Xie Song-jun
2022 years after The Long Night
Riyeri
It was just as she remembered. The Princess sighed, taking a second to admire the familiar buildings, the abundance of flowers and children running in the streets, not to mention the Inn where she stayed with her uncle once, many years ago.
Song-jun’s fascination and love of Sanlín City definitely had something to do with the fact that it was the beginning of every bedtime story she’d ever heard…
“I opened my eyes, and the forest had disappeared. I looked everywhere for your father, for Songcai, but all I saw were Reian’s dark eyes and his nervous smile as he asked me who I was, and if I knew my name.”
Song-jun wanted to visit the square where her father had existed for centuries as a statue, but she didn’t have the time. She couldn’t pause for longer than the time it took to take a few deep breaths. Promising herself that someday, she’d return and stay longer to enjoy the city, the Princess also promised that she’d return with Reian again someday and visit her other uncle.
There were memories scattered here and there, of Jingshén, from when she was a baby and then a toddler. She vaguely remembered the Masters, and the sound of running footsteps down the big creaky stairs. She recalled ribbons, and clinging to the back of someone’s legs, who she thought must be either Xie De or Jin Yu, Reian’s adopted brothers…
Her uncle had told her lots of stories of her early days, before she was taken in by Xie Yi-jun and Jin Songcai. She knew she was loved. She knew they’d all worked hard to give her everything, the best possible life. She was thankful for them all, even the uncles she could hardly remember, as at one point in time they’d been her family too.
Song-jun had to ask around a bit before she was directed to the most expensive tavern in the city, but she didn’t go in. Instead, she went inside a restaurant across the street and snuck unseen into the bathroom. There, she changed, a small thrill running through her at her altered appearance. No longer a visiting Princess, or even a local girl. Xie Song-jun pulled the cap down further over her forehead and made sure to tuck the strands of her hair in tightly. The clothes were her friend Mu Qin’s, who she’d bribed earlier before leaving Hei’an City. Poor lad, but he’d looked lovely in her dress…
The jacket and boots were what really sold it, she thought, a bit smugly. They were her father’s, tucked away at the back of his closet and very obviously from when he was younger, maybe even Song-jun’s age!
The Princess didn’t think it counted as stealing, since she’d bring the clothes and herself back soon! And once the story was ready to be told, of course she’d tell it! Her fathers, her uncle, wouldn’t they all be so proud of her for adventuring out on her own and doing what she believed was right? If the consequences for lying and leaving were house arrest, well what was the worst that could happen? She’d just move her bedroom into the library afterall…
Once even she was convinced she looked like a young boy, the idea helped along by the shoulder pads she’d stuffed in the jacket and the obvious farm-smell coming from her clothes, Xie Song-jun left, taking a few moments outside the tavern to observe the way the other boys her age interacted. It shouldn’t be too hard, she’d grown up training with lots of boys, both older and younger, a few of them uncaring for her title as Princess and willing to actually fight properly. Her fathers always leveled imposing stares on those few brave souls, to which A’Jun just laughed, inciting her fellow classmates to show no mercy. She didn’t want to be treated like a piece of precious glass! Who’d want that? Her fathers treated her like she was priceless… Song-jun didn’t believe that was true, necessarily. She was proud of her heritage, she was proud of her skills in both combat, archery, and botany, but she’d never flaunt or use any of that unless she was sure the one she was teasing could take the joke.
“There’s nothing wrong with being confident,” Yi-jun used to tell her, and Songcai would always add; “But there is more to be said for being humble…”
The tavern was busy, but she found the group she wanted in no time. They were clearly traveling, all seated a bit stiff and awkward at the bar, not conversing, perhaps a little ill at ease with each other?
Song-jun immediately took count; about eight middle aged men, and two servants who stood with their hands clasped behind themselves respectfully. All of their clothes looked rather expensive, none of them wearing the colors common in Sanlín City, or even Hei’an… they were definitely from Xibu Shataar. If she needed more proof, a handful of them even had the clear signs; light, sandy hair, gray eyes, and darker complexions. Song-jun approached them without any more hesitance.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Afternoon!”
Only a few of their gazes swiveled to her. Song-jun smiled widely and tried her best to seem casual. One man, the one sitting closest to her, raised his glass and seemed to nod. Song-jun went ahead and started phase one of her plan.
“Aiyahh! You gentlemen must not be from around here! No one who works for a living would be wearing such expensive garb… and well, I should know! Sanlín City is full of people like me, all tryna’ make ends meet!”
Her words definitely ruffled a couple feathers amongst the group, but others seemed to take it as a compliment and the man sitting closest to her smiled.
“You’re not an apprentice, then?”
Song-jun clicked her tongue and pretended to sigh loudly, bereft.
“No sir! Who’d wanna teach me anything after all, what with my arms this scrawny and my beard not even grown!?”
She succeeded in finally making all of them chuckle, and the Princess secretly patted herself on the back. She figured it was best to remain as a joke to them, that way she might join their ranks easier.
“Say,” she frowned. “What are you doing in a place like this anyway? Just passing through, or are you here to steal all our ladies’ hearts for yourselves?”
The man close by seemed to puff up his chest a bit and then he turned to her.
“You're a very curious lad,” his eyes narrowed. “Have you ever heard of Wúmeng?”
Song-jun let her eyes go glassy, “What’s that, a type of brew? Bartender! Gimme what they’re having! Gimme a Wumming!”
This time, while some of them chuckled, others rolled their eyes and their postures visibly relaxed. Perfect. She was dumb to them. Exactly as she wanted.
“You said you need a job, kid?”
The man close by smirked a bit, his grin rather unsightly and sharp. Inwardly, Song-jun gulped. Hopefully they’ll just give me regular jobs like tending the horses and setting up camp. Right…?
“Y-yeah!” She tried to look excited. Now, upon seeing this group… they were all very uptight and haughty. Song-jun was instinctively a little wary.
“Swell,” the man said. “My name is Tang Lim. Want to make a bit of coin accompanying us on our journey?”
Song-jun let her glee show a bit as she smiled, but she put a bit more into it, slapping the table a few times and rambling-
“Oh, yes! Thank you good sir, I really, truly can’t thank you enough!”
“Hm.”
There were a few words passed between some of the men, then it seemed the time was getting late and they decided to depart. As they all stood up to leave, Song-jun following behind eagerly, suddenly a voice called out-
“Hey, wait! Where’d that man go, we can’t go anywhere without him!”
“I’m here,”
The Princess froze. Something similar to dread creeped down her spine as she realized she recognised that voice. Immediately alarm bells were ringing in her head…
Someone here knows me?! He’ll recognize me? I have to get out of here before-
But then she caught sight of reddish hair, and green robes, and the moment she caught sight of the person’s face all her dread turned right to fury in an instant.
“You comin’ kid?” Someone laughed, hitting her shoulder.
Xie Song-jun was staring at the man who’d just joined them when another piped up-
“Ah yeah, this is Su Ling! He’s our guide on our way to Wúmeng… say, what was your name again, kid?”
Song-jun was still panicking so she ended up blurting out-
“Song…”
The man with the red hair turned his head. For a second, Song-jun thought he recognized her, but then he turned and walked out the door.
“Song?! Song, what?”
Her alias momentarily forgotten, the Princess couldn’t help her hands from tightening into fists.
That was definitely him! I’m not crazy… that was definitely Su Lan!
All she could think about was why he was here, why would he be this close to Hei’an City, and traveling under a fake name? Why of all places would he be going to Wúmeng?!
Song-jun gritted her teeth and managed to say-
“Jun Song… call me A’Song.”
It wasn’t the name she’d carefully chosen to be the furthest from her own, but it was what she was now stuck with.
The others hmmphed and nodded and showed her outside to where they had tied their horses and carts. Song-jun caught sight of Su Lan untying one of the leads and before she could think to move further away, someone pushed her closer.
“You can start by untying all the horses! Be careful, they smell fear…”
There was distant laughter, but all Song-jun was worried about was keeping up her disguise. As she hurried to untie all the leads, she felt Su Lan nearby the whole time.
She kept waiting for him to come closer and whisper something about how he knew her identity, or maybe he’d just turn her to stone then and there, just for being here!
Su Lan… the very creature that separated my parents all those years ago, by way of his evil curse!
Her father, Xie Yi-jun, had told her so little of his past with the man, who was once his second in command. Song-jun figured out the rest for herself. Wasn’t there always a monster slain in every fairytale? Didn’t every King vanquish the evil beast at long last? If that was the case, what was her father’s monster doing here?! Song-jun genuinely dreaded to think.
Oh, hell… this whole situation just got a lot harder.