The tribe leaders stare at Helian blankly. No one had imagined Helian would be stubborn to this point. In actuality, the edict of obeying the Saint is just a belief, not a rule. However, after hundreds of years of religious indoctrination, the people have long forgotten it is an option to disobey. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be a clear statement on what happens after a person suffers the thorny whipping. No one has actually had to be punished by the thorny whip.
The whites of Saint Da Ma’s eyes are showing, seemingly unable to catch his breath.
Looking at him coldly, it is obvious in Zhi Wei’s eyes he is already a skeleton.
“Go stop him.” She turns and says to Peony, “There is no reason to suffer for an old man who will die soon.”
Her expression a bit strange, Peony stares at Zhi Wei for a moment before letting out a sigh “It’s his fate…let him be. You don’t understand Saint Da Ma’s authority among the people…this is the only way to solve it.”
*PA!*
The sound of the whip making contact with flesh made everyone tremble, silence descended on the crowd.
The hooked barbs made contact with the flesh on the back and immediately caused the skin to burst open, blood shooting out. The drag of the barbs made deep grooves, the flesh surrounding groves puffing up instantly as the blood soaked the golden robe on the ground.
First lash, Helian’s body jerked, his fingers buried deep into the grassy ground but still managed to give Zhi Wei a bright smile as she rushed towards his direction “Hey! I thought it would hurt a lot more but it’s just…”
*PA!*
The second lash falls and immediately cuts off Helian’s purposefully carefree voice. Seeing his face twisted with agony, Zhi Wei says softly “Don’t talk.”
*PA!*
Helian’s body drops but manages to prop himself up in time with an elbow. Raising his head again, Helian attempts to give Zhi Wei another smile.
The whip now covered with pieces of bloody flesh, splattering blood every time it waves through the air. A drop of blood lands on Zhi Wei’s face but instead of wiping it, she suddenly steps forward and grabs the whip.
“Enough!”
The blood stained thorns immediately pierced her palm, her oozing blood mixed with Helian’s.
“Zhi Wei!” Helian, who had not let out a single grunt when his own blood and flesh was being ripped from him, jumped up at the sight of her blood. Throwing away the whip in her hand to catch Helian who had promptly fallen forward, Zhi Wei says to Hute “Three lashes is enough. He is your people’s king!”
Picking up the whip, Hute silently backed away. Seeing the cold expression in Zhi Wei’s eyes as she stares at the blood on the ground, Helian hissed through his pain and is about to force out a few jokes when he hears her say in a low voice “Who dictates that divine power will rule over royal power? Starting with me, I- Will-Not-Allow-It.”
The iciness and determination in her tone make Helian shudder. Not saying anymore, Zhi Wei helps Helian back into the room, pulls out a calendar book and throws it in front of a shivering Saint Da Ma “The whipping has been done, what needs to be said has been said. Now we need to trouble you to choose an auspicious day for the King to take the throne. I think the next three days are all good, let’s just choose one of those days.”
Not bothering to look around to see everyone’s expression, Zhi Wei helps Helian to the back palace, orders the servants to bring the medicine box along with a basin of water before she personally tended to his wounds.
That whip was not an ordinary whip but heavy and deadly. Helian’s back is swollen and torn up, a pitiful sight. Laying on his front, Helian doesn’t make any sound but as Zhi Wei gingerly applies the medicine to his back she could feel his body trembling.
“Just yell if it hurts.” Zhi Wei carefully tends to his wound, picking out the hooked thorns one by one. What a shame that such beautiful skin will probably be scared from now on. “Even if you hold back I won’t be admiring your heroic effort.”
“I…was afraid your heart would ache for me.” Helian raises his head that is covered with beads of sweat, his violet eyes have turned dark purple because of the pain, yet his lips are still turned upward into a smile.
Zhi Wei stared at him, finished with the last of his wounds and gave his shoulder a slap. In the midst of Helian’s howling, Zhi Wei says languidly “Heart ach? A bit.”
“Forget it…forget it.” Helian gives her a pained smile “I should not have such a lofty dream to have your heart ache for me.”
“Heartaches are useless.” Her face in the shadow of the room, Zhi Wei says “Instead of wasting on heartaches, it would be better to do something useful.”
Laying on the carpet, Helian barely manages to raise his head up to look at her, “What are you going to do?”
His question was met with silence.
“Zhi Wei…”Helian suddenly reached out a hand to grab hers, “You have changed. The first time I saw you by my carriage, you might’ve been ruthless but there was still mercy in you. But now, you seem to have frozen yourself. Not only is there no room for mercy towards others, you don’t even have mercy towards yourself. This is not good.”
“How is it not good?” Zhi Wei didn’t pull her hand away, she just quietly looked down at him.
Her hand is in his, but to Helian it seems like he is holding ice, not a hand. A hand that instead of being closest to the heart feels more like it is on the other side of the world. Her hand is in his yet neither the person nor the soul is here.
His lips twist into a sad smile as he gently says “Life is short. Instead of wasting so much time on hatred, why not try to let yourself be happier. I…just hope for your happiness.”
He awkwardly pulls the medicine box to him, pulls out the bandages and ointment. At first Zhi Wei couldn’t figure out what he wanted to do until he carefully picked out the small thrones in her palm and bandaged it up. Just the few simple movements caused his forehead to be covered with sweat again.
Gazing at him, Zhi Wei takes a handkerchief to wipe away the sweat on his forehead and says “I was very happy today because I finally discovered that as many people who wrong you in this world there will be just as many people who will treat you with sincerity. Helian, thank you. But I don’t feel that it is worth it to hurt yourself for a grand queen that is an empty title. You should know that to me, whether I am the grand queen or not, it would not have any effect.”
Helian falls silent. He is not dumb so of course he can understand the true meaning in Zhi Wei’s words. After a while, he smiles and replies “I did it of my own free will.”
Seeing Helian closing his eyes acting as if he is about to fall asleep, Zhi Wei quietly gathers up everything and gingerly walks out.
The moment Zhi Wei leaves, Helian opens his eyes.
His violet eyes staring up at the ceiling, an expression of pain flashing across his eyes.
After a long while, he mutters “Zhi Wei…even if it’s an empty title, I still want it, because…that is the closest I can get to you.
Coming out of Helian’s room, Zhi Wei calls over Zong Cheng and Gu Nan Yi to tell them a few things.
After a bit, Peony comes over to tell her that Helian’s crowning ceremony will be in two days. Peony explains that seeing Saint Da Ma is not doing too well it would be better to do it soon. With the Saint being 113, it looks like after this crowning ceremony, the next ceremony would be for the new saint.
Unlike her usual chattering self, Peony has been pensive ever since Saint Da Ma said what he did. Seeing Peony lost in thought, Zhi Wei abruptly asks “Peony, don’t you really want to kill me?”
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
I love Helian, I hope the author didn’t kill him off too soon .
Helian! Helian! you are a true prince among princes. ZW you are the badass royal princess but my hear ache for you.
Teria que existir duas ZW.