Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Coincidence

(WANG HUA)

The first gift I received from Prince Jin is a hand written letter that came in the estate two days after his night visit to ask for permission to court me.

Father himself handed it to me while we are having breakfast. It is still sealed.

"For me?" I carefull picked the linen envelop sealed with a wax stamped with Prince Jin's crest.

Father nodded, "At least he listened carefully. No lavish gift." He said while I was opening the letter.

I smiled while reading the few lines the Prince written in a piece of parchment paper. The message is quite simple and sweet.

"I never knew that walking in a garden could be life changing. Or that an hour run so fast before. I am eagerly anticipating the moment I will see you again, Hua. Sincerely, Jin."

I can feel the Prince's sincerity in his wordings. Dao moaned while sitting beside me in the breakfast table. I frowned at him. "Why?"

"Stop looking like a smitten cat. It's annoying,"

"Wang Dao!" Both Father and I censored him. "I don't look like a smitten cat," I sneered at him.

"You do. You know how blunt I am. Or honest. You haven't stopped smiling since that night that Prince barged in here..."

"He didn't barged in. The Prince is not like an angry mob that marched here to destroy our home. Watch your words, Wang Dao." I adviced him.

Dao was amazed, "Well...you are now taking his side against me. Am I suddenly pushed down from my sister's affection list, Father?" Dao turned to Father who carefully tear up the bread in his plate. "I think we all moved one spot down from Hua's affection list, Dao ah..."

"Father," I was scandalized. "That is not true."

Father and Dao stared at me until I grew uncomfortable. I slowly folded Prince Jin's letter and put it back inside it's linen envelop. Then I serenely went back to eating breakfast.

"What is your schedule this afternoon, after your lesson with Father?" Dao asked after some moments.

I look at my Father, "Father, can I visit Li An..."

"No," Father said. I frowned, "Why not?" I whined a little.

"Because it will be insensitive to do so. Have you forgotten, Li An was supposed to be one of those ladies in the bride selection of Prince Jin. The Prince cancelled the whole thing and decided to pursue you. Going to Li An will put you in a precarious state. People will wonder if you will go there to gloat that the Prince chose you..."

I paled, "I never gloat. Li An won't think that way..."

"Li An wouldn't." Father agreed. "But will her parents think so too? Her grandfather, do you think he is still fond of you? You just took away an oportunity for their daughter to up her status. Now, everyone knows that you can be a Princess. Pursued for love. Some people will think you are so lucky, you will start gloating to others..."

"Hua is not like that Father..." Dao defended me.

"I know. We know. Because we are her family. We know her. But can you claim the same for other people? No. They don't know Hua, they don't know her kind heart. They might judge her badly and harshly if she will not be careful with her decisions and actions," Father argued.

Dao frowned. "So what should we do? What should Hua do? Stay here in the estate until she marry that Prince?"

"I am not sure if I will marry the Prince..." I stopped when both Father and Dao raised an eyebrow at me in the same manner. They can be both exhausting at times.