12 Holding Back

Everyone in the Yun residence dared not make a sound; fearing that a mere breath would call for their death.

"My obligations called me away for but a short while. In that time, my daughter—my daughter who has only recently recovered from near death— has gone missing?" Shards of ceramic littered the floor of the manor. The guards tasked to look after the Young Miss had their foreheads pressed against the floor; the maid meant to take care of her could only quietly sob next to them.

Even if she told the madame that the Young Miss' absence was of her own violation, she would not live through the punishment.

Yun Yong hadn't inherited his merciless gaze from the general.

Amidst pieces of broken glass, Shen Huiqing stood. Not a hair was out of place, nor her makeup anything less than flawless. Her violet robes remained impeccable in the disarray. The glint in her eyes was deadly; enough to bring men to fall to their knees for repentance.

There was no question as to why the emperor had once wanted to take her as a wife.

Yun Wei sighed, approaching his wife in the way one would approach a wary animal. "Dear," He held on to her wrists. He thought it would have been alright for her to vent out her anger for a while, but the sight of the tremble in her hands tugged at his heart.

"I've already dispatched all of the household's guards. We will find her." He hugged her close to his chest; the rest of the servants looking away from the intimate scene.

"Not enough. The army?" Shen Huiqing didn't fall into her husband's embrace. She tightly gripped his hand; squeezing her fears out. There was no note, no sign, of where her daughter could have been.

The general nodded. "I've sent word to camp. They should be in the midst of dispatching."

"Good."

Both husband and wife did not care if the people would be unsettled because of the search. That factor was irrelevant to them. Yun Da Xia was the pearl of the Yun household. Every stone must be overturned if it meant that this daughter would be safe and sound.

Blood would be shed if anything happened to her.

"General! Madame!" Sets of pounding feet echoed from beyond the room's walls. Voices called out; men bursting through the doorway. Each one with large eyes and half-crazed grins. "We've found the Young Miss! She's with the Young Master."

With only a brief pause at the news, Shen Huiqing escaped from Yun Wei's grasp. Her heart ran at a pace faster than her legs. Guards and servants moved out of her way; giving her a clear path to see the silhouette of a young man and woman walking side by side.

Without slowing a bit, she wrapped her arms around the female; bringing her head close to her chest. "Oh, Xia'er." Shen Huiqing mumbled, squeezing the young girl before holding her at an arm's length. Silver lined her lashes. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Yun Da Xia felt a strange tickling in her chest.

She reminded herself that those affections weren't really for her.

"What happened? Why were you gone?" Instead of the frightening sharpness in her eyes from before, Shen Huiqing's eyes had a pitiful shine to them.

Seeing the state of disorder in the residence, Yun Da Xia couldn't look at the guards and servants she had inadvertently troubled with her disappearance. She could excuse her actions would have been alright if only she would bear the brunt of the blame, but she had been sloppy this time. How severe would the punishments of those who failed to keep her be?

She parted her lips, ready to explain and take responsibility.

"It's my fault, mother."

Before a syllable could leave her lips, Yun Yong spoke up from beside her. She turned to look at him; a furrow forming between her brows. His eyes flashed a warning towards her before he moved to kneel. Shen Huiqing moved to stop him, but he avoided her hand.

"I brought mei mei out in an attempt to jog her memory, but I didn't inform anyone about it. I'm sorry I caused so much distress." Although his face couldn't be seen, the set of his shoulders showed his remorse. Yun Da Xia bit her lip in an attempt to avoid countering his statement.

A gruff voice came from behind, "Are you serious, Yong'er?" General Yun looked down at his son; lines forming on his forehead. His face was stony; not a hint of a father's softness remained. "Yes." The boy pressed his head closer to the floor.

Yun Da Xia looked at the man; her chest feeling constricted. He lied for her, despite her suspicious nature in the alleyway. She couldn't see what advantage he would get by taking the blame for her.

Yun Wei growled, slapping a hand against the wall. "Where have we failed in raising you? Do you not know how to consider how your actions affect others? How can you be lead your men if you cannot handle such a single thing properly?"

Yun Yong remained silent, continuing to bow.

"You'll reflect in the ancestral hall without an evening meal for seven days." The general's hard voice descended on their ears.

With wide eyes, Yun Da Xia's expression morphed into one of injustice. She spoke up, "Father, wait—"

"Yes, sir." Yun Yong interrupted her.

"Mother!" She turned to Shen Huiqing and clasped her hand around the other's wrist; hoping to get Yun Yong some leniency. At contact, she paused; confusion coloring the young girl's face. Her mouth opened as if she was going to say something, but she closed it again.

What happened?

In that period of silence, Yun Wei continued. "Go now." He commanded his son, ignoring his daughter's protests. He turned to her, eyes blazing. "Don't follow your brother's example." He shook his head, muttering under his breath. Barking at the guards and servants to disperse; he left out the doors.

Although Yun Da Xia was a little shaken, she let go of Shen Huiqing. She held out a hand for Yun Yong to take, and he took it without placing any of his weight on her. Worry and guilt ate at her conscience. "Are you alright?"

Yun Yong shrugged, the usual cold look on his face returning. "I'll be off to the hall, then." His deep voice carried the words.

The girl was torn, looking between the mother and son pair. Her medical instincts sided with the one who would need more care at present, so she turned to Shen Huiqing. "Mother, may I accompany brother on his way to the ancestral hall?"

More composed than a few moments ago, her mother smiled. "Of course. It's just..." A shy and heart-rending expression appeared on her face. "Mother will just visit you before you go to sleep, alright?"

Again, Yun Da Xia had to remind herself of the reality of her situation.

She nodded and tried to smile, turning to Yun Yong.

She had no idea where to go, so she followed him down cobblestone paths. The sun had already been engulfed by darkness. Servants carried flickering flames in handheld lamps to light the way. Every so often, a buzz or croak could be heard in the night. Cold brushed past her cheek, as she thought of a way to talk to Yun Yong about prior events.

Her heart remained uneasy; apprehension clouding her mind.

"Say what you need to say." Her brother's deep voice broke through the night. She pursed her lips before sighing. "Thank you for taking the blame awhile ago, but I'd have rathered you didn't."

Yun Yong stayed silent; his only response was the light taps of his feet against the path. She bit the inside of her cheek at the lack of response. "Do you still feel any difficulty in moving any of your limbs?" A haphazardly cut piece of cloth was wound around his hand; the sleeve of his robe hid it from their parents. It was the hand she had sliced with her dagger.

The man paused. She held her breath. "It's fine, don't worry about it." He kept walking.

Yun Da Xia decided to stop talking.

There was nothing comfortable about the silence the two shared. Eventually, they stopped in front of the ancestral hall. A faint outline of the structure could be seen under the glow of the moonlight.

Lost about how to handle the awkward air, Yun Da Xia cleared her throat. "I'll be returning to my quarters now then." She bowed towards her brother, "I'm sorry for everything again." An indescribable emotion filled her chest. She thought of Shen Huiqing's unabashed affection, Yun Wei's heartfelt concern, and Yun Yong's unrelenting aura of support.

She touched the ring she had returned to her finger. How wonderful it was, to have a whole family.

Before she could pivot and leave, Yun Yong called out. "Sister." His gaze did not rest on her. She could not put her gaze on him. A hum was her only response.

A moment passed between the two.

"Be more careful." He warned, before disappearing into the building.

When the door was fully shut, and the outside could no longer see anything within; Yun Yong sighed. Wax and incense lined the area around his ancestor's plaques. A few candles had been lit by servant's who had gone before him. The shape of the flames flickered across the walls and floor.

"Come out." He turned to a shadowed corner, running a hand down his face.

A male figure stepped out from the dark; his wide grin highlighted by the vermilion of the candlelight. His chuckle filled the room, "Well, today was an interesting day."