One More Step

Young Master Wang was always a bit overbearing, even in his house, but this time Lord Jung will not let him off. He looked at the boy that without any respect sat down and had guts to rise his feet on his table.

He couldn't believe his eyes. This little puppy dares to act like this in his house. No wonder all servants tried to avoid him since he came. Lord Jung's eye narrowed as he took stick behind his back and hit his legs with a tiny part of his power. He wanted to hurt him, but not break his bones.

Suddenly loud vail could be heard in the office. As profanity started pouring out his mouth, Lord Jung's face became darker and darker.

''Is this how you act and speak in Wang's clan. Who I didn't know that scholarly family like yours knew such big amount of those words. Even I learn a couple of new ones. Thank you... young...master...Wang.''

The last few words were spoken slowly as he icily stared at the youth in front of him that had absolutely no manners whatsoever. He was about to hit him when he saw from the corner of his eye movement on the door. He looked up and saw Lady Wang standing there and staring at her little brother in horror.

His heart clenched as he threw away the stick and angrily sat on his chair. He looked at the squinching young master with a cold expression and was this time so angry that he was uncomfortable all over the body.

The rage in him couldn't calm down as the worst thing happened. His wife was now scared of him. That fear in her eyes... His knuckles got white as his expression became darker and darker.

Lady Wang heard that the boy was called into Lord Jung's office so she wanted to scold him as well. But when she opened the door and heard all those things pouring out her brother's mouth, her heart froze for a moment. The profanities that poured out his mouth made her feel dizzy and she almost didn't faint.

Suddenly roar could be heard. ''If I find out that a word was said in outside I will beat you all to death, cut you to pieces and throw in woods so the animals have something to gnaw on. Now close door!!!''

This time it seems he was really furious. Lady Wang felt dizzy and when she thought that she will hit the floor, two warm arms surrounded her and gave her comfort. Her eyes darted to him and when she was about to ask him in forgiveness his mouth opened and he uttered: ''I am sorry.''

She lived already with him so long and never heard him say these words to anyone. But at this moment he did so. She was mysteriously curious. ''Why?'' She uttered as her beautiful eyes looked at him with astonishment.

He got confused by her expression so he slightly stuttered: ''Because I have hit him...''

Her eyes flashed in surprise and she almost didn't start laughing at his confused expression. ''Let us set this clear, you are saying sorry to ME because you hit him?''

As he obediently nodded and looked at her with puppy eyes and even stronger sentence came out his mouth. ''I saw you standing there petrified and my heart almost didn't burst out my c.h.e.s.t. I am sorry for making you scared, but this boy really robed my last nerve. He came haughtily inside my office and put his feet on the table that Emperor awarded me. If someone saw him do that he could even die.''

But the rest of the story she saw. ''After I hit him he didn't even repent. He started using foul language that robbed my last nerve. Wife, look how much my heartbeats.''

He brazenly took her hand and put on his c.h.e.s.t where strong beats could be felt. Like an aggrieved pet, he looked at her and pointed at the boy that started standing up from the floor. ''He made me angry.'' Childish as possibly, no dear Lord, the most childish people are not your children it is you... So did the secret guard think while looking at his antics?

She sighed and patted his c.h.e.s.t while turning her head and furiously looking at her brother. ''Actually, my husband, I was horrified about the words that came out fo him like a river. How did he even learn such things?'' She scrunched her eyebrows as she looked at the young man that sat down again unceremoniously on the chair and acted like he was wounded in the war.

Young master Wang turned his head and just now realized that his big sister was in the room. Remembering that he cursed without reserve just moments ago he started having cold sweat. ''Sister, you came...''

She saw the stick that Lord Jung threw away and then looked at her petrified brother. ''Oh now you know what fear is?''

She kicked the stick further in the corner and he relaxed. ''Husband, could you call two strong servants here?''

Lord Jung went to the door and called servants as they couldn't hear anyway his voice from outside when the door is closed. The servants were two burly men from the famous tribe in the north of the country. They promised to serve him for a year but under the condition that they don't kill anyone.

''Bind him, put some cloth in his mouth and send him back to my father's home. Wait, I will write a note as well.'' She quickly wrote a note and wanted to give it to servants but Lord Jung's not was added as well.

Seeing the situation turned to the extreme, the young man started vailing. ''Sister I was wrong, please don't send me back home, please. I am sorry, I am really sorry...'' But soon his mouth was stuffed with cloth and his arms were bound.

She saw his tears streaming down his face but she knew she can't be soft now. If this continues he will become even worse in the future. She sent a letter explaining his behavior in the last days since he came to her home. She didn't write either more than she should neither less than it is.

The servants bounded him so much that only his pale face could be seen and he was taken out. Only mumbled cries could be heard from inside the wrapper.

Lady Wang's face still was quite pale and dizziness overcame her for a minute. Lord Jung got worried about her health so he quickly ordered a doctor to come while he took her into his arms and carried her in princes manner back to her room.

As he laid her on her bed he felt a slight regret for the things that today happened. If he didn't indulge that boy too much, maybe many things would end up differently. he sighed while looking at her pale face. He put his and on her forehead in worry that she doesn't have a fever, but luckily her body temperature seemed fine.

Soon the doctor arrived and checked her body. He sighed in relief and turned to Lord Jung in relief. ''Luckily she is fine. It seems she just too angry and as she couldn't relieve it she harmed herself a bit. If possible, next few days she should be not around to much anger and let her relax a bit. Maybe traveling a bit outside and walking in the fresh air would be good as well. It seems she doesn't walk a lot so her health became weaker and prone to stress.''

Indeed. Lady Wang is actually one f those people that would rather stay inside the house and not bother to walk around.

He knew that, but seeing how her health is not good, he resolutely looked at her face. ''If you don't walk outside more and grab some fresh air I will come to your room every night and we will work out until morning. Every...single...day...''

Her eyes became big as her face became red. Looking at his expression it seems he really meant that. Thinking about his actions in the last few years, it seems he really would do that. She gave up and obediently nodded.

The doctor was still there writing prescriptions, but his ears could still hear what they spoke of. At first, he was lost in words but it seems it worked on Lady so he gave up any comment, for now.

On the bed, Lord Jung thought of something. ''When we find a house for those children we can personally escort them. I think I own the child's mother at least that much. ''

She smiled as her eyes flashed towards the doctor that slowed down with writing of a prescription. She understood why he started talking about that in this situation. ''Yes. That child's mother saved your life. The least you can do is providing her new home. Sigh, if she were not foreigner, how nice it would be to keep her here and provide for her. Our society is really mean. But husband you need to find those children nice and save the house. We can't lose face in this case.''

''I know, I know. But too big wouldn't be good as well. I will look at it tomorrow. After we find them a new home, we can take them there and look if they need anything else. The girls really are good children. If I cant help her that much, I think my ancestors would point their fingers for abandoning a savior. Sigh. Now you rest, I will check on you later. And don't stare at me that way. I am not a monster. I will not make you do anything you do not wish, especially now that you need rest. Little cute fool.''

''Perv... Stupid pig.'' She changed his name in last second remembering the doctor and turned her body to sleep.

''You rest a bit, I will go finish my work and then come to you. Sleep.'' He patted her back and stood up to leave.

The doctor finished writing the ingredients for her medicine and explained everything to her maids and then left.

Soon big story about the benevolence of Lord Jung burned like a fire through the city. In the story, Lord Jung helped two poor orphaned foreigner children as their mother saved his life. He even will provide the necessities for life.

Not even his enemies were stumped by this move, even Emperor himself was in wonder.

The next morning Lord Jung was called to palace and when he stood in front of the Emperor with bowed head, he knew it was about the children, but better now than later...

''Lord Jung, I must say I am kind of surprised. The story about you being saved by a child's mother and giving them a new home as your savior died is not true, or?''

He sighed. ''Emperor, the story is only partially true.''

''What do you mean?'' The Emperor never had doubts in this man as he proved to him that he is honest and pure many times before. ''Can you tell me what actually happened?''

Lord Jung breathed deeply. ''Actually is nothing big. A long time ago when I just came back from the other country where my mother is healing, I met the woman. At that time for unknown reasons, I felt weak and almost died. She gave some medicine that she brought form her country. That healed me and saved my life. After that, I wanted to find her, but she was gone. Shortly mother of that woman came and told me that the woman died and only a small child was left alive. But as grandmother was dying she feared that something could happen to her. so she hoped that I could help protect the little girl. She didn't ask me for money, just to find her family to adopt her.''

''And?'' Emperor found the story quite amusing as his head hurt from all those things in the palace. ''Continue.''

''Yes... Well anyway, couple days before I was looking for clues about those cases we needed to investigate and found out that one famous translator pair died under weird circ.u.mstances and their daughter was about to be sold in slavery. I helped her escape that future and brought her back home. At first, I had no idea what to do with those two children. If they were our people I might have adopted them, but our society...'' He sighed and could hear Emperor sigh as well.

''So what is your plan?''

''In this case, my wife had an idea. There are foreigner villages next to the big forest. It's a quiet, clean and safe place. Even if they are small, they can live together in a small house, and I plan to buy them some land. Until they grow up I will try to give them some support so they are not bullied. I have no idea what else I could do for them in the current situation. If the Emperor has any idea please help me to become wiser.''

Emperor shook his head. ''Unfortunately, this is the best you can do in their current situation. But I have to admit, we need to start to include foreigners into our society. After all, they live with us already for many generations. Most of them take this country as their homeland. Sigh, should I make a couple of tiny changes? If I do to big, those people might oppose, but tiny steps might be helpful for all of us.''

In Lord, Jung's eyes flashed happiness. -Even small changes will make ripples in this big sea. It's good to start. Many tiny ripples are the best.-

Luckily the Emperor didn't see it as hi was bowed and his face became quickly expressionless again...