A Chance to Love You Agian

~Chapter 1: Unforgotten Memories~

On a warm summer night, a girl was sleeping on a tree branch by the pond. A small breeze brush against her face as she hears the crickets chirp nearby. It brought her back to a night during her childhood.

During that time, she was not called "princess" by the people around her. She was the daughter of a Minister. Her father was a loyal subject and a childhood friend of the Emperor. Since the Emperor and her father were childhood friends, the Emperor treated her as his daughter. As a child, she was able to roam the palace freely and became friends of the second prince Jian Yu, who is three years younger than her.

That night, she was in the garden of the Emperor's palace. Jian Yu was with her; they were stargazing. As they both lay on the grass, Jian Yu suddenly turned to look at her. "Big sister Xiu Ying, today, I overheard that minister Gu sent your father a marriage proposal for his son."

Xiu Ying gave a small scoff when she heard this. She was surprised that Jian Yu knows about it too. "Where did you hear that from?"

"Uh...." Jian Yu was reluctant to answer her question. He was scared of getting scolded by Xiu Ying. On his way to the garden, he passed by Emperor Huang's study room and overheard their conversation.

Before Jian Yu could think of an excuse to give Xiu Ying, she cut him off, teasing, "Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop on others' conversation. It seems like I'll have to tell your father, and have you grounded. Let's see if you'll learn your lesson after this."

Feeling worried and apologetic, Jian Yu than pouted. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just passed by and heard it. Who'd told them to talk so loudly."

'He looks so cute when he pouts,' Xiu Ying thought. After pouting, Jian Yu then moved closer to Xiu Ying and hugged her arm while leaning his head against it. "Is it true?" He asked.

"It's true," Xiu Ying answered but continued, "My dad had declined the marriage proposal. You don't have to worry; my dad will never let me marry someone who has many wives. A man like that will never be in my sight. The man I married can only have me as their wife and can only have me in their heart."

Seeing that Xiu Yang got up to sit, Jian Yu also got up and lay his head on her lap.

"Big sister Xiu Ying, how can a man possibly have only one wife? These days, many men have multiple wives."
"I know that, but that's because those men are not committed and faithful to one woman."

"What if one day the person you married has another woman or what if he hurts you."
"If one day that happens, my heart will stop beating for him, I will leave him and forget him."

"Big sister Xiu Ying, I don't want you to get married. I want to grow up fast and be able to protect you. I want you to stay by my side forever."
"Ahh Yu..., I won't be able to stay by your side forever. When we grow up, we will each have our own family. You will have yours, and I will have mine."

Xiu Ying nudged his nose and joked to herself. 'Why are you so cute? If any more than this, I won't be able to stop myself from falling for you.'

Jian Yu felt dejected, but he then thought, 'If big sister Xiu Ying and I become a family, then she will stay with me forever.' Thinking of that, Jian Yu then declared, "How about I marry you when I grow older? If I marry you, you will stay by my side forever."

Xiu Ying was shocked by what he said, "You naughty boy, do you even know what marriage is? Who taught you these kinds of words?"

Knowing the truth that it would be impossible, Xiu Ying just laughed at him and flicked his forehead. She then shoots daggers at Jian Yu's servants. Sweat dripped from their forehead after they saw her glare at them.

Seeing that Xiu Ying didn't take him seriously, he tugged on her waist and buried his face in her clothes. Xiu Ying then felt terrible for laughing at him. She patted his head to let him know that she's sorry.

"Ah Yu, do you know what love is?"
"...I don't."

"One day, you'll know. The person you love is someone whom you will marry, and that person may not be me."
"But... I like you a lot, big sister Xiu Ying. I don't want to give you to anyone."

Jian Yu got upset, and tears were dripping from his face. Xiu Ying than officially gives up trying to reason with him. "Okay, okay...you win. I promise you that I will stay beside your side and I will only like you from now on. Happy?"

'Wait. What did I just say?' Xiu Ying was questioning herself. Jian Yu was so happy that he stopped crying and leaped onto Xiu Ying hugging her while laughing. 'Oh My God, I can't believe I just said that. Ah Yu takes promises seriously. Why did I say that?' Xiu Ying was about to regret promising him, but seeing how happy Jian Yu was, she didn't have the heart to regret it.

Jian Yu's hug felts so warm and loving that Xiu Ying didn't want to part from him.