A Gentle Torment

An Unmistakeable Target

AN: So, I'm still trying my best to get the timeline between immortal and mortal realms down as consistent as possible. I think I have it down, but should I make an obvious mistake at any time, I'd like to apologize to anyone in advance for the inconvenience/confusion it might cause.

One (Immortal) Week Later

Nai Nai watches silently as a burst of beautiful, mellifluous laughter fills her Master's courtyard. She was tending to Heavenly Mother while waiting for the Crown Prince to return.

Even though she refused to call him anything other than the titles he was due, they did consider each other friends. They were close enough to the point that the Heavenly Empress had gone out of her way to save her life multiple times while the crown prince was away and Su Jin came to torment her.

Heavenly Mother had offered to make her a consort for Ye Hua, something Nai Nai turned down without a moment's hesitation (of course, she had to muster what little courage and bravery she had). Thinking back to that day still made her heart swell. That evening, the Heavenly Empress put her under her protection and made her untouchable. She revealed having found out about Nai Nai's actual mission in the Nine Heavens and promised to help her find out what happened to her mother, while also offering her support in the meantime should she ever need advice or comfort. Of course, a few times she had shown up without notice demanding to know certain intimate details of the Crown Prince's life that he had divulged to her, but she never made her give up more information than absolutely necessary to keep him safe and his life 'on track'.

She had met him when he received his first palace--although they now lived in a palace that was closer to the center of the Nine Heaven's for practicality's sake. She's seen him replace maid after maid, push princess after princess away (including the one who kept returning no matter what they tried), even a few men here and there. He's seen him at a complete loss over a task his mother had given him, at his most soul-crushing moments when he's made a miscalculation that cost lives, and even when he mourned the loss of a sacrifice needed for the good of others... However, never had she seen him more frustrated than he's been over the past two weeks.

"Nai Nai," Empress Wa looks up from her spot sitting next to High Goddess Guan Yin. Smiling warmly at her, she reaches for her hand, "Have you ever heard of the Forgotten City?"

"Forgotten City...?" Nai Nai shakes her head, "I don't recall if I have..."

"It's a small city in the Ghost Realm, I'm not surprised you don't know of it; few can even recall it." Guan Yin smiles at her - just as warm as Ye Hua's mother.

Nai Nai refills Guan Yin's cup of tea when she lets go of her hand, nodding in understanding, "Why is it called that?"

"I'm sure you've heard of an island that was populated by only women?"

"Yes, High Goddess." Nai Nai nods, offering her a small smile. The two women always put her at ease.

"During the Demon Wars the Island was sunken in its entirety. At the time the Ghost realm was under a different leader and was quite prosperous. As a courtesy, and partially due to the intrigue of their civilization, many realms eagerly offered to host them while they recovered. The previous Leader of the Ghost Realm, however, was one of the few people to offer a large portion of his own land to them. They chose to relocate to the area provided by him, an area along the very edge of the Ghost Realm where little ever happens." Guan Yin takes a sip of her tea before sneaking a glance at her close friend, "I suppose they must have sunken quite far into the background since they were willing to be a part of the past Ghost realm."

Heavenly Empress Wa nods in agreement before sighing softly, "Unfortunately, their previous heir was kidnapped as a child and her mother murdered by one of her subordinates. The Grandmother of that heir is holding the throne for her, but with the current Ghost Lord's greed and misplaced anger, they seem to be in a constant state of unrest these years. The only one of his children to get along with them is Qing Cang's youngest living child; the Ghost Princess."