The Qing Dynasty

"Ahh! What are these sounds?" she said as she hid under her thin blanket

Her aunt gave her a thin blanket because warm blankets were expensive so Zhang Yi had to shiver all night.

Rifle sounds*...

"Guns!?" she said to herself

"There are too many rifles, is there a gang of republic traitors in our street?" she said as she was trying to stand up and look at the window.

She held herself for a moment.

"No, it might be too dangerous." she thought

Then Zhang Yi heard horrible screams and the rifling continued.

She ran to her drawer and hid inside. It was large enough to hide an entire person.

Zhang Yi had a notification on her phone and her friends have written her a message.

Mei Yuan: We are on war Yi, do you know there had been political uprisings and the government is not stable?

Mo Lin: Yes, some terrorists entered China from Taiwan and they are slaughtering many people. They are plenty in the capital.

When Zhang Yi heard these she quickly typed and responded.

Zhang Yi: Where are you!? Are you guys safe? Are there terrorists right at your homes?

Mei Yuan: No Yi! Don't worry

Mo Lin: Hotpot for another day! Kiss.

Zhang Yi: Do not scare me. Are you guys sleeping?

Mei Yuan: I'm so awake

Mo Lin: How can I sleep, there are live scenes outside.

Zhang Yi's phone sent her a notification.

You received a video from Mo Lin and a GIF from Mei Yuan.

Sighs*... they will never stop amazing me. she thought

In the video of Mo Lin, she sent a video showing the live rifling outside.

Don't wanna see this! she said as she swapped to the GIF of Mei Yuan

Mei Yuan sent a GIF with a cat holding a lovely heart saying "I'm so awake".

Zhang Yi quickly texted her smiling at the GIF sent.

Zhang Yi: cute!

Mei Yuan: Thx, Yi!

Zhang Yi: I have to leave. Notify me, I will sleep late tonight!

Mo Lin: Ok!

Mei Yuan: Fine!

She dropped her phone and sat inside the cupboard.

Suddenly, someone knocked at her door. Her aunt never usually knocks at her door and her uncle never visits her. The person entered and saw no one. He sweetly called her name.

"Zhang Yi, are you there?" he said first making sure she had not fled

She opened the cupboard and went to see him.

'Uncle, I'm sorry!' she said as she briskly walked to sit on her bed

He was first hesitant, and then only five words ran out from his mouth, "Get out and run away"

She was startled and her eyes were wide open.

"Run, you are in danger! the half-sisters of your mother took your DNA to find out about your father. Your father is the prince."...

What!? she said

"How could the prince be my father? My mom was raped in a cartel, what could a prince look for in such a place?" she thought

"Run! your aunt is sleeping. Pack your dresses and go away," he said hastily

"Where will I go?" she said as she hurried to pack her things feeling insecure

"You have friends?" he asked

"Yes!" she answered

"Ask them to house you for a while." He replied

"Why didn't I have this idea at the beginning?" she said nervously

"Take this money and add it to your savings," he said handing her a red packet

"Thank you, uncle!" she said as she kept the money in her pocket

She took her baggage and quietly opened the door, then she ran out. Her aunt was so asleep she did not hear the rifling.

Honey!? her aunt said as she was dreaming

When she heard the voice of her aunt, she ran out and hid in the bush beside the house. She was in front of a live scene and people were being killed in their own houses. Someone came and clashed the door just beside her and entered with a gun at his hand. He shot her aunt and her uncle fled from the window of her room after hearing the shot.

"She finally got what she deserved!" Zhang Yi said as she did not feel sorry for her aunt

"What about my uncle? Is he alive? I won't forgive myself if he died, he saved me." She thought feeling anxious

"Who can I call?" she thought taking out her phone

Mei Yuan is close and her house is comfortable while Mo Lin is farther.

"Please, may I be lucky!" She said as she was calling Mei Yuan

"Yes, Yi what's wrong?" she answered as if she felt something was awkward

"Yuan, help me! My uncle drove me out, can you pick me for a while in your apartment?" She said

"Yes, but what happened?" she kept insisting

"No time to explain, I will tell you on the way!" she said

"Yi do you know it will be difficult for me to get a cab?" she said sighing

"We are in a war and political crisis!"...

"Don't worry I will cook you food when I come," she said

"Good payment! I'm coming right now." Yuan said as she was already on the road calling for a cab

"Phew! This was so hot, I thought I will not make it." She said lying on the bush

Zhang Yi heard the person coming out from the house and heading to the house of the neighbor. After she heard a woman screaming, it was ... Miss Wang! She recognized her voice and she was shocked and seized by the incident

"Miss Wang!" she could only gasp

The woman let out a great scream and died.

"This is horrible! Please, Mei, come quickly I can't stay here," she said as she hugged herself tightly and let out a tear on her face.

Her face was white pale from crying and shivering every night. It made her so pale she could easily feel pain when she catches a cold or bends to pick up her shoes.

The rifling stopped and the terrorists fled. She was feeling good and lifted her head to see if it was alright. Zhang Yi got up from the bush and was directly calling the police. She did not want to enter the house because there was a corpse.

"Hello!" an officer answered from the phone

"Please! I'm at the scene of a crime. There are corpses in my neighborhood and the house of my guardians."...

"Can you please come and send a team to investigate while I go to a friend?" she asked

"Madam, please do not off your phone. I'm sending a team of police right to your home. Please be careful we are in a war." The officer said

"I will be safe, Thank you!"...

She hanged up then she went to the house of Miss Wang.

Miss Wang used to grow roses in her home. Zhang Yi picked many roses and made a pretty bouquet. She hesitantly opened the door and saw the corpse of Miss Wang on the floor.

"Miss Wang!" she said as she quickly laid beside her corpse

Miss Wang was very affectionate to Zhang Yi and she always offered a good meal after Zhang Yi worked very hard to help her. She did not have any children and Zhang Yi always helped her whenever she needed help. Miss Wang was the one who called the police to help Zhang Yi and she always insisted on them arrest their aunt saying they must investigate further. All those memories made her feel worse.

"Thank you for all that you did for me!" she said dropping the bouquet on her

"I hope you will have the best funeral ever!"...

Zhang Yi was just sadly opening the door when saw the half-sisters of her mom. She quickly ran back to the home of Miss Wang and looked at the rectangle window next to the door.

Zhang Yue, we are at your door let us...

"There is no one?" they asked themselves astonished at the silence in the whole street

They were not aware there was a war that just broke out.

"The door is broken let us head inside."...

As they entered the house silence could only be heard. They advanced to the room which was beside and fell on Zhang Yue's corpse.

"Ahhh! Zhang Yue!" they screamed

Phone ringing*...

"Yi, where are you? I stopped in front of Miss Wang's house. The driver is not willing to waste time." she screamed

"I'm inside but do not enter," she warned

"I'm heading outside quietly! someone else is there." Zhang Yi said

She came out of the house and was entering the cab.

Before she could enter, Zhang Yi heard people behind them. The half-sisters of her mom were out and they spotted her.

"Who is it that we found?"...

"It is over for you Yi! You don't merit to live." one of them gasped

"Yi, who are they? head quickly in the cab!" Mei Yuan rushed

Shot*...

ZHANG YI! Mei Yuan shouted

The driver took Mei Yuan and was so scared he just left poor Zhang Yi to the ground.

Save me, I don't want to die. she murmured in a pale voice

...

Blur eyes*... "Sheng Wo! Miss Sheng Wo!" A woman called

"Where am I?" she said as she rubbed her eyes

Zhang Yi felt overwet and thought she floated over something.

"Ahh! I'm in the middle of a river!" she screamed

Just then she noticed her outfit has changed.

"What are these weird dresses, is it a prank?" she asked herself

"It is not good for me to stay here. I first have to save my life." She said as she was trying to swim

Zhang Yi did not know how to swim because they never paid her for swim lessons. She had no choice but to try because the river was falling to a waterfall. Her heart was beating so fast she could not even breathe.

"A stone let me reach it," she said as she tried to pass through the currents of the river.

"Sir, what is Miss Sheng Wo doing, is she dancing?" the woman asked a man who was just from arriving

"Will no one really save her?" he asked bored of the situation

The woman stared at the man as to say that he must be the one to save her.

"I have reached the stone," she exclaimed as she jumped on it

Then she stood up and shouted for help.

"Help me!" she waved

The man jumped in the river and swam through the speedy currents. He reached where she was and dragged her till the river bank.

"Wow! Looks like I almost drowned." Zhang Yi said as she dried her ancient robe

"Thank you so much for saving me," she bowed in a sign of respect

"Sheng Wo, why did you jumped in the river?" the man asked dodging her words

"I... I... I don't know why," she responded

Sheng Li Mu, the father of Sheng Wo living as a farmer and businessman in the Qing dynasty. He sells the freshest vegetables and grains for nobles and commoners.

Ren Ren, the slave girl who is caring for Sheng Wo and assisting her.

Come with me back home. He dragged her by the hand as he was walking.

Sheng Li Mu was living in a big house with his wife, Ye Lin who was working on the farm with him. She was not given the right to work except on the farm and she took care of her children.

"Please let me go! I don't know what happened," she said as she was confused

"What is this dressing and what was I doing in a river?" she thought

"The half-sisters of my mom wanted to kill me for good?" she murmured feeling pale

"What did you say?" The man asked

She was so tired she fell to her feet and started sleeping.

Ren Ren and Sheng Li Mu were both startled.

"Master Sheng, Lady Wo is tired from swimming." Ren Ren said

"I will carry her back home," he answered

With his strong arms, he carried her on his back and walked back to his home.