A Love Written In The Stars

"Your majesty, the crown prince has returned!"

A royal guard burst through the towering doors of the main palace, his footsteps ringing on the marble floor. He came to a sudden halt before the emperor, dropping to one knee, his armor glinting faintly in the dim light. Panting hard, he lowered his head in respect.

"Returned? Truly?"

The emperor leaned forward on his throne, his fingers gripping the armrests.

"Yes, Your Majesty,"

The guard affirmed rising from his kneeling position. "I saw him with my own eyes in the courtyard."

The emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. "And how is he?"

"In good health, Your Majesty,"

The emperor settled back and exhaled deeply. At last, Cheng had returned, bringing an end to the agonizing wait.

"Make certain he has all the time he needs to recover. No interruptions—no summons, no questions—until his strength is restored. And see that the royal physician is called immediately."

The guard gave a deep bow and quietly took his leave.

"The return of the crown prince is a blessing, Your Majesty. At last, you can take the rest you so greatly deserve," the eunuch said with utmost deference. Yet, the emperor's expression remained unmoved, his thoughts elsewhere.

The emperor rose from his seat and strode down the hall, his eunuch trailing faithfully beside him. After a few steps, he came to an abrupt halt, his gaze fixed on something far in the distance.

The eunuch stepped forward cautiously, "Your Majesty, what weighs on your mind now?"

The emperor stroked his beard slowly, his eyes still focused on the unseen horizon. "What is your opinion of my son, Yizong?"

Caught off guard, the eunuch paused for a moment. "In what regard, Your Majesty?" he finally asked.

The emperor returned to his seat in silence. "What are his qualities as a man?" he asked after a while.

"Devotion, commitment, and loyalty," the eunuch replied.

The emperor nodded deliberately, his fingers still running through his beard. "Then it matters little that I harbor doubts about whether he truly bedded that maiden. I know my sons well—their strengths and their flaws. Yizong is not one to yield to carnal desires, especially when his heart is fixed solely on Princess Xin Yi."

He turned briefly to his loyal eunuch.

"Your Highness, I understand this is distressing to hear,"

The emperor's gaze darkened. "How did he come to find himself in such a precarious situation, I wonder?"

"May I humbly suggest a discreet investigation into the matter?" the eunuch offered. "If Prince Yizong has been deceived or coerced, then ensuring his innocence and restoring his honor must be our foremost priority."

The emperor leaned back in deep contemplation.

"I want this matter investigated discreetly,"

"No one must suspect a thing—especially those who might seek to conceal their tracks. Uncover how this came to pass."

The eunuch bowed low. "It shall be done, Your Majesty."

——— Crown Prince's Bedchamber

Cheng sat back cautiously onto his bed, wincing as he positioned his wounded shoulder, he felt the sharp pain hard, but forced himself to stay calm.

Then he motioned to Yizé with a firm look. "No one enters without my word," Yizé nodded, standing tall by the door as Cheng groaned lightly.

"Send for my private physician," he murmured through gritted teeth, his voice barely audible and yizé left immediately, disappearing from the chamber to carry out the command.

As the screen door clicked shut, Cheng reclined, he had already begun planning how to conceal the wound, intending to keep up appearances for as long as possible. He needed to make a bold public statement, to provoke those who had ordered the attack enough for them to make a mistake.

Yizé returned shortly, having delivered the summons.

Cheng's brow furrowed as he issued another order. "Send word to Jīngwèi Bureau. Investigate the attack—quietly. I want every little...."

As he spoke, a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. His body was giving out, the effort of talking and moving too much for his injured body. Yizé, noticing his distress, stepped closer in concern. "Let me help you," but Cheng stopped him with a strict order.

"Deliver the message now."

Yizé hesitated for a moment but then quickly exited the room.

Alone, Cheng reached up and carefully began to unfasten his robes, feeling the cold, sticky wetness of blood staining his skin.

After fully removing his robes, a guard called out from outside, announcing that the royal physician had arrived. His hand stiffened, and he called back sharply. "Send him away. I have no need for a physician."

Yizé returned shortly after, and Cheng, though weakened, gave him another command. "Shut the door until the private physician arrives." Yizé walked closer, carefully placing his sword down beside the bed.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Cheng asked, his voice tired.

"I did, Your highness," Yizé replied. He dipped a clean cloth into a bowl of water and moved closer to Cheng.

"Leave," he repeated, though his energy was waning. He knew he couldn't keep up the charade much longer.

Yizé didn't respond.

Instead, Yizé placed the cool cloth gently on his forehead, the damp fabric soothing against his fevered skin.

Cheng's arm shot out, stubbornly trying to push Yizé's hand away, but Yizé was quicker than Cheng anticipated. He sidestepped Cheng's grasp and, swiftly applied pressure on Cheng's wounded shoulder. The sharp pain was immediate and intense, causing Cheng to groan in agony.

Relaxed now, Yizé returned the cloth to his forehead.

Cheng, caught between his stubbornness and the overwhelming pain, clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to relent, but he couldn't stop the wave of exhaustion that hit him.

———

"Mei!"

Yú Yuè ran to hug her friend.

"What happened to you? You didn't come back yesterday?"

Mei rubbed her forehead, clearly tired. Yú Yuè, noticing her state, decided to give her some space. "You need rest. I'll see you later, Mei." Mei nodded wearily.

"I do have something to ask you," Mei said, starting to walk away.

Yú Yuè called after her, "I have something to tell you too."

Mei stopped and retracing her steps back to her. "Really? Did something happen while I was gone?"

Yú Yuè took Mei's hands and gently guided her to a quiet spot, making sure no one was around to overhear.

She glanced around nervously before speaking. "The thing is... there are rumors about your cousin Xiao. People are saying she's with child, and that it's Prince Yizong's."

Mei paused, stunned for a moment.

"I'm sure it's just gossip," she replied quickly. "Xiao would never let something like that happen. She's too proud, and Yizong is disciplined. Such rumors could ruin her."

"How did this even start?" Mei asked.

"There are claims she collapsed during the archery contest yesterday," Yú Yuè explained.

Mei frowned. "She might have just been dehydrated," she said, starting to walk away.

"And be sure to come by later!"

"I know that!" Yú yúe shouted back.

Mei arrived shortly at Xiao's chamber and found her sitting quietly by the window, staring out with a distant look.

She approached her slowly, her footsteps quiet on the floor. She stalled for a moment before gently taking Xiao's hands in her own. "Xiao,"

"I must ask—are the rumors true? Are you with child?"

Xiao's hands slipped from Mei's grasp, and she took a small step back, avoiding Mei's gaze.

"Xiao, please," she urged, her voice pleading as she leaned against the wall for support. "Answer me."

But Xiao stayed quiet, and Mei could already guess the answer from the silence.

"Is.... is Yizong the father?" Mei pressed on patiently.

Xiao lowered her gaze, plucking more furiously at the abused table's flower. For a long moment she said nothing, then finally, a small nod.

"It was done out of love...We shared a romantic night."

Mei gasped.

"Love?" She uttered in disbelief.

"Xiao, do you have any idea what you've done?"

Xiao's temper flared. "And what is it to you?"

"There might still be a way to rectify this," mei said, walking toward the window.

Xiao's eyes narrowed. "Rectify what?"

"Why are you so determined in ruining my life with Yizong?"

"What is your problem?" Mei asked.

"Just the other day, you were crying because he rejected you, and now—" she stopped mid-sentence, the realization dawning on her.

"Please, tell me you had nothing to do with all of this," Mei pleaded, her voice shaking. "Please tell me it was just an honest mistake, that you had no control over what happened between you two."

But Xiao only turned away, walking further from her, keeping silent.

"How could you do this?"

"Do you not think about the consequences of your actions? Or have your desires clouded your judgment?"

"Fate brought us together, and this child is a testament to our shared love....."

The audacity of her words left Mei enraged and without thinking, she struck Xiao hard across the face.

Xiao raised a hand to her rosy cheek, her eyes brimming with tears. "How dare you?!" she screamed Her hand shot out to slap Mei in retribution.

But Mei grabbed Xiao's wrist before the blow could land, then slapped her hard once more across the face.

A tear rolled down Mei's cheek as she clenched her fist in frustration. "You're Selfish" she whispered, her voice quivering with emotion. "Can you not see the pain you're inflicting on yizong? The people around you? Yourself?"

Xiao winced, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't care!!!"

"I love him! I love him!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "And I will have this child with him, whether you approve or not!"

Before Mei could respond, Yìzé entered the chamber, his expression alarmed by the shouting.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Unable to contain her anger any longer, Mei turned and walked out, sliding the door shut behind her with a firm motion.

Yìzé watched Mei leave, a sorrowful expression clouding his features. He then turned to Xiao, pulling her into his arms and whispering gentle words of comfort as she cried against his shoulder.

Outside, Mei pressed her back against the cold wall, shuddering as she regained control over her emotions.