03

Bingquing nodded in understanding.  Even though she had been raised in private quarters, Bingquing was not as sheltered away from the outside world as her counterparts.  As she was her father's only child, Bingquing was well aware of all of the plots and exchanges in the palace.  It was a treacherous place full of smoke and mirrors.  The box sitting at the palace was a decoy as to attract those who coveted the throne by her father's own design.

She knew the real successor was actually buried in the box by the cypress tree on the island in the pond in their back garden.  No one had seen the location other than her and her father.  And the order to entrust this task was written in blood by the emperor to her father.  It was their dearest secret.  Although he had not said it in so many words, Bingquing knew her father's order was to go home to see if the earth had been disturbed around the cypress.  

Was their secret still kept safetly or was it disturbed to throw the blame onto her father as someone was trying to persuade the court in a direction for personal gain?  It was a harrowing thought to consider for herself as she had only been taught little about this game.  Her position was only as a comfort to her father's various duties and responsibilities, she knew little of the realities of this game.

Bingquing ran downstairs to see her maid had already prepared a second change of clothing.  She quickly changed into it behind a screen and departed with a final bow to her father.  Bingquing knew her father was of dual identities here in the palace.  To protect the depth of his relationship with the emperor, in front of others he behaved as an outward critic of his ruler.  But the truth was the emperor was deeply indebted to him for securing his reign and coming to his aid during complex issues.  During his interactions with the king, Official Chu would don the clothing of a blind antiquities merchant and go to serve the king.

The outside was harrowing as the main walkways were all littered with bodies of slain soldiers.  Bingquing was was quick to redirect her maids, "We need to find a more covered exit."

Her maid nodded and took her through the servants entrance.  The rebel soldiers were choraling the eunuchs and scattering the maids about.  They were crushing foodstuffs and destroying what they could.  Their raucous laughter could be heard echoing as Bingquing wove through the chaotic crowd.  They reached the main gate as quickly as they could, but as Bingquing was about to walk through, a maid behind her pulled her back.

Bingquing turned, "Sister, what is it?"

The maid pointed to a soldier who has stabbed a maid in the stomach who was trying to go through the gates.  The soldier shouted with his sword dripping with fresh blood.  "Long live the new republic."  He slashed his blood soaked sword through the air so the blood would splat on the wall in an x shape.

The maid shook violently as she watched the soldier saunter away. 

Bingquing followed his movement with her eyes.  "Who is that?"

"That's the soldier of sleeping suns.  He's an assassin whose known for killing everybody in the house of whoever he's known to kill."

Bingquing understood slowly, "He's advertising his services as a hired hand.  He could be useful to us in the future."

The maid snapped, "How could you say that?  He just killed someone."

"Would you rather be at the end of the killer's knife or helping him hold it?  There's a war brewing, according to documents in my father's study.  We should make note of good warriors as they will be in short supply soon."  Bingquing grabbed the shivering girl's hand and both of them ran with their eyes covered through the corridor.

They reached the servants side door and found it was wide open as the soldiers had plowed through every available door.  The market street before them was busy with merchants protecting their wares and fleeing the scene.  Bingquing looked about and saw a horse that had was tethered to a broken carriage.  She calmed the horse and climbed upon it.  Her maid slapped the horse rear and bowed.  This caused the horse to bolt towards the suburbs.

Bingquing looked behind her confused as she saw her servant bowing.  Her maid then climbed back inside the gates and started running.  She realized that her father must have told her maid to accompany her outside and return to report whether she had gotten out safety or not.  Bingquing did not like that her father had done this, but knew if she returned it would not bode well for her, so she continued to the family manor.