Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Imperial Visit

(PRINCE GUO)

After being permitted to leave that study room where General Wang gathered all of us, I went staight to the room where my brother is resting.

Lady Hua is there, gently patting a wet cloth on my brother's face and hand as my brother's body tried to fight the poison from that arrow with the help of the antidote Master Dayu gave to him.

I remember my conversation with my brother when he asked Lady Hua to leave us after his wound got clean.

"Don't be disrespectful to Master Dayu. He cares for everyone who is under his care here in the Wang Estate. He is the twin's carer. He took care of Hua. He is the reason why the woman I love is alive and well. Don't question him again. He is helping me." Prince Jin said before wincing as he tried moving to get comfortable.

"Lady Hua can fight..." I said.

"Forget about that. She is a lady. She can defend herself, that is all there is. Lady Hua is a lady of quality. Forget what you saw in that forest about her, that is my advice to you,"

"Shall I forget about Wang Dao too? That boy...he can fight better than all of us. He...doesn't hesitate when he swung that sword of his." Wang Dao's skill is worrying me. Is a fifteen year old boy should be that good in a swordfight? And to kill his enemies that easily?

"Wang Dao is simple, don't threaten his sister and he will play nice with you. For Dao, his purpose is to keep Hua safe. Avoid hurting Hua and Dao will ignore you. That boy is prideful and arrogant, but he is not all words, Guo. Dao is not someone you want to cross. He is dangerous, I will admit that. But more than his skill in swords, his sharp mind is his lethal weapon. That boy is too bright for his own good."

I tend to agree. "General Wang's family is unusual." I observed.

"They are," Prince Jin agreed. "But they will be my family. And like every family, there are rules I have to follow. They are quite simple. Never put the twins in harm's way and always be respectful to General Wang and Master Dayu. That's it. All I need to do is love and value Hua and they will treat me like their son. You..." Prince Jin gave me a grave stare. "Behave yourself. Don't let Wang Dao rile you. He is just annoying but he is loyal to those he likes. Let him ignore you, you will be safer that way.

"And Lady Hua?"

"Hua is shy in nature. If she ignores you, it's because she is feeling shy not because she is snobbing you. Just be true to her, show her some sincerity and see will be at ease with you. Hua is not coy or sly. She doesn't know how to pretend. She is not aware of that game. You have to be honest to her and she will give it back to you. She is special that way."

I stared at Lady Hua as Prince Jin opened his eyes and smile to her.

"I am fine. I just feel a little hot." He reassured the lady he is courting.

"You have a fever. Are you in pain?" She asked my brother tenderly.

"No," Prince Jin shook his head and look at me. "Guo,"

"Gege," I am getting used to calling my older brother Gege again. "Are you feeling better?"

Prince Jin nodded, "I can deal with fever. My arm is not hurting anymore." He looked at the bandaged side of his arm where the arrow struck him. "What time is it, love?" He asked Lady Hua.