A Dance? (3)

(BaiLing's pov)

I looked up into the emperor's eyes, trying to see what he was thinking.

"He's joking, right?" I thought.

But from the looks of it, he was serious. So all I could do was nod my head.

Emperor: "I trust your judgment on what dance you want to do. You don't have to reveal your identity. I will bring you in as a dancer. And just tell me if there is anything else that you need."

Me: "I understand, your majesty. I will get everything ready as soon as possible and send them over to you."

Emperor: "Good, good. That was all I wanted to talk to you about. You are free to leave now."

I stood up and bowed to the emperor, then taking my leave.

(Narrator's pov)

Upon arriving at the manor, BaiLing went back to her room and took a nice warm bath. It was only late July, so there was no need for hot water. And the good thing was there was a bathroom connected to her room, the bathtub/pool had a self-cleaning and a temperature adjustment spell cast on it, so it took less work to take care of the area. There was also jasmine oil infused into the water, so she never had to worry about wearing a perfume pouch.

Once her bath was done, she got out, dried herself, and put on her sleeping clothes. There were no maid or maids to wait on her, help her get ready, or take care of her daily needs. She did most of these things herself, so no one else stayed in her courtyard besides her.

Instead of going straight to bed, BaiLing went outside and sat at the table, staring at the moon. The moon held many dear memories to her. It reminded her of someone she held very dear to her heart, yet it was also her greatest pain and her biggest secret.

BaiLing then reached into her magical dimension and pulled out a white jade Chinese flute that was cold to the touch. Glowing under the moonlight, a short poem was carved onto one side of it.

"Never dying, but always reborn. Flames of life that never cease to dim. Flying high in the sky is the home of the phoenix."

On the other side, a name was carved onto it. BaiLing ran her thumb over the name a couple of times before holding it close to her chest. Looking up at the moon again, she mumbled.

"Can I really do this?"

She continued to sit there, even after she put her flute away. But soon, she got up and started to walk to the back of her courtyard. In the back area, there were two rooms. She opened the door to one of them and stepped inside. Before closing the door behind her, she took out a lighter and lit one of the candles.

The smell of herbs flowed throughout the room. Every tool and herb a doctor could dream of was in that room. This was BaiLing's medicine room, where she made and stored all of her herbs and medicine.

She walked over to one side of the room where her medicines were stored. Opening up one of the drawers, she pulled out a small box. She opened the box, and inside were small brown pills.

She gave it a sniff to ensure it was what she was looking for before putting it into her little dimension.

Once she was done, she went back outside, took out a small whistle, and blew into it. Although there was no sound heard from it, Bai Yang showed up five minutes later, landing quietly on the ground in front of her.

Bai Yang: "My lady." he greeted her.

Bai Ling: "Rise. Follow me into the room."

Bai Yang stood up and followed her into her room. Bai Ling took a seat down at the table and told Bai Yang to do the same.

BaiLing: "Bai Yang, I need you to go and prepare some people for me."

Bai Yang: "People?"

BaiLing: "That's right. Prepare at least four people. Bring them back here within an hour. I have a mission for you all."

Bai Yang: "Are there any specific requirements that they need to have?"

BaiLing: "Have them all be boys, and be the ones you trust the most. I need them to blend in with everyone else here in the mansion. Leave the rest of the work for Hwa Mei to take care of. I need you to be here as well."

(Hwa Mei is the other vice-captain of the shadow guards. She is in charge of training all the girls.)

BaiYang: "Understood."

BaiLing: "Also, bring a message to Zhi Xuan, telling him I won't be at the base for the next couple of days."

(Base, as in the army barracks, all the soldiers from the Ghost army stay and train.)

BaiYang then stood up, bowed, and left to go carry out his job. Meanwhile, BaiLing went over to one of her walls, opened a hidden storage, and grabbed four thin boxes. She brought them back to her room and waited for BaiYang to come back.

The night carried on as she waited, but her brother came over before Bai Yang returned. BaiLing was reading one of her many war books when her brother knocked on her door.

Without even needing to ask who it was, she knew it was her brother from his footsteps. She put her book down and went to open the door for her brother.

BaiLing: "Ge, what's up?"

BaiLing turned around and headed back into the room as her brother followed her.

Brother: "It's late. What are you still doing up? Did Bai Yang come by?"

BaiLing took a seat down and nodded her head.

BaiLing: "I had him go and get some stuff done for me."

Her brother then took a seat across from her before proceeding to ask.

"Did something happen? Did the emperor say something?"

BaiLing: "Tomorrow, the engagement announcement between the fifth prince and the eldest daughter of the prime minister will be announced. I'm sure he will show up afterward and try to cover things up, so I need to be prepared. There will definitely be a show to watch tomorrow."

Brother: "Did anything else happen?"

BaiLing sat still for a while, not saying anything, thinking if she should tell her brother about the conversation she had with the emperor earlier. She trusted her brother more than anyone, but she knew how protective he was of her. Hearing the news only makes him lose his temper. But in the end, she still chooses to tell him.

BaiLing: "About two hours ago, the emperor summoned me into the palace."

Brother: "Again?"

BaiLing: "(nodded)... He wanted me to prepare a dance for the empress dowager's birthday coming up. He told me that I don't have to reveal my identity."

(BaiLing's pov)

After hearing the news, my brother stood straight up, knocking the chair over. His face was all scrunched up, and he looked like he was about to blow.

Brother: "WHAT!! How could he ask you to do that?!"

He was so loud that I'm sure dad could hear him all the way from his room.

While my brother was still blowing, I poured some tea out for him before saying.

"Ge, sit down and drink some tea. You're so loud, I'm sure dad can hear you."

Brother: "How can you be drinking tea at this time! And it doesn't matter if dad can hear me. He'll know about this matter sooner or later."

Me: "Ge, tell me this. What can we do about it? Are you going to storm into the palace and tell the emperor off? Instead of being angry about it, why don't you sit down and drink some tea and calm down."

Brother: "(sigh)... Ling'er, I really don't get you sometimes. How are you not bothered by this? The last time you dance was before..."

Me: "I know." I cut him off.

Me: "But this is my duty. This is an order from the emperor. If I just see it as that, then I'll be fine. Besides, instead of overthinking it, I have to deal with the fifth prince first."

Just as my brother was about to say something else, five sets of feet landed right outside my door. Following that was a knock.

Seeing how people were here, my brother finally sat down and drank his tea.

Me: "Come in."

The door opened, and in came Bai Yang and four other shadow guards. As soon as the last one came in and closed the door, they all got down on one knee and greeted my brother and me.

Bai Yang and shadow guards: "Greetings, Captain. Greetings, young master."

Me: "Rise."

They all stood up, ready to receive their orders.

Me: "Tomorrow, the fifth prince will arrive. I need all of you to spread out across the mansion and keep an eye on him and any of his men that enter tomorrow. Report anything you find immediately. Bai Yang, I want you to keep an eye on the entire area."

Bai Yang nodded his head before I continued.

"There are four boxes here. Each of you grab one. Inside are new faces for you. Remember, they must not come into contact with water. Put them on and go get some rest and start working tomorrow. Remember to spread out."

The four boys came forward and grabbed a box each, then stepped back into a line.

Me: "Bai Yang, take them to go rest, and you go get some rest too."

Bai Yang nodded, and they all bowed before leaving.

Once they left, I looked over to my brother and said.

"Have you calmed down yet?"

Although he shook his head, I could tell that he wasn't as annoyed as earlier.

Brother: "So, you're really going to go through with it?"

Me: "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Before my brother could say anything else, another knock came to my door. Going over to open the door, the person standing outside was my father.

Me: "Dad? What's up?"

Dad: "You're still up?"

I nodded my head, and my dad continued.

"It seems like your brother is here too."

Me: "Mmm, he is. Dad, why don't you come in."

My dad came in and sat down at the table with my brother and me. My brother was still annoyed but seemed much better than earlier. At least he knew how to control his expression when needed.

Once I sat down, I poured a glass of tea for my father.

Dad: "I saw Bai Yang and a couple of other shadow guards earlier. Are they ready for tomorrow?"

Me: "Yes, they are."

Dad: "That's good. By the way, what did the emperor wanted to talk to you about?"

My brother, who almost spitted out his tea, held it back but choked on it instead.

Dad: "Zhi Chen, are you are right?"

I had to pat his back for a while before he was able to respond.

Brother: "Yes, I'm alright. But, dad, you knew Ling'er was summoned into the palace?"

Dad: "Yeah, she told me before she left. But what did he want to talk to you about?"

Before I could say anything, my brother started going off about what I had told him earlier.

"The emperor is making dance at the empress dowager's birthday! Can you believe it?! How could he ask her to do that! He should know better than anyone else!"

His voice was getting louder by the second, that I was afraid that people from the palace can hear him loud and clear.

Unable to make him calm down, I hit his meridian that controlled his vocal cords. Now he could not talk, which made him more frustrated, but it gave us time to calm him down.

(Meridians is a network in your body which qi or vital energy flows through.)

Me: "Would you calm down a bit? At this rate, everyone will be able to hear you. Do you want us to be beheaded?"

I gave him his glass of tea, which he took with some annoyance.

Dad: "Your sister is right. You should calm down a bit. It wouldn't do us any good if word got out."

Though he was unable to talk, he was still trying to protest. Soon, dad told me to unblock his merdian. Once he did, he turned to me, looking as if he wanted to strangle me.

Brother: "You little mischievous monkey! How dare you block my meridan like that."

Before my brother could catch me, I turned into a small little monkey and climbed onto my father's shoulder. Sticking my tongue out at my brother once I was in a comfy position.

Dad stroke my head before saying.

"Alright, you two, stop messing around. Chen'er sit down, and Ling'er turn back."

After my brother sat down, I hopped onto the floor before turning back into my human form.

Dad: "Ling'er, are you sure you can do it? If not, I can go talk to the emperor."

I shook my head before saying.

"It's okay, dad. As long as I see it as a duty, I'll be fine."

Dad: "(sigh)... If that is what you wish for. But remember, for us, family comes first."

Me: "I understand, dad. Don't worry, I can handle myself."

With that, my brother and father headed back to their rooms. Tomorrow was their off, so they'll get to enjoy a show tomorrow.

I then headed off to bed. The sun would rise in a couple of hours, and I wanted enough energy to watch the show.