The room falls into silence with only sounds of Peony’s quiet sobbing. Holding her, Zhi Wei stares at the red and golden ceiling, her eyes full of sorrow and powerlessness. Leaning against the door frame, Gu Nan Yi seems to be also lost in thought, unable to comprehend how there is a mother who would protect Gu Zhi Xiao with her life and there is another mother who would hold Chamutu in her arms before ending his life. 

“No!” A violent shout came with a sudden whirlwind that rushed towards them from behind, grabbing Chamutu in the next instant from Peony before stuffing the baby into Zhi Wei’s arms.

Helian has arrived. 

“Ah ma! (mother)” Dropping to his knees, Helian smacks his head against the edge of the bed, his voice twisted by the pain in them. “Don’t kill Chamutu. My life doesn’t need to be given by using my little brothers’!” 

“Helian.” After letting out her floodgate of tears, Peony’s emotion has calmed down a bit. Wiping her face with a hand, Peony replies “Even if you don’t want to, you still have to accept it! We have sacrificed so many, there is no reason to let it fail at this point!”

“No one can curse me!” Helian yells loudly “Don’t believe that nonsense!”

“I know, I know. Shh… last one, last one okay.” Peony gently caresses Helian’s face. 

“No!”

If it wasn’t for the sorrow that filled her heart, Zhi Wei could almost be laughing. This exchange sure sounds like a mother trying to convince her son to eat his meal. The royalty of the wild grassland…are also filled with so much helplessness and sadness… 

“I don’t have time to waste words with you!” Unable to convince Helian, Peony abruptly became angry and kicked him away “Before your dad died, I promised him I will guard this grassland and you, no matter what the sacrifice is. If you dare to nag me any more then I am going to divorce your dad and abandon you!” 

“If you want to divorce a dead man then go ahead!” Getting angry as well, Helian pulls out his sword and holds it against his neck “I have had enough with this whole life for a life! I will give you back this life then you can go kill whoever else you want!”

“YOU!” Peony yells furiously. 

“ME!” Helian yells back. 

Someone suddenly took the sword from Helian’s hand. “What’s all this arguing.” Master Gu was the one who took the sword. Zhi Wei was the one who spoke. 

Giving Peony a wink, Zhi Wei says “Grand Queen, look what a mess this whole thing became. We should discuss this at length.” 

Turning around, Zhi Wei also gives Helian a wink “As long as you are alive and well, then would your mother still have to worry about you being cursed? What’s the point of arguing over this right now.” 

It dawns on Peony– Daughter-in-law is trying to tell me that she will help me later. 

It dawns on Helian– Wife is trying to tell me that as long as I have Chamutu then my mother can’t do anything to him. 

Seeing that both mother and son have been assured, Zhi Wei immediately turns around to leave and the baby is naturally put into Master Gu’s arms “Raise him with Gu Zhi Xiao.” 

Before Helian and Peony could say anything, sounds of ruckus suddenly came from afar. A hurried and raspy voice obviously belonging to an elderly man came “Quickly, that Han woman, bring her to me….”

The rest of his words were drowned out by Chun Yu’s thunderous voice “Prince Chu’s expedited gift from the Capital for Queen Shunyi…..” The announcement was so thunderous that it filled the whole royal palace as if fearing no one would hear it this late of the night. Helian and Gu Nan Yi turned at the same moment to look at Zhi Wei. Zhi Wei’s face was half turned looking out the window, it was difficult to see the expression on her face. 

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned awkward. Peony, the only one who is clueless, frowns and asks with confusion “What Prince Chu? The one that is currently the most powerful one in the royal court? Didn’t he already send congratulation gifts for Helian’s crowning ceremony? Why is sending more gifts all this way for…” She suddenly stops abruptly after seeing the expression on Helian’s face. Helian turns away and says simply “Zhi Wei, take good care of Chamutu.” Stepping out of the room in big stride, Helian’s voice from a distance away could be heard hollering “Someone, take Saint Da Ma to go rest up for the night.” then adding “The gift can be directly sent to the Queen’s quarters.” Hearing Helian’s words, Peony “whispers” in a volume that is loud enough for Zhi Wei to hear “My Lucky is sure generous…” 

Zhi Wei smiles and says “I am taking Chamutu, Peony. By the way, since you believed Saint Da Ma’s words then why in the heavens did you give birth to so many kids?” 

“Do you think I wanted to?” Distracted by Zhi Wei’s question, Peony complains “I was married to Ku Ku for 25 years and I only gave birth to eight! The Golden Lion tribe loves to have lots of kids so Ku Ku wanted many many kids. I didn’t dare to tell him Saint Da Ma’s words so I secretly found some contraceptive medicine to take. He thought I didn’t want more kids so from time to time he would secretly pour out my medicine or switch them out. Is not like the medicine worked perfectly all the time anyway, so I ended up popping one out now and then.” 

“The old king didn’t know…” 

“I only told him the first half of Saint Da Ma’s prediction so he thought it was Helian’s hardy life force that caused his brothers’ death.” Peony’s voice became quieter “I didn’t want him to resent Helian but I didn’t want him to be in pain either…” So this is why she covered up the truth and carried all the burden, the pain of that prediction by herself? Zhi Wei stares at Peony, a bit amazed how there would be a woman that cherished and protected her husband to such an extent in this world. She suddenly feels that old king Ku Ku was actually quite blessed. 

“You can go now, there is no need to prolong the time here by talking about this or that.” Peony urges her to leave “I don’t talk to people who are distracted.” 

Zhi Wei smiles awkwardly, walks out, and hands Chamutu to the nursemaid before urging Gu Nan Yi to get to bed. Studying her face for a moment, Gu Nan Yi says “Don’t cry.” 

Falling silent, Zhi Wei finally forces a smile and replies “Why would I cry for no reason at all?”

Pointing to her heart, Gu Nan Yi says “Your heart.” 

Zhi Wei stood silently in the darkness as the cold wind of the grassland swept through, carrying with it the sweet flower fragrance mixed with the clean smelling scent of the man standing across for her. It somehow gave her a feeling of comfort. 

After a bit, she finally lets out a low laugh. 

Gu Nan Yi abruptly reaches out a hand to smooth her hair and somewhat stiffly pulls her into his arms and gives her back two pats. That mannerism was the exact same one he used to get Gu Zhi Xiao to sleep… 

Nestled in his arms, Zhi Wei wanted to laugh but her nose also stings from the urge to cry. This is the first time he and she have embraced. The embrace had nothing to do with passion, only caring concern. Concern…he finally understands it, that’s so great. Something peaceful seems to be floating in the air, like a tender song humming in the night.  

After a bit, Zhi Wei gently pushes Gu Nan Yi away, looking up at his exquisite chin she says softly “Nan Yi, don’t worry. It’s okay to cry. Everyone will cry sometime. As long as one remembers to smile next time, then that’s okay.” 

Gazing unwaveringly at her, Gu Nan Yi suddenly blurts out “If one day, I cried for someone then I will never smile again.” Turning right around after he finished speaking, Gu Nan Yi walks into his room and closes the door with a soft click. The sound of the door closing was quiet but it sent shock waves through Zhi Wei. Without her noticing, Gu Nan Yi seems to be slowly opening up his inner world. This is the first time she has heard him expressing himself so clearly and completely. Yet the meaning in it, frightens her. She silently took two steps back, her eyes fixated on Gu Nan Yi’s tightly closed door until a soft sigh sounded in the grassland’s spring night. 

From the front hall to her door is seven steps, from her door to the front hall is seven steps. Zhi Wei uses the length of her foot to measure the distance in front of her door about ten times. It is extremely quiet. Unlike back in the Capital, within the big clans, there are always servants close by waiting for your every order. Normally, the quietness seems nice but right now, she is a bit unused to it. The moonlight has reached the middle of the courtyard. Zhi Wei looks up at the sky, sighs yet again and pushes open her door. 

Thank you all so much for the kind encouragement and input last week! I think for now I am not going to veer too much away from what I am currently doing other than perhaps feeling less guilty and be just a tad bit more liberal in using my bullet-point summaries from here on.

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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