This chapter was kind of a beast to write. I had a really hard time with it, and it's probably going to reflect in my writing. I hope it doesn't stretch your suspension of disbelief too thin or anything. I think the very last part would have been easier to articulate from Shen's point of view, but I had to do this chapter in Min's perspective. Hope you guys still like it though.
Summary: The paths Shen took in the past seem only to lead deeper into darkness. But through the eyes of those who have woven themselves into his life, a new story unfolds-one leading away from old misery and guilt-that may yet bring him redemption. Slight AU. Chapter 6-Min and Shen have a face-off over the dinner table.
Chapter 6.
Min.
Min was sorry for slamming the door in the wolf's face, as he had been perfectly kind to her and even showed concern for her well-being. However, he made her too nervous when he started to sniff her, and Min remembered that Lien was still coiled inside her vest. The room the wolf gave her was tidy, thanks to the servant who hurried to prepare it, but it seemed cold and lifeless.
She ran a finger across the top of a wooden dresser and grimaced at the coat of dust that came off it. Alright, maybe not quite that tidy. Lien shuffled around and poked her head out from Min's collar.
"Safe?" she whispered.
"Yeah, I think so," Min said, keeping her voice low in case anyone was listening through the door.
"Oh, good, I was starting to overheat. I don't know how you warm-bloods can stay that temperature all the time," said Lien, slithering out and sighing as she touched the cool floor. "But what are we going to do now? We're smack in the middle of enemy territory, and Master Shifu can't afford to rescue us, even if he somehow managed to find out our predicament."
"That's why I am seriously counting on you," Min said, eyeing a small grated window up near the ceiling. "Shen only thinks he's got me to deal with. I'm pretty sure he doesn't know about you. At least, he never let on that he did. Only the wolf might have been suspicious, but you should be gone by then."
"You mean, you want me to leave without you?" Lien asked, looking up in concern.
"Yes. I want to you meet up with Wing and finish your mission as quickly as possible, and go back to the Valley of Peace. As long as I'm here, I have a chance of preoccupying Shen long enough to make him careless," Min said.
"Okay…" Lien said. Min stood up on the dresser and lifted the grass snake toward the window. "What if I get caught out there?" Lien added, just as she was about to slide out.
"You won't," Min replied firmly, and gave her a gentle nudge, watching as her friend slipped out of sight.
Now, she had to figure out how on earth to deal with Shen. What was the story she was going with? I'm a peasant, from Xiao Niao, which is a village on the outskirts of Gou City. I'm here because I wanted to see the world and Gongmen City is always mentioned in village gossip. I'm an uneducated peasant who doesn't know anything about formalities or culture. Min rubbed her beak. She had to be extremely careful not to reveal any connection to the Valley of Peace. Shen already seemed suspicious, and Min realized he might be even sharper than she anticipated. Any vague hint could send him flying off the handle.
Min looked up sharply when she heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway, and someone knocked at the door.
"Come in," she said hesitantly, not bothering to head toward the door, in case Shen decided to come sweeping in.
The door opened and a pig servant shuffled in. Of course, Shen would never knock, she realized.
"Forgive me for intruding, miss, but Lord Shen wanted me to inform you that he expects you at dinner tonight," the servant said.
"I suppose that's an order," Min commented dryly.
"Well, that is, yes, in fact. It is," the pig stuttered. Min gave a small, sympathetic smile. Nobles were always difficult to deal with, but undoubtedly none was more difficult than he who ruled in this house. The pig continued, "He, um, also mentioned something about your clothes. I, that is, will you allow me to take measurements so I may find you something to fit Lord Shen's criteria?"
Min felt the smile falter a little. Rotten, spoiled peachick, she thought, her feathers ruffling a bit.
"My apologies, miss, but Lord Shen can be most, er, unpleasant if he doesn't get his way," the servant said, bowing a little.
"Don't worry about it," Min said, forcing a smile again. It wouldn't be fair to take out her irritation on the poor soul trying to do his job. She stood up straight and spread her wings out, and the pig hurried forward to measure her. Once he was done, he bowed again, and stepped out the door. As he left, Min was able to catch a glimpse of the pair of wolves standing by the door. So there are guards here. Essentially, she was a prisoner, but if that was so, she wondered why Shen was uncharacteristically going through the trouble to be remotely hospitable. It couldn't be that he was actually being somewhat truthful when he said he was pleased to see another peafowl, could it?
Either way, it was going to be a terrible, uncomfortable night, and all she could do at the moment was wait for the storm to pass and pray for good luck. From what little she could see through the high windows, the sun was beginning to set. Slowly, the light in the room turned from gold to orange, to pink, periwinkle, then deep indigo. Min curled up on her bed, watching the shadows grow longer until they filled the entire room. They could have at least left me a lamp, she grumbled inwardly. By the time night fell, the room was almost completely dark, save for the specter of light that slipped under the door.
She was dozing lightly, when she noticed shadows moving across the thin strip of light. The servant knocked and announced that he had brought her new clothes. Suddenly, the room was awash in golden firelight as the pig entered, followed by a pair of deer laden with cloth.
Min blinked in the brightness that overflowed in her vision. When her eyes finally adjusted, she stared in awe at the robes that the servants laid out before her. She hadn't seen clothes this grand in years!
"I'm terribly sorry, miss. I neglected to leave you a light. Have you truly been sitting in the dark all this time?" the pig asked, sincere concern written on his face.
"I'm fine. I just took a nap when the sun went down," Min said.
"Well, here are the clothes we've purchased for you. You may choose whichever suits you best. Let's get you washed up and changed now. Dinner is nearly ready," said the servant.
Min picked out a fine forest green robe with vines of gold embroidered onto it and followed the servants out the door. As soon as she left the room, the wolves standing guard began to follow them as well. Min entered the washroom where a petite lady goose helped scrub her feathers out and change into the fancy robe. Min surveyed herself in the looking glass and felt memories flood her mind.
When she was young, she never minded getting dressed up. In fact, she rather enjoyed feeling dolled up and pretty. It was only later that she began to realize that coating herself with lavish garments did not change the fact that her peers viewed her as little more than homely. Nothing on the outside made her true self any less plain and invisible to eyes blinded by vanity. Min glared at her reflection. Shen would be no different from any other peafowl noble she knew. He would see her the same way as he did when she wore a dirty-coated vest. Having reminisced her way into a thoroughly foul mood, Min swept out of the room in a huff, longing for the company of her friends.
Shen was seated with his back toward the door when Min and her escorts arrived at the dining room. He twiddled his chopsticks as he gazed out the open windows that overlooked the vast metropolis.
"My lord, your guest," the pig said, his voice quavering slightly, now that he was in Shen's presence.
"Seat her there," Shen said, waving his hand abstractly behind him. He did not turn around to look. The pig pulled out a chair for Min, and she thanked him quietly, before he turned and backed out the door with the wolf guards. Min stared at the back of Shen's head in silence, not bothering to move. Breathing in deeply, she attempted to calm herself, putting on her façade once more.
Dramatically, Shen swiveled around on his seat, which was a large, backless cushion. He placed his hands lightly on the table to stop his motion, and watched the door intently, deliberately ignoring Min. The doors burst open and servants bustled in with platters of food, and only then did he lean back a little, folding his hands neatly with a smirk.
"Do you want bean buns? Rice cake?" a goose asked Min, holding up the plates for her to see.
"How about stir fry noodles?" said another.
"Steamed vegetable dumplings?"
"Spicy tofu?"
"Ahhh…" Min managed to say as she pointed at all the foods that looked appealing.
"Do you want hot tea?" asked a matronly pig as she poured Min a cup anyway. Min stole a glance at Shen, who sat smirking at her, nodding occasionally when a servant brought him something he wanted. At last, the onslaught of food receded and a pair of geese stood at the door, waiting for any new orders. Min breathed a sigh of relief. With the overwhelming service, it was easy to act like a stricken peasant who had never been served in her life.
Should I just start now or what? Hesitantly, she reached out with her chopsticks to pick up a dumpling.
"Hungry, aren't we?" Shen said. Min dropped the dumpling.
"I-I didn't have lunch," she answered truthfully. She and her companions had traveled for the entire first half of the day. Min tried not to think about how tired she should have felt at the moment. She needed to be focused.
"Hmm," Shen said as he began eating. "Are there a lot of peafowl in your village?" he asked abruptly.
Min dropped her dumpling again in surprise. "Yes," she said carefully.
"Really? Are they all peasants like you?"
"No."
"Of course not. That would be quite odd, don't you think? The peafowl have generally all been of the nobility. The first ones to arrive in China immigrated from India, but I suppose you wouldn't know of that. I doubt you know much about the history of our race," said Shen.
"No, of course not," Min parroted. "They actually live in the main city."
"And that would be what?"
"Gou."
"Ah yes. I would know that place. Indeed several wealthy families live there, all subordinate to mine, naturally. Always thought it was a stupid name for the city though," Shen said, his beak curling in mild disdain. "Gou is not a large city compared to mine, is it?"
"No," Min said, trying to keep the ire from her voice.
"This is really your first time in Gongmen City, peahen?"
Min looked up at him sharply—perhaps too sharply. "Yes…" Where was Shen going with this conversation?
"Hmm, interesting. You are hard to impress then," he said with soft laugh.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I only assumed so when you didn't look around in awe, or lose your composure when you found out who I was. I would think it's not every day that a peasant such as yourself gets to be the guest of a lord."
Min could feel his sheer arrogance beginning to grate on her nerves, and it took all her control not to glare at him.
"I find it too gaudy," she said as nonchalantly as she could manage. Shen looked taken aback. He obviously hadn't expected that sort of response. "I prefer simple things that aren't trying to put on a big show," she added.
"Like you?" Shen said, regaining his air of superiority. It was Min's turn to be shocked.
"What?" she retorted before she could contain herself.
"Ohh…did I hit a nerve there? How rude of me," Shen said, not looking sorry at all. He seemed to enjoy that he had found a button to push.
There were a million things that could have come from Min's mouth, but she clamped her beak shut, choosing instead to quiver in silent anger. She snatched up a bean bun and took an enormous bite as a diversion.
"Sensitive about our appearance are we?"
"I wouldn't be if people like you didn't make such a big deal of it!" Min snapped, though she quickly covered her beak with her hands. Shen's eyes narrowed at her outburst. Oh no, I'm in for it now, Min thought.
"People like me? What is that even supposed to mean? Or do you simply mean all people? Appearances are a big deal—to everyone! That's life. You are sadly mistaken if you only believe a few people make judgments based on how you look. People like me," he spat. "What gives you the right to judge me, peahen? You waltz into my city out of nowhere, pretend to be a tourist, and now you think you can throw out accusations? Enough of this farce. Tell me why you are really here!"
Min wasn't sure how that knife appeared in his hand so quickly or where it came from, but she certainly understood that the situation just became serious. The lives of the Furious Five had swung into her hands in a single swift moment, and it was up to her not to let them drop.
She had to say the right thing. Shen seemed to know something was up, but how much was he bluffing? There was no way he could possibly have figured out the details of her secret, could he? It occurred to her that he might be better at picking up on lies than most. He seemed clever enough. If that was true, she would risk having that blade flung into her face if she tried to spin a different tale. Min saw only one viable option: tell a lie by telling the truth.
"I'm here to spy on you."
"W-what? Do you-are you an idiot?" Shen sputtered, all his momentum gone.
"Admittedly, it was supposed to be from afar, but plans tend to change, don't they?" Min said, affecting a more proper speech pattern. Like water, she thought, remembering the Soothsayer.
Shen jumped onto the table, pacing forward with his knife pointed at her. "The truth, peahen!" he shouted. Min stared at him calmly. He had lost his power over her, and his bravado was pathetically see-through now. Shen seemed aware of it too, and her composure only served to anger him further.
"I thought I was doing fairly well, posing as a dull peasant. I was told I looked the part—though that was insulting— and I've had a good amount of practice. I suppose not though, as you've plainly shown me." Min threaded the various parts of her life together into a tapestry of pseudo-truth. She had hoped to forget about her high birth, and how she had grown a deep-seated resentment for her family and peers. Her own mother had been the one who told her she looked like a peasant covered in dirt, and at it was at that point Min knew that even though she had been born a noble, she would never truly be one. However, for Po's and the Furious Five's sake, she would go back to her roots and try to use her situation to her advantage.
"TELL ME WHO YOU WORK FOR!" Shen screamed at her.
"Or what?"
"Or I'll cut your face open!"
"I'm of noble birth, if that's enough of a hint for you."
Shen was breathing heavily, as if trying hard to prevent himself from carrying out his threats prematurely. "Listen to me, peahen. If I don't get a clear answer out of you in the next few seconds, I don't care who you are, I'll show you a thousand ways to make someone bleed without killing them. Who do you represent and why did you come here?"
"I am here to see how you rule. There has been an unsavory rumor that you've gone mad and are unfit to rule. A knife to the throat and death threats aren't doing much in your favor."
"Yes, but none of them can know about that if you're dead," Shen said with a rather deranged smile. That doesn't really help your case either, Min observed.
"But think of the implications of my absence. If I don't return, they'll imagine I've been compromised, and in the worst sort of way," Min said. Vassals were often conniving by nature, especially among the peafowl nobility, and that was exactly the sort of assumption they would make. She had been young when Shen was banished, but she still remembered hearing her family members gossiping over who would take the throne in Gongmen, since he had been the only heir. On the outside, the families would show utmost loyalty to the ruling house, but they would jump on any sign of weakness like rabid dogs. Anyone expecting to rule could not afford to appear off his rocker. Min reflected that being emperor might just be a fancy word for imprisonment, so great were the social constraints.
"You are trying to threaten me," Shen said coldly, though he had managed to quell his wrath for a bit. He's not stupid. He sees where I'm going with this, thought Min. I may have underestimated him. I still think he's nuts, but there's an underlying intelligence that I have to beware of.
"Not so. Think of it as I'm making a deal. Honestly, I'd prefer to pass on your lesson in impaling, and you don't want trouble because your vassals got the wrong idea. You could always crush us into submission, but there's a much easier way for everyone. How about we just say you're having a bad day today? You let me go about my business here in the city, and then I'll make up a wonderful story about how composed and confident you are."
Shen's beak curled in anger, but he also seemed to contemplate what she was saying. At last he said, "Fine, peahen. But you don't get to set the terms of the deal. The very fact that you are here, no matter what family you're from, means you are not to be trusted. You are not going to leave this mansion, and if you must communicate with the outside world, you will do it in writing."
"And no harm will come to me? I think I would find it very difficult to recommend you if I have my arm in a sling."
"Fine!" Shen hissed in exasperation. "I'll be watching you carefully. And I'll have you know, all bets are off if you so much as annoy me."
Min put on her best smile. "Thank you, my lord. It was a wonderful dinner."
Po is coming up next, since we haven't seen much of him in a while. It's tough to keep the chapters fairly balanced.