A Wuxia Tale: Twins of Trouble

Twins of Trouble

(DAYU)

Ever since I woke up this morning, I felt unease. Like this day will give me more challenges to face before it will end.

I almost postponed my scheduled travel to the next town to buy supplies for the peach and apple harvest tomorrow.

But I pushed aside those gloomy feelings and forged on. I got to the next town and bought some supplies when that feeling of dread came in my chest again.

I cannot ignore it anymore. So I asked the helpers who came with me to continue buying supplies without me, saying I want to go back to the estate to check on my children as my excuse.

Hua and Dao. Everytime I am thinking of my children, I felt a heavy thud on my chest. I don't like it. I don't want to think about it.

"My children are safe." I said to myself over and over while riding back to the estate. "They are safe. I will come home to find Hua studying and we will wait for a while until Dao got home. No, maybe Hua and I can pick Dao from the Lecture Halls and then I will treat them to some sweets in the market. Yes! That's what I will do..."

I kept thinking and thinking of that plan while my heart drummed harder and harder inside my chest in worry and concern. In fear.

The last time I felt a fear like this was the day my Uncle Shu died. And that thought was about to break my spirit.

When I got back to the estate, I am almost crying. I knew, something is wrong when I saw servants lingering in front of our mansion, all looking haggard.

"Master Dayu," Hua's nanny came to me. "Hua is missing." She tearfully said.

"What?" I felt my world crumbling. "Nanny, what are you saying?! Hua is missing?" I look at the other servants there. "Since when?"

"An hour after you left," a helper said. "We already dispatched guards and most of the male servants to find the young lady but they were still searching until now."

That means they haven't found Hua yet. She had been missing for almost two hours and she hasn't been found yet.

"I think she is wearing Young Master Dao's clothes, Master Dayu." Dao's nanny chimed in, in tears too. "One set of his clothes is missing from his drawers and we saw evidence of sewing activity in Young Lady's room."

I cannot believe it. Hua is wearing boy's clothing. After all the care and lectures I have given her to always act like a girl and a lady, she is now wearing boy's clothings.

Oh Hua.

"Does the General knows?" I asked the people around me.

"Yes," Hua's nanny nodded. "We already sent words to General Wang that Hua is missing when we found out that she is gone and couldn't find her around the estate ground. We were waiting for him actually."

And right that time I heard hooves and horse noises. I turned to see Captain Wang with some soldiers approaching on their horses.

"Hua is missing?" Captain get down from his horse to came to my side.

"Yes," I nodded. My mind whirling, "Find her!" I clutch Captain Wang's arms. "Find her, please..." I begged him.

"Move out! Find my daughter!" Captain shouted to his soldiers.

"Yes Sir!" They all answered.

"She is wearing Dao's clothes!" I shouted to warn them. I look at Dao's nanny and asked her to describe her clothing. "Oh a deep rose robe and green trousers. Please find our young lady,"