THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 9: Starting to Worry

It rained all afternoon. The sky of this city blackened like night. The face of the capital that was previously decorated with clouds that were marching now turned wet with splashes of water. The trees whose leaves had begun to fall were now also wet.

Lin Zian put down his brush and stared out the window. The wooden window was wet at the end. Strong winds blow splashes of rainwater inward until the part affected by the splash becomes wet. Lin Zian then closed the window. He sighed for a moment before returning to continue his activities.

Lin Zian took a sip of the tea Xu Chi served. His loyal servant was now busy grinding the ink. Paper containing small and neat writings strewn across the table. Some of the paper is also rolled and stung on the floor. The smell of rain sipped in through the cracks of the air hole.

One more week is a banquet for the Queen Mother's birthday. Lin Zian, as a dutiful prince and granddaughter would naturally have to come to congratulate him. If he did not come, the entire capital would definitely talk about it. Especially now that his wife is Princess Jing Mei, the Queen Mother's favorite daughter.

Lin Zian had to learn to resist the reluctance because now he had returned and was living in the capital. Those calls from the palace would definitely be frequently received because the Emperor gave him the responsibility of being the supervisor of the Bureau of Inquiry. The political authority given to him had not yet been accepted because really, Lin Zian was not at all interested in the court of the palace. The task of the supervisor was also accepted with great force.

“What wangfei has not returned?”

“Not yet, Young Master.”

“Rain has not stopped. Where is he really now?”

Lin Zian muttered to himself. After making the courtyard of his pavilion become like a palace flower garden, his wife left without telling him. The servants at the residence no one had seen him yet. They only said that Shen Yanzhia left with Tan’er a while after the two of them planted the entire flower.

Lin Zian smiled at his wife's strange behavior. He knew Shen Yanzhia was upset at him at the time. But, the manner of venting his frustration was completely different from the others. Instead of moving away or pranking, the woman decorated her yard with flowers.

“Young Master, one of the servants who just returned from the village said that he saw wangfei on the road to the outskirts of the capital today. He brought a lot of stuff with Tan’er.” Xu Chi told what he heard to his master.

“Surface of the capital?”

Xu Chi nodded.

“Xu Chi, prepare the horse. I'll look for it now.”

“But Young Master, the rain is very heavy.”

“Prepare horses!”

Shortly after, Lin Zian walked out of the residence with his horse. The horse he was racing to run very fast, splitting the rain, splitting the wet streets of the capital. The horse is getting faster. After arriving at the end of the capital's road, Lin Zian paused for a moment. He wiped away the rain that was pouring between his eyebrows. The end of this road leads directly to the forest area. Lin Zian again drove his horse, down the rocky road under the rain.

Lin Zian saw two women turning their backs on each other. They were surrounded by a group of people in black clothes who were armed. Both of the women's clothes were wet and dirty. Not far from there, he saw a bunch of packages lying carelessly. The two women looked very frightened.

“Badness!”

Lin Zian pulled out the moon sword from its sheath. The sword was getting more and more sparkling in the rain. He then jumped off his horse, jumped and landed in the middle of them. The two women were both surprised and delighted.

Some people dressed in black then attacked him from all directions. The moon sword started dancing in Lin Zian's hands, outstretched in all directions. He brushed aside and attacked quickly like the wind. Some of them started to fall down one by one. The sword of the moon struck their face, shoulders, back, chest, hands and feet.

The water has changed color to red. The men in black were lying on the ground. Their breaths snorted with the pain. A few people in uniform then came to surround them. Lin Zian pulled the silk-clothed woman onto the horse.

“Urus they all!”

Lin Zian drove his horse out of the forest. The woman's face on her lap was wet. The woman's hand stretched out hugged Lin Zian's waist. His horse was getting faster running, splitting the forest, splitting the capital. The rain has not stopped. The sky is still black as night.

...***...

Shen Yanzhia woke up after night. The cold from outside the window that had not been closed slipped into the pores of his skin that was open because the blanket that covered him was exposed. The sound of rain was still heard, churning like a melody played at night. So beautiful and soothing, as well as stifling at the same time.

Shen Yanzhia stared at the ginger soup bowl located on the table on the edge of the bed. The soup is still steaming. Shen Yanzhia stared at the burning candles all over this room. The small flames from the wicks of the candle were occasionally flashing in the wind.

“Tan’er, please close the window!”

Someone then went in and closed the window.

“Nona, are you awake?”

Tan’er took the bowl of ginger soup and then thrust it on his master.

“How can we get back here?”

Tan’er then explained the incident that had happened to him and his employer in the afternoon. Desperate to find the home of the mad woman's healer, Shen Yanzhia was suddenly ambushed by a group of unknown people.

Although she was a bad woman, she could not defend herself. Shen Yanzhia did not carry any weapons to protect herself. The rain that fell made his head slightly dizzy.

Shen Yanzhia then recalled to Lin Zian. The man jumped from his horse into the crowd with a sword. The people who ambushed him then fell down one by one.

Shen Yanzhia saw clearly as the man's hand struck out and brushed off the sword deftly. The moon sword became red covered in blood. Shen Yanzhia was relieved that Lin Zian did not directly kill them in front of her eyes.

“You're feeling good?”

Lin Zian entered through the front door. Her hairy robes slung on her shoulders. The tail of the robe dangled sweeping the wooden floor.

“Zian,” said Shen Yanzhia softly. Tan’er went straight out as soon as he knew his master was coming.

“Minum of the soup.”

Why is he so angry? Was Lin Zian angry at him because he turned his residence garden into a flower? Was Lin Zian upset that he was out wangfu secretly without his permission? Was Lin Zian worried that he was making a mess outside and ruining his good name?

Shen Yanzhia suddenly cried. Her tears slid like clear watery creeks on both of her cheeks. Fear and worry began to run through his entire heart. Would Lin Zian punish him after this?

“Wangfei, why are you crying?” Lin Zian stared fixedly at his wife's face.

“Zian, forgive me,” Shen Yanzhia said softly on the sidelines of her cries.

“Do you already know and realize what your mistake is?”

Shen Yanzhia nodded. His crying became more. The air was getting cold and gripping. Shen Yanzhia felt that her entire guess was correct.

“Are you going to punish me?”

“Do I look like I'll punish you?”

Shen Yanzhia let out a sigh of relief. Now he could be calmer because Lin Zian seemed to have no intention of punishing him. The man looked like he had a great concern for her. His clear eyes implied something that Shen Yanzhia could not know. He still feels helpless. The fear of the rest of this afternoon has not completely disappeared.

“Breaklah. I'll see you tomorrow morning.”

Shen Yanzhia held onto Lin Zian's wrist, trying to restrain the man from leaving.

“What happened to those people?”

“You don't have to think about them.”

“You killed him?”

“No.”

“Then where are they now?”

“Prison.”

Shen Yanzhia let out a sigh of relief. Those insolent people must accept their punishment. Although he did not want to see Lin Zian punish them directly, Shen Yanzhia still wanted them to accept the consequences of their deeds. Their bravery of attacking the Queen Mother's beloved daughter shows that they are no ordinary assassins.

“Where are the items I bought?”

“They're broken. I already threw it away earlier,” replied Lin Zian lightly.

“You! Why didn't you ask me first? There may be something to wear and good. Don't just throw it away!”

“How can I ask if you keep sleeping like that?”

“You! Lin Zian you're so annoying!”

“I? Sucks? Then tell me who decorated my courtyard with flowers? Yanzhia, you are more annoying than me!”

Never mind. There was no point in arguing with Lin Zian. Shen Yanzhia still had to save her energy for tomorrow. There's still something he needs to finish. In addition, he also had to store his energy so that he could get out of the residence again to buy new items. He will probably spend all the money his father gave him this month.

“On your broken belongings, I know it's for the Queen Mother's birthday present. Don't worry, we're married. My gift is your gift.”

“Really?”

Lin Zian nodded. A small smile spread across his handsome face.

“Other times, you can't get out of wangfu secretly anymore. Oh yes, I also did not say that I will not punish you.”

“But you said..”

“I only asked.”

“Lin Zian! I haven't even countered what you did that stole my first kiss!”

“Do you think it's just your first kiss?”

Shen Yanzhia. Whatdoes thatmean? Was that really Lin Zian's first kiss as well? He just gave it to her? Shen Yanzhia wanted to believe it. But, the other side of him did not want to believe it. If that was indeed true, why would he give it to Shen Yanzhia who had both just experienced it?

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Neither Shen Yanzhia nor Lin Zian, both of them were both silent with their respective thoughts. The sound of rain began to come back. The burning candles waver their flames by the wind. The air gets colder as the night gets more and more late.

“I'll tell you your punishment tomorrow.”

Shen Yanzhia looked at Lin Zian's departure in annoyance. A moment later, his frustration turned into a small happiness. He suddenly smiled to himself as he remembered how cute the worried face of Lin Zian was when he carried her on a horse this afternoon.

Really, Shen Yanzhia really saw a very good sight. The man's face was very close to her. Shen Yanzhia could clearly see the pointed chin, the soft pale lips, the big nose, and the beautiful eyelids under the rain.

Shen Yanzhia only realized: This husband of hers is really very handsome!***