Secret Suffering (2)

The next few weeks, Princess Mei seemed to decide to stay in her residence and did not bother General Shoushan. Though the general still goes to the palace every day. Until the king calls him to his study.

"Greetings to his majesty," he bowed to the king.

"Arise," the king replied. "How's your duty of protecting the princess?"

"Answering to his majesty, the princess remained on her residence this past three weeks. Her residence is well guarded. She did not go out of the palace as well,"

"I see," the king seemed to be in deep thought.

"Is there something wrong, my king?"

The king looked at him with concern but then, after a while, it vanished. This reaction from the king made Shoushan worried. Did the princess go out of the palace without his knowledge? That's impossible! He even used his martial arts to make sure that he knew where the princess is.

The king sighed before answering him.

"I will send you and the princess in the Shèng Mountain. Before both of you departs, go to my daughter's maidservant, Chuntao, she will tell you want to do and what to prepare." Then, his face becomes serious. "No matter what happens during your trip with her, you are not allowed to tell it to anyone. It is only you who I can trust to carry on this mission."

"Yes, you're majesty. I will follow your command," even though he doesn't fully understand what the command is, he will follow what the king commanded him.

"That's good. You and the princess will leave the palace three days from now. Chuntao will not accompany the two of you, I commanded her to do something somewhere."

With that, the king dismissed him with the wave of his hand before returning to the document in front of him. Shoushan bowed once again before turning around to leave. He immediately went to the princess' residence to talk to Chuntao.

"The journey to Shèng Mountain will take five days via horse ride but since the princess cannot ride a horse as of the moment, you will use a carriage," Chuntao is explaining things to him while they are in the receiving area of the princess' residence. He was informed that the princess is resting on her bedchamber.

"What do you mean she cannot ride a horse as of the moment?" he assumed that since the princess lives in the palace, she doesn't know how to ride a horse. Especially how pampered she is. He doubted if the king will allow his only daughter to get hurt.

Chuntao's calmed expressions changed. She is deciding how much she is supposed to tell this general. Besides, this is the first time another human being will accompany the princess in the Shèng Mountain. She did not understand as well why the king decided to do this. Is she not enough?

"The princess is a little sick right now that's why she needs to go to Shèng Mountain,"

"She's sick?" Shoushan can sense that the maidservant in front of him is hiding something from him. This is the first time he heard that the princess is sick. And no one from the imperial doctors can sure her.

"Yes, I prepared the medicine that you will bring with you. Remember to give the medicine only when necessary. As long as the princess can still endure, you are not to give her the medicine. Do you understand?"

General Shoushan looked at her blankly. He cannot understand what she is saying right now. If they have the medicine, why do they need to travel far?

"I know the king did not explain things to you clearly," Chuntao said as if reading what's on his mind.

"It is still unclear to you as of the moment, but I know you will understand it soon enough. Besides, if the king asked you to accompany the princess in the Shèng Mountain, it means he trusts you so much."

Before Chuntao left the palace, she gave a bottle of medicine to General Shoushan together with a silver string and a white candle with carvings on it. She also instructed him to never leave the princess side throughout the seven days that they will be staying in the residence in the Shèng Mountain. She assured him that everything they will need is provided. But on their first night in the Shèng Mountain, Shoushan couldn't believe what he is witnessing.

Princess Mei is chained in her bed with the silver string given to him by Chuntao. He was told to chain up the Princess after she washed up and lay to bed. At first, Shoushan did not know what to do. He felt that he shouldn't stay in the Princess' bedchamber even though no one was there except the two of them. He was also surprised to see a quiet and always sleeping Princess Mei on their journey towards the Shèng Mountain. But then, the moment the moon rise in the sky, Princess Mei started to cry.

"Please let me go," Princess Mei pleaded him with tears on her eyes. He looked at her shocked. Earlier that evening, after dinner, Princess Mei told him never to give in to her requests during the night. He found it strange at first, but since the Princess is dead serious he agreed. But now, seeing her crying and begging her to release from the chains, he doesn't know what to do.

"Please, let me go. I don't want to feel this pain again," she said looking at her hands which are chained.

"But Princess..."

"Please!!!" then, suddenly the princess cried so loud that anyone near the residence can hear it. Shoushan saw how Princess Mei struggled to let loose. Her crying and begging intensified as the night progressed.

The next day, Shoushan saw the quiet Princess Mei. She just ate her meals and stayed inside her bedchamber. She did not bother to dress herself up. Shoushan would stay outside of her bedchamber during the day. He is afraid that when she needed anything he was not there. Besides, they are only two of them. A lot of questions are bothering him all this time. He wanted to ask her those questions but seeing her exhausted appearance he doesn't have any courage to do so.

Until, on the third day, during dinner. Princess Mei asked him to eat with her since there are only the two of them in the residence. Shoushan remembered how jolly she was when they are eating in the restaurant but looking at her quiet attitude his heart pitied her.

"Don't pity me. That is the worst thing you can do for me," she looked at him with tenderness on her eyes. Yes, her physical body looks tired and devoid of energy but her eyes becomes shart and clear.

"Tonight, until the 7th night, everything will be intensified. I would like you to use your martial arts during this time," she said while she continued to eat as if what she is saying is normal.

"Okay, I understand" Shoushan replied pretending that he understood everything.

"I will explain everything to you on our way back to the palace on the 8th day. But, I want you to do one more thing, which is the most important things aside from not giving in to my requests,"

"What is it?"

"Don't let the white candle lost its light. No matter what happened, it has to be burning bright all throughout the night."

Shoushan looked at the candle burning brightly on the door of the princess' bedchamber. He is now used to staying in the princess' bedchamber.

"You are not sleeping since we arrived here?"

Shoushan was startled by the princess' question. Since he is afraid that she might need anything throughout the day and there are no servants present, he did not dare to sleep.

"I am okay,"

"I know you are worried, but the most important time is the evening. You can sleep in the morning because I can take control of my body. I need your strength during the evening,"