Chapter 109 (1/2)

”Anything?  It isn't as simple as 'anything'.  Han Clan and Mo Clan are sworn enemies.  He killed my father.  Nothing is worse than having one's parents killed.  I will give it back to him, one day.”

Bai Jiu stares at him, shocked, ”Impossible!  Didn't Great General Han die in the battlefield?  What does that has anything to do with Duke Zhen?”

Han Yi Xiao resentfully replies her, ”Back then, my father and Mo Chang Xiao went to the border together to lead the army.  One time, the enemy surrounded them.  They agreed to fight the enemy together.  My father decided to lead the first half of the army as decoy, to draw the enemy to a valley between two mountains.  Mo Chang Xiao was to ambush the enemy later.  Mo Chang Xiao went back on his words and didn't come.  My father and all 3000 soldiers under him died for nothing.  My father's corpse was full of arrows.  He died a hero.  Later, Mo Chang Xiao used that very same tactic, one that my father came up with, and successfully defeated the enemy.  He took all the credit for it.  My father's corpse was brought from the border later.  I would never forget the way his body looked like.  I was only 10.  It was then that I swore to myself to enter the army.  I would find the way to get rid of Mo Chang Xiao myself.”

”Impossible,” mumbles Bai Jiu.  She could never believe her father would do something like that.  ”Are you alright, Great General?” she looks at Han Yi Xiao.

Han Yi Xiao calmly replies her, ”I'm fine.  Just, remembering all those memories makes me even more determined to avenge my father's death.”

”Perhaps there is some misunderstanding,” says Bai Jiu.  She refuses to believe her father is that kind of a person.

”Misunderstanding?  My father's own confidante escaped death and told us all these, do you think it could be fake?  Mo Chang Xiao is a greedy and corrupted official,” says Han Yi Xiao.

Bai Jiu does not know how to defend her father; she can only sigh.

Han Yi Xiao looks at her and sighs self-deprecatingly, ”I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you all these.  After all, this is my family affair.”

Bai Jiu shakes her head, ”No, no.   Actually, I really respect the late Great General Han.  I've always thought that he died in the battlefield, I've never expected anything more sinister behind his death.”

”He will not die in vain,” states Han Yi Xiao resolutely.

Bai Jiu nods.  Not wanting to speak further of the heavy topic, she steers the conversation to something relatively lighter.  She points at the moon, ”Look at the moon, Great General.  How pretty.  Even though it's not a full-moon, it is still beautiful in it's own imperfect way.”

Han Yi Xiao laughs, ”You sure are different from the crowd.  Other people likes full moon, you're the only person I know who likes half-moon.”

”If there are too many perfect things, it will become an imperfection,” Bai Jiu raises an eyebrow while smiling.

Han Yi Xiao nods in agreement, ”Who would have thought that someone so young would be so deep, how admirable.  It is late, rest early.  There are many things we need to do tomorrow.”

Bai Jiu nods.  She gets up and returns to the camp with Han Yi Xiao.

A couple of days pa.s.sed and the Foreign King and Queen begin their journey home.  Jun Qian Che personally sends them off.

Mo Qi Qi has not seen Jun Qian Che for these past couple of days.  He used to visit Feng Yang Palace even when there was nothing pressing, but now, that has changed.  Mo Qi Qi knows that he is trying to avoid the pregnancy, and so, decides to visit Yu Jing Palace herself.  She wants to know what he is planning to do about the child.

After lunch, Mo Qi Qi sends Ban Xiang to make sure that Jun Qian Che is at Yu Jing Palace first, before secretly making her way there.

Just as she is about to slip in, she spots Imperial Physician w.a.n.g huffily making his way over.  Is Jun Qian Che sick?  Probably not, no one has make a fuss yet.  So, does that means…. Oh no!  Don't tell her Physician w.a.n.g is here because Jun Qian Che wants to discuss with him about how to get rid of her!  No, she must hear what they are about to say!  If Jun Qian Che wants to kill her, she will send a message to Duke Zhen!  Let him siege the palace to save her if need to be, as long as she lives!  She hides near a window, hidden from view, perfect for eavesdropping.

Jun Qian Che is sitting on a dragon-carved throne when the physician walks in.