Taming Tyrants III

Arc 7: Royal Deceit (217)

The moon tonight is in perfect circle, brimming its light over the city with cheerful citizens. Lamps and lanterns were lit with a vintage theme, warm yet cozy, excellent for lovers walking together by the old pavement. Carriage passed by and tourists are also around to celebrate the Double Seventh Festival. Hong Cha witnessed the lovely ambiance through the carriage window. They are a city away from the capital and since it is dark already, maybe she can ask Gu Zixing for a short rest here. She looked back to Gu Zixing who was caught staring at her. He hurriedly composed himself and smiled to hide his awkwardness.

"Gu Zixing, lets go outside, please?" She shifted her seating position and got close to him. Hong Cha clung on his arm with her eyes rounded, she acted like a spoiled sister of his. "It's beautiful out there."

"En, it is." Gu Zixing absentmindedly said. She's really beautiful, it takes his breath away. He came out of trance and shook his head. "Well, we can postpone tonight. Let us continue tomorrow."

The moment Hong Cha got out of the carriage, she was full of excitement. She wanted to hurry Gu Zixing and grabbed his hand to drag him wherever she wants. He have the money, she can't lose him, ah.

Double Seventh Festival is a feist meant for lovers. They believe this is the day where the Weaver Girl descends the Heavens and visit her mortal husband. A lot of couples passed by Gu Zixing and Hong Cha. Others only saw them just like everyone else, a doting husband that will spoil his wife.

Wherever they go, their hands are entwined, not meant for another one to join. Hong Cha secretly looked back while leading Gu Zixing to a lantern shop. She knew he forgot they are holding hands. She used the festival to distract him so he won't notice she took advantage of him again. It worked well.

"Eh? Why is this lantern without strings?" Hong Cha asked when she was given a lotus lantern with a wide green pod made with true leaves.

"Don't you know? This is meant for water." Gu Zixing can't believe she doesn't know.

"Show me how! Quick!" Hong Cha was ecstatic. Gu Zixing can't help but shake his head and initiated to hold her hand. Hong Cha was stunned, she just followed him with her gaze on Gu Zixing. It seems that the world turned silent and time slowed down. She can see the sparkling yellow warm lights behind him and the people walking about became a blur. His pretty gentle face is all that she sees...

"Here we are." Gu Zixing said which broke her trance. He let her hand go and knelt by the riverside.

Hong Cha followed his actions. Gu Zixing lit their lanterns. He placed his on the water surface carefully. Hong Cha did the same and the flowing river guided the two lotus lanterns away. Even though a lot of lanterns are around them, the two still remained together.

"Beautiful..." Hong Cha muttered. She sat down on the bed of grasses and opened the satchel by her waistband. Hong Cha took out caramel candies and offered some to Gu Zixing. "Here, try this candy. Sir Alex taught me how to make this. His wife used to make it for him and I got curious. It's quite delicious."

"So, that's what you were hiding." Gu Zixing tittered and accepted some. They stayed on their spot for a moment but he came to notice she leaned on his shoulder. Gu Zixing turned to her, "You seem to be so excited with this festival?"

"Mn." Hong Cha smiled faintly. She held Gu Zixing's hand and fiddled with it. "It was my first time to be unrestrained, on my own, just outside with the commoners."

Gu Zixing froze. This was her first time to be free?

"I'm a spoiled child ever since. I stayed in a big mansion since birth, with my mother to coax me day and night, with a father to protect me, with sisters and brothers that pampers me. I grew up like a frog in a well. The only places I've been were in the mansion and the palace. Every festival, we go to the palace, dressed up, formal and wise just to keep up appearances because we bear the surname of our father, General Hong." The young girl spoke gently with a tinge of loss. "I believed that was it, there's nothing more. But the northerners took over my country, my father died, my family is gone, and Madame Wen brought me in a brothel."

Hong Cha tittered a bit to hide her misery. She compared her small hand to Gu Zixing's before interlacing them. She sighed and gazed downwards.

"The lavish festivities I used to attend, I missed them but I can't leave the brothel. All I can do every night was to look outside a window and witness lovers go by. I began to envy the commoners I once despised for being below aristocrats. I realized, they have more freedom than I do. And, during Double Seventh, the moon reminds me of those dark days. However, the cheerful atmosphere of this festival lightens up my moments. It feels great to experience this. I am not an entitled young miss anymore, and I like it. I don't have to pretend of who I am."

"Don't be sad." Gu Zixing retrieved his hand and earned his courage. He placed his arm around her shoulder as Hong Cha looked at him.

"I'm not sad." Hong Cha brimmed a smile. She suddenly clung to his neck to embrace him, her head buried to his shoulder. "Gu Zixing, thank you. Thank you so much you were there for me. Thank you, you saved me."

He would have felt the same bliss she has and comfort her but he recalled, he killed her father. He was the reason An Country fell, the reason her family was slaughtered, the reason he freedom was taken...