“Qingshan, listen to your mother,” Madam Su said as she hastily shoved a wooden box of jewelry toward her. “With your father in this state, I don’t think we’re safe here. We’ll go to my family’s house for now and lay low.”
She began fastening pieces to herself with trembling hands—bracelets at her wrists, a necklace at her throat, hairpins threaded through her bun. Anything that wouldn’t stay put she tied into the folds of her robe.
They were almost out the door when Eunuch Sun, sharp-eyed as ever, blocked their path.
“Stop.” He stepped forward and gave them the once-over, from head to toe. He had noticed. There were a lot of trinkets.
“Madam Su,” he said, voice flat, “by imperial decree, no one is allowed to remove valuable items from the residence. You—” His finger traced down her from her hair to her shoes.
Madam Su bristled. “Even personal items I’m wearing? That’s ridiculous.”
Sun’s mouth curled into a cruel smile. “Personal items? That’s far too much to claim. Please hand them over. If you refuse, I’ll have my men take them, and it won’t be pleasant.”
His gaze slid to Wei Qingshan. For all his formal tone, his eyes lingered on the girl with a lecherous leer. The look sent a fresh tremor of fear through Qingshan. Madam Su stepped in front of her daughter like a shield.
“You dare—” she snapped.
“Dare? You think I’m afraid?” Sun sneered. “Guards—search them. Everything on both of them. Now.”
“Yes, sir!”
Two slight boy eunuchs hurried forward. They wrenched Madam Su away from Qingshan. Eunuch Sun stepped in close to the girl himself, hands reaching.
“Don’t you—” Madam Su roared, fury stripping her voice raw. “You filthy dog, lay a hand on my daughter and I’ll kill you! Let go! Sun Wu, let her go—”
Qingshan staggered backward, shackled by terror. The sight of Sun’s puckered, ugly face and the way his eyes shone made her shake as if in a cold wind. She couldn’t move away before he reached her. With a rough shove he forced her down, straddling her, his hands fumbling.
Qingshan began to break apart. “Let me go! Mother—help me! Help—” Her voice cracked, on the edge of a sob.
Madam Su’s fury snapped into action. She ripped free of the eunuchs and launched herself at Sun, a hard boot to his ribs that sent him sprawling. She rained blows on him, fists and heels, the sound of her strikes sharp in the courtyard. “What are you waiting for? Pull her away!” she screamed. “You wretch! You’ll pay!”
But soldiers seized her before she could finish. They dragged her back as she fought, cursing and thrashing.
Qingshan sat huddled on the ground, straightening her clothing with trembling hands. She looked dazed, her face white as paper.
Elsewhere, late into the morning, Prince Si Hongxi finally woke, alarmed by the time. “What hour is it?”
His attendant, Mu Qing, answered quickly. “Almost si. It’s close to midday, Your Highness.”
Prince Si sprang up. “The edict from the palace… if it reached the Chancellor’s household and is enforced, Miss Manman will be left unguarded. We must go to the Chancellor’s mansion and bring her home at once—Ruoruo will worry herself sick otherwise.”
He did not know that Wan Ruo had already had the same thought. Before dawn she had slipped out alone toward the chancellor’s compound.
Back at the mansion, the scene had degenerated. Sun had grabbed Qingshan by the arm and snarled, “You look me in the eye. See what I’m doing to you.”
“Dog!” Madam Su howled. “Even in death I’ll get you!”
Sun only grew crueler at her threats. He yanked Qingshan’s hair as if to tear it from her head, preparing to do worse—when a boot drove into his back.
He lurched forward, hitting the ground hard. His front teeth struck the flagstones and a sharp pain shot through him. Blood ran on his hand as he touched his split lip. “My tooth—who’s—who dares—”
“It’s your auntie!” Wan Ruo was on him, ragged hair and a robe disordered, fury written across her face. Qingshan’s hair and clothing looked torn; Wan Ruo’s eyes flashed at the sight. The thought of eunuchs doing such vile things made her sick with rage.
She grabbed Sun by the collar. “You dare touch her? You must want to die.”
Her slap was loud enough to sting. She did it again, and again, each crack of her palm hitting Sun’s face. Tears burst from his eyes. “Do you know who I am?” Wan Ruo hissed, pressing on, “I’m someone close to the Emperor. Cross me and you’ll answer to powerful people.”
The boy eunuchs froze, mouths open. Even Madam Su watched, astonished and secretly cheering; if only she could be free she would skin him herself.
Qin Manman happened to pass by and found Wan Ruo raining blows on a man in the dirt. “Sister? What are you doing?”
Wan Ruo paused, breath heaving, and turned to her. “Manman, I came to fetch you—and to teach these bullies a lesson.”
She glared at Eunuch Sun, fingers splayed on her hips; the crack of her knuckles sounded like a warning. Sun cowered, shivering where he sat, suddenly very small.
The two little eunuchs holding Madam Su let go at that glance. Madam Su rushed to Qingshan, pulling her into her arms, trying to shield her. Qingshan, hollow-eyed, slid into unconsciousness.
Sun scrambled to his feet and barked for reinforcements. Within moments a dozen of his men surged forward, closing ranks around Wan Ruo. He was not a man to forgive.
For a single person to stand against so many was reckless. Wan Ruo could fight—and hard—but her own strength was a poor match for numbers. Her spirit had been drained: the magic she might once have used was gone, sapped by healing White Chen and worsened since. There would be no spells to call now. She had to rely on muscle and will.
Madam Su could only hold her daughter and watch, helpless. “Sister, be careful!” Qin Manman cried.
The soldiers moved in, and Wan Ruo dodged the first clumsy strokes. She weaved and struck, breath coming short, sweat beading on her temples. But blows kept coming from different angles, and she was tiring fast. The courtyard swirled with motion—shouts, the clang of leather, the harsh barking of orders.
Eunuch Sun watched it all with grisly enjoyment.
Just as Wan Ruo began to falter, exhausted and nearly out of options, a sharp voice cut through the chaos.
“Everyone, stop!”