08

"I'm very sorry to hear that, your grace."

The master looked at her with a strange expression,  "Do you know what that's like to grow up without your mother?  It's a pain so deep that no one can understand.  I've always been alone."

Bingquing found herself nodding.  She felt locked in the gaze of a snake.  His beauty was disorienting her and at the same time she just wanted to hold his gaze for as long as she could.  His eyes were so empty of anything that she wondered what it would be like to meet someone whom he cared for.

Wrinkles appeared to disrupt his forehead as he considered this.  His mouth hung open at an angle as he watched her,  "You?"

At the same moment, Ning Fan came back into the room and rushed towards his master, "Highness . . ."  The master was sideways in his chair as he tried to lunge at Bingquing.  "Highness, please get ahold of yourself."  He took the wine flask and handed to the house maiden who had been shivering by the side door.  "Leave us,"  Ning Fan commanded the servants darkly.

Bingquing's knees began to ache from kneeling.

"NO!"  The Master shouted as Ning Fan tried to help him up.  "You get out.  I want to talk to the interesting girl you brought."

Ning Fan stopped.  He sniffed in disgust as he looked at Bingquing, "All the noble ladies you've had the chance to meet and know.  You want a slave I bought from the trade market.  Has these six years guarding the border really gone to your head Ning Ren?"

Ning Ren gave a happy drunk smile.  "I'm a big boy Ning Fan.  I want to do the manly things."  Then he sobered up a bit, "You bought Mo'lan and probably she came free or close to free.  Send Mo'lan to House of Ziyan.  She'll do very well as a pleasure woman.  She has that natural gift which will make her very successful among the men of this small town.  You're wasting her life here as a mere servant."

Ning Fan nodded slowly, "I just wanted to carry out your orders before you thought of them."

Ning Ren nodded, "Why I keep you by my side always?  You make sure my house is free of assassins plotting to kill me and that you pick up the things I forget." 

Ning Fan nodded toward the second girl still kneeling on the floor.

They both exchanged glances before both bursting into laughter. 

"Ning Fan, you bought a slave like you were supposed to.  Let's keep this one.  She's no worse for wear.  She'll be my pet cat to amuse me when the hours get long.  Cat?"

Bingquing straightened herself and bowed, "Your servant is here."

"Does my new cat have a name?"

"Qing."

"Qing?  You'll have your own maid and a guard at all times.  Take her to a clean room and call a doctor to tend to her burned hands.  Also, the lady should have a bath."  Ning Ren appraised her lazily before Ning Fan finally got him out of the room.