Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Madam Meng

After a few days of looking for work, Qiu Ling and Li Yingshan still couldn't find anything. As they were sitting in their room one afternoon, a knock at the door startled them both.

"It's me, Third Young Lady Li."

Relief washed over Li Yingshan. She called out, "You can come in."

The doors slid open to reveal the Seventh Prince and another woman. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties and had a heavy amount of makeup on. But she seemed well-to-do.

The Seventh Prince made the introductions. "Third Young Lady Li, this is Madam Meng梦夫人 mèng fūrén - surname means "Dream". She runs Dream House, which is a courtesan residence. Madam Meng, this is my friend Li Yingshan."

Madam Meng sized Li Yingshan up but seeing that she was in a wheelchair gave her pause. "Hmm, good proportions, excellent complexion, gentle features. Yet, how are you like this?"

"A martial arts accident."

Madam Meng's eyes narrowed. "A young person skilled in martial arts... something doesn't seem right."

"Madam, what do you mean?" the Seventh Prince asked.

She walked over to Li Yingshan and checked her Gate of Vitality point. Sensing the abnormality, she withdrew her hand and clicked her tongue as she sat down on the table.

"My dear girl, this was no accident. You've been poisoned."

Li Yingshan's eyes widened. Qiu Ling gasped.

"Can my Lady be saved? Could she walk again?"

"That, I'm not sure about. I have a friend who's a skilled apothecary. I will see if he can figure out something."

Li Yingshan bowed her head. "Then I'm in your debt. I don't know how to repay this favor."

A scheming look glinted in Madam Meng's eyes. "I'm down a girl right now. If you're willing to work in Dream House and entertain the men who come in, I will see that as repayment."

Li Yingshan bit her lip. Qiu Ling crossed her arms over her chest. "My Lady is not a courtesan. She-"

"Qiu Ling, enough. I'm not the Third Daughter of the Li family anymore. I'm just Li Yingshan."

"My Lady..."

She was silenced by a raised hand. Li Yingshan's gaze slid back over to Madam Meng.

"I will agree if, and only if, Qiu Ling can come with me. She has been by my side forever. I won't abandon her here in the capital."

"That's fine. She can help out with chores around Dream House to earn her keep."

The Seventh Prince smiled and clapped his hands together. "Well, it looks like everything's settled. That's good. Young Lady Li, Madam Meng, I'm afraid I must return to the palace. I'll let you two deal with the rest."

After he had departed, Madam Meng stood up and took a couple steps back. She tilted her head. "What happened?"

"You mean the accident?"

She nodded. So, Li Yingshan explained. When she had finished, Madam Meng sighed.

"The dagger must've had poison on it. If there's still a trace in your blood, my friend should be able to find it. I'll call for him tomorrow."

"I'm truly grateful, Madam. I never understood how I suddenly lost all feeling in my legs. Poison makes so much sense now. And if there's a chance of me being able to walk again, then that means I could recultivate my martial arts."

Madam Meng smiled gently. "Let's take things one step at a time, shall we? From now on, you'll just be Young Lady Li. Tell me, can you sing or play an instrument?"

Li Yingshan winced. "I learned the pipa as a child, but I wasn't very good. My singing's worse though. What I excelled at was martial arts."

"Well, I'm sure we can find something for you. Why don't we try the pipa first?"

"Sure."

Li Yingshan's mind whirred with thoughts. At Dream House, I'll be inconspicuous. I can oversee Moonlight Pagoda much easier. Plus, it'd be easy to gather information this way. All in all, this is a very good exchange.

∇

That day, Madam Meng hired a hand to help move the two girls out of the inn and over to Dream House. She directed everything and soon, Qiu Ling was helping Li Yingshan into her wheelchair just outside of Dream House. Madam Meng walked over to them.

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"I'll introduce the girls to you later. Why don't you come inside and get settled?"

Li Yingshan nodded. "Lead the way."

Qiu Ling steered as Madam Meng showed them inside. She led them down a hallway towards some rooms.

"Usually, all of the girls live upstairs. But seeing your present... problem, I'm going to give you a room down here. Qiu Ling can sleep in the room next to yours. Ah, here we are."

She stopped at a door and opened it. Waving them in, Qiu Ling turned the wheelchair and pushed Li Yingshan inside. The room was furnished with a small square table, four pillows around it, a rug under it, a desk and chair off to one wall, some bookshelves next to the desk, a dresser and closet against another wall, and a canopy bed. The desk sat under a window. Madam Meng entered and walked over to the desk chair.

"Do you want me to leave this or take it?"

"Maybe leave it. In case Qiu Ling needs somewhere to sit."

Madam Meng nodded and took her hand off the back of the oak wood chair. "How do you like the room?"

"It's perfect, thank you."

"If you're alright with it, I'll show Qiu Ling her room."

Li Yingshan nodded her assent, and the other two exited the room. She looked around her new residence and examined everything. After turning her wheelchair, she rolled herself over to the bed. Her hand ran across the soft red blanket.

This is for the best. It gives Qiu Ling and me a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and no worry for the day-to-day. We can surely adjust to this life. I just hope Han Shaolei remembers to meet with Qiu Ling at the inn tomorrow.

"Young Lady Li, supper will be at six. You'll meet the others then, okay?"

Pulled from her thoughts, she turned herself around and nodded. "That's fine."

"Alright, I think that's everything then. I've got some business to do, so I'll leave you two to yourselves. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask someone."

With that, Madam Meng left. Once she was gone, Qiu Ling walked over to Li Yingshan.

"My Lady, you want me to go to Jade Bell Inn tomorrow at ten in the morning, right?"

"That's right. Meet with Han Shaolei and tell him that we've moved to Dream House. Also say that in the future, to meet you at Jade Bell Inn. The inn is secretly associated with Moonlight Pagoda, hence why I chose it in the first place. Then, you will bring the information back to me. Understand?"

"Yes, my Lady."

Li Yingshan took a deep breath. "Good. Now that that's settled, we can unpack."

Qiu Ling nodded and put the herbs away in a box and placed it on the bookshelf. Li Yingshan rolled herself over to the desk and set her Buddhist sutras on it. The scriptures, she handed over to Qiu Ling who set them up on the bookshelf also. Then, they were finished with  unpacking her few belongings.

"My Lady, may I ask you something?" Qiu Ling asked as she knelt on one of the hot pink pillow at the square bamboo table.

"Go ahead," Li Yingshan replied as she wheeled herself over.

"Why didn't you bring Wudan?"

Li Yingshan's eyes turned downwards. Sadness filled her gaze as she lowered her head. She had left her sword behind, having chosen not to bring it along.

"Because, I didn't think I'd need it. I can't walk, how can I properly wield a sword? But now, hearing that I could possibly walk again... I wish I had brought it with us."

∇

When it was time for supper, Qiu Ling wheeled Li Yingshan out of her room and over to the back gathering room. Inside, seven other ladies and Madam Meng were already sitting at the large table. They were eating a quick meal before Dream House opened their doors for the evening. All eight looked up upon their arrival.

Madam Meng smiled and stood up. "Ladies, these two girls are new here. I hope you can treat them well. The one in orange will just work here and do chores. But the one in magenta is joining as one of you."

Qiu Ling, the one in orange, bowed respectfully. "I'm Qiu Ling. I serve Young Lady Li, but if you need anything, I'll be happy to assist you as well as I can."

The seven other ladies gaped mostly at the one in red who was sitting in a wheelchair. Li Yingshan stretched out her arms in a respectful salute. A gentle smile graced her pink lips.

"I'm Li Yingshan."

The lady closest to her smiled brightly. Her cheerful disposition was a bit surprising to Li Yingshan. "Welcome to Dream House. I'm Su Dongmei苏冬梅 sū dōngméi - given name meaning "Winter Plum". I hope we can be like sisters in the future!"

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