The Brocade Prince | A. Y. Chao #3
Her energy reserves were almost depleted.
Feifei had to rid herself of the stranger, and fast. There was one move he would not be able to parry, though using it would considerably weaken the buffer of qi she used to protect her identity.
With one eye on the sky and the coming dawn, she dropped into the main courtyard among the overgrown weeds.
She had a few moments before the stranger arrived, to prepare her most effective, and most draining, attack: Male Hare Bounds Here and There, a spinning kick delivering a rapid succession of blows, like that of a hare thumping the ground. No one was ever left standing.
Breathing deep, she moved her arms in a series of poses to channel some of the buffer qi she used to disguise her torso into her aching legs. When the stranger landed in the derelict garden, she flew at him with explosive speed, feet a blur of motion.
Instead of being pummelled into the ground, the stranger bent in all directions, a blade of grass in the wind, avoiding every single kick, and finally sliding backwards, out of reach, where he stood staring at her, eyes wide.
She stared back, equally shocked. He’d countered her move with its partner form: Female Hare Narrows Its Eyes. Only Master Sun’s students knew the secrets to executing the two forms.
“Tian dictates a person’s nature and destiny,” the stranger said, delivering the first half of the code couplet with a slow and careful intensity.
Feifei blew out a soft breath. It had been years since her days at Master Sun’s school, but she often thought of her friend Fan Tong.
Chubby, clumsy, adorable. They went every where together.
Those days of unrestrained freedom, skipping stones on the river, climbing trees, playing hide and seek, were some of her most cherished memories. Could this be him?
But then she recalled the man’s confidence, his manner of speech, his costly robes, and she felt a pang of disappointment. Fan Tong stuttered, had a thick Southern accent, and came from farmer stock.
She reminded herself that meeting a fellow disciple, even if he wasn’t a dear friend, was still a source of joy.
In a hoarse voice she completed the couplet: “But through diligent effort one reaches benevolence.”
The stranger raised his hands in zuoyi, bowing deeply. “Honourable brother, I knew someone with such skill must have had an extraordinary teacher. I’m glad to know I wasn’t wrong. I’m Brother Shuang, though some times they call me Moonlight Frost.”
She knew the name. He was one of Master Sun’s favourites, a few years older than Feifei, but she had no memory of ever meeting him at school.
Not surprising, since she had paid little attention to anyone except Fan Tong.
Perhaps Brother Shuang remembered her, or rather, the sturdy servant boy named Yiyao, who attended classes sporadically, whenever his mistress pilgrimaged to the mountain temple. Perhaps they had even sparred together?
Or perhaps Brother Shuang arrived after that fateful summer when the swell of her breasts, hips, and the additional complication of her menses, made it impossible to return as Yiyao.
How she had cried knowing she’d never see her friend Fan Tong again, nor be able to explain her sudden disappearance.
She put the bittersweet memory aside and returned the zuoyi with respect and affection. “Honourable brother, your skills are no less impressive. Master Sun has taught us well. I am Brother Jin.”
He staggered. “You’re the famed Brocade Prince?”
She stiffened. Brocade Prince was a name the locals had given her for saving young ladies from despicable men. How had he made the connection between Master Sun’s Brother Jin and the masked youxia before him?
Brother Shuang closed the gap between them and put a hand on her shoulder.
His mask was carved to resemble a tiger with a wide mouth and sharp teeth.
He leaned in conspiratorially. “Do you know how many women in this city have declared them selves your ardent admirers? I’ve even seen stalls selling wooden dolls of the Brocade Prince, small enough to tuck inside the pouches ladies hang from their waists. ”
“Really?” she said before she could stop herself. She rarely went out during the day, so hadn’t seen the dolls. She cleared her throat. “Why do you think I’m the Brocade Prince?” she asked, keeping her tone casual.
Chuckling and shaking his head, Brother Shuang sat on a nearby step.
“Brother Min and Brother Hsu were passing through a few years ago and saw you fighting a group of bandits. They were about to give you a hand when you broke out Male Hare Bounds Here and There. Not a single one of the bandits was left standing. They knew it could only be Brother Jin, the one disciple of Master Sun’s who can sustain the move against a dozen assailants.
The three sisters you saved thanked you, calling you the Brocade Prince as you dashed away.
” He shrugged. “We put two and two together.”
Feifei had indeed successfully defeated groups of bandits using Male Hare Bounds Here and There, but there had been so many fights they blurred together.
“Oh,” she said weakly, realising the other brothers kept in touch, which made her sad again.
From his robe, he pulled out a crumpled parcel and carefully unwrapped it. Inside were ugly pink and green lumps which looked like they had once been osmanthus flower cakes. He offered them to Feifei.
She joined him on the step, sitting with her legs in a man-sprawl. Nodding at the squashed cakes, she said, “What happened to those?”
He slid his gaze to Feifei, corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. “Some scoundrel’s knee.”
Feifei choked when she understood his meaning. Brother Shuang burst into guffaws, misunder standing her horror.
“Feeling bad you tried to make me infertile and ruined my snack, eh?”
He slipped one of the misshapen lumps under his mask, chewing happily while pushing the remaining one at Feifei.
She didn’t trust herself to speak, so grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and took the mutilated cake.
Under her mask, the cake’s delicate fragrance mingled with the stench of sweat and musk.
Nearly gagging, she shoved it into her mouth and forced herself to chew, baffled that a man who smelled as good as Brother Shuang would have such disgusting disregard for food hygiene.
“Fighting with you was invigorating. Makes me really miss our training sets with Master Sun.” Letting out a sigh, Brother Shuang lay against the stone steps, stretching his legs out fully. Hands behind his head, he closed his eyes.
Feifei envied his carefree manner. She would never have dared to let down her guard like that.
Remembering how good it felt to sink into the steaming water after a hard training session, she said, “I miss the hot springs the most.”
“Heavenly bliss.” His voice was wistful. Eyes still closed, he said, “You know, until Brother Min and Brother Hsu saw you fighting, we all thought Master Sun made you up, since no one remembers sparring with you at school. And you never attend our reunions.”
An owl hooted somewhere in the distance as Feifei considered how to answer. In the end she simply said, “I have many obligations. It is often not convenient to attend the reunions.”
He rolled onto his side to face her, assessing her with a frank gaze that made her cheeks heat behind her mask.
Her excuse was nothing out of the ordinary; in this at least it mattered not whether she was a man or woman, the business of daily life did indeed carry many burdens and time constraints.
Not everyone had the freedom to come and go at their leisure.
She turned away, tipping her head back to gaze at the starry sky.
“Forgive me for prying, Brother Jin,” he said, “but I must ask. Why were you at the magistrate’s tonight?”
Master Sun’s disciples all swore an oath so she knew he would help her if she asked, but she was wary of someone else getting involved in her business.
Treading carefully, she said, “Do you remember the Baishan abductions?”
Brother Shuang bolted upright, the laidback demeanour gone. “I lost my parents to one of their raids, and only narrowly managed to save my sister.”
Feifei nodded. “Almost everyone I know has lost someone to those monsters.”
Protected by corrupt officials, the Baishan Sect tore through towns and villages abducting women and girls with impunity. She glanced at Brother Shuang, calculating what information she was willing to share.
There was an unguarded softness in those brown eyes and she found herself saying more than was prudent. “The Vice Chancellor of the Court of Judicial Review was framed. He wasn’t the one behind the abductions.”
Brother Shuang chuckled softly to himself. “Fate has brought us together,” he said. “I’m looking for the testimony that proves his innocence. It’s hidden in a painting by Lord Cui.”
“How do you know that?” Surprise made her tone sharper than she’d intended.
If he was taken aback by her reaction, he didn’t show it.
He scratched his head, then in a gentle voice, said, “My uncle owes a life debt to the Vice Chancellor and asked me to investigate. It’s taken many months of searching but I finally tracked down an old servant who overheard the Vice Chancellor telling someone he hid the evidence in Lord Cui’s painting. ”
Feifei’s entire body went numb. If the servant knew that someone had been her mother, her entire family was in danger. She fought to keep her voice level. “That’s impressive. Who else was in the room with the Vice Chancellor?”
“The servant never saw the person, only two shadows. I made a list of everyone who received a painting from the Vice Chancellor and have been checking them.” He nodded at her chest. “That was the only scroll the magistrate had with Lord Cui’s seal.”
Feifei pressed her lips together, still unsure about trusting this stranger.
“So, now I’ve shared my reasons, could you maybe share yours?”