#1 Chinese Cinderella Story
Once upon a time, in a little village in China, a family lived in a small cottage. Pleasant but quaint, pleasing to the eye, the cottage was picture perfect, a house that someone who was passing by would assume to be full of love and caring, full of welcome and family charm. But inside was a different story.
Behind closed doors, there lived dark secrets and past lies, deceptions and family honor that was slowly crumbling. You see, not too long ago, the mother of this house, Quon, died of a rare disease, lying in her bed for months upon months, waiting for the day when she would be let free of the pain she’d had to endure during her last days. In the last hour of her life, she beckoned her daughter to her bedside and confided in her a terrible secret, one she was to never reveal to another, especially not her stepfather, Hu.
“Yen, my daughter...” Quon said, waving Yen forward, holding out her family locket then pressing it into Yen’s hand when she’s close. “My illness was no accident. I…I must tell you this…Before my time is up. It nears; I can feel it, take this in memory of me.”-she nods her head in the direction of the locket-“My life has been sabotaged by one who’s close to you…Beware, my daughter, beware…”
Months after her mother’s burial, Yen tries hard to move on and forget her mother’s words, but they haunt her night and day. The words resounding in her head causing nightmares of shadows and immeasurable pain. “…by one who’s close to you.” It sends chills down her back every time she thinks about it. Is she in danger? Who would want to do something to her mother? Why?
“Yen! Yen! Why is this kitchen still dirty?! I thought I told you to clean it hours ago!” Jumping frightfully at her stepfather’s voice, she forgets all of her thoughts and rushes down to the kitchen, bowing her head as she enters.
“I’m sorry, stepfather, this won’t happen again. I was assigned some other chores by Hsin and Li. I was occupied.” Yen said apologetically.
“At least you weren’t sitting around day dreaming this time. Now get to work. And after, I want you to go to the market and buy the week’s food. When you return, you’ll resume your normal duties.”
“Yes stepfather.” Retrieving the bucket and scrub from the closet, she gets to work, watching stepfather leave the room and letting out the breath she held.
An hour later, Yen heads into town, the shopping list clutched in her hand and the basket hanging from her arm, she constantly, almost nervously, fidgets with her mother’s locket. Shopping, and walking along, shouting greetings to neighbors, she loses track of time. Hurriedly, she runs along and gathers the rest of her supplies. Turning as she starts to head out of the store, she runs head on with an upper classman, a man of nobility, Chung, causing her arm to jerk and her hand to pull on her locket, causing the chain to break. Grabbing onto her upper arms to keep her from falling, Chung takes a good look at Yen, the subtle lines on her face, the way her hair fell across her shoulders, the deep longing, pure and kind look in her eyes, slightly hidden behind her hair.
“Excuse me, sir.” Embarrassed, Yen jerks out of his hands, dropping her locket. Glancing down at the floor where the locket lay at Chung’s feet, as she runs out the door, clutching her things in her hands. Looking down, Chung squats to pick up Yen’s locket. Remembering her face and the look in her eyes, his heart started to pound. Calling over one of his officers, he issues orders that the owner of the locket should be found at once and their whereabouts should be reported to him immediately. From then on, his retainers, some by his side and some out on their own, searched high and low for the owner of the locket.
One day, Chung and his retainers came upon the quaint, picture perfect cottage. Knocking on the door, once then twice, they turn to leave until they hear a slight creak as the door behind them opens. Standing there in the doorway in her ratty clothes and tussled hair was Yen, looking up at him with those wonderful pure eyes. Reaching out he gently cups her cheek and leans in to brush his lips against hers, whispering just before he kisses her.
“You’re the one I want. You’re going to be my bride.”
-------------------------------------
Less than a week later, everyone in the village gathered at the town square to see the beautiful bride, Yen, and the handsome groom, Chung, happily married. Joyous and ecstatic, everyone brought gifts and best wishes to shower the newly weds…Well not everyone. Unknowingly to all, in the shadows of the buildings stood Hsin and just behind him Li, smirking, and stalking every movement of Yen’s. From the way she weaved through other dancers and held onto the hand of her husband, they saw everything until they were given the signal. Their orders were to watch her until they were told to move in and make the kill. Food poisoning, he’d said, it’s the easiest to explain. The only problem Hsin had with this was it was the same man who’d approached him about killing Yen’s mother, and still, months later, he didn’t know the man’s identity, motives, thoughts, nothing. And he just disappeared after everything was finished and over with. Hsin figured he was some kind of sorcerer, it would make the most sense, why the Stranger would know the best ways to get the job done, and how he just leaves how he pleases. But if he were a sorcerer, why did he need others to do his dirty work? Probably to divert suspicion, but as long as he got paid, he was fine with whatever this man’s motives were. His main priorities were to get out of this place and find somewhere he could live in peace with food, an endless supply of anyone he chose to be his that night and a fresh bed.
Now, Li, no one knew about him, he was just there. Drifted in one day and decided to stay. Stay for what; no one knew. He has this glazed over look on his face constantly, as if he were in his own little world, dreaming up horrors and new ways to complete a task. It was the kind of look that a person who’d lost all emotion had, almost as if when he were looking at you, he was thinking of how many ways he could take you down with only one attack. As Hsin watched Li, he started to get uneasy and turned his gaze back to the bride then suddenly, a low gravely voice came from behind him.
“Now.” Hsin turned and smiled easily at the Stranger, gently waving his hand in a nonchalant manner.
“We’ll have it done as quickly as possibly, and as quietly as possible, Mr.--”
“Stop trying, you’re only wasting time and effort which could be better spent on getting our little one there well and dead and out of my hair.”
“You never did say why you wanted her gone…” Hsin said, questioningly eyeing the Stranger up and down now.
“It’s a…personal matter. Now just get it done, now!”
Jumping at the tone of the Stranger’s voice, both Hsin and Li run to the alleyway and to the building that was being used as a temporary kitchen for the wedding, looking
around to make sure no one noticed their entrance. Heading straight for the food that was set apart from the rest, signaling it to be for the bride and groom, Hsin takes out a small vile filled with a dark, blood red liquid, and pours it over the food, a wicked grin spread on his face during the act. The door creaks open and both Hsin and Li duck behind a stack of barrels, watching as the group of servants who entered, pick up the meals and take them out to the waiting guests and new couple.
Slipping out after the servants, Hsin and Li head for the safety of the shadows once again to view the happenings from the side. Just as they reach the edge of a building and look back, they see Yen starting to take a bite of her meal. Smiling evilly, Hsin watches on in excitement as she starts to grab at her throat with one hand and the other slapping the food out of Chung’s hand, grabbing at his shirt. Then her grip loosens and her hand falls away as her movements become slower and she falls dead into Chung’s lap, his cries echoing throughout the now silent night.
Distraught, Chung attends Yen’s funeral a week later, not crying, not really seeing, and not really thinking. Just feeling an immeasurable pain in the depths of his soul, the memories of his late wife burned into his mind. Remembering her smile and her gentle laugh, he sets out to find who would commit such a heinous crime, this time, searching by his own means and without the help of his retainers. Going from house to house, asking if anyone noticed strangers or a change in someone’s behavior lately, anything that would lead him somewhere. Obsessed with his quest he devotes his life to it, until he finds his beloved’s killer…
Behind closed doors, there lived dark secrets and past lies, deceptions and family honor that was slowly crumbling. You see, not too long ago, the mother of this house, Quon, died of a rare disease, lying in her bed for months upon months, waiting for the day when she would be let free of the pain she’d had to endure during her last days. In the last hour of her life, she beckoned her daughter to her bedside and confided in her a terrible secret, one she was to never reveal to another, especially not her stepfather, Hu.
“Yen, my daughter...” Quon said, waving Yen forward, holding out her family locket then pressing it into Yen’s hand when she’s close. “My illness was no accident. I…I must tell you this…Before my time is up. It nears; I can feel it, take this in memory of me.”-she nods her head in the direction of the locket-“My life has been sabotaged by one who’s close to you…Beware, my daughter, beware…”
Months after her mother’s burial, Yen tries hard to move on and forget her mother’s words, but they haunt her night and day. The words resounding in her head causing nightmares of shadows and immeasurable pain. “…by one who’s close to you.” It sends chills down her back every time she thinks about it. Is she in danger? Who would want to do something to her mother? Why?
“Yen! Yen! Why is this kitchen still dirty?! I thought I told you to clean it hours ago!” Jumping frightfully at her stepfather’s voice, she forgets all of her thoughts and rushes down to the kitchen, bowing her head as she enters.
“I’m sorry, stepfather, this won’t happen again. I was assigned some other chores by Hsin and Li. I was occupied.” Yen said apologetically.
“At least you weren’t sitting around day dreaming this time. Now get to work. And after, I want you to go to the market and buy the week’s food. When you return, you’ll resume your normal duties.”
“Yes stepfather.” Retrieving the bucket and scrub from the closet, she gets to work, watching stepfather leave the room and letting out the breath she held.
An hour later, Yen heads into town, the shopping list clutched in her hand and the basket hanging from her arm, she constantly, almost nervously, fidgets with her mother’s locket. Shopping, and walking along, shouting greetings to neighbors, she loses track of time. Hurriedly, she runs along and gathers the rest of her supplies. Turning as she starts to head out of the store, she runs head on with an upper classman, a man of nobility, Chung, causing her arm to jerk and her hand to pull on her locket, causing the chain to break. Grabbing onto her upper arms to keep her from falling, Chung takes a good look at Yen, the subtle lines on her face, the way her hair fell across her shoulders, the deep longing, pure and kind look in her eyes, slightly hidden behind her hair.
“Excuse me, sir.” Embarrassed, Yen jerks out of his hands, dropping her locket. Glancing down at the floor where the locket lay at Chung’s feet, as she runs out the door, clutching her things in her hands. Looking down, Chung squats to pick up Yen’s locket. Remembering her face and the look in her eyes, his heart started to pound. Calling over one of his officers, he issues orders that the owner of the locket should be found at once and their whereabouts should be reported to him immediately. From then on, his retainers, some by his side and some out on their own, searched high and low for the owner of the locket.
One day, Chung and his retainers came upon the quaint, picture perfect cottage. Knocking on the door, once then twice, they turn to leave until they hear a slight creak as the door behind them opens. Standing there in the doorway in her ratty clothes and tussled hair was Yen, looking up at him with those wonderful pure eyes. Reaching out he gently cups her cheek and leans in to brush his lips against hers, whispering just before he kisses her.
“You’re the one I want. You’re going to be my bride.”
-------------------------------------
Less than a week later, everyone in the village gathered at the town square to see the beautiful bride, Yen, and the handsome groom, Chung, happily married. Joyous and ecstatic, everyone brought gifts and best wishes to shower the newly weds…Well not everyone. Unknowingly to all, in the shadows of the buildings stood Hsin and just behind him Li, smirking, and stalking every movement of Yen’s. From the way she weaved through other dancers and held onto the hand of her husband, they saw everything until they were given the signal. Their orders were to watch her until they were told to move in and make the kill. Food poisoning, he’d said, it’s the easiest to explain. The only problem Hsin had with this was it was the same man who’d approached him about killing Yen’s mother, and still, months later, he didn’t know the man’s identity, motives, thoughts, nothing. And he just disappeared after everything was finished and over with. Hsin figured he was some kind of sorcerer, it would make the most sense, why the Stranger would know the best ways to get the job done, and how he just leaves how he pleases. But if he were a sorcerer, why did he need others to do his dirty work? Probably to divert suspicion, but as long as he got paid, he was fine with whatever this man’s motives were. His main priorities were to get out of this place and find somewhere he could live in peace with food, an endless supply of anyone he chose to be his that night and a fresh bed.
Now, Li, no one knew about him, he was just there. Drifted in one day and decided to stay. Stay for what; no one knew. He has this glazed over look on his face constantly, as if he were in his own little world, dreaming up horrors and new ways to complete a task. It was the kind of look that a person who’d lost all emotion had, almost as if when he were looking at you, he was thinking of how many ways he could take you down with only one attack. As Hsin watched Li, he started to get uneasy and turned his gaze back to the bride then suddenly, a low gravely voice came from behind him.
“Now.” Hsin turned and smiled easily at the Stranger, gently waving his hand in a nonchalant manner.
“We’ll have it done as quickly as possibly, and as quietly as possible, Mr.--”
“Stop trying, you’re only wasting time and effort which could be better spent on getting our little one there well and dead and out of my hair.”
“You never did say why you wanted her gone…” Hsin said, questioningly eyeing the Stranger up and down now.
“It’s a…personal matter. Now just get it done, now!”
Jumping at the tone of the Stranger’s voice, both Hsin and Li run to the alleyway and to the building that was being used as a temporary kitchen for the wedding, looking
around to make sure no one noticed their entrance. Heading straight for the food that was set apart from the rest, signaling it to be for the bride and groom, Hsin takes out a small vile filled with a dark, blood red liquid, and pours it over the food, a wicked grin spread on his face during the act. The door creaks open and both Hsin and Li duck behind a stack of barrels, watching as the group of servants who entered, pick up the meals and take them out to the waiting guests and new couple.
Slipping out after the servants, Hsin and Li head for the safety of the shadows once again to view the happenings from the side. Just as they reach the edge of a building and look back, they see Yen starting to take a bite of her meal. Smiling evilly, Hsin watches on in excitement as she starts to grab at her throat with one hand and the other slapping the food out of Chung’s hand, grabbing at his shirt. Then her grip loosens and her hand falls away as her movements become slower and she falls dead into Chung’s lap, his cries echoing throughout the now silent night.
Distraught, Chung attends Yen’s funeral a week later, not crying, not really seeing, and not really thinking. Just feeling an immeasurable pain in the depths of his soul, the memories of his late wife burned into his mind. Remembering her smile and her gentle laugh, he sets out to find who would commit such a heinous crime, this time, searching by his own means and without the help of his retainers. Going from house to house, asking if anyone noticed strangers or a change in someone’s behavior lately, anything that would lead him somewhere. Obsessed with his quest he devotes his life to it, until he finds his beloved’s killer…