Kai staggered as he and Li Jie walked over to the small bridge, over the part of the water Lily pond that flows through a part of the courtyard. Since he has had that nightmare that he had two nights before, all he can think about is what happened.
"Li Jen, are you ok?" Li Jie asked his sister worriedly. He had noticed how reserved, and jumpy she is from two days ago.
Kai looks up from the pebbles ground, and looks beside him at Li Jie. His stomach chimed when he knew that he had to go and lie to Li Jie when he was just concerned about his little sister. And it wasn't right of Kai to lie to him and tell him everything is fine, because it's not. He doesn't even know if Li Jen is alright. Yes he believes the rumors going around that Lee Cheng ran away with a young woman that looked like the princess. If he wasn't impersonating her, everyone would have confirmed the rumours to be true. But rumors can be what they are, just rumors. Lies and gossip that people make up to start a frenzy, especially to degrade high end people. But Kai strongly believes that Li Jen is with Lee Cheng, but she left him here to bear her burden and swim in all the lies and deceit. And to be honest, he's sick of it. Someone tried to kill him, her future husband found out that he is not her and he has been having realistic nightmares. So no Li Jie, I am not ok. That's what Kai wanted to answer with, but Li Jie didn't ask how he is. He asks Li Jen, and since Li Jen isn't here, she willingly gives that spot to him. Which made Kai furious and heartbroken at the same time.
He opened his mouth to tell Li Jie that he is ok, but the words couldn't come out. Would he give away anything if he tells the truth a little bit? Qing yuan had warned him to keep on pretending before he left, and the look that was on his face before he fled from the room had Kai nervous and scared. So he did what was best for him and the whole situation. So he answered Li Jie in his own little way.
"Yes, I am alright. But I had a nightmare, and I can't get it out of my mind." That felt good. Kai thought, his heart feeling a little light.
Li Jie on the other hand, perked up at Kai's answer. "Why don't you go to Madam Mei? She can read what your nightmare means with her magical leaves in her Oolong tea.
Kai tensed at Li Jie words. He had heard about madam Mei, and her little tea, from Li Jen numerous of times. From his knowledge from Li Jen, madam Mei is an old Mage, who's cultivation skills was known in the seven kingdoms and beyond, in her early days. The greatest of men trembled beneath her feet, but what made her waise and we'll respected. Was her special ability to read people's misfortunes and futures with unknown leaves she put in Oolong tea she serves to her clients.
Li Jen had told him that she thought that Madam Mei's tea reading was fake, because Mei was an old bragger that lost her stripes years ago and wanted fame again. But one day Kai was cleaning the stables, and Li Jen came running out if breath. Telling him of how she take back everything she had said about Mei's ability. Claiming that one of the young disciples went to her to seek guidance about this strange vision of a crow consuming a bady drogan, and Madam Mei told him that his father's second wife is trying to hurt him. And it turned out that she was right, it was indeed his stepmother trying to kill him. She had a jewel necklace in the shape of a crow, and she disspised the young disciple because she was just a mare mediocre woman, with a child that would never compare to the young disciple.
Even if Kai had the intention of going to seek Madam Mei, he couldn't. Not when he has something hiding. "It is ok Li Jie, no need to bother Madam Mei. It was just a silly dream."
"Are you sure? You don't know what it is, with everything going on and that person that tried to kill you. Maybe you need a bit of soul reading." Li Jie still pester on. He can be a bit overprotective of Li Jie most times.
"No, Jie. Please just leave it, and let us just enjoy our walk." Jie sigh defeated, and nodded. "Good." Kai smiled at him, as he looked down at the likes in the pond.
He glimpse pass the lilies and look at his reflection, or should he say, Li Jen's reflection. He can't even remember how he looks, and that made him sad.
Li Jie looked over at his sister with a smile, but it quickly faded when he saw her frown and tears trickling from the corner of her eyes.
"Jen, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Kai shook his head, all these emotions are too overwhelming. And his little heart can't manage it, so what he did next shocked him. But he also needed it, or else he would break.
"Everything is wrong."He hugged Li Jie tightly, as he cried into his chest. "I-i miss him so much."
"Who?" Li Jie ask confused. "Is it Qing yuan?"
"No." Kai answered, even though he wished that Shui was here. Afterrall, he knew Kai's secret.
"Then….is it Kai?" Li Jie ask again, and when Kai stiffened in his arms, he knew that he has got the answer. "I have meant to ask you if he hasn't gotten better from his fever, but it slipped me with all the extra training and hunting for the dark moon orb. But then I remembered again, and saw his mother. I asked her about him, and she told me that he has recovered, but not working at the palace anymore. I thought that it is a little bit weird for him to stop especially when you two are so close."
Kai pulled away from Li Jie, and wipe his eyes with her sleeve before turning to scold Li Jie. "It is not suspicious at all. Someone's sister forced him to do something that he doesn't want to." Kai mentioned the situation he is in, without giving himself away. "And plus, it's dangerous times now. Kai is safer at home."
"True, but what could Kai's sister forced him to do? That little rascal doesn't take any talk from anyone, not even me."
"Study!" Kai blurted, startling Li Jie a bit.
"Oh." Li Jie ruffled Kai's hair. "Don't worry, your little annoying friend will come back someday." Kai just smiled at him, wishing that were true.
The enjoyed the rest of their time on the bridge, before moving on.
It was almost mid day, and time for Kai and Li Jie to join the king and queen for lunch. When Li Jie pulled his sword and pressed the tip slightly against his Kai's back, but not enough to hurt him.
"What are you doing?" Kai ask, carefully not to sound alarmed.
"We haven't sparred in ages, so I thought we could go a little for old time sake, before going in for lunch." Li Jie ask with hope in his eyes.
"No." Kai nervously replied. His heart drop like how Li Jie face did. He doesn't want to hurt Li Jie's feelings, but he wasn't Li Jen. And how could he sparred when he was just learning martial arts.
"Come on little sis." Jie still urge on.
"No." But Li Jie still wouldn't take no for an answer, and flick his sword and it cut the necklace and it fell from Kai's neck.
"YOU!" Li Jie shouted in alarm.
Kai body trembled in shock, and from fear. The necklace had come lose from around his neck, so therefore, the transformation spell has broken. Which means, he has been found out. And that means, he is in deep hot water.