R u n a w a y
Ziyu gazed out the window of her palanquin, the vehicle rocking back and forth as they maneuvered their way through the crowded city. Ziyu was not a cultivator, nor did she need to attend the Lan Sect lectures, but her mother had suggested she go to ‘clear her mood’. Ziyu did not argue.
It’s been over two months since Ziyu’s meltdown, and even now, people behaved as though they walked on pins and needles around her. For example, her new maidservant sitting across from her. This woman came into Ziyu’s life after her previous handmaiden got fired for letting Ziyu slip out of her sight. This woman was much more stringent than the last; she bore openly into Ziyu’s profile, not even trying to conceal the fact that she was watching her.
After Ziyu’s episode, she was locked in her room for a week. Usually two days of solitary confinement would be torturous enough, but this time, the silence gave Ziyu time to think. Time to plan. She thought about her father, her mother, her clan and her sect, her brothers and sisters. Most of all she thought about her late sister; her words, her memories, good and bad, playing nonstop in Ziyu’s head like a tape stuck on loop. She thought about the Nie Sect, how they’ve been kind to her, despite how hostile her initial impressions of them were. Ziyu thought of how to escape her room. How to leave the Jin clan. How to alert the Nie sect of her discoveries. And, most importantly, how to avenge her sister.
Hot daggers of pain sliced her heart once more at the thought of her sister. Only this time, instead of falling into despair, her pain metamorphosed into anger. Agonizing, galvanizing anger.
Ziyu would never be able to run while confined in the Jin palace. But what about on the road to the Lan Sect?
Ziyu lifted the golden covers from her window, peeking into the busy streets below. “I want to go out and see what the fuss is about.”
“My lady?” Her maiden inquired, surprised. After all, these were the first words her sour-faced charge had uttered since they’d set off two days ago.
“I wish to explore the streets.” Ziyu stared at her maidservant and her maidservant stared back at her. Ziyu felt the beginning wisps of anxiety creep into her chest. “I have been sitting all day and need to stretch my legs, is that alright?”
“That is alright, my lady, but must we do so here? We are in the heart of the city and it is quite unsafe. Furthermore, the palanquin must keep moving. We are already late… if we stop, it may be difficult to reach the Lan Sect on time.”
“We have a whole entourage of guards following us, I am perhaps the safest woman in this city. Besides, I have Xueli,” The husky napping on Ziyu’s lap peeked an eye open at the mention of her name. “She will protect me.”
The woman pursed her lips, unconvinced.
“My mood has been poor these days, and I need to take a walk to clear my head!” Ziyu snapped in a desperate move. “Or would you like me to report that you’ve been a horrible maidservant and have driven me beyond the edge of sanity?”
Perhaps the handmaid was stunned at Ziyu’s outburst, having never seen her lady act so demanding before; or, perhaps she was remembering the fate of her predecessor, who mysteriously disappeared after failing her job. Either way, the woman’s face paled and she took a proverbial step back. “Apologies, my lady,” She ushered. “We will order the palanquin to stop now.”
Ziyu’s heart beat so hard it almost jumped out her chest, but she forced herself to maintain composure. Xueli no doubt sensed her anxiety, bumping her snout against Ziyu as they stepped off the palanquin. Ziyu’s senses went into overload as the bustle of full scope of the street hit her. The noise, the scent of street-food, the crowds, the energy; everything kicked into overdrive. Ziyu glanced at the palanquin behind her. Just as her handmaid said, it really wasn’t easy to park such a big, clumsy thing in the middle of a crowded street. They were blocking traffic; merchants on their horses shot them dirty looks.
“My lady, is this enough? We’ve had the chance to stretch.” Ziyu’s handmaid looked around, regretting her decision. “Let’s go back, now…”
“I’m sorry,” Ziyu said. “But I won’t be going back.”
With that, she turned and ran into the crowd.
Ziyu could hear her handmaid screaming, the heavy steps of solders bolting after her. Ziyu took advantage of her size and, calling Xueli’s name, they squeezed through the crowd together. Finally, Ziyu broke through to the other side. Miraculously, the soldiers were still behind them, caught in the crowd. She could see flashes of gold uniforms as they tried to push through.
Ziyu panted and ran in the opposite direction. She ran for her life, until her lungs were exploding and her muscles tearing with every step. Xueli ran ahead of Ziyu, guiding her to round a sharp corner onto a smaller, less crowded street. Ziyu locked eyes with a man with ink black eyes, sitting at a stand with a mouthful of noodles.
“You! Fiend!” Ziyu blurted without thinking, frazzled as she was. “Please, help me!” She panted. The Jin soldiers were hot on her heels, their steps growing louder by the second. “Please, I need to get away, bad people are chasing me.” Ziyu glanced behind her and her voice grew panicked. “Please!” She took her pearl earring and slammed it onto the table. “I’ll pay you handsomely for your services!”
@sijunxx
