⋆﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏⋆
The afternoon sunlight lingered warmly over the vast imperial palace of Guo'an.
Outside, golden rays filtered through flowering peach trees, casting dancing shadows across stone pathways and palace walls. A gentle spring breeze wandered through the gardens, carrying with it the fragrance of blossoms and fresh grass.
Within Princess Xiao Lihua's temporary residence, peace settled quietly.
After her unexpected encounter at the training grounds earlier that morning, Xiao Lihua had returned to her chambers.
The room was spacious and elegant, adorned with pale jade decorations and embroidered silk curtains. Through the open windows, she could hear distant birds singing somewhere among the palace gardens.
Princess Xiao Lihua sat before a polished bronze mirror.
Behind her stood Lin Yue.
The young maid carefully combed through the princess's long dark hair with practiced gentleness.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Lihua's reflection stared back at her.
Yet her thoughts remained elsewhere.
Back at the training grounds.
Back to a certain prince.
"...Lin Yue."
The maid paused slightly.
"Yes, Princess?"
Lihua hesitated.
For some reason, she felt embarrassed asking.
Still-
Curiosity won.
"The man we saw this morning..."
Lin Yue smiled knowingly.
"The Second Prince?"
Lihua immediately looked away.
"...Yes."
The maid tried very hard not to laugh.
"He truly was His Highness, Second Prince Guo Yichen."
Lihua frowned slightly.
"He doesn't seem like the rumors."
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"The rumors describe someone cold, aggressive, and difficult."
The princess lowered her gaze.
"But he didn't seem that way."
A soft chuckle escaped Lin Yue.
"That is because most rumors only tell half the story."
Lihua became interested.
The maid continued combing her hair.
"When people speak about His Highness, they always mention his temper."
"And does he have one?"
Lin Yue immediately nodded.
"Very much."
The princess blinked.
The maid laughed.
"But it is usually directed toward people who deserve it."
Lihua remained silent.
Lin Yue continued.
"When I first entered palace service several years ago, I accidentally spilled tea near His Highness."
The maid visibly shivered.
"I thought I was going to die."
Lihua looked surprised.
"What happened?"
Lin Yue covered her face dramatically.
"I nearly cried on the spot."
That earned a laugh from the princess.
The maid continued.
"He looked absolutely terrifying."
"What did he do?"
Lin Yue paused.
"He told me to stop trembling."
Lihua blinked.
"...That was all?"
"That was all."
The maid sighed dramatically.
"But I was terrified for three days afterward."
Lihua laughed softly.
The room became lighter with the sound.
Lin Yue smiled.
"He's not cruel."
"Just intimidating."
The princess looked thoughtful.
The image she remembered from the training grounds returned once more.
The prince helping a younger soldier stand.
The patience hidden behind his stern expression.
The gentleness she had noticed.
It did not resemble the rumors at all.
Lin Yue suddenly smiled.
"Oh."
"I remembered something."
"What?"
The maid giggled.
"There used to be many stories about the two princes when they were younger."
Lihua became curious immediately.
"What stories?"
Lin Yue leaned closer conspiratorially.
"When Second Prince Yichen was little, he followed the Crown Prince everywhere."
Lihua blinked.
"Everywhere?"
The maid nodded enthusiastically.
"Everywhere."
"If the Crown Prince studied, Yichen would sit nearby."
"If the Crown Prince practiced calligraphy, Yichen would watch."
"If the Crown Prince left the palace..."
Lin Yue dramatically pointed forward.
"Yichen would chase after him."
Lihua laughed.
The maid continued.
"One time the Crown Prince disappeared for an entire afternoon because he was attending lessons."
"And?"
"Yichen cried."
The princess stared.
"He cried?"
Lin Yue nodded.
"He searched half the palace."
Lihua immediately imagined a small version of the stern prince running around desperately looking for his older brother.
The mental image was so unexpected she laughed harder than before.
Lin Yue laughed too.
"They were very close."
Lihua smiled.
"He sounds adorable."
"I would never repeat that to his face."
The maid shivered.
"Neither would I."
The two shared another laugh.
Then gradually-
The princess's smile faded.
Her gaze lowered.
Lin Yue immediately noticed.
"...Princess?"
Lihua looked toward the window.
Beyond the palace walls.
Beyond the mountains.
Far away.
Toward Tianzhou.
Toward home.
"I suddenly remembered my brother."
Her voice softened.
"When I was younger..."
A faint smile appeared.
"He was very similar."
Lin Yue listened quietly.
"I became sick often."
"Almost every month."
The princess laughed softly.
"And every time, my brother would stay beside me."
The memory warmed her heart.
"He would force physicians to explain everything twice."
"He barely slept."
"And he worried more than anyone."
Her smile trembled slightly.
"I miss him."
Lin Yue's expression softened.
The maid carefully placed the comb aside.
Then gently rested a hand upon the princess's shoulder.
"You will see him again."
Lihua remained silent.
"Your brother loves you very much."
The princess nodded slowly.
"I know."
Lin Yue smiled.
"And I am certain His Majesty misses you too."
For the first time since arriving in Guo'an-
The homesickness hurt a little less.
"Thank you, Lin Yue."
The maid smiled brightly.
"It is my job."
---
Elsewhere.
Within the Crown Prince's private study.
Rows of books lined elegant shelves.
Sunlight filtered through carved wooden windows while incense burned softly nearby.
Prince Guo Mingze sat behind a desk reviewing official documents.
A knock suddenly echoed through the room.
"Enter."
The door opened.
Mingze looked up.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
"Yichen?"
Standing there was the Second Prince himself.
Guo Yichen entered quietly.
His training robes remained slightly dusty from the morning exercises.
Mingze looked amused.
"I thought you were training."
"I was."
The younger prince sat down across from him.
Silence followed.
Mingze immediately became suspicious.
"...What?"
Yichen frowned.
"What?"
"You only visit me when you want something."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Yichen looked away.
Mingze smiled knowingly.
Several seconds passed.
Then-
Yichen finally spoke.
"...The Tianzhou Princess."
Mingze almost laughed.
Ah.
There it was.
"What about her?"
Yichen crossed his arms.
"She is your fiancée?"
Mingze nodded.
"Yes."
The younger prince remained quiet.
Far too quiet.
Mingze patiently waited.
Eventually-
"I saw her."
The Crown Prince's smile widened.
"At the training grounds?"
"...Yes."
"And?"
Yichen hesitated.
Then awkwardly replied.
"She seemed..."
Another pause.
"...fine."
Mingze nearly laughed.
"Fine?"
The younger prince looked annoyed.
"You know what I mean."
"I do not."
"Brother."
Mingze chuckled.
Yichen sighed heavily.
Then finally said-
"She seemed kind."
The Crown Prince's smile softened.
"She is."
The younger prince nodded.
"...Good."
Another silence followed.
Then quietly-
"I am happy for you."
For a moment, Mingze looked genuinely touched.
"Thank you."
Yichen immediately looked away.
Clearly embarrassed.
Mingze decided not to tease him.
Too much.
Only a little.
"You seem unusually interested."
"I am not."
"Of course."
"I am not."
The Crown Prince laughed.
Yichen groaned.
Then quickly changed topics.
"When is the wedding?"
Mingze answered calmly.
"Two months from now."
The younger prince froze.
For some reason-
The answer felt unpleasant.
Though he could not explain why.
"...I see."
Mingze studied his brother carefully.
A strange feeling stirred within him.
As though something invisible had just begun moving.
Something neither of them understood yet.
Outside the study windows, spring winds carried flower petals through the palace grounds.
And somewhere within Guo'an-
Fate quietly took its first step.
⋆﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏⋆
(End of Chapter 25)