China by Edward Rutherfurd (historical books to read TXT) 📕

I started across the footbridge that led from the island to the shore.

You may wonder why I didn’t hide. I couldn’t say for certain. Curiosity, as far as I remember. Like most people, I always go towards the action.

—

They were scattered all over the place: small knots of men. French troops. I could tell by their uniforms. Every moment more were streaming in from the entrance. They may have wandered into the Yuanmingyuan without even knowing what it was. Whatever officers came with them were doing nothing to hold the men back. I don’t suppose they could have. Their men had scented loot. And there were still two hours of daylight left.

As I ran along the side of the emperor’s residence, some of the barbarians were already coming out, carrying jewelry, watches, bronze figures, even a small golden Buddha.

You can imagine how I felt: How dare these savages smash their way into paradise, commit sacrilege, and lay their hands on the treasures of the Celestial Kingdom?

Those who appreciate the finer things of life need our own army. We’d know what to do with vermin of this kind. That’s what I was thinking.

I could see a group of palace people gathered at the main entrance to the residence trying to keep the hooligans out. One of them had got a pike from somewhere; another had a garden fork. The rest had only brooms or kitchen knives. But they were fighting.

It’s important to remember that. People often think of the palace eunuchs as simpering weaklings, but it’s not true. The palace people fought as bravely as any soldiers.

I must get a weapon, I thought, and I was wondering where to find one when I suddenly remembered that jeweled sword inside the entrance to the eunuchs’ quarters. So I ran across and I took it down. It was quite heavy, and the rubies on the hilt bit into my hand, but the blade was sharp. So back I went with it.

I wasn’t afraid. It was pretty obvious the barbarians had only one idea in their minds—grab as much loot as they could and make off with it. So if we made it too hot for them in one place, there was a good chance they’d move on and try another. With luck, we might be able to keep them out of the emperor’s quarters.

And I was only fifty yards from those brave fellows defending the doorway when I saw a sight that almost made my heart stop. A single figure running out from another pavilion. With one arm he was carrying a rich plum-colored robe; in his other hand he held a splendid head comb encrusted with gems. Even at a distance I couldn’t fail to recognize them. They belonged to the Noble Consort Yi herself. The robe was the very one she’d been wearing the first time I ever came into her presence.

I forgot everything. I wasn’t even thinking. I was just running, so fast it felt as if I were flying. Blind rage, fury, yes, love, carried me forward, and when I got to him, I plunged that ceremonial sword into his belly. He let out a scream. I pulled the sword out and drove it in again with all my force as he went down. I did it for the Noble Consort and the Celestial Kingdom.

Then I tore her robe and the comb from his hands, seized the sword again, and left him quivering in his death throes as I ran towards the Noble Consort’s quarters. I half expected some of the barbarians to chase after me. But if they did, they’d given up before I got to her rooms.

And who should I find there but Shaking Leaf.

I think he’d just walked in there. I’m not sure he even realized what was going on. So when he saw me burst in there with a bloody sword, it must have been a shock.

He blinked, his mouth fell open, and he went deathly pale. He stared at me in terror. Did he think I was going to attack him?

“I am sorry, Lacquer Nail,” he cried. “I’m sorry for all the bad things that were done to you. It wasn’t my fault. You know that. It was all Mr. Liu.” I didn’t say anything. I was just staring at him. “Zhong Kui, protect me,” he suddenly cried.

And then I understood. Since Zhong Kui is the demon who frightens off evil spirits, Shaking Leaf must have thought I was a ghost. A hungry ghost, as they’re the only ones who can take on human form.

“The only hungry ghosts are the barbarians who are looting the place,” I cried. But he wasn’t taking it in. Let him believe I’m a ghost, then, I thought. “Grab all the valuables that belong to Noble Consort Yi,” I told him, “and hide them. Quick, quick.”

“At once,” he said, and started gathering things up.

“Hide them well,” I shouted.

It’s amazing that I was ordering the senior eunuch around like that, but I felt I had the right to. After all, I’d just killed a man for stealing her robe.

I left Shaking Leaf to his work and went back outside. The French looters were fanning out all over the place. Obviously I couldn’t fight them all. I didn’t want to go back to Shaking Leaf, who at some point would figure out I wasn’t a ghost. I thought of old Mr. Ma. I didn’t imagine the barbarians wanted to run off with his trees. The best thing’s to stay where I am, I decided, and guard the way into the Noble Consort’s quarters. So I stood there with my bloodied sword and looked threatening. Some of the French troops glanced in my direction, but none of them came at me.

—

I’d been there a few minutes when I noticed a small party of them heading towards a group of pavilions that housed the older ladies of the court. But I wasn’t paying much attention until I noticed a single figure