The Red Bride - Chapter 43
Everything was too bright. First, her eyes were tortured with blinding light then colors slowly bleed through. She looked at that all too familiar ceiling, and then sighed a breath of relief. It was just a bad nightmare. She tried to get up from the bed to get ready for the Flower Viewing Party. If she kept stalling any longer then she would be late, and that meant that a certain ice cube would blame her for not doing her job. She tried to push herself up, but her arms were too weak. She could barely lift her body two inches off the bed before she fell back down. She weakly sighed. Guess, it was time for her to start exercising instead of eating all the time.
‘Damn it. I’m going to be late.’
Her voice was rough and raw when she hardly squeaked out, “Gu Chi….Ke Ying…”
‘Wow, what is wrong with my body today?’
Sighing again, Mu Qing closed her eyes for a moment. She heard the door creaked open, and footsteps approaching the bed. She felt solace that her trusty maids had ears of elephants. Finally, she could get ready to go into battle.
“You’re awake.”
That voice did not belong to her maids. It was too deep and rough. She opened her eyes and saw that man peering over her. She was surprised, but quickly calm down when she realized that he was probably here to scold her for being late.
“…Good Mor-morning…,” she weakly breathe out.
Hu Feng ignored her and then walked over to the table. He poured water into a tea cup, and then walked back to the bed with her eyes on him during the whole process. His long muscular arm held the cup out for her. She looked at it awkwardly, knowing that she doesn’t have the strength to hold it. Her little head shook, denying the offer. She was embarrassed to let him see her in such a state.
He looked at the small woman in front of him, determining whether she was trying to be brave or if she doesn’t remember the events that had occured. Whatever the case, he sat on the edge of the bed.
She became alarmed.
He gingerly scooped her into his chest.
She didn’t know what to feel.
Then he lifted the cup to her chapped lips. She stared at him like a deer in headlights.
“Drink.”
She compiled without much struggle. One, she was really thirsty now that he mentioned it, and two, was he concerned about her? He tipped the cup, making it easier for her to drink, and only lowered it when she was done. The way she looked at him was like how one would look at animal in the zoo, curious and bewildered. What a strange morning it has been. She has to tell Yu Yue about this later over tea.
“Um..uh..cuh.Th-thanks,” she coughed.
He put her backed down, which she was grateful for, and then placed the cup in its original spot. He sat down on a chair and then stared at her thoughtfully. She was a little unnerved, and could not understand the reasoning for his actions, especially on such an important day. She coughed again, trying to disperse the awkwardness.
“Your Majesty, I..uh…I have to change for the party. It’s best that you leave.”
His voice was cold, “It already happened.”
‘Wow! When did this ice cube evolved? He can actually tell jokes now.’
“Haha…I’m serious. I have to get change, so please leave.”
His eyes had a strange light in them, “Look down.”
She looked at him like he was crazy, but he did not relent. Losing to his oppressive demeanor, she finally glanced down. Through her thin nightgown, she could make out the eerily white bandages, and then a spot that was oozing red.
Like huge and destructive tsunami waves, the memories came crashing down and wrecked her entire body, then her entire being. Her chest concave like an enormous boulder sat on top of it. Her stab wound started to heat up until it was a raging fire that burnt every inch of her soul. The blood, the bodies, and the sacrifices replayed in her mind like a broken record. Tears rained down from her face without her even knowing it. She couldn’t even breathe.
He sat on the chair motionlessly, and watched as her sobs got harder by the minute. His lips pulled into a frown, his heart uncomfortable, and yet, he still watched her cried her eyes out. This was not the first time he has dealt with a crying woman, however it was the first time that he cared. Therefore, he was confused and lost for more reasons than one. Perhaps it was best for her to let everything out first before he hands her the medication. So, the Emperor sat on the chair like he sat on his throne, waiting for the woman in bed to finally end her tears.
Despite his patience, Mu Qing could not stop her tears, the horrifying memories, nor the emotions that came with them, so she cried, and cried, and cried. Eventually, he made his way towards her, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
He took his large hand and hovered it above her head. He hesitated and then glanced at her big fat tears. Finally, he awkwardly patted her on the head, like one would do to a pet. She threw herself at him, despite the pain, and cried even harder. She held him like he was her last life line, and in retrospect, he was.
Hu Feng didn’t do anything at first, mostly because he was stunned. Then, slowly and awkwardly, he moved his left arm around her shoulders and bought her to his chest. So they sat, a ruthless Emperor delicately holding his distraught icy Empress.