China

by Edward Rutherfurd

I’d been there some time when Mr. Ma turned up chuckling. “I have good news today,” he announced. “You’re dead.”

  “I am?” I said.

  “Shaking Leaf’s had a couple of palace people making inquiries after you—just to protect himself from Mr. Liu, I should think. When nobody could find you and you never turned up at the Great Wall, one of the searchers told Shaking Leaf that he thought you were dead. I expect he said it because he was bored with looking for you. But Shaking Leaf wants to believe it. So now the word is that you’re dead, and I’ve no doubt that in another day or two Shaking Leaf will believe it himself. You know how these things go.”

  “Well,” I replied with a laugh, “it’s better being dead in the Peony Terrace than it ever was being alive in the kitchens.”

  Shortly after that, Lord Elgin declared he was going to knock down the walls of the city and destroy it. “I doubt he could do that, Mr. Ma,” I said.

  “Perhaps not,” he agreed, “but it’s frightening the inhabitants. Even more of them are leaving.”

  One evening, Mr. Ma told me that two of the more important hostages had been transferred to better quarters. “I hear that most of the hostages are in terrible shape after starving with the rats in prison,” Mr. Ma said. “It looks to me as if Prince Gong’s fattening these two up before returning them.”

  “It must mean he wants to talk,” I suggested. “Where are the British now?” I asked.

  “In the same place.”

  “And the French?”

  “Wandering about. Bored. Looking for loot, I should think.”

  And during all these days, from the emperor and his court north of the Great Wall, we heard not a word.

  * * *

  —

  It began so quietly. The first thing I heard, coming from beside the emperor’s residence, was a low voice laughing and another speaking, just like two people having a quiet conversation. I supposed they were gardeners and hoped they wouldn’t discover me. But the sound of their voices retreated, and for a few moments there was silence.

  Then there were shouts, farther off. Not angry shouts. More like cries of joy. Next I heard something breaking, quite nearby. It had to be in the emperor’s residence. What could be going on?

  I started across the footbridge that led from the island to the shore.

  You may wonder why I didn’t hide. I couldn’t say for certain. Curiosity, as far as I remember. Like most people, I always go towards the action.

  * * *

  —

  They were scattered all over the place: small knots of men. French troops. I could tell by their uniforms. Every moment more were streaming in from the entrance. They may have wandered into the Yuanmingyuan without even knowing what it was. Whatever officers came with them were doing nothing to hold the men back. I don’t suppose they could have. Their men had scented loot. And there were still two hours of daylight left.

  As I ran along the side of the emperor’s residence, some of the barbarians were already coming out, carrying jewelry, watches, bronze figures, even a small golden Buddha.

  You can imagine how I felt: How dare these savages smash their way into paradise, commit sacrilege, and lay their hands on the treasures of the Celestial Kingdom?

  Those who appreciate the finer things of life need our own army. We’d know what to do with vermin of this kind. That’s what I was thinking.

  I could see a group of palace people gathered at the main entrance to the residence trying to keep the hooligans out. One of them had got a pike from somewhere; another had a garden fork. The rest had only brooms or kitchen knives. But they were fighting.

  It’s important to remember that. People often think of the palace eunuchs as simpering weaklings, but it’s not true. The palace people fought as bravely as any soldiers.

  I must get a weapon, I thought, and I was wondering where to find one when I suddenly remembered that jeweled sword inside the entrance to the eunuchs’ quarters. So I ran across and I took it down. It was quite heavy, and the rubies on the hilt bit into my hand, but the blade was sharp. So back I went with it.

  I wasn’t afraid. It was pretty obvious the barbarians had only one idea in their minds—grab as much loot as they could and make off with it. So if we made it too hot for them in one place, there was a good chance they’d move on and try another. With luck, we might be able to keep them out of the emperor’s quarters.

  And I was only fifty yards from those brave fellows defending the doorway when I saw a sight that almost made my heart stop. A single figure running out from another pavilion. With one arm he was carrying a rich plum-colored robe; in his other hand he held a splendid head comb encrusted with gems. Even at a distance I couldn’t fail to recognize them. They belonged to the Noble Consort Yi herself. The robe was the very one she’d been wearing the first time I ever came into her presence.

  I forgot everything. I wasn’t even thinking. I was just running, so fast it felt as if I were flying. Blind rage, fury, yes, love, carried me forward, and when I got to him, I plunged that ceremonial sword into his belly. He let out a scream. I pulled the sword out and drove it in again with all my force as he went down. I did it for the Noble Consort and the Celestial Kingdom.

  Then I tore her robe and the comb from his hands, seized the sword again, and left him quivering in his death throes as I ran towards the Noble Consort’s quarters. I half expected some of the barbarians to chase after me. But if they did, they’d given up before I got to her rooms.

  And who should I find there but Shaking Leaf.

  I think he’d just walked in there. I’m not sure he even realized what was going on. So when he saw me burst in there with a bloody sword, it must have been a shock.

  He blinked, his mouth fell open, and he went deathly pale. He stared at me in terror. Did he think I was going to attack him?

  “I am sorry, Lacquer Nail,” he cried. “I’m sorry for all the bad things that were done to you. It wasn’t my fault. You know that. It was all Mr. Liu.” I didn’t say anything. I was just staring at him. “Zhong Kui, protect me,” he suddenly cried.

  And then I understood. Since Zhong Kui is the demon who frightens off evil spirits, Shaking Leaf must have thought I was a ghost. A hungry ghost, as they’re the only ones who can take on human form.

  “The only hungry ghosts are the barbarians who are looting the place,” I cried. But he wasn’t taking it in. Let him believe I’m a ghost, then, I thought. “Grab all the valuables that belong to Noble Consort Yi,” I told him, “and hide them. Quick, quick.”

  “At once,” he said, and started gathering things up.

  “Hide them well,” I shouted.

  It’s amazing that I was ordering the senior eunuch around like that, but I felt I had the right to. After all, I’d just killed a man for stealing her robe.

  I left Shaking Leaf to his work and went back outside. The French looters were fanning out all over the place. Obviously I couldn’t fight them all. I didn’t want to go back to Shaking Leaf, who at some point would figure out I wasn’t a ghost. I thought of old Mr. Ma. I didn’t imagine the barbarians wanted to run off with his trees. The best thing’s to stay where I am, I decided, and guard the way into the Noble Consort’s quarters. So I stood there with my bloodied sword and looked threatening. Some of the French troops glanced in my direction, but none of them came at me.

  * * *

  —

  I’d been there a few minutes when I noticed a small party of them heading towards a group of pavilions that housed the older ladies of the court. But I wasn’t paying much attention until I noticed a single figure emerging from the back. She was too far away for me to see her face, moving hesitantly, peeping around the corner of the building, then pulling back and obviously wondering where she could flee.

  Would the barbarians harm her? Even a lady of the court could get attacked on a day
like this. I cursed under my breath. I really didn’t want to quit my post. But I couldn’t just leave her. So skirting behind some bushes where the looters wouldn’t catch sight of me, I bent low and ran towards her.

  I was already close before the lady saw me, and at the sight of my bloodied sword she started with fear. But she could see from my dress that I was a palace person, so she quickly collected herself and waited. She was quite simply dressed, but she had a fine necklace of pearls and gemstones. I was sure I’d seen her before.

  Then I realized: It was the lady Prince Gong called Auntie. I bowed low as I reached her.

  “Princess,” I said, “I am Lacquer Nail. I serve the Noble Consort Yi.”

  “Yes, yes. I recognize you now. You have been fighting?”

  “Your slave has been fighting,” I acknowledged.

  “Prince Gong was supposed to be here this afternoon,” she said. “I sent my servant girl to find him, but I don’t know where she is now.”

  “I don’t think we can wait here,” I said. “Are there other noble ladies inside?”

  “There’s only me,” she replied.

  “Perhaps we could hide on one of the far islands,” I suggested.

  She seemed to like this idea.

  “You know the Apricot Blossom Spring Villa,” she said. “The pavilions are mostly down by the waterfront. But the wooded hill behind is quite wild. We could hide up there, I think.”

  “It’s a steep climb, my lady,” I cautioned her.

  “I am a Manchu, Lacquer Nail,” she reminded me with a smile. “No bound feet. But I’m like the Noble Consort Yi. My feet are so dainty, you might think they were bound.”

  We followed the path around the edge of the lake as quickly as we could. The French barbarians were still busy looting all the pavilions near the emperor’s residence, so they hadn’t come this way yet. We passed across two deserted islands. As we came towards the Apricot Blossom Spring Island, there wasn’t a soul in sight.

  There was a pretty humpbacked stone footbridge ahead that crossed over the water to the island. We’d reached the top of it when the princess, who was just behind me, spoke.

  “Stop, Lacquer Nail, and hide your sword.” Her voice was quiet but urgent.

  I stopped and held my sword with one hand just behind me. For a moment I didn’t understand. Then I saw what she had seen. Her eyes were sharper than mine.

  A single barbarian was stepping out from the bushes about twenty paces away, directly in our path. He seemed to be alone. He had a rifle in his hands. He grinned at us.

  I have seen many villainous barbarians in my life, but never one as ugly as this one. He was huge, with a bushy black beard and a nose that seemed to dip down to his chin. One of his fiery eyes squinted to the right, but the other was fixed on me. He pointed his gun, but he did not take aim. If he’d seen my sword he probably would have shot me.

  “What do you think he wants?” the princess asked me quietly. She was wonderfully calm.

  “Loot, I think,” I answered. And then it came to me why he might be there alone. “Perhaps he ran here ahead of his friends to grab the best bits of loot for himself,” I said.

  Nobody moved. But I saw the barbarian’s eye shift to the princess. My hand tightened on my hidden sword. If he tried to harm her, I’d surely kill him or die in the attempt.

  I remember thinking that if I was going to die, at least it would be defending a member of the imperial family. Even if we were both found dead, everyone would get to hear of it. My name would be honored for generations. I wondered if Prince Gong would buy my missing parts back so that I might be buried with them as a whole man. That would be a good recompense. But would he think of it?

  The hideous creature’s hand went up to his neck, then pointed at the princess. I understood at once. “He wants your pearls,” I said.

  “How dare he?” There speaks a noblewoman! I thought. The loss of her pearls was nothing. Her concern was for her dignity. “Certainly not,” she said firmly.

  The bearded savage made a motion towards me with his gun.

  “He means to shoot me and take the pearls from you,” I translated.

  “If he touches me with his hands, I shall have to drown myself,” she remarked.

  She still wasn’t thinking of giving her pearls away. As for drowning herself…If a lady of her rank—born a noble, consort of an emperor—should be defiled by the touch of the disgusting barbarian before us, she’d certainly be right to take her own life.

  So it didn’t look as if there was any honorable way for us to survive.

  But then I had a moment of inspiration. Remember, always put yourself in the place of your enemy. Try to think as he does.

  “Trust me, Princess,” I said. I knew she’d understand at once. Then I gave him my most servile bow. And with my free hand I indicated he should come forward and take the pearls for himself, as though to say: “I can’t take them, but I won’t stop you.”

  He smirked scornfully. A palace eunuch, he was thinking. Just what I’ve always heard: weak, effeminate, disloyal.

  He strode up onto the bridge and started to walk past me as I made way for him. And I don’t think he even saw my sword as I whipped it from behind my back and plunged it under his rib cage and up into his heart.

  He gave a grunt, stood stock-still with the sword sticking out of him, and sank onto his knees. I put my foot on his chest, yanked the sword left and right to make sure the point had torn up everything within, and pulled it out. The rifle dropped from his hand and clattered on the stone bridge, but he remained on his knees. I glanced back at Prince Gong’s auntie.

  Her face was absolutely still, betraying no emotion of any kind. She had, as I say, the highest breeding.

  Then the monster suddenly vomited blood and fell face forward onto the bridge and was convulsed by two or three huge spasms. As soon as that stopped, I picked up his rifle.

  I looked at the princess. Her face was the same. She glanced around the lake as though the death of the barbarian was of no concern or interest to her at all. And I was just wondering whether we should still hide on that island or go to another one, when she suddenly called to me: “Look over there, Lacquer Nail. Here he comes.” And I looked, and there, from farther up the lake, came a dozen soldiers at a run, with four more men carrying a sedan chair. “I wonder if he’s seen us,” she said. And she started waving at the sedan chair like an excited girl.

  I could hardly believe the transformation from the dignified lady to the happy girl. But then of course he was another member of the royal family.

  He was with us in no time. He surveyed the scene. There was already a pool of blood around the bearded barbarian’s head. “Are you all right?” he asked her. “I came as soon as I could.”

  “Yes,” she cried. “Thanks to him.” And she pointed at me.

  “Do I know you?” he said.

  I made a low bow.

  “It’s Lacquer Nail,” she interrupted. “He was fighting the barbarians with his sword. Then he saw me and rescued me. He killed this one, too. He saved my life.”

  “Oh,” said Prince Gong. I noticed the soldiers were giving me looks of respect, which was very gratifying. “Weren’t you in trouble?” he said. “I heard you were dead.”

  “Not yet, Highness,” I replied, and made a brave smile. “But your slave must tell you the barbarians may be here any minute. And they’re at the main entrance.”

  “We’re going out another way,” he said briskly. He helped his auntie into the sedan chair. He looked at me again and at my sword. “That’s a ceremonial sword. Where did you get it?”

  I told him. He indicated I should give it to him. But as I started to do so, I suddenly winced with pain. And I discovered the rubies on the hilt had bitten into my hand and it had been bleeding for quite a while. In all the excitement I’d never
felt the pain at all.

  He got into the sedan chair with his auntie. “Go!” he ordered his men.

  “He saved my life,” I heard the princess say again as they raised the sedan chair.

  Prince Gong stuck his head out. “You come, too,” he told me. So off we went.

  It was as we left the Yuanmingyuan that I suddenly remembered my father’s advice: The best way to make your fortune, he’d told me, is to save a rich man’s life. And now I’d done even better: I’d saved the life of one of the imperial family. I had to laugh.

  * * *

  —

  I was in clover. For a start, I was safe in Prince Gong’s well-guarded mansion inside the city walls. Everything in it was magnificent. One of Prince Gong’s eunuchs showed me the servants’ bathhouse, gave me fresh clothes and balm for my hand. I asked for some extra balm, which I applied to my backside. Then I was given a good meal and a little room all to myself. That night I slept nearly ten hours.

  When I finally awoke, the same eunuch gave me breakfast and told me that I should attend upon the princess as soon as I was ready.

  She was in a small receiving room, sitting very upright in a big polished chair. She was wearing a flowered dress and a simple tortoiseshell comb in her hair. She looked very royal and dignified, but she smiled at me and told me to sit down on a wooden stool before her.

  “First, I wish to thank you again for saving my life,” she said.

  “It was your slave’s honor,” I answered, and bowed my head.

  “And now I wish to hear your whole story, Lacquer Nail, ever since you first decided to become a palace person.”

  “I am afraid you will find it very boring, Princess,” I replied.

  “I’m sure I shan’t,” she said. “And as Prince Gong is out all day attending to the city defenses, I’ve no one else to entertain me, so I may as well listen to you.”

  It crossed my mind that Prince Gong could have asked her to find out how I’d suddenly turned up again when I was supposed to be dead and what I’d been up to. If I hadn’t saved his auntie’s life, someone might be asking questions in quite a different way.