16 Chapter 16: Shang Gu's story:

TIAN YAO'S POV:

I've known imperial gege my whole life and the only people I've seen him being patient around are us, his sister so that is why I was extremely surprised at how he seems to treat another girl with respect but it's the same respect for her treats us. To be honest I guess is wanted to deliberately find out more about this lady which is why I offered for Miss Shang Gu to stay with me for a night as I've space. The banquet ended smoothly with some dancers dancing along with a tune on the Gu qin*(4). I brought Shang Gu along to my tent as we smiled two beds were set out for us I claim the tiniest but was pushed towards the big one. "Shang Gu can I call you that?" I asked " Sure young miss," she replied "Aiyo don't call me young miss in private just call me Tian Yao," I remark as she nodded. Approaching the topic carefully I asked as we were on the bed sleeping in our nightgowns with guards guarding outside " How did you meet my imperial brother?" A long awkward silence surrounded us I began to say " I'm sorry did I say something wrong, gege is always nagging me that I don't know how to talk," I realized. " No, no it's okay I was just trying to think about how to start," She replied continuing.

" I was born in Guangzhou a good two kilometres from here. I was born into poverty with a good hardworking father and a beautiful mother. my father was a farmer and my mother a seamstress. Although there wasn't much money at home I had a blissful childhood until my mother died and everything fell apart. When I was five my mother got pregnant and my father was delighted, at that time I didn't know the hardship of giving birth but my mother ended up losing her life for it, luckily my brother was born a few minutes earlier, and survived. Father blamed my Lil brother Shang Yu for it but because didi*(1) was the only male who could take up our family name he would take out his anger on me because I resemble my mother more and more as I grew up. Not long later he took up gambling and drinking making him have numerous debts running after him. When I was 8 he would send me to a random room with a few men in it and tell me to do whatever they told me to do just to gain money and return the debt, that's how I lost my innocence to a bunch of men I didn't know," I stopped as tears run down my face seeing me in such a sorry state Tian Yao came onto my bed and hugged me trying to comfort me, I crew deeper as I large patch began to form on her nightgown. "This happened for a year or two until father got sick and tired of me and my 'services' wasn't bringing him enough income. At 10 years old he told me to wear the shabbiest clothes and brought me out onto the street in the city and made a magnificent story on how my mother died and he wanted someone to take me in as he had no money to raise me. That was the first time I saw your brother, many people were bidding to have me because I had started to grow a figure when he stepped in and gave my father a whole gold ingot until this day I could still remember what he said: " Take this money and bury your deceased wife and send your child to school, remember no matter what happens in the future don't ever sell your kids again,". My father agreed and thank him exquisitely he used all the money to pay off his debt, and with the remaining 500 taels he used it to drink, that was again another day we went without food. The next day I slept late but woke up not finding my younger brother when my father came home I ask him where didi was but my father's only reply was: I sold him. That was the first time I got physical with my father I tried running away but was knocked out, and the next thing I know was waking up at the entrance of a brothel*(2) with my head covered. I pulled it off pronto and shouted HELP!!!! HELP HELP HELP ME!!!. that was the second time I met him, he pulled me away to safety and brought me into an inn. AT that time Young master would only have been 15 years old but was pretty responsible and smart. He quickly told Yu Xuan ge to get a female doctor (who I later found out was their friend) and some clothes. I don't know why but when I was seeing this doctor I told her everything about me, Yu Xuan ge told me she uses hypnotizing to make me tell the truth. But You gege got my father jailed and found my brother for me, he is now a soldier working for you gege. But yeah that's the end of my life as a child. But he was my saviour and I own him my life,"

" You like my brother...." she whispered 'What is it that obvious?' " What do you mean? I only thought of him as my saviour the most treating him like an older brother. Why is everyone getting the impression that I like him?" I replied. " Because you do, you can lie to others but you can't lie to yourself. Imperial brother doesn't like you though," She analyzed. "I know but at least we can always be friends," I replied.

" To be honest what I'm going to tell you next is only between us. Li Tian You would kill me if anyone knows but I think it's still right to tell you, " I utter as she nodded her head.

" Back then when I was 9 and You gege were already 15. Although at a young age he was a patient teacher, teaching me everything he knew kungfu, writing, reading etc. Not long later Your gege sickness started to act up and in the least, then two months I was seeing that doctor again. Dr Sue was her name (an apprentice of the miracle doctor) and that was when Yu Xuan ge told me his story. You gege's mother died a few weeks before his 11 birthday, after his mother's death made you gege never celebrate his birthday, not long after he was 12 his father and that concubine decided to send him off towards the Bai hui academy*(3). To be honest his so-called stepmother only sent him there to make sure nobody touches Tian Ming's child's place in the heritage she even found people to bully him. Mostly it was talked about how he was an orphan and he had no parents to love him. You gege decided to run away after the teachers began to starve him for fighting with the other students. He did manage to run away with Yu Xuan but unluckily Yu Xuan fell into an icy lake because it was around January, the coldest time of winter. Tian to save Yu Xuan ge You fell into the lake but was dragged out by who would later become his mentor. Master Fu was always known as a stern, strict, dominating woman quite unlike the typical ladies in this era but she took quite a liking to the young master teaching him everything she knew. Do you remember the other two childe from earlier?" I asked. " Yeah, I think they look very similar to someone but I just can't place who it is," She replied "The imperial astronomer is the only family's surname that is Shang Guan. Both Mister Shang Guan are also her disciples though she doesn't seem to like them very much, heaven knows why. Anyways, there is always a consequence for everything, You gege fell into the lake leading him to be poisoned. Han poison ever heard of it?" I asked.

" Yeah. Rumours spread all across Jiang Hu that the deadliest poison is Han because there isn't a cure over time it will only get worst. The person who was poisoned by this poison would suffer a cold body for a fortnight every month and if that person used too much internal energy the poison would break up swallowing the body into another fortnight of cold mist. Don't tell me gege's condition is like this?" she whispered. " Some truth and lies. Han poison only struck during the fortnight leading to the end of the month, it is incurable but can be controlled by a potion, the blood of a space cultivator mixed with Jun Yi Yui a very rare herb that only grows in the moon valley. The only reason I'm telling you this is hoping you would keep an eye on the young master. I've never seen him happy the last time was two years ago but let's not talk about that. I hope this time he comes back to the capital and can he find happiness," I remark as tears fall freely from her face. after the story, we went back to our separate beds and went to sleep.

Unknown to them someone was outside listening with glistering eyes and a watery face. Yes, it was none other than Prince Zi, Li Chong Hai. His foot dragged him back into his tent as he crew himself to sleep dreaming of none other than his deceased wife telling him off for what he allowed 'that wretch women' to do to their son.

Whilst the story was being told in one tent in another An-Ping was repeating what she heard whilst the pair ( Tian You and Shang Gu ) alone said, " I didn't hear much but they were both crying and hugging each other at the end. Like a sweet reunion, ". "So nothing in total," Chiu Yeung commented, "oh well. It's been a tiring day let's get off to sleep,".

Glossary:

1. Didi is the mandarin word for the younger brother.

2. a house where men visit prostitutes.

3. Known for producing a vast amount of scholars.