3

She wasn't planning to give up that easily, nor was she going back. Because she had revealed her face to the world, it would be foolish to go back to that place. She looked up to the sky, overhead, where several twinkling lights, like stars on earth, were visible. She wondered how different her life would be from now. What does fate have in store for her? Without this cursed inheritance, how different would life have been? At the very least, she was certain that she wouldn't have had to do this.

She was never going back.

She simply couldn't. The silence, the gongs clashing, the sutra chants, and the grimy stain on the men's hands, the cruel stress, and the bolted doors she couldn't escape.

She could run mad…just like her mother had.

But as she stayed in a corner by the walkway, she contemplated her next course of action. Her hands flew to her head as she tried to think hard about what to do next. And as the moon waxed in the sky and the sky became darker, families gathered by her side, and as they reclined back to their, she became more desperate. What was she going to do? Where was she going to go now? Tears stung at the corners of her eyes. And straightening, pulling her hooded cloaks to herself. She took ragged steps, as she walked down the pathways, with nothing but the little silver ingots she had. With it, she bought a lantern. She had saved this money from the proceeds that she got from selling vegetables from the abbess farm. The abbess had always been kind giving her more than the accepted wage, when her other girls had complained, the old woman had simply complimented Xia, telling her that because of her beauty, the traders were always eager to get the vegetables from the monastery.

The people by the shed were kind to her; they had watched her dance and enjoyed it. She thanked them, and they helped her set up her lamp. In delicate calligraphy, she wrote her wish.

"What do you wish for?" The traders little girl had jabbed on playfully, but Xia could only smile at the girl.

And just then some men approached, and behind them was the odd man that had come to visit her in the temple on that fateful day.

"Speak, child, what is your name?" Xia turned to look at the man who had ordered her obedience. The people around her gasped and knelt to offer their respects; the mother of the little tugged at her sleeves, cautioning her. They all called him 'your grace'. His whole countenance gave him the impression of being a large, influential man. He was a short man, thin and almost waif-like; he had a long beard and small eyes with Confucian details. His chin strap was made of sable and his headdress bobbed as he spoke. She bowed swiftly and shuffled nervously, looking for a way to escape. It was fruitless, as men blocked her way. The men were garbed in uniform, and she caught a glimpse of the indigo hilt. If his appearance did nothing much to impress her, she knew now that this was no ordinary man.

"Did His Majesty send for me?" Around her, the people gasped in surprise. Her words had been too sharp. Boldly. Her head hiked up, a defiant move as the old man scrunched up his nose. He couldn't tolerate people not being subservient to him.

"I believe that you were trying to escape the temple and got wound up in that situation." He started. He hid his sleeves behind his back, and strode around her. He was an old man, yet he made nimble steps as he came closer to her. Xia flinched. She twisted her fingers nervously. She wished he would just leave. She hated men like this, who could harness the fate of others with just a simple word. She hated them for having so much power, making her so miserable and making her feel so small and helpless.

"Don't waste your time, sir; I will never agree to whatever you propose." She choked out, her voice a small whisper. A little voice in her head urged her to be quiet.

Rise," his men said, lifting her up slowly. There were three of them, bulky men with red steel breastplates and helmets. She felt the gentleness and sympathy the men offered her. They had fallen victim. "It is the lantern festival, the moon is bright, and a beautiful lady deserves a drink; join me."

She watched him nervously and shook her head. She didn't want to go. But she didn't have a choice. Even though she had been so bold to refuse his gentle command, she was basically dragged away from the eyes of the crowd. And they led her to the Eternal Longevity Terrace. It was a place where most nobles gathered to drink and discuss matters. There were people there now. The musicians were playing a song, and the dancers danced and entertained. The guards led her past an alleyway, turned, and pushed her through a door. She stood by the far end of the room carefully, waiting for the old man to center himself and position himself in the room.

"I know who you are; you are the famous beauty that has been living secluded among the monks on the mountain, away from the world. You are special. People like us should never hide; we were created to live above the world and those ignorant peasants who mistreat us because they envy our powers. Don't you agree with me? I am sure you would never want to return to that place."

"What do you want?"

"I see all, and I hear all. With me by your side, you can fear nothing. All I want is your loyalty, and I will give you whatever you want."

"I see you spew out cunning words to deceive me. I am but a simple girl, and I don't trust men like you." The old man stared deep into those determined young eyes. And he laughed; he had actually underestimated her might.

"I only want protection from all lust and peace; can you give me that?" She gasped sharply as she watched him. He had just put down his tea, and now he was screaming at her.

"I can give you that and more; I can even make you the Empress if you so wish, as long as you prove you are an asset to me."

"That's what I want. I want to enter the Emperor's harem today as his concubine." She said, and they stood still in shock. That's what she wanted, but she hoped that he was unable to give her that. So then his pride would drop, and they would leave her alone. All of them!

"But why?" He asked, plainly baffled. Why? She had a slight conviction that she had been right.

"That's what I want." She replied and he laughed once more. To think he had been wary of this little girl awhile back, turns out she is just greedy for the throne. Whatever then, the greedy ones was easy to handle. In the long run, he knew that the most beautiful woman in his arms was going to be an a valuable weapon. In fact, as he scanned, even though he wasn't one to be interested in things other than power and fame, He felt himself drawn in an inexplicable way to her. He wondered what kind of effect this woman would manage to pull on the court. He smiled and led the girl to his home.

"You must take me to the palace tomorrow or our deal is off!" She said as she followed him gingerly.

No one had ever dared to command him before, and this girl was definitely the first. But for some reason, as he stared into those clear brown saucer eyes, he couldn't disagree with her. He knew for a fact that if he could be so taken by her, other men wouldn't stand a chance. he could feel thee world at the tip of his fingers, even the emperor would not stand a chance.