Lady Rong’s Regret

Many years have passed after Wei Ling's wedding, no letters or news about Heng Hui, so it was in inevitable that Wei Ling would get worried about Heng Hui.

While Wei Ling was making use of her time to prepare winter clothes for Wei Sheng and her 6-year-old son, Rong Yi Fang, a hawk flew into her courtyard perching itself on her windowsill. Wei Ling rushed over to the bird to find a golden latch with a message.

'Wei Ling, I want to invite you to meet with my children, Tang Su Su, Tang Fangsu and Tang Liansu. My family is living on an island far from the capital.'

Wei Ling was surprised that Heng Hui had given birth to children especially with the man who she was forced to marry. Nevertheless, Wei Ling prepared herself for the long trip to the island Heng Hui was now residing in. As Wei Ling was packing essentials to meet with her best friend on an island, "Are you sure, you should be travelling while you're pregnant?" Wei Sheng was terribly worried about the wellbeing for her travelling far away, "I think it's better that I come with you." Wei Sheng anxiously held onto Wei Ling's hand, who worried about the wellbeing of Wei Ling but also their unborn child. Her 6-year-old sat on the bed looking at the items that were in her luggage.

"Wei Sheng! I will be fine! You can leave the country on short notice, especially since you are the general of the Rong military," Wei Ling pouted, she was quite annoyed by her husband constant pleading about her safety and coming with her, "And even if you did come, you wouldn't be able to go past the barrier." Wei Ling closed her luggage to which she summoned a servant to carry for her to a carriage, giving a kiss on her son's forehead.

"Barrier? What could be so bad about the barrier?" Wei Sheng cocked his head to the side obviously confused. Taking Yi Fang from Wei Ling's arm.

Wei Ling sighed, "Beside the fact that it prevents anyone from entering," Wei Ling entered the carriage, leaning out of the window, "It would blast your limbs right off your body. Trust me, I have seen it happen before and it was not a pretty sight." Wei Ling explained the reason why Wei Sheng and Yi Fang couldn't come with her.

"Alright! I will wait for you here." Wei Sheng was devasted that he couldn't accompany her so that he could protect her from any danger.

"Make sure that that the two of you eat your meals, sleep early and look after each other," Wei Ling gave instructions for Wei Sheng to follow during her absence, "Also if the either of you gets sick, go to the doctor on the main street and get yourselves check-up." Wei Ling was still concerned about their health. Nevertheless, Wei Ling kissed her son on the forehead and kissed Wei Sheng on the lips.

"Take care, dear," Wei Sheng smile giddily, "Yi Fang waved bye-bye to your mother." Wei Sheng told his son who waved his short pudgy arms waving goodbye to his mother.

Wei Ling was taken to the port where she boarded herself on a ship with a Qilin emblem, which set off to sail to their destination. Upon arriving at the island, Wei Ling was amazed by the vast lush plant life that flourished on the untouched lands that humans have yet to monopolies. A servant around her early thirties escorted Wei Ling to the house that Heng Hui had been living in away from society. Once they entered the house, Wei Ling was surprised that a young child pranced around a baby cot which held two twin baby girls who were sound asleep but the most shocking part was that one of the twins had ash grey.

Wei Ling walked over to the cot to look at the ash grey-haired baby, smooth jade-like skin that was chubby indicating that she was well fed. A slight aroma of milk emitted from the baby, "Auntie? Who are you?" the small child asked Wei Ling as she had never seen many people besides her family on the island.

Wei Ling crouch to the child's level, eye to eye to each other, "I'm your mother's best friend," Wei Ling answered, but a sudden jolt made her stumble. Fortunately, she had caught herself before falling, "This child is a kicker." Wei Ling stood up, rubbing her swollen belly whilst knead her sore back muscles.

"Wei Ling! If your pregnant, at least sit down!" Heng Hui's once bright voice was now croaky, nevertheless, Wei Ling was still able to recognise her.

"Heng Hui!" Wei Ling widened her eyes in shock. The once energetic free-spirited person Wei Ling once knew was now gone. Heng Hui was now haggard and aged significantly from stress, her eyes that shone brightly with a fiery spirit was now dull. "What happened to you during these years? You look unwell!" Wei Ling rushes over to Heng Hui, grabbing her hands only to feel that her hands were rough from intense labour and calluses lined the top of her palm.

Heng Hui coughed hysterically, "I'm fine, " trying to ease the pain of the cough by rubbing her chest. Despite being pregnant, Wei Ling leads Heng Hui to a chair, who rubbed her joints as if they were in constant pain.

"Heng Hui, what happened to you?" Wei Ling was desperate to get answers out of Heng Hui, "All these years, l have never received a letter from you, not a single one." Wei Ling held onto Heng Hui's rough hands, squeezing them gently.

Heng Hui shook her head, "I have been well, trust me." Heng Hui gave off a gentle but motherly aura which she never had, "My body is still recovering from birthing the twins." Heng Hui released another dry cough but this one was much harsher.

Wei Ling gently rubbed Heng Hui's back in a circular motion, "Heng Hui..." Honestly, Wei Ling wanted to continue their continue about her wellbeing but decided that Heng Hui would tell her in due time, "Your children are very cute."

"Yes, they are." Heng Hui released a relieved breath when the dry cough discontinued.

"Mother! Fangsu and Liansu are crying!" The eldest child ran over to her mother, alerting her of the twin's feeding time.

Heng Hui got up from the chair, walking to the cot that held the twins. Picking up the twin with the black hair, Heng Hui proceeds to feed the baby, whilst the wet nurse rocked the twin with ash grey hair. Finished Heng Hui was finished feeding the black-haired child, the wet nurse handed over the ash grey-haired one to Heng Hui. Wei Ling stared at the usual hair colour, "Heng Hui, how come your child has such unusual hair colour?" Wei Ling was curious about the cause of the abnormality.

Heng Hui sadly stared at the ash grey child, "Because the twins were born prematurely," Heng Hui answered, slight tears began forming in her eyes, "The youngest, Liansu, the one with the black hair was born healthy with no abnormally." Tears began falling from her eyes.

"Mother..." The child wiped away the tears from her mother face but the number of tears couldn't be caught, "It's not your fault." The young child had already an understanding of the situation at a young age. Indicating that the child had a high perception for her age.

"Susu, it is." Heng Hui finished feeding the ash grey hair baby, which she brought to the baby to her face nuzzling it against the baby's face, "Because my body wasn't able to properly nurture this child, I'm scared."

Wei Ling was confused, "Scared of what?"

"I'm scared of losing another child." Heng Hui answered but it was interrupted by her sobbing.

"Another child?" Wei Ling was shocked to hear about a previous child before the twins, "What happened to the previous child?"

"I-I had a miscarriage." Heng Hui answered heavily, the grief was evident through her voice.

Wei Ling felt her heart gripped painfully, her best friend, Heng Hui had suffered so much emotional pain all these years. Wei Ling protectively rubbed her pregnant belly, also scared of losing her own child. Fortunately, she hadn't had to through that the pain of losing a child.

Heng Hui rubbed her tear-streaked face, "Let's not talk about such depressing things," placing Fangsu into the cot rocking it side to side to induce sleep.

Wei Ling went to the luggage to take out two boxes, opening the lid to reveal Donkey Rolls, the same ones that Heng Hui would wait for hours to get a box. Wei Ling offered the rolls to both Susu and Heng Hui who happily ate the delicious dessert with glee. Susu pulled on Wei Ling who turned her attention towards the small child, "Auntie, this is for you." The item that was held in Susu's hand was a potted flower, an orchid, "I grew it myself,".

The petals were stained with a beautiful magenta colour with a yellow centre which highlights the beauty of the flower. Susu's sleeves slightly slid down her arm to reveal a purple bruise that looked very painful.

"Thank you," Wei Ling held onto the potted plant, "It's beautiful." This small action was touching to Wei Ling, but the bruise on the small child's arm worried Wei Lin to a great extent.

"This flower suits Auntie very well." Susu compliment.

"How so?" Wei Ling smiled like a fox, enjoying the compliments very much.

"Orchid represents integrity, nobility and friendship," Susu bright but childish voice brought a smile on Wei Ling's face, "I hope our families with remain friends with each other for generations to come." Wei Ling giggled at the sentiment that was placed on the orchid.

Wei Ling rubbed Susu's head, complimenting her efforts at growing the high maintenance plant as a gift for Wei Ling. Soon, the wet nurse called to the women for dinner, which was lively with conversations about the children's embarrassing situation.

Wei Ling was escorted by Susu because the babies had cried because of their hunger, "Susu how old are you now?" Wei Ling decided to exchange words with Susu.

"Nine," Susu answer while balancing herself on a log that separated the plant from the walking path. They arrived at the spare guest room which was lightly fragrant of dried herbs.

Wei Ling entered in the middle of the room, and Susu was able to leave. But, Wei Ling crouched down to Susu's level, "Susu where did you get those bruises from?" Wei Ling was concerned for the well-being of Susu.

Susu immediately hid her arm behind her back, biting her bottom to prevent herself from answering, "I hurt myself from looking after the orchid. That's all." Susu answered but Wei Ling knew that was the truth.

"Susu," Wei Ling patted the top of her head, "I'm not here to hurt you." Caressing Susu's cheek gently.

Susu's lip quivered as tears threatened to fall, "Daddy hits me when he is angry." Susu whispered as tears began trailing down her face.

"Your father hits you?" Wei Ling was shocked, almost bewildered that a parent would treat their own blood child horribly, "Why?"

Susu wipes her tears, "When I tried to play with Daddy," Susu rubbed her arms fearfully at the mere thought of her father, "He always looks at me with so much hate because I'm not a boy," Susu trembled like a deer caught by onlookers.

Wei Ling took Susu into her arms, cradling her in an effort to comfort, "Sorry." That was the only word that Wei Ling could say in the spur of the moment.

Susu nuzzled into Wei Ling, "Even if it hurts when Daddy hit me, " Susu resolved herself and wiped away the tears, "I don't want to bother Mother."

Wei Ling was shocked to see that Susu would not tell her mother, "Why don't you tell your mother?" To see this type of mentality develop in a child, Wei Ling was shocked.

Susu held her head low, "Mother has it worse." Fiddling with her hair, "Mother works hard to look after the three of us, manages the business, she's sick and Daddy also hits her too." Susu started crying again.

Wei Ling hugged Susu, "Why don't your mother, sister and you come with me?" Suggesting an option that Susu could turn to, but Susu shook her head.

"Thank you, auntie," Susu rubbed the remaining tears left and clenched her tiny fist together, "But, if we leave,then we will be criticised by Daddy's relative," Wei Ling was honestly surprised by Susu's own persistence to stay with her mother.

After a few days of staying at the island, Wei Ling waited for the boat to take her back home. Susu waved at Wei Ling who boarding the boat, who waved back at the small figure.

Little did she know that. That this was her first and last time she would ever see them again.