Pharmacist Penumbra (Draft)

Chapter 15: Back Home

Ying Yue was woken by the light of the dawning day, as she yawns and pulls her long ebony hair into a high ponytail. Xiao Bao is asleep. She watches the even falling and the rising of his body, as his face is a state of tranquil peace.

As she attempted to remove herself from the bed, the slight vibrations she created awoke the small child on the bed. "Mama?" he calls out. His form bobs in sleepiness, as Ying Yue dresses him. Then she dresses herself. She grabs the sling and places Xiao Bao into the sling, as his head is rest upon her chest.

Her step was silent and cautious, as she doesn't want to disturb anyone. The days were getting colder and colder and snow was starting to appear in parts of the palace. Grabbing a winter cloak just to be safe, she wraps herself into the thick fabric. She walks into the frigid cold.

Her breaths turn into puff of cloud, as she meets with Long Fan who is dressed casual robes. "Are you sure you are allowed to leave the palace? I mean with permission of the Emperor?" inquired Ying Yue.

He grins broadly. "Relax, there are other Generals in the palace to protect His Majesty. And besides the Emperor wanted me to take a break from my duties and I'm just fulfilling just that." he replied trying to reassure Ying Yue's concern.

They board a carriage to ride to the red light district.

We arrived in front of the Golden Lotus, as we stepped down to enter the establishment. The building was furnished with elaborate and colourful ornaments and object. The harlots huddled together, as they noticed our presences. Most of them noticed the Long Fan and his rather handsome figure. Then one of the older harlots notice Ying Yue, "Ahh it's Ying Yue!" she exclaimed, as she pranced towards her with a groups of other harlot following her.

As they approached, she placed a hand to stop them in their tracks. Lifting her winter cloak, they see a small little boy. They gushed over Xiao Bao's cuteness, but they were understanding.

Ying Yue sent a young errand girl to announce her arrival to the matron of the Golden Lotus. After a few minutes, an aged woman dressed in simple clothing walked down the steps with a graceful flair exuding the aura of elegance from her early years as a harlot.

As she stands in front of Ying Yue imposing and a glare that could make full grown men piss themselves, she grabs a hold of Ying Yue. Holding her closely, "Thank goodness that you're okay. Yao Yao must be missing you." She mutters in her ear. Ying Yue nod her head in the crook of the matron's shoulder, but then the matron feels a strange movement on Ying Yue's chest and moves the cloak to the side.

A child. Then she see a man behind that is close behind Ying Yue. Then her eyes widen. "How dare you run off to find a man and have a child with him!?" yelled the matron clearly misunderstanding. The matron whips out a book and slams it hard on Ying Yue's head.

Long Fan kneels down to Ying Yue. Who is clutching her head in pain. "Madam it is clearly a misunderstanding. I am just a friend of Ying Yue and this child isn't hers. She's just looking after him." Explained Long Fan.

She has calmed down significantly. "Is this true?" she demanded.

Ying Yue give a shaky nod. "That is correct. I've only been away for only seven months. How could I've given birth to a child let alone a child which is three years old." Ying Yue pointed out.

"Fair point. So is this man a customer?" the matron asked brazenly. Long Fan blushes and shakes his head violently. "Such a disappointment. I could have wring a few silvers out of the boy." she boldly stated.

Xiao Bao is fully awake. Ying Yue let him down, as he looks around the place in wonder. The harlots are staring at the pudgy cuteness staring at them in confusion. He grips onto Ying Yue clearly overwhelmed with the new environment.

Ying Yue rummaging around in her bosom and placed a sack of coins in the matron's palm, as the matron opens it and counting the coins. "It seems that you are getting closer to your debt been resolved." she states.

"Debt?" questioned Long Fan.

"When I got kidnapped. The kidnappers forced the madam to pay for severing my ties with the them, so I'm simply paying back for what they took from her." explained Ying Yue.

"Now you have 200 silvers you owe me." she reaffirms the price. Ying Yue nod, as her face pinched in annoyance.

"Tell Yao Yao that I said hi." Ying Yue requested. She smiles waving, as Ying Yue walked down the street and into an alleyway. With Long Fan trailing behind her with Xiao Bao in his arms. "Don't you want to do something beside following me?" she asked.

"I don't have anything in mind right now." He shrugged off.

We walked and the scenery changes. The streets are quiet and there are few people walking about. Some of the house are on the verge of collapse. The thatched roofs have sunken in and the walls are filled with holes and crumbling. Beggars huddled together around a small fire trying to stay warm, but proves to be futile. They are malnourished and their clothes are worn and tattered.

Ying Yue watches Long Fan's face contort into a grim one.

This was just one of the harsh realities of this world. Where the rich live in luxurious mansion indulging in their greeds and desire, while the poor go through hell and back just to survive through one day.

We walk to a pretty solid house. A stone house with a proper terracotta roofing, as Ying Yue slide open the door. The most pungent smell is released, as Ying Yue used her arm to block the smell. "Have you even been looking after yourself, grandfather?" scolded Ying Yue. Plunging herself into the dark abyss of a house, as she opens the other windows to air the whole house.

"God damn it. The first thing you do when you greet your old man is scold him?" He rasped out.

She tidied the place up at lightning speed, as Long Fan enters. The grandfather looks at the broad and young man that stand in his door way with a child in his arms. "Who's this a guest?" Asked the grandfather.

"I'm Long Fan. I'm a friend of Ying Yue." Long Fan introduces himself.