Chapter 53

When they arrived in the town of Tai'an in Shandongprovince, they were met by the local Red FlowerSociety Helmsman who informed them that 'MelancholyGhost' Shi had also just arrived from Beijing. Theheroes were delighted and went to see him. Xin Yan ranon ahead and shouted "Twelfth Brother! The traitor'sdead!" Shi looked at him blankly. "Zhang Zhaozhong!"Xin Yan shouted.

　　Shi's face lit up. "Zhang is dead?""Yes, he was eaten up by wolves."Shi bowed before Chen and the others.

　　"Twelfth Brother," said Chen. "Have your wounds fullyrecovered?""Thank you for your concern, Great Helmsman,completely recovered. You and the others have had along, hard journey.""Is there any news from the capital?"Shi's expression turned grim. "None from the capital.

　　But I have hurried here to report that MasterMuzhuolun's entire army has been destroyed.""What?" Chen's face went white and he stood up.

　　"When we left the Muslim regions, General Zhao Wei andthe remains of his army was competely surrounded," LuoBing said. "How could the Manchus score anothervictory?"Shi sighed. "Reinforcements suddenly arrived from thesouth. From what the Muslims who managed to flee say,Master Muzhuolun and his son fought to the death.

　　Mistress Huo Qingtong was ill at the time of theattack and was unable to direct the defence. No-oneknows what happened to her."Chen slumped down into his chair.

　　"Mistress Huo Qingtong has an excellent command ofkung fu," Lu Feiqing said. "She would not come to harmat the hands of the Manchu troops."They all knew he was just trying to ease Chen'sanxiety. It was difficult to see how a sick girl couldprotect herself in the confusion of battle.

　　"Huo Qingtong has a sister," Luo Bing said. "TheMuslims call her Princess Fragrance. Did you hear anynews of her?""Nothing at all," Shi replied. "But she is awell-known person. If anything had happened to her,there would be bound to be reports circulating in thecapital. I heard nothing, so I presume she is allright."Chen was embarrassed by their elaborate concern forhis feelings. "I will go inside and rest for a while,"he said, and walked to his room.

　　"Go and look after him," Luo Bing whispered to XinYan. The boy ran after his master.

　　After a short while, Chen thrust aside the curtain tohis room and strode out again. "We must eat quickly,and get to Beijing as quickly as possible," he said.

　　A new note of determination in his voice surprised theheroes. Wen raised his thumb in agreement and dug intohis food with increased gusto.

　　As they travelled on, Chen forced himself to smile andchat with the others, but his features became morehaggard as the days went by. Before too long, theyarrived in Beijing. Shi had rented a large residencein Twin Willows Lane. Priest Wu Chen, the TwinKnights, 'Buddha' Zhao and 'Pagoda' Yang were therewaiting for them.

　　"Third Brother," Chen said to 'Buddha' Zhao. "Pleasego with Xin Yan to see the Emperor's chief bodyguard,Bai Zhen. Take the lute that the Emperor presented tome and the jade vase that Luo Bing stole and give themto him to pass on to the Emperor, to let him know thatwe are here."Zhao and Xin Yan left and returned several hourslater.

　　"We went to Bai Zhen's home to look for him and hehappened to be at home," Xin Yan reported. "We gaveZhao's name card to one of his servants, and he rushedout to greet us. He dragged us inside and insisted onus drinking several cups of wine before letting us go.

　　Extremely friendly."Chen nodded.

　　Early the next morning, Bai Zhen paid them a visit. Hechatted with 'Buddha' Zhao for a while about theweather, then asked respectfully if he could see Chen.

　　"The Emperor has ordered me to take you to thePalace," he whispered to Chen when he appeared.

　　"Good," replied Chen. "Please wait here for a moment."He went back inside to discuss things with the others.

　　They all thought he should take strict precautions.

　　Several of the heroes accompanied him into theForbidden City, while Wen and the rest stationedthemselves outside the palace walls to await theirreturn.

　　With Bai Zhen leading the way, Chen and the otherswalked through the palace gates, passed guards whorespectfully bowed to them. They were overawed by theimposing atmosphere of the palace: its thick, sturdywalls, the heavy defences. They had walked for a goodwhile when two eunuchs ran up to Bai Zhen.

　　"Master Bai," said one. "The Emperor is in thePrecious Moon Pavilion, and orders you to take MasterChen there to see him."Bai nodded, and turned to Chen. "We are now enteringthe forbidden area of the palace. Please ask everyoneto leave their weapons here." Despite their uneasinessat this, the heroes had no alternative and did as hesaid, placing their swords on a nearby table.

　　Bai led them through halls and across courtyards andstopped in front of a large, richly-decoratedpavilion.

　　"Announcing Chen Jialuo!" he called out. Chenstraightened his cap and gown and followed the oldeunuch into the pavilion while Priest Wu Chen and theothers were forced to remain outside.

　　They climbed up the stairs to the fifth floor, andentered a room in which they found Qian Long, seatedand smiling. Chen knelt down and kowtowed before himrespectfully.

　　"You've come," said Qian Long. "Excellent. Please beseated." With a wave of his hand he dismissed theeunuchs. Chen remained standing where he was.

　　"Sit down and let us talk," Qian Long repeated. Onlythen did Chen thank him and take a seat.

　　"What do you think of this pavilion?" the Emperorasked.

　　"Where else would one find such a building but in theImperial Palace?""I told them to build it quickly. From start tofinish, it took less than two months. If there hadbeen more time, it would have been even more elegant.

　　But it will do as it is.""Yes," replied Chen. He wondered how many workers andcraftsmen had died of exhaustion during theconstruction.

　　Qian Long stood up. "You have just returned from theMuslim areas. Come and look. Does this look like adesert scene?" Chen followed him to a window, and ashe looked out, started in surprise.

　　To the right, was a classic Imperial Chinese garden,filled with purples and reds and twisting paths, asumptuous scene. But looking left, towards the west,the view was entirely different. For about a third ofa mile, the ground was covered in yellows and,arranged into small sand dunes. Looking closely, Chensaw the signs of pavilions having been knocked down,water pools filled in and trees and bushes uprooted.

　　The scene naturally lacked the majesty of the endlessdesert, but it was a good likeness.

　　"Does your highness like desert views?" he asked.

　　Qian Long smiled. "What do you think of it?""A lot of work has been put into it," Chen replied.

　　There were a number of Muslim tents staked on the sandwith three camels tied up nearby and with a suddenheartache, he thought of Princess Fragrance and hersister. Looking beyond, he saw several hundred workersdemolishing several more buildings: the Emperor hadobviously decided he wanted a bigger desert.

　　Chen wondered why on earth Qian Long would have had apiece of dry, desolate desert constructed in thepalace grounds. Incongruously placed in the middle ofsuch a lush Chinese garden, it looked simplyludicrous.

　　Qian long walked away from the window and pointed tothe antique lute he had given Chen, now lying on asmall table.

　　"Why don't you play me a tune?" he said.

　　Chen could see the Emperor did not wish to discuss theimportant business at hand, and he could not raise ithimself, so he sat down and began to pluck thestrings. As he played, something caught his eye, andhe looked up to find the jade vases decorated withPrincess Fragrance's image smiling at him across theroom. With a twang, one of the strings broke.

　　"What's the matter?" Qian Long asked. He smiled. "Doyou find yourself a little afraid, here in thepalace?"Chen stood up and replied respectfully: "Your humbleservant has disgraced himself in front of yourCelestial Majesty."Qian Long laughed., greatly pleased by this. Chenlowered his head and noticed Qian Long's left hand wasbound with a white cloth as if it was wounded. QianLong's face flushed red and he hurriedly put the handbehind his back.

　　"Did you bring the things I wanted?" he asked.

　　"They are with my friends downstairs," Chen replied.

　　Qian Long picked up a small hammer and rapped thetable with it twice and a young eunuch ran in. "Tellthe gentlemen accompanying Master Chen to come up," heordered, and the eunuch returned a moment later withthe six heroes.

　　Chen stood up and shot them a glance and they had nooption but to kneel down and kowtow before Qian Long.

　　"You stinking emperor!" Priest Wu Chen thought as hedid so. "We almost scared you out of your wits thatday in the pagoda in Hangzhou, but you're still justas damned arrogant. If it wasn't for the GreatHelmsman, I would kill you this instant."Chen took a small, sealed wooden box from 'Buddha'

　　Zhao and placed it on the table. "They are in here,"he said.

　　"Good. That will be all," Qian Long replied. "When Ihave looked at them I will send for you." Chenkowtowed again. "And take the lute with you," headded.

　　Chen picked up the lute and handed it to 'Leopard'

　　Wei. "Since Your Highness has already subdued theMuslim areas, your servant pleads with you to bemerciful and to order that there be no indiscriminatekillings there," he said.

　　Qian Long did not answer, but simply waving them awaywith his hand. Bai Zhen led them to the palace gatewhere Wen and the others were waiting.