2 ONE (1/2)

Luoyang City

The rumbling of two horses racing pierced through the dark quiet night. Both horseman appears to try to outrun each other. The fear of being late for the meeting with their lord drove them to keep pushing their horse harder, charging ahead with intense urgency.

Both may seems like two local rich young lords who just came out from the brothel. They were dressed in exquisite clothes, riding their horses from the famous prostitute's area towards the riches' mansions area in Luoyang City. The horse they riding was not any regular horse but horse meant for the royal family.

The first rider suddenly pulled back the reins. The horse he was riding immediately stopped then dramatically turned around. The second rider behind him was compelled to follow suit.

They went back to one of the aisles they passed in the corner of the city. They were still near the famous prostitution area on the west side of Luoyang city. There were a lot of small dark aisles in this area which was famous for criminal activities. The two horses walked slowly towards a horse-drawn carriage parked at the mouth of a small dark alley.

It seems like it was purposely parked there to cover the aisle. One old horse was still tied to the carriage and it was breathing heavily. The two horses which was twice the size of that regular horse stopped in front of the carriage. The old horse began to move nervously.

”Show yourself or I will tear this carriage a part!” The first man commanded with a sharp tone, pointing a long sword toward the carriage.The other man beside him pulled out his own sword towards same direction and both waited in silence.

It was obvious there was scuffles in the carriage. The man lost his patience and moved his hand with the sword directed at the link that bind the horse to the carriage. Immediately the horse that had been moving restlessly was separated from the carriage and the horse broke into a furious gallop away from them. The carriage's front crashed to the ground with a bang.

Two shabbily dressed men and a woman with an excessive makeup immediately scurried out of their hiding place. The three kneeled on the ground and began bowing repeatedly to the two men smothering with dangerous vibes.

”We did nothing, sir. Please don't kill us.”

”We are just homeless people. We have no valuables.”

The two shabby men begged for forgiveness while banging their heads on the ground. The woman who was a madam of prostitute house, only looked down in silence.

”Then, why were you hiding when you heard us past this street?”, pressed the first man.

They were both still on their horses, still holding their swords, towering over the three who were still kneeling on the ground. Both of them could see that the two men on the ground were lying. Even though they are dressed like peasants, both have well-built postures. Muscle that is not possible for homeless to have.

”Open the blinds. Show me what's inside the carriage.”, the first man commanded, his voice unusually sharp for a man.

The three exchanged glances. One of them stood up and began to approach the edge of the carriage. His hand was holding the end of the cloth that was covering the weathered carriage, when the other man abruptly jumped from the ground, throwing a deadly dagger towards the men in front.

The first man smiled disdainfully at this low life peasant and deflected the dagger with his sword like he was swapping flies. In a fluid lightning fast movement, he swung his sword for the second time and the peasant fell to the ground. He started to scream hysterically while holding his severed hand. His palm laid on the ground before him. His blood splashes to the woman next to him and made her scream hysterically. The man with severed hands fainted instantly. Meanwhile, the madam prostitute looked pale and covered her mouth with both hands.

The first man turned his head and found his buddy already stood next to the carriage. One hand has opened the blinds while the other hand returned his sword to its case behind his back.

”Where is the other scoundrel?”, asked the first man.

”I killed him”, replied the second one briefly without turning around. ”Ge, look.”

The first man didn't have the intention to get off his horse. He just led his horse closer to see what inside the carriage. The first thing he saw was a pair of round eyes staring back at him. Obviously, those eyes looked terrified.

A young beautiful girl laid and covered in a thick mat. Her delicate hands were tied above her head. Scars and blood around her wrist indicate that she might had tried many times to escape. A dirty scarf laid not far from her face. Judging from the trace of blood on the edge of her lips, they figured her mouth was covered earlier too. Her legs were also tied up securely.

Stammering voice sounded behind them. The madam prostitute, who was still sitting on the ground, finally opened her mouth.

”These two men tried to sell the girl to me. They forced me to take her out of Luoyang and to work as one of my girls. I tried to refuse before both of you passed this street. Sir, please spare my live.” The madam begged fearfully.

”Tell me who is behind this kidnapping?”, asked the first man firmly.

The madam gasps then hit her own forehead to the ground. Stammering, she answered that question while crying. ”I… s-s-swear I… don't know who had hired these two bastards to kidnap this young girl. They just said this girl's family intended to get rid of her.”

It is common for rich families to have family feud. They have official wife, second wife, and their concubines, meanwhile all their children compete with each other to inherit their family line. They would do anything within their households in order to win the family war.

Boys got poisoned, girls were thrown away, husbands died, wives returned to their parents' homes. This isn't strange anymore if this girl got deliberately dumped by her step mother or relatives to become prostitute in other city or even send out to another kingdom.

The first man finally decided to come down from his horse. This time, together with the second man, they released the young girl. They cut all the binding rope but the girl remained motionless. Both of them started to feel strange. Both of them pulled off the thick mat that wrapped around the girl's body only to discover that the girl was paralyzed. Someone must have pressed her acupoint and both men were sure that the person who did it weren't one of the men who were now lying on the ground.

The clothes worn by this beautiful girl looks expensive. There wasn't a single piece of jewelry on her. Her hairstyle looked just like hairstyle of commoners even though her hair had messed up. Judging from her clothing material alone, it indicates that this girl is not part of a noble family. She could be one of daughter of concubine from the rich merchant family in that area. Ever since the new dynasty established, even though merchant is the lowest profession among commoners, some merchant families were quite wealthy.

The first man quickly pressed her acupoint so she could speak and move. ”Which family do you come from?” He asked while watching the girl who started to sit up on her own.

This young lady acted strangely. She looked down at her clothes appearing to be surprised and confused. Then she moved her hands, flapped like a bird. She began to beat her legs softly but then she howled in surprise at the shape of her foot. It was like this is the first time she saw a pair of binding foot.

”Which family do you come from?” The first man repeated the question, this time more emphatically.

The girl turned her body. From the way she looked at the two men, her bizarre expression stunned the two men. ”Jiang” She answered, almost like a whisper.

The girl pointed to the ground. ”I heard they mentioned the Jiang family when I regained consciousness. But I can't remember a thing. I don't remember who my family is. I don't remember who I am.”

”Do you mean Duke Jiang?” The first man glared at her.

The second man shakes his head, he could not believe what she said. ”It's impossible. Duke Jiang has only one son and one daughter. If Duke Jiang's daughter was kidnapped, this whole city would have known about it.”

”But her foot….” Before the first man could finished his sentence, the other man snapped back at him.

”A lot of merchant's daughters bind their foot.”

”Please, dà ren, please spare this low life.” The madam wailed at them. She kept bowing to the ground until she heard something being thrown to the ground.

She lifted up her head just to find a pouch that contains silvers on the ground, arm length from her face. Confused with the whole situation, she didn't dare to touch the pouch and remain still, shivering in fear. The first man carried the beautiful lady with both arms, while the second one was pointing his sword to her nose.

”Just consider we bought this girl from you. Now scram!” The moment the first man shouted at her, with trembling hands, the madam swopped the pouch into her chest then got up and flee for her life.

The two man didn't even have interest to check whether that madam has already gone. They looked at each other while the young girl will still in one of their arms.

”Gē, we need to hurry back. Wáng ye is waiting for us.” After he lowered his sword, the second man turned around. With teary eyes, that beautiful young lady watched him while her head was leaning securely on the other's shoulder.

”We bring her along.”, said the first man.

”But….” The second man hesitated to that idea. He knew this girl must not be just an ordinary girl and he knew his buddy felt the same way with him.

”Wáng ye isn't in a good mood lately. Especially after we report to wáng ye what we found at the capital.” The first man gazed at the girl in his arms. ”This girl might be able to help calm down our wáng ye for some time.”

Noticing the girl leaned weakly with teary eyes and remain silence, the second man asked: ”You pressed her acupoint?!”

The second man's eyeballs widen. His fellow just nodded firmly and ignored his reaction. ”Yes. Now, help me get her on the horse.”

***

The trio entered the back of a mansion in the center of Luoyang city. Just right after the sunrise, a two horses carriage with one guard sat on the saddle's control, came out from the front gate of the mansion. The carriage calmly headed to the east side of the city. The carriage stopped once it reached back gate behind a huge mansion, bestowed by the current emperor to his first surviving son, Li Fei Long.

Once the carriage was safe inside the backdoor of the mansion, two men dressed in eunuch outfit jumped out from the carriage. The first eunuch gave a signal to tài jiàn who was standing by waiting for their arrival.

”Take her to the back side of wáng ye's quarter. Inform pό zi to bath, feed, and dress her up to serve wáng ye tonight.”

Once they heard this girl was meant to serve Duān Qīn Wáng, two tài jiàn held her carefully. Both of them carried her up above their shoulder and gone to the inner court in a split second.

Both high rank eunuchs now walked side by side towards same direction slowly and calmly. They have been arranged to serve Duān Qīn Wáng, since the day Li Fei Long was born. They have been devoted to Li Fei Long for many years. Supported Li Fei Long safely entered his adulthood, received the title of Duān Qīn Wáng, and became the one of the solid candidates to be crown prince.

For almost a decade in his reign, the current emperor didn't seem to have interest to choose his next successor. The deceased previous emperor had chosen the current emperor as his successor the moment he claimed victory over the war, seized the throne and proclaimed himself as emperor of a new dynasty.

Sure there were schemes inside hòu gong during the time, but the current empress dowager and the current emperor wasn't ordinary character. Empress's family background has supported the emperor as well. And thus this royal family grew even stronger until the empress was confirmed to be no longer able to give birth to dragon son.

Now all eyes were closely watching the four Qīn Wáng who have entered adulthood. Each of them has been bestowed the title Qīn Wáng, their own fῠ and cè fei. One by one has joined royal court and carried politic responsibilities. The most appealing were Duān Qīn Wáng and Ruì Qīn Wáng.

Both have equal supporters in the court. Both have high rank birth mothers that came from the most influencial noble families. One is Noble Consort Jing and the other one is Pure Consort Shu. Since the emperor remains neutral to all Qīn Wáng, the people of Li dynasty proclaim how wise and illustrious emperor is.

Ming He and Qian Chang Xin reached study room and informed their arrival to Li Fei Long who has been staying there since last night. After dismissed one junior tài jiàn, Li Fei Long takes a sip from the steaming tea cup on the side table.

Both eunuchs bowed down in front of him. Ming He is the first one who gave his report. ”Report to wáng ye. Nú cai has informed Noble Consort Jing to rush back to the palace.”

”Did you explained the situation?”, Li Fei long asked calmly. He puts back his tea on the table and looked at his most trusted people.

”Yes, wáng ye. Noble Consort Jing's entourage is reaching the palace as we speak right now.”

Noble Consort Jing got permission from the emperor to pay a visit to the royal temple outside capital city to pray for Empress Dowager's health. Who would have thought on this rare occasion, emperor gave imperial edict for Li Fei Long to do inspection to Lou Yang city and at the same time the emperor also summoned Minister of Personal, Minister of Rite, and the Head of Department of State Affairs.

The last time the emperor summoned this high ranked officials privately was for imperial gongzhu betrothal to fuma. Therefore Li Fei Long felt anxious. Noble Consort Jing was not in palace. While Li Fei Long was carrying out state duties.

It's an open secret that the grand chancellor's daughter, Han Yao Ying, is the prime candidate to be betrothed to one of the Qīn Wáng.

Grand chancellor, Han Xiu Wen, is the nephew of Empress Dowager. A very capable man who married to emperor royal sister, Grand Princess Li Liang Rong . The Grand Princess Li Liang Rong is widely known as one of the empire heroes, who fought along with the emperor and the late emperor during wartime.

Hearing Li Fei Long's deep sigh, Qian Chang Xin didn't wait for his lord to asked him again. He quickly continued to report his findings.

”In accordance with wáng ye's prediction, Pure Consort Shu's maiden household has been sending some rare treasures to grand chancellor's mansion.”

Of course Pure Consort Shu and Ruì Qīn Wáng didn't want to lose the opportunity. Even though, Li Fei Long has the bigger chance since he is the oldest Qīn Wáng. Still, he felt anxious.

Li Fei Long has met Han Yao Ying few times in person and he already decided that she is the one who would be his perfect phoenix companion to sit on the throne. Han Yao Ying's family support and her elegance beauty has captured Li Fei Long's eyes. The problem was, not only Li Fei Long felt that way. Ruì Qīn Wáng and Pure Consort Shu have made few low profile attempts to connect with grand chancellor and Grand Princess.

Li Fei Long can only cleared his throat. For now, there's nothing he could do. He could only wait and see. He waved his hand to excuse Ming He and Qian Chang Xin. The two eunuchs moved to their post and started to serve Li Fei Long like usual.

***

”What's your name?”

The question from the eunuch was met with her silence. If only she could say her real name, she would answer it right away. The problem was she had been time traveled to an era she couldn't recognize.

Both eunuchs who brought her to this astonishing mansion, were watching her closely while she was sitting at the center of a big bed chamber guarded by one pό zi who gave her a bath earlier.

”Then, let's wait for wáng ye to meet you and decide what will wáng ye do to you.” The eunuch smirk at her while his eyes looked at her up and down.

”I'm the daughter of Duke Jiang.” The beautiful girl glare at him with fierce eyes. With her clear smooth skin and cheeks red like peaches, Ming He was assured that this young pure girl would be able to please wáng ye.

And if this girl has intelligence, Ming He was pretty sure that she could land a great position once wáng ye bring her back to duăn wᾴng fῠ.

”If you really are the daughter of Duke Jiang, then you would have given me your name.” Ming He looked at her coldly, his steely eyes made her shivers.

”I told you I could not remember anything. The moment I regained consciousness, I heard one of the kidnappers mentioned Duke Jiang.”

From the way the girl interact with Ming He andQian Chang Xin, both applauded her for her bravery. Her eyes looks scared but at the same time has the courage to defend herself. The pό zi had informed Ming He and Qian Chang Xin that this girl was still as pure as snow, meaning she was still a virgin. Other than having amnesia, the girl was healthy and on top of that, immensely beautiful.

”It's possible that you have heard wrongly,” Qian Chang Xin said emphatically to the girl who sat on the chair in front of him. He wanted her to stop dodging the purpose of her being taken to this quarter. ”We both saved your life. That makes you owe us your life.”

”Actually, you should be delighted to know that our lord is actually Duān Qīn Wáng.” Ming He gesture respectfully towards outside as if he was giving it to Li Fei Long himself. Then he turned his face back to the girl who clearly looks angry.

”And why should I feel delighted? I owe my life to both of you, not to your lord.” The girl snapped angrily.

She lifted her chin as if she didn't want to be looked down by these two eunuchs. Qian Chang Xin still felt that this girl has this elegance aura that bothers his guts. But he has ordered special spies to investigate whether it is true that Duke Jiang's daughter had been kidnapped. And the report he and Ming He received before they stepped their feet here suggested that nothing has happened at Jiang Gong Fu.

”After you served our wáng ye, your attitude towards us will change significantly.” Ming He walked one step closer but his words apparently just triggered her to jump from her sit.

”I will not serve any wáng ye.” She asserted in defiant. Meanwhile her balance betrayed her. Probably because of her footbinding, she almost fell backward if she didn't held on to the edge of the round table.

Ming He acted swiftly. He moved like a ghost and restrained her, his hand grabbing her jaw firmly. Qian Chang Xin summoned the yā huan who was standing by outside the room with a porcelain bowl on a tray. The girl's eyeballs widened after she saw Qian Chang Xin bringing the bowl towards her.

She could see how dark the liquid was inside the bowl. The smell was too strong for her nose and burned her throat when the duo forced her to swallow it. Ming He pressed her nose as soon he let go her jaw, making sure that the girl swallowed every single drop. Once done they released her and she fell back on the chair with a burning sensation crawling down her throat into her stomach.

”It is not poison,” Ming He said calmly to the girl who was still shocked.

”Guard her until wáng ye came back to rest,” Qian Chang Xin gave order to the pό zi who still standing with lowered head at the end of the room.

Both of them turned and stepped out of the room. Qian Chang Xin whispered to Ming He: ”That girl is no ordinary girl.”

”If she is smart enough, she would be extraordinary by sunrise tomorrow.” No one saw a drop of sweat rolls down Ming He's forehead. This was the first time he used drug on a women to serve his lord.

Ming He and Qian Chang Xin have been taking care Li Fei Long's need for so long to know that their wáng ye has huge desires for women. Since Duān Qīn Wáng has huge imperial reputation that he needs to maintain, Ming He and Qian Chang Xin have been arranging this matter covertly.At least until this moment.

Both went separate ways quietly. One walked towards the kitchen to prepare for their lord's dinner while the other walked to the study room where Li Fei Long was still finishing his work.

***

Li Fei Long has been informed what was waiting for him inside his bed chamber. All this time Ming He and Qian Chang Xin have never let him down, so as usual, Li Fei Long didn't really put too much concern about the existence of a young maiden on his bed chamber.

After Ming He helped him with his outfit, Li Fei Long proceed to his bath which was assisted by Qian Chang Xin. While enjoying his warm bath, his heard the sigh of a passionate voice inside his bed. He glanced at Qian Chang Xin who remained bowed at his post. As if the moan full of lust and the movement on his bed did not happen.

Feeling aroused, Li Fei Long quickly stood up and walked out from the tub. He waved Qian Chang Xin away who was standing behind him holding linen ready to dry his body. He looking intensely towards his bed chamber. He walked calmly toward his bed, ignoring Qian Chang Xin who withdrew himself out of the room.

The moaning and movements on his bed looks tempting. A young girl was moving lustfully, hands wandering over her own curves as if trying to calm the heat emanating from her body. The thin fabric she was wearing was almost transparent. Before he unfolds the thin curtain that separated him from the girl, that girl stopped her movement and stared at him.

”Stay where you are!” The girl growled like a hurt animal.

Li Fei Long laughed and unfolded the thin curtain. Stunned by the astonishing yet erotic view before him, Li Fei Long stood there for a moment to admire every details of the beautiful figure before him.

From her eyes, he saw her anger. From her face, he notices her heat and from her lustful restless body language, he knew that this young girl in front of him was as aroused as himself. The way she breaths seems strange. Li Fei Long turned his head to seek his two trusted eunuchs but realized that they both has left the room.

Shifting his attention to the young girl again, Li Fei Long smirk at her. He mounted the bed and face the girl with his muscular body, Li Fei Long could not wait to fully savor what was in front of him.

”Stay back…..”

Li Fei Long moved forward and face that beautiful face inches away. He could smell her nice odor. He could feel her hot breath on his face, and the feeling of it was refreshing.

”What's your name?” Li Fei Long whispered. The girl looks confused.

”I'll give you a name,” said Li Fei Long after he realized the girl might not able to think properly since she took a potion which made her arouse. Li Fei Long pressed his body onto hers. The moment her sensitive nipples rubbed against him, Li Fei Long heard the betraying moan from her lips.

”How do I stay away from you if you crave me this much?” He whispered to her ear. The girl wriggled restlessly as lust clouded her mind. The more she moved, the more wet she became.She sat on one of his thigh, Li Fei Long could feel the wetness between her legs.