Chapter 108 (1/2)

Chapter 108 Cloud Nine: Fury

“Situ…please…my hands…don't let anything happen to them…” Those were the final words Feng Luodi uttered before she pa.s.sed out in Situ's arms.

“Don't worry; I'm here now.”

Placing Feng Luodi on the bed, Situ frowned as the blood on her plain clothes came into his view. Taking a hot towel from a handmaiden, Situ gently dabbed at Feng Luodi's hands.

“Ssssst.” Despite being unconscious, Feng Luodi took in a sharp breath. The rage in Situ's eyes flared. How dare they do this to this precious woman! I never should have let Quattor leave her side; this wouldn't have happened if I didn't agree with that.

The gashes beneath the blood were deep and ugly. Barring any possible scars, Situ was more worried about the damage done to the ligaments and nerves beneath the muscles. It would be utterly devastating to her if anything of that sort was to happen to her hands, for someone who loves music as much as she does.

His eyes turned to her face and his hands followed, gently wiping down her face. Gan Qingjia had laughed at him, saying that he'd become soft because of a woman. Indeed, the old me would never have done this for anyone; I'd always thought that I'd marry a woman who'd take care of my needs, waiting for me to come home to her every day. How funny that all my expectations and a.s.sumptions were forgotten the moment I met her. Now, all I want is for her to agree to be together; everything else no longer matters.

Nothing will stand between us.

Feng Luodi's skin was flushed red. Situ stood up, his fingers brus.h.i.+ng against her bare skin as he did so. “She's running a high fever!” Situ frowned angrily. It might be an infection from her wounds.

He threw the door open and yelled for an attendant. “Is the physician not here yet?”

“The physician is here.” Two and Quattor replied as they landed in the courtyard, Physician Zhou held tightly between the two of them, still reeling from the shock of his journey through the “air” to the courtyard.

“Please do your best, Physician Zhou; she is already running a fever.”

“Of course, your Highness.” Physician Zhou took a look at the worried look on Situ's usually stoic face and quickly headed into the room, closing the door behind him.

Situ's eyes narrowed, turning to face the two Covert Guards. They knew what their General wanted immediately.

“Recall Duo from his a.s.signment immediately to stay by her side.” As expected, Situ's first command was regarding Feng Luodi.

“Yes, General.” Quattor bowed his head guiltily. If only I'd hid better when I was around Miss Feng! I would've been by her side today and this wouldn't have happened!

“Any news about the situation in Huaiyang?” Cold anger was barely concealed beneath Situ's mask of calm.

“Not yet, General.” Two chose his words carefully. “Our agents should have reached Huaiyang by now and we should expect a message from them within the next two days.”

Situ nodded. “Even if the message has not arrived by tomorrow noon, I want you to execute the Heir of Huaiyang. I will report it to his Majesty afterwards.”

“Yes, General.” Two wiped the sweat on his forehead. The General must be really angry about this incident, for him to make a decision without any concrete evidence.

“That is a job for you, Quattor. Two, I want you to dig up everything you can find about Concubine Hui and her relatives. Use every resource we have at our disposal and consolidate every single ounce of information for me.” Situ's face was composed.

“What a bold move, General!” Quattor whistled. “Revenge for the distressed damsel, eh?”

Situ shot him a look and a chill ran down his spine. Snapping to his feet, Quattor was out of the courtyard in a second. “I'll go check for any messages right now!”

Two was worried about something else. “General, is it appropriate to make a move so quickly? The Emperor will notice us before our plans are in place.”

“No matter.” Situ's eyes seemed to settle on the horizon. “It is time to set the path for that person.”

“Haven't you already done so, General?” Two followed his gaze, just in time to see the first beam of dawn breaking through the clouds.

Situ did not reply his question. Two hesitated, then bowed his head and disappeared from the courtyard. Situ stood in silence for a while, turning to look at the room every now and then. He called out into the air.

“Zero, are you there?”

“Yes!” Zero, the youngest of the Covert Guards, tumbled out of his hiding spot on a nearby roof in his haste and landed in the courtyard.

“I want you to spread a message.” If what the princess wants is to marry me, I'll let her and everyone know that Luodi is the only one that I'll marry. “Tell everyone that I, Situ Muye, will only marry Feng Luodi for the rest of my life.” Let's make this declaration a big one; the Emperor wouldn't be able to do anything to Luodi after that, or he'll be seen as blatantly not caring about my wishes. The Emperor is a man who places much belief into balancing the different parties in court; the only reason he dotes on the princess as much as he does now is to prevent her maternal clan from being upset at his lack of affection towards Concubine Hui.

“Everyone?” Zero c.o.c.ked his head.