Choices

11 - Fencing Off

A/N: An elaborate trap, a smitten emperor, and a clueless little fox. 

Also, the well-meaning Third Highness finds himself on the line of fire...and gets a chance at payback.

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It was evening by the time Donghua managed to return to his residence in Fanyin Valley. After dealing with Siming, and sending off Yan Chiwu along with Ji Heng, he still had to go on a quick side trip to the Huiming Realm and check the wards there. The toxins trapped inside had been strong enough to make Miao Luo, its manifestation, a bit noisy, and Donghua spent a few minutes longer than usual to beat her to submission.

Many people wondered how the legendary immortal whom they thought of now as a demon could subdue evil, when he himself held traces of evil, too. Aside from the fact that they are mostly wrong about Donghua's true state, they are also pitifully unaware of the simple fact that the best way to fight evil is to understand it. Donghua Dijun knows and even occassionaly employs all of Miao Luo's tricks and sorceries; how could someone so predictable even hope to get one over, much less defeat him?

But none of these were on Donghua's mind when he finally reached his courtyard and found, to his silent amusement, a complex trap set out especially for him.

The palace maids that have been sent to attend to Xiaobai all kowtowed upon seeing Donghua. "Your Majesty," the most senior said in a trembling voice, "Her Highness bade us to keep silent. We tried to dissuade her, but she was relentless."

Donghua stared at the remarkably disguised trap, indiscernable to those with much less cultivation that he, and to the meticulous, winding labyrinth underneath, leading to the Sixing river. That Xiaobai would even dare to do something like this to show her displeasure, when she knew of the differences between their strengths and capabilities, spoke much of her bold and unyielding nature even against a much stronger foe.

It just made Donghua adore her all the more.

He dismissed the palace maids and waited until the last of them were out of the courtyard, before resealing the barrier and seeking out his furious fox.

"I see that you're in a huff," he said, once he found her standing tall before the closed doors of his residence, arms folded across her chest and tapping her foot in impatience. She was clad in a crimson red robe, all billowy sleeves and flaring hems, the preferred style of Biyinao noble women. Set against the pale hues of the snowy courtyard, the ensemble made her look vibrantly ethereal.

Xiaobai's lush lips were trembling with barely suppressed ire. "Why don't you try being trapped inside a shield against your will, for no reason at all, for an entire day? Why don't you?"

Donghua tilted his head sideways, affecting an air of innocence. "So, you are angry because I blocked you in here, so you can recuperate in peace, and to keep further unfortunate incidents from happening?"

"How dare you speak as if you're doing me a favor," Xiaobai snapped back, glaring at him from beneath fluttering lashes. The tassels in her hairpins shook to and fro as she vibrated with indignant anger. "There is nothing noble at all with what you did! I may be no more than a servant and a pet to you, but I'm still a girl. Would it kill you to treat me like one?"