In a sunny beautiful day but with some clouds which assured that it would rain later and perhaps even cause a storm from the look of it. I stood beside the window of Yush Xi's house looking outside, it all felt strange. Everything felt strange.
It was like I was coming back from a long journey. A journey of millions of miles and with various obstacles which I came through, but strangely I didn't remember most of it. It was like I was present and living until I wasn't, something took over. A powerful invisible force which I couldn't control and it swallowed me whole heatedly and I let it take over.
I remembered how my father was overthrown and we had to flee from the general Qianlong, who betrayed my father. I was helped by general Chun and we hid our route ways till we arrived at the harbor. But the journey to the harbor itself was a nightmare, we didn't eat for four days straight since we couldn't stop and we had to get far away from Tong'an as possible. To a far away place which I still didn't remember the name of that place.
At the harbor it was pretty silence, I would call it a "dead harbor" for it had no ships except for a small one which was close to the shores.
"Until you return back to me again. For now, safe journey Your Majesty" said General Chun curtsying before me.
"I shall see you again general"
The sailor, who's name was Min Jun bade farewell to the general too and we boarded inside the boat. It was cold, very cold and I didn't know where I was being taken to but all I knew it was for my own safety. I had a huge black coat which I embraced myself in as I tremble.
My head was spinning and my heart was racing, we had just lost an entire kingdom. My life was meaningless and proposed no future purpose anymore, I was a prince just a day before and suddenly I wasn't. I broke down and cry.
"Princess don't cry" said Min Jun. "If you get sad, then so will I?"
I didn't pay attention to him and continued weeping as the cold wind blew on our way. It was heavy and shook the boat sideways. I didn't see where we were going, and let alone I didn't see where we left either. The boat was in the middle of the sea sailing and that's when a heavy rain fell, with a huge storm and knocked both of us out of the boat.
Min Jun called out for me in the storm, he tried to save me. It was his duty to protect the princess but he failed. I, during that moment I was also powerless, I was drowning and it was so scary.
I called out for my parent's names even though they were dead but I still felt like their names gave me the courage I needed.
But then I started to swallow a lot of sea water, and no matter how much I tried to make it to the top, I failed. The waves were so strong and kept dragging me down and I drowned, or maybe I died.
Just the thought of it had me started and scared. I took two deep breaths while still leaning on the window.
Yush Xi was looking at me the whole time, without my knowledge. But she brought to present when she called me "Your Majesty"
"Yes Yush Xi"
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I don't know, I keep having these memories which are scattered and I can't seem to properly understand"
She gave me a cup of hot tea and took me to the bed, where I sat close to her.
"How did I get here?" I asked. "I shouldn't be here, what if Qianlong finds me..."
"Calm down Yae Lin. You are safe with me, I will protect you"
"What happened Yush Xi?"
Yush Xi looked like she was hiding something from me, or she knew something about my nightmares but just didn't want to share. "Yush Xi, tell me"
"Your Majesty, I took a vow"
My heartbeat raced and I was stunned. "You took a vow?" I asked her and she nodded. "To who?"
"Your father. I promised not to say a thing"
"But my father is dead now Yush Xi. Tell me what exactly is going on, please..." I pleaded her but she didn't say anything.
She got up from the bed, I held her hand. I looked deep inside her eyes and said "Please" this time meaning it and actually wanting to know everything.
Yush Xi held my hand and she said "Before it's dark, the rebels army will be here to fight Qianlong. General Chun will lead the vanguard, but it's destined to fail. They will all die and few who are left, they will be imprisoned"
"What?"
"Except for your friends, Lee and Shu Yu will be safe. You and I will leave the palace before the war commences"
"Where would we go?"
"To another town, to find new strategies and a real army with provisions to help you win this battle. But not the rebel army. It's too weak Your Majesty and it's fighting without strategies"
"I didn't even know that there was a rebel army, I don't know anything"
"It's alright Yae Lin, once the owner of the body takes over. She'll know what to do" she said and barged outside leaving me with a lot of questions.
I wanted to follow her outside, but the instinct that I may be killed if someone saw me. I stayed inside as the words "owner of the body" ringing inside my head like a non stop door bell.
I kept asking myself questions like wasn't I owning the body my soul was living in. If so, then where was my body?
On the wall there was a huge mirror I walked to it so I could see the reflection of myself. What's so strange was that my body was invisible and I couldn't see myself. I quickly stepped back with fear gripping my soul. I took out the male cloths I was wearing and remained completely naked.
I walked back in the mirror and still there was nothing, the mirror couldn't display my reflection. "Am I dead?" I asked myself but then Yush Xi walked back inside and she was shocked seeing me naked standing in front of the mirror.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
I walked to her "Tell me the truth Yush Xi" I said shaking her shoulders while tears rolled down between my cheeks. "Tell me, tell me..."
"What do you want to know?"
"Am I dead?"
"Your Majesty"
"I can't see myself in the mirror" I said and took the mirror which I placed it in front of us. Yush Xi could be seen but not me.
I was invisible in front of it, just like the stories she used to tell me about ghosts who would roam around the world. But can be noticed when their frames couldn't be reflected in the mirror, because mirror only reflected a living soul not a dead one.
"Yae Lin listen to me, I made a promise to your father. His Majesty wanted me to protect you when the palace was under attack. He made me promise"
"What did he make you promise?" I asked.
"To bring you back if anything happened" she said.
All of it was too much and I needed to take a breather. I walked to the bed and sat on top of it, still shocked by almost everything. My heartbeat was racing because I was so afraid, if she brought me back that means I died.
"Your heartbeat is racing Your Majesty, try to calm down" said Yush Xi worried about me.
"I... I died?"
"Yae Lin it's okay you are here now"
Every word coming out from Yush Xi just made it all worse, in fact she was a witch and it was her magic that brought me back. I stood up circling inside the room trying to find something which I didn't even know what it was.
Then we heard some fireworks outside, and then a horn was blown. But it was barely noon, Yush Xi had said the war would happen at dark.
"What is it?" I asked with a sort of panic in my voice.
Yush Xi came towards me and she said "That's enough for today, Yae Lin. I shall summon you when it's time"
I didn't even get the chance to speak and she placed her two fingers on my forehead. From there it was black as I fell down instantly. It however felt peaceful and quiet, although the war order had been declared by the generals of Qianlong Emperor