3 2.Decision

No one can ever forget their first love, no matter how long it had been. For Zhao Jinghe it was also the same. Never can and will he forget the day he first fell in love.  He can still recall the moment he met that person perfectly clear. 

On the 7th day of April 10 years ago, at the Imperial gardens he first met him. The short haired boy admiring the peach blossoms with a peaceful smile on his face. At the time, Jinghe was confused and mesmerized by the sight in front of him wondering if he was a fairy and had mistakenly asked if he was a "beautiful fairy girl that had came to marry him". That had the pretty boy instead of glaring at him for mistaking him for a girl, laughing freely. It made his little heart beat faster and then the 10 years old Ying Yu-Yin looked at the sky and explained to him that he was a no fairy but instead he would grow up to be a famous general and protect his country so the little prince can live in peace.  It was a big ambition then but the younger them had believed in him. 

  But who wouldn't have? After seeing that bright flame of determination burning in their eyes 8 years old Zhao Jinghe had unknowingly fell in love. It was only at a later date that he had learned the boy was in fact Ying Yu-Yin, the third son of the Prime Minister Ying. And that he had only came to the Imperial palace to have the Imperial doctors take a look at him for he was sick and might not last. And that had only made Zhao Jinghe's fascination grow but just as fast as it had come, it became buried and locked away in the farthest corner of their mind, only to be forgotten. But meeting him again today renewed those feelings in him full force. 

  The beautiful boy had grown into his looks to become a bewitching God of beauty and grace. After all he had heard he thought the flames in his eyes had died down to embers. But today proved it was still burning brightly, if not brighter than before. 

   Zhao Jinghe could only laugh, his gently eyes staring out the window of his personal quarters. 

"You have fulfilled your dream huh? You have become a famous General who protected his country…"

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"you are not the same naive kid from before."

 He downed the cup in his hand, smirk litting  up on his. 

"But that's what makes more interesting isn't it?~ The flame in your eyes that never dies" 

  Person never forgets their first love, it is a given fact. But if you keep loving the same person even after 10 years, then it simply isn't just a first love anymore. But something precious and far more sinister. Some people will consider it lucky but is it really?

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Meanwhile, in the Ying palace it's residents were in a somber mood. Why wouldn't they be? No matter how you look at it, the Emperor doesn't just ask, more like order someone to be his concubine, especially if that person is from influential family like the Ying's. Everyone of them was in the main hall to discuss the matter of the marriage between their families. It wasn't about marrying the Emperor for real or not, instead it was about the things Yu-Yin should and should not do once inside the palace. 

    The eidict had been accepted already so the General Ying Yu-Yin will marry the Emperor Zhao Jinghe on the 7th day of April, within a month's time. 

  "Yu'er Just do everything the Emperor says! Don't dissobey!" 

 "I understand First aunt" 

"Socialize! Create connections with the other concubines. But be careful of them!" 

"I will Second aunt" 

"Brother! Keep practicing your martial arts!" 

"Okay Second Brother"

"Yu-er come with me to meet with other scholar's and learn about politics!" 

"follow me to the palace and learn as well" 

"I shall do as you say First brother, Father" 

 Finally Yusulen took a pity of her son and called him over quietly. Yu-Yin went to her and fell into her embrace as the worried mother ran her hands through his hair. 

 "Just be safe and looked after yourself my son" 

"I will, mother." 

Yu-Yin gave her one of his most reassuring smiles and silently buried his head into her hair. Of course he would be safe, for the sake of his mother and family, he had to be. Besides Yu-Yin got a feeling that the Emperor won't hurt him. With that the meeting concluded to allow everyone to rest from the stressful event of that afternoon. Tonight was a peaceful night, but tomorrow the battle will start for real. Who will win? The Emperor? Or him?  

Yu-Yin smiled looking at the sky as he whispered the words of his mind. 

  "Let's play this game shall we? ~" 

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The news of the Emperor's wish to take the 3rd son of the Ying Family had already spread around the capital. People wondered just why the Emperor wished to marry the Failure but even then was unable to say anything out loud, lest they lose their heads. 

    Many young women were jealous, for wasn't that trash extremely lucky? He must have had done something to the Emperor. Maybe he had cast a spell on him or seduced him. 

   While everyone was aware of his reputation and they hated him. Those people were not blind! They knew that the 3rd son of the Ying family an unparalleled beauty of highest caliber, no woman nor man can match his beauty expect for his mother. 

   Before sunset, everyone and their family was aware of the news about the Imperial degree stating the union of Zhao Jinghe and Ying Yu-Yin, while some cursed and wondered, most were green with envy. Only a select few were happy for the young General, he deserved to be happy after the suffering he went through. They just hoped the Emperor to treat their hero right, for he deserved nothing but the absolute best. 

   One of such people was Mo Yuwen (Jade Writing) , one of the soldiers who worked under and served The Failure General Ying. Mo Yuwen was a handsome young man in his middle twenties with long brown hair and warm eyes. He adored Ying Yu-Yin for a long time and thanked him for all the times he saved his life. 

  Hearing the news of his engagement to the Emperor, Mo Yuwen was greatly saddened but he could do nothing. For he knows what kind of person his general was. Even then that does not mean he can not to anything to repay him. 

   With that in mind he headed towards the Palace. 

 Afterall, every Consort needs a guard no?