Princess Yuyan sat on her bed, legs swinging gently as she hummed a familiar melody, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a silk scarf through the air. The late afternoon sun poured through the carved window, painting golden patterns across her chamber floor. She was in a light, peaceful mood—something warm and unexplainable had been sitting in her chest for days now. Harmony… serenity… as if the world, for once, had stopped chasing her.
She was so lost in that gentle moment that she didn't hear Mei come in.
Mei had been on her way to the kitchen when she overheard two maids whispering by the corridor—words that made her heart freeze.
The emperor's decree and marriage challenge. Princess Yuyan's hand would be offered to whoever could defeat the Black Scorpion. It felt like the ground had shifted beneath her.
And Yuyan didn't mention it to me? There was only one explanation—she didn't know.
Now standing at the doorway of the princess's chamber, plate still in her hand, Mei felt her voice catch in her throat. How was she supposed to say this? How could she?
She finally spoke, her tone soft but uneven. "Yuyan?"
The princess blinked, pulled back from her peaceful daze. She turned toward her maid, smile still lingering on her face. "Oh, Mei. I didn't see you come in."
Mei stepped forward, trying to smile back, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"How are you?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Yuyan's smile faded slightly. She set the scarf down on her lap and looked up, brows gently furrowed. "Mei… what's wrong?"
There was a pause.
Then Mei swallowed and said carefully, "There's something I think you should hear… something the emperor has announced."
"What is it?" Yuyan asked, her curiosity piqued. "Don't tell me Father's replacing you with another maid without my permission," she added, raising a brow playfully.
Mei gave a faint smile but didn't respond.
"No," she said finally, her voice lower now. "It's… a little more serious than that."
Yuyan's smile vanished. The tone in Mei's voice was too calm—too careful.
"Is it about me?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "Or you?"
Mei hesitated. "It's about… us. But mostly about you."
Yuyan sat up straighter. "Mei," she said slowly. "I command you to tell me."
Still, Mei remained silent, her eyes filled with unease.
Yuyan's voice cracked like thunder.
"Now."
Mei flinched. She had never heard the princess raise her voice like that—not at her.
Taking a breath, she stepped forward and placed the plate on the nearby table.
"The emperor… your father," she began slowly, "he's issued a decree."
"What kind of decree?"
Mei met her eyes.
"He's promised your hand in marriage… to any man who can defeat the Black Scorpion in battle."
For a second, silence fell like a stone in the room.
Then Yuyan blinked. "What…?"
Mei nodded, barely able to look at her. "I overheard the maids speaking. It's already spreading. The whole palace will know by sundown."
In a fit of rage, Yuyan stormed through the palace halls, her silk slippers pounding against the floor.
"Father!" she screamed as soon as she sighted him seated with her mother in the inner chamber.
The Emperor and Empress both turned, startled by her sudden entrance.
"Why would you sell me off like that—without even telling me?" she cried, her voice sharp and trembling.
"Mind your speech!" the Empress snapped, rising to her feet. "How dare you speak to his Highness in such a tone?"
Yuyan's chest heaved with emotion. Her mother's words cut, but not as deeply as her father's silence.
"Don't you trust your father?" the Empress continued. "Know this—whatever decision he made, it was for your own good."
Yuyan let out a bitter laugh. "My own good?" she echoed. "How is it for my good to be handed over to a stranger like some prize?"
Her voice cracked as she dropped to her knees before the Emperor.
"Father, please… don't do this to me," she begged, clutching at the hem of his robe. Her hands trembled. "Don't decide my fate like this."
The Emperor's expression softened. Her tears pained him more than he could admit. He bent down, lifting her gently to her feet and brushing away the tears on her cheeks.
"I'm doing this because I love you, Yuyan," he said quietly. "You are my most precious jewel. And one day… you'll see I made the right choice."
He stroked her head, as he used to when she was a child.
But to Yuyan, his comfort felt like a stone in her chest.
She turned quickly to her mother, her eyes pleading.
"Please… don't let him send me away. Don't let him marry me off to someone I don't even know."
She fell to her knees again, this time before the Empress.
"Mother… I'm begging you".
Somewhere not far from the capital, Leng Yue sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the vampire prince, Tian Yu. Neither of them spoke. It felt less like a conversation and more like a quiet contest—to see who would break first.
Eventually, Tian Yu leaned back and asked casually, "How's Mei Lian?"
Leng Yue raised an eyebrow. "Point of correction—Yuyan," he replied dryly. "And you've got no right asking about her."
Tian Yu smirked. "Why not?"
"Because you're with her every night," Leng Yue shot back, half-playful but with an edge. "Watching her sleep like some love-struck ghost."
Tian Yu lifted a brow. "Are you jealous?"
Leng Yue scoffed, crossing his arms. "Jealous? Of you?" he said quickly, a bit too quickly. "Don't flatter yourself."
Tian Yu stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Then why are you looking at me like that?"
Leng Yue looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "What look?"
"The one that says this man is too handsome".
Leng Yue gave a loud, sarcastic laugh and stood, bracing both hands on the table between them. "Careful, Tian Yu, or I'll start thinking you are the one admiring me.
Tian Yu gave a faint smile. "You really think you are handsome".
Leng Yue shook his head and waved it off. "Anyway, I didn't come here to bicker."
He stepped away from the table, then turned halfway back. "The Black Scorpion and his army will arrive by noon tomorrow. The Emperor's declared that whoever defeats him will win the right to marry the princess."
Tian Yu's smile faded.
"So," Leng Yue said, voice sharpening, "You've got competition. A lot of it. Don't miss this chance."
And with that, he left, the weight of his words hanging behind him like a war drum already beating.
When he got to the palace, he saw Mei sitting beside the pond feeding the fishes.
"You little monsters. If you eat too much, you might die." She said staring at the fishes.
Leng Yue smiled. Was she really talking to them? He asked himself as he approached her. When she felt a presence close to her, she quickly stood up and turned to see Leng Yue standing close to her.
"Your highness!" She said startled and bowed slightly.
"You never told me that you talk to fishes." He said smiling.
She chuckled slightly and said.
"I don't talk to fishes. I was just..... feeding them. "She replied.
Leng Yue then started walking slowly closet to her and her eyes widened in shock.
"Your highness, I have something to do for the princess. I'll be heading back now. " She said and wanted to run off but slipped and fell into the water pulling Leng Yue along.
What have she done?
Leng Yue knew Mei was bad at swimming so he quickly helped her out of the water and came out too. She was shivering in cold so he offered to help her to her chamber. She didn't agree neither did she object so, he walked her to her chamber before heading to his chamber to clean up.