Golden Dragon

Lingling and the maids walked through the palace and finally reached the hall before the huge party starts. She looked around and saw all maids wearing black colors. She sat at a corner waiting but all she thought was running away. Lingling knew she cannot but she was worried about her father.

She stared into space when she was in deep thought. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Lingling jumped up in shock. It was an old man with a cane. He had white mustache and long white hair. Lingling stood up and bowed. She wasn't sure why he tapped her. The old man looked at her for a long time and only spoke two words, "Ling An?" Lingling was confused and no words came out of her mouth.

"Ling An? Why everyone is calling me that? I'm still a virgin. I don't have a lover." Lingling thought. All she could do was shaking her head.

"Shifu (Master in Chinese), why are you here?" Ming was right beside him. Ming's master looked at him and said, "Ming, I believe Ling An's spirit is within the young girl." Ming looked at Lingling one more time. She diverted her attention to another person. Ming sighed and said, "I already had that feeling when I first met her. Why was she in the mortal world?" His master replied, "Before Ling An's spirit dispersed, she made a wish..." Before he could finish, another palace girl interrupted them.

Oh thank heavens that girl interrupted them. Lingling hated being in the spotlight. The girl wearing pink silky hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) looked at Lingling and smiled.

"Ling An! I knew it was you!" Not again, why she got to mention that name.

"Uhm, I'm not Ling An. I'm Lingling but who are you?" The young girl looked at her and tilted her head.

"You don't remember me? You used to treat me like a younger sister. I'm Lanlan." The young girl smiled. She's cute, Lingling thought. What kind of past did Ling An have? Lingling shook her head, all the thoughts about Ling An made her head spin.

"Lanlan, even though I don't remember anything. We can be friends, right?" Lingling took Lanlan's hand. Lanlan nodded and hugged Lingling. Ming looked at them and back at his master, "Shifu, I think we should talk about it another day." His master nodded and patted him on the shoulder, "Make sure to hide this from Lord Weijun. If he noticed Ling An's spirit within this mortal girl, he won't let her go. You do understand how much he misses her. Right?" Ming was about to say something but kept his mouth shut, "Yes, Master." Ming walked over to Lingling and grabbed her wrist, "Come with me." Lingling shouted, "Why are you grabbing me? Let me go!" Ming took her to a corner and whispered, "It's me." Lingling stopped shouting, "I thought you were someone else. I'm sorry." Her face grew hot again and blushed, "Uhm... why are we here?" Ming took out a golden hairpiece and helped her put it on. He instructed Lingling to keep it on her at all times.

"Lingling, whatever I say now. Remember, I just used my power to seal Ling An's spirit within you. The hairpiece I gave you, everyone will think you are only a mortal if you wear it. If it's taken off, our Lord will never let you go. Ling An was our Lord's first love. When my master met you, Ling An's spirit was in you. If our Lord notices, it will be very hard for you to go home." Lingling nodded and asked, "That means I can go back if I wear this?" Ming shook her head, "I'll think of a way and let you go back to your world. For now, just bear with it."

"Alright." Lingling sighed. How come things gotten so complicated after she came? She sat down beside Lanlan who looked at her, "Lingling, I don't sense Ling An's spirit anymore. What did Ming do to you?" Lingling pointed at her hairpiece, "He sealed her spirit. If I don't take the hairpiece off, people won't be able to sense Ling An's spirit within me." Lanlan looked disappointed, "Our poor Lord... Just when I thought the Lord will be happy again." Lingling looked Lanlan in utter state of shock, "Do you like the Lord?" Lanlan shook her head, "I don't dare. He will kill me." Lanlan leaned closer to her, "No one including other women in the palace is allowed to get close to the Lord unless you're his personal assistant." Lingling nodded, "I see, he's a complicated Lord I---" Lanlan covered her mouth, "Shh, be careful what you say. You could get killed." Lingling nodded.

"I got it. I understand."

As the people entered the hall, Lingling could feel all eyes were on her. But after a moment, everyone went silent. Lingling could see a tall figure shadow. Her whole body went numb. Not to mention, everyone in the hall lowered their head. Indeed, the Golden Dragon Leader, Lord Weijun has entered.

"Lingling, lower your head. What are you doing?" Lanlan tugged on Lingling's sleeve. Lingling lowered her head but for some reasons, she could not get Lord Weijun's face out of her head. Lord Weijun, the most highly respected Dragon King, was actually quite a hunk. Lingling slapped herself, "What are you thinking Lingling? Do you want to die?"

Lingling and the others slowly raised their head when Lord Weijun signalled them. Lord Weijun also had long black hair but he was a bit taller than Ming. His outfit was dark blue with golden dragon on there. Lingling could not stop looking into his eyes. They were silver. He is indeed charismatic.

It was Lord Weijun's birthday since someone told Lingling. She was curious as to why the Lord's expression was blank. She whispered to Lanlan, "Why isn't the Lord smiling? It's his birthday." Lanlan looked at her and whispered, "Lord Weijun is blind."