CHAPTER 17 The Misunderstanding

The sun was still hiding behind the fluffy clouds when they were in the Royal Garden. They sit in a gazebo located in the middle of the garden. Anli was not in a good mood. The Emperor could read it from his face.

"Calm yourself and talk to me once you are ready." She said.

Anli sighed.

"Bixia...I just want to report about my dad's condition. His illness came again." He explained.

Zhang Ruyi focused her attention on the Deputy General. 

"His backbone...Well umm..." Anli didn't finish his word.

Suddenly, Zhang Ruyi saw Chun Xiao and other maids were passing by. She gave a hand signal to the Deputy General to be quiet for a moment. Anli understood it.

"Chun Xiao!" Shouted the Emperor.

Chun Xiao and the other maids stopped and looked at the Emperor. She came to the gazebo and curtsied to Zhang Ruyi and Anli.

"Greetings to Bixia and Lord Anli. How can I help?

The Emperor pulled the maid's arm gently to look at her neck and caused her to almost fall into her lap. Seeing this made the Deputy General felt uneasy. He looked away while wiping his face.

"GET LOST!" He muttered inside his heart.

Chun Xiao occasionally looked at him to see his reaction.

"Now you guys are trying to make a scene in front of me?! Fine! Fine!" Again, Anli monologues to himself.

"Your has gone...Ah yes. Could you please make us tea?" Zhang Ruyi finally spoke.

Chun Xiao nodded.

"O-ohh...S-sure Bixia!" She replied and corrected her position.

The maid curtsied and left the Emperor and Deputy General. Zhang Ruyi looked at Anli again. Anli was startled when the Emperor looked at him. 

"Continued." She said.

"O-Oh! Umm...a-about my dad...I-I mean General Zhao. His backbone pain came again and this time it was worse than before." He explained.

"General Zhao...He is loyal to the Royal Family. He has been through many battles and wars. The injuries he sustained from battle made him suffer as he got older." The Emperor sighed.

"That's why... I came early this morning to report that he might be staying at home for a week. We decided to go back to our hometown. So,..." 

Zhang Ruyi raised her eyebrow and looked at Anli when he didn't finish his words. Anli pressed his upper and bottom lips together and sighed. He drew a dull smile on his face.

"B-Bixia...I decided to take a leave for a week to take care of my father." 

Zhang Ruyi straightened her body when the Deputy General said he wanted to join his father. 

"Oh? Alright...One week. I'm suprised because you never request for day off when General Zhao was sick even though I permit you." She said.

Anli smiled but his smile is not a happy smile.

"It's because I think I need to accompany him this time." He replied.

He was actually lying. Anli was too heartbroken so he decided to take a leave too. He couldn't beared the pain in his heart. A moment later, Chun came with a pot of tea. She put the teapot and served the Emperor and the Deputy General. Zhang Ruyi pulled her silk cloth that covered her neck. Anli looked at her immediately.

"Chun Xiao, does the mark still here?" She asked.

Chun Xiao observed Zhang Ruyi's neck.

"Er...A little bit...Maybe it will fade after Bixia put an ice on it again." She said.

Zhang Ruyi sighed. Anli drank his tea while watching the two girls talking to each other with an angry face. 

"Don't worry Bixia! I'll take the ice cube for Bixia now!" 

Chun Xiao left them again. Meanwhile, Zhang Ruyi rubbed her neck with a frown. Chun Xiao came back with ice cubes with her. Anli gulped his tea down and filled his cup for the second time. His eyes were still watching the two girls.

"Bixia let me help you!" Offered Chun Xiao.

Zhang Ruyi refused. She pushed Chun Xiao's hand slowly and put the ice on her neck by herself. Anli couldn't beared the jelousy in his heart.

"My skin is too sensitive...Even cloth and brush can leave a mark like this.." The Emperor muttered.

When Anli heard it, he stopped from gulping his tea and almost chocked.

"Indeed..." Replied Chun Xiao.

"Lucky you didn't hurt yourself with the hairpin last night." Added Zhang Ruyi.

Anli became confused. He tilted his head and put his cup on the table. Zhang Ruyi handed the silk to Chun Xiao.

"Could you please take this? I don't need it anymore." 

Chun Xiao accepted it with a clueless face.

"Huh? B-Bixia will let the mark open?" She asked.

Zhang Ruyi drank her tea and nodded.

"Uh-huh. Your has gone, so I don't have to worry. Furthermore, mine is getting fade too." She replied.

Anli was not satisfied. He getting more confused. Hence, he disturbed the maid and the Emperor.

"Oh..uh..Eu-hum! I thought Bixia was bitten by insect tho. I saw it when I met Bixia at study room but since Bixia have morning assembly,...I didn't want to make Bixia late." He said.

"No...I pillowed my brush and mantle last night." The Emperor explained.

Chun Xiao could see Anli's face in confusion. She tried to leave them as soon as possible.

"Bixia, I'll leave Bixia and Deputy General if there's nothing to do now." 

Zhang Ruyi nodded. Chun Xiao curtsied and left.

"W-wait,...so Chun Xiao got the mark from her hairpin???" Anli asked.

"Yep! The hairpin was tucked under her neck whem she was slepping." Zhang Ruyi answered.

Anli frown. He bite his cheek.

"S-So...it was just about hairpin, mantle, and brush?!" He asked again.

Zhang Ruyi raised her eyebrows and looked at him.

"One week off for you and General Zhao, right?" 

Anli stunned to speak. 

"O-oh...I...I...ah hahaha...y-yes...one week off..." He stutter and scratched his cheek.

"Alright. I won't see you and General Zhao around this palace for one week. Please take care of your father." She said.

"S-sure....won't see Bixia for one week..."

Zhang Ruyi stood.

"Dismiss?" She asked.

Anli immediately stood up with a confused face and mixed feelings.

"Ah...y-yes...dismiss...?" 

"Do you have anything to report beside this?" The Emperor asked him a question again.

"N-No Bixia! Err..and, thank you Bixia for letting me to joined my dad."

Zhang Ruyi nodded and left the Deputy General alone. Anli was standing still, reflecting back what has been happened.

"Away from her for a week?! ONE WEEK??!!!" 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"What a beautiful day...eating chestnut while enjoying the sunlight..."

Bai Wu was resting on the verandah of Anli's quarter. He quickly adjusted his sitting position when he saw Anli rushed to his room with a dissappointed face. Anli tossed his body onto his bed and buried his face on his pillow. Bai Wu watched him with a puzzled face.

"What's wrong with him?" He monolouged to himself.

Anli rolled over on the bed with a small grumble. Bai Wu scratched his head. A moment later, he shocked when the Deputy General screamed.

"AARGHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Bai Wu came quickly to get his master. He tossed the chestnut away.

"L-Lord Anli, what happen?!" He asked in panic.

Anli was still screaming while rolling on his bed.

"AARGGGHHHH!!!! ONE WEEK!!!"

Bai Wu tried to calm him down.

"Lord Anli, calm down! Calm down! What's wrong with you?!!" 

Anli stopped from rolling on the bed but his face still on his pillow.

"I CAN'T SEE HER FOR ONE WEEK! BAI WU, HELP ME!" He said.

Bai Wu tilted his head.

"Huh? Who?" He asked the Deputy General.

"THE EMPEROR!" Replied Anli.

Bai Wu looked at him.

"What did you do?" Asked Bai Wu again.

Anli got up and sit properly on his bed with a sad face.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

General Zhao was busy packing his belonging when the Emperor visited his quarter. Occasionally, she can hear the General's voice moaning in pain. Zhang Ruyi stepped into his quarter silently.

"General Zhao." She called his name.

General Zhao immediately stopped packing and looked in the direction of the voice came from. It was the Emperor! He quickly bowed to her.

"Greetings, Bixia!" 

Zhang Ruyi gave a hand signal to asked him to raise his head.

"No need to be formal. I come to visit, to know how are you doing. Anli told me you're sick."

The General raised his head.

"Ah yes...yes...I asked him to tell Bixia that I'll take a leave for one week and stay in my hometown." He said.

The Emperor nodded.

"Anli told me he will accompany you too." Said the Emperor.

General Zhao gave her a confused face when she said that Anli will follow him.

"Eh? Did he? I thought he would like to stay in the palace and take my place in my absence. Since when he's too caring about me?" He was still questioning.

"Really?" Asked Zhang Ruyi.

"Indeed. It's only a backbone pain. I only need some rest to relieve this pain. I still can walk. I'm not sticking on my bed. If he follows me, who will take over my place?" 

Zhang Ruyi patted the General's shoulder.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I hope you'll get well soon." She said.

"Hehe...Thank you Bixia." He replied but still in confusion.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Y-You will follow your dad to back to your hometown for one week?!" 

Anli nodded.

"Hmmm...." Just a simple answer from him.

"Wait...why? Isn't it's for General Zhao only? He just wanted to rest longer in a quiet atmosphere. I remember, he said it's just normal back pain but staying in palace makes him unconfortable. Why do you want to join him?" Asked Bai wu.

Anli sighed.

"A misunderstanding broke my heart so I decided to heal my broken heart. If I know it was a misunderstanding, I wouldn't ask for day off too..." He muttered.

Bai Wu widened his eyes and came closer to Anli.

"Eh, what kind of misunderstanding?" He asked.

Anli stared at him and pushed his shoulder. Bai Wu complained of pain.

"O-Ouch!"

"NO NEED TO KNOW! IT'S ALL CHUN XIAO'S FAULT!!! ARGGHHH!!!"

He buried his face on his pillow again and rolled on his bed.

 "Is this what people who are in love look like?" Bai Wu talked to himself while shooking his head.

Anli heard him and threw the pillow at him.

"SHUT UP AND LET ME ALONE!!!" He shouted.

Bai Wu left him immediately.