Chang'an, China - April 17th, 1940
Kylian and Wolfgang woke to bright sunlight streaming through the windows that Song Zhongwei had thrown open efficiently. They had spent the night at a wayside estate belonging to an official of the royal court, a man who remained in Beijing attending to his duties while his property served as a convenient stopping point for imperial travelers.
The accommodations had been comfortable enough, though distinctly hierarchical in their distribution. Princess Changning had occupied a private suite in the villa's main building, her quarters befitting her royal status, while the three officers had shared more modest rooms in the guestroom section. None of them had complained about the arrangement, such distinctions were expected and proper.
As they walked from their quarters toward the villa's kitchens for breakfast, both Hanseatic officers found themselves captivated by rural China's natural beauty. Exotic birds whose species they couldn't identify flitted between trees, some ornamental, others clearly cultivated for fruit. Banners representing the estate owner's clan hung from poles throughout the grounds, their bright colors creating a festive atmosphere. The grasslands stretched toward distant hills in an endless panorama of green that seemed almost impossibly vast to men accustomed to Hansa's more densely populated landscapes.
Breakfast proved to be a substantial affair: steamed buns, rich beef soup, and noodles prepared in a style neither officer had encountered before. The flavors were complex and satisfying, though both men struggled slightly with chopsticks despite their best efforts to master the implements.
By the time the royal convoy resumed its journey, the morning had already grown warm. They arrived in Chang'an late in the afternoon, and Kylian immediately noticed the city's dramatically different character from Beijing. Chang'an felt older, not merely in its architecture but in its very essence. While Beijing had embraced modernity with broad avenues and contemporary buildings interspersed among traditional structures, Chang'an seemed to exist in an earlier era.
The city was considerably smaller than the imperial capital, and though some districts featured modern roads accommodating automobiles, the overwhelming impression was of a place where time moved more slowly. Nearly everything except a few administrative buildings was constructed in classical Chinese style, upturned eaves, red-painted wood, and intricate carvings that spoke to centuries of architectural tradition. It was as though they had traveled not merely hundreds of miles south but several generations into the past.
An hour beyond the city, their destination finally appeared. The imperial estate was located well outside Chang'an's urban sprawl, accessible only by a winding road that twisted through increasingly rural countryside. Both officers immediately noticed the security arrangements, sentries posted at regular intervals, outposts manned by alert guards, and most striking of all, fortified positions including concrete bunkers and steel pillboxes that seemed entirely out of place in such pastoral surroundings.
"Those are military fortifications," Kylian observed quietly to Wolfgang as their car passed another bunker. "Substantial ones. This is far more security than you'd expect for a summer estate."
Wolfgang nodded, his expression troubled. "I noticed. Someone wants to ensure this place is very well defended."
After passing through the final checkpoint, the landscape transformed. Willow trees lined the approach road, their graceful branches swaying in the afternoon breeze. The estate itself nestled against the foot of a forested hill, the traditional walls that enclosed the compound creating a barrier between the imperial family's private retreat and the outside world.
As their car rolled to a stop before the main gates, Kylian caught a glimpse of Princess Changning emerging from her vehicle. An elderly woman, clearly someone of significant rank within the household, greeted her with deep bows and elaborate courtesy before the princess disappeared through the gates toward her quarters. The brief sight of her stirred the same conflicting emotions Kylian had been wrestling with since their first encounter.
A young woman approached the officers as they exited their vehicle. She bowed gracefully, her movements suggesting both respect and confidence in her position. "Greetings, honored guests. My name is Bai Lu. I am the custodian of the estate. Welcome to the imperial estate."
Her English was comprehensible despite a pronounced accent that made some words difficult to parse. Both officers returned her bow with careful attention to proper form.
"I am Captain von Witzland," Wolfgang announced.
"And I am Captain von Reichsgraf," Kylian added.
Wolfgang straightened and offered a genuine smile. "Thank you, Young Mistress. You have a beautiful estate."
"We are honored to have received you," Bai Lu replied warmly. "Please follow me. I will take you to your quarters."
She turned toward the gates, and both officers fell into step behind her. As they passed through the entrance, Kylian found himself struck by the estate's rustic elegance. Age showed in the weathered wood and worn stone paths, but everything was impeccably maintained. The residential quarters featured manicured gardens where carefully placed rocks served as artistic focal points rather than mere decoration. The evening sun cast long shadows that enhanced the compound's serene beauty.
As they walked deeper into the estate, Kylian noticed other buildings scattered throughout the grounds, smaller residences that likely housed members of the extended imperial clan during their visits.
"Young Mistress, does the imperial family return here often?" Kylian asked.
Bai Lu's smile suggested pleasant memories. "Sometimes, Captain. The Forbidden City is their primary home, of course, but Their Royal Highnesses often spend summers here when the Beijing heat becomes oppressive."
"I see. Does that mean no member of the royal family actually lives here permanently?"
"Oh, there are residents, Captain. Consort Wu, the Emperor's chief consort, makes this estate her home."
The revelation struck both officers simultaneously. They had not realized the Chinese Emperor maintained concubines, or perhaps more accurately, they had known this intellectually but had not fully processed the implications. Kylian and Wolfgang exchanged meaningful glances, their surprise evident despite their attempts at diplomatic composure.
Wolfgang recovered first, his natural curiosity overcoming his shock. "Young Mistress, if I may ask, do you travel sometimes, or does being an estate custodian require you to remain here constantly?"
"I spend most of my time here, Captain," Bai Lu replied with evident pride in her position. "After all, I am a relative of the imperial family, and it is my responsibility as custodian to ensure the estate functions properly and maintains the standards befitting its residents."
As they walked past the estate's largest residential building, a structure whose elaborate construction and extensive courtyards marked it as particularly important, Kylian noticed Princess Ruyi hurrying through the main entrance, accompanied by two servants. Her movements suggested urgency despite her efforts to maintain royal dignity.
"Young Mistress," Kylian began, gesturing toward the building, "isn't that Her Highness Princess Ruyi? Is that where the princesses reside?"
"No, Captain. That is where the chief consort resides. Consort Wu has likely summoned Her Royal Highness for a family matter."
The princess's hurried pace suggested something important required her immediate attention, though whether it was merely routine family business or something more significant remained unclear. Kylian reminded himself that imperial family dynamics were none of his concern—they were guests in a foreign land, and curiosity about such matters could easily cross into impropriety.
"Here we are, Captains. Your quarters."
Bai Lu gestured toward a substantial building that clearly represented some of the estate's finest guest accommodations. The entrance alone was impressive, stone fountains featuring guardian lion statues flanked a decorative pond where ornamental fish moved lazily through the clear water. Paper lanterns hung from the eaves, ready to provide gentle illumination once darkness fell.
Wolfgang appeared utterly captivated. Since entering the estate, the history enthusiast in him had been absorbing every detail, the architectural styles, the garden arrangements, the careful preservation of traditional aesthetics. Kylian could sense his friend's desperate desire to photograph everything, though Wolfgang was exercising remarkable restraint given the diplomatic sensitivities involved.
"This is your quarters, the finest guest rooms in the estate, Captains," Bai Lu announced as a servant opened the doors. "If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to seek me out."
"We will keep that in mind, Young Mistress. Thank you for the hospitality," Wolfgang replied as both officers bowed.
Bai Lu's expression suggested gentle correction. "We are your hosts, Captain, and we have not yet even provided you with food. Please thank us for hospitality only when we have served you properly."
Wolfgang smiled, his appreciation genuine despite the mild rebuke. "Of course, Young Mistress."
As Kylian examined the building more carefully, he noticed an adjacent structure whose back wall connected with their quarters, a common architectural feature in traditional Chinese compounds where buildings were linked to create protected courtyards and continuous rooflines.
"Are there other guests here as well?" he asked, raising his eyebrows toward Bai Lu.
"No, Captain. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing concerning, Young Mistress. I simply noticed there seems to be another room adjacent to ours, so I wondered if perhaps other visitors were staying in the estate."
Bai Lu followed his gaze and nodded with understanding. "Ah, you mean the room sharing your wall. That is merely storage for antiques, Captain. There are no other guests in the estate besides yourselves."
"We are honored to be received," Kylian replied formally.
"Take some rest, Captains. Tomorrow the estate will be quite busy with preparations for the ritual. I will send food shortly." Bai Lu bowed, and both officers returned the gesture before she departed with her attendants.
The wooden quarters proved both charming and surprisingly luxurious. Though clearly old, the building showed evidence of meticulous maintenance. The room was spacious enough for both officers to have their own distinct areas while sharing the common space. Classical paintings adorned the walls, landscapes and calligraphy that added elegance without ostentation.
"I wonder when the last time someone visited here was," Kylian mused, running his hand along the fine silk bedding.
Wolfgang was already unbuttoning his uniform, carefully unhooking the silver ceremonial chain. "I don't think this place actually receives many guests. They probably prepared this room specifically for Minister von Hausen, assuming he would accompany us."
He paused in his undressing, a thought occurring to him. "I quite can't believe it's just the two of us. Who will even take us back to Beijing?"
"I assume we'll travel back with the royal family again," Kylian replied, watching his friend change. "That would certainly be an experience."
Wolfgang pulled on more comfortable clothing before settling onto his bed. "It's surreal that we're so close to foreign royalty, isn't it? I wonder if the Chinese actually trust us, or if they're trying to..." He paused, lowering his voice. "I'm not sure. I feel uneasy, especially with princesses around. Who knows what misunderstandings could develop?"
Kylian moved to the table and poured himself water from a ceramic pitcher. "I understand your concerns, I share them. That's why we must remain vigilant and, as Minister von Hausen always emphasizes, maintain absolute respect for protocol at all times."
"Did you notice the number of servants in this estate?" Kylian asked after taking a sip.
"Yes, I couldn't believe it. There must be hundreds."
Kylian set down his cup, his expression thoughtful. "I don't think there needs to be that many servants here for a seasonal residence. Something doesn't feel right, Wolfgang."
Wolfgang sat up straighter, genuinely confused by his friend's sudden shift in tone. "What do you mean?"
"When we were walking to this room, I noticed Princess Ruyi hurrying into that large building, almost running, as if she was trying to hide it. And I've noticed one of the servants has been watching us constantly, from the moment we arrived until now."
Wolfgang's face grew serious, his voice dropping to match Kylian's quiet intensity. "What?"
"Maybe I'm overthinking, and it all means nothing," Kylian admitted, "but the heavy security we passed on the approach road, the fortified positions, the unusually large staff, it all suggests this estate serves more than just a ceremonial function."
Wolfgang's attention was now fully focused on his friend. Kylian stared at the wall behind Wolfgang's bed, the wall that connected to the supposedly empty storage room.
Kylian stood and gestured for silence, raising a finger to his lips. Wolfgang nodded and quietly moved to turn off the oil lamps that illuminated their quarters. As darkness settled, both men's eyes gradually adjusted.
There, in the middle section of the shared wall, barely visible even in the dim light filtering through the windows, was a small hole. Almost perfectly concealed in the wood grain, it would have been completely unnoticeable under normal circumstances.
Light showed through the hole from the adjacent room. As they watched, transfixed, the light in the "storage room" suddenly extinguished, plunging that space into darkness mere seconds after their own lamps went out.
Both officers stared at each other in shock, the implications racing through their minds. Someone had been eavesdropping on them. The room was not storing antiques, it housed spies.
The silence stretched for several long moments, broken only by their own breathing and the distant sounds of the estate settling into evening routines.
Then—a knock at their door.
Both officers froze, their hearts racing. In the darkness, every sound seemed amplified. The knock came again, more insistent.
"Captains! It's me, Song Zhongwei. I have brought you food."