Fenhua is apprehended

Wú Ai's POV

I looked back and gave him a stern look.

"You forget so easily? You promised to be my slave in exchange for me to save you so how dare you talk back at me?"

"I'm sorry. Please, master, be kind enough to relieve me of this pain"

I bent over and carefully loosen the trap. He tried getting up but his leg was so injured. I knew the way I spoke to him earlier would not allow him as for help so he won't be too indebted to me but I took pity on him and piggy backed him back to the cave.

I laid him on his bed and wrapped some clothes around the leg.

"I'll be back soon. I need to go get some water and herbs. Make sure you don't move an inch."

He nodded in affirmation and I left the cave. I hurried down to the river, filled up my bottle with water and gathered some herbs and went back to the cave. When I got back, he was almost gone and had lost a lot of blood. I rushed to his side and patted him softly.

"Hey! Open your eyes" I said as I patted his cheek softly, he slowly opened his eyes and I sighed, relived.

I cleaned the wound and applied to herb to it and tied it up with a clean piece of cloth. I prepared some fruit salad and fed him.

"Thank you so much"

"You don't have to thank me, I wouldn't let my only slave die like that, who do you expect to serve me?" I said trying to control the tear.

He smiled faintly and slept again.

Li Hao's POV

I feel restless and wonder why Fenhua would help the prey escape. I know I was supposed to sentence him to death but I can't because I love him more than anything. I continued to pace round the room, thinking of a plan to pardon Fenhua. If the people gets to hear this, they will kill him and impeach me as well. I called one of my most trusted guards in.

"Go get prepared, I want to pay Fenhua a visit"

"Do you that's the best thing to do now? I mean you've been partial when passing your judgement this morning and now, you want to go visit a prisoner? Who do you think the people will do if they gets to hear this? What about your opponents? They'll see this as a bridge to step over you, I beseech you have a rethink about this, master."

"I know but what can I do? I can't just let Fenhua die, you know he's more than a family to me"

"I have an idea"

"Really? Tell me about it"

He came closer and whispered the plan to my ears, I smiled softly.

"That's a great plan, be careful not to be caught"

"I will, master" he said and bowed in obeisance and left.

I was finally able to rest.

The sun soon set and the night came, I was in my inner chamber, sipping my honey and lemon tea, engulfed with the sweet aroma when Chāo came in.

"Reporting to master"

"Go ahead, " I said, sipped the tea again

"We caught the betrayer that made our prey escape. "

I dropped the cup on the table harshly and looked at him.

"Are you sure what you're saying is true?"

"Yes, master. He's outside the tent."

I rushed out of the tent and I said two other guards holding another guard.

"You! So you were the one that made our prey escape? How dare you!"

"I'm sorry, master. I didn't mean to let him go, he outsmarted me."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I took pity on him as he was so weak so I took some food and water to the cat but as we all know that the cage is too small to stretch, I made him come out and eat but instead of going back into the cage, he hit me with a stick and ran away. Please, be merciful in your judgement, I never mean any harm."

"I'm going to use you as an example that we do not help our preys, we do not fell pity or remorse for what we do to them. You have violated the rule and you know the penalty"

One of the ministers from the village walked in, with his hands crossed below his butts. He grinned as he approaches me and then, I realized that he was up to nothing good.

"What bought you here, my Lord?"

"Well, a rumor got to him and I decided it was best to see things for myself."

"What rumor dare trouble you down here, my Lord? "

"It's been a while since we got any slave from you, anything the problem?"

"Everything is fine, just some issues."

He looked down and around, probably looking a seat, then I realized my manners. As a high minister, the first time I ought to do was to give him a seat and entertain him.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Chāo, get the minister a chair and some special wine"

"Yes, master"

Chāo and two guards came back with a chair, table and some wine. The minister sat down and I offered to pour him a drink which he agreed to.

"Who's he?"

"A good betrayal of the clan"

He raised an eyebrow at me and sipped the wine.

"What do you mean by that?"

"He let one of our prey escape"

"Oh! He must be Fenhua then"

I was shocked by his statement, how could he have known that Fenhua was the one that let the prey go, I quickly comported myself and cleared my throat.

"Fenhua was just a victim of circumstance. He was falsely accused."

"Really? How sure are you about that?"

I pointed at the guard that knelt.

"He confessed to his crime and I'll make sure he's punished"

"We expect high from you, it would be so bad if you disappoint" he said and stood to leave.

I besought him to spend the night and go back to the village the next day and he agreed.