THE RISE OF LIMING

A NEW BEGINNING

After Zhou Dong's marriage, he was promoted to Grand Military Prince. A rank that made him not only second to the emperor politically but also in the military. The state was doing well and everyone believed it was heaven blessing Zhou dynasty because of Zhou Dong. 

Meanwhile after so many months, Madam Zhou was finally almost ready to give birth to the child. Zhou Wu Huan stood watching as people came in and out of the room. Since he was a male, he wasn't allowed to go inside. Over the past few months, his mother and the other maids had survived by relying on each other. His mother told them that she didn't want them to treat her as Madam Zhou but as one of them. This way they had gotten closer. 

All of them had relied on the money they got from doing small works like cleaning and transporting wood to the capital. Since his mother would be recognized if she went there, she did the work of washing the clothes they brought back and the next day, they would return them to the owners. Their house in the forest had been kept a secret for a long time until, one of the servants who had been working in the capital got recognized by the king's captain, Ying Fu himself. Bringing the servant in, Ying Fu totured the servant for several days and finally, the servant had no option but to talk giving their location out to Ying Fu. 

Madam Zhou was in labor while the soliders from the palace marched out to look for her and Wu Huan. After hours of labor and crying, Madam Zhou finally gave birth. The midwives were taking care of the baby when the soliders arrived at the house. 

Wu Huan was immediately dragged into the house by Nanny Zhou while the male servants came out to help fight. Meanwhile, Nanny Zhou helped Wu Huan put on more suitable clothes and wrapped a bag round him. 

“Wu Huan, you must be quick. Take your sister and leave." Nanny Zhou said handing over the beautiful baby girl to him. 

“What are you doing? What of my mother?” Wu Huan asked glancing at his unconscious mother who was lying on the bed. 

“Your mother cannot come along with you. You should leave now and run. When your mother wakes up, she will come and look for you. Just hide and take care if your sister. Now, go!” Nanny Zhou said opening the back door and pushing him out. 

Wu Huan continued to stare at the house and his unconscious mother even as Nanny Zhou screamed at him to leave. Having no other choice, Wu Huan turned around and ran into the forest holding his baby sister who was crying in his arms. While he had left, the soliders broke into the house and saw Madam Zhou lying on the bed. 

“What is wrong with her?” Ying Fu asked looking at Nanny Zhou who suddenly started laughing. 

“ I was born in the harsh conditions of the street. It was thanks to Madam Zhou that I was brought into the Jiang manor. You killed her husband and now, you've killed her. I will never let her go alone.” Nanny Zhou said bringing out a knife. Immediately she brought it out, arrows were fired at her piercing through her. 

Ying Fu returned back to the palace to inform the emperor of what had happened. The emperor signaled the maids dismissing them so they could be alone. 

“What happened?” The emperor asked. 

“Madam Zhou. She is dead." Ying Fu said. 

The emperor's eyes opened immediately. The shock made him start coughing. Ying Fu rushed to his side helping him as he handed him a cup of water. 

“Your Majesty. Your Majesty, are you okay?” Ying Fu asked. 

The emperor cleared his throat as he realized he was looking flustered. 

“I am okay. At least she is united with her husband. And the baby?" The emperor asked. 

" I don't think the baby survived. Forgive me, Your Majesty.” Ying Fu said kneeling down immediately. 

The emperor staggered forward cougjing again when he heard the news. Standing up wjth shaky legs, the emperor went to where his father's tablet was sitting on the table. He had made another one to talk to. So he won't have to ever go to the ancestral temple. 

“Its all your fault." The emperor said closing his eyes. 

Wu Huan stayed for several days in the forest crying. Even though his nanny hadn't wanted to tell him, he knew his mother was dead. Now, he was truly left in the world. Just him and his baby sister. His baby sister hadn't eaten anything the whole day. He had no idea what to feed her and watched her cry. Luckily for him, a carriage approached the road by which he was sitting. 

Having no other choice, Wu Huan ran to stand in front of the road watching as the coachman stopped the carriage almost in front of him. 

“Is there a problem?” A woman asked from inside. 

She was a middle aged woman who was dressed beautifully in bright colors. Bright colors were used to distinguish the prostitutes from the noble woman. 

“Madam Dai. It is a young boy. He stood in front of the road. I had no choice but to stop the carriage. I will go and see what he wants.” The coachman said getting off the front of the carriage. 

Wu Huan tried to look into the carriage but it was impossible as the coachman stopped him dragging him by the ear. 

“You beggar boy. What do you want? Get out! Move!” The coachman said shouting at him. 

“Please help me. My sister hasn't eaten anything. She's a baby. Please help me.” Wu Huan said as he rose his sister up to show the coachman. 

“Do I look like a woman? What do you want me to do? Get out!” The coachman said trying to drag him away. 

“Stop!” Madam Dai said opening the curtains of the carriage. 

Wu Huan watched as the coachman stopped making him glance back. He had heard the coachman call the beautiful woman, Madam Dai. Madam Dai was a very beautiful woman. Her fair skin shined in the sun making her look like a ghost. Every part of her dress was well arranged as if she was a goddess.

“How old is your sister?” Wu Huan heard Madam Dai ask him. 

Stunned by her beauty, Wu Huan continued to stare at her until he finally sees her bright clothing recognizing her as a prostitute. 

“She's a new born. My mother passed away and some bad guys were chasing us.” Wu Huan said watching as Madam Dai glanced around checking no one was coming. 

“Come inside first." Madam Dai said to Wu Huan helping him carry his sister as he climbed into the carriage. 

“Let's go." Madam Dai said to the coachman before entering the carriage with his sister who was crying. 

Sitting down, Wu Huan felt the carriage start to move again while Madam Dai removed her top. 

“What are you doing?" Wu Huan asked turning his face away as he saw her untie her blouse. 

“You are so young yet you know manners.” Madam Dai said chuckling as she removed one of her breast out of the blouse. 

“My mother taught me not to look at a female's skin." Wu Huan said making Madam Dai laugh as she positioned his sister to her breast. 

“Your mother taught you well. Your sister is a new born. Although the midwives did well in cleaning her up, if she doesn't eat, she will die. I'm feeding your sister." Madam Dai said making Wu Huan turn to face her still with his hand covering his eyes. 

“Thank you." Wu Huan said making Madam Dai smile as she looked at his sister. 

“Does your sister have a name?” Madam Dai asked. 

“No." Wu Huan said feeling sad as he remembered his mother. 

“I will give her a name. How about Yao?” Madam Dai asked. 

“Yao?" Wu Huan asked surprised. 

" Yes. Yao as in medicine. Because your little sister is the medicine I needed. I believe she will cure people with her lovely smile.” Madam Dai said. 

The rest of the ride was smooth. Luckily, there was no one chasing them. Wu Huan felt the carriage stop and looked outside seeing they had been brought back to the capital. 

“ Take your sister. Later, you should follow the coachman. He will take you inside through another door. Don't be afraid.” Madam Dai said talking to him in a calm gentle voice. 

Nodding his head, Wu Huan watched as Madam Dai got out of the carriage while the coachman went to park the carriage at the back. Just as Madam Dai had instructed, the coachman brought him inside through another door. When they first arrived, Wu Huan had seen the plague on top of the building. Mesmerizing Beauty Brothel. She had brought them back to the brothel. Opening the door the coachman led Wu Huan and his sister to a rokm. The door they had entered had led to the kitchen. Whenever his mother had refused him something delicious, he was found a way to steal. Passing by the kitchen, Wu Huan grabbed a piece of chicken and hid it. After the coachman had left them, Wu Huan brought out the chicken eating. 

Few minutes later, Madam Dai entered changed into a different atire. The peach color dress she’d wore madee her look soft and gentle. Totally beautiful. 

“Beautiful." Wu Huan said as he stared at Madam Dai. 

“Thank you. Are you hungry?" Wu Huan heard Madam Dai ask making him look down realizing he was still holding the piece of chicken. He had been so preoccupied with staring at Madam Dai that he forgot to hide the evidence.

“I'm sorry. I was hungry so I grabbed a chicken leg.” Wu Huan said bowing his head. 

“Anyone? Please bring some food here." Madam Dai said before turning back to look at Zhao Yao (baby). It seemed she had fallen in love with the baby. 

“From now on, you can stay here. No one wouy dare to bully you when you are under my protection. I just have a few rules. One, don't go into any of the girls room. Stay only in yours. Two, don't wander anywhere downstairs and the second floor. If you had noticed, we are very high up. Your rokm will be next to mine so you can see your sister. I almost forgot to ask. What's your name? You do have a name, right? “ Madam Dai asked. 

“Zhou Wu Huan." Wu Huan said innocently forgetting to hide his surname. 

“Zhou? Are a member of the royal family? Only members from the royal family have the surname, Zhou.” Madam Dai said. 

“Oh. I don't know much. My parents were normal workers. They were refugees that came to seek refuge in the capital. Unfortunately, they were chased away. We lived in the forest with some group of other refugees.” Wu Huan said lying.

“Here, people may misunderstand because of your surname. How about this? I will change your surname. Don't ever tell anyone your real surname. Or you and your sister could be in danger.” Madam Zhou said watching as Wu Huan nodded his head. 

One of the girls knocked on the door bringing on some food. Dripp it on the table, Wu Huan watched her leave and immediately started eating. When his mouth was full, Wu Huan remembered manners and carried a piece of chicken pointing it Madam Dai. 

“Do you want to eat?” Wu Huan asked. 

“No. I just maintain my weight. Normally, the chicken is given to guest. None of the girls get to eat them. Wu Huan. From today, your name will be Zhao Wu Huan. Zhao as in find. Your little sister, Zhao Yao. Because I found my medicine." Madam Dai said playing affectionately with baby Zhao Yao.