Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Arranged Place

(CAPTAIN WANG)

"What do you plan to do?" I asked my lover as we sat together on a long settee inside our room.

Dayu just came from meeting Luau with Mei. He told me the message Luau passed from the Emperor to Dayu. That message can be relief and a burden for us.

The message is clear. Wang Hua is no longer looked favorably by the Emperor. Now, if we want a Prince for our daughter, we have to work hard for it. Or else, the Emperor will not release Prince Jin to marry our daughter.

It was a relief, in a way. The Emperor no longer desire to give Hua the Empress crown. We never wanted that crown and honor on our daughter's head.

On the other hand, it will break our daughter's heart if the Emperor will withold his blessing to the union of his oldest son to our daughter.

Hua loves Prince Jin too much now for her to lose the oldest Prince. It will break our daughter's fragile heart.

That won't do at all.

Dayu sighed, "If that man is not the Emperor, I will kill him in an instant." He said.

I winced, "Please, don't kill the Emperor. It will fall on my head if a member of the Imperial Family get hurt on my watch."

It will be. I am the main General in charge of the security of the Palace and the Capital. I am the main man to blame if something wrong will happen to the people and the places I sworn to protect.

Dayu snorted, "That Emperor should be aware of how lucky he is that your life is connected to his safety. Or I swear, I will really snuff his arrogance. He is getting on my nerves, Wang Qing." My lover equipped.

I sighed, "Calm yourself, my heart."

Dayu continued to apply hand softening salve on my right hand. I sat with my back against the wall, supporting Dayu's weight. Dayu's back on my chest. My Heart is inspecting my hands. He do this as a habit and part of his regime in taking care of me.

My hands are prone to callouses from sword handling and writing reports and signing documents. They also suffered from splinters and cuts. Dayu inspect them to make sure to get the splinters out, clean and mend any cuts and soften the callouses.

The way Dayu took care of my hands spoke just how much he loves me. Detailed, precise and with great care.

Dayu...he loves me.

Who he doesn't love at this moment is the Emperor. "What do you plan to do about the First Minister, Empress and First Council?"

I think the Emperor had enough of those three and wanted us to sort it out.

"Can't I kill them?" Dayu asked.

"Dayu ah," I sighed. "Why is all you can think about is killing someone?"

Dayu sighed with me, "I think I should have killed someone by now regarding this mess your daughter's suitor gave to us. I should have killed that Prince Jin the first time he set foot on our estate, then all of this wouldn't have happened. Oh but look here, I curbed my instinct then now, Mei and his daughter ShuYin got involved as well. I am itching to kill someone..."