Lady Li spun around and could not stop tears from forming in her eyes. “Eunuch Bai!” she cried out.
There he stood, looking none the worse for wear, with a small smile on his face. “I have returned with good news, my lady.”
She quickly walked up to him. She wanted to embrace him, but it would not have been appropriate, so she wrung her hands instead. “Where have you been? Are you injured?”
“I am fine, my lady,” he said. “I am sorry I did not tell you where I was going, but I feared you would try to stop me.”
She reached out and took his hand. She pulled him to a chair. “Please, sit and tell me what happened.”
He hesitated. “I couldn’t…”
“I insist,” she said, nearly pushing him into the chair as she sat next to him. She looked to the door and saw a surprised maid standing there. “Ginger tea,” she said sharply. The maid quickly curtseyed and turned away. “Please, tell me everything,” she said to Eunuch Bai.
“I heard about the riot,” he said. “And I felt I had to do something. We have no one here we can rely on.”
Lady Li nodded.
“But I did not think you would want me to make preparations for leaving,” he said. “But should the worst happen, we cannot wait until the last minute.”
“Popo suggested leaving China,” Lady Li said. “But how? I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“That is what I went to find out,” he said. “And I was successful. I found someone willing to buy your lands outside the city. With that money, and the money in your accounts, we could flee. I could wear Lord Yun’s clothes, pose as your husband. We could change our names so no one would know you are a woman traveling without a male escort. It is quite easy to book passage on the Grand Canal to Hangchow. From Hangchow, we can book passage to Hong Kong.”
“The British colony?” Lady Li asked. She hadn’t even considered fleeing to Hong Kong, but it made sense. Hong Kong had been lost to the British in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. It was still little more than a fishing village, but she had heard that the British were developing the island, making it more hospitable for British residents. She imagined it was becoming more like the foreign legation here in Peking.
“Exactly,” Eunuch Bai said. “With your English, you could easily find us accommodation once we arrive. Then, who knows? We could settle there or go somewhere else. If we have money, anything can be accomplished.”
Lady Li stood up and paced. Leave Peking? Leave China! The idea had never really seemed a possibility. Could she really leave her homeland? “When would we need to leave?” she asked. “Now?”
“Oh no,” he said. “There are boats heading down the canal all the time. And, of course, I couldn’t sell your land without your permission. But I have made some contacts, and know what to do to get us out quickly. At least, for now I do. Should war break out, we might have to leave immediately. War changes everything.”
“So we don’t have to leave now,” she said. “But we need to prepare should we have to leave quickly.”
“Yes,” he said. “The most difficult part will be selling the land. These things don’t happen quickly. I have already had the paperwork drawn up, and he assures me he has the money ready. We would need at least a day to sign the papers and have the money exchanged.”
“But if war breaks out,” Lady Li said, “even a moment wasted can mean the difference between escape and being trapped.” Her breath hitched in her throat. When she fled the Forbidden City with the imperial family, they had time. They spent several days packing all of the empress’s gowns and valuables. Anything they couldn’t pack, they were able to hide in secret rooms or bury in her garden. But when they fled the Summer Palace days later, there was no warning. Only the imperial family and a few close servants were able to escape in the middle of the night, including her. They left with the clothes on their backs. Most of the servants had to be left behind. Lady Li tried not to dwell on their fate.
Eunuch Bai nodded. “It is a difficult decision, my lady. If we flee too soon, we will forfeit our lives here for the unknown. But if we delay…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. They both knew what could happen if war broke out, or if the Han turned on the Manchu, and they were trapped in Peking. It was a terrifying possibility.
Lady Li swallowed bitterly. “For now, we wait,” she decided. “Inspector Gong may have found the girl’s killer. Her brother. Give him time to interrogate him. If the brother killed the girl, this will all be over today.”
Eunuch Bai couldn’t hide his grimace, or his growing dislike for Inspector Gong, as he stood to take the tea tray from the maid who had just returned. “You still put all your faith, your trust, your very safety, in the hands of this man?”
“Who was I supposed to rely on while you were gone?” Lady Li asked. “I appreciate what you have done, but I thought you had abandoned me. I was terrified!”
“I am sorry, my lady…” Eunuch Bai started to say, hanging his head, but Lady Li interrupted him.
“Don’t,” she said, holding up her hand. “It doesn’t matter. Prince Kung was here as well. He said that he will not abandon us.”
“Prince Kung…” Eunuch Bai tried to interject, his irritation growing.
“Is a friend to this family,” Lady Li said firmly.
Eunuch Bai sighed and threw up his hands in the air. “I don’t know why I bother,” he said as he headed for the door. But before he could reach it, the maid returned.
“My lady,” she said. “Inspector Gong has returned.”
Eunuch Bai grunted. “Everything is just going so well,” he said.
Lady Li couldn’t help but chuckle. She was glad her friend—because he was not just a servant to her—was back.
“Show him in,” she said.
“I’m leaving,” Eunuch Bai declared.
“No, you are staying,” Lady Li said. “He was concerned for you as well and set his men to searching for your dead body when you didn’t tell us where you went. So you stay!”
He crossed his arms and turned his back to the door when Inspector Gong entered.
“Eunuch Bai!” the inspector exclaimed when he walked in. “You are alive.”
Eunuch Bai did not reply or turn to face him.
“Eunuch Bai has been very busy making preparations to keep us safe should war come,” Lady Li explained. “And we are very glad he is back.”
“I see,” Inspector Gong said, eyeing the back of Eunuch Bai’s head. “Should I know what these preparations are? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not at the moment,” Lady Li said. “Please tell me you came with good news. Did the brother kill the girl?”
“I don’t know,” he said, turning to her. “I need your help, one more time.”
“Oh?” Lady Li asked, raising an eyebrow.
“The brother says he ‘imagines’ he killed her when he was in an opium dream, but he doesn’t think he really did it,” Inspector Gong explained. “But according to the boyfriend, she pawned the family bow and arrow to a foreigner in the legation. If we find out who he sold the bow and arrow to, we might find the killer.”
“So you need me to talk to this shop owner?” Lady Li asked. “But the legation is closed to Chinese who don’t live there.”
“But Concubine Swan got in,” he said. “She could tell you how she did it.”
“What?” Eunuch Bai asked, whirling around. “Concubine Swan went into the legation?”
“Oh, Concubine Swan has been getting in many places she shouldn’t,” Inspector Gong said.
Eunuch Bai looked at Lady Li, his jaw agape.
Lady Li held out her hands helplessly. “Everything went wrong without you here.”
Eunuch Bai called for the maid, telling her to send Concubine Swan to them. “Well, one thing at a time,” he said.
Lady Li felt her cheeks go hot in embarrassment as Concubine Swan entered the room. Her eyes were red-rimmed and her hair scraggly
. Her cheek was still red where Lady Li had slapped her. She was not wearing shoes or a nice gown. She nearly collapsed to her knees in front of Lady Li.
“My lady,” she cried. “Please don’t send me away. I’m so sorry.”
“Please,” Lady Li said, holding up her hand to silence her. “We…we aren’t talking about that right now. We have something else to discuss with you.”
“We need to know how you got into the legation on your own,” Eunuch Bai said.
Concubine Swan’s eyes shot up at him, surprised. “You’re back!”
“Yes,” he said curtly. “The legation?”
“Oh,” she said. “It was quite simple. I was wearing a very simple gown, because I didn’t want to look like a lady when I went to the opium house…”
“What?” Eunuch Bai nearly shouted.
“Later,” Lady Li said, shushing him.
He put his hand to his mouth to keep from yelling and let Concubine Swan continue.
“I think that because I was dressed simply and spoke English, they believed me when I said I worked for Mrs. Gibson,” she explained. “For some reason, they didn’t recognize me from when I was there before.”
“I doubt they take the time to learn our faces,” Lady Li said. “I guess we can try it. I can just borrow a dress from my maid.”
“Do it now,” Inspector Gong said. “I think we are getting close, but we are running out of time.”
“I quite agree,” Eunuch Bai said, who then slapped his hand back over his mouth, shocked that he would agree with Inspector Gong about anything.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go do whatever it is you need?” Concubine Swan asked. “I’ve done it before. I am sure I could do it again.”
“You have helped quite enough,” Lady Li said. “Your methods were reckless, dangerous. To say nothing of the opium den, which we have yet to deal with. I don’t want you anywhere near this investigation!” She shook her head. “Go back to your room. I’ll deal with you later.”
Concubine Swan nodded and backed away out of the room.
Once she was gone, Inspector Gong approached Lady Li and spoke to her in a low voice. “About…what you suggested. Are you still serious about that? I have given it more thought, and I could approach my parents about it. That is, if it would not make you uncomfortable.”
Lady Li felt a shiver down her spine as he spoke to her, his voice deep and rippling through her body. She had been serious at the time, and if he was willing to take her, she doubted she would find a better placement for Concubine Swan. But the idea of his lips, his fingers, his body embracing Concubine Swan instead of her filled her with jealousy. But she remembered her earlier resolve, that he needed to be married and out of her life. And she needed to do what was right by Concubine Swan. She pursed her lips, tamped down her feelings, and nodded.
“The offer is still open,” she said, her eyes downcast. She could not face him as she said the words.
He hesitated, but then nodded. “Very well. When this is over, I will see what can be done. Shall I wait here while you go to the legation?”
“Certainly,” she said as she rushed from the room. She claimed she needed to find her maid and change, but she also needed a moment away from him to collect her reeling thoughts over what she had just done.
18
Inspector Gong chewed his nail nervously as he waited for Lady Li. He eyed Eunuch Bai, but didn’t say anything to him. The two both cared for Lady Li in their own ways, and those ways were often at odds with each other. Finally, it was Eunuch Bai who broke the silence.
“So, what of Concubine Swan?” he asked. “Is her reputation ruined?”
“I’m not sure what will happen to her reputation, or that of the household,” Inspector Gong said. “But I found her in an opium den down the road.”
Eunuch Bai sighed and rubbed his forehead. “That girl’s…dissatisfaction with her life has grown by the day. It is only a matter of time before something must be done.”
Inspector Gong didn’t reply. He didn’t know if he would be able to marry the girl himself or not, so he didn’t see a reason to get his hopes up.
“She sneaked into the legation as well?” Eunuch Bai asked.
Inspector Gong nodded. “She wanted to help with the investigation. She knew Lady Li would be furious when she found out she had left the house, so I suppose it was her way of redeeming herself.”
“Sorry chance of that happening,” Eunuch Bai said, shaking his head. “This is…simply unforgiveable.”
“Where does she get her opium on a daily basis?” Inspector Gong asked. “I’ve seen her in the past, here in the house, with that…opium haze people get. Lady Li knows she eats it here in her home, right?”
“She knows,” Eunuch Bai said tightly. “She must get it from her maids. Though where the girls get it, I have no idea. Lady Li has a soft heart, and she feels sorry for Concubine Swan, so she knew the girl was taking it, but she didn’t push her to stop.”
Inspector Gong grunted to himself. Perhaps he shouldn’t take Concubine Swan. His mother would never forgive him for bringing an opium eater into the house. If he did marry her, he would have to forbid her from taking opium. But he had seen many addicts in his line of work. Quitting was not so easy. Just look at Jiaolong. His father disowned him and he still had not quit. What if Concubine Swan could not stop either?
When Lady Li walked back into the room in a simple dark blue robe, he completely forgot about Concubine Swan. Her hair was pinned in a simple bun on top of her head, she wore flat cotton shoes, and she wore no makeup. Yet even in this simple arrangement, attempting to mimic a servant, she looked exquisite. He did not think anyone would believe she was simply a maid. Her elegant bearing was not something that she could simply cast aside.
“You should…umm…” Inspector Gong stammered. “You should cast your eyes downward. A servant would not hold her head high.”
“Oh, of course,” Lady Li said as she looked down demurely, which had the effect of only making her more alluring.
Inspector Gong blew out a long breath. “Well, it will have to do. Come along.”
Together, they climbed into her sedan chair and headed toward the legation.
“You should get out before we get in sight of the legation,” Inspector Gong said. “We don’t want the guards to see you getting out of a sedan chair.”
“Of course,” Lady Li said. “What is the name of the shop I am looking for?”
“I’m not sure,” he said as he peeked through the windows of the chair. “He only said the man’s name was Mr. Big, and he had a shop inside the legation where all the servants would sell goods from their hometowns for money. Much more than they could get at a shop outside the legation.”
“I am sure I’ll find it,” she said. “Oh! I should have brought something to sell him.”
“Just pretend you are buying for your master,” Inspector Gong suggested. “Bolin said that the foreigners love to buy the items as decorations for their homes.”
“How strange,” Lady Li said.
Inspector Gong nodded. “Just be as quick as you can. I’ll wait for you.”
She gave him a small smile and then turned away. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment.
“I’d marry you if I could,” he finally said, unable to keep the words inside any longer.
“I know,” she said, not turning to look at him.
They fell silent again. There was nothing more to say on the matter. They both wanted what they could not have, so there was no point in dwelling on it.
When they were around the corner from the legation, Inspector Gong leaned out the window and told the chair bearers to stop.
“Be careful,” he told Lady Li as she stepped out. “Come back as quickly as you can.”
“I will,” she said with a small smile and a nod of her head.
He waited a moment, and then got out of the chair himself and peeked around the corner to see what happened. As she app
roached the gate, he saw her drop her chin to her chest, apparently remembering what he told her about keeping her head down. She walked up to the guards and spoke to them. He started to get nervous when he saw them wave another guard over, but they were only asking him to open the gate. He breathed a sigh of relief once she was inside. But the tension within him grew again the longer she was gone.
He was pacing back and forth nervously when he saw an old man, his head shrouded, walking down the road past the legation. He looked somewhat familiar, but he wasn’t sure who it was since he could not see his face. Suddenly, the old man stepped into the street, right into the path of an oncoming horse-drawn carriage. A woman shrieked as the horses whinnied and reared up on their back legs. The man fell backward, so he was not trampled. The owner of the carriage, a white man, jumped out of the carriage to see what had happened. He was followed out of the carriage by his wife and daughters.
Inspector Gong started to run over, but from behind him, he heard countless angry shouts. He looked, and a whole mob of people were marching down the road toward the legation. He felt his heart sink, and he knew who the old man was. The white man was gingerly helping the old man to his feet, checking to see if he was injured. Inspector Gong grabbed the old man by his arm and ripped off the head covering.
“Zhao!” Inspector Gong exclaimed. “What have you done?”
“What you lack the courage to do,” he said.
Inspector Gong turned to the white man and his family and told them to get back into their carriage. Of course, he could only do so in Chinese, and the family did not seem to understand, so he did his best to use his arms to herd them inside. They still appeared confused, until they heard, and then saw, the angry mob running toward them. The women screamed as they scrambled to get back inside.
“Get into the legation!” Inspector Gong yelled at their driver, who was Chinese, but it was too late. The guards could not open the gate, admit the carriage, and close it in time. Inspector Gong ran for the guards and pointed toward the family in the carriage, urging them to help him get them inside. Two of the guards went with him, but two more stayed back to protect the gate and call for reinforcements.
The Qing Dynasty Mysteries - Books 1-3 Page 29
