1 Prologue (1): Princess Xing Huan

Mooncake Festival, the 15th night of the mid-autumn; Yu state, the capital of Mei Kingdom...

Celebrating the night with her people was the last desire of Queen Xing Ning. She had accomplished and convinced his Majesty to bring the princess, their daughter, to the festival, hence she could see how her folk was feasting.

Inside the majestic golden litter, were sitting the royals. Peeking out, she smiled at how colorful every street was. People were sharing sweets and dancing at gatherings.

"Mother, you were right, people are so enthusiastic." She declared, keeping the left nook of the curtain up.

The Queen beamed and coughed, holding a handkerchief to cover her mouth. Her eyes had no light.

"Xing Huan, do you like my gift?"

The princess nodded, people's exultation made her blood simmer up and her cheeks blushed.

"I do mother, the celebration in the castle is also interesting but this one is different, especially since I'm with you, the heaven is singing."

Being confident that her mother was ill, she tried not to let her realize it. Although her face was as pale as flour and it meant her health had come to its verge. A turmoil was dancing wicked under her skin. She didn't want to remember her mother only in memories that were going to be devoured by time, deliberately.

"Do you want to walk among people? We have enough guards."

"Wouldn't it bother, my Queen?"

Shaking her head, she cried out, "Stop the litter, we would greet our people."

The litter halted and a bulky guard approached, "My Queen, here is crowded, are you certain?"

"Yes, please help princess Xing Huan."

Standing up, the seventeen-year-old princess reached her hand out while sipping her sorrow down, hardly she could conceal the shiver in her hand.

"Take my hand, mother, I want to do it with you."

Getting on her feet, she squeezed her hand. They stepped out of the litter hand in hand. The Civilization poured flower petals on their path, and the dignity of these two individuals was bringing them gratitude.

Meanwhile, everyone was praising them and singing poems to please them, an old woman wearing tattered clothes on, having withered frizzy gray hair tried to break through the crowd and approach the Queen.

Pushing the people out of the way, her wrinkled face emerged into the princess's sight who was already trying to find out what the noises were for.

"What is going on?" The Queen asked, frowning at the guard who put his sword on the woman's neck.

"My Queen, this dirty woman is trying to get close to you."

It made the queen's blood boil, if she hadn't a pleasant feature, it was announcing the court's neglect. Were people judging each other like this? Judging through wealth and beauty? Where is this world going? Unfortunately, she hadn't much time to work on this. But, her daughter was her only hope.

Princess Xing Huan scanned around, hundreds of guards existed in rows to protect them, what could a lame peasant possibly do? How shameless to react as if they were cowards.

"Release her, let her come to us." Turning to all her folk, The Queen added confidently, "you are not in a position to judge my people."

Her mother was glowing like a muse while running those words out of her mouth. She wanted the night to extend and never come to its brink thus she could learn more from her mother.

The old woman came upon them and bowed, her gray eyes glittered with stars, but the sadness and distress in her complexion were enough to intimidate the princess. Unlike her, her mother was wholly calm, and her angry expression softened as if a mild spring breeze.

"What is the matter with you, lady?"

The Queen asked her gently.

Before replying to the question, she snatched a deep peek at the princess.

"My Queen, you are dying tonight."

Jolting back, Xing Huan couldn't feel her knees anymore, if her world could fall into a dark void, it could be her mother's death. But this cruel woman emerged from the shadows and claimed these destructive words.

The princess got herself back to the present and took out the adjusted dagger under her majestic black-golden silk Diyi dress.

Putting it quietly on her throat, people were shocked, however, some of those who heard were cursing the misfortune of an ominous woman. And the guards stopped unarmed mid-way as the Queen shouted.

"No!" Her piercing black eyes slid on her daughter, "bring the dagger down, if I die tonight or any other night, it is not her fault."

"But mother!" She believed that she was a witch that cursed her but it wasn't reasonable. No, No, this assumption was unlike her. She was a rational girl, therefore none of these superstitions could take place in her logic. Everything could be solved by science.

Finding her mother right, she released the woman.

"Let's get back to the castle," The Queen demanded as she felt the weakness in her lungs, barely she could breathe, nor could hold her coughing back.

Arriving back at the castle, as soon as they quit the litter the Queen fell off the ground.

...

Becoming bedridden, the Queen called out for her daughter while having the King's hand in hers. The dark circles under her eyes had deepened and her tattered lips had turned blue.

"Don't forget to keep your words. Find her the true man to save her life."

With her teary eyes, she pleaded with her sobbing husband. The King's lips parted to speak when the Lady ship announced,

"My Queen, the princess is here."

"Let her in," The King permitted with his tensed voice which was filled with sorrow.

Xing Huan stormed inside as soon as her father permitted. She found the path was stretching and the time was frizzed.

There was no answer to her question; when the night was fresh and young that old peasant appeared out of nowhere. Claiming that the Queen would die tonight and now, her mother had no difference with a ghost. No, she wasn't ready for this, life would run meaningless without her and she did not want to live if her mother died.

Stepping up, she crouched on her, hugging her, tears welled down.

"No, mother I can't accept this, I can't let you go."

The queen caressed her silky black hair and sniffed her scent for the last time. In her next life, she wanted to live more and protect her daughter.

"Take this, and keep it always close to you. This is an amulet to keep you safe from harm." She expressed, hardly, each word was shaking to leave her lips.

"You will live beside me, I am the one who must protect you."

She felt useless, her mother had dismissed all the healers, and she avoided the remedies believing that none could help.

"My brave daughter, I am..." Trying to finish her sentence, she coughed hard and pushed the startled Xing Huan away.

"Healers!" The King shouted.

Xing Huan was staring at the blood on her dress. It was the first blood that she had seen in her whole life. In the meantime, cries and wailings made the light in her eyes dim, the room was now as cold as a grave and the colors changed to a bluish-gray. Her heart solidified while peering at the wooden box, she opened it.

A bronze bracelet with an expensive ruby gem on it! What a weird gift that was cheap and expensive at the same time. Wearing it, she walked out of the room. No, it was just a nightmare, she didn't want to hear anything, nor was delighted to see people coming around her to show sympathy. She didn't want to see her mother's funeral, nor wanted to speak a word until her mother could come back.