บท 39: Cautious heart
"Haha, indeed, it has been quite some time, Sir Tienzheng,"
Suyin chimed in with a measured tone, her steps deliberate as she traversed the hallway toward the brothel's main area.
Groups of women adorned the tables, their gazes fixed upon the Qin Fuhua. Some chuckled amongst themselves, their eyes flitting briefly to Qin Fuhua's handsome features before darting away.
At the heart of the bustling brothel, the proprietress presided over the scene alongside Qin Fuhua.
As Suyin emerged into view, a palpable shift rippled through the gathering. The once admiral atmosphere turned tense, the expressions of the pleasure and entertainment women darkening as their attention fixated upon Han Suyin, now seated casually beside Qin Fuhua.
"My dear, now that the lady has graced us with her presence, shall we attend to our affairs?" the old madam declared, her voice cutting through the air with a commanding tone.
With a swift clap of her hands, she signaled for the women to resume their duties, their resentful glares lingering on Suyin as they begrudgingly returned to their tasks.
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Within the confines of a modestly sized room, a symphony of red, black, and gold adorned the walls, each hue meticulously painted to lend an air of opulence to the intimate space.
The bed, a centerpiece of extravagance, lay adorned with layers of delicate red silk, its allure heightened by the play of light filtering through the room.
Positioned at its heart was a round brown table, its surface occupied by three figures engaged in conversation. The scent of green tea permeated the air, adding a soothing undertone to the scene.
"It is indeed a pleasure to be in the presence of the Prince once more," the older woman declared, her hands clasped together as she executed a graceful gesture, her smile imbued with warmth and familiarity.
Suyin's heart skipped a beat, her mind reeling with confusion as she turned to Qin Fuhua for clarification, only to find him watching her with a calm demeanor, his silence adding to the mystery.
"How long has it been?" Qin Fuhua's voice flowed smoothly, tranquil as a mountain stream.
"Ah, my dear, it must have been nearly three years," the old woman remarked, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes as she appraised Suyin.
With a flourish of her fan, she paused, her gaze drifting momentarily to the Prince before returning to Suyin's perplexed expression.
"Is there a matter of importance that has brought you into such a predicament?" she inquired, her tone shifting to one of concern, her brow furrowing like a mother fretting over her child.
"Surely, if it weren't for your trusted subordinate, Weizhe, I wouldn't have been able to arrange this meeting with such haste."
Qin Fuhua's gaze shifted between Suyin and the older woman before he spoke, his voice steady and measured. "It concerns Jianhong."
A gasp escaped the old woman's lips as she covered her face in mock horror.
"Surely, he isn't attempting to steal our dear lady here," she teased, her tone laced with sarcasm. "But forgive me, I haven't properly introduced myself. What might your name be, dear?" she inquired with genuine kindness.
"Han Suyin."
Lost in the ebb and flow of conversation, Suyin was momentarily drawn back to reality by Huang Qiyao's gentle touch, her hands enveloping Suyin's own with warmth.
"My name is Huang Qiyao, the owner of this beautiful brothel."
As the older woman introduced herself, a smile graced Suyin's lips, her nerves momentarily eased by the genuine kindness in Qiyao's demeanor.
"Han Suyin," Qiyao repeated, her smile widening as she released Suyin's hand and gracefully poured tea for the pair, the delicate aroma mingling with the air of the room.
As Qin Fuhua broached the topic of Jianhong, a shadow flickered across Qiyao's features, her gaze briefly distant as she pondered the implications.
With Suyin observing in quiet contemplation, Qin Fuhua continued, his words laden with a sense of urgency.
"There is an air of suspicion surrounding him," Qin Fuhua remarked, his voice tinged with concern. "I witnessed another group of soldiers, not of his own, accompanying him into this very establishment on a previous occasion."
Qiyao's gaze lingered on Qin Fuhua, her mind a whirlwind of contemplation as she sought to recall any encounters with Jianhong and his men.
Beside her, Suyin remained a silent observer, her presence a testament to the gravity of the conversation unfolding before them.
"There has to be something big going on with him other than the plan he had talked to me about tonight." Qin Fuhua continued, his tone laden with an undercurrent of urgency. "What transpired in our discussion tonight hints at a deeper, motive. It is as though he seeks to ensnare me in a web of deception, utilizing my involvement as his shield."
Abruptly, the tranquility of the moment shattered like glass as the door swung open with a resounding bang.
Weizhe and Zhaoyun, ever deferential, bowed their heads in deference to Qin Fuhua's presence. Weizhe leaned in close, his words a whispered murmur against the backdrop of tension.
In a swift motion, Qin Fuhua rose from his seat, a somber resolve etched upon his features.
"Forgive me, but we must leave," he declared with a hint of regret lacing his words. With a curt nod of farewell, he gently clasped Suyin's wrist, his touch firm yet gentle as he guided her to her feet. "It is time to depart," he announced, his voice brooking no argument.
"G-Goodbye and thank you for such kind hospitality." Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Suyin could only muster a faltering goodbye, her gratitude mingled with confusion.
As Qiyao stood amidst the fading echoes of Qin Fuhua and Suyin's departure, a flicker of surprise danced across her features, quickly giving way to a soft, knowing smile that curved the corners of her lips.
The rush of events left her momentarily stunned, yet her amusement bubbled forth like a gentle stream trickling through the recesses of her thoughts.
"Oh, dear," she murmured, her voice a melodic whisper tinged with affectionate amusement. "He has truly grown up, hasn't he?" Her words lingered in the air, a solitary acknowledgment of the growth and transformation she had witnessed in Qin Fuhua over the passage of time.
With a gentle shake of her head, Qiyao couldn't help but chuckle softly to herself, the sound carrying the weight of fond reminiscence.
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Beneath the shroud of the night's embrace, Qin Fuhua, Suyin, Weizhe, and Zhaoyun traversed the desolate streets of Liaoping, their footsteps echoing faintly against the cobblestone pavement.
The rhythmic cadence of their journey was punctuated by the weight of unspoken thoughts, the silence hanging heavy around them like a cloak of anticipation.
As the stillness threatened to suffocate them, it was Han Suyin who dared to breach the veil of quietude with a question that lingered like a ghost in the recesses of her mind. Her voice, a soft melody tinged with curiosity, sliced through the night air, breaking the monotony of their march.
"How did she... know?" Suyin's inquiry hung in the air, her gaze fixing upon Qin Fuhua with a confused look.
The revelation of Qiyao's ability to know who Qin Fuhua is, despite him wearing his mask was causing Suyin to wonder who she really was.
Qin Fuhua's demeanor shifted imperceptibly, his gaze averted as if drawn towards some distant horizon. With a deliberate pause, he halted their progress, the weight of his silence palpable as he grappled with the weight of her question.
Folding his hands behind his back, he turned to meet Suyin's gaze with a gaze that held the weight of years of shared history. "She's a friend of my Master," he confessed, his tone devoid of emotion yet heavy with the weight of truth. As they resumed their journey, his words hung in the air. "I grew up with her and my Master. She was, in many ways, a mentor to me, alongside my Master."
The juxtaposition of Qiyao owning a brothel was a martial artist.
To the untrained eye, she was merely the mistress of a den of earthly desires, her presence synonymous with whispered promises and fleeting pleasures.
Yet, hidden beneath the veneer of sensuality lay a wellspring of untapped potential, a mastery of the martial arts that few could rival.
In the clandestine world of shadows and deception, her prowess remained shrouded in secrecy, known only to a select few who had been privy to her teachings. Alongside Qin Fuhua's revered Master, she stood as a bastion of strength and resilience, her name whispered in hushed reverence amongst those who traversed the treacherous paths of the martial realm.
Their union, a formidable alliance forged in the crucible of battle, had become the stuff of legend, their exploits recounted in hushed tones amongst the ranks of warriors and scholars alike.
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As the group pressed on through the streets of Liaoping, a sense of disorientation began to gnaw at the edges of Han Suyin's consciousness.
"Wait, where are we going?" Her voice echoed against the silence, trying to understand where they were going specifically.
Weizhe and Zhaoyun exchanged a knowing glance, their silent agreement a testament to the nature of their mission.
Before long, their journey led them to a familiar sight, the imposing facade of a grand estate looming before them like a silent sentinel.
Suyin's breath caught in her throat as her eyes fell upon the piles of blackened ashes that littered the ground, a grim reminder of the horrors that had befallen this once proud abode.
Her reverie was shattered by the sudden swing of the doors, revealing the figure of Jianhong standing before them, his laughter ringing out like a harbinger of impending doom.
Suyin's gaze darted to Qin Fuhua, a silent plea for explanation writ large upon her features, yet her unspoken question fell upon deaf ears as he remained resolute in his silence.
With a heavy heart, Qin Fuhua inclined his head in deference to Jianhong, his words carrying the weight of obligation as he announced their purpose.
"I have come to escort the lady," he declared, his gesture a silent acknowledgment.
"What...what the hell are you doing?!"
But Suyin's protestations fell upon deaf ears as Jianhong's laughter echoed through the halls, his command ringing out like a death bell.
Before she could react, the guards descended upon her with ruthless efficiency, their grasp unyielding as they dragged her toward an uncertain fate.
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Within the confines of the darkened mansion, the oppressive shadow of Jianhong's influence loomed, casting a pall of dread over the hapless captive held within its grasp.
As the moon hung low in the night sky, its light was obscured by Jianhong's sinister behaviors.
A solitary figure was perched atop the roof amidst the noisy range of emotions that raged below.
Qin Fuhua, his form a mere silhouette against the moonlit backdrop, watched with cold resolve, his breath visible in the frigid air as he bore witness to the unfolding tableau of despair below.
Bound by ropes that cut into her flesh, Han Suyin lay at Jianhong's mercy, her defiance a palpable force that crackled like lightning in the air.
"Do you truly believe you can evade my grasp?" Jianhong's voice cut through the silence like a dagger, his gaze fixed upon Suyin with a predatory gleam that sent shivers down her spine. With each word uttered, his presence loomed larger, a malevolent force that threatened to engulf her entirely.
But Suyin refused to cower in the face of his cruelty, her eyes ablaze with an unyielding determination that burned like a beacon amidst the encroaching darkness.
If looks could kill, Jianhong would have met his demise a thousandfold, for in Suyin's gaze lay the fiery depths of her defiance, a testament to the strength of her spirit.
Undeterred by her silent protestations, Jianhong approached with a macabre amusement dancing in his eyes, his words dripping with venomous intent.
"Ah, my dear Hua," he crooned, his voice a sickening melody that sent shivers down her spine. "Did you truly believe you could burn my home and escape unscathed?"
A cruel chuckle reverberated through the air as Jianhong circled his prey, his gaze raking over her form with a predatory hunger that made her skin crawl. Yet, despite the suffocating weight of his presence, Suyin remained resolute, her defiance unyielding even in the face of impending doom.
With a callous disregard for her suffering, Jianhong closed the distance between them, his fingers tracing a path along her jawline with a sickening familiarity that made her skin crawl.
But Suyin refused to be reduced to a mere pawn in his twisted game, her bound hands lashing out with a ferocity born of desperation, striking against his face as a primal roar of defiance echoed through the night.
The tense atmosphere within the dimly lit chamber was shattered by an abrupt knock on the door, a respite from the suffocating weight of Jianhong's presence that hung heavy in the air.
With a jolt, the room fell silent, save for the muffled voice of an intruder seeking entrance.
"Master, Sir Tienzheng awaits your presence for the meeting," the voice rang out, its urgency a stark reminder of the precarious situation that had befallen them.
But Jianhong's response was a thunderous roar, his anger reverberating through the walls like a tempest unleashed. "Shut up!" he bellowed, his irritation palpable as he dismissed the unwelcome interruption with a wave of his hand.
"I shall attend to this matter shortly."
The gravity of his words hung in the air like a guillotine poised to fall, casting a shadow of dread over the captive figure of Han Suyin who remained bound and helpless before him.
"When I come back, you will want to face death afterward!"
With a venomous glare, Jianhong directed his fury towards her, his threats a chilling reminder of the peril that awaited her upon his return.
But as the door slammed shut behind him, Suyin found herself seized by a tumult of emotions, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and defiance.
With each passing moment, her resolve strengthened, fueled by the knowledge that she refused to be a pawn in Jianhong's twisted game of power and control.
As she pushed herself against the wall, her thoughts raced with indignation, her spirit unyielding in the face of adversity.
"Han Suyin," she whispered to herself, her voice a defiant declaration against the forces that sought to bend her to their will.
"You are not meant to die, nor to be used as bait for another's gain."
But her soliloquy was abruptly interrupted by the sound of fabric fluttering through the air, drawing her attention to the figure that materialized before her.
Relief flooded her senses as she beheld the familiar countenance of Qin Fuhua, his presence a welcome respite amidst the chaos that engulfed them.
With a hint of sarcasm tainting her words, Suyin greeted him with a raised eyebrow and a wry smile."What's with the sudden appearance?" Suyin sarcastically said. "Aren't you supposed to be meeting with the perverted pig?" she quipped, her gaze piercing through the veil of uncertainty that shrouded their circumstances.
Qin Fuhua's voice resonated with a blend of determination and reassurance as he spoke, his words cutting through the tense air like a sharp blade through silk.
"I wouldn't let him do anything to you," he vowed, his eyes unwavering as he loosened the ties that bound her.
His gaze softened as it met Suyin's, carrying a silent promise of protection amidst the looming danger that surrounded them.
In the dimly lit room, shadows danced across the walls, adding an eerie ambiance to the conversation unfolding within.
Qin Fuhua's actions were deliberate, his movements calculated as he secured Suyin once more, albeit with a gentleness that spoke volumes of his concern for her well-being. This time, however, he left just enough slack for her to wiggle free without enduring the agony of constriction on her wrists.
"He will be coming back with some tea to knock you unconscious," Qin Fuhua divulged in a hushed tone, his proximity to Suyin amplifying the urgency of his words.
"Fake your unconsciousness, and when we arrive at General Feng's home, we will start our attack. When this happens, run to the south where the sun meets the moon."
Suyin's brow furrowed in confusion at the cryptic instruction, her mind grappling with the enigmatic imagery painted by Qin Fuhua's words.
"The sun and the moon? How will I--" Her inquiry trailed off as she caught herself, a wave of understanding washing over her as she nodded in silent acquiescence.
At that moment, she placed her trust in Qin Fuhua's guidance.
A tender pat on her head from Qin Fuhua offered a fleeting reassurance before he vanished from the window, leaving behind a palpable sense of anticipation mingled with apprehension.
The sound of approaching footsteps reverberated through the silence, signaling Jianhong's imminent arrival. Suyin braced herself, steeling her nerves as she prepared to play her part in the perilous charade that lay ahead.
The door creaked open with a haunting echo, revealing Jianhong's looming figure framed against the faint light filtering into the room. His demeanor, though outwardly composed, betrayed a sinister undercurrent as he approached, a tray bearing two ominous cups of tea in hand.
"My dear Hua," Jianhong's voice dripped with false sincerity as he addressed Suyin, his gaze flickering with malice as it settled upon her bound form.
"I apologize for my behavior earlier. You may have been angered that your dear husband had betrayed you." His words were laced with a venomous sweetness, each syllable dripping with deceit as he extended the tray towards her. "Let's take a cup for forgiveness, shall we?"
Suyin's heart pounded in her chest as she met Jianhong's gaze with a steely resolve, her outward calm a façade concealing the tumult of emotions raging within. She knew that her survival depended on her ability to navigate the treacherous waters of deception, to play the role assigned to her with unwavering conviction.
With a forced smile, Jianhong offered her the cup, his grip tightening imperceptibly as he emphasized the futility of resistance.
Suyin's smile was a delicate mask of compliance as she nodded in feigned surrender, her words dripping with honeyed acquiescence.
"Okay. I give in. I will accept your forgiveness," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she lifted the cup to her lips. With practiced precision, she took a sip, her senses recoiling at the bitter taste that assaulted her tongue.
In an instant, her facade shattered, replaced by a calculated flinch that sent Jianhong's tea splattering to the ground in a clumsy dance of chaos.
Seizing the opportunity, Suyin feigned alarm, her eyes widening in mock terror as she spat out the noxious liquid onto the bed with a swift, deft motion as she screamed.
"I thought I saw a bug and got scared," she lied effortlessly, her voice trembling with a carefully crafted veneer of fragility designed to ensnare Jianhong's gullible sensibilities.
It was a performance tailored to exploit his weaknesses, to manipulate his perceptions to her advantage.
Jianhong's laughter rang hollow in the confines of the room, a stark contrast to the tension that hung heavy in the air. "A strong woman who is afraid of bugs. You are really something," he chuckled, oblivious to the web of deceit that ensnared him.
With a dismissive wave, Jianhong announced his departure, his grin a mocking echo of triumph as he left Suyin alone with her thoughts.
As the door closed behind him, Suyin allowed herself a fleeting moment of relief, her features contorting with disgust as she wiped away the remnants of the tainted tea from her lips.
"Thank goodness Qin Fuhua told me before something happened," Suyin whispered to herself, filled with gratitude.
Drawing a steadying breath, she prepared herself for the next act in this act.
Minutes stretched into an eternity as Suyin lay motionless upon the bed, her breath shallow and steady as she maintained the illusion of unconsciousness.
And then, like something emerging from the shadows, Jianhong's footsteps echoed through the silence once more, heralding his return to the chamber.
This time, Suyin lay perfectly still, her act of unconsciousness unbroken as Jianhong approached with caution, his voice a hesitant whisper as he called out her name.
"My Hua"
But Suyin remained unmoved, her features a mask of serene tranquility as she waited, biding her time for the perfect moment to strike.
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Aeriesu
Aeriesu Hello, my dear readers!
I literally took a long time to find the motivation to write this novel because I was in a reader's block for SO LONG. I had outlined a couple of arcs and storylines but had been stuck at it for a while until I found inspiration. I apologize for that but I think I was able to climb that darn writer's block! I hope you all are doing well with everything that is going on around the world and wishing you good health and happiness! <3
By the way! I made a character chart on the AXILLARY CHAPTER 0 if you wanted to take a peek at it!
Sincerely,
Aeriesu ^^
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