Our Journey - Chapter 21 His Reason

“Concubine?” My father repeated Zhiqiang Wangye’s words. I glared at Zhiqiang Wangye. I hope he changes his words beforehand.

“Indeed, I want Liu Fang to be my concubine,” Zhiqiang Wangye repeated his words.

“However, I cannot promise a good life for her. I don’t love your daughter. I am not sure that she would be happy if she married me,” Zhiqiang Wangye continued his words. I saw my father’s hand. He held the edge of the table hardly. I know that he is angry.

“Wangye, now I’m not a general. However, making my daughter your concubine is inappropriate. She is my biological child from my legal wife. Zhou family is currently in poor condition, but we are also not random family,” my father said in a slightly trembling voice. I lowered my face. I can’t see my father’s face in a situation like this. He must have felt humiliated.

“However, that’s the only choice I can give because the truth is that me and your daughter are not lovers like the rumors you heard,” Zhiqiang Wangye sighed.

“I hope you think about this well, before making a decision,”

Hearing Zhiqiang Wangye’s last words, I ventured to see my father’s expression. I saw his face showing his chaotic feelings. I can not endure it anymore. I stood up and pulled Zhiqiang Wangye’s hand. I took him out of the Gazebo.

I brought him near a shady tree. I don’t want my father and physician Li Shu to hear our conversation. I hit the tree hardly because of my anger for him.

“Wangye, why did you say that?” I asked for an explanation. I am angry with him.

“Which words do you mean?” Zhiqiang Wangye casually responded to my question.

“You want to make me your concubine. Don’t you think before talking? Your proposal insulted the Zhou Family and insulted my father too,” I clarified my protest. He smiled sarcastically after hearing my words.

“So you want me to marry you and make you my legal wife?” He asked again and the question made me even more upset.

“Being an anchoress is better than marrying you. I don’t want to be your Wangfei (Wangye’s legal wife) or your Cefei (Concubine),” I answered firmly. He nodded his head then sighed.

“I also don’t want to marry you. As I said earlier, you are not my ideal woman,” he answered me with a serious expression.

“So why did you propose like that?” I asked, holding back my emotions. Zhiqiang Wangye smiled.

“I have no choice. Your father is very strict and forced me to marry you. I just scared him by saying that you would marry me as my concubine. I am sure that he will reject my proposal because he feels insulted by marrying his daughter as a Concubine,” Zhiqiang Wangye explained calmly. His words sound logical in my thought. I nod my head.

“I am affirm that you will not be happy after marrying me because I do not love you. That would make him hesitate to impose his wishes. All parents want their children to be happy. If marry me make you unhappy, your father will stop forcing me to marry you,” he continued his explanation. My heart calmed down after hearing his reason. I’m relieved that this arrogant prince uses his brain to break my father’s wishes.

“You should have said that before, so I don’t pull you out of the Gazebo like this,” I criticized him. He chuckled.

“Miss Zhou, you forget that I don’t have time to send a message to you. Your father takes you to Wangfu immediately after you have breakfast,” his words confuse me.

“You know my activities?” I asked him.
for visiting.

“I send my people to spy on you. I have to anticipate your father who can act beyond my predictions,” Zhiqiang Wangye spoke casually.

“Please don’t do that again, Wangye. Your action make me feel not easy,” I warned him. He nodded.

“Then, let’s go back to the gazebo!” I turned around, but he pulled my hand. I looked at my hand, then looked at his face in surprise.

“You have to slap me,” he said.

“Why?”

“If you and me go back to the gazebo in good condition, your father will be surprised. He might think that both of us will be happy after marriage because in a situation like this, you still be kind to me and I also be kind to you,” he explained. I nodded. Before getting a signal from him, I slapped his cheek hard. The annoyance I have had so far, I give it over to him with a slap. I saw his blood dripping a little at the tip of his lips. He was surprised then pointed at my face.

“You!” He looked angry. I smiled sarcastically.

“I made it very convincing. In this way, my father will be sure that I really hate you. After returning to the gazebo, I will withdraw my father and take him away from Wangfu,” I said calmly. He twisted his eyes. He said no more words. Maybe he is lazy to argue with me again.

We both walked to the gazebo. I pulled my father’s hand. My father looked surprised after seeing Zhiqiang Wangye’s face.

“Liu Fang, you slapped Wangye?” My father looked panicked. I nod my head.

“Instead of marrying him, I better be a anchoress with my Shifu,” I said firmly. I pulled my father out of the gazebo. I walked quickly towards the Wangfu gate.

After leaving Wangfu, I felt very relieved. I’m sure that my slap is hard enough to make Zhiqiang Wangye’s face swollen. I’m also sure that my father will stop forcing me to marry that annoying prince.

“Liu Fang, are you sure that you want to be an anchoress like your Shifu?” My father asked me when we on the road as we walked towards the inn. I nod my head.

“It’s the best decision,” I said in a calm voice and smiled a little. My father sighed.

My father didn’t argue with me again. I think my problem has been solved.

***

A week after meeting with Zhiqiang Wangye, my father and I still live in the capital city. I repeatedly asked him to return to our village, but he refused. He gave a reason that he had not visited the capital for a long time. Therefore, he wants to meet his old friends. I was forced to wait him patiently.

Every day I try to recover myself by exerting my inner energy. I did it after consulting Physician Li Shu. That Imperial Doctor was very good. He wanted to take care of me even though I am no longer lived in Zhiqiang Wangfu. He also gave me lots of herbs. I hope my body will recover so that I can practice the sword again.

“Liu Fang!” My father’s voice came from outside my room. I am, who was compiling my things, immediately left and opened the door of my room. I saw my father. His face looks happy. He smiled.

“Liu Fang, you change your clothes with your best clothes. You also have to dress up. I want to bring you to meet my old friend,” he said cheerfully. I’m surprised to see it.

“Why do you looks so happy?” I asked.

“Offcourse, I am happy. Meet with my old friend is one kind of happiness. Change your clothes immediately,” my father said casually then left me. I was forced to follow his words.

“Okay. I also want to know one of you father’s friends, “I said to myself.

I took the clothes I just bought at the market yesterday. Yesterday, my father forced me to go to a shop. He said the fabric shop merchant was his business friend first.

The merchant gave me a pair of clothes made If silk and some silver hair ornaments. When I want to pay, the merchant refuses. The fabric merchant reasoned that he enjoyed meeting old friends and giving gifts. I was forced to accept this gift.

I applied powder to my face a little. When I was at Wangfu, I refused Meihua to become my leader. I also put red lipstick on my lips. I have to look good when I meet my father’s friend. I have to give a good impression because we might not see each other again.

After dressing, I went downstairs. My father is waiting. The appearance is also neat. I am sure that he has shaved so that he looks very handsome in his baby half age. I smile.

“Father, you looks very happy because you will meet your old friend father. Father to shave and wear this nice clothes. Father usually doesn’t like to wear clothes from suterame. Father looks handsome,” I said my thoughts. My father nodded and smiled.

“In the past we had a big fight. Since our family left the capital, we never met,” my father said and sighed.

“I’m glad that he finally can trust me again and invite me to meet him,” my father continued his words. I really not understand his words, but nod my head. Both of us went out of the inn.

My father rented a sedan to take me. My father got on his horse. I wasn’t interested in looking out of the sedan. When the sedan stopped, my father called my name.

“Liu Fang, we have arrived,” my father said. I got out of the sedan. What I saw, shocked me.

“Father, who is your friend?” I asked nervously. I can’t be wrong. Both of us were in front of the Palace gate.

“Who else lives here?” My father asked. I looked at my father nervously.

“We will meet Bixia (Emperor),” my father explained.