The Qing Dynasty Mysteries - Books 1-3

by Amanda Roberts

  Mr. Zhao looked more terrified of Inspector Gong than the mob that threatened to crush them both. He pulled away, got to his feet, and then disappeared through the crowd.

  Inspector Gong grunted as he forced himself to stand. He was injured, but he wasn’t exactly sure where or how badly. He hurt everywhere and his head was ringing. But he forced himself to stand and fight. He grabbed a man by the shoulder and threw him to the ground. “Stay down!” he yelled. He shouldered past two more people. Someone pulled his queue, so he turned around and punched the person in the face.

  Slowly and violently, he worked his way to the front of the crowd where the rioters were battling with the legation guards. He would hate himself for it later, but he had to take the side of the guards and repel his own people. As he got to the front, one of the guards tried to butt him in the face with his rifle, but Inspector Gong dodged it just in time. He then turned and pushed one of the rioters away. The guard stared at the inspector for a moment, confused as to why a Chinese would be defending him. Then realization washed over him as he recognized the inspector from his visits to the legation with Prince Kung. The inspector gave the guard a nod, and together they worked to push the crowd back away from the gate. They had to keep the mob from pressing in against it. It was strong, but it could not withstand the angry pressure from hundreds of determined people.

  Inspector Gong did not know how long they had been fighting, but he could feel his body wearing out. He took a punch to the gut, and another to the face. But he stood his ground.

  Finally, he heard the sound of a trumpet, signaling the arrival of the imperial guard. The rioters immediately dispersed. The guards grabbed as many people as they could and threw them into cages bound for the Ministry of Justice. Most of them would simply be interrogated, tortured, and then released, but no one wanted to go home with one less finger or ear.

  Once Inspector Gong no longer had to fight, he let himself relax, just a bit, and leaned against the gate. The guard he had been fighting with patted him on the shoulder and then reached out to shake his hand. Inspector Gong tried to lift his hand to shake, but he felt a pain shoot through his body. He looked down, and saw that his arm was dripping with blood.

  He stumbled back. He heard the guard shout something he didn’t understand. And then he only saw black.

  “Am I in danger?” he heard someone ask.

  Inspector Gong slowly opened his eyes. He was in a warm dark room. He wasn’t sure where he was, but it seemed familiar.

  “I don’t think so,” he heard a voice reply.

  He sat up and winced. He looked down and saw that his ribs were wrapped with gauze, as was his left arm. He stood up and his whole body tried to seize, but he forced himself to take a step. He grunted out loud, but he managed to get across the room to a dressing table with a mirror.

  “Ai-yo!” he exclaimed when he saw his black eye and busted lip.

  “But what will I do if they turn on us?” he heard Lady Li ask.

  Lady Li! Was he in Lady Li’s home? How did he end up here? He walked over to the door and opened it slightly. He saw her sitting there, worry etched on her face. But then he saw someone take her hand. It was the hand of a man. She did not pull away.

  “I will always protect you,” he heard Prince Kung say.

  Prince Kung! Of course it was him. He knew that the prince and Lady Li had once been in love, many years ago. Is that why she had rejected him the other day. Had the prince begun courting her again? Had the empress finally given them her blessing to wed? Why had the prince not told him?

  He pulled the door open the whole way and stepped out.

  Lady Li looked up and then jerked her hand away from Prince Kung’s hand. “Inspector Gong!” she cried. She jumped up and ran to his side. “Are you all right?” she asked. “I had my personal physician come and care for you, but he said he wouldn’t know the extent of your injuries until you woke up. I’ll send for him to come back.”

  “Stop fussing, woman,” he said more harshly than he intended. “I’m fine.” She looked hurt, but pressed her lips together in a thin line and said nothing. He tried to ignore the tug at his heart at seeing her pain.

  The prince stood and walked over to him. “You are lucky she lived so close,” the prince said. “And that we had a safe place to bring you. You took one hell of a beating. A bullet grazed your arm.”

  “It’s nothing,” the inspector said as he went back into the room to find his shirt. “I need to find Zhao. And his son.”

  “His son?” Lady Li asked. “The Zhaos have a son?”

  “Yes,” he said. He tried not to wince as he raised his arm to pull his shirt and robe around himself. “The Jiaolong person,” he explained. “It’s their son. Mr. Zhao disowned him many years ago for being an opium addict and gangster.”

  “So you think the son might have killed his sister?” Lady Li asked.

  Inspector Gong nodded. “That’s why Zhao started the riot,” he said. “Well, sort of. He blames himself for his son killing his daughter. But he blames Mr. Gibson most of all.”

  “What does Mr. Gibson have to do with it?” she asked.

  “Mr. Gibson is apparently the biggest opium importer in the legation,” he said. He looked at Prince Kung accusingly. “Did you know about this?”

  The prince nodded slowly. “I did. You know that opium imports are legal under the Treaty of Tientsin”

  “Legal or not,” the inspector said, “Zhao blames him for getting his son addicted and getting his daughter killed. I’m sure there are many parents out there who will sympathize with him.”

  “I’m sure we arrested quite a few sympathizers today,” the prince said. “But Zhao was not among them.”

  “I saw him escape,” Inspector Gong said. “He’s old. I didn’t want to see him injured in the skirmish.”

  “I have my men looking for him now,” the prince said. “I am sure he will turn up soon.”

  “I’ll try to find the son, then,” the inspector said. “He is my chief suspect right now.”

  “You better make an arrest soon,” the prince said. “I don’t care if he is guilty or not. If you can’t find the son, then charge Wang.”

  “What?” Lady Li asked. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am,” the prince said. “The British have threatened to send warships to blow open the port if Hart doesn’t reopen soon. He won’t without my approval, but he could face a court martial. We need to solve this crime now.”

  Lady Li shuddered and collapsed in a nearby chair. “They are threatening to bombard the Dagu Fort?” she asked. The prince nodded, and she hid her face in her sleeve. “It’s happening again!” she cried.

  Inspector Gong remembered that Lady Li had been serving at the Forbidden City the last time the foreigners bombed the Dagu Fort and stormed the Forbidden City. She had been forced to flee for her life along with the imperial family.

  “Do not fear, Lady Li,” the prince said. “As long as you and Inspector Gong name a killer, we can arrest him and then reopen the ports.”

  “But we cannot name an innocent person!” she said. “We need more time.”

  “You may be out of time, Lady Li,” the prince said. He then turned to leave. “I must return to the Foreign Ministry. The situation is changing by the minute.”

  “But who will protect us if the British attack?” she asked, standing and chasing after him.

  “I will place two of my own guards outside your door,” the prince said. “I will not abandon you.”

  Lady Li looked at the prince fondly as he left. Inspector Gong crossed his arms and let out a breath. She looked at him as if she had forgotten he was there.

  “Are you sure you are all right?” she asked walking back to his side. “I can send for the doctor again. It’s no trouble.”

  “I’m fine,” he said as he too headed toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “I have to find Jiaolong,” he said.

&n
bsp; “So you are still going to try to find the real killer?” she asked.

  “For now,” he said. “Until the prince says our time is up I will continue to do my job.”

  “What can I do to help?” she asked.

  “You have done enough,” he said as he opened the door.

  “What do you mean by that?” she asked.

  He sighed, trying to push his jealousy aside and think rationally. His arm twinged in pain. “Nothing. You have done what you can. Now I need to do my job.”

  “Are you coming back?” she asked.

  “Why?” he asked in return, looking at her. “Why do you need me? You have the prince to protect you.”

  Her expression hardened. “I will not be made to feel guilty for protecting my family,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “Then I supposed there is nothing left to say,” he said as he stepped through the door.

  “Damn you, Inspector Gong!” she screamed at him.

  “You’re not the first woman to say that to me,” he yelled back. “And you won’t be the last!”

  She slammed the gate shut behind him and locked it.

  14

  As Inspector Gong headed out to find his men, he couldn’t believe he had done it again. He had stormed out on Lady Li. By the Gods, when he found Jiaolong he was going to beat the shit out him just because he could.

  He met up with his men at an inn near his house. Together they plotted out where all the opium dens where in the area that they knew of. Of course, opium dens opened and closed frequently. And Jiaolong might not even be in an opium den in the area. Peking was huge. They could never check all of them. And after checking only one or two, word would start to spread that Inspector Gong was looking for him and he could flee. He wished he had a better plan for tracking the boy down, but he was out of ideas and out of time.

  As he looked at the map, he noticed there was an opium den very near to Lady Li’s mansion. He had no reason to think that Jiaolong would be there, but it was as good a place to start as any.

  When they arrived, it was clear even from the outside that this opium den was nicer than most. In this neighborhood near many Manchu mansions, their clients were probably wealthy. The building was in good repair, and the street outside the building was clean. On one side of the door stood a large man, a guard. On the other side of the door was a beautiful young woman holding a pipe. She was the bait, the advertisement for the opium den to entice customers.

  As Inspector Gong approached the building, the man flexed his muscles, but the woman gave him an enticing smile.

  “Care for a smoke, my lord?” she asked.

  “I’m no lord,” he said. “I’m looking for someone.”

  “I can be someone,” she said with a wink.

  “I’m sure you could be,” he said. “But this is part of an investigation.”

  She took on a more serious tone. “We don’t want trouble,” she said.

  “Nor do I,” he said. “I’m looking for Zhao Jiaolong. Do you know him?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know that name,” she said. “But you know most people here give fake names. Do you know what he looks like?”

  He shook his head. “I only know his father. I need to go in and have a look. I might see someone familiar.”

  “As long as you promise to behave,” she said sweetly, opening the door.

  The opium den was quite nice inside, like he suspected. The kangs were large and separated by privacy curtains. The rooms were dark, so the patrons could sleep. There were also people gaming and women serving drinks and food. Some of the women were also prostitutes and a few of the men were there conducting business. The people were all well-dressed and clean, not the type one usually found in opium dens. There were even high-class women patrons partaking of the opium as well. Most of them were there in the company of a manservant for protection.

  He had a feeling he was not going to find Jiaolong here. If he was living on the charity of his sister, the money wouldn’t go far. He could get a lot more opium in a much shoddier place. He sighed, frustrated with himself. As he turned to leave, though, he bumped right into a woman he thought he had seen before.

  She looked up at him, and her eyes went wide and her face went white. She turned and tried to flee, but he grabbed her arm.

  “Do I know you?” he asked.

  She just shook her head and tried to wrest free from his grasp. Then he suddenly remembered who she was.

  “Concubine Swan?”

  “No!” she cried. “Let me go! I have done nothing.”

  “I know it is you,” he said. Even though he had only seen her a couple of times before, and never for very long, he knew it was her. “What are you doing here? Lady Li is going to kill you.”

  “Shhhh!” she hissed. “Do you want to bring shame on her house? I am not this girl you say.”

  “Well, whatever name you go by here,” he said, not letting go of her arm, “you are coming with me.”

  “No, please,” she begged. “You are right. She will kill me!”

  “What am I supposed to do?” he asked. “I can’t leave you here. When you return, she will know you left the house. What excuse did you give her?”

  “I…I didn’t” she said, her head hanging in shame. “I just…left.”

  “She is going to lose her mind when he finds you are missing!” the inspector barked, shaking her by the arm.

  “I know!” she cried. “But you don’t…you don’t understand! I need…”

  “You need to eat opium?” he asked harshly. “Is your life in a mansion with no worries so terrible?”

  “What do you know about it?” she demanded angrily. “My husband is dead. My baby is dead. My life is dead! Dead!” She began to cry as she beat against his chest with her tiny fists.

  “Fine. Calm down,” he said, putting his arms around her and comforting her. “I still don’t know what I can do for you. You have to go home.”

  “Maybe I can help you,” she said, looking up at him hopefully.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “My mistress is letting me help with the investigation,” she said. “I went with her to the legation. I speak English.”

  “So,” he said. “How does that help either of us?”

  “Why are you here?” she asked. “You weren’t looking for me. Who were you looking for?”

  “I was looking for Zhao Jiaolong, the brother of the woman who was murdered,” he said.

  Her eyes lit up. “I know where he is!” she said. “Protect me from my mistress, and I will tell you where he is.”

  “How do you know where he is?” he asked.

  She tossed her head to the side and laughed. “People talk when they are in the cloud.”

  Inspector Gong grimaced. He shouldn’t be involving her. But he needed to find the boy quickly.

  “Fine,” he said. “I have no idea how, but I will at least speak on your behalf to your lady.”

  Concubine Swan clapped her hands together and laughed. He wondered how old she was. In many ways, she still seemed very girlish.

  “You can tell her you needed my help,” she said. “That is why I had to leave the house.”

  “Sure,” he said. “I needed your help to find an opium-addicted gangster. That’s not going to get you in trouble at all.”

  “Shush!” she said slapping his arm. “She doesn’t need to know the details.”

  “Fine,” he said. “Let’s get you home.”

  “Not now!” she said crossing her arms. “Someone could see me! And if the neighbors see you bringing me back, they will think the worst. Besides, I don’t know the city well enough to tell you the name of the place. I will have to show you.”

  Inspector Gong rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You women are going to be the death of me.”

  “Come on,” she said, pulling his arm. She went to the front door and talked to the proprietor. He nodded and then stepped outside. She pulled down a scarf from a ra
ck by the door and wrapped it around her head.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I can’t let anyone see me,” she said. “The laoban went to find a sedan chair for us. I’ll direct him where to go. Then you can return me home after dark.”

  “This is a terrible idea, you know,” Inspector Gong said, but he had to admire her tenacity.

  “I can’t remember when I last felt so alive,” she said.

  The laoban opened the door and waved them out. Concubine Swan quickly exited and jumped into a waiting sedan chair. The chair bearer talked to her and she did her best to explain where she wanted to go. The chair bearer nodded. Inspector Gong hopped into the chair next to her and told his men to follow them.

  The chair was cramped, so he couldn’t help but be uncomfortably close to Concubine Swan. She didn’t seem to mind and practically tried to snuggle next to him. As the bearer picked up the front of the chair, they were both unceremoniously tossed back in the seat. Inspector Gong couldn’t help but let out a groan of pain as he held his ribs.

  “Oh! You must be in so much pain!” Concubine Swan fussed, doing her best to move away from him.

  “I’ve had worse,” he said. “I’ve been in the military.”

  “So I’ve heard,” she said. “I heard the riot was very violent. You were lucky.”

  “I’ll be fine,” he said. “It’s all part of the job.”

  She bit her lower lip and leaned in close. “You are so brave,” she said.

  He leaned back. “Concubine Swan,” he said. “I brought you with me to help on the case. Nothing more.”

  “Is that how you seduced Lady Li?” she asked, pouting her lips. “I know there is more going on with you two. But she can’t have you. She’s a lady. I’m a nobody. I could be whatever you want me to be.” She leaned in and closed her eyes.

  “Concubine Swan…” he started to say, but the chair jerked forward and he nearly fell out of the seat. “Ai-yo!” he nearly screamed as he grabbed his ribs.

  He stumbled out of the chair into the street. One of his men grabbed him by the arm he had been shot in and pulled him to his feet. He gritted his teeth to keep from crying like a baby, the pain was so intense.