Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Scolded

(WANG HUA)

I worry about Jin. When we got to the Wang Estate, Father welcomed us.

"How badly is he hurt?" Father asked as we lay Jin in the bed on the spare room of our home.

"The arrow is poisoned, Father." I said nervously.

Father looks at all of us. Me, Guo and Yong who hovered by Jin's bed.

"Well, get out, all of you and clean up. You cannot be here looking all dusty with dirt clinging on you bodies and clothes. Prince Jin needs a clean surrounding so his wound won't..."

"I will not leave my brother," Prince Guo interuppted my Father as Yong and I moved to follow his order. The second Prince looked straight to my Father's eyes. "I don't know you. I don't trust you. How will I know that you will heal my brother and not kill him..."

"Oh I want to kill the both of you," Father said in a clipped tone. We all winced. Jin even groaned. "I think you have put my children in harms way too many a times that I am starting to think all the Princes in the Palace are cursed. Don't mistake me, young man. I want to kill you..."

Prince Guo's jaw slacked. He was about to retaliate when Jin put a hand on his arm.

"Guo, don't argue with Master Dayu. Please, let me live. It's fine. He will take care of me. Go out and clean up before my wound get infected." Jin begged his brother.

"But..." Prince Guo's face said he wanted to argue more but Yong moved to pull Prince Guo up from crouching by the bed and guiding him outside. I followed them and close the door of the room myself.

We encountered mine and Dao's nannies bearing clean linen bandages and water in basins plus more medicinal supplies that Father will use to clean Jin's wound.

I look at Yong and the second Prince. "I will clean up and check on Jin. Clean up too so you can see him. Jin is wounded, cleanliness will be imposed on his room. Please..."

I called for a servant to help Prince Guo and Yong to get them cleaned up in another spare room. I hope they can find clean clothes for them. I think Dao's clothes will fit the second Prince but Yong...Jin's guard is wider and bigger than anyone in our household aside from my Baba. I wonder if Yong can borrow some of my Baba's clothes.

After I made sure that I am clean, I picked even the dirt under my nails, I got out of my room to go back to where Jin was taken.

I saw that Father already pulled out the arrow from Jin's wound. Jin is sweating and biting a piece of cloth as Father clean his wound with saline water. I wince because I know it stings.

"Your brother?" Father asked while his eyes are focused on Jin's wound.

I crouched near Jin's head and took one of his hand. He tried smiling at me through the cloth he is biting.

"Still fighting, Father." I answered Father's question. "Making sure that everything will be done cleanly."

"Good." Father nodded. "Your brother will be a good general with that thorough trait of him."

Yes, Dao is thorough. He planned well too. I just wonder what went wrong tonight.

I heard the door of the room sliding open again and I turn to see Yong escorting the second Prince back inside.

"What happened?" Father asked. I look at Prince Guo who didn't answered quick enough. "Father is asking you," I explained to the second Prince.