischievous, elder brother on his white, beautiful face. With a scowl, she pushed her sleeves back, her back straitening to be as stiff as a wood board.

    "That was unnecessary!" she grumbled, her eyes shooting daggers at his lanky, relaxed walk at her side.

    "Oh? I''m sorry" he answered easily.

    "No, you''re not!" she retorted, not bothering to wait for any half-hearted excuse "By the way... Where did you come from, anyway?" she added, looking at him suspiciously.

    Blast! Sam was quite sure she was walking alone just a second ago...

    As she had expected, Gu Qi just shrugged, his attention dispersing to a group of young, rich ladies strolling near a fabric shop.

    "You always speak in such an amusing way" he mused with himself, clearly ignoring her question "It''s funny."

    She rolled her eyes.

    "You give me gastrites..."

    Gu Qi smiled, his eyes going back to her face.

    "Is it something good?" his eyebrows lifted in a suggestive way, making her grown disgustedly ¨C to his never ending amusement.

    "I hate you."

    "Well, that, is doubtful" he laughed, blinking at her with a large smile "So... Why exactly are you doomed this time kid?"

    Kid.

    Sam felt her insides burn.

    Oh-oh, she really, REALLY, wanted to kick him where the sun didn''t shine!

    Instead, Sam closed her eyes, taking a deep, slow breath before answering.

    In her frustration, she had almost forgotten what he was actually asking her about.

    Oh well... Crap again.

    "I was just thinking about Master... He gave another task and... Hum... I''m still not sure what it entails" she lied, looking ahead once more, at the School''s building already on sight "So... Where exactly did you lose your other half? The one that carries the brain?"

    "Oh, he is right there!" Gu Qi waved, signaling at a tall, imposing young lord waiting for them near the entrance of the school.

    Sam studied him from afar, noticing the few students still lingering near the School''s already open door.

    As always, Gu Ye''s perfect dark hair shone dark, his posture straight as a wood board, his black, eagle-like eyes never leaving his brother''s figure. The closer they got, the harder the line of his lips became, his hands closed on a tight grip behind his back.

    Massaging her already aching temples, the girl sighed, watching the cautiously composed figures of her friend.

    "So... Are you in trouble again?" she asked tentatively, giving him a nudge with her elbow so he would stop flirting around an actually look at her.

    "Hum?" Gu Qi blinked, his head tilting adorably to the side as her words slowly sunk in "Ah, well... I don''t think I did anything wrong."

    She rolled her eyes.

    "Remember what I told you about not being used as a buffer between the two of you anymore?"

    "Ah Ying! I''m hurt!" he gasped, a hand landing dramatically over his heart "Isn''t it what friendships are for?"

    "Hum, I don''t think so" she laughed, unable to keep the stern face "Again, don''t even think in letting me to deal with you brother... Already gone there once. No need repeat it".

    The girl shivered slightly, the memory of a particularly trying conversation with Gu Ye suddenly coming to mind.

    Yep. Definitely not doing that again. A girl just had so many lives to live!

    "Yi Ying..." he sighed, his face dejected "I thought you were supposed to be Great Daoist Master''s only disciple... ! Aya, To think someone like my brother could actually frighten you... Tsk... It is really disheartening... Aren''t you making your Master lose face?"

    Instead of feeling offended ¨C as she knew was his aim with the daunting words ¨C she just rolled her eyes, stopping right beside Gu Ye and bowing her head on a friendly greeting.

    "Young Master Ye" she smiled.

    "Master Ah Ying" he repeated, his eyes barely moving from his brother. She had not even begun asking him some trivial question when he said "You are late. Again"

    Sam rose back from her curtesy, exchanging a worried look with Gu Qi, whose face had turned into a peculiar shade of green.

    ''Uh-oh''.

    "Gu Qi pays his respects to Elder Brother" the younger twin suddenly said, apparently regaining his ease and matter-of-factly manners "Hope your morning was better than your face betrays it to be..."

    Gu Ye didn''t even blink. Without giving neither of them a second glance, he turned on his heels and started to the door.

    "We should enter. Class will begin soon".

    It was clear, then, that whatever was stuck on his windpipe, it was for only his brother''s ears to listen. He would wait for them to get home.

    In the two months she had known the two of them, she had never heard Gu Ye speak more then five or six words at once. He was always the silent party, just nodding and eventually contributing to the conversation with one-word sentences.

    It always astounded her how could two people that looked exactly the same have such different personalities.

    Where Ye''er was calm and reserved, with a mind to strictly follow every moral code and rule that was pounded on his head, Ah Qi was a free spirit, a well known rogue that would spend his afternoons singing and playing to woo any beautiful girl he could lay his eyes upon and enjoy his evening between the sheets of the most expensive brothels of the Imperial City...

    Actually, he had been the one to spot the jade-flute, still tightly knotted onto her belt, on that first day, and the reason why everyone now though of her as Young Master Yi Ying, the one and only ever known disciple of Great Daoist Master.

    A joke, really. Even more considering she could barely trow a punch without breaking her hand.

    Sam only hopped the Yi Rea himself saw all that as amusing.

    She sighed.

    "I don''t get why you provoke him so much" she mused as the two of them started off to the school, just a few steps behind Gu Ye.

    "Hum?" Gu Qi turned, a small, lazy smile turning the tips of his lips "Oh? You mean my brother?" he laughed "I was not provoking him".

    Sam rolled her eyes, giving him a pointed look.

    "Young Master Gu, I may not understand exactly what all this is about, but I know petulance when I see it."

    Gu Qi only laughed harder.

    "You know, you are actually a really cute kid".

    "I''m not a kid! I''m..." she stopped, her righteous indignation deflating "I''m not that younger than you guys" she completely, looking abashed.

    Yeah. Fifteen. If there was something she would take sometime to get used to it was the age... Gosh, she hated being so young again!

    "I''ll see you later, then?" he asked again, just as they arrived at the classroom. "I mean, you are going, right?"

    Sam fidgeted, fighting the urge to bit her lower lip and look as unsure with the exchange as she felt. If was always the hardest part... Fighting those reactions that could blow her cover and denounce her for being what she actually was.

    A girl. A girl that had no place on a only-boys school.

    Well, at least that was what everyone on that place seemed to think ¨C and something she would manage to change, if only at her own household!

    To Ah Qi, she said.

    "I told you already, I have a few things to manage after school" rolling her eyes for effect "I''ll meet you there, though... If I have time".

    "That''s good too" he agreed, his smile growing larger, his thin lips the color of roses as his eyes shone with a light glint "I might even keep a few untouched flowers for you to choose... See you later, kid" he laughed loudly, his head almost falling back at her struck, wide-eyes expression.

    Sam gulped furiously, fighting the warmth that suddenly rushed to her cheeks at Gu Qi''s implications.

    "Pig!" she mumbled, huffing fervently as she pushed her sleeves back, watching as he disappeared to his seat between the few waves of students with the ease and grace of a dancer. Sometimes, being surrounded by all that perfection felt slightly tiring...

    Ah, what a fate, what a fate! Being reborn on a place where there where no awkward teens, no growth spree, no skin problems...

    "So unfair..." she mumbled to herself, marching on the direction of her desk.

    Two sons of a Duke could not really be in too much trouble, anyway. Her brother, on the other hand...

    Shaking off that line of thought for another time, she looked just briefly to the side, seeing that her table partner was already sat at his side, back straight, square shoulders...

    And a frown most definitely directed at her.

    Sometimes she wondered whether he could actually smell her. As ridiculous as that could be, it was the only explanation for his ever present scowl before he even spotted her!

    Trying to keep her face neutral, she sat at by his side with a plong, trowing her bag on the floor and trying not to make much of a fuss as she took out the introductory books and a couple of brushes and ink.

    "This is no place for a girl".

    ''And... here we go'' she thought to herself, fighting a little, petulant smile.

    Slowly, Sam looked back, her eyes landing on the stony expression of Bai Jian Hua.

    As usual, he didn''t turn her way to speak, merely keeping his eyes down, focused on what looked like an old poetry book, his voice loud enough just so she could hear him.

    Also as usual, she retorted on the same careless, unrepentant way.

    "Whatever you think you know, Young Master Bai, you can go and tell Professor Jiao. Ah Ying will not stop you".

    At this point, after two months of attending classes together every day, the exchange felt almost automatic, like some sort of ritual between the two of them.

    She couldn''t be sure if he really knew her identity, or if Bai Jian Hua was just reaching for catch something without seeing... Whatever the reason, though, she was just grateful he seemed to growl more than bite.

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    Gu Qi seemed to think it was amusing that she and the Gu twin''s cousin seemed to be at odds from the very beginning, bu he was usually too carefree and easygoing to think much about it. Gu Ye, she knew, was another story entirely.

    He was the one always looking, trying to understand what she and Jiang Hua would spoke so low to each other whenever they were out of reach.

    Different from his twin brother, Gu Ye was not someone she could take lightly. Different from Young Master Bai, the heir of the Duke''s household would have no qualms on denouncing her as a girl sneaking around a boy''s only school ¡ª the only type of school that existed on that place.

    "Stop. It is annoying"

    She looked back at Bai Jian Hua, surprised at his sudden words.

    "I didn''t say anything!" she retorter, confused.

    "You were thinking. It''s annoying"

    Sam didn''t know whether to laugh or cry at his words.

 27 The Fall of Yuan City

    ONE WEEK EARLIER

    Standing on the top of the Yuan City Walls, his hands clasped behind his back, a young men looked over the vast, bare land that stretched for miles and miles, his dark, intelligent eyes carrying a cunning, intelligent glint.

    Near the horizon, he could still see the darkened patch that marked the Rebel''s encampment, its high, whitish tents almost glinting under the merciless morning sun. It was a much bigger threat now than he had considered when accepting his father''s edict to lead the Imperial Troops there.

    He could still remember how it had all begun. Just a few unsatisfied voices, random attacks to a few officials households... None of them had though much of it then. In any dynasty, it was bound to exist conflict.

    Considering the high cost of living on the Zao Empire and the atrocities the Mu tribes had endured after the War was over, he thought it had even taken to long for the unrest to begin.

    There were some things that history books didn''t tell. Things that only those who remembered, and those who carried those words would know. No one wrote about how every woman and children, from nobles to the royal family, had been sold to brothels on the spoils of war. How entire troops had kept watching and laughing as their officials were made to watch their woman being passed between the soldiers like animals.

    It wasn''t something one should be proud of. It was just how things worked. A war made savages of the best of man, and those men were needed on the front. If the price of the battle was a few unknown lives, no one would blame them for being cruel.

    As time passed, however, the guards on the walls started to wake up dead, important bureaus were burnt on the dead of night, important slave traders where viciously murdered and exposed on the public square.

    When he had been sent to the Borders for the first time, word had already travelled that the Mu''s were rebelling. That they were fighting back to establish the Mu''s Rightful Heir.

    The rebels already had better numbers, from the poor, the famished, to those who were unsatisfied with the current emperor.

    He still remember his last day on the capital city, the image as clear as if he was looking at a reflection shining on the surface of a river.

    "I''m leaving for the borders in two days".

    It was not the first time he had sneaked into their household to see her. That night, however, coronated by the high, full moon and light blue clothes against the dark night sky, she looked specially cold.

    "If that is so, I can only wish Your Highness that in battle your horses are fast and your aim is true".

    The girl had turned to him, her face cold, her eyes bright.

    "What Love? What Heart? He Geng Xin, I''m only fifteen, what could I understand of this things?"

    The Crown Prince blinked, his mind coming back to the blazing morning sun, the light breeze swaying their flags still held atop the walls, the war drums positioned strategically on both edges of the edifice...

    Inside the city, he could barely hear the talk and noise of the people that still lived there. When the Emperor assigned him the protection of that city, his first priority had been trying to control the situation and keep the gates intact.

    As time passed and things started looking worse, he begun evacuating the foreigner merchants and nobles still on Yuan City territory. It had been difficult, with the last of the Officials being transferred away that same morning.

    "General" his aide called behind him, his foot nocking on the stone floor in sign of respect "A secret messenger is here. Says he brings news from General He."

    Without a single word, He Geng Xin have an almost imperceptible nod, his lips pressing in disdain as he motioned for the man to be brought up to him.

    "Your Highness, Crown Prince" the messenger greeted him, whose gaze was still fixed on the outside of the walls "General He sent me to report that the unrest on Hong City has been pacified. The rebels have been sent away."

    "Hum" Geng Xin acknowledged.

    "General was worried with the situation on Yuan City... He suspects those that survived will probably retreat here by the next two days."

    "It is indeed possible" he agreed "did he offer to send me help too, I supposed?"

    The messenger stiffened, his legs fidgeting at the annoyed tone to the Prince''s voice. Unable to think about anything else to say, he only mumbled.

    "Indeed he did... Y-Your Highness."

    "I see" he said, his words slow, his eyes closing slight as if he was deep in thought "You can pass my words then".

    "Your Highness" the man fell to his knees, head bowed in sign of respect.

    "Tell my brother the Zao Empire is fortunate to have a General as capable as him. I, He Geng Xin, will as well accept his help."

    The messenger was speechless. It wasn''t secret that the relationship between the brothers wasn''t good. Still, to listen to the Crown Prince''s sweet words... a cold shiver ran down his spine, bringing with it an ominous feeling.

    When the man had already left the city, his figure getting farther away over a brownish horse, He Geng Xin turned to his aide, a slight, cold smile on his face.

    "It seems that my brother needs our help on Hong City... We should head there immediately."

    His aide blinked, completely stunned by his master''s words. Was... What was master even thinking? Wasn''t that wishing for death by treason, Hum?

    "But Y-Your Highness" he stammered, looking at the blank faces of the few guards near them "The Rebels..."

    "They have been quite for a while now. You can see most have retreat from the farthest sides... Only a few still stay".

    The aide looked at his master again. Wasn''t that making noise on the east to attack on the west? Didn''t the Crown Prince himself comment about the Mu''s tactics that same day, when they were listening to the morning reports? What was Geng Xin thinking?

    "Just leave some trusted guards to take care of the walls and watch over the remaining citizens" he continued eventually, his eyes never leaving the retreating messengers figure "I can''t just leave my good brother to fend off the enemy army outnumbered, can I?"

    "Master..." the aide mumbled, his gaze also falling on the lone man riding a tall, brown horse "the news..."

    "Oh?" He Geng Xin smiled again, his eyes shining cold as he extended a hand to his bow, bringing an arrow from his back at arranging it against the tight string "unfortunately... it seams the rebels have reached him first" adjusting his aim, he left out a breath. "He never made it to Yuan City".

    And let go of the arrow.

    Before the body fell to the sandy floor, two guards dressed in black rose from the recesses of the City Walls. In a few seconds, the messenger, his horse, and most important, the words he had conveyed, were like they had never existed.

    Soon, Yuan City would fall.