The Emperor's Birthday

Days passed and the day of the banquet arrived and Zhao Xing was suddenly sad she couldn't wear girl's clothes, she had already thought of all the different ornaments she could put on, as well as the pretty clothes.

The Prince had already equipped her wardrobe with many pretty dresses. But he could only wear them in the manor. She had to admit it wasn't easy wearing them, but whenever she came she wouldn't have her normal clothes on. But beauty was pain wasn't it? The clothes were so good quality, she already felt like a rich young miss.

But today she had to wear not just menswear but a male attendant's at that, this was really humiliating her! A grand tutor of her calibre knew not such disgrace!

She stared at the Crown Prince and saw how he was nicely dressed. Very good looking! Then she looked at herself who was nothing like herself in the mansion.

"Zhang Zhengyang, this is unfair, not only will I not be allowed to take good food, I'll also have to stand the whole time, what sort of punishment is this?" They were on their way to the palace, she, Xiao Chen and the Prince were all seated in the prince's carriage. It was the second time she was going out, though her present situation didn't please her, she was quite happy to be out again.

"Weren't you so eager to come? It's the price you have to pay, deal with it" He said, holding a book in his hands in which he was engrossed in reading. He glanced at her as she peeked out the window, sulking, then back at his book.

"Don't worry, one day I'll take you somewhere you can wear your clothes freely."

Zhao Xing looked at him suspiciously, "What do you want me to do this time?"

"Just be obedient and don't make any mistakes, that's all."

Zhao Xing grimaced and said nothing. These past few days Zhang Zhengyang had Xiao Chen teach her some palace rules so she doesn't screw up as a 'male attendant'.

She turned to stare at the Crown prince he had said he would be leaving, to go someplace she knows nothing about. She tried getting information from people at the mansion but as always, when in the Crown Prince's territory you only hear what the Crown Prince wanted you to hear. At least today she had the opportunity to go out, that would mean she had the chance to get the information she needs.

When they arrived the place was bustling with lavishly dressed nobles, the palace was nicely decorated, having an air of festivity. The Emperor hadn't arrived yet, so people just made small talk here and there.

Seeing how the rich acted made Zhao Xing feel a little inferior. She stuck close to the Crown Prince with her head bowed. But of course she didn't forget to admire the beauty of the Forbidden City, how grandiose and beautiful it was. The Crown Prince arrived and they bowed to greet him.

The Fourth Prince also arrived about the same time, along with his attendants, to whom he kept whispering words to.

One of the attendants was actually Zhao Qing, this was the attendant the Fourth Prince was talking to.

No one could tell what he was saying, but he had an amused smile on his lips.

General Yang was also here with his wife. She wasn't all that pretty, but she had a refreshing and refined air about her, which brought about people's respect.

The only thing was, the air about the couple seemed stale, and made people uncomfortable… . Well who would dare talk about this? It was a taboo matter not many were willing to mention.

Zhao Xing was busy observing the people in the hall. She seemed to recognize some, by their names when someone addressed them because of the time she read documents with Zhang Zhengyang.

Remembering that, she suddenly felt something, as if someone dragged her into a place at full speed. She saw what seemed like a year or months later, the person she had just recognized got beheaded. It was short, like a few seconds, it was also fast, like a flash. She didn't know but she felt like she really saw the future.

The same happened for some other people she recognized, except the Crown Prince, The fourth prince, and of course the people she know nothing about.

When it down on her that she might have just seen the future of some of the people present, she suddenly felt a little dizzy, but she tried her best to stay awake. If anything were to happen to the Crown Prince because of her negligence it would be detrimental to her mission.

The Crown Prince seemed to have realized something was wrong with her. They had come fairly early, so he walked out to an unpopulated place, around the Hall where the birthday was being held. It was a small bridge that crossed a pond.

"Zhao Xing, are you still feeling unwell?" He said as he faced the pond, not wanting to approach her, lest it might arise suspicion.

"I don't know…I feel like I just saw something weird…" She said with her head bowed, trying her best to act as a proper 'male attendant'.

"Something weird?"

Zhao Xing didn't know how to explain it, but it had happened in his world so she thought she might as well tell him.

"I think I saw…something like the future of some people present."

Her words shocked Zhang Zhengyang out of his mind. He turned to Zhao Xing. "Zhao Xing, you saw the future?"

Zhao Xing contemplated, "I think so…" She couldn't say she was sure, like what if she was just hallucinating?

"What did you see?" Zhang Zhengyang asked.

"Well some officials were being killed...or convicted for their crimes…I don't really remember the rest."

The Crown Prince couldn't believe his ears, it sounded like what his master had said before; that many of the officials wouldn't be spared from the Emperor's wrath once he knew what they're up to.

Zhang Zhengyang had been hoping Zhao Xing would have this ability, but he had already given up hope, after trying many times. Who would have thought that she had it in the end?

Though he didn't feel as happy as he thought he'd feel.

"Is that what made you feel unwell?" He asked. "I can ask for people to send you home, if you can't take it."

Zhao Xing didn't think this matter needed that much attention, so she refused the Crown Prince's offer.

"I'm fine, it's too much trouble, it's just a little dizziness. No need."

Not far away at another corner of the garden where the pond was located, the fourth Prince and his 'attendant' watched as the Crown Prince conversed with Zhao Xing.

"See, what did I tell you? My brother might also be a monster like me, kidnapping a girl and caging her refusing her freedom, like you talk about. How is he better than me?"

Zhao Qing watched as the man she had waited for for years had tenderness in his eyes while speaking to a girl that wasn't her.

She wanted to turn her head away, but the Fourth Prince didn't let her. "No." He said grabbing her head, forcing her to behold the painful scene, "You must look today for this prince and tell me in which way is my brother better than me?"

Zhao Qing tried to struggle, but in the end she gave up, as tears fell from her cheeks.

It has been a bit over two years since the Fourth Prince had taken her away from her family down in the southern region.

There, was her home, her parents were there, her sisters, her friends. But she could never go back, because of this monster of a prince.

'Zhang Yixing...I hate you.' She swore in her heart to make this man pay for all the damage he had caused her.