Forgotten Legend of the Bloodied Flower

"I understand."

"Even if you find the number difficult to accept, you have to follow it strictly."

Zhang Dan Shui's lips twitched when he heard what Nan Hua said. For some reason, he felt that whatever number that she put inside, it would be something that he couldn't accept normally.

Nan Hua didn't explain much. "There'll be someone who come to help you later. They'll make sure that the first project will be done within three years' time."

In fact, Nan Hua wanted it to be faster, but Zhang Dan Shui would have to have enough connection first for the project to start. She had to be patient.

"Ah, alright." Zhang Dan Shui had already kept the skin in his sleeve since he didn't want anyone to find out about it. He looked at Nan Hua for some time before asking, "Young Miss, should I return to the Capital City in the future?"

No matter how glorious the position as governor was, it could never be compared to the position of royal official. Zhang Dan Shui knew that very well but he didn't really look favorably upon his return. This place was good and his mother's condition improved when he came here.

Nan Hua looked back. "You may decide. Do you want to have unshakable position in Heng Xing City or used it as your stepping stone to return?"

Zhang Dan Shui was stunned and couldn't answer. He looked at the two children in front of him incredulously but since both Nan Luo and Feng Ao Si had returned, he ceased to ask more from the young girl.

"Hua'er, look! The flowers are beautiful." Nan Luo presented the flowers he picked. He only picked three since he could see the gardener looked like his child was taken away and Nan Luo had no intention of taking too many.

Nan Hua nodded and took it. "Thank you, Luo."

Nan Luo grinned but didn't say anything more. He had already seen Feng Ao Kuai glaring at him, warning him to not go overboard.

"I have already told Grandfather. Let's go back," Feng Ao Si said after he returned. He looked at Zhang Dan Shui once but then ignored the other party.

"I understand."

The group returned with Old Master Nan.

Zhang Dan Shui stood rooted in his place, not sure what he was supposed to do. He turned to look at his friend and was stunned to see Yu Fei Rong looked like he had lost half of his soul.

"Official Yu, are you alright?"

Yu Fei Rong waved his hand. "It's not that bad, but talking with General Nan is a bit overwhelming."

"I see." Zhang Dan Shui was not surprised. When he was talking with Nan Hua alone, he already felt pressure. If he had to talk with Old Master Nan, he was absolutely sure that he wouldn't be able to survive even for a moment and already ended up break in cold sweat.

"There's no meeting today, so I will return first. Please excuse me, Vice Governor Zhang."

"You may go."

Zhang Dan Shui exchanged some pleasantries with the others before he goes back home. His home was a rather big residence in Heng Xing City. While the quality couldn't be compared to the one in the Capital City, the size alone was already very big.

When he was in the Capital City, he would never even dream of having a residence this big. Compared to the small courtyard his father gave him and his mother, this place was several times bigger.

"Mother," Zhang Dan Shui called out.

"Ah Shui?" A soothing voice come from inside and a middle aged woman came out. She looked pleasantly surprised when she saw Zhang Dan Shui and a smile formed on her lips, showing a beautiful smile. Despite the wrinkles that had started to form, she was undoubtedly a very beautiful woman.

Zhang Dan Shui smiled faintly when he saw his mother. His mother, Madam Pei, had better complexion after getting out of the Zhang Family. The changes were barely noticeable but it was better than nothing.

"I'm back, Mother."

"That's good." Madam Pei smiled. She noticed her son's look and carefully asked, "Is there something that you would like to ask, Ah Shui?"

"Mother…" Zhang Dan Shui hesitated for a moment before asking, "I'm thinking about my future, Mother. Would you like for me to become the palace official and reside in the Capital City or would you like me to stay in Heng Xing City and take the highest position?"

Most people would undoubtedly pick to return to the Capital City. After all, what future would they have if they stayed in Heng Xing City forever?

However, Zhang Dan Shui wished for his mother to have a peaceful life more than anything. It was because of this that he couldn't pick to return.

Madam Pei was stunned. She didn't answer immediately and beckoned for Zhang Dan Shui to come inside. "It's cold outside. Shall we talk inside, Ah Shui?"

"Yes, Mother."

Seeing her son being so obedient, Madam Pei's heart lurched a bit. She felt really bad for having to drag her son into her problem.

"Ah Shui."

"Yes, Mother?"

"What's your dream?"

….

Historical Corner:

There are actually historical remains from the era of Warring Era States in China where Qin Kingdom build massive road in order to be able to transport their military men quickly. It was like the highway express of the modern world and near the Qin Kingdom Emperor's Tomb, there's even some mark left that showed just how wide and far it was.

Also, during the civil war in US between the south and the north, one of the few reasons why the north could finally win could be attributed to the fact that they build the train road. It allowed them to send supply and soldiers faster, controlling the flow of the war and eventually grasped the victory.

You can search more from internet as I believe that there were many other cases.

(I only selected these two since they're big wars that I used to learn in History class many years ago :p)