The following is a shortened version of 'Radiant Jade', one of 5 tales in Very Bad Women Volume #1 by Guy Hadleigh available on Amazon
On October 10, 1911, the Wuchang Uprising overthrew the Qing Dynasty, ending two millennia of imperial rule in China. This upheaval would forever change the life of a young Manchurian princess named Ching Piu-Hui, born in 1895, who would later become known as Radiant Jade.
Jade was a striking beauty from birth. Her Mongolian Manchu heritage blessed her with high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes of deep brown, and silky black hair. Raised in the opulent surroundings of the Forbidden City, she was accustomed to a world of silk robes, jade ornaments, and intricate court etiquette. Her father, Prince Su, was known for his progressive views and unpopular alliance with the Japanese.
The Wuchang Uprising shattered Jade's privileged world. At just 16, she witnessed the brutal murder of her sister in the imperial gardens, a moment that would haunt her for life. The scent of jasmine, once associated with the tranquility of the gardens, became forever linked with violence and loss in her mind.
To protect his young daughter, Prince Su arranged for the Japanese military to smuggle her to safety. Jade was taken to Ryojun (Port Arthur) and placed under the care of Mitsuru Toyama, Chief of the Black Dragon Society. Toyama saw in Jade the potential for a perfect agent - beautiful, intelligent, and with a burning desire for revenge against those who destroyed her family.
Jade's assassin training was rigorous and multifaceted. She learned the art of silent movement from Ninjutsu masters, studying how to blend with shadows and move without detection. Her natural grace was honed into a deadly asset. She became proficient in various martial arts, particularly excelling in Aikido. Weapons training was extensive, covering both traditional Japanese weapons and modern firearms.
Perhaps the most crucial part of her training was in the art of deception. Jade learned to manipulate her appearance and demeanor, becoming adept at playing various roles. She studied the intricacies of etiquette from multiple cultures, allowing her to blend seamlessly into diverse social settings. Her education also included languages, politics, and history, making her a formidable strategist as well as a physical threat.
Throughout her training, Jade struggled with her cultural identity. Raised as Manchurian royalty, she was now immersed in Japanese culture. This internal conflict would play a significant role in her later life decisions. Despite her deadly skills and cold exterior, Jade never forgot her family. She kept a small jade pendant, a gift from her father, as a reminder of her origins.
As Jade matured, her beauty became legendary. Her exotic features captivated both allies and targets alike. She learned to use her appearance as a weapon, disarming men with a glance or a subtle smile. Her signature scent of jasmine often heralded her presence.
Jade's first assassination mission came at the age of 20. Using her training, she infiltrated the household of a Chinese warlord, posing as a new servant. She successfully completed the assassination, leaving a sprig of jasmine on his chest as her signature. The success of this mission cemented her position within the Black Dragon Society and set the pattern for her future operations.
Despite the luxury and protection within Toyama's house, Jade longed for freedom. She planned to use the money from her assassinations to find a way out of his suffocating world. Her chance came when Toyama informed her of an arranged marriage to a Mongolian official from Manchukuo. After the marriage, Jade continued working for Toyama but her desire for freedom grew stronger.
In a bold move, Jade decided to eliminate those who controlled her life, starting with Toyama. Luring him to the garden with a jasmine-scented note, she murdered him during an intimate encounter. Free from Toyama and the Black Dragon Society, Jade poisoned her husband and began moving from place to place, knowing both the Black Dragons and the Chinese would be hunting her.
In 1927, she married Ganjuurjab, the son of a Mongolian army general, for safety. The marriage lasted only two years. Jade then lived with two Japanese military officials in Manchukuo, where her expertise was used to control the region. Unhappy with this arrangement, she eventually left to join the Manchurian freedom fighters.
For the first time in her life, Jade felt in control and became vocal about her dislike of Japanese involvement in Manchukuo affairs. The men of the Manchurian Guerilla groups saw her as their Joan of Arc. Dressed in a general's uniform, she cut an impressive figure, her years of training evident in her commanding presence. She moved from group to group, rallying the men to action and speaking out against Japanese influence.
After several years among the guerilla groups, the Chinese, who had been hunting her for years, finally captured her. Jade was thrown in prison and tried for treason. On March 25, 1948, she was executed by firing squad, a single bullet to the back of the head. Despite her pleas for mercy, no one had sympathy for Jade.
Throughout her life, Jade struggled with her identity and loyalties. Born Manchurian, raised Japanese, and ultimately fighting for Manchurian independence, she embodied the complex political landscape of early 20th century East Asia. Her beauty and deadly skills earned her the moniker "Mata Hari of the East," but unlike her namesake, Jade killed with her own hands.
Jade's story is one of survival, revenge, and the search for freedom and identity. From the traumatic loss of her family during the Chinese Revolution to her training as an assassin, her life was shaped by the tumultuous events of her time. She navigated the dangerous waters of international espionage and shifting alliances, always seeking to control her own destiny.
In death, as in life, Jade remained a controversial figure. To some, she was a freedom fighter and a symbol of Manchurian resistance. To others, she was a traitor who had switched sides too many times. Her legacy, like her life, defies simple categorization. Radiant Jade, the Mata Hari of the East, lived and died by the sword.
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