But Hu Nayin apparently chose not to believe with that rumor. "You must have misunderstood, Master Yun isn't like that! It's just hearsay!" Hu Nayin had been so close to Yun, she immediately refused his parents' orders.
Hu Nayin's mother exclaimed, "Don't you know that it's very dangerous to learn black magic? You will become evil! Such a terrible thing! You will lose your current entire life because of being hated and cursed!"
Hu Nayin's father also said, "That's right, Nayin. If you study black magic, later you will do bad things like killing, jinxing people, making people suffer.... that's really bad! I don't want my daughter to take such an evil part!"
Hu Nayin pursed her lips. "But..."
But actually, Hu Nayin did not have to argue with his family. Her fate with Yun had been ended. On the next day, when she went to Yun's residence, she found that the residence was deserted.
Hu Nayin was stunned. She still studied with Yun yesterday, why was the house deserted right now?
She instantly approached a middle-aged man who was a resident caretaker. He was sweeping the floor. "Uncle! Why is this house deserted?! Why is Master Yun hot here?!"
The man turned his head. "Oh, Master Yun has departed from Yunnan."
Hu Nayin blinked. "Where does she go?"
"Dunno." The man shook his head.
"Oh, well... thank you..." Muttering softly, Hu Nayin left the house.
The other disciples did not know where Yun went to either. Yun's departure became a big unsolved mystery in Yunnan, and because it could not be solved, this issue was then forgotten.
Until now.
"Well then. It has been more than twenty years since the last time I saw Master Yun. Never making contact with her doesn't mean that I have forgotten her completely. But I actually thought that Master Yun doesn't appear like a bad person who may make riot at all. She is very clever, highly respected by everyone. She indeed has a tough and difficult personality, and she is antipathy to the government. She always advised us to stay away from aristocrats, dignitaries, and government's-boots--licking opportunists. But she only advised us to stay away from them, not to fight..."
Far away, a wolf was howling.
"I know how powerful Master Yun is, everyone knows it very well. If she said that someone will stay alive, even though all physicians have mentioned that he will die, he will definitely stay alive. And when she performs her powers... you will shiver because of amazement for her abilities... it will be terrible if such a powerful person becomes His Highness' enemy. I don't expect His Highness to lose his life... really... So, I have to protect His Highness whatever it takes..."
Wu Qi was looking at Hu Nayin. His eyes emitted such a peculiar look, she got difficulty to comprehend it. But he soon looked down without speaking any other word.
"So, Wu Qi, you have to understand, what I've done is all for His Highness! Not to betray him! Don't get me wrong!"
"You only pay attention to His Highness, but not consider that this action may endanger your life."
There was a strange tremble in Wu Qi's voice. Hu Nayin got stunned.
"You should take care of yourself more than anything else," Wu Qi continued. "His Highness is very safe, the entire Kaifeng are trying their best to protect him. But, not the same with you. Even though you are the second-highest person in Kaifeng, but in fact, you haven't much support. You have to protect yourself more, don't too focus on His Highness. You know, this action tends to incite a dirty slander that traps you to an accusation of treason against the Ruler. And once you get trapped, it's His Highness himself who will exterminate you."
Wu Qi's last words made Hu Nayin's heart hammer in her chest. Her belly was cramped. "No way... I have good intentions, after all..." She curved a smile to comfort herself. "And... His Highness isn't that kind of person..."
"Just now you said that your master doesn't appear like a person who will be a rebel, but what is she doing right now? Everything is always changing, including human behavior. Moreover, a ruler. The proverb said that "Accompanying a King is like accompanying a tiger." The favor of powerful people is uncertain. We'll never guess all feelings and emotions the rulers have, even when we assume that the Ruler is very kind to us, he can exterminate us right at that moment. So many times history is tainted with the blood of women who have been killed by the rulers whom they think always love them."
Hu Nayin's trembling both hands automatically embraced her swollen belly. She stared sharply at Wu Qi. And Wu Qi looked down again.
"I just give you advice. You are a good wife, loving His Highness so much that you are willing to risk your life to protect him. I just hope His Highness knows about this... but still, just knowing is not enough. A woman who survives to the end in the Palace is not a kindhearted woman, but a woman who is intelligent and even full of intrigue."
Hu Nayin's eyes dimmed.
"Yes... thank you very much Wu Qi... for your advice..." She blinked. "Beside His Highness, the only one in Kaifeng Palace I can fully rely on is you. We come from the same village, we go back a long way, long before I become Wang Fei and you become the Commander of San Hu Wei. We've known each other very well since we are free to call each of our names without being separated by social status... Yes, thank you very much for your advice. I... will remember it..."
"My greatest delight if you are willing to follow my advice."
"But I am not sure whether I will be able to comply with it. Sincere affection can't be tainted by dirty slander. I'm doing all of this in the name of goodness So I will still do what I'm supposed to do."
Wu Qi widened his eyes. "You still want to meet with Yun again?!"
"She's still headstrong. As we know, persuasion won't be effective by just doing it once or twice. I have to persuade her many times in order to make her follow us."
"Your Highness!"
"That's final. You can't change it."
Wu Qi sighed. He fell silent.
"Then... please permit me to accompany you!"
Hu Nayin blinked. Wu Qi looked at her, very serious.
"Ah... if that's the case, it will be better. I am more assured, no need for me to be afraid of being disturbed by the rebels as you are with me," Hu Nayin said happily. Wu Qi lowered his head again. His mind was full of mixed thoughts that he himself could not understand.