Idiot General

At first the sounds were too muffled to make sense of. They came from somewhere nearby, slowly separating into different voices but none of the words said were distinguishable, like trying to hear through a thick layer of cotton. Instead, a ringing sound became louder and louder. Just as it became unbearable, his eyes flew open. The world was blurry for a moment before drapes of fabric formed with a sudden clarity that could make one's head spin. Amongst the unbearable ringing, he was able to clearly hear two words spoken by his side: "General Fei."

Fei Li tilted his head slightly toward the sound and was met with wide, curious eyes and a delighted smile. There was a man sitting on a chair by the bedside. This young man that peered at him might have had a rather dignified appearance, with his hair pulled up into a high ponytail with an intricately engraved silver crown and dark blue robes tied properly around him. If it weren't for that giddy smile on his face that is. "General Fei, I'm impressed! I truly thought you might not wake up for a while there."

Fei Li could only tilt his head back to stare at the bed curtain above as his vision swam dangerously, his whole head aching so intensely he couldn't form any thoughts. But the moment the other man's hand reached over, he reacted on instinctual fear and caution, scrambling further away before using one arm to half prop himself up and the other to clutch at his desperately aching head. But even as the pain tormented him, his eyes still glanced back at Lu Qinyi to watch for any further movements.

Lu Qinyi frowned at the pure fear shining in those eyes, puzzling over it. His frown deepened as a cold, feminine voice sounded from behind. A woman dressed in neat robes with her hair pulled up in a similarly high ponytail approached to stand at his side, a sneer on her face. "Perhaps the hit to the head has rendered him an idiot. I wasn't sure what you'd do with an ordinary enemy general. I'd truly like to know what you intend to do with an idiot enemy general."

Lu Qinyi shot her a glare before looking back at said enemy general who looked at them without any sign of understanding, merely clutching tightly at his head as he stared at the two. "He has only just woken up following an attack and fall, having sustained great injuries. It's too soon to declare him an idiot. Make yourself useful and fetch him some water." Lu Qinyi sat back in a slumped, lazy posture, using his foot against the side of the bed to tilt the chair back on its hind legs.

The woman walked away, returning shortly with a pitcher and cup in hand. She passed the filled cup to Lu Qinyi, who lowered the chair onto all fours before holding out the cup to Fei Li. However, the other shrunk back fearfully, his brows furrowing tightly as the action sent another piercing wave of pain through his head. Lu Qinyi only commented mildly, "He doesn't seem to like me much." He then took the pitcher and placed both pitcher and cup on a small table by the bed.

"If he could understand who you are, he'd like you even less." The woman replied, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at Fei Li with an unimpressed expression.

Lu Qinyi grinned. "Wouldn't that be interesting to see. Call the servants to prepare something for General Fei to eat and call the physician to see him." With that he stood up, giving Fei Li one last glance before turning to leave the room, the woman following along behind. Fei Li relaxed slightly once the room fell into silence, leaning back against the head of the bed, blinking slowly against that unrelenting ache in his head.

But Lu Qinyi had to return to that room the very next day, standing with his arms crossed, a contemplative expression on his face. "He refuses to eat or drink anything, we tried different foods as requested, offered both water and tea. He won't even let Dr Liang come close. When Dr Liang tried to touch him, he kicked him hard enough to send him flying! Dr Liang has bruises all over his ribs!" The servant explained with exasperation. The other servants in the room all wore similarly fearful expressions, all rather shaken up. They stared at Lu Qinyi, desperate for him to handle this potentially dangerous situation.

Lu Qinyi merely hummed however, his eyes on the figure that had curled himself tightly in the corner where the bed rested against the wall, wide eyes observing them all carefully. This time, beside the woman from yesterday, a man also accompanied Lu Qinyi. He wore the same blue and black robes as the woman and his arms were crossed even tighter than Lu Qinyi's, his brows bent slightly in annoyance.

"Are you certain he hasn't been rendered an idiot? What a waste of the effort you spent saving him, he's trying to starve himself to death now. Nothing but trouble since he woke up." The man grumbled, the woman inclining her head slightly and glancing at Lu Qinyi in the same way the man was, as if they were both in accordance on the matter.

Lu Qinyi hmphed at the two of them before stating, "He's afraid. Perhaps he doesn't trust that we aren't trying to poison him." He took the pitcher of water from the table, pouring a fresh cup.

"Poison him? Why would we bother with that? Does General Fei understand how difficult it was to nurse him back from the brink of death?" The man said, gritting his teeth in frustration.

"Torture him to ease any grievances we have with him or perhaps to get information out of him. Why shouldn't he be suspicious of us? Maybe Mei Mei is right, his injury was quite serious. It could be that all he knows is fear right now." He shrugged as he guessed, sitting down at the edge of the bed. He met the intense gaze of the General Fei who pressed himself further into his corner, watching and waiting, ready to fend for himself when Lu Qinyi next moved. But he didn't move any further, lifting the cup up to drink from it with exaggeratedly clear movements, even opening his mouth momentarily before and after taking a gulp to prove he'd drank it. "It's just water." He reassured gently, moving it just a little in Fei Li's direction in a gesture of offer.

The two who stood a bit behind looked at Lu Qinyi with gobsmacked expressions.

"What are you doing?" The man questioned with a bewildered look on his face, that sharp annoyance dropped from his features for the moment.

"You can't be serious." The woman spoke darkly, wearing a rather bitter expression.

Lu Qinyi however, ignored them both, the cup held out in offer and a small, gentle smile at his lips. "General Fei, please. You can't go long without food and drink." Fei Li stared at him silently, the two remaining in a deadlock for a few long moments. Everyone else in the room remained silent, even the man and woman seemed overcome with curiosity at what would happen and didn't interrupt further. Finally, the water's temptation was too much, Fei Li's throat truly felt like it was on fire. He shifted out from his corner, reaching out to take the cup with painfully slow movements, watching carefully for even the tiniest sign of danger. But Lu Qinyi stayed perfectly still and perfectly patient, remaining as if frozen in place as Fei Li tentatively took the cup. Lu Qinyi waited until Fei Li retreated again with the cup in hand before letting his own hand fall down to rest in his lap. Fei Li looked from Lu Qinyi, to the liquid in the cup before taking a cautious sip. Sure enough, it seemed to be water without even the slightest taste to it. But the moment he swallowed, that small sip gave such an immense, brief relief to his parched throat that he instantly forgot all fear, tipping the cup back to gulp down the rest of the water.

Lu Qinyi's smile turned smug as he glanced back at the woman, seeming victorious as he quirked an eyebrow. She turned her head away, refusing to look at him. Lu Qinyi held a hand out for the cup but didn't move any closer. Fei Li's throat itched. He wanted another cup. So although that cautious gaze didn't let off, he slowly scooted forward again to pass Lu Qinyi the cup. Lu Qinyi seemed rather satisfied with himself, filling the cup up before holding it out once again, his motions all performed slowly and clearly. As Fei Li downed another cup, and then another in this same way, the man by Lu Qinyi's side finally seemed unable to handle it any longer.

"General Fei can pour his own water now, you don't have to keep doing that."

Lu Qinyi handed over the filled cup once more before picking up a steamed bun from the table that had now gone cold.

"You don't know that. After all, that was quite a serious head injury. It didn't even seem like he'd make it." Lu Qinyi had a wickedly joyful smile on his face as both the people by his side wore sour expressions. Lu Qinyi then bit into the bun in his hand, opening his mouth to show Fei Li he had swallowed the bite, then holding the bun out, once again in offer, allowing Fei Li to make the decision. This series of actions instantly resulted in the jaws of all the observers dropping to the floor. Even Fei Li's brow furrowed as he stared at that offered bun.

"General, you can't do something like that!" The man cried out, it was unsure if he was more horrified with his general taking a bite of this cold bun that had been left out for who knows how many hours, or the fact he offered this partially eaten bun to Fei Li.

"General Lu, have you no dignity?" The woman scolded, disapproval written all over her features.

Both stepped forward, wanting to intervene but Lu Qinyi waved them off with his free hand, in a clear gesture that told them not to interfere. They could only look on helplessly as Fei Li hesitantly reached out for the bun. He took it into his hands, staring down at it. His mind was hazy, that now constant ache in his head made it impossible for him to think or reason clearly. He only felt that he should be fearful and needed to defend himself from harm. However, this bun was proven not to be harmful, the man who had offered it seemed to harbour no ill towards him currently, and he really couldn't think further on the matter. So he ate it. With how hungry he felt, the bun hardly lasted a few seconds. That man with the gentle smile seemed greatly pleased with this, reaching for another bun.

"General, you can't do this," the man repeated, his face seeming a little green and his hand moved to hold Lu Qinyi's wrist.

Lu Qinyi seemed displeased as he narrowed his eyes at him. "And why can't I?"

It seemed as if the man couldn't believe he had to explain it to him, frustration etched between his brows. "General Lu, why should someone of your status be sharing food with an enemy general?!"

Li Qinyi seemed rather nonchalant about it as he replied in an unbothered tone. "Because said enemy general is an idiot and won't eat otherwise?"

The man seemed at the end of his rope, turning to the woman who looked on from the side. "Zhao Mei, help me explain, will you?"

With that prompt, Zhao Mei turned her cold gaze to Lu Qinyi. "General Lu, could you explain why you're willing to go to such lengths for said idiot general? Why do you care so much whether he eats?"

Lu Qinyi freed his wrist while the man had his head turned. He took a bite before he could be stopped again, much to the other man's dismay. "Unlike you pair of pessimists, I don't believe him to have been rendered an idiot. But even if he was, an idiot general still has uses. Both of you are dismissed. Mei Mei stop glaring at me like that. Take Yang Ye to have a cup of tea before he faints from rage." He waved them off, his gaze falling back to Fei Li, who didn't once acknowledge anything occurring, entirely focused on finishing off that bun as he sat pressed in the corner.

Zhao Mei could only scoff to express her displeasure. "Leave it Yang Xun. He is beyond listening to reason."

Yang Xun still found this hard to accept, looking with disgust as Lu Qinyi took up a bowl of soup, taking a sip before holding it out to Fei Li. That look of disgust turned to contempt as Fei Li cautiously took the soup from him, carefully sipping then unceremoniously gulping it down. He turned around with a huff, leaving without looking back. Zhao Mei gave a cold glance but was similarly sick of her General's easy, unbothered smile and followed Yang Xun out.

After finishing the soup, it seemed Fei Li was no longer starving. As such, he wouldn't leave his corner to take any more of the food offered by Lu Qinyi. Since Fei Li had eaten and drank something, Lu Qinyi didn't press him on this. He cleared away the bowl and cup then summoned the physician again. He laid out the physician's supplies where Fei Li could clearly see them, fresh cloth, bandages, ointment and a bowl of clean, warm water. "Your wounds need to be cleaned and treated." He explained patiently, that same gentle countenance as before. He was met with a blank stare but still he continued. "Most important is the wound at the back of your head." He pointed to the back of his own head in support of this point.

Fei Li slowly moved his own hand to hold the back of his head where the pain emanated most strongly from. Lu Qinyi was joyed at the thought that Fei Li understood, seeming more enthusiastic as he gestured to the man next to him who stood nervously. "This is Dr Liang. He is here to tend to your wounds. He didn't mean to scare you earlier." The way this was explained was like how one would talk to a child but Fei Li didn't take offense, in fact, he didn't respond at all. "Will you let us have your wounds tended to?" Again, there was no response. Only that gaze that watched every slight movement. After a short while, Lu Qinyi frowned slightly but still turned his head to give Dr Liang the nod to proceed. Dr Liang shifted uneasily before he moved to sit on the bedside, the same spot Lu Qinyi had sat earlier. He gestured for Fei Li to come closer but still, Fei Li didn't move. With Lu Qinyi close by him, he felt it was alright and thus moved slowly to reach out for Fei Li.

"I'm just going to remove the old bandages from your head." He explained as gently as he could in his gruff voice, keeping his voice quieter than usual. But he still felt that Fei Li's gaze was burning into him, warning alarms in his head making him pause. He turned to look back at Lu Qinyi, who merely waited for him to continue. So with reluctance, he cautiously continued to stretch out his hand.

Just as his hand came close to Fei Li, the latter lunged out to attack. But Dr Liang was swiftly pulled away, Lu Qinyi quickly catching Fei Li's wrist once Dr Liang had been flung back. Fei Li instantly thrashed about, ferociously lashing out at Lu Qinyi. Although Fei Li was certainly strong, such uncoordinated attacks completely lacking any thought or strategy, operating on something akin to animalistic instinct wouldn't outdo a trained and level-headed general. Lu Qinyi was also prepared for such actions, taking no time at all to pull Fei Li in, turning the other around so his back was pressed to Lu Qinyi's chest, both arms restrained as his wrists were held in an unbreakable grip.

Fei Li could only kick his legs about uselessly, Lu Qinyi's body behind him completely out of reach. He threw his head about viciously in his struggles, forcing Lu Qinyi to tilt his own head back to avoid being hit. Lu Qinyi even felt that if he wasn't careful, Fei Li might bite into him if given the chance. He restrained Fei Li as securely but carefully as he could, trying to prevent the other from aggravating his wounds in his struggle.

"General Fei, please calm down. We won't hurt you." He told the other with a softened tone of voice but the struggling didn't cease. So Lu Qinyi could only sigh, keeping this hold until the furious kicking seemed to slow down, Fei Li finally exhausting himself in his efforts.

"General Fei, your wounds urgently need to be tended to. Please let us treat them. When I let go of you, Dr Liang will tend to them, nothing more. He is exceptionally good, I promise you there won't be much pain." He said as gently as he could manage. Dr Liang, who had been waiting at the side this whole time, anxiously pouring himself cup after cup of tea to down, nodded his head at this.

Fei Li remained as silent as ever but he had completely stopped struggling, even slumping slightly against Lu Qinyi. So Lu Qinyi, bit by bit, loosened his grip on him, pulling his arms away and letting Fei Li sit up again. Lu Qinyi held his hands up in a nonthreatening gesture, trying to show Fei Li he hadn't meant any harm. After that, he sat back, his hands harmlessly resting in his lap and didn't move in an attempt to put Fei Li at ease. After shifting away from him, Fei Li stared at him closely, brows knitting together in what was quickly becoming a signature look of his. But he was only met with Lu Qinyi's gentle smile, the man well and truly seeming like he held no ill intent toward him, even after he had just restrained him with an impossible grip.

Seeing Fei Li hadn't retreated back into the corner and remained in a stare off with Lu Qinyi, Dr Liang sighed before gathering whatever courage he could and stepped forward again. But the moment he moved, Fei Li's head spun around, he was instantly on high alert, that gaze of his pinning the physician in place. "G-general Lu..." Dr Liang blurted out, sweat beading his forehead.

But Lu Qinyi was merciless, instructing "Try again."

Dr Liang pressed his lips into a line, moving forward step by step. He then reached out painfully slowly toward Fei Li, a slight shake in that hand that was renowned for being steady. Sure enough, he had hardly gotten anywhere near when Fei Li reacted. But as quickly as Fei Li went to move, Lu Qinyi had a hold of his wrist. Fei Li froze up, staring at Lu Qinyi with that cautious gaze. But while ever Fei Li didn't move, Lu Qinyi didn't make any move to further restrain him. Watching the two once more in a deadlock, Dr Liang involuntarily stepped two steps back. "Really, he won't let me treat him. There is no way for me to treat him in this state. Honestly, if any other physician were faced with the task of treating General Fei, the General Fei, they wouldn't have even tried."

Lu Qinyi's gaze had to remain on Fei Li, watching for any sudden movement, so he could only frown and comment, "If I can't ask the most courageous physician in our army to treat him, who can I ask?"

Dr Liang only lowered his head in shame. Lu Qinyi sighed. "Fine. I should have the skills required, I'll do it myself. Write prescriptions for any of the medicine he'll require and leave them with the servants on your way out. You're dismissed."

Dr Liang murmured his acknowledgements and hurriedly left.

"The rest of you can clear out as well." He instructed the remaining servants, who had all been scared stiff, they were even faster to flee. Once it was just Lu Qinyi and Fei Li in the room, Lu Qinyi released his grip. Fei Li moved back from him but not as far. Although it was hardly noticeable, the tension Fei Li held in his body had eased somewhat. Lu Qinyi had noted how the other's gaze would occasionally scan the room, his eyes quickly checking any movement the servants at the side made. As he had guessed, Fei Li was more at ease with only one potential enemy to watch.

"General Fei..." He began but then wasn't sure how to continue. The other's shoulders seemed to tense up almost imperceivably as the silence was broken. Lu Qinyi sighed in defeat. "Nevermind. Just rest for a while. I'll be back at dinner time to check in." He stated, shifting to push himself up off the bed in the same intentionally slow and clear way as he had used previously. He left the room quietly, the door shut securely behind him. Fei Li stared in confusion, clutching his head, feeling the bandages under his hand. It really hurt far too much.