The rocky substances from the road to the flying tower hadn't got easier and Lee alongside Shu Yu learned it the worst as their horses bounced back and forth racing to the general outside the city. Far away into the rebels sanctuary where they hid from Qianlong Emperor.
It was a whole day ride from Tong'an to the flying tower and no matter how fast their horses were it had reached until midnight and they weren't even closer to the sanctuary.
Exhaustion - hit them hard and it had reached a point no one could kick the horse anymore and also the horses were tired too. "Let's find an inn and rest" said Shu Yu and they wondered across the abandoned town that Lee and Mingzhu first came acquainted to when they reached the warm land.
"We have been here, Mingzu and I"
"Who's Mingzhu?"
"The princess"
"Her name is Yae Lin. And she's your Queen and not princess"
Lee chuckled softly at the confusion and then he said "You people have a wrong person, you see Mingzu and I. We come from the cold lands, far away million of miles from here. She's not your Queen!"
"You are tired, get some rest" said Shu Yu not paying attention to whatever Lee said and he dismounted his horse in front of an inn.
The inn had a banner on top written "Fuju inn" and it wasn't as classy as other inns in Tong'an but it was in the small town so it was ought to be not perfect.
Lee dismounted his horse too but he hated how Shu Yu couldn't take his words seriously. He wanted to save Mingzhu at all costs, there was no way they were going to take her friend into a war which he felt like she didn't have a part on. Even though Mingzhu described how odd she was feeling, and perhaps maybe there was another person taking over her soul, he became more and more worried even though he didn't show it.
They both tied their horses outside and walked inside.
"Sirs, welcome. Welcome!" Greeted the owner of the inn.
"Two room, for me and my friend here" said Shu Yu.
"Five cents sir"
"We'll pay on our way out"
"Alright, come with me"
Lee just stood silent letting Shu Yu take control of everything as he surveyed the inn for himself. It wasn't as luxury compared to the ones he was used to, but he was ready to go with it.
But deep down he had his own motives of saving his friend, a woman he loves and there was no way he trusted Shu Yu. Each walked to their own rooms to take a bath and rest for the night as they prepared for a long ride tomorrow morning.
The one who didn't sleep was Lee. He was wide awake, in his robe with a sword tightened at the back. Outside he heard some few movements of other customers coming inside the inn while others were leaving. "What should I do?" He asked himself "I have to save Mingzhu. She's in trouble, trapped by these unfamiliar people we know nothing of. She's still a girl and I have to act up and be a man for her"
With his thoughts roaming inside his brain, Lee kept thinking about million of things he could do to Shu Yu to slow him down from reaching the general. It was still far to the flying tower and taking his horse would mean nothing to Shu Yu as he could always get another. He was a merchant and rich.
"But if I kill him, that would solve everything. I could tell Mingzhu he was killed by Qianlong men along the way and she would believe me" said Lee and reached out to his sword.
He opened the door and stepped outside. It was quiet, barely not even a sound or a scratch and also dark. His steps felt like an echo because of the silence and with each step, he paused for a moment not to cause a scene. Shu Yu's room was just near him and he didn't knock, he just barged in with his sword pointing forward.
Shu Yu was inside a bath filled with warm water as he relaxed his body, his eyes were closed. "Don't move" said Lee and closed the door then he moved closer to him.
Without even opening his eyes - Shu Yu said "Do you have a death wish Lee?"
"I'm the one with the sword. You are defenseless, I shall kill you right here and right now"
"Why?"
"You people have brainwashed the girl I love and care about. I shan't tolerate it more further"
"Yae Lin is the rightful heir to the throne. She's the only daughter of his late majesty, it's her birthright"
"She's not Yae Lin" shouted Lee and took more steps towards Shu Yu. He was so angry and frustrated, he just wanted Mingzhu for himself.
Finally Shu Yu opened his eyes but he didn't move. The point of Lee's sword was just close to his right eye, damn it was sharp and he knew one wrong move and he would be dead. But one thing he didn't know was that Lee had none to zero martial art skills. He was bad with his sword and I didn't get the time to teach him right, even the way he was holding it Shu Yu could tell that he wasn't going to use it.
So he quickly got out of the bathtub, blindsiding Lee with the water and grabbed his sword while he was only on his undergarments. Water dripping all over his body, he stood still facing him.
"If you fight me, you'll die" He said to Lee with a serious face.
"I'll die saving my princess"
"I want to save her too, she is my princess. We have to work together and not fighting"
"She's my princess!" Lee shouted and then he threw a first slash of the sword.
Shu Yu was good, he took steps back and misses it. From there they exchanged blows for a moment before Lee's sword was thrown out and he was forced to surrender by Shu Yu or die.
Death was never an option to my best friend and I knew it all along. He may have been ready that day we encountered the storm and he was on the verge of dying, but apart from that he would always choose to live and that's one of many characters I loved about him. Lee wasn't ready to leave me all alone, he felt the need to protect me at all costs so he chose to surrender.
Came dawn, Shu Yu tied him on his horse and forced him to walk. That was his punishment for trying to get into a contest he wasn't sure of winning. A man like Shu Yu had been all over the world, and plus he had served as my protector when I was Princess Tong'an. His majesty himself was amazed with his martial arts skills that he trusted him to protect me.
And he did so at the night of the coup d'etat. When his Majesty, was overthrown by Qianlong. Shu Yu protected me all along, getting me out of the castle to General Chun which wasn't an easy task when the whole city was looking for me. But that's where my memories as Yae Lin came to a stop, apart from that I didn't remember anything else. Maybe I drowned at the harbor, or the sailor could've been Qianlong spy and he had slit my throat in the boat. All I knew after the harbor it was darkness, nothing and not even a single memory to recall from.
After all of us inside the brothel were on our knees doing a kowtow. Qianlong walked passed through us to upstairs followed by his five guards, where I presumed his mistress was inside waiting for him. Then we stood up with our hands front and later on resumed our affairs.
I, however didn't say anymore. I barged outside of the brothel holding my golden fish sigil and rushing to the castle. "I have to get in, I hate to get in" I constantly repeated the words and when I mounted my horse which was outside I made my way to the castle. This time with still my face wrapped up in the scarf, I showed the guards the golden fish sigil and they opened up the gates for me to pass through without any further questions.
The golden fish sigil was only presented to those close to the King's circle. Mostly the high regarded guards and advisers who lived inside the castle which was huge and had over hundreds of small houses inside. He was never going to find me inside there unless I revealed myself, so I raced my horse around to the house which was special for the princess of Tong'an. The same house that I grew in, the memories of amazing times we had with my family came floacking down as I looked at it. But then something happened, five female servants came outside each holding a lantern and then, I saw another princess being escorted outside of that same very house I grew up in. Or Yae Lin grew in but at that moment I wasn't Mingzhu anymore, I had totally found myself and every bit of envy I felt.