Imperial Treasure

September 1st, 2009. The weather was pleasant that day, allowing the green moss to cover the old stone bridge, the willow branches to sway languidly in the breeze, and the lake to ripple gently, circles spreading where partridges landed and stirred the water, distorting the reflection of ancient houses built of brick and stone.

This was the ancient town of Huzhou in Zhejiang, a nationally renowned scenic spot. Its elegant beauty, the charm of a water town in Jiangnan, was like a graceful woman among pavilions, towers, and the ancient drum tower, her figure undulating, much like willows in the spring wind, the contours of time etched into the corridors and bridges.

Yet, after the wave of socialist reform swept across the central plains, this place was no longer the pristine land it had been centuries ago.

At this moment, a bus glided smoothly along the polished road, passing the lakeside stone bridge and ancient houses.

Onboard, a man in a suit struggled in the crowded bus, holding a briefcase in one hand. He was lucky, pressed close to a seat, escaping the fate of being crushed between bodies. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his tongue darted to his moist lips, the taste unknown but seemingly pleasurable, as if he'd just sipped some rare nectar.

He glanced down by chance, and something felt amiss.

There sat a high school student in uniform, about seventeen or eighteen years old. Her shoulder-length hair was dark and fine, though slightly tousled. Her face was small, features delicate and refined, giving a fresh impres