Chapter 30: A Guest at the morning
'...I won't let you destroy my brother's life like you had destroyed mine, HuaMuTan!' Prince Li decides to return back to the pavilion, but before he walks, Prince Li sees Uncle Tong approaches him in hurry. In polite way, he reports
"Young Master, Minister Hua is here, asking to meet Young Madam HuaMuTan"
'Minister Hua!' Prince Li becomes stern suddenly after hearing that name, he then glances to the pavilion and takes a decision,
"I'll meet him now. Uncle Tong, you may tell HuaMuTan as well later"
"Yes, Young Master"
Prince Li walks passing Uncle Tong. Smelling something from his young master, he coughs as the sign.
"Uhm...Young Master, I think it would be better for you to clean up first before meeting the guest..."
Prince Li stops, he then realizes his body is full of alcohol smell... with an awkward look, he changes his command,
"I..I'll change my cloth,...let Minister Hua wait a little bit...remember to call HuaMuTan later after I meet Minister Hua first..."
Then Prince Li rushes to his own room, leaving Uncle Tong sighed.
Everytime TanTan plays the guzheng. she gains some memories of HuaMuTan. This time is no different. When she starts playing the guzheng, she sees flashes of memories again.
It was the night of the wedding, TanTan can feels how crashes her heart when HuaMuTan found out Prince Li rather slept at his study room than with her. The memory moves to when HuaMuTan shared her problem to Minister Hua who later gave her a drug for Prince Li but it ended with figured out by Prince Li.
Then it jumps after that moment, in palace, Hua MuTan tried to find mInister Hua, to complaint about the drug. Coincidence she saw Minister Hua in a room secretly with a pretty woman, they looked so intimately close and discussed about something. HuaMuTan just could seen the back of the woman who being hugged by Minister Hua. Somehow she knew she supposed not to see the view, so when they noticed her presence, the woman shouts, "Who is that?!!"
The memories stop until there...it jumps to other pieces of memory...
In other side, at guest room...Minister Hua stands facing at outside of the door. He seems enjoying the sound of guzheng. It reminds him of his past when he taught Princess LiShuiXian playing guzheng when they were young... he recalls that memory with a yearning, how he misses her so much.
"I hope I am not making you waiting too long, Minister Hua" Prince Li's words awaken him from his gaze of the past. He enters the room with Uncle Tong .
Minister Hua greets him politely,
"No..not at all, please forgive this old man for intruding you so early..."
Prince Li stared at him sharply,
"May I know what brings you here looking for my wife, Minister Hua?"
"Well, this...I have something to tell Young Lady HuaMuTan..."
Minister Hua smiles regretfully but it even makes Prince Li feels unpleased.
He gestures Uncle Tong to go and he sits on his chair harshly.
"Then let we wait for her to come here..."
After that, a silent moment fills the room. Both of them still can hear the sound of guzheng,
"It seems Young Lady has practicing hard for the Queen GrandMother's birthday banquet."
Minister Hua looks at Prince Li and smiles,
"I heard the performance should be played by Young Lady with you together, Prince Li?"
Prince Li also smiles back although not with his eyes,
"Don't worry about us, Minister Hua. We will ready for the performance later"
"I hope so, I believe Prince Li and Young Lady will give an marvelous performance which able to please Queen GrandMother."
The sound of guzheng has stop, which means Uncle Tong has announces the arrival of Minister Hua to TanTan at the pavilion,
'Uncle Hua? Just now I got a weird memory about him...what a coincidence, now I can meet him?" TanTan excuses herself to Prince FengEr, wonders if he want to join her,
"Its okay MuTanMei,...I think I want to be here for a while" he smiles.
Its obviously Prince FengEr doesn't want to meet Minister Hua, TanTan wonders why? 'These both princes seem have some grudge with Uncle Hua?'
But TanTan doesn't have time to ask about it furthermore so she just follows Uncle Tong directing to guess room. She also doesn't forget to ask XiaoRue accompany FangFang back to her room coz FangFang looks sleepy.
When TanTan arrives with uncle Tong, at once she can feels the cold atmosphere in the room.
When Minister Hua sees her, he smiles softly and greets her politely,
"Young Lady...please forgive this old man to bother you..."
Maybe because of the memories she got just now, she feels aware toward this uncle Hua...she glances at Prince Li who clearly unpleased with the situation.
"Its....its okay, Uncle Hua. May I know what brings you here, Uncle?"
TanTan asks while she is walking to the chair, she gestures Minister Hua to sit with her,
"Now my wife is here....please tell us what do you want to tell, Minister Hua!" Prince Li asks but not in a questioning tone, but more in a commanding tone which a little surprises TanTan.
Then Minister Hua answers slowly and carefully,
"Actually, Prince Li...I would like to speak with Young Lady alone for a while.."
Prince Li becomes upset to hear it, but he holds it. He thinks something evil plan must he has with HuaMuTan and there is no chance that he will leaving them alone this time. Prince Li sudden smirks to TanTan,
"There is no secret between us, husband and wife...right, wifey?"
TanTan squints her eyes to Prince Li,
'This Prince must be dying to know what Uncle Hua's purpose to come here...well, its better for he to know also...I don't want to have any misunderstanding again later'
"Its right, Uncle Hua. You may speak here now, in front of both of us..."
Uncle Hua glances to TanTan, then speaks,
"Very well,...I come here about the present for QueenGrandMother..."
"Present?" Both of TanTan and Prince Li ask in the same time,
Minister Hua looks to TanTan, sighed.
"Maybe Young Lady doesn't remember anymore but before you lost your memories, Young Lady ever asked my help to find the finest present for Queen Grand Mother"
"Is that true? I..don't remember..."
"Its alright, Young Lady. But as your wish, I had ordered a special glowing jade flowers statue for QueenGrandMother. I come here to tell you that its has done and ready to be delivered."
Minister Hua stops and it confuses TanTan,
"Is there any problem, Uncle Hua?"
"Well, it is not a problem actually...just the present is too valuable, I prefer that the statue to be kept here first and also Young Lady can see the statue before its being sent to the palace later. So I come to ask your opinion, Young Lady?"
TanTan doesn't see any problem at all,
'It just a statue right? Beside I curious to see the statue...but...' TanTan looks to Prince Li and figures out the suspicious eyes on him toward Minister Hua.
"Well, there is no problem for me...but to keep the statue here...what do you think, Prince Li?"
Prince Li surprises that TanTan asks for his opinion also. Beside he is thinking, 'Why does Minister Hua want to send the statue here, not directly to the palace? Is it that simple for HuaMuTan to see? Well, as long as the statue here, I can observe it furthermore...'
"Its up to you, wifey..."Prince Li smiles to her, and it pisses TanTan a little, 'I ask his opinion, he just throw it back to me..'
"Ok, if Prince Li doesn't object, then send the statue here so I can see it, Uncle Hua"
Minister Hua smiles,
"Very well, I'll send it soon, but I need Prince Li's help about the delivery..."
"And what is that?" Prince Li squints his eyes again. Minister Hua explains,
"Because the jade statue is now at outside of town and lately Prince Li has restrict the border of this town, everything that enter the town need to be examined. But the statue is too precious to be seen by many people so I hope we can have a permission to pass the border examination later"
"A permission to pass?" Prince Li once again squints his eyes, "No...but I'll give you better... I'll give my men to guard the statue delivery." With that he hopes he can figure out more behind this request.
There is no objection from Minister Hua's look.
"Its wonderful. I am grateful for your help, Prince Li"
While TanTan looks confusedly to Prince Li, thinking why he is so kindly offers his help.
"Now, it is settled. Is there anything more?" Prince Li looks to Minister Hua sharply.
"No..there is none..." His words are interrupted by ManQi who suddenly enters the room. He seems want to report something urgent. ManQi is also surprise to see TanTan and Minister Hua in the room. He greets Minister Hua and TanTan but he becomes hesitated to speak.
"What is it, ManQi?" Prince Li asks him directly. ManQi just come closer and whispers to him,
"Master, the thief we caught was found dead, poisoned this morning."
It gives a surprise look on Prince Li.
Seeing the condition, Minister Hua feels its time for him to back off.
"It seems you are busy...so I won't bother you any longer. Please excuse me..."
Minister Hua greets politely to excuse himself. Before he responds to Minister Hua, Prince Li thinks fast and then commands ManQi in whispering,
"I'll go to the prison but ManQi, I want you to stay and observe them"
"Yes, Master" ManQi goes as he is ordered, while Prince Li tells Uncle Tong, who keeps staying there, about his leaving to prison for a while. He then looks to Minister Hua,
"I am sorry I must go right now but ManQi here will accompany you to go out..."
"Let me walk you out as well, Uncle Hua."
No matter what, this Minister Hua is her elder so TanTan offers herself to show the manner to elders.
Prince Li just looks to TanTan suspiciously but he doesn't say anything, he just glances to ManQi before he goes out with Uncle Tong first in hurry, leaving ManQi with TanTan and Minister Hua.
"Please this way, Minister Hua" ManQi leads the way. TanTan and Minister Hua are just following him.
During the way out, Minister Hua likes to walk slowly and, he politely asks TanTan's condition. He feels bad for TanTan couldn't regain her memories.
"I heard your playing just now and it reminds me to your Mom, yOung Lady. She is also as good as you in playing Guzheng."
"Is it?..." TanTan feels attracting to know more about HuaMuTan's Mom.
"Well, you can mark my words coz this old man who teaches Princess LiShuiXian, Young Lady's Mom to play guzheng and in fact I was also teaching you as well in the past..."
"Really?..." TanTan widens her eyes, it seems Uncle Hua is the closest relative for HuaMuTan...is that why she so fond to this man?
"It means you are my teacher. Uncle Hua. Please forgive me for being rude not remember it at all..." TanTan bows to show her regretful,
"Its okay, Young Lady...its not your fault to forgetting many things."
"Then...may I ask Uncle Hua to see my practice and later can give me some advices in playing guzheng?"
"Sure...its my pleasure, Young Lady. Unfortunately I still have some business to do today. Maybe I can visit you tomorrow to see your playing"
"Thank you, Uncle Tong...I hope you can tell me more about my Mom later. Who knows it can help me to regain memories.
At the same time, when Prince Li reaches the front door of Li Mansion, he met Prince FengEr.
Prince FengEr wonders,
"What happened, Wei Di? Why in rush?"
"If you want to know, SanWangGe... Come with me, I'll explain you later..."
Prince FengEr guesses the urgent thing has happened and it must connected with the case of the illegal weapons.
"Ok ,I come with you..."
Then by riding a horse, both of them go together to the prison.
Not too long after that, without TanTan realizes, they also have arrived at the front door of Li Mansion.
"Well, its time for me to go..."
"Farewell, Uncle Hua" TanTan greets him politely. ManQi helps to guide him to his chariot But before Minister Hua ascends in, he turns around and looks to TanTan carefully, with a little sadness,
"I really hope you live happily with Prince Li...Is..everything really okay?"
TanTan sees Minister Hua confusedly,
"I am...really fine, Uncle Hua...thanks for your concern."
"Please....don't hesitate to ask my help anytime you need..."
"I will, Uncle" TanTan answers politely.
Then Minister Hua enters his horse chariot and then go.
TanTan glances to ManQi, she can help herself to not curious for the urgent news ManQi brought,
"ManQi, tell me what news you told to Prince Li just now?"
ManQi surprised to be asked directly, so he just answers shortly.
"There is a small problem in a prison, Young Madam"
"Hm...a small problem hah?"
TanTan could not believe a small problem can make Prince Li so hurry.
"ManQi, is it connecting with the illegal weapon case? Oh, Just tell me...coz I am also involved in this case, I think I have right to know"
ManQi seems hesitated to tell, but TanTan stared him sharply. The Prince Li tells him to observe HuaMuTan but not to keep a secret from her, so he tells TanTan about the case and the death of the thief.
TanTan speculates again in her mind, which is almost similar which what Prince Li has in his mind just now,
'There is a mole in the prison officers...maybe the enemy is really has strong influence in the government places. Same like in the modern time, that means we have a corrupt police. Looks like the bureaucrat system here is as awfully as in the future..."
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