You are dismissed

Tai Jian opened his eyes when it was very early in the morning and found Tie Hongchen soundly asleep in his arms. He caressed her hair with his hands and planted a kiss on her forehead. Tie Hongchen showed no reaction to this but Tai Jian was not disappointed. At this moment he was at peace and his mind was relaxed. So what if he only had less than a decade left? To him none of that mattered. His life and death has never been his concern only his loved ones. So what if he died? Everyone would have to die one day but his pride was deeply ingrained in his bones that he even viewed death with contempt as if it was not even worthy of mentioning in his eyes. He calmly stared at Tie Hongchen admiring her beautiful face. Tie Hongchen probably felt his movements hence she opened her eyes and caught sight of Tai Jian looking at her. She did not say a word rather they both stared at each other for a while. When she decided to speak the first word that came out from her mouth wasn't a scolding rather it was a question. Her voice was soft and soothing totally different from the Tie Hongchen that Tai Jian knew." Why?" Tie Hongchen asked. Even she did not understand why she asked this but she did nothing to correct herself." I don't know," Tai Jian answered. He did not know how to answer her. He wanted to say that it was because he loved her but he stopped himself and said that he didn't know the reason. He had asked himself so many times about it but even he could not find any reason for it. What he did not notice was the slight disappointment in Tie Hongchen's eyes when she heard of his reply as it was not the answer she wanted to hear." Was it worth it?" Tie Hongchen asked." Yes," Tai Jian simply replied. He had always asked himself if he would one day regret everything that he did for her but he was always confident that his heart was always happy and satisfied. In his world her smile was everything and as long as she was fine and happy then it did not matter of she hated him. Only her happiness ever mattered to him yet he was a coward. "Why? Why do you care so much? Why do you do so much for me? Aren't you afraid that you are doing all of these to the wrong person?" Tie Hongchen lashed out but Tai Jian only hugged her tighter." I don't care. I remember a general under my command once betrayed me for a woman. At that time I was angry and swore to kill him for betraying the army for an enemy. The woman was also a general of the enemy army. At that time she used the general to acquire the secrets of our army and I considered this general one of my best and would've probably been my successor after all he was a disciple of mine and had followed me for long. I taught him everything I knew and told him that the heart of humans is full of evil and they can do anything to achieve their goal so I always warned him but fate. Haaah," Tai Jian sighed and his eyes flashed with a hint of regret and nostalgia as if remembering the old days. Tie Hongchen did not urge Tai Jian to continue rather she stared at him. Tai Jian did not make her wait for long and went on with his narration." Since he was my disciple and I highly valued him I did not kill him. I spared his life but I expelled him from the army but even then they did not let hum live in peace. The female general took him under her wing and used him to attack our base. He was unwilling to do so so he left and never appeared again. On the day of the decisive battle between the two armies, after a series of events I was able to change the course of the war that we were supposed to lose and we were winning. The female general was present and seeing her angered me so I was determined to kill her but who would've thought that unfilial disciple would once again pop up of nowhere and fight with him over her again just so as to protect her life. He tried to defend her but the woman was ungrateful and stabbed him with her sword when he least expected. That sword stabbed was not enough to kill him but a dead heart was equivalent to a dead soul so how could he survive? Even if I wanted to save him it was impossible. His death was guaranteed but even at the final moments he still wanted to protect her. I asked why and this was what he told me;' commander,I have fought in the battlefield my whole life and won't countless battles but I still failed to win in the battle against my heart. I tried my best but no matter what her smile and face still leaves me vulnerable. If one day you fall in love you will understand this feeling of helplessness. I won't ask for your forgiveness because you told me to follow my heart and to never regret. It is only someone that has regrets that will apologise but since I am satisfied then I chose to leave in peace. Master take care of yourself. Your unfilial disciple is leaving ahead of you,'" Tai Jian finished his narration and Tie Hongchen for the first time saw him shedding tears." I now understand, " Tai Jian said as he looked at Tie Hongchen. How could she not understand his meaning? It was very clear to her at this moment that Tai Jian had clearly fallen in love with her." I thought you would never say it. I am not sure of what I feel towards you but you don't expect me to tell you that I love you all of a sudden. I still hold grudges and although I no longer hate you as much as before I am not sure of my feelings," Tie Hongchen honestly said." Since you no longer hate me then that is enough. I am only asking for you to give me a chance to pursue you," Tai Jian said with a smile as he stared at Tie Hongchen." We are already husband and wife so you have a whole lifetime to pursue me," Tie Hongchen answered. Tai Jian's heart felt warm at the mention of the words husband and wife and he almost couldn't control the urge to kiss Tie Hongchen but he stopped himself. He decided to take things slow. Tie Hongchen was right about the fact that they were husband and wife so Tai Jian could pursue her but she was wrong about one thing; they did not have a lifetime as Tai Jian's lifespan was now less than a decade, of course, this was on the basis that Tai Jian did not invade the shadow guild. If he dared to invade the shadow guild in five years as he planned then even he was unsure if he would be able to come out of that place alive. Even if he were to come out of that place alive Tai Jian was sure that he would not be able to live for more than a year so he had no hopes but he dared not say it loud. So what if their time was short? He wanted to make her happy so that they could enjoy themselves and spend everyday together jovially. "Your highness,your grandmother, empress Dowager, is awaiting your arrival together with the princess," Xue Kai's voice sounded outside the room stopping Tai Jian's trail of thoughts." You are dismissed," Tai Jian ordered. Xue Kai immediately left after hearing Tai Jian's order.