21 CATCH UP

Ling and Bian had left the whole manor to the roads as both of them walked hands in hands, not knowing who should start. "I am sorry," Bian said out loud, "I let you down." Ling tried not to judge her little sister. "It was bound to be sooner or later," Ling said mentioning about the wedding. "No, there was a solution," Bian said referring to the surrogate mother way. "Yes, but you cannot escape fate," Ling said. "What do you mean?" Bian said. "Father and Mother always knew, with your different interests that you were not going to be a consort forever," Ling said, "but it does not mean that you will not be a woman one day." Bian nodded and listened. "Honestly, I do not agree that you become a concubine of Lady Ding's husband," Ling said with mixed feelings, "but it may be better for you to be a sister of Lady Ding so she can care for you." Bian didn't agree with her sister. She had already made an agreement/exchange with Meng De.

"I do not want to marry someone I do not love," Bian confessed. Ling looked at Bian being helpless. Ling hugged Bian as her tears fall down not being able to do anything. "If I can tell you anything, I would tell you already," Ling said. Bian wanted to know what her sister would tell her but all Ling did was hugged her tighter. "I cannot breathe," Bian said. "Sorry," Ling said letting go of the hug. Ling grabbed Bian's hands, "whatever is done is already done, all you and I can do is continue living for your child," Ling said smiling at Bian. Bian nodded. "You are such a good person," Ling said patting her sister's head. Bian faked a smile. "As long as I am here for your wedding," Ling said trying to cheer up Bian. "Yes," Bian said. "I will help with your dress," Ling said, "I will make you very beautiful on the day of." Bian nodded and smiled at her sister.

"I did not get to ask about your wedding," Bian said feeling bad not being able to attend Ling and Chang's wedding. "It was real beautiful and Chang's family set the fireworks loud," Ling said. Bian smiled being able to imagine Ling and Chang excited as they bow to Chang's parents and the sky to promise to be together forever. That was the kind of wedding Bian would like to to have, a wedding with someone she choose to marry because she fell in love. "Very fortunate of you," Bian complimented Ling. Ling looked at her, "Yes, I am very fortunate," Ling said, "especially to have you as a little sister." Bian smiled. "I miss home," Bian confessed. "I know," Ling pitied her knowing Bian had lost her chance to return home since she will be getting married. "This can be your home now," Ling said looking around. Bian nodded, it was true that she had already grown to the place and cried less of missing home. It has been long 3 and a half years and she had grown to the people and environment.

"Let us return," Ling suggested. "Yes," said Bian. Both of them return to the manor and meets Lady Ding in the courtyard watching Lady Mei playing around with a consort.

"Physician Chang will return in the evening," Lady Ding has informed Ling and Bian where Chang had went. "That is good," Ling said happily knowing her husband is doing his work. "General Meng De is willing to allow Physician Chang to our family physician," Lady Ding told Ling, "so you two can live here." "I am happy," Ling exclaimed. She was excited to tell Chang and held onto Bian's hands to celebrate together. "I am happy for both of you," Bian said knowing her sister will be close by. "We shall let Chang know when he returns," Lady Ding said. "Yes," Ling nodded happily.

"How is Lady Guo?" Ling asked. "Her fever had gone slowly, but I cannot bare to see her lying down being helpless," Lady Ding said, "that is why, I am out here spending time with little Mei." "Let me go buy some sweets for her," Ling said, "it may help." Ling excused herself and left. Bian is reminded when she was young and would be sick, her father would buy her sweets to help her get better and she would. It was a magic cure to any child. "I will go check on Lady Guo," Bian told Lady Ding, who looked pale worried about her children. "Yes, please do," Lady Ding said.

Bian enters Lady Ding's manor to the children's room. Bian saw the consort sleeping while on watch with Lady Guo. Bian slowly walked over to see Lady Guo sleeping as a towel was placed on her forehead. Bian removed it to feel it dry. She looked at the bowl empty. She takes it to the bath room to refill cold water and wash the towel. After that, she returned to Lady Guo and wet the towel in the cold water, squeezing the water excess, and placed on Lady Guo's forehead. "Feel better, Lady Guo," Bian whispered. Bian held onto Lady Guo's hands and sad to see the little child sick. She also felt helpless. "I will cook you good food and play with you when you wake up," Bian said, flashing back to when Lady Guo was born, her eyes opened to see Bian first before she was given to Lady Ding, how Bian welcomed her to the world with her love and care as Lady Ding focused on her own body after birth and trying to get a son. Bian thought about the what the consort said the other night about Lady Ding forcing them to be outside. Bian did not want to believe it that Lady Ding would neglect her own children.

Bian hears someone entering. She quickly dropped Lady Guo's hands and woke up the consort, "wake up" she tugged. The sleeping consort opened her eyes, "Consort Bian?" "Someone is coming," Bian whispered. The consort quickly jumped and stood up to care for Lady Guo. Bian stood there to greet whoever was coming in to see Meng De. He looked at her in suspicion, of her action. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I am here to see Lady Guo," Bian said. Meng De looked over Bian to see the consort he had assigned to watch Lady Guo is caring for Lady Guo. "You can leave," Meng De said. "Yes," Bian said. Meng De cleared his throat, "not you, I am telling you," he nodded towards the consort. The consort looked at Meng De then Bian then back to Meng De, "Yes, General Meng De," the consort said and walked out the room.

Meng De walk past Bian to check his daughter. Bian watched him care for his child. Bian remembered Meng De was out to war missing almost 2 years of Lady Guo's life. Even though, he came back and became a father to his two daughters naturally. Meng De patted his daughter's head, "I should have spin you around when you asked," Meng De said and took the towel away from her forehead. "You will be fine in no time," Meng De said to his sleeping daughter, believing Chang will be able to find a cure for Lady Guo.

"I can take over to care for Lady Guo," Bian offered thinking Meng De may be in the same situation was as Lady Ding. Meng De looked at Bian in his sad expression. He wasn't hiding it this time and Bian can see there was no more serious face. "No," he said rejecting Bian's offer, "another consort will care for her." Bian was actually hurt to hear him not allowing her to care for Lady Guo, "the consorts must be tired," Bian said caring for others. "It is not your chore anymore," Meng De said. "This is not a chore for me," Bian angrily said, "caring for Lady Guo is not a chore for me." Meng De broke a small smile. Bian was surprised of his sudden expression change.

Meng De walked closer to Bian and Bian slowly took a step back. Meng De grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him. Bian resisted trying to push his arms away from her waist. "If that is what you want," Meng De said sweetly. Bian's anger had calm into a nervous state as she just stared at him being immersed in his gentle voice. Meng De lets her go and walked out of the room. He had finally listened to her. Bian froze as Meng De left the room, "I want many things," Bian said sighing after he left.