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The Concubine
墨書 Inktalez
In the depths of autumn, as September deepened, the air was heavy with dew.
Inside the dark and damp prison, the sound of boots echoed. The heavy footsteps approached with a hint of hesitation, each step resonating in Ling Long's ears.
She sat up, rubbing her sore arms, and caught sight of the cell door opening. A sharply dressed man in military attire walked in. His subordinate brought over a carved mahogany chair and respectfully said, "General."
Li Jinghuan shook his head, indicating he did not need it. His gaze swept along the walls, from the dry straw to the chipped porcelain bowl, finally landing on the woman in the corner.
Her hair was disheveled, no longer the picture of grace and beauty she once was. She pretended to be meditating with her eyes closed but trembled slightly before slowly opening them. Her eyes remained as clear as crystal, untouched by dust, yet everything had changed.
The woman shifted her expression, tugged at her collar, and replaced it with a charming smile. Her slender arms coiled around the man's neck like water snakes.
A look of sorrow crossed Li Jinghuan's face. "Ling Long, all these years, you sold yourself and your soul for wealth and glory. In the end, you ended up like this. Do you have any regrets?"
As the long night stretched on, the air around them grew colder; each breath seemed to freeze instantly. The woman smiled softly, leaning against his chest and exhaling like fragrant orchids. "Regret? How could I not regret? All these years, what Ling Long has thought about is you, General."
In the sweltering heat of May, Li Jinghuan leaned against a table corner, watching a girl devour watermelon with fervor. A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. Since arriving in Qingyuan Town, his greatest pleasure had been the nightly Watermelon Contest he had initiated.
An orphan raised as a companion to a wealthy young master, he had read many books and learned many characters before becoming a small vendor. He had endured much hardship over the years. A month ago, a plague struck his hometown, prompting him to escape to the relatively prosperous Qingyuan Town where he opened a Fruit Shop to make ends meet.
With little savings to afford a prime location, Li Jinghuan rented a shop in a remote area. To attract customers and promote his business, he decided to hold a Watermelon Contest: whoever could eat the most in three minutes would win ten coins after a week of nightly competitions.
Participants included ordinary folk and idle rich youths. Yet the only one who caught Li Jinghuan's eye was a girl around seventeen or eighteen years old. She wore a short shirt made of coarse cloth with several patches; her features were delicate, especially her eyes—clear as crystal and untouched by dust—leaving a lasting impression on him.
On the day of registration, a line of people formed in front of the fruit shop. Ling Long, petite in stature, stood out awkwardly among a group of men, like a small basin in a vast landscape.
“Boss, my name is Bai Linglong,” she said timidly.
“Are you here to register too?” Li Jinghuan set down his pen and scrutinized her with a skeptical expression. “With your small frame, do you really think you can keep up with those big guys?”
Ling Long pouted her rosy lips and patted her belly. “Don’t underestimate me just because I’m thin; I can eat a lot!”
Seeing a woman boast so boldly about herself for the first time made Li Jinghuan chuckle awkwardly. He teased, “Perhaps you should just go home; it would be embarrassing for you if you fail and it might affect your chances of getting married.”
Laughter erupted from the crowd. With her hands on her hips and her face flushed, she pointed an accusing finger at the boss and shouted, “Don’t look down on me!”
Intrigued by her spirit, he made a promise in front of everyone: “If you come in first, I’ll give you double the prize. But if you lose in the first round, you’ll have to stay here and help me run the stall as a volunteer.”
Without hesitation, she nodded in agreement.
What began as a poor girl trying to get a free slice of watermelon turned into an unexpected series of victories; for several days, she claimed the top spot and fought her way to tonight’s finals.
With just half a minute left, she was determinedly eating, juicy fruit flesh filling her mouth as the juice dripped down her gentle chin into the dirt below.
Ten seconds remaining. Li Jinghuan shook his head, baffled by how such a slender girl could have such an appetite.
Three seconds left. Three, two, one—stop.
Ling Long ultimately won. In accordance with his promise, Li Jinghuan personally handed her twenty coins. She said nothing, lifted her sleeve to wipe her mouth, smiled faintly, and turned to leave. The moonlight stretched her silhouette into a long shadow.
Suddenly, he felt a string in his heart being plucked. He closed the shop door and hurried after her.
Ling Long walked very slowly. As they approached the riverbank, he noticed her steps were unsteady, and then she stumbled and fell to the ground. He rushed over and found that she had fainted.
This girl was still burning with fever. His hand accidentally brushed against her stomach, which felt swollen like a lead weight. Alarmed, he turned her onto her side and gently pressed his knee against her abdomen. The moment he did, she curled up and vomited all over the ground.
After a while, Ling Long opened her eyes and saw the mess around her and the man's face so close to hers that she immediately blushed.
"For a few coins, are you willing to risk your life?" Li Jinghuan scolded.
She didn’t respond to his words but clutched the copper coins tightly in her arms and said, "No matter what, I won. This money is mine; you can't take it back."
"What?" At this moment, she was only concerned about the twenty coins. Li Jinghuan sighed and smiled helplessly.
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