The Tangs' Fall

Smoke. Crackling, red hot flames.

Tang Daiyu awoke to the smell of burning wood. She looked around and saw her little brother, Baobao, who was still just a toddler, whimpering in his bed. Climbing out of her own, she ran over to him and picked him up just as hot embers fell onto the bedding.

"Where's Mama?" he coughed.

"I don't know."

"Mother! Father!"

Suddenly, a roof beam cracked and fell into the room. Daiyu jumped out of the way just as the smoking wood hit the floor. Baobao began to cry, loudly. She covered her brother's nose and mouth with her nightgown's sleeve as she started to cough. Daiyu whipped around and ran from their room out into the courtyard. After catching her breath and getting the smoke out of her lungs, Daiyu removed her sleeve from Baobao's face. She headed for their parents' room, but was suddenly stopped when she heard unfamiliar voices.

"Chancellor Ru, you are under arrest for government misconduct and lying to the Emperor."

'No, Father, would never do something like that!' Daiyu thought hurriedly. 'He serves Chang loyally.'

She hid behind a column when three of the Emperor's elite soldiers dragged out her father and mother. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched them being led away. Daiyu suddenly heard a rustling behind her. She spun around just in time to see a soldier wrap a cloth around her mouth. Baobao, too, was silenced. Then, they were dragged out of the Tang residence as well.

~~~

At Weiyang Palace, the Tang family was brought before Emperor Jianyuan of Chang. They were forced to their knees by soldiers. The gags were removed from Chancellor Ru and his legal wife, Tang Mingyu.

"Your Majesty, there's been some mistake! I wouldn't ever go against you!" he exclaimed. "I'm being framed! I must be! I swear, Your Majesty, I serve you and Chang!"

"Silence!" Emperor Jianyuan roared. Daiyu flinched and watched as her father started to quickly kowtow three times. The soldiers stopped him though and held him up. Her mother whimpered quietly. The Emperor glared at her father. "For your crimes, Chancellor Ru, you will be executed."

Daiyu's eyes widened in horror. She looked out of the corner of her eye as her father's resolve crumbled. Still holding her brother, she began to shake with fear.

A soldier walked forward and raised his sword. Daiyu quickly covered Baobao's eyes to shield him from the horror about to happen. The soldier sliced his sword across her father's throat. Blood appeared and began to trickle down his neck. Her mother cried out, and tears streamed down Daiyu's face. Her scream was muffled by her gag. She kept her hand over her brother's eyes.

"Tang Mingyu, you are also sentenced to execution."

Her mother wept, and Daiyu dreaded her own sentence. She watched, horrified as soldiers swiped at her mother with their swords. Her body fell to the ground, blood seeping onto the pristine, red and gold, silk rug. Once they were done, the Emperor turned his sights on Daiyu and Baobao. A soldier roughly removed the gag from her mouth, and she wrapped her arms tighter around her brother.

"Are you Tang Ru's daughter?"

She finally removed her hand from Baobao's eyes and set him down before kowtowing to the Emperor.

"Yes, Your Majesty. My name is Tang Daiyu, and this is Tang Bao, my brother."

"How old are you, Tang Daiyu?"

"Thirteen, Your Majesty."

"And your brother?"

"Baobao is three, Your Majesty."

"Hmm," the Emperor sighed. Daiyu kept her head bowed respectfully. "Guards!"

Fear flashed across her face. Her eyes flitted uneasily. Three soldiers came forward and hauled Daiyu to her feet. She snatched up Baobao before looking back at the Emperor.

"Take her to an inn. She and her brother can be left there."

As Daiyu was getting pulled out of the Front Hall, she looked at the Emperor, wondering why he had chosen to let her go.

~~~

Back in Chang'an, Daiyu and Baobao were brought in front of Peace Tree Inn. She walked inside with the soldiers, and one of them went over to talk with the innkeeper.

He came back and told her, "You will stay in a room here. If you attempt to leave, there will be an immediate decree out for your arrest."

She swallowed with stifling fear and murmured, "I understand."

Then, the soldiers left. Now alone, Daiyu finally set Baobao down and followed the innkeeper up to her room. Inside, she sat down on the modest and creaky, cot-like, bamboo and silk bed. Her brother waddled over to her.

"Eldest Sister?"

She looked down at him, weary. "Yes, Baobao?"

"Where's Mama?" he asked, confused.

"She's not here. We won't see Mother again. Or Father."

Daiyu leaned over and picked up her brother. She set him down on the bed next to her.

"It's just the two of us now, Little Brother. I promise you, I'll do my best. I'll take care of us."

Silence.

Daiyu closed her eyes and sighed. She opened her eyes and laid back on the bed. Staring up at the ceiling, she thought, 'Guanyin, please take pity on us. Help us. What did my family do to deserve this? How am Baobao and I going to survive?'