Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Nightmare

(CAPTAIN WANG)

When I got home to find why Dayu sent for me, I found my house in disarray.

Prince Jin is resting after taking the poison antidote. Hua is staying with him. Prince Guo is wearing my son's clothes with scrapes on him from running with Dao on the Imperial hunting ground. My son is no better.

Dayu is asking what we should do with not one but two Princes in our home.

And Yong, Prince Jin's guard is wearing my clothes.

The wonder won't end.

"What is happening?" I asked Dayu.

Dayu and Dao alternately explained what happened. Prince Guo remained quiet as my son relay a story of him meeting the second Prince inside the Imperial hunting ground where Dao was once taken by rebels.

Dao told us that he caught one of the black guards who tried taking them, alive. And Dayu told us that everything was cleaned up in the hunting ground. His people, Luau's people, had done a good job at cleaning the mess.

"Are you sure?" I asked Dayu. "Because if someone escaped and inform whoever sent them..."

"The Empress or the First Minister," Dao chimed in. Prince Guo paled a little. Dayu and I gave Dao a warning look.

"Whoever sent them, it will be a big disaster for us. They will know that we are training Hua as well." I finished what I am saying.

Hua's training must remain a secret. She is on her way to marrying a Prince. No one should look at her like she is a threat. Even though my daughter is indeed dangerous. She is becoming stronger and stronger.

Dayu nodded in agreement. "I will go to the hunting ground after our talk to make sure everything is cleaned properly."

"That will be for the best," I look at Prince Guo. "Now, what should we do with the Princes. Can Prince Jin be moved to the Palace?"

"No," Dayu said regretfully. "The fever had set in. If you move him, it will deteriorate his healing. He is probably asleep by now. He is not feeling the pain but the fever had started. The poison and the antidote are doing a battle now inside him."

I nodded in understanding. "Prince Jin had to remain here, then. We cannot do anything about that. That means, Prince Guo is the only one who can..."

"I will not leave my brother here," Prince Guo said in a clipped and stubborn tone that surprised us all. "If Prince Jin will stay here, I will stay here..."

That will be a disaster.

"Prince Guo,"

"You don't have to give me a bed tonight, General Wang. I will stay in my brother's room to guard him." Prince Guo said before he stood up from his seat and bowed at me a bit. Then he turned to go up on the second floor.

We all watched him go.

"We can give him some sleeping potion and carry him quietly into the Palace." Dao suggested quietly.

"Wang Dao!" I shouted my son's name. Everyone who were left in the room winced at my loud voice.

I look at Dayu who also gave me a helpless look. We need to do something about our son's bluntness.

Yong bowed at me, "Please, General Wang, don't give our Prince Guo sleeping potion," he said to me.

I feel a headache starting on my temple.