A Crown for a Tail

Prologue

The heat from the sun was sweltering and the sweat was beginning to trickle between the plunging crevice that showed just above the neckline of her teal green lace and silk dress.  Having just arrived at the Peach Tree Woods, the last thing she wanted was a lengthy conversation with the old Phoenix regarding her so-called excessive drinking, when all she wanted to do was disappear into the shade and out of this damn never ending heat.

"Zhe Yan, I told you, I'm only passing through, I have no intention of raiding your cellar today, you know I have to be the East Sea Palace tomorrow.  I just need a bed for the night, but really, if it's too much of a problem, I'll go stay with Zhen Zhen!" she snapped at him, knowing the mere mention of her brothers name would rattle his already sticky feathers having had one of the biggest fights they had ever had.  Though what it was over, she had no idea, and nor did she want to know, as far as she was concerned they could keep their privates to themselves, she thought angrily to herself preparing to immediately cloud jump to her brothers Northern Estate.

Suddenly grabbing her arm, Zhe Yan held her back with a small smile.  "There's no problem Xiao Wu, it's just, that the last time you were here, you emptied the cel....." then seeing the look on her face he quickly swallowed back the rest of his sentence and gently led her to the low table and sat her down where several of his more common bottles of wine were open having already begun drinking to drown his sorrows.

Waving his hand over the table, three more bottles appeared before her.  "Take these with you Xiao Wu, as a gift from The Peach Tree Woods." he said lightly as she quickly picked one up to examine it.  

"Nice bow." she smiled, I'm sure they will like them." she added as she waved her hand over the rest to be magically placed into the sleeve pocket, before picking up an already open bottle and taking a long sip.  Smacking her lips, she let out a sigh.

"I think I'll go rest for a while, the trip here in this heat has tired me out." she told him rising, then grabbing hold of two more bottles she left him to wallow in self pity while she went in search of a heavily shaded tree to wile away the hours.  The trip to the Grove was quite some distance from Qing Qiu, so she would need plenty of rest if she were to manage the trip to the East in the morning, which was also some distance away.

"Xiao Wu, just leave the cellar alone, I have yet to replenish what you took last time." he called after her, knowing she was not listening but needing to remind her anyway.  Sitting back down Zhe Yans mind once again returned to Bai Zhen.  He had been gone for almost 3 months and he knew if he didn't return soon, he would have to give in and go to him, which he had never done in his whole life.  

They were rarely seen apart, preferring each others company, though their closeness was never flaunted publicly, but it was common knowledge that the two men had a relationship that went beyond that of a caring Uncle and his best friends son, though neither of them would admit it.  Not that they thought it to be sinful or against the norm, they couldn't care less, but privacy was just as important as breathing, they merely wished to keep their private lives to themselves.

Sighing he picked up the fishing rod on the seat next to him, and lightly threw it into the water, then leaning back he closed his eyes and lost himself to his thoughts.  

Maybe he had closed them longer than he intended, but the sudden presence of someone behind him began to filter through, and when he opened his eyes, the sun had already began to lower behind the West side of the Grove, which cast wide shadows across his view, including that of the visitor who was standing directly in its glare.

Turning his head slowly hoping, praying, expecting it to be the only person he wanted to see, but ready with quick jabs of rejection, he was surprised to find himself facing the The Crown Prince of the Celestial Tribe.  A man he had never met before, but knew by reputation, and being the twin brother of his close friend and brother Mo Yuan, he couldn't be anyone else, the man was almost the spitting image of him.