Chapter 1

 

It was a beautiful autumn day. The copse of conifers and leafy trees just outside of the little town in the empire of Tianxia was quiet except for the sound of birds and the occasional warning call of a squirrel.

The mornings mists were lifting under the warm autumn sun and the red and yellow leaves that had finally turned colour seemed to be even more vibrant where the sun’s rays touched them.

It was one of those days that made Shu Fang’s heart sing, made her love this time of year.

Soon the leaves would fall and the trees would be bare but for now the forest was beautiful and still full of life.

It was unseasonably warm for this time of the year so as Shu Fang walked towards the farm that was the destination of her trip she enjoyed feeling the sun’s warmth on her face.

A little smile played about her lips and her long dark hair that showed just a hint of auburn with the sun touching it was tousled by a mild breeze.

She saw the beauty in the things around her even when faced with troubles. There was a balance to everything, no light without darkness.

The winters here were harsh. It would get bitterly cold soon enough and she was worried how the Wu family would make it through the winter.

Mrs. Wu had lost her husband in yet another disturbance caused by Empress’s Guang’s soldiers a few weeks ago.

There were more and more of those disturbances lately and it seemed that no reason was needed for the soldiers to attack innocent people in the streets.

A perceived slight was all they needed to justify arresting or, as happened more often, killing people.

It was almost as if they enjoyed causing fear and distress.

Mr. Wu had been a farmer and was selling his produce on the town’s market when the fight had broken out.

From what Shu Fang had heard most people had fled immediately but some of the soldiers had pursued those fleeing the market and Mr. Wu had been one of the unlucky ones who got caught.

How exactly this had lead to his death she didn’t know, nor did she want to imagine. Violence went against all her beliefs.

The Wu’s had five children, their eldest son would try to keep farming the land but he was only twelve and his siblings were too young to be of much help.

Even if he worked hard, it would be difficult to provide for the family on his own.

And now, with the youngest gravely ill, the choice for Mrs. Wu was between feeding the children or buying herbs for the little one.

This was why Shu Fang was on her way to the Wu’s farm this morning, to take food to the widow and her children.

She had heard of the family’s plight at the market and, as she often did, had decided to help where she could.

 

The family lived in a small, run-down hut with a thinly thatched roof that would not be able to keep the cold out once winter was here.

Firewood had been stacked high to the side of the hut and smoke was rising from the chimney

A few chickens were foraging for food in the packed-dirt yard and two of the children in worn looking tunics, a boy and a girl, were carrying water from the well.

As soon as they saw Shu Fang they put down their buckets and ran towards her excitedly.

She smiled and nodded her head gracefully as they bowed before her.

“Good morning!” she said cheerfully as she ruffled the little boy’s hair affectionately. “Is your mother inside?”

Both children nodded and just then she heard a child cry inside the hut.

“Little Jia is still not better, is she?” Shu Fang asked but she could tell by the desperate cries inside that she wasn’t.

“I have brought rice and broth. Let me see how your mother is doing.” She told the children as she walked to the door and knocked.

A weary looking Mrs. Wu opened the door with a little girl on her arm.

The child was crying and a sheen of sweat covered her face and body.

Her mother quickly tried to straighten her dress and hair when she saw who was at the door and bowed deeply but Shu Fang just smiled and nodded. “Good morning Mrs. Wu, how is our little Jia doing today? I brought food for you and the children.”

The tired woman gestured for Shu Fang to come inside and said “Her fever is just not coming down. The herbs I got from the healer should be working by now but my poor baby is still burning up and her cough has gotten worse too. I don’t know what else to do anymore. We’re both exhausted.”

Tears welled up in the poor woman’s eyes and Shu Fang softly patted her shoulder. “Give her some of the broth, it’s still warm. She needs nourishment, maybe that will help.

And eat something yourself! You’re no good to your children when you’re too weak to stand.”

“Thank you!” Mrs. Wu said, looking a little sheepish and then put her daughter down to divide the rice and broth for her children. Her own portion would be the smallest, it always was.

She then called her other three children and set aside a large portion for her oldest son who was already out working in the fields.

“Can I help you with anything around the house?” Shu Fang asked while Mrs. Wu was feeding little Jia and the other children were greedily devouring the food.

Their mother shook her head, managing a little smile, “You are too kind but no. No, thank you. Everyone is helping out. Fai is even helping Jin out in the fields most days. He’s too young really but none of us have a choice now. If only my poor husband was still alive. All he was doing was trying to provide for his family. He never hurt anyone and those bastards…”

Her voice trailed off and Mrs. Wu shook her head, a look of contempt mixed with desperation on her face.

“It’s getting worse, you know? I don’t get into town much these days but every now and then a neighbour stops by for a chat and they tell me these random attacks from the Empress’s soldiers happen more and more regularly now. What is happening? Why does she not stop them?”

Shu Fang didn’t know what to say. Why indeed? Why would Empress Guang not intervene and protect her people? Did the soldiers sow fear and death with her knowledge or approval even?

Since the Emperor’s mysterious death 12 months ago it was almost as if a blanket of evil covered the land. Life had been peaceful and prosperous for most of the Emperor’s subjects but it seemed that kind of harmony had died with him. The world suddenly seemed to be out of balance.

Nobody knew what exactly had happened to him, a mysterious illness, murder? Many were speculating but here in the south they were too far away to get any insight into what went on in the palace or capitol and Shu Fang, although educated and able to enjoy much more freedom than most women, had no hope of finding out any more than the rumours told her.

And even if she knew it would not help bring relief to those families who had already suffered injustice at the soldier’s hands.

Still, she desperately wished that she could bring an end to the misery families like the Wu’s were suffering.

“I don’t know, Mrs. Wu. Perhaps she doesn’t know? The capitol is many miles away from here, she might not have been told.”

Shu Fang did not really believe this herself but she felt like Mrs. Wu needed hope rather than the truth and, essentially, Shu Fang did believe in the good in people.

She wanted to believe that what she was saying was true but recently her trust in the empire’s ruler was diminishing.

“I’m sure you are right.” Mrs. Wu said quietly and tore the young woman from her thoughts.

“Yes, yes, all will be well, Mrs. Wu. I should be going but I will be back tomorrow. Please get some rest if you can.”

The older woman nodded and bowed as Shu Fang smiled and waved at the children and left.

She hoped that when she returned tomorrow little Jia’s fever would finally have broken.

Considering the alternative was troubling.

 

On her way home she was deep in thought. The colours of the leaves, the radiant sun, the bird song, they all went unnoticed now.

Shu Fang was a kind soul, gentle and caring but strong and resolute when the situation required it. Her father often compared her to the bamboo, unrelenting, especially when she debated philosophy and the world’s injustices with him.

So it came as no surprise that in the current situation she felt unsettled, as if she needed to take action but today she somehow felt powerless. What could she do against the might of the empire’s army or a child’s illness?

She could keep bringing food to the Wu’s, she could have long discussions, lasting into the night, with her father but in the grand scheme of things, what did that change?

She had never before felt like she needed to be more than what she was but today she couldn’t shake the thought that it just wasn’t enough anymore.

Suddenly Shu Fang heard screaming. Torn from her thoughts she found that she had already entered the town and was now almost at the market.

Fear took hold of her when she heard the screams and her first instinct was to run. It was probably the soldiers again, attacking yet another innocent person. Nobody would be able to stand up to them without risking their own life.

She was about to turn away and walk around the market to avoid getting into trouble herself but a voice inside her stopped her.

‘No! Not this time! Someone finally has to  take a stand!’ she thought as her inner turmoil turned to anger.

She clenched her fists and marched towards the market, past the bakery and the paper shop, ready to face whoever was threatening people in the market square.

People were running in the opposite direction, away from the danger that was now so commonplace. Some turned to look at her, probably wonder why she was going to the market when there was clearly trouble ahead.

Others pleaded with her to go with them and hide but Shu Fang would not be deflected her purpose and the closer she got, the faster her heart beat. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins, spurring her on.

By the time she reached the market and  could see a man kneeling before a group of men, all clad in black robes, she was shaking, not out of fear but anger.

The market place was empty. The stalls were abandoned and baskets that had been filled with fruit and vegetables had been toppled over by fleeing people.

The men causing all this commotion weren’t soldiers though, that much Shu Fang could tell right away.

She didn’t know these men, had never seen anyone dressed in robes like these.

They looked threatening with their swords drawn and the young man who seemed to be their leader held his quarterstaff as if to attack the poor man who seemed to be pleading for his life.

“Stop it!” she yelled, surprising herself with this impulsive reaction “Leave him be!”

 

Long Wei turned to see who dared interfere in his business.

The young woman who had so brazenly demanded he stop what he was doing looked angry but even in her anger he was immediately struck by how beautiful she was.

Her dark, almond shaped eyes were sparkling with outrage and her cheeks were flushed.

The light autumn breeze ruffled her hair and as it blew in the wind the sun was painting shades of auburn on the dark strands.

His heart fluttered for just a moment, an unfamiliar feeling to him and he was surprised by the impact that seeing her had on him. He had known many women, he was successful in what some called love and always in control of himself and his feelings.

This was not the way he should be feeling in a moment like this, being challenged by a woman.

A moment later an amused grin spread on Long Wei’s face and he bowed mockingly.

“Of course, my lady. Your wish is my command.” he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

“Once he pays what he owes my employer this man shall be on his merry way.”

The woman glared at him, her fists clenched angrily and he could see that she was struggling to control her emotions.

“Thank you.” she responded gracefully a moment later with a restraint that betrayed how upset she looked.

He had never seen anything so irresistible and was almost tempted to truly let the man go just because she had demanded it but he quickly came to his senses again.

He would not only look foolish and lose face in front of his men but such an act would undermine his authority with the townspeople, authority he needed to establish if he was to be successful in his new role as debt collector and enforcer for a rich merchant and money lender in the area.

Long Wei and his gang had just been hired and it was a job that paid handsomely.

A pretty face was not worth losing all the money they could be making.

“Unfortunately this man just informed me that he cannot pay what he owes. So I have no choice but to show him what happens to people who don’t keep their promises.”

And with that he lifted his quarterstaff above his head, ready to strike the poor wretch kneeling at his feet.

Long Wei’s companions laughed and cheered him on but before he could bring his staff down on the man the woman came at him from the right, grabbing his arm holding the staff.

“No.” she yelled with desperation in her voice and then, pleading with him, “The taxes have been raised. These people barely have enough to live on. Please, you can’t punish them for that.”

Mercilessly he lashed out at her, his staff connecting with the side of her face more by chance than by intention and pushed her away.

She stumbled and fell. Tears welled up in her eyes as she held a hand to her face but he could not tell whether they were tears of pain, anger or humiliation because her face had suddenly hardened, devoid of all emotion.

Then he saw her eyes and the look of defiance in them made his heart beat faster.

She would not back down and that impressed him, not only because usually nobody even dared to stand up to him but also because most women would have already cowered in fear.

Not her though. She spat at him and got up again, ready to stand against him.

He realised that he could not let this go any further. He didn’t want to hurt her any more seriously than he already had but with her not backing down he would have no other choice.

So Long Wei snorted, pointed his staff at the still kneeling man and snarled “Three days or I’ll finish what I started.”

He then looked at the woman, regarding her for just a moment with his eyes now frighteningly cold, before turning and walking away, motioning for his men to follow.

 

Shu Fang was shaking. Tears of anger were now slowly running down her face and her heart was racing.

This man, how dare he hit her? How dare he behave as if he owned this town? So sure of himself, so arrogant and ruthless.

She had been scared when he had looked at her in that split second before he had finally left. His eyes had been emotionless when just moments earlier, after he had hit her, she thought she had seen regret in his eyes.

Obviously he had been mistaken.

She knew what she had done was dangerous and could have easily gotten her, as well the poor man, killed but she had been raised with a strong sense of justice that just could not be ignored.

None of this was right, hard working people barely being able to feed themselves, taxes being raised for the poor but not for the rich and nobles, this gangster threatening people who had made the mistake of borrowing money from someone who was getting rich by exploiting the poor.

It just wasn’t right and someone had to do something.

Admittedly she had never thought that that someone would be her but today she had proven to herself that she at least had the courage to stand up to injustice.

Whether this was the smart thing to do was a different question but it was certainly right.

She slowly walked over to the man who had been the gangster’s target.

He was shaking with fear, still kneeling where the gang of criminals had left him.

“Are you alright?” she asked, “Did they hurt you?”

He shook his head with tears in his eyes and began to thank her profusely.

“You saved my life. I am so grateful. Thank you, my lady.”

Shu Fang smiled sadly. “Don’t thank me, I did what needed to be done finally but I’m afraid they will come back as they promised.” She crouched down next to the man, took his hand and pressed a few coins into his palm. “It isn’t much but maybe you can scrape together enough now to pay them back. Else I’m afraid what they will do to you next time.”

He looked at her with tears in his eyes and replied with a grateful voice. “Thank you, my lady. I will try and thanks to your help I might just manage. I don’t know how to repay you for your kindness but if I can, I will one day.”

Shu Fang nodded and laid a hand on the man’s shoulder as she said “I’m sure you will. Be well and good luck.”

With that she straightened, dusted off her dress and made her way home.