51. Complicating factors

Late in the afternoon, after he had finished speaking with Dong, Pei walked back to the rooms he and Su shared. When he arrived he saw Rushuang seated on the steps leading up to the door. Next to her captain Liu stood in attention, guarding the Lady of his home. "Rushuang? Is everything alright with Su? I thought you would share a good conversation."

"Su's alright, so much happened that we both needed some time to gather our thoughts. We shared the tea Fei Yuan served, then Su wanted to write an addition to the report on my father's death. So I came to sit here and consider what my brother said." Rushuang stared into the distance, Pei gave her some time and then she continued: "I'm glad he wasn't a deserter. Do you blame me?"

"For what?"

"For involving Su in this?" Now Rushuang did look up at Pei, who saw the sorrow and remorse in her eyes. "It's as I said to you and Su before. You have your own business and we accept that you can deal wit it on you own. But don't forget the Xie and I can and will help if you ask us to. So no I don't blame you, but I do request that you allow Su to tell me if she feels it's necessary. It hurt her and me that she had to keep this from me."

"Alright. I'm going to find Xie now, we'll see you at dinner." Rushuang rose and walked to their rooms. Pei followed her with his eyes, she was a dear friend to him and Su's best friend. The threat looming over her life was a complicating factor they could do without, but they would eliminate it, along with the Ghost Army and those behind it. Before he opened the door he dismissed Captain Liu. "Your Highness, I'm sorry I didn't stop Her Highness from entering the cabin. I should have realized it might be dangerous."

"Liu this won't be the last time Her Highness does something that could be dangerous. You wouldn't have been able to stop her. Besides, you eliminated the danger before he could reach Su. You did good. Have a good rest, more dangerous days may lay before us."

"Your Highness, I would like to request something." Liu continued. This caught Pei's attention as Liu never requested anything.

"Tell me." He invited.

"Please, let me accompany and guard Lady Pei and Lady Xie to the court when they leave."

"You don't want to fight with me against the rebels?" Pei asked surprised.

"Of course I would like to and I would gladly do so, when Lady Pei is safely in the city. But she will remain close by. I feel it my duty to guard her."

"The guards from Mingjing Office will guard her." Pei reminded Liu, but Liu just shook his head.

"The guards are well trained, but they are accustomed to dealing with small groups of criminals, protecting lady Pei is different. Commander Fu is escorting Pei Zhu back to the capital, please let me remain with Lady Pei." Liu bowed and waited for Pei's response.

"Alright, please keep guarding my wife and ensure their save return."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Liu rose and stepped to the side so Pei could pass. Smiling Pei stepped into the room.

"Why are you smiling?" Su asked when she saw her husband.

"Captain Liu solved a problem for me. Initially he would remain here and fight. I would have like him to stay with you, but he is a very good soldier, so he could have been a great help to me. However just now he requested to remain with you and Rushuang." Having walked to his wife while talking Pei was now next to her and stroked her hair. Su looked up and after a short silence said: "I'm sorry, I honestly didn't know or thought I would find him. I thought we would be perfectly safe. The villagers had told me the path was often used and never had there been any mishap in that part of the forest."

"Don't worry, I don't blame you, but this is exactly why I want the guards close by." Su shuffled on the sofa so Pei could come and sit next to her. "Did Dong share other, useful information?" Pei nodded: "He did, he has been working on a list of Liang families that are sympathetic to the Ghost Army. Brother Xie is copying it now. I will give you the list, check those families and see if there was suspicious activity reported with those families. Brother Xie is going to ask Feiyun to do the same. I'll also give a list to Shuomo, it might help his search in Beirong."

"Did you already discuss what Shuomo has found in Beirong?"

"No, we first discussed the situation in the border towns and then the messenger came to inform us you were shortly coming back. Let's discuss the Beirong situation after dinner. Are you rested enough to join us?" Pei asked, while he carefully observed Su.

"Yes, will Dong dine with us?"

"No, he has already returned to his cabin. I would like to keep Dong's existence secret for Shuomo and Yunchuan, so please don't mention him."

"Alright." Su held out her hand and Pei swiftly stood and helped Su to stand up. Before he turned to the door to go to the dining hall, he pulled Su into a hug, which she happily returned. She had been more worried about Pei's reaction to her little adventure in the forest then she had wanted to admit to herself. She was grateful that they had maintained their insistence on dealing with misunderstanding quickly and clearly, both recognizing they simply didn't want to waste time on their misunderstandings, both wanted to enjoy their time together harmoniously. Had Pei not come to her, she would have insisted on discussing this either before or during dinner and he wouldn't have blamed her for it. After all she had once cleared up a situation that might have led to a misunderstanding during a royal court meeting, where even the dowager empress had been present. She still remembered the change in his voice when he had turned to her to tell her she'd already been going before he could inform her about the situation. How warm had his voice been and how soft his eyes, so different when he had explained the situation to the empress and court officials. Su looked up into Pei's face. Thank you." Pei smiled, bowed his head and gave her a heartwarming kiss.

After dinner Yan invited Prince Shuomo and Yunchuan to follow him and Su. In their bedroom Yan gently placed the blanket over Su's legs. Su was seated in their bed and looked at her husband while he arranged the blanket around her legs. Then they turned their gaze to Shuomo and Yunchuan. Yan disliked inviting people in their bedroom, only a few maids, Fei Yuan and captain Liu were allowed in the bedroom in Qi mansion. But after this exhausting day Yan had decided Su needed to rest early, however they did have to speak to the Beirong Royals, therefor Yan had made this exception and invited them to join. As Su could feel the tiredness gulf over her, she quickly started the conversation: "Your friend Luan Chen asked me to verify a piece of cloth. He needed to know whether it was a Bai Liang brocade. Could you please ensure this package is returned to him?" Yan handed a small package to Shuomo, who looked at it in surprise: "When did he request this?"

"When we visited Beirong last time. He contacted us during the final banquet."

"I'll make sure he gets this." Shuomo said. Yan indicated this was all the business they wanted to conduct and escorted them out. Once outside Yan turned to Shuomo one last time: "Your friend asked us not to reveal anything about the business he asked us to do, but I urge you to persuade your friend to discuss what he gave us with you. We've also urged him to do the same in the letter contained in the package. Have a good conversation with Luan Chen when you return home." If these words surprised or worried Shuomo, he didn't show it. He merely nodded.

"I'll leave you." Yan said before returning to the bedroom. Yunchuan turned to her brother, who, lost in thoughts, looked at the package in his hand. "Did you know Luan Chen had requested help from Su?" Slowly Shuomo shook his head: "I did not."

"What could it mean? What could this be?"

"I don't know, but I'll find a way to discuss this."