Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Direction

(WANG HUA)

Harvest Festival Day

I decided to tell Prince Jin about the gift I received from being born as a Wang.

It will be a test for the both of us. To see if I can be brave enough to tell and explain to someone who is not a member of my family about my strength. And I also want to see what kind of reaction Prince Jin will have if he learned the truth.

Today, while everyone in the country and the capital is celebrating the Harvest Festival, I will tell Prince Jin another secret about myself.

"Are you sure about this?" Dao looked worried. "Father warned you, you can tell if you are sure that Prince Jin will be part of our family and guaranteed to protect our secret. To protect you,"

"I..."

"Hua," Dao put his hands on my shoulders, "I am not saying you shouldn't do it. I just want you to be cautious. Do you really trust this Prince? If so, go on and tell him. But if there is a shred of doubt in you heart about doing this confession, then don't do it. Do you understand?"

I nodded, "Yes." I smiled at my twin brother. Dao smiled back at me. "Don't worry, whatever decision you may do, I will be there to support you." He assured me.

My brother, my protector, my savior. Dao will always be by my side, he will never let me be alone. There are times that that thought irritates me. But most of the times, that thought of not being alone, comforts me.

Dao is my chaperone when we go out that afternoon to start joining the festivities. Prince Jin and his two guards, Yong and Manchu, all dressed in normal noble robes, joined us when we got into the market. And Li An joined us too.

Li An was never disappointed that the bride selection, where she was included didn't happened.

"You know, I like your brother." Li An confessed to me almost a year ago that she lost her heart to Dao already. I told her not to get her hopes up, my brother is immature and not ready for love.

What Dao is ready for is more lessons in sword fighting. His right hand is all healed up and he can throw spikes and daggers again, but now my brother is obssessed with his left hand that can do nothing but hold a sword.

After weeks and weeks of waking up and reaching for the sword first thing in the morning, that training is now ingrained in Dao. Now, he craves to hold a sword in his left hand all the time. He is in his most frustrating period of his training though, Father had taken back his sword from Dao.

"You are now used to holding a sword in your left hand. That is good. Now, earn that right to hold and own a sword." Father said before giving Dao a wooden sword that is as heavy as a real sword.

Dao is livid in frustration. "I finally hold the real thing. A real blade. Now, Father thinks I am six again and happy to brandish a wooden sword," Dao threw the wooden sword on the ground in his tantrums.

I picked it up immediately and shoved it at his chest. "Are you out of your mind?! What if a servant saw you amd report to Father that you are throwing the sword he gave you. You know that all the servants here in the estate is loyal to Father!" I hissed at him. My brother can be such a brat.

Dao snatched the wooden sword back from me and pout and sulk. That night's dinner was interesting. Baba joined us and listened as Father recounted the events of the day for him. From Father taking the blade out of Dao's hand to giving Dao a wooden sword to Dao throwing a tantrum and throwing the wooden sword on the ground.