Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Debt

(PRINCE JIN)

They say he is a snob. No one told me that the son of General Wang is also arrogant to his core.

The speed of Wang Dao producing that dagger is astonishing, though. How can one person be that fast?

I look at Yong, "You have never seen someone that fast before, right?"

Yong nodded, "Yes. That dagger suddenly appeared on his hand, I didn't catch where he got it."

I frowned, "What if General Wang's lover is training Wang Dao?"

"Then you got a fight in your hand, my Prince." Manchu said. "That boy doesn't look like he will back down too."

"His sister is stubborn, why would you think her brother will be any different?" Yong hit Manchu's shoulder.

I shook my head, "No, Wang Dao is not stubborn. But he is arrogant. Too arrogant,"

"You think that's a weakness?" Yong curiously asked.

I shook my head, "The thing is, arrogance is a weakness if you cannot follow it through with your action. You think Wang Dao cannot follow through his words? With how fast he was on producing that dagger?"

"He is known for being intelligent too," Yong said. "Rumors on how widely read he is are running around the Lecture Halls."

"That makes Wang Dao, a very dangerous opponent," I said. "No, I cannot challenge him. I may have a chance to win but there is also a chance that I will lose. And what I will lose is bigger than what I will gain if I win. No, losing is not an option..."

If I lose, I might die. I don't need to make an enemy out of General Wang's son. I need Wang Dao...as an ally.

But how? I have this distinct feeling that he doesn't like me.

"Your Highness, let's go back to the Palace before everyone missed you. One afternoon of adventure is enough," Yong said.

I sighed and followed as we walk back. Along the way, I am wondering how I will meet Wang Hua again.

                        .......................

(DAYU)

I secretly smiled. The twins are at it again. Pushing and snarling at one another before approaching me with the problems that are bugging their minds.

All their lives, the twins are like that. They are curious about something they think they shouldn't be curious about. They want to approach and ask me but they are squabbling as to who will ask me or who will voice out their concern as they think it will made me upset.

I never get mad at the twin for their curiousity. I do get strict when they are training under my care but I never show anger with them for asking. Or even when they are confessing a sin.

I think being angry after your children gathered their courage to confess to you will serve no purpose. It will only make the children wary to confess again. I want the twin to have the confidence to know that if they voluntarily confess their sins, the punishment will be not as severe as when I heard it from someone else.

Tonight, the twins are subdued while we had dinner. Captain Wang didn't get to join us, he is still busy in the Imperial Army, working. I just kept a portion of food for him that I can reheat when he came home. That's for later...

But for now, my concern is the twins who are slowly approaching me while I read in the library.

"What is it?" I took my eyes off the book I am reading to look at them.