As Xiang returned to the palace, he found himself walking through the same halls where his brothers had once ridiculed him. Now, their taunts had turned to whispers of respect, and even King Hei Long, his once cold and distant father, had begun to acknowledge his strength. But no amount of respect from his family could quiet the storm in his heart. For Xiang had changed during his time with Master Zhi—not just physically, but emotionally. The weakness they once mocked was now his greatest asset. He had learned patience, restraint, and wisdom. Yet, in all his training, Xiang had never touched on the subject of love.
That was until one day, during a trade festival in the village, Xiang saw her—Yan.
She was unlike anyone Xiang had ever seen. Her beauty wasn't just in her face; it was in the way she carried herself—confident, focused, and hardworking. While others admired her from a distance, Xiang felt an undeniable pull toward her. He watched as she managed her family's market stall, working alongside her brothers, Shen, Shun, and Shu. Something about the way she moved, her quiet determination, and her unspoken strength resonated with him deeply.
For weeks, Xiang would return to the village under the pretense of buying supplies or simply exploring, but in reality, it was to catch a glimpse of Yan. He would watch her from a distance, too unsure of how to approach her. Every time he tried, something held him back—fear, perhaps, or the knowledge that a prince had no place mingling with a commoner.
But fate had other plans.
One day, while Yan was walking through the forest, collecting herbs for her family's business, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Xiang standing there, awkwardly trying to find the right words.
"You're Yan, right?" Xiang finally managed to say, his voice steady but his heart racing.
Yan looked at him with a curious gaze. "Yes. And you are?"
"I'm Xiang," he replied, unsure if she knew who he was. "I've seen you at the market. I... I wanted to say that you're... impressive. The way you handle everything, your business... it's inspiring."
Yan raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. "I don't think I've ever been called 'inspiring' before."
Xiang laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you are."
For the first time in his life, Xiang felt uncertain, like the powerful prince he had become wasn't enough to impress this girl. And yet, he found himself captivated by her simplicity and the way she didn't treat him any differently.
As days passed, Xiang began visiting Yan more frequently, helping her with the family business when he could. They talked about their lives, their struggles, and their dreams. Slowly, their bond deepened, and Xiang realized that his feelings for her were growing into something more. It was clear to everyone that Xiang had fallen for Yan, but not everyone was happy about it—especially Shu.
Shu had always been protective of Yan, and he didn't trust Xiang. In Shu's eyes, Xiang was just another arrogant prince who would hurt his sister. He warned Yan multiple times to stay away from him, but the more Xiang showed up, the more Yan began to develop feelings for him too.
One evening, when Xiang visited the village again, Shu decided he had had enough. He gathered a group of local boys, telling them to confront Xiang and make sure he never came near Yan again. The boys ambushed Xiang in the village square, intending to beat him up and scare him off.
But Xiang wasn't the same weak prince anymore.
Though he had promised himself to never use his strength for unnecessary violence, he couldn't stand by as the group attacked him. With precise moves he had learned from Master Zhi, Xiang easily defended himself. He didn't hurt anyone, only disarmed them, showing them mercy despite their aggression.
Shu, watching from a distance, was furious. How could Xiang be so calm, so collected, even in the face of danger? His plan had failed, but what infuriated Shu even more was that Yan had witnessed the whole thing.
After the confrontation, Yan approached Xiang, her face flushed with concern. "Are you okay?"
Xiang nodded, his eyes softening when he looked at her. "I'm fine. But I didn't come here to fight. I came because I... I wanted to tell you something."
Yan's heart skipped a beat. She had known for a while that Xiang's feelings for her were more than just friendship, but hearing him say it was different.
"I've fallen in love with you, Yan," Xiang confessed, his voice sincere. "I don't care about our differences or what others might think. I just know that every moment I spend with you makes me realize that you're the person I want to be with."
Yan looked at him, her emotions swirling. She had always been guarded, never allowing herself to dream of romance, especially with a prince. But Xiang was different. He wasn't just a prince—he was someone who understood her, who saw her for who she truly was.
"I've been falling for you too, Xiang," Yan admitted quietly, her eyes meeting his.
The two stood there in the twilight, the world fading away around them as they finally acknowledged their feelings for each other.
But their love wasn't going to be simple. Yan's family, especially Shu, disapproved of her relationship with Xiang, and the pressure from the village began to weigh on them. Xiang knew that if they stayed, their love would be torn apart by the expectations and prejudices of those around them.
One night, they made a decision that would change everything—they would run away together to Vichanese and start a new life.
The journey was fraught with challenges. Vichanese, though bustling and full of opportunity, was not kind to those without money. They struggled to find a place to live, scraping together what little they had for food and rent. But through it all, they had each other, and that was enough.
Then came a glimmer of hope—a job offer at the palace in Vichanese.
Xiang, using the skills he had learned from Master Zhi, applied for a position as a royal guard, while Yan found work as a merchant, selling the wares they had brought from their village. Though their new life was difficult, their love for each other gave them the strength to endure.
But this was only the beginning. Little did they know, their new life in Vichanese would bring even greater challenges, tests of their love, and a confrontation with forces that neither could have anticipated. Forces that would shake the very foundations of their relationship and threaten to tear them apart.