He caught me while i ran as fast as i can. Like a hunter, he catch his prey fast and easy. Yelling and screaming doesn't help at all. He is controlling his horse without a problem.
Minutes later, i am carry over his's shoulders into the residents area. Again i am the center of attraction. At that point i know yelling nor screaming will do me any good. I just keep quiet and allow him to carry me So embarrassing to see the maids staring and gossiping away. Across the courtyard, into the walkway, i can't see anything except the flooring.
Finally he put me down on the bed. He stand there with his hands on his hip. After that he walk up and down infront of me. He finally stop after five minutes.
"Who are you"
"I am me. What do you mean?"
"You don't look like you have a problem with your legs."
A fear grows in my heart. I feel the heat raising within me. My eyes are darting around and my brain is working hard to handle the oncoming slaughter i am about to receive from him.
"I got better before the wedding. Thanks to my father for looking the best physician in the country."
He keep his silence and sits on a chair opposite the bed. He simply just stare at me with his eye bows knitted. His right hand place on his cheeks.
"I don't believe it. I remember you have problem walking. You have a leg that is longer than the other and a twisted toes. How did all this become, undone?"
"Ask that physician or my father. i can't answer you on that. I am not a doctor. I know that once i am well enough, i want to run around and enjoy life. Isn't that what all humans think?"
He stand up and put his hands behind his back. Nodding his head. He proceed to sit on the bed while i hurdle in the corner.
To my surprise, he goes back on the conversation before the run.
"Then, that means you are well enough to do what a normal couple do in the night. Am i right?"
"what... no... i'm a child like you said. Wait what happen to your arm? Aren't you supposed to be injured? Are you lying all this while that you are not feeling well?"
"My arm is fine. It hurts but i won't die. But you, you will die if you lie to my father the emperor." He turn around and look at me with malice voice. I swallow my saliva and look away.
"Tomorrow we will return home. The next morning you will follow me to have morning exercise. Since you have the energy to run around and able to wake up early. Join us for a light workout. I will get the rest of the servants to get up as well. Besides that, you seems to have a talent when you display your sword movements at the banquet. I recalled that Duke Su is an exception archer but i did not know that his daughter might be a good swordsman. I will have someone to teach you how to use the sword and arrow. It will be fun."
"How do you know that i wake up early?"
"The door to our bedroom is not entirely made out of wood, you know. I can see your shadow."
That means he knows that i have been watching them most mornings, He knew that i am not Su Shung Yu. This is not good. I have to make him divorce me soon. How can My sister and i live if this dingbat knows that we have switch places.
While i am thinking of the present problem on hand, he move near to where i am. Without a notice i find his face next to mine. I stare into his big round eyes. His long lashes seems to make his eye twinkle like a pearl that hits on light.
"How about a kiss?"
Immediately i struggle to get off the bed. We struggle as if we are wrestling. I scream and yell. Till finally i kick him hard and run off. Unexpectedly, a eunuch appeared infront of me and i nearly knocked him over. He bow before me and said that the empress is asking for my present. Dingbat appear and that eunuch bow again.
"Let's go together. I haven't greet mother today."
The eunuch bow once more and lead the way. While walking, he tried to hold my hand. I struggle, of course. He lean near to me and whisper that we need to put up a show for the empress mother. I can't refuse and so i relax my arm but i use all my strength to clasp on his hand tightly. After awhile i realised that it is no use, i will get tried and my hands are in pain. While he seems to be in a relax mood. Walking and looking straight ahead,
We reached a garden full of blooming flowers. I can hear laughter too. The empress mother is sitting with some ladies. We greet everyone. I have to put up my best behaviour.
"Come here my son. You seems to look so much better."
He walk over and sit beside her. The empress mother is fussing about her son. While i stand here looking at the lovely scene before me. The ladies sitting on the left and right side are keeping quiet too. One of them signal me to take a sit on last seating of the left side. Slowly i walk over and sit there quietly without a word.
"Wife of Wen'er. How is your health these days? Did the royal physician take a look at you?"
"Empress mother, she is healthy these days. She have been doing a lot of running around.This lunar new year, have certainly bring her a lot of luck and energy."
"That sounds good. Then my son, you can start to prepare and work hard for little one to come. I am dying to have a grand child. Your brother and you have been so busy with the state and away for so long. Since everything is settle, it's time for building up a family."
Thank goodness i am sitting down at this point. I think i am going to faint with her talking about having children. How am i going to avoid that?
"Empress mother. Can't i wait for at least two more years? Im still growing up. i.."
"Nonsense! I got marry at your age of fifteen! I have my first born at sixteen. The second at nineteen. How old are you now? You are eighteen! The age where you should have at least two children. Wen'er went off to war shortly after marrying you! I understand and waited for him to return to his home. After one year of his return there is still no news from your belly! How can i explain to the ancestors when i meet them after life?! I don't care! I order you both to do something within this year of the goat to deliver a child! By next Lunar new year, i want to see or hear results! If not Wen'er, i will inform your emperor father not to allow you to be away from your family anymore."
"Empress mother... i will obey." I speak with a low voice with my head looking at the floor.
"I am tired now, both of you can go back home. Before you go home, drop by the royal office of the physicians to check and record on both your health conditions. I will have them check on you both every three to six months."
After we slowly walk off. I can hear the ladies trying to calm down the empress mother. I can hear her whining that she fear her handsome son will not want to have children. While the crown prince is dying to have children but he seems like having problem. All these problems makes me feel like i am swimming in the hot pot.