Choices and Consequences

Loss and Lessons Learned

"Greeting General Xuige. His highness is waiting for you in his study.  He has been expecting you since he received your missive two days ago."  Xuige followed the steward as he considered how much of what he had discovered he would tell his brother. 

"Xuige, come sit with me."  Xuige crossed his arms in his chest and nodded his head in greetings to his older brother.  Sitting himself across his brother.  He helped himself to tea.  "How is Xue'er?  Has she regained consciousness yet?  How about Hou?"  Drawing a deep sigh, Xue's father informed his younger brother that due to the tremendous amount of blood she lost, they were forced to sedate her to speed up her recovery.  She has been in deep sleep for two weeks.  "She woke up a week ago but had to be sedated again because she was hysterical. She blames herself for her grandmother's death. We are hoping that your presence here will help settle her Didi."  Xuige looked at his brother and decided to divulge what he learned about the perpetrators of the assasination of his sister-in-law's mother. 

"Dage, the group who ambushed and killed your mother in law is a gang with association to the second prince.  His trusted manservant has been seen frequenting the restaurant which is a front business to cover their corrupt activities.  I know that you don't want to believe that our own brother harbours ill intent towards you and your family but you must be aware of his ambitions."  "I am aware of Muzong's ambitions but I trust in our bond as siblings.  He knows that it is the father's decision to follow the hereditary law of the eldest son inheriting the throne.  Besides, he has not done anything to warrant my suspicions.  I love him as I love you Ge'er."  "I know that you love us Dage.  All I am asking from you is to be on your guard.  The Northern Song is amassing their army and I am sure that they will make movements for a war soon.  The injuries you sustained in the last great war means you can't fight like you used to.  I am afraid that our brother will see the war as a way to usurp  your position."  Prince Yunkang placed his hands on his younger brother's shoulders and squeezed them lightly.  "Don't worry.  I promise that I will be on my guard." Xuige nodded and continued with his report.  He told Yunkang that they failed to arrest the gang because most of them were already dead when they got to their lair.  A massacre has occurred and he is sure that the killings were a cover up to prevent the truth of who hired them ever coming to light.  

"When are you planning on going back to Youzhou? Ge'er?"  Yunkang tilted his head waiting for the answer.  "In 3 days time Dage.  I am hoping to speak to Xue'er before I travel back to reassure myself that she is okay and coping. I also want to know if she still wants to continue her military service to my garrison.  She is an excellent fighter and a very good commander."

Two days later....

Xue strained her ears trying to make out the words from the murmured conversation going around her.  She feels lightheaded.  The voices seem to come from a tunnel. She shook her head to dispel the fogginess of her brain.  She could hear her mother's melodious voice.  She is talking to her father and...her uncle Xuige.  "The arrow that pierced her back narrowly missed heart. She is lucky to be alive.  The wound has healed well but we are concerned about her other injury.  It has marked her.  A young woman shouldn't suffer like she has."  She could hear her mother's light sobs.  "Come here. Stop crying.  I can see Xue'er is stirring.  She is awake.  You don't want your tears to be the first thing she sees when she opens her eyes.". 

Xue opened her eyes to see her family around her.  Her mother and father holding both her hands and her twin siblings sitting at the bottom of her bed.  Her uncle Xuige is standing beside them with his hands on each of their shoulders.  Xue's eyes filled with tears as she remembers the loss of their grandmother.  She blames herself for it.  She should have accepted her uncle's offer of his personal army to escort them.  She should have considered that as a member of the royal family, threats to their safety are always present before deciding to forego the guards.  She forgot about it in her selfish desire to spend some free time with her grandmother and in her inflated belief of her own abilities.   Now her grandmother is gone.