The Princess Weiyoung: Out of The Darkness

Alone With Weiyoung

The next day Tuoba Yu asked for Weiyoung's permission to call for a meeting with her and his nephew at the Li household.

"Please forgive me, Princess Anping. The Liu Song- the real ones, I mean, and not the ones who dressed to look like them on behalf of Chiyun Nan- are still nearby. If we do not take decisive action I am sure that you understand the implications."

He was proud of himself for addressing her formally as he sat up in bed.

Pretending that you never allowed me to call you by your first name, and that I did not beg you to call me Tuoba Yu as you held my hand the other day. Oh what wouldn't I give to have you in my arms again.

But he smiled warmly and showed no sign to her that his heart was yearning for her to be closer to him. She seemed heartened by the return to formality, and curtseyed slightly as she replied.

"If I understand correctly, then there are some very grave implications for the Northern Wei kingdom if the real Liu Song soldiers are not dealt with correctly. Jun Tao," she turned to her bodyguard, "please take the following message to Prince Gaoyang: please could he come to the Li household as soon as possible. Prince Nan'an wishes to speak to him about the retreating Liu Song army."

Jun Tao bowed silently to her lady and left at a gentle jog. Weiyoung smiled and turned to her maid,

"Bai Zhi, please could you go to the kitchen and oversee the preparation of tea and snacks. I think that there is a fine cassia tea that might suit both of the princes' refined palates. Please make sure that there are enough snacks for all of us."

She shot an impish grin at Tuoba Yu as he looked at her. "I have heard that planning for military campaigns works up a great appetite."

Bai Zhi also curtseyed and turned to leave. Seeing his chance, Cheng An who had been standing silently beside his master turned to look at Tuoba Yu.

"Prince Nan'an, forgive me. The talk of tea has reminded me that the medicine that your doctor left should be taken before food. If you permit it, I shall go and personally oversee its preparation."

Tuoba Yu smiled, and placed a hand on Cheng An's arm.

"Thank you, Cheng An. There is no one else whom I would trust to prepare it."

Cheng An tried not to look concerned at the kindness shown by Tuoba Yu, and masked it by bowing lower than normal.

"I thank you, my prince. I will take my leave of you and Princess Anping." He turned and strode as fast as etiquette permitted to catch up with Bai Zhi's retreating back.

Weiyoung glanced about the room, and seemed surprised to find herself alone with Tuoba Yu. She bowed wordlessly and turned to leave the room.

We're alone again. I need to say something to her otherwise she will leave until Prince Gaoyang arrives. Even though Jun Tao left at a job, it should take her 5 minutes to even reach my nephew's residence here. I must make the most of this opportunity.

"Princess Anping, you thought of a plan to distract the Liu Song army the other day. Are you aware of the exact circumstances now? If not, could I take this time to bring you up to speed with what has been happening? I would appreciate your counsel on how to respond to the threat their soldiers could still pose."

Weiyoung paused and turned back to Tuoba Yu, a small blush creeping up her face.

"Prince Nan'an, I should prepare a little for Prince Gaoyang's visit. I worry that I am too informally dressed to entertain two Imperial Princes. I would not want to dishonour my family by not showing you and Prince Gaoyang enough respect by dressing my hair better."

"Princess Anping, forgive me for speaking so forwardly. You look more elegant with only one hairpin in and no makeup than a first daughter wearing a dozen bracelets. Neither myself nor my nephew would find your choice of clothing in your own residence disrespectful. I cannot speak for my nephew, but I have spent a long time fighting alongside my troops. I believe that there is no better thing that will honour our empire than to give the best of oneself to serve and protect the Emperor and the civilians of this country."

Weiyoung looked startled both by the speech, and the earnestness with which it was said. She stepped towards Tuoba Yu, and raised a hand to her hair to gently tuck a loose strand behind one ear.

"Forgive my vanity, Prince Nan'an. It has been a strange time over the last few days, and now that things seem to be returning to normal, I became wrapped up in normal things. I forgot in times of war that every minute can make a difference."

Tuoba Yu indicated a chair set near to the foot of his sickbed. Weiyoung perched delicately on the edge of the chair like a half-tame bird that might take to the wing again if he startled it. Smiling a little at the comparison in his mind, Tuoba Yu sat forward a little and started to set out the dangers that lay before the Northern Wei kingdom if the Liu Song soldiers were given a chance to re-form. Weiyoung nodded as Tuoba Yu explained the regular issues with a defeated band of soldiers re-forming and launching a new series of attacks. Clearly this was nothing new to her.

Perhaps during her time as a Princess in King Hexi's kingdom she was taught some of the war and battle theories. Well, not perhaps. She has clearly been educated to a high standard when she lived as a princess. Let's see whether she has been thinking about other factors that could pose problems in this instance, or whether she has just been thinking about my nephew instead.

"This time is also different from the usual case of bands of routed soldiers re-forming a squad or a troop, and attacking--"

His eyes met Weiyoung's and he stuttered to a stop.

There, I have her full attention at last. 

He hadn't realised how much he had needed to be the focus of her attention. He felt overwhelmed by the intensity of her gaze  He looked down at his hands, remembering how she had held them when they were cold. He glanced back up at her and saw her looking confused at his having broken off his sentence.

I need to keep talking about things that will keep her interest. Play it cool. You're an Imperial Prince, for goodness sake!

"My apologies," he continued with a grin, "I was just thinking about how much we've got through over the last few days."

Weiyoung nodded sadly, "It sounds as though you think that we still have a lot more to get through, Prince Nan'an."

Tuoba Yu sat up and reached out a hand to Weiyoung.

"Lady Anping," he entreated, "take my hand and I will swear to you now that I will fight to the end alongside you to protect this kingdom from the Liu Song and from Chiyun Nan."

Weiyoung smiled sadly and started to lean forward to take his hand.

"You would promise this? And what would you have me promise you in return?"

Tuoba Yu's mind teemed with things that he wished he could ask her to promise him, but he knew there was only one honourable thing he could ask her to promise in return. He licked his lips and opened his mouth to ask her...