After that long talk with Tang Li, i never see her again only after two weeks later. Meanwhile Liu Xue An come to visit again. He said he is in the capital for awhile before he goes off to another province. Somehow he and i have lot of things to talk about. Little peach enjoy his company too. Sometimes we take walks in the market. In others peoples gaze, we look like a family. Reality, we are all strangers that put together in a picture of happiness.
On the tenth day of his visit, he is thrown out of the mansion. Dingbat had ordered that no outsiders is allow in the mansion. I try to reason with him and of course he can't hear anything what i said. "You are never going to step out of this mansion every again! Not without me! That Liu guy is the brother of the royal concubine Liu! She is the one who caused all the problems we had! Did you forget how much you suffer for that miscarriage?! Our baby could be born right now and running around!"
"He is not his sister! She is already send away for punishment. How can you push this to Mr Liu?! He done nothing to me except being kind!"
"I don't like him being around you! Acting like a family with you and peach girl! I don't like it!"
Just then Tang Li walk in with a warm tea pot. She place it down on the table. "Don't be angry. You are yelling too loud outside. Everyone can hear that the jar of vinegar had spilt."
"No! what vinegar! Anyway you just stay at home. Don't go anywhere!" After that he started to throw his books everywhere. In my anger i walk out of the room. I can hear Tang Li yelling at him to stop. This is getting too much for me. I am not a bird in the cage. How long more can i be cage for?
Two days later Tang Li come to my bedroom. She stands around with her hands at her back. Today she is dress in her man's outfit again. I walk in and look at her then close the door. We sit down quietly and i pour tea. "What is it?"
"I have talk to Mr Liu about you." I am taken back at what she say. My hands are trembling about. I fear what she is going to say might make me uncontrollably happy. "I ask him if he is able to take you away. Maybe little peach as well. He agree. However, i need to stage both of you and little peach's death. Once this is done, you and little peach will never return here. Xian Wen will be mine alone. Will you agree to this?" I nod my head. She swill the tea in her cup. "Did you know..."She pause for a long time."He beat me up the other night. All because I told him to let you go. He slap me hard." She smirk "For you, that man go crazy and he ... beat me hard. Harder than the training we had in camp. He wrestle me to the ground. I will never forget the book on his face. He detest me! All for you! I should be the one he loved but instead he fall in love with you even when you are a sick child!" She stands up suddenly. "You and little peach have to go soon. I will arrange everything. I hope this is the last time i am going to speak to you. Please believe me when i say i don't really hate you. I just hate that he ... loves you more than anything. With you gone, maybe his love for you will fall on me. With you gone, i might be a mother soon. Good bye, Su Shung Yu."
For the next three weeks, everything is as per normal. Eventually i send Granny Li back to the Su mansion. Explaining that she is older and it is best for her to be near my mother. Granny Li know something is wrong but she did not say anything. She left in the carriage with sorrow in her eyes. I can't explain much to her but maybe later when everything is settle down i will let her know. For now going away from here is the best option for her. Little peach is crying so hard as granny Li 's carriage goes off. Another week gone by, suddenly Tang Li arranged for the family to go on a trip to a villa, which her family owns. It is in the mountains. Everyone in the mansion is excited. Dingbat maintain his pokerface and allow this outdoor trip. There are five carriages in total for this event. Tang Li quietly left a note for me under my pillow. "This trip take the carriage with the jade pendant hanging on the doorway. There will be bandits coming up. They will try to kill everyone. Take peach run to the north. There will be an old lady waiting with a donkey in the inn. She will guide you to the caravan which Mr Liu is in. They will take you to the desert. It will be very far away from here. He will not find you."
The day the trip to the villa everything is arranged. Indeed there is a carriage with jade pendant. I enter as per the note says. Little peach is excited on the journey. She keep looking out and pointing to everything she sees. After awhile she got tired and sleep in my arms. After a long time suddenly there are screaming and metals knocking sound. Quick on my feet i get off the carriage with peach still asleep. Like the note says keep north. I keep running in north. occasionally i turn to my back to look if anyone is following me, there is none. Little peach wakes up after awhile. She is curious about the tall grass she is seeing. She laughs and point at everything. "Mother mother" I carry her as long as i can to get to the inn as per note says. I told her to be as quiet as she can. "Why" I look at her "cause we are playing a game of hide and seek. You don't want to loose isn't it?" She nod and place her little finger on her lips. Quietly like a mouse i try to move along the grass. Hungry for me is not an option to stop moving. While she is hungry i have to feed her.
The sky is getting dark. The soft roaring of the thunder makes me worry if i can reach the inn soon. I can walk in the rain but not my little peach. I cannot allow her to be sick.