"Why aren't you pulling your hand back even though I am about to place these creatures on your cut?"

"I trust you, madam, you won't do anything you harm me," Meixiang replied, smiling, Madam Ju placed the creatures on her wound, she watched as they moved around the cut stinging her, she winced in pain but she didn't want to make too much fuss.

​​

After some seconds, madam Ju removed the ants and placed them back into the box.

"It seems like I have really misjudged you," Madam Ju remarked with her lips slightly tilted to the side.

"What does madam mean? you have always treated me fairly,"

"When your step-mom first sold you to the pavilion, I saw the look in your eyes from the stairs, you looked angry and I could see that you are someone who had too much pride, you looked talented and intelligent so I immediately chose you to serve me at first sight," she paused for a while and scanned her face.

"But...you also seemed dangerous, I could see your urge to attain power, the urge revenge on your step-mom and the cruel world that made you end up in this pavilion, I wanted to tell you the deepest secrets of the pavilion but I feared your desires....now I think it is the right time for me to tell everything to you,"

"Madam...."

"But before I tell you these things, you have to promise me two things....you won't covet power and you will remain loyal to me,"

"I promise," she responded, she was excited inwardly even though she didn't show it, she really wanted to be part of everything no matter how dangerous it is.

"I will start by telling you what most of your peers know then I will tell you the things no one but I know," she rolled down her ( Meixiang) sleeve and stood up from the seat while Meixiang followed behind her, she walked towards the end of the room, she placed her hand on the painting of mountain and oceans handing on the wall and the painting immediately divided into two.

Meixiang was stunned, she has always seen the painting but she didn't think it is something so awesome, she was starting to get quite thrilled.

"Follow me," she entered into the painting following Meixiang then the painting sealed itself back.

Madam Ju grabbed a torch at the entrance of what seemed like a large library, she pointed the torch forward, showing the large room filled with shelves, drawers and scrolls hanging at the edge of each shelf, the shelves are very high to the point that she had to totally bend her head backwards to see the end of it.

"This is where the information we gather is kept, Ruyi pavilion is actually founded for gathering information and the key to gathering the information are these babies of mine..." she smiled and pointed the torch at the other end of the room, many small cages suitable for insects were hanged on the wall, the insects were white in colour with big red bulging eyes and small wings.

Meixiang was almost frightened at the sight of the insects, she glanced at the woman in front of her but she could only see her smiling.

[the insects before and now...who exactly is she}

She pondered!

"I know what you are thinking now, you are wondering about my real identity...I am originally a Mongolian, my father is Tarmashirin Togosemur, he is the most skilled poison doctor in the world, many poison doctors from different parts of the world, including the western people, have competed with him but none could match him," she paused and turned to face her, Meixiang could tell that her past must be a tragic one considering the look on her face.

"Back then, the prince wanted to rebel against the khan to take the throne earlier than he should but the Khan had too many supporters so he could only resort to poison. however, he needed to use a poison that none would be able to find the source and cure so he decided to turn to my father, my father refused to help him so he stole one of my father's poison and framed him for poisoning the emperor, my father was beheaded but the prince decided to take me in as his concubine for my beauty and poison skills, I ran away on the day he was supposed to wed me and was almost caught by him but someone saved me," she concluded her story and looked into Meixiang eyes.

"You had the same look I had in my eyes after I was saved that was why I decided that you are dangerous,"

"Madam has really gone through a lot, what I went through in the hands of my stepmother cannot be compared to your past,"

"Ruyi pavilion trades this information to people who are in need of them in exchange of money, gold, diamond and many treasures," her mother proceeded to another end of the room, she placed her hand on the wall then the wall parted again, leading to another room.

"This is where the treasures of the pavilion, everyone knows that Ruyi pavilion is wealthy but no one knows just how wealthy this pavilion, Tang's wealth cannot be compared to ours,"

Meixiang eyes widened...

{Tang's wealth cannot be compared to the wealth of Ruyi pavilion}

she repeated in disbelief but seeing the gold, diamond, ceramic, silver, pearls and other treasures in the room she couldn't help believe but she doubted that this is all they have since Tang treasury must at least contain this much.

"This is not all the treasures we own, most of them are stored elsewhere and the trading of information is carried out with another identity at the black market," Madam Ju explained seeing the confused look on her face.

"Everything I have just told you are things that all the entertainers who were here before you know except for my past, but now I will tell you the things they don't know,"

She didn't know if she is supposed to close her ears or listen, the things she has just been told is enough to make her lose her life at any time, after all, the juicier the secret the more dangerous it is.

"The person who saved me, who you just saw leave the pavilion through the secret passageway unconscious and the man who came here are the same person, he is the fourth prince of this country," Madam Ju disclosed.

"He is the fourth prince!!" she repeated with a scream

"Madam, the fourth prince is almost a tale in the country, everyone just knows the fourth prince exist, he has never appeared to the public ever since he was thirteen, how come he is...." she was confused and shocked at the news, everyone knows how dearly the emperor holds the fourth prince but ever since he became thirteen, his news was no longer heard.

"You are right...he saved me when I was on the run and he is the one we serve, he is also the real owner of the pavilion and..." she paused just when she was about to reveal his other identity.

She stopped knowing that is something she must not tell anyone no matter how much she trusts them.

"He is the master of the pavilion!" she repeated with a scream, she couldn't believe how awesome the pavilion is.

She didn't think she will hearing such bombing secrets.

"I will introduce you to him when next I get the chance but he already has a bad impression of you because of your arrogant attitude towards him the last time....one thing you must get rid of is your pride and arrogance," she concluded with a scolding look in her eyes.

"But...you just said I am dangerous, why are you telling me all this,"

"You are just like me...you are dangerous but it also has a good side, as long as you are willing to let go of your pride and hatred then you will make a good disciple,"

"Disciple...."

"Yes, I want to impart my poison knowledge to you and teach you everything I know, I am much older than the fourth prince so if I am not around I need someone else to continue serving him and that other person is you,"

"Me..."

"Yes, you are very intelligent and inquisitive, I have already discovered that you had already started suspecting so many things about this pavilion even before I told you these things, are you willing to become my disciple?" she really hoped the girl won't refuse her, she could see the huge potential in her and letting her go would only be a waste of talents.

Meixiang dropped to her knees and placed her hands on top of each other with her head bowed.

"If madam would take me as your disciple, it would be a thousand years of luck and fortune spent," Meixiang replied, the delight and happiness on her face could not be hidden, she raised her face to meet the pleased look on her new mistress face.

"Rise up," she held out her arm and helped her up.

"The things I have told you today must never be told to any soul not even the dead, the other girls or..."

"Madam need not say anymore, I know how important this is to you, your master is my master and I promise to always be loyal to you both, I would rather die than betray your trust and kindness towards me,"

she patted her shoulder in satisfaction.