By: Kia Lam

The sun peered over the hills of the Middle Kingdom, its rays extending and expanding, touching and claiming everything for its own.
It was a cold and crisp winter morning, steam rose from the homes of the people as they went about their daily morning routine. Xiao Jian resided with Lieu Qing and Lieu Hong in their commoners’ house and at the first glint of the sun’s rays, he was up and about. A light sleeper, Xiao Jian was the first to awaken before the others, therefore he breakfasted alone and took a leisurely morning walk into the market square. He did this everyday, and each day his feet would bring him ever so closer to the Forbidden City Gates without his mind’s consent.
This morning Xiao Jian decided to pay a visit to Qing Er, regardless if he was allowed to or not. From the moment he bumped into her during Xiao Yian Zi and Zi Wei’s wedding night, he could not forget her. Her smile, her soft, brown eyes, her elegant posture, her feministic demeanor, her innocence are both new and exciting to him. His heart skips a beat whenever he thinks about her, he feels complete and content whenever he is with her.
Upon reaching the Palace Gates, he easily and swiftly climbed over the wall, and landed noiselessly in the garden courtyard. The sentries were asleep, for their shift did not end for another hour. He slipped quietly passed them, and was courteous enough to replace a few misplaced hats in their rightful positions, and to use a few handkerchiefs and to try and stifle their uproarious snores that he feared would betray his existence.
Upon reaching the royal literature quarters of the palace, he edged slowly along the outside wall of the room, careful to not to make any noise that would attract the attention of the inhabiters inside. The boys were reciting from their textbooks ancient says from the Classics, and for a moment, Xiao Jian paused to listen. "Love hurts more than it cures…"
"He who is pricked by the needle of love is poisoned forever…"
"Love is as inconstant as the moon…"
With each saying Xiao Jian became angrier, speculating and thinking over the validity of each saying. They are wrong! The Classics are sham; they do not know love…or anything for that matter!! He thought. Just then, a hand was placed on his shoulder and he whirled around, his hands cocked in front of him in anticipation of an attack from a sentry guard.
Staring back at him were a pair of gentle brown eyes that seemed to be dancing at him.
"Qing Er!" he said, surprised.
Quickly she put her hand on his lips to indicate silence. Realizing what she had done, she quickly drew her hand back and she was met with a face showing great earnest and longing. Quickly it changed and Xiao Jian nodded and smiled apologetically.
Signaling him to follow her, she led him into a clearing behind a group of massive rocks and trees that were displayed in the royal garden.
"What are you doing here?" Qing Er asked bewildered.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. I thought females weren’t allowed to enter the royal literature quarters." He replied.
"They aren’t. But I have the emperor’s permission to attend and learn in the regular classes with the boys." she explained.
"Why aren’t you in there then?" he asked.
"I cannot stand those rude and annoying adolescents, and I cannot stand the huffy so called scholar any less." She said.
"So why are you even near the place if you hate it so?"
"I did not say I hated their lessons as well. I wish to learn all that can be learned in a lifetime therefore I attend class outside of class." She said quietly.
Xiao Jian stared at her, his eyes trying to pry into her thoughts, but the latter avoided his gaze.
"I see you seem to take a fancy in the lessons as well, or you wouldn’t have been caught listening along." She said, trying to change the subject.
At this Xiao Jian smiled wryly and replied, "I greatly oppose the Classics when it comes to love. Their sayings are thoughtless; they have no meaning and have no validity. Constantly I am introduced to the notion that love is a bad thing, something one should avoid and if one was unlucky enough to "catch" it, that person was doomed. That to me is the most ridiculous theory I have ever heard of, I-" he suddenly stopped when Qing Er cautioned him to be silent.
"Not so loud… they’ll hear you." she whispered. "And as for the Classics on love, let it rest. It may not apply to you, but it does apply to most of us…" she said quietly with her telltale eyes.
He shook his head, and closed his eyes in confusion. Without thinking, Xiao Jian grabbed Qing Er’s hands and held them to his breast.
Surprised and caught off-guard, Qing Er did not resist but stared at Xiao Jian full in the face.
He was about to speak when he heard a gasp that came behind the rose patches. Swirling around, Xiao Jian caught the eye of a young woman peeping behind the patch. She quickly came out and her telltale dress betrayed her status, a Ge Ge.
Pulling away from his hands, Qing Er said abruptly, "Jin Er! What are you doing here?"
"Qing Er! I was about to ask the same! What is that man doing here in the palace! GUARDS! GUARDS!!"
At once a battalion of Qing Imperial Guards arrived. Upon seeing the stranger, they attacked him at once.
Immediately Xiao Jian was battered from all sides by a wave of soldiers. He tried desperately to escape, but there was just too many. Finally, he was caught off-guard from dodging the swipe of a sword of a soldier when another swung with his pike and sent him face down on the ground. Immediately a crowd of sword points and spearheads blocked Xiao Jian’s attempt to get up. The seized him, standing him upright.
"Atrocious imp! How dare you break into the Imperial Palace and harass a Ge Ge! What’s more, the Ge Ge you have harassed is Qing Ge Ge, the Dowager Empress’s personal hong ren (favored person, "red person")! Guards, take him at once to Lao Fu Yai! She’ll like to deal with him personally!" cried Jin Er angrily.
Qing Er stared at Xiao Jian helplessly. There was nothing she could do. He stared steadily back; his eyes reassuring that everything would be ok. She stared at him until he was too war away to be seen.
"Qing Er, are you ok? What did he do to you?" asked Jin Er worriedly.
"Oh? Oh, nothing, nothing. Jin Er, excuse me, I must go to Lao Fu Yai’s place." Qing Er replied worriedly. She then took off helter-skelter towards the Dowager Empress’ quarters.
"Wait! I’m going too!" cried Jin Er as she ran after Qing Er.
It was a dark morning. The sun was nowhere to be seen. The clouds above betrayed the coming of a storm that would be an unforgettable one.

End of Book 5