Ying Yue wakes up to the rays of sunlight cracking in through the window. Realizing she was sleeping in a bed; she quickly opened her eyes. Feeling something heavy hugging her waist she slowly turned her head to look behind her. Realizing she was lying next to the dragon emperor, Ying Yue couldn't contain herself, screaming at the top of her lungs and rolling off the bed.
"Ahhhh! What do you think you're doing?!"
Ying Yue watches from the floor as the beautiful man clad in gold slowly groaned and move. Realizing he was still asleep, Ying Yue thought this was her chance to escape. Ying Yue realized she was dressed in a thin silk night gown. It was a beautiful gown indeed, simple, yet soft to the touch. With her arms and calves exposed, Ying Yu was reluctant to leave the room in such a thing. Yet, Ying Yue knew she had to find a way home, back to her mother. So, she got on her knees and started crawling.
"God, I hope he wasn't the one that changed my clothes."
Ying Yue finally reached the bedroom door. Slowly standing up and prying the doors open, she realized that general Fu Jia was guarding the room.
"Ms. Ying Yue? What are you doing?"
"Uh..I was....just trying to find the bathroom."
"Oh, pardon me. I will ask one of the maids to take you there."
Fu Jia, motioned for a maid nearby to come and take Ying Yue. Ying Yue quietly followed the maid until they got closer to the bathrooms. Looking around making sure no one was nearby; Ying Yue knocks the maid unconscious and switched clothes with her. Dressing like a maid was perfect. All Ying Yue had to do was cover her hair. Ying Yue dragged the unconscious maid into an empty room. There she finds a piece of cloth. Quickly tying her hair up, Ying Yue makes a run for it to the horse stable.
"I'm sorry, please don't hold it against me."
After twenty minutes of running and dodging anyone that might recognize her, Ying Yue finally made it to the horse stable. Casually walking in, Ying Yue see's the stable man. Unsure of what to do, Ying Yue had to use a little white lie.
"Ahem."
"Who are you? What's a maid doing here?"
"I uh...was told it was time for you to go on break, so I've come to cover you."
Breaking into a smile and staring at the stableman as to not give herself away. Lying was never something Ying Yue was good at. She had a habit of hiding her hands behind her back whenever she did. Either the stableman was stupid or Ying Yue was getting better, but he bought her lie.
"Oh! About time! I've been waiting. Here, continue to feed the horses till I am back. These are the emperor's favorite horses, so don't touch them."
The stableman hands Ying Yue a stack of hay and quickly runs off. Ying Yue watched as the stableman's figure slowly disappear. Once he was out of sight, Ying Yue took out the beautiful black horse. He looked like he was the fastest. Not even sure of where she needed to go, Ying Yue just knew she could not stay in the dragon palace.
"Oh shoot, how am I going to go out the front door with the horse?!"
Slamming her right palm onto her forehead in frustration, Ying Yue had to take a gamble. She was one of the best at horse riding in her world, so she was confident. Without thinking much, Ying Yue hops onto the horse and started making a run for the palace entrance. Screaming at the top of her lungs now.
"Move out of my way!"
Ying Yue screamed at the guards trying to stop her. Looking unphased they turned their spears to face Ying Yue. Ying Yue clenched down on the horse reigns and speeds her horse up. She wasn't going to stop now. Charging her way through, Ying Yue made it out of the palace doors. Refusing to stop, Ying Yue made a run for it. After thirty minutes of running away, Ying Yue was now in the middle of nowhere.
"Well, that went well didn't it?"
Meanwhile the dragon emperor finally awakens from his sleep; due to Fu Jia knocking on his door profusely. Moving onto the side of the bed, he realizes Ying Yue was gone. Standing up, he ushers for Fu Jia to enter.
"Come in."
"Good morning your majesty."
"Fu Jia, what's with all the noises? And where's Ying Yue?"
"Uh...about that..sir."
Fu Jia goes on and tells the dragon emperor of how they found an unconscious maid and a horse missing from the royal stable and how Ying Yue ran out the palace gates. The dragon emperor couldn't help, but break into a laughter.
"Ha Ha, how does one woman outrun the dragon army?"
"I'm sorry, your majesty. It was a mistake on my part. I will send out my men to find her."
"Nah, don't bother. I knew she wouldn't settle down so easily when she woke up. Have the maids come help me prepare my morning clothing."
"Did you need a horse later your majesty?"
"No, I'll be teleporting there after the meeting. I already know where she is,"
"Ah, very well."
Fu Jia, bids the dragon emperor farewell and leaves to complete his given tasks. Jianyu was now dressed in three layers of clothing, a dark outfit with a dragon emblem and golden embroidery. With his golden crown on, he was ready. After being fully dressed the dragon emperor makes his way to the meeting hall. Jianyu walks to his throne and seats himself. There he's greeted by his advisors, and ministers.
"Greetings your majesty."
"You may all rise. Now, where is the prime minister?"
The moment Jianyu called for the prime minister, everyone started glancing around and noticed that the prime minister was missing. Just as everyone was chattering among themselves, the door creaked open. In came an old man, looking to be in his fifties. He was tall, slender, and had high cheekbones. The mystery man also had a young girl tagging along behind him. Dressed in gold and white, with rosy cheeks, red lips, golden hair and pale skin. To everyone this woman was breathtakingly beautiful. Quickly coming to their knees before the dragon emperor.
"Greetings your majesty. I apologize for being late."
"You two may rise."
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Now tell me, prime minister. What are you hoping to accomplish by bringing a woman here?"
"Your majesty, this is my oldest daughter Shi Chen. I know you have just awoken from your slumber not too long ago, but you have no one in your harem yet. My eldest daughter says she fell in love with you at first sight and wishes to get to know you, your majesty. Come now Shi Chen, greet his majesty."
"Shi Chen, greets his majesty."
Shi Chen adverts her stare to Jianyu. Blushing at the idea of becoming his empress or consort. She had heard he was a beautiful man, but she had never thought he'd look even better in the flesh. Jianyu knew what the prime minister was planning, a typical tactic to gain favor. Breaking into a grin, Jianyu was going to show the prime minister his place.
"How dare you. You're barging in here trying to throw your daughter onto me? And for what? What are you planning to gain minister Meng Tao?"
Meng Tao sees that he has angered the dragon emperor. Worried for his life, he crumbles down to the floor and begs for mercy.
"Please spare us, your majesty! I wasn't thinking properly! Please know I had no ill intentions! Shi Chen! Get down on your knees!"
Grabbing onto Shi Chen's arm and dragging her down, she was now kneeling with her father. Baffled at the turn of events, she never thought there would be a man that would turn her down. Everyone wanted her as a wife. Her father was the prime minister, he had money and status. She was beautiful and perfect in every way, and yet the man she wants is rejecting her? It was all nonsense to her. Thinking that the dragon emperor probably didn't see her clearly. Before she could speak up, Jianyu cut her off.
"I'll have you all know; I already have someone I'll be taking as my empress. Now get out of my sight."
The prime minister kept his face down and bids the dragon emperor farewell. Slowly exiting the meeting hall, while dragging along his daughter. Once they left the room, the prime minister lashes out at his daughter.
"Look at that! I told you he wouldn't fall for you! You nearly made us lose our heads!"
"Father! His majesty just needs to spend more time with me! He will fall for me! Watch and see!"
Shi Chen stormed off, with her father walking behind her. Jianyu lost his mood for the meeting and dismissed everyone.
"Today's meeting is done. I hope none of you tries anything funny."
Looking at each other, the other ministers and aids breathed in relief that they didn't do anything yet. The prime minister wasn't the only one with a daughter. Although they wanted to introduce their daughters to Jianyu, they knew he would pay them no mind especially after witnessing today. Everyone decided to call it a day and bid the dragon emperor farewell. Jianyu watched as everyone leave one by one.
The dragon emperor then returns to his bedroom and removes the heavy outer layer of his outfit. He then grabs his sword that was hidden under his pillow. It was a beautiful sword indeed. Made out of completely gold, even the cover itself was gold. Jianyu started chanting and in a blink of an eye he created a portal that led him straight to Ying Yue's location.
Meanwhile, Ying Yue had barely moved. Still trying to figure out where to go and how to go about going home. Sitting on a rock, by a stream with her horse not too far away from her; just eating grass. Ying Yue wish she had at least stolen some food.
"Grumble."
"Ugh, what am I supposed to do about going home? That old priest already closed up all the portals and now I'm starving."
"Well, you could always come back with me to the dragon palace, Ying Yue."
All of a sudden, a deep voice answers her. Ying Yue quickly turns around and sees the dragon emperor; Jianyu standing behind her. No more than five feet away. Ying Yue was left speechless.
"How....what?...How did you find me already?! It hasn't even been an hour yet!"
Chucking to himself, he slowly walks closer to Ying Yue. Every time he did, Ying Yue took a step back.
"Ying Yue, just know that wherever you go, I will be able to find you. No matter where you hide."
"Why me?! I'm sure there's plenty of beautiful women waiting for you. You should be hating me for carrying the blood of that woman who betrayed you!"
"She's just someone who has been dead for centuries. For centuries, I waited in darkness, Ying Yue. No matter who I called, they couldn't hear me. Until you were born Ying Yue. I saw life through your eyes. I saw your struggles; I saw your first love fall apart...I saw how you and your mother struggled. Little by little, I fell in love with you Ying Yue. I couldn't wait anymore and came to you in your dreams."
Ying Yue stopped in her tracks. She couldn't advert her eyes away from Jianyu's passionate stares anymore. Unable to step back anymore, Ying Yue froze on spot as Jianyu got closer and closer. Ying Yue was now only inches away from the dragon emperor. Jianyu slowly grabs Ying Yue's right arm and places it on top of where his heart was.
"Ying Yue, this heart can beat again, because of you. Please come back with me to the dragon palace. I will not force you to do anything until you are ready, I will wait until you fall for me on your own."
Ying Yue thought to herself that there's no woman on this planet that could reject him after hearing such a confession. Before Ying Yue could say anything, the dragon emperor had kissed her. Feeling his soft lips on hers shocked her. Ying Yue didn't know what to do. Struggling to breath Ying Yue pushes the dragon emperor away.
"Gasp! Hah..you..you just said you would wait until I was ready!"
Trying to catch her breath Ying Yue glares at the dragon emperor who showed no remorse for kissing Ying Yue. Instead he breaks into a smile and grabs Ying Yue by her waist and pulls her closer.
"I did say I would wait, but keep in mind I'm not the most patience person Ying Yue. Shall we go now?"
"....Hmph, you're lucky I didn't dislike it."
"Ha Ha!"
The dragon emperor busted out laughing at Ying Yues remark. He laughed so hard he started to tear up. After a good minute he finally stopped laughing and turned his attention to Ying Yue who was still in his embrace.
"Let's get going, shall we?"
Holding Ying Yue by her right hand; Ying Yue couldn't help, but blush. This was the first time another man other than Bolin had held her hand, she felt nothing when Bolin held her hand, so why was it so different with the dragon emperor. In a blink of an eye the dragon emperor had created a portal back to the royal palace. Ying Yue couldn't believe how weak she was to a handsome face. After grabbing the horse, the dragon emperor and Ying entered the portal.
"Sigh...here we go again."
In an instant, Ying Yue was back at the palace. The dragon emperor continued to drag Ying Yue by her hand. Soon they were back to his bed chambers. Ying Yue finally broke free from his grip and decided they will take things slow and at her pace. Crossing her hands and standing across from the dragon emperor, Ying Yue started listing off her suggestions.
"Uh..your majesty...I would like my own bed chambers at the very least until I get to know you more. Although we shared a night together, we didn't commit any deeds. So, I think it's only fair if we start from the beginning."
"Call me Jianyu, Ying Yue. Also, you were asleep for three months, Ying Yue."
"What? No way, stop lying."
"I'm not kidding Ying Yue. No one could figure out why you weren't waking up after you passed out on the day I woke up. The old priest said that when you touched my soul, fragments of your soul was tainted by the curse. Since you lifted the curse from me, I've become immune to it, so every night I had to share my life force with you."
"Life force...?
Jianyu points to his lips and smiles at Ying Yue. Ying Yues face went bright red. That means Jianyu has been kissing her for the past three months without her knowing. She didn't know whether to be mad or embarrassed from the news. Quickly trying to compose herself, Ying Yue clears her throat and still demands a separate room.
"Ahem, I..I forgive you since it was necessary for me to live, but I still want my own room."
"Alright, I always knew were you stubborn. I'll have the maids prepare the empress quarters for you. My mother used to live there, before she passed away. I'll actually feel better knowing it's you living there."
Smiling in relief Ying Yue couldn't help, but break into a smile. Maybe this was the life she was supposed to have lived, maybe this is why her love for the crown prince never bloomed.
"Thank you, Jianyu!"