81 Eavesdropping (1/2)
GENERAL FENG
YIYUAN
General Feng wanted to bicker about why Her Highness no longer put on her masking cloth as he had previously asked. However, he didn't want to push it as she was already furious about another matter.
You could see it in her gait as she paced up and down the room. It was a small room with only a bed. There the physician inspected her head wound, applied some herbs and tied her forehead around with a mesh cotton bandage.
”I have lost my mind haven't I, Feng?” She scoffed more to herself than him.
”This servant does not have that thought. How dare he?” Which was true. She had thus far worked well in getting his emperor's attention but if not careful, he could demote her to just a secret woman. As she was making progress with the emperor, maybe she could ask him to give her a cherishable title. Of course this needed to be done at the right moment as she suspected the harem would be jealous of her.
”What happened there? What have you done to that―” A slight noise precluded her from finishing her sentence. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, baffled that someone was trying to eavesdrop on them.
She abruptly changed her tone and line of conversation. ”Thank you for escorting this lowly maid. General Feng shouldn't have.” Her Highness rolled her eyes, irritated that they could not talk business because of the trespasser.
”Don't thank me. I only wish to honor my master,” he rightly said back. With that the tree cracked from outside, as if it rose up from the weight lifting off its branches. What a sell out, it was because no one liked trees as much as Luo Meng.
”I think he is gone,” he breathed out.
Turning her back to him, she stripped the bed of its sheets. ”Whatever is going on with that fake prince have it quickly resolved.” Her tone was sharper than a sword.
”This servant doesn't understand what Her Highness is speaking of.”
She stopped and caressed the sheet slowly with the back of her hand. ”So you mean to lie to me by implying that you do not know Kuan Hui is a woman?”
His made a throaty sound, not wanting to face the truth he wanted to ignore.
”Answer me!” She dared him to come clean with her.
”I have known it all along.” From the first time he met her, to sneakily catching her dressing up with women wear. He didn't remember exactly when, but he always knew.
”Then stay away from her before one of us gets hurt.” She felt the bandage wrapped around her head, as if to check that it was still tight enough. ”Besides, can't you see that you are hurting her?”
He was surprised to see her take the stance that backed Kuan Hui. ”How so? Am I doing anything that speaks of being smitten?” General Feng was not sure why he was suddenly defensive.
”Yes, the way you stare at her. The way you shrink into a puppy when she is around.” Princess Le-anne shook her head. ”You are in love with her.”
”No, I'm not. I'm sorry your Highness but those words are out of line.”
”Then leave her alone. Ask the emperor to assign you to something different in order to spare her the pain of unrequited love.”
He sighed, ”I have tried that but she wouldn't have it. And I …” How could he word his feelings properly to Her Highness. The truth was he liked that Kuan Hui made him stay.
”What?” Princess Le-anne rolled her eyes in annoyance, realising that he was not going to budge. ”We have important matters to discuss so I will let this pass by, but have it fixed.”
He nodded attentively.
”I received a letter stating that there is an oncoming mission.”
”Yes,” he confirmed. ”Nevoria recently captured our people in order to have them as slaves, therefore we have a mission to set our people free.”
She scowled, her disgust evident. Nevoria was quite harsh with human life, compared to any other country.
He understood why she would see this as inhuman. He went on, ”We would appreciate it if you partake in this mission. Our people are kept in cages as if they are animals.”
She gracefully sat on the bed with the folded sheet on her lap. He didn't understand why she needed the sheet.
”I do not understand why I need to be a part of it.”