The General's Promise

Early the next morning, Mei Xing awoke with a heavy headache. Her mind wasn't clear; her body also ached a lot. Reclining, she sat up slowly, rubbing her temples for the recollections of what took place. The pain in the head made her groan loudly. "My head. what happened to me?"

As she glanced around, in her mind there flashed the details of the entire previous day, the escape, the assassins, the opportune intervention by the General but, above all, the ice-cold shiver of terror that overtook her heart and the thought that her time would run out at any moment.

By the time Chuchui entered the room with a steaming bowl of porridge, "My lady, you are finally awake," she said, all smiles. "The General said I should serve you some porridge."

Mei Xing looked around the room. "Wait, how are we back here?" her face creased in confusion, she asked.

She put the bowl onto a nearby table. "It was the General who brought you back, milady," she replied, matter-of-fact.

Mei Xing's eyes widen in alarm as realization dawns upon her. No, this can't be; I'm being trapped again.

Chuchui babbled on and on, never realizing that there was war in the corridors of Mei Xing's mind. "Also, milady, we have to get back to the capital. Tomorrow is your father's birthday. The General gave permission for you to go back."

Finally, surprise snapped her eyes up. "Wait, did you say Xiao Hong granted permission to go?" she asked surreptitiously.

Chuchui nodded, her smile small and wry. "Yes, my lady; he agreed to go attend your father's birthday celebration."

Mei Xing pondered for a while with a heart full of many questions. For what reason should Xiao Hong this time allow her to return home to the capital? Was all this setting an ambush? Truly, was there benevolence this time around?

She tossed these thoughts about in her head until finally, her gaze alighted on a bowl of porridge placed on her lap by Chuchui. Lifting it up gingerly, she took one small sip, then another; her parched throat was cooled, and instantly all her ills were forgotten for the brief time that remained between her ails.

"I'm happy to go to the capital because this way I would be nearer my father." Chuchui spoke with an abashed small smile.

Chuchui smiled back; the relief written all over her face. "I'm glad too, my lady. We'll make sure to pack your favorite clothes and get ready for the trip."

As Mei Xing finished her porridge, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this trip back to the capital would bring her some good fortune.

In the study, General Xiao Hong was deep in conversation with Cai Wei. "I think we should attend the birthday celebration of the Duke too," said Xiao Hong, his face deep in thought. "It would not be decent for me if I do not pay a visit."

Cai Wei's eyes bulged with worry. "But my lord, are you really going to show your true self? It's dangerous.

Xiao Hong's jaws clamped, and he growled, "This risk must be taken, Cai Wei; I think it is the right time for me to move to protect Mei Xing because she implicated herself in this, too."

Smoothing out his face, Cai Wei gave an unhurried nod. "Okay, my lord. I will immediately prepare."

The next day, at the general's mansion, there was hustle and bustle in preparation for the Duke's birthday. Mei Xing was getting dressed, while Chuchui was helping her put that pretty silk on. When they were almost done with the preparation, Mei Xing took a deep breath, smoothened her skirts, and prepared herself before her father.

By the time they did, the banquet was already in full swing, with guests milling about and talking to each other. One of the Duke's servants suddenly dashed indoors, bowing to his waist. "My lord, the young lady has arrived."

Duke Mingling, Mei Xing's father, smiled broadly as he came down to welcome his daughter. His mistress, Madam Wei, and his second daughter, Ha Rin, followed closely behind.

Seeing her father, Mei Xing's face lit up. "Father!!" she exclaimed, running to him and throwing her arms around his waist.

The Duke tightly hugged his daughter, eyeing her up and down. "Oh, my daughter, how have you been? Let me take a good look at you. You have become thin, has the General been mistreating you?"

Mei Xing shook her head with a smile. "No, Father. He couldn't do that."

She then approached her stepmother and stepsister, greeting them with a bow; her steps showed an apparent friendliness with them. Whatever she got instead was the very unhappy faces, but Ha-Rin did little to let up as her face beamed darkly. "Sister, it's been ages. Can see that being this ugly continues, I perceive."

Blushing, Mei Xing did not utter a word. Then, she silently turned and stared at her father. The latter peered into such an exchange in great discomfort.

The Duke coughed, changing the subject to lighten up the mood: "Let's go in first, the guests are waiting."

All the way to the main hall, Mei Xing had a lump in her throat. She knew her stepmother and her stepsister did not like her very much, and now she was afraid of how they would act.

When they were having a good time at the banquet, Madam Wei began to talk and asked Mei Xing why the General hadn't come. Mei Xing hastily tried to sound casual and responded, "He's caught up with some business, so he can't come."

Ha Rin chimed in, a sneer on her face. "Mother, don't mind her. How could his ugly and disabled husband attend father's birthday banquet?

The people around them started snickering, and Mei Xing's face burnt with embarrassment. But before Ha Rin finished her talking, the general appeared as if on time at the scene, walking to the banquet room without greeting in the slightest.

His handsome, pretty face was shining highly; a spark of jests was shining in his eyes. "Of course, the sister-in-law is right; I couldn't miss Father's birthday banquet." His voice came out with sarcastic undercurrents.

The guests were shocked, gasping in their seats. Madam Wei's and Ha Rin's eyes were as wide as teacups in stunned silence. Xiao Hong continued, smooth as silk: "Greetings, Father, greetings, Mother. Father, I bought you some fine wine as a birthday gift, hope you will accept it."

He bowed low, the movements fluid with elegance. The Duke's face lit up in surprise as he bowed to his waist. "Thank you, General. Please, have a seat."

As Xiao Hong sat beside Mei Xing, she turned to him in a wide-eyed surprise. "Why did you come?" she whispered. "You took a huge risk by showing your true identity."

He smiled, and the sparkle of hilarity shone in his eyes as Xiao Hong replied in a low, husky voice, "I think, being your husband, I couldn't embarrass you right in front of your stepmother and stepsister.".

Upon this, Mei Xing's face blushed furiously, but in her mind, she was like, "He took such a huge risk just for me." He had saved her from the cruel words of her stepmother and stepsister with style and grace.

With the dragging banquet, it was so hard for Mei Xing not to keep her eyes off Xiao Hong, who was chatting amiably with every guest. She started looking at him in another perspective, and she would not be able to stop herself from raising such questions as "Has he fallen in love with me? Or is he just acting?"