14 Reunited (1)

The woman was smiling. Even when tears were obviously welling in her eyes, she was still smiling.

Her silk gown was dull in color, but she radiated a refined and royal aura. With her heart-shaped lips and sunflower seed face, it wasn't hard to imagine crowds of suitors begging for her hand. But that was in her youth. Now, even with the intricate hairdo that stressed her position as empress, a few strands of silvery hair stood out. What she went through during these years, only the Heavens knew.

Seeing her, it was as if I looked into a warped bronze mirror that told an alternate reality—my eyes were the mirror image of hers. She was so familiar, yet so distant.

Neither of us spoke a word, and we stood there in uncomfortable silence.

"Mother! I brought Sister!" A'Yu exclaimed, running over and clinging onto her gown.

"Empress, it's Youshi's pleasure to meet you," I curtsied, my lips trembling as I said those words, and she nodded in reply.

A single tear slid down her cheek, and she spun around before lightly dabbing it dry with her sleeve. "You haven't eaten yet, let's go inside," she muttered, her voice lighter than the softest clouds.

I followed her into a sitting area. It was a beautiful place framed with watercolor paintings of orchids, but the platefuls of red bean pastries on the table made me think I had accidentally walked into a pastry shop. Quite literally, the snacks came in every shape and color. Some were square, others were circular, and there was even a dish of red bean rice cakes.

Seeing them, my stomach uncontrollably let out a growl, but my mind warned for self-control.

"Your uncle said that they were your favorites," she gestured.

When I didn't move, she hesitantly reached out and grabbed one at random, motioning to hand it to me. Halfway across the table, however, the pastry snapped in two, and the crumbs spilled all over.

Her hands folded perfectly on the tabletop, and with just one gaze, a maid cleaned up the mess. Unaware or otherwise purposely nonresponsive to the situation, A'Yu was busy chewing, a white sesame stuck to the corner of his mouth.

"Are these not to your taste?"

There was yet another moment of silence. It wasn't that I hadn't wanted to talk with her, but simply put, I didn't know what to say. Bursting inside were countless questions, but at the surface, I could only gaze. She and I weren't of the same world.

And with her mention of my uncle, I realized why it seemed so empty.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but Your Highness, have you seen my uncle and aunt? A court servant said that they would be brought to your palace, but I haven't seen them yet."

She froze, her perfect smile faltering momentarily.

"They are resting from the journey." Motioning to a maid, she politely commanded, "Invite my brother and his wife from their chambers." She did so almost grudgingly, her movements rigid and delayed.

From the side chamber, clamoring footsteps sounded. "Aiya! Youshi, are you alright?" my aunt exclaimed, rushing over to embrace me, giving me a few hard pats on the back as she momentarily forgot that we were in the palace. "Aiya, why do you constantly worry me!" She seemed to have forgotten all about a few days ago, instead entirely focused on this one moment of reunion.

I hugged her back. Though we only physically parted for a few hours, ever since the strange prophecy, I had been missing her usual self.

A light cough sounded in the background, and we sprang apart.

"Aiya! Your Humble Peasant apologizes for not acknowledging Your Highness!" My aunt looked up in worry. "Your Humble Peasant just got too excited! Your Humble Peasant is just a coarse person!"

"We're all family. There's no need for formalities," the empress responded warmly, motioning for my uncle and aunt to sit. "Ever since A'Jing left for his own courtyard, it hasn't been this merry in my palace."

"Yeah! I wish Brother Jing could be here to meet you, Sister!" A'Yu chided in, reaching for another pastry.

"A'Yu, you haven't finished your daily studies yet. Go along now." She patted A'Yu on the head and gently brushed off the sesame before motioning to dismiss every last maid and attendant in the room.

A'Yu pouted but left without protest, and the servants filed silently behind him.

When the door closed shut, abruptly, the empress got on her knees and gave a solemn kowtow to my uncle and aunt. "Sister thanks you both for caring for Youshi all these years and doing my duties for me," she said sincerely. We were all shocked. It was unheard of for an empress to pay such high respect for anyone other than the emperor.

My uncle immediately dropped onto the floor. After a moment of being stunned, my aunt followed. I too did the same.

"Empress, this is improper. How can we, mere commoners, stand such a high honor? Please get up." My uncle pleaded, but the empress didn't nudge.

"This is just a sister trying to bargain for peace of mind and unrepayable debt." She looked up, tears spilling from the rims of her eyes.