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Table of Contents
! P ro lo g u e … ..................… ..................… .................. ....................1 !
! C h a p te r!1 … ..................… ..................… .....................................2 !
C h a p te r!2 … ..................… ..................… ...................................1 5 !
C h a p te r!3 … ..................… ..................… ...................................2 8 !
A!Place!Called! C h a p te r!4 … ..................… ..................… ...................................3 9 !
C h a p te r!5 … ..................… ..................… ...................................5 6 !
The!Forbidden!City! C h a p te r!6 … ..................… ..................… ...................................7 3 !
C h a p te r!7 … ..................… ..................… ...................................9 3 !
A"Fan"Fiction"by!TheDHandsDOfDDestiny! C h a p te r!8 … ..................… ..................… .................................1 1 1 !
C h a p te r!9 … ..................… ..................… .................................1 3 5 !
! C h a p te r!1 0 ..................… ..................… ..................................1 5 5 !
! C h a p te r!1 1 … ..................… ..................… ...............................1 7 1 !
C h a p te r!1 2 … ..................… ..................… ...............................1 8 5 !
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C h a p te r!1 3 … ..................… ..................… ...............................1 9 6 !
! C h a p te r!1 4 … ..................… ..................… ...............................2 0 9 !
! C h a p te r!1 5 … ..................… ..................… ...............................2 2 1 !
C h a p te r!1 6 … ..................… ....................................................2 3 2 !
! C h a p te r!1 7 … ..................… .................… ................................2 4 2 !
AUTHOR!DISCLAIMER!FROM!FANFICTION.NET:! C h a p te r!1 8 … ..................… .................… ................................2 5 1 !
I!DO!NOT!OWN!CCS!(Card"Captor"Sakura)! C h a p te r!1 9 … ..................… .................… ................................2 5 9 !
! C h a p te r!2 0 … ..................… .................… ................................2 6 6 !
This!is!a!work!of!fiction.!Names,!characters,!places,!and!incidents!either!are!the!product!of!the!author’s!imagination!or!are!
used!fictitiously!and!any!resemblance!to!actual!persons,!living!or!dead,!business!establishments,!events,!or!locales!is!entirely!
C h a p te r!2 1 … ..................… .................… ................................2 7 7 !
coincidental.!The!publisher!does!not!have!any!control!over!and!does!not!assume!any!responsibility!for!author!or!thirdDparty! C h a p te r!2 2 … ..................… .................… ................................2 8 6 !
websites!or!their!content.!
C h a p te r!2 3 … ..................… .................… ................................2 9 7 !
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Copyright!©!2013!by!TheDHandsDOfDDestiny! C h a p te r!2 4 … ..................… .................… ................................3 1 0 !
Excerpt!from!A"Place"Called"The"Forbidden"City!by!TheDHandsDOfDDestiny!copyright!©!2013!by!TheDHandsDOfDDestiny.! C h a p te r!2 5 … ..................… .................… ................................3 2 4 !
SelfDProd!by!PinkFreesia!(FanFiction.net)!!
C h a p te r!2 6 … ..................… .................… ................................3 3 1 !
C h a p te r!2 7 … ..................… .................… ................................3 4 0 !
C h a p te r!2 8 … ..................… .................… ................................3 5 1 !
C h a p te r!2 9 … ..................… .................… ................................3 6 3 !
C h a p te r!3 0 … ..................… .................… ................................3 7 6 !
E p ilo g u e … ..................… ..................… ...................................3 8 9 !
!

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Preface Chapter 1!
In!Spring!she!was!beautiful! Virtue"becomes"a"wife;"beauty"becomes"a"concubine.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
For"her"cheeks"were"rosy!
"
In!Summer!she!was!beautiful!
Wei!straightened!his!glasses!on!the!bridge!of!his!nose!as!he!observed!
For"her"skin"shone"with"light! the! commoners! of! Japan.! They! were! so! different! from! his! people.! Yet!
he! enjoyed! their! architecture,! their! many! forms! of! dress! and! being! a!
In!Autumn!she!was!beautiful! scholarly! man! himself,! their! works! of! literature.! He! only! wished! his!
young!Master!was!able!to!behold!all!that!he!saw.!Wei!thought!the!next!
For"her"spirit"soared"beyond"the"hills! best!thing!would!be!to!bring!him!back!a!present.!Not!the!usual!jewels!
and! fine! cloths! he! and! the! Emperor! would! usually! receive,! but!
In!Winter!she!was!beautiful!still!
something! only! he! would! have.! Something! unique.! He! needed!
And"her"eyes"warmed"his"heart! something!that!embodied!Japan!perfectly.!Some!of!the!men!who!rode!
on! horseback! alongside! helped! him! in! his! search,! forsaking! their!
And!the!Great!Imperial!Son!loved!her!all!seasons! original! duty! to! guard! him! for! a! short! while.! Wei! smiled! at! the!
commoners! as! he! rode! by.! They! watched! him! wonderingly;! he! was!
His!Cherry!Blossom…! foreign!and!they!were!not!accustomed!seeing!outsiders.!
They! tell! legends! of! the! Four! Great! Beauties! of! China.! Women! who! He! heard! a! dog! growl,! then! a! yelp! as! it! was! hit.! A! piercing! silence!
flowed!through!the!area.!A!man!in!noble!attire!held!a!bloody!hand!as!
stunned!all!man!and!beast!alike!that!gazed!upon!them.!They!speak!of! he! cursed! profusely.! He! turned! on! the! dog! who! had! beaten! him! and!
Four! Beauties;! but! there! was! another.! So! fantastic! was! the! legend! of! sent! another! kick! to! its! belly.! Wei! watched! intently.! Its! litter! huddled!
together! as! they! watched! their! mother! being! beaten.! The! nobleman!
Xiao! Ying,! that! for! years! to! come! many! will! believe! it! was! just! a! paused!as!one!of!his!servants!brought!him!a!damp!cloth.!He!drew!out!
romantic! story! spun! by! the! commoners.! But! it! was! true.! The! people! his!sword.!
"Filthy!mongrel!"!
who!lived!in!that!time!were!witnesses!to!the!amazing!lives!of!Li!Xiao!
He!raised!his!sword.!
Lang!and!his!concubine.!Some!said!she!was!the!most!loved!and!valued! "No!"!
woman!in!all!of!Asia.!Others,!that!she!was!played!a!cruel!joke!on!by!the! The! nobleman! turned! around.! Wei! recognized! him.! Yorimoto! Saburo.!
He!was!a!member!of!the!Imperial!Court!of!Japan.!Wei!heard!he!was!a!
gods.! Interpret! her! life! as! you! will! but! in! all! the! rumours,! beneath! all!
tyrant!who!liked!to!harass!the!common!folk!as!a!past!time.!
the! lies,! one! thing! can! be! said! which! is! the! absolute! truth.! The! Great! "Who!said!that?!"!
Imperial! Son,! in! time,! came! to! care! more! for! Xiao! Ying! who! was! also! Silence.! Yorimoto! followed! the! stares! of! the! people! closest! to! the!
person! who! spoke.! A! young! woman! with! brown! hair! and! big! green!
called! Sakura,! more! than! all! the! riches,! magic! and! wonders! in! the!
eyes!stood!bravely!before!Yorimoto.!Wei!could!not!help!but!think!how!
world. pretty!she!was,!even!on!such!an!occasion.!He!had!never!seen!anyone!in!
China!or!Japan!with!such!features!together.!The!only!word!that!could!
describe!her!was!exotic.!
"She!was!only!trying!to!defend!her!puppies!"!she!cried.!
1! 2!
!
Wei! winced.! He! was! not! alone.! Yorimoto! was! a! man! full! of! rage! and!
cruelty.! Everyone! knew! what! was! coming! next.! He! grabbed! the! girl!
around!the!neck!and!threw!her!to!the!ground.!
"How! dare! you! raise! your! voice! to! me!! I! am! your! superior! bitch!"! he!
spat.!
The!girl!bit!her!lips.!She!had!tears!in!her!eyes.!
"It!has!nothing!against!you.!You've!done!enough!to!it!already!"!
"Now! you're! attempting! to! tell! me! what! I! can! and! cannot! do?"!
whispered! Yorimoto! dangerously,! his! eyes! diminishing! into! slits.! He!
raised!his!sword!a!second!time.!Unconsciously,!Wei!opened!his!mouth.!
"SAKURA!"!
A!brown!haired!man!ran!in!front!of!the!girl!and!kneeled!to!Yorimoto.!
One!of!his!hands!was!up!to!shield!himself!and!Sakura.!
"Please!YorimotoDsan!!Please!forgive!her.!No!offence!was!meant."!
Seeing! the! man! and! Sakura! so! close! together,! Wei! knew! they! were!
father!and!daughter.!So!did!Yorimoto.!He!smirked!maliciously.!
"You! should! have! taught! her! better! manners.! Now! you! will! watch! as!
she!loses!her!head."!
"Please!YorimotoDsan!!I!will!do!anything."!
"Stop! whining! you! fool!"! shouted! Yorimoto.! "Be! thankful! you're! not!
losing!something!valuable."!
He!grabbed!Sakura!by!her!hair.!
"OtouDsan!"!
Their! fingers! brushed! as! he! tried! to! clutch! her! hand.! Yorimoto,! still!
with!a!fistful!of!hair,!turned!Sakura!to!face!him.!She!was!within!inches!
of! his! face.! Something! in! Yorimoto's! eyes! changed.! Relief! and! dread!
were!present!on!the!face!of!Sakura's!father.!Yorimoto!turned!to!him.!
"Change!of!plans.!I'll!take!her!to!my!bed.!When!I!get!bored,!then!I'll!kill!
her."!
"YorimotoDsan,!please,!I'll!work!for!you…!I'll!pay…"!
Yorimoto! was! farDgone.! He! was! taken! up! with! Sakura;! most! likely!
imagining! all! the! sexual! acts! he! could! have! her! do! for! him.! Wei!
dismounted! his! horse! and! walked! through! the! crowd! that! gathered.!
They!parted!for!him.!
"YorimotoDsan!"!he!said.!"I'll!take!the!girl,!thank!you."!
He!received!a!dirty!look.!
"I!claimed!her!first.!What!makes!you!think!you!have!any!right!or!power!
3!
!
to!take!her!from!me."!
There!was!a!lowDlying!threat!there.!
"The!Emperor!of!Japan!gave!me!permission!to!take!anything!I!want!as!
a!gift!to!His!Great!Imperial!Son!of!China.!I!want!her."!
Wei! nodded! at! Sakura.! Yorimoto! grinded! his! teeth.! He! was! no! fool! to!
go! against! the! Emperor's! orders.! His! options! were! to! ride! the! girl!
tonight!and!be!dead!tomorrow!or!release!her!and!die!in!some!distant!
war.! Giving! a! yell! of! frustrating! he! threw! Sakura! away! from! him.!
Turning,!he!stomped!off!with!his!company.!Sakura!was!already!in!her!
father's! arms.! Wei! was! staggered! at! how! much! the! man! cared! for! his!
daughter!D!like!a!son.!The!Japanese!were!a!little!backward!in!the!way!
they!ordered!things!and!by!allowing!too!much!liberty!to!women.!Still!
he!had!not!seen!anyone!act!like!this!man!yet.!He!gave!them!a!moment!
to!catch!themselves.!
"What!is!your!name?"!he!asked!Sakura's!father.!
"I!am!Kinomoto!Fujitaka,"!he!said!with!a!low!bow.!"Arigato!for!saving!
my!daughter."!
"I!am!Wang!Wei,"!said!Wei.!He!took!full!advantage!of!the!opportunity.!
"Kinomoto,! I! would! like! to! make! you! a! proposal! that! would! be!
beneficial!to!both!of!us."!
Fujitaka!knew!what!was!coming.!
"Sell!your!daughter!to!me."!
Sakura!gasped.!
"WeiDsan.!She!is!the!only!one!I!have."!
"What!other!useful!purpose!would!she!serve!if!she!is!not!sold?"!
"I!treasure!my!daughter!immensely,!WangDsan.!She!cannot!be!bought."!
Wei!decided!to!use!another!tact.!
"You! know! that! she! cannot! stay! here! now.! YorimotoDsan! would! take!
her!if!he!is!given!a!chance.!That!won't!happen!if!she!comes!with!me.!To!
China."!
Fujitaka!drew!Sakura!closer!to!him.!
"I!will!never!see!her!again."!
"She! will! never! go! hungry,! or! cold! or! want! for! anything! again."! Wei!
smiled.!"The!Great!Imperial!Son!is!just.!Do!not!believe!the!stories!of!his!
brutality!and!coldness.!Serving!him!will!be!a!far!greater!prospect!than!
serving!YorimotoDsan."!
"OtouDsan…"!Sakura!hugged!Fujitaka!tightly.!
4!
"I!do!not!have!to!ask!nor!pay,!KinomotoDsan,"!said!Wei.!"But!I!am!doing!
so."!
If!she!stayed!Yorimoto!would!surely!rape!her.!Fujitaka!could!not!bear!
that!thought.!He!would!at!least!give!her!a!chance!of!having!a!better!life.!
Many! dreamed! of! living! in! palaces! and! being! surrounded! by! riches.!
Now!Sakura!had!a!chance!for!this.!
"I!am!leaving!tomorrow.!Tell!me!where!you!live.!I!will!come!for!her."!
He!turned!to!leave.!
"WangDsan,"!called!Fujitaka.!"I!will!take!no!money."!
! "I!gave!her!some!things!from!home."!
Sakura! set! her! empty! rice! bowl! down! on! the! table.! She! smiled! at! her!
father.!
"Sugoi!!I!wish!I!was!as!good!a!cook!as!you,!OtouDsan."!
She!cleared!and!cleaned!the!table!as!she!always!did.!It!was!as!if!today!
was! another! ordinary! day.! Fujitaka! was! ashamed.! He! did! not! dare!
make!mention!of!her!fate,!even!though!they!did!everything!to!prepare!
for!it.!Sakura!had!bathed,!combed!her!short!hair!and!dressed!neatly!in!
a!kimono.!Now!they!sat!in!silence.!Waiting.!
The!sound!of!pounding!hooves!could!be!heard.!There!was!a!loud!knock!
on! the! door.! Sakura! and! Fujitaka! left! the! house.! Pretending! they! did!
not!see!the!knowing!stares!of!their!neighbours!and!other!curious!folk,!
they!were!taken!away!by!Wei!and!his!guards.!
The! group! arrived! at! the! harbour! just! before! midday.! Sakura! and!
Fujitaka! stood! gazing! at! the! vast! mass! of! water.! It! glimmered! in! the!
sunlight.! Sakura! raised! her! hand! to! shield! her! eyes! from! the!
brightness.!A!chilly!breeze!blew!past!and!her!bangs!danced!about!her!
forehead.!Fujitaka!smiled!down!at!her.!What!was!he!doing?!Should!he!
have! tried! to! hide! her?! No,! it! may! have! meant! death! to! both! of! them.!
Other! than! Sakura's! safety,! his! biggest! concern! was! Touya.! What!
would! happen! when! he! came! home! to! find! his! sister! missing?! Touya!
loved! his! sister! more! than! anything! in! the! world.! Would! he! survive!
losing! her?! Would! he! forgive! his! father?! Sakura! was! so! brave! and!
trusting.! Even! now! she! smiled! at! him;! comforting! him.! She! was! so!
beautiful!D!just!like!Nadeshiko.!
"What!do!I!have!to!do!in!China,!for!the!Prince?"!
Fujitaka's!eyes!burned.!He!took!her!smaller!hands!in!his!own.!
"Promise! me! that! you! would! always! be! your! happy! self! SakuraDsan,"!
said!Fujitaka.!"No!matter!what!happens."!
5!
"I!promise,!OtouDsan."!
"Daisuki,!SakuraDsan."!
"Daisuki,!OtouDsan."!
She!took!out!a!small!piece!of!paper.!
"Can!you!give!this!to!oniiDchan!for!me?"!
"Of!course,"!he!said!taking!it.!
"Kinomoto,"!said!Wei.!"I!must!take!her!now."!
Fujitaka!picked!up!a!package!at!his!feet.!
Wei! nodded.! He! beckoned! Sakura! to! him.! They! boarded! the! ship! and!
Wei!allowed!Sakura!to!wave!to!Fujitaka!from!the!deck.!
"Don't!worry,!OtouDsan.!Everything!will!surely!be!alright!"!she!shouted!
shocking!Wei.!
Fujitaka! gazed! on! his! daughter! for! the! last! time.! He! wanted! to!
remember!every!detail!of!her.!He!prayed!to!the!gods!to!keep!her!safe.!
Long! after! the! ship! had! set! sail! and! disappeared! beyond! the! horizon,!
Fujitaka!stood!looking!out!into!the!distance.!
!
Sakura! was! taken! to! a! room! below! deck.! Another! girl! was! there!
already.!Her!face!was!painted!and!she!was!dressed!in!a!pretty!kimono.!
Sakura!was!in!awe.!She!was!so!pretty.!
"Hello,"!said!Sakura.!
The! girl! did! not! answer.! She! turned! away! haughtily.! Sakura's! eyes!
widened.! She! sat! down! on! a! mat! and! wrapped! her! hands! around! her!
legs.! Suddenly,! she! felt! loneliness! crashing! down! on! her.! She! missed!
her! father! already.! Her! lips! trembled.! Tears! trickled! down! her! pink!
cheeks.!She!squeezed!her!eyes!to!stop!the!tears!but!they!came.!The!girl!
scoffed.!
Later! that! evening! food! was! brought! to! them.! It! was! simple! like! they!
were!used!to.!Rice!and!some!pork.!Sakura!gratefully!devoured!it.!The!
other!girl!ate!hers!slowly!and!delicately.!Sakura!felt!a!bit!embarrased.!
After!eating,!Sakura!noticed!the!girl!retching!now!and!then.!Grabbing!
an! empting! bucket! in! the! room,! Sakura! went! over! to! her.! The! girl!
threw!up!unceremoniously.!Sakura!rubbed!her!back!as!she!continued.!
She! gave! her! some! water! to! wash! out! her! mouth.! When! the! servant!
came! to! collect! the! food,! she! took! the! bucket! away.! The! girl! changed!
out!of!her!clothes!and!wiped!her!face!clean.!Her!lips!were!still!very!red,!
even! without! the! makeup.! Her! hair! was! dark,! perfectly! straight! and!
6!
long.! "What!do!you!mean?"!
"Arigato,"!she!said!after!a!while.! Miko!rolled!her!eyes.!
Sakura!smiled!brightly.! "Common! girls,"! she! muttered.! "You're! supposed! to! have! sex! with!
"What's!your!name?"! him."!
"Kinomoto!Sakura."! Sakura's!face!was!blank.!Miko!explained!very!frankly.!Sakura!blushed.!
"I'm!Miko."! "Hoe!!!I!can't!do!that!MikoDsan."!She!looked!about!her!in!panic.!"I!want!
to!go!home."!
"Are!you!feeling!better!now?"!
"The! time! when! you! could! get! what! you! wanted! D! if! ever! there! was!
"I'll!feel!better!when!my!legs!are!on!the!ground,"!said!Miko.!
such!a!time!D!has!ended,"!said!Miko!lazily.!
Sakura!was!brought!back!to!the!situation!she!was!in.!
Sakura!hugged!herself.!Miko!sighed!again.!
"MikoDsan,!what!do!you!think!China!would!be!like?"!
"SakuraDsan,"!said!Miko.!"Let's!stay!close!in!China!D!if!we!can.!Alright.!
"Just! like! Japan,"! said! Miko.! "Perhaps! even! worse.! It! would! not! be! They!are!not!like!us."!
much!different!for!us.!For!a!man,!maybe.!But!not!for!us."!
Sakura!agreed.!But!what!did!Miko!mean?!Not!like!us?!She!was!happy!
Sakura!did!not!truly!understand!Miko!but!she!nodded!anyway.! that!at!least!she!had!a!friend!like!Miko!with!her.!They!passed!their!time!
"Who!are!you!for?"! on! the! ship! telling! stories! and! entertaining! each! other.! Miko! taught!
"Hoe?"! Sakura!how!to!sing,!and!do!a!few!simple!dances.!Sakura!tried!her!best!
Miko!watched!her!weirdly.! even!though!she!was!clumsy!by!nature!and!the!swaying!of!the!ship!did!
not!help.!It!was!bitterDsweet!to!Sakura!and!Miko!when!the!ship!docked!
"Who!are!they!giving!you!to?"! on!the!Chinese!harbour.!
"Oh.!The!Prince!of!China."! Wei! checked! on! them.! Even! though! he! took! Sakura! away! from! home,!
"You!mean!the!Crown!Prince?"! she! still! liked! the! old! Chinese! man.! He! reminded! her! of! her! father! in!
Miko!pulled!a!face.! some!ways.!He!made!sure!they!were!in!the!right!carriage!before!going!
"What!is!it?"!asked!Sakura.! to!his!own.!
"You've!never!heard!of!him?!Well!we!do!run!in!different!circles..."! "Where!are!we!going?"!asked!Sakura!aloud.!
Miko!unable!to!hold!in!the!gossip!told!Sakura!what!she!knew.! "I! was! told! the! Imperial! Family! lives! in! a! place! called! The! Forbidden!
City."!
"They! tell! stories! about! him.! They! say! he's! one! of! the! bloodiest! men!
ever! to! enter! a! battlefield.! That! a! single! stare! freezes! you! in! fear! and! "Why!is!it!Forbidden?"!
the!silence!which!follows!him!is!enough!to!make!your!bones!shake.!I'm! Miko!sighed.!
glad! I'm! going! to! the! Emperor.! He! is! powerful! they! say,! but! not! as! "I!don't!know!everything…!"!
dangerous!as!the!prince.!But!that!is!not!to!be!repeated,"!said!Miko!as! Sakura!giggled.!
an!afterthought.!
The!journey!there!was!rather!uncomfortable.!The!carriage!jerked!with!
"Wow,"! Sakura! said.! "Wei! said! he! was! not! so.! I! still! don't! know! what! every! gallop! the! horses! took.! The! day! was! hot! and! Sakura! and! Miko!
I'm!supposed!to!do!for!him!though."! were! thirsty.! Just! when! they! thought! the! distance! between! them! and!
Miko!sighed.! the! Forbidden! City! will! never! end,! the! carriage! halted.! They! pushed!
"You're!supposed!to!please!him,!and!only!him."! aside! the! curtains! and! peeked! out.! They! gasped! loudly.! A! gigantic!
"Hoe?"! stone! wall! was! in! front! of! them.! They! were! near! the! back! of! the!
procession! but! they! could! see! clearly.! The! wall! was! neverDending.!
"In!bed."!!
Huge!buildings!with!golden!roofs!rose!up!from!behind!it.!There!was!a!
7! 8!
rumbling! as! the! large! gates! were! opened.! The! procession! moved!
onwards.!They!released!the!curtains.!
When!they!were!allowed!out,!they!were!greeted!by!a!bevy!of!servant!
girls,!all!dressed!alike!in!dresses.!The!girl!in!front!with!pigDtails!bowed!
to!them!and!the!others!followed.!Sakura!felt!strange!to!be!treated!like!
this.!
"I'm!Chiharu.!We!are!to!get!you!ready,"!she!said.!
"You!speak...!Japanese?"!said!Miko.!
Before!Chiharu!could!say!more,!the!servants!bustled!them!into!a!room!
and! shoved! Sakura! and! Miko! towards! a! bath.! Sakura's! clothes! were!
stripped! off.! Eyes! wide,! she! tried! to! cover! her! naked! body! with! her!
hands.! She! was! practically! thrown! into! the! water! where! she! was!
scrubbed!and!her!hair!was!washed.!Sakura,!still!highly!confused,!was!
pulled! out! of! the! water! and! dried.! She! tried! to! protest! but! too! much!
was!going!on!all!at!once.!
"There!are!kimonos!for!you,"!said!Chiharu!holding!them!in!her!hands!
like!they!were!the!purest!gold.!"WangDsan!said!you!must!wear!them."!
As!Sakura!and!Miko!had!their!hair!combed!and!were!dressed!in!their!
kimonos,!Chiharu!explained!some!rules!to!them.!
"You! may! address! the! Imperial! Majesty! as! 'Your! Imperial! Majesty'! or!
Huangdi.! You! must! kowtow,! that! is,! kneel! and! bow! so! that! your! head!
touches! the! ground.! Do! not! speak! to! the! Imperial! Majesty! unless! he!
speaks! to! you.! Any! order! he! gives! must! be! obeyed! immediately.! You!
may! address! the! Great! Imperial! Son! as! such! and! kowtow! before! him.!
However,!no"one"is!greater!than!Huangdi."!
Sakura! tried! to! remember! the! rules! as! she! was! taken! before! the!
Emperor.! How! could! Miko! remain! so! calm?! Chiharu! walked! ahead! of!
them,!leading!the!way.!The!other!servant!girls!were!behind!them.!The!
halls! were! grand! and! colourful! yet! she! had! no! time! to! look! at! them.!
Such!was!their!pace.!She!and!Miko!were!breathing!hard.!Kimonos!were!
not!designed!for!quick!and!long!movement,!especially!the!highDquality!
ones! they! wore.! She! was! flexing! her! fingers! a! lot! and! shaking! her!
hands.!She!was!nervous.!Chiharu!rounded!a!corner!and!shrieked.!She!
bowed!to!the!man!she!bumped!into.!
"TsukishiroDsan,"!gasped!Chiharu.!"Please!forgive!me."!
The!man!appeared!and!Sakura!felt!a!flutter!in!her!stomach.!He!smiled!
and!her!cheeks!burned.!
"Hanyaan…"!Sakura!murmured.!
Tsukishiro!looked!at!the!girls.!He!blinked.!!
9!
"These!are!the!concubines."!
"I!am!going!to!see!Huangdi!now.!I'll!take!them."!
Chiharu!was!relieved.!
"Thank!you!very!much!TsukishiroDsan!"!
Chiharu!and!the!other!servant!girls!hurried!off!without!an!explanation!
to!the!clueless!Japanese!girls.!Tsukishiro!regarded!them!for!a!moment!
and! smiled.! Sakura! looked! away.! He! turned! beckoning! them,! and! she!
and!Miko!followed!him.!
They! entered! a! great! hall! with! a! long! low! table.! Many! officials! were!
gathered! around! it! and! at! the! head! was! the! emperor.! An! elaborate!
tapestry! of! a! White! Tiger! hung! in! the! back! of! him.! Yukito! kowtowed!
and!Sakura!and!Miko!mimicked!him.!
"Huangdi,"!he!greeted.!"Your!servant!kneels!before!you."!
"Tsukishiro!Yukito,"!said!the!emperor!in!a!booming!voice.!"Just!on!time!
as!always.!You!spare!no!time!for!any!changes!in!plan."!
He!looked!past!Yukito!at!the!two!Japanese!girls.!He!sat!up!straighter.!
"Wang."!
Wei!cleared!his!throat.!
"The!Emperor!of!Japan,!sent!the!black!haired!one!as!one!of!the!many!
gifts!he!has!given.!She!is!what!they!call!a!geisha."!
Sakura!did!not!understand!a!word!that!was!being!said!but!she!saw!all!
eyes!were!on!Miko.!She!gazed!at!her!as!well.!Her!hair!was!twisted!atop!
her! head.! Her! black! kinomo! with! white! flowers! was! striking.! Sakura!
glanced!at!the!men.!Only!two!men!seemed!uninterested.!One!sat!on!the!
right! of! Huangdi! and! the! other! was! in! the! middle! on! the! left.! The!
emperor! motioned! to! Miko! and! she! went! over! to! him.! His! gaze! was!
predatory.!He!inhaled!her!scent.!
"The!Emperor!parted!with!such!a!creature?!Good!fortune!to!me!"!
The!officials!present!shared!his!sentiments.!
"The! other,"! continued! Wei.! "Is! for! the! Great! Imperial! Son! as! a! gift!
from!me."!
The! attention! was! now! on! Sakura.! She! shifted! nervously! and! bowed!
her!head.!She!glanced!at!them!through!her!thick!eyelashes.!She!did!not!
realize!the!power!of!such!a!simple!action.!The!men!were!in!heat.!Some!
licked!their!lips.!Others!imagined!what!her!body!looked!like.!
"Xiao! Lang,"! said! the! Emperor,! eyes! fixed! on! Sakura.! "What! do! you!
think!of!Wei's!gift?"!
10!
The! young! man! to! the! right! of! him! glared! at! Sakura.! She! stiffened.!
Hoe…"she!thought.!Did!she!do!something!wrong?!She!took!a!step!back.!
The!emperor!laughed!and!said!something.!The!men!present!laughed!as!
well.!
"Her!beauty!is!rare,"!said!Huangdi.!"Are!you!sure!you!gave!me!the!right!
gift,!Wei?"!
Wei!smiled.!
"Your!concubine!is!stunning!and!well!learned!in!the!arts!of!pleasure."!
He!looked!at!the!Crown!Prince.!He!knew!who!would!have!the!girl!if!he!
rejected!her.!"Please!accept!my!gift,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
"I!already!have!a!wife,!and!a!consort,"!he!said!coldly.!
"And!now!you!have!a!beautiful!concubine..."!
"Forget!it!Wei,!he's!not!interested!in!pretty!women."!
The! Crown! Prince,! Syaoran,! glared! at! the! man! across! from! him.!
Because!he!was!First!Son,!he!thought!he!could!speak!to!him!like!that?!!
Suddenly,!a!servant!entered!the!room!shattering!the!tension.!He!spoke!
briefly! with! the! emperor! then! left.! Moments! later,! a! stunningly! large!
array!of!food!was!brought!to!the!emperor!and!his!officials.!Sakura!had!
never! seen! so! many! varieties! of! meat,! fruits,! vegetables! and! soups! in!
her!life.!
The!emperor!spoke!but!she!paid!no!attention!to!him!because!she!was!
enthralled! with! the! sight! of! the! food.! The! room! grew! quiet! and! still.!
Sakura!realized!all!were!looking!at!her.!The!emperor!looked!angry.!In!a!
stern! voice! he! said! something! and! made! movements! with! his! hands.!
Sakura!blinked.!The!man!who!sat!next!to!the!emperor!was!in!front!of!
her.! He! grasped! her! hand.! She! gasped.! She! was! shoved! down! on! the!
ground!near!his!seat.!She!sat!behind,!but!to!the!side!of!him.!He!must!be!
the! Crown! Prince.! He! did! not! speak! much.! The! officials! and! the!
emperor!conversed!together!as!they!enjoyed!their!meal!but!the!prince!
said!nothing.!He!spoke!now!and!then!to!Wang!Wei,!but!no!one!else!got!
many!words!out!of!him.!She!now!understood!what!Miko!meant!by!the!
silence.!He!was!in!a!room!full!of!people!yet!managed!to!be!as!removed!
and!quiet!as!possible.!Even!so,!his!presence!was!unquestionable.!
Sakura! was! shocked! to! see! the! emperor! grabbing! Miko's! breasts! in!
front!of!everyone.!He!slipped!his!hand!inside!her!kimono.!She!did!not!
seem! to! mind.! Sakura! glanced! at! the! prince.! She! was! glad! he! was! not!
paying!much!attention!to!her!but!she!felt!isolated!at!the!same!time.!She!
and! Miko! could! not! eat! amongst! royalty! and! nobles! so! there! was! not!
much!for!them!to!do.!She!busied!herself!with!sneaking!furtive!glances!
11!
!
at! Tsukishiro.! He! was! seated! next! to! a! man! with! long! silver! hair! and!
catDlike,!icyDblue!eyes.!He!was!the!one!she!noticed!earlier.!They!looked!
remarkably! alike.! The! man! caught! one! of! Sakura's! glances! and!
chastised!her!with!one!look.!
The! meal! came! to! an! end! and! Miko! and! Sakura! were! taken! from! the!
men's! presence! by! Chiharu! and! the! girls.! Sakura! breathed.! The! girls!
suddenly! began! to! walk! in! different! directions.! Sakura! tried! to! grab!
onto!Miko's!arm!reflexively.!
"They're!taking!her!to!the!harem,"!said!Chiharu.!
"But!I!want!to!stay!with!you!"!said!Sakura!to!Miko.!
"We'll!see!each!other!again,"!said!Miko.!
With! that! she! was! gone.! Sakura's! heart! dropped.! She! did! not! want! to!
be! alone.! Chiharu! took! her! to! a! different! part! of! the! palace! far! away!
from! the! emperor.! They! came! upon! a! door! with! guards! outside! and!
entered! swiftly.! Within! that! room! she! led! her! through! another! door!
into! a! room,! and! then! left! because! she! was! busy.! The! other! girls!
remained!with!her,!but!quietly!in!the!shadows.!Sakura's!eyes!lit!up!as!
she!saw!the!package!her!father!had!given!her!at!the!foot!of!the!bed.!It!
had!to!be!Chiharu!who!had!put!it!there.!She!would!have!to!thank!her!
later.!
Sakura! returned! to! the! main! room! and! sat! down! on! a! sofa.! The! girls!
followed! her.! She! gazed! around! the! room! in! wonderment.! It! was! so!
bright!and!everything!was!so!expensive.!There!were!mirrors!!
She!picked!up!a!fan!and!opened!it.!The!artwork!was!lovely!D!a!gray!tree!
with!brilliant!red!flowers.!
"What!do!you!think!you're!doing!"!
Sakura!dropped!the!fan.!A!girl!with!jet!black!hair!and!red!eyes!glared!
at! her! with! hatred.! Sakura! was! too! shaken! to! realize! she! had! been!
spoken!to!in!Japanese.!As!the!girl!advanced!on!her,!another!girl!came!
into!the!room,!from!a!side!door.!She!whipped!out!a!fan!elegantly!and!
covered!her!face.!Only!her!brown!eyes!were!visible.!
"ID"!
"Don't!know!your!place?"!
"I!was!just!looking!at!it,"!explained!Sakura.!
"Touch!anything!of!Li!Meilin's!again,"!she!said.!"And!I!will!bury!you!so!
deep,!the!search!dogs!won't!be!able!to!smell!you."!
She!took!her!fan!and!went!into!another!room,!slamming!the!door!shut.!
The!other!girl!sat!next!to!Sakura!and!laughed!quietly.!
12!
"Your!name?"!she!asked!with!a!strong!Chinese!accent.! from! the! high! one! it! was! in.! "Would! you! mind! brushing! my! hair,!
"Kinomoto!Sakura."! Sakura?"!
"I! am! Li! HuaDLing,"! said! the! girl.! "I! am! consort! to! the! Great! Imperial! "Sure."!
Son!and!Meilin!is!his!first!wife."! "You!are!as!beautiful!as!they!say!you!are,"!said!HuaDLing.!
Sakura! looked! at! the! door! Meilin! went! through.! HuaDLing! fanned! "I'm!not,"!said!Sakura,!embarrassed.!
herself.! "You! must! be.! Only! the! best! is! given! to! the! Great! Imperial! Son.! He! is!
"Don't!concern!yourself!with!her,"!she!said.!"When!you!love!a!prince!it! handsome,!yes?"!
is!rare!that!you!will!be!loved!in!return."! Sakura!thought.!All!that!came!to!mind!was!a!hard!stare!and!a!tight!jaw.!
Sakura!tilted!her!head,!confused.! He! did! have! good! looks.! When! she! heard! handsome! though,! she!
HuaDLing!laughed!again.! remembered!Yukito.!She!blushed.!HuaDLing!glanced!at!her.!
"The! Great! Imperial! Son! never! wanted! to! marry! her,"! said! HuaDLing.! "Another!Meilin,!I!see,"!she!sighed.!"Just!what!the!City!needed."!
"He! never! wanted! me! either.! The! difference! between! Meilin! and! I! is!
that!I!accept!my!place!in!his!life,!but!she!wants!more.!She!will!never"get!
it."!
"Oh…"!said!Sakura.!"That's!awful."!
"Don't!pity!her.!First!wives!are!only!chosen!to!breed!"pure!sons".!She!
knows!that."!
"What!are!consorts!chosen!for?"!
HuaDLing!halted!her!fanning.!
"Status."!
"And!concubines?"!asked!Sakura!softly.!
HuaDLing!looked!into!Sakura's!eyes.!
"Their!beauty…!youth…!sex."!
"But!I've!never!D!I!mean!I!am!D"!
She!hesistated.!The!maidservants!were!still!present.!
"A!virgin?!Of!course!you!are.!Who!would!dare!give!the!Great!Imperial!
Son!someone!used."!
Sakura!squeezed!her!hands.!
"Relax.!He!is!not!a…!sexual!being.!You!may!never!be!called!to!him."!
Sakura!breathed!a!sigh!of!relief.!
"He! does! not! want! me! then.! I! could! have! stayed! in! Japan! with! OtouD
san…"!
"What! matter! is! it! if! he! wants! you?! The! fact! is! every! other! man!
probably!wants!you;!it!makes!him!look!good."!
Sakura!still!was!dejected.!
"It's!all!politics!and!appearances,"!said!HuaDLing.!She!released!her!hair!
13! 14!
Chapter 2
A"journey"of"a"thousand"miles"begins"with"a"single"step.!
~!Chinese!Proverb!
! "We! are! not! destined! to! rule! the! Empire! someday,"! said! Yue,! arms!
Two! pigeons! flew! through! the! air! gracefully.! Two! bows! were! drawn!
simultaneously.! Whoosh." Two! arrows! were! released.! Syaoran! and!
Yukito!relaxed!their!stances!as!the!birds!hit!the!ground.!They!removed!
their!blindfolds.!Yukito!smiled!at!Syaoran.!
"Your!skill!improves!continuously."!
Syaoran!waited!for!Yue!to!give!his!judgment.!He!was!the!greatest!and!
most! deadly! archer! in! the! entire! empire.! Probably! in! the! entire! East.!
Yue!nodded.!
"Your!next!lesson,"!said!Yue.!
With! that! he! took! Yukito's! bow! and! fitted! an! arrow! at! the! string.! He!
signalled!for!two!more!pigeons!to!be!released.!He!closed!his!eyes.!He!
waited!for!the!birds!to!settle!in!their!flight.!He!had!them!now.!
Without!hesitation,!his!drawn!bow!followed!the!soft!cries!of!the!birds.!
He! released! his! arrow.! It! whizzed! through! the! air,! piercing! straight!
through!the!wing!of!one!bird!and!into!the!bosom!of!the!other.!Both!fell!
from!the!sky.!
"Have!no!fear,!my!cute!little!descendant,"!said!Eriol,!sauntering!over!to!
them.!"You!will!get!to!that!level!eventually."!
Syaoran! glared! at! him.! Taking! another! arrow,! he! ended! the! wounded!
bird's!life.!
"If!you!weren't!my!cousin,!Hiiragiziwa…"!
"You!are!kind,"!said!Eriol.!"Men!have!killed!brothers!and!you!care!for!a!
mere!cousin."!
Syaoran!resumed!his!archery,!ignoring!his!relative.!
"You!have!a!beautiful!concubine!waiting!on!your!call!Li,!and!here!you!
are."!
"There! are! more! important! things! than! concubines,"! said! Syaoran!
stiffly.!
"Not!to!twentyDyear!olds,"!said!Eriol.!"When!are!we!going!to!see!a!little!
Xiao!Lang!running!around?"!
"What!need!is!there!for!me!to!have!a!son?!Huangdi!lives!yet."!
"This!is!not!about!Huangdi."!Eriol!sighed.!"Yue,!speak!to!him.!He!listens!
to!you."!
15!
"There! is! logic! to! what! Hiiragizawa! says,"! said! Yue! matterDofDfactly.!
"But!you!already!know!this.!So!why!do!you!not!wish!for!children?"!
"Neither!you!nor!Yukito!have!sons!either."!
folded.!
"I! have! been! with! my! women! many! times,"! said! Syaoran! finally.! "But!
they!bore!no!children."!
"Many!times!you!say,"!said!Eriol.!"You've!been!with!them!as!often!in!a!
year!as!I!have!been!with!mine!in!a!month!"!
Yukito!raised!his!eyebrows.!"But!that's!saying!a!lot!Eriol."!
Eriol!smiled!broadly.!
"I!guess!I!can!see!them!more!often,"!Syaoran!mumbled.!
A!group!of!maidservants!approached!the!men!humbly.!
"Great!Imperial!Son,!your!servants!bow!before!you,"!they!chorused.!
"They!are!from!Meilin,"!said!Yukito!recognizing!them.!"What!is!it?"!
"MeilinDsan!wishes!to!have!a!tea!party,"!said!one!of!them.!
Syaoran! gave! a! nod.! Anything! to! keep! her! occupied! and! away! from!
him.!
"She!has!the!Great!Imperial!Son's!permission,"!said!Yukito.!
The!maidservants!did!not!move.!
"Something!more?"!
"She!requests!the!company!of!HiiragizawaDsan's!wives."!
"Not!Kaho,"!said!Eriol.!"Tomoyo!has!my!permission."!
They! bowed! again! and! scurried! away! like! mice.! A! silence! enveloped!
the!men.!
"There!are!rumours!that!Lu!Sheng!has!resurfaced,"!said!Eriol!abruptly.!
Syaoran!clenched!his!fist.!
"The!Betrayer?"!
"The!same!one."!
"Does!Huangdi!know!of!this?"!
"Not! yet,"! replied! Eriol.! "I! will! speak! with! him! personally.! We! should!
reinforce!the!magical!barrier.!Lu!Sheng!has!always!known!a!good!deal!
more!than!he!should."!
"Lu!Sheng!is!an!outcast,!no!better!than!a!slave"!said!Syaoran.!"I!do!not!
fear!him."!!
16!
"Be!wary!of!Lu!Sheng,"!said!Eriol.!"There!is!nothing!he!is!incapable!of!
doing.!He's!already!proven!that."!
Eriol!took!a!bow!and!fitted!it!with!an!arrow!lazily.!He!scanned!the!area.!
His! eyes! narrowed.! He! took! aim.! The! figure! he! was! aiming! at! drew!
nearer.!Syaoran!scoffed!when!he!saw!who!it!was.!
"Greetings,!Great"Imperial"Son."!
"First!Brother,!Renshu,"!bit!out!Syaoran.!
"Thinking! of! killing! me,! Eriol?"! asked! Renshu! with! a! raised! eyebrow.!
"Better!save!your!skills!for!Lu!Sheng."!
Eriol!lowered!his!bow!and!arrow.!
"Don't!be!so!surprised!Eriol,"!said!Renshu.!"You're!not!the!only!one!in!
the!City!with!informants."!
"That!is!clear,"!said!Eriol.!There!was!a!mischievous!glint!in!his!eyes.!"It!
seems!Renshu,!there!is!another!unwelcome!competitor!for!the!throne."!
Renshu!glared!at!Eriol.!His!voice!was!icy!when!he!spoke.!
"You! are! the! emperor's! favourite! magician! Eriol,! but! will! that! always!
be!so?"!
"Yukito,"!said!Yue.!"You're!supposed!to!be!in!the!harem."!
The!four!men!stared!at!Yue.!
"I!have"been!away!for!too!long,"!Yukito!said!putting!down!his!arrows.!
"LiDsan,!LiDsan,!HiiragizawaDsan,!Brother..."!
They!watched!him!leave.!
"Your!brother's!keeper!as!always!Yue,"!said!Renshu.!
"He!needs!to!be!looked!after."!
"Really?!How!much!trouble!can!Tsukishiro!Yukito!get!involved!in?"!
"None,"!answered!Yue.!"As!long!as!he's!kept!in!check."!
Eriol! shook! his! head.! And! people! said! he! was! eccentric.! Renshu!
however,!nodded.!
"I!respect!your!thinking."!
"Enough!of!archery,"!said!Yue!to!Syaoran.!"Let's!practice!hand!to!hand!
combat!with!your!patners!for!today."!
As!if!Yue!had!given!a!command,!men!clad!in!training!wear!assembled!
around!them.!Renshu!departed,!not!wishing!to!be!coerced!into!a!fight!
with! his! brother.! He! knew! his! limits,! yet! Huangdi! was! wrong! about!
him.!He!would!make!a!far!better!ruler!than!Syaoran.!Once!Huangdi!was!
dead,!that!puppet!of!a!prince!would!be!ineffective!without!his!master.!
177!
Renshu! will! have! his! throne;! one! way! or! another.! Not! even! Lu! Sheng!
could!contest!him!once!his!mind!was!bent!to!a!will.!
!
Since!the!moment!Meilin!decided!to!have!a!tea!party,!she!was!barking!
orders! to! servants! and! Sakura! in! a! frenzy.! Sakura! scrunched! up! her!
face! as! she! tried! to! understand! everything! Meilin! was! saying.! She!
caught! the! general! gist! of! what! she! wanted! people! to! do:! clean! the!
rooms,!get!her!dressed,!brush!her!hair!and!invite!her!guests.!
Chiharu!made!sure!that!Sakura!was!taken!care!of.!Sakura!was!grateful!
she!had!become!friends!with!the!maidservant.!By!now,!she!knew!much!
about!the!girl,!and!the!girl!knew!much!about!her.!Chiharu!was!born!in!
China!but!her!parents!were!Japanese.!In!order!to!help!pay!off!a!family!
debt,! she! was! given! to! the! emperor! as! a! servant.! It! was! unlikely! that!
the!emperor!even!knew!about!the!debt!because!the!appointed!officials!
took!care!of!such!business.!She!talked!a!lot!about!a!young!man!named!
Yamazaki!who!took!care!of!the!horses!and!how!much!he!lied.!She!was!
always!fierce!when!she!mentioned!him,!but!Sakura!could!tell!that!she!
was!fond!of!Yamazaki.!
Meilin,!Sakura!and!HuaDLing!sat!in!the!main!room!and!waited!for!their!
guests! to! arrive.! Sakura! noticed! the! other! two! girls! were! dressed!
rather!impressively.!She!felt!slightly!out!of!place!as!she!wore!a!kimono.!
She!had!not!finished!any!ChineseDstyled!outfits!for!herself!yet,!because!
she! was! so! slow! with! needlework.! HuaDLing! took! out! her! fan! idly.! An!
eunuch! entered! the! room! and! presented! two! women.! They! were! so!
good!looking!and!womanly.!The!brownDhaired!one!was!called!Terada!
Rika! and! the! violetDhaired! girl! was! Hiiragizawa! Tomoyo.! They! joined!
the! three! girls! and! introductions! were! made.! Sakura! poured! them! all!
tea.!
Tomoyo!had!seldom!taken!her!eyes!off!Sakura.!Every!time!she!caught!
her! eye,! she! would! smile! brightly.! Sakura! was! beginning! to! feel! selfD
conscious!that!she!almost!dropped!her!tea!cup.!
"Hoe!"!
Everyone!turned!to!look!at!her.!
"Kawaii!!!"! exclaimed! Tomoyo,! clapping! her! hands! together.! "Sakura!
you!are!so!wonderful.!I!must!draw!you!when!we!meet!again."!
Sakura's!eyes!widened!at!the!compliment.!Tomoyo!grabbed!her!hands.!
"I!would!also!be!honoured!if!you!were!to!wear!my!designs!"!
"What?!"!said!Meilin.!"You!never!offered!to!make!me!clothes!!And!I'm!
the!future!Empress!dammit!"!
18!
"TomoyoDchan!is!so!skilled!at!sewing,"!said!Rika!kindly.! The! main! door! flew! open! and! Yukito! came! bounding! in,! two! guards!
Tomoyo!was!barely!hearing!them.!So!engrossed!was!she!with!Sakura.! behind! him.! Sakura! was! fanning! her! tongue! with! her! hand.! She!
reddened!at!the!sight!of!him.!Yukito!lightened!up!as!he!saw!the!source!
"I! would! also! like! it! if! we! can! be! friends! and! I! can! call! you! SakuraD
of!the!commotion.!
chan!"!
"Are! you! alright?"! he! asked! genuinely! concerned.! "I! was! passing.! I!
Sakura! nodded.! Tomoyo! sighed! happily.! She! spoke! Sakura's! language!
thought!someone!was!being!attacked."!
but!Sakura!was!still!befuddled!by!the!girl's!eccentricity.!
Sakura! reddened! even! more.! She! bowed! her! head! in! shame.! He!
"I!hear!Kaho!was!not!allowed!to!attend,"!said!Meilin.!
crouched!down!next!to!Sakura.!She!refused!to!look!up.!Yukito!smiled.!
"Yes,"!said!Tomoyo.!"I!believe!that!it!is!because!of!the!pregnancy."!
"I!better!be!on!my!way!now."!
"Is!she!well?"!asked!Rika.!
He!rose.!
"She!is!in!perfect!health."!
"Enjoy! your! day! ladies,"! he! said! as! he! walked! out.! He! stopped! at! the!
"Does!that!make!you!happy?"!Meilin!asked,!looking!over!the!rim!of!her! door!and!turned!around.!
cup!at!Tomoyo.!"You're!going!to!have!another!addition!to!your!family.!
"Sakura."!
Perhaps!she!will!make!yet!another!son."!
He!threw!something!into!the!air!and!Sakura!expertly!caught!it.!After!he!
"If!she!does!EriolDsan!will!be!quite!content,"!said!Tomoyo!lightly.!
left,! she! opened! her! palms.! She! unwrapped! the! small! item.! It! was! a!
"I'm! sure! he! will,"! said! Meilin.! Her! voice! had! a! sugary! texture.! "Your! preserved!plum.!
pretty!face!can!only!interest!him!for!so!long!Tomoyo.!Men!only!care!for!
"Hanyaan…"!murmured!Sakura.!
women!who!give!them!sons."!
"TsukishiroDsan!always!has!food!on!him,"!said!Rika.!
"How!could!you!possibly!know,"!said!Tomoyo.!
"Imagine!eating!all!you!want!and!never!getting!fat,"!said!HuaDLing!with!
Meilin!tensed.!
a!sigh!of!jealousy.!
"For!most!men!that!may!be!true,"!said!Rika.!"But!TeradaDsensei!is!just!
Meilin! glared! at! Sakura.! Sakura! wished! she! knew! why! Meilin! did! not!
as! happy! with! our! girl! even! though! we! both! knew! he! was!
like!her.!She!thought!they!could!be!friends!but!Meilin!never!said!a!nice!
disappointed."!
word!towards!her.!She!was!not!use!to!someone!hating!her.!It!made!her!
"Baby! girls! are! worthless,"! said! HuaDLing.! "Just! a! burden! on! the! sad.! She! held! the! plum! close! to! her! chest.! He! made! her! so! happy! yet!
family."! she!knew!so!little!about!him.!
"My!father!never!treated!me!like!I!was!a!burden,"!said!Sakura.! "What!does!Tsukishiro!Yukito!do?"!
She!had!been!quiet!throughout!all!the!conversations.!Rika!and!Tomoyo! "He's!in!charge!of!the!Imperial!Harem,"!said!Tomoyo.!
smiled!at!her!courage!to!speak.!
"Oh,"!said!Sakura.!"He's!very!nice."!
"Is!that!so?"!said!HuaDLing.!She!took!out!her!fan.!"And!yet!you're!here.!
Meilin!rolled!her!eyes.!
He!couldn't!wait!to!get!rid!of!you."!
"About!those!designs!of!yours!Tomoyo..."!
"OtouDsan!did!not!want!to!let!me!go!"!
!
"If!you!truly!believe!that!Sakura,!you!are!more!naïve!than!I!thought."!
Syaoran!went!to!one!of!the!bath!houses!later!that!evening.!He!rest!his!
"Come! HuaDLing,"! said! Tomoyo.! "Be! kind! to! SakuraDchan.! She! has! her!
sword!against!the!wall!and!undid!his!robe.!Eriol!got!him!thinking.!He!
opinion!and!you!have!yours."!
was! mistrustful! by! nature,! but! perhaps! he! should! be! extra! cautious.!
Tomoyo!refilled!Sakura's!cup!sweetly.!Sakura!felt!compelled!to!take!a! The!Forbidden!City!had!proven!to!be!perilous!for!those!who!were!too!
sip!immediately.! easygoing.!Family!did!kill!family!for!power!and!ambition.!Not!even!the!
"HOE!!!"!! Imperial!family!were!immune!to!such!vicious!behaviour.!The!emperor!

19! 20!
his! father,! trusted! him! up! to! a! point,! he! knew.! Whatever! he! believed,!
Syaoran's!only!duty!was!to!serve!him.!He!was!a!great!ruler.!No.!He!is"a!
great!ruler.!
"Great! Imperial! Son,"! said! the! everDpresent! manservant,! Ping.! "Your!
bath!is!prepared."!
Syaoran!said!nothing.!
"Would! you! like! one! of! the! usual! girls?"! asked! Ping.! "Or! would! you!
prefer!your!concubine?"!
Syaoran! had! long! grown! tired! of! the! maidservants.! Their! seductive!
ways!irritated!him!beyond!belief.!How!many!times!must!different!girls!
repeat! the! same! schemes?! Always! their! hands! lingered! too! long! in!
certain!places;!their!breasts!pressed!into!his!back;!their!legs!tried!to!go!
around! his! waist.! Any! man! who! thought! he! had! power! over! the!
servants! who! pleasured! them! were! wrong.! It! was! the! servants! who!
controlled! them.! No! woman! would! ever! make! him! weak.! Yes,! he! was!
tired! of! them.! He! would! take! the! Japanese! girl.! She! did! not! seem! so!
bold.!
"Ni…!hao…ma…?"!
"Yes,!that's!it,"!said!HuaDLing!indifferently.!
Meilin!scoffed!at!Sakura's!weak!attempt!to!speak!Chinese.!The"peasant.!
She!could!not!believe!Wei!brought!a!mongrel!home!for!her"Xiao!Lang.!
No! wonder! her! eyes! were! that! sickening! shade! of! vomit! and! her! hair!
muddier! that! a! commoner's! hut.! She! was! a! mix! of! the! scum! of! the!
earth.!
"Why! are! you! bothering! Ling?"! asked! Meilin! wickedly.! "Wouldn't! you!
prefer!she!be!put!out!for!sheer!ignorance?"!
Sakura's! forehead! crinkled.! Why! did! Meilin! say! such! a! thing?! One! of!
the!most!horrible!things!that!could!happen!to!a!woman!would!be!to!get!
put!out.!Most!women!would!kill!themselves.!There!was!no!opportunity!
or!future!for!them!after!that.!Sakura!wanted!her!father.!She!wanted!to!
see!him!and!hear!his!reassuring!voice.!
There!was!a!knock!on!the!main!door.!Ping!entered!the!room.!Meilin!sat!
up!straight.!He!bowed!to!each!of!the!three!girls!in!turn.!He!stopped!at!
Sakura.!
"The!Great!Imperial!Son!summons!you."!
Meilin's!face!reddened!with!rage.!
"What?!"!
Ping!repeated!himself,!this!time!to!Meilin.!!
21!
"The!Great!Imperial!Son!summons!his!concubine."!
She!glared!at!Ping.!He!was!unperturbed.!
"She's!only!been!here!ten!days!"!
Meilin's! jaw! tightened.! Sakura! went! to! Ping! after! receiving! a! shove!
from! HuaDLing.! He! escorted! her! out! of! the! room! and! they! were! off,!
with! Sakura's! maidservants! behind! them.! To! keep! her! mind! from!
going!numb,!Sakura!studied!Ping's!back.!He!was!a!mature!man!with!a!
slight!limp.!He!had!a!serious!air!about!him!but!he!was!not!threatening.!
Her! heartbeat! grew! faster! as! she! thought! about! what! was! going! to!
happen! to! her.! She! began! to! shake.! Ping! glanced! at! her.! She! smiled!
nervously.!He!shook!his!head,!and!looked!away.!It!was!a!long!walk.!He!
slowed! as! they! reached! the! magnificent! red! pavilions! of! the! bath!
house.!He!gestured!to!her!to!enter.!
"Go!on,"!he!said.!
Sakura!and!her!maidservants!walked!up!the!stone!steps!and!went!into!
the!bath!house.!A!spring!of!glassy!water!lay!in!the!middle!of!the!room.!
Flower! petals! floated! on! it.! The! room! smelled! of! oils! and! fragrances.!
Steam! rose! up! from! the! water.! The! lighting! was! little,! creating! a!
soothing!effect.!She!found!a!familiar!face.!
"Chiharu!"!
"KinomotoDsan…"!
"Please,! call! me! Sakura,"! said! Sakura! as! she! did! so! many! times!
previously.!
Chiharu!smiled.!
"We!have!to!hurry."!
Sakura! was! again! stripped! and! a! towel! was! wrapped! around! her.!
Chiharu! showed! her! all! the! bath! items! that! were! placed! next! to! the!
spring.!
"I!have!to!take!another!bath?"!asked!Sakura.!
Chiharu!looked!slightly!confused!by!her!words.!
"No.!The!Great!Imperial!Son!is!having!his!bath,"!she!said.!"YouD"!
Syaoran! walked! through! the! door! and! a! tension! entered! with! him.!
Everyone! bowed.! He! looked! down! at! Sakura.! She! was! slightly! pink!
from!the!warm!room.!
"Leave!us."!
The! maidservants! scurried! away,! leaving! the! two! together.! Syaoran!
made! his! way! to! the! water! and! undid! his! bathrobe.! Sakura! gulped.! It!
22!
dropped! to! the! floor.! Even! in! the! dim! light! she! saw! how! well! defined!
the! muscles! in! his! back! and! in! his! legs! were.! Silently! he! entered! the!
water! and! his! lower! body! disappeared! from! view.! She! did! not! move.!
Everything! made! sense! to! her! now.! She"was! expected! to! give! him"his!
bath.!Hoe!!
"You,"!called!Syaoran.!"Come."!
Sakura!obeyed.!She!knelt!beside!the!spring.!There!was!a!flowery!scent!
she!did!not!recognize.!Taking!a!wash!cloth!in!her!hands,!she!dipped!it!
into! the! sweetDsmelling! water! and! squeezed! it! over! one! of! Syaoran's!
shoulders,!not!once!looking!at!him.!She!dipped!it!into!the!water!again.!
She!brought!up!her!hands!to!squeeze!the!water!out,!but!he!gripped!her!
wrist!roughly.!As!Syaoran!pulled!on!her!hand,!she!had!no!choice!but!to!
the!rise!to!her!feet!and!enter!the!water!too.!
His! eyes! trailed! a! path! up! her! hand,! to! her! neck,! lips,! nose! and! eyes.!
Unconsciously,!Syaoran!pulled!her!to!him.!Her!skin!was!darker!and!her!
hair!far!shorter!than!what!he!was!use!to!seeing!in!women!in!the!City.!It!
was! refreshing! from! the! scheming,! manipulative! and! so! very!
seductress!image!he!had!of!them.!He!edged!closer!to!her.!Abruptly,!he!
let! go! and! turned! his! back! to! her.! Still! keeping! her! towel! securely!
around!her,!Sakura!kneeled!in!the!water.!
She! remembered! how! her! father! use! to! bathe! her.! She! wrung! the!
washcloth! over! Syaoran's! head! slowly.! Water! trickled! down! his! face,!
neck,! and! back.! Sakura! used! the! cloth! to! rub! Syaoran! 's! shoulder! in!
small!circles.!She!was!fascinated!by!his!body.!It!was!so!taut!and!hard.!
She! ran! the! cloth! over! his! lower! back! and! his! arms.! Her! hands! went!
around! his! back,! as! she! reached! for! his! chest.! She! worked! the! cloth!
over! his! rigid! abdomen.! She! went! lower.! Syaoran! grabbed! her! hand!
and!she!dropped!the!cloth!in!surprise.!Her!cheeks!reddened.!
Ignoring! the! lost! cloth,! she! poured! some! oil! into! her! palm! and!
massaged! it! into! Syaoran's! hair.! She! was! still! embarrassed! from! the!
incident!that!took!place,!and!tried!to!make!him!forget!it!by!washing!his!
hair.! Syaoran! tilted! his! head! back! slightly.! Sakura! continued! to!
massage!his!scalp.!He!had!sunk!deeper!into!the!water!and!came!in!so!
close!that!his!upper!back!was!resting!on!her!bosom.!Something!stirred!
inside!her,!but!she!ignored!the!feeling.!
The!prince!was!very!handsome!she!had!to!admit.!HuaDLing!was!right.!
Still,! she! was! afraid! of! him.! People! who! never! smiled! made! her! feel!
that!way.!Maybe!he!was!angry!or!sad.!Sakura!could!not!imagine!what!
could! make! a! prince! feel! anything! but! contentment.! He! was! rich! and!
could!do!anything!he!wanted.!!
23!
Taking!another!washcloth,!she!squeezed!water!onto!his!head!to!wash!
away! excess! oil.! She! was! finished! but! Syaoran! did! not! move.! She! ran!
her!fingers!lightly!down!his!arm.!His!eyes!flew!open.!He!stood!up!in!the!
water!abruptly.!His!eyes!locked!with!hers.!He!had!beautiful!eyes;!what!
a!warm!shade!of!brown.!Sakura!turned!her!head!as!he!left!the!spring.!
He!retrieved!his!robe.!
Sakura! exited! the! bath! also.! The! water! made! the! towel! heavy.! It!
slipped.! One! hand! grabbed! the! towel! while! the! other! covered! her!
breasts.! She! glanced! up! at! Syaoran.! He! was! watching! her! intently! as!
she!fixed!it.!Was!she!so!shy!or!was!this!all!an!act?!
"Why! do! you! hide! yourself! from! me?"! he! asked.! "If! I! wanted! to! see!
you..."!
He!pulled!her!roughly!by!the!towel.!She!did!not!understand!his!words!
surely,!but!she!understood!his!actions.!No!one!could!fake!the!terror!he!
saw!in!her.!Yes.!This!was!the!point!where!she!learned!her!place;!knew!
that!he!owned!her.!He!could!do!whatever!he!wanted!with!her.!He!ran!a!
hand! up! her! smooth! thigh.! She! gasped.! Syaoran! licked! his! lips.! His!
breathing! deepened.! Reaching! under! her! towel,! he! squeezed! a! butt!
cheek.! She! tipDtoed! arching! into! him.! Syaoran! was! pleased! with! her!
responses.!She!felt!cold!and!hot!all!at!the!same!time.!He!began!to!draw!
her! thigh! up! when! he! stopped.! There! were! tears! in! Sakura's! eyes.! He!
swallowed!hard!and!stepped!back.!
Hurriedly,! Sakura! drew! the! towel! tighter! around! her! and! held! it! in!
place.! Syaoran! had! already! reached! the! door.! Ping! came! in.! Syaoran!
paused! on! his! way! out! and! said! something! to! him! in! Chinese.! The!
maidservants! came! in! to! clean! up! and! dress! Sakura.! When! she! and!
Ping! stood! outside! her! quarters! he! held! her! back! for! a! moment.! He!
spoke!in!broken!Japanese.!
"Great!Imperial!Son!says!you!wash!him!now."!
!
A!few!evenings!later,!Sakura!returned!to!the!bath!house.!This!time!she!
was! earlier! and! even! more! nervous! than! before.! She! stood! with! both!
the! prince's! and! her! maidservants,! waiting! on! him.! Her! legs! shook!
slightly.!She!remembered!how!dwarfed!she!felt!in!his!presence,!when!
he! touched! her.! When! he! came! in,! the! floor! suddenly! became!
interesting!to!her.!Quickly,!the!maidservants!left!and!they!were!alone.!
Sakura! remembered! the! sensation! of! his! hands! on! her! skin! and!
wondered! if! tonight! would! be! the! night! he! took! her! to! his! bed.! Red!
spots! dotted! the! floor.! Sakura! tilted! her! head.! The! prince's! hand! was!
dripping!blood.!She!gasped.!
24!
"You're!bleeding!"!she!exclaimed!as!she!forgot!her!fear.!
She! clutched! his! hand.! He! merely! stared! at! her.! Still! frantic,! she! tore!
open!his!robe!to!reveal!his!chest.!There!was!blood!there!as!well.!
"There's!so!much!blood!"!
Syaoran! watched! their! hands.! Her's! were! bloody! now! as! well.! It! did!
not!look!right.!
"You!do!not!have!to!bathe!me!tonight."!
Syaoran!was!taken!aback!at!how!optional!his!words!sounded.!
"But!you're!hurt,"!said!Sakura.!"I!have!to!take!care!of!you."!
Sakura!ran!to!the!water!with!a!wash!cloth.!She!dipped!in!the!water!and!
returned! to! Syaoran.! She! proceeded! to! wipe! him! clean.! She! was!
confused!when!she!saw!no!wounds.!
"The!blood!is!not!mine."!
"What?"!asked!a!confused!Sakura.!"Then!why!is!it!on!you?"!
"Training,"!he!said.!
Sakura!stepped!back.!
"You!hurt!others?"!
Syaoran!glared!at!her.!
"They!were!weak.!They!fight!harder!when!they!fight!for!their!lives,"!he!
said.!
"Did...!did!you...!kD!kiD"!
Syaoran!grabbed!Sakura!by!the!hair.!
"You!too!think!I'm!only!good!for!killing!men?"!
She! grabbed! his! hand! even! as! he! penetrated! her! with! a! harsh! stare.!
She! shook! at! the! reminder! of! YorimotoDsan.! Tears! spilled! from! her!
eyes.!Sakura!reached!out!to!touch!Syaoran's!cheek.!She!caressed!it.!
"Why!are!men!so!violent?"!she!whispered.!
Syaoran!eyes!widened!slightly.!He!let!her!go.!He!did!not!know!how!to!
deal! with! women! as! well! as! Hiiragizawa! Eriol.! Syaoran! ran! his! finger!
up! her! face! to! wipe! away! the! tears.! Blood! smeared! on! her! cheeks.! It!
was!as!if!he!had!no!control!over!his!body,!and!he!was!obeying!thoughts!
that!had!no!chance!of!developing!yet.!
"I!hurt!you?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Sakura!shook!her!head.!
"Don't!lie!to!please!me.!Most!do!that.!Speak!the!truth."!
"You're!very!scary."!!
25!
Sakura!clamped!her!hands!over!her!mouth.!Syaoran!smirked.!
He!moved!close!to!her.!Their!chests!touched.!
"If!you!are!loyal!to!me,!you!never!have!to!fear!anything."!
Syaoran! lifted! Sakura's! chin.! He! did! not! know! what! this! Japanese! girl!
was! doing! to! him! but! he! liked! it.! He! should! never! have! touched! her.!
From!the!moment!he!held!her!wrist!yesterday,!she!had!been!present!at!
the! back! of! his! mind.! Sure! she! was! beautiful.! He! saw! that! from! the!
beginning.! There! was! more! to! her! though.! He! could! talk! to! her.! Was!
this!the!reason!men!got!concubines?!That!there!was!no!feeling!of!duty!
surrounding!them?!Right!now,!he!felt!not!like!the!Great!Imperial!Son,!
but!just!a!man.!His!shoulders!were!lightened.!He!never!wanted!to!leave!
this!room.!
As!he!and!Sakura!sank!beneath!the!waters!of!the!spring,!he!was!able!to!
clear! his! mind! for! the! first! time! in! a! long! time.! Sakura's! hand! felt! so!
good.! Sensual! even.! The! way! her! fingers! ran! through! his! hair! ever! so!
lightly,! making! him! shiver.! His! flesh! burned! wherever! her! hands!
touched.! Never! had! he! experienced! such! a! thing.! It! was! like! being! in!
the! bosom! of! a! goddess.! It! was! peace.! Their! time! together! passed!
quietly.!Sakura!eased!out!from!behind!Syaoran.!She!carefully!adjusted!
her!towel.!
"You're! hot,"! said! Syaoran,! staring! at! her! red! face.! "Yet! I! wish! to! stay!
here!a!little!longer.!The!water!needs!to!be!cooled..."!
"Shall!I!go!get!someone!to!cool!the!water,!Great!Imperial!Son?"!
It!was!only!after!she!said!it,!that!Sakura!realized!how!foolish!her!words!
were.! How! could! someone! possibly! cool! a! hot! spring?! However,! the!
prince!did!not!show!how!foolish!he!thought!she!was.!
"No!need,"!he!said!seriously.!
With! a! flick! of! his! wrist,! a! piece! of! paper! with! Chinese! calligraphy!
appeared!in!his!hand.!He!laid!it!on!the!water.!What!looked!like!a!piece!
of!ice!covered!in!blue!flames,!lit!up!on!the!paper.!Sakura!jumped!up!in!
surprise.!A!coldness!radiated!from!the!paper.!Syaoran!raised!his!hand!
and! she! took! it.! He! drew! her! again! into! the! water.! She! held! on! to! his!
arm!tightly.!She!splashed!some!water!onto!the!blue!flames!hesistantly.!
When!it!refused!to!be!put!out!she!looked!to!Syaoran.!
"Magic?"!
He!nodded.!
"I've! never! seen! it! before,"! said! Sakura.! "Only! heard! stories.! It's!
beautiful."!
26!
"Beautiful! things! have! a! way! of! being! destructful,"! Syaoran! said.! "It!
causes!more!problems!than!it!solves."!
"But!you!can!do!so!much!with!it.!You!canD"!
"Maybe!it's!time!you!return!to!your!quarters,"!said!Syaoran!with!a!tone!
of!finality.!"I!will!see!you!tomorrow!evening."!
Sakura!thought!she!had!upset!the!prince,!but!she!saw!the!tired!look!in!
his! face.! Tiredness! she! only! saw! in! far! older! men! who! had! lived! a!
lifetime.!She!felt!pity!for!him.!She!traced!the!edge!of!his!jaw!with!her!
finger.!He!was!almost!unaware!of!her.!It!pained!her!to!see!anyone!so!
sad.!Her!arms!went!around!his!neck!and!she,!a!mere!Japanese!outsider,!
hugged! the! Great! Imperial! Son! of! China.! His! hands! came! around! her.!
His! embrace! was! tight;! painful! even.! Sakura! gasped! for! air! but! never!
let!go.!She!could!not!because!he!would!not!let!her.!
27!
Chapter 3
A"man's"discontent"is"his"worst"evil.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
"Don't!move,!SakuraDchan!"!
"But!ID"!
"I'm!almost!finished!"!
Sakura! sighed.! She! had! been! posing! for! ages,! so! that! Tomoyo! could!
paint! her! portrait.! She! was! not! use! to! staying! in! one! position! for! so!
long.! Her! legs! were! cramping! and! she! felt! itchy! all! over.! Tomoyo!
claimed!that!it!was!all!in!her!head.!She!sighed!again.!She!just!could!not!
say!no!to!Tomoyo.!It!was!the!way!she!was!always!so!enthusiastic!about!
things.!Tomoyo!even!brought!over!an!array!of!luxurious!cloths!to!see!
which! ones! were! best! suited! for! her.! She! was! already! planning! the!
various! Chinese! styled! clothes! she! would! make! for! her! as! well.!
Tomoyo!was!so!unselfish!and!kind!that!to!say!no!would!make!Sakura!
feel!completely!awful.!
"KAWAII!"!
Tomoyo!put!down!her!paintbrush.!Her!dark!eyes!sparkled.!
"SakuraDchan,!you!are!so!beautiful."!
"Not! as! beautiful! as! you! TomoyoDchan,"! said! Sakura,! as! she! stared! at!
the! girl's! milkyDwhite! faced,! framed! at! the! forehead! by! shining! violet!
hair.!Her!looks!were!the!perfect!meaning!of!nobility.!
"Nonsense,"! said! Tomoyo.! She! grabbed! Sakura's! hands.! "You! have! no!
idea!how!stunningly!beautiful!you!are."!
"My!brother!always!called!me!names..."!
"Brothers!do!that,"!said!Tomoyo.!"They!are!so!contrary."!
"Do!you!have!brothers?"!
"No,!my!father!died!a!few!years!after!I!was!born."!
"Oh!I'm!sorry,"!said!Sakura.!"My!mother!died!too!when!I!was!young."!
Tomoyo! smiled.! They! were! so! alike.! She! sat! Sakura! down! in! front! of!
the! painting! she! created.! Sakura! gasped.! The! portrait! looked! just! like!
her.! No.! It! looked! better! than! her.! Sakura's! eyes! appeared! to! have! a!
depth!in!the!painting.!She!felt!herself!tilting!forward!as!the!eyes!drew!
her!in.!Sakura!was!not!aware!of!how!much!she!changed!since!she!came!
to!the!Forbidden!City.!If!she!did!not!know!that!the!wellDdressed,!poised!
young! lady! staring! back! at! her! from! the! paper! was! her,! she! may! not!
have! believed! it.! Sakura! never! thought! that! Tomoyo! would! be! so!
28!
talented.!She!painted!light!and!air!!How!she!did!it,!Sakura!had!no!idea.!
"Tomoyo,!do!you!have!magic?"!she!asked!in!awe.!
Tomoyo!laughed.!
"Oh!no,!only!those!of!direct!royal!blood!do...!and!a!few!exceptions."!
"Like! who?"! asked! Sakura.! "Well...! I! know! the! Great! Imperial! Son! has!
magic."!
Tomoyo!nodded.!
"So! too! does! YueDsan,! YukitoDsan,! my! husband! Eriol! D! being! royal!
himself,! my! sisterDwife! Kaho,! and! of! course! Huangdi! and! YelanDsama.!
She!is!the!Empress.!Her!powers!are!great,!I!am!told."!
Tomoyo!lay!her!precious!painting!aside!to!dry.!She!took!one!last!look!
at!it.!She!frowned.!
"SakuraDchan,!why!are!you!so!sad?"!
"What!do!you!mean?"!
"I!only!draw!what!I!see.!You!are!sad!here."!
Sakura!bowed!her!head.!
"Is!Meilin!being!difficult?"!
"She!doesn't!like!me."!
"You!are!not!the!first!woman!to!be!hated!by!her!husband's!First!Wife."!
"Are!you!hated!by!Eriol's!First!Wife?"!
"Kaho!is!a!kind!person.!Then!again,!she!has!nothing!to!fear!from!me,"!
said!Tomoyo.!"For!she!has!magic!and!I!do!not.!Eriol's!children!from!her!
are!sure!to!be!rich!in!magic!as!well.!She!keeps!his!bloodline!strong."!
"Meilin!has!nothing!to!fear!from!me!either,"!said!Sakura!quietly.!
"You! must! understand! how! things! work! SakuraDchan,"! explained!
Tomoyo.!"Your!mother!died!early,!so!she!could!never!have!told!you."!
"Tell!me!what?"!
"The!First!Wife!is!a!strong!power!in!the!household.!She!rules!over!the!
consorts,!mistresses!and!concubines.!As!a!concubine!you!are!expected!
to! serve! her! and! pleasure! the! husband! and! bear! his! children,"! said!
Tomoyo! softly.! "They! will! never! really! be! considered! his! children!
though."!
"That!still!does!not!explain!why!she!hates!me."!
"What! I! just! told! you! is! the! normal! way! of! things,"! said! Tomoyo.!
"Sometimes,! who! holds! the! power! in! the! household! depends! on! who!
the!husband!favours.!As!years!pass!the!First!Wife!will!become!old.!The!
29!
concubines!and!mistresses!will!get!younger,!and!she!will!be!as!a!ghost!
in! her! home.! Men! do! not! like! old! women.! Meilin! already! feels!
unwanted!as!she!tastes!the!pang!of!being!the!coveted!position!of!First!
Wife."!
Sakura!shook!her!head!sadly.!
"The!most!she!could!do!now,"!continued!Tomoyo.!"Is!to!have!his!First!
Son."!
She!smiled!at!Sakura.!
"I!do!believe!Meilin!is!not!the!worst!First!Wife!that!ever!lived."!
"I!wish!I!were!a!wife,"!said!Sakura!longingly,!as!she!thought!of!Yukito.!
"Don't! SakuraDchan!"! said! Tomoyo! sharply.! "You! are! a! concubine.! I!
care!for!you!as!a!best!friend,!but!you!will!always"be!a!concubine.!Since!I!
have!lived!in!the!Forbidden!City,!I!have!seen!what!happens!to!women!
who!dream!of!more."!
She!hugged!Sakura!tightly.!
"I!don't!know!what!I!would!do!if!anything!happened!to!sweet!SakuraD
chan."!
"I!know!I!may!get!put!out."!
Tomoyo!watched!Sakura!as!though!she!did!not!recognize!her.!
"Leave!us,!please."!
Their! maidservants! exited! the! room! quickly.! They! knew! all! too! well!
when!they!must!go!deaf.!For!their!mistresses!sakes,!they!were!all!too!
happy!to!do!so.!
"Who!is!he?"!asked!Tomoyo.!
"Hoe?"!
"The! man! who! has! caught! your! attention,"! said! Tomoyo.! "Please! tell!
me!SakuraDchan."!
Sakura! put! her! hand! into! her! obi! and! pulled! something! out.! She!
opened! her! palm.! The! preserved! plum! Yukito! had! given! to! her! lay!
there,!wrapped!in!a!piece!of!paper.!Tomoyo!closed!Sakura's!palm.!
"He!is!one!of!the!Great!Imperial!Son's!few"trusted"friends.!Do!not!make!
this!mistake."!
"But!he's!so!nice!"!
"You! must! forget! him,"! Tomoyo! pressed! on! earnestly.! "Promise! me!
you'll!try."!
"I!can't,"!said!Sakura.!"You!cannot!deny!what's!in!your!heart,!TomoyoD
chan."!
30!
"You!belong!to!the!future!Emperor!of!China.!You!must!be!loyal!to!him,!
no!matter!what.!However!terrible!he!seems!now,!he!can!be!worst."!
Sakura! grew! weak.! Tomoyo! stroked! her! hair! as! Sakura! rest! her! head!
lightly!in!her!lap.!
"I!know,"!said!Sakura.!"I!will!be!loyal!to!him;!but!I!will!never!stop!liking!
YukitoDsan.!My!heart!was!his!from!the!moment!I!saw!him."!
A! chill! ran! through! Tomoyo's! body.! She! understood! Sakura's! feelings!
well.! She! found! happiness! when! she! met! her.! She! would! protect!
Sakura;! her! infatuation! with! Yukito! had! to! end.! If! Sakura's! feelings!
were!known,!both!of!them!would!be!in!danger.!
! "A!witch?"!
Syaoran!dodged,!blocked!then!kicked!his!opponent!hard,!sending!him!
flying! through! the! air.! He! spun! around! to! take! on! the! next! opponent,!
only!to!find!that!all!fifteen!of!them!were!still!struggling!to!get!up.!Wei!
applauded.! Syaoran! acknowledged! him.! Wei! of! course! trained! him! to!
fight! when! he! was! very! young,! and! he! was! very! proud! of! how! great!
Syaoran!had!become.!Indeed!he!was!great;!but!cold.!The!emperor!had!
conditioned!him!for!one!thing!only!D!to!kill.!From!birth,!Syaoran's!life!
was! entrenched! in! blood.! Deep! inside! that! callous! façade,! Wei! knew!
there! was! good! heart,! but! he! feared! that! the! leader! that! might! have!
been!would!never!be.!A!good!emperor!must!care!for!his!subjects!and!
not!lose!the!Mandate!of!Heaven.!Huangdi!created!a!vicious!warlord!for!
his!own!benefit!because!he!was!a!paranoid!man.!He!made!Syaoran!his!
ultimate!warrior!and!if!need!be,!avenger.!
He!watched!Syaoran's!fluid!movements!as!he!trained!with!his!jian.!He!
was!controlled!and!deadly.!Now!Huangdi!was!reaping!what!he!sowed.!
The!same!force!of!nature!he!had!carefully!designed,!now!tormented!his!
mind.!Syaoran!was!the!root!of!his!pride!but!he!feared!him.!He!feared!
him! because! he! asked! for! nothing,! he! took! nothing,! and! whatever!
thoughts! were! in! his! mind! were! never! voiced.! Wei! thanked! the! gods!
that!for!now,!Huangdi's!twisted!love!of!his!son!outweighed!his!fear.!
A! smile! appeared! on! Wei's! face! as! Syaoran! sheathed! his! jian.! The!
courtyard! was! quiet! as! they! walked! together.! Only! an! occasional!
rebellious!breeze!blew.!
"You've!taken!a!liking!to!Sakura,!I!see,"!said!Wei.!
"Who?"!
"Your!concubine,"!said!Wei.!
"Why!do!you!say!that?"!
"You!haven't!discarded!of!her,"!said!Wei.!!
31!
"She!is!satisfactory,"!said!Syaoran!shortly.!He!paused.!
"Something!troubles!you?"!
Syaoran!shook!his!head.!They!strolled!for!some!time!in!the!courtyard.!
Wei!did!not!speak,!so!that!he!would!not!interrupt!Syaoran's!quiet.!
"Why!did!you!bring!me!a!concubine?"!
It!was!a!simple,!honest!question.!
"I!saw!her!and!I!thought!of!you."!
"She!must!be!a!witch."!
Wei!chuckled.!
"Yes,"! said! Syaoran! seriously.! "When! she! touches! me,! I! feel! different.!
My!skin!tingles.!I!want!to!escape!the!feeling!but!I!cannot!move."!
He!shook!his!head.!
"What!hour!is!it?"!
"It! will! soon! be! time! for! the! meeting! with! Huangdi,"! said! Wei.! "Lu!
Sheng!will!be!discussed."!
"You!believe!he!has!returned?"!
"I!always!knew!he!would,"!said!Wei.!"His!return!was!only!a!matter!of!
time."!
"They!will!also!say!that!of!his!death."!
"Times!are!more!dangerous!than!ever,"!said!Wei.!"You!can!feel!it!in!the!
atmosphere."!
"You! do! not! need! to! warn! me! Wei,"! said! Syaoran.! "I! can! take! care! of!
myself."!
"Your!family!is!full!of!ambitious!men."!
"We! are! still! strong! from! within,"! Syaoran! said.! "As! long! as! I! draw!
breath,!Wei,!this!empire!will!not!crumble.!
!
Yukito!slipped!through!the!high!court!doors!just!as!the!last!official!took!
his!seat.!Yue,!hands!folded!as!usual!could!not!help!but!look!annoyed!as!
Yukito!sat!next!to!him.!Yukito!was!by!far,!the!most!easygoing!member!
of! the! imperial! court.! A! man's! disposition! was! of! no! concern! to!
Syaoran! though.! How! well! he! followed! orders! was! more! important.!
These! days! he! had! been! feeling! some! tension! on! Yue's! part.! What!
could! Yukito! possibly! have! done?! He! was! the! only! one! who! could!
provoke!such!emotion!from!Yue.!Wei!called!the!meeting!to!order.!
32!
"The! first! matter! to! be! discussed! is! that! of! the! traitor! and! outcast! Lu!
Sheng."!
"We! should! send! out! assassins! to! retrieve! his! head,"! said! one! of! the!
older!members,!stroking!his!beard.!
"Lu! Sheng! is! no! fool,"! said! Eriol.! "Unless! he! reveals! himself,! we! shall!
not!find!him."!
"Then!what!do!you!expect!us!to!do!Eriol,"!said!the!man!opposite!him.!
"Wait!for!him!to!launch!another!attack!on!Huangdi?"!
"We!must!wait!for!him!to!make!a!mistakeD"!
"You!just!said!Sheng!is!no!fool."!
The!officials!sniggered.!
"Men!who!plot!have!clouded!judgements,"!said!Eriol!shortly.!"Renshu."!
Renshu!glared!at!Eriol.!
"We! should! search! the! villages! then,! for! his! followers,"! said! another!
noble,!Quan.!
"A!search!for!one!man,!will!lead!to!a!slaughter!of!many!innocents,"!said!
Yukito!softly.!
"You!have!a!woman's!heart,!Tsukishiro."!
"A!woman's!heart!is!better!than!one!of!an!old!coward,"!stated!Yue.!
Quan! quieted! immediately.! Yue! always! looked! ready! to! kill.! Quan!
should!have!known!better!than!to!insult!his!brother.!Out!of!the!mist!of!
Yue's!anger,!many!arguments!broke!out.!All!had!their!own!opinions!on!
how!to!deal!with!Lu!Sheng.!Syaoran!did!not!bother!to!listen!to!any!of!
them.!Huangdi!had!the!last!say!and!it!was!beyond!contestation.!
His!musings!instead!strayed!to!the!tension!in!his!shoulders.!She"would!
be!able!to!relieve!it!for!him.!Her!hands!were!soft!but!firm.!He!had!quite!
begun!to!look!forward!to!his!baths.!Syaoran!put!a!hand!to!his!temple.!
Why! was! she! taking! over! his! mind! so?! She! was! just! a! girl.! Her! green!
eyes!were!vivid!in!his!mind.!He!rarely!looked!at!her!but!her!eyes!were!
unforgettable.!It!did!not!help!that!he!had!a!penchant!for!green.!
"Are!we!boring!you,!Great"Imperial"Son?"!asked!Renshu.!
"Yes,"! said! Syaoran.! He! was! irritated! that! his! train! of! thought! was!
interrupted.!
Silence.! Renshu! was! taken! aback! by! the! brutal! honesty.! Huangdi!
regarded!Syaoran!intently.!
"Then!I!suppose!you!have!a!brilliant!idea!to!share,!brother."!
"We!have!the!greatest!armies!in!all!of!Asia.!When!Lu!Sheng!strikes,!our!
33!
forces!will!crush!him."!
The!other!nobles!nodded!approvingly!at!Syaoran's!words.!
"I!only!implore!all!of!you!that!we!not!underestimate!Lu!Sheng,"!stated!
Eriol.!
"The!Forbidden!City!is!impenetrable,"!said!Huangdi.!
"Since! he! was! banished,"! said! Eriol.! "He! has! recruited! two! powerful!
allies.! Lu! Sheng! does! not! make! friends! idly.! If! they! are! as! daring! as!
himD"!
"We! in! the! City! combined,! have! more! than! a! thousand! times! the!
amount!of!power!they!do,"!said!Renshu.!
"But! our! morals! keep! us! from! the! lengths! they! will! go! to! in! order! to!
become!allDpowerful,"!said!Eriol!firmly.!"There!is!no!stopping!with!Lu!
Sheng.!Like!a!boulder!pushed!from!the!mountain's!peak,!he!will!keep!
on!coming."!
!
Syaoran!thought!the!meeting!will!never!end.!They!spent!hours!talking!
to! feel! important,! but! in! the! end! all! their! matters! were! settled! by! his!
sword!and!the!swords!of!the!army.!Renshu!sought!every!opportunity!
to! make! Syaoran! look! incapable! of! ruling.! He! was! the! first! son! of!
Huangdi,!so!he!thought!he!had!a!right!to!rule.!He!did;!but!Syaoran!was!
the! son! of! the! Empress! and! naturally! the! first! choice! to! be! the! next!
emperor.!It!was!a!hard!fact!for!Renshu!to!accept.!
Sakura! awaited! him! in! the! bath! house.! He! waded! into! the! water! and!
she!followed.!He!waited!for!the!familiar!flow!of!water!down!his!face.!As!
it! came! he! closed! his! eyes! and! tilted! his! head! back.! The! damp!
washcloth!passed!down!his!neck.!His!tight!shoulders!loosened.!A!thrill!
ran! through! him! everywhere! Sakura's! hand! passed.! The! hairs! on! his!
arm!rose.!Suddenly,!he!felt!a!weight!on!his!back.!Syaoran!looked!over!
his!shoulder.!It!was!Sakura's!head.!He!turned!slowly.!She!fell!onto!his!
chest.!She!breathed!softly!as!she!slept.!
It!was!very!late;!later!than!he!usually!sent!for!her.!He!touched!her!hair.!
It! was! slightly! damp,! but! so! soft.! He! pushed! her! bangs! aside! and!
studied! her.! Her! hair! was! short.! Only! common! girls! cut! their! hair.!
Commoner!she!may!be,!but!he!found!he!liked!looking!at!her.!Syaoran!
did!not!know!how!long!he!stayed!like!that,!with!Sakura.!He!only!paid!
attention!to!time!when!she!started!shivering.!
He!picked!her!up.!He!was!slightly!amused!that!she!wore!a!towel!every!
time!she!was!with!him.!A!small!puddle!formed!around!him!as!he!stood!
with!her!in!his!arms.!Ping!opened!the!door.!
34!
"I!want!her!dressed,"!said!Syaoran.!
After! Chiharu! and! the! other! maidservants! did! their! best! to! dress!
Sakura! in! her! current! state,! Syaoran! took! her! back! into! his! arms.! He!
would!never!know!what!prompted!him!to!take!Sakura!to!his!bed!that!
night.!All!he!knew!was!that!he!could!not!let!her!out!of!his!sight.!Maybe!
he!was!right.!She!was!a!witch;!and!she!had!cast!some!spell!on!him.!He!
did! not! want! the! charm! to! end! right! now! D! not! that! night.! He! was!
breaking!the!rules,!he!knew.!Concubines!were!not!supposed!to!stay!in!
a! man's! bed! overnight.! He! did! not! care.! Besides,! it! was! already!
morning,!though!the!moon!was!still!bright!in!the!dark!sky.!
Sakura!snuggled!between!his!covers.!He!sat!on!the!bed.!He!stared!into!
the!darkness;!his!hands!gripping!his!sword.!His!demons!were!rising!to!
the!surface.!He!tried!to!block!out!the!screams,!the!fires!and!the!blood!
that!stained!his!hands.!No!one!but!him!saw!it.!He!insisted!on!bathing!as!
often!as!possible,!but!he!could!not!get!rid!of!the!rancid!stench.!He!did!
not! regret! the! blood! he! spilled.! He! only! defended! his! emperor's!
empire.! He! lay! on! his! back! next! to! Sakura.! She! did! for! him! what!
calligraphy!could!not.!She!made!him!forget!things.!
"OniiDchan…!I'm!not!a!kaijuu…"!
Her! brother?! His! chest! tightened.! Why! did! it! not! please! him! that! she!
had! another! man! on! her! mind,! even! if! it! was! just! her! brother?! She!
should! have! no! one! on! her! mind! but! him.! Meilin! and! HuaDLing,!
however!he!felt!about!them,!knew!who!they!belonged!to.!The!smile!on!
her! face! did! something! to! him.! It! was! a! small! offence,! he! thought.! He!
forgave! her! already.! How! was! it! possible,! a! sleeping! girl! could! raise!
such!emotions!within!him?!
"Witch."!
He!touched!the!tip!of!Sakura's!nose.!
"Do!you!know...!Sakura...!that!I've!never!slept!with!a!woman!in!my!bed!
before?"!he!said!absentDmindedly.!
Without!warning,!Sakura!turned!and!her!hand!hit!Syaoran!in!the!face.!
He! blinked.! Did! he! just! got! caught! off! guard?! Impossible.! Eriol! would!
never! stop! laughing! if! he! saw! that.! As! he! thought! of! Eriol,! he!
remembered!he!had!been!given!a!gift!by!him!when!he!got!married.!A!
book,!with!many!positions!for!a!man!to!try!with!his!women.!Why!did!
this! come! to! his! mind! now?! He! ran! his! hand! down! the! middle! of!
Sakura's! body.! Deep! inside,! he! supposed,! he! did! want! a! son.! He!
thought!about!all!the!children!who!died!in!the!wars!he!fought!in.!It!was!
punishment! perhaps,! that! none! of! his! wives! bore! sons.! This! girl! who!
lay! beside! him! though,! was! so! pure.! Surely! her! innocence! could! null!
35!
anything!evil!he!performed.!
Yes.! That! was! possible.! Sakura! was! his.! For! the! first! time! he! felt! as!
though! he! had! something! that! belonged! to! him,! by! choice.! No! one!
forced! her! upon! him.! He! chose! to! keep! her.! He! owned! every! part! of!
her.!He!made!a!decision.!He!would!keep!her!pure!and!hold!her!close!to!
him.!She!knew!nothing!about!him.!This!was!a!chance!to!see!if!he!could!
be!a!different!person;!to!know!there!was!more!to!him!that!the!amount!
of!blood!on!his!hands.!Many!princes!were!scholars!and!artists.!Yet,!he!
was!the!warrior.!He!enjoyed!it;!he!embraced!it.!That!was!was!not!right.!
"You!are!mine,"!he!told!the!sleeping!Sakura!as!he!closed!his!eyes.!
!
The! empress! Li! Yelan! strolled! along! the! bright! yellow! and! gold!
hallways!peacefully.!Her!maidservants! followed!her.!They!were!all!so!
intuned! with! each! other! that! it! was! reminiscent! of! a! wedding!
procession.! Their! steps! were! soft,! and! if! not! for! one's! sight,! one! may!
not!believe!that!a!group!as!large!as!this!was!up!and!about.!Yelan's!long,!
ravenDcoloured! hair! hung! down! her! back! perfectly.! She! was! a! tall!
woman,! full! of! natural! beauty! and! a! powerful! aura.! So,! it! was! not! a!
surprise! that! when! Yukito! and! Ping! walked! into! the! empress'! path,!
they!froze!in!astonishment.!
"YelanDsan,"!said!Yukito.!Ping!murmmered,!"Empress!Li."!
"YukitoDsan."!
"Are!you!in!good!health,!empress?"!
"I!am."!
Yukito!smiled.!He!started!to!walk!away,!with!Ping!behind!him.!
"YukitoDsan."!
He! turned! to! face! her.! Yelan's! eyes! dropped! from! his! own.! Her!
countenance!became!serious.!
"How!is!my!son?"!
"He!is!doing!well,!empress."!
"I!heard!he!now!has!a!concubine,"!said!Yelan!with!distaste.!
What! was! Wei! thinking?! She! was! the! only! one! who! knew! what! was!
best!for!Syaoran.!He!could!have!at!least!let!her!review!the!girl!before!
presenting!her!to!Syaoran.!Who!knows!if!she!really!was!a!virgin?!What!
about! the! commoners'! diseases?! Yelan! breathed.! She! was! being!
paranoid.!Those!tests!were!just!formalities.!No!simple!girl!would!dare!
lie!to!the!royal!family.!
"Yes,!a!very!beautiful!one,"!answered!Yukito.!
36!
"Beautiful?"!Yelan!paused.!"Melin!told!me!she!was!absolutely!horrid!"! long!braid!down!his!back.!A!pair!of!broad!swords!crossed!his!back.!He!
Yelan!sighed.! was!known!as!the!Silent!Killer.!
"But!that!is!to!be!expected!from!Meilin."! "Aaah!,"! sighed! Enlai.! "Lu! Sheng.! We've! been! in! solitude! for! ages.! I!
haven't!had!a!woman!in!ages."!
Yukito's!smile!never!left!his!face.!
Lu!Sheng!smirked.!
"Sakura!is!wonderful.!LiDsan!seems!to!like!her."!
"Be!wary!of!your!appetite!Enlai.!You!should!not!overindulge."!
Yelan!lost!a!little!bit!of!her!detached!facade.!
"Let's!just!surprise!Huangdi!and!get!it!over!with,"!Enlai!said!loudly.!"I'll!
"Is!that!so...?"!
be!in!and!out!of!the!Forbidden!City!in!minutes."!
"Excuse! me,! empress,"! said! Yukito! softly.! "But! it! may! not! be! best! to!
"After! all! our! training,! you're! still! impetuous,"! remarked! Lu! Sheng.!
stroll!at!such!an!hour!as!this.!Huangdi!will!not!approve."!
"Besides,! if! I! wanted! to! slit! Huangdi's! throat! in! his! sleep,! you! won't!
"Your!Huangdi!is!very!occupied!at!the!moment,"!Yelan!said.!"He!has!no! even!be!my!last!resort."!
time!to!voice!his!displeasure.!Four!concubines!a!night!can!do!that!to!a!
"What?!"!
man;!even!one!as!great!as!Huangdi."!
"They! would! here! your! loud! mouth! boasting! from! a! thousand! miles!
Yukito!lost!his!carefree!expression.!It!was!unlike!the!empress!to!speak!
away.!You!won't!make!it!past!the!gates."!
as!such.!
Enlai! gritted! his! teeth.! Lu! Sheng's! face! bore! utmost! pleasantry! as! he!
"Is!there!anything!I!can!do!to!please!the!empress?"!
insulted!him.!If!madness!did!not!rage!within!his!eyes,!one!might!think!
"I!want!to!meet!my!son's!concubine,"!said!Yelan!firmly.!"I!must!know! that!he!had!a!gentle!soul.!Yet,!he!was!not!afraid!of!Lu!Sheng,!as!terrible!
her."! as! he! may! be.! He,! Lu! Sheng! and! the! Silent! Killer! D! whom! he! called!
"I! will! send! your! request! to! the! Great! Imperial! Son,! personally,"! said! Harmless!for!fun!D!had!a!mutual!understanding!and!even!a!weird!kind!
Yukito.! of!comradeship.!Lu!Sheng!knew!how!to!choose!his!friends!well.!Enlai!
Yelan's!jaw!tightened!slightly.!She!was!the!most!powerful!lady!in!China! and! Harmless! were! coldDblooded! killers! but! they! had! honour.! They!
and! she! must! wait! on! her! son's! permission! to! see! his! concubine.! would! never! be! betray! Lu! Sheng.! He! hoped! Huangdi! had! already!
Always! she! must! ask! for! permission;! from! her! father,! from! her! prepared!himself!to!die.!Lu!Sheng's!eyes!glowed.!He!would!do!anything!
husband!and!now!from!her!son.!So!too!must!all!women!in!China!wait! to!get!to!the!Imperial!Throne.!
for!permission.!She!will!obey.!Huangdi!was!spiteful.!He!would!murder! !
his! own! daughters! if! their! deaths! would! cause! her! pain! for! her!
defiance.!She!returned!to!her!quarters!without!a!word.!
!
Three! of! the! most! dangerous! men! in! China! sat! around! a! blazing! fire.!
Thier!eyes!were!watching!the!dancing!flames;!each!contemplating!his!
own!path!that!he!was!getting!ready!to!walk!down.!In!fact,!they!all!had!
the! same! path,! but! different! goals.! One! of! the! men! had! long! locks! of!
dark!hair!hanging!in!front!of!his!face,!obscuring!it!partially.!His!hands!
glowed,! and! as! he! lazily! twiddled! his! fingers,! the! fire! moved.! Lu!
Sheng's!eyes!flashed.!A!light,!chilly!breeze!blew!his!hair!away!from!his!
face,! revealing! a! red! scar! on! his! right! cheek.! It! was! an! almost!
indistinguishable!chinese!symbol.!Enlai,!the!man!on!his!right!was!wellD
built!and!had!brown,!spiky!hair.!He!held!an!unusually!large!Guandao!in!
his!hand.!The!man!on!the!left!of!Lu!Sheng!had!short,!violet!hair!with!a!

37! 38!
Chapter 4
You"can't"catch"a"cub"without"going"into"the"tiger's"den.!
~"Chinese"Proverb!
Sakura!sighed!slowly.!Eyes!still!closed!from!recent!sleep,!she!yawned!
and! turned.! Something! was! constricting! her! movements.! It! was! an!
arm.!Sakura!gulped!and!looked!into!the!eyes!of!the!Great!Imperial!Son.!
She! flung! herself! away! from! him.! She! grabbed! at! her! clothes,! making!
sure! they! were! there.! He! sat! up! quietly! without! taking! his! eyes! away!
from! her.! Sakura's! chest! rose! up! and! down! visibly! from! shock.! How!
had!she!gotten!into!his!bed?!
"You!were!restless,"!said!the!prince.!"So,!I!had!to!restrain!you.!It's!not!
wise!to!disturb!me!while!I'm!sleeping."!
Sakura! squinted! her! eyes! as! he! spoke.! Her! chinese! was! coming! along!
fine!but!her!mind!was!very!fuzzy!right!now.!Her!kimono!slid!down!her!
shoulders.!It!was!hastily!put!on!her,!so!it!was!not!as!secure!as!it!should!
have!been.!Syaoran!laid!his!palm!on!her!bare!neck.!Slowly,!he!drew!it!
across!her!shoulder.!Sakura!stiffened.!
"Do!not!be!afraid,"!said!Syaoran.!"Nothing!you!do!with!me!is!wrong."!
Sakura! nodded.! Syaoran! reclined! on! the! bed,! eyes! ever! fixed! on!
Sakura's! form.! She! slipped! even! more! out! of! her! kimono.! This! time,!
purposefully.!She!knew!the!time!had!come.!
"What!are!you!doing?"!asked!Syaoran,!raising!up!a!little.!
"I!thought...!you!wanted..."!
"If!I!wanted!to!have!sex,!I!would!have!had!you!last!night,"!said!Syaoran.!
"This! is! why! women! should! not! think.! You! always! reach! absurd!
conclusions."!
Righting!her!kimono,!Sakura!bowed!her!head!in!shame.!She!hated!that!
she! felt! hurt! by! his! rejection.! When! Ping! came! to! take! Sakura! away,!
Syaoran!was!still!deep!in!his!musings.!He!broke!out!of!his!reverie!when!
Sakura!left!the!bed.!
"I!gave!you!no!permission!to!leave."!
Sakura!opened!her!mouth!to!apologize!but!Syaoran!cut!her!off.!
"Your!name,"!said!Syaoran.!"In!Japanese!it!means…"!
"Cherry!Blossom!"!
Sakura! clapped! a! hand! over! her! mouth! in! embarrassment.! Syaoran!
was! not! use! to! being! interrupted.! He! took! no! offence! however.! He!
knew!Ping!would!be!gossiping!with!the!other!servants!about!that!later,!
39!
regardless!of!the!consequences.!
"Cherry!Blossoms…"!
"They!are!my!favourite!flower,"!said!Sakura.!
She!blushed.!
Syaoran! was! amazed.! The! girl! could! not! hold! her! tongue.! If! it! were!
anyone! else! the! unnecessary! talk! would! irritate! him.! Her! sincerity!
however!only!made!him!like!her!more.!
She!opened!her!mouth,!then!clamped!it!shut.!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"I!was!just!wondering…!what's!your!favourite!flower?"!
Syaoran!watched!her.!She!was!asking!him!about!flowers?!He!rose!from!
his!bed!and!went!to!his!desk!and!began!working.!Ping!made!to!hustle!
Sakura! out! of! the! room! as! Syaoran! silently! dismissed! her.! When! they!
were!at!the!door!Syaoran!spoke!in!a!low!voice.!
"Peony."!
!
"Where! the! hell! have! you! been?!"! shouted! Meilin! as! Sakura! walked!
into!their!quarters.!Sakura!smiled.!
"I!was!with!D"!
SMACK!!
Sakura! was! stunned.! It! took! a! while!for!her!to!feel!the!sting!from! the!
slap.!Her!lips!trembled.!
"I!am!the!future!Empress!of!China,"!said!Meilin.!"I!will!not!be!made!a!
fool!in!my!own!empire!"!
"Why!don't!you!like!me!MeilinDsan?"!asked!Sakura!weakly.!She!looked!
to!HuaDLing!for!assistance,!but!HuaDLing!just!sat!fanning!herself.!
"You!don't!belong!here,"!said!Meilin!as!she!paced.!
Sakura!sniffed.!
"If!I!could!go!home,!I!would."!
"What!did!you!do?,"!asked!Meilin.!"What!did!you!say?"!
"WDWhat?"!
"To! make! him"favour! you!!"! screeched! Meilin.! "I'm! prettier! than! you!!
I'm!richer!than!you!!I'm!more!cultured!than!you!!!I'm!Chinese!for!god's!
sake!!And!yet!you"spend!the!night!with!him?!I!am!the!First!Wife!!That!
is!my!privilege!"!
"It! was! not! on! purpose.! I! fell! asleep! while! bathing! him…! I! think…"!
40!
explained!Sakura!timidly.!
Meilin! pursed! her! lips.! She! pushed! Sakura! into! the! wall.! There! was! a!
collective!cringe!from!the!maidservants.!
"How!many!times?"!
"What?"!
"How!many!times!have!you!had!sex!with!him?!"!yelled!Meilin.!
"Never!"!said!Sakura.!
"You!expect!me!to!believe!he!calls!for!you!simply!to!give!him!baths?"!
spat!Meilin.!"Ugly,!untalented,!Japanese!whore"like!you?"!
Sakura!was!lost!for!words.!She!could!only!cry.!She!ran!to!her!room!and!
buried!her!face!in!her!bed!sheets.!Why!was!this!happening!to!her?!Her!
maidservants! followed! her,! shutting! the! door! to! her! bedroom! behind!
them.!They!had!known!their!Mistress!for!only!a!little!while,!but!grew!
to!love!her!already.!They!all!knew!how!lucky!they!were!to!be!serving!
her.! Sakura! was! not! demanding! and! her! temper! was! nonDexistant.!
Meilin! was! too! cruel.! It! was! one! thing! to! be! insulted! in! a! foreign!
language,!but!to!hear!it!in!your!own!was!a!different!story.!
"Shall!we!ask!for!TomoyoDsan?"!one!of!the!maidservants!asked!her?!
Sakura!shook!her!head.!She!raised!her!head.!
"I'm!fine.!Please,!don't!worry."!
She!tried!to!look!happy!even!as!her!tears!flowed!down!her!cheeks.!The!
maidservants!could!do!nothing.!That!was!her!order!to!them.!The!room!
was!sickingly!bright!and!cheerful!compared!to!the!emotions!in!it!at!the!
moment.!
!
Syaoran! swung! his! sword! around! lazily! a! few! more! times,! and!
returned!it!to!its!sheath.!Wei!bowed!to!him.!Syaoran!avoided!the!eyes!
of!the!old!man.!As!his!first!trainer!ever,!he!may!have!picked!up!that!he!
was! slightly! distracted.! Images! of! Sakura! kept! appearing! to! Syaoran.!
Everywhere! he! looked! he! saw! her.! Today! was! passing! very! slowly! as!
his!yearning!to!be!close!to!her!grew!stronger.!He!would!not!call!for!her!
though.!He!was!not!weak.!He!needed!no!one.!Still,!it!would!put!him!at!
ease!if!he!could!catch!even!a!glimpse!of!her.!It!was!all!muddled!in!his!
head.!
Yukito,!who!had!followed!Wei!and!him!as!he!left!the!training!area!had!
a! bright! smile! on! his! face.! Syaoran! glanced! around,! expecting! to! see!
Yue!somewhere.!He!always!wondered!how!Yue!managed!to!do!all!his!
duties!and!still!have!time!to!check!up!on!his!younger!brother!D!which!
41!
was! ridiculous! as! Yukito! was! a! very! mature! man,! who! even! Syaoran!
secretly! admired.! Syaoran! shook! his! head.! There! was! no! being! that!
could! begin! to! comprehend! the! intricate! mind! of! Yue.! However,! Eriol!
and! Yue! seemed! to! understand! each! other! well! enough.! Birds! of! a!
feather,!he!guessed.!
"A!white!tiger!outside!the!City!has!given!birth,"!said!Yukito!
Syaoran! did! not! see! why! this! was! so! interesting! to! him.! Sure,! they!
were!revered!beasts!but!it!was!a!natural!thing!for!them!to!make!young.!
"They!say!there!is!a!completely!golden!tiger!among!her!litter."!
Syaoran!paused.!
"How!is!that!possible?"!asked!Wei.!
"It!really!is!a!rare!thing."!
Syaoran! thought.! It! would! be! something! if! the! rumour! was! true.! His!
curiosity!took!over!and!besides!he!needed!an!excuse!to!get!out!of!the!
City.!
"I!will!ask!for!Huangdi's!permission!to!leave!the!City.!You!and!Yue!will!
accompany!me."!
Syaoran,! Yukito,! Yue! and! some! other! imperial! guards! rode! out! of! the!
City!late!that!evening.!Hardly!anyone!knew!why!the!Great!Imperial!Son!
was!leaving,!especially!at!that!hour,!but!they!were!all!going!to!find!out!
as! soon! as! possible.! It! was! big! news.! He! only! left! the! compound! for!
battles.! Syaoran! hardly! noticed! the! gawking;! it! was! there! since! his!
conception.!Everyone!wanted!to!know!everything!about!him.!
Like!his!namesake!the!wolf,!Syaoran!did!not!like!to!be!caged.!The!walls!
of!the!Forbidden!City!which!were!so!magnificent!to!the!peasants!were!
suffocating! to! him.! He! was! delighted! with! how! the! cool! wind! hit! his!
face! and! ruffled! his! clothing.! A! few! farmers! gazed! at! the! company! as!
they!rode!through!the!countryside.!They!were!not!able!to!tell!who!the!
men! were,! except! that! they! were! very! important.! Syaoran! disliked!
extravagance.!Simplicity!was!ideal!for!him.!
It! was! nightDtime! when! they! came! upon! the! white! tiger's! lair.! It! was!
away! since! they! only! hunted! at! night.! As! such,! it! was! the! perfect!
opportunity! to! see! the! soDcalled! golden! tiger! cub.! He! dismounted! his!
horse! and! taking! a! torch! from! one! of! the! imperial! guards,! strode!
towards!the!cave.!
"One!of!us!should!go,"!said!Yue.!His!eyes!glowed.!
"I'll!be!fine,"!said!Syaoran!without!looking!back.!
He!entered!the!cave.!Holding!the!torch!up!so!that!he!could!see!clearer,!
42!
he! cautiously! proceeded! further! into! the! cave.! His! eyes! quickly!
adjusted!to!the!dim!light.!He!crouched!as!he!went!deeper!and!the!inner!
wall!of!the!cave!became!lower.!He!heard!low,!highDpitched!purrs.!
"Rawr!"!
Syaoran!looked!down!as!he!stepped!on!something!soft.!
"RAWR!"!
The!cub!bared!its!fangs.!Its!golden!eyes!glared!at!him.!It!was!the!golden!
tiger!cub.!It!tried!pawing!at!him!but!he!held!it!away!from!his!body!as!
he!retreated!from!the!cave.!He!flashed!a!glance!at!the!other!white!tiger!
cubs!and!left.!The!cool!night!air!hit!his!face!at!the!cave's!entrance.!
"So! it! was! true,"! said! Yukito.! "The! golden! tiger,! born! from! white!
tigers."!
Syaoran! wordlessly! placed! the! still! snarling! tiger! cub! in! a! small! cage!
and! they! began! their! return! to! the! Forbidden! City.! Syaoran's! first!
instinct! was! to! give! it! to! the! emperor.! He! liked! to! collect! rare! things!
and!the!golden!tiger!was!perfect!for!his!collection.!Then,!Sakura's!face!
appeared!in!his!mind.!She!was!his!concubine.!He!could!spoil!her!if!he!
wanted! to.! The! emperor! received! lots! of! gifts! in! the! past! and! will!
continue!to!receive!them.!He!would!give!the!cub!to!Sakura.!
Syaoran!sent!for!Sakura!as!soon!as!he!arrived!in!the!City.!He!then!sent!
the!cub!to!be!washed!and!collared.!He!waited!for!Sakura!in!a!secluded!
courtyard.! He! stood! next! to! a! pond! looking! at! the! fishes! swimming!
about! serenely.! Soft! footsteps! drew! near.! Syaoran! turned.! His! lips!
parted! but! no! sound! came! out.! Sakura! looked! heavenly! in! the!
moonlight.! He! chin! was! tilted! upwards.! She! never! appeared! stong! to!
Syaoran!before!that!moment.!No!woman!did.!He!liked!this!aura!around!
her!very!much.!Before!he!knew!it,!he!was!standing!directly!in!front!of!
her.!There!was!a!melancholy!look!on!her! face! and! still,!she!looked!so!
pure,!so!simple!and!innocent.!
"What!is!troubling!you?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Sakura! sighed! shakily.! She! smiled! but! it! broke.! Her! eyes! closed! and!
tears!fell.!She!rest!her!head!on!his!chest!and!cried.!Syaoran!stood!still.!
He! did! not! know! what! to! do.! Eventually! he! placed! his! hands! on! her!
shaking!shoulders.!
"When!I!was!brought!here,!I!accepted!it,"!said!Sakura!in!Japanese.!"But!
I!miss!my!OtouDsan.!I!miss!my!oniiDchan!so!very!much."!
"You! have! everything! here,"! said! Syaoran! matterDofDfactly.! "And! you!
will!not!speak!Japanese!again."!
Sakura!quivered!but!said!nothing.!Syaoran!rest!his!hand!on!her!head.!
43!
He! was! not! use! to! people! being! emotional! around! him,! except! when!
they!were!begging!for!their!lives,!that!is.!He!could!not!comprehend!her!
feelings!at!all.!
"I!will!send!someone!to!formally!teach!you."!
Sakura!said!nothing.!
"You! have! been! doing! well! on! your! own! so! far,"! said! Syaoran! almost!
proudly.! "You! will! forget! Japan.! You! are! Chinese! now.! Your! name! is!
Xiao!Ying."!
Sakura!tried!to!push!away!from!Syaoran,!but!he!now!had!a!tight!hold!
on!her.!
"My! mother! named! me! Sakura,"! she! said! perfectly,! in! Syaoran! native!
tongue.!"It!means!Cherry!Blossom.!Her!favourite!flower.!No!!I!will!have!
no!other!name."!
They!stared!at!each!other!for!a!long!time.!Sakura!broke!first.!Syaoran!
smirked.!Sakura!did!not!see!his!eyes!soften!though.!He!brought!his!lips!
close!to!her!ear.!
"Xiao!Ying!also!means!Cherry!Blossom."!
Just! then,! a! servant! brought! the! golden! cub! to! him.! He! took! the! cage!
and!laid!it!at!their!feet.!
"I!have!something!for!you,"!said!Syaoran.!
He!grimaced!at!how!harsh!he!sounded.!Sakura!kneeled!reluctantly!and!
looked!at!it.!Her!eyes!lit!up.!Syaoran!was!content.!He!was!responsible!
for!her!change!in!mood,!he!thought!smugly.!He!was!competent!at!other!
things!after!all;!human!things.!Everything!was!disappearing!except!for!
Sakura,!his!Xiao!Ying.!
"It's!a!tiger!"!
"It's! one! of! a! kind,"! said! Syaoran.! "It! would! need! to! be! tamed! of!
course."!
"It!shouldn't!be!in!a!cage,"!said!Sakura.!
She!gasped!and!bowed!her!head.!"I!mean…!whatever!you!want,!Great!
Imperial!Son."!
Syaoran! unlocked! the! cage.! The! cub! snarled! at! him! but! Sakura!
fearlessly! took! him! into! her! arms! like! a! puppy.! It! purred! under! her!
touch.! Syaoran! was! amazed! and! yet! unsurprised.! Sakura's! touch! was!
the!greatest.!It!was!like!being!caressed!by!summer!clouds.!
"What's!his!name?"!
"Name?"!asked!Syaoran.!"You!can!give!it!one."!
44!
"How!about…!KeroDchan!"!
Syaoran!smirked.!
"It!would!not!be!small!forever,"!he!said.!"A!name!like!Cerberus!that's!a!
bit!stronger,!perhaps."!
Sakura!tilted!her!head.!
"Cerberus!will!be!his!name!then.!And!we'll!call!him,!KeroDchan!"!
Kero!was!soon!at!ease!with!Sakura!and!went!to!sleep!as!she!stroked!its!
back.! Sakura! was! smiling! from! ear! to! ear.! Syaoran! was! pleased.! He!
liked! to! see! her! smile.! Recently,! he! yearned! constantly! to! be! close! to!
her!D!very!close!to!her.!Syaoran!felt!himself!being!drawn!to!Sakura.!His!
breathing! became! deeper.! He! was! getting! too! fond! of! this! girl.! She!
would! send! him! mad.! His! eyelids! grew! heavy.! Their! lips! were! almost!
touching.! Syaoran! brushed! his! lips! against! hers! lightly.! He! brought! a!
hand!up!to!cup!her!face.!He!swallowed.!He!wanted!nothing!better!than!
to!kiss!her,!but!the!power!of!the!feeling!unsettled!him.!He!pulled!back!
from!a!tensed!Sakura.!
"Tell!Ping!I!would!not!need!you!tonight,"!he!said.!
Sakura!nodded!and!laid!Kero!beside!her.!She!opened!her!mouth!then!
closed!it,!changing!her!mind.!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Sakura!looked!away.!Syaoran!glared!at!her.!He!hated!when!people!did!
that.! He! pushed! her! to! the! ground! and! lay! on! top! of! her.! He! grabbed!
her!face.!
"Answer!when!I!ask!you!a!question."!
Sakura! was! shocked.! The! hand! he! used! to! push! her! remained! on! her!
chest.!Syaoran!had!that!drugged!feeling.!He!shook!his!head.!There!was!
a! burning! in! his! groin! and! he! struggled! to! control! himself.! Sakura!
shifted!beneath!him!and!rubbed!accidentally!against!him.!He!groaned.!
Involuntarily!he!slid!lower!on!top!of!her!to!maintain!contact!with!any!
part! of! her! body.! He! was! becoming! more! and! more! stimulated.! He!
shuddered.!Sakura!moved!beneath!him!again!and!he!almost!lost!it.!He!
bit!down!on!her!neck.!His!fingernails!grazed!the!ground!as!he!sucked!
on!her!tender!skin.!Her!palm!pressed!against!his!chest!and!he!sucked!
harder.!Sakura!breathed!in!sharply.!
"Great!Imperial!Son,"!called!Ping.!
Syaoran!raised!up!and!glared!at!the!man.!He!was!furious.!Ping!stepped!
back,!warily.!
"....!Huangdi!summons!you."!
45!
The!mention!of!Huangdi!cleared!Syaoran's!mind!somewhat.!He!got!to!
his!feet.!He!found!them!a!little!weak.!What!was!he!D!an!animal,!jumping!
on! her! out! in! the! open! like! that?! He! was! disgusted! with! himself.! He!
wanted!to!be!closer!to!her,!but!he!did!not!want!to!taint!her!in!any!way.!
She!must!remain!pure!so!that!he!can!be!cured!of!his!madness.!He!was!a!
destroyer!but!he!would!never!destroy!her.!Never.!She!was!a!test;!a!test!
to!see!if!he!was!still!human.!He!did!not!wish!to!fail.!
"Take!her!to!her!room,"!said!Syaoran!in!a!raspy!voice.!
!
Sakura! lay! in! her! bed! with! Kero,! going! over! what! happened! with! the!
prince!in!her!mind.!His!eyes!had!become!so!dark!that!it!scared!her.!Her!
body! seemed! to! not! obey! her.! It! reacted! completely! different! to! how!
she! had! felt.! It! was! warm! and! tingled,! especially! between! her! legs.!
Sakura! blushed! as! she! thought! about! the! new! sensations! she! had!
experienced.! She! had! no! idea! what! had! occurred.! She! idly! traced!
circles! on! her! chest.! She! tensed! as! she! heard! a! sound.! She! propped!
herself! up! on! her! elbows! listening! hard.! Sakura! sighed.! She! thought!
that!it!may!have!been!Meilin.!Kero!curled!up!closer!to!her.!The!prince!
was!not!as!cold!as!he!looked,!she!thought.!He!gave!her!Kero.!What!man!
would!give!a!concubine!such!a!gift?!He!even!allowed!her!to!name!it.!In!
some! ways! the! Great! Imperial! Son! reminded! her! of! her! brother.! He!
acted! tough! on! the! outside,! but! really,! he! was! very! kind.! She! had!
managed!to!make!Touya!smile!once,!maybe!she!could!make!the!prince!
smile! too.! Sakura! fell! asleep! easily! that! night;! she! knew! she! had! a!
purpose!the!following!day.!
!
Syaoran!bowed!before!his!emperor.!Huangdi!rose!from!his!couch.!Two!
of!emperor's!latest!conquests!who!were!in!the!room!with!him,!tried!to!
cover!themselves!with!their!hands.!The!Forbidden!City!was!indeed!an!
impressive!place,!but!on!the!very!rare!occasions!Syaoran!was!allowed!
in! one! of! the! emperor's! many! rooms,! he! was! awed.! It! was! more! than!
the! detailed! tapestries! which! hung! from! the! walls,! the! fine! jade! and!
gold! which! adorned! everything! and! the! dazzling! colours;! it! was! the!
lingering! presence! of! all! the! emperors! who! had! once! occupied! these!
very! spaces.! He! was! the! Crown! Prince! of! China! who! was! someday!
destined! to! rule! the! empire.! He! would! one! day! become! a! part! of! the!
legacy!that!gave!him!such!pride.!
"I! am! having! the! family! together! in! one! of! my! gardens.! You! would!
bring!your!women!tomorrow."!
Syaoran! was! suspicious.! Why! was! the! emperor! telling! him! this?! He!
46!
could!have!simply!sent!a!servant.!Pouring!himself!some!wine,!Huangdi!
motioned!to!the!couch.!
"The!Japanese!concubine,!I!received!from!Wei."!
Indeed! Syaoran! recognized! the! black! haired! girl! as! the! one! who! had!
come! to! China! with! Sakura.! He! fleetingly! noticed! how! distraught! and!
terrified!the!two!girls!were.!
"I!must!say,!she's!very!good!at!satisfying!me."!
Syaoran!nodded,!not!sure!where!the!conversation!was!headed.!
"I!suppose!you!have!already!outgrown!yours...!as!beautiful!as!she!may!
be."!
Syaoran!clenched!his!hands!as!he!comprehended!what!was!happening.!
How!blind!could!he!be?!Huangdi!was!familiar!with!most!of!women!in!
the! City.! He! had! one! of! the! largest! appetities! for! women! in! China's!
history! of! emperors.! His! harem! held! over! six! thousand! women! and!
was!expanding!every!day.!
"I!prize!her!highly."!
"You!do?"!asked!the!surprised!Huangdi.!
"Yes,"!said!Syaoran!firmly.!His!glare!at!Huangdi!was!warning!enough.!
"She!must!be!good,"!said!Huangdi.!"To!have!you!so!possessive."!
"I!am!possessive!of!all!that!belongs!to!me.!Do!I!have!your!permission!to!
leave?"!
Huangdi! was! silent.! Finally! he! gave! a! curt! nod.! Syaoran! spun! on! his!
heels! and! stalked! off.! The! nerve! of! him.! Syaoran! never! had! a! bad!
thought! against! his! father! but! if! he! dared! to! lay! a! hand! on! Sakura...!
Before! Syaoran! knew! it,! he! was! standing! outside! his! wives'! quarters.!
The!guards!were!at!utmost!attention.!
"LiDsan!"!
Yukito!hurried!over!to!Syaoran.!
"I!was!calling!you!for!a!good!while!now!LiDsan.!Did!you!not!hear!me?"!
Syaoran! blinked.! He! rubbed! his! neck,! as! he! cleared! his! head! of!
murderous!thoughts.!
"No...!What!is!it?"!
"Your!mother!wishes!to!see!your!concubine."!
Syaoran!stared!at!Yukito!for!a!while.!
"She! can! see! her! tomorrow.! Huangdi! is! having! us! all! together! as! a!
family."!
47!
! 48!
Yukito!raised!his!hand!to!keep!Syaoran!back.!
"Yes,! LiDsan.! However,! I! believe! she! wanted! a! more...! private...!
meeting."!
"What! could! women! possibly! have! to! say! to! one! another! that! would!
require!privacy?"!Syaoran!asked!dismissively.!
He! stepped! inside! the! grand! room.! It! was! the! first! time! he! had! been!
inside.!The!maidservants!kowtowed!reverently.!
"Rise,"!said!Syaoran.!"Where!is!Xiao!Ying?"!
They! led! him! to! her! room.! She! was! sleeping! liberally.! Her! hands! and!
feet!were!everywhere.!He!tilted!his!head,!taking!in!the!sight!of!her.!He!
sat! down! next! to! her.! He! ran! his! knuckles! down! the! side! of! her! face.!
Syaoran!felt!himself!calming!down.!Just!as!he!bowed!his!head!down!to!
touch! Sakura's,! Chiharu! burst! into! the! room.! The! sight! of! Syaoran!
made!her!freeze!in!his!tracks.!
"Great!Imperial!Son!"!
Chiharu!glanced!at!the!other!maidservants!who!seemed!too!scared!to!
breath.!The!prince!was!unpredictable.!Yet!they!all!knew!what!he!was!
capable!of!doing.!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"ID!ID."!
Chiharu!shook!her!head!and!bowed.!
"I!came!to!see!Sakura,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
"For!what?"!
Chiharu! shifted! uncomfortably.! Syaoran's! eyes! narrowed.! He! did! not!
like!waiting!for!answers.!
"I! heard! she! was! sad,"! said! Chiharu! honestly.! "Sakura! is! my! mistress,!
but!also!my!friend."!
"Why!does!she!feel!this!way?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Chiharu! hesistated.! If! she! lied! to! the! prince! she! was! in! trouble,! if! she!
told! the! truth! she! would! be! in! trouble.! Who! did! she! fear! more?! The!
Great!Imperial!Son!or!his!First!Wife?!The!answer!was!not!hard!to!find.!
"She!has!not!been!treated...!kindly!since!she!arrived."!
This!caught!all!of!Syaoran's!attention.!
"Who!would!dare!mistreat!her?"!!
Chiharu!turned!her!head.!Even!as!she!uttered!the!name!of!the!culprit,!
Syaoran!already!knew.!
!
"MeilinDsan."!
Syaoran!was!generally!unpleased!with!Meilin's!behaviour.!She!did!too!
much!in!his!name.!Being!his!First!Wife!made!her!believe!she!was!more!
than! what! she! was,! but! what! little! authority! she! had! did! not!
overshadow!his!own.!Melin!and!her!jealousy!again.!He!would!put!her!
in!her!place.!
! were! embroidered! onto! the! xiapei.! Clouds! and! moutains! were!
"Sakura!!Sakura,!wake!up."!
Sakura! brushed! the! hand! shaking! her,! away.! She! wanted! just! a! little!
more!sleep.!She!wanted!to!stay!in!her!sweet!dreams!longer.!For!a!few!
hours!each!night,!she!sat!with!her!father,!ate!with!him!and!fought!with!
her! brother.! Her! eyes! were! wet.! She! blinked.! As! light! got! through! to!
them,!she!turned!on!her!back.!Chiharu!breathed!a!sigh!of!relief.!
"Sakura!it's!almost!midDday.!You!have!to!get!ready."!
"...!Hoe...?"!
"You,!Meilin!and!HuaDLing!have!to!get!ready!to!eat!with!Huangdi!"!
"Hoe...!HOE!!!"!
Sakura!flew!up.!She!paled.!
"Why?"!
"Really,!Sakura,"!said!Chiharu.!"It's!not!going!to!be!that!bad.!The!Great!
Imperial!Son!will!be!there."!
Sakura! did! not! understand! what! Chiharu! meant.! The! sly! smile! that!
made! it's! way! onto! the! girl's! face! made! her! take! a! step! bath.! Chiharu!
had! no! idea! the! prince! was! so! enamoured! with! Sakura.! He! actually!
seemed!to!really!care!about!her!to!some!extent.!A!maidservant!Sakura!
had!never!seen!before,!entered!her!room,!head!bowed.!
"I! have! a! gift! for! SakuraDsan,"! she! said,! holding! up! a! package! in! her!
hand.!"From!TomoyoDsan.!She!says!that!she!would!be!honoured!if!you!
wear!it!today."!
"Thank!you,"!said!Sakura.!
The! girl! handed! the! package! to! Chiharu! and! left.! Chiharu! laid! it! on!
Sakura's!bed!and!they!opened!it!together.!A!green!silk!material!flowed!
into!their!hands.!
"It's!a!yuanlingshan!"!said!Chiharu.!She!gasped.!"And!a!xiapei!"!
"Hoe?"!
Chiharu!held!the!green!clothing!up!for!Sakura!to!see!clearly.!
"It's!chinese!clothing.!It's!of!very!high!quality,!too!"!
49!
Sakura!regarded!her!new!robe.!The!sleeves!of!the!yuanlingshan!were!
curved.!It!had!a!rounded!collar!and!long!slits!at!the!sides.!Chiharu!put!
it!down!and!then!held!up!what!she!referred!to!as!the!xiapei.!
"This! is! worn! for! ceremonies,"! explained! Chiharu.! "It! goes! over! the!
yuanlingshan."!
Sakura's! expression! was! one! of! amazement.! Pink! cherry! blossoms!
designed!in!the!background.!TomoyoDchan!was!extremely!talented.!
Sakura! still! could! not! believe! the! robe! was! for! her,! until! Chiharu! and!
the! other! maidservants! were! dressing! her.! Chiharu! was! going! to! put!
powder!on!Sakura's!face,!but!judging!from!what!she!saw!last!night,!the!
Great!Imperial!Son!preferred!her!to!be!natural.!Besides,!TomoyoDchan!
always!wore!almost!nothing!on!her!face.!
As! Sakura! entered! the! main! room,! Meilin! and! HuaDLing! were! sitting,!
waiting! to! be! called.! Meilin's! eyes! widened! as! she! saw! Sakura.! She!
remembered! to! scoff! and! turned! up! her! nose! at! her.! HuaDLing! caught!
this.!
"You!look!lovely!Sakura."!
Sakura!blushed.!
For! HuaDLing! to! say! that! was! wonderful,! for! at! the! moment! HuaDLing!
was! breathtaking.! She! was! dressed! in! an! outfit! like! Sakura's! but! her!
yuanlingshan! was! yellow.! Meilin! too! looked! like! a! goddess.! She! wore!
yellow!as!well.!Both!Meilin's!and!HuaDLings's!faces!were!painted.!Big,!
elaborate! crowns,! with! gemstones! hanging! from! the! sides! sat! upon!
their! brows.! Sakura! could! not! help! but! feel! a! little! plain! compared! to!
them,! but! at! the! moment! she! felt! more! beautiful! than! she! did! in! her!
entire!life.!
Ping! came! to! collect! them.! Their! many! maidservants! followed! them!
dutifully!until!they!came!upon!a!large!garden.!There!they!turned!back.!
Sakura!looked!at!them!confused.!
"They! cannot! enter! here,"! said! HuaDLing! with! a! superior! air.! "This! is!
the!Imperial!Garden."!
There!was!a!stone!pathway!with!tall!trees!on!either!side.!They!were!so!
tall,!Sakura's!neck!strained!as!she!tried!to!see!their!peak.!
"We!are!passing!through!the!Gate!of!Terrestrial!Tranquility."!
Sakura!barely!heard!HuaDLing!as!she!stared!at!the!scenery.!The!bronze!
statues,! the! flowering! trees,! the! ponds! and! the! sweet! smell! of! the!
garden!had!her!senses!going!wild.!She!felt!very!small!in!this!place!but!
it! was! comforting! and! made! her! feel! safe;! as! though! nothing! could!
50!
harm!her!here.!
Ahead!of!them!was!Syaoran.!He!stood!with!his!jian!in!his!hand.!He!was!
clad!all!in!yellow.!On!his!xiapei,!green!and!red!dragons!flew!in!a!light!
blue! sky.! Unlike! most! men! in! his! status,! his! hair! was! messy! as! usual.!
The!way!he!stared!at!her!from!under!his!brown!bangs!was!enough!to!
make!Sakura!look!away;!and!so!she!did.!When!they!came!within!a!few!
paces! of! him,! he! made! his! way! deeper! into! the! garden.! From! this!
distance,!the!three!young!ladies!followed!him.!
Syaoran!took!a!seat!at!a!low!square!table.!Huangdi!was!already!there!
with! the! most! important! people! in! the! Forbidden! City.! Even! on! a!
relaxed!occasion!such!as!this,!Sakura!was!very!intimidated!by!the!men.!
The!only!woman!who!sat!at!the!table!was!D!who!Sakura!assumed!to!be!
D! the! empress.! She! was! without! a! doubt,! one! of! the! most! beautiful!
women! Sakura! had! ever! seen.! While! the! men! chatted,! they! glanced!
occasionally! at! the! women! Syaoran! and! a! few! other! princes! had!
behind!them.!Sakura!smiled!brightly!as!she!saw!Tomoyo!sitting!behind!
a! dark! haired! man! who! she! saw! once! before! D! Tomoyo's! husband.!
Sakura! smiled! as! Tomoyo! mouthed! 'KAWAII!'! to! her.! Sitting! next! to!
Tomoyo! was! a! pretty,! brown! haired! lady.! She! had! her! hands! on! her!
prominent!belly.!This!must!be!Kaho.!So!long!did!their!conversations!go!
on,!that!Sakura's!legs!started!to!hurt!from!sitting!in!the!same!position!
for!such!a!length!of!time.!
Finally! the! conversation! died! down.! Skillfully! and! with! admirable!
grace,! Empress! Yelan! poured! tea! for! the! emperor.! One! by! one,! the!
wives! of! the! other! princes! and! officials! poured! tea! for! them.! Finally,!
only! Syaoran! had! an! empty! cup.! He! decided! to! make! his! move.! He!
glanced!behind!him.!As!expected,!Meilin!knelt!at!his!side.!She!stretched!
out!her!hand!to!grab!the!tea!pot.!Without!so!much!as!looking!at!Meilin,!
Syaoran!spoke.!
"Xiao!Ying!will!pour!my!tea."!
The! table! became! hushed.! There! was! more! than! one! reason! for! this.!
They! were! that! Syaoran! almost! never! referred! to! any! woman! D! other!
than! family! D! by! their! name! and! that! it! was! great! embarassment! for!
Meilin! to! be! chosen! over! a! concubine! in! public;! clearly! she! had!
displeased! the! Great! Imperial! Son.! The! hush! spread! throughout! the!
garden.! Those! at! other! tables! turned! to! see! the! cause! of! the! eerie!
silence.!Meilin!collected!herself,!but!by!doing!so,!a!great!rage!flared!up!
inside!her.!
"WHAT?!"!she!erupted.!
In!the!blink!of!an!eye,!Syaoran!had!Meilin!pinned!to!the!ground!by!her!
!51!
neck.!There!was!a!sickening!thud!as!the!back!of!her!head!collided!with!
the!ground.!Meilin!gasped!for!breath.!
"You!dare,"!said!Syaoran!venemously.!
"My!son,"!said!Yelan!lightly.!"Today!should!not!be!spoilt.!Please,!punish!
her!later."!
Syaoran! released! Meilin,! who! hurriedly! kowtowed! before! him.! She!
then!took!her!place!behind!him.!Syaoran,!face!hardened,!sat!facing!his!
fellow!tea!drinkers!once!more.!
"Xiao!Ying."!
Sakura! rushed! to! Syaoran's! side! as! quickly! as! she! could.! She! was! not!
completely! used! to! her! robes! yet! and! it! weighed! on! her.! Her! hands!
shook! as! she! reached! for! the! tea! pot.! Being! no! novice! at! pouring! tea,!
she!filled!Syaoran's!cup!without!spilling!a!drop.!Sakura!was!so!scared!
her!hands!remained!clutching!the!tea!pot.!Syaoran!placed!his!hand!on!
top!of!hers!and!gently!put!them!in!her!own!lap.!Huangdi!laughed.!The!
other! men! at! the! table! followed! suit.! Soon,! they! were! eating! and!
drinking! like! nothing! happened.! They! were! talking! too! fast! for! her! to!
understand.! She! caught! snatches! of! their! conversations.! To! her! it!
sounded! like,! "women...! need! to! beat! them...! to! learn...! dogs! were!
smarter...more! loyal! than! women..."! She! was! not! really! listening! and!
did! not! want! to.! Sakura's! head! shot! up! when! she! heard! a! familiar!
name.!
"....!careful!Yukito,!your!eyes!wander."!
Sakura! reddened! slightly.! Yukito! was! looking! at! her.! Her! stomach!
tickled.!Yukito!paid!the!man!no!attention.!
"I!can!not!help!it,"!said!Yukito.!"You!look!beautiful!Sakura."!
There! was! an! awkward! pause! at! the! table.! It! was! one! thing! to!
compliment! a! man! on! his! woman,! but! Yukito! was! addressing! her!
directly,!infront!of!the!Great!Imperial!Son.!Syaoran!stiffened!visibly.!
"I! agree! with! Yukito,"! said! a! man! with! a! greying! beard.! "She! is! very!
beautiful.! Her! cheeks! appear! to! have! been! brushed! by! the! lotus!
flower."!
"And! so! the! poetry! begins,"! said! Huangdi.! "This! is! time! to! relax!
Yannian.!You!can!be!a!poet!again!tomorrow."!
"Forgive!me!Huangdi,"!said!Yannian.!"But!a!poet!cannot!escape!poetry,!
for!even!when!he!dreams!he!is!creating."!
Huangdi!smiled.!He!was!handsome!even!at!his!age!and!the!wrinkles!in!
his! face! became! him.! Sakura! never! realised! how! much! he! looked! like!
52!
Syaoran.!
"The!women!will!leave!us!now,"!said!Huangdi.!"So!that!we!will!better!
enjoy!each!other's!company."!
HuaDLing! and! Meilin! moved! to! another! table,! far! away! from! the! men.!
Sakura!made!to!follow!them!but!was!held!back!by!Syaoran.!
"You! are! so! unable! to! part! with! your! concubine,! my! son?"! Huangdi!
asked.!
"I!do!not!wish!her!to!be!corrupted!by!useless!female!talk."!
"I!think!otherwise,"!said!Huangdi.!"You!ask!for!my!permission!to!leave!
the! City,! to! obtain! a! Golder! Tiger,! but! on! returning! I! do! not! see! it.! I!
heard!that!you!gave!it!to!that!pretty!concubine!of!yours."!
"You!heard!the!truth,"!said!Syaoran.!
The!emperor!smirked.!
"It!is!no!shame,"!said!Yannian.!"Our!Crown!Prince!is!not!the!first!man!
to!be!captivated!by!a!beautiful!lady."!
The!men!laughed!at!this.!Merry!once!more,!their!talk!continued.!They!
played! mahjong! while! sipping! tea! and! laughed! as! they! told! jokes! to!
amuse! each! other.! Sakura! was! surprised! that! such! dangerous! men!
could! appear! so! normal.! The! Great! Imperial! Son! and! the! long,! white!
haired!man!they!called!Yue,!were!the!only!ones!who!never!said!more!
than!they!needed!to.!Yukito!was!a!wonder!to!her.!Everyone!seemed!to!
like! him.! Now! and! then,! as! a! light! breeze! blew,! he! would! throw! his!
head!back!and!allow!it!to!caress!his!hair.!One!such!time!Yue!caught!her!
staring.! He! glared! at! her.! It! was! as! if! ice! was! pouring! into! her! body.!
Sakura! was! saved! when! Syaoran! finally! excused! himself! from! the!
group!of!men.!
Yukito!gave!her!a!smile!as!they!left.!Wishing!she!could!have!returned!
it,! she! followed! Syaoran,! his! sword! in! hand! as! usual,! deep! into! the!
garden.! They! came! to! a! stone! bridge.! Syaoran! leaned! on! the! stone!
banister!and!gazed!down!at!the!flow!of!water.!Little!fishes!darted!here!
and! there,! frolicking! with! one! another.! Sakura! remained! quiet! at!
Syaoran's!side.!She!was!reminded!of!a!bridge!similiar!to!this!one!near!
her! home! in! Japan.! Her! eyes! glistened.! Syaoran! looked! up! as! she!
sniffed.! He! put! a! hand! on! her! cheek.! Sakura! flinched! but! he! kept! it!
there.!
"I!am!not!such!a!terrible!person,!am!I?"!
Sakura!said,!"No."!
"I!told!you!to!speak!the!truth!to!me."!
53!
Sakura! did! not! look! at! him.! She! wrung! her! hands.! Syaoran! however!
understood.!Sakura!was!uptight!since!the!incident.!
"She!contested!me,"!said!Syaoran!plainly.!"I!will!have!to!beat!her."!
Sakura!swallowed.!
"I!told!you!I!will!not!hurt!you,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!always!keep!my!word."!
He!toyed!with!the!ends!of!Sakura's!hair,!which!were!now!touching!her!
shoulders.! Placing! a! hand! on! her! lower! back,! he! drew! her! into! him.!
Syaoran! did! not! know! what! he! was! trying! to! do,! but! Sakura! did.! She!
needed! comforting,! and! at! the! moment! she! was! going! to! take! it! from!
any! source.! Sakura! wrapped! her! hands! around! him! and! he!
reciprocated! the! embrace.! Both! were! shocked! at! the! feelings! racing!
through!their!bodies.!A!warmth!was!spreading!and!they!felt!like!they!
were! melting! into! each! other.! Syaoran's! personality! changed! so!
quickly!it!scared!her!even!more.!How!can!she!feel!safe!with!this!man?!
It! was! all! so! confusing.! She! believed! everything! he! told! her,! good! or!
bad.!
Syaoran! lifted! her! chin,! and! looked! deep! into! Sakura's! eyes.! He!
brushed! his! thumb! over! her! lips.! How! he! wanted! to! press! his! lips!
against!hers.!He!would!have!done!just!that!right!then,!if!it!had!not!been!
for!the!glint!of!fear!he!saw!in!Sakura's!eyes.!He!rest!a!firm!kiss!on!her!
forehead! instead.! Then,! Syaoran! asked! her! something! that! almost!
stopped!her!heart.!
"Do!you!like!Yukito?"!
Sakura!gasped.!She!debated!with!herself.!Should!she!lie,!or!should!she!
take! a! chance! and! tell! the! truth?! Tomoyo's! worried! face! appeared! in!
her!mind.!
"I! thoughtD! I! saw! D"! Syaoran! paused.! "Never! mind.! I! have! been! away!
from!the!battlefield!so!long,!it!seems!I!am!trying!to!create!one."!
He!shook!his!head.!
"But!if!a!man!looks!at!you,!with!intention!to!take!you!for!himself,"!said!
Syaoran!slowly!as!he!remembered!Huangdi.!"Know!that!I'll!kill!him."!
"And!if!you!look!at!any!other!man,"!said!Syaoran.!"What!will!I!do?"!
Sakura! froze.! The! Great! Imperial! Son! said! he! would! not! hurt! her.!
Realization!dawned!on!Sakura.!
"Kill!him...?"!she!whispered.!
Syaoran!nodded.!
!
"Why!are!we!spying!on!LiDsan!and!Sakura?"!
54!
"I!am!making!you!aware."! Chapter 5
"Of!what?"! A"beautiful"bird"is"the"only"kind"we"cage.!
"You!know..."! ~"Chinese"Proverb!
Yukito!sighed.! Meilin! knelt! on! the! floor! with! her! hands! clasped! in! front! her! body.! It!
"What!do!you!know?"!asked!Yue.! was! the! first! time! Sakura! was! seeing! her! with! her! hair! completely!
"She!has!a!little!infatuation!for!me."! down.!Some!hair!hanged!down!the!sides!of!her!face,!blending!into!the!
"You!do!nothing!to!deter!her."! black! robes! she! was! wearing! today.! It! was! modest! by! Meilin's!
standards.! HuaDLing! sat! on! the! edge! of! the! couch! she! favoured! so!
"No!harm!can!come!from!something!like!that.!She!is!LiDsan's."! much.! His! face! was! expressionless.! The! maidservants! hovered! in! the!
"So!you!do!know!something!after!all,"!said!Yue.!"Let!me!tell!you!what!I! corners! of! the! room;! present! yet! absent! from! the! proceedings.! The!
know.! The! Great! Imperial! Son! cares! for! this! woman! greatly.! I! know! main!door!of!their!quarters!opened.!Meilin!stiffened!visibly.!
that!look!in!his!eyes.!Friend!or!not,!if!he!feels!he!cannot!trust!you!with! The! Great! Imperial! Son! stepped! into! the! room.! His! face! was!
her...!Yukito,!stay!away!from!her."! undisturbed!by!the!activity!he!was!about!to!perform.!It!was!as!though!
Yukito! smiled! at! Yue.! As! Syaoran! and! Sakura! left! the! bridge,! he! felt! a! it!was!a!slight!interruption!in!his!day.!Sakura!felt!unshed!tears!burning!
twinge! of! disappointment.! He! really! did! like! Sakura.! She! was! unlike! her!eyes.!
any! other! woman! he! had! met.! Yue! was! right! of! course.! Innocent! "We! bow! before! you,! Great! Imperial! Son,"! the! members! of! the! room!
behaviour!may!be!misconstrued.!Yue!left!as!he!saw!reason!blossom!on! chorused!as!they!kowtowed!as!usual.!
Yukito's! face.! Somehow! though,! he! did! not! believe! that! this! was! the!
last!word!he!would!have!to!say!to!Yukito!on!this!matter.!! Ping! handed! Syaoran! the! cane! he! had! been! caressing! for! some! time!
now.!He!was!all!to!excited!to!see!Meilin!broken.!Syaoran!stood!behind!
! Meilin.! He! adjusted! his! position,! so! that! he! was! slightly! to! the! left! of!
! her.!Meilin!clasped!her!hands!together!even!more!tightly.!
! "You! disrespected! and! defied! me! Meilin,"! said! Syaoran! lowly.! Sakura!
! shivered!at!the!coldness!of!his!voice.!"There!is!something!you!wish!to!
! say."!
! "Please! forgive! me,! Great! Imperial! Son,"! pleaded! Meilin,! with! such!
sincerity! it! almost! broke! Sakura's! heart.! "I! am! a! mere! woman.! I! am!
!
foolish.! I! do! not! deserve! the! mercy! you! are! about! to! show! me.! You!
! should!do!much!worse.!Forgive!me."!
! "Twenty!strokes."!
! Syaoran! brought! the! cane! down! on! Meilin's! back.! The! shock! of! the!
! strike! helped! to! slam! her! to! the! ground.! She! took! a! deep! breath! and!
! raised!back!up.!Stroke!after!stroke!her!body!lunged!forward!slightly.!At!
the! tenth! stroke,! Sakura! tasted! salt! on! her! lips.! Tears! were! running!
!
freely!now,!for!Meilin.!Syaoran!raised!the!cane!to!strike!again.!Without!
! thinking!Sakura!ran!across!the!room.!She!grabbed!Syaoran's!hand.!
! "Please,!no!more,"!she!cried.!
! "Release!my!hand,!or!you'll!be!kneeling!beside!her."!
! Sakura's! eyes! widened.! Her! grip! loosened.! Syaoran! pushed! her! aside.!

55! 56!
He!continued!his!punishment!but!Meilin's!body!did!not!lunge!forward!
as!much!anymore.!When!he!finished,!Syaoran!handed!the!cane!back!to!
Ping.! He! left! the! room! wordlessly.! Sakura! bent! down! to! put! a!
supportive!arm!around!Meilin.!With!surprising!strength!Meilin!pushed!
her! away.! Her! servants! went! to! her! and! carried! her! into! her! room.!
HuaDLing!clicked!her!tongue.!
"Ungrateful,!isn't!she?"!
"I!was!just!trying!to!help..."!
!
Later! that! evening! Sakura! sat! in! the! middle! of! her! bed,! playing! with!
Kero.!She!was!teasing!him!with!a!small!piece!of!meat.!After!a!few!trials,!
he!finally!managed!to!take!it!from!her.!His!teeth!grazed!her!fingers.!She!
winced.! As! if! he! was! aware! of! her! pain,! Kero! licked! her! fingers!
apologetically.!Sakura!patted!him!on!the!head.!His!purr!was!becoming!
slightly!deeper!as!the!days!passed.!
"You're!a!great!friend,!KeroDchan,"!said!Sakura.!"I'm!so!happy!the!Great!
Imperial!Son!gave!you!to!me."!
Ping! entered! her! room.! She! knew! he! had! come! to! take! her! away.!
Taking!Kero!into!her!arms!for!comfort,!she!left!with!Ping.!Once!in!the!
corridor,!she!giggled!nervously.!Seeing!him!always!made!her!anxious.!
Ping! was! indifferent! to! her! behaviour! as! always.! Kero! who! saw! that!
there!was!no!more!food!to!be!had,!calmed!down!considerably!and!fell!
asleep!in!Sakura's!arms.!On!their!way!to!the!bathroom,!they!ran!into!a!
familiar!face.!
"TsukishiroDsan!"!exclaimed!Sakura.!
"Sakura?"!
Yukito! smiled! brightly.! Sakura! held! her! breath! at! the! heavenly! light!
that!appeared!around!Yukito.!Time!stood!still.!
"What!are!you!doing!out!so!late!at!night?"!
He!looked!to!Ping!as!if!to!ask!him!if!he!was!out!of!his!mind!to!have!her!
walking!at!this!time.!Sakura!came!back!to!earth!and!bowed!her!head!in!
shame.!She!did!not!want!the!kind!and!handsome!Yukito!to!know!what!
she!was!doing!with!the!prince.!
"She!has!duties!to!perform!for!the!Great!Imperial!Son."!
Sakura!wanted!to!disappear.!
"Li!is!not!in!his!quarters.!He's!in!the!grounds,"!said!Yukito!lightly.!"I'll!
take!you!to!him."!
Sakura!did!not!want!Yukito!to!think!badly!of!her.!She!knew!that!it!did!
57!
not! matter! that! she! liked! him;! that! she! belonged! to! the! prince.! She!
balled!her!fists.!She!could!at!least!pretend!that!there!was!some!chance!
that! he! would! like! her! in! return! and! that! they! will! be! together.!
Anything!was!possible,!right?!Yukito!peeked!over!his!shoulder.!
"Are!you!alright?"!
Sakura!turned!pink.!She!had!come!to!a!full!halt.!
"Yes."!
She!hurried!to!catch!up!to!him.!
"Do!you!like!your!gift?"!asked!Yukito!looking!at!Kero.!
"Yes,!very!much,"!answered!Sakura.!"He!eats!a!lot!and!all!the!time!"!
"Really,"! said! Yukito.! "That's! strange.! White! tigers'! meals! aren't! so!
frequent.!Then!again,!he!is!a!rare!one."!
He!surveyed!Sakura!intently.!
"Li!went!into!the!tiger's!den!himself,!and!drew!him!out."!
"Oh,"!said!Sakura,!for!Yukito!seemed!to!require!a!reply!of!some!sort.!
When!they!came!upon!Syaoran!he!was!training!with!his!sword.!Sakura!
was!awed!by!his!grace!and!power.!She!had!never!seen!anyone!leap!as!
high!as!he!did!or!move!as!swiftly.!As!she!watched!him,!the!swing!of!his!
sword!and!the!features!of!his!face!became!more!steely.!He!slashed!his!
sword!down!in!Sakura's!direction!and!caught!her!eyes.!
"What!do!you!want?"!
She! was! about! to! answer! when! she! realized! that! he! was! speaking! to!
Yukito.!
"Sakura!is!supposed!to!see!you!now."!
Syaoran's!eyes!perused!Sakura!slowly.!
"I! hope! you! are! not! angry! at! our! intrusion,! Great! Imperial! Son,"! said!
Ping.!
Syaoran! ignored! him.! Sakura! was! fascinated! with! Syaoran's! sword.! It!
was!different!from!the!samurai!swords!she!was!accustomed!seeing.!It!
was!broader!and!seemed!heavier.!It!looked!right!in!his!strong!hands.!
"It's!called!a!jian.!The!Gentleman!of!Weapons."!
Sakura! was! startled.! Syaoran! held! out! the! sword! to! her! blade! down.!
Everyone! was! curious! as! to! his! intentions.! No! one! ever$ touched! his!
sword.! It! was! an! heirloom! for! the! Great! Imperial! Sons.! Yukito! took!
Kero! from! her.! Her! hands! free,! Sakura! took! hold! of! the! hilt.! He! let! go!
and!she!quickly!grabbed!it!with!her!other!hand!as!well.!She!got!use!to!
the!weight!and!held!it!up!in!front!of!her.!Syaoran!did!not!understand!
58!
why,!but!Sakura!was!very!erotic!to!him!as!she!held!his!sword.!Syaoran!
took!a!sword!from!one!of!his!sparring!partners!and!faced!Sakura.!
Her!hands!trembled!when!he!took!a!fighting!stance!in!front!of!her.!She!
looked! around! for! help! weakly! and! in! that! second! she! felt! his! blade!
collide! with! her! own.! It! was! not! a! hard! blow! but! to! her! it! was!
somewhat! unnerving.! Sakura! moved! and! he! stalked! her,! following!
each!movement.!Now!and!then!he!would!make!a!light!blow!so!that!she!
could! easily! block! it.! Just! when! she! was! beginning! to! get! the! general!
idea! of! how! to! defend,! Syaoran! stopped.! Sakura! barely! had! time! to!
gasp! before! he! rushed! her! and! in! one! deft! movement! took! his! sword!
from!her!hand!and!crossed!the!blades!on!either!side!of!her!neck.!She!
felt!tears!prick!at!the!corners!of!her!eyes.!
"I!did!not!mean!what!I!said!about!beating!you,"!said!Syaoran!lowering!
the!swords.!"But!never!repeat!what!you!did!today."!
Sakura!nodded.!
"I!have!never!seen!anyone!wield!a!sword!like!you!do,"!said!Sakura!with!
genuine!awe!and!admiration!despite!her!fear.!
The! men! passed! silent! messages! amongst! each! other.! What! was! the!
prince! doing! wasting! his! time! pretending! to! spar! with! this! woman?!
She!was!stunning,!fit!for!duty!under!the!sheets,!not!making!her!hands!
coarse! with! weapons.! But! the! prince! was! always! unpredictable,! and!
that!they!were!use!to.!
"Take!her!to!my!room,"!said!Syaoran.!
He!went!to!discuss!some!matters!with!Yukito!and!Ping!as!always,!took!
her!away.!In!Syaoran's!room,!Sakura!sat!on!the!end!of!his!bed.!A!long!
time!had!passed,!and!still!Syaoran!had!not!come!up.!In!the!meantime,!
Sakura! was! able! to! really! observe! his! room.! It! was! uncluttered! but!
everything!was!made!out!of!high!quality!materials.!There!was!a!lot!of!
green!highlighting!different!areas!such!as!one!of!the!sheets!on!the!bed,!
and! the! green! jewels! that! were! part! of! his! desk's! legs,! but! much! was!
yellow.!Syaoran!walked!into!the!room!abruptly.!Sakura!noticed!that!his!
hair!was!damp.!He!had!already!bathed?!The!thought!that!another!girl!
had! bathed! him! crossed! her! mind.! Did! that! bother! her?! He! slid! his!
robes! off.! Wearing! only! his! trousers,! Syaoran! sat! next! to! her! on! the!
bed.!He!ran!a!finger!over!the!fading!bite!mark!he!left!on!her!neck.!
"Do! you! ever! smile?"! asked! Sakura.! She! froze.! What! was! wrong! with!
her?!Why!did!she!ask!that?!
"No,"!said!Syaoran.!
"Why!not?"!
59!
Syaoran! did! not! answer! for! so! long,! that! Sakura! thought! he! had!
forgetten! her.! Laying! back! on! his! bed,! he! finally! replied,! "There! has!
never!been!any!reason!to."!
"There's!always!a!reason!to!smile!"!said!Sakura.!
Syaoran,!to!his!surprise!wanted!to!know!these!reasons.!
"Tell!me."!
Sakura!pulled!herself!up!the!bed,!to!his!side.!
"You! can! smile! just! because! the! sun! is! shining,"! she! said.! "You! can!
smile! because! you! have! finally! accomplished! something! you! always!
wanted!to!do.!You!can!smile!at!the!birds!when!they!sing!to!you..."!
With!a!sigh,!she!propped!herself!up!on!her!elbows,!facing!Syaoran.!
"And!you!can!smile!just!because!you!can,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
Sakura! mentally! slapped! herself.! Somewhere! she! had! slipped! into!
Japanese.! Syaoran! merely! watched! her.! His! hard! stare! was! no! longer!
present.!His!look!was!softer.!He!placed!a!hand!on!her!cheek!and!traced!
her!lips!with!his!thumb.!
"Keep!talking."!
"I!don't!know!what!else!to!say."!
"Anything."!
Sakura!smiled.!
"TeradaDsensei! will! be! teaching! you! Chinese! from! now! on,"! said!
Syaoran!suddenly.!"He's!one!of!the!best!scholars!I!know."!
Sakura! nodded.! He! did! say! he! would! get! her! a! teacher.! Did! he! say!
TeradaDsensei,! though?! It! must! be! Rika's! husband.! She! regarded!
Syaoran!for!a!moment,!in!silence.!He!seemed!far!away.!She!wanted!to!
know!what!he!was!thinking!at!these!times.!She!dared!not!ask.!He!still!
scared! her,! especially! seeing! what! he! did! to! Meilin.! It! was! just! a!
reaction!she!had.!Why!did!he!have!to!do!that!to!her?!It!was!not!fair.!
"Don't!look!at!me!like!that,"!said!Syaoran.!
Sakura!jumped.!
"Confucius!might!say,!her!beating!was!long!due."!
Sakura! looked! away! from! him.! Could! he! read! minds?! He! did! have!
magic.!Maybe.!
Just!then,!Ping!entered!the!room.!Syaoran!sat!up!immediately.!He!was!
a!different!person.!His!face!was!fierce!and!looked!ready!for!anything.!
Ping!faced!him!unflinchingly.!
"What!is!it?"!
60!
"QiaoDsensei!is!here!to!see!you."!
In!walked!an!older!man.!He!was!dressed!in!very!simple!robes,!for!one!
who!resided!in!the!Forbidden!City.!His!face!and!hands!were!so!wrinkly!
that! he! seemed! like! crumpled! paper.! His! hair! was! completely! white!
but! he! had! a! full! head! of! hair.! Ping! who! normally! had! an! indifferent!
expression!on!his!face!when!it!came!to!Sakura,!was!taking!extra!long!to!
leave! the! room! as! though! he! was! waiting! for! the! old! man! to!
acknowledge!his!leaving.!Such!was!the!presence!of!the!man.!Sakura!felt!
immediate!respect!for!him.!
Syaoran! had! not! moved! from! his! position.! He! turned! his! head! away!
from!QiaoDsensei.!He!seemed!slightly!annoyed.!It!was!almost!shocking!
to! Sakura! to! see! the! old! man,! slowly! and! painstakingly! drop! to! the!
floor! to! kowtow! before! Syaoran.! Sakura! believed! that! he! was! not!
aware!of!how!taxing!it!was!on!the!old!man's!body.!As!difficult!as!it!was!
for! him! to! go! down,! he! rose! to! his! feet! with! equal! difficulty.! Sakura!
swore!she!heard!a!bone!crack.!
"Great! Imperial! Son,"! said! the! man! in! a! surprisingly! strong! voice.! "I!
have!come!with!the!new!calender!for!you."!
QiaoDsensei!looked!briefly!at!Sakura.!
"Ah,!yes,"!he!said.!"I!will!have!to!take!this!concubine!into!account!now!
as!well."!
"There!is!no!need,"!said!Syaoran.!
QiaoDsensei!took!out!some!papers,!and!studied!them!as!though!he!had!
not!heard!Syaoran.!
"Ah,! yes,"! said! QiaoDsensei.! "Huangdi! gave! me! instructions! though.! I!
have!to!delegate!the!time!for!all!your!women."!
Syaoran! rose! from! his! bed! and! folded! his! arms.! He! waited! for! QiaoD
sensei!to!speak!again.!
"You!must!take!Meilin!to!your!bed!this!week.!Three!times!at!least,"!said!
QiaoDsensei.! "HuaDLing! is! the! week! after.! Again! three! times! at! least.! I!
have!been!giving!them!special!teas!to!help!the!process."!
Sakura! shifted! in! the! bed! uncomfortably.! QiaoDsensei! scribbled! a! few!
more!times!on!a!sheet!of!paper!as!he!conversed!with!Syaoran.!After!he!
left,!Syaoran!returned!to!bed.!His!expression!was!detached.!Sakura!did!
not!understand!why!he!did!not!want!to!be!with!Meilin!and!HuaDLing.!
According! to! Miko,! it! was! a! normal! thing! for! men! to! be! with! their!
women!often.!Syaoran's!arm!wrapped!around!her!and!drew!her!to!his!
chest.! Sakura! rest! her! hand! on! his! abdomen! and! felt! the! smooth!
muscles! there.! His! heartbeat! was! steady! and! strong.! She! prayed! that!
61!
he!would!not!feel!her!racing!heart.!The!silence!was!unbearable!for!her.!
"Great!Imperial!Son,!what's!wrong?"!she!asked!Syaoran.!
"They!will!not!have!sons."!
Sakura!did!not!expect!him!to!respond.!She!looked!into!his!eyes.!
"You!will!get!sons!soon,!don't!worry.!And!beautiful!girls!as!well."!
"Girls!can't!control!kingdoms."!
"Well!I!want!girls!as!well,!not!just!boys."!
"Are!you!already!thinking!of!bearing!my!children?"!
Sakura!reddened.!Syaoran!smirked.!This!was!unlike!the!others!though.!
He!seemed!almost!amused.!
"WhenD"!Sakura!paused.!She!took!a!deep!breath.!"When!are!we!going!
toD"!
"To!what?"!asked!Syaoran.!
All! the! while,! he! was! sliding! his! hands! beneath! Sakura's! robes.! His!
hand!caressed!her!smooth!thigh!as!his!eyes!explored!hers.!Searching.!
Sakura! squeezed! her! legs! together,! trying! to! curb! his! movements.!
Unexpectedly,!Syaoran!quickly!relented.!
"There! are! many! girls! who! will! willingly! and! perhaps! happily! be! my!
wife,! mistress! or! concubine,"! stated! Syaoran.! "Yet! you! do! not,! Xiao!
Ying.!It!is!difficult!to!understand.!When!you!want!me,!I!will!have!you."!
"Suppose!I!never!want..."!
Sakura! could! think! only! of! Yukito.! She! wanted! to! scream! her! feelings!
to!the!prince,!but!her!throat!seized!shut.!
"I!will!make!you,"!said!Syaoran.!
He! rolled! over! and! anchored! himself! above! Sakura.! Her! heart! beat!
increased!as!Syaoran's!face!became!very!intense.!He!stared!hard!at!her!
as! if! trying! to! bore! into! her.! He! passed! a! finger! down! the! side! of! her!
cheek.!The!soft!skin!prickled!from!his!touch.!Tilting!his!head,!Syaoran!
kissed! her! lightly! on! the! lips.! Despite! the! thoughts! of! Yukito! in! her!
head,! her! stomach! fluttered! and! a! feeling! of! warmth! spread! through!
her!body!and!ended!between!her!legs.!
!
The! following! day,! Meilin! was! summoned! to! Syaoran's! chambers.!
Though! her! bruised! back! must! have! ached! from! the! effort,! she! stood!
up! proudly! and! threw! a! look! of! triumph! at! Sakura! as! she! left.! Sakura!
felt! a! small! pang.! The! source! of! it,! she! did! not! know.! HuaDLing,! after!
witnessing!Meilin's!display!went!into!her!room!silently.!Sakura!stayed!
62!
in!the!main!room!with!Tomoyo,!who!was!visiting.!
"I!can't!believe!you!will!be!here!for!the!entire!day!"!
"Well!my!husband!has!no!use!for!me!right!now,"!said!Tomoyo.!"He!is!
very!busy!with!matters!of!the!empire."!
"Hmmm."!
Tomoyo!giggled.!
"Hmmm?"!she!asked.!"No!hoe!?"!
Sakura!blushed.!
"Please!tell!me,!what!is!on!your!mind!SakuraDchan?"!
Before! she! knew! it,! Sakura! was! telling! Tomoyo! of! her! night! with!
Syaoran!that!had!occured!just!a!few!hours!ago.!Of!all!the!reactions!she!
could! have! imagined,! a! look! of! comprehension! and! pity! were!
intermingled!on!Tomoyo's!face.!
"TomoyoDchan?"!asked!Sakura.!"What!does!all!this!mean?"!
"He's!lonely."!
"But!how?!He!always!has!people!around!him."!
"Which!makes!it!worse,"!said!Tomoyo.!"Perhaps!he!thinks!you!are!the!
cure"to"his"solitude."!
"But!I!can't!be!"!exclaimed!Sakura.!"YuD"!
Tomoyo!put!a!finger!to!Sakura's!lips.!
"You! are! a! girl! no! longer,! SakuraDchan.! This! is! what! it! means! to! be! a!
woman.!Sacrifice.!It!is!not!as!terrible!as!it!sounds."!
"I!do!not!care!for!him!in!that!way!"!
"You! will! learn! to,"! said! Tomoyo! sympathetically.! "Eriol! always! said!
that! the! prince! was! the! person! in! the! City! who! has! the! greatest!
capacity!to!do!good.!Maybe!he!just!needs!kawaii!SakuraDchan!to!bring!
the!good!out."!
There!was!an!opening!of!the!door,!and!Sakura's!mouth!dropped!as!her!
father!walked!in.!
"OtouDsan?"!she!whispered.!
Sakura! blinked.! No,! it! was! not! her! father,! but! the! resemblance! was!
uncanny.!
"Hello,!I'm!TeradaDsensei."!
Even!his!smile!was!like!her!father's.!Immediately!Sakura!was!drawn!to!
him.!
TeradaDsensei,!with!occasional!help!from!Tomoyo!proceeded!to!teach!
63!
Sakura!Chinese.!Sakura!was!amazed!at!how!patient!and!kind!he!was!to!
her.! He! was! an! excellent! teacher! as! well.! The! problems! she! had! with!
the!language!were!easily!rectified.!His!way!of!teaching!was!to!talk!with!
her.! If! she! made! mistakes! he! corrected! her,! and! their! conversation!
continued.! He! had! Sakura! tell! him! about! Japan! and! her! family! and! in!
turn! he! told! her! about! his.! Tomoyo! even! told! the! story! of! how! she!
came!to!marry!Eriol.!
"My!mother!is!a!very!rich!woman!and!she!met!Eriol!once,!when!he!was!
on!a!business!trip.!He!was!a!royal!from!the!Forbidden!City,!so!I!believe!
that!my!mother!thought!it!would!be!a!good!match.!I!saw!him!before!my!
wedding.! I! did! not! mind.! He! seemed! like! a! good! person! and! he! is;!
though!he!is!very!strange!and!sadistic!at!times,!but!it!just!adds!to!his!
mysterious!aura.!Oohohoho."!
TeradaDsensei! and! Sakura! shared! a! silent! joke! at! Tomoyo's! remarks!
about!her!husband.!
"I! will! return! tomorrow,"! said! TeradaDsensei.! "You! have! the! basics! of!
Chinese! already! though.! I! am! impressed.! How! long! have! you! been!
here?"!
"I'm...!not!sure..."!murmured!Sakura.!
"Just!over!a!month,"!answered!Tomoyo.!
Has"it"been"a"month"already?!
Sakura! could! hardly! believe! it.! She! suddenly! became! aware! that! she!
knew! very! little! of! her! new! home.! Besides! this! room! she! resided! in,!
Syaoran's! chambers! and! his! bath! room,! she! knew! nothing! of! the!
Forbidden!City.!Who!were!its!other!occupants?!What!happened!in!the!
other! rooms?! How! many! rooms! were! there?! How! big! was! the! place?!
The!questions!soon!overwhelmed!her.!
"SakuraDchan,!are!you!alright?"!
Tomoyo!watched!her!concernedly.!Sakura!smiled!in!reply.!Tomoyo!bid!
farewell! to! TeradaDsensei! for! both! of! them.! She! gently! took! Sakura's!
hands!into!her!own.!
"You!look!as!pale!as!me,"!said!Tomoyo.!"You!should!rest."!
She!sent!for!food,!and!Chiharu!brought!it!herself!with!the!help!of!some!
eunuchs.! Sakura! missed! her! friendly! face.! Chiharu! sat! on! the! edge! of!
Sakura's!bed!as!Tomoyo!fed!a!protesting!Sakura.!
"Where!have!you!been,!Chiharu?"!she!asked.!
"I'm!sorry,"!said!Tomoyo.!"My!household!has!stolen!her!for!a!while."!
"I've!been!helping!to!take!care!of!KahoDsan,"!explained!Chiharu.!"She!is!
64!
due!soon."!
"Though!she!is!young,!Eriol!trusts!Chiharu,"!said!Tomoyo.!
They!were!talking!of!mundane!things,!when!Chiharu!sat!up!straight.!
"I!heard!Meilin!went!to!the!Great!Imperial!Son,"!said!Chiharu.!
Tomoyo!and!Sakura!nodded.!
"So!early?"!
"I!noticed!that!as!well."!
"They!must!be!preparing!her!with!various!rituals,"!said!Chiharu.!"QiaoD
sensei's!ideas,!no!doubt."!
"Of!course,"!said!Tomoyo.!"He!has!a!reputation!to!uphold."!
"Yes,!that's!true,"!said!Chiharu.!"Even!as!cruel!as!Meilin!can!be,!it!will!
be!a!shame!if!the!prince!divorces!her."!
"It's!only!been!two!years,"!said!Tomoyo!softly.!"There!is!still!time."!
"He! told! me,"! said! Sakura.! "That! Meilin! and! HuaDLing! will! never! have!
sons."!
Tomoyo!and!Chiharu!looked!at!Sakura.!
"So!he!has"given!up!on!them,"!said!Chiharu.!
"Perhaps,"! said! Tomoyo.! "Let! us! talk! no! longer! of! the! Great! Imperial!
Son's!affairs."!
"You!are!right,"!said!Chiharu.!"It!is!not!wise!to!do!so."!
! "I! have! received! confirmation,"! said! Eriol.! "That! Lu! Sheng's! spies! lie!
Lu! Sheng! stood! atop! a! mountain! that! overlooked! a! mediumDsized!
village.! It! was! early! morning! and! people! were! now! awaking.! Smoke!
began! to! rise! from! within! the! houses! and! the! sounds! of! the! village!
started.!Pots!and!pans!clanked,!the!buzz!if!people!talking!reached!his!
ears!and!the!bleating,!neighing!and!barking!of!animals!arose.!Out!of!the!
mist!around!the!mountain's!peak,!Enlai!emerged!like!a!ghost.!
"What!are!we!doing!all!the!way!up!here?"!complained!Enlai.!"It's!cold!"!
Lu!Sheng!ignored!him.!The!time!Enlai!did!not!complain!would!be!time!
for!concern.!He!had!greater!matters!to!consider.!
"Still!thinking!about!the!Great"Imperial"Son?"!
Lu!Sheng!gave!Enlai!a!patrionizing!stare.!Enlai!knew!he!had!hit!a!nerve!
though.!
"Everyone!in!that!Forbidden!City!has!a!weakness.!Except!him."!
"What!are!you!talking!about?"!asked!Enlai.!"He!will!protect!his!father!
at!all!costs.!That's!his!weakness."!
65!
"No,"! said! Enlai.! "I! know! Xiao! Lang.! His! duty! to! his! father! is! almost!
reflex.! It's! all! he's! ever! known.! He! will! not! fear! not! being! able! to!
protect! him.! I! need! to! know! what! he! cannot! bear! the! thought! of!
losing."!
"I! really! don't! see! the! fuss,"! said! Enlai! as! he! plopped! down! on! the!
ground.!He!lay!his!Guandao!at!his!side.!"There!are!three!of!us!and!one!
of!him."!
Lu!Sheng!shook!his!head.!
"You! cannot! begin! to! fathom! Xiao! Lang's! true! nature,"! said! Lu! Sheng.!
"There's!a!reason!Huangdi!keeps!him!always!within!arm's!reach."!
Harmless! shifted! behind! him.! Even! he! was! curious! now.! The! Great!
Imperial! Son! was! one! of! the! rare! people! Lu! Sheng! spoke! of! with!
respect.!
"There's!a!part!of!him!that!isn't!human.!I've!seen!it,"!stated!Lu!Sheng.!
"There's!a!part!of!all!us!that!isn't!human,"!commented!Enlai!who!was!
still!very!sceptical.!"That's!why!people!fear!us."!
"Did!everything!go!smoothly!with!the!envoys?"!
Lu!Sheng!turned!to!Harmless!who!had!just!arrived.!He!nodded.!
"All! of! Huangdi's! enemies! united! as! one,"! said! Lu! Sheng.! "The! time! is!
coming."!
!
closer!than!we!may!be!willing!to!believe."!
"Ridiculous,"!said!Renshu.!"Who!in!the!Forbidden!City!would!dare?"!
Eriol!uncharacteristically!raised!an!eyebrow.!All!the!men!in!the!room!
knew!why.!There!were!endless!contenders!for!the!throne;!and!all!their!
positions! were! desirable! for! those! who! fell! short! of! it.! It! was! not! as!
though! the! City! was! immune! to! plotting! and! mutiny.! The! men!
scrutinized! each! other! suspiciously.! Anyone! of! them! could! be!
harvesting!ill!will!for!the!other.!
"Now!is!not!the!time!to!become!paranoid,"!said!Huangdi,!in!a!powerful!
tone.!"But!I!will!say!this.!Any!man!found!of!treason!will!be!dealt!with!
great!harshness!that!has!not!been!seen!for!decades."!
Almost!instinctively,!the!officials!risked!a!glance!at!the!glaring!Syaoran.!
"If! Lu! Sheng! wants! a! war,"! continued! Huangdi.! "I! shall! be! more! than!
happy!to!provide!it.!There!is!no!army!he!can!build!in!so!short!a!time!to!
rival!our!own."!
66!
"Lu! Sheng! has! been! missing! for! years,"! said! Eriol.! "Who! knows! what!
allies!he!has!gathered.!I!urge!you!to!take!him!more!seriously,!instead!of!
putting!this!matter!as!last!on!the!meeting's!schedule."!
Syaoran!changed!his!sitting!position.!Huangdi!looked!at!him.!
"You!wish!to!say!something,!my!son?"!
"Eriol!is!the!most!annoying!cousin!anyone!can!have,!but!even!I!know!
that!he!is!also!one!of!the!most!powerful!sorcerors!and!seers!alive,"!said!
Syaoran!calmly.!"If!he!says!do!something,!it!is!wise!to!heed!him.!We!are!
wasting!time!on!politics."!
Silence.!
"Huangdi!makes!decisions!with!help!from!this!council,"!said!Chin,!one!
of!the!oldest!on!the!council.!"That!is!the!way!it!has!always!be!done,!and!
always! will! be! done.! We! exist! so! that! the! emperor! will! not! become!
arrogant!in!his!position.!"!
"Perhaps! things! should! change,"! said! Syaoran.! "What! nescessary!
information!do!you!provide!besides!to!tell!the!present!Huangdi!all!that!
he!cannot!do!because!of!the!past!Huangdi's!laws?"!
There!was!a!general! uproar! at! the! brashness! of! the! prince,! especially!
by! the! older! council! members.! It! was! a! fact! that! they! made! Huangdi!
aware! of! the! many! laws! throughout! his! ruling,! but! the! way! Syaoran!
said!it!disgusted!them,!because!it!was!the!truth.!
"You'll!have!to!excuse!him,"!said!Renshu!loudly.!"Our!silent!boyDprince!
has!found!his!manhood!since!he!got!a!concubine.!Then!again,!anyone's!
manhood!will!quickly!appear!for!her."!
Syaoran!stood!up!and!released!his!sword!in!one!movement.!The!men!
shut! their! mouths.! Syaoran! was! on! his! toes,! ready! to! strike.! Renshu!
glared.! He! was! in! an! unfavourable! position.! Syaoran! was! so! quick.!
Huangdi!watched!Syaoran,!very!interested!in!what!he!was!planning!to!
do.! What! was! it! that! had! provoked! him! so?! Renshu's! insult! or! his!
mentioning! of! the! concubine?! When! Renshu! wanted! to! get! beneath!
your! skin,! he! really! knew! just! how! to! do! it;! but! was! a! sharp! tongue!
better! than! a! sharp! sword?! In! any! case,! Huangdi! was! relieved! that!
Syaoran!could!be!gotten!to.!
"Our!emotions!are!getting!the!best!of!us,"!said!Huangdi.!"It!has!been!a!
productive! but! very! long! night.! We! all! know! our! roles! in! regards! to!
protecting!the!empire.!Xiao!Lang,!sit!down."!
Syaoran!took!his!seat!at!once.!His!eyes!remained!on!Renshu.!
"I! trust! every! man! in! this! room,"! continued! Huangdi.! "We! must! be!
strong!from!within.!Always.!This!empire!cannot!and!will!not!fall."!
67!
!
Syaoran!returned!to!his!room!infuriated.!Renshu!was!still!on!his!mind.!
The!bastard.!He!believed!it!was!Renshu's!fault!that!he!lost!his!control.!
It!could!not!be!a!fault!of!his!own.!It!could!not!be!because!of!Sakura.!Yes,!
he!was!affected!by!her,!but!not!to!that!extent.!Never.!It!was!all!he!could!
do! to! stop! the! flow! of! magic! within! him! from! being! unleashed! in! a!
terrible!way.!He!took!a!deep!breath!and!steadied!himself.!So!absorbed!
he!was!in!his!thoughts,!that!when!he!turned!around!he!was!shocked!to!
see! Meilin! sitting! on! his! bed.! He! did! not! even! sense! her?! What! was!
wrong!with!him?!
"What!are!you!doing!here?"!
"QiaoDsensei..."!explained!Meilin.!
Syaoran! whose! temper! had! still! not! ceased,! approached! Meilin.!
Grabbing!the!neck!of!her!robes,!he!pulled!her!up.!He!needed!something!
to!occupy!his!mind!other!than!Renshu.!Right!now!he!was!slightly!mad!
at!Sakura!as!well.!She!was!in!his!thoughts!all!the!time.!Leave"me"alone,"
dammit.!
He! pressed! his! lips! to! Meilin's! firmly.! The! kiss! was! long! and! deep.!
Meilin!held!onto!his!hand!as!she!felt!herself!tilting!backwards!from!the!
pressure.! Syaoran! broke! the! kiss.! Meilin! gasped! for! air,! but! her! body!
shook! with! excitement.! How! can! she! not! love! this! man?! The! power!
that!radiated!from!his!was!unlike!any!other.!He!had!never!kissed!her!
like!he!did!just!now.!Perhaps!he!was!beginning!to!feel!attracted!to!her!
as!well.!His!eyes!burned!with!emotion.!Meilin!licked!her!lips.!
Syaoran's! hands! were! already! undressing! her.! Meilin's! skin! burned.!
When!he!pushed!her!onto!the!bed,!she!flinched;!her!back!was!still!sore.!
That!did!not!matter!now!though.!He!wanted!her.!For!the!first!time,!she!
felt! as! though! her! husband! truly! desired! her.! Syaoran! squeezed!
Meilin's!breasts!as!he!kissed!her!mouth.!Her!hair!smelled!like!peonies.!
Why! did! they! smell! like! that! though?! It! was! supposed! to! smell! of!
something!else.!But!what?!
He!stripped!off!his!last!piece!of!clothing!and!spread!Meilin's!legs!apart!
with!his!own.!She!gasped!as!Syaoran!drove!himself!inside!her.!She!let!
out! a! short! scream! as! his! harsh! movements.! Syaoran! held! her! hand!
above!her!head,!as!he!pumped!in!and!out!of!her.!Meilin!wriggled!on!the!
sheets.!He!looked!down!at!her.!He!saw!her!discomfort,!but!he!could!not!
make!himself!stop.!He!needed!to!continue.!
Abruptly,!he!turned!Meilin!over.!Low,!pink!welts!ran!diagonally!across!
her! back.! Unfazed,! Syaoran! gripped! her! hips! and! kept! up! his! rhythm.!
His!mind!was!cloudy.!Meilin!moaned!beneath!him.!Her!hands!gripped!
68!
the! bed! sheets! tightly.! Syaoran's! speed! increased! to! the! point! where!
Meilin! yelped! with! every! thrust.! Finally,! Syaoran! drove! one! last! time!
into! Meilin.! He! pressed! their! hips! together.! As! he! collasped! on! top! of!
her,!he!smelled!the!peonies!again.!The!fog!of!his!mind!cleared.!It!was!
supposed!to!smell!like,!
"....cherry!blossoms..."!murmured!Syaoran.!
Slowly,! he! unpinned! Meilin! from! beneath! him.! He! went! to! sit! on! the!
edge! of! the! bed.! She! pretended! she! did! not! hear! his! last! words.! They!
meant!nothing.!
"You!can!leave!now,"!said!Syaoran.!
Meilin!went!over!to!him.!She!kissed!his!neck.!
"No,!please,"!she!said.!"I!can!do!so!much!more!for!you.!I!love!you."!
She!put!her!hand!in!Syaoran's!lap!and!rubbed!him!gently.!He!looked!at!
her.!Shifting!her!position,!she!kissed!his!chest.!Meilin!kneeled!in!front!
of! Syaoran.! She! caressed! his! thighs.! Never! breaking! eye! contact! from!
him,!she!took!him!into!her!mouth.!Syaoran!placed!a!hand!on!the!back!
of! her! head.! He! lay! back! on! the! bed! as! Meilin! continued! her!
ministrations.!Meilin!was!a!dutiful!and!loyal!wife.!Syaoran!admitted!to!
himself!that!he!did!neglect!her.!For!two!years,!he!gave!her!nothing.!It!
seems!he!will!be!taking!a!chapter!out!of!his!father's!book!this!evening.!
He!pulled!Meilin!onto!the!bed,!and!propping!his!head!on!his!hand,!he!
looked!down!at!her.!
"What!will!you!like!to!ask!of!me?"!
Meilin!took!a!deep!breath.!Her!first!thought!was!to!get!rid!of!that!girl,!
but!she!could!not!risk!upsetting!Syaoran.!
"Can!I!sleep!with!you!tonight?"!asked!Meilin.!"And!for!the!remainder!of!
the!week?"!
She!held!her!breath!as!Syaoran!contemplated!her!request.!After!some!
time,! he! nodded.! He! slipped! under! his! covers,! and! Meilin! still! in!
disbelief,! waited! until! Syaoran! pulled! back! the! sheets! for! her.! She!
followed! suit.! Syaoran! shut! his! eyes,! and! draped! a! hand! around! her.!
Meilin!wrapped!a!hand!around!him!tightly.!She!had!waited!so!long.!
! "What!do!you!mean?"!
"Meilin! is! not! back! yet,"! said! HuaDLing,! as! Tomoyo! and! Sakura! came!
out!of!Sakura's!room.!"Did!you!upset!the!prince?"!
"I!don't!think!so,"!said!Sakura.!
"Hmmm,"! said! HuaDLing.! "It! does! not! matter.! The! results! will! not!
change."!
69!
"How!can!you!be!so!sure?"!asked!Tomoyo.!
HuaDLing!drew!out!one!of!her!fans.!
"I! have! found! out! a! secret! of! hers! some! time! now,"! said! HuaDLing.! "A!
conniving!and!malicious!bitch!like!her!will!never!have!children."!
"You!should!not!say!things!like!that!about!anyone,"!said!Sakura.!
"What!do!you!know?"!asked!HuaDLing.!"Favourite!of!the!Great!Imperial!
Son.! He! never! protected! me! like! he! protects! you.! Meilin! dares! not! to!
raise!a!hand!against!you.!For!now."!
"For!now?"!
"Meilin! is! not! back! yet,"! HuaDLing! repeated.! "That! is! not! a! pleasant!
sign."!
Sakura! suddenly! noticed! the! absence! of! the! servants.! HuaDLing! was!
utterly!alone!before!she!and!Tomoyo!came!into!the!main!room.!
"Why! do! we! women! continue! to! have! divides! amongst! us?"! asked!
Tomoyo.!"We!are!all!we!have.!Yet!we!continue!to!fight!for!domination!
and!manipulate!each!other."!
"Sheltered!TomoyoDsan,!do!not!lecture!me!!You!have!not!lived!my!life."!
An!eunuch!entered!the!room.!
"TomoyoDsan,!I!have!come!to!escort!you!to!your!quarters."!
Reluctantly,! Tomoyo! kissed! Sakura! goodbye.! Sakura! went! to! HuaD
Ling's! side.! She! had! never! seen! her! in! any! way! other! than! composed!
before.!
"What!can!I!do!for!you!HuaDLing?!I!don't!like!seeing!you!sad."!
"They! are! all! out! there! wishing! to! be! us,"! said! HuaDLing,! to! some!
invisible!audience!behind!Sakura.!"They!know!nothing!about!what!lies!
within!these!City!walls."!
"Don't! say! that,"! said! Sakura.! "The! Great! Imperial! Son! told! me! I! have!
everything!here.!Maybe!he's!right."!
She!knew!this!was!a!lie!though.!
"It!will!only!get!worse!when!he!becomes!Huangdi,"!said!HuaDLing!as!if!
she!had!not!heard!Sakura.!
"Harem! life! is! like! living! in! a! snake! pit,"! said! HuaDLing.! She! held!
Sakura's! hands.! "I! was! so! happy! to! be! his! consort.! I! still! am,! but! if! I!
cannot!have!children!my!happiness!is!short!lived."!
"You! will! have! children! HuaDLing,"! said! Sakura.! "I! know! it.! Wait! and!
see."!
70!
"And!he!has!no!feelings!for!me.!In!no!way!will!I!be!of!any!value!to!him."! With! that! Yue! left! the! room.! What! was! it! with! children! these! days?!
She! tightened! her! hold! on! Sakura's! hand.! "Why! were! we! cursed! with! They! were! becoming! more! and! more! disobedient.! He! read! Sakura's!
such!beautiful!faces?"! emotions! clearly.! This! notion! of! love! was! problematic.! Even! when!
It!was!then!Sakura!finally!understood.! people!knew!they!could!die!for!it,!they!still!pursued!it.!Sakura...!It!was!
her!naivety!more!than!anything!else!that!irritated!him.!She!was!suited!
"You!are!in!love!with!Great!Imperial!Son...!"!
for!Yukito.!The!thought!irritated!him!furthur.!Just!how!long!will!he!be!
HuaDLing! rose! from! the! couch.! Silently,! she! returned! to! her! room.! able!to!keep!the!peace!in!this!place?!He!had!enough!to!occupy!his!time.!
Sakura!drew!her!knees!up!to!her!chest!and!hugged!her!legs.!Everyone! Women...!He!did!not!even!know!Yukito!liked!girls!!
was!so!unhappy.!Even!Tomoyo!had!a!wistful!look!on!her!face!when!she!
!
spoke!of!Eriol!and!Kaho.!Did!that!mean!she!had!to!be!unhappy?!OtouD
san!always!said!he!would!find!her!the!best!husband!in!the!world.!She!
had! blushed! at! those! times,! but! now! she! knew! that! he! really! wanted!
her!to!be!happy.!Her!parents!knew!love.!She!wanted!to!as!well.!Sakura!
could!hold!her!feelings!in!no!longer.!In!a!burst!of!inspiration!she!called!
one!of!her!servants.! !
"Please!ask!YukitoDsan!to!come!here."!
Unquestioningly,!the!girl!left!with!a!brisk!pace.!A!good!while!later,!she!
came! back.! Behind! her! stood! Yue.! Sakura! looked! up! at! his! towering!
form.! His! expression! was! anything! but! pleasant.! Still,! his! unearthly!
beauty!was!mindDnumbing.!
"Where's!YukitoDsan?"!she!managed!to!ask.!
Yue!took!hold!of!her!chin.!Their!faces!were!so!close,!the!maidservants!
shifted!uneasily.! !
"From!the!instant!I!saw!you,!I!knew!you!were!trouble."!
His! icy! blue! eyes! flickered.! He! loosened! his! grip! on! Sakura;! but! her!
body!rose!into!the!air.!They!were!eye!level!without!Yue!having!to!bend!
down.! Sakura! gasped! as! her! feet! swung! midDair.! The! maidservants!
regarded!Yue!warily.!
"Li!is!fond!of!you.!Do!not!betray!him,!especially"with!Yukito."!
"I!am!notD"!
Yue!shook!her!once!in!midDair.!Kero,!out!of!seemingly!nowhere,!ran!up! !
to!Yue!with!intent!to!bite.!One!look!from!the!man!however,!stopped!his!
attack.!
"You!are!looking!at!another!man,!which!is!enough!to!behead!you!for,"!
Yue!told!Sakura.!
"But!ID"!
He!put!her!down.!
"Do!not!call!for!Yukito!again."!

71! 72!
Chapter 6
Better"the"cottage"where"one"is"merry"than"the"palace"where"one"weeps.!
~"Chinese"Proverb!
No! one! was! calmer! than! Tomoyo! at! the! moment.! The! maidservants!
hurried! to! and! fro! purposefully.! Everything! everyone! did! in! the!
Forbidden!City!was!with!purpose,!she!observed;!but!that!was!Chinese!
society.! Everyone! had! a! duty! to! perform.! How! out! of! place! she! was!
now.!One!duty!she!had.!One,!and!she!had!not!done!it.!Instead!she!held!
her!sister!wife's!hand!as!she!performed!hers.!It!had!been!so!long,!and!
still! Kaho! had! not! delivered! the! child.! Tomoyo! gently! patted! some!
sweat!that!had!gathered!on!Kaho's!brows.!The!midDwife!had!her!hand!
on! Kaho's! belly,! as! she! timed! the! contractions.! Still! they! waited.! The!
child! was! days! late.! Would! it! never! come! out?! Perhaps"it"knew"all"the"
rules" and" laws" it" must" obey" in" this" world." Tomoyo! squeezed! Kaho's!
hand! at! that! thought.! How! could! she! think! such! a! thing! at! a! glorious!
time! like! this?! She! hoped! she! did! not! harm! the! child! with! such! evil!
thoughts.!The!young!were!so!vulnerable.!
Tomoyo!held!the!tea!cup!Chiharu!gave!to!her.!She!placed!it!near!Kaho's!
dry!lips.!
"Drink!this,!KahoDsan."!
Kaho!sipped!the!tea!until!it!was!all!gone.!She!sighed!softly.!The!room!
was! unbearably! hot! from! all! the! activity! and! people! in! it.! Kaho! drew!
even!breaths!as!she!prepared!for!the!birth!of!her!child.!
"You!are!doing!wonderfully,"!said!Tomoyo,!encouragingly.!
"TomoyoDsan,"!said!Kaho.!"Please,!sing!to!us.!Your!beautiful!voice!will!
draw!the!child!out."!
Tomoyo!smiled.!She!thought!of!the!best!song!to!sing.!Finding!none!to!
suit! the! occasion,! she! decided! to! make! one! up.! The! first! pleasing!
thought! that! entered! her! mind! was! Sakura.! Her! best! friend.! A! slow,!
bitterDsweet!melody!flowed!through!her!and!she!parted!her!lips.!
"A!cherry!blossom!appeared!one!day!to!me!
A!spring!to!my!bitter!winter!
Now!my!heart!aches!sweetly!
When!I!see!the!cherry!blossom.!
No!flower!will!ever!look!as!beautiful!to!me!
As!the!cherry!blossom!
The!most!beautiful!flower!in!Asia."!
73!
Kaho!threw!her!head!back!as!she!pushed!for!the!last!time.!A!sharp!slap!
sounded.!An!uninhibited!cry.!The!midDwife!wrapped!the!baby!in!a!fine!
cotton!cloth.!!
"EriolDsan!is!outside,"!whispered!Chiharu.!
The! maidservants! covered! Kaho's! lower! half! as! Eriol! came! into! the!
room.! The! midDwife! proudly! held! the! child! up! to! Eriol,! as! though! she!
had!been!the!one!doing!all!the!hard!work.!
"Another!boy."!
Eriol!took!the!baby!into!his!arms!and!looked!at!him.!He!slipped!a!piece!
of!smooth!jade!into!the!child's!coverings.!
"Hello,!little!one.!I!am!your!father."!
Eriol! smiled! at! Kaho! before! he! returned! his! son! to! the! midDwife.!
Signalling! to! Tomoyo! to! follow! him,! Eriol! left! the! room.! His! first! son!
Han,!who!had!already!learned!to!talked,!ambled!up!to!Eriol.!
"Father!"!
He! bent! down! and! picked! up! Han.! He! was! a! strange! child! to! look! at.!
Though!he!was!as!cute!as!all!children!were,!it!was!the!mix!of!features!
that!were!shocking.!He!looked!like!his!mother,!Kaho!but!his!eyes!were!
exact!replicas!of!Eriol's,!full!of!mystery.!Even!though!he!was!a!child!his!
presence!was!extremely!mature.!It's"the"eyes,!thought!Tomoyo.!
"Has! everyone! forgotten! you! because! of! your! brother?"! asked! Eriol!
amused.!"Now!that's!not!the!way!you!treat!the!firstborn!"!
He! threw! Han! into! the! air! and! caught! him.! Han! giggled! so! much,!
Tomoyo!feared!he!was!having!a!fit.!In!fact,!Tomoyo!had!secretly!been!
wishing!that!Kaho!had!a!girl;!not!out!of!jealousy!but!simply!to!see!how!
Eriol!would!react!to!one.!Would!he!play!with!her!like!he!did!with!Han,!
no!matter!how!much!work!he!had!to!do?!Would!he,!as!it!was!custom,!
cast!her!beneath!the!bed!with!a!broken!piece!of!porcelain!to!play!with!
as! neatly! as! he! had! given! jade! to! his! new! son?! Tomoyo! always!
considered!Eriol!to!be!one!of!the!fairest!men!she!had!come!across,!but!
she!could!not!shake!the!feeling!that!he!was!different!inside;!that!there!
were!parts!of!him!she!could!not!see.!
It!was!late,!so!Eriol!cut!the!fun!short!with!Han.!He!handed!his!son!over!
to!a!servant!and!he!the!left!the!women's!quarters.!A!smile!was!still!on!
his!lips.!
Unlike!the!Great!Imperial!Son,!Eriol!resided!very!near!his!women.!So,!it!
was!not!a!great!distance!to!get!to!his!room.!It!was!a!scholar's!room;!full!
of! books,! manuscripts,! blank! paper! and! ink.! Deep! purples! and! blues!
covered! nearly! all! surfaces.! Gold! was! always! to! be! found! around! him!
74!
though,! in! patterns! of! the! Sun.! Perhaps! it! is! why! he! named! his! child!
Han!D!gold.!Loosening!his!robes,!he!turned!to!her.!
"That!was!a!beautiful!song!you!sang!for!Kaho."!
"It!was!a!beautiful!event,"!said!Tomoyo.!
"Modest! as! always,"! Eriol! said! approvingly.! "So! Li's! concubine! has!
worked!her!magic!on!you!too."!
Tomoyo!was!momentarily!surprised,!but!recovered!easily.!
"She!is!the!greatest!friend!I!ever!had."!
"I've!noticed."!
Tomoyo!watched!him!questioningly.!
"You! room! is! full! with! paintings! of! her,"! said! Eriol.! "You! sew! all! the!
time,!yet!I!never!see!the!finished!pieces.!You!give!them!to!her,!do!you!
not?"!
Tomoyo!knew!Eriol!was!very!observant,!but!she!did!not!think!that!he!
had!noticed!that!much.!
"I! cannot! help! it,"! said! Tomoyo.! "Nor! do! I! want! to.! SakuraDchan! is! so!
kawaii!!How!can!someone!be!so!perfect?"!
"Do!you!not!think!you!have!great!beauty!as!well?"!
Eriol!was!curious.!Tomoyo!had!a!dark,!mystical!beauty,!much!different!
from!Kaho's!mature,!serene!face.!
"With! SakuraDchan! it! is! not! simply! physical! beauty,"! replied! Tomoyo,!
hands! clasped! in! front! of! her! chest.! "Being! in! her! presence! is! so!
liberating.!If!you!speak!to!her,!you!would!understand."!
Eriol! did! understand.! He! saw! the! girl's! effect! on! Xiao! Lang.! He! glared!
less! and! spoke! more.! Although! still! burdened! by! his! demons,! his!
cousin! bore! them! better.! Greatest! of! all! was! that! he! had! light! in! his!
eyes.! It! was! something! Eriol! had! never! seen! in! Xiao! Lang.! It! was! as!
Tomoyo! had! sang.! Sakura! was! a! spring! to! a! bitter! winter.! She! was! a!
void!sucking!all!evil!and!sadness!into!her;!but!she!was!human.!Tomoyo!
will!be!devastated!when!Sakura!was!consumed!by!the!Forbidden!City.!
She!would!never!be!able!to!survive!in!this!place.!Xiao!Lang!himself!will!
destroy!her.!Eriol!did!not!need!to!fortuneDtell!to!see!that.!
"Kaho! thinks! you! are! adorable,"! said! Eriol.! "The! way! you! dote! on! the!
concubine,!like!a!mother."!
Tomoyo!flinched!slightly.!Like"a!mother.!Eriol!took!Tomoyo's!hand!and!
led! her! to! his! bed.! They! kissed! like! longtime! lovers! do.! Slowly.!
Knowingly.!Their!hands,!caresses!and!other!parts!of!the!act!proceeded!
in! the! same! way.! Tomoyo! went! through! the! motions,! felt! all! the!
75!
feelings,! and! yet! she! could! not! help! but! feel! like! she! was! missing!
something.!As!she!lay!in!Eriol's!arms,!she!realized!there!was!not!a!time!
she!was!truly!happy.!Her!father!had!not!cared!for!her,!her!mother!was!
too!busy!proving!herself!to!men!after!he!died!and!her!servants!had!to!
be! kind.! Kaho! was! naturally! caring! to! others! and! Eriol! loved! her.!
Tomoyo!was!just...!another!woman.!Then!she!saw!Sakura,!and!for!the!
first!time!she!could!not!tear!her!eyes!away!from!something.!When!she!
was! allowed! to! call! her! SakuraDchan,! it! was! that! happy! moment! she!
had! longed! for.! Still,! she! did! not! wish! to! neglect! her! duties.! Tomoyo!
wanted!to!be!more!to!Eriol.!She!looked!up!at!him.!Already!his!glasses!
were!on!and!his!eyes!were!on!her.!
"I!will!have!a!son!for!you,"!said!Tomoyo.!"I!will!do!all!that!I!can!think!
of."!
Eriolkissed!her!on!the!forehead.!Slipping!on!his!hanfu,!he!went!over!to!
his!work!desk.!Tomoyo!was!not!hurt.!Eriol!always!listened,!even!when!
it!seemed!as!if!he!did!not.!These!nights,!whenever!she!was!with!him,!he!
would!remain!awake!until!sunrise!reading!and!making!notes.!She!did!
not!know!what!they!were!for,!but!she!knew!they!were!important.!Kaho!
must! know! what! it! was! though.! Her! magic! made! her! know! things! no!
one!else!did.!In!any!case,!if!there!was!anyone!Eriol!may!reveal!his!mind!
to!it!was!Kaho.!
"HiiragizawaDsan!"!came!an!urgent!call.!
Erioladjusted!his!hanfu!and!opened!the!door.!An!imperial!guard!stood!
outside.! Tomoyo! could! always! tell! the! persons! in! the! castle! by! their!
tone.! The! guards! spoke! with! a! high! level! of! respect! whereas! the!
eunuchs! and! maidservants! spoke! uncertainly! as! if! expecting! their!
masters'!minds!to!change!at!any!moment!D!as!was!the!case!often.!The!
guard! spoke! a! few! quick! words! to! Eriol,! then! disappeared! down! the!
corridor.!
Eriol! summoned! a! couple! of! eunuchs! to! help! him! dress! quickly! in!
another! room.! Tomoyo! remained! under! the! sheets,! wondering! what!
was!so!important!that!Eriol!was!meeting!with!Huangdiso!late.!His!new!
hanfu! sparkled! like! the! stars! as! he! returned! to! the! room! to! gather!
some!manuscripts.!Without!a!word,!he!was!gone.!
!
Eriol! entered! one! of! Huangdi's! meeting! rooms,! to! find! Syaoran,! Yue!
and!some!other!officials!there.!Syaoran's!face!was!deadlier!than!usual.!
Eriol! could! not! fault! him.! Lu! Sheng! had! posted! a! death! threat! for! the!
emperor!on!one!of!the!Gates!of!the!Forbidden!City.!The!note!lay!on!the!
table.!Syaoran!motioned!for!Eriol!to!look!at!it.!
76!
The! calligraphy! was! exceptional.! Lu! Sheng's! hand,! no! doubt.! Judging!
from!the!very!low!quality!of!the!paper,!Eriol!could!only!assume!that!Lu!
Sheng! believed! Huangdi! to! not! be! worth! anything! more.! The! words!
were!simple.!
"You,!Li!Yongzheng,!who!sits!on!the!imperial!throne,!
Prepare!yourself!to!be!removed.!
A!new!emperor!emerges!soon.!
A!true!emperor."!
"It!is!blatant!disrespect,"!remarked!one!of!the!officials.!
"How!can!no!one!have!seen!him?"!asked!another.!
"I!do!not!think!Lu!Sheng!posted!this!himself,"!said!Eriol.!
Huangdi!held!onto!Syaoran's!forearm.!
"It!must!have!been!one!of!his!spies,"!said!Eriol.!"At!present,!there!is!no!
way!to!know!who."!
"Until! that! time,"! said! Huangdi.! "As! insurance,! I! give! Xiao! Lang! full!
control!of!the!army."!
"Huangdi!"! exclaimed! Renshu.! "Syaoran! is! a! great! general,! but! full!
control!of!the!army?!I!have!been!a!general!far!longer!than!he!has.!I!am!
more!qualified."!
Huangdi!was!close!to!crushing!Syaoran's!arm.!
"I!trust!Xiao!Lang,"!said!Huangdi.!"To!do!this!task."!
"You!are!right!Huangdi,"!Eriol!agreed.!"It!does!not!reflect!well!on!you!
Renshu!to!appear!so!power!hungry."!
Renshu!glared!darkly!at!Eriol.!
"I! do! not! apologize! for! mistrusting! you! and! my! little! brother,"! said!
Renshu! condescendingly.! "But! the! life! my! emperor! and! father! is! at!
stake!"!
"That!is!why!my!son,"!said!Huangdi.!"You!will!now!be!in!charge!of!my!
personal!guards."!
Everyone,!including!Renshu!was!shocked!at!his!decision.!
"I!trust!my!sons,"!said!Huangdi.!
With! that! he! dismissed! the! meeting.! Syaoran! was! the! last! to! leave.! It!
was! disconcerting! to! see! his! father! look! so! old.! It! seemed! Lu! Sheng!
plagued!his!mind!after!all.!
"I!sent!Yukito!to!the!harem!to!retrieve!Yelan,"!said!Huangdi.!"She!is!a!
powerful!sorceress.!I!will!keep!her!closer."!
77!
"What!disturbs!you?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"The! note! was! meant! for! me,"! said! Huangdi.! "When! I! touched! it,! the!
magic! was! unlike! any! other! I! had! felt! before.! Eriol! was! correct.! Lu!
Sheng!has!learned!new!tricks.!I!will!not!be!surprised!if!he!lost!his!soul!
for!magic!as!dark!as!that."!
"Lu!Sheng!has!no!right!to!what!he!claims."!
"That! is! true,"! said! Huangdi.! "The! Mandate! of! Heaven! is! clear.! It! was!
meant!to!rid!China!of!rulers!with!personalities!such!as!him."!
Huangdi!looked!at!Syaoran!gravely.!
"When! it! is! your! turn,! rule! China! well! Xiao! Lang.! Do! not! disappoint!
your!ancestors!and!I."!
!
That! morning,! as! he! was! in! bed! with! Meilin,! Syaoran! realized! that!
there! may! actually! be! a! war! to! rival! any! other! he! had! taken! part! in.!
This! time,! he! was! not! fighting! simple! men,! he! was! fighting! Lu! Sheng.!
No!doubt!Lu!Sheng!was!as!cautious!of!them!as!they!were!of!him,!but!he!
had! never! been! faced! with! dark! magic! before.! Would! his! reign,! if! it!
indeed!came!be!as!filled!with!battles!as!his!father's?!Anyway,!it!did!not!
matter.!With!each!battle,!Huangdi!gained!more!citizens!as!rival!kings'!
towns!and!villages!were!captured.!When!would!they!learn?!
Meilin! awoke! as! Syaoran! left! the! bed.! Syaoran! was! aware! that!
something!was!on!her!mind.!Her!emotions!were!very!blatant.!Her!stare!
ran! over! his! bare! body.! Was! she! thinking! of! asking! him! to! stay! one!
more! night?! Tonight! will! be! the! last! night! he! had! promised! her.!
Unfortunately!for!Meilin,!while!her!presence!was!very!familiar!to!him!
and!she!was!stunning,!he!was!never!strongly!attracted!to!her.!She!was!
skilled!when!it!came!to!physical!things!though,!and!in!that!aspect,!she!
was!satisfying.!
"What!is!it?"!he!asked!Meilin!finally.!
"Can!I!request!something!of!you?"!
"Yes."!
Syaoran!searched!for!his!shoes!he!had!kicked!off!earlier!that!morning.!
"As!First!Wife,"!Meilin!began,!almost!breathlessly.!"I!wish!that!you!get!
rid!of!that!girl."!
"What!girl?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"The!Japanese!girl."!
Syaoran!spun!around!to!face!Meilin.!He!looked!her!straight!in!the!eyes.!
78!
"Xiao!Ying!stays."!
"WhyD?"!
"Get!a!hold!of!your!jealousy!Meilin,"!warned!Syaoran.!
"I! am! not! jealous!"! said! Meilin.! "But! she! is! Japanese.! How! can! you! be!
with!someone!who!is!Japanese?!And!she!is!a!peasaD"!
The!dark!look!on!Syaoran's!face!shut!her!up.!
"Xiao!Ying!is!new!here,"!Syaoran!told!Meilin.!"As!First!Wife,!you!should!
look!after!her!and!not!bring!silly!requests!before!me,!simply!because!I!
favour!her!at!the!moment."!
"I'm! sorry,"! said! Meilin.! She! smiled! brightly,! trying! to! appeal! to!
Syaoran's!good!side.!"I!just!love!you!so!much."!
Syaoran!finding!his!shoes!went!to!the!door.!
"There! will! be! other! women! Meilin,"! he! stated.! "Accept! the! fact!
gracefully.!I!never!asked!for!you,!HuaDLing!or!Xiao!Ying!but!I!accepted!
the!responsibility!for!you!all."!
!
The! eunuchs! and! maidservants! were! surprised! to! see! the! Great!
Imperial!Son!wandering!the!halls.!Normally!he!was!in!the!grounds!or!
with! the! emperor.! They! worked! around! him! fearfully,! not! wishing! to!
raise!his!wrath!against!them.!The!women!they!waited!on!were!terrible!
enough.! Still,! they! could! not! help! but! take! quick! peeks! at! the! prince.!
Male!or!female,!it!did!not!matter;!they!were!all!drawn!to!him.!Syaoran!
came!upon!the!genteel!Yukito,!head!guard!to!the!harem.!It!was!a!sight!
to!behold;!it!was!the!sight!of!opposites.!How!could!they!be!comrades?!
It! was! yet! another! palace! mystery.! Just! like! the! mystery! about! a!
concubine! who! had! captivated! the! Great! Imperial! Son.! The! servants!
shook!their!heads!as!they!conversed!with!each!other!in!hushed!voices.!
The! Great! Imperial! Son! had! no! heart,! so! this! could! not! be! so.! Still,!
everyone!likes!a!good!story,!true!or!not.!
"LiDsan!"!Yukito!greeted!Syaoran!as!usual.!
Syaoran! nodded! in! reponse,! but! he! had! a! strange! feeling! that! Yukito!
almost!seemed!to!freeze!when!he!saw!him,!but!he!must!be!imagining!
things.!
"We've!had!quite!an!eventful!morning,"!said!Yukito.!"But!now!the!sun!
is! shining! so! brilliantly! and! the! day! seems! so! peaceful.! It! is! indeed! a!
day!to!be!outdoors."!
"I!am!going!to!train,"!said!Syaoran!dryly.!"Are!you!coming?"!
"Who! knows! how! many! more! days! we! shall! have! such! as! this! one,"!
79!
said!Yukito.!"I!want!to!simply!enjoy!it,!by!doing!nothing!"!
He!smiled!at!Syaoran.!
"Perhaps!you!should!do!so!as!well."!
Syaoran! was! always! able! to! be! swayed! by! Yukito.! For! as! long! as! he!
could! remember,! he! and! Yukito! got! along! very! well.! They! had! a!
balanced! friendship! because! of! their! differing! personalities.! Yukito!
even!got!in!trouble!with!the!emperor!because!of!Syaoran!many!times.!
The! emperor! punished! him! but! to! Syaoran,! the! punishments! did! not!
seem!that!bad!at!all.!Then!again,!who!could!stand!to!gravely!harm!the!
innocent!looking!Yukito!for!bringing!food?!
"D! and! your! wives! will! like! it,"! said! Yukito.! "If! my! memory! is! correct,!
you!have!never!all!been!together!even!once.!Family!is!important.!It!is!
the!basis!of!all!things."!
"We!were!together!at!Huangdi's!gathering."!
"Only!because!he!made!you,"!said!Yukito!knowingly.!"So!how!about!we!
all!take!the!day!off?"!
Syaoran!had!to!admit,!it!was!a!good!idea,!as!all!Yukito's!ideas!usually!
were.!So!he!found!himself!in!one!of!the!Imperial!Gardens,!waiting!for!
his! women! and! whoever! else! the! delighted! Yukito! was! sure! to! bring.!
Against!Yukito's!wishes,!Syaoran!practiced!wushu!while!he!waited.!He!
liked!the!feeling!of!control!he!had!over!his!body!and!the!quiet!energy!
that! flowed! through! his! veins.! Nothing! else! mattered! when! he! was!
training.! The! world! was! exactly! how! he! wanted! it.! The! wind! moved!
where! he! pushed! it,! the! trees! tossed! their! branches! mimicking! his!
movements,!and!the!sounds!of!nature!made!music!for!him.!
Syaoran! stopped.! He! felt! more! auras! than! just! that! of! four! people.!
Yukito...! the! host! of! hosts.! Meilin,! HuaDLing! and! Yukito! appeared! first.!
Sakura,! Tomoyo,! TeradaDsensei's! wife,! Chiharu! and! another! woman!
with!short!hair,!were!behind!them.!Coming!in!last!was!a!man!he!knew!
well!and!had!taken!a!liking!to.!
"LiDsan!"! called! Yamazaki! .! "It's! been! a! while! since! you! visited! the!
stables."!
"How!is!my!old!friend?"!asked!Syaoran!with!interest.!
"The!most!handsome!horse!in!the!world!as!usual,"!said!Yamazaki!with!
a!bow.!"The!thing!is,!I!think!he!knows!it!now.!You!should!see!the!way!
he!shows!off!"!
Syaoran! nodded! with! pride.! He! was! relieved! Yukito! had! not! brought!
the! entire! palace.! He! was! too! nice! all! of! the! time.! His! jaw,! however,!
tightened! when! he! saw! the! last! person! to! arrive.! She! always! had! to!
80!
make! an! entrance.! Her! elaborate! yet! modest! ruqun! was! long! and!
flowing!about!her.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!she!greeted!him.!"You!should!not!look!so!dismayed!to!see!
your!mother."!
Syaoran! made! no! reply,! but! she! continued! to! watch! him.! It! irritated!
him!the!way!she!studied!him!whenever!they!were!together.!What!did!
she! want?! The! group! sat! around! a! low! square! table! to! eat! the! many!
dishes! the! servants! had! brought! to! them.! Sakura! never! ceased! to! be!
amazed!by!the!variety!of!foods!she!was!able!to!choose!from.!Syaoran!
ate!nothing.!Instead!he!and!Yukito!listened!to!some!new!tale!Yamazaki!
was!telling!him.!If!it!had!not!been!a!wellDknown!fact!that!Yamazaki!was!
quite! a! storyDteller! Syaoran! might! have! believed! every! word! that!
escaped!his!mouth.!He!was!that!convincing.!
The!girls!D!Tomoyo,!Rika!and!who!Syaoran!now!knew!to!be!Naoko,!one!
of! his! mother's! maidservants! D! were! playing! with! Cerberus,! or! as!
Sakura! liked! to! call! him,! KeroDchan.! HuaDLing! and! Meilin! spoke! with!
Yelan,!who!had!her!eyes!on!Sakura!all!the!while.!What!was!she!up!to?!
Syaoran! never! trusted! her.! His! father! always! warned! him! of! women!
like!her!D!women!who!wished!to!equate!themselves!with!men.!
Sakura! laughed! out! loud! which! caught! Syaoran's! attention.! She! was!
happy!and!he!was!content!that!he!had!in!some!way!made!her!this!way.!
Sakura,! who! had! very! red! cheeks! at! present,! kept! glancing! in! his!
direction!and!this!pleased!him.!After!Yamazaki!had!finished!his!story,!
Yukito!got!up!before!he!had!started!another!one.!He!headed!over!to!the!
girls!to!join!their!taunting!of!the!golden!tiger.!He!frowned.!Sakura!was!
not! looking! at! him! anymore.! Sakura! spoke! more! and! more!
enthusiastically! with! each! passing! moment.! Suddenly,! she! jumped! to!
her!feet.!She!said!something!to!Tomoyo.!Spreading!her!arms!wide,!she!
twirled! round! and! round.! The! light! breeze! blew! through! her! short,!
shiny! hair,! and! the! golden! thread! on! her! clothes! glittered! in! the!
sunlight.!Syaoran!wanted!her!attention.!Now.!
Leaving!Yamazaki!in!the!middle!of!his!story,!he!walked!over!to!Sakura.!
He! put! his! hands! out! and! stopped! her! in! the! middle! of! a! twirl.!
Everyone!looked!at!them.!
"What!is!your!reason!for!doing!this?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Her! actions! were! so! sporadic! to! him,! he! genuinely! wanted! to! know.!
Sakura!blushed!at!the!intensity!of!his!stare.!
"I! don't! know,"! said! Sakura! uncertainly.! "I! love! being! outside.! I! feel!
free,!like!a!bird!!In!fact,!I!would!not!mind!being!a!bird!!Then!I!can!fly!
wherever!I!like,!whenever!I!like."!
81!
Her!eyes!gazed!longingly!towards!the!sky.!Syaoran!put!a!hand!around!
her! waist,! drawing! her! closer! to! him.! Yelan! was! appalled! at! his!
behaviour!in!public.!Such!touches!were!meant!to!occur!behind!closed!
doors.!
"Would! you! like! to! fly! now?"! asked! Syaoran! with! a! hand! on! Sakura's!
cheek.!
Sakura's!eyelids!grew!heavy.!
"...Yes..."!
A! gust! of! wind! gathered! at! their! feet.! Sakura! was! unable! to! take! her!
eyes!off!Syaoran.!It!was!as!if!she!was!seeing!him!for!the!first!time!and!
trying! to! remember! every! detail! which! made! him! who! he! was.! There!
was! nothing! else! but! them.! Sakura's! body! rose! into! the! air.! Slowly!
turning!in!circles,!Sakura!and!Syaoran!rose!into!the!air.!As!the!tips!of!
the!trees!came!into!view,!Sakura!gasped.!
"I'm!flying!"!
Sakura!laughed!brightly.!
"I'm!flying!"!She!hugged!Syaoran!tightly.!"Thank!you!"!
"If! I! had! known! this! would! make! you! happy,"! said! Syaoran.! "I! would!
have!done!it!a!long!time!ago."!
"Really?"!
Syaoran! gave! her! the! smallest! smile.! His! entire! face! changed! and!
Sakura! was! captivated! by! him! again.! He! did! not! look! like! the! Great!
Imperial! Son.! He! looked! younger.! His! eyes! held! a! tenderness! as! he!
gazed!at!her.!Sakura!was!amazed!at!how!normal!he!seemed.!Her!heart!
almost! stopped! beating! as! she! realized! that! she! could! possibly! fall! in!
love! with! the! Great! Imperial! Son.! Yes,! he! was! harsh! but! most! men!
were.!He!always!tried!to!be!kind!to!her.!Even!though!her!feet!were!not!
on!the!ground,!Sakura!was!not!scared!because!he!was!there!with!her.!
When!they!returned!to!the!earth,!the!others!were!not!in!sight.!
"Where! are! we?"! asked! Sakura! looking! around! at! their! surroundings.!
Only!trees!were!in!sight.!Syaoran!kissed!her!neck.!
"I!have!not!touched!you!for!so!long,"!he!said.!
Syaoran! held! Sakura's! shoulders! as! he! leaned! in! to! kiss! her.! She!
wanted!him!to.!It!could!have!been!because!of!all!his!touches!over!the!
past! month,! but! her! body! yearned! for! him! to! be! near.! She! leaned!
forward!to!meet!his!lips.!Her!eyes!closed.!
Sakura!drew!in!a!breath!as!their!lips!met.!Syaoran's!hands!ran!up!and!
down! her! back! slowly,! smoothly.! Sakura! felt! as! though! she! had!
82!
returned! to! the! sky.! Syaoran! pulled! her! body! closer,! eliminating! any!
space!between!them.!Sakura!felt!a!fluttering!in!her!belly.!Syaoran!held!
her!jaw,!easing!her!mouth!open.!Her!eyes!widened!briefly,!as!she!felt!
his! tongue! slip! inside! her! mouth.! His! grip! on! her! tightened.! Sakura!
held!onto!his!clothes,!willing!her!body!to!stay!upright.!
Syaoran!reluctantly!pulled!away!from!her,!so!that!she!could!catch!her!
breath.! Sakura's! cheeks! were! flushed.! Her! lips! were! very! pink! and!
slightly! pouted.! Her! chest! rose! up! and! down! unevenly.! She! backed!
away! from! Syaoran! to! steady! herself! and! regain! control! of! her! mind.!
She!bumped!against!a!tree!and!Syaoran!approached!her.!His!eyes!were!
dark.!Sakura!turned!around,!her!forehead!against!the!trunk!of!tree.!She!
had! enjoyed! that! kiss! so! much,! but! how! could! she?! She! cared! for!
Yukito.!But!he!was!not!here;!the!prince!was.!Syaoran!pressed!his!hips!
against! her! rear.! He! groaned! against! her! neck.! The! vibration! made!
Sakura!shiver.!
"Great...!Imperial...!Son..."!
"Call!me!by!my!name,"!Syaoran!said!against!her!ear.!
"I!don't!know...!I!don't..."!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Syaoran.!"Say!it."!
Sakura!turned!her!head!to!glance!at!him.!
"Xiao...!Lang..."!
It!came!out!as!a!moan.!It!drove!Syaoran!senseless.!He!fought!to!loosen!
her! clothes.! Damn"things.! He! managed! to! get! an! opening! through! the!
collar.! He! reached! inside! and! ran! his! hand! across! one! of! her! breasts.!
His!pelvis!was!still!pressed!against!her!bottom.!Sakura!moaned!again,!
turning!her!body!slightly.!Syaoran!used!to!opportunity!to!capture!her!
lips! in! another! kiss.! He! squeezed! her! nipple! and! she! moaned! into! his!
mouth.!Syaoran!was!so!hard,!he!knew!that!if!he!did!not!stop!soon,!he!
never!will.!Sakura's!lips!and!skin!felt!so!soft!against!his!own.!Her!scent!
was!heaven!to!him.!
Sakura! vaguely! felt! a! rod! pressing! against! her.! Syaoran! turned! her!
around!to!face!him,!their!lips!still!molded!together.!He!ran!his!hands!all!
over! her! body.! He! kissed! her! between! the! breasts.! Syaoran! cursed! in!
his!mind.!Why"did"Chinese"clothing"have"so"many"damn"layers?"Growing!
frustrated,! Syaoran! lay! her! on! her! back.! She! took! in! a! breath! as! he!
momentarily! released! her! lips.! He! kneeled! over! Sakura.! As! Syaoran!
kissed! her,! he! continued! to! rub! his! groin! against! hers.! It! helped! his!
pleasure!somewhat.!Sakura!was!breathing!heavily.!He!kissed!her!neck!
and!bit!down!on!it.!
83!
Sakura! was! unaware! of! anything! besides! Syaoran.! The! leaves! of! the!
trees! above! were! all! blending! together! as! one.! Every! was! a! blur.! The!
sounds! of! the! birds! had! ceased.! There! was! only! a! burning.! Her! body!
was! hot.! She! wanted! to! cry.! The! feeling! was! so! overwhelming.! She!
pressed! her! groin! against! Syaoran's.! The! rhythm! was! so! stimulating.!
Between!her!legs!felt!moist.!She!needed!more.!Her!fingers!gripped!the!
back!of!Syaoran's!clothes!tightly.!
Syaoran! spread! the! opening! of! her! clothes,! pulling! it! down! her!
shoulders.! His! lips! were! immediately! on! the! exposed! skin.! Syaoran!
pulled! on! her! ruqun! again,! violently! this! time.! Sakura! flinched! as! she!
felt! the! hardness! of! the! ground.! Stones! grazed! her! skin.! Her! hands!
came!up!to!hide!her!breasts!as!she!realized!no!clothes!were!covering!
them.!Syaoran!was!above!her,!staring!at!her.!Sakura!felt!helpless.!She!
did!not!want!to!do!this!anymore.!She!tried!to!get!up,!but!he!pushed!her!
back!down.!She!stiffened.!
"Great!Imperial!Son..."!
He!did!not!seem!to!hear!her.!He!was!prying!her!hands!away!from!her!
chest.!Syaoran!held!Sakura's!hands!on!either!side!of!her!head.!
"Wait!D!Great!Imperial!Son."!
He! kissed! the! tops! of! her! breasts.! What! could! she! do?! Her! body! was!
reacting!to!him,!but!she!did!not!want!it!to.!Sakura!squirmed.!
"Xiao!Lang!"!she!screamed.!
Syaoran! froze.! Slowly,! he! removed! himself! from! Sakura.! He! did! not!
look!at!her!once.!She!covered!herself!quickly.!Syaoran!straightened!his!
training!wear.!He!closed!his!eyes!and!breathed!deeply.!Time!passed!by.!
Sakura!did!not!understand!what!was!happening!to!her!body!at!all.!She!
was!relieved!but!she!had!this!peculiar!feeling!of!dissatisfaction.!
"What!are!you!doing!to!me?"!
Syaoran! still! was! not! looking! at! her.! Sakura! did! not! know! how! to!
answer!him.!
"I!find!it!so!difficult!to!not!just!take!D"!
He!went!to!touch!her,!but!changing!his!mind,!he!put!his!hand!in!his!lap.!
He!sighed.!
"Did!you!not!enjoy!it?"!he!asked!Sakura!as!he!looked!into!her!eyes.!
"Yes,"!she!replied!truthfully.!
"Then!why!did!you!stop!me?"!
Sakura!could!not!believe!that!this!man,!who!was!asking!this!question!
like!a!distraught!child,!was!the!same!detached!prince!she!knew.!
84!
"I!was!scared!and!confused."!
"Confused!about!what?"!
Sakura! remained! silent.! Again,! she! did! not! know! how! to! answer! him.!
How!could!she!tell!him!about!Yukito.!Syaoran!looked!away.!
"It's!fine.!Another!time!then."!
He! stood! up! and! Sakura! followed! him.! She! knew! his! mood! was! her!
fault.! Doing! this! was! so! important! for! the! prince.! Sakura! took! hold! of!
one!of!his!hands.!
"I'll!do!whatever!you!want!me!to!do."!
"I!know,"!said!Syaoran.!He!stroked!her!cheek!with!his!thumb.!"You're!
very!beautiful,!Xiao!Ying."!
Sakura!blushed.!
"Thank!you,!Great!ImperD"!
"I!told!you!to!call!me!Xiao!Lang.!It!is!my!name."!
"Oh...What!does!it!mean?"!asked!Sakura!curiously.!
"Little!Wolf,"!said!Syaoran.!
Sakura!giggled.!
"It!suits!you!Xiao!Lang,"!she!said.!
Syaoran!stalked!off!abruptly.!Sakura!could!have!sworn!she!saw!a!hint!
of!pink!on!his!cheeks.!
It! was! not! long! before! they! made! it! back! to! their! friends! and! family.!
The! small! affair! had! gone! on! well! without! them,! thanks! to! Yamazaki!
and! Yukito.! Even! Kero! in! all! his! comfort! fell! asleep.! It! was! clear! that!
something! had! happened! between! Syaoran! and! Sakura! but! no! one!
mentioned!anything.!
"The!women!have!been!out!long!enough,"!said!Syaoran.!
The!servants!helped!everyone!to!their!feet.!Sakura's!heart!dropped.!
"Must!we!go!in!now?"!
Yes,! thought! Syaoran.! "If! you! wish,! you" can! stay! a! little! while! longer.!
Yukito!will!return!you!in!a!good!time."!
Sakura! looked! at! Yukito,! but! he! was! looking! at! Syaoran.! She! hugged!
Tomoyo! goodDbye.! Yelan! came! up! to! Sakura! after! Syaoran! left.! Her!
figure!was!intimidating.!Her!lips!were!red,!her!eyes!dark!and!her!hair!
even!darker!and!very!long.!She!looked!over!Sakura!carefully.!
"I! have! wanted! to! meet! you! for! some! time! Sakura,"! said! Yelan! in!
Japanese.!Then!surprisingly,!she!bent!down!and!kissed!Sakura!on!the!
85!
cheek.!
"As! I! said! earlier,! you! were! right! TomoyoDsan,"! said! Yelan.! "She! is...!
kawaii."!
Tomoyo!sighed!dreamily.!
"You! are! stronger! than! you! think! Sakura,"! Yelan! told! her! softly.! "Stay!
close!to!Xiao!Lang."!
With!that,!she!left!with!Tomoyo!and!Naoko.!The!garden!was!quiet!now.!
Sakura! knew! Yukito! was! standing! behind! her,! yet! she! could! not! face!
him.!
"SakuraDsan,"!he!called!gently.!"Do!you!want!to!see!the!pond?"!
She!nodded!and!followed!him,!leaving!Kero!behind.!If!he!woke!up!now,!
he!would!just!want!more!food!and!all!had!been!taken!away.!As!they!sat!
on! the! stone! that! surrounded! the! pond,! Sakura! gazed! at! Yukito! from!
under! her! bangs.! He! was! as! relaxed! as! ever.! She! felt! herself! going!
hanyaan.!He!caught!her!looking!at!him.!She!averted!her!eyes.!
"I!heard!you!sent!for!me!one!day,"!said!Yukito.!"But!Yue!came!instead.!
Was!he!mean!to!you?"!
Sakura!shook!her!head,!even!though!she!felt!chills!thinking!about!Yue's!
piercing!eyes.!
"Good,"! said! Yukito! brightly.! "Well! I'm! here! now.! What! is! it! that! you!
wanted?"!
Sakura! was! not! sure! she! could! confess! to! Yukito! now.! She! did! not!
know! what! to! make! of! them,! but! she! knew! she! had! feelings! for! Xiao!
Lang!as!well.!
"I!D!I!wanted!to!say..."!
Memories!of!the!prince's!body!against!her!own!clouded!her!mind.!His!
voice!was!so!passionate.!
"I!wanted!to!tell!you...!that!I..."!
"I!see,"!said!Yukito.!
"You!do?"!asked!a!shocked!Sakura.!
Yukito!smiled!again.!They!remained!in!silence!for!a!while.!
"I'm! glad! to! see! you! are! happier! in! the! Forbidden! City! now,"! said!
Yukito.!He!looked!into!Sakura's!eyes.!"You!have!even!grown!closer!to!
the!Great!Imperial!Son."!
Sakura!felt!her!heart!sinking.!Could!he!have!possibly!felt!something!for!
her! too?! In! desperation! for! him! to! understand,! she! placed! her! hand!
over!Yukito's.!He!made!no!movement.!Sakura!got!up!and!stood!in!front!
86!
of! him.! Yukito! brushed! his! fingers! lightly! against! Sakura's! ruqun,!
feeling!the!soft,!silky!materials.!
"You! were! brought! here! against! your! will,"! said! Yukito! quietly.! "It! is!
natural!for!you!to!find!some!way!to!rebel."!
Sakura! felt! like! she! was! slapped.! How! could! he! think! so! little! of! her!
feelings?!
"Yukito,!I!lD"!
Yukito! stood! and! placed! a! finger! on! her! lips.! He! caressed! her! cheek!
fondly.!
"Maybe!Xiao!Lang!will!understand,"!said!Sakura.!
"What!did!you!call!him?"!Yukito's!eyebrows!were!raised.!
"Xiao! Lang,"! said! Sakura! impatiently.! "He! told! me! to! call! him! Xiao!
Lang."!
Yukito! stared! at! Sakura! in! disbelief.! She! was! so! innocent.! Far! more!
innocent! than! him.! He! wanted! her! to! be! his.! He! finally! desired! a!
woman! and! she! was! one! he! could! not! have.! Xiao"Lang....! What! did! he!
think!D!that!Syaoran!will!discard!of!her!and!he,!Yukito!could!swoop!in!
and!have!her!for!himself?!Yes,!he!did!think!that.!When!he!saw!Syaoran!
earlier,! he! had! been! thinking! of! Sakura.! His! thoughts! were! not! all!
platonic! and! for! that! they! grieved! him.! Yukito! wanted! nothing! more!
than!to!hold!Sakura!close!right!now.!He!dare!not!let!his!mind!wander!
with!thoughts!of!her!again.!Why?!Why!did!Li!choose!her?!Yukito!could!
not!stand!up!to!him.!
"In! the! Forbidden! City,"! said! Yukito! steadily.! "We! put! duty! before! all!
else."!
He!stepped!away!from!Sakura.!
"I!will!return!you!to!your!quarters."!
! forbidden! even! to! him.! The! times! however,! called! for! some!
"So!you!delivered!our!letter?"!asked!Lu!Sheng.!
Harmless!gave!a!curt!nod!as!he!walked!into!their!encampment.!
"Good,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!"You!took!longer!than!I!expected.!And!what!of!
our!spy?"!
Harmless!handed!Lu!Sheng!a!sealed!sheet!of!paper.!Breaking!the!seal!
Lu!Sheng!read!it!silently.!
"I!see,"!he!said.!"The!emperor!has!increased!the!barriers!on!the!castle.!
We!will!have!a!hard!time!infiltrating!it.!You!will!work!on!this.!You!have!
the!greatest!chance!of!getting!in.!After!all,!you!did!succeed!in!reaching!
87!
the!Gates."!
Harmless!nodded!again.!
"Anything! on! Xiao! Lang?"! asked! Enlai.! He! was! eating! a! large! piece! of!
chicken!ravenously.!
"Yes,"! said! Lu! Sheng! setting! the! paper! on! fire.! It! twisted! and! folded!
above!his!hand!as!it!blackened!and!turned!to!ash.!"But!this!information!
cannot! be! correct.! I! will! wait! for! a! furthur! update.! I! will! inform! you!
then."!
!
Days!had!passed!by!and!still!Syaoran!could!not!escape!the!memory!of!
the! soft! feel! of! Sakura's! skin! against! his! own.! He! had! been! thinking!
over! the! events! of! that! day! continuously.! Analysing! everything! that!
was! done! and! said.! What! was! he! searching! for?! Something! was!
bothering! him! beyond! belief.! It! angered! him! that! he! had! more!
important!things!to!consider!than!his!concubine!yet!he!could!not!focus!
on! anything! but! her! anymore.! These! emotions! that! had! arisen! within!
him!was!driving!him!mad.!All!of!a!sudden!Syaoran!sat!up!straight.!He!
was! talking! to! Yamazaki! and! Sakura! kept! glancing! over! at! him.! He!
knew!this.!He!saw!her!everytime.!However...!was!her!gaze!just!slightly!
off?!Yes,!slightly.!Then,!Yukito!got!up!and!went!over!to!play!with!KeroD
chan.!Sakura!stopped!looking!at!him.!Yukito!got!up;!and!Sakura...!
His! fists! clenched! tightly.! Syaoran's! jaw! was! tight.! His! chest! was!
constricted.! Sakura! told! him! she! did! not! have! feelings! for! Yukito.! No,!
she!did!not.!He,!in!his!arrogance!assumed!she!did!not.!Of!course!Yukito!
was!oblivious!to!the!fact.!Being!guardian!of!the!harem!made!him!blind!
to!affections!directed!at!him.!His!life!depended!on!that!ability.!Still!he!
needed!to!be!sure.!
Syaoran! made! his! way! to! a! part! of! the! Forbidden! City,! that! was!
disobedience.! The! eunuchs! and! maidservants! bowed! as! he! walked!
pass,!though!their!first!instinct!was!to!stop!him.!If!the!emperor!found!
out! he! was! there! they! would! be! in! serious! trouble! with! Huangdi! and!
with! him.! So,! it! was! best! they! pretended! that! Syaoran! was! not! there.!
Syaoran!easily!found!the!entrance,!though!he!had!never!set!foot!in!the!
area!since!he!was!three!years!old.!
"Call!Yukito,"!he!told!one!of!the!eunuchs.!
The! old! man! scurried! away.! In! the! meantime,! Syaoran! tried! to! calm!
himself.! He! was! becoming! emotional! again.! He! hated! it.! Yukito! was! a!
close! friend! to! him.! How! could! he! suspect! him! of! betrayal?! Surely,!
88!
Yukito!will!understand.!
"Li!"!said!Yukito.!"What!are!you!doing!here?"!
He!looked!around!as!if!expecting!to!see!a!disapproving!Huangdi.!
"Still!looking!out!for!me,!Yukito?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Yukito!bowed!his!head.!
"He!used!to!be!so!cruel."!
"It!was!nescessary,"!said!Syaoran.!"Huangdi!was!raising!a!prince.!One!
who!could!be!the!future!emperor."!
"You! were! a! child,"! said! Yukito.! "He! did! not! treat! your! brothers! the!
same! way.! I! sometimes! find! myself! wondering! what! you! would! have!
been!like,!had!it!not!been!for!his...!training."!
"Weak,"!said!Syaoran.!"That!is!what!I!would!be."!
"You! are! different! these! days,"! said! Yukito.! For! the! first! time! since!
their!conversation!began!he!looked!away!from!Syaoran.!
"Xiao!Ying,"!said!Syaoran.!"She!may!have!something!to!do!with!it."!
Syaoran!regarded!Yukito.!
"What!do!you!think!of!her?"!
Yukito!seemed!to!be!thinking!quickly.!
"She!is!a!beautiful!lady."!
"Anyone!can!see!that.!What!else?"!
Syaoran! observed! Yukito! carefully.! The! man! smiled! with! his! lips,! but!
his!eyes!did!not.!He!took!the!smallest!step!away!from!Syaoran!did!not!
like!where!this!was!going.!
"She!is!a!delight!to!speak!with,!and!she!is!good!person."!
Syaoran!tried!something!else.!
"Yes,"!he!said.!"How!is!your!duty!going!tonight?"!
"Wonderful!"! exclaimed! Yukito.! He! did! not! think! that! it! was! strange!
Syaoran! was! asking,! when! he! never! expressed! any! interest! in! the!
harem! before.! He! could! not! believe! Yukito's! body! language! was!
expressing! guilt! to! him.! Syaoran! still! did! not! condemn! Yukito.! He! did!
not!think!Yukito!had!betrayed!him.!At!least!not!yet.!
"Good,"!said!Syaoran.!"You!always!do!your!duties!well.!Look!after!Xiao!
Ying!for!me,!too.!Who!knows!what!I!will!do!if!I!find!her!with!another!
man."!
Syaoran's!eyes!pierced!Yukito's.!
"People!will!finally!get!their!question!answered.!Am!I!a!demon!or!the!
89!
devil!himself?"!
"I'm!certain!you!have!nothing!to!fear,"!said!Yukito.!
"Do!you!know!me!to!be!a!fearful!man?"!
No,"I"do"not."Yukito!did!not!realize!how!his!legs!had!weakened!during!
the! conversation.! After! Syaoran! left,! he! could! barely! make! it! back!
inside!the!harem.!
!
The!day!was!very!bright.!The!clouds!did!nothing!to!shield!the!sun,!and!
the! sun! shined! down! on! the! earth! beneath! it.! The! winds! whistled!
through! the! trees! melodiously.! The! busy! people! scurrying! back! and!
forth!did!not!notice!all!of!this!though.!Even!the!little!children!had!their!
tasks! to! do.! It! was! insane! how! little! people! noticed! because! they! did!
not! take! the! time.! The! path! seemed! familiar.! It! should.! Every! house,!
every!stray!mutt,!every!scent,!every!sight!and!every!man,!woman!and!
child! were! familiar.! Everyone! stared.! It! was! expected.! It! had! been! a!
long!time.!The!last!step!of!the!journey!was!almost!here.!
A! lot! had! changed! since! the! journey! began.! Not! externally,! but!
internally.! Knowledge! which! was! sought,! was! obtained.! Strength! that!
had! not! existed! previously! was! here! now.! Skills! had! surpassed! all!
expectations.! However,! there! was! a! hole! within! this! soul,! but! when!
home,!it!will!be!filled.!There!was!no!place!like!home.!There!was!no!joy!
like! family.! All! that! was! learned,! was! for! them;! especially! for! one!
certain!person.!A!modest!house!came!into!view.!Though!emperors!and!
empresses! did! not! reside! there,! it! was! wellDkept! as! usual.! The!
neighbours!though!D!why!were!they!staring!so!much?!It!was!becoming!
ridiculous.!He!slid!open!the!door.!
"KAIJUU!"!
He!dropped!down!his!travelling!items.!Touya!paused.!All!was!quiet.!His!
father!was!sure!to!be!out,!but....!He!got!a!sickening!feeling!at!once.!He!
raced!through!the!house,!becoming!more!and!more!frantic.!
"Kaijuu!!Kaijuu!!SAKURA,!if!this!is!a!game,!stop!it!at!once!"!
Where!was!she?!He!doubled!checked!every!room.!He!would!not!have!
panicked,! but! he! could! find! no! sign! of! her! whatsoever.! No! wet! floor,!
because! she! washed! clothes! and! had! them! dripping! every! where.! No!
smell!of!smoke!from!her!attempted!recipes.!He!could!not!even!feel!her!
aura.! Nothing.! There! was! nothing! of! Sakura! here.! Realization! hit! him!
harder!than!any!human!or!weapon!ever!could.!No...!!
He! flew! outside! in! a! rage.! Fujitaka! was! already! walking! up! to! him.!
Good.!
90!
"Where!is!she!"! Fujitaka! could! do! nothing! but! stare! at! his! son's! back.! No! wife,! no!
"TouyaDsan..."!said!Fujitaka!with!a!pleading!look!on!his!face.! daughter!and!now!no!son.!He!went!inside!his!house!with!watchful!eyes!
upon!him.!His!legs!gave!out.!He!wanted!to!cry!but!no!tears!came.!
"Who!took!her?!"!
"Nadeshiko,"!he!murmured,!as!he!buried!his!face!in!his!hands.!"I'm!so!
Fujitaka! was! at! a! loss! for! words.! This! enraged! Touya! even! more.! The!
sorry."!!
neighbours! had! completely! stopped! working! and! were! openly!
watching!the!two.!They!knew!bits!and!pieces!of!the!story!already.! All!she!had!asked!for!was!him!to!give!Sakura!the!best!life!possible.!He!
tried!so!long!to!hide!her!from!the!world.!He!could!do!nothing!to!truly!
"You!married!her!off,!didn't!you!!Who!has!MY!SISTER!"!shouted!Touya.!
protect! her.! He! should! have! known! that! for! poor! men,! good! things!
"You!promised!you!wouldn't!do!that!if!I!was!not!here!"!
never!lasted.!All!was!given!it!seemed,!yet!all!was!taken!away.!He!had!
Fujitaka!still!had!not!spoken.! prayed! to! his! ancestors! to! keep! Sakura! safe.! Any! luck! and! goodwill!
"Tell!me!where!she!is.!I!will!go!get!here,"!said!Touya!with!urgency.! they! held! for! him,! he! begged! that! they! give! it! to! Sakura.! His! lovely!
"You! cannot! get! her,"! said! Fujitaka! softly.! His! face! was! pained,! but! daughter.!Could!she!ever!forgive!him?!
Touya!buried!any!sympathy!he!had!for!his!father!with!anger.! !
"Where.!Is.!She?"!asked!Touya!dangerously.!Father!or!not,!Fujitaka!will!
tell!him!what!he!needed!to!know.!
"China."!
Touya! swayed! on! his! feet.! Had! he! heard! correctly?! Fujitaka! forced!
himself!to!continue.!He!had!not!spoken!about!Sakura!to!anyone!since!
that!day.!
"She! is! now! the! Great! Imperial! Son! of! China's! concubine,"! he!
whispered!tiredly.!
!
A!nearby!group!of!women,!gave!a!gasp!of!admiration.!Touya!felt!great!
fury.!
"I! leave! Sakura! to! your! care,"! he! shouted.! "And! you! make! her! a!
concubine!!A!concubine?"!
Fujitaka's! eyes! were! lifeless.! All! the! things! Touya! was! saying,! he! had!
told! himself.! It! was! worse! to! hear! the! disappointment! from! his! son.!
Touya!loved!Sakura!so!much.!He!knew!it!was!going!to!be!like!this.!
"I'm!sorry."!
"Sorry's!not!good!enough,"!said!Touya.!"Have!you!no!pride!as!a!man?"! !!!!
"If!I!did!not!let!her!go,!she!would!have!been!taken!from!me,"!explained! !
Fujitaka.!"I!could!not!let!my!daughter!go!through!that."! !
"Better!to!have!them!tear!her!from!you!"!said!Touya!with!tears!in!his! !
eyes.! !
The!next!words!he!delivered!to!his!father!lethally.! !
"I! am! going! to! retrieve! my! sister! from! this! Great"Imperial! Son.! When! !
we!return,!we!are!not!your!children."! !

91! 92!
!Chapter 7 woman!then,!who!after!her!marriage!became!Princess!Li.!She!married!
Just"as"tall"trees"are"known"by"their"shadows,"so"are"good"men"known"by"
their"enemies.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Yelan!was!seated,!mirror!in!hand!as!two!of!her!maidservants!combed!
her! long,! thick! hair.! The! golden! combs! ran! through! her! smooth! hair!
effortlessly.! She! clearly! recalled! the! times! when! she! would! comb!
Syaoran's!hair!D!before!it!was!cut.!He!had!such!beautiful!hair.!A!small!
smile! graced! her! lips.! Syaoran! was! so! pretty! he! could! pass! for! a! girl.!
Huangdi! use! to! to! be! taken! aback! anytime! Syaoran's! hair! was! down,!
afraid! that! he! had! received! yet! another! girl! after! all.! Her! four!
daughters!loved!to!tease!their!brother!so!much.!For!three!years,!they!
enjoyed!torturing!the!young!one.!Syaoran!was!continually!annoyed!but!
he!never!stopped!them.!He!would!just!hide!or!leave!the!area!if!he!saw!
them!coming.!
Yelan! loved! his! spirit! so! much.! He! didn't! smile! outrightly! D! Huangdi!
forbid! it! D! but! Yelan! knew! that! he! was! very! content.! Syaoran! was!
always!a!bright!boy.!She!had!so!many!high!hopes!for!him.!She!wanted!
to! love! him! and! be! loved! in! return.! Huangdi! had! to! spite! her! for! her!
daughters.!Was!it!not!him!who!helped!produce!them?!Why!then!did!he!
have!to!take!her!only!son?!If!that!was!not!spite!enough,!he!lost!her!son.!
Huangdi! lost! him! and! replaced! Syaoran! with! the! darkest! part! of! his!
soul.!
"I!saw!my!Xiao!Lang!Naoko,"!said!Yelan!as!she!ruminated!about!days!
long!gone.!
Naoko,! who! was! reading! a! poem! aloud! opposite! Yelan! hurriedly!
finished! the! last! sentence.! Ever! since! Yelan! had! taught! her,! she! could!
not!stop!reading.!
"Yes,"! said! Naoko.! "You! must! be! very! happy.! But! he! glares! so! much! I!
was!terrified!the!entire!time!he!was!around!"!
"That!was!not!my!Xiao!Lang,"!said!Yelan.!
Naoko!tilted!her!head!questioningly.!
"My!son!is!within!that!man,"!said!Yelan!knowingly.!"When!he!held!the!
girl,! Sakura,! I! saw! him.! Since! Huangdi! poisoned! him! against! me,! I've!
never!seen!him!until!now."!
Naoko!opened!her!mouth!but!no!words!came!out.!Not!knowing!how!to!
respond,! she! picked! another! poem! and! began! reading.! Yelan! did! not!
listen.!Her!mind!returned!to!a!time!before!Syaoran!was!born;!to!a!time!
when!she!was!in!the!same!room!she!resided!in!now.!She!was!a!young!
93!
the! Great! Imperial! Son! Li! Yongzheng,! a! very! distant! cousin.! He! was! a!
charismatic!and!handsome!man.!Yelan!loved!him!instantly.!
Yongzheng! already! had! many! concubines! at! that! time.! He! was! a! man!
who! loved! women.! His! father! encouraged! his! appetites,! spoiling! him!
with! them! any! chance! he! could.! It! was! rumored! that! the! emperor!
delighted! in! many! things! besides! women,! but! he! was! Huangdi! and!
such! things! were! spoken! in! utmost! secret! and! then! forgotten.!
Huangdi's! great! success! was! finding! Yelan! for! his! son,! or! so! he! said.!
She!was!a!very!attractive!girl!with!great!magic!who!had!the!makings!of!
an! Empress.! The! concubines! hated! Yelan.! She! was! everything! they!
feared!in!a!First!Wife!and!Yongzheng!was!taken!with!her.!Yingtai,!who!
was! sure! to! become! an! Imperial! Concubine! when! Yongzheng! became!
emperor! already! had! two! daughters! for! him.! Yingtai! was! kind! and!
helpful! but! Yelan! was! never! fooled! by! her! pretty,! heartDshaped! face.!
She!was!perpetually!trying!to!slander!the!names!of!the!other!women!in!
the!harem!and!doing!all!in!her!power!to!seduce!Yongzheng.!
When! Yelan! conceived,! one! concubine,! a! consort! and! Yingtai! were!
found!with!child!also.!It!was!like!a!long!trial,!each!waiting!to!see!who!
would! produce! a! son.! The! winner! had! much! to! gain! D! power,!
reputation!and!wealth.!On!a!winter!day,!Yelan!lay!on!her!bed!pushing!
as!hard!as!she!could.!All!the!while!she!prayed!for!a!son;!Yingtai!already!
had!a!son.!She!felt!Yongzheng's!anxious!aura!outside!the!room.!She!fell!
back!onto!the!bed!as!the!child!came!out.!The!midDwife!did!everything!
she! was! supposed! to! but! said! nothing! when! the! child! was! delivered.!
She!went!to!the!door!and!spoke!to!Yongzheng,!the!crying!child!still!in!
her!arms.!Yelan!through!the!stupor!she!was!in!heard!her.!
"Do!you!want!to!keep!it?"!
Yelan!saw!Yongzheng!flick!his!hands!indifferently.!
"Yongzheng,"!called!Yelan.!"Please...!what's!happening?"!
"It's!just!a!girl,"!he!told!her!from!the!doorway.!He!smiled.!"It's!alright.!A!
little!mistake.!Fortunately,!I!already!have!a!son!by!Yingtai.!You!can!try!
again."!
"I!want!to!keep!her,"!said!Yelan.!
"As!you!wish."!
As!Yelan!breastfed!the!child!later!that!night,!she!was!ashamed!of!how!
she! had! wished! for! a! son.! Her! daughter! was! precious.! Her! eyes!
observed! every! detail! of! her! mother's! face.! Her! little! body! fitted!
perfectly! in! Yelan's! arms.! Yongzheng! would! not! bother! to! name! her,!
94!
Yelan!knew.!She!was!simply!daughter!number!whatever.!
"Fuutie,"!Yelan!told!her!baby!girl.!"Your!name!is!Li!Fuutie."!
The!birth!of!Fuutie!was!not!a!disgrace.!Yongzheng!did!not!care!much.!
He!was!not!yet!emperor!so!he!was!calm!about!the!situation.!He!could!
name! anyone! emperor! after! him! but! he! wanted! the! son! to! be! born!
from! the! First! Wife.! That! is! how! it! was! with! his! father.! When! Shiefa!
arrived,! it! was! disappointment! again,! but! he! still! was! affectionate!
towards!Yelan.!Meanwhile!he!acquired!more!sons!and!daughters!from!
his! other! women.! Those! concubines! who! bore! sons! felt! that! their!
places!as!Imperial!Concubines!were!secured.!
Huangdi! died! and! Yongzheng! became! emperor.! Yelan! was! with! child!
again,!and!she!knew!it!was!important!to!have!a!son!now.!Fanren!came!
and!Yongzheng!was!greatly!angered.!
"Can't! you! do! anything! right?!"! he! shouted! at! her! moments! after! the!
child!was!delivered.!"Am!I!asking!too!much?"!
Tears!flowed!down!her!cheeks!that!morning.!She!was!growing!further!
and!further!apart!from!Huangdi.!His!visits!to!her!where!out!of!duty,!for!
he!could!not!stand!the!sight!of!her!any!longer.!He!added!four!consorts!
to!his!array!of!women.!Her!daughters!were!a!joy!to!her!but!Yelan!was!
so! lonely.! Many! nights! she! cried! herself! to! sleep.! Huangdi's! verbal!
attacks!grew!worse!and!worse.!
For!the!fourth!time,!Yelan!was!pregnant.!Surely!Huangdi!would!get!his!
son.! Eight! months! they! waited.! Feimei! blinked! at! Huangdi! as! he! held!
her! an! arm's! length! away! from! him.! Flinging! her! at! Yelan,! he! left! the!
room!without!a!word.!He!banished!her!to!the!harem,!never!wanting!to!
see! her! face! again.! For! years! she! watched! women! go! to! the! man! she!
still!loved.!He!had!given!her!such!beautiful!children.!She!could!not!hate!
him;!she!never!could.!
One! day,! she! heard! of! a! great! doctor! called! QiaoDsensei.! They! said! he!
was!skilled!in!picking!dates!where!one!can!conceive!a!son.!Obviously,!
Huangdi's!other!doctors!were!not!too!accurate.!She!hired!him!and!he!
somehow! convinced! Huangdi! to! allow! Yelan! to! return! to! his! bed.!
Having!been!away!from!Yelan!for!so!long,!the!emperor!did!not!seem!to!
hold! a! lot! of! animosity! towards! her.! However,! her! body! was! not! the!
same!and!his!ill!treatments!toughened!her.!She!was!a!mature!woman!
now.!Within!a!month,!he!discarded!her!again!in!favour!of!his!younger!
concubines.!
Devastated,! Yelan! felt! as! though! she! could! not! bear! the! harem! for!
much! longer.! She! was! tired! of! the! suicides,! the! poisonings! and! the!
perpetual! gossip.! Would! it! all! never! cease?! Beyond! the! walls! of! her!
95!
room! she! appeared! strong! for! the! sake! of! her! daughters! and! it! was!
what!empresses!did.!Inside,!her!world!was!collapsing.!What!was!she!to!
do?!Why!could!she!not!stop!loving!Huangdi?!
Two!months!later,!QiaoDsensei!was!again!sent!for.!Yelan!was!pregnant.!
Even!with!QiaoDsensei's!assurances,!Yelan!had!long!given!up!hope!for!a!
son.! Her! daughters! were! closest! to! her! heart.! Yet,! why! even! now! did!
she! feel! anxious! about! this! birth?! Fuutie,! the! eldest,! came! to! her! one!
night! in! her! seventh! month! of! pregnancy.! As! crazed! at! she! could! be,!
she!was!levelDheaded.!
"What!would!Father!do,!if!it!is!not!a!boy?"!
"Nothing,"!said!Yelan.!"He!does!not!care!anymore."!
"There!are!rumours!D"!
"I've!taught!you!all!not!to!listenD"!
"That! you! will! be! removed! as! Empress,"! Fuutie! pressed! on.! "That!
Father!will!divorce!you."!
Shiefa,! Fanren! and! Feimei! appeared.! They! had! been! listening! all! the!
while.!Yelan!drew!them!into!a!big!hug.!
"Whatever!happens,"!said!Yelan.!"I!will!protect!you!all.!I!love!you."!
Little! Feimei,! who! resembled! Fuutie! greatly! cried,! "We'll! protect! you!
too!"!
In! the! emperor's! room,! his! Head! Eunuch! came! to! him! to! select! the!
women!he!wanted!to!be!with!that!night.!He!seemed!puzzled!as!to!why!
the!emperor!was!still!in!his!room!however.!
"Huangdi,!Empress!Li!is!in!labour."!
"Another!girl,"!said!Huangdi.!
"Perhaps,"!said!the!eunuch.!"But!she!is!the!Empress.!Doesn't!Huangdi!
wish! to! see! if! it! is! so?! QiaoDsensei! predicts! a! boy.! He! really! believes!
this...."!
Huangdi!lay!on!his!bed.!He!laughed.!
"You! eunuchs! talk! too! much,"! said! Huangdi.! "If! any! other! asked,!
Boqin....!Fine,!if!it!is!a!boy!I!will!come!to!her.!Go!and!find!out."!
It! had! been! hours.! Huangdi! was! impatient.! Why! did! women! always!
take!so!long!to!do!everything?!Boqin,!the!Head!Eunuch,!had!not!even!
waited!for!the!list!of!girls!he!wanted!before!he!took!off.!He!was!so!used!
to!him!doing!this!duty,!he!did!not!feel!like!getting!another!to!do!it.!
"Huangdi!"!
Huangdi!bolted!awake.!
96!
"What!is!it?"!
Boqin! struggled! to! catch! his! breath.! He! had! a! silly! grin! on! his! face.!
Huangdi's!face!reddened.!
"Boqin!"!
"It's!a!boy!"!spluttered!Boqin.!"Empress!Li!had!a!son!"!
Huangdi! took! off! towards! the! harem.! He! could! hear! the! servants!
whispering!on!the!way.!The!news!spread!quickly.!He!had!never!went!
into! the! harem! and! the! long! distance! made! him! swear! over! and! over!
again.! Why! was! it! located! so! far?! On! reaching! the! harem,! he! went! to!
Yelan's! quarters.! The! servants,! midDwife! and! Yelan's! daughters! were!
present.!Yelan!held!a!small!body!in!her!arms.!Without!a!word,!Huangdi!
pulled! the! baby! from! her.! The! child! was! asleep.! He! tugged! on! the!
blanket!the!baby!was!wrapped!in.!There!between!its!legs!rest!the!truth!
of! its! gender.! Huangdi! smiled.! The! midDwife! approached! him!
cautiously.!
"Huangdi,!there!is!a!problem!with!the!child,"!she!said!nervously.!
"What?"!he!asked!icily.!
"The...!the!child!does!not!cry.!It!is!mute!"!
Huangdi! glared! at! Yelan.! Moving! aside! the! blanket! even! more.! He!
smacked! the! boy.! The! baby's! eyes! opened! immediately.! They! were!
bright.! His! mouth! opened! in! a! gasp.! Huangdi! smacked! him! again! D!
harder!than!anyone!would!dare!hit!a!newborn,!especially!a!prince.!The!
baby!coughed!several!times!which!turned!into!a!series!of!loud!howls.!
"See,"!said!Huangdi!smugly.!"A!true!prince!does!not!cry.!My!son!knows!
this!already.!He!just!needed!the!emperor's!hand."!
Huangdi! gazed! at! the! child.! His! eyes! were! closed! again! and! his! cries!
had!ceased.!
"Bring!the!finest!piece!of!jade!in!the!City,"!said!Huangdi!to!Boqin.!"This!
is!an!Imperial!Son."!
"What!is!his!name?"!asked!Yelan!softly.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Huangdi!without!hesitation.!"I!see!a!warrior!in!him."!
Yelan!and!her!daughters!kept!a!close!eye!on!Syaoran!for!many!years.!
She!did!not!trust!the!other!women!in!the!harem.!She!knew!they!were!
all!waiting!for!a!chance!to!end!his!life.!Huangdi!was!engrossed!with!the!
child,!sending!for!him!often!and!lavishing!him!with!gifts.!Syaoran!was!
only!two!years!old,!and!already!he!had!ten!maidservants.!Yelan!did!not!
approve.! She! could! take! care! of! her! own! child.! Syaoran! was! always!
obedient,! inquisitive,! smart! and! respectful.! She! could! not! hope! for! a!
97!
better!son.!
One! morning! when! he! was! three! years! old,! Yelan! was! braiding!
Syaoran's!hair!into!a!long!plait!when!Huangdi!came!for!him.!
"Where!are!you!taking!him?"!asked!Yelan!protectively.!
"To!train!with!his!brothers."!
"His! brothers?"! asked! Yelan,! staggered.! "He! is! only! three! years! old!!
You'll!kill!him."!
Without!a!word,!Huangdi!took!Syaoran's!hand!and!led!him!out!of!her!
room.! Everyday! since! then! went! like! that! for! months.! Each! time,!
Syaoran! came! back! with! fresh! bruises! and! became! even! more!
withdrawn! than! he! normally! was.! He! stopped! talking! altogether! and!
finally!he!acquired!a!permanent!glare!to!the!world.!Yelan!did!not!know!
what! to! do! with! this! strange! child.! When! his! sisters! teased! him,! his!
visage! was! brutal.! He! would! not! let! Yelan! or! anyone! except! Huangdi!
near!him!unless!it!was!nescessary.!He!dressed!himself,!bathed!himself!
and! even! braided! his! own! hair.! Finally,! Huangdi! came! to! take! him!
away!for!good.!
"Xiao! Lang..."! she! murmured! to! his! back.! "Huangdi! please,! let! me! say!
goodDbye.!He's...my!son..."!
She! held! out! her! arms! to! Syaoran.! He! did! not! move! from! Huangdi's!
side.!
"Tell!the!empress!goodDbye,"!said!Huangdi.!
"GoodDbye,!Empress!Li."!
Yelan!stared!at!the!boy.!His!voice!was!hard!and!cold.!Her!last!image!of!
Syaoran!was!a!terrible!glare!that!should!never!come!from!a!child.!What!
was!Huangdi!doing!to!him?!Many!years!had!passed!since!that!day,!yet!
Yelan!could!not!forget!the!chill!she!felt.!She!had!hoped!Meilin!would!be!
able! to! be! a! great! companion.! Yet,! he! rejected! her.! HuaDLing! was!
talented!and!pretty,!but!he!did!not!care!for!her.!Was!Wei!able!to!chose!
a!girl!for!her!son!better!than!his!own!mother?!It!did!not!matter.!Xiao!
Lang! was! alive! and! if! Sakura! could! bring! him! back! to! her,! she! loved!
that!girl!as!a!daughter.!
!
Eriol!came!across!Yue!far!outside!of!the!Forbidden!City.!The!sun!was!
very!low!in!the!sky!yet!the!soldiers!of!the!Imperial!Army!were!training!
harder!than!ever.!As!a!general,!Yue!had!to!observe!their!progress!now!
and! then.! He! nodded! in! Eriol's! direction! before! turning! his! attention!
back!to!the!soldiers.!
98!
"Impressive,"!said!Eriol!as!the!soldiers!ran!through!their!drills.!"Their!
energy!is!not!nearly!this!high!in!your!absence."!
Yue!stood!on!high!ground!overlooking!the!men!like!some!terrible!yet!
heavenly! being,! waiting! to! pass! judgement! on! the! unworthy! and! the!
weak.! His! extremely! long,! white! hair! and! white! hanfu! were!
unmistakable!even!from!a!distance.!The!men!knew!better!than!to!lapse!
around!him.!They!had!seen!him!on!the!battlefield!one!too!many!times.!
"When! my! sons! are! of! age,! let's! see! if! you'll! have! such! an! easy! time!
controlling!them."!
At!this,!Yue!looked!at!Eriol.!
"Congratulations,"!said!Yue.!"A!second!son!is!a!second!blessing."!
"I! was! thinking! of! calling! him! Yue,"! said! Eriol! seriously.! "Do! you!
mind?"!
"Yes."!
Eriol!grinned.!"It!was!worth!a!try."!
"If! you! want! to! irritate! someone,"! said! Yue! impassively.! "Name! him!
Xiao!Lang!the!second."!
Eriol!stared!at!Yue!who!stared!back!at!him.!
"I! never! knew! you! had! it! in! you! Yue!"! exclaimed! Eriol! in! utmost!
delight.!"It!just!might!work.!Now!why!didn't!I!name!Han!that?"!
"You!can!be!such!a!child,"!said!Yue!darkly,!changing!the!atmosphere!of!
the!conversation.!"There!will!be!war"soon."!
"You! can! smell! blood! a! mile! away,"! said! Eriol.! He! smiled.! "In! a! few!
days,! I! expect! Lu! Sheng! will! send! some! of! his! forces! to! test! our!
weaknesses."!
"And!our!strengths."!
Eriol!nodded.!
"The!end!results!of!all!of!this!is!not!certain,"!said!Eriol.!"The!slightest!
thing! changes! the! future.! Fortunately! I! am! closer! to! discovering! the!
identities! of! Lu! Sheng's! comrades.! We! forget! Huangdi! is! an! old! man.!
Yelan!is!powerful!but!not!trained!as!we!are.!If!Renshu!focused!more!on!
developing!his!magic,!instead!of!coveting!the!throne..."!
"You!sound!worried,"!commented!Yue.!
"Do! I?! Hmmm,! then! perhaps! I! should! find! my! cute! descendant! to!
amuse!me."!
Yue!watched!Eriol!guardedly.!He!had!an!idea!of!what!was!going!on!in!
his!head.!
99!
"You're!up!to!something."!
"Of!course,!I!am.!And!you're!going!to!help!me."!
"The!world!could!be!burning!and!still!you'll!make!time!to!pester!your!
cousin,"!said!Yue.!"Find!your!help!elsewhere."!
"Come! on! Yue,"! said! Eriol.! "You! know! you! enjoy! seeing! Xiao! Lang!
distressed!as!much!as!I!do."!
Yue!said!nothing!but!Eriol!caught!the!glimmer!in!his!icy!eyes.!
!
It! was! rather! early! in! the! night! when! Syaoran! sent! for! Sakura.! He!
ended! training! as! soon! as! possible! just! so! that! he! could! spend! some!
time! with! her.! He! had! not! seen! her! since! the! day! in! the! Imperial!
Gardens.!That's"not"true.!He!had!gone!to!see!her!sleeping!form!after!his!
talk! with! Yukito.! He! had! needed! some! reassurance.! Syaoran! scoffed.!
What!was!wrong!with!him?!He!never!felt!insecure.!There!was!no!need!
to.! Still,! he! seethed! as! he! thought! of! Yukito.! Syaoran's! will! shall! be!
followed.! Yukito! could! not! possibly! be! stupid! enough! to! go! against!
him?!Just!when!he!was!beginning!to!get!impatient,!Sakura!turned!up!in!
her!customary!towel.!Syaoran!could!not!take!his!eyes!off!of!her.!How!
was! it! that! everytime! he! saw! Sakura,! she! looked! more! beautiful?!
Syaoran!held!out!his!hand!to!her.!
Sakura! bit! her! lower! lip.! Syaoran! knew! that! he! would! have! to! kiss! it!
soon.! One! small! step! at! a! time,! she! entered! the! water! and! took! her!
place!behind!Syaoran!with!a!washcloth.!Running!her!hands!across!his!
back,!they!started!their!bath!routine.!She!could!not!stop!blushing.!She!
clearly!remembered!what!had!transpired!between!them!in!the!Garden.!
Sakura! was! not! fair! like! her! mother.! She! did! not! have! dark,! long! hair!
like!hers!either.!So,!Sakura!did!not!understand!why!Syaoran!found!her!
beautiful,!but!she!appreciated!his!comment!nonetheless.!
She! washed! his! hair! the! way! he! liked.! Massaging! her! fingers! into! his!
scalp! never! failed! to! make! Syaoran's! body! quite! relaxed! and! Sakura!
was!determined!to!make!him!feel!as!good!as!possible.!She!felt!herself!
becoming! more! and! more! affectionate! towards! him.! There! was! his!
head,! tipping! backwards! onto! her! chest.! She! found! that! she! liked!
touching!him.!Perhaps!it!was!because!he!was!very!unapproachable!yet!
he!allowed!her!to!be!this!close!to!him.!Sakura!gazed!at!Syaoran's!face!
as!she!washed!the!scented!oil!out!his!hair.!His!dark!eyebrows!framed!
his! face! nicely.! Her! eyes! passed! over! his! strong! nose! and! lingered! on!
his! lips.! Sakura! still! remembered! clearly! how! they! felt.! Her! head! was!
bobbing!forward!hesistantly.!His!breathing!was!very!shallow.!Syaoran!
must!be!sleeping.!She!massaged!his!scalp!just!a!little!harder.!He!did!not!
100!
budge.!
Sakura's! face! drifted! closer! and! closer! to! Syaoran's.! Placing! her! lips!
carefully!over!his,!she!kissed!him!on!the!mouth.!She!raised!up!quickly.!
Syaoran! still! had! not! moved.! Sakura! could! not! resist! trying! the! kiss!
again.!This!time!when!their!lips!met,!she!gradually!moved!her!lips!over!
Syaoran's.! Soon,! she! figured! out! how! to! move! her! lips.! She! liked! the!
fluttering!feelings!arising!in!her!belly.!She!could!not!help!running!her!
hands!down!his!chest.!Sakura!jumped!when!a!hand!clamped!down!on!
her!head.!Syaoran's!lips!moved!sensually!beneath!hers.!Sakura!sighed.!
He!made!her!feel!so!good.!She!felt!his!tongue!and!eagerly!opened!her!
mouth.!Syaoran!turned!around!and!crushed!their!lips!together.!Sakura!
held!onto!his!arms!tightly.!Her!body!was!becoming!hotter!and!hotter.!
Finally,! they! broke! apart.! Syaoran! planted! fleeting! kisses! on! Sakura's!
lips!still.!
"I'm!sorry,"!said!Sakura!feverishly.!"I!didn't!mean!to."!
Syaoran!touched!her!lips.!
"Then!I'm!disappointed."!
Sakura! blushed! brightly.! He! cupped! her! cheek! in! his! palm,! rubbing! it!
gently.!Syaoran!brought!her!to!sit!on!his!lap.!In!that!position,!Syaoran!
could! see! the! tops! of! her! breasts! where! the! towel! had! loosened.! He!
pulled! the! towel! down.! He! stared! at! her! smooth! skin.! Sakura! looked!
away.!He!ran!his!hand!over!her!breasts!squeezing!each!nipple!in!turn.!
Sakura! arched! her! back! pushing! her! breasts! forward.! Syaoran! kissed!
her!where!her!neck!met!her!shoulders.!He!trailed!hot!kisses!down!her!
chest,!nipping!her!with!his!teeth!every!so!often.!
Sakura! swallowed! as! she! felt! tension! growing! within! her! chest.! Her!
hands!rested!on!Syaoran's!shoulders!as!she!took!in!the!feelings!he!was!
evoking!in!her.!Everytime!he!touched!her!body!she!wanted!him!to!feel!
more! of! her! even! though! she! was! shy! of! his! attention.! She! slid! closer!
on! top! of! him! and! Syaoran! took! one! of! her! nipples! into! his! mouth.!
Sakura! held! her! head! as! she! moaned.! Her! nipple! was! incredibly!
sensitive! to! Syaoran's! tongue! as! he! licked! and! sucked! them.! Syaoran!
looked! her! in! the! eyes! as! he! sucked! down! hard! on! one! breast! and!
rubbed! the! other! one.! Sakura! had! never! felt! that! desired.!
Unconsciously!she!grinded!herself!back!and!forth!on!top!of!Syaoran.!
Syaoran!seized!her!mouth!in!a!passionate!kiss.!His!hands!were!all!over!
her!back!touching!everywhere!he!could.!Sakura!moaned.!
"Do!you!like!this?"!
"Yes,"!answered!Sakura!weakly.!
101!
Syaoran!stopped!the!kiss!altogether.!
"Give!yourself!to!me,"!he!said.!"I!want!you."!
Sakura!went!red.!
"ID!I!can't."!
As!he!retained!eye!contact!with!Sakura!his!hand!went!down!the!towel!
that!had!gathered!at!her!waist.!It!was!the!only!thing!keeping!her!from!
feeling!how!extremely!hard!he!had!become.!Syaoran!rubbed!her!belly!
until! she! started! squirming.! He! could! feel! the! heat! of! Sakura's! body.!
Syaoran! liked! how! her! pink! lips! parted! and! her! eyes! closed! as! she!
became! increasingly! aroused.! Her! breaths! were! laboured.! Syaoran!
cupped!her!between!the!legs!and!Sakura!stiffened.!
"Relax,"!he!told!her.!
He!licked!her!ear!and!she!shivered.!Syaoran!moved!his!hand!back!and!
forth,!pressing!up!lightly!as!he!did!so.!Sakura!was!in!ecstasy.!She!never!
knew! her! body! could! feel! so! good! just! because! someone! else! was!
touching! it.! Syaoran's! hands! were! a! wonder! to! her.! Each! time! he!
fondled!her,!she!just!melted.!Sakura's!mouth!opened!as!she!drew!in!a!
deep! breath.! Syaoran! kissed! her! again.! He! smirked! in! the! kiss! as!
Sakura!gripped!his!shoulders!even!more!tightly.!He!wanted!to!hear!her!
moans.!Breaking!the!kiss,!Syaoran!used!all!his!fingers!to!caress!every!
part! of! her! lower! regions.! His! ministrations! grew! faster.! Sakura!
moaned!so!loud!Syaoran!knew!Ping!must!be!hearing!everything.!Who!
knew! his! Xiao! Ying! could! be! so! vocal?! Moreover,! who! would! have!
thought!he!could!get!so!much!pleasure!by!pleasing!her?!It!made!him!so!
hard!it!hurt.!
Syaoran! kissed! Sakura! on! the! cheek.! Her! hips! were! moving! side! to!
side.!He!licked!the!sides!of!her!neck!as!he!started!pushing!his!middle!
finger!into!her.!Sakura's!eyes!widened!and!she!pushed!his!hand!away.!
Syaoran!glared!at!her.!Sakura!pulled!back!in!fear.!He!managed!to!reign!
in! his! anger! before! it! escaped! him.! He! pulled! Sakura! into! him! and!
wrapped! his! arms! around! her.! She! could! not! possibly! know! how!
difficult!it!was!for!him!to!not!take!her!right!then!and!there.!She!could!
not! possibly! know! how! hard! it! was! for! him! to! be! this! tender! with!
anyone.!Syaoran!smoothed!her!hair.!
"It's!alright.!I'm!not!angry!with!you."!
His! words! calmed! Sakura! quicker! than! both! of! them! expected.! She!
inhaled!the!smell!of!his!clean!body.!Placing!a!hand!on!his!chest,!she!felt!
his!hard!torso.!She!knew!there!was!no!hope!of!being!with!Yukito!but!
she! still! held! on! to! the! idea.! It! was! what! had! encouraged! her! to! stop!
102!
just!now.!Perhaps!Yue!was!right!though,!she!should!be!solely!devoted!
to!Syaoran;!she!was!his!concubine.!She!would!try!harder!from!now!on.!
The!Forbidden!City!will!only!be!a!bad!place!if!she!made!it!a!bad!place.!
If! she! saw! all! the! good! and! not! focus! on! the! bad! then! the! Forbidden!
City!will!become!home.!
"I'm!sorry,"!said!Sakura.!
Syaoran! stroked! Sakura's! thigh! as! their! bodies! returned! to! a! platonic!
state.!He!did!not!push!her!to!explain!her!apology.!
"You!are!calmer!around!me,"!said!Syaoran!with!satisfaction.!"I!can!feel!
your!aura."!
"What!does!it!feel!like?"!asked!Sakura.!
"Your! aura! is! warm.! It! feels! like! being! in! the! sunshine.! No...! it's! more!
like!eternal!spring...!with!sweet!flowers..."!said!Syaoran!as!he!struggled!
to!describe!it.!"Auras!are!difficult!things!to!explain."!
Sakura!giggled.!
"What!is!it?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"The! expression! on! your! face,"! said! Sakura,! laughing! as! she! touched!
the! tip! of! his! nose! with! her! index! finger.! "It's! all! muddled.! It's! very!
cute."!
The!corners!of!Syaoran's!mouth!twitched.!He!felt!bubbles!rising!in!his!
stomach.! He! gave! a! short,! incredulous! laugh.! It! could! have! been!
mistaken! for! a! gasp.! Sakura! laughed! unreservedly.! Syaoran! blushed!
and! she! laughed! even! more.! Syaoran! was! thrilled! with! Sakura's!
playfulness.!The!carefree!feeling!he!was!experiencing!was!amazing.!It!
was!wrong!that!he!was!enjoying!himself!so!much.!He!should!not!get!so!
attached!to!Sakura.!
"Xiao!Ying,"!said!Syaoran.!
Sakura!stopped!laughing!long!enough!to!listen!to!him.!Syaoran!tucked!
some!hair!behind!her!ears.!
"There! may! be! a! war! soon.! It! may! last! for! months,! years,! I! do! not!
know."!
Sakura!lowered!her!eyes.!
"I!don't!like!wars.!I!don't!like!that!people!kill!one!another."!
This!did!not!surprise!Syaoran!at!all.!
"So!then,!you!do!not!like!me?"!
Sakura!looked!at!him.!
"For!I!have!gone!to!many,!and!killed!many."!
103!
"Don't! you! feel! bad! at! all?"! asked! Sakura.! "You! speak! as! though! it's!
nothing."!
"I!kill!whoever!Huangdi!wants!me!too."!
"But!why?"!
"Because! that! is! war.! If! we! do! not! win,! then! you! and! the! citizens! of!
China!will!be!hurt!later."!
Syaoran!pushed!Sakura's!bangs!out!of!her!face.!
"Don't! look! at! me! like! that,"! said! Syaoran.! "You! women! don't!
understand! these! things.! You! sit! miles! away! from! the! wars! and!
complain.!You!insult!my!soldiers!who!die!for!you."!
Sakura!held!his!face.!
"I!don't!want!anyone!dying!for!me."!
"Is!that!so?"!asked!Syaoran.!His!eyes!narrowed.!"Does!being!raped!by!
enemy! soldiers! sound! appealing! to! you?! How! about! being! tortured?!
Would!you!like!to!see!Eriol's!wife!skinned!alive?"!
Sakura!was!flabbergasted.!
"ID"!
"What! enemies! do! to! women! and! children! outside,! is! nothing!
compared!to!what!they!do!to!royalty,"!said!Syaoran!seriously.!"You!are!
the! unattainable.! They! are! awed! by! you! but! despise! you! even! more!
because!of!it."!
Syaoran! sighed.! What! had! gotten! into! him?! He! ran! his! hands! up! and!
down!Sakura's!back.!He!decided!to!get!on!with!the!point!he!was!trying!
to!make.!
"If! the! Forbidden! City! is! ambushed! at! any! point,"! said! Syaoran.! "Ping!
will!give!you!a!cloth.!I!want!you!to!hang!yourself."!
Sakura!was!stunned.!
"What?"!
"You! heard! what! I! just! told! you,"! said! Syaoran! earnestly.! "It! will! be!
easier! than! dying! by! enemy! hands.! Women! have! been! doing! it! for!
thousands!of!years."!
"No...!I!can't..."!
"I!will!show!you!how!to!tie!the!knot.!It!will!be!quick."!
Sakura!was!shaking!her!head.!
"You!said!I!have!nothing!to!fear!with!you,"!she!said!forcefully.!"I!am!not!
afraid!of!enemy!soldiers.!You!won't!be!defeated."!
104!
Syaoran!blinked.!
"Nothing!will!happen!to!you,"!said!Sakura.!"Right?"!
Syaoran!bowed!his!head.!He!was!thinking!of!defeat?!It!was!unlike!him.!
There! was! an! awkward! pause.! Syaoran! never! had! to! explain! hanging!
to!someone!before.!Every!woman!in!the!Forbidden!City!knew!to!do!it!if!
nescessary.!
"You're! right,"! said! Syaoran.! He! hesistated.! "ID! I! should! not! have! said!
such!a!thing!to!you.!I've!seen!a!lot!of!thingsD"!
"You!won't!let!anything!happen!to!me,"!said!Sakura!brightly.!"I'm!safe!
with!you,!remember?"!
Syaoran!hugged!Sakura!close!to!his!body.!His!mouth!was!near!her!ear.!
"If!you!are!hurt,!I!will!avenge!you!and!if!you!are!taken,!I!will!find!you.!
That!is!my!promise."!
He!kissed!Sakura!on!her!temple.!She!returned!his!hug.!
"I!cannot!stay!any!longer,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!must!go!to!HuaDLing."!
Sakura!pulled!away!from!him.!Syaoran!was!no!fool.!He!could!tell!that!
Sakura! was! upset.! He! should! not! have! mentioned! his! consort.! Why!
were!women!so!frustrating?!
"Tell! me,"! he! said! as! kindly! as! he! could.! "What! do! you! desire?! I! will!
give!it!to!you."!
Sakura!almost!said!'nothing'!but!then!she!remembered!something!she!
had!wanted!for!some!time.!
"I!want!to!see!MikoDsan.!She!came!with!me!from!Japan."!
!
Renshu! sat! drinking! with! three! of! his! most! trusted! his! brothers.!
Though! they! were! alone,! they! spoke! in! hushed! voices.! The! room! was!
bright! with! the! lights! of! many! lanterns.! There! were! no! shadows! for!
spies! to! hide.! Yingtai,! their! mother,! poured! wine! for! them.! Her! face!
was!filled!with!anticipation!and!mischief.!
"We!should!just!poison!his!food,"!said!Kang.!"It's!not!ingenious!but!it's!
a!proven!remedy.!It's!the!easiest!thing!to!do."!
"I!told!you,!Xiao!Lang's!magic!is!too!strong,"!said!Renshu!crossly.!"He!
will!rid!his!body!of!it!and!even!if!he!does!not!Eriol!will!run!to!his!aid!
and!Yue!will!come!for!revenge."!
"Well! we! cannot! attack! them! head! on,"! said! Heng.! "Renshu,! there! is!
still!a!great!chance!that!Huangdi!will!make!you!emperor.!You!are!First!
Son.!Calling!Xiao!Lang!Great!Imperial!Son!was!premature."!
105!
"I!know!that,"!said!Renshu.!"But!I!don't!want!chance,!I!want!certainty.!
We!must!discredit!Xiao!Lang."!
"Renshu,"! groaned! Kang.! "We! can! search! for! years! and! find! nothing!
that!will!displease!Huangdi.!Xiao!Lang!is!his!obedient!dog."!
"Let! us! hope! he! falls! in! battle,"! said! Lei! quietly,! who! without! a! doubt!
was!the!most!restrained!brother.!"And!that!Yue!and!Eriol!go!with!him."!
"Perhaps! we! should! join! alliance! with! Lu! Sheng,"! said! Kang! with! a!
laugh.!"And!make!a!deal."!
"I! am! no! traitor,"! said! Renshu! honestly.! "At! least! not! to! Huangdi.!
Besides,!Lu!Sheng!is!not!a!man!to!be!trusted.!You!know!his!history.!He!
will! not! be! happy! with! anything! less! than! the! throne.! HalfDcousin! or!
not,!he!is!deranged."!
"We'll!just!have!to!wait!a!while!longer!then,"!said!Lei.!"An!opportunity!
will! present! itself.! At! least! Syaoran! has! not! been! successful! with!
children.!Less!things!to!deal!with."!
"Funny,"!said!Kang,!playing!with!his!long!braid.!"He!never!seemed!like!
the!impotent!kind!to!me.!But!things!happen."!
"The!problem!lies!not!with!him,"!said!Renshu!with!a!smirk.!
"His!women!then?"!Kang!whistled.!"Talk!about!bad!luck.!I!almost!feel!
sorry!for!him."!
"Almost,"! said! Heng! and! Kang! simultaneously.! The! twins! grinned! at!
each!other!in!their!merriment.!
Lei!watched!Renshu!suspiciously.!
"How!do!you!know!this?"!he!asked!him.!"Did!you!do!something?"!
Four!pairs!of!eyes!were!on!Renshu.!
"No,!not!really,"!he!answered.!"I!had!a!tantrum!and!I!said!something!to!
Xiao! Lang's! First! Wife.! I! guess! she! took! it! to! heart.! I! have! an! inkling!
about! his! consort's! problem! but! as! to! the! First! Wife...! I! guess! she! is!
simply!barren."!
"If!Xiao!Lang!finds!outD"!
"I!said!I!didn't!do!anything!"!
Renshu!did!not!say!more.!His!brothers!did!not!bother!to!question!him.!
They! went! back! to! drinking.! The! silence! was! filled! with! tension.!
Abruptly,! Yingtai! slammed! her! cup! down! on! the! table.! Her! sons!
regarded!her!cautiously.!They!knew!her!temper!well.!
"You!cannot!sit!and!wait!for!something!to!happen!"!said!Yingtai.!"If!you!
want!your!destiny,!take!it."!
106!
"How! would! you! have! us! do! that?"! asked! Renshu! haughtily.! "A! man!
like!Xiao!Lang!is!difficult!to!figure!out."!
"When!Xiao!Lang!goes!to!war,"!said!Yingtai.!"Do!not!go!with!him."!
"And!be!regarded!as!a!coward?"!
"No,"!said!Yingtai.!"Huangdi!has!to!be!protected.!With!a!great!portion!
of! the! army! gone,! he! will! need! protection! more! than! ever.! Use! the!
chance!to!cement!yourself!in!his!good!graces."!
"He!always!has!Xiao!Lang!in!confidence,"!said!Lei!catching!on.!"Renshu!
will!take!his!place."!
Renshu!smirked.!
"And!I!will!make!him!see!Xiao!Lang!as!the!threat!he!secretly!fears!he!
could!be."!
"And,"! said! Yingtai! conceitedly.! "I! will! elevate! your! name! as! I! always!
have! when! we! are! together.! I! am! First! Imperial! Concubine.! Huangdi!
has! always! favoured! me.! His! wife! was! chosen! by! his! father! but! he!
chose!me."!
"And! what! of! his! consorts?"! asked! Lei.! "Surely! their! sons! have! their!
eyes!on!the!throne!as!well?"!
"They're! all! too! scared! of! Yelan,"! said! Yingtai! with! disgust.! "Most! of!
them! came! after! her! but! I! was! here! before.! Renshu! is! the! true! future!
emperor.!In!any!case,!their!sons!are!easier!to!handle."!
"Once! I! am! emperor,"! said! Renshu.! "I! will! get! rid! of! everyone" who!
opposes! me! including! Yelan's! daughters! and! their! children.! And! you!
my!brothers,!will!be!among!my!elite."!
!
A! small! company! entered! the! Forbidden! City.! Syaoran! greeted! Wei!
after!the!man!was!finished!speaking!with!Huangdi.!He!was!one!of!the!
few! persons! who! left! the! City! frequently! on! Huangdi's! orders! for!
diplomatic! missions.! Huangdi! trusted! him! greatly! as! Wei! had! also!
served! the! previous! Huangdi.! Syaoran! and! Wei! strolled! in! silence! as!
they! often! did.! The! sweet! smell! of! the! flowers! in! the! garden! was!
refreshing.! Syaoran! glanced! at! Wei.! The! lines! in! the! man's! face! were!
deepening!everyday.!He!wondered!if!Wei!could!still!wield!a!spear!like!
he!did!more!than!ten!years!ago.!
"How!are!you!these!days,!Great!Imperial!Son?"!
"Fine,"!said!Syaoran.!"We!are!all!occupied!with!Lu!Sheng."!
"I!hope!you!are!not!fixating!on!him,"!said!Wei.!"It!is!easy!to!be!blinded!
by!our!emotions.!Even!you!are!susceptible."!
107!
"I!am!not!blinded,"!said!Syaoran!confidently.!
"That!is!good,"!said!Wei.!
A! peony! tree! waved! it! branches! before! them.! Some! of! its! flowers'!
petals!floated!to!the!ground.!Syaoran!put!out!his!hand,!and!caught!one.!
He! rubbed! it! between! his! fingers! feeling! its! texture.! He! enclosed! it! in!
his!palm.!
"Wei,"!said!Syaoran.!"About!Xiao!Ying..."!
Wei! almost! stopped! walking.! Xiao"Ying?! It! seemed! Syaoran! had! been!
fixating! on! other! things!besides!Lu!Sheng.!He!waited!but!Syaoran!did!
not!say!anymore.!
"Has!she!done!something!to!dissatisfy!you?"!
"No,"!answered!Syaoran.!"It!is!quite!the!opposite."!
"Then!why!do!you!seem!troubled,!Great!Imperial!Son?"!
"I! am! not,"! said! Syaoran.! He! remained! silent! for! a! while! again.! The!
entire! Forbidden! City! was! quiet! as! if! waiting! for! him! to! speak.! "You!
know!Wei,!I!think!if!I!had!a!choice,!I!would!have!chosen!her!as!my!First!
Wife."!
Wei's!eyebrows!soared!into!his!hairline.!
"What!are!you!saying?"!
"Concubines!have!been!known!to!be!elevated!to!wives."!
"Chinese! concubines,"! said! Wei.! "Sakura! is! both! a! commoner! and!
foreigner.!It!is!unheard!of!!Huangdi!will!never!allow!this."!
"Huangdi!will!not!always!be!Huangdi,"!said!Syaoran.!"And!most!believe!
he!will!make!me!Huangdi!after!him."!
"Even!as!Huangdi,!you!cannot!make!her!Empress.!It!is!against!the!old!
laws.!Meilin!is!the!best!First!Wife!you!could!have."!
"Being! with! Meilin! is! another! duty,"! said! Syaoran.! "Being! with! Xiao!
Ying!is!easy.!I!like!being!with!her!Wei."!
"Isn't!that!the!way!of!things?"!asked!Wei.!"You!have!a!duty!to!carry!on!
your! lineage! with! the! best! Chinese! woman! you! can! obtain.! You! have!
your!concubines!to!satisfy!any!other!needs.!The!way!you!feel!for!your!
concubine! is! normal! but! your! intentions! for! her! are! not.! Imperial!
Concubine!is!the!highest!title!you!can!give!her."!
"I!thought!you!would!understand!me!Wei,"!said!Syaoran!with!a!glare.!
"I!do,"!said!Wei.!"But!I!am!saying!this!for!both!you!and!your!concubine.!
If!Huangdi!finds!out!about!your!wishes,!he!would!not!hesistate!to!get!
rid! of! her.! You! know! how! he! rids! himself! of! women! who! displease!
108!
him."!
"I!won't!let!that!happen!"!
"You! have! no! choice,"! said! Wei.! He! sighed! gravely.! "What! can! Sakura!
do!as!First!Wife,!that!she!cannot!do!as!concubine?"!
Syaoran!leaned!against!a!nearby!tree.!He!bowed!his!head!low.!
"You're!right!Wei,!and!I'm!being!irrational.!It!was!just!a!thought,"!said!
Syaoran.!
"I!apologize,!young!master,"!sai!Wei!somberly.!"It!was!not!my!intention!
for!you!to!fall!in!love."!
Syaoran!raised!his!head!swiftly.!
"Love?!What's!that?"!asked!Syaoran!aloofly.!"Do!I!feel!empty!when!she!
is! not!around.!Yes.!But!that! is!only!because!I!yearn! for! the! flesh.! Do! I!
think! of! her! every! moment?! Yes,! but! that's! only! because! she's!
bewitched! me.! That! is! what! women! do.! Huangdi! says! love! is! a! man's!
undoing;! a! joke! used! by! Heaven! to! laugh! at! the! foolish! mortals! who!
end! up! with! nothing! but! pain! and! despair.! I! don't! know! love.! I! don't!
want!it."!
"Yet!it's!already!consuming!you,"!said!Wei.!"If!it!is!not,!please!answer!
my!question.!What!can!Sakura!do!as!First!Wife,!that!she!cannot!do!as!
concubine?"!
Syaoran!turned!his!back!to!Wei.!
"I! will! not! be! known! as! a! loveDsick! fool.! I! transcend! such! emotions,"!
said! Syaoran! stoically.! "I'm! merely! attempting! to! organize! my!
household!as!I!see!fit."!
"If! you! say! so! Great! Imperial! Son,"! said! Wei! sadly.! "But! suppressing!
such! strong! feelings! will" lead! to! the! pain! and! despair! you! seek! to!
evade."!
! She! wanted! romance.! She! wanted! him! to! tell! her! he! loved! her! every!
Meilin! always! had! a! headache! because! she! was! always! worrying.! She!
sipped!some!herbal!tea.!One!of!the!eunuchs!who!tended!to!her!and!was!
employed! as! her! eyes! around! the! castle,! was! showing! her! some!
choices!of!cloths!to!make!her!new!garments.!Normally,!she!would!have!
some! excitement! doing! this! D! being! Xiao! Lang's! First! Wife! gave! her!
access!to!the!most!expensive!and!exquisite!things.!However,!she!could!
not!take!her!mind!off!the!girl.!
"What!does!he!see!in!her,!Chang?"!
Chang!stopped!in!the!middle!of!his!ramblings!about!the!fine!cloths.!
"Who!is!he!and!her?"!
109!
"Xiao! Lang! and! Sakura!"! said! Meilin! as! though! it! was! obvious.! "What!
does!my"husband!see!in!her?"!
"Don't! worry,! MeilinDsan,"! said! Chang.! "She! is! but! a! concubine.! Men!
become!bored!with!them!everyday.!They!always!return!to!their!wives."!
Meilin!squeezed!her!cup!tightly.!
"It's!not!fair!"!exclaimed!Meilin.!"If!Xiao!Lang!won't!get!rid!of!her,!I!am!
going!to!Empress!Li!"!
"You!can't!go!against!the!Great!Imperial!Son's!wishes,"!said!Chang.!"It's!
too!dangerous!MeilinDsan.!You!would!be!beaten!again."!
Meilin!went!to!retort!but!closed!her!mouth.!Chang!was!right.!
"Well!I!can't!wait!any!longer,"!said!Meilin.!"You!know!what!we!have!to!
do."!
"I! understand! your! need! to! ensure! your! place! by! the! prince's! side,"!
said! Chang.! "But! Ping! says! the! Great! Imperial! Son! is! thoroughly!
captivated!with!Sakura.!You!can't!risk!harming!her!in!any!way."!
Meilin!glared!at!Chang.!
"I!don't!believe!it."!
Chang!sighed.!
"Fine!MeilinDsan,"!said!Chang.!"If!you!are!going!to!do!anything,!please!
wait!until!the!Great!Imperial!Son!is!away!at!least."!
"Good!idea,"!said!Meilin.!"I'll!wait."!
She!grinned!to!herself.!She!will!win!in!the!end.!Her!mother!allowed!a!
concubine!to!steal!her"husband's!affections!but!Meilin!will!not.!She!was!
superior!and!will!remain!that!way.!She!could!feel!Syaoran!wanting!her!
more.!When!they!were!in!bed!he!was!different.!She!was!filling!up!some!
part!of!him,!she!knew!it.!Meilin!wanted!Syaoran!and!her!to!live!like!the!
couples!in!the!love!poems!that!were!so!popular!in!the!Forbidden!City.!
chance!that!he!got.!She!will!be!at!his!side.!Forever.!
!
110!
Chapter 8
With"time"and"patience"the"mulberry"leaf"becomes"a"silk"gown.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Yue! ate! his! rice! slowly! as! he! always! did.! Each! move! his! mouth! made!
was!precise.!There!was!absolutely!no!waste!of!energy.!He!swallowed.!
Opening! his! eyes! he! saw! that! Yukito! was! only! now! taking! his! second!
bowl!of!rice.!Yue!lowered!his!own!bowl!and!pair!of!chopsticks.!He!set!
them!on!the!low!table!quietly.!Yukito!ate!his!meal!as!though!in!a!daze.!
"Yukito."!
The! man! continued! to! eat! silently! and! with! no! passion! at! all.! Yue!
folded!his!arms.!He!did!not!like!Yukito!being!this!way.!The!only!other!
time!he!got!like!this!was!when!he!went!to!war!for!the!first!time.!He!was!
a!great!archer,!and!it!had!caused!him!great!pain!to!let!his!arrow!fly.!So,!
Yue!in!his!wisdom!had!suggested!to!Huangdi!to!let!the!then,!boy,!be!a!
guard! within! the! harem.! The! eunuchs! could! hardly! do! anything! to!
defend! the! women! from! outside! forces,! but! most! importantly!
themselves.!Huangdi!agreed.!
Yue!did!this!knowing!that!Yukito!would!be!castrated.!He!did!not!seem!
to! mind,! but! then,! Yukito! never! seemed! to! mind! much.! Yet,! Huangdi!
did!not!allow!such!a!sordid!thing!to!be!done!to!Yukito.!Yue!never!knew!
the!reason!for!Huangdi's!decision.!He!supposed!that!it!was!so!because!
Huangdi! was! always! amused! by! Yukito's! stunts! to! aid! Syaoran! at! his!
lowest! moments! to! which! Huangdi! himself! had! subjected! the! prince.!
However,!Huangdi!kept!a!close!eye!on!him,!and!when!it!became!clear!
that! no! woman! could! turn! Yukito's! head,! Huangdi! rest! easy.! So,! Yue!
always! assumed! that! no! woman! would! ever! catch! Yukito's! attention.!
Then!she"came.!Then!he"kept!her.!
"Yukito."!
He! pushed! some! of! his! qi! towards! his! brother.! Yukito! looked! at! him!
instantly.! He! smiled! serenely,! and! closed! his! pained! eyes! which!
betrayed! his! smile.! Why! did! he! always! try! to! hide! his! emotions?! He!
could!never!lie!in!anyway!to!Yue.!
"You!are!doing!the!right!thing."!
"What!do!you!mean?"!asked!Yukito.!
"You!know."!
Yukito! rest! his! bowl! and! chopsticks! on! the! table.! He! shook! his! head,!
and! his! hair! flew! around! his! face! gracefully.! He! rest! his! hands! on! the!
cold!floor!behind!him!and!leaned!back!on!them.!
111!
"You!are!finished!already?"!
"I'm!not!hungry!today."!
"You!have!not!been!hungry!for!many!days,"!said!Yue!pointedly.!
"I'm!fine!Yue,"!said!Yukito.!He!opened!his!eyes.!"You!worry!too!much."!
"I!do!not,"!said!Yue!almost!childishly.!"I'm!only!looking!after!you."!
"I!can!look!after!myself!now!Yue,"!said!Yukito.!"I!really!can.!You!don't!
have!to!do!it!anymore."!
"You're! only! saying! that! because! you've! always! had! a! string! of! good!
luck,"!said!Yue.!"But!luck!lasts!for!no!man."!
"I!know!that."!
"Yet! you! act! as! though! you! are! invincible,"! said! Yue! quietly.! "We! are!
our!only!family."!
"You!won't!lose!me!Yue..."!
Yukito! drifted! off! to! some! far! away! place! again.! Yue! was! slightly!
annoyed.! Telling! Yukito! to! not! think! of! Xiao! Lang's! concubine,! would!
mean!that!he!will!think!of!her.!Even!so,!they!both!knew!that!the!other!
knew!Yukito!was!thinking!of!her.!Why!did!Huangdi!not!make!Yukito!an!
eunuch?! It! was! a! disgusting! thing! to! be! halfDman! but! then! Yue! would!
not! have! to! be! worrying! now! about! Yukito! becoming! involved! with!
that!concubine.!What's!more,!what!could!Yukito's!attraction!mean!for!
his! duty! at! the! harem?! Yue! detested! complicated! things.! So,! he!
simplified!it.!He!rose!from!his!place!and!left!Yukito!alone.!
!
"Get!that!thing"away!from!me!"!
Meilin!was!standing!on!the!couch!in!an!attempt!to!escape!Kero's!sharp!
teeth.!He!leaped!towards!her!and!she!screamed!as!he!caught!some!of!
her!ruqun!between!his!teeth.!
"Well!to!be!fair!Meilin,"!said!HuaDLing!in!an!austere!tone.!"You!did!hit!
it."!
"I! wouldn't! have! had! to! if! it! had! more! respect! than! its" owner!"! she!
shouted!as!she!tugged!on!her!ruqun.!"I!don't!know!what!Xiao!Lang!was!
thinking! giving! her! a! tiger.! These! things! have! been! known! to! kill" its!
owners!"!
Meilin!went!still.!The!corners!of!her!lips!turned!up.!
"Then!again..."!
Sakura! hurriedly! collected! Kero.! He! once! again! grew! amiable! in! her!
arms.!She!did!not!understand!why!he!could!not!be!nice!with!everyone.!
112!
"I'm!very!sorry,!MeilinDsan,"!she!said.!"I!don't!why!he!is!behaving!like!
this."!
Kero,! having! been! secured! by! Sakura! made! it! possible! for! Meilin! to!
come!down!and!compose!herself.!She!sat!at!a!low!table!to!resume!the!
calligraphy!she!was!previously!doing.!
"I!swear,!it!will!eat!anything..."!she!muttered,!looking!at!chewed!bits!of!
paper!all!over!the!floor.!They!were!not!very!important.!They!were!only!
for!practicing.!
"SakuraDsan."!
Ping! stood! at! the! entrance! of! their! quarters.! Another! figure! hovered!
behind!him.!
"As!you!requested,!MikoDsan!is!here."!
Ping! made! room! for! Miko! to! enter.! She! was! as! Sakura! had! last! seen!
her.!Her!face!was!painted!white,!her!lips!ruby!red!with!shapely!black!
eyebrows.!Her!hair!was!wrapped!in!an!elaborate!hairstyle!piled!on!top!
her!head.!A!golden!comb!decorated!the!front!of!her!hair.!Her!dark!and!
light! green! ruqun! was! very! exquisite! and! well! decorated.! Something!
had! changed! in! her! however,! and! Sakura! noticed! this! immediately.!
Miko!did!not!feel"the!same!to!her.!
"Ohayo,!SakuraDsan,"!Miko!greeted!her.!
"Ohayo,"!said!Sakura!brightly.!
Miko!looked!over!at!HuaDLing!and!Meilin!expectantly.!
"Hoe,"!said!Sakura!remembering!her!manners.!"This!is!MeilinDsan,!the!
Great!Imperial!Son's!wife!and!HuaDLing,!his!consort."!
Miko!gave!a!bow!to!each!of!them.!She!met!HuaDLing's!eyes!and!a!silent!
message! seemed! to! be! passed! between! them.! Sakura! at! that! moment!
realized! how! similar! they! both! were.! They! carried! themselves! in! a!
poise!manner!always,!they!were!well!made!up!at!any!time!of!the!day!
and! they! both! had! a! very! mature! and! knowing! air! to! them.! Tomoyo!
and! Rika! were! like! them! somewhat.! It! was! something! about! being! a!
woman! that! Sakura! could! not! understand.! It! was! some! secret!
knowledge!she!had!not!discovered!yet;!would!she!ever!be!as!great!as!
these!women!to!be!able!to!find!out!this!secret?!HuaDLing!turned!away!
from! Miko's! gaze! and! Miko! continued! to! speak! to! Sakura! in! their!
native!tongue.!
"May!we!be!alone?"!
"Of!course!"!
Sakura! led! her! into! the! bedroom.! She! asked! for! tea.! When! it! was!
114!
brought,! she! dismissed! her! servants.! Sakura! frowned! as! they! left!
without!a!word.!She!wished!they!talked!to!her!more.!She!had!tried!to!
be! informal! with! them! but! even! though! they! smiled! with! her,! they!
were!also!very!careful!with!her.!Miko!studied!her!room.!She!stared!at!
Kero! who! was! trying! to! put! his! tongue! in! Sakura's! tea.! She! threw! a!
piece! of! sweet! dessert! across! the! room! and! the! tiger! ran! for! it.! Miko!
moved!to!a!low!table!that!was!on!the!left!side!of!the!room.!She!winced!
as!she!sat!down.!
"What's!wrong!MikoDsan?"!asked!Sakura.!
Miko!shook!her!head.!She!took!the!tea!Sakura!had!poured!for!her.!They!
drank! in! silence.! They! had! returned! to! Japan.! The! way! of! the! ancient!
tea! ceremony! came! to! them! without! much! thought.! They! could! not!
perform!the!ceremony!but!it!was!present!in!their!movements,!gestures!
and! courtesy.! Graciously,! Miko! poured! tea! for! Sakura,! who! vaguely!
thought!that!she!should!perform!the!ceremony!for!Syaoran!sometime.!
All! was! quiet! except! for! Kero's! light! snarls! now! and! then.! The! girls!
were!at!peace!as!they!enjoyed!each!other's!familiar!company.!They!set!
their!cups!down!at!the!same!time.!
"I! apologize! for! not! being! better! company,"! said! Miko.! "All! my! life,! I!
was! trained! to! be! a! companion.! A! geisha.! Now! I! cannot! entertain! a!
friend."!
"You! don't! have! to! entertain! me,! MikoDsan!"! said! Sakura,! shaking! her!
hands!vigorously.!
Miko!smiled!forlornly.!Sakura!could!take!no!more.!She!moved!closer!to!
Miko.!Holding!her!hands,!Sakura!was!shocked!to!feel!them!shaking.!
"MikoDsan,!please,"!said!Sakura.!"Tell!me!what's!wrong."!
"I've! just! lived! with! too! many! women! for! too! long,"! said! Miko.! "They!
are! so! spiteful,! these! women.! They! are! not! like! us.! They! know! just!
what!to!do!to!hurt!you!the!most.!The!women!of!the!geisha!house!I!lived!
in!seem!much!better!to!me!now."!
"Did!someone!hurt!you?!MikoDsan?"!
"Have!you!been!treated!well!in!this!place?"!asked!Miko.!
"I've!made!new!friends,"!Sakura!answered.!
Why!was!Miko!asking!her!this?!
"And!the!prince?!I!know!it's!personal!SakuraDsan,"!said!Miko.!"But!may!
I!ask,!how!is!he...!when!you!two!are!alone?"!
She!watched!Sakura!meaningfully.!Sakura!blushed.!
"We!haven't!done!that!yet,"!she!said.!"But!when!he!touches!me,!it!is!a!
114!
wonderful!feeling.!He's!very!kind.!I!think...no,!I!do"like!him!more!each!
day."!
Miko! appeared! to! be! stunned! by! this.! Then,! she! smiled! wistfully.! She!
raised!her!hand!to!her!temple!and!the!sleeve!of!her!ruqun!slid!back.!A!
mark!was!around!her!wrist.!Sakura!gasped.!Taking!Miko's!hands,!she!
slid!the!sleeve!all!the!way!up.!There!were!black!and!blue!bruises.!
"MikoDsan?"!asked!Sakura!with!a!scared!voice.!
"Huangdi!has!very!unique!tastes!in!bed,"!said!Miko!rolling!down!their!
sleeves.!She!was!on!the!verge!of!tears!but!none!came.!She!was!beyond!
that!now.!"I!was!not!prepared!for!any!of!this.!I!want!to!return!to!Japan.!
He!has!thousands!of!concubines;!why!does!he!always!send!for!me?"!
Sakura!hugged!her!around!the!middle.!
"I'm!so!tired,!SakuraDsan."!
Sakura's! eyes! widened.! That! was! it.! Miko! was! so! great! with! painting!
her! face.! Underneath! she! had! aged! considerably.! Her! eyes! held! more!
knowledge!and!wisdom!than!when!Sakura!last!saw!her.!
"You!have!to!stay!strong!MikoDsan,"!pleaded!Sakura.!
"It's!nice!to!see!and!hear!a!fellow!Japanese.!I!will!keep!this!moment!in!
my!heart."!
"MikoDsan?"!
"Don't!let!them!break!you!SakuraDsan,"!said!Miko.!"Challenge!them!and!
be!free."!
"MikoDsan,!you're!scaring!me,"!said!a!frantic!Sakura.!"I!can!talk!to!the!
prince!!Maybe!he!can!do!something!to!help!you."!
"Do!not!try!to!put!a!son!against!his!father,!SakuraDsan."!Miko!stroked!
Sakura's! hair! dotingly.! "Besides,! I! have! a! good! feeling.! Things! will! be!
better!soon."!
Sakura! tilted! her! head! upwards! to! get! a! good! view! of! Miko,! who! was!
looking!down!at!her.!Sakura's!hands!were!still!around!her!waist.!
"When!I!first!saw!you,"!said!Miko.!"I!was!so!jealous.!You!are!so!pretty!
and!I!thought!you!were!competition.!I!see!now!how!silly!I!was!being.!
We!are!each!other's!memory!of!home."!
! defy! Huangdi! so! do! not! try,! because! I! cannot! cannot! defy! him! to!
Sakura! was! nervous! as! she! went! to! Syaoran.! It! was! the! first! time! she!
was! seeing! him! based! solely! on! her! request! to! do! so.! Miko's! visit!
moved!her.!She!was!very!unhappy!and!this!made!Sakura!unhappy.!She!
had!to!do!anything!to!help!her.!Miko!more!than!anyone!knew!how!she!
felt!to!be!so!far!away!from!home!in!a!strange!land.!Their!customs!were!
115!
more!rigid!than!the!girls!were!used!to.!In!Japan,!Sakura!organized!the!
household.!She!took!care!of!her!father!and!brother.!She!was!important!
to! her! family.! Here! in! China,! she! was! subdued.! She! could! not! go!
outdoors.! She! had! to! ask! permission! to! do! the! smallest! things.! At!
times,!it!was!like!being!in!a!cage!that!was!too!small!to!hold!her.!
Syaoran! sat! at! his! desk,! working! on! something.! She! stood! with! her!
back! pressed! against! the! bedroom! door! as! she! waited! for! him.! Her!
heart! pounded! hard! against! her! chest.! Finally,! he! stopped! all! his!
writing.!He!walked!over!to!Sakura!and!with!a!finger!beneath!the!tip!of!
her!chin,!kissed!her!lips.!
"What!is!it,!Xiao!Ying?"!
Sakura!was!so!surprised!by!the!kiss,!she!momentarily!forgot!what!she!
came!for.!
"CDcan!I!talk!to!you...!about!something?"!
Syaoran!nodded!encouragingly.!
"It's! about! MikoDsan,"! said! Sakura.! She! shifted! her! weight! from! one!
foot!to!another.!"She!has!these!bruises!all!over!her!body...!she!says!the!
emperor!gave!them!to!her!when!they!were!together!!In!bed!"!
The!pleasant!look!Syaoran!bore,!disappeared.!His!expression!was!as!it!
had!been!the!first!time!Sakura!saw!him.!Cold.!
"How! the! emperor! treats! his! women! is! no! concern! of! mine! or! yours.!
Leave!it!alone."!
"But!Xiao!Lang,!he!is!hurting!her!"!cried!Sakura.!"She!is!in!pain.!She!is!
depreD"!
"She!belongs!to!Huangdi,!like!you!belong!to!me,"!said!Syaoran.!"He!can!
do!whatever!he!wants!with!her."!
Sakura! was! angered! by! Syaoran's! words.! She! held! her! head! high! and!
balled!her!fists.!
"Does!that!mean!you!can!do!whatever!you!want!with!me?"!
"Yes,"!said!Syaoran!fiercely.!He!sighed!heavily!and!his!tense!shoulders!
relaxed!a!bit.!He!placed!a!hand!on!top!of!Sakura's!head.!
"You!are!safe!with!me!Sakura,"!he!said!in!a!gentler!tone.!"You!cannot!
protect!you."!
Sakura! nodded! slowly.! She! was! disappointed! that! he! would! not! help!
Miko.! She! should! have! known! there! were! things! even! the! Great!
Imperial! Son! could! not! do.! If! he! could! though,! would" he! have! helped!
Miko?! She! came! out! of! her! thoughts! when! Syaoran! went! over! to! his!
116!
bed.! Propping! himself! up! with! his! hand! on! his! head,! he! watched!
Sakura.!His!face!was!unreadable.!Again,!she!shifted!uncomfortably.!His!
bed!was!the!biggest!she!had!yet!to!see.!He!seemed!to!be!swimming!in!a!
sea! of! yellow! and! green.! Sakura! imagined! the! various! girls! who! had!
been! in! it! with! him.! Miko! had! explained! what! men! and! women! do! in!
private! basically,! but! Sakura! still! did! not! fully! understand.! Her! father!
and!brother!never!mentioned!anything!of!the!sort!to!her.!
"Xiao! Lang,! does! the! emperor! really! have! thousands! of! concubines?"!
asked!Sakura.!
"Yes."!
"Why!does!he!have!so!many?"!
"He!has!excess!Yang."!
"What?"!asked!a!confused!Sakura.!
Syaoran! patted! an! area! next! to! him! on! the! bed.! Sakura! sat! where! he!
indicated.!He!positioned!his!head!in!her!lap!and!placed!her!hand!on!his!
head.!Sakura!ran!her!fingers!through!his!hair!tenderly.!Syaoran!sighed.!
Using!his!finger!he!drew!a!circular!symbol!in!the!air.!It!was!composed!
of!a!golden!light.!One!half!was!the!pure!gold!with!an!empty!circle,!the!
other!side!was!empty!with!a!golden!circle.!Sakura!had!seen!this!symbol!
before!in!the!palace!but!did!not!know!its!meaning.!
"It! represents! balance,"! said! Syaoran.! "Together,! Yin! and! Yang! are!
opposite!yet!equal.!Most!Yin!is!present!in!women,!most!Yang!in!men."!
Sakura!watched!the!symbol!revolving.!It!was!very!mysterious.!
"The! emperor! is! the! Son! of! Heaven,"! he! continued.! "He! is! completely!
Yang.! But! he! must! have! balance.! Therefore,! he! requires! Yin.! It! takes!
many!women!to!balance!his!Yang."!
Syaoran! did! not! add! that! he! thought! it! was! just! an! excuse! used! by!
emperors!to!explain!their!need!to!have!a!large!array!of!women!at!their!
disposal.! He! did! not! blame! them.! If! he! was! able! to! have! a! thousand!
Xiao!Ying's!he!would!do!the!same.!
"I!see.!Do!you!have!excess!Yang!as!well?"!asked!Sakura!in!a!low!voice.!
"I! must,"! said! Syaoran.! "Not! a! day! goes! by! that! Huangdi! does! not! tell!
me!I!need!more!women."!
"And!how!do!you!get!their!Yin?"!asked!Sakura.!
Syaoran! sat! up.! He! passed! his! hand! across! the! Yin! and! Yang! symbol!
and!it!disappeared.!
"I'll! show! you! sometime,"! he! said.! "You! have! many! questions! tonight!
Xiao!Ying."!
117!
Sakura! looked! away! from! Syaoran.! Her! forlorn! face! made! Syaoran!
frown.!
"It's!just,!there!are!so!many!things!I!don't!know,"!said!Sakura.!"Even!at!
home,! in! Japan,! OtouDsan! and! oniiDchan! always! kept! things! from! me.!
They!thought!I!did!not!notice,!but!I!did."!
"You!know!what!you!need!to!know,"!said!Syaoran.!"Why!should!your!
mind!be!subjected!to!things!you!will!never!have!to!deal!with!or!cannot!
comprehend?!Women!need!to!understand!this."!
"But!why!can't!we!know?"!asked!Sakura!desperately.!"Ignorance!is!not!
a!good!feeling.!It's!like!walking!on!a!tightrope!in!the!dark.!You!fight!to!
keep! balance! but! all! the! while! your! heart! is! pounding! so! loud! you!
know! you'll! fall! any! moment! because! the! fear! is! all! you! hear! D! it's! all!
you!know."!
Syaoran!stared!at!Sakura.!Where!was!all!this!coming!from?!He!did!not!
like!seeing!her!in!any!way!other!than!completely!cheerful.!Would!she!
soon!become!like!the!other!women!in!the!Forbidden!City?!One!of!the!
reasons! he! did! not! rush! to! be! intimate! with! her! was! that! he! did! not!
want! to! taint! her.! When! women! were! taken! for! the! first! time! they!
changed.! The! innocent! quality! Sakura! had! would! be! lost.! He! did! not!
want!that!to!happen.!He!wanted!her!to!be!happy!and!pure,!so!that!he!
could!be...what?!He!caressed!her!cheek!with!his!hand.!
"What!must!I!do,"!he!asked.!"To!see!you!smile!again?"!
Sakura's!eyes!widened.!She!gave!a!weak!smile.!
"May!we!go!outside?"!
Syaoran! nodded.! He! took! her! hand! and! led! her! down! the! long!
passageways! of! the! Forbidden! City.! They! paid! no! attention! to! the!
astonished! visages! of! the! servants! who! saw! them! together.! Syaoran!
glanced! down! at! their! entwined! hands.! Her! hands! were! smaller! and!
smoother! than! his! but! they! were! strong.! Her! face! was! serene! as! they!
walked!but!there!was!still!that!look!in!her!eyes.!Neither!of!them!said!a!
word,!and!he!wondered!if!she!was!upset!with!him.!Ping!told!him!that!
her! face! lit! up! everytime! she! saw! Yukito.! Syaoran! steadied! his!
breathing.! It! was! a! great! feat! that! he! had! not! gotten! rid! of! Yukito.!
Huangdi! taught! his! sons! that! any! threat! must! be! dealt! with!
immediately!and!mercilessly.!For!now,!Syaoran!stayed!his!hand.!Who!
knew!how!the!loss!of!Yukito!would!affect!Sakura?!
Sakura's!hand!tightened!around!his!as!the!cool,!night!air!hit!their!faces.!
The!stars!above!twinkled!in!some!choreographed!pattern!as!the!grass!
and!trees!rustled!subtly.!It!was!a!small!garden!but!as!beautiful!as!any!
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other! in! the! City.! They! sat! on! the! low! grass! in! silence,! enjoying! the!
quiet!beauty!of!nature.!Now!and!then!someone!passed!by!and!risked!a!
peek!at!them.!Sakura!sighed!and!threw!herself!backwards!gazing!into!
the!deep,!blue!sky.!Syaoran!micmicked!her!movement.!He!landed!with!
a!small!thud!beside!her.!
"You're!sad,"!said!Syaoran!as!he!looked!at!the!glowing!moon.!
"No."!
"Don't!lie."!
Sakura!turned!her!head!to!look!at!him.!
"I'm!not!sad,"!she!told!Syaoran.!"I!just!feel...!lost...!sometimes."!
"Well!you're!not,"!said!Syaoran.!"You're!here.!With!me."!
Sakura!turned!back!to!gaze!at!the!heavens.!Syaoran!observed!her!from!
the! corner! of! his! eye.! She! rocked! her! head! side! to! side! softly! as! if!
hearing! some! music! known! only! to! her! ear.! Her! chest! rose! and! fell!
evenly!as!she!breathed.!
"I! don't! know! what! prompts! me! to! idle! with! you,"! said! Syaoran!
suddenly.!"Before!you!came!here,!I!did!nothing!unless!my!actions!had!a!
purpose.! I! never! stopped! to! lie! on! the! grass! and! look! at! the! sky.! You!
make!me!do!strange!things.!I!think!strangely!and!feel!even!more!so.!I!
know!to!you!I!seem!harsh!and!cruel!but!I!am!a!prince.!I!do!what!I!must!
do.! Yet! I! feel! that! I! am! more! than! that.! I! feel.! Feelings! are!
treacherous..."!
He!felt!Sakura's!eyes!upon!him.!Why!was!he!saying!all!these!things!to!
her?!It!was!like!it!was!building!up!inside!him!and!now!everything!was!
bursting!out.!
"I! want! you! to! be! happy! here,! with! me.! I! will! do! whatever! it! takes! to!
keep!you!cheerful.!You!may!ask!anything!of!me,"!said!Syaoran.!
He!looked!Sakura!in!the!eyes.!Turning!his!body,!he!rest!a!hand!on!her!
hip!and!turned!her!towards!him.!
"But! do! not! ask! me! to! let! you! go.! Ever,"! said! Syaoran! seriously.! His!
eyes!softened.!He!smiled.!"It!is!perhaps,!the!only!wish!I!will!certainly!
not!grant."!
A!tear!escaped!the!corner!of!Sakura's!eyes.!It!rolled!over!the!bridge!of!
her!nose.!Her!lips!trembled!and!she!bit!them.!Syaoran!froze.!
"No.!Don't!crD"!
He!was!cut!off!as!Sakura!lunged!into!him.!She!gripped!the!front!of!his!
hanfu!as!she!sobbed!into!it.!Her!body!shook!with!the!force!of!her!cries.!
Syaoran! relaxed! his! body.! His! arms! enveloped! Sakura! protectively.!
119!
What!he!was!shielding!her!from,!he!had!no!idea.!He!rest!his!chin!on!the!
top!of!her!head!lightly.!He!did!not!know!how!else!to!comfort!her!and!
this! made! him! feel! awful! because! he! had! caused! the! tears.! Here"I"am"
feeling"again.!Sakura!cried!in!his!arms!for!quite!a!while,!and!after!the!
tears! stopped,! her! body! shook! still.! Finally,! she! unburied! her! head!
from!his!chest.!
"Arigatou"Xiao!Lang."!
She!gasped.!
"Gomen!!I!meanD"!
She! gasped! again.! Syaoran! smiled! again.! What! did! he! care! what!
language!she!spoke?!He!kissed!her!on!the!forehead.!
"You!really!are!beautiful!in!every!way,!Xiao!Ying."!
Sakura!blushed.!She!placed!a!hand!on!Syaoran's!cheek.!Their!lips!met!
in!a!sweet!kiss.!Syaoran!drew!Sakura!even!closer!as!all!his!senses!were!
affected!by!her.!He!opened!his!eyes!as!he!felt!a!flutter!in!the!pit!of!his!
stomach.!It!was!unlike!the!burning!desire!he!felt!when!he!was!aroused.!
He!closed!his!eyes!as!he!succumbed!to!the!sensation.!The!hairs!on!the!
back! of! his! neck! stood! up! as! a! thrill! rushed! throughout! his! body.! His!
heart! was! light! and! he! felt! so! weak! he! stopped! the! kiss.! His! and!
Sakura's!lips!were!still!pressed!together.!
"It's!late,"!said!Syaoran.!"We!should...!you!should!go!to!bed."!
"Can't!we!stay!here!a!little!longer?"!
Syaoran!sighed!silently.!He!did!promise!her!anything.!
"Fine."!
!
Eriol! had! Han! sitting! on! his! lap! and! his! second! born! in! his! arms.! He!
was! still! deciding! on! a! name! for! the! child.! The! dark,! blue! hair! of! the!
boy!was!quickly!making!its!appearance.!Eriol!gazed!fondly!at!him.!This!
one! was! as! obedient! with! him! as! Han! was.! His! wife,! consort! and!
concubines!were!all!sitting!around!the!three!males.!The!other!children!
he!fathered!were!there!as!well.!The!baby!was!the!son!of!his!First!Wife,!
so!he!considered!him!his!true!Second!Son.!
"If!anyone!asks,!his!name!is!Xiao!Lang."!
There! was! a! collective! gasp.! The! women! and! children! looked! at! each!
other.!
"EriolDsan!"!exclaimed!Kaho.!
Eriol!snickered!mischievously.!
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"Let!me!have!my!fun!for!a!while."!
"But!he!must!be!named,"!said!Tomoyo.!
Eriol!sighed.!
"If!you!insist."!Eriol!thought.!"Nianzu.!In!honour!of!my!ancestors."!
He!gave!Nianzu!to!Kaho.!
"I! still! think! Xiao! Lang! the! second! is! a! great! name,"! Eriol! said!
regretfully.!"It!would!have!been!a!great!birthday!present!for!the!first."!
"Birthday!present?"!
"Yes,! Tomoyo,"! said! Eriol.! "Xiao! Lang's! birthday! is! two! days! from!
today.! This! year! Huangdi! is! planning! a! surprise! banquet.! He! will! be!
twentyDone."!
"May!I!D"!
"Visit!his!concubine!to!urge!her!to!find!a!suitable!gift?"!
Tomoyo!was!speechless.!
"Tomorrow!you!may!go."!
"But!she!will!only!have!one!day!to!prepare,"!said!Tomoyo.!"MeilinDsan!
and!HuaDLingDsan!surely!will!not!tell!her."!
Eriol's!glasses!glinted.!
"That!will!make!it!all!the!more!fun!"!
! never!mentioned!such!a!thing.!
The!sun!lazily!floated!into!the!hazy!sky.!The!villagers!were!still!asleep!
and!the!animals!made!no!sounds.!All!was!still.!On!the!outskirts!of!the!
village! a! thick! layer! of! dust! was! gathering.! The! hooves! of! horses!
stomped!the!ground!loosening!the!hard!earth!there.!The!sun!followed!
the!army.!The!men!and!beasts!were!quiet.!They!were!halfDway!into!the!
village!and!still!nothing!had!stirred.!They!lit!torches.!
Fire! slithered! silently! across! the! tops! of! the! straw! huts.! The! morning!
breeze! egged! the! fire! onwards.! Dark! smoke! ascended! into! the! sky.! A!
highDpitched!scream!broke!the!calm!of!the!morning.!Men,!women!and!
children! rushed! out! of! their! homes! frantically! as! the! air! was!
punctuated!by!more!cries.!The!swift!blades!and!arrows!of!the!soldiers!
awaited!them.!
"Mother!"!
A!little!girl!kneeled!beside!the!body!of!a!woman.!A!soldier!scooped!her!
up! onto! his! horse.! They! had! to! save! some! women! and! children! for!
their! fun! later.! The! villagers! ran! throughout! their! village,! trying! to!
escape! the! soldiers.! They! would! not! go! down! without! a! fight.! Their!
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scytes!cut!at!the!soldiers.!They!attacked!the!horses,!hoping!to!have!the!
men!on!their!backs!thrown!to!their!deaths.!
Out!of!the!chaos,!a!tall,!brown!haired!man!emerged.!A!large!Guandao!
rested!on!his!shoulder.!A!villager!ran!wildly!into!him!with!a!machete.!
Enlai! calmly! dodged! the! machete! and! caught! him! by! the! neck,!
squeezing! the! life! out! of! him.! Tossing! him! aside,! he! continued! on! his!
stroll! through! the! village.! His! darkDbrown! horse! followed! a! few! feet!
behind!him!dutifully.!
Blood! soaked! into! the! ground! Enlai! walked! across.! He! was! not!
bothered! at! all.! This! was! the! second! village! he! was! destroying! this!
morning!and!it!will!not!be!the!last.!He!would!pillage!and!burn!until!the!
Great! Imperial! Son! showed! up.! He! was! curious! about! the! man.! He!
wanted!to!see!what!he!looked!like.!Enlai!was!a!proud!man,!himself.!He!
would!determine!just!how!great!this!prince!was.!
Enlai! spotted! a! young! woman! curled! up! on! the! floor,! weeping.! Her!
clothes!were!splattered!with!blood!but!she!did!not!seem!hurt.!In!fact,!
she!was!quite!good!to!look!at.!Enlai!grinned!broadly.!This!village!was!
no!army.!He!did!not!need!to!fight!at!the!moment.!The!war!could!wait.!
!
"Hoe!"!
Sakura!could!not!believe!Syaoran's!birthday!was!the!following!day.!He!
"TomoyoDchan,!I!don't!have!any!money,"!said!Sakura.!"I!cannot!get!him!
anything."!
"Calm! down,! SakuraDchan,"! said! Tomoyo! levelDheadedly.! "Even! if! you!
had!money,!nothing!you!can!buy!him!could!rival!anything!the!emperor!
will!give!him."!
Sakura!relaxed!a!bit!at!this.!Tomoyo!was!right.!Still,!what!could!she!get!
him?!
"He!talks!to!you!right,"!said!Tomoyo.!
Sakura!nodded,!not!sure!where!Tomoyo!was!going!with!this.!
"What!does!he!like?"!
"He!told!me!his!favourite!flower!was!peony,"!said!Sakura.!"And!he!once!
said!that!his!favourite!dish!was!dim!sum.!Why!do!you!ask?"!
"You!have!to!give!him!something!unique,"!said!Tomoyo.!"Something!no!
one! else! can! give! him.! If! you! had! more! time! perhaps! you! could! have!
sewn!something!for!him...."!
The! two! spent! the! rest! of! the! day,! blurting! out! ideas! here! and! there!
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about! what! to! get! for! Syaoran.! They! lay! on! Sakura's! bed! in! opposite!
directions,! heads! near! each! other! staring! at! the! ceiling.! Suddenly,!
Sakura!sat!up,!her!heart!beating!fast.!
"I!know!what!I!can!give!him!"!
Tomoyo!sat!up!as!well.!
"I!will!help!you!with!whatever!it!is,!SakuraDchan."!
"Thank!you!TomoyoDsan,"!said!Sakura!as!she!gave!the!girl!a!hug.!"I!will!
need!your!help."!
The! following! day,! Tomoyo! arrived! at! Sakura's! room! with! a! beautiful!
ruqun!she!had!finished!a!few!days!ago.!She!was!ecstatic!that!there!was!
actually!an!occasion!for!Sakura!to!wear!it.!She!knew!that!the!emperor!
would! send! for! Syaoran's! women! at! a! moment's! notice,! so! she! was!
prepared.! Meilin! and! HuaDLing! had! not! bothered! to! inform! Sakura! of!
Syaoran's!birthday,!and!Tomoyo!did!not!bother!to!inform!them!of!the!
secret!banquet.!
She!began!with!Sakura's!hair.!Tomoyo!parted!it!down!the!middle!and!
and!made!two!small!buns!on!either!side!of!her!head.!She!adorned!the!
buns! with! various! jewels! that! she! brought! from! her! collection.! She!
brushed! Sakura's! bangs! until! they! were! light! and! feathery.! Then! she!
brushed!Sakura's!eyebrows!so!that!they!were!neat!and!defined.!
The! ruqun! she! dressed! Sakura! in! was! pink! and! white.! It! shimmered!
even! when! it! was! unmoving.! On! Sakura's! feet! were! white! shoes!
embellished! with! a! pink! flower! at! the! toes.! Tomoyo! handed! Sakura! a!
hand!mirror!and!she!gasped.!
"I!look!beautiful."!
"You!are,"!said!Tomoyo!who!was!satisfied!with!her!work.!
"But! TomoyoDchan,"! said! Sakura! gazing! down! at! her! bosom.! "You!
forgot!my!inner!garment!with!the!collar."!
The! garmet! allowed! the! top! of! Sakura's! bosom! to! be! exposed!
provocatively.!
"But! Sakura,! this! is! the! latest! fashion.! The! women! in! the! harem! are!
doing!this!now."!
"Then!why!aren't!you!wearing!one?"!
Sakura! looked! at! the! ruqun! Tomoyo! brought! for! herself.! Tomoyo!
blushed.!
"Someone! like! kawaii! SakuraDchan! needs! to! wear! it,! in! order! for! the!
trend!to!truly!catch!on!"!
"Are!you!sure?"!asked!Sakura!doubtfully.!"Suppose!Xiao!Lang!becomes!
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angry."!
"He!won't,"!said!Tomoyo!matterDofDfactly.!"I!promise."!
After!Tomoyo!had!finished!pinning!her!hair!on!top!of!head!in!a!classic!
hairstyle!and!slipping!on!her!blue!ruqun,!an!eunuch!came!to!summon!
them! on! Huangdi's! request.! Meilin! and! HuaDLing! scrambled! to! find!
something! to! wear.! Tomoyo! floated! out! of! Sakura's! room! proudly.!
Meilin!glared!at!her!darkly.!Clearly!she!had!known!about!the!banquet.!
Sakura! followed! Tomoyo! selfDconsciously.! She! had! never! worn!
anything!like!Tomoyo's!creation!before.!Meilin!stared!at!her.!Without!
her!customary!glare,!she!returned!to!her!room!to!tie!her!hair!up.!The!
door!slammed!behind!her.!
When!HuaDLing!and!Meilin!were!finished!dressing,!they!all!left!for!one!
of! the! Great! Halls.! A! lot! of! people! were! running! back! and! forth,! but!
there!was!utmost!silence.!Officials,!nobles,!wives,!consorts,!concubines,!
musicians! and! dancers! were! present.! Huangdi,! the! Empress! and! the!
other! members! of! the! royal! family! entered! last.! Sakura! saw! Yukito!
sitting! on! the! opposite! side! of! the! hall! talking! animatedly.! She! felt! a!
bitterDsweet! twinge! but! turned! her! eyes! away! from! him.! Huangdi!
raised!his!hands!for!attention.!
"As!you!must!know!by!now,!today!is!Xiao!Lang's!twentyDfirst!birthday,"!
he! said.! "And! as! you! all! must! know! also,! he! is! incredibly! difficult! to!
surprise."!
There!was!quiet!laughter!at!this.!Yes,!they!all!knew.!
"Empress!Li!has!shielded!our!auras!from!my!son,"!he!continued.!"Yue!
will!bring!him!to!us!at!any!moment.!For!now,!we!will!remain!silent."!
They! waited.! It! seemed! a! long! time,! because! there! were! no!
conversations.! A! tingle! of! excitement! was! present! in! the! room.!
Suddenly,! they! heard! footsteps! outside.! They! turned! to! the! entrance.!
The!doors!flung!open!wide.!Syaoran!stopped!in!his!tracks.!
"HAPPY!BIRTHDAY,!GREAT!IMPERIAL!SON!!!"!
Stiffly,!he!turned!to!Yue!and!glared.!Yue!walked!off!towards!his!brother!
nonchanlantly.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!called!Huangdi.!"Come,!come."!
On! cue,! the! festivities! began.! The! musicians! played! their! instruments!
and! the! dancers! began! their! routines.! Everyone! laughed! and! was!
merry.! Syaoran! disappeared! briefly! after! speaking! with! Huangdi! and!
then! returned! in! an! intricate! yellow! and! gold! hanfu.! He! glared! at!
everyone,! but! people! were! having! too! much! fun! to! notice.! This! made!
him!glare!more.!He!was!made!to!sit!in!the!middle!of!the!room!so!that!
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he!could!collect!his!many!presents.!
The! nobles! and! officials! presented! various! artefacts! and! gems,! both!
foreign! and! domestic! to! Syaoran.! It! was! a! long! process,! each! man!
trying!to!outdo!the!other!by!using!flowery!speeches!to!present!his!gift.!
Yukito!gave!Syaoran!a!large!tray!of!delicacies.!Everyone!laughed!when!
they!saw!this.!It!was!so!typical!of!Yukito.!Sakura!expected!to!see!some!
emotion! from! Syaoran,! but! his! face! was! blank.! Were! they! not! his!
friends?!Yue!gave!Syaoran!a!well!made!bow!with!his!name!in!Chinese!
characters!engraved!on!it,!and!a!quiver!of!arrows!to!go!with!it.!Syaoran!
accepted!it!with!a!curt!nod.!Even!so,!Sakura!could!tell!that!he!was!well!
pleased.!
Syaoran,!elbow!on!the!low!table!he!sat!by,!had!his!hand!on!the!edge!of!
his!chin!propping!himself!up.!Eriol!stood!in!front!of!him!next.!He!rolled!
his!eyes.!Eriol!was!unperturbed.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Eriol.!"Sadly,!you!have!already!received!my!present."!
He!waved!around!the!room.!
"With! Huangdi's! permission,! all! of! this! was! prepared! just" for" you,!
under!my"instructions."!
The! guests! present! cheered.! Sakura! thought! Syaoran! was! going! to!
attack!Eriol.!The!expression!on!his!face!was!so!vicious.!In!her!opinion,!
everything! was! splendid.! Why! was! Syaoran! not! enjoying! it?! The!
eunuch! who! was! moving! the! proceedings! along! summoned! yet!
another!person.!
QiaoDsensei!gave!Syaoran!rare,!powerful!herbs!and!Yamazaki!gave!him!
a! book! of! tales! he! had! written! himself.! Meilin! gave! him! an! exquisite!
piece!of!calligraphy!she!had!completed.!Her!work!was!applauded.!HuaD
Ling! performed! a! dance! for! Syaoran,! using! two! paper! fans.! Sakura!
never!knew!she!was!so!graceful.!Her!greatest!skills!was!throwing!the!
fans!into!the!air!and!catching!them!perfectly.!Again,!applause!sounded.!
Sakura!became!nervous!when!she!realized!she!was!next.!
"Hoe,!TomoyoDsan,!I!can't!give!it!to!him!now!"!
"Well!you!have!to!say!this,"!said!Tomoyo.!"It!will!be!alright."!
"I'm!scared."!
"Don't!look!at!anyone!else,!just!look!at!him,"!Tomoyo!encouraged.!
Sakura!nodded!and!rose!to!her!feet!timidly.!Meilin!cocked!an!eyebrow.!
Before,! Sakura! had! been! hidden! behind! many! other! women,! but! now!
everyone!had!a!view!of!her.!There!was!a!hush.!They!had!heard!about!
the! concubine! and! were! curious! to! finally! see! her.! Syaoran,! hand! still!
125!
on! his! chin,! took! a! drink! of! wine.! He! almost! spit! it! out! when! he! saw!
Sakura! standing! in! front! of! him.! He! was! unsure! whether! to! thank!
Eriol's! consort! or! strangle! her.! Only! she! would! have! dared! to! dress!
Sakura! as! such.! Her! breasts! were! visible! for! goodness'! sake.! Why! did!
Huangdi!allow!these!kinds!of!garments!to!be!worn!by!his!women?!Now!
his"beautiful!Sakura!was!wearing"them!too!!
However,! Sakura! was! radiant.! It! was! the! most! exotic! he! was! seeing!
her.! Her! green! eyes! sparkled! with! life! and! her! hair! shined! brightly.!
Every!small!move!of!her!head!made!the!jewels!there!sparkle.!Her!lips!
were! naturally! pink! and! her! long! lashes! brushed! her! cheek! as! she!
looked! down! shyly.! This! only! led! the! eyes! to! the! rise! of! her! chest.!
Syaoran!breathed!evenly!to!clear!his!mind.!The!emperor!was!the!first!
to!break!from!the!trance.!
"What!gift!does!this!beauty!bring?"!
Sakura! did! not! speak.! She! was! too! embarassed! to! be! watched! by! so!
many!people.!
"Nothing?"!asked!the!emperor.!
Syaoran!glared!at!him.!It!was!him!who!wanted!a!surprise"party.!Sakura!
was! saying! something! softly! but! he! could! not! hear.! He! held! out! his!
hand!towards!her.!Slowly,!she!approached!him!and!took!his!hand.!She!
knelt!at!the!table!before!him.!
"Is!it!alright,!if!I!give!you!your!present!later?"!asked!Sakura.!
Syaoran! nodded.! He! appraised! her! body.! Did! she! know! how! badly! he!
wanted! to! remove! the! eyes! of! the! men! in! the! Hall?! Eventually,! he! let!
Sakura!return!to!her!seat.!Huangdi!once!again!was!the!first!to!recover!
from!the!scene.!He!cleared!his!throat.!Empress!Yelan!sent!a!servant!to!
deliver!a!new!jian!to!Syaoran.!Syaoran!unsheathed!it.!It!was!not!new!at!
all.!In!fact,!it!was!many!years!old.!
"Tonight,"! said! Huangdi.! "I! officially! declare! that! Li! Xiao! Lang! is! the!
Great!Imperial!Son,!future!emperor!of!China."!
There! was! an! uproar! as! everyone! cheered.! Syaoran! looked! at! the!
sword!of!his!ancestors.!He!closed!his!eyes.!It!was!a!great!feeling!to!hold!
something!with!so!much!history.!The!next!gift!from!the!emperor!made!
Syaoran!irritated.!
"My! second! gift,"! said! the!emperor.! "Is! eighteen! of! the! most! beautiful!
daughters!of!my!officials."!
Eighteen! girls! with! identical! makeDup! entered! the! Hall.! They!
kowtowed!before!Syaoran.!He!glanced!at!Sakura.!She!was!talking!with!
Tomoyo.! She! seemed! distressed.! Syaoran! sighed.! Was! she! becoming!
126!
like! Meilin?! Jealous! of! every! woman! that! came! before! his! path?! His!
father!had!outdone!himself!this!time.!He!supposed!it!was!the!longtime!
rule! D! nine! concubines! a! night.! So! he! was! to! make! good! of! the!
emperor's! gift! for! two! nights?! Syaoran! sighed! again.! Would! the!
emperor!never!stop!throwing!women!at!him!to!warm!his!bed?!It!was!
the! only! lesson! that! he! learned! well! yet! did! not! feel! like! putting! into!
practice!D!enjoy!as!many!women!as!possible.!He!would!have!to!though.!
Huangdi! took! rejection! of! a! woman! he! gave! as! an! ultimate! insult.!
Syaoran!almost!did!not!believe!it!when!he!saw!Huangdi!direct!a!smirk!
at!Wei.!So!he!was!trying!to!outdo"him?!
"Why!the!long!face!Xiao!Lang?"!called!a!bitter!Renshu!from!a!far!side!of!
the! Hall.! He! was! with! two! of! his! younger! twin! brothers.! "Would! you!
have!preferred!eighteen!eunuchs?"!
The! guests! laughed,! thinking! it! was! slight! jest! between! two! brothers.!
Syaoran!normally!would!have!remained!quiet,!but!tonight!was!not!the!
night.!
"Would!your!wife?"!he!asked!Renshu.!Eriol's!influence!came!in!handy!
sometimes.!
The! guests! laughed! again! D! hesitantly! this! time.! Renshu! was! stunned!
momentarily!by!the!highly!unexpected!comeback.!
"Of! course! not,"! said! Renshu.! "Only! a! real! man! can! give! her! seed! to!
bear!children."!
There! was! no! laughter! this! time.! The! dark! look! shooting! out! of!
Syaoran's! eyes! was! paralyzing.! Huangdi! seemed! to! think! Renshu's!
comment!was!out!of!line!also.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Huangdi.!"Respond."!
In! an! instant,! Syaoran! was! gone! from! his! seat.! He! rushed! Renshu.!
There!was!a!glow!and!a!sword!appeared!in!his!hand.!He!took!a!swipe!
at! Renshu! and! then! flicked! his! sword! down! at! his! side.! A! thin! line!
manifested! on! Renshu's! neck.! Blood! flowed! freely! from! the! wound.!
Renshu! had! barely! moved! since! Syaoran! left! his! seat.! The! sword!
vanished!and!Syaoran!returned!to!his!place.!No!one!spoke.!
"Tonight! is! a! special! night,"! said! Huangdi.! "I! will! have! no! one! ruin! it.!
Even!you!First!Son.!Show!respect!to!Xiao!Lang!and!you!show!respect!to!
me.!He!is!your!future!emperor."!
Syaoran!glared!at!Yelan.!There!she!was!watching!him!again.!What!was!
the!woman's!problem?!The!party,!amazingly,!continued!in!full!swing.!It!
was!as!though!there!had!been!no!interruption!at!all.!Syaoran!decided!
to!retire!and!Huangdi!took!this!as!a!good!sign.!
127!
"Ping,"! he! called! loudly.! "No! less! than! nine! concubines! tonight.! The!
prince!is!twentyDone!"!
!
Sakura! entered! Syaoran's! room! after! midnight.! Syaoran! had! left! the!
festivities! but! they! were! not! over.! Already,! he! had! changed! into! a!
casual!hanfu.!The!room!was!dimly!lit.!Nine!concubines!were!present.!A!
couple!on!his!bed,!some!sitting!on!the!floor,!others!standing.!Syaoran!
who!was!surprised!to!see!Sakura,!looked!at!Ping!admonishingly.!
"I! ordered! that! you! be! sent! to! bed,"! said! Syaoran,! more! to! Ping! than!
Sakura.!"It's!late."!
"I!know,"!said!Sakura.!"But!I!came!to!give!you!your!present."!
"Fine,"!Syaoran!said!shortly.!
Ping!left!the!room!discretely.!
"A! present! is! not! necessary! Xiao! Ying,"! said! Syaoran! as! he! sat! on! his!
bed.!"Though!if!you!feel!you!must,!then!I!will!accept!it."!
Syaoran! was! secretly! wondering! what! Sakura! had! gotten! him.! He!
never!gave!her!anything!valuable,!so!Eriol's!wife!must!have!helped!her!
with!it.!He!doubted!Meilin!and!HuaDLing!were!that!generous.!Now!that!
he!thought!of!it,!there!was!nothing!in!Sakura's!hands.!
"Xiao!Ying?"!
She! came! closer! to! him.! The! other! concubines! were! watching! her!
intently.!One!had!already!positioned!herself!behind!Syaoran.!Sakura's!
heart! beat! increased.! The! thought! of! Syaoran! touching! them! like! he!
touched!her!was!unbearable.!When!had!she!began!to!care!this!much?!
Was! this! how! Meilin! and! HuaDLing! felt?! What! about! Empress! Li! in!
regards! to! Huangdi?! Unable! to! breathe,! Sakura! turned! on! her! heels!
and!bolted!out!the!bedroom!door.!Ping!tried!to!grasp!her!hand!but!she!
was! already! speeding! away.! She! was! a! good! runner.! She! always! had!
been.!She!heard!footsteps!behind!her!and!dashed!into!a!room!she!saw!
on! her! left.! Slamming! the! door! shut! behind! her,! she! slumped! to! the!
floor.!
Syaoran!stood!outside!the!room!Sakura!had!entered.!It!was!one!of!his!
rooms.!He!used!it!when!he!wanted!absolutely!no!disturbance.!Why!his!
Xiao! Ying! ran! from! him,! he! had! no! idea,! but! he! was! going! to! find! out!
now.! He! pushed! the! door! open! and! met! some! resistance.! Sakura!
quickly!got!up.!He!entered!and!closed!the!door!behind!him.!
"What's!wrong?"!
Sakura!bowed!her!head.!
128!
"I!know!you!have!a!lot!of!Yang,"!she!said.!"So!I!wanted!to!give!you!my!
Yin.!I!know!you!must!have!many!women!but!when!I!saw..."!
Syaoran! was! dumbstruck.! His! mind! was! stuck! on! Sakura! saying! she!
wanted!him!to!have!her!Yin.!That!meant!she!was!giving!herself!to!him,!
right?!
"TomoyoDchan!explained!everything!to!me,"!said!Sakura.!"And!I'm!sure!
I!want!to!give!it!to!you."!
Syaoran! had! thought! of! her! the! entire! night,! but! he! never! imagined!
that!this!would!happen.!His!eyes!darkened!with!desire.!Sakura!shifted!
uneasily.!
"Don't!you!want!me!anymore?"!asked!Sakura!uneasily.!"No,!of!course!
you!don't.!You!must!rather!your!new!concubines.!They're!so!prD!"!
Syaoran!held!her!face.!Leaning!forwards,!he!kissed!her!lips.!Quickly,!he!
deepened!it,!wanting!more!of!her.!That!odd!flutter!returned!again.!He!
sucked!on!her!lips!intensely.!
"Are!you!sure?"!asked!Syaoran!within!the!kiss.!
"I!want!to!be!the!best!concubine!to!you."!
"Get!on!the!bed,"!said!Syaoran.!
He! cringed! inside.! He! did! not! mean! to! sound! so! demanding! but! he!
really! craved! Sakura.! He! slipped! off! the! top! of! his! hanfu! so! that! it!
hanged! around! his! waist.! Sakura! watched! him! intently.! He! seemed!
bigger!to!her!than!usual.!His!voice!was!deeper!also.!He!sat!beside!her!
and!kissed!her!again.!Sakura!kissed!him!back!this!time.!Syaoran!liked!it!
a! great! deal! when! she! responded! to! him.! It! gave! him! a! feeling! of!
accomplishment.! He! knew! he! was! doing! something! right.! And" how" I"
want"to"do"everything"right.! Syaoran! put! his! weight! on! top! of! her! and!
she!fell!back!onto!the!bed.!Sakura!held!onto!Syaoran's!arms!tightly.!
"What! are! you! afraid! of?"! he! asked! her! as! he! ran! his! fingers! through!
her!hair.!
"That! it! will! hurt,"! whispered! Sakura.! Her! eyes! were! wide! with! fear.!
How" sadistic" that" I" want" her" even" more" now,! thought! Syaoran.! "You!
know!so!much!more!than!me."!
"Do!you!trust!me?"!
Sakura!nodded.!
"I!want!to!hear!it."!
"I!trust!you."!
Content,!Syaoran!trailed!kisses!down!her!neck.!Slowly.!Sakura!shifted!
beneath!him!as!her!vision!began!to!blur.!Syaoran!sucked!on!her!neck!
129!
until! she! gave! an! involuntary! moan.! He! pulled! down! the! top! of! her!
ruqun!and!her!breasts!popped!out.!He!ran!his!hands!over!them!lightly.!
He! swallowed.! The! sight! of! the! pink! nipples! made! him! completely!
hard.! Syaoran! put! his! mouth! over! Sakura's! left! breast! and! sucked!
down!on!it.!Sakura!arched!her!back.!He!took!her!right!nipple!between!
his! fingers! and! rolled! it! around! teasingly.! His! attentiveness! was!
relaxing!her.!He!would!take!as!long!as!was!needed.!He!did!not!wish!to!
force!her.!He!wanted!her!praise.!
Sakura! held! his! head! against! her! chest.! The! feeling! in! her! was! so!
powerful! she! could! not! speak! or! think! correctly.! Syaoran! switched!
breasts! and! was! now! sucking! her! right.! The! fear! in! her! was! slowly!
slipping! away.! She! had! been! told! not! to! expect! much! when! she! was!
taken,!so!she!was!stunned!that!he!was!being!so!tender!with!her.!I"feel..."
cared"for.!How"is"that?!Syaoran!returned!to!her!lips!and!she!kissed!him!
as!passionately!as!he!kissed!her.!
"You're!so!beautiful!Xiao!Ying..."!
Sakura! felt! a! thrill! run! through! her! body.! Again! she! moaned.! Her! hip!
was! rising! to! rub! against! Syaoran's! groin.! She! was! ignorant! of! what!
they!were!doing,!but!her!body!knew!what!it!wanted.!Syaoran!smirked!
in!the!kiss.!
"Slow!down,!Xiao!Ying,"!he!said.!"It!will!be!better."!
Syaoran! ran! his! hands! up! and! down! Sakura's! thighs.! She! sucked! in! a!
sharp! breath! as! he! pinched! her.! Pulling! her! ruqun! down! some! more,!
Syaoran!rest!wet!kisses!down!her!belly.!He!ran!his!hands!up!and!down!
her! chest,! stopping! every! now! and! then! to! squeeze! her! breasts.! Time!
did! not! exist! as! Sakura! was! consumed! in! the! utter! bliss! of! Syaoran's!
caresses! and! kisses.! She! was! seeing! him! in! a! different! light.! One! that!
she!was!quickly!becoming!hungry!for.!
Syaoran! revelled! in! the! sounds! he! was! eliciting! from! Sakura.! Why!
could! he! not! stop?! He! had! never! given! any! woman! such! attention!
before.!All!he!knew!was!that!he!wanted!Sakura!to!feel!for!him!as!he!felt!
for! her.! He! could! not! express! his! emotions! in! words.! He! had! to! show!
her.! Syaoran! knew! Sakura! must! feel! the! excitement! building! rapidly!
inside!of!her.!He!stripped!off!her!ruqun!completely.!The!glimpses!and!
feels!he!had!of!her!naked!form!were!in!his!mind!all!the!time.!Now,!he!
had!a!chance!to!fully!appreciate!her!body.!He!was!surprised!to!see!that!
it!was!almost!the!same!shade!of!the!skin!on!her!face.!He!liked!that!she!
was!not!pale.!Her!breasts!were!small!and!round!and!the!nipples!were!
pointing! straight! at! him.! He! remembered! how! they! filled! his! palm.! A!
perfect!fit.!Syaoran!licked!his!lips.!His!eyes!danced!over!Sakura's!slim!
130!
hips!and!rest!at!the!area!between!her!legs.!Sakura!trembled.!She!was!
breathing! deeply! as! she! gazed! at! Syaoran! through! hooded! eyes.! Her!
face! was! flushed,! her! lips! were! swollen! and! it! made! her! all! the! more!
appealing.!Her!breasts!and!neck!bore!marks!from!his!mouth.!Syaoran!
was!proud!of!his!work.!
"Let! me! do! something! for! you,"! said! Sakura! with! much! effort.! Her!
breath! was! caught! in! her! throat.! "I! would! if! I! knew! what! you! liked...!
and!how!to!do!it."!
Syaoran!was!surprised!to!hear!those!words!from!her.!The!look!he!gave!
to! Sakua! made! her! melt.! Why! was" he" looking" at" her" so" lovingly?" She"
must"be"imagining"things.!Syaoran!did!something!he!would!never!have!
considered!previously.!He!held!Sakura!and!rolled!over!on!the!bed.!She!
lay! on! top! of! him.! He! stared! at! a! spot! past! her! head.! He! was! slightly!
apprehensive! of! being! on! the! bottom! but! Sakura! would! feel! even!
better!if!she!had!some"control.!
Syaoran!took!in!a!breath!as!her!lips!met!his!neck.!She!was!imitating!his!
movements!with!her.!She!straddled!his!waist!as!she!explored!his!upper!
body!with!her!hands.!So!engrossed!was!she!with!him!that!she!did!not!
notice! he! had! an! ideal! view! of! her! breasts.! She! was! glowing! and! he!
could!not!take!his!eyes!off!of!this!woman!who!had!conquered!his!every!
thought.! Syaoran! shivered! as! Sakura's! tongue! was! flicked! across! his!
nipple.!He!looked!at!her.!Her!eyes!were!on!him,!checking!his!reaction.!
He!groaned.!Was"her"shyness"before"even"real?"She"was"so"perfect.!
Sakura!sat!at!his!side!as!she!removed!his!hanfu!painstakingly!slow.!She!
was!seeing!him!for!the!first!time,!really!seeing!and!studying!him.!She!
could!not!stop!staring,!though!she!was!thoroughly!embarassed.!He!was!
very!thick.!Was!that!really!going!to!be!able!to!somehow!fit!inside!her?!
As!she!maintained!her!focus,!a!white!liquid!began!to!ease!from!its!tip.!
Syaoran! watched! with! bated! breath! as! Sakura,! his"Xiao"Ying,! reached!
out! and! touched! his! most! intimate! place.! She! scrutinized! the! fluid! on!
her!fingers.!She!reached!out!again,!but!looked!at!him!this!time.!Syaoran!
nodded.!
In! one! motion,! she! gripped! him! in! both! her! hands.! The! tip! of! his!
manhood!peeked!out!at!her.!Gently,!Syaoran!directed!her!head!lower.!
More! than! happy! to! comply,! Sakura! stuck! out! her! tongue! nervously!
and! licked! him.! Syaoran! who! expected! something! quick! moaned! in!
utmost!pleasure!as!his!woman!licked!back!and!forth,!side!to!side!and!
in!circular!motions!all!over!his!erection.!Her!curious!nature!made!her!
caress,! hold,! squeeze! and! rub! every! part! of! his! nether! regions.!
Syaoran's! mind! was! transported! to! a! paradise! of! raw! pleasure.! His!
131!
eyelids! grew! heavy! and! he! tilted! his! head! back.! Syaoran! gripped! the!
sheets! as! Sakura's! mouth! covered! the! head! of! his! manhood.! All! the!
while!she!looked!at!him.!Her!teeth!grazed!him!and!he!winced.!Sakura!
made! sure! it! did! not! happen! again.! Syaoran! groaned! more! loudly.!
Sakura!was!succesfully!seducing!him!and!she!did!not!even!know!it.!She!
pulled! her! head! away! and! gasped! for! breath,! before! crawling! up! to!
Syaoran.!She!pushed!out!her!bottom!lip!temptingly!as!she!breathed.!
"Was!that!good?"!she!asked!nervously.!
She!put!a!hand!back!on!him,!and!rubbed!with!some!pressure.!Syaoran!
watched!her!with!wonder.!Feeling!ready!to!burst,!he!again!rolled!her!
over.!His!eyes!were!full!of!pure!lust!at!that!instant.!
"Open! your! legs! for! me,"! he! told! her! huskily! as! he! kissed! her! ear.!
"Now."!
Sakura! blushed! madly! but! did! nothing.! Syaoran! held! her! thighs! and!
spread!them!apart!wide.!She!gasped.!
"Obey!next!time,"!said!Syaoran,!his!voice!deep!and!smooth.!
His!expression!did!not!do!much!to!conceal!his!yearning!for!Sakura.!She!
looked! away! from! him! coyly.! He! turned! her! head! back! to! face! him.!
Placing!a!finger!on!her!lips,!he!ran!it!down!the!middle!of!her!body!until!
he! reached! the! area! between! her! legs.! Sakura! shuddered.! She! put! a!
hand!between!her!leg!in!an!attempt!to!hide!herself.!He!held!her!hand!
far! away! from! the! sight! that! lay! before! him.! Syaoran! bent! down! and!
kissed!her!inner!thigh.!He!alternated!between!the!tender!skin!on!each!
leg.!Sakura!threw!her!head!back!and!moaned!loudly.!Syaoran!crawled!
back!up!to!face!her.!He!kissed!her!on!the!mouth!hotly.!Syaoran!moved!
his!fingers!between!the!folds!of!her!womanhood!and!Sakura!began!to!
pant! rapidly.! She! rubbed! herself! against! his! hand! in! a! provocative!
motion.!
"Let!me!show!you!the!best!way!to!take!Yin,"!said!Syaoran!tantalizingly.!
His! eyes! never! leaving! Sakura's,! he! returned! to! the! spot! between! her!
legs.! Syaoran! planted! light! kisses! between! her! legs,! slowly! increasing!
the!firmness!of!the!kisses.!His!tongue!licked!her!in!long!strokes,!up!and!
down.!Sakura!writhed!beneath!him.!He!sucked!down!on!her!sweet!spot!
which!sent!a!small!scream!from!her!lips.!Syaoran!felt!her!hand!on!his!
head,!urging!him!to!suck!harder.!He!did!just!that.!I"would"do"anything"
for"you"Xiao"Ying.!
He! was! not! suppose! to! succumb! to! women,! but! look! at! him! now.! He!
was! enjoying! every! moment.! Syaoran! raised! up! to! see! his! work.! Her!
lips! were! full,! red! and! tender.! He! looked! up! to! see! her! head! tossing!
132!
side!to!side.!
"Don't!stop.!Kudasai,!Xiao!Lang."!
Syaoran!indulged!her!some!more.!Suddenly,!Sakura's!legs!pinned!him!
on!either!side!of!his!head.!Syaoran!continued!sucking.!She!stiffened.!A!
shudder.! Clear! liquid! flowed! out! of! her.! Never! did! Syaoran! cease!
sucking! and! licking! the! woman! in! his! bed.! The! smell! of! her! was!
intoxicating! to! him.! He! raised! up! and! kissed! Sakura! on! the! lips.! She!
pulled!him!into!her,!willingly!opening!her!mouth!to!receive!his!tongue.!
Her!legs!were!spread!wide,!this!time!of!her!own!accord.!
His!erection!brushed!against!her!womanhood.!Sakura!looked!down.!It!
pulsated.!
"Can!I!be!one!with!you!now?"!
"I!trust!you,"!said!Sakura.!"Please,!take!me."!
Syaoran's!eyes!softened!for!a!brief!moment,!then!the!lust!returned.!He!
lined! himself! up! with! her.! Slowly,! he! penetrated! her! center.! It! was!
difficult.! Her! opening! was! awfully! resistant! to! his! advances.! Sakura's!
nails! dug! into! his! arms.! He! pushed! forward! determinedly! until! his!
head! was! completely! inside! Sakura.! He! shivered.! He! wanted! to! slam!
into!her!and!bury!himself!inside!her!in!one!go.!She!was!so!tight,!so!hot!
and!wet.!However,!he!controlled!himself.!
"Relax,"!he!told!her.!"It!will!be!less!uncomfortable."!
Sakura!bit!her!lip.!Syaoran!waited!for!her.!She!swirmed!around!on!his!
member.! Syaoran! cursed! in! his! head.! If! she! kept! that! up,! what! would!
happen?!I"want"her"now.!I"need&her"now.!Finally!Sakura's!body!settled!
down! as! she! adjusted! to! him.! He! contined! pushing! into! her,! and! he!
rubbed! her! most! sensitive! spot! again,! to! raise! her! arousal! level.! He!
came!upon!a!light!obstruction.!Sakura's!eyes!widened.!Syaoran!sighed.!
Her! eyes! were! so! afraid.! His! hand! was! still! rubbing! her.! He! took! her!
lips! in! a! kiss,! distracting! her! furthur.! He! pushed! into! her! all! the! way.!
Her! gasp! was! muffled! by! his! lips.! Neither! of! them! moved! for! a! while.!
Syaoran!moved!his!hips!in!a!circular!motion.!Little!by!little!she!began!
to! respond,! pushing! her! groin! into! his.! Syaoran's! restraint! was!
crumbling! fast.! He! had! denied! himself! of! her! for! too! long.! That! may!
have! been! a! mistake.! He! broke! their! kiss! and! looked! at! Sakura!
apologectically.! Gripping! her! hips,! he! plunged! into! her! hard! and! fast.!
Her! mouth! opened! wide.! Her! breasts! bobbed! up! and! down! with! the!
force!of!Syaoran's!thrusts.!
Syaoran! threw! his! head! back! in! pure! pleasure.! Inside! her! was! so!
gripping!every!part!of!him!snugly.!Wetness!flowed!down!his!legs.!Was"
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she"enjoying"this?"Did"she"like"him"rough?"Syaoran! hoped! so.! He! could!
not!bear!it!if!he!hurt!her.!He!slowed!his!thrusts!a!bit!as!he!felt!himself!
reaching! a! climax.! He! pulled! Sakura! up! onto! his! waist.! Holding! her!
there,! he! raised! her! and! brought! her! crashing! down! on! his! erection.!
Please"like"it."Please"like"it.!She!held!onto!his!shoulders!for!support.!He!
could! feel! her! insides! gripping! his! erection! and! it! was! making! him!
intensify! his! rhythm! and! plunges! even! more.! His! mind! screamed! to!
slow!down!but!his!body!ignored!it.!He!kissed!Sakura's!neck.!He!took!a!
peak! at! her.! Her! eyes! were! overwhelmed! with! emotion.! She! was!
murmuring!something!in!a!daze.!He!listened!well.!
"Yes,!oh!yes...!Xiao!Lang!"!
He! realized! she! was! moving! her! hips! on! her! own.! Sakura! was!
overcome! by! the! sensations.! She! felt! full! but! wholly! satisfied! being!
joined! to! Syaoran! as! she! was! now.! Her! fear! was! gone.! All! that!
remained!was!need.!There!was!no!man!like!Xiao!Lang.!He!was!a!god!on!
earth.! She! kissed! him! with! as! much! intensity! as! she! could! muster.! It!
had! been! a! very! long! time! already,! but! Syaoran! wanted! to! hold! out!
longer.! He! wanted! to! but! he! needed! release.! I"denied"myself"of"her"far"
too" long.! Syaoran! lay! Sakura! back! onto! the! bed! as! his! carnal! nature!
took!complete!control.!He!pounded!into!her!unceasingly.!His!hips!went!
faster!and!faster.!As!he!drove!into!her!he!pulled!her!towards!him.!He!
gave!her!his!final!thrusts.!
"Xiao!Lang!"!
Her! screams! delighted! him.! His! grip! on! her! hips! was! iron.! He! drove!
into!her!harder!and!harder.!Sakura!shuddered!for!the!second!time.!He!
plunged!into!her!for!the!last!time.!A!warm!fluid!gushed!into!her!core.!
Syaoran! continued! to! glide! in! and! out! of! Sakura! for! a! while! longer.! I"
never"want"to"be"separated"from"you"again.! Eventually! though,! he! had!
to!stop.!
Syaoran! rolled! over! with! her! on! top! of! him.! His! manhood! was! still!
inside!her,!and!he!was!not!going!to!take!it!out!anytime!soon.!He!kissed!
her! on! the! lips.! Sakura! was! too! tired! to! kiss! him! back! as! she! would!
have!liked.!
"You!were!wonderful,"!he!spoke!into!her!ear.!"Your!body...!is!amazing.!
Xiao!Ying..."!
He! ran! his! hand! over! her! rear! as! they! regained! their! breaths.! The!
corners! of! his! mouth! turned! up.! His! smile! was! the! last! thing! Sakura!
saw!before!drifting!off!to!sleep.!As!Syaoran!grew!soft!again,!he!was!still!
wide!enough!to!fit!inside.!He!sighed.!He!should!pull!out.!As!he!did!so,!a!
mixture!of!clear!and!creamy!liquid!flowed!out!of!her.!The!moment!was!
134!
surreal.!Sakura!turned!over!in!her!sleep!and!he!sidled!up!behind!her.!
Her!body!was!slightly!cold!from!the!layer!of!sweat!on!her!skin.!Pulling!
the!covers!over!them,!he!too!fell!asleep.!
! him! seem! uncommonly! fast,! intuitive! and! in! a! way,! plain! creepy.!
Chapter 9
What"you"cannot"avoid,"welcome.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Touya! was! on! the! vessel's! deck,! sitting! in! the! dark,! unknown! to! the!
crewmen.! As! long! as! there! was! shadow,! no! one! will! know! he! was!
there.! He! was! looking! out! at! the! sparkling,! dark! ocean! and! its! wide!
waves! that! rocked! the! boat! to! and! fro.! The! sea! breeze! was! mild! and!
cool.! The! atmosphere! was! so! tranquil! compared! to! the! storm! raging!
inside!of!him.!He!was!fuming!but!deep!down!in!his!heart!he!was!afraid;!
afraid!of!what!he!may!find!when!he!made!it!to!China.!Would!Sakura!be!
the!same!kaiju!he!knew?!Or!would!he!find!her!utterly!defeated?!No!!He!
would! only! think! good! things.! He! would! rescue! his! sister! and! they!
would!live!together!happily.!He!needed!no!one!else!as!long!as!he!had!
his! sister,! Sakura.! She! was! what! he! lived! for.! Now! that! he! was! apart!
from!her,!with!an!entire!ocean!between!them,!Touya!was!neither!living!
nor!dead.!
He! almost! regretted! leaving! her! to! go! to! his! wealthy! greatD
grandfather's! estate.! The! man! disowned! his! grandDdaughter,! Touya!
and! Sakura's! mother,! after! he! found! she! had! given! herself! to! a!
commoner.! He! despised! their! little! family,! especially! because! they!
were! content.! Touya! had! forced! himself! to! swallow! his! pride! and! go!
work! for! the! man.! He! was! a! daimyo! who! was! always! fair! with! his!
wages!and!treated!his!workers!well.!It!was!way!past!time!that!Touya!
got!married!and!he!had!to!ensure!he!had!enough!money!for!a!house,!a!
wife!and!children.!He!could!not!let!his!then"father!share!this!burden.!
Little! by! little! he! earned! his! greatDgrandfather! Amamiya! Masaki's!
respect.! The! man! had! tried! all! he! could! to! make! Touya! leave! in!
disgrace!but!Touya!rose!to!all!challenges.!There,!Touya!was!introduced!
to!a!secret!society.!One!that!was!partly!run!by!Amamiya!himself.!The!
officials,!daimyos!and!businessmen!of!Japan!were!becoming!more!and!
more!corrupt!everyday.!The!warlords!were!no!better.!So,!a!society!had!
been! formed! to! keep! them! in! their! place.! They! had! no! name! because!
they! did! not! exist.! Even! so,! gradually! they! began! to! be! referred! to! as!
the! Shinobi.! The! ones! who! were! there! but! were! not;! the! nameless,!
faceless!and!feared!spies!and!assasins.!
135!
Touya!was!a!prodigy.!At!least,!it!seemed!that!way!to!his!teachers!and!
comrades.!They!did!not!know!about!his!secret.!It!was!that,!he!was!able!
to! use! his! inner! eye.! He! could! see! things! no! other! could! see.! It! made!
Touya's! face! was! hard! as! he! recalled! the! many! instructions! he! had!
received!in!the!deadly!art.!
He!stood!up!and!walked!to!the!edge!of!the!vessel.!No!one!was!around,!
so!he!leaned!over!to!peer!into!the!water.!He!had!never!been!on!a!vessel!
this! size.! It! was! an! interesting! way! to! travel.! Just! then! he! sensed!
something!and!out!of!nowhere!some!creature,!large!and!warm,!landed!
on!his!back.!
"TouyaDkun!"!
Touya!pulled!himself!free!of!the!iron!grip!around!his!neck.!A!girl!with!
brown! eyes! and! long! brown! hair! that! was! loose! except! for! one! braid!
that!hug!across!her!shoulder,!beamed!up!at!him.!Touya!was!instantly!
annoyed.!
"Akizuki!Nakuru,!what!are!you!doing!here?"!he!whispered.!
"Following! you! of! course!"! she! exclaimed.! "I! have! to! always! keep! my!
eye!on!my!future!husband!"!
She!winked!cutely!at!him.!Touya!rolled!his!eyes.!
"Keep!your!voice!low!"!he!told!her.!
Touya!did!not!know!what!was!wrong!with!this!girl.!Ever!since!they!had!
met! while! they! trained! to! become! Shinobi,! she! had! practically!
proclaimed! him! to! be! her! husband.! How! she! was! recruited! to! be! in!
something!that!required!utmost!focus!and!silence,!he!had!no!idea.!Still,!
she! was! good,! he! had! to! admit! and! she! outrightly! told! him! about! her!
magic!when!they!first!met.!She!needed!not!have!as!he!felt!her!aura!and!
she! felt! his.! For! some! reason! she! trusted! him! completely.! Touya!
blinked.!There!were!tears!in!her!eyes.!
"Oh! TouyaDkun!! I'm! so! sorry! about! your! sister!"! Nakuru! cried.! Then!
she!balled!her!fists!and!held!them!up!in!front!her!body.!"As!her!future!
sisterDinDlaw,!I!vow!to!help!you!get!her!back."!
"Now!wait!D"!
He! was! cut! off! as! she! lunged! towards! him! and! hugged! him! tightly.!
Touya! sighed.! He! receded! into! the! shadows! of! the! vessel! once! again!
with!her!still!suspended!from!his!neck.!He!supposed!it!would!be!good!
to! have! some" help,! though! Akizuki! Nakuru! would! not! have! been! his!
first! choice.! Touya's! expression! darkened.! The! Great! Imperial! Son! of!
China! had! something! of! his.! Touya! would! crush! this! prince.! Royalty!
136!
thought!that!they!could!do!whatever!they!wanted;!take!whatever!they!
wanted,!with"no"consequences.!Perhaps!it!really!was!their!divine!right,!
but! here! was! earth,! not! heaven.! If! going! against! them,! meant! going!
against!heaven!Touya!did!not!care.!It!was!heaven!who!allowed!Sakura!
to! be! taken! away.! Why! did! the! gods! not! intervene! to! save! her?! They!
intervened!for!the!rich!on!several!assasination!attempts!and!they!were!
evil.!Sakura!was!good.!She!had!to!be!saved,!and!he!her!brother!Touya,!
was!going!to!do!it...!because"I"love"her.!
! Syaoran! did! not! miss! the! quick! rise! of! Ping's! eyebrows! before! he!
Syaoran! snuggled! up! to! the! warm! body! that! lay! against! his! chest.! He!
buried! his! nose! in! silky! soft! hair,! inhaling! the! light,! sweet! scent! that!
lingered!there.!His!body!and!mind!screamed!for!him!to!get!up.!It!was!
the! usual! time! he! awakened! but! he! refused! to! move.! He! wanted! to!
remain! in! the! peaceful! moment! for! a! while! longer.! Syaoran! delighted!
in! the! exhilarating! tingle! running! through! his! body! from! the! raw!
contact!he!had!with!this!body.!However,!gradually,!his!eyes!opened.!He!
smiled! slightly! as! he! remembered! what! happened! earlier! that!
morning.! If! his! Xiao! Ying! had! not! been! so! tired,! he! would! have! taken!
her!over!and!over!again.!He!groaned!lightly.!Never!had!he!felt!the!need!
to! be! inside! a! woman! so! much.! Since! Sakura! arrived,! his! otherwise!
previously! nonexistent,! lustful! nature! had! awakened.! Using! the! hand!
that! was! draped! across! her! he! ran! his! hand! down! the! length! of! her!
naked! body,! stopping! at! her! knees.! He! enclosed! one! of! her! breasts! in!
his!palm!as!he!pressed!her!into!him.!Syaoran!kissed!Sakura!across!the!
shoulders! and! over! her! upper! back.! He! shifted! as! he! felt! a! stickiness!
between!his!legs.!
Syaoran!raised!up!a!little.!There!was!a!mixture!of!his!and!Sakura's!fluid!
on! their! groins,! their! thighs! and! on! the! bed.! A! few! drops! of! blood!
dotted! the! sheets.! He! clenched! his! jaw! to! avoid! the! grin! breaking! out!
on! his! face.! He! had! training! to! do! and! he! should! get! cleaned! up.! He!
debated!whether!to!stay!with!Sakura!until!she!woke!up!or!leave.!It!was!
early! in! the! morning.! He! doubted! she! would! open! her! eyes! any! time!
soon!and!his!body!was!calling!him!to!perform!the!routine!he!had!since!
he!was!a!child.!Sakura!was!so!serene!as!she!lay!on!her!side,!her!chest!
rising!up!and!down!steadily.!Yet!he!felt!himself!reponding!to!Sakura's!
sleeping! and! very! platonic! form.! Syaoran! surpressed! the! urge! to! pull!
back!the!covers!and!spread!her!legs!again.!What's"the"matter"with"me?!
First"sadist,"now"pervert?!
Syaoran!put!on!his!hanfu!and!after!a!brush!of!fingers!against!Sakura's!
cheek,!went!to!the!door.!He!turned!to!get!one!more!look!at!her.!He!was!
137!
so!surprised!when!she!gave!in!to!him!last!night.!Why!had!she!though?!
He!knew!he!was!winning!her!over,!but!it!was!so!sudden.!Her!eyes...!last!
night...! somehow! Syaoran! felt! as! though! she! had! both! told! him! the!
truth! and! lied.! He! was! used! to! studying! things! until! it! made! sense! to!
him.! That! quality! had! served! him! well! in! battles.! Syaoran! shook! his!
head.!Right!now,!he!was!being!silly.!
As! he! opened! his! room's! door,! Ping! stood! waiting! for! him.! He! looked!
past! Syaoran! and! saw! Sakura! lying! between! the! sheets! of! his! bed.!
lowered!it.!Yes"Ping,"I"let"her"sleep"here"V"in"my"little"sanctuary.!
"Don't!wake!her,"!said!Syaoran!to!Ping.!"If!she!gets!up!before!I!return,!
let!her!wait!here!for!me."!
Syaoran! closed! the! door! behind! him! and! went! off! to! train.! It! was! an!
intense! session.! He! was! bursting! with! energy.! No! doubt! it! came! from!
being! with! Sakura.! He! lunged! forward! with! his! spear! at! some!
imaginary! enemy.! No! matter! how! many! enemies! he! created! for!
himself,! Syaoran's! mind! kept! reverting! to! the! little! witch! he! had!
recently!bedded.!He!had!been!with!women!before!besides!Meilin!and!
HuaDLing,! a! lot! of! whom! had! great! experience! but! her! simple! ways!
excited! him! beyond! belief.! Before,! sex! had! been! sex.! He! could! have!
thought! about! anything! while! doing! it.! Most! times! he! was! thinking!
over! the! day's! events.! Sex! was! solely! something! physical! that! he! was!
required! as! a! man! and! a! prince! to! do.! But"with"Xiao"Ying...! What! was!
this! feeling?! When! with! her,! his! entire! being! was! utterly! involved! D!
nothing! else! entered! his! thoughts.! And" the" feel" of" her" skin" against" my"
own...! Even! now,! he! felt! a! tug! to! return! to! his! room.! Syaoran! stopped!
his! attacks! and! exhaled! sharply.! The! stirrings! of! an! erection! were!
evident.!He!stood!up!straight!with!the!spear!at!his!side.!How!could!he!
train! when! he! was! this! distracted?! His! conscience! told! him! that!
distractions! were! everywhere! on! the! battlefield! but! he! ignored! it.! I"
would" train" later." Much" harder" than" I" trained" just" now" as" punishment"
for"not"staying"focused.!
Satisfied! with! his! decision,! Syaoran! threw! the! spear! to! a! confused!
imperial!guard!and!stalked!off!to!have!a!bath.!He!looked!at!the!position!
of!the!sun!in!the!sky.!Sakura!should!not!have!awakened!yet.!He!would!
make!it!back!in!time!so!that!she!would!not!feel!like!he!abandoned!her.!
Syaoran!halted.!What!was!he!thinking?!Was!Eriol!playing!some!magic!
trick! on! him! again?! No,! he! did! not! feel! the! man's! presence! at! all.!
Syaoran!backed!against!a!wall.!His!body!shook.!Why!did!he!care?!True!
he!told!her!he!would!do!anything!for!her,!but!that!was!just!to!seduce!
138!
her! in! a! way.! He! did! not! like! to! take! things! forcefully.! Syaoran! would!
rather!something!be!given!to!him.!In!that!way,!there!was!less!chance!of!
rebellion.!He!owned!whatever!was!given!completely.!He!sighed.!These!
thoughts!were!nothing!to!worry!about.!He!gripped!his!hair.!Nothing"at"
all.!
As! much! as! he! tried! to! convince! himself,! a! part! of! Syaoran! knew! he!
was! in! denial.! Of! what,! he! was! not! sure.! So! on! returning! to! his! room,!
instead!of!sitting!on!the!bed!next!to!Sakura,!he!opted!for!a!small!couch!
a! good! distance! from! her.! You" witch.! Though! that! was! not! really! a!
complaint.! He! rest! his! chin! in! his! hand.! The! strange! thought! that! she!
had! lied! to! him! entered! his! mind! again.! He! held! his! breath! as! Sakura!
began! waking! up! from! her! deep! sleep.! Eyes! closed,! she! stretched! her!
limbs!out!as!far!as!they!could!go.!She!gave!a!quiet!sigh.!Syaoran!made!
sure!his!face!was!blank.!He!was!fighting!an!emotion!rising!within!him.!
Sakura! sucked! the! edge! of! her! lower! lip! and! Syaoran! unconsiously!
leaned!forward.!Little!by!little,!she!opened!her!green!eyes.!She!blinked!
once.!Twice.!Her!eyes!landed!on!him!watching!her.!At!first,!there!was!a!
baffled! expression! on! her! face.! Her! hand! went! to! the! covers.! She!
blushed!as!the!memories!came!rushing!back!to!her.!Syaoran!made!his!
way!to!Sakura!against!his!own!wishes.!Sitting!on!the!edge!of!the!bed,!
he!stared!at!her.!
"It's!almost!afternoon,"!Syaoran!told!her.!"Were!you!so!tired?"!
Sakura's! face! reddened! even! more.! She! shifted! slightly! and! winced.!
Syaoran!tensed.!
"What!is!it?"!he!asked!her!sharply.!
"ID!I!feel!sore,"!Sakura!whispered.!
"That's!normal,"!he!told!her,!suppressing!a!smirk.!"I!was!a!little!rough!
with!you.!I!tried!to!go!slowly!but!it!really!is!not!my!nature!and!you!felt!
soD"!
He! paused.! Why" am" I" explaining" myself?! He! rubbed! Sakura's! leg!
through! the! sheets.! She! was! watching! him! shyly.! He! could! tell! that!
something!was!on!her!mind.!
"What!are!you!thinking?"!
She!turned!her!head!away!from!him.!A!short!burst!of!anger!flared!up!
inside!Syaoran.!He!squeezed!her!leg!tightly.!Sakura!turned!back!to!him.!
"I!didn't!know!that!it!would!feel!so!good,"!she!said!quickly.!"I!D!I!liked!
it."!
"It! doesn't! matter! if! you! like! it! or! not,"! said! Syaoran! harshly.! He!
regretted! it! when! he! saw! the! hurt! look! that! rushed! across! Sakura's!
139!
face.! He! loosened! the! hold! on! her! leg.! Unconsciously,! he! reached! for!
the!top!of!the!covers!and!pulled!them!down.!Sakura!crossed!her!arms!
across!her!chest.!
"I!saw!all!of!you!already,"!said!Syaoran.!"And!I've!touched!every!part!of!
you.!It!makes!no!sense!to!hide!yourself."!
"I!know,"!she!said!quietly.!
Unknown! to! Sakura,! the! sight! of! his! marks! on! her! skin! was! rousing!
him! incredibly.! Syaoran! balled! his! fist.! He! took! a! deep! breath! as! he!
fought!to!maintain!control!over!himself.!Yes,!he!controlled!himself,!not!
Xiao!Ying.!Still,!she!was!his!concubine.!It!was!natural!to!want!her.!He!
felt!a!stirring!yet"again"in!his!nether!regions.!He!took!her!hands!away!
from! her! chest! and! pinned! them! on! either! side! of! her! head.! He!
straddled!her!waist!and!Sakura!stiffened!beneath!him.!
"I!want!you!again.!Right!now."!
Sakura!shifted!awkwardly!as!she!rubbed!her!legs!together.!
"Maybe...!I!should!bathe!first?"!
"When!I!want!you,!I!will!have!you,"!Syaoran!said!with!a!dominant!air.!
"No! objections.! You! have! already! given! yourself! to! me! once.! You! will!
continue!to!do!so.!I!want!to!hear!you!scream!my!name."!
His! lips! were! so! close! to! her! neck! now.! Sakura! held! her! breath! in!
anticipation!of!his!touch.!Just!then,!Chiharu!stepped!into!the!room.!She!
flushed! when! she! saw! the! Great! Imperial! Son,! straddling! a! bareD
chested! Sakura.! She! stopped! the! other! maidservants! with! her! hand.!
Syaoran!moved!far!away!from!Sakura.!He!went!back!to!the!seat!he!had!
vacated! earlier.! With! this! quiet! consent,! Chiharu! took! Sakura! to! get!
cleaned! up! as! some! maidservants! began! changing! the! sheets! on!
Syaoran's!bed.!
Sakura!was!silent!as!a!couple!of!maidservants!bathed!her.!She!did!not!
know! how! to! feel! at! the! moment.! She! should! have! been! fully! scared!
when! Syaoran! was! talking! to! her! as! he! pinned! her! to! the! bed! mere!
moments!ago,!but!the!way!he!looked!at!her...!Sakura!blushed!again!for!
the! morning.! What! was! wrong! with! her?! Did! she! really! like! Syaoran!
being!so...!demanding!of!her?!And!what!about!when!they!were!in!bed?!
She! hid! her! face! with! her! hands.! Syaoran! was! so! astoundingly!
masculine! and! powerful! and! yet! could! be! so! affectionate.! She! was!
almost!going!hanyaan!!
"Hoe!"!
Everyone!in!the!bath!looked!at!her!with!wide!eyes.!
"Is!everything!all!right!SakuraDsan?"!asked!one!of!the!maidservants.!
140!
Sakura! nodded! her! head! furiously.! Chiharu! was! still! watching! her.!
Sakura!smiled!at!her!friend!hoping!that!she!did!not!worry!her.!
"How!do!you!feel?"!
"Very!good,"!said!Sakura.!"The!water!is!perfect!as!always!"!
Chiharu!shook!her!head.!The!other!maidservants!giggled!knowingly.!
"I!meant,!how!do!you!feel!after!being!with!Great!Imperial!Son?"!
And!then!the!questions!began.!
"Was!he!as!amazing!as!we've!heard?"!
"Or!are!those!just!rumours?"!
"Or!course!they're!not!!Look!how!flushed!her!skin!is!still!"!
"So!is!it!true?"!asked!an!eager!servant!who!was!usually!very!meek.!
Her! cheeks! pinked! as! everyone! looked! at! her.! Then! they! turned! to!
Sakura!expectantly.!Their!eyes!were!hungry!for!details.!With!a!bowed!
head,!Sakura!nodded.!There!was!an!impressed!gasp!from!the!servants.!
"I! expected! nothing! less,"! said! the! first! maidservant! who! spoke.! "All!
the!royal!men!are."!
"How!do!you!know?"!
She!smiled!slyly.!
"I!just!do!"!
"You!are!such!aD"!
"Don't!you!dare!say!it!"!
Everyone!laughed.!Though!Sakura!was!not!sure!what!the!joke!was!she!
did! so! as! well.! She! was! just! glad! the! maidservants! were! conversing!
normally! with! her! instead! of! the! rigid! way! they! did! before,! out! of!
respect.!
"So!it!was!a!great!experience?"!asked!Chiharu!kindly.!
"Yes,"! answered! Sakura.! She! knew! Chiharu! just! wanted! to! make! sure!
she!was!not!hurt!in!any!way.!"It!was!the!most!wonderful!feeling!"!
The!maidservants!sighed!dreamily.!
!
When! Sakura! returned! to! Syaoran's! room,! he! was! still! there.! Only! he!
was!eating.!He!looked!up!when!she!entered!and!beckoned!to!her!to!sit!
opposite! him.! He! nodded! and! she! began! eating! as! well.! Sakura! never!
ceased!to!be!amazed!at!the!wide!variety!of!food!available!to!her.!Once!
she! felt! compelled! to! eat! it! all,! but! it! only! made! her! feel! upset! and!
bloated!the!entire!day.!She!shivered!as!she!felt!Syaoran's!piercing!gaze.!
141!
As!he!ate,!his!eyes!never!left!her.!
Sakura!could!not!explain!the!connection!she!felt!towards!him.!He!had!
taken! her! virginity! and! now! she! felt! as! though! her! heart,! mind! and!
body! were! completely! his.! She! wanted! to! do! anything! for! him.! She!
shivered! again! as! she! gazed! at! his! long! fingers! gripping! his! bowl! and!
chopsticks.! Just! a! few! hours! ago,! he! was! touching! her! in! the! most!
intimate!places!with!those!fingers.!Sakura!clamped!her!thighs!together!
from! her! kneeling! position.! Between! her! legs! was! becoming! very!
moist.!All!she!could!think!was!that!she!would!not!mind!it!if!he!wanted!
to! be! with! her! again.! She! drank! down! some! tea! in! one! big! gulp.!
Syaoran!who!was!drinking!as!well,!suddenly!put!his!cup!down.!
"Come,"!he!commanded.!
Sakura!went!to!his!side!at!once.!She!did!not!realize!how!much!she!had!
been!awaiting!his!call.!Syaoran!captured!her!lips!in!a!hot!kiss.!Sakura!
draped! her! hands! around! his! neck.! Her! stomach! burned.! His! hands!
were! busy! fondling! her! through! her! clothes.! Sakura! placed! her! hand!
over! his! as! he! caressed! her! breast.! Syaoran! deepened! the! kiss! and!
thrust! his! tongue! into! her! mouth.! Sakura's! eyes! were! shut! tightly! as!
her!own!tongue!dared!to!venture!past!her!lips!and!into!Syaoran's!own!
mouth.!How!she!relished!the!feel!of!Syaoran's!strong!body!against!her!
own.! Sakura! pressed! herself! into! him! even! more! and! felt! a! peculiar!
sense!of!power!as!Syaoran!let!out!a!low!groan.!
Syaoran!eagerly!began!to!free!Sakura's!body!from!the!confinement!of!
her!clothes.!His!desire!for!her!was!raging!like!a!furious!dragon.!It!was!a!
mixture! of! anger! and! pleasure! now.! Anger! at! what! she! was! doing! to!
him,!and!pleasure!for!what!she!was!doing!to!him.!He!would!show!her.!
He! was! in! charge.! Not! her.! He! crushed! his! lips! against! Sakura's!
painfully! and! she! whimpered.! He! smirked.! Undoing! his! clothes,! he!
pushed!Sakura!down!on!the!floor.!
"I! want! you! so! much,"! said! Syaoran! feverishly! as! he! gazed! at! her!
swollen!lips.!
Syaoran!was!unbelieveably!hard.!He!thought!he!craved!her!before,!but!
now! that! he! had! gotten! a! taste,! it! was! even! worse.! The! tension! in! his!
lower!half!was!so!strong,!he!doubted!he!could!prepare!her!for!him!this!
time.! He! needed! to! be! inside! her! now.! Sakura! lay! on! the! floor,! facing!
him.!Syaoran!frowned.!
"We've!already!done!this,"!he!said.!
Syaoran!brought!himself!and!Sakura!to!their!feet.!Quickly,!Sakura!had!
one!arm!across!her!breasts!and!the!other!blocked!the!place!he!wanted!
to!be!in!so!much.!Syaoran!advanced!on!her!like!a!predator.!She!stepped!
142!
back.! Each! time! he! took! a! step! towards! her,! she! created! distance!
between!them.!She!gasped!when!her!back!collided!with!a!wall.!Syaoran!
smirked!again!and!put!his!hands!on!either!side!of!her,!trapping!Sakura.!
"Stop!teasing!me,"!said!Syaoran!huskily.!"Why!are!you!still!so!shy?"!
Syaoran!pulled!her!towards!him!and!kissed!her!neck.!Sakura!bit!her!lip!
as!she!tried!not!to!moan!but!the!sound!escaped!her!any!way.!Her!arms!
came! around! his! shoulders! as! she! sought! support! because! her! knees!
were! buckling.! She! kissed! Syaoran's! collar! bone! timidly! as! he! sucked!
on!her!neck.!He!groaned!and!pressed!their!lower!bodies!together.!He!
knew! Sakura! could! clearly! feel! his! erection! pressing! against! her!
stomach.!
He! raised! Sakura's! left! leg! up! onto! his! waist.! She! looked! up! at! him!
fearfully.! It! was! still! unnerving! to! have! something! foreign! invade! her!
body.! Syaoran! pressed! the! head! of! his! manhood! against! her! opening.!
She!tipDtoed!to!avoid!it.!Syaoran!gripped!her!hips!tightly.!Determined,!
he! plunged! himself! inside! her.! Sakura! gave! a! small! yelp.! Without!
wasting!time,!Syaoran!pulled!out!and!slammed!himself!back!into!her.!
He! withdrew! again! and! repeated! the! action.! He! groaned! as! he! felt!
Sakura's!insides!gripping!him.!He!was!ready!to!release!himself!inside!
her! already?! What! was! she! doing! to! him?! He! kissed! her! on! the! lips.!
Pressing! her! into! the! wall,! he! thrust! harder! and! harder! as! he! neared!
his! climax.! Hot! liquid! spurted! deep! into! Sakura.! Sakura! watched!
Syaoran! with! dazed! eyes.! She! placed! her! palm! on! his! cheek.! Syaoran!
gripped!it.!He!brushed!his!thumb!against!the!corner!of!her!eye!where!a!
tear!had!started!to!fall.!
"Are!you!hurt?"!he!asked!Sakura!hoarsely.!
"No."!
"Liar."!
"Maybe,!a!little."!
"I!want!to!never!leave!your!body,"!said!Syaoran.!"You're!mine."!
Sakura!smiled!shyly.!Syaoran!pulled!out!of!her.!Her!leg!dropped!to!the!
floor.!
"Turn!around."!
Sakura!watched!him!questioningly.!
"Now!woman,"!growled!Syaoran.!
She! obeyed! him.! Syaoran! spread! her! legs.! Again,! he! pressed! the! head!
of!his!manhood!against!her!opening.!He!groaned.!Was!it!always!going!
to! be! like! this?! She! closed! up! immediately! and! he! was! impatient.!
143!
Taking!two!fingers,!he!rubbed!Sakura's!most!sensitive!area.!It!did!not!
take!her!long!to!respond.!She!held!onto!his!wrist!as!he!ministrated!to!
her.! She! became! wet! and! he! glided! himself! into! her! as! he! continued!
rubbing.! One! hand! was! on! her! breast! as! he! played! with! her! pink!
nipple.!
"Xiao!Lang!"!
She!braced!herself!against!the!wall!as!he!drove!into!her!with!passion.!
Sakura's! hips! rocked! back! and! forth! with! the! force! of! Syaoran's!
thrusts.!Sakura!stuck!out!a!hand!to!brace!herself!against!the!wall.!
"Yes!"!cried!Sakura.!"Don't!stop,!please!don't!stop."!
Syaoran!stopped.!He!rest!his!head!on!her!shoulder.!He!smiled!into!her!
back.!
"No!please,!don't!stop."!
"Why?"! he! asked.! She! did! not! need! to! know! that! he! was! fighting! his!
instincts!to!keep!on!plunging!himself!inside!her.!
"I!want!you,"!said!Sakura,!her!cheeks!pinker!than!a!cherry!blossom.!
"Kiss!me."!
He!squeezed!her!nipple.!Sakura!turned!her!head!to!the!right!and!kissed!
Syaoran's! lips.! He! twitched! inside! her.! He! was! even! more! in! a! hurry!
now.!The!rest!had!paused!his!imminent!climax.!Still!kissing!Sakura,!his!
rhythm!started!again!at!a!quick!pace.!Each!stroke!was!short!and!hard.!
Sakura!was!in!a!state!of!euphoria.!Syaoran!had!complete!control!of!her!
body;!he!was!inside!her,!one!hand!was!on!her!breast,!the!other!on!her!
womanhood!and!his!lips!coveted!hers.!Syaoran!opened!his!eyes!to!look!
at!Sakura.!Yes,!she!was!his.!Forever!his.!He!had!regained!his!strength!
of! will.! He! would! last! much! longer! in! her! this! time.! He! was! ecstatic.!
However,!he!was!not!sure!how!long!he!could!keep!standing,!far!more!
holding!up!an!already!weakened!Sakura.!
Reluctantly! he! pulled! out! of! her.! Lifting! Sakura,! he! went! over! to! the!
bed.! Resting! her! face! down! on! the! sheets,! he! gripped! her! waist! and!
pushed!into!her.!Sakura!moaned!loudly!as!he!ravished!her,!pulling!her!
back!to!meet!his!every!thrust.!He!thought!she!was!delicate!and!sweet!
but!there!was!more!to!her.!This!sensual!creature!that!was!begging!him!
for!more!D!this!paradox!D!drove!Syaoran!over!the!edge.!He!pushed!her!
hips! down! on! the! bed! as! he! continued! to! drive! his! manhood! inside!
Sakura.! He! ran! his! hands! over! her! hips,! her! thighs,! her! rear! end;! her!
entire!being!was!more!magic!to!him!than!anything.!Her!body!was!his!
temple!and!he!was!going!to!worship!every!day.!
"You're!beautiful,"!he!murmured!in!her!ear.!"So!beautiful."!
144!
Sending! a! final! thrust! into! her,! he! pulled! away! and! collapsed! on! the!
bed.!Holding!Sakura!around!the!middle,!he!turned!her!to!face!him.!Her!
lips! were! parted! and! the! look! in! her! eyes! were! of! pure! arousal.!
Unexpectedly,!she!kissed!his!neck!needily.!
"Xiao!Ying..."!
She!froze!when!she!realized!what!she!was!doing.!Sakura!blushed.!
"I'm!sorry."!
Syaoran! smiled! a! genuine! smile.! He! hugged! her! to! him! and! marveled!
that!he!was!perfectly!content.!The!way!he!felt!about!the!woman!in!his!
arms!was!unlike!any!other.!It!was!more!than!lust.!He!trembled!because!
she! was! near.! He! thought! of! nothing! else! but! her! when! she! was!
around.!Was!this!how!other!men!felt!about!women?!He!was!beginning!
to!understand!the!craving.!If!he!could!stay!with!her!like!this!forever,!he!
would.! Sakura! was! the! only! woman! Syaoran! desired.! How! was! it! he!
had! lived! so! long! without! her! shy! touches,! her! bright! smile! and! her!
pure! heart?! Nothing! will! ever! separate! them.! He! would! not! allow! it.!
She! was! his! in! every! way! now.! Syaoran! felt! himself! rising! again.! He!
sighed.! Why! was! he! torturing! her?! She! was! newly! introduced! to! the!
sexual!world.!He!could!feel!the!tiredness!in!her!body.!Still...!it!was!as!if!
no!matter!how!many!times!he!had!her,!it!was!never!enough!to!totally!
appease!him.!
"Xiao!Ying."!
"You!want!me!again?"!she!asked!easily.!
"Yes.!I!know!you're!sore,!but!I!must!have!you."!
He!turned!her!on!her!back!gently.!
"It!will!be!the!last!time,"!promised!Syaoran.!"Until!tonight."!
He! planted! a! kiss! between! her! legs.! Sakura! arched! her! back.! Taking!
one! of! her! nipples! into! his! mouth,! he! sucked! on! it! lightly.! Sakura! ran!
her!fingers!through!his!hair!just!as!he!liked.!Syaoran!sighed.!He!would!
make! her! feel! good.! He! placed! a! hand! between! her! legs! and! Sakura!
gave! a! low! moan! as! her! eyes! closed.! Moving! up! Sakura's! body,! he!
began! pushing! himself! inside! her! again.! She! spread! her! legs! wide! for!
him.!His!eyes!darkened!at!the!sight.!Wrapping!his!arms!around!Sakura!
he!rocked!his!hips.!Her!breasts!were!pressed!flat!against!his!taut!chest.!
This! time! was! slow! and! more! intimate.! Sakura! continued! moaned!
quietly.! Her! flushed! face! delighted! Syaoran.! Her! responses! to! his!
attention!was!amazing.!She!was!made!for!him,!he!was!sure.!
"You're! mine,"! he! told! her! possesively.! He! felt! the! constant! need! to!
remind!her!of!that.!He!did!not!know!why.!"Say!it.!Say!you're!mine,!Xiao!
145!
Ying."!
"I'm!yours!Xiao!Lang,"!whimpered!Sakura.!"I'm!yours."!
"Again..."!
He!increased!the!pressure!of!his!slow,!lengthy!thrusts.!
"I'm!yours.!Xiao...!Lang!"!
Syaoran! increased! his! rhythm! slowly.! Sakura! moaned! with! abandon.!
Syaoran! gritted! his! teeth! as! he! tried! to! last! as! long! as! possible! D!
something! that! he! found! very! difficult! with! Sakura.! Just! then! Ping!
stormed!into!the!room.!
"Great!Imperial!Son!"!
Syaoran! growled! dangerously.! What! the! hell" did! Ping! think! he! was!
doing?!He!accessed!the!situation!quickly.!Sakura's!flawless,!naked!body!
was! not! exposed.! His! own! body! and! arms! shielded! her.! Syaoran!
wrapped!Sakura!in!a!blanket!of!his!aura.!She!would!not!hear!a!thing.!
"NOT!now!Ping,"!he!bit!out.!
"But!GreatD"!
Syaoran's! eyes! narrowed.! Golden! flecks! appeared! in! them.! Instant!
peril!resided!there.!"I!SAID!NOT!NOW!PING!"!
His!voice!shook!with!fury.!Ping!flew!out!of!the!room.!Syaoran!regained!
his! rhythm! of! moving! inside! of! Sakura.! She! did! not! realize! anything!
had!taken!place.!His!aura!had!arrested!all!her!senses.!This!gave!him!an!
idea.! He! cupped! her! cheek! and! she! gazed! at! him.! As! he! kissed! her!
softly,!he!channeled!his!desire!into!her.!She! would!feel!as!he!felt.!She!
would!know.!Sakura!moaned!louder!and!he!increased!the!pressure!of!
his! thrusts! inside! her.! Their! hips! bucked! together! as! he! plunged! into!
Sakura's!sleek!opening.!
"...!ohhh,!yes!"!she!screamed!as!her!head!tossed!from!side!to!side.!
Syaoran's! body! was! burning.! He! was! nearing! his! release.! They!
shuddered! as! hot! liquid! flowed! into! and! out! of! Sakura.! Syaoran!
groaned.! He! refused! to! stop.! He! continued! driving! into! Sakura.! Her!
insides! rippled! with! the! after! effects! of! their! climax.! Another! tremor!
and! Syaoran! stiffened.! He! pumped! the! last! of! himself! into! her.! As!
Sakura!held!onto!his!shoulder!she!grinded!herself!against!him.!Syaoran!
kissed! her! passionately! on! the! lips.! When! he! looked! at! her,! only!
absolute! possession! lay! in! his! eyes.! Sakura! was! shocked! to! see! the!
golden!flecks!in!them.!Right!then,!she!felt!irreversibly!bonded!to!him.!
He!had!taken!her!over!and!over!again.!Even!when!he!was!a!little!rough!
she!felt!safe!and!as!though!he!cared!for!her.!After!they!calmed!down,!
146!
Sakura!kissed!his!hand.!
"Arigatou,"!said!Sakura.!
Syaoran!sat!up.!
"What!for?"!he!asked.!
"For!making!me!feel!the!way!I!feel!right!now."!
"Xiao! Ying,"! said! Syaoran! as! he! remembered! his! earlier! thought.! "I!
didn't!want!you!as!a!present,!you!know!that.!Did!you!even!really!want!
to!be!with!me?"!
"Of! course! I! did!"! exclaimed! Sakura.! She! threw! her! arms! around!
Syaoran.! "After! I! saw! MikoDsan,! I! realized! I! could! have! been! just! like!
her.!But!I'm!not.!I'm!perfectly!fine!because!of!you."!
"So!you!did!it,!out!of!fear?"!
"No,"! said! Sakura.! She! looked! away.! Syaoran's! gaze! pierced! her! like!
sword! and! she! knew! he! would! not! tolerate! a! lie.! "The! truth! is...! last!
night!I!came!to!request!for!me!to!come!to!you!today,!so!I!could!perform!
a! traditional! tea! ceremony! from! Japan! for! you.! Then! I! saw! the! other!
concubines,!and!I!didn't!want!you!to!be!with!them.!I!wanted!you!to!be!
with!me!!SoD"!
Syaoran!gripped!Sakura!by!the!neck!and!pushed!her!back!onto!the!bed.!
He!did!not!need!to!hear!anymore.!He!did!not!want"to!hear.!
"Doing!it!out!of!jealousy!is!even!more!disgusting!to!me."!
She! gripped! his! hand.! Realizing! what! he! was! doing,! Syaoran!
immediately!released!her.!
"I!want!to!say!I'm!sorry,!but!I'm!not,"!Sakura!said.!"I!just!wanted!to!be!
with! you.! I! didn't! want! you! to! return! to! them.! I! gave! myself! to! you!
because!you!wanted!me!and!because!D!it's!so!hard!to!have!feelings!for!
someone! and! then! see! him! with! someone! else.! And! I! wanted! to! be!
closer!to!you!for!sometime,!but!I!was!afraid."!
Syaoran! stared! at! Sakura! in! shock.! Bending! low,! he! kissed! her! neck.!
Tears!were!in!Sakura's!eyes.!
"I!think...!I!love!you,"!she!finished!in!a!whisper!near!his!ear.!
Syaoran's! face! was! as! one! who! was! hearing! something! unbelievable.!
Though!he!did!not!believe!in!love,!he!was!pleased!with!her!sentiments.!
That! fluttering! feeling! was! back! again.! Now! it! was! not! only! in! his!
stomach!but!in!his!chest.!There!was!an!urgent!knock!on!the!door!and!
Syaoran!glared!at!a!spot!on!the!bedsheets.!Ping.!
"Get!under!the!covers,"!he!told!Sakura.!
147!
Retrieving!his!hanfu!Syaoran!shouted,!"Get!in!here!"!
Yue! walked! into! the! room.! The! first! thing! he! saw! was! Sakura.! He!
stared!at!her.!
"What!is!it?"!asked!Syaoran!thoroughly!annoyed.!
"Lu!Sheng,"!said!Yue,!his!eyes!snapping!to!Syaoran.!
Without!delay,!Syaoran!followed!Yue!out!of!the!room.!
!
Syaoran!stood!in!his!place!next!to!Huangdi's!throne.!Eriol!was!on!the!
other!side.!All!of!the!hundred!or!so!advisors!were!already!gathered.!A!
dirtDridden! man! who! was! clearly! a! commoner! stood! in! the! corner! of!
the! room! gasping! for! breath.! A! servant! girl! was! trying! to! get! him! to!
drink! some! water! but! he! was! too! flustered! to! do! so.! The! men! settled!
down! to! begin! their! meeting.! Yukito! slipped! through! the! doors! just!
before! Wei! cleared! his! throat! to! speak.! Yukito! caught! Syaoran's! eyes,!
and! Syaoran! could! not! resist! giving! him! the! most! indifferent! look! he!
could!summon.!As!he!recalled!Sakura's!confesion!to!him,!the!corners!of!
his! mouth! twitched.! Yukito! did! not! move! one! bit! as! Syaoran!
scrutinized!him.!When!he!made!out!the!concealed!smile,!Yukito's!eyes!
squinted!questioningly!but!his!attention!was!called!for!since!Wei!was!
already!speaking.!
"...!he!will!now!tell!us!what!he!knows."!
The! commoner! man! ambled! over! to! Huangdi! and! kowtowed! nine!
times.! He! sat! upright! shakily! as! he! prepared! himself! to! address! his!
emperor.! Syaoran! could! not! blame! the! man! for! appearing!
apprehensive! not! to! mention! completely! rendered! of! speech.! It! was!
very!intimidating!to!be!facing!him,!Eriol!and!Huangdi,!not!to!mention!
the!two!groups!of!advisors!seated!on!either!side!of!him.!
"Speak,"!commanded!Huangdi!as!his!impatience!grew.!The!man!shook!
even! more! than! he! did! previously.! Eriol! bent! down! and! spoke! into!
Huangdi's!ear.!Huangdi!gave!a!nod.!
"I! am! Hiiragizawa! Eriol,! Chief! Magician.! What! is! your! name?"! asked!
Eriol!in!a!softer!tone.!
"Gen,!HiiragizawaDsama,"!replied!the!man.!
"Where!are!you!from?"!
"From!the!Dandong!town,!HiiragizawaDsama."!
"Tell!us!what!happened."!
"It!was!midday,"!began!the!man.!"It!was!like!any!other!day!and!I!was!
out!with!my!two!sons!in!the!rice!fields.!All!of!a!sudden,!these!soldiers!
148!
came!out!of!nowhere.!I!did!not!even!hear!or!see!them!before!it!was!too!
late."!
The! man! broke! down! in! heartDwrenching! sobs.! He! placed! his! face! in!
his! battered! hands.! Yukito! was! the! only! one! present! who! seemed!
affected!by!the!man's!obvious!pain.!
"They!spared!no!one!except!for!a!few!women!and!children.!My!sons...!
my!sons!are!gone..."!
"It!is!a!mournful!thing,"!said!Eriol.!"But!you!must!continue."!
Syaoran! scoffed! inwardly.! Eriol's! words! and! his! face! were! not!
matching! up.! At" least" I" do" not" feign" pity.! The! man! nodded! but! his!
shoulders!still!trembled.!
"They!were!led!by!a!man,"!said!the!commoner.!"A!tall!man!with!brown!
hair! carrying! a! large! Guandao.! He! said! that! he! was! only! leaving! me!
alive!so!that!I!would!bring!a!message!to!you."!
"What!is!this!message?"!
The!man!drew!himself!up!as!he!quoted!the!man!who!caused!him!great!
pain.!
"My! name! is! Enlai.! I! follow! Lu! Sheng.! I! have! already! destroyed! four!
villages!and!by!the!time!you!get!this!message!I!will!have!taken!three!of!
your!best!towns.!I'll!be!waiting,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
Syaoran!clenched!his!jaw.!So!it!was!a!challenge?!Enlai.!Tall,!brown!hair,!
large! Guandao.! He! was! going! to! find! this! Enlai! and! make! him! beg! to!
die.! No! one! insulted! the! Empire! like! this.! No" one.! Syaoran's! eyes!
narrowed.!The!surge!of!energy!he!always!felt!before!a!battle!ignited!in!
him.!Nothing!else!was!on!his!mind!besides!the!blood!about!to!be!shed!
by!his!jian.!He!could!already!smell!this!Enlai's!death.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Huangdi.!"Get!ready."!
That!was!enough.!Syaoran!set!off!to!his!second!room!at!once.!He!had!to!
retrieve!his!armour.!He!would!take!some!new!ofudas!as!well.!Everyone!
who! saw! him! knew! that! he! was! going! off! to! war.! The! expression! he!
wore!was!the!prince!they!all!knew.!The!one!who!could!kill!with!a!stare.!
Syaoran!burst!into!his!room.!
Sakura! looked! up.! She! was! just! fixing! the! covers! on! Syaoran's! bed! as!
she! currently! had! nothing! to! do.! She! smiled! at! him,! but! he! walked!
straight!past!her.!It!was!like!he!was!in!a!trance.!He!put!on!his!armour!
and! went! through! his! things! with! no! acknowledgement! that! she! was!
there.! She! called! his! name.! No! response.! His" face.! His! face! was! dead!
serious.! His! eyes! were! hard! and! cold.! Still! she! was! not! afraid.! Sakura!
knew!it!was!just!another!part!of!him.!
149!
"Xiao!Lang."!
Yet!again,!there!was!no!response.!
"Xiao!Lang!!What's!wrong?"!
He!turned!around!to!go!back!out!the!door!and!she!ran!to!stand!in!front!
of!him.!For!a!moment!he!just!glared!at!her.!Then!he!spoke.!
"Xiao...!Ying?"!
"Yes,!it's!me,"!she!answered!confusedly.!"What's!wrong?"!
He!touched!her!cheek.!Shaking!his!head,!he!managed!to!stop!glaring.!
"I! have! to! go! away! for! a! while.! That! war! I! spoke! to! you! about! has!
started."!
Sakura's!eyes!widened.!She!threw!her!arms!around!his!neck.!
"There! is! no! time! for! this,"! he! told! her,! though! he! made! to! action! to!
remove!her.!"Slaughters!are!occurring!as!we!speak."!
Sakura!held!onto!him!tighter.!He!clutched!her!clothes.!She!was!going!to!
be! left! in! the! Forbidden! City! without! him.! A! vision! of! Yukito! entered!
his! mind.! Syaoran! held! the! back! of! her! head,! as! he! crushed! their! lips!
together.! His! tongue! invaded! her! mouth! and! licked! every! crevice.! He!
grinded! their! lower! bodies! together.! Sakura! moaned! as! Syaoran!
gripped!her!rear.!
"You!are!mine,"!he!said!possessively.!
Sakura!blushed.!He!kissed!her!again.!
"I!mean!it!Xiao!Ying."!
Syaoran!gripped!her!hair.!
"Remember!what!I!told!you!about!other!men."!
"Yes,"!said!Sakura!quietly,!still!in!a!daze!from!his!lips.!
Syaoran's! eyes! pierced! hers.! He! said! all! that! needed! to! be! said.! He!
moved!her!aside!and!continued!to!walk!away.!
"Xiao!Lang!"!
He!paused.!
"Do!you!have"to!go?"!asked!Sakura!desperately.!"You!shouldn't!!You're!
the!Great!Imperial!Son!D!the!Crown!Prince...!"!
Syaoran's! hard! gaze! softened! slightly.! He! brushed! his! fingers! against!
Sakura's!soft!cheeks.!
"Would! you! like! for! me! to! bring! you! back! something?"! he! asked! as!
though!he!was!going!on!a!short,!mundane!trip.!
"Hai,"!said!Sakura.!"Yourself."!
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Syaoran!could!only!stare!at!Sakura.!Placing!a!hand!on!her!lower!back,!
he!drew!her!close!to!him!once!more.!Her!head!lay!against!his!chest!and!
her! hands! hanged! lifelessly! at! her! sides.! Wrapping! his! other! hand!
around! her! shoulders,! Syaoran! hugged! Sakura.! He! did! not! want! to!
leave! her! so! soon! but! he! had! duties,! which! came! before! anything! or!
anyone! else.! He! felt! pleasantly! warm! all! over.! He! inhaled! the! light!
flowery! scent! of! her! hair! as! he! held! her! to! him.! Already! he! was!
imagining!his!return!to!her.!
"I!won't!cry,"!said!Sakura!even!as!tears!fell!from!her!eyes.!"I'm!so!silly."!
Syaoran!lifted!her!chin.!
"I!have!to!go!now."!
Sakura!forced!a!huge!smile.!
"See!you!soon,"!she!said!kindly.!
Syaoran's! heart! ached! at! that! moment! and! he! was! not! sure! why.! He!
wanted! to! pick! Sakura! up! and! return! to! bed.! He! wanted! to! reassure!
her! that! there! was! nothing! to! be! afraid! of.! He! wanted! to! do! so! many!
things! other! than! what! he! was! doing,! which! was! walking! away! from!
her.! He! glanced! over! his! shoulder,! nodded! to! the! beautiful! and!
heavenly!being!behind!him!and!was!gone.!
! "I!see,"!said!Fanren!softly.!Then,!suddenly,!her!eyes!lit!up.!"I!heard!my!
"Look!the!little!whore!is!back!"!
"Why!doesn't!she!kill!herself!already!and!spare!us!another!day!of!her!
stupid!face?"!
Miko! passed! the! group! of! women! who! were! throwing! the! cruel!
remarks! at! her.! She! was! used! to! it! by! now! but! it! still! hurt! her!
everytime.!They!envied!how!much!the!emperor!favoured!her.!She!did!
not! understand! why.! He! was! quite! a! rough! man! in! bed.! She! could!
hardly! keep! up! with! his! movements.! Even! now! as! she! walked! to! her!
room,! her! body! ached! not! only! from! their! recent! encounter! but! from!
the!encounters!since!last!week.!
"Hey! Japanese! girl,! come! here!"! called! one! of! her! usual! tormenters,!
who! was! surrounded! by! her! cronies.! It! was! a! girl! slightly! older! than!
her.! She! had! long! black! hair! and! heavy! bangs! cut! straight! across! her!
forehead.!Miko!ignored!her.!The!first!time!she!fell!for!that!she!received!
a!slap!on!the!face.!Miko!made!to!her!quarters,!just!as!the!girl!and!her!
followers!advanced!on!her.!She!shut!the!door!behind!her!firmly.!
One!of!the!girls!she!shared!the!room!with,!was!talking!to!someone.!The!
visitor!had!perfect,!shiny!brown!hair.!The!yellow!clothes!she!wore!told!
that!she!was!royalty.!She!looked!up!from!her!conversation!and!stared!
151!
at! Miko.! They! froze! as! they! regarded! one! another.! Miko! held! her!
breath,!ready!for!a!full!set!of!insults!to!be!delivered!to!her!swiftly.!
"Oh!my!goodness!"!screamed!the!girl.!"You!are!soooo!prettyyyy!"!
She!rushed!up!to!Miko!and!held!her!face!in!her!hands.!
"You!must!be!new,"!said!the!girl.!"I've!never!seen!you!before!!How!are!
you?!What's!your!name?"!
"Ano...!Miko."!
"Miko..."!
The!girl!observed!her!face!carefully.!
"You're! Japanese!"! she! exclaimed.! "I've! never! met! someone! who! was!
Japanese!before!!I'm!Li!Fanren!"!
"You!are...!a!Princess?"!
"Yes,"!said!Fanren.!"I!am!a!daughter!of!Empress!Li!Yelan."!
So!the!beast!she!slept!with!every!night!was!Fanren's!father?!Somehow!
she!could!not!connect!the!two!to!each!other.!Then!again,!Huangdi!did!
seem!to!have!multiple!faces,!each!one!as!genuine!as!the!next.!
"And!you!are!a...?"!
"Concubine,"!said!Miko.!
brother!got!a!Japanese!concubine!!Do!you!know!her?"!
"Yes,"!said!Miko.!
Fanren!squealed.!
"Is! she! as! pretty! as! you?! Oh! of! course! she! must! be,"! said! Fanren.!
"That's!why!Brother!likes!her!"!
Miko!did!not!know!what!to!say!to!this!exuberant!girl.!She!took!a!seat!
on!a!couch!as!the!girl!continued!speaking!rapidly.!She!was!very!strange!
yet!charming!at!the!same!time.!Kind!of!like!Sakura!D!though!much!more!
crazy!!
"You!seem!like!a!very!nice!person,"!said!Fanren.!"Would!you!like!to!be!
friends?"!
"Ano...!sure,"!said!Miko!to!Fanren!whose!face!was!a!breath!away!from!
her!own.!
"How!Lovely!"!exclaimed!Fanren.!"I!must!tell!Feimei!about!you."!
Miko! wondered! who! this! Feimei! was! but! she! did! not! ask.! An! eunuch!
came!for!Fanren!and!she!sighed!melodramtically.!
"Well!I!will!like!to!speak!with!you!again,"!she!told!Miko.!"Perhaps!we!
152!
can!have!tea?"! "No,"!said!Yue.!"Syaoran!does!not!think!we!need!too!much.!Why!do!you!
Her!smile!was!so!honest!and!beautiful.!She!continued!to!remind!Miko! ask?"!
of!Sakura.!So!there!were!actually!nice!Chinese!women?!How!ironic!that! "The!size!indicates!how!worried!I!should!be,"!said!Yukito.!"If!it's!small,!
it! was! one! of! the! most! esteemed! ones,! daughter! of! Miko's! worst! the!battle!is!not!lethal!and!you!all!will!definitely!return."!
nightware,!who!was!so!humble!with!her.!The!women!she!could!relate! Yue!looked!at!something!behind!Yukito.!He!glanced!behind!him!to!see!
were!the!ones!who!tried!to!suppress!her.! Syaoran!mounting!his!horse.!It!had!been!a!while!since!Yukito!last!saw!
"Hai,"!said!Miko.!"That!would!be!lovely."! his!face!so!determined.!It!just!showed!how!much!Syaoran!had!changed.!
Fanren!giggled!as!she!left.! Now! however,! it! was! as! though! Sakura! never! existed.! His! eyes! were!
those!of!one!who!was!out!for!blood!and!would!not!be!satisfied!until!he!
"It's!so!funny!how!you!speak!both!Japanese!and!Chinese!mixed!up!like!
had!drained!everyone!of!his!enemies.!
that.!Bye!bye,!MikoDchan!"!
"You!will!stay!out!of!trouble,!won't!you?"!asked!Yue.!
MikoVchan?! Miko! once! again! ignored! the! glares! directed! at! her,! this!
time!from!her!own!roommates.!The!glares!were!not!as!harsh!as!before! Yukito! tilted! his! head! as! if! to! say,! 'oh! Yue'.! Yue! turned! to! mount! his!
though.! It! could! only! be! because! Fanren! was! so! nice! to! her.! She! horse!but!paused.!
entered!her!room!silently.!Miko!took!out!a!broken!piece!of!pottery!she! "Stay!away!from!the!concubine,"!he!said!plainly.!
had!hidden!in!the!room.!Sitting!on!her!bed,!she!sighed.!She!had!steeled! Yukito!smiled.!
herself!to!do!it!tonight.!She!placed!the!sharp!edge!of!the!pottery!at!her!
"Don't!worry!D"!
wrist.! She! closed! her! eyes.! Her! hands! shook.! Fanren's! smiling! face!
appeared!in!her!mind.!She!had!promised!the!princess!they!would!see! "Do!not!tell!me!not!to!worry,"!said!Yue.!"It!is!easy!to!be!tempted!when!
each!other!again.! there!is!no!reminder!around!of!whom!she!belongs!to."!
Miko! threw! herself! back! onto! her! bed.! She! was! such! a! hypocrite.! She! Yukito!was!shocked!at!Yue's!blunt!words,!but!he!nodded.!Syaoran!rode!
told!Sakura!not!to!let!them!break!her,!but!here!she!was!giving!in.!When! near! to! them! on! his! way! out.! He! passed! a! fleeting! glance! at! Yukito.!
had! she! become! so! weak?! She! was! Japanese!! She! came! from! a! proud! Yukito!smiled!at!him!and!Syaoran!pulled!the!reigns!on!his!horse.!
people.!People!who!fought!to!live,!not!give!up!in!defeat!!Moreover,"I"am" "Safe!battle,!LiDsan,"!said!Yukito.!
a"geisha"dammit"V"made"to"appear"fragile"without"yet"unbelievably"stong" Wordlessly,!Syaoran!led!his!company!out!of!the!Forbidden!City's!gates.!
within." Miko! started! to! sing! a! song! she! learned! when! she! began! Eriol!was!on!his!left,!Yue!on!his!right!and!the!other!generals!followed!
practicing!to!sing.!It!was!simple,!but!it!lifted!her!spirits.! behind.!
! !
Yukito!met!Yue!at!one!of!the!main!gates!of!the!Forbidden!City.!Yue!was!
just!about!to!ride!out!with!the!other!generals!and!Syaoran!to!meet!the!
Imperial!Army.!His!horse!was!as!white!as!his!hair!and!it!was!shocking!
sometimes! how! they! blended! together.! Yue! stepped! away! from! his!
horse!as!Yukito!came!up!to!him.!
"I!came!to!see!you!off,"!said!Yukito.!
Yue!folded!his!arms!elegantly.!He!stared!at!Yukito's!smiling!face.!It!was!
complete!innocence.!It!was!amazing!how!he!achieved!the!look!being!a!
man!of!his!age.!Then!again,!he!always!looked!younger!than!he!was.!
"We! shouldn't! be! gone! more! than! a! month! or! two,"! said! Yue.! "It!
depends!on!what!Lu!Sheng!has!planned."!
"Are!you!taking!a!significant!portion!of!the!army?"!
153! 154!
Chapter 10
The"water"that"bears"the"ship"is"the"same"that"engulfs"it.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Fifteen!days!had!passed!since!the!imperial!army!rode!out!to!meet!Enlai!
in!battle.!Still!they!had!yet!to!reach!him.!Syaoran's!eye!twitched.!They!
were! passing! by! a! village! Enlai! had! visited.! The! smell! was! so! horrid!
Syaoran!was!unable!to!swallow.!The!grounds!were!burnt!and!poisoned!
and! the! remains! of! the! inhabitants! were! scattered! over! the! earth.! He!
tightened! his! hold! on! his! reins.! Two! scouts! he! had! sent! ahead! of! the!
army! came! riding! up! to! him.! Syaoran! held! up! his! arm! and! the! entire!
army!stopped.!
"Your!servants!come!before!you!Great!Imperial!Son,"!the!scouts!said.!
"The! enemy! is! just! another! two! day's! march! away,"! said! the! elder! of!
the! two! men.! "They! have! already! taken! the! next! village! and! are...!
resting..."!
Syaoran! understood! well! what! "resting"! meant.! Enlai! and! his! army!
were! toying! with! their! captives! and! enjoying! their! spoils! of! war,!
thinking"they! were! getting! the! best! of! him!! Syaoran! took! a! steadying!
breath.! There! was! no! need! to! make! things! personal.! Clearly,! Enlai!
wanted!that.!
"Fall!in,"!said!Syaoran.!
With!a!flick!of!his!reins,!he!set!the!imperial!army!on!their!course!again.!
Syaoran!took!one!last!glance!at!the!massacre.!How!could!one!obliterate!
life!so?!Even!he!had!never!been!so"vindictive.!I&never"poisoned"the"land.!
"Since!when!have!you!been!so!sensitive?"!
Syaoran!glared!at!Eriol!through!the!corner!of!his!eye.!
"Do! the! dead! disturb! you?"! asked! Eriol.! "Does! this! atrocity! make! you!
sad?"!
"What!are!you!going!on!about?"!
"I! can! see! it! in! your! eyes."! Eriol's! glasses! glinted! in! the! sunlight.! "It's!
ironic.! The! demonDprince! mourning! for! commoners! he! would! kill!
himself!if!Huangdi!wished!it."!
"You're! losing! your! touch! Hiiragizawa,"! said! Syaoran! haughtily.! He!
hated! that! Huangdi! allowed! his! cousin! to! come! with! him.! "There! are!
always!casualties!of!war.!The!Empire!has!lost!hard!workers.!For!that,!I!
do!grieve."!
Eriol's!stare!was!patronizing.!Syaoran!pulled!his!horse!away!from!the!
man.! What! a! nuisance.! A! nerve! was! hit.! He! did"feel! unbalanced! as! he!
155!
was!surrounded!by!the!carnage.!Why!though?!He!was!never!afraid!of!
people's! remains! but! now! he! could! not! stand! the! sight! of! them.! They!
were! crying! out! to! him.! Blood! was! on! his! hands.! It! was! in! his! mouth.!
Syaoran! licked! his! lips.! Yes.! He! lived! for! war.! Nothing! else! could!
compete!with!the!thrill!of!it.!
There"is"something"else."Someone.!
"No,"!said!Syaoran!out!loud.!"There!is!nothing!else."!
Anger!boiled!in!him.!Anger!directed!at!himself.!
!
Meilin! waited! impatiently! as! Chang! prepared! tea! for! her! and! her!
special!guest.!Its!scent!was!so!strong!she!could!already!taste!it!on!her!
tongue.! She! turned! a! little! square! packet! over! in! her! hands.! Syaoran!
was! far! away,! so! it! was! time.! She! knew! for! a! fact! that! it! would! be!
weeks!before!he!returned!but!she!was!solving!her!problem!now!just!in!
case.!She!knew!nothing!would!go!awry!though.!Everything!had!worked!
seamlessly!with!HuaDLing.!
"Go!call!her,"!said!Meilin.!
Yes,!nothing!will!go!awry.!The!girl!was!so!trusting!and!such!a!fool.!Did!
she!think!she!was!better!than!Meilin?!Meilin!saw!red!when!she!heard!
from!Chang,!who!heard!from!Ping,!that!Sakura!had!lost!her!virginity!to!
Syaoran.! It! was! not! that! he! took! her! that! angered! Meilin! the! most! D!
after! all,! it! was! expected.! What! angered! Meilin! the! most! was! that!
Syaoran! had! continually! called! for! Sakura's! company! and! he! had! not!
been! with! her.! How! could! her! love! chose! her! over! Meilin?! She! was!
Japanese!D!a!foreigner!!
The! object! of! her! torment! entered! her! room,! with! a! cheerful! smile.!
Meilin! resisted! the! urge! to! gag.! A! smile! made! its! way! onto! her! own!
face.!She!beckoned!Sakura!over!to!the!low!table!where!the!tea!was!laid!
out!for!them.!
"Thank!you!inviting!me,!MeilinDsan!"!said!Sakura.!
"You! don't! have! to! thank! me,"! said! Meilin.! "I! am! First! Wife.! I! have!
neglected! my! duty! to! make! you! comfortable! in! your! new! home.! I! am!
doing!so!now."!
Sakura! brightened! even! more.! Meilin! was! disgusted.! Sakura! was!
different! from! HuaDLing,! who! was! defiant! towards! her.! It! had! been!
easy!to!hate!HuaDLing.!It!was!easy!to!hate!Sakura!too!but!Meilin!always!
found! herself! to! be! a! little! hesitant! in! doing! so.! She! was! like! a! child.!
Meilin! poured! tea! for! both! of! them.! Sakura! was! busy! commenting! on!
the! beautifully! painted! tea! set,! when! Meilin! slipped! the! powdered!
156!
contents! of! the! packet! into! Sakura's! tea.! Their! fingers! brushed! as!
Sakura!took!the!tea!from!her.!She!took!a!small!sip!and!gushed.!
"It's! so! good! MeilinDsan!"! exclaimed! Sakura.! "This! is! the! best! tea! I've!
had!since!I've!been!in!China!"!
"Of!course,"!said!Meilin.!"I!always!receive!the!best!things."!
"Really?"!asked!Sakura.!
"Yes,"!said!Meilin.!"I!am"the!future!Empress."!
Sakura!nodded.!Meilin!did!not!fail!to!notice!the!blank!expression!that!
appeared!on!Sakura's!face!for!a!moment.!She!smirked!inside.!So,!after!
all!her!little!outbursts!about!wishing!to!go!home,!she!was!disappointed!
that!Meilin!was!going!to!be!at!Syaoran's!side?!
"Then!I!wish!you!a!long!rule,!MeilinDsan,"!said!Sakura,!taking!another!
drink! of! tea.! "And! lots! of! babies!! Xiao! Lang! would! like! that! very!
much..."!
Meilin's! eyes! narrowed?! Xiao" Lang," she" called" him?" And" did" he" talk" of"
such"things"with"her?! Meilin's! hands! shook.! Sakura's! cup! of! tea! fell! to!
the! floor.! Meilin! froze.! Sakura's! entire! body! was! trembling.! Her! eyes!
were!wide.!Sweat!ran!down!the!sides!of!Sakura's!face.!Falling!over!on!
her! side,! she! clutched! her! stomach.! Tears! burst! from! her! eyes! as! she!
let! out! a! howl! of! a! scream.! Meilin! flew! back! in! fright.! What! was! this?!
Why! was! this! happening?! She! turned! to! Chang! who! was! standing! in!
the! corner.! He! was! still! as! he! watched! Sakura.! Her! screams! were!
becoming!louder!and!louder.!Maidservants!burst!into!room.!They!were!
rooted!to!the!spot.!HuaDLing!came!running!behind!them.!Immediately!
she!rushed!over!to!Sakura.!
"Get!out!!All!of!you!"!she!shouted!at!the!maidservants.!
Still!in!shock!they!obeyed!her.!Sakura's!face!was!scrunched!up!in!pain!
as!she!continued!to!clench!her!stomach.!
"What!did!you!do?"!screamed!HuaDLing!at!Meilin.!
"ID!I!didn't!do!anything!"!said!Meilin.!
HuaDLing!glared!at!her.!
"ID!This!wasn't!supposed!to!happen!"!
She!turned!to!Chang.!
"Go!get!QiaoDsensei!"!
"No!"!cried!HuaDLing,!above!Sakura's!own!cries!as!she!writhed!on!the!
floor.!
"What! do! you! mean! no?! It! sounds! like! she's! dying!! I'm! not! a!
157!
murderer!"!
"No.! You're! much! worst!"! yelled! HuaDLing.! "But! if! you! go! to! QiaoD
sensei,! he'll! tell! the! Great! Imperial! Son! what! you've! done.! We! will! all"
be!in!trouble!"!!
Meilin!gripped!the!sides!of!her!head!in!panic.!
"Go!call!YukitoDsan,"!commanded!HuaDLing.!
Chang! sped! off,! eager! to! get! out! of! the! room.! It! seemed! like! hours!
before!he!returned!with!Yukito.!He!crouched!down!beside!Sakura.!He!
held!her!up.!She!cried!into!his!chest.!
"What!happened?"!he!asked!as!he!lay!a!hand!across!Sakura's!forehead.!
"Ask!her,"!said!HuaDLing!vehemently.!
Meilin!avoided!Yukito's!eyes.!
"I!just!wanted!to!stop!her!from...!conceiving.!I!didn't!know"this!would!
happen!!This!didn't!happen!whenD"!
She!paused!as!HuaDLing!glared!at!her!with!all!the!hatred!in!her!body.!A!
knowing! look! passed! between! them.! Yukito! rose! with! Sakura! in! his!
arms.!
"Please!don't!tell,!Xiao!Lang!"!
Yukito! looked! at! Meilin! pityingly.! Sakura's! body! was! burning! up.! He!
sent!Chang!for!a!cloth!to!cover!her!and!swiftly,!he!exited!the!room.!He!
hurried!along!the!corridors,!avoiding!every!and!anyone.!Finally,!Yukito!
made!it!to!his!room.!Gently!setting!Sakura!down!on!his!bed,!he!again!
rest!his!palm!to!her!forehead.!He!put!his!other!hand!over!her!belly!and!
began!the!healing!process.!Still,!his!little!spells!were!nothing!compared!
to!the!skills!of!QiaoDsensei.!
Sakura's! tears! ceased! but! she! still! trembled! profusely.! Gradually!
though,! she! released! her! hold! over! her! middle.! Her! breathing! evened!
out.! Yukito! stared! at! her! now! peaceful! form.! She! was! not! cured.! He!
would! have! to! perform! more! spells! later.! For! now,! he! would! let! her!
sleep.! He! could! not! help! but! think! that! Syaoran! would! be! very! upset!
with!the!way!things!were!so!far.!Who!knew!how!much!further!things!
would! go?! Shutting! his! eyes,! Yukito! removed! Sakura's! clothes.! They!
were!soaked!with!sweat.!Eyes!still!shut,!he!retrieved!one!of!his!better!
hanfus.! He! laid! it! over! Sakura's! body.! He! opened! his! eyes.! When! she!
awakened,!she!would!dress!herself.!Hopefully!that!would!be!soon.!
!
Yue! sat! in! Syaoran's! tent! with! Eriol! and! the! other! generals! as! they!
planned! their! attack! on! Enlai.! They! were! so! close! to! each! other,! they!
158!
could! see! the! fires! of! Enlai's! encampment! and! Enlai! could! see! theirs.!
For! the! first! time,! Syaoran! was! in! charge.! Before! it! had! been! the! old!
Chief!Commander!who!was!now!retired!and!he!and!Renshu!had!been!
following!under!him.!
"As!we!have!agreed,!our!primary!strategy,"!said!Syaoran.!"Will!be!Yi!Yi!
Dai!Lao."!
"Conserving! energy! while! the! enemy! tires! himself,"! said! a! general!
named! Wu.! He! stroked! his! greying! beard.! "A! most! excellent! strategy,!
Great!Imperial!Son.!No!need!to!waste!our!precious!resources!on!these!
goodDforDnothings.! Together! with! our! other! strategies,! victory! is!
certain."!
"Ensure!that!our!sentries!are!alert,"!said!Syaoran.!"We!do!not!want!to!
be!caught!in!a!sneak!attack.!Enlai's!army!is!almost!as!substantial!as!the!
one!we!have!with!us.!Is!there!anything!else?"!
"I!would!just!like!to!say,"!said!Wu.!"That!it!is!an!honour!to!have!Chief!
Magician!Eriol!battling!beside!us."!
"He!won't!be,"!said!Syaoran.!
"Excuse!me?"!
Eriol!stared!at!Syaoran.!
"You!are!not"a!general!or"a!soldier.!Dismissed."!
Yue!was!about!to!leave!with!the!others!but!he!stopped.!Eriol!had!not!
budged.!
"You! are! not! yourself,! Xiao! Lang.! Your! aura! is! a! mess,"! he! said.!
"Perhaps!you!should!not!go!into!battle!tomorrow."!
Syaoran!cocked!an!eyebrow.!
"You're!not!accustomed!to!life!beyond!the!City!walls!Hiiragizawa,"!he!
said.!"Leave!such!things!to!the!experienced."!
!
Sakura! woke! up! to! the! smiling! face! of! Yukito.! She! stared! at! him! for! a!
while!as!her!mind!cleared.!What!happened?!Oh!yes,!she!was!drinking!
tea! with! Meilin! when! she! had! an! incredible! pain! shoot! through! her!
abdomen.! It! felt! like! daggers.! She! closed! her! eyes! for! a! moment.!
Opening!them,!again!she!saw!Yukito.!His!smile!faltered!as!he!bent!close!
to!her.!
"How!are!you!feeling!SakuraDsan?"!
Sakura!blinked.!She!was!looking!at...!
"Hoe!"!
159!
She!tried!to!push!herself!up!off!the!bed,!but!she!was!too!weak.!Besides,!
Yukito!already!had!his!hands!on!her!shoulders.!She!looked!down.!Only!
a!hanfu!covered!her.!She!gripped!it!to!her!body.!Yukito's!usually!pale!
face!had!brushes!of!pink.!His!eyes!were!averted.!
"Your!temperature!was!very!high,"!he!told!Sakura.!"So!I!had!to!remove!
your!clothes."!
He!looked!at!Sakura!as!she!gasped.!
"I!didn't!look!"!Yukito!exclaimed.!"You!should!have!a!bath."!
He!stood!up!and!turned!around.!
"Put!on!the!hanfu.!There!is!a!bath!close!by!that!you!can!use.!You're!still!
not!well,!so!you'll!have!to!return!here."!
"You!can!look!now..."!said!Sakura!quietly!after!she!had!dressed.!
"Would!you!be!alright!bathing!by!yourself?"!asked!Yukito.!
"Yes."!
She! stood! up! confidently,! but! swayed! on! her! feet.! Her! body! tipped!
forward.! She! closed! her! eyes! as! she! braced! herself! to! hit! the! ground.!
Instead!her!face!hit!Yukito's!chest.!Sakura!gazed!up!at!Yukito.!His!arms!
were!around!her!waist.!Sakura!inhaled!his!light,!clean!scent.!
"I'll!help!you."!
Her! bath! was! uneventful! but! it! gave! Sakura! time! to! think.! She! felt!
different,!and!she!was!sure!there!was!more!to!it!than!her!Yukito!crush.!
There!was!a!tingling!in!her!body.!It!ran!from!the!top!of!her!head!to!the!
very!tip!of!her!toes.!She!reclined!in!the!water!and!sighed!quietly.!When!
she! was! in! Japan,! from! the! bathhouse! she! could! always! see! a! cherry!
blossom!tree!through!the!vents.!She!hugged!her!body.!If!she!could!see!
one! now!! Even! just! a! petal!! She! closed! her! eyes! and! imagined! it.! She!
could!almost!smell!the!familiar!scent.!Something!warm!landed!on!her!
forehead.!Sakura!reached!up!and!took!it!into!her!hands.!She!gasped.!It!
was! a! cherry! blossom! petal!She! looked! around.! Of! course! there! were!
no!trees!here.!
"SakuraDsan,!is!everything!alright?"!called!Yukito.!
"Yes!!I'll!be!right!out!YukitoDsan."!
Arm! across! her! shoulders,! Yukito! led! Sakura! back! to! his! room.! Since!
she!had!come!to!China,!she!had!only!wanted!Yukito!to!like!her.!Sakura!
was! so! delighted! her! legs! gave! out.! Yukito! swept! her! into! his! arms!
smoothly.!
"I'm!sorry!SakuraDsan,"!he!said.!"I!shouldn't!have!made!you!walk."!
Resting!her!head!against!his!chest,!Sakura!hid!her!blushing!face.!Yukito!
160!
put!her!to!sit!on!his!bed.!He!held!a!cup!of!tea!to!her!lips!and!she!drank.!
He! checked! her! temperature! again,! comparing! it! to! his! own.! Sakura!
inhaled!sharply.!
"Is!the!pain!back?"!
"A!little,"!she!bit!out.!
She! was! lying.! She! did! not! want! to! worry! Yukito! anymore.! He! sat! on!
the!bed!next!to!her.!Pulling!her!close!he!lay!a!hand!across!her!belly.!He!
muttered!strange!words!she!did!not!understand,!but!the!pain!began!to!
diminish.!His!eyes!were!closed!all!the!while.!Sakura!clutched!his!hanfu!
as! she! tried! to! hold! on! to! this! memory! forever.! It! was! what! she! had!
always! wanted! D! to! be! near! to! Yukito;! to! be! held! in! his! arms.! She!
shivered!contentedly.!
She! wrapped! her! arms! about! his! middle! and! Yukito! stiffened.! She!
looked!up!at!him!to!see!if!he!was!mad!at!her.!Instead!she!found!wide,!
wondering!eyes.!
"SakuraDsan...!I!thought!I!felt..."!
Yukito!shook!his!head.!Timidly,!his!fingertips!brushed!her!cheek.!They!
remained! locked! in! each! other's! embrace! for! a! long! time.! Gently,!
Yukito!laid!her!on!her!back.!Sakura!never!released!her!hold!on!him.!He!
hovered!over!her!and!slowly,!their!faces!came!closer!together.!Sakura!
held!her!breath.!Yukito!glanced!at!her!lips,!then!back!up!to!her!eyes.!
Sakura's!eyes!closed.!When!the!kiss!did!not!come,!she!looked!at!Yukito.!
His!head!was!bowed!and!his!hair!covered!his!eyes.!He!stood!up.!
"Forgive!me,!SakuraDsan."!
She!sat!up!quickly.!
"No,!YukitoDsan.!It's!alright."!
"It's!not,"!he!told!her.!"I!was!wrong.!I!should!not!have!done!that."!
"ButD"!
"I!have!to!go!to!the!harem!now,"!said!Yukito.!"Please!do!not!leave!this!
room.!I!will!check!on!you!later."!
Sakura! touched! her! lips.! Was! it! really! wrong! that! she! wanted! to! kiss!
him?!He!was!going!to!kiss!her,!so!that!meant!he!wanted!to!right?!She!
curled! up! into! a! ball.! Since! she! had! seen! him,! she! had! loved! him.! But!
she! felt! as! though! she! loved! Syaoran! too.! Yukito! and! him! were!
different!men,!so!the!way!she!felt!about!them!was!equally!different!yet!
the!same.!What!was!she!to!do?!Syaoran!had!already!taken!her!and!she!
had! always! belonged! to! him.! Of! course! Yukito! did! not! want! her! now.!
She! gazed! at! the! petal! she! had! tucked! away.! Why! did! some! miracles!
161!
happen!and!others!did!not?!
!
The! banners! of! the! Imperial! Empire! danced! proudly! in! the! wind.!
Silence! blanketed! the! area.! A! chilly! afternoon! wind! blew;! the! horses!
snorted.! Suddenly! all! was! alive.! With! a! wave! of! Enlai's! hand,! arrows!
sprang!into!the!sky.!Mercilessly,!they!fell!back!to!the!earth.!
The!imperial!soldiers!raised!their!large!shields.!Just!as!before,!another!
set!of!arrows!blocked!out!the!Sun!as!they!rained!down!on!the!imperial!
army.!This!time,!blood!spurted!from!the!wounded!soldiers.!The!enemy!
charged!at!them.!
Enlai! smirked! broadly.! His! men! delivered! blow! upon! blow! on! the!
imperial! soldiers.! He! was! not! complacent.! The! battle! had! just! began.!
Enlai!raised!his!hand!to!protect!his!eyes!as!the!wind!blew!a!huge!cloud!
of!dust!in!his!direction.!Enlai!ground!his!teeth.!In!that!short!instant,!he!
had!lost!sight!of!the!Great!Imperial!Son.!
Syaoran! kicked! at! his! horse! and! it! carried! him! faster! through! the!
battlefield.!He!was!annoyed.!The!one!he!searched!for!was!nowhere!to!
be! seen.! The! smell! of! iron! and! sweat! quickly! hypnotized! him.! The!
sounds! of! blade! clashing! against! blade! and! the! soldier's! battle! cries!
blended! into! one.! Soon,! Syaoran! heard! nothing.! His! mind! was! clear!
except!for!one!thought.!Kill!the!enemy.!His!right!arm!was!painted!red!
and!he!could!hardly!see!the!silver!sheen!of!his!jian.!
The!battle!had!been!going!on!for!over!an!hour.!Soon!it!would!have!to!
end!for!the!day.!Both!sides!were!exhausted.!Just!as!Enlai!was!turning!
his!horse!around,!Syaoran!appeared!before!him.!They!both!froze.!
Enlai! dismounted! smoothly.! He! drew! out! his! large! Guandao! that! had!
been!strapped!to!his!back.!He!ripped!off!its!covering.!Syaoran!charged!
at!him.!Blade!met!blade.!Enlai!was!thrilled.!The!Great!Imperial!Son!did!
not! let! up.! Each! time! their! blades! crossed,! Syaoran! immediately! took!
another! stance! and! charged.! His! long! Guandao! kept! Syaoran! away.!
However,! he! relentlessly! tried! to! get! closer! to! Enlai.! They! were! both!
intent! on! their! fight,! stopping! only! to! kill! an! enemy! soldier! who! had!
crept!up!behind!their!backs.!Syaoran!leaped!back.!
"Surrender!"!he!yelled.!
Enlai! narrowed! his! eyes.! He! should! have! been! done! with! Syaoran! by!
now.!Their!blades!hit!again.!In!the!blink!of!an!eye,!Syaoran!bent!low!to!
the! ground.! He! shot! at! Enlai's! feet.! Enlai! spun! out! of! the! way.! Still,!
blood! gushed! from! the! side! of! his! leg.! He! swept! the! ground! with! his!
Guandao.! The! force! of! the! motion! threw! Syaoran! on! his! back.! Enlai!
162!
rushed! him.! No! time! to! spare,! he! plunged! the! pointed! end! of! the!
Guandao!into!Syaoran.!It!caught!him!between!the!collar!bone.!
"Raitei!Shourai!"!
Enlai!flew!through!the!air.!Syaoran!grunted!as!he!pulled!the!Guandao!
from!his!collar.!It!fell!heavily!at!his!side.!He!grabbed!his!jian.!He!raced!
to! Enlai! but! the! Guandao! got! there! before! him.! Enlai! gripped! his!
weapon! tightly.! His! chest! was! severely! battered.! Both! warriors!
breathed!heavily.!Syaoran!fell!to!his!knee.!
"Poisoned!tip,"!said!Enlai.!
He!swung!his!Guandao!at!Syaoran's!neck.!Syaoran's!jian!took!the!blow.!
His! hands! trembled.! One! of! Syaoran's! eyes! were! eerily! golden.! Enlai!
stomped! the! ground! and! a! crack! appeared! at! his! feet.! The! ground!
shook! throwing! Syaoran! back! once! again.! Enlai! raised! his! blade.! He!
brought! it! down! on! Syaoran.! Two! hands! supporting! his! jian,! Syaoran!
attempted!to!push!Enlai's!blade!away!from!his!face.!
"Is!that!fear!in!your!eyes?"!Enlai!smirked.!Syaoran's!eyes!were!normal!
again.!The!creep.!"I!win!"!
Syaoran! ground! his! teeth.! He! pushed! his! blade! to! the! left! and! the!
Guandao's!blade!slid!with!it.!Syaoran!jumped!to!his!feet!and!drove!his!
blade!into!Enlai's!side.!The!man!stumbled!back.!Syaoran!fell!as!poison!
consumed!him.!
!
When! Syaoran! awakened,! he! was! in! his! tent.! He! sat! up! and! his! head!
spun.! Someone! tried! to! steady! him,! but! Syaoran! slapped! his! hand!
away.!
"Not!all!the!poison!is!out!of!you,"!said!Yue.!"You!must!rest."!
"Enlai..."!
"It's!been!three!days.!Yet!another!battle!has!just!ended.!We!won."!
Syaoran!lay!back!down.!
"Eriol! has! taken! care! of! you,"! said! Yue.! "But! I! believe! you! must! be!
looked!over!by!QiaoDsensei!also."!
Syaoran!turned!his!head!away!from!Yue.!
"You!did!not!lose.!It!was!a!draw."!
"I!was!distracted,"!Syaoran!admitted.!His!throat!burned.!
"By!what?"!
"...!Fear."!
"Fear!can!drive!a!man.!It's!not!a!distraction."!
163!
"Not!for!me,"!said!Syaoran!impatiently.!He!swallowed!slowly!as!he!felt!
himself! wanting! to! retch.! "All! I! could! think! of! was! her.! What! would...!
happen!to!her!if...!I!died."!
Syaoran! took! a! long! time! to! speak.! The! poison! and! the! battle! were!
taking!their!toll!on!him.!
"When!a!man!is!about!to!die,!he!thinks!of!such!things."!
"I!am!not!other!men.!I!am!Li!Xiao!LD."!
Syaoran's!fingers!curled!as!his!body!burned.!A!thousand!thick!needles!
pressed!into!his!chest.!He!could!see!nothing.!Yue's!voice!was!drowned!
out!as!darkness!took!over.!
Syaoran!opened!his!eyes.!He!was!in!a!garden!in!the!Forbidden!City.!A!
tall!peony!tree!stood!erect!in!the!middle!of!it.!A!girl!sat!underneath!its!
branches!playing!with!some!creature.!As!Syaoran!drew!closer!he!saw!it!
was!Sakura.!He!stood!entranced.!
"She's!beautiful!isn't!she?"!
Syaoran!looked!down!to!find!himself!staring!back!at!him.!Strange!how!
that! did! not! seem! weird! to! him.! His! other! self! had! a! peaceful!
expression! on! his! face.! He! too! stared! at! Sakura.! Instantly,! jealousy!
raised!in!Syaoran.!
"She!belongs!to!me."!
"We! are! the! same! person,"! said! the! other! Syaoran.! "She! is! mine! as!
well."!
"I!will!share!her!with!no!one.!Even!myself."!
Strange!that!this!conversation!did!not!seem!weird!to!him!at!all.!
"You!give!her!all!that!she!wants,!but!not!what!she!needs.!Leave!her!to!
me.!I!can!make!her!happy."!
Syaoran!glanced!at!Sakura.!
"She!is"happy."!
"Her! smiles! are! false.! You! know! that.! Let! her! go,"! said! the! other!
Syaoran.!He!smiled!at!his!counterpart.!
"I!can't."!
"What!you!can't!do!is!love!her.!I!can."!
"Love!is!overrated.!You!will!be!weak!without!me."!
The!other!Syaoran!stood!up.!
"You!know!you!want!this.!My!existence!is!because!of!you.!Think!about!
it,"!he!said.!"Just!let!me!out!once!in!a!while.!I'm!tired!of!fighting!you."!
164!
"I! understand,"! said! Syaoran.! "But! your! feelings! make! me!
uncomfortable.!I!get!D"!
"Scared,"! said! his! other! self.! "You! are! a! child! in! a! man's! body.! Stop!
being!selfish."!
Syaoran!glared.!
"It!was!me"she!confessed!to!thatD"!
"She!was!a!virgin.!You!were!her!first.!Of!course!she!loves"you."!
Syaoran's!nostrils!flared.!
"Do! you! want! her! to! become! as! twisted! as! yourself?! What! do" you!
want?! Be! honest.! Is! it! to! possess! her?! Possessions! are! eventually!
discarded."!
Syaoran!shook!his!head.!Now!he!stood!in!a!sea!of!blood.!
"I! just! want...! I! just! want! to! touch! something,! someone...! and! have! it!
live.!That's!the!truth.!I!never!wanted!to!kill.!Not!really.!I!never!wanted!
to!be!known!as!a!butcher.!I!just!wanted!Huangdi!to!be!proud!of!me."!
"XIAO"LANG,"CAN"YOU"HEAR"ME?"XIAO"LANG!"!
"They're!calling!you,"!said!his!dream!self.!"Better!go!before!they!think!
you've!gone!for!good."!
"If!I!let!you!out,"!said!Syaoran.!"Will!I!disappear?"!
"Of!course!not.!Together!we!are!one."!
"XIAO"LANG!"CAN"YOU"HEAR"ME?"!
"Then,! I'll! think! about! it,"! said! Syaoran.! "But! I'm! not! promising!
anything!"!
Yue! was! relieved! when! Syaoran's! eyes! opened.! He! shook! his! head! at!
Eriol.! Syaoran! could! stand! up! against! many! men,! but! diseases! and!
poisons?!Yue!did!not!want!to!think!about!it.!They!left!Syaoran!in!care!
of! a! few! servant! girls! and! soldiers.! Outside! the! tent,! Eriol! pulled! Yue!
aside.!
"We!need!to!talk."!
They!found!a!secluded!area!under!a!tree.!Eriol!fiddled!slightly!with!his!
clothing.! Yue! folded! his! arms.! Eriol! was! testing! his! patience,! and! that!
was! saying! something.! How! did! he! know! that! Eriol! was! bearing! bad!
news?!
"Remember! when! we! were! talking! before! and! you! said! I! was!
worried?"!
"Yes."!
"You!were!right,"!said!Eriol!gravely.!"I've!made!a!terrible!mistake!Yue!
165!
and!because!of!it,!I've!ruined!the!future!of!China.!I've!seen!it!all."!
Eriol!rubbed!his!temple.!
"I!have!been!a!little...!egocentric."!
He!sighed.!True!remorse!eclipsed!his!face.!
"It's!all!my!fault,"!he!muttered.!"I!wasn't!strong!enough.!I'm!still!young.!
I!am!not!the!magician!I!thought!I!was."!
"I'm!sure!you!can!fix!whatever!it!is,"!said!Yue!walking!off.!
"No!!Listen!to!me,"!said!Eriol.!"Xiao!Lang.!He's!going!to!destroy!us!all.!
He's!destined!to."!
"Then!let!it!be."!
Why!did!Eriol!look!to!the!future?!It!was!just!torture.!Yue!himself!had!
always! been! out! of! tune! with! the! times.! Days,! weeks,! months! D! they!
were!all!the!same!to!him.!He!did!not!care.!Eriol!grabbed!his!wrist.!
"You!want!to!know!who's!going!to!be!the!first!to!go?!Yukito!"!
With!that,!Eriol!gained!Yue's!full!attention.!
"Why!would!heD?"!
"I!tried!to!change!the!future,"!said!Eriol.!"Things!went!wrong."!
Was!that!a!slight!tremor!in!his!voice?!
"Sometimes!I!look!at!him!and!I!see!an!odd!flicker!in!his!eyes.!I!thought!
I! was! imagining! things,! but! he! is! behaving! differently.! I've! been!
observing!him,!especially!his!interactions!with!the!concubine."!
"You've! been! spying! you! mean.! Huangdi! forbid! you! to! use! such!
powers."!
Eriol!looked!at!Yue!as!though!he!was!losing!his!mind.!
"Concentrate!Yue,"!he!said.!"The!time!is!fast!approaching.!I've!started!a!
series! of! events! that! can! only! end! in! disaster!! I! tried! to! save! us! but! I!
couldn't.!I!think!I!may!have!speeded!things!up."!
"And!you!wish!to!still!attempt!to!change!the!future?"!
"In!a!way,!yes.!I!was!doing!it!on!my!own!before.!You!must!help!me."!
Yue!gazed!at!Syaoran's!tent.!
"Do!you!have!anything!in!mind?"!
"No!not!yet."!
"And!if!we!cannot!change!anything?"!
"Our!last!resort!will!be!to!kill!Xiao!Lang."!
"I! will! not,"! said! Yue.! "He's! your! blood.! He's! our! friend,! our! Great!
Imperial!Son.!
166!
Eriol!straightened!his!glasses.!
"Fine.! We! may! not! have! succeeded! anyway.! That! tiger! he! gave! to!
Sakura!D!it's!not!normal.!I've!checked.!It's!a!Guardian!Beast."!
Yue!was!hardly!surprised.!He!knew!there!was!something!special!about!
the! creature,! but! a! Guardian" Beast?! Eriol! should! not! be! telling! him!
these!things.!No!good!ever!came!from!trying!to!change!the!future,!but!
he!found!himself!being!even!more!intrigued.!
"I!will!do!want!you!need!me!to,"!said!Yue.!"But!I!will!not!kill!him."!
"I!know,"!said!Eriol.!"Just!let!me!think."!
"Your!thinking!got!us!here!in!the!first!place."!
! empty! cage.! He! searched! for! her! pet! the! entire! day.! He! even! missed!
Shortly! after! he! returned,! dinner! was! brought! to! Yukito's! quarters.!
What! had! begun! as! a! meal! of! silence,! slowly! turned! into! a! meal! of!
mundane!talk.!Mostly!it!was!Sakura!who!talked!as!Yukito!was!a!good!
listener.! He! learned! of! her! family,! her! life! in! Japan! and! now! he! was!
hearing!of!her!deepest!dreams.!
"Though!oniiDchan!said!I!would!never!marry,!that!I!was!too!loud!and!a!
kaiju,"!said!Sakura.!"I!always!dreamed!of!falling!in!love!and!marrying!
the!perfect!man!who!also!loved!me."!
As! Sakura! stared! into! his! eyes,! Yukito! did! not! move.! Sakura's! heart!
beats!were!painfully!strong.!Dare!she!tell!him!that!he!was!her!perfect!
man?!He!was!kind,!gentle!and!she!knew!he!could!be!loving.!
"I'm! sorry,"! said! Yukito! quietly.! "That! you! were! unable! to! get! your!
dream! SakuraDsan.! Any! man! would! have! been! lucky! to! marry! a!
beautiful!lady!like!you!and!I!am!certain!that!he!would!have!loved!you."!
Yukito!quickly!took!a!drink!of!tea!to!erase!what!he!had!just!said,!but!it!
lingered!in!the!air.!
"Xiao!Lang!is!lucky!"!he!said.!"Even!if!you!are!not!married."!
Sakura!shifted.!
"YukitoDsan...!if!I!was!not!Xiao!Lang's!concubine!D!"!
"You!are,"!said!Yukito!firmly.!"And!he!will!be!content!to!know!he!is!in!
your!thoughts."!
He!smiled!at!Sakura!and!she!had!a!sinking!feeling!in!her!chest.!She!was!
still! weak! from! her! situation! with! the! tea! yesterday! so! she! swayed!
lightly.!
"I!know!he!is!cold!and!somewhat!heartless,"!said!Yukito.!"But!really!he!
isn't.!He!use!to!confide!in!me!once.!I!knew!everything!about!him."!
167!
He!lowered!his!head.!
"I!wish!you!could!have!seen!him!when!he!was!younger!SakuraDsan.!He!
was! very! protective! of! everyone! he! cared! about.! Have! you! never!
wondered!why!Meilin!loves!him?"!
Sakura! shook! her! head.! Even! she! had! told! Syaoran! she! thought! she!
was! in! love! with! him.! His! reaction! was! not! what! she! had! been!
expecting! at! all.! Had! she! read! him! wrong?! Did! she! really! think! giving!
herself!to!him!and!then!confessing!love,!would!make!Syaoran!love!her?!
Then!maybe!she!she!would!not!feel!bad?!
"Meilin's!mother!had!given!her!a!bird.!Meilin!was!careless!and!left!the!
cage! open! so! the! bird! flew! away.! Syaoran! saw! her! crying! with! the!
training! with! Wei.! When! he! returned! with! it,! I! believe! it! was! then!
Meilin!fell!in!love."!
"I...!didn't!know."!
Ping!entered!the!room!with!a!woman!behind!him.!Yukito!stood!up.!
"TomoyoDsan?!What!are!you!doing!here?"!
"She!figured!everything!out!TsukishiroDsan,"!said!Ping.!
Yukito!smiled!knowingly.!Ping!left!the!room!once!he!saw!that!hell!was!
not! going! to! be! raised.! Tomoyo! joined! Sakura! and! Yukito,! but! not!
before!she!directed!a!reproachful!look!at!the!man.!
"Are!you!alright,!SakuraDchan?"!she!asked!the!her!best!friend.!
"Yes!"! said! Sakura.! "I! feel! a! lot! better.! I! think! maybe! I! was! allergic! to!
the!tea!Meilin!gave!me."!
Yukito!and!Tomoyo!shared!a!furtive!glance.!
"Yes,"!said!Tomoyo.!"That!must!be!it."!
Sakura!smiled!reassuringly.!
"But! YukitoDsan!"! Tomoyo! exclaimed.! "You! should! know! better.!
SakuraDchan!cannot!be!found!here.!What!would!the!Great!Imperial!Son!
do!if!he!knew?"!
"Ping!would!not!tell!him,"!said!Yukito!calmly.!"I!must!heal!her!myself!
as! we! cannot! go! to! QiaoDsensei.! He! would! surely! inform! LiDsan! of!
Sakura's!illness.!This!will!make!LiDsan!upset!with!MeilinDsan."!
Tomoyo!was!silent.!
"I!see,"!she!said!finally.!"But!SakuraDchan!can't!stay!with!you."!
"I!will!return!her!in!a!few!days,"!he!said.!
Tomoyo! frowned.! There! was! nothing! she! could! do.! Yukito! was! guard!
168!
to! the! Imperial! Harem.! The! emperor! trusted! him.! She! only! hoped! annoying!woman!beside!him.!
Yukito!knew!what!he!was!doing.!This!was!not!just!playing!with!fire.!It! "Don't!frown!so!much!TouyaDkun!!You'll!get!wrinkles."!
was! pouring! oil! into! the! flames! and! watching! it! spread! even! as! a!
Nakura!held!his!hand.!
bucket!of!water!was!close!by.!
"We!will!not!leave!without!your!sister.!That's!a!promise!"!
!
Touya!closed!his!eyes!briefly.!He!gave!Nakuru's!hand!a!gentle!squeeze.!
Touya!and!Nakuru,!both!dressed!in!Chinese!clothing,!casually!walked!
Annoying"but"sincere.!
along! the! streets! of! China.! Nakuru! hugged! his! arm! as! they! walked.!
Touya!yanked!it!away.! !
"Mou!TouyaDkun!"! !
"You! always! behave! inappropriately.! I! told! you,! you! are! too! informal! !
with!me."!
"But!you're!my!future!husband!"!
"I!am!not."!
"Yes!you!are,!and!you're!going!to!have!to!pretend!we!are!while!we're!
here."!
"What?"!asked!Touya!dumbfounded.!
"Well!do!you"think!it's!appropriate"for!a!man!and!a!woman!who!are!not!
married!to!be!travelling!together?"!she!asked!him!slyly.! !
Touya!glared!at!her.!
"We'll!say!we're!brother!and!sister."!
"But!TouyaDkun!"!
"And!you!would!do!as!I!say!while!we're!here."!
"ButD"!
Touya!paused!and!looked!Nakuru!dead!in!the!eyes.!She!smiled!sweetly.!
He!gripped!her!upper!arm!drawing!her!closer!to!him.!
!
"You!will!listen!to!me!and!do!as!I!say.!My!sister's!life!is!at!stake."!
"Of!course.!Anything!for!you!TouyaDkun!"!
He!released!her.!She!followed!him!meekly.!That!was!until!some!trinket!
by!the!market!stalls!grabbed!her!attention!and!she!tried!to!haul!him!off!
to! see! it.! Never! had! he! met! someone! with! a! smaller! attention! span.!
Was! she! punishment! sent! down! by! the! gods?! Touya! rearranged! their!
katanas! on! his! back.! He! had! successfully! disguised! them! as! a! regular!
package.!
Touya! could! feel! them! getting! closer! to! the! Forbidden! City.! The! !!
problem! will! be! entering! it.! He! heard! that! it! was! impenetrable,! that! !
goings! and! comings! were! rare.! No! doubt! he! would! have! to! seek! out!
some! local! help.! Who! could! he! trust! though?! No! one.! Except! the! !

169! 170!
Chapter 11
The"weasel"comes"to"say""Happy"New"Year!""to"the"chickens.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Syaoran!splashed!more!water!over!his!face.!He!drew!in!a!sharp!breath.!
There!was!some!magic!in!that!poison!that!made!his!wound!unable!to!
heal.!It!burned!like!the!fires!of!the!immortal!dragon.!His!vision!blurred.!
"What!is!it?"!he!asked!Yue.!
Yue!closed!the!tent!opening!behind!him.!
"You're!planning!to!go!after!Enlai."!
"Yes."!
Syaoran!coughed!and!his!entire!body!shook.!
"I'm!fine,"!he!said.!
He!kept!his!head!down.!He!did!not!want!to!see!Yue's!pitiful!gaze.!
"I!don't!think!we!should!pursue!him."!
"Why!not?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Something's! not! right,"! said! Yue.! "When! the! final! battle! ended,! Enlai!
was!not!fazed!at!all.!It!was!as!if!he!simply!accepted!it."!
"Was!there!anything!else!he!could!have!done?"!
Syaoran! did! not! like! that! Yue! was! questioning! his! intentions.! They!
were!always!of!similar!opinions.!Like!Huangdi!he!did!not!like!change.!
"No,"! was! the! answer.! "But! if! you! had! seen! the! look! on! his! face,! you!
would!feel!as!I!do.!I!believe!this!was!all!arranged."!
"You're!saying!we!were!set!up?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Lu!Sheng!trained!with!us.!He!knows!we!always!send!troops!out!to!test!
the!enemy!first,!then!follow!through!with!a!greater!force.!He!knows!we!
would!expect!that!of!him.!We!should!return!to!the!Forbidden!City."!
Yue! did! make! sense.! Syaoran! had! to! decide! between! reason! and! the!
need!to!restore!his!wounded!pride.!He!sat!down!as!a!wave!of!dizziness!
hit! him.! Perhaps! Eriol! was! right! when! he! told! him! he! was! a! mess.!
Syaoran!was!in!no!frame!of!mind!to!think!impartially!right!now.!
"Let's!begin!our!march!back!then."!
Yue!stood!beside!him.!
"How!do!you!feel?"!
"Like!I've!been!poisoned."!
He!coughed!again.!
171!
"Should!I!send!Eriol!to!you?"!
Syaoran!bit!his!inner!cheek.!
"Yes,"!he!said!quietly.!"I!don't!want!the!soldiers!to!see!me!like!this.!We!
move!only!when!I!can!ride."!
!
Huangdi's! officials! and! advisors! had! gathered! in! one! of! the! throne!
rooms.!Renshu!stood!on!the!steps!that!led!to!the!throne.!The!officials!
kowtowed! before! Huangdi.! Yukito! slipped! into! the! room! and! Renshu!
scoffed.!Yukito!was!so!effeminate!it!sickened!him.!What!he!hated!even!
more! was! how! Huangdi! doted! on! and! trusted! him;! having! him! at! all!
the!meetings!and!such.!
"Huangdi,"! said! Chin,! the! Chief! Advisor.! "In! these! troubled! times,! we!
believe!it!is!best!that!you!write!a!royal!edict!dictating!who!will!be!the!
next!Huangdi."!
Renshu!smiled.!It!was!just!as!they!had!discussed.!Who!knew!someone!
he!hated!would!turn!out!to!be!an!ally?!He!loved!blackmail.!
"I!already!said!that!it!will!be!Xiao!Lang,"!said!the!emperor.!
"Yes,"!said!Chin.!"But!we!of!your!Royal!Court!wonder!if!he!is!the!best!
candidate."!
Huangdi!glared!at!the!old!man.!Chin!glanced!at!Renshu!who!gave!him!
the!slightest!of!nods.!
"We!know!he!is!a!great!warrior,!but!it!takes!more!than!that!to!be!the!
Son!of!Heaven.!We!are!of!course,!just!giving!our!humble!opinion."!
"Who!else!did!you!have!in!mind?"!asked!Huangdi.!"Who!else!is!greater!
than!Xiao!Lang?!He!is!the!son!of!the!Empress."!
Chin!cleared!his!throat.!He!looked!around!at!his!comrades.!
"We!have!discussed!it.!We!believe!Li!Renshu!should!be!Great!Imperial!
Son."!
"Why?"!
"He!is!your!firstborn.!He!is!talented!in!every!area!an!emperor!should!
be! and! he! shows! great! virtue! and! promise.! We! know! who! he! is;! we!
understand!him.!Moreover,!he!has!sons!to!continue!your!great!line."!
"Xiao!Lang!will!have!sons."!
"But!when,!Huangdi?"!
A!hush!fell!over!the!room.!
"He! is! a! valuable! warrior! who! we! need! to! defend! the! empire,"! said!
Chin!finally.!"But!he!is!not!an!emperor."!
172!
"What!do!you"say!Renshu?"!asked!Huangdi.!
"I!mean!no!disrespect!Huangdi,"!he!replied.!"But!Xiao!Lang!only!does!
what! you! tell! him! to! do.! Can! he! rule! the! world! on! his! own?! He! has!
never! shown! that! he! has! any! will! to! do! things! other! than! what! you!
wish."!
"So!lack!of!ambition!is!his!fault?"!
"It!is!unnatural."!
Huangdi! stared! at! Renshu.! He! saw! his! words! were! affecting! the!
emperor.! Even! the! officials! nodded! in! agreement.! Syaoran's!
personality! made! him! feared! and! mistrusted.! It! could! work! both! for!
and!against!him.!Renshu!pushed!a!little!harder.!
"You! did! a! great! job! in! training! him! Huangdi,! but! I! am! afraid! that! he!
learned!too!well.!His!existence!and!yours!are!so!intertwined,!I!won't!be!
surprised!if!he!went!mad!in!your!absence."!
"He!will!not,"!said!Yukito!from!the!back!of!the!room.!
Everyone!turned!to!look!at!him.!
"Huangdi,! I! know! your! son.! He! is! a! very! private! person! but! that! does!
not!mean!he!can't!rule!"!
"Says!his!lapdog,"!said!Renshu.!"The!fact!is!we!cannot!be!sure.!Anyone!
who!believes!otherwise!is!being!foolhardy."!
Yukito! stared! stubbornly! at! Renshu.! He! walked! up! to! Renshu! and!
looked!pleadingly!at!Huangdi.!Renshu!ground!his!teeth.!
"Xiao! Lang! is! a! patriot,"! said! Yukito.! "He! has! proven! it! many! times.!
That!is!why!Huangdi!chose!him!to!be!Great!Imperial!Son.!Why!do!you!
doubt!him!now,!at!this!time!when!he!cannot!even!defend!himself?"!
Yukito!looked!at!the!men!in!the!room.!
"I!sense!a!conspiracy,"!he!said!quietly.!
The! officials! and! advisors! broke! out! in! heated! arguments.! How! dare!
Yukito!speak!to!them!like!that?!Who!gave!him!the!authority?!This!was!
a!wild!accusation!!Wild!!
Huangdi!held!up!his!hands!to!halt!furthur!arguing.!
"Write! up! an! edict,"! he! told! Chin.! "I! will! deliberate! furthur! on! this!
issue.!Then!I!will!sign!it!and!there!reveal!my!successor's!name."!
Renshu! gave! a! small! smile.! Though! Huangdi! stuck! up! for! Syaoran,! he!
was! doubting! himself.! That! doubt! could! go! a! long! way.! He! stepped!
closer!to!Yukito.!
"Don't!test!me,!Tsukishiro."!
173!
"I!know!what!you're!trying!to!do."!
"Then!why!are!you!trying!to!stop!me?"!asked!Renshu.!"You!continue!to!
surprise,!Tsukishiro!Yukito.!You!defend!Xiao!Lang!while!you!sleep!with!
his!concubine."!!
Yukito!glanced!at!Renshu.!
"I!saw!you!two!in!the!Garden.!You're!way!too!familiar."!
"It's!not!what!it!looks!like."!
Renshu!put!his!lips!close!to!Yukito's!ears.!
"Oh!no!my!friend,!all!that!matters!is"what!it!looks!like."!
Sakura!was!shocked!to!see!Yukito's!extremely!ashen!appearance!when!
he!came!for!her.!He!was!more!serious!than!she!had!ever!seen!him,!so!
when!he!told!her!he!was!taking!her!back!to!her!room,!she!went!quietly.!
When!they!stood!outside!the!door!to!the!main!room,!she!did!not!go!in.!
"SakuraDsan?"!
"YukitoDsan,! I! want! you! to! know! that! I! understood! everything! you!
were!trying!to!tell!me!before."!
She!turned!to!enter!the!room!but!he!held!her!hand.!He!smiled.!
"You! wanted! to! ask! me,! what! if! you! weren't! Xiao! Lang's! concubine,"!
said! Yukito.! "My! answer! is! that,! nothing! would! have! happened!
between!us.!You!are!the!first!woman!I!have!had!feelings!for.!I!do!love!
you.!But!it!is!the!way!I!love!my!brother.!You!see,!I!just!misunderstood!
what!I!felt."!
Sakura!lowered!her!head.!Then!she!smiled!brightly!at!him.!
"It's! good! that! you! understand! now,"! she! told! Yukito.! "This! way! you!
can!find!who!you!truly!care!for.!Good!bye,!YukitoDsan."!
She! rushed! into! the! room,! darted! past! Meilin! and! HuaDLing! and!
dropped! onto! her! bed.! She! was! numb.! She! was! about! to! wallow! in!
sadness! when! Kero! landed! on! top! of! her! back.! He! licked! her! cheeks!
and!she!laughed.!
"Hoe!!KeroDchan,!stop!it!"!
The!golden!tiger!gave!a!light!snarl.!
"I'm! sorry! I've! been! away! KeroDchan,"! said! Sakura.! "It! won't! happen!
again!"!
Kero! had! grown! in! the! short! space! of! time! she! had! been! away.! The!
muscles!in!his!furry!body!were!pronounced.!She!was!certain!she!would!
not!be!able!to!lift!the!tiger!anymore.!With!him!to!comfort!her,!she!lay!
down!to!sleep.!Since!she!had!fallen!ill,!she!had!been!getting!very!sleepy!
174!
and!tired.!
"I!hope!this!passes!soon,"!she!whispered!to!Kero.!"Then!I!can!be!back!
to!my!cheerful!self."!
! He!found!someplace!discreet!so!that!he!could!be!alone.!Being!outside!
The! imperial! army! stopped! near! a! large! town! after! many! days! to!
replenish! their! food! and! water! supplies.! Late! that! night! Eriol!
requested! a! meeting! with! Syaoran! and! Yue.! They! were! both! highly!
annoyed.!Only!because!the!matter!had!to!do!with!Lu!Sheng!did!they!sit!
waiting! for! him! now.! Outside! the! tent,! the! soldiers! could! be! heard! as!
they! loudly! conversed,! laughed! and! cursed! each! other.! Finally,! Eriol!
arrived.!
"What!is!it?"!asked!Syaoran!at!once.!
His!right!eye!twitched!and!he!leaned!forward!slightly.!Damn"wound.!
"I've! gotten! as! much! information! on! Lu! Sheng's! two! companions! as! I!
could!possibly!get,"!said!Eriol,!ignoring!his!rude!tone.!"It's!not!much."!
"Who!are!they?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Enlai,! the! GuandaoDwielding! brute! was! quite! the! hoodlum! in! his!
youth.! Apparently,! he! later! formed! his! own! business.! If! you! wanted!
someone!beat!up,!punished!or!killed,!he!would!do!it!for!a!small!fee."!
"He!has!come!a!long!way,"!remarked!Yue.!
"Indeed,"! said! Eriol.! "I! do! not! yet! know! how! he! came! to! be! with! Lu!
Sheng! or! for! what! reason.! I! can! only! assume! that! someone! who! is! so!
simpleDminded!and!enjoys!fights!as!much!as!he!does!is!just!looking!for!
a!good!time."!
"What!of!the!other!one?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"He! is! a! mystery,"! said! Eriol.! "I! believe! it! was! he! who! posted! the!
message!on!the!Forbidden!City's!gate,!since!no!one!saw!him."!
Syaoran!slammed!his!hand!down!on!the!ground.!
"Bastard."!
"He! must! have! the! sixth! sense! if! he! could! even! touch" the! wall.! The!
magic! Yelan! and! I! employed! for! protection! was! an! old! one.! One! that!
involves!some!of!our!ancestors.!But!still,!even!if!he!could!see!them,!he!
cannot!harm!them.!I'm...!baffled."!
"I!guess!there!really!is!a!first!time!for!everything!Chief"Magician,"!said!
Syaoran.!
"Seer!magic!isn't!as!easy!as!you!think,!my!descendant.!It!requires!much!
more!energy!that!simply!swinging!a!sword."!
175!
"It's!late,"!said!Yue!quickly.!"Xiao!Lang!needs!rest."!
Eriol!agreed!and!Syaoran!was!left!alone!in!his!tent.!He!resented!feeling!
like!an!invalid.!He!rubbed!sleep!from!his!eyes!and!crept!out!of!his!tent.!
the!Forbidden!City!was!always!refreshing.!If!he!could!break!down!the!
walls! he! would.! The! night! sky! was! exceptionally! clear! tonight.! It!
reminded! him! of! the! time! he! had! watched! the! stars! with! Sakura.! A!
good!time.!
"Your!features!are!too!bizarre!for!you!to!hide,"!he!said!aloud.!"Yue."!
The!man!stepped!out!of!the!shadows.!He!sat!beside!Syaoran.!
"You!seem!different,"!said!Yue.!
"I!was!just!thinking,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!had!the!strangest!dream!Yue."!
A!small!fox!ran!across!their!path.!It!watched!them!for!a!moment,!then!
went!on!its!way.!
"Do!you!believe!in!love!Yue?"!
"Yes."!
Syaoran's!eyebrows!raised.!
"You!do?!Why?"!
"Yin!and!Yang.!There!must!be!balance!in!the!world,"!said!Yue.!"If!there!
is!war,!there!must!be!peace.!If!there!is!death!there!must!be!life.!If!there!
is!hate,!its!opposite!must!exist.!I!may!not!like!the!trouble!it!causes!but!
love!is...!real."!
"She!told!me!that!she!loved!me."!
Yue's!head!snapped!in!Syaoran's!direction.!
"Can! Huangdi! be! wrong! about! how! men! should! treat! women?! How"I!
should!feel!about!them?!I!feel!myself!succumbing..."!
"Huangdi! loves!"! blurted! out! Yue.! He! paused.! "When! you! were! young!
his!favourite!consort!began!having!an!affair!with!an!official.!When!they!
were!caught!she!claimed!to!love!the!man.!More!than!anything!she!did,!
that! enraged! Huangdi! the! most.! He! beheaded! them! both.! Or! so! it!
seemed.! But! I! saw! her.! Huangdi! could! not! bear! taking! her! life! so! he!
sent!her!to!a!monastery.!Why!would!he!do!that!if!he!did!not!love!her?"!
Syaoran!clenched!his!fists.!Should!he!learn!from!Huangdi's!mistakes!or!
make!them!himself?!
"Xiao! Lang,! I've! been! meaning! to! ask! you,"! said! Yue! softly.! "Is! there!
anything!I!have!done!that!may!have!upset!you?"!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran.!It!was!such!an!abrupt!change!of!topic.!
176!
"Is!there!anything!that!will!make!you!want!to!kill!me?"!
"What! are! you! talking! about?! Of! course! not!! You're! one! of! my! most!
loyal!Yue,!if!not"the!most."!
"Thank!you,"!said!Yue.!"I!just!wanted!to!know."!
! General?!They!must!be!speaking!of!the!imperial!army,!thought!Touya.!
"Mou!TouyaDkun,!I'm!tired!of!walking!"!
"What! do! you! mean! you're! tired! of! walking?"! he! asked! Nakuru.! "We!
hitchhiked!all!the!way!here."!
It!was!all!Touya!could!do!not!to!lose!his!temper.!Did!she!never!tire!of!
talking?!They!had!just!arrived!in!town!and!he!merely!wanted!to!sleep!
in!peace.!
"We!walked!some!of!it!"!
"Look,!I!did!not!ask!you!to!tag!along!so!D!"!
"I'm!not!complaining!"!
"Really?"!
"Really.!I'm!just!explaining."!
Suddenly,!she!jumped!onto!his!back.!
"You!don't!mind!carrying!your!future!wife,!do!you!TouyaDkun?"!
Touya! twisted! and! turned,! trying! to! throw! her! off! him.! He! looked! to!
the!heavens.!A!few!of!them!up!there!must!really!hate!him.!She!hugged!
him!tighter!and!he!felt!her!breasts!poking!him!in!the!back.!The!hairs!on!
his! arm! stood! up.! That! was! it!! He! flipped! her! over! but! caught! her!
before!she!slammed!into!the!ground.!He!was!about!to!give!her!another!
lecture!when!three!men!came!walking!in!their!direction.!Who!was!out!
at!this!time!of!night?!
Touya! hugged! Nakuru! around! the! waist.! Before! she! could! say!
anything,! he! clamped! his! hand! down! on! her! mouth,! and! drew! them!
deeper!into!the!shadows!of!a!nearby!alley.!The!men!all!had!swords!at!
their! backs.! One! of! them! fell! down.! They! were! saying! something.!
Touya! sighed.! Nakuru! could! speak! Chinese! but! he! feared! to! uncover!
her!mouth.!
"Akizuki,! if! you! really! wish! to! help! me! find! Sakura,! I! want! you! to!
translate!what!they're!saying."!
She!nodded.!
"No!outbursts,!alright."!
Another!nod.!Free!at!last,!she!stuck!out!her!tongue!at!him.!
"That! man! who! just! kicked! the! other! one! is! saying,! 'Get! up! you!
177!
drunken!son!of!a!whore!!We!have!to!get!back!to!camp.'"!
The!two!standing!men!picked!up!the!third.!
"Now! the! other! one! is! saying,! 'General! Yue! should! see! you! in! this!
condition.!That's!one!punishment!I'd!like!to!witness!'"!
Could!they!be!soldiers?!!
"The! drunk! one! says,! 'What! can! he! do! to! me?! I'm! the! Great! Imperial!
Son!'.!The!other!one!just!hushed!him!and!says,!"Do!you!want!to!die?"!
The! same! man! who! had! spoken! looked! about! him! nervously.! They!
started!walking!off.!
"Now! he! says,! 'It! unnerves! me! being! so! close! to! him.! I! feel! like! he's!
watching!me,!even!though!I!haven't!seenD"!
Nakuru!shrugged.!
"They're!too!far!away!now."!
"Let's!follow!them,"!said!Touya.!
He!and!Nakuru!hid!amongst!the!foliage!of!a!tree!to!spy!on!the!imperial!
army.! Touya! could! not! believe! his! luck.! From! the! brief! snatches! of!
conversation!they!overheard,!he!was!almost!certain!the!Crown!Prince!
was!among!them.!If!only!he!knew!what!the!prince!looked!like.!Touya!
was! calm.! It! was! only! a! matter! of! time! before! he! found! out.! Then! he!
merely! had! to! get! the! prince! alone.! I'm" coming" kaiju.! Nakuru! gave! a!
squeak!as!she!slipped!off!the!branch.!Touya!caught!her!by!the!wrist.!If"I"
can"survive"this"woman.!
!
"So!you!lost?"!
Enlai! huffed! as! he! dropped! to! the! floor! opposite! Enlai.! He! was! riding!
with!hardly!any!rest!for!days.!He!just!wanted!to!sleep!tonight.!
"It!was!a!draw.!I!caught!him!in!the!shoulder."!
"I!was!referring"to!the!battle,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!
"Oh.!Then!yes.!Those!men!you!gave!me!were!weak.!That!horse!too.!It's!
dead."!
"In! the! Forbidden! City,! when! a! battle! is! lost! the! Commander! is!
blamed,"!Lu!Sheng!told!Enlai.!"We!say!the!Commander!is!weak.!As!for!
the!horse,!you!rode!it!too!hard."!
Enlai! rolled! his! eyes.! He! put! a! hand! to! his! bandaged! waist.! That! jian!
was!no!joke.!He!was!lucky!he!knew!a!little!something!about!medicine.!
All! men! should! was! his! opinion.! Harmless! entered! the! room.! He! sat!
178!
beside!Enlai!and!began!to!remove!his!bandages.!
"What!the!hell,!Harmless!"!
"Relax,"! said! Lu! Sheng.! "When! are! you! going! to! realize! he's! smarter!
than!you?"!
Enlai!glared!at!his!leader.!As!he!watched,!Harmless!pulled!out!a!small!
piece!of!cloth.!Unwrapping!it,!he!revealed!many!needles.!
"Hell!no!!Don't!tell!me!you're!gonna!stick!those!things!in!me?"!
Harmless! looked! him! in! the! eye! and! he! shut! up.! Enlai! stared! at! the!
floor.!
"Just!be!careful.!I!was!never!a!fan!of!acupuncture."!
Harmless!rose!to!his!feet.!
"No!need!to!be!offended!"!said!Enlai.!"You!can!do!it!alright!"!
Harmless!looked!down.!Enlai!followed!his!gaze.!He!shivered!as!he!saw!
the!needles!protruding!from!his!abdomen.!
"You!should!leave!those!in!until!he!takes!them!out,"!advised!Lu!Sheng.!
"They!will!speed!up!the!healing."!
Enlai!nodded.!He!was!a!humbled!man.!
"How!is!my!cousin?"!
"He's!some!kind!of!creep,"!said!Enlai.!"Brilliant!fighter.!But!a!creep.!You!
know!during!our!fight!one!of!his!eyes!turned!gold?!Gold!!If!I!wasn't!me!
I'd!have!pissed!myself."!
Lu!Sheng!smiled.!
"That's!his!true!nature!coming!out.!Good.!I!will!like!to!beat!him!at!his!
best."!
Lu! Sheng's! eyes! blazed! like! fire.! The! man! laughed! suddenly.! Enlai!
seriously!began!to!wonder!how!he!came!upon!this!lunatic.!Moreover,!
why!he!stayed.!He!ruffled!his!spiky!hair.!
"What!was!in!that!poison!anyway?!The!prince!never!came!back!to!end!
our!fight."!
"Dark! magic,"! was! the! reply.! "One! that's! difficult! to! survive.! But!
knowing! him! as! a! perpetual! thorn! in! my! side! like! his! father,! I'm! sure!
he!will."!
Lu! Sheng! gazed! out! the! small! window.! The! majestic! buildings! of! the!
Forbidden!City!could!be!seen!from!the!room.!They!were!very!close.!Lu!
Sheng's!army!will!arrive!in!the!morning!and!then!they!will!attack.!Enlai!
only!hoped!that!his!wound!would!not!slow!him!down.!
! Lu! Sheng! smirked.! He! knew! he! was! right! to! trust! Harmless!! He!
179!
Huangdi!was!awakened!by!his!Chief!Eunuch!Boqin!far!earlier!than!he!
liked.!Sleep!still!in!his!eyes,!he!untangled!his!limbs!from!his!concubines!
and!got!out!of!bed.!He!wrapped!his!body!in!a!ruqun.!
"What's!this!all!about?"!he!asked.!
"The!sentries!in!the!eastern!and!western!towers!have!reported!that!an!
army!is!heading!this!way."!
Huangdi,!mind!still!in!a!haze,!smirked.!
"Xiao!Lang!has!returned!already!!This!is!cause!for!celebration.!What's!
the! matter! with! you?"! he! asked! Boqin! who! showed! no! hint! of!
happiness.!
"There! are! no! imperial! banners,"! he! said.! "They! don't! think! it's! the!
Great! Imperial! Son.! If! it! was! him,! why! has! the! army! divided! itself! in!
two?"!
Huangdi!became!alert.!
"Then!whoD"!
The!emperor!clenched!his!jaw.!
"Lu!Sheng."!
The!darkDhaired!man!stood!outside!the!Forbidden!City.!He!smiled.!He!
may! hate! Huangdi! but! he! loved! this! place.! It! was! the! only! home! he!
knew.! That! was! his! throne! Huangdi! sat! in.! Soon,! he! will! be$ Huangdi.!
With!Syaoran,!Yue!and!Eriol!gone,!all!was!his.!
"Thanks!to!you!Harmless,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!"I!will!succeed!sooner!than!I!
planned.! They! all! think! the! city! is! impenetrable.! You! will! prove! them!
wrong."!
The! armies! assembled! as! one! at! the! southern! entrance! to! the! palace.!
He!placed!his!hand!on!Harmless'!shoulder.!
"I!was!banished!from!here.!Even!touching!these!walls!will!bring!instant!
death!to!me.!But!you!have!found!a!way!in.!I!am!ready!to!take!my!place!
on!the!throne."!
Harmless!nodded.!He!put!his!two!palms!flat!against!the!wall.!Lu!Sheng!
did!not!yet!understand!but!he!had!full!faith!in!him.!It!had!been!a!long!
time! since! he! felt! so! alive.! Harmless'! body! glowed! with! power.!
Suddenly! he! drew! his! swords! and! began! to! attack! the! air.! Imperial!
guards!and!his!own!men!watched!him!like!he!was!a!madman.!Then!Lu!
Sheng! understood.! This! was! how! Yelan! and! Eriol! did! it!! Using! the!
ancestors! to! protect! the! descendants.! Lu! Sheng! was! stunned.! Could!
Harmless'!swords!injure!the!dead?!
180!
laughed.! He! could! hear! the! imperial! guards! gathering! but! it! was! too!
late!!Yes,!far!too!late.!Lu!Sheng!laughed!even!harder.!There!was!no!one!
to! stop! him.! No! one!! Harmless! stepped! back! and! Lu! Sheng's! soldiers!
rolled! a! battering! ram! up! to! the! Gates.! It! was! capped! with! iron.! Each!
time!it!hit!the!Gates,!they!grew!weaker.!Arrows!assailed!them,!but!the!
men! hid! behind! large! shields.! Sheng's! own! archers! shot! back.! At! last!
the!Gates!gave!out.!
Lu! Sheng! took! his! first! step! since! he! was! thirteen! years! old,! into! the!
Forbidden! City.! For! one! moment! in! time,! there! was! a! deadly! silence.!
The!imperial!guards!and!Lu!Sheng's!army!sized!each!other!up.!Then!an!
imperial!guard!yelled.!
"Death!to!the!enemy!"!
!
Sakura! ran! into! the! main! room! when! she! heard! a! thunderous! roar.!
Meilin,!HuaDLing!and!the!servants!were!already!there.!
"What's!going!on?"!
"We!don't!know,"!said!HuaDLing.!"But!it!doesn't!sound!good."!
The! loud! banging! continued.! The! sound! reverberated! in! their! chests.!
They!huddled!together!like!trapped!mice.!Ping!burst!into!the!room.!He!
carried!long,!white!pieces!of!cloth.!
"We!are!being!ambushed,"!he!told!them!steadily.!"It's!only!a!matter!of!
time!before!the!enemy!gets!into!the!City."!
The!servants!gasped.!They!rushed!to!take!the!pieces!of!cloth!from!Ping.!
Sakura!stared!at!their!nimble!hands!working!to!tie!the!knots.!
"What!are!you!doing?"!she!asked!loudly.!"Please!don't!do!this!"!
Meilin!clutched!her!hand.!
"We!must,"!she!said.!"There!is!no!other!option."!
"But! I! told! Xiao! Lang! I! wouldn't,"! said! Sakura.! "And! he! accepted! that.!
We!shouldn't!do!this!!It's!not!right.!We!should!wait!for!him."!
She!almost!thought!Meilin!was!going!to!ignore!her,!but!the!girl!turned!
to!Ping.!She!drew!himself!up!proudly.!
"Take!us!somewhere!safe."!
"MeilinDsan,!nowhere!will!be!safe!within!the!hour,"!said!Ping.!"We!will!
all!be!dead."!
"This!is!the!Imperial!Empire!"!said!Meilin.!"We!can't!be!defeated."!
Ping!shook!his!head.!He!swore!under!his!breath.!
"Do!as!you!wish."!
181!
Throwing! the! remaining! pieces! of! cloth! to! the! floor,! he! turned! on! his!
heels!and!left!the!room.!Meilin!spoke!to!the!servants.!
"You!know!this!place!better!than!we!do,"!she!said.!"Where!should!we!
go?"!!
"I!don't!know!how!to!get!out,"!said!one!of!HuaDLing's!servants.!"But!the!
harem!is!wellDprotected.!It's!like!its!own!fortress."!
"Then!let's!go."!
It! was! the! first! time! the! women! were! moving! through! the! halls!
unsupervised.!No!one!stopped!them.!No!one!noticed!them.!There!was!
chaos! everywhere! and! they! were! insignificant! in! it! all.! Sakura! had!
never!felt!more!frightened.!The!only!security!she!felt!came!from!Kero!
trailing!behind!her.!
"SakuraDchan!"!
"TomoyoDchan!"!
She!hugged!her!friend!as!tightly!as!she!could,!for!Tomoyo!held!a!little!
boy!in!her!arms.!Behind!her!stood!Eriol's!wife!Kaho!and!her!newborn!
baby.!
"We!are!the!only!ones!left,"!said!Tomoyo.!She!panted!and!hitched!the!
child!higher!on!her!hip.!"We're!going!to!the!harem.!I!suppose!you!are!
too?"!
"Hai.!Let!me!help!you."!
She! took! the! child! from! Tomoyo! and! together! they! all! raced! to! the!
harem.!Their!faces!were!red!from!the!exertion.!The!Forbidden!City!was!
even! bigger! than! it! seemed.! There! was! one! last! great! bang,! then!
silence.! They! froze.! There! was! an! uproar! as! a! fullDblown! battle! broke!
out.!By!the!time!they!reached!the!harem,!they!were!almost!crawling!on!
their! hands! and! knees.! Kaho! started! coughing! and! Tomoyo! rushed! to!
her!side.!The!baby!was!crying!at!the!top!of!his!tiny!lungs.!
Kaho's!elder!son!clutched!Sakura!tightly!around!the!neck.!
"I'm!scared,"!he!whispered.!
She!rubbed!his!back.!
"What's!your!name?"!
"Han."!
"Well! HanDchan,! everything! will! surely! be! alright,"! she! told! him.! "I!
promise."!
!
Lu! Sheng! and! Harmless! quickly! manoeuvred! their! way! through! the!
182!
bloody! mess.! He! still! remembered! the! palace! clearly.! Lu! Sheng! He!closed!his!eyes.!Do"you"see"me"father?!
smirked.! The! days! had! long! passed! when! the! imperial! guards! were! "The!Mandate!of!Heaven!passes!to!me!"!he!told!the!stunned!soldiers.!
men!to!fear.!Now!he!was!the!greatest!threat!in!the!Forbidden!City.!
Taking! his! place! on! the! sandalwood! throne,! Lu! Sheng! gazed! down! at!
He! pushed! open! the! door! to! Huangdi's! chamber.! As! Harmless! battled! his! subjects.! Harmless! kowtowed! and! everyone! else! followed.! He!
the!guards!outside,!he!went!in.!Huangdi!was!dressed!fully!in!armour.! stood! dutifully! before! the! new! Huangdi.! Lu! Sheng! gave! his! first!
"Amazing! it! still! fits,"! said! Lu! Sheng.! "I! thought! you! had! gotten! fat! on! imperial!order.!
the! throne! by! now.! But! you've! become! reckless! if! you! couldn't! see! "Bring!me!Li!Yelan."!
through!my!mediocre!ruse!which!sent!dear!cousin!so!far!away."!
!
"Lu!Sheng,"!said!Huangdi.!"Your!father's!dying!wish!was!for!me!not!to!
!
kill!you."!
!
"Don't!worry.!You!won't."!
!
Lu!Sheng!wasted!no!time!in!showing!off!his!new!dark!magic.!It!was!like!
a!miniature!storm!in!the!room.!Huangdi!still!had!fight!in!him!though.!
The! Imperial! Chamber! was! quickly! ruined! as! their! encounter!
progressed.!Lu!Sheng!could!not!help!but!smile.!Huangdi!did!not!have!a!
chance.!He!was!an!old!man.!Lu!Sheng!was!in!his!prime.!Now!the!Great!
Dragon!will!rise!to!reclaim!his!Empire!!
"You! cannot! have! the! Mandate! of! Heaven,"! said! Lu! Sheng.! "Isn't! that!
what!you!told!my!father?"!
He!put!a!hand!to!the!scar!on!his!cheek.! !
"Then!you!branded!me!as!a!traitor,!because!I!said!the!same!to!you!"!
"Don't!do!this!boy!"!
"Do!not!command!me!"!
Lu!Sheng!drew!out!his!sword!to!channel!his!magic.!He!charged.!Before!
Huangdi! knew! what! hit! him,! he! was! on! his! knees! before! his! nephew,!
the!outcast.!Lu!Sheng's!sword!was!at!his!throat.!
"Xiao!Lang!will!avenge!me."!
"Don't!count!on!it."! !
Huangdi's!head!rolled!to!his!feet.!Blood!dripped!from!Lu!Sheng's!chin.! !
Picking! Huangdi's! head! up! by! the! hair,! Lu! Sheng! left! the! Imperial!
!
Chamber.!Calmly!he!went!to!the!Hall!of!Supreme!Harmony.!It!was!the!
greatest! symbol! of! imperial! power,! it! was! the! perfect! place.! From! !
there,!in!the!illumination!of!the!bright!sunlight!and!clear!blue!sky,!he! !
displayed! Huangdi's! severed! head.! Gradually! a! hush! fell! over! the! !
soldiers! D! imperial! and! enemy.! There! were! no! tears,! no! sudden! !
downpour! of! rain,! no! lightning! sent! by! the! gods! to! strike! Lu! Sheng.!
That! was! how! he! knew! he! was! the! rightful! ruler.! He! threw! the! head! !
down!the!three!great!flights!of!marble!steps.! !

183! 184!
Chapter 12
The"sheep"has"no"choice"when"in"the"jaws"of"the"wolf.!
~"Chinese"Proverb!
Yelan! stood! proudly! before! Lu! Sheng.! She! did! not! bother! to! put! up! a!
fight.!Not!now!at!least.!From!the!blood!on!the!man!and!his!astute!smile,!
she! knew! her! husband! was! dead.! Her! heart! skipped! a! beat.! She! was!
angry!with!him!for!dying!!It!was!his!own!fault.!He!depended!on!others!
for!his!protection!for!too!long;!he!forgot!how!to!defend!himself.!Yelan's!
eyes! burned.! She! loved! him! but! she! would! not! cry! here,! in! front! of!
Sheng.!
I"am"still"Empress.!
"You!kowtow!before!Huangdi."!
"When!I!see!my!son!I!will."!
Sheng!stared!at!her.!
"Your! head! does! not! lie! beside! your! husband's! for! three! reasons,"! he!
said.! "The! first! is! because! I! want! you! to! witness! my! claim! to! this!
throne.!When!Huangdi!murdered!my!father,!I!clearly!recall!you!telling!
me! he! died! because! he! was! ill.! But! we! both! know! that! Huangdi! was!
poisoning!him."!
Sheng!reclined!on!the!throne.!His!tone!was!light!and!easy.!
"My!father!was!the!older!twin.!He!should!have!been!Huangdi."!
"He!was!sickly,"!said!Yelan.!"He!had!a!disease!of!the!mind.!He!could!not!
rule!an!Empire!"!
"He!was!exceptional,"!said!Sheng.!"He!did!not!deserve!what!Yongzheng!
did! to! him.! You! cannot! imagine! how! it!sickened"me! to! have! to! live! on!
his!mercy."!
He!touched!the!scar!on!his!cheek.!
"I! failed! to! kill! him! when! I! was! young,"! Sheng! said.! "But! today! I! have!
succeeded.!It!was!as!easy!as!I!expected.!The!dedication!I!have!cannot!
be!measured."!
"Revenge! is! one! thing,"! said! Yelan.! "But! you've! lost! yourself!
completely!"!
"The! second! reason! you! live,"! Sheng! said! as! he! eyed! her! like! a! wolf!
about!to!spring.!"Is!because!I!want!to!know!how!to!destroy!Xiao!Lang.!I!
will! admit! we! are! equals.! But! there! can! be! no! contenders! to! my!
throne."!
"You!don't!honestly!expect!me!to!tell!you!this,!even!if!I!knew?"!
185!
"I!expect!that!you,!being!the!great"Empress!that!you!are,!will!want!to!
save!your!people's!lives."!
He!made!a!motion!and!his!soldiers!filled!the!Hall!with!fifty!or!so!high!
ranking!members!of!the!imperial!household.!They!knelt!before!Sheng.!
Sheng! nodded! to! his! soldiers! and! each! stood! by! a! man,! his! sword!
drawn.!Yelan's!eyes!were!cold.!How!could!he!do!this!to!his!own!family?!
"Who!shall!I!rid!myself!of!first?"!
Yelan! found! herself! thinking! of! the! many! ways! one! could! harm!
Syaoran.!She!shook!her!head.!She!would!not!do!this.!
"Where!is!Renshu?"!asked!Lu!Sheng!suddenly.!"Did!he!die!already?"!
"He!fled,"!was!the!curt!reply!from!one!of!the!princes.!"Lei!too!"!
"Never!"!cried!Renshu's!twin!brothers.!
"Heng,! Kang,"! said! Sheng! reminiscently.! "You! two! always! did! annoy!
me.!Harmless..."!
Before! they! could! realize! what! was! coming,! Harmless'! swords! took!
their!heads.!Yelan!closed!her!eyes.!The!imperial!men!cursed!the!violetD
haired!man.!
"Who!will!recognize!me!as!the!one,!true!Huangdi?"!asked!Sheng.!
Some!of!the!princes!kowtowed.!The!others,!mostly!older!ones,!stared!
at!him!defiantly.!
"Li!Yelan,!are!you!willing!to!tell!me!Xiao!Lang's!weakness?"!he!asked.!
She!said!nothing.!
"What!about!my!last!reason!for!sparing!you?!I!want!to!you!to!rebuild!
the!City's!barrier!against!him.!Would!you!do!that?"!
Again!Yelan!did!not!answer.!
"There!is!no!need!for!the!others,"!said!Sheng.!
The! princes! who! kowtowed! had! their! backs! soaked! in! blood.! Their!
brothers'!decapitated!bodies!were!dragged!from!the!Hall.!
"The!women!now,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!"I!wonder,!would!your!daughters!be!
among!them?"!
Yelan! watched! silently! as! a! tall! man! with! a! large! Guandao! left! the!
room,!flanked!by!soldiers.!
Fanren,"Feimei,"please"keep"safe.!
!
Sakura! held! Han's! head! to! her! chest.! Now! she! had! calmed! down,! she!
noticed! the! lifeless! bodies! of! women! hanging! thoughout! the! harem.!
186!
Han! had! broken! down! at! the! terrifying! sight.! All! she! could! think! was!
that!their!ghosts!were!probably!there!right!now.!
"Hoe..."!she!murmured!softly.!
Kero's! ears! perked! up! at! the! sound.! Suddenly! Yukito! ran! into! the!
harem.! He! was! followed! by! imperial! guards! who! quickly! bolted! the!
doors! shut.! The! women! clamoured! at! the! sight! of! the! men.! They!
wanted! to! know! what! was! going! on!! They! wanted! to! know! that! they!
were!safe.!Yet!there!was!no!time!for!answers.!
Kaho!who!still!had!a!slight!belly,!pushed!herself!up.!Sakura!watched!as!
she!went!over!to!Yukito.!They!had!a!few!exchanges!of!words,!then!he!
handed!her!a!spare!bow!he!carried!and!a!quiver!of!arrows.!Sakura!was!
shocked.!Was!Kaho!really!going!to!fight?!
Han!whimpered.!
"Mommy..."!
"She!will!be!alright,"!said!Tomoyo!soothingly.!
She!held!Sakura's!hand.!
"SakuraDchan,! I! just! want! you! to! know! you're! my! best! friend! and!
you've!brought!me!a!lot!of!joy."!
The!girls'!eyes!shimmered.!
"We'll!be!fine!TomoyoDchan,"!said!Sakura.!"Xiao!Lang!will!come!for!us.!
You'll!see."!
They! started! as! a! loud! bang! reverberated! in! their! chests.! The! enemy!
was!at!the!doors.!Tomoyo!stared!sadly!at!Sakura.!
"I!wish!I!could!paint!you!one!last!time!"!
Sakura's!eyes!widened,!and!even!though!their!situation!was!grim,!even!
though!this!may!be!the!last!moments!of!her!life,!she!laughed!like!never!
before.! The! bangings! grew! louder! but! the! doors! stood.! The! women!
cried!loudly,!others!tore!at!their!hair.!
"SakuraDchan,"! said! an! unbothered! Tomoyo.! "I! wrote! you! a! song! in!
Japanese,! you! know.! It's! called! Yoru! no! Uta.! I! think...! I! will! sing! it! for!
you!now."!
Sakura! acknowledged! the! fact! that! her! friend! will! never! cease! to!
amaze!her.!Holding!her!hands!to!her!chest,!Tomoyo!parted!her!lips.!
"In!the!night!sky,!they!twinkle!The!far!stars!of!gold!The!same!color!as!
the!small!bird!that!looked!up!in!my!dream!last!night."!
The!women!nearby!fell!silent!at!the!sound!of!Tomoyo's!ethereal!voice.!
"In! the! sleepless! night,!I! sing! this! song! alone!Together! with! the!
187!
blowing!wind,!I!fly!riding!on!my!thoughts."!
The!guards!as!they!held!the!doors!shut!turned!to!look!at!her.!The!men!
waiting!to!kill!them!outside!mattered!no!more.!
"In!the!night!sky,!it!sparkles!The!distant!moon!of!silver!The!same!color!
as!the!wild!rose!that!was!blooming!in!my!dream!last!night."!
Tomoyo's! voice! floated! to! the! very! crevices! of! the! imperial! harem.!
They! enjoyed! this! sweet! and! unearthly! lullaby! they! could! not!
understand!and!suddenly,!their!fates!did!not!seem!so!bad!anymore.!
"In! the! gentle! night,!I! sing! this! song! alone!Let! me! sing! with! you!
tomorrow!Riding!the!wings!of!dreams."!
Tomoyo!cupped!Sakura's!cheek,!wishing!her!to!join!in;!to!sing!with!her!
now!for!they!may!never!get!another!chance.!Sakura!opened!her!mouth!
and!was!surprised!at!the!gentle!melody!that!flowed!from!it.!
"In! the! gentle! night,!I! sing! this! song! alone!Let! me! sing! with! you!
tomorrow!Riding!the!wings!of!dreams."!
"SakuraDsan?"!
Sakura!looked!over!her!shoulder.!
"MikoDsan!"!
Then!the!doors!burst!open.!The!light!that!entered!was!very!bright.!All!
Sakura!could!make!out!was!a!tall!man!with!brown!hair.!
"...Xiao!Lang...?"!
Then!the!shock!from!the!light!faded.!Then!she!saw!the!large!Guandao.!
!
The! surviving! women! and! imperial! guards! were! roughly! shoved! into!
the!Hall!of!Supreme!Harmony.!There!they!gazed!upon!their!new!ruler.!
Sakura!had!expected!a!monster.!How!could!this!tranquil,!smiling!man!
be!responsible!for!all!the!blood!around!her?!It!did!not!make!sense.!His!
red!eyes!surveyed!them!almost!kindly.!Only!his!scar!gave!him!a!hint!of!
danger.!Kero!snarled!as!two!enemy!soldiers!secured!him.!
"Tsukishiro!Yukito,"!said!the!man.!
Even"his"voice"is"nice.!
"Is!that!you?!You!haven't!changed!a!bit!"!
Yukito!stood!up.!He!held!a!hand!to!his!bleeding!arm.!
"I!can't!say!the!same!for!you!Lu!Sheng!D"!
"Huangdi,"!said!Sheng,!correcting!him.!
"Xiao!Lang!is!D"!
188!
"I've! never! had! a! problem! with! you! Yukito.! You're! the! only! decent!
person!in!this!place.!Don't!ruin!things."!
Lu! Sheng! leaned! forward! on! his! throne.! His! eyes! roamed! throughout!
the!group!of!people.!
"Li!Meilin!my!cousin,"!he!said.!
Meilin!looked!at!the!man!and!Sakura!saw!the!relation.!Their!hair!and!
eyes! were! the! same.! Though! on! Sheng! they! had! a! somewhat! darker!
allure.!
"You've!married!Xiao!Lang!but!unfortunately!you!mean!nothing!to!him.!
Thus!I!have!no!need!of!you."!Sheng!smiled.!"Our!mothers!were!sisters.!
Kowtow!and!you!will!live."!
Meilin! looked! at! Yelan.! Sakura! could! tell! she! was! debating! it.! Then!
Meilin!rose!to!her!feet.!
"My!husband!is!the!real!Huangdi!!I!will!never"kowtow!before!you!"!
"Then!you!will!die."!
"NOO!"!
Lu! Sheng's! head! snapped! in! the! direction! of! the! voice.! Yukito's! eyes!
begged!Sakura!to!stay!down!but!she!let!Han!go!and!stood!up.!
"How!could!you!do!this?!We!have!done!nothing!to!you!!Nothing!at!all!"!
She! looked! at! the! blood! on! her! hands.! The! floor! was! a! nightmare! to!
see.!The!smell!alone!was!too!much.!It!was!all!too!much.!
"You're!a!foul,!wicked,!wicked!D"!
Sakura!struggled!for!words.!
"Who!is!this!Yukito?"!asked!Sheng.!
"My!wife."!
"Your! wife."! Lu! Sheng! laughed! loudly.! "Come! Yukito.! Stop! fooling!
yourself.!I!would!say!she!is...!Xiao!Lang's!concubine.!She!is"Japanese."!
Yukito!opened!his!mouth!but!nothing!came!out.!
"I've!kept!myself!informed."!
At! first! Sakura! did! not! understand! what! was! happening! when! one! of!
her!maidservants!stood.!It!was!the!one!who!knew!all!the!princes!were!
good!in!bed.!She!moved!closer!to!Lu!Sheng!and!kowtowed.!
"Huangdi,!your!servant!kneels!before!you."!
Sakura! froze.! She! was! working! with! Lu! Sheng?! Sakura's! heart! sunk.!
Sheng!pointed!at!Meilin.!
"Harmless,!kill!her."!
189!
A! violet! haired! man! with! a! long! braid! approached! Meilin.! Sakura!
raised!her!hand.!
"Don't!"!
Harmless! made! to! spear! Meilin! with! his! blade! but! thick! vines! grew!
from!the!floor,!trapping!his!limbs.!They!pulled!his!body!taut.!He!grit!his!
teeth.! Enlai! advanced! on! Sakura.! Gripping! her! by! the! neck,! he! pulled!
her!towards!him.!Sakura!gasped.!
"Release! him!"! he! commanded.! "Release! him! or! I'll! strangle! you! with!
my!bare!hands,!woman!"!
Sakura! felt! a! rush! and! then! lightDheaded! all! at! once.! What! did! Enlai!
mean?!She!did!not!do!anything.!
"I!can't...breathe...please..."!
There!was!a!weird!feeling!in!her!body.!A!sharp!tingle.!Suddenly,!there!
was!a!loud!snarl.!Kero!broke!loose!of!his!guards.!He!bounded!towards!
Enlai!and!his!body!grew!alarmingly!fast.!A!loud!roar!sounded.!A!great!
golden! beast! with! sharp,! white! fangs! glowered! at! them.! Enlai! threw!
Sakura!aside!and!raised!his!Guandao.!
She!was!dizzy.!All!she!grasped!of!what!was!happening!was!fire.!Lots!of!
fire.! And! blade.! Kero's! roars! were! deafening.! There! were! screams.!
Then!someone!was!lifting!her!up.!
"Tell!it!to!stop,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!
"...What...?"!
"Tell!the!beast!to!stop!now."!
Head!spinning,!Sakura!did!what!he!said.!Or!she!thought!she!did.!Kero!
looked!at!her!before!slowly!returning!to!his!smaller!form.!
"Keeping!secrets!are!we?"!she!heard!Lu!Sheng!ask.!
Then!she!blacked!out.!
!
Syaoran! stood! in! the! middle! of! a! battlefield.! The! blood! and! smoke!
blinded! him.! His! heart! was! racing! too! fast.! Where! was! she?! The! rain!
started! to! fall.! All! was! a! mess.! Then! he! saw! her.! She! was! standing!
motionlessly.!
Lightning! cracked.! Now! he! was! in! front! of! her.! His! eyes! widened! in!
horror.!Sakura's!entire!body!was!covered!in!blood.!It!dripped!from!her!
bangs! and! trickled! into! her! eyes.! Her! eyes! were! unfocused.! Then! a!
blade!appeared!at!her!neck.!Lu!Sheng!smirked!at!him.!Her!throat!was!
sliced! open.! Determinedly.! Viciously.! Sheng! held! her! head! up! with! a!
triumphant!smirk.!
190!
Syaoran!inhaled!sharply!as!he!flew!out!of!his!sleep.!He!panted!heavily.!
This!feeling!coursing!through!him.!Was!it!fear?!He!gripped!his!wound.!
His!insides!burned.!He!stumbled!to!his!feet!and!out!of!his!tent.!
"Get!up!"!he!shouted.!"All!of!you!!UP!"!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Yue,!appearing!at!his!side.!
"Yue!!We!have!to!leave!now!!She's!dead.!He's!going!to!kill!her!!I!D!Why"
the"hell"aren't"you"all"UP?!We!are!at!war!"!
Syaoran!slammed!his!palm!to!his!forehead.!His!throat!was!dry.!
"You!should!rest,"!said!Yue.!He!put!a!hand!on!Syaoran's!shoulder.!"The!
poison!seems!to!be!D"!
"Listen"to"me,"!said!Syaoran!darkly.!"We!have!toD"!
He! squinted.! Two! riders! were! coming! upon! them! swift! as! the! wind.!
They!got!closer!and!Syaoran!and!Yue!recognised!them.!
"What!are!they!doing!here?"!murmured!Yue.!
Syaoran's!stomach!rose!to!his!throat.!No.!Renshu!and!Lei!pulled!tightly!
on!their!reins.!Renshu!dismounted!first.!
"Lu!Sheng!has!overtaken!the!City,"!he!said.!
Yue!stared!at!him.!
"What?"!
"Huangdi!is!dead,"!Renshu!told!them.!
Syaoran!was!blank.!Renshu!took!out!a!scroll.!
"This!edict!states!that!I!am!the!Great!Imperial!Son,"!he!said.!"Huangdi!
signed!it!before!he!died."!
Eriol!who!had!just!arrived!on!the!scene!took!the!document.!
"Lu! Sheng! ambushed! the! palace! and! you! found! time! to! secure! this?"!
asked!Yue.!"Is!it!even!real?"!
"Of!course!it!is!!Besides,!some"order!must!be!upheld."!
Eriol! having! none! of! Huangdi's! writing! to! compare! it! to! handed! the!
edict!back!to!Renshu.!
"Sakura."!
Syaoran!dazedly!looked!from!Renshu!to!Lei.!
"Where...!where!is!Sakura?"!
"Who?"! asked! Renshu.! Then! he! shook! his! head.! "The! concubine?! You!
can't!be!seriousD"!
"He's!going!to!kill!her!"!
"She's!probably!already!dead!"!he!yelled!to!Syaoran's!back.!
191!
Yue!took!off!after!him.!Syaoran!prepared!his!horse!quickly.!
"Xiao!Lang,!calm!down."!
"You!know!he'll!kill!her!"!yelled!Syaoran.!"Just!to!spite!me."!
"What!makes!you!think!he!knows?"!
"BecauseD!"!
Syaoran!dropped!to!his!knees!and!slammed!his!fist!into!the!earth!until!
his! knuckles! bled.! He! coughed! as! his! wound! opened.! It! ached! but! his!
heart!hurt!more.!
"I! should! have! seen! this,"! he! said! bitterly.! "I! didn't! protect! Huangdi.! I!
didn't! protect! her.! If! she's! safe,! then! my! heart! won't! pound! so! loud,!
then!I!could!think."!
!
Sakura!yawned.!The!first!thing!she!became!aware!of!was!her!growling!
stomach.!She!rubbed!her!eyes.!She!was!in!a!huge!bed!looking!up!at!a!
very!detailed!ceiling.!She!heard!the!door!open!but!when!she!looked!up,!
she!only!saw!a!long!braid!disappearing!behind!it.!
She! raised! herself! up.! Her! clothes! were! different.! She! yawned! again!
and! brought! her! hand! up! to! cover! her! mouth.! It! was! clean.! Then! she!
remembered! they! were! bloody! before,! that! Lu! Sheng! was! emperor!
now.!Where!was!Tomoyo?!Han?!Miko?!She!made!to!get!to!her!feet!but!
she!felt!faint.!
"I'm!happy!you're!awake."!
Sakura's! body! snapped! to! attention.! With! painstaking! deliberateness!
Sheng! approached! the! bed.! Sakura! pulled! the! covers! around! her!
protectively.!
"You've!been!asleep!for!two!days,"!said!Sheng.!"But!Harmless!has!been!
watching!over!you."!
Then! she! saw! the! violet! haired! man! again.! So! he! was! in! the! room!
before.!The!bed!sank!a!little!as!Sheng!sat!down.!Tenderly,!he!touched!
Sakura's!chin.!
"Are!you!feeling!better?"!
Sakura! wondered! if! this! was! some! kind! of! trick! but! Sheng! seemed!
genuinely!interested!in!knowing.!
"Yes."!
"You!must!be!hungry,"!he!said.!"But!we!must!talk!of!something!first."!
Sakura!nodded.!
"What!is!that!magic!you!used!before?"!
192!
"What! do! you! mean?! I! don't! have! any! magic."! Then! she! remembered!
Kero.!"Where's!KeroDchan?!My!tiger?"!
"The! beast?! I! locked! him! up! for! a! while,"! said! Sheng.! "He! was!
responding!to!your!magic."!
"But!I!don't..."!
"You! didn't! know,"! said! Sheng! understandingly.! He! spoke! to! himself.!
"Your!emotions!sparked!its!release."!
Sheng!cupped!one!of!her!cheeks.!He!rubbed!it!with!his!thumb!in!what!
could!have!been!mistaken!for!a!loving!touch.!
"Since! I! am! Huangdi! now! and! you! were! Xiao! Lang's! concubine,"! he!
said.!"Then!you!should!be!mine."!
"Hoe?"!
Lu!Sheng!stood.!
"You're!pale.!You!should!eat.!I'll!see!you!later."!
Sakura!let!out!a!sharp,!shaky!breath.!Lu!Sheng!may!seem!friendly!but!
his! eyes! scared! her! beyond! belief.! She! started! when! she! realized! the!
man! he! called! Harmless! was! staring! at! her.! He! was! so! quiet.! She!
giggled! nervously.! Servants! came! to! clean! her! up! and! still! his! eyes!
never!left!her.!She!blushed!when!they!began!to!remove!her!clothes.!To!
her!surprise!and!relief,!his!gaze!dropped!to!the!floor.!
Sakura!gobbled!the!food!she!was!given.!She!had!never!eaten!so!much!
in!her!life.!Then!again!being!asleep!for!two!days!could!do!that!to!a!girl.!
She!blushed!once!more!when!she!saw!that!Harmless!was!staring!at!her!
yet! again.! She! put! down! her! chopsticks.! There! was! something! she!
forgot!to!ask!Lu!Sheng.!
"Um...! HarmlessDsan,"! she! said.! "Do! you! know! if! the! other! women! are!
alright?!And!the!children?"!
He!nodded.!
"So!they!are?"!
He!nodded!again.!
"Sugoi."!
Sakura! tried! to! make! small! talk! with! the! man! but! it! was! an! almost!
impossible!task.!If!he!could!not!answer!with!a!nod!or!shake!of!his!head,!
that!was!it.!It!was!a!strange!feeling!to!be!around!someone!like!him.!She!
kept!an!eye!on!the!swords!at!his!back.!She!did!not!forget!how!prepared!
he!was!to!take!Meilin's!life.!
Before! Sakura! knew! it! she! was! awakening! to! lit! lanterns.! Harmless!
193!
was! gone.! Instead! Lu! Sheng! was! there.! His! torso! was! bare.! His! dark!
hair!brushed!his!lower!back.!
"I!didn't!mean!to!wake!you,"!he!said.!
Sheng!joined!her!on!the!bed.!Sakura!held!her!breath.!
"Mika!told!me!Xiao!Lang!is!very!taken!with!you,"!said!Sheng.!
Sakura's! heart! sank.! The! hurt! from! her! maidservant's! betrayal!
returned.! What's! more,! she! was! ashamed! she! did! not! even! know! the!
maidservant's!name!before!now.!
"Is!that!true?"!
"I!don't!know,"!said!Sakura!in!all!honesty.!
"Well! you're! very! pretty,"! said! Sheng.! "And! Yelan! was! exceedingly!
indifferent!when!we!spoke!about!you.!So!I'm!going!to!take!a!guess!and!
say!he!is.!But!time!will!tell."!
"What!are!you!going!to!do!to!me?"!asked!Sakura.!
"Eventually,! I'm! going! to! kill! you,"! said! Sheng! as! he! brushed! aside! a!
stray!bang!from!her!face.!
Sakura!took!in!a!sharp!breath.!
"Until!then!you're!my!concubine,"!he!said.!"Since!I'm!Huangdi!I!should!
have!one."!
Sakura!shook.!Sheng!settled!himself!into!the!soft!sheets.!
"Please!don't,"!she!said.!
"Huangdi! can! be! denied! nothing."! Sheng! wrapped! his! arm! around!
Sakura's! waist.! He! pulled! her! to! himself! and! looked! down! into! her!
green!eyes.!"You're!an!interesting!one.!I!know!we'll!get!along!well!for!
some!time."!
Tears!came!to!Sakura's!eyes.!Sheng's!face!and!hers!were!so!close.!Their!
foreheads!met!and!she!waited!for!the!rest.!
"You're! very! warm,"! she! heard! him! say.! "I've! forgotten! how! good! a!
body's!warmth!could!feel.!I've!forgone!so!many!things!for!so!long..."!
He!laughed!softly.!
"So!is!this!the!magic!you!worked!on!Xiao!Lang?"!he!asked.!
Sakura!stared!at!the!scar!on!his!cheek.!Up!close!she!saw!it!was!Chinese!
writing.!
"It!means!Traitor,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!"Normally!they!put!it!on!both!cheeks!
but!I!escaped!before!that!happened."!
Sakura!lowered!her!eyes.!
194!
"Why!were!you...?"! Chapter 13
"I! tried! to! kill! Yongzheng! before.! That! was! the! old! emperor's! name.! All"things"change,"and"we"change"with"them.!
Yongzheng."! ~"Chinese"Proverb"
Sheng!closed!his!eyes.!
"Look,"! said! Touya! from! the! shadows.! "He's! going! off! on! his! own! at!
"Sleep!well,!Sakura."! last."!
Sakura!did!no!such!thing.!Well!that!was!the!initial!idea.!The!man!told! Due!to!their!training,!Nakuru!and!Touya!had!soon!discovered!that!the!
her! outrightly! that! he! was! going! to! kill! her! yet! he! talked! to! her! so! Great!Imperial!Son!was!Li!Xiao!Lang.!Nothing!was!impossible!for!a!soD
amiably.!She!wanted!to!run!away!when!he!fell!asleep,!but!he!held!her! called!Shinobi"after!all.!Touya!had!suspected!it!was!the!chestnutDhaired!
too!tightly.!She!fought!against!sleep!but!the!bed!felt!so!good.!She!would! man.!His!walk!held!all!the!arrogant!features!of!an!imperial!prince.!
only!close!her!eyes!a!little!while.!Only!a!little!while...!
"I'll!kill!him!for!you!TouyaDkun!"!exclaimed!Nakuru.!
!
Touya's!eye!twitched.!
!
"Akizuki?"!
!
"Hai,!TouyaDkun?"!
!
"How!do!you!plan!to!get!Sakura!back!when!he's!dead?"!
!
"I..."!
!
"We!capture!him.!Alive."!
!
"No!problem!!I!can!do!that."!
!
Touya!rubbed!his!temple.!This!woman.!He!reverently!uncovered!their!
! katanas.!
! "Oh!and!TouyaDkun?"!
! "Yes&Akizuki."!
! "When!are!you!going!to!start!calling!me!Nakuru?"!she!asked.!"Akizuki!
! is!for!strangers."!
! "When!we!get!married."!
! "So!we're!really!going!toD!"!
! "No."!
! "Mou"TouyaDkun!"!
! He!handed!Nakuru!her!sword!and!instantly!she!became!serious.!It!was!
! startling.!Her!eyes!even!lightened!to!a!rich!shade!of!red.!This!was!the!
! Shinobi!men!feared.!Touya!suppressed!a!grin.!
! !
! Syaoran! needed! time! to! think.! He! could! not! lead! an! assault! on! the!
Forbidden!City.!Yue!assured!him!that!it!would!be!suicide.!Yet!he!could!
! not!leave!Sakura!there.!He!made!her!a!promise.!Now!he!had!to!keep!it!
! no!matter!what.!Who!would!think!that!he!would!be!in!such!a!position?!
! Things!could!not!possibly!get!any!worst.!

195! 196!
A! flash! of! silver.! Syaoran! released! his! jian! and! blocked! in! one!
movement.!He!glared!at!the!man!in!front!of!him.!Only!dark!eyes!were!
visible.!Another!attacked!his!side.!He!blocked!again.!He!jumped!away!
from!the!ambush.!Were!these!Lu!Sheng's!men?!No."They"held"katanas."
Japanese?!
In! a! whirl! of! pure! white,! Yue! was! fighting! at! Syaoran's! side.! The!
sudden!appearance!of!the!man!made!Syaoran!less!vulnerable.!The!two!
attackers! lept! back! and! sheated! their! swords.! The! taller! of! the! two!
stood!in!front.!
"Identify!yourselves,"!said!Syaoran.!
The! shorter! attacker! repeated! what! he! said! in! Japanese.! At! first,!
Syaoran! thought! he! was! being! mocked! but! then! the! same! one!
translated!what!the!other!was!saying!to!Chinese.!
"We!are!bringers!of!death,"!was!the!reply.!"But!you!could!live!if!we!get!
what!we!want."!
Syaoran!glared.!
"And!that!would!be?"!
"Something!you!stole!from!me."!
"You!accuse!the!Great"Imperial"Son"of!theft,"!said!Yue.!
The!taller!attacker!placed!his!hand!on!his!sword!hilt.!
"I!don't!care!how!great!you!consider!him!to!be;!you!are!all!the!same."!
He!looked!directly!at!Syaoran.!
"I!want!Kinomoto!Sakura."!
Syaoran's!grip!tightened!on!his!sword.!
"Why?"!
The!shorter!attacker!ripped!the!face!covering!off.!
"Because!she's!family!"!
"A!woman?"!asked!Yue!as!he!looked!at!Nakuru.!
"Yes!! I! am! Akizuki! Nakuru! and! if! you! don't! give! TouyaDchan! back! his!
sister,! blood! is! going! to! be! spilled!! And! no! blood! looks! better! on! the!
ground!than!imperial!pigs'!so!D"!
Touya! wacked! her! over! the! head! with! the! length! of! his! sheathed!
sword.!
"Mou!TouyaDkun!"!
Touya!sighed.!That!woman.!He!revealed!his!face!to!Syaoran!and!Yue.!
"We!can!resolve!this!peacefully.!You!have!many!women!I!am!sure.!Give!
197!
me!back!my!little!sister."!
Syaoran's!jian!fell!from!his!hands.!He!looked!away.!
"Right!now,!I!wish"I!had!her!to!give!to!you,"!he!said!in!Japanese.!
Touya's! eyes! widened! briefly! as! his! native! tongue! emerged! from! the!
prince's!lips.!
"What!do!you!mean?"!asked!Touya.!
As!Syaoran!told!him!of!the!seige!on!the!palace!Touya!became!more!and!
more!upset.!Why!did!he!not!know!of!this?!Was!he!slipping?!
"I!don't!know!if!she's!even...!alive."!
"She's!alive."!
"How!do!you!know?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"I!would!have!felt!it!if!she!wasn't,"!answered!Touya!softly.!
"I!will"get!her!back!"!said!Syaoran.!
"I&will!get!her!back,"!said!Touya.!
"She!is!my"concubine."!
"A!fancy!name!for!sex!slave."!
The!two!men!glared!coldly!at!each!other.!Nakuru!tried!to!engage!Yue!
in!a!glaring!match!as!well!but!was!disappointed!at!his!lack!of!response.!
"She!means!more!to!me!than!just!that,"!said!Syaoran.!
"So!you!touched"her!you!bastard?"!
Touya! charged! at! Syaoran,! his! blade! already! drawn.! Nakuru! followed!
behind! him.! The! men! and! woman! battled! each! other! unremittingly.!
The!passion,!worry!and!exertion!though,!quickly!exhausted!Touya!and!
Syaoran.!
"I!don't!want!to!have!to!kill!you,"!said!Syaoran.!"Sakura!will!be!sad."!
"Don't!say"her"name"GAKI!"!said!a!furious!Touya.!
"Fighting! over! someone! neither! of! you! has! is! pointless,"! said! Yue,!
folding!his!arms.!"Call!a!truce.!If!we!retrieve!the!concubine!then!fight!
all!you!want!for!her."!
"The! concubine! has! a! name,"! muttered! Touya.! "But! fine!! I! will! do!
anything! to! get! Sakura! back,! even! if! it! means! putting! a! rapist! on! a!
throne!"!
That!remark!almost!sparked!another!fight!but!Syaoran!and!Touya!had!
enough! for! the! night.! Walking! back! to! the! army! campsite,! Syaoran!
wondered! if! he! should! really! let! Sakura! go! when! he! got! her! back.! He!
could! not! kill! Touya! D! he! knew! she! cared! about! him! greatly.! Syaoran!
198!
made!his!way!to!his!tent!with!Yue,!Touya!and!Nakuru!following!all!the! "Yes."!
while.!Eriol!joined!them!there.! Sakura! was! surprised! to! see! that! Sheng! seemed! as! uncomfortable! as!
"You!want!to!take!her!to!Japan?"!Syaoran!asked!Touya.! her.!He!grimaced!slightly.!
"Naturally,"!replied!Touya.!"It's!her!home.!It's!where!she!belongs."! "Harmless!!You!take!her."!
"And!what!will!be!her!life!then?"!asked!Eriol,!who!quickly!understood! Sheng! buried! his! head! in! his! work! again.! Harmless! stared!
the! situation.! "She's! a! concubine.! What! man! will! make! her! his! wife! incredulously!at!Sheng!for!a!moment.!Then!with!a!shake!of!his!head,!he!
now?"! beckoned! Sakura! to! follow! him.! The! Forbidden! City! was! unchanged.!
Touya!gave!Eriol!a!lethal!stare.! Everything! had! been! ordered! again! and! that! was! the! eerie! part! of! Lu!
Sheng's! conquest.! The! way! everyone! went! about! their! duties,! you!
"She!has!me."!
would!think!that!the!true!emperor!of!China!had!not!been!killed.!
"You're"going!to!marry!her?"!
"SakuraDchan!"!
He!glared!at!Eriol.!
Sakura!smiled!as!Tomoyo!hugged!her!tightly.!
"Let's!just!figure!out!what!we!have!to!do!so!I!can!get!my!sister!back."!
"TomoyoDchan.!I'm!so!glad!you're!alright."!
!
"We!all!are,"!she!said!indicating!Kaho!and!her!children.!"For!now."!
Lu!Sheng!was!at!his!desk!the!entire!morning,!reading!through!a!stack!
Sakura!greeted!everyone.!Han!grinned!broadly!up!at!her.!
of! old! scrolls! and! books.! Sakura! wanted! to! say! something! but! she!
dared!not!disturb!him.!His!long!locks!of!hair!hid!his!face!partially!from! "Where's!MeilinDsan!and!HuaDLingDsan?"!
her!so!she!could!not!see!his!expression.! "We!don't!know,"!said!Tomoyo!sadly.!"After!Huangdi!carried!you!away,!
Harmless! entered! the! room! and! even! though! she! should! not,! Sakura! we!were!all!separated!on!his!orders."!
found!she!was!more!at!ease!with!him!there.!Chiharu!brought!a!bowl!of! Sakura! nodded.! She! glimpsed! Harmless'! inconspicious! figure! in! a!
fruits!for!Sheng.!Sakura!longed!to!run!to!her!but!the!maidservant!kept! corner!and!remembered!why!she!was!there.!She!pulled!Tomoyo!aside.!
her!head!down!and!left!the!room!quickly.! "What's!bothering!you!SakuraDchan?"!
"Sakura,"!Sheng!said,!his!eyes!still!focused!on!his!papers.!"Do!you!want! Sakura!looked!down!in!shame.!Tomoyo!touched!her!chin.!
some?"!
"You!can!tell!me!anything.!We're!best!friends."!
Sakura! wrinkled! her! nose! at! the! strong! scent! of! the! fruits.! She! could!
"Yes,"!Sakura!said.!"You're!right."!
smell!them!clearly!from!where!she!sat.!Her!stomach!turned.!
She!took!a!deep!breath.!
"No!thank!you."!
"Something's! really! wrong! with! me!"! she! said! tentatively.! "I've!
Sakura!bit!her!lower!lip.!
noticed...! I've! stopped...! well! you! know!! It's! been! a! month! and! I!
"Huangdi?"! haven't..."!
"Yes!Sakura."! Tomoyo's!eyes!widened.!
"May!D!may!I!see!TomoyoDchan?!Please?"! "I!know."It's!so"strange!!And!I'm!so!tired!all!the!time."!Sakura!yawned.!
Sheng!turned!to!her.! "And!hungry!"!
"Why?"! Tomoyo!took!Sakura's!hands!in!her!own.!
Sakura!shifted.! "You're!not!sick!SakuraDchan."!
"It's!D!it's!a!..."! "I'm!not?!Are!you!sure?!How!do!you!know?"!
She!blushed.! Tomoyo!glanced!at!Harmless.!She!hugged!Sakura!and!whispered!in!her!
"It's!a!woman's!issue."! ears.!

199! 200!
"You're!having!a!baby."!
Sakura!gasped.!
"I'm!so!happy!for!you!SakuraDchan!"!
She!pulled!away!and!indeed!her!face!was!beaming.!
"You!can't!let!them"know,"!she!told!Sakura.!"That!would!be!dangerous.!
Promise!me!you'll!stay!safe."!
Sakura!was!in!a!daze.!
"...!I!promise..."!
! attractive!you!are.!How!your!touch!is!addictive.!How!you're!meant!to!
Sakura!could!not!believe!another!life!was!inside!her.!She!did!not!know!
anything! about! being! a! mother.! What's! more,! Syaoran! was! not! there.!
What!would!Sheng!do!if!he!found!out!she!was!having!Syaoran's!child?!
She!felt!so!helpless.!Sakura!put!a!hand!to!her!flat!stomach.!
"Don't!worry!little!one,"!she!said!to!it.!"I'll!figure!something!out."!
She! felt! a! presence! behind! her.! Turning! around! she! saw! it! was! Lu!
Sheng.! He! was! looking! at! her,! an! odd! expression! on! his! face.! Did! he!
hear!her!just!now?!She!swallowed!hard!as!he!sat!next!to!her.!He!stared!
at! her! and! Sakura! thought! she! was! surely! in! trouble.! He! stroked! her!
cheek!with!his!finger.!
"I! want! a! bath,"! he! said! abruptly.! "You've! bathed! Xiao! Lang! before!
haven't!you?"!
Sheng's!eyes!held!her!to!the!spot.!Finally!Sakura!nodded.!
"Follow!me."!
At!the!bath!house,!Sheng!entered!the!water!before!Sakura.!She!stared!
at! her! feet! as! he! did! so.! She! had! outgrown! her! fear! with! Syaoran! but!
now! she! was! here! with! Lu! Sheng.! She! secured! her! towel! for! the!
millionth!time.!
"Come!Sakura."!
She! took! up! the! washcloth! and! fragrance.! Slowly! she! went! over! to!
Sheng! and! kneeled! beside! him.! She! shifted! to! sit! behind! him! but! he!
grabbed!her!arm.!
"You!didn't!wear!a!towel!when!you!were!with!Xiao!Lang,!did!you?"!
Sakura!blushed.!Sheng!raised!an!eyebrow.!
"You!did."!
He!smiled.!
"Continue."!
201!
Sheng! pulled! his! long! hair! across! his! shoulder.! Sakura! massaged! the!
washcloth! into! his! back.! By! now! Syaoran! would! be! leaning! back! into!
her!but!Sheng!sat,!back!perfectly!straight!from!the!beginning.!She!even!
washed!his!hair!tenderly!and!he!seemed!unaffected.!When!she!finished!
they! sat! together! in! silence.! The! water! was! still.! She! watched! as! his!
back!dried!on!its!own.!
"He!loves!you,"!said!Sheng!faintly.!
Sakura!stared!at!the!back!of!his!head.!
"You're! one! of! those! women,"! he! told! her.! "You! don't! know! how!
be!loved!by!men."!
Sheng! turned! and! at! last! there! was! a! slight! ripple! in! the! water.! He!
looked!Sakura!in!the!eye.!
"Even! Harmless! behaves! differently! around! you.! I! think! you! unnerve!
him.!Can!you!believe!that?"!
Sheng!laughed.!
"So!Sakura,!what's!your!flaw?"!
"ID!I'm!afraid!of!ghosts."!
Lu!Sheng!laughed!again.!
"I! think! we'll! see! Syaoran! before! the! day! is! over! Sakura.! We're! done!
here.!You!can!leave."!
!
"How!do!you!know!threatening!her!life!won't!have!a!negative!effect?"!
Enlai!asked!Lu!Sheng.!"It!could!just!piss!him!off!more."!
"I!feel!it,"!said!Sheng.!"Greater!men!than!Xiao!Lang!have!fallen!because!
of! a! woman.! Wars! have! been! raged! because! of! them;! emperors! have!
lost!empires."!
"And! you're! an! emperor! now,! with! an! empire! to! lose,"! said! Enlai.!
"You're!willing!to!delve!into!dark!magic!again?"!
"You!nag!like!a!spoiled!wife!Enlai!!I!cannot!defeat!him!otherwise.!We!
are!matched."!
"No!one!who's!gone!as!far!as!you!has!ever!kept!himself."!
Enlai!glanced!at!Harmless.!
"Who!knows!who!Harmless!was!once,"!he!said.!"Now!he!picks!a!master!
and! follows! orders.! He! is! a! shell! of! power.! Nothing! more.! His! only!
desires!are!your!own.!You're!risking!too!much!Huangdi."!
Lu!Sheng!braided!his!hair!as!he!mulled!over!Enlai's!words.!
202!
"I've!studied!this!for!years,"!he!said.!"I!will!not!fail.!Besides!I!may!not!
need!to!use!it.!Syaoran!will"fall!before!me!today."!
Enlai! frowned.! He! was! becoming! too! attached! to! his! little! 'family'.! Lu!
Sheng's!eyes!glowed!red!fleetingly.!He!shivered.!
"What's!with!the!eyes!of!you!people?"!he!muttered.!
Lu!Sheng!blinked!and!the!normal!red!hue!returned.!
"It's!just!a!trait!some!of!us!in!the!City!have,"!said!Sheng.!"When!we!are!
overwhelmed! with! emotion.! At! that! time,! that's! all! we! really! are! D!
emotion.!It's!when!we've!lost!all!control!Yongzheng!said.!But!I!believe!
it's!when!we!are!at!our!greatest."!
Lu!Sheng!flicked!his!braid!behind!him.!
"Yongzheng! use! to! make! us! learn! how! to! be! stoic;! to! not! be! led! by!
emotions.!Xiao!Lang!and!I!were!the!worst!students.!Yue,!the!best."!
"What!are!you!planning!to!do!with!his!brother?"!
"Turn!him!to!my!side,"!said!Sheng.!
"And! the! Empress?! She! has! done! what! you! asked.! Xiao! Lang! cannot!
enter!here."!
"Her"fate!is!still!unclear."!
"You're!such!a!mystic."!
One! of! the! officials! Lu! Sheng! had! left! alive! burst! into! the! room! and!
dropped!to!the!floor.!
"Huangdi!! The! Great! ImperiD! Xiao! Lang! is! in! front! of! the! Forbidden!
City."!
Sheng!turned!to!Enlai.!
"Told!you."!
!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Renshu.!"This!is!stupid.!What's!to!stop!Lu!Sheng!from!
shooting!us!all!down?"!
"Yue!will!protect!us."!
"All!of!us?"!
"He!said!so."!
Renshu!made!a!derisive!sound.!He!nodded!to!the!tall!poles!outside!the!
City!walls.!
"We'll!be!there!next!if!you!don't!stop!this!foolishness."!
Syaoran! stared! at! the! heads! displayed! on! the! poles.! He! could! not! tell!
which! one! was! Huangdi.! The! rancid! smell! of! rotting! flesh! wafted! to!
them!on!a!breeze!every!now!and!then.!The!large!gates!of!the!Forbidden!
City! began! to! open.! Syaoran! kicked! his! horse! forward.! On! his! right!
203!
were!Renshu,!Lei!and!Eriol.!On!his!left!Yue,!Touya!and!Nakuru.!
Lu! Sheng! stood! before! them! in! immaculate! yellow! clothes.! Syaoran!
wanted!to!punch!Sheng!in!his!smug!face!but!he!felt!the!barrier!against!
him.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Sheng!in!a!superior!voice.!"I!want!to!lie!and!say!'What!
a!surprise!'!but!it!really!isn't."!
A! light! breeze! blew! and! a! few! wisps! of! Sheng's! hair! blew! across! his!
face,!obscuring!it.!His!eyes!taunted!Syaoran!like!no!others!ever!did.!
"What! do! you! want?"! asked! Sheng.! "Surely! you're! not! planning! an!
ambush!of!six!men...!and!a!woman!"!
"I'm!here!on!diplomatic!terms.!You!have!what!you!want,"!said!Syaoran.!
"Show!some!mercy!and!release!the!Empress.!Only!then!will!I!allow"you!
to!keep!the!throne."!
"What?"!cried!Renshu.!
"So!me!being!Huangdi,!is!because!you!are!allowing!it!"!
Lu!Sheng!laughed.!
"I!see.!But!are!you!sure!its!the!Empress!you!want?"!
He!looked!behind!him!and!someone!stepped!forward.!
"Or!is!it!her?"!
Sheng!held!Sakura!in!front!of!him.!His!expression!was!challenging.!
"Isn't! the! person! you! really! want,! your! woman! Sakura?"! he! asked.! "If!
Yongzheng!could!see!you!now."!
Syaoran!gripped!his!reins.!
"She!is!a!foreigner.!She!poses!no!threat!to!you.!Let!her!go."!
"The!way!you!speak,!you!still!believe!you!are!somebody,"!said!Sheng.!
"As! for! the! threat,! it's! amazing! you! haven't! realized! she! has! strong!
magic.!But!I!suppose!you!were!busy!seeking!out!her!other!qualities."!
"Magic?"!Syaoran!spun!around!to!face!Eriol.!"Did!you!know?"!
"Yes."!
"When!were!you!planning!on!telling!me?"!
"When!the!time!was!right."!
"Is"the"time"right"now?"!asked!Syaoran!heatedly.!
Sheng!held!a!blade!to!Sakura's!neck.!Syaoran's!nightmare!was!fresh!in!
his!mind.!Magician's!dreams!were!sometimes!prophecies.!It!was!basic!
knowledge.!Syaoran!knew!he!was!going!to!regret!this!but!he!wanted!to!
know.!
204!
"What!do!you!want?"!he!now!asked!Sheng.!
"Forfeit!your!powers!and!kowtow!before!me,"!said!Sheng.!"Do!this!and!
I!will!release!your!precious"Sakura."!
"Don't! even! think! about!"! said! Renshu! to! Syaoran.! "You! shame! our!
father!if!you!do."!
"Do!it!"!said!Touya.!"Do!it!or!I!swear!I'll!kill!you!right!here!"!
"Don't! Xiao! Lang,"! said! Eriol.! "You! cannot! survive! the! poison! without!
your!magic.!You!will!die."!
Sakura!stared!at!her!brother.!How!did!he!come!to!be!here?!She!thought!
she! would! never! see! him! again.! The! happiness! in! her! was! emptied!
when!a!cold!blade!made!contact!with!her!neck.!Syaoran!sat!frozen!on!
his!horse.!Would!he!really!do!what!Sheng!wanted!to!save!her?!
"Would!you!be!happy!if!he!gives!up!everything!for!you?"!Sheng!asked.!
"That! would! mean! he! loves! you! and! women! have! always! wanted! his!
love."!
Sakura! did! not! know! how! she! would! feel.! She! carried! his! child,! she!
wanted!to!be!loved!but!Syaoran!did!not!know!these!things.!
"He! won't! do! it,"! said! Sakura.! "He! would! never! bow! before! you.! Xiao!
Lang!is!a!Crown!Prince!and!I!am!a!concubine."!
"Let's! bet! your! life! on! it,"! whispered! Sheng.! He! sighed.! "I! think! we!
should!speed!up!his!thinking,!don't!you?"!
He!pulled!Sakura!closer!to!his!body!and!captured!her!lips!in!a!kiss.!She!
struggled! against! him! but! he! squeezed! her! around! the! stomach.! She!
shuddered.! Everyone's! stares! burned! into! her! face.! Her! cheeks! were!
flushed.!
The! air! was! still! and! deadly.! Syaoran! nails! bit! into! the! palm! of! his!
hands.!Smoothly,!he!slid!from!his!horse's!back.!
"You!idiot!"!screamed!a!furious!Renshu.!"She's!one!damn!woman!"!
"Xiao!Lang,!think!about!what!you're!doing!"!said!Eriol.!
Harmless! walked! up! to! him! with! a! yellowed! scroll! in! his! hands.!
Throwing! it! into! the! air,! it! lengthened! and! encircled! Syaoran,!
obscuring!his!form.!There!was!a!bright!flash!of!light.!Syaoran!cried!out!
sending! shivers! up! their! spines.! Then! the! scroll! shortened! and!
returned!to!Harmless.!Syaoran!fell!weakly!to!his!knees.!
He! gripped! his! right! shoulder! as! blood! flowed! from! it.! Sakura's! body!
shook.!
"What!did!you!do?"!she!asked!Sheng!in!horror.!
205!
Syaoran!approached!them,!swaying!slightly.!
"Let!her!go!Sheng."!
"Kowtow."!
"I!have!already!been!stripped!of!my!magic,"!said!Syaoran.!"Let!her!go.!I!
am!asking!you."!
His! expression! wavered! between! hate! and! pleas.! Sheng! smiled.! He!
gave!Sakura!a!push!and!she!stumbled!towards!Syaoran.!
"Come!kaiju!"!Touya!called.!
In!another!time,!she!would!have!obeyed!unquestioningly!even!though!
she!was!angry!with!the!nickname.!Instead!she!took!Syaoran's!face!into!
her!hands.!
"I! told! you! I'd! save! you,"! said! Syaoran.! His! voice! was! raspy.! "Now!
return!to!Japan!with!your!brother."!
Sakura!threw!her!arms!around!him.!
"I!can't!leave!you."!
"You!can!Sakura,"!he!said.!
"Saku...!ra?"!
"Go!quickly,"!said!Syaoran.!"Sheng!would!not!keep!his!word."!
Touya!pulled!on!Sakura's!arm.!She!resisted.!
"No!"!she!cried.!"OniiDchan,!wait.!Please!"!
But!even!as!she!yelled,!she!and!Syaoran!grew!further!apart.!He!stood!
in! a! growing! pool! of! his! own! blood.! Reluctantly,! he! dropped! to! the!
ground! to! pay! respect! to! the! new! Huangdi.! With! a! flick! of! his! hand,!
Sheng!flipped!Syaoran's!body!over.!He!looked!down!at!Syaoran.!
"I!should!kill!you!now,"!he!said.!"But!Yongzheng!already!died!a!quick!
death.!Why!should!you!too,!when!my!fathered!suffered!from!poisoning!
for!so!long."!
Syaoran!opened!his!mouth!trying!to!breathe.!
"I!wish!you!a!slow!death!my!cousin,"!said!Sheng.!"But!descend!into!hell"
quickly."!
!
Sakura!rocked!back!and!forth.!Her!situation!felt!so!hopeless.!How!was!
she!to!face!Touya?!She!hugged!her!middle.!How!could!she!leave!China!
without!Syaoran!knowing?!Her!lips!trembled.!
"I'm!sorry!little!one,"!she!whispered.!
"You're!pregnant."!
206!
She! spun! around! in! shock.! Yue! towered! over! her.! His! gaze! was!
piercing.!Sakura!closed!her!eyes!as!tears!flowed!down!her!cheeks.!She!
clutched!Yue's!leg!looking!for!comfort.!He!did!not!give!it!to!her!but!he!
did!not!stop!her.!
"What! am! I! going! to! do?"! she! asked! between! her! sobs.! "I'm! not! a!
concubine!anymore.!I'm!just!an!unmarried!woman!with!a!child."!
She!cried!even!harder.!
"Stop!crying,"!commanded!Yue.!
He!held!out!his!hand.!Sakura!took!it!and!he!pulled!her!to!her!feet.!
"Is!it!Xiao!Lang's?"!
Sakura!gasped.!Yue's!face!was!dead!serious.!Her!cheeks!reddened.!
"Of!course!it!is!!He's...!I've!only!ever!been...!with!him."!
"Then! do! not! fear,"! said! Yue! who! seemed! relieved.! "If! he! does! not!
survive,!I'll!take!care!of!you."!
"What!do!you!mean?"!asked!Sakura.!
"Xiao! Lang! gave! up! his! magic.! He! cannot! fight! Lu! Sheng's! poison!
without!it,"!answered!Yue.!"If!Eriol!cannot!heal!him,!he!will!die."!
Yue!caught!Sakura!as!her!legs!gave!out.!
"I!want!to!see!him,"!she!murmured.!
They!found!Eriol!hovering!over!Syaoran.!A!magic!circle!shone!beneath!
them.! Sakura! held! onto! Yue's! arm.! She! had! long! grown! use! to! seeing!
Syaoran's! body! and! she! could! never! have! imagined! it! to! be! in! such! a!
state.!
Blood!soaked!the!bandage!that!covered!his!left!shoulder.!Running!from!
it!were!long!black!and!green!veins.!It!was!spreading!all!over!his!body.!
His!skin!was!sallow.!Only!one!word!came!to!her!mind:!Decay.!How!can!
someone!be!alive!in!this!condition?!
His! head! rolled! to! the! side! and! he! saw! her.! Eriol! put! a! hand! over! the!
bandage!and!Syaoran!weakly!brought!a!hand!up!to!stop!him.!He!shook!
his!head.!
"Xiao!Lang,!I!can!do!this."!
Again,!Syaoran!shook!his!head.!He!looked!at!Sakura.!
"Leave!us,"!he!said.!
His!voice!was!distorted.!Wordlessly!Eriol!left!the!tent.!It!was!clear!he!
was!angry.!Yue!nudged!Sakura!in!Syaoran's!direction!and!left!as!well.!
She!knelt!at!his!side!and!held!his!hand.!They!were!on!fire!but!Syaoran!
shivered.!
"Not!your!fault,"!said!Syaoran.!
207!
Sakura's!eyes!burned.!She!had!never!seen!anyone!die.!At!least!not!like!
this.!She!did!not!want!to!see!Syaoran!in!this!pathetic!and!sad!state.!His!
breathing! was! quite! slow! and! shallow.! She! prayed! to! every! god! she!
knew!because!surely!they!would!save!a!prince.!She!held!his!hand.!
He!drew!her!hand!to!his!lips!and!kissed!it.!Each!time!his!body!spasmed!
he!would!grip!her!hand!tighter.!He!breathed!peacefully!for!some!time!
and! Sakura! relaxed.! She! thought,! everything! will! be! alright;! her! own!
little!spell.!Then!Syaoran!began!to!cough!violently.!Blood!spurted!from!
his!cracked!lips.!Sakura!sat!in!shock.!Her!legs!were!covered!with!blood!
that!flowed!from!his!wound.!
"...!Sakura,"!he!moaned!quietly.!
"Xiao!Lang?"!she!whimpered.!
She!blinked!rapidly.!She!waited!for!his!chest!to!rise.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!she!called.!"Open!your!eyes."!
"Xiao!Lang!"!
She!shook!him.!
"Please!D!?"!
She! put! her! arm! around! his! waist! and! lay! down! beside! him.! She! was!
numb.! He! was! not! breathing.! Was! this! what! he! meant! when! he! said!
that!magic!caused!more!problems!than!it!solved?!
"I'll! learn! how! to! control! magic,"! said! Sakura! her! cheeks! wet! with!
tears.!"Then!I'll!be!able!to!do!anything.!Then!no!one!will!ever!be!hurt!
like!father!was!when!OkaaDsan!died;!like!I!am!now."!
Then!she!heard!it.!Syaoran's!heart!beat.!Sakura!gasped.!He!was!alive!!
Hurriedly,!she!pulled!him!onto!her!lap.!The!only!thing!on!her!mind!was!
that!he!must!live.!Sakura!placed!her!hands!on!Syaoran's!chest.!A!magic!
circle!appeared!beneath!them.!
The! tent! was! flooded! with! light.! Far! away! a! golden! beast! roared.!
Sakura! and! Syaoran's! body! were! luminous.! As! his! body! grew! darker,!
hers!became!paler.!Sakura's!head!dipped!more!than!once.!She!was!so!
tired.! She! fell! onto! her! back! limply.! Yue! and! Eriol! rushed! up! to! the!
couple.!
"Silly!woman!"!said!Eriol.!"She!tried!to!heal!him.!But!she!can't!control!
her!magic."!
"Hurry!and!do!what!you!must,"!said!Yue.!"She's!pregnant."!
"What?"!
The! two! men! faced! a! speechless! Syaoran.! The! once! conscious! prince!
passed!out.!
208!
Chapter 14
The"Second"Half"of"A"Place"Called"The"Forbidden"City"starts"now!"^_^!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
The!vicious!tang!in!Syaoran's!mouth!was!as!bitter!as!he!felt.!When!he!
was! young,! Wei! told! him! that! all! things! change! and! that! we! change!
with!them.!Then!Yongzheng!in!his!infinite!wisdom!told!Syaoran!to!take!
comfort! in! the! fact! that! one! thing! was! forever! constant! D! the! natural!
order!of!all!under!Heaven.!As!usual,!Wei!was!right.!
Yet!here!was!Kinomoto!Touya,!whose!sudden!appearance!cemented!in!
Syaoran's!mind!that!his!life!was!forever!changed.!The!natural!order!of!
things! was" changing.! The! Forbidden! City! was! a! place! so! rigid! that!
Syaoran! never! thought! it! could! be! overthrowed! D! at! least! not! so!
quickly.!
Could!it!be!divine!intervention?!Could!all!this!mean!that!Lu!Sheng!was!
the! rightful! ruler! to! the! throne?! Were! the! gods! trying! to! tell! him,!
Syaoran! something?! Strange.! He! always! worshipped! them! and! his!
ancestors!but!did!he!even!believe!in!the!gods?!What!did"he!believe!in?!
Syaoran! had! always! thought! himself! to! be! strong! but! right! now! his!
insides!were!unraveling.!
The!chill!of!the!night!licked!at!his!flesh,!numbing!his!more!than!willing!
mind.! Touya! and! the! woman! Nakuru! were! becoming! restless.! What!
could!Syaoran!say!to!them?!He!was!uncertain!but!here!he!was!leading!
them.!He!always!knew!what!to!do.!What!was!different!this!time?!
"So! what! does! this! Lu! Sheng! want?"! asked! Touya! breaking! the!
teetering!silence.!
"He!wants!the!throne,"!said!Syaoran!shortly.!He!ground!his!teeth!as!a!
short! burst! of! anger! swelled! inside! him.! "He! thinks! he" is! the! true!
emperor!and!wants!my!father's!line!to!end."!
"Why?"!
"He!believes!my!father!killed!his!father!for!it,"!explained!Syaoran.!
He! scoffed! and! a! smirk! slid! across! his! serious! face.! Syaoran! thought!
about! all! the! transgressions! of! which! Yongzheng! was! guilty;! all! that!
would!be!forgiven!because!he!was!the!Son!of!Heaven.!
"Knowing!my!father,!he!probably!did.!Li!Yongzheng!D!a!murderer!with!
a!title."!
"Xiao!Lang,"!said!Yue!lowly.!"Do!not!dishonour!him."!
"Or! what?"! Syaoran! bit! out! harshly.! "Doesn't! it! bother"you?! It's! not! a!
stranger!who!wants!us!dead.!It's!our!family.!My!cousin.!It!always!is!"!
209!
"You're! suffering! Xiao! Lang,"! said! Yue.! "Do! not! speak! when! you! are!
angry."!
"I'll!speak!if!it!pleases!me!!Remember!your!place!Yue."!
Nakuru! softly! translated! to! Touya! what! had! been! said! between! him!
and!Yue.!Syaoran!regretted!the!exchange.!It!was!not!wise!to!appear!so!
divided!among!outsiders.!
"Eriol,"!he!said!composing!himself.!"Give!me!your!counsel."!
"Talk!to!him."!
"What?"!
"It's!not!a!difficult!concept,"!said!Eriol!in!a!patronizing!tone.!
Syaoran! hardened! his! features! dangerously! in! warning.! Respect! was!
sorely!lacking!tonight.!
"Let's!talk!to!Lu!Sheng."!
"About?"!
"Nothing!in!particular,"!answered!Eriol.!"Just!talk!to!him!until!he!asks!
you!to!forfeit!your!magic."!
Yue!glanced!at!Eriol.!Touya!too!was!surprised!by!this!piece!of!advice.!It!
was! madness.! What! magician! would! do! such! a! thing?! Syaoran!
seriously!debated!strangling!Eriol.!
"I'm!not!letting!Lu!Sheng!strip!me!of!my!magic!!I'll!die!without!it!"!
"Without!it!you'll!be!able!to!enter!the!palace,"!said!Eriol.!"The!barrier!
senses! your! magic! and! stops! you! from! entering.! That! is! how! the!
Empress!and!I!designed!it.!I'm!sure!Sheng!must!have!had!her!rebuild!it!
against!us."!
"And! what! then?"! asked! Syaoran.! "Walk! in! and! be! shot! through! the!
head?!Besides!the!poison!will!take!me!long!before!I'm!able!to!do!even!
that."!
"I'll!heal!you,"!said!Eriol.!"I!may!not!be!my!father!Clow!but!I!will!heal!
you."!
"You! seem! eager! for! me! to! do! this,"! said! Syaoran! suspiciously.! "Why!
should!I!make!myself!vulnerable!like!that?"!
"You!want!the!throne!don't!you?"!
Eriol! slipped! his! glasses! up! the! bridge! of! his! nose! with! such! enigma,!
Syaoran!braced!himself.!
"No.! That's! not! enough! for! you.! You! do! not! desire! it! like! Renshu."! He!
smiled!devilishly.!"How!about!Sakura?!Surely!you!want!her"back?!Who!
else!is!worthy!of!your!attention!now!that!Huangdi's!passed!on?"!
210!
Syaoran!was!about!to!toss!a!nasty!retort!when!he!caught!Touya's!eyes!
fixed!on!him.!There!was!something!about!the!eyes!of!Kinomoto's!that!
gave!you!pause.!What!defense!could!be!mustered!against!them?!
Syaoran! felt! like! he! was! trapped! within! the! deadly! hug! of! the! snake.!
The!throne!was!a!matter!of!principal!but!what!of!Sakura?!Did!he!care!
that!much!he!would!give!up!his!magic?!In!honesty,!it!unsettled!him!to!
be!defenseless!like!that.!
"What! would! you! do?"! Syaoran! was! desperate! to! know! Touya's!
opinion.!"If!you!were!an!imperial!prince?!If!you!were!me?!Would!you!
give! up! your! magic! for! her?! Sure! you! may! get! it! back! but...! can! one!
woman!be!that!important?"!
Nakuru's! enthusiastic! translation! made! Syaoran's! words! sound! less!
serious! than! he! meant.! Still,! Touya! must! have! understood! for! there!
was!no!amusement!present!in!his!aura.!The!air!was!still!for!far!too!long!
and!Syaoran's!hands!itched!to!shake!a!response!from!the!man.!
"Sakura's!place!in!your!life!is!for!you!to!decide,"!said!Touya!without!a!
drop!of!emotion.!"I!would!do!anything!for!Sakura.!She!is!my!sister!and!
I!love!her."!
He!spoke!quietly!but!his!voice!grew!more!passionate!as!he!continued.!
"I!know!you!may!not!understand!my!love!for!my!sister.!It!is!taught!that!
women!are!lesser!than!men.!But!my!fD!someone!taught!me!differently.!I!
live!for!that!little!kaiju."!
Touya! was! about! to! say! something! else! but! instead! he! gave! a! pained!
sigh.! Those! were! the! last! words! he! would! speak! until! he! next! saw!
Sakura.!
"Arigatou,"!said!Syaoran!in!a!show!of!comradeship.!
He!felt!lighter.!Devotion!was!something!he!knew!about.!He!also!knew!
how!to!keep!a!promise.!
"I've!made!my!decision."!
! Syaoran's! shoulders! stiffened.! Yue! folded! his! arms.! It! could! be!
The!fresh!country!breeze!gave!Syaoran's!hair!a!goodDnatured!ruffle.!He!
shifted!his!position!on!the!knobbly!branch!he!sat!on.!The!towering!tree!
overlooked! the! landscape! for! miles.! Feeling! and! seeing! things! as! a!
normal! person! certainly! paled! in! comparison! to! being! able! to! feel!
auras.!What's!more,!he!previously!had!no!fear!of!heights.!Now!he!held!
the!tree!every!so!often!when!the!wind!blew!too!hard.!
Why!was!he!in!the!tree!if!it!unnerved!him?!Simple.!He!was!hiding!from!
Sakura's! overDprotective! oniiVchan.! Some! idiot! (Eriol! most! likely)! had!
211!
informed! the! man! Sakura! was! carrying! Syaoran's! baby! and! he! went!
ballistic.! He! was! so! perplexing!! What! person! would! not! want! their!
family! to! bare! an! imperial! prince?! If! that! was! not! enough! to! damper!
the!news!of!Syaoran's!imminent!fatherhood,!in!the!short!time!he!was!
ill!Renshu!had!produced!the!edict!to!the!generals.!
"I!will!let!him!have!his!moment,"!Syaoran!murmured.!
"My!descendant,"!called!Eriol!from!below.!"Shouldn't!you!be!planning!
how!to!get!your!empire!back?"!
"GYAH!"!
Syaoran!batted!his!arms!wildly!but!lost!his!balance.!He!landed!hard!on!
his!back!in!front!of!Eriol!and!Yue.!He!glanced!swiftly!at!them.!Did!Yue's!
lips! just! twitch?! Refusing! to! be! embarrassed! Syaoran! rose! to! his! feet!
using!every!ounce!of!dignity!he!had!in!his!bones.!It!was!just!like!Eriol!
to!intrude!on!his!private!time.!
"Great!ideas!don't!just!'flutter!down!into!my!awaiting!hands'!from!the!
heavens,"! he! said! to! Eriol.! "Speaking! of! the! heavens,! why! hasn't! that!
bronze!ball!in!the!Hall!of!Harmony!fallen!and!crushed!Sheng!by!now?!
Isn't!that"how!it!works!if!the!wrong!person!ever!takes!the!throne?"!
Eriol!smiled.!
"I've! never! known! you! to! be! superstitious,! Xiao! Lang.! Or! one! who!
believed!in!Destiny."!
"I'm!not!and!I!don't.!I'm!simply!enjoying!this!brief!freedom."!The!sharp!
smell!of!burnt!pigeon!wafted!to!them!from!the!army's!camp.!Syaoran!
turned! towards! the! large! tents.! "Isn't! it! funny! that! now! I'm! not! the!
Great!Imperial!Son!I!can!do!whatever!I!want?"!
"What!are!you!saying?"!asked!Yue!cuttingly.!
"Nothing,"! replied! Syaoran.! "I'm! thinking! out! loud.! It's! my! duty! to!
defend!the!Forbidden!City!D"!
"I'm!glad!you!know!that."!
perceived!as!a!challenging!gesture!but!Syaoran!let!it!go,!though!it!was!
difficult.!
"Once!Sakura!is!awake!I'll!be!able!to!focus,"!he!told!Eriol.!"It!will!be!one!
less!burden!on!my!mind."!
"Really?"!asked!Eriol.!"Well!then,!she's!awake!"!
Syaoran!wasted!no!time!in!rushing!back!to!the!encampment.!Just!as!he!
was!upon!it,!his!run!slowed!to!a!very!quick!walk.!This!was!not!the!time!
to!appear!unconstrained!in!front!of!his!men.!They!would!think!he!was!
212!
going!soft!!It!truly!amazed!him!how!slow!he!could!walk!while!trying!to!
hurry.!For!heaven's!sake!!Reaching!Sakura's!tent,!he!was!ready!to!rip!
apart!the!opening!when!Touya!emerged.!
"What! are! you" doing! here?"! asked! Touya,! carefully! closing! the! tent!
behind!him.!
"I'm!here!to!see!my"concubine,"!said!Syaoran,!attempting!to!walk!past!
the!man.!Who!did!he!think!he!was!anyway?!
Touya!stopped!him!with!a!hand!on!the!chest.!Their!glares!clashed.!
"She's! tired,"! said! Touya.! "And! I'm! still! taking! her! back! to! Japan! once!
she's!well!enough!to!D"!
"She! bears! my! son,"! declared! Syaoran! smugly.! "Such! a! trip! will!
certainly!cause!her!to!lose!him."!
"I!promise!I!won't!shed!a!tear!D"!
"I've! heard! stories! of! women! dying" from! depression! after! the! loss! of!
their!child,"!Syaoran!said!with!a!clenched!jaw.!"You!don't!want!that!to!
happen!to!your...!loved...!kaiju,!do!you?"!
Touya! advanced! on! Syaoran.! He! drew! himself! up! to! full! height! so! he!
could!comfortably!look!down!at!the!slightly!shorter!prince.!
"You! listen! imperial! gaki.! Just! remember! that! you! don't! have! your!
magic!anymore.!You!have!no!chance!of!stopping!me."!
Some!of!the!soldiers!were!taking!notice!of!the!tension!around!the!two!
so!Touya!stepped!away!from!Syaoran.!
"Now!go!ahead!and!tell!my!sister!that!you!meant!every!word.!That!she!
will!return!to!Japan!with!her!brother."!
He! walked! off! and! Syaoran! wanted! nothing! more! than! to! break! that!
proud!back!of!his.!He!chose!however,!to!forget!Touya!for!the!moment.!
He!eagerly!pulled!back!the!tent's!opening.!
The! sound! of! unrestrained! laughter! greeted! his! ears.! Sakura's! cheeks!
were! flushed! and! her! eyes! were! bright.! Nakuru! was! doing! a! terrific!
imitation! of! Touya! sending! the! girl! into! hysterics.! When! they! caught!
sight!of!Syaoran!they!fell!silent.!
"Daijoubu?"!he!asked!Sakura.!
"I'm! fine."! She! squinted! her! eyes.! "But...! why! are! you! speaking!
Japanese?"!
"Because!I!chose!to."!
"But!you!said!I!couldn't,"!said!Sakura!in!confusion.!
"Assimilation,"!was!the!cold!explanation.!"You!adapt!to!a!place!quicker!
213!
if!you!let!go!of!your!past."!
There!was!an!awkward!pause.!
"Leave!us,"!he!told!Nakuru.!
"Fine...!"!she!exclaimed!as!she!got!up.!"Touya's!been!out!of!my!sight!for!
a!little"too!long!anyway.!See!you!later!SakuraDchan!"!
Sitting!beside!her,!Syaoran!looked!over!Sakura!like!he!was!a!physician!
himself.! Fully! satisfied! with! what! he! found,! he! leaned! back! on! his!
hands.!
"Thank! you! for! coming! for! me! Xiao! Lang,"! she! said.! "You! kept! your!
word."!
"Of!course!I!did."!
Sakura!nodded!and!bit!her!lip.!
"Ano...!Xiao!Lang.!I!D!There's!something!you!should!know."!
"I!do!know."!His!amber!eyes!held!her!green!ones.!"We!all!do."!
Sakura!gasped.!She!buried!her!face!in!her!hands.!Syaoran!stroked!her!
hair.!It!was!growing!out.!He!wondered!how!it!would!look!later!on.!He!
genuinely!liked!her!boyish!cut.!
"That's! why! Touya! was! behaving! so! strangely,"! she! whispered,! her!
voice!muffled!by!her!hands.!"I'm!so!scared!"!
"Don't!be,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!will!never!leave!you!alone...!in!shame."!
Sakura!gasped.!
"You're!not!sending!me!away?"!
"Not!anymore,"!he!said.!"I!didn't!really!want!to.!Is!that!selfish!of!me?"!
Sakura! shook! her! head! fiercely.! The! corners! of! Syaoran's! lips! curved!
slightly.!
"Yes!it!is."!
He! drew! Sakura! into! him! and! rest! his! chin! in! the! curve! of! her! slim!
neck.!It!was!so!long!since!he!touched!her.!He!should!hold!her!like!this!
more!often.!If!he!survived!Lu!Sheng,!he!would!try!harder!for!her!sake.!
How!unfortunate!she!was!to!have!met!him.!Bad!things!always!happen!
to!good!people;!and!good!things!like!Sakura!always!found!him.!
"Sakura?"!
"Hai."!
"You!don't!look!pregnant."!
"Hoe!"!
She!blushed!madly.!
214!
"But!then!again,!I'm!not!an!expert!in!these!things,"!said!Syaoran.!Then!
he!shuddered.!"In!fact,!I'd!rather!not"be!an!expert!in!these!things..."!
Sakura!giggled.!She!held!his!arms!that!encircled!her.!Syaoran!brushed!
her!cheek!with!his!lips.!
"Sakura,"!he!said,!his!breath!tickling!her!faintly.!"Lu!Sheng!didn't!hurt!
you!did!he?"!
Sakura! could! not! say! anything! bad! about! Lu! Sheng.! In! some! ways! he!
was! like! Syaoran.! When! she! did! not! reply,! Syaoran! repeated! the!
question.!She!shook!her!head.!
"No."!
"Is!that!the!truth?"!
"Hai."!
"Then!why!has!your!grip!tightened?"!
Syaoran's!eyes!bore!down!on!her!head.!
"I'm!happy!to!be!back!with!you."!
Silence.!
"Alright."!
! everything,"! said! Sheng! with! a! whisper! of! irritation! in! his! voice.! "I!
Lu! Sheng! sat! in! the! brilliance! of! his! room! studying! the! intricate!
tapestries!hanging!from!the!walls.!There!preserved,!were!the!greatest!
of!stories;!the!greatest!of!men.!The!collection!of!tapestries!throughout!
the! Forbidden! City! were! incomplete! though.! For! there! were! none! of!
his!father!and!none!of!him.!Even!Syaoran!had!a!few!at!his!age.!
Sheng!closed!his!eyes.!So!far!everything!had!gone!like!he!wanted.!That!
was!until!Syaoran!came!for!Sakura.!Lu!Sheng!was!cunning!but!he!was!
not!naive.!Syaoran!did!not!even!try!to!lash!out!when!he!kissed!Sakura.!
And"it"was"a"good"one"too,!he!thought!distractedly.!Something!was!not!
right!here.!
"I!know!that!look,"!said!Enlai!walking!into!his!quarters!with!Harmless.!
"Syaoran! succumbed! too! quickly,"! said! Sheng,! finally! voicing! his!
thoughts!to!someone.!
"But!you!said!he!will!because!of!the!woman."!
"I!said!that,"!said!Sheng.!"But!he!was!calm!about!it!all.!He!gave!up!his!
magic!so!easily.!He!kowtowed.!Why?"!
Sheng!swept!his!hair!from!his!face.!He!did!not!like!being!unable!to!see!
something!he!knew!was!quite!obvious.!
"You're! thinking! you! were! fooled! somehow?"! asked! Enlai,! flexing! his!
215!
fingers!idly.!"Does!it!matter?!Xiao!Lang!has!no!magic.!He!is!either!dead!
or! dying.! We! win.! Though! I! still! don't! understand! why! you! didn't! kill!
Yue!and!Eriol!on!the!spot."!
"Their! presence! suggested! that! I! could! not! harm! them;! not! then!
anyway,"!said!Lu!Sheng,!brushing!Enlai's!comment!out!of!the!air.!"Yue!
must!have!perfected!his!shield.!Fighting!would!have!been!a!nuisance."!
Sheng's! fingers! curled.! With! the! fluidity! of! water,! fire! ignited! on! his!
hands.! Enlai! watched! the! golden! flames! flicker! around! Lu! Sheng's!
fingertips.!Harmless!slid!down!a!wall!and!sat!crossDlegged!on!the!floor.!
Enlai!flicked!his!eyes!in!the!man's!direction.!
"Are!you!sending!Harmless!to!finish!them!off?!Or!me?"!
"Neither."!
Harmless!looked!up!sharply.!
"What?"!
"Syaoran! lives! still! and! he! is! mine,"! said! Lu! Sheng.! "Have! you!
forgotten?!I!promised!him!a!slow!death!and!it!is!only!the!beginning."!
"What!if!you're!wrong?!What!if!D"!
"I! don't! tell" you! everything! Enlai! because! you! don't! need! to! know"
never! intended! to! actually! kill! Xiao! Lang! just! yet.! I! don't! just! want! to!
destroy!his!body.!I!want!his!soul."!
Enlai!guffawed!in!amazement.!
"With!all!due!respect!Huangdi.!You're!insane."!
"People! called! my! father! insane! once,"! said! Sheng! dangerously.! "And!
now!they're!all!paying!for!it."!
Cerberus'!loud!roars!shook!the!palace.!Sheng!grimaced.!The!beast!had!
been! roaring! for! a! few! days! now.! It! was! annoying.! If! Sheng! could! kill!
him,!his!imperial!army!would!taste!tiger!meat!that!night.!
"If! you're! trying! to! provoke! him,! then! you! should! have! kept! his!
woman!"!
Sheng!looked!at!Enlai!as!if!to!say!'you!simpleton!'!
"She! will! come! to! me! herself,"! he! explained.! "And! that! will! burn!
Syaoran!more!than!all!the!fires!of!hell."!
"Why!would!she!do!that?"!
"She! was! unconscious! for! two! days! Enlai.! What! did! you! think! I! was!
doing!with!her?"!
"Do!you!really!have!to!ask,"!said!Enlai,!a!huge!grin!plastered!across!his!
216!
face.! "What!do!you!mean?"!
! "It's!Forbidden!to!have...!to!have...!any!sort!of!intimacy!while!you're..."!
Sakura!yawned!tiredly.!She!stubbornly!tried!to!rub!the!sleep!from!her! Syaoran!looked!pointedly!at!her!stomach.!Sakura!clutched!his!forearm!
eyes.!Syaoran!had!shown!up!a!while!ago!and!all!he!did!was!stare!at!her.! firmly.!
Whatever! questions! she! asked! he! answered! briefly.! He! did! seem! "But!you!want!to."!
content! though! so! she! did! not! push! him.! It! would! have! been! more! in!
"It! doesn't! matter.! I'm! not! even! supposed! here! with! you,! alone! like!
his! nature! if! he! were! somber! considering! everything! that! had!
this,"!he!said,!berating!himself.!"I!wasn't!thinking."!
happened.!
He!stood!abruptly.!
"Xiao! Lang.! I'm! sorry! about! your! father,"! she! said,! suddenly!
remembering!the!fallen!emperor.! "I'm!leaving."!
"Don't! be."! He! cleared! his! throat.! "I! was! loyal! to! Huangdi! but! I! hated! "Xiao!Lang,"!called!Sakura.!
my!father."! "Yes?"!
Sakura's! brows! creased! in! worry.! She! hugged! his! arm,! leaning! her! "You...!you!call!me!Sakura!now."!
head!against!it.! Syaoran's!expression!was!of!guilt.!
"Why?"! "Yes.!I!do,"!he!admitted!quietly.!"It's!just!a!reminder!to!myself!to!not!D!
Syaoran's! face! changed.! There! was! that! meloncholy! expression! he! well!it's!all!because!of!a!delirious!dream!I!had.!Silly!really.!Sakura!suits!
wore! when! he! let! his! guard! down.! It! detached! him! from! everything! you!better!anyway!!It!is"your!name!in!your!language."!
else! entirely.! His! shoulders! slumped.! Syaoran! blinked.! He! pulled! "Xie!Xie."!
himself!away!from!Sakura.! Syaoran!bowed!his!head.!
Her!cool!hand!touched!his!face.! "Rest!as!much!as!you!can.!Sayonara."!
"I!see!how!you!look!at!me,"!Syaoran!told!Sakura!as!he!held!her!hand.! Sakura!beamed!at!his!farewell.!
"Like!I'm!a!good!person!under!a!tough!exterior!D!the!damaged!hero!like!
those! love! stories.! But! I'm! not.! You! should! lower! your! expectations! A!few!feet!from!Sakura's!tent,!Syaoran's!eyes!lifted!to!gaze!at!the!night!
because!I'll!never!live!up!to!them!even!though!I!wish!to."! sky.! The! moon's! radiance! was! hidden! behind! a! thin! layer! of! gray!
clouds.!For!reasons!unknown!to!him!he!was!unable!to!turn!away.!The!
Sakura! pressed! her! lips! to! his.! Heat! rushed! through! Syaoran.! He! Heavens! were! so! vast,! and! men! so! small.! He! felt! small.! Was! Huangdi!
swallowed! hard! as! his! body! coped! with! the! sensation.! In! an! instant! regarding! him! with! judgemental! eyes! even! now?! Were! Syaoran's!
one! hand! was! on! the! back! of! Sakura's! head,! the! other! on! her! neck.! ancestors! disappointed! in! him?! He! shook! his! head.! He! told! Eriol! he!
Stroking! her! cheek! with! his! thumb! he! searched! her! eyes.! His! hands! would!focus.!Like!an!apparition!the!magician!appeared!beside!him.!
trembled!and!he!did!not!know!why.!
"I!can't!summon!my!jian.!I!need!a!new!sword,"!said!Syaoran!gathering!
When! their! lips! met! again! it! was! slow.! Careful.! Utterly! restrained.! himself.!
Syaoran's! every! move,! every! touch! was! deliberate! and! precise.! This!
kiss! was! important.! It! had! to! be! right.! Words! could! not! explain.! He! "I!will!find!you!a!suitable!replacement,"!said!Eriol.!
really!wanted!to!tell!Sakura!something!but!he!couldn't,!because!he!did! "Gather!the!generals,!Renshu!and!Lei.!Wake!them!if!nescessary."!
not! know! what! it! was.! She! let! out! a! shaky! breath! and! for! the! second! "As!you!wish!Great"Imperial"Son."!
time!Syaoran!pulled!away!from!her.! "No.!Don't!call!me!that,"!said!Syaoran.!
"What!is!it?"!she!asked.! "Huangdi!then?"!
"It's! Forbidden..."! murmured! Syaoran! to! himself.! His! fingertips! Syaoran!shook!his!head.!
brushed!his!lips.!
"Just!call!me!Xiao!Lang.!For!now."!
217! 218!
Eriol!raised!an!elegant!eyebrow!but!said!nothing.! The! Generals! knew! that! with! Yue,! objection! was! definitely! minimal.!
A! pale! Renshu! sat! in! Syaoran's! tent,! his! eyes! alit! with! mistrust.! He! His!eerie!features!were!enough!to!shock!anyone!into!anything.!Couple!
arranged! his! sword! so! that! it! could! be! easily! drawn.! He! locked! eyes! that!with!the!fact!that!he!only!had!one!facial!expression!it!was!certain!
with! Syaoran! and! his! brother! smirked.! Renshu! felt! disgusted! that! that!their!army!will!arrive!soon.!
Syaoran!knew!he!was!fearful!of!him.!A!calm!Lei!sat!next!to!him!which! "And!how!do!we!get!into!the!city?"!asked!Renshu!haughtily.!
put!Renshu!at!ease.! Eriol!stepped!forward.!
The! tent! was! illuminated! by! the! lights! of! red! lanterns.! Red.! Blood's! "Years!ago,!ClowDsama!created!the!Moon!Bell!and!hid!it!away,"!he!said.!
hue.!Was!this!purposeful?!Renshu!wiped!a!shimmer!of!sweat!from!his! "This!Bell!is!capable!of!breaking!through!any!walls.!Even!those!of!the!
forehead.! The! man! in! front! of! him! was! the! Li! Xiao! Lang! of! Huangdi's! Forbidden!City.!Once!I!pinpoint!its!location!I'll!retrieve!it."!
reign.! Perhaps! Syaoran! had" been! Huangdi's! puppet.! What! would!
"You!bastard!"!cried!Renshu.!"Why!didn't!you!tell!me!of!this!before?"!
happen! now! the! strings! were! cut?! Renshu! thought! the! edict! would!
keep!Syaoran!in!check.! Eriol!smiled.!
"As! you! have! all! become! aware,"! said! Syaoran.! "Li! Renshu! has! "I!didn't!want!to.!Besides!what!could!you!do!with!such!knowledge?"!
produced! an! edict! he! claims! was! signed! by! Huangdi.! An! edict! which! Renshu's!fists!shook.!
states!that!he!is!the!new!Huangdi."! "Don't!be!angry!Renshu,"!said!Syaoran.!"You!will!have!your!throne.!I'm!
"I!do!not!claim!"!said!Renshu.!"It!was"signed!by!Huangdi!"! only!going!to!get!it!for!you."!
The!hush!that!met!his!outburst!pained!Renshu's!ears.! "And!you!will!let!me!have!it?"!asked!Renshu!sceptically.!
"I'm!not!here!to!debate!his!claim,"!said!Syaoran.!"We!have!months!yet! "The!edict!states!that!it!is!yours!and!it!is"a!legitimate!edict!isn't!it?"!
to!mourn!Huangdi's!death.!You!will!all!put!aside!dreams!of!power!and! Renshu! was! flabbergasted! at! this! tone.! He! stared! at! a! spot! behind!
support!my!attack!on!Lu!Sheng."! Syaoran.!
"Excuse!me!"!exclaimed!Renshu.!"I!have!already!beenD"! "Fine,"! he! said.! "Lead! the! army.! But! I! must! know! of! every! plan! you!
"I!am!the!only!one!who's!capable!of!leading!a!successful!attack!on!Lu! have."!
Sheng!"!said!Syaoran!overriding!Renshu.!"And!you!know!it."! "Done."!
"How! do! you! propose! to! do! this?"! asked! General! Wu,! a! supporter! of! !
Syaoran.! !
The!other!generals!seemed!as!interested!as!him.! !
"I! will! send! for! soldiers! from! provinces! where! my! two! elder! sisters! !
reside.!Their!husbands!have!soldiers!and!wealth!to!sustain!our!army.!
Thus!we!will!gain!a!substancial!force."! !
"We!already!tried!that!!The!nobles!refuse!in!fear!of!Lu!Sheng."! !
Syaoran!scoffed.!For!all!his!years,!Renshu!was!quite!the!novice.! !
"Let! me! guess,! you! sent! a! little! messenger! bird! with! your! humble! !
request?"! !
"What!was!that?"! !
"Huangdi! gave! them! everything$ they! have.! It! is! not! their! own!"! !
Syaoran's!voice!was!cold.!"They!have!no$choice!!Yue!will!go!and!return! !
with!the!soldiers.!Any!objection!will!be!met!with!swift!death."! !

219! 220!
Chapter 15
To"go"beyond"is"as"bad"as"to"fall"short.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
It! was! midday! and! Yue! was! leaning! against! a! tree! trunk,! shading!
himself!from!the!stinging!rays!of!the!Sun.!He!was!waiting!for!Syaoran!
to!come!see!him!off,!and!though!he!was!eager!to!have!something!to!do!
Yue!cringed!at!the!promise!of!a!fullDfledged!war.!How!many!problems!
did!combat!really!solve!anyway?!
Floating! to! him! from! a! high! bough! in! the! tree! came! a! chorus! of! highD
pitched!chirps.!Yue's!lids!grew!heavy!as!he!listened!to!the!young!birds.!
The!more!he!thought!about!it,!the!more!he!came!to!the!conclusion!that!
to!be!free!and!uncomplicated!was!a!bliss!allowed!solely!to!animals.!
Yue's!eyes!slid!to!the!left.!He!was!not!particularly!pleased!to!see!Eriol!
who,!all!of!a!sudden!was!standing!beside!him,!staring!up!at!the!birds'!
nest.!
A!small!group!of!soldiers!passed!by!the!two,!straightening!their!clothes!
and! backs! as! they! went.! Yue's! blank! gaze! did! not! betray! his! pity! for!
them.! They! were! oblivious! to! how! magicDfilled! this! war! was! going! to!
be.!It!was!unfair!to!ask!simple!men!to!sacrifice!themselves!in!a!battle!
where!their!skills!were!near!useless.!
With!a!slight!flick!of!his!hand,!Eriol!revealed!the!sword!at!his!side.!In!
one! fluid! motion! he! unsheathed! the! weapon.! The! polished! blade!
reflected!the!sun's!light!and!momentarily!blinded!Yue.!
"It's!Xiao!Lang's!replacement,"!said!the!magician.!"It's!quite!powerful;!
its!only!flaw!being!that!it's!not!his!jian."!
Yue!fixed!Eriol!with!a!stern!look.!
"Why!did!you!lie!to!him?"!
Resheathing! the! sword,! Eriol! adorned! his! face! with! his! usual!
mysterious!smile.!He!was,!after!all,!the!master!of!evasion.!
"You'll! need! to! be! more! specific! than! that! Yue.! It's! been! hours! since!
I've!been!awake!D!many!men!have!crossed!my!path."!
"I!don't!believe!the!barrier!works!as!you!said!it!does,"!said!Yue,!folding!
his! arms.! He! resented! Eriol! feigning! ignorance! to! him,! his! ally.! "Xiao!
Lang!was!right.!You!were!eager!for!him!to!forfeit!his!magic."!
"I'm!saving!us,"!said!Eriol,!his!candidness!quite!astonishing.!"Without!
magic!he!can't!destroy!us.!We're!safe!now.!Yukito!is!safe."!
At! the! mention! of! his! brother's! name,! Yue! pulled! his! head! back!
sharply.!His!eyes!were!slits.!
221!
"Don't."!
Yue! groped! within! Eriol's! aura! for! any! hint! of! remorse! but! found!
nothing.! What! kind! of! man! manipulated! his! friends! and! family! so!
easily?! It! was! ridiculous.! Being! able! to! see! glimpses! of! the! future! did!
not!make!one!a!god.!
"Have! you! even! stopped! to! ponder! why! Lu! Sheng! wanted! Syaoran's!
magic!in!the!first!place?!Why!would!you!put!him!in!such!a!weakened!
position?"!
Eriol's!eyes!were!innocent!like!a!lamb's!but!Yue!refused!to!be!fooled.!
"You!really!have!a!kind!heart,!don't!you!Yue?"!
Yue!averted!his!face.!Eriol!stared!out!at!the!distance.!
"Lu!Sheng!wants!to!debase!and!humiliate!Xiao!Lang!until!he!breaks!so!
that! he! can! feel! superior! himself.! It's! dangerous! to! have! dark! magic!
within!such!a!childlike!mind.!But!now,!we!have!only!one!danger!to!deal!
with!and!not!two."!
"Sheng! is! not! as! simple! as! you! make! him! out! to! be! and! you're! not!
always!right."!
"I!am!this!time,"!said!Eriol!with!utmost!confidence.!"Don't!worry!about!
Syaoran.!He!may!not!have!the!power!of!the!Moon!anymore!but!he!can!
still!learn!to!channel!magic!from!elsewhere."!
"It!will!take!time!to!become!proficient!in!it."!
"I!know."!
Across!the!distance!Syaoran's!stately!figure!drew!nearer!to!them.!Yue!
felt!a!stab!of!guilt.!Syaoran!had!said!he!was!one!of!his!most!trusted!and!
here! he! was! scheming! with! Eriol,! all! because! he! did! not! want! to! see!
Yukito!hurt.!
"Where's!your!horse?"!asked!the!imperial!prince.!
"I'm!flying,"!said!Yue!looking!towards!the!clear!sky.!"I'll!arrive!quicker!
that!way."!
Syaoran!nodded!and!gave!him!something!that!resembled!a!smile.!
"You're!right."!
He!handed!Yue!a!small!scroll.!
"My! orders! to! the! nobles.! If! they! resist! you! know! what! to! do."! As! an!
afterthought!he!put!in,!"But!don't!harm!the!princesses.!They're!family!
after!all."!
Yue!flinched!slightly,!not!expecting!such!words!to!ever!escape!Syaoran.!
A! lump! rose! in! his! throat.! While! Syaoran! was! becoming! a! better!
222!
person,! Yue! was! falling! into! an! abyss! of! vileness.! He! bowed! to! the!
younger!man,!truly!meaning!every!ounce!of!respect!he!showed.!Then!
spreading!his!magnificent!white!wings,!he!pushed!his!body!into!the!air.!
"You!two!have!been!rather!friendly!lately."!
Syaoran! sounded! so! accusatory! you! would! think! that! this! was! an!
unforgivable! act.! Eriol! did! nothing! to! suggest! that! he! had! heard!
Syaoran.! He! simply! held! out! the! sword.! Wordlessly,! the! prince!
examined!it.!Eriol's!keen!eyes!did!the!same!to!Syaoran!who!turned!his!
head!away.!
"If!you're!looking!for!gratitude,!don't!waste!your!time,"!he!said.!"This!is!
part!of!your!duty."!
He! was! a! few! paces! away! from! Eriol! when! he! halted.! No! comeback!
from!the!magician?!He!whirled!around!to!confront!Eriol!about!his!dull!
behaviour!but!the!magician!was!already!gone.!
Syaoran! decided! to! walk! around! camp! and! look! over! his! men.! In! the!
Forbidden!City,!it!may!seem!outlandish!for!him!to!trouble!himself!over!
them!but!out!here,!he!believed!they!were!all!equal.!Each!man!had!one!
life! and! each! man! was! ready! to! give! it! up! for! China.! Of! course,! this!
sense! of! equality! was! not! something! he! would! ever! have! divulged! to!
his!father.!
It!was!a!painful!process!as!usual!to!get!his!soldiers!to!utter!more!than!a!
few!sentences!to!him.!Unlike!Syaoran!they!did!not!see!the!other!as!an!
equal! even! outside! the! Forbidden! City;! even" when! an! usurper! sat! on!
the!throne.!Was!it!respect!or!fear?!Syaoran!scoffed.!They!looked!at!him!
like!a!killer!but!they!all!killed.!
He!paused!as!he!walked!away!from!a!small!group!of!soldiers.!He!was!
being! generous! before.! They! regarded! Syaoran! not! as! a! killer! but! a!
revered! slaughterer.! He! clenched! his! jaw.! Syaoran! had! blissfully!
forgotten! what! he! was! for! a! good! couple! of! months! due! to! his! mind!
being!eclipsed!by!thoughts!of!Sakura.!
Sheng!had!to!come!spoil!everything.!
Night!was!approaching!and!Syaoran!found!himself!outside!of!Sakura's!
tent.!He!could!have!leapt!into!the!air!when!one!of!the!guards!told!him!
Touya!had!just!left!with!the!crazy!woman!Nakuru.!It!was!annoying!that!
Touya!stayed!with!her!all!the!time.!Sure!they!were!brother!and!sister,!
but!concubinage!ruled!out!all"his"rights.!
Slipping! inside! Sakura's! tent,! he! silently! congratulated! himself! on! yet!
another! confrontation! avoided! with! the! Kinomoto.! Sakura! was!
absorbed!in!sewing!something!and!did!not!realise!Syaoran!was!there.!
223!
Her!attempts!though!clumsy!were!endearing.!He!smirked.!The!rate!she!
was! going! the! baby! would! be! walking! before! she! completed! the!
garment.!
Sakura!winched!as!a!plump!drop!of!blood!oozed!out!of!her!forefinger,!
the!tip!of!which!was!promptly!taken!into!her!mouth.!Lightly,!Syaoran!
padded!over!to!her!side.!
"Xiao!Lang!"!she!exclaimed!now!taking!notice!of!the!man.!
"And!you!call!yourself!a!woman,"!he!said,!indicating!her!rough!work.!
Kneeling,! he! took! the! cloth! from! her! hands! and! undid! the! tangle! of!
knots!she!had!created.!Sakura!shrugged!in!embarrassment.!
"OtouDsan! and! TomoyoDchan! tried! to! help! me! perfect! my! skills! but...!
I'm!hopeless!!Even!oniiDchan!says!so.!You!know!TomoyoDchan!can!sew!
something!every!week!!I!can't!do!that."!
Syaoran!rethreaded!the!needle.!
"Don't! compare! yourself,"! he! told! Sakura! shortly.! "You! are! who! you!
are.!At!that,!you!are!perfect."!
Sakura!pulled!in!her!lips!to!stop!herself!from!grinning!like!a!fool.!The!
deep!timbre!of!Syaoran's!voice!as!he!unconsciously!complimented!her!
was!enough!to!make!Sakura!blush!for!days.!Unaware!of!his!impact!on!
her,!Syaoran!continued!the!garment!where!she!left!off.!
"You! can! sew?"! she! teased,! one! eye! closed,! the! other! peeking! at!
Syaoran.!"And!you!call!yourself!a!man!"!
Syaoran's! head! snapped! up.! His! ears! coloured! even! as! his! face!
remained!impassive.!
"I!always!hated!people!touching!my!things.!So!I!watched!the!women!in!
the!camp,"!he!said!truthfully.!
Then!he!nudged!Sakura!playfully!with!his!nose.!
"Don't!tell!anyone."!
Sakura!held!the!sides!of!her!face!and!smiled.!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Why!can't!you!be!like!this!all!the!time?"!
As!soon!as!the!words!left!her!she!clamped!her!hands!over!her!mouth.!
Sakura's!eyes!were!apologetic.!
"I!just!meant...!I!wish!you!can!be...!I!D"!
"Tell!me."!
"Hai,"! said! Sakura,! though! she! appeared! a! little! nervous.! "There! are!
times!when!you!don't!behave!like!a!Great!Imperial!Son.!When!you!are!
224!
warm!and!kind...!and!nice.!It!makes!me!happy!to!see!you!like!this!D!I'll!
always!wait!for!those!moments!because!I!like!you!very!much!at!these!
times."!
"I!like!you!all"the"time,"!said!Syaoran.!
His! sincere! declaration! created! a! lull! in! the! conversation.! The! only!
sounds! were! the! voices! of! the! men! outside.! Syaoran! rest! his! hand! on!
Sakura's.!
"You!mean!that!Xiao!Lang?"!she!asked.!
"Yes.! Though! I've! denied! it! time! and! again."! He! tilted! his! head! to! the!
side.! "I! like! having! control! and! you! make! me! lose! it.! You! see,! around!
you!I!feel!every!emotion!know!to!man!and!I!D"!
Syaoran! raised! Sakura's! chin! so! they! were! gazing! into! each! other's!
eyes.!
"I! promised! not! to! hurt! you.! At! the! time! I! meant! physically! but! I! can!
see! I've! hurt! you! in! other! ways.! That's! why! I! call! you! Sakura! now.!
Because! when! I! do,! I! remember! you're! not! just! my! possession! to!
release!my!frustrations!on,!you're!much!more!D"!
Syaoran!touched!his!forehead!to!hers!weakly.!It!would!be!so!simple!if!
he!could!channel!his!thoughts!into!her.!Pushing!Sakura!on!her!back,!he!
softly! rest! his! head! on! her! belly,! feeling! it! rise! and! fall! with! each!
breath.!
"And!Sakura.!Arigatou.!For!healing!me."!
He!knew!she!was!smiling!without!even!having!to!look.!
"Even!though!it!was"pure!luck.!OUCH!"!
Syaoran's!head!throbbed!where!Sakura!executed!a!perfect!punch.!
"How!D!Why?!When!have!you!become!so!violent?"!he!asked!in!genuine!
shock.!The!first!woman!to!ever!hit!him!and!it!was!her!of!all!people?!
Sakura!huffed.!
"Practice.!I!always!stomp!on!oniiDchan!when!he!calls!me!a!kaiju."!
Propping!himself!up!on!his!elbow,!Syaoran!stated,!"Even!with!that!cute!
pout!of!yours!I!finally!see!the!truth!behind!the!nickname."!
He!caught!her!foot!just!in!time.!
"Woman!"!
"I! am! Not$ a! kaiju!"! she! yelled! but! could! not! stop! the! laugh! that! burst!
from!her!mouth.!
! He!was!two!feet!from!the!door!when!Yukito!recovered!the!privilege!of!
Lu!Sheng!was!pacing!back!and!forth!without!any!intention!of!stopping.!
225!
His!robes!and!long!mane!of!hair!swished!dramatically!about!him!with!
each! turn! he! made.! All! of! this! was! witnessed! by! a! confused! Yukito.!
What!Sheng!wanted,!he!had!no!idea.!
"I'm! a! good! emperor."! Sheng! stopped! abruptly! in! front! of! Yukito.! "I!
kept!many!alive!even!though!I!could!have!killed!them.!I!kept!all!the!old!
laws.! I! did! not! burn! books! to! hide! anything.! I'm! better! than!
Yongzheng."!
He!watched!Yukito!expectantly.!
"Your!reign!is!still!young,"!said!Yukito!in!fairness.!"Most!emperors!are!
good!in!the!beginning."!
Lu!Sheng!snatched!Yukito's!arm.!
"I'm!not!most."!
Yukito! drew! in! a! deep! breath,! unable! to! shrug! off! the! sting! of! Lu!
Sheng's!nails!tunneling!into!his!flesh.!Even!as!Sheng!crushed!his!arm,!
the! usurper's! face! was! extremely! composed.! It! took! all! Yukito's! will!
and!dignity!not!to!squirm!his!way!out!of!the!hold.!
"I! am! Great,"! said! Sheng.! "I! promised! to! avenge! my! father! and! I! am!
doing!so."!
"WhyD! why! are! you! telling! me! this?"! asked! Yukito.! He! was! almost!
breathless!with!pain.!
"We're!sharing,"!stated!Lu!Sheng!his!grip!tightening.!"It's!your!turn."!
"I!don't...!have!anything!to!tD."!
"Why!would!a!magician!give!up!his!magic?"!Sheng!interrupted.!"Surely!
Wei! or! even! Yongzheng! perhaps,! taught! you! something! about! this?!
Something!not!in!the!books?"!
Yukito's!knees!buckled.!The!blood!supply!to!his!hand!had!ceased!and!
now! only! a! numb,! ghostly! white! limb! twitched! before! him.! He! shook!
his!head.!
"It's! Forbidden! to! speak! of! such! things,"! said! Yukito,! his! voice!
shriveling!more!and!more!with!each!word.!"No!one!would!do!it..."!He!
swallowed.! "Because! it'll! weaken! the! imperial! line.! And! most!
magicians!would!be!devastated!with!the!loss."!
Lu!Sheng!dropped!Yukito's!arm!and!he!clutched!it!to!his!chest.!Sheng!
nodded.!
"I!believe!you.!I!had!to!be!sure.!Xiao!Lang!is!making!things!far!too!easy.!
Frankly,!I'm!disappointed."!
speech.!
226!
"Your! father's! death! was! tragic,"! he! told! the! darkDhaired! man,! as! he!
massaged!his!arm.!"But!you're!not!the!only!one!to!have!been!wronged!
in!his!life.!Happiness!was!not!out!of!your!reach;!you!chose"to!fill!your!
heart!with!hate."!
It! looked! as! though! Sheng! was! about! to! explode,! but! he! merely!
advanced!on!Yukito,!indignance!radiating!from!him.!
"Do!you!truly!think!I!am!wrong!to!want!revenge?"!
"No.!I!understand!why!you!do!it.!But!D"!
Yukito!hesitated.!
"I!think,"!he!said,!pushing!himself!to!finish.!"If!you!were!avenging!your!
father!this!would!all!be!enough.!But!you!are!obsessed!with!Xiao!Lang."!
"And?"!asked!Sheng.!
His! entire! demeanor! had! changed.! A! shadow! crossed! his! face! and!
instinctively,!his!hand!flew!to!his!face.!
"I!remember!how!you!got!that,"!said!Yukito!sadly.!
"The! only! thing! more! disgraceful! would! have! been! to! remove! my!
head,"!said!Sheng!passing!a!finger!over!the!scar!on!his!cheek.!
Yukito!remembered!the!day,!many!years!ago,!when!Lu!Sheng!had!been!
caught!and!accused!of!treason.!He!was!brought!to!the!grounds!where!
the!princes!were!training,!his!young!face!contorted!with!great!hatred!
which!was!directed!at!Huangdi.!
Huangdi! himself! summoned! a! binding! circle,! a! devious! twinkle! in! his!
brown! eyes! as! he! cast! Lu! Sheng! into! it! with! a! flick! of! his! hand.! An!
official! was! shouting! something! about! the! crimes! committed! by! Lu!
Sheng! but! Yukito! was! barely! hearing! him! because! where! they! saw! a!
traitor,!he!saw!a!young!boy!damaged!by!his!father's!death.!
Syaoran! was! sent! across! the! binding! circle! to! deliver! Lu! Sheng's!
punishment.! His! eyes! were! a! golden! hue! and! it! was! then! that! Yukito!
realized! why! Huangdi! wore! such! a! cruel! smile.! It! was! he! who! said!
never!let!your!magic!control!you,!so!why!was!he!allowing!Syaoran!to!
do!just!that?!
"It!was!pain!like!none!other,"!said!Sheng!reminiscently,!and!you!would!
think! from! his! light! tone! that! it! was! a! pleasant! experience.! His! eyes!
became!a!fiery!red.!"But!anything!Xiao!Lang!can!do,!I!can!do!bloodier."!
Yukito!would!never!forget!Syaoran's!taunting!smirk!as!his!foot!pinned!
Sheng's! head! to! the! ground.! Syaoran's! finger! wrote! in! the! air! and!
simultaneously,! characters! burned! into! a! screeching! Sheng's! cheek.!
Syaoran! turned! Sheng's! head! to! brand! the! other! side! but! the! young!
227!
man! had! fainted.! It! was! less! exciting! it! seemed,! now! that! he! was!
unconscious,!for!Syaoran!stepped!away!with!a!bored!look!on!his!face.!
"Deep!down!I!think!Xiao!Lang!feels!badly!about!it,"!Yukito!told!Sheng.!
"He!pretends!it!never!happened.!He's!convinced"himself!of!that."!
"Until! the! end! of! time,! you! will! be! Xiao! Lang's! assiduous! advocate,!
Yukito!"! Sheng! scorned.! "You! say! 'he's! a! good! person'! but! you! were!
afraid!that!day.!Isn't!that!why!you!helped!me!escape?"!
Yukito!lowered!his!head.!
"I'm!not!proud!of!what!I!did,"!he!said!guiltily.!"But!if!you!had!remained!
in! the! Forbidden! City...! what! Huangdi! made! Xiao! Lang! do! to! you! D! to!
both!of!you!D!was!wrong.!Please!forgive!them!both."!
"Never."!
"Why?"!
"Because!revenge!brings!me!more!pleasure."!
It! was! a! soft! comment! but! these! words! caused! Yukito's! body! to! go!
weak.!
"Do!you!regret!it?"!
"Regret!what?"!
"Helping! me.! Disobeying! Yongzheng! who! trusted! you.! If! you! hadn't!
helped!me!he!would!still!be!alive;!many!others!too."!
Yukito!had!thought!of!all!these!things!but!he!cast!the!thoughts!aside!as!
quickly! as! they! came.! One! could! not! erase! the! past! and! he! would! not!
live!in!it.!Sometimes,!Yue!would!watch!him!and!Yukito!would!think!'he!
must!know'!but!Yue!never!said!anything.!
"I!know!what!you're!doing."!Yukito!frowned!like!a!disappointed!father.!
"You're! provoking! Xiao! Lang,! trying! to! recreate! that! day.! He! almost!
killed!you!before."!
"I!am!stronger!now,"!said!Lu!Sheng.!"I!can!win."!
"You!took!away!his!powers,"!said!Yukito.!"Of!course!you!can."!
"Don't!try!to!figure!out!the!ending!Yukito.!Just!enjoy!the!show."!
Enlai!and!Harmless!appeared!at!his!Lu!Sheng's!as!he!left!Yukito.!It!did!
not! bother! him! that! they! had! probably! heard! of! his! grievances! with!
Xiao!Lang!seeing!as!they!were!always!close!by.!
"So!that's!what!you!meant!by!Xiao!Lang's!true!nature!so!many!months!
ago?"!asked!Enlai.!
He!shifted!his!large!Guandao!to!his!other!shoulder.!
"Tsukishiro!was!right.!You!are!obsessed."!
228!
Sheng!came!to!an!abrupt!halt.!
"I! can! heal! every! scar! on! my! body,"! he! said! shortly.! "Yet! this! one! is!
eternal."!
He!brought!a!hand!to!his!cheek!tenderly.!
"Wanting!him!to!suffer!is!not!obsession.!It's!justice.!
! "Do!not$raise!your!voice!to!me,"!he!warned.!
Sakura's!body!went!rigid.!Heat!rushed!to!her!head.!Her!chest!hurt!and!
it! was! so! hard! to! breathe! she! opened! her! mouth! fighting! to! draw! air!
into! her! lungs.! Syaoran! was! at! the! tent! opening! peaking! out! to! check!
on!the!status!of!her!brother,!unaware!of!her!discomfort.!
She! sat! up,! tracing! every! detail! of! his! body.! The! scene! she! had!
witnessed!a!while!ago,!of!Syaoran!and!Lu!Sheng,!was!that!real?!It!could!
not! be.! Her! imagination! must! be! running! wild.! Syaoran,! with! all! his!
flaws,! could! never! be! that! heartless.! It! seemed! real! though,! like! a!
memory.!
Unconsciously,! Sakura! brought! her! hand! up! to! her! cheek.! Her! fingers!
followed!a!pattern!of!something!that!was!not!there.!Suddenly!her!eyes!
narrowed.! This! man! here! had! given! her! nothing! but! misery.! She!
searched! the! surroundings! for! something! sharp.! No!! What! was! she!
thinking?!
"Sakura?"!
Syaoran!knelt!in!front!of!her,!worry!written!on!his!face.!His!hands!rest!
on!her!shoulders.!
"What's!wrong?"!
Sakura!swallowed!hard.!Her!insides!were!released!from!the!tight!grip!
that!held!them.!She!gasped!for!air!like!a!drowning!person.!
"Sakura!what's!happening?"!asked!Syaoran.!"Tell!me!what's!wrong."!
"ND!nothing."!She!puffed!out.!"I!think!I'm!tired."!
Syaoran!laid!her!back!down.!
"You're!too!active."!
Sakura's!eyebrows!soared.!
"I've!been!lying!down!the!entire!day!"!She!rest!the!back!of!her!hand!on!
her!forehead.!"It's!tiring!Xiao!Lang.!I!can't!lie!down!anymore."!
"Yes,!you!can."!
Sakura!glared!at!him.!
"Don't!order!me!around."!
229!
"I'm!notD"!
"Yes!you!are!"!
Syaoran! stood! in! frustration.! Sakura's! held! her! temple.! She! did! not!
mean! to! shout.! What! was! happening! to! her?! Why! was! the! sight! of!
Syaoran!infuriating"her!so!much?!
He! was! tense! all! over.! If! it! were! someone! else,! he! may! have! struck!
already.!
"Sakura.! Don't! be! upset,"! he! said! in! a! more! caring! tone! than! she!
anticipated.!"I!think!even!your!brother!will!agree!with!me.!You!should!
remain!inside."!
She!tossed!her!head!to!the!side,!refusing!to!look!at!him.!A!firm!kiss!was!
planted! on! her! neck.! She! drew! in! her! breath.! She! felt! Syaoran! smile!
against!her!skin.!
"Is!it!strange!that!I!found!our!little!argument!quite!exciting?"!
Sakura!looked!at!him.!Indeed!he!did!seem!very!thrilled.!The!immediate!
effect!was!that!he!looked!his!age.!Sakura!tried!to!fight!it!but!she!could!
not!resist!a!giggle.!It!was"strange.!
"Even! when! angry,! you're! the! most! beautiful! woman! I've! ever! seen.! I!
don't!think!I'll!ever!tire!of!looking!at!you."!
Sakura!averted!her!eyes.!
"Even!when!I'm!old!and!wrinkly?"!
"You'll!be!beautiful!forever."!
"No,"!said!Sakura!turning!to!him.!"I!won't."!
"That's!ridiculous,"!said!Syaoran.!
Sakura! cracked! a! wry! smile! knowing! full! well! that! Syaoran! could! not!
possibly!understand!how!she!felt.!He!ran!a!finger!lightly!over!her!lips!
again!and!again.!Sakura!bit!it!in!jest!but!Syaoran!took!it!differently.!The!
gap! between! their! lips! was! gone! in! an! instant.! The! raw! passion!
Syaoran! was! pouring! into! her! heightened! Sakura'! senses.! Her! fingers!
grabbed!at!his!hair!as!she!moaned!into!his!mouth.!
He! tugged! at! her! clothes,! growling! when! they! did! not! come! apart!
immediately.! The! hand! on! her! thigh! squeezed! tightly;! his! mouth! on!
hers! was! demanding.! He! needed! her! and! she! needed! him.! Nothing!
could!possibly!cool!this!exciting!fever.!
"Open!your!legs,"!he!muttered,!his!hands!pulling!up!her!clothes.!
Sakura! complied! like! never! before.! Her! hand! tore! at! his! back! as! she!
230!
pulled! him! closer.! Syaoran! groaned! and! his! desire! pressed! into! Chapter 16
Sakura's!thigh.! A"man's"conversation"is"the"mirror"of"his"thoughts.!
"Xiao!Lang..."! ~"Chinese"Proverb"
"Hmmm?"!
Daylight!had!begun!to!fail;!the!sky!was!quickly!turning!into!a!canvas!of!
There!was!a!gasp.!Syaoran!lifted!his!head.!A!servant!girl!stood!halfway! deep!purples!and!blues!which!mixed!numinously!with!the!oranges!and!
inside! the! tent.! Sakura! waited! for! Syaoran! to! dismiss! her! but! instead! yellows! of! the! Sun.! But! it! was! not! the! natural! rhythm! of! time! which!
he! carefully! removed! himself! from! Sakura.! A! blush! rose! to! the! girl's! brought! about! this! change;! this! much! Sakura! knew.! Where! was! she?!
face!as!Syaoran!stared!at!her.!So!entranced!was!she,!she!forgot!she!was! How!had!she!gotten!here?!
suppose! to! kowtow! before! the! prince.! Sakura! shifted! on! purpose!
Unceremoniously,! her! body! was! knocked! forward! by! the! impact! of! a!
reminding!them!both!that!she!was!still!there.!
soldier! falling! to! his! death.! As! if! a! dam! had! broken,! the! roar! and!
"Leave,"!commanded!Syaoran!in!a!tight!voice.! thunder! of! the! battle! crashed! down! upon! her.! Then! she! remembered!
The!girl!bolted!and!Syaoran!returned!Sakura's!clothes!to!their!original! where! she! was;! that! she! was! soaked! and! shivering.! She! looked! down!
positions.!He!muttered!something!about!the!act!being!forbidden!again! and!found!a!bloody!katana!clutched!in!her!hand.!Yet!she!was!calm.!
but!Sakura!did!not!hear!him;!she!was!studying!the!motion!of!his!eyes! Her!heart!gave!a!jolt!as!she!spotted!through!the!rain,!two!men!ahead!of!
as!they!kept!darting!to!the!spot!the!servant!girl!had!just!vacated.! her.! One,! was! Lu! Sheng.! His! long! hair! was! stuck! to! his! face;! his! eyes!
"I!have!something!to!take!care!of,"!he!told!her!before!he!left.!"I'll!visit! were!as!red!as!the!fresh!blood!pooled!at!his!feet.!His!breaths!came!out!
you!tomorrow."! hard!but!the!contempt!on!his!face!was!harder.!The!other!man!was!no!
"Xiao!Lang."! doubt! Syaoran.! His! back! was! turned! to! her! yet! she! knew! him.! His!
She!held!onto!the!hem!of!his!sleeve.!She!was!not!stupid.!The!unknown! chestnutDcoloured! hair! was! a! darker! shade! of! brown! now! that! it! was!
hatred!she!felt!earlier!was!resurfacing!within!her!bosom.! wet! but! his! imperial! stature! was! unmistakeable! with! his! jian! gripped!
tightly!in!his!palm.!
"I'll!be!in!my!tent,"!he!said!gently!removing!her!hand.!"Sleep!well."!
Sakura! wiped! her! dripping! bangs! away! from! her! face.! Syaoran! was!
Sakura!rolled!onto!her!side!after!he!left,!twiddling!with!a!stray!thread! raising! his! sword! to! strike! and! in! that! moment! Lu! Sheng! stared!
on!the!sheets.!She!curled!up!in!a!fetal!position,!her!hands!over!her!ears,! directly! at! her.! Instantly,! Sakura! ran! towards! him,! stumbling! over!
trying!to!block!out!the!thoughts!and!memories!that!were!not!hers.! bodies! as! she! did! so.! There! was! a! searing! stitch! in! her! side! but! her!
! body! was! completely! disconnected! from! her! mind,! and! so! she!
! continued!running.!
! "NO!"! she! screamed! as! she! threw! her! body! in! front! of! Lu! Sheng's.!
! Syaoran!pulled!the!jian!back!to!spear!him.!
! Before! she! could! think! to! do! anything! else,! her! heart! leapt! into! her!
throat.! Holding! her! breath,! she! stared! wideDeyed! at! Syaoran,! whose!
!
eyes! were! golden! orbs! making! him! seem! like! a! warrior! deity.! Three!
! thin! cuts! ran! across! his! left! cheek.! His! affect! was! blunt! and! Sakura!
! almost! wished! he! had! some! emotion,! hate! even,! on! his! face! so! she!
! could! know! that! he! was! still! her! Syaoran.! Spellbound! she! watched!
Syaoran!thrust!his!jian!towards!her,!piercing!her!stomach.!She!gasped.!
!
Reaching!behind!her!she!felt!the!tip!of!the!sword.!
!
"...Xiao!Lang?"!she!whimpered.!
!
But!even!as!tears!rolled!down!her!cheeks,!a!rage!burned!in!her!and!a!
231! 232!
Card!appeared!in!her!left!hand.!In!her!right!was!a!staff.!
"ERASE!"! she! commanded! even! as! blood! gathered! in! her! mouth,! and!
flowed! down! her! chin.! There! should! have! been! a! loud! bang! or! some!
great! sound! to! highlight! what! she! had! done! but! all! there! was,! was! a!
brief!return!of!amber!eyes,!full!of!horror,!before!Syaoran!succumbed!to!
nothingness.!
She!stumbled!back!and!Lu!Sheng!caught!her!beneath!the!arms.!There!
was! a! smile! on! his! face.! That! was! when! Sakura,! in! utmost! shock,!
realized! that! she! was! thrilled! Sheng! was! alive.! But! Syaoran...! he! was!
gone...!
"Good!girl,"!Lu!Sheng!whispered!in!her!ear.!"But!y..."!
She!ceased!hearing!him,!as!fear,!confusion!and!disdain!swelled!inside!
her.!She!saw!his!eyes!widen!as!she!felt!herself!threatening!to!explode!
from! the! inside! out.! A! great! light! surrounded! them;! he! ran! but! she!
knew!he!would!not!get!far.!
Sakura's! body! lunged! forward! and! it! was! like! being! pulled! from! the!
water.! She! gasped! loudly.! Her! hand! desperately! sought! her! rescuer.!
She! was! mumbling! incoherent! words! and! her! body! shook! with! each!
sob.!
"It!was!only!a!dream,"!Eriol!told!her,!as!he!looked!into!her!eyes.!"Only!a!
dream.!See?"!
There!was!silence!in!the!tent.!Two!lamps!were!lit!and!she!was!in!her!
cot,!safe!and!warm.!Her!hand!went!to!her!rounded!stomach.!No!sword!
had!pierced!her.!It!was!as!Eriol!had!said,!only!a!dream.!
"But!it!felt!so!real."!
"Real?"!asked!Eriol.!"Tell!me!what!you!dreamed."!
When! Sakura! finished! recounting! her! dream! after! having! left! out!
important! bits! like! Syaoran! killing! her! and! she! later! exploding,! Eriol!
watched!her!curiously.!Finally!he!spoke.!
"Was! Xiao! Lang's! magic! powerful?"! he! asked! as! though! they! were!
having!a!light!conversation.!
"I..."!she!murmered.!Then!realization!hit!her.!"The!weather!D!it!was!so!
unnatural!D!but!I!don't!know!what!caused!it.!It!could!have!been!him.!It!
felt!like!the!world!was!coming!to!an!end!and!for!some!reason!I!wanted!
to!defeat!him,!or!he!was!going!to!hurt!Lu!Sheng..."!
"And!you!were!using!magic!contained!in!Card!form?"!
"Hai."!
"I!feel!some!prophecy!in!your!dream,"!said!Eriol.!"But!I!wouldn't!rely!
233!
on!it.!You!are!young!and!you!have!little!control!of!your!magic."!
"Prophecy."!
"Yes.!Such!dreams!occur!with!some!magicians."!
Sakura!clutched!the!front!of!his!robes,!her!face!white!with!distress.!
"No!!I!don't!want!this!to!be!a!prophecy."!
Eriol!held!her!hands.!
"SakuraDsan,!how!about!we!keep!this!dream!between!us?!For!now?"!he!
asked!as!he!smiled!charmingly!at!her.!
"...Alright..."!
"And!I'll!help!you!control!your!magic.!I!suppose!you!received!that!staff!
from!me.!I!was!planning!to!make!you!one!anyway."!
He!stood!up!and!so!did!Sakura.!
"HiiragizawaDsan?"!
"Yes,!SakuraDsan."!
"Why! is! it,! you! think,! I! wanted! to! protect! Lu! Sheng?! I! don't! hate! him!
but!at!the!same!time,!I!will!never!protect!him!from!Xiao!Lang."!
There!was!a!clatter!outside!as!a!servant!knocked!something!over.!Eriol!
waited! until! the! sound! of! footsteps! disappeared.! He! could! tell! the!
truth,! say! he! did! not! have! a! clue,! but! that! may! frighten! Sakura! more.!
Then! she! might! confide! in! others! and! Syaoran! will! question! if! the!
dream!was!really!a!prophecy!or!not.!
"It!may!be!best!if!you!don't!know!for!now,"!said!Eriol.!
"ButD"!
"I!will!tell!you!when!I!think!you're!ready."!
Sakura! nodded! looking! at! the! ground.! He! put! a! finger! lightly! on! her!
chin!and!raised!her!head.!
"Not!even!my!dreams!happen!exactly!as!I!dreamt!it.!It!is!possible!for!us!
to!make!our!own!future.!Do!you!understand?"!
"Hai."!
It!was!not!until!Eriol!had!left!that!Sakura!wondered!how!he!had!known!
the!exact!time!she!was!having!the!dream!and!why!he!had!shown!up.!It!
did!not!seem!in!the!Chief!Magician's!character!to!comfort!concubines!
who!could!not!sleep!soundly,!but!she!supposed!he!had!sides!to!him!no!
one!had!seen.!
!
Sakura! sighed! silently.! Despite! the! time! of! day,! she! was! unable! to!
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return! to! sleep.! Only! an! hour! must! have! elapsed! since! Eriol! left! her!
alone! and! even! though! she! knew! the! future! she! dreamed! was! a! long!
time! away,! she! felt! a! desire! to! make! sure! Syaoran! was! alright.! It! was!
strange.!She!knew!she!was!being!irrational!and!yet!she!could!not!help!
it.!Resolutely,!she!threw!on!a!cloak!and!crept!out!of!her!tent.!
It! was! only! when! she! started! walking,! did! she! realize! she! could! not!
recall!where!Syaoran's!tent!was.!She!turned!around!in!circles!trying!to!
find!some!hint!of!where!it!was!located.!She!continued!moving!east!of!
her!tent!when!she!saw!the!Imperial!banner!hanging!limply!from!its!tall!
post.!Excitement!running!through!her!for!doing!something!on!her!own!
after!what!seemed!like!ages,!she!raced!to!the!large!tent.!
"HALT!"!
Sakura's! feet! locked! in! place.! Out! of! seemingly! nowhere,! a! group! of!
imperial! guards! surrounded! her,! spears! and! swords! aimed! at! her!
person.! Before,! these! guards! had! never! frightened! Sakura,! but! then!
again,!she!had!never!been!on!their!bad!side.!
"Remove!your!hood!!Slowly."!
Inch! by! inch,! Sakura's! hand! made! it! up! to! her! hood.! Of! course;! they!
probably! thought! she! was! some! kind! of! assassin! sneaking! around!
when!it!was!dark!out,!covered!from!head!to!toe.!Her!fingers!quivered!
as!she!drew!the!edges!of!the!hood!back.!The!guards!glanced!around!at!
each!other!trying!to!understand!what!they!were!seeing.!
"A!woman?"!said!the!guard!who!was!doing!all!the!talking.!
Sakura!winced.!His!tone!was!the!most!demeaning!she!had!ever!heard.!
What?!So!a!woman!could!not!be!an!assassin!!
"Assassin?"!cried!the!guard!outraged,!and!the!other!soldiers!held!their!
weapons!steadier.!
Sakura!clamped!her!hands!over!her!mouth.!Oh!no,!she!had!spoken!out!
loud!!
"Don't!move!"!commanded!the!imperial!guard.!"You'll!see!what!we!do!
to!assaD"!
"What's!going!on!here?"!
"Great!Imperial!Son!"!said!the!imperial!guard!standing!at!attention,!as!
kowtowing! would! not! be! ideal! right! now.! "We! were! just! about! to!
interrogate!this!assassin.!Don't!be!fooled!by!her!looks!D!they!only!send!
the!most!excellent!ones!after!you."!
The!soldiers,!still!on!guard,!parted!for!Syaoran!to!pass.!As!he!came!into!
Sakura's! line! of! sight,! she! saw! him! pause! and! cock! his! head.! His! eyes!
235!
were! questioning! and! she! could! not! believe! it,! but! they! held!
amusement!as!well!!
"Men.!This!is!my!Imperial!concubine."!
The!soldiers'!faces!visibly!paled.!Their!once!steady!hands!faltered!and!
some! actually! threw! their! weapons! to! the! ground! as! if! they! burned.!
The!vocal!guard!D!who!by!now!Sakura!could!tell!was!the!leader!D!was!
looking!very!silly!as!his!mouth!continued!to!move!but!no!sound!came!
out.!
"Great!Imperial!Son!"!he!said!at!last.!"She!said!she!was!an!assassin."!
Syaoran! turned! to! Sakura.! The! corners! of! his! lips! twitched! but! he!
quickly!frowned.!
"Did!you!say!that?"!he!asked!Sakura!seriously.!
"WhaD?!Well,!no.!Not!exactly."!
He! turned! back! to! the! guard! who! was! staring! at! the! dagger! at!
Syaoran's!side.!
"I! D! I! heard! wrongly! then,"! he! conceded.! Then! he! bowed.! "Please!
forgive!me."!
Syaoran!made!a!'come!here'!gesture!to!Sakura!and!she!rushed!to!take!
his!hand.!Walking!off!with!her!he!commanded,!"Return!to!your!posts."!
Safely! inside! his! tent,! Syaoran! walked! around! his! desk! and! sat! down.!
Elbow!resting!on!the!desk!and!chin!in!hand,!he!smirked!at!Sakura.!
"It!seems!we!have!much!to!talk!about...!lady!assassin!"!
Sakura!pouted,!as!she!folded!her!arms.!
"I!never!said!I!was!!He!misunderstood!me!"!
"So! what! did! you! say?"! asked! Syaoran! curiously! and! trying,! with!
difficulty,!to!maintain!a!straight!face.!Normally!that!would!be!easy!but!
someone! mistaking! Sakura! for! an! assassin! was! the! most! ridiculous!
thing! he! had! ever! heard.! After! she! told! him! what! she! said,! Syaoran!
guffawed.!
"Well!to!answer!your!question,!yes,!women!can!be!assassins!too!"!
Sakura!whipped!her!short!hair!back!sassily.!She!had!not!seen!Syaoran!
since! the! day! he! had! abruptly! left! her! and! here! he! was! mocking! her.!
Sure!she!came!to!see!if!he!was!alive!and!well!but!she!did!not!expect!to!
talk! to! him! because! she! was! still! a! bit! peeved.! Apparently! Syaoran!
noticed!because!he!sat!up!straight.!
"Is!something!wrong?"!
She! shook! her! head.! He! glanced! down! at! the! papers! on! his! desk! then!
236!
back! at! her,! judging! which! he! should! tackle! first,! work! or! what! was!
bothering!Sakura.!In!the!end,!he!beckoned!to!her.!He!drew!Sakura!onto!
his!lap!and!rest!a!hand!across!her!leg.!
"The!truth.!If!you!don't!tell!me,!I!can't!make!the!problem!go!away."!
When!Sakura!still!didn't!answer!he!asked!lightly,!"Is!there!someone!I!
should!behead?"!
Her!eyes!widened!and!she!gasped.!
"No!"!
"Then!what!is!it?"!
Twiddling!her!thumbs!in!her!lap!she!took!a!deep!breath.!
"Do!you!like!her?"!she!asked!softly.!
Syaoran!was!having!difficulty!following!what!Sakura!was!getting!at;!he!
shook!his!head.!
"Who?"!
"The!servant!girl."!
"The!servant!girl..."!
Sakura! turned! her! face! towards! him! and! Syaoran! stared! at! his!
reflection!in!her!eyes.!Then!he!understood.!He!drew!away!slightly.!
"No."!
"Then!why!did!you!go!after!her?!Why!didn't!you!come!back!later?"!
Syaoran!ran!a!hand!through!his!messy!hair,!making!it!further!untidy.!
"I! left! you! that! night! because! D! because! I! was! so! relieved! when! she!
interrupted! us."! Sakura's! gaze! fell.! "I! wanted! to! be...! more! intimate...!
and! I! would! have! just! done! that! and! the! situation! just! gave! me! an!
excuse! to! leave.! You! should! know! I! could! never! prefer! anyone! over!
you."!
He!kissed!her!cheek.!
"So!don't!be!upset."!
Sakura!still!looked!unconvinced!and!she!had!every!right!to.!He!was!a!
prince! and! bedding! women! was! like! a! hobby! to! princes! or! so! it! was!
said.!Fine,!it!was!true,!but!not!for!him!!
"You!know,!I!once!told!Wei!that!if!I!had!a!choice,!you!would!be!my!First!
Wife."!
"Really?"!asked!Sakura,!lighting!up.!
"Yes.!Before,!I!thought!Huangdi!was!the!most!important!person!in!my!
life,"! he! told! her.! "But! I've! realized! that! you're! my! most! important!
237!
person.!After!all,!I!would!do!anything!for!you!without!command."!
There!was!a!pause.!
"Anything?"!whispered!Sakura.!
"Did!you!already!have!something!in!mind?"!inquired!Syaoran,!amazed.!
"Don't!fight!Lu!Sheng,"!said!Sakura!abruptly.!
Syaoran!studied!Sakura!and!then!she!remembered!she!was!supposed!
to! keep! the! dream! secret.! She! mentally! kicked! herself! as! she! realized!
her!blunder.!
"Why?"!asked!Syaoran!seriously.!
"I!don't!want!you!to!disappear,"!said!Sakura!cautiously.!
"You!mean!die."!
She!flinched.!
"Hai."!
And!she!busied!herself!with!following!the!trail!of!a!lone!firefly!that!was!
hovering! about! them.! It! landed! on! Syaoran's! desk! and! he!
absentmindedly!brushed!it!aside.!Once!more,!it!took!to!the!air!with!its!
haphazard!movements.!
"Well! I! have! too! many! pressing! matters! to! attend! to! right! now,"! said!
Syaoran,!as!he!indicated!to!the!papers!on!his!desk.!"I!don't!have!time!to!
die.! Commanding! the! army! is! fine! but! the! paper! work! is! tedious.!
Nescessary!but!tedious!all!the!same.!Do!you!know,!we're!low!on!food?!
That! the! men! are! restless! and! hungry! to! the! point! where! they! are!
fighting!senselessly?!That!I!can!feel!plotting!among!my!generals!even!
though! they! all! smile! to! my! face?! That! I! may! not! only! have! to! kill! Lu!
Sheng!but!also!my!brothers!for!the!throne?"!
Syaoran!yawned.!
"Just!another!day!in!my!glorious!life."!
"I!didn't!know,"!said!Sakura.!
Sakura!began!to!realize!that!her!day!to!day!life!had!not!really!changed!
even! outside! the! Forbidden! City.! She! was! still! presented! with! the!
absurdly! large! array! of! food! D! though! it! was! not! as! finely! cooked! D! of!
which!she!ate!less!than!half.!She!was!still!dressed!in!elaborate!clothes!
and! bathed! regularly.! Sakura! ran! her! fingers! tenderly! through!
Syaoran's!short!tresses.!Did!he!purposefully!make!it!so?!
"You!shouldn't"know!of!these!things."!
Sakura!jumped!to!her!feet.!
"You're!wrong.!If!I!had!known...!I!don't!even!need!all!this!luxury,!all!the!
238!
foodD"!
"Don't! be! ridiculous,"! said! Syaoran,! seeing! where! she! was! heading.! "I!
would! go! hungry,! myself,! long! before! you! do."! Sakura! made! to! speak!
but!he!overrode!her.!"Yue!will!be!back!with!provisions!soon.!My!army!
is!my!problem,!not!yours."!
Sakura!looked!down!gloomily.!She!was!not!trying!to!solve"his!problem,!
she!was!only!trying!to!help.!
Syaoran!ruffled!her!hair.!
"You!have!the!heart!of!an!Empress,!Sakura."!
He!smirked.!
"If!Empress!Li!were!here,!she!would!be!driving!me!crazy!by!now."!
"Is! that! why! you! treat! her! the! way! you! do?"! asked! Sakura! abruptly.!
Without! waiting! for! an! answer! she! went! on.! "My! mother! is! dead! so! I!
find!it!strange!how!you!go!out!of!your!way!not!to!talk!to!her;!you!avoid!
her! and! rarely! even! look! at! her,! like! at! the! time! we! were! in! the!
gardens.!And!you!always!address!her!as!Empress."!
Syaoran!silently!began!extinguishing!the!lamps!in!the!tent.!
"Haven't!you!realized!by!now!I!have!a!complicated!family?"!
When!Sakura!did!not!drop!her!gaze,!he!yielded.!
"She! give! birth! to! me! and! for! that! it! is! my! duty! to! take! care! of! her.!
What!more!could!she!possibly!want?"!
"You!really!don't!know?"!
Syaoran!shook!his!head!indifferently.!
"Perhaps!when!you're!a!father,!you'll!understand,"!was!Sakura's!wise!
remark.!
Syaoran!glanced!at!her!stomach!covered!by!layers!of!fabric,!and!looked!
away! quickly! as! though! it! was! indecent.! He! left! only! the! lamp! on! his!
desk!lit.!
"Go!rest,"!he!told!Sakura.!"No!arguing."!
!
Touya!was!sitting!on!a!stool,!one!ankle!resting!on!his!knee.!He!stared!
at!the!cot!he!had!just!made!up.!Sure!the!servants!would!have!done!it!
but! he! had! to! do! something! to! busy! his! hands.! Otherwise! they! would!
be! around! Syaoran's! neck.! He! certainly! did! not! expect! things! to! play!
out!like!this!when!he!got!to!China.!Sakura!was!suppose!to!run!to!him!
begging!him!to!take!her!back!home.!Instead!she!was!reluctant!to!leave!
that!throneless!prince.!
239!
Nakuru!bounded!into!the!tent.!
"Ohayo! TouyaDchan!! Ohayo! SakuraDchD!"! She! twisted! her! neck! from!
side!to!side.!"Mou...!where's!SakuraDchan?"!
Touya!eyed!her.!
"Can't!you!guess?"!he!asked!scathingly,!voice!harder!than!ever.!
He! looked! so! upset,! Nakuru! resisted! the! urge! to! jump! on! him,! which!
frankly,!was!a!big!deal!on!her!part.!
"Why!don't!you!go!to!his!tent!and!bring!her!back?"!
Touya!smiled!humourlessly.!
"I!do!that!and!she'll!stand!up!for!him.!It!would!only!bring!them!closer!
together."!
Nakuru!rest!a!hand!on!Touya's!shoulder.!
"What!do!you!want!to!do?"!
"I!cannot!have!my!sister!hate!me.!So!we!will!wait!until!the!gaki!shows!
his!true!self.!Then!we!will!return!home!with!her."!
Nakuru!kneeled!at!Touya's!side.!
"Perhaps!you!should!try!to!befriend!him."!
"I'll! never! accept! him,"! he! told! Nakuru! grumpily.! "Or! forgive! him! for!
what!he!did!to!my!sister.!He!does!not!deserve!her!at"all."!
"But! what! if! he! really! cares! about! her?"! Nakuru! persisted.! "And! she,!
him?"!
For!one!shocking!moment!Nakuru!thought!Touya!was!going!to!attack!
her,! but! he! turned! to! stare! at! Sakura's! cot! as! if! she! was! there,! sound!
asleep.!
"You! can't! fathom! the! extents! I! went! through! to! keep! Sakura's!
honour,"!said!Touya,!passing!his!hand!wearily!over!his!eyes.!
"And!now!she!is!a!concubine!to!the!Great!Imperial!Son!of!China!!Many!
would!consider!that!a!great!honour!and!you!know!it."!
Touya!made!a!derisive!sound.!
"And!she!wants!to!be!here!"!
Touya! cracked! his! neck! irritably.! "You've! been! talking! to! her,! haven't!
you?"!
By!her!silence,!Nakuru!answered!him.!
"SakuraDchan! says! she! can! be! happy! with! the! prince,"! Nakuru! told!
Touya,! after! a! while.! "And! that! you! can't! see! that! because! you're!
determined!to!hate!him."!
240!
"When!he!discards!her,!she'll!see!why,"!said!Touya!flatly.!"I!pray!each! Chapter 17
night!that!he!dies!in!this!damn!war."! Only"when"all"contribute"their"firewood"can"they"build"up"a"strong"fire.!
"He's!the!father!of!her!child!"!cried!Nakuru.! ~"Chinese"Proverb"
"Concubines'!children!mean!nothing!to!someone!like!him!!What!do!you!
A!sea!of!fallen!leaves!whipped!up!around!Sakura!who!was!perched!on!
think!will!happen!if!he!becomes!emperor?!He!would!have!hundreds"of!
a!flat!boulder.!The!scene!was!like!a!living!mural,!both!captivating!and!
children! with! hundreds" of! women.! I! heard! he! already! has! a! wife! and"
unearthly.! She! glanced! over! her! shoulder! with! such! regality! it! made!
consort,!and!from!what!I've!heard!they!have!already!lost!his"favour."!
Eriol! pause.! In! that! moment! Sakura! reminded! him! of! Kaho! and! a!
Nakuru!blinked.! nostalgic! sensation! washed! over! him.! Then! she! grinned! at! him! and!
"What's! more,"! said! Touya! in! a! small,! vicious! manner! that! made! her! reverted!to!her!usual!simple!self.!
skin! crawl.! "He! will! never! accept! a! Japanese! heir.! Chinese! nobility! is! Her! face! aglow,! Sakura! ambled! over! to! Eriol! who! had! just! finished!
the! most! rigid! one! there! is,! so! stop! encouraging! my! sister! with! your! laying!down!a!cloth!for!them!to!sit!on.!She!was!not!use!to!seeing!him!
romantic!fantasies!Akizuki!"! perform! such! a! menial! task! and! immediately! lowered! herself! and!
He!stood!abruptly!and!rushed!out!the!tent.!Nakuru!was!not!remained! began!fussing!with!the!cloth.!
where! she! was.! Touya! was! only! taking! out! his! frustration! on! her! "HiiragizawaDsan,! I'm! so! sorry!"! she! said! as! though! something! tragic!
because!he!could!not!do!it!to!Sakura.!She!wished!she!knew!how!to!tell! had!happened.!"I!was!daydreaming.!I'm!so!rude!to!make!you!do!this..."!
Touya!that!he!hated!Syaoran!so!much!because!the!prince!was!the!only!
"I'm!capable!of!casting!a!man's!memory!of!his!father!and!mother!into!
man!he!saw!as!capable,!of!drawing!Sakura!away!from!him.!
oblivion!SakuraDsan;!I!think!I'm!more!than!able!to!lay!down!a!cloth."!
!
Sakura's! mouth! fell! open! as! the! full! impact! of! Eriol's! words! sank! in.!
! Quickly! closing! it,! she! struggled! to! find! a! comfortable! position! on! the!
! ground.!It!had!nothing!to!do!with!the!stones!and!pebbles!because!the!
! cloth!was!soft!and!thick;!but,!it!had!everything!to!do!with!her!delicate!
! condition.!
! "Are!you!alright?"!asked!Eriol,!sensing!her!discomfort.!
! "Hai."!
! "Good,"!he!said.!"Usually!we!have!horrible!winters!but!the!weather!is!
quite!warm!this!year,!so!I!thought!you'd!enjoy!some!time!outside.!My!
! cousin!on!the!other!is!a!different!story."!
! "I!know.!He!always!wants!me!in!bed,"!Sakura!complained!as!she!fixed!
! her!winter!coat.!
! "You!are"his!concubine."!
! Silence.!Eriol!smiled.!Sakura!gasped.!
! "No!no!no,!I!mean!he!always!wants!me!lying!down!"!
! Immediately,!Sakura's!cheeks!turned!a!rosy!hue!and!she!smacked!her!
! hands! over! her! face.! It! was! a! hilarious! sight.! Maybe! if! he! had! a! sister!
! like! Sakura,! Eriol! thought! with! an! amused! smile,! he! would! be! just! as!
protective!of!her!as!Touya.!
!
"This!is!for!you,"!Eriol!stated,!holding!out!a!fist!to!Sakura,!who!was!still!
!
241! 242!
recovering!from!her!embarrassment.!
Uncurling!his!fingers,!he!revealed!a!pink!key!with!the!head!of!a!strange!
bird.! With! both! hands,! Sakura! accepted! it,! like! she! was! holding! a!
broken!piece!of!glass.!
"What!is!it?"!she!asked.!
"It's! a! magic! key.! It! unlocks! a! staff! that! will! help! you! channel! your!
magic,"! said! Eriol! plainly,! with! the! thought! that! he! would! restrain!
himself!D!just!this!once!D!from!making!a!person's!head!spin!with!cryptic!
hints.!
"I! created! it! using! the! power! of! darkness.! But! you! have! your! own!
magic,! so! you! need! to! release! the! staff! using! your! own! incantation.!
Then!the!image!of!the!key!will!be!a!reflection!of!your!magic."!
Sakura's!brows!knotted!as!she!tried!to!follow!everything!that!Eriol!was!
saying.!She!studied!the!bird!key!between!her!palms.!
"But!I!don't!know!any!incantations,"!she!said.!
Eriol!placed!a!hand!inside!his!robes!and!drew!out!another!key;!this!one!
was! a! shiny! dark! blue.! He! held! out! his! hand.! The! key! glowed! and!
levitated!above!his!palm!as!a!gold!magic!circle!appeared!beneath!them.!
"Key! concealing! the! power! of! the! darkness,! show! your! true! form!
before!me."!
A! gust! of! wind! whipped! about! them,! but! far! from! feeling! scared,!
Sakura!was!excited!and!observed!Eriol!intently.!
"By!our!contract,!I!Eriol!command!you,!Release!"!
The!key!disappeared!within!a!blinding!light!and!in!its!place!Eriol!held!a!
long! staff,! at! the! top! of! which! was! a! figure! of! the! Sun! with! long,!
protruding!rays.!
Sakura!clapped!her!hands!together.!
"Amazing!"! she! exclaimed.! "Demo...! I! thought! dark! magic! was! bad,!
HiiragizawaDsan."!
"Not! always,"! said! Eriol! resting! the! staff! across! his! lap.! "Any! type! of!
magic! can! be! bad.! It! depends! on! the! magician.! But! it's! true! that! dark!
magic!does!have!a!tendency!to!dominate!the!user.!Now!!Release!your!
key.!Don't!give!me!that!look!D!all!you!have!to!do!is!clear!your!mind.!The!
words!will!come!eventually."!
Sakura! gave! a! determined! nod.! She! closed! her! eyes! and! did! as! Eriol!
said.!She!struggled!so!long!with!trying!to!feel!whatever!it!was!she!was!
supposed! to! be! feeling! that! her! legs! began! to! cramp! and! her! lower!
back!hurt!because!of!her!stillness.!
243!
"Relax,"!uttered!Eriol.!"Be!patient."!
His!voice!was!as!wispy!as!a!lullaby!and!she!found!herself!going!into!a!
trance;!then!it!happened.!A!light!sparked!deep!inside!her!and!an!image!
of!a!star!appeared!in!her!mind.!Sakura!shivered!with!euphoria!as!she!
held!out!her!hands,!preparing!to!hold!the!slim!length!of!the!staff!within!
them.!As!with!Eriol,!a!golden!magic!circle!appeared!as!a!gust!of!wind!
curled!about!them.!
"Key!concealing!the!power!of!the!stars,!reveal!thy!true!form!before!me.!
By!our!contract,!I,!Sakura!command!you!!Release!"!
The!head!of!the!staff!morphed!into!a!bright!golden!star!and!it!began!to!
grow.!
"Yatta!"! Sakura! cried! happily! as! she! stared! at! the! pink! staff! in! her!
hands.!"Sugoi!!Sugoi!"!
Eriol! gave! himself! a! mental! pat! on! the! back! D! he! always! exceeded! his!
own! expectations.! Initially,! the! magician! was! not! sure! if! creating!
something!using!his!magic!would!work!for!her.!But!the!transition!from!
Darkness!to!Star!was!seamless.!He!should!teach!but!who!could!afford!
his!expertise?!
"That's!enough!for!today."!
"Aww,"!lamented!Sakura.!She!gave!him!puppy!dog!eyes.!"Let's!do!one!
more!thing,"!she!bowed!low,!"Onegai!itashimasu?"!
Eriol!tried!to!block!out!Sakura's!cuteness!but!he!felt!as!though!he!was!
channelling! Tomoyo.! Now! he! understood! why! she! was! always!
shouting!"KAWAII!"!He!pitied!Syaoran!for!the!day!Sakura!realized!her!
effect!on!others.!He!should!have!expected!her!behaviour!though;!new!
practitioners! were! always! eager! to! use! as! much! of! their! magic! as!
possible.!
Eriol!relented.!
"What!do!I!have!to!do?"!Sakura!squealed.!
"Only!you!can!figure!that!out."!
"NANI?"!
"I! made! you! the! staff,! but! you! have! to! make! the! Cards! on! your! own.!
You! should! be! able! to! discern! the! kind! of! magical! entities! you! have!
control!of!through!meditation!or!most!commonly,!necessity,"!he!told!a!
dumbfounded!Sakura.!
For!the!second!time!that!afternoon,!her!mouth!fell!open.!Sakura's!face!
could!not!have!been!blanker!and!Eriol!chuckled.!
"I!have!faith!in!you."!
244!
That!may!be!true,!thought!Sakura,!but!he!did!not!ask!if!she!had!faith!in!
herself.! She! tried! to! remember! the! first! time! something! strange!
happened! around! her.! It! was! when! she! was! having! a! bath! in! the!
Forbidden! City.! She! was! thinking! about! the! Cherry! Blossoms! back!
home!and!suddenly!a!Cherry!Blossom!petal!appeared!out!of!nowhere.!
Then!she!sang!with!Tomoyo!and!she!really!wanted!to!make!her!friend!
happy! but! it! was! not! really! her! voice! D! it! was! too! ethereal.! Then! she!
made!wind!appear,!then!a!sort!of!shield!and!long!vines.!
Flowers,!Wind,!Branches,!Shield,!Song...!but!these!names!did!not!seem!
right!to!her.!No.!Flower,!Wind,!Forest,!Shield,!Song...!
Eriol!glanced!around!as!the!air!around!them!stilled.!Sakura!was!deep!
in!thought,!muttering!to!herself!and!aware!of!nothing.!
"Flower,!Windy,!Shield,!Song,!Tree...!
She!was!envisioning!each!element!perfectly!as!she!chose!their!names.!
Sakura!snapped!her!fingers.!
"I!got!it!!Flower,!Windy,!Shield,!Song!and!Wood!"!
Suddenly,!everything!returned!to!life.!Eriol's!hair!was!blown!out!of!its!
usually! neat! position! and! was! dancing! around! his! tranquil! face.! Six!
independent! sources! of! light! manifested! before! Sakura.! She! watched!
spellDbound,! as! out! of! these! lights,! six! pink! Cards! emerged.! Sakura!
made! a! sound! halfway! between! a! gasp! and! a! giggle.! There! were!
illustrations!of!various!creatures!and!objects!on!one!side!of!the!Cards!
and!symbols!of!circles!and!stars!on!the!other.!
Eriol!took!off!his!glasses!and!cleaned!them!with!the!sleeve!of!his!robe.!
He!was!bringing!Sakura!closer!to!her!premonition!by!teaching!her!how!
to! control! her! magic,! he! knew! but! he! had! prolonged! teaching! her! so!
long!it!was!almost!winter.!
"Ano...!is!something!wrong!HiiragizawaDsan?"!asked!Sakura,!cards!and!
staff!in!hand.!
He!slipped!on!his!glasses!and!smiled.!
"Not!at!all."!
The!end!of!her!lesson!with!Eriol!came!too!quickly!for!Sakura's!liking,!
but!the!Sun!was!sinking!into!the!horizon!and!her!stomach!was!starting!
to! make! grumbling! noises.! She! was! admiring! her! Cards! when! a!
memory!came!to!mind.!
"Before! the! night! I! had! that! dream,"! she! told! Eriol.! "I! was! talking! to!
Xiao!Lang!and,!it!was!strange!but!I!saw!him!fighting!Lu!Sheng.!Only,!his!
hair!was!longer...!Was!that!the!past?"!
245!
"Yes,"!said!Eriol,!his!eyes!lighting!up!with!mirth.!"He!had!a!queue.!We!
all!did.!Then!he!cut!it!because!it!"bothered"!him.!And!we!all!did!!Except!
Yue!who!refuses!to!break!tradition."!
"I!see,"!said!Sakura!as!she!stowed!her!cards!in!her!long!winter!coat!and!
rose!to!her!feet.!
"That!fight!made!people!fear!him,"!said!Eriol!as!he!folded!the!cloth!to!
return!to!the!camp.!
"Because!he!was!very!powerful."!
"No,"!Eriol!said.!
Sakura!winched.!
"Are!you!alright?"!
She!took!a!few!deep!breaths!while!rubbing!her!middle.!
"Yes,!I!think!so."!
Eriol!nodded.!
"Yue!and!I!possess!stronger!magic!than!Xiao!Lang,"!he!continued.!"But!
his!intent!sets!him!apart."!
Sakura!sighed.!
"I!wish!everyone!was!at!peace!with!each!other."!
"Then!what!would!royals!and!nobles!do?"!asked!Eriol,!guiding!Sakura!
over!a!rocky!pathway.!"We!gossip,!we!conspire,!we!hate,!we!kill!each!
other,! until! we! cannot! remember! how! it! all! began.! And! the! result! is!
where! we! are! now,! at! war! with! our! brothers,! after! many! years! of!
breeding!odium!and!animosity.!What!could!we!do!with!peace?"!
As! they! approached! the! army! camp! Eriol! said,! "I! won't! be! here! for! a!
while!SakuraDsan.!I!have!to!retrieve!a!certain!Moon!Bell."!
"Should! I! continue! to! practice! magic?"! asked! Sakura! with! restrained!
excitement,!and!to!her!utter!delight,!Eriol!said,!"Yes."!
!
Syaoran!cracked!his!back,!groaning!loudly.!The!only!time!he!had!ever!
been!so!irritated!he!was!sitting!in!Court!in!the!Forbidden!City.!He!was!
attempting,!quite!unsuccessfully,!to!channel!a!new!source!of!magic!he!
could! use! but! so! far! nothing! was! working! like! he! needed! it! to.! The!
strongest!sources!of!magic!were!celestial!objects!and!none!were!being!
kind!to!him!at!the!moment.!
Throwing! on! a! coat,! he! went! for! a! stroll! to! relieve! his! tension! and!
surprise,! surprise,! he! ended! up! in! front! of! Sakura's! tent.! Instead! of!
finding! her! messily! sewing! a! blanket,! a! new! project! of! hers,! he! found!
246!
her!tossing!and!turning!on!her!cot.!A!servant!girl!was!trying!to!placate!
her,!but!Sakura!was!well!on!the!verge!of!tears.!Syaoran!kneeled!at!her!
side.!
"What!is!it?"!
"It!hurts,"!said!Sakura!hugging!her!middle.!
"What!did!she!eat?"!Syaoran!asked!the!frightened!servant.!
"It's!not!that!kind!of!pain,"!said!Sakura!with!a!whimper.!
Sweat! plastered! her! bangs! to! her! forehead! and! there! was! no! trace! of!
her!usual!smile.!
"I!want!oniiDchan,"!she!cried.!
"KinomotoDsan!rode!out!somewhere!with!AkizukiDsan!this!afternoon,"!
said!the!servant.!"I!don't!know!where!they!are."!
Syaoran!gathered!Sakura!in!his!arms.!
"Bring!a!hot!bath,"!said!Syaoran,!and!the!servant!ran!off.!
He!rocked!Sakura!back!and!forth!as!three!servants!set!up!a!large!tub!of!
water.! They! stood! waiting! to! bathe! her! but! Syaoran! befuddled! them!
when!he!said,!"Leave."!
They!glanced!at!one!another.!Several!times,!they!opened!their!mouths!
and! attempted! to! speak! but! only! one! girl! found! her! voice! and! asked,!
"Don't!you!mean!for!us!to!bathe!her?!Great!Imperial!Son?"!
Syaoran's!eyes!hardened.!
"I! don't! mean! for! you! to! do! anything! but! what! I! tell! you! to! do,"! he!
snapped.!"And!I!am!not!in!the!habit!of!repeating!my!orders."!
That!was!enough!to!send!the!servants!scurrying!away.!Syaoran!huffed.!
Asking! him! questions.! Who! did! they! they! they! were?! Clearly! he! was!
being! too! easy! on! his! subjects! these! days.! That! would! have! to! be!
remedied.!
"XiaoD"!
"Shhh...!don't!speak,"!he!said!as!he!removed!Sakura's!yuanlingshan.!He!
smiled! to! himself.! He! had! learned! how! to! properly! remove! these!
tangles! of! mess! at! last.! As! he! was! about! to! take! off! her! robes,! Sakura!
stopped!him.!
In!response!to!his!inquiring!eyes,!she!said,!"I!don't!look!the!same."!
She!tried!to!move!away!from!him!but!he!held!her!in!place.!Obstinately!
pulling!her!clothes!aside,!he!paused!as!he!saw!what!Sakura!meant.!Her!
belly! was! no! longer! flat;! it! was! round! and! protruding.! He! could! not!
believe! he! had! not! noticed! a! thing! until! now.! Then! again,! her! clothes!
247!
were!designed!to!be!conservative.!Sakura!looked!away.!
Without!a!word,!Syaoran!stripped!himself,!took!Sakura!into!his!arms!D!
at!which!point!he!realized!she!was!a!bit!heavier!D!and!entered!the!tub.!
Syaoran! clumsily! attempting! to! massage! her,! Sakura! began! to! relax!
and!she!leaned!into!his!chest.!
He!could!not!stop!staring!at!her!midDsection.!The!fact!that!there!was!a!
baby!inside!Sakura!blew!his!mind.!It!fascinated!him!and!scared!him!all!
at! the! same! time.! It! was! silly,! he! knew,! but! there! was! nothing! his!
teachers!taught!him!that!could!prepare!him!to!be!a!father.!Suppose!he!
was!too!harsh,!too!strict,!too!much!like!his!own!father?!Suppose!D!
Syaoran!blinked.!He!could!have!sworn!something!just!pushed!against!
Sakura's!belly...!from!the!inside.!There!it!was!again!!Wait...!could!it!be?!
His!hand!slid!down!to!her!stomach!and!she!flinched.!
"What!are!you!doing!"!she!exclaimed,!completely!selfDconscious.!
Syaoran! hugged! her! around! the! shoulder! with! one! hand! and! kept! his!
other!hand!on!her!stomach.!Resting!his!chin!in!the!crook!of!her!neck,!
he!closed!his!eyes.!
"Xiao!Lang...?"!
"Shhh."!
Syaoran's! breathing! slowed.! He! was! so! still,! she! thought! that! he! had!
fallen!asleep.!The!water!was!losing!its!heat!and!still!he!did!not!move.!
She!did!not!mind!being!with!Syaoran!like!this!but!it!unnerved!her!a!bit.!
She! felt! her! baby! move! inside! her! again! and! saw! Syaoran! tracing! its!
movements!with!his!fingers.!He!rubbed!his!cheek!against!hers!softly.!
"I!love!you,"!he!whispered.!
And! his! body! stiffened.! He! sat! up! and! Sakura! turned! around! to! face!
him.!Was!she!imagining!things?!
"I! didn't! mean! to! say! that,"! said! Syaoran! still! whispering,! his! face!
blank.!
Sakura! drew! her! knees! up.! Of! course,! he! did! not! mean! to! say! it.! She!
gave!a!shaky!smile!and!grabbed!a!nearby!towel,!leaving!Syaoran!alone!
in!the!tub.!She!put!on!her!night!clothes!and!settled!herself!onto!her!cot.!
A! while! later,! she! heard! a! splash! as! Syaoran! exited! the! tub! and! then!
she!felt!him!lie!down!behind!her,!fully!clothed.!
"Are!you!angry?"!Syaoran!asked.!
"No."!
"Then!why!won't!you!look!at!me?"!
Sakura!turned!her!head!and!gazed!at!him.!
248!
"I! really! did! not! mean! to! tell! you! that! Sakura,"! he! said,! brushing! his! "They!don't!know!why!this!is!happening,!but!it'll!stop!soon,"!she!told!
knuckles!against!her!cheek.!"But...!I!mean!it."! him.!"Don't!go."!
"Honto?"! Syaoran!returned!to!his!former!position.!
He!nodded.!He!was!never!insincere.! "When!were!you!going!to!tell!me?"!he!asked.!
"I!love!you!too,"!she!confessed.! She!bit!her!lip.!
Syaoran!stared!at!her.!A!mixture!of!doubt!and!amazement!covered!his! "Sakura."!
face! because! he! was! finding! it! hard! to! believe.! Being! a! prince,! many! Looking! away,! she! said! guiltily,! "I've! been! practicing! magic! with!
women!including!Meilin!and!HuaDLing!had!said!they!loved!him,!which! HiiragizawaDsan.!You!always!insisted!on!me!not!being!active!and!now!
had! only! sweetened! his! disdain! for! them.! However,! Sakura! was! the! that! I! am,! I'm! getting! pains.! I! thought! you'd! be! angry! with! me.! I!
first!one!he!wanted!to!believe.! thought!the!pain!would!go!away."!
"If!it's!a!lieD"! "Hiiragizawa!! That! basD"! Then! he! looked! at! Sakura's! middle! again.!
"It's!not,"!she!said!quickly.! Lowering!his!voice!as!though!the!baby!could!hear!him,!he!said,!"I'll!kill!
Syaoran!brushed!his!lips!against!her!plump!ones.! him!first!thing!in!the!morning."!
"But!even!if!it!is...!I'm!glad."! "He's!gone."!
He! kissed! her! lightly! and! turned! her! around! to! face! him,! his! hand! on! "Gone?!Where?"!
her!waist.! "He!said...!he!was!going!to!get!a!Moon!Bell,"!said!Sakura,!her!breathing!
"If! we! were! in! the! Forbidden! City,"! said! Syaoran,! his! eye! landing! on! returning!to!normal.!
Sakura's!belly!which!rested!lightly!against!his.!"QiaoDsensei!would!kill! Syaoran!sighed.!
me!if!he!saw!us!in!this!position.!I!think!this!is!one!time!he!would!have! "In!the!morning,!we'll!take!care!of!this.!For!now!just!get!someD"!
tradition!behind!him."!
"Rest,"!Sakura!finished.!
"We're! not! in! the! City,"! said! Sakura,! her! face! leaning! closer! to!
Syaoran!kissed!the!top!of!her!head.!
Syaoran's.!
"Yes,!my!cherry!blossom."!
"You're! right.! To! hell! with! the! City,"! muttered! Syaoran! as! he! pulled!
Sakura!into!his!arms!and!pressed!their!lips!together.!Just!as!they!got!to! !
that!point!where!the!kiss!should!be!deepening!he!pulled!back.!"But!we! !
can!still!respect!tradition."! !
"You! didn't! when! you! cut! your! hair!"! exclaimed! Sakura,! surprising! !
Syaoran.! !
Syaoran!stared!at!her,!surprised.!The!corners!of!his!mouth!curved.! !
"Some!traditions!have!more!merit!than!others."! !
Sakura!laughed!incredulously.!Then!suddenly,!she!gasped,!completely! !
winded.!Syaoran!tore!himself!away!from!her.!
!
"Did!I!hurt!you?"!
!
Sakura!inhaled!and!exhaled!steadily.!
!
"I'll!call!someone."!
!
Before!Syaoran!could!move,!she!grabbed!his!hand.!
!

249! 250!
Chapter 18
To" be" uncertain" is" to" be" uncomfortable," but" to" be" certain" is" to" be"
ridiculous.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Syaoran! stood,! arms! folded,! observing! the! doctor's! diagnosis! of!
Sakura.! Previously,! Syaoran! had! never! heard! of! a! HingDsensei! but!
when! he! went! in! search! of! a! doctor! himself,! Hing! was! one! of! the! few!
who!did!not!jump!to!the!opportunity!presented.!It!was!natural!for!him!
to!be!mistrustful!of!people!who!appeared!too!eager;!and!judging!from!
the!man's!demeanour!and!tone!of!voice,!Syaoran!thought!he!would!be!
perfect!to!take!care!of!Sakura.!
It! did! help! Hing's! case! also,! that! he! was! not! particularly! attractive.!
Syaoran!gave!himself!a!mental!pat!on!the!back.!The!only!thing!worse!
than! an! attractive! doctor! was! an! attractive! male! servant;! that! just!
spelled!one!word:!Trouble,!and!on!occasion:!Yukito.!
Sakura!drew!back!her!long!sleeves!delicately!and!extended!her!hands!
palm! up! so! that! her! inner! wrists! were! exposed.! The! doctor! placed! a!
wooden!block!between!himself!and!Sakura!and!had!her!rest!her!hands!
on!it.!
"I'm!going!to!check!her!pulse,"!HingDsensei!told!Syaoran.!
Syaoran! nodded! and! using! three! fingers,! HingDsensei! lightly! applied!
pressure! to! various! points! on! her! wrist.! Satisfied,! he! withdrew! his!
hands.!
"Let's!see!your!tongue."!
Syaoran!smiled!when!Sakura!stuck!her!tongue!out!because!she!tried!to!
look! at! it! which! made! her! appear! crossDeyed.! She! caught! his! amused!
expression,! froze! and! blushed,! embarrassed.! She! did! not! look! at! him!
again,!until!the!diagnosis!was!done,!but!the!rosy!hue!on!her!cheeks!did!
not!fade!away.!
"Great!Imperial!Son?"!
"What?"! said! Syaoran! blankly,! his! eyes! still! on! Sakura.! He! gave! his!
head!a!little!shake.!"I'm!listening."!
"It's! an! indigestion! problem.! It's! uncomfortable! but! not! overly!
serious."!
"What!are!you!going!to!give!her!for!it?"!
"I'll! change! her! diet,! and! show! her! how! to! sleep! and! sit! differently! to!
alleviate!the!discomfort."!
"Is!that!all?"!asked!Syaoran!frowning.!"Don't!you!have!some!medicine!
251!
for!this?"!
"I! assure! you! it's! not! needed,"! the! doctor! answered,! head! bowed.! "If!
she!continues!to!feel!the!same!way,!there!is!always!acupuncture."!
Syaoran!nodded,!appreciating!Hing's!honesty.!He!did!hope!though,!that!
it! would! not! reach! to! acupuncture.! Even! though! HingDsensei! was! a!
doctor,!Syaoran!was!still!bothered!by!the!idea!of!Sakura!removing!her!
clothes!in!front!of!him.!
"If!you!wish!I!can!check!in!on!her!from!time!to!time,"!said!HingDsensei.!
"To!be!on!the!safe!side!of!course."!
"That!won't!be!necessary."!
HingDsensei!nodded!and!immediately!began!closing!his!doctor's!bag.!
"Why!can't!he!check!in!on!me?"!
Both! men! turned! to! Sakura.! Her! eyes! were! set! on! Syaoran,! her! head!
tilted! precariously! to! the! side.! Syaoran! almost! wanted! to! hit! HingD
sensei! for! the! horrorDstruck! look! he! had! on! his! face! because! of!
Sakura's! question.! Sure! enough,! by! midnight! if! it! took! so! long,!
everyone! would! know! that! "the! Great! Imperial! Son's! concubine! was!
questioning!him."!
Syaoran!took!in!a!deep!breath,!and!then!released!it!in!one!go.!
"Because! you! are! not! ill,"! he! said! rationally.! "Therefore! you! do! not!
require!constant!doctor!supervision."!
"But! D"! Sakura! shook! her! head! and! stared! at! him! like! it! was! obvious.!
"He!should!be!close!by.!To!be!on!the!safe!side!"!
HingDsensei!blanched!at!Sakura's!direct!quoting!of!him.!Syaoran!glared!
at!the!doctor,!whose!smooth!black!hair!seemed!to!have!been!suddenly!
struck!by!lightning.!
"If!you!need!him,!I'll!call!him.!There!is!nothing!more!to!discuss,"!said!
Syaoran.!
HingDsensei!was!on!his!feet,!ready!to!be!dismissed.!
"It! goes! without! saying! that! nothing! that! happened! here! is! to! be!
repeated!to!anyone,"!said!Syaoran,!his!tone!as!chilly!as!the!weather.!
HingDsensei!dipped!his!whole!torso!forward.!
"Yes,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
Sakura! stared! down! at! her! lap,! her! posture! comparable! to! that! of! a!
wilting! flower.! The! ambience! was! jarringly! quiet! now! that! they! were!
alone.! Syaoran! settled! beside! her,! waiting! for! Sakura! to! become! her!
cheery!self!again.!When!the!silence!became!too!insufferable!he!clasped!
252!
her!hand.!
"What!is!it?"!he!asked!worriedly.!
"When! I! was! young,! one! of! my! neighbours! was! having! a! baby,"! said!
Sakura,!fiddling!with!his!hands.!"She!had!stomach!pains!too."!
Syaoran! gave! her! hand! a! little! squeeze,! encouraging! her! to! continue!
when!she!fell!silent.!
"Her! husband! was! away! so! his! grandmother! was! in! charge! of! the!
household,"! said! Sakura.! "She! knew! that! he! cared! for! his! wife,! so! she!
told!the!midwife!to!save!her.!Maki!pleaded!with!them!to!save!the!baby!
but!in!the!end,!she!died.!The!two!of!them!did."!
"Is!that!why!you!were!so!adamant!about!having!the!doctor!here?"!
"It's!so!sad,"!Sakura!said.!"Being!so!close!to!life!and!not!getting!there.!It!
would!have!been!Maki's!first!child."!
"You!seem!close!to!this!woman."!
"She!would!make!the!children!toys,"!said!Sakura.!"We!loved!her!for!it."!
"The! grandmother's! decision! was! practical! though,"! Syaoran! said!
abruptly.! "If! the! woman! had! lived,! then! she! could! have! had! another!
baby.!The!one!that!was!lost!wouldn't!matter.!Besides,!if!things!were!so!
grave!a!doctor!should!have!been!called."!
Sakura! said! nothing! which! led! Syaoran! to! conclude! that! he! had! said!
the!wrong!thing.!Perhaps!she!was!fearful!for!her!own!life,!he!thought.!
"That!won't!happen!to!you,"!he!told!Sakura,!as!though!he!had!been!to!
the!future.!
She!wrapped!her!arms!around!his!middle!and!he!in!turn!put!his!arms!
around!her,!believing!that!he!had!gotten!it!right!this!time.!
She! stared! up! at! him! and! asked,! "Would! you! be! with! me! when! it!
happens?"!
Syaoran,! momentarily! mesmerized! by! her! pink! lips! was! silent! for! a!
moment.!
"Men!aren't!allowed!to!be!at!the!birth!as!you!know."!
"But! you're! a! prince,"! said! Sakura,! a! gigantic! smile! on! her! face.! "The!
Great! Imperial! Son!! Or! does! this! tradition! also! have! merit?! Please! be!
there!with!me,!Xiao!Lang;!just!this!once."!
Syaoran's!hand!glided!up!to!her!neck!and!he!bent!forward,!kissing!her!
on! the! lips.! Sakura! was! very! responsive! which! made! his! blood! rush!
through! his! body.! She! sucked! on! his! bottom! lip! sending! him! into! a!
blissful!stupor,!before!pulling!away!slowly.!
253!
Syaoran!swallowed.!
"Whatever!you!want,"!he!conceded.!
"Promise?"!
He! nodded! and! Sakura! smiled! her! bright! smile.! Syaoran! was! secretly!
relieved! that! there! was! nothing! seriously! wrong! with! her.! He! had!
stayed!awake!the!entire!night!wondering!if!perhaps!Renshu!or!Lei!had!
made!her!ill!but!it!seemed!now!that!that!was!not!the!case.!
Still!he!felt!somewhat!uneasy,!especially!now!that!Sakura!had!told!him!
that!story,!and!when!he!felt!like!this,!it!was!usually!in!his!best!interest!
not!to!ignore!the!feeling.!Syaoran!pulled!her!closer!to!him,!fearful!that!
there! was! something! in! this! world! that! would! come! between! them!
when!all!he!wanted!was!to!be!with!her!forever.!
!
Since! his! talk! with! Sakura,! Syaoran! took! it! upon! himself! to! find! a!
maidservant!who!was!skilled!at!midwifery!D!skilled!being!the!operative!
word.!He!could!not!believe!he!had!not!considered!this!before.!He!had!
gotten!into!the!bad!habit!of!relying!on!Eriol!too!much!when!it!came!to!
matters!he!knew!nothing!about.!So,!now!that!his!cousin!was!gone,!he!
had!to!fend!for!himself.!
Syaoran! banged! his! hand! on! his! desk! for! the! eighth! time! that!
afternoon.!Curse!Hiiragizawa!Eriol!for!not!telling!him!how!to!deal!with!
this!situation!!He!was!about!to!wallow!in!selfDpity!when!a!force!burst!
through!his!tent.!
"Prince$Syaoran!!How!could!you?"!
Syaoran!gaped!at!Nakuru.!
"How!did!youD?"!
The! guards! at! the! tent! front! were! also! bewildered;! how! had! Nakuru!
run! past! them! with! such! a! speed?! They! made! to! come! hold! her! but!
Syaoran!raised!his!hand!and!they!withdrew.!
"Well?"!asked!Nakuru,!hands!on!hips.!"How!could!you!do!this?"!
"How! could! I! what?"! he! asked! her,! trying! to! understand! if! there! was!
something! he! was! supposed! to! be! aware! of.! He! never! really! had! any!
direct! dealings! with! the! woman,! so! he! assumed! she! was! here! on! a!
crusade! for! Kinomoto! Touya! D! not! that! he! seemed! the! type! who! had!
others!fight!his!battles.!
"I!heard!you!were!looking!for!a!midwife."!
Syaoran!blinked.!
"So?"!
254!
"Soooo,"!said!Nakuru,!walking!over!to!his!desk.!She!laid!her!palms!flat!
on! its! surface! and! leaned! over,! her! face! almost! touching! Syaoran's.!
"Why!didn't!you!ask!me?"!
Syaoran!leaned!back!in!an!attempt!to!regain!his!personal!space.!
"Why!would!I!ask!you?"!he!said,!thoroughly!perplexed!now.!
Nakuru's!eyes!were!wide.!
"Because!I!happen!to!have!experience,"!she!declared,!holding!a!hand!to!
her!chest.!
Syaoran!cocked!his!eyebrow!sceptically.!
"What?"!she!screeched.!"I!do!"!
"How!many!children!have!you!helped!given!birth!to?"!asked!Syaoran,!
folding!his!arms.!
Nakuru!paused.!
"Well...!none."!
"And!how!many!childbirths!have!you!attended?"!
Another!pause.!
"Well...!just!the!one,!but!that's!more!than!you!I'm!sure...!and!I!swear!I!
know!what!I'm!doing!"!
Syaoran!stood.!
"Let! me! see! if! I'm! getting! this! right,"! he! said,! mockery! dripping! thick!
like!honey!from!every!word.!"After!all!you!just!admitted,!you!want!me!
to!entrust!Sakura's!wellDbeing!to!you?!You!can't!be!serious."!
Nakuru!went!quiet.!Syaoran!expected!her!to!storm!out!but!instead!she!
threw!herself!at!his!feet!and!wrapped!her!arms!around!his!legs.!
"What!theD!"!
"You!have!to!let!me!do!it!!Come!on,!give!a!girl!a!chance!"!
Syaoran!twisted!haphazardly,!trying!to!get!her!off!of!him!but!her!grip!
was! iron.! He! could! not! believe! her! slender! frame! possessed! such!
strength.!It!was!all!he!could!do!not!to!hit!her!over!the!head!just!to!see!if!
that!would!work.!
"Why!is!this!so!important!to!you?"!he!asked,!exasperated.!
She!gazed!at!him!with!puppy!dog!eyes.!
"If!I!deliver!SakuraDchan's!baby,!Touya!will!see!me!as!wife!material!and!
then!he'll!want!to!marry!me!for!sure!"!
Syaoran!stared.!
"Oh.!Well!if!that's!the!case..."!
255!
Nakuru's!eyes!grew!with!hope.!
"Hell!no!"!
"What?"!
"I'm! not! going! to! let! you! do! it! to! impress! him!! And! he's! not! even!
interested!in!you.!Have!you!no!shame?!Really,!where!is!your!father?"!
Nakuru's! eyes! turned! a! feral! red! and! glared! at! Syaoran.! All! traces! of!
attempted! cuteness! and! sucking! up! were! gone.! She! stood! with! the!
fluidity! of! a! cat.! Syaoran's! caution! hairs! on! the! back! of! his! neck! were!
shocked!into!an!upright!position.!
She!flipped!her!long,!brown!hair!over!her!shoulder.!
"Now! listen! here! Prince,"! she! said,! her! voice! deeper! and! more! selfD
assured.! "I! have! as! much! experience! as! any! woman! in! this! camp,!
because! guess! what?! An! army! has! no! need! of! midwives! so" you" have"
none."!
She!advanced!on!him!and!Syaoran!had!to!make!a!conscious!effort!not!
to!step!back,!much!to!his!astonishment.!
"I!am!going!to!deliver!Sakura's!baby!whether!you!like!it!or!not.!Is!that!
clear?"!
Syaoran! wanted! to! say! something! but! he! was! still! trying! to! come! to!
terms!with!what!he!was!seeing.!
"Good,"! said! Nakuru! when! he! did! not! reply! and! she! walked! out,!
without!the!signature!spring!in!her!step.!
Syaoran! ambled! over! to! his! chair! and! dropped! into! it.! He!
absentmindedly!pulled!his!papers!towards!him!and!picked!up!a!small!
jar!of!ink.!He!knew!Akizuki!Nakuru!was!a!bit!strange,!but!insane!was!
not! really! on! his! list! of! words! to! describe! her! D! until! now,! that! is.!
However,! she! was! right! about! one! thing:! she! was! the! best! candidate!
for!the!job;!unfortunately.!
!
The! following! days! were! uneventful! and! merely! grew! longer! and!
longer,!steadily!turning!into!weeks.!The!atmosphere!in!the!camp!was!
quickly! becoming! a! despondent! one.! Syaoran! drew! his! cloak! tighter!
around!his!shoulders,!taking!solace!in!the!fur!at!his!neck.!Even!he!felt!
the!hopelessness!acutely.!
He! looked! at! the! tassel! in! his! hands.! He! still! was! not! able! to! find! an!
alternative! source! of! magic! that! would! help! him! release! his! jian.!
Before,! he! used! the! moon! as! a! source;! he! tried! the! stars! like! Sakura!
and! that! worked! to! some! extent,! and! the! sun! like! Eriol,! but! that! was!
256!
not!working!well!for!him!either.!
It! was! like! his! father! was! standing! behind! him,! punishing! him! with! a!
smug! look! on! his! face.! Syaoran! struck! a! tree! trunk! with! his! palm.! He!
snapped! and! started! pummelling! the! trunk! with! his! frustrations.! The!
skin! on! his! knuckles! quickly! gave! way,! but! he! was! so! accustomed! to!
this,!it!did!not!hurt.!He!needed!it!to!hurt.!
He! heard! a! movement! behind! him! and! turned! to! see! Touya's! back!
retreating!behind!a!few!trees.!
"I'm! surprised! you're! not! taking! advantage! of! my! absence! to! pollute!
your!sister!against!me,"!said!Syaoran!bitterly.!
Touya! paused! and! turned! to! face! him.! His! gaze! dropped! to! Syaoran's!
knuckles,!painted!in!blood,!but!he!did!not!mention!it.!
"She's!too!tired,"!he!said!instead,!sounding!a!little!disappointed!like!he!
really!had!thought!about!badmouthing!Syaoran.!
Syaoran!nodded.!Sakura!was!quite!fatigued!lately!and!but!HingDsensei!
said!it!was!normal;!that!she!just!needed!ample!rest.!This!was!fine!with!
Syaoran!as!he!had!to!deal!with!his!magicDless!situation.!
Touya!gazed!around!the!dead!woods.!They!both!were!off!the!path,!and!
standing! in! the! heart! of! it.! No! sound! could! be! heard! for! a! mile.! The!
trees!had!lost!their!foliage!and!there!was!a!sense!of!foreboding!in!the!
air.!
"You!think!it!wise!to!be!here!on!your!own?"!asked!Touya.!
The!man's!tone!made!Syaoran!tense!briefly.!
"Why?!Do!you!plan!on!killing!me?"!
"Yes.!When!the!day!comes,!I'll!let!you!know,"!answered!Touya.!Syaoran!
said!nothing!to!this.!"I!suppose!you!have!it!in!mind!to!gut!me!as!well?"!
"No,"!said!Syaoran.!
Touya!raised!an!eyebrow.!
"I!don't!like!you,"!explained!Syaoran.!"But!I!can't!take!you!away!from!
her.! Your! family! is! unlike! my! own.! You! are! very! dependent! on! each!
other! for! happiness.! Sometimes! I! watch! you! two! and! it! makes! me!
resentful! because! she! has! never! been! as! happy! as! she! is! now! that!
you're!here.!I!see!how!she!lights!up!when!you!talk!to!her!and!in!those!
times! I! do! wish! you! were! dead! so! I! could! have! her! full! attention! like!
before.!But!I!can't!kill!you!myself."!
Syaoran!smirked!lazily.!
"Maybe!Yue!will!oblige!me."!
257!
Unconsciously,! they! strolled! together! for! almost! an! hour;! each!
blanketed!in!his!own!thoughts!but!fully!aware!of!the!other's!presence.!
Though! no! words! were! spoken,! it! was! evident! that! a! very! thick! wall!
was!crumbling!between!them.!Touya!stopped!suddenly.!
"Oi.! Gaki,"! he! said,! turning! to! Syaoran.! "My! hatred! for! you! is! nothing!
personal.!You!could!be!a!monk!and!I'd!still!hate!you."!
Syaoran!pulled!a!face.!
"I!doubt!a!monk!would!be!having!a!child!with!your!sister."!
Touya!clenched!his!jaw!tightly.!
"I! think! we! can! both! agree! that! I! can't! tell! jokes,"! he! said! quickly,!
stepping! away! in! case! Touya! decided! to! throw! a! punch.! Out! of!
curiousity,! he! asked,! "So! does! this! mean! you! won't! be! trying! to! kill!
me?"!
"Let's!not!get!ahead!of!ourselves."!
They!walked!on!in!silence!for!another!half!an!hour!when!Touya!spoke!
again.!
"Oi!gaki.!Akizuki!has!it!in!her!head!that!she's!the!kaiju's!midwife.!She!
said!that!you!personally!requested!that!she!be!midwife."!
Syaoran!came!to!a!standstill.!
"Well! I! may! have! implied! from! silence! that...! childbirth! is! such! a!
mysterious! thing! and! she's! a! woman! so! she! must! know! what! to! do."!
Syaoran! knocked! his! temple! with! two! fingers.! "Do! you! think! she's! a!
little!wrong!up!here!though?"!
Touya!eyed!him.!
"I!see!you!met!Ruby!Moon."!
"She! has! another! name! for! herself?"! asked! Syaoran! incredulously.! It!
was!worse!than!he!thought!!
Touya!turned!on!his!heels.!
"It!took!me!a!while!to!take!her!seriously!too.!But!I've!learnt!that!if!she!
says! she! can! do! something,! I! shouldn't! doubt! her,"! he! told! Syaoran.!
"I'm!sure!you!didn't!ask!her!but!if!I!was!making!the!decision,!it!would!
be!her."!
As!an!afterthought,!he!added,!"Don't!tell!her!I!said!that."!
"And!if!you!had!another!choice?"!asked!Syaoran,!just!to!be!sure.!
"I'd!take!it!in!a!heartbeat,"!replied!Touya.!
He!opened!his!mouth!but!Syaoran!caught!on.!
"I!won't!tell!her!you!said!that."!
258!
Chapter 19
I"dreamed"a"thousand"new"paths."I"woke"and"walked"my"old"one.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Syaoran!held!the!tassel!of!his!jian!at!eye!level,!studying!it,!willing!it!to!
obey!him.!He!focused!his!energy,!directing!it!to!the!object!in!his!hand.!
The!light!grew!in!intensity.!Then!a!long,!iron!blade!emerged.!The!light!
disappeared!with!a!slight!glint!at!the!blade's!tip.!
Then!suddenly,!the!jian!was!gone.!The!sound!of!horses'!hooves!muffled!
by! the! snow! was! unmistakable! to! Syaoran,! especially! in! the!
surrounding!quiet.!
"You!almost!had!it."!
Syaoran!dropped!his!hand!at!the!sound!of!Lei's!voice.!
"What!source!of!magic!did!you!use?"!he!asked,!pulling!the!reins!on!his!
horse.!He!leaped!off!its!back!in!one!fluid!movement.!
Syaoran!glared!at!him.!
"The!stars."!
"Have! you! tried! the! Sun?"! asked! Lei,! walking! into! the! clearing! where!
Syaoran!stood.!
"It!didn't!cross!my!mind,"!said!Syaoran!cynically.!
The! Sun! was! one! of! the! sources! of! magic! the! imperials! drew! power!
from.!Of!course!he!had!tried!it.!He!was!no!idiot.!
Syaoran! sat! on! a! flat! boulder,! eyes! hardened! with! controlled! despair!
that! veiled! a! deeper! obsession.! If! he! could! not! use! magic,! he! would!
certainly! fall! before! Lu! Sheng.! The! pressure! was! mounting! each! day!
and!the!fear!was!not!far!behind.!
Lei!stood!in!front!of!him,!arms!folded.!Syaoran!cocked!an!eyebrow.!
"Have!you!tried…?"!
Syaoran! knew! what! he! was! speaking! of.! It! would! surely! work,! but! at!
what! price?! Only! Eriol! was! successful! with! it! so! far,! and! perhaps! Lu!
Sheng,!but!it!was!still!too!early!to!tell!with!him.!
"No,"!he!replied.!
They! fell! into! silence,! each! buried! in! his! own! thoughts.! Lei! stooped!
down! and! gathered! a! handful! of! snow.! Patting! and! shaping! it! into! a!
solid!ball,!he!took!aim!somewhere!in!the!distance!and!launched!it.!He!
repeated! his! movements,! only! this! time,! he! held! the! snow! ball! out! to!
Syaoran.!
"You're!not!doing!anything!better!right!now,"!said!Lei.!
259!
Syaoran! snatched! it! from! him! and! launched! it! into! the! air!
unenthusiastically.! To! his! surprise! it! felt! good.! Lei! continued! to! hand!
him!the!snow!balls!until!Syaoran!was!on!his!feet!actively!partaking!in!
their!little!game.!
Lei!held!a!hand!up!to!his!brow,!tracing!the!path!of!Syaoran's!last!snow!
ball.!He!stared!at!his!younger!brother.!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"You! tell! me,"! said! Lei.! "I! expected! myself! and! Renshu! to! be! dead! by!
now.!Don't!get!me!wrong,!I'm!not!sorry!for!it.!You're!different.!Perhaps!
to!a!fault."!
Syaoran!went!rigid.!
"You!think!only!the!worse!of!me."!
"Not!exactly.!I've!always!been!intrigued!by!you,"!admitted!Lei!candidly.!
"Since! you! were! born.! Huangdi! may! have! helped! in! blazing! your!
legend,!of!making!you!seem!greater,!more!significant!than!every!other!
son!he!had."!
Syaoran's! jaw! locked.! He! was! not! in! the! mood! for! this.! He! took! off!
walking.!
"Xiao!Lang!"!
Syaoran!turned,!his!face!stoic.!
"You've!always!walked!around!with!the!air!of!a!god.!Renshu!more!than!
anyone!else!detested!it.!But!now!that!you!seem!as!mortal!as!can!be!its!
almost!painful!to!watch."!
"If!you've!come!just!to!insult!meD"!
"It's!nothing!everyone!else!isn't!thinking!"!snapped!Lei.!Yet!there!was!
not!a!hint!of!anger!on!his!face.!"You!know!what!needs!to!be!done.!We!
will!all!be!giving!our!best!behind!you,!it's!only!fair!you!do!the!same."!
Syaoran! said! nothing.! A! cool! wind! blew! creating! an! icy! atmosphere!
between!them.!
"According! to! the! scouts,! Yue! will! be! here! within! a! day,"! said! Lei!
mounting!his!horse.!"Get!your!head!straight."!
"Why!did!you!come?"!asked!Syaoran!crossly.!
"When!the!palace!was!attacked,!I!ran,"!said!Lei.!"I!have!shamed!myself.!
I!wish!to!regain!my!honour!by!the!side!of!Li!Xiao!Lang,!Great!Imperial!
Son,!the!most!dangerous!man!in!all!of!China!"!
He!leaned!low.!
"Isn't!that!how!they!use!to!say!it?"!
260!
With!that,!his!horse!galloped!into!the!distance.!Syaoran!stayed!where!
he!was,!listening!to!the!sounds!that!drifted!to!him!from!the!army!camp.!
So! many! lives! in! his! hands! and! only! one! he! cared! to! save.! He! could!
save! her,! right! now.! Yet,! he! had! a! duty! of! honour,! of! loyalty,! and! that!
was!another!thing!that!will!never!change.!
He!held!up!his!jian's!tassel!once!more,!eyes!closed.!
"I!call!upon!the!gods!of!darkness."!
! "Isn't!that!the!general's!brother?"!
For! the! fifth! time! that! evening! Sakura! looked! to! the! tent's! entrance,!
thinking! she! had! seen! the! flap! move.! She! lowered! her! head!
disappointed! for! a! fourth! time,! that! no! one! was! there.! Touya! sulked!
darkly.!
"I!see!I'm!no!longer!your!choice!of!company."!
Sakura!shook!her!head!vigorously.!
"I'm! always! happy! to! see! you! oniiDchan,"! she! said,! still! clearly!
distracted.!"It's!just!that..."!
"You!want!the!gaki."!
Sakura!smiled!apologetically.!
"He!hasn't!come!to!see!me!in!days.!Do!you!think!he's!all!right?!What!if!
he's!mad!at!me?"!
For!once,!Touya!did!not!say!a!bad!word!against!Syaoran.!All!he!told!her!
was,!"He's!training."!
Sakura!sighed.!
"That's! what! everyone! keeps! saying.! But! he! can't! find! time! to! say!
goodnight?"!
The! baby! squirmed! and! on! impulse,! her! hand! flew! to! her! stomach,!
tracing!its!form.!
"You!know!he!shouldn't!distress!me!so!much!oniiDchan!"!she!said!halfD
seriously.!
Touya! sat! observing! her,! his! face! a! myriad! of! emotions! Sakura! could!
not!decipher.!She!fidgeted!with!her!clothes.!
"He'll!be!here!tomorrow,"!said!Touya,!with!a!tone!of!finality!that!made!
Sakura!know!that!Syaoran!will!indeed!be!there.!
She!gave!a!toothy!grin.!She!placed!a!hand!on!her!brother's.!
"Do!you!still!hate!Syaoran?"!she!asked!softly.!"I!know!what!you!think!
of!the!imperials!oniiDchan!but!there!are!so!many!wonderful!people!in!
the!Forbidden!City.!I!miss!them!so!much.!It!feels!like!I've!known!them!
261!
forever."!
Touya!scoffed.!
"Only! you! can! be! kidnapped! then! embrace! your! kidnappers.! You! do!
know!that's!a!documented!condition!of!the!mind."!
"It! not! a! condition!! If! you! met! my! friends! it! would! be! impossible! for!
you!to!dislike!them,"!said!Sakura,!protectively.!"As!a!matter!of!fact,!I'm!
positive!you!would!not!dislike!YukitoDkun."!
"Hai."!
Touya!shot!her!an!"exactly"!look.!
"He!really!is!nice!!He!is!YueDsan's!opposite!in!a!way."!She!put!a!finger!
to!her!chin.!"But!just!as!goodDlooking.!Everyone!likes!him."!
She!took!a!moment!to!bask!in!the!glorious!image!of!Tsukishiro!Yukito.!
The!way!the!Sun!always!caught!his!hair!in!the!right!places!and!the!way!
his!fair!skin!glowed!in!its!light.!Flowers!surrounding!him...!
"Hanyaan!"!
Then!she!blushed!as!she!remembered!Touya!was!there,!gaping!at!her!
antics.!
"Hoe...!"!
"You're!pale,"!he!commented,!ignoring!her!embarrassment.!
"I!am?"!
"Hai.!I!thought!you!were!feeling!better."!
"I! am,"! Sakura! insisted.! She! shifted! uncomfortably! as! Touya's! gaze!
turned!more!piercing.!
"The!doctor!should!see!you!again."!
"There's! nothing! he! can! do,"! said! Sakura! with! certainty! that! made!
Touya's!eyes!narrow.!
"I! mean,"! she! corrected.! "There's! nothing! he! can! do! because! I'm! not!
sick.!I'm!fine!oniiDchan.!Stop!worrying."!
He!patted!her!on!the!head.!
"Don't!try!to!do!things!on!your!own,!or!always!feel!the!need!to!put!on!a!
brave!face,"!he!said.!"I'm!here.!You!can!tell!me!anything."!
"I!know!oniiDchan.!My!only!wish!would!be!to!have!OtouDsan!here!too."!
Dropping!his!hand,!Touya!tightened!his!jaw!in!distaste.!
"Why!would!you!want!that?!He!let!them!take!you!D."!
"There!was!nothing!he!could!do,"!said!Sakura!defensively,!her!cheeks!
262!
flushed.! "I! wouldn't! want! any! harm! to! come! to! OtouDsan! because! of!
me.!I!know!it!was!a!difficult!thing!for!him!to!do!"!
"Right."!
"I'm! happy! oniiDchan,"! said! Sakura! with! earnest.! "Be! happy! with! me.!
Don't!be!mad!at!our!father.!He!loves!us!with!all!his!heart."!
Touya!stood.!
"You!should!rest."!
Sakura,! exhausted,! eased! herself! down! on! her! side.! All! trace! of!
vibrancy! disappeared! as! Touya! left.! It! was! a! miracle! she! was! able! to!
hide!her!fatigue!from!her!brother.!Still,!he!was!suspicious!as!always.!
She! tapped! her! belly! lightly! with! her! fingertips.! Sakura's! throat! grew!
dry.!Her!heartbeat!quickened.!Her!eyes!rolled!to!the!back!of!her!head.!
She! whimpered,! terribly! frightened! as! her! body! moved! of! its! own!
accord.!
"Sakura?!SakuraDchan!"!
Somebody!was!holding!her!firmly.!Something!cold!was!pressed!against!
her!forehead.!
"Na..ku.."!
What! was! that! funny! taste?! Sakura! retched! and! vomited! until! her!
stomach!was!empty.!A!cloth!dabbed!at!her!mouth.!
"You're! burning! up!! I'm! going! to! get! the! doctor.! I! should! get! the!
prince!"!
The!prince.!Everything!became!clear.!
"No!"! exclaimed! Sakura,! grabbing! onto! Nakuru! desperately.!
Nevertheless,! the! woman! was! intent! on! alerting! Syaoran.! "NAKURUD
CHAN!!Please!"!
Sakura! held! onto! her! upper! arm! and! yanked! Nakuru! to! the! floor.!
Nakuru's!eyes!widened!with!shock.!
"Can't!you!see!that!I'm!fine?!I'm!not!sick."!
Nakuru!looked!up!suddenly!and!gasped!in!relief.!
"Prince!Li."!
Sakura! blinked.! She! did! not! know! what! Nakuru! was! looking! at! but!
there! definitely! was! no! prince! there.! Only! an! ambiguous! form,!
hovering!at!the!tent's!entrance.!The!outline!was!a!body!yes,!but!it!was!
composed! of! colours.! Lots! of! colours,! everDchanging! and! fluid! like!
water.!
"You!must!have!heard!she!wasn't!feeling!well,"!said!Nakuru,!rising!to!
263!
her!feet,!with!utmost!relief.!
The! figure! remained! where! it! was,! then! nodded! to! the! entrance.!
Nakuru!took!one!last!glance!back!at!Sakura!before!leaving!them!alone.!
Sakura!watched!all!of!this!in!wonder.!
"You're!not!Xiao!Lang,!are!you?"!
The!figure!began!moving!towards!her.!Like!a!painting,!it!gained!more!
dimension.!Flesh!started!to!form,!then!brown!hair,!eyes...!but!she!was!
not!fooled.!She!knew!exactly!what!to!do.!She!took!out!her!Star!Key.!
"Key!concealing!the!power!of!the!stars,!reveal!thy!true!form!before!me.!
By!our!contract,!I,!Sakura!command!you!!Release!"!
The!familiar!pink!staff!rest!lightly!in!her!hand!as!though!it!knew!how!
drained!she!was.!
"Illusion,"!she!said.!
Her!magic!circle!appeared!around!her!and!the!Illusion!swirled!in!front!
of!her!until!it!became!a!Card.!She!held!it!lightly!to!her!chest,!her!head!
spinning.!
"Arigatou."!
!
Sheng! glided! along! the! red! hallways! of! the! imperial! palace! as! quietly!
and! ethereal! as! the! moonlight.! His! long! robes! slithered! on! the! floor!
noiselessly! as! he! moved.! Slowly,! he! came! to! a! stop,! his! head! bowed!
low.! Eyes! sliding! to! his! right,! he! watched! the! door! next! to! him,! his!
shoulders!slightly!hunched!over.!
An! emotion! he! had! not! felt! in! years! inflated! his! chest.! Putting! out! a!
hand,! his! fingertips! grazed! the! door! and! abruptly,! his! hand! fell.! He!
breathed!out!feeling!his!chest!fall!then!rise!again.!
He!did!not!mean!to!come!to!this!way.!He!did!not!want!to!be!here!but!
now! that! he! was,! it! felt! like! he! was! powerless! to! turn! back.! This!
thought!angered!him.!
All!at!once,!he!swung!around!and!threw!the!door!open.!The!heat!of!the!
room! rolled! over! him! like! a! wave! and! the! smell! of! herbs! mixed! with!
decay!stung!his!nostrils.!A!man,!bent!and!crooked,!lay!wheezing!on!the!
bed,!death!written!across!his!face.!
Eyes! burning,! Sheng! rushed! to! him,! dropping! to! his! knees.! As! he!
reached!the!bed!however,!the!man!was!gone.!Only!a!new!bed,!covered!
in! vulgarly! ornate! sheets! remained.! He! clutched! them,! desperately!
trying!to!hold!onto!what!was!not!there.!His!hands!shook.!
"...father..."!
264!
He!kneeled!there,!motionless,!cold,!like!a!statue.!
Then,!with!a!tortured,!wounded!scream,!he!brought!his!fists!above!his!
head! and! struck! the! bed! violently,! breaking! the! thing! instantly.! The!
room! that! was! once! his! father's! was! no! more.! His! very! essence! was!
stripped!from!it.!There!was!nothing!of!him!there.!Nothing!of!him!at$all!!
Vases! and! furniture! exploded! across! the! room,! crashing! loudly! into!
walls!as!Sheng!worked!himself!up!into!a!rage.!He!ripped!tapestries!and!
paintings!from!the!walls,!sending!them!flying!through!the!air.!
His!long!locks!flew!about!him!as!though!his!very!rage!incited!them!to!
life.!Flinging!open!drawer!after!drawer!he!found!nothing!of!his!father's!
possessions.! Sheng! screamed! in! fury.! He! slammed! the! dresser! to! the!
ground!cracking!it!and!sending!wooden!shards!tearing!through!the!air.!
He!spun!around!and!around!desperate!for!more!things!to!shatter.!His!
heart! pumped! anger! and! hatred! through! his! body,! poisoning! all!
reason.!Yet,!finally,!as!suddenly!as!it!had!begun,!the!tantrum!broke.!
Emotionally! spent,! he! drifted! about! the! room! grasping! at! random!
things,! laughing! quietly! to! himself.! His! eyes! landed! on! a! piece! of!
broken!mirror.!He!fell!to!his!knees!despondently,!his!hair!and!clothes!
pooled!about!him.!
He!took!the!mirror!fragment!in!his!palm!staring!at!his!relection.!It!was!
so! strange.! He! had! not! looked! at! himself! since! he! was! a! teenager.!
Reflexively,! his! fingers! raked! at! his! scarred! cheek.! He! stared! into! his!
crazed!red!eyes,!unable!to!recognise!the!man!they!belonged!to.!
Carefully,!he!returned!the!piece!of!glass!to!the!floor.!With!all!the!selfD
control! he! could! muster,! Lu! Sheng! rose! to! his! feet.! He! tightened! the!
ties! on! his! clothes,! cleared! his! hair! from! his! face! and! strolled! calmly!
into!the!hallway.!
265!
Chapter 20
Heaven"has"a"road,"but"no"one"travels"it;"Hell"has"no"gate"but"men"will"
dig"to"get"there.!!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
In!the!centre!of!the!woods!sat!Syaoran!on!the!trunk!of!a!fallen!tree,!his!
jian!in!his!hands.!His!eyes!were!reflected!in!the!polished!blade!and!yet!
he!was!not!seeing!himself!as!he!was!lost!in!thoughts!and!memories!of!
days! gone! by.! His! body! was! hunched! over! with! the! weight! of! these!
things!yet!he!could!not!cast!them!from!his!mind.!
Syaoran!knew!he!should!get!up!and!return!to!his!army!but!he!had!no!
control! of! himself! right! now.! It! was! like! he! was! out! of! his! body,!
watching! himself! and! having! no! power! to! move! his! limbs.! It! was!
happening! again,! he! was! losing! himself.! He! must! focus! and! not!
succumb! to! the! darkness.! Even! as! he! thought! this,! he! stood! up!
suddenly.!
He! clutched! the! hilt! of! his! jian! behind! his! back! in! his! left! hand.! The!
blade! ran! upwards! laying! gently! against! his! spine.! Gracefully! he!
stepped! out! and! flowed! into! his! sword! forms.! His! steps! were! careful,!
precise!and!elegant.!The!power!running!through!him!was!intoxicating!
and!he!gave!in.!
His! movements! though! still! as! lithe! and! twisting! as! a! snake! became!
breathtakingly!sharp!and!swift.!Dried!leaves,!twigs!and!snow!whirled!
about!him!as!his!sword!swung!dangerously!in!his!hands.!He!bent!and!
the!trees!themselves!seemed!to!dance!with!Syaoran.!
Then! he! saw! him.! Sheng.! His! red! eyes! watched! Syaoran! with! amused!
interest!like!one!would!watch!a!newborn!pup!that!had!not!yet!gained!
control! of! its! legs.! Syaoran! propelled! himself! into! the! hair! and!
ruthlessly! slashed! downwards! but! Sheng! was! already! far! from! his!
reach.! He! growled.! He! lunged! at! Sheng! again! but! like! before,! every!
time!Syaoran!caught!up!to!him,!he!was!out!of!reach.!
He! screamed! loudly! struggling! to! bring! himself! back! to! reality! before!
he! went! mad.! He! dropped! to! his! knees,! holding! onto! his! jian! for!
support.!He!slipped!in!and!out!of!dizziness!but!finally!managed!to!clear!
away! the! fog! in! his! mind.! He! breathed! deeply! as! he! turned! to! Touya!
who!had!been!watching!him!silently!for!some!time!now.!
A!strange!expression!was!on!Touya's!face.!Syaoran!stared!at!himself!in!
his! blade.! His! usually! brown! eyes! were! almost! entirely! a! golden! hue.!
This!cannot!be!happening!to!him.!Not!now!when!the!entire!empire!was!
at!stake.!
266!
"What! do! you! want?"! he! asked! Touya! as! he! rose! to! his! feet.! "Is! it...!
her?"!
"Have!you!stayed!out!here!so!long!you've!forgotten!her!name?"!asked!
Touya.!
Syaoran!advanced!on!Touya,!incensed!to!the!point!of!debating!whether!
or!not!to!strike!the!man!down.!
"It!isn't!her,!"!said!Touya!after!a!moment!of!silence.!"Your!soldiers!are!
about!ready!to!disband.!By!the!end!of!the!day,!it!would!not!be!safe!for!
anyone!here."!
"The! generals! would! take! care! of! them.! I've! only! been! gone! for! a!
couple!of!days."!
"It's!been!longer!than!that.!A!week,!in!fact."!
Syaoran's!eyes!widened.!
"Is!this!true?"!
"Hai."!
"I'll!return!to!camp!now,"!said!Syaoran,!sliding!his!jian!into!the!sheath!
at!his!back.!
"I! don't! know! how! much! you! can! do,"! said! Touya,! following! Syaoran.!
"Tensions!are!very!high."!
"They!have!forgotten!themselves.!The!most!natural!law!is!filial!piety,"!
said!Syaoran.!"I!will!remind!them."!
"Filial!piety?"!
"My! duty! is! to! protect! my! country! and! people.! Theirs! is! to! obey! my!
command,!do!what!is!right,!be!loyal."!
Touya!glanced!at!Syaoran!out!of!the!corner!of!his!eyes.!
"What?"!asked!Syaoran,!staring!forward.!
"Nothing."!
The!army!camp!indeed!had!a!strained!atmosphere.!No!one!noticed!him!
and! Touya! as! there! was! a! commotion! up! ahead! that! held! their!
attention.! Three! of! the! more! seasoned! highDranking! soldiers! were!
directly! opposing! Renshu! and! the! generals.! A! fair! number! of! other!
notable! soldiers! stood! behind! the! opposing! ones! in! support.! The!
remaining! soldiers! hovered! around,! undecided! of! which! side! they!
were!on,!but!waiting!for!a!time!to!take!up!arms!against!either!one.!
Renshu!looked!at!the!soldier!who!was!speaking!to!him,!clearly!the!lead!
instigator.!
"Step!back,"!were!his!words,!ringing!strong!and!clear.!"Kowtow!before!
267!
the!Son!of!Heaven."!
The!usual!insincerity!that!followed!most!things!Renshu!said!was!gone.!
It! was! a! deadly! moment.! Some! of! the! soldiers! dropped,! immediately!
touching!their!foreheads!to!the!cold!ground.!Others!slowly!prostrated!
themselves! before! him.! Renshu's! eyes! darted! about! as! he! evaluated!
the!disobedient!ones.!
"Your!father!lost!the!Mandate!of!Heaven,"!said!the!rebel!soldier.!"You!
are!no!emperor.!You!do!not!command!us."!
"I!will!get!my!sister,"!said!Touya!to!Syaoran!but!the!prince!was!already!
moving! quickly! through! the! surrounding! soldiers! with! a! feral!
viciousness.! As! the! rebel! soldiers! raised! their! swords,! Syaoran!
appeared! in! front! of! Renshu! and! the! generals,! his! golden! eyes!
transfixing!the!lead!instigator!to!the!spot.!
It!was!a!sight!that!would!not!quickly!be!forgotten!by!many.!In!a!flash,!
Syaoran! grabbed! the! small! knife! at! the! soldier's! side! and! pierced! it!
through! his! chin! all! the! way! into! his! skull.! Then! he! stepped! forward!
and! for! a! grisly! moment,! a! dead! man! was! walking,! his! eyes! darting!
back! and! forth! in! confusion.! The! soldier's! body! stood! only! because!
Syaoran! still! had! the! knife! planted! in! its! head! pushing! it! upwards!
relentlessly.!
Silence.! Syaoran's! golden! eyes! threatened! to! burn! a! whole! in! the!
world.!The!other!two!supporters!of!the!dead!rebel!soldier!stuttered!for!
words.!Syaoran!released!the!knife!he!held!in!the!rebel's!head!and!the!
body!crumpled.!
He!ripped!the!knives!from!the!other!two!rebels'!waistband!and!handed!
it! to! them.! Incredibly,! they! raised! the! knives! to! their! throats! and! cut!
the!flesh.!Flecks!of!blood!spattered!Syaoran's!face!as!their!bodies!fell!to!
the!ground.!Without!orders!the!members!of!the!army!camp!fell!to!their!
knees!one!after!the!other,!pressing!their!foreheads!into!the!earth.!
Touya,!Renshu!and!Lei!regarded!Syaoran!like!he!was!a!strange!animal!
they! had! never! seen! before.! Killing! a! man! was! nothing! new! to! any! of!
them,!but!as!they!watched!Syaoran!personally!removing!the!heads!of!
the!dead!soldiers!with!nothing!more!than!a!small!knife,!a!smirk!on!his!
face,!they!wondered!if!there!was!something!wrong!with!this!scene.!
!
It! was! nearing! afternoon! when! Syaoran! felt! the! vibrations! of!
thousands! of! marching! feet! and! heard! the! crisp! thuds! of! horses'!
hooves.! The! sounds! of! drums! and! horns! soon! followed,! ushering! in!
Yue's! arrival.! Suddenly,! a! wind! rushed! through! the! tent! scattering!
268!
papers!about!Syaoran!and!knocking!over!various!knickDknacks!on!his!
desk,!as!if!proclaiming!that!the!time!had!come.!
It! was! not! long! before! Yue! was! striding! towards! him! a! cautious! look!
upon!his!pale!face.!A!heavy!silence!hung!in!the!room.!Clearly,!the!man!
had! heard! exaggerated! tales! about! how! Syaoran! had! quenched! the!
near!rebellion.!No!doubt,!these!tales!came!from!Sakura's!brother.!
"Don't!look!at!me!like!that,"!commanded!Syaoran.!
"I!did!not!want!to!believe!it,"!Yue!told!him!softly.!"Why!did!you!use!this!
source!of!magic.!It!will!devour!you."!
"I'm!stronger!now,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!can!wield!it."!
"It!is!careless!to!be!so!confident,"!said!Yue.!"Eriol!still!believes!you!are!
not! meant! to! use! the! power! of! darkness.! Your! darkest! self! surfaces!
when!you!do.!There!is!no!shame!inD"!
"He! doesn't! want! me! to! be! as! powerful! as! him!"! exclaimed! Syaoran.!
"He!wishes!to!be!like!his!father!D!the!greatest!magician!in!the!world."!
"You! know! that's! far! from! the! truth.! Besides,! he! is! nowhere! near!
Clow's!strength,"!said!Yue!calmly!but!quite!fiercely.!"He!had!a!vision."!
Syaoran!gave!a!short,!derisive!laugh.!
"When!does!Hiiragizawa!never!have!a!vision?"!
"He!saw!the!world!coming!to!ruins!and!you!were!there."!
"And!you!were!there!"!said!Syaoran!in!mock!surprise,!pointing!at!Yue.!
"And! your! brother! was! there.! And! Lu! Sheng! was! there.! It's! called! a!
war."!
Syaoran's!blood!rushed!to!his!face.!
"Everyone!has!dreams!Yue.!Even!I!have!had!dreams!D!terrible!dreams!
that!would!never!come!true!because!that's!all!they!are...!dreams.!And!
when!they!seem!like!more,!it's!because!we!interpret!them!as!such."!
"Huangdi!believed!in!foretelling!the!future!through!our!dreams."!
"I!am!not!him,!Yue."!
"I! already! see! a! change! in! you,"! Yue! said.! "You! have! no! fear! in! your!
eyes,!little!emotion;!you!are!becoming!hollow."!
"I!am!becoming!what!I!need!to!be!to!defeat!our!enemy.!To!rescue!our!
family!D!your!brother!!To!regain!the!empire.!And!you!criticize!me?"!
"I!only!caution.!Your!will!is!my!own."!
"I! have! had! enough! of! your! words,"! said! Syaoran! with! a! flick! of! his!
hand,!dismissing!Yue!like!a!lowly!servant.!
As!Yue!left,!he!saw!Touya!walking!pass.!He!found!himself!following!the!
269!
man.!Touya!must!have!felt!he!was!being!followed!because!he!stopped!
and! waited! for! Yue! to! catch! up! to! him.! When! he! did,! they! continued!
towards! Sakura's! tent.! As! soon! as! Yue! entered! the! girl's! lodgings! he!
paused,!his!eyes!wide!open.!
"What! is! this?"! he! asked! staring! at! Sakura,! his! sking! becoming!
dangerously!paler.!!
"You!see!through!the!Illusion?"!asked!Touya!surprised.!
Yue!moved!towards!her,!circling!Sakura!carefully.!
"I!have!authority!over!certain!kinds!of!magic!so!I!am!immune!to!their!
effects,"!he!said!studying!Sakura.!
He!stepped!back.!
"She! is! dying,"! he! whispered! to! Touya! as! if! afraid! of! the! words!
themselves.!"Xiao!Lang!does!not!know?"!
"He!can't!see!past!the!Illusion,"!said!Touya.!"He!visited!her!and!he!saw!
nothing."!
"She!can't!die!now!"!said!Yue.!"He!would!become!out!of!control."!
"She!can't!die!because!her!life!has!meaning!to!me,"!said!Touya!loudly.!
Yue's!eyes!narrowed.!
"It!has!meaning!to!Xiao!Lang!as!well."!He!gathered!part!of!his!robes!in!
his!hand.!"What!is!the!source!of!her!ailment?"!
"A!curse!I!suspect,"!said!Touya.!
"Lu!Sheng's!doing,"!said!Yue!hovering!over!Sakura!once!more.!
"I!suspect."!
"We!need!to!try!to!cleanse!her."!
"We! can't,"! said! Touya.! "We! could! hurt! the! child.! She! will! not! forgive!
me!for!it."!
"Sometimes!a!limb!must!be!cut!off!to!save!a!body."!
"We're!not!talking!about!a!limb!though."!
Yue!was!amazed.!They!had!a!way!to!save!Sakura's!life!and!here!Touya!
was!telling!him!that!he!could!not!perform!the!necessary!actions?!How!
is!it!that!love!could!drive!someone!to!do!the!most!irrational!things?!As!
an! older! brother! he! understood! Touya's! position,! so! he! would! show!
sympathy!this!once!and!make!things!easier!for!him.!After!all,!they!both!
knew!what!needed!to!be!done,!only!they!were!both!too!cowardly!to!do!
it!themselves,!but!one!person!was!not.!
"I!will!dissolve!the!Illusion,"!said!Yue!looking!Touya!in!the!eyes.!"Make!
sure!Xiao!Lang!visits!her!tonight."!
270!
Yue! could! not! believe! his! luck.! He! had! arrived! only! an! hour! ago,! and!
already! he! was! part! of! something! that! will! make! Syaoran! shorten! his!
lifespan! considerably.! He! sighed! as! he! gazed! at! Sakura.! So! much!
trouble!for!such!a!little!lady.!
! you're!doing!it."!
Quiet.!It!was!deafening!to!listen!to!such!silence.!Sakura's!eyes!widened!
as!she!tried!to!see!in!the!darkness.!Somehow!she!could!tell!she!was!in!a!
room;! the! presence! of! walls! on! all! sides! was! pervasive.! She! stumbled!
forward,! hand! out,! trying! to! catch! her! bearings.! She! felt! nauseated!
because!she!felt!so!lost.!
She! paused,! squinted! her! eyes,! widened! them! and! squinted! again.!
What! was! that! up! ahead?! A! chair,! she! saw.! A! large,! ornate! chair! was!
before!her;!its!back!long!and!foreboding.!Was!someone!there?!
"Hello?"!she!called!softly,!her!voice!a!scream!in!the!silence.!
She!carefully!moved!towards!the!chair,!her!hands!checking!wildly!for!
any!obstructions!in!her!path.!She!was!close!enough!now!to!peak!over!
the!chair's!back.!A!dark!head!of!hair!greeted!her.!Her!heart!leaping!into!
her!throat,!she!walked!towards!the!front!of!the!person,!keeping!a!few!
feet!away.!
"Hello?"!
Long,!dense!hair!hid!the!man's!face.!Only!his!long,!pale!fingers!could!be!
seen!under!his!very!red!clothes.!She!recognized!him!but!how!could!she!
be!here!with!him,!wherever!here!was.!
"LuDsan?"!
Slowly,!his!head!lifted!just!enough!for!his!bright!red!eyes!to!peer!out!at!
her!through!his!locks.!Sakura's!first!instinct!was!to!step!back,!but!the!
lifelessly! of! his! eyes! strangely! drew! her! in.! Her! right! hand! parted! his!
hair!and!she!rest!it!against!his!left!cheek.!She!inhaled!deeply.!He!was!so!
cold.!
Her!other!hand!came!up!to!his!face.!His!chin!was!now!nestled!between!
her!palms.!They!gazed!at!each!other.!Suddenly,!his!head!snapped!back!
knocking!nastily!against!the!chair's!back.!
"Hoe!!Are!you!alright?"!asked!Sakura!rushing!towards!him.!
He!held!up!his!hand,!watching!her!peculiarly.!
"What!are!you!doing!here?"!
She! blinked,! completely! absorbed! by! Lu! Sheng's! intense! stare.! She!
snapped!out!of!her!reverie!noticing!the!darkness!again.!
"I!D!I!don't!know."!
271!
Sheng! grasped! the! arms! of! the! chair! and! pushed! himself! upright,!
advancing!on!Sakura.!
"Is!this!a!dream?"!she!asked!him.!
"Amazing,"!he!said.!"You've!done!this!before,!and!you!still!don't!know!
He! took! off! past! her,! navigating! the! darkness! like! a! bat.! She! ran! after!
him.!
"What!amI!doing?"!she!asked.!
She!grabbed!his!sleeve.!He!spun!around!with!such!force,!she!stumbled!
back.!He!peered!down!at!her,!a!curious!expression!on!his!face.!
"You're!looking!into! my!mind!again,"!he!told!her.!He!motioned!to!the!
room.!"Not!a!nice!time!to!be!here!but!it!could!be!worse."!
Sakura! froze.! In! his! mind?! It! sounded! unbelievable,! but! now! that! she!
thought!about!it,!over!a!month!ago!she!had!a!vision!of!him!and!Syaoran!
fighting,! then! she! saw! him! in! a! room! in! the! palace,! memories! of! his!
father!enveloping!him!and!now,!she!was!here.!
"What!did!you!do!to!me?"!
Sheng!smiled.!
"You! invade! my! most! private! moments! and! you! ask! me! what! I! have!
done!to!you?"!
"Well!I!don't!mean!to,"!said!Sakura!defensively.!"I!don't!know!how!I'm!
doing!it."!
"I!have!an!idea.!Follow!me."!
He!took!off!towards!the!opposite!end!of!the!room.!The!outline!of!two!
doors!came!into!view!and!he!slid!them!apart.!Sakura!raised!her!hand!
to!shield!her!face,!squinting!her!eyes!as!she!adjusted!to!the!bright!rays!
of! the! sun.! Stone! lions,! red! walls,! the! scent! of! flowers! and! sheer!
indulgence...!this!could!only!be!the!Imperial!Palace;!a!garden!in!fact.!A!
little!bird!flew!near!her!face,!darting!here!and!there.!She!reached!out!
for!it!but!it!teasingly!pulled!back!from!her.!
"Hoe...?"!She!pouted.!
It! chirped! gaily! before! it! flew! off! with! another! one! of! its! kind.! She!
grinned!as!she!watched!it!disappear!into!the!distance.!
"You!find!joy!in!simplicity.!It's!the!secret!to!a!long!life."!
Sakura!turned,!still!with!a!grin!on!her!face!but!it!quickly!slipped!away!
as! she! met! Sheng's! red! eyes.! His! gaze! like! always! was! quite! innocent!
but!Sakura!knew!what!he!was!capable!of.!Still,!she!could!not!avert!her!
272!
eyes.!
"You!said!you!knew!how!I'm!able!to!be!in!your!mind?"!
"Magic,!of!course."!
"I!didn't!use!any!magic,"!said!Sakura!like!a!child!who!had!been!caught!
doing!something!wrong.!
He! extended! his! hand! to! her! and! she! went! to! him! against! her! own!
accord.! He! clutched! her! slim! wrist.! His! eyes! narrowed! as! he! studied!
her!intently.!
"Not! all! magic! needs! spoken! words,"! said! Sheng! softly.! "Some! need!
only!a!thought,!a!wish,!a!feeling."!
"Are!you!going!to!hurt!me!now?"!asked!Sakura!shakily.!
Sheng!said!nothing.!He!brushed!a!bang!from!her!eyes!so!lightly,!he!did!
not!even!touch!her!skin.!Sakura!shivered.!
"No,"!Sheng!informed!her!finally.!"If!I!truly!wanted!to!hurt!you,!you'd!
already!be!hurting."!
He!started!walking!with!her,!hand!in!hand.!Sakura!was!caught!by!how!
handsome!he!was!as!she!looked!at!the!side!of!his!face!without!the!scar.!
The!scar!did!not!really!make!him!unattractive!but!as!it!was!out!of!sight,!
she!almost!forgot!who!he!was!and!what!he!had!done.!
"This! place! is! a! part! of! my! mind! I've! allowed! you! into,"! Sheng! told!
Sakura.!"Do!you!like!it?"!
"Hai,"!said!Sakura.!She!hesitated.!"But!it!doesn't!seem!real.!You!made!
this!place!up!didn't!you?"!
She!yelped.!The!temperature!of!the!Sheng's!hand!rose!drastically!for!a!
moment!and!suddenly,!it!was!cool!again,!and!the!pain!the!heat!brought!
was!taken!away.!
"I!didn't!mean!for!that!to!happen,"!said!Sheng.!
He!clenched!his!jaw!and!Sakura!could!feel!the!calming!breaths!he!was!
taking.!
"You're!angry?"!
"Furious,"!he!admitted.!
"With!me?"!
Sheng!rubbed!the!inside!of!her!wrist!absentmindedly!with!his!thumb.!
"No."!
"Everything! is! beautiful! but! being! here! makes! me! feel! so! sad,"! said!
Sakura!softly.!"Like!all!hope!is!gone!and!I'm!alone!in!the!darkness!and!
can't! find! a! pinprick! of! light! to! remind! me! I'm! still! here.! But! that's!
273!
strange!because!everything!is!so!beautiful."!
Sakura's!rest!her!hand!over!her!chest!as!her!heart!ached!for!something!
she!did!not!understand.!
"You're!in!a!lot!of!pain,!aren't!you?"!
Sheng! swallowed! visibly.! His! hand! loosened! around! her! own! but! she!
gripped!his,!not!allowing!him!to!release!her.!She!felt!something!shift!in!
the!air!and!realized!they!were!in!an!open!field!now!with!lush!grass!and!
flowering!trees!with!fruits.!Their!clothes!were!traditional!and!ornate,!
astoundingly!beautiful.!
He!smiled!at!her.!
"You!look..."!He!shook!his!head.!"Yellow!suits!you!well.!Normally!only!
the!emperor!can!wear!yellow,"!he!said!raising!an!arm!to!show!off!his!
clothes.!
"But!in!our!minds!all!is!possible!and!nothing!is!forbidden."!
Sheng!plucked!two!pears!from!a!tree!and!offered!one!to!her!graciously.!
She!accepted!it!and!they!bit!into!it.!Sakura!sighed!forgetting!everything!
in!the!world,!and!focusing!only!on!the!sweetness!of!the!pear's!juice.!
"Sugoi!!It's!delicious."!
"I!remember!the!first!time!I!ate!a!pear,"!he!said.!"This!is!my!memory!of!
the!taste.!This!is!real."!
Juice!ran!down!the!corner!of!Sakura's!mouth!and!Sheng!wiped!it!away.!
Sakura!licked!her!lips!and!his!gaze!intensified.!She!lowered!her!head.!
The! sun! grew! brighter! in! the! sky! and! out! of! nowhere! butterflies!
emerged.!
She!could!not!help!it.!She!looked!up!at!them!in!wonder.!They!were!big,!
vividly!coloured!things.!She!laughed!and!ran!after!them!like!a!child.!
"Sakura,"!said!Sheng.!
She!turned!to!find!him,!his!shoulders!alit!with!butterflies.!
"You!don't!have!to!run!here.!Just!call!them!to!you."!
She! raised! her! hand! and! one! of! the! butterflies! flew! over! to! her! and!
rested!lightly!on!her!palms.!She!felt!giddy!but!over!she!not!shake!the!
feeling!of!sadness!in!of!this!place.!
"Did! you! bring! me! here?"! she! asked,! surprising! Sheng.! "I'm! certain! I!
could!not!be!so!deep!in!your!mind!talking!to!you!like!this!otherwise."!
He!was!still,!only!his!hair!and!clothes!waving!in!the!wind.!
"You're!lonely."!
"Is!that!what!you!believe?"!
274!
"I! saw! you,"! Sakura! said! blowing! the! butterfly! gently! off! her! palm.! "It's!already!done."!
"When!you!were!in!your!father's!old!room.!I!felt!your!pain.!If!I!saw!my! Sakura!shook!her!head!in!denial.!
father! die,! and! I! hurt! so! bad,! I! would! want! to! have! someone! help! me!
"No.!I!feel!my!child!all!the!time,!inside!of!me.!It's!fine."!
forget!the!pain.!I!would!want!my!oniiDchan."!
"It's!a!leech,"!remarked!Sheng.!"If!it's!alive,!it's!because!you!are!healing!
A!bevy!of!yellow!birds!surrounded!Sakura!out!of!nowhere,!pecking!at!
it,! or! it! is! consuming! you.! In! either! case,! the! verdict! is! the! same.! You!
her! clothing! playfully! but! Sakura! was! not! deterred! by! Sheng's!
will!die.!Get!rid!of!it!and!live."!
distractions.!
"No.!I!will!die!in!delivery,"!she!said!stubbornly.!"I!would!live!through!
"But! you! don't! have! anyone."! She! smiled! sympathetically.! "Why! are!
my!child."!
you!doing!these!bad!things?!You're!not!a!bad!person,!LuDsan."!
"You!don't!understand,"!said!Sheng.!He!caressed!the!slope!of!her!neck!
Sheng!gripped!her!upper!arm.!
and!shoulder!gently.!"The!child's!death!is!inevitable.!If!my!father!could!
"I'm!not!a!good!one!either."! not!survive!this,!it!will!not!without!you."!
"How!do!you!know?!Have!you!tried?"! "Huangdi,"!entreated!Sakura!the!best!she!could.!"I!beg!you."!
Sheng's! face! contorted! and! he! started! to! laugh.! His! entire! face! "I!will!do!you!a!favour!and!save!your!life.!Xiao!Lang!would!never!feel!
lightened!up!which!made!Sakura!smile.! the! pain! I! felt,! but! I! really! never! wanted! to! kill! you.! You! truly! did!
"Yes,!I!have!tried,"!he!answered.!"But!I!cannot!forget."! interest!me.!You!would!be!my!one!good!deed,!not!that!he!deserves!it."!
"LuDsan,! why! did! you! let! me! go?"! Sakura! asked! him.! "You! said! you! Sakura! felt! a! wetness! on! her! thighs.! She! pulled! up! her! yellow! robes!
were!going!to!kill!me."! and!saw!a!red!liquid!running!down!her!calf.!She!fought!back!tears.!
Sheng's!hold!on!her!dropped!to!her!hand.! "You!can't!touch!us,"!she!said.!
"That!was!my!intention,"!he!stated!clearly!as!he!toyed!with!her!fingers.! "Our! mind! controls! our! body.! You! are! in! my! mind,! and! I! can! control!
Sakura's! arms! wrapped! around! Sheng's! waist,! her! cheek! resting! yours."!
against! his! chest.! Caught! off! guard,! his! eyes! widened! and! his! arms! As!her!tears!blinded!her,!he!whispered!in!her!ear,!"You'll!get!over!it.!I!
hung!loosely!at!his!side.! promise."!
"I'm! sorry! about! your! father.! You! already! avenged! him.! Please! stop! !
killing."! !
His! eyes! closed! as! he! gave! into! her! kindness! and! his! arms! snaked! !
around! her! waist! returning! her! gesture.! There! was! a! gentle! bump! as!
!
his!forearm!came!into!contact!with!her!belly.!He!looked!down.!Sakura!
gazed!up!at!him!as!she!felt!his!demeanor!change.! !
"What!is!it?"!asked!Sakura!hesitantly.! !
His!palm!rest!against!her!cheek.! !
"I!tried!to!poison!you,"!he!told!her.!"It!didn't!seem!to!work.!I!thought!it! !
was!a!sign.!But!when!I!saw!you!speaking!to!your!belly,!I!knew!it!was! !
not!you!that!I!had!poisoned."! !
Sakura's!hand!jumped!to!her!middle.! !
"Please,!don't!hurt!my!child."! !
"It's!his!child."! !
"Even!so."!
275! 276!
Chapter 21
He"who"cannot"agree"with"his"enemies"is"controlled"by"them.!
~"Chinese!Proverb"
Syaoran! sat! quietly! beside! Sakura.! Her! hair! framed! her! peaceful! face!
prettily.! He! embraced! her,! liking! the! weight! of! her! body! in! his! arms.!
This! simple! action! made! him! feel! more! virile! than! any! other!
experience! he! had! in! his! life! so! far.! He! almost! forgot! himself! as!
thoughts! of! her! flesh! against! his! entered! his! mind.! What! god! had!
guided! Wei! to! Sakura,! he! was! eternally! grateful! to! and! would! readily!
build!a!shrine!in!its!name.!
Yue!was!worried!about!him,!he!knew.!The!generals!were!unsure!if!they!
could!trust!him!now!because!he!had!returned!to!what!they!all!secretly!
yearned! for! him! to! be:! the! ultimate! bringer! of! death.! However,! he!
would!never!completely!become!such!a!thing,!because!Sakura's!smile!
kept!him!ever!near!reality.!Now!he!had!no!reason!to!escape!his!life,!it!
was!the!best!part!of!him!and!he!would!return!to!her!after!this!war.!He!
could!hardly!wait!to!spend!the!rest!of!his!life!with!her!by!his!side.!
"You'll! always! be! mine,"! he! whispered! to! her.! "I'll! take! care! of! you!
forever."!
He!glanced!at!Yue!who!was!standing!across!from!him.!When!the!older!
man! had! arrived,! Syaoran! was! not! exactly! sure.! He! would! have! not!
concerned!himself!with!the!man's!presence!if!Yue!had!not!looked!like!
he!was!going!to!be!gutted!on!the!spot.!
"What!is!it?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Yue!bowed!his!head!to!hide!his!tortured!face.!His!icy!blue!eyes!glowed!
and!a!light!wind!whipped!about!him!spreading!his!aura!throughout!the!
tent.! Syaoran's! stern! expression! barely! disappeared! when! all! of! a!
sudden,! a! strange! entity! materialized! in! front! of! him! and! then!
dissolved!into! a! card.! Sakura!grew! hot!in!Syaoran's!arms.!He!pressed!
his!palm!to!her!forehead,!then!it!traveled!to!her!neck.!
"Sakura?"! he! called,! his! voice! expressing! concern,! but! still! very! much!
composed.!
He!shook!her!slightly.!She!did!not!stir.!He!raised!her!up!and!pulled!her!
into!his!lap,!giving!her!another!good!shake.!
"Sakura."!
Nothing.!
"Wake!up,"!he!commanded,!slapping!her!on!the!face!lightly.!"Come!on,!
wake!up."!
277!
His!heart!pounded!hard!inside!him!but!he!did!not!panic.!Sakura!was!a!
heavy! sleeper.! Yes.! That! was! it.! He! shifted! her! bringing! her! more!
upright.!He!took!one!steadying!breath!and!pressed!three!of!his!fingers!
to!her!wrist,!feeling!for!her!pulse.!He!waited.!One...!he!counted.!
His!calm!turned!to!dread!as!he!waited!for!the!second!count.!
Now!he!panicked.!
"Yue!"!!
He!shook!her!again,!violently!this!time.!Her!head!rocked!back!and!forth!
like! a! reed! in! the! wind.! He! blinked.! Was! her! neck! always! so! slim?! He!
pulled!at!her!clothing,!moving!them!past!her!shoulders.!
"No.!No!no!no!no!no,"!he!murmured,!his!hand!trembling!as!he!clutched!
her!clothes.!
Sakura's! skin! was! sallow! and! her! frame! was! too! slim! for! a! woman! in!
her!condition.!Syaoran!did!not!understand!what!was!happening.!What!
was!this?!Sakura!looked!like!she!had!not!slept!in!days.!
"This!can't!be!happening,"!said!Syaoran.!
"She!has!not!been!well,"!Yue!said,!his!eyes!still!downcast.!"She's!been!
using!an!illusion!to!hide!it!from!you."!
"Impossible,"! said! Syaoran! forcefully.! "I! would! have! noticed.! I! would!
know!if!she!was!unwell"!
"You!didn't."!
Touya!emerged!from!a!corner.!
"You've!been!visiting!her!all!this!time,!and!you!didn't!suspect!a!thing."!
"You!knew!something!was!wrong?!Both!of!you?"!asked!Syaoran.!"Why!
didn't!you!tell!me!about!this!before!"!
"I! didn't! think! we! needed! your! help,"! said! Touya,! his! face! a! mask! of!
regret.!"Besides!would!you!believe!what!you!could!not!see?"!
"You!didn't!think!you!needed!my!help?!She!is!my"wife!"!
"No!!She!is!not!!Your!wife!is!in!the!palace!"!
Syaoran! felt! hate! and! anger! bubbling! inside! him! threatening! to! burst!
forth!at!any!moment!and!crush!Kinomoto!Touya.!
"I!love!her!"!
"And! I! believe! you,! dammit!"! shouted! Touya! throwing! his! arms! into!
the!air.!"From!the!moment!I!saw!you!I!knew!!I!hated!it!but!trust!me,!I!
knew!!But!it!doesn't!matter!!There's!nothing!you!can!do!right!now."!
"Xiao!Lang..."!
278!
Syaoran! and! Sakura! eyes! locked.! He! breathed! a! sigh! of! relief! but! his!
anger!would!not!subside!so!easily.!
"Sakura!!What!have!you!done?!Answer!me!!Do!you!hear!me!talking!to!
you?"!
Sakura,! though! was! not! listening.! Instead! she! regarding! him! and! the!
other! two! men! in! the! room! uncertainly.! She! touched! his! face,! then!
gripped!his!arms.!
"You're!real,"!she!said!quietly.!"Xiao!Lang!"!
She!looked!at!him!frightfully!and!quite!awake!now.!
"He's!here,"!she!whimpered.!
"Calm!down!"!
Tears!flowed!down!her!cheeks.!
"Lu!Sheng!is!here.!Inside."!
Syaoran!shushed!her.!
"You!were!dreaming."!
"No.!I!wasn't.!I!mean!I!was!buD"!
"You!were!dreaming."!
"He!said..."!Sakura!hiccupped,!her!breath!caught!in!her!throat.!
Suddenly! she! madly! pulled! her! robes! up! her! legs! like! a! wild! demon.!
Touya! dropped! to! his! knees! trying! to! calm! her! spirits! but! she!
continued!to!pull!her!clothes!back.!Sakura!gave!an!anguished!cry,!her!
eyes!pinned!to!her!legs.!Blood!had!soaked!her!clothes!near!her!thighs.!
Syaoran!pointed!at!Yue.!
"Call!HingDsensei!!Now!"!
!
HingDsensei,!maidservants!and!Nakuru!quickly!disappeared!in!and!out!
of!Sakura's!tent!as!they!gathered!the!necessary!washbowls,!cloths!and!
instruments!to!deliver!Sakura's!baby.!It!was!an!usual!sight!D!men!in!the!
same! area! as! Sakura! as! she! gave! birth,! a! male! doctor! between! her!
bloodDsoaked!legs!and!Nakuru!to!his!side!assisting!him.!
"Not!now,"!whimpered!Sakura,!her!face!crimson.!"It's!not!time!yet."!
"It's!coming!whether!you!want!it!to!or!not!SakuraDchan,"!said!Nakuru.!
"No!it!can't!D!listen!to!me!!Somebody!"!
The!blood!she!was!losing!though!was!weakening!her.!Her!eyes!rolled!
to! the! back! of! her! head! as! she! passed! out.! A! maidservant! dipped! a!
cloth!into!icy!water,!wrung!it,!and!patted!it!to!Sakura's!forehead.!Her!
279!
eyes! blinked! open.! Unaware! that! she! had! fainted,! she! continued! to!
plead!for!them!to!stop.!
"Xiao!Lang,"!she!murmured!even!as!medicinal!tea!was!put!to!her!lips.!
She!took!a!sip.!"It!needs!me…!it!can't!come!now."!
He!heard!her!because!he!moved!closer!to!the!doctor.!
"You're!sure!the!child!is!ready?"!
"Yes.!You!are!making!the!right!decision!Great!Imperial!Son,"!said!HingD
sensei.!"If!we!do!not!act!quickly!we'll!lose!both!mother!and!child.!This!
is!best."!
"She!will!survive!this,"!said!Syaoran,!inadvertently!warning!the!doctor!
of!his!failure!to!do!so.!
"Yes,"! said! HingDsensei! in! agreement,! placing! his! hands! on! Sakura's!
belly,!feeling!her!contractions.!
"But!the!child..."!
"Is!second!in!my!mind."!
"Xiao!Lang,!please!"!begged!Sakura.!
Nakuru! slipped! her! hands! into! Sakura's! with! a! brave! smile.! Sakura!
raised!her!other!hand!towards!Syaoran!willing!him!to!comfort!her!but!
he! made! no! movement! towards! her.! Touya! clutched! her! empty! hand!
and! Syaoran! saw! her! spirit! break! when! he! did! not! go! to! her.! He!
clenched! his! teeth.! He! was! trying! to! save! her! life,! and! she! looked! at!
him!with!disappointment!and!frustration.!
"Let's!begin,"!said!HingDsensei!three!hours!later.!
Sakura!shook!her!head!as!she!writhe!in!pain.!
"No!"!
"Push.!Now,"!commanded!sensei.!
Sakura!squeezed!her!eyes!shut!as!she!tried!to!defy!the!instinctive!drive!
to!push.!Touya!was!attempting!to!reassure!her!with!words!that!were!
far!too!kind!for!him!but!she!could!not!appreciate!what!he!was!saying!
because! she! stubbornly! refused! to! have! her! child! born! that! early!
morning.!
Syaoran! dropped! to! her! side! and! gripped! her! jaw,! turning! her! face!
towards!his.!Syaoran!saw!his!cold!stare!reflected!in!her!green!orbs.!
"Push."!
"No!!Not!yet,!please.!It!will!die.!Our!child!will!die."!
The!longer!he!stared!at!Sakura,!the!more!feral!his!expression!became!
and! he! could! feel! the! change! occurring! in! himself.! His! eyes! glowed! a!
280!
golden!hue!and!he!grew!more!statuesque.!
"You're! not! dying! today,"! he! told! her,! matterDofDfactly.! "There! will! be!
other!children.!Do!you!understand?"!
Sakura!shook!her!head.!
"I!want!this!one.!You!should!too!"!
Syaoran! glanced! at! Touya,! whose! eyes! were! turned! away! though! his!
body! was! rigid! with! attention.! Clearly,! he! was! giving! Syaoran! free!
reign! on! this! one.! The! prince! applied! more! pressure! on! Sakura's! jaw!
opening!it!slightly.!
"We! can! knead! her! belly,"! said! HingDsensei! to! Sakura's! horror.! "I! can!
push!the!child!out!of!her."!
"I'll!do!it!myself!"!Sakura!relented.!
Syaoran!released!his!grip!on!her.!
Just! as! she! said! she! would,! Sakura! pushed! like! the! doctor! instructed!
her.!
"It!hurts,"!cried!Sakura.!She!screamed!as!a!wave!of!pain!shot!through!
her!middle.!She!squeezed!the!blood!from!Nakuru!and!Touya's!hands!as!
her!contractions!came.!Touya!brought!his!head!near!hers.!
She! halfDexpected! some! milk! and! honey! to! be! pressed! to! her! lips! just!
like! whenever! she! was! ill.! The! metallic! odour! of! blood! and! the! biting!
scent! of! salty! sweat! permeated! the! room! to! remind! her! that! she! was!
not!home,!not!to!mention!the!small!body!tearing!through!her.!
"Once!more!"!
Sakura! ripped! her! hands! away! from! Nakuru! and! Touya,! propping!
herself!up!on!her!elbows.!She!pushed!with!all!her!strength.!The!room!
spun!as!she!grew!faint!and!fell!unconscious.!
"What's!happening?"!asked!Syaoran,!his!brows!furrowed.!
HingDsensei! shook! visibly! at! Syaoran's! thundering! voice.! He! looked!
uneasy!and!seemed!to!be!holding!his!breath.!
"She's!unconscious."!
"I!can!see!that!"!exploded!Syaoran!with!fury.!
"Xiao! Lang,"! interjected! Yue.! "Perhaps! we! should! wait! outside.! The!
doctor!should!be!trusted!to!do!what!is!needed."!
Syaoran! ran! a! hand! through! his! hair! as! he! considered! Yue's! words.!
Finally,!he!nodded!bridling!his!temper.!
"If!she!dies,"!he!began!to!tell!HingDsensei.!
"He!knows,"!said!Yue,!escorting!Syaoran!from!the!doctor's!presence.!
281!
Outside! Syaoran! paced! back! and! forth! his! aura! growing! darker! with!
each! step.! Yue! for! the! most! part! was! not! alarmed! by! this,! after! all! it!
was! good! to! see! some! emotion! coming! from! Syaoran.! However,! all! at!
once,! a! calm! entered! the! prince! and! he! came! to! an! abrupt! halt.! Yue!
eyed!him!carefully.!
"It's!been!two!hours,"!said!Syaoran.!
"From! what! my! brother! told! me,! these! things! can! take! up! to! half! a!
day."!
"I!can't!wait!so!long."!
"Babies!don't!care!what!we!can!and!cannot!do,!what!we!want!and!what!
we!do!not!want.!They!do!things!in!their!own!time,"!said!Yue.!
He!closed!his!eyes!as!he!reminisced.!
"I! remember! when! you! were! born,"! he! told! Syaoran.! "You! smiled! all!
the! time.! You! had! the! smell! I! suspect! all! babies! have! D! a! clean,! pure!
enduring! scent.! Now! that! I! think! about! it,! I! never! thought! you! would!
become!the!man!I!see!before!me."!
"Meaning?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"You!just!never!know!what!a!child!will!become,"!said!Yue.!"We!are!all!
born!small!unassuming!things,!yet!out!paths!are!all!so!different.!How!
does!that!come!to!be?"!
"We! are! taught! what! we! are,"! said! Syaoran,! becoming! interested! in!
Yue's! musings! more! and! more.! "We! learn! what! is! expected,! what! our!
place!is!and!we!obey."!
"So!if!it!were!not!for!what!we!were!taught,!could!there!had!been!other!
paths!for!us?!Could!you!have!been!a!musician!and!I!a!writer?"!
"Yes! and! no."! Syaoran! clutched! his! head! on! either! side.! "Maybe.! Why!
are!you!thinking!of!such!things?"!
"I!don't!know,"!said!a!perplexed!Yue.!"They!just!occurred!to!me.!It's!a!
great! responsibilty! parents! have! to! rear! their! offspring.! The! slightest!
word!or!gesture!can!make!all!the!difference."!
Syaoran!scowled.!Then!they!noticed!a!deep!silence.!Nakuru!appeared.!
Syaoran! did! not! wait! for! her! to! speak.! He! brushed! past! her,! his! eyes!
falling! first! on! Sakura! and! then! on! HingDsensei! who! was! wrapping! a!
small!body!in!a!thick!cloth.!
"I!want!to!see,"!Sakura!uttered!weakly.!
Ignoring!her,!Syaoran!accepted!the!child!from!the!doctor!and!stared!at!
it.!He!was!stoic!as!he!took!in!the!sight.!It!was!so!small!he!held!it!out!in!
front! of! him! in! one! hand.! Somehow! he! knew! that! this! size! was! not!
282!
normal.! It's! flesh! was! pink! and! its! eyes! were! shut! tightly.! It's! little!
chest!rose!up!and!down!almost!imperceptibly.!The!room!was!still!as!he!
examined!the!little!human.!
"Xiao! Lang!"! Sakura! called! powerfully! but! with! a! bit! of! anxiety! in! her!
voice.!"I!want!to!see!my!child."!
His! golden! eyes! stared! right! through! her,! an! array! of! indiscernible!
emotions!on!his!face.!With!one!hand!he!deposited!the!little!bundle!into!
her!arms!like!he!was!handing!over!a!sack!of!flour.!
A!gust!of!cold!wind!blew!into!the!room!biting!at!everyone's!faces.!
"It's! breaths! are! shallow.! It! would! not! last! the! morning,"! said! HingD
sensei!to!Syaoran.!
"And!her?"!he!asked.!
"She! is! weak! but! she! will! live.! Can! she! bear! another! child! again?!
Maybe.!If!the!environment!is!different,!more!beneficial!to!an!expecting!
mother."!
Syaoran! held! HingDsensei's! gaze.! The! man! had! saved! Sakura! and! that!
was! all! he! asked! him! to! do.! He! turned! to! his! concubine! as! she! pulled!
back!the!cloth!to!see!her!child's!body.!
"It's!a!boy,"!she!said!weakly.!It!was!a!tiny!boy!that!would!not!last!the!
morning.!"Do!you!hate!me?"!
Yue! drew! up! behind! Syaoran,! looking! down! at! Sakura! and! the! child.!
Sakura! shifted! as! she! felt! something! else! slip! out! of! her.! She! looked!
down!to!see!Nakuru!discard!some!bloody!substance!in!a!bucket.!Then!
Nakuru!was!wiping!at!her!with!a!washcloth!as!the!other!maidservants!
began!to!clear!the!space.!
"Get! rid! of! it,"! Syaoran! told! HingDsensei,! his! gaze! still! lingering! on!
Sakura.!
She!instinctively!pulled!back,!clutching!her!son!to!her!bosom.!Her!head!
lowered,!her!bangs!obscuring!her!face.!She!planted!a!sweet!kiss!on!the!
boy's!forehead.!
"He!won't!die,"!Sakura!told!them!all.!"He!can't!die."!
"When!you!were!a!baby,"!said!Touya,!after!his!lengthy!silence.!"OkaaD
san! would! let! you! sleep! on! her! chest.! She! said! it! soothes! children! to!
feel!the!warmth!of!their!mother's!skin."!
Sakura! thought! about! this.! Then! she! loosed! her! clothes,! and! rest! the!
child! to! her! naked! chest,! pulling! her! clothes! together! again! to! wrap!
him!in.!Syaoran!drew!himself!up!clearly!annoyed!by!her!stubbornness.!
He!spun!on!his!heels!and!stalked!from!the!tent.!
283!
!
The!early!morning!was!bright.!The!purples!and!reds!in!the!sky!sought!
to!brighten!his!day!but!Syaoran!would!not!be!reached.!His!golden!eyes!
were!vacant,!much!like!he!felt!at!that!point!in!time.!Yue's!white!robes!
brushed!him!as!the!man!swept!by,!his!gaze!turning!to!the!sky.!
"Is!it!dead!yet?"!
Yue!peered!down!at!Syaoran.!He!shook!his!head.!
"Why!does!she!torture!herself!with!the!inevitable?"!
"Women!are!like!that."!
"Did! you! hear! how! she! awoke?! Screaming! Lu! Sheng's! name?! He! is!
responsible!for!this,!I!know!it.!It!was!strange!for!him!to!give!her!back!
to!me,!seemingly!unharmed."!
Yue!placed!his!hand!on!Syaoran's!shoulder.!
"I've!never!held!a!child!before,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!held!my!own!and!I!was!
ashamed."!
Syaoran's!nails!dug!into!his!palms.!
"I!never!cared!as!much!as!she!did,"!he!told!Yue.!"But!when!I!saw!it,!it!
became!so!real!and!I!realized!just!how!much!I!wanted!him!D!and!for!a!
brief!moment!even!hoped!it!was!a!little!girl!that!looked!just!like!her."!
He!took!a!deep!breath.!
"Then! I! thought! about! how! he! would! be! gone! soon.! Then! I! looked! at!
Sakura,! I! saw! her! hopefulness! and! I! know! that! she! would! be! crushed!
when!the!boy!dies.!She!would!never!be!the!same."!
"She!will!be!fine,"!insisted!Yue.!"She!would!make!another!child!and!she!
will!be!fine.!Give!it!time."!
"It!didn't!hurt!like!this!when!my!father!was!killed.!I!was!disappointed!
in!myself!but!it!didn't!hurt!like!this."!
Syaoran!smirked.!
"Finally!Lu!Sheng,!I!understand!now.!Message!received."!
Syaoran!shoved!Yue's!hand!from!his!shoulder.!
"But!it's!time!to!deliver!one!of!my!own.!We!start!our!march!to!the!City!
at!daylight."!
Later!that!morning!Syaoran!sat!atop!his!horse,!an!undeniably!inspiring!
sight.! His! fellow! soldiers! on! feet! and! horseback! easily! filed! into! their!
units! of! hundreds! and! thousands.! Their! columns! and! rows! were!
straight!and!neat!and!their!discipline!gave!Syaoran!a!sense!of!control!
he!thought!he!had!lost!earlier!that!morning.!
284!
Yue,! the! princes! and! fellow! generals! were! already! leading! their! units! Chapter 22
off! toward!the! Forbidden! City.! As! the! number! of! soldiers! around! him! Without"sorrows"no"one"becomes"a"saint.!
depleted,! the! three! tents! that! remained! in! the! army! camp! became!
more! striking.! Sakura! lay! with! their! soon! to! be! dead! son! in! one! of! ~"Chinese"Proverb!
them.!The!thought!of!going!to!them!did!not!cross!his!mind.!What!was! The!smallest!sound!was!like!the!beat!of!a!drum!to!Sheng's!ears.!He!lay!
done! was! done,! and! what! will! be! will! be.! All! he! could! do! now,! was! lifelessly!on!his!stomach,!his!limbs!entangled!in!the!sheets!on!his!bed.!
finish!what!was!started!in!the!City!many!years!ago.! Last! night,! Enlai! had! somehow! managed! to! goad! him! into! a! drinking!
"Oi."! contest.!Sheng,!who!had!not!drunk!so!heavily!in!years,!put!up!a!valiant!
effort!but!he!did!not!need!to!see!Enlai's!smug!face!to!know!that!he!had!
Syaoran!looked!down!at!Touya!from!his!vantage!point!on!his!horse.!
lost.!
"My! sister...! she! still...! loves! you.! She's! doesn't! understand! you! right!
He! tentatively! opened! his! eyes,! controlling! the! amount! of! light! that!
now,!but!her!feelings!for!you,!unfortunately!will!never!change."!
entered!them.!He!groaned!and!turned!his!head.!His!mouth!was!dry!and!
Syaoran!kicked!his!horse!lightly!and!started!to!canter!off!but!changed! his!limbs!heavy!so!he!could!not!get!up!for!water!or!even!call!a!servant.!
his!mind!and!turned!it!around!to!Touya.!Slipping!a!hand!into!his!robes,! He! groaned! again! and! little! by! little! pushed! himself! up! into! a! sitting!
he!pulled!out!a!green!gem.! position.!
"My! father! gave! this! jade! stone! to! me! when! I! was! born.! It! has! great! The!bedroom!door!swung!open!with!a!bang!and!Enlai!charged!in.!
value.!It!can!carry!you!home,!and!keep!you!for!the!rest!of!your!life."!
"Finally,!you're!awake!!It's!afternoon!already!"!
Touya!took!the!jade!and!studied!it.!
Sheng! covered! his! ears.! Enlai's! voice! was! like! angry! waves! crashing!
"Is!that!it?"! upon!the!seashore.!
"That's!it."! "Could!you!be!any!louder?"!he!asked!in!a!vicious!whisper.!
Syaoran!took!the!remaining!men!and!made!up!the!rear!of!the!army.!He! Enlai!continued!to!speak!as!Harmless!entered!like!a!ghost!and!stood!at!
expected!to!feel!something,!to!make!him!turn!back,!but!the!further!he! his! side.! Enlai! grinned! broadly! but! Harmless'! eyes! held! a! smidgen! of!
rode! from! Sakura! the! easier! it! became! to! focus! on! the! task! at! hand.! concern.!That!upset!Sheng!who!did!not!like!feeling!like!an!invalid.!
Eventually!he!slipped!into!thoughts!so!dark!and!deep!that!forgot!how!
"If! you! knew! what! a! poor! drinker! you! were,! why'd! you! drink! so!
he!came!to!think!of!them.!By!the!next!day,!he!had!wrapped!himself!in!
much?"!asked!Enlai,!hands!on!hips.!
his! dark! magic! so! thoroughly,! he! could! dream! of! nothing! else! other!
than!the!carnage!he!was!about!to!bring.! Sheng!sighed.!
! "It!seemed!like!a!good!way!to!past!the!time."!
! He!fell!back!against!his!bed!and!cringed!from!the!impact!his!head!made!
on! the! pillow.! Enlai! rushed! to! his! side,! a! disturbed! expression! on! his!
!
face.!
!
"You're!not!going!to!die,!right?"!
!
Sheng!smiled.!
!
"Don't!worry!Enlai."!He!cleared!his!throat.!"Bring!some!paper.!I'll!name!
! you!Huangdi!after!me.!You'll!have!all!the!riches!you!could!ever!want."!
! A! small! smile! crossed! Harmless'! face! and! he! glanced! at! Enlai! before!
! returning!his!gaze!to!Sheng.!
! "I'm!not!joking!"!said!Enlai.!"You've!lost!a!lot!of!weight!lately!and!now!
! you!look!worse.!I!shouldn't!have!gotten!you!drinking.!You!should!have!

285! 286!
known!better!"!
"My!condition!isn't!your!fault!Enlai,"!said!Sheng,!closing!his!eyes.!"Stop!
being!dramatic."!
Enlai!scowled.!
"What!do!you!want!to!eat?"!he!asked,!harshly.!
"Nothing,"!said!Sheng.!"Everything!tastes!bland!to!me."!
"You!must!be!sick."!
"Not!sick,"!Sheng!told!him.!"Empty.!I!feel!empty."!
"That's! because! you're! starving.! Look! at! you!"! said! Enlai.! "The! cooks!
really!outdid!themselves!today.!Come!and!have!something."!
Sheng!covered!his!face!with!his!hand.!
"I! am! not! hungry,! Enlai.! The! thought! of! food! makes! me! nauseous.! It!
sounds! strange,! I! know,"! he! said.! "I! should! be! in! high! spirits! but!
instead! I! feel! dead.! You! know,! I! thought! I! would! be! happy! when! Li!
Yongzheng! died! and! for! a! moment! I! was! but! his! death! has! changed!
nothing.!I!thought!something!would!change!in!me!but!nothing!has.!And!
I!keep!waiting!for!it."!
Sheng!clenched!his!jaw.!He!felt!like!a!knife!was!being!pressed!into!his!
skull.!
"I!feel!worse!than!I!did!when!he!was!alive.!At!least!then!I!felt!like!I!had!
a!higher!purpose,!a!goal,!but!now..."!
"You!still!have!his!son!to!kill."!
Harmless! sat! on! the! bed! and! Sheng! lowered! his! hand! to! look! at! the!
man.! The! expression! on! his! face! made! Sheng! feel! exposed! because!
unlike! Enlai,! Harmless! was! able! to! see! past! his! mask;! they! had! such!
similar!souls.!
"And! what! then?! My! entire! life! has! been! about! Yongzheng! and! Xiao!
Lang.!When!my!cousin!dies,!that!may!just!be!the!end!of!me!too.!In!time!
I!may!come!to!be!just!like!any!other!emperor!D!lethargic!and!weak."!
"Now! who's! being! dramatic?! You're! better! than! that,! better! than!
anyone!else!D!except!me!when!it!comes!to!alcohol.!"!
Enlaigrinned.!
"And,!this!is!just!a!guess!but!I'm!pretty!sure!I'm!better!at!sex!too."!
Sheng!grimaced.!
"Delude!yourself!all!you!like."!
This!made!Enlai!smile!all!the!more!and!he!tossed!Harmless!a!'can!you!
believe!this!man?'!look.!He!plopped!down!beside!Sheng.!
287!
"Is!that!why!you're!taking!so!long!to!kill!the!prince?"!he!asked.!
Sheng! was! surprised.! Enlai! was! younger! than! he! looked! so! Sheng!
rarely! bothered! to! explain! things! to! him! D! he! would! not! understand!
them.!Yet,!it!seemed!he!was!more!intuitive!that!Sheng!gave!him!credit!
for.!
"Perhaps,"! Sheng! answered.! "I! didn't! realize! it! at! first.! I! should! have!
ended!him!months!ago.!Now!he's!probably!angrier!and!more!powerful!
than!ever."!
"What!do!you!mean?"!asked!Enlai.!
Sheng!told!him!and!Harmless!about!Sakura!and!how!he!had!saved!her!
but!by!doing!so,!robbed!her!of!Xiao!Lang's!child.!Even!though!the!child!
was!going!to!die!anyway,!he!quickened!its!end.!
"You! went! through! a! lot! of! trouble,"! said! Enlai.! "You! should! have! let!
her!die.!That!was!the!idea!from!the!beginning!wasn't!it?"!
Sheng!twisted!in!his!bed.!
"It!was!but!I'm!glad!things!turned!out!this!way.!I!don't!want!to!be!an!
evil! person! Enlai.! My! sense! of! justice! outweighs! even! my! hatred! for!
Xiao! Lang.! She! did! nothing! to! me,! so! I! let! her! live.! Simple.! Besides...! I!
rather!like!her.!Harmless!does!too,!don't!you?"!
Harmless!averted!his!eyes.!
"He!was!upset!when!he!thought!I!was!going!to!kill!her."!
"Why?"!asked!Enlai,!looking!from!one!man!to!the!other.!
"You! know! Harmless! doesn't! like! killing! women.! Not! unless! he! really!
has!to.!He!was!quite!distressed!when!I!ordered!him!to!kill!Meilin."!
"Your!cousin?"!
"Yes.!It's!a!good!thing!Sakura!and!the!Guardian!Beast!interrupted!us."!
Enlai!nodded.!Sheng!gripped!his!hair.!
"Now!shut!up!and!bring!me!some!water."!
Enlai! made! to! leave! when! he! realized! what! he! was! doing.! He! halted!
immediately.!
"I'm!not!your!servant!"!
"Everyone! under! heaven! is! Huangdi's! servant,"! drawled! Sheng.! His!
grip!on!his!hair!tightened.!"And!must!you!insist!on!talking!so!loudly?"!
Harmless!slipped!out!of!the!room.!No!doubt,!he!was!off!to!fetch!Sheng!
the! water! himself.! Enlai! gazed! at! Sheng! for! a! moment! and! for! some!
reason,!Sheng!felt!he!should!be!wary!of!this!attention.!
288!
"What!are!you!thinking?"!he!asked!the!younger!man.!
"The!prince!is!coming!here!to!kill!you,"!he!said,!truly!serious!for!once.!
"It! wouldn't! be! a! fair! fight! if! you're! not! equally! committed! to! his!
death."!
"I! will! kill! him."! Sheng! held! his! hands.! A! dark! aura! surrounded! them.!
"Harmless! is! helping! me! increase! the! capacity! of! magic! I! can! control.!
It'll!be!fine.!Your!harem!of!women!will!not!cease."!
Enlai!was!grim.!
"You!could!send!one!of!usD"!
"No,"!said!Sheng!firmly.!
"I!can!kill!him!now."!
"You!barely!escaped!last!time."!
"I've!been!practising."!
"I!said!no."!
Enlai! sat! on! a! chair,! glaring! at! Sheng! who! had! no! faith! in! him.! Sheng!
was! tired.! That! much! was! clear.! Harmless! should! not! be! encouraging!
him! to! use! more! dark! magic.! They! should! be! throwing! parties,!
screwing!women,!beheading!criminals.!Instead,!Harmless!was!tearing!
a! willing! Sheng! in! two! D! one! half! wanted! to! rest,! the! other! wanted! to!
cause!pain.!
The!sooner!Xiao!Lang!was!dead,!the!sooner!Sheng!could!move!on!with!
his! life.! Enlai! wanted! this! for! him,! not! for! the! money! or! women! but!
because!Sheng!had!pulled!him!from!a!dark!place!once!and!he!wanted!
to!repay!the!favour.!He!sank!deeper!into!the!chair.!He!will!repay!it.!
!
Yue! sat! in! silence! as! the! meeting! among! the! generals! and! Syaoran!
concluded.! Throughout,! he! could! not! tear! his! gaze! from! Syaoran.! The!
feral! glint! in! his! serious! eyes! and! the! proud! tilt! of! his! body! made! the!
older! generals! address! him! like! yard! slaves.! The! Great! Imperial! Son!
who!awed!so!many,!sat!before!them!in!all!his!glory!once!more.!
When!Syaoran!laid!out!their!plan!of!action!to!seize!the!Forbidden!City,!
the! generals! hesitated! to! point! out! the! weaknesses.! It! was! only! with!
Yue! and! Renshu's! encouragement! did! they! all! eventually! agree! on! a!
solid! plan! for! tonight.! Who! knew?! Syaoran! may! want! to! modify!
something!later.!
The! generals! kowtowed,! stood! and! left.! Syaoran! drew! the! papers! on!
the! ground! towards! him.! He! studied! them! and! nodded! to! himself.! He!
picked!up!a!book,!The!Art!of!War!by!Sun!Tzu!and!ran!his!fingers!down!
289!
the!front!like!it!was!a!love!letter.!
There!were!many!things!Yue!wanted!to!speak!to!him!about!but!he!dare!
not! broach! the! topics! until! he! was! sure! Syaoran! would! have! the!
patience!for!his!questions.!
"Why!are!you!still!here?"!asked!Syaoran,!looking!at!Yue.!
Yue's!eyes!widened!slightly.!
"I!always!stay!behind,"!said!Yue.!It!was!like!Syaoran!had!amnesia!all!of!
a!sudden.!"In!case!you!wish!to!discuss!the!plans!some!more."!
"No,"! said! Syaoran.! "I'm! satisfied.! Once! Hiiragizawa! arrives! with! the!
Moon!Bell,!everything!will!fall!in!its!place."!
He!put!the!papers!away!in!a!trunk!and!locked!it.!He!cracked!his!fingers!
and!then!twisted!his!body!to!crack!his!back.!He!exhaled.!
"I!think!I'll!kill!Renshu!in!the!battle."!
Yue's!head!snapped!to!Syaoran.!
"He!wants!me!dead!too.!I!can!see!it!in!his!eyes,"!said!Syaoran,!walking!
up! to! Yue.! "Perhaps! that! edict! of! his! is! forged! after! all.! I! am! the! true!
heir."!
"We!have!always!suspected!this,"!said!Yue.!"But!he!is!a!prince!of!China.!
I!think!he!deserves!a!more!honourable!death."!!
"Honour?!For!a!man!who!fled!when!he!should!have!stood!and!fought?"!
"No,"!said!Yue.!"Honour!for!the!First!Son!of!China."!
Syaoran!pursed!his!lips.!
"He! may! die! without! my! interference! anyway.! Words! are! his! only!
weapons,"!said!Syaoran.!"I'll!wait!and!see!what!happens."!
Yue!was!unconvinced!but!he!said!nothing.!He!had!never!heard!Syaoran!
talk! about! killing! one! of! his! family! members! before.! That! was! of!
course,! unless! Huangdi! himself! was! thinking! about! disposing! of!
someone.!
A! servant! came! in! and! crouching! low,! he! made! Syaoran's! futon! and!
practically!crawled!from!the!tent.!Syaoran!did!not!seem!to!notice!him!
but!abruptly!he!proclaimed,!"I!need!to!sleep.!Get!out."!
He! stared! at! Yue.! The! general! rose! to! his! feet! slowly.! Syaoran! was!
being! unnecessarily! rude.! For! a! moment! Yue! thought! that! was! the!
reason!he!felt!a!cold!anger!coursing!through!him.!Then!he!realized,!it!
was!not!the!sole!reason.!He!was!annoyed!because!Syaoran!could!have!
everything! he! wanted! but! instead! he! chose! to! throw! it! away,! like! a!
worn!out!pair!of!shoes.!
290!
"Why!did!you!do!it?"!
Syaoran!puffed!out.!
"Am!I!supposed!to!understand!that?"!
"The!concubine."!
Syaoran!tensed.!
"Careful!Yue."!
He!blew!out!the!lamps,!casting!the!tent!in!darkness!and!made!his!way!
to!the!futon.!Yue!made!to!exit!but!halted!at!the!entrance.!
"You!say!Li!Renshu!is!not!an!honourable!man;!he's!not!the!only!one."!
Yue!felt!the!piercing!gaze!of!Syaoran!upon!his!back.!
"Speak.!One!more!time.!See!what!happens."!
Syaoran!was!grating!Yue's!nerves.!He!was!worse!than!he!usually!was!
when! he! was! on! a! march.! Everything! and! everyone! irritated! him.! If!
leaving!the!concubine!behind!affected!him!so!much,!why!did!he!do!it?!
Yue! knew! why.! He! was! a! coward!! Syaoran! tried! to! act! like! he! was!
uninterested!in!the!woman!and!for!some!time!he!may!have!convinced!
himself!of!it.!However,!his!recent!touchiness!said!otherwise.!
Yue! needed! Eriol! to! return! soon! because! even! though! he! had! sworn!
never!to!harm!a!hair!on!that!boy's!head,!he!was!seriously!tempted!to!
pluck!them!from!his!scalp!by!the!handful.!He!went!to!a!secluded!area!
to! spread! his! long! wings.! May! his! ancestors! give! him! the! strength! to!
cope!with!Li!Xiao!Lang.!
Yue's! clothes! were! damp! from! the! clouds.! He! had! grown! accustomed!
to!the!conditions!in!the!sky!many!years!ago!so!they!did!not!bother!him.!
Tonight!however,!he!felt!the!cold.!It!must!be!his!conscience.!He!should!
not!be!outside!of!camp.!He!should!return!before!Syaoran!knew!he!was!
missing.!
Yue!rolled!over!sharply.!No,!Syaoran!would!not!find!out!he!was!gone.!
Besides,! he! was! sure! the! prince! could! not! care! less! about! him! right!
now.! What! was! that?! Yue! focused! his! eyes! on! a! speck! on! the! ground.!
That!looked!like!a!tent!but!it!was!a!fair!distance!away!from!the!army!
camp.!
He! pulled! his! wings! back! and! descended.! As! he! drew! closer,! he! saw!
three! horses.! He! recognized! than! as! imperial! horses! because! of! the!
saddles.!What!were!they!doing!all!the!way!out!here?!His!feet!touched!
the!earth!and!he!approached!the!tent!warily.!
Voices!came!from!within!it,!but!Yue!could!not!hear!anything!that!was!
being!said!clearly.!There!was!a!rustling!sound!and!a!man!stepped!out!
291!
from!the!tent.!Both!froze!as!they!took!in!the!sight!of!the!other.!
"You,"!said!Yue.!!
The! man! placed! a! finger! to! his! lips! and! gestured! to! some! trees! a! bit!
away.!Yue!followed!him,!still!a!little!taken!aback.!
"You're!still!here."!
"You!caught!me,"!said!Touya,!a!peeved!look!on!his!face.!
"I! did! not! know! what! had! become! of! your! sister,"! said! Yue.! "I! only!
noticed!her!absence!a!few!days!ago.!How!long!have!you!been!gone?"!
"A!week!now,"!said!Touya,!his!voice!low.!
He!explained!all!that!had!happened!to!Yue.!When!he!was!finished,!all!
Yue!could!say!was,!"I!see."!The!silence!between!them!thickened.!
"The!child!lived!then?"!
"Yes,"!said!Touya.!"But!to!be!honest,!it!can!still!go!either!way."!
Yue!nodded.!
"You!did!not!take!the!chance!to!leave?"!he!asked!Touya.!"It!is!what!you!
wanted."!
"You're! right,"! said! Touya.! "But! why! should! I! be! the! one! to! give! my!
sister! news! that! would! hurt! her?! Why! do! I! have! to! be! the! bad! guy?!
Why!couldn't!your!gaki!prince!have!ended!things!himself?"!
"She!doesn't!know?"!
"I!told!her!we!have!to!travel!behind!the!army.!I!told!her!the!gaki!said!
it's!safer."!He!shrugged.!"His!words!seem!to!be!like!gold!to!her."!
"Xiao!Lang!would!not!like!this,"!said!Yue.!He!folded!his!arms.!His!face!
was! sombre.! "His! anger! will! be! great! when! he! finds! out! you! have!
disobeyed!him.!HeD"!
"Disobeyed"him?"!asked!Touya!in!amazement.!"Let!me!say!for!the!last!
time:!I!am!not!Chinese.!I'm!not!his!servant!like!you.!I!can!do!whatever!
the!hell!I!want!"!
Touya! punched! a! tree! trunk,! tearing! the! flesh! on! his! knuckles.! He!
jabbed!a!finger!at!Yue.!
"I!knew!this!would!happen!!I!knew!he!would!throw!her!away.!I!want!to!
tell!her!this!so!that!we!can!return!to!our!lives!but!I'm!afraid.!I'm!afraid!
she'll!never!forgive!me!if!I!tell!her.!I!know!in!my!heart!she!can't!hate!
him,!so!she'll!hate!me."!
"I!would!like!to!see!the!bo.?"!
It! was! not! that! Yue! unsympathetic! to! Touya's! plight;! it! was! just! that!
the!baby!interested!him!more.!Huangdi!had!always!thrown!women!at!
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Syaoran's!feet.!He!had!believed!in!having!as!many!children!as!possible!
and! the! fact! that! his! favourite! son! had! none! had! bothered! him.! Now,!
Syaoran!had!a!son!so!it!was!only!natural!that!Yue!was!curious.!
Touya!glanced!at!the!tent!uncertainly.!
"I!won't!tell!her!anything,"!said!Yue,!quickly.!"In!fact,!my!presence!may!
reinforce!your!story.!I'll!say!Xiao!Lang!sent!me."!
"Fine,"!said!Touya.!
They!entered!the!tent!to!find!Nakuru!with!her!hands!clamped!over!her!
mouth.!Sakura!was!dazed.!
"What! do! you! mean,! 'since! he! left,'! "! she! asked! the! older! woman.!
"NakuruDchan,!what!do!you!mean!!Tell!me!what!you!mean."!
"I'm!sorry,"!said!Nakuru,!staring!at!Touya!remorsefully.!"I!didn't!mean!
to."!
Yue!shot!a!look!at!Touya.!The!man!was!frozen.!Blood!drained!from!his!
face.!
"OnniDchan,"! said! Sakura.! She! accurately! interpreted! the! look! on!
Touya's! face.! For! a! moment,! she! appeared! like! she! had! just! taken! a!
severe!beating!to!the!head,!bewildered!and!disoriented.!
"But!you!said...!I!thought…"!
Touya! rushed! to! her,! falling! onto! his! knees.! He! gently! touched! her!
cheek!as!though!anticipating!that!she!would!recoil!from!him.!
"He! left! me! behind?"! she! asked,! breathlessly.! "For! safety,! right?! Not!
because!he!doesn't!care?"!
Yue!knew!the!inevitable!tears!will!fall!from!Sakura's!eyes.!He!could!see!
them!already!building!at!the!edges.!Her!gaze!found!his!and!her!entire!
face!lit!up!with!hope.!
"YueDsan."!
She!craned!her!neck!to!see!if!anyone!else!was!behind!him.!She!did!not!
need!to!speak!his!name.!They!all!knew!who!she!searched!for.!Touya!in!
a!rare!moment!turned!to!Yue!for!support.!Yue!remembered!his!words!
to! confirm! Touya's! story! but! the! optimism! in! Sakura's! face! made! his!
stomach!twist.!He!found!himself!unable!to!lie.!
His! silence! confirmed! her! fear.! Her! head! tilted! and! she! continued! to!
stare! at! him,! a! silent! plea! for! him! to! say! something.! Yue! shifted!
uneasily.!The!tent!was!too!small!for!all!the!emotion!in!her!eyes.!
Yue! could! see! her! retreating! from! reality.! He! thought! that! he! would!
prefer! her! to! cry! out! loud.! At! least! then,! she! would! purge! herself! of!
these! feelings! instead! of! holding! them! in! tightly.! There! was! a! little!
293!
wheezing!sound!and!Yue!finally!took!notice!of!the!bundle!in!Sakura's!
arms.!She!rocked!him!and!murmured!something!softly.!Even!when!she!
was!in!distress,!the!boy!was!treated!like!fine!silk!that!could!easily!slip!
out!of!her!hands.!
"This!may!seem!like!a!terrible!thing,"!said!Touya.!"But!you're!free!to!do!
what!you!want!now.!We!can!return!home."!
Sakura!raised!her!hand.!She!was!tired!of!hearing!the!same!thing.!
"China!is!my!home,!onniDchan."!
"China! doesn't! want! you! anymore,"! said! Touya.! His! voice! was! a!
controlled!rage.!"I!want!you!!I'm!the!one!who!cares!for!you!more!than!
anyone!else.!I'm!the!one!who!came!all!this!way!to!rescue!you.!You!act!
like!that!means!nothing!"!
"I!don't!want!to!be!rescued,"!Sakura!said.!Her!voice!was!low!and!fast.!"I!
want!to!speak!to!Xiao!Lang.!I!need!to!speak!to!him.!This!can't!be!true.!
You!must!have!misunderstood."!
"Misunderstood?"! Touya! pushed! himself! to! his! feet.! Sinking! his! hand!
into! his! clothes,! he! pulled! out! a! jade! stone! and! flung! it! beside! her.!
"That's!for!you.!Infer!what!you!will."!
"You're!lying,"!she!said,!not!sparing!a!glance!at!gem.!
Touya!was!ready!to!punch!something!again.!Yue!knew!the!frustration!
he!felt;!it!was!a!frustration!only!a!younger!sibling!could!bring.!
"You!get!angry!at!me!so!easily,"!said!Touya.!He!ran!his!hands!through!
his!hair.!"What!does!the!gaki!prince!have!to!do!to!make!you!look!at!him!
the!way!you're!looking!at!me?"!
"You!won't!ever!understand!how!I!feel,"!Sakura!whispered.!
Touya! however,! caught! what! she! said! because! he! snapped,! "I! do!
understand! but! listen! to! me! Sakura.! Even! if! he! really! loves! you,! he!
won't!ever!love!you!the!way!you!want!him!to,!the!way!you!need!him!to.!
He's!not!that!kind!of!man."!
"Well!not!every!man!can!be!OtouDsan.!Not!every!man!can!be!you!"!
She!arranged!her!futon!covers!and!slid!beneath!them!with!the!baby.!
"Tomorrow,!I!am!going!to!see!Xiao!Lang.!
"Sakura."!
"I!don't!want!to!hear!from!you!that!he!left!me!"!
"You!think!hearing!the!words!from!him!will!be!easier?"!asked!Yue.!
"I!won't!believe!them!otherwise."!
Touya! threw! his! hands! into! the! air! and! left! the! tent.! Denial! on!
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Kinomoto!Sakura!was!quite!chilling,!Yue!thought.!Her!decisive,!abrupt!
tone!reminded!him!of!Syaoran!only!moments!ago!when!he!announced!
his!intention!to!kill!Renshu.!He!should!warn!her.!
"This!is!not!the!best!time,"!said!Yue.!"He!isn't!himself."!
"Neither!am!I."!
Sakura! was! stubborn! because! she! was! hurt.! There! was! nothing! more!
to!say!so!he!went!outside.!The!cool!night!air!rushed!into!his!lungs.!Did!
love! always! have! to! be! this! hard?! Every! story! he! had! heard,! every!
poem!he!had!read!about!love,!ended!in!tragedy.!Perhaps!love!and!pain!
were!like!night!and!day,!always!following!each!other!in!a!neverDending!
cycle?!
Touya! stood! near! the! horses,! his! head! bowed! on! one's! side.! His!
shoulders! were! slumped! in! defeat! and! the! sight! of! the! strong! man!
reduced!to!such!despair,!stirred!something!in!Yue.!
"I!took!care!of!her!since!she!was!a!baby,"!he!told!Yue,!who!approached!
him!quietly.!"But!she's!not!a!baby!anymore!and!I!hate!it."!
"I!feel!the!same!way!about!my!brother,"!admitted!Yue.!
Touya!looked!at!him.!
"He's!in!the!palace!right?"!
"Yes."!
"Do!you!think!he's..."!
"I!would!know!if!he!had!died."!
They! spent! the! rest! of! the! night! together,! talking.! Yue! had! never!
spoken!so!many!words!to!one!person!in!a!single!sitting.!They!had!lived!
under!such!different!circumstances!but!their!stories!were!so!similar.!It!
was! like! meeting! a! long! lost! brother! after! one! had! grown! very! old! D!
there!was!too!much!to!catch!up!on!and!so!little!time.!
Touya! fell! asleep! first! and! Yue! allowed! his! head! to! rest! against! his!
shoulder.! Tentatively! at! first,! Yue! stroked! Touya's! hair! like! he! had!
done!to!Yukito!many!years!ago!when!they!were!young.!Yet!he!was!not!
thinking!of!Yukito!tonight!like!he!did!every!night!since!he!last!saw!him.!
Tonight,!he!was!enjoying!the!presence!of!Kinomoto!Touya,!a!man!who!
felt!for!others!as!much!as!he!did!and!suffered!because!of!it.!
! This! made! Syaoran! turn.! Yue! could! not! see! his! face! but! Sakura's! was!
Today! was! the! first,! clear! spring! day.! The! generals! were! outside! at! a!
low!table,!enjoying!their!one!hour!break!from!the!march.!Thousands!of!
soldiers! were! having! a! quick! meal;! some! eating! birds! they! had! shot!
down.! Some! men! bantered! and! told! jokes,! others! enjoyed! the! light!
295!
atmosphere!silently!and!some!took!a!quick!nap.!It!was!a!rare!moment.!
Even! Syaoran! opted! to! close! his! dark,! glaring! eyes! as! the! wind!
fluttered!through!his!brown!hair.!
Yue! though,! was! the! image! of! quiet! nervousness! in! the! cherry!
ambiance.!Time!was!passing!slowly!for!him.!If!his!hair!was!not!already!
white,! it! would! have! turned! that! colour! then! and! there.! He! fiddled!
nervously! with! the! blue! cuff! on! his! ear.! His! eyes! flicked! about! the!
soldiers.!They!landed!on!Syaoran!and!his!body!locked!in!place.!
The!prince!was!watching!him!intently.!
Yue!kept!his!face!blank.!Syaoran!knew!something!was!not!quite!right!
and!Yue!hoped!an!interrogation!was!the!last!thing!on!Syaoran's!mind.!
The!prince's!eyes!began!to!narrow!and!had!Yue!been!a!cavalry!soldier,!
secrets!would!be!spilled!in!an!instant!but!Yue!would!not!be!done!in!so!
easily.!
Through! the! corner! of! his! eye,! Yue! saw! a! horse! come! into! view.! One!
person! was! on! its! back,! while! another! walked! beside! the! powerful!
animal,!holding!its!reigns.!A!hush!began!to!flow!through!the!camp.!Had!
the!people!seem!more!threatening,!the!soldiers!would!have!most!likely!
stopped!them!before!they!got!too!close.!However,!everyone!knew!that!
the!Great!Imperial!Son!kept!a!concubine!on!the!march!and!that!she!had!
been! pregnant.! Men! drew! back! as! they! passed.! No! one! would! dare!
touch! a! woman! who! could! possibly! belong! to! the! prince! even! if! their!
excuse! was! protecting! him.! A! head! was! a! valuable! thing! and! they!
wished!to!keep!theirs!on!their!necks.!
Syaoran,! his! attention! so! bent! upon! Yue,! had! only! just! become!
conscious! of! the! change! in! the! atmosphere.! His! eyes! fell! to! his! hands!
and!Yue!saw!a!quick!sequence!of!emotions!flicker!across!his!face.!The!
prince's!fingers!balled!into!tight!fists.!
Touya!helped!Sakura!down!from!the!horse.!She!came!to!stand!directly!
behind!Syaoran.!Still!his!gaze!remained!on!his!fists.!A!light!breeze!blew!
pass,! whipping! about! Sakura's! red! and! white! hanfu.! The! material!
brushed!past!Syaoran's!shoulders!and!still!he!made!no!movement.!He!
knew.!
"...!Xiao!Lang,"!called!Sakura,!softly.!
plain!to!him.!At!first,!she!was!smiling!but!that!disappeared!quickly.!The!
couple!watched!each!other,!still!as!statues!for!what!seemed!an!endless!
moment.! Then! in! one! swift! movement,! Sakura's! palm! crashed! into!
Syaoran's!cheek.!
296!

Chapter 23
Love"itself"is"calm;"turbulence"arrives"from"individuals.!
~!Chinese!Proverb!
Syaoran! was! up! in! a! blink,! his! fingers! curved! towards! him,! ready! to!
slam! the! back! of! his! palm! into! Sakura's! skull.! She! grimaced,! steeling!
herself! for! the! inevitable! contact.! All! she! could! hear! was! her! own!
breathing.! She! waited! but! nothing! came.! Tentatively,! she! opened! an!
eye! to! see! why! her! head! was! not! split! open! already.! Syaoran's! hand!
shook! midDair! but! he! just! stared! at! her,! frozen! in! time.! His! gaze! was!
penetrating!and!steady,!locking!her!body!in!place!but!then,!he!exhaled,!
dropping!his!hand!to!his!side.!
The! tension! in! the! atmosphere! did! not! evaporate! but! it! lessened!
significantly.! Sakura! swallowed! the! lump! in! her! throat.! The! Syaoran!
watching! her! was! the! Great! Imperial! Son! she! had! first! met.! He!
appeared! angry,! annoyed! even,! and! his! demeanour! was! cold! as! the!
past!winter.!
"I! thought! we! had! an! understanding,! Kinomoto?"! he! asked! in! a! soft,!
dangerous!voice.!
He! turned! and! glared! at! the! man.! Touya! lowered! his! hand! from! his!
katana.!
"Did!we?"!was!his!cool!reply.!
Syaoran's!jaw!muscles!flexed.!His!nostrils!flared!slightly!but!whatever!
emotions!were!churning!inside!him,!they!were!not!quite!breaching!the!
surface!yet.!Sakura!knew!it!was!only!a!matter!of!time!before!they!did!
though.!
"Xiao!Lang."!
She! made! to! clutch! his! arm! but! he! recoiled.! Her! lips! parted! and! her!
eyes! widened.! What! was! going! on?! Sure! she! had! just! hit! him! but! she!
did!not!mean!to.!Now,!he!was!avoiding!her!touch?!When!had!he!ever!
done!that?!He!could!not!be!afraid!of!her;!he!was!much!stronger.!
"Enough!break,"!he!said!to!Yue.!"Resume!the!march."!
"Xiao! Lang!"! called! Sakura,! his! voice! distressed.! His! back! was! to! her!
now!and!he!refused!to!turn!around.!
Yue!looked!from!him!to!her,!his!expression!unreadable.!He!nodded!to!
Syaoran! and! stood! slowly.! Sakura! could! not! believe! Syaoran! was!
ignoring! her! like! this.! Any! reaction,! even! a! bad! one,! she! would!
welcome! right! now.! His! impassivity! was! frustrating.! Why! was! he! so!
297!
good!at!hurting!her,!even!in!silence?!It!was!not!right.!
"Li!Xiao!Lang,!you!will!look!at!me!"!
The! generals! at! the! table! exchanged! looks.! No! doubt,! they! were!
amazed! at! her! bravery! and! at! Syaoran's! restraint.! Not! one! of! them!
would! speak! to! Syaoran! like! that! for! fear! of! his! wrath! and! they! were!
older!men.!Sakura!did!feel!like!she!was!pushing!her!luck!but!Syaoran!
should!treat!her!better,!or!properly!acknowledge!her!at!least.!
Syaoran!had!not!yet!showed!any!sign!that!he!was!listening!to!her.!He!
continued! talking! to! Yue! like! she! was! not! there.! She! frowned! as! hot!
tears!jumped!into!her!eyes.!He!was!not!the!only!one!who!knew!how!to!
hurt.!
"Fine,"! she! said! spitefully.! "I! will! return! to! Japan.! It! may! be! difficult!
considering! my! circumstances! but! I'm! sure! I! can! find! a! man! better!
than!you!and!maybe!I'll!have!his!child!too!"!
As!she!turned!to!make!her!escape,!she!saw!the!shocked!expressions!of!
the!soldiers!who!heard!her.!Yes,!she!had!said!it!in!Chinese!so!everyone!
understood.!It!was!good!for!him!to!get!a!taste!of!his!own!venom.!
"Hoe!"!
She!stumbled,!her!arms!flailing.!Her!hanfu!was!caught!in!a!death!grip.!
She!grabbed!it!and!yanked!the!material!from!Syaoran's!grasp.!His!hand!
clamped!down!on!her!wrist.!She!pulled!it!away!sharply!but!he!caught!it!
again,!holding!it!firmer!this!time.!
"Let!me!go!"!
She! twisted! as! she! tried! to! peel! away! his! fingers! but! they! were! iron!
grips.!They!struggled!D!she!trying!to!pull!away!from!him!and!Syaoran!
attempting!to!stop!her.!It!was!quick.!Somehow!he!managed!to!get!her!
hands! behind! her! back.! He! had! her! pressed! into! his! warm! chest,! his!
hands!holding!hers!steady!at!the!top!of!her!base!of!her!back.!
His! nose! was! pressed! against! hers.! His! hair! tickled! her! face! softly.!
There!was!little!space!between!their!bodies!as!he!stared!down!at!her!
with!his!intense!eyes.!She!found!herself!leaning!into!him.!
"I!was!willing!to!let!that!slap!go,"!said!Syaoran.!"I!still!am.!But!you!will!
do!well!to!remember!who!you're!talking!to.!You!are!mine.!If!any!other!
man!touches!youD"!
"I'll!be!far!away!from!you."!She!tried!to!pull!away!from!him!but!he!did!
not! budge.! "I'm! not! your! wife,! your! mistress! or! your! concubine!
anymore!D!I!can!do!whatever!I!want!"!
She!kept!up!her!tirade!in!Chinese!and!she!saw!its!effects!in!Syaoran.!He!
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was!pissed.!
"You're!beginning!to!sound!like!your!brother."!
"Good."!
He!stared!at!her,!his!face!rock!hard.!
"Did!you!think!I!would!stay!alone!forever?"!
"Yes."!
Sakura! did! not! know! what! to! say.! That! single! word! hung! in! the! air,!
thick!and!full!of!arrogance.!Sure!she!may!not!be!able!to!be!married,!but!
she!could!in!fact!be!someone!else's!concubine!if!they!were!rich!enough!
to!support!her.!
"But! as! I! look! at! your! beautiful! face,"! he! said! as! his! cheek! fell! against!
hers! and! his! lips! hovered! over! her! neck.! "I! realize! many! men! may! be!
willing!to!overlook!a!few!things."!
A!slight!tremor!ran!through!him!and!he!was!no!longer!holding!her!to!
subdue!her;!it!felt!more!like!the!possessive!embrace!of!a!lover.!Sakura!
vaguely!remembered!him!becoming!excited!once!when!they!had!some!
small! quarrel! when! she! was! pregnant.! Was! Syaoran! excited! in! some!
way!right!now?!How!could!he!be!aroused!and!angry!at!the!same!time?!
She!raised!her!shoulders!and!edged!back.!This!time!he!let!her!leave!his!
arms.!
"Why!did!you!leave!me?!You!don't!want!me!anymore?!Or!are!you!mad!
at!me?!Both?"!
"Sakura..."!He!was!fixated!on!some!spot!just!behind!her,!his!eyes!filled!
with!some!haunted!look!she!did!not!understand.!"Don't!you!want!to!go!
home?"!
"Why!did!you!leave!me?"!
He!looked!at!her,!almost!reverently.!His!gaze!turned!blank.!
"Xiao!Lang?"!
The!sound!of!his!name!broke!the!trance!he!was!slipping!into.!He!shook!
his!head.!
"I've!thought!about!how!much!you!have!endured!since!the!first!time!I!
saw! you."! His! words! were! soft.! "In! my! mind,! nothing! bad! was! ever!
supposed! to! happen! to! you.! So! now! that! they! have,! it! sickens! me.! I!
can't!look!at!you!without!feeling!ashamed.!I!should!have!done!more!to!
protect!you.!Your!brother!is!right!to!want!to!take!you!home."!
His!eyes!narrowed.!
"Sometimes!I!wish!Wei!never!met!you.!It's!his!fault,!always!wanting!to!
299!
bring! me! things! from! his! travels."! Syaoran! tilted! his! head.! "Wouldn't!
you!like!to!go!back!to!Japan?"!
"So! you're! not! mad! at! me?"! asked! Sakura,! ignoring! his! question! for! a!
second!time.!
"No."!!
"And! you,"! she! blushed,! feeling! hundreds! of! eyes! on! her.! "You! still!
want!me?"!
He! stepped! back! and! she! moved! forward,! quickly! closing! the! space!
between!them.!The!nearer!she!was!to!him,!the!less!selfDconscious!she!
felt.! He! continued! to! move! back! and! she! continued! to! press! forward.!
Syaoran's!eyebrows!furrowed;!his!face!was!pained.!
She!raised!a!hand!and!touched!his!chin!with!her!fingertips.!He!looked!
down!at!her!wonderingly.!
"There's!nothing!you!could!say!to!make!me!leave!you,"!she!said.!"And!
you! can't! tell! me! to! leave! yourself.! So! stop! this! foolishness,! Li! Xiao!
Lang."!
"Sakura,"!he!said!in!a!very!calm!voice.!
Her!hand!moved!to!his!cheek.!
"Do!you!still!love!me?!Because!if!you!love!me!and!I!love!you,!it!doesn't!
matter! what! bad! things! happen.! We'll! always! be! here! for! each! other!
and!everything!will!surely!be!alright."!
She! knew! she! was! asking! a! lot! of! Syaoran.! He! was! not! the! most!
affectionate! person! so! to! admit! his! love! in! front! of! his! men! was!
unthinkable.!Did!he!still!think!she!only!said!she!loved!him!because!he!
had!told!her!those!very!words?!Yes,!even!now!he!was!looking!at!her!in!
disbelief.!His!hand!covered!her!own!on!his!cheek.!
Then!after!what!seemed!like!ages,!he!nodded.!
"I!thought!you!would!hate!me,"!he!said!in!confusion.!
"Why?"!
"The!child."!
Everything!fell!into!perspective!for!Sakura.!She!shook!her!head!as!if!to!
say,!'Oh!Xiao!Lang...'!
"He's!fine,"!she!told!Syaoran.!
Syaoran's!eyes!slid!to!Touya!then!back!to!her.!
"Alive?"!
"Yes."!
His! features! went! cold! again! which! startled! her.! His! child! being! alive!
300!
was!not!good!news?!He!removed!her!hand!from!his!face.!
"I!have!to!resume!the!march!now,"!he!told!her.!"I!prefer!to!talk!later!in"
private."!
She! nodded! numbly! and! he! turned! his! attention! to! his! generals.! He!
dished! out! curt! orders! in! an! attempt! to! throw! them! off! the! spectacle!
they! had! just! witnessed.! Even! so,! Sakura! caught! a! few! disapproving!
looks!that!were!sent!her!way.!Clearly,!they!would!have!dealt!with!her!
differently.! They! were! wise! enough! however,! not! to! say! anything! to!
Xiao!Lang.!Touya!took!her!by!the!arm!and!led!her!back!to!their!horse.!
!
That! evening,! Syaoran! walked! around! the! camp! for! hours.! He! knew!
Sakura! was! in! his! tent! but! he! did! not! want! to! see! her! just! yet.! How!
could!he!approach!her!now?!He!had!assumed!the!child!was!dead!and!
now!he!realized!just!how!stupid!he!was!to!leave!her!alone!to!deal!with!
that.! He! had! told! Touya! that! he! knew! it! was! painful! to! women! when!
their!children!died.!He!should!have!stayed!with!her!but!he!was!afraid!
she! would! hate! him! and! now! it! was! obvious! he! had! been! thinking!
more!about!himself!than!her.!
He! sighed.! He! could! not! avoid! his! witch! forever.! Syaoran! reached! for!
his! tent! flap,! hesitated! and! entered.! Sakura's! back! was! to! him! and!
when! she! turned! around! he! went! rigid.! A! small! mouth! was! latched!
onto!the!tip!of!her!breast,!sucking!loudly.!
Syaoran!blinked.!What!the!hell!was!going!on?!It!took!a!while!to!gather!
his!thoughts.!It!was!not!exactly!something!he!saw!everyday.!He!felt!like!
he! was! intruding! on! something! private! and! forbidden.! He! almost!
turned!on!his!heel!but!Sakura!smiled!at!him!reassuringly.!
Syaoran! ventured! to! take! a! closer! look.! He! looked! down! into! the!
bundle! of! cloths! and! the! boy's! eyes! opened.! Syaoran! pulled! his! head!
back!sharply.!The!baby!stared!at!Syaoran!unblinkingly.!Syaoran!felt!the!
strange!sensation!of!looking!into!his!own!amber!eyes.!
The! boy's! brows! creased! for! a! moment! at! the! strange! face! in! front! of!
him.!Finding!that!he!was!fine!with!this!being,!he!closed!his!eyes,!curled!
into! the! cloth! and! continued! his! meal.! He! obviously! did! not! mind!
having!a!spectator.!
"I! can't! believe! it's! still! alive,"! he! said,! regarding! the! child! like! some!
weird!but!interesting!creature.!
"He's!alive.!He!looks!fragile!now!but!he'll!grow!big!and!strong,!like!his!
father."!
Syaoran!moved!away.!
301!
"Don't!get!too!excited."!
Sakura! frowned! at! him! and! he! studied! her! features! like! he! had! been!
doing!with!the!baby.!
"You!sound!like!you!want!him!to!die."!
"I! don't! want! it! to! die,"! said! Syaoran! plainly.! "I! know! how! much! you!
want!it.!I'm!only!reminding!you!to!be!realistic.!It's!weak."!
"I! won't! let! you! talk! about! your! own! son! like! that,"! said! Sakura! with!
authority.! He! raised! a! brow.! "Yes,! he! is! your" son.! Can't! you! call! him!
that?"!
Syaoran! stripped! off! the! armour! he! was! wearing,! without! any!
response.!Something!about!the!child!in!Sakura's!arms!changed!things!
but!he!could!not!decide!if!that!was!good!or!bad.!
"Do!you!want!to!hold!him?"!she!asked.!
"No."!
"Are!you!sure?"!
Her!voice!sounded!strained!but!Syaoran!was!adamant.!
"I'm!sure."!He!cracked!his!fingers.!"Should!you!really!be!standing!like!
this?! Lie! down.! Sit! at! least.! HingDsensei! told! me! you! would! need! a!
month!of!rest."!
Sakura! sat! on! his! futon.! Syaoran! recognized! the! cloth! the! baby! was!
wrapped!in!as!one!of!Sakura's!preDbirth!projects.!
"You!finished!one,"!he!said,!gesturing!to!it.!
She!shook!her!head.!
"OniiDchan!did."!
The!baby!released!Sakura!and!Syaoran!followed!the!sight!of!her!naked!
breast! as! it! slipped! behind! her! clothes.! Unconsciously,! he! licked! his!
lower! lip! and! bit! down! on! it.! It! had! been! months! since! he! had! been!
with!Sakura.!He!remembered!how!warm!it!felt!to!be!inside!her!like!it!
was! yesterday.! He! sat! beside! her! quietly,! controlling! his! runaway!
thoughts.!
"You!said!you!weren't!angry!with!me."!
"I'm!not,"!said!Syaoran.!
"Then!why!won't!you!hold!him?"!
The! air! went! still.! Every! sound! outside! and! within! ceased.! It! was!
surreal! and! Sakura! looked! around! in! wonder.! Then,! someone! outside!
dropped!a!pail!and!sound!returned!to!the!world.!
"The!baby's!seventh!day!has!passed,"!she!told!Syaoran.!"You!can!name!
302!
him!now,!if!you!want."!
Syaoran!thought!the!Japanese!named!their!children!rather!early!but!he!
said!nothing!of!that.!
"You're!getting!excited!again."!
He!expected!that!to!be!the!end!of!the!conversation,!that!they!would!go!
to!sleep!now.!
"He's!my!first!son,"!said!Sakura.!"Ichiro!then."!
Syaoran's! temple! twitched.! Quite! unimaginative,! he! thought,! but! he!
remained!silent.!
"Or!Xiao!Lang."!
"Are!you!mad?"!
"Why!not?"!asked!Sakura.!Her!expression!was!cool!and!carefree.!
"You! can't! name! it! after! me!"! Syaoran! could! not! believe! the! nerve! of!
this!woman.!"It's!bad!luck."!
Sakura!shrugged.!
"You!don't!have!any!suggestions.!You!don't!want!to!hold!him.!I!suppose!
you!don't!care.!So!Xiao!Lang!will!be!his!name.!It's!what!I!want."!
"Sakura."!
He! set! his! jaw! and! glared! at! her.! He! really! did! not! think! she!
appreciated! just! how! taboo! naming! a! child! after! his! father! was! in! his!
culture.!
"Fine,"! said! Syaoran,! relenting.! "I'll! name! it! D! him"D! when! I'm! ready.! I!
don't!want!to!hear!anything!else!on!this!topic."!
He!turned!on!his!side,!back!facing!Sakura,!ready!to!sleep.!She!abruptly!
burst!into!laughter.!
"What's!so!funny?"!
He!craned!his!neck!to!look!at!her.!
"You!really!thought!I!would!name!him!Xiao!Lang,"!she!said.!"Everyone!
knows!that's!bad!luck."!
Syaoran!scoffed.!
"Witch."!
He! could! not! stop! the! small! smile! that! broke! across! his! face.! He! was!
happy! Sakura! was! here.! She! got! up,! blew! out! the! lamp! and! settled!
herself! down! beside! him! again.! He! rolled! over,! wrapping! an! arm!
around!her!and!the!baby!so!they!would!stay!still!and!not!disturb!him!
while! he! was! sleeping.! He! kissed! Sakura's! neck! and! pulled! her! back!
303!
into!his!chest.!
The! feel! of! her! body! moulded! to! his! was! heavenly.! He! felt! a! familiar!
stirring! in! his! lower! half! but! he! suppressed! the! feeling.! Now! was! not!
the!time.!It!was!wrong!that!in!any!mood!she!was!appealing!to!him.!It!
was! worst! that! when! Sakura! was! angry! he! felt! like! taking! her! rough,!
have! her! fight! him! a! little.! Syaoran! smirked! but! then! gave! himself! a!
mental!kick.!Now"was"not"the"time.!
"Xiao!Lang?"!
"Yes."!
"I!was!really!scared!when!he!was!born.!You!shouldn't!have!left."!
"I!know."!
"Would!you!have!come!back?"!
"I!don't!know."!
"Don't!do!that!to!me!again."!
"I!won't."!
"Promise?"!
"I!promise."!
"Good!night,"!she!whispered.!
She! sounded! serene! but! Sakura's! hand! gripped! Syaoran's! tightly! all!
through!the!night.!She!did!not!trust!him!anymore!and!the!knowledge!
was!a!knife!to!his!heart.!
!
Though!Syaoran!and!Sakura!talked!with!each!other!as!though!nothing!
had!changed,!the!fact!remained!that!Syaoran!had!created!a!deep!valley!
between! them.! Sometimes! he! caught! her! staring! at! him,! at! times!
concerned,! other! times! with! anxiety.! One! night,! he! awoke! to! her!
sobbing.!He!was!still!even!when!he!felt!her!shoulders!heaving!against!
him.!What!could!he!say?!So!he!let!her!cry.!
He! sat! outside! his! tent! in! deep! thought.! He! wanted! to! lavish! Sakura!
with! attention! and! touches! of! affection! and! love! but! such! things! did!
not! come! to! him! naturally.! She! did! not! know! it! but! she! made! him!
unsure! of! himself.! Also,! his! main! focus! was! Lu! Sheng! and! no! matter!
how! many! times! he! willed! his! mind! towards! Sakura,! that! dark!
presence!was!ever!in!the!back!of!it.!
Sakura! had! explained! to! him! the! connection! she! had! with! his! cousin.!
Sheng! was! right! when! he! said! not! every! magic! needs! to! be! spoken.!
Kinomoto! Touya! had! a! connection! to! her! as! well.! Sakura! just! did! not!
304!
see!it!as!such!D!she!simply!saw!his!ways!as!highly!intuitive!or!brotherly!
instinct.!He!hated!Sheng!even!more!now!for!being!so!intimate!with!her.!
It!started!to!rain.!His!eyes!drifted!to!the!distance;!there!were!tall!peaks!
visible! amongst! the! clouds.! He! could! not! see! them! all! but! he! knew!
where!each!one!was!located.!It!was!his!home.!Soon!he!would!be!at!the!
gates.!
He!went!inside!and!gazed!at!Sakura!and!the!boy.!She!was!still!trying!to!
get!Syaoran!to!hold!him!but!the!idea!made!him!uncomfortable.!He!had!
given! up! on! the! child! quite! early! so! to! accept! him! now! was! difficult.!
What!if!he!got!attached!to!him!and!tonight!was!his!last?!
He!settled!behind!them!and!began!drifting!off!to!sleep!when!he!heard!
an!odd!gurgling!noise.!His!eyes!flew!open.!There!it!was!again!!Now!it!
sounded! like! laughter! a! bit.! He! peaked! over! Sakura's! shoulders! and!
saw! that! the! child! was! awake.! Should! he! wake! her! up?! Maybe! it! was!
hungry?!
The!child!saw!him!and!Syaoran!dipped!back!down.!He!shook!his!head.!
What!was!he!doing?!He!looked!over!at!the!boy!again!and!a!small!hand!
reached! out! to! him.! He! stuck! out! a! finger,! just! to! brush! against! the!
child's! hand! but! the! boy's! fingers! clutched! his! own! tightly.! The!
toothless! grin! of! the! boy! stopped! his! breath.! He! made! that! odd!
gurgling!noise!again.!Syaoran!tried!to!pull!his!hand!back!but!the!child!
was!not!having!it.!
"Let! go,"! he! whispered,! and! the! child! tilted! his! head! as! if! to! listen!
better.! Before! he! could! stop! himself,! he! stated,! "Little! boys! should!
listen!to!their!fathers."!
The! boy! only! made! some! more! gurgling! sounds.! The! corners! of!
Syaoran's! mouth! curved.! He! could! only! imagine! what! they! child! was!
trying!to!say.!The!child!tried!to!pull!Syaoran's!finger!to!his!mouth!but!
Syaoran!kept!his!digit!where!it!was.!Something!in!Syaoran!came!to!life!
and! he! lay! there,! staring! in! awe! at! the! child's! antics.! He! put! his! nose!
close!to!the!boy.!He!smelled!the!same!way!Yue!had!described!babies'!
scents.!
Seeing!his!son!so!innocent!and!free!of!duty!made!Syaoran!smile!sadly.!
Soon! enough,! the! boy's! eyes! would! be! cold! from! his! training! as! a!
prince!of!China.!That!silly!grin!would!be!beaten!away!and!most!likely,!
he!would!be!the!one!to!do!it.!Would!his!son!come!to!hate!him!like!he!
hated! his! own! father?! That! thought! made! every! breath! he! took! a!
difficult!one.!
"I!don't!want!you!to!hate!me,"!he!whispered!to!his!son.!"I!don't!want!
you!to!be!like!me."!
305!
Sakura! shifted! and! turned! to! him,! her! green! eyes! brimming! with!
unspoken!sympathy.!
"I'm!sorry,"!said!Syaoran.!
Suddenly! hit! with! emotion,! he! pressed! his! lips! to! hers! and! Sakura!
returned! the! kiss.! Every! tense! muscle! in! his! body! went! loose! and! he!
gave!in!to!her!sweet!taste.!He!deepened!the!kiss,!needing!more!of!her.!
Warmth!spread!through!him!and!his!body!tingled!in!delight.!
"You're!crying,"!Sakura!murmured.!
"What?"!
Now!that!she!mentioned!it,!he!felt!wet!trails!on!his!cheeks.!He!wiped!at!
the!tears,!staring!at!his!shaking!hands!like!they!were!covered!in!blood.!
"Xiao!Lang..."!
All!of!a!sudden,!he!felt!a!familiar!qi.!It!was!so!potent!it!left!him!winded.!
Syaoran! jumped! to! his! feet! and! ran! out! the! tent,! leaving! behind! a!
baffled! Sakura.! Yue! along! with! Lei! and! Renshu! were! heading! in! the!
same!direction.!They!could!feel!the!qi!too!and!the!man!behind!it!had!no!
qualms!about!pushing!out!his!insufferable!energy.!
"What!is!this?"!asked!Touya.!
He!and!Nakuru!were!now!running!beside!Syaoran!as!well.!They!came!
upon!a!man!sitting!on!a!horse!in!a!clearing.!He!grinned.!
"You!"!Syaoran!bit!out.!
The!man!smirked.!
"I!thought!you'd!never!show!up,"!he!said,!leaping!from!the!horse.!The!
poor!animal!looked!about!ready!to!faint.!
He! grabbed! his! covered! Guandao! and! stood! proudly! before! Syaoran.!
Enlai! did! not! seem! disturbed! by! the! fact! that! he! was! severely!
outnumbered.! Syaoran! did! not! know! why! he! was! engaging! in! such!
reckless! behaviour! but! that! was! not! his! problem.! He! released! his!
sword!and!stepped!forward.!
"Enlai."!
"Li."!
"So!Lu!Sheng!sent!you!to...!assassinate!me?!How!honourable."!
Enlai!tried!to!hide!the!dark!look!that!flashed!across!his!face.!
"No!one!sent!me.!I!consider!this!a!favour."!
He! said! that! with! such! utter! seriousness,! Syaoran! was! taken! aback.!
Enlai! flamboyantly! whipped! the! covering! off! his! Guandao! allowing!
everyone!to!be!dazzled!by!the!polished!blade.!
306!
"Unlike! your! people,! I! have! a! mind! of! my! own.! Before! this! battle!
begins,!I!want!a!rematch."!
Syaoran! raised! an! eyebrow.! He! came! all! this! way,! into! enemy! forces,!
for!a!rematch?!
"I!trust!your!pets!will!allow!us!to!duel!without!interference."!
"Watch!your!words!"!said!Renshu.!
Enlai's! smirk! widened! but! Syaoran! had! taken! note! that! his! carefree!
attitude!was!not!reaching!his!eyes.!
"Lots! of! bark! in! this! one.! I! seem! to! remember! a! few! princes! running!
with!their!tails!between!their!legs.!You!don't!happen!to!be!one!of!them,!
do!you?"!
"In! the! remote! possibility! that! you! win,"! said! Lei,! stopping! Renshu's!
retort.!"Do!you!expect!us!to!let!you!go?"!
"Yes,! because! this! is! a! duel! between! warriors! and! you! must! honour!
that.!So!you!can!put!that!magic!bow!of!yours!down,"!he!said!to!Yue.!
Syaoran! nodded! to! Yue! and! the! blue! bow! of! light! disappeared.! Yue's!
eyes! glowed! an! icy! blue! for! a! moment! and! then! he! was! back! to! his!
normal!stoic!self.!
Enlai!swung!his!Guandao!between!his!hands!a!few!times.!There!was!a!
loud! whooshing! sound! every! time! he! swung! the! weapon.! He! relaxed!
into!an!offensive!stance.!
"I!can!beat!you,"!he!said.!
"How?!Do!you!have!another!poisoned!tip?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Enlai!grit!his!teeth.!
"That! was! Sheng's! idea!"! he! said,! like! a! spoiled! little! boy.! "He! may!
doubt! me! but! I! know! my! skill!! Besides,! I've! been! refining! my!
technique."!
Syaoran! turned! his! back! and! began! walking! away.! Enlai! was! stupid!
and!impulsive.!
"You!know!what!was!also!Sheng's!idea?"!asked!Enlai,!his!tone!taunting.!
"To!share!your!pretty!concubine!when!he!grew!tired!of!her.!She!bathed!
us,!she!fed!us;!you!won't!believe!the!positions!we!bent!that!body!in."!
Syaoran!froze!and!he!saw!Touya's!body!stiffen.!
"Regrettably,!your!mother!isn't!as!flexible."!
Syaoran! turned! to! Enlai! with! a! glare! on! his! face,! his! eyes! golden.! If!
tonight!was!the!night!Enlai!wanted!to!see!the!afterlife,!he!would!oblige!
him.!
307!
"He's!trying!to!provoke!you,"!said!Yue!dryly.!
"Do!not!interrupt!us."!
Syaoran!approached!Enlai!and!slid!into!a!battle!stance!of!his!own.!He!
knew!Enlai!was!trying!to!provoke!him!but!Syaoran!could!not!stand!this!
insult.!In!his!mind,!he!saw!Sakura!beneath!the!man!and!that!made!his!
blood!boil.!
Syaoran! regarded! Enlai,! shifting! his! weight! slightly! to! get! his! stance!
just!right.!No!one!moved.!The!horse's!panting!was!the!only!sound!that!
could!be!heard.!A!wind!blew!and!a!leaf!fell!from!a!nearby!tree.!Softly,!it!
touched!the!ground.!
In!a!flash,!both!men!darted!to!each!other.!Just!as!Syaoran!remembered,!
Enlai! wielded! his! Guandao! with! deadly! precision.! His! blows! were!
lightning!quick!and!he!brought!them!down!like!a!hammer!on!nail.!
The!loud!clashes!of!blade!on!blade!rang!out.!To!an!unskilled!eye,!this!
may!have!been!a!dazzling!and!frightening!scene!to!behold!but!any!selfD
respecting! soldier! would! be! able! to! tell! that! they! were! only! testing!
each!other's!strengths!and!weaknesses.!
The! two! men! flew! apart,! whipping! their! weapons! around! in! front! of!
them.!They!struck!yet!another!battle!stance,!holding!their!positions!for!
a!while,!circling.!
Enlai! was! just! deciding! where! and! when! his! next! attack! would! be!
when!Syaoran's!form!disappeared.!
He!looked!around!in!alarm.!
"What!theD?"!
Golden!eyes!appeared!right!in!front!of!him!and!Enlai!barely!had!time!
to! evade! Syaoran's! blow.! Recovering! quickly,! he! swung! his! Guandao!
horizontally!but!its!blade,!collided!with!Syaoran's!jian!knocking!him!to!
the!floor.!Play!time!was!over.!
Like! in! their! first! fight,! Enlai! raised! his! weapon! with! intent! to! pierce!
Syaoran's! chest! with! the! pointed! end.! Syaoran! rolled! out! of! the! way.!
Enlai!followed!him,!stabbing!at!the!ground!repeatedly,!not!letting!up.!
Growing!frustrated!that!he!had!yet!to!connect!to!Syaoran's!flesh,!Enlai!
stomped! the! ground,! cracking! it! all! the! way! to! where! Syaoran! had!
managed!to!get!to!his!feet.!Earth!flew!into!the!air!and!Syaoran!took!the!
brunt! of! it.! He! sliced! into! a! distracted! Syaoran's! shoulder.! Enlai!
faltered!briefly!as!Syaoran!glared!at!him!like!some!furious!deity.!
"You! have! improved,"! said! Syaoran,! like! a! teacher! to! a! student.! "But!
that!won't!be!enough!to!save!you."!
308!
Enlai!roared!as!he!attacked!Syaoran!with!wild!abandon.!Syaoran's!face!
was!dead!calm!as!he!repelled!Enlai's!blow.!There!was!a!series!of!blows!
when! Syaoran! spun! low,! slicing! through! Enlai's! thigh.! Enraged,! Enlai!
followed! Syaoran! blindly! slashing! down! on! him! but! again! Syaoran's!
blade!connected,!this!time,!with!his!left!arm.!
He!circled!Enlai!like!a!starving!wolf.!He!enjoyed!the!look!of!uncertainty!
on!the!man's!face.!He!was!strong,!very!strong!but!not!enough!to!defeat!
Syaoran.! He! glanced! at! the! blood! on! his! sword.! So! little.! The! silver! of!
the!blade!should!be!consumed!with!red!!
He!dived!towards!Enlai.!It!was!always!difficult!to!get!past!a!long!range!
weapon.!Syaoran!was!not!deterred.!He!had!a!momentum!going.!Enlai!
was! a! bloody! mess;! his! body! was! shaking! but! still! he! stood! like! a!
champion.!
"I!will..."!he!breathed,!laboriously.!
Syaoran!took!up!yet!another!battle!stance.!Enlai!followed!his!lead.!
"I!will!be...!I!will!beat..."!
Enlai! swayed! on! his! feet.! Against! his! own! accord,! his! Guandao! fell! to!
the!floor.!He!stared!at!it,!then!at!his!hand!in!confusion.!Syaoran's!eyes!
narrowed!as!Enlai!pulled!back!his!torn!clothes!to!look!at!a!wound!on!
his!arm.!Blood!was!flowing!from!it!like!water!over!a!waterfall.!He!gave!
a!short,!incredulous!laugh.!His!body!gave!out!and!he!fell!to!his!knees.!
His!artery!was!cut.!It!was!too!late!to!do!anything.!
He!laughed!again.!
"Sheng!will!never...!let!me!live!this!down..."!
Syaoran!strode!up!to!him.!He!placed!the!tip!of!his!jian!at!the!thin!flesh!
between!his!collar!bone!and!shoulder.!Enlai!looked!up!at!him,!all!fight!
gone! from! his! body.! Slowly,! Syaoran! pushed! his! jian! into! the! man,!
blood!spluttering!from!Enlai's!lips!and!the!wound!as!he!did!so.!
A! smirk! crept! onto! Syaoran's! face! as! his! sword! sunk! into! the! man's!
heart.!He!raised!his!head!taking!in!the!satisfaction.!It!was!a!good!kill.!
He!ripped!his!sword!from!Enlai!and!stumbled!back.!
Just! then,! a! cloaked! figure! appeared! beside! Enlai,! cradling! him! in! its!
arms.! The! violetDhaired! man! said! nothing;! he! only! looked! at! the! still!
smiling! Enlai,! who! leaned! into! him! as! life! slipped! from! his! body.!
Horror!and!shock!were!etched!into!the!man's!features!but!still!he!did!
not!make!a!sound.!
A! blew! crystal! flew! past! Syaoran's! face,! straight! to! the! man! but! he!
raised! his! hand,! and! the! Yue's! crystal! dissipated! before! it.! He! threw!
Enlai!over!his!shoulder!and!dissolved!into!air.!
309!
Chapter 24
He"who"treads"softly"goes"far.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
Eriol! watched! the! fight! between! Syaoran! and! Enlai! from! under! the!
heavy! foliage! of! an! old! tree.! The! headstrong! man,! for! all! the! talks! he!
could! give! had! not! yet! recognized! that! blood! was! running! down! his!
arm!like!a!stream.!The!warriors'!blows!came!fast!and!strong!and!their!
blades!rang!out!clearly!into!the!night,!striking!sharply!into!Eriol's!ears.!
He!could!see!Enlai!falling!to!his!knees!now.!The!Guandao!wielder!knew!
that!his!time!was!up!and!he!did!not!fight!it.!As!Syaoran!plunged!his!jian!
into! the! man's! heart,! Eriol! recalled! the! memory! of! a! young! imperial!
prince! who! he! had! seen! take! satisfaction! in! the! death! and! fear! he!
generated.!Now,!that!prince!was!a!man!and!that!wicked!nature!inside!
him!had!resurfaced;!this!time,!with!no!Huangdi!to!temper!him.!
As! the! man! Harmless! came! and! collected! Enlai,! Eriol! studied! the!
golden! Moon! Bell! clutched! tightly! in! his! hand.! If! Syaoran! got! it,! he!
would! stand! a! fair! chance! of! defeating! Lu! Sheng.! In! fact,! he! could!
reclaim!the!throne!by!the!following!day.!If!he!did!not!get!it!he!may!be!
killed!but!then!the!prophecy!Eriol!had!of!China!crumbling!around!him!
would! not! come! true.! This! was! the! third! time! that! week! and! the!
hundredth! time! since! he! had! left! the! palace! that! Eriol! had! thought! of!
allowing!Syaoran!to!die.!The!guilt!pressed!down!on!his!mind!with!the!
weight!of!ten!elephants.!
Syaoran! glanced! over! his! shoulder! as! though! he! knew! someone! was!
watching.!A!fire!burned!in!his!eyes,!a!cold!sharp!flame!brewing!quietly!
but!with!the!intensity!of!a!tsunami!rumbling!towards!the!shore.!
Eriol!stowed!away!the!Moon!Bell,!grabbed!his!horse's!reigns!and!led!it!
towards! Syaoran! and! the! small! group! of! people! surrounding! him.!
When!they!caught!sight!of!him,!Renshu!spoke.!
"Always!have!to!wait!until!the!last!possible!moment,!don't!you!Eriol?"!
"You! see! it! as! such,"! answered! Eriol.! "I! call! it! having! impeccable!
timing."!
"Funny.!I!call!it!being!an!ass."!
Syaoran! stepped! forward,! halting! whatever! retort! Eriol! had! come! up!
with.!
"Did!you!retrieve!the!Moon!Bell?"!
There!was!a!tense!silence!as!the!two!men!stared!intently!at!each!other.!
Eriol!disapproved!of!Syaoran!having!used!the!power!of!darkness!and!
310!
Syaoran!knew!it!and!Eriol!knew!that!he!knew!it.!Then,!"I!did."!
"Good."!
Syaoran!turned!to!Yue.!
"I! will! lead! the! siege! on! the! palace! tomorrow.! We! will! crush! all! that!
stand! in! our! way.! I! will! get! Lu! Sheng! and! I! will! send! him! to! meet! the!
father!he!loved!so!much."!
Yue's! eyes! glided! to! meet! Eriol's! as! Syaoran! returned! to! the! army!
camp,!Renshu!and!Lei!behind!him.!
"You! allowed! him! to! use! that! magic,"! said! Eriol,! unsmiling.! "Do! you!
know!what!you!have!done?"!
Yue!flicked!his!head!back!proudly.!
"I!was!not!here!when!he!did.!I!am!not!his!superior!in!any!case.!I!cannot!
tell!him!what!to!do."!
"You're!supposed!to!protect!him.!Even!from!himself."!
"He!seemed!fine."!
"Yes.!And!look!what!we!have!to!deal!with!now."!
Yue's!anger!was!starting!to!become!visible.!
"What!was!I!supposed!to!do?"!
"Have!his!concubine!persuade!him!in!a!different!direction."!
"You!would!use!her!like!that?"!
"She!is!a!great!asset.!And!first!and!foremost,!our!duty!is!to!China.!YouD"!
"Xiao!Lang!is!China."!
The!tension!between!the!two!was!simmering.!There!was!a!movement!
to! their! right! and! they! turned! to! find! Nakuru! and! Touya.! She! was!
hugging!one!of!his!arms!and!translating!their!conversation!in!hushed!
whispers!to!him.!
"It's! not! what! you! think,"! said! Eriol,! though! to! be! honest,! he! had! no!
idea! what! Touya! was! thinking.! The! man's! face! never! revealed! more!
than!he!intended!to.!
"Imperial!conflicts!are!no!concern!of!mine.!Sakura's!safety!is.!Keep!her!
out!of!your!schemes."!
"I!don't!intend!to!endanger!her!in!any!way,"!said!Eriol!sincerely.!"I!am!
fond! of! her.! I! merely! meant! that! she! has! an! influence! over! Xiao! Lang!
and!the!only!other!person!who!could!have!boasted!of!that!was!the!late!
Huangdi."!
Touya!showed!no!sign!of!empathy.!
311!
"As!I!said!before.!Keep!her!out!of!your!schemes."!
He!sent!a!biting!glare!at!Yue!before!stalking!off!with!Nakuru.!Yue!gazed!
after! the! man,! a! strange! expression! on! his! face.! It! could! have! been!
shame,! it! could! have! been! remorse! but! it! could! have! been! something!
else! entirely.! He! had! too! much! to! do! however,! to! ponder! Yue's!
uncharacteristic!behaviour.!
!
Sakura!flew!up!from!the!futon!as!the!entrance!to!the!tent!burst!open.!
There! was! a! flurry! of! activity! as! Syaoran! and! his! brothers! rushed! in.!
Syaoran! sat! on! a! stool! just! as! HingDsensei! dashed! into! the! tent,! his!
doctor's!bag!in!hand.!He!set!it!down!beside!Syaoran!and!riffled!through!
its!content.!A!servant!then!appeared!with!a!bucket!of!water!and!some!
towels.!
HingDsensei!cut!Syaoran's!sleeve!to!reveal!a!bright!red!cut.!
"You're! hurt!"! exclaimed! Sakura! and! she! made! to! go! to! Syaoran! but!
when!he!looked!at!her,!her!body!froze!in!place.!
His! once! amber! eyes! were! bright! a! bright! yellow.! Something! was!
terribly!wrong.!She!remembered!what!Miko!has!said!of!him!when!they!
were! coming! over! the! seas! from! Japan,! 'A" single" stare" freezes" you" in"
fear" and" the" silence" which" follows" him" is" enough" to" make" your" bones"
shake'." Sakura! was! definitely! getting! the! bones! shaking! part.! He! was!
not!the!same!man!that!left!the!tent!earlier.!
Syaoran!glanced!down!as!HingDsensei!sent!a!needle!through!his!flesh.!
Sakura!grimaced!as!though!she!herself!had!been!pierced.!
"Should!the!generals!be!woken?"!Lei!asked!him.!
"No,"!answered!Syaoran,!and!his!voice!was!a!marriage!of!fire!and!ice.!
"They!know!what!has!to!be!done.!Any!alterations!to!our!formations!I!
will!deliver!in!the!morning."!
"What!if!we!have!provoked!Lu!into!an!early!attack?"!
"He! won't! attack.! He! leads! his! men! himself! and! he! thinks! he! is!
Emperor!and!the!emperor!does!not!leave!the!palace."!
Touya!and!Nakuru!came!into!the!tent!and!the!men!continued!to!talk!as!
if!they!had!not!noticed!them.!Yet!Sakura!saw!Syaoran's!eyes!follow!the!
two!until!they!reached!her.!Touya!knelt!at!her!side.!
"What's!going!on?"!she!asked!him.!"What!are!you!doing!here?"!
"Your!prince!killed!one!of!Lu!Sheng's!men."!
Sakura!hazarded!a!furtive!glance!at!Syaoran.!
312!
"Which!one?"!
"Tall!man.!Big!mouth.!Enlai!I!think!his!name!was."!
"Enlai?!"!
Her! eyes! widened! in! astonishment! and! her! hands! flew! to! her! cheeks.!
She! sensed! Syaoran! sit! up! straighter.! Why! did! his! attention! feel! so!
menacing?!
"You!can't!stay!with!him!tonight,"!said!Touya!quietly.!"I!won't!allow!it.!
Something!has!come!undone!inside!him!and!I'm!not!leaving!you!here!
to!find!out!what."!
Touya's!face!was!perfectly!set!to!threaten!her!into!obeying!his!will.!
"I!don't!want!to!go.!I!want!to!stay!here."!
Touya! no! doubt! thought! she! was! mad.! He! must! have! been! thinking,!
does! she! not! see! the! emptiness! in! the! prince,! feel! the! darkness! that!
surrounded! him?! Sakura! did;! but,! she! had! to! believe! that! it! was! a!
fleeting!occurrence!because!Syaoran!just!a!while!ago!had!tears!flowing!
down!his!cheeks!and!he!was!as!human!as!she!had!ever!seen!him.!
"Sakura,"!he!said!firmly.!"It!is!only!for!one!night.!I!will!see!to!it!that!he!
does!not!leave!without!you!like!last!time."!
A!sharp!cry!pierced!the!air.!All!eyes!snapped!to!Sakura!and!hers!went!
to! the! baby! at! her! side,! snugly! wrapped! in! his! blankets.! Immediately!
she!was!cradling!him!in!her!arms,!murmuring!soothing!words!but!his!
tiny! body! continued! to! belt! out! cry! after! cry! with! ever! increasing!
intensity.!
Sakura's!shoulders!tensed.!She!looked!up!to!find!Syaoran!stitched!up,!
leaning!forward,!observing!her.!
"So! that's! your! boy! you've! been! hiding,"! remarked! Renshu,! a!
dangerous!glint!in!his!gaze.!
The! child's! cries! escalated! and! a! thick! vein! pumped! near! Syaoran's!
temple.! He! had! not! spoken! to! Sakura! since! he! returned! but! now! he!
asked,!"Why!is!he!crying?"!
Her!shoulders!stiffened!and!she!found!she!could!not!meet!his!gaze.!
"He's!hungry."!
"Feed!him."!
Sakura!was!torn.!She!could!not!be!expected!to!do!that!in!front!of!all!the!
men! there?! Syaoran's! eyes! narrowed! and! still! she! did! not! move.! He!
stood!and!Sakura!was!reminded!of!an!angry!dog!raising!to!its!feet,!lips!
pulled!back!tight!in!a!snarl.!!
313!
"Do!as!I!say."!
"Surely,!you!don't!want!your!concubine!to!expose!herself!to!everyone!
here,!Xiao!Lang?"!
"HiiragizawaDsan!"exclaimed!Sakura.!!
The! sudden! appearance! of! the! bespectacled! man! relieved! her.! Eriol!
had! that! aura! of! the! wise! grandfather! who! would! make! sure!
everything!was!all!right!with!the!household.!
"Can! you! not! appreciate! her! predicament?"! continued! Eriol,! as! he!
smiled!warmly!at!Sakura.!
Syaoran!opened!his!mouth!to!speak!but!paused.!It!was!obvious!he!was!
mulling!Eriol's!words!over!in!his!head.!In!the!end,!he!stated,!"Everyone!
out."!
He!turned!to!Touya!when!the!man!did!not!move.!
"You!too!Kinomoto."!
Touya!gripped!Sakura!by!the!arm!and!dragged!her!up.!
"Sakura's!coming!with!me."!
"No.!She!is!not."!
"He!won't!hurt!us,"!she!told!her!brother,!trying!to!sound!firm!but!she!
knew!he!could!hear!the!uncertainty!in!her!voice.!He!always!did.!
Syaoran! raised! his! head! proudly,! daring! Touya! to! contest! him! one!
more! time.! Sakura! was! not! sure! about! Touya's! skills! but! she! knew!
Syaoran!was!a!ruthless!fighter!even!when!practising.!
"OniiDchan.!Please,"!she!begged.!
Touya's!hand!fell!away!from!her.!He!was!furious!with!her!and!though!
that!stung,!it!made!Sakura!a!little!livid!also.!
"Scream! loud! if! you! must,"! he! said,! looking! Syaoran! dead! in! the! eyes!
before! he! turned! on! his! heels,! Nakuru! not! far! behind! him.! Eriol! gave!
her!a!reassuring!nod!and!he!too!exited.!
As!Sakura!fed!her!son,!Syaoran!removed!his!soiled!clothes!and!finished!
the!job!the!servant!had!started!on!his!arm.!He!cleared!the!blood!from!
his! skin! with! the! wet! towel! and! Sakura! realised! then,! that! most! of! it!
was!not!his.!He!was!drenched!in!Enlai!and!that!knowledge!turned!her!
stomach.!
Syaoran! was! meticulous! as! he! ministered! to! himself.! All! garments!
removed,! he! stood! nude.! His! long! muscles! flexed! as! he! twisted! and!
turned! getting! every! dirty! spot! he! could! find.! He! looked! over! his!
shoulder!at!her!for!a!moment!and!went!back!to!what!he!as!doing.!
314!
"You!said!nothing!happened!between!you!and!Lu!Sheng?"!
Sakura!squinted,!momentarily!perplexed.!His!back!was!still!turned!so!
she!could!not!see!his!face!and!know!if!she!should!be!worried!or!not.!
"Hai,"!she!said!and!her!voice!trembled.!
"Enlai,!before!I!killed!him,!said!differently."!
Sakura!grimaced!as!her!son!clamped!down!a!bit!too!hard!on!her!tender!
flesh.!
"What!did!he!say?"!
Syaoran! ignored! the! question! and! asked! another! two! of! his! own,!
"What!did!you!not!tell!me!about!you!and!Lu!Sheng?!Did!he!touch!you?"!
"Not!really."!
He! turned! around! and! Sakura! looked! away! from! his! bare! skin,!
blushing.!
"What!does!that!mean?"!
Quietly! she! admitted,! "We! slept! on! the! same! bed! but! nothing!
happened!! And! he...! he! made! me! bathe! him.! But! I! was! covered! the!
entire! time!! He! didn't! touch! me! like! you're! thinking! I! swear.! He! was!
not!cruel!at!all."!
There!was!no!response!from!Syaoran.!When!she!dared!to!look!up,!he!
had!a!hanfu!tied!loosely!around!his!body.!His!face!was!unreadable.!
"Are!you!done?"!he!asked,!gesturing!to!their!son.!
"Yes.!I!think!so,"!she!said!looking!at!the!drowsy!boy.!
Syaoran! called! a! maidservant! and! directed! her! to! bring! Nakuru! to!
them.! When! she! showed! up,! Syaoran! told! Sakura! to! give! the! child! to!
her.!
"Why?"!she!asked.!
"I!don't!want!to!hear!any!more!wailing,"!was!his!reply!and!she!did!as!
she!was!told.!
He! settled! beside! her! on! the! futon.! Just! as! Sakura! was! becoming!
comfortable! with! the! silence! between! them,! he! asked,! "Did! his! men!
touch!you?"!
"No."!
"Enlai's!death!upset!you.!Why?"!
Sakura!shivered.!
"I! think! I! was! surprised! that! you! had! just! killed! someone.! Someone! I!
was!familiar!with."!
315!
Syaoran! gripped! her! chin! and! brought! her! face! close! to! his! in! one!
movement.! He! stared! into! her! with! those! golden! eyes! of! his.! Sakura!
held!her!breath!as!he!judged!her!honesty.!Then!his!lips!crashed!down!
on!hers.!His!arm!wrapped!around!her!waist!and!pulled!her!into!his!lap.!
Her! hand! brushed! against! his! arousal! and! her! eyes! widened.! She!
planted!her!hands!on!his!chest!and!pushed!hard.!
It!was!her!body!that!launched!backwards!and!she!might!have!laughed!
at!that!if!it!had!happened!under!different!circumstances.!
"No.!It's!too!soon,"!she!said.!"I!can't."!
Syaoran!held!the!tie!at!her!waist.!
"You!will."!
She!slapped!his!hand!in!panic.!
"It'll!hurt!"!she!tried!to!explain.!"We're!not!supposed!to!yet."!
Syaoran's! body! was! on! top! of! hers! now! and! his! jaw! was! clenched!
tightly.!
"This! is! what! I! want,"! he! bit! out.! "You! can! oblige! or! I! can! turn! you!
around!and!take."!
Sakura!reddened!and!forgot!her!panic.!Was!she!really!hearing!this?!Did!
Syaoran!mean!to!force!her?!He!slid!her!hanfu!up!her!legs!and!she!felt!
his! heated! gaze! follow! its! trail.! He! slipped! out! the! sleeves! of! his! own!
hanfu! and! pushed! Sakura's! knees! apart.! She! winced! and! the!
anticipation!of!unimaginable!pain!roused!an!anger!deep!within!her.!
She!looked!Syaoran!in!the!eye!and!she!saw!the!superior!and!arrogant!
air! of! the! Great! Imperial! Son.! Who! was! he,! to! change! temperature! so!
suddenly;!to!be!kind!and!understanding!one!moment!and!wicked!and!
impatient!the!next?!She!was!not!selfish!like!him.!She!was!rejecting!him!
because!her!body!still!hurt!from!having!his!child.!
"I!said!no!"!
Her! hands! slammed! into! his! chest! as! she! sat! up.! For! a! brief! moment!
Sakura! thought! she! had! secured! a! very! unpleasant! night! for! herself!
when! to! her! amazement,! Syaoran! sat! back! on! his! heels.! His! face! was!
icy!with!suppressed!rage!but!he!did!not!make!a!move!towards!her.!Say!
something,!she!begged!in!her!mind.!Anything.!
After!what!seemed!like!hours,!Syaoran!asked,!"Why!do!you!deny!me?"!
"I! told! you,"! said! Sakura,! breathing! normally! now! that! they! were!
talking.!"I'm!still!sore.!And!I'm!tired."!
"I!want!you."!
"I!know!Xiao!Lang..."!
316!
He!folded!his!arms!like!a!stubborn!child.!
"I!will!use!a!servant."!
That! was! a! knife! in! Sakura's! heart! and! from! the! expression! Syaoran!
wore,!he!knew!it.!She!made!no!reply!and!he!rose!to!his!feet,!pulling!his!
hanfu!over!his!chest.!His!footsteps!were!thundering!as!he!walked!away!
from!her.!At!the!tent!entrance!he!made!a!sharp!turn!and!stomped!back!
to!her.!
Sakura!thought,!now!his!rage!would!be!felt.!
"I!will!lay!her!next!to!you!and!I!will!use!her."!
She! sent! a! shocked! look! his! way.! She! could! not! give! him! what! he!
wanted.!She!had!to!listen!to!her!body.!If!he!calmed!down,!he!would!see!
her!logic.!If!he!was!calm,!he!would!agree.!When!he!left!the!tent,!she!fell!
numbly!on!her!back.!She!was!Syaoran's!concubine.!She!did!not!have!an!
exclusive!right!to!him!though!he!had!such!a!right!to!her.!It!was!to!be!
expected! that! he! slept! with! other! women.! Having! his! child! did! not!
change! that.! She! lay! on! her! side! and! waited! for! him! to! return,!
repeating!those!things!to!herself.!
About!half!an!hour!later,!he!slid!under!the!heavy!covers!with!her.!Her!
back! was! to! him.! She! could! not! see! his! appearance! but! his! body! felt!
warm.!
"I!know!you're!awake,"!Syaoran!said,!as!a!matter!of!fact.!
"You!didn't!have!to!tell!me!what!you!were!going!to!do."!
"I!wanted!to!hurt!you."!
He! settled! himself! against! her! and! Sakura! jumped! when! she! felt! his!
arm! circle! her! frame! and! secure! her! firmly.! Syaoran! had! her! drawn!
against! his! chest,! his! nose! pressing! into! her! hair.! One! of! his! legs!
slipped! over! her! calves! and! he! breathed! out,! preparing! himself! to!
sleep.!
She! felt! his! hardness! behind! her.! Was! he! still! aroused?! She! turned!
around!and!he!made!an!annoyed!sound!deep!in!his!throat.!
"You!know!you!have!to!stay!still!when!I!sleep."!
She!was!not!listening!to!him!though.!Her!nose!was!inhaling!his!scent.!
He!smelled!like!himself.!There!was!no!sweat,!no!musk,!no!one!else!on!
him.!A!smile!passed!over!her!face!and!she!lifted!her!head!and!saw!that!
he! was! staring! back! at! her! through! halfDopened! eyes.! His! fingers!
strummed!her!spine!idly.!
Her!fingers!reached!up!and!stroked!his!cheek.!He!puffed!out.!
317!
"I!have!a!battle!today,"!Syaoran!told!Sakura!stiffly.!"I'd!like!to!get!some!
rest!before!it.!If!the!imperial!concubine!has!no!objections."!
Sakura! shuddered.! Had! a! new! day! begun! already?! Then! she! was!
having!a!fit!of!regret.!Should!she!have!given!Syaoran!what!he!wanted,!
regardless!of!what!she!felt?!He!was!going!to!fight!Lu!Sheng.!Who!knew!
what! could! happen! to! him?! Suppose! he! was! killed.! Sakura! squashed!
her!eyes!shut.!No!she!would!not!think!like!that.!
Syaoran's! breathing! was! relaxed.! He! did! not! seem! agitated! by! the!
thought!of!today.!He!seemed!almost!peaceful.!His!desire!pulsed!against!
her! and! without! hesitation,! Sakura! pushed! her! hand! between! them!
and! gripped! him.! Her! hand! moved! up! and! down! his! length! once! and!
his! breath! hitched.! Sakura! got! a! few! more! strokes! in! when! his! hand!
clamped!down!in!warning!around!hers.!
"Don't!tease!me."!
"I'm!not."!
"Can!I!be!inside!you?"!
Her!hand!slackened!and!Syaoran!placed!it!around!his!side.!
"I!know!what!you!mean!to!do,"!he!said.!"But!it's!unnecessary.!I'll!live!D!I!
think."!
He! patted! her! back! and! as! he! resumed! his! sleeping! position! and!
Sakura!swore!she!heard!him!mutter,!"Witch."!
!
When!Sakura!awoke!she!was!extremely!groggy.!She!had!not!slept!last!
night!and!when!she!had!finally!drifted!off!it!was!early!morning.!Then!
the!sound!of!army!activity!woke!her!an!hour!later.!She!barely!had!time!
to! recognize! the! tiny! bundle! of! mini! Syaoran! next! to! her! when!
someone!said,!"You!made!a!beautiful!child!SakuraDsan."!
She!bolted!up.!
"Hiiragizawa!"!she!gasped.!
His!smile!was!apologetic.!
"I! wanted! to! speak! with! you! but! you! looked! so! peaceful! that! waking!
you!seemed!quite!mean."!
She!nodded!as!she!held!a!hand!over!her!chest,!her!breaths!flying!in!and!
out!of!her.!
"A!boy,"!Eriol!said.!"Huangdi!would!have!been!overjoyed!even!though!
you!are!a!concubine."!Then!he!frowned.!"That!was!very!insensitive!of!
me."!
318!
"It's!fine.!You're!right."!
Eriol!moved!closer!to!her!and!observed!the!child!quietly.!Then!Sakura!
remembered! his! children! and! how! long! it! had! been! since! either! of!
them!had!seen!his!eldest!son!Han.!Right!then,!her!heart!broke!for!the!
magician!whose!collected!and!wellDmannered!ways!made!it!difficult!to!
remember!that!he!hurt!like!everyone!else.!
"Do!you!want!to!hold!him?"!
"Very!much.!But!Xiao!Lang!would!not!like!that."!
"But!you've!always!done!as!you've!pleased."!
"So!it!would!appear."!
"He's!my!son!too!and!I!would!like!you!to!hold!him,"!Sakura!insisted.!
Eriol!reached!out!and!brushed!the!boy's!hand!with!his!finger.!Then!he!
pulled! back! and! watched! him,! a! dazed! expression! on! his! features.!
When! he! snapped! back! to! the! moment,! he! pinched! the! bridge! of! his!
nose.! His! eyelids! were! heavy.! Sakura! had! never! seen! him! look! so!
exhausted!before.!
"What's!wrong,!HiiragizawaDsan?"!
His! face! twitched.! For! the! first! time,! he! appeared! as! fragile! as! a!
porcelain! doll.! Sakura! prepared! herself! to! see! him! break! but! he!
regained!control!fast.!He!gazed!at!her!son!again.!
"I!have!always!been!to!able!to!see!the!future!to!some!extent.!But!Xiao!
Lang! does! not! believe! in! prophecies.! He! hates! them.! I! think! today! he!
would! destroy! the! works! of! many! generations! and! cast! them! into!
nothingness."!
Sakura!did!not!fully!understand!what!was!said!but!the!seriousness!in!
Eriol's!tone!worried!her.!
"You!think!he's!really!that...!different?"!
Eriol!adjusted!his!glasses!before!answering.!
"He's!been!worse.!But!that's!like!saying!the!earthquake!was!not!as!bad!
as!last!year!because!one!house!was!left!standing."!
Then!a!grin!made!its!way!to!his!face!and!it!was!like!the!sun!had!risen!
on!a!winter's!morning.!
"I!brought!you!something."!
He! handed! Sakura! a! package! wrapped! in! blue! cloth.! It! was! an! ornate!
red!and!gold!book.!Someone!had!gone!through!a!good!deal!of!trouble!
to!carve!intricate!markings!onto!it.!There!was!a!Sun,!stars!and!a!face!of!
a! beast! that! looked! similar! to! Kero! when! he! was! in! his! big! form! that!
one!time!in!the!imperial!palace.!
"What!is!it?"!
"Open!it,"!said!Eriol.!
Inside!Sakura!found!a!deck!of!cards.!They!looked!like!her!own!but!red.!
"Magic!Cards?"!she!asked!and!she!lightly!ran!her!finger!down!the!back!
of!the!top!one.!!
"My!father,!Clow,!used!magic!cards.!That's!where!I!got!the!idea!for!you.!
I! do! not! use! this! magic! so! I! am! giving! them! to! you,! to! be! their!
caretaker,!their!Mistress.!When!you!use!them,!they!will!become!yours."!
"I!can'tD!I!D!are!you!sure?"!
This! seemed! like! a! family! heirloom! to! Sakura.! Surely! he! should! be!
saving!it!for!his!children.!
"I'm!sure.!I!know!this!is!the!right!thing!to!do."!
The! faith! she! saw! he! had! in! her! was! overwhelming! and! Sakura! was!
proud!that!he!thought!her!worthy.!
"I'll!take!care!of!them.!I!promise."!
"Thank!you,!SakuraDsan."!
She! reached! into! the! book! and! gathered! the! Cards! into! her! hand.!
Slowly,!she!went!through!them!one!by!one!when!she!paused.!A!dream!
long! forgotten,! rose! in! her! mind! with! the! force! of! a! tsunami! and!
crashed!in!her!heart.!
"The!Erase?"!she!whispered.!
She!had!never!told!Eriol!that!in!the!dream!he!had!awakened!her!from!
so!many!nights!ago,!she!had!used!a!card!called!the!Erase!on!Syaoran.!
He!could!not!have!known!that!he!would!be!making!her!dream!a!reality!
by!giving!this!Card!to!her.!
"It!makes!things!disappear,"!he!told!her,!nonchalantly.!
She!asked!Eriol!where!they!went!and!his!answer!was!simple.!"Away."!
"Can!I!bring!them!back?"!
"That!is!not!the!Card's!purpose."!
"But!can!I?!Find!some!other!way?"!
"If!you!do,!I!will!marvel!at!your!skill."!
Shaking!slightly,!Sakura!placed!the!Erase!at!the!bottom!of!the!deck.!She!
would!never!touch!it!again.!
"HiiragizawaDsan,!you!told!me!once!that!your!prophetic!dreams!don't!
always!happen!as!you!had!dreamt!them."!

319! 320!
"That's! correct.! We! are! human! and! sometimes! we! don't! see! the! real!
future.! Sometimes! our! dreams! and! nightmares! become! intertwined!
with!them.!Other!times!what!we!see!is!only!a!possibility."!
She!swallowed.!
"The!dream!you!had.!It!still!bothers!you?"!
"No,"!lied!Sakura.!"I!was!just!trying!to!cheer!you!up."!
Drums!sounded!in!the!distance.!
"The!soldiers!are!about!to!march,"!Eriol!explained.!"Xiao!Lang!has!been!
ensuring! all! is! ready! so! he! can! lead! the! army! towards! the! palace.! I!
should!join!him."!
A! servant! came! in! with! the! necessities! for! Sakura! to! wash! up! for! the!
morning!and!Eriol!departed.!She!rolled!up!her!sleeves!and!headed!for!
the!basin!of!water!to!wash!her!face.!As!she!cleaned!her!teeth,!she!felt!
disgusted!with!herself.!Here!she!was!pampered,!her!every!need!kept!in!
the!forefront!of!the!servants'!minds!as!men!prepared!to!walk!to!their!
deaths.! Even! so! she! dutifully! continued! her! routine! as! food! was!
brought!to!her!and!it!was!the!most!surreal!experience!she!ever!had.!
"You! haven't! eaten,"! said! Syaoran,! surveying! the! untouched! food.! He!
was! dressed! in! full! dark! armour! except! for! his! helmet.! He! was! a!
formidable!sight,!handsome!and!dangerous.!
"I!have!no!appetite,"!she!told!him.!"I'll!eat!later."!
He!did!not!insist!and!she!was!relieved.!
A!horn!sounded,!loud!and!long!freezing!Sakura!in!place.!
"It's!time,"!said!Syaoran,!more!to!himself!than!to!her.!
"You!don't!have!to!go,"!said!Sakura,!turning!her!eyes!up!to!him.!"You're!
a!prince!of!China.!You!don't!have!to!fight."!
He!extended!his!hand!to!hers!and!she!took!it.!Instinctively,!she!glanced!
back!at!their!son.!
"The! boy! will! be! fine,"! Syaoran! told! her! as! they! walked! out! into! the!
daylight.!
"You!should!say!goodbye."!
Syaoran!gave!her!a!weird!look.!
"He!would!not!understand."!
"StillD"!
Sakura's!next!words!were!cut!short!by!the!sight!of!her!brother.!He!was!
dressed!in!armour!like!the!other!soldiers.!
"What!are!you!doing?"!she!asked!him!when!he!was!in!earshot.!
321!
"I'm!going!to!help."!
"You?!Help?!Why?!"!
"It's!a!matter!of!honour.!The!prince!came!for!you!when!he!didn't!have!
to.!I!am!indebted!to!him!and!I!will!repay!it!but!being!another!sword!in!
his!army."!!
"No.! No!! You're! not! fighting."! She! turned! to! glare! at! Syaoran.! "You!
asked! him! to! help! you?! How! could! you?! This! isn't! even! his! war!! You!
have!tens!of!thousands!of!men."!
"Sakura!"!Her!head!snapped!to!her!brother!who!gave!her!a!firm!look.!
"He!didn't!have!to!ask.!I!told!you!it's!a!matter!of!honour."!
He!ruffled!her!hair.!
"Don't!worry!kaiju."!
"Yes! don't! worry,! SakuraDchan!! I! won't! let! anyone! hurt! my! future!
husband."!
Touya!frowned.!Nakuru!was!latched!onto!his!arm,!dressed!in!armour!
as!well,!ready!for!battle.!
"And!where!do!you!think!you're!going?"!he!asked!Nakuru,!an!eyebrow!
raised.!
She!smiled!wide!and!there!was!a!crazy!glint!in!her!eyes.!She!held!her!
fists!out!in!front!of!her.!
"To!war!!To!shed!blood!!I!am!going!toD"!
"Stay!here!and!protect!Sakura."!
Nakuru's!face!fell.!
"Not! that! I! don't! adore! you! SakuraDchan! but! that's! a! poor! use! of! my!
skills.! I'm! going! with! you.! Don't! you! think! about! stopping! me! Touya!
because!I!can!take!you!out!and!don't!you!think!I!woD"!
Touya!roughly!hauled!Nakuru!off!to!have!a!'talk'!and!she!fought!him!all!
the!way.!Sakura!made!to!go!after!them!but!Syaoran!gripped!her!wrist.!
"You!can't!change!his!mind.!He's!coming!with!me."!
"I!have!to!try!!He's!my!only!brother.!I!don't!want!him!to!die."!
"When! someone! is! going! to! fight! in! a! battle,! you! don't! say! things! like!
that.!Not!to!them.!It!can!have!crippling!effects."!
Sakura!calmed!herself!and!it!took!a!lot!of!willpower!to!do!so.!Syaoran!
was! right.! She! did! not! want! her! brother! having! such! thoughts! in! his!
head!and!she!could!not!deter!him.!He!was!too!stubborn.!
"Don't!expect!a!goodbye,!either,"!said!Syaoran!as!his!horse!was!led!to!
322!
him!by!a!soldier.!
He!took!its!reigns.!
"Just!know!that!he'll!be!back."!
Another! soldier! handed! him! an! ornate! helmet! and! he! put! it! on! his!
head.!Sakura!squinted!as!the!sunlight!reflected!off!it!into!her!eyes!for!
the!briefest!moment.!
"This!will!take!a!few!hours,"!he!told!her,!turning!to!look!to!the!horizon.!
"Stay!in!your!tent!until!I!return.!There!will!be!soldiers!here.!You!have!
nothing!to!be!afraid!of."!
Somewhere! a! horn! blew,! loud! and! angry,! signalling! the! troops! to! fall!
into!their!sections.!Whoever!was!behind!it!seemed!to!have!lungs!as!big!
as!the!ocean!because!the!sound!seemed!to!ring!out!forever.!Then!there!
were!drums!again,!reverberating!in!her!chest,!making!her!knees!weak.!
She! did! not! want! Syaoran! to! leave.! She! did! not! want! anyone! to! leave!
but!they!all!did!anyway.!
323!
Chapter 25
The"more"you"sweat"in"peacetime,"the"less"you"bleed"during"war.!
~"Chinese"Proverb!
The! morning! had! been! a! long! one.! Sheng! stared! into! a! large! smoking!
pyre! with! vacant! eyes.! He! had! been! standing! in! the! same! spot! for!
several! hours! watching,! smelling! Enlai's! body! burn.! Now! there! was!
nothing!left!but!ash!and!a!rank!scent!that!latched!onto!his!nostrils!so!
strongly,!it!would!last!for!days!to!come.!
Sheng!swallowed!and!he!had!to!stiffen!himself!to!keep!the!contents!of!
his!stomach!down.!
Last!night!was!a!strange!one.!Harmless!had!come!to!him,!his!back!bent!
under!the!heavy!weight!of!an!unconscious!Enlai.!Sheng!had!shaken!his!
head.!Enlai!was!drunk.!He!took!satisfaction!in!the!knowledge!that!the!
man! would! awake! with! a! dreadful! headache! and! he! would! be! able! to!
gloat.! Then! Harmless! had! looked! into! his! eyes! and! Sheng! came! to! a!
realisation.!Enlai!was!not!drunk!after!all.!
He! should! have! known! Enlai! would! do! something! stupid.! He! was! no!
seer!but!somehow,!he!should!have!known.!Sheng!was!crushed.!A!sense!
of! hopelessness! had! washed! over! him! and! he! was! surprised.! It! was! a!
revelation!to!Sheng!how!great!a!presence!the!man!had!been!in!his!life.!
He! would! never! have! expected! to! feel! pain! like! what! he! was!
experiencing! right! now.! It! was! like! a! rusty! knife! was! ripping! through!
his!chest.!
Each!breath!Sheng!took!was!arduous.!He!had!never!wanted!to!feel!like!
this!ever!again!but!here!he!was!mourning.!History!was!repeating!itself!
and!Sheng!was!feeling!like!a!young!boy!again,!lost!and!afraid.!He!tried!
to! tell! himself! Enlai! was! not! worth! it! but! the! sadness! was! too! allD
consuming!for!him!to!believe!in!this!lie.!
Sheng!turned!to!Harmless!who!had!been!with!him!the!entire!time.!
"He's!gone,"!he!told!the!man!and!those!were!the!only!words!Sheng!had!
in!him!to!say!about!Enlai.!
Harmless!was!breathing!deeply!and!there!was!a!faint!light!in!his!eyes.!
Sheng!knew!that!it!was!a!brewing!anger!and!a!promise!of!vengeance.!
Things! of! these! nature! never! ended.! He! had! avenged! his! father! and!
when! he! was! finally! moving! past! that,! Enlai! was! killed.! Now,! he! had!
another!man!to!avenge.!Weariness!invaded!his!heart.!
"I!want!to!hate!Xiao!Lang,"!he!said,!his!weakened!voice!sounding!quite!
324!
foreign!to!him.!"I!want!to!feel!anger!but!all!I!feel!is!empty."!
Sheng!shook!his!head.!
"I! don't! think! I! have! the! strength! for! anything! else,"! and! that! was!
another!revelation!he!had!stumbled!upon.!
It! was! a! terrible! one! at! that! because! only! moments! ago! a! watchman!
had!informed!both!men!that!Syaoran!was!marching!the!imperial!army!
towards!the!City!and!that!they!would!be!there!within!the!hour.!Sheng!
pushed!his!hair!back!with!his!fingers.!His!warriors!were!prepared!and!
ready! for! battle! but! he! was! not.! It! had! been! days! since! he! had! last!
trained!and!his!sessions!to!improve!his!dark!magic!with!Harmless!had!
withered! away.! Sheng's! interest! in! it! had! diminished! due! to! the!
frequent!depressed!moods!he!had!been!having!lately!
Sheng!glanced!back!at!the!pyre.!
"It's!just!the!two!of!us!now,"!he!said.!"I!wanted!him!to!fight!Yue!while!
you!took!care!of!Eriol.!Would!I!be!asking!too!much!if!I!asked!you!to!do!
the!work!of!two!men?"!
Out!the!corner!of!his!eye,!he!saw!Harmless!shake!his!head.!
"I! knew! you'd! feel! that! way.! You! are! a! formidable! warrior! and!
magician,! Harmless.! I! should! have! learnt! more! from! you! when! I! had!
the! chance.! Enlai! as! well.! But! there's! nothing! that! can! be! done! now.!
Only!remember!one!thing.!Xiao!Lang!is!my!battle,!not!yours.!So!don't!
get!tempted."!
Harmless'!eyebrows!raised!but!the!stern!look!he!received!from!Sheng!
made! him! nod! in! order! to! appease! the! man.! He! never! went! against!
Sheng's!wishes.!Ever!since!they!had!met!Harmless!had!been!content!to!
take! his! orders.! Life! was! simple! when! you! did! not! have! to! make!
decisions! all! the! time.! Today! was! not! the! same! as! yesterday! though.!
Things! had! changed! and! though! he! still! respected! Sheng,! Harmless!
knew!in!his!heart!that!if!the!Great!Imperial!Son!crossed!his!path!that!
day,!he!was!as!good!as!dead.!
! killed.!
The! yellow! Sun! beat! down! on! all! the! men! who! stood! beneath! it.! The!
sky! was! cloudless! and! all! the! wild! animals! save! a! few! birds! that! flew!
overhead!seemed!to!have!disappeared!from!the!earth.!It!was!the!everD
increasing,!intimidating!sound!of!thousands!of!marching!feet!that!sent!
them!into!their!hiding!places.!
"There!they!come,"!Sheng's!warriors!would!say!as!they!listened!to!the!
faraway! hum! of! the! horns! and! drums! of! the! imperial! soldiers.! "They!
are!skilled!but!we!will!prevail!again!as!we!did!months!ago.!They!have!
325!
not!known!hardship!like!we!have.!They!are!pampered!men.!They!will!
not!survive!this!day."!
Indeed!the!imperial!army!in!all!its!renowned!glory!had!at!last!returned!
to! the! Forbidden! City! after! a! year! of! being! away.! They! came! to! stand!
out! of! bowshot,! horns! blowing! and! the! beats! of! their! drums!
reverberating! through! the! air,! creating! a! war! cry! like! none! other! had!
been!heard!before.!Sheng's!warriors!tried!to!answer!back!with!drums!
and! horns! of! their! own;! but,! the! energy! of! the! imperial! soldiers! was!
such!that!the!hearts!of!their!enemies!wavered!and!they!acknowledged!
within!themselves!that!this!battle!would!not!be!as!easy!as!the!one!they!
had! won! before.! Now,! they! were! fighting! an! entire! army! led! by! the!
legendary!Great!Imperial!Son!and!the!warriors!prayed!the!City's!walls!
would!stand.!
Harmless! stood! in! the! the! Hall! of! Supreme! Harmony,! watching! the!
green! expanse! before! him! become! swallowed! up! by! dark! suits! of!
armour.!Sheng!sat!on!the!throne!as!he!too!watched!the!imperial!army!
draw!ever!closer.!Harmless!had!to!admit,!if!he!was!another!man,!fear!
would! be! thick! in! his! chest! by! now.! It! was! unfortunate! for! the! Great!
Imperial!Son!that!this!was!not!so.!
Now,! as! the! two! armies! tried! to! intimidate! each! other! with! their!
instruments,!Harmless!felt!a!shiver!of!anticipation!run!through!him.!He!
was!ready!to!fight.!He!had!not!felt!such!a!complete!ferocious!desire!to!
rip!a!man's!head!from!his!body!in!many!years.!It!took!the!death!of!one!
friend! and! the! need! to! protect! the! only! other! he! had,! to! drag! from!
within! the! depths! of! his! soul,! a! longDburied! darkness! that! would! see!
light!that!day.!
Suddenly,! a! lone! horseman! broke! away! from! the! imperial! army! and!
Harmless'! eyes! squinted! as! he! tried! to! identify! who! it! was.! Down!
below! him,! he! heard! two! generals! yell! the! orders! for! bows! to! be!
drawn.! As! the! horseman! drew! nearer! however,! his! powerful! aura!
ignited!Harmless'!senses.!He!had!felt!that!aura!before!when!Enlai!was!
"Hiiragizawa! Eriol,"! said! Sheng,! giving! the! horseman! an! identity.! "He!
would! be! the! one! to! break! the! magical! barrier! over! the! City! if! they!
have! found! a! way.! You've! heard! me! speak! of! his! powers.! Don't!
underestimate!him."!
Harmless!nodded!and!Sheng!gave!a!small!smile,!a!wild!look!in!his!eyes.!
It! seemed! Harmless! was! not! the! only! one! affected! by! the! armies'!
intimidation!tactics.!Sheng's!eyes!travelled!back!to!Eriol's!form.!
"Go."!
326!
Harmless!envisioned!himself!on!top!of!the!great!wall!of!the!Forbidden!
City!and!he!immediately!felt!his!body!move!through!space.!Now!he!was!
staring!down!at!Eriol.!He!gave!a!signal!for!the!archers!to!wait.!He!felt!a!
deep!calm!overcome!him!and!the!drums!and!horns!became!distant!in!
his!ears.!
Harmless!narrowed!his!eyes!and!leapt!from!the!wall,!the!rush!of!wind!
fuelling!his!excitement!for!the!upcoming!duel!with!the!magician.!It!was!
not!everyday!that!Harmless!was!pitted!against!a!trained!magician!and!
he!looked!forward!to!the!kill.!Landing!lightly!on!the!balls!of!his!feet,!he!
ran! towards! the! galloping! horse.! The! imperial! soldiers! who! watched!
from!afar!wondered,!who!was!this!madman?!
Eriol! did! not! slow! his! steed.! He! meant! to! run! Harmless! over.! Just! as!
man!and!beast!were!about!to!meet,!Harmless!drew!the!twin!swords!at!
his! back.! Sliding! to! his! knees,! he! made! to! cripple! the! horse! with! his!
swords.! But! Eriol! made! the! horse! jump! and! expecting! his,! Harmless!
carried! his! swords! upwards,! tearing! the! animal's! belly.! It! crashed,!
head! first,! into! the! ground,! pelting! Eriol! off! its! back.! It! twitched!
frenetically!and!neighed!in!terror.!
Getting!up,!Eriol!drew!his!own!sword!and!ended!its!life.!At!first!glance!
he!seemed!composed!but!there!was!a!fire!in!his!eyes.!
"You!must!be!the!assassin,"!he!said!softly!to!Harmless.!"I!am!told!you!
are!a!man!of!few!words."!
Harmless!nodded.!Assassin!was!not!the!greatest!title!in!the!world!but!
he!owned!it!and!by!now!Eriol!could!validate!the!'few!words'!part.!
"You!have!quite!the!reputation!for!one!shrouded!in!so!much!mystery."!
Harmless! was! listening! halfDheartedly.! The! one! thing! about! being!
silent! was! that! people! found! a! need! to! bore! you! with! their!
ruminations.!His!gaze!fell!to!a!golden!object!in!Eriol's!hands.!He!knew!
what!it!was!but!the!last!he!heard,!it!had!been!locked!away!in!a!sacred!
shrine!somewhere.!The!surprise!on!his!face!was!apparent.!
"You!recognize!this?"!asked!Eriol.!"Not!many!people!would.!Not!many!
know!about!it."!
Harmless! did! not! come! out! here! to! talk.! He! rotated! his! swords!
impatiently.!
"You!are!quite!loyal!I!am!certain,"!said!Eriol.!"But!this!battle!is!not!for!
assassins.!I'll!give!you!one!chance!to!reconsider!duelling!me."!
Harmless!smirked!inside.!Had!his!personality!been!more!like!Enlai,!he!
would!be!laughing!so!hard!he!would!have!fallen!to!his!knees,!then!he!
would!get!up,!compose!himself!then!start!laughing!all!over!again.!This!
327!
imperial! man! was! bold! and! egotistic! in! an! amazingly! unpretentious!
manner!D!a!difficult!feat.!Harmless!gave!him!a!patronizing!look.!
Like"the"saying"goes,"those"who"know"do"not"speak"and"those"who"speak"
do"not"know.!
Harmless!flowed!into!a!fighting!stance.!Still,!holding!tight!to!the!Moon!
Bell,!Eriol!raised!his!sword!and!together,!their!auras!generating!a!small!
gust!of!wind!about!them.!
Harmless! charged! at! Eriol! and! the! magician! fearlessly! ran! headlong!
into! the! man.! Swords! and! magic! combined,! their! meeting! was! like! a!
clap!of!thunder.!Their!blows!came!swift!and!strong.!Harmless,!quickly!
finding! an! opening! in! Eriol's! defense,! launched! towards! his! side! but!
Eriol!used!the!Moon!Bell!to!block.!As!soon!as!Harmless'!sword!hit!it,!he!
was!propelled!backwards!into!the!air.!
He!landed!hard!on!his!back!but!rolled!backwards!into!it.!In!an!instant!
he! was! on! his! feet.! It! spoke! well! of! the! craftsmanship! and! majesty! of!
the!magic!swords!he!held,!that!the!one!in!his!right!hand!had!not!burst!
into!shards!on!contact!with!the!Moon!Bell.!
Taking!opportunity!in!Harmless!being!down,!Eriol!had!made!a!dash!for!
the! magical! barrier! surrounding! the! palace.! He! was! mere! feet! away.!
Harmless! tried! to! go! after! him! but! Eriol! with! his! head! start,! had!
punched!the!Moon!Bell!into!the!magical!barrier.!All!about!them!lit!up!
in!a!blue!light,!and!a!blue,!liquidDlooking!dome!became!visible.!Then!it!
quavered!for!a!few!moments,!then!like!a!soap!bubble!it!burst!and!was!
gone.!
This! victory! for! the! imperials! infuriated! Harmless! but! he! kept! it!
together.!His!eyes!glowed!a!dark!purple!and!his!next!attack!was!more!
rapid!than!all!others!before.!In!five!strokes!of!his!swords!he!had!Eriol!
so!busy!blocking!his!attacks,!he!could!not!find!the!time!to!make!one!of!
his! own.! It! became! apparent! to! Harmless! that! he! was! the! superior!
swordsman! and! that! thrilled! him.! Eriol! should! have! been! the! one! to!
reconsider!this!duel.!
His!twin!jians!struck!Eriol's!armour!repeatedly,!sending!the!man!back,!
step! by! step.! Harmless! dived! in! for! the! kill! when! a! magic! circle!
appeared!at!Eriol's!feet!and!a!long!dark!staff!replaced!the!sword!in!his!
hand.!
In! a! surprising! move,! Eriol! threw! the! Moon! Bell! into! the! air! and!
Harmless'! eyes! followed! it.! He! had! not! realized! how! close! they! had!
come!to!the!City!gates.!Eriol!sent!a!burst!of!magical!energy!behind!Bell!
and!it!flew!towards!the!large!walls.!Harmless!made!a!run!for!it!but!it!
moved! fast! in! midair,! spinning! and! spinning,! propelled! by! Eriol's!
328!
magic.! soldiers! had! shields! however,! and! though! some! fell,! the! damage! was!
Then! Eriol! sent! out! another! burst! of! energy! through! his! staff! and! little.! Undaunted,! they! picked! themselves! up! from! their! defensive!
Harmless'!body!lifted!into!the!air!once!more!before!it!landed!hard!back! positions! behind! the! shields! and! kept! pressing! forward.! The! rain! of!
to!earth.!When!the!Bell!hit!the!walls!of!the!Forbidden!City,!there!was!a! arrows! continued! several! more! times! and! each! time! the! soldiers! hid,!
loud! boom! and! the! great! structure! came! tumbling! down! like! an! then!kept!pushing!ahead.!
avalanche,!casting!debris!thick!into!the!air.!Eriol!raised!his!hands!to!his! It! was! not! long! before! a! flood! of! soldiers! spilled! out! of! the! palace,!
eyes.!He!could!see!nothing!at!first!but!as!the!dust!diminished!he!barely! weapons! drawn.! Yue! gazed! at! Eriol! anxiously! but! he! had! nothing! to!
had!time!to!make!out!Harmless'!foot!as!it!crashed!into!his!helmet.!Eriol! fear.!The!man!was!battling!with!Harmless!and!they!were!like!two!great!
spat! out! blood.! His! body! was! not! trained! like! Syaoran's! to! take! thrashing!beasts!and!the!enemy!soldiers!avoided!them,!not!wanting!to!
repeated!hits!and!Harmless'!attacks!were!getting!to!him.!The!assassin! be!swept!up!in!the!whirlwind!that!was!their!duel.!
was!savage!yet!controlled.!Who!was!this!man?! Soon,!the!two!groups!of!foot!soldiers!were!mere!feet!from!each!other.!
Eriol! raised! his! staff.! It! glowed! scarlet! and! a! second! burst! of! energy! When!they!collided,!it!was!like!two!great!elephants!had!met!and!were!
shot!out!at!Harmless.!The!man!raised!his!palms!out!in!front!of!him!and! locked! by! the! tusks,! each! trying! to! push! the! other! back! in! an!
the!energy!disappeared!into!a!void!he!created.!Eriol!was!taken!aback.! impressive!display!of!strength!and!power.!Morale!alone!would!decided!
He!had!seen!the!man!do!the!same!thing!with!Yue's!arrow!but!this!was! which!side!would!give!in!first.!
different.! Eriol! was! certain! his! magic! was! more! powerful! than! Yue's.! Syaoran! however,! could! not! wait.! He! released! his! jian! and! urged! his!
He!realised!that!the!only!way!to!defeat!this!assassin!would!be!to!wait! horse!forward!and!a!host!of!soldiers!on!horseback!followed!him.!The!
for!him!to!make!a!mistake!in!his!own!technique.!Eriol!raised!his!staff! battle!had!finally!begun.!
again!and!prepared!himself!for!the!challenge!ahead.!
!
!
!
"The!wall!is!down.!Make!the!soldier's!advance."!
!
Yue! said! nothing.! Renshu's! attitude! was! astounding.! He! sounded! as!
!
haughty!as!he!had!ever!been.!One!would!think!they!were!back!inside!
the!palace!and!all!were!hailing!him!as!Huangdi.!This!was!a!battlefield! !
however,!and!Yue!had!the!last!say!there.! !
"Yue?"!asked!Lei!in!a!less!arrogant!manner.! !
"Eriol!will!be!caught!in!the!middle,"!he!told!them.! !
"Since! when! is! the! life! of! one! man! considered! of! such! value?! In! an! !
army! all! are! equal.! Isn't! that! what! you! and! Xiao! Lang! have! always! !
believed?!Eriol!is!Chief!Magician.!He!can!take!care!of!himself."! !
Yue! looked! across! at! Syaoran.! His! gold! eyes! were! pinned! on! the! !
happenings! before! them.! Then! he! looked! at! Yue! with! a! brutal!
eagerness! etched! in! his! face.! He! signalled! for! the! soldiers! to! advance! !
and!the!generals!in!charge!of!the!foot!soldiers!shouted!their!orders.! !
"For! once! we! are! in! agreement,"! said! Renshu,! pleased! with! Syaoran's! !
decision.! !
The! soldiers! moved! forward! and! as! soon! as! they! were! in! bowshot! a! !
plethora! of! arrows! flew! high! into! the! sky! from! within! the! City.! They! !
were!so!numerous,!they!threatened!to!block!out!the!Sun.!The!imperial!

329! 330!
! thinking!of!whether!or!not!to!engage!Yue!when!the!hairs!on!the!back!of!
Chapter 26
Behind"an"able"man,"there"are"always"other"able"men.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
When! the! magical! barrier! that! protected! the! Forbidden! City! was!
destroyed,! Sheng! felt! a! shift! within! the! City! itself.! Something! had!
changed.!He!sat!still!for!a!while!trying!to!sense!what!was!out!of!place.!
He! leapt! to! his! feet.! The! beast.! Sheng! could! no! longer! feel! Harmless'!
barrier!holding!it!and!it!was!only!a!matter!of!time!before!it!realised!it!
was!free.!
A! tremendous! roar! emanated! from! the! heart! of! the! City,! shaking! the!
very! columns! that! supported! it.! Sheng! clenched! his! jaw,! his! eyes!
closing! briefly.! It! was! already! too! late.! The! threat! of! harming! Sakura!
was!the!only!thing!that!controlled!it!the!last!time.!He!made!a!rumbling!
sound! in! the! back! of! his! throat.! The! Guardian! Beast! would! have! to!
wait.! He! had! more! pressing! matters! to! handle.! There! was! a! small!
twitch!at!the!corner!of!his!lips.!
Leave"it"to"Enlai"to"pick"such"a"crucial"time"to"die.!
Sheng!ran!down!the!steps!of!the!Hall!of!Supreme!Harmony!and!in!one!
great!leap,!he!soared!into!the!air!and!landed!on!the!wall!of!the!City.!He!
ripped!his!sword!from!its!sheath.!It!glinted!in!the!sunlight;!a!warning!
to! all! that! should! oppose! it.! Raising! his! free! hand! he! focused! with! all!
his!might!on!the!imperial!soldiers.!One!by!one,!he!felt!himself!rapidly!
connecting!with!them!akin!to!the!way!a!puppet!master!would!connect!
with!his!toys!by!their!strings.!
He! had! hundreds! of! them! now.! Sheng! fisted! his! hand! and! his! eyes!
widened.! He! pulled! his! hand! inwards! and! in! an! instant,! the! soldiers!
were! uprooted! and! went! sailing! into! the! enemy! ranks.! Once! more,!
Sheng!grabbed!onto!the!imperial!soldiers!and!sent!them!crashing!into!
his! band! of! warriors.! The! third! time,! he! grew! ambitious.! Sheng!
attempted! to! take! hold! of! thousands.! He! felt! his! brain! throb! but! he!
ignored!it.!The!soldiers!careened!into!his!men!again!who!quickly!took!
advantage! of! the! imperial! soldiers'! predicament! and! sunk! all! manner!
of!weapons!into!their!flesh.!
Sheng! fell! to! his! knee.! He! wiped! away! the! blood! at! his! nose! with! his!
thumb!and!sniffed.!He!was!a!little!rusty!but!soon!he!would!not!be.!He!
could!see!Harmless!and!Eriol!still!locked!in!battle!below!him.!It!was!a!
strange!yet!satisfying!sight!to!see!the!magician!so!ill!at!ease.!
Sheng's! gaze! caught! Yue's! and! he! glared! at! the! general.! He! was!
331!
his! neck! rose! to! attention.! His! head! snapped! around.! A! long! arrow!
whooshed!past!his!temple!and!nipped!the!tip!of!his!ear.!Sheng!drew!a!
deep!breath!and!rose!to!his!feet.!
"Yukito."!
Yue's! brother! was! standing! in! front! of! the! throne,! in! the! Hall! of!
Supreme!Harmony.!He!already!had!another!arrow!sailing!through!the!
air.!Sheng!twisted!gracefully!out!of!the!way.!The!colour!of!his!red!eyes!
deepened.! He! flexed! his! fingers! and! slowly! flames! wound! around!
them.!Yukito!released!yet!another!arrow!but!Sheng!deflected!with!his!
sword.!
A!great!flame!flared!up!in!the!palm!of!his!hand!and!Sheng!took!aim!at!
Yukito.!
"What! a! shame,"! he! said,! though! Yukito! could! not! hear! his! words.! "I!
never!hated!you."!
The!flame!spiralled!towards!Yukito!so!fast!he!merely!had!time!to!turn!
his! back! before! being! engulfed! by! it.! Sheng! looked! back! down! at! Yue!
who!was!in!the!middle!of!several!enemy!soldiers.!They!were!keeping!
him! busy.! Sheng! was! about! to! join! them! when! something! caught! his!
attention!through!the!corner!of!his!eye.!
The! flames! he! had! produced! had! cleared! away.! Instead! of! a! charred!
body,! Sheng! was! greeted! by! two! great! white! wings.! His! fist! clenched!
and!he!puffed!out!air!like!a!petulant!child.!The!wings!parted!to!reveal!
the!Guardian!Beast!and!a!shocked!Yukito.!
Before! Sheng! could! blink,! the! beast's! mouth! had! opened! and! a! great!
fire! issued! from! it.! Sheng! raised! his! hand! to! defend! himself! but! the!
force!of!the!fire!was!overwhelming!and!it!knocked!him!backwards.!He!
rotated! midair! and! managed! to! land! on! his! feet.! A! sword! struck! his!
back! and! he! spun! around! to! counter.! That! was! when! he! noticed! the!
armours! of! the! men! nearest! him! were! of! imperial! design.! Sheng!
grinned.!He!could!not!have!landed!at!a!better!place.!
Xiao"Lang,"come"out"come"out,"wherever"you"are.!
!
Over!an!hour!had!passed!since!the!battle!had!begun.!The!ground!was!
littered!with!bodies.!Yet!men!stepped!on!and!over!them,!attacking!the!
enemy! without! pause.! There! was! nothing! majestic! about! what! was!
taking!place.!It!was!no!heroic!story!to!tell!children!at!night.!It!was!pure!
sweat,! blood! and! gore.! Men! slipped! on! the! blood! and! brains! of! their!
friends!as!they!themselves!fought!to!survive.!
332!
Loyalty! to! their! leaders! was! the! last! thing! on! the! men's! minds.! The!
immediate!thought!was!to!live.!Now!all!of!them!were!scattered!about!
and! it! was! more! dangerous! than! ever.! As! one! fought! with! a! single!
enemy,! there! were! three! more! at! one's! back.! Blows! that! once! came!
strong! and! swift! had! slowed! and! men's! knees! weakened! but! still! the!
blows!came!so!there!was!rest!for!none.!
In! the! midst! of! it! all! stood! Harmless.! He! stared! down! at! a! wounded!
Eriol.! The! Chief! Magician! could! barely! move! and! there! was! a! small!
sliver! of! blood! at! the! corner! of! his! lips.! A! mouthful! of! it! lay! near! his!
head.!His!breaths!were!laboured.!He!clawed!weakly!at!the!armour!over!
his!chest!as!though!it!were!crushing!him.!
Yue!saw!Eriol!fall.!He!saw!Harmless!return!his!swords!to!his!back!and!
raise! his! hands! for! one! last! fatal! attack.! Yue! raised! his! own! hand!
unleashing! a! horde! of! silver! crystals.! Harmless! made! an! X! with! his!
hands! to! protect! himself! but! the! crystals! tore! at! his! arms! and! thighs.!
He!slid!back!a!few!paces.!
Before!he!could!recover!fully,!Yue!was!in!front!of!him!bringing!his!jian!
down! but! Harmless! was! quick! and! dodged! the! strike.! Now! his! wrath!
turned!upon!Yue.!Forgoing!his!swords,!Harmless!raised!his!palms!and!
a! burst! of! energy! was! released,! rushing! to! Yue! who! raised! his! own!
hand! and! countered! with! his! own! magic.! The! general! formed! a!
temporary!shield!with!his!energy.!
Harmless! made! a! quick! series! of! intricate! hand! movements! before!
sending! burst! after! burst! of! dark! energy! at! Yue.! Yue! was! forced! to!
move! back! as! he! continually! advanced,! a! look! of! utmost! intent! in! his!
eyes.! Yue! gritted! his! teeth.! The! assassin! was! powerful.! He! could! not!
keep!up!the!steady!dome!of!energy!that!shielded!him!for!much!longer.!
His!wings!appeared!at!his!back!and!he!soared!into!the!sky.!
Just!then,!a!searing!pain!ripped!through!his!right!wing!and!he!dropped!
a!few!feet.!An!arrow!had!caught!him.!Yue's!left!wing!flapped!fast,!trying!
to!keep!him!airborne!but!it!was!not!possible.!His!wings!faded!and!he!
hit! the! earth! with! a! sickening! crunch.! In! an! instant! he! was! on! his!
knees,!his!eyes!searching!for!Harmless.!
The! man! was! running! towards! him.! Yue! dropped! his! sword! and!
released! his! magic! bow! and! drew! one! of! his! magic! blue! arrows.!
Harmless! was! fearless! and! continued! to! approach.! Yue! let! the! arrow!
fly!and!Harmless!raised!his!hand!to!defend!himself!but!it!was!too!quick!
and!hit!his!shoulder.!He!tumbled!forward!in!pain.!
Yue!raised!his!bow!a!second!time.!Harmless!was!shaking!and!his!face!
was!covered!in!sweat!but!he!was!on!his!feet.!Yue!took!aim.!He!blinked.!
333!
Harmless! had! vanished.! Then! he! felt! Harmless! behind! him.! He! spun!
around!only!to!collect!a!kick!to!the!stomach.!It!did!not!hurt.!His!armour!
protected! him.! However,! the! general's! pride! was! wounded! and! he!
grew!angry.!!
His!eyes!turned!white!as!his!equally!white!hair!flew!into!the!sky,!wild!
and! free.! Harmless'! eyes! glowed! violet! and! a! great! wind! whipped!
around! him.! The! earth! shook! as! both! men! prepared! to! unleash! their!
powers!on!the!other.!
Men! nearby! fell! and! scrambled! out! of! their! way.! Yue! and! Harmless'!
body!glowed!with!their!magic!D!one!of!the!Moon,!the!other!of!darkness.!
Yue! raised! his! bow,! channelling! all! his! energy! into! the! arrow! that! he!
drew.!Harmless!drew!his!swords,!swinging!them!in!his!hands!in!some!
intricate! dance.! Just! as! Yue! released! his! arrow,! Harmless! crossed! his!
arms!and!struck!the!two!swords!together!unleashing!a!golden!burst!of!
light.!
The! immediate! vicinity! was! enveloped! in! their! magic.! It! was! like! the!
Sun!itself!was!swelling!and!all!things,!living!and!dead,!flew!back!as!the!
force!of!their!attacks!manifested!in!a!devastating!explosion.!
!
Syaoran! was! on! his! feet,! pouncing! on! enemy! soldiers! like! a! hungry!
tiger! who! had! acquired! the! taste! for! men.! He! wasted! no! time! by!
striking! armour.! Instead! he! chose! to! take! limbs.! Heads,! legs,! arms! D!
they!were!all!welcomed.!
All!about!him!war!raged!like!a!rogue!fire!that!spread!faster!and!higher!
with!each!passing!wind.!He!had!developed!some!malevolent!intent!to!
the! point! that! he! left! all! command! to! his! generals;! all! he! could! think!
about!was!taking!lives.!It!was!fascinating!the!way!he!dictated!the!fates!
of! these! men! and! with! each! kill! the! blood! lust! Syaoran! felt! grew.! He!
was!a!hungry!dragon!that!could!not!be!satisfied.!
A! soldier! made! a! blow! to! the! back! of! his! armour! knocking! him!
forward.! Syaoran! grit! his! teeth.! He! pulled! out! a! dagger! and! spinning!
around,!buried!it!in!the!man's!left!eye.!A!small!smirk!made!its!way!onto!
Syaoran's! face.! The! man! fell! and! he! made! to! turn! when! a! pair! of! red!
eyes!met!his.!
Suddenly,!the!battle!and!the!motivation!behind!it!came!rushing!back!to!
the! prince.! Lu! Sheng,! the! annoyance,! the! curse,! the! bane! of! his! very!
existence!was!standing!before!him.!In!an!instant!both!men!ran!towards!
each!but!there!were!soldiers!between!them.!They!pushed!and!slashed!
and!pushed!some!more!trying!to!make!contact!with!one!another.!
334!
Then,!a!great!light!swelled!up!on!the!east!of!the!battlefield.!It!grew!and! forward!and!crashing!head!first!into!the!ground.!It!was!pandemonium.!
grew! and! men! momentarily! stopped! their! attacks,! gazing! at! it! in! !
wonder.!All!of!a!sudden,!the!light!ruptured!and!they!all!went!careening!
Sakura!and!Nakuru!stared!at!the!light!that!had!shot!into!the!sky.!Even!
backwards.! Syaoran's! cheek! hit! the! ground! hard! as! he! skid! across! it.!
the!soldiers!and!servants!who!were!left!behind!were!captivated!by!the!
He!tasted!blood!on!his!tongue.!
sight.! A! chill! ran! through! them! as! it! ruptured,! creating! a! wind! that!
He!took!off!his!helmet,!his!ears!ringing.!As!men!began! to!regain!their! seemed!to!touch!the!ends!of!the!earth.!
brief! loss! of! consciousness,! they! resumed! where! they! had! left! off,!
"What! was! that?"! asked! Sakura,! a! bad! feeling! welling! up! in! the! pit! of!
albeit!a!bit!slower!and!confusedly.!Syaoran!swayed!slightly!on!his!feet.!
her!stomach.!
His!sword!was!still!clutched!firmly!in!his!hands.!
"That! looked! like! the! climax! of! a! fight! between! magicians,"! said!
About!ten!feet!away!from!him,!Sheng!was!rising!to!his!feet.!He!was!not!
Nakuru,! her! voice! soft! and! surprisingly! wise.! Her! face! held! a! serious!
wearing! a! helmet! to! begin! with! and! there! was! a! bloody! spot! on! his!
countenance!which!struck!fear!into!Sakura.!
temple.!
"This! is! why! I! wanted! to! go,"! said! Nakuru.! "Waiting! here! is! torture.!
Syaoran!raised!his!sword!ready!to!fight.!Sheng!saw!him!and!raised!his!
What!if!Touya!was!there!in!the!middle!of!it?!What!ifD?"!
as! well.! On! full! alert! they! crossed! over! the! fallen! men! to! each! other,!
their!eyes!locked.!Sheng!smiled.! Sakura's! heart! pounded! hard! against! her! rib! cage! as! a! heartbreaking!
thought!sprang!to!life!inside!her.!Her!hands!flew!to!her!mouth!to!hold!
"Xiao!Lang."!
in! a! sob.! Nakuru,! who! was! still! dressed! in! battle! armour! turned! to!
"Sheng,"! greeted! Syaoran! and! his! cold! tone! and! colder! eyes! made! Sakura,!a!firm!look!in!her!eyes.!
Sheng's!smile!falter!ever!so!slightly.!
"I'm!going."!
The! men! rushed! towards! each! other.! Swords! struck;! they! swivelled!
"But!oniiDchan!saidD"!
and!struck!again.!They!were!matched!stroke!for!stroke!and!they!both!
hated!it.!Syaoran!brought!his!blade!down!with!such!strength,!it!was!as! "I! don't! care! what! he! said!"! shrieked! Nakuru.! She! took! a! steadying!
if! Sheng! was! a! nail! and! he! was! attempting! to! hammer! the! thing.! breath.!"I'm!sorry!but!I!have!to!go."!
Syaoran's!feet!actually!left!the!earth!as!he!threw!his!weight!into!each! "I'm!coming!with!you,"!said!Sakura.!
strike.! Nakuru!face!was!one!of!shock!and!fear!and!Sakura!knew!her!own!held!
Sheng's! defence! was! formidable.! He! countered! each! stroke! and! his! the!same!emotions.!
success! may! have! been! due! more! to! severe! concentration! and! will! "You!can't,"!said!Nakuru.!"He'll!kill!me."!
more!than!anything!else.!He!took!a!leap!back,!took!a!deep!breath!and! "He's!my!brother."!
ran! towards! Syaoran.! Their! swords! struck! so! hard,! the! blades!
trembled! in! their! hands.! Simultaneously,! they! gripped! their! shaking! "You!have!no!training."!
hands!and!glared!at!each!other.!They!took!two!breaths,!then!sprinted! "I!have!magic."!
to!each!other!once!more.! "Still.!You!have!no!training."!
It!was!not!so!much!a!fight!between!men!but!that!of!animals;!desperate,! Sakura!grabbed!onto!Nakuru.!
wild,! crazed! animals.! The! fight! was! dirty.! They! slashed,! blocked! and! "Eriol! trained! me! a! little.! I! don't! intend! to! fight.! I! know! that's!
sank! fist! and! foot! into! any! exposed! flesh! they! could! find.! Sheng! ridiculous.!I!only!want!to!be!closer!to!him.!To!all!of!them.!Like!you!said.!
collected!a!blow!to!his!face!and!enraged,!he!made!a!swipe!at!Syaoran,! Waiting!is!torture."!
his!fingernails!etching!three!blazing!cuts!across!the!prince's!face.!
Nakuru!shook!her!head.!
As! their! rages! grew,! the! earth! shook.! Horses! raised! onto! their! hind!
"I'm!sorry!SakuraDchan."!
legs,!kicking!their!front!ones!in!a!frenzy.!Years!of!domestication!were!
forgotten! and! they! ran! wild! through! the! soldiers,! some! lurching! Sakura!took!a!step!back.!

335! 336!
"Then!I'll!wait!for!you!to!leave.!Then!I'll!follow!you.!No!one!else!here!
has! magic.! They! won't! be! able! to! stop! me! or! follow! for! that! matter.!
Please!reconsider,!NakuruDchan."!
Nakuru! looked! into! the! distance! then! back! at! Sakura.! Her! shoulders!
heaved.!
"Your!son?!He's!a!prince.!He's!not!too!young!to!have!enemies."!
Sakura!smiled.!She!had!been!testing!out!the!Cards!Eriol!had!given!her!
just!that!morning.!
"I!can!think!of!something."!
Trembling,! Sakura! lay! her! son! down! on! the! futon! and! wrapped! him!
snugly.! She! rummaged! about! her! things! and! found! what! she! was!
looking! for! D! a! simple,! black! hanfu.! She! threw! off! the! lightweight! one!
she!was!wearing!and!dressed!in!it.!
"Where!are!your!Cards?"!asked!Nakuru.!
Sakura!handed!them!over!to!the!woman!and!she!shuffled!through!the!
deck,!picking!out!the!ones!she!thought!would!be!useful.!
"Illusion,!Firey,!Watery,!Sword,!Fly,!Jump,!Shield."!
She!stared!at!the!next!Card.!
"Mirror."!
Sakura!took!it!from!her!hand.!
"Watch!this,"!she!said.!
"Key!concealing!the!power!of!the!stars,!reveal!thy!true!form!before!me.!
By!our!contract,!I,!Sakura!command!you!!Release!"!
She!felt!the!now!familiar!weight!of!her!staff.!She!threw!the!Mirror!our!
before!her!and!brought!the!head!of!her!staff!down!on!it.!It!became!pink!
like!all!of!her!other!cards.!
"Mirror."!
A!blue!lady!emerged!from!the!card!and!smiled!politely!at!her.!Sakura!
smiled!back.!This!Card!was!the!most!nonDthreatening!one!yet.!
"I! believe! that! what! you! do! is! take! the! forms! of! other! things.! Is! that!
true?"!she!asked!it.!
Mirror!nodded.!
"Can!you!take!my!form?"!
The!Mirror!closed!its!eyes!and!became!an!ambiguous!shape.!Little!by!
little,! Sakura! saw! a! girl! beginning! to! take! shape! and! soon! she! was!
gazing!into!her!own!green!eyes.!
337!
"Hoe...!amazing."!
The!Card!giggled!shyly.!!
"Can!you!watch!over!my!son?"!
Turning! to! the! boy,! Mirror! gave! a! firm! nod.! Sakura! bit! her! lip.! She!
trusted!Mirror!but!it!was!hard!to!part!with!her!baby.!
"I'll!use!the!Shield!over!this!tent."!
Mirror!returned!her!gaze!to!her!Mistress.!She!shook!her!head.!
"You'll!be!fine!without!it?"!
Again!Mirror!nodded.!
"Then!I'll!be!back!soon."!
Mirror! smiled.! Sakura! was! reminded! of! Harmless! who! did! not! speak!
except! she! never! saw! him! smile.! She! gave! her! son! a! kiss! on! the!
forehead.!
"I!love!you,"!she!whispered!in!his!ear.!
Sakura! could! not! imagine! what! Syaoran! would! do! to! her! if! he! knew!
what! she! was! up! to! and! frankly,! she! did! not! want! to.! She! comforted!
herself!with!the!knowledge!that!in!the!end!he!would!excuse!her!choice!
when!she!explained!her!reasons!to!him.!
Nakuru!returned!Sakura's!cards!to!her!and!Sakura!made!sure!that!the!
Erase! was! not! among! them.! Then,! she! threw! out! the! Illusion! before!
her.!
"Illusion,!when!the!soldiers!look!at!me,!let!them!see!a!servant."!
There! was! a! rush! of! breeze! and! she! looked! down! at! herself.! She!
appeared! no! different! but! she! felt! magic! in! her! veins.! She! steeled!
herself!and!she!and!Nakuru!walked!out!into!the!sunshine.!
"You!"!
Sakura! and! Nakuru! froze.! She! panicked! when! she! caught! sight! of!
Nakuru!reaching!for!her!sword.!
One!of!the!two!soldiers!standing!in!front!of!her!tent!looked!at!her.!
"I!didn't!see!you!go!in."!
"Neither!did!I,"!said!the!other!one.!
"Then! she! must! be! doing! her! job! properly,"! said! Nakuru.! "Is! she! not!
supposed!to!be!invisible?"!
The! soldiers! clearly! did! not! like! being! talked! to! in! such! a! manner! by!
some! foreign! woman! but! one! took! a! peek! inside! Sakura's! tent! and!
turned!back!to!her!and!nodded.!
338!
"Fine.!Be!on!your!way."! !
Sakura's!mouth!fell!open!but!she!quickly!closed!it!and!the!women!sped! Chapter 27
away!before!the!guards!could!get!another!word!out.!Nakuru!pulled!her! In"adversity,"true"feelings"are"revealed.!
behind! a! tree.! Large,! pink! and! blue! butterflyDlooking! wings! appeared!
at!the!woman's!back!and!her!attire!changed!to!a!long!white!robe!with! ~"Chinese"Proverb!
intricate,!pink!and!navy!designs.!Her!locks!had!become!a!maroon!hue! There! was! a! highDpitched! ringing! in! the! air.! Where! was! it! coming!
and!so!were!her!sharp!eyes.! from?! What! had! happened?! Everything! hurt.! Touya! felt! like! he! was!
"OniiDchan!told!me!you!had!another!form,"!said!Sakura!in!awe.!"Ruby! underwater! and! that! the! screaming! he! was! hearing! was! faraway!
Moon."! instead! of! coming! from! the! man! lying! next! to! him.! He! coughed! and!
rolled! over! onto! his! knees,! his! hands! clutching! his! throbbing! head.!
"He! talks! to! you! about! me?!"! asked! Nakuru.! She! raised! her! arms! in!
About!him,!other!men!were!shakily!rising!to!their!feet!only!to!fall!back!
triumph.!"Yes!"!
hard!on!their!bottoms.!Touya!fumbled!around!for!his!katana,!and!using!
The!striking!new!image!of!Nakuru!was!fractured!as!the!woman!clasped! it!for!support,!he!pushed!himself!to!his!feet.!
her! hands! together,! stars! in! her! eyes.! She! was! able! to! get! over! the!
Now! he! saw! why! the! man! was! screaming.! His! leg! was! bent! back! in! a!
moment!though!without!Sakura's!intervention.!
most! unnatural! position.! Touya! wretched! but! nothing! came! out.! Still,!
"Use!you!Fly!Card."! the!feeling!of!nausea!stayed!with!him.!
Sakura!released!the!Fly.!Almost!immediately!she!was!twirling!around! He! closed! his! eyes,! thinking! that! perhaps! he! should! lie! down! a! little!
in! mild! shock.! It! was! not! everyday! you! had! wings! at! your! back.! The! longer.! He! was! sinking! to! the! ground! when! his! eyes! snapped! open.!
wings! twitched! and! she! gasped.! She! had! no! time! to! get! use! to! the! Yue.! Where! was! Yue?! He! stumbled! among! the! men! searching! for! the!
strange! sensation! because! Nakuru! took! her! hand! and! soared! into! the! whiteDhaired!general.!By!some!miracle,!he!did!not!have!to!go!very!far.!
sky.! He!could!make!out!Yue's!form!up!ahead,!propped!against!the!back!of!a!
! dead!horse.!Using!energy!he!did!know!he!still!possessed,!Touya!ran!the!
! last!few!steps.!
! He! felt! his! shoulder's! rise! in! relief! just! before! he! was! overtaken! by! a!
! brutal!awakening.!The!end!of!a!spear!was!lodged!deep!in!Yue's!chest.!
His! lap! was! soaked! with! his! own! blood! and! its! red! hue! looked! even!
! more! terrifying! and! brilliant! against! Yue's! white! armour.! Touya!
! slumped!weakly!to!the!general's!side.!
! "Yue,"!he!murmured.!
! He! raised! the! man's! head! gently.! Yue! was! breathing! but! his! breaths!
! sounded!wheezy.!Touya!blanched.!Yue's!lung!had!been!hit.!As!Yue!took!
! another! erratic! breath,! he! clutched! Touya's! shoulder.! He! tried! to! pull!
himself!up!but!he!groaned!in!agony!and!fell!back.!The!rest!of!the!spear!
!
was!buried!inside!the!horse.!He!was!trapped.!His!brows!creased.!
!
"ID"!
!
"Don't!try!to!talk,"!said!Touya.!"Just!D!you're!going!to!be!fine.!You!hear!
! me?!I!just!have!to!figure!out,!what!to!do..."!
! Yue's!sharp!blue!eyes!softened.!He!leaned!back!and!gazed!knowingly!at!
! Touya.!This!was!the!end!for!him!and!they!both!knew!it.!Touya!brushed!

339! 340!
Yue's!bangs!from!his!pale!face!and!let!his!hand!glide!down!to!cup!his!
cheek.!
"You're!going!to!be!fine,"!he!lied.!"You'll!see."!
Yue!squeezed!Touya's!shoulder!harder!and!started!coughing,!deep!and!
dry.!Then!he!was!gasping!for!air.!His!face!screwed!up!and!he!glanced!
away!in!shame.!
"I'm!afraid,"!he!told!Touya.!
"Of! what?"! asked! Touya,! nonchalantly.! "I! told! you.! You're! going! to! be!
all!right."!
Yue!shook!his!head.!His!face!was!grim.!
"Yukito...!Yukito..."!
"I'll!find!him."!
Yue's! eyes! squeezed! shut.! His! grip! on! Touya! was! becoming! almost!
unbearable.!
"I'll!protect!him,"!said!Touya.!"I!swear."!
Yue! looked! at! Touya! like! one! would! look! on! a! saviour.! His! hand!
gripped! the! spear! in! his! chest,! his! knuckles! whitening.! His! breaths!
came!rapid!and!short.!
"Yue..."!
Touya!could!hear!the!panic!in!his!own!voice!and!it!frightened!him.!He!
grasped!Yue's!head.!
"Yue!"!
Yue's! body! shuddered! and! his! breaths! came! to! a! halt.! Touya's! eyes!
widened.! The! general! stared! at! him! for! one! brief! moment! with! full!
awareness.!There!was!a!small!tug!at!the!corner!of!his!lips!and!then!he!
was!gone.!Touya!shook!Yue's!shoulder.!
"Yue."!
Nothing.!He!shook!it!again.!Still!there!was!nothing.!
He!fell!back!on!his!heels.!He!sniffed!and!rubbed!his!nose.!He!should!not!
be! feeling! like! this.! He! should! not! be! this...! sad.! Yue! was! an! imperial.!
Touya! detested! the! imperials.! This! meant! nothing! to! him.! His! hands!
started! to! shake! and! he! did! not! understand! why! he! could! not! bring!
himself!to!move.!
A!large!presence!loomed!up!behind!Touya!and!numbly,!he!turned!his!
head.!His!heart!literally!skipped!a!beat.!There!was!a!great!beast!before!
him! but! that! was! not! what! stunned! Touya.! The! figure! that! sat! on! its!
back! was! surely! Yue! reincarnated.! The! man! slid! from! the! beast! and!
341!
stepped!forward.!
"OnniDchan?"!
Despair!gripped!Yukito!in!a!bear!hug!with!every!intention!of!crushing!
him.! He! flung! himself! down! beside! Yue's! body! and! engulfed! his!
brother's!shoulders.!He!buried!his!head!in!the!crook!of!Yue's!neck!and!
morphed! into! a! heartbroken! child! before! Touya's! eyes.! Then,! in! the!
midst!of!all!the!blood!and!death,!something!beautiful!happened.!A!blue!
light!flowed!out!of!Yue!like!a!cool!mist!and!enveloped!Yukito.!He!pulled!
away! and! stared! into! Yue's! lifeless! face.! He! ran! his! fingertips! along!
Yue's!cheek!and!rest!his!forehead!against!his.!
The!light!slowly!vanished!into!the!wind.!
Touya!bowed!his!head!in!reverence.!Sayonara,"Yue.!
"We!have!to!go!now,"!said!Touya,!resting!a!hand!on!Yukito's!shoulder.!
More! and! more! men! were! waking! up! and! Touya! questioned! Yukito's!
ability! to! fight! in! his! current! state.! He! did! not! judge.! After! all,! Yukito!
had!just!lost!his!entire!family!in!one!day.!There!were!many!questions!
in! Yukito's! face.! One! among! which! must! be! why! a! Japanese! man! was!
dressed!in!imperial!armour!but!he!asked!none.!He!merely!nodded!and!
let!Touya!lead!him!back!to!the!beast.!
"You! are! my! Mistress'! brother,"! said! the! beast.! He! had! been! gazing!
intently!at!Touya!all!that!time.!"You!feel!like!she!does."!
Touya! quickly! recovered! from! the! startling! fact! that! this! animal! was!
speaking!to!him.!He!tilted!his!head!as!a!thought!sprang!into!his!mind.!
"You!are!Kero."!
"Cerberus,"! it! said.! "Bet! yes,! I! am! Kero! too.! This! is! what! Sakura! calls!
me.! Now! hurry! and! get! on.! I'm! not! strong! enough! to! fight! everyone!
here!just!yet."!
Soon! they! were! rising! into! the! sky! away! from! the! battle;! away! from!
what!was!left!of!Yue.!
!
A!sphere!of!dark!magic!was!swirling!menacingly!around!Syaoran!and!
Sheng.! The! earth! trembled! beneath! them.! The! clouds! in! the! sky!
became! murky! and! plump! and! the! Sun! cowered! behind! them!
shamelessly.!Sheng's!teeth!clenched!as!he!forced!his!mind!to!ignore!his!
body's! protestations.! He! could! summon! stronger! magic! if! he! willed! it!
to!be!so.!He!knew!it.!He!could!do!it.!
Syaoran's! eyes! were! trained! on! the! ground! in! deep! concentration.!
Sheng!smirked!haughtily.!So!the!Great!Imperial!Son!was!giving!his!all!
342!
and!it!was!not!enough!!He!blinked.!What!was!that?!
Did"Xiao"Lang"just..."chuckle?!
The!prince!raised!his!sword!towards!the!Heavens.!
"God!of!Thunder!"!
Sheng! instantly! had! a! sensation! of! being! deflated.! Huge! bolts! of!
lightening! burst! to! life! in! the! dark! sky.! They! pooled! together! directly!
above! Syaoran.! His! jian! channelled! their! combined! energy.! Syaoran!
looked!at!him.!Got!you,!he!seemed!to!say.!
His!sword!arm!slashed!downwards.!Sheng's!eyes!were!saucers!as!the!
lightning! came! roaring! at! him.! His! back! felt! like! it! was! being! ripped!
open! by! the! claws! of! a! tiger.! His! mouth! parted! soundlessly! as! his!
sword! fell! from! his! hands.! His! heart! felt! like! it! was! an! orange! being!
squeezed! of! its! juice.! It! could! have! ended! there! for! him! but! he! had!
learned! something! from! Harmless.! His! palms! widened! and! suddenly,!
the!lightning!was!being!sucked!into!a!void.!
Sheng! collapsed! onto! the! ground,! his! head! reeling.! He! was! caught!
somewhere!between!delusion!and!reality!and!he!was!fighting!hard!to!
stay!in!the!real!world.!There!was!a!swift!kick!to!his!guts!and!he!went!
rolling!over!and!over.!
Sheng!pressed!his!hands!into!the!earth!and!channelled!his!magic!into!
it.!Fire!rose!up!in!front!of!him.!It!did!not!faze!Syaoran,!that!is,!until!it!
formed! into! a! wall! and! rushed! in! an! angry! blaze! towards! him.! At! the!
last!moment,!he!raised!his!arms.!
A! mountain! of! water! rose! up! and! crushed! into! Sheng's! fire.! The! air!
sizzled! as! steam! formed.! Syaoran! grimaced! as! the! heat! slapped! his!
face.!Sheng!stumbled!to!his!feet.!The!air!cleared!and!he!stared!into!the!
eyes! of! his! childhood! adversary.! This! was! what! he! had! wanted! D! a!
battle!between!himself!and!Syaoran!and!it!was!being!delivered!in!full.!
Syaoran!must!have!had!a!direct!connection!to!his!thoughts!because!he!
chuckled!again,!so!fast,!it!could!have!been!a!sneeze.!He!surged!towards!
Sheng!who!moved!out!the!way!just!in!time.!Not!missing!a!beat,!Syaoran!
grabbed! hold! of! his! long! braid! and! tugged! hard! sending! Sheng! to! the!
ground!again.!In!a!desperate!move,!Sheng!threw!a!handful!of!dirt!into!
the!air!and!hit!Syaoran!in!the!face.!He!flailed!backwards.!
Sheng!ran!headlong!into!Syaoran!and!they!both!went!crashing!into!the!
ground.! His! sword! knocked! from! him,! Syaoran! was! just! as! content! to!
finish! Sheng! with! his! fists.! The! men! struggled! for! dominance.!
Somehow!in!the!heat!of!things,!Sheng!managed!to!get!astride!Syaoran!
and!he!savagely!pounded!him!with!his!hands.!Left!fist,!then!right,!left,!
343!
right,!left,!right!and!left!again.!There!was!no!stopping!him.!He!could!not!
afford!to!stop.!
All!Syaoran!could!do!was!hide!behind!his!arms!and!wait.!As!soon!as!he!
found! an! opening,! Syaoran! exploded! upwards! throwing! Sheng! off! of!
him.!Now!he!had!the!position!of!advantage!and!he!let!Sheng!know!it.!
Blood!was!in!Sheng!eyes.!Blinded,!he!found!it!hard!to!keep!up.!He!was!
sure! some! of! his! fingers! were! broken.! His! ribs! hurt! and! that! thing!
coming! up! his! throat,! he! knew! it! was! not! this! morning's! breakfast.! It!
was!too!salty,!too!metallic.!
Sheng! screamed! in! frustration.! A! gust! of! wind! kicked! up! around! him!
and! Syaoran! as! he! summoned! magic! like! he! never! had! before.! Blood!
streamed!down!Sheng's!nose!and!fresh!sweat!burst!from!his!forehead.!
His! screams! deafened! even! him.! He! brought! his! arms! up! and! gave! a!
mighty!shove!that!sent!Syaoran!soaring!back.!He!went!tumbling!across!
the!ground.!
The!look!on!Syaoran's!face!said!it!all.!Sheng!was!going!to!die,!one!way!
or!another.!He!opened!his!palm!and!his!jian!materialised!in!it.!Again!he!
pointed!it!upwards!and!the!lightning!gathered!as!before.!
"God!of!Thunder!"!
Sheng!raised!his!palms!and!a!whirlwind!of!magic,!hate!and!vengeance!
engulfed!them!both.!Their!feet!lifted!from!the!ground!as!their!powers!
increased.! Then,! just! as! Syaoran! was! bringing! his! sword! down,! his!
figure!swam!before!Sheng's!eyes.!Sheng!fell,!his!heart!racing.!When!the!
lightning!hit!him,!he!was!sure!he!was!dead!this!time.!
Syaoran! peeled! his! cheek! from! the! hard! earth.! That! last! bit! of! magic!
Sheng! had! hit! him! with! was! a! devastating! blow.! It! was! not! skill! on!
Sheng's! part.! He! could! not! control! the! magic;! it! was! released! in! its!
rawest!form.!Syaoran's!head!was!spinning.!He!struggled!to!his!feet,!his!
legs! dancing! around! each! other! like! a! drunkard.! He! stumbled! over! to!
his! jian! and! picked! it! up.! His! hand! went! to! his! head.! There! were! two!
Shengs!in!front!of!him.!He!blinked!rapidly,!willing!his!vision!to!correct!
itself.!Fast.!
He! bent! over! and! breathed! deeply! through! his! nose.! The! two! Shengs!
were! trying! to! get! up.! Syaoran! closed! his! eyes! tightly! and! when! he!
reopened!them,!there!was!only!one!Sheng.!
That's"more"like"it.!
"Get!up,"!said!Syaoran,!arrogantly.!"I!said!get!up.!Now."!
A!few!failed!attempts!later,!Sheng!was!up,!swaying!precariously!on!the!
balls!of!his!feet.!
344!
"Go! ahead,"! he! told! Syaoran.! He! had! a! hand! on! his! chest! and! was! Nakuru!gripped!her!shoulders.!
forcing!air!into!his!lungs.!"Finish!me."! "I'm!going!to!search!for!Touya,"!she!said.!"Tell!me!you're!going!to!stay!
"I! told! you! it! would! come! to! this,"! said! Syaoran.! "I! warned! you.! You! here.!Tell!me!you're!going!to!be!safe."!
don't!listen."! Sakura! was! looking! distractedly! at! the! soldiers! down! below.! Nakuru!
Sheng's!brow!furrowed.! shook!her.!
"You!warned!me?"! "SakuraDchan!"!
"But!you!didn't!listen.!Why!are!you!so!stubborn?"! "I!am.!I!mean,!I'll!stay!here."!
Sheng!began!to!cough!and!Syaoran!glared!at!him.! "Good,"! said! Nakuru.! "I! can't! have! Touya! seeing! you! before! I! have! a!
"No!good!ever!comes!from!opposing!your!emperor."! chance!to!explain!D"!
"Because!he!has!you?"!spat!Sheng.!"His!Great!Imperial!Son?!His!demon! "AKIZUKI!"!
prince?"! "Dmyself..."!
The!look!in!Syaoran's!eyes!could!could!have!frozen!hell's!fires.! Nakuru!turned!stiffly,!a!pained!expression!on!her!face.!Sakura!gasped.!
"You!should!have!learned!how!to!let!things!go."! Kero!was!flying!towards!her!with!Touya!and!Yukito!on!his!back.!
"Would!you!have?"! "What!are!you!doing!here.!I!toldD"!
Syaoran!choose!his!next!words!carefully.! Touya!went!bugDeyed!when!he!noticed!Sakura!was!there!as!well.!
"My!first!assassination!attempt,!would!have!been!a!success."! "AKIZUKI!"!
Sheng! gave! a! humourless,! incredulous! laugh.! He! grimaced! as! a! sharp! "She!gave!me!no!choice!"!said!Nakuru!pointing!a!finger!at!Sakura.!
pain!cut!him!in!the!side.! "NANI?"!
"You! just! had! to! prove! a! point! in! the! grandest! way,"! said! Syaoran.! "He's! not! going! to! be! mad! at! you! for! long,"! Nakuru! told! her! covertly.!
"Now!look!how!far!you've!fallen."! "But!meD"!
Sheng!gave!Syaoran!a!patronizing!look.! "SAKURADCHAN!!WAAAAH!"!
"You!knew!the!truth!about!what!happened!to!my!father.!You!knew!we! Cerberus!flew!right!past!Nakuru!and!straight!into!Sakura.!
were!cheated!of!our!rightful!places!in!this!empire."! "HOE!"!
"Huangdi's! will! is! absolute,"! said! Syaoran! in! monotone.! "You! do! not! Sakura!went!careening!towards!the!earth!with!full!force.!
challenge!the!emperor."!
"You're!going!to!kill!her!"!she!heard!her!brother!yell.!
Sheng! drew! himself! up,! straight.! He! would! at! least! die! with! honour.!
Cerberus! stopped! his! friendly! assault! and! Sakura! regained! her!
Huge!drops!of!rain!burst!from!the!sky.!
bearings.!The!Guardian!Beast!was!grinning!from!ear!to!ear!but!Touya!
"It!didn't!have!to!come!to!this,"!said!Syaoran.! was!looking!everything!but!happy.!
"But!it!did."! "What! the! hell! are! you! doing! here?! Are! you! trying! to! get! yourself!
! killed?"!
After! the! terror! of! flying! through! a! sky! consumed! with! unpredictable! "I! had! to! come,"! said! Sakura,! holding! her! hands! to! her! chest.! "I! was!
bouts!of!lightning,!Sakura!and!Nakuru!had!to!contend!with!rain!that!hit! worried."!
you!so!hard!it!felt!like!it!would!split!your!head!open.!Sakura!wiped!her! "You.!Were.!Worried?!That's!all!you!have!to!say!for!yourself?"!
wet!bangs!from!her!eyes.!The!clouds!were!churning!and!some!chilling!
Sakura!gulped.!
darkness! had! pervaded! the! surroundings.! A! shiver! ran! through! her!
back.!Something!was!jarringly!familiar!about!this!moment.! "Well!ID"!

345! 346!
"I'm! so! glad! you're! here! Mistress!"! interjected! Cerberus.! "You! won't! "You! didn't! think! that! was! a! problem! a! while! ago,"! said! Touya,!
believe! what! they! did! to! me.! I! haven't! eaten! in! months!! And! no! one! irritation!laced!in!each!word.!
brushed!my!fur...!It!was!horrible!"! "That!was!before!I!was!reunited!with!SakuraDchan.!She!is!the!only!one!
Sakura!blinked.! who's!commands!I!will!obey."!
"Ano...!you!talk?"! Before!he!could!stop!himself,!Touya!hit!Cerberus!a!blow!on!the!head.!
Cerberus'!grinned!widened!even!more.! "How!dare!you!hit!me!"!yelled!the!Guardian!Beast.!"DO!you!know!who!
"It!was!difficult!because!I!couldn't!draw!any!magic!from!you.!But!since! I!am!boy!!What!I!am.!A!Guardian!Beast.!I!am!revered.!I!amD"!
your! powers! manifested! and! I'm! out! of! that! horrible! room,! I! can! do! "A!loud!bigDmouthed!tiger!who's!really!a!little!kitten!at!heart!and!who!
lots!of!things."! clearly!doesn't!understand!the!meaning!of!common!sense!"!
"We!can!save!the!reunion!for!later,"!said!Touya,!folding!his!arms.! "SakuraDchan!will!hear!of!these!insults."!
"YukitoDsan,"!said!Sakura,!a!true!smile!lighting!up!her!face!as!she!took! "Your! SakuraDchan! is! heading! into! danger.! And! you!"! said! Touya! to!
in! the! sight! of! him! properly.! He! was! beautiful! as! ever.! Yukito! smiled! Nakuru! who! was! trying! to! drift! away! quietly.! "I! haven't! even! started!
but!it!did!not!reach!his!eyes.! with!you!yet."!
"YukitoDsan...!what's!wrong?"! "But!TouyaD"!
Touya!glanced!at!the!man!behind!him.! "I! don't! want! to! hear! it!! You! just! need! to! do! what! you! do! worst! and!
"That!we!can!talk!about!later!too."! listen."!
The!clouds!in!the!sky!shifted!again,!becoming!even!more!ominous.! "Oh!so!now!only!you!can!talk?"!asked!Kero.!"Listen!up!everyone,!only!
Kinomoto! Touya! can! talk!! Well! guess! what.! Huangdi! sent! a! message!
"I'm!glad!you're!all!right,!oniiDchan,"!said!Sakura!urgently.!"But!I!have!
from!the!grave.!He!wants!his!job!back!gaki."!
to!find!Xiao!Lang."!
"Seriously,! are! you! always! like! this?"! asked! Touya,! reigning! in! his!
"He's!duelling!Lu!Sheng."!
anger.!
Sakura's!heart!fluttered.!
"No!"!said!Cerberus.!"But!I've!been!locked!in!a!small!room.!For!months.!
"You!saw!him?"! Hungry!"!
"Hai."! Touya!threw!his!arms!up!in!exasperation.!This!was!going!to!take!some!
"Is!he!hurt?"! time.!Cerberus!was!a!spoiled!child!and!now!that!mummy!had!returned,!
"You're! not! supposed! to! be! here! Sakura,"! said! Touya,! his! patience! he! was! showing! himself! off.! Why! were! these! Chinese! natives! such! a!
waning!thin.! pain!in!the!rear?!
Sakura!was!not!hearing!him!though.!She!was!thinking!about!Syaoran.! !
She! was! thinking! about! the! grating! feeling! in! her! that! told! her! Sakura!was!looking!down!at!Syaoran!and!Sheng,!like!some!curious!bird!
something!terrible!was!going!to!happen.! who! had! stopped! midDflight! to! take! in! the! strange! beings! that! were!
"I!have!to!go,"!she!murmured.! men.! She! was! not! sure! how! she! had! arrived! there.! All! she! knew! was!
"What?!"! that!something!strong!had!been!tugging!at!her!and!instead!of!resisting,!
she! had! let! her! wings! take! her! in! the! right! direction.! Sheng! was!
"I!have!to!go!"! standing!unarmed!before!Syaoran!who!had!his!jian!clutched!firmly!in!
With! that! she! went! ripping! through! the! atmosphere! towards! the! his!hand.!
battlefield.! It!was!not!a!surprising!scene!to!Sakura.!She!had!seen!this!before!in!her!
"Follow!her!"!said!Touya!to!Cerberus.! dream.!Only,!she!had!been!over!there.!She!turned!to!the!spot.!Sheng's!
"You!can't!order!me!around."! attention! also! shifted! to! the! same! place.! Harmless! was! sprinting!

347! 348!
towards! him,! weaving! in! and! out! of! soldiers! with! ever! increasing!
momentum.!Sakura!could!feel!the!intensity!of!each!of!his!strides!as!she!
watched!him!defy!the!odds!in!fascination.!
Her! eyes! flicked! over! to! Syaoran.! At! the! last! moment,! he! changed! his!
mind.! He! dropped! his! arm! and! instead! made! to! drive! his! jian! into!
Sheng.! Yet! somehow,! unbelievably,! incredibly,! Harmless! reached! the!
men!just!as!Syaoran's!arm!thrust!forward.!The!jian!sunk!easily!into!the!
assassin.!Sakura's!hands!flew!to!her!mouth.!
Harmless! stared! at! the! blade! in! disbelief.! Shakily,! he! reached! behind!
him! and! touched! the! tip! of! the! jian.! Syaoran! ripped! the! sword! from!
him!with!a!twist!and!blood!gushed!generously!from!Harmless'!wound.!
He!fell!into!Sheng's!arms,!his!weight!bringing!them!both!down.!Sheng!
pressed! his! hand! into! Harmless'! wound! trying! very! much! to! stop! the!
bleeding!but!being!unable!to!do!so.!Syaoran!flicked!the!blood!from!his!
jian!and!was!raising!it!again!when!Harmless!extended!a!bloody!palm.!
Syaoran! stared! but! Sakura! knew! better.! She! knew,! that! if! she! stayed!
where! she! was,! if! she! did! not! move,! Harmless! was! going! to! make!
Syaoran!disappear!forever.!Move,!she!told!herself.!Move!!
Her!wings!flattened!against!her!back.!The!descent!was!swift.!Her!Star!
Wand!materialized!in!her!hand.!
"Shield!"!
There! was! a! blinding! flash! of! light! and! the! men! covered! their! eyes.!
Sakura! landed! lightly! in! front! of! Syaoran.! Harmless! was! the! first! to!
recover.! He! squinted! at! her,! baffled.! She! could! see! determination!
etched!in!his!face!even!as!his!body!writhed!in!pain.!He!raised!his!hand!
again!and!Sakura!shook!her!head,!begging!him!not!to.!
His! hand! did! not! drop! even! when! the! veins! in! his! forehead! pulsed!
dangerously.! It! was! obvious! he! needed! all! his! focus! just! to! keep! that!
hand! steady.! Sakura! could! not! understand! why,! at! the! edge! of! death,!
Harmless! was! so! intent! on! killing! still.! A! dark! aura! surrounded! his!
frame,!and!Sakura!thought,!this!was!it.!But!then!Sheng!took!a!hold!of!is!
hand!and!drew!it!down.!
"It's!over,"!said!Sheng.!
Harmless'!head!dipped!as!he!lost!consciousness!briefly.!
Sakura!fearfully!waited!for!the!inevitable.!Syaoran!however,!was!on!a!
mission.!He!pushed!her!aside!and!made!to!walk!past!the!confinement!
of!the!barrier!but!Sakura!gripped!his!arm!tightly.!No!matter!how!much!
Syaoran!tried!to!throw!her!off!she!refused!to!let!go.!
"Just! let! it! be,! Xiao! Lang!! You! heard! him.! It's! over!"! He! continued! to!
349!
struggle! with! her! and! she! kicked! his! shin.! "Stop! this! and! LISTEN! to!
me!"!
Syaoran! stiffened.! Just! like! when! they! were! back! in! the! tent,! his! face!
became!like!stone!but!he!made!no!further!movement!against!her!her.!
But! he! looked! like! he! might! change! his! mind! so! she! stepped! back.!
Some!caution!was!better!than!none.!
"You!are!interfering,"!he!told!her.!!Then!something!seemed!to!spark!in!
his!mind!and!he!really!saw!her.!"Sakura!!What!are!you!doing!here!"!
"I'm! saving! you,"! she! told! him,! and! the! pent! up! frustrations! and!
worries! of! the! day! sought! release! and! she! held! his! cheeks! and! gave!
him! a! passionate! kiss.! Surprised! but! for! a! moment,! Syaoran! gripped!
the!back!of!her!head!and!deepened!it.!Her!hands!were!winding!around!
his!neck!when!she!came!to!her!senses!and!pulled!away.!
"Sorry,"!and!she!smiled!nervously.!
Syaoran! seemed! to! drink! her! in! with! his! eyes! before! he! turned! to!
Sheng!and!Harmless!once!more.!Sheng!had!pulled!his!comrade!into!his!
lap.! Both! their! heads! were! bowed.! All! of! a! sudden,! Sheng! looked! up!
and!stared!straight!at!them.!Rain!was!beating!down!on!him!but!he!was!
unaware! of! it.! Were! those! tears! in! his! eyes?! Or! was! it! the! rain?! His!
chest!was!heaving!and!he!seemed!close!to!fainting.!
They! were! tears,! Sakura! concluded.! There! were! tears! in! his! eyes!
because!Harmless!had!died.!Sheng!slid!to!the!muddy!earth!motionless!
and!unfeeling,!uncaring!of!what!would!befall!him!next.!Sakura!looked!
at!Syaoran's!face.!It!was!unreadable.!
"Enough!killing,"!she!said!to!him.!"Please!Xiao!Lang."!
She!gripped!his!hand!and!shook!it.!He!was!a!mess.!She!had!never!seen!
him!so!dirty!and!so!stained!with!blood.!She!was!not!sure!if!she!wanted!
to!know!how!many!lives!he!took!that!day!but!Sakura!wanted!to!know!
that!he!was!done.!
"Please.!Tell!me!this!is!enough!"!
Syaoran!drew!her!into!his!arms!but!she!did!not!let!up.!
"Xiao!Lang...?"!
He!gazed!up!at!the!sky.!It!was!steadily!returning!to!its!natural!colour.!
So! it! would! be! like! nothing! happened.! When! Syaoran! turned! back! to!
Sakura,!his!eyes!were!amber.!
"It's!enough."!
!
!
350!
! The! young! man! was! bleeding! from! the! forehead! and! the! way! he! was!
! favouring! his! left! leg! meant! his! right! was! wounded.! Yet! here! he! was,!
Chapter 28
Whoever" keeps" his" door" locked" all" the" time" longs" for" it" to" be" broken"
down.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
The!ground!was!soaked!in!blood,!sweat!and!spent!bowels.!The!rain!did!
not!help!one's!footing!either.!The!stifling!stench!was!unlike!anything!to!
which! man! or! beast! could! ever! grow! accustomed.! It! had! been! almost!
an! an! hour! since! Sheng! fell! in! battle! but! the! fighting! was! now! finally!
coming! to! an! end.! His! soldiers! had! finally! realised! they! had! lost! and!
were! running! for! their! lives! with! the! imperial! soldiers! hot! on! their!
heels.!
Syaoran! wiped! away! a! trickle! of! blood! from! his! nose! as! he! surveyed!
the!carnage,!his!eyes!stinging!from!the!smoke!and!scents!of!death!that!
hung!thick!in!the!air.!Already!he!had!counted!too!many!bodies!of!men!
he! knew! personally! D! Yue,! some! of! the! generals! and! the! First! Son!
Renshu.!Even!the!great!magician!Eriol!was!in!a!bad!state,!and!both!he!
and! Syaoran's! halfDbrother! Lei! were! at! the! mercy! of! the! surgeons'!
hands.!
Syaoran's!feet!sank!into!the!soggy!earth!as!he!trudged!between!the!sea!
of! dead! bodies! D! mutilated,! crushed! and! burnt.! And! he! did! something!
he! had! not! done! on! a! battlefield! since! he! was! a! boy;! he! sank! to! his!
knees!and!emptied!his!stomach,!bile!and!all.!
Each!man!lying!here!lifeless,!bleeding,!dying,!was!someone's!son.!Now!
that!Syaoran!had!one!of!his!own,!now!that!he!had!helped!to!give!life,!it!
seemed!so!terrible!to!have!taken!them.!Syaoran!could!not!justify!it!or!
rationalize!it!this!time.!This!was!his!son's!future.!To!be!sent!to!kill!or!
be! killed.! And! even! though! the! idea! was! repulsing,! there! was! a!
glimmer!of!pride!to!know!that!his!son!would!surely!survive!many!days!
such!as!this.!This!gore!was!all!Syaoran!knew.!It!was!all!he!was!taught!
to!love.!It!was!all!he!could!teach!his!child.!
"Great! Imperial! Son!"! said! a! soldier! dropping! to! his! knees! beside!
Syaoran.!"Are!you!hurt!Great!Imperial!Son?"!
Syaoran! breathed! through! his! nose! forcefully! as! he! tried! to! stop!
himself! from! retching! again.! His! legs! felt! weak! and! he! had! to! use! the!
soldier's!shoulder!for!support!as!he!rose!to!his!feet.!
"Great! Imperial! Son,! should! I! send! for! a! doctor?"! asked! the! soldier!
anxiously,!a!determined!expression!on!his!face.!
351!
perfectly! groomed! to! take! care! of! Syaoran! despite! his! injuries,!
someone!he!did!not!truly!know.!
"Are! you! tired?"! asked! Syaoran,! looking! at! the! panting! young! man.!
"Answer!honestly."!
"I! am,"! said! the! soldier.! "But! I! will! follow! any! command! you! have! for!
me,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
"Go!to!the!palace.!Rest.!If!anyone!dares!stop!you,!send!them!to!me."!
Syaoran! walked! off,! head! tilted! back! and! his! body! swaying! slightly.! A!
few!yards!into!his!aimless!wanderings!he!paused!and!looked!back.!The!
soldier! was! following! him! like! a! puppy.! He! froze! when! Syaoran!
stopped.!
"You're! heading! in! the! same! direction! I! am,! Great! Imperial! Son,"! he!
said!quickly.!
Syaoran's! shoulders! slumped.! He! should! have! known! that! years! of!
imperial! conditioning! could! not! be! stopped! with! a! single! command.!
SelfDpreservation! was! nothing! compared! to! preservation! of! the! royal!
bloodline.! He! could! not! say! a! negative! thing! against! the! man! though,!
for! he! himself! had! been! so! unquestionably! loyal! most! of! his! life.! He!
nodded!and!the!soldier!accompanied!him!back!to!the!palace.!
After!they!reached!the!palace!however,!the!soldier!begged!Syaoran!to!
allow!him!to!return!to!the!field!and!recover!his!fellow!soldiers'!bodies.!
Syaoran! granted! his! request! and! watched! as! he! limped! back! to! the!
battle!field,!dignity!evident!in!his!every!step.!
The!experience!of!walking!along!the!spotless!halls!of!the!palace!after!a!
battle!was!always!strange.!The!palace!was!supposed!to!be!comforting!
after!many!cold!nights!and!battles!but!there!was!red!everywhere!and!it!
only!reminded!Syaoran!of!the!blood!he!ripped!from!his!opponents.!Still!
it! was! home,! and! to! Syaoran! that! was! a! real! tragedy! D! to! call! this!
beautiful!prison,!home.!
"LiDsan!"!
Syaoran!turned!to!find!Yukito!and!Touya!behind!him.!
"Is!Sakura!all!right?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Hai.! She's! in! your! room,"! said! Touya! with! distaste! dripping! from! his!
words.!"So!is!her!son!and!the!Guardian!Beast."!
Syaoran! did! not! have! the! energy! to! direct! the! glare! of! the! century! at!
Touya!so!he!ignored!the!man's!attitude.!
352!
"Good,"!was!all!he!said!before!he!took!off!walking!again.!
"Where!are!you!going?"!asked!Yukito,!he!and!Touya!following!behind.!
"You!need!to!have!your!wounds!taken!care!off."!
"There! are! soldiers! who! are! in! need! of! the! surgeons! more! than! me,"!
Syaoran!told!him.!Then!he!paused.!"Yue!was!a!great!man!and!general!
Yukito.!He!died!with!honour."!
Yukito!bowed.!
"Thank!you,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
"Where!are!Meilin!and!HuaDLing?"!Syaoran!asked.!
There!was!a!brief!silence!and!Syaoran!did!not!miss!the!fact!that!Yukito!
took!a!small!step!back!from!him.!
"Sheng!kept!the!princesses!in!their!quarters!where!he!found!them."!
"Go!on,"!pressed!Syaoran.!
"Enlai...! he! dishonoured! HuaDLing."! Syaoran! jaw! muscles! flexed! and!
Yukito!quickly!added,!"Not!Meilin!though."!
"Is!that!what!she!said?"!
"Yes."!
"You!believed!her?"!
"I!did.!I!still!do."!
"Why?"!
"She!said!that!Enlai!saw!Sheng!when!he!looked!at!her.!They!resemble!a!
lot.!Enlai!was!not!keen!on!the!idea!of!having!Sheng!in!his!mind!when!
he!was!with!her.!And!Meilin!seems...!unchanged."!
Touya's! eyes! were! trained! on! Syaoran,! observing! his! reaction! to! the!
news.!
"Anything!else!I!should!know?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Your!two!younger!sisters!were!kept!in!the!harem.!And!the!harem!was!
the! soldiers'! favourite! place.! I'm! sorry! I! could! not! protect! them! and!
HuaDLing.!If!you!wish!to!punish!me,!you!have!every!right."!
Syaoran!was!in!no!way!close!to!his!sisters!but!they!were!blood!and!it!
was!a!blow!to!his!family!honour.!But!if!anyone!should!be!punished!it!
was!him,!not!Yukito.!
"Also,"!said!Yukito!who!was!quickly!becoming!the!bearer!of!bad!news!
in!Syaoran's!opinion,!"There!was!a!fever!in!the!palace.!Kaho!became!ill.!
She!died.!Tomoyo!has!insisted!that!she!be!the!one!to!tell!Eriol."!
Syaoran!rubbed!his!eyes.!
353!
"Please!tell!me!nothing!happened!to!that!woman."!
"Tomoyo?"! Yukito! cleared! his! throat.! "One! of! the! generals! in! Sheng's!
army..."!
Running!a!hand!through!his!damp,!dirty!hair,!Syaoran!said,!"Please!tell!
me!you!told!Sakura!none!of!this.!Not!about!Hiiragizawa's!consort."!
Yukito!swallowed!and!Syaoran!punched!the!wall,!almost!breaking!his!
fist!and!wrist!in!the!process.!!
"She! was! asking! many! questions! and! threatening! to! go! look! for! her!
friends!herself,"!said!Touya.!"He!had!to."!
"It! wasn't! his! decision! to! make,"! said! Syaoran,! nursing! his! damaged!
fingers.! "He! does! not! get! to! decide! what! she's! exposed! to.! He! knows!
that!very!well."!
"I!told!him!it!was!fine.!I!think!I!know!what!my!sister!can!handle.!Let's!
face!the!facts!D!she!survived!you.!Twice."!
Syaoran! drew! himself! up! straight,! his! aura! growing! stronger! and!
stronger! by! the! moment.! Yukito! raised! his! hands,! shielding! Touya's!
body!with!his!own!but!surprisingly!to!all!three!men,!Syaoran!was!able!
to!hold!back!his!anger.!
The!retort!however,!he!could!not!hold!in.!
"If! it! wasn't! for! your! carelessness,"! said! Syaoran.! "She! wouldn't! be! in!
China!in!the!first!place."!
The!combination!of!rage!and!guilt!on!Touya's!face!was!priceless!and!it!
soothed!Syaoran.!
"You! should! go! prepare! Yue's! pyre,"! he! told! Yukito.! "I! want! all! those!
enemy!soldiers!removed!and!buried!by!midnight.!As!for!our!own,!burn!
them."!
"Burn!all!our!soldiers?!That!could!take!days."!
"I!don't!care!how!long!it!takes.!Not!one!of!them!deserves!the!indignity!
of!mass!graves.!No!matter!how!practical."!
Yukito!bowed.!
"Yes,!Great!Imperial!Son."!
!
Syaoran!was!at!his!familiar!bedroom!door!and!was!being!greeted!by!an!
equally!familiar!back.!
"Ping,! you! old,! sneaky! dog.! I! can't! say! that! I'm! surprised! to! see! you!
alive!and!well.!On!your!feet."!
Ping!stood,!his!back!still!bent!slightly.!
354!
"Great!Imperial!Son,!I!am!ready!to!return!to!your!service."!
Syaoran!patted!the!man's!shoulder.!That!was!all!the!servant!needed.!
"Would!you!like!a!bath!Great!Imperial!Son?!I!can!have!one!prepared,"!
said!Ping.!"One!for!you!and!your!concubine."!
"I'm! filthy! Ping.! She! can! have! her! own.! But! I'll! go! with! you! and! have!
mine!now."!
The! truth! was! Syaoran! would! have! liked! nothing! better! than! to! hold!
Sakura!against!his!skin.!Have!her!remind!him!what!was!so!good!about!
life.!But!he!knew!his!body!was!not!going!to!be!looking!great!right!now!
and!she!would!worry.!She!had!already!gotten!an!earful!of!misery!from!
Yukito,!she!did!not!need!to!fuss!over!his!injuries.!Also,!Ping!could!help!
stitch!and!bandage!him!up.!
The! sun! had! set! by! the! time! Syaoran! returned! to! his! bedroom,! clean,!
somewhat! rested,! but! aching! more! than! ever! now! that! his! mind! was!
allowing! him! to! be! aware! of! every! single! wound.! He! found! Sakura!
sitting!in!the!middle!of!his!bed,!feeding!their!son.!It!was!a!sight!he!had!
not!grown!use!to!yet.!
She! smiled! when! she! saw! him! although! he! could! tell! she! had! been!
crying.! Her! eyes! were! still! red! and! puffy.! Damn! Kinomoto! Touya! and!
his! new! cohort! Yukito.! First! Yue! and! now! the! younger! brother.! The!
Japanese!man!wasted!no!time,!did!he?!
"Xiao!Lang,"!she!said,!almost!like!a!sigh.!
He!sat!on!the!edge!of!the!bed!D!careful!not!to!show!any!signs!of!pain!D!
and!watched!the!nursing.!
"You! don't! have! to! do! that! any! more,! you! know,"! said! Syaoran.! "Ping!
said! only! commoners! do! it! themselves.! He! can! find! someone! to! feed!
the!boy."!
"I'll!do!it.!He's!my!son."!
"He!doesn't!have!to!be!your!problem.!You!did!your!duty!by!giving!birth!
to!him."!
Sakura!was!quiet!for!a!while.!
"You!see!him!as!a!problem?"!
Syaoran!moved!up!on!the!bed!nearer!to!her!and!propped!himself!up!on!
the!elbow,!his!ribs!crying!out!for!mercy.!
"I!don't!know.!Maybe."!
"I!wish!you!would!allow!yourself!to!love!him."!Sakura!closed!her!hanfu!
when! her! son! had! finished.! "Little! boys! need! their! fathers.! Isn't! that!
what!they!say?"!
355!
"Who's!they?"!said!Syaoran,!a!twinge!of!resentment!in!his!voice.!
Sakura!stared!at!him!and!he!sighed.!
"I'm! trying.! He! came! from! you.! I'll! love! him! in! time.! I! really! like! him!
actually.!I!think!about!him!a!lot."!
She!looked!unconvinced!so!he!added,!"I've!even!decided!on!a!name!for!
him."!
Her!face!lit!up.!!
"Really?"!
"Hai."!
"What!is!it?"!
"His!name!will!be!Li!Xiao!Dan."!
"Xiao!Dan,"!said!Sakura,!testing!it!on!her!lips.!
Syaoran!nodded.!
"It!means!little!dawn."!
"It's! beautiful.! Dawn! marks! a! new! day;! it's! hope.! I! love! it! Xiao! Lang,"!
said!Sakura!with!a!smile,!her!eyes!shining.!"Very!much."!
Syaoran! could! not! hide! the! smile! on! his! own! face.! Making! Sakura!
happy! always! felt! good.! Sakura! mirrored! his! position! on! the! bed,!
nestling! Xiao! Dan! between! them.! He! stroked! the! boy's! cheek! with! a!
finger,!softly.!The!next!thing,!he!knew!his!nose!was!resting!against!Xiao!
Dan's!skin.!He!smelled!so!clean!and!unsullied.!How!long!could!he!stay!
so!innocent,!Syaoran!wondered.!
"Have!you!visited!MeilinDsan!and!HuaDLingDsan?"!asked!Sakura.!
"Not! yet,"! said! Syaoran! still! inhaling! the! scent! of! baby.! However,! his!
tone!made!it!clear!he!was!not!ready!for!that!conversation.!
"What!did!you!do!with!Lu!Sheng?!Is!he!alive?"!
Syaoran!stared!into!Sakura's!green!eyes.!
"I!would!have!preferred!you!ask,!is!he!dead?!Your!concern!for!him!is!
disturbing."!
"You!still!think!something!happened!between!us?"!
Syaoran!did!not!answer!straight!away.!
"Yes.!Because!something!did!happen!between!you."!
"Xiao!D"!
"It! may! not! have! been! something! sexual,"! said! Syaoran,! overriding!
Sakura.!"But!the!situations!you!were!in!with!him,!irritate!me.!He!kissed!
you!in!front!of!me.!You!care!about!him.!I!don't!understand!why."!
356!
Syaoran! fingered! the! thin! whispers! of! hair! on! Xiao! Dan's! head.! They!
were!the!colour!of!Sakura's!auburn!locks.!
"Are!you!going!to!kill!him?"!
He!continued!to!stroke!Xiao!Dan's!hair.!
"Xiao!Lang?"!
"Of!course!I!am!going!to!kill!him,"!he!answered.!"Public!execution."!
"I!know!he!did!bad!things,"!said!Sakura,!pausing!when!Syaoran!sent!a!
sardonic! glare! her! way.! "But! in! my! heart,! I! believe! he! regrets! it! all.! I!
believe! he! wanted! all! the! fighting! to! stop! but! he! didn't! know! how! to!
because!he!had!been!doing!it!so!long.!Just!like!you."!
"He's!nothing!like!me."!
"He's! lonely.! He's! angry.! Full! of! regret.! He's! sad! but! he! wants! to! be!
happy.! And! he! doesn't! want! anyone! to! see! it! because! it's! weakness.!
Sounds!like!you!to!me."!
Syaoran! had! to! admit! that! Sakura! was! brave,! pressing! him! like! this!
especially!when!the!topic!was!Sheng.!Then!again,!was!it!bravery!when!
she!knew!he!would!never!rip!out!her!tongue?!
"He's!been!through!a!lotD"!
"Show! me! a! man! in! this! palace! who! has! not,"! he! said,! his! voice!
dangerously!soft.!
Sakura!shook!her!head!in!defeat.!
"You!don't!trust!my!judgement."!
"That's!because!you!don't!know!Lu!Sheng!like!I!do."!
"Exactly!"!Sakura's!eyes!were!bright.!"I!see!the!things!you!refuse!to."!
Syaoran!put!a!hand!to!her!cheek!and!kissed!her!lips!before!she!could!
aggravate!him!further.!
"We're! not! going! to! discuss! him! anymore.! Come,"! he! said,! lowering!
himself! beside! Xiao! Dan.! "We! can! pretend! all! is! right! with! the! world.!
Just!for!a!little!while."!
When! Sakura! pressed! her! head! to! the! bed,! Syaoran! wrapped! a! hand!
around! her! waist,! his! son! cocooned! comfortably! between! them.!
Closing!his!eyes,!he!got!his!wish.!For!a!moment,!the!three!of!them!were!
everything.!
357!
For!a!moment.!
Syaoran! had! barely! had! an! hour! of! sleep! before! he! was! wide! awake,!
thinking!about!Sheng.!He!slid!quietly!from!the!bed!and!drifted!over!to!
the! window.! Large! clouds! of! black! smoke! issued! from! beyond! the!
Forbidden!City's!walls.!All!those!burning!bodies,!all!those!dead!men!D!
soldiers.!And!what!had!he!won?!
This!was!the!war!that!should!have!never!been!and!yet!it!was!years!in!
the! making.! It! should! have! been! worse! but! it! was! not.! Somehow,! he!
and! Sheng! did! not! turn! it! into! the! apocalypse.! The! empire! should! be!
nothing! but! dust! and! ash! but! here! it! all! was! as! it! had! been! for! ages.!
Why!was!that?!He!threw!on!a!heavy!coat!and!left!his!room!to!find!the!
answer.!
!
Sheng! could! barely! feel! his! limbs! anymore.! The! cage! he! was! locked!
inside! of! limited! movement! in! all! directions.! His! neck! protruded!
through! the! top! and! was! secured! at! the! neck.! His! arms! and! one! leg!
were! twisted! and! held! at! odd! angles! through! the! cage! bars.! Only! one!
foot!remained!free!to!support!his!weight.!
What! Sheng! did! feel! was! the! magic! that! was! infused! in! the! material!
and! locks! of! the! cage.! It! made! escape! impossible! to! most! and! quite!
difficult! to! some.! If! his! will! was! stronger! at! moment,! maybe! he! could!
escape.!But!freedom!was!the!last!thing!on!his!mind.!
Where! would! he! go?! Who! could! he! run! to?! What! would! he! do?! He!
allowed!everyone!he!ever!cared!about!to!die.!He!deserved!everything!
Syaoran!was!going!to!give!him.!He!yearned!for!it.!Death!would!be!his!
peace.!Yet!it!had!been!hours!since!he!was!cast!aside!in!the!dark,!damp!
holding!room.!Hours!since!he!had!heard!the!last!battle!horn!blow.!Was!
Syaoran!waiting!until!tomorrow!to!execute!him?!
He!blinked,!his!head!spinning.!Had!he!passed!out?!He!thought!so.!The!
little!sounds!he!could!hear!were!different.!There!was!someone!outside!
the!room,!talking.!The!large!iron!door!swung!open.!He!squinted.!Who!
was! there?! The! tall! figure! approached,! a! lamp! in! its! hand.! The! first!
thing!Sheng!identified!were!those!serious!brown!eyes.!Xiao!Lang.!
"Finally."!
Syaoran!came!to!a!stop!when!he!was!two!feet!away!from!Sheng.!
"What!was!that?"!he!asked.!
358!
"I!said!finally,"!said!Sheng,!his!voice!cracking.!And!he!began!to!cough.!It!
was! a! terrible! dry,! grating! sound.! He! could! practically! visualize! his!
throat!ripping!on!the!inside.!"You've!finally!come!to!kill!me."!
Creases!appeared!on!Syaoran's!forehead.!
"You!sound...!relieved."!
"Maybe!I!am."!
"Why?"!
"Why?"! Sheng! swallowed! in! an! attempt! to! lubricate! his! throat! with!
saliva!and!blood.!"Does!it!matter?!You!won.!Kill!me!already."!
He!began!coughing!again,!harder!this!time.!An!unexpected!expression!
crossed! Syaoran's! face! briefly! but! Sheng! caught! it.! He! smiled,! feeling!
his!dried!lips!tearing.!
"Pity?"! He! breathed! out! sharply.! "I! would! never! have! thought! you!
could!feel!pity!for!anyone,!least!of!all,!me.!Our!duel!must!have!damaged!
you."!
"Your! problem! has! always! been! that! you! believe! you're! the! only! one!
who! can! feel,"! said! Syaoran.! "Only! you! have! a! heart.! Only! Sheng! can!
love.!Only!Sheng!can!hurt."!
Sheng's!smile!slid!from!his!face!and!for!a!moment,!there!was!a!spark!of!
anger!in!his!chest.!
"You!know!nothing."!
"I!know!enough,"!said!Syaoran.!"We!grew!up!together,!remember."!
Sheng!blinked!tiredly.!
"It's!a!little!late!for!bonding,!don't!you!think,!Xiao!Lang?"!
Syaoran! nodded! in! agreement.! The! lamp's! light! flickered! across! their!
faces!and!they!regarded!each!other.!
"When!we!fighting,!you!asked!me!to!finish!you,"!said!Syaoran.!"Just!like!
you're! doing! now.! The! Sheng! I! knew,! the! one! I! grew! up! with! would!
never!beg!to!die."!
"I'm!beginning!to!miss!the!old!Xiao!Lang.!The!one!who!killed!without!
questions."!
Syaoran!tilted!his!head,!an!amused!expression!on!his!face.!
"He's!dead,"!he!told!Sheng.!"After!I!fought!you!and!didn't!lose!myself,!I!
359!
proved!that.!I'm!no!longer!my!father's!demon!prince."!
"Congratulations.! It! only! took! you! two! decades! to! attain! a! soul,"! said!
Sheng.!"But!I!need!the!demon!prince.!Not!a!diminished!form!of!him."!
For!a!while!Syaoran!said!nothing.!He!just!stared!at!Sheng,!that!look!of!
pity!returning!to!his!face.!!
"The!laws!say!I!have!to!quarter!you,"!he!said!finally.!"But!Sakura,!she!
doesn't!understand!why!I!have!to!disgrace!you!so.!She!thinks!you're!a!
good!person,!in!spite!of!everything!you've!done."!
"So!that's!why!you're!here,"!said!Sheng.!He!should!have!known!it!had!
something!to!do!with!that!woman.!"You're!trying!to!find!some!way!to!
stay!in!her!good!graces."!
"I!came!here!to!see!if!she!was!right!about!you."!
"And?"!
"You're! not! pure! evil.! You! only! pretend! to! be."! Syaoran! took! a! step!
forward,!closing!the!gap!between!them.!"But!you're!not!good!either."!
"I! told! her! that,"! said! Sheng,! coughing! slightly.! "But! your! concubine!
likes!to!believe!the!best!in!people."!
"An! affliction! I! admire,! only! when! it's! directed! at! me,"! Syaoran!
admitted.!
Sheng!lowered!his!eyes.!
"I!don't!suppose!you'll!let!me!see!her?"!
"What!purpose!would!it!serve?"!
"I! don't! know,"! said! Sheng.! "I'm! about! to! die.! It! might! be! nice! to! see!
something!pretty.!No!offense."!
Syaoran's! eyes! narrowed! and! Sheng! wondered! if! he! was! thinking!
about! how! he! had! kissed! Sakura! in! front! of! him.! The! sadist! in! Sheng!
gave!a!smug!grin.!
"You'll! be! executed! tomorrow! at! noon.! Your! limbs! will! be! dragged!
throughout!China!so!that!other!wouldDbe!usurpers!and!traitors!would!
be!warned."!
"I!expected!nothing!less.!Huangdi."!
Syaoran's! hand! shot! out! and! gripped! Sheng's! cheeks! tightly,! making!
him!wince!in!pain.!
360!
"Don't!call!me!that.!Like!that.!Like!I'm!him."!
"You!are"him.!He!lives!in!you.!He!always!will."!
"You're!wrong,"!said!Syaoran.!
Sheng!glared.!
"Prove!it."!
The! next! thing! Sheng! knew,! Syaoran! was! at! his! back! and! he! was!
hearing!the!locks!on!the!cage!opening.!His!body!was!falling!lifelessly!to!
the! floor! when! a! strong! arm! caught! him! and! laid! him! against! a! wall.!
Syaoran!knelt!in!front!of!him.!
"Can!I!tell!you!a!secret?"!he!asked!Sheng!as!he!settled!the!lamp!on!the!
floor.!Without!waiting!for!an!answer,!Syaoran!said,!"I!knew!when!you!
were!going!to!try!to!assassinate!my!father.!I!saw!it!in!your!eyes!the!day!
before.! I! didn't! stop! you.! I! didn't! want! to.! I'm! done! following! his!
orders.!If!I!kill!you!he!wins.!So!I'm!not!going!to!quarter!you!Li!Sheng."!
It!had!been!years!since!Sheng!was!referred!to!as!a!Li.!Nowhere!in!the!
palace!could!you!find!a!record!of!him.!He!was!stricken!from!history!as!
Huangdi!had!commanded.!So!to!hear!Syaoran!acknowledge!him!as!a!Li!
caused! his! throat! to! close! up! and! his! eyes! to! burn! with! repressed!
emotion.!Syaoran's!own!eyes!shone!brightly!in!the!darkness.!
"The!truth!is!Sheng,!I!never!hated!you.!Not!on!my!own.!And!I!know!you!
never!hated!me.!Not!on!your!own.!All!this!rage!we!feel!was!the!work!of!
one!cruel!man!and!the!issues!he!had!with!his!brother.!But!he's!not!here!
anymore.! We! have! a! chance! now! to! decide! who! we! are! going! to! be.!
What!he!created!of!us,!is!not!all!we!are."!
Syaoran!sighed.!
"Can't! you! remember! even! one! moment,! when! we! liked! each! other?!
Played!together?!Because!I!can."!
Sheng! took! a! deep!sniff,!his!cheeks!flushed!and!thick!veins!pulsing!in!
the!middle!of!his!forehead.!
"I!do!remember.!But!I!also!remember!how!your!father!use!to!tell!meD"!
And!Sheng!broke!down!in!tears.!His!shoulders!shook!and!he!bowed!his!
head,! hiding! behind! his! dark! hair.! It! was! crazy! right?! To! cry! over!
things!someone!told!you!in!your!youth,!however!dark!and!twisted!they!
were.!To!not!be!able!to!shrug!it!off!and!let!it!go.!To!still!feel!worthless!
and! fearful! when! you! hear! their! voice! in! your! mind! when! you! are! at!
361!
your!most!vulnerable!D!in!your!dreams.!His!nose!began!to!run!and!he!
wiped!it!away!against!his!sleeve.!
"He!said!and!did!a!lot!of!things.!To!both!of!us,"!said!Syaoran.!"He!had!us!
to!do!things!we're!not!proud!of.!But!it's!in!the!past.!We!can!move!on,!if!
we!choose!to."!
As! soon! as! Sheng! could! feel! blood! in! his! fingers! he! gestured! to! the!
dagger!at!Syaoran's!side.!Syaoran!glanced!from!it!to!him.!
"Sheng..."!
"I!don't!have!a!Sakura.!I!don't!have!anything.!This!is!how!I!move!on.!Let!
me."!
Reluctantly,!Syaoran!pulled!the!dagger!from!its!case!and!handed!it!to!
his!cousin.!At!once,!Sheng!pierced!his!inner!wrist!and!pulled!the!blade!
up!his!forearm.!Warm!blood!flowed!like!wine!at!a!feast,!down!his!arm.!
He!could!already!feel!a!calm!washing!over!him.!And!as!Syaoran's!form!
started! receding! into! the! growing! darkness! that! was! filling! his! eyes,!
Sheng!whispered,!
"Don't!pity!me.!I'm!free."!
Syaoran! knelt! in! front! of! his! former! enemy! for! what! must! have! been!
hours!because!Sheng's!blood!has!soaked!through!Syaoran's!clothes!to!
his! skin.! Sheng! no! longer! had! anything! to! worry! about.! He! really! did!
look!free.!Blue!and!lifeless,!yes.!But!free.!Syaoran!took!back!his!dagger!
and!placed!the!tip!at!his!wrist!just!as!Sheng!had!done.!
A! drop! of! blood! slipped! out! of! Syaoran.! He! took! a! small! breath! and!
applied!more!pressure,!opening!a!vein.!It!was!that!easy.!But"little"boys"
needed"their"fathers.!That!made!him!smile.!He!flipped!the!dagger,!and!
holding!it!at!its!tip,!sent!the!blade!careening!into!the!wall!on!his!left.!
Then! something! happened.! A! revelation! made! by! Sheng! reached!
Syaoran,!really!reached!him.!He!was"Huangdi.!
!
!
!
!
!
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!
362!
Chapter 29
Life"can"never"give"security,"it"can"only"promise"opportunity.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
The! great! and! divine! throne! of! the! Emperor! of! China! was! always! an!
impressive!and!yet!incredibly!menacing!sight!to!behold.!The!polished!
white! marble,! the! glimmering! jade! and! the! revered! dragons! ever!
twisting! and! winding,! watched! from! the! very! top! D! it! was! a! humbling!
experience.!
Syaoran!ascended!the!stairs!that!led!to!the!throne!and!slowly!lowered!
himself!onto!the!seat.!The!essence!of!emperors!long!gone!seeped!into!
his! skin! and! he! closed! his! eyes,! feeling! their! residual! energies! and!
becoming! one! with! them.! On! this! throne,! past,! present! and! future!
collided!into!a!seamless!eternity.!
Tomorrow,!the!coronation!would!commence!and!he!would!officially!be!
the!emperor!of!China,!the!greatest!empire!in!the!world.!From!this!seat,!
every!soul!in!the!land!was!his!to!do!with!as!he!pleased.!His!authority!
would! be! absolute;! his! words,! regarded! as! the! voice! of! the! gods!
themselves.! He! would! no! longer! be! Li! Xiao! Lang,! Great! Imperial! Son.!
He!would!be!Huangdi,!the!Son!of!Heaven.!
"Huangdi,!your!servant!comes!before!you,"!said!Ping,!already!enjoying!
his!new!found!position!as!the!emperor's!chief!servant.!"Empress!Li!has!
arrived."!
The!tall,!dignified!woman!that!was!his!mother,!entered!the!room!and!
prostrated!herself!at!his!feet.!Syaoran!did!not!know!what!she!wanted!
but! Sakura! had! convinced! him! to! see! her.! When! he! had! asked! his!
concubine!why,!she!had!said,!"Because!it's!your!mother."!That!was!not!
an!explanation!he!understood!but!he!could!not!say!no!because!Sakura!
had!kissed!his!lips!soon!after!creating!a!fog!in!his!mind.!
"Speak!Empress!Li."!
Yelan! settled! into! a! kneeling! position.! There! was! a! smile! on! her! face!
though!she!seemed!to!have!aged!since!he!last!saw!her.!But!she!was!still!
a!striking!woman.!All!empresses!were.!
"I!came!to!pay!my!respects!to!you,!Huangdi.!It!fills!me!with!joy!to!see!
you!on!that!throne."!
Syaoran!averted!his!gaze.!Yelan!always!looked!at!him!funny.!It!always!
made! him! a! little! uncomfortable.! He! glanced! at! her.! Today! was!
different!in!a!way.!Today!he!recognized!the!expression!on!her!face!as!
the!one!Sakura!wore!when!she!looked!at!Xiao!Dan!and!held!him!in!her!
arms.!Was!it!love,!Syaoran!wondered.!But!Yelan!did!not!know!him!so!
363!
how!could!she!ever!love!him?!
"Is!that!all?"!he!asked!her,!an!annoyed!edge!to!his!voice.!
"Indulge!me!a!while!longer,!Huangdi.!I!have!spoken!to!Meilin!and!HuaD
Ling.! You! have! not! been! to! see! them! and! they! are! anxious! to! know!
where!they!stand!in!the!order!of!things."!
Syaoran!leaned!forward!to!make!sure!she!heard!his!words!clearly.!
"I'm!marrying!Kinomoto!Sakura."!
Yelan! did! the! impossible! and! sat! up! straighter,! her! mouth! open! in! a!
silent!gasp.!
"The!concubine?"!
"The! woman! I! choose,"! said! Syaoran,! his! tone! preventing! any!
opposition.!"The!mother!of!my!son."!
"The!lawsD"!
"Are!but!ink!and!paper."!
"Huangdi,!some!things!cannot!beD"!
Syaoran!raised!his!hand!a!few!inches!off!his!lap,!palm!facing!Yelan.!The!
small!gesture!silenced!her.!
"I! will! have! everything! I! want,"! he! told! her.! "Exactly! how! I! want! it.! I!
will!find!a!way!Empress!Li.!Do!not!attempt!to!dissuade!me!because!you!
cannot."!
Behind!Yelan,!Ping!smiled!in!satisfaction!of!the!Empress'!subjugation.!
He! may! have! to! bow! to! her! but! she! was! still! a! woman.! Living!
vicariously! through! the! prince! had! its! moments.! The! dozens! of!
advisors!kneeling!behind!him!and!Yelan!covertly!looked!at!each!other.!
They!were!beginning!to!realize!that!Syaoran!would!not!be!ruled!liked!
the! other! emperors! and! that! their! words! would! be! little! more! than!
suggestions!in!his!ears.!
"Meilin!would!remain!a!part!of!my!household!but!I!will!divorce!her."!
"On!what!grounds?"!
"Infidelity,"!said!Syaoran.!"How!am!I!to!know!for!certain!that!she!was!
not!dishonoured?"!
Yelan!nodded!even!though!they!both!knew!Meilin!was!telling!the!truth.!
In! his! youth! he! had! sometimes! contemplated! telling! his! father! that!
Meilin!had!been!with!someone!else!just!to!be!a!single!man!again.!But!
he! knew! his! father! would! have! killed! her! in! an! instant! and! Syaoran!
was!too!honourable!for!such!a!lie.!And!in!any!case,!Yongzheng!would!
have!just!found!him!another!wife!by!the!end!of!the!day.!
364!
"And!HuaDLing?"!asked!his!mother.!
Syaoran!thought!about!it!shortly.!Sakura!would!never!forgive!him!if!he!
put!HuaDLing!out.!She!was!too!sensitive!with!such!matters.!
"She!stays!as!well."!
"I!will!inform!them!of!Huangdi's!grace!and!generosity."!
"Something! else! on! your! mind! Empress?"! asked! Syaoran,! when! she!
opened!and!closed!her!mouth.!
"May!I!ask!what!is!to!become!of!Huangdi's!women!and!I?"!
Syaoran! drummed! his! fingers! against! his! thigh! absentDmindedly.! His!
father! had! had! so! many! women,! it! was! ridiculous.! If! he! loved! him,!
Syaoran!might!have!buried!some!of!his!concubines!in!his!empty!tomb!
to!show!some!respect.!
"You! will! all! remain! in! the! harem.! I! do! not! have! any! use! for! the!
building.!Your!daughters!and!yourself!can!have!quarters!in!the!palace."!
Syaoran!leaned!back!on!the!throne,!tired!of!this!questions!and!answers!
affair.!"You!can!leave!now."!
Yelan!stood.!She!began!walking!away!but!then!paused.!
"Please!Huangdi,!one!more!request."!
Syaoran!could!see!his!officials!already!preparing!to!try!to!fill!his!head!
with! schedules! and! complaints.! Whatever! the! empress! was! going! to!
say!would!surely!be!better.!He!nodded.!
"Can!I!touch!you?"!
Syaoran!frowned.!
"Why?"!
The!corners!of!Yelan's!eyes!crinkled.!
"Because!you!are!my!son.!And!I!have!not!done!so!in!a!very!long!time."!
And!then!Yelan!got!that!look!on!her!face!that!made!him!uncomfortable.!
But!the!more!he!thought!about!it,!the!less!odd!her!request!seemed.!Did!
he! himself! not! have! a! fascination! with! Xiao! Dan's! soft! skin! and! clean!
baby!scent?!
Syaoran!held!out!his!hand!and!Yelan!moved!towards!him.!Kneeling!at!
his!feet,!she!pressed!the!back!of!his!hand!to!her!cheek.!He!felt!her!nose!
trail!across!his!hand,!felt!her!smell!him!and!as!though!she!had!inhaled!
a!drug,!her!body!slumped!against!his!legs.!Her!shoulders!trembled!and!
her!tears!wet!his!hand.!Months!ago,!this!would!have!revolted!Syaoran.!
But! now,! inexplicably,! he! reached! out! and! rest! a! hand! on! her! head,!
pulling!her!against!his!knee.!
365!
"I!love!you!so!much,"!she!said!with!such!emotion,!it!was!as!though!he!
had!died.!
She!kissed!his!hand!and!it!felt!like!she!was!pouring!her!own!spirit!into!
him.!Syaoran!pulled!it!away,!suddenly!feeling!strange!in!his!chest.!
"Enough."!
Yelan!did!not!wipe!away!her!tears!or!attempt!to!hide!them.!It!amazed!
Syaoran!that!she!seemed!much!brighter!and!happier!at!that!moment.!
Her!cheeks!glowed!practically!glowed.!So!many!times!he!had!watched!
Sakura! cradle! Xiao! Dan! in! her! arms! and! refused! to! admit! to! himself!
that! he! had! wondered! if! the! empress! had! ever! held! him! like! that.!
Wondered,!how!it!may!have!felt.!Wondered!if!at!least!one!parent!had!
truly! cared! about! him! once.! So! when! Yelan! disappeared! into! the!
hallway,!Syaoran!went!after!her.!
"Empress!Li."!
She!turned!and!was!about!to!fall!to!her!knees!when!he!caught!her!arm!
and!stopped!her.!He!wanted!to!wrap!his!arms!around!her!and!feel!her.!
Feel!what!she!felt!like,!smelled!like,!but!he!could!not!do!it.!His!father's!
voice! was! somewhere! in! the! back! of! his! mind! preventing! him! from!
moving.! He! was! not! a! doll! for! women! to! dress! up! and! play! with.! He!
was!a!prince!of!China.!
Syaoran!took!a!step!back!and!walked!away.!Maybe!someday!he!would!
do!it.!
He! saw! the! guards! around! him! tense! before! he! felt! his! own! muscles!
contract.! He! stared! at! the! hands! wrapped! around! his! waist! and! felt! a!
head!press!against!the!back!of!his!shoulder.!
"What!are!you!doing?"!he!asked!the!empress.!
"Mothers!always!know!what!their!children!want."!
Maybe!she!was!right.!Sakura!often!said!Xiao!Dan!had!over!six!different!
kinds!of!cries!and!she!could!tell!what!each!one!meant.!Syaoran!rest!a!
hand!over!his!mother's.!He!wished!he!had!felt!something!burst!to!life!
within!him!but!instead!he!felt!strange.!Someday,!perhaps!he!could!feel!
her!love!for!him.!Until!then,!simply!knowing!would!have!to!do.!
!
Sakura!fiddled!with!her!fingers!as!she!walked!along!the!hallways!with!
her!train!of!servants.!Meilin!had!sent!for!her.!For!what!reason,!Sakura!
did! not! know.! All! manner! of! speculations! were! racing! through! her!
mind!D!the!biggest!one!being!the!matter!of!her!son.!Was!Meilin!angry?!
A!servant!opened!the!door!to!the!room!and!nervously,!Sakura!walked!
inside.!
366!
It! was! as! if! nothing! had! ever! changed.! At! least! not! on! the! outside.!
Meilin! and! HuaDLing's! faces! were! painted! as! usual,! their! bodies! were!
adorned! in! the! finest! silks! and! their! hair! was! waxed! neatly! into!
elaborate!styles.!Not!a!strand!was!out!of!place.!
They!sat!at!a!low!table,!tea!waiting!to!be!poured.!Sakura!bowed!to!each!
of!them!in!turn.!
"MeilinDsama,!HuaDLingDsama.!I'm!very!happy!to!see!you!both!in!good!
health."!
Neither! woman! said! anything! but! Meilin! picked! up! the! teapot.! HuaD
Ling!pulled!out!her!trusty!fan!and!flapped!it!lightly!in!the!air,!her!eyes!
fixed!to!the!table.!Now!that!Sakura!looked!closer,!she!could!see!the!girl!
was!thinner!and!her!shoulders!did!not!carry!the!same!sense!of!dignity!
they!once!did.!
Sakura!sipped!the!tea!Meilin!had!poured!for!her!but!paused!when!she!
saw!the!woman's!red!eyes!watching!her!intently.!Pulling!the!cup!from!
her!lips,!she!glanced!at!the!contents!then!back!at!Meilin.!The!last!time!
she!drank!something!Meilin!poured,!she!ended!up!sick.!
"It's!green!tea,"!said!Meilin,!and!she!took!a!long!drink!from!her!cup.!
Sakura!nodded!and!took!another!sip.!
"I!heard!you!gave!birth!to!a!boy,"!said!Meilin.!"Huangdi's!son."!
Sakura! could! not! meet! Meilin's! gaze.! Just! then,! she! felt! like! she! had!
done! a! bad! thing.! It! was! after! all! Meilin's! place! to! produce! Syaoran's!
heirs.!Everyone!knew!she!wanted!to!do!so!badly.!
"Huangdi!named!him!Xiao!Dan,"!was!all!Sakura!could!say.!
"That's! a! wonderful! name,"! said! Meilin,! turning! her! cup! round! and!
round!in!her!hands.!
Then!she!breathed!in!deeply!and!said!something!Sakura!would!never!
had!expected!to!pass!from!Meilin's!lips.!
"My! husband,! my! emperor,! cares! for! you.! More! than! he! ever! will! for!
me."!
"MeilinD"!
"That's!fine,"!she!said!quickly!though!her!voice!shook.!"That's!fine."!
She!cleared!her!throat.!
"He!listens!to!you!when!you!speak.!Doesn't!he?!
Sakura!nodded.!
"Then! you! have! his! attention.! You! have! his! heart.! You! have! his! first!
son.!Do!you!really!need!the!title!of!wife!too?!Can't!you!leave!me!with!
367!
that?"!
"What!do!you!mean?"!asked!Sakura.!
Meilin!stared.!
"He!didn't!tell!you!he!wanted!to!marry!you?!And!divorce!me?"!
Meilin!wiped!at!the!lines!of!her!eyes!with!her!fingertips.!
"He! told! these! things! to! Empress! Li.! I! know! I! was! terrible! to! you! but!
the!only!thing!I!have!ever!wanted!was!to!be!Huangdi's!wife.!Have!his!
children."!She!clutched!Sakura's!hands.!"Please!ask!him!not!to!divorce!
me!"!
Sakura!pulled!back!slightly.!Syaoran!had!once!said!that!he!would!have!
liked!her!to!be!his!wife!but!she!never!thought!he!would!try!to!make!it!
happen!for!real.!She!did!not!know!what!to!think.!She!wanted!others!to!
have!their!happy!endings!but!she!wanted!one!too.!
Hoe.!
"MeilinDsama..."!
"Please,"! said! Meilin! again.! "He'll! listen! to! you.! I! don't! even! mind!
anymore! that! he! would! rather! be! intimate! with! you.! You! won.! You!
don't!need!to!marry!him."!
"What!is!this?"!
At! once,! Sakura! and! everyone! else! present! in! the! room! pressed! their!
foreheads! to! the! floor.! Syaoran! was! staring! down! at! them! from! the!
doorway.! He! took! two! steps! into! the! room.! When! no! one! answered!
him,! he! turned! to! Meilin,! the! look! on! his! face! demanding! that! she!
speak.!
"We!were!having!tea."!
"Tea?!Do!you!know!how!late!it!is?"!
Syaoran's! gaze! fell! on! each! woman! present,! imperial! and! servant.! He!
pointed! to! a! blackDhaired,! roundDfaced! girl! standing! in! the! corner! of!
the!room.!
"What!were!they!speaking!about?"!
The!answer!came!swift.!
"MeilinDsama! was! asking! Xiao! YingDsama! to! convince! you! not! to!
divorce!her."!
The! temperature! in! the! room! dropped.! His! focus! was! on! Meilin! but!
Sakura!braced!herself.!
"Have! you! gone! mad?"! asked! Syaoran! and! he! actually! sounded!
genuinely!curious.!
368!
Meilin!swallowed.!
"No,!Huangdi."!
Syaoran!cocked!his!head!to!the!side.!
"You!should!have!said!yes."!
"Please!don't!be!angry,"!said!Sakura,!rising!to!her!feet.!"MeilinD"!
"Has!overstepped!her!boundaries.!A!habit!of!hers."!
Sakura!glanced!around!at!the!room's!silent!inhabitants.!No!one!moved.!
Even! HuaDLing! had! finally! stopped! fanning! herself.! Her! frame! was!
tense! and! she! seemed! to! be! living! on! Syaoran's! every! word.! Yet,! he!
was!not!looking!at!her.!In!fact,!it!was!as!if!she!was!not!even!there.!
Sakura!moved!closer!to!Syaoran.!
"Huangdi,"!she!said.!"It's!just!that!MeilinDsama!loves!you!andD"!
"Don't!you!have!a!son!to!feed?"!said!Syaoran.!"!Rock!to!sleep?!Sing!to?"!
He!took!hold!of!her!wrist.!
"You!all!should!be!in!bed.!The!coronation!starts!at!dawn."!
He! escorted! Sakura! back! to! their! room! in! silence.! Over! the! past! few!
days! she! had! wondered! if! he! was! returning! to! his! old,! cold! and!
abrasive! self.! He! was! still! kind! and! protective! of! her! but! to! others! he!
was!short!and!terse.!It!was!only!a!matter!of!time!before!he!became!that!
way!with!her.!She!just!hoped!he!would!not!be!like!that!with!Xiao!Dan.!
"Your! eyes! are! boring! a! hole! in! the! back! of! my! head,"! said! Syaoran,!
turning! to! face! her.! "What! have! I! done! that! has! displeased! you! so!
much?"!
Sakura!froze.!
"I!didn't..."!
"You!can!tell!me.!I!won't!get!angry,"!he!said,!his!expression!softening.!
"Why!didn't!you!acknowledge!HuaDLing?"!asked!Sakura.!
"I!have!acknowledged!her.!Through!the!empress."!He!touched!her!face!
lightly.! "I! don't! think! you! appreciate! how! much! of! a! disgrace! it! is! to!
keep! her! as! part! of! this! family.! I! did! that! for! you! because! you! have! a!
kind!heart.!I!wouldn't!have!otherwise."!
"But!it!wasn't!her!fault!what!happened!"!
369!
"But!it!did!happen."!
"But! she! loves! you.! Like! I! love! you.! Like! Meilin! loves! you.! She! didn't!
want!to!be!with!anyone!elseD"!
Syaoran!rest!a!finger!against!Sakura's!lips.!
"I'm!not!going!to!argue!with!you!about!this."!
But! that! night,! when! they! lay! in! bed! together! he! said,! "Do! you! really!
think!I'm!treating!her!unfairly?"!
Sakura!said!nothing.!He!folded!his!arms.!
"What!do!want!me!to!do?!Have!tea!with!her?!Take!her!to!bed?"!
"You!can!tell!her!it!wasn't!her!fault,"!said!Sakura.!"That!she!did!nothing!
wrong."!
Syaoran!raised!an!eyebrow.!
"She! didn't! have! to! endure! anything.! She! could! have! ended! it!
whenever!she!liked.!By!rope.!By!opening!her!veins.!Even!by!refusing!to!
eat."!
"You! sound! just! like! you! did! when! I! first! met! you,"! said! Sakura,!
slipping!under!the!covers.!
Syaoran!eyes!snapped!to!her.!
"When!the!palace!was!overtaken,"!she!said.!"HuaDLing!and!Meilin!were!
going! to! be! honourable! women! and! take! their! lives.! But! I! stopped!
them.!I!thought!you!would!come!for!us."!
She!yanked!the!covers!up!to!her!neck.!
"All!of!us."!
"Sakura,!what!happened!to!HuaDLing!wasn't!your!fault,"!said!Syaoran,!
sliding!down!next!to!her.!
"Don't!tell!me!it!wasn't!my!fault,"!said!Sakura,!turning!her!back!on!him.!
"Tell!her."!
Syaoran!draped!his!arm!around!her!waist!but!she!pushed!it!away.!He!
stared!at!his!concubine's!back.!The!things!he!took!from!this!woman.!
"I!don't!even!get!a!kiss!good!night?"!
Sakura!rolled!over!on!her!back!and!pressed!her!mouth!to!his.!He!held!
the! back! of! her! head! in! place,! as! warmth! spread! from! her! sweet! lips!
down!to!that!member!between!his!legs.!It!swelled!in!an!instant.!What!
370!
was! it! about! arguments! that! were! so! arousing?! Sakura's! hands! found!
their! way! into! his! hanfu! and! his! skin! tingled! wherever! they! touched.!
He! smiled! and! pulled! the! tie! around! her! waist,! revealing! her! entire!
body!to!him!in!that!one!movement.!
"You're! beautiful,"! he! murmured,! running! his! hand! along! her! smooth!
thigh.!
She!blushed!and!he!teasingly!traced!his!fingers!along!the!curves!of!her!
body,!holding!her!gaze!all!the!while.!His!teasing!reached!between!her!
legs! and! Sakura! averted! her! face,! hiding! it! in! the! bedsheets.! But! her!
body!shuddered.!
"You!like!that,"!mused!Syaoran!in!a!husky!and!amused!voice.!
He! did! not! need! a! mirror! to! know! his! face! was! red! as! hers.! He! was!
smiling! so! much! his! cheeks! hurt.! Where! did! this! burst! of! happiness!
come! from?! Syaoran! turned! Sakura's! face! and! joined! their! mouths!
again,! harder! this! time,! as! he! untied! his! own! hanfu! and! tossed! the!
garment!aside.!
Sakura's! fingernails! scratched! at! his! back! as! she! clung! tightly! to! him.!
He!slid!lower!onto!her!so!she!could!feel!his!hardness!against!her!thigh,!
letting!her!know!how!much!he!desired!her.!She!moaned!beneath!him!
and! he! deepened! the! kiss.! Syaoran! was! so! hard! it! was! becoming!
painful.!
His! teeth! clamped! down! on! her! neck! as! his! fingers! slid! inside! her,!
liking! how! her! legs! parted! even! more! for! him.! She! was! so! wet! and!
ready.! Sakura! twisted! beneath! him,! her! back! arching! as! molten! fire!
erupted! in! her! core.! When! his! tongue! found! her! breast,! her! fingers!
laced! through! his! hair! holding! him! tight! to! her! bosom.! She! gasped!
when!he!sucked!her!into!his!mouth.!
Syaoran!looked!up!at!her,!his!eyes!dark!and!smouldering.!He!licked!his!
lips! and! Sakura! pulled! him! up! her! body.! He! was! rather! enjoying! the!
delicious!tugging!on!his!hair!and!the!way!Sakura!held!his!head!in!place!
as!she!kissed!him!senseless.!Whatever!had!gotten!into!her,!he!liked!it.!
But!he!had!to!wrench!himself!away!just!to!get!some!air.!
Sakura!was!panting,!her!body!shifting!restlessly,!telling!him!what!she!
wanted;!something!her!tongue!was!having!trouble!with.!Syaoran!held!
his! hardness! and! positioned! it! between! her! legs,! sliding! it! in! slowly.!
Sure! that! it! would! not! slip! out,! he! bent! over! Sakura! to! take! another!
kiss!as!he!continued!to!push!into!her.!
371!
It! was! a! cool! night! but! between! them! there! was! a! scorching,!
invigorating!heat.!Their!groins!bumped!together!gently!and!they!sank!
into!each!other!as!pleasure!rippled!through!them!and!into!each!other.!
"Are!you!all!right?"!asked!Syaoran.!
"Hai,"!breathed!Sakura.!
Syaoran! pulled! out! and! pushed! in! his! length! carefully,! watching! her!
face!for!signs!of!pain.!After!s!few!thrusts!he!grew!bolder!and!quickened!
the!pace!slightly,!biting!his!lips!as!his!body!screamed!for!him!to!move!
even!faster.!Syaoran!sucked!air!through!his!teeth,!his!brows!furrowed.!
He!body!was!being!very!demanding!right!now.!He!was!a!warrior!after!
all,!not!some!gentle!poet.!But!he!wanted!to!be!gentle.!For!her.!
But! Sakura's! hips! rose! off! the! bed! to! meet! his! thrust! and! Syaoran!
almost!lost!it.!
"Dammit!woman!"!
Her!eyes!popped!open,!a!questioning!look!on!her!face.!
"A!little!faster?"!begged!Syaoran!through!clenched!teeth.!
Sakura's!cheeks!flushed!and!she!nodded.!
She!quickly!joined!him!in!their!new!rhythm,!her!moans!getting!louder!
and! shorter.! Syaoran! hugged! her! as! he! slid! back! and! forth! out! of! her!
hot,!dripping!center.!He!felt!the!stickiness!between!their!lower!halves!
and! enjoyed! the! sounds! their! skin! made! as! they! pushed! against! each!
other.!
"I!love!you,"!said!Sakura!and!his!hips!bucked!hard!against!her!before!
he! could! stop! himself.! Her! inner! walls! clenched! around! him! and! he!
moaned! into! the! pillow! above! her! head.! How! did! he! live! without! this!
for!over!nine"months?!
In!an!instant,!Syaoran!froze,!blood!rushing!back!to!his!brain.!
Sakura!was!so!high!and!consumed!by!arousal,!she!continued!thrusting!
her!hips,!unaware!that!he!had!stopped.!Syaoran!rose!up!and!only!when!
she!missed!his!arms!around!her!did!she!cease!all!movement.!
"What!is!it?"!she!asked,!her!chest!flying!up!and!down!as!she!breathed.!
When!he!did!not!answer,!she!ran!a!hand!down!his!muscular!arm.!
"Xiao!Lang?"!
He! was! unmoving! but! she! felt! him! pulsating! inside! her.! He! looked!
372!
away!and!she!followed!his!gaze!to!the!crib!that!was!positioned!near!his!
desk.!
"Is!it!Xiao!Dan?"!she!asked,!her!body!still!reeling!from!only!a!moment!
ago.!She!continued!to!caress!his!arm.!"Him!being!here.!It!bothers!you?"!
Syaoran!shook!his!head.!
"It's!not!that."!
She!breathed!through!her!mouth,!waiting!for!him!to!say!something.!To!
explain.! He! made! to! pull! out! of! her! but! Sakura! tightened! her! thighs!
around!his!hips.!
"Xiao!Lang..."!
He!ran!his!hands!through!his!damp!hair!and!exhaled.!
"I!don't!want!you!having!any!more!babies."!
"Why!not?"!
Syaoran! stared! at! her! like! the! answer! was! the! most! obvious! thing! in!
the!world.!
"Suppose! you! die! next! time?"! He! traced! his! fingers! over! her! belly!
eliciting!an!involuntary!tremor!from!her.!"You!feel!so...!unbelievably...!
but!this!isn't!worth!it.!Not!your!life."!
He! removed! her! legs! from! his! hips! and! still! hard,! pulled! out! of! her.!
Sakura!sat!up,!a!frown!on!her!face.!She!wanted!to!at!least!finish!what!
they! were! doing.! Then! she! could! never! make! love! again.! She! kissed!
Syaoran's!shoulder.!
"Nothing!bad!is!going!to!happen."!
"You!don't!know!that."!
"So!you!don't!want!to!be!with!me!anymore?!Forever?"!
Syaoran!stroked!her!spine.!
"No.!We!can!do!other!things.!I'll!show!you."!
Feeling! bold! from! her! arousal,! Sakura! gripped! his! softening! member,!
making!it!twitch!in!her!palm.!
"But!I!want!this."!
Syaoran!peeled!her!fingers!away.!
"Fine,"!said!Sakura!lightly.!"It's!not!like!the!palace!isn't!full!of!men."!
373!
It! was! a! joke! but! the! way! Syaoran! looked! at! her,! she! thought! he! was!
going! to! wrap! his! hands! around! her! neck! and! crush! it.! Instead! he!
gripped!her!hair,!pulling!down!on!it!which!tilted!her!head!up.!
"Are!you!trying!to!be!funny?"!he!asked,!each!word!penetrating!her!like!
shards!of!ice.!
"Hai,"!said!Sakura!as!she!tried!to!loosen!his!hold!but!Syaoran's!fingers!
would!not!budge.!He!cocked!his!head!to!the!side.!
"That's! a! dangerous! sense! of! humour! you! have."! But! he! released! her.!
"Don't!say!that!again.!Don't!even!think!it."!
"I'm!sorry.!It!was!a!bad!joke.!You!know!I!would!never!betray!you!like!
that,"! she! said,! touching! his! hand! softly! as! she! kissed! his! shoulder!
again.!!
"Do! I?"! he! asked! her,! his! eyes! serious.! "Remember! when! I! told! you! I!
would!kill!any!man!you!look!at?"!
Sakura!was!silent.!
"Many! things! have! changed! since! that! day! but! that! promise! still!
stands."!
His! member! jumped! slightly! and! Sakura! stared! at! it.! It! was! full! and!
thick.!She!would!have!thought!her!joke!would!have!made!Syaoran!go!
limp! but! he! seemed! even! more! turned! on.! Her! insides! were! still!
yearning! for! him! so! she! planted! kisses! along! his! jaw! line.! HalfD
heartedly,! he! held! her! back! but! soon! she! was! straddled! around! his!
waist,!her!knees!resting!on!the!bed.!
Syaoran! pushed! inside! her! and! she! winced.! It! was! a! sudden! but!
welcome! intrusion.! She! bit! his! shoulder! as! his! thrusts! grew! faster,!
more!intense.!Their!hands!clawed!at!each!other's!backs.!
"A!palace!full!of!men,"!Syaoran!whispered!in!her!ears.!
Sakura!could!not!believe!it.!He!was!still!angry?!At!a!time!like!this?!He!
held!her!hips!and!ground!her!down!on!top!of!him!as!he!pressed!up!into!
her.!The!hungry,!possessive!emotions!in!his!eyes!blazed!into!hers.!
"You!think!I'd!let!another!man!touch!you!like!this?"!he!asked,!his!voice!
rough.!"My!woman?"!
"Yes,"!said!Sakura,!pulling!him!against!her!tightly.!
"Yes?"!asked!Syaoran,!misunderstanding.!
374!
"No,"!said!Sakura!but!when!he!pinched!her!nipple!she!cried.!"Yes!"! Chapter 30
"Let's!see!who!you're!thinking!about!when!I'm!done!withD"!He!tensed! With"true"friends"."."."even"water"drunk"together"is"sweet"enough.!
all!over!and!gave!a!deep,!guttural!moan!into!her!shoulder.! ~"Chinese"Proverb!
His! climax! shook! her! and! she! felt! his! warmth! shoot! deep! inside.! She! Time!passed!with!a!stubborn!slowness!that!early!morning.!The!Moon!
kept!moving!trying!to!release!her!own!sweet!aches!but!Syaoran!pulled! and!the!glittering!stars!were!still!visible!in!the!dark,!hazy!sky!and!the!
her!off!him!and!pushed!her!back!on!the!bed.! birds! were! still! asleep! in! their! warm! nests.! Touya! was! sitting! on! a!
He! stared! at! her,! eyes! filled! with! lust! and! pride.! Then! he! lowered! stone!staircase!in!one!of!the!courtyards.!His!katana!was!resting!on!the!
himself!like!a!wolf!preying!on!a!deer,!and!he!sucked!her!most!sensitive! step! below! him.! Yukito! stood! against! a! red! pillar! and! watched! his!
area!past!his!lips.!Her!body!rippled!with!waves!of!pleasures.!She!cried! unmoving! form! from! afar.! He! was! reluctant! to! speak! to! or! even!
out!and!Syaoran!put!his!hand!over!her!mouth,!looking!back!at!the!crib! approach!the!Japanese!man!but!it!had!more!to!do!with!cowardice!than!
like!a!mischievous!boy.! actually!not!wanting!to.!
Eventually,!Yukito!made!up!his!mind.!He!would!start!his!duties!for!the!
When!she!came!back!to!earth,!he!chuckled,!settling!himself!beside!her.! day.! He! was! not! a! coward! at! heart! but! Kinomoto! Touya! looked! very!
Their!limbs!coiled!around!each!other!in!a!loving!embrace.!They!were! intimidating!right!then!with!his!dark!eyes!staring!off!into!the!distance!
both!out!of!breath,!bodies!glistening!with!a!thin!layer!of!sweat.!He!idly! and!his!hand!propped!up!against!his!knee.!As!he!turned!to!leave,!Touya!
passed!a!hand!over!Sakura's!bottom!making!her!shiver.! caught!the!movement!and!trapped!him!in!a!piercing!stare.!
"Think.!No!babies,"!Syaoran!panted.! He!picked!up!his!katana!and!made!his!way!over!to!Yukito.!
Sakura!grinned!up!at!him.! "Are!you!stalking!me!Tsukishiro?"!
"It!doesn't!work!like!that."! "No!"!said!Yukito,!smiling!like!a!man!who!was!found!with!stolen!jewels!
in!his!pockets.!
He!kissed!her!bangs.!
Where!was!that!woman?!Akizuki!Nakuru.!Yukito!thought!that!this!was!
"I!know.!But!it!won't!hurt!to!try."! the!ideal!time!for!her!to!jump!on!Touya's!back!and!distract!him.!Then!
he!could!slink!away!and!avoid!this!embarrassment.!
Sakura!kissed!his!collarbone.!
"Everywhere! I! go,! you! seem! to! be! there,"! said! Touya,! his! eyes!
"All!right.!No!babies."! narrowing.!"It's!not!like!the!Forbidden!City!is!a!small!place."!
Somewhere!in!a!dark!corner!of!the!room,!a!little!lion!sat!in!shock,!his! Yukito! did! not! realize! that! Touya! had! noticed! he! had! been! watching!
eyes! and! mouth! wide! open.! Stiffly! he! keeled! over.! At! dawn! he! would! him.!He!took!a!step!back,!ready!to!turn!on!his!heels!and!make!a!run!for!
awaken,!faint!whispers!of!a!terrible!nightmare!dancing!at!the!back!of! it.!
his!mind.! "What!do!you!want?"!asked!Touya,!advancing!on!him.!
! An!curious!look!came!over!the!man's!face.!He!was!not!angry.!Disturbed!
! by!Yukito's!actions!perhaps!but!definitely!not!angry.!
! "I!wanted!to!talk!about!my!brother,"!said!Yukito.!
! "You!know!more!about!him!than!I!do."!
! "But! you! spent! his! last! moments! with! him."! Then! Yukito's! voice!
! changed.!"I!didn't!get!there!in!time!to!save!him.!It!was!the!one!time!he!
needed!me!and!I!wasn't!there."!
!
"And!you!think!hearing!about!his!death!would!make!you!feel!better?"!
!
375! 376!
Touya!turned!his!gaze!skyward.!
"The!last!thing!he!said!was!your!name.!That's!all!that!should!matter."!
"He!called!out!for!me?!I!was!too!late."!
"No,"!said!Touya,!looking!him!in!the!eyes.!"He!wanted!you!to!be!safe.!
And!he!died!knowing!that!you!would!be."!
Yukito!glanced!at!the!katana!clutched!in!Touya's!hand.!
"How!would!he!know!that?"!
"I!promised!him!that!I!would!protect!you."!
"I!don't!need!protection."!
"It! doesn't! matter,"! said! Touya.! "I! made! a! promise! to! a! dying! man.! It!
was!impulsive.!But!I!have!to!keep!it."!
He!yawned!tiredly.!
"It's!not!like!I'm!going!anywhere."!
"Because! Sakura! is! here?! You're! just! like! Yue,! you! know.! Always!
worrying,"!said!Yukito,!placing!his!hand!on!Touya's!arm.!
Touya! cast! a! look! at! it! and! Yukito! quickly! pulled! the! wayward! hand!
away.! Then! giving! a! deep! bow! to! the! taller! man! he! murmured,! "I'm!
sorry! for! bothering! you! KinomotoDsan,"! and! he! sped! away! from! the!
courtyard!feeling!lonelier!than!when!he!had!arrived!there.!
"Tsukishiro!"!
Touya!was!walking!towards!him,!a!hand!up,!signalling!Yukito!to!stop.!
"To!be!honest,!I'm!a!little!lost,"!he!said.!"And!I'd!like!to!get!back!to!my!
room."!
Yukito!smiled.!
"I!can!take!you."!
Touya! nodded! in! thanks! and! Yukito! expertly! guided! him! through! the!
palace.! He! did! not! feel! as! bad! as! he! thought! he! would! when! he!
determinedly!avoided!every!shortDcut!and!instead!opted!for!the!scenic!
route.!There!was!not!much!to!see!in!this!area!of!the!palace!though.!Just!
walls! upon! walls! upon! walls.! In! the! meantime,! he! entertained! Touya!
with!stories!of!his!life.!Inevitably,!the!topic!of!Yue!came!up!again.!
"I! don't! remember! my! parents,"! he! told! the! silent! man.! "They! died!
when! I! was! quite! young.! Yue! was! all! I! ever! knew.! And! I! lost! him.! My!
chest! hurts! all! the! time.! I! wonder! if! that's! normal.! Sometimes,! I! can't!
catch!my!breath.!But!when!I!look!at!the!Moon,!it!feels!like!he's!here."!
And!Yukito!put!a!hand!over!his!heart.!
377!
"Then!it!doesn't!hurt!so!much!anymore.!
"Sakura! can't! remember! our! mother,"! said! Touya,! finally! saying!
something.!"She!can't!remember!how!much!she!cried!after!the!burial.!
When! children! cry! it's...! it! would! be! less! painful! to! cut! off! your! hand!
with!a!blunt!knife.!That's!how!I!felt.!And!she!cried!all"the!time."!
"When!did!she!stop?"!asked!Yukito.!
"I!told!her!that!I!could!see!the!dead.!I!really!do!have!the!sixth!sense.!I!
said,!mother's!heart!breaks!more!and!more!with!every!tear!you!shed.!
But! when! you! smile,! she! is! infinitely! happy.! You! know! what! the! little!
kaiju!said?"!
"What?"!!
Touya!put!on!a!highDpitched!tone.!
"OnniDchan,!what!is!infinimity?"!
Yukito's!eyebrows!flew!into!his!bangs!and!he!laughed.!Touya!smirked.!
"In!the!end,!our!father!had!to!draw!pictures!for!her.!Of!OkaaDsan.!Every!
few!days!he!would!draw!a!new!one.!He!placed!it!in!her!room!at!night!
so!she!could!see!her!mother!when!she!woke!up."!
"That's!a!beautiful!story."!
Touya!paused!and!held!Yukito!back!by!the!shoulder.!
"I'm! trying! to! tell! you! that! it's! going! to! hurt! for! a! long! time.! I'm! not!
sure! if! it! gets! better! or! we! just! get! used! to! living! with! the! pain.! But!
after!a!while,!you!stop!thinking!about!it!everyday!and!wondering!what!
if."!
"Arigatou,!ToDya."!
"Are!we!friends?"!asked!Touya,!when!he!heard!the!nickname.!
"I! apologize..."! said! Yukito,! taking! a! step! back.! That! just! came! out! of!
nowhere.!
Touya!shook!his!head.!
"No.!That's!fine."!
Yukito! smiled! and! the! next! thing! he! knew,! Touya's! face! was! inches!
from!his!own.!He!stumbled!back!in!surprise,!his!back!hitting!the!wall!
behind! him.! Touya's! hand! came! to! rest! beside! his! head.! He! laid! the!
katana!next!to!Yukito's!leg!and!clutched!his!chin.!Yukito!was!frozen!as!
brown! eyes! stared! into! his! own,! the! man's! body! restricting! him! from!
moving.!
"You!know!how!I!said!I!can!see!the!dead,"!said!Touya,!his!voice!hushed.!
"For!a!moment!there,!I!thought!I!saw!Yue.!In!you.!Behind!your!eyes."!
378!
Yukito!swallowed!a!lump!in!his!throat.!
"We!look!almost!identical."!
Touya!tilted!his!head,!still!gazing!intently!into!Yukito's!face.!
"That!you!do."!
His!hand!slid!from!Yukito's!chin!to!rest!against!his!chest.!Touya's!eyes!
closed!and!the!side!of!his!head!touched!the!side!of!Yukito's!softly.!
"You!feel!like!him!too,"!said!Touya,!opening!his!eyes.!"But!I!don't!think!
you're!ready!to!know."!
"Know!what?"!whispered!Yukito!breathlessly.!
"How!he!lives!on!inside!you."!
"What!do!you!mean?"!
Something! caught! Touya's! attention! and! he! stepped! back,! putting! a!
good!two!feet!between!them.!
"I! know! this! hallway,"! he! said,! his! head! turning! from! side! to! side.! "I!
turn!left!at!the!end!and!my!room!is!the!second!door!on!the!right."!
He!grabbed!his!katana.!
"Thank!you!Tsukishiro.!I'll!be!fine!from!here."!
"Yukito."!
"What?"!asked!Touya,!already!near!the!end!of!the!hallway.!
"You!can!call!me!Yukito."!
Touya!gave!a!wave!and!disappeared!as!he!rounded!the!corner.!Yukito!
remained!in!the!hallway!as!he!tried!to!catch!his!breath.!What!was!this!
fascination! of! his! with! people! whose! family! name! was! Kinomoto?!
Once,!Syaoran!had!been!willing!to!kill!him!because!of!his!inappropriate!
feelings! for! Sakura! and! now,! he! was! becoming! obsessed! with! her!
brother?! What! was! it! about! these! siblings! that! was! so! enticing! it!
produced! all! sorts! of! feelings! within! him?! This! time! around,! Yue! was!
not!there!to!tell!him!when!to!back!off.!
Yukito!smacked!himself!hard!on!the!forehead!as!he!slid!down!the!wall.!
This"is"how"it"all"ends,"he!thought.!
Yet!he!could!not!help!the!smile!playing!on!his!lips.!
! surprise!birthday!party!Eriol!had!organized!much!to!his!chagrin.!Now!
The!coronation!was!too!grand,!too!colourful,!too!long!and!too!loud.!At!
least!that!was!Syaoran's!opinion.!The!drums!drowned!out!the!cries!of!
Xiao! Dan! who! was! cradled! in! Sakura's! arms! on! the! right! side! of! the!
great! hall.! That! entire! morning! they! had! all! been! walking! in! a! large!
379!
procession! with! the! priests! and! officials,! drivelling! their! wellD
rehearsed! words.! An! impressive! crowd! of! citizens! stood! outside! the!
Forbidden! City! in! celebration! of! a! man! whose! face! they! would! never!
see.!
All! corpses! had! been! disposed! of! and! the! palace! was! washed! and!
blessed.! Yelan! was! there! and! walking! beside! her! was! Meilin.! Syaoran!
could! make! out! Yukito's! fair! hair! bobbing! about! in! the! crowd.! Even!
Touya!and!Nakuru!were!present!to!Syaoran's!surprise.!
He!sat!on!the!throne!as!the!great!proclamation!came!to!an!end.!Finally.!
When!he!was!announced!as!the!emperor,!Son!of!Heaven,!The!Dragon,!
Lord! of! Ten! Thousand! Years! and! whatever! other! titles! the! officials!
could! think! up,! the! drums! and! the! music! roared! like! a! tsunami! in! a!
deafening!culmination!of!sounds.!
The! guests! ate! and! drank,! and! made! themselves! merry.! Syaoran! was!
presented!with!an!array!of!gifts!and!to!his!annoyance,!women.!Did!the!
noblemen!not!do!their!research?!Or!did!they!simply!choose!to!ignore!
the!fact!that!he!did!not!want!their!daughters?!He!concluded!it!was!the!
latter.! There! was! nothing! like! having! the! favour! of! the! emperor! and!
giving!him!a!nice!bed!toy!usually!did!the!trick.!
"I! wish! Wei! was! alive! to! see! this! day,"! said! Yelan! as! she! came! to!
Syaoran!to!pay!her!respects.!"He!cared!for!you!like!you!were!his!own!
son.!He!never!said!so!because!he!did!not!want!to!offend!you."!
"He!would!not!have!offended!me,"!said!Syaoran.!
He! had! been! back! in! the! City! for! over! two! weeks! and! no! one! had!
mentioned! Wei! to! him! until! that! moment.! He! knew! they! were! all! too!
afraid! to! tell! him! Wang! Wei! had! passed! but! no! one! had! to.! He! had!
figured!it!out!soon!enough.!
But!how!could!Wei!have!ever!thought!that!Syaoran!would!be!offended!
that!he!thought!of!him!as!a!son?!He!told!Wei!things!he!had!never!told!
anyone! else.! Wei! understood! him.! He! brought! him! Sakura.! And!
Syaoran!could!not!have!acted!more!ungrateful!at!the!time...!a!regret!of!
his.!
The! bright! midday! sun! had! retired! behind! the! clouds! and! the!
festivities!were!still!picking!up!momentum.!It!all!reminded!him!of!his!
here! he! was,! presiding! over! them,! ever! his! father's! little! perfectlyD
constructed!ruler.!
Syaoran! looked! over! at! his! son! and! he! saw! the! boy's! life! flash! before!
his!eyes.!The!poor!child!did!not!stand!a!chance.!All!hopes,!dreams!and!
380!
desires!would!be!crushed!before!Xiao!Dan!knew!he!had!them.!Syaoran!
would! not! do! it! to! be! mean! though.! He! would! do! it! to! be! kind.! You!
could! not! miss! what! you! never! had.! He! squeezed! the! bridge! of! his!
nose.!What!was!he!thinking?!
Syaoran! sighed,! a! weariness! settling! into! his! limbs.! Unable! to! endure!
any!more!of!the!celebrations!he!stood!and!a!hush!fell!over!the!hall.!He!
passed! meaningful! looks! to! Sakura! and! Meilin! and! they! followed! him!
from!the!hall.!Together!they!walked!to!the!Imperial!Garden!along!the!
colourful! stone! path.! On! the! way! there,! he! had! HuaDLing! sent! for! and!
she!joined!them!beneath!one!of!the!large!pavilions.!
The!servants!placed!a!few!games!next!to!the!low!table!and!one!of!them!
sat!at!the!bottom!of!the!stairs!that!led!to!the!pavilion.!She!blew!into!an!
elegantly! carved,! wooden! flute,! unleashing! a! slow,! sweet! and! slightly!
nostalgic!melody.!
"It's!warm!today,"!said!Syaoran,!gazing!up!at!the!clear!skies.!
"Yes,"! said! Sakura,! as! Meilin! took! the! mahjong! tiles! out! of! their! case.!
"Isn't!it!great?!It's!perfect!for!a!day!like!this!one."!
Syaoran! held! out! his! arms! and! Sakura! placed! Xiao! Dan! carefully! in!
them.!He!was!a!lot!better!at!holding!the!boy!now!and!was!practicing!as!
often!as!he!could.!Of!course!he!lied!and!told!anyone!before!they!asked,!
that!he!only!did!this!to!make! sure!the! boy!was!being! fed!properly!by!
checking! his! weight.! The! baby! was! awake! but! very! quiet! as! though!
wanting!to!hear!all!the!sounds!of!nature,!no!matter!how!far!away!they!
were.!
Sakura! and! Meilin! began! shuffling! their! tiles! but! HuaDLing! had! not!
touched! the! ones! Meilin! had! dealt! her.! She! had! the! appearance! of! a!
pretty!corpse.!He!had!seen!the!same!look!in!the!women!of!enemies!he!
had!conquered!but!he!had!never!thought!he!would!see!it!in!any!woman!
he!knew.!
He!extended!his!hand!slowly!and!rest!it!lightly!on!top!HuaDLing's,!not!
wanting!to!get!an!extreme!reaction.!She!drew!a!deep!breath!and!held!
it,!her!entire!body!wooden.!Syaoran!would!have!liked!the!opportunity!
to! go! back! in! time! and! really! enjoy! killing! Enlai.! As! soon! as! Eriol!
figured! out! how! to! control! time! he! would! do! just! that,! Syaoran!
promised!himself.!
"Forgot!how!to!play?"!he!asked!HuaDLing.!
"I'm! not! worthy! to! be! in! Huangdi's! presence,"! she! said,! her! voice!
hoarse!and!hollow.!"I!shouldn't!be!here.!I!do!not!wish!to!bring!Huangdi!
more!shame!than!I!already!have."!
381!
"Shame."! Syaoran! tipped! her! chin! up,! gazing! into! her! brown! eyes.!
"When!a!man!robs!another!man!who!is!blind,!should!the!blind!man!feel!
ashamed! or! should! the! thief?! Taking! advantage! of! others! who! are!
weaker!than!you!is!the!real!shame."!
Tears!welled!up!in!her!eyes.!
"Shuffle!your!tiles,"!he!told!her.!"Sakura!and!Meilin!are!ready!to!play."!
He!gave!an!encouraging!nod!and!even!managed!a!smile.!HuaDLing!held!
his! hand! and! kissed! it.! Then! she! placed! her! hands! over! the! tiles,!
shuffling!them!noisily!along!with!everyone!else.!Across!the!table!from!
Syaoran,! Sakura! was! smiling! to! herself.! The! little! witch! had! gotten!
what!she!wanted.!But!she!could!not!see!that!HuaDLing!had!no!fight!in!
her!and!it!was!only!a!matter!of!time!before!what!little!will!she!had!gave!
out.!!
As! they! played! Syaoran's! eyes! roamed! the! garden,! memories! of! his!
youth! there! coming! to! life! in! his! mind.! Outside! in! gardens! he! could!
always! make! believe! he! was! on! some! grand! adventure! and! that! the!
garden!was!an!endless!forest;!not!simply!a!speck!of!beauty!surrounded!
on! all! sides! by! buildings! which! in! turn! were! surrounded! by! towering!
and!inescapable!walls.!
His! chest! grew! tight.! Yelan! was! partly! right! when! she! told! him! some!
laws!could!not!be!changed.!But!Syaoran!did!not!care.!He!would!break!
any! one! he! pleased.! What! Syaoran! did! not! want! was! to! deal! with! the!
system!of!endless!politics,!warring,!gossip!and!ceremonies,!all!of!which!
at!some!point!will!cause!blood!to!be!drawn.!Everyone!he!cared!about!
would!be!caught!in!the!middle!of!it.!Sheng!was!right!to!say!he!was!not!
the!one!to!be!pitied.!
"TomoyoDchan!"!
A! tile! slipped! from! Sakura's! hand! and! clattered! onto! the! stone! floor.!
Eriol,! Tomoyo! and! Eriol's! eldest! son! Han! were! approaching.! Sakura!
had! not! spoken! with! her! best! friend! as! yet! so! when! she! looked! at!
Syaoran!and!he!nodded,!she!ran!down!the!pavilion's!steps!and!into!the!
woman's!arms.!
Syaoran!handed!Xiao!Dan!to!Meilin!and!wordlessly,!he!and!Eriol!went!
off! on! their! own.! Eriol's! steps! were! heavy! because! of! his! still! aching!
body! and! his! obvious! refusal! to! use! a! crutch.! Syaoran! gave! a! mental!
smirk.!He!knew!Eriol!was!a!vain!bastard.!Now!he!had!proof.!
"So!you're!Huangdi!now,"!said!the!magician.!
"It!seems!so."!
"You!seldom!care!for!my!opinions,"!said!Eriol.!"But!for!what!it's!worth,!
382!
I!think!you!would!make!an!excellent!emperor.!I!always!have."!
"Is!that!your!way!of!saying!you!were!wrong!about!me!being!the!man!to!
destroy!China?!Because!as!you!can!see,!it!is!still!standing.!And!Li!Sheng!
is!dead."!
"Li?"!
"Yes.!Li."!
It!was!a!rare!moment!to!see!Eriol's!feelings!blatantly!displayed!on!his!
face.!He!was!fuming.!
"When! Tomoyo! told! me! there! had! been! no! execution,! I! thought! you!
had!killed!him!yourself.!But!you!didn't.!You!let!him!get!away!with!his!
crimes.!He!killed!your!father.!His!actions!led!to!Kaho's!death."!
"I!said!he's!dead.!I!don't!call!that!getting!away!with!crimes."!
"You!know!what!I!mean.!He!should!have!suffered.!He!should!have!had!
his!skin!peeled!from!his!body."!
It! was! even! rarer! for! Eriol! to! lose! control! of! his! emotions! like! this.!
Syaoran!knew!this!was!because!of!his!despair!over!his!beloved!wife's!
death!so!he!said!nothing!of!Eriol's!disrespectful!tone.!Instead,!Syaoran!
picked!up!a!small!pebble!and!threw!it!as!far!as!he!could,!unleashing!his!
temper! that! way.! He! raised! a! hand! over! his! eyes,! squinting! to! see!
where!it!landed.!Disappointed,!he!picked!up!another.!
"Sheng! suffered.! I'm! sure! of! that! Eriol,"! he! said.! "But! what's! done! is!
done.!So!pull!yourself!together."!
And! Syaoran! tossed! the! second! pebble.! It! travelled! farther! than! the!
first.!After!a!lengthy!and!unpleasant!silence,!Eriol!spoke.!
"I!wasn't!wrong!about!your!role!in!China's!downfall,"!he!said.!"Seeing!
the! future! is! one! thing.! It's! not! always! linear! or! clear.! Interpreting!
what!I!see!can!be!complicated."!
Syaoran!clenched!his!jaw.!
"You!really!think!I!will!be!the!one!to!ruin!generations!of!imperial!rule?"!
"Yes.! Because! even! though! you! could! rule! well,! you! never! had! any!
desire!to!hold!the!position."!
Syaoran! looked! at! Eriol,! his! heart! thumping! against! his! ribcage!
because!Eriol!had!a!knowing!expression!on!his!face.!
"You're!still!in!recovery!stage!and!yet!you!find!time!to!spy!on!me."!
"Not! you,"! said! Eriol.! "Kinomoto! Touya! has! that! covered! I'm! afraid.! I!
was!observing"your!advisors.!For!your!own!safety!of!course."!
"And!what!did!you!find?"!
383!
Eriol!adjusted!his!glasses!and!it!glinted!in!the!sunlight.!
"I!discovered!that!the!emperor!has!an!interest!in!Hong!Kong.!A!specific!
place!in!Hong!Kong."!
"I!haven't!decided!anything!yet,"!said!Syaoran.!"I'm!not!sure!what!I'm!
going!to!do."!
"Then! let! me! help! you! decide,"! said! Eriol,! propping! himself! against! a!
tree!trunk.!"With!you!as!emperor,!China!would!flourish!but!you!will!be!
miserable."!
Syaoran's!heart!beat!faster.!
"And!if!I!leave?"!
"If!you!leave,!China!will!flourish.!But!the!blood!in!the!emperors'!veins!
won't! be! as! strong! as! yours.! No! more! will! the! imperial! line! wield!
powerful! magic.! In! the! end,! outsiders! will! not! only! conquer! us,! they!
will!crush!us."!
"On!the!bright!side,!your!bloodline,!the!Li!Clan!will!survive!it!all.!That!
much!I!am!sure!of."!
Syaoran!shook!his!head.!
"You!know!I!don't!believe!in!prophetic!dreams!and!seeing!the!future.!
But!I!don't!think!I!can!take!a!chance!that!you're!right.!So!I!have!to!stay!
here!in!the!Forbidden!City."!
"No."!
"No?"!
Eriol!smiled.!
"This,"! he! said,! gesturing! all! about! them.! "It! would! all! crumble!
someday.! I! saw! what! we! have! now! disappearing.! But! perhaps!
something!better!would!arise.!There!is!no!way!of!knowing."!
"You!want!out!of!the!City!too,!don't!you?"!asked!Syaoran.!
Eriol's!smiled!widened.!
"You've! lived! a! sheltered! life! Huangdi.! You'll! need! me! to! do! your!
taxes."!
Syaoran!gave!Eriol!a!withering!look.!It!was!so!like!the!man!to!pretend!
he!did!not!have!his!own!set!of!issues.!But!he!was!right.!Syaoran!could!
use!his!help!in!some!areas!and!he!was!sure!Sakura!would!be!happy!to!
have!Eriol's!wife!with!them.!It!seemed!he!had!made!his!decision!after!
all.!
!
Sakura!and!Tomoyo!sat!together!on!a!stone!bench!near!a!small!pond.!
384!
The! consort! was! leaning! against! her! arm! as! Sakura! stroked! her! long!
locks.! She! told! Sakura! about! what! had! happened! in! the! palace! and!
though! she! did! not! go! into! details,! Sakura's! imagination! was!
mercilessly!filling!in!all!the!gaps.!
"I'm! sorry! I! wasn't! here! with! you! TomoyoDchan,"! she! kept! on!
murmuring.!
"I'm! happy! you! weren't! here,"! said! Tomoyo.! "You! don't! have! to! feel!
guilty!for!being!safe!SakuraDchan."!
"I!thought!about!you!everyday."!
Tomoyo!wrapped!her!hands!around!Sakura's!waist.!
"I!know!you're!sad!because!of!what!happened!to!me,!to!Kaho,!to!Miko,!
to!everyone.!But!I'm!alive.!So!many!died.!Even!Chiharu.!Did!you!know!
her!lover!Yamazaki,!killed!himself!when!he!found!her!body?"!
Sakura!buried!her!face!in!Tomoyo's!hair.!
"We'll!burn!incense!for!all!them.!Every!year."!
The!woman!said!nothing.!
"TomoyoDchan?"!
"Sometimes!EriolDsan!looks!at!me!and!I!think!he!wishes!that!I!had!died.!
And!Kaho!had!lived."!
"I'm!sure!he!doesn't!think!that."!
"He!loved!her!so!much.!I!wish!I!could!bring!her!back."!
"He!loves!you!too."!
"Not!in!the!same!way."!
Sakura!kissed!Tomoyo!on!the!head.!
"Then!I!will!ask!Huangdi!to!command!him!to."!
Tomoyo!laughed.!
"Can!you!do!that?"!
"Yes,"! said! Sakura,! laughing! as! well.! "Everything! will! be! all! right!
TomoyoDchan.!I!promise."!
The!woman!pulled!away!from!Sakura!and!touched!her!cheek!tenderly.!
"I'll!have!to!get!some!new!paintbrushes,"!she!said.!"It's!been!too!long!
since!I've!attempted!to!capture!how!kawaii!you!are."!
Sakura!pulled!a!face.!
"Tomoyo..."!
! week."!
Two!long!months!had!passed!since!the!coronation!ceremony!and!life!in!
385!
the! palace! had! returned! to! one! of! monotony.! No! one! could! complain!
because! the! excitement! of! the! past! year! was! enough! to! last! most! a!
lifetime.! Everyone! had! acquired! a! set! of! wounds! that! needed! healing.!
Monotony! meant! stability.! Stability! meant! safety.! Safety! meant! being!
able! to! sleep! with! both! eyes! closed! at! night,! and! that! made! a! good!
morning.!
The!inhabitants!of!the!Forbidden!City!had!taken!it!upon!themselves!do!
everything!possible!to!forget!their!woes.!The!atmosphere!had!become!
lighter!than!usual,!with!many!games,!parties!and!in!general,!lounging,!
taking!place.!It!would!not!last!forever!but!while!it!did!everyone!made!
the!most!of!it.!
Even! Syaoran! was! a! bit! more! indulgent.! His! and! Sakura's! new!
favourite! pastDtime! when! he! was! free! was! to! go! to! the! bath! house!
together.!
"HuangdiD"!
"Sakura.!How!many!times!do!I!have!to!tell!you.!When!we're!alone!you!
can!call!me!Xiao!Lang."!
Sakura! passed! a! washcloth! over! Syaoran's! upper! back! and! up! the!
curve!of!his!neck.!
"I!know.!I!only!want!to!do!the!right!thing!and!call!you!by!your!proper!
title."!
"The!right!thing!is!what!I!say!it!is,"!said!Syaoran,!taking!the!cloth!from!
her!hands.!He!pulled!her!in!front!of!him!and!draped!her!long!hair!over!
her! shoulder.! Pressing! a! kiss! to! her! back! he! asked,! "What! were! you!
going!to!say?"!
"Oh.! It's! just,! have! you! noticed! anything! strange! going! on?! With!
everyone?"!
"Like!what?"!asked!Syaoran,!planting!a!kiss!on!the!tip!of!her!shoulder.!"!
"I'm!not!sure..."!And!she!tilted!her!head!so!Syaoran!could!gain!access!to!
her! neck.! "I! feel! like! everyone! is! in! on! some! private! joke! and! I'm!
clueless."!
Syaoran's!hands!slid!down!to!Sakura's!hips,!and!he!worked!his!thumbs!
into!the!muscles!on!her!lower!back.!She!sighed!softly!and!wished!she!
was! lying! down.! He! was! able! to! massage! her! better! when! she! was! in!
bed.!
"Well! that's! not! nice,"! said! Syaoran.! "I'll! speak! with! them! later.! Let!
every!man,!woman!and!child!know!they're!fasting!until!the!end!of!the!
386!
Sakura!looked!back!at!him!and!he!laughed!quietly!to!himself.!
"I'm!not!serious.!Relax."!
"Maybe!I'm!getting!a!little!paranoid."!
"Maybe,"!said!Syaoran!and!he!kissed!her!on!the!cheek!before!standing!
up!in!the!water!and!walking!over!to!his!towel.!
"Where!are!you!going?"!asked!Sakura!in!disappointment.!
"Meetings,"!said!Syaoran.!"But!they!won't!be!long.!Ping!told!me!Eriol's!
wife!wanted!to!see!you.!I!think!she's!finished!with!that!hanfu!you!were!
telling!me!about.!Why!don't!you!wear!it!for!me!later!tonight?"!
Sakura! blushed! and! nodded.! Tomoyo's! style! of! showing! a! bit! of!
cleavage! which! she! had! Sakura! pioneer! was! really! catching! on! now.!
Syaoran! had! become! quite! an! admirer! of! it! and! had! taken! to! having!
Sakura!do!suggestive!poses!in!the!outfits!when!they!were!together!at!
night.!Who!knew!he!was!so!depraved?!
Needless!to!say!it!was!a!pleasant!surprise!when!Sakura!found!herself!
standing!in!a!red!and!gold!hanfu!that!hid!her!entire!body!three!times!
over.! There! was! even! an! elaborate! headpiece! to! go! with! it.! It! was! all!
overwhelming.!
"You! look! amazing! SakuraDchan,"! said! Tomoyo! as! she! and! the! other!
seamstresses!circled!her.!
There!were!shadows!under!her!eyes!and!Sakura!wondered!if!perhaps!
she! was! overdoing! it.! But! Tomoyo! insisted! that! sewing! gave! her!
something! to! focus! on! and! helped! soothe! her! nerves! after! the! siege!
ordeal.!
"You!should!show!Huangdi!"!said!Nakuru,!who!was!present!as!well.!
Before!Sakura!had!a!chance!to!protest,!she!was!out!of!the!room,!down!
the!hallways,!and!walking!through!a!garden!she!had!never!seen!before.!
"TomoyoDchan,!NakuruDchan,!Huangdi's!in!a!meeting,"!she!said!for!the!
tenth!time.!"HeD"!
Sakura!was!rendered!speechless.!There!was!Syaoran,!dressed!in!a!red!
and! black! hanfu! standing! in! front! of! a! temple.! The! servants! started!
giggling!like!crazy.!Touya!was!there!with!Xiao!Dan!in!his!arms.!There!
were! also! Eriol! and! his! household,! Yukito,! Cerberus,! Meilin! and! HuaD
Ling.!
Syaoran!held!his!hand!out!to!her.!
"What's!happening?"!asked!Sakura!as!she!took!it.!
"Well!that!depends!on!you,"!he!said.!"Will!you!marry!me?"!
387!
Sakura's!hands!flew!to!her!face!and!the!maidservants!started!clapping.!
Her! gaze! shifted! to! Meilin! but! Syaoran! turned! her! face! back! towards!
him.!
"Will!you?"!
She! glanced! at! Meilin! again! and! the! woman! gave! a! brief! smile! and!
looked!away.!This!is!what!Syaoran!wanted.!And!Meilin!would!do!what!
he!wanted.!Sakura!dropped!her!hands!so!he!could!hear!her!answer.!
"Yes!"!
The!maidservants!cheered.!
The! biggest! grin! Sakura! had! ever! seen! on! Syaoran's! face! lasted!
throughout! the! short! and! simple! ceremony.! Later! he! would! tell! her!
that!their!wedding!meant!too!much!to!him!to!be!shared!with!the!entire!
empire.!Only!those!who!mattered!were!there.!
The! final! act! of! the! ceremony! came! when! they! had! to! bow! to! each!
other! and! Sakura! burst! into! tears.! Syaoran! pulled! her! into! a! hug! and!
whispered!the!sweetest!things!into!her!ear.!Things!she!wished!she!had!
been! more! clearDheaded! to! remember.! Then,! instead! of! taking! her! to!
bed,!they!decided!on!a!walk!through!the!garden!where!they!took!every!
opportunity!to!call!each!other!husband!and!wife.!
Syaoran!cupped!her!cheeks,!resting!his!forehead!against!hers.!
"I'm!not!sure!you'll!ever!understand!how!much!you!mean!to!me,"!said!
Syaoran.!"Or!if!I!would!ever!be!able!to!fully!show!you.!All!I!can!is,!I'm!
happy!you!said!yes."!
"You!could!have!made!me!say!yes!if!I!didn't."!
"But!it!wouldn't!have!been!real.!I!was!worried!when!you!didn't!answer!
right!away!but!your!brother!looked!hopeful."!
Sakura!laughed.!
"I!love!you,!Xiao!Lang."!
And!she!kissed!his!lips,!making!him!smile.!
"I!love!you!too."!
!
!
!
!
!
!
388!
Epilogue
Happiness"is"something"to"do,"something"to"love,"something"to"hope"for.!
~"Chinese"Proverb"
"It's!done!then?"!
Syaoran!stared!at!his!and!Lei's!signatures!on!the!royal!edict.!The!black!
ink! was! still! wet! and! shining.! This! was! the! moment! he! and! Eriol! had!
worked!day!and!night!for,!for!the!last!two!years.!Now!that!it!was!here,!
instead! of! a! deep! calm! washing! over! him,! Syaoran! felt! a! twinge! of!
apprehension.!But!this!edict!was!what!he!wanted.!It!was!a!way!out!of!a!
life!he!cared!little!for.!
"It's!done,"!he!said!to!Lei!and!he!bowed!to!his!brother!in!thanks.!
"Are!you!sure!you!want!to!do!this?"!asked!Lei!for!the!millionth!and!one!
time.!"I'm!not!you.!I'll!never!be!you.!Or!even!Renshu."!
"You're!a!decent!man,!Lei.!You'll!be!fine."!
"China!doesn't!need!a!decent!man.!It!needs!a!strong!one."!
Syaoran!stood!and!walked!around!his!large!desk!to!face!his!brother.!
"You'll!be!fine.!If!you!ever!need!my!counsel!you!shall!have!it.!Besides!
you!have!already!accepted.!You!cannot!go!back!on!your!word."!
"No.!That!would!be!dishonourable."!
Syaoran! rolled! up! the! edict! and! slid! it! into! a! cylindrical! case.! He!
nodded! to! Lei! and! left! the! imperial! study.! His! heavy! emperor's! robes!
dragged! behind! him! as! he! walked! along! the! high! hallways.! Ping!
hobbled!behind!him!with!the!other!servants.!
"Where's!Sakura?"!Syaoran!asked!him.!
"In!the!courtyard.!The!Great!Imperial!Son!wanted!to!go!outside."!
Syaoran!made!a!beeline!for!the!courtyard!he!knew!Sakura!always!took!
Xiao!Dan.!He!found!them!playing!some!hand!game!she!had!taught!him!
to! play! last! week.! Xiao! Dan! clapped! his! hands! together! at! the! wrong!
time! and! Sakura! laughed.! The! boy! did! not! think! it! was! funny! and!
frowned,!his!long!hair!blowing!behind!him!in!the!wind.!
Syaoran! felt! a! touch! of! annoyance.! How! many! times! must! he! tell!
Sakura!to!put!his!son's!hair!in!a!braid!or!tie!it!up?!The!boy!looked!too!
feminine.! If! it! were! not! for! his! thick! eyebrows! and! piercing! eyes! that!
were!so!like!Syaoran's,!he!would!be!mistaken!for!a!girl.!
Cerberus!in!his!true!form!sat!on!his!own,!munching!on!some!preserved!
fruit.! Meilin! and! Nakuru! sat! beneath! the! shade! of! an! umbrella! a!
servant!was!holding.!Meilin!held!a!baby!in!her!arms.!
Syaoran!smiled!as!he!remembered!how!irate!and!scared!he!was!when!
389!
Sakura!told!him!she!was!having!another!child!a!year!ago.!He!had!gone!
out!and!punched!a!tree!until!his!knuckles!bled.!Believe!it!or!not,!Touya!
was! the! one! to! calm! him! down.! When! the! boy! was! born! Syaoran! had!
been! suspicious! because! he! had! black! hair.! Yukito! pointed! out! that!
both!his!and!Sakura's!mother!had!black!hair.!Syaoran!had!felt!so!silly!
then.!
Then!HuaDLing!had!slit!her!wrists!a!week!later.!She!had!never!been!the!
same,!though!he!had!tried.!They!all!had!tried!to!make!her!happy.!The!
one! good! thing! that! had! come! of! it! was! that! Syaoran! had! made! a!
greater!effort!to!spend!more!time!with!Meilin!and!eventually!he!came!
to! care! for! her! happiness! deeply.! And! though! she! was! not! his! First!
Wife!anymore,!she!had!accepted!it!because!she!loved!him.!
As! he! approached! his! beautiful! wife,! Xiao! Dan! knelt! on! the! floor.! He!
always! did! that! and! never! got! up! until! Syaoran! pried! him! from! the!
ground.!Sometimes!he!felt!like!he!sucked!all!the!fun!out!of!his!son!with!
his!presence.!It!had!been!two!long!years!of!hard!work!and!Syaoran!did!
not!have!much!time!to!bond!with!him!as!he!would!have!liked.!
He! picked! the! boy! up,! held! him! on! his! waist! and! kissed! his! cheek.!
Quietly,! Xiao! Dan! looked! down! at! his! mother,! pulling! slightly! to! go!
back!to!her.!
"Don't! you! like! me! anymore?"! asked! Syaoran,! feeling! a! pang! in! his!
chest.!
The!boy's!eyes!widened!and!he!shook!his!head.!
"I!love!OtouDsan."!
Syaoran! glanced! at! Touya! who! had! appeared! as! if! on! cue! and! was!
currently!being!jumped!by!Nakuru.!He!had!insisted!on!talking!to!Xiao!
Dan!in!no!other!language!but!Japanese.!Syaoran!sighed.!He!supposed!it!
would!save!the!boy!from!dreadful!tutors!in!the!future.!
"And!OtouDsan!loves!Xiao!Dan."!
"OtouDsan!loves!Tian?"!asked!Xiao!Dan,!looking!over!at!the!baby.!
"Yes,"!said!Syaoran.!
"More!than!Xiao!Dan?"!
Syaoran!glanced!at!Sakura!who!was!holding!in!a!laugh!with!her!hands.!
"I! love! you! equally,"! he! said! but! then! he! cocked! his! head! and!
pretended!to!think.!"Hmm!maybe!I!love!you!just!a!little!bit!more."!
Sakura! hit! him! on! the! foot! but! Xiao! Dan! smiled! brightly! and! clapped!
his!hands!together.!Syaoran!put!the!boy!down!and!he!ran!over!to!his!
good! friend! Han! who! was! running! towards! them,! Tomoyo! following!
behind!with!Eriol's!other!children.!
390!
Before! Sakura! could! go! after! Tomoyo,! he! caught! her! arm! and! they!
walked!off!on!their!own.!They!came!to!stand!on!a!bridge!below!which!
lay!a!calm,!wide!river.!
"You!could!have!saved!Xiao!Dan!some!sibling!rivalry!by!making!a!girl,!
you!know,"!Syaoran!told!her.!
Sakura!put!a!hand!to!her!belly.!
"Soon."!
Syaoran!paled.!
"Are!you!serious?"!
"Yes."!
He!stepped!back!and!pointed!accusingly!at!her.!
"You!need!to!stop!that!"!
"No,"!said!Sakura,!grabbing!his!finger!and!pulling!his!hand!down.!"You!
need!to!stop."!
Syaoran!smirked!playfully.!He!really!was!the!guilty!one.!
"It's! not! my! fault! you're! irresistible,"! he! said,! leaning! his! side! against!
the!bridge.!"But!really.!You're!going!to!give!me!a!heart!attack!someday!
if!you!keep!giving!me!this!kind!of!news.!The!rate!you're!going!I'm!going!
to! have! four! more! children! in! the! next! eight! years.! And! all! those!
months!of!celibacy!are!incredibly!irritating!"!
Sakura!shoved!him!slightly,!a!blush!on!her!cheeks.!
"You!know!you're!dancing!on!the!inside."!
Wrapping! his! hands! around! her! waist,! Syaoran! pulled! her! closer! and!
kissed!her!on!the!lips.!His!body!started!to!get!warmer!and!it!was!not!
because!of!the!layers!of!clothes!he!had!on!because!the!warmth!was!on!
his!insides.!
"You! know! how! you've! been! upset! that! I've! been! distant! and! busy!
these!past!months?"!he!murmured!against!her!lips.!
"Not!months.!Years."!Sakura!pulled!away!to!look!up!into!his!face.!"Xiao!
Dan!thinks!you!don't!want!to!be!around!him.!So!you!stay!away."!
Syaoran's!eyes!widened!briefly.!
"You!know!that's!not!true."!He!sighed.!"I'll!make!it!up!to!him.!I!swear."!
He!took!Sakura's!hands!in!his!own.!
"The!truth!is!I've!been!making!plans!for!a!proper!successor."!
"But! Xiao! Dan! is! the! Great! Imperial! Son.! You! don't! want! him! to! be!
emperor?"!Sakura!gasped.!"Is!it!because!of!me?!Because!I'm!Japanese?"!
Syaoran!shushed!her.!
"No,! it's! not! you."! He! touched! her! cheek.! "I! don't! want! him! to! be!
391!
emperor.!I!want!him!to!be!free!of!that!responsibility.!It's!not!a!nice!life!
Sakura.! I! want! him! to! be! happy.! To! have! a! happy! childhood! like! you!
had.!Like!I!never!did."!
Sakura! was! silent! for! a! while! and! it! disturbed! him.! Did! she! not!
approve?!
"Who's!your!successor?"!asked!Sakura!finally.!
"Lei."!
"But!he's!older!than!you!"!
Syaoran!brushed!a!loose!lock!of!hair!from!her!face.!
"I'm!stepping!down!as!emperor.!We're!leaving!the!Forbidden!City."!
Sakura's!body!froze!up.!
"What?"!!
"Eriol,! Yukito,! my! mother...! we're! all! going.! I! had! an! old! compound!
extended! in! Hong! Kong.! It's! like! a! miniature! palace! really.! We'll! live!
there.!All!of!us.!Together."!
Sakura!smiled!and!it!made!Syaoran!feel!lighter.!
"Oh,"! she! said.! "I! thought! I! had! to! leave! TomoyoDchan! and! everyone!
behind.!But!can!you!really!stop!being!Huangdi?!You're!China's!leader.!
Their!greatest!soldier.!They!need!you."!
"They'll!find!someone!else.!There!will!always!be!men!willing!to!die!for!
a! cause."! He! smiled.! "Lei! and! I! signed! an! agreement.! Basically! his!
power!and!the!future!emperors'!powers!over!my!house!will!be!limited.!
Sakura,!this!is!a!good!thing."!
"This!is!what!you!want?"!
"Yes.!I!want!it!for!all!of!us."!
"Then!if!it!makes!you!happy,!I'm!happy!as!well."!
Syaoran! pulled! her! into! a! tight! embrace! his! heart! swelling! with! love!
for! his! woman.! Something! else! was! swelling! on! him! though! and! he!
pressed! against! her.! But! it! was! not! satisfying.! There! were! too! many!
clothes!between!them.!
"Let's!go!to!our!room,"!he!said,!his!grip!on!her!tightening.!"I!need!you."!
Sakura!pried!his!hands!off!her.!
"No..."!
Syaoran!frowned!but!then!he!gave!a!lazy!grin.!
"You!want!to!do!it!in!the!gardens?"!
Sakura!smiled!apologetically!at!him!even!as!she!bit!back!a!giggle.!
"Kissing!only."!
Syaoran!put!his!hands!in!his!sleeves.!They!had!not!been!together!in!a!
392!
week.!Kissing!was!not!going!to!suffice.!
"Why?"!he!asked.!
She! patted! her! belly! and! Syaoran! groaned.! Right.! In! truth,! Sakura!
would!be!with!him!if!he!asked!but!he!was!the!one!who!still!thought!it!
was!dangerous!to!be!with!her!when!she!was!in!that!condition.!He!felt!
himself!hardening!even!more!but!he!forced!his!feelings!down.!Perhaps!
next! time! around! he! would! be! brave! enough! to! change! his! mind! on!
that!tradition.!
! "I!want!out,!OtouDsan,"!he!said!pitifully,!referring!to!the!palanquin.!
Sakura! and! Meilin! glanced! out! at! the! countryside! every! so! often.! The!
journey!to!Hong!Kong!was!especially!thrilling!to!Meilin!who!had!never!
been! outside! the! Forbidden! City! before.! Now! she! was! travelling! the!
entire! day! in! a! palanquin! carried! by! several! men! and! sleeping! in! the!
houses!of!nobles!at!night!when!it!was!possible.!
Syaoran! always! rode! on! horseback! with! Eriol,! Nakuru,! Touya! and!
Yukito,!eyes!ever!shifting!and!searching!for!signs!of!trouble.!It!did!not!
matter!to!them!that!Syaoran!had!his!own!little!private!but!formidable!
army!at!the!front!and!back!of!the!procession.!They!could!sit!with!their!
women! but! no,! they! had! to! be! paranoid.! Kero! could! not! be! bothered.!
He! sat! with! Sakura! and! the! boys! eating! all! day! long! to! Syaoran! and!
Touya's!annoyance.!
"Eriol!told!me!you!don't!even!have!to!eat,"!said!Syaoran!at!one!point.!
"I! am! a! Guardian! Beast,"! said! Kero,! drawing! himself! up! proudly.! "As!
such,! you! should! treat! me! with! more! respect! gaki.! If! I! want! to! eat! I'll!
eat.!Unless!my!Mistress!commands!me!otherwise."!
Then! both! he! and! Syaoran! had! turned! to! Sakura! and! sent! burdening!
stares!her!way.!Sakura!looked!at!Meilin!for!help!but!she!pretended!to!
be!deaf.!
"Hoe..."!
In!the!end,!she!told!Kero!that!he!could!no!longer!overeat!since!it!was!
like! wasting! food.! Other! than! that,! the! trip! was! enjoyable! and!
uneventful.! Save! for! Nakuru's! jealousy! of! Yukito.! It! was! amusing!
watching! her! compete! with! him! for! Touya's! attention! though! he! and!
Touya!seemed!oblivious!to!it!all.!She!had!struck!up!a!deep!friendship!
with!Eriol!however,!and!that!at!least!lowered!the!number!of!times!she!
jumped!on!Touya's!back!everyday.!
"Are!we!there!yet?"!asked!an!irritated!Xiao!Dan!in!a!whiny!voice,!as!he!
looked!out!the!palanquin's!window.!
"No,!Xiao!Dan,"!said!Sakura.!"Soon!we'll!be!there."!
393!
"Soon.!Soon!Soon!Soon!!Always!soon!"!he!yelled!at!the!top!of!his!lungs,!
awakening!Tian!and!sending!a!gust!of!wind!through!the!palanquin.!
"Xian!Dan!"!said!Syaoran,!riding!up!next!to!the!window.!He!shook!his!
head,!a!warning!expression!on!his!face.!
The!boy!blinked!back!tears.!He!did!not!like!travelling.!He!did!not!like!
sitting!for!hours.!It!did!not!help!that!his!magic!burst!out!when!he!was!
feeling!strong!emotions.!It!always!amazed!Sakura!how!intimidating!he!
could!be!sometimes.!He!was!only!two!after!all.!
Syaoran!scooped!him!up!through!the!window!and!planted!him!on!the!
horse's!saddle,!a!hand!firmly!wrapped!around!his!tiny!waist!the!entire!
time.!Xiao!Dan!was!quite!intelligent!and!he!was!usually!well!behaved.!
Sometimes!he!used!words!Syaoran!had!no!idea!he!knew!which!always!
made!him!proud.!So!to!see!him!so!distressed!was!upsetting.!It!was!his!
fault!the!boy!was!so!stressed.!Long,!hot!days!outside!were!never!fun.!
"Look! over! there,"! said! Syaoran.! "You! see! those! red! things?! They're!
roof!tiles.!That's!your!new!home.!We'll!be!there!in!a!little!while.!I!know!
you're! hot! and! tired.! But! can! you! be! patient! for! just! a! little! while!
longer?"!
Xiao!Dan!nodded.!
"Hai!"!
"Good!boy,"!said!Syaoran,!a!soft!smile!on!his!lips.!
!
The! compound! really! was! like! a! palace.! Sakura! would! not! call! it!
miniature! though.! On! the! contrary! it! was! huge.! Dozens! of! servants!
were! waiting! outside! to! meet! them.! There! were! guards! everywhere.!
Her!eyes!lit!up!at!the!pink!blossoms!floating!through!the!air.!She!had!
just! passed! through! the! gates,! holding! Tomoyo's! hand! when! she! saw!
them.!There!were!many!trees,!freshly!planted!and!their!flowers!sweet!
smelling.!
"Kawaii!!said!Tomoyo.!"SakuraDchan,!I!must!paint!you!next!to!a!Sakura!
tree.!It's!so!poetic!"!
Sakura! smiled! embarrassedly.! Tomoyo! was! always! thinking! about!
painting.! Syaoran! and! Touya! walked! up! behind! them.! Xiao! Dan! was!
sitting!against!Syaoran's!side,!his!head!turning!all!around!in!wonder.!
"We!have!a!surprise!for!you,"!said!Syaoran!to!Sakura.!"Come."!
"A!surprise?"!asked!Sakura!as!she!attempted!to!take!Tian!from!Touya.!
But!he!shook!his!head!and!gestured!for!her!to!followed!Syaoran.!
At! the! edge! of! the! beginning! of! a! beautiful! garden,! Touya! paused,!
394!
seemingly!breathless.! Syaoran!set!his!son!down!and!took!Tian!from!Touya,!walking!off!with!
"What's!wrong!oniiDchan?"!asked!Sakura.! the!boys!to!give!the!Kinomoto's!some!time!together.!
He! glanced! at! Syaoran! and! a! message! passed! between! them.! Syaoran! "OtouDsan?"!
nodded.! "Yes,!Xiao!Dan."!
"Come,"!he!told!her.!"He'll!meet!up!with!us!soon."! "I!like!it!here."!
He!took!her!hand!and!pulled!her!along.!She!and!Xiao!Dan!glanced!back! Syaoran!smiled.!
at!Touya!and!Tian!but!neither!said!anything.! "I!like!it!here!too."!
"Where!are!you!taking!us?"!asked!Sakura.! The!boy!tripped!on!a!pebble!and!Syaoran!bent!down!to!pick!him!up.!
Syaoran! was! looking! around! like! he! was! lost.! Sakura! would! not! be! "Are!you!happy?"!he!asked!his!son.!
surprised!if!he!was!because!she!was.!Very!much!so.!He!did!not!answer! "Yes,"!Xiao!Dan!answered.!
her!but!a!smile!crossed!his!face!as!he!saw!something!up!ahead.!
His!face!was!so!innocent!and!honest.!Syaoran!caressed!his!soft,!chubby!
"Come,"!he!said!again!and!tugged!on!her!long!sleeve.! cheek.!
They! arrived! at! a! soaring! cherry! blossom! tree.! She! looked! at! him! in! "That!makes!me!happy."!
confusion!while!Xiao!Dan!said,!"WOW..."!
They!gazed!at!Sakura!who!was!in!the!middle!of!her!father!and!brother,!
"It's...!beautiful,!Xiao!Lang."! hugging!them!tightly!to!her!like!she!never!wanted!to!let!go!again.!But!
He!smiled.! then!she!ran!over!to!them!and!dropping!to!her!knees,!swept!all!three!
"The!surprise!isn't!a!tree,"!he!told!her.! of!them!into!a!big!hug,!her!tummy!giddy.!
Just!then!a!figure!walked!out!from!behind!it.!Sakura's!breath!caught.!It! "Everything!is!perfect,"!she!said.!"This!is!really!our!home!now!"!
was!something!she!had!never!thought!to!dream!of!or!to!even!hope!for.! Everyone!as!far!as!Syaoran!could!tell!was!happy.!Whatever!he!needed!
"OtouDsan?"! to!do!to!keep!things!like!this,!he!would!do!it!in!a!heartbeat.!For!Sakura,!
The! man! was! thinner! and! greying! but! he! had! those! glasses! and! that! for!his!children!and!for!himself.!
smile.!It!was!him.!It!was!her!father.! Sakura!kissed!him!on!the!lips! D!an!act!that!made!Xiao!Dan!crinkle!his!
"OtouDsan..."!murmured!Xiao!Dan,!watching!the!man!intently.! little!nose!D!and!pressed!their!foreheads!together.!
Tears! burst! from! Sakura's! eyes! as! she! ran! into! her! father's! arms.! He! "Yes,"!said!Syaoran,!kissing!her!again.!"This!is!our!home."!
wrapped! his! arms! tight! around! her! and! when! she! breathed! in! his! Sakura!nodded!vigorously!and!ran!back!to!her!father's!arms!and!there!
scent,!so!familiar,!her!legs!gave!out.!It!really!was!him!! was! never! again! laughter! so! sweet! and! a! smile! so! big! as! in! that!
"SakuraDsan,"!he!said,!against!her!hair.!"I'm!so!sorry."! moment.!
"You're! here!! I've! missed! you,"! she! said,! emotions! flooding! her,! tears! !
blurring!her!vision.!"I've!missed!you!so!much."! !
Syaoran!felt!a!twinge!of!jealously,!seeing!Sakura!with!her!father.!Xiao! !
Dan! must! have! felt! the! same! way! because! he! pouted! and! asked! in! a! !
tone!Syaoran!never!heard!from!him!before,!"Who's!he?"! The end.
"Your!grandfather.!OkaaDsan's!father."!
The! boy! nodded! and! stared! even! more.! Behind! them,! Touya!
approached.! Fujitaka! looked! at! him! as! he! clutched! Sakura! tightly.! He!
nodded! to! his! father! and! Fujitaka! returned! the! motion.! Their!
relationship! was! strained! but! Syaoran! knew! Sakura! would! mend! it.!
She!was!good!at!things!like!that.!

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