Pains

Li Háo's POV

After preparing a place for Minister Zîháo, I ordered Chāo to take the betrayer to prison while I deliberate on his punishment and went to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up, took my bath and went to the camping ground where I was going to judge the pending issue but on getting there, I was surprised to see Minister Zîháo.

"What is he still doing here? I thought he left" I whispered to Chāo.

"I thought so, I'm as surprised as you are."

I got to where Minister Zîháo was seating, bowed in obeisance and took my seat beside him. A maid poured us a drink and we drank while waiting for the accused to be brought out.

"I was thinking you had already left this morning, especially when I was the one who made you tarry here last night."

He looked at him as usual, with one of his eyebrow raised and grinned.

"Is there anything wrong in doing my job? And who told you I was returning to the palace last night?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm here to witness your judgement and judge if you're really worthy of the office you're in."

I swallowed hard at his sentence and my countenance changed instantly. Minister Zîháo and I had never got along since I got into the palace but him, trying to impeach me from my office is something I'll never allow. The accused walked in.

"I'll be interrogating Wén first. Ate you guilty of the accusation levelled against you?"

"Yes, master, I plead guilty."

"Why did you let the prey escape?"

"I only took pity on him and fed him but he hit me and ran off"

"You know the penalty is death, do you have anything to say?"

"Wait!" Minister Zîháo said and all eyes fell on him.

"How did you communicate with him? According to my findings, the prey happens to be a Chinese who understands English and you don't understand English, am I wrong?"

Everyone went mute, Wén became short of words and fixed his gaze on the ground.

"It's fine, I already got my answer. Master Li, you may proceed"

"Do you have anything else to say to this court, Wén?"

He bowed to the ground.

"I plead for mercy, I wasn't trying to betray the clan. Master Li, forgive me this one time."

"Okay. I'll now interrogate the first accused, Fenhua. What really happened that night?"

"I admit I had too much to drink that night and was heading to my room when I saw Wén feeding the prey. I was about leaving when I saw the prey hit Wén with a stick and he became unconscious but due to my state of drunkenness, instead of helping Wén, I went to my room"

"So why did you admit it was you who committed the crime?"

"I did that because I know Wén is a kindhearted man and was only trying to help. I can't bear seeing him suffer for his kind gesture."

"The penalty for conspiracy is caning, do you have anything else to say?"

"No, Master Li. I'll gladly accept my punishment as long as you make Wén live"

"Okay, here is my judgement"

"So fast? Not even going to think and investigate the issue."

"Minister Zîháo, this is my job and I'm in the right position to know what's right, judge whenever I want to."

"Sorry about me intruding"

"This is my judgement. Wén should be flogged a hundred times and Fenhua, fifty times. In addition, they are to bring two preys each before the week runs out."

I dissolved the counsel and went back to my chamber along with Minister Zîháo, Chāo and some guards.

"You know, the palace has something to listen to, something really interesting."

"What do you mean by that, Minister Zîháo?"

"Wait till you hear from the palace. I'll be on my way now, Master Li, thanks for your kind gesture." he said and we both bowed down in obeisance and he left.

Wú Ai's POV

The next morning, he became conscious, though he was still weak, he was able to sit up and eat something.

"You should be careful next time, you might not be so lucky." I said as I tend to his wound.

"Thank you so much for saving me, I owe you my life."

"Sure, you do and don't forget you're now my slave"

"I know"

He groaned.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes, a little."

"Sorry but where were you going before you were caught?"

"It's nothing"

I looked at him but he looked away.

"Why are you lying? It's fine if you don't want to tell me, what's the point of lying?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you but some things are better left untold."

"We haven't even introduced ourselves. I go by the name Wú Ai', you?"

"My name is Su Qianfan"

"Nice name. I'm going to have my bath now, make sure you don't leave this cave."

He nodded and I left with our bottles.

I got to the river, filled up the bottles and took a quick bath and returned back to the cave because of Qianfan. I dropped the bottles of water besides him and set to Kindle a fire.

"What are you preparing?"

"I don't know yet. I want to Kindle the fire, then go out to hunt for something. "

"Okay but can I ask for a favour, please?"

"Sure, go ahead. What's that?"

"I don't eat bush meat, I only eat beef but if you can't get that, I'll prefer fish"

"Really?"

I laughed so hard, holding my tummy.

"What's wrong? Did I say anything funny?"

I stopped laughing abruptly and stared at him.

"You don't think it's funny? Look, we're lost in this forest with nobody to help us, people hunting us as prey and whatever we see should be what we eat. We have no choice here, we should be rather thankful to be alive till now" I said with a serious look on my face and stormed out of the cave.