Chapter Thirteen: Dirty Trick

Uncle Yongli was away at the barracks for several days, so there was no one around to officially object to Master Long's presence at the family mansion. Emilian wanted to report to MeiLan the offensive and possessive language Long had used when he spoke of her, however, he could not figure out how to broach the subject in a way that would not make him look small and jealous. Instead, he resolved to keep an eye on Long. Whenever he was not busy with work, he was spying on the white-haired man discretely from behind the trees or at the corners of buildings.

Long seemed to have taken his self-proclaimed role as a master teacher quite seriously. He invaded the kitchen early in the morning and insisted on preparing MeiLan's dishes himself. "First lesson!" he exclaimed to the startled maids, "food is medicine! My disciple must not take sugary foods, as it conflicts with her constitution. Take those buns away! I want eggs! And you bring me these herbs, I will brew the tea myself." He was quite annoying, but all he had to do was flash a handsome smile at the ladies, and they would blush and hurry to fill his order.

Anak was perhaps the most resistant to his charms, and she managed to keep her scowl in place as she carried the tray back to her madam loaded with eggs, steamed vegetables, and roasted meat. "Miss will not like this," she complained as she walked, with Long close on her heels. "She is used to her morning ritual."

"She does not need to like the food; she needs to like her health," Long said, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked. The point that Anak failed to make was that all the servants ate together with MeiLan, therefore they would be forced to take her special diet as well. Anak loved sweet things, and she did not care for the strong herbs that Long had added to the tea.

She set the tray on the table with an apologetic look at her mistress. "Master Long has changed the menu, Miss," she said, with a grim look. "He says these foods are better for your health."

MeiLan frowned slightly over the food, but in reality, she was not a picky eater, and she didn't mind the changes. "It's very kind of Master Long to concern himself with my health," she said gently. Her easy acceptance only made Emilian's mood darken more. He hated the way she simply agreed to everything Long said. She even nodded agreeably when he said they would undertake martial arts practice beginning the next morning, before breakfast. How did Long expect MeiLan to practice a martial art when she was barely able to walk unassisted? Surely the fool was going to hurt her with his carelessness.

After considering Long's proposal for a moment, MeiLan picked up her tea and added, "I think everyone would benefit from training and physical fitness. I would like Anak and Emilian to join us also. Mr. Lee is excused due to his arthritis."

Long's grin widened. "Excellent suggestion!" He rubbed his hands together as though he was planning something nefarious. "Tomorrow morning, at dawn, everyone should assemble here in the garden."

Anak nibbled at her egg, already missing the sweet buns. "What style do you teach, Master Long?"

Long sat back and rubbed his jaw. "It is the Way of the White Dragon."

MeiLan's teacup slipped from her hand, spilling the hot tea across the table. Anak huffed and moved swiftly to wipe up the mess before it could drip onto anyone's lap. "I've never heard of it," the maid said dismissively, "I think you are making it up." She was slow to notice that MeiLan had become very still and that her face had grown pale. "Miss, are you ill?" She immediately pressed her hand against MeiLan's forehead. Her touch seemed to pull MeiLan out of her stupor.

"I'm fine, really," MeiLan forced a smile and pushed Anak's hand away. "The cup slipped, that's all."

Across the table, two sets of eyes were studying her closely. Emilian looked genuinely concerned, his brows knit together over his eyes. Master Long had a strange and complicated expression. "Tomorrow morning," Master Long tapped the table importantly. "You will begin your Kungfu training."

Minerva happened to be passing through the garden at that moment, accompanied by her teenage brother Lu. Minerva studied her cousin and the assortment of servants sitting at the table. She at once despised MeiLan, but was also jealous of her being so well accompanied. Her servants were not only servants but also her friends. She had thought the horse boy quite handsome, but she hated how haughty and stubborn he was, and now this new one… despite the strangeness of his silver hair, Minerva found herself staring and awestruck the moment she laid eyes on him. He was so perfect, he almost seemed unreal, like he was a statue come to life. His smile made her heart beat hard in her chest and when he looked at her directly her breath seemed to catch, which was utterly ridiculous. According to the servants, he wasn't even a real teacher, just another vagabond that MeiLan had picked up from the street. That was why she had found an excuse to pass by. 

She sniffed, thinking to herself that she must inform her father immediately when he arrived back from the barracks. If someone didn't do something soon, every beggar in Blossom City would end up inside their manor, eating their food and drinking their wine until the Yongli family was completely destitute.

"Lu and I have studied Kungfu," she said, interrupting their conversation. Her expression turned a little mean as she eyed Emilian, still remembering how the man refused to obey her. "What about you Emilian?"

Emilian stiffened defensively. He had no memory of studying martial arts, and as many times as he had been cuffed and slapped in the last few years, it seemed unlikely that he knew anything. However, he wasn't about to tell Yongli Minerva that he had no memory of his youth. Nor did he want to lose face in front of MeiLan or that insufferable Long. And so, he raised his chin and lied. "I also have my Kungfu." 

"Wonderful!" Minerva clapped her hands. "Let's have a demonstration, shall we?" 

MeiLan frowned and shook her head. "Not now, cousin. Emilian has only just eaten; you should allow him time to digest his breakfast."

"Don't be silly! One should be prepared to fight and defend at any moment; don't you agree Master Long? Will you tell the thug or the murderer to wait please, while your stomach is full? Come, Emilian, show us your skills!"

"Minerva," MeiLan was going to protest further, for she was also worried that Minnie's only objective was to humiliate her servant, but Master Long reached over and laid his hand over MeiLan's, causing a strange tingling sensation to dance up her arm. She immediately pulled her hand away. 

"It's okay, Miss Zheng, let them proceed with the demonstration. I would also like to see our friend's martial art. Please, continue."

Emilian stood slowly and shrugged out of the blue robe, which he had been wearing proudly to ward off the morning chill. Minerva poked her brother in the ribs and whispered something in his ear before she took Emilian's seat at the table. She looked at the dishes with a frown. "What a strange breakfast!" She sniffed, but it didn't stop her from picking up a bit of meat with her fingers and popping it into her mouth.

They all turned toward the grassy area where the two young men faced off. Emilian was older, taller, and more developed than young Lu, but Lu did have the advantage of having been trained by the same masters who trained the Imperial Guard. In general, Lu was a jovial and good-natured boy who did not enjoy fighting, nor was he the sort who wanted to humiliate anyone. However, Minerva had promised him two silver taels if he could knock the horse-boy onto the ground.

Lu faced the bigger man, crouching low, keeping his knees bent, and his hands in front of his angled body. Emilian faced him squarely, his hands raised in front of his face like a boxer, his elbows up, leaving his ribs completely exposed. Lu made a quick move, and knife-handed the bigger man in the ribs with just enough force to bruise, but not break the bones. Emilian grunted and staggered to the side, dropping his arms to cover the injured spot. Once his arms were lowered, Lu followed with a quick roundhouse kick to his head. As Emilian was already off balance, he sprawled easily to the grass.

Minerva laughed out loud. MeiLan looked grim, and Master Long seemed slightly amused. Anak had her hands propped on her hips, her lips pressed in a disapproving line.

Emilian's face was flushed with anger as he jumped back to his feet. 

"Eh? You want another round?" Lu asked, slightly surprised. "Very well," he crouched again. Emilian swung at him with a wide and sloppy punch, which Lu easily blocked, but to his surprise the bigger man caught his blocking arm, and with a seemingly small movement of his hands, rolled his arm over, forcing Lu to bend over to avoid dislocating his shoulder. From that compromised position it was too easy for Emilian to knock him off balance and send the boy face-first into the sod.

Master Long clapped his hands. "Excellent, good show." He turned back to his breakfast and used his chopsticks to pluck more vegetables from the plate straight into his mouth. "It's been a long time since I saw the famous Sky Temple roll over."

Minnie stood; her face flushed. "That was a dirty trick. He cheated!"