1.25 AuYeung LaiSan - Sneaking Around

Junior Physician Feng approached the General's table and the General stood up to greet him. The girl's head jolted towards them and she placed her hands on her mouth as she stared up at him.

Feng seemed excited but the girl did not react or even get up. She eventually turned away. Feng desperately tried to get around the General to speak with the girl. As the tables were placed close together, he wasn't able to get past the General who seemed to intentionally be blocking him. The General spoke and it seemed to have pacified him. He stood back, bowed and walked away.

The General then sat down, said a couple of things to the girl, she nodded and then she got up. She held out a hand I guess to say, "please stay" because the General sat back down. He said a few more things and let her go on her way.

I was curious, so I excused myself from the table and followed her. I couldn't get too close to her but I wanted to see where she was going.

The further we walked the quieter it got, I was cautious to not step on any fallen leave, which slowed my steps. After a while I couldn't see her anymore and I thought about just going back but then I heard voices.

I walked closer passing an arched doorway where it seemed the voices were coming. I peered in and I saw the girl and Feng HaiNan, I quickly snuck back and hid behind the arched doorway.

Feng said, "PuiHa, I know I was wrong, but I have written to you many times but you have never written back."

PuiHa responded, "What are you talking about, I have not heard from you since you left!"

"No, I wrote to you a few days after I arrived at the Palace. The first letter was informing you that my situation got complicated and that I would try to solve it as soon as possible. After that I wrote to you every week for about a year. I figured that since you had not written back that you must have moved on, maybe even married," he responded as his voice got quiet towards the end.

Her voice was a bit soft, "No, I wouldn't do that. I had agreed to your proposal and I had waited."

Feng with a bit of excitement. "Really!"

Then there was silence for a bit. Not daring to look around the doorway, I just stood there. Wondering what I should do now, leave or stay.

When I suddenly heard PuiHa ask, "So why haven't you come back and honored your agreement?"

"First you must agree to hear me out. Listen to the whole situation first." There was again a moment of silence and she must have nodded and agreed because he then said, "I am betrothed to Princess Mei."

"So you did lie! You are already betrothed then why did you propose to me!" she screamed.

I heard some hurried footsteps and I was about to hide further into shrubs, but then it stopped and I stayed where I was.

"It is not how it seems, I had come to the palace in hopes to annul the engagement. It wasn't really an official engagement since Princess Mei was still not yet of age to be engaged. My mother and the Empress were friends and they had verbally made this engagement when we were children." he explained.

"This is a royal engagement! How can you ask to annul it? Are you seeking death?" PuiHa said emotionally.

"I am in love with you, how can I marry another?" he said lovingly.

"Even so!" she sounded shy, "I would have willingly been your concubine. I am not from any rich or noble family, I don't deserve for you to take such extreme actions for me." Puiha argued.

"I want to make you my main wife and I don't want to take another. That is why I came to ask the Emperor to cancel the engagement." he explained. "But who knew that I would cause such a situation. I am now trapped in the Palace and as it seems even my communication with my parents and you have been blocked," he said.

"So what are you going to do now?" she asked.

"I am just happy to see you now. I am not thinking about the future at this moment." he replied. "Oh, yes. Why are you in the Palace and sitting with the General?"

"My family was visiting his family before heading here to Zhong City. So knowing that we were heading the same way, the General offered to protect us, especially as we had to pass through the mountain range. So we followed the envoy, but we were attacked by bandits. Thankfully the General was there, so only suffered minor injuries," she said.

"You are hurt, where?" he asked.

"Just my arm, I was blocking the bandits from hurting my mom when the General intervened in time to save us." she explained. "The General was even nice enough to set up a room in the post house for us so we are staying there for the time being. He brought me along as his guest tonight, just so I can see the festivities." she explained.

"Oh," he replied. "I am glad you are not seriously hurt. How is it healing? Can I take a look?"

"No, this is not the woods where we met, this is the Palace!" she said, sounding embarrassed.

"Yes and I am a Junior Imperial Physician in the Palace." he said.

"Huh! So you are a doctor? When I met you, you were training for a martial arts contest. When did you learn medicine?"

" From my father, my father is Imperial Physician Feng of BeiGao," he said proudly.

"Wow, there really is so much I don't know about you. Is your name really HaiNan?" she asked sadly.

At this time a couple of maids were talking, when I heard them coming slower, I straightened out and walked as if nothing was going on. After I passed them, I rushed off back to the banquet.

As I arrived, mom was just finishing off her rice bowl.

She placed it down and looked at me, "Where have you been for so long? Hurry up and eat, the food is getting cold."

As I sat back down I noticed that the General was also not at his seat. I focused on finishing my meal and glanced at the dancers as the streams of ribbons waved in a rainbow of colors. It was actually quite pleasant visually but somehow the music seemed a bit off from the dance itself.

It gave me a feeling of uneasiness. Not long after I saw the girl, PuiHa return to her seat as well but the General was still nowhere to be seen.