The King of Kings: Three Days Emperor

Chapter 11: The Exiled Princes

Months have passed. Most of Wu Lei's wounds have recovered, but not so much his eyes. Ai Siyi said that his eyes would take at least seven months and at most a year to fully recover. Lu Si got better at picking herbs in the mountain and became Ai Siyi's disciple.

Despite getting better, Wu Lei's temperament got worst. Even at night time he would not sleep and have endless thoughts about his future. Every night he would come out to the veranda to feel the wind and the night's quiet song.

One night, Lu Si came out and play her guzheng with hopes that the song would ease his heavy heart. Yet, the song did nothing but brought him anger. The song reminded him of that other song that now brought him many traumas and bad memories.

"Stop playing!" He shouted, "STOP PLAYING THE SONG!"

Lu Si was startled by him. She pulled back on the string too hard that it snapped and cut her finger.

"Go away! Leave!" He ordered.

Lu Si scowled in anger. When she got up her guzheng dropped. He heard, but didn't call her back. Wu Lei admitted that he didn't take kindly to her at first. He was on high suspicion of people around him. She didn't speak a word, but she was always around. He thought she was Ai Siyi's servant with the obligation of taking care of him. Days gone by and he realized she came along with him. She was not a servant of Ai Siyi. He didn't know who she was. She was not Fan Ya Rong, that he was sure of. That woman would never, after what she had done to him. To have someone this kind to him, Wu Lei didn't think he deserve it. He considered himself a cripple, it would be better for her to not waste her life for him.

––

To calm him down, Lu Si did not tend to him but it was Mudan and Huami in rotation. Wu Lei was satisfied that she didn't come, but he got curious about her well-being.

"Mudan."

"Young Master."

"Did Si Si leave?" Wu Lei asked.

For the past nights she was in his thoughts. It was not right of him to keep doing so. He kept noticing her. For the past months it was her that tended to his wounds. Her gentle touch that he felt, and the small sighs from her breathing patterns that he picked up from his sharped hearings. Since when did I get use to you?

"Ah..." Mudan paused. She was instructed to be cautious with her words when answering Wu Lei. "Si Si is doing well. She was given other tasks to do by Master. The Master think that it is better to separate her from you for the mean time. Young Master Shen do not worry. Si Si is currently well."

"That's good." He smiled and whispered to himself, "I was worrying over nothing."

Mudan glanced up then bit her tongue, keeping mum while tying the silks together, "Young Master Shen, if there is nothing else, Mudan will take her leave."

"Mmm." He excused her.

Although Wu Lei lost his sights he still has his other senses. For the other senses to be of use, a little practice was needed. He developed a habit of taking nightly walks around the cottage in order to feel and hear the night breeze clashing with the water. It was late one night that he took a walk from where he lived –the little cottage hidden away in a mountain range that was situated right on the bank of the lakes– to the pathway into the forest.

"Huami."

He stopped and hid himself when he heard Mudan's voice.

"How is Si Si?"

"She's getting better."

Wu Lei chewed lightly on his lips. His palms suddenly break out into sweats. His heart raced, the uncomfortable feeling kicked in. Mudan lied to him.