Chapter 792: Love, Commitment and Faith
w.a.n.g Hao arrived at his residence. The words of Sheng Li were still in his head. As the first General, it was his duty to keep a check on every activity. However, he failed to find the plot that Empress Dowager conspired against the Emperor.
After he freshened up and took a warm bath, he decided to meet his father, w.a.n.g f.u.xing. Conversing with his father was the best way to bring his uneven thoughts to one place.
Upon entering, he bowed before his father and then took a seat in front of him.
"Huo Jin informed me about what happened in the palace. Is the Emperor well and what about the Empress? The Fourth Prince must be disheartened to see all such acts of his mother," said w.a.n.g f.u.xing.
w.a.n.g Hao nodded. "Both the Emperor and the Empress are well. Indeed, Prince Nianzu is most hurt by the acts of his mother. No one expected that Empress Dowager would kill herself in the Imperial Court," he said with several lines of frowns on his forehead.
w.a.n.g f.u.xing noticed the troubled expressions on his son"s face and asked the reason for it.
"Father, I failed as a General. Empress Dowager plotted against both the Emperor and the Empress. However, I failed to see that, find that," w.a.n.g Hao briefed his father. He was not upset that Sheng Li scolded him. Sheng Li had full rights to do so. Nonetheless, he was angry at himself.
"Because w.a.n.g Hao thought that the royal family had no such person, who would scheme against them," w.a.n.g f.u.xing deduced.
"Remember, the enemy always stays close to you. When you knew that Empress Dowager wasn"t what she portrayed to everyone, you should not have ever averted your attention from her. A human learns from the mistakes he made. Hopefully, my son has received his lesson."
His words were like enlightenment to w.a.n.g Hao. He felt better than before and he thanked his father for listening to him.
"Anytime, my child!" w.a.n.g f.u.xing smiled and looked towards the window. The rain had stopped a few minutes ago. However, the weather was still unpleasant.
"What is Father looking at?" w.a.n.g Hao asked in amus.e.m.e.nt.
"I am wondering when the first snow will fall." He turned to look at w.a.n.g Hao. "I met your mother during the first snowfall in Mongolian Highlands. She was taking woods to her home. Those days were so lovely. With the first snowfall, my first memory with your mother becomes more lively than ever." He smiled upon recalling his old days with his wife. &
nbsp;
w.a.n.g Hao smiled as he recalled his father used to tell him about it every winter. For the last four years, w.a.n.g Hao wasn"t home, so he didn"t get to hear it.
"Father spent his years in aloofness. When I see other men of his age, I feel how strong his love for my mother is! Father never decided to bring a second wife," he remarked.
"Your mother married me on one condition: I would never look at another woman. n.o.bles are supposed to have more than one wife, but for me, only she was the one. No one can take her place in my heart. That"s the beauty of love, commitment, and faith in marriage, w.a.n.g Hao. Moreover, your mother waited for me for two years to return from the war before our marriage. Such the love she carried for me. Remember these three things for a successful marriage. I see myself in you. I am glad that you turned into the man your mother and I desired!" w.a.n.g f.u.xing said and his eyes turned misty.
w.a.n.g Hao smiled. "My father has always been my ideal. I am glad that he sees him in me," he stated when a cold gust of wind hit them. He stood up and went towards the window to close it. "Father will catch a cold if this window remains open." He closed it and returned to his seat.
"I heard from Huo Jin about his confession to Yin Na. You must have known too," w.a.n.g f.u.xing said.
"Yes, Father. We got so busy with palace matters that we were unable to inform you," he affirmed.
"Let"s see when they both should marry. It"s wintertime. I wonder if I shall tell them to marry in the early springtime," w.a.n.g f.u.xing stated.
"Why doesn"t Father ask their opinions on it? Huo Jin seems patient. However, Yin Na is too excited to become Huo Jin"s wife. It has been days since I last talked to her," w.a.n.g Hao opined.
"Hmm." w.a.n.g f.u.xing caressed his beard. "I will talk to them in the morning," he a.s.serted. "But since it"s the wintertime, organizing a wedding will not be a good idea," he reasoned.
"Father is right. However, if the two seemed desperate enough, then Father would have no choice."
"I will see what to do," w.a.n.g f.u.xing stated. They talked for an hour and w.a.n.g Hao bid his warm good night to his father.
The servant outside the chamber was trembling because of the cold wind. "You may leave for your room. Don"t stay outside for too long," he told her, who bowed and walked away. He pushed the door in and found Bai Yaling on the bed. Sleeping. She might have waited for him, but he was busy.
w.a.n.g Hao removed his shoes and walked to the bed. He covered Bai Yaling from the quilt which had slipped away from her body in her sleep. He bent down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "I am trying to give my time to both of you," he said while caressing her hair.
Standing straight, he walked out to have his dinner in the other room. After taking his meals, he came back to the main bedroom and quietly moved beside Bai Yaling into the bed.
His eyes were fixed on the wooden ceiling. He tilted his head when Bai Yaling snuggled with him. w.a.n.g Hao turned to her and drew her close.
His fingers moved into her hair, and he stroked them.