Mais stomach tightened with what Qin Junjie had said. "The worse that has ever happened" Mai thought to herself in terror, "wasn"t he almost a.s.sa.s.sinated how could it possibly be worse than that."Mai walked towards the chair that her father had calmly been waiting on and almost fell on it. She sat there hoping with everything that she could see Han Bing right not to a.s.sure her that he was still alive.
"Zumi, I will return tomorrow so that he wont know where you went okay. Please stay safe" Qin Junjie looked at her with all the fatherly love that he had.
Mai just nodded her head not taking into account anything that the man had actually said.
Qin Junjie walked himself out the door looking extremely upset as if he did not get what he wanted and started shouted. They had both known that it was a act to cover up what had been discovered in the room.
Mai had stayed in the same position for over a hour thinking about Han Bings kind eyes when he looked at her and how much pain he must be in.
"Mistress?" Zhi Yan squeaked out as she had been in the room the whole time. "Are .. are you really going to leave?" She looked at her with sad eyes.
"What?" Mai thought to herself "how would I possibly leave."
Mai gave Zhi Yan a questioning glance.
"You agreed to leave with him tomorrow" Zhi Yan said with a little hope shining though her eyes. "He always returns don"t worry."
"But … he said that it was the worst one as of yet" Mai said with tears pouring out of her eyes as she finally said what had been eating her up alive.
Zhi Yan looked at Mai and wiped away her tears while saying "You must be strong for him Mai, just wait a little longer." Taking her hand in hers "lets go back to the courtyard there are to many ears here" Zhi Yan whispered.
Mai who couldn"t say anything as her throat had constricted from crying, gave a light nod.
Getting up Zhi Yan eft Mai in her room telling her that she was going to try to get some information from the palace.
Mai laid on the bed in a sleepless night hoping that tomorrow he would return.
___
The next morning at sunrise as light knock was sounded at her door. Mai couldn"t remember falling asleep only tossing and turning but apparently she must have because opening her eyes was so challenging.
"Zumi, please open the door" a light male voice was heard on the other side of the door.
Mai had let her father in as she looked him up and down.
"Father I know that you want me to leave, but I cant" Mai said quietly.
"Why Zumi, he is not keeping you here against his will is he? I will Kill him" Qin Junjie said with silent rage.
"No father, that is not why" Mai replied.
"Than why Zumi, your not safe!" Qin Junjie said in desperation wanting to get his daughter to see.
"I … I love him" Mai said as she looked up at him. "Being with him may bring me pain in the future. However attempting to live without him would cause so much more."
Qin Junjie looked at his daughter. She had grown from the young child that he remembered into this beautiful caring young woman.
"You know that your union will always be denied" Qin Junjie said.
"Yes" Mai said as she shook her head up and down.
"Zumi, thought I cant agree with your decision, I am not going to force you." Qin Junjie said "I hope that in the future when you need help you will call on me. You will need help, the Emperor is growing more twisted in his pleasures. Please promise me that you will come to me." He said while starring at her.
"Mm" Mai once again nodded her head grateful that the man wasn"t going to force the issue.
"Ohh Zumi" Qin Junjie said while wrapping his arms around her, hugging her close.
________
Han Bing had just survived h.e.l.l, he didn"t want to remember any part of it. All he could think of was going to Mai. Seeing her before anything else could happen. As long as he had her than everything would be okay. As long as she had faith in him than he would do anything for her.
Zheng Li was beside him as always when he returned. His friend had stared at him in horror when he saw the condition that he was in. Han Bing hadn"t been able to see his reflection but knew that his body was now covered in scars that no amount of ointment would take away. The smell of singed hair before the hot iron had burned his skin was something that Han Bing wish he could forget. The scars would forever be a constant reminder of what had happened in that dungeon cell.
Han Bing closed his eyes as he tried to comfort his friend "it wasn"t that bad" he said.
Zheng Li scuffed at him but didn"t push for anything.
They both slowly walked towards Mais courtyard knowing that it would be the only comfort for Han Bing. It took them a rather long time before they had arrived at her room.
Zheng Li told him to wait a moment so he could locate exactly where she was.
Han Bing nodded and looked around the courtyard that had become such a powerfully existence in his mind that he pictured it with her whenever the pain was to much.
Han Bing walked directly towards Mai"s room knowing that she was not a morning person and would probably still be sleeping.
He walked in silently hoping to not wake her. He just wanted to graze on her beauty to fully remember that he was home again.
He stood there in shock as he saw Mai in the embrace of another man. Not just any man at that one of the youngest advisors to the Emperor.
Zheng Li walked in behind him not understanding why he was motionless until he also saw the display in front of him. Pure rage ran through his eyes as he eyed them down, he had told her that he would end her if she was playing a game.
Han Bing let a single tear drip down his face as he falls to his knees. The dungeon had felt like nothing compared to this.