The First Secret Outing
It began simply.
No guards.
No royal carriage.
Xu Chen left the palace through a lesser-used scholar's gate, dressed in plain indigo robes. His hair was tied casually, no jade crown to mark him as Crown Prince.
At the east market street, Yue Ning was already waiting beside a stall selling candied hawthorn.
She wore a light peach dress, veil lowered slightly — not enough to hide her beauty, but enough to avoid attention.
"You're late," she said softly.
"The Minister of Rites talks too much," Xu Chen replied calmly.
She handed him a skewer of candied fruit.
The Supreme Heavenly Dao… holding street sweets.
If heaven could see, it would be speechless.
They walked side by side through the bustling market.
Children ran past them.
Merchants shouted prices.
Lanterns swayed in the late afternoon breeze.
For once, they were not Crown Prince and noble lady.
They were simply a couple wandering the market.
Xu Chen paused before a small jade stall.
"This suits you," he said, picking up a delicate lotus hairpin.
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you buying it with imperial treasury silver?"
He gave her a look. "My private allowance."
She smiled faintly.
He paid without bargaining — earning an amused glance from her.
"You overpaid."
"I do not bargain over gifts."
Her fingers brushed his briefly as he placed the hairpin into her palm.
Small contact.
Quick.
But enough.
They entered a quiet second-floor tea house overlooking the river.
A private corner.
Simple wooden table.
Steam rising from porcelain cups.
Xu Chen watched her as she poured tea gracefully.
"You're smiling," he noted.
"You're observing."
"You're happy."
She paused slightly.
"Yes."
There were no political discussions.
No mention of court factions.
No talk of divine hierarchies.
Instead—
They spoke of small things.
A traveling storyteller she had heard.
A poem Xu Chen read in the royal archives.
A stray cat that kept visiting Jade Lotus Inn's back courtyard.
Normal.
Mortal.
Peaceful.
Xu Chen leaned slightly forward.
"If someone saw us now?"
"They would assume we are secretly courting."
"And if the Emperor heard?"
She sipped her tea calmly.
"You have not confessed publicly."
He chuckled quietly.
"No. I have not."
Night settled gently over the capital.
They walked along the riverbank where lantern reflections shimmered on water.
Xu Chen removed his outer robe and draped it lightly over her shoulders.
"It's not cold," she said.
"It is for me."
She gave him a look.
"You are pretending to be considerate."
"I am considerate."
She laughed softly — a sound rare and beautiful.
He stopped walking.
She turned back toward him.
"What?"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"When I ascend the throne one day…"
She waited.
"…nothing will change between us."
Her expression softened.
"You speak as if something could."
He searched her eyes.
"I want this. Not only destiny. Not only power. This."
She understood.
Because she wanted the same.
To rule together was inevitable.
But to walk freely like this—
That was precious.
She reached out and adjusted his collar slightly.
"Then protect this quietly."
"I will."
Since they could not meet daily, they developed a simple method.
Anonymous letters delivered through Jade Lotus Inn's trusted courier network.
Short.
Unmarked.
Sealed with plain wax.
Inside:
A line of poetry.
A meeting place.
Sometimes only two words:
"Bamboo grove."
Or
"West bridge."
It felt almost childish.
And yet thrilling.
No one suspected.
The Crown Prince receiving ordinary correspondence was not unusual.
And the owner of Jade Lotus Inn conducting business through couriers was expected.
They hid in plain sight.
One afternoon, sudden rain caught them near the old temple road.
They ran beneath a narrow pavilion roof, laughing breathlessly.
Xu Chen shook water from his sleeve.
"You run slower than I expected."
"You were pulling me."
"You could have flown," he teased quietly.
She gave him a warning look.
"We are mortals today."
He leaned against the wooden pillar, watching rain pour beyond the eaves.
Strands of her hair had loosened slightly.
He reached out without thinking — tucking them behind her ear.
The world seemed to quiet around them.
No palace walls.
No heavenly systems.
Just rain.
And closeness.
"If we were truly mortal," he murmured, "would you still choose me?"
She met his gaze steadily.
"I already did."
His breath stilled for half a second.
Not Supreme Heavenly Dao.
Not Crown Prince.
Just Xu Chen.
He stepped closer — close enough that even the air felt warmer.
But he did not cross the final inch.
Restraint.
Always restraint.
Because secrecy was survival.
At official banquets, they acted like strangers.
Polite.
Measured.
No lingering glances.
No subtle smiles.
Even Yue family members noticed nothing unusual.
If Xu Chen addressed Yue Jian regarding grain administration, his tone was purely formal.
If Yue Ning entered court gatherings with her family, she never once sought his gaze first.
They were disciplined.
Too disciplined.
Only at night did the truth breathe.
One evening in the bamboo grove, Yue Ning spoke softly.
"The Lin family still watches."
"I know."
"They are suspicious of my influence over the Yue family."
"They suspect many things," Xu Chen replied calmly.
"But not this."
He shook his head slightly.
"No one suspects that the Crown Prince walks the market buying candied fruit."
She smiled faintly.
"And no one suspects that the Supreme Heavenly Empress enjoys river lantern festivals."
He reached for her hand.
This time, he did not let go immediately.
"When the Lin family moves again…"
"We will handle it."
"Together?"
She squeezed his fingers lightly.
"Together."
The capital glowed with thousands of floating lanterns.
They stood anonymously within the crowd.
Xu Chen purchased two small river lanterns.
"Make a wish," he said.
"You first."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"I wish for time."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Time?"
"Before responsibility consumes everything."
Her expression softened deeply.
She closed her eyes as well.
When she opened them, she did not reveal her wish.
They released the lanterns together.
Watching them drift across the dark water.
Side by side.
Unnoticed.
Unrecorded.
Unburdened.
For that single night, they were not sovereign beings above cosmic law.
Not future emperor and empress.
Not strategic players in court politics.
Just a young couple hiding love beneath ordinary moments.
As the crowd dispersed and lantern light faded, Xu Chen walked her halfway back toward the inner city streets.
He stopped at the shadowed corner where they would part.
"We meet in three days," he said quietly.
"West bridge."
He nodded.
A pause lingered.
Then, gently, almost imperceptibly, he brushed his fingers against hers.
No one saw.
No one suspected.
And that was exactly how they wanted it.
Because until the Lin family fell…
Until the throne changed hands…
Until heaven itself acknowledged them openly—
Their love would remain the capital's best-kept secret.
Hidden.
Steady.
And entirely their own.