Scarlet Dandelions

by Fynn Chen

  “Wanwan, w-what happened to your forehead! W-Why is there blood?” Prince Zhongtai exclaimed.

  Seconds later, Prince Zhongxiu had bolted to summon for an imperial physician without waiting for Wanwan to respond and she groaned in great annoyance.

  Prince Zhongxiu returned within a few minutes, huffing and panting as he said.

  “I-I caught wind that the imperial physician is with Yexuan. We could go there right now. It is very near anyway. Let’s go!”

  Wanwan had not even had the time to protest before Prince Zhongxiu had grabbed her wrist whilst Prince Zhongtai had pushed her back as they ran towards Princess Yexuan’s quarters.

  Unlike their usual subtle prodding, the two princes had made quite a commotion when they had reached.

  “E-Emergency,” Prince Zhongtai said breathlessly when they had bumped into one of the palace maids exiting from Princess Yexuan’s quarters. “Princess Wanwan is injured and is bleeding profusely. The imperial physician needs to see her before she bleeds to death. Immediately.”

  Wanwan rolled her eyes at Prince Zhongtai’s exaggeration but the surprised look on the palace maid had amused her slightly. The palace maid immediately bent down to examine her. Nodding, the maid then brought the trio to Princess Yexuan’s quarters, asking for permission to enter. She went in alone and must have done some explanation because she later came out swiftly and beckoned them to follow her in.

  Princess Yexuan, anticipating their audience had met them by the door to her bedroom. An extreme look of concern was etched into her face. Wanwan pouted, she did not like that look, Wanwan did not need people worrying over her, especially not a foreign princess whom she barely knew.

  “Come in and lay on the bed. Brothers, please remain outside while the physician patches her up,” Yexuan told them with a voice of authority that Wanwan found a little charming.

  Wanwan had regretted letting the physician “patch” her up because according to the physician, Wanwan was injured in more than one area. After his attempts to close the bleeding wound on her forehead by asking the maid to apply pressure on it, the physician had insisted on giving Wanwan a full body examination.

  The physician had tutted and shook his head in disapproval upon seeing her numerous bruises, old and new alike when he had examined her body.

  “Will she be okay?” Princess Yexuan asked suddenly.

  “I am okay,” Wanwan replied even before the physician gave his diagnosis and the old physician shot her a look of disapproval.

  “Princess Zhenwan is fine for now but it may take some time for the cut on her forehead to stop bleeding so we will need to continue applying pressure on it until it finally does stop. It may leave a scar too. As for her other bruises… those will heal in time.”

  “Of course it will heal, all bruises heal,” Wanwan said with some annoyance in her voice.

  “Be respectful and don’t argue with our royal physician,” Princess Yexuan spoke so sternly that it surprised Wanwan.

  Wanwan felt heat spreading across her cheeks at Princess Yexuan’s rebuke and kept quiet. The physician however gave an exhausted sigh and followed up with a kindly smile.

  “But Princess Wanwan is right. Bruises will heal but they can be a nuisance, don’t you think?” the physician directed the question to Wanwan, and the little princess could not help but give a nod.

  This royal physician was nicer than she had expected and it made Wanwan felt guilty for her rudeness earlier.

  “I’m sorry,” Princess Wanwan said softly and was met with another kind smile from the physician.

  After the physician had departed from Princess Yexuan’s quarters, the princes were allowed back in the room and Princess Yexuan had taken a seat by her bed. It was odd lying in the foreign princess’s bed and not to mention how dirty and sweaty she was. Yet, Princess Yexuan had not even remarked the slightest bit about her unruly appearance.

  “How did you get injured?” Prince Zhongtai and Zhongxiu asked at the same time.

  Wanwan shrugged as she continued pressing a handkerchief to her forehead following the physician’s instructions. “No idea.”

  They both shot her sceptical looks.

  “I really have no idea. I was training on my own and I suddenly found myself bleeding,” Wanwan said easily.

  “Sounds pretty wild,” Prince Zhongtai said, and his royal brother nodded in agreement.

  Princess Yexuan looked even more troubled than before.

  “Oh right, anyway, uhm… apparently… I think news is being relayed to the Bo’er royal entourage about your injury. Someone might be coming to escort you, Princess Wanwan,” Prince Zhongxiu said in a small voice.

  Wanwan pouted her lips again. “You guys betrayed me.”

  The princes looked offended and said indignantly, “we cannot risk anything happening to the Bo’er princess, can we? If anything happens to the Great Khan’s most favourite child on our royal grounds, then war might ensue between our two countries.”

  Wanwan hated to admit that the princes were right and could only look away wilfully.

  “Right, it might also be prudent if the princes are not seen overstaying on my quarters. The Empress might not be too fond of it,” Princess Yexuan said suddenly and that caught Wanwan’s attention.

  The princes nodded in agreement and excused themselves soon after, leaving only Princess Yexuan and herself. Wanwan felt stares so strong from Princess Yexuan, it was as if Princess Yexuan’s eyes was boring into her soul.

  “What?” Wanwan asked.

  “Why did you get yourself injured?” Princess Yexuan asked in return.

  Wanwan did not bother concealing her irk in her reply, “I told you I don’t have any idea how I got the injury.”

  “I am asking why, not how,” Princess Yexuan countered sharply.

  Astounded by Princess Yexuan’s words, Wanwan could not gather any excuse. Wanwan veered her eyes away, remembering the anger she felt for her sister’s marriage arrangement, and the vivid memories of her mother, moments before her death.

  “It is none of your business,” Wanwan said crassly.

  Princess Yexuan flinched and Wanwan almost felt sorry. She was about to open her mouth to apologise when the palace maids and royal guards announced the arrival of her elder sister, Yanyan.

  Her elder sister had a pale look on her face and after ensuring that her little sister was not in grave danger, thanked Princess Yexuan profusely for her hospitality and they left together shortly after. Wanwan had not had the chance to apologise to Princess Yexuan for her crude words. Next time, she said to herself, she would apologise another time.

  Three days later, news finally came that the negotiations had come to a fruition. Yanyan and Miying’s poor moods were evidence that the marriage was set to happen a few years in future. There would be a farewell dinner for them, another grand feast, to celebrate the success of the negotiations as well as the official announcement of Princess Zhenyan’s betrothal to Prince Zhongxian. In the meantime, Wanwan had also hatched plans of her own.

  When the time for the grand feast had arrived, the moods were distinct between the Pei court and the Bo’er entourage. The Peis drank as if they were celebrating a victorious war whilst the Bo’ers were drinking to cool off whatever indignance they had suffered during the negotiations. Wanwan observed everything with such clarity that she had to remind herself to reign in her wilful temperament in order to be able to execute her plans without a hitch.

  This farewell feast was even grander than the welcome feast with the attendance of several other royal consorts, princes, and princesses. However, the hierarchy of the seating were as before, with Princess Yexuan sitting diagonally opposite of Wanwan. Wanwan reckoned that if Princess Yexuan came before the other royal consorts in the Emperor’s heart, then Princess Yexuan’s late mother must have been highly regarded by the Emperor.

  “Let’s give a toast to celebrate the betrothal of Princess Bo’er’’ji’ji’te Zhenyan’s, the first daughter of the Gr
eat Khun’in Khan, and Prince Pei Zhongxian, the seventh prince of our wise Emperor Pei Yinzhun and first born of Empress Li Jingxiu,” the prime minister announced in a heavily practiced manner.

  Bouts of congratulatory messages went about the party. Both the Emperor and the Great Khan accepted each and every one with good-natured smiles.

  As the congratulatory messages began to die down, Wanwan then seized this opportunity. “Father, will I be living in the palace with Yanyan then?” Wanwan asked aloud in a childlike manner.

  There was a moment of stunned silence all about them before the Great Khan put on a strained smile and answered.

  “Of course not, my child, you would be returning home, to the great plains.”

  Wanwan then mustered up a look of disappointment. “But I thought I was supposed to stay here to be Princess Yexuan’s companion and learn martial arts with the princes? I really like it here.”

  An audible intake of breath came from Yanyan and a strong tug on her sleeves from her elder sister followed. Wanwan had to will herself to not look in Yanyan’s direction for fear of disrupting the momentum of this play.

  A grin found its way into the Emperor’s face as he quickly replied Wanwan in an affectionate tone. “Of course, Princess Wanwan, of course. If you would like to live in this palace, I would most definitely treat you as one of my own children and you shall play with my lovely princess, Yexuan, and the princes.”

  Even the strained smile on her father’s face gradually faded. Wanwan smiled bitterly inward. It was time for her final delivery. With an imploring look, Wanwan turned to her father Khan and asked sweetly. “Father, may I live in this palace?”

  There was no turning back and Wanwan saw it in her father’s face. A face that conveyed feelings of betrayal and confusion and frustration, all melded together.

  With great difficulty, the Great Khan finally uttered the words even she had dreaded to hear. “Yes, you may live here if you wish to.”

  There was another round of laughter all about the court as they congratulated both the Emperor and Great Khan again for further solidifying their relationship. Wanwan felt tears burning in her eyes but she held them back. This was her choice. Wanwan would stay with her beloved sister and save her from the clutches of these conniving Pei people. Wanwan would never allow anyone else to hurt her family members, especially not Yanyan.

  Finally, Wanwan dared herself to look in Princess Yexuan’s direction. In her expression, she detected a mixture of confusion and uneasiness. Wanwan comforted herself in the idea that, perhaps, this Princess Yexuan, despite being almost as young as she was, would know of her intentions as well. Then, maybe, it was not such a bad choice for Wanwan to become companion with a princess as such.

  From this moment, we will be companions, Princess Yexuan.

  6 Fragile Beauty and Fierce Warrior

  Three months later, Yanyan and Wanwan had returned to the palace from the great plains. They were given separate quarters with Yanyan living closer to the Empress and Prince Zhongxian. Meanwhile, Wanwan lived a stone’s throw away from Princess Yexuan’s quarters.

  This was reasonable since Yanyan was expected to learn the ropes of becoming the future wife of a ruler whilst Wanwan was supposed to be the companion of Princess Yexuan and aid in her recovery.

  The quarter that Wanwan was gifted was excessively large and exceptionally well furnished. It was as though painstaking preparations had been made years ago in anticipation of a guest like her. Unlike Princess Yexuan and the prince’s study which featured many books of poetry and art, Wanwan’s shelves were lined with various martial arts manuals and a selection of books written in various languages of the great plains.

  In Wanwan’s courtyard stood various training dummies, heavy bags filled with sand for punching, and even beams and poles which Wanwan reckoned was used to train her balancing skills. Wanwan sighed at the extravagance of it all and wondered what the other courtly princes and princesses would think if they knew that such a hefty fortune was spent on her and her alone, a foreign princess. Or perhaps, such spending was nothing to the Peis at all. That thought made Wanwan ponder a little. Back in Bo’er, the commoner children could play with the royalties and they shared whatever equipment or instruments they had. However, here in Peis, it appeared that only the richest or people with titles, like the princes and princesses would be allowed such comforts.

  The Emperor had also lived up to his promise of hiring the best martial arts tutors for Wanwan. Wanwan had never seen such exotic fighting styles all her life. Techniques from floating lightly like a piece of fallen leaf on still water, to exerting force that could rumble the grounds, from the vigour of the Tiger fist to the gentleness of the Crane form, Wanwan was privy to learning it all. Wanwan tried to relish in the privileges that was granted to her in this palace of Pei. However, she could not help but be constantly reminded of her true intentions for staying. To fulfil her promise to herself and her sister, she would have to become a good playmate to Princess Yexuan.

  Wanwan had learnt that during the past three months, the princess’s condition had deteriorated and was nearly bedridden every day. It made Wanwan furious, she was furious because she knew that the princess had thrown her medicine away every single time and allowed her sickness to continue to fester and become prolonged. It made Wanwan furious because she did not understand why the princess was doing so. Finally, it made Wanwan furious because she had yet to apologise for her rudeness the last time the princess had helped her and might lose her chance to do so if she does not do it soon.

  Wanwan was determined to ensure that Princess Yexuan had consumed every single dosage of her medicine and later realised that it was much harder to do so than she had expected.

  The first few times Wanwan had paid a visit to Princess Yexuan’s quarters, she was turned away coldly by the princess herself. Later, Princess Yexuan had not even bothered to meet her by the door to turn her away and instead, sent her maids to relay the message. It was not until a month later, when Wanwan had threatened to relay information to the Emperor that Princess Yexuan had allowed her entry.

  Wanwan was really appalled when she saw the princess again. Princess Yexuan was deathly pale, had dark circles below her eyes, and was bone-skinny. Making her way towards the tea table with achingly slow motions and with the support of her palace maid, Wanwan felt her heart constricting a little at the thought of this princess having to live her life so miserably.

  “What do you want?” Princess Yexuan asked irritably, whilst suppressing a cough.

  Wanwan eyed the palace maid which was with them and Princess Yexuan took her signal to dismiss the maid for them to have a private conversation. Once the maid was gone, Wanwan held no reservations and spoke her mind.

  “I want you to take your medicine and stop throwing them away.”

  There was a surprised gasp from the princess and she broke out into a coughing fit. Wanwan’s brows furrowed and felt another unexplainable pinch of her heart as she continued to witness Princess Yexuan’s frailties.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Princess Yexuan retorted stubbornly when her cough had finally abated.

  A wry smile formed on Wanwan’s lips as she said, “I remember that the vase of dandelions smelled of medicine.”

  Then before Princess Yexuan could say anything, Wanwan had taken swift and sure strides towards the said vase and snatched them from the shelf. Taking another whiff from the vase, Wanwan’s brows narrowed again, and she saw Princess Yexuan’s face colour for a short moment before it faded back to her sickly shade.

  “Why do you care if I take my medicine or not?” Princess Yexuan said angrily and coughed into her silk handkerchief again.

  “That is because I need you alive to be your playmate and companion,” Wanwan said pointedly.

  There was a momentous paused from Princess Yexuan before a wintry smile spread across her face.

  “Don’t worry about it. My father Emperor will give you another playm
ate if I die. It is none of your business what I do or not do,” Princess Yexuan replied just as snidely.

  It is none of your business… Those words reminded Wanwan of a long overdue apology she owed Princess Yexuan.

  “I am sorry,” Wanwan’s sudden apology caused Princess Yexuan to furrow her brows.

  “What?” Prince Yexuan asked in a small but surprised voice.

  “I said I am sorry. I was rude to you the last time I visited to receive treatment for my wound. I remembered clearly what you asked me. You asked me why I had bruises all over myself and I told you it was none of your business. It was because I was angry, so I was unleashing all my anger while training, and that was why I got myself hurt,” Wanwan admitted and felt embarrassed. At the same time, she also felt ridiculous about the need to explain herself to this clueless courtly princess who was bent on taking her own life.

  Silence hung between them for a long while. Finally, Princess Yexuan opened her mouth to speak again.

  “I will take today’s medicine, later.”

  Wanwan then blinked as she took a whiff from the vase of dandelions again, the bitter stench clearly emanating from it.

  “That was from yesterday. I have not changed the water from the vase,” Princess Yexuan supplied.

  Wanwan nodded and screwed her mouth to a side. “How often do you change your flowers?”

  A wry smile entered Princess Yexuan’s face. “Every two or three days.”

  Wanwan nodded again. “And that is because you are too weak to get up and change them every day now isn’t it?”

  Princess Yexuan guffawed and stared into Wanwan’s eyes. “Do you want me to give you praises for your perceptiveness, smart wildling princess?”