A Flower Without Rain

Chapter 68

It's been a few days since Crown Princess Lian Yu gave birth to her son, the Grand Prince, Xin Shiying. This late afternoon, as she laid down with him under the sheets, she simply admired his sleeping self. She couldn't contain her smile. Coming closer to her son, she lightly kissed him on the cheek as she fixed his blanket.

"I love you," she said to him.

Then, she remembered how spring was just around the corner, and that today was also the Spring Lantern Festival. It was something she, her siblings, and the other children of the Three Great Noble Clans would go to together every year. They would purchase their own lanterns and before they would release them into the sky, they wrote their wishes on it. And every year, Lian Yu wrote the same thing.

"I want to be happy."

However, the Crown Princess brushed away the thought of the festival considering that she couldn't leave her child and attend the event. But she would've liked to at least experience the feeling once more.

"Your Highness," the servant at the doors of her chambers suddenly spoke. "The Grand Guard of the Crown Prince, has come to see you."

Lian Yu's brow jerked as she hasn't spoken to him since that day. Lips gaped, she thought about it for a moment before making her decision. "Allow his entrance." she granted.

The doors slid open and closed, and entering, Ru Mingyu's footsteps were light. Slipping out of bed, the Crown Princess came to him. The air was rather awkward between the two once they were before another.

"Erm....How-" about to say something, the man abruptly cut her off.

Suddenly coming to his knees with his head touching the floorboard, Ru Mingyu spoke. "I'm sorry!"

This shocked the woman as she would have never imagined him doing such a thing. "Mingyu," she called.

"It was wrong of me to have done something that could have impacted your pregnancy and...and...I'm sorry." The guilt was eating him away despite the worries he held and he didn't want their friendship since childhood to be ruined as well.

Placing her hands on his shoulders, Lian Yu prompted him to stand and once he did, he was too ashamed to look at her in the eye. "Mingyu, it's okay.....I know you were just worried but truly," she paused for a second. "I am fine."

Slowly, his casted gaze came to her with nervousness before a short smile came about. "....I'm sorry..." once he began his sorry's, he seemed to never stop with them.

The Crown Princess chuckled, "It's okay," assuring him.

A frown, the Grand Guard at the very least felt relieved that he was able to convey his apologies, but the worries he held didn't go away so easily. He was certain that there is something she wasn't telling everyone.

"Just......be safe alright?" He told her.

"I will."

Ru Mingyu left after they caught up on all the things they've missed out on saying these past weeks they avoided another. And once Lian Yu was alone, she laid in bed with her son. She was still very sore and didn't want to move much despite the rest.

But she wouldn't be alone for very long as another individual soon arrived to her chambers.

"Your Highness," the servant at the doors spoke. "His Highness, the Crown Prince has come to see you." it was her husband, Xin Hua.

With glee, she responded. "Allow his entrance."

Entering, the man soon came into view and immediately Lian Yu could see that he was hiding something behind him. Her eyes then came to his face and there she saw a smile that couldn't be contained. A chuckle, she questioned him, "Why are you smiling so much dear?"

Coming closer, Xin Hua brought his hands that were behind him to the front. Doing so, made his wife almost speechless and eyes gleaming in awe. "It's good that Shiying is asleep, so.....would you like to head out to the porch?" In his hands, were two lanterns.

"But....but how did you know?" she asked.

Taking her hand into his, he guided her outside. "I asked your brother if you were interested in any sort of festival and he told me that you always attended the Spring Lantern Festival."

Smiles, are what Lian Yu became filled with upon hearing this. Her hand in his, she noticed how they were rougher than usual. Bringing his hand up, she saw the dryness and small cuts. This was likely due to the wood.

"You made them?" the woman asked as they reached the porch.

A frown as they stood, Xin Hua pulled his hands away from hers. "Yes, and I'm fine. I wanted them to be special." he tried to assure her.

"Just knowing you brought lanterns, lifted my spirits but learning that you made them. It makes me unbelievably happy and concerned about your hands as well." she laughed towards the end.

This made Xin Hua smile as he handed over the lantern he made for her. "Let's make a wish shall we."

On the porch, the two sat with ink and brushes before them to write on their lanterns. To experience this once more, Lian Yu could feel the childhood memories she shared with her siblings and friends when they went together to the Spring Lantern Festival. It was the same for the most part each year; however, the parades and such they held were always different. Of course, there was no parade here, but with her family by her side, this was more than enough.

The sun was nearly gone, and with their wishes written, Xin Hua looked to his wife. "Are you ready?" he asked.

Writing down the last of her words, Lian Yu's gaze came to him. "Yes," she said with a nod.

The Crown Prince came to his feet first, and doing so he extended his hand out for his Crown Princess to grab onto. Seeing this, she took his hand and he lifted her to stand before bringing her to walk along the grass that no longer held snow but green grass.

The fire was already lit inside their respective lanterns and looking at one another, they smiled as their eyes then turned back to look at the sky. The two waited for a moment and there, the first lantern to take off came into view. This signaled them to release theirs.

Coming closer together, Xin Hua took Lian Yu into his arms from behind as they both watched the sky fill with more and more lanterns. The view was breathtaking especially with the sunset and a sight that couldn't be erased.

"What did you wish for?" Xin Hua asked.

This made Lian Yu frown as it was a silly question. "If I tell you, it won't come true."

Upon hearing her words, the man laughed. "You're right, it was quite idiotic of me to say."

His hold on her tightened, and leaning her head back she rested it on his chest.

And as the day neared it's end, came the beginning of spring. 
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