It's been quite for sometimes after the last incidence that Princess Ye'er had with the Crown prince and their peradventures together.
Now, She was standing in the pavilion build in the center of a man made lake. It's likely similar with the lotus pavilion in the west of the city and the only difference is the lake itself.
The man made lake in their manor is connected in the river in the far end.
Princess Ye'er stood in there. Her dress and hair sways in motion as the wind carried them. She was thinking of her fate, on how she would tend to survive dispites the fact that someone in the dark is always waiting their chance to get her.
She smiled bitterly. the moon shine so bright and its silhouettes are dancing in the water. Its beauty is the only painful reminder of her misfortune.
The one she saw in her dream, where she was hit by a car, the moon in their was exceptionally beautiful, Just like this one! she thought.
Then, on night that she fell into the cliff was the brightest of all.
She gives a discreet laughed.
I don't know if youre guiding on me or mocking me!
She muttered bitterly. Then suddenly the moon change and saw the image of the man she was longing for, her heart pounds. That familiar feelings she had towards him.
He seems to be just in the distance while she knew he was far away.
"Princess!"
Xin'er broke the magic and pulled her sweet dream into reality. She wrapped her with the cape.
"It's cold in here— you might catch a cold!"
There were always a trace of concern in her voice, the manner that we could say. "A sisterly concerns"
"I'm fine—"
"You're bath is ready!"
Xin'er told her without letting her finished.
"Alright—I will go!"
"Should I stand on guard—"
"No need, I'll be fine!"
Her face darken.
"Let them come— let's invite them with the feast in their table, I'm already tired of running!"
"Alright!"
Xin'er escorted her into the bathing room, she already prepared a tub with hot water on it.
Princess Ye'er removed all her dress and soaked herself in the warm water. She felt so good. The warmness of water soothes all her worries away, but as soon as she closed her eyes, again she fell into her nightmare.
She saw herself running inside the palace court while outside was already in chaos and some of the places were already burnt in fire.
"what's going on—"
"Empress?"
His Majesty asked her in shocked.
"Why are you here, where is the prince?"
"I entrusted him to someone—"
She said and help him to stand.
"Why its become like this?"
The Emperor did not answered her, his face was darken in anger.
"Why it's become like this?"
She asked him again it's almost sound like a plead, but still he was persistent and quite.
He hugged her instead, it was a reassuring hug.
A hugged that would engraved in her heart even in a thousands years will passed. .
a bittersweet hugged!
A hugged that means goodbye!
A hugged that could make her heart chattered into thousands pieces!
"No matter what happened I won't give up on you—"
The Emperor sob. She realized something is awfully wrong. She pushed him and asked the Eunuch what's going on.
"Your Majesty, this servants does not know—"
He said bowing his head to the ground. They all quivered in fear.
"All of you doesn't know?"
Her voiced raised in furry.
"Fine—"
She snatch the sword in great General scabbard and put it between her neck.
"Your Majesty!"
They all startled and panicked.
"This servants, this servants—"
"Sire!"
One of the minister suddenly burst in.
"We could not negotiate on them they demanded to—"
He paused and looked between her and his majesty, uncertain of what his going to say.
But the minister's eyes widened in shocked when he saw her standing there with the sword in her neck.
"I could not give their demands—"
His Majesty clenched his hand.
"Tell them to—"
"What demand?"
She suddenly asked.
"What is going on—"
"Your Majesty they. .they demanded—"
"Shut up!"
His Majesty's voiced roared like a thunder.
"I already told you,I'm not going to sacrificed—"
She slowly walk towards the minister and put the blade between his neck.
"Speak!" she commanded coldly.
"Your Majes—"
The minister stuttered and shivered in fear.
"Speak!"
She said pushing the steel into his neck as she becomes impatient.
"They demanded you— they wants to disposed you!"
She stepped back a little when she heard it, and felt like she was being hit by a bomb.
The sword unknowingly dropped the sword.
"What have I done to deserved this?"
She asked but the question was more to herself than to anyone.
"I won't give up on you—"
He shook his head stubbornly. His Majesty was pleading to her earnestly, with tears in his face.
She smiled at him.
"If I am the reason to all of this— it's unfair for the innocent to suffer. We have to look on the bigger picture, if they want me fine!"
She walked towards the intrance of the palace court but his Majesty blocked her way and hug her tightly.
"Its my fault— I'm a coward!"
He sobb in her shoulder.
"But I will never give up on you— I can give up everything, but not you!"
The situation was already dire and hopeless but somehow she felt relieved when she heard his Majesty's words.
But who would have known that everything was already planned by someone.
One arrow swoop fast toward his Majesty's back, she could only seen those arrow as she was facing towards the entrance.
Her Majesty pushed His Majesty on the side without thinking. The blind arrow struck in her chest as she slowly fell down.
Princess Ye'er had been dreaming of this for a countless time, but this time was different.
She found herself unscathed as she fell into the floor. Then, she saw another person who stood infront of her, the arrow stuck in her chest.
She looked up only to struck in horror when she recognized that someone.
"Xin'er—"
Her heart pound, despite the pain Xin'er felt she still managed to smiled at her. It was like reassuring her that everything was alright.
Princess Ye'er suddenly open her eyes and catch the dagger in both of her hands right on time, it's pointy end already reached in her chest.
She smirked.
The last thing the intruder knew was his dagger already peirced deeply into his chest.
And the girl stood naked infront of him, shivering in anger.
But only Princess Ye's back that covered with her long hair was visible to the man.
"How is it possible?"
He asked in horror as he did not even saw her turn.
This stupid one is really bold and daring!
she thought furiously.
While she was in her subconscious she smell something that gives her a hint that someone intruded her privacy.
She might be slow witted but her body always reacts right on time. Eversince she was a child she's always particularly sharp in sense of smell.
Thanks to the sound of the wind that pass through her. She catch the dagger in both of her hands right on time. The man was taken a back unable to move. He was unaware that Princess Ye'er was actually conscious.
She flip her hands catch the dagger in her left. it was just split of second when she stood up and struck it into the man's chest even without looking.
Ye'er was standing naked but only half of her back that covered with her long hair was visible.
She was shivering in anger and clenched her fist. How many more would sneaked into our manor?
How many more would I'm going to kill?
Ye'er felt like everytime she killed someone she became more and more ruthless.
She jerked when someone put a cape on her and carried her out of the water. She knew his scent and her body always recognized him.
"I'm sorry— I was late!"
Crown Prince Ching's voiced was calm as the summer breeze. different from the cold annoying voice he always had in normal times.
He made her head leaned closer into his chest and kiss her wet hair.
"You're just on time!"
She said weakly. She doesn't know why? but everytime she was with him she felt so weak.
"Your Highness—"
"Princess—"
The door suddenly open. Prince Yu and Xin'er burst inside that made them both collide as they met in between.
They were on the floor holding both of their foreheads. Thier jaw drops in shocked when they see the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess in that position.
Prince Ching cover himself in Ye'er so his little brother wont see her.
"I told you to keep an eye on her— where did you go?"
His asked grimly.
"I— Er!"
He was scratching his head. It was one of his mannerism when he was lying.
"Clean this place— I'm going to deal with you later!"
Prince Yu nodded defiantly, he knew his brother. The more he complained the more he'll get into trouble with him.