12 Father

While paying a visit at the questioning area with the Commander to check on the progress of newly captured agents of the Red Eagle Nest whom havent confessed yet one of the palace guards dashed into the cells we were roaming around. He bowed.

"Princess Huwanuwei, a noble man named Chengseng awaits for you at the guard room!"the guard announced.

Commander:

"What is he doing here?"

My words spilled out so recklessly infront of the princess. Though the words werent that loud, her ears were too concious that she turned and frowned. Though even her eyes shot knives at me right now for questioning her old best FRIEND, as i wish..... she looked like a devil in an Angelic form which can make anyone kowtow to her. But in a more baeutiful manner those ferocious eyes relaxed in a way that could melt anyones heart. Nonsense....come back to your sense commander!!!!!!.... the only thing i could do was ignore her before acting stupid.

She then quickened to the guards room as i rollowed if it might even relate me.

This is the first time seeing Chengseng in civil clothes properly without his usual uniform. His every feature reflected a strong man who has faced many wars...

"Princess! Commander!" He bowed.

"Is anything wrong Chengeseng???" The princess asked a bit concerned but kept her gorgeous smile stable.

Reluctantly Chengeseng spoke still his head lowered.

"Princess, your father, the former Emporer of Japan, hasnt much time left!" He spoke clearly and carefully. Listeneing to the words princess's face stirred. Her strong posture quiwered, so i supported her hand to keep standing. Her eyes filled with surrow as her face was pale.

Does that mean her foster father, the father of the current Japanese emporer is dying???

My hands reached her shoulders as i wanted to comfort her though i dont know how? But in seconds she regained her composture of a queen who will never kneel and smiled at Chengseng as her eyes glittered with the tears holded. Chengseng looked surprise as she thanked him for informing.

"Im sorry princess! His majesty will survive the longest for about three months. as he resists treatments now. Im sorry about it Huwanuwei!" Chengseng looked at her in pitying manner.

"It doesnt matter...ill be leaving to japan to night! Now you may return to your estate. Dont worry as i can go with the embassidor.ill come back in few months time.. ill first have to get permission to leave." Then as if like an empress she turned and walked out right next to me, not spairing a look at anyone she hurried still in a majestic manner towards the Empress's palace. I couldnt utter a single word to comfort her....but their she goes,....the uncompairable, inevitable, faithful, beautiful lady..... i dont know why but i feel proud of her regarding every single thing of her!!!!!!

The sun was setting. As the endless regrets and thoughts flowed in my mind i didnt notice myself walking back an fourth at the Office yard.

For few months i will not see her....i shall not guard her when she strolls recklessly at nights.....i shall not comfort her when her father leaves her.....i just have to do nothing....should i atleast bid good bye?????i shall meet her again later!!! I felt my heart race accelerating every beat..... i know she'll be safe.........

"Sir! Are you worried about the Princess?" Bojan shocked me to death but spoke my thoughts as he was my most trusted subordinate, friend, brother who accompanied me for years.

"What do you mean Colonel?" I asked domineering. A bit reluctant but again he continued concerned.

"Sir i known you all this time and i know that you know what i meant! .There is nothing wrong of you sir, bidding Good bye to the Princess. Also I dont want sir to wait with regrets or unhappily though this is something simple....and only for few months....

Apart from that she might be waiting for you sir!!! Cause im aware that the Princess also values you sir! Specially after the birthday surprise ive got to see you too getting along better!!" A current went through my body.

"Does she?" My bloody mouth spilled letting Bojan's mockery face reappear.he then gloated excitedly. No matter im his Commander he always looked for a way to mock me.

"As i guess...see... sir values the princess! Dont you!" He giggled. Annoyed i tried to cover my intent.looking away i hurried my steps to the exit replying.

"Mind your words Colonel! I have spared you too much!"He shut his mouth. Though he was a joker he was also obediant."By the way i have some other work so im leaving!" Though i didnt look back at him i can still imagine him mocking at me.

I have to go to the princess before she leaves...

I rode my horse to the harbour as soon as possible. The ship was almost going to leave. The Princess was standing infront of the ship entrance looking around.

As she saw me she smiled beautifully. I rushed towards her. I felt everything was awkward. I bowed.

"Princess,..." as i eye contacted her, her smile grew wider. She then pointed a book and a small package to me."Commander!Ming Zeng! This is my life story up to the arrival on the war. You may read it while im away cause i heard from master that you asked him about my career as a merchant at the pheonix main Office and also i trust you on knowing me and as i have taken you as a good friend, i want you to know me to trust me... and in the package its your birthday gift from me as i want be here for your birthday next month. And this cant be compared with your gift so sorry about that, but i myself made this for you" i quickly took the book and the package from her hiding my excitement.

"Thank you Princess for your kindness!But i already trust you Princess regardless of what you have done ànd..." i wanted to tell her what i felt.

"Ming Zeng go on. Is there something you want to tell me?" She asked innocently.

"Its nothing! But Princess stay safe!" I bowed.

"Ok! You too! And by the way your performance was pretty good at the celebration with my brother!" She then gave me a small kiss on my cheek and got inside the ship calmly without looking back as if nothing happened, leaving me in shock for few minutes as i kept stairing at the dissapearing ship with her.

apart from all this how did she know even that i was the one who danced instead of the emporer that night?????????

Later, all night i read the book without sleeping after wearing the silver dagger she presented, on my neck with its chain, which was magnificently carved and decorated with small stones and my name at its base carved withsilver ontop of a red gem.... for 21 nights i read her life story thinking of how she is doing right now in Japan.

Princess:

After a long time i have returned to Japan...so before going to the palace to my father i took around on my company branches near the harbour.

This is where i started with selling Jingseng...it was my first, so expensive order during some country corruptions, given by the emporer when i was just 12..This is where i first met foster family as his highness was doing an undercover observation on my contract on gorryeon jingseng.By that time I already had a good name here regarding porcelain pots. It was a little easier on that sector in Japan than in China cause the japanese preserved charm,simple creations.

However i took a round on the accounts on sales of silk and tea. Also on our tea quality.

By mid day i managed to reach my father's palace.

The old man was sipping some medicine seated on the cushion with his back supported with some pillows as i rushed into his chamber.

"Father emporer!" I was astonished to see the previous japanese emporer grown so old, feeble and peel. Sorrow tugged hard in my heart. A tear rolled down my cheek.

Yet hiding every pain, he gave the warmest smile while his eyes twinkled with tears and his arms stretched wide for me to embrase in.

"Father im back!!!" I rushed towards his arms and hugged tightly.

"My little Princess! My little fox!!" He released the hug placing a small kiss on my forhead. He then wiped away the tera on my cheek smiling."where have my little fox being so long. I thought ill have to leave without seeing you! I was worried if something has happened to you!"

At his words both of our eyes released streams of salt water.

"Im sorry to worry you father!!"

"Now dont cry like that! I wanted to see my little fox's bewitching innocent smile!" I swiped my cheeks and smiled with true happiness of seeing him.

"Father! Dont you know, im not a fox! Everyone knows that im a wolf!" We both chuckled.

"Sorry my little fox! I almost forgot that you were our heroic SEIGI NO Okamino( justice wolf )!"

He then carefully patted my shoulder."This father misses your good massage and your silly talks! Why dont you try to remember how to do them?" He smiled sorrowfully as his wrinkles in his cheeks appeared and retreated.

"Hmm!"i hurried to his back and massaged. But befor the talk,

"Sister Huwanuwei!!!!" Brother Kamuyaimimi, the current emporer rushed in.

I stoodup and i stopped myself of rushing into him and bowed.

He also foze where he was and looked at me sorrowfully. Realising his tention i smiled at him."Your highness, is this lady allowed to hug my elder Brother!" He then burst into laughter as i chuckled.

"Of course!!!! Your brother is waiting!!" He then hugged me tight just like father.

"Ughmm!" Father cleared his throat getting our attention.

"You stupid monster! How dare you interrupt my massage and steal my daughter?"

He then acted annoyed.

"Im sorry father! Dont be that jealous! I also miss my little sister and by the way i wont steal her! Lets have a family time like in old days!" He then sat infront of father and i went back for massaging as i started to tell my stories.

"By the way, several times you mentioned about the Commander Ming Zeng, he seems to be intresting!" Brother frowned suspiciously. I couldnt hide my blush.

"Brother what do you mean?" I tried my best to act innocent.

Then father pulled my hand and made me sit right next to him and peeped into my face.

"Finally, will i get a son in law!" He then laughed."Who is this great man capable of stealing my preacious daughter's heart?"

"Father!!!!" I felt so embarrased.

"Dont worry! Ill try my best to stay alive until i see my son in law!" My heart skipped a beat.

"Father nothing will happen to you when im here!" Its true that the physicians have said that the treatments are useless,but i cant giveup!i didnt know how to treat him either. However On my way i bought some western medicinal books from some merchants to try help father.

"I know! I know!" Then he started to cough so badly spitting drops of blood on the handkerchief he held to his mouth."father!!!" Brother and i both held him to support.

"Father! Take a rest!" As i said he tried to resist."please father! This little daughter has so many things to tell you and i want you to have strength to listen," he then nodded. As he was layed on his matress to rest i walked out to the garden with Brother.

"Brother, why didnt you tell me earlier that father's wound has infected?" He looked at me worried.

"Im sorry! When father heard that you were at war, he didnt want to bother you and break your concentration. He said that he is proud of you andhe doesnt want to be a burden and also that you have to be united with your true family!" He sighed and continued." However after you settled down there father then only allowed meto inform you, the doctors said that now its really impossible for him to survive more than two to three months. We even tried western medicine through some western physicians. But was useless."

"I must have come earlier! Just like for brotherHikoyai , i am unable to help father too!" All the past memories ran through my mind bitterly, pinching every inch of my heart.

Brother Emporer patted my shoulder.

"You know what! If brother Hikoyai is here hell be extremely proud of you just like father! Father, Brother Hikoyai and i, we all know you'll try your best to keep us safe! And you had done your best to save them." He nodded at me with sympathy.

"I havent tried my best!" Light flickered in my mind.

"Sister! What do you mean?" Brother looked at me concerned.

"If western and eastern medicine both couldnt do it individually, may be together we might find solutions!" He stared at me trying to understand. I shook his hands off my shoulders." Ill have to try my best. Shoundnt i ?" He nodded in reply.

I then ran towards my chamber with all the necessary medical books. And i also consilted various physicians regarding different therapys.

"Are you sure about this method?" Brother asked concerned. I shook my head.

"No, not sure, but worth of trying!"

Then the royal physician spoke."But Princess making his highness unconscious can make it hard for us to bring his contiousness and apart from that, if this doesnt work, his majesty will be unable to live atleast the two months which is now possilble! And this method was used hundreds of yeras back and even the nooks were destroyed with time.I dont underestimate your skills Princess, I still can remember the day you came to me asking for work when you were just barely 7 years old and i saw your highness working hard, practising medicine under me while doing all the other jobs earning and leveling up. Little Princess was capable of learning everything i learned through twenty years just in three years in such a young age. Now that im old i know that you are no match to this old man or anyone inthis continent regarding medicine, but i dont want to see you Princess suffer, so you may try but do not have high hopes!" He said kindly.

"I wont have high hopes but i do have hope, and Master, dont worry i have thought a lot about how to treat father and i think even if i fail though i know that i have cut my fathers time of being with his beloved ones....i just want to try! And master i have used this method for few injuries though not in situations severe like this" Master surprised but again collecting himself nodded and patted my hand in reply.

"When will you treat father?" Brother asked.

"In ten minutes." They both looked in surprise but finally loostened the tention as i ran back to my chamber to get ready with everything.

"Father, do you trust me?" I asked as i was prepared along with my assistants for the surgery.

"With my whole life, i trust you!" He smiled lying on the wooden table covered with white clothes.

First i made him feel numb by acrupuncture. Then lowered the blood pressure using medicine and some needles sterilized. I managed to clean the wound wholly after cutting the flesh apart. The blood loss was too much for this old body. So we had to use also western medicine to slow down bleeding and stop the wound from again being infected. Father had to loose his left hand to live.

The wound was bandaged with all the other ailments while i tried my best to keep my father conscious.

" Father look at me! Dont close your eyes!!!" His eyes replied in agreement, but his week stamina couldnt hold anymore, hus eyes shut as the nursse examing his pulse was alarmed."the pulse is weeknening. However doing everything we could maintain his pulse and the surgery was succesful. But was still unsure because he was unconscious for days.

Four days passed as he gained consciousness. However he was given ginseng daily for a whole week too strengthen his phisic under my constructions. The whole palace was overjoyed by father's recovery.

"Your highness, the gifts are here!" A eunach announced as i was having tea with brother and father at the royal flower garden.

"Father what gifts?" I asked innocently. Then it was brother who replied.

"Its from your true blood brother, the Chinese emporer wishing good life for father and thanking for the care given for you all those years!" He smiled.

Piles of Muga silk was brought along with various other porcelain pots and goryeon gingseng that i noticed as the ones the Goryeon embassidor traded with us as the boxes containing them were unchanged. At that pointe my mouth twitched a bit but these were huge gifts.

"Is this all?" Father laughed angrily. His tone then turned to be mocking.

"Such a pressious girl was raised up to a great women, is this all that values. And that young emporer is trying to give these small things for two reasons! Is your country this poor my child? Then how poor is my son in law if the emporer is like this!" Father questioned me. I blushed.

"Father stop it! You know how valuable are these gifts and for sure my little sister hasnt valued money at all when it comes to my brother in law and by the way he is a famous, strong warrior well know all over the continent!" I was glad to here brother taking my side, but,

"Brother, i dont even know whether he likes me or not, but you two has already accepted him as your in law???" I was annoyed by their words.

"If by any chance he rejects you, im going to take off his limbs!" As father spoke horrific words my body stiffened.

"Father wont do that dont worry! He is just overjoyed to know that you have found someone for your future! And also im sure that very soon he'll convince you!" Brother stroked my hair platted behind my shoulders making it a bit messy.

However after three months of time in Japan i returned back to China bidding good bye for my foster family and the friends there.

As i arrived at the Chaina harbour, General shing was there to welcome me along with Ming Zeng.