8 Cabin in the Woods (1/2)
Yinying Yueguang, the imperial city, was a sight to behold. It was built to follow the curves on the landscape, forming a horseshoe around a long stretch of river that spilt into Kye Lake. A line of buildings sat of the very edge of a steep decline, leaving a narrow pathway for people to walk around. More houses, shops and taverns were constructed behind this original horseshoe shape, rising with the mountain and hiding amongst the greenery of the forest. Unlike the Lotus Palace, the colour of the city was neutral, full of browns and greys to blend into the surroundings. It was at night, the city was most beautiful; from a distance, the lanterns made it look like a swarm of fireflies hovering over the water.
Bridges connected buildings together, spanning across the water to the other side of land.A luxurious restaurant was constructed over a small waterfall that trickled into the river. The place was a man's dream; full of hearty food, endless wine and exotic women but at a high price. Disung often visited when Joaolong was sick, wasting his time by watching people and their actions.
Today, this wasn't his intended destination.
Disung ventured past the city until there was only a dirt trail to follow instead of a pebbled road. Then, he veered off into the dense forest and followed the subtly marked trees with the family crest . The walk made him pant but it was worth the exhaustion to have the anxiety ease out of him when he saw the cabin. The familiar site made him smile as he remembered the days he ran around and hunted in the area.
The cabin was small and plain, surrounded by a lush garden, containing both aesthetic plants as weeds. The windows of the house were only on the sides and rear of the wooden building, as the doorway at the entrance was too wide for anything else. This frame had no actual door, letting the cool breeze ventilate the house. Inside was just as simple. There was only one room, containing the kitchen, dining area and bedroom all together.
”Mother!”
Shao Chunhua sat at the table, embroidering a pillow with bamboo trees. They didn't share many common features apart from their taller height and unruly, thick hair. Due to her preferred lifestyle in the wilderness, she aged more dramatically than other women.
”My son! Is it really you?” Chunhua replied when Disung entered the cabin and hugged him tightly. ”You have grown too much. Sit! I'll prepare some tea. Have they been feeding you well in the palace?”
”Of course. Any delicacy you can think of, I have eaten.”
”You look too thin,” she remarked and shoved a bread roll into his mouth. She returned to boil water on a contained fire inside as Disung choked on the food. ”Is Master Wang treating you well?”
”Yes, mother. You must not worry too much.”
”You are my kin. I will always worry. Why did you visit? You should not have left your duty,” Chunhua said. These bombarding questions were usual, Chunhua always fussing over her only remaining family. Disung wondered if Joaolong felt the same way with the empress.
”Joaolong is ill and my duty is pointless when the physician and servants are monitoring him,” Disung explained.
It was a panicked morning in the palace. Disung awoke from a light slumber to a housemaid fussing about Joaolong. The master was ghostly pale and coughing hysterically until blood dribbled from his mouth. A physician from Yinying Yueguang tended to him and would continue to personally watch over him until the master's health was improving. The blood was because he scratched his throat on some dried fruit but the fever had everyone else worried. During these times, everyone was on high alert and Disung wasn't needed as a guard for the day.
”I will gather some longans for you to take to Master Wang. It will give back his strength. I fed you many during your fevers as a child.”
”It will be appreciated,” Disung replied. ”How is life in the wilderness?”
”There is not much to tell. The forest is pleasant in spring except for the bugs and pollen. For every joy, there is always a consequence. I have fresh air to keep me young and chores to keep me strong. The sunsets are beautiful these days. I wish you would stay to see one.”
”Next time.”
”I would not beg you so often if I had grandchildren to stay by my side. If only my son married,” Chunhua whined as she put the teapot on the table, then searched for cups.
During this, Disung debated confessing what was burdening him. Although he laughed and joked, there was a darkness lingering under his eyes. The Fox haunted him for years and the restless nights increased in severity upon the return of the man. He wished not to push this fear onto his mother but it was worse to keep her unaware of the danger nearby. ”The Fox has come to the Lotus Palace.”
A teacup smashed on the ground and the pieces scattered across the floor. Chunhua bent over and slowly collected the shards with shaky hands, her son helping her. By the time the broken cup was disposed of, Chunhua spoke. ”A-are you certain the Fox has returned?”
”The emperor received a token. There is no mistaking who left it.”