The whore just smiled at me and then she grabbed my hand, and let me follow her upstairs. I obliged and as we took the stairs I couldn't stop looking at the naked women scattered all over the place.
They had no shame or whatsoever for their bodies, and they seemed so happy as they pleased the men who bought them for the night. My eyes were glued on a young girl with her nipples left open as she was held between two men and she seemed not to be afraid of anything.
The greedy men touched every part of her body, as she swayed her hips from left to right. I feared for her safety for she was no older than eighteen, but the woman who was leading me upstairs shook me.
"Do you want me or her?" She asked.
"Huh!"
"Me or her, you seem to be more taken by her. She's only a child..."
"Exactly what I was worried about that she's only a child"
She looked at me and smiled "Don't be... Now come on"
We kept walking to the upper rooms as she guided me and when we reached her room. She closed the door and threw me on the bed, I was at a point in my life I wanted to scream "I'm not a man!" but I knew I would blow my cover and perhaps even create more troubles for myself.
The whore started to take her clothes off but I stopped her. "No need for that" I said looking straight between her eyes.
"No need?"
"Yes, can we just talk?"
"I am not getting paid to talk" She said with a bit of disappointment in her voice.
Then she pulled her robe up and covered her body, I could tell she was ashamed and a bit sad that I denied her offer to have sex. She sat at the corner of the bed quietly, with her back turned to me and I moved closer to her.
I placed my arms around her and embraced her in a hug. Then I said "I'm sorry... Are you sad"
"Mmh-hmm"
"Will you forgive me?"
"If I forgive you, will you sleep with me?" she asked looking back at me and I shook my head. She went back to looking at the door and acted mad, but I didn't remove my hands from her body.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Why do you need to know my name?"
"Because I'm a good person who likes to know people's names"
"Argh, leave me be..." she said and tried to get away but I held her close and placed my head on her shoulder.
"My name is Jang Li! I'm a merchant" I lied just to make her calm and make her believe that she can trust me.
"Jang Li?"
"Yes"
"A man who refused to lay with me"
"I have but one question. It concerns his Majesty"
She gasped and blocked my mouth "Shshs, he's here..." she said.
"He's here?"
"Yes, he comes here very often. But in disguises and in secret, he meets his mistress everyday at this hour"
"Whoa! Does his wife know?"
"Of course she does but what can she do? He's after all the emperor of Tong'an"
I was shocked and confused about what I heard from that whore concerning Qianlong Emperor. The man who I'm supposed to overthrow and claim the throne. For a moment or so I got lost in my own thoughts, my head was pounding and in disbelief of his Majesty's behavior.
"Are you alright Jang Li?" She asked me.
"Yes I am" I replied with a smile just to calm her down.
"Fen"
"What?"
"Fen is my name"
"Oh! Nice to know you Fen. I must be on my way..." I said and stood up. Checked my sword if was still in position and then just when I was on my way outside, Fen hugged me.
"Don't go... Stay" she begged me.
"I will be back, I promise"
"You do?"
"Yes I do"
I took a step forward and opened the door, but then we heard footsteps coming from a third room from ours. Fen stopped me from my tracks and placed her hand on my mouth. "He's coming out"
I didn't need to ask who for I knew it must be him, coming out of his mistress's room. Five soldiers who stood outside the door the whole time, bowed once Qianlong came outside.
I was instructed by Fen to kowtow for his majesty liked it from his people.
"Do a kowtow?" I asked my eyes widened with shock for there was no reason to do that.
"Get down Jang Li"
She pushed me down and we both did a kowtow with our heads down and showing respect for his majesty. Qianlong walked his way outside slowly and when he passed us I tried desperately to get to see his face but I couldn't. I was scared to get up for I was told it may lead to serious consequences.
Back at Xinjiang, my people only did a kowtow to my father on some occasions only, but not all the time. When a warrior is to be sworn it, they did a kowtow and if there are orders from his majesty then the recipients would do a kowtow as a shown of respect. But not when a King walks nearby, I would have been okay with bowing but not going that deep down.
"Do you guys do that all the time?" I asked Fen
"Do what?"
"Kowtowing everytime he passes"
Fen shut the door and forced me back inside again "If you are heard criticizing his majesty, you will be hanged Hang Li. It's treason" she warned.
"He hangs his people?"
"Every week there's always a traitor or a spy hanged just beside the castle. His majesty can be kind but he doesn't tolerate betrayal"
"Oh!"
Fen and I stayed quiet for sometime until we heard a carriage taking off from the outside, horse's hooves hit the ground and they were off. Fen assured me he's gone and that's when I stepped out and left the brothel.
I knew I was going to be back for more from the brothel since I just discovered Qianlong's secret hideout. As I wondered through the streets as usual with my head down I bumped into the merchant who I saw early on the city's gate. I recognized him through his long hair and fire burning brown eyes.
He stopped to look at me and then suddenly he kneeled down before me.
"Your Highness!" He said and then as if doubting his own words he corrected himself and said "I'm sorry, I forgot it's your Majesty from now onwards. Forgive me for my carelessness Your Majesty"
I pulled him up "Who are you?" I asked him.
"Yae Lin you can't fool me in men attires. We have been here before..." He replied with a smirk on his lips.
"We have?"
"When did you get back? Qianlong is wrecking havoc in Tang'on and he's planning a war"
"A war?"
"Yes, against the rebels. I heard rumors from the mountains that you were back and that's why I came back, for you. Your Majesty, as instructed"
"As instructed?" I asked not knowing what did I instruct him to do.
"Yes as you instructed me"
"What did I instruct you do?"
He seemed rather shocked by the question and he had to look at me one more time, and then he pulled me away from the streets and we entered inside a restaurant which was closed but he broke the door.
"Why is it closed so early?" I asked.
"It's the curfew. Qianlong forbids anyone to be outside after nine o'clock, it's his way of protecting himself and catching the spies" He said and we both looked around the house and it was filled with some cookies on the table.
Varieties of cookies adorned with different colors and flavors. I took one of them and damn they were delicious, and I just realized how hungry I was at that moment.
"When's the last time you ate your Majesty?" Asked the merchant.
"I don't know, food hasn't been that essential to me these days"
"Of course just like old times..."
I walked close to him and he stood firmly looking back at me "Tell me more" I said.
"As you wish your majesty"
And from there he narrated the whole story between him and me, or let's say him and Yae Lin. His name was Shu Yu and he was a best friend of Yae Lin, more like how I was best friend with Lee. He told me a great deal about Yae Lin and how much they used to hang out together and do almost everything together as partners and how they had plans to even rule as a team.
Everything that he said was completely similar to my life with Lee, starting from him being not so good with his sword so Yae Lin had to teach him. To both of them leaving Tong'an to go explore when they were young but the only difference with my story was that they were given permission by his late majesty to go and explore and they returned safely. But after the overthrow by Qianlong, he was forced to go into exile as Yae Lin was taken by General Chun.
"I saw General Chun" I said just when he mentioned him.
"Where's he?"
"With the rebels, far away into the mountains and hiding at the flying tower"