31_days | [July 5] [Yitian Dulong Ji] Priorities

Title: Priorities
Day/Theme: July 5/I ran up the door, closed the stairs
Series: Yitian Dulong Ji
Characters/Pairing: Zhao Min, He Biweng, Zhang Wuji/Zhao Min
Rating: G

Yitian Dulong Ji © Jin Yong, et al.

He Biweng was the only person who saw Zhao Min leave. "Princess, your father and brother might get angry with you," he said, with a touch of an old man's fussiness.

"You'd better not tell them anything, then." The gelding she usually rode stood patiently as she threw a saddle over it and quickly tied the saddle into place. He Biweng hovered nearby, very much wanting to wring his hands and not daring to. As she hauled herself up and took a comfortable position, Zhao Min went on, "Elder He, I do have your word, don't I? You won't raise the alarm?"

"No, Princess, I won't. But are you sure..."

"I'm not letting that muddleheaded man marry another girl and that's that," she said, pulling at the reins, and the gelding began to trot. "Elder He, I should remind you that I'll finish this business faster if I don't have anyone dogging my steps. Please."

Feeling no need to answer, He Biweng hurried aside. Zhao Min kicked the gelding into a gallop, the younger Xuan Ming Elder all but gone from her mind. The ground flew beneath her feet and the gelding ran, and her heart ran with it, and she knew that once a face was deliberately turned away from home, the doors might never come unbarred.