Arian grabbed my arms and pulled me to the nearest pillars which she quickly tucked me behind. She pressed a finger to her lips before she turned to face the man who had yelled at us. It was a guard and he grasped his spear in both hands as he hurried up to her.
“What are you doing here?” he questioned her. His curious eyes inspected the area and invariably discovered the hole. “What is this?” he demanded to know as he stabbed a finger at the tunnel.
Arian grasped her hands behind her and smiled at him. “My sincerest apologies. I thought you had been alerted to the digging today.”
The guard frowned at her. “Digging? What digging?”
My companion nodded at the hole even as I noticed one of her hands move. One of her fingers pointed to my left. The party was in that direction.
However, I hesitated. I couldn’t just leave her in that situation, not alone.
“Answer me!” the guard snapped.
Arian stabbed her finger that way and turned her head slightly to the left so one eye caught mine. The depths of hers pleaded with me and I understood. Things would get far worse if I was discovered.
I reluctantly slipped away but not before catching Arian’s reply. “I noticed a crack in the wall a few days ago and notified Prince Yushir that I would see if there was structural damage to the wall.”
Good one I thought as I scurried down the portico. Nobody would want to ask the prince if he knew about digging out of risk that they had been told and forgotten about the digging themselves. No royal would be happy with a forgetful guard.
Arian had saved us but I dearly wished for her guidance when I reached the end of the shaded porch. I found myself at a four-way intersection with three decisions. Arian’s directions, however, had pointed to my right and so I traveled that way, making sure to keep to the shadows of the wrap-around portico. The walking path was wider than the one I just left and the wall opposite where I walked had vines growing over the top. I glimpsed the tall peaks of a luxurious palace set away from the wall, and the tops of trees also poked their branched heads above the barriers.
I was relieved when I came across an archway with words above the door that read ‘Gonglu Palace.’ Here was my stop. I peeked around the column behind which I hid and inspected the area. The sun was no help at all in telling me the hour, but I heard voices deep within the compound.
I crept across the wide road and tiptoed up the short flight of wide steps to the gate where I peeked inside. The extensive grounds were decked out in carefully arranged grass plots with tall, white-barked trees. A small brook gurgled through the middle and was traversed via a bowed wooden bridge. A palace stood on the other side and was accessed via a set of closed doors. To the left was another portico that ran along the length of the bundle of low buildings connected to the main hall set some thirty yards back from the front.
There was no one around so I slipped down the path and across the bridge. Fish darted away from my shadow and I briefly considered stopping to admire the view, but the same voices as before could be heard, and they were louder. I ducked around the left side of the building toward the portico and had to hunker low to avoid being seen through a half dozen open windows.
They allowed me to see a long hall that stretched from the front to the portico connection. A few servants stood in the middle of the room but the talking came from the very rear. I reached the portico and tiptoed across the covered path, thankful the door to the hall was closed. I came up to the second row of columns that held up the heavy roof and a row of bushes followed them. I worked my way over them and found a good hiding spot situated beside one of the open windows.
The voices floated out and I gingerly peeked my head above the sill. Four low and small tables were positioned with two opposite the other pair. Yushir and Lord Eastwei were seated on mats opposite the door while I glimpsed the backs of two women at the other seats. A host of servants stood around waiting for orders.
This was my chance at a good look at the former emperor and I was still struck by how handsome he was. There wasn’t a single hair out of place nor a wrinkle to be found on his perfectly smooth skin. His dark eyes stared nonchalantly at the table in front of him as one hand lay in his lap. He was the picture of cool serenity. I wondered if those cute lips knew how to laugh.
The young woman who sat opposite the icy lord was a beauty to behold. She also had a slight upward tilt to her nose that told me she was accustomed to getting her way.
“I cannot begin to describe the pleasure I have in serving you today,” she cooed as she smiled and bowed her head to the pair.
Prince Yushir shook his head. “The pleasure is all ours, Lady Shian. Your hospitality is legendary.”
Shian blushed. “You flatter me, Your Highness.” Her attention fell on the lord who draped an arm over an armrest. His listless eyes stared down at the empty table in front of him. “May I ask how your flute is progressing, Dadan? I do hope to hear you play it soon.”
“Perhaps in a month,” the lord answered without lifting his eyes.
“Then I will wait impatiently for that time,” she assured him as she looked at the empty tables. “But our food should be arriving soon.”
Noise from down the path turned my attention in that direction and I watched four maidens hurry from the far end where another gate led outside the compound. They each carried a tray with covered plates in their hands. The door was opened by a few maids inside and the four slipped in.
They set the trays before the guests and Lady Shian smiled at the two men. “I cooked these steaks especially for your visit today. They are crafted from my own special seasoning which I crafted for you alone.”
The servants lifted the covers and revealed thick hunks of steak. They hadn’t been cooked long as a puddle of blood pooled around the meat. A heavy mountain of spice sat atop the steak and a strong aroma wafted off the food and struck my nostrils. I clapped a hand over my nose to keep from sneezing.
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Prince Yushir covered his face but couldn’t stop the small cough that escaped his hand. “A very interesting aroma, Lady Shian.”
She sat up and puffed out her chest a little. “Thank you, Your Highness. I assure you the flavor is even better.”
The prince took up his knife and fork, and he plunged the blade into the meat. Even more blood poured out. He was mindful to keep as far from the mountain of spices as he could manage and managed to cut off a slim bit of food. Yushir lifted the meat to his lips and stared at it for a moment.
I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh. He looked like a prisoner contemplating suicide. The prince took a deep breath and gobbled the whole bit in one go. He chewed quickly but the tension at the corners of his eyes and mouth told the full story.
The man swallowed hard and managed a shaky smile. “An interesting flavor, Lady Shian. I have never tasted anything quite like it.”
Shian bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Highness.” Her eager eyes fell on Eastwei who hadn’t even picked up his utensils. “Will you not try it, Dadan?”
Eastwei picked up his knife and touched a bit of the spice. He lifted the tip to his nose and pressed it lightly against his lips. Yushir looked on with envy. There was a long pause before the lord gave his opinion. “As the prince says, it is quite interesting. You have been working to improve your cooking skills?”
“Oh yes,” Shian confirmed as she cut into her steak. “I remember when I was young you would always humor my failed attempts, but now I no longer have to be humored by you.” She popped a bit of the meat into her mouth and her good humor dropped away like a smile at a funeral.
“Is something the matter, Lady Shian?” Yushir wondered.
The hostess forced herself to swallow and managed a shaky smile. “This is. . .not quite what I expected. My maidservants may have added a touch bit too much spice.”
“Did they assist you in crafting our meal?” he inquired.
“Only in the steak,” she assured them as she set her utensils down. “But perhaps you would like to try a new tea I crafted just for this occasion.”
The prince smiled and bowed his head. “A warm cup of tea would be most delightful.”
“Servant, tea!” Shian called out with a more crisp tone than she intended.
I would have laughed at the scene if the mood hadn’t been so dire. I even felt sorry for the pompous hostess. Her smile was now a stretched fabrication but her eyes showed her worry. The tea was her last chance at saving her party.
I heard footsteps and scooted over to the nearest column which I hid behind. I glimpsed a maidservant hurrying in the direction of the hall. She held a large tray with a tea set on top. Here was the fabled tea that would be Shian’s salvation. I hoped it would please everyone.
It was then I felt a strange tingling in my fingers. I glanced down and my heart skipped a beat. A soft silver light filled with sparkling glitter emanated from my hands. I shook my hands wildly trying to dislodge the strange warm glow.
The servant approached me and the light flew up and out onto the walkway. It zipped behind the servant like a bunch of shooting stars, causing a wind in its wake. The servant stiffened and shut her eyes against the sudden gust, and as she did so the light flew around her front and slipped into the teapot.
I clapped my hands over my mouth to stifle my cry of surprise. The maidservant who personally attended Shian hurried out of the hall and noticed the cringing carrier. Her eyebrows crashed down and she stomped over to her compatriot.
“What are you doing?” she hissed as she stabbed a finger at the doorway to the hall. “Stop dallying and carry the tray inside immediately!”
The lowly servant bowed her head and scurried past her superior. The incensed maid recovered her composure and followed the other one into the hall. I crawled over to the window and peeked inside.
The carrier knelt in front of Shian’s table and set the platter down. The hostess poured out a few cups of the drink and a sweet scent filled the air. Shian paused and furrowed her brow before her eyes darted up to sharply study the servant in front of her. “Are you sure this is the tea I prepared?”
The servant’s face paled and she nodded. “Yes, My Lady. There was no other tea set in the kitchen when I went to fetch it.”
“Is there a problem, Lady Shian?” the prince spoke up.
Shian plastered the fake smile back on her face. “Of course not. I was merely confirming this was my tea. Now then-” She stood with a cup and moved over to Lord Eastwei’s table which she knelt in front of and set the cup down. “If My Lord would do me the honors of tasting the tea.”
Eastwei appeared to be completely indifferent to her honors but he picked up the cup and set the rim against his mouth. He tipped the holder just enough that a little bit of the drink touched his lips. He paused for a moment before he drew the cup away to study the contents.
Shian looked to be on the verge of a mental collapse. “What do you think?”
“It is very sweet,” he commented as he licked his lips. “And very delicate. It is a good drink.”
Shian’s whole body softened and she smiled at him. “I’m so glad you like it.”
“Then perhaps I might have a cup?” the prince pleaded.
“Of course,” Shian obliged and she hurriedly offered him a cup.
Yushir took a sip and his eyes widened. “This is delicious!” he proclaimed and the compliment made Shian’s smile widen. “I don’t believe I’ve ever tasted such a sweet flavor before. What are the ingredients?”
Shian laughed. “If I told you then I would not have any way to tempt you both to return.”
The prince lifted his drink and offered her a toast and a smile. “With drinks and company such as these, how could one resist?”
“You are too kind, Your Highness,” she cooed.
Yushir moved to take another sip and his gaze floated in my direction. Our eyes met and the color drained from my face. I ducked down and crawled away, knowing there was no chance he hadn’t seen me.