#11: A Date

He slowly backed away,

"Do you even know what those words mean? Its basically an invitation. Don't speak that way in public.", He said as he took off his outer cloak, and covered me up.

"What are you doing here?", I asked.

"I wanted to speak to you about some thing, I would have spoke to you earlier but I was busy and I got off just now.", He said sitting on a chair and asking me to sit.

"What is it that its so urgent?", I asked.

"The General's mansion in the west. I have to go there, that would show my claim to the position. There I can easily have access to the troops and the recruitment process. It is far from the capital so, I can't be coming here frequently", He said.

Wow! So the General is going away! Yay! Finally the freedom I dreamt of! Maybe he feels bad to leave me here. Not a problem. He is such a sweet person. He even worries about me.

"General you don't need to say anything more, I get it. Your service towards the empire comes first than family.", I said.

"What? huh Yeah so-"

"I agree to it, I won't be lonely. You can go to the mansion without any fear. You no need to carry a burden like me alone. I can stay at the capital.", I said.

"What?- but!", He didn't speak anything else, He seemed busy in thought. I poured him a glass of water(yes, not tea water. I can't make good tea!)

"Alright, Goodbye."

He slowly got up, wished me good night and left. I don't know what it was but it gave me a relief as though I skipped something really troublesome.

I quickly went to my books, took out an empty one and wrote the next chapter, I described the encounter between Xiao Li and Huang Lei. it was beautiful! I never knew I had such a character in me! I could be an author too.

I dozed off at the table itself. When I got up, Xin Xin was looking at me angrily,

"Hey! Xin Xin! what's up?", I said, still sleepy.

"Miss, Do you know what you have done?", she asked pouring a whole cup of water on me.

"What the-! How could you do this to me, your master?", I asked scowling, now that my sleep was disturbed.

"Do you know what is the time right now?", she asked, being even more scary.

"Um, is it noon?", I asked.

"No! It is sunset!! How could you doze off like that without eating nor a bath! And oh! Why did you lock up the door??", she screamed at me.

"Its evening, so what? Don't act like I never did this before.", I said washing up my face with water.

"Of course, I wouldn't mind. But Do you know the General is leaving for the West Mansion, and will return after three months or more?", She said

"Oh! The General is leaving- Wait What? When?", I asked.

"in a few moments ." She said.

"Oh Shit! Was the Madam present?", I asked running over to have a bath.

"Yes, She was utterly depressed her daughter-in-law didn't send off her son!", she said, in a disappointed tone.

I quickly washed up, dressed up and came out. I was so much hungry! But If I don't send him off well, I am sure I would be giving people new topics to gossip about.

I wore a red and white dress, I let down my hair with a single blue hairpin. I came out and saw, the General was about to leave.

"Wait, you didn't even meet me yet!", I said.

All of them turned back, but looked at me with softer eyes. General blushed and looked away. The Madam came towards me and told,

"I heard Huang Lei visited you at night. You should have slept a bit more. I am sure he would have been rough..", she said, while Elder Brother-in law was smiling and was about to laugh.

"Uh... It is not a problem...", I said, looking at the General.

He held out his hand,

"Let's have a walk in the city. Later, I will leave.", he said.

"Ok.", I said and took his hand, as we went out, I would have done everything to go out from the embarrassing situation.

We both climbed a horse rather a carriage, as all carriages were busy. I was obviously in the front, and unlike how all people in the novels describe it, it wasn't enjoyable at all. I sat in a cross position with both my legs on one side of the horse, with no back support on a moving object is really uncomfortable.

He sat stiffly, without any movement no swaying to sides like me, I guess that's what you would call a veteran. It was a bit weird, we had all eyes on us, and he was blushing still. He was red on his cheeks and ears. When I touched his face, he stopped moving, and somehow even the horse stopped moving.

"W-What?", he asked.

"Tell me, why did the Madam misunderstand? What did you even say?", I asked.

"I didn't mean it that way, Mother took it like that and I had no opportunity to correct her.", he said.

"What did you say?", I asked, If I needed to continue a bit peaceful life.

"I slept late in my study, at almost dawn, and got up late. When I got up and went to my room, mother was sitting there and she came and asked me to give her my coat so that she would embroider a safe keeping charm onto it. I told, I left it with you. She asked me whether I visited you at you room at night? I said yes. She assumed everything else. by the time I realized how misleading my words were...I couldn't do anything.", he said pouting.

"Oh! great. She is gonna assume we did it yesterday night.", I complained.

"I am sorry.", He said blushing.

"What are you acting all shy for? Its not like we did it.", I said, him blushing made my heart feel weird. A mighty General whom I thought would be emotionless, was actually blushing.

"You haven't eaten yet, right?", he asked.

"Yes, I clearly had no opportunity. I got up just a few minutes back!", I said. Suddenly realizing how stupid it was, saying out your messy behavior.

"I don't mind, you can do whatever you want.", He said, after laughing a bit.

He seriously gets on my nerves, what's with the smug nature. If he was also in my place pulling an all-nighter for a novel he would get it.

We soon got down, at a small restaurant and had a meal, it was delicious! I ate a lot, as I know it would be the General who would be paying hehe.

After the meal, we walked about the streets, it was almost night, it was dark, people lit candles and lamps. It was quite nice. We came to the night market, where the General got lost for a bit( or was it me who got lost). Again, we climbed the horse, but this time it was different, we went a different way.

He pulled me more closer to him than before, and said.

"After I leave, there will be many who badmouth me in the capital. Like I was the one who snatched my brother's position and am cruel-"

"It doesn't matter.", I spoke in.

"What?"

"You being the General, your brother or you being General isn't necessarily bad for anyone. It is not like your life's purpose is being a General, no is your brother's purpose. It is just a family's responsibility. Your brother can guide you when you're in trouble and you can help your brother the same way. So, stop that nonsense you aren't allowed to talk that way.", I said,

Those were probably the most beautiful words in me, because I know its true. People often comment or show their sympathy or throw curses at me because of my scar, that I am not worthy of a being a bride anymore nor a beauty. It isn't a necessity right?

Me being a bride. Well, I don't know about others, I always felt my life's purpose is more than just being a bride and mother. That's why I want to write novels. Those words which I said to Huang lei, are the ones I wanted to hear the most from anyone. It would have surely healed me, and I wouldn't have spent all my life covering from the public eye.

That's why I said it to him, if he too is hurt like me, due to the talks of public, I surely hope my words can heal him..

We came to the Lei Mansion. When I got down, he pulled me near, and

"There are many enemies for me, So, I don't know if this is the last time I see you. But please be careful and don't you dare meet other men.", He said with a serious look in his eyes.

He took out the blue hair pin from my hair, and tied my hair, with another pin. A red pin, I saw in the market.

"I can't always be the one receiving, So, I know my embroidery ain't much. But, take it.", I gave my red money pouch, with an embroidery of a sick flower with the words Happiness, it was not so great. But I spent a whole day on it.

"It really sucks, but I guess the sentiment is good enough.", he said kissing the pouch.

That made me blush.

"Bye, I have to leave now.", He said as he went on with his horse, Xiao Li following him behind with other soldiers and carriages carrying General's stuff.

I went on smiling inside. It was a good time. It would have been more better, if I could have gotten the limited edition picture of the new novel on sale. No problem! I can get it later!

As I went in, I saw all in a bad mood, it appeared that we had an uninvited guest.

The Peng family.