| Fan Fiction |
by Melanie
CITY OF LAM ON
LAM MANSION
The three Lam siblings arrive home. A servant girl runs out to greet the Lams and heads directly towards Lam Yik Wah.
The servant girl places her hands on Wah's arm and bats her eyelashes. "Second Young Master, you have finally come home!"
Wah, clearing his throat, extricates his arm from her grasp. "Yee San, have the cook prepare us a meal."
Mok Yee San pouts and replaces her hands on Wah's arm again. "Second Young Master, where did you go? Why wouldn't you let me accompany you? You need someone to see to your comforts.”
Shaking his head with a mild trace of impatience, Wah extricates his arm from her grasp again, this time firmly. "Yee San, would you please do as I say and go get us some food?"
Yee San pretends to have not seen his irritaion and smiles at him. "Fine. I will bring you some food immediately."
Her smile turns into a vicious snarl the minute she enters the hallway and is out of the Lam siblings' earshot. With her fists tightly clenched, she stomps into the kitchen.
Yee San mutters to herself angrily. "One of these days, I will marry into the Lam Family and never have to tend to others' needs again."
IN THE KITCHEN
News of the Lams' return reaches the kitchen staff rapidly. Because the Lams have always been kind and fair to the servants, many are extremely loyal to them and are overjoyed that they have returned safely. The cook and several servants bustle around the kitchen. Some busily chop firewood, some wash vegetables, and some tend to the huge wok.
The Lam's cook, Sung Ling, screams indignantly at another servant. "AAAAAHHHHHH! Ah Ming! You cannot just randomly throw ingredients into the pot! You must add them one by one delicately." She demonstrates by gently sprinkling a dab of salt here and a dab of pepper there. "There! Perfect!" Satisfied, she ladles the boiling soup as she leans forward to sniff the aromatic the fumes.
As Yee San passes by, the cook grabs her arm and drags her towards the sizzling pot of stew.
Sung Ling smiles happily. "Yee San! Here, try my stew. I bet Second Young Master, Third Young Mistress, and Fourth Young Mistress would love it!"
Yee San angrily brushes off her friend's hand. "Ling, leave me alone. I am not in the mood to taste any of your concoctions."
Sensing something wrong with Yee San, Ling frowns as she stares at her friend's dark expression. "What's wrong, Yee San? I thought you would be happy that Second Young Master is home."
Pouting, Yee San, sighs deeply and stomps her feet. "He doesn't even notice that I am alive. All I am to him is a servant. I'll show him one day."
Hearing this same complaint from Yee San a million times before, Ling now sighs and shakes her head sympathetically. "Yee San, I told you not to get your hopes up. We are servants and should know our place. Besides, I do not think Second Young Master has any romantic feelings toward you."
Yee San clenches her fists. "I will make him love me. I swear to this!"
LAM MANSION
MAIN ATRIUM
Lun bursts through the main entrance of Lam Mansion, an unconscious Sui Han cradled in his arms. He looks about frantically, shouting for assistance.
Lun shouts for his third younger sister, who has a knack for healing. "Suk Yu, Suk Yu! Are you home, yet? I need your help!"
After a few minutes, he carries Sui Han into one of the guestrooms and lays her gently down on the bed. As he wipes her brow with a cloth, Suk Yu, Wah, and Chi Chi barge into the room upon hearing their eldest brother's shout.
Wah rushes up to Lun, a happy grin gracing his serious face. "Eldest Brother! I am glad you are back. It has been months since you left on your mission."
Chi Chi curiously sidles toward the bed and stares at Sui Han. "Eldest Brother, who is she? She's very pretty."
Lun urgently looks at Suk Yu. "Suk Yu, she just suddenly fainted. Can you find out what is wrong with her?"
Suk Yu sits on the bed beside Sui Han and reaches for her radial pulse. After a few minutes, she turns toward Lun, a reassuring smile on her face. "Don't worry, Eldest Brother. This Miss' pulse appears fine to me. She probably fainted from exhaustion. A few days' rest should revive her."
Lun lets out a relieved sigh, reclaims his seat by the side of Sui Han's bed, and gently dabs her brow with the wash cloth. The rest of his siblings look down on Sui Han curiously and then direct a questioning look at their eldest brother, who has never brought a woman home, let alone shown such concern for one.
Suk Yu, the most sensitive sibling of the bunch, smiles with understanding as she observes the worry on her brother's face. Suk Yu places a comforting hand on her oldest brother's shoulder. "Don't worry, Eldest Brother. She will wake up soon. You have just returned from a long journey. Why don't you eat something and then get some rest? Chi Chi and I will take care of her and inform you when she wakes up."
Chi Chi cheerfully pipes up. "Yay! I am so happy that I now have someone my age to keep me company! I wonder if she knows martial arts? Maybe we can practice our sword skills together. You three never practice with me." She stares accusingly at her three siblings.
Suk Yu gently pushes her eldest brother out the door. "Go ahead, Eldest Brother. Get some rest. Chi Chi, why don't you see if you can get some fresh clothes for her to change into once she rouses."
Lun reluctantly leaves after one final concerned glance at Sui Han. Wah, who has remained silent all this time, trudges out, too, after another curious look at their delicate guest. Chi Chi, however, continues to gawk at the unconscious young woman with interest. Suk Yu, not wanting her talkative younger sister to disturb their guest, shoos her out to search for clothing.
LAM MANSION
LATER THAT SAME EVENING
The moon shines luminescent and bright, its white light bathing the majestic gardens of Lam Mansion. In a guestroom facing the gardens, Suk Yu sits at a table, reading a kung fu manuscript in the lamplight, her ever-present jade flute on the table by her side. Chi Chi paces back and forth, too full of energy to sit still. Her older sister looks at her and sighs, shaking her head indulgently.
Chi Chi comes to stand beside Suk Yu. "Third Sister, why do you think this Miss has chains on her feet?" She ponders this mystery for a while. "Maybe she's an escaped convict! Maybe she's a ruthless killer!" Her eyes widen as her imagination runs wild. "But why would Eldest Brother bring her home if she's evil? Hmmm…"
Suk Yu sighs at Chi Chi's bizarre imagination. "Eldest Brother has always been a good judge of character. I doubt our mysterious guest is evil. Remember, try to refrain from asking her about the chains when she wakes up. It might upset her."
Chi Chi nods absentmindedly. Trotting back to stand beside the bed, she stares down at the unconscious Sui Han. "She looks very slender. I bet she hasn't eaten in days. Poor thing!" Tilting her head curiously, she spies a small, simple heart-shaped jade hanging from a string by Sui Han's waist. "Look at this, Third Sister. It's very simple but pretty."
Chi Chi's voice breaks through Sui Han's consciousness, and she struggles to surface back to reality. Sui Han moans as she turns her head slowly to stare up at Chi Chi. Shocked at seeing a stranger's face, Sui Han sits up quickly, knocking her forehead right into Chi Chi's.
Chi Chi and Sui Han grimace in pain as they both rub their foreheads. In unison, they mutter in surprise. "Ouch!!!"
From behind, Suk Yu approaches the bed. "Miss! You are awake! How do you feel?"
Alarmed and still disoriented, Sui Han backs away from the two sisters in shock and fright.
Suk Yu smiles reassuringly. "Miss, do not be afraid. We mean you no harm."
Nodding her head enthusiastically, Chi Chi tugs on Sui Han's sleeve. "I'm Lam Suk Chi, but everybody calls me Chi Chi. This is my sister, Lam Suk Yu. What's your name?"
Sui Han, still rubbing her forehead, eyes the two strangers warily. "Why…why am I here?"
Chi Chi, eyes wide, exclaims, "Don't you remember what happened? You fainted and my eldest brother carried you home."
Confused, Sui Han stares at Chi Chi and Suk Yu blankly. "Huh?" Then she suddenly remembers her sweet buns, which she has been looking forward to eating. "Where are my sweet buns?!" She frantically searches the bed for the buns. When she realizes that she must have dropped them, she becomes teary-eyed because she is so hungry.
Suk Yu suspects that their guest is hungry since she is so upset over the sweet buns. "Miss, would you like to eat something first?" She gestures at the dishes of food on the table." Why don't you and Chi Chi eat, while I go inform Eldest Brother that you are awake?"
Suk Yu leaves the room, while Sui Han edges hesitantly towards the table full of delicious smelling food. Sui Han sits down and hungrily devours the biscuits and slices of fruit. Chi Chi sits down next to her, with her elbows resting on the table.
As Sui Han devours the food, Chi Chi perches on the stool and looks at Sui Han curiously. "You haven't told me your name."
Less frightened now as she senses that the sisters mean her no harm, Sui Han swallows her food slowly before answering. "My name is So Sui Han."
Chi Chi tilts her head curiously at her guest. "Do you have any family here?"
Sui Han shakes her head. "No. I come from a fishing village up north. Everyone in my family has passed away except for me."
Chi Chi nods sympathetically. "It must be difficult being without family." She stops to ponder something. "Although I must admit being the youngest in a big family isn't always easy. My siblings always treat me like a child, and they watch every move I make!" She suddenly brightens as an idea pops into her head. "Hey, why don't you stay here and become my younger god sister, so that I don't have to be the youngest anymore!"
Sui Han peers at the talkative Chi Chi questioningly. "Hmmm…," she mumbles, unsure of how to reply to that statement.
Thinking that this pretty stranger is weird, Sui Han makes a noncommittal sound and returns to her eating. Since escaping the brothel three days ago, she has not eaten and has been hiding in corners and alleys, afraid that the two burly brothel bouncers would find her and drag her back. If Mong Ching, another prostitute at the brothel, had not created a diversion to help her escape, she would still be trapped in that despicable place. Sui Han is not so naïve to believe that Mong Ching had aided her out of kindness. She knows that the other woman sees her as stiff competition for customers and would love to see her leave the establishment.
While Sui Han is deep in thought, Chi Chi babbles on and on about all the fun things they could do together as god sisters.
Sui Han finishes her food quickly and turns to Chi Chi. "Where am I?"
Smiling proudly, Chi Chi puffs out her chest and exclaims, "Why, you're at Lam Mansion in the city of Lam On. We are the one of the most respected families in the martial arts world. Don't worry, no one would dare harm you here."
Upon learning about her location, Sui Han starts panicking. "I am back in the city of Lam On?! How could it be? I remembered being near the outskirts of the city yesterday!"
Frightened at the prospect of being discovered by the brothel bouncers since the brothel is also located in the city of Lam On, Sui Han frantically thinks of a plan to quickly escape. She stands up and hurries toward the door. Finally noticing that her guest is leaving, Chi Chi halts her non-stop chatter and places a hand on Sui Han's arm to stop her departure.
Chi Chi exclaims in surprise. "Sui Han, where are you going? Eldest Brother will be so mad at me if I let you leave before he sees you!"
Ignoring Chi Chi's question, Sui Han frantically shakes off Chi Chi's hand. "Miss Chi Chi, I really must go!"
Sui Han rushes out the door at full speed, runs smack into Lun's chest, and bounces back from the impact.
Caught by surprise, Lun reaches out to steady her. "Whoa! Miss, where are rushing to? You have just recovered. You must stay here and rest!"
Sui Han looks up at him with terrified eyes. "I can't stay! They are going to come after me! They are going to come after me!"
Lun and Chi Chi exchange confused glances and asks in unison. "Who's going to come after you?"
Breathing rapidly, Sui Han replies in a shaky voice. "Those Yee Heung Lau bouncers! They are out there looking for me, waiting for the opportunity to drag me back! The Madam said that she would pay a handsome reward for any employee who is able to return me to her."
Wah, who has wandered out of his room to see what the commotion is about, joins in the conversation. "I am Chi Chi's second brother. Miss, why don't you explain the situation to us? We will help you." He tries to calm Sui Han down.
Sui Han looks at her hosts with big, frightened eyes before taking in a deep breath. "About a week ago, the villagers in my fishing village said that my presence was bad luck. They all decided to sell me to a house of prostitution in Lam On, far away from the village so that my bad luck would no longer affect them. The Madam of Yee Heung Lau paid a hefty sum for me and planned to launch my debut as one of her 'stars.' I tried to run away once but was captured. They locked me in chains to prevent future escapes. Luckily, three days ago, one of the girls there helped me escape. They have been looking for me ever since. I must leave before they locate me!"
Wah furrows his brows, speaking in a reassuring voice and trying to calm down Sui Han's hysteria. "We will pay for your freedom. You have nothing to fear."
Chi Chi chimes in cheerfully. "Yeah! I'll accompany you tomorrow to Yee Heung Lau and give that evil Madam a piece of my mind!"
Sighing, Wah and Lun glance at Chi Chi repraochfully. "Chi Chi, please! We do not need anymore problems while Mother and Father are away!" They burst out in unison.
Sui Han, looking at her rescuers, whispers gratefully. "Thank you, everyone. I will work to repay you your kindness."
Lun shakes his head. "No, you are our guest. There is no need to repay us." He reassures her.
Sui Han, full of stubborn pride, purses her lips into a grim line. "I won't accept your help unless you let me work to repay you."
Chi Chi squeezes into the converstaion enthusiastically. "Okay! Then, it's settled. Sui Han can be my personal maid!" Turning to Sui Han, she grabs her hand excitedly. "We'll have lots of fun exploring the city!"
Her brothers stare at her warningly.
Chi Chi returns their glances indignantly. "What?! I'll take care of Sui Han. I promise!"
The brothers look at Chi Chi suspiciously, while Sui Han smiles at their sibling tiff.
**********
If you enjoy this story, please also read my other story, Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay - The Prequel. Thank you.
http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/legendprequel/