LiLi
Her arrival was in the early afternoon. The teahouse was empty, about to close for the night. This was her usual routine after a day of listening to storytellers at the teahouses.
Time flew by as she got lost in the stories, captivated by the tales of adventure, love, and tragedy. Tragedies were her favorite.The storytellers’ words transported her to different worlds.
As the last story came to an end, she applauded the talented storytellers and tossed a pearl as a show of her appreciation. It was a customary gesture, a small token of gratitude for their captivating performances.
With the teahouse soon to close, she turned her attention to her unexpected guest. Crown Prince A-Li had arrived earlier. His stuffy nose and tear-streaked face revealed the impact the story had on him. Despite his noble status, he was not ashamed to show his vulnerability and wear his emotions on his sleeve. He was cute.
A-Li’s facial expression went blank as he said haughtily, “I know I’m handsome but it’s rude to stare, QQ.”
“Were you crying? Did the ending of that tale made you cry?” Bai Qian queried amused and humored.
His eyes widened, and he quickly responded. “No! My issue is simply allergies. What sort of man weeps at a melodrama within a tea house? QQ, I can see why you haven’t found a partner yet. Your understanding of men is fundamentally flawed.”
Bai Qian let out a snort and questioned, “So, are your red eyes because of that? Hay fever? Lili, it’s fine for men to cry; it displays sensitivity and empathy. Showing emotion is far superior to your father’s impassiveness.”
“Why do you call me Lili?” When did you see my dad?” A-Li replied, refilling his wine glass and quickly draining it.
Bai Qian was impressed. The teenager could drink. With one elbow on the table, she rested her chin in her open palm. Using her free hand, she idly played with sunflower seeds in a small bowl in the middle of the wooden table.
Casually, Bai Qian responded, “You call me QQ, so I thought Lili for you. I saw your father and uncle in Zhe Yan’s orchard earlier. I bet family dinners and gatherings are a thrill. Do they talk or smile? Ever?”
A-Li gently but firmly slapped her hand away and scolded, “Don’t play with food, QQ. Of course they know how to communicate but smiling…not so much. Not huge fans of smiling.”
“Plus, I don’t like Lili because the Li in my name is for separation and double separation. Li is too much like my life. You see, I lost my mother twice, so unfortunately, it’s TOO fitting for me.”
“QQ, come up with a better nickname that reflects and draws attention to my striking features, because I have oh so MANY from which you can choose.” A-Li proudly declared while scoping the nearby area and distance for attractive young mortal women.
Bai Qian filled their wine glasses and nonchalantly said, “How about Rice ball? That nickname is most fitting and for some odd reason suits you perfectly.”
“RICEBALL?! Are you joking? I’m a 40,000-year-old High God, not a toddler. You lack understanding for men and imagination. I always believed life was fair and one can’t have everything. Luckily, at least you’re beautiful.” A-Li raised his wine glass to her and quickly drank the fruity fermented contents in one shot.
A-Li suddenly stood up, stretched out his long body, yawned and declared, “QQ, it’s been a real blast hanging out with you! It’s time for me to locate some hot, loose and extra uninhibited mortal chicks. See ya later, QQ!”
Bai Qian shook her head in disbelief before she asked, “Hey, Rice ball! Is it true what they say about your father and uncle? That they both only have one real eye and the other is fake? I couldn’t see or tell by just looking at them. I heard it happened when they dueled and fought over a woman?”
From a short distance, he ambled back to the table, rested his hands on the wooden surface, and leaned forward. Intentionally, A-Li leaned closer to Bai Qian, his attractive face near hers, and whispered, “Yes, that’s right. They each have only one real eye and High God Zhe Yan made the artificial ones for them. His work is magnificent!”
“It’s a genetic disorder. Not the result of something absurd, like a fight over the same woman! Although, that would have been a cool story!”
“QQ, please!” A-Li smirked and teased. “Everyone makes up fables and tall tales about the royal families. Just like how they exaggerate and carry on and on about your immense beauty. It’s all bogus, false nonsense and made up by others for enjoyment! Boy, are you naïve!”
A-Li straightened out his tall, lean body, and he was taller than his father. He merely waved his hand right in her face. Magically called a fully bloomed peach flower and stuck it in her hair before saying informally, “See ya around, QQ!”
Firmly, he held both hands behind his back before coolly strolling away, while whistling a cheery tune that curiously sounded like ‘Happy Birthday To You.’
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Karmic Retribution…..
There was once a moment she recalled. When all she’d craved and desired was Ye Hua’s attention and time. Although, now SuJin got what she wanted but wished, and in earnest prayed that he would never return because now her punisher was him.
SuJin’s karmic retribution returned to her as Ye Hua’s never ending rage. Like clockwork, he came at the same time every night for the past 40,000 years. He appeared right before going to bed nightly, because he said crushing her helped him sleep more soundly.
SuJin shook in terror as she sat squatted in the corner of the hidden room and knew it was almost time for his arrival. She didn’t know where she was and couldn’t see her surroundings. She was blind and eyeless, because she gouged Bai Qian’s eyes out of her head the moment she saw Ye Hua rushing into the torture chamber.
The second she saw Ye Hua, in a mad hurried, frenzied panic SuJin ate them. She tossed them into her mouth, deliberately chewed until there was nothing left and swallowing the tiny remnants, so Bai Qian could never use them again.
SuJin ingested them because she wouldn’t need them either. She firmly believed without a doubt, Ye Hua would kill her, but she was wrong. Instead of killing her after Bai Qian’s death; he in a state of uncontrollable rage, ferocity caught and shook her by her hair savagely. He snarled that she would suffer and endure endless misery perpetuity by his hands. He was right. True to his words, SuJin had undergone agony and pain regularly, as he’d promised.
The faint sound of the doors opening caused her to press herself firmly against the wall. She sniffed the air and detected the scent of peach wine. and terror filled her. It was that dreaded day. It was Bai Qian’s birthday again. She knew because it was the one day Ye Hua drank alcohol and those times he was more ruthless than ever.
His torment began verbally when Ye Hua declared in a drone mono-toned voice, “SuJin, I hate you. From the moment I laid my eyes on you even when we were young, I despised you.”
Ye Hua spoke and doled out his usual physical punishment while she wailed in agony, “You made my skin crawl at the very sight of your hideous face. I would rather fuck a stray ugly dog before I would ever touch you.”
SuJin screamed in suffering and begged desperately, “Please, Ye Hua, please! Please kill me this time! I’ll do anything! I’ll give you everything I have! My body and soul for killing your unborn child and Bai Qian!”
He chuckled mockingly but then snarled hatefully, “How dare you! Your rotten, filthy body and soul isn’t even worthy of the tip of the toenail on my precious daughter!”
Ye Hua’s resentment-filled verbal torture continued as he callously ripped the skin off her body. He growled, “Don’t even speak of my innocent child or my Qian Qian with your nasty mouth! Even hell is too grandiose and luxurious for you!”
“Did you know, being inside Qian Qian was pure heaven? I still dream and think about her nightly. SuJin, however, you, I wouldn’t touch you with Qing Cang’s rotting dick!” Ye Hua spat while her eternal and never-ending nightmare continued as she moaned and screamed in pure agony.
SuJin’s fierce torment continued for what felt like a lifetime until Ye Hua stopped time. As he had for the last 40,000 years, he healed her fully and left her for the following day. But what he didn’t know was a tender and sympathetic angel-like character always came to her afterward.
It was a complete mystery, and she didn’t know who it was or why they were there. This person and the kindness she received were her only moments of sanctuary. The gentle savior brought her exquisite wines, the most savory and delicious foods she’d ever tasted, even while she was a princess in Nine Heavens.
Always this person magically treated her wounds more, but the silent, unknown individual never spoke or explained their caring behavior to her. However, their compassion encouraged and helped her during the long and endless years of suffering.