The Promise

Five months ago. Xiping.

"Sir Zhen! Sir Zhen!"

A young woman ran down the winding dirt path leading to the city gates, her red dress fluttering like a poppy in the wind and her hair going unbound as her haphazardly-tied ribbon slowly unravelled.

Every person she passed by looked at her like she was crazy, but Zi Hua couldn't care about her image now—how could she, when he was leaving without a word?

There he was, beside a large black stallion whose mane seemed to swallow all light. A few men surrounded him, agitation radiating off their expensive-looking robes as they held the reins of their even more expensive-looking steeds.

Somehow, even among those people who were obviously aristocrats, even though he was wearing plain robes, he stood out.

When he saw her, he said something to the men and they mounted their horses, riding outside the gate.

Zi Hua had a feeling they hadn't truly left. The closer she got, the more questions she had.

'Why do they listen to him? Does he remember who he is? Who is he?'

She knew something was off... But she couldn't bring herself to doubt him. To doubt that even a single second of their time together was a lie.

"Sir Zhen— Ah!"

A stone caught her shoe, either hidden in the soil, or because she had been too rushed to tie the laces properly.

It was too late.

She threw out her arms in reflex—

"Oomph!"

A low grunt reverberated beside her. She looked up.

Zhen had caught her.

He smiled. "I didn't think you would miss me so much."

"Why didn't you say goodbye?" she retorted, shoving away from his chest.

His smile faded, as did the light in his eyes, replaced by a murky storm. "Something urgent came up. I must return to the capital at once."

Her heart skipped a beat.

Her instinct was right—there was something wrong.

He had lied to her. To everyone.

"You remembered everything... didn't you?" she breathed. "Or did you never lose your memories in the first place?"

"Zi Hua..."

She stopped him with a resolute gaze. "Please tell me the truth. I deserve that much at least. Was anything you said real? Were we..."

'...real?'

His eyes softened again, a silent plea. "Zi Hua, I may have hidden my identity, but never my feelings towards you. You can trust me on this."

He raised a hand to her cheek, but the city gate was too crowded, the rabble disrupting the moment before it could even form. He dropped his hand and sighed, getting astride his horse.

"We will meet again in a few months. Everything will be revealed by then—I promise."

With a flick of the reins, the black stallion reared its mighty head and took off, taking him down the path towards the sun.

"Wait, Zhen—!"

She reached out a hand. Stumbled forward in haste.

But he was a man on a mission. Why did she think she could stop him?

In the end, all he left her was a fragile vow.

"...I like you."

And pieces of her heart, lost in the wind.

***

Present.

A tear rolled down Zi Hua's cheek.

She huffed and wiped it away angrily. She had always prided herself on being straightforward with her feelings, yet the one time it mattered most, she had let fear take root. Now the chance was lost forever.

'Stop thinking about him. You're going to meet the emperor soon.'

She should listen to the voice in her head more often. It sounded suspiciously like Jiu'er, but it made better decisions all the same.

Like warning her not to fall for handsome strangers.

The wet spot on her sleeve felt cold. Actually, Zi Hua felt cold as a whole; after another traditional bath, the servants in Dragon Palace had dressed her in an embarrassingly thin nightgown in preparation for her first night, to which she could only swallow her discomfort and complaints.

Again, she contemplated the advantages of being the emperor... And the disadvantages of being his woman.

But back to being cold.

As another uncontrollable shiver racked through her, Zi Hua stood up and started exploring the room she was left in, rubbing her arms while she moved.

As expected of the emperor's bedchamber, it was luxurious beyond belief and larger than her current living quarters combined. Yet, despite the perfectly kempt furniture, precious ornaments, and unique dragon motifs within the room, it was disturbingly cold. From the lifeless jade tiles to the lack of personal decorations, this room which was supposed to be the ruler of Li Empire's sole solace, seemed devoid of personality and warmth. As if nobody lived here at all.

This realisation did nothing to help Zi Hua's body temperature. She went back to the bed with silky golden sheets and grabbed the book the servants had left behind.

"You will need this. For reference," they had said, waggling their brows at each other like she wouldn't notice.

Flip.

What could the book possibly contain for them to—

Zi Hua's eyes popped open.

A blush shot up her face next.

'W-w-what are all these poses?! Why did they give this to me?! No, wait. WHY AM I STILL READING THIS???'

Her thoughts were so loud, they drowned out the eunuch's announcement outside. By the time she came to, a shadow already loomed over her head, accompanied by a man's amused voice.

"What is Lady Beauty Yang so engrossed in? Care to share?"

'The emperor!'

"I-it's— Nothing you should be concerned with!" she shouted, cringing in mortification.

In her panic, she slammed the "book" shut and tossed it away—but with her eyes closed, she hit the emperor instead!

He hissed as the paper cut his chin, straightening.

When the shadow above her moved, Zi Hua finally looked up, an apology preceding her vision.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Are you al—"

The emperor raised his head, revealing a painfully familiar face.

Sweet nothings.

Vague promises.

Sunflower crowns.

"Zhen?!" she gasped.

There he was, large as life, exactly like when he departed five months and fifteen days ago.

And he had the audacity to smile.

"I kept my promise, didn't I?"