I AlwaYs havE AnD I AlwayS WiLL --PART-2-TimE & AgaiN" Ongoing.

CHAPTER 11 "Wei Ying's NeW LifE..."

Chapter 11

Wei Ying's NeW Life ......

Penong Palace , 1858:

 

"But father, what is the need?" began Princess Qing again. 

She and Wei Ying , having finished breakfast, had been called to the king's chambers, where Lady Qing was told that she would now have private lessons "as befitting a princess of rank".

Wei Ying did not understand it fully, but managed to comprehend that he would not be accompanying Lady Qing to those lessons.

As Lady Qing stood stubbornly, objecting to it, the King lost his temper.

"There is every need, Princess," said the King. "It has been decided: You will learn everything that a princess ought, and in which you lack, given your extensive stay overseas. It has been a month since you have returned, and I believe it is time enough. An hour from now, you will be going to our Hall for your formal training. No more arguments." He signalled his dismissal.

The Princess looked at Wei Ying sadly as she went an hour later. "

Wei Ying wandered around the palace, bored and lonely. He had no idea when Lady Qing would return.Trying to be cheerful, he decided to take a walk in the gardens.

"What are you doing here?" came a voice behind Wei Ying. 

He whirled around : Haikuan was passing by, carrying a bundle of straw. Wei Ying felt himself smile: he found himself walking up to him, telling him all that had happened since morning.

"I see," Haikuan nodded , once Wuxian had finished. "Why don't you come over to the stables, we can talk there."

Hence Wuxian followed him to the stables. Haikuan dumped the straw and turned to him. "Let's go out."As they walked out, Haikuan put his head back in and called out, "Are you coming, or not?"

As Wei Ying sat down on a tree stump,and Haikuan sat on a log, and a few minutes later, YanZhang ( Lan Zhan) followed them out. 

Wei Ying was startled: he had not noticed him in the darkness.

"Greetings, Wuxian," he said, bowing slightly. "I see the Princess has not accompanied you?"

"No," Haikuan answered for Wuxian . "Because the king has started Lady Qing's lessons again."

"Again?" questioned Wei Ying a little confused..

Both men turned to face Wuxian. 

"Lady Qing used to have those lessons with us when we were children," said Haikuan. "I suppose the King wants her to revise them. Probably thinks she's getting soft after her years abroad," he said, and he and YanZhang both smirked at each other. 

Wei Ying looked from one to the other in confusion. "Lady Qing was a born warrior, Wuxian,  " said Haikuan, grinning. "She could beat me in archery, and only YanZhang can and had always bested her."

Wei Ying turned to stare at him. "You what?"

"Yes," Haikuan nodded , now openly smirking. "Quiet little YanZhang here always beats Lady Qing in archery. Of course, in swordplay, it's a much more even contest between the three of us. We only always duelled each other, because the others would never be able to match more than a few strokes with us."

Wei Ying felt aggrieved not knowing why, he looked from YanZhang to Haikuan . "So…all three of you are accomplished fighters," he said in a small voice. 

Haikuan smiled slightly. "You want to learn too, right?"

"I can't," Wei Ying uttered in a small voice.