Chapter 271 - 269. Who Are You?

Third-person POV

Zhang Wei hoped that his mother would just rest in peace beside the Goddess of Light. Yet, it didn't mean that he hated his own mother for not being with him. After trying his hardest to find out the reason for his mother's disappearance, he realized how much suffering his mother went through just to protect the two precious little lives.

Without even people telling him, he could see how much his mother loves her children. When they were still little, he and Rong Ai would always play in Hong er's chamber and rummage around the stuff in the chamber.

One by one, they found the clothes that their mother personally made for them. The clothes made with much consideration, the size range of the clothes also varies. From baby clothes to toddler clothes. Although the embroidery wasn't the best, it was carefully sewn with much thought and love.

Every picture that was sewn on the hem of the sleeves had meaningful wishes behind it which was very touching if one truly looked into the meaning. Zhang Wei also noticed when he played inside Xue Lang's bedroom, there was this special wardrobe that was made with exceptional material and protected with a magic barrier.

Xue Lang saw the curiosity in Zhang Wei's eyes and gleefully showed him the content inside of the wardrobe. Zhang Wei expected a legendary sword or an ancient magic scroll but turns out just to be old clothes that didn't fit the current size of the a.d.u.l.t Xue Lang.

"Imperial Mother made this for me and she also made some for you two maybe the size won't fit you anymore. But make sure to treasure it because Imperial Mother worked very hard in making it." Xue Lang caressed Zhang Wei's hair and smiled gently.

Zhang Wei obediently listened to his brother's words and kept the clothes nice and clean after it couldn't fit into his body anymore. Knowing this fact from the stewards that were taking care of Zhang Wei, Weisheng couldn't be more happier to know that the kids love their mother no matter what the circ.u.mstances they were in. Nevertheless, this fact made the guilt inside him to grow.

Even the guileless kids could feel the loneliness and the regret inside Weisheng's heart. Every night, one could hear the Guqin's sound resonated throughout the palace. Sometimes it would be accompanied with a deep hum sound. The sad tone in each pluck could make one shed tears.

This song was well-known in the Inner Palace because during the time where the Empress was still in the Palace, she would sing it with a bright smile on her lips.

The maids and guards that served the Empress before couldn't help but lower their heads in regret. The regret of not being able to protect the Empress from the intruders and causing a deep wound in the Emperor's iron heart. They would stay awake through the night, accompanying their lonely Emperor to pass through the long night.

The song that was supposed to be joyful turned into a heart-rending melody. One night, Zhang Wei decided to sneak out to see the person who played this beautiful yet sad melody in the middle of the night.

He knocked out the guards that were trying to bring him back to his room by taking advantage of the fact that the guards couldn't put their hands on Zhang Wei. Without forgetting to take his other twin with him, they followed the Guqin sound and stopped in front of the entrance of Empress's favorite garden.

They carefully approached the Guqin sound whilst hiding behind the plants as the Guqin sound was very near. Their bodies instantly halted at the sight of their father at the Floating Lotus Pavillion playing the delicate Guqing in front of him with bottles of wine lying around him.

Zhang Wei and Rong Ai were too confounded by their father that it took them a few moments later to notice the white coat that lain on their father's lap. As soon as they saw the Phoenix crest on the coat, they recognized it right away. It was their mother's imperial coat.

The fingers that were pickling the Guqin's string stopped, Weisheng retracted his hand and softly caressed the white coat on his lap.

"I'm sorry, for being too weak…" Weisheng mumbled as his eyes turned glassy.

Zhang Wei and Rong Ai flinched when they saw tears fell down from their father's eyes onto the white coat. Their father who never showed his emotion in front of anyone was crying while hugging the old white coat.

"What should I do?... Hong er ah…please tell me…what am I supposed to do? I searched everywhere but you aren't there…" the powerful voice that usually used to command millions of soldiers was trembling with emotion.

The sight of their father without his armor and a sword in his hands made them realize that he wasn't always as strong as he looks like. Their father is also a human that can feel pain. Tears filled their eyes as it was truly heart-breaking to see their father broke down in tears.

"Hong er ah, our children inherited your personality. They are so mature even at such a young age. They never blame me for not being their side all the time. I am very blessed to have such wonderful children, thank you for giving birth to them. I may not be the best father for them, but I will protect them with my life." Weisheng said as he looked up to the moon.

Ever since that day, Zhang Wei and Rong Ai became closer to Weisheng which confused him for a while. Nevertheless, his children were showering him with love and care, of course he wouldn't question them. Even if it was fake, he would still love his children no matter what.

While Zhang Wei was reminiscing this beautiful moment in his dream, his body suddenly was pulled by a certain force and brought him back to reality.

His brows twitched as he groaned painfully. His whole body was aching like crazy but he forced his hand to take off the warm cloth that was covering his eyes. Then he felt a rough yet slender hand grabbed him by his wrist and gently pulled his hand back.

Zhang Wei flinched when there was a hand suddenly grabbed him as he didn't sense any presence since he woke up. He wanted to shove the hand away from him because he was still unsure that the person in front of him was an enemy or an ally. However, after pondering for a while, he threw his thought into the back of his head and relaxed his body.

'If this person wants to kill me, I am already dead by now.' Zhang Wei muttered in his head.

"Who are you?" Zhang Wei forced out a question from his sore throat.

But the stranger seemed to not respond to his question which made him frown even more.

"I ask you once again, who are you, and what is your intention?" Zhang Wei twisted his hand to free his hand from the stranger's hold.

Sensing the patient was struggling, the stranger flipped Zhang Wei's hand and started to write on his palm with her finger, "Hi, I can't hear and can't see. So please write down what you want to say on my palm or my back."

Zhang Wei frowned deeply, 'This person is deaf and blind. His world must be very empty.'

(A/N: Zhang Wei assumed that this stranger is a man because of the rough hand.)

Zhang Wei tapped the stranger's hand and the stranger offered her hand to Zhang Wei.

"Where am I?' Zhang Wei wrote.

"In my secret cave," the stranger wrote back.

"Who are you?" Zhang Wei wrote down another question.

"I am just a humble widow that happens to know some herbs. You can call me whatever you want. People usually call me Hong." Hong er gave Zhang Wei a detailed answer to his question as she could hear the suspicion under his calm tone.

(A/N: FYI, Hong er only wrote "Hong" which means red. And "Hong" in her name means goose. I didn't write "er" behind the "Hong" because it is only added based on one's relationship to the other. Example: "Xiao Hong = Little Hong")

"Hong…?" Zhang Wei mumbled her name almost in a whisper.

"Hong er!" A blaring voice resounded through the cave, causing the air in the cave to tremble.