Longjing Dominion - Black Pearl District
The furthest dominion one could travel to from the Empire's capital was Longjing. It was a land defined by its sprawling shipping ports, a merchant's paradise where trade never ceased. Because it lay so far from the capital, corruption flourished unchecked, hidden beneath the guise of prosperity. The further away from the Emperor's watchful eye, the easier it became for men to indulge in excess without fear of punishment. Yet, despite its wealth and its ports, those were not the reasons Longjing was whispered about in noble circles.
It was the Black Pearl District.
That district alone made the dominion infamous, for it housed one of the largest and most opulent brothels in the empire, known as The Fair Lady. Here, every desire could be fulfilled, every fantasy brought to life, provided one had the coin to pay for it.
"My dress from the capital will outshine yours."
"You wish. Mine will make me look like a fairy, and all the noble men will be fawning over me."
"Nobody will fawn over you. I wrote to Madam Quin herself, and she promised me the finest dress in the capital."
The courtyards of The Fair Lady rang with laughter and rivalry as the girls descended from their rooms, each one radiant with a beauty that seemed almost otherworldly. They were not ordinary women; they were handpicked by Madam Quin herself, trained in the arts before they could even speak. The brothel was their world, their breath and their heartbeat.
Their bond was something even noble-born sisters could never replicate. It was forged not by blood but by choice, by survival, and by the shared knowledge that they were treasures in a gilded cage.
Chaos erupted in the courtyard as crates of dresses arrived one after another, the girls tearing them open with eager hands.
"How do I look?" Mei Lan asked, twirling in a striking hanfu that shimmered like woven light.
"Stunning, sister," Mei Xue murmured, mesmerized by the sight of her sister, not by blood, but by choice, spinning before her. "The seamstress did a wonderful job."
Mei Lan froze mid-twirl, her eyes narrowing at Xue with irritation. "The dress looks good not because of the seamstress but because of me. I'm stunning. Without me, this thing would be ugly." She pouted, huffing as though steam might rise from her head.
Mei Lan, known throughout Longjing as a Pretty Orchid thus she carried herself with the arrogance of one who knew her worth. At the prime age of twenty, she had become the dominion's most desirable woman with an unrivaled beauty.
Before Mei Xue could reply, a scream tore through the courtyard. A wooden plank clattered to the ground, startling the girls. Mei Lan and Mei Xue rushed forward, clutching their hems to keep from tripping.
"Move," Mei Lan snapped, shoving aside the trembling girl who had screamed. But when her eyes fell upon the contents of the crate, her bravado faltered. She stumbled backward, horror etched across her face.
Mei Xue stepped forward instead, her hand dipping into the crate. She pulled out a small baby, its tiny fingers reaching for her hair.
"Ouch," Mei Xue winced softly, then smiled. "You like my hair, don't you, little one?" she cooed.
The girls crowded around, whispering in disbelief.
"Where did the baby come from?"
"It was inside the crate, I swear."
"How could a baby survive being shipped like that?"
"Out of the way, girls." The voice cut through the murmurs, commanding and sharp. The crowd parted instantly as Madam Mei strode forward.
She was the richest woman in all of Longjing, a figure both feared and admired. By law, she should never have been allowed to own a business without a man's authority beside her. But this was Longjing, not the capital. Here, gold spoke louder than law, and Madam Mei had more gold than anyone else.
"Oh dear," Madam Mei whispered, her voice trembling as her eyes fixed on the baby cradled in Mei Xue's arms. Shock rippled across her face. "Where did this child come from?" she demanded, though she spoke to no one in particular.
"It's from the crate," one of the girls answered hesitantly.
Madam Mei exhaled sharply, frustration etched into her features. "Where is the man who delivered them?"
"He left not long ago. He said he had to catch a ship," another girl called out from the crowd.
"Unbelievable," Madam Mei muttered, tapping her fingers against her forehead as though trying to steady herself. "Mei Xue, bring that baby to me."
Mei Xue hesitated, clutching the infant protectively, but slowly stepped forward. The moment Madam Mei's gaze fell upon the child's head, her eyes widened. She leaned closer, her hand brushing the baby's hair.
"It's white," she cried, her voice rising loud enough for all to hear. "This baby's hair is white, and the tips are red!"
Gasps erupted through the courtyard. Horror spread across the girls' faces as whispers filled the air. Mei Xue, so absorbed in the child's innocence, had failed to notice the crimson streaks at the ends of its locks.
White-haired children were rare, but not unheard of. They belonged to a clan known as the Neathers, those abandoned by the gods. Their numbers had dwindled over centuries, for they did not multiply as quickly as other clans. Once, their white hair had been a symbol of dominance and power. They had ruled with magic that only they could wield, conquering lands and bending nations to their will. But their magic had vanished, leaving them vulnerable.
It was then that the Empire rose. Emperor Xuanlong, once a mere king of a small kingdom, seized the opportunity. To protect his people, he waged war against the Neathers, slaughtering their leader and breaking their reign. In doing so, he gained divine favor from the gods for freeing the world from the evil of the Neather Clan. From that day forward, every son of the royal family was blessed by the heavens, gifted with a familiar that would remain by his side until death.
The Neathers, however, were condemned. For centuries they paid for their sins, enslaved and broken. Their reign had lasted only a fraction of the time their suffering endured. Among the people, a saying persisted: the Empire was built upon the bones of the Neather clan, and it continues to rise upon the backs of their descendants.
This child, lying in Mei Xue's arms, could only be the offspring of a Neather slave. Its parent must have hidden it in the crate, desperate to save it from certain death.
"We need to tell the authorities," Mei Lan finally spoke, her voice dry and trembling as her fingers twisted nervously.
"We cannot," Madam Mei snapped, her composure unraveling. "If we inform the authorities, word will reach the capital. The minister of justice will be at our doorstep, demanding answers. They will uncover everything, and this business will be exposed as unlawful. We lose everything."
"Then what are we supposed to do? She cannot stay here!" Mei Lan shrieked, stomping her foot like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. Madam Mei had long grown accustomed to her dramatics, but this time her patience thinned.
"Mei Xue, come with me," Madam Mei ordered firmly. "One of you fetch us a cloak."
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With their faces hidden beneath heavy cloaks, Madam Mei and Mei Xue pressed through the bustling market, weaving between stalls heavy with spices, silks, and shouting merchants. The air was thick with the scent of roasted chestnuts and sweat, and every step felt like a risk.
Mei Xue clutched the baby so tightly against her breast that her arms ached, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She prayed the child would not stir awake from its slumber and cry, for even the faintest sound could betray them to the crowd. Her cloak was pulled close, her fingers clenched white around the fabric as though she could smother the danger with sheer will.
"Madam, where are we going?" she whispered, her voice trembling, her breath uneven as she struggled to keep pace with Madam Mei's determined stride.
"To the Neather clan slave camp. We'll leave the baby there," Madam Mei replied, her tone clipped, her pace quickening as though she could outrun the weight of her own words.
Mei Xue faltered, her steps stumbling. Her heart sank like a stone in water. "But… she'll die if she goes back there," she stammered, forcing herself forward despite the dread pressing down on her chest like a crushing hand. Madam Mei's silence was heavier than any answer. Her expression darkened, her jaw tight, and in that silence Mei Xue knew the truth. The child's fate in the camp would be death and there was nothing she could do.
The chaos of the Black Pearl District fell behind them, replaced by the stark outskirts of the White Pearl City. Here, the air was different, quieter, heavier, filled with the sound of hammers striking stone and the groans of weary slaves.
The city was still under construction, still being built by the hands of Neather slaves, the only workers who were not needed to be paid for their toil. Camps surrounded the city, meant to offer the slaves mere seconds of rest before they were forced back to work.
White Pearl City was Longjing's most ambitious project yet, a grand tribute to the young emperor, its foundations soaked in sweat and blood.
"How are we supposed to get inside? There's a checkpoint," Mei Xue whispered, pointing to the towering walls that encircled the city. Guards in heavy armor patrolled the perimeter, their presence sending dread down the two women's spines.
The walls had not been there the last time Madam Mei had visited to deliver one of her girls to a soldier for entertainment. Their sudden rise was extraordinary, a testament to the endurance of the Neathers. Once their strength had been magic, now it was like that strength was more physical than magical.
Before Madam Mei could answer, a shout split the air.
"Walk, insect!" a guard bellowed, his whip cracking against the back of a frail old man with a grey beard and long white hair. The sound was sharp, cruel, echoing outside the wall. The man collapsed instantly, dragging the entire line of chained slaves down with him.
"That's all it takes for you to fall, old man? You are truly nothing without your magic!" the guard sneered, striking him again. The whip tore flesh, the man's scream rising and breaking in the air before his body went limp. He had never wielded magic, just as none of the Neathers in chains had but they still bore the punishment for evil committed by their clan centuries ago, condemned for the crimes of ancestors they had never known.
Mei Xue's eyes widened in horror, her breath catching as the whip fell again and again. The sound was unbearable, each lash a reminder of cruelty they were about to do by leaving the baby here.
"Madam Mei!"
The head guard approached, his armor gleaming, his beard neatly trimmed. He was a familiar face to the women as he was a regular patron of The Fair Lady, despite the six concubines waiting for him at home. His presence was both a threat and a twisted comfort, for he knew Madam Mei well.
"My lord, what an honor to meet you here," Madam Mei said quickly, forcing a smile as she tore her gaze from the brutal scene. Her voice was smooth, but her eyes betrayed the strain of holding composure.
"I work here, Madam Mei. Why are you here?" he asked, raising a brow, suspicion flickering in his gaze.
Clearing her throat nervously, she replied, "I came to bring one of my girls to your guards."
"Oh, of course," he said with a smile, his tone casual, his indifference chilling.
"What is happening there?" Mei Xue spoke suddenly, her voice breaking the tense silence as she raised a trembling hand to point at the collapsed Neather slave.
Madam Mei's head snapped toward her, eyes wide with shock that she would dare ask such a question aloud. The head guard, however, only laughed, missing the grim expression on Mei Xue's face.
"New slaves from the capital," he said with casual indifference, his tone almost mocking. "Apparently they had some to spare, since the young emperor's statue was finished ahead of schedule." He crossed his arms, his posture relaxed, unbothered by the limp body on the ground. The old man lay motionless, still being struck by the whip as though his suffering had no end even in death.
Around them, the guards remained unmoved, watching the scene with indifference. The only ones who seemed to care were the other Neather slaves, their eyes wide with horror as they watched the scene unfold. They knew too well that one misstep, one falter in their chains, could make them the next victim. Guards did not need a proper reason to kill a Neather; a bad mood was reason enough.
Mei Xue's stomach twisted, her throat tight as she fought the urge to cry out. The baby in her arms shifted slightly, and she pressed the child closer, desperate to shield it from the sight. Her mind screamed at her, this is what awaits her if Madam Mei leaves the baby here, this is the fate she will inherit.
"Oh, that is nice," Madam Mei said quickly, her voice forced into a tone of false cheer. "I hope the next time I come here the city is complete." She reached out and grabbed Mei Xue's wrist, her grip firm, her smile brittle.
And then, as if fate itself had chosen that moment to betray them, the baby cried out.