17 #17: Capture

Guan's P.O.V****

The Marquis's guards came and attacked the ones from the Peng's, The Marquis's people were strong, it was going to be a win.

I took out my sword, my twin swords, and began attacking the other. The whole place was in chaos, the people ran away the second a sword was drawn. Thank god! There won't be any hostages now! The Mansion was totally locked. No one could enter anymore.

I protected Milady, It was tiring. The guards of Pengs felt strong. It wasn't supposed to be like this... How could I be at such a weak state against a normal servant? I was tired. I was sleepy. I soon lost control and fell down. My knees gave away my breath was hurting. I wanted to sleep. It was such a strong desire to sleep. I looked up and saw Peng Ju, laughing as he hit me in my stomach.

"Do you think I might not have thought about you? silly underling of Huang Lei.", He said.

Did he already know? Was it a trap set up for us. No way!

"You think I forgot about your presence? No I didn't ! I knew you would gather up supporters from the Marquis to attack us.", he said.

So he doesn't know about Milady. Thank God!

"You're sleepy aren't you? *scoffs* Of course you are, anyone would be asleep by now.", he said.

I looked around, all of the Marquis's guards fell down one by one, the Marquis and his heir were struggling like me to be awake, they both cut their palms a bit, to bleed and stay awake but no use. They too fell down.

"Oh My God! What happened!! It seems as though someone might have mixed a sleeping drug into water for the soldiers! Oh no! What to do?", he said.

"Shut up you b******", I said trying to get up.

"What did you call me? you lowlife! your just but a fly!", he said while kicking me thrice.

"Well, you're getting all worked up over a fly's words. I wonder what you are.", I said mocking him, He was a clever person, he could easily understand our plan if I let him think deeply. Thank God! He is a foolish noble.

"Y-You!", he mumbled.

"Yes, its me you *****, I don't know what you think of yourself... but I will not back down.", I said as I got up.

Heavy sleep hit me. My eyes almost closed. Though I am weak, a bunch of weak mercenaries dressed up as servants are a thing I could defeat while sleeping. I should at least land a punch on Peng Ju.

I got up, I was totally surrounded, by 20? 30? I don't know.. some number. My grip on my swords felt weak. I needed to do something to be awake. What.. at least I need to be conscious for at least an hour to defeat the guards, I believe the General will come by then. Till he comes. I will do it.

I sheathed my swords and put up martial stance. A sword mustn't be held with out proper guidance of the sense. Swinging my sword without proper control would mean disrespecting my sword. I took on them.

Person after person. The pain in my head was more, it was as though I was carrying the sky on my head, my eye sight dimmed, but I didn't stop. I continued till I fell. It was too much. There were so many more coming. I knocked out 30 unconscious. but still there are more.

I unsheathed a sword, but my hands gave away. I wanted to be awake. but I wasn't able to. Can't I just sleep? I....

Milady.... No... I can't sleep not until the General comes. I got up using the sword, and took a strong stance, I have to do it. It's not like I am dying, it is just a sleep. I began fighting until a saw an arrow pass by me and hit the guard I was fighting. It was a black arrow with a yellow ribbon. I couldn't see where it came from.

Then, suddenly, a figure came in front of me, it was Chi Due, my companion from the shadow guards who left for the General mansion. He turned back and told,

"We are here my friend.", he said.

Huang Lei's P.O.V****

It had only been a week since I left. But, I feel bored. There is so much to do but I just don't feel like doing it. It feels weird, that there was no ambush nor any sort of inconvenience, but rather we were moving at a fast pace.

A person on horse can reach the Mansion in 10 hours. With a carriage, 2 days. With a large group, it will be at least 2 weeks. The reason is, large group needs to take frequent rests and many places don't get enough resting areas or food as the inns are always busy and full.

But, we were moving quite fast, as though someone wanted us out of the Capital. What if there was an attempt to kill my family? No, brother is there. Guan too. Brother is quite strong. If he could defeat me with a single arm, he can at least fend off few assassins. Mother is well protected, Jia Li has Guan, though he is not that strong, he is perfectly loyal and can handle himself to any situation.

I am not reading too much into it right? I hope so. Something really doesn't hit me right.

We came to our Mansion in 1 week and 1 day, All servants began to arrange out for the night, after a rest, the preparations to use the mansion commenced, All of them began making the whole place habitable.

"Milord", a servant called me.

"Yes. What is it?", I asked.

"Shall we prepare the Miss's room beside your courtyard?", They asked.

"No... She won't be coming here anyways.", I said. Somehow it hurt to say it.

"Yes, Milord."

The days went by, I wrote frequent letters through my trusted bird, asking about any situation and their health. The replies I had got was first from brother saying,

' We are all fine, but there seems to be a personal situation with Jia Li, I hope you can come soon.',

I later inquired about it, but there were no information about her, I asked it in a message again, to get the reply.

'Don't worry! the situation's resolved, her health has improved greatly. Don't rush, take care of yourself'.', Somehow it felt unlike my brother.

After two weeks, I wrote another letter, to mother asking of her health, I got the reply as,

'I am fine son, just a cold. I hope you too take care of yourself.'

Now this was weird, no matter what anyone says, my mother was a proud woman, who never let go of her pride and dignity of a royal princess, She would never write well wishes like that. Her way of saying me to be well, was 'prove your worth well' or 'be loyal to yourself'.

The other weird thing was the use of the word, 'fine'. She never used a sentence like that in front of me, She always felt, saying 'I am fine', can anger the Gods. She believed, we mustn't say it aloud, as it may seem we are boasting of our health, this will cause gods to abandon us and lose our health.

It felt weird, my bird got intercepted? They would not leave the bird alive if that was the case. What is going on? The Capital is a big place, any attack on my family, will spread rumors like a forest fire. It seems too weird. I need to go and check.

"Xiao Li."

"Yes, Milord.", he said.

"Prepare transport to Capital immediately! We are to leave in three hours.", I said.

"Yes, Milord. How many troops?", he asked.

"25 men. All on horses. Rent the horses or whatever, don't worry about the cost and let's go! Quick!", I said.

"Yes. milord.", he said.

It surprised me that Xiao Li was doing something with out a complain. He too must have noticed how suspicious our letter replies were. We have to go check what's going on. My replies with my father in law, state that there isn't any trouble. But it wasn't right.

We began at night, we proceeded a lot forward, but we were stuck in a city. It was clearly half the distance covered. I used my General's token to move from within the city unlike using the long path.

Xiao Li was left at the Mansion to take care of it. I went quickly. But, the soldiers had to rest, I couldn't impose too much on them. Nor can I leave them behind and go as it may be a trap. I alone may be sufficient but there could be a hostage case.

After resting the night, We began at the break of dawn and proceeded on till we reached the Capital at near evening. I went by to see what was happening, when the people looked at me with a sad eye. I asked on what happened. They told,

"General! Your wife was pregnant.. but she died! the princess and the first master are missing..", they said crying.

"My what?", I asked.

No way, its got to be a false statement.. Mother, Brother are missing? and Jia Li? Jia Li is dead. How could that be? I was unable to believe it, They told,

"Yes, It was true! the Marquis even attacked the Lei Mansion for that reason!",

I went by quickly, the doors were bolted shut. I asked the guards to jump in through the fence and I too followed. The guards quickly captured all, I could see there was little bloodshed but more unconscious people, as though all slept.

Guan was fighting continuously, I wanted to praise him for his efforts.. then my eye fell on the coffin in front of me, in that lay Jia Li, her face was pale. Her lips chapped and slightly blue. She had an uncanny similarity of dead people. My heart froze. Each beat hurt me.

Tears fell down. It was only recently that we had gotten close. Only a month, that I ever spoke to her. But, I knew it. Unknowingly, I made her an important part of life. I don't know If I love her or not. But I truly enjoyed her presence. The fact that she won't be here anymore, it feels painful

I went over to her, I touched her face, it was cold as ice. I bent over and kissed her forehead. Regretting my rest. If I hadn't taken a rest, I could have saved her... right?

My people captured all the guards, seems as though Peng Ju, took over my mansion. We reclaimed it all, I got filled in, that my mother and brother were no more too. I took out the sword and was about to pierce it into Peng Ju,

"Wait brother!", I heard my brother's voice

I turned back and saw it was him, though he was limping and bandaged.

"Brother....", I stared in a gaze. I am sure, if I didn't see him, I probably would have killed all people whether innocent or not in the whole city.

"It is not your job to decide his punishment.", He said.

"Yes....", I told.

The city patrol officers came and imprisoned Peng's guards and him on the charge of disrupting peace and unauthorized control of mansion and keeping hostage. Nevertheless, his punishment awaits in the palace.

Mother too came out of a carriage which arrived just then, she too limping taking the support of a young servant girl, who I had seen before with Jia Li, they both went towards the coffin and,

suddenly, I saw, Jia Li got up. I was shocked. Not only me, Peng Ju and all were scared. Jia Li, got up and came towards me. I held her hand, truly, I could feel a faint pulse and warmth. She was alive??!