Kui Yu shook his head, recognizing the drug from discussions with Shi Po. The General's "cold-eating powder" would fuzz his mind. "I have a weak stomach," he lied. "Any opium, and I am ill for days." He sighed in mock regret. "It has made some of my negotiations most difficult."
The General frowned at him. "How unfortunate for you." He glanced up at the soldier who brought wine, the drug, and two cups. "Are you quite sure you wouldn't like to try a little? Our herbalist swears it is most effective."
Kui Yu shrugged. "I would not insult your honor by becoming ill in your presence."
The General nodded and ignored the small vial of powder in favor of pouring the wine. Then he pressed a metal cup into Kui Yu's hands.
"Drink. Drink. Then we will talk."
The General took a long pull at his wine. Kui Yu pretended to do the same, but did not even wet his lips. He had no wish for even mild alcohol, so strong burnt wine did not appeal at all.
Meanwhile, the General leaned back and smiled, stretching his short legs out in front of him. "You have a beautiful wife, Mr. Tan," he commented in a casual voice. "Most beautiful indeed. All of my men noticed."
Kui Yu nodded. To deny the obvious would be stupid.
"It must be quite a challenge keeping control of your wife. Beautiful women know their power over us men. They take advantage when they should not."
The General paused, staring hard at Kui Yu, obviously hoping he would expound on Shi Po's eccentricities. But Kui Yu only shrugged and quoted a proverb: " 'Beauty is a quality much to be desired.'"
The General nodded. "To be sure. To be sure. But sometimes these women—ah, such a plague sometimes—these women do things we know nothing about. They have their secrets, their little lies."
Kui Yu did his best to remain impassive, but his thoughts struggled through a fog. "I am most pleased with my wife, General. And her secrets are only those of all women: lotions for ageless skin, exercises to keep the body young, paints to appear respectable."
"And what of men?" the General snapped, clearly growing tired of the friendly approach. "What of the men she brings into your home? What does she do with them?"
Kui Yu adopted the facade of an idiot husband, besotted and ignorant of all that went on before him. "My wife has occasionally taken in lost people, confused or hurt spirits. She has skills with herbs and tea. They heal and move on." He straightened, blinking stupidly at his captor. "Charity is a great virtue among women."
The General's hand slammed down on the table. The cups clattered in their tray, sloshing the wine and filling the room with the acrid stench of strong liquor.
"A monk!" he bellowed. "An acolyte of her brother. He stayed in your home under guard. Him and a white barbarian woman." He spat on the floor in disgust. "Where is he?" He pushed to his feet to tower over Kui Yu. "I could kill you now for imprisoning him."
Kui Yu let his pretend stupidity fall. The General had not been fooled, so Kui Yu lifted his gaze and spoke as calmly as possible. "You could kill us now for no reason at all. You need no excuse beyond your name, so let us speak plainly as we are both weary. What is it that you wish to know about this monk?"
"So... he was at your home?" the General demanded, a sudden urgency in his tone.
Kui Yu shrugged. "I have no idea," he lied. "Men do occasionally come to my home. My wife aids them and lets them go on their way."
"There was a guard at his door!" the General barked. "One of your own servants told the tale: a monk and a white woman, guarded and forced together in perversion."
Kui Yu released a snort of disdain. "No man would be forced by us into perversion with a white barbarian. That would be suicide here in Shanghai, with the ghost people so protective of their virgins. As for a guard, would you not protect your family as well when strangers ask for hospitality?"
"I do not open my home to the cursed ghost people."
Kui Yu nodded. He appreciated the man's attitude. The white foreigners brought a great many evils with them. Still, that hardly mattered. The white foreigners had not dragged him from his home in the dark of night. "If my wife brought a monk and a white woman into our home, then she would have done so with an open heart and a chaste manner—"
The General snorted. "Your wife—"
"Is as chaste as yours," snapped Kui Yu. "And if she is not, then I shall deal with her in my own time and manner."
The General narrowed his eyes, staring at Kui Yu as a mongoose would a snake. He said nothing, but merely stared. His expression hardened with every second of silence.
In the end, Kui Yu sighed, appearing to give in to the General's intimidation. "What is it that you wish to know?"
"Where is the monk now?"
"Is he at my house?" Kui Yu asked.
"He is not."
Kui Yu remembered the soldiers that remained at his home. It was likely being torn apart brick by brick in a search for the missing monk. "Then, if he even was at my home, he is long gone. Neither I nor my wife will know any more than that."
The General's eyebrows drew together and down. His eyes lost some of their keen focus, but only for a moment. He abruptly stared at Kui Yu. "A beautiful wife is a nuisance," he said with forced casualness. "You married well with her. The connection to her family must have helped you build your fortune."
Kui Yu didn't answer. They both knew it was true.
"But your fortune is made," continued the man. "Perhaps you would prefer to find another wife. A younger one. One who would not be harassed by a spoiled first wife."
Kui Yu pressed his lips together. He was well aware that most people assumed he had only one wife because Shi Po would plague any younger woman brought into his home.
"I could rid you of the nuisance," the General offered. "Shi Po would simply disappear. Arrested. Discredited. You may pick the crime." He leaned forward and dropped his voice to a low whisper. "I tell you the truth—as one man to another—I have been watching your wife. She is not as chaste as you believe."
Kui Yu swallowed, hating that such words had the power to hurt, to make him doubt. He shook his head. "I shall handle my wife alone."
The General growled, low and in the back of his throat. "You do not see what I do. Other men laugh behind your back. Your wife takes lovers, and you do not see. Can you honestly claim you know everything your wife does? How she occupies her time while you work?"
Kui Yu swallowed, knowing his mask slipped despite his best efforts. Truthfully, he had often asked himself those very same questions. What did Shi Po do every day with such dedication? Exactly how far had she gone in pursuit of immortality? And what had she done with the monk and the white woman?
The General must have seen the doubt flitting through Kui Yu's mind. He must have known, because he sighed and leaned back, folding his arms with an expression of deep sadness. "Those women's secrets you spoke of earlier? One of them is how to fake virginity on a wedding night."
Kui Yu shot out of his chair, furious. But also, fear darkened his thoughts. How much did the man know about Shi Po? What had he learned?
He swallowed his questions, and also put away his hot defense of his wife, which would be half lies. Instead, he forced himself to speak in a cold, calculating manner. As if he had just come to a dark and merciless conclusion, as if he intended to beat Shi Po senseless.
"Release me, General Kang. Give me the time and freedom to see to my wife." He nearly spat the last word.
But the General was not convinced. "You accept your wife's perfidy?"
Kui Yu did not answer. He did not trust his acting skills.
"You suspect, at least, because that is the nature of beautiful women." The General narrowed his eyes. "But I think you are easily bewitched by her beauty. I think your hand would be too light in this matter." He stood and headed for the door. "I will handle her for you. This will be my gift to you."
May 5, 1880
Lun Po—
I am afraid I cannot assist you with your studies. I know the Imperial examination
looms before you. I understand that your future rests upon the outcome. I discount the rumors that your family coffers are empty, for I know such a distinguished name has unlimited money despite disdaining commerce. So do not lie: only your family's honor—not their survival—rests upon your performance.
Unfortunately, my mind is completely filled with languishing thoughts of your sister. Who will she marry if not me? Who will clothe her, feed her, see to her health if not a man of wealth and means?
I must stop writing now. It seems my ghost boss is pleased with my work. He wishes to gift me with more gold.
In great sorrow,
Kui Yu
Chen Zhi was a censor-in-chief with an explosive personality. He beat his servants every day. No matter how small his dissatisfaction might be, Zhi's massive fists would strike. Someone who knew Zhi well tried to help him control his temper by giving him a wood stick on which three words were carved: "Hold Your Temper."
From then on, Zhi struck his victims with this stick.
Chapter 8
"So I am once again in the presence of the whore of Shanghai."
Shi Po kept her head down, her hands neatly folded as she stood before General Kang. She understood what the man wanted. He was the kind of man who liked a slightly disobedient wife—one with a flash of spirit that he would systematically crush. His daughters would be silent, terrified little things. His sons would by necessity excel either in mimicry, becoming ten times worse their father; or, if they were very strong, they would completely reject their early training to become the exact opposite. General Kang's wife was to be congratulated for rearing the Buddhist monk Kang Zou Tun. A month ago, Shi Po had wondered what the young man was running from. Now she knew.
And knowing, she lifted her head to gaze directly into General Kang's eyes. After all, he would only be happy if she showed enough spirit for him to crush. She smiled as she spoke. "If I am a whore, then what are you, twice barging into my home, twice demanding my presence? You are insatiable, and you have already been refused."
As expected, he did not pull back at her insult, but let his expression widen into a smirk. "Your husband has given you to me. For punishment."
She flinched, knowing that was what he wanted. But the reaction was not entirely faked. Kui Yu would not give her over; she knew that. But that wouldn't stop this man from punishing her anyway.
She smiled wanly. "Men's games are beyond one as simple as I," she said. "Let my husband say so to my face, and I will do as he bids."
General Kang did not answer. He walked around her, and she stood statue still. When he was behind her, he leaned in close, sniffing loudly. "Perfume. And sex. You smell like a nail-shack whore." He reached around to paw her breasts.
She broke off his groping with a quick jerk of her shoulder. He drew back and raised his arm to strike her, but she spoke quickly, praying he wasn't the beast he appeared. "Would you piss in a Ming vase?" she asked.
"You are no great work of art," he sneered.
She shrugged. "I am only the granddaughter of Viceroy Tseng, and the humble wife of Tan Kui Yu." She raised her eyes to match his gaze. "Now, what do you wish of me?"
His arm slowly lowered and he stared at her. "Your family is nothing compared to mine. The Qin rule now. And I am a Manchurian."
"Of course, your eminence," she said with a slight bow. "How may I serve my country?"
He moved in front of her, his eyes hard. He accused, "A monk came to your home. You imprisoned him there with a ghost woman." The venom in his voice intensified as he leaned forward. "I could kill you for that."
If he meant to scare her more, he failed. He could kill her now for whatever reason he chose. She had long since accepted that situation. So she bowed her head with calm acquiescence. "Whatever you say, your honor."
Gripping her chin, he hauled her face upward. "Shall we rut here on the floor like dogs? Shall I give you to my men to use as they want? Or should I give you to the ghost people and laugh as they perform evil magic on you? Is your magic stronger than theirs, I wonder?"
Fear trembled through her frame, but she said nothing. She did not trust her voice.
He threw her from him, then watched with grim amusement as she stumbled on her bound feet. Tripping over the chair, she fell gracelessly to the floor. Her head banged against the wall, and though she tried, she could not slide farther away. The room was too small.
"What do you want of me?" she rasped again.
"Where is my son?"
She shook her head. "I do not know."
"He was with you! You imprisoned him! Where did he go?" the General roared.
She shook her head. "I do not know."
The General stomped forward, his boots barely missing her hands. "Where is he?"
"I don't know!"
He grabbed her by the collar of her blouse, using it to lift her off the floor. "A monk came to your house!" he repeated.
Disgusted, Shi Po twisted away from his foul yang breath. "I do not ask who anyone is," she lied.
"You imprisoned him with a ghost bitch," he screamed.
"They choose their own partners!" she returned.
With one swift move, the General ripped the neck of her blouse. It split easily, baring her breasts to his gaze. He let her fall heavily to the floor, though his eyes never left her chest. "Lie to me again," he softly dared her.
She refused to cover herself, though the urge burned inside her. Let him see what he could not have except by force—that was the way to deal with men like this.
"What did my son say to you?"
She swallowed. "A man came to the house seeking refuge. That is all. He brought an injured woman. I gave them a place to rest. Herbs for healing. Then they left."
"When?"
"Two days ago," she lied.
He cursed and stomped his boot like a distempered horse. "What do you know of your husband's business?" he snapped.
She blinked, startled by the sudden change in topic. "I am a simple woman. What would I know of men's work?"
"Whore!" he bellowed; then he buried his hands in the band of her skirt. This too, he tore apart, so she was completely bared to him. His eyes fixed on her tigress tattoo, while his body slowly turned red with rising yang fire.
"Lie to me again," he whispered, stepping between her legs and kicking them wide.
She blinked back her tears. She would give him no yin, not even the little that saturated her sorrow. "I know nothing of where your son is," she repeated in absolute truth.
The General dropped to his knees between her legs. She tried to scoot backwards, but was blocked by the wall. She could do nothing but lie there and dread what was to come.
He put his hands on her thighs and dragged her fully open. "Lie to me again," he whispered. "What business does your husband have with the whites?"
Fear thickened the air in her lungs. How exactly did her husband make so much money? As far as she knew, Kui Yu's business was to take the barbarians' money in exchange for cheap fabric. He sold clothing and built houses. But was that all? The possibilities were endless and ugly. Would he betray China to the whites? In exchange for what? Medicines for their children? Or something worse?
General Kang was watching her closely. She had no idea what he saw on her face, but apparently it disgusted him. Curling his lips, he roughly shoved away from her.
"Your smell nauseates me." Then he stomped out the door.
* * *
Shi Po's feet were unsteady, her balance precarious as she tried to both walk down the dark corridor and clutch her skirt closed. The guards who escorted her knew, of course. They could see the state she was in, and their comments would have made another woman blush. But Shi Po's aunt ran a brothel. There was nothing they could say that would upset her further.
What they succeeded in, on the other hand, was making her skin crawl and her stomach heave. They touched her. Not overtly; they clearly thought she was reserved for General Kang, so they didn't grab her harshly. They cer
tainly didn't leave bruises that their commander would see.
No, they were subtler than that. A grip here, a poke there, all punctuated by crude comments. She could do nothing to defend herself. She wanted to release her clothing. She wanted to stand tall on her unsteady feet and let the damned soldiers look their fill. Let them see what they couldn't have.
Except, they could have it. And they very well might before this ordeal was over. She wasn't strong enough to face that right now. She was afraid. And tired. And she wished she had listened to her aunt and run far, far away.
But she hadn't.
She swallowed, fighting the tears. Where was Kui Yu? What had happened to him? Was he even still alive?
The guards stopped before a dark room. She recognized it as the place she had sat before. The tiny cell had bars at the door and likely peepholes along the side. She didn't care. So long as these men stayed on the other side and left her alone, they could look all they wanted. How she could want to be inside, she didn't know, but she would do almost anything to escape these soldiers. Even return to that dark, lonely cell.
Two guards were with her. Another five stood in a room a few steps away. While one unlocked her cell, the other held her, his hand sliding up and down her arm and his long extended fingers brushing her breast. She tried to pull away, but to do so would back her into his body, and she had no wish to touch more of him. So she closed her eyes and held back her nausea with an act of will. Her Tigress calm was nowhere to be found.
With her eyes closed, she focused on the sounds: the clatter of the keys and the groan of the door hinges. Soon she would be inside. Alone. Soon...
There came a sudden surprised grunt. Thuds and a bellow. Shi Po's eyes sprang open, but she could not make sense of the shifting shadows in the dark corridor. The only light came from lanterns hung in the guardroom many feet away.
Fighting. The men were fighting. She saw a flash of pale, golden skin. She watched it impact with studded leather armor and win. Bare feet. A naked upper body. Against two soldiers in armor?
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