Chapter 4

 

"Gently, Mayflower!" Mama cried, horrified as I attacked my embroidery viciously. Well, it wasn’t her fault that I'm taking my anger out on my embroidery, but I still have to do it. Apparently, talking to Papa didn’t work, instead resulting in the sending of an invitation to the Emperor and his sons since Papa thought Mama should “see her future son-in-law”. Now, the Emperor I didn't mind, but I would be perfectly happy if I never saw Crown Prince Luan or Prince Rin ever again. In fact, if I never saw either of them again, I'd probably dance and sing at the same time and run around screaming happily and wear red all day, no matter how improper it is.

 

But no. No. Papa just had to invite them over and the Emperor just had to accept. Well, at least I won't be conducting the tea ceremony this time, since Mama's home, she'll be hostess. And a good thing that is too. If I served tea right now, I'd be likely to just spill it purposefully in Papa’s lap. Serves him right.

 

Also, there’s the added worry that Prince Rin will somehow recognize me from the scandal at the teashop, although I don’t think he’ll be able to do anything dreadful to me in the presence of his father. Still, with my temper right now, I don’t think I should worry about him doing something dreadful to me. Instead, I ought to be worrying about wanting to wring his neck. Do all girls want to wring their future husbands’ necks? I don’t know, but I certainly do. In fact, it might be one of my life’s goals.   

 

The silver needle passed in and out in and out, flashing in the light. I don’t know how Mama does it, but she’s so serene when she embroiders. When I embroider, my fingers get all sweaty and the needle feels altogether too sharp and too thin in my grip. I’m almost always afraid that I’ll accidentally poke myself, or worse, stab myself with the needle. Thank goodness I don’t really embroider anything but handkerchiefs. Mama does most of the large-scale embroidery, like dresses. Speaking of embroidering dresses.

 

I groaned at the very thought. It has now been a three weeks since I was bullied into overseeing the fabric and style of my betrothal gown with the tailor Mama sent for since the announcement of my betrothal was sent.  About a year ago, I wouldn’t need to be bullied. But right now? I hope the tailor chokes on his dinner.

 

“Mayflower?” Mama asked, a hint of concern in her tone. I noticed that I my needle had paused three inches above the handkerchief I was embroidering. I stabbed the piece of linen ferociously, gritting my teeth.

 

“Oh, May,” Mama moved to sit beside me, “It’ll be alright. You’ll see. Everything works out in the end. Now, you had better go put the needle away before you stab yourself. Perhaps I shall tell Lan to bring you a cup of tea? It’ll be at least half an hour before our guests arrive.” Half an hour to put on my widest fake smile. I wanted to gag.

 

I stood up.

 

“Shall I accompany you, Milady?” Lan moved to follow.

 

“No, no. This is just the house, Lan. I think I can find my way myself. Thank you, but please stay here.”

 

Lan bowed her head before sitting back down.

 

I stalked out of the room.  

 

I stalked out of the room, thoughts swimming round and round in my head, mostly thoughts of, I regret to say, severe wickedness, as I was thinking of how wonderful it would be to throttle something or a certain someone.

 

Then something caught my eye. The walls of the first floor of our mansion have many windows, and sometimes, when I was bored, I would look out the largest one. The one to my left right now. And what did I spot in it? A lean, dark figure. My eyes narrowed as the figure moved.   Then I spotted his face. It was a haggard-looking man, with an untrimmed beard and an untidy topknot. I flinched and looked away when I saw his eyes, two pools of flaming amber. The gaze of those eyes seems to burn through the drapes through the window. I shivered. A second later, the figure disappeared. I sighed of relief.

 

And then a gust of wind threw the front door open, and everything happened all at once. I shrieked. And in a second Papa was standing beside me.

 

"Are you alright, Mayflower? What is--" And then his breath caught in his throat as he turned stiffly to face the man. “Ah! Mr. Dai! What a pleasure to see you. Please, come to my office,” And then he turned to me, bent and whispered in my ear, “Mr. Dai is a friend of mine. He has been traveling all through the country. Has his appearance frightened you? Don’t worry. He’s a good business partner.”

 

I raised one eyebrow, but Papa pushed me out of the way as he led that “Mr. Dai” down the hall. Hmm, something fishy is going on here. Papa was a lord. He didn’t need to do business…Besides, it wasn’t really the haggard appearance of Mr. Dai that bothered me so much. It was more like the creepy look in his eyes when he looked around…

 

Something was up. And I have to find out what it is before the Emperor comes for tea, I have to. But what if it’s something horrible? Well, to quote Mama, “Come what may.”

 

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“What news?” Papa’s excited whispering drifted through the door.

 

            “I have located several scriptures detailing where the pearl was last seen and the last guardian that guarded it.”

 

             I frowned. What in the world are they talking about?

 

            “Who?”

 

            “A monk by the name of Gon Wu, a man who cut off all connections from his family when he became a monk. One of his grandnieces, now deceased, was Fire Lily Tsao, wife of the former Lord of Luk, Yu Tsao, also deceased. His granddaughter, I regret to say, has died, but her daughter still lives, a woman named Wen-Ling Wu, twenty six years old and unmarried. We also have reason to believe that the daughter of Lord Tsao and Lady Tsao still lives, a girl named Chrysanthemum, taken in by a teashop owner by the name of Trin Lee, the other grandniece of Gon Wu.”

 

            Papa inhaled sharply. “But I killed them! I watched them die before my eyes! I saw to it that Lord Tsao received a stab to the heart, the Lady as well! I flung the bundled baby into the river with my own hands! How can it be that the she survived?”

 

            I gasped, clutching my heart. I had heard the dreadful confession from my father’s own lips, even though he didn’t know I had heard. My knees weakened and I slid to the ground. The conversation continued. No one knew I was here.

 

            “The Lady Tsao was a clever woman. What it was in the bundle I cannot be sure of, but it was not the baby.”

 

            “Well. My mistake is easily remedied. And while I’m at it I shall kill Lady Tsao’s sister as well. As for Wen-Ling Wu…I shall leave nothing unturned in her house while I search it.”

 

            “Milord,” Mr. Dai said.

 

            “Leave me, Mr. Dai. Report here when you have more news. We cannot have my daughter see you again. Mayflower is cleverer than most girls of her age and status, and I am sure she suspects something. You will come to my window directly next time, am I clear?”

 

            “Yes, Milord,” I heard him say, “Crystal clear.”

 

            “You better scram. The Emperor should be arriving soon. How I wish to poison that weak old man. He is no better than a child on the throne. He does not use his power well.”

 

            “Of course, Milord, and when you are on the throne, you will rule all.”

 

            “Oh, just shut up and leave, Dai.”

            That was my cue to bolt. I ran as fast as I could with my weak knees, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I raced upstairs to my room. And all I could think of all this while was the hard, cold fact thrown before my eyes.

 

            My father is a cold-blooded murderer. And he is about to kill and kill again all because of a silly pearl.

 

 

 

Reviews

[rae52]

very unexpected its really got potential

[Crystal Marie Rome]

I have to admit, I squealed when I saw that you put up this chapter. I don't usually do that but I did. =) Loved the chapter and I'm biting my lip to keep from running around the house. Mayflower's father a murderer!!! AHHH!!!! really can't wait for more. Do your best! =)