Chapter 21 - A Very Important Person

Governor Lei Ming looked at his mother with a long frown. The total opposite of the ear to ear grin of Madame Lei after hearing the news that they didn't find Xinyi. He couldn't believe his mother was enjoying this. Bummer, what kind of mother he had?

His regrets for his wrong judgments and mistakes mixed in with equal proportions with his frustrations as a Governor who couldn't even find his lost wife bothered him greatly. To avoid the problem from escalating, he had restricted and warned the helpers of the consequences of spreading the news that Xinyi was missing.

With his mind full of the situation, he hadn't even thought of asking why Madame Lei was interested in finding Xinyi by herself. He only thought his mother was only worried for him and from meeting the prime minister's ire if he learned his daughter was gone. Mostly, if this reached the king's ear, then it would be over for them and the whole clan.

"Ma, one more day. If I can't find her, I will let you do it." Lei Ming insisted out of frustration. He never expected this to happen after his wedding. At first, he thought he would care less if she suffered believing she was conniving with her father. Yet, her last statement was an eye-opener to him. The truth, it was not just an eye-opener but… it took down the scales of misconceptions blinding him before.

He walked to the lagoon and sat inside the floating gazebo, thinking why he didn't investigate well before judging Xinyi. Also, as a new Governor, he felt he was terrible in judging a person's temperament and character and this was not good for a man holding a position like him.

"This is odd, there is something wrong here. Was she deliberately thrown to me believing I would mistreat her because of my anger to the prince and the prime minister?... Ah, darn." He slammed all of his anger on the table, crushing it to pieces with a single blow of his palm. His frustrations plummeted several times lower.

Learning the truth that they treated her poorly, and he foolishly added to her misery made him ashamed and shattered his pride the same as the pieces of wooden debris scattered on the floor. While thinking about these, his hatred for the arranged marriage took a hundred eighty degrees turn and transformed into sympathy.

Aside from sympathy, as a fellow power user and in hiding, his desire to bring her back deepened. Now, he clearly saw the reason they sent her to the valley. While taking these into account, he hadn't realized that his heart was now slowly opening and moving toward Xinyi.

All of a sudden, he heard footsteps and woke him from his deep thoughts. He saw Madame Lei walking in and concluded that his mother came when she heard him broke the table. Ming's heart ached and looked toward Madame Lei with the eyes of a son yearning for a mother to listen to his woes. While the parent only showed a face full of understanding and care. Ming pulled the lone chair and let her mother sit comfortably.

"Tell me your problems and concerns, Ming 'er. I'm here to listen."

"Ma." He breathed deep and leaned his back on the column, not knowing where to start. "I did a grave mistake and a great sin against my wife." He waited… expecting a scolding, but… the mother only showed a kind smile and nodded, telling him to continue speaking.

"And I really want to find her to amend my wrongs. I also want to tell you that she is also a hiding ability user like me."

"I know and you're more fortunate than her," Madame Lei said and heaved a deep long sigh.

"Whaaat?" shouted Ming. This was mind-blowing news. He faced his mother like a starving man who wished to know the truth. "Whoa! Whoa! I thought you don't know. What is going on here?"

Madame Lei stood, calm as ever and smoothed her skirt with her palm. "There are so many things you don't know but it's not yet time for you to know." And stood with her back straight. "Allow me to find her now. I'm the only person who can find her and help her."

"Why? I need an explanation now, Ma. You can't just tell me and leave me hanging."

The mother sighed. "I'll tell you but I need to find her first." She started to walk out of the gazebo. Ming blocked her path.

"Ma, I deserve to know. Most of all, you hid this from me before the wedding. If I have known, this won't be happening now."

"I didn't deliberately hide it from you but my coming was delayed for I need to meet a very important person first. I tried to come before the wedding but I had a hard time finding that person. My purpose for coming was not only for your wedding but mainly for your wife."

He threw his hands up after hearing her purpose. "Whoa! Your words are getting absurd and insulting. So, the son is not as important as the wife now. That's why you didn't come early. It was all because of my wife."

"You're important too, both of you. That's why I have to look for that person. And let me be clear that I'm not insulting you but it's not easy to travel, Ming 'er. Consider my age as well. I don't mean to skip your wedding but you decided the date without waiting for me."

Ming began pacing back and forth. He was getting agitated and complete information was the only solution for him to settle. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry, but I'm still puzzled. Please tell me what you know about her, who is that person you are referring, and why search for her all by yourself. I need to know before I let you go."

"Well, since you're eager to know. I'll tell you a secret that only a handful knew and I believe you'll guard it well. You should know that you married a very important person, and we have to keep her safe for a greater reason."

This revelation shocked Ming and his hunger for the truth could not be easily quenched now. "What do you mean a very important person for a greater reason? Explain, Ma. As her husband, I need to know this."