69 Volatile Confessions (2/2)
She winced at his in-sensitiveness and hid it by pretending to be observing the horse. What was more painful is that she had no one to blame. She took him there. She initiated the deal. And even more, she probably even paid for their bedroom endeavors.
”So indeed you let me walk home alone?”
”His Highness is a man strong enough to do that safely. What is there to be afraid of?”
”Everything!” Her eyes stung.”I was drunk and anyone could have taken advantage of that.”
”And who forced you to drink?”
”That is prosperous! General Feng, you will not talk to me like that.”
He was beginning to heat up and so was she exasperated. The volume of their voices was also gaining them attention.
”Your Highness. Please be a man and―”
”I'm not a man!” she emotionally shot back. She had heard 'man' and 'boy' being directed at her all her life and she was tired of it.
Before she could stop them, the words were already out. He stopped brushing the coat of his horse, the words sinking in.
'Tā mā de!(damn it). I just confessed to him. What shall I do?'
”Then what are you? A woman?” he mocked. ”Your Highness, I wish to be left alone.”
Yang Liu breathed in relief. Thank the heavens he was not taking her words seriously because of his brewing anger. He was always slow like that.
”General Feng, you dare dismiss a prince from your presence?”
”Alright. Then excuse this subject of yours!” He threw the brush on the ground and paced away from her. He kicked a stone with indignance along the way.
Yag Liu didn't get it.
She was the one who had the right to be angry but weirdly he was the one vexed at her.
How so?
”Your Highness,” someone whispered to Yang Liu and she jolted in fright.
”You?” She turned with irritation, facing her court lady who stood beside her. So her entourage had caught up to her and were back to trailing behind her.
”Your Highness, this servant knows why General Feng is acting that way.”
”What do you mean?” A flare of confusion overtook Yang Liu's face.
”Your Highness, forgive me...” The court lady hesitated.
”Tell me.” She wanted to know everything that concerned General Feng. Could it be that she had been insensitive to him when he had his own personal problems to deal with? How selfish she was to be ignorant of his pain.
”It is said...” the woman who served her for the past five years swallowed, hesitating again. ”It is said that he is romantically involved with a Lady of Art.”
'That's a lie.'
”They have been spotted together in the Imperial garden numerous times... And also he broke dungeon law to protect his lover when she was jailed―”
A lover?
”No, it's a lie... It's a lie”
”I'm sorry your Highness.”
”It's a lie. General Feng wouldn't do that to me.” Yang Liu broke down. Rivers of fat tears flooding on her face. ”It's a lie.”
Not her General Feng.
S.V