Tianhe Era,
The thirteenth year of Shenping, late afternoon.
Late Spring — Fifth Prince's Residence
The residence stirred under a soft wash of afternoon sunlight.
Willow branches swayed gently, brushing against curved rooftops as servants moved along stone paths in quiet routine. Nothing was out of place. Nothing ever was.
In the eastern yard, the sound of water filled the air.
Maids knelt beside wooden basins, sleeves rolled, hands busy with soaked garments.
Fabric slapped lightly against smooth stones, rhythm steady, almost soothing.
For a while, only work could be heard.
Then— a maid came in holding a tray and with a teacup set.
The older maid there noticed and called her attention.
"Hey. Where did you go with this? Is there a visitor here?"
The maid turned to the woman. "Ah, it's Lady An Yonghui."
"Eh???" The group exclaimed. The older maid shushed them immediately.
One of the younger maids glanced toward the inner courtyard before leaning closer. "She's still there?"
The maid with the tray nodded.
"What? Didn't you tell her that the prince wasn't in? So why is she still there?"
"I told her, even now, I'm just coming from the pavilion but she waved it off. She said she will wait."
The older maid let out a small breath through her nose, not even looking up from her work.
"Hasn't she been here since morning?"
"Hm. "
"Scary. "
"But you know, this isn't the first time. I mean the prince might be handsome but he should at least know that keeping a lady waiting is bad manners." Another maid said pouting as she beat the clothes.
Another one flicked her forehead. "What are you talking about? It is also basic manners to send a letter first. So what if she's a lady?"
The older one sighed. "She did send it."
All the maids looked at her. "I saw the paper in the refuse space. She did send a letter of notice. The prince just ignored it."
"See. Lady An Yonghui is the most ladylike person I know. If not, how would she be called the emperor goddaughter if the emperor wasn't also touched by her sincerity. And she is also a unique one, dark skin, coily shaped hair that just bounces when she walks, ohh, it must be so silky to touch. And the aura she carries. You have to admit, she is a great match for his highness." The younger maid who berated the prince's way of treating ladies said as she closed her eyes, smiling sheepishly.
"What? Looks like you're a fan of the famous Dark skinned princess. You're even imagining things, coils?"
"Yes. My cousin works for Lady An and she tells me all about it."
"Tch. And saying that she's a great bride to his highness? Let's not forget that she cheated her way into being his wife... Ouch." She was suddenly cut off by the slap on her head.
The older one's face now twisted with rage."Shut up this instance. Even if you want to gossip, don't you dare speak such a thing lightly. If anyone hears you now and reports it, do you think you will be safe? This is a very hard topic for his highness. Watch it."
The older maid's words scared the girls and they quickly turned back to their work.
No one said anything again.
Only the sound of work returned—
Until—
Footsteps.
Another maid entered into the courtyard, holding a basket. She was chubby.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself." the older maid asked.
"Head maid." she bowed, placing the basket on the floor. "Please don't mind me. I just feel really full." She giggled.
The maid who got a slap on her head smirked. "How many dumplings did it take this time?"
"No. I mean spiritually full. I just laid eyes on the prince coming here and I was instantly satisfied. "
"What? The prince is around? "
"Yes. "
"Hey. All of you, make sure to finish your work. I am going to go greet him." the old maid said as she was scurrying off.
"Wow. Lady Mei Lin was beautiful too."
The maids straightened slightly, attention fully caught now. They all turned to her, even the old maid that was heading out.
"What??" They all screamed in unison. The chubby girl was startled.
"Wh...what is with all of you ?" She asked confused at their outburst.
"You mean Lady Mei Lin is here now and she came with the prince?" The old maid asked, shock written all over her face.
The chubby girl nodded. The old maid raised her head in frustration. She went back and sat down.
The chubby girl was surprised. "Aren't you going to greet them?"
She looked at the girl. "Not now. I don't want to get caught in the storm that's about to come."
"All of you are acting strange. Whatever, I'm taking this to the kitchen." The chubby girl said and left with the basket.
The others all looked at themselves, the same thought going through their mind.
"What was the prince thinking?"
————
Beyond the inner courtyards, the residence opened into a quieter stretch of land—one reserved not for duty, but for stillness.
A stone pathway curved gently through the garden, bordered by low shrubs and early spring blossoms just beginning to bloom. The air carried a faint sweetness, light and fleeting.
Li Yanshu walked along that path.
Measured steps. Unhurried. As though nothing in the world could disturb his pace.
Beside him, a young woman followed half a step behind, her movements soft, refined. The rustle of her robes blended with the whisper of the wind.
Ahead, a small arched bridge stretched over a narrow stream, its surface reflecting the pale sky above. Beyond it stood a pavilion—delicate, almost dreamlike.
Silk curtains hung from its sides, drifting with the breeze like slow-moving clouds.
It was the kind of place meant for quiet conversations… or none at all.
"Gege," the girl spoke gently, her voice light as the air around them, "the weather is quite nice today."
Li Yanshu turned to her, nodding.
"It is," he replied.
She smiled, continuing, "It's perfect for tea outside."
They continued conversing.
Food. Weather. Trivial things.
Things that required no thought.
Then— Li Yanshu's steps slowed.
Just slightly.
Not enough to draw attention— Unless one was watching closely.
His gaze had shifted.
Past the bridge.
Past the drifting silk—
Into the pavilion.
At first, there was only movement.
Curtains lifting and falling with the wind.
Light filtering through layers of white silk.
And then—
A figure.
Seated within. Still. Quiet.
Almost part of the scene itself.
The curtain lifted again.
And this time— He saw her.
Dark skin, deep and rich beneath the soft glow of daylight, like polished bronze catching the last warmth of the sun. Her features were calm, untouched by urgency or impatience.
There was no anger on her face.
No distress.
Only… stillness.
Her gaze was turned upward, watching as petals drifted lazily through the air. Cherry blossoms, caught in the wind, fluttered past the pavilion like fleeting thoughts.
For a moment—
She did not seem like someone waiting.
She looked like someone who had already let go of time.
Li Yanshu stopped walking.
The girl beside him noticed immediately.
"…Gege?"
No response.
His eyes remained fixed ahead.
Then, quietly—
"How about we go to the study instead?"
"Why?"
"I just don't feel like outside right now and trust me, you too."
The girl blinked, caught off guard. "But…"
She followed his gaze. Past the bridge.
Into the pavilion.
And she saw her.
Understanding flickered across her face.
Just for a second.
It was enough.
"…I understand," she said softly.
She lowered her gaze and stepped back.
Without another word, she turned—her path shifting away from the bridge, away from the pavilion, toward the opposite wing of the residence.
She did not look back.
The garden fell quiet again.
Only the wind remained.
Li Yanshu moved. Across the stone path.
Over the bridge.
Step by step, closing the distance—
But not completely.
He stopped just before the pavilion.
Close enough to see clearly.
Far enough to remain untouched.
She still hadn't noticed him.
Inside, An Yonghui stood near the edge of the pavilion, one hand lightly resting against the wooden railing. The silk curtains brushed past her, occasionally veiling her figure before revealing it again.
Her eyes followed the drifting petals.
Upward.
Toward the open sky.
Birds passed in the distance, their shapes small against the pale blue.
The world seemed… far away.
Then—
As if sensing something—
She turned.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, it looked like something out of a painting.
A man standing beneath the bridge's shadow.
A woman framed by silk and falling petals.
Still.
Silent.
Connected by nothing but distance.
To an outsider—
It might have looked like longing.
Like two people caught in a quiet, unspoken moment. Something gentle.
Something unfinished.
But beneath it—
There was no warmth. No softness.
Only a thin, invisible tension stretched between them—
Cold. Sharp. Unyielding.
Like a thread pulled too tight… just waiting to snap.
She stood the moment she saw him.
But she did not step forward.
Instead, she turned fully toward him and simply looked.
A light wind moved through the pavilion.
Silk curtains swayed between them, briefly veiling her before revealing her again in fragments of stillness.
She was dressed plainly, yet not without quiet refinement.
A flowing robe of pale jade green layered over soft ivory inner garments, the fabric light enough to catch the wind with every small movement. A thin sash was tied neatly at her waist, neither decorative nor dull—just controlled, intentional.
Her brown hair, straight, was gathered up cleanly, pinned with a single dark jade hairpin shaped like a half-blooming orchid. No excess ornaments. No noise in her appearance. Only order.
Even her presence felt like it had been arranged carefully.
An Yonghui inhaled once.
Very faintly.
Something crossed her senses in the air.
Her expression shifted. Not sharply.
Just enough.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
She lowered her head slightly.
A bow. Respectful. Proper.
But distant.
"Your Highness."
Li Yanshu did not return it.
He only looked at her.
She straightened.
Her eyes stayed on him for a moment.
Then she spoke calmly.
"You smell different.... it's nice."
Her gaze flickered once, then steadied.
A faint smile appeared again, but it did not reach warmth.
Silence followed.
Li Yanshu's voice came after.
"Why are you here?"
She did not move closer.
She simply stood where she was.
"I have been here since morning. I remember sending you a letter two days ago informing you of my arrival. And yet, I wasn't well received."
A pause.
"I waited. "
His tone remained flat.
"If you're complaining, then you did not need to."
"But it is my right to complain."
A brief silence.
Then—
"Why do you do unnecessary things? Today's schedule was already filled even before you sent that letter. You should know I'm a busy man."
She gave a faint, almost indifferent tilt of her head.
"You must be joking. I know that you have nothing on your agenda today. Did you forget who I am?"
Then, quietly:
"But you were with a woman and yet you kept your woman waiting."
The air tightened instantly.
Li Yanshu's gaze sharpened.
Her expression did not change.
A pause.
Then he turned slightly, as if to leave.
"I really shouldn't have bothered with you. If you have nothing else to say, you should go home. You must be tired since you've been waiting for a long time. I won't see you out."
That was when she spoke.
"Li Yanshu!."
He stopped.
Slowly turned back.
She finally met his gaze directly.
No hesitation now.
"I am dying."
Silence dropped instantly.
Even the wind felt heavier.
Li Yanshu stared at her.
A faint, cold exhale left him.
"If this is a way to gain attention, it is poorly chosen."
She did not react.
"I do not joke about death."
A pause.
Then calmly:
"I am dying."
He studied her longer this time.
Then said:
"You have access to the imperial medical team don't you?"
She shook her head slightly.
"It is not something a normal physician... even an imperial one can see."
Her gaze stayed steady on him as she spoke.
Then she began.
"This symptom appears first as sudden weakness in the body, as if the strength is being pulled out from within. After that, there is intermittent coldness in the bones. Even under warm weather, the body feels ice-like from the inside."
"Then the breathing becomes irregular. Not painful, but unstable, as if the breath does not fully belong to the body anymore."
"And finally… moments of dizziness. Not fainting, but brief lapses where vision and awareness drift apart for a few seconds."
She continued. "Even when I thoroughly call out the symptoms, the things they diagnose do not align with it. No matter what medicine i take, nothing works. This isn't something wordly that they can solve."
Li Yanshu's gaze narrowed slightly.
"Then why come to me?"
"Because you're interacting with that side. The side that can solve this sickness for me. Don't look surprised. And don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
She finally shifted her position.
Walking towards him.
She finally stopped beside him and turned slightly. "You may hate me but I know that you are not that hard hearted so Li Yanshu, please help me."
After sometime, he finally replied. "You're lying." Her eyes widened at what he said.
The wind moved through the pavilion once more.
Silk curtains lifted and fell.
THREE DAYS LATER....
Under a sky pressed low with drifting cloud, the night carried a strange heaviness, as though even the stars had dimmed themselves to avoid witnessing what was unfolding below. The wind moved through the capital in uneven currents, slipping between tiled roofs and garden corridors with a cold, searching edge, stirring lantern flames into restless flickers that refused to hold steady.
Shadows lengthened in places where nothing had moved, gathering along walls and beneath bridges, merging into shapes that felt almost deliberate in their stillness. The air itself seemed tightened, less forgiving, as if the world had narrowed its attention to a single unseen point.
Somewhere within that silence, something reached its end without ceremony. No cry marked it, no resistance lingered long enough to be remembered, only the quiet collapse of a presence that had once stood firmly within the living world.
And then, as if the weight of it could no longer remain unspoken, the sound of the bell broke through the capital.
Slow. Heavy. Repeated.
It rolled across courtyards and rooftops, through corridors and open streets, announcing what words had not yet fully formed in speech.
A noble life had ended.
The dark-skinned princess was gone.
"Lady An Yonghui !!!!!"