Chapter 2: That crying little thing
Two days after a mysterious lady appeared at the Li Manor, an unknown nursemaid delivered a conspicuous package addressed to the General.
Li Zhong He held the baby girl who was sleeping peacefully; his brows creased starring at the little one's face--'It' was the 'package' he received a little earlier.
This child is the fruit of the love of the Emperor and his beloved, Lady Shan Daiyu.
A sudden indescribable emotion welled up in his chest. Was it anger? or perhaps, jealousy? He could not understand.
He had long ago accepted the fact that he will never have what he really longed for. He felt conflicted as he thought of the past. But he wanted to be the best person she can rely on for as long as she needed him. So he decided to put this pensiveness aside as it is not the right time to be thinking of such matters. For today onwards, he will play an important role of being a father to the only daughter of Shan Daiyu.
"How is Lady Shan?" He inquired as he kept his voice low so as to not waken the baby in his arms.
"Master, she is still unconcious." Jao readily informed him in a much lower tone.
"I see. Then, report to me as soon as she wakes up." He replied.
He then carefully handed the baby girl to the handmaiden and left.
That night, he could no longer sleep. It's not like he can on normal circumstances though. But since Shan Daiyu's arrival, Li Zhong He was struggling to sleep while thinking of the words she spoke about for her real purpose of rushing on to him.
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"My time is getting near…" tears started to flow on her cheeks. She continued, "I need you to take care of some things in my stead before I go." With her every word coupled by heavy breathing, he can clearly tell that she was in great pain.
He was dumbfounded. He never saw her in this kind of state before. In his memories, she rarely showed a helpless expression, much less a crying face. She was a strong and a gutsy person from his point of view ever since the day they met. The only thing about her that is etched in to his mind is that beautiful lady wearing a charming smile.
'For her to be pouring out to such intensity, she must be going through a really hard time', his already sinking heart sank even more as he thought about her adversity. And with a great restrained emotion, he waited for her to continue.
"The Empress wanted my child dead." Shan Daiyu spoke again, now even more discreet as she watched the General's expression turning lethal. She knows how much Li Zhong He cared for her. After all, they were best friends. But that thought only pained her even more.
Following that statement with an even grim bearing, she told him of how they tried to kill the baby inside her womb after she finally conceived a potential heir to the throne. She has to muster all her courage to speak of this in front of him because she knows how dangerous the General could be. Li Zhong He has always been a low-profile person but once prompted, he will not stay idle.
Shan Daiyu perfectly knew that he will retaliate for her sake. But above all, she do not wish for him to be dragged by those wicked tricks of the royal household for fear that he might get destroyed as well. So she warned with conjured gravity, "But by no means will you ever get yourself involved with them just because of me."
He was just getting riled up after hearing her story and wanted to move the soonest possible time when he suddenly heard her authoritative voice.
That cold night, he could only listen to her as she expounded her plight in detail.
After grasping of the situation and reasoning with his inner self, hatred once again started to brew in his heart. 'Yang Shun you bastard!' He was yelling in his mind.
He stayed silent for a moment before deeply sighing his frustrations out.
Li Zhong He thought he already calmed down. But deep down, he still could not ignore the fact that everything happened under the roof of that Emperor Yang Shun. Thus, his questioning came to the surface.
"Even so... how could he possibly not know of this?" He was now directing his anger towards the Emperor, unconsciously gripping his sheathed sword hanging on his waist.
"I will never forgive him once something happened to you nor your child. I swear... I will kill him myself!" Li Zhong He could not contain his anger any longer that he almost cursed the man he once considered a brother.
The night became eerily colder as he emitted an overwhelming killing intent the moment he declared his resolve. Even Jao and the other shadows on guard shooked in disbelief after discerning the sudden change in the atmosphere.
Despite being scared by his words, Shan Daiyu with her trembling hands, reached out to held his face. He jolted as soon as he felt those cold slim fingers tracing his facial outline, instantly sending him back to his right senses. She was looking at him straight in the eyes. Li Zhong He could see his image on those big tear-stained orbs that is starting to form a yet another heartbreaking tears.
At that moment, she started to cry heavily, for she also cannot hold her pain anymore. She felt her whole body started to feel numb, her head spinning. She then leaned onto his chest before finally collapsing.
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The daybreak kicked him off the bed.
'Wow.'
As if in a trance, he looked outside the window and saw the panoramic view of the sky that is a clashing idea of his current state of mind.
Not really a big deal for him to not have a proper sleep, but he thought he should at least look good since he is not even back at the frontlines. And also at least, he wants to look presentable for his current guest. Yes.
'Yeah, what's so wrong about trying to look good?' He rolled his eyes with this thought. He stood up. "I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO."
"Waahh! Waahh!" as he tidied himself, he heard a loud crying sound.
He frozed a little. 'Right, Daiyu's little girl is here. I needed to tend to her.' And like a real father, he rushed to the other room for that crying little thing.
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CookieJiyen
CookieJiyen hehe I hope I can write again tomorrow.
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