Bingwen opened his eyes to a room with red wallpaper and doors. He was in a nice bed with draped golden curtains. He was confused. What had happened? How did he get there and why?
Bingwen got off of the bed and tried to open the doors. They were locked. He walked around the room looking for a way out but there were no windows nor other doors. He was in a cellar. But one that was made to look like a regular bedroom. He took a seat on the bed and thought about what had happened. Right before he had found a place to rest, he had passed the group of Ning disciples looking for him. When he woke up he was clearly gagged and kidnapped by someone. Suddenly, a sound of jingling keys rattled against the door. Bingwen quickly laid back down, turning his back and pretending to be unconscious still. He overheard the two men who came in the room. "I still can't believe he's unconscious."
"Young master did say to check on him." "It's a waste of time! But You know, this young master has very feminine looks." Bingwen could hear the men getting closer to him. By the sound of their voices, there were three. "Young master said not to interfere with the prisoner."
"Well guess who isn't here?" Bingwen felt one of the men's hands fondle with his hair.The man's hand then moved to Bingwen's waist. Never in his life had he been assaulted like this. He was shocked and wanted to say something. Luckily then, a familiar voice was heard from the door. "What the hell do you think you're doing!? I will have your hands chopped off!"
Bingwen opened his eyes. The men left the room. Bingwen heard the door shut. Tears fell from Bingwen's eyes as he covered his mouth with his hands, trembling at the event that had just occurred. "I'm sorry." The voice said. Bingwen realized it belonged to Jinghua. He turned to look at Jinghua. "N-Ning Cheng?" Bingwen stuttered. Jinghua tried to reach for Bingwen's hand but Bingwen slapped him away. "D-Don't touch me.." Bingwen said. But Jinghua ignored him and wrapped his arms around Bingwen. "N-Ning Cheng..Let..g-go of me!"
"I won't!" Jinghua said, holding Bingwen tightly, shielding him with his body like he did a year ago. A year ago Jinghua had thrown his body at Bingwen to shield him from the arrow. Jinghua finally released Bingwen. "Where am I? What happened?" Bingwen asked. Jinghua looked away. "Those damned guards put their dirty hands on you. Why don't we wash up? Just…like old times together.." Jinghua suggested. But before Bingwen could answer, Jinghua had taken him by the wrist and out of the room. Bingwen was indeed put into a cellar from the look of the halls outside of the room.
Jinghua looked around corners for other disciples while taking Bingwen to a bath house. Bingwen assumed that he was at the Ning palace but he had never been inside. But he had never been to a bathhouse.
"Ning Cheng, tell me why I'm here! Slow down!" Bingwen said, still being dragged by Jinghua. The two entered a room with red and golden doors. A steaming, inground tub of water was in the middle of the room. There were maids surrounding the water with buckets and clothes. The women looked at Jinghua and Bingwen strangely. "Leave these quarters and tend to the bedrooms. I don't need assistance." Jinghua said. The women left and the door was locked. Bingwen pushed away from Jinghua. "Tell me where I am! What is going on? It has been a year since I have seen you and now I feel like I was kidnapped and I don't know where I-"
"You're at the Ning palace." Jinghua interrupted. "Now take your clothes off and get into that towel. You're dirty." Bingwen didn't want Jinghua's short temper to erupt so he did as he said and got changed.
After getting dressed, Bingwen walked back out to the tub. He saw Jinghua in the water. His back was covered in whip scars. Bingwen felt bad. He knew that Ning Lin had never been nice. Bingwen got into the water. Jinghau turned and started wading towards him. Binding back up into a wall. Jinghua stopped knowing he would scare Bingwen. "You have changed." Bingwen said.
"What? What do you mean?" Jinghua asked. "Yesterday I was walking on a road when I came across Lady Yue of the eastern Yue clan. We talked for a while and she told me about you. She told me she had seen you a couple times while crossing roads with you. She said you're different."
"Why are you listening to her? For all you know she could be lying to you." Jinghua said. Bingwen's eyes twitched as a vein popped up on the back of his hand. He clenched his fists and stood up out of the water. "Why do you get angry when I speak to others? You trust no one!" Bingwen exclaimed. "You can't even tell me the reason I'm here.." Jinghua tried to reach for Bingwen's arm. "Yusheng Jin, please.."
"I said DON'T TOUCH ME!" Bingwen slapped the side of Jinghua's face. He clasped his hands over his mouth. "No..I didn't mean to, Ning Cheng..I'm s-sorry!" Bingwen muttered. Jinghua was about to get mad when he noticed the arrow scar on Bingwen's shoulder. It had black veins extending from the scar. Jinghua calmed down, holding his cheek in pain. "You're fine." Jinghua said.
Ning Palace used to be filled with beauty and wonder. But since the great madam died. It had been reckless and a disaster. It's somewhere where the birds never fly.