You Stole My Heart

chapter 1

Yhing

I was exhausted from 4 days of travel from Beng Gang Zhu to Heng. As soon as I arrived at Nam village, the fresh steam from rice cakes made my stomach growl. I marched my way to it.

"Hello, how much is your rice cakes?" I asked the lady who were selling rice cakes.

"45. 00 each," she simply said. I can"t believe what I just heard, how expensive. I mean I have enough money for it but how could a single rice cupcakes cost 45? the last time I bought rice cakes here in Heng is 12 years ago, with my father. And the rice cakes cost 10.00.

"45 and a single rice cupcake? how expensive." I whined at the price. " Dear, Taxes are also expensive, if you don't have money for it then don't buy." she said.

Expensive taxes? so people here are now suffering from high taxes. I need to find Cheng in this case.

I spend most of my time dragging my horse with me and asking someone if they know where is General Cheng. Mostly, they say he's at the palace serving the emperor. I couldn't believe it, I can't believe that he is serving the cruel emperor.

I heard a few crashing sound of wooden boxes and sword clinging.

"Kill that rebel!" as I turned on my side I saw palace guards surrounding someone and shouting to kill him. The word rebel startled me.

The palace guards were surrounding a man in a black kimono. His hair was in a pony tail and some of it was swaying on his forehead. And he was wearing a white mask. He was fighting the royal guards with his black katana. His moves were aggressive. 5 of the guard's were wounded and he is now fighting two other guards.

If he is the rebel against the cruel emperor, then I'm on his side.

I quickly tried my horse on a wooden fence. I rush to borrow one of the wounded guard's sword. But I first get my black handkerchief to cover half of my face and hide my identity.

More guards came with arrows. I slash one of the guard's chest and kick the other one on my side. One was trying to cut my head with his sword but I blocked it with mine. I apply all the moves that father taught me. I slice all the arrows before they could hit me.

More guards came and there were only the two of us. The masked man grabbed my hand and dragged me for a run.

"run in zigzag to avoid the arrows," he said, still holding my hand. "I know." Arrows were passing to our side close to hit us.

We head to the market and run through the crowds. That way we'll be able to escape. My heart was pounding hard on my ribcage. We stopped and turn around. The guards were far ahead. The masked man hide on behind a stock of wooden boxes with fruits.

"hide here," he said. I shove myself at his side. After seconds, the guards came and just passed us, they seem didn't notice us. After a few minutes, I realized that this man with me looks like on my age.

Once it was clear we came out of our hiding spot. He looked side by side to see if its safe. he took off his mask, revealing his good looking face. His hair was, again, in a pony tail and he have side bangs that covers his left eye.  He look gorgeous but his facial expression is cold.

I took off my handkerchief as well. "um, your welcome." I said smiling at him. He looked at me "I didn't ask your help."

Where are his manners. " I should've let you die or get arrested," I mumbled. He turned and started walking away. The thought of General Cheng came I'm my mind.

If there's a rebellion against the emperor, then General Cheng should be with the rebels to save Heng from this cruel emperor.

"Hey wait!" I said. He stopped and look to his side. "I have a question about General Cheng!" I added. He  turn around and look at me.

"What about General Cheng?" He said blankly. "I heard your a rebel against the emperor, and General Cheng and General Xaugo, lead the war 12 years ago...and since they lost in battle, General Cheng should be with the rebellion, right?" I explained.

His expression seems startled "No, General Cheng is at the palace serving the emperor."

"What?! But he's supposed to be against the new emperor cause the new emperor is not his master." I said complaining.

"What is between General Cheng and you? Seems like you care too much about which side is he on," he walked closer to me.

"Because I am General Xaugo's daughter, its the only way to stop this and bring up the old Heng I know," I said folding my arms cross in my chest.

"Yhing?" It was all he said. "Yeah, that's right! I am Yhing, If you want some prove, take me too General Cheng and he''ll recognize me." I said firmly. He only gave me a nod.

We came back on where I tied my horse, luckily he was still there and not stolen.

"If you want to see General Cheng then come with me." He said leading the way and still not giving me a piece of emotion.

I followed him to a big house, right in the side of it is a barn for horses.

"Leave your horse inside there, I'll wait here." Still blank and cold expressions is what he's giving me.

I did what he told me. When I came back he was right in his position and holding his katana. When he noticed me he lead the way inside the house. When I entered it was a tailoring shop. A lady around 30 years of age approach us. The guy with me just have her a nod, seems like they know each other.

He opened the door in the corner and stairs was all I saw. We came to the second floor of the house a man in black, greet us.

"Are you okay Jinhai, you brought a guess, and Kang told me your were being chased by palace guards." Said the man to Jinhai.

"Pheng, Is General Cheng here?" Jinhai asked the man named Pheng.

"He's not here but he will be here soon." Pheng said. "Its not allowed to bring a whore here Jinhai" he added.

When I heard what he called me I quickly pressed my hand on his throat and slammed him to the wall while holding a tight grip on his neck.

"Don't you dare call me those kind of words," I firmly said. I let him go and he was catching air and his breath.

"You wait here, I'll go to the palace." Jinhai said before he walk away. I tried to stop him but no word came our from my dry mouth so I grabbed his hand.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked. He yanked his hand back "they don't know I'm a rebel."