The Reward

"We're here, my Lord," Weizhe announced outside, his voice cutting through the stillness of the carriage.

The gentle sway of the vehicle ceased as Qin Fuhua rose to his feet, ready to exit. Left in the hushed enclosure, Suyin's solitude was palpable, the silence broken only by the soft rustle of her garments.

"Wait for me!" Her plea was hurried as she hastened to follow Qin Fuhua, her steps echoing against the carriage's wooden interior.

Outside, the world unfolded before her, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun.

"Gege!"

The endearing term floated on the breeze as Chuhua's voice, as delicate as a spring blossom, reached Qin Fuhua's ears. With a tender smile, he lowered himself to her level, his palm finding solace in the ripples of her hair.

Chuhua's gaze danced from her brother to Suyin as she skipped forward, a beacon of innocence amidst the grandeur of the estate.

"Hi, Miss Suyin!" Her joyous greeting hung in the air, a melody of friendship that warmed Suyin's heart.

"How are you feeling?" Suyin's voice, a gentle breeze in its own right, carried her concern as she regarded the young princess. Her smile, a reflection of genuine care, painted the scene with sincerity.

"Better than ever!" Chuhua's proclamation rang out, a chorus of newfound vitality. Her words, like sunlight piercing through clouds, illuminated the courtyard.

With a glance toward her brother, she reaffirmed her gratitude, a gesture both subtle and profound.

Qin Fuhua's gaze drifted towards the horizon as he made his way across the courtyard, his strides purposeful yet laden with the weight of unspoken burdens. Before the two could exchange further words, his voice, soft yet commanding, beckoned their attention once more.

"For working so hard, I reward you with whatever you want," his words, a whisper of generosity, hung in the air like a promise waiting to be fulfilled.

"Wait!" Suyin's plea halted Qin Fuhua's departure, her resolve evident in the furrow of her brow.

Her request, hesitant yet earnest, sought permission veiled in uncertainty.

"Hm?"

"Since you said I can have a reward..." Suyin's words faltered, her gaze momentarily cast downwards before finding strength in his eyes. "Do you think I can go back to a friend's... place?"

Qin Fuhua's brow furrowed, a silent testament to his internal conflict. Suyin's plea tugged at the strings of his conscience, a reminder of responsibilities unspoken yet deeply felt.

"Y-You can say that I can have whatever so..." Suyin's gaze drifted towards Areum, a silent plea hidden within the depths of her eyes.

The arrival of her faithful attendant, oblivious to the tension hanging in the air, served as a bittersweet distraction.

"My lady!" Areum's voice, a symphony of loyalty, broke through the silence, her hands finding solace in Suyin's own. The weight of Suyin's decision, heavy and burdensome, bore down upon her like a crown of thorns.

Suyin's apology, a silent whisper amidst the cacophony of emotions, hung in the air like a fragile promise. Suyin didn't mean to leave Areum for so long without letting her know.

Her gaze, a mosaic of regret and determination, sought solace in Qin Fuhua's retreating form.

"I'll... I'll come back soon! I promise. Areum will stay here to help take care of the house while I'm gone. I promise!"

"No."

Qin Fuhua's abrupt dismissal hung heavy in the air, a palpable silence punctuated only by the soft shuffle of his retreating footsteps. His departure, a resolute rejection veiled in the guise of indifference, left Suyin adrift in a sea of disappointment.

Rejected, Suyin's lips formed a pout, her brows knitting together in a silent display of frustration. Beside her, Areum, ever the steadfast companion, mirrored her lady's disquiet with a somber expression.

"My lady," Areum's voice, a whisper amidst the lingering tension, carried with it a note of sympathy.

"I'll talk to you later," Suyin's response, a murmur laced with resignation, carried her away from the lingering echoes of rejection.

--- "Ahh, I shouldn't have just asked." Suyin's voice, a whisper amidst the confines of her chamber, echoed with the weight of regret.

Areum's presence was with Suyin, watching her reactions.

"Why didn't you just tell the Prince that you wanted to see your parents?" Areum's suggestion, a beacon of reason amidst the chaos, sought to ease Suyin's burden. "No."

Suyin's response, a lamentation veiled in bitterness, bore witness to the ache of longing that lingered in her heart.

The memory of her parents, a distant echo of warmth and familiarity, served as a reminder of the reason why they left there in the first place.

Right before Qin Fuhua could knock on the door that leads into Suyin's chamber, Suyin's frustration spilled forth in a torrent of words, each syllable a dagger aimed at the heart of her discontent towards him.

"This Prince thinks that he's so grateful and this and that, acting cooly in front of his little sister, only to say no to me." Suyin's anger, a tempest brewing beneath a facade of composure, threatened to engulf her in its fury.

Unbeknownst to her, Qin Fuhua entered the room, standing there quietly.

Suyin stood facing Areum, her frustration bubbling beneath a thin veil of composure. As she spoke, her words dripped with a mixture of irritation and determination, her hands finding purchase on her hips while her leg casually rested upon a nearby chair.

"Damn it. Next time I save him, I'm going to make his medicine so bitter, he's going to wish that he was nicer to me."

But Areum's urgent gesture interrupted her musings, drawing her attention to the figure that loomed behind her.

Suyin's gaze followed Areum's pointed finger, and her heart skipped a beat as she beheld the formidable presence of Qin Fuhua, his arms crossed in a silent challenge.

Caught off guard, Suyin attempted to salvage the situation with a forced smile, her laughter ringing hollow in the tense atmosphere.

"Ha... haha.. I was just... kidding," she stammered, her left hand nervously slipping behind her back in a feeble attempt to conceal her unease.

"I hope it was." Qin Fuhua's words, delivered with a hint of warning, sent a shiver down Suyin's spine.

His unexpected presence in her chamber only added to her confusion, prompting her to cast a wary glance over her shoulder in search of any lingering observers.

In a gesture that seemed to defy the gravity of the moment, Qin Fuhua tossed a bag of coins and a set of clothes in Suyin's direction, his actions brimming with palpable tension.

Suyin's fingers closed around the hastily bestowed gifts, her mind racing to comprehend the implications of his sudden appearance.

"Come back when you're done doing whatever business at your friend's home," Qin Fuhua's command, delivered with a passion that left no room for argument, echoed through the room as he slammed the doors shut behind him, leaving Suyin and Areum in stunned silence.

"Does that mean.. I can leave?!" Suyin's voice, tinged with a mixture of disbelief and hope, cut through the lingering tension as she turned to Areum for confirmation.

"My lady! Don't worry about me here. Please do whatever you need at Lord Wansun's home," Areum's reassurance, a beacon of support amidst the uncertainty, filled Suyin's heart with a newfound sense of resolve.

-------------------------

"Goodbye, my dear lady," Areum's smile, a beacon of warmth amidst the chill of departure, accompanied her farewell as she handed Suyin a bag filled with clothes and the coins bestowed upon her by Qin Fuhua.

As Weizhe offered to escort Suyin to her friend's home, she declined with a polite nod, her gaze lingering on the familiar surroundings for a moment longer.

Suyin's eyes darted around in a silent search for any lingering spectators, her impatience and anxiety warring beneath the surface.

Areum, ever perceptive, observed Suyin's restless demeanor with a knowing smile, her amusement bubbling forth in a soft giggle.

"Are you looking for his highness?" she whispered teasingly, her spirits dancing in the air like sunlight through leaves.

Suyin's frown deepened at the suggestion, her protestations ringing hollow against the truth of her actions. "N-No!" she exclaimed, a feeble attempt to deflect attention as she gathered her belongings with hurried determination.

With a final glance over her shoulder, Suyin set off on her journey towards Wansun's home, her steps quickened by a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

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Qin Fuhua stood at the gates of his manor, his gaze fixed upon the departing figure of Suyin. Beside him, Weizhe observed the Prince's contemplative stance, a silent witness to the tumult of emotions that flickered across his features.

As Suyin disappeared into the distance, Weizhe's voice, a hesitant murmur, broke through the stillness.

"My lord, shall I suggest to follow the lady?" he ventured, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow.

But Qin Fuhua's response was swift and resolute, a dismissal veiled in the guise of indifference.

"Forget it. We have other important things to do," he declared, his words a reminder of the weight of duty that bound him to his responsibilities.