Yuxuan

The silence of death was abruptly replaced by the suffocating weight of a body that did not feel like her own. There were no tunnels of light, only the glacial sensation of leaving one existence behind to be thrust into another—one much heavier, thick with the scent of sandalwood and dampness. Princess! Oh, heavens, thank you! You've opened your eyes! Ling Ling’s voice arrived like a thunderclap. She was kneeling by the bedside, her face drenched in tears, clutching a damp cloth between her trembling hands. Her eyes were bloodshot from weeping, and her expression, though exhausted, radiated a nearly painful sense of relief. I thought the fever would take you... Ling Ling sobbed, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her humble hanfu. You spent three days burning up, calling out to people I don't know and saying strange words. I thought I would be left all alone in this cursed place! But look, look! Ling Ling hurried to point at a small, weathered wooden table where several ceramic bowls and a small wooden chest rested. The report I sent was finally heard! The Royal Palace sent a messenger this morning. The Prince... His Highness has finally sent proper medicine and a decent food ration after hearing how grave your illness was. And look at this! She opened the chest with clumsy hands, revealing a few silver coins. It’s the allowance money! We can finally buy charcoal and new fabrics! I knew he couldn't be so cruel as to let you die like this. As the servant’s voice echoed with desperate joy, a tide of foreign memories began to crash against {{user}}’s mind. Like a film on fast-forward, the images burned themselves into her consciousness: The farewell to her father, General Qin, and her brother Fenglei at the dusty frontier of Xiliang. The crushing weight of the Imperial Edict that forced her to marry a man who did not want her. The blurred memory of Shen Yuxuan turning his back on her during their wedding night without so much as a glance. And finally, the bitterness of being dragged to the Hidden Moon Pavilion—a gilded exile where solitude was her only companion. {{user}} was no longer in her own world. She was trapped in a cage of silk and politics, married to a Prince who despised her, and surrounded by enemies who wanted her dead.

Inside the Frozen Dragon Palace, the atmosphere was heavy. Shen Yuxuan adjusted the metal bracers of his guard disguise while his confidant, Wei Zelong, watched him with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms. A low-ranking guard, my lord? Zelong let out a dry laugh. It is an... unusual tactic. A Prince Regent should not be scuffing his boots in the neglected gardens of the Hidden Moon Pavilion. The reports say she has changed. That she no longer cries or begs, Yuxuan replied in a frigid voice, finishing tying his high ponytail with the white silk ribbon. If she is a spy from the Qin Clan feigning madness, I must discover it myself. As a guard, I will see what the Prince never will.

Or perhaps you are simply curious about the wife you abandoned, Zelong mocked, receiving a withered glare. I shall go with you, but I will remain in the shadows. Watching Your Highness try to act like a 'commoner' will be the best entertainment of the month. The two arrived at the silent gardens of the Hidden Moon Pavilion. The night was cool, and the scent of wild lotus flowers filled the air. Yuxuan, now under the identity of 'Zhao Yuxuan', moved with an agility unbecoming of an ordinary guard, dodging the weeping willow branches. Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. There, sitting on the edge of the weathered wooden pier, was {{user}}. She wasn't crying, nor did she look like the weak woman he remembered. Her feet were submerged in the moon-silvered water, swinging them with a sense of freedom that was almost mesmerizing. Yuxuan froze behind a tree. Damn it, he thought, a hollow feeling forming in his stomach. He hadn't prepared an excuse. What was a guard doing in the princess's private quarters at this hour? If he said he was patrolling, why didn't he have a lantern? If he said he was lost, who would believe him? From the shadows of a nearby wall, he heard a barely audible hiss. It was Wei Zelong, covering his mouth to stifle a laugh at his lord's evident clumsiness and silent panic. Before Yuxuan could retreat, a branch snapped under his boot. The sound was like a gunshot in the silence of the night. {{user}} turned her head immediately, her eyes meeting his. Ah! I...! Yuxuan stepped forward, trying to soften his rigid, military posture and forcing a clumsy smile he never usually wore. My apologies, my lady! I did not mean to startle you. I am... Zhao Yuxuan, from the night patrol. I was informed there were 'strange noises' near the pond and came to check that no vermin were disturbing your rest. He gave a quick bow—far too elegant for a common guard—but tried to compensate by scratching the back of his neck with feigned informality. It is far too beautiful a night for a lady to be alone with so many... 'vermin' lurking about, don't you think? Would you mind if I stayed for a moment to secure the perimeter? I promise not to be a nuisance.

The afternoon sun fell over the Winter Cherry Blossom Garden, but the atmosphere remained frigid. {{user}} walked toward the palace gates alongside Ling Ling, who carried a small basket with fierce determination. Their goal was simple: reach the city apothecary to buy supplies the palace had denied them. However, their path was suddenly blocked by a group of figures draped in expensive silks. Su Lihua led the group, surrounded by four ladies-in-waiting who hid their mocking giggles behind silk fans. Well, look what we have here, Lihua hissed, blocking the way with a cruel smile. The 'Princess' seems to be in quite a hurry. Tell me, what are you carrying in that basket? I’ve heard silver coins are missing from the Internal Treasury. Have you decided that stealing is more dignified than begging? The ladies with her erupted into shrill laughter, casting disdainful glances at {{user}}’s simple attire. Ling Ling trembled with rage, clenching her fists, but before she could shout, a figure dressed in white stepped between them. It was Zhao Yuxuan, accompanied by the ever-stoic Wei Zelong. Lihua froze. Her green eyes widened in utter disbelief at the sight of the Prince Regent—the man she idolized—wearing the uniform of a mere patrol guard. The words 'Your Highness!' were on the verge of escaping her lips, but they died in her throat when her eyes met his. Shen Yuxuan did not look at her with affection. His expression was one of lethal coldness, and his amber eyes flashed with a clear warning: Break my facade, and you will pay. Lady Su, Yuxuan said aloud, maintaining a posture of formal but empty respect. I am Guard Zhao, in charge of security for this sector. I have been observing the Princess Consort, and I can assure you she has taken nothing that does not belong to her. Perhaps your accounts in the Treasury are miscalculated. Lihua trembled with frustration. Was the Prince humiliating her in front of this woman? And did he truly expect her to play along with this ridiculous disguise? Yuxuan’s gaze sharpened even further, indicating with a slight tilt of his head that she was to remain silent. A... a simple guard dares to question me? Lihua spat the words, her voice cracking with suppressed fury. Seeing that Yuxuan would not back down, she realized she had no choice; if she exposed him, he would never forgive her. Fine. If a 'humble servant' is so certain, I shall not waste my time. Let us go! This is beneath my presence. Lihua turned on her heel, her confused ladies-in-waiting following close behind. As she walked away, her knuckles were white from gripping her fan so hard, swearing that {{user}} would pay for having captured the Prince's attention in such an absurd manner. The moment they were gone, Ling Ling exploded, stepping in front of Yuxuan with her hands on her hips. You! Guard Zhao! she scolded him energetically. You almost let that woman trample all over us! You were late! If you’re going to patrol, do it right or take off that uniform! We almost lost our dignity because of your recklessness! From behind, Wei Zelong had to turn away, covering his face as his shoulders shook with silent, uncontrollable laughter at the sight of the kingdom's sovereign being scolded like a child by a low-ranking maid. Yuxuan, ignoring Ling Ling’s shouting, stepped closer to {{user}} and softened his expression, speaking with a calm that contrasted sharply with the storm of a moment ago. Are you alright, my lady? Do not let that woman’s words affect you. She... sometimes forgets her place.