Prince Shao was sitting at his desk in his room reading reports related to his new post when a large palm slammed hard onto the table.
He pretended to pick at his ear as if the noise caused harm to him. Then he stared up.
Pei Nan was staring straight at him. To be exact, a very interrogating glare. "What are you and Yu Mei up to!" Even before greeting his brother, Pei Nan had started the interrogation.
Gu Shao arched a confusing brow at him. "What are you talking about?"
The letter smacked in between Pei Nan's palm and table was pushed towards Gu Shao. "What is the meaning of that letter?" Pei Nan continued to accuse his brother regarding the content of the letter.
This time it was Gu Shao who was left speechless. For the first time, his eyes became lively. "It means you are stupid." He simply put the letter in simple terms for his brother. Pei Nan was not finding this amusing. Gu Shao set the letter down and leaned back in his chair.
The letter of the content read as:
[YOU ARE STUPID!
Don't look for me. I divorce you.
Signed,
Pan Yu Mei]
At first Pei Nan thought the letter was a joke. In what day and age did a woman divorce her husband. Nothing of that sort existed.
One look at his brother and Gu Shao knew he did not believe in his word one bit. In Pei Nan's head, he doubted Yu Mei would really write such a simple yet immature letter to him. If she was really to leave, she would have at least written a full letter.
Seeing the look on Pei Nan's face, Gu Shao shook his head disappointedly. "You of all people should know Pan Yu Mei best. This letter itself is enough evidence to prove she left you." He had been speaking this much so far yet Pei Nan did not look as if he understood. To be honest, he understood but was afraid of the truth. For her to write just that much meant she has had enough of him. But he didn't know where he had gone wrong.
"Let me guess, you are asking yourself where you went wrong." Gu Shao asked sarcastically. No matter how distanced the two had become, Pei Nan was after all his only brother. If he couldn't tell what his brother was thinking just by taking a glance, then he has failed as a brother. "Do you want me to start where you mistreated her or where you accused her of having a relationship with me or where you used her?" Gu Shao listed a few.
Pei Nan held his hand to stop his brother from continuing. "She knows I never meant any of it."
This time Gu Shao stood up and walked over to his brother. "Nan, you have always only ever known how to rule a nation. You're a talent when it comes to literature, politics, war strategies and so much more but..." He paused and with great worry, looked at Pei Nan. "But you are very stupid when it comes to love."
Love? Pei Nan did not understand his brother. He loved Pan Yu Mei. Everyone knew that. He was about to retort Gu Shao's statement when something in his heart stopped him. It was as if the reality had finally sank in him. Maybe he really didn't know what love was.
"Nan, love is giving without asking. Did you ever consider her feelings when you planned this out?For someone like Yu Mei, this was enough to make her lose all faith in you. Did you ever consider letting her in on your plan?" Gu Shao truly asked.
"What I did was for her and the nation's safety. At first I feared she would ruin my plans. But I admit I was wrong. I have come to know a loving and compassionate girl who would have done all she could for the nation. I never imagined that my calculations on this plan would have such a heavy price to pay. I have once again messed up." He admitted.
"Pan Yu Mei is a very stubborn girl. You of all people should know. With this current event, it will be tough to get her back." Gu Shao smacked his brother's arm hard. "But you must find sister-in-law and bring her back."
Pei Nan too showed his brotherly affection. "Thank you Shao."
***Month Later***
Staring out of a small inn window was a shabby looking Pan Yu Mei dressed in a commoner's dress the color as dull as dying grass. Her messy hair didn't help her appearance either but that was the impression she wanted to give. She knew Prince Nan had been looking for her all this time. What better way than to degrade her appearance.
After a month of hiding in wait, she was finally going to be able to see him once again. The thought excited her. She hadn't seen this man for almost half a year.
As if she could predict the future, there he was.
She dashed.
In a dusty navy blue robe was her master, Potion Master Wu Tie. He was definitely older than Yu Mei but could not be called elderly. Master Wu was only 50 but his long beard definitely gave the impression that he was older than his age. His black hair with strands of gray was tied into a clean top knot. One could tell he cherished his hair very much.
The man was carrying in one arm a large brown cloth sack.
Out of nowhere a young lad ran into him, almost knocking the sack with his precious items in it on the ground.
This almost made the old man tumble on the ground. He went to check his bag first before realizing the young lad had fallen. Old Man Wu wanted to scold the careless lad when he saw it was a young woman. No matter how old one was, it was impolite to scold a woman. And so he extended his hand to help her. "Are you alright?" in his low voice, he asked.
It was Yu Mei. She smiled brightly at him before taking his hand. When she stood up, she gasped as if she had just seen a ghost.
This too started the old man. If she kept acting like this, she would be the reason for his sudden death. Death by cardiac arrest.
Yu Mei covered her mouth with both hands and widened her eyes. "You…you…" she pointed at him.
"I what?" He asked nervously. He was beginning to think she was crazy.
"You…aren't you Potion Master Wu Tie?" She squeaked excitedly.
The man put a finger to his lips and hushed her. "Be quiet!" he looked his surroundings over. "Have you gone mad? I am just an old man, how could I be the great Potion Master." He lied.
[Great Potion Master? Pffft. Don't make me laugh. Old man, who are you to brag about yourself.] Yu Mei secretly laughed inside before acting once more.
"I know it's you. I've seen you a few times before. There is no way it isn't you." Then she got on her knees and put both hands together as if begging him. "Please take me as your student. I've always wanted to learn from you. Please oh great one." Her body bent down into a kowtow.
People had started to stop and stare as the scene flashed before their eyes. Old Man Wu looked around nervously. "Young girl, you have gotten the wrong person. I am not him. Good bye." For his age, the man could sure dash.
Yu Mei followed behind closely.
[Thinking of running away from me? I am your #1 disciple, you can't outrun me.] She snickered.
No matter how hard he tried, he could not lose her. "Why is this girl so persistent?" he muttered to himself while making his escape. She was catching up fast. "Go away little girl. Why are you so obstinate?" He headed toward a small vegetable stall as he continued to run. He picked up a tomato and chucked it at her.
Yu Mei dodged.
[Almost got me.] She praised her master's aiming.
"But I really want to be your student." She managed to shout as the chase continued.
The two were playing cat and mouse while bumping into multiple people in the streets, causing a huge ruckus.
Finally, the two stopped in a small alley. The two collapsed onto the cold ground as their heavy breathing continued.