With Lianhua pushing my wheelchair, we arrive at the street the waitress mentioned, and I see that it is a wide avenue with elegant facades that give the impression of belonging to wealthy merchant families or low-ranking nobles.
At first glance, everything seems normal, but on second glance, I realize there are no visible entrances to any of the houses, apart from a single door on one side that is guarded by two men who clearly look like guards.
"Lianhua”, I say quietly. "I imagine that's the place, so let's go closer."
Lianhua nods and starts walking toward the men guarding the door. As we approach, I examine the guards more closely and am surprised to see that instead of being private guards, they are wearing the uniforms of the city guards.
One of the guards raises his hand when our entourage is close enough.
"Halt!" he orders, looking curiously and nervously at both my figure sitting in the chair and our Nei Wei escort. "What business brings you here?"
"We are looking for the Golden Pearl Pavilion”, Lianhua replies with a slight smile.
The guards exchange a quick glance, and one of them clears his throat before replying with some discomfort “Yes, this is the place. But I'm sorry, only those with permission or an invitation may pass."
Lianhua smiles at the refusal and says “I suggest you inform your superiors that Zhāohuán Wen, daughter of the emperor, wishes to use your services."
The reaction is immediate, and the guards tense up as the nervousness in their eyes intensifies. One of them seems to struggle to maintain his composure, while the other, without saying a word, quickly disappears behind the door, and I can see his hands trembling slightly before he turns away.
It is only a few minutes before the guard returns accompanied by a man who looks to be in his forties and has a small mustache that gives him an air of authority.
"Welcome and apologies for the wait, Zhāohuán Wen. I am Hong Yan, manager of the Golden Pearl Pavilion”, he says as he bows. "It is an honor to welcome you to our humble establishment. If you would be so kind, I can show you to a place where we can be more comfortable."
His tone is polite, but I notice a slight tremor in his voice. Why does everyone assume I'm going to throw a tantrum or punish them for some fault that only they believe they see?
"I appreciate you taking the time to see me, Hong Yan”, I reply with all the dignity my etiquette lessons taught me to maintain. "Would you kindly show us the way?"
Hong Yan seems taken aback by my response, as if he didn't expect it, but he straightens up and walks through the door while saying “Please follow me."
Lianhua pushes my chair and we enter, followed by the Nei Wei. The interior of the pavilion is more discreet than I had imagined, and everything inside exudes a certain sober elegance. We pass a small step that we negotiate without difficulty and, after passing through several closed doors, we soon cross one that leads us to a courtyard large enough to accommodate the entire entourage.
Hong Yan turns to us, and for a moment, I expect him to ask the typical question about how we heard about the Pavilion, but to my surprise, she simply asks “How can we be of service, Zhāohuán Wen?"
His professionalism is admirable, almost as much as his ability to hide the tension he must be feeling, so I decide not to make him uncomfortable any further and reply “I've heard you sell books."
Hong Yan blinks in surprise, as if my response was something he didn't expect, but he quickly regains his composure.
"Yes, Zhāohuán Wen. We have an extensive collection of books”, he replies in a professional tone, free of nervousness. "Is there a particular book you're interested in?"
I think for a moment, but there was something I wanted since my mother's conversation when we arrived in the city, so I don't hesitate and say “When my father introduced me to cultivation, he used something called a gathering formation. I'd like to know if you have any books that talk about that kind of thing."
Hong Yan can't help but flinch slightly when he hears me refer to the emperor as my father, but his face returns to neutral almost immediately and he quickly bows slightly before answering me.
"I'm sorry to inform you, Zhāohuán Wen, that formations are secrets that families and enchanters guard jealously, and we cannot provide you with a book on them”, he says regretfully. "However, if you are interested, we do have a book titled Introduction to Runes. It explains what runes are and offers basic guidance on some of them."
"And how would knowing about runes help me?" I ask, intrigued.
"Runes are the written symbols found in formations”, Hong Yan explains. "Learning about them will give you a solid foundation if you ever want to understand formations or other types of arts that use them."
I nod as I realize that this is probably the best option I have at the moment if what he has told me is true, which I don't doubt, as this is how any professional guild in ancient times would usually behave.
"Thank you for the recommendation, Hong Yan. Bring me that book”, I say.
The manager nods and asks me again “Would you like any other books so I can bring them all at once and not keep you waiting too long?"
This time I have to think about it a little more, but in the end I reply “Do you have any books on the Forest of Lurking Shadows?"
"Yes, we have several books on the subject. If you like, I can bring you all the ones we have available”, Hong Yan replies with a slight nod.
"That would be fine”, I reply. "And for now, I don't need anything else."
"It will take a little while to gather your order, but in the meantime, allow me to offer you some tea”, he says as he claps his hands.
Before I can respond, a maid enters the courtyard with a tray containing a teapot and a couple of cups. As Hong Yan leaves the courtyard, the maid skillfully serves us tea, which both Lianhua and I enjoy as it turns out to be of excellent quality.
Not long after, Hong Yan returns with a servant carrying a large package.
"Here are the books you requested, Zhāohuán Wen”, he says with a bow.
I raise my hand to receive the package from the servant, who hands it to me with a bow, and I place it on my lap while Lianhua takes care of the payment, emptying almost the entire bag of coins she is carrying.
"It has been a pleasure serving you”, the manager tells us, bowing once more before offering Lianhua a card and a small rolled-up scroll. "Here is a pass to enter the Pavilion in the future without any problems, as well as a list of all the services we offer."
After thanking Hong Yan for his kindness, the manager guides us back to the exit and, after a final farewell, we step out onto the street with my new load of books.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"Lianhua, I want to go back to the palace. I already have what I came for”, I say as I settle into the chair to better distribute the weight of the books I am carrying.
"As you wish, Zhāohuán Wen”, she replies as she begins to push me down the street while the Nei Wei surround us in silence.
The return journey begins without incident. The streets are emptier than when we arrived, and although the afternoon is still young, I notice that most of the passersby are busy with their own affairs, although, as usual, they all stare at me. As we move forward, I notice a fork in the road to the right, a narrower but apparently well-maintained path.
"Lianhua, let's go this way. Given the layout of the streets in this area, this road will save us a lot of detours”, I say, pointing to the side street.
Lianhua frowns as she says, clearly uncomfortable “That road looks too isolated, Zhāohuán Wen. I'd rather stay on the main road."
I look at her over my shoulder with an amused smile as I reply “What do you think is going to happen to us? Do you really think anyone would dare to rob a group escorted by a dozen guards?"
Lianhua sighs resignedly, but doesn't insist further "As you wish, but I don't like this idea."
The Nei Wei, though silent, also seem annoyed by the change of route, although none of them say anything. Finally, Lianhua takes the detour and we turn onto the side road.
The place is curious. The streets are narrower but surprisingly clean and well maintained. Judging by similar architecture in my world, I suppose their function is to separate the mansions in the area, although given how well maintained they are, it's easy to imagine that the servants also use them to run errands for the families in the area more quickly.
The trip goes smoothly, but as we turn a corner, the peaceful atmosphere that has accompanied us during the ride is interrupted by an unexpected and brutal scene. Two armed men are holding a teenager, no more than fourteen years old, covered in bruises and with a bloody face, forcing him to kneel before another man, in his twenties, who watches them indifferently.
But what fills me with the most anger is seeing another man throw a little girl, who can't be more than six years old, to the ground. The girl screams in pain as the man kicks her, throwing her against a wall.
Before Lianhua can say anything, unable to bear the scene, I shout at the men “Stop right now!"
The men turn around abruptly, surprised. The one who kicked the girl faces us, a mocking smile on his face, distorted with contempt.
"Get out of here if you don't want to end up like the brat”, he threatens us as he crosses his arms with insulting arrogance.
At that moment, the rest of the Nei Wei, alerted by my cry, turn the corner and position themselves behind me. The man stops suddenly as his eyes scan the dozen armed warriors with terror and he takes a few steps back, clearly surprised by the change in circumstances.
I take advantage of the momentum the Nei Wei have given me and say “Leave them alone, unless, of course, you are braver than you seem and can do more than kick little girls around like common animals."
The man turns red with anger, opening his mouth to reply, but the calm-looking man raises a hand to silence him. As I look at him, I see that he has the elegant bearing of someone of high birth, with fine clothes and hair tied back in a bun.
"Let them go”, he orders in a cold voice, turning to look at his men.
One of the men holding the teenager seems to want to protest “But, young Master Shi..."
"I said let them go”, he repeats, maintaining his unperturbed tone. Then he fixes his gaze on me and adds “I'm not looking for trouble with the imperial family, and I'll do as you say, but next time, I suggest you talk to your mother about how to behave when you're outside the capital."
His words hurt me, but I maintain my composure. With a gesture of contempt, Young Master Shi, as his men have referred to him, turns around and begins to walk away.
"Ling Tian, you've gotten away today, but we will meet again”, he says to the teenager without looking back. His men, though seemingly baffled by his behavior, immediately release the boy and quickly follow him.
The teenager barely seems to notice that he has been released, as his gaze is fixed on the girl who is still moaning on the ground. He tries to approach her, but his own injuries prevent him from doing so.
I look at the Nei Wei and say “Quick, check on the girl!"
The warriors move quickly, approaching the little girl and the teenager. Lianhua, meanwhile, looks at me with a frown.
"We shouldn't have intervened, Zhāohuán Wen”, Lianhua says with a look of concern.
"So what? Should I have stood there watching like it was a show while they kicked a girl to death?" I reply in frustration.
Lianhua presses her lips together without saying anything else, but her silence speaks louder than any words.
As the Nei Wei examine the girl, the teenager, barely able to stand, implores them “You can do whatever you want with me, but please help my sister."
The Nei Wei ignore him, focused on checking the little girl's condition. One of them turns to me and says “It's very bad, Zhāohuán Wen, but if we get her to the doctor quickly, she might be saved."
"Then there's no time to lose. Take her carefully”, I say. "Lianhua, carry me. One of you, take my chair. And make sure you carry the boy too!"
The Nei Wei don't hesitate. One of them gently picks up the little girl's small figure while another approaches the teenager. He resists, but a well-aimed blow to the back of the neck leaves him unconscious, and the warrior effortlessly carries him on her shoulders as if he were a sack of rice.
"Quick, back to the palace!" I order, and the whole group starts running toward the palace.
We return to the palace in a hurry as the Nei Wei run around us carrying the girl and the teenager. As we advance, we attract glances from all around, from curious onlookers who stop to watch us pass, merchants who interrupt their transactions, and even city guards who, although they seem to hesitate for a moment, do not dare to stop a group of armed women who are clearly in a hurry. Not a single shout of stop is heard, only whispers and looks of bewilderment.
"Do you think we'll make it in time?" I ask Lianhua quietly as we continue on our way, my concern for the girl growing as time passes.
"We're doing everything we can, Zhāohuán Wen”, she replies, without taking her eyes off the road.
Finally, the great palace gates appear before us. The Nei Wei, alerted by our rapid pace, step aside without needing an explanation and let us pass without question, recognizing the urgency in our faces. As soon as we cross the threshold, I feel a strange mixture of relief and tension.
"Take them to the doctor right now!" I order, pointing with my hand. "There's no time to lose."
The Nei Wei nod without saying a word, and one of them quickly carries the teenager, whom I imagine is called Ling Tian since that's what they called him, still unconscious on his shoulders, alongside the other who carries the girl, who, to our concern, barely utters a whimper, to the area of the palace where the doctor has her office.
Finally, I allow myself to relax and say to Lianhua “Lianhua, please put me down.
Lianhua obeys silently and sits me in my chair, which Nei Wei, who had been carrying it, has left on the floor. As soon as I settle into the chair, I notice a familiar presence approaching with a determined stride, though without running. My mother appears in the courtyard, with Lingxi at her side. Although her face shows calm, I recognize the concern in her eyes.
"What happened?" my mother asks without preamble, stopping in front of me.
I know she's about to give me a monumental scolding, so I brace myself mentally, though I can't help feeling a knot in my stomach, and I tell her briefly what I've been doing today and my last-minute decision that led to what happened in the alley.
"We took a detour down a side road to avoid a roundabout, and we came across some men who were beating up a boy and a girl. I ordered them to stop, and well, the one who seemed to be the leader let them go”, I say, then pause for a second to gauge her reaction, but her expression remains the same, so I continue. "I sent the girl and the boy to the doctor."
My mother closes her eyes for a moment and pinches the bridge of her nose, as she always does when something exasperates her, and says with a calmness that only increases the feeling that a scolding is coming “I'm thinking of forbidding you from going out ever again. Of the two times you've gone out for a simple walk, both times you've ended up getting into trouble."
"I don't look for trouble!" I reply, trying to defend myself. "It just happens. What did you expect me to do? Stand there and watch like it was a show while they kicked a girl to death?"
My mother sighs and I see her hesitate for a moment, but then she says to me in a softer tone “Wen, the way you talk and behave sometimes makes me forget that you're only eight years old and don't understand how the world works."
I'm about to protest, wanting to tell her that I'm not just an eight-year-old girl and I have more experience than she imagines, but I hold back, and my mother, ignoring my thoughts, turns to Lianhua.
"And Lianhua, you should know better how to act in these cases”, she says with a slight reproach. "You should have stopped her."
Lianhua bows her head respectfully but replies without hesitation “I will always follow Zhāohuán Wen's orders."
My mother frowns again and shakes her head, as if all this were senseless madness, and finally seems to decide not to continue the discussion.
"Since you brought them here, they are your responsibility”, she finally says before turning to leave. "You decide what to do with them."
I watch her walk away, her tall, elegant figure slowly disappearing as she enters the main house, and I feel a mixture of relief and resignation as I see her leave, after which I turn to Lianhua.
"Take me to where the doctor has set up her office”, I say. "I want to make sure those two are okay."
"As you wish, Zhāohuán Wen”, she replies and immediately begins pushing my chair toward the wing of the palace where the doctor is treating the girl and Ling Tian.
