Mei ran through the long corridors without caring about the curious stares that followed her. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. When she reached the emperor's chamber, she didn't bother with formality. She pushed the door open and rushed inside.
"Your Majesty! Something is wrong with Leng Yue!" she cried.
The emperor, who had been reviewing scrolls, rose instantly. One look at Mei's pale face told him this was no ordinary fear.
"What happened?" he asked sharply, holding mei by the shoulder.
"He won't wake up," she said, her voice shaking. "No matter how I call him or shake him… his not waking up.
The emperor followed her at once. By the time they reached Leng Yue's chamber, several guards and servants were already gathering outside.
They met him laying on the bed, in the same position she left him, sleeping peacefully, a faint smile on his lips, as if caught in a pleasant dream."
The emperor moved closer and placed two fingers on Leng Yue's wrist. His pulse was strong, but strangely unsettled.
He tried to wake up, but no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't wake.
"This is not ordinary sleep," he said quietly.
Mei's eyes filled with tears. "Then what should we do? How can we wake him up?"
She asked, hoping the emperor should have ideas.
The emperor closed his eyes briefly, as if confirming a fear he didn't want to speak aloud.
"He has been pulled into the dream land," he said at last. "A forbidden place where the mind is trapped between illusion and reality."
"I once read it in books, I never knew someone could dare use it to tripped my son"
Mei staggered back a step. "The dream land… Ji Woo," she whispered. "She once trapped me there."
The emperor's expression darkened. "Then this is no accident."
Mei rushed back to Leng Yue's side and held his hand tightly. "You have to come back," she whispered urgently. "You promised you would marry me. You can't leave me like this."
But Leng Yue did not move. Only his grip tightened slightly around her fingers, as if he could hear her from somewhere far away.
The emperor's words had barely settled when hurried footsteps echoed outside the chamber. The empress rushed in, her hair loosely tied, her silk robe thrown on in haste.
"What is happening to my son?" she demanded, her eyes flying straight to Leng Yue on the bed.
Mei stood up quickly, tears still on her lashes. "Mother… he won't wake up. No matter what we do."
The empress moved to the bedside at once, her hands trembling as she touched Leng Yue's face. His skin was warm, his breath unsteady, yet his soul felt absent. Her chest tightened.
She shook him gently, as tears slide down her eyes, you have to wake, she cried yet he remains still.
"This can't be sickness this is sorcery." She said as she continues to cry.
The emperor nodded. "He has been pulled into the dream land."
"Can't Ji woo just leave us alone? Can't her just let us live peacefully."
Mei swallowed hard. "She trapped me there once… I barely escaped, it was Leng Yue that helps me" She said still crying.
At that moment, the empress turned sharply to the guards standing at the entrance of the room. "Send word immediately to Yuyan. Tell her to come at once. Do not delay for even a moment."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the guards responded and hurried out.
The empress returned to the bed and sat beside Leng Yue, holding his hand tightly. " Hold on my son , you have to hold on"
Mei stood on the other side, gripping his other hand. "Please come back," she said softly. "We're all here waiting."
Outside the palace walls, messengers rode out, racing to bring princess Yuyan back.because everyone in that room knew one truth now:
If Leng Yue remained trapped in the dream land for too long, he might never wake up again.
As she continued to stare at him, the fear he once shared with her rushed back." I might be trapped in my dreams and never wake up again. The memory send shivers down her spine, She quickly squeezed his hand and whispered, 'You will wake."
_____
Far away from the palace, inside Ji woo hidden chamber, Ji Woo slowly opened her eyes. A thin, satisfied smile curved her lips as she felt the steady pull of Leng Yue's spirit inside the dream land.
"So… the seer is finally trapped," fang Leng murmured with a smirk.
Ji woo rose from her seat and walked toward the large crystal at the center of the room. Inside it, faint images flickered, Leng Yue busy sharing a good moment alone. Talking and smiling as if he was talking to someone.
"With you out of my way," she said calmly, "nothing can stop me now."
She lifted her hand and drew a long symbol in the air. Dark light spread across the floor as witches began appearing one after another, kneeling before her.
"The time has come," she said. "Prepare for the dragon egg search. We move before the witch princess found a way to free the seer."
The witches bowed their heads. "Where do we begin, my queen?"
Ji Woo turned back to the crystal. "The egg was hidden by the former witch queen deep within the earth's core. Open the forbidden maps. Wake the fire beasts. I want every sealed path broken."
One of the witches hesitated. "But what about the great seer's sister? If she reaches him in time..."
The witch who spoke turned to dust at the lift of her hand, and the others stumbled backward, terrified."
Then she clenched her fist, and the image of Leng Yue in the crystal twisted briefly in pain before settling again.
"Let the palace drown in panic," she continued. "While they struggle to save their prince, we will claim eternity."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward the inner chamber where Fang Leng awaited her.
"It is time to depart," she announced firmly.