A Wuxia Tale: Union

The Talk

(JIANG)

I followed Mei like a docile lamb accepting it's fate that it will be slaughter, inside the guesthouse. I don't know what happened in the one afternoon that I left Mei to his cousin's care but knowing Dayu...I don't doubt that that assasin already poisoned Mei's mind against me.

I know from the start that Dayu is competition. That selfish killer wants Mei to be his...as his supportive cousin. I won't put it past Dayu to dream of having Mei living here in the Wang Estate to they can be together everyday.

"It's that assassin's fault!" I gloomily uttered to myself.

Mei heard what I said, "Who's assassin are you talking about?"

I sighed, I think I cannot lie my way out of this one. "Dayu...who else? What did he say this time to make you angry at me?"

"Dayu didn't say anything..." Mei said.

I frowned at that. "So Dayu was not the one that made you irritated at me? Someone else is also against our relationship?"

Mei sighed, "Dayu was never against our relationship. He might not like you for me but he respects my decision to be with you. Dayu will never outright order me to leave you..."

"Oh," that's surprising indeed.

"And you should stop thinking that Dayu will try to keep us apart. My cousin knows that I love you and that we owe you so much...for that time you stayed beside us in Heilongjiang..."

"I see...so what happened? Why are you mad?"

Mei turned silent then he sighed heavily, "When we talked about having children, you mentioned not being enthusiastic about the idea. That you will be happy even if you don't have children of your own. Is that still true?"

I was surprised at that question from my lover. After the surprise, came the guilt.

"Yes," I nodded.

Mei stared into my eyes to discern my sincerity, "Are you absolutely sure...?"

"Mei..."

Mei gave me a sad look. "Why are you lying to me?" He asked with pain in his tone.

I moved to reach my lover. I gather Mei into my arms and hugged him. "I am telling the truth, I will be happy if I can spend this life with you. Even if it's just the two of us,"

Mei leaned out so he can look into my face, "Then why do you look uneasy? Why are your tone and expression conveying two different things?"

I sighed, "I have something to tell you. Let's sit down..." I pulled Mei to the settee and made him sit with me.

"This sounds serious," Mei muttered as I sat next to him.

I nodded, "This is serious. What I'm about to tell you is something no one should know. Our very lives might depend upon us keeping this a secret."

Mei's eyes widened. "You have a life threatening secret?"

I nodded. I held Mei's hands in mine and look into his eyes before I slowly told him the secret "job" I hold for the Emperor.

Mei listened intently to my explanation. It says alot about Mei's experience in secrecy and spying that my lover only flinch once while listening to my story.

When it ended, both of us took a moment to contemplate our situation.

"Your grandmother knows?" Mei spoke after awhile. "And she is threatening you to comply to her wishes?"