- Chapter Start –
"XiaoBao, you really need to curb this bad habit of hugging people whenever you feel like it."
That voice - familiar, warm and amused - acts like a bucket of icy water dumped on Fang DuoBing's head.
"Ahh!" He releases Princess ZhaoLing so abruptly that he has to grab her again when she flails for balance with a little squeak. Their eyes – red and teary – meet for a startled heartbeat before he releases her again.
Taking two steps back, he drops to his knees, holds his sword with both hands and bows his head.
"Gongzhu, please forgive such untoward behaviour!"
Silence.
Fang DuoBing sinks his teeth into his lower lip, cheeks pulsing with heat. His parents had brought him up to be a proper gentleman and what had he done?
He'd embraced a young, unmarried female who's neither his mother nor his aunt. Worse still, he hadn't asked for permission. Worst of all, she's Princess ZhaoLing, the fiancée he'd run away from!
Thoroughly ashamed, he keeps his head low and awaits the scolding of his lifetime – maybe even a kick or two - but nothing happens. When he peeps up through his bangs, he sees her staring down at him, face and nose still pink.
"Ahh! Don't look at me!" Turning her back on him, she scrubs at her face with her fingers.
Not quite dainty princess behaviour, but oddly endearing. Also, her hair smelled like flowers and she fitted so nicely in his – with an effort, Fang DuoBing stops his wayward thoughts and wills his blush to fade.
"Young love, how sweet."
Fang DuoBing's face flames anew at Di FeiSheng's amused drawl. Before he can dig a hole in the ground with his sword and jump in, Princess ZhaoLing turns around again.
"Fang DuoBing. Get up."
Fang DuoBing ducks his head lower.
"Gongzhu, please forgive this unworthy one for-"
"Get up. Don't kneel like that!"
Two small hands close over his wrists and tug. Fang DuoBing looks up again, relieved to see she doesn't look angry. Her cheeks are still rosy though.
"Are you alright?" He asks, getting to his feet. Then he sees his hand reaching for her face and hurriedly drags it down again. Stupid hand!
A slight cough catches their attention.
"Gongzhu, XiaoBao, we apologise for interrupting such a sweet moment. But time is of the essence."
- o –
Yang YunChun is anxiously pacing up and down before the small table while holding the precious wooden box in his hands. He brightens up when he sees them.
"Gongzhu, I'm glad you're alright. Let's all sit down."
Everyone finds a seat except for Di FeiSheng who stands behind Li LianHua.
"Li-xiong, I undersand your urgency, but I believe we have a bit of time," Yang YunChun says. "Starting from today and for a whole week, the Emperor will spend his afternoons inspecting the palace grounds himself with my shifu. He wants to make sure that Shan GuDao" – here, he pauses to glance at Fang DuoBing who just nods – "and his men did not discover anything else while they were there."
"Has the Emperor fully recovered from the Demon Monk's poisoning then?" Li LianHua asks.
"Yes."
"Hmph. He didn't need the Styx Flower after all," Di FeiSheng mutters and coughs when Li LianHua jabs a pointy elbow into his hip.
"Gongzhu, how did you learn about the Styx Flower?" Fang DuoBing asks, ignoring both of them.
"I swear I didn't tell her or anyone!" Yang YunChun says at once.
"It was Dian Qiu who told me," Princess ZhaoLing says. "He's the Head Guard of YuHua Gate. Do you remember him, Li LianHua?"
"Of course. You gave me one of your hairpins to show him if I needed his help. And I did."
"You have one of her hairpins?" Fang DuoBing asks in surprise.
"Anyway," Princess ZhaoLing continues, "Dian Qiu informed me that Li LianHua gave fuwang the only thing that could cure him and that he didn't have to worry anymore. Then this morning, my maid told me that she overheard whispers about what's kept in our Interior Treasure Room."
When the others exchange meaningful looks, she frowns.
"Li LianHua, why did you give this Styx Flower to fuwang when you need it? And why would your - your death reassure him? You're a good man! You defeated Shan GuDao and exposed his plan to takeover the throne with that Imperial Perceptor of XiBei imposter!"
When the others keep quiet, she huffs in exasperation.
"No one tells me anything! Everyone is keeping secrets, even fuwang."
"Gongzhu," Fang DuoBing begins, glancing at Li LianHua who gives a tiny shake of his head.
Princess ZhaoLing tosses her head.
"Anyway, I snuck into the treasure room this afternoon. All the things there are kept in individual glass cases except for this box so I…"
"Took it," Li LianHua finishes for her with a wry smile.
She nods, looking abashed.
"Gongzhu, truly, I appreciate your gesture," Li LianHua continues, "but-"
"For fuwang to keep it there, it must be a very rare item."
Fang DuoBing keeps his lips pressed tight so he won't say something he'll regret.
"Indeed, there's only one Styx Flower in the whole world. This one," Di FeiSheng says and gets another elbow for his pains.
"But it's not fair!" Princess ZhaoLing starts tearing up again. "Li LianHua, why did you give it up in the first place?"
"Because one life cannot be weighed against that of many. I'm sure you know this," Li LianHua says gently.
"And what if thatone lifematters more than – oof!" Di FeiSheng breaks off on a pained grunt and glares down at Li LianHua.
Li LianHua glares right back at him. Princess ZhaoLing looks between the two of them before raising her eyesbrows at Fang DuoBing who just shakes his head. Yang YunChun stares at the wooden box, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else than here.
When the silence drags on, he clears his throat.
"Gongzhu, we should go. The sun is going to set soon."
None of them notice the dark robed figure hiding behind Lotus Tower and listening in on their conversation.
- o –
Li LianHua waits until Yang YunChun and Princess ZhaoLing have mounted their horses before stepping forward.
"Gongzhu, please do not come here again."
"But-"
"I am immensely grateful for your concern and the invaluable help you have given us." Li LianHua brings his hands together and bows formally. "Thank you. I wish you a long and happy life."
"But I-"
"Yang-xiong, thank you for all your help. I wish you all the best too." Li LianHua bows to him next.
Yang YunChun nods, blinking furiously. Princess ZhaoLing nods too, sniffling and wiping her cheeks. Di FeiSheng doesn't say anything, body tense and face so tight he might as well be a statue carved from stone.
It's only after their visitors are out of sight that he turns to Li LianHua and Fang DuoBing.
"Li LianHua, you need to rest. Fang DuoBing, you need to go back to your family. Don't bother sending dinner tonight. I plan to catch some fish in the stream and grill them."
"What's wrong with Tianji Hall dishes?" Fang DuoBing demands, feeling put out. Or maybe he's envious.
"Nothing. I just want Li LianHua to taste my cooking."
"But I want a taste too."
Shaking his head, Li LianHua turns around and heads for Lotus Tower. He's exhausted and a headache has started up, striking right between his eyes.
- o –
Some time later…
When Li LianHua wakes up, there are no warm bodies bracketing him, but he can hear the murmur of soft voices. Opening his eyes, he sees Fang DuoBing, Madam He, He XiaoFeng and Zhan YunFei sitting at the table. The oil lamp is lit, casting a soft golden circle around them.
Li LianHua turns to look out the window, startled to find it's already dark outside.
"Li LianHua, you're awake!" Fang DuoBing jumps up and hurries over, helping him to sit up.
He-tangzhu, He-guniang, Zhan-ge." Li LianHua is relieved he didn't remove his outer robe earlier. "XiaoBao, it's night already? How long was I asleep?"
"Around four hours. A-niang insisted on bringing dinner just in case. Where's A-Fei?"
"He's not back yet?"
Fang DuoBing shakes his head.
"How long does it take to catch a few fish?" He XiaoFeng doesn't look impressed.
Li LianHua frowns, feeling uneasy.
"Maybe he fell into the stream," Zhan YunFei says, deadpan, only for He XiaoFeng to slap his arm.
"He didn't." Madam He goes over to the bed and holds out an envelope, looking sober. "Li-shengyi, you should read this."
"What is it?" Fang DuoBing asks.
"A letter from one of your father's trusted aides. It arrived an hour ago."
The message is short and to the point.
"Di FeiSheng, Demon Leader of the JinYuan Alliance, arrived at the Imperial Palace together with Yang YunChun and Princess ZhaoLing. All three have been brought before the Emperor."
The letter falls from Li LianHua's shaking fingers as icy dread floods him.
"He's at thepalace?"Fang DuoBing asks in shock. "Niang, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I just got it an hour ago, weren't you listening?"
"He's gone to seek an audience with the Emperor," Li LianHua says through stiff lips.
"What?!" He XiaoFeng exclaims.
"I never thought he'd…" Li LianHua shakes his head, words spilling out. "Ten years ago, I argued with Shan GuDao after signing a five year peace treaty with Di FeiSheng. Shan GuDao wanted to get the support of the Imperial Palace to wipe out the JinYuan Alliance. I refused. Sigu Sect and the JinYuan Alliance have always worked independently of the palace. Neither Di FeiSheng nor I wanted to be in debt to them."
Silence falls, heavy and ringing.
"He's going to demand the Styx Flower from the Emperor, isn't he?" Fang DuoBing asks in disbelief.
Li LianHua nods, squeezing his eyes shut. Hulijing goes to nudge his hand with his nose, whining softly.
"He's going to get himself killed," Zhan YunFei says grimly.
- Chapter End –