This was only supposed to be a little drabble but I decided against my better judgement and lack of fanfiction that I must make this into a story. This is based on both drama series and not the books. I haven't read Pillow Book yet. I haven't decided my overall plot but I am not going in sync with the actual happenings.
Chapter 1
Si Ming wanted to kick himself. How many times would he willingly help the little highness get herself into another bout of trouble without learning a lesson? Almost everyone of her mischievous attempts to get the Dijun to notice her ending in some terrible mishap. More than likely there would be blood spilt. Her blood. And Dijun Dong Hua wouldn't even notice; only to continue in his heavenly duties.
This time he pulled Feng Jiu away from the Dijun's study. Her arm cradled her other. Blood readily dripped through her fingers. A stab wound created by her own self. A spell gone rouge. Si Ming hadn't been there to see the scene play out, coming swiftly by Dijun's enraged shout.
Feng Jiu stood to the side looking down, anywhere but at Dong Hua or Si Ming. She was clearly embarrassed at herself and by the way Dong Hua was scowling it was no wonder. Most sensible people would have by now tucked tail and ran. Not the nine-tail fox.
"Escort this girl out of the palace before she shames herself further." Dong Hua waved at Si Ming.
Si Ming gave a slight bow, careful to keep his lips tightly sealed. Wondering if the Dijun was simply blind or dimwitted to not notice the girl's obvious feelings. Perhaps he was addled by old age.
Feng Jiu eyed Dong Hua a moment before Si Ming approached.
"Your Highness." Si Ming wrapped an arm around her back to corral her out of the study. It truly wouldn't do her any good to bleed on the carpets.
Despite herself, Feng Jiu looked behind them toward Dijun who stared back with steely eyes. He'd made it quite clear that they didn't have a fate,but he didn't have to be so cruel about it.
Si Ming didn't say a word to her and Feng Jiu expected him to be upset with her foolishness, although she wouldn't blame him for it. She deserved it each and every time. Would she ever learn over such stupid mistakes? After today it was plain, and clear Dong Hua didn't have feelings for her. She really ought to give up. It's not like she meant to hurt herself, but he seemed to think she'd done it for attention. Attention he refused to give to her and instead sent her to be thrown out by Si Ming. Feng Jiu was indeed losing face today. She promised herself she wouldn't cry until she was back in Qing Qui. Feng Jiu felt a bit confused when they turned the opposite direction of her exit.
"Si Ming, where are we going?" The blood continued to seep through her clenched fingers. Her arm hurt more than she let known. She'd have to take care of it soon.
"I wouldn't throw an injured lady out on her ear." Si Ming shot her a disapproving glance. "Dijun might be a stone heart, but not I." He steered her toward his rooms.
Feng Jiu felt tears threatening, and she held her eyes open, afraid to blink or let them fall. She waited until Si Ming left her sitting by the table alone. Unable to stop the building tears, Feng Jiu covered her mouth with her uninjured arm. Her hand smeared across her cheek, staining it red. The wail still escaped.
Si Ming came back a short time later with a bowl of water, cloth, and cream. The same cream she made for Dong Hua. How did it end up with Si Ming? Perhaps she wasn't the only one who knew the little secret.
If Si Ming heard her crying, he made no notice. He sat down beside her, taking her arm to assess the damage. He winced when he pulled up her blood soaked sleeve, but so did Feng Jiu. Her own blood had the tendency to make her woozy, but she would never admit it. They sat there in silence as Si Ming cleaned the blood away. Feng Jiu concentrated on keeping her bearings. IT HURT! Si Ming could have easily healed this. Was he hurting her on purpose as a sort of revenge?
Feng Jiu yelped, and it sounded more like a fox than a human.
"Hold still, Little Highness." Si Ming kept her arm in place with an apologetic look.
She looked down between them and wished she hadn't, catching the sight of the red tinted water and felt woozy all over again. Feng Jiu shut her eyes tight. She really wasn't feeling well. It wasn't just the blood. Her head thudded. A warning sign she'd lost too much blood if the stains down her gown were any indication. When her father found out she'd escaped to Nine Heavens, he would beat her again. Just the thought sickened her further. Once again she thought of Dong Hua, remembering his cold glare.
"Stupid girl," she whispered to herself. Another tear seeped its way from her eye, rolling down her cheek and dripped into her lap.
"Princess!" Si Ming shook his head at her, wrapping the cloth around her arm.
"2,000 years, Si Ming. 2,000 years." Feng Jiu hung her head in dismay. The tears were coming steadily now.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
A finger touched her cheek and Feng Jiu's eyes popped open. One of her tears danced across the tip of Si Ming's finger.
What am I thinking? Si Ming chided himself in disapproval. He shouldn't have touched the princess so freely. He'd simply wanted to make her stop crying. Now she was staring at him through a blurry view.
Si Ming withdrew his hand quickly and cleared his throat. Feng Jiu looked down at her wrapped arm.
"Thank you, Si Ming." She smiled, but it never reached her eyes. Her eyes looked rather dull and lifeless. Her face was too pale. Perhaps she was finally giving up on Dijun. This thought made him more sad than relieved. After all this…
Feng Jiu stood up, brushing her skirts out. "I'll be leaving now." She didn't look very happy about it. Was it just him or was she swaying? Something was off.
She wilted only after the first three steps.
"Little Highness!" Si Ming almost wasn't quick enough. He caught her seconds before she hit the floor. Feng Jiu's head lolled to the side. Her face scrunched up in pain from where her injured arm pressed against him. She gave a moan of protest.
"Di—Dijun told me to leave. H—he—" she began mumbling.
"Sshh." Si Ming had no intention of sending her packing in this condition. He had no other choice but to keep her here until she was better. After shushing her, he lifted her up to deposit her on the bed. He frowned. It was definitely a good thing Dong Hua never visited him.
Feng Jiu closed her eyes without a word. The Star Monarch noticed her bandage was now being saturated again.
He sat down beside her and stretched his hand out. The wound was too deep. It needed stitching, but he couldn't bear to put her through that. It was senseless when he could heal it. So he did. Normally Feng Jiu argued that she wanted her wounds to heal themselves, so he could only hope she wouldn't be too upset when she awoke.