Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Crashing Sounds

(WANG HUA)

In the two weeks of Dao leaving our home, I noticed an undeniable change on our parents. They started acting strange.

Baba is in constant quiet state. Him joining us to dinner got seldom and he will just ask me about my day and then he will resume eating quietly. When he is done, he will politely say thank you to Father, and then he will leave the table to lock himself on the library.

Meanwhile, Father is lost on his thoughts. His focus not as sharp as before. Like Father is thinking of a puzzle he is having a difficult time solving.

I wonder what is going on with my parents. And my curiousity prompted me to approach my Father.

"Is there something wrong, Father?" I asked him as I join him in the garden after dinner. The half moon shining on us and the torches around the house pillars are lit to light some parts of the estate close to the main house.

"Nothing, my flower." He answered but Father's strained smile made me doubt his words.

I bit my lower lip when an idea entered my mind, "Is it Dao? Do you miss him too much?"

I miss my brother. His...presence in our home, greatly missing. It's making me feel sad and guilty. I know why my parents and Dao chose to place my brother in that military base.

It's because of me.

"I am sorry, Father. You lost Dao because of me..." I look down on the ground to hide my face my my Father.

"No," Father tilted my chin up to stare into my eyes. "I am not thinking of your brother." Father winced, "Well, that would be a lie. Of course, I am thinking of Dao. I miss him. But my concern is not largely because of him. There are other things occupying my head right now."

"What is it, Father? May I help you, if you have a problem? Maybe I can help..."

"Oh, my sweet daughter." Father hugged me. "I am fine, no need to worry."

"But I do worry, Father." I sighed and lean against him. "I am not used seeing you lost in thought. If you have a problem, I want to help. Although, not about missing Dao." I sighed when I leaned out to smile sadly at my Father. "I am afraid I also don't know the answer to alleviate the feeling of missing him."

Father smiled at me. Genuine this time, "You must miss him a lot. You are his twin after all."

"I do," I swallowed hard to keep my emotions in check and my composure intact. No need to cry, it's not like Dao is lost to me forever. He is just in another side of the city. Inside the Palace. With my own Prince Jin. "And I know Dao is missing us too. But he is strong, Father. Dao is strong. I trust that he will give his best in training as a soldier and he will make us all proud. I know that. I believe that."

Father nodded, "No truer words had even been spoken. Yes, you are right, Hua. Your brother is strong. And he misses us too. But he is keeping his post and doing his best in that military base. You are right..."

"Yes, Father." I smiled in relief that he agrees with me. "And besides, Baba is there. He will protect Dao. I know, Baba won't let anything bad to happen to Dao. I trust him, my Baba."

Father gave me a strange look before he sighed and hug me again. "You are a better daughter to your Baba than I am a partner to him. Your Father is stupid, Hua."

"That's absurd," I laughed as Father let me go. I shook my head at him, "You are the wisest man, Dao and I know, Father. The wisest and the strongest. And I know that you love us the best."

"Did you? That is good, then" Father nodded and gently caressed the side of my head. "I do, love you and Dao. And I also love your Baba. The three of you, I love."