Qiao ZhongXin

A knock on the door echoes in the empty room, not very loud but still enough to wake Qiao ZhongXin... She rises up from her plain bed as a servant comes inside the room -The Master is asking for you- she reluctantly nods and follow the servant to the main chambers.

...

With a small bow she enters the room and stops in front of the door, still slightly facing the ground... Red carpets and black stones as a floor -Rise your head- the voice of SheGu reaches her ears, she obeys and faces him. His clothes messed up, exposing one shoulder and half of his chest, the hair completely loose with not a single piece of jewelry. He drinks wine from a little cup while playing with a tarot card in his hand, one leg on his seating and one touching the floor... It's quite an unusual sight from the typically composed man he is, it makes him feel more human, more alive...

-Might I know what I've been called here for in the middle of the night?- she asks, earning a smug expression from the man. He rises from his seat and reaches toward her, one hand going to grab her chin -What? Worried that someone might think I'm tarnishing your purity? Nobody cares about that here- he lets go of his hold and turns around -I'm not in my best mood, do something about it- he says going back on his little couch.

-Should I play for you?- she asks, avoiding again to look at him in shame... Thinking that a woman such as herself shouldn't be in a man's room at night, even less if he isn't wearing his clothes properly -No- he rises an hand to grab a knife by his side -Tell me, have I been too obvious?- he points the blade toward her -Excuse me?- she asks confused -Shut up!- he throws it on the door, just beside her face -You didn't jump away scared this time, how come?- -I... Think that I'm getting used to My Lord's violent tendencies- her voice trembling

-Come here- he orders, she walks slowly toward him and stops in front of the man, avoiding to look at him still -Am I too indecent for you?- she doesn't reply and the man sighs with a smirk, stands up and grabs her wirst... Forcing her hand to touch the skin over his heart -Maybe I am tarnishing your purity in a way- she blushes for the indecency of his actions -Please stop...- -Is this all you can do? Beg?- he rises an eyebrow and tug her arm, making her fall under him on the seating.

His feet a still on the ground as he presses both her wirst on the couch -I could ruin you and dirty you, yet you wouldn't do a thing to stop me... You're so weak, both in the body and the mind- -I'm... Sorry- -Of what use is to apologize? Push me away, kick me or stab me- tears start to build at the corner of her eyes -Ying ChangLai would have been able to do it, wouldn't she?- asks the goddess bitterly, a hint of rage her her question that leaves the man confused... Never before has the woman talked back to him, even less had she shown any kind of emotion beside sadness.

In this moment of destabilization his grip loosen and she frees her hands, slipping away from him to come back on her two feet -If you don't need my help, then I'll take my leave- she begins moving toward the door -You still hope for someone to come and rescue you, don't you? A man maybe? Or perhaps... Miss Ying? If you even knew how much that woman hates you, tz...- he murmurs as the doors close shut. The goddess finds herself tightening a fist and release it in shock right after, looking at her own hand with wide eyes -No no, this is wrong... I shall calm down-.

...

She reaches her room and seats down by the window... The memories of that shaken man rushing back to her mind -What even caused such a composed man to be driven to madness in such a way? He wasn't even wearing his clothes properly...- The sigh of the exposed skin still lingers in her mind, how she noticed the pulsing vein on his neck going further down... His collarbones sharp as blades and his half naked chest was firm and well defined.

The goddess reaches an hand to her cheek, red as the sleeve -How indecent, to go around dressed like that and even call me in his room in the night!- she yells but then takes a deep breath and sighs in defeat -Much more indecent of me to stare and recall such images... Afterall, it's not like anyone cares about me maintaining my purity to the point of gossiping if I went in his room even for a while night. I'm a slave and matter nothing to nobody in this palace-

She looks outside toward the moon -He looked so troubled back there... I really do wonder how to help...! No no no, what am I saying? He's my enemy, I definitely do not want to help him nor want to understand what happened- covering her mouth she moves away from the window -This place is doing weird things to me, all this violence and immorality is changing me into a terrible lady... But... It's true that Miss Ying would have made it to escape his grasp, she honestly would have already escaped from the palace while I cannot do nothing but seat down and cry!- She says angrily and once again gets shoked by herself

-I'm starting to feel jealous of her... This isn't good. Jealousy is bad and being strong isn't the role assigned to me, but I cannot help and feel desire for that courage...- her hands come down helplessly -... Yet she hates me. It was already obvious back then when she rescued me, but still, she didn't let go of me because it was the right thing to do... I wonder why she hates me tho, are those voices about punishment in my name true? Was she also a victim because of me?- tears build up at the corner of her eyes -To think some people might get harmed because of me... It feels like a sin I have committed personally. I knew very well that I was an example for women but I naively thought I was inspiring, encouraging... Making them understand that with kindness a peaceful life can be archived. I was so stupid, so blind, and hurt you all... Miss Ying, what have you gone through because of me?- she bows down on her legs and begins to cry...