Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts."
-Sigmund Freud
Xiaomao was a young girl now, around her teens. She was a lovely girl who cared about everyone. Yet, she didn't show her feelings as much; it was a normal thing for everyone around her.
She didn't go to school since she liked being taught by her father, Nazeeh. Nazeeh liked this a lot, as he would not have to speak with the other parents or guardians. Or children. Xiaomao had this same trait, she absolutely hated speaking with people. But she was able to tolerate groups of people and persuade them.
In her free time, Xiaomao would read the books that were collected by Nazeeh and make poisons and experiments.
Li Shen did not like the fact that Xiaomao took more of her father's traits. Nazeeh was an apothecary and Xiaomao had a great admiration and love for medicine and poison. Even a greater one than Nazeeh.
Li Shen didn't really have a specific want for Xiaomao to do. She just wanted Xiaomao to have a normal life. Not a life filled with riches that can make her greedy.
Her auntie, Li Shen and Xiaomao had a distant relationship, as well Xiaomao had this unspoken distance towards Li Shen.
She dreamt about her finger being cut occasionally, making her wake up in streams of sweat. She knew Li Shen had cut her finger off, but no one spoke of it. Those were the words of the old days. Not good nor bad.
Today she was gathering some herbs from the local garden of the village. Nazeeh had asked her to gather some rare herbs for a new medicine he was willing to test.
She walked out the house, and came out of a dark alleyway. Nazeeh and Li Shen lived in a low poor area, the dark side of the Rose district. Even though it was the dark side of the Rose district, it wasn't that bad as it seems.
Xiaomao was wearing a dark maroon robe with a hoodie over her head. She ran into the streets, basket in hand, heading over to the local garden.
Each and all districts has their dark side. Just with different intensities. The Rose district was all about exercising the ability of the Rose, also known as Love.
The Rose district was more about pleasure. Living in Love's elixir for Xiamao was living in outer space and the background character of a play she has no lines to.
No contribution. No role. No want.
Now you might think it's because of her unusual upbringing however, Nazeeh and Li Shen gave their greatest and truest care toward Xiaomao.
And even though, Xiaomao knew they weren't her real parents. She still loved them.
She just didn't show it well.
What Xiaomao hated about the love within the Rose district was how nasty and cliche it was.
Love is ugly. But it can be pretty as well. Love can hurt but heal at the same time.
But to one that never had felt true love or care... will see no difference to heal or hurt. The pleasure in love is not just physical. But to feel. To feel great things. To feel terrible things.
And yet the Rose district only has one form of love. It cannot be called affection. That form is only pleasure, and should only be called pleasure. Not love.
The cliche part of love was how...unoriginal everything was. There are so many more ways to show passionate emotions, or great ones.
One kiss will never be able to show what you felt, you yourself can only understand. It only suppresses your mentality on speaking your true emotions.
And also, Xiaomao just really had no care for trivial things like love. Just like a certain someone.
After she finished gathering some herbs, she skipped merrily home. Walking inside she saw the door wide open.
"I'm home..." She says putting her slippers on. She played the basket of herbs to the side.
Two tall men were inside the house. Nazeeh looked annoyed and Li Shen looked distraught.
"Whats going on here." Xiaomao said calmly walking over to Nazeeh.
"Is this the child?" One of the men said.
"What's going on. " Xiaomao said eyeing the men, and Nazeeh.
"Are these your real parents." The men said.
"Yes." Xiaomao said without missing a beat.
"They already know." Li Shen said, looking with a custard of emotions.
"Know what?" Xiaomao said staring at the men, "They know about me taking you." Li Shen said with a unreadable expression.
"Give it up Li Shen. No one trusted you either way. Why are you kidnapping children now." One of the men said.
"I was protecting her. " Li Shen said bluntly.
She seemed to feel defeated and burst.
"From what? You took her away from her family, who knows what else you also did. Did this man help you within the process?"
The man said sternly.
"He wasn't part of this. Leave him out of this. " Li Shen said.
"Is he now?" Man A said, he walked closer to Nazeeh eyed him up.
"I knew I shouldn't have said yes..." Nazeeh mumbled with great discomfort at the Man eyeing him down.
"Whatever the case, I don't buy it. Pack all of the girl's things Li Shen. Your trial with the emperor will occur soon. Once the proceedings are finalized. Nazeeh doesn't have anything that could be punished. " Man B said, pushing his spectacles up to his eyes.
Both of the men, grabbed all the things that belonged to Xiaomao. After taking it all, they grabbed the baffled Xiaomao and pulled her away from the house. They pulled her to a carriage and threw her inside into a brown bag. They tied the bag and placed it in the seats.
One of them went to speak to Nazeeh and Li Shen about what will happen to Xiaomao.
"She will be sent to the palace, where she will stay in the foster care. Until we find her true parents of course. There she will attend school and treated better. Without all the lies that you have told her Li Shen. "
Li Shen nearly lunged at the Man who spoke all this nonsense. Nazeeh pulled her back, calming her down knowing that none of this aggravation will fix anything.
"Put your dog on a leash Nazeeh... we don't need to put her down like your other dog." The Man said provoking Nazeeh as well.
Nazeeh gritted his teeth but kept his cool. Soon after the Man walked away to the carriage Nazeeh punched the ground until it bled. Everything he cared about always was taken away from him. He hated the world for it, cursed it even. But he knew one thing, he wouldn't be able to get her back now.