Chapter 8 - Her true father

"What do you mean?" demanded Qian Long. "But she's… she's…"

"There's a letter written by the late Empress Xiao Xian that will explain everything. Huang Ah Ma, please," begged Yong Qi, looking over to Xiao Yan Zi again. Qian Long's eyes widened.

"Halt! Stop this at once," he ordered, in a tone that commanded his absolute authority. The beating stopped as dead silence filled the air, the Empress Dowager too shocked by the news to protest, staring unblinkingly from Yong Qi to Xiao Yan Zi.

"Y… Yong Qi…" whimpered Xiao Yan Zi weakly, trying to push herself up from the punishment bench.

"Xiao Yan Zi," he quickly responded, taking the chance from the guards' slackened hold on him to rush over to his wife on his knees. He helped her down to the ground, enveloping her tightly into his arms, careful not to hurt her any further.

"Yong Qi, what are you talking about? What's going on?" she whispered to him, burying her face and tears into his vest.

"Shh," he comforted, holding her close. "Huang Ah Ma, Xiao Jian has the letter in Hui Bing Lou. He will be able to retrieve it for you. It will explain everything," Yong Qi continued, addressing his father. Qian Long took a long look at Xiao Yan Zi, clenching his jaw as he took in the news his son had just broken to him. Taking a deep breath, he finally pointed a shaking finger at Xiao Jian.

"Bring the letter immediately!"

Er Kang paused at the entrance of Jing Yang Gong. In just a day, it was as if his entire world had crashed, and now he was struggling to stay afloat. Was it really fair to blame it all on Xiao Yan Zi? He knew deep down that it wasn't. No, it was his own fault for not looking after Zi Wei better, for not even knowing she was pregnant. With a sigh, he made his way into the residence, only to find Zi Wei in tears.

"What is wrong?" he asked immediately.

"How could you lie to me? How could you keep the news of my own child away from me?" she sobbed, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

"I…" He stammered. "Did Xiao Yan Zi tell you?" he asked angrily.

"No, I overheard from one of the maids. I wasn't just ill, I had a miscarriage… I didn't even know I was pregnant. It's all my fault."

"No, it wasn't your fault, how could it be your fault? If there's anyone to blame it should be Xiao Yan Zi. If it wasn't for her carelessness, it would never have happened," said Er Kang. Zi Wei paused, staring puzzled at her husband.

"What does it have to do with Xiao Yan Zi? Why would it be Xiao Yan Zi's fault?"

"Why?" asked Er Kang, a desperate laugh escaping his lips. "If it wasn't for her falling on you, all of this would have never happened."

Zi Wei shook her head weakly.

"No, it had nothing to do with Xiao Yan Zi. I was feeling unwell when I saw her fall out of the tree and land before me. I must have fainted afterwards."

"Didn't Xiao Yan Zi fall on you?"

"No, it's not her fault. I didn't take notice of my condition, I've been having dizzy spells, but I didn't want you to worry. I should have known something was wrong, I should have gone to a physician. This is all my own doing."

"Don't blame yourself, I'm the one who didn't take care of you. I should have been more aware, more careful. I should have taken you to see the physician," said Er Kang. "I'm sorry, I have failed you," he cried, raising his hand and slapping himself harshly. Zi Wei shook her head, grabbing his hand into hers.

"Stop, please," she cried. "Stop it, I need you."

Er Kang's heart broke seeing his wife cry, no longer able to hold back his own tears. Gripping each other, the couple grieved together for their loss.

Time seemed to stand still in the hall of Ci Ning Gong as everyone waited for Xiao Jian and the guards accompanying him to return with Empress Xiao Xian's letter. Long exhausted from her ordeal, Xiao Yan Zi laid upon the floor on her side, resting her head in her husband's lap, pondering how her day had turned into this. How had she managed to go from flying a kite, to being responsible for Zi Wei's miscarriage, to being beaten and now, she was apparently meant to be the daughter of an Empress? Didn't Yong Qi say that she was a princess? But then, wouldn't that mean Yong Qi was her brother? Suddenly panicked from the horrifying thought, she almost sprang up, only to grit her teeth as pain blinded her.

"Hey, try to keep still," Yong Qi soothed, gently pulling her closer in his arms.

"But, Yong Qi…" she started telling him when they were interrupted by the guards returning with Xiao Jian.

The leading guard walked up to Qian Long, bowing as he presented the jade box before him. Qian Long shook slightly as he reached out for the object and gingerly held it in his hands. Glancing up to study his daughter in law one more time, he frowned when he looked down again, studying the lock on the box.

"Huang Ah Ma, I can open it for you," offered Yong Qi, but the Emperor ignored him, twisting the wheels himself, much to Yong Qi's astonishment. The box slid open, and Qian Long reached inside, taking a deep breath as he took out the parchment. At once he recognised the calligraphy of his late Empress on the envelope. Without another moment's hesitation, he pulled the letter out and began to read.

Yong Qi gulped nervously, watching as his father's expressions changed from sorrow, to remorse, to anger. Unconsciously, he tightened his arms around Xiao Yan Zi, and she glanced up at him curiously. As soon as he finished, Qian Long looked up, his hands shaking, the letter falling from his grasp to the ground. His breathing quickened as he pointed at the guards.

"Get Magistrate Zhang Li Ming here at once," he ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied the company of guards before rushing out.

"Huang Ah Ma, what does Yong Qi mean? How can I be a princess?" asked Xiao Yan Zi. Qian Long glared hard at her, before abruptly looking away, unable to accept what he just found out.

"Yong Qi?" she whimpered. "But that means you're my… my…," she stammered. Yong Qi gently squeezed her, affectionately resting his cheek onto her forehead.

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright," he told her, half reassuring himself as well.

"Lao Fo Ye, Huang Ah Ma, it wasn't Xiao Yan Zi's fault. She didn't fall onto me, don't blame her," Zi Wei's voice suddenly interrupted. She burst into the hall, weakly collapsing before the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Er Kang rushed in close behind and managed to catch her just before she hit the ground.

"Zi Wei?" asked Xiao Yan Zi, grimacing as she pulled away from Yong Qi to face her sister. Zi Wei let her eyes wander, horror filling her expression when she saw the hard wooden bench, the guards with their beating sticks standing to the side, and the way her sister drew a sharp breath and winced every time she moved.

"Xiao Yan Zi? They… they beat you?" she cried out, pushing herself out of Er Kang's arms to crawl to her. "What did they do?" she demanded, pulling the reluctant Xiao Yan Zi around to study her. She let out a loud sob at the sight of the blood staining her dress.

"How can they be so cruel?" she asked through her tears, pulling Xiao Yan Zi into her embrace.

"Zi Wei, I made you lose your child. I deserved it."

Zi Wei quickly shook her head, reaching out to wipe the tears from Xiao Yan Zi's cheeks.

"No, it's not your fault. I saw you fall down and land onto the ground in front of me before I fainted. You didn't cause me to… to.."

"But I… you don't have to lie and make me feel better. Yi ren zuo shi yi ren dang (one person did the deed, one person will be punished)," replied Xiao Yan Zi.

"No, believe me, Xiao Yan Zi. I saw you land, you didn't fall on me, it's not your fault," said Zi Wei, looking directly into her sister's eyes to let her know she was telling the truth.

"But what about your child?" said Xiao Yan Zi, more tears sliding down her cheeks. Zi Wei bit her lip, nodding slowly as she sobbed. Despite her injuries, Xiao Yan Zi pushed herself up to place her arms around Zi Wei to comfort her, the two sworn sisters crying in each other's embrace. Seeing Xiao Yan Zi beginning to struggle to stay upright, Yong Qi quickly went to support her.

"Come on, Xiao Yan Zi," he beckoned, and Zi Wei gasped, realising the pain Xiao Yan Zi was in. Quickly, she withdrew herself from her sister's arms, gently helping her to lay on the ground again.

"Magistrate Zhang is here," announced the guard at the entrance, interrupting the moment. Everyone's heads turned as a handsome middle aged man entered, gasping when his face came into view, the close resemblance to Xiao Yan Zi now obvious. Keeping his eyes straight ahead, the man bowed down in respect and greeted the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

"Look up here," ordered Qian Long at once. He felt his whole body tremble when he saw Zhang's face. It was too terrifying, too absurd to be true. His own Empress violated like that right under his nose? How could it have happened? But the evidence was there staring at him. Xiao Yan Zi, no, not just Xiao Yan Zi, but He Zhen, his beloved Xin Yan Ge Ge, they were the same person. And this man, undeniably her father.

"Zhang Li Ming, how I have trusted you over the years. It's time your sins were repaid," said Qian Long. "Take him out to be beheaded," he ordered.

"Your Majesty, qing san si (please rethink)! Your servant does not understand what I have done?" pleaded Zhang Li Ming.

"How dare you say that you do not understand when the evidence of your sin is staring at you in the face," raged Qian Long. "Xiao Yan Zi, I would like you to meet your father. This despicable creature, he… he is your father."

Xiao Yan Zi pushed herself up off the floor again, staring curiously at the man who had such similar features to herself. Upon hearing Qian Long's words, she felt even more confused.

"M… my father? But Yong Qi said that my mother was the Empress. Then wouldn't my father be-"

"Don't you dare!" yelled Qian Long, causing Xiao Yan Zi to abruptly bite back her words.

Xiao Yan Zi slowly turned to study the man kneeling beside her. Was this her real father? Never in her life had she met someone she resembled so much before, someone who was so obviously related to her. Even with Xiao Jian, she didn't really look like him (well, now she knew why, though her mind was too preoccupied to wonder at that issue altogether). Suddenly feeling a deep sense of reality with the situation, her body involuntarily shivered. This was her real father before her, someone she previously could only dream of ever knowing. She had often wondered what her father would be like, and as a child, she had always imagined a heroic figure, one that was strong, noble, intelligent. Someone who would fight off all her bullies and protect her from her abusive masters. This man before her, this was meant to be him, her true father.

"Take him out!" ordered Qian Long, breaking Xiao Yan Zi's train of thought.

"Your Majesty, have mercy," pleaded Zhang Li Ming as the guards started to pull him away. Xiao Yan Zi kept on staring as her father was being dragged away. Her father, he was her father.

"Wait! Huang Ah Ma, why do you want to behead my father?" she asked.

"My dear daughter, please help me," begged Zhang Li Ming at once, knowing that Xiao Yan Zi was the only hope he had at present.

"Huang Ah Ma," asked Xiao Yan Zi again. "You say he's my father, then why do you want to put my father to death?"

Qian Long's heart engulfed in flames. How dare she call him her father? They looked so similar, their blood relation was obvious. How could he have been so blind all these years, having Zhang work so closely with him as one of his most respected magistrates? And Xiao Yan Zi? No, He Zhen, he could see his long lost daughter in her now. He Zhen, right there before him all this time. His eyes skipped from one face to the other, taking in the two of them, the similarities, that same nose and lips, those eyebrows… He remembered back to when they first found Xiao Yan Zi, how Consort Ling had commented that her eyebrows resembled that of his own. No, her eyebrows didn't resemble his, because they eventually found out that Xiao Yan Zi wasn't Yu He's daughter, and she wasn't his daughter. But, Xiao Yan Zi was He Zhen, and now he could plainly see that she was Zhang Li Ming's daughter, and that meant that… that He Zhen was Zhang Li Ming's daughter.

"T…Them both," Qian Long suddenly ordered, causing Yong Qi's eyes to widen in panic.

"Get them out of my sight, now!"

"Huang Ah Ma, this all has nothing to do with Xiao Yan Zi. She's innocent in all this," exclaimed Yong Qi, pulling his wife tightly into his arms. Xiao Yan Zi gasped at her wounds being painfully jolted, but was in too much fear and confusion to complain, only trembling as she clung desperately to him. Qian Long closed his eyes, refusing to look at them, blocking all the sounds of everyone's pleading from his mind. How dare something like this happen to his Empress. How dare Zhang Li Ming. He couldn't accept this. No, he wouldn't accept it.

"Your Majesty, please clarify your order," said one of the guards, unsure of how to act.

Opening his eyes finally, Qian Long stared long and hard at Xiao Yan Zi, the girl whom he had come to love as his own, but he didn't see her. Instead, he saw betrayal, injustice, and the obvious resemblance to Zhang Li Ming.

"Take them both to Zhong Ren Fu (death row prison) at once," he ordered his guards.

Lao Fo Ye was too shocked to speak, and kept unusually silent. She had picked up the late Empress' discarded letter that Qian Long had dropped, and was astounded by the notoriety of the situation. A violation like that occurring right under their watch, and to the Empress? How was this even possible?

At Qian Long's order, the guards began dragging Zhang Li Ming and Xiao Yan Zi out. Xiao Yan Zi held on tightly to Yong Qi, screaming tearfully at the pain and terror the guards were causing her as they struggled to pull her away from her husband. Another set of guards grabbed onto Yong Qi, forcefully breaking them apart.

"Huang Ah Ma, what has Xiao Yan Zi's father done? Why are you doing this?" cried Zi Wei, also helping Xiao Yan Zi's struggle, despite her weakness. She was easily overpowered by another guard, while even more men came to hold down Er Kang and Xiao Jian.

"Huang Ah Ma, hao tong, hao tong (it hurts, it hurts)… please, I don't want to go to Zhong Ren Fu," sobbed Xiao Yan Zi desperately. "I don't like that place, there are lots of rats and cockroaches and ghosts. Please Huang Ah Ma, I'm not going there, you promised you won't send me there anymore, you promised!"

A part of Qian Long's heart was aching at her words, at her panic and pain. The same part of him that wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms at that very moment, comfort and reassure her. But he couldn't. As soon as he saw her face alongside Zhang Li Ming's, he was completely consumed with anger, and it blinded him to everything else. She was living proof of his nightmare, and he couldn't accept her, he just couldn't. It broke his heart, but he couldn't. Suddenly, Xiao Yan Zi somehow managed to pull away from the guards in her panic, and crawled towards the Emperor, grabbing him at the hem of his robe.

"Huang Ah Ma, qiu qiu ni (I beg you). I don't want to go there, wo bu yao (I don't want to)! What have I done wrong? Why is my father a bad person?" she asked him, tugging desperately at the material in her hand.

"How dare you still call that man your father? How dare you!" cried Qian Long, using all his strength to pull his robe away from her. Xiao Yan Zi's breath caught as she felt the cloth slip away from her grasp, feeling as though all her energy had finally drained from her. The guards gripped both her arms tightly and dragged her away from the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, have mercy," Qing Er spoke up, tears streaming down her cheeks as she moved to kneel before Qian Long. "Xiao Yan Zi is badly injured. If she goes to a place like Zhong Ren Fu, she will lose her life."

"Qing Er," Lao Fo Ye began, wanting to reprimand her, but stopped herself when she saw the determination in Qing Er's eyes.

"Huang Ah Ma, Xiao Yan Zi doesn't know the truth. She doesn't know what Magistrate Zhang did. She doesn't even know her own background. I always thought you were a reasonable person, that is why I revealed this truth to you today. Why're you punishing Xiao Yan Zi? She did nothing wrong!" cried Yong Qi.

"H… Huang Ah Ma, I'm scared," said Xiao Yan Zi, crying desperately.

Qian Long couldn't take it anymore, he wanted to end the night, he wanted to rest, he wanted to wake up and find this was all a dream, and he didn't want to see Zhang's face, nor have anything to do with him ever again. He could no longer bear the pleadings, the tears, all these voices speaking to him. All he felt was the rage that consumed his heart, and he was going to dispose of Zhang Li Ming and everything that reminded him of this betrayal.

"Stop it, enough! Take them away," he ordered in a tone that told everyone his mind was made. The begging continued, pleading from all parties, Yong Qi, Zi Wei, Er Kang, Xiao Jian, Qing Er… he closed his eyes, blocking out all the noise. Although hard as he tried, he couldn't seem to stop hearing one particular voice. A voice that got weaker and weaker as it faded into the distance as she was taken away, crying out desperately.

"Huang Ah Ma, wo hao pa (I'm scared), jiu wo (help me)…"

Xiao Yan Zi sobbed all the way to the prison, too exhausted to even protest when she was roughly thrown into a cell. She closed her eyes, listening to the swing of the door, the lock closing with a final clang, before painstakingly crawling over to a patch of hay and lying over onto her side. Hearing the sound of scratching in the corner, she glanced up, shuddering when she saw her "old friends", a few rats scampering about. Curling herself into a tighter ball to try and shut out the fear of one of them actually approaching her, she shuddered at the excruciating pain that seemed to overwhelm her from her wounds, causing her to gasp in short breaths. She felt her tears well up again, this time from physical pain, and she gritted her teeth, as the situation she was in suddenly became all too clear and real, and her tears slowly turned into sobs that wrecked her whole body and mind with panic and confusion. In the midst of the haze, she slowly opened her eyes again, the bright moon shining through a tiny gap in her cell catching her eyes.

"Yong Qi, where are you?" she silently whispered, as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks, blurring the moon in with her sorrows.

"Your Majesty, Wu Ah Ge requests to see you," reported Consort Ling to the Emperor. Qian Long knew what Yong Qi wanted and shook his head firmly.

"Tell him to return to his residence. I'm not seeing anyone tonight," he replied sharply.

Consort Ling walked out into the chilly air and placed a warm hand on Yong Qi's shoulder.

"Wu Ah Ge, why don't you come back in the morning?" she suggested.

"I need to see Huang Ah Ma now," cried Yong Qi.

"His Majesty doesn't want to see anyone tonight. Give your father time to accept this truth, Yong Qi."

"But Xiao Yan Zi-"

"Xiao Yan Zi is one of the strongest girls I know. If anyone can hold on, it will be her. I know you are worried about her, but you'll have a better chance of getting through to your father tomorrow. Right now, everything only fuels his anger. I'll try to put in a good word for you tonight, okay? You should return to your residence and come prepared tomorrow," advised Consort Ling, giving Yong Qi another gentle pat on his shoulder.

Yong Qi's heart refused to leave, but he knew that Consort Ling was right. His best chance was to see Huang Ah Ma tomorrow if he was to save Xiao Yan Zi. Reluctantly he got up from his knees and headed back to Jing Yang Gong, staring upwards to see the bright moon in the sky.

"Please hold on for me, Xiao Yan Zi. I'll be there for you, on the word of a noble man, eight horses are hard to chase, and nine incense pots."

In the middle of the night, Xiao Yan Zi was woken from her restless sleep by the sound of her gate opening.

"Yong Qi?" she asked optimistically, struggling to push herself up from the floor. To her surprise Zhang Li Ming was pushed into her cell, and the gate shut again with a clang.

"Wait! What is he doing here?" asked Xiao Yan Zi, but the guards continued to walk off.

Xiao Yan Zi stared at the man that was supposed to be her father.

"What… What are you doing here? Don't they separate the men and the women?" she asked him, grimacing as she backed herself away into the wall behind her. She had been in this prison before and once was enough for her to be extra cautious.

"I'm not sure, they just suddenly took me out of my cell and led me here," he answered her, pausing as he seemed to study her face. Feeling slightly uncomfortable under his gaze, Xiao Yan Zi looked away.

"Huang Ah Ma said that you're my father, but my mother was the late Empress? How can this be?"

"That… is a long story, uh, what was your name again?"

"Xiao Yan Zi."

"Xiao Yan Zi… Xiao Yan Zi's that fly around free spreading joy to all. Xiao Yan Zi's that chirp by the riverbed in the summer. Who gave you such a beautiful name?"

Xiao Yan Zi shrugged.

"I don't know. I just always had that name, though Yong Qi said that I was meant to be He Zhen or something?"

"Ahh, yes, He Zhen, Xin Yan Ge Ge. I should've known," said the man before her. "Hold on, if your mother was the late Empress, by my calculations, wouldn't you have been born in the winter?"

"I don't know. I don't know my real birth date," answered Xiao Yan Zi, crawling over to him.

"You're injured," exclaimed Zhang Li Ming, quickly reaching out to help her.

"I'm okay. It's all the doing of Lao Fo Ye, that old hag," cursed Xiao Yan Zi, though she quickly bit her lip, remembering that not that long ago, she had been able to call the Empress Dowager 'grandmother' with affection.

"Ahh, the Empress Dowager is getting shrewd in her old age," said Zhang Li Ming, causing Xiao Yan Zi to giggle. It was rare to see one of the court's noblemen daring to curse Lao Fo Ye like that.

"So, you haven't answered my question. How am I your daughter if my mother is the late Empress?"

"As I said, it is a long story."

"It doesn't look like there is anything else to do in here," replied Xiao Yan Zi.

Zhang Li Ming smiled at the girl's stubbornness.

"Alright then, let's see… well, your mother and I were from the same village, and we were old friends, lovers actually. We were inseparable, except, your mother's family didn't really like me. I was just a poor commoner, and your mother was from a Manchurian line close to the royal family. So when we grew older, her family forbade us from seeing each other anymore. We were devastated, but I promised her that one day I'd return as someone she could be proud of. I might have been poor, but I was well educated by my father, so I entered the national exams and slowly worked my way up the ranks. It was quite an accomplishment for someone of my background to make it into the bannermen, but I managed to because I was determined to fulfil my promise to her. Sadly, I soon heard the announcement of the then Crowned Prince's betrothal, and to my shock and utter disappointment, the soon to be future Empress was your mother."

"Why did she agree to marry Huang Ah Ma if she was in love with you?"

"Well, a request for her hand in marriage by the Crowned Prince is a huge honour. Of course her family accepted it for her."

"Does that mean that she never loved Huang Ah Ma?"

"I wouldn't know if she ever did. But anyway, I was heartbroken and didn't know what to do. All I knew was that I needed to be near her, even if she was now the future Empress of China. I worked long and hard, doing my best to continue up the ranks all for the sake of your mother, until I ended up becoming a magistrate working closely with the Emperor. With this new identity, I was able to get close to your mother, and on one particular night we… well, we couldn't control our emotions anymore, and so…"

He paused, staring deeply at Xiao Yan Zi.

"Your mother's eyes, they were so beautiful."

Tears welled up in Xiao Yan Zi's eyes, and she sniffed.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"I can't believe my parents have such a romantic story," she cried, wincing when she lifted her sleeve to wipe the tears from her eyes. "So what happened afterwards?" she asked once she had recovered.

"I don't know, your mother didn't want to see me again because… well, I guess she was so ashamed. I didn't even know you existed until today."

Xiao Yan Zi looked again at Zhang Li Ming as an awkward silence followed.

"Why should I believe you?" she finally asked him.

"I don't know, maybe you shouldn't. I mean, you haven't really known me for that long. However, you are my daughter," he answered softly. "I know you probably don't want to claim me as your father. You refer to His Majesty as Huang Ah Ma. That means you have the Emperor for a father, right?"

"Who cares about that sleeping dragon? All he ever does is put people in jail!" exclaimed Xiao Yan Zi, though tears threatened to well up in her eyes again at the thought of Huang Ah Ma.

"Then?" hesitated Zhang Li Ming.

"Of course I want to claim you. I've been looking for you my whole life, father," cried Xiao Yan Zi before pushing herself up to hug him, despite her injuries. Zhang Li Ming was taken by surprise, but managed to smile before affectionately patting her head.

"Father, guess what? I have a father! You're my father! I have a father!" she whispered happily, partially to herself. Despite being in Zhong Ren Fu, despite the mice and cockroaches, despite the excruciating pain that took over her body at every movement from her injuries, despite the cold cell, despite missing Yong Qi, Zi Wei, Xiao Jian, Er Kang, and even Huang Ah Ma terribly, Xiao Yan Zi felt a warmth spread through her heart. She had a father. Her true father.

Author's Note: Chapter up a day earlier by request! Hope this one has a less terrible cliffhanger than the last one! :P