Note: This story isn't historically accurate. The author made great use of historical license on writing it. The inaccuracy is designed to add to the dramatic aspects of the plot. The Huns' invasions and the first Japanese incursion into Chinese territory is at least two centuries apart. The military apparatuses used in the story are out of their respective Eras, as well. That being said, the cultural aspects of Chinese society were extensively studied and are, mostly, accurate, though. Enjoy the reading!

Flower of China

By Kath Klein

Translated by Yoruki Hiiragizawa

Chapter I

A burst of rich melodic laughter filled the air in the backyard of a house in a little village in China. A young woman ran around, her bare feet barely touching the yard's soft green grass as she giggled and danced around the beautiful cherry flowers that fell from the branches of tall trees.

'Come on, Cixi. Come play. Let's have some fun!' She called out to her friend.

The girl's happiness was so contagious that, even though Cixi's disposition was naturally melancholic, she couldn't help but smile at her only friend's beseeching. She set her sewing aside and went to the young woman; they held hands and started spinning faster and faster till Cixi couldn't hold on anymore and lost her grip. They fell to the ground and burst out laughing.

'I'm sorry. I couldn't hold on! We were going too fast.'

The young woman sat up and winced, rubbing her hip. The fall had probably given her a bruise. 'It's okay, but I think we'll have to sleep with our bellies down for a while.'

Cixi smiled at the ever-present cheerfulness in her friend's voice. 'Thanks for being my friend, Sakura,' she said in a meek and serious tone.

Sakura stood up and closed in on her friend, giving her an almost bone-crushing hug. 'Thank you for being my friend, even if I'm a foreigner's daughter.'

The girls pulled away and shared a conspiratorial glance. They were both of them survivors in a discriminatory and sexist world.

Sakura was the love child of a Japanese officer who fell in love with a beautiful green-eyed young girl during the Japanese occupation of the Yuhan village sixteen years ago. When Kinomoto Fujitaka left the village with the Army, he had no idea that he had left a pregnant Nadeshiko behind after their only night together. He had promised to come back, but was never seen again and was believed to have fallen in combat.

As soon as the family found out about the pregnancy, they tried every known abortion method, but the fetus was strong and stubborn, and so Sakura came into the world against her mother's family's wishes. Nadeshiko's family abandoned the newly-born at the village's orphanage and moved away, hoping to conceal the dishonour and shame.

'Sakura! Cixi! Come to help me with dinner!'

Both girls turned around to see a plump red-faced old lady scowling at them.

'We're coming, Mrs Yang!' Sakura replied, running towards her. As she got into the elder's reach, Sakura felt a hurtful pinch on her arm.

'You and your uselessness! Always getting in other people's way, Sakura! Leave Cixi alone to do her chores. Unlike you, she has a real chance of becoming a proper wife and having a better life,' she growled menacingly.

Sakura bit her lower lip, refusing to let out the whimper of pain from the pinch. Saying nothing else, the girls quietly walked inside the house.

The house in which Yuhan's orphanage functioned belonged to Yang Huakang, a kind-hearted old man, and offered shelter to many girls from the neighbouring villages. Cixi herself was from a northern village. The Yangs raised and provided that the girls would grow up to become perfect wives and good mothers. With the dowry they got from each girl sent to be wedded, they raised the others and so forth. That's how things worked, but sometimes Sakura felt like it was nothing more than a market. A marriage market.

'Hello, Mr Yang!' Sakura called in greeting as she walked by the man who was teaching some of the younger girls.

'Hello, dear Flower! I'm sure that today we'll have a delicious meal!' He smiled tenderly.

Sakura loved that elderly man. He was like the father she never had. He was her whole family. Yang also liked the young girl, not just because of her skills in the kitchen, but because she was resplendent with life. While many of the girls were gloomy and spiritless, she was joyous, bright and enthusiastic in spite of her unpromising present and future.

'Definitely! I'll make your favourite!'

'You would if we had any fish,' complained Mrs Yang, walking into the room. 'We need to marry one of the girls soon. We're out of money.'

Sakura fell silent as she watched the old man's smile fade away.

'You know well enough that the only one of age to be married is Sakura, wife.' He stated, getting up and pacing around.

The old lady cackled, highly and unpleasantly. 'Who would want to marry a Japanese girl?'

Mr Yang faced his wife, seeming displeased. 'She's not Japanese.'

'She's the daughter of a Japanese soldier! Plus, she's too old. We'd have to pay someone to take her.'

The other girls derisively looked at Sakura. She didn't want to get married, but she also hated the scorn and contempt in those looks.

'She's beautiful and accomplished. I'm sure that if we take her to the Matchmaker, she'll find a good match for our dear Flower,' he said, watching the girl with a strained smile.

Sakura smiled, despite herself. 'I'll make dinner.' She excused herself and walked out of there, knowing that everyone was looking at her.

As soon as the girl was out of the room, Mr Yang turned to his wife. 'Take her to the Matchmaker tomorrow.'

'But…'

'No buts! Sakura will find a groom.'

'Husband… She's Japanese and we're at war…' The woman tried to argue, dispirited.

'Do as I command.' He said, at last, severely.

'Yes, Sir.'

Sakura was asleep when she felt someone lean over her. She opened her eyes to find Cixi looking at her. 'What are you doing here? It's late.' She asked, muffling a yawn.

'You're going to the Matchmaker tomorrow. I wanted to wish you good luck,' Cixi said tenderly and beamed. 'I hope you find a beautiful husband. Maybe even a Captain from the Emperor's Army!'

Sakura offered an uneasy smile. 'Maybe…'

'There are rumours that His Majesty's troops are in Shanghai. This will be a great opportunity!'

'They're not in Shanghai to get married, Cixi,' Sakura explained. She heaved a sigh, thinking about her young friend's innocence. 'Go back to your bed. If Mrs Yang finds you here, she'll punish both of us.'

'Alright.' Cixi kissed Sakura's cheek. 'Good luck!'

Sakura watched as her friend tiptoed back to her mattress on the other side of the room. She lied down and turned, staring at the Moon through the window.

She would go to Shanghai in the next morning to meet the Matchmaker. She could feel her heart constricting inside her chest at that thought. She didn't want to go, didn't want to get married. She was contented there, despite Mrs Yang nagging and the other girls' disdain. Who could tell what she would go through with an unknown husband? In that house, she felt safe, at least. She never wanted to take care of a husband or give birth to children.

Sakura held tightly to a cherry flower pendant hanging from a delicate chain around her neck: the only thing she had from her mother. 'May Buddha watch over me tomorrow…' She said a little prayer, before turning to sleep.

Shanghai was a joyous city, quite different from the Yuhan village. Sakura sat quietly beside Mrs Yang at the two-wheel gig, trying not to gawk too openly at all the activity going around the city, afraid that she'd attract the woman's attention and fury. The old lady was exasperated and refused to even look at the girl by her side; she probably knew that the trip would be a waste of time.

'Here we are, Madam,' said the young boy who was conducting the gig as he stopped it.

'Let's go, Sakura,' Mrs Yang said, climbing down from the cart. 'Behave yourself and say nothing. Let me answer the Matchmaker's questions.'

Sakura agreed and climbed down as well. The boy helped her down and smiled at her, making her blush. She was startled when Mrs Yang called her again and quickened her pace. They stopped in front of a demure little house and Mrs Yang clapped thrice; then they just waited.

A few minutes went by before an old lady showed up at the door. Despite her age, she still possessed beautiful features. Her sharp eyes locked on Sakura. 'Why, but you brought me a beautiful one this time, Yang. She does seem quite old, though, doesn't she?'

'If only that was all,' sighed Yang. 'She's a Japanese daughter, Mrs Miyu. You see my problem.'

Mrs Miyu's expression changed at hearing that. She pursed her lips and stared at the girl as if repelled and grabbed Sakura's face between her gaunt fingers, forcing her to look up. 'Indeed, the girl is exquisite, but her blood is tainted.'

Sakura felt like giving the old woman a piece of her mind but thought it better to remain quiet.

Mrs Miyu let go of her face then and turned back to Yang. 'No respectable man would want to marry her.'

Sakura clenched her jaws. Even though she knew this would happen, it was still humiliating to hear that she was unworthy of marriage.

'I knew it,' Yang said, discouraged.

'I apologise, Yang, but I can't help you this time.'

'What can I do with her?' Yang inquired. 'We require the dowry money and she's the only one of age to marry since we lost some of our girls to Winter cold-spell.'

The Matchmaker turned back to the girl and curled her lips with a foul look distorting her face. 'There's only one destiny for beautiful, impure, impoverished women, dear… Take her to Quang Dan. He'll pay a good price for her.'

'Yes... He'll pay.'

Yang grasped Sakura's arm and pulled her away from the Matchmaker's house, walking through the intricate maze created by Shanghai's narrow streets. The girl couldn't understand what was going on. Who was that man? Was that how a Matchmaker worked? Just give a name and that's it...?

Sakura felt the grip tighten around her arm and noticed that the old woman was agitated, for the hand pulling her arm was shaking as she forced Sakura to walk faster. The surroundings changed in front of the girl's wide eyes as they went through increasingly bleaker, filthier and more marginalised alleyways. Something wasn't right.

'Does my groom live here?'

'Quiet and keep walking.'

They finally stopped at a grim back alley and Mrs Yang shakingly knocked at one of the doors – her clammy palm squeezing the girl's wrist tighter. Sakura fidgeted, trying to lessen the hurtful grip, but that only made the woman twist her arm, violently pulling her forward. After what seemed like ages, the door creaked open at last.

Sakura widened her eyes at the sight of the shadows behind that door. She knew what that place was. 'No…' she murmured, trying to get rid of the woman's grasp. 'I don't wanna…'

'Shut up, girl! And get in… Do you think me happy to be in a polluted place like this?' She dragged the girl through the threshold and turned to the flimsy-looking man who had answered the door. 'Where's Mr Quang?'

The man pointed to the centre of the room, all the while lustfully ogling Sakura. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling violated.

Yang forcefully dragged Sakura along to where a man was surrounded by women with their clothes half-opened, shamelessly displaying their bodies. The girl was tossed on her knees in front of whom she supposed was Quang Dan and shivered, closing her hanfu tightly around herself.

'I thought you'd never again bring me another of your precious jewels, madam,' Quang sneered.

'This one can't be taken on the right path.'

The man narrowed his eyes, closely watching Sakura. 'Why, but this is the most beautiful one you've ever brought me.'

'Her blood is rotten,' Yang replied, disgusted.

'I see… This isn't a problem here.' He smirked. 'She's unscarred, I hope.'

'Yes, and she's unsullied.'

'Perfect.'

'How much?' The woman inquired, all businesslike.

The man stood up and circled the girl who watched everything from the floor with her beautiful green eyes wide open in fear. He knelt before her and gripped Sakura by the chin, making her look his way and noticed that her lips were quivering even as she tried to move away from him. He sneered and got to his feet, pulling her up with him. '250 coins.'

Yang widened her eyes. 'Oh, thank you, Sir! This is a very generous offer.'

'Spare me of that, fool woman,' he said derisively, taking a pouch of coins from the loose sleeve of his clothes and giving it to the woman who kissed his hand in gratitude. 'Now get out of my sight.'

When Yang turned away, despair finally spurred Sakura into action. She squirmed, trying to get away from Quang Dan's grip. 'Wait, Mrs Yang, please!' She pleaded. 'P-please, don't leave me here!' Her lower lips were trembling as tears ran down her cheeks from the beautiful emerald coloured eyes. 'Please!'

But Mrs Yang didn't even turn back. Instead, she dashed out of there, clutching the coin purse close to her chest. The door closed behind the old woman's back and Sakura saw whatever hopes she had left walk out through the threshold. She stared at the man, who still held her wrist tightly, with wide panicked eyes.

He leant over in her direction, pulling her closer as she tried to move away. 'Are you afraid?' He asked with a raspiness of desire in his voice.

'I want t-to leave,' she said with trembling lips which seemed to greatly amuse him.

Quang stared at her with unblinking eyes and pursed his lips. 'You'll never leave. You're my property now, Baby doll.'

'I'm not married to you,' she answered with defiance, though her whole body shook violently.

He pointed towards the many women around them. 'They aren't nor will ever be married. Just look at them…' Then he pulled her, burying his nose in her hair. 'Neither will you,' he whispered.

'I-I want to go,' said Sakura once again, stepping back, her eyes flicking from side to side.

'You can't.' He held her face tightly, forcing the girl to look into his eyes. 'I'd love to deflower you myself, but your purity will be a lot more profitable tonight.' Quang released her face and dragged her through a corridor into one of the bedrooms of that hellish place.

Sakura paced around the bedroom where Quang had locked her in, clenching and unclenching her fists. Some of the women had bathed and perfumed her, forcing her to wear a beautiful red silk Hanfu with golden embroidery. Ironically, they'd dressed her up like a bride, elaborate makeup and all, which only made the girl even angrier. She felt like a caged animal and just thinking of Mrs Yang's treachery made her clench her jaws and bare her teeth.

'That old Harpy! Sold me to that disgusting man as if I was an object!' she snarled viciously.

She wouldn't just sit and quietly comply as they tried to turn her into a concubine. Once again, she tried to force open the windows, to no avail. Mr Quang had made sure that all exits were securely closed. Sakura ran her hands through her hair, messing with the elaborate hairdo she wore, and setting her lustrous long honey-coloured hair half loose over her shoulders.

She could hear men and women laughing outside the door and knew it was already late and that every minute she stayed in there reduced her chances to get away before the worse could happen. She needed to find a way out of there or she'd become one of those women.

She started opening the drawers in search of anything that could help her open a window. Despair grew inside of her as the boisterous laughter outside grew in intensity. Inside one of the dressers, she found a sharp jewel-encrusted metal hairpin. Her lips curled just slightly as she thought that it could be used as a knife. Behind her, the door opened and she furtively sneaked the hairpin inside her sleeve.

'It's time, girl!' She heard Mr Quang's voice and slowly turned around.

She looked at the opened door, listening to the voices outside and held tightly to her improvised weapon, keeping her hands hidden under her sleeves. It would be useless if she were to use it there so she just took a step back, refusing to quietly conform to that kind of destiny.

The man narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased by her reaction and walked into the room grabbing her by the forearm. 'Come along, at once! I'm anxious to see how much they'll pay me for your virtue.'

'Disgusting,' she hissed as he dragged her to the main hall. Sakura's eyes darted around frantically as she tried to come up with a plan to escape.

When she took notice, she was standing in the centre of a large room, surrounded by men in imperial uniform, all of them drinking and shamelessly touching Quang's girls. The music had been interrupted and everybody was now looking at her. She instinctively cringed in embarrassment.

'Gentlemen! Behold this exquisite Chinese flower!' Quang's voice reverberated through the silent room. 'She's as pure as a bride and the newest jewel of my collection. I'd like to propose, as a game, that we have an auction to settle which of you honourable guests will enjoy this rarity in my establishment.'

The room was instantly filled with animated chatter as the men hungrily stared her up and down. Sakura widened her emerald eyes. She could not imagine that the fear shown in her eyes only aroused those men.

'Let's start with 50 coins!' Quang declared.

'60!'

'65!'

'70!'

'100!' slurred a man so drunk he probably didn't even know what he was saying anymore.

Sakura tried to pry her arms loose from Quang's tight grip to get away but it was useless, the man was a lot stronger than her.

'102!' Yelled another.

And thus the bids increased till the only ones able to pay for the girl were three of the most senior officers. Quang grinned, satisfied as the bids came closer and closer to what he had paid for her.

'I have 178! Who'll give me more?' Asked Quang Dan, looking around the mostly silent room. '178! Going once, going twice…'

'300...' Someone said loud enough to be heard from across the room.

Quang could barely hold back his laughter. Everybody looked back and saw a young officer quite cosily seated between two harlots. 'Are you sure of the sum, Major Li?'

The man smirked and stood up, strutting towards the brothel owner; his steps not as steady as he'd like them to seem, though he still made quite an impression. He halted in front of Quang and dropped a heavy coin purse into his greedy hands.

'I just hope your bitch is worth it.'

'Oh, yes, Sir! I'm sure she'll answer to your expectations.'

The officer said nothing, just took Sakura by her arm and pulled her with him to one of the rooms upstairs. He pushed her inside and locked the door, regarding the girl who had her back to him.

Sakura scrutinised the room and was satisfied to notice that the windows weren't closed. She heard a thud behind her and jerkily turned around to find the man placing his sword on a table as he stripped out of his clothing.

'I just paid 300 coins for you. You could at least help me out of my armour, huh?'

'I-I'm not a bitch.' She said, looking him in the eyes.

He raised an eyebrow with a half-smile. 'Are you not?'

'I am not.'

He only smirked and continued to undress.

When he took off his shirt, Sakura widened her eyes and turned around, blushing deeply and holding her breath. She'd never seen a shirtless man before.

She nervously wrung her hands and held so tightly to the hairpin that it pricked her skin. If that man tried anything against her, she'd defend herself.

To be continued.

Edited: November 28th, 2019.