Chương 18: Chapter 16 (R)

The sunlight filters through the windows of my room, creating golden patterns on the walls decorated with the paintings my mother has been adding to my room over the years we've been here. Today is my seventh birthday, and the Pavilion is filled with a vibrant energy rarely felt. Since early morning the servants have been preparing everything for the celebration.

Lianhua and Meilan are dressing me in an outfit made exclusively for the occasion, and even my Embroidery tutor had me add a small flower pattern in one corner of the garment, which I hope no one notices. As they're finishing dressing me, my mother enters the room wearing a splendid ceremonial outfit. Her presence, always majestic, radiates a serenity I do not share at this moment. Upon seeing my appearance, she nods as if approving the work Lianhua and Meilan have done.

"Wen, dear", she tells me in her melodious but firm voice.

"Today is an important day. I know you don't like being the center of attention, but you'll need to interact with the guests. It's a test of your etiquette lessons and a confirmation to people of your excellence. And at the end of the party, you will play the Guqin for the same reason." I look at my mother with a trace of worry on my face "But Mother, I've only been learning for a short time. I cant't do it well." She smiles at me with patience "No one expects you to do it perfectly, but you must try.

It's important to demonstrate that you are learning." I sigh, feeling a mixture of nerves and resignation "All right, Mother. I'll try." While my mother gives me instructions on what I have to do at the party they finish dressing me, so Lianhua picks me up and we head out of the Pavilion, since this year, instead of holding it inside, my mother has decided to host the party in the garden just outside it. I only hope the ducks, if they see me, don't kick up a fuss demanding their food.

As we head toward the garden, I realize that as I grow, being carried around in someone's arms is becoming more uncomfortable. And it's clear this will only get worse with time, and I refuse to end up being carried around princess-style, so it's time I invented the wheelchair, just as I did with the abacus. When we reach the garden I see it has been decorated with paper lanterns, colorful banners, and floral arrangements that fill the air with a sweet fragrance.

The various people I recognize from previous parties and their children have arrived, and the murmur of their conversations fills the atmosphere. The gifts are stacked on a table to one side, and many of them are books, in a repeat of my previous birthdays. I can't help noticing the numerous Nei Wei scattered throughout the park. Lianhua takes me to the area where the chair prepared for the occasion sits and seats me in it while my mother approaches the groups of adults to thank them for their presence.

The nobles' children scamper around followed by their caretakers. Some of them look at me with curiosity, but as in previous parties, except for that first one in which one of them gave me a doll, they all ignore me. I still don't know whether it's because being unable to move keeps them away due to the ignorant cruelty of children, or because their parents have told them something. As in other years, I make an effort to follow the conversations and group dynamics of the party.

Listening to and watching the social dynamics of a classical imperial court is always fascinating to me, especially because I knew people who would trade places with me without a second thought despite my situation. And although it wasn't my specialty, watching a blend of power, diplomacy, and subtlety that contrasts with the modern world I come from always makes me remember where I come from and what I once was. Time passes and the party proceeds normally.

The servants attend diligently to the guests, offering trays of sweets and tea. The conversations revolve around various topics, from the latest news of the Empire to, to my surprise, the progress of the various factions of my brothers in being named Heir. From what I can tell, when that subject comes up and my mother is present, there's always someone who tries to discreetly sound her out to learn what her position is, and therefore mine, on the matter.

But my mother always discreetly avoids aligning herself with anyone, declaring that I am too young to participate in such matters. The afternoon advances, and throughout it, taking advantage of the spaciousness of the location that the hall where my previous birthdays had been celebrated lacked, various performances are staged to entertain the guests. And I see that my mother, for this birthday, has decided to go all out.

Throughout the afternoon there is a classical dance troupe and a performance that reminds me of the classical Chinese shadow theaters. And even for the children, she has organized several competitive games, with me having to personally award the prizes to the winners. The children who approach to receive their prizes do so timidly and, after collecting them, thank me formally but quickly retreat to rejoin their friends.

If I were truly a child of my age, with this level of social exclusion, I'm sure I would be starting to develop serious psychological problems by now. But I can't blame them for it, this environment and its social customs are not exactly the best for someone in my condition. As the end of the party draws near and I begin to feel nervous about the performance I'll have to give, I suddenly notice a small commotion off to one side of the park.

When I look to see what it's about, I startle as I see Jiangjun Han Xin entering the celebration area. Since he hadn't appeared at any more of my birthdays after that first celebration where he brought me a bed, I thought that having fulfilled his obligation once he had washed his hands of me, but if he's come today that doesn't seem to be the case. Unless, of course, he has come for another reason, and nervously I look behind him to see if a wild Emperor appears, but seeing no one else, I exhale a sigh of relief.

Upon seeing Jiangjun Han Xin, my mother approaches him and they converse for a while. I'd like to know what they're talking about, but from my chair I can't hear them and lip-reading is something I've never learned, so I can only watch them talk while curiosity gnaws at me. After a while, my mother walks away and returns to the rest of the guests, while Jiangjun Han Xin approaches where I am. As he draws near I see he's carrying a small box in one hand.

I get a little nervous but try to calm myself, and when he reaches me, I greet him with a bow of my head "Jiangjun Han Xin, it's an honor that you've come to my birthday party."

"Don't worry, little Wen", he replies, and I give a start at the casual way he refers to me, something no one would normally do.

"I've only come to give you a gift that I'm sure no one else here has thought to give you." I can't suppress my curiosity at his words, so I reply "And what gift would that be, Jiangjun Han Xin?" Jiangjun Han Xin smiles at me as he continues, ignoring my question "I've heard Jiaoliu Feng is training you in one of your classes, so first I want to offer you my condolences. Some very difficult years await you under her charge." The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site.

Support the author by reading it there. Remembering all the exercises my trainer makes me perform, I reply "I appreciate your words, Jiangjun Han Xin. But Jiaoliu Feng, though severe, is fair with me and never asks anything of me I cannot do."

"I know", he replies.

"But soon her classes will change, and that's when my gift will come into play." After those words, he hands me the box he's carrying in a complete breach of etiquette, since gifts are supposed to be left on the table prepared for them, but without saying anything, I take it. After receiving it, I see Jiangjun Han Xin make a small gesture indicating I should open it, so without hesitation I open it to look at its contents. To my surprise, inside the box is a small dagger with a finely decorated sheath.

After seeing it, I can't help looking at Jiangjun Han Xin and asking "Are you sure this is your gift for me?" Jiangjun Han Xin looks at me without hiding his amusement as he answers my question "Trust me, knowing Jiaoliu Feng, she's going to teach you to handle it. And it's better that when you need it for your classes you have a personalized one. The ones in the training area aren't bad, but they're too generic."

I can't refute his words, especially without speaking to Jiaoliu Feng first, but giving a dagger to a seven-year-old girl seems excessive to me, unless… Thinking something, I draw the dagger from its sheath, and I don't know whether with relief or disappointment, I see it isn't sharpened. Although someone is happy about it, judging by the sigh of relief from Lianhua behind me, who strangely hasn't said anything during my conversation with Jiangjun Han Xin.

Carefully, I return the dagger to its sheath and for a while I converse with Jiangjun Han Xin, who asks me about my classes, especially the training I do with Jiaoliu Feng, which he seems to tacitly approve of. Finally, my mother interrupts our conversation to tell me it's time for the closing performance. And at last, the moment of my performance arrives.

The servants bring a table on which they place a beautiful Guqin decorated with intricate engravings, and Lianhua positions my chair so I can easily reach the instrument. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. My fingers caress the strings of the Guqin, feeling their texture under my fingertips. I begin to play, focusing on remembering my teacher's lessons. The notes flow, forming a melody that, though simple, I hope is enough not to embarrass myself.

The music stops and the garden falls silent for a moment. Then a soft applause begins, though clearly more polite than enthusiastic. I look at the faces of the guests, seeing expressions of approval and a few smiles.

"You didn't do badly, little one", Jiangjun Han Xin, who is still near me, says.

"You still have much to learn, but it's evident you've worked hard. My daughters, when they had their lessons, the only thing they knew how to do was complain about how their fingers hurt afterward." I nod, grateful for his words though somewhat scandalized by how he refers to his daughters. Although I know it wasn't a perfect performance, the simple fact of having tried is already an achievement. And with my performance, the party comes to an end and the guests begin to take their leave.

The nobles, despite having ignored me all afternoon, approach to congratulate me and bid farewell with bows, while their children smile shyly at me. When the last one has finished leaving, I feel a mixture of relief and satisfaction. My mother approaches and hugs me "You did very well, Wen. I'm proud of you." I smile, feeling a warmth in my chest "Thank you, Mother. I tried to do my best." Lianhua approaches and carries me back to my room.

As she settles me into bed, I feel the day's exhaustion beginning to take hold of me.

"Rest well, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua says softly as she tucks me in, after which she leaves the room. I close my eyes, letting Lianhua's words comfort me as sleep envelops me. Today has been an exhausting day, but also one filled with small triumphs. I wake with a start, my heart pounding hard in my chest with a bad feeling. The room is dim, but something feels out of place.

I shake my head and dismiss it as the consequence of a bad dream when I make out the figure of a man with his face covered, advancing slowly toward me thanks to the light coming in through a window that is open. A chill runs through me as I realize this is probably an assassination attempt, so remembering Jiaoliu Feng's teachings about what to do in these cases, I use my arms and the upper part of my body to roll out of the bed, evading the intruder while I scream with all my might.

After falling from the bed, with an agile movement, I roll again underneath it, trying to buy time while I hope someone will come to my aid. The man, seeing that I've spotted him, leaps onto the bed, trying to catch me as I fall to the other side, but he doesn't manage it before I can get under the bed. Without wasting time, he grabs the bed firmly and flips it over with some effort despite surely having enhanced strength, revealing my hiding place.

Without wasting time, the man prepares to stab me and I prepare to roll however I can, when a flash of movement stops him, he turns suddenly, parrying a dagger that is heading for his neck. I look at the person who has tried to stab the man, and to my surprise it's Lianhua, expertly wielding a dagger. Without a word, I see Lianhua launch a thrust at the intruder, who quickly blocks it with his dagger while attempting to kick my handmaiden, who skillfully dodges. The fight between them is continuous and ferocious.

Lianhua and the intruder seem evenly matched, every movement calculated and precise. She, agile and quick, blocks and dodges his attacks, responding with rapid, well-aimed strikes. The man, however, doesn't fall behind, displaying a skill that indicates years of training. And all of this at a speed I can barely follow, demonstrating an absolutely inhuman swiftness, so the memory of the cultivation book, with the section on the Tempering of the Nerves and its description, comes easily to my mind.

In the middle of the combat, the man pulls out what looks like one of the talismans used in temples from his belt and throws it toward me. Instantly, and to my complete surprise, the talisman transforms into a bolt of fire that heads for my position. Lianhua, without hesitation, throws herself in its path, drawing another similar talisman from her sleeve and creating a kind of barrier that appears as a small storm of air. The clash of elements illuminates the room with a brilliant flash.

As I watch, and despite my fear and nerves, my little inner geek can't help thinking excitedly upon seeing the use of the talismans that Lianhua is a ninja, and therefore, I have a ninja handmaiden! The man takes advantage of the distraction to escape quickly through the window. Outside, the shouts of guards drawn by the noise of the fight and my screams sound the alarm about his presence, followed by the sounds of pursuit.

Lianhua turns toward me, still with a serious expression but with a spark of concern in her eyes as she asks, in her firm but worried voice "Are you all right, Zhāohuán Wen?" I nod, still trembling and terrified despite my brief flash of excitement "Thank you, Lianhua. I don't know what I would have done without you." She smiles slightly, sheathing her dagger "Don't worry, Zhāohuán Wen. I'm here to protect you."

As the sounds of the pursuit fade, I allow myself to relax a little when the door of my room opens suddenly and my mother enters dressed in the clothes she uses for sleeping.

"Wen, where are you, are you all right?" she asks, clearly nervous and frightened as she enters followed by several Nei Wei. Lianhua steps aside so my mother can see me, and she quickly approaches and picks me up with clear relief on her face.

"Wen, are you all right? Have you been hurt?" she asks as she examines me while I'm in her arms to see if I have any injuries.

"I'm fine, Mother", I tell her to calm her despite the nerves I still feel.

"All thanks to Lianhua, who came quickly to fight the intruder." My mother turns to look at Lianhua, whom she had ignored in her concentration on me. I take advantage of the moment to look at her better and see that the clothes she's wearing have several bloodied cuts from attacks she clearly couldn't parry or dodge. My mother fixes her gaze on Lianhua and suddenly asks a question I didn't expect.

"You weren't just a nursemaid, were you?" she asks Lianhua in a serious tone. Lianhua sighs as she answers "No, Guifei Xiang. I am a Yushi sent by the Yushitai and permanently assigned to Zhāohuán Wen. If you want more details, you'll have to speak with my superiors." My mother closes her eyes while I look at Lianhua and wonder what it could mean that she has had to reveal what is clearly a position for what would be a secret agent.

I really hope she doesn't have to leave and we can continue as we have until now, especially now that I know I can have a ninja handmaiden. The sound of more people approaching can be heard, and before more people enter the room, my mother tells Lianhua "We'll talk later, when everything is calmer. For now you remain Wen's Fei Yi." Lianhua nods with seriousness as a Nei Shiwei enters the room and I prepare myself for what is going to be a long night while we deal with the aftermath of my assassination attempt.