The stars shimmered above Lianhua like scattered pearls, and the gentle wind stirred the lanterns that lined the palace walls. It was a night of celebration. The kingdom was at peace, the Black Scorpion defeated, and the Emperor's daughter married to the hero who had helped bring victory.
A grand castle had been gifted to the newlyweds—a symbol of honor and new beginnings. Its white walls glowed softly under the moonlight, and inside, petals were scattered across the polished floors, carrying the faint scent of jasmine and snow blossom.
In the bride's chamber, soft candlelight flickered.
Several palace maids moved silently around Princess Yuyan, their faces calm and delicate with ceremony. She sat still, her hands resting on her lap, as they unpinned her bridal hair and gently combed through the long, silken strands. Another maid brought in warm water scented with rose oil and carefully helped her into the bath, washing away the traces of the long day.
No one spoke as they notice Yuyan's heavy mood. She had smiled through the ceremony. She had bowed before the Emperor. She had accepted the veil and walked beside Tian Yu as custom demanded.
But inside… she felt hollow.
"Is this what fate feels like?" she wondered, staring blankly at her reflection in the water. "To be handed over to a man I barely know?"
Once her bath was done, they dressed her in a soft night robe of pale lavender and brushed her hair until it shone. Then, bowing low, the maids stepped back and quietly left the chamber.
She was alone.
The bedchamber was large and quiet, lit only by firelight. A gentle breeze stirred the silk curtains. She looked toward the bed—large, newly made, covered in soft gold embroidery—and her chest tightened.
Yuyan sat on the edge, knees drawn close, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her heart was pounding. She couldn't stop remembering the book her father gave her—the strange tale of a boy raised among witches, cursed with ancient blood. The Vampire Prince.
Something about Tian Yu reminded her of that book. His eyes look different, the way he moved… the silence around him. But it's just a story, she told herself. Still, fear crept into her bones.
When the door opened, she didn't look up.
She heard his footsteps—quiet, unhurried—as Tian Yu entered the chamber. He said nothing. Just walked past her and removed his ceremonial robe in silence.
Yuyan quickly climbed into bed, turning her back to him and laying at the very edge. She could feel her whole body trembling, even as she tried to stay still.
She didn't know what he expected.
Did he want her to act like a wife? Was he going to claim her? Would he be gentle—or cold? But to her surprise, he said nothing.
After a long moment, she felt the bed shift beneath his weight. He lay beside her—but not too close. The space between them was wide, heavy with silence.
Then slowly… quietly… she felt a hand reach across the distance. It was not forceful, not urgent but just steady.
He touched her waist—only lightly—and then paused, as if asking permission without words. Yuyan didn't move.
Tian Yu gently pulled her closer—not all the way, just enough for her to feel that he wasn't a threat. That he was there__solid, warm and quiet.
He said no words or demands.
Just his arm around her waist, steady as a silent vow. Yuyan stared into the dark, eyes open. Her mind was a storm of questions.
But her body began to relax in his arm.
Yuyan slowly drifted into sleep, wrapped gently in Tian Yu's arm. His presence was warm and still, like a quiet river beneath moonlight. Despite her fears, her body had relaxed next to him, and somewhere in the silence between them, her mind slipped into a dream.
She found herself standing in a place she didn't recognize.
The sky above was soft and glowing, painted with colors she had no name for. All around her, people moved with purpose and joy—laughing, chatting, working in harmony. The air felt light, peaceful and alive.
Yuyan walked further, her bare feet brushing against the smooth earth. There was something strange about the place—so unfamiliar, yet deeply comforting. Flowers bloomed along the paths. Children ran past her giggling. Bells chimed in the distance.
Then, from the crowd, a woman approached her.
She was graceful, glowing with beauty that was both ageless and gentle. Before Yuyan could speak, the woman smiled and wrapped her arms around her in a warm, familiar embrace.
"Is this how quickly a daughter forgets her mother?" the woman said with a soft laugh.
Yuyan's lips parted, but no sound came. Her voice felt distant, too weak to rise. And yet… her heart ached in recognition. She didn't know this woman. Or perhaps—she did__deep inside.
But she didn't need words. Because in that moment, she felt safe. Like she belonged.
The woman took her hand and began guiding her through the lively place, pointing things out, speaking gently, though Yuyan could barely understand the meaning of it all. It felt like she was being introduced to something ancient—something she didn't really understand.
As they walked, Yuyan suddenly saw a familiar face up ahead.
Her heart stopped.
It was her childhood friend—the one who had died years ago. "Min'er?" Yuyan gasped, voice trembling as she ran forward.
The girl turned, grinning wide, and threw her arms around Yuyan. "Yuyan!" she cried. "I heard you got married—to a prince from the old legends!"
Yuyan laughed, her voice light for the first time in weeks. "He's not a prince," she replied. "Just a warrior in my father's army."
Min'er shook her head playfully. "You don't know the truth yet… but you will."
They stood there talking like no time had passed. They were laughing, remembering. Yuyan felt alive again—whole.
But then… a thought surfaced in her mind like a ripple.
"Wait…" she said, her smile slowly fading. "I thought you… you died."
Min'er smiled sweetly, almost mysteriously. "That's what you all believe over there," she said. "But things aren't always as they seem."
She took Yuyan's hand again. "Come, there's something I want to show you. A secret."
They began walking toward a glowing archway at the far end of the garden. Something ancient pulsed on the other side.
But just as Yuyan was about to step through.
She heard a voice.
"Princess Yuyan!"
She turned toward it. "Mie?" she murmured, her dream beginning to blur. "Princess… wake up. It's morning."
Yuyan blinked, her eyes fluttering open. The dream vanished like mist, and she was back in the castle, wrapped in the warmth of silken sheets. Mie stood at the bedside, her eyes wide with concern.
"You were talking in your sleep," Mie said softly. "Are you alright?"
Yuyan sat up slowly, her heart still beating with the echo of that otherworldly place. She looked down at her hands, half-expecting to still feel her friend's warmth.
"I… I think I saw her," she whispered.
Mie frowned gently. "Who?"
But Yuyan only shook her head, unsure how to explain. The dream was fading already… but something about it clung to her soul like a thread waiting to be pulled.