Blind Princess

第十九章

"Young Master Lan." The two guard cultivators bowed, "General Chang, Wang Gongzhu." they bowed to the two others. "A young girl is waiting up at the mansion for the princess. Her name is..."

"...Lang Caihong." the other cultivator finished. Dongmei had already started running up the rest of the path the moment Caihong's name left the disciple's name. "Gongzhu..."The disciple sighed, watching her run off, "I wasn't done talking." the two cultivators chuckled, letting Rong and Cheung walkthrough. Rong and Cheung hurried up the path to the mansion, seeing Caihong and Dongmei hugging.

"I can't believe you're here. I thought I would never see you again." Dongmei was sobbing by this point, not letting go of Caihong, who was starting to look awkward.  "I was going to die and I thought about you. I wanted to see you so bad, and now you're here. I'm dreaming." Caihong gave a watery laugh.

"No, I am here. But...Dongemi, the Emperor is after you now." Caihong held Dongmei at arm's length. "I was told to bring you back...but I sort of ran away before the Emperor could send me. You need to go back." Dongmei shook her head. 

"I can't." Caihong sighed.

"That's what I thought you would say." she stepped back and crossed her arms behind her back. "Are you sure it's safe to stay here? From your father and his armies?" Dongmei nodded, "And Clan Master Lan? Your father sent word for everyone to search for you." Dongmei heard Cheung suck in a sharp breath. Dongmei spun around and faced Chueng.

"Is there something you didn't tell me?" She demanded.

Cheung hesitated, "I received word this morning from my father about this. He is determined to hide you here until he is sure that you are ready to continue. Clan Master Lan will not let your father know where you are, even if his life depended on it. My father is convinced that your idea for this inside fight is best if executed by you." Cheung watched everyone for a reaction, "The Lan Clan of Baiyu stands with you, Wang Dongmei Gongzhu. Long life to your Highness." Cheung bowed deeply, his hands clasped in front of him. The Lan disciples nearby followed his lead.

"Long life to your Highness!" the shouted. 

-------

Knock. Knock. 

Dongmei looked up from her book, seeing Rong look down at her. "Eat something." He placed a tray of steamed buns and soup. "You've been at this for two days already." Rong kneeled in front of the small table., "What exactly are you trying to find?"

Dongmei stuffed a steamed bun in her mouth, her eye back down at the book, "I'm just reading up on anything on Siwang, life-givers, and how exactly martial arts work on the body's chi." Dongmei said, trying to talk around her food. 

"And?" Rong looked at the book she was reading all the characters making Rong's head swim, especially since he was reading it upside down. 

The white-haired princess let out an exaggerated sigh, "These cultivators are so detailed....I've only got through 15 books...."

"That's not so bad. After all, these books are huge." Rong encouraged her.

"...today." Rong choked on his spit.

"How many have you read?!" he choked out. Dongmei looked up at the bookshelves, her eyes seeming to gaze beyond them.

"Um...." she counted on her fingers, "68 books since yesterday morning." Rong started coughing violently.

"6-" he cleared his throat loudly, "68 BOOKS!?" he stared wide-eyed at Donemei, "How- When....Why the....?" he sighed getting up. "Okay...then, I suppose I'll leave you to it." he glanced at Dongmei nervously as he walked out of the library. Dongmei glanced up to see him turn a corner and she returned to her book, muttering observations to herself now and then.

The Siwang have been fighting against us for centuries ...

Siwang leader died, leaving his only son to continue his work ... Villages burning ... life-givers dead, strew across the streets ... new leader's agenda to destroy all life-givers and Lan disciples.

... Lan disciples increasing in size and manpower... Inhabiting Baiyu Mountains, heavy spells and protection talismans protect the mountain. ... Baiyunji Village is where Lan disciples get food and needed supplies ...

Dongmei sighed and flipped the book closed and grabbed the next one. She flipped to the first page, her face going slack as she re-read the next pages multiple times.

Siwang Clan found at Baiyunji Village. A small group of doctors descended from the famed surgeon, Huang Haoran. ... Lan Clan Leader ordered to keep this from the Emperor, wanting to protect this lowly sub-clan. 

... Huang Meng Yao, niece of the Siwang Clan Leader of Baiyunji, now married to Emperor Wang the Thirteenth of his line. Clan Master Changpu ordered for her heritage to be kept a secret. ... Siwang Clan Leader of Baiyunji met with our Clan Master Changpu today, discussing the news of the new-born princess, the white-haired and silver-eyed Wang Dongmei, long life to her young Highness. ... Found in the garden by Young Master Lan Cheung and Young Master Chang Rong with a dead bird lying at her feet. ...Young Master Lan Cheung returned with his father, Clan Master Lan, to see the same bird alive.

Dongmei frowned, the same memory tickling her brain.

... Clan Leader Lan hurried to the Golden Palace today to persuade the Emperor not to take young Wang Dongmei's sight. ...mother no longer alive to protect her child ... died from an illness. ...Clan Leader Lan and his disciples were too late ... the child was already blinded by the time they arrived ... "We cannot let the princess' power be known. A revolution can spark from this. A dangerous one and a deadly one. ... May the gods keep this one safe." ...

The book continued to talk about the future reign of the Emperor and the coming of the young General Rong and his deeds. "That's it!" Dongmei flipped back, scanning for anything she missed. "Oh no you don't," she muttered, getting to her feet and hurrying out of the library with the book in her arms.