Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Bargain

(WANG DAO)

Our parents are acting strange. For one, they asked me to keep Hua company. For two, Baba is not taking Hua to the Palace to play with the Princess.

"Stay inside the estate, Hua is sick." Father said while we are having breakfast.

I look at Hua who stopped eating her porridge heartily when she heard what our Father said.

"Sick? I am not sick, Father." Hua shook her head. "I feel fine."

Yes, she feels fine. She looks fine. She is eating heartily more than ever. What does Father meant when he said Hua is sick?

Father cleared his throat while Baba made it a point to let Father do all the talking. Like I said, our parents are acting out of the ordinary.

"Hua's monthly bleeding will start soon..."

"Ah!" I groaned in dismay and put down my chopstick while Baba did the same. Hua blushed, her cheeks tainting red while her mouth fell open in surprise. Father continued without any remorse or pity in our delicate sensibilities.

"Hua's body temperature will take a slight change during this time of the month, as you all know that. So as a precautionary measure, Hua has to stay at home today." Father said straightforwardly.

"But Father..."

"Wang Hua," Father gave my sister a warning look for her not to protest. "Don't worry, tomorrow Uncle Mei will invite Li An and her mother into their estate. We will go there and visit Uncle Mei. You can see and play with Li An and ShuYin there. Just rest for today so you have energy for our visit to Uncle Jiang's estate tomorrow."

"Truly?" My twin's face brightened. Father smiled and nodded fondly at my sister. I stared at Father. Wondering what is going on with him.

We continued having breakfast. And I also continued observing my Father. He is being extra careful and watchful of Hua. Like some bug is looming over my sister, wanting to bite her, and Father is afraid to miss it and for Hua to get bitten.

After breakfast, Baba cleaned up and changed into his uniform before kissing Father and us goodbye.

"Stay with you sister," is his order to me.

Now, it's confirmed. Something is going on and it involves my sister. Huh...

While Hua went to the bathing house at the back of our home to wash up, I look for my Father. I found him in our spacious library. Filled with books and things that came from differrent parts of the world, our library is a scholar's dream room.

My Father is like that. A scholar. He always wanted to discover new things to study or new books to read.

But today, I think Father is in the library, not to read or study anything but to avoid Hua.

Yet he and Baba are asking me to stick to my sister's side and never leave her today.

"What is going on?" I asked Father as I lean the side of my hip on the table. Father is standing in front of the table and sorting books and scrolls.

"Nothing," Father said that word too quickly for it to be the truth. "Just be Hua's companion for today and..."

"I have to leave and meet Wu. We promised to see each other..."