The Queen In Red

The Queen In Red 15

Dong Hua was lounging by his pond with a fishing rod sitting loosely between his fingers in one hand while the other was holding a scroll.

There was always plenty to think about, but Feng Jiu was a hot topic in his mind.

Dong Hua had hurt her again, and every time he did, it ripped a small piece of him apart. He felt something breaking inside of him each time he allowed a little part of her into his life.

When he reached the Demon Lands to confirm some of his suspicions, he was surprised to see a naked and tortured Demon Lord chained and bound. Had it not been for Feng Jiu's affection for the Demon Lord and history Dong Hua shared with Yan Chiwu's father, he would have left him to rot.

When he took Yan Chiwu from Miao Luo, Dong Hua couldn't help but look through his memories to understand what kind of relationship he had with Feng Jiu. He saw the first time they had met and the pain she carried. He had no idea that she left for Fanyin Valley in the hopes of fading away. Dong Hua hated himself, even more, having almost been the cause of her death.

She had suffered so much, and he had learned from Yan Chiwu that she would suffer even more because of the choices he made thousands of years ago.

By the time he left the Demon lands, he had convinced himself that the only way to protect her was to stay as far away from her as possible.

His purpose for travelling to the Demon Lands had temporarily deterred, but after sending Mo Yuan. Together, they began a long and arduous job of dismantling the framework Miao Luo had spent thousands of years constructing. Miao Luo's influence was indeed vast while her reach unimaginable. They had not even scratched the surface.

Dong Hua had banished Miao Luo because of her vulgarity and sealed her powers to protect her people. It seemed even that alone wasn't enough.

After a week of travelling, Dong Hua returned to Tai Chen Palace and saw the most delightful sight, Feng Jiu was cooking in his kitchen as if she owned it.

Under an invisibility spell, Zhong Lin had told Dong Hua that Feng Jiu spent the week in the guest room during his absence and spent a lot of her time in the library. But for every meal, she was in the kitchen preparing the meals for the staff.

Zhong Lin was confused why Dong Hua kept himself hidden, but after seeing the longing in his master's eyes for the Young Queen, he didn't dare ask.

The day she left, Dong Hua spent all day with her, sitting next to her and watching quietly, just enjoying her presence knowing that she would go to Kun Lun.

Mo Yuan had told Dong Hua to speak with her frequently, but Dong Hua believed she would do everything in her power to stay by his side.

He poorly miscalculated.

When he saw the very burdens she carried in Fanyin Valley, show themselves again before storming out of his chambers, he realised his mistake. She was much stronger than he believed her to be.

"Brooding makes your face look foul Dong Hua," Bai Zhi said, forcing him out of his thoughts.

"I wonder who could be causing such tension between those eyebrows, Bai Zhi, where is your granddaughter?" Zhe Yan asked, looking around the courtyard laughing.

Opening his eyes, he glared at the laughing Zhe Yan.

"That look isn't any better." Zhe Yan said, not paying attention to the rising frustration seething before him. "Why did you want to see us? I thought we were going to wait and meet at Kunlun?"

Ignoring Zhe Yan, he turned to Bai Zhi. "I wanted Bai Zhi and Mo Yuan, where is Mo Yuan?"

"I know he came early to see Xiao Wu and Ye Hua; you know how much she dotes on him. Especially when he visits the Nine Heavens, he's probably with his seventeenth." Bai Zhi said as he sat and conjured a cup while pouring himself a tea.