A Flower Without Rain

Chapter 37

It was weird.

Was she always standing outside on the balcony of the second floor?

She saw that the day was bright as the sun's rays penetrated into the room. Turning to look behind her, she recognized it to be one of the many lounge rooms within her Peach Palace. Hands outstretched before her, she looked at herself before noticing that there was a red string tied to her fourth finger on her left hand.

Observing it, she seemed to be in awe of its familiar appearance and also saw how there was no end to this string. Pulling it, she realized that it was a trail that led downstairs. Although confused, she followed the red string and with every step down those stairs, she felt her heart beating faster and faster.

Was she nervous? And why?

Once she reached the bottom of the staircase, her eyes followed the now shortened line, and at the end of it she saw that it was connected to another, whose back faced her. Hesitant, she slowly came towards that person but as soon as she took the first step, everything began to fade away.

Awakening, Lian Yu inhaled deeply as if she had been underwater. Brows pressed, she could feel wetness on her face, tears. She's had this dream for quite a while ever since her arrival to the Sui Kingdom, and only questions raised.

Who is that person? Why did that dream seem so bittersweet? Why does she always awaken in tears? And why is it that the dream ended before she could see that person's face?

Sitting up, her long locks of hair fell forward as she wiped her eyes. Doing so, a hand holding a handkerchief came into view. Taking her by surprise, she turned her head towards this person and met eyes with the Crown Prince of the Sui Kingdom, Han Yinjie.

The man smiled, "Won't you take this to wipe away your tears?"

Just a look and no words, Lian Yu turned away from him. He lightly scoffed at her response and brought his hand back to his side.

"What is it that you want that you are here before me? And shouldn't you be with your betrothed, the incoming Crown Princess?" she questioned.

Han Yinjie huffed, "I do not desire that woman. I feel nothing and never will." Suddenly, he leaned down with his face just centimeters from hers. She was unnerved by his actions. "As for you, are indeed a beautiful woman but not the most extravagant.....and yet I want you."

Lian Yu felt disgusted by his words. She is a married woman and would never think to elope with another or even think of another man. Even if she and her husband were not so close, to betray him would be like betraying herself.

The Sui Crown Prince scoffed as he stood straight. "It truly is a shame I must say," his voice changed to a down tone. "That I must take the beautiful jewels you possess." Turning away, he left her prison with nothing more to say.

Once he was gone, Crown Princess Lian Yu sighed heavily as she looked down at her lap. She knew that the king of the Sui Kingdom along with the queen were missing, and that the 2nd prince, Han Zhaohui has been away at the borders for years not knowing of what's been happening.

Eyes at the door that led to her courtyard, she quickly looked away. Back in her Peach Palace, she always looked that way as it was almost instinct to look towards the divine peach tree. However, it was no longer by her side and dying.

In a low voice, she seemed to question herself. "As you grow weaker, how should I protect you?"

Elsewhere, stood Crown Prince Xin Hua in the White Garden where the deceased royals of the Xie Kingdom were buried. Cleaning off the withered leaves from his sister, Princess Xin Lan's headstone, he then bowed in respects to her and kneeled.

Pulling out an incomplete embroidered folding, he placed it before her. "I'm sorry that I haven't been able to visit......I've been buried in piles of work." an awkward chuckle. "I just thought I'd bring your fan, in hopes that maybe you will finish it....." a subtle smile that soon vanished and brought silence.

A solemn expression, his eyes lowered to the ground as he didn't know what else there was to say. Every time he visited, he couldn't help but feel that he let his sister down in being unable to protect her. She was his only sibling and now stood alone with only his father as his last blood relation.

"....I want you to know that I will be gone for a while," speaking of his plans. "I must get there before the 12th day of the 12th month at the 12th hour...." That was the time and date Her Divine Goddess Xifeng determines the Crown Princess of the Xie Kingdom.

"And remember that dream I told you about? Where I heard a voice telling me they won't leave?" of course, no one was answering him. "I think I know who the owner of the voice is." A troubled smile overcame his lips.

"Now that I've found her, I need to protect her."

And it was as he promised her so before. His wife, the Crown Princess, Lian Yu.
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