Peng An (On Hold)

Chapter 2 - Lessons to be Learned (Part C)

Chapter 2 – Lessons to be Learned (Part C)

Mu Xiu Ying patted Peng An’s hand. “Peng An, ….” She smiled gently at her son. “Although it is beautiful, it is very weak and cannot fight against those stronger than itself.” After saying that, she retrieved her hand from his and swiftly grabbed the butterfly by the wings.

“Mother! You might hurt the butterfly.” Peng An cried out in fear for the butterfly. His mother’s quick action took him by surprise. He stared worriedly at the little butterfly pinched between his mother’s fingers.

Mu Xiu Ying gazed at her son’s worried face. It was a face of weakness. The butterfly stood as a weakness to her son just like her son was her weakness.

“Peng An ah, what am I holding?” asked Mu Xiu Ying with a smile.

Peng An shifted his gaze to his mother. “A butterfly.” His eyes were clear and innocent.

She smiled again and shook her head. “No, dear. This is called weakness. It is your weakness.”

Peng An tilted his head in confusion and his browns crinkled. “My weakness? But, it is clearly just a butterfly. Han Wuying said so. How is it my weakness?”

Mu Xiu Ying explain, “It is indeed a butterfly, but it is also your weakness because there is a seed of concern and affection for it within your heart. If you hold concern and affection for something, it becomes your weakness. You must not have a weakness otherwise your enemies will use it against you.” Here, she smiled at him. “Do you understand?”

Peng An quietly contemplated his mother’s teaching for a moment and nodded. His face turned solemn. Although, Peng An is young, he was a very smart child and picked up on things much faster than the average children. Ever since he could comprehend, his mother has warned him repeatedly to never reveal his secret. If he failed to, his world would fall and shatter. He had to protect and strengthen the thin walls that surrounded his world. He had to focus on his studies and excel in activities deemed masculine. Once his mother had lectured him severely for playing with his half-sisters and adorning flowers on his head. After that he never played with the girls or picked flowers again. He feared to reveal his secret. “I think I understand mother…. But, would you not be my weakness?” He stared at his mother with his deep, dark eyes.

The corners of Mu Xiu Yings lips turned upwards, pleased with her son’s reply. “Yes, if you look at it that way. However, there is no need to worry. I will not be your weak, but your strength. I will protect you.”

She flicked her gaze to the butterfly squirming between her fingers. She turned it from side to side. “It is quite lovely, but a weakness nonetheless.” She moved her hand holding the butterfly towards her son. “Kill it.”

“Yes, mother.” Although he did not want to kill it, he had to do it. He took the butterfly by the wings and tore them off the butterfly’s body. The butterfly writhed in pain within his hands. “It’s too bad. It was beautiful.” His voice was dour and despondent.

He threw the wings into the lotus pond. Then he held the body of the butterfly between with fingers and squeezed. Killing the butterfly pained his heart, but Peng An did not let it show on his face.

Mu Xiu Ying handed him a moist, white handkerchief. “Wipe your hands, dear.” Even though she loved him dearly, she wanted to build an unbreakable fortress around him to protect him. She wanted to ensure that he will be able to protect himself one day when she is gone from this world.

At this moment, he did not look like a 10 year old. He looked much older and mature. His face was pallid and firm. Peng An took it and wiped his hands. He handed the handkerchief back to his mother, and stepped out of the pavilion.

After a few steps, his mother’s voice sounded behind. He stopped his steps.

“Remember, do not feel too deeply. Do not let your emotion cloud your eyes.”

He nodded and replied “Yes, mother.” Then he left the area of the pavilion.

After Peng An had left, Chiang Ping quietly said, “Madam, did you have to be so hard on him like that?”

Mu Xiu Ying did not answer. She calmly reached for the tea cup in front of her and slowly drank it. Her expression was inscrutable as she stared at something far away. After a long moment, she said, “I have to in order to protect him. You know I haven’t much time left. The physician had diagnosed my sickness long ago before I had Peng An. He said my body was not fit to give birth, but still, I did. My body is slowly failing me.”

“Madam…” said Chiang Ping sorrowfully. One of her hands reached out to hold Mu Xiu Ying’s shoulder and the other one stroked her Madam’s head. She had been with the Madam since the Madam was born. Chiang Ping never got married and have children. All her life, she had taken care of Mu Xiu Ying. She loved the woman like her own child. Tears spilled from her eyes and scrawled down her wrinkly cheeks.

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Peng An and Han Wuying returned to the courtyard. Peng An marched to where the straw dummy was. He stared at the little bird perching on top of the dummy.

“Hand me my bow and arrow.” Without looking at Han Wuying, his hands reached out toward the older man. Han Wuying silently handed his young master the bow and arrow.

Peng An stood 25 feet away from the dummy, and raised his bow at the bird. He placed the arrow onto the bow and pulled the string back. He gazed sternly at the bird and shot the arrow. The arrow scared the bird causing it to fly, trying to get away. However, it couldn’t because its leg was tied to the wooden pole. Peng An quickly shot another arrow at the bird, aiming for the heart. The arrow soared and stabbed into the bird’s heart. The strong force of the arrow threw the bird off the head of the dummy. The bird dangled lifelessly from the wooden pole. Peng An snorted disdainfully and threw the bow in his hands to the ground. He glared at Han Wuying. “Was that part of lesson today?”

He quickly departed from the courtyard.

Han Wuying stared at the back of the departing figure. His brows lightly furrowed, and his eyes softened.

Kill to achieve your aim! That was part of the archery lesson.

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Finally end of chapter 2! LOL! See you guys in chapter 3. Vote and comment. I love reading your opinions! Bye. ❤