Dreaming of Zhou Gong

by Traci Harding

  Dan closed his eyes, although a few tears escaped to trickle down his face and he bowed his head to compose himself. ‘I wish I could believe that.’

  Hudan gripped Dan’s shoulder with her hand for strength. ‘She is playing you, brother, do not allow it.’

  ‘But I could have saved him.’ Clearly, it still pained Dan, even in light of what Hudan had just said; Su Daji had stuck her dark esoteric knife deep into this one.

  ‘His time was nigh, Dan,’ Hudan pointed to the Jade Book, ‘or your father would be listed as the first King of Zhou. Subtract a three-year mourning period from the date of Ji Fa’s victory, and even if your father had survived that night, he would have been struck down within a few years.’

  When Dan raised his head to look at her he’d calmed slightly.

  ‘I believe it likely that it was your father’s time,’ Hudan outlined another possibility, ‘and Su Daji simply used the fact to her advantage … if she has any skill with the oracle at all, it is likely she could have foreseen Xibo Chang’s death. Even if you had obliged her whim, the chances are your father would still have passed away, and Daji would have undermined your self-respect in the bargain.’

  Dan was suddenly seeing the situation in an entirely different light and his guilt turned to rage and hardened his resolution. ‘I concede that I may have been seriously deceived.’ He was annoyed at himself, ‘How gullible!’

  ‘You knew next to nothing about the Way of the Wu at that time.’ Hudan felt he was too hard on himself. ‘How could you have guessed her game?’

  After a moment of silent torment, Dan decided to smile. ‘I am most obliged to you. I might have gone on carrying that guilt unto my grave.’

  ‘She’ll not be able to taunt you or use that against you in the future,’ Hudan could see he’d been lightened of a great load. ‘Let us never speak of it again.’

  ‘That will be my pleasure,’ Dan agreed.

  With a reassuring smile, Hudan looked back to the golden text. ‘So there was no mention of Dragonface in here at all?’

  Dan shrugged. ‘I must admit I did not read all of it, only as far as the year Ji Fa comes to rule — the year of Gengyan.’

  Hudan was surprised to hear this. ‘You weren’t tempted to see how long Ji Fa and your family will rule or who should rule after him?’

  ‘No!’ Dan was clearly opposed to the notion. ‘Such information is the domain of heaven and I am not Tian. But you are free to read beyond the present, if you so wish.’ He rose to leave her to her reading, and began to slowly pace around the storehouse.

  Hudan quickly scoured through the text to find the present and then read on in silence. In the fifty-second year of the reign of Zi Shou, the year of Gengyan, Zhou start fighting Shang. The Shang are defeated as Zi Shou burns. Hudan was surprised to see one of her own prophecies quoted back at her. ‘That is why you persuaded Ji Fa to seek me out. You’d read my prophecy in the Jade Book and so it rang true for you.’

  ‘It did seem a clear sign from heaven,’ he conceded. ‘The treasure is not without its blessings as well.’

  Ji Fa of the Zhou will unite and rule over the land. Here the tablet ended and needed to be turned over, and as she proceeded she noted Dan watching her closely. ‘My reaction may be as telling as reading the text yourself,’ she advised. He then turned his attention elsewhere and she continued reading. ‘— but will die two years thereafter.’ Hudan tried to keep her breathing natural, but still Dan was alerted by it.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You are right, brother.’ Hudan began stacking the treasure to replace in its box. ‘I do not wish to know any part of the future that Tian has not seen fit to show me personally.’ Her heart was pounding in her chest — a few years was not much time to establish a dynasty. As Hudan placed the treasure in its casing she was already regretting not reading who was meant to rule after Ji Fa, as Ji Song would still be immature and not respected enough to maintain rule in the wake of the rebellion they were about to start. One catastrophe at a time.

  ‘What changed your mind?’ Dan was overtly curious.

  ‘I just realised that if this text ever did contain information pertaining to Dragonface and his curse, the creature would have removed it to protect itself, so there seems little point in reading on,’ Hudan fibbed, and although Dan was not entirely convinced this was her reason, he approached to help pack the treasure back in its chest and noticed she was trembling.

  ‘I think we both need to get some rest before our early departure tomorrow.’ He locked in the last of the bolts.

  Hudan had to agree; her head was beginning to ache. Her quest for solutions seemed to only have presented more challenges. ‘I fear rest is a waste of precious time.’

  ‘On route to Mengjin there will be plenty of time to think,’ Dan pointed out as he gathered her up to carry her back to the house. ‘I cannot say the same about sleep however.’

  ‘I envy the sons of the sky their immortality.’ Hudan rested her head upon his shoulder, weary. ‘It must be wonderful to never hunger, thirst or tire …’ Her words trailed off, for despite the cacophony of problems flighting for precedence in her head, her awareness rushed away down the corridor of sleep.

  PART 3

  THE SHANG

  9

  LU CHEN

  The sound of tea being poured into a cup stirred Hudan from her slumber, and her eyes parted to see her twin doing the honours.

  ‘At last …’ Huxin held out her steaming offering as Hudan dragged herself up to a seated position. ‘I thought I would never get a chance to see you in a conscious state, but I’ve been checking in on you, every chance I found.’

  Hudan accepted the tea and returned the smile. She’d never thought to say so, but she’d missed Huxin these past months. ‘I have had the best of care,’ she assured her, ‘and you have responsibilities to Ji Fa.’

  Huxin’s eyes widened with excitement. ‘Speaking of responsibility,’ Huxin sat tall in her kneeling position, and flicked her hair back over her shoulders. ‘Do you notice anything different about me?’

  Hudan cast a discerning eye over her sister and could note only one thing that was different, and she voiced the observation just to tease her. ‘You’ve put on weight?’

  ‘I’m pregnant!’ Huxin blurted out, too eager to contain her excitement any more.

  Hudan’s jaw dropped, yet as this fulfilled her sister’s long-held desire, her expression melted into a grin. ‘The white tiger … you did have fun the night of the rite.’

  ‘Oh, Hudan … so much fun!’ she emphasised. ‘Look.’ She pulled her long honey waves aside to expose her neck and its scabbed sores. ‘I still have his teeth marks.’ She seemed genuinely thrilled about that.

  ‘And that’s a good thing?’ Hudan marvelled, eyebrows raised in concern.

  ‘Yes!’ Huxin emphasised in a dreamy fashion. ‘He was very affectionate.’

  ‘Have you seen him again since the rite?’ Hudan drank down her tea.

  ‘No. And I did not expect to,’ Huxin stated without emotion. ‘I think he has done what he came to do, and has returned from whence he came.’ Huxin shrugged. ‘I am content.’

  That truly appeared to be the case. ‘Well, dear sister, I know how much you wanted this, and I am very happy for you.’ Hudan shuddered at the thought of bearing children herself.

  ‘I’m carrying cubs for certain.’ She stroked the tiny pot on her belly. ‘Eight more weeks and you’ll be an auntie.’

  That notion was cause for joy, and Hudan couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. ‘We had best get this revolution out of the way swiftly then and get you home to Li Shan. Does Ji Fa know?’ Hudan was suddenly concerned that he might be less than delighted.

  ‘He does, and has had battle armour constructed for me,’ she advised.

  ‘That is well,’ Hudan said, losing her joviality, ‘as Su Daji has put out a shoot to kill order on white tigers within the Shang territories.’

  Huxin’s jaw immediately cle
nched. ‘She’ll never give another order once I lay eyes on her.’

  ‘I will take care of Su Daji,’ Hudan said, demanding her sister’s attention. ‘It is your job to protect Ji Fa and your cubs. I want you to be extra careful once we cross the Huang He.’

  Huxin looked very reluctant to let go the idea of her own personal revenge.

  ‘Daji’s crimes against the animal kingdom pale by comparison to her crimes against humanity,’ Hudan advised in a malevolent tone, but then softened her attitude. ‘I too thought I hated her, but now I believe I pity her.’

  ‘You pity that hag!’ Huxin queried, incredulous.

  ‘No one is born evil, Huxin.’ Hudan repeated what their Shifu had always claimed. ‘Events and experiences drive an individual to such extremes to protect themselves … the more evil the individual, the greater their trauma has been.’

  Huxin was unmoved. ‘Then let us put an end to her misery.’ She smiled sweetly, raised her cup to Hudan and drank to that.

  Hudan could only wish the solution would be so simple. The end of Su Daji’s troubles will mark the beginning of our own.

  Had their Shifu known what they’d be up against when she had entrusted them to complete this conquest? Or was Yi Wu’s belief in them blind and ill-founded? Hudan had once considered that facing Su Daji would be the most daunting confrontation of her life! Now that battle felt like a tiny stepping stone on the path to a concealed mountain they had to conquer. Only Ji Dan and she were aware that the seemingly unscaleable pinnacle even existed and although it went against her usual solo nature Hudan was extremely grateful to have an ally and confidant. But after the previous night’s misadventure outside the royal storehouse, she intended to keep more distance between herself and Ji Dan. Now that Fen was back to tutoring his lord, and she was no longer living under Ji Dan’s roof, or under the premise of being ‘gifted’ to him, she was no longer required to constantly keep the lord’s company.

  Ironically, it was Ji Dan who arrived in Hudan’s chamber to collect her. He was followed by two servants clutching the poles of a sedan chair, which they lowered to the ground.

  ‘I am not riding in that.’ Hudan leaned heavily on her staff to rise out of her seat.

  ‘Only as far as your carriage,’ Dan advised in good spirits. ‘Unless, of course, you’d like me to carry you?’

  ‘My carriage?’ Hudan was annoyed. ‘I am no princess bride! Wu ride on horseback or walk, as a man. A carriage will slow our passage ‘

  ‘I advise you take up this issue with the Xibo,’ Dan said, moving to assist her to the chair, and Hudan was agitated that she still needed his aid.

  ‘Where is Fen … and Nuan?’ she asked as a subtle protest to Dan taking hold of her free arm, yet it was a struggle for her to move her staff forward and maintain her balance. If she collapsed and the lord had to carry her to the seat, she’d have someone’s head for it.

  ‘Your family are in the courtyard preparing to depart, along with the rest of our party … although they seem to be having a small disagreement over whether or not Nuan should be coming with us.’

  ‘Best take me to the commotion.’ Hudan was actually rather grateful to be seated, as Dan withdrew to a more comfortable distance.

  There was an electric energy that danced between them every time the lord was close to her and the feeling it aroused in Hudan was far too delicious for her own peace of mind. The look of desire she’d seen in his face the previous evening made her heart leap into her throat each time it came to mind. All things considered, being transported around on a chair like a princess was preferable and more dignified than being carried about by his lordship — any thing that kept Ji Dan at a distance, was a blessing from Tian.

  In the courtyard, Hudan took her objection to being carriage driven to Ji Fa, but the Xibo was adamant. ‘You need rest, and my tigress cannot be expected to walk the entire distance in her condition.’ Something Hudan had not considered. ‘If you are strong enough to ride on horseback by week’s end, we shall leave the carriage at Mengjin,’ Ji Fa said to head off any more argument. ‘Brother Dan, please see brother Hudan to her transport.’ The Xibo bowed his head to her and swiftly departed.

  ‘He’ll be a formidable emperor, don’t you think?’ Dan directed Hudan’s chair-men to convey her to a waiting carriage a little way off.

  It did seem that the Xibo’s command had a far more self-assured ring to it, she thought. ‘Sister Hudan!’ He Nuan’s call drew Hudan’s attention. She knew it was Nuan as she was the only person who ever openly called her sister.

  ‘Please, I beg you to speak to Fen.’ Nuan came to walk beside Hudan’s chair. ‘He is insisting that I stay at Haojing.’

  ‘Brother Hudan,’ Fen was hot on the heels of his betrothed. ‘He Nuan is no longer Wu. And as my wife, I —’

  ‘I am not your wife yet!’ Nuan protested.

  ‘War is no place for a woman!’ Fen’s comment gave Hudan pause; her young ward was starting to think like a man now.

  ‘Other women are going!’ Nuan pointed to a group of washerwomen and military whores.

  ‘You are not jun ji,’ Fen spluttered, angered by the suggestion. ‘You are a lady of this house —’

  ‘I would rather be a whore and be with you, than your legal wife forced to be apart,’ Nuan retorted stubbornly.

  ‘Enough!’ Hudan decreed, as they reached her new carriage. Her seat was lowered to the ground. She looked at Nuan, who had returned her full attention to Hudan and waited breathlessly for her decision. ‘Like it or not, dear sister, you placed yourself in Fen’s charge when you agreed to marry him.’

  The woman’s eyes closed and her head bowed in pained defeat. ‘But fear not …’ Hudan felt sorry for any woman bound to do what a man told her. ‘I have kept Fen Gong alive this long, and I give you my personal assurance he shall be well looked after.’

  ‘I see.’ He Nuan turned back to Fen, who appeared pleased he’d won the argument. ‘Then I am left with no choice but to break our engagement.’ Nuan backed away from Fen, who was completely mortified. ‘I’ll take my chances with the whores.’ She strode off to join the cluster of females being herded onto a cart.

  ‘No!’ Fen looked to Hudan to appeal for help. ‘She cannot do that.’

  ‘He Nuan is free to do as she pleases,’ Hudan informed him. She quietly admired the woman’s guts and determination.

  Fen looked at Dan. ‘Any advice, lord?’

  Dan was amused by the query. ‘When it comes to women, brother Fen, I fear I am the last person to ask for advice.’

  ‘Damn it!’ Fen was at his wits’ end and spinning in little circles he was so perturbed. ‘I cannot allow her to ride with the jun ji. Other men might get the wrong impression.’

  Hudan was finding it difficult to keep the grin from her face; she’d never seen her little brother so vexed. He Nuan could play him like a qin. ‘You are the healer on this expedition. Take her as your assistant. I dare say that in a war zone you will be grateful for all the help you can get.’

  The relief that swept Fen’s face was delightful, yet it was still tinged by concern. ‘I would prefer she remain at Haojing, and out of harm’s way.’

  ‘I could have her put under house arrest until we have gone?’ Dan suggested, as Fen moved off to retrieve his wife-to-be.

  ‘That would only delay her pursuit,’ Fen said, succumbing to defeat. ‘Why fight the inevitable?’

  As he charged off, Hudan noted the amusement on Dan’s face. ‘They go to such lengths to protect each other,’ he explained, delighted. ‘It must be love.’

  The very mention of love from Dan made Hudan uncomfortable, and she swallowed hard to stay her nerves as he bent down to lift her from her chair and into the carriage.

  ‘Dan!’ Ji Shi came striding toward them. ‘Ji Fa requests your presence a moment. I shall assist our honoured guest in your stead.’

  ‘Someone is seeking an introduction,’ Dan whispered, before he withdrew from her side. ‘Shanyu Jiang Huda
n, I do not believe you have been formally introduced to my brother, Ji Shi.’

  ‘It is truly an honour.’ The friendly young fellow bowed before her, eager to be of service, and Hudan breathed a quiet sigh of relief as Dan left them to attend to the Xibo.

  ‘I recall seeing you the first day I arrived at Haojing,’ Hudan said, making conversation as the young lord lifted her from her seat. ‘You are the wild child of the family.’

  Shi smiled at her impression of him. ‘We must have something in common then, Tiger Courage?’

  ‘I confess I do prefer the wilds,’ she concurred, as he placed her inside the carriage.

  The floor of her transport was flat, and it was padded so that Hudan could lie down in comfort. The carriage was completely screened on all sides, with doors that could be slid aside to permit some airflow, and a slanted roof to deflect rain and sun.

  ‘I am most thankful to you, Ji Shi —’ Hudan was saying, but as Shi withdrew she noted the large scar down his arm and she grabbed hold of his wrist to stay him — the memory of the white tiger being cut by her attacker on the jinzita passed fleetingly through her mind.

  ‘That is a nasty knife wound you have there.’ She looked at him and she saw a spark of recognition in his eyes. ‘It was you?’ she ventured in a whisper, immediately beholden to him and awestruck by the notion that he might be one of her sister’s rare breed.

  ‘I — I cut myself fishing.’ The young lord pulled his hand from her grasp and covered the wound with his sleeve once more, unable to look her in the eyes. ‘It is nothing to make a fuss about.’ When Shi finally found the courage to look her in the face, his large brown eyes were appealing for mercy.

  ‘We both know that is not true. I owe you a great debt and I would not betray you,’ Hudan smiled, suspecting Shi hid a huge secret. ‘Did you know my sister Jiang Huxin is pregnant?’ If he was not the white tiger the statement would mean nothing to him; the shock, elation and horror that fought for precedence in his expression betrayed him.