Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 20

Nuwa awoke in the early morning to the sound of low voices outside of her door.

"She's still asleep" said the voice of her Grandmother.

"I won't wake her, I just want to look in on her" pleaded the voice of her Father, the Heavenly Emperor.

Nuwa's eyes widened in alarm. She wasn't ready to face her father yet. She turned and faced the wall, closing her eyes, and tried to regulate her breathing to sound like a person sleeping. She heard the door open behind her.

"Nuwa?" Father whispered. "My little Princess? Are you awake?"

She heard the sound of light footsteps approaching the bed, and the subtle swish of fabric rubbing against itself. The warm weight of her Father's hand settled on the back of her head, stroking her hair.

"Your Mother will be home soon" Father told her in his soft, soothing voice. "She is bringing medicine for you. Just rest now, before long you will be all right again" he promised. He sounded really worried.

Nuwa's heart contracted in her chest. She hated to be the cause of her Father's distress. She didn't deserve his solicitude. If he knew what she had done with Tangyue, he would be appalled. He would never look at her the same way.

He stayed there for a few minutes, stroking her hair, and then she heard him get up, and the door close. She tentatively opened her eyes, making sure he had really left, before she moved. Then she fished around in her pillowcase until she brought out a piece of paper. She opened the folds, and read the note on it for the hundredth time.

'Dear Cousin Nuwa,

I heard that you have taken ill. I hope that you will recover quickly. I will be leaving the Heavenly Realm for a short time, but plan to visit you personally upon my return. Please take care of yourself.

Tangyue'

"What does this mean?" she asked herself silently. If he had left her, why would he come and visit her? If he hadn't left her, why was the note so formal? There was no mention of their relationship, whether in a good way or a bad way.

How can she ever face her Father again, if Tangyue won't marry her?

A knock on the door interrupted her reverie.

"Nuwa, please be awake" pleaded the muffled voice of her little brother from behind the door. "You don't know what I had to do to sneak past Grandmother Zhou!" he whispered intently.

Nuwa looked up with interest. What did he have to do? She almost laughed. Quickly she shoved Tangyue's note back into her pillowcase, and then ran to the door to open it.

Fuzang was holding a big stack of books and scrolls, with an ink brush between his teeth. Nuwa almost laughed again, but covered her mouth, and motioned him inside her room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

He deposited the load on the table that was placed in front of her mirror, and heaved a relieved sigh.

"Fuzang, what are you doing here so early?" she asked him.

"Old Lao told Father that I've been falling behind on my studies" Fuzang replied, rolling his eyes. "Father told me to ask for your help on my paper on 'Mortal Habits and Customs'. I have to be honest, I haven't done any of it" he admitted.

"What were you doing instead?" Nuwa asked curiously, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

Fuzang edged closer and leaned down to whisper. "I've been researching cave systems."

She looked up at him, incredulous.

"Are you trying to find another entrance to the Demon Realm?" she whispered fiercely.