The Emperor's Concubine

25: Justice

Li Hua's P.O.V
TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️: MENTIONS OF PEDOPHILIA, SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT AND MURDER

To her relief, the fat man doesn't bother with her for long. Instead, his gaze drifts towards a young girl behind her. A skinny small thing, covered in dirt, quivering and confused. She carries a tray full on fruits.

She can't be more than 10 years old.

Li Hua quickly wriggles out of the fat man's grasp when he motions towards the young girl behind her. Li Hua watches morbidly as the young girl approaches him, shaking every step of the way, the tray of food she carries rattling loudly, its contents moments away from spilling over .

The fat man grins, his yellow-stained teeth sticking out between his thin lips. The girl places the tray down without ever making eye contact and attempts to scurry away but the fat man quickly grabs her by the waist, pulling her in. He whispers something in her ear. The girl looks terrified, her bottom lip quivers and her eyes water. She looks desperately at Li Hua.

The fat man motions for Li Hua to leave. All she can feel is red hot fury and disgust when the fat man slips the strap of the girl's dress down from her shoulders and inhales at the crook of her neck. While backing away, Li Hua bumps into another girl who grabs her by the elbow, leading her away. Li Hua look desperately back at the young girl who helps when the man pinches her side.

The girl holding Li Hua's elbow leads her beyond the court yard. Even from here, she can hear the man guffaw. "Don't look so terrified little one! A night with me is a night of pleasure!"

The girl leading Li Hua scoffs softly before letting her hold loosen. Eventually, Li Hua begins to trail behind her. Room after room, they passed, each room smelling of dank sweat. Some rooms were eerily quiet, others with muffled voices and cries.

Curious, Li Hua takes a peak into one room where sounds of whipping can be heard. To her horror, she sees a young man, naked and kneeling on all fours, hands bound by rope. Above him, another man stands brandishing a whip. A woman sits in the corner sipping from a glass and watching the scene intensely.

A thought tickles her mind when it is suddenly interrupted -

"I suggest you mind your business if you do not wish to join them" the girl previously leading Li Hua appears beside her. The girl yanks Li Hua away roughly and turns suddenly down a dark and narrow corridor. Li Hua can feels the tip of the dagger press into her leg where she strapped it and the cool feel of the metal flush against her skin provides some comfort. They pass rooms, much smaller and less grand before arriving at one.

Entering, a small candle flickers in the corner, illuminating a pile of hay. A sheet is draped over the pile and a bowl of some type of stew sits cold beside it.

"Eat. Sleep." The girl gestures to the bed. "Be up when the sun is up."

The girl leaves almost immediately and Li Hia breathes a sigh of relief. She still feels ill from the sight of the fat man and the young girl and the sloppy stew worsens her nausea. She pushes the bowl aside and lays down on the sheet provided. The sheet is itchy and has a smell that Li Hua refuses to think about in detail.

I need to find the spy.

She waits for hours.

There's not much wax left on the candle by the time she sits upright. The flame flickers pitifully on what is left of the twine. Li Hua unstraps the dagger from her thigh and leaves the room.