The magistrate shrugged. “A court painter. He was known for his depictions of the emperor’s harem. I’m a collector of his work, as you can see.”
Zhi Lan turned around, only to be faced with another couple in flagrante delicto. The composition was all elegance and decadence. In any other context, she would have loved to study it, but with the magistrate’s overpowering presence and long-toothed smile, she wished she were anywhere else but here. “Of course, my lord,” she said, feeling her cheeks burn.
“There you go cowering again, Miss Zhi Lan,” Magistrate Bu said. “You tremble like a flower.”
Zhi Lan felt a prick of annoyance at the comparison. She wasnota flower...never mind that her name was rather floral. If the magistrate had been a villager, she would’ve told him exactly what she thought of his advances. But Magistrate Bu was their patron, not to mention the most powerful man in the city. She couldn’t possibly give him one of her put-downs. Besides, what if she had misread his intentions? He was a patron of art. A scholar-gentleman. A respected civil servant.
Sweat broke across her brow as the magistrate stepped closer. Her mind spun, wondering what she could do or say to make him stop.
Please, please, please let there be a distraction.
An ungodly crash sounded from the courtyard. Then, screams erupted.
Magistrate Bu jerked toward the noise. “What in the name of heaven is going on out there?”
Han and Master Dan emerged from the other side of the room. Zhi Lan seized this opportunity to escape, joining Master Dan at the entrance.
They all rushed to the courtyard to see what the matter was. The lanterns had been lit in the wake of the waning daylight, illuminating the space in a yellow glow. Zhi Lan felt dazed and shaky with relief. A distraction had come as soon as she wished it! It was almost like divine intervention.
All thoughts of deities vanished when a dark figure hurtled toward them, half of their face covered with a soot black scarf. Under their arm was a scroll. Zhi Lan recognized the blue and gold silk brocade—she had held it in her hands just moments ago.
“Master Dan, your painting!” she cried.
At this, the thief locked eyes with her. It was a man. From beneath two dark brows, a pair of parchment beige irises glowered at her—pale and empty as if the color had been leached out of them.
Zhi Lan shrank back. A demon!
“Thief!” Magistrate Bu bellowed. “Guards, grab him!”
No one came immediately. After a few delayed seconds, the magistrate’s guards stumbled in, having clearly imbibed on spirits. In their bulky armor and spears, they were no match for the man in black, who sprinted across the courtyard like a lynx through a forest.
Then, in a mighty leap too swift to be human, the thief disappeared over the wall.
2 – Shao Qing
Yao was annoyed withhim. This was nothing new.
