Where Power is Everything

The sun was just starting to fade as they entered the village gates. Huajun hugged her precious bundle to herself with both arms, singing loudly and happily. Granny Hong leaned on Suzhen's arm, singing along as well, and nodding her head in time as she held onto a small parcel of sweetmeats. Suzhen listened to them with a smile, because she did not know the song they were singing. In one hand she held a half-eaten haw stick.

"We're finally home," sighed Huajun, coming to a stop as they reached the crossroads. "I can't wait to tell everyone about our adventure!"

Granny Hong looked exhausted, but she beamed nonetheless. "It was a wonderful day, my dears. Thank you for accompanying a childish old woman. I would never have been able to go on my own. But now, I can tell Yuanzheng that I beat up three bandits--with a little help from the two of you, that is." She winked. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Huajun and Suzhen. Get a good rest tonight--you deserve it!"

Suzhen patted her shoulder. "You too, Granny Hong. Take care. And thank you for inviting me to go with you. I had a lovely time."

"Be sure to tell Physician Xu how you fought that bandit with the sword, and knocked him off the side with such a swashbuckling air!" giggled Huajun. She waved as she skipped off towards her home. Suzhen watched Granny Hong slowly make her way down the path towards her hut, and finally turned to go.

She looked at the half-eaten haw stick fondly. She'd saved some for Xuxian. Though she didn't know if he would like it. At first, she had found the stickiness strange, but gradually the tangy sweetness grew on her and she decided it was quite nice after all.

As she walked towards their hut she wondered how much she should tell him of their adventures today. Huajun and Granny Hong would be telling everyone, anyway. He would be worried. Perhaps she could tell him a simplified version, maybe reduce the number of bandits, or the number of swords…

Suzhen stopped short as she saw the gate of their yard swinging open. Xuxian would never have left it like that. She raised her eyes and saw their front door sagging forward drunkenly as well, one of its hinges broken.

Sudden dread gripped her. Breaking into a run, she rushed into the yard and up the steps.

"Xuxian!"

Her heart pounded wildly. What had happened while she was away?

As she pushed open the door with difficulty the fading light came seeping in, lighting up the shadows. Xuxian was crouched over on the cold hearth, busy with something. He looked up, startled. "Susu, you're back."

Suzhen stood motionless, gazing at him silently. In the failing light, all seemed normal; but as he looked back down again quickly she caught sight of the darkening bruise under his cheekbone.

The haw stick dropped from her hand, forgotten.

Small pieces of wood, and a few tools, lay carelessly around him. He had not yet lit the fire, even though the light was starting to fade. Something had definitely happened---

She took a step forward. "Xuxian. What happened--what happened while I was away?" she said in a low voice which trembled.

"I had a small accident, that's all," he said lightly, without looking up at her. "You must have noticed the door is broken. I'm afraid that's my fault. I wanted to fix it before you came back, but it looks like I wasn't in time."

Suzhen came a step closer. Her eyes travelled searchingly over him, trying to see him clearly as he stayed in the shadows. "Don't pretend nothing happened, Xuxian. You're hiding something from me."

When he said nothing she darted forward and crouched besides him on the hearth, seizing his face in her hands so he was forced to look squarely at her. She caught her breath sharply in hurt and disbelief as the light fell on his cut lip and swollen eyelid.

Suzhen traced the injuries falteringly with her fingers. "Who did this to you?" she whispered in a tight, choked voice. "What happened to you while I was away?"

Xuxian's cheeks burnt red under her hands. He looked away, shame making him unable to meet her gaze. "I'm a fool, Susu." he said hopelessly.

"Tell me what happened!" she cried in anguish.

"Song Gongzi came while you were away." His voice was dull and heavy. "He brought a beautiful winter cloak and boots for you. I---I lost my temper. I shoved him and told him not to come near you again."

"He did this to you?" Suzhen said incredulously.

"His servants. He had two menservants with him, carrying the gifts. I might have been smarter and noticed them before doing something so stupid. Susu, I wanted to protect you, but I forgot how helpless I am. I might have put you in even more danger by offending him…"

Slowly, Suzhen put her arms around Xuxian's neck and laid her head on his shoulder. Her hand crept up and caressed his bruised cheek, very gently.

"Should I have accepted the gifts?" he said wearily, leaning his cheek against her hair with a sigh. "Am I being proud and foolish, Susu?"

"Of course you're a fool," she said fiercely through her tears. "Letting yourself get beaten up like this. You shouldn't have been so rash. Just look at yourself! You're not a good fighter to begin with, and there were two of them against you. You could have died! Why weren't you more sensible?"

"Well, I don't regret it," he said defiantly. "I said my mind. Even the mildest man must have his limits, and I have endured him long enough. If that was to be the only time I could say what I thought, I am glad I took the chance. But Susu--" he took her hands in his and looked earnestly into her eyes. "--I know that this might mean trouble for us now. People like us can't afford to offend people like him. It could mean danger for you as well."

He drew a shaky breath. "I was thinking. Maybe--maybe we should move."

"Move?" she said blankly. "To where?"

"Somewhere away from here. Anywhere. Perhaps that would be the wisest thing to do, instead of waiting for him to take revenge."

He looked anxiously into her eyes. "I'm just as reluctant as you are. But Susu--I don't know what might happen. I don't want to lose you. The Song family is a powerful one. If Song Weiming wants to get rid of me and take you as a concubine he has the ability to do so. He has always been a childish playboy, content to toy with women in a relatively harmless way, but this time, I made him angry. I don't know what he might do."

Suzhen looked down at his hands and noticed the grazed knuckles on them. Wordlessly, she put them to her lips and kissed the torn skin softly.

Xuxian sighed. "Maybe I should just admit that I'm afraid. Perhaps I'm just a coward after all."

"You're not a coward," Suzhen whispered, nestling her head against him forlornly. "I understand. I know you feel angry, and afraid, and helpless. It's not because you're weak. It's because others are stronger, and you know they want to use that strength to destroy you."

She drew a tremulous breath and continued, in a voice that ached; "It's not a fair world, Xuxian. It's a world where power is everything."

Her eyes darkened.