suzhen finally arrived at the empress's estates.
she looked at the sky and it looked all dark. looks like rain will fall any time soon.
the garden was filled with beautiful hydrogea plants, chrysothemum, daffodils, Lilies and many more.
When she reached to the gazebo were the empress was waiting for her,she sat down and smiled curiously "your grace,so what did you want to tell me?"
the empress put down her cup and smiled "my dear,how would you were given the opportunity to explore another land? you would learn knew fighting techniques, horse back riding and other skills."
suzhen looked at the empress and she could see sadness in her eyes.
"your grace,what is bothering you?" she asked.
The empress stood up from her sit and started walking around. suzhen could see clearly that she's trying to look for the words to tell her.
"suzhen,walk with me" the empress offered.
without a second thought, suzhen walked along with the empress while appreciating the beauty of the flowers around the place.
they stood on the bridge that was on top the fish pond of the koi fish.
"do you hear the beautiful songs of birds every morning?" the empress began,
"do you smell the aroma of flowers around the garden? do you enjoy the fall of rain,the rise of the sun,the fall of moon and the accompanying of clouds and stars? you do..."
"life is unpredictable. time waits for no one and everyone has to continue moving till the end then start again. everyone has the same wish and that's to predict the future, it's funny that not even scientist can do that " she chuckles sadly.
"they only give opinions and not facts all they do is lie,not everyone tells the truth and not everyone lies.when you look at the life of a flower ; it first starts as a sidling then it grows roots,stems and as it continues to grow it will open beautiful petals that will shine brightly and the people around it will find happiness even just by looking at it,"
suzhen listens carefully at the empress' words as she speaks.
"but it can't grow on its own without the help of the sun,soil,water, oxygen and others," the empress turns to look at suzhen and she gently touches her cheeks. tears slowly makes their on the empress' eyes.
"your the flower Suzhen and the sun,soil and others are your family,they help you blossom into a beautiful young lady. when my sister gave birth to you and your brother,I was overwhelmed with joy and love. you resumble the empress so much that other people might think that she's your sister. as you grew up,you filled the palace with so much laughter. and just like flower you will be taken away from the ground and appreciated somewhere else, you'll leave us all and I can't bare to lose you" and then she starts sobbing.
"empress,why are you crying? I don't understand what you're saying" suzhen asked worriedly as she holds the empress' hands.
"During your coming of age ceremony. the prince of naishi who was one of the guests talked to the emperor that day requesting for..." she paused and continued hesitantly "for your hand in marriage"
That's it!
so what if he asked for her hand in marriage,she could refuse it. but why is the empress crying uncontrollably.
suzhen thought that the empress is overreacting.
"I don't understand,empress"
"suzhen he threatened us saying that he'll wage war if we don't oblige to his demands leaving us speechless. the emperor doesn't want the people to suffer especially those on the outskirts of the country."
the empress studied suzhen's reaction wondering if the girl will throw a tantrum,that will be understandable but to her surprise suzhen didn't utter a word.
she looked emotionless,tears fell from her eyes quietly. she would have to leave her family,her country,her friends,her life in the palace - all of it.... even.. prince Haoran.
Seeing her like this broke the empress's heart.
she leaned in and hugged suzhen as she stroked her hair.
after some time suzhen gently pushed the empress aside. turning around,she walked away.
The empress called her but got no reply as the young lady just kept on walking.
the empress sighed exasperatedly and kept on crying.
Soon after,rain started falling.
the maidservants rushed to the empress. one covered the empress with an umbrella and the others covered her from the cold with a cloak.
taking one last glance at the direction were suzhen had left did she leave with the thoughts of her. poor girl. this must be hard for her.
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The rain poured heavily, thunder and lightning sang their song. The flowers enjoyed the beautiful rain but suzhen, she's not enjoying anything right now. life seems to be mocking her.
she walked out of the empress's estate and wondered off not knowing where she was heading to.
she walked and walked under rain around the place with one question in mind.
"why me? why me?"
" hahahaha,I'm not even that pretty. there are many pretty princesses so why me?" suzhen laughed at her own life.
Everything in her life was fine but why is this happening to her. all she wanted was to live a blissful life.
maybe she's overreacting. what if the prince of naishi is kind hearted and would treat her well.
WRONG!!!
The prince of naishi is known for his cruelty. why would he love her - a daughter of a a duke and duchess.
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Prince Haoran came out from his room and headed to the emperors private study. but as he was walking through the corridor,he saw a figure in his garden. he squinted his eyes and saw that it was a young woman.
who would be standing in his garden and with that heavy rain?
he then recognized that familiar silhouette.
"suzhen?!"
he walked out of the umbrella that the attendant was shielding him from the rain and dashed towards her with a worried look.
suzhen looked behind her after hearing her name and saw someone approaching her but before she could recognize him,her eyes become blurry and felt dizzy. she was slowly loosing consciousness and eventually saw black.
before she could hit the ground but Haoran had already reached at her side and studied her before kneeling on the ground and lied her on his laps.
"suzhen,open your eyes" but he got no response and this made his heart ache.
He put one arm under her knees and the other arm on her back and he swiftly carried her to his private courtyard.