Background Song: Bu Wei Xia
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I've miss writing Crocodile Tears so much ;-; I've been working on a story for the WSA (The Heartless King) and needed something to remind me why I'm still writing. If you're still reading Crocodile Tears, I hope you enjoy this piece.
This is a SIDE STORY for the Crown Prince (Yang Yong), the ML's eldest brother, and his Crown Princess (Yuan Zhen). It can be read entirely separately from the rest of the story.
For a bit of history (from Wikipedia):
In the Book of Sui, Yang Yong was described as a studious and handsome gentleman who was known for his gracious demeanour, straightforwardness and generosity, and was respected by many. Sometime before 580, Yang Jian and Lady Dugu selected the daughter of the official Yuan Xiaoju, a descendant of Northern Wei's imperial house, to be Yang Yong's wife.
Yang Yong, who did not favor his wife Crown Princess Yuan, had many concubines, particularly favoring the beautiful Consort Yun. Crown Princess Yuan, who did not have any sons with Yang Yong, died suddenly in 591, apparently from a heart ailment, but both Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu suspected foul play, and Empress Dugu particularly rebuked him.
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The day Yuan Zhen was told that she was to wed Minister Yang's eldest son, she was thirteen. Upon hearing the news, much to the surprise of her beaming maids, all she responded with was a light "oh" and a faint tug at the corner of her lips.
There was no question that her to-be groom was one of the most sought after bachelors in all of Chang'an. Not all fourteen year olds were granted jurisdiction over an entire province, the important Luozhou at that.
Already, there were rumors of the emperor wanting to grant him the title of Shangzhuguo and Dasima as well. Even for the eldest son of the most powerful minister, the nickname of "Little Zhongzai" wasn't easy to come by. To think, the last Zhongzai held the lives of four emperors in his hands, toying with the fate of the kingdom with his mere left pinky.
And well, this was only a fourteen year old boy.
Yang Yong was the golden boy, the one who commanded the attention of all those around him. From wits to looks to power, he simply didn't have a contender.
Yuan Zhen had crossed paths with the young Master Yang on the hunting grounds once when she visited the capital with her father. She remembered how the girls sitting in front of her had swooned upon seeing his face.
What's more, she remembered the thinly veiled disappointment in his expression when his eyes met her blank one, almost as if he didn't believe that a girl wouldn't fall right at his feet.
But this look didn't stay for long. It was only a second later that he pulled the reins on his horse, tilting his head such that his face bathed in light. As soon as Yuan Zhen had seen the hawk in the sky, it had been already plummeting towards the ground.
Even a decade later, although she had already spent years trying to convince herself that her mind had been faulty, she had been certain that he spun his horse around and looked for her in the crowds before smiling. In her memories, she could still clearly see him frozen in that moment, his grin brighter than even the sun itself.
It would be a lie to say that Yuan Zhen's young heart didn't flutter when her eyes met his.
For a brief moment, she allowed her mind to wander. She dreamed of riding into the sunset side by side, the flanks of their horses near-touching as their fingertips grazed one another's. She dreamed of defeating enemy troops together, her life in his hands and his in hers. She dreamed of wandering the countryside with him, helping the poor and those in need.
Yet the moment he knelt in front of the emperor, his posture perfect and his smile frozen at the perfect angle, Yuan Zhen's bubbly fantasy burst.
He was the son of Minister Yang. He was destined for a life in the court.
Why would he ever abandon his golden future for a life on the grasslands for her?
Her infatuation with him would be short-lived, she tried to tell herself. But why was it so hard to erase his sparkling eyes and wide smile from her memories?
After returning to the borders with her father, she replaced her thoughts with more training than ever. She would live up to her father's name as general. Fighting was in her blood, the bloodline of the previous royal dynasty. She would become the most feared female warrior history had ever known, and no thoughts of a minister's pretty son were going to stop her from that.
Only, her own body did.
She remembered falling into the coarse sand, clutching her chest in pain. The tendrils of pain spread from the center of her heart, pulsating for a moment before ebbing. Right when she thought it would go away as it usually did, it hit her once more, knocking the wind out of her.
She remembered gasping for help…the month of lying in bed…and the bonfire that held all her most treasured weapons and war books. She wanted to cry, but her father's former coaching forced the tears back into her eyes. She was a warrior, and warriors couldn't show weakness.
She remembered how all of her dreams went up in the gust of smoke and the expression on her father's face when he told her she wasn't allowed to practice on the fields anymore.
"A'Zhen, you're my only daughter. I know more than anyone what you want and what you're capable of, but I can't risk losing you."
She remembered how she screamed as she was sent back to the capital, far away from the rest of the soldiers and the future she worked her entire life toward.
It was a lonely life at the capital. Her father and brothers were all stationed at the border, and she was banned from physical activities. For most of the days, she could only watch the commotion on the streets from her window, wishing she could race out of the house on her beloved chestnut horse.
On one particular afternoon, the sudden commotion from the streets roused her attention. A beggar was beating beaten by a group of guards patrolling the streets. Yuan Zhen's senses tingled, her fingers tightening.
But before she could head out, a rich voice forced the guards to stop their senseless beating.
The proud youth from her dreams stood at the center of the crowd, righting the chaos. Riding his horse, he loomed above the people as he directed the flow of traffic. The light perfectly fell on his figure, and it all seemed so natural.
Yuan Zhen had no doubts about it. He was born to lead.
She began to notice him on his daily journey home from the palace. It seemed as if her eyes, honed from years of combat, had a newfound talent. Instead of scouting for enemy troops, she began to pick up any hint of his presence.
His every gesture tugged at her taunt heartstrings, and every time the pain began to spread in her chest, she would grit her teeth, remembering his smile as she willed her eyes to open.
He was everything she hated—the courts, the plotting, and the disguise.
Yet, he was her beam of light.