Chương 30: Chapter 28 (R)

With Lianhua pushing my wheelchair we arrive at the street the waitress mentioned to me and I see that it's a wide avenue, with elegant facades that give the impression of belonging to families of wealthy merchants or low-ranking nobles. At first glance everything seems normal, but on a second look I realize there are no visible entrances to any of the houses, apart from a single door on a side that is guarded by two men with the clear appearance of guards.

"Lianhua", I tell her in a low voice.

"I imagine that's the place, so let's approach." Lianhua nods and begins to walk toward the men guarding the door. As we approach, I examine the guards more carefully and am surprised to see that instead of being private guards, they wear the uniform of the city guards. One of the guards raises his hand when our party is close enough.

"Halt!" he orders while looking, somewhere between curious and nervous, both at my figure seated in the chair and at our Nei Wei escort.

"What business brings you here?"

"We are looking for the Pavilion of the Golden Pearl", Lianhua replies with a slight smile. The guards exchange a quick look and one of them clears his throat before responding with a certain discomfort "Yes, this is the place. But I'm very sorry, only those who have permission or an invitation may enter." Lianhua smiles at the refusal and tells them "I suggest you communicate to your superiors that Zhāohuán Wen, daughter of the Emperor, wishes to use their services."

The reaction is immediate and the guards tense as the nervousness in their gazes intensifies. One of them seems to struggle to maintain his composure, while the other, without saying a word, quickly disappears behind the door while I can see how his hands tremble slightly before he turns. No more than a few minutes pass before the guard returns accompanied by a man who has the look of a man in his forties with a small mustache that grants him an air of authority.

"Welcome and forgive the wait, Zhāohuán Wen. I am Hong Yan, manager of the Pavilion of the Golden Pearl", he tells us as he bows.

"It is an honor to receive you in our humble establishment. If you would do me the favor, I can guide you to a place where we can be more comfortable." His tone is courteous, but I notice a slight tremor in his voice. Why does everyone assume I'm going to throw a tantrum or punish them for some failing only they think they can see?

"I thank you for dedicating your time to me, Hong Yan", I reply with all the dignity my etiquette classes taught me to maintain.

"If you would do us the favor of guiding us?" Hong Yan seems surprised by my reply, as though he had not been expecting it, but he straightens up and goes through the door as he tells us "Do me the favor of following me." Lianhua pushes my chair and we enter, followed by the Nei Wei. The Pavilion inside is more discreet than I had imagined and everything in its interior breathes a certain sober elegance.

We pass a small step that we overcome without difficulty and after passing several closed doors, we soon cross one of them that leads us to a courtyard which is large enough to accommodate the entire party. Hong Yan turns toward us, and for an instant, I expect him to ask the typical question about how we heard of the Pavilion, but to my surprise, he limits himself to asking "How may we serve you, Zhāohuán Wen?"

His professionalism is admirable, almost as much as his ability to disguise the tension he must be feeling, so I decide not to make him any more uncomfortable and reply "I have heard you sell books." Hong Yan blinks in surprise, as if my reply were something he had not been expecting, but he quickly recovers his composure.

"Yes, Zhāohuán Wen. We have a wide collection of books", he replies in a now professional tone free of nervousness.

"Is there any particular book you are interested in?" I think it over for an instant, but there was something I had wanted ever since my mother's talk when we arrived at the city, so I don't hesitate and tell him "When my father initiated me into cultivation he used something called a 'gathering formation'. I would like to know if you have any book that speaks of that kind of thing."

Hong Yan can't help a slight start upon hearing me refer to the Emperor as my father, but his face returns to neutrality almost immediately and he quickly makes a small bow before responding.

"I regret to inform you, Zhāohuán Wen, that formations are secrets that families and enchanters guard jealously and we cannot provide you with a book on them", he tells me with a tone of regret.

"However, and if you are interested, we have a book titled Initiation to Runes. It explains what runes are and offers basic instructions on some of them."

"And how would knowing about runes help me?" I ask intrigued.

"Runes are the written symbols found in formations", Hong Yan explains.

"Learning about them will provide you with a solid foundation if you ever wish to understand formations or other kinds of arts that use them." I nod as I understand that this is probably the best option I have at the moment if what he has told me is true, which I do not doubt since it's how any professional guild of antiquity would normally behave.

"I thank you for the recommendation, Hong Yan. Bring me that book", I tell him. The manager nods and asks me again "Would you like any more books, so that we can bring them all at once and not keep you waiting too long?" This time I have to think it over a bit more, but in the end I reply "Do you have books about the Forest of Lurking Shadows?"

"Yes, we have several books on the subject. If you wish I can bring you all the ones we have available", Hong Yan replies with a slight bow of his head.

"That would be good", I reply.

"And for now, I don't need anything more."

"It will take us a little while to gather your order, but in the meantime, allow me to offer you some tea", he tells us as he claps his hands. Before I can reply, a maid enters the courtyard with a tray containing a teapot and a couple of cups. While Hong Yan leaves the courtyard, the maid serves us the tea with great skill and both Lianhua and I enjoy it since it turns out to be of excellent quality. Not much later, Hong Yan returns with a servant carrying a package of considerable size.

"Here are the books you requested, Zhāohuán Wen", he tells me with a bow. I lift my hand to receive the package from the servant, who hands it to me with a bow, and I place it on my lap while Lianhua handles the payment, almost completely emptying the small purse of coins she carries.

"It has been a pleasure attending to you", the manager tells us, bowing once more before offering Lianhua a card and a small rolled scroll.

"Here you have a pass to enter the Pavilion in the future without difficulty, as well as a list of all the services we offer." After thanking Hong Yan for the gesture, the manager guides us back to the exit, and after a final farewell, we step out into the street with my new cargo of books. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Lianhua, I want to return to the palace. I already have what I came to find", I tell her as I settle into the chair to better distribute the weight of the books I am carrying.

"As you wish, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies as she begins pushing me down the street while the Nei Wei surround us in silence. The journey back begins without incident. The streets are emptier than when we arrived and although the afternoon has not yet advanced too much, I notice that most of the passers-by remain occupied with their own affairs, although all of them, just to mix things up, stare at me. As we make our way I notice a fork that opens to the right, a narrower but apparently well-maintained path.

"Lianhua, let's go this way. By the layout of the streets in the area, this path will save us a lot of going around", I indicate as I point toward the side street. Lianhua furrows her brow as she tells me clearly uncomfortable "That path seems too isolated, Zhāohuán Wen. I would prefer to continue along the main route." I look at her over my shoulder with an amused smile as I reply "What do you think is going to happen to us? Do you really believe anyone would dare rob a group escorted by a dozen guards?"

Lianhua sighs with resignation, but doesn't insist further "As you wish, but I don't like this idea." The Nei Wei, although silent, also seem bothered by the change of route, although none of them says anything. Finally, Lianhua takes the detour and we head into the secondary path. The place is curious. The streets are narrower but surprisingly clean and well kept.

From what I know of similar architectures in my world, I suppose their function is to separate the mansions of the area, although given how well-kept they are, it's reasonable to imagine that the servants also use them to more quickly run errands for the families of the area. The journey passes without incident, but upon turning a corner the calm atmosphere that has accompanied us throughout the walk is interrupted by an unexpected and brutal scene.

Two armed men hold an adolescent, of no more than fourteen years, covered in blows and with his face bloodied while they force him to kneel before another man, this one in his twenties, who watches them with indifference. But what fills me most with rage is seeing how another man throws to the ground a small girl, who can be barely six years old. The girl screams with pain when the man kicks her, hurling her against a wall.

Before Lianhua can say anything and unable to bear the scene, I shout at the men "Stop right now!" The men turn abruptly, surprised. The one who had kicked the girl confronts us, a mocking smile on his face deformed by contempt.

"Get lost if you don't want to end up like the brat", he threatens us as he crosses his arms with insulting arrogance. At that instant, the rest of the Nei Wei, alerted by my shout, round the corner and position themselves behind me. The man stops abruptly as his eyes scan with terror over the dozen armed warriors and steps back a few paces, clearly surprised by the change of circumstances.

I take advantage of the impulse the Nei Wei have given me and tell them "Leave them in peace, unless, of course, you are braver than you appear and can do something more than kick small girls as if you were vulgar animals." The man turns red with rage, opening his mouth to retort, but the man with the calm countenance raises a hand to silence him. As I look at him I see that he has the elegant bearing of someone of high birth, with fine clothes and hair gathered in a topknot.

"Release them", he orders with a cold voice as he turns to look at his men. One of the men holding the adolescent seems to want to protest "But, young master Shi…"

"I said release them", he repeats while maintaining his imperturbable tone. Then, he fixes his gaze on me and adds "I seek no trouble with the imperial family and I will do as you say, but for the next time, I suggest you speak with your mother about how to behave when you are outside the capital." His words wound me, but I maintain my composure. With a gesture of contempt, the young master Shi, which is how his men have referred to him, turns around and begins to walk away.

"Ling Tian, today you got off lucky, but we will meet again", he tells the adolescent without looking back. His men, although they seem disconcerted by his behavior, release the boy immediately and follow him quickly. The adolescent barely seems to notice that he has been freed since his gaze is fixed on the girl who is still moaning on the ground. He tries to approach her, but his own injuries prevent him. I look at the Nei Wei and tell them "Quickly, check how the girl is!"

The warriors move quickly, approaching the little one and the adolescent. Lianhua, for her part, looks at me with a furrowed brow.

"We should not have intervened, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua tells me with a worried look.

"And what? Should I have stayed watching as if it were a spectacle while they kick a girl to death?" I reply with frustration. Lianhua presses her lips together without saying anything more, but her silence is more eloquent than any words. When the Nei Wei examine the girl, the adolescent, almost incapable of staying on his feet, implores them "They can do whatever they want with me, but help my sister, please." The Nei Wei ignore him, focused on checking the state of the little one.

One of them turns toward me and tells me "She is in very bad condition, Zhāohuán Wen, but if we take her quickly to the physician, she could be saved."

"Then there is no time to waste and carry her with care", I say.

"Lianhua, pick me up. One of you, take my chair. And make sure to also carry the boy!" The Nei Wei do not hesitate. One of them gathers the small figure of the girl gently while another approaches the adolescent. He resists, but a precise blow to the back of the neck leaves him unconscious and without effort the warrior loads him onto her shoulders as if he were a sack of rice.

"Quickly, back to the palace!" I order, and the entire group begins to run in the direction of the palace. We return to the palace at full speed while the Nei Wei run around us carrying the girl and the adolescent. As we make our way we draw glances from everywhere, from curious onlookers who stop to watch us pass, merchants who interrupt their transactions, and even city guards who, although they seem to hesitate for an instant, do not dare stop a group of armed women who are clearly in a hurry.

Not a single shout to halt is heard, only whispers and looks of bewilderment.

"Do you think we'll arrive in time?" I ask in a low voice to Lianhua as we keep advancing and my worry for the girl keeps growing as time passes.

"We are doing everything we can, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies, without diverting her gaze from the path. Finally, the great gates of the palace appear before us. The Nei Wei, alerted by our accelerated pace, step aside without need of any explanation and let us pass without questions, recognizing the urgency on our faces. As soon as we cross the threshold I feel a strange mixture of relief and tension.

"Take them to the doctor right away!" I order, gesturing with my hand.

"There is no time to waste." The Nei Wei nod without saying a word and one of them quickly takes the adolescent, who I imagine must be called Ling Tian since that is what they called him and he is still unconscious on her shoulders, along with the other one who carries the girl, who to our worry barely emits a moan, to the area of the palace where the doctor has her consulting room. Finally I allow myself to relax and tell Lianhua "Lianhua, please, set me down."

Lianhua obeys in silence and seats me in my chair, which the Nei Wei who had carried it has set on the floor. Just as I settle into the chair, I notice a familiar presence approaching with a determined step, although without running. My mother appears in the courtyard, with Lingxi at her side. Although her face shows calm, I recognize the worry in her gaze.

"What has happened?" my mother asks without preamble, stopping in front of me. I know she is about to launch a monumental scolding at me, so I prepare myself mentally, although I cannot help feeling a knot in my stomach, and I tell her in broad strokes what I have done over the day and the decision I made at the last moment that led to what happened in the alley.

"We took a detour through a secondary path to avoid going around, and we ran into some men who were beating up a boy and a girl. I ordered them to stop, and well, the one who seemed to be the leader let them go", I tell her, after which I stop for a second to gauge her reaction, but her expression remains the same so I continue.

"I sent the girl and the boy to the physician." My mother closes her eyes for an instant and pinches the bridge of her nose, as she always does when something exasperates her, and tells me with a calm that only increases the sense that the scolding is on its way "I'm thinking of forbidding you from ever going out again. Of the two times you have gone out for a simple walk, both times you have ended up getting into trouble."

"I'm not looking for it!" I reply, trying to defend myself.

"It simply happens. What did you expect me to do? Watch as if it were a spectacle while they kick a girl to death?" My mother sighs and I see her hesitate for a moment, but then she tells me with a softer tone "Wen, by the way you speak and behave I sometimes forget that you are only eight years old and don't understand how the world works."

I am about to protest, wanting to tell her that I am not just an eight-year-old girl and have more experience than she imagines, but I hold back, and my mother, ignoring my thoughts, turns toward Lianhua.

"And Lianhua, you should know better how to act in these cases", she tells her with a slight reproach.

"You should have stopped her." Lianhua bows her head with respect but replies without hesitation "I will always follow Zhāohuán Wen's orders." My mother again pinches the bridge of her nose as she shakes her head, as if all of this were nonsensical madness, and in the end she seems to decide not to continue the discussion.

"Since you have brought them, they will be your responsibility", she tells me finally before turning around to leave.

"You decide what to do with them." I watch her walk away and her tall and elegant figure slowly disappears as she enters the main house, and I feel a mixture of relief and resignation upon seeing her leave, after which I turn toward Lianhua.

"Take me to where the doctor has set up her consulting room", I tell her.

"I want to make sure those two are all right."

"As you wish, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies and immediately begins pushing my chair toward the wing of the palace where the physician is attending to the girl and Ling Tian.