CHAPTER 9 The Little Flower

"Xiaolian."

The lady called Xiaolian was shocked when someone called her name. She quickly turned around to see who was calling her name.

"Father! You get me shocked just now."

King Xie gave her a warm smile. Xiaolian continued to play with the lotus flower in the pond. Sprinkled the water everywhere with a small laughed. Xie Mo is Xiaolian's father. He was known as the King of Medicine in Fuzhou. Not literally means a God of Medicine but his family was a descendant of medical practitioners for centuries. Therefore, they were very skilled in medicine. 

"I heard you got injured when you were in Suzhou. How's the injury?"

Xiaolian folded her right-hand sleeve and showed her wrist to her father.

"I'm fine, father. See, I don't have any scars on my hand."

Xie Mo approached his daughter and patted her on her head with a dull smile.

"Xiaolian, if you go somewhere next time please don't hurt yourself. Do you know how worried I am if you get injured? I don't want you to bleed."

Xiaolian sighed hard.

"Father, you don't have to worry about me. It's just a small cut. Small injuries will not cause major blood loss."

"Xiaolian,... I know it will not cause major blood loss but it's still not good for you. Although we have medicine to treat your illness, it won't last forever. It never can cure it. It only..."

Xiaolian cut her father's words.

"To prolong my lifespan? To make sure that I am still alive until the time is up?"

"Xiao..." Xie Mo wanted to finish his words but Xiaolian already cut the.

"Why I was born if I only can live in a short period of time? Why our family was called Medicine Master if it's can't even help to cure all type of disease? WHY?!"

Xie Mo was stunned. He does not know what to say.

"I know I am a burden in this family. Uncle and aunt always say I can't continue your lineage! People are afraid of me. Some of them think that this disease can be transferred through contact as well!"

Xiaolian swept her tears slowly and left her father alone.

"Xiaolian!" Xie Mo tried to stopped his daughter but he couldn't.

"Xiaolian...I'm sorry. I can't do anything for you. It's not your choice to have that kind of fate. I only do what I can as your father." Xie Mo murmured to himself.

Xiaolian cried in her chamber. She tossed herself on the bed and covered her face with a pillow. Her maid heard the cry and quickly run into her.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Why are you crying?!"

Xiaolian slowly gets up from her bed and hugged her maid.

"Yuyu, am I a burden in this family?"

The maid named Yuyu shook her head.

"No...Why did Your Highness think like that?"

Yuyu slowly swept Xiaolian's tears.

"I was born with an incurable disease. Everyone is afraid of my disease because it can be passed to another generation. Father and mother are scared. They can't forever protect me."

Yuyu pats Xiaolian's head, trying to comfort her.

"Your Highness, I'll always stay by your side. Don't listen to the others. Even if His Highness and Her Highness can't protect you one day, I'll be here."

Xiaolian still crying. She was too sad and hurt. What is the meaning of life if you keep counting the days of your end? It is better not to be born at all if your existence is just a jinx for others. Struggling to continue her life is just like struggling to keep a half-dead fish to stay alive.

"Yuyu,..."

Yuyu hugged Xiaolian tightly.

"Your Highness, you cannot give up on your life. Maybe this is just a trial for Your Highness."

"Yuyu, you've promised me you'll never leave me. You must keep your promise, okay?"

Yuyu smiled and nodded.

"I will keep my promise. Your Highness should be like the lotus flower. Lotus flowers rise from the mud without stain. Hence, they are often viewed as a symbol of purity. Since they return to the murky water each evening and open their blooms at the break of the day, it is also a symbol of strength. Your Highness's given name is based on a lotus flower. Therefore, Your Highness needs to be strong."

"Um!" Xiaolian nodded.

Yuyu released her hugged.

"Your Highness, allow me to make tea for you." She asked for permission.

Xiaolian nodded again.