Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Progress

(PRINCE JIN)

Two months later...

Upon seeing Hua with General Wang and the Emperor, my whole morning suddenly got better. They are standing around the throne room. Father had finished his morning meeting with the ministers and council members. Now, he is speaking with General Wang and Hua are standing a few feet away.

It looks like she accompanied her Baba in visiting the Emperor here in the Palace.

It's been over two months since I started courting Hua. And I am enjoying the journey. Getting to know her and her family is a slow but necessary process. I think there is something about getting to know a person and slowly building trust between the two of you. I consider these last months as building a foundation on where my marriage with Hua will stand.

Yes, I already married her to me in my mind although Hua had still not given me a direct answer if she will marry me. Actually, it's more about wanting to have Hua in my side than marrying her that is more important. Marriage is the process we have to go through to be to together. But the end goal for me is to be together with Hua.

I smiled when I remember her words that day when she left the Palace holding that horrible doll my sister gave to her as a parting gift when Hua stopped being the Princess' playmate.

"If you love someone, you have to be together..."

I want to be together with Hua. Does that mean that I love her? I don't know. But I am sure happy everytime I will see her.

I slowly approached them. Hua was the first one to notice my presence. I smiled at her. She smiled back. Her beautiful face, I can never get enough of looking at.

"Prince Jin," I was startled awake when the Emperor said my name. "Yes, Father?"

"Why are you here?" The Emperor look at me then at Hua then he gave me an indulgent little smile. Like he knew I was actually mesmerized by Hua that I lost conciousness of my surroundings for a while.

I scratched my head. Scrambling my brain about the reason why I am here. "Oh!" I finally remembered. "A retainer told me that General Wang is here. I wanted to say my greetings."

General Wang lifted one eyebrow. I winced inwardly. After two months, I think the General and his lover, Master Dayu, is finally thawing at me. Meaning, they are finally warming up at the idea that I am interested at their daughter.

I want their approval. Hua had said it time and time again, she will not marry against her parents' wishes. Parents, meaning the General and Master Dayu.

"Father's approval is important. He raised me. Without him, I could have died in an early age. My weak lungs were killing me before. But Father saved me. And for that, I owe him more than love and loyalty. I owe him my life. And I planned to be a good daughter to him for the rest of my life."

Hua gave that passionate speech that I made the decision right then and there. I will be a slave to General Wang and Master Dayu as long as they give me the approval to marry their daughter.

Hua is now fifteen years old. She and her twin celebrated a simple birthday in their estate about three weeks ago. She is now in an appropriate age to marry. But still, we are not hurrying up. We are enjoying our courtship.

Those walks, our talks, simple tea together. Reading, walking through the market, visiting her cousins. Horseback riding. And this last I learned just a few days ago, archery.

Hua knows her way around a bow and arrows. She is even better than her brother. She had focus like no one I had ever seen before.

I enjoyed shooting some arrows with her. Our downtimes are wonderful too. Hua is still learning embroidery, we spent afternoons together where she had her needles and embroidery works while I learn how to play strings instruments. I know how to play some wind instruments like pipes and flutes but no strings yet.