The Clouds

[Qin Fuhua]

3 HOURS AGO -

Qin Fuhua was out, taking a stroll around the courtyard after his bath. The amount of pain that was inflicted on his back wasn't as much as the anger that he held deep down when he overheard the teacher's criticism about Suyin.

Yes, she is a woman, but that doesn't mean that they cannot have the potential like men.

It was Suyin who made him think like that. Before meeting her, he would have never envisioned any women in this time that would be valiant enough to fight for their rights, despite all of the humiliation and despise that she would get.

Weizhe was strolling with the Prince, pushing his hands behind his back as he attempted to read Qin Fuhua's face. Confused by his blank expression, it was difficult for Weizhe to catch what was going on in Qin Fuhua's mind.

"Ahem. As you requested, the person got flogged fifty times, enough for him to survive, at least." Weizhe noted. He tilted a bit forward, tracking after the Prince to try to see his face. "And... I heard the Suyin had requested Areum to buy her some cheap clothes at the shops outside of the Palace so that she could have some attire." He added.

Speaking about Suyin, perked up Qin Fuhua's interest, diverting to him. Not daring to gaze face to face with him, he darted down to the rocky ground, trying to hold in his smile.

"Tell Areum to water the plants." Qin Fuhua spoke. He sounded a bit serious as if he was pondering hard about this. He took out a small bag of coins.

"Take this and go buy some nicer clothes for her... something that'll fit along with others (Note: meaning he wanted Weizhe to purchase some clothes that would fit like a Princess status outfit, to show the importance of herself to others that may look down on her).

Weizhe held out his right hand, sensing the weight of the coins and paper money in the bag. He lifted an eyebrow, wanting to say something to tease Qin Fuhua, but the Prince's gaze dashed straight at him, slashing any slightest idea of making fun of him as he evaded eye contact with Qin Fuhua.

"Yes, your Highness. I am willing to do anything for you." Weizhe lit a small smile back at Qin Fuhua. Hopefully, the Prince would at least now sleep better than before.

After Weizhe's departure, Qin Fuhua was in the pavilion, staring down at the clear water of the little pond. He reached out his right hand and stared at it.

"Was I too rough?"

Maybe the rage from the teachers and Suyin getting penalized for no reason made him hurt her.

He needed to remember how delicate Suyin can be. At times, she could be as tough as a boulder, pushing through even if ten thousand soldiers drove forward against her.

But then, there are moments when Suyin was a cloud. Gentle and fragile, her words were obscured by darkness, causing her to feel lost at times. Rain descending from the clouds at times, Suyin persists and moves on*.

(*Note: Qin Fuhua is comparing her to a cloud. Clouds often disperse, and when they do come out, sometimes clouds are darkened, a sign of rainfall. As this continues though, the rain will cease, and the clouds will carry on. Just like the clouds, Suyin resembles a boulder who is hard-headed but courageous enough to defy anyone that she needs to.

But at times, in front of Qin Fuhua, her emotions become softened like the white clouds, and dimmed with her tears).

-------------------------------------------------

Suyin was in her room with Areum assisting her to try on her new outfit. Areum didn't say much when she saw that Suyin had more than ten sets of clothing that were tucked neatly on the round tea table.

Black, gold, and velvet red was the main color of the outfit that she was wearing. An elegant, thick fur coat with engravings of white flowers with golden stems aligned with the magnificence of the long cape.

Her outer apparel (the robe) was in silk-black and gold, with a butterfly etched at the right chest while her inner garment was white and velvet, paired with the dark colors of the outerwear.

Areum had fixed Suyin's hair into a more graceful, yet loose type of hair. Her hair was still down, but the sides of her hair were secured to the back with a small piece of jewelry: a light-pink plum blossom flower hairpin.

As Areum fixed her clothes, she chose to put on some makeup on Suyin, too.

Confused as to why Areum was doing all of this, Suyin questioned her, but all Areum could tell her was that she was instructed to.

Overwhelmed by the expensive clothes, Suyin felt like a Princess wearing the attire. Although she didn't want to wear the outfits, Weizhe and Qin Fuhua went through the trouble to find her these outfits anyway.

Carefully, Suyin stepped out of her room and to the courtyard. Little cloth lamps were directed down the pathway to the pavilion as if it was all planned out.

It was a full moon and the stars were together with the large moon that sits across the sky. The sound of crickets was chattering with each other before it ceased altogether when Suyin emerged at the pavilion.

Qin Fuhua was in a golden black silk robe while his long hair gently blew across the small wind. His long eyelashes could be seen at the side of his face. His eyelashes made his piercing eyes seem more temperamental than ever.

Suyin gradually stepped up the stairs, gaping into Qin Fuhua's eyes. The moon shined Qin Fuhua's stunning figure-- large, broad, yet attractive like the lotus flower on the pond, the corner of his eyes briefly met with Suyin's.

Preoccupied with his appearance, Suyin fixed her voice, seating across from him. The entrance around the pavilion was obscured by a thin, white cloth to keep away the bugs and for decoration.

Qin Fuhua didn't utter a single word to her. Suyin had detected that there were two small wine cups and a bottle in the middle of the table. A little bit interested, Suyin's eyes glanced at the bottle of wine and then his cup.

It appears that the Prince of Qin was sipping some wine while he was waiting for her.

Trying to break off the silence in the air, Suyin leaned to the table, her arms crossed on the platform.

"Why did you purchase me such expensive clothes?" She questioned. Maybe it wasn't a great starter conversation, but for someone who was complicated like Qin Fuhua, it wouldn't have mattered anyway, since no one could read his mind.

He took a small sip of the cup of wine and then positioned it down on the table. Glancing at her with the side of his eyes as he finished the cup of wine, he diverted his attention to the moon.

"It would suit you better here if you were to dress like that." Qin Fuhua said. He poured some wine into his teacup. Immediately, Suyin raised her cup to grab a drink too.

Qin Fuhua was astonished at first, his eyes enlarged a little, then settled down.

Of course, this was Suyin after all.

He didn't say anything, while Suyin glimpsed at the teacup and back at him. It looked like Qin Fuhua wavered a little bit to pour her the drink.

"I can tolerate it," Suyin assured him.

He then poured a glass of rice wine into her cup. Suyin then raised her cup and grinned at him.

"Thank you for always helping me." She said before taking a shot of rice wine.

As Qin Fuhua took a gulp of his rice wine, he set his cup down on the table.

"Why did you come to the Palace?" Qin Fuhua asked Suyin. There would be no way that she would have known that Qin Fuhua was staying in the Palace, specifically after the incident of her disappearance.

"Why didn't you come back? I was looking--"

He halted. The more he said, the more he felt like he would have shown that he was worried for her safety. Was it just guilt that Qin Fuhua only felt? Or was it something more?

Suyin frowned at him, but then there was too much clarifying to do, so she could comprehend why Qin Fuhua had so many inquiries.

Was this the reason why he was waiting for her tonight?