The Ageless Dream

19.5 Race to Wei (77)

The shouts echoed outside the office of the winehouse. Each staffs tried to avoid the place, not even daring to eavesdrop. The intensity of the father and son made Dong Li Hua shrink back. She never thought she will cause such argument. At the same time, she felt amused in seeing a historical drama that Sima Qian [1] was unable to witness.

"Of course I know what Im saying." Xiang Ji continued provoking his father's anger. "Ever since mother died, my father also perished. Uncle Liang is the only person who raised me for years. He is more like a father unlike you. You chased for fame and wealth, went against countless wars but have you ever thought of me? No! All you think is about Chu!"

"Xiang Ji!"

"Am I not speaking the truth? I can't rival Chu in your heart. There was never a space left for me to stay, not even an inch! If you are my father, where were you when I suffered from illnesses? Where were you when I needed guidance? Where were you when I was ridiculed as an orphan!? At the border, you're always there! Not even a single letter of you mentioned me or asked for my wellbeing! I was never part of your world!"

"Impudent!" unable to hold himself, Xiang Chiao threw a punch to Xiang Ji who fell back.

"Young Master!" Dong Li Hua assisted Xiang Ji. She felt pity for him from his sufferings. Both of them lacked a parent and she sympathizes with him.

"Hmph." Xiang Chiao regained his senses. He glared at Dong Li Hua then raised his hand. "Somebody in, take this girl away and lock her up!"

"Feifei!" Xiang Ji's eyes widened but he was blocked by Xiang Chiao. Dong Li Hua glanced at him and smiled bitterly as she was pushed to another direction.

"Are you going to chase after her? Think twice before disrespecting me. Remember well that I am your father whether you agree with it or not." Xiang Chiao said after the guards took Dong Li Hua away.

Inside a woodshed, Dong Li Hua had her hands tied behind her back. The darkness made her feel uncomfortable. Only the faint moonlight permitted to get in and provide an obscure light.

"I have to endure. It wont be long." Dong Li Hua thought, and raised her head upward to see the moon. A tinkling sound disturbed her, she glanced towards the door that was opened.

"Feifei." thankfully, it was Xiang Ji who came. He knelt beside her and slowly untied her hand. His expression was distressed to see the marks of rope around her delicate wrist.

"Xiang Gongzhi, what... Did Lord Chiao asked you to come here?" she frowned slightly.

"It doesn't matter. Im taking you with me." he held her hand and brought her out of the woodshed. Dong Li Hua saw the guards previously stationed outside are now unconsciously laying flat on the ground.

"Xiang Gongzhi, what about you? Lord Chiao is already angry. This is not good!" Dong Li Hua persuaded as they neared the backdoor of the manor. He stopped and faced her.

"I will be fine. Ze Shuai is out there. He will take you to another place outside Xiang. Wait for me there." Xiang Ji placed a soft kiss on her forehead, letting go of her while she looked outside.

"Take care." she stared at Xiang Ji for the last time. Dong Li Hua cant thank him in another way thus, chose to tightly embrace him. "I'll wait. Please be fine."

"Feifei." he reciprocated, seemingly unwilling to let go. Xiang Ji broke their contact and watched her leave.

"Hiyah!" Ze Shuai's voice resonated a bit. From that moment, Xiang Ji knew she will be safe. His father wont go as far as hunting her outside the Land of Xiang.

Few weeks later, the winter solstice is about to end in a couple of days. By the outskirt of Xiang, Dong Li Hua finished feeding a steed. It was Xiang Ji's gift for her the last week he came here. Incase Xiang Chiao were to find her, she will use the steed to escape.

"Feifei, I missed you." someone embraced Dong Li Hua from behind. She looked up to see Xiang Ji with a hint of exhaustion written on his face.

"Xiang Gongzhi, you've overdone training again?" Dong Li Hua knew that sort of look. He spend few hours here to keep her safe then return again to the city. Xiang Ji became more busy as a punishment for freeing her. It's unfortunate Xiang Liang is not here to defend him.

"Mn. But it's worth." Xiang Ji moved back after Dong Li Hua removed his hold. Through patience, he can see his progress in taming her. She turned more considerate and attentive to him but still, afraid from his more intimate actions. Thus, Xiang Ji can only embrace or either hold her hand.

"Yesterday, Sister Hai Sheng brought a three-years-old lotus wine. Xiang Gongzhi is fond of wine so I prepared them back inside." she led Xiang Ji into the main hall of the residence. This place was secretly built by Xiang Liang to train the younger Xiang Ji but it soon became inhabitated after he grew up.

"How is Hai Sheng then? Ze Shuai left with Uncle to stand guard at Danyang." Xiang Ji asked after he sat across Dong Li Hua. It has been months or so when he last heard about Hai Sheng and Ze Shuai. Minister Hai was executed with three generations of his family. Only Hai Sheng was spared alive since Ze Shuai hid her from the authorities. With Xiang Ji's help, he prevented bounty posters of Hai Sheng get into Xiang.

"Sister Hai Sheng felt lonely but she said she can wait for Sir Ze Shuai. He kept sending letters every week, their contacts are bringing them closer." Dong Li Hua poured wine on the cup as Xiang Ji drank.

"Feifei, I noticed something. Why aren't you removing that bracelet even for once?" he glanced at her bracelet, feeling annoyed that she is keeping it.

"Eh? Uhm... Its the only possession I have. A remembrance of the past." she tried to chose proper words but it still made him furious.

[1] Sima Qian is the grand historian who recorded the events of the Qin Dynasty which mostly criticized Qin Shi Huang's