Peach is practising her sword dance at the garden in the Su mansion. Under the hot sun, she is still swinging her sword. Her long pony tail swings behind her as she moves around. The birds on the tree watch her movement and occasionally they sing. The maids nearby who are cleaning, sometimes they stop and watch her. "Should we remind her of the time now?"
"No better leave her. The butler will do that. Let's keep cleaning." In a few minutes, the old butler Zheng come walking over in a hurry. He bow at little peach
"Miss, the mistress is awake and looking for you. "
Peach stop her sword movements and the sweat beats roll down her face. She wipe it off with her sleeves and put the sword back to the sword holder. The butler look at her, in every sense, she is an imagine of her father. Like Xuan Wen, she accept no nonsense and discipline herself on daily routine.
She walk in the room of grandmother Su. Both of them light up and smile.
"Grandma!" She run to grandmother Su and hold her hand.
"Practise your sword dance, again?'
"Yes. I want to do it perfectly. Also i can exercise too. I have to stay healthy. How are you feeling today?"
"I am feeling good today. Did your mother send any letter today?"
"No grandmother. I think she is busy with her children. " Peach look cast down and look at her hands. Consort Su knows that Peach is upset that her mother after giving birth, the letters and communications are less. She pat the young hands gently and smile.
"Living in the palace is not easy. She doesn't have much a choice."
"Yes, i know. Born or married into the royal family, there are rules to follow. Tradition to keep...: She pause "But grandma, she is forced to move in the palace. If father isn't dead, we will all still be living in the Prince mansion."
"Yes, if Prince Xuan Wen is alive, everything is different. You could have know your brave father. He will be the one who teaches you how to use the weapons at hand. Maybe you will be his heir for the army he had built up. But all these are destiny. Something that all men cannot be control."
"If there isn't any war, father won't not be going there. Why are there wars to win? Why can't all men live with each other in peace?!"
"Since ancient times, men have been fighting for the lands. Why? Because of the normal citizens who needs to eat and live. Without the lands, there isn't much food for everyone. So your father had to lead the army to secure the lands that we need. So that no one can get hungry." Consort Su comfort little peach and gently pat her hands. Peach lean on her grandmother. Just then the butler comes in to inform that the physician is here to check on consort Su. Peach wipe her face and stand up. She help the maids to put out the curtains for the bed. She bow to Duke Su and the physician who walk into the room.
"Grandfather." Duke Su nod his head. They stand together and watch the physician takes the pulse of the consort. Behind the curtain, she stare at the beam of the bed frame. She knows very well that she is going to die soon however she must look healthy for her family so that they can be happy on the surface.
The Su family never tells Su Shung Yun, who is in the palace of her condition. Even when the real Su Shung Yu who was dying, they never tell her sister. Quietly they accompany her till her final days. When she passed away, according to traditional, they are not allow to send her off to the afterlife. Both of them entrust their butler to arrange the quiet funeral and buried in the family land. While they remain in the temple for prayers.
The physician after checking the consort, medicine is prescribe for her. On the way out, the crown prince appear. The butler and physician bow to him.
"How is my grandmother?"
"In respond to your highness, her health is still fine. She cannot hear anything bad news. She have to eat light and non greasy food. If she manage it well enough, she can live long."
"I see. I will remind the cook to make less greasy food. "
The physician bow again to the crown prince and the butler. He then proceed out. The crown prince and his eunuch walk in towards the bedroom of the consort. He enters in quietly and bow to Duke Su.
"Grandfather."
"Your highness, you are here."
Duke Su and Xuan Long smile and walk towards the bed. Peach is sitting with consort. She sees her brother she gets up and bow.
"Grandmother. Tao jie jie." He affectionaly call her big sister as always.
"Your highness."
"Ah my little dragon is here. Long'er come here."
He walk up and sit beside her. She look at his face as if she haven't seen him for a long time. He smile broadly.
"Grandmother, i just seen you the other day. Why do you look at me like you haven't seen me for a long time."
"Every time i see you, your face change so much. Strange why..." She look at her husband and back to her grandson. "You look like your uncle. Almost identical." The crown prince laugh.
"Grandmother, people have a saying that nephews will look like their uncles and nieces looks like their aunties. I guess i am a living example of that saying! I don't mind it cause my uncle is a good man, a legend in the army! So, i am proud to have his looks and hope that i have his bravery." He smile broadly and hold the hands of his grandmother tightly. She smile and nod her head. Duke Su sweep his long beard and nod his head with approval on the saying. Peach have her hands behind her and sigh. Even though they are not completely related, they share the same mother. When she is younger, she used to be jealous of him for seeing mother everyday. While she only get to see her once a month or important festivals.