#15: The Sleeping Willow Potion

Xin Xin's P.O.V

I went out, and changed my clothes matching that of the other servants. It wasn't hard as all the servants were new, no one knew the plan. The only maid I should be careful of was the head maid serving the Madam directly. She is a trusted servant from the Pengs.

I went over to the kitchen, where they would probably mix the drug in either the tea, or the food. I sneaked in. The whole place was packed, all the servants were preparing for tomorrow's breakfast and were busy.

I saw, a maid adding something to the food, very calmly, But it was surely not a seasoning spice. I went over to her, and she flinched. I calmly told her, the head maid had asked me to deliver it to the Madam and that she had to go check upon the wife of General.

"Was it really the head maid?", the maid asked.

"Yes, I mean, the maid wore a black dress, with yellow-red hair clip. I think it was the head maid...", I said.

"Hmm.. Alright. Give this to the Madam. Stay with her until she eats all of it.", She said as she went towards the Miss's courtyard.

I immediately, prepared another bowl of exactly the same design, and took it, I threw away the drugged food. As I was walking, I saw the maids who were assigned to serve Milady, coming out of a room, with some thing in their hands.

I understood that it was the poison meant to kill her. Shit! Guan has to act fast. He must be able to get fast. Before dawn. Is it possible? No no.. Don't think about anything else. Just concentrate on what you are given. If I get caught, the whole thing will go down the drain.

I went forward. I made a glass of water with a special herb, that herb induces sleeping, it was the same concoction I would make for the Lady of the Marquis, whenever she would get headaches. It wasn't harmful but was surely effective, a glass would make you fall asleep within an hour.

I went on and finally reached the Madam's room, it was heavily guarded.

"I have come with the Madam's food.", I said. I would be lying to say I didn't tremble in fear.

"Come in.", The head maid who opened the door said.

"Have you taken care of the food properly? It hasn't got spoilt as it was served lately, was it?", The head maid asked.

I could get the message really, "Is the poison served?", is what she meant.

"Yes, I am just serving the food, I have not made it, I was asked to take it to the Madam, as the original maid had a bad stomachache.", I said.

"Well, Keep it there, and wake the Madam.", She said.

"Yes", When I woke the Madam up, she certainly recognized me. I winked at her and asked her to eat without complains.

"Madam, The Emperor, has requested his audience with you, we have answered the message that you were unwell, but the Emperor demanded that you visit him. If you wouldn't mind we shall take you tomorrow.", The head maid said.

"As you wish, *cough cough*, it is not like I can disagree anyway.", She said weakly.

"Yes.", The head maid said.

The madam started eating her food, the head maid closely observed the Madam and when Madam finished the meal, she motioned me to follow her out.

"Alright, your work is done now.", She said.

"But, are you going to stand here all night?", I asked.

"Yes, I have to be beside the Madam, so that she doesn't have any problems."

"Oh! Can I stay with you? We could chat..", I said.

"No.", she said.

"Hmm.. Ok I guess duty is a duty.. Please at least have some water, You must be tired from work.", I said giving her the water.

"Yes, Thank you.", she said as she gulped down the water.

I went out of the main room, I went over to the other side, to see anything about the First master of Lei, but I couldn't find him nor anything. So, was it true? that master died? But Milady warned me not to say about it to the Madam....

I should just follow Milady. I waited for an hour, and came back, through the window. The head maid was sleeping soundly near the door. I slowly crept in.

"Madam... Madam..", I woke the Madam up.

"Xin... What are you doing here?", she asked.

"Madam, first of all, The Peng's have surrounded the whole mansion. The whole estates is under their control. All of our guards were replaced one by one. We didn't notice as we were disturbed by Jia Li's diagnosis." I said.

"But why? Does anyone else not know about what is happening?", She asked.

"The rumors were all controlled by the Pengs. All the markets around here were displaced to further away. A few of his spies who were here from before do the transactions of food under your name, So no one suspects a thing." I said.

"But why would they go this far.", The Madam asked.

"We suspect removal of the Lei family as the General's family to be their motive, their highest goal being treason and rebellion.", I said.

I slowly explained her everything as I was told to do by Milady. She agreed. I slowly came back to Milady's courtyard.

*Guan's P.O.V*

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me to the Huo Family estate. The security was quite strict. It was on par with the palace's security the only lacking point being lower number of guards deployed.

I saw the Marquis in his study, Writing something. I went over and entered in through the window, but before I could do anything, I felt two knives almost chopping my head off.

"You are the General's subordinate, What is your purpose of coming here?", the two shadow guards asked.

Shit, No wonder the General doesn't keep me by his side. I am not even strong, I didn't even feel their presence.

"I have an important message for the Marquis. It is a secret one.", I said.

"Let him go", The Marquis said, as he rose from his place and walked towards me.

"I demand privacy!", I said

"Hmm?", The Marquis looked at me.

"Please.", I asked.

"Well well.", He motioned the guards to go.

"Now tell me wh-",

"Miss Jia Li is in danger!", I told.

It was a fraction of second, but I could certainly feel the anger.

"What?", He asked again.

I told him everything. The Marquis was about to go barge in the General's residence right now, But I told Milady's plan and explained everything. The Marquis called his first son and a plan was made, just as how Milady expected. The Marquis secretly made preparations of soldiers.

"You.. Take care of my daughter till I come.", He told. Though he was trying hard to conceal, I could feel severe blood lust coming from him and His son.

"Y-Yes.", I said as I left the mansion to go to the brothel.

The brothel was near the outskirts. I finally reached the Red lake brothel. It was weird, why I never heard of this? The soldiers would frequently visit brothels with the little amount of money they had, They almost knew every brothel in the city, but I never heard the Red Lake... Must be a new one.

I went to the Entrance, It was busy, there were many men. Not the usual kind of many, It was many many. I slowly tried to go in, but was denied entry saying the number of guests are full. There were many disappointed. When there was a show or something, a lady? I guess.. not a delicate beauty though, came through the terrace, and behind her followed a bit old lady( The Madam).

The Madam began a sort of an auction, It was an auction for the first night of the person. The crowd was in a frenzy, they gave lots of amount for it. I slowly tried to get in, If I needed to meet the lady, I need to get close to her.

As I went on walking, I bumped my shoulder with a guy and he fell down. I offered him my hand but he was terrified of me. I noticed that his shoulders were bruised, with bites and scratches. I wonder what did that.

"Are you alright?", I asked him, as I slowly lifted him up.

"No... Don't touch me... Please...", He was crying.

I saw, there was a pot-bellied guy, who came out from the same room as him, He was drunk..

"Hey, Come back, You still have to serve me.", That guy asked.

"n-no... Please... No..", He was shivering in my arms.

"Are you the one who bit him?", I asked.

"Yea, So what... He is a prostitute, he is supposed to give me his body.", he said.

"No.. I am not! I am just a servant of kitchen!!", the boy shivered. His age would probably be 12? no 14? I don't know..

"He said he isn't one, so, you should leave him.", I said.

"Huh? All the men in this establishment are just toys...", He began talking nonsense.

The clock was ticking for Milady, and here I am trying to talk sense to a bastard. I wasn't that strong, but I surely could punch him to a pulp. I carried away that boy to a room, and attacked that guy. He became a pulp easily.

"Than-Thank you Mister.", He said.

"No problem.", I said.

The noise had led the guards of the brothel and the Madam come. The Madam saw and understood the situation, She ordered the guards to take him out, and beat the pot guy twice more and led me to a room.

"Thank you for helping a servant of mine, If you hadn't come, He would probably end up regretting his decision to serve me.", The Madam said.

"Well... I just did what I felt right.", I said.

"What do you want in return? I can reserve some of our most beautiful guys for you.", She told.

"No no, Not guys, I would like something else in return." I said.

"What?", she asked.

"The Sleeping Willow potion.", I said.

"I am sorry, I don't know what it is.", She told.

"I guess you do, Milady told me you would know..", I said.

"Milady huh? What is her name.", She asked.

"Jia Li", I said.

"Hmm. I will, I was even given the task of healing her mother-in-law.", She told.

"Thank you.", I said.

"About the Sleeping Willow potion, there is only one place where you can get it, It too is a male brothel, like mine, a sort of sister branch, it is not far from here, but the only problem is you will have to steal it.

It is not a product for sale, as the maker has absolute rights over it. It will be auctioned in an underground market in 2 months. You must go and steal it carefully. The guards there don't interrogate. Only execute. It is very hard to get it.", She told.

"I can do it.", I said.

"Well, then let's prepare you.", she said.

"Prepare me for what?", I asked.

"You are not thinking to steal it in your dress do you? the Guards are specially trained from another country, They are way higher in level.", She said, undressing me quickly.

"So???", I asked as somehow I ended up taking a bath.

"You will go as a member of the brothel, a service guy.", she smiled sinisterly.

"Oh..", It didn't matter, I already wore an obnoxious clothing once...

I was prettied up quick, the dress I wore was not frivolous as before but a normal one. I was taken along with other men, to the brothel. When we reached, We were given a uniform clothing of sorts, but I sneaked out and began searching for the vault.

It wasn't that hard to find it. It was a room in the middle of the brothel, The guards near it were quite a few. Not so strong looking ones. I went slowly and went in the vault. There were many treasures, but in the middle, I could see, The Sleeping Willow potion.

I went over to reach it, but it was a bit too high, I jumped more, but couldn't reach it. I looked over for any chair or something. But I couldn't get it. I tried jumping harder, when I finally caught one, but I needed two, I tucked one in my pocket and tried jumping for another.

When suddenly I felt two hands on my waist, as I tried to turn back, I was hauled up in the air, very easily. I was scared. Was I caught? What excuse must I make?

"Are you not going to take it?", I was asked.

"Uh... What..", I said.

"You can take it, I will tell no one.", The voice said. It was dark in the room and I couldn't see. I took both and was kept on the floor. It was weird a bit. When I finally looked at the person, it was the masked guy!

"You!!" , I could only exclaim...

'Yes, its me Mister Beauty... Where did you go? I thought we were supposed to have a meet after the play?", He said, touching my hair.

"I-I... don't have a meeting with you..", I said as I ran out from there.

I just ran, a few more hallways and I could escape, The time was running out, for dawn. I went as fast as I could. But I was caught. By a Madam, She too prettied me up, a bit more, and didn't let me speak.

Before I knew it, I was covered in a veil and was made to wear a frivolous dress and was taken to the stage. They were bidding on me. Shit! How to get out now??? The Guards were all surrounding the place and stage. There is no way I can escape with the Madam holding my arm this strong!

The only way is to escape when I am taken to a room, it would surely have windows, I just need to knock the person out and escape.

"The bid starts from 1000 silvers!", The person announced.

"2000"

"3000"

"5000"

"7700"

"10000"

"11000"

It went on...

till

"Million!", a man announced, I looked up to see who it was, It was the masked guy!!!!

All people exclaimed, and obviously, he won. I was taken to a room, where that guy was waiting drinking wine.

"Please enjoy!", The people who led me here said.

"Oh.. I will", he said smiling.

They left, when he came close to me. He asked me to sit beside him and serve him wine. I did so. His hands went through my hair,

"For whom was it?", he asked.

"What?", I asked as I poured in wine, thinking how I must escape.

"The potion, I trust you know about it.", He told.

"Yes, It is for a person I serve whole heartedly.", I said.

"Wholeheartedly?", he asked, his tone being a bit annoyed.

"Yes, before, I was repulsive, but now I like the person a lot, and wish to serve for a longer time, that's why I need the potion.", I said.

"Tch.", he said, pulling me closer. His grip was strong. But I had to escape. He carried me up to the bedding and began to strip.

"Now, Let's do it.", he said, with his eyes looking as though he is ready to go massacre people.