Hiding in the Roof Tops

Though Xue'er had been wounded by this man, she did not think it was serious enough for her to sleep it off. Still, she decided this place was worth staying a few more days. She would remain here for some time before she made her way back.

As she prepared to leave, she could not help but turn back to take a glance at that man whose eyes seemed to follow her. His gaze was rather empty, perhaps it was terrifying to children. But within that gaze, she saw traces of fear and despair within. He was right to be afraid after what he did. Though the punishment would not be coming directly from herself, but rather the one who had been lurking all around all this time, a person that never appeared before her, yet decided to share with her, a plum.

~

The dance stopped, the music slowed down. Another white mist appeared, and the dancers that were once on stage disappeared beneath the stage in that hidden contraption.

As the dancers disappeared from view, the crowd cheered. There were a few bold men dressed in brocades that attempted to pine for the woman, but their attempts at opening the contraption stopped, once the staff was in view. Such behavior was odd to Ah Yu, who knew that men of power would not fear the staff of a brothel in a small border town. Unless there was an even greater power behind them.

Very soon, there was a woman who came on stage. Though she was in her early thirties, paired with her youthful face that had not the slight trace of powder and silk flowers in her hair that was not adorned with any hairpins, she resembled an innocent looking girl one would find in the courtyard of a well to do family. It was a pity that this was not such a place. The woman had a way of evoking pity with every step and her gaze hooked the souls of all men.

With a smile, she welcomed the guests and thanked their respective selves for sparing their time to come over. She assured them that food and drink would be readily served and that there was nothing to do but to enjoy. She clapped her hands twice, and in came some servants with trays of food going to the table. Once she gave the speech, she readily left.

Ah Yu, also took the opportunity in which servants were entering with trays to quietly slip through the back door. The back door led into the courtyard of the hundred flower hall was larger than expected, filled with fake mountains, and man-made lakes that froze over, the entire place resembled a winter wonderland, which made it easy to get lost while walking around. The rockery was an old gray plaster, and covered with snow, making it look like giant balls of snow rolled up by a giant. In the spring, it would be growing with green moss, making it look aged. As though it was a centuries-old scholar's mansion. The ancient architecture was of curved pathways and archways, seemingly leading into a maze. Perhaps this was where the banquets and poetry recitations were held.

It was due to this winding path that Ah Yu was certain that no one would be able to see her as she hid in the archways of the fake mountains. Before arriving, she had already memorized the layout of the entire Hundred Flower Hall, the place she went towards is the room of the head of the Hundred Flowers Hall, Madam Lu's living quarters.

She soundlessly pushes off the ground and lands on the roof stealthily, her footprints barely indenting on the layer of snow that blanketed the roof. The room was located above the first floor, in a discreet corner of the building. Such that Ah Yu's body could be easily be concealed by the protruding roof of the building. She pushes open one of the windows ever so slightly so that she could peer into the room and listen in on conversations without sounding any alarm bells.

There she concealed herself in the discreet corner of the roof, silently waiting, watching the room for any signs the owner of the room to return. She felt her body involuntarily tense up. Experiencing a sudden chill. The hairs on her body raised, her skin covered in goosebumps as her heart pounds furiously, in the drums that were within her chest.

Danger. It was a sense of danger. Her years of living at the edge of the blade told her that this person was extremely dangerous. However, this intent had not been directed towards her, so she could only lay low, and hope that she hadn't been noticed. She grew wearier as the seconds passed. Though the night was frozen, drops of cold sweat soaked her body.

She could hear the sounds of debauchery on the same floor. Although she could not see what was going on, a person like her who had heightened senses could pick up even the smallest sounds. Let alone this… Ah Yu unconsciously turned her head away, knowing what she had to focus on.

Within a room.

The room as one would expect in such a place, was a lavish one. There were silk curtains, a hearth of coals, a soft and comfortable bed, and most importantly, there was the figure of a delicate beauty sitting on the bed. Her beautiful tear shaped eyes looked up at the man not standing far away. There was a smile on her lips as she faced him. "Daren… " She called out hesitatingly.

Of course the woman knew this man was an important person and distinguished guest of madam Lu, however, the way he seemed so subservient to her made her doubt. "Daren, what are your troubles, if you don't mind sharing with this maiden… " She asked in a conquitish tone, patting the space next to her on the bed. The bed was rather large and had space for many, there was a beauty right in front of him, however the man's mind seemed to be wandering off somewhere else. She could not help but inwardly roll her eyes.

Seeing this, the man let out a chuckle, "Be good, I'll be back, I just have something to discuss with your madam."

The man was about to leave, when he felt his sleeve being pulled. The woman held onto his brocade sleeves and asked in a tearful voice "Could it be that this maiden's service was not good enough that daren wants to report to the head madam?"

Afraid of provoking the beauty into tears, the man soothes her, "I really have something important to discuss with madam Lu, don't worry, I'll return."

"Okay, then I will be waiting for daren." The woman reluctantly released her grip on his sleeve, and calmed down. Trying to make a person remain once was good enough. If it happened too many times, then the man might think she was too clingy, and that was not good.

The man walked out into the dimly lit hallway. Where shadows roamed the walls with a will of their own. Or was it just an overactive imagination? The halls, unlike the rooms were colder, due to the lack of heating. However, the cold was not the coldness of the outside environment, exposed to the winds. It was coldness that was enclosed within four walls, much more bearable.

The man walked past a wide open window, but did not pay it any mind. It wasn't until his body felt an unexpected chill behind his back that he began to notice there was something amiss in the empty hallway. He froze in his tracks and turned his head around. But the moment he did…