Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Gambling House

(CAPTAIN WANG)

The meeting will be held in a gambling house. Trust my lover to make everything complicated for me, the one who is supposed to secure the Emperor.

The Emperor chuckled at me as we walk together to get to the meeting place Dayu chosen. "He is truly interesting. Your Estate Manager, General Wang."

I sighed, "I wish people will stop finding him interesting, Your Majesty." My selfishness and possessiveness to my lover are bristling whenever I hear people finding my lover interesting.

"Don't worry too much, General." The Emperor said good naturedly. I have this feeling that like his second son, the Emperor enjoys a stroll outside of the Palace in common people's garb.

"General," The Emperor called for my attention.

"Yes, Sir?" I stayed beside him. "What is it?"

"The black guard your son captured that night...send him to me. I want to keep that witness and evidence safe." The Emperor said.

He is talking about the Palace guard who lead the attack on the second Prince that Dao captured and now Dayu imprisoned in our barn. Dayu had finished questioning that man and now my lover is keeping the man fed with just enough bread and water to keep him alive but that guard is not going anywhere.

I nodded, "Per your wish, your Majesty."

"Good." The Emperor sighed. "This is a nice night for a walk. I am glad we are doing it." I think it's inconvenient but I had no choice but to agree and stay alert.

I look back to see the Emperor's personal guards following us a few phases away. Like us, they are garbed in simple farming clothes. Common people's clothes. Gray, cotton and looking well worn.

The gambling house is frequented with common people. You can see all form of gambling there. Cards, dice, cockfights and even rat race. All kinds of gambling pleasure.

"People will be aplenty there. It will be noisy and dirty. Who in their right mind will think that the most powerful man of this Kingdom will be there?"

I know my lover is wise. And even in this, he got a point. But protecting the Emperor in a ruckus place like that will be a pain in my neck.

That is why I took the time this week to make sure that my subordinates in the Capital Military Base did all their jobs on time. I prepared well for this trip. Made sure the Palace is secured and people are on their right position before I left the full control to my second in command. General Song is not Mei, he is not as efficient in following my order as Mei but he is dependable.

I think no one can be a better second in command than Mei. But Mei is Dayu's second in command. And Jiang's precious partner. Mei will not work for me again, even if I beg him.

I cannot bribe Mei with money, Jiang is richer than me. I cannot beg Mei's heart to work for me again, Dayu is against Mei being a soldier once more. And Mei does what Dayu adviced him to do.

Mei and Dayu are determined to remain as private citizens of this Nation.

But my lover cannot escape this meeting with the Emperor. No, Dayu doesn't want to avoid it. My lover is anticipating this meeting.

The Emperor had pricked into Dayu's personal life that my lover is now annoyed enough to finally meet our sovereign leader head on. For Dayu, the Emperor is shaking the branches of his tree and he is not waiting anymore for any of his precious fruits to fall on the ground. Involving Hua, Mei and ShuYin in this Princes matter is grating on my lover's nerve.