[July 11] [Yitian Dulong Ji] Wheels Rolling Down Another Path

[lilacfield.livejournal.com]

Title: Wheels Rolling Down Another Path
Day/Theme: July 11/destroy the dreams I ever dreamed
Series: Yitian Dulong Ji
Characters: Chaghan Temur, Koke Temur, mention of Zhao Min
Rating: G

Yitian Dulong Ji © Jin Yong, et al.


His son, never one to lavishly indulge a petty frame of mind, nevertheless found his grief a little baffling. "It is true that she might have made the wrong decision," he said. "But, Father, isn't this situation more convenient for all of us? And nothing has been lost. You can still, for instance, command respect among the men."

Chaghan Temur was too tired to even feel a flare of irritation in the face of this calm logic. Saying that the person they were discussing was his daughter, and his son's sister, would only be so much useless repetition. "She could have had the world," he muttered. Somewhere close by, his long, battle-scarred years were lying in wait, to later inexorably grind him down. "The honors she would have won for herself, and for our family. Minmin is..." Was he giving his son the satisfaction of watching an aging man descend into senility and despair? And had he ever been this readily suspicious before, and they his own children? His beard quivered. "I suppose I just never saw that her strength would also be effective against me."

"Sometimes people simply choose to serve what interests them most, not the greater good. I'm sorry you have to be disappointed like this, Father."

He nodded, acknowledging the sentiment; the disappointment was mostly gone now, in any case. He wished he could pray for his daughter's safety and well-being, but he understood it was not his prayers she needed or wanted, not anymore.