ChungLi's view

Since Xin had been here, he had been diligently working on getting the overall view of the ancestral family properties. His sister had been walking him through step by step, and by the end of the week, he was putting in place changes that would benefit the family in the long run.

The woman who came with him was sick every day after going out with Bryce and Min's children. There were a couple of other kids there too, but I guess they were at the park already. The children talked about a WeiLi and a Yuan and how they would like to spend more time with them.

"If that is your wish, dears," Mrs. Fang said, "I will see to it."

Xin looked a bit odd after that conversation and excused himself to look after his wife. It seemed to me that any free time was taken up looking after her. I tried to visit her once, and I was chased away by the maid Weici who would not take any of my excuses at all to see her.

"Hmmph, what is she royalty? The way these guys carry on, you would think she was, but what does she have that all these people are protective of her?" I wondered for a little while, but my thoughts were soon turned again by Mrs. Fang.

"Would it be better for you if she was dead?" I asked.

"Of course," Mrs. Fang said, smiling at me and touching my arm affectionately, "You know it would be. Let us work together. Anyway, I heard Xin was in the bath. Shall we go surprise him?"

I nodded. I knew exactly what she wanted me to do. We were to bathe him together, and then she would leave with some excuse. What we were not prepared for was he had taken his sick wife to bathe with him.

Xin's view

 I had just put Xinye in the bath and was stripping to join her when my mother and ChungLi waltzed in. 

I was half undressed, and Xinye was completely undressed. I did not want them to see my wife, so I quickly grabbed a towel and threw it over her covering her nakedness before turning around to see a now stunned mother.

"Xin," she said, pointing at my scars, "What is that?"

"Oh, these are from when Xinye saved me from death, this one was from protecting Taiji, and this one was in an ambush. If Xinye had not been there, I would have died as my intestines were falling out. She and Dr. Hack cleaned me up and sewed me together." I explained, and seeing their shocked faces; I could not help but have a go at them, "I told you repeatedly, I would be dead if it were not for Xinye. She saved me. I am only alive because of her. Now, please get out, we are bathing together, and I do not want to see your faces here."

They turned and left, leaving the door open. I sighed and closed it behind them before fully undressing and getting in with my wife to bathe her. She returned the favor, but I could see it took a lot of effort, and she was exhausted afterward. 

When we were done, I picked her up, helped dress her, and carried her back to bed. "I will be glad when you are well again, my love," I said to her kissing her forehead.

"So will I," she retorted weakly, "This is pathetic. I can't even look after myself properly at the moment."

"Shh," I said with a gentle smile, "It's alright, I am here, and I love you just as you are."

"Thank you, Xin," she said with a smile and stroked my cheek with her hand before dropping off to sleep. 

I was going to stay, but I was called away to sort out the children's argument. None of us thought that Xinye would be attacked in the short amount of time I was gone.

ChungLi's view

Both of us were so shocked at seeing Xin's wounds we agreed. The scars, although faded, showed the awful truth of what he had been saying to us each time we were here.  We left and went to Mrs. Fang's room.

Sometime later, she said, "It does not matter if she saved him. How can he have any sort of life with her around? Since she has been here, she has been nothing but sick. It is time we did something."

"Alright, but what?" I asked.

"Well, let's sneak into her room and leave some poisoned rice. You know that new poison that is quick and only needs a little. We have not tried it yet. All we can do is hope that it works this time," Mrs. Fang suggested.

"Ok," so I had someone watch her quarters for when she was unattended, and our time came; I did not think it would be so soon.

I hurried and got the rice from the kitchen with a spoon. Mrs. Fang got the poison and met me in front of the room. She poured a teaspoon onto the rice, and I stirred it in.

"Quickly now, you go in, and I will stay guard," she said, ushering me in once we had seen there was no-one in there except the sleeping lady.

I nodded and hurried in, putting the rice bowl on the table beside her, "This is for you, sweetie when you wake." I said and left. Any longer would have caused suspicion. 

"Is it done?" Mrs. Fang asked me, seeing my hands empty.

"Yes, all we have to do now is wait," I smiled, "Let's go." and we hurried away back to where we often had tea.

A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please take the time to vote by pressing the star. Please let me know if you see any errors, as this is unedited.