*18 + content *
A cold wind blew across signaling the beginning of winter. Two young men, entered the border city.
The night was upon them, the city was dimly lit. The closed off city was known for his harsh treatment of guests.
Yang, disguised as a mere bodyguard, helped the third prince get down the horse.
"It's going to be a while, we can't enter the Duke's manor at this time. Shall we crash somewhere.", Yang asked the troubled prince.
"I would like it if you wouldn't be so informal, Should I remind you of our relationship?", Ming yu said.
"Ahhh, yes, sorry, milord. I keep forgetting.", Yang offered an over exaggerated bow.
"Finally someone knows their place.", third prince joked around. Even thought they were of different factions. They surprisingly bonded over this journey. Not enough to call them best friends, but at least enough for them to let down their guard a bit.
The third prince was still in awe, that his enemy would agree to protect him.
Nevertheless, he had already accepted death. There is no way the Empress would sit still.
What shocked him even more was his brothers words. He thought the crown prince wouldn't care. He smiled softly and went on following Yang.
"Excuse me, where could we find any inns?", Yang asked a passerby, with a polite tone that creeped the prince out.
"Inns? What do you mean?", the local asked.
"Inns... the place where you can eat, sleep, have good night and be refreshed?", Yang tried his best to explain the local who now looked slightly high.
"Refreshment ? You might want to try the Gold Pavilion street, just towards the west, if anyone needs refreshments , it would be there.", the local said.
"Huh, thank you.", Yang said giving the passer-by a single copper coin.
"Really, a copper for that tiny bit of info? Why not just drain the imperial treasury.", Ming yu scoffed.
"Uh, my dearest lord, must I remind you that money is the best way to open up the hearts of people? And I don't consider it a loss, we get information and I suppose you could say it's an investment.", Yang said.
"Really? I was perhaps deluded then, thinking swords did a better job at that.", Ming yu said, supporting himself.
"I suppose you need to hold out for a little longer.", Yang said pointing to the wound of the prince, which had healed, but occasionally hurt so much, death seemed a bright option.
"Hmm, let's make haste then.", Ming yu said. He grimaced but had no other option.
*Gold Pavilion Street*
The red light district.
"I guess, the local didn't understand your words, clearly this is no inn." , the prince said looking at the street died with red lanterns and sparsely dressed women calling out.
"Good lord, he must've misunderstood me when I said refreshments.", Yang groaned.
"Yes, the copper was well utilised. It's probably being trade right away for some wine.", Ming yu joked.
"Uhh, I'll get my copper back when I see him again. Nevertheless shall we ask around?" Yang asked.
"And give out more coppers? Or silvers? Be my guest.", Ming yu said. Laughing at the embarrassed Yang.
Though Yang looked fierce, being so tall and warrior like, his embarrassed face reminded everyone just how down to earth he was.
A sharp pain arose with Ming yu. He clenched his fist and leaned against a wall.
"Milord? Are you alright?", Yang helped him, he took over the semi conscious prince to a nearby room within the red light distract.
The noise was too much to the already suffering patient, so he took him to a quieter part, 'the Pearl Mansion'.
By bribing a few servants, he got a room in the vip side of the Mansion. A doctor couldn't be brought as it would just spread the information around.
Yang kept a warm cloth over the wound and asked the prince to sleep.
He even made the servant get a few food items from the kitchen .
Yang sat beside the sleeping prince, who was very much in pain.
He couldn't do anything about it, so he just stay guard. Anyone could enter the room anytime. If anyone recognises the prince, it would lead to unnecessary complications. The worse situation would be getting caught by the Madam and being punished.
Red light districts have a harsher rule, similar to military rule to prevent any discourteous conduct among the servants and all.
The pain must have slowly subsided as he was able to breathe normally than before. The prince realised the risk of being there.
He tried to brush the pain off, but it was just impossible.
Suddenly there was an exclamation, and a lot of noise.
Yang checked if there was any fire, but he didn't smell anything like that.
The prince got up, staying on guard, the pain was less but not enough for them to elaborately escape.
Yang realised that too, if push came to shove, he would have to use a hostage and escape.
He tied a mask around his face. The Prince followed suit and they were ready to escape.
*Bam*
Someone had entered the chamber.
Yang followed behind slowly and reached the door and laid his eyes on what seemed like a painting.
From the door, entered a woman, short and curvaceous, her red dress felt alluring in the dim lamps of the room.
Her charcoal black hair lay heavily across her shoulder, pulled forward, exposing the intricate design of the blouse.
He dress was revealing? No… sensual. A small piece of fabric wrapped and tied around by strings. It was too exciting. He gulped.
He reached for his sword, but his eyes followed the trail of her body. He couldn't explain it, was it his weariness from the war and continuous travel that made him so impolite?
He couldn't even be rational anymore, he looked at her hips and her exposed calves, the woman seemed to be holding the skirt up. Intentionally or not, she had captivated him.
When she flinched with the sound of sword, he too came back to his senses. He shouldn't let her discover him.
It was a hard task not to keep looking, but he had a different goal, he kept the sword around her neck.
She understood perfectly in what situation she was. He tried getting a peek at her face, but that would unnecessarily complicate everything.
He whispered in her ear,
"Take us towards the exist." ,
"Hmm?! I will…. Please don't hurt me.", Xia Xia pleaded in a high voice where she almost gasped.
Yang didn't even move the sword but they slowly went to the corner of the room, and Xia Xia opened the connecting door, which connected the path for the servants.
Yang followed along, the rinse slowly following making sure his footsteps are not heard.
Xia Xia was panicking, who were these people? The security? The Siu family taking revenge? The remainin bodyguards of that merchant?
She hoped and prayed all along that Xiao would be ready to help her.
She managed to get them to the room, she had used to get inside.
"Where are we? I said exit and not another room.", Yang said.
"This… is my room, the exit is through that window.", she said pointing out to a window.
"Are there any guards stationed nearby?", Yang asked.
"Not at all, it's towards the storage…. Now please leave me. I won't speak of this to anyone.", Xia Xia begged. She was unable to speak in a high voice.
"I don't trust you that much.", Yang said, thinking what to do.
The prince took out and spare bandage and offered it to Yang, signaling him to tie up the girl' s eyes.
Yang hesitated for a while, but he did it, he took the white bandage and swiftly tied it around her eyes.
She was taken by a surprise and she gasped. Her voice seemed different than before, but her gasp was making Yang too excited. His stomach was getting warmer.
He tried not to think of anything and focused on binding her. Usually he would make sure the job was one perfectly. But this time, he used the same bandage and tied her hands together near her head.
He tied it loose enough to not hurt her and be easily unravelled with a pull.
"Ahh.. What are you doing? Mmmf..", Xia Xia struggled to understand what was happening.
She was panicking, her fears intensified, what if this man violated her, after all the dress was too overboard.
"Shh, stay still, I am not doing anything, you can release yourself in a while,", Yang said and made the prince get out first.
He glanced back at the courtesan girl who caught his eyes, he wouldn't meet her again, so he wanted to live in the moment.
She had fallen on to the bed, sideways, her hair being a mess as she struggled to get out, her face was hard to see with her wearing a mask, her stomach was exposed, it moved as she fumbled around, it was dangerously calling him.
He stopped those animalistic thoughts, though a courtesan, she was not his.
He should cease these thoughts. He turned and didn't look back. He took the prince and moved to another place. They found an abandoned cottage right nearby.
Prince sat down on the wet wooden bed, visibly disgusted.
"Now, Yang, if you make me move anymore, I will surely kill you."
"I am not doing it on purpose. I apologise.", Yang said.
This shocked the prince who was expecting a curt reply followed by heavy sarcasm and disrespect.
He looked at his 'bodyguard' who was in a daze, just staring at the moon.
"Are you alright?", the prince asked.
"Yes, I am, I just need a good night's rest…. ", Yang said sighing.
Ming yu thought on, he heard of the new generals great stories and how he had been continuously in war. The young General Yang, to shoulder the burden of his brother was away from the city since his teenage.
8 years ? Or more? He hadn't ever had a chance to rest. He spent three days at home per year on average.
Ming yu pitied him, now he became an additional responsibility. Along the journey, Yang was always the one sacrificing comfort. He was a responsible general.
"I am sor-.. ", Ming yu tried to comfort the tired guy.
"I could have rested if not for a certain someone needing a comfortable bed ." Yang retorted.
" f*ck off", Ming yu swore.
"And, call me Rui. Yang Wei, is not a suitable name for a bodyguard.", Yang said.
"Oh, yea. I keep forgetting you are my 'slave bodyguard'. " Ming Yu teased and they both took some rest in the cottage.
Ming yu somehow slept off. Yang was just unable to.
The image of that woman kept repeating in his head. It was just impossible it deny it anymore. He got stiffer as he remembered her voice as she moaned ( she didn't).
He got up, and made his way to a nearby small lake.
He removed off his thick clothing and got in. It was cold.
Perfect. He thought to himself.
***
He washed his face and let himself go ahead with desires, his erratic breathing with these pent up emotions would do more harm than good.
He imagined her round hips with the red satin skirt, her belly which had soft curls, a feature he didn't know he adored.
His heart rate rose on, and the heat down was unbearable. He had to calm it down.
He had never got off as much being in the camp and war. Many men did, but him as a leader partaking in such an activity when there were constant surveillance would just label him as a lecherous General.
He imagined his hands caressing that soft skin, his hand lost in her long black hair.
His breath got faster, he almost let out a moan, as he imagined her reciprocating the feeling and moving her hands up and down his body.
He reached the peak, the experience was weird and addictive.
He cleaned himself, and soon came the utmost disgust and guilt on himself to have done this.
He swore not to do such a thing again. He got up and out of the lake, water dripping of him, his body glistened under the moonlight. He got dressed and walked towards the cabin, completely embarrassed.
***
*on the other side*
"Uhhh, that asshole… who does he think he is? Some kind of a mysterious prince?", Xia Xia scolded as she removed the bandage tied around her.
She thought she would have to call for Xiao who would witness her in such a state.
Even though, she wasn't a great beauty, Men are trash. Like the one who tied her, chased after her.
She immediately checked her surroundings and changed into her maid dress. She climbed out of the window and almost fell, she was caught by Xiao.
"I thought you wouldn't come at all." He said blankly.
"Sorry, I was faced with a peculiar situation.", she said averting her eyes and standing up.
"Let's go.", he said looking at the angry Xia Xia. She reminded him of his angry cat. He smirked and together they met Lord Shen.
"So, what do you have me for me?", Lord Shen asked.
"They have made a deal of a new weapon from the foreign land, it has a power of a cannon but in an arrow. The model looked akin to a cross bow.", Xia Xia said.
" and?",
" I don't think they are mass producing or selling it.", she said,
"Why?", lord Shen asked.
"They openly showed off the weapon, and they mentioned a price of 20 billion silver. Lord Siu doesn't have enough. Upon his debt, and his kids marriage, he has almost 30, 000 silver and a few more from ancestral land.
They had already cut off servants, and reduced the amount of produce bought.
There is another buyer.", Xia Xia said.
"Hmmm… go on.",
" I may not know the mysterious buyer yet, but I speculate they are selling a single weapon and poison. The deal might be for the poison coated arrows made specifically for the type of cross bow.", Xia Xia said.
"Okay..",
"And, I came across a Scholar from the capital, he spoke of the death of the prince.
According to him, the third prince who recently died, may have not died but is alive.", she said.
"I see. But we don't know for sure, these 'revivals' of royals is common. But since we weren't even allowed to see the body, it makes me infuriated. Keep your eyes and ears open for more information.", Lord Shen said and left the room.
Xiao followed behind lord Shen and Xia Xia left for her quarters. Hungry.
She went and had a small glass of water before sleeping. She was desperately waiting for breakfast now.