Chapter Five – The Assassin’s Knife
The moonlight was a white glow through the window. Xiao Xiao couldn’t sleep. The excitement from the Mid-Autumn celebration had not waned. Besides, her stomach was still full from all the mooncakes, boiled water caltrops and jasmine tea. She lay on her bed, staring at the moon, basking in its light.
Nearby, Xiao Xin slept soundly. The baby was such an easy baby to look after. She slept through the night with a full belly of milk. Her designated nanny dozed next to the crib. So, in the pleasant after-celebration haze, Xiao Xiao didn’t see the knife that slipped through the window and the shadow that darkened a portion of the moon-lit floor.
Xiao Xiao sat up slowly. The shadow flowed in. It was all black cloth with a slit for eyes that were cold, focussed. An assassin.
The knife slid quietly like a snake. It was heading for Xiao Xin.
Xiao Xiao found her courage, grabbed the hilt of her jian and shouted. The shadow-cloaked assassin’s eyes widened and before Xiao Xiao could yell, darted out of the door.
By this time, Xiao Xiao was on her feet, jian in her hand and running out, shouting: “Assassin! Assassin!” The nanny was awake, holding onto a stunned and clearly upset Xiao Xin who, disturbed by the yelling, awoke. The shadow flitted down the corridor, turned a corner and disappeared.
For the whole night, the palace ground hummed with activity, with guards running up and down the corridors, searching for the assassin. Torchlights dotted the palace.
Mother was livid with rage.
In the morning, the palace still buzzed with gossip and speculation. Nobody owed up. The Empress of the West Palace was nowhere to be found with the excuse that she needed some fresh air and had transferred herself to the winter palace.
Xiao Xiao knew, deep down in her heart, that the Empress had something to do with the assassin. Such a wicked woman! And she also knew that these attacks would not stop.
As she watched over Xiao Xin, Xiao Xiao held the green pearl in a tight fist, as if it would give her strength.
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Xiao Xiao - Chapter One
Teen FictionEnter the world of Xiao Xiao, daughter of an imperial courtesan, and a fantastical historical Qing China, with dragons and magic and traditions. What happens when her mother adopts a baby girl found in a rice field? What does the green pearl do?
